Women Entrepreneurship in India Essay Example for Free

Women Entrepreneurship in India Essay Women are generally perceived as home makers with little to do with economy or commerce. But this picture is changing. In Modern India, more and more women are taking up entrepreneurial activity especially in medium and small scale enterprises. Even as women are receiving education, they face the prospect of unemployment. In this background, self employment is regarded as a cure to generate income . The Planning commission as well as the Indian government recognizes the need for women to be part of the mainstream of economic development. Women entrepreneurship is seen as an effective strategy to solve the problems of rural and urban poverty. Traditionally, women in India have been generally found in low productive sectors such as agriculture and household activities. Human Development Report 2004 ranks India 103 in Gender related Development Index (GDI). As per 2001 census; women constitute nearly half of India’s population. Out of this total, 72% were engaged in agriculture, 21. 7% in other non agricultural pursuits with only 6. % in household industries. Women entrepreneurs in India are handicapped in the matter of organizing and running businesses on account of their generally low levels of skills and for want of support system. The transition from homemaker to sophisticated business woman is not that easy. But the trend is changing. Women across India are showing an interest to be economically independent. Women are coming forth to the business arena with ideas to start small and medium enterprises. They are willing to be inspired by role models- the experience of other women in the business arena. The role of women entrepreneurs is especially relevant in the situation of large scale unemployment that the country faces. The modern large scale industry cannot absorb much of labour as it is capital intensive. The small scale industry plays an important role absorbing around 80% of the employment. The myth that women cannot engage in productive employment needs to be dispelled. They can be encouraged to set up small and medium scale industries on their own initiative. Entrepreneurship development for women is an important factor in economic development of India. Rural women can be encouraged to start cottage industries. Rural based micro enterprises have been encouraged by the government by various schemes-such as Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP), Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment (TRYSEM), and Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA). The aim is to remove poverty through entrepreneurial programs. An ILO report on women entrepreneurship identifies the following problems faced by women entrepreneurs. 1. Lack of family support- Sometimes the family may make the women feel guilty of neglecting household duties in her pursuit of business obligations. Cultural traditions may hold back a woman from venturing into her own business. 2. Lack of capital-traditional sources of finance like banks are reluctant to lend to women entrepreneurs especially if they do not have any male or family backing.  This is especially true of lower income females. Women do not have adequate finance or legal knowledge to start an enterprise. 3. Lack of confidence and faith-lack of role models undermines the self confidence of women entrepreneurs. The activity of selling is considered abhorrent to the female gender. 4. Lack of right public/ private institutions: Most public and private incentives are misused and do not reach the woman unless s he is backed by a man. Also many trade associations like ministries, chambers of commerce do not cater to women expecting women’s organizations to do the necessary thing. The government must evolve appropriate policies to help women entrepreneurs. Networking facilities must be provided as well as adequate entrepreneurship awareness training should be provided using the help of local NGOs. Credit facilities must be made available and marketing help must be provided. All these will help foster a culture of entrepreneurship among women in India.

