The Great Gatsby – Reactions to Myrtle Wilson’s Death

Reactions to Myrtle Wilson's Death in The Great Gatsby In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Jay Gatsby is a passenger in the car which strikes Myrtle Wilson, which is driven by Daisy Buchanan. After the car hits Myrtle, Daisy continues to drive, but collapses on Gatsby, forcing him to drive. At the Buchanan's house, Nick Carraway talks to Gatsby, who â€Å"[speaks] as if Daisy's reaction [is] the only thing that [matters]† (136). Due to his incessant love for daisy, he only focuses towards Daisy's emotions and even takes the blame for her.Regardless Myrtle's death, Gatsby's dream of having Daisy to himself makes him center his attention to her feelings after the accident. In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Nick Carraway arrives at George Wilson's garage with Jordan Baker and Tom Buchanan after Myrtle Wilson dies. After leaving the crime scene, Nick arrives at the Buchanan house and is approached by Jordan. She tries to comfort Nick, however, h e declines her invitation to the house and starts to feel â€Å"a little sick and [wants] to be alone†¦ He [has] had enough of all of them for one day† (135/136).He becomes tired of being tied into all the drama and secrets of New York and tries to isolate himself from the others in order to find a peace of mind. As a result of all the sudden occurrences in East Egg and West Egg, he concludes that leaving the situation will lead to his own contentment. In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Daisy Buchanan is the driver of the vehicle which strikes Myrtle Wilson. Daisy continues to drive after hitting her, however she collapses on Jay Gatsby as he pulls on the emergency brake, forcing him to take over the vehicle.After they arrive at the Buchanan house, Daisy â€Å"[locks] herself into her room,† (137) while in a state of shock. She cannot believe that she hit another person on the road and isolates herself for a moment, in order to sort out her emoti ons. As a result of losing her nerve on the road, she hides from the others and places herself in disbelief. In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Tom Buchanan arrives at George Wilson's garage with Jordan Baker and Nick Carraway after Myrtle Wilson dies. After Tom comforts George, he comes to a conclusion Gatsby hit Myrtle and denounces him as a coward on his way back to his house.As Tom is speaking, Nick realizes â€Å"a change [has] come over [Tom], [as] he [speaks] gravely, and with decision† (135). Gatsby's intrusion in his personal life creates a spark within Tom, in which he begins to care more for his wife. With the belief of Gatsby killing his mistress, Tom changes his attitude, in order to prove his love for his wife and to make sure that Gatsby cannot achieve his goal of taking Daisy away from him. In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Jordan Baker arrives at George Wilson's garage with Tom Buchanan and Nick Carraway after Myrtle Wilso n dies.She leaves with the rest of her group, and tries to comfort Nick at the Buchanan house. After being rejected by him, â€Å"she [turns] abruptly away and [runs] up the porch steps into the house† (136). As a result of being dishonest, cynical, and self-centered, she is unwilling to change her attitude in order to persist on consoling Nick. She stays true to her deceitful nature as she is reluctant to suit his needs. In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald George Wilson is the husband of Myrtle Wilson, who dies after being hit by a car.Before the accident, he suspects his wife is having an affair with another man. After her death, he becomes speechless and â€Å"[stands] on the raised threshold of his office, swaying back and forth and holding to the doorposts with both hands† (132). The sudden death of his wife places him in a state of shock, where he is having trouble sorting out his emotions and thoughts. Despite Tom's efforts at comforting him, Ge orge remains distraught at the fact that he could not stop his wife from running out and instantly dying on the road.

Internet Article Review “When to call the organization doctor” Essay

Summary In the article, When to call the organization doctor by Robert N. Llewellyn discusses many techniques that are available for an organization and managers to use in determining how to properly identify organizational problems, or resolve current problems within the organization. Llewellyn’s article briefly describes eight-elements in accomplishing organizational effectiveness: Strategic Direction, Goal Alignment, Work Process and Projects, Organizational Structure, Performance Management, Rewards, Cultural Support Systems and Infrastructure. The article further points out that after a manager have identified the elements for effective organizational management than they should apply these elements to diagnosis problems within the organization. Furthermore, â€Å"When a fit problem is identified†¦ one must use not only simple deductive thinking, but inferential thinking as well.† (Llewellyn, p.79, 2002) Following this step â€Å"†¦puts management in charge of where the organization is going, strategically and systemically, and avoids the management-fad phenomenon.† (Llewellyn, p.79, 2002) Effective Management In week, one Professor Sowunmi asked the class to explain, â€Å"How does effective management impact organizational success?† (Main newsgroup, February 4, 2004 DQ 2) In answering the question I stated, â€Å"Effective management can have an endless impact upon the success of an organization. Interview Article 3 The main goals of any business are to make sure that its organization and its employees perform proficiently and productively. Any company can accomplish these goals if the employees are provided with appropriate guidance, enough flexibility, and supplied with the necessary information about what the organization is trying to accomplish. Moreover, a company that is successfully managed has a vision and knows how to make decisions that are consistent with the company’s vision. In addition, an organization that has good management can make good decisions that not only improve the profits of the company, but also give the employees a sense of pride in their company. A company that is managed successfully recognizes and appreciates its customers and will go all the way in making sure the customer is place first.† (Easter-Brown, DQ 2, February 7, 2004) This statement helps support the fact that if an organization fails to properly diagnosis problems within the organization they are most probably committing a form of â€Å"organizational malpractice.† In other words, thinking about the many ways organizations try to change and make themselves healthier makes it nearly impossible if they are unwilling to remember that prescription without diagnosis is malpractice, whether in medicine or management. On the other hand, the self-medication approach can sometimes have limited impact and can even lose headway. Without any external help or ideas, the side effects or self-treatment can be limited management thinking, stubborn devotion to traditional and comfortable viewpoints. Self-medication can work well, but management must be well informed about the range of effective remedies. Interview Article 4 Take the statement made by Kevin O’Connell, one of my fellow classmates,† Effective management uses mistakes as opportunities for learning and is able to recover and quickly adapt to changes in the business climate. Ineffective management points the blame on others and never learns nor takes ownership for mistakes.† (Main newsgroup DQ2, February 5, 2004) Furthermore, preferring the self-medication approach, many organizations continually engage in various processes aimed at self-change. They may purchase current management books, videos and training materials — the counterpart of over-the-counter medications — but in general, they prefer to figure things out for themselves. Many firms are simply more comfortable with this â€Å"do it yourself† approach and have little attraction to the idea of bringing in outsiders to deal with their change agenda. Internal task forces, special initiatives, campaigns and focused training programs can be effective forms of self-treatment. If they have a core team of bright, well-qualified internal change agents, they could make great progress. Llewellyn states, â€Å"†¦managers should first correctly diagnosis organizational problems first, then, if needed, search for a consultant that has the experience needed.† (pg. 79, 2002) Changes for SHS If I could make changes or recommendations for my own organization, they would defiantly be built around the guidelines of organizational effectiveness. Interview Article 5 The Stamford Health System is currently under new management and many of the guidelines stated in Llewellyn’s article are exceptional steps for improving the effectiveness of my company’s organizational structure, for example, Performance Management, Rewards, and Cultural Support Systems are some good suggestions for improvement. In my recommendations for Performance Management, I would like to see a centralized scheduling streamlines access to the hospital’s services that satisfy physicians and patients, for example, a Centralized-scheduling staff of stationed in close proximity to the Admitting office, increasing their efficiency due to the high volume of walk-in patients. The average 95 faxes and 30 calls received each day from physicians’ offices will be reduce to approximately 15 minutes to schedule. The training process for central scheduling staff is broader so that they can schedule all procedure/visit types Specific IT systems can now facilitate c entral scheduling by being â€Å"smart† about scheduling. If my organization wants to be competitive and increase their nurse retention, they need to provide major stimulus to restructure the hospital and organization. There needs to be an improvement in our internal reform strategy as well as a market alliance strategy. In order to be successful in the market environment of managed care and managed competition, my institution needs to expand market share through superior quality service; reduce management overhead with flat structure; increase productivity with self-directed teams; control expenses within budget; reinforce innovation and performance with incentives; and reinfuse employees and medical staff with a sense of shared optimism about the future. Interview Article 6 I believe the result will be a sweeping overhaul in organizational culture, driven by a radical shift in management philosophy and a permanent commitment to seek continuous improvements at all levels. Conclusion It is evident from my evaluation and the article When to call the organization doctor by Robert N. Llewellyn that careful evaluation and diagnosis of the central problems in an organization can help avoid †¦Ã¢â‚¬ expensive, disruptive, and often unnecessary intervention†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pg.79, 2002) Overall, through a conservative position an organization can develop the capability to evaluate and diagnosis effective organizational skills to improve the many problems that may arise in the organizational structure. Fundamentally, as long as the organization is willing to strive for organizational effectiveness, they have a greater chance of solving problems within the company. Interview Article 7    References Easter-Brown, D. (Feb. 7, 2004). MGT 330 Main Newsgroup. How does effective management impact organizational success? Retrieved from MGT 330 Main Newsgroup on February 16, 2004 Llewellyn, R.N. (Mar. 2002). When to call the organization doctor HR Magazine. Vol. 47, Iss. 3, pg. 79. Retrieved from ProQuest database on February 2, 2004. O’Connell, K. (Feb. 5, 2004). MGT 330 Main Newsgroup. How does effective management impact organizational success? Retrieved from MGT 330 Main Newsgroup on February 16, 2004 Sowumni, A. (2004). Overview of The Concepts of Management: Week I Lecture. Retrieved from MGT 330 Course Newsgroup on February 13, 2003. University of Phoenix (Ed.). (2002). Management: Theory, Practice, and Application [University of Phoenix Custom Edition e-text]. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Custom Publishing Retrieved February 13, 2003.

