A Sliver of Awareness essays

A Sliver of Awareness papers The first occasion when I read The Awakening by Kate Chopin, I was disappointed and needed to pound my clench hands on my thighs. I was furious with the creator for denying the character Edna an option to love and satisfaction, just as making her such a narrow minded animal, that ended it all, therefore denying her offspring of their mom. Be that as it may, on closer thoughtfulness and class conversation, I have come to see an alternate side to the story, and have been moved. I see in Edna what I have seen in numerous young ladies, loaded up with vision, as they start their family and their joyfully ever after. However, it generally appears that after the style and ecstasy wears off from the wedding and endowments and new status throughout everyday life, that vision goes to fatigue, dullness, and authenticity. This invites somebody like Robert to introduce themselves as a break from routineexcitement, fascination, show, and a component of risk too. Edna falls prey to the acknowledgment that her wedded life isn't satisfying her, and as confounded as she may be, she feels extraordinary necessities and feelings that must be tended to. Her fascination with Robert, just as her experimentation with craftsmanship, is revealing a similar profound foundations of enthusiasm inside her. She (Edna) rested yet a couple of hours. They were pained and hot hours, upset with dreams that were elusive, that escaped her, leaving just an impression upon her half-stirred faculties of something out of reach. (p. 32). This odd, practically supernatural inclination that Edna has is the consequence of her first acknowledgment of want for Robert. Chopin places sections like this in better places to help the peruser to remember Edna's enthusiastic arousing. Edna felt as though she were being borne away from some dock which had held her quick, whose chains had been looseninghad snapped the prior night when the spiritualist soul was abroad, leaving her allowed to float whithersoever she decided to set her sails. (p. 33). Utilizing these devices, Chopin sets u... <!

Marketing Concepts & Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Advertising Concepts and Strategies - Essay Example This is a decent beginning to my vocation, as I will become familiar with a ton concerning the account work. What's more, I will have worked for little organizations and expanded my mastery and aptitudes. In conclusion, to turn into a money related controller is one of my momentary objectives that I will satisfy. Initially, showcasing is the imaginative side, whereby thoughts and enthusiasm drive what an individual accepts. Moreover, advertising enables an association to procure and keep beneficial clients. Then again, fund centers and assesses the advantages and rewards that are deserving of the business (Blythe, p. 8). The advertising information will help a budgetary controller gives the monetary aftereffects of a business. This remembers the advertising consumption for the association. It includes the financial plan wherein the advertising group needs to complete special exercises, preparing and deals gatherings. Besides, through fiscal summaries that are set up by the money division, it is conceivable to know how much the advertising group spends over a specific period. Also, it will assist them with comprehension and know whether the Return on Investment is certain or not. Through the advertising programs that guide in expanding deals, the monetary controller can screen the patterns of deals and cost slants in the business. The budgetary controller can prompt on the most significant consumptions that an association can make, particularly on regions of promoting and publicizing. The ownership of showcasing information helps a money related controller along with the promoting group to get ready spending plans. Such financial plans involve the consumptions in showcasing efforts and special exercises (Blythe, p. 24). The budgetary controller can likewise quantify the showcasing offices to hold fast as far as possible in financial plans and the productivity of the spending plans that the advertising office has utilized. A portion of the models that apply are as per the following. When processing promoting proportion examination, the monetary controller works intimately with

Provide A Description Of The Apprroaches Of Two Philosphers Of Your

Provide A Description Of The Apprroaches Of Two Philosphers Of Your Provide A Description Of The Apprroaches Of Two Philosphers Of Your Choice To The 'problem Of Evil', â€" Essay Example > Augustine, Swinburne and the Problem of EvilEvil has been a source of philosophic contemplation for as long as there has been philosophy. Some of the greatest minds in history have considered the problem of why evil should exist alongside goodness, with philosophers from Socrates to Swinburne struggling to understand the paradox. The concept of evil carries with it a multitude of connotations: evil can be something as mundane as being that which causes someone pain, or it can be more complex involving subjective opinions of morals or ethics. Fundamental to coming to terms with evil is the assignation of a definition, but even that is a difficult option since what may seem evil to one group can be seen as doing service to God by another; for instance, the events that took place on 9/11. The central contradiction involving the problem of evil is the attempt at reconciling the idea that a God who is considered to be both omnipotent and loving would possess the power to eliminate evil, yet refuse to do so. Medieval philosopher Augustine believed deeply y the omnipotence and infallibility of God and so argued that God's creations used the free will given them to turn away from God. As a result, evil was introduced into the world not by God, but rather by humanity’s lack of control to deny it and do only good. Augustine's methodology for finding a solution the contradiction of evil is threefold. Augustine begins with the presumption that that evil is a privation and therefore does not actually exist; in this way he maintains the Aristotelian thought that only goodness exudes from God. Augustine elucidates further that human perception of evil is based upon the assumption that it is the absence of good in everything that God created. Though created by a perfect being, all things created are subject to the corruption of human beings, which implies an absence of good in all things that are created because these things are not in themselves the greatest good, which is God. Augustine’s second part to his solution to the problem of evil is that he argues that this apparent imperfection of any part of creation disappears in light of the perfection of the whole. Augustine writes that “Out of all things is built up the admirable beauty of the universe, wherein even that which is called evil, properly ordered and disposed, commends the good the more evidently, so that the good be more pleasing and praiseworthy when contrasted with evil. ” Augustine expresses the perspective that goodness would have little value if evil did not also exist to make the good that much more worthy. By taking this approach, Augustine is able to deny the existence of that which contemporary philosophy terms instrumental or evil that has had a long term positive effect on the world. Instrumental evil is the kind of evil that is not determinant based upon immediacy, but rather is an integral part of a long, evolutionary process that ultimately results in a goodness that exceeds the original harmful intent. In contrast to instrumental evil, Augustine posits the idea of genuine evil, which is essentially the understanding of an evil that would have left the world better had it not occurred.

