Best source of funding for research organization Essay

There are a number of ways of funding research programs to help medical clinics; we may have an aspect where the government lends a hand or seeking the indulgence of the pharmaceutical companies. (NCSL, 2014) The above stated are two of those ways. Acceptance of offers to carry out research depends on the wishes of beneficiaries; they get to choose whom they perceive to be their best options. (U.S. Congress, 2006) Grants by the federal government may be defined as the assistance in monetary terms offered by the American government. (NIST, 2014)The government assistance has to conform to the laws and regulations set about by the federal agencies. (USA Government, n.d.)Grants offered by the pharmaceutical companies; to conduct clinical research is one of the common ways of sourcing for money to carry out research activities for clinics. (Canadian Business Network, n.d) Pharmaceutical companies are private entities which may not be put under tight regulations as compared to public insti tutions. (Federal Grants, n.d)The financing pharmaceutical company may fund a research project they deem to be in line with what they find necessary for them. (D.o.J., 1998) Advantages of using government grants to fund research projects Government or federal grants are a good way of sourcing for funds; even though the central government may impose very strict measures to go about using the cash. (Cornell University, n.d.) Once a government agency has given the nod for one to conduct the research alongside the funds allocation; a research organization is left to conduct its affairs in the required time they find ample. (UCONN, n.d.) Pharmaceutical companies may impose timelines so that they launch their products for commercial gains. (The Arc, n.d.)Pharmaceutical companies may continue funding a project based on interests to be fulfilled; some may be under pressure to churn out products that cause a buzz within markets. (Grant Space, n.d.)Another risk involved with pharmaceuticals funding projects would be purely to spite their competitors and caress enormous egos of company executives and owners. (TGCI, n.d.) Government does not engage in competition; but their mandate is to look out for the welfare of their citizen s. (The White House, n.d.)It’s with the above stated reasons that governmental funding looks more appealing as compared to funding from private entities. (Homeland Security, n.d.)There would not be conflicts or interests as well as undue pressure. (FELDESMAN+TUCKER+LEIFER+FIDELL, n.d.) References NCSL. (2014). NCSL. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/american-health-benefit-exchanges.aspxU.S. Congress. (2006, October). Research and Development in the Pharmaceutical Industry. Retrieved from https://cbo.gov/sites/†¦/10-02-drugr-d.pdfCanadian Business Network. (n.d.). Canadian Business Network. Retrieved from http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/page/2740/National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), United States Department of Commerce (DoC). (2014, February 25). ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (FFO) Measurement Science and Engineering (MSE) Research Grant Programs. Retrieved from www.nist.gov/†¦/grants/USA Government. (n.d.). Benefits, Grants, and Loans. Retrieved from http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Benefits.shtmlFederal Grants. (n.d.). Federal Grants. Retrieved from http://www.federalgrants.com/D.o.J. (1998, September). The United States Department of Justice. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/crt/grants_statutes/legalman.phpC ornell University. (n.d.). Cornell University. Retrieved from http://www.irb.cornell.edu/faq/UCONN. (n.d.). University of Connecticut. Retrieved from http://research.uconn.edu/The Arc. (n.d.). Public Policy. Retrieved from http://www.thearc.org/what-we-do/public-policy/know-your-rights/federal-lawsGrant Space. (n.d.). Knowledge Base. Retrieved from http://grantspace.org/tools/knowledge-base/Funding-Resources/Government-Funders/government-grantsTGCI. (n.d.). Thw Grantsmanship Center. Retrieved from http://www.tgci.com/training/competing-federal-grants-5-dayThe White House. (n.d.). Office of Mnagement and Budget. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_defaultHomeland Security. (n.d.). Title VI Overview for Recipients of DHS Financial Assistance. Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/title-vi-overview-recipients-dhs-financial-assistanceFELDESMAN+TUCKER+LEIFER+FIDELL. (n.d.). Federal Grants. Retrieved from http://www.feldesmantucker.com/federal-grants/ Source document

Ethical Issue of the Contraceptive Mandate Essay

The issue of the contraception mandate may be one of the biggest political stories of the year. It is a law brought forward by the Obama administration that requires all employers to offer contraceptive coverage. This has been a requirement for all company healthcare coverage programs for many years already but religious affiliates have been exempt from following the rules. Obama is looking to change all that by requiring even religion-based employers, who have previously not offered coverage, to participate. Such services required by the contraception mandate will violate some of these religion-based employers’ moral conscience. Rule: From the contraception mandate issue, two opposing ethical rules are rights and justice/fairness. From Velasquez’s Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases, the rights rule is â€Å"an individual’s entitlement to something.† It can address the contraception mandate from both an individual and a corporate issue. The rights rule is being processed more from the religious-based employers point of view. The justice/fairness rule being discussed in this case brief is the egalitarianism view. Egalitarianism is â€Å"every person should be given exactly equal shares of a society’s or a group’s benefits and burdens.† It addresses the contraception mandate from a systemic issue Analysis: 1. Rights: Religious institutions do not want to have to cover birth control in their insurance plans for employees. Such services required by the contraception mandate will violate these religion-based institutions’ moral conscience. Thus, the contraception mandate can be viewed as an obstruction of the constitutional rights presented in the First Amendment. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution reads as following: â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.† In the First Amendment, all individuals are entitled to freedom of religion. Many of the religion-based institutions claim that the first amendment allows people the freedom to follow their religious convictions and that they cannot be forced to act against them. The government through the contraception mandate is forcing constraints on the religious freedom of the religious affiliated institutions and their employees. 2. Justice/Fairness: The justice/fairness rule of egalitarianism will say the contraception mandate is about women’s health rights. According to an egalitarian, goods should be allocated to people in equal portions. Thus, all women should have access to equal healthcare services, including the contraceptive services. The egalitarianism view argues that supporting a rights rule would limit the whole population based on someone else’s moral ideals and not scientific medical information. Women, along with many men, want to have sex for non-procreative purposes despite â€Å"edicts† passed down by religious texts. Women should have access to contraceptives. Egalitarians also argue everyone is entitled to practice their own religion and refrain from taking birth control, but every employer is prevented from discriminating against their employees on the basis of religious freedom. The reversal of the contraception mandate would be a huge setback for women’s reproductive freedom. It would go back to say women’s bodies are not their own. Conclusion: In my opinion, I believe that the rights rule is the correct approach to the contraception mandate. All companies, excluding religion-based employers, before were required to provide contraceptive coverage. Now under the Health and Human Services contraception mandate, those religious-based employers are required to provide contraceptive coverage. The First Amendment promises the entitlement to religious freedom and the practicing religious convictions. I believe forcing this healthcare service onto religious affiliated institutions is obstructing their right to practice religious convictions, hence their moral convictions. The larger portion of employed women will already be covered prior to this contraception mandate. It is only the addition of employed women at religious affiliated institutions. I am inclined to think the female employees of religious affiliated institutions would share the same religious and moral views of that religious affiliated institution. If a religious affiliated institution believes it is morally accepting for the use of contraceptives, good for them. But for a religious affiliated institution that believes it is against their religious convictions to provide employees with contraceptives, the government should not have any authority to force such a mandate. Following political backlash for the contraception mandate, President Obama has since revised the original mandate. He has added an â€Å"accommodation,† somewhat like a clause, that allows the religion-based employers the opportunity to opt out and not have to directly cover birth control in their healthcare insurance plans. The insurance company hired to cover the religious affiliated institution’s employees cannot opt out. The insurers themselves would be required to make contraceptives available free of charge to women anyway. This is a clear political move to gain more favoritism in hopes of a reelection. I see this move by Obama as an attempted reversal of the mandate after viewing the religious opposition that was evoked by mandate. Also what Obama has failed to think of are the business implications of this new â€Å"accommodation†Ã¢â‚¬â€offering the contraceptives at no cost from the opted out religious affiliated employer and employees. Insurance companies will not offer this benefit at no cost; contraceptive drug companies will not offer the medicine at no cost; and doctors will not provide treatment without payment. The only logical conclusion, at least the short run, will result in higher healthcare insurance premiums. To have avoided religious invasion, political backlash, and increased insurance premiums, I logically propose the Obama Administration should simply give women without access to contraceptive services a federal voucher.

