Hamlet, By William Shakespeare - 961 Words

In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet the ghost is in the imagination of Hamlet and is nonexistent. For example, the sane queen did not see the â€Å"ghost† that Hamlet was referring to. The Queen asks Hamlet, â€Å"To whom do you speak this?† (III.iv.143). Hamlet, who has been acting mad and delusional throughout the play, thinks he is talking to the â€Å"ghost† of his father. The rational and mother is saddened that her son has gone mad and is seeing things. Although Hamlet does say he plans to act crazy, there is somewhat of a blur between whether Hamlet is acting crazy, or whether his madness has gotten to him at this point. Some individuals may point out that the three other guards, Marcellus, Bernardo, and Horatio, saw the ghost too. However, the†¦show more content†¦The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the Oedipus complex as: â€Å"A sexual desire that a child feels toward the parent of the opposite sex along with jealous feelings toward th e parent of the same sex.† Although Hamlet and Queen Gertrude show affections for each other, it the common love shared between mother and son. However, as the novel progresses, Hamlet becomes mad with his mother for marrying King Claudius so quick and betraying Hamlet’s real father: â€Å"Hamlet: You are the Queen, your husband’s brother’s wife, / And-would it were not so-you are my mother† (III.iv.17-18). In this excerpt Hamlet tells his mother he wishes she was not his mother, and Hamlet shows resentment and is upset with his mother for betraying his father. In an Oedipus complex, the son shows attraction to his mother, and resentment towards his father for being a block toward one’s mother. However, all throughout the play, Hamlet yearns for his father and is upset that Claudius killed him. Hamlet even want to return revenge upon Claudius for harming his father. This would not coincide with the Oedipus Rex complex because Hamlet loved his father, rather than despising and going against him. â€Å"A bloody deed? Almost as bad, good mother, / As kill a king and marry with his brother† (III.iv.29-30). Ophelia’s death was an accident. She suffered a plethora of trauma from her father’s death, leading to the cause of her insanity.While in the

Biography of Albert Einstein - 1573 Words

The Biography Of Albert Einstein. Early Life Einstein was Born on March 14, 1879 in Ulm Wà ¼rttemberg Germany. Albert Einstein grew up in a middle-class Jewish family. His father Hermann Einstein, was a salesman and engineer who with his brother founded Elektrotechnische Fabrik J. Einstein Cie. A company that manufactured electrical equipment in Munich, Germany. His mother, the former Pauline Koch, ran the family household. Einstein had one sister Maja, who was born two years after him. Einstein attended elementary school at the Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich. He loved classical music and played the violin. He experienced a†¦show more content†¦Some of these scientists knew of Nazi plans to develop an atomic weapon. In the summer of 1939, Einstein, along with another scientist, Leo Szilard, wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt to alert him of the possibility of a Nazi bomb. President Roosevelt could not risk the possibility that Germany might develop an atomic bomb first. The letter is believed to be the key factor that motivated the United States to investigate the development of nuclear weapons. Roosevelt invited Einstein to meet with him and soon after the United States initiated the Manhattan Project. Not long after he began his career at the Institute in New Jersey, Albert Einstein was very thankful for the meritocracy of the United States. In 1935, Albert Einstein was granted permanent residency in the United States and became an American citizen in 1940. As the Manhattan Project moved from drawing board to testing and development at Los Alamos, New Mexico, many of his colleagues were asked to develop the first atomic bomb. But Einstein was not one of them. According to several researchers who examined FBI files over the years, the reason was the U.S. government didnt trust Einsteins lifelong association with peace and socialist organizations. FBI director J. Edgar Hoover went so far as to recommend that Einstein should be kept out of America by the Alien Exclusion A ct, but he was overruled by the U.S. State Department. InsteadShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Biography of Albert Einstein2099 Words   |  9 PagesThe Biography of Albert Einstein Born in 1879, Albert Einstein is known today for his incredible mathematical ability and†¦ well, his wild hair. But more important than the physical attributes of his cranium, is the fantastic information which it provided. He will probably always be remembered as the greatest mathematical genius of the modern world. Honors he has received for his works include the Nobel Prize, which he was awarded in 1921, the Royal Society Copley MedalRead MoreBiography of Albert Einstein Essay795 Words   |  4 PagesAlbert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 in Ulm, Germany. He was a German-born theoretical physicist, which is a part of physics that employs a system using mathematical concepts and languages. He developed the General theory of relativity, which is a part of mathematics that is devoted to finitely generated groups of gravitation and is the current description of gravitation in modern physics. He is well known for his mass-energy equivalence formula E=mc2. His Notable awards are the Nobel PrizeRead MoreA Brief Biography of Albert Einstein535 Words   |  2 PagesAlbert Einstein was born March 14, 1879 in Ulm, Germany. His parents were Hermann and Pauline Einstein. Albert had only one sibling growing up; his sister Maria who was also called Maja. Even as a young boy Albert had an amazing capability to understand science and mathematics. Most likely better than almost any other person ever born. He attended a school in Munich and a separate school specifically for grammar. Albert did not enjoy his grammar school because they were very strict and he wasRead MoreA Very Brief Biography of Albert Einstein441 Words   |  2 Pagesbelieving your thoughts and equations. 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The trial of Sacco and Vanzetti took place during the height of the Red Scare and the massive migration of immigrants to the United States, where a substantial percentage of immigrants were from Italy. With the largeRead MoreAlbert Enstein1246 Words   |  5 PagesIntellectual Property †¢ History Bios †¢ †¢ Share †¢ Print Ads:    †¢ Albert Einstein    †¢ Inventors Help    †¢ Einstein Quotes    †¢ Patent Invention Idea    †¢ Example of Biography Albert Einstein - Biography [pic] By  Mary Bellis Photo: Albert Einstein Albert Einstein was born in Germany in 1879. He enjoyed classical music and played the violin. One story Einstein liked to tell about his childhood was of a wonder he saw when he was four or five yearsRead MoreThe Life Of Albert Einstein923 Words   |  4 Pages 2015 5th Period The Life of Albert Einstein Albert Einstein, the son of Hermann and Pauline Einstein, was born on March 14, 1879, at Ulm, in Wurttemberg, Germany. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Munich, where he would begin his schooling at the Luitpold Gymnasium. In 1894, his parents decide to move to Pavia, Italy, but Einstein wanted to finish the school year. He only stayed for six months and then joined his family in Italy. One year later, Einstein took the entrance exam for theRead MoreThe Life of Albert Einstein837 Words   |  4 Pagesdo not know with what kinds of weapons the Third World War will be fought, but the Fourth World War will be fought with sticks and stones.† - Albert Einstein After World War 2 Albert Einstein was a major leading figure in the World Government Movement. He was offered the presidency of Israel, but he declined. During the start of his scientific life, Einstein realized the inadequacies of the Newtonian Mechanics and his special theory of relativity stemmed from an attempt to reconcile the laws of mechanicsRead MoreAlbert Einstein: The General Theory of Relativity Essay660 Words   |  3 Pagesor self-sacrificing†, meaning you don’t have to be a superhero to be considered heroic. Doing something that has a significant effect on society or changing the way something appears to be, makes one heroic; therefore, Albert Einstein is heroic in numerous ways. Throughout Albert Einstein’s lifetime he accomplished many amazing things that have an effect on people today. For example, in 1905, â€Å"often called as Einstein’s â€Å"miracle year†, he published four papers in the Annalen der Physik, each ofRead MoreAlbert Einstien: The Smartest Man in History Essay898 Words   |  4 PagesEinstein helped create the scientific world we all know today. He is one of the worlds most famous scientists. Not only that, you may know Albert Einstein as the man with crazy hair or the man on the bicycle. Whatever you remember of him, he will always go down as one of the smartest men in history. Albert Einstein has forever changed American history. In this essay, you will read about Alberts early life, family and marriage, his miracle year, his scientific career and theory of relativity, US

Health Care Insurance System Free samples †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: What unpleasant complications does the US health insurance system cause individual consumers? Do you have of know of an actual experience of those problems that you would like to share? How could the problems have been avoided or solved faster? Answer: In the United States, health insurance system plays a significant role in providing protection against cost of medical services. But the share of consumers with health insurance has declined due to rising insurance cost. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 were intended to solve the problem, but it has not happened. The structure of insurance system creates inefficiency by reducing the assess value for consumers One major problem that I faced was that I had no health insurance and either I was at risk of having to leave proper care or incur huge medical expense. To improve the insurance system, more effective system of functioning should be identified. Real health insurance can be provided by the implementation of system that protects consumers against catastrophic medical cost and creates a genuine market for less expensive services. This approach will lead to universal coverage and will also reduce the growth of health cost that is threatening fiscal health of US.