United Arab of Emirates Country Notebook - 18844 Words

United Arab of Emirates Country Notebook Presented to Dr. Shahira El Alfy Prepared by: Mohamed Ibrahim Osama Mosher Ismail Ahmed El-Mohamady Hesham Mostafa Eslsca 36 – Global Management I. Cultural Analysis: Identification of the Emirates History: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) consists of the seven emirates, which are: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al-Qaiwain, and Fujairah. They were united as a federal state on 2 December 1971 and formed the so called â€Å"United Arab Emirates†. Before the discovery of oil and establishment of the oil economy in the early 1960s, two main orientations shaped traditional local culture: the nomadic†¦show more content†¦The family is the most important social institution in the United Arab Emirates encompassing grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc as well as the immediate nuclear family unit. Relationships with these extended families are strong and respect is accorded to the elder members. 1-Nuclear Family amp; Extended Family The traditional household unit of the extended family has been undermined. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is trending towards nuclear family; over 80% of Emirati couples live as nuclear families in their homes. Large families are encouraged by the Emirates as a national policy; family size is six to eight children. Although extended families are not living in the same home, they frequently live in the same neighborhood to keep in contact. Families in the United Arab Emirates are also known to have maids from Asian countries and not from the Gulf States to take care of cleaning duties. 2- Dynamics of the Family a- Parental Roles: The husband s authority is declining, while the wife is gaining importance as a mother and the manager of the domestic Family affaires. Taking care of the family and raising children is the main job for Emirati women. Only 6% of Emirati women are in the workforce, meaning their main concentration lies at home with children and extended family. When women do enter the workforce, they are usually in jobs that do not consist of many men. The families of UAE are slowlyShow MoreRelatedUnited Arab of Emirates Country Notebook18844 Words   |  76 PagesUnited Arab of Emirates Country Notebook Presented to Dr. Shahira El Alfy Prepared by: Mohamed Ibrahim Osama Mosher Ismail Ahmed El-Mohamady Hesham Mostafa Eslsca 36 – Global Management I. Cultural Analysis: Identification of the Emirates History: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) consists of the seven emirates, which are: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al-Qaiwain, and Fujairah. They were united as a federalRead MoreFour Seasons Marketing Plan6707 Words   |  27 PagesUnited Arab Emirates Country Notebook Four Seasons Marketing Plan Steve Callis Carlos-David Islas-Labastida Renee Werner April 25, 2006 Georgia State University Table of Contents Topic Part One: United Arab Emirates Country Notebook I. Introduction II. Geography III. Economic Environment IV. Cultural Environment V. Business Customs and Practices VI. Political Environment VII. Legal Environment VIII. Marketing Research IX. Other Statistics X. Competitive Environment Part Two: Four Seasons MarketingRead MoreUae Cultural Analysis Essay examples7726 Words   |  31 PagesUnited Arab Emirates Country Notebook Cultural Analysis Executive Summary United Arab Emirates is a country that is built of several different emirates located on the peninsula of the Persian Gulf. The country was occupied by Great Britain up until 1971. After the removal of the British government the seven Sheikdoms became independent and formed the UAE. The country has a typically desert climate with ocean access on both sides of the country. Located in the Middle East theRead MoreUAE Consumer Lifestyle Analysis42818 Words   |  172 PagesConsumer Lifestyles - United Arab Emirates Euromonitor International August 2010 List of Contents and Tables Structure of the Report 1 Consumer Trends 1 Increased Demand for Health and Wellness Products in the Middle East 2 Popularity of Online Shopping Grows Amongst UAE Consumers 3 Generation of Newly Thrifty UAE Consumers 3 Rental Rates Plummet Across the Uae, Adding To Consumer Disposable Income 4 Environmentally Friendly Consumers on the Rise in UAE 5 Consumer SegmentationRead MoreIst Quiz 1 Essay2291 Words   |  10 Pagesarea network (LAN) c. Storage area network (SAN) d. Raid System 10. A(n) ________ is a computer and all the software for managing network resources and offering services to a network. a. Fiber optic network b. Server c. Notebook d. Think client 11. A typical OS consists of control programs and ________ programs. a. Interface b. Processing c. Supervisor d. Client 12. ________ can be commercial software or software developed in-house and isRead MoreA380 Essay11182 Words   |  45 PagesKong for example, and a cruising speed of Mach 0.85 (about 900 km/h or 560 mph at cruising altitude). As of September 2011 there had been 236 firm orders for the A380, of which 57 have been delivered. The largest order, for 90 aircraft, was from Emirates. Background In the summer of 1988, a group of Airbus engineers led by Jean Roeder began work in secret on the development of an ultra-high-capacity airliner (UHCA), both to complete its own range of products and to break the dominance that BoeingRead MoreEssay MKT 505 ASSIGNMENT 34730 Words   |  19 Pagescultural and social activity of a particular organization is carried to an international level. It helps in the exchange of ideas, goods and services between the people of different nations which overall leads to the expansion of the society of a country. To expand globally, a company has three key questions to answer: â€Å"The essential act of entrepreneurship is the new entry. It can be accomplished by entering new or established markets with new or existing goods or services. New entry is the actRead MoreThe Hawala Extortion Method 18441 Words   |  74 PagesHAWALA INTRODUCTION [pic] Among the methods terrorists worldwide use to move money from regions that finance them to target countries some hardly leave any traceable trail. As regulators learned recently, one of the weak points in the payments chain through which illicit funds can enter is a system of traditional trust-based banking originating in southern Asia which is known as hawala. The word hawala is Hindi meaning trust or exchange. Often used in relationRead MoreThe Economic Impact of Globalization on Turkey6421 Words   |  26 Pagesdeficit implies a high rollover ratio of the external debt. Turkish Industry Pre- late 1970s: Heavy government control. Trade protectionism. Before the 1980s, Turkish modernizers applied the import-substitution strategy. It was designed to make the country an independent producer of manufactured goods. The result was a striking unfolding of industry, especially between 1950 and 1977, when the industrial sector grew at an annual average rate of 8.6% in real terms (10% annually from 1973 to 1977), expandingRead MoreThe Economic Impact of Globalization on Turkey6413 Words   |  26 Pagesimplies a high rollover ratio of the external debt. Turkish Industry Pre- late 1970s: Heavy government control. Trade protectionism. Before the 1980s, Turkish modernizers applied the import-substitution strategy. It was designed to make the country an independent producer of manufactured goods. The result was a striking unfolding of industry, especially between 1950 and 1977, when the industrial sector grew at an annual average rate of 8.6% in real terms (10% annually from 1973 to 1977), expanding United Arab of Emirates Country Notebook - 18844 Words United Arab of Emirates Country Notebook Presented to Dr. Shahira El Alfy Prepared by: Mohamed Ibrahim Osama Mosher Ismail Ahmed El-Mohamady Hesham Mostafa Eslsca 36 – Global Management I. Cultural Analysis: Identification of the Emirates History: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) consists of the seven emirates, which are: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al-Qaiwain, and Fujairah. They were united as a federal state on 2 December 1971 and formed the so called â€Å"United Arab Emirates†. Before the discovery of oil and establishment of the oil economy in the early 1960s, two main orientations shaped traditional local culture: the nomadic†¦show more content†¦Since then, the country has progressed with efforts of ensuring high literacy rates, modern programs and women’s share in education. The UAE currently devotes approximately 25 percent of total federal government spending to education. Public education is free for male and female citizen children through the university level. Beginning in the academic year 2006–7, expatriate students may, for a fee, attend government schools. The UAE has one of the lowest student-to-teacher ratios (15:1) in the world. A-Primary Education Education is compulsory through the ninth grade, Citizen Children are required to attend gender-segregated schools through the sixth grade, the last grade of primary education. Primary school enrollment for males in 2006 stood at 85% and 82% of females. 97% of entrants reached the 5th grade. The Ministry of Education has adopted â€Å"Education 2020,† a series of five-year plans designed to introduce advanced education techniques, improve innovative skills, and focus more on the self-learning abilities of students. As part of this program, an enhanced curriculum for mathematics and integrated science was introduced at first-grade level for the 2003–4 academic year in all government schools. The UAE has sought to implement and monitor high quality education standards by undertaking new policies, programs and initiatives. Stressing the importance of â€Å"modern curricula with assorted andShow MoreRelatedUnited Arab of Emirates Country Notebook18844 Words   |  76 PagesUnited Arab of Emirates Country Notebook Presented to Dr. Shahira El Alfy Prepared by: Mohamed Ibrahim Osama Mosher Ismail Ahmed El-Mohamady Hesham Mostafa Eslsca 36 – Global Management I. Cultural Analysis: Identification of the Emirates History: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) consists of the seven emirates, which are: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al-Qaiwain, and Fujairah. They were united as a federalRead MoreFour Seasons Marketing Plan6707 Words   |  27 PagesUnited Arab Emirates Country Notebook Four Seasons Marketing Plan Steve Callis Carlos-David Islas-Labastida Renee Werner April 25, 2006 Georgia State University Table of Contents Topic Part One: United Arab Emirates Country Notebook I. Introduction II. Geography III. Economic Environment IV. Cultural Environment V. Business Customs and Practices VI. Political Environment VII. Legal Environment VIII. Marketing Research IX. Other Statistics X. Competitive Environment Part Two: Four Seasons MarketingRead MoreUae Cultural Analysis Essay examples7726 Words   |  31 PagesUnited Arab Emirates Country Notebook Cultural Analysis Executive Summary United Arab Emirates is a country that is built of several different emirates located on the peninsula of the Persian Gulf. The country was occupied by Great Britain up until 1971. After the removal of the British government the seven Sheikdoms became independent and formed the UAE. The country has a typically desert climate with ocean access on both sides of the country. Located in the Middle East theRead MoreUAE Consumer Lifestyle Analysis42818 Words   |  172 PagesConsumer Lifestyles - United Arab Emirates Euromonitor International August 2010 List of Contents and Tables Structure of the Report 1 Consumer Trends 1 Increased Demand for Health and Wellness Products in the Middle East 2 Popularity of Online Shopping Grows Amongst UAE Consumers 3 Generation of Newly Thrifty UAE Consumers 3 Rental Rates Plummet Across the Uae, Adding To Consumer Disposable Income 4 Environmentally Friendly Consumers on the Rise in UAE 5 Consumer SegmentationRead MoreIst Quiz 1 Essay2291 Words   |  10 Pagesarea network (LAN) c. Storage area network (SAN) d. Raid System 10. A(n) ________ is a computer and all the software for managing network resources and offering services to a network. a. Fiber optic network b. Server c. Notebook d. Think client 11. A typical OS consists of control programs and ________ programs. a. Interface b. Processing c. Supervisor d. Client 12. ________ can be commercial software or software developed in-house and isRead MoreA380 Essay11182 Words   |  45 PagesKong for example, and a cruising speed of Mach 0.85 (about 900 km/h or 560 mph at cruising altitude). As of September 2011 there had been 236 firm orders for the A380, of which 57 have been delivered. The largest order, for 90 aircraft, was from Emirates. Background In the summer of 1988, a group of Airbus engineers led by Jean Roeder began work in secret on the development of an ultra-high-capacity airliner (UHCA), both to complete its own range of products and to break the dominance that BoeingRead MoreEssay MKT 505 ASSIGNMENT 34730 Words   |  19 Pagescultural and social activity of a particular organization is carried to an international level. It helps in the exchange of ideas, goods and services between the people of different nations which overall leads to the expansion of the society of a country. To expand globally, a company has three key questions to answer: â€Å"The essential act of entrepreneurship is the new entry. It can be accomplished by entering new or established markets with new or existing goods or services. New entry is the actRead MoreThe Hawala Extortion Method 18441 Words   |  74 PagesHAWALA INTRODUCTION [pic] Among the methods terrorists worldwide use to move money from regions that finance them to target countries some hardly leave any traceable trail. As regulators learned recently, one of the weak points in the payments chain through which illicit funds can enter is a system of traditional trust-based banking originating in southern Asia which is known as hawala. The word hawala is Hindi meaning trust or exchange. Often used in relationRead MoreThe Economic Impact of Globalization on Turkey6421 Words   |  26 Pagesdeficit implies a high rollover ratio of the external debt. Turkish Industry Pre- late 1970s: Heavy government control. Trade protectionism. Before the 1980s, Turkish modernizers applied the import-substitution strategy. It was designed to make the country an independent producer of manufactured goods. The result was a striking unfolding of industry, especially between 1950 and 1977, when the industrial sector grew at an annual average rate of 8.6% in real terms (10% annually from 1973 to 1977), expandingRead MoreThe Economic Impact of Globalization on Turkey6413 Words   |  26 Pagesimplies a high rollover ratio of the external debt. Turkish Industry Pre- late 1970s: Heavy government control. Trade protectionism. Before the 1980s, Turkish modernizers applied the import-substitution strategy. It was designed to make the country an independent producer of manufactured goods. The result was a striking unfolding of industry, especially between 1950 and 1977, when the industrial sector grew at an annual average rate of 8.6% in real terms (10% annually from 1973 to 1977), expanding