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone Title: Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone This essay explores the concepts of fantasy in Lewis Carrolls ‘Alice in Wonderland and J. K Rowlings ‘Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. Both authors include an emphasis on the genre of contemporary and juvenile fantasy, containing a main character travelling through a magical world different from their original settings. Their adventures do not begin until either character has entered into the fantasy world. Rowlings world is set adjacent to our own, creating a world within a world; the mysterious world of magic inside the mundane world of ‘muggles. In comparison Carroll takes his heroine Alice into Wonderland, a world where logic is turned upside down. The ‘Alice in Wonderland extract is placed near the end of the novel, as Alice discovers the power and madness of the Queen, taking place after Alice has attended the Mad Hatters tea party. Characters, for example, The Mad Hatter show different attitudes throughout so the reader isnt aware of their development. This is due to the (literal and figurative) change in maturity Alice undergoes. Alice experiences an inverted hierarchy, in which animals have a measure of authority, treating Alice as an inferior. Alice discovers that animals are the subjects of an inanimate object. Inanimate objects register below animals in a social hierarchy. The Queen acts as a ruthless ruler ordering her subjects beheadings. She utilises living creatures as objects, (playing croquet using hedgehogs, and flamingos). Wonderland reverses the conventions as inanimate objects rule the land while living creatures are tools. The ‘Harry Potter extract is placed towards the climax of the novel. Within this chapter Harry is serving detention, proving him to be a human hero through his faults and more relatable to a child audience. This significant extract comes after revealing the Forbidden forests mystery as students are prohibited, but are ordered to enter it now. The fantasy elements in ‘Alice are adapted from Carrolls humour and fantasy appealing to both children and adults. It appeals to children due to the fantasy creatures, (i.e. an anthropomorphic rabbit dressed in a waist coat, and playing cards given the ability to speak). Carroll uses mockery and fantasy to appeal to children; Generally Carrolls style does not seem to follow the fantasy genre conventions consist mostly of surreal features, strangely developed fantasy aspects and childhood games. In ‘Harry Potter, Rowling uses elements from the fantasy genre, in its purest form. Rowling incorporates a balance of mythical and traditional creatures strengthening the idea of the magical and mundane worlds co-existing. Incorporating mythical creatures (i.e. three headed dog, Centaurs and Unicorns); the forest becomes more secret, continuing the mood established. References in the extract carry a sense of mystery and mythological creatures are used to complement the European and Greek mythology. The extract also contains medieval references to weaponry following the medieval reference (‘He pulled out an arrow and fitted it into the crossbow). In medieval Europe, the unicorn was often a symbol of pure and selfless womanhood. Themes are presented to the reader, allowing them to understand what is happening. ‘Alice contains themes of manners and the ability of possessing common courtesy, dating back to the nineteenth century. Children in this era were expected to act as miniature adults; this reflects Alices tone of voice. Alice is an independent girl, making her own decisions, using polite expressions (‘its no business of mine.), also maintaining good manners. This indicates her social status, and ability to identify people within her social class and lower. Alice demonstrates a previously unseen courage. She talks to the Queen with great insolence, attacking the illusion of Wonderlands power. Themes within ‘Harry Potter tie in with the novel. Rowling presents a Hogwarts system of detention, (a form of punishment). Loyalty and friendship, (in spite of their circumstances) are shown. Firenze allows Harry to ride upon his back, showing disloyalty to fellow centaurs, however presenting himself as loyal to Harry. Rowling uses a theme of impassivity, when Harry is presented with a ‘hooded figure, through his belief that he is a mere observer. The use of death connects with the issue of ‘good verses evil during Hagrids search for the unicorns killer (Theres summat in here that shouldnt be), and the anonymity of the ‘hooded figure. The spectacle of the dying unicorn is shocking because it is the first death the reader actually witness, but also because the unicorn is a symbol of innocence and purity (‘Always the innocent are the first victims). Death is shown to be something wrongful and horrid whileevil is presented as ruthless and unfair. Voldemor t drinks the unicorns blood to sustain his own life. Characters in ‘Harry Potter address each other through typical twentieth century styles. (‘He walked forward and shook the