Free College Admissionss Social Work Will A Essay Example For Students

Free College Admissionss: Social Work Will A Essay llow Me to Grow College Admissions Essays The Study of Social Work Will Allow Me to Grow The rapidly growing elderly population is becoming a serious social problem in many countries. Some countries have been successful at finding solutions for this problem but others have not. Japan is one of the latter countries. Although Japan has one of the highest life expectancy rates and a reputation for good quality of life for its elderly population, it has been unsuccessful at addressing this problem. Compared to other industrialized countries, Japan lags behind in programs for elders who are physically disabled, bedridden or in need of long term care. The current economic crisis is exacerbating this situation as the government is cutting funding for elder programs. This problem resonates deeply with me, and I hope to someday work on finding a solution. It is for this reason that I am applying to the graduate program in social work at Boston University: I seek the skills and knowledge I need to return to Japan and work for a social work service. My interest in the elderly dates back to my childhood. Growing up with my grandparents greatly influenced my values and personality: they taught me to be self-motivated and disciplined. Their resilience and support has helped me to persevere even when confronted with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Because of their kindness toward me I have a deep respect for them and for elderly people in general. This is what motivates me to become involved in the field of social work. Traditionally in Japanese society, the care of ones parents is believed to be the childrens duty. After World War II, such traditions have evolved due to changes in family structure. No longer is the eldest child the only one to inherit his parents property, and two-income families have become the norm. These changes have left Japanese people at a loss as to how to care for their aging parents. The current response to this problem seems to be hospitalization. Families increasingly hospitalize their elders who are physically disabled, bedridden or in need of long-term care. These individuals are usually transferred to nursing homes, but because of sparse accommodations and a one to two year wait list, they end up staying with family members who are often ill equipped to care for them. As a result, there are a number of incidences of elder abuse by family members and elder suicide. Also, there are many other elderly people who live alone every year, many of them die with no one, not even their family members, having knowledge of their death. Currently there is no social welfare program in Japan that offers assistance to these elders and their families. In the light of these terrible problems, the need for such a program is obvious. My interest in social work is to find ways to develop and improve the types of services available to the elderly in Japan at a systematic level. I want to be involved in the organizing, managing, developing, shaping and planning of social policies related to the elderly. I believe the social work program at Boston University will allow me to do that. By studying macro social work at Boston University, I will learn about established social systems, assessment and intervention strategies. In addition, Boston Universitys emphasis on urban issues appeals to me immensely. As I will be returning to work in Osaka, the second largest city in Japan, graduate work in this area will better equip me for the challenges I will be facing. To me, an urban mission is a commitment to identify and find solutions to issues faced by urban areas. .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9 , .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9 .postImageUrl , .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9 , .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9:hover , .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9:visited , .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9:active { border:0!important; } .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9:active , .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9 .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue0dd900431c4b58846e77969a05caef9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Swimming History EssayI believe I am well prepared for graduate work. During my undergraduate study, I acquired the necessary background knowledge by taking advanced courses in the areas of psychology and sociology, including sociological research methods, social theory, statistics, psychological research, and psychotherapy. Along with these courses, I had an internship at the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, a non-profit organization. I also volunteered at Sawayaka-en, a nursing service, and Asunaro Childrens Mental Hospital in Japan. From .

The NCAAs Perspective On Sports Gambling Essays - Cheating

The NCAA's Perspective on Sports Gambling The NCAA prohibits the part icipation of legal or illegal sports gambling because of its ability to damage the integrity of sports contests and jeopardize the welfare of the student-athlete as well as his or her athletic community. The NCAA has had specific legislation prohibiting athletic department staff members, conference office staff, and student-athletes from participating in sports gambling activities as they relate to intercollegiate or professional sporting events. The purpose of this paper is to better understand the severity of sports gambling. The NCAA is well aware of the threat that sports gambling gives to the integrity of each intercollegiate contest. In the late 1940's, the academic community and public were surprised to learn that the City College of New York basketball team was involved in a point shaving scandal. Within just the last ten months, point shaving scandals occurred on the campuses of Arizona Southern University and Northwestern University. According to federal law enforcement officials, more money was bet on the Arizona State game more than on any point shaving scam in the history of intercollegiate athletics. Kenneth Dion Lee and Dewey Williams of Northwestern were served with arrest summons for allegedly shaving points. As starting seniors on Northwestern's 1994-95 team, Lee and Williams allegedly conspired with two gamblers placing thousands of dollars in wagers to alter their play so that their opponents would cover the point spread. In 1995, four Maryland football players and one men's basketball player were found to have bet on collegiate sporting events. Two years ago thirteen football players at Boston College were involved in sports gambling activities, four admitted to betting against their own team. Just last year a basketball player at Cal-State Fullerton was approached by a student after practice and offered one thousand dollars per game to shave some points. These are just a few examples of sports gambling incidents. College student-athletes need to be aware of the impact sports gambling can have on them. They could be expelled from college, lose athletic scholarships, and jeopardize any hope of a career in professional athletics. Environmental factors are said to be playing an influential role in Student-athletic gambling. One of Boston College's football players involved in the school betting scandal stated ?the attitude was: It's just part of the college experience. To tell the you the truth, it never crossed my mind that it was illegal; it's just common.? One of the athletes involved in the Northwestern University point shaving scandal admitted that gambling had been a part of his life ever since he was a youngster. The evidence of the growth of gambling on College campuses is no secret. Recently, the University of Cincinnati and the NCAA sponsored study randomly surveyed 2,000 male student-athletes in Division I basketball and football programs to assess the intent of NCAA rules violations. This survey disclosed that over twenty-five percent of the athletes reported gambling on college sporting events other than their own while in college. Four percent of the athletes admitted to wagering on games in which they had played. Three of the athletes admitted to changing the outcome of the game they played. Illegal sports gambling is defined as the placing of bets on professional and college events in every state except Nevada. There is an explosion of illegal sports gambling on just about every college campus in the nation. The NCAA investigations continue to unleash these huge bookie operations that involve student-athletes. Legal sports gambling takes place in Nevada where the bookmakers are handling millions of dollars everyday. The 1998 NCAA men's basketball tournament saw approximately $80 million wagered with Nevada bookmakers. This was more than the 1998 Super Bowl which was $78 million. All sixty-four teams that competed in this year's NCAA tournament were required to view an anti-gambling video before playing. This notion probably decreased some of the gambling that took place during the tournament. Pete Rose, a former baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds, deserves to be in the Hall of Fame but is questionable due to his gambling compulsion. Rose's gambling compulsion led to violate the cardinal rule, which is not to bet on baseball games. I think Pete Rose's situation is enough reason for me not to bet on athletic events

French Exclamative Adverbs - Adverbes dexclamation

French Exclamative Adverbs - Adverbes dexclamation Exclamative adverbs are placed in front of clauses to indicate shock, disbelief, awe, or some other strong emotion felt by the speaker. There are five French exclamative adverbs: commequequest-ce quece quecombien Comme means how, though many English speakers are likely reword the sentence to use so instead:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Comme il fait beau  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  How nice the weather is! The weather is so nice!  Ã‚  Ã‚  Comme cest difficile  !   Ã‚  Ã‚  How difficult it is! Its so difficult!  Ã‚  Ã‚  Comme tu es grand  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  How tall you are! Youre so tall!Que is more or less interchangeable with comme:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Quil fait beau  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  How beautiful the weather is!  Ã‚  Ã‚  Que cest difficile  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  How difficult it is!  Ã‚  Ã‚  Que tu es grand  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  How tall you are!Que de is used in front of nouns to stress so much or so many of something:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Que dargent  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  So much money!  Ã‚  Ã‚  Que de monde  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  So many people!  Ã‚  Ã‚  Que de difficultà ©s  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  So many problems!Que followed by a subjunctive clause creates an indirect command.Informally, quest-ce que and ce que can replace comme and que:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ques t-ce quil fait beau  ! Ce quil fait beau  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  The weather is so beautiful!  Ã‚  Ã‚  Quest-ce que cest difficile  ! Ce que cest difficile  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  Its so difficult!  Ã‚  Ã‚  Quest-ce que tu es grand  ! Ce que tu es grand  !   Ã‚  Ã‚  Youre so tall!Combien means how much or how many and must be followed by an adverb or by de noun:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Combien plus dà ©nergie que jai  ! Combien plus dà ©nergie ai-je  !   Ã‚  Ã‚  How much more energy I have! (I have so much more energy)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Combien dargent que tu dà ©penses  ! Combien dargent dà ©penses-tu  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  How much money youre spending! (Youre spending so much money!Note: The clause that follows the modified noun requires either inversion or que.Combien means how much/many or so much/many and may be followed by a clause, an adverb, or de noun:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Combien il a changà ©Ã‚  !   Ã‚  Ã‚  How he has changed! (Hes changed so much!)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Combien en a-t-on vus  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  How many we saw! (We saw so many!)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Combien de fois ne lui a-t-on pas rà ©pà ©tà ©Ã‚  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  How many times have we told him!  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mais combien plus noble si les hommes mouraient pour des idà ©es vraies  !  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (Henri Louis Mencken, Extrait de Prà ©jugà ©s)  Ã‚  Ã‚  But how much more noble if men died for real ideas!