A Familys Woes Shown in Juno and the Paycock

A Family's Woes Shown in 'Juno and the Paycock' Some stories depend more heavily on their environment to advance their plots and themes than others. Such is the case with Juno and the Paycock by Sean OCasey. The play follows the plight of a working class family in Ireland during the civil war that rocked that country in 1922. This divisive political backdrop to the story reflects how the characters are disconnected from one another and dont react as a cohesive unit working toward a single goal. Economic woes play a primary part in the unraveling of the family unit. Another facet of setting is the ritualistic religious convictions of the characters, especially Johnny, in their attempt to escape their dilemmas. The financial quandary of the family, the disunity of the political canvas on which their story is painted and their superstitious religious beliefs all define the setting of the play and the way that their surroundings successfully stifles the happiness of the characters. The Boyle familys struggle to communicate with one another is echoed in the dissension taking place among the Irish people outside their door. The citizens of the country have separated into two opposing camps, the Free Staters and the Diehards. When they should be working toward the common goal of independence from Britain, they are instead pitting brother against brother in a futile and bloody outburst of violence. Likewise, inside the Boyle house-where their situation is such that all members of the family might be expected to be working toward the common goal of self-reliance and financial security-there are a multiplicity of differing individuals at work, often laboring at cross-purposes. Mrs. Boyle toils vigorously to keep the entire familys financial heads above water. Taking advantage of this situation is Mr. Boyle, the father, who would normally be expected to be the breadwinner but is instead a lazy drunk and a despicable role model for his son. That son, Johnny, is meanwhi le held captive by the guilt he feels for having betrayed a fellow political comrade. Meanwhile, the daughter Mary is attempting escape from the realities both inside and outside her home by reading books. The family is detached and alienated from each other, fighting with one another over their values and beliefs just as the citizenry of Ireland are doing outside their tenement. Financial worries can either bring a family together or destroy them completely; in this situation those concerns are accomplishing the latter. At the beginning of the play, it quickly becomes apparent that this is a family in dire financial straits. The mother is the only member currently working since Mary is out on strike from her job. Mr. Boyle is making a habit of drinking and carousing and spending what little money he is able to find. Youd think he was bringin twenty pouns a week the way hes going on. He wore out the Health Insurance long ago, hes afther wearin out the unemployment dole, an, now, hes tryin to wear me out (69), says Mrs. Boyle of her husband. Hes an indolent slob who doesnt care where his money comes from as long as hes not forced to earn it through labor. A supposedly game pair of legs is keeping Mr. Boyle from taking a job, sending the family deeper into a financial spiral. Johnny cant work at all because hes missing an arm and his hip has been shot to pieces . Its quite possible that financial gain played a part in his decision to betray his friend Tancred. The Boyles need a miracle, and it would seem that a miracle comes their way when an unexpected inheritance seems destined for their door. The idea of a great deal of money coming in should bring the family closer together, but even that fails. They are living in more splendor, or at least less squalor, as they begin to decorate their home with better furnishings and flowers all about the place. The squabbling continues, only now its progressed to such topics as whether or not they should buy a gramophone and whether or not they are putting themselves into too much debt before they even get the money due them. Their situation in the second act of the play seems hardly better than it was when we first we met them. Money, even the idea of money, seems to be a wedge between their working together to make a joyful home. Christianity plays a major role in the lives of the Irish people; for the Boyles it becomes more of a frustration than an instrument of deliverance from their worries. The Boyles look to their beliefs in the dogma of the Catholic Church as a way of salvation, but their spiritual beliefs are not enough to save them from their destructive-and notably anti-Christian-tendencies. In the actual physical setting of the play, there is a picture of the Virgin Mary with a votive candle constantly kept burning beneath it. Religious images are dispersed throughout the play. At one point Mrs. Boyle says of her husband that hes constantly singin, no less, when he ought always to be on his knees offerin up a Novena for a job (69). Clearly, she thinks prayer is the answer to the heartbreaking question of why her husband refuses to work. This stifles any opportunity for a change in the situation because it is a simplistic approach to the more complex psychological problem of why Mr. Boyle tends to ru n away from the idea of working for a living. Mary was probably named after the Virgin Mary so its ironic that she violated the tenet of the Catholic Church that argues pre-marital sex is a sin. Mary commits the sin of sleeping with Mr. Bentham and predictably winds up with child and without husband. Both Johnny and her father instantly side with the Church by condemning her for bringing shame upon the family. This is very ironic considering both the moral failure of Johnny in his callous betrayal of Tancred and the moral failure of Mr. Boyle, who takes no active part in making sure his family is safe and secure. Finally, there is unique case of Johnny, who exhibits the most intense religious beliefs of any character in the play. Johnny is a man consumed with a very Catholic sense of guilt. The votive candle burning beneath the portrait of the Virgin Mary becomes more than just another religious ritual done regularly and without much conscious thought. The votive candle becomes high ly symbolic for Johnny. He seems to believe that as long its burning hell not have to answer for his great sin of perfidy. He may be right, for almost the minute that the candle goes out the Irregulars arrive to take Johnny to meet his barbarous fate. His belief in his religion has failed to protect him and his family from the ultimate tragedy. The environment in which the story of the Boyles takes place serves up images of violence, poverty and the hope for salvation from sins through religious practice. All of these are presented as background to the story of a family coming apart at the seems. Their story is a microcosm of the events taking place in the larger world outside their walls; a world that also faces violence, poverty and a religion that is a cause of, rather than a solution to, their troubles. Works Cited OCasey, Sean. Juno and the Paycock. Three Dublin Plays. London: Faber Faber Limited, 1998. 67-148.

Professional writing assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Professional writing assignment - Essay Example eminars, attributing Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) programs for the participants (EHS Today, â€Å"2011 Americas Safest Companies†). The discussion henceforth intends to focus on the criteria used by EHS today in order to rate the safety initiatives or programs executed by the companies. With this concern, the recently top rated companies’ profiles will be discussed in the essay which would assist in identifying the appropriate reasons owing to which they were characterized as America’s Safest Companies. Correspondingly, the most important attributes will also be identified, which are quite vital to be considered by a future safety professional. EHS Today focuses on certain specified attributes when rating a company on the basis of their efficiency to preserve safest working environment. On the basis of the mentioned criteria and by considering the nominated companies’ safety operations, EHS Today tends to rate them as American’s Safest Corporation (EHS Today, â€Å"2011 Americas Safest Companies†). The criteria which are majorly followed by EHS can be identified as follows: Buffalo Gap Instrumentation & Electrical Company (BGI&E): BGI&E, in its recent safety measures, had implemented Floor Assistant Safety Team (F.A.S.T) program. It was identified as a kind of mentoring program where every employee is monitored continuously offering them complete scope to identify realistic issues performing regular safety inspections and safety analysis under the supervision of a mentor (EHS Today, â€Å"Buffalo Gap Instrumentation & Electrical Co. Inc is named an America’s Safest Company Winner†). Caterpillar Incorporation: Caterpillar Incorporation is an American construction company. In order to improve its safety measures in respect to its operations, the company had launched four safety initiatives in the year 2011 which are, It has been majorly owing to the efficiency of these initiatives that the company was rated as America’s Safest

Communication in business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Communication in business - Essay Example Though we had some problems in the past, we have successfully overcome them and are now viewing ourselves as a socially responsible company that works in cooperation with the society and its individual members. We are committed to our consumers and stakeholders, and are actively supporting a number of CSR programs with the help of our worldwide CSR initiatives. The Coca-Cola Foundation has given us the knowledge and expertise on reaching out to people and communities all over the world. Therefore, on the basis of our own experience, as well as best world practices, in this letter we would like to address the following principles of United Nation’s Global Compact, which we view as the guiding principles for conducting business in current economic, political and social environment: Principle 4: Businesses should uphold the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor. Principle 8: Businesses should undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility (United Nations Global Compact, 2010). Protecting human rights and well-being of our planet are among the primary objectives of Coca Cola. We believe these aspects of business should be fundamental for every organization in order for all of us to help the planet be a better, safer and healthier place. Therefore, with regards to these Global Compact principles, we recommend that the members of the Australasian Local Network should: Develop and implement internal, integrated into corporate strategy and corporate culture, policies for preventing and fighting all forms of forced and compulsory labor. The companies are welcome and encouraged to take a look at, and view as an example, our Human Rights Statement (Staff, 2013). This document may serve as a guide for developing own, company-specific, set of policies and strategies. It is also useful to cooperate with human rights experts in order to expand and deepen the company’s understanding the issues related to human rights and f ighting forced labor. Design and implement a forced labor awareness program to educate host communities on their employment rights. At Coca Cola we believe that not only the company itself, but also the society should take aware of how to prevent forced labor practices. Though it may be a challenge in some countries and communities, companies should adhere to internationally accepted practices and principles and promote them within the host communities. Notify and oblige suppliers to follow the company’s policy for preventing and fighting forced and compulsory labor. As an example, we created Supplier Guiding Principles that outline the rights and obligations of our suppliers in terms of human rights. This document is a part of all the agreements between Coca-Cola and its suppliers, so our suppliers are required to obey our guidelines in treating and protecting the rights of workers and members of the communities, with which the suppliers work (Staff, 2013). The Guiding Princ iples are supported by implementation guides, which help our partners to comply with the global best practices in terms of fighting forced and compulsory labor. Conduct a deep audit of the company’s waste and emissions levels in order to identify areas for improvement, saving and elimination environment contamination. It is a very important CSR issue, with which we had direct negative experience: we did suffer from groundwater exploitation in the villagers of Kerala and