centaurs hand). However the centaurs speech is formal, using old-fashioned language (‘Good evening to you, Hagrid), giving the impression of wisdom, linked with the mythical theme. The formality of Banes greeting is reinforced by the conventional interrogative, (‘I hope you are well?). Rowlings use of inverted syntax reinforce the archaic formality (‘Students, are you, Always the innocent are the first victims). Rowling uses idioms in narration (Hermiones jaw dropped) and in dialogue by Hagrid (‘Harry potter an Hermione Ganger, by the way. Students up at the school), the syntax in the extract strengthens the old-fashioned language used by Ronan (‘the forest hides secrets), giving the impression of knowledge reinforced by the balancing phrases by repetition and lack of contradictions. In the extract, the narration is omnis cient, with conventions of writing in third person. Neither author makes a personal comment, remaining neutral. However Rowlings use of a second person narrative, suggests internal thoughts of Harry. However in ‘Alice, narration dominates the extract. There is little dialogue compared to ‘Harry Potter. In these description there are few adjectives used. Whereas In ‘Harry Potter dialogue is frequently used, containing less narration compared to ‘Alice. More description can be found in the narration than the dialogue. Rowlings syntax use a balance of interrogative and directive, while simple sentences (due to the direct speech), are used more often continued by complex, minor and compound structures. This follows the conventions of the genre, and the set style. The majority of syntax used by Carroll consists of complex sentences. This is a style feature continued throughout the novel. Carroll rarely uses simple sentences, contrasting to Rowling. In ‘Alice Carroll uses a clear exploration of language when influencing the mood of the extract. Carrolls use of language shows Alice to be intelligent, while the simplicity in diction show her to be a little girl. Carroll explores the issue of identity through Alices ability to reason, even though she doubts herself. Carroll does this by placing Alice in different situations, demonstrating how she learns a new manner of conversation. In ‘Harry Potter Rowling‘s uses of syntax consists of simple sentence structures due to direct speech, continued then by complex, minor and compound. Throughout extracts there is a frequent use of complex while a rare use of simple structures. In ‘Alice it is Carrolls fascination with language and logic that influence the mood of the novel. In the extract Carroll presents suspense and tension, with the Queens arrival. While in ‘Harry Potter the language creates a sinister mood, carrying suspense, which is focused on, yet left unexplained in the extract. The lexis in ‘Alice is limited, compared to ‘Harry Potter. This is because there is a lack of actions through Carrolls vocabulary limited to descriptions (i.e. ‘suddenly). Conjunctions except for ‘and are used rarely, while adverbs are used, but varied. Adjectives appear not to use vivid descriptions, only limited to ‘small or ‘large. Verbs lack variety some used to reflect Alices childish nature. In language, ‘Harry Potter there is a variety of adjectives, verbs and adverbs to reinforce the vocabulary associated closely with the characters and their traits (‘said Hermione faintly, ‘Hagrid said irritably). The way the author sets apart characters dialogue, allow the readers to recognise the characters by their speech. When making Hagrids speech characteristics, Rowling uses omissions (‘cant be too careful, Ronan), use of contradictions (‘anythin) and phonetically speech through lexis (‘yerself, ‘bin hurt bad). Adjectives are grouped together in pairs (‘long reddish tail), while the comparative adjectives are grouped together in threes (black-haired and (black) bodied and wilder-looking). The uses of verbs are associated with characters or creatures. Personification is used to discuss the Forest, (‘Forest hides many secrets) and comparisons (‘sounded like a cloak trailing along the ground). The Graphology in ‘Alice follows the established convention in earlier chapters. Semi Colons are used in complex sentences, instead of full stop, separating clauses in a list. Colons are used to introduce further clarification (‘he was in livery: otherwise). Italics are used to emphasise a specific point, (‘For instance, if you were inside.), dashes are used to indicate pauses and clarification, and to introduce free indirect speech, sometimes an authorial voice. (‘extraordinary noise going on within- a constant howling and sneezing). Exclamation marks appear in Alices speech; elsewhere in direct speech, by the playing cards (‘your business!) as an emotive function of the language spoken in direct speech, but not in narration. Graphology in ‘Harry Potter follows the conventions of the genre. Question and exclamation are used due to the tense mood Rowling places her characters in, (‘Show yerself Im armed!). Dashes indicate further explanation in the extract, introduce free direct speech and to show hesitation (‘unicorn bin injured would yeh, ‘Erm). Commas, a conventional parenthesis, are used to separate adjective pairings, clauses, and add emphasis within a sentence. Apostrophes are used to explain Hagrids speech, (containing colloquialism) and the contradictions he uses. In ‘Alice apostrophes are used in narration and speech. However Italics are used by both authors to emphasise a specific point. (‘Are there many of them in here?). Finally both authors combine traditional and cultural themes. Stylistically ‘Alice appeals more to adults, due to its density in dialogue and morals; it highlights morals and childish logic which adults find amusing. ‘Harry Potter is widely accessible to many audiences, using fantasy to capture all readers attentions. Contextual Spelling Check 5 alerts Commonly confused words OK Spelling 5 alerts Grammar 56 alerts Use of articles 2 alerts Use of conjunctions OK Use of nouns OK Incorrect use of numbers OK Incorrect use of prepositions OK Pronoun agreement 1 alert Use of adjectives and adverbs 1 alert Comparing two or more things 2 alerts Faulty parallelism 2 alerts Confusing modifiers OK Incorrect use of negatives OK Use of qualifiers and quantifiers OK Subject and verb agreement 4 alerts Verb agreement OK Verb form use OK Modal verbs OK Conditional sentences OK Other 1 alert Sentence structure 4 alerts Wordiness 6 alerts Passive voice use 33 alerts Punctuation 14 alerts Punctuation within a sentence 12 alerts Closing punctuation 1 alert Formal punctuation OK Capitalization 1 alert Style and Word Choice 16 alerts Writing style 2 alerts Vocabulary use 14 alerts WordBooster Suggestions 202 WordBooster 202

Free Music :: essays research papers

Free Music   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shawn Fanning came out from backstage to present an award with a Metallica shirt on. It was one of the funniest moments of the entire award show. The reason it was funny is because Metallica is suing Napster. Shawn Fanning created Napster to make it possible to download music for free, and Metallica is trying to help destroy the program he made. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), many artists, and many labels are all combining to help get rid of Napster. The main dog in the fight is the RIAA. They have tried to work with the RIAA, but they only want to destroy the program. The number of people that use Napster has grown rapidly in the last few months because of the publicity the news has given it. If it weren?t for the RIAA suing them, most people wouldn?t have even heard of Napster. There are many programs like Napster on the Internet, but the RIAA has set its sights on the most popular one for now. I don?t see any reason to shut them down comp letely. The RIAA and Napster should combine and create a better place to find music on the Internet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People that use Napster think that downloading music is a way of sharing. People get things for free by sharing all the time. Kathryn Balint says, ?Ever since the advent of tape recorders, copy machines, and VCRs, people have been doing it, and sharing their copies with others? (A-1). The users of Napster say there are many reasons to use Napster. The accessibility of Napster is unbelievably easy. Most songs are even available before they come out in stores. Many of the people that download music are testing music, and buying it later. Downloading a song takes an average of about twenty minutes on a regular computer. There are many other things to do besides download music. You can chat with some of the friends you have made, or you can make new friends by going to the chat room that is for you. The type of music you like organizes the chat rooms. For example, if you like rap, you would join the rap chat room, or if you likes rock, you would join the rock chat roo m. It even has a hotlist, which lets you find out what type of music anyone has downloaded, and it helps you remember your friend?

Essay --

The days of a fair complex-ion being the â€Å"in-style† are long gone. Nowadays the way to appear more attrac-tive is to lie in a bed of artificial ultraviolet rays and get a fake tan. Today, 2.3 teenage girls tan annu-ally in an indoor bed (Komis 34). This isn’t to say that boys never tan and are innocent; it’s just that the majority of tanners under the age of 18 are girls. So why do girls feel that it is necessary to do this to their bodies, when there are so many reasons not to, the biggest being a greater chance of skin can-cer later in life? Let’s first start off by explaining just exactly what indoor tanning is. Most would agree that in-door tanning is going to a salon where there are sev-eral tanning beds where us-ers can choose to lie down or stand and then are ex-posed to very high intensi-ties of ultraviolet, or UV, rays in periods of twenty minutes or less (Loh 1). Because these UV rays are twice as intense as the natural sunlight, there have been rules and regula-tions to keep everything in tact. Some of these rules include: 1) only being able to use a bed from that sa-lon...

