Socioeconomic Status Ses Health And Social Care Essay

Socioeconomic position ( SES ) has been studied and proven to hold a direct consequence on general wellness and well-being but what consequence does SES hold on mental wellness? The effects of SES on mental wellness results were outlined in subdivisions of a survey called Socioeconomic Status and Health: The Challenge of the Gradient ( SESSH ) . The SESSH survey states â€Å" Persons higher in the societal hierarchy typically enjoy better wellness than do those below ( Alder et. al 1994 ) , this includes mental wellness and it ‘s all of its related diseases. Several other surveies such as the Childhood Socioeconomic Status Is Associated with Psychosocial Resources in African Americans: The Pittsburgh Healthy Heart Project ( Beatty et. al 2011 ) , conducted by the University of Pittsburg aid to confirm the findings from the SESSH survey done several old ages before. One of the major effects of lower SES position on mental wellness is the deficiency of entree to mental wellness attention. Whether urban or rural the hapless have more trouble in deriving entree to decently trained medical forces and installations to cover with the jobs sing the mental wellness ( Grembowski et. al 2002 ) . The paper, Rural Communities Suffer Poor Mental Health Care ( Association of Schools of Public Health 1974 ) highlights some of the issues unique to the rural hapless in America and the mental wellness issues that surround the community. The current research shows that SES plays a major function in the mental wellness of patients. Major emphasis factors from the effects of lower SES get down to take its toll on the mental wellness of persons populating in high poorness countries ( Leventhal et. al 2003 ) . In the survey Socioeconomic Status and Health: The Challenge of the Gradient it states the â€Å" Socioeconomic position is related to both major depression and depressive symptoms † ( Alder et. al 1994 ) and to an addition of ill will and anti-social activity and suicidal behaviours. ( Alder et. al 1994 ) . SES besides leads to an addition in psychological emphasis that can finally trip greater perceptual experiences of emphasis and negative emotion. These perceptual experiences are known to change neuroendocrine response and assorted other physiological alterations ( Alder et. al 1994 ) . The deficiency of entree to proper mental wellness attention is a major factor in the long term wellness results of tho se in lower SES groups ( Grembowski et. al 2002 ) . Further back uping the survey Socioeconomic Status and Health: The Challenge of the Gradient, the survey Childhood Socioeconomic Status Is Associated with Psychosocial Resources in African Americans, shows that SES is non merely a factor in finding mental wellness but besides has an consequence on the ability to entree the household and community support in early childhood might hold played a possible mitigating factor ( Beatty et. al 2011 ) . The survey shows, that in African American topics, the intercession of positive household and community involvement early in childhood could positively impact subsequently psychological wellness but that lower SES general prohibits the positive household and community support demand to antagonize the degrees of emphasis and hapless self-perception in lower SES persons ( Beatty et. al 2011 ) . The article, Traveling to Opportunity: an Experimental Study of Neighborhood Effects on Mental Health, farther address the thoughts that community and poo rness, cardinal facets of SES, have on mental wellness results ( Leventhal et. al 2003 ) . Families that moved from lower SES position vicinities to higher 1s had a lessening in the presence and badness of depression and other psychological issues ( Leventhal et. al 2003 ) . The articles, through the usage of studies and long term patient surveies, are able to demo the direct effects of lower SES on psychological wellness. The information shows that long term exposure to the emphasis of lower SES leads to several types of psychological upset including depression, feelings of lower dignity and assorted other clinical issues including terrible alcohol addiction and drug dependence ( Alder et. al 1994 ) . The surveies did an first-class occupation of showcasing the issues affect lower SES groups but could hold been more convincing in their methodological analysiss. The information from the research validates the fact of lower SES straight affect psychological wellness but fail to take into history several variables which would let for incredulity. Each of the articles fails to turn to whether the psychological issues are straight linked to lower SES from the deficiency of instruction of approximately positive life style picks and deficiency of instruction a bout entree to wellness attention, is the higher incidents of mental unwellness merely because the hapless have less instruction on healthy life styles and how to seek intervention. The consequences could be strengthened by utilizing greater cross subdivisions of the lower SES communities, over longer periods of clip and supplying basic instruction on how to entree intervention to see if mental wellness issues are genuinely related to SES or if there are other factors that contribute. With the exclusion of Traveling to Opportunity: an Experimental Study of Neighborhood Effects on Mental Health, none of the surveies attempted to see if the conditions were reversible by taking the topics form the lower SES environment. If remotion of the topic from the environment produces clear positive consequences in a big survey group you could more easy find that SES is a clear factor in the patients ‘ wellness.

Marketing Plan †Chancellor University Essay

Chancellor University is a for-profit secondary education institution located in Seven Hills, OH. Grounded in the traditions of business, it has multiple degrees in business and other select professions. Alumni of Chancellor University include John D. Rockefeller and Harvey Firestone. The degree selection ranges from certificates to Masters Programs focusing in business, healthcare management, global comparative studies, and criminal justice. In 2009, Chancellor switched from ground campus to an all-online format, with students spread across the United States and some countries around the world. Chancellor believes that students succeed later in life because they are taught to strive for excellence. Based on previous SWOT analysis, Chancellor has a chance to recover from the economic downturn and help it become viable as a premiere institution. STRENGTHS| WEAKNESS| SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAM| LOSS OF JACK WELCH MGMNT TO STRAYER UNIVERSITY| COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP| REPORTS OF LOSING ACCREDITATION| HISTORY| LOW STUDENT RETENTION| | | OPPORTUNITIES| THREATS| WORKING CLASS AND FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE ATTENDEES| BAD ECONOMY| CELEBRITY STUDENTS| LACK OF ALTERNATIVE FINANCING|. DEMAND FOR HIGHER EDUCATION| COMPETITORS OFFERING SIMILAR CLASSES AND FORMATS| Recently added to the Chancellor University degree offerings is the Masters and certificate program of Social Media. According to some, this addition as a Master’s Degree is not viable but the certificate program is seen as viable for specializations. The feeling is that most students would already be well versed in social media and that its best to follow a concentration in Marketing and use the social media classes within the Marketing program. The social media certificate program is great to have for the marketing major and will show a specialization of making social media relevant in the business realm. A lot of higher education facilities are starting to add courses and degrees with this specialization, Chancellor is seen as one of the firsts to make it available to their students. Chancellor recently began to offer a â€Å"Study Abroad† program that will aide in the students in getting a well-rounded education with global exposure. Chancellor has also partnered with community colleges to offer students a wider variety of courses and credits toward their Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. Chancellor stands to continually lose its footing as a premiere institution considering the lack of alternative education financing due to its for-profit status. It makes it difficult for students to pay or obtain alternative payment plans for their education. Pell Grant is the only grant offered to the students. States cannot award students grants because Chancellor is a for-profit institution, this means that the students will bear the weight of financing and increase their loan responsibility. Reports have been continually floating around of the schools accreditation being at risk from the Higher Learning Commission in Chicago due to poor leadership, financial health, and the quality of the academic programs. Losing accreditation would mean that students could no longer utilize the federal Pell grants for their education with Chancellor. The Jack Welch Management Institute was a top notch addition to the Chancellor curriculum. With its loss to Strayer, Chancellor loses the investment money that came from Jack Welch and the prestige that came with the famous managers name and contributions to their management program. The demand for higher education at an affordable rate continues to rise. Chancellor is not offering it in their current format. Time is taken away from the leadership team developing the curriculum or focusing on the needs of the students to prepare for the commission review. This can turn a lot of students away and the retention rate will decrease. The classes are moderately priced compared to University of Phoenix and Strayer University (based on Bachelor Degree programs). Opportunities exist for Chancellor to expand. Recommendations would include: * Branching out to offer campus sites within the community colleges that they have established partnerships with. This can be obtained by offering professors a stipend to teach courses that are more difficult for students to follow with the online formats, satellite campuses have contributed to the success of Strayer University and University of Phoenix. * Establish a larger presence with social media. Offer the current students the opportunity to blog about their experiences and link the blogs to their social mediums, this increases awareness of Chancellor and their presence on the Internet. * Increase information on the Wikipedia. org page. The article for Chancellor University is more so focused on the history instead of the offerings of the institution. The page describes several changes that Chancellor has been through starting with the Folsom’s Mercantile College and can turn potential students away with the constant changes. * Work out, within the partnerships of the community colleges, to offer Chancellor students the option to take their courses as electives. This will increase the amount of electives available for Chancellor students and contribute to the satisfaction of their education experience. * Chancellor should transition back to letting the students pick their own classes, giving them a selection in each category for the general education electives. This way, the students are responsible for their education and can still study subjects of interest to them. Works Cited Chancellor University. (n. d.). Retrieved from www. chancelloru. edu Chancellor University wikipedia. (n. d. ). Retrieved October 24-26, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Chancellor_University Magaw, T. (2012, August 6). Crain’s Cleveland Business. Retrieved Octber 24-26, 2012, from Accrediting body again issues show-cause order for Chancellor U. : http://www. crainscleveland. com/article/20120806/FREE/308069957 Strayer University. (n. d. ). Retrieved October 25, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Strayer_University Strayer University. (n. d. ). University Tuition Fees and Costs. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from Strayer University: http://www. strayer. edu/financial-support/tuition-and-fees University of Phoenix. (n. d. ). Bachelor of Science in Management. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from University of Phoenix: http://www. phoenix. edu/programs/degree-programs/business-and-management/bachelors/bsm. html#tab=tuition Wecker, M. (2012, March 1). US News – Education. Retrieved October 26, 2012, from Avoid Social Media M B A’s, Some Students Say : http://www. usnews. com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/articles/2012/03/01/avoid-social-media-mbas-some-students-say.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 25