Immigration to the United States - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2058 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/02/20 Category History Essay Level High school Tags: Oral History Essay Did you like this example? The United States is a nation of immigrants. This makes it essential to review the experiences of immigrants as a way of understanding how these experiences shape the economy of the country. One of the core issues of immigration to the United States is the American dream which makes immigrants relocate to the nation in pursuit of new opportunities and improved life. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Immigration to the United States" essay for you Create order The number of immigrants into the United States continues to grow with the majority coming from Africa and Asia. Immigrants accounted for over 12% of the United States population in the year 2009 (Fishman, 53). More so, American history especially around 1800, immigrants into American have not been identified as Americans as seen Indian-Americans, Mexican-American, Spanish-Americas and so on. Immigrants are expected to assimilate American culture regarding values, and customs fast and shed off their homeland traditions. With this challenge, immigrants have been able to forge a unique identity which has helped them effectively blend with the rest of the American population. African immigrants into the United States are more educated and proficient in English as well as having a higher social-economic status than immigrants from other parts of the globe (Fosco, DD). It has for long been assumed that immigrants come as laborers to improve their lives. Looking at the experience of immigr ants today may shed new light into the issue of immigration. Therefore, this paper examines the experience of immigrants in acculturation to the United States. For this study, I interviewed an immigrant of African decency to establish his perception of acculturation to the United States. Thus, there is a need to have an overview of the interviewee. Therefore, the discussions in this paper rely on oral history conducted on one individual. My interviewee was a twenty-five-year-old man, Timothy, from Nigeria’s capital Lagos. While still in Nigeria, Timothy had acquired a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Management from one of the leading public universities in Nigeria. He now stays in Colorado and is pursuing another master’s degree from a University in Missouri. Like most students in Africa, Timothy started learning English from a young age and continues to study the language even past high school level. He was also a teacher in college while in Nigeria. Though he has not focused on studying English as a core subject, he was proficient in American university ev en outperforming some of the American students. His choice of coming to the United States was motivated by the financial offer and was more so interested in entering the American culture. Timothy considers returning to Nigeria but coming back to the United States remains a possibility for the future. His class and social status could be viewed as to have been critical in his transition to life in the United States. He maintains a linkage with other Nigerians in the country which maintains ties with his native country. The narration by Timothy and the development of his identity as a Nigerian-American is not a norm among Nigerian-Americans. Majority of Nigerians in America are a working class and strive hard for survival. According to Brown and Marie, 989), the migration from Nigeria is meant to escape poverty, hunger, extremism and also for job opportunities. More than 60 percent of Nigerians live below the United Nations poverty line with the majority of the population unemployment or the lucky ones, underemployed. As indicated, he is educated and still pursuing a Master’s degree. This means that in his stay, he has not experienced hostility as other migrants who came earlier or those who came primarily for jobs. Timothy’s choice of immigration was for a personal goal. He applied for a scholarship hence his moving to the United States was a deliberate and showed concerted effort. Research indicates that the level of voluntary or involuntary migration affects the level and rate of acculturation to a new culture. When immigration is involuntary, it forces an immigrant to forced status against their will. It forms an act of forced assimilation which results in marginalization and hence discrimination and social subordination. On the other hand, voluntary migration, the reception to cultural maintenance is lower. The other aspect that affects timothy is the perception of opportunity in the United States. Core to this is the American dream which he regards as the essence of having a good job, beautiful house, good car and enjoying the necessary luxuries. On the same not, motivation to studying English for Timothy was ingrown from a young age as his parents were travelers. His mother encouraged him to study English as the language would help him communicate anywhere in the world. I also enquired to Timothy about acculturation and acculturation stress in the United States. This rose as I inquired about what inspired them for being in the United States for the first time. He expressed that he was already exposed to the United States lifestyle through media. But for him, the reality was different from what was portrayed in media. Regarding acculturative stress, he said that throughout his life, he was learned of culture. He says that he had an idea of the enormous gaps between cultures. On the other hand, culture shock, which are that initial difficulty when arriving at a new culture. For him, the difference was that America was more of cities and development. He says that this was a shift from a small town into a developed city. We further discussed on his expectations on coming to the United States as based on media portrayals. Timothy developed his perception of the United States from watching American programs. These experiences shaped his understanding of the United States. From his description of the United States expectations, Timothy was living in a misconception. For instance, in the programs, America is portrayed as more of suburbs and cities with buildup areas. This was different from where he lives in America as it is a smaller town. The rush and craziness of the city in films and programs do not exist or not as in the movies. Another critical aspect of immigration was language proficiency. Though Timothy is fluent in English, he still finds a difficulty in communicating with natives; majorly due to accent. Nigerian Community in the United States Today, the number of Nigerian-owned business in America is higher compared to twenty years ago. There is a substantial number of restaurants, clubs as well as cultural events not to mention Nigerian themed businesses and church. The increase in these social amenities serves to point at the significance of the number of Nigerians abroad. It also suggests that Nigerians are inclined into staying in the state. This can further be supported by the events that more Nigerians are buying houses and paying taxes as well as sending their children to American schools (Fosco, Daily Dose). The booming number of Nigerians in the United States is looking to engage in business both internationally and locally. More people are setting up businesses in the United States rather than their home countries even with steady economic improvement in those countries. Nigerian nationals are looking to improve on their abilities and talents as well as resources for them to effectively compete in a global economy. With the increasing number of Nigerians in the United States, there has been a developed class of Nigerian-Americans. For instance, Timothy is pursuing a Master’s Degree and holds yet another Master’s Degree. The education status among Nigerians makes a professional class with contributes to the development of the identity. The proliferation of Nigerian-owned and themed businesses, restaurants, clubs, and the festival has shown, it has helped immigrants maintain strong connections with their country of origin. But one’s relationship to homelands both past and present can be affected by circumstances surrounding one’s migration, as the example of Timothy migration demonstrates. Apart from the experiences described above, there are push or pull factors that make an individual migrate to another nation. These can be viewed as the factors that compelled Timothy to come to the United States. One of the factors that contribute to Nigerians coming to the United States is family. I Nigeria, there is the threat of terror group, Boko Haram and which has been waging wars and kidnaping people on the country. The move, in this case, can be viewed as a way to safeguarding own security. The grave danger from the terror group would lead to a self-imposed exile. For, however, education was the core reasoning for migration. The United States offers better education and opportunities that home country. Acquiring education from the United States means that he would be in higher demand in his home country (Duany, 156). The Chronology website relates the transitioning in identity for Timothy as to have been greatly influenced by his academic credentials. This is because education is setting for personal growth, it would have become an essential instrument in the transition of Timothy. The notion of white supremacy to him does not exist as he fairs better than most of his white learners. His academic successes and skills, therefore, helped in setting him apart of the rest of the population and aided in his integration in a white society. Further, exposure to the English language from earlier ages made him ready to face a different culture. He is able to fit in the American society seamlessly. Though it is required that he returns to his home country, he is looking forward to returning and continuing the identity with the English language. Identity Timothy has lived in the United States for three years. In that time, he has not managed to return home. This has led him into perceiving that he is part of the mainstream American population (Dodd, NCAAFB). Despite this, he still connects with his backyard in Nigeria and has contact with Nigerian heritage. He still has hope for returning home and improving their status. In his stay in the United States, Timothy has developed duplicity of identity. He is not Nigerian any more, and he is American too. He still holds in high regard his Nigerian growing and says those cannot be left behind. Throughout the interview, he described himself as American and Nigerian. He yearns of returning to Nigeria as, though he has American perceptions, he argues that he is Nigerian all way. He noted that he felt distinctly American. Considering his official residence status, the process took time as he came to the United States using an education Visa. He says that he would very much like to naturalize, but he is afraid of being said to be a traitor to his homeland. If he chooses to remain in the United States, it would be a choice he would not regret having made. He continues to say despite having African decency. He says that blacks should stick together. The culture in the United States and Nigeria seems similar hence there would be no need for them to separate based on country of origin (Knight et al., 843). It is common that in identity, a person will identify with nationality first then region but for Timothy, the region comes first and nationality second. Conclusion This paper has expounded on the factors that contribute to the development of immigrant identity. For some immigrants, they view themselves as neither mixed not fixed, but they are dynamic in that they can fit in two or more cultures. The story of Timothy may not be unique when it comes to immigrants, but it illustrates how one’s community, class, networks, educator and language can impact on a person’s experiences and immigration circumstances. These factors contribute to shaping a sense of shared identity. It can be argued that the development of an American – Nigerian identity is not an issue of transition, but rather an issue of connection with Nigerian background. The number of Nigerians in the United States is also ballooning which has contributed to the formation of association linking Nigerian nationals in the United States. The association makes him enjoy the privilege of riding in his Nigerian heritage. His social status and education contributed immen sely in fitting in the American society. His education and English language proficiency contributed to his eventual assimilation in American society. The experience in American perhaps helped him in developing a sense of shared identity between American and Nigerian.

Tobacco Addiction Hookah Free Essays

Jared Fujikuni Psych 22 April 5, 2013 Tobacco Addiction: Water Pipes An addiction is the compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance which is defined by physiological symptoms upon withdrawal. Addiction is more commonly referred to activities in a negative sense because the substance is often harmful to the user. One of the most addicting substances is nicotine, which is found within tobacco. We will write a custom essay sample on Tobacco Addiction: Hookah or any similar topic only for you Order Now The first thought that comes to mind when referencing to tobacco addiction is smoking cigarettes, but there are many other ways to consume tobacco such as: dip (chewing tobacco), cigars, and water pipes. Although the water pipe has been around for hundreds of years, it has only recently become popular. It has spread throughout the Middle East to Europe, all the way to North America, targeting pre-teens to young adults in college. There is an abundant amount of research done on the damaging effects of cigarettes, but as the water pipe craze is relatively new, there is still very little information on the health risks that this fresh social nicotine addiction may contain. The water pipe has many different street names which are a lot more exotic and alluring: hookah, shisha, boory, goza, nargile, arghile, and hubble bubble/hubbly bubbly. Smoking hookah is a sensual and relaxing experience which is often done with a group of people. This bonding social activity gives smoking a different dimension of appeal compared to the normal singular act of smoking a cigarette, but may also contribute to the development of addiction. The water pipe is often an elegant looking device resembling a flower vase that sits on a table in between the party. The group will usually be sitting comfortably around the hookah which encourages long sessions that often include over fifty puffs of the hookah. The type of tobacco that is smoked through the water pipe is called maassel, which is fermented in molasses and fruit essences. There are many different flavors that appeal to all smokers. The smoke is often sweet or minty and cooled by the water filter which makes it easy for even nonsmokers to enjoy. First the tobacco is placed within a clay bowl covered by aluminum foil which heads the water pipe. Coals are placed on top of the head to heat the tobacco. The vase of the hookah is filled half way with liquid (usually water). The smoker inhales through a tube that is connected to the vase. The smoke is drawn through the stem of the pipe and filtered through the water before going through the tube that the smoker is inhaling on. The smoker is able to inhale clouds of smoke while simultaneously drawing air over the coals which further burns the tobacco. There are many cafes and bars that are dedicated to smoking hookah. These cafes have become increasingly popular among college students and are popping up all over the United States. Hookahs are also easily purchased through smoke shops or online. Smoking hookah has become a very popular social event because of its slow pace and relaxing feel. It allows people to partake in an activity which doesn’t require any concentration and allows them to socialize for an hour or so. It is more active than getting together for a coffee but not distracting enough to take away from a conversation. Yet the slow pace of the hookah experience is part of why it might be very dangerous. The total amount of exposure to nicotine through the prolonged smoking pattern is extremely unhealthy. Researchers from the American University of Beirut analyzed smoking patterns at a hookah lounge and reported that smokers inhaled ten times as often as a typical cigarette smoker would. Not only this, but each inhale contained about ten times as much smoke volume as a single cigarette puff. A single hookah session could have the smoke volume equivalent of one hundred cigarettes. To defend the health risks of hookah smoking, many argue that when inhaling, it is nott necessary to inhale all the way into the lungs, but to simply play with the smoke in the mouth like with a cigar. However, researchers have collected data that estimate absorption of nicotine and other substances contained in hookah smoke state otherwise. Despite the volume of exposure, hookah smokers are still exposed to fewer toxins than cigarette smokers. The studies indicate that hookah smokers are absorbing high levels of toxins and carcinogens that contribute to the development of heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases† (Harvard, 2008, p. 3). Hookah is often argued as a healthier way of smoking because the smoke is filtered through water, but clearly it does not filter out all of the toxins. There is still enough nicotine getting through to become addicted. The amount of nicotine that is produced by smoking hookah can vary depending on multiple variables: type of tobacco, number of coals, duration of use, and the inhaling technique. The number of coals which is related to the temperature that the hookah would be burning at has a huge impact on the amount of toxins that are inhaled. If the coals are actually burning the tobacco instead of â€Å"baking† or â€Å"steaming† the shisha, the tar in the tobacco could be burned which is very unhealthy to inhale. Researchers found that chronic respiratory symptoms were found in younger hookah smokers rather than older ones which suggest that the younger users were smoking more intensely or not being as careful to not burn the tar. Saliva samples showed that carbon monoxide exposure was twice as high in hookah smokers as in cigarette smokers. As far as long-term health effects, there hasn’t been much research to make any solid conclusions but like in other tobacco related addictions, there was increased chance of periodontal disease, cardiovascular problems, increased heart rate and blood pressure and problems with the child of women who were pregnant while smoking. Despite the health risks (that the majority of smokers don’t even know about), smoking hookah has a huge appeal. It is a social activity that gives bored young adults something to do as well as relaxes the body. The social aspect of the water pipe makes quitting the addiction much different than quitting smoking cigarettes. The hookah smoker is not only addicted to nicotine but also addicted to a fun activity that encourages socializing. It is easy to see how and why young adults would become addicted to smoking hookah. It is also easy to see why hookah lounges are rapidly popping up across the world as addiction equals profit. â€Å"While hookah is alluring, it also appears to be a health hazard. Clearly, there are safer ways to relax† (Harvard, 2008, p. 3). Two studies were recently done on hookah smokers. The first study wanted to figure out if hookah smoking encouraged cigarette addiction, while the other sought to decipher the demographics of those who smoke hookah based off a study done on female college freshmen. The first study was done on students in Denmark. They tested men that were all non-smokers who occasionally smoked a cigarette but were not yet addicted. Through surveying, they discovered that the men that also occasionally or regularly smoked from a water pipe were more likely to become regular cigarette mokers. Although this is a rather weak study, it shows that the tobacco in hookah still contributes to nicotine addiction. A side point that the study made was that hookah could be a potential gateway for smoking cigarettes. â€Å"Special features such as the lower temperature of the smoke and the aromas of water pipe tobacco can contribute to enforcin g this mechanism, leading toward smoking cigarettes regularly† (Jensen, 2010, p. 1256). The second study helped determine the appeal of smoking hookah. Syracuse University did a study on female freshmen at a private university in New York through online participation which was paid. The study based the results on the volunteers who had not smoked hookah before their freshman year. There were many factors that were predicted to determine whether the students would partake in smoking or not. The protective factors: high school GPA, religion, health value, and self-esteem. The risk factors: impulsivity/sensation-seeking, depression, anxiety, and social comparison. â€Å"†¦experimenting with hookah might be part of a normative process of seeking new experiences, as a rate of other substance use peak during the 18-25 age range† (Fielder, 2012, p. 64). Freshmen year is where students are insecure, seek self-discovery, and take risks. â€Å"†¦the transition to college is a likely time for hookah initiation given the increased freedom enjoyed by residential students, the popularity of hookah lounges in college towns, the ability of students under age 21 to get into hookah lounges but not regular bars, media portrayals of hookah smoking as exotic and tr endy, permissive social norms about substance use typical of the college environment, and the developmental task of identity exploration† (Fielder, 2012, p. 46). All of these factor into the study and reasoning behind the engagement in hookah addiction. The study results showed that twenty-three percent initiated hookah use during their freshmen year which is not a huge percentage but there were many limitations to this study. A volunteer survey that took place at a private school that targeted women was the make-up for a limited study. The results showed that the biggest correlation with smoking hookah was alcohol intake. The other predicted factors weren’t strong enough to make a correlation. The study also showed that one-third of the surveys had already smoked hookah before their freshman year which shows the popularity. Despite the actual addiction to nicotine and the appeal of the head rush, one of the biggest aspects to smoking that is often over-looked is the smoke itself. Although the smoke is in some ways mysteriously uncontrollable, the art of the smoke cloud projecting out of the smoker’s mouth gives off a sense of creativity and ownership. The smoke is art whether it is blown out through technique such as a ring or simply as a cloud. The clouds achievable by smoking hookah are by far the largest. The water pipe’s allure combined with its targeted consumer is the perfect set-up for a generation of nicotine addicts. With still very little known about the long-term health risks, too many risk-seeking college students are falling into the social nicotine trap. It may start off as an innocent activity, but soon enough it could become a daily routine, henceforth an addiction. Harvard Medical School. (2008). Why waterpipe smoking raises concerns about addiction and other health problems. The Hazards of Hookah. Jensen, Poul Densoe. (2010). Waterpipe use predicts progression to regular cigarette smoking among Danish youth. Tobacco: Waterpipe Smoking. Fielder, Robyn L. , Carey, Kate B. , Carey, Michael P. (2012). Predictors of initiation of hookah tobacco smoking: a one-year prospective study of first-year college women. How to cite Tobacco Addiction: Hookah, Papers