The career you are preparing for now Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The career you are preparing for now - Essay Example ve is to evaluate my skills of creating documents such as those found in the employer website or even improved ones as well as understanding the implication that the document on the employer website create on a potential candidate. DOE can be perceived to be a site for electrical engineers, but also services a major employer for mechanical engineers. The U.S. Department of Energy website has various kinds of documents including hypertext, web, articles, PDF, press lease, and graphics. DOE website has other various documents on its site including a charter, company budget and performance report, and invitation to tender. The charter document describes the aim and principles of DOE in ensuring that engineering finds interventions to the challenges facing the world such as the innovation of renewable energy and discarding the use of fuels that will save the world from the greenhouse effect responsible for global warming. The company report is classified into the many projects that the company has undertaken including the science and innovation and energy saver. Invitation to tender documents are provided for the need to cover the staff and contractors rights as they form the most important aspect in ensuring the success of the company’s mission. Additionally, the site has warning documents that highlight the terms and right of access to the company’s information and reports as well as protecting it from whistleblowers. The DOE site makes use of an expository writing style, which aims at explaining process in a logical order with support of figures. Mechanical engineering is a practical career that require the explanation of processes in a logical order; hence, the site being one of the major employer in y field of career, has clearly distinguished its aim and scope though its technical communication of various projects . Additionally, I noticed that the site has used illustrations that are entirely technical to describe the technical details of various

Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) - Essay Example Several researches have been conducted to find out the success rate of LSVT in treating dysarthria. An article by Brad H Story et al analyzes the effect of LSVT on the vowel articulation of dysarthric patients. The research by Story et al clearly shows that dysarthric patients suffer from articulation of vowels in their daily lives. People suffering from Parkinsons Disease are most probable to go through from such a situation. Parkinsons Disease and its effects are emphasized upon in the research article. It has been seen that LSVT produces marked improvement in patients suffering from voice and speech problems due to the onset of Parkinsons Disease. Story et al tells that patients suffering from dysarthria because of Parkinsons show improvement on the long term when treated with LSVT because there is no external cueing in the therapy. Vocal loudness is a primary factor which helps these patients to improve upon their tone as put by Story. The research article by Story et al took pat ients suffering from Parkinsons disease who had problems in their speech and voice and gave them a therapy of LSVT to find out its effect on the vowel articulation. ... Both Michael et al and Story et al in their articles have put forward the effects of vocal loudness as used in LSVT on the patients who are suffering from Parkinsons. Michael et al in his article has emphasized on the patients suffering from hypokinetic dysarthria whereas Story et al in his article has emphasized upon the patients suffering from Parkinsons Disease specifically. The study carried out by Michael et al was only done on a single patient and requires research on other patients to confirm its results whereas the study carried out by Story et al was conducted on a large population to find out the effect of LSVT on the patients. Thus it can be said that Story et al has build up a strong base to prove its results whereas Michael et al in his article has given a platform for future research on hypokinetic dysarthric patients. Similarly the article by Story et al had also taken controls of patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease to find out the exact results of LSVT whereas the research by Michael et al only took one individual in the whole research without having any controls. Another research carried out by Wenke et al has showed the effectiveness of LSVT when it comes to the treatment of dysarthric patients following TBI or stroke. A total of 10 individuals were taken into the research to find out the effect of LSVT. LSVT was performed according to its normal procedure and then a team was designated to find out the effect of LSVT on the patients. The long term effects of LSVT on the patients were positive enough to last for six months as found out by the team. This research article again proved to be a platform for further research to find out the effectiveness of LSVT. Similarly another

Examine from an economic perspective Scotlands position in Europe in Essay

Examine from an economic perspective Scotlands position in Europe in relation to the recent Scottish independence referendum. Based upon your analysis which way should we have voted - Essay Example To begin with, the Scotland’s referendum vote in 2014 was a historic turning point for the entire Britain and Europe as a whole. Many political leaders and other influential leaders stood up to oppose the independence of Scotland, pointing out the negative impacts that this could cause to the European economy (Castells 2014, p. 23). For instance, this response was motivated by many leaders due to the fear that separation of Scotland from Europe would worsen the economic predicaments not only in Europe but also drag the entire United Kingdom. Amid predicted that a Yes Vote to Scotland’s independence would result in a decrease in the pound’s value to 15 percent, which is approximately 17 billion pounds of UK shares (Tindal, McCollum & Bell 2014, p. 89). Bonds as well as other financial assets were already sold by investors, thus negatively affecting the European economy at large (Furby 2012, p. 67). For instance, the Times revealed that the fear of Scotland’ s independence resulted in sell-off of many British investments. One of the impacts of independence referendum is all about oil production. U.K is the leading producer of oil in Europe and most of its oil comes from areas that Scotland’s independence claimed. The independence of Scotland from this perspective would cause a lot of harm to the economy of Europe. United Kingdom is likely to grab a share of the current oil production and reserves. This will result in Scotland remaining with oil that is worth  £1.5 trillion. Secondly, massive financial industry of Scotland seems ready to collapse if voters could prefer a Yes vote. The biggest banking and insurance companies such as RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) had decided to move their headquarters, including other departments of their operations to England if the voters of Scotland had chosen independence. The financial sector offers employment to approximately 100,000