â€Å"Sleeping in the storage room with every wal covered in Post-it Note amulets,†added Meredith grimly. â€Å"If we have enough. I got another packet, but it doesn't go very far when you're trying to cover a room.† â€Å"Okay,†Elena said. â€Å"Who's got Shinichi's key?† Matt raised his hand. â€Å"In my – â€Å" â€Å"Don't tel me!†exclaimed Elena. â€Å"I've got hers. We can't lose them. Stefan and I are one team; you guys are the other.† They half-led and half-supported Misao out of Stefan's room and down the stairs. Misao didn't try to run away from them, to struggle, or to speak to them. This only made Matt more suspicious of her. He saw Stefan and Elena glance toward each other and knew they were feeling the same way. But what else was there to do with her? There was no other way, humanely, or even inhumanely, to restrain her for days. They had her star bal , and according to books that was supposed to al ow them to control her, but she was right, it seemed to be an obsolete notion, because it didn't work. They'd tried with Stefan and Meredith holding her tightly, while Matt got the star bal from where he'd been keeping it in a shoebox on the upper shelf above the clothes in his closet. He and Elena had tried to get Misao to do things while holding the almost empty sphere: to make Misao tel where her brother's star bal was, and so on. But it simply didn't work. â€Å"Maybe when there's so little Power in it, it doesn't apply,†Elena said final y. But that was smal comfort at best. As they took Misao to the kitchen, Matt thought that it had been a stupid plan of the kitsune: imitating Stefan twice. Doing it the second time, when the humans were on guard, that was stupid. Misao didn't seem as stupid as that. Matt had a bad feeling. Elena had a very bad feeling about what they were doing. As she looked around at the faces of the others, she saw that they did too. But nobody had come up with a better plan. They couldn't kil Misao. They weren't murderers who could kil a sickly, passive girl in cold blood. She figured that Shinichi must have very keen hearing, and had already heard them walking on the creaking kitchen floorboards. And she had to assume that he knew – by mindbond, or just logic, or whatever – that Misao was right above him. There was nothing to lose by shouting, through the closed door, â€Å"Shinichi, we've got your sister here! If you want her back you'l stay quiet and not make us throw her down the stairs.† There was silence from the root cel ar. Elena chose to think of it as submissive silence. At least Shinichi wasn't yel ing threats. â€Å"Okay,†Elena whispered. She'd taken a position directly behind Misao. â€Å"When I count to three, we push as hard as we can.† â€Å"Wait!†Matt said in a miserable whisper-shout. â€Å"You said we wouldn't throw her down the stairs.† â€Å"Life isn't fair,†Elena said grimly. â€Å"You think he doesn't have some surprise for us?† â€Å"But – â€Å" â€Å"Leave it, Matt,†said Meredith quietly. She had the stave ready in her left hand and with her right was ready to push on the panel for opening the door. â€Å"Everybody ready?† Everyone nodded. Elena felt sorry for Matt and Stefan, who were the most honest and sensitive of al of them. â€Å"One,†she whispered softly, â€Å"two, three.† On three Meredith hit the concealed wal switch. And then things began to happen in very slow motion. By â€Å"two†Elena had already begun to shove Misao toward the door. On â€Å"three†the others joined her. But the door seemed to take forever to open. And before the ending of forever, everything went wrong. The greenery around Misao's head spread twigs in al directions. One strand shot out and snagged Elena around the wrist. She heard a yel of outrage from Matt and knew that another strand had gotten him. â€Å"Push!† Meredith shouted and then Elena saw the stave coming at her. Meredith whisked with the stave through the greenery connected to Misao. The vine that had been cutting into Elena's wrist fel to the floor. Any remaining misgivings about throwing Misao down the stairs vanished. Elena joined in the crowd trying to push her through the opening. But there was something wrong in the basement. For one thing, they were shoving Misao into pitch-darkness†¦and movement. The basement was ful of – something. Some things. Elena looked down at her ankle and was horrified to see a gigantic maggot that seemed to have crawled out of the root cel ar. Or at least a maggot was the first thing she could think of to compare it to – maybe it was a headless slug. It was translucent and black and about a foot long, but far too fat for her to have put a hand around it. It seemed to have two ways of moving, one by the familiar hunch-and-straighten method and the other by simply sticking to other maggots, which were exploding up over Elena's head like a hideous fountain. Elena looked up and wished she hadn't. There was a cobra waving over them, out of the root cel ar and into the kitchen. It was a cobra made of black translucent maggots stuck together, and every so often one would fal off and land among the group and there would be a cry. If Bonnie had been with them, she would have screamed until the wineglasses in the cupboards shattered, Elena thought wildly. Meredith was trying to attack the cobra with the stave and reach into her jeans pocket for Post-it Notes at the same time. â€Å"I'l get the notes,†Elena gasped, and wriggled her hand into Meredith's pocket. Her fingers closed on a smal sheaf of cards and she tugged it out triumphantly. Just then the first glistening fat maggot fel on her bare skin. She wanted to scream with pain as its little feet or teeth or suckers – whatever kept it attached to her – burned and stung. She pul ed a thin card from the sheaf, which was not a Post-it Note but the same amulet on a smal rather flimsy note card, and slapped it on the maggot-like thing. Nothing happened. Meredith was thrusting the stave into the middle of the cobra now. Elena saw another of the creatures fal almost onto her upturned face and managed to turn away so that it hit her col ar instead. She tried another card from the sheaf and when it just floated away – the maggots looked gooey but weren't – she gave a primal scream and ripped with both hands at the ugly things attached to her. They gave way, leaving her skin covered with red marks and her T-shirt torn at the shoulder. â€Å"The amulets aren't working,†she yel ed to Meredith. Meredith was actual y standing under the swaying, hooded head of the maggot-cobra, stabbing and stabbing as if to reach the center. Her voice was muffled. â€Å"Not enough amulets anyway! Too many of these grubs. You'd better run.† An instant later Stefan shouted, â€Å"Everybody get away from here! There's something solid in there!† â€Å"That's what I'm trying to get!†Meredith shouted back. Frantical y, Matt yel ed, â€Å"Where's Misao?† The last time Elena had seen her she had been diving into the writhing mass of segmented darkness. â€Å"Gone,†she shouted back. â€Å"Where's Mrs. Flowers?† â€Å"In the kitchen,†said a voice behind her. Elena glanced back and saw the old woman pul ing down herbs with both hands. â€Å"Okay,†Stefan shouted. â€Å"Everybody, take a few steps back. I'm going to hit it with Power. Do it – now!† His voice was like a whiplash. Everyone stepped back, even Meredith who had been probing the snake with her stave. Stefan curled his hand around nothingness, around air, and it turned to sparkling, swirling bright energy. He threw it point-blank into the cobra made of maggots. There was an explosion, and then suddenly it was raining maggots. Elena had her teeth locked so as to keep herself from screaming. The oval translucent bodies of the maggots broke open on the kitchen floor like overripe plums, or else bounced. When Elena dared look up again she saw a black stain on the ceiling. Beneath it, smiling, was Shinichi. Meredith, lightning quick, tried to put the stave through him. But Shinichi was faster, leaning out of her way, and out of the next thrust, and the next. â€Å"You humans,†he said. â€Å"Al the same. Al stupid. When Midnight final y comes you'l see how stupid you were.†He said â€Å"Midnight†as if he were saying â€Å"the Apocalypse.† â€Å"We were smart enough to discover that you weren't Stefan,†Matt said from behind Shinichi. Shinichi rol ed his eyes. â€Å"And to put me into a little room roofed with wood. You can't even remember that kitsune control al plants and trees? The wal s are al ful of malach grubs by now, you know. Thoroughly infested.†His eyes flickered – and he glanced backward, Elena saw, looking toward the open door of the root cel ar. Her terror soared, and at the same time Stefan shouted, â€Å"Get out of here! Out of the house! Go to somewhere safe!† Elena and Meredith stared at each other, paralyzed. They were on different teams, but they couldn't seem to let go of each other. Then Meredith snapped out of it and turned to the back of the kitchen to help Mrs. Flowers. Matt was already there, doing the same thing. And then Elena found herself swept off her feet and moving fast. Stefan had her and was running toward the front door. Distantly, she heard Shinichi shout, â€Å"Bring me back their bones!† One of the maggots that Elena batted out of the way burst its skin and Elena saw something crawling out. These real y were malach, she realized. Smal er editions of the one that had swal owed Matt's arm and left those long, deep scratches when he pul ed it out again. She noticed that one was stuck on Stefan's back. Reckless with fury, she grabbed it near one end and ripped it off, yanking relentlessly even though Stefan gasped in pain. When it came free she got a glimpse of what looked like dozens of smal children's teeth on the bottom side. She threw it against a wal as they reached the front door. There they almost col ided with Matt, Meredith, and Mrs. Flowers, coming through the den. Stefan wrenched the door open and when they al were through Meredith slammed it shut. A few malach – grubs and Still-wet flying ones – made it out with them. â€Å"Where's safe?†snapped Meredith. â€Å"I mean, real y safe, safe for a couple of days?†Neither she nor Matt had released their grip on Mrs. Flowers and from their speed Elena guessed that she must be almost as light as a straw figure. She kept saying, â€Å"My goodness! Oh, gracious!† â€Å"My house?†Matt suggested. â€Å"The block's bad, but it was okay the last time I saw it, and my mom's gone with Dr. Alpert.† â€Å"Okay, Matt's house – using the Master Keys. But let's do it from the storage room. I do not want to open this front door again, no matter what,†Elena said. When Stefan tried to pick her up she shook her head. â€Å"I'm fine. Run as fast as you can and smash any malach you see.† They made it to the storage room, but now a sound like vipvipvip – a sort of high-pitched buzzing that could only have been produced by the malach – was fol owing them. â€Å"What now?†Matt panted, helping Mrs. Flowers to sit on the bed. Stefan hesitated. â€Å"Is your house real y safe, do you think?† â€Å"Is anywhere safe? But it's empty, or it should be.† Meanwhile, Meredith drew Elena and Mrs. Flowers aside. To Elena's horror, Meredith was holding one of the smal er grubs, gripping it so that its underside was turned upward. â€Å"Oh, God – â€Å"Elena protested, but Meredith said, â€Å"They look a lot like a little kid's teeth, don't they?† Suddenly Mrs. Flowers became animated. â€Å"They do indeed! And you're saying that the femur we found in the thicket – â€Å" â€Å"Yes. It was certainly human but maybe not chewed by humans. Human children,†Meredith said. â€Å"And Shinichi yel ed to the malach to bring back our bones†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Elena said and swal owed. Then she looked at the grub again. â€Å"Meredith, get rid of that thing somehow! It's going to pop out as a flying malach.† Meredith looked around the storage room blankly. â€Å"Okay – just drop it and I'l step on it,†Elena said, holding her breath to hold in her nausea. Meredith dropped the fat, translucent, black thing, which exploded on impact. Elena stamped on it, but the malach inside didn't crush. Instead, when she lifted her foot, it tried to skitter under the bed. The stave cut it cleanly in two. â€Å"Guys,†Elena said sharply to Matt and Stefan, â€Å"we have to go now. Outside are a bunch of flying malach!† Matt turned toward her. â€Å"Like the one that – â€Å" â€Å"Smal er, but just like the one that attacked you, I think.† â€Å"Okay, here's what we figured out,†Stefan said in a way that immediately made Elena uneasy. â€Å"Somebody has to go to the Dark Dimension anyway to check on Bonnie. I guess I'm the only one to do that, since I'm a vampire. You couldn't get in – â€Å" â€Å"Yes, we could,†Meredith said. â€Å"With these keys, we could just say ‘Take us to Lady Ulma's house in the Dark Dimension.'Or ‘Take me to wherever Bonnie is.'Why shouldn't it work?† Elena said, â€Å"Okay. Meredith, Matt, and Mrs. Flowers can stay here and try to figure out what ‘Midnight'is. From the way Shinichi said it, it sounded bad. Meanwhile, Stefan and I go to the Dark Dimension and find Bonnie.† â€Å"No!†Stefan said. â€Å"I won't take you to that horrible place again.† Elena looked him straight in the eye. â€Å"You promised,†she said, indifferent to the other people in the room. â€Å"You promised. Never to go again on a quest without me. No matter how short the time, no matter what the cause. You promised.† Stefan looked at her desperately. Elena knew he wanted to keep her safe – but which world was truly safe now? Both were fil ed with horror and danger. â€Å"Anyway,†she said with a grim smile, â€Å"I have the key.†