Religion Western Religion Islam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Religion Western Religion Islam - Essay Example Muslims believe that practicing Islam puts them in a state of righteousness and obedience to the will of God. However, they take it a bit far when they state that it is better for all mankind to become Muslims and submit to the will of God because nothing can be better than this. This presupposes the dominance of Islam over the other religions and its inherent superiority, as every Muslim would like to believe. However, I believe that it is more correct to acknowledge other religions as well, like Christianity and Judaism. In fact all three of these faiths emerged from a common continent and have many similarities of belief. For example, all of them believe in Adam and Eve as being God’s first human creations and the subsequent banishment from the Garden of Eden. Islam recognizes around 124,000 prophets as being sent by God at various times throughout the history of mankind. However Muslims regard the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as Allah’s last messenger and the founder and first proliferater of Islam. The Muslim faith of Islam is based on five pillars or tenets which are as follows: (1) Shahada or Creed; (2) Salat or Daily Prayers; (3) Sawm or fasting during Ramadan; (4) Zakat or Alms-giving; and (5) Hajj, or the pilgrimage to Mecca, to be undertaken by a Muslim if he has the means, at least once in his lifetime. To a Muslim, these five basic acts are obligatory and a framework around which lies their commitment to their faith (Hooker, 1). The Quran itself presents these tenets as basic signs of commitment to the faith of Islam. They must be observed and practiced by every Muslim. An equivalent would be the observance of the sacraments in Christianity, I guess. Observing the five tenets of Islam and what is applicable to an individual of the seven sacraments in Christianity would keep each believer in a state of grace and strengthen their position with God. While all of us may not agree with it, Muslims believe that Islam is the best

Importance of self analysis and continuous self development Essay

Importance of self analysis and continuous self development - Essay Example Analysts argue that individuals are bound to have flaws in their personalities; a factor that may cause a lot of predicaments in their lines of work. It is worse still, when individuals notice the possibility of hitches and not make any efforts to improve on their weaknesses. In line to this argument, therefore, it is important that self-analysis and self-development be regarded as the best paraphernalia towards successful business operations by managers. According to Colbert and Bono (2005, pp.200), self-analysis is a methodology that an individual undertakes in an endeavor to understand their own individualities, emotions and conducts. Through self-analysis, individuals are able to weigh their weakness, avoid culpabilities that may emanate from their weaknesses, as are able to handle them. On the other hand, it is only through, self-analysis that, individuals can utilize their strengths to the maximum. Continuous self- development Self-development is a term used to refer to the str ategies applied by managers to remain relevant in various occupations. Rees and Porter (2008, pp.274) argue that, continuous self-development is a process of search for answers and feedback, as well as, setting goals that are directed towards coming up with purposes of development of individuals. Self-development is self-directed and requires the individual to be dynamic in order, to grasp concepts that relate to their line of duty. Future manager with self – analysis and continuous self – development According to Meyer (2001, pp.7) self-analysis allows managers establish the roots of their weaknesses whilst in their jobs. Upon detection of managers’ quandaries, managers are able to devise the best measures, in an attempt to find the best solutions to their problems. Analysts argue that, it is through self-analysis that individuals are able to fit in various settings and interact with fellow workmates. If individuals have no self-identity, it automatically becom es an uphill task trying to establish a rapport between them and the other workmates. It is also through self-analysis that, individuals have total control of their actions. In this way, managers are able to access all forms of feedback form fellow workmates, and then devise a working plan on time. Managers acquire strength from self-analysis. Gold and Mumford (2004, pp.148) argue that, through self-awareness, managers are made aware of their weak points, work on the weaknesses, consequently, gain strength to run the organization. In the course of working, learning cannot be alienated form the venture. Most managers do not realize their potential and capabilities unless they undergo a series of self-analysis. Once managers go through a series of self-analysis, managers are in a better position to handle tough situations in their organizations by devising the best work plans to self-predicaments. In essence, self-analysis, allows managers have more strength to handle tough situations that may occur in the future. Self-analysis allows managers familiarize themselves with their work places and discern the sections that need modifications (Rothstein, 2010 pp.35). Upon familiarization, managers take up the responsibility of ensuring that employees are conversant with the goals and objectives of the organization. Communication on the goals of the organization is not possible if the managers are aware of their strengths and weaknesses. In this context, therefore, self analysis is credited to an establishment of professional rapport between managers and employees. In turn, the mission of the company can be easily interpreted and

Applied Business Research-week 4 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Applied Business Research-week 4 - Assignment Example Managers will not stop talking and researching about happiness at workplace for they understand that their clients will get satisfactory services, hence improving the corporation’s sales as happiness possessed by the workforce will effortlessly manipulate customers’ loyalty toward their products. Finally, get assured that many individuals have understood the importance happiness in workplace while others are yet to encounter its significance. Therefore, the talk about happiness will continue. In the article, the authors strive to define positive psychology as scientifically informed acuity on what make life worth living. The writers also tried to elucidate the derivation of positive psychology as they believe that it originated from Maslow book called motivational and personality of 1954. It was hypothesized in 1998 by Martin Seligman who realized that positive psychology has left out two things; helping people to live a productive and fulfilling lives and also nurture high aptitudes (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). Positive psychology is anticipated to grow steadily and thus helping psychologist to better understand the society and thus using this new branch of psychology in resolving problems confronting humankind. The authors have also exposed how positive psychology is skillful at shaping vital conceptions to be used by individuals in asphyxiating impending problems. In conclusion, the authors have emphasized that people should synthesize on positive and negative life factors that they face in their daily lives thus using them to live a praiseworthy life. Employee morale significantly relate in fostering happiness in the workplace. Morale, certainly, is something that cannot be bought, but is attained within the working surroundings of an individual. Therefore, the same environment must be capable of providing opportunities where one is trusted, valued and respected. This is

Strategy Management in Small Export Business of China Dissertation

Strategy Management in Small Export Business of China - Dissertation Example issertation would include the components of the various small business firms of China, their analysis from the strategic perspective, framing research questions for the survey, conducting a survey based on the industry, evaluating the findings obtained from the survey, drawing the conclusion and suggesting appropriate recommendations for the issues faced by the industry. Additionally the study aims at investigating the significance of internal and external business forces for small export enterprise in southeastern parts of china, and will inevitably aim at analyzing these small business’s successes and failure from the strategic management standpoint during the time period 1980 to 2012. 1.2 Background of this study China is a significantly developing country and therefore China have broad market environment, as a result there are lots of foreign companies to enter the Chinese market. These foreign capital enterprises within the original industry remains monopolized by small, medium, state-owned enterprises which lead to the strong impact of China's state-owned enterprises in some industries. In addition, international competition has developed in the Chinese market gradually. At the same time, China's domestic competition has also contributed to the globalization of market competition. Therefore, at present the production and operation of China's small enterprises have to experience and face international competition. Over the earlier 2 decades, the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of China have gone through more or less three development stages, together with the expansion of China’s improvement and establishment. The first stage was from the time period 1978 to the year 1992. This era had been characterized by the development of SMEs in scale and... The study aims at investigating the significance of internal and external business forces for small export enterprise in south-eastern parts of China, and will inevitably aim at analyzing these small business’s successes and failure from the strategic management standpoint during the time period 1980 to 2012. China is a significantly developing country and therefore China has a broad market environment, as a result, there are lots of foreign companies to enter the Chinese market. These foreign capital enterprises within the original industry remain monopolized by small, medium, state-owned enterprises which lead to the strong impact of China's state-owned enterprises in some industries. In addition, international competition has developed in the Chinese market gradually. At the same time, China's domestic competition has also contributed to the globalization of market competition. Therefore, at present, the production and operation of China's small enterprises have to experien ce and face international competition. Over the earlier 2 decades, the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of China have gone through more or less three development stages, together with the expansion of China’s improvement and establishment. The first stage was from the time period 1978 to the year 1992. This era had been characterized by the development of SMEs in scale and number. This was the result of the government’s support for and encouragement of the formation of collective, self-employed and township enterprises.