The Laws Effect on Population

The Laws Effect on Population Abstract Society revels in the idea of a free and safe world. Humans are a sinful species that have made precautions in order to protect themselves and others. These laws and regulations have psychological effects on those who abide and live in their presence. Some people go mad. Others are able to live in harmony with these boundaries on freedom. Laws have shown to be troublesome in some cases. One case in particular is World War II. Joseph Stalin was a very powerful leader of communist Russia. He was merciless and took complete advantage over the boundless role he played as leader. Some laws have always been in existence. Scientists known world-wide have expressed these laws to all of society, showing that we are all bound to some sort of lawful agreement. You cannot fight nature. You must be in sync with existence and freedom. For life is only as good as you allow it to be. Keywords: laws, evil, power, society, Lord of the Flies The characteristics of man create killers, lovers, and believers, but what is it that molds us into the figure we grow up to be? Living in a world of complete freedom has dangerous undertones. The fear for life and safety forces man to act sinister. Malignancy is only another part of life. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies characterizes how man has an undercurrent of evil subsided by the laws and rules that control society. Laws, however good they may be, can also cause an uprising in an individual or a population. Order; being a primary concern, can also become over stimulated and lead to a rebellion. In some cases laws can even act as a restriction toward the advancement of justice. In William Goldings Lord of the Flies the introduction of rules sparked the competitiveness of being in power. Quickly, the boys primal urges transcended. They fought for power, leadership, and safety. I ought to be chief, said Jack with simple arrogance, because Im chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp.(Golding 129) Disregarding what is truly important, escape, their old lives become transparent in their thoughts. Any rules that were set in place were sacrificed. Their evolution into savagery was relentless. This outlook shows that without proper enforcement, the boys did not have enough authority to prevent their descent into darkness. Society is, and always has been evil. The only thing that separates us from the beasts of the wild is our intelligence and our innate ability to adapt. Man must be taught to conform to man’s idea of a good society. From first breath, man’s desire to only fulfill his own needs is greater than that of any other. The thought of satisfying another’s needs or wants are light years away. Only with remedial adjustment can we stretch that light closer. The goodness in one’s heart is shrouded with self-promotion and selfishness. Effort must be made in order for one to become good of heart. The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy is forever increasing in our universe. Entropy is the end and the beginning. No matter what actions take place in the middle, we have started out and will end in a world of evil and disaster. Even before religion came into existence, man had to follow the laws of nature, the laws of physics. Nowhere in time is there a place where rules didnt exist. Never has any being had perfect freedom. The pencil you drop the rotation of the planets around the sun, and the force that keeps you down to earth. Everything is bound by laws. â€Å"Laws are necessary because they keep order, tranquility and justice in the world. If you look at back at many philosophers of the Enlightenment period, you would find that they all believed in the potential purity of action; however they also believed in the potential evil in ones actions.†(Association Awards 3) Sometimes it just takes time to realize our boundaries. Isaac newton was a scientist that discovered many principles that are still used today in modern physics. His mind has created an influence that has stretched past generations and beyond. He spent the majority of his life dedicated to science. If I have done the public any serv ice, it is due to my patient thought. (Principia 1) This quote from Sir Isaac Newton lends the thought that a forbearing life can result in a well-spent life. If something is of importance then it is worth waiting for. Being held back by restrictions may seem bothersome at times, but could prove to have been the influence necessary for a huge breakthrough. Man has made many attempts in correcting and metamorphosing individuals into something acceptable by peers. Laws, rules, and restrictions have molded modern day society into something that goes against human nature. â€Å"The law is a set of rules for society, designed to protect basic rights and freedoms, and to treat everyone fairly.† (Effect on Germans 3) These important contributions to man have held society together as great nations for many generations. However, society may not be psychologically stable due to its obligation for beneficial contradictions. These unhealthy expectations can lead to rebellion, madness, and even a world once again filled with cruelty. Freedom paired with safety and fun is an example of an illogical aspiration. More than anything else, humans need to feel safe from harm. While order is an essential aspect for the well-being of people it is not enough. Longevity is a direct result from order. When there are laws that keep things in line, we ten d to live longer, live safer, and without fear. Some say that the government enforces laws so that they have the power to oversee everything. â€Å"Almost everything we do is governed by some set of rules†. (Britannica 17) Surveillance is a common method of ensuring protection; however, it has not proven to be the most effective form of security. It is easily bypassed by even the simplest of methods. People will develop ways to sidestep boundaries. Government has shown to be a tourniquet on freedom. In the United States, we have laws left and right. We are not always happy about these rules, since they often tell us what we can and cannot do or are keeping us from doing what we want. In order to live civilly one must create a mutualistic relationship with the law. The majority of population is kept under control through means of silent threats. Laws are a constant reminder that if you do not do what is wanted then you will be punished. Whether these laws are for the well-being for the people or if they are for the well-bein g of the government is irrelevant. Their purpose is the same. To control an entire mass of people peacefully is irrational. Gandhi was a man of peace. Revered the world over for his nonviolent philosophy of passive resistance, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was known to his many followers as Mahatma, or â€Å"the great- souled one.†(19) Much of his life was focused on ending the struggles in his home country India. His ascetic lifestyle was an inspiration to millions under government control. During World War I he became an influential part of India’s fight for independency. His dedicated eloquence toward his practical and religious lifestyle earned him reverence among those who followed him. Gandhi proved that power is only relative to the eyes of receiver. His beliefs on power strained from his beliefs of peace and mercifulness. Even after his imprisonment he continued to act as an influential part of the war. When he was released into the public he started a new civil d isobedience campaign against the government taxing, which helped improve the life of India’s poorest citizens. People living in a law-bound society are morally bound by the beliefs their ancestors and peers have brought forth into existence. Theists are primarily responsible for the foundation of civilization today. Customs forged from deities, false or true, have sculpted the customs followed today. The Bible is responsible for most of the laws in the United Sates. Our constitution was crafted from the teachings the bible. Religion governs most lives no matter their beliefs. Calling yourself an atheist will not change the fact that you have to abide by the laws created by people that believed in figments. It is taught that this life you live is only a training ground to see if you are truly worthy to grant your eyes the blessing of god. If you fail to comply with the rules that he has set in place then the rest of your existence will be spent in eternal damnation. Scared for what may truly exist, many people decide they would be better off to just comply than to risk putting something they d ont understand at risk. Since the beginning of all human understanding we have been forced to follow some guidelines. Despite laws being proven to get in the way of some advancement, laws can also show to be very beneficial. â€Å"Regulation creates limits, constrains a right, creates or limits a duty, or allocates a responsibility†. (Deddington 21) Laws are the number one reason why millions of lives are spared a day. Government has cast a strong shadow of awareness of what will happen if you act inappropriately. The aggressiveness that follows safety is a by-product of concern and care. As long as you act within the law, then you will be fine. The law is there for protection. If you accept it, then it will accept you. However, law has a made strong point that if you do not choose to live under these rules then you may not live at all. Communist Russia held a stronghold of customs that may have seemed insane to alien countries. They were not allowed nearly as much freedom as federal governments. Russians were paid based on their skills and needs. The amount of greed they lusted for was much lower than that of any neighboring country. They lived by a simple creed. Live hard and work hard. Russia was a communist country for over 80 years. It had a thriving economy with content citizens that populated it border to border. Joseph Stalin reined leader from 1924 to 1953. His influence on the world was a primary reason for the abandonment and rebellion against communism in Russia. He was responsible for the holocaust of millions of Ukraine’s that is largely forgotten. He organized 10 million farmers to fund a communist collective farm. When they denied, he commanded troops to kill them. When bullets proved to be too expensive he simply removed all sources of food and starved them all to death. Stalin’s death count was much higher than that of Hitler. He was more ruthless and had little morals. His actions were spontaneous and without reason. Stalin possessed an exceptional amount of power with no restriction as to what he was allowed to do. â€Å"There is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it.†(Rowling 143) This flood of wrong doing created massive alert world-wide. World empires teamed up in order to take Stalin down. The idea of evil is based on perspective. Over time society has become less reliant on force and more drawn toward peace. For nearly one hundred years slavery was thriving in America. A strict decree of prejudicial etiquette was formed in order to keep control over African Americans. Slavery was largely uncontested until the late 1800’s. Abraham Lincoln was a powerful man that despite feeling more powerful than minorities, he still felt there was no justification for the burden of the white man’s problems being forced unto slaves. In his eyes they were now a part of the United States and deserved freedom. He continued with his cause knowing that the government would not be able to act forcefully against his cause. â€Å"For in reason, all government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery.†(Thinkexist 2) With no freedoms or rights, the black community held no ground and could in no way act against the government in a safe manner. Lif e was grueling and unrewarding. The scraps they were fed could only be flavored by the salt from their tears. Black children were unknowingly born into an unrelenting society. â€Å"I didnt know I was a slave until I found out I couldnt do the things I wanted†(1) The government had complete control. Superfluous power deteriorated the foundation that America had built one for the last century. Their supremacy turned out to be their own downfall. Within a year Abraham Lincoln was able to abolish slavery through acts centered on pacifism. His campaign for presidency was also centered on the freedom of the nation and fairness of the governed. Laws only have as much power as we are willing to give them. Much like an animal that makes itself seem bigger to scare its prey, the government pursues a persona of complete control until retaliation occurs. Every action we commit further increases entropy. We live in a small world and are only allowed a limited number of mistakes before we become consumed with sin. Committing to others may be the only way for true bliss to be achieved. Allowing laws to run your life may be your only salvation, your only way of functioning in modern day society. Having a solid foundation, comforting surroundings, and a safe life. These are the primary concerns that are addressed by law. Law, despite being the abstract webbing that holds lives together, is not unbeatable. Humans have shown time and time again to overcome boundaries and morph them into something they favor. Works Cited Association Awards. Law and Society Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. The Editors of Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Lord of the Flies (novel by Golding). Encyclopedia Britannica  Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Sept. 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2014 Effect_on_Germans. Effect_on_Germans. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. Francis, Robert, and Martin J. Walker. Lord of the Flies. Deddington: Philip Allan Updates, 2010. Print. Isaac Newton Quotes. Isaac Newton Quotes (Author of The Principia). N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May  2014. The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Trenton: I. Collins, 1791. Print. Beech, Linda. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling. New York, NY: Scholastic, 2000. Print. Slavery Quotes. Thinkexist.com. ThinkExist, n.d. Web. 16 May 2014. Annotated Bibliography Francis, Robert, and Martin J. Walker. Lord of the Flies. Deddington: Philip Allan Updates, 2010. Print. Lord of the Flies offers an interesting point of view over the effects that laws have over mankind. It reveals our underlying nature. This book argues the evil that is inside of man. It focuses on the aspect of sin and rebellion that follows our natural position. This source is very useful. The information is opinionated but still very reliable. The goal of this source is to lead me toward believing that we are all born into evil but sculpted into a society that will keep us safe. This resource has been extremely helpful in understanding the flaws of man. It promotes the idea that rules keep us safe but draw us farther from our natural environment. I can use this source in my paper as a way to show the reader how freedom makes us turn into beasts. It may even change the way they think about the world like it has me. The Editors of Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Lord of the Flies (novel by Golding). Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Sept. 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. This source summarizes the dark side of human nature. It also stresses how important the need for intelligence is needed for a controlled society. The usefulness of this source is going to be very reliable when writing about the fashion of society. This source is not biased but rather explains the cold hard facts that have been put down on us along with the constraints of the government. The source was helpful because it will allow the reader to understand how freedom can be a bad thing. It will explain that the laws we have are a double edged sword. What Is the Law. What Is the Law. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. The main reason for this article was to explain why we have laws. It covers topics such as crime rate and crime dependency. A useful source such as this is reliable because of the facts that are given along with the points made. The information perceived is not biased. It was all gathered from credible sources. The source explains why laws exist as well as what could happen if they did not exist. I will use this source when I cover law dependency and necessity. How Laws Affect People. VM Law RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. Laws affect people in positive and negative ways. It forces us to settle our natural instincts and focus on a more controlled way of living. Not all data presented is reliable, however, I will use what is not opinionated. The goal of this source is to let the reader know what happens when laws colonize a population. The source will be helpful. It will further prove how badly laws affect a society. I will be using this source in my project. Effect_on_Germans. Effect_on_Germans. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. The German’s had many laws that caused an economic downturn. There were many things they weren’t allowed to do. This explains how a rebellion was cause from over enforcement. The source will be slightly useful when enforcing my thoughts on how laws can be trouble if they limit freedom too much. The source is not biased at all. It’s goal was to explain a reason why the Germans may have attacked and starting world war II The article fits into the research paper because it goes over laws that cause rebellion. I do not completely agree with it but, it can further my paper and make it easier to understand. Association Awards. Law and Society Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. This is a peer reviewed article. It gives solid facts concerning the importance of laws The topic covers important issues about the public needs. This source is reliable and all information presented is unbiased. This source will prove helpful and does not change my thoughts concerning laws and rules.It supports all the ideas that I will present. Law and Society Association. Law and Society Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. This source explains who controls all the laws that are made. It goes over the importance of control and freedom in law making. The source is reliable because it is straight from historical events. At the same time it is unbiased I will be able to use a small amount of the information presented. It does give good thoughts on why we need rules in a society. Laws and Regulations. USA.gov: The U.S. Governments Official Web Portal. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr.2014 This gives a detailed list of important laws. It explains why it is necessary to have them in our lives. Every aspect of this article is completely unbiased and reliable. All information is taken from the laws that we are aware of. This source furthers my understanding of law making. It will fit into the paper by assessing important topics concerning how we act around specific rules.

Religious Musings on The Turner Diaries: Reading the Bible of the Racist Right :: Free Essays Online

Religious Musings on The Turner Diaries: Reading the Bible of the Racist Right Domestic religious terrorism doesn't figure very strongly in the modern American consciousness. However, this may be more of an embarrassing oversight than an encouraging reflection of reality. Juergensmeyer did me quite a service by starting out his forceful documentation and analysis by looking at the actions of the American religious right. Though he focused on those responsible for the attacks against abortion clinics, he also brought up the Christian Identity movement, the group connected with Timothy McVeigh of Oklahoma City bombing fame. Their theology (that they are the only true Jews) caught my attention, and your comments in class led me to be interested in reading The Turner Diaries, a work which has been called the "Bible of the racist right." I thought it a fitting conclusion to the semester to look at something I was introduced to in the course through the new lens which the course has ground over the past semester. The Turner Diaries is ostensibly the day-to-day account of Earl Turner, a footsoldier in the White Revolution in America to overthrow the rule of the Jews and their imposition of "racial equality" (a term which they take to mean license for Black Americans to do as they please with impunity). Over the course of a couple of years, he details his experiences within the "Organization" as it is forced underground by an ever-more-repressive government. It eventually begins fighting back militarily, engaging in acts  ­ such as the destruction of the FBI building and the mortar-shelling of the Capitol  ­ that we would undoubtedly recognize as terrorism. In the end, the Organization succeeds in achieving its goals, first liberating California, and then, as the epilogue summarizes, the rest of the world, ridding the Earth of the twin scourges of Jewish domination and non-white contamination. Oddly enough, the text makes very few references to religion, other than to say that Earl himself became religious only after his induction into a secretive Order within the Organization. And yet the entire tale bears the markings of religion, especially the trappings of a culture of religious opposition. Of course, their religion, their theology, is their belief in the superiority of the white race - but this is no less a religious belief, taken as an article of faith by adherents. From the beginning, we are led to understand these people's participation in the Organization as an act of desperation; they will be punished, most likely killed, by their enemies if they don't go into hiding and work against the System.

