Thursday, December 26, 2019

Analysis Of Kate Chopin s The Storm - 1161 Words

In the 19th century women were expected to be married, and that’s what would lead them to love and their happy ever after. Despite that, they always didn’t really love who they married, but they stood by because it was frowned upon for women to break the commitment of marriage, during this time period. In Kate Chopin’s, â€Å"The Storm† you can see that Calixta is unhappy in her married life, and it leads her to break away from the regular rules of a women in that time period. Similarly, in â€Å"Cinderella† by Anne Sexton, Cinderella does not seem happy in her marriage with the prince. Furthermore, the male characters in both cases are determined to get what they want, and at times they have very little respect for the women. Therefore, women and femininity is a major theme that occurs in both stories. However, Cinderella and Calixta also have different views on what love is. In Chopin’s Calixta is a very irritable, and temperamental towards are husband and son. Right in the beginning it even states she â€Å"felt no uneasiness for their safety† (Chopin 96), and her husband and son were out in an awful storm. Therefore, we can see that Calixta doesn’t find complete fulfillment in her marriage. That’s why she makes the foolish decision to have an affair with Alcee during the storm, and after that she seems happier, and relaxed. However, during this time period it was greatly frowned upon for women to have an affair. The major points of the theme of women and femininity are shown when theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Kate Chopin s The Storm 915 Words   |  4 PagesSeptember 30, 2015 Analysis of Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Storm† â€Å"The Storm† by Kate Chopin is a story of passion and desire where morality has no home when it comes to love, sex, and marriage. â€Å"The Storm† as the title implies, tells a story about Calixta a married woman who has an affair with Alcee, a former beau who is also married. As the storm approaches so does Alcee riding upon his horse and he asks â€Å"May I come in and wait on your gallery till the storm is over, Calixta?† (Chopin , pg 121). She allowsRead MoreAnalysis Of Kate Chopin s The Storm 1842 Words   |  8 PagesMagen Ware Phyl Charnes English 28, March 2014 Betrayal My research paper is on The Storm, by Kate Chopin. This story is about two married couples having an affair during a fierce storm while their partners are elsewhere. Alcee is a high class, landowner and liked Calixta who was lower class. They were in love but could not let anyone know because it would be a disgrace. Five years later, they were both separately married and did not talk often. Calixta and Bobinot are married and they haveRead MoreAn Analysis Of Kate Chopin s The Awakening And The Storm 1115 Words   |  5 Pages The late 1800’s was a cruel and unjust period in history for women. Around this time, women sought out to find equality and began the feminist movement. However, religious and social traditions still held strong, thus allowing the continuation of suppression of women’s rights, such as marriage and freedom. While many saw women as property rather than people, women were gathering a voice and eventually prompted to make a stand for their rights. Two pieces of timeless literature that express thisRead MoreThe Storm By Kate Chopin Essay1508 Words   |  7 Pages Kate Chopin was an American author who wrote the short story â€Å"The Storm†. It takes place somewhere down in Louisiana at a general store and at the house of Calixta, Bobinot who is the wife of Calixta, and their son Bibi. The other character in the story is the friend of Calixta, Alcee Laballiere. The story begins with Bobinot and Bibi in the general store to buy a can of shrimp; meanwhile, at home, Ca lixta is at home doing chores when a storm develops, which makes her worry about Bobinot and BibiRead MoreAn Examination Of How Kate Chopin s Work1298 Words   |  6 PagesENGL 1102 – Comp/Lit Essay 2 (Mulry) Sellers, James R – 920022413 Due Date: April 20, 2015 An Examination of How Kate Chopin’s Works Taken Together Contribute to our Understanding of Her Time and the Place of Women in Society Looking at themes present in his short stories and novels, Kate Chopin presents examples of female strength and an assertive rebellion to the social norms during the late 1800s. By seeking to transparently and boldly portray the risquà © behavior of her lead characters, whichRead MoreSt. Louis And New Orleans1606 Words   |  7 PagesKate Chopin was born Katherine O’Flaherty on February 8, 1851, in St. Louis, Missouri, into a socially prominent family with roots in the French past of both St. Louis and New Orleans. Her father, Thomas O’Flaherty, an immigrant from Ireland, had lived in New York and Illinois before settling in St. Louis, where he prospered as the owner of a commission house. In 1839, he married into a well-known Creole family, members of the city’s social elite, but his wife died in childbirth only a year laterRead MoreThe Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin Essay1528 Words   |  7 Pagesby Kate Chopin â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin is very intriguing, not only because of the emotional change Louise Mallard goes through the hour after her husband’s tragic death but also the way Chopin uses irony