Business Law and Ethics. Is there an enforceable contract between Sama

Questions: 1. Is there an enforceable contract between Samantha and Julie? 2. Is promissory estoppel relevant to Samanthas dispute with Dave from Outrageous Costumes? Answers: 1. In the instant case, Samantha was a high school drama teacher. She was going to produce and present her own created drama play for the annual school drama named Smurfs in Space. She had to take care of different aspects such as catering, costumes etc. For the purpose of catering, she had approached Julie, a 16 year old student. She had a domestic set up for her business. Samantha had asked her to prepare sandwiches and cakes for 100 people to which she agreed. Herein, an offer had been made and acceptance was also conveyed (Khourya, 2009). Julie had put in certain conditions to her service. She had asked for a weeks notice before commencement of her preparations. She had decided to charge $ 5 per person, i.e. $ 500 for the entire service. Julie had also mentioned that she had a Facebook page wherein orders could be placed. Samantha had sent a text message to her telling her to start her preparations for the cakes and sandwiches. This covers up the aspect of consideration which is in monetary terms. However the possibility of this agreement of becoming a contract gets marred due to Julies age. Julie was 16 years old which made her a minor [1](Monahan, 2007). Any contract made with a minor becomes void at the inception. This aspect can be reviewed by the minor once he/she reaches an age of majority i.e. 18 years[2]. However in cases where a minor attains property and gets entangled to certain legal obligations like partnerships, minor is bound by such obligations unless avoided by the minor (Willmott, 2005). There is legislation in the state of Victoria which speaks of a minors obligation. According to section 49 of the Supreme Court Act [No. 6387 s. 70] certain contracts are considered void- Contracts where the minor has either borrowed or lent money[3]. Contracts where a transaction of goods take place where money is the consideration. Contracts involving accounts related matter. In the instant case, the second concept comes into consideration. Julie had entered into an agreement to deliver homemade food to Samantha for monetary value. The contract law of Australia prohibits such a contract. Hence it can be concluded that the contract between Samantha and Julie cannot be validated due to Julie being a minor. 2. Samantha had looked online for costumes and found Outrageous Costumes, an online based store. Dave was the proprietor of this establishment. She contacted Dave informing her requirement of three Smurf space suits with extra silver and blue material. Dave responded by saying that the extra requirements were costly and he would have to order them specially. She agreed to the proposition. At this junction, both offer and acceptance had been completed. A week later, Dave sent a message to Samantha saying that he had arranged for the materials and unless he got a notification from her, he was going start preparing for the costumes. Samantha received the message but chose to ignore it. She had got a much better offer from a parent from her school wherein her work was promised to be done for free. Two days prior to the drama day, she contacted Dave and cancelled her order. Dave was disappointed by this since he had almost completed the costumes and could not reuse them. By this act, the concept of promissory estoppel comes into play. It was true that no consideration was discussed (Latimer, 2015). However in the case of estoppels, mere promise is sufficient (Radan, 2009). When intent to enter into an agreement is shown, and breaking of the promise causes deprivation or damage to either party, estoppel comes into limelight[4]. The traditional concepts of contract creation can be ignored in cases of promissory estoppel (Lindsay, 2004). Some essentials of promissory estoppel can be discussed as below: There must be a relationship of contract. Even hints of contractual talks can be considered[5]. When one party makes a proposition to carry out a promise and the other party believes that the promise is going to be performed. The party who believes the promise must suffer to the promise made. He/she must have faced a loss. Breaking of promise is not prohibited but if that results in loss or is in detriment to the promisee, estoppel will ensue[6]. In such matters courts determines methods to relieve the sufferer from the ill effects of the contract breach. They usually dont force a party to complete ones promise until it is absolutely indispensable. In this instant case, Samantha is bound by the rule of promissory estoppel and she might be sued by Dave for equitable relief. Reference https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/sca1986183/s49.html Khoury, D. and Yamouni, Y. (2009). Understanding contract law. Chatswood, N.S.W.: LexisNexis Butterworths. Latimer, P. (2015). Australian business law 2015. CCH Australia. Lindsay, G. (2004). Contract. Pyrmont, N.S.W.: Lawbook Co. Monahan, G. and Carr-Gregg, S. (2007). Essential contract law. New York, NY: Routledge-Cavendish. Radan, P. and Gooley, J. (2009). Principles of Australian contract law. Chatswood, N.S.W.: LexisNexis Butterworths. Willmott, L., Christensen, S. and Butler, D. (2005). Contract law. South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Oxford University Press.