AB Volvo within the last three years (2014, 2013, and 2012) Research Paper

AB Volvo within the last three years (2014, 2013, and 2012) - Research Paper Example †¢ In order to evaluate the potential of investing in a business, the first step is to evaluate the profitability of the business by determine how the business has performed based on its recent history. †¢ The analysis will involve digging into financial reports for AB Volvo within the last three years (2014, 2013, and 2012). The financial factors to consider in the analysis will determine the business’s current net worth, its sales and expense trends and identify the company’s strengths and weaknesses. o The company’s budgets and tax returns since 2012 o An analysis of the company’s balance sheet to determine a list of current assets, liabilities and net worth o An analysis of the current accounts receivables o Analyzing the cash flow projections o Analyzing the profit and loss statements †¢ The analysis will also consider an evaluation of ratios that are key to making investment decisions. The ratios will evaluate the performance activity, liquidity, financing, and activity within AB Volvo: †¢ Performance Activity o Book Value Per Common Share o Cash Return On Assets o Vertical Analysis o Dividend Payout Ratio o Earnings Per Share o Gross Profit Margin

Human Resource in context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Human Resource in context - Essay Example Instead, it should be understood that changes with respect to the way in which businesses integrate with one another and with respect to how they manage the necessary inputs that are required for producing a given good or service have also shifted dramatically. As a function of seeking to apply this to a relevant understanding of human resources, the following analysis will engage in a discussion that is focused on the growth and evolution that human resource management has taken over the past several decades. Ultimately, the following analysis will be split into two main parts. The first part will provide a running commentary in brief history with respect to the growth and development of strategic human resources as compared to traditional human resource management. Likewise, the second section of the analysis will be concentric upon analyzing the following three models: the Bach model, the Ulrich model, and the Guest model. By analyzing and discussing each of these three models of human resource integration, the analysis will seek to provide the reader with a running commentary regarding the proscriptions that these analysts denote as well as potential criticisms that are inherent within their approach. Before delving in to an interpretation of these three theorists that were listed within the introduction, it is necessary to engage with a primary understanding for why a gradual shift between human resource management towards strategic human resource management has been evidenced over the past several decades. As was at alluded to within the introduction, the underlying rationale behind this has to do with the fact that human resources, as a general practice throughout the globe, has slowly shifted from seeking to promote the best interests of the individual employee towards seeking to promote the best interests of the firm and strategic goals that it hopes to accomplish (Ananthram & Nankervis, A 2013). This is not to say that

Primary and Secondary Sources Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Primary and Secondary Sources - Coursework Example It is the strongest source identified. The agreement represented the actual plans and activities of United States government and her allies on the World War II. It is a strong source written by an important agent in the war. Nevertheless, it just provides the final copy of the agreement. The author wrote several articles as the wars progressed. It stated the way the Prime Minister of Britain announced the war against Germany on September 3, at 11: 15 AM. The article is unedited and represents a very strong source. However, the copy obtained was not original and published on eyewitness online source. A very credible source written in 1943 as the war progressed. It covers the Japan plan to evacuate its soldiers from regions occupied. The US, army wrote the report and it may contain elements of bias. Albert wrote the letter to Franklin on the plan to use uranium in the war. The copy of the original letter obtained contained actual communication and it is not biased. Nonetheless, Albert wrote the letter three years before the actual use of the atomic bomb. New Yorker magazine first published the interview with Hallock. He described the use of B-17 planes in the war against Germany. It a very strong source because Hallocck took part in the bombing against Germany as a lieutenant. Nevertheless, the writings were not obtained in the original source. The book critically links the way the World War II generated from the results of World War I. It also covers all the activities carried out by all the continents in the World War II. The coverage of the events of World War II is more comprehensive. The book incorporates the elements of religion during and after the Second World War. It explores the structure of religion during the World War II. Wuthnow also shows the changes that occurred after the war. It incorporates a very important element in the

The influence of Roman law on the US Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The influence of Roman law on the US - Essay Example highest level of diversity such as Louisiana and Ceylon, Quebec and Japan, Ethiopia and South Africa, Turkey and Chile, is based firmly on Roman law. In England and the countries of Anglo-American law in general, even though it does not form the main base, but its influence is quite significant (Hamilton Bryson, 1984). Moreover, Roman law has influenced the development of law in most of Western civilization including USA by dealing with matters of succession (or inheritance), obligations (including contracts), property (including slaves), and persons. Most of the Roman laws have evolved by the rulings of the patrician families, and rulings of magistrates. Later emperors bypassed these forms and issued their own decrees (Jo Ann Shelton, 1988). The interpretations of jurists also came to have the weight of law. Though various attempts were made to gather and simplify existing laws by far the most successful effort was that of Justinian I, whose code superseded all previous laws and formed the Roman Empires legal legacy. Roman legal procedure is the basis for modern procedure in civil-law countries like United States of America (Alan Watson, 1972). After the mid-6th cent., Roman law formed the base of a part of the Germanic laws and was in effect in the Byzantine Empire. Revival of classical studies paved the way for the partial resurrection of Roman law as the modern civil law in a large part of the world. Its effect was also felt in USA which mainly follows common law. For example, the jus gentium is the most widely represented in modern legal systems, for it is the basis of commercial law even in those countries including United States that follow common law. Interestingly, the definition of civil law in USA implies that it has its roots in Roman law. Civil law is defined as the law of ancient Rome as embodied in the Justinian code, especially that which applied to private citizens (John Brierly, 1985). As used within the American legal system, â€Å"civil law†

Corporate Social Responsibility and the US Economy Research Paper

Corporate Social Responsibility and the US Economy - Research Paper Example The moral minimum anticipates being part of the customary business practice and the forces restraints on the high-powered managers of companies (Cornelissen, 2004). The biggest environmental challenge that is facing most industries is development of an account on the environmental responsibilities widely but within the moral minimum to motivate most business compliances. Therefore, this becomes the accepted way of increasing profits in an accepted manner. In US, most companies assimilate corporate social responsibilities as their marketing strategies. In this regard, consumers may decide to purchase the products with reasons that they are supporting the social causes. Due to this, there is heightened financial performance aimed at the corporation through huge consumer profits. In addition, numerous companies have tried to establish social responsible corporate images. Through such techniques, consumers are involved either directly or indirectly in supporting the causes. Furthermore, there exists a superior model for sustaining development, which posits that businesses have the moral responsibilities to ensure that the activities are ecologically sustainable. Through this theory, the moral minimum should include ecologically sustainable perspectives. This seeks to reunite the natural ecological laws and the moral limits placed on the business activities (Adams, 2002). Businesses recycle the resources in appropriate rates and later compensate the ecosystem due to the losses that the productive capacity posses on its activity. Therefore, this knowledge on social environment perspectives is vital in the management of corporations. Case studies The Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company... According to the research findings corporations like the Home Depot and the Minnesota Company has the responsibilities and duties to remain more significant in terms of environmental and social responsibilities in enhancing the financial performance. The company makes huge profits in participating and promoting the conservation of the environment. If all the resources involved in production are used and destroyed then the future success of the company is not feasible. Thus, the two companies promote environment and social responsibilities. They are partaking to better the natural environment through recycling some of the products and conserving the natural environment. These two companies have been prospects in preserving the environment basing on the social perspectives to act as recommendation for all our companies. Therefore, the companies should focus on the ways and methods of improving the manufacturing process to reduce all forms of pollution. Companies should also play activ e roles in the society and further sponsoring the communal projects to better the community. Through this, the companies will thrive both financially and advocate for our social well being in the society. The use of available natural resources in the U.S economy has been set in accordance to the satisfaction of the current living standards. Nevertheless, the environmental impacts on the global business have caused increased surveillance of United State corporations.