Moral absolutism Essay Example for Free

Moral absolutism Essay When we speak of â€Å"Morality† we think of the difference between right and wrong, the difference between the good and the evil. We use morality to justify our actions and decisions. More often than not, people impose their morality on others and expect them to act in the way they find fit. They believe that the idea of right and wrong is universal. In her essay â€Å"On Morality†, Didion contradicts this theory and believes that everyone can have different ideas of morality based on their own perception. To make her point, Didion uses the examples of Klaus Fuchs and Alfred Rosenberg. Fuchs was a British traitor who leaked nuclear secrets to the Soviets, and Rosenberg was the Nazi administrator of Eastern Europe, where the Germans committed their most heinous and most murderous acts during World War II. Both of them claimed that what they did were morally appropriate. She then goes on to say that Jesus justifies what he did based on morality. The juxtaposition of these ideas affirms Didion’s theory that the conviction of morality is vastly based on perspective. This juxtaposition also helps prove that people use morality to justify almost anything. Osama Bin Laden believed that it was morally right to take the lives of millions of innocent civilians in the name of religion. President Snow, along with the Capitol, in The Hunger Games saw it fit to throw 24 teenagers in a battlefield and let them fight until only one remains. Morality does not seem like a tool to distinguish right from wrong, but a method to have a clean conscious, irrespective of whether one’s acts are good or bad. Didion also says, â€Å"For better or for worse, we are what we learned as children. † (158) This shows that the ideas we have of good and bad and the so-called â€Å"morality† is part of what we’ve learnt growing up. A lot of people might find it pointless to stay with a corpse on a highway. But to Didion, it is the moral thing to do. We do not leave behind our dead. Friedrich Nietzsche said, â€Å"Fear is the mother of morality. † Didion maintains that morality might differ from person to person. In my opinion, a lot of factors influence the decisions we make and then blame them on morality. â€Å"The right thing† is too abstract to be universal. Didion debates about the cannibalism acts and talks about the vestigial taboo that no one should eat their own blood kin. This might seem appalling to some while being a being of another’s culture. Didion says that morality has â€Å"the most potentially mendacious meaning. † (159) And I couldn’t agree more. There is a very thin line between right and wrong, and morality is what shows one where to draw it. But the basis of that line is so ambiguous, that people end up using morality to cover up their actions. The idea Didion presents is that humans are not equipped to distinguish between the good and the bad. We think that all actions are sound as long as they don’t hurt another person. But then we see people like Adolf Hitler. The man murdered millions of people. Yet, he had a bunch of supporters who helped him with these inhumane acts. But he did what he did in the name of morality, in the name of ‘respect for the greater race. ’ The central idea of this essay is that morality depends largely on perception. What one finds wrong may not necessarily be seen as inappropriate by another. â€Å"I followed my own conscience. † â€Å"I did what I thought was right. † Didion questions the reader how many madmen have said this and meant it? Didion doesn’t believe that these men shelter themselves under the illusion of morality but actually believe their actions are moral and justified. Maybe we ourselves have said it before and been wrong. Our conscience isn’t always the best judge of things. But the concept of morality makes it okay to just be impulsive and do what we think is correct in the moment. The relevance of our logic lacks frequency. One might not kill people on a daily basis but one might find it moral to do it someday and go ahead with it. Does this make them immoral? Is the act of killing immoral? What if the victim is a killer? The answers to questions relating to morality are not black or white. There could be various different instances where individuals might have different stands on issues. All of which they might believe to be morally correct. So the question is, who decides what is moral and what is not? What gives them the power to do so? Should the morality of one person be forced on another? Clearly, universal standards of right and wrong do not exist. The evidence Didion provided as well as instances we see around the world proves that fact. A lot of people do not agree with Didion’s idea of differing morality. The people who adhere themselves to a supposedly universal moral code can delude themselves into thinking people who do not follow that code are less humane. People need to stop fretting over moral absolutes and let morality run their life and effect every decision they make in order to ensure the future is safe from oppression and terrorism.

Role Of Social Networking Sites In Election Campaigns Media Essay

Role Of Social Networking Sites In Election Campaigns Media Essay Social networking sites are online services or platforms that focus on building and reflection social relations among people. They proved to be a fundamental communication tool in every aspect and a limitless source of information campaign strategy. Their effectiveness to gather and communicate a targeted political message, raising the stakes in strategy and aggressive social media participation helps in election campaigning. The use of social networking sites in political parties spans across increased media exposure, funding, participation and has increased mobilisation and enthusiasm in numerous recent political campaigns. Social networking sites has become fast and low cost communication tool and enables quick and easy access to political information among potential users. Campaigning managers use these sites as an effective way for recruiting new employees and other campaigning strategies. From past two decades social networking sites and systems is been used in political campaigning and dialogues. In year 1996 email and social networks was widely used as source of communication among political parties and groups of people. During year 2006 at Belgian elections catchphrase Think was circulated among people through Myspace so as to stimulate people in discussions and thought around voting preference and encouraging people to reconsider voting for right party. In the same year a survey was conducted on Myspace users over 18 years of age and it was found that they were three times more likely to take part in an online political discourse than traditional way. In year 2007 it was found out that 40% of all social networking users  had  used Myspace and Facebook  as a source for  political information  in the United States (US) and  20%  of people used  these sites  to discover the political interests of their friends.  It has been  suggested  that Myspace is so effective that it should be a key part to any campaign strategy. Barack Obama has successfully used Twitter, Myspace, Youtube and Facebook as an effective tool in communicating and mobilising people. He spends around $2 million in election campaigning and building a social networking site known as MyBarackobama.com. Republican Party also used social networking sites in 2008 elections to promote John McCain. There is great potential for political parties to raise large sums of money in short periods of time using social networking sites through micro-fund-raising. The use of micro-donations not only enable candidates to raise funds rapidly it gives a sense of involvement and participation to those who have donated, no matter how small the amount. In the year 2008 US presidential election $55 million was raised in one month and 80% of which were online donations. With social networking sites political campaigning add to a visibility to politicians personal and professional life. It leads to accountability and risk. As they can filmed anywhere and these could be uploaded anytime which goes around like a disease among people and can be used for political gains. These political strategies were used in American politics. Another fact related to same is that some parties even hire people who not only keep track of their accounts but also of competitors account and keeps on uploading and distributing such video content through Youtube. . An example of this  high-level of exposure can be seen in the 2006 US election cycle  as  one senator was filmed making a racial slur, which was uploaded to YouTube and it became the most viewed video. This increased exposure of political candidates adds another dimension to political campaigning of smear campaigning of opposition candidates with ease. While political parties may not have the level of control over the content that is distributed but these social networking  sites have facilitated an  increase  in  the rate of political participation.  As these networking sites create an easily accessible medium for people to find, distribute and absorb. Evidence from a number of studies supports the theory that the Internet has beneficial effects on online political involvement. Internet use encourages higher levels of political participation: for example, forwarding e-mails with political content, online voting, and so forth. And online communications through social networking sites can aid in political engagement. YouTube and other social media sites allow campaign strategies to easily target limitless voters with great communication power. According to a Pew Internet and American Life study, 46% of American voters have used the Internet, text messaging or email for political mobilisation, discussion and to access political news and information and 35% of people in the US watched political videos on YouTube. In 2008 presidential elections in US new technologies combined with these social networking sites have been used as to advertise to potential voters and their mobilisation. The demographic for the internet has widened and social networking is no longer just for young people. In year 2006 over 50% of American YouTube and Myspace users were 35 years or older, and the proportion of 12 to 17 year olds were declining. Social networking sites  do not just represent a young demographic.  Politically engaged people  and political participation is increasing throughout the community through the use of social networking sites. Thus, social networking is playing a substantial role in political process in recent years. Not only it has been effectively utilised by political parties of western countries in the campaign cycles, political issues groups and otherwise unrepresented minorities, but also as a means of open and uncensored communication for citizens in countries with oppressive government control over other media conduits. The use of these online tools has seen a shift in the funding models of political parties through the highly effective use of micro-donations. These sites have expanded the reach and accuracy of strategically targeted communications by political parties to potential voters.  There is an increase in  political participation  and people garner a greater sense of contribution through the use of social networking sites and social media, influencing involvement with political parties in the greater community.   Social networking sites have proven to be a powerful political tool and we can only expect that it will grow limitlessly alongside the political machine. Past Cases of Social Networking Sites as a tool in Election Campaigning: Kenya Elections: In Kenya elections in year 2006 these social media such as Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Flickr etc. is been used in mobilising and sharing and gathering of information and raising the money in restricted time. It was also seen social media as a way to get involved in political parties response to mainstream media. During the Kenya post-election crisis people mobilised a website called Ushahidi for people to collaboratively report where violent clashes has taken place. Perspectives and commentary on the post-2006 election crisis in Kenya were seen in online networking sites as a way to criticise the media and government and it was found that views and discussion topics seen in social networking sites were much more diverse that seen in mainstream media. Internet and Social Networking Sites in Election Campaigns: Gabriela Womens Party in Philippines wins the 2007 Elections Philippines also embarked on using Internet, social networking sites and the mobile phones for their 2007 elections. Gabriela Womens Party (GWP), among others, was one of them. Given the limited funds for mass forms of communication, the party made use of new communication technologies, in particular, the Internet and social networking sites like YouTube and Friendster along with its website, to augment traditional campaign techniques. The (GWP) won two seats, making it the first and only womens group in the country to attain such a feat in the party list group contest (Alojamiento, 2007). Maximizing YouTube YouTube and Friendster are very popular among young female Internet users in the country. It was only logical for the GWP to turn to these sites to expand their networks and establish their presence among Filipino voters. Political advertising is an obsession among politicians in the country especially when it comes to TV advertising. All parties make efforts to be on television and spend the maximum amounts on advertising. Television advertising being expensive, the GWP after a few commercials on television, extended this kind of advertising to YouTube by uploading a video endorsement of Angel Locsin, a young local celebrity. Use of Social Media in US : Over the past two decades  online  social networking  sites and  systems  have  been  effectively  used  to increase political  dialogue. In 1996 email was widely used across social networks as a means of facilitating  people and groups for political purposes .  In 2007 it was estimated that  40% of all social networking users  had  used Myspace and Facebook  as a source for  political information  in the United States (US) and  20%  of people used  these sites  to discover the political interests of their friends.   Barack Obama successful used Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Facebook among others to communicate and mobilise people. He also had a $2 million dollar custom campaigning and social networking site built called MyBarackobama.com (Walmsley 2008; Crow 2008; Talbot 2008).  The Republican party used social networking sites during the 2008 to promote candidate John McCain, even at 71 years of age, which demonstrated their understanding of the importance of its use. Political parties are now actively engaging with social networking sites as part of their campaign strategies. Political campaign strategies have successfully used social networking sites to increase campaign funding. Howard Dean, in 2004, was the first US politician to explore the financial value in using the Internet as part of his campaign strategy. He successfully used the Internet to facilitate small donations online instead of the traditional big fund-raising events. During this same year Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry raised $80 million in online donations. Within two months of creating a MySpace page during the US 2006 election cycle one Republican candidate raised donations by 20%  The Barack Obama campaign during the 2008 US presidential election raised $55 million in one month 80% were online donations and 90% of those were under $200 each. This was before he had run a single fund-raising event . Social networking sites create an easily accessible medium for people to find, distribute and absorb political information. YouTube and other social media sites allows campaign strategies to easily target limitless voters with great communication power .According to a Pew Internet and American Life study, 46% of American voters have used the Internet, text messaging or email for political mobilisation, discussion and to access political news and information 35% of people in the US watched political videos on YouTube .This ease of access combined with new technologies enables campaigners to strategically target and customise their marketing approach. Social networking sites enable a more targeted approach to election campaigning. The US Republican 2008 presidential campaign used an internal database, called the Voter Volt, matched with internet searches to advertise to potential voters using social networking sites .These new technologies combined with the use of social networking sites not only increases the accuracy of the campaign message through targeted advertising, it has also helped to increase the size of the audience.  During the 2008 US Election new technologies allowed The Republican National Committee to increase the number of potential voters on their database by 6-fold compared to their 2004 campaign .The use of these new tools have the added potential to increase mobilisation. Benefits of Social Networking Sites usage in Political Campaigning: Mass Coverage: The biggest advantage that social networking sites provide in an election campaign is of mass coverage with sites such as Myspace, Twitter, Facebook , Youtube, Linkdein , orkut etc. Data table from i strategy labs generating no of users of facebook between age of 18 and 24 are as follows: It can be seen youth between age 18 and 24 using facebook accounts for 40.8% and in middle age group constitute of 16.6%. So political parties targeting youth and middle age group can be benefited if campaigning through these sites. Cost Effective : Political campaigning through these sites is very cost effective methods as the cost involved is very low. And in past micro donations can be arranged easily through these sites only. This has been seen in presidential elections in year 2008 taken place ay US. Emergence of new political parties: With social networking sites as a tool used for election campaign emergence of new political parties can be seen. More of individual politicians are encouraged and are emerging out in elections. They are reaching to public with their ideas being communicated well using the videos on Youtube or post on twitter or on Facebook account or through blogs with many followers acting as agents and their promoters. Environmental and Societal benefits: The other benefits associated with campaigning through networking sites are of environmental and societal benefits to general public in all. While campaigning through these sites the major tool of campaigning traditionally that is pamphlets is through emails, posts and blogs. Thus reducing the usage of paper and saving trees. Also society is saved from traffic jams, noise pollutions when campaigning is done on these sites. Moreover while campaigning on these sites an add on feature of more visibility leading to accountability is been ensured, giving a right to voters to have all information and then deciding upon the right candidate to vote for. Presence in India: Political parties in this day and age are now trying to use web as a medium to gain attention of the masses. Employing internet as a strategy to make an appeal to the masses is also being used a host of NGOs and non-profit organizations, such as the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy and Public Interest Foundation. These organisations are using internet, alongwith traditional media like radio and television, to launch initiatives geared toward raising awareness among the electorate. There are nationwide campaign ensuring to increase transparency in Indian elections by combining information about constituencies and candidates. The purpose of these campaigns are: Provide information regarding the representatives based on the information they have provided through affidavits to the Election Commission   Provide information about a constituency Give a chance to the public to give feedback on work done by their elected representatives The media excitement around the election is being generated by the middle-class urban youth, who   believe in bringing about a change. Of late, many Indian politicians have begun considering internet as a viable medium for interactive communication and are, consequently, making their presence felt in the World Wide Web.  For instance BJP has launched a website for its prime ministerial candidate and for its chief ministerial candidate as well. Similarly, even the congress party is making use of social networking sites like youtube, facebook, twitter etc. to run social marketing campaigns. Thus, the presence of social networking sites in the indian electoral scenario is spellbound as the political parties now are resorting to online campaigning and voting systems. CONCLUSION : The present study and other studies cited in this paper mostly point out to both the importance of new media technologies and the trend towards their exploitation in current political settings. Their maximization for political campaigning should be viewed, however, in the context of where these new technologies operate Though studies have demonstrated that new technologies have been playing significant roles in campaigns in the US, the diffusion of online campaigning in parts of Asia, particularly in the Philippines, is unfolding but at a slower pace. These do not discount the promises of the Internet for political campaigning. If offline conditions change, it is likely that online uses will follow. In the meantime, it is important to look at the Internet as an integral part of a holistic political campaigning strategy, which can complement the use of traditional media and grassroots campaigning by reaching the growing segment of the population using the Internet. Future studies in this field of political communication would help in understanding how far the applications of the Internet and its contemporaries would go in bringing political actors closer to the public and how politics itself would change in the years to come as these new technologies become more sophisticated at the same time societies around the world evolve and change