An Analysis of the Battle of Bunker Hill free essay sample

British troops, who have been stationed in Boston since 1768 in response to ever-growing civic unrest and public protests (previously culminating in such focal junctures as the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1773), served as the city’s garrison, martial police force, and bodyguard to the royal officials. The newly appointed governor of Boston, General Thomas Gage, was at the time also the incumbent commander-in-chief of British forces in all of North America and oversaw a force of 4,000 regulars garrisoned within the city . The commencing actions of this rudimentary corps under his command defined the early onset of the Revolutionary War, highlighted in particular by the Battle of Bunker Hill the significance and impact of which on the greater war itself is the answer I aim to provide in response to the research question. The backdrop to the battle was comprised by several important moves, developments, and confrontations, marking the official beginning of the conflict which would ultimately continue over the next eight years. We will write a custom essay sample on An Analysis of the Battle of Bunker Hill or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page On September 1st, 1774, General Gage ordered the seizure and removal of a provincial gunpowder magazine and the confiscation of two 12-iber field artillery pieces located near Winter Hill, a small elevation just West of Charlestown. The incident, which would later become known as the Powder Alarm, prompted the Continental troops to spend the following several months assembling their militia regiments, securing supplies and armaments, and establishing a strong presence in the territory surrounding Boston in preparation for armed confrontation with the British crown . The ominous, months-long anticipation finally materialized on April 19, 1775, into the nascent engagements of the Revolutionary War, with first shots fired in Lexington, and later that day in Concord where around 500 minutemen outgunned a company of British regulars, deployed by Gage under orders to capture and destroy rebel arms stockpiles. The retreating British troops proceeded to suffer heavy casualties on a 21-hour, 40 mile long retreat from Concord to Boston, pursued and repeatedly ambushed by hundreds of militiamen. After finally reaching safety on high ground in Charlestown and getting screened by the long-range cannons of the British gunship, HMS Somerset, anchored at the crossing of Charles River, the British forces were besieged inside Boston . During the subsequent two months leading up to the battle, British re-enforcements were sent at the request of General Gage. On May 25th, a British vessel arrived in Boston with the highly distinguished General-Viscount William Howe, and General-Colonel Henry Clinton; along with the less critically-acclaimed, General John Burgoyne, to assist Gage in planning and executing the efforts of liberating Boston. Strengthened by the re-enforcements and the strategic expertise of three highly decorated generals, Gage formulated a tactical plan to raise the Colonial siege by occupying the hilltops surrounding the city . Boston was situated on a peninsula connected to the Charlestown peninsula in the north, by the isthmus called Charlestown Neck. In the rear of the village of Charlestown, rose Breeds Hill, while farther back was situated a higher elevation known as Bunker Hill . The Continental Army, commanded by General Artemas Ward, was headquartered at Cambridge and stretched halfway around Boston in a rough semi-circle, while the Boston harbor comprised the rest of the city radius and was controlled by the British navy. After hearing intelligence reports of Gage’s impending push to take control of the hills overlooking Charlestown, General Ward deployed General Putnam, who ordered 1,200 men to occupy and fortify Bunker Hill, in order to gain a higher-elevated ground position on the British from which artillery batteries could be installed to shell Boston’s garrison and incoming naval vessels . Colonel William Prescott, leading the company at around midnight to the position, marched past Bunker Hill to Breed’s Hill, despite his orders. Prescott and his officer staff proceeded to order the construction of earthen walls, ditches, and embankments on Breed’s Hill, on advice from his engineer, claiming Breed’s Hill is more easily defensible . At day-break on the 17th of June, the citizens of Boston awakened to broadside cannon-fire by the crew of the 20-gun post-ship, HMS Lively, firing at the daylight-revealed fortifications building project on Breed’s Hill. While the anchored war ships continued pounded the Continental’s construction efforts with heavy cannon fire; Generals Gage, Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne quickly improvised an assault strategy based on Gage’s preference for a full frontal attack against the militia on Breed’s Hill (Gen. Clinton endorsed an idea of an early attack on the Charlestown Neck, but was outvoted 3 to 1). After six long hours of assembling the major infantry assault force to be led by General Howe, British transport units taxied the 1,500 infantry across the river and disembarked on Charlestown peninsula, only to realize that the number of Continental troops working construction on the hill was underestimated . General Howe sent word to Gage, requesting re-enforcements but simultaneously allowing time for about 200 Continental troops from the 1st and 3rd New Hampshire regiments under Colonels John Stark and James Reed to likewise re-enforce Prescott’s positions. Within a couple of hours, Howe’s requested backup arrived across the river, and the British began a very characteristically-European, disciplined, systematic, and fearless advance onto Breed’s Hill. Brigadier General Robert Pigot, commanding the direct assault formation took heavy fire from snipers and Stark’s 200 newly arrived New Hampshire militiamen. Likewise, General Howe’s left flank regiment absorbed devastating volleys from the elevated positions of Prescott’s Colonial militia, causing both flanks of the British advance to withdraw due to heavy casualties . Determined that the effectiveness and quality of his regulars would nonetheless prevail against the comparatively untrained, ill-equipped, and undisciplined Continentals, Howe and Pigot regrouped with Major Pitcairn commander of the rear reserve guard and marched once again onto the American positions, once again to devastating casualties being inflicted on their light infantry and grenadier companies, sending British bodies rolling to the bottom of the hill in great numbers. Wounded British infantrymen crowded the riverbank, some mobile enough to be ferried back across the river into Boston and others too seriously wounded to do much else but bleed to death on the riverbank. Howe, determined to rally a third wave against the American positions (who themselves were in mild disarray at moments due to an inexperienced officer corp. and amateur soldiers), was joined by General Clinton and around 600 infantrymen, a portion of whom were the rallied wounded whose injuries were manageable. Though taking heavy asualties yet again (even Major Pitcairn, a high-ranking officer, was struck dead by musket fire from a volley), the third push by Howe and Clinton was successful and final, culminating in hand-to-hand, bayonet-equipped, combat in which the British regulars had a clear edge over the Continental militiamen, most of whom lacked melee weapons and turned back . Surprisingly, the American officer orchestration of the retreat was executed very well, considering t he lack of experience, coordination, and cohesion that was displayed during various points of the actual battle itself. The coordinated and gradual withdraw, directed in large part by John Stark and Colonel Prescott, ensured that Breeds Hill was at no point ever surrounded by Howe’s infantry, and allowed for most of the American wounded to be escorted off Breed’s Hill. Despite the nominal outcome of the battle being a defeat for the Continental militia, both the immediate and grand-scheme effects of Bunker (Breed’s) Hill, was of great benefit to the American independence efforts. Generals Ward and Putnam retreated from their constructed strongholds, compromising the siege attempt of Boston. British casualties, however (1054 total, 226 dead), more than doubled that of the Americans (about 450, 140 dead; and only one out of the six cannons brought to the peninsula could be returned) and Gage lost a devastatingly high number of his commissioned officers. Even more significant, the Battle of Bunker Hill proved to be a major boost for the recently assembled Continental army and their leaders. The high casualty count of the British regulars during this Pyrrhic victory, convinced many Americans that it was indeed possible to compete against the British Empire on the battlefield , and encouraged the young nation-in-the-making to pursue their independence. Works Cited 1. Frothingham, Richard.

An Exploration Of The Traditional Customs Union Theory And The Static And Dynamic Effects Of Economic Integration The WritePass Journal

An Exploration Of The Traditional Customs Union Theory And The Static And Dynamic Effects Of Economic Integration Introduction An Exploration Of The Traditional Customs Union Theory And The Static And Dynamic Effects Of Economic Integration . Advanced economics of European integration: microeconomic aspects, National University of Ireland Viner, J., 1950, The Customs Union Issue. New York: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Obesity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Obesity - Research Paper Example Although alcohol and smoking are not very common in children, some children have these behaviors. Alcoholism and smoking have proven to be a cause of obesity. The environment in which the minor is brought up in can lead to obesity. Advertisements influence the kind of things that children are attracted to. In the food market, there is a lot of advertisement for fast food. This leads to children taking more junk food, and thus they become obese. Lifestyles have also changed. Parents offer their children little healthy food. In the current world, many parents will prefer buying drinks and snacks for their children rather than preparing healthy meals. There is little walking as people move in vehicles. Such characteristics of the modern lifestyles lead to children being obese. Disability is a factor that can lead to obesity, but it is commonly overlooked. Certain mental disabilities such as schizophrenia can cause eating disorders. Moreover, disabled people have little exercise due to the nature of their bodies. Therefore, there is an imbalance between the energy taken in and the energy released by the disabled people. This imbalance leads to obesity The amount of energy that a child takes in the form of food can lead to obesity. Parents give their children high energy foods in large quantities. The body does not require the excess energy, and all the excess energy is stored in the form of fats. The accruement of fats in the body leads to obesity. The amount of energy expenditure has a close relation to obesity. If a kid takes in a lot of energy and does not involve their body with physical exercise, the child is likely to obese. The current western lifestyle contributes a lot to causing obesity. Most children spend their leisure time playing computer games rather than real games. Little time for physical exercise leads to build up of calories, and thus the child becomes

Alcan Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alcan Case Study - Essay Example In this era of computerization, IT is playing a key role in the management and reporting of exceptions so that pertinent issues could be highlighted and addressed before assuming alarming proportions. In the present case, Robert Ouelette the new CIO has three main concerns: (1) how to co-ordinate the IT functions across different countries and continents; (2) converting the IT governance function into a centralized one; and (3) monitoring the cost of IT, controlling wasteful expenditure and overseeing the usefulness of output produced by the IT function in the enterprise. The Accenture IT Governance Model Weill and Ross in their book ‘IT Governance’ define the term as â€Å"specifying the decision rights and accountability framework to encourage desirable behavior in the use of IT.† (Weill & Ross, 2004, 7 ). Some IT professionals and laymen at large seem to confuse the IT governance model with the way that IT is implemented and managed in an organization. We need to establish at the outset that IT governance does not give us the means to manage the IT department- rather it is the model through which the business manages its use of IT. Accenture has developed an IT governance model framework in which they classify industries based on (1) the pace of technology changes that they face and (2) their basis for competitive advantage, this being either product differentiation or cost. Accordingly they have identified four business classifications: (A) Efficient Predictable Operators (B) Information Integrators (3) Responsive Solution Providers and (4) New Capability Enablers. Which Quadrant Does Alcan Fall In & Why In the above stated framework, Accenture define an efficient predictable operator as one whose industry experiences a slow rate of change and competes on the basis of its operational efficiency. This is a common picture of the aluminum and allied industry where there is vertical integration among the top firms in order to take advantage of lower production costs based on volumes produced of various outputs, and very high production capacities are used to break-even point. Secondly, with the high costs of running electrolytic processes, there is a dire need for constant and reliable sources of cheaply available power. Alcan has managed to set up factories, refineries and mines at various places along the globe so that the cost of production is minimized or can be controlled to some extent, while supply of various outputs such as cans, sheets, ingots etc. is maintained. Now that the industry has overcome the lean period of the worldwide recession of the 1990s and the Russian oversupply shock that sent the price careening in a downward spiral, the price of aluminum per ounce has been increasing steadily and stands at $2,520 per tonne in 2007. I would put Alcan in the quadrant reserved for an Efficient Predictable Operator. Weill & Ross Model of IT Governance Weill and Ross have identified three questions that must be answered in order to achieve effective IT governance (Weill & Ross, 2004, 10). These are as follows: (1) What are the decisions that need to be made in order to ensure effective management and use of IT? (2) Who will need to make these decisions? (3) How will these decisions be made and monitored? In the course of their