Materals Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Materals - Assignment Example Reducing the embodied energy in building materials form an important part of the new construction process. Source: Embodied energy in house construction, Energy Efficiency, 2006 Embodied Energy The Green Book brings out 18 recommendations on methods to reduce carbon emissions. This book forms an effective guideline in the designing of building using low cost materials. Embodied energy is the total energy that is required to construct buildings using materials like cement, aluminium and steel. However, this energy is not just the direct energy used but the total energy that would be required to source the material, transport it and ultimately use it in the construction. (Lucuik Mark, 2007) A few examples to further elaborate this point are as follows. Concrete blocks used in the construction industry involve not just the energy used in manufacturing the block but is the summation of the energy that would be involved in transporting it from the sourced location like China to its destin ation location like Saudi Arabia. It would also involve the additional energy that would be further required to process the bricks at the site to enable it in laying. Therefore any amount of energy that is used in the drilling and excavating machines to the energy that is used to sustain the people engaged in the excavation operations all sum up to form the total embodied energy of the product. ... an average it is said that a distribution warehouse has 60% embodied carbon, a supermarket which is always well lit up and uses lot of external energy during its operational time has an embodied carbon of 20%. A normal house has an embodied content of 30% which is somewhere between a warehouse and supermarket. The RICS further provides a certain degree of lifespan to each kind of building ranging from 20 to 75 years. (Lane Thomas, 2010) Therefore apart from the kind of construction, the total life span of the building structure all go into accounting the embodied carbon efficiency of materials. Measuring the carbon footprint of a building is a twofold process. It involves calculating the energy that is required in constructing the building and also adding the embodied energy of the materials that are replaced over a period of time during the building lifecycle. A number of tools apart from the RICS are available in the market that can predict exactly the embodied energy of the materi als that are used in the design of the building structure. These give an idea about the embodied energy in construction and also the operational energy that would be used in the years to come. The problem however in using the different software’s that are available in the market are that each tool provides a different value of embodied carbon data. Hence the results that are obtained from different tools might differ. The other problem includes some industries like the Steel Industry providing blast furnace slag to the concrete industry. This enables them to claim that embodied energy of steel industry is lesser than concrete industry since they are actually conserving energy by utilising the energy used in the kilns to other industrial areas. However standardization of these embodied

(b) First, rent, view, and enjoy the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding Essay

(b) First, rent, view, and enjoy the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Discuss the idea of two people from different cultura - Essay Example Through her honest representation of myriad issues encountered by immigrants coming to America, she compels the audience to seriously think about the gravity of the situation. The immigrants have to deal with a variety of problems because holding on to their home culture in a foreign land is not an easy task particularly when the children born there show no interest in their parents’ old cultural values and would rather identify with only one culture. In this essay, I will contemplate how Toula along with her love interest Ian Miller attempts to handle many arduous challenges from courtship to marriage and eventually defeats the cultural myths which are famous with her family. Toula’s family, in stark contrast to that of Miller’s, is full of zealous energy and obsessively committed to holding on to their Greek cultural values. The cultural lessons repeatedly told by Toula’s father have a preponderant effect on the entire family given how every little thing is done in accordance with Greek values. It is because of such obsessive commitment with Greek culture and zero tolerance for other cultures that marrying a non-Greek man is totally out of question in Toula’s family. In fact, saying that showing love interest in someone who is not from Greek background makes for a taboo subject would not be an overstatement. It is quite interesting how Toula and Miller are both adults and free to make their decisions as they like, yet Toula is weirdly caught up in the clutches of her culture and remains in acute distress since beginning her relationship with Miller. Though she willingly embarks on a romantic journey with the man she loves, still the deep guilt and remorse she experiences every time she is accompanied by Miller almost as if she is committing a crime compel the audience to think hard about the role played by cultural differences. The struggle to keep one’s culture alive is portrayed as a never-ending battle in the movie , one which has huge repercussions. The effects of this cultural battle are not pleasant of course because unfortunately, Toula has to deal with many challenges in her home after getting caught by her cousin with Miller in his car. Many obstacles are depicted in the movie in the way of the Western romantic ideal which stresses that an adult should have freedom to marry whomever he/she pleases (Haviland 209). Clearly, this ideal is not followed by Toula’s family which has little regard for anything that falls outside the territory of Greek culture. In some cultures as the one shown in the movie, both marriage and starting a family with someone are critically important issues which have to be left in the hands of the parents and not that person who is to be married (Lehman 53). So, finding someone on your own and that also from entirely different cultural background are the kind of things which if on one hand are the source of happiness for her, then on the other hand are also a source of scary grief given the way her father reacts. Though her mother does not get as hysterical as her father after finding out about Toula’s affair with a non-Greek man, yet she does everything in her power to motivate her daughter to abandon her plans of continuing a relationship with Miller for real. The movie is an attempt to highlight exactly such sort of unjustified attitudes and actions which stem from cultural differences and stereotypes, and work to destroy the dreams of people whose only fault is that they believe in the culture of love. It is suggested that such opposition

Tourism in the peak district national park Essay Example for Free

Tourism in the peak district national park Essay Tourism in the peak district national park- case study, MEDC The peak district national park introduction The peak district is in the north of England and is the oldest national park in Britain. The park has two main areas;   The white peak, mostly in the south is a large plateau of carboniferous lime stone To the west and north lie the dark peaks, a highland area which is more than 609m above sea level, covered by a layer of sand stone In 1951, the Peak District National Park became the first National Park in Britain. It covers 1438 square kilometres (555 square miles) of beautiful countryside from high (636m) windblown moorlands in the north to green farmland and tranquil dales in the south. The diversity of habitats and wealth of wildlife they support make the region of international importance What are the attractions of the national park?   Honey- pot sites like certain villages   The scenery is of outstanding beauty   Boating, fishing and water sports   Cycling, riding. Hang gliding and four-wheel motoring   Sense of remoteness, quite enjoyment of nature Unique biodiversity   Distinctive character of buildings and settlements. Historic buildings, gardens and parks   Easy accessibility from surrounding areas, close to major cities   The Peak District is valued for its cultural heritage including stone circles, ancient hill forts, medieval castles, mills, lead mines and miles of drystone walls. Who visits the national park? The Peak District National Park is surrounded by many large cities (see map above) and is easily accessible to the 15. 7 million people that living within 60 miles of the boundary. Most visitors come from Derbyshire (14%), South Yorkshire (13%), Cheshire (12%) and the other Counties that are partly within the National Park.  22million people visit the national park each year and most of these are day tourists.   International   National   Day trippers What is the national parks policy on tourism?   to conserve and enhance their natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage   to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of their special qualities. With regard to tourism and recreation, the Authority has recognised there is a need to:   provide for those seeking quiet enjoyment of the National Park through promoting quiet active recreation, such as walking, cycling etc. Achieve a more even spread of visits over the year the tourism market is very seasonal and many places are overcrowded in the summer and very quiet in winter.   increase the number of staying visitors (who stay one or more nights) as they spend more money and so help support the many small businesses that depend on tourism.   reduce the number of visits made by car in all parts of the National Park, efforts are being made to encourage greater use of public transport with extra bus services and special routes serving popular honeypot areas. Promote understanding of the special qualities of the Peak District to visitors.   maximise local social and economic benefits. The parks sustainable tourism strategy is; 1. to increase visitor spend and maximise the local benefits of that spend 2. to encourage visitors to stay longer 3. to encourage visits throughout the year 4. to attract new visitors (with potential spending power) where appropriate 5. to reduce dependency on the car when visiting the area 6. to deliver for local people and not just visitors 7. to conserve the landscape, including the towns and villages, and their special qualities 8. To enhance visitor enjoyment and understanding of the market towns and rural areas 9. to ensure that the traditional enjoyment of the Peak District will be more accessible to a wider range of people 10. to encourage best use of existing resources Benefits of tourism More tourist related jobs and contribution to the economy   Increased income   Increased local services   Encouragement to preserve historic buildings and sites Continuation of traditional crafts   Tourists come to local charity events and spend money Problems with tourism   Footpath erosion. Many valuable eco-systems like water meadows and moorland areas have been harmed   Archaeological features lost due to changes in farming conditions i. e. farmers introducing drainage systems.   Increased numbers of people arriving by car. 90% of the 20million people living within an hours drive come by car   Road traffic within the park has grown by over 60%   Tourists leaving gates open and farm animals escaping   Higher pollution, congestion and parking difficulties   Tourists less considerate and drop litter Services are put in place for them like cafes and restaurants which ruin the scenery Inconsiderate parking   Local birds living on moorland areas are driven out of their homes   Livestock can be killed by dogs not kept on leads How can tourism be managed? Active recreation;   A cycle hire scheme and special routes along disused railway lines or traffic free roads has been provided at 4 centres (Parsley Hay, Upper Derwent, Ashbourne and Waterhouses) with around 55,000 hirings per year.   There are 55 reservoirs of over 2 hectares in area in the National Park. Fishing is allowed on twelve of these and sailing on five of them. There is a gliding centre at Great Hucklow, and several sites for hang gliding eg. at Mam Tor and Stanage. There are 14 stables with horses for hire in and around the Peak District. Providing accommodation;   65% of visits to the Peak District National Park are day visits, the remainder being visits by people staying on holiday (4. 8 nights on average).   A range of accommodation is provided for staying visitors: camping and caravan sites (114 authorised sites with authorisation for 4,646 caravans and 891 tents), 13 camping barns, 13 Youth Hostels and Bed Breakfast in a large number of private houses, pubs or hotels. The 1998 Visitor Survey showed that staying visitors spend on average i 21-26/day compared with day visitors who spend an average of i 7. 30/day in the Park Traffic control;   The South Pennines Integrated Transport Strategy (SPITS) has been devised by the Peak District National Park Transport Forum to control visitor traffic over the next 20 years.   The Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership aims to encourage the use of buses and trains within this popular valley. Work includes publicity and marketing, enhanced service levels, special events, walks and local arts promotions Footpath management;   The Pennine Way, the most popular long distance path and with the greatest erosion problems, has been paved for most of its length within the Park. This has prevented further erosion and has led to the re-vegetation of previously eroded peat.   Dovedale is a honeypot area where the footpath through the dale can be used by up to 1,000 people an hour. A better path has been constructed to cope with this heavy pressure. A Local Countryside Access Forum has been set up to explore how the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 can be implemented in the Peak District with the potential to open up a further 18000ha of land for public use. Ranger services; The Peak District National Park Authority Ranger Service provides information and advice to visitors and local communities and resolves immediate problems created by visitor pressure. The Rangers carry out practical countryside work and provide rescue services. Conservation Volunteers help with wildlife conservation and practical maintenance.

Saint Juliana of Nicodemia Essay Example for Free

Saint Juliana of Nicodemia Essay The saint I chose for Confirmation is Saint Juliana of Nicomedia. A saint is a person who lived a moral, compassionate, and holy life who can be a role model to Catholics. You are supposed to choose a saint for Confirmation because you need someone to look up to for support. During tough times, you could ask for assistance through your journey of life. Saint Juliana lived in Nicomedia during the rule of Diocletion. This ruler was inflicted much persecution on people of different religions and had ery cruel punishments established. Both of Juliana’s parent were pagans and betrothed her to the senator, Eleusius. Juliana denied strongly for she was a bride of Christ and always worshiped secretly away from her parents and fiance. Her love for Christ persisted and Eleusius at last found out about her secret faith. He constantly asked her to turn away from Christ and accept his proposal, for the government would get to her and kill her. Her parent pleaded but Juliana’s love for Christ persisted. Finally the government got involved and Juliana was tortured endlessly in all sorts of cruel ways. In the end, she got beheaded. Juliana suffered Christian martyrdom and is usually represented with a devil whom she leads by a chain. I chose Saint Juliana because of her relentless mindset. She was never ashamed of her faith. Juliana was taken to her limit in all she did for Christ. She was tortured, killed, and persecuted all for her faith. I ask her to give me courage and strength when people question my faith.