The Perils of Bullying Essay -- social issues, bullying

â€Å"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.† These words have been repeated countless times, but they are not accurate. In truth, words can kill. Bullying has become a highlighted problem within our society, and bullying in the school systems is even more prominent. According to the news, there are countless cases of bullying, many of which do not have happy endings. The rates of suicide due to bullying are currently higher than they have ever been before. Suicide is the third top causes of death in young people within the United States, averaging at 4,400 deaths a year, with over 50% of these deaths as a result of some sort of bullying. Studies also show that there are 100 suicide attempts for every one successful suicide performed (â€Å"Bullying and Suicide†). These numbers are disturbingly high. Bullying is affecting more kids in ways that some adults may never understand. The fact that words and actions can lead to cutting and suicides is still a distant concept to some and needs to be brought to immediate attention. Laws are now being put into place to prevent these tragedies, but what is really being done to prevent them within the schools or even within the students’ homes? There is a lot of finger pointing when it comes to this topic. But we all want to know what the cause is behind this nationwide crisis and who is responsible for it. A bully can be defined in several ways and this term is sometimes exaggerated. However, according to the Miriam-Webster Dictionary, a bully is defined as â€Å"one habitually cruel to others who are weaker† and bullying is defined as â€Å"to cause (someone) to do something by making threats or insults or by using force†. These are the formal definitions of the term, but the def... ... Retrieved from http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-statistics.html Johnston, J. (2011, April 19). Demi lovato interview: teen star opens up on bulimia, cutting issues. ABC news. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/demi-lovato-interview-teen-star-opens-bulimia-cutting/story?id=13405090 Hamilton, J. (2008). Bullying and hazing. Farmington Hills: Gale and Greenhaven Press. DOI: gale.cengage.com Bullying and suicide. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-and-suicide.html The roles kids play. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/roles-kids-play/index.html Bullying definition. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/definition/index.html Risk factors. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/factors/index.html

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 19

I galloped through the woods, kicking Mezzanotte to jump over logs, to dash through underbrush, anything to make sure I didn't lose sight of Katherine and Anna. How could I have trusted Katherine? How could I have thought I loved her? I should have killed her when I had the chance. If I didn't catch up to them, Anna's blood would be on my hands, too. Just as Rosalyn's was. We reached an uprooted tree and Mezzanotte reared up, sending me tumbling backward onto the forest floor. I felt a sharp stab as my temple cracked against a stone. The wind was knocked out of me, and I fought for breath, knowing it was only a matter of time before Katherine would kill Anna and then finish me off. I felt gentle, ice-cold hands lifting me up to a sitting position. â€Å"No †¦,† I gasped. The act of breathing hurt. My breeches were ripped, and I had a large gash on my knee. Blood flowed freely from my temple. Katherine knelt beside me, using the sleeve of her dress to stave off the bleeding. I noticed her licking her lips, then mashing them firmly together. â€Å"Y ou're hurt,† she said softly, continuing to apply pressure to my wound. I pushed myself away from her, but Katherine clasped my shoulder, holding me in place. â€Å"Don't worry. Remember. Y have my heart,† ou Katherine said, holding my gaze with hers. Wordlessly, I nodded. If death was to come, I hoped it would come quickly. Sure enough, Katherine bared her teeth, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the agonizing ecstasy of her teeth against my neck. But nothing came. Instead, I felt her cold skin near my mouth. â€Å"Drink,† Katherine commanded, and I saw a thin gash in her delicate white skin. Blood was trickling from the cut as though through a brook after a rainstorm. I was repulsed and tried to turn my head away, but Katherine held on to the back of my neck. â€Å"Trust me. It will help.† Slowly, fearfully, I allowed my lips to touch the liquid. Immediately I felt warmth run down my throat. I continued to drink until Katherine pulled her arm away. â€Å"That's enough,† she murmured, holding her palm over the wound. â€Å"Now, how do you feel?† She sat back on her heels and surveyed me. How did I feel? I touched my leg, my temple. Everything felt smooth. Healed. â€Å"Y did that,† I said incredulously. ou â€Å"I did.