The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell :: Dame Ragnell Character Analysis Essays

The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell In the story of "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell," we are introduced to a rather interesting character, Dame Ragnell. We meet Dame Ragnell in the beginning of the story when King Arthur is riding his horse into Ingelswood Forest. He then meets a lady, Dame Ragnell, who is described to be absolutely hideous and grotesque. The story gives a complete description of this old, foul woman: Her face was red, her nose snotid withalle, Her mouithe wide, her teethe yallowe overe alle, With blerid eyen gretter then a balle; Her mouithe was not to lak; Her teeth hing over her lippes; Her cheekis as wemen hippes. Dame Ragnell is a repulsive creature. She's described as a big, broad-shouldered woman with yellow, rotten teeth hanging over her mouth, great big eyes, and a big red face with cheeks the size of a lady's hips. King Arthur runs in trouble and is given twelve months to find the answer to the question, "What do women most desire?" With his life riding on this answer, King Arthur desperately asks Dame Ragnell to tell him what women most desire. She tells him that women most desire power and sovereignty in marriage. But she tells him this only after he promises that one of his knights, Sir Gawain, will wed her. Sir Gawain does indeed marry her, but only because of his strong loyalty to his king. Sir Gawain is disgusted by her appearance, but he knows this is the only way to save King Arthur. People pity Sir Gawain, a very handsome man who possesses nobility and honor, for having to marry such a loathly woman. Dame Ragnell has no manners, especially at the dinner table. When she feasts at King Arthur's court, she eats as much food as six grown men: Her nailes were long inchis three; Therewithe she breke her mete ungoodly; Dame Ragnell's appearance is the result of her stepmother's wicked spell. Her stepmother cursed Dame Ragnell many years ago and the spell can only be broken if she weds a man who gives her sovereignty in their marriage. The spell has yet to be broken†¦that is until she is married to Sir Gawain. Then, she gives Sir Gawain the ultimatum that he can either choose for Dame Ragnell to be beautiful during the day for all men to admire, and at night she will be ugly for Sir Gawain, or for her to be ugly during the day and beautiful at night for Sir Gawain to enjoy. The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell :: Dame Ragnell Character Analysis Essays The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell In the story of "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell," we are introduced to a rather interesting character, Dame Ragnell. We meet Dame Ragnell in the beginning of the story when King Arthur is riding his horse into Ingelswood Forest. He then meets a lady, Dame Ragnell, who is described to be absolutely hideous and grotesque. The story gives a complete description of this old, foul woman: Her face was red, her nose snotid withalle, Her mouithe wide, her teethe yallowe overe alle, With blerid eyen gretter then a balle; Her mouithe was not to lak; Her teeth hing over her lippes; Her cheekis as wemen hippes. Dame Ragnell is a repulsive creature. She's described as a big, broad-shouldered woman with yellow, rotten teeth hanging over her mouth, great big eyes, and a big red face with cheeks the size of a lady's hips. King Arthur runs in trouble and is given twelve months to find the answer to the question, "What do women most desire?" With his life riding on this answer, King Arthur desperately asks Dame Ragnell to tell him what women most desire. She tells him that women most desire power and sovereignty in marriage. But she tells him this only after he promises that one of his knights, Sir Gawain, will wed her. Sir Gawain does indeed marry her, but only because of his strong loyalty to his king. Sir Gawain is disgusted by her appearance, but he knows this is the only way to save King Arthur. People pity Sir Gawain, a very handsome man who possesses nobility and honor, for having to marry such a loathly woman. Dame Ragnell has no manners, especially at the dinner table. When she feasts at King Arthur's court, she eats as much food as six grown men: Her nailes were long inchis three; Therewithe she breke her mete ungoodly; Dame Ragnell's appearance is the result of her stepmother's wicked spell. Her stepmother cursed Dame Ragnell many years ago and the spell can only be broken if she weds a man who gives her sovereignty in their marriage. The spell has yet to be broken†¦that is until she is married to Sir Gawain. Then, she gives Sir Gawain the ultimatum that he can either choose for Dame Ragnell to be beautiful during the day for all men to admire, and at night she will be ugly for Sir Gawain, or for her to be ugly during the day and beautiful at night for Sir Gawain to enjoy.