Public Interest Is Used To Justify Regulation Media Essay

Public Interest Is Used To Justify Regulation Media Essay Public interest is a concept that can be high-jacked by journalists themselves: a plea of in the public interest is a favourite defence for journalism under attack. It is at the heart of the argument about the extent to which prying reporters and cameras should be allowed to invade personal privacy. The Ofcom code says that Where broadcasters wish to justify an infringement of privacy, they should be able to demonstrate why in the particular circumstances of the case, it is in the public interest. Examples of public interest would include revealing or detecting crime, protecting public health or safety, exposing misleading claims made by individuals or organizations or disclosing incompetence that affects the public. The BBC also has its own guidelines as it seeks to balance the public interest in freedom of expression with the legitimate expectation of privacy by individuals. There is no single definition of public interest, it includes but is not confined to: exposing or detecting crime, exposing significantly anti-social behaviour by those holding high office, preventing people from being misled by some statement or action of an individual or organisation, disclosing information that allows people to make a significantly more informed decision about matters of public importance. However, neither media code or attempts a full definition of the public interest. The BBC requires a higher public interest test for secretly recording in a private place where the public do not have access, secretly recording medical treatments, secretly recording identifiable people in grief or under extremes of stress both in public and semi-public. There are also some arguments over the media whether they are serving the public interest or interesting the public. Public/social purpose media should be informing and educating, but medias are more likely to weigh up the market-driven news values nowadays. The news media are failing to serve the public interest because of the following points: Firstly, abuse of individual right to privacy Privacy and alleged invasions of privacy by the media are central issues in the ethics of journalism. Clearly, we live in a society that values personal privacy, and is concerned about intrusions into privacy from whatever source, including the media. Yet, perhaps paradoxically, we also live in a society that thrives on publicity, or at least one in which many individuals depend on publicity for their lives and activities. This seeming paradox is usually defused by drawing a distinction between the private and the public aspects of peoples lives, and by further claiming that there is indeed a right to privacy, but that in certain circumstances the right can be overridden in the name of the public interest. This account of the matter accepts that in such circumstances an invasion of privacy has actually occurred but that the invasion can be justified by an appeal to a greater good. The right to privacy is no more than a presumption ( though an important one), and that where some information about an individual that he or she would prefer to keep private should be in the public domain, then putting it there is not overriding that individuals right to privacy because no such right ever existed concerning this aspect of the persons life. There is, on this account, no such thing as a justifiable invasion of privacy because justification is in fact a demonstration that no privacy could properly be claimed in the first place. On this account, all invasions of privacy are unjustifiable. This is particularly important in the case of politicians and others who occupy similar positions in society. Thus a politician who has his or her secret love nest exposed in the press is not the victim of an invasion of privacy, because scandalous behaviour of this nature cannot legitimately claim the protection of privacy. This is not simply because politicians are in the public eye, but because they, and others in business and the media as well, wield power in society, and all aspects of the exercise of power must be open to public scrutiny. This is the only way to avoid corruption in public life, and by corruption. I mean more than financial chicanery. I do not say that politicians are not entitled to privacy, but that they are not entitled to abuse the right to privacy. In a democracy those who wield power cannot decide for themselves where to draw the boundary between the public and the private aspects of their lives. In spite of the recent introduction in the UK of some legislative safeguards in the first two areas, there is a little that members of the public can do to assure themselves that their privacy is not being abused here. They simply do not know what is going on an cannot find out, for such abuse is normally hidden at source, even though it might have actual consequences for peoples lives. With invasions of privacy by the press it is wholly different, for here the victim obviously knows. This might explain why there is a considerable outery against invasions of privacy by the press even though this is less harmful to individuals and the democratic political process than abuses in the other two areas for here is an open target, easily identifiable, to soak up the publics concern and wrath. Hence the demand for the press to clean up its act, either voluntarily or, if this fails, through controls imposed by legislation. This threat of statutory restraints prompted the editors if the national newspaper in Britain to issue their own Code of Practice in 1989 to add the codes promulgate by bodies such as the Press Council ( now defunet) and the National Union of Journalists. The editors code and the Press Council code were later absorbed into a newspaper-industry code, monitored by the Press Complaints Commission, in which the voluntary protection of privacy, without legislative intervention, was a primary aim. Secondly, interesting the public rather than serving the public interest According to the trend, the pursuit of profit has replaced that of serving the public interest as the driving force of journalism. News producers even those like the BBC which are free of direct commercial pressures have been required to become more an more oriented towards ratings, subordinating the journalistic obligation to inform to the more audience-friendly task of supplying entertainment. The result of these pressures has been an explosion of infotainment journalism in which entertainment values take precedence over information content, presented at an intellectual level low enough to appeal to the mass audiences which comprise the major media markets( the lowest denominator, as critics frequently express it). Lower, too, than a healthy democracy demands. Political journalism is said to be conforming to the pressures of tabloidisation observed elsewhere in the media: a term which used interchangeably with dumbing down and infotainment, functions as shorthand for the offence, as it is often characterised, of catering for popular tastes. One manifestation of this trend would be the medias contemporary fascination with elite deviance( sexual, financial or moral), as in the cases of Conservative and Labour politicians in Britain throughout the 1990s, an of course Bill Clinton, whose sex addiction was a prominent theme of political journalism in Britain as well as the United States during the 1990s, exemplified by coverage of the Monica Lewinsky scandal in 1998-9. The sleaze agenda which featured prominently in British and American political news for most of that decade was alleged to be driven by market forces rather than public interest, in so far as the relentless commodification of journalism an the ever-increasing competitiveness of the media market put a commercial premium on sensationalism an prurience in coverage of politics. Although journalists like to envision themselves as independent pursuers of truth, the public sees them as employees who are only trying to help corporations make a pound. More than two-thirds say: News papers are concerned mainly with making profits rather than serving the public interest. I believe that newspaper frequently overdramatize some news stories just to sell more papers. Journalists chase sensational stories because they think itll sell papers, not because its an important story. Journalists sometimes see themselves in heroic terms. Lurking in the back of their minds are phases like eyes and ears of the public, representatives of the citizenry and the publics watchdog. By keeping tabs on the politicians, they can ensure that the public will be properly served by the government. The public, however, is convinced that politicians are more ethical than journalists. Many journalists shrug off such findings. Journalists are not supposed to be popular, they say. Theyre supposed to be tough observers of government and society. Thirdly, lies: publish and be damned degenerates to publish and be sued we can afford it: The law is a conservative profession. Most legal advisers first impulse will be tell news organisation Dont publish. The paper is at liberty to ignore the advice: to publish and be damned. But because of the complex risks involved, this is not a decision for an individual reporter or sub-editor to make. It needs to be made collectively and at policy level. Many news reporters start their careers with a stint on the court beat. This is considered good training in the need for discipline and accurate fact-gathering in journalism. Many young journalists, however, find the courts intimidating, confusing, and stultifying boring. Often, thats because they dont know the ropes. News media nowadays tend to pay for the punishment than actually avoid treading lines. They are more likely to step into the grey area on the ethical issues. Fourthly, abuse of the public interest defence (especially by some elements of the news media) : Journalists damage their case further when their stories go too far, as they often do. Tabloids have behaved as though the public interest argument stretches indefinitely, that once established it justifies anything. But a legitimate public interest in an aspect of the private behaviour of a public figure cannot automatically justify disclosure of any private information about the individual. Legitimate public interest certainly justified the story that the heir to the Britain throne, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, had had an affair with Mrs Camilla Parker-Bowles after his marriage. Public interest would probably also has justified the story, were it true, that Charles have sex with Camilla at his home while his wife was upstairs. The case was compromised, though by publication of pictures inside the Parker-Bowles home and bedroom against their will. They were not justified by a pub lic interest. The chairman of the PCC, Lord Wakeham, gave a strong warning to editors early in 1995 against abuse of the public interest defence. He said the Commission would not tolerate spurious use of the defence when considering complaints. Soon afterwards, the PCC severely critised the biggest selling British newspaper, the Sunday tabloid, the News of the World, for coverage of the illness of Lady Spencer, wife of the brother of the Prince of Wales. The paper has shown sad pictures of Lady Spencer, taken evidently without her knowledge, while she was being treated for an eating disorder. No genuine public interest was involved an Lord Wakeham took the unusual step of writing to the owner of the paper, Rupert Murdoch of News Corporation, about it. As a result, Murdoch publicly rubuked the News of the World editors. Specious and spurious arguments and dubious cases aside, the public interest defence is widely recognized as valid within limits. The committee appointed by government to examine media intrusion and suggested what public interest defences might be used. Journalistic intrusion could be justified if the information collected expose crime, other wrong-doing or a danger to public health. The PCC adds a further consideration: intrusion can be justified if it would prevent the public from being misled by some statement or action of an individual or organisation. This could be strengthened further by adopting the public interest defence that already exists in the Obscene Publications Act. An intrusion could be defended if the material gained exposed any matter of serious concern to the general public. Critics regard generalized exceptions as weasel words designed to allow disreputable journalism to proceed unhindered. But plainly interpreted, a wide-ranging defence of the kind envisaged would offer some protection for public figures, would reduce the risk of commercial villains sheltering behind a privacy law and would not damage protection for ordinary people when they deserve it. Lastly, Outings by media which are couched as serving the public interest. To conclude , the news media are failing to serve the public interest because of abusing of individual right to privacy, interesting the public rather than serving the public interest, lies: publish and be damned degenerates to publish and be sued, abusing of the public interest defence (especially by some elements of the news media) and Outings by media which are couched as serving the public interest.

Essay --

The British occupation of Ireland was a major part of Ireland’s history. The British were brutal in their treatment of the Irish people, the Irish language, and the Irish culture. The Irish formed the Irish Republican Army or IRA in order to fight back. Through the independence movements and efforts of the IRA as Britain continued to brutalize the Irish country and its people, sentiments about what needed to be done or how to handle the British changed and Sinn Fà ©in broke away from the IRA. The connections between these two groups, their similarities and differences, are important parts of the legitimacy of the Irish movement for independence and the future of Ireland. The changes that have been made in these nationalist movements, particularly in the prominence IRA and Sinn Fà ©in, as time went on that has enabled a form of these movements to persist even until today. There were different types of people who were part of this nationalist revolutionary group that wanted to give Ireland back to the Irish. MacDonagh separates them into three categories, â€Å"first, those concerned with the ‘Irishing’ of Ireland; secondly, those which attempted to comprehend and build upon emergent rather than traditional factors in Irish life; and finally, those which tried to subordinate the local issues to larger, more universal themes.† . This is not always black and white and many of the Irish nationalist groups combined some of these goals. In regards to what MacDonagh says about the different categories or goals, the IRA seems to me to be a mix between wanting a more Irish Ireland and wanting to expand upon some of the new factors that made up Irish life. Sinn Fà ©in, on the other hand seems to be more of a mix between wanting to expand upon the new ... ... members, Sinn Fà ©in has persisted. Their belief in civil disobedience or more peaceful actions has brought them through the centuries and into the modern age. This peace is still a major part of their policies in the modern age as one of the largest political parties in Ireland. Through peace Sinn Fà ©in wishes to unify Ireland once more, and help their economy by uniting the Irish people in this common economic cause. They also are large proponents of peaceful international relations with the rest of the world. I feel that keeping their focus on peaceful change will help them to establish even larger influence all over Ireland and help them in their goals. Just as their belief in peace brought them into the modern age, it can also ensure the party and its supporters persist and bring them successfully into the future eras, whatever they may hold in store for Ireland.