Adopting Alternatives to the Traditional Criminal Justice System

The following proposal to President Obama is expected to meet his approval.   He would ensure that it is followed, seeing that it is meant to improve the criminal justice system of the United States, thereby enhancing the living standard of the Americans.   It would be easy to pass this proposal with the American public as well.   After all, they do not desire to be held in jails for crimes they have not committed, and neither do they want the lives of fellow Americans destroyed through the traditional criminal justice system.Adopting Humane Crime Deterrance TechniquesA popular theory in management sciences, the Contingency Theory, simply states: ‘It depends!’   Each and every individual exhibiting criminal behavior cannot be jailed, just as each and every victim of abuse does not wish for all perpetrators to be jailed.After all, even children may exhibit behaviors that appear uncivilized, if not criminal; for example, an unruly child in school may smash his frie nd’s head with a football.   Still, a child is a child – at the lower end of the learning curve.This is the reason why alternatives to the traditional criminal justice system, such as shaming, peacemaking strategies and restorative justice are especially recommended for juvenile delinquents (Sherman & Strang, 1997a).As a matter of fact, research has shown that young offenders are most likely to change their problem behaviors through restorative justice techniques rather than court proceedings (Sherman & Strang, 1997a).   Adult drink drivers, too, are very likely to change their problem behavior because of the humaneness of restorative justice (Sherman & Strang, 1997a).Of course, the same has not been said for serial killers or rapists.   After all, there was a reason for the Biblical rule: ‘Eye for an eye, tooth for tooth.’   Just as all types of crimes cannot go unpunished, all types of criminals do not require the harshness of the traditional jus tice system, defined by the terminology of â€Å"punishment, zero tolerance, criminal personality (Wormer, 2002).†The United States jails more individuals than any other place in the world, â€Å"perhaps half a million more than Communist China (Kemp, 2000).†Ã‚   It is not surprising, therefore, that our prisons are overcrowded.   Yet, the victims do not only desire for the perpetrators of crimes to be punished but also shamed so as to keep them from criminal activities in future.Shaming, peacemaking strategies, and restorative justice also carry elements of punishment.   These alternatives to the traditional criminal justice system allow the perpetrator of a crime to be known to all concerned.   However, these alternatives to the traditional justice system are less harsh.What if the person who is said to have committed the crime is innocent?   If a blamed person is truly innocent, the traditional criminal justice system that punishes him or her is a sham at be st.   On the contrary, alternatives to the traditional justice system, e.g. shaming, peacemaking strategies and restorative justice, are more apt to allow for the truth to be known.Then again, the use of humane alternatives to the traditional criminal justice system depends on the extent of justice required by the victim and the seriousness of the crime.   Unfortunately, the traditional criminal justice system often turns a blind eye to itself when it punishes innocent people, when intentions are misjudged, and innocent people are stigmatized as criminals for the rest of their lives.There are countless instances of such crimes perpetrated by the traditional criminal justice system, which is the very reason why alternatives to the traditional system must be thoroughly researched and applied when needed.Seeing that law enforcement personel, lawyers and judges too may misjudge people or hold them for crimes that they are not responsible for – considering the traditional crim inal justice system as a hard and fast rule appears as a crime in itself.   What is more, at times when the traditional criminal justice system fails to deliver, it makes a mockery of justice.There are other loopholes in the traditional criminal justice system as well.   Numberless severely mentally disturbed people, also known as psychopaths, insist on repeating their crimes.   Psychologists offer defense on the behalf of such individuals.It is still debatable whether insanity is an acceptable defense.   If a psychopath constantly harasses an individual, the victim may naturally want the mentally ill person to be punished, if not held behind bars in a mental hospital.Peacemaking strategies, such as getting a â€Å"respected community leader† to arbitrate or mediate disputes, resolve family troubles, and correct behavior by allowing the criminal to perform community service may not work in such cases (Neilson, 1999, 108).   But, even the traditional criminal justice system does not serve its purpose in all cases.It is, therefore, best to consider a mix and match of various crime deterrance techniques.   Unless a young offender is severely mentally ill, alternatives to the traditional criminal justice system, such as shaming, peacemaking strategies and restorative justice, may work best.Unless it is a rape, robbery or murder case, alternatives to the traditional system must also work best on adult offenders that have never received a legal notice in their lives.All that the victim desires is justice.   As Sherman & Strang (1997b) have maintained, if the perpetrator of a crime agrees not to repeat the offence, and manages to keep his or her word, it is perfectly correct to allow the individual to change his or her behavior by realizing his or her folly.   This is the reason why social workers are firm believers in alternatives to the traditional criminal justice system (Wormer).The Contingency Theory should continue to play a central role in the justice system.   Every case brought before law enforcement personnel and courts of law is unique, and must be treated thus.   If everybody is treated as an equal, the criminal justice system would make a mockery of itself playing the game of three blind mice – the ones given the task of meting out justice, the offenders, and the victims.Sane people do not want to be shamed or punished, and if they have mistakenly offended others, are usually prepared to mend their ways especially when mediators are involved in the case.   Human beings have a natural affinity with each other.Almost everybody in the world shrieks in terror at crimes perpetrated against humanity.   Therefore, it is most reasonable to consider the traditional criminal justice system alongside the alternatives to the system.   More correctly, it is necessary to put together the alternatives with the traditional criminal justice system and use the correct measures based on the facts of each case.J ust as everybody is not dishonest, all individuals cannot be expected to have the same level of intelligence or sense of responsibility toward society.ReferencesKemp, R. B. (2000, Mar). The U.S. Penal System: Restorative and/or Retributive Justice.Woodstock Report. Retrieved Nov 28, 2008, from http://woodstock.georgetown.edu/publications/report/r-fea61a.htm.Neilson, M. O. (1999). Navajo Nation Courts, Peacemaking, and Restorative Justice Issues.Journal of Legal Pluralism, Vol. 44. Retrieved Nov 28, 2008, fromhttp://www.jlp.bham.ac.uk/volumes/44/nielsen-art.pdf.Sherman, L. W., & Strang, H. (1997a, Apr). Restorative Justice and Deterring Crime.Australian Institute of Criminology. Retrieved Nov 28, 2008, fromhttp://www.aic.gov.au/rjustice/rise/working/risepap4.html.———————————–. (1997b, Apr). The right kind of shame for crime prevention.Australian Institute of Criminology. Retrieved Nov 28, 2008, from h ttp://www.aic.gov.au/rjustice/rise/working/risepap1.html.Wormer, K. V. (2002, Jan 7). Restorative Justice and Social Work. Social Work Today, Vol. 2,No. 1. Retrieved Nov 28, 2008, fromhttp://www.restorativejustice.org/resources/docs/vanwormer/.

International Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

International Management - Essay Example Interaction of these companies with local companies can act as the basis through which ideas, knowledge and skills are shared. These companies are quick to share their developmental aspects, and in so doing local companies can access a gateway through which they can better their technologies given their level of output production. Knowledge transfer can contribute to the performance of local companies. Many local companies are hardly exposed to the operations and modes of business of industrious multinational companies. Transfer of knowledge from highly effective international companies is likely to impact positively on the operations of local companies3. Improved knowledge base would boost resource allocation decisions and further impact on cost minimization with maximization of revenues being the sole objective4. Achievement of the three factors guarantees a highly effective and efficient business performance. Taking products to foreign markets is another internalization factor. This constitutes cross-border trade. In other words, international trade will proliferate. Meeting international quality standards of goods and services is the fundamental underlying factor in this aspect. International prices of goods and services are always better than the domestic prices5. The profit motive for producing and manufacturing companies drives them towards adopting the right production techniques in order to maintain a constant supply of goods and services in the international markets, while at the same time satisfying the domestic

With reference to literature, examine the shift from a medical Essay

With reference to literature, examine the shift from a medical understanding of disability to social one. Discuss the extent to which the social model itself can now be considered outdated - Essay Example Currently, medical model of disability is used by many people use it to view disability. The social model, on the other hand, has been the outcry of many disabled people established to challenge the medical model. It is propagated by the disabled people who feel that their disability is as a result of personal problem and would prefer to keep their disability, and avoid treatment. This paper seeks to discuss the extent to which the social model itself can be viewed as outdated in reference to the shift in medical understanding of disability. The medical model of disability can be said to be a social political model. The model advocates that disability is inborn and is as a result of physical condition found within an individual. This disability can affect an individual emotionally, physically and mentally affecting how the person acts within the society. In this model, the problem is located within the individual (Norwich 2008 pp.54). The model advocates for seeking medical attention for treatment for the impairments or the disabled. The medical intervention provided to people with impairments enables them to fit well within the society without frustrations. The medical model attempts to explain that, the individual disability emanates from clinical conditions and it does not make distinctions between impairments and individual disability (Shakespeare1998 pp.36) In this model, the disabled individuals need to be provided with attention and help to fit in the society, and if this turn out to be problematic the disabled individuals should be taken to institutions that accommodate them while providing services that help them live within the society. The model brings out stereotypes among people who are not disabled influencing their attitudes and perceptions where they see the disabled people with a lot of pity, fear and negative attitudes towards them. The power to help and change the disabled individuals seems

Incredible Journey of Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Incredible Journey of Development - Essay Example While some theorists hold that children develop smoothly and continuously, others contest this by their belief in the stage-wise development of children, where each stage can be distinguished from the other and is recognizably stable. But both agree that there are certain periods of a children's development when they are capable of learning to perform certain tasks better than at any other age, for example, infants and toddlers have better language grasping abilities. It is also generally agreed that each child is a unique individual, and would pick up skills according to a unique pace and pattern. The first of these developmental theories was by Sigmund Freud, which though considered inaccurate is important because it formed the basis of later theories to mark this field. He held that the way children's basic sexual and aggressive desires are handled by its parents would dictate the development of their future personalities and traits. Freud divided the developmental stages of children in terms of their sexual development and named them Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, and Genital stages. Freud's theory formed the basis of Erik Erikson's work which suggested a theory of human development in stages from birth to death in terms of how children begin to gain a sense of identity, as well as develop self-belief allowing them to become productive and successful members of society in their future life. Erikson associates each stage with a particular stretch of life span and goes from trust- versus-mistrust which lasts from birth to one year; autonomy-versus-shame and doubt which can be said to last from one to three years; initiative-versus-guilt which goes from three years to six ; and so on in stages such as industry-versus-inferiority; identity-versus- identity confusion; intimacy-versus- isolation; generativity versus stagnation; and integrity versus despair, each of which corresponds to a particular age.