in the story. During this analysis of â€Å"The Story of an Hour† we will discuss the summary, plot, setting, tone, theme, point of view, emotions of Louise Mallard and other characters involved in the story. Chopin’s story uses the feelings of a married woman in the late 1890’s andRead MoreThe Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin973 Words   |  4 Pages Have you ever read a story about a woman who is ecstatic to hear of her husband’s death? The Story of an Hour is a short story in which Kate Chopin, the author, presents an often unheard of view of marriage. An analysis of â€Å"The Story of an Hour† faces us with one unanswered question. Why was Ms. Millard overfilled with joy after hearing the passing of her husband’s d eath? The answer is quite simple. She was overcome with joy due to the fact that she was trapped and finally had the opportunityRead MoreThe Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin1542 Words   |  7 PagesIn the short story, â€Å"Story of an Hour†, Kate Chopin writes about a woman with heart trouble, Mrs. Mallard, who, in finding out about the death of her husband, Mr. Mallard, experiences some initial feelings of sadness which quickly transition into the exhilarating discovery of the idea of a newfound freedom lying in front of her. When it is later revealed that her husband is not actually dead, she realizes she will not get to taste that freedom. The devastation kills her. What Mrs. Mallard goes throughRead MoreKate Chopin s An Hour857 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstanding of how various emotions can effect an individual; this is a consequence of being human. The broad variety of different emotions that Kate Chopin fit into â€Å"The Story of an Hour† presents the story with a perspective that is very intelligible. While some readers may not understand what it is like to live a sheltered life due to marital convention, Chopin laid out the emotional path that the protagonist takes and simplified it into individual, coherent feelings that a woman in the late nineteenth-century

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Homosexuality in Islam - 3723 Words

Macalester Islam Journal Volume 2 Macalester Islam Journal Issue 3 Article 8 3-28-2007 Homosexuality in Islam: A Difficult Paradox Nicole Kligerman Macalester College Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/islam Recommended Citation Kligerman, Nicole (2007) Homosexuality in Islam: A Difficult Paradox, Macalester Islam Journal: Vol. 2: Iss. 3, Article 8. Available at: http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/islam/vol2/iss3/8 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Religious Studies Department at DigitalCommons@Macalester College. It has been accepted for inclusion in Macalester Islam Journal by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Macalester College. For more†¦show more content†¦The Qur’an further encourages sex by outlawing celibacy and permitting polygamy, thus reinforcing heteronormative sexual behavior. Since the purpose of sex is procreation according the religious text, homosexuality is seen as an aberration of Allah’s will which threatens Muslims with extinction. As a result, there is officially no room for homosexuality or homosexuals within Islam.43 Scholars of shari’a, Islamic law, interpret homosexuality to be not merely a sin, but a crime as well. Despite this, there is no specific punishment for homosexuality; instead, the decision is left to the discretion of the ruling authorities. Shari’a encourages those accused of homosexuality to repent instead of confessing to the â€Å"crime†. This phenomenon can potentially explain the paucity of historical literature of punishment of sexual transgressions.44 â€Å"Islamic law stands for privacy and protects it by all means. Besides, it repeatedly emphasizes that a person is innocent until proven guilty without any doubt, and 39 Duran 182 Ibid 182 41 Ibid 182 42 Ibid 182 43 Ibid 183 44 Ibid 184 40 Published by DigitalCommons@Macalester College, 2007 3 Macalester Islam Journal, Vol. 2 [2007], Iss. 3, Art. 8 Macalester Islam Journal Spring 2007 page 55 ______________________________________________________ everyone should have the benefit of the slightest doubt.†45 Therefore the jurisprudence laid out in Islamic law also aids those accused of being gay. MuslimShow MoreRelatedTwisting Islam to Justify Cruelty Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesJournal Article 1: Twisting Islam to justify cruelty Paul Sheehan in his piece titled ‘Twisting Islam to justify cruelty’ which appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald (27/05/2013) responds to the 2013 murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, a British soldier, and explores the Islamic stance on the killing of non-Muslims. Sheehan argues that Islam advocates the murder of non-Muslims, and validates this view using the opinions of a Muslim cleric, Omar Bakri Mohammed, selected verses from the Qur’an and statisticsRead MoreThe World Of The Desert Tribes1457 Words   |  6 Pagesin an era in which the nature, function, and structure of the family have been thrown into question. Many, for example, would consider an unmarried couple, a single mother, and homosexual couple as equally legitimate expressions of the family unit. Islam takes a more conservative stance, arguing that the family is a