The Brand Of Christian Louboutin Fashion Essay

The Brand Of Christian Louboutin Fashion Essay Christian Louboutin, sounds familiar? Has to be for the top shots of the fashion world, and for the ladies who are in vogue with the latest trends in the fashion world, and of course how can the footwear lovers not be conversant with this world famous brand! When asked whether you have any idea about this brand? or whether you would like to have a pair of Christian Louboutin? the answers by most of the fashion conscious ladies would be a unanimous yes! Founded in 1991, this French based company made it big in the competitive shoe business by taking the customised approach of shoe building. Before starting his own range of products by his own name, he used to work for same renowned designers like Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, but a trivia is associated with his initiative to start this company. It is said that he once saw a notice at a museum saying that high heels were not allowed because they damage the floor, this infuriated him and he decided to take these people to task and started designing high heels, under his own brand name! Page 2 The man behind this world renowned brand, Christian Louboutin himself, was born and brought up in Paris, France. After finishing his academics, he started his career as an apprentice to the noted shoe designer Roger Vivier and as a freelance shoe designer for another celebrated shoemaker Chanel. After gaining considerable knowledge and experience in this line he kicked off with his own line of shoe wears, and opened the first store in paris in 1991. It is believed that being the only brother to three sisters played an influential role in developing his taste for fashion and appreciation for feminism. He was very much fascinated by this glamorous world of fashion and started making sketches at an early age, even neglecting his studies, as a result getting expelled from his school. But he hardly cared, as he knew he was destined to the next big name in the glam world. I didnt care because I felt so different from my peers. He said in an interview to Harpers Bazaar. He learnt a lot from Vivier. He once told Vivier taught me that the most important part of the shoe is the body and the heel. He also drew inspirations from extensive travelling to forbidden countries like Syria and Uzbekistan. Page 3 He famously explained his initiative to start his signature red soles which went on to become iconic in the industry in his application of U.S trademark. He quoted, In 1992 I incorporated the red sole into the design of my shoes. This happened by accident as I felt that the shoes lacked energy so I applied red nail polish to the sole of a shoe. This was such a success that it became a permanent fixture. He justified that he chose red over all the other colours because red is more than a colour. It is a symbol of love, of blood, of passion. One of the most reputed journals on shoe wears Footwear News stated that the brands signature red sole was a subtle status symbol and caught the fascination of many celebrities across the globe, even beating the big luxury brands. Throwing light on his idea of red soles he once said I did not really choose the red sole. Its more like the red sole came to me and had to stay with me. It started as a happy accident, which I kept. I was very inspired b y pop art so all my drawings were really full of colours. Even the leader in dolls Barbie came out with a special Louboutin edition with red heels! Page 4 The Louboutin shoes had a profound influence in the fashion domain. The red soles became such a huge hit that Christian Louboutin went on to the extent of trade marking his red sole heels in the U.S.A. in 2007 so that no other company could make and sell it. Apart from his trademark stilettos and red soles he also let his imagination fly and went on to try new and innovative things like he came up with an entire range with transparent heels in which it seemed that flower petals were floating. The brand is the most fiercely desired shoe wears among the ladies with having a great celebrity clientele. He says that a womans feeling in his shoes fascinates him and gives him a reason to design shoes for them. According to him, woman want to look sexy for other, more than themselves, and this feeling gives them self confidence. Another unique feature of his shoes is that it is entirely hand-made and customised, to the extent that even the trademark is etched without any intervention of mach ines. The impact is very well testified by the fact Jeniffer Lopez released a song called Louboutin. Page 5 The Christian Louboutin shoes have a life changing impact on the lives of the women. They also make some flats apart from their trademark heels. He has very strange ideologies on shoes. He has been many a times criticised for making such high heels which are supposed to be uncomfortable. But he retorts back by saying that he hates this entire concept of comfort. He believes that not wearing heel shoes just because they are not comfortable are like saying that Well, were not really in love, but were in a comfortable relationship. According to him comfort deprives you of many ideas and should be done away with. He puts light on the small intricacies of a womans nature. He says that when a woman tries a shoe and checks it out in mirror, shes not really checking whether the shoe suits her or not, in spite of the fact that she is trying a shoe. According to him When a woman buys a pair of shoes, she never looks at the shoe. She stands up and looks in the mirror, she looks at the breast, t he ass, from the front, from the side, blah blah blah. If she likes herself, then she considers the shoe. Page 6 The large number of fake Louboutin shoes and their replicas bears a testimony to the immense acceptability of the brand, and how desperately ladies want to grab this brand. These shoes make you feel charming and your existence totally vital. It makes you feel one notch above the horde of fashionistas. In fashion industry and in glamorous world these shoes have become a synonym to quality and layout. Starting with a single store in Paris there are more than twenty-five stores as of today, apart from the online stores in the U.K. His first famous client was the Princess of Monaco, who happened to be in the store in the presence of a media journalist, and from that day onwards, there was no looking back. The famous names which grace his clientele list include Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Taylor, Catherine Deneuve Cher, Princess Caroline, New York-based designer Diane von Furstenberg and, Gwyneth Paltrow just to name a few. Among these there were some who wore these shoes on the most important day of their lives, their wedding day!

Rizal the Subversive :: essays research papers fc

Rizal as a Rational Thinker   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During his life, Jose Rizal was described as a heretic and subversive, an enemy of both the Church and Spain. He has made tremendous contributions to the progress of the Filipino society. His political works and essays, being anti-clerical and anti-colonial, frankly aimed to expose the maladies of his time and cure the Philippines of what he calls â€Å"the social cancer†. Rizal had been the progressive radical thinker, and promptly answered the ailing call of his Motherland, who cries for a cure.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rizal had been a subversive in his own time. The Church had him excommunicated, and the Spaniards had him imprisoned, and then executed in Bagumbayan. However, that does not mean that he will always be a subversive, provided that he lives in a time aside from his, as if it really is his own identity, rather than an act or decision based on the call of situations and events. And in the first place, Rizal did not go to Europe just to harbor revolutionary ideas from the people there. He sought knowledge in foreign lands, so that he may use it and the Filipinos may benefit from it. Rizal did not intentionally want to make waves or a revolution, at all situations and regardless of events. And if he really favored revolution, that would be because of necessity. Rizal is a rational thinker, will surely analyze the situations first, and then make decisions based on his analyses, just like what doctors do when treating their patients.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the entire article, one could often read the communistic word, â€Å"struggle†Ã¢â‚¬â€struggle against foreign tyranny, against the ruling class, etc. This was what Jose Ma. Sison was aiming at since the start. He believed that individual freedom can only be achieved through national freedom and that political unity could only be gained by removing all foreign threats to it. Then, he calls for a revolution, a Philippine Revolution, so that all the struggles that the mass is currently facing, according to him, will be finally put to an end.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Perhaps Sison is missing a point in this one simple thing: that this world is not perfect, and in every aspect of the society, there would always be a weakness. It is true that a revolution could end the situation, but how many revolutions? In this state of frailty and weakness, the Philippines could no longer afford another radical revolution.

The Father of Modern-Day Chemistry Essay -- Biography, Lavoisier

Antoine Laurent Lavoisier is considered to be the father of modern-day chemistry (Balchin 36). He had an unbelievable impact on the way the world views chemistry today. From identifying elements to discovering the importance of the role of combustion, he played an essential part in the world’s scientific ideas and inventions. He was so influential that he is said to have an equal if not greater impact in chemistry as Newton did in physics (Tiner 90). He used the initial ideas of Joseph Priestley, Henry Cavendish, and Karl Scheele, and worked to prove them and make them more official (Tiner 90). Because of these accomplishments, he is considered one of France’s and the world’s most outstanding scientists (Tiner 91). Antoine Laurent Lavoisier was one of the world’s most influential scientists and people of all time because he was a leading figure in the 18th century chemical revolution, he developed a theory on the chemical reactivity of oxygen, and he di scovered the Law of Conservation of Mass. Antoine Laurent Lavoisier was born on August 26, 1743 in Paris, France. He was the only child of a wealthy middle-class family (â€Å"Antoine† Britannia). His father was a very successful merchant (Antoine How). From a very young age, he was very studious and extremely interested and concerned with the prosperity and the good of the public (â€Å"Antoine† Britannica). His education consisted of the study of mathematics, the classics, and sciences. He chose to pursue a career in chemistry because of an interest in rocks and other minerals (Balchin 36). Pursuing his gift in education, he went off to college and discovered a passion for law while he was there. After he finished college, he went to law school. He spent much of his time atten... ... he left a huge legacy. Ironically, two years after his death, people were making statues in honor of him. He left the world with all of his knowledge on oxidation, the periodic table, and work in the chemical revolution. In fact, his naming process is still used today, and his name is used in the title of the modern-day chemical naming system (Balchin 36). Lavoisier had a world impact incomparable to most. He explained in great detail the questions of many scientists, and had ideas and theories that were later proved by other scientists. He is credited for being a prominent figure in the chemical revolution, his work with combustion and the discovery of oxygen and its properties, and discovering the Law of Conservation of Mass. Lavoisier is definitely one of the most influential people of all time, as well as an unbelievable chemist and all around person.