MacDonald Triad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MacDonald Triad - Essay Example Research evidences suggest that fire setting behaviour in childhood can be linked to release of frustration or anger, which has well been recognized as potential reasons of homicidal tendency. Criminal psychologists point out that many murderers engage in animal cruelty to get courage for harming their human rivals. Like the case of fire setting in childhood, children use to engage in animal cruelty as a way of expressing their anger and or frustration. Children consider animals as weaker and vulnerable segments and hence they enjoy a wild pleasure by torturing animals. Later, those children gain power over humans and gradually this behaviour turns to violent offenses. This theoretical concept has been supported by many scholars. â€Å"Studies have found that those who engaged in childhood acts of animal cruelty used the same method of killing on their human victims as they did on their animal victims† (RTBot, 2012). In a study conducted among 45 violent offenders by McClellan (2008), it was found that nearly 56% of them had engaged in animal cruelty during childhood. It clearly indicates the notable relationship between animal cruelty and late violent behaviors. Similarly, some scholars are of the view that a child may develop frustration if he/she was punished for unintentional bedwetting during sleep and this mental state would eventually lead to violent behavior. An additional strength is that many studies could prove a close link between fire setting and animal cruelty in childhood. According to these findings, there are many common causes for obsession with fire setting, animal cruelty, and violent behaviors. The major weakness of this model is that statistical studies do not indicate a strong link between the triad and violent offenders. Some researchers argue that the three behaviors linked to violent tendencies by MacDonald may be simply resulted from parental neglect and

Digital Cinema Review and Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Digital Cinema Review and Analysis - Essay Example The effects used in Gravity are simply astonishing as they hit the viewers emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically. The director, Cuaron, has used his signature style for this movie which is the technique of using long shots. The camera and shooting techniques of the movie have greatly contributed in making it a visually appealing movie and along with that, these techniques have helped in depicting the story and the concepts of the movie pretty well. Gravity tends to be a weighty movie which means that the script had been prepared over a course of five years and the direction of the film only became possible with the new techniques of lighting, shooting, and directing which marked a new era of fictional film making. The story is about a medical researcher who is self-alienated from the community of humans and the Earth. Eventually she is put all alone in space for great stretches of time. Space is an important aspect and metaphor for the film which helps the characters to explore themselves and struggle for survival. In space, in the weightlessness, the inaction of an individual’s personality becomes a physical force. The movie shows many cocoons for survival including ships, stations, and spacesuits which challenge the stark deadliness for an unprotected human of the universe. The space aspect brings in an emotional theme where it is shown that humans can take the Earth’s environment into space in little bits and pieces but the Mother Planet has immense gravity which attracts the human to come back home. There are also physics concepts which come in this theme when the researcher is given deadly barriers to cross making her life-giving atmosphere a threat (Hughes 1). This story is between the Earth and space and in order to bring the heavy story back down to the Earth into the hearts of the audience, the director has used 90

Forgiveness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Forgiveness - Essay Example After sometime in class, a colleague realized that two of his new textbooks were missing. Since everybody was at the laboratory during the practical session, one of my close friends gave the suggestion that I am the one who might be responsible for the theft. The case went before the principal and I had to appear before the disciplinary committee that imposed a punishment of two-week suspension from school on me. Besides the suspension, I was required to report back with three copies of each of the textbooks. I complied with the harsh punishment despite the fact that I was not responsible. Upon completion of the two weeks, I resumed my studies. After two weeks, a friend informed me that he had seen the books that I received punishment for at a mutual friends place. We hatched a plan to confirm the authenticity of the leakage. I planned an impromptu visit to the mutual friend’s and confirmed that indeed the books were there. He confessed and apologized. The above case represents a situation of an individual who is on the wrong side and ready to ask for forgiveness. Being falsely accused and receiving punishment for a crime that you never committed is unjust. The situation created a conflict between me and my colleague as it was hard for me to accept that a close friend can actually turn against you to the extent of betrayal. The whole experience elicited strong hatred towards the colleague. The readiness of the colleague to accept his mistake and submit an apology hastened my recovery from depression. Forgiveness has enormous effects on the relationship between the offender and the offended. Sometimes, the person on the wrong is not ready to bend low and ask for forgiveness. When such cases arise, it is in order for the offended to forgive irrespective of the other party’s attitude. Forgiveness and reconciliation have many benefits. Forgiving is a source of self-relief for the

Case Assignment Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Case Assignment - Coursework Example For example: Sephora – a brand that sells cosmetics, perfume and other beauty products recently decided to enter into a contract with JC Penney upon opening a ‘store within stores’ strategy aiming to attract the young women. (MSNBC, 2007) Considering the change in the customers’ preference to shop conveniently at regional shopping malls, it is good that JC Penney has decided to open almost all new Penney store within the regional malls because that is where most of the shoppers go to buy cloths, furniture and other merchandises that JC Penney is selling to the consumers. However, opening a JC Penney store in each metropolitan area in order to create a significant presence in each market is not much of a good idea because it is not convenient for the consumers to intentionally go to a JC Penney store to buy something and go back again to the mall to buy the rest of what they need. Looking at this angle, the demand for establishing a JC Penney store separate from the regional malls is low. Giving each of the store managers the control over merchandise selection could greatly affect the quality and type of merchandises available within a specific JC Penney store outlet. In the absence of a strict centralized regulation in terms of selecting the items being sold in each store, some of the store managers could take advantage of the situation by entering into a special contract with its suppliers. This enables the store managers to make a bias judgment with regards to selecting the merchandise. Giving each of the store managers the power to price the goods could result to lack of uniformity when it comes to the selling price of the same product in each store outlets. The same is true when it comes to management of employees, the store manager will have the tendency to prioritize one employee over the other which may lead to serious management problem in the end. The funding for the local community relations will also be an issue since

Explore the Importance of Cultures and Tradition Essay Example for Free

Explore the Importance of Cultures and Tradition Essay Veronica is a short story by Adewale Maja-Pearce. It teaches of how cultures, traditions, relationships, expectations and money force two people raised in the same cultural background, to separate and move on, for better and for worse as their lives take different paths. The story shows the great contrast between African village life and African town life. In the story, Okekà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ the ever-lasting male friend of Veronica is drawn by the attraction of the city for the opportunities he sees for himself. The young woman Veronica on the other hand does not desire to leave their decomposing village for the city. She rejects Okekes offer for numerous reasons. The Gold Cadillac is a similar short story by Mildred Taylor. The Gold Cadillac tells the tale of a young black family from the North of America who purchase a new and rather extravagant car. Much to the despair of their relatives, the father of the household decides to ride the car down to the south, which is soon conveyed to be very racist. This story holds similar themes to that of Veronica as it shows, the contrast in how people from different cultural backgrounds are treated in different parts of America. It is also similar to veronica in that we see the contrasting beliefs amongst the same culture of people within the family. In the story of Veronica we are immediately informed that the local people of this village exist under cultural tradition. The author brings emphasise to them living in a small traditional village with the potential for strong beliefs and cultural traditions by the use of, my native village, which suggests remote, old fashioned almost primitive moral ideas. This is because the word, native is often used to describe tribes, in distant undeveloped ethnic areas. This assumption is confirmed as we learn that one of these beliefs is the important contrast between men and womans expectations. Adewale Maja-Pearce calls attention to this through presenting to Veronicas responsibilities to the reader, a lot of the responsibility for bringing up the other children had fallen on her, the use of the word, fallen also implies that she did not chose to be given these responsibilities, but that her cultural traditions had forced them on her. We also recognize that the society in which Veronica is living in is male dominated and that men feel that they are more important, by the use of Maja-Pearce explaining the way in which Veronicas father acts towards her, Night after night I would lie awake listening to her screams, as her beats her. One can be certain that this is very much the opinion of the entire village as another man, Okekes father, would not intervene, implying that this nature of behaviour towards women was common-place, cursing myself for my own physical inadequacy and my father for his unwillingness to become involved. This shows the importance of these cultures and traditions to people, because a grown man would not prevent the suffering of one of his own people where he had the opportunity, due to the expectations of their society, enforced by their traditions, and further shows the native peoples strong belief in it. Adewale Maja-Pearce also explores the different opportunities that men and women receive in the native village. Women, such as Veronica, were not authorised, what was in many countries at the time the story was written, the right of an education, as men such as Okekà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ were, When I was twelve I started at the secondary school in town a few miles away, she included this to the story to enforce the strong contrast of opportunities and rights between men and women in the village Women were not allowed to attend a school in this village because in the eyes of the natives, they had no reason to as it was expected of the women to remain at their home and perform chores, such as cleaning, caring for the younger children and cooking for the family, she shows this through veronicas knowledge of what she must do, I have to go and cook my father will be home soon, the Author also stresses this point by the use of , I have to, which implies that Veronica has no choice. However this further illustrates how Veronica is used to her responsibilities, enforced by the culture which she lives in and actually accepts her status quo. I cant just leave my family. This demonstrates how Veronica, as she gets older, comes to believe that her place is the home, and that all of the responsibility and unfair expectation is justified. However there was a time in which veronica was curious about education and would have liked to go to school, and she asked me endless questions about my school. It also further emphasises her loyalty to her family, as when asked, What have they ever done for you? she replies without hesitation, showing her certainty in what she says, Dont talk like that, they are my family, that is enough. Most interestingly, she shows much devotion and respect to her father as she cooks for him despite the way he treated her throughout her life, And although her father had long stopped beating her in every other respect nothing had really altered. Caring for people for Veronica was much harder than anyone in Britain could understand, as she would have had no modern appliances; everything would have been done by hand, which is much, more time consuming. The way in which she responded to Okekes remark, (stated above), with such certainty also shows that she thought it as a duty to her family to perform the traditions and expectations enforced by her society. In conclusion this shows how important tradition was to the people of this culture in the story because, Veronica is willing to put her family first, before her, in her order of priorities even though it jeopardized her future, because if she had of gone to the city and become a secretary as she was offered, she may have been successful and gained wealth and happiness as Okekà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ did, however she refused because of her outstanding devotion to her family and further because it fits with the cultural tradition of women caring for their families, she did not even consid er the proposal for a minute, which also shows that she, knows her place, and what is expected of her. Veronica plays a menial role in life, but she accepts it, as she plays a subservient role working for her father, never trying to achieve anything more as she believes that she neither has the capabilities or the reason to go to the city as she already has a role to play where she is, as carer for her family, and almost slave to her father. This is why she rejects the city that symbolises success, Dont talk foolishness The key women in, Veronica, and, The Gold Cadillac, can be seen to have some very crucial similarities. It can be observed that both characters feel they have a very strong duty towards their families but furthermore are willing to sacrifice their own lives for the sake of these families. Veronica gave up the chance to lead a successful life in the city where she would achieve independence as she would break away from the chauvinistic society, I leave that for others, my own place is here. We can be assured that she does this for the sake of family by the use of, I cant just leave my family, this again shows her strong sense of duty towards her family. The same can be observed in, The Gold Cadillac. The mother of the story, unlike the naive children, understands the dangerous racism of the south and the possibility that he may be in danger. We can see her feeling of duty towards the family through her willingness to risk her life and her daughters just to be with her husband so that they are all together, the girls and I will be going with you. There is a large contrast between this traditional African village life and the modern African town life. The reader is alerted of this contrast by the use of the different beliefs of the women in the Town, when compared to those living In the village who believe in the more traditional values, God has blessed us with as son, whereas the women in the village are far more, materialistic this is shown by the use of Adewale Maja-Pearce shocking Okekà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ who was brought up on traditional village beliefs, as he found that women were not as interested in him as a person, but for his money, All the women I meet are only interested in my money and cars. This contrast is also shown by Veronica, who believes in village traditions, when she responds to Okekà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½, I dont believe you, she cannot understand their views. Adewale Maja-Pearce includes this huge contrast between traditional African village life and modern African town life, so that she could separate the two characters. And show how Okekà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½, who moved on with his life became successful in the wealth area, whereas Veronica who did not let go of what she was brought up on, found much misery, but was blessed with a son and a husband. Veronica found love. I think that Adewale Maja-Pearce was trying to stress that although cultures may seem unjust with their traditions from onlookers, who cannot understand them, that are in some aspects bad, represented by Veronicas father, where these cultures are represented in the story as the, native village life, can also please people with different moral beliefs, such as Veronica who did not desire material possessions, as these peoples cultures allow them find what they value, for veronica love and security with her own family, He is a good man, god has blessed us with a son. Whereas places of opportunity, represented by the use of the Town which Okekà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ moved to, provide liberation, that brings material success, such as wealth, however it may not bring true happiness, as in the case of Okekà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ who found career success, but did not succeed in love as he has no wife, I have no wife, All the women I meet are only interested in money and cars.