divinely inspired institution, with marriage at its core. Family history is very important to an individual. By knowing where you come from, you can have a better understanding of yourRead MoreChristianity And Homosexuality : The Way Of Thinking1395 Words   |  6 PagesSimilar to the ancient Greeks’ way of thinking, homosexuality in Christianity was considered taboo because of the way the homosexual acts (specifically sodomy) were considered to degrade one partner to the status of a female. An encyclopedia article in the Encyclopedia of Gender and Society, titled â€Å"Christianity and Homosexuality†, talks about how the way a person interprets the different lessons of the Bible can influence how they view homosexuality. Using the historical-critical way of reading theRead MoreDifferences Between Hinduism And Islam925 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough there are very similar views between Hinduism and Islam the reasoning behind these, views differ due to the fact that basic key concepts of these faiths differ so tremendously. Al though at a superficial glance the ethical viewpoints of Gender roles, Sexuality as a whole, Homosexuality ,and Sexuality as a whole seem almost consistent with one another. Although they differ in more ways than they are similar. Between Hinduism and Islam sexuality is viewed as rite of passage for marriage, in otherRead MoreThe Prophet, Muhammad, Islam1349 Words   |  6 PagesThe prophet, Muhammad founded Islam in 622 C.E. at the Arabian Peninsula. Judaism and Christianity both originate in Palestine, but Judaism commenced over 3,500 years ago while Christianity found its beginning in 33 C.E. Christianity was created by Christ, the son of God, while Abraham was the man credited with founding Judaism. Assuredly, albeit Judaism, Christianity and Islam were founded in divergent times, the religions still hold similarities in beliefs and teachings. However, differentiationsRead MoreSexual Ethics Essay1020 Words   |  5 Pagesdilemmas in sexual ethics such as homosexuality, marriage and divorce and pornography. For instance homosexuality is a major problem within sexual ethics because homosexual sex cannot lead to reproduction. However sexual ethic it differs between denominations compared to government law. Therefore these issues are a concern to religious belief; different faiths have different view on homosexuality or marriage and divorce. Many religious beliefs do not encourage homosexuality in fact it is severely discouragedRead MoreFactors that Contribute to Social Illness in Brunei Darussalam732 Words   |  3 Pagesa high rate even so it still does exist. So, what are the factors that contribute to social illness in Brunei Darussalam? This essay will discuss about the factors of social illness in Brunei which is to be more in the nature social behavior, homosexuality and pregnancy outside marriage. The first factor related to the nature of social behavior. In Brunei Darussalam, social behaviors are not excluded especially in heavy consumption of alcohol. As these days, adolescent in Brunei are proudly sayingRead MoreReligion780 Words   |  4 PagesCHRISTIAN ETHICS THE 060 REV. KENNEDY OKOTH PATRICIA WACHIRA 15S03ADCRI002 ------------------------------------------------- I am writing this with a neutral stand point on homosexuality. I am not for homosexuality and neither am I against it. INTRODUCTION Homosexuality is sexual attraction, romantic attraction or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender. The most common terms for homosexual people are lesbian for females and gay for males, though gay is sometimesRead Morehomosexuality1598 Words   |  7 Pages Abstract Homosexuals are individuals that are attracted to the same sex, and its being accepted by many nations worldwide, and people are accepting and adapting the idea of it no matter the consequence even its on one’s self expense. Homosexuality in Today’s Society Everywhere around the world an individual meets different kind of people, no matter the age the race the ethnicity. And the beliefs people may have are not similar to one another, like the idea of homosexuals. HomosexualRead MoreA Brief Note On The Union Of Marriage1422 Words   |  6 Pagesunion, but it also confiscates the pressure on men to have extramarital affairs and infidelity practices. Same sex marriage is also another form of marriage social institution. It entails sexual relationships between men, also referred to as homosexuality or gay, or between females, also known as lesbianism. In our modern society, same sex marriages are gradually becoming tolerated and hence, socially accepted and considered as legitimate. In some parts of the world, such as the United States and

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

The Five Competitive Forces that Shape Strategy