The Bill of Rights: Americas Last Defense Against the Federal Suffocat

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is our Bill of Rights necessary? Does it put a limit on our government, or on our liberty? Do these ten amendments hold the same meaning today as they did two-hundred and fourteen years ago? Are they now or have they ever been relevant? These questions were debated by our nation’s founding fathers in the eighteenth century and continue to be debated by the historians, academics, and political scientists today. Over the course of the last two centuries, its meaning has been twisted and stretched by the interpretation and misinterpretation of our legislature and, most of all, by the Supreme Court wielding its power of judicial review. It is my belief that these rights were and are absolutely essential to maintaining any liberty in this country; however, I also believe they have placed a limit on our liberties in that the government has come to restrict many rights that are not expressly declared in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Perhaps, it is nece ssary to convene a convention dedicated to defining and expanding the protected rights and to put these revisions to the people through normal amendment processes requiring ratification by three-quarters of the states.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To begin, we need to understand what a â€Å"bill of rights† is and where it comes from. Bills, or lists, of rights litter American colonial history, from the Declaration of Rights issued to the British parliament in response to the Stamp Act of 1765, which led to the repeal of that act, to those found in state governments such as Virginia and Delaware during the earliest days of the new nation. These lists were written in response to years of oppression suffered by the colonists at the hands of a tyrannical British government. They outlined certain individual rights that were held to be above government regulation by the philosophy of the time. Though the first ten amendments do not constitute the first list of rights ever devised, they are the first list incorporated into a national constitution.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The founders developed two contradicting viewpoints on this subject, which threatened to bring the process of ratification to a standstill. In his letters, Federalist 84 and Federalist 85, Alexander Hamilton, writing as â€Å"Publius†, summarized the federalist argument against the bill of rights. He presented what I f... ...oncerns, their philosophies are outdated. Perhaps our constitution is inadequate. If this is so, should we not change it rather than allow the justices of the Supreme Court to decide what it means as they see fit for the current political, social, or economic climate? It took an entire nation to decide the wording of our present constitution. Is it fair to leave its interpretation in the hands of only nine men and women? Does it make sense to allow them to decide that terms which are written as absolutes could, in some cases, be conditional? I propose a simple solution to the problem. We, the people of this nation, need to decide what we want our Constitution to say. Then, we need to rephrase the wording so that it cannot be misinterpreted. This would require amending the amendments that are already in place with more specific language. This could restore the effectiveness of the Bill of Rights and put it back in its rightful place, above the national government. Until that time, the only way the Bill of Rights will continue to provide shelter from government intrusion is to take it at face value and to quit trying to establish conditions under which it doesn’t mean what it says. The Bill of Rights: Americas Last Defense Against the Federal Suffocat   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is our Bill of Rights necessary? Does it put a limit on our government, or on our liberty? Do these ten amendments hold the same meaning today as they did two-hundred and fourteen years ago? Are they now or have they ever been relevant? These questions were debated by our nation’s founding fathers in the eighteenth century and continue to be debated by the historians, academics, and political scientists today. Over the course of the last two centuries, its meaning has been twisted and stretched by the interpretation and misinterpretation of our legislature and, most of all, by the Supreme Court wielding its power of judicial review. It is my belief that these rights were and are absolutely essential to maintaining any liberty in this country; however, I also believe they have placed a limit on our liberties in that the government has come to restrict many rights that are not expressly declared in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Perhaps, it is nece ssary to convene a convention dedicated to defining and expanding the protected rights and to put these revisions to the people through normal amendment processes requiring ratification by three-quarters of the states.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To begin, we need to understand what a â€Å"bill of rights† is and where it comes from. Bills, or lists, of rights litter American colonial history, from the Declaration of Rights issued to the British parliament in response to the Stamp Act of 1765, which led to the repeal of that act, to those found in state governments such as Virginia and Delaware during the earliest days of the new nation. These lists were written in response to years of oppression suffered by the colonists at the hands of a tyrannical British government. They outlined certain individual rights that were held to be above government regulation by the philosophy of the time. Though the first ten amendments do not constitute the first list of rights ever devised, they are the first list incorporated into a national constitution.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The founders developed two contradicting viewpoints on this subject, which threatened to bring the process of ratification to a standstill. In his letters, Federalist 84 and Federalist 85, Alexander Hamilton, writing as â€Å"Publius†, summarized the federalist argument against the bill of rights. He presented what I f... ...oncerns, their philosophies are outdated. Perhaps our constitution is inadequate. If this is so, should we not change it rather than allow the justices of the Supreme Court to decide what it means as they see fit for the current political, social, or economic climate? It took an entire nation to decide the wording of our present constitution. Is it fair to leave its interpretation in the hands of only nine men and women? Does it make sense to allow them to decide that terms which are written as absolutes could, in some cases, be conditional? I propose a simple solution to the problem. We, the people of this nation, need to decide what we want our Constitution to say. Then, we need to rephrase the wording so that it cannot be misinterpreted. This would require amending the amendments that are already in place with more specific language. This could restore the effectiveness of the Bill of Rights and put it back in its rightful place, above the national government. Until that time, the only way the Bill of Rights will continue to provide shelter from government intrusion is to take it at face value and to quit trying to establish conditions under which it doesn’t mean what it says.

The American Cancer Society Essay examples -- Cancer Education, Resea

The American Cancer Society is a volunteer-based organization that is present across the United States. Its main purpose is to raise money and awareness about the severity and prevalence of cancer. Cancer education and research is where most of the focus and monetary donations are used for. The American Cancer Society strives to fulfill their goal of â€Å"less cancer and more birthdays† across all generations and populations (ACS Inc., 2011). The American Cancer Society began its fight in 1913, starting as the American Society for the Control of Cancer (ASCC), which included fifteen members in New York City (ACS Inc, 2011). Cancer was never a high-priority disease and was often pushed to the side due to the fact that there was no treatment, harsh conditions, and low diagnosis. In 1945, after WWII, the ASCC was reorganized and renamed as the American Cancer Society (ACS) (ACS Inc, 2011). At this point, America was able to recognize problems on the home-front, which major public health issues were obvious. In 1946, a woman by the name of Mary Lasker, a member of the original ASCC, helped raise more than $4 million for the Society, where one million of it was used to establish and fund infamous cancer research (ACS Inc, 2011). Soon after, Dr. Sidney Farber, one of the Society’s first research grantees, achieved the first temporary cancer remission in a child with acute leukemia using the drug Aminopterin (ACS Inc, 2011). The ACS has been developing research theories for decades, with approximately $3.5 billion dedicated to finding a cure to cancer through research (ACS, 2011). With the ACS name nationally recognized, they were able to help fund many national, government, and hospital prevention strategies and research. Currently, t... ...faith. Even though my friend lost his battle with esophageal cancer, he raised over $50,000 for the ACS with the help of our community, family, and friends. He wanted to repay ACS for what they did for him and wanted nothing more than to save someone else from what he was had to go through. ACS stayed by his side until the end giving him hope and support, and for that, I feel they are a remarkable organization. I do not feel that any improvements need to be made for this organization. They utilize all types of prevention and educational tools, including technology, media, and events. ACS can only continue their research in hopes of finding the cure to cancer. Time is the only factor that may be for, or against, the Society’s efforts. Spreading faith, knowledge, and strategies to overcome cancer is the only way to keep individuals safe from the burden of cancer.

Future Goals Essay

Everyone should hold ends when they are seeking to accomplish a specific undertaking. A good illustration of when ends are of import to hold is when you’re planning to go to college. Therefore. I have developed three personal ends that I consider of import in accomplishing during my clip here at WEHS. First is the end of run intoing other people that have the same calling field that I do. Second. I would wish to better myself utilizing instruction. doing me a better good known single. Third. and eventually. I would wish to graduate from WEHS and attend Texas A & A ; M University in Corpus Christi. With the ends that I have listed. I feel that it will profit my hereafter and educate me further in the condemnable justness field. First. my end of run intoing other people that have the same calling involvements as I do or hold already been in the condemnable justness field. In order to accomplish this mark. I am traveling to speak to other persons that have already worked as Attor neys. Besides. if they are willing to speak to me about past experiences they can give me tips and other information that they have learned and are willing to assist other people learn from their errors. Furthermore they will be able to give me ideas sing what it will take for me to acquire my pes in the door in the Criminal Justice field. I feel that I will non hold a job speaking to people that already work in the field because I have learned that people experienced in this type of thing are friendly and are willing to assist others because helping others is what this calling entails. For that ground. meeting others that have the same calling aspirations as I do makes this end an highly of import 1. My 2nd end of bettering myself and going a well known single will do me a better individual. Education is what runs the universe and moves our economic system. In today’s society. instruction is improbably of import and if you are educated. you will be given more respect than those who are less educated. Without it. we would non be able to carry through the many undertakings society demands completed in order to last. Furthermore. I would non be where I am or who I am today without the instruction I am having here in WEHS. Due to my old ends. I believe that I have achieved a great trade in life and wish to foster my schooling. and be able to accomplish higher purposes in my hereafter. Besides. some of the personal ends that I have set for myself will necessitate a higher degree of instruction and the cognition that the University Of Texas A & A ; M will give me will assist me to accomplish my achievements. My 3rd and concluding end is to graduate WESH and go to the University Of Texas A & A ; M and have a grade in Criminal Justice. I will be able to accomplish this grade by go toing the categories that the University will be able to supply for me and my ain committedness to finishing them. By making these things. I will have the grade that will non merely set me on the right path to my hereafter. but besides lead me beyond the calling ends that I have set for myself. It will give me the option of traveling up in ranks in condemnable justness field that would non be possible if I wouldn’t have the ends I have set for myself as of now. Therefore. I will accomplish the ends that I have set Forth for the growing of my hereafter. Goals are vastly of import to hold and everyone should hold them written down if they want to be successful. Without composing them down. they would merely be impressions and most probably would merely accomplish thoughts. non ends. As a consequence. I have written down the ends I spoke of above and will seek my best in making them. Meeting other people in my calling field. going a well known single. and having my Condemnable Justice grade are of import to my hereafter. With these ends. I will carry through my educational ends at the University Of Texas A & A ; M and it will put me up to carry through my personal calling aims that I have set for my hereafter. Besides. if I keep on path. my hereafter will look bright and I will hold an exciting life in the old ages to come.