Bad Sugar Essay

Unnatural Causes In this video â€Å"Bad Sugar† the Pima and Tohono O’odham Indians of southern Arizona have the highest diabetes rate in the world. This affects more then half the adults in this Indian group, but a century ago diabetes wasn’t even heard of. What has happened to the health of the Pima Indians? During the 20th century the river water was used by white settlers and Pima’s local Indians went into poverty and became dependent on the U. S. government. This resulted in the Indians eating tepary beans, cholla buds and wild life these everyday ood items changed to white flour, lard, processed cheese and canned foods. Needless to say this had a big impact on the Pima Indians. This exclusive documentary shows crucial evidence on how we pour more money into drugs, fad diets, medical technologies, but is it deeper then that? Evidence shows there’re more to bad habits and unlucky genes. If we can find a solution to poverty we can solve many of the problems that individuals deal with on a day-to-day bases. As a future educator I will teach them strategies and help improve their daily exercise. Teaching hem strategies will help them to become independent with their exercise as well as quality nutrition and realize how truly Important It Is, which should lower the diabetic rate. Goals: 1 . Promote healthy lifestyles to prevent risk factors for pre-dlabetes, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke 2. Improve the detection, control and treatment of risk factors and pre-diabetes for the prevention of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke 3. Improve the detection, control and treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular disease to prevent complications and disabilities and reduce the severity and progression of disease

Writing a Residency Personal Statement

Writing a Residency Personal Statement As most medical students will attest, formulating a residency personal statement is an extremely difficult task. An essay that must articulate the students career intentions as well as his/her passion for the field, residency statements are not exactly a walk in the park. As someone who has written and proofed dozens of personal statements, I would like to offer the following tips on writing one for residency. As if getting into and graduating from medical school isnt difficult enough, young doctors also most complete several years as a resident in a hospital. Now, considering that young doctors arent paid squat while working as residents, you would think that hospitals would be begging them to apply. Not the case. Not only are top residency positions hard to come by, but graduate hopefuls must compete against the best in their field in order to even be considered. That is why the personal statement is so important. As a potential resident, the personal statement is your chance to stand out above the rest and literally plead your case. Residency personal statements are hard to write, but they arent impossible. For more information on writing a quality personal statement for your residency or if you would like to know where you can find an editor to assist you in the process, please access the link provided. In the meanwhile, good luck!

Chlorine essays

Chlorine essays When you think of chlorine, the first thing that comes to your mind is the stuff you put in pools. Well that is one of the uses, but there is many, many more. Chlorine protects organisms ranging from the Ecuadorian tree frog, to wood rotting fungi. Chlorine is also surprisingly more plentiful than carbon. Believe it or not chlorine was the first substance used as a poisonous gas in World War I. Chlorine, symbol Cl, is a greenish-yellow gaseous element. In the group 17 of the periodic table, chlorine is one of the halogens. The atomic number of chlorine is 17. Elementary chlorine was first isolated in 1774 by the Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele, who thought that gas was a compound of oxygen. It was not until 1810 that the British chemist Sir Humphry Davy proved that chlorine was an element and gave it its present name. At ordinary temperatures, chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas that can readily be liquefied under pressure of 6.8 atmospheres, at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees pharenhit). The gas has an irritating odor and can sometimes be dangerous. Chlorine does not occur in nature, but its compounds are common minerals, and it is the 20th most abundant element in the earth's crust. Cl has a specific gravity of 1.41 at -35 degrees Celsius (-31 degrees pharnehit). The atomic weight of the element is 35.453. Chlorine is an active element, reacting with water, organic compounds, and many metals. Chlorine will not burn in air, but will support the combustion of many substances. An ordinary paraffin candle, for example, will burn chlorine with a smoky flame. Chlorine and hydrogen can be kept together in the dark, but react explosively in the presence of light. Chlorine solutions in water are familiar in the home as bleaching agents. Most chlorine is produced by the electrolysis of ordinary salt solution, with sodium hydroxide as a by-product. Because the demand for chlorine exceeds that for sodium hydro...

Kalamazoo River PCB content or Oil Spill Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Kalamazoo River PCB content or Oil Spill - Essay Example It stretches across several states, and drains into Lake Michigan. The rivers course covers about 178 miles and its median flow is about 2000 cubic feet per second. The archeological artifacts show the use of this river by humans for a period of over 10000 years. The river is home to abundant aquatic life and a natural habitat for several fish species. It has ponds and a natural scene that is conducive for most aquatic invertebrates. The river has though undergone a lot of pollution from industrial wastes in the past. Despite the continued efforts to clean the river of industrial wastes, the presence of chemicals left behind by previous pollution is still a setback to the efforts. A major oil spill that occurred in the Kalamazoo River in 2010 spelled a major disaster as a broken pipeline leaked a million gallons of diluted bitumen into the river. The occurrence sparked the most costly cleanup operation in the history of the United States. It took over 750 million dollars to clean up the leak, but the long term effects still remain to date. The Alliance for Great Lakes blames the leaks on companies trying to minimize costs and use of substandard pipelines, which lack proper maintenance. Oil spills are a major cause of worry in relation to the effects they have on the environment, oil in its form inhibits penetration of gases and can easily suffocate marine by cutting oxygen supply. After the oil spill, the Kalamazoo had dead fish all over the surface; fishing activities ban for some time affected the livelihood of the people. Enbridge Energy Partners came under criticism, as they owned the pipeline. The effects of the Kalamazoo oil spill are both direct and indirect. The spill led to the closure of sections of the river for dredging. The dredging works cost Enbridge more than the insurance cover they had undertaken and was subject to many legal battles. They also came under public criticism due to closure of sections which used by many people. The slow pace of t he cleanup exercise too attracted public criticism and dissatisfaction. It ended up bringing back the subject of pollution experienced previously on the river, according to a survey AGL conducted people complained of companies being allowed time to conduct more research on the effects rather than concentrating on removal of the toxic wastes from the river. The presence of carcinogenic chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyl’s from wastes of landfills left by paper mills from recycled carbonless paper a now illegal chemical. Despite a major cleanup exercise, AGL believes everything changed after the leak. Some people vacated the area; others still live in uncertainty and are unsure of what long-term effects to expect. The land along the shores soaks with oil and solid materials still float along the riverbed. The scars of the disastrous spill are still visible. The period it takes to clean up an oil spill completely is hard to tell especially on such a large water body. The ef fect on wildlife is under research and turtles and ducks submerged in oil. The effect of this oil coating on feathers and turtle shells is may cause a change in breeding patterns, a negative effect on the animal’s reproduction or even damage to organs in their bodies. The uncertainty breeds anxiety on the actual impact expected to result. There is a drastic change in the food chain, and already there is a drastic reduction of fish in the most affected parts of the river. Certain insects

Project Management Methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7000 words

Project Management Methods - Essay Example Project Management has developed into a major area of study. One of the major reasons is the fact that there are numerous factors that are not fully understood in project management. Every project needs three resources: Man, Material and Money. Managing men, material and money might be the easiest thing to do when compared to the software projects or IT projects. What makes IT projects different is the fact that it is mostly virtual and almost uniformly not realized in any physical form until the final moment. The lack of understanding of the expectations of the end user is just one of the bottlenecks. The very fact that every end user has his or her own perception of the requirements makes the IT project a far tougher proposition than what it was conceived to be. Surveys conducted by Robbins – Gioia (2001) concluded that nearly 51% of all software projects fail. They also said that nearly 46% of the companies just did not know where they are going with the IT projects. Most of the projects go over board on cost as well as on time (Brenda Whittaker 1999). Worse still is the fact that most of the companies are not able to identify what is a success and what is a failure. At the same time, Standish Group released a report that compared the performance of IT projects all through the last decade. From 1994 to 2005, the Group indicated that the IT projects have improved in their performance and have been consistently producing better results. The graph below from the Standish Group's CHAOS report (2004) indicates that the success rate has been increasing gradually. Though this is cause for commendation, still majority of the projects, over 71% of the projects, still fail or do not satisfy the customers who are paying for it. This paper studies the numerous causes for the failures. The paper also studies the various methods adopted by the people to forestall failures and how these methods have failed if they have. Also analyzed are the success reasons for some of the projects. Why do some projects succeed And what makes such projects better than the rest of the projects The results of such study are looked at in this paper. 4. Aims and Objectives In order to put in the right perspective the discussions, the following aims and objectives have been set for this project. The aim of the project is to identify why software and IT projects fail and why their failure rates are higher. This will ensure that real issues behind the failures are identified and listed. Once this is done, the objective is easily reachable. The objective is to find the right project management method and the right process that a software development company should adopt so that the failure rate of their project is low. This objective can be met once the problem points are clearly identified. 5. Literature Review 5.1 Introduction The literature review of the project failure would aim at studying the various methods that are available. While doing so, the primary evolutionary path of these project management methods was identified. This would also ensure that the reasons behind such a methodology will also be known. Every development