† Katherine stood up and brushed her hands together. I noticed her wound, too, was now completely healed. â€Å"Now tell me why I had to heal you. What are you doing in the forest? Y know ou it's not safe,† she said, concern belying her chiding tone. â€Å"Y †¦. Anna,† I murmured, feeling sluggish ou and sleepy, as one might feel after a long, wine- infused dinner. I blinked at my surroundings. Mezzanotte was hitched to a tree, and Anna was sitting on a branch, hugging her knees to her chest and watching us. Instead of terror, Anna's face was full of confusion as she looked from me, to Katherine, then back to me. â€Å"Stefan, Anna is one of my friends,† Katherine said simply. â€Å"Does Stefan †¦ know?† Anna asked curiously, whispering as if I wasn't standing three feet from her. â€Å"We can trust him,† Katherine said, nodding definitively. I cleared my throat, and both girls looked at me. â€Å"What are you doing?† I asked finally. â€Å"Meeting,† Katherine said, gesturing to the clearing. â€Å"Stefan Salvatore,† a throaty voice said. I whirled around and saw a third figure emerge from the shadows. Almost without thinking, I held up the vervain from my breast pocket, which looked as useless as a daisy clutched in my hand. â€Å"Stefan Salvatore,† I heard again. I glanced wildly between Anna and Katherine, but their facial expressions were impossible to read. An owl hooted, and I pressed my fist into my mouth to keep from screaming. â€Å"It's okay, Mama. He knows,† Anna called to the shadows. Mama. So that meant Pearl was also a vampire. But how could she be? She was the apothecary, the one who was supposed to heal the sick, not tear out human throats with her teeth. Then again, Katherine had healed me, and she hadn't torn out my throat. Pearl emerged from between the trees, her gaze tightening on me. â€Å"How do we know he's safe?† she asked suspiciously, in a voice that was much more ominous than the polite tone she used at her apothecary. â€Å"He is,† Katherine said, smiling sweetly as she gently touched my arm. I shivered and clutched the vervain, Cordelia's words echoing in my head. This herb could stop the devil. But what if we'd all gotten it wrong, and vampires like Katherine weren't devils but angels? What then? â€Å"Drop the vervain,† Katherine said. I looked into her large, cat-like eyes and dropped the plant to the forest floor. Immediately, Katherine used the tip of her boot to cover it with pine needles and leaves. â€Å"Stefan, you look as though you've seen a ghost,† Katherine laughed, turning toward me. But her laughter wasn't mean. Instead, it sounded melodic and musical and slightly sad. I collapsed onto a gnarled tree root. I noticed my leg was shaking and held my hands firmly against my knee, which was now completely smooth, as if the fall had never happened. Katherine took the motion as an invitation for her to perch on my knee. She sat and looked down on me, running her hands through my hair. â€Å"Now, Katherine, he doesn't look like he's seen a ghost. He's seen vampires. Three of them.† I glanced up at Pearl as if I were an obedient schoolboy and she were my schoolmarm. She sat down on a nearby rock slab, and Anna perched next to her, suddenly looking much younger than her fourteen years. But, of course, if Anna was a vampire, then that meant she wasn't fourteen at all. My brain spun, and I felt a momentary wave of dizziness. Katherine patted the back of my neck, and I began to breathe easier. â€Å"Okay, Stefan,† Pearl said as she rested her chin on her steepled fingers and gazed at me. â€Å"First of all, I need you to remember that Anna and I are your neighbors, and your friends. Can you remember that?† I was transfixed by her gaze. Pearl then smiled a curious half smile. â€Å"Good,† she exhaled. I nodded dumbly, too overwhelmed to think, let alone speak. â€Å"We were living in South Carolina right after the war,† Pearl began. â€Å"After the war?† I asked, before I could stop myself. Anna giggled, and Pearl cracked a tiny sliver of a smile. â€Å"The War of Independence,† Pearl explained briefly. â€Å"We were lucky during the war. All safe, all sound, all a family.† Her voice caught in her throat, and she closed her eyes for a moment before continuing. â€Å"My husband ran a small apothecary when a wave of consumption hit town. Everyone was affected–my husband, my two sons, my baby daughter. Within a week, they were dead.† I didn't know what to say. Could I say I was sorry for something that had happened so long ago? â€Å"And then Anna began coughing. And I knew I couldn't lose her, too. My heart would break, but it was more than that,† Pearl said, shaking her head as if caught in her own world. â€Å"I knew my soul and my spirit would break. And then I met Katherine.† I glanced toward Katherine. She looked so young, so innocent. I glanced away before she could look at me. â€Å"Katherine was different,† Pearl said. â€Å"She arrived in town mysteriously, without relatives, but she immediately became part of society.