The Harbour – Creative Writing

The harbour begins to wake as the rhythmic chug of boat engines slowly return. The waves explode like bombs against the harbour wall. Fog is dispersing to view a fantasy of narrow streets strung with captivating souvenir shops and sophisticated restaurants. Morning darkness fades, slowly the clouds drift, revealing a pure, spotless blue sky. The town hall strikes 8 o'clock, shop shutters rattle as they raise, doors bursting open with a helping hand awaiting to welcome the customer with an embrace. A pungent smell of fish fills the air. A gust of wind full with repulsive odour lingers. Sun-kissed light pours from the sky, the reflection upon the water blinding. Solitary streets are now animated. Harmony is no more but the day is still premature. Exhaust fumes float as workers withdraw from their homes and start up their engines. The traffic is solid throughout the town. People barge their way to local banks and supermarkets through overflowing pathways. Tourists disembark upon the harbour, beginning the long awaited holiday. An enchanted wonderland of fair attractions sit upon the end of the pier, slowly they complete their circuits. Breakfast bars open in the car parks serving up crisp bacon sandwiches dripping with butter and blistering coffee. Along the harbour front, fishermen sit mending their nets as though they are knitting. People drift in and out of streets, some white, some red, some tanned; the sun's violent rays causing skins pigment to discolour. Young and old take a morning stroll along a beach like stretch of empty space. The view is cleared, what you see sends shivers down your back, the sea's elegance and harbour in almost complete perfection. Slowly a frying fragrance finds it's way up your nostrils. Yes, lunchtime rush, takeaway shops and restaurants are in full flow. The beach is filling; young children begin to play their electrifying games. Everywhere you roam there are fish and chips. Lightly battered fish, so crisp when you take a bite. Slowly the batter falls down your oesophagus leaving succulent flakes of cod warming your lips and tongue. Chips so soft, your first taste is sea salt and malt vinegar, secondly the slight grease tickling the back of your throat. A taste of potato whirls as your teeth chew, and then all matter of food disappears from your mouth. Guilt in your mind about the fat content but the taste takes it away. Squawks are amongst the crowds as gulls swoop down for scraps. Gently relaxation occurs. Youngsters run with slight indigestion, the smouldering crisp sand making their young feet so sore. Afternoon falls. The beach is still packed with sunbathers and children. A drowsiness dawns. Some people sit upon the harbour wall watching waves ripple in. Sticks of rock go crunch, candyfloss melts and fudge just makes you chew. A confectionary wonderland! Laughter is surrounding showing every sign of full enjoyment. Deeper into the town humanity is all common, drifting to and fro from high street designers to leather stenching shoe stores. Streets littered with cake wrappers from the bakery, sandwich boxes from the deli bar and general junk here and there. Coke cans crunch beneath your feet as you walk and a gorgeous perfume aroma wafts and asthmatics begin to choke. Calmness never seems to occur. Moving back through the town and down to the harbour, the beach is slowly beginning to clear and the tide is creeping close. Bath taps drip as parents eagerly attempt to untangle their children's sandy locks. Light is fading cautiously as evening draws in. Couples appear arm in arm. Shop shutters once again rattle as they close. Restaurants' distinct smell is inviting. Open bars serve up crisps, nuts and cold beverages, alcoholic or not. Glasses chink as drunken chatter begins. In sight is a beautiful sunset, the red glow inspiring just like a painted picture but all fades when darkness gradually descends. Soothing music from an unknown live band rings in your ears. Fishing boats begin to proceed out to sea. Hard workers wander down their local pulling out the pennies to achieve a taste of real ale. All that is recognisable in the darkness is faint outlines of people and places. Ping! Pier lights turn on in their own unique brilliance. Club beats compose vibrations throughout the floor. People dancing and laughing makes the world seem blissful. So many people are having a good time. Slowly the volume creeps louder almost making your ears burst. Bang, tequila slammers hit the table hard, barely touch your lips but soon make you intoxicated. Jazz and liquor is no combination for anyone who is angelic and always seems to be composed. ‘Ring a ding ding', bells sound. Last orders it's time to go home. An emanation of alcohol is upon everyone. Silence in the end. As the lighthouse flickers like a candle the glimpse of a silent shadow tumbles to its death. Anyone still awake, outside can only smell sea-salt and waste grub. The harbour is never always in tranquillity.