Research Design Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Design - Research Paper Example This study design is of great importance since it informs policy formulation and implementation strategies and avoids wastage of resources in starting interventions that would not change the state of the population. In the case of HBP the study type would inform the researcher whether the access to a health facility and follow-up are the major causes and therefore policies and interventions to address the same can be put in place to ensure that the interventions are most effective and do not use a lot of resources. HBP management has proven to be technical and requires behavior changes, good diet, along with a regimen of antihypertensive medications that require medical follow-up. Therefore the black men in urban areas have poor access to health services and do not seek care or remain in treatment and this is considered as a great factor in the rate of disability and death in this population. This study design is important in this particular scenario since in order to understand if the factors expressed are the real cause, one half of the population be exposed to the factors and the other not and then assessed over a period of time in order to determine whether the factors have an effect on HBP management. A cohort study is a type of study design which is used widely in cases where the researcher aims at reaching persons with particular similarities. There are different cohorts that can be described in terms of age or condition being suffered from. Most cohorts are attributed by age and therefore age has been the most common dividing factor in cohort studies. It has been expressed widely in this study where Dr Jemmott focuses on reducing risky sexual behavior, primarily among minority adolescents. This clearly illustrates that the target population of the study are the adolescents who are the cohort in this case. The use of cohort study design is important in ensuring that the target population is actually captured

The Morally Blasphemous Essay Example for Free

The Morally Blasphemous Essay In the following essay, I will argue that modern day suicide bombers are not morally blameless by Camus’s standards. To be morally blameless in Camus’s terms, modern day suicide bombers must absolutely meet two vital criteria. For suicide bombers to be morally blameless, Camus stresses that these terrorists must have a just cause, and secondly meet the qualifications of proportional atonement. Since some suicide bombers have a just cause, but all do not meet the criteria of proportional atonement, they are therefore considered not to be morally blameless by Camus’s standards. In the following paragraphs, I will lay out the framework and foundations to explain why the majority of suicide bombers do not meet the criteria for proportional atonement. Secondly I will attempt to demonstrate how some of the terrorism committed by these people, may be in the name of justice but then again look at fluent counter arguments that point out that suicide bombers are breaking one of Camus’s important deontological constraints. Proportional atonement for Camus is the ability for any terrorist , and in this case Kaliayev, to reflect on his actions after having committed the act of violence against the Grand Duke. The terrorist or suicide bomber must then have the courage to pay the ultimate price with their own life. In Kaliayev’s case, this means to refuse any form of acquittal and to suffer the punishment. For Camus, paying with one’s life is the highest price an individual can pay. Therefore a terrorist willing to go through with his or her plan must understand that by doing so, he or she is acting under the pretenses that they are giving up everything. Those who provide an argument in saying that terrorists do pay a proportional price, bring forth the idea that by blowing themselves up, suicide bombers are clearly paying with their life, and are therefore accepting to pay the maximum price. Whether a terrorist like Kaliayev, kills one person by blowing up the Grand Duke’s carriage, or whether it be the back bombers who blew themselves up killing 191 Spaniards in Madrid, these terrorists are paying the ultimate price for what they see as committing an act of justice. The number of people you kill, be it one or ten thousand is irrelevant as a person only has one life to give since we cannot kill ourselves over. For those who hold this true, what they are failing to realize is that suicide bombers, although they are paying the ultimate price, are often celebrated as heroes back at home and monetary compensation is often rewarded to the family members of the suicide bombers. Therefore, you might say that terrorist do pay with their lives but minus the amount of post-mortem social prestige. In his book Driven to Death, author Ariel Merari discusses the effect that monetary compensation has on helping to recruit suicide bombers. In his book, Merari states that families receive money from many sources, including local charities as well as terrorist recruiter groups like modern day Al-Qaeda and the Palestinian authority. In Iraq, before the fall of Sadam Hussein’s regime, his government would give between $20,000 and $25,000 to the families of su icide bombers, often given the goal to blow up and kill American troops or Iranian Shi’ites. 1 1Merari, Ariel. A Controlled Study of Would Be Suicides. Driven to Death. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. 132-33. Print This brings me to my next point which discuses the power of what I call selfish reasoning. Another method is to try and compare modern day suicide bombers, (which we unfortunately have to generalize as Muslims) to Kaliayev. In my estimation suicide bombers blow themselves up for much ore selfish reasons. This would include the Islamic tradition of securing a place in paradise. Thus it could be far fetched to say that their death is an act of repentance but rather a quick way of going right up to paradise. Of course we do have to recognize that this may not be true for all suicide bombers. Unlike these suicide bombers Kaliayev is content to die for his cause, which is for securing a better life for the Russian people. Throughout the play there is absolutely no talk of heaven or paradise but rather the act of death as merely the end. During one of his arguments with Stepan, Kailayev notes that he joined the revolution because he loves life and is willing to give it up for the group’s cause. 2 The final foundation I wish to discuss is this idea of repentance. After having killed the Grand Duke, Kaliayev was forced to go on living in prison for a short amount of time, forced to focus and repent on his action. Even for the short amount of time, Kaliayev was forced to live knowing that he was a murderer and knowing of his dirty blood stained hands. Unlike Kaliayev who is forced to reconcile and repent, suicide bombers blow themselves up immediately, removing any bit of suffering, self reflection and pity from their agenda. This of course brings me to the next idea, which will focus on Camus’s first argument of being able to fulfill la just cause. 2Camus, Albert. The Just Assasins. Trans. Stuart Gilbert. Caligula And 3 Other Plays. New York: Random House, 1958. 243. Print. To say whether or not suicide bombers have a just or unjust cause is a very tricky question to answer. Since we are talking about modern day examples, let us assume we are referring to modern day su icide bombers recruited for groups like Al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda’s objective is to stop the evils of American-Western oppression and economic control in the Arab world. In the last century, America has secured a dictatorship in Iran, invaded Iraq on a number of occasions, invaded Afghanistan overthrowing the Taliban and has stationed troops in Saudi Arabia in an effort to maintain a partnership that would give the United States cheap oil. Certainly having felt the oppression, suicide bombers and terrorists networks who do not have the means to take on the American military head on and engage in what is called guerilla or asymmetrical warfare. Suicide bombers will target the populations of western countries in order for the people to demand policy changes from the government out of fear of further attacks. After the dreadful Madrid bombings in 2004, the Spanish government pulled out of Iraq. A parallel can be drawn to the terrorist organization in the â€Å"Just Assassins†, unable to take the Russian military head on, the oppressed proletariats resort to unconventional warfare of terrorism against the leaders of governments in order to achieve their goal of freedom which Camus would define as clearly a just want for both those in the Arab world and for the proletariats of Russia. All this being considered, those opposed to the granting terrorists the â€Å"just cause† stamp of approval, we must consider that suicide bombers unlike Kaliayev are engaging in the violation of one of Camus’s largest moral constraints which includes the killing of innocents, along with the guilty. When a suicide bomber blows himself up, he usually does so with the goal of killing as many people as possible. In the story, kalayev cannot bring himself to kill the Grand Dukes niece and nephew because they are innocent; a group consensus follows his decision. If the Madrid back pack bombers wanted to get Camus’s morally blameless stamp of approval, perhaps they would have blown up the Spanish government rather than commuters. Having considered all the factors that have been discussed, for suicide bombers to be morally blameless by Camus’s standards they must first have a just cause and secondly practice proportional atonement. Whether or not some suicide bombers have a just cause is certainly up for interpretation and can be seen in many different lights, factors would include whether blowing up civilians is morally just and on what account they can be seen as blameful for even supporting a government that oppresses a people. On the other hand, assuming that the given suicide bombers have a just cause, it is evident for the reasons stated above that no modern day suicide bomber can fit the criteria of proportional atonement. Therefore anyway you put it, modern day suicide bombers are not morally blameless because they cannot meet both criteria successfully. Works Cited Camus, Albert, and Stuart Gilbert. Caligula Three Other Plays. New York: Random House, 1958. Print. Merari, Ariel. Driven to Death: Psychological and Social Aspects of Suicide Terrorism. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. Print.

Decrypting Cryptography Essay -- E-Commerce Internet Papers

Decrypting Cryptography Cryptography is the study of techniques and implementation dedicated to the solving of complex problems. Today, its primary use is to protect sensitive information by maintaining the privacy of communications. In general, the secret information is transformed into an altered text by a process referred to as encryption, thus preventing the message from being read by anyone besides the intended receiver. It is this cipher text that is transmitted to the intended recipient, who must use the proper key to reverse the process, that is convert the encoded message back into its plain text form. Cryptography has seen a recent rise in popularity due to the expanding nature of communications technology, the Internet, and the inherent security needs of such systems. Cryptography has many practical uses besides providing a code for secret communications. A major contributor to the many current applications of cryptology is the status of computers. Cryptology provides the tools to create a large-scale network of individuals who can communicate with each other confidentially without the threat of an unintended party being able to receive the transmission. The electronically intangible nature of e-mail messages makes them particularly susceptible to attack. Cryptography provides encryption for e-mails, so that only the intended recipient can access the plain text. Cryptographic applications have been augmented with the recent increase of business conducted over the Internet, otherwise known as e-commerce. Online banking, brokerage accounts, and shopping have increased the need for protection against fraud, theft and corruption of the vital information that is sent via the Internet with each electronic transa... ...lobe. Whether you are trading stocks at the office, talking on a cellular phone in the car, or just purchasing a CD at home, cryptography provides the necessary security to insure that your sensitive information will not fall into the wrong hands. Works Cited [1] Daepp, Ulrich. â€Å"Public Key Encryption Scheme.† 14 October 1999. [2] â€Å"Frequently Asked Questions About Today’s Cryptology.† RSA Security. [FTP] ftp://ftp.rsasecurity.com/pub/labsfaq/labsfaq4.pdf. 1 December 1999. [3] â€Å"Leonard Adleman.† The University of Southern California. [WWW] http://www-hto.usc.edu/people/Adleman.html. 3 December 1999. [4] McHugh, Josh. â€Å"People-Innovators, Smart People, Smart Ideas: Leonard Adleman.† Forbes 7 July 1997. [5] â€Å"RSA† [WWW] http://www.whatis.com/rsa.htm. 3 December 1999 [6] Shamir, Adi. â€Å"RSA for Paranoids.† CryptoBytes vol.1, no.3 Autumn 1995: 1-4.