Frank and Rita in the First Scene of the Play :: Educating Rita Plays Willy Russell Essays

Frank and Rita in the First Scene of the Play To explore how Russell presents the characters of Frank and Rita during the first scene of the play. Russell’s play has been created to stretch out and grab the audiences attention, feelings and emotions right from the beginning of the play. In my essay I will aim to explore how he establishes the characters roles and how they interact with each other during the first scene of the play. Firstly, with the quote â€Å"he manages a gulp at the whisky.† Russell presents Frank as an alcoholic, this is because he is able to take a gulp of whisky without gasping or coughing so this shows that he is used to taking such large amounts. This may then lead to the audience feeling that Frank maybe an insecure person, as he has to turn to drink for comfort and security. Then when Rita first appears, with the quote â€Å"Its that bleedin’ handle on that door, you wanna get it fixed!† Russell is establishing the character of the play and their attitudes and distinctive personalities. With Rita she is shown as a boisterous person. This is clearly exposed with the words â€Å"Bleed’n†¦You wanna get it fixed† as these words are commanding techniques and it shows to the audience in a short amount of time that Rita is in control. This would shock them as Rita is speaking improperly towards the teacher. Also with â€Å"I think your marvellous†¦you’re the first breath of fresh air that has been in this room for ages.† Russell now presents Frank as a flirtatious person who is attempting to chat up Rita. With the words â€Å"first breath of fresh air† this show s that Frank doesn’t have many young â€Å"fresh† minds in his office to teach. The audience may feel sorry for Frank as he seems to have a lonely life in his darkened office and also how he seems to have given up on life. Following on from this with the quote â€Å"look at those tits.† Russell uses the word â€Å"tits† to show to emphasise even more to the audience that Rita is different to the other students. She is an open minded and loud person who unintentionally makes herself out to be a person who is not afraid to say what she believes. So as a consequence the audience may be startled as Rita is not acting in the normal pupil to teacher register. Also they may feel that Rita is a loud person who is trying to cover up for being nervous one. To add to this, â€Å"Wait a minute listen to me†¦you’re gonna bleedin’ well

Brand Analysis †Louis Vuitton Essay

User Image Consumers are stylish, fashionable, aware of designer’s brands and look for quality and after sales services. Most of the users are mature (25+), female, working population with stable financial background. There is an increasing number of young LV users, who are fashionable trend-followers. LV users are usually less price-concerned. LV products are frequently used by the rich and famous, celebrities, models all over the world. Occasion Image LV produces series of leather goods for the business world, including briefcases, organizers, palm-cases†¦ all could be easily found in business meetings and offices. LV luggage could be found in Airport all over the world. Personal accessories like handbags, wallets, shoes, and clothing by LV are used by the celebrities in fashion shows, PR events, social gatherings†¦. Distinctive from Competitors The Competition In the challenging luxury market, LV faces quite a number of competitors. Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, Ferragamo and Prada are main competitors of LV. Just like LV, all of these international brands have their outlets around the world. Positioning We are living in an age of access to an incredible amount of product, consumers are no longer brand loyal to companies, and they want to know how the product will benefit them. To satisfy the potential customers, LV is promoting its image that provides consumers with added benefits on top of the practical use of its products. A person purchase a piece of the Louis Vuitton luggage, he is not only purchasing a piece of luggage, but prestige and style. Consumers buy LV luggage not just because they need luggage, but they want people to think that they are wealthy and stylish because this is the perception that Louis Vuitton sells with its luggage. It works because LV advertises its luggage as an exclusive line, not everyone can have it. To stand out from its competitors, LV positions itself as the leader for luxurious luggage. This could be seen in the advertising in magazines LV uses to communicate with their customers. And in the LV web page, a â€Å"Guide for the cosmopolitan traveler† is included, offering useful information to help prepare for international trips. Travelers can check out time differences, currency conversion tables, clothes sizes and measurement conversion charts, as well as useful addresses in the world’s major cities. Authenticity LV’s strength is the worldwide known good service to customer, its good quality for value and new designs. LV’s products safety exceed the requirements globally. Replicability A lot of the LV products are illegally replicated, but due to the unique canvas used for production; none of the fakes could achieve the quality and standard of the originals. Reassurance After using LV products, consumers are reassured of the good quality and value-for-money as promised by the advertising and promotions. Experience & Differentiation Consumers use and experience LV products, feel the difference between LV and other brands, lead to the differentiation of LV from the competitors. Consumer To the Louis Vuitton consumers, a LV handbag isn’t just a handbag, it’s a Louis Vuitton. Consumers will generally pay more for the LV name brand because it signifies some extra quality besides a handbag. LV products are appealed to people who would like themselves to be stylish,  and want others to think that they are fashionable, they want to differentiate their tastes from others and try to do so by purchasing LV products. Consumers were not looking so much to buy the non-brand products as everyone else. Instead, they looked to brands to help make a clear statement about their own identities. Consumers buy LV products are not just looking for quality and after sales services, they want people to think that they are wealthy because they can afford a pair of luxurious Louis Vuitton shoes. Suggestions More Distinctive from the Competition Louis Vuitton was very successful with consumers. It benefited from strong local in Japan, Europe and the US. This continued demand is due to the new products created by designer Marc Jacobs and the sustained quality of all Louis Vuitton products. To be more distinctive from the competition, Louis Vuitton may consider concentrating its business model to production of leather goods only. As most of the competitors are doing many business other than only leather goods. If LV could concentrate on leather goods production alone, it could become not just the leader, but the specialist of producing different leather goods. More Appealing to Consumers Branding and Lifestyle advertising is becoming increasingly popular because advertisers are trying to revive the idea of brand loyalty. To make LV more appealing to the consumers, here is also the idea: to make some products of the brand available only in small quantities, by limiting its production of certain products from time to time, or producing special edition of the same handbag in different markets, LV products could become  even more premium. This can satisfy the consumers who want to differentiate themselves from other LV users. LV could even create a trend for collection of limited edition LV products by the consumers.

Opponents of Globalization Essay

Globalization is a dream that any idealist would want but developing countries have been paying the price for capitalism. International trade may be reaping profits for rich countries but it also destroys cultural identity and further impoverishes Third World countries. It is inevitable that globalization would homogenize people. To be able to market their goods, multi-national corporations need to create â€Å"the same values, the same tastes and use the same advertising† (Turning Point Project, 2002, para. 3). Participating in global markets also requires adapting to the language of the key players. A factual example is when â€Å"an advisory commission to the late Japanese Prime Minister Obuchi suggested that English be adopted as the second official language of Japan† (Kawai, 2003, para. 1). Altering the language of a people can directly make a nation lose its identity. These efforts drown local tastes from which domestic industries rely on therefore causing the collapse of national businesses which can cause further poverty. To be able to play in the international arena, developing countries rely on loans from global financial entities to sustain productivity. â€Å"Third World countries mortgage their future by selling off irreplaceable capital-their natural resources (Suzuki, 2003, p. 96). In fact, Brazil has chosen to allow the destruction of the Amazon forests to pay off their loans. Perseverance to pay the debts also pushes these poor countries to grow a certain crop as compared to their natural tendency to plant the different basic food to meet the needs of their population. The shift of land away from local food crops decreases the supply and increases the price, thus further impoverishing the people (Gore, 2006, p. 54) . These debts are therefore purpose-defying. The world is beautiful because of cultural diversity and each nation needs to protects its natural resources. Globalization poses a threat to the impoverished and should be controlled before it further destroys lives.