Bite Me: A Love Story Chapter 24

24. A Love Story? JODY It wasn't the first time she'd crept out of a guy's apartment in the middle of the night with her shoes in her hand, but it was the first time where the decision had been because she didn't want to kill the guy. He was so little, so frail, so lonely. She had taken people before who had the black ring in their life aura like Okata's, and they had thanked her. It had been mercy, relief, the end of pain, yet she couldn't make herself do it. She'd left him there, not to die alone, although he probably would, and not because he had been so kind to her, saving her, which he had, but because the prints weren't finished. He was a strange little man, a hermit and a swordsman, and he carried some great pain in him, but above all that, he was an artist, and she couldn't bear to stop that. So she'd left. Now she was back. He sheathed his sword and tried to lift her to her feet. Her limbs still felt like they were on fire, and she could move only her right arm on her own. She nodded toward Bella's pellet weapon. â€Å"Give it to me, Okata.† She made a grasping motion. He leaned her in a sitting position against the wrought-iron railing that surrounded the steps to his apartment, then retrieved the weapon and fit it into her hand. Then he held the barrel firmly and said something stern in Japanese. â€Å"No, I'm not going to off myself,† she said, and she smiled. He let go of the barrel of the gun and she sprayed Bella's corpse with pellets until the gun stopped firing, then she threw the gun over the rail and motioned for Okata to help her into his apartment. Bella's body was nothing more than slimy chunks of meat by the time Okata got her through the door. In the morning, when the sun hit it, there would be only a charred stain on the sidewalk with burned gobs of plastic that had been a Kevlar suit, shoes, and sunglasses. Okata helped her to the shower, where he rinsed out her wounds, then dried her off and retrieved the last bit of the pig's blood, which he'd kept in the refrigerator. Jody felt a horrible twinge of guilt. He'd been waiting for her, probably had been outside looking for her when Bella had chased her around the corner. After she drank the blood, and her legs had healed enough to hold her weight, she went to his workbench and turned on the light. The last print was there. Not finished, but two of the woodblocks had been finished, the black and the red. There she was, in the shower, her red hair streaming behind her in the water, black bits of ash puddling at her feet. Okata was beside her, looking at the print critically, as if there was something he might have to fix at any second. She bent down and looked back from the angle of the print into his face. â€Å"Hey,† she said. â€Å"Thank you.† â€Å"Okay,† he said. â€Å"Sorry,† she said. FOO DOG Abby lay on the futon in the loft's great room. The empty rat cages were stacked in the corner of the room and Foo had unscrewed one of the plywood panels over the windows to let some light in. He'd been monitoring Abby's vital signs since six in the morning. At least she had vital signs. She hadn't even started with those. At noon, she opened her eyes. â€Å"Foo, you dick, I'm mortal.† â€Å"You're okay!† He threw his arms around her. She pushed him away. â€Å"Where's Tommy? Where's the Countess?† â€Å"Tommy's in the bedroom. I don't know where Jody is.† â€Å"She didn't call?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Fucksocks! Did you turn Tommy back, too?† â€Å"No. I started making his serum, but he didn't want to do anything until they take care of the other vampire. We need to, though, Abby. He won't live much longer if we don't.† â€Å"I know. The pirate Rasta guy on the black ship told us. Other vampire? Only one?† â€Å"Rivera called while you were unconscious. The Animals took one of them down at the Safeway.† â€Å"Did you tell him to stay off the black ship?† â€Å"Tommy did.† â€Å"What about Chet?† â€Å"I don't know.† â€Å"He could be-Hey, where's my tail?† â€Å"It sort of fell off when you turned back to human.† â€Å"Did you save it?† â€Å"Well, no. I left it on the coffee table and when the sun came up, well, it sort of burned up.† â€Å"You burned up my tail? That was a part of me.† â€Å"It was a disgusting part of you.† â€Å"You're such a racist, Foo. I'm glad we broke up.† â€Å"We did?† â€Å"We were going to, weren't we? Wasn't that what you wanted to talk about? About how I'm way too complex and mysterious for you and you need to return to your traditional science-nerd values and live in the Sunset with your parents, instead of the awesome love lair with your goddess-like vampire girlfriend, who will never do you again, even when you beg, even out of pity, no matter how fly your sexy manga hair is? Isn't that what you were going to say?† â€Å"Not in so many words. I'm going to move to Berkeley. It's hard, Abby-â€Å" â€Å"Well, save your breath, s'il vous pla;t, I'm over you. I will not be further abused by your toady banalities and whatnot.† â€Å"Your mom called. She wants you to come home.† â€Å"Yeah, that's going to happen. Oh, what's this, monkeys flying out of my tailless butt?† â€Å"She said they sent your report card. You passed Mr. Snavely's biology class.† â€Å"I did?† â€Å"She said she almost fainted. Jared said it was your extra-credit project that did it. Why didn't you tell me you took one of the rats to school with you?† â€Å"Well, I didn't think it worked out that well. I mean, the rat was already vamped, so when I took him out of the shoe box, he just looked kind of dead. And Mr. Snavely was all, â€Å"‘Oh, that's lovely, Allison, a dead rat.'† But it was sunny in biology lab, and all of a sudden my rat just spontaneously combusts, and I'm all, ‘Check it, bitches, spontaneous rodent combustion, it's the wave of the future.'† â€Å"Well, because he couldn't figure out how you did it, he passed you.† â€Å"I am the dark mistress of Biology One-oh-two. Fear me. Rawr!† she said. Then she kissed him hard, but not as hard as she had when she was a vampire, which was a relief, but then she pushed him away and slapped him. â€Å"Ouch. I didn't think you were a slut.† â€Å"I know, that's was our bittersweet break-up kiss. I will go grieve now until Lord Flood awakes and we resume the search for the Countess. I'm starving. Do you want to go get a sammy and a Starbucks? I have like ten grand in my messenger.† THE LOVE LAIR He awoke at sundown with her face in his mind's eye and panic running up his spine. He bolted out of the bedroom into the great room, where Abby was hanging up the phone. â€Å"That was the Countess,† Abby said. â€Å"She's okay. She'll be here in a few minutes.† â€Å"And you're okay? You're alive. You have heat.† He could see the heat coming off her and the healthy life aura around her. â€Å"Yeah, thanks. Foo destroyed my tail.† She turned and looked to the kitchen. â€Å"The traitorous racist heartbreaking fucktard!† â€Å"Little harsh,† Tommy said. â€Å"He saved your life.† â€Å"Heartbroken. Grieving. Inconsolable. Tail's gone. Going to have to get totally repierced and tattooed.† â€Å"But you showered and your eye makeup isn't all racoony anymore.† â€Å"Thanks. I like the blood splatters on your pants.† â€Å"Hi,† said Foo Dog from the kitchen, where he was filling a syringe with what looked like blood. â€Å"I have your serum ready, whenever you're ready.† â€Å"I'm not ready.† â€Å"You have to, you know.† The doorbell buzzed. Tommy keyed the intercom. â€Å"It's me,† Jody said. He buzzed her in and she was at the top of the steps in an instant, then kissing him. He pushed her back and looked at her clothes, shredded at the elbows and knees, stained with blood. â€Å"What happened to you? Where were you?† â€Å"One of the old vampires? She ambushed me on a roof across from the black ship. That weapon they have did this. It's horrible. We can't let them get near us with that thing.† â€Å"How did you get away?† â€Å"I was hiding at the bottom of a pool, trying to figure out what to do, when Chet jumped her. I got out of there while Chet was dry-humping her.† â€Å"Yeah. Go Chet!† said Abby. â€Å"Abby!† Jody ran to Abby and hugged her, kissed her on the forehead. â€Å"I was so worried about you. You're alive. Really alive.† â€Å"Yeah. Foo changed me back. I want to be nosferatu again.† They all turned to face Foo, who was still in the kitchen. â€Å"Can't do it, Abs. You won't survive a second time. I tried it on the rats. You're only human.† â€Å"Doomed,† Abby said. â€Å"Jody,† Tommy said, â€Å"what about the vampire who attacked you?† â€Å"Gone. Destroyed. Someone rescued me just before she killed me. So there's only one left, right?† â€Å"They're all gone,† Tommy said. â€Å"Rivera called. The Animals got the other one. There's only Elijah on the black ship.† Jody put her hand to his face. â€Å"Tommy, we have to talk.† â€Å"I know,† he said. Foo Dog said, â€Å"Jody, I have no way of knowing when Tommy might, uh, expire. He could go faster than Abby was going.† â€Å"Come with me.† Jody took Tommy's hand and led him into the bedroom. â€Å"I've got to show you something. You two, do not come into this room, do you hear me?† TOMMY AND JODY â€Å"We can't make crazy monkey love now, Jody. They'll hear us, and we usually end up breaking all the furniture.† â€Å"You learned how to go to mist, when you were with Chet. You said you learned?† â€Å"Yeah, that's how I got these clothes. They're stupid, aren't they?† â€Å"Tommy, the vampire, the old one, her name was Bella, she told me something. Kiss me. Kiss me and go to mist. Don't think about it, don't stop, just melt into the kiss.† She kissed him and felt him as he faded from solid, and followed him exactly, until they were a single entity, sharing every secret, every fear, every victory, everything, the very essence of who they were, wrapping around each other, winding through each other as each lived the other's history, as every experience they had, they had together, with comfort and joy, with abandon and passion, without words or boundaries, and as often happens to two in love, time lost all meaning, and they might have stayed there, like that, forever. When they finally fell out of it they were naked, on the bed, giggling like insane children. â€Å"Wow,† Tommy said first. â€Å"Yeah,† she said. â€Å"So, Okata saved you?† â€Å"Yeah, he needed to save someone. He had always needed to save someone.† â€Å"I know. I'm okay with it, you know?† â€Å"Yeah, I know,† she said. â€Å"I can't do it, Jody. It's amazing, and I adore you, but I can't do it.† â€Å"I know,† she said, because she did. â€Å"This is me now, Tommy. I like this, I like the night, I like the power. I like not being afraid. I was never anything until I was this. I love being this.† â€Å"I know,† he said. He knew that she had always been cute, but not beautiful. Always a little dissatisfied with who she was, worried about what men, or her mother, or anyone thought of her. But she was beautiful now. Strong. She was exactly what she wanted to be. He said, â€Å"I need the words, Jody. It's who I am.† â€Å"I know.† â€Å"I'm not a vampire. I'm a writer. I came here to be a writer. I want to use gelatinous in a sentence. And not just once, but over and over. On the roof, under the moon, in an elevator, on the washing machine, and when I'm exhausted, I want to lay in my own gelatinous sweat and use gelatinous in a sentence until I pass out.† Jody said, â€Å"I don't think gelatinous means what you think it means.† â€Å"It doesn't matter. It's what I need to do. I need to write something. I need to write my little Holocaust girl story.† â€Å"I thought it was a little girl growing up in the segregated South.† â€Å"Yeah, whatever. It's important.† â€Å"You know I know this already, right?† â€Å"I know, but that's what I'm saying, I need the words. I love you, but I need the words.† â€Å"I know,† she said. â€Å"Let's go let Foo change you back into a word guy.† â€Å"And you're going to go away?† â€Å"I have to.† â€Å"I know,† he said. â€Å"You know, I think that merging might have ruined me.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because you're lying there completely naked and I don't want to sex you up.† â€Å"Really?† â€Å"Let me think about it. No, false alarm, I'm okay.† â€Å"C'mere, writer boy. Let's break some furniture.† THE RAVEN â€Å"Praise Jah's sweet love for given us a fired-haired snowy biscuit,† Kona said. â€Å"Welcome, me sweet deadie sistah. Welcome aboard.† â€Å"Mistress,† Jody said. â€Å"Sweet deadie mistress.† â€Å"Troot, mistress. Welcome aboard.† The ship was a wonder of technology and luxury. Kona had lent Foo Dog his security bracelet and Foo had gone aboard and reset the security so the ship didn't kill anyone who set foot on board, then he and Kona had walked her through the ship showing her the thousand different ways it had been set to kill a person. It was an elegant, redundant death trap. â€Å"You'll want to turn the systems back on,† Foo had said. â€Å"There's a reason they had this kind of security.† Jody said good-bye and led him off the ship. Now that she had one of his UV lasers in one hand and a number of vacuum blood vials in the other she followed the ersatz Rastaman down to the deepest chamber of the ship, where Foo had not gone. They approached a wide, white, waterproof hatch with a small porthole and a heavy stainless-steel wheel securing it. Kona hit a light switch. â€Å"That make just a wee UV, mistress. Make dat dogheart bastid turn solid so he can't sneak out.† Jody looked in the port and a face hit it with a snarl, leaving bloody spit on the thick glass. â€Å"Well, hello, pumpkin. How have you been?† The vampire snarled. It was Elijah, the old vampire who had turned her, turned them all, really, if the legend was true. But he looked like a wild animal now, naked, his fangs bared, snarling at the tiny window. â€Å"Can he hear me?† Jody asked. â€Å"Oh yeah, he hear. You got to tell him to go to the back of da room, ma. I'n'I can lock him back there with the second door. Like an airlock. Dat's how we feed dat old buggah.† â€Å"Go to the back of the room, Elijah. I have something I need you to do.† The vampire snarled at her. â€Å"Okey dokey,† she said, and she put on her sunglasses, placed Foo's laser against the glass, and promptly blasted Elijah's right ear into ash. He roared at her. â€Å"Oh, I know that had to hurt. Hear that high whining sound, Elijah. That's the laser recharging. Takes about a minute. When it's done I'm going to burn off your willie unless you get your ancient ass to the back of the cell.† She smiled. â€Å"Shoots, brah, she a cold heart bitch don't you know. You outta-shoulda do what she say, yeah?† The old vampire backed through the inside door, snarling, and Kona worked the switch, sealing it. Then he opened the heavy outer hatch. Jody placed the vacuum vials in the chamber, then said, â€Å"Okay, Elijah, I need you to fill these with that sweet, first-generation vampire blood.† They sealed the outer hatch, and Elijah snarled and resisted, but after having his other ear burned off, relented. Twenty minutes later Jody was holding the four vials of Elijah's blood and Elijah was lapping two quarts of tuna blood out of a stainless-steel bowl. â€Å"He be all right,† Kona said. â€Å"Dem ear heal up in minutes and he be back in the mystic fo' weeks.† â€Å"And how long to get the rest of the art supplies onto the Raven?† she asked. â€Å"It's all on board, mistress.† â€Å"Then cast off, Cap'n.† â€Å"Aye, aye, mistress.† Jody turned to Okata, who had stood silently, his eyes wide, watching the whole scene. â€Å"These are for you,† she said, holding out the vials. â€Å"I'll help you. I hope you like night scenes. You're going to have a lot of prints to make. But you'll have time.† â€Å"Okay,† said the swordsman, with a smile.