† I nodded, wondering who, then, was killed in the Atlanta fire that brought Katherine to Mystic Falls. But I didn't ask, waiting for Pearl to continue her story. She cleared her throat. â€Å"Still, there was something about her that was unusual. All the ladies and I talked about it. She was beautiful, of course, but there was something else. Something otherworldly. Some called her an angel. But then she never got sick, not during the cold seasons, and not when the consumption began in town. There were certain herbs she wouldn't touch in the apothecary. Charleston was a small town then. People talked.† Pearl reached for her daughter's hand. â€Å"Anna would have died,† Pearl continued. â€Å"That's what the doctor said. I was desperate for a cure, wracked with grief and feeling so helpless. Here I was, a woman surrounded by medicine, unable to help my daughter live.† Pearl shook her head in disgust. â€Å"So what happened?† I asked. â€Å"I asked Katherine one day if she knew of anything that could be done. And as soon as I asked, I knew she did. There was something in her eyes that changed. But she still took a few minutes of silence before she responded and then–â€Å" â€Å"Pearl brought Anna to my chambers one night,† Katherine interjected. â€Å"She saved me,† Anna said in a soft voice. â€Å"She saved me,† Anna said in a soft voice. â€Å"Mother too.† â€Å"And that's how we ended up here. We couldn't stay in Charleston forever, never growing old,† Pearl explained. â€Å"Of course, soon we'll have to move again. That's the way it goes. We're gypsies, navigating between Richmond and Atlanta and all the towns in between. And now we have another war to deal with. Seeing so much history really proves to us that some things never do change,† Pearl said, smiling ruefully. â€Å"But there are worse ways to pass the time.† â€Å"I like it here,† Anna admitted. â€Å"That's why I'm scared we'll be sent away.† She said that last part as a whisper, and something about her tone made me achingly sad. I thought of the meeting I'd attended that afternoon. If Father had his way, they wouldn't be sent away, they'd be killed. â€Å"The attacks?† I asked finally. It had been the one question that had been nagging at me ever since Katherine's confession. Because if she didn't do it, then who †¦ ? Pearl shook her head. â€Å"Remember, we're your neighbors and friends. It wasn't us. We never would behave like that.† â€Å"Never,† Anna parroted, shaking her head fearfully, as though she were being accused. â€Å"But some of our tribe have,† Pearl said darkly. Katherine's eyes hardened. â€Å"But it's not just we or the other vampires who are causing trouble. Of course, that's who everyone blames, but no one seems to remember that there's a war going on with untold bloodshed. All people care about are vampires.† Hearing Damon's words in Katherine's mouth was like a bucket of cold water in my face, a reminder that I wasn't the only person in Katherine's universe. â€Å"Who are the other vampires?† I asked gruffly. â€Å"It's our community, and we will take care of it,† Pearl said firmly. She stood up, then walked across the clearing, her feet crunching on the ground until she stood above me. â€Å"Stefan, I've told you the story and now here are the facts: We need blood to live. But we don't need it from humans,† Pearl said, as if she were explaining to one of her customers how an herb worked. â€Å"We can get it from animals. But, like humans, some of us don't have self-control, and some of us attack people. It's really not that much different from a rogue soldier, is it?† I suddenly had an image of one of the soldiers we'd just played poker with. Were any of them vampires, too? â€Å"And remember, Stefan, we only know some. There could be more. We're not as uncommon as you may think,† Katherine said. â€Å"And now, because of these vampires we don't even know, we're all being hunted,† Pearl said, tears filling her eyes. â€Å"That's why we're meeting here tonight. We need to discuss what to do and come up with a plan. Just this afternoon, Honoria Fells brought a vervain concoction to the apothecary. How that woman even knows about vervain, I have no idea. Suddenly, I feel like I'm an animal about to be trapped. People have glanced at our necks, and I know they're wondering about our necklaces, piecing together the fact that all three of us always wear them†¦.† Pearl trailed off as she raised her hands to the sky, as if in an exasperated prayer. Quickly, I glanced at each of the women and realized that Anna and Pearl were wearing ornate cameos like the one Katherine wore. â€Å"The necklace?† I asked, clutching my own throat as if I, too, had a mysterious blue gem there. â€Å"Lapis lazuli. It allows us to walk in daylight. Those of our kind cannot, usually. But these gems protect us. They've allowed us to live normally and, perhaps, even allowed us to stay more in touch with our human side than we would have otherwise,† Pearl said thoughtfully. â€Å"Y don't know ou what it's like, Stefan.† Pearl's matter-of-fact voice dissolved into sobs. â€Å"It's good to know that we have friends we can trust.† I took out my handkerchief from my breast pocket and handed it to her, unsure what else I could do. She dabbed her eyes and shook her head. â€Å"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that you have to know about this, Stefan. I knew from the last time that war changes things, but I never thought †¦ it's too soon to have to move again.