Questions: Despite the critiques of Porters five forces model, the framework remains an essential strategic tool that is taught in all business schools around the world. Porter himself remains convinced of the validity of his ideas and has recently responded to some of the critiques highlighted in your material. Please read the following article by Porter: Porter, M. E. (2008) The five competitive forces that shape strategy, Harvard Business Review, issue 1, pp. 7893, and then answer the following; A.i Critiques of Porters five forces concept (1980), suggest that might be inappropriate for application in non-competitive situations. (13 marks) A.ii Discuss the extent to which Porters five forces analysis may or may not apply to public sector organisations? Why? Support your answer with real life examples. (12 marks). B. Grant (2008) suggests that, while the five forces analysis enables us to develop an appreciation of an industrys potential for profit, it does not really discuss the characteristics of competition. Grant suggests that, organisations must deliver what customers want more effectively than their competitors do. He added that Key success factors are generally understood in terms of answers to these questions. Elaborate on Grants views and support your answer with real life examples. Answers: Question A: i) Porters five-force analysis tries to find out the level of competition within an industry and strategies in business development. The five forces are threat of substitute goods/services, competitive rivalry and threat from potential new entrants, power of the suppliers and power of the buyers (Chung 2013). The high competition reduces the power of the firm in a market scenario. A non-competitive situation in the market is regarded as the monopolistic market situation. Threat of potential new entry: Although a monopolistic market would want to limit this threat by creating high barriers to entry, no market is completely isolated from another, which means that external forces have the potency to admit new entrants to the market. Power of the buyer: As power of consumer increases, they would choose not only what the monopolisers offer but also what other players (manufacturers of goods/services) offer. Monopolisers tend to sell goods/services that are of high price but low quality. Power of the consumer can actually enable the customers to ignore the monopolisers and go for what the other manufacturers provide. Threat of Substitution: With time, buyers would definitely substitute goods/services from monopolisers to the competitors due to better quality and lower pricing. Power of supplier: Monopolistic markets tend to have low number of suppliers who control the entire market. They also control the prices, keeping them high. However, suppliers remain in constant fear of new entrants (Porter 2008). Competitive Rivalry: If there are more than a monopolisers in the same market, they tend to work together and not against each other. ii) The public and the private sector make strategies for marketing. Private sectors firm use the five competitive force strategy of Porter to analyze the external forces acting on the firm. But, with simple modifications, the five force strategy can be used in public sector agencies. Public sector agencies like Ministries and Departments uses the five force model to enforce laws and policies to steer the profit-making companies from making strategies detrimental to national interest. In the modified version of Porters Five Force model, the economic and political influences are integrated in the model (Dobbs 2014). The five forces like, threat of potential new entry, power of the buyer, threat of substitution, power of the supplier, competitive rivalry, affect the profit of an private company, a public organizations are more concerned with these forces affecting its ability to achieve its objective effectively. The Telecommunication industry in the Sultanate of Oman uses Porters Five Force Model to analyze the external forces acting on this industry (Kemp et.al. 2014). The analysis revealed that the competitive forces are competitive rivalry and threat of substitution. The threat to new entry and buyers power has remarkable effect, but suppliers power has a small effect. All the five forces have significant implication on the participants of the telecommunication industry of Oman. The participants of the telecommunication industry of Oman use the outcome of this analysis as a critical tool to construct strategies in the changing dynamics of this industry. This analysis also helps to identify the competitive forces acting on the telecommunication industry (Kotler et al. 2015). Question B: Grants model is a complement to Porters Five Force Model. The key success factors in Grants model are Customers demand Survival of a firm in face of competition These two factors are considered as the pre-requisite for success of a firm. Customers want can also be referred to as the demand analysis of the firm. The demand analysis can be divided into two parts to identify the target customers and their demand. The target consumer is a particular group of customer in the market on whom the firm concentrates while formulating marketing and advertising strategies. The firm communicates with the target consumer through electronic and print media. The target consumer having buying power provides the firm with profits. If the consumers give value to lower cost then firms can take advantage of economies of scale (Magretta 2013.). The survival of a firm in competition depends on intensity and dimensions of the competition it faces. The strategies of the firm are to obtain a higher position in the competitive scenario. A real life example following the Grant model is the National Bank of Oman. The banking system in National Banking of Oman has good reputation in satisfying their customer needs. They serve their customers according to their demands. Online banking with