You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 19~20

Chapter Nineteen Our Dead Homeys The vampires sat side by side on the bare futon frame, watching as a five-legged bug limped up the big front window of the loft. Tommy thought that the rhythm of the bug's steps made a for a danceable backbeat – thought he might be able to set music to it, if he knew how to write music. Suite for Angst and Limping Bug, he'd call it. â€Å"Nice bug,† Tommy said. â€Å"Yeah,† Jody said. We should save it for Abby, Jody thought. She was feeling guilty about having bitten the girl – not so much because of the violation, because obviously the kid had been willing, but because she felt as if she really didn't have any choice. She had been injured and her predator nature told her to survive, whatever the cost, which is what bothered her. Was her humanity drifting away? â€Å"The Animals are going to come for us now,† Tommy said. He was feeling angry, betrayed by his old crew, but most of all he felt separate from them now. He felt separate from everyone. Tomorrow was Christmas and he didn't even want to call his parents because they were a different species now. What do you buy for an inferior species? â€Å"It's just the Animals,† Jody said. â€Å"We'll be safe.† â€Å"I'll bet that's what Elijah thought, too, and they got him.† â€Å"We should go get him,† Jody said. She imagined Elijah Ben Sapir, standing in the full sun by the Ferry Building, tourists passing him, wondering why someone would put a statue there. Would the brass protect him? Tommy checked his watch. â€Å"We'd never get there and back in time. I tried that yesterday.† â€Å"How could you do that to him, Tommy? He was one of us.† â€Å"One of us? He was going to kill us, if you remember. He kind of did kill us. I resent that. Besides, if you're covered in bronze, what does it matter if you're underwater? I was just trying to get him out of sight so we could think about our future without him being part of it.† â€Å"Right. Okay,† Jody said. â€Å"Sorry.† Future? She'd lived with a half-dozen guys, none had ever willingly talked about the future before. And she and Tommy had a supersized buttload of future ahead of them as long as someone didn't catch them sleeping. â€Å"Maybe we really should leave the City,† she said. â€Å"No one would know about us in a new city.† â€Å"I was thinking we should get a Christmas tree,† Tommy said. Jody looked away from the bug. â€Å"That's a thought, or we could put some mistletoe up, put on Christmas carols, and stand outside waiting for Santa until the sun comes up and incinerates us. How's that sound?† â€Å"Nobody appreciates your sarcasm, missy. I'm just trying to get a handle on normal. Three months ago I was stocking groceries in Indiana, looking at community college, driving around in my crappy car, wishing I had a girlfriend, and wishing that there was some potential for something to happen beyond getting a job with benefits and living the same life as my dad. Now I have a girlfriend, and superpowers, and a bunch of people want to kill me, and I don't know how to act. I don't know what to do next. And it's going to be that way forever. Forever! I'm going to be scared out of my mind forever! I can't deal with forever.† He'd been barking at her, but she resisted the urge to snap back. He was nineteen, not a hundred and fifty – he didn't even have the tools for being an adult, let alone being immortal. â€Å"I know,† she said. â€Å"Tomorrow night, first thing, we'll hire a car, go get Elijah, and pick up a Christmas tree on the way back. How's that sound?† â€Å"Hiring a car? That sounds exotic.† â€Å"It'll be like prom.† Was she being too patronizing? â€Å"You don't have to do that,† he said. â€Å"I'm sorry I'm acting like a weenie.† â€Å"But you're my weenie,† Jody said. â€Å"Take me to bed.† Still holding her hand, he stood, then pulled her up into his arms. â€Å"We'll be okay, right?† She nodded and kissed him, feeling for just a second like a girl in love instead of a predator. She immediately felt a resurgence of shame over feeding on Abby. The doorbell rang. â€Å"Did you know we had a doorbell?† â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"You can't beat a dead whore in the morning,† said Nick Cavuto cheerfully, because apparently, everyone loves a dead hooker, despite what certain writer types might think. They were standing in the alley off Mission Street. Dorothy Chin – short, pretty, and whip-smart – snorted a laugh and checked the thermometer probe she'd stuck in the deceased's liver like a meat thermometer into a roast. â€Å"She hasn't been dead four hours, guys.† Rivera rubbed his temples and felt his bookstore slipping away, along with his marriage. He'd known the marriage had been going for a while, but he was feeling a little brokenhearted about the bookstore. He figured he knew, but he asked anyway. â€Å"Cause of death?† â€Å"Toothy blow job,† Cavuto said. â€Å"Yes, Alphonse,† said Dorothy with a tad too much sincerity, â€Å"I'd have to concur with Detective Cavuto, she died of a toothy blow job.† â€Å"It just pisses some guys off,† Cavuto added, â€Å"a professional without skills.† â€Å"Guy just snapped her neck and took his money back,† said Dorothy with a big grin. â€Å"So a broken neck?† said Rivera, mentally waving goodbye to a whole set of first-edition Raymond Chandlers, ten-to-six workdays, golfing on Mondays. Cavuto snorted this time. â€Å"Her head's turned around the wrong way, Rivera. What did you think it was?† â€Å"Seriously,† Dorothy Chin said, â€Å"I have to do the autopsy to be sure, but offhand that's the obvious cause. I'd also say she's probably lucky to go that way. She's HIV positive and it looks like the disease had developed into full-blown AIDS.† â€Å"How do you know that?† â€Å"See these sarcomas on her feet.† Chin had removed one of the hooker's shoes – she pointed to open sores on the corpse's foot and ankle. Rivera sighed. He didn't want to ask, but he asked anyway, â€Å"What about blood loss?† Dorothy Chin had done the autopsies on two of the previous victims and cringed a little. It was a pattern. They'd all been terminally ill, they'd all died of a broken neck, and they'd all shown evidence of extreme blood loss, but no external wounds – not even a needle mark. â€Å"Can't tell out here.† Cavuto had lost his cheery manner now. â€Å"So we spend Christmas day canvassing dirtbags to see if anyone saw anything?† At the end of the alley, uniforms were still talking to the grimy homeless man who had called in the murder. He was trying to get them to spring for a bottle of whiskey – because it was Christmas. Rivera didn't want to go home, but he didn't want to spend a day trying to find out what he already knew. He checked his watch. â€Å"What time was sunrise this morning?† he asked. â€Å"Oh, wait,† Cavuto said, patting down his pockets, â€Å"I'll check my almanac.† Dorothy Chin snorted again, then started giggling. â€Å"Dr. Chin,† Rivera said, tightening down now, â€Å"could you be more precise about the time of death?† Chin picked up on Rivera's tone and went full professional. â€Å"Sure. There's an algorithm for the cooling time of a body. Get me the weather from last night, let me get her back to the morgue and weigh her, and I'll get you a time within ten minutes.† â€Å"What?† Cavuto said to Chin. â€Å"What?† This time to Rivera. â€Å"Winter solstice, Nick,† Rivera said. â€Å"Christmas was originally set at the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. It's eleven-thirty now. I'm betting that four hours ago the sun was just coming up.† â€Å"Uh-huh,† Cavuto said. â€Å"Prostitutes have shitty hours – is that what you're saying?† Rivera raised an eyebrow. â€Å"Our guy didn't travel far after sunrise, is what I'm saying. He's going to be around here.† â€Å"I was afraid that's what you were saying,† Cavuto said. â€Å"We're never going to get the bookstore open, are we?† â€Å"Tell the uniforms to look anywhere it's dark: under Dumpsters, in crawl spaces, attics – anywhere.† â€Å"Getting warrants on Christmas day might be a problem.† â€Å"You won't need warrants if you get permission from the owners – we're not looking to bust anyone living here, we're looking for a murder suspect.† Cavuto pointed to the eight-story brick building that composed one wall of the alley. â€Å"This building has something like eight hundred ministorage units in it.† â€Å"Then you guys had better get started.† â€Å"Where're you going?† â€Å"There was a missing person report on an old guy in North Beach a couple of days ago. I'm going to check it out.† â€Å"Because you don't want to go Dumpster diving for v – â€Å" â€Å"Because,† Rivera cut him off before he could say the V-word, â€Å"he had terminal cancer. His wife assumed he just wandered off and got lost. Now I'm not so sure. Call me if you find anything.† â€Å"Uh-huh.† Cavuto turned to the three uniforms who were interviewing the bum. â€Å"Hey, guys, have I got a merry Christmas detail for you.† The Animals decided to hold a small memorial service for Blue in Chinatown. Troy Lee was already there, as was Lash, who wouldn't go home to his apartment until Blue's body was removed, and Barry, who was Jewish, would be coming there for dinner with his family, as was the tradition in his faith. Plus, the liquor stores in Chinatown were open on Christmas, and if you slipped some money under the counter, you could get firecrackers. The Animals were fairly sure that Blue would have wanted firecrackers at her funeral. The Animals stood in a semicircle, beers in hand, on a playground off Grant Street. The deceased was being honored in absentia – in her place was a half-eaten pair of edible panties. From a distance, they looked like a bunch of wastrels mourning a Fruit Roll-Up. â€Å"I'd like to start, if I may,† said Drew. He wore a long overcoat and his hair was tied back with a black ribbon, revealing the target-shaped bruise on his forehead where Jody had hit him with the wine bottle. Out of his coat he pulled a bong the size of a tenor sax, and using a long lighter designed for lighting fireplaces, he sparked that magnificent mama-jama up and bubbled away like a scuba diver having an asthma attack. When he could hold no more, he raised the bong, poured some water on the ground, and croaked, â€Å"To Blue,† which came out in a perfect smoke ring, the sight of which brought tears to everyone's eyes. â€Å"To Blue,† everyone repeated as they placed one hand on the bong and tipped a bit out of their beers. â€Å"To Broo, my nigga,† said Troy Lee's grandma, who had insisted upon joining the ceremony once she realized there would be firecrackers. â€Å"She will be avenged,† said Lash. â€Å"And we'll get our fucking money back,† said Jeff, the big jock. â€Å"Amen,† the Animals said. They had decided on a nondenominational ceremony, as Barry was a Jew, Troy Lee was a Buddhist, Clint was an Evangelical, Drew was a Rastafarian, Gustavo was a Catholic, and Lash and Jeff were heathen stoners. Gustavo had been called in to work that day because someone had to be in the store as long as the front was only boarded up with plywood, so in deference to his beliefs, they had bought some incense and holders and placed a picket fence of smoldering joss sticks around the edible panty. The incense also worked within Troy and Grandma's Buddhist tradition, and Lash pointed out during the ceremony that although they have their differences otherwise, all gods like a good-smellin' ho. â€Å"Amen!† said the Animals again. â€Å"And they're handy for lightin' firecrackers off of,† added Jeff as he bent over an incense stick and set a string cracking. â€Å"Hallelujah!† said the Animals. Each offered to share some kind of memory of Blue, but all of their stories quickly degenerated to orifices and squishiness, and no one wanted to go there in front of Troy's grandma, so instead they threw firecrackers at Clint while he read from the Twenty-third Psalm. Before they cracked the second case of beer, it was decided that after dark, three of them – Lash, Troy Lee, and Barry – would take Blue from Lash's apartment, load her into the back of Barry's station wagon, and take her out in the middle of the Bay in Barry's Zodiac. (Barry was the diver of the bunch, and had all the cool aquatic stuff. They'd used his spearguns to help take down the old vampire.) Lash braced himself as he opened the apartment door, but to his surprise, there was no smell. He led Barry and Troy into the bedroom, and together they wrestled the rolled-up rug out of the closet. â€Å"It's not heavy enough,† Barry said. â€Å"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit,† Troy said, trying furiously to unroll the rug. Finally Lash reached down, grabbed the edge of the rug, and whipped it up over his head. There was a thudding sound against the far wall, followed by the jingle of metal, like coins settling. The three Animals stood and stared. â€Å"What are those?† Asked Barry. â€Å"Earrings,† answered Troy. Indeed, there were seven earrings settling on the hardwood floor. â€Å"Not those. Those!