History of the Old Testament Essay Example for Free

History of the Old Testament Essay Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken. I. Historical context of Isaiah 7:14-16 The historical setting is critical to the account since the prophet supplies it and the oracle draws on its timing. With a close study of the events referred to we may date the oracle in this chapter to 734 B. C. (Ross,Allen) It was when the ruthless Assyrian conqueror, on the throne is Tiglathpileser III, a ruthless and powerful king was terrorizing the all other nations, and Judah, unwilling to join in a coalition against him, was attacked by Israel and Syria, the ancient Aramaea , with its main city in Damascus, and Ephraim, the northern Israelite state, with its main city Samaria and therefore, King Ahaz when he heard of this coalition was thinking seriously of inviting Assyrian help(Tiglathpileser III). It must be pointed out that the whole purpose was to dissuade King Ahaz from embarking a wrong course of action, namely, that of relying upon Assyria rather than upon the Lord. In the name of Jehovah, it was this moment the prophet commences with a historical announcement. Isaiah 7:1 says It came to pass, in the days of Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Aramaea, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, and could not make war against it. The Syrian king Rezin had come up against Jerusalem and with him was Pekah of Israel. Their purpose was to wage war, but unable to besiege it the prophecy of the chapter is amazingly accurate. The sign that a boy was about to be born is the pivotal point. Before he would be old enough to tell right from wrong, that is, about 12 years old, the enemies would not only be defeated but cease to exist. According to history, Shalmaneser V (the successor to Tiglathpileser) campaigned against the land and besieged Samaria. He died in the duration and was succeeded by Sargon II who completed the destruction of the northern state in 722 or 721 B. C. So the oracle in Isaiah 7 could be dated about twelve years before that destruction in 722 B. (Ross, Allen ) II. Literary Context of Isaiah 7:14-16 Therefore the Lord Himself give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. The word therefore signifies that something had taken place before the incident forwarded here in verse 14, and inasmuch as the wicked king in hypocritical fashion rejects the opportunity of asking for a sign, then he lost the privilege of asking a sign in his own favor. Instead the Lord Himself will give a sign, and this one of His own choosing, announcing the birth of a wondrous Child as the sign of deliverance, and making the infancy of that Child the measure of the time that Judah is yet to suffer affliction, before the time of deliverance will come. Yet as we have seen because of Ahaz unbelief after the comfortable promises made to him as a branch of the house of David, what took place was a terrible threatening against him, as a degenerate branch of that house; for though the God was patience and His loving kindness shall not be utterly taken away, for the sake of David and the covenant made with, yet his inequity shall be dealt with the rod, and his sin with stripes. In fulfillment of the prophecy, the Egyptians and the Assyrians filled the land in their war with each other. Devastation from this war severely tested the people, so that nothing grew in the fields, and the survivors had to rely on curds and honey. This led up to and included the invasion of 701 B. C. under Sennacherib, the next Assyrian king, when Hezekiah was on the throne in Jerusalem, and 200,000 people from Judah were carried off into captivity. As we shall see, the details of the Assyrian crisis are very accurately prophesied in these oracles (Ross, Allen_______ Young, E. J. 1993). III. Commentary on Isaiah 7:14-16 Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Since the King did not ask for a sign that the land shall be delivered from the enemies, Yahweh will furnish one unasked. Yahweh will not withhold it because a proud and contemptuous King refuses to seek it. The LORD himself, He will do it and not hindered though it is rejected and despised; he will do it because of its necessity for the welfare of the nation, and for the confirmation of his religion, to furnish a demonstration to the people that he is the only true God. It is clearly implied here, that the emphasis is that the sign should be such as Yahweh alone could give. If this refers to the birth of a child, then it means that this was an event which could be known only to God, and which could be accomplished only by his agency. If it refers to the miraculous conception and birth of the Messiah, then it means that that was an event which none but God could accomplish. Shall give you, primarily refers to the house of David; the king and royal family of Judah. It was especially designed to assure the government that the kingdom would be safe. Doubtless, however, the word you is designed to include the nation, or the people of the kingdom of Judah. It would be so public a sign, and so clear a demonstration, as to convince them that their city and land must be ultimately safe. A sign, a pledge; a token; an evidence of the fulfillment of what is predicted. The word does not, of necessity, denote a miracle, though it is often so applied; see the notes at Isaiah 7:11. But rather it means a proof, a demonstration, a certain indication that what he had said should come to its fulfillment. Behold this interjection serves to designate persons and things; places and actions. It is used in lively descriptions, and animated discourse; or when anything unusual was said, or occurred; it means, that an event was to occur which demanded the attention of the unbelieving King, and the regard of the people-an event which would be a full demonstration of what the prophet had said. A virgin, it is used in its obvious natural sense, to denote a young, unmarried female. The derivatives are applied to youth; to young men; to young women-to those who are growing up, and becoming youths. This virgin as used in his word properly means a girl, maiden, virgin, a young woman who is unmarried, and who is of marriageable age. And shall call his name, it was usual for mothers to give names to their children. The idea is, it is the appropriate name that would be given to the child. Although another name was also given to this child, expressing substantially the same thing, with a circumstantial difference. Immanuel a Hebrew name which means God with us the name is designed to denote that God would be with the nation as its protector, and the birth of this child would be a sign or pledge of it. The name, Immanuel, denotes nothing more than divine aid and protection. Others have supposed, however, that the name must denote the assumption of our nature by God in the person of the Messiah, that is, that God became man. The true interpretation is, that no argument to prove that can be derived from the use of the name; but when the fact of the incarnation has been demonstrated from other sources, the name is appropriately expressive of that event. ( Barnes, 1997). Isaiah 7:15 He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. (NASV) Young( ), showed that the infancy of the promised Messiah is made the measure of the time that Judah will be in danger from her two enemies. This thought namely, namely the duration of a period of difficulty, is expressed symbolically in that Immanuel iws pictured as subsisting during His infancy on curds and honey, which was symbolical royal diet. From the time of His birth, supposedly, the Child will eat this peculiar food, and at the time when He can discern between good and evil, rejecting the one and choosing the other, He will be eating these things. At an early age a child learns to reject evil and to choose good, or at least to distinguish between the two. Thus, by means of this measure, we learn that the affliction or desolation of the two enemy kings is short-lived, possibly only two or three years. The reference may be to what is injurious or useful in life but in the light of the usage of this phrase in Genesis 2, it clearly refers also to what is morally good and evil. Isaiah 7:16 For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken. (NASV) The land that you dread, the land concerning which thou art so much alarmed or distressed; that is, the united land of Syria and Ephraim. Refers to one land, because they were united then in a firm alliance, so as to constitute, in fact, or for the purposes of invasion and conquest, one people or nation. The phrase, which you dread, means properly, which thou loathes, the primary idea of the word being to feel a nausea, or to throw up. It then means to fear, or to feel alarm; and this, probably, is the meaning here. Ahaz, however, evidently looked upon the nations of Syria and Samaria with disgust, as well as with alarm. The meaning of the land is that the kings themselves were the objects of dislike or dread; and not merely that the two kings should be removed, but that the land itself was threatened with desolation. This construction is an exegetical kind which agrees with the idiom of the Hebrew. (Barnes, 1993) IV Summary of Isaiah 7:14-16 As a summary of these three verses it was shown that in verse 14 Isaiah made a proclamation that the Lord will give a sign. This seeing of the virgin is not with with the physical eyes, Isaiah have not seen the Messiah in His physical birth, but in vision. In vision, then, the prophet beholds the virgin with child. An in the birth of this son, the presence of God is manifest in a most unique way. The fourteenth verse constitutes a sure and a definite fulfillment of the prophecy of the birth of Immanuel. With verse 15 the prophet proceeds to show that the infancy of the Messiah a symbolical representation of the fact that the threat which overhung Judah would be short-lived. This he does by picturing the child in vision eating royal food (according to commentator Young which I prefer to use in this summary). The child will eat this food, symbol of threat and desolation; yet before He reaches the age where He knows the difference between good and evil, the two kings which Ahaz dreads will forsake the land of Israel, and there will be nothing more for him to fear from them. The prophetical naming of this child having thus had its accomplishment, no doubt this, which was further added concerning him, should have its accomplishment likewise, that Syria and Israel should be deprived of both their kings. One mercy from God encourages us to hope for another, if it engages us to prepare for another. BIBLIOGRAPHY Barnes Notes, Barnes and Nobles Commentary. Electronic Database. (Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft) Ross, Allen. â€Å"A Call for Faith and the Sign for Emmanuel†. Bible. Org http://www. bible. org/page. php? page_id=2088 Young, E. J. â€Å"The Book of Isaiah: A Commentary†. (Michigan:William B. Eerdsman Publishing Company, 1993)