Practical Demonkeeping Chapter 8-9

8 ROBERT Robert loaded the last of the laundry baskets full of dishes into the bed of the pickup. The sight of a truckload of clean dishes did not raise his spirits nearly as much as he thought it would. He was still depressed. He was still heartbroken. And he was still hung over. For a moment he thought that washing the dishes might have been a mistake. Having created a single bright spot, no matter how small, seemed to make the rest of his life look even more dismal by contrast. Maybe he should have just gone with the downward flow, like the pilot who pushes down the stick to pull out of an uncontrolled spin. Secretly, Robert believed that if things got so bad that he couldn't see his way out, something would come along and not only save him from disaster but improve his life overall. It was a skewed brand of faith that he had developed through years of watching television – where no problem was so great that it could not be surmounted by the last commercial break – and through two events in his own life. As a boy in Ohio he had taken his first summer job at the local county fair, picking up trash on the midways. The job had been great fun for the first two weeks. He and the other boys on the cleanup crew spent their days wandering the midways using long sticks, with nails extending from one end, to spear paper cups and hot dog wrappers as if they were hunting lions on the Serengeti. They were paid in cash at the end of each day. The next day they spent their pay on games of chance and repeated rides on the Zipper, which was the beginning of Robert's lifelong habit of exchanging money for dizziness and nausea. The day after the fair ended, Robert and the boys were told to report to the livestock area of the fairgrounds. They arrived before dawn, wondering what they would do now that the colorful carny trailers and rides were gone and the midways were as barren as airport runways. The man from the county met them outside the big exhibition barns with a dump truck, a pile of pitchforks, and some wheelbarrows. â€Å"Clean out those pens, boys. Load the manure on the truck,† he had said. Then he went away, leaving the boys unsupervised. Robert had loaded only three forkfuls when he and the boys ran out of the barn gasping for breath, the odor of ammonia burning in their noses and lungs. Again and again they tried to clean the stables only to be overcome by the stench. As they stood outside the barn, swearing and complaining, Robert noticed something sticking up out of the morning fog on the adjacent show ground. It looked like the head of a dragon. It was beginning to get light, and the boys could hear banging and clanging and strange animal noises coming from the show ground. They stared into the fog, trying to make out the shapes moving there, glad for the distraction from their miserable task. When the sun broke over the trees to the east of the fairgrounds, a scraggly man in blue work clothes walked out of the mist toward the barn. â€Å"Hey, you kids,† he shouted, and they all prepared to be admonished for standing around instead of working. â€Å"You want to work for the circus?† The boys dropped their pitchforks as if they were red-hot rods of steel and ran to the man. The dragon had been a camel. The strange noises were the trumpeting of elephants. Under the mist a crew of men were unrolling the big top of the Clyde Beatty Circus. Robert and the boys worked all morning beside the circus people, lacing together the bright-yellow canvas panels of the tent and fitting together giant sections of aluminum poles that would support the big top. It was hot, sweaty, heavy work, and it was wonderful and exciting. When the poles lay out across the canvas, cables were hitched to a team of elephants and the poles were hoisted skyward. Robert thought his heart would burst with excitement. The canvas was connected by cables to a winch. The boys watched in awe as the big top rose up the poles like a great yellow dream. It was only one day. But it was glorious, and Robert thought of it often – of the roustabouts who sipped from their hip flasks and called each other by the names of their home states or towns. â€Å"Kansas, bring that strut over here. New York, we need a sledge over here.† Robert thought of the thick-thighed women who walked the wire and flew on the trapeze. Their heavy makeup was grotesque up close but beautiful at a distance when they were flying through the air above the crowd. That day was an adventure and a dream. It was one of the finest in Robert's life. But what had impressed him was that it had come right when things seemed the most bleak, when everything had gone, literally, to shit. The next time Robert's life took a nosedive he was in Santa Barbara, and his salvation arrived in the form of a woman. He had come to California with everything he owned packed into a Volkswagen Beetle, determined to pursue a dream that he thought would begin at the California border with music by the Beach Boys and a long, white beach full of shapely blondes dying for the company of a young photographer from Ohio. What he found was alienation and poverty. Robert had chosen the prestigious photography school in Santa Barbara because it was reputed to be the best. As photographer for the high school yearbook he had gained a reputation as one of the best photographers in town, but in Santa Barbara he was just another teenager among hundreds of students who were, if anything, more skilled than he. He took a job in a grocery store, stocking shelves from midnight to eight in the morning. He had to work full-time to pay his exorbitant tuition and rent, and soon he fell behind in his assignments. After two months he had to leave school to avoid flunking out. He found himself in a strange town with no friends and barely enough money to survive. He started drinking beer every morning with the night crew in the parking lot. He drove home in a stupor and slept through the day until his next shift. With the added expense of alcohol, Robert had to hock his cameras to pay rent, and with them went his last hope for a future beyond stocking shelves. One morning after his shift the manager called him into the office. â€Å"Do you know anything about this?† The manager pointed to four jars of peanut butter that lay open on his desk. â€Å"These were returned by customers yesterday.† On the smooth surface of the peanut butter in each jar was etched, â€Å"Help, I'm trapped in Supermarket Hell!† Robert stocked the glass aisle. There was no denying it. He had written the messages one night during his shift after drinking several bottles of cough medicine he had stolen from the shelves. â€Å"Pick up your check on Friday,† the manager said. He shuffled away, broke, unemployed, two thousand miles from home, a failure at nineteen. As he left the store, one of the cashiers, a pretty redhead about his age, who was coming in to open the store, stopped him. â€Å"Your name is Robert, isn't it?† â€Å"Yes,† he said. â€Å"You're the photographer, aren't you?† â€Å"I was.† Robert was in no mood to chat. â€Å"Well, I hope you don't mind,† she said, â€Å"but I saw your portfolio sitting in the break room one morning and I looked at it. You're very good.† â€Å"I don't do it anymore.† â€Å"Oh, that's too bad. I have a friend who's getting married on Saturday, and she needs a photographer.† â€Å"Look,† Robert said, â€Å"I appreciate the thought, but I just got fired and I'm going home to get hammered. Besides, I hocked my cameras.† The girl smiled, she had incredible blue eyes. â€Å"You were wasting your talent here. How much would it cost to get your cameras out of hock?† Her name was Jennifer. She paid to get his cameras out of hock and showered him with praise and encouragement. Robert began to make money picking up weddings and Bar Mitzvahs, but it wasn't enough to make rent. There were too many good photographers competing in Santa Barbara. He moved into her tiny studio apartment. After a few months of living together they were married and they moved north to Pine Cove, where Robert would find less competition for photography jobs. Once again, Robert had sunk to a lifetime low, and once again Dame Fate had provided him with a miraculous rescue. The sharp edges of Robert's world were rounded by Jennifer's love and dedication. Life had been good, until now. Robert's world was dropping out from under him like a trapdoor and he found himself in a disoriented free-fall. Trying to control things by design would only delay his inevitable rescue. The sooner he hit bottom, he reasoned, the sooner his life would improve. Each time this had happened before, things had gotten a little worse only to get a little better. One day the good times had to keep on rolling, and all of life's horseshit would turn to circuses. Robert had faith that it would happen. But to rise from the ashes you had to crash and burn first. With that in mind, he took his last ten dollars and headed down the street to the Head of the Slug Saloon. 9 THE HEAD OF THE SLUG Mavis Sand, the owner of the Head of the Slug Saloon, had lived so long with the Specter of Death hanging over her shoulders that she had started to think of him as one might regard a comfortable old sweater. She had made her peace with Death a long time ago, and Death, in return, had agreed to whittle away at Mavis rather than take her all at once. In her seventy years, Death had taken her right lung, her gall bladder, her appendix, and the lenses of both eyes, complete with cataracts. Death had her aortic heart valve, and Mavis had in its place a steel and plastic gizmo that opened and closed like the automatic doors at the Thrifty Mart. Death had most of Mavis's hair, and Mavis had a polyester wig that irritated her scalp. She had also lost most of her hearing, all of her teeth, and her complete collection of Liberty dimes. (Although she suspected a ne'er-do-well nephew rather than Death in the disappearance of the dimes.) Thirty years ago she had lost her uterus, but that was at a time when doctors were yanking them so frequently that it seemed as if they were competing for a prize, so she didn't blame Death for that. With the loss of her uterus Mavis grew a mustache that she shaved every morning before leaving to open the saloon. At the Slug she ambled around behind the bar on a pair of stainless steel ball and sockets, as Death had taken her hips, but not before she had offered them up to a legion of cowboys and construction workers. Over the years Death had taken so much of Mavis that when her time finally came to pass into the next world, she felt it would be like slipping slowly into a steaming-hot bath. She was afraid of nothing. When Robert walked into the Head of the Slug, Mavis was perched on her stool behind the bar smoking a Taryton extra-long, lording over the saloon like the quintessential queen of the lipstick lizards. After each few drags on her cigarette she applied a thick paste of fire-engine-red lipstick, actually getting a large percentage of it where it was supposed to go. Each time she butted a Taryton she sprayed her abysmal cleavage and behind her ears with a shot of Midnight Seduction from an atomizer she kept by her ashtray. On occasion, when she had rendered herself wobbly by too many shots of Bushmill's, she would shoot perfume directly into one of her hearing aids, causing a short circuit and making the act of ordering drinks a screaming ordeal. To avoid the problem, someone had once given her a pair of earrings fashioned from cardboard air fresheners shaped like Christmas trees, guaranteed to give Mavis that new car smell. But Mavis insisted that it was Midnight Seduction or nothing, s o the earrings hung on the wall in a place of honor next to the plaque listing the winners of the annual Head of the Slug eight-ball tournament and chili cook-off, known locally as â€Å"The Slugfest.† Robert stood by the bar trying to get his eyes to adjust to the smoky darkness of the Slug. â€Å"What can I get for you, sweet cheeks?† Mavis asked, batting her false eyelashes behind pop-bottle-thick, rhinestone-rimmed glasses. They put Robert in mind of spiders trying to escape a jar. He fingered the ten-dollar bill in his pocket and climbed onto the bar stool. â€Å"A draft, please.† â€Å"Hair of the dog?† â€Å"Does it show?† Robert asked in earnest. â€Å"Not much. I was just going to ask you to close your eyes before you bled to death.† Mavis giggled like a coquettish gargoyle, then burst into a coughing fit. She drew a mug of beer and set it in front of Robert, taking his ten and replacing it with nine ones. Robert took a long pull from the beer as he turned on the stool and looked around the bar. Mavis kept the bar dimly lit except for the lights over the pool tables, and Robert's eyes were still adjusting to the darkness. It occurred to him that he had never seen the floor of the saloon, which stuck to his shoes when he walked. Except for the occasional crunch underfoot identifying a piece of popcorn or a peanut shell, the floor of The Slug was a murky mystery. Whatever was down there should be left alone to evolve, white and eyeless, in peace. He promised himself to make it to the door before he passed out. He squinted into the lights over the pool tables. There was a heated eight-ball match going on at the back table. A half dozen locals had gathered at the end of the bar to watch. Society called them the hard-core unemployed; Mavis called them the daytime regulars. On the table Slick McCall was playing a dark young man Robert did not recognize. The man seemed familiar, though, and for some reason, Robert found that he did not like him. â€Å"Who's the stranger?† Robert asked Mavis over his shoulder. Something about the young man's aquiline good looks repelled Robert, like biting down on tin foil with a filling. â€Å"New meat for Slick,† Mavis said. â€Å"Came in about fifteen minutes ago and wanted to play for money. Shoots a pretty lame stick, if you ask me. Slick is keeping his cue behind the bar until the money gets big enough.† Robert watched the wiry Slick McCall move around the table, stopping to drill a solid ball into the side pocket with a bar cue. Slick left himself without a following shot. He stood and ran his fingers over his greased-back brown hair. He said, â€Å"Shit. Snookered myself.† Slick was on the hustle. The phone rang and Mavis picked it up. â€Å"Den of iniquity. Den mother speaking. No, he ain't here. Just a minute.† She covered the mouthpiece and turned to Robert. â€Å"You seen The Breeze?