† â€Å"I'll protect you,† I heard myself saying, in a voice that didn't quite sound like mine. â€Å"But †¦ but †¦ how?† Pearl asked. Far off in the distance, a branch broke, and all four of us jumped. Pearl glanced around. â€Å"How?† she said again, finally, when all was still. â€Å"My father's leading a charge in a few weeks.† I felt a tiny pinprick of betrayal as I said it. â€Å"Giuseppe Salvatore.† Pearl gasped in disbelief. â€Å"But how did he know?† I shook my head. â€Å"It's Father and Jonathan Gilbert and Honoria Fells and Mayor Lockwood and Sheriff Forbes. They seem to know about vampires from books. Father has an old volume in his study, and together they came up with the idea to lead a siege.† â€Å"Then he'll do it. Giuseppe Salvatore is not a man to have his opinions easily swayed,† Pearl stated. â€Å"No, ma'am.† I realized how funny it was to call a vampire ma'am. But who was I to say what was normal and what wasn't? Once again, my mind drifted to my brother and his words, his casual laughter when it came to Katherine's true nature. Maybe it wasn't that Katherine was evil, or uncommon at all. Maybe the only thing that was uncommon was the fact that Father was fixated on eradicating the vampires. â€Å"Stefan, I promise that nothing I've said to you was a lie,† Pearl said. â€Å"And I know that we will do everything in our power to ensure that no more animals or humans are killed as long as we're here. But you simply must do what you can. For us. Because Anna and I have come too far and gone through too much to simply be killed by our neighbors.† â€Å"Y won't be,† I said, with more conviction ou than I ever had in my life. â€Å"I'm not sure what I'll do yet, but I will protect you. I promise.† I was making the promise to the three of them, but was looking only at Katherine. She nodded, a tiny spark igniting in her eyes. â€Å"Good,† Pearl said, reaching out her hand to help a sleepy-eyed Anna to her feet. â€Å"Now, we've been here in the forest too long. The less we're seen together, the better. And, Stefan, we trust you,† she said, just the tiniest hint of a warning in her otherwise rich voice. â€Å"Of course,† I said, grabbing Katherine's hand as Anna and Pearl walked out of the clearing. I wasn't worried about them. Because they worked at the apothecary, they could get away with walking in the middle of the night; they could easily tell anyone who saw them that they were searching for herbs and mushrooms. searching for herbs and mushrooms. But I was scared for Katherine. Her hands felt so small, and her eyes looked so frightened. She was depending on me, a thought that filled me with equal amounts of pride and dread. â€Å"Oh, Stefan,† Katherine said as she flung her arms around my neck. â€Å"I know everything will be fine as long as we're together.† She grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the forest floor. And then, lying with Katherine amid the pine needles and the damp earth and the smell of her skin, I wasn't frightened anymore.

Financial Business Startup Essay

A major responsibility for new Financial Advisors is to formulate and conduct marketing strategies to develop and enhance client relationships. These activities are normally documented through a marketing plan. Using this document, you are asked to answer hypothetical question – if you were to be hired as a financial advisor, what would your business plan look like? How would you get the word out that you are a Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor? Who would you contact? How would you contact them? How would you tell them your story and the Merrill Lynch story? This document will help you build a preliminary business plan. Keep an open mind as you are asked to think about all the people you touch in a typical day, as well as those people you have touched in the past. These individuals can be potential clients or be a great source of introduction to others who may need your services. Good luck! Feel free to write your responses on a separate piece of paper. Section 1: Your Vision 1. What is your 3-year vision for your business? 2. What are your 3-year personal financial goals? . Please rank order the following in terms of your greatest interest/passion to least. Please describe the personal attributes you have that you believe will contribute to your success as a Financial Advisor. 5. What do you believe ML and your local Management Team can provide to you in your first 90 days in order to help you be successful? 6. Why have you chosen the Financial Services Industry? More specifically, why have you chosen ML? Section 2: Centers of Influence â€Å"Centers of Influence† are individuals in our lives who tend to be well known, well liked and very well networked. â€Å"Centers of Influence† are valuable in making introductions to people that we may be able to help as Merrill Lynch Financial Advisors. Below please record the name of ten people who are â€Å"Centers of Influence† in your life and state what groups they can connect you with.