† Barry nodded toward two clear, cantaloupe-sized, gelatinous lozenges that quivered on the floor like stranded jellyfish. Lash shivered. â€Å"I've seen them before. My brother used to work in a plant in Santa Barbara that made them.† â€Å"What the fuck are they?† Said Troy, squinting through a drunken haze. â€Å"Those are breast implants,† Lash said. â€Å"What are those wormy things?† asked Barry. There were two translucent sluglike blobs of something stuck to the rug near the edge. â€Å"Looks like window caulk,† said Lash. He noticed that there was a fine blue powder near the edge of the rug. He ran his hand over it, pinched some on his fingers, and sniffed it. Nothing. â€Å"Where'd she go?† asked Barry. â€Å"No idea,† said Lash. Chapter Twenty It's a Wonderful Life Gustavo Chavez had been born the seventh child of a brick maker in a small village in the state of Michoacan, Mexico. At eighteen he married a local girl, the daughter of a farmer, herself a seventh child, and at twenty, with his second child on the way, he crossed the border into the United States, where he lived with a cousin in Oakland, along with a score of other relatives, and worked grueling, twelve-hour days as a laborer, making enough to feed himself and send more money home to his family than he could possibly have made in his father's brickyard. He did this because it was the responsible and right thing to do, and because he had been raised a good Catholic man who, like his father, would provide for his family and no more than two or three mistresses. Each year, about a month before Christmas, he would sneak back across the border to celebrate Christmas with his family, meet any new children that might been born, and make love with his wife, Maria, until they were both so s ore it hurt to walk. In fact, the vision of Maria's inviting thighs would often begin haunting him around Halloween and the hapless night porter would find himself in a state of semiarousal as he swung his soapy mop, to and fro, across fifteen thousand square feet of linoleum every night. Tonight he was in the store alone, and he was feeling far from aroused, for it was Christmas night, and he could not go to mass or take Communion until he confessed. He was feeling deeply ashamed. Christmas night and he hadn't even called Maria – hadn't spoken to her for weeks, because like the rest of the Animals, he had gone to Las Vegas, and had given all his money to the blue whore. He had called, of course, after they'd first taken the vampire's art and sold it for so much money, but since then, his life had been a fog of tequila and marijuana and the evil attentions of the blue one. He, a good man, who cared for his family, had never hit his wife, had only cheated with a second cousin and never with a white woman, had been undone by the curse of the blue devil's pussy. La maldicin de la cocha del diablo azul. This is the saddest, loneliest Christmas ever, thought Gustavo as he dragged his mop past the canvas doors leading into the produce-department cooler. I am like the poor cabrn in that book The Pearl, where by simply trying to take advantage of some good fortune, I have lost all that I care about. Okay, I did get drunk for a week and my pearl was a blue whore who fucked the chimichangas out of me, but still, pretty sad. He thought these things in Spanish, so they sounded infinitely more tragic and romantic. Then there came a noise from the cooler, and he was startled for a second. He wrung out his mop, so as to be ready for anything. He didn't like being in the store by himself, but with the front windows broken out, someone had to be here, and because he was far from home, had nowhere else to go, and the union would see that he was paid double time, Gustavo had volunteered. Perhaps if he sent home a little extra, Maria might forget the hundred thousand dollars he'd promised. There, something was moving behind the plastic doors of the cooler, which were waving slightly. The stout Mexican crossed himself and backed out of the produce department, swinging his mop now in quick swaths, leaving barely a hint of dampness on the linoleum. He was by the dairy case now, and a stack of yogurts fell over inside the glass doors, as if someone had shoved them out of the way to look through. Gustavo dropped the mop and ran to the back of the store, saying a Hail Mary peppered with swearwords as he went, wondering if those were footsteps he heard behind him, or the echoes of his own footfalls resounding through the deserted store. Out the front door and away, he chanted in his head. Out the front door and away. He nearly fell rounding the turn at the meat case, his shoes still wet from the mop water. He caught himself on one hand and came up like a sprinter, while reaching back on his belt for his keys as he went. There were footfalls behind him – light, slapping – bare feet on linoleum, but fast, and close. He couldn't stop to unlock the door when he got there, he couldn't look back, he couldn't turn to look – a second of hesitation and he would be lost. He exhaled a long wail and ran right through a rack of candy and gum by the registers. He tumbled over the first register in an avalanche of candy bars and magazines, many of which displayed headlines like I MARRIED BIGFOOT, or SPACE ALIEN CULT TAKES OVER HOLLYWOOD, or vampires hunt our streets, and other such nonsense. Gustavo scrambled out of the pile and was crawling on his belly like a desert lizard scrambling to get across hot sand, when a heavy weight came down on his back, knocking the air out of him. He gasped, trying to get his breath, but something grabbed him by the hair and yanked his head backwards. He heard crackling noises in his ear, smelled something like rotten meat, and gagged. He saw the fluorescent lights, some canned hams, and a very happy cardboard elf making cookies as he was dragged down the aisle and through the doors into the dark back room of the deli like so much lunch meat. Feliz navidad. â€Å"Our first Christmas together,† Jody said, kissing him on the cheek – giving his butt a little squeeze through his pj bottoms. â€Å"Did you get me something cute?† â€Å"Hi, Mom,† Tommy said into the phone. â€Å"It's Tommy.† â€Å"Tommy. Sweetheart. We've been calling all day. It just rang and rang. I thought you were going to come home for Christmas.† â€Å"Well, you know, Mom, I'm in management at the store now. Responsibilities.† â€Å"Are you working hard enough?† â€Å"Oh yeah, Mom. I'm working ten – sixteen hours a day sometimes. Exhausted.† â€Å"Well good. And you have insurance?† â€Å"The best, Mom. The best. I'm nearly bulletproof.† â€Å"Well, I suppose that's good. You're not still working that horrible night shift, are you?† â€Å"Well, sort of. In the grocery business, that's where the money is.† â€Å"You need to get on the day shift. You're never going to meet a nice girl working those hours, son.† It was at this point, having heard Mother Flood's admonition, that Jody lifted her shirt and rubbed her bare breasts against him while batting her eyelashes coquettishly. â€Å"But I have met a nice girl, Mom. Her name is Jody. She's studying to be a nun – er, teacher. She helps the poor.† It was then that Jody pantsed him, then ran into the bedroom giggling. He caught himself on the counter to keep from tumbling over. â€Å"Whoa.† â€Å"What, son? What's the matter?† â€Å"Nothing, nothing, Mom. I just had a little eggnog with the guys and started to feel it.† â€Å"You're not on the drugs, are you, honey?† â€Å"No, no, no, nothing like that.† â€Å"Because your father has rehab benefits on you until you're twenty-one. We can have one of those interventions if you can find a cheap flight home. I know that Aunt Esther would love to see you, even if you are strung out on the crack.† â€Å"And I her, and I her, Mom. Look, I just called to say Merry Christmas, I'll let you – â€Å" â€Å"Wait, honey, your father wants to say hi.† † – go.† â€Å"Hey, Skeeter. Frisco turned you into an ass bandit yet?† â€Å"Hi, Dad. Merry Christmas.† â€Å"Glad you finally called. Your mother was worried sick about you.† â€Å"Well, you know, the grocery business.† â€Å"You working hard enough?† â€Å"Trying. They're cutting back on our OT – union will only let us work sixty hours a week.† â€Å"Well, as long as you're trying. How's that old Volvo running?† â€Å"Great. Like a top.† The Volvo had burned to the wheels his first day in the City. â€Å"Swiss sure can build some cars, can't they? Can't say much for those little red pocketknives they make, but sonsabitches can build a car.† â€Å"Swedes.† â€Å"Yeah, well, I love the little meatballs too. Look, kid, your mother's got me deep-frying a turkey out in the driveway. It's starting to smoke a little. I probably oughta should go check on it. Took an hour to get the oil up to speed – it's only about ten degrees here today.† â€Å"Yeah, it's a little chilly here, too.† â€Å"Looks like it's starting to catch the carport on fire a little. Better go.† â€Å"Okay. Love you, Dad.† â€Å"Call your mother more often, she worries. Holy cats, there goes the Oldsmobile. Bye, son.† A half hour later they were sipping coffee laced with William's blood when the doorbell rang again. â€Å"This is getting irritating,† Jody said. â€Å"Call your mom,† Tommy said. â€Å"I'll get it.† â€Å"We should get some sleeping pills – knock him out so he doesn't have to drink all that booze before we bleed him.† The doorbell rang again. â€Å"We just need to get him a key.† Tommy went to the console by the door and pushed the button. There was a buzz and the click of the lock at street level. The door opened – William coming in to settle on the stairs for the night. â€Å"I don't know how he sleeps on those steps.† â€Å"He doesn't sleep. He passes out,† said the undead redhead. â€Å"Do you think if we gave him peppermint schnapps the coffee would have a minty holiday flavor?† Tommy shrugged. He went to the door, threw it open, and called down. â€Å"William, you like peppermint schnapps?† William raised a grimy eyebrow, looking suspicious. â€Å"You got something against scotch?† â€Å"No, no, I don't want to mess up your discipline. I was just thinking of a more balanced diet. Food groups, you know.† â€Å"I had some soup and some beer today,† William said. â€Å"Okay then.† â€Å"Schnapps gives me mint farts. They scare the hell out of Chet.† Tommy turned to Jody and shook his head. â€Å"Sorry, no way, minty farts.† Then to William again: â€Å"Okay then, William. I gotta get back to the little woman. You need anything? Food, blanket, toothbrush, a damp towelette to freshen up?† â€Å"Nah, I'm good,† William said. He held up a fifth of Johnny Walker Black. â€Å"How's Chet doing?† â€Å"Stressed. We just found out our friend Sammy got murdered in the hotel on Eleventh.† Chet looked up the stairwell with sad kitty eyes, which he sort of always seemed to have since he'd been shaved. â€Å"Sorry to hear that,† Tommy said. â€Å"Yeah, on Christmas, too,† William said. â€Å"Hooker got killed across the street last night, same way. Neck was snapped. Sammy has been sick for a while, so he splurged on a room for the holiday. Fuckers killed him right there in bed. Just goes to show you.† Tommy had no idea what it went to show you. â€Å"Sad,† Tommy said. â€Å"So how come Chet's stressed but you're not?† â€Å"Chet doesn't drink.† â€Å"Of course. Well then, Merry Christmas to you guys.† â€Å"You, too,† said William, toasting with his bottle. â€Å"Any chance of a Christmas bonus, now that I'm a full-time employee?† â€Å"What'd you have in mind?† â€Å"I'd sure like a gander at Red's bare knockers.† Tommy turned to Jody, who was shaking her head, looking pretty determined. â€Å"Sorry,† Tommy said. â€Å"How about a new sweater for Chet?† William scowled. â€Å"You just can't bargain with The Man.† He took a drink from his bottle and turned away from Tommy as if he had something important to discuss with his huge shaved cat and couldn't be bothered with management. â€Å"Okay then,† Tommy said. He closed the door and returned to the counter. â€Å"I'm The Man,† he said with a big grin. â€Å"Your mom would be so proud,† Jody said. â€Å"We need to go see about Elijah.† â€Å"Not until you call your mom. Besides, he's waited this long, it's not like he's going anywhere.† Jody got up and came around the breakfast bar and took Tommy's hand. â€Å"Sweetie, I need you to play what William just said back in your mind, really slowly.† â€Å"I know, I'm The Man!† â€Å"No, the part about his friend being killed by a broken neck, and how he has been sick, and how someone else was killed the night before, also by broken neck. I'll bet she was sick, too. Sound like a pattern you've heard before?† â€Å"Oh my God,† Tommy said. â€Å"Uh-huh,† Jody said. She held his hand to her lips and kissed his knuckles. â€Å"I'll get my jacket while you fluff up your little brain for traveling, ‘kay?† â€Å"Oh my God, you'll do anything to get out of calling your mom.†