Impact of Festivals

Impact of Festivals Robyn Ormond Introduction: South Africans love festivals, it is a chance to ‘let loose’ and enjoy a time of fun, family and by the end, usually no funds. Festivals can be described in many ways, namely â€Å"events of limited duration developed primarily to enhance the awareness, appeal and profitability of a tourist destination† (Ritchie, 1984: 2). Festivals have become a vital component of tourism in small towns (Visser, 2005). The importance of annual festivals in two South African towns, being Sedgefield (the Sedgefield Slow-Festival) and Knysna ( Knysna Oyster Festival) as well as the economic importance of these festivals will be explored to show how festivals can prevent the decline of these iconic towns. Decline def The Importance of Festivals Festivals are more than just a way of making money, there is a deeper impact of festivals upon the communities who host them, these festivals can then rather be referred to as â€Å"a public, themed celebration† (Jackson et al, 2005). Festivals which occur in smaller town like the two that will be analysed normally have a strong sense of community and by holding a festival, ideals such as leadership and accountability of the locals are promoted, members of the community are encouraged to get involved and to take responsibility with regards to the planning and running of the festival (Visser, 2005). This act of holding a festival strengthens the community and allows for bonds of friendship to form between the town members as community goals are achieved through the management of the festival (Saayman A, Saayman, M, 2006). The festival also allows for the natural beauty of the towns to be appreciated and act as a platform for conservation and environmental protection (especially in Sedgefield and Knysna, both of which occur along South Africa’s prestigious Garden Route) (Visser, 2005). Festivals not only create links within the community but strengthens ties with that of the world around them (people from much larger cities- Cape Town and Johannesburg are willing to travel to come and participate in the festivals held in Knysna and Sedgefield.) (Saayman A, Saayman, M, 2006). The strong community bond a festival creates can help prevent the town from going into decline by becoming an attractive place to live and especially to retire to. The Economic Importance of Festivals: Not only are festivals important for growing a town’s identity but these celebrations are known to bring a healthy influx of money into the town. Festivals can boost a towns economy by either extending the current seasonal income (money made during peak tourism times in the town- usually correlating with holidays) or by creating an entirely new tourism season (Visser, 2005). The economic impact of a festival on a small town is simple; people come from outside the town and by participating in the festival, spend money which goes directly towards the local economy of the town (Saayman A, Saayman, M, 2006). Tourism is the driving force behind a festival and the more a town can offer in terms of tourism, the more attractive the festival will be. Festivals are a way of a town advertising itself to the outside world in the hopes of attracting people willing to settle there or foreign investors to take an interest in the town (Saayman A, Saayman, M, 2006). The money generated from a festival is used in a small town to help ensure sustainability of the town and to help the town regenerate (if it had previously gone through a period of decline) (Saayman A, Saayman, M, 2006). A tourist spending money in the town during a festival has an impact on a variety of sectors due to the interlinked nature of the tourism industry (a tourist will need to purchase food and drink during the festival, have access to accommodation as well as pay to participate in the events of the festival, this will benefit a large number of businesses in the town) (Saayman A, Saayman, M, 2006). For the two festivals bei ng explored, a large portion of the proceeding is donated to charity, as the community of Sedgefield and Knysna are more people-orientated and less money-driven. The Sedgefield Slow Festival: The Sedgefield slow festival is a celebration of life in a small town only 7.85 km ² in size with a population of 8286 (Firth, 2011) along the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The town advertises itself as South Africa’s self-proclaimed â€Å"Slow Town† (as nothing will happen at a speed faster than a tortoise’s walk- the icon of Sedgefield). The local residents volunteer to be part of a committee who are dedicated to creating a festival which promotes â€Å"Wholesome goodness, Family, Friends, Fun, the Outdoors and Great food† (Dixon, 2014). The festival is young in comparison to other South African festivals with its birth in 2010. The objective of the festival is to show off the natural beauty of the area in a way that will get the entire town involved while creating local economic opportunities at the same time (Dixon, 2014). The town hosts several events during the festival including the infamous â€Å"Anything-That-Floats Race† (a water race where participants must build crafts constructed entirely out of recycled materials). Other events include a Beer-Pong competition held at one of the local bars as well as the Town Hall Arts Exhibition. In total there are about twenty five events held over the three days surrounding the Easter weekend (18-20 April in 2014) (Dixon, 2014). In 2013 the proceeds from a variety of events, market sales (in the local farmers’ and craft market) and donations, the Slow-festival was able to support four different charities (Sedgefield Hospice, Sedge Mobile Meals, KAWS and Masithandane) with R12000 over the three day festival (Dixon, 2014). The Knysna Oyster Festival: Only 25km away from Sedgefield is the town of Knysna. Every year around the first week of July the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival is held over a ten day period (Knysna Oyster Festival, 2014). This festival is much older than the Sedgefield Slow-Festival with its debut in 1983. The purpose of the festival was originally to bring people to the area during the off-peak winter period; subsequently the festival has experienced a large amount of success and has grown significantly since its origin (Knysna Oyster Festival, 2014). The festival places a great emphasis on supporting charities, and due to the large nature of the festival, a sizeable amount of money can be donated. In 2013 the festival was able to generate R1 million which would benefit the community and have a significant impact on the local charities (Knysna Oyster Festival, 2014). Before an event can be registered as an official event of the Oyster Festival it must first state which charity or non-governmental organisation it will be supporting with a portion of its proceeds (Knysna Oyster Festival, 2014). Out of the many events held over the ten days, the three most iconic are the Momentum Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour (which is one of the largest road and mountain bike races in South Africa), the Momentum Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon and Half Marathon and of course the oysters which are eaten over the duration of the festival (which can reach up to 20000 oysters consumed) (Knysna Oyster Festival, 2014). Conclusion: Festivals in small towns (especially in South Africa) are events in which the entire community can be involved in the planning, managing and running of the festival. These festivals are able to boost the local economy and generate a flow of capital in times which would otherwise be regarded as off-peak quiet periods characterised by little tourism and lower income for the community members. These festivals such as the Sedgefield Slow-Festival and the Knysna Oyster Festival create an identity for the town whilst forming community bonds between the residents. The large charity component of both the Sedgefield Slow-Festival and the Knysna Oyster Festival allows for all in the community to benefit from the proceeds. Overall festivals are a time to celebrate life, family, food and of course to have some fun. Reference List: Dixon, A. (2014). Sedgefield’s Slow Festival. Available from: http://www.slowfestival.co.za/ Firth,A. (2011). Sedgefield Main Place 180007 from Census 2011. Available from: http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/180007 Knysna Oyster Festival. (2014). Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival. Available from: http://www.oysterfestival.co.za Jackson, J., Houghton, M., Russel, R., Triandos,P. (2005). Innovations in Measuring Economic Impacts of Regional Festivals: A Do-It-Yourself Kit. Journal of Travel Research, 43:360-367. DOI: 10.1177/0047287505274649 Ritchie, J.R.(1984) Assessing the impact of hallmark events: conceptual and research issues. Journal of Travel Research, 23(1), 2-11. Saayman, A., Saayman, M. (2006). Does the location of arts festivals matter for the economic impact? Papers in Regional Science, 85 Visser, G. (2005). Lets Be Festive: Exploratory Notes on Festival Tourism in South Africa. Urban Forum, 16:2-3.

In Literature, Women Are Good and Men Are Evil Essay -- Good vs Evil

What is good without evil? Without evil, there would be no possible way for good to exist. They complement each other, without one, you cannot have the other. Yet somehow evil always seems to outweigh the good. This is shown in various literary periods throughout history. There are many different ways that both good and evil can be shown. Good can be shown when someone is being kind or loving. The color white is often associated with good because it symbolizes a lamb, who is soft and sweet, a gentle creature. Evil would usually be associated with black. Black symbolizes evil because when people think of black, they think of darkness. The dark is scary and unpredictable so it is natural to associate it with evil. Without having an opposite to compare something to then it’s nearly impossible to define it. Good and evil are defined so easily because when people think of good, they see the opposite of evil and vice versa. Throughout many works of literature, men have been known to be evil/deceitful when it comes to women. Women are seen as the good in literature, not in all but in most cases. Authors such as William Blake and Christina Rossetti illustrate this and also evil in their literature to show their belief that evil dominates the world and good lies in the shadows but in the end, the good always prevails. In the â€Å"Goblin Market,† there are two sisters named Lizzie and Laura, one of the sisters falls ill after she is victim to the evil of the goblins in the market but the good overcomes their evil when Lizzie does the right thing by going to the goblin market in search for a way to cure her sister. Lizzie portrays the good in this poem, while Laura and the goblin men show the evil. Lizzie knew and stood firm on her ... ...lish Translation)." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. Blake, William. "Infant Joy." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. Blake, William. "Infant Sorrow." Poemhunter.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. Davidson, James. "Beowulf - Good vs. Evil." StudyMode. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. Jevon, Amy. "The Dark Bible: Women's Inferior Status." The Dark Bible: Women's Inferior Status. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. Johnson, William E. "Good vs. Evil." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. Rossetti, Christina. "Goblin Market." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. Smith, Robert. "Evolution of American Literature." Evolution of American Literature. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. Williams, James A. "Role of Women in Literature." StudyMode. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.