Storm Born Chapter Twelve

I finally worked up the courage to see my mom and Roland a few days later. Tim had left for the day, but he'd apparently baked this morning. A plate of almond poppy seed muffins sat on the kitchen table, and I grabbed two for the road. My ability to think clearly had improved with some rest, but my anger and pain hadn't really faded. I still felt betrayed and not just by Wil. If anything, I could forgive him more easily than anyone else. He had not fostered a years-long secret. His actions had been open and desperate. They had not been so insidious as Kiyo's, my mom's, and Roland's. When I arrived at the house, I didn't bother knocking. The front door was open, and I pushed inside, slamming it loudly behind me. â€Å"Genie?† I heard my mom call. â€Å"Is that you?† I walked across the wood floor, my shoes echoing in the foyer. Mom and Roland sat at the kitchen table, eating lunch. Bread and cold cuts were laid out, along with assorted condiments. It looked so normal. So peaceful and innocent. My mom half-rose when she saw me. â€Å"Thank God you're back safe. I've been so – what's the matter?† I loved these people so much, but seeing them increased my fury, maybe because I did love them so much. For a moment, I couldn't get the words out. I just stared at them, looking from face to face. â€Å"Eugenie?† she asked tentatively. â€Å"Who's my father?† I demanded of her. â€Å"Was I born in the Otherworld?† I saw her go pale, her dark eyes widening in fear. In an instant, Roland was up beside her. â€Å"Eugenie, listen – † The look on his face spoke legions. â€Å"Jesus. It really is true.† I saw him open his mouth to protest, but then he thought better of it. â€Å"How did you find out?† Honesty, at least. â€Å"It's all over the Otherworld. Everyone knows. I'm apparently next in line for world domination.† â€Å"That's not true,† he said. â€Å"Forget about it. You aren't like them.† â€Å"But I am one of them, right? At least half?† â€Å"By blood only. Everything else†¦well, for all intents and purposes, you're human. You have nothing to do with them.† â€Å"Except killing and banishing them. How could you set me up for that†¦if I'm†¦?† One of them, I wanted to finish. But I couldn't get the words out. â€Å"Because you have a talent for it. One we need. You know what they can do.† â€Å"Yes. And you've made sure I do, telling me all the horror stories growing up. But there's a hell of a lot more than that. They're weird, yes, but not all evil.† My mother suddenly joined the conversation, eyes wild and frantic. â€Å"Yes! They are! You don't know what you're talking about. When did you have this revelation? A day ago? A week ago? I lived with them for three years, Eugenie. Three years.† Her voice dropped to a whisper. â€Å"Three years, and I never once encountered a decent one. No one who would help me. No one who would keep me from Tirigan.† â€Å"Who?† â€Å"Storm King,† said Roland. â€Å"That's his name. Was his name.† â€Å"They say you saved her from him.† He nodded. â€Å"I was there chasing down a kelpie when I heard rumors of a captured human woman. I went to investigate and found her and you. You were a baby. I slipped you both out of there and hid you.† â€Å"But Dorian†¦someone I met†¦said Storm King came looking for us.† â€Å"He did. And he found you.† I frowned. From what Dorian had said, I should have been a young teenager then. â€Å"I don't remember that.† Roland nodded again. â€Å"Once close enough, he could reach out and call to you. He summoned you to him. By the time I tracked you down, you were out in the desert, very near a crossroads. You'd walked miles to get to him.† â€Å"I don't remember that,† I repeated. In some ways, what Roland told me now was crazier than what I'd learned at Aeson's. â€Å"His magic spoke to yours. He wanted to take you back with him, and you fought against him. You were struck by lightning in the process.† â€Å"Wait, I know I'd remember that.† â€Å"No. I hypnotized you and repressed it. I killed him, but your magic had still been awakened. After seeing what I'd seen, I was afraid you couldn't control it – that it would control you instead.† â€Å"I don't have any magic. Not gentry magic anyway.† â€Å"Not that you know of. It's hidden away. I made you forget. After that, I started teaching you the craft in the hope of protecting you. I didn't know if others would follow him or if someone else could reawaken you or summon you. I needed to give you the tools you'd need for defense.† He suddenly looked tired. â€Å"I never realized how well you'd take to them.† I felt as tired as he looked, despite all the sleep. I pulled up one of the chairs and sat; they continued to stand. So I had met Storm King. I had answered his summons. And I had been struck by lightning? That was interesting, because in a lot of cultures, shamans are called to their art through some traumatic event. Lightning strikes are actually common ones. Many of the local Indian shamans – already skeptical of the plethora of New Age white shamans – did not consider me authentic since I'd had no such profound initiation. Turns out I had. Score one for me. â€Å"You made me forget. You got inside my head, and you made me forget. All this time†¦both of you have known and never told me.† â€Å"We wanted to protect you,† he said. â€Å"And what then? Did you think I'd never find out?† The heat rose in my voice again. â€Å"I had to hear it from gentry. I would have rather heard it from you.† My mother closed her eyes, and one tear trailed down her cheek. Roland regarded me calmly. â€Å"In hindsight, yes, that would have been better. But we never thought it would actually come out.† â€Å"It's out,† I said bitterly. â€Å"Everyone knows it. And now everyone wants a piece of this prophecy – and of me.† â€Å"What prophecy?† I told them. When I finished, my mother sat down and buried her face in her hands, crying softly. I could hear her murmuring, â€Å"It'll happen to her. It'll happen to her too.† Roland rested a hand on her shoulder. â€Å"Don't put much stock in gentry prophecies. They come out with a new one every day.† â€Å"Doesn't matter, if they believe it. They're still going to come after me.† â€Å"You should stay with us. I'll help protect you.† I stood up, glancing at my mother. No way would I expose her to more gentry. â€Å"No. This is my problem. Besides, don't take this too badly† – I felt myself start to choke up – â€Å"but I don't really want to see you guys for a while. I guess you meant well, but†¦I need to†¦I don't know. I need to think.† â€Å"Eugenie – † I saw raw pain on his face. My mom's sobs grew louder. I stood up, averting my eyes from both of them. Suddenly, I couldn't stay here anymore. â€Å"I've got to go.† Roland was still calling after me when I practically ran out of the house. But I needed to get away, or I'd say something stupid. I didn't want to hurt them, even though I probably had. But they'd hurt me too, and we all needed to deal with that. While opening my car door, I looked up and saw a red fox watching me from the same spot as last time. I strode toward him, close but not too close. â€Å"Go away!† I shouted. He stared at me, unmoving. â€Å"I mean it. I'm not speaking to you. You're as bad as the rest of them.† He lay down, resting his chin on crossed paws while he continued to regard me solemnly. â€Å"I don't care how cute you are, okay? I'm through with you.† A woman working in her yard next door gave me an uneasy look. I turned my back on the fox, got in the car, and drove home. Yet, as I did, I couldn't help but feel relieved Kiyo had survived. I honestly hadn't known if he would. Strong and vicious he might be, but Aeson had been slinging fire at him. The question was, had Kiyo merely escaped? Or had he managed to kill the king? What had happened to Jasmine? Tim still wasn't back when I got home. I decided then I didn't want to leave my house that day or make any pretense of productivity. I wanted to hit the sauna, put on pajamas, and then watch bad TV while eating Milky Ways. It seemed like a pretty solid plan, and I set out to make it happen. Twenty minutes later, I sat immersed in hot steam, draped in humidity. Heat was great for loosening muscles, although that only made me realize how much I'd hurt them. At least I'd made it out alive. That was the real miracle, considering what a disaster last night had turned into. I didn't want to think much about it or about Mom and Roland, but it was hard not to. Part of me still believed – still hoped – that all of this was a mistake. After all, wasn't it just everyone's say-so? Of course, somehow I doubted my parents would make all that up. But really. Where was the DNA test? The photographic evidence? I had nothing tangible. Nothing I could see and believe. Except my own memories. The memories Roland had covered up for me. Hypnotism wasn't uncommon in our line of work. It was just another state of unconsciousness. Shamans who served as religious leaders and healers used similar techniques on their followers and patients to heal the body and mind. Roland and I, as â€Å"freelance shamans,† didn't really have much need for it. Our contact with the spirit world often became more physical and direct. But I had done some healings and soul retrievals, so I knew the basics. Leaning my head against the wall, I closed my eyes and thought about the tattoo of Selene on my back. She was my earthly connection, the grounding of my body and soul and mind in this world. I focused on her image and what she represented and then slowly altered my state of mind. Rather than slipping out to another plane, I crossed inward, back into the far reaches of myself and the parts of me buried in my unconscious. It probably didn't take long, but in that state, it was painstakingly slow. I browsed through pieces of me, both memories and hidden truths alike. All the things that made me Eugenie Markham. I concentrated on lightning, hoping it would snag my attention. Surely a lightning strike couldn't be buried forever. There. A faint tug. I dove in after it, trying to grasp it and the memory it linked to. It was difficult. The image was slippery, like trying to hold on to a fish. Each time I thought I had it, it wriggled away. Roland had done a good job. Steeling myself, I fought against the layers, clawing and fighting until – I woke up in bed. But it wasn't the bed in my house. It was a different bed, a smaller bed covered in a pink comforter. The bed of my childhood. I lay in it, staring up at a ceiling covered in plastic stars just like the one I had as an adult. It was the middle of the night, and I