† â€Å"Who's calling?† Into the phone, â€Å"Who's calling?† Mavis listened for a moment, then covered the mouthpiece again. â€Å"It's his landlord.† â€Å"He's out of town,† Robert said. â€Å"He'll be back soon.† Mavis conveyed the message and hung up. The phone rang again immediately. Mavis answered, â€Å"Garden of Eden. Snake speaking.† There was a pause. â€Å"What am I, his answering service?† Pause. â€Å"He's out of town; he'll be back soon. Why don't you guys take a social risk and call him at home?† Pause. â€Å"Yeah, he's here.† Mavis shot a glance at Robert. â€Å"You want to talk to him? Okay.† She hung up. â€Å"That for The Breeze?† Robert asked. Mavis lit a Taryton. â€Å"He got popular all of a sudden?† â€Å"Who was it?† â€Å"Didn't ask. Sounded Mexican. Asked about you.† â€Å"Shit,† Robert said. Mavis set him up with another draft. He turned to watch the game. The stranger had won. He was collecting five dollars from Slick. â€Å"Guess you showed me, pard,† Slick said. â€Å"You gonna give a chance to win my money back?† â€Å"Double or nothing,† the stranger said. â€Å"Fine. I'll rack 'em.† Slick pushed the quarters into the coin slot on the side of the pool table. The balls dropped into the gutter and Slick began racking them. Slick was wearing a red-and-blue polka-dotted polyester shirt with long, pointed collars that had been fashionable around the time that disco died – about the same time that Slick had stopped brushing his teeth, Robert guessed. Slick wore a perpetual brown and broken grin, a grin that was burned into the memories of countless tourists who had strayed into the Slug to be fleeced at the end of Slick's intrepid cue. The stranger reared back and broke. His stick made the sickly vibrato sound of a miscue. The cue ball rocketed down the table, barely grazing the rack, then bounced off two corner rails and made a beeline toward the corner pocket where the stranger stood. â€Å"Sorry, brother,† Slick said, chalking his cue and preparing to shoot the scratch. When it reached the corner pocket, the cue ball stopped dead on the lip. Almost as an afterthought, one of the solid balls moved out of the pack and fell into the opposite corner with a plop. â€Å"Damn,† Slick said. â€Å"That was some pretty fancy English. I thought you'd scratched for sure.† â€Å"Was that a solid?† the stranger asked. Mavis leaned over the bar and whispered to Robert. â€Å"Did you see that ball stop? It should have been a scratch.† â€Å"Maybe there's a piece of chalk on the table that stopped it,† Robert speculated. The stranger made two more balls in an unremarkable fashion, then called a straight-in shot on the three ball. When he shot, the cue ball curved off his stick, describing a C-shaped curve, and sunk the six ball in the opposite corner. â€Å"I said the three ball!† the stranger shouted. â€Å"I know you did,† Slick said. â€Å"Looks like you were a little heavy on the English. My shot.† The stranger seemed to be angry at someone, but it wasn't Slick. â€Å"How can you confuse the six with the three, you idiot?† â€Å"You got me,† said Slick. â€Å"Don't be so hard on yourself, pard. You're up one game already.† Slick ran four balls, then missed a shot that was so obvious it made Robert wince. Slick's hustles were usually more subtle. â€Å"Five in the side!† the stranger shouted. â€Å"Got that? Five!† â€Å"I got it,† Slick said. â€Å"And all these folks got it along with half the people out in the street. You don't need to yell, pard. This is just a friendly game.† The stranger bent over the table and shot. The five ball careened off the cue ball, headed for the rail, then changed its path and curved into the side pocket. Robert was amazed, as were all the observers. It was an impossible shot, yet they all had seen it. â€Å"Damn,† Slick said to no one in particular, then to Mavis, â€Å"Mavis, when was the last time you leveled this table?† â€Å"Yesterday, Slick.† â€Å"Well, it sure as shit went catywumpus fast. Give me my cue, Mavis.† Mavis waddled to the end of the bar and pulled out a three-foot-long black leather case. She handled it carefully and presented it to Slick with reverence, a decrepit Lady of the Lake presenting a hardwood Excaliber to the rightful king. Slick flipped the case open and screwed the cue together, never taking his eyes off the stranger. At the sight of the cue the stranger smiled. Slick smiled back. The game was defined. Two hustlers recognized each other. A tacit agreement passed between them: Let's cut the bullshit and play. Robert had become so engrossed in watching the tension between the two men and trying to figure out why the stranger angered him so, that he failed to notice that someone had slipped onto the stool next to him. Then she spoke. â€Å"How are you, Robert?† Her voice was deep and throaty. She placed her hand on his arm and gave it a sympathetic squeeze. Robert turned and was taken aback by her appearance. She always affected him that way. She affected most men that way. She was wearing a black body stocking, belted at the waist with wide leather in which she had tucked a multitude of chiffon scarves that danced around her hips when she walked like diaphanous ghosts of Salome. Her wrists were adorned with layers of silver bangles; her nails were sculptured long and lacquered black. Her eyes were wide and green, set far apart over a small, straight nose and full lips, glossed blood red. Her hair hung to her waist, blue-black. An inverted silver pentagram dangled between her breasts on a silver chain. â€Å"I'm miserable,† Robert said. â€Å"Thanks for asking, Ms. Henderson.† â€Å"My friends call me Rachel.† â€Å"Okay. I'm miserable, Ms. Henderson.† Rachel was thirty-five but she could have passed for twenty if it weren't for the arrogant sensuality with which she moved and the mocking smile in her eyes that evinced experience, confidence, and guile beyond any twenty-year-old. Her body did not betray her age; it was her manner. She went through men like water. Robert had known her for years, but her presence never failed to awaken in him a feeling that his marital fidelity was nothing more than an absurd notion. In retrospect, perhaps it was. Still, she made him feel uneasy. â€Å"I'm not your enemy, Robert. No matter what you think. Jenny has been thinking about leaving you for a long time. We didn't have anything to do with it.† â€Å"How are things with the coven?† Robert asked sarcastically. â€Å"It's not a coven. The Pagan Vegetarians for Peace are dedicated to Earth consciousness, both spiritual and physical.† Robert drained his fifth beer and slammed the mug down on the bar. â€Å"The Pagan Vegetarians for Peace are a group of bitter, ball-biting, man haters, dedicated to breaking up marriages and turning men into toads.† â€Å"That's not true and you know it.† â€Å"What I know,† Robert said, â€Å"is that within a year of joining, every woman in your coven has divorced her husband. I was against Jenny getting into this mumbo jumbo from the beginning. I told her you would brainwash her and you have.† Rachel reared back on the bar stool like a hissing cat. â€Å"You believe what you want to believe, Robert. I show women the Goddess within. I put them in touch with their own personal power; what they do with it is their own business. We aren't against men. Men just can't stand to see a woman discover herself. Maybe if you'd exalted Jenny's growth instead of criticizing, she'd still be around.† Robert turned away from her and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror behind the bar. He was overcome by a wave of self-loathing. She was right. He covered his face with his hands and leaned forward on the bar. â€Å"Look, I didn't come here to fight with you,† Rachel said. â€Å"I saw your truck outside and I thought you might be able to use a little money. I have some work for you. It might take your mind off the hurt.† â€Å"What?† Robert said through his hands. â€Å"We're sponsoring the annual tofu sculpture contest at the park this year. We need someone to take pictures for the poster and the press package. I know you're broke, Robert.† â€Å"No,† he said, without looking up. â€Å"Fine. Suit yourself.† Rachel slid off the stood and started to leave. Mavis sat another beer in front of Robert and counted his money on the bar. â€Å"Very smooth,† she said. â€Å"You've got four bucks left to your name.† Robert looked up. Rachel was almost to the door. â€Å"Rachel!† She turned and waited, an elegant hand on an exquisite hip. â€Å"I'm staying at The Breeze's trailer.† He told her the phone number. â€Å"Call me, okay?† Rachel smiled. â€Å"Okay, Robert, I'll call.† She turned to walk out. Robert called out to her again. â€Å"You haven't seen The Breeze, have you?† Rachel grimaced. â€Å"Robert, just being in the same room with The Breeze makes me want to take a bath in bleach.† â€Å"Come on, he's a fun guy.† â€Å"He's a fun-gus,† Rachel said. â€Å"But have you seen him?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Thanks,† he said. â€Å"Call me.† â€Å"I will.† She turned and walked out. When she opened the door, light spilling in blinded Robert. When his vision returned, a little man in a red stocking cap was sitting next to him. He hadn't seen him come in. To Mavis the little man said, â€Å"Could I trouble you for a small quantity of salt?† â€Å"How about a margarita with extra salt, handsome?† Mavis batted her spider-lashes. â€Å"Yes, that will be good. Thank you.† Robert looked the little man over for a moment, then turned away to watch the pool game while he contemplated his destiny. Maybe this job for Rachel was his way out. Strange, though, things didn't seem to be bad enough yet. And the idea that Rachel could be his fairy godmother in disguise made him smile. No, the downward spiral to salvation was going quite nicely. The Breeze was missing. The rent was due. He had made enemies with a crazed Mexican drug dealer, and it was driving him nuts trying to figure out where he had seen the stranger at the pool table. The game was still going strong. Slick was running the balls with machinelike precision. When he did miss, the stranger cleared the table with a series of impossible, erratic, curving shots, while the crowd watched with their jaws hanging, and Slick broke into a nervous sweat. Slick McCall had been the undisputed king of eight ball at the Head of the Slug Saloon since before it had been called the Head of the Slug. The bar had been the Head of the Wolf for fifty years, until Mavis grew tired of the protests of drunken environmentalists, who insisted that timber wolves were an endangered species and that the saloon was somehow sanctioning their killing. One day she had taken the stuffed wolf head that hung over the bar to the Salvation Army and had a local artist render a giant slug head in fiberglass to replace it. Then she changed the sign and waited for some half-wit from the Save the Slugs Society to show up and protest. It never happened. In business, as in politics, the public is ever so tolerant of those who slime. Years ago, Slick and Mavis had come to a mutually beneficial business agreement. Mavis allowed Slick to make his living on her pool table, and in return, Slick agreed to pay her twenty percent of his winnings and to excuse himself from the Slug's annual eight-ball tournament. Robert had been coming into the Slug for seven years and in that time he had never seen Slick rattled over a pool game. Slick was rattled now. Occasionally some tourist who had won the Sheep's Penis Kansas Nine-Ball tournament would come into the Slug puffed up like the omnipotent god of the green felt, and Slick would return him to Earth, deflating his ego with gentle pokes from his custom-made, ivory-inlaid cue. But those fellows played within the known laws of physics. The dark stranger played as if Newton had been dropped on his head at birth. To his credit, Slick played his usual methodical game, but Robert could tell that he was afraid. When the stranger sank the eight ball in a hundred-dollar game, Slick's fear turned to anger and he threw his custom cue across the room like a crazed Zulu. â€Å"Goddammit, boy, I don't know how you're doing it, but no one can shoot like that.† Slick was screaming into the stranger's face, his fists were balled at his sides. â€Å"Back off,† the stranger said. All the boyishness drained from his face. He could have been a thousand years old, carved in stone. His eyes were locked on Slick's. â€Å"The game is over.† He might have been stating that â€Å"water is wet.† It was truth. It was deadly serious. Slick reached into the pocket of his jeans, fished out a handful of crumpled twenties, and threw them on the table. The stranger picked up the bills and walked out. Slick retrieved his stick and began taking it apart. The daytime regulars remained silent, allowing Slick to gather his dignity. â€Å"That was like a fucking bad dream,† he said to the onlookers. The comment hit Robert like a sock full of birdshot. He suddenly remembered where he had seen the stranger. The dream of the desert came back to him with crippling clarity. He turned back to his beer, stunned. â€Å"You want a margarita?† Mavis asked him. She was holding a baseball bat she had pulled from under the bar when things had heated up at the pool table. Robert looked to the stool next to him. The little man was gone. â€Å"He saw that guy make one shot and ran out of here like his ass was on fire,† Mavis said. Robert picked up the margarita and downed its frozen contents in one gulp, giving himself an instant headache. Outside on the street Travis and Catch headed toward the service station. â€Å"Well, maybe you should learn to shoot pool if you're going to get money this way.† â€Å"Maybe you could pay attention when I call a shot.† â€Å"I didn't hear you. I don't understand why we just don't steal our money.† â€Å"I don't like to steal.† â€Å"You stole from the pimp in L.A.† â€Å"That was okay.† â€Å"What's the difference?† â€Å"Stealing is immoral.† â€Å"And cheating at pool isn't?† â€Å"I didn't cheat. I just had an unfair advantage. He had a custom-made pool cue. I had you to push the balls in.† â€Å"I don't understand morality.† â€Å"That's not surprising.† â€Å"I don't think you understand it either.† â€Å"We have to pick up the car.† â€Å"Where are we going?† â€Å"To see an old friend.† â€Å"You say that everywhere we go.† â€Å"This is the last one.† â€Å"Sure.† â€Å"Be quiet. People are looking.† â€Å"You're trying to be tricky. What's morality?† â€Å"It's the difference between what is right and what you can rationalize.† â€Å"Must be a human thing.† â€Å"Exactly.†