Physiological Effects of MDMA Use :: Health Drugs Essays

Physiological Effects of MDMA Use MDMA has significant cardiovascular effects. This is consistent with its norepinephrine releasing (Johnson et al. 1991; Rothman et al. 2001) and  £\_2 adrenergic agonist (Lavelle et al. 1999) properties. MDMA dose dependently produces robust increases in heart rate and blood pressure (de la Torre et al. 2000a; de la Torre et al. 2000b; Grob et al.). Peak cardiovascular effects occur between 1 and 2 hours after MDMA administration and largely subside within 6 hours of drug administration. A study suggested that the relationship between MDMA dose and cardiovascular effects was supralinear by de la Torre et al. (2000a) who reported unexpectedly high drug exposures (measured as AUCplasma for MDMA) and diastolic blood pressure increases in two volunteers given 150 mg MDMA. While pharmacokinetic data suggest MDMA has nonlinear kinetics, there is no clear evidence of supralinear relationships between dose and blood pressure or heart rate. In fact, there may be less increase in heart rate after higher doses. The tendency toward less heart rate increase with higher dose is consistent with a study using both conscious and anesthetized rats (O'Cain et al. 2000). In this rat study, 3 mg/kg IV MDMA decreased heart rate, while lower doses tended to increase it or leave it unchanged. Studies monitoring blood pressure found significant relationships between MDMA use and blood pressure. In one study, (Vollenweider et al. 1998) involving subjects without a history of MDMA use, one subject experienced hypertensive crisis from a dose typical of recreational use. The correlation of blood pressure is described, "A two way ANOVA for systolic blood pressure revealed a significant main effect of drug [F(1,2) = 41.09; p < 02] and a significant drug x time interaction [F(3,6) = 11.31; p < 007]. Significant changes occurred in the 0 to 75 minutes and 75 to 150 minutes interval (one way ANOVAs). Two way ANOVA for diastolic blood pressure was not significant, but one way ANOVAs showed significant changes in the 75 to 150 minutes and the 150 to 300 minutes interval. Increases were in the range of 10 to 30 mm Hg for systolic blood pressure and 5 to 10 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure." (Vollenweider et al. 1998 pp.245_246) This study shows a similarity in changes in systolic blood pressure, and a lesser similarity in changes in diastolic blood pressure. The occurrence of hypertensive crisis suggests caution in potential use and study.

American Cultural Myths Essays -- ideal families, ideal lifestyles, id

The United States and cultural myths pertaining to this country have been a topic of discussion for many years. Stephanie Coontz’s â€Å"The Way We Wish We Were†, David Brooks’ â€Å"One Nation Slightly Divisible† and Margaret Atwood’s â€Å"A Letter to America† are all essays about different American cultural myths. Each author focuses on a different cultural myth that pertains to the United States. They explain how these myths are thwarting a realistic view of America. As well as changing the perception of the country as a whole. The major cultural myths of America among the texts are about â€Å"ideal families†, â€Å"ideal lifestyles, and a â€Å"ideal country.† Many couples in the United States idealize the myth of a â€Å"tradition family†. The idea that a woman can spend quality time with her child while maintaining an effective sexual life with her partner seemed to have caused a lot of stress during the 1950s. Coontz’s says â€Å"this hybrid idea drove thousands of women to therapists, tranquilizers, or alcohol when they tried to live up to it.† (Coontz, 569). Which explains that it is merely impossible to try to mold a family to be â€Å"ideal.† Many families still strive for a traditional life, which they define as life â€Å"back in the day.† They need to forget the past and start living in the 21st century. â€Å"Two-thirds of respondents to one national poll said they wanted more traditional standards of family life.†(Coontz, 582). Which goes to show that many families want to change to what once used to be perceived as an â€Å"ideal family† but â€Å"the same percentage of people rejected the idea that women should return to their traditional role.†(Coontz, 582). Families want to take bits and pieces from what used to be â€Å"traditional families† over time and create their own i... ...United States once had amongst the world has lessened, which is also why seeing America as an ideal country would be thwarting a realistic view of the country. If the United States just takes a step back from trying to be the most dominant country, it can regain its status among other nations. Stephanie Coontz’s, David Brook’s, and Margaret Atwood all discuss American cultural myths in their respective essays â€Å"The Way We Wish We Were,† â€Å"One Nation, Slightly Divisible,† and â€Å"A Letter to America.† All three authors elaborate on specific cultural myths, whether it is about an ideal family, an ideal lifestyle, or an ideal country as a whole. As a result of analyzing the three texts, it is clear that the authors critique Americas image in their own was. As well as elaborate on why the realistic view of the United States is being squelched by major cultural myths.

The emphasis (of MBO)

 «The emphasis (of MBO) is on trying to predict and influence the future rather than on responding and reacting by the seat of the pants. It is also a ‘results-oriented† philosophy of management, one of which emphasizes accomplishments and results. The focus is generally on change and on improving both individual and organizational effectiveness. » A successful implementation of MBO in any country requires a narrow examination of such elements as customs and traditions of that country, which give support to the application of MBO. These elemets are higly influenced by the history. Starting from the early centuries, Russian people got accustomed to live under the central rule when the tsar was the only decision-making body in the country. The communication between the rulers and ruled was flowing only one-way. The landlords, owning the farmers, set quotes to farmers without thinking whether they would be able to achieve them. Afterwards, when the bolshewiks came to rule instead of the monarchy, the same thing happened. Working for a state enterprise, the employees didn†t have a chance to set objectives for their work they performed. The central planning department set quotes, by which all the organizations had to obey even if those planks were set too high to reach. Workers were responsible for reaching organizational goals no matter for at what costs, but on the other side the means by which they had to reach the organizational goals were predetermined by the central planning department. So, we can see that the word  «central », which  «disables » MBO, was quite common and used heavily thrughout the whole history of Russia. Nevertheless, I would say, there were some elements of MBO such as rewarding the employees when they exceeded the quotes set by the central department. Reward was very seldom material. Usually, you would have received a red flag for an excellent work, and your photo would have been printed in the organization†s newspaper. In addition to the rewards, people were working for a common purpose: to reach the communism. And each piece they had produced contributed to this goal. Anyway, this system of rewards worked; it was a good source of motivation although it was resting solely in the willigness of the employees to contribute to the process. Factors that influence management in Russia After we had examined the historical factors that influence the application of MBO, let†s come down to determine factors that influence overall management in Russia now. As a result, it gives also some impact on the ability of MBO to be successful in this country. The first and also the most important factor is the social one. Managing an organization became a real challenge for managers during these hard times. Their decisions are highly influenced by the social environment surrounding the organization. Such a factor as, for instance, values goes hand in hand with the organization†s purpose (profit) in Western societies, but Russian people†s values are different. Russians, as they got accustomed that the only aim of the organization is to contribute to the public welfare, can†t and do not want to understand that the transition to capitalism and, particulary, to a free market economy will delete all the organizations that don†t bring profit that is at least enough to cover the expenses. That is why, for instance, formerly free hospitals are forced to charge fees. No matter whether it is for-profit or non-for-profit organization. It happened so that every organization should make money to live on. As Russia has been passing its stage of transition to a free market economy for only 7 years, there is a lack of specialized managers. Formerly, the best profession was considered to be a physician, but starting from 1991, people realized that the economy needed skilled managers (and employees), lawyers, etc. So, at the time being, there are only a few organizations that are led by professional managers and the rest by, for instance, doctors and teachers; as a result, Russia has a high rate of firm†s failures. The overall atmosphere of distrust has created such a situation where it is difficult to deal with any firm. You are afraid of being cheated; as a result, people are more likely to go for help to a state-owned organization than to a private one. Political instability in Russia explains why organizations in this country are so highly centralized. Due to need of the availability to adapt to the continuously changing situation, which requires application of conceptual skills, managers are forced to have a total control over their  «child », no matter how big the organization is. Lack of important laws creates another challenge for the Russian managers; however, for some of them it is an advantage, for instance, for Mafia. Such an important function of management as planning, which is important for MBO in order to be successful, can†t be realized fully because of ever changing situation. The manager can†t predict the future and plan for the organization because of the uncertainty about the future. That is why in Russia, also called  «the country of wonders », it is more likely to fail in business than in other countries. Another challenge for a manager is to run an organization under economic instability. The heavy dependence on the foreign investments from the USA, World Bank, IMF etc. contributes to factor of uncertainty: no investments – economic recession. In addition to that, the main financial resources are concentrated within a small group of people, called  «semibojarshina », owning the largest firms in Russia. And these become more and more involved in the political process. They extract resources, pass laws only if they are advantageous for their companies. The rest can only watch this  «game ». Focusing on the USA has led to copying the Western way of life, trying to produce goods and services like Americans without actually having knowledge or background in it. All these factors put pressure on the managers and influence the relationship between managers and employees, which is a prediciding factor for applying the MBO approach to a particular organization. Relationship between the employer and the employee MBO offers people a field within which to penetrate. Workers have a relative freedom of choice in deciding which means to choose for reaching a stated goal. They are motivated through reward given to individuals on the basis of how close they come to reaching their goals. Under MBO people should be self-directed and should like their work, and, of course, any MBO program is based on responsibility and proposes democratic leadership. Throughout the previous paragraph we can see that MBO works best under Theory Y. In order to know whether individual†s way of thinking about workers enables MBO to exist in this country, I†ve taken twenty Russian people (all work for Russian organizations) and tried to get out their assumptions about workers. The result was as follows. From the results we can see that most participants stuck to the Theory X, the theory that incorporates people who do not like work, must be forced to do the job, are motivated through the threat of punishment, see their personal gain in job security, and deslike responsibility. Under such conditions, an autocratic leadership is necessary. And only 4 people prefer the Theory Y. The theory that incorporates that people do not dislike work, work through self-direction, are motivated through recognition & reward, see their personal gain in fulfillment, and accept responsibility. Under such conditions a democratic leadership is possible. We see that the Theory Y, which enables MBO, got only 20%. From this research, I†ve proved my assumptions that the way of thinking about workers does not allow any MBO program to be implemented successfully. An impact on MBO has also the system of expectations, so it is important to know what different counterparts (employer and employee) expect from each other. To know what a Russian employer expects from a Russian employee I†ve asked 5 Russian people that are running companies to fill out a questionnaire. The result was the following. The second answer crosses out to ability of MBO to be successful. It does not allow an employee to be creative, to be able to set objectives together with the superior†¦ So we can see that the employer is not  «mentally » ready to apply the MBO approach at the time being. To know what a Russian employee expects from a Russian employer I†ve asked 15 Russian people that are working for Russian organizations to fill out a questionnaire. The result was the following. Nobody has mentioned any of the MBO†s characteristics (ability to set objectives,†¦). That gives us much food for thoughts. If employees† primary goals, while working for an organization, do not match the MBO†s gains (advantages), then MBO won†t be advantageous for the employees. As a result, the question arises  «Why should employees be for the application of MBO at their organization? »