couldn't sleep. I'd been an insomniac then, just as now. This time, however, it was different. Something other than my churning mind was keeping me awake. Somewhere, outside, I could hear a voice calling me. No, not a voice exactly, but it was a pull. A pull I couldn't shut out. Climbing out of bed, I slipped my feet into dirty sneakers and put a light jacket on over my pajamas. In the hallway, the door to Mom and Roland's room was closed. I moved past as quietly as possible, down the stairs and then out the door. Outside, the air was still warm. It was high summer. Earlier temperatures had been in the 100s; even now, they had dropped only to the 80s. I walked down the quiet street of our neighborhood, past all the familiar cars and houses. With each step, the call grew louder. I followed, my feet moving on their own. The call led me away from our street, our subdivision, and even the small suburb we lived in. I traveled off of main roads, moving onto trails I'd never known existed. Then, after almost two hours, I stopped. I didn't know where I was. The desert, obviously, because that and the mountains were all that surrounded Tucson. The foothills were larger than at home, so I must have gone north. Otherwise, there were no distinguishing features. Prickly pears and saguaros spread out around me in quiet watchfulness. Suddenly, I felt the air around me charge. There was a presence with me. A person. I turned and saw a man standing and watching me, far taller than my twelve-year-old self. His features were indistinct; I could not make them out no matter how hard I tried. He was only a dark shape, crackling with power. â€Å"Eugenie†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I took three steps back, but he held his hand out to me. â€Å"Eugenie†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I shook off the thrall that had brought me out here. Desperately, I realized I had to get away as quickly as I could. But I no longer knew the way back. The trails I'd followed were a blur. So, I backed up farther, but he kept coming, beckoning to me. My feet stumbled, and I fell. Still facing him, I tried to get up, but he stood over me now. In his indistinct features, I could make out a crown on his head, glittering silver and purple. â€Å"Come,† he said, extending his arm to help me up. â€Å"It's time to go.† I was trapped. Helpless and trapped and out of options. I had never felt so desperate in my young life. It terrified me. I decided then and there that if I survived this, I would make sure I could never be helpless again. His hand touched my shoulder, and I screamed. As I did, some part of me reached out beyond my body and grasped the power lying around us – I blinked. Steam swirled around me in the sauna, and I felt lightheaded. I'd been in there too long; it was a wonder I hadn't passed out. Standing up, I had to grip the wall for support and close my eyes. My heart raced from the vision, the vision that finally convinced me all of this was true. I knew – knew with absolute certainty – that the dark man had been Storm King, my father. I could feel it within me. In my soul. Overcome, I sat back down, needing a few more moments to consider all this and get my bearings. Yet, the longer I sat there, the more I began to despair. Storm King really was my father. And as for the rest of my life†¦well, things were bad. And they were only going to get worse. Every horny gentry wanted to knock me up; the rest probably still wanted to kill me. I'd never have a moment of peace again. Minutes passed as I ruminated on all this, falling deeper and deeper into depression – as well as exhaustion. I felt fatigued, too apathetic to care about any of it now. What was the point? I had snubbed my parents today. I'd let Jasmine Delaney down. I had nothing to look forward to ever again except a life of fighting and running. And really, why should I even bother fighting anymore? Nothing mattered. It was hopeless. I should just cross over to the Otherworld and give myself up. At least it'd stop the agony of – I opened my eyes and sat bolt upright. What was wrong with me? Things were grim, but this†¦this wasn't natural. I blinked rapidly, trying to gain focus as I took deep breaths. There it was. I could feel it. A thick, unseen darkness wrapping itself around me. It touched me, crawling along my skin. It was trying to drag me down, to suck away all of my energy. All of my hope. Standing up, no longer dizzy, I pulled my robe off its hook and put it on. Slowly, I opened the door of the sauna and stuck my head out. I saw nothing too disconcerting, but that bleak feeling continued to swirl around me. The light almost seemed dimmer, darker than it should be for late afternoon. I squinted, trying to break the illusion, for that's what it was. Stepping completely out of the sauna, I tried to assess the source. The sauna was in the center of my house. Turn left to go to the kitchen and living room, right toward the bathroom and bedrooms. My weapons were in my bedroom; that was where I wanted to be. But if the thing was in the front of the house, I didn't want to turn my back on it. At last, I compromised by putting my back up to the hall's wall and sliding down it toward my bedroom. The distance wasn't far, but when you had to inch your way there, it felt like miles. Creeping, I passed Tim's closed bedroom door, grateful he wasn't here. He knew about my shamanic adventures, but that didn't mean I wanted him exposed to them. Next came the bathroom. Yeah, the only bathroom. The thing about cute little houses was the â€Å"little† part. I loved everything else about this place, but next time, I'd make sure my house had at least as many bathrooms as occupants. Tim and I had gotten into some nasty rumbles when – A hand reached out for me from within the dark bathroom, but I saw it coming out of my periphery. I ducked and slid across the hall as he lumbered out. A Gray Man. That had been one of my top three culprits for the negativity zone my house had become. Gray Men cast an aura of despair around them, feeding off physical energy and positive feelings. This one was, well, gray, of course. Other than that, he looked more or less human-shaped, with dark eyes and scraggly white hair. He was even dressed, which I took as a plus since other monsters and sometimes elemental gentry often came over in loincloths or nothing at all, depending on their strength. Considering what everyone wanted to do to me, I was pretty happy about keeping genitalia covered up. I tried to scramble toward my bedroom, but his long arm reached out and grabbed me by the hair. I yelled out as he dragged me toward him, pressing me to his body. At least he didn't say anything suggestive; Gray Men were apparently strong, silent types. But the way he grappled with my robe left little to the imagination about what he wanted to do. Struggling in his strong grasp, I tried to break free but mostly managed to loosen my robe more. Swearing, I decided if I couldn't get away, then I'd at least delay his amorous actions. My knee jutted up in one hard motion, hitting him in the groin. His hold on me loosened, and he groaned as one hand instinctively reached down between his legs. I broke away from him, still trying to make for my bedroom. Deciding he could ignore the pain, he lunged toward me, just stopping me from getting to my bedroom doorway. Gripping me by both shoulders, he shoved me up against the wall so that I faced it. Using that hard surface as a constraint, he held me with one arm against it while his other finished pulling off the robe. I felt his tongue lick my neck, but the truly disgusting nature of that couldn't really permeate me. I was in survival mode now. I struggled against him, hoping to make it difficult for him to get his own pants off. Being pinned liked this gave me fewer options for escape. Moving my hands against the wall, I groped around for something – anything – I could use as a weapon. Then my fingers brushed over a small decorative mirror that had been my grandmother's. It wasn't very big, but its frame was shaped like a sun – with sharp, pointed metal rays. Not only that, they were silver rays. Grabbing it from the wall, I held it in my left hand, not my dominant hand, but the hand I wore my amethyst ring on. The amethyst could cut through magic and glamour and also focus my own intentions. It wasn't as good as a wand, but it had to do. Concentrating on the stone, I let my will pour into it. The stone amplified my energy and then sent it into the silver frame. In as fluid a motion as I could manage in my confined state, I swung the mirror back, driving it into any flesh I could find. The Gray Man screamed, and I smelled something burning. He released me, and I turned around, not wasting any time, though I uneasily realized I'd dumped more energy into that silver than I should have been capable of. The mirror had stuck in his side and was smoking. It wouldn't kill him, but having it lodged in there was pretty serious. He reached out toward it with hesitant fingers, knowing he had to touch it to pull it out. I sprinted to my bedroom. He was only seconds behind me, but it was all I needed to arm myself in my bedroom. He came running in after me, but this time I was on the offensive. I used the silver athame to draw the death symbol on his chest, eliciting a tortured scream from him. Iron was the bane of gentry, but for whatever other reasons, silver hurt anything else Otherworldly. I didn't know why, but I didn't question it either. Especially when it had just proven so handy. Hurt or no, he pushed me backward. I landed on my bed, head hitting with a crack against the wall. It slowed me, but I had already started connecting beyond this world. I reached out, touched the world of death, and sent that connection through the wand. It leapt out at the Gray Man, sucking him in. He fought it, thrashing as though physical action might fight the pull. It couldn't. A moment later, he vanished. Almost immediately, the spell of despair in my house disappeared. It was like emerging from underwater. I could breathe again. I let my body slump and relax. I wanted to lean my head against the wall but knew that wouldn't feel too good after the hard blow I'd just sustained. A loud sound cracked out from the front of my house, like the door being kicked open. I jerked up, adrenaline going a second round as I heard footsteps pounding down the hall. I was reaching for the gun when a familiar voice yelled, â€Å"Eugenie?† Relaxing – only slightly – I watched as Kiyo burst into my room.