Last Sacrifice Chapter One

I DON'T LIKE CAGES. I don't even like going to zoos. The first time I went to one, I almost had a claustrophobic attack looking at those poor animals. I couldn't imagine any creature living that way. Sometimes I even felt a little bad for criminals, condemned to life in a cell. I'd certainly never expected to spend my life in one. But lately, life seemed to be throwing me a lot of things I'd never expected, because here I was, locked away. â€Å"Hey!' I yelled, gripping the steel bars that isolated me from the world. â€Å"How long am I going to be here? When's my trial? You can't keep me in this dungeon forever!' Okay, it wasn't exactly a dungeon, not in the dark, rusty-chain sense. I was inside a small cell with plain walls, a plain floor, and well †¦ plain everything. Spotless. Sterile. Cold. It was actually more depressing than any musty dungeon could have managed. The bars in the doorway felt cool against my skin, hard and unyielding. Fluorescent lighting made the metal gleam in a way that felt harsh and irritating to my eyes. I could see the shoulder of a man standing rigidly to the side of the cell's entrance and knew there were probably four more guardians in the hallway out of my sight. I also knew none of them were going to answer me back, but that hadn't stopped me from constantly demanding answers from them for the last two days. When the usual silence came, I sighed and slumped back on the cot in the cell's corner. Like everything else in my new home, the cot was colorless and stark. Yeah. I really was starting to wish I had a real dungeon. Rats and cobwebs would have at least given me something to watch. I stared upward and immediately had the disorienting feeling I always did in here: that the ceiling and walls were closing in around me. Like I couldn't breathe. Like the sides of the cell would keep coming toward me until no space remained, pushing out all the air †¦ I sat up abruptly, gasping. Don't stare at the walls and ceiling, Rose, I chastised myself. Instead, I looked down at my clasped hands and tried to figure out how I'd gotten into this mess. The initial answer was obvious: someone had framed me for a crime I didn't commit. And it wasn't petty crime either. It was murder. They'd had the audacity to accuse me of the highest crime a Moroi or dhampir could commit. Now, that isn't to say I haven't killed before. I have. I've also done my fair share of rule (and even law) breaking. Cold- blooded murder, however, was not in my repertoire. Especially not the murder of a queen. It was true Queen Tatiana hadn't been a friend of mine. She'd been the coolly calculating ruler of the Moroi–a race of living, magic-using vampires who didn't kill their victims for blood. Tatiana and I had had a rocky relationship for a number of reasons. One was me dating her great-nephew, Adrian. The other was my disapproval of her policies on how to fight off Strigoi–the evil, undead vampires who stalked us all. Tatiana had tricked me a number of times, but I'd never wanted her dead. Someone apparently had, however, and they'd left a trail of evidence leading right to me, the worst of which were my fingerprints all over the silver stake that had killed Tatiana. Of course, it was my stake, so naturally it'd have my fingerprints. No one seemed to think that was relevant. I sighed again and pulled out a tiny crumpled piece of paper from my pocket. My only reading material. I squeezed it in my hand, having no need to look at the words. I'd long since memorized them. The note's contents made me question what I'd known about Tatiana. It had made me question a lot of things. Frustrated with my own surroundings, I slipped out of them and into someone else's: my best friend Lissa's. Lissa was a Moroi, and we shared a psychic link, one that let me go to her mind and see the world through her eyes. All Moroi wielded some type of elemental magic. Lissa's was spirit, an element tied to psychic and healing powers. It was rare among Moroi, who usually used more physical elements, and we barely understood its abilities–which were incredible. She'd used spirit to bring me back from the dead a few years ago, and that's what had forged our bond. Being in her mind freed me from my cage but offered little help for my problem. Lissa had been working hard to prove my innocence, ever since the hearing that had laid out all the evidence against me. My stake being used in the murder had only been the beginning. My opponents had been quick to remind everyone about my antagonism toward the queen and had also found a witness to testify about my whereabouts during the murder. That testimony had left me without an alibi. The Council had decided there was enough evidence to send me to a full-fledged trial–where I would receive my verdict. Lissa had been trying desperately to get people's attention and convince them I'd been framed. She was having trouble finding anyone who would listen, however, because the entire Moroi Royal Court was consumed with preparations for Tatiana's elaborate funeral. A monarch's death was a big deal. Moroi and dhampirs–half- vampires like me–were coming from all over the world to see the spectacle. Food, flowers, decorations, even musicians †¦ The full deal. If Tatiana had gotten married, I doubted the event would have been this elaborate. With so much activity and buzz, no one cared about me now. As far as most people were concerned, I was safely stashed away and unable to kill again. Tatiana's murderer had been found. Justice was served. Case closed. Before I could get a clear picture of Lissa's surroundings, a commotion at the jail jerked me back into my own head. Someone had entered the area and was speaking to the guards, asking to see me. It was my first visitor in days. My heart pounded, and I leapt up to the bars, hoping it was someone who would tell me this had all been a horrible mistake. My visitor wasn't quite who I'd expected. â€Å"Old man,' I said wearily. â€Å"What are you doing here?' Abe Mazur stood before me. As always, he was a sight to behold. It was the middle of summer–hot and humid, seeing as we were right in the middle of rural Pennsylvania– but that didn't stop him from wearing a full suit. It was a flashy one, perfectly tailored and adorned with a brilliant purple silk tie and matching scarf that just seemed like overkill. Gold jewelry flashed against the dusky hue of his skin, and he looked like he'd recently trimmed his short black beard. Abe was a Moroi, and although he wasn't royal, he wielded enough influence to be. He also happened to be my father. â€Å"I'm your lawyer,' he said cheerfully. â€Å"Here to give you legal counsel, of course.' â€Å"You aren't a lawyer,' I reminded him. â€Å"And your last bit of advice didn't work out so well.' That was mean of me. Abe–despite having no legal training whatsoever–had defended me at my hearing. Obviously, since I was locked up and headed for trial, the outcome of that hadn't been so great. But, in all my solitude, I'd come to realize that he'd been right about something. No lawyer, no matter how good, could have saved me at the hearing. I had to give him credit for stepping up to a lost cause, though considering our sketchy relationship, I still wasn't sure why he had. My biggest theories were that he didn't trust royals and that he felt paternal obligation. In that order. â€Å"My performance was perfect,' he argued. â€Å"Whereas your compelling speech in which you said â€Å"if I was the murderer' didn't do us any favors. Putting that image in the judge's head wasn't the smartest thing you could have done.' I ignored the barb and crossed my arms. â€Å"So what are you doing here? I know it's not just a fatherly visit. You never do anything without a reason.' â€Å"Of course not. Why do anything without a reason?' â€Å"Don't start up with your circular logic.' He winked. â€Å"No need to be jealous. If you work hard and put your mind to it, you might just inherit my brilliant logic skills someday.' â€Å"Abe,' I warned. â€Å"Get on with it.' â€Å"Fine, fine,' he said. â€Å"I've come to tell you that your trial might be moved up.' â€Å"W-what? That's great news!' At least, I thought it was. His expression said otherwise. Last I'd heard, my trial might be months away. The mere thought of that–of being in this cell so long–made me feel claustrophobic again. â€Å"Rose, you do realize that your trial will be nearly identical to your hearing. Same evidence and a guilty verdict.' â€Å"Yeah, but there must be something we can do before that, right? Find proof to clear me?' Suddenly, I had a good idea of what the problem was. â€Å"When you say â€Å"moved up,' how soon are we talking?' â€Å"Ideally, they'd like to do it after a new king or queen is crowned. You know, part of the post-coronation festivities.' His tone was flippant, but as I held his dark gaze, I caught the full meaning. Numbers rattled in my head. â€Å"The funeral's this week, and the elections are right after †¦ You're saying I could go to trial and be convicted in, what, practically two weeks?' Abe nodded. I flew toward the bars again, my heart pounding in my chest. â€Å"Two weeks? Are you serious?' When he'd said the trial had been moved up, I'd figured maybe it was a month away. Enough time to find new evidence. How would I have pulled that off? Unclear. Now, time was rushing away from me. Two weeks wasn't enough, especially with so much activity at Court. Moments ago, I'd resented the long stretch of time I might face. Now, I had too little of it, and the answer to my next question could make things worse. â€Å"How long?' I asked, trying to control the trembling in my voice. â€Å"How long after the verdict until they †¦ carry out the sentence?' I still didn't entirely know what all I'd inherited from Abe, but we seemed to clearly share one trait: an unflinching ability to deliver bad news. â€Å"Probably immediately.' â€Å"Immediately.' I backed up, nearly sat on the bed, and then felt a new surge of adrenaline. â€Å"Immediately? So. Two weeks. In two weeks, I could be †¦ dead.' Because that was the thing–the thing that had been hanging over my head the moment it became clear someone had planted enough evidence to frame me. People who killed queens didn't get sent to prison. They were executed. Few crimes among Moroi and dhampirs got that kind of punishment. We tried to be civilized in our justice, showing we were better than the bloodthirsty Strigoi. But certain crimes, in the eyes of the law, deserved death. Certain people deserved it, too–say, like, treasonous murderers. As the full impact of the future fell upon me, I felt myself shake and tears come dangerously close to spilling out of my eyes. â€Å"That's not right!' I told Abe. â€Å"That's not right, and you know it!' â€Å"Doesn't matter what I think,' he said calmly. â€Å"I'm simply delivering the facts.' â€Å"Two weeks,' I repeated. â€Å"What can we do in two weeks? I mean †¦ you've got some lead, right? Or †¦ or †¦ you can find something by then? That's your specialty.' I was rambling and knew I sounded hysterical and desperate. Of course, that was because I felt hysterical and desperate. â€Å"It's going to be difficult to accomplish much,' he explained. â€Å"The Court's preoccupied with the funeral and elections. Things are disorderly–which is both good and bad.' I knew about all the preparations from watching Lissa. I'd seen the chaos already brewing. Finding any sort of evidence in this mess wouldn't just be difficult. It could very well be impossible. Two weeks. Two weeks, and I could be dead. â€Å"I can't,' I told Abe, my voice breaking. â€Å"I'm not †¦ meant to die that way.' â€Å"Oh?' He arched an eyebrow. â€Å"You know how you're supposed to die?' â€Å"In battle.' One tear managed to escape, and I hastily wiped it away. I'd always lived my life with a tough image. I didn't want that shattering, not now when it mattered most of all. â€Å"In fighting. Defending those I love. Not †¦ not through some planned execution.' â€Å"This is a fight of sorts,' he mused. â€Å"Just not a physical one. Two weeks is still two weeks. Is it bad? Yes. But it's better than one week. And nothing's impossible. Maybe new evidence will turn up. You simply have to wait and see.' â€Å"I hate waiting. This room †¦ it's so small. I can't breathe. It'll kill me before any executioner does.' â€Å"I highly doubt it.' Abe's expression was still cool, with no sign of sympathy. Tough love. â€Å"You've fearlessly fought groups of Strigoi, yet you can't handle a small room?' â€Å"It's more than that! Now I have to wait each day in this hole, knowing there's a clock ticking down to my death and almost no way to stop it.' â€Å"Sometimes the greatest tests of our strength are situations that don't seem so obviously dangerous. Sometimes surviving is the hardest thing of all.' â€Å"Oh. No. No.' I stalked away, pacing in small circles. â€Å"Do not start with all that noble crap. You sound like Dimitri when he used to give me his deep life lessons.' â€Å"He survived this very situation. He's surviving other things too.' Dimitri. I took a deep breath, calming myself before I answered. Until this murder mess, Dimitri had been the biggest complication in my life. A year ago–though it seemed like eternity–he'd been my instructor in high school, training me to be one of the dhampir guardians who protect Moroi. He'd accomplished that–and a lot more. We'd fallen in love, something that wasn't allowed. We'd managed it as best we could, even finally coming up with a way for us to be together. That hope had disappeared when he'd been bitten and turned Strigoi. It had been a living nightmare for me. Then, through a miracle no one had believed possible, Lissa had used spirit to transform him back to a dhampir. But things unfortunately hadn't quite returned to how they'd been before the Strigoi attack. I glared at Abe. â€Å"Dimitri survived this, but he was horribly depressed about it! He still is. About everything.' The full weight of the atrocities he'd committed as a Strigoi haunted Dimitri. He couldn't forgive himself and swore he could never love anyone now. The fact that I had begun dating Adrian didn't help matters. After a number of futile efforts, I'd accepted that Dimitri and I were through. I'd moved on, hoping I could have something real with Adrian now. â€Å"Right,' Abe said dryly. â€Å"He's depressed, but you're the picture of happiness and joy.' I sighed. â€Å"Sometimes talking to you is like talking to myself: pretty damned annoying. Is there any other reason you're here? Other than to deliver the terrible news? I would have been happier living in ignorance.' I'm not supposed to die this way. I'm not supposed to see it coming. My death is not some appointment penciled in on a calendar. He shrugged. â€Å"I just wanted to see you. And your arrangements.' Yes, he had indeed, I realized. Abe's eyes had always come back to me as we spoke; there'd been no question I held his attention. There was nothing in our banter to concern my guards. But every so often, I'd see Abe's gaze flick around, taking in the hall, my cell, and whatever other details he found interesting. Abe had not earned his reputation as zmey–the serpent–for nothing. He was always calculating, always looking for an advantage. It seemed my tendency toward crazy plots ran in the family. â€Å"I also wanted to help you pass the time.' He smiled and from under his arm, he handed me a couple of magazines and a book through the bars. â€Å"Maybe this will improve things.' I doubted any entertainment was going to make my two-week death countdown more manageable. The magazines were fashion and hair oriented. The book was The Count of Monte Cristo. I held it up, needing to make a joke, needing to do anything to make this less real. â€Å"I saw the movie. Your subtle symbolism isn't really all that subtle. Unless you've hidden a file inside it.' â€Å"The book's always better than the movie.' He started to turn away. â€Å"Maybe we'll have a literary discussion next time.' â€Å"Wait.' I tossed the reading material onto the bed. â€Å"Before you go †¦ in this whole mess, no one's ever brought up who actually did kill her.' When Abe didn't answer right away, I gave him a sharp look. â€Å"You do believe I didn't do it, right?' For all I knew, he did think I was guilty and was just trying to help anyway. It wouldn't have been out of character. â€Å"I believe my sweet daughter is capable of murder,' he said at last. â€Å"But not this one.' â€Å"Then who did it?' â€Å"That,' he said before walking away, â€Å"is something I'm working on.' â€Å"But you just said we're running out of time! Abe!' I didn't want him to leave. I didn't want to be alone with my fear. â€Å"There's no way to fix this!' â€Å"Just remember what I said in the courtroom,' he called back. He left my sight, and I sat back on the bed, thinking back to that day in court. At the end of the hearing, he'd told me–quite adamantly–that I wouldn't be executed. Or even go to trial. Abe Mazur wasn't one to make idle promises, but I was starting to think that even he had limits, especially since our timetable had just been adjusted. I again took out the crumpled piece of paper and opened it. It too had come from the courtroom, covertly handed to me by Ambrose–Tatiana's servant and boy-toy. Rose, If you're reading this, then something terrible has happened. You probably hate me, and I don't blame you. I can only ask that you trust that what I did with the age decree was better for your people than what others had planned. There are some Moroi who want to force all dhampirs into service, whether they want it or not, by using compulsion. The age decree has slowed that faction down. However, I write to you with a secret you must put right, and it is a secret you must share with as few as possible. Vasilisa needs her spot on the Council, and it can be done. She is not the last Dragomir. Another lives, the illegitimate child of Eric Dragomir. I know nothing else, but if you can find this son or daughter, you will give Vasilisa the power she deserves. No matter your faults and dangerous temperament, you are the only one I feel can take on this task. Waste no time in fulfilling it. –Tatiana Ivashkov The words hadn't changed since the other hundred times I'd read them, nor had the questions they always triggered. Was the note true? Had Tatiana really written it? Had she–in spite of her outwardly hostile attitude–trusted me with this dangerous knowledge? There were twelve royal families who made decisions for the Moroi, but for all intents and purposes, there might as well have only been eleven. Lissa was the last of her line, and without another member of the Dragomir family, Moroi law said she had no power to sit on and vote with the Council that made our decisions. Some pretty bad laws had already been made, and if the note was true, more would come. Lissa could fight those laws–and some people wouldn't like that, people who had already demonstrated their willingness to kill. Another Dragomir. Another Dragomir meant Lissa could vote. One more Council vote could change so much. It could change the Moroi world. It could change my world–say, like, whether I was found guilty or not. And certainly, it could change Lissa's world. All this time she'd believed she was alone. Yet †¦ I uneasily wondered if she'd welcome a half-sibling. I accepted that my father was a scoundrel, but Lissa had always held hers up on a pedestal, believing the best of him. This news would come as a shock, and although I'd trained my entire life to keep her safe from physical threats, I was starting to think there were other things she needed to be protected from as well. But first, I needed the truth. I had to know if this note had really come from Tatiana. I was pretty sure I could find out, but it involved something I hated doing. Well, why not? It wasn't like I had anything else to do right now. Rising from the bed, I turned my back to the bars and stared at the blank wall, using it as a focus point. Bracing myself, remembering that I was strong enough to keep control, I released the mental barriers I always subconsciously kept around my mind. A great pressure lifted from me, like air escaping a balloon. And suddenly, I was surrounded by ghosts.