internet banking portal, relationship manager to handle phone banking are some of the ways in which the National Bank of Oman serve their customers. The objective of the National Bank of Oman is to provide service to their customers in a convenient and pleasant way. They help their customer to plan, protect and grow their finances both in long and short run. In 61 branches across the country, the bank is helping their consumers with relationship manager in each branch. The count of branches assures that the bank has been able to reach every corner of the country. Sarada wealth management is a service focused to provide benefits to the privileged customers. Mazaya banking service takes care of all banking and investment plan of the cus tomers. A cutthroat competition exists in the banking industry in Oman. Only the big financial institution can only be able to thrive through this competition. Out of total 18 commercial banks in Oman, only five has been able to remain in the comfort zone (Suneetha and Megharaj 2015). The National bank of Oman has been able to hold a second position in terms of net annual profits. This competition might be because of that a large number of banks targeting a small section as their customers. Thus, the survival of the fittest theory applies here. The bank able to serve and satisfy its customers will survive the competition. Oman being a country with relatively small population and a negative approach towards business expansion, financial innovation is absent here. Banks with poor customer service are just trying to scrap the business. Adapting technology and incorporating it in the banking system enhances customer service facilities. National Bank of Oman has been able to incorporate and use t echnology in serving their customers. It has been the most cost effective way to reach the target customers. References: Chung, C.Y., 2013. The Key Success Factors of Brand Extension for the Artists-Use Trendy Brand as an Example. Dobbs, M., 2014. Guidelines for applying Porter's five forces framework: a set of industry analysis templates.Competitiveness Review,24(1), pp.32-45. Kemp, Z.L.R.G., Jongsma, M.A., Huang, C., Dons, J.H. and Omta, S.O., 2014. Key Success Factors of Innovation Projects of Vegetable Breeding Companies in China.International Food and Agribusiness Management Review,17(4), p.177. Kotler, P., Burton, S., Deans, K., Brown, L. and Armstrong, G., 2015.Marketing. Pearson Higher Education AU. Magretta, J., 2013.Understanding Michael Porter: The essential guide to competition and strategy. Harvard business press. Porter, M.E. and Heppelmann, J.E., 2014. How smart, connected products are transforming competition.Harvard Business Review,92(11), pp.64-88. Porter, M.E., 2008. The five competitive forces that shape strategy. Suneetha, S. and Megharaj, B.R., 2015. Customer value through value delivery process in jewellery industry-intensity of customer conception (with special reference to Hyderabad and Secunderabad).South Asian Journal of Marketing Management Research,5(1), pp.86-101.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Linear equation free essay sample

Running header should use a shortened version of the title If the title Is long. Page number is located at right margin. (full title; centered horizontally vertically) Two-variable Inequalities John Q. Student Assignment Instructors Name Date Running Header Two-variable Inequalities (title required on flrst line) Continuing last weeks topic of functions and relationships between variables, this weeks work examines a practical application of two-variable inequalities. As the ame implies, there are independent and dependent variables, as well as graphic representations of the solutions. Because of the inequality, the graphs and solutions demonstrate a range of possible answers that would work in the given situation. This problem is similar to #68 on page 539 (Dugopolski, 2012) for purposes of demonstrating the math needed for this writing assignment. A shipping container can carry maximum of 125 sofas and no recliners, or maximum of no sofas and 275 recliners. Study the graph and write an equation to fit the line. We will write a custom essay sample on Linear equation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Pretend the triangle egion is shaded in and change the equation to an inequality describing this region. The diagram is showing the sofas on the x axis and the recliners on the y axis. There are two points on the graph, (275, O) and (O, 125), so we can compute the slope of this line. The slope Is 3 The point-slope form of a linear equation to write the equation Itself can now be used. These are the steps we take to arrive at our linear inequality. Start with the Substitute the slope for m and (275, O) for the x and y. Use distributive property and then add 275 to both sides. Multiply both sides by 5. Add 1 lx to both sides and change to less than or equal to symbol. The graph has a solid line rather than a dotted line indicating that points on the line itself are part of the solution set. This will be true anytime the inequality symbol has the equal to bar. There are two more questions to answer in this section: 1 . Will the shipping container hold 80 sofas and 200 recliners? In other words is the point (80, 200) in the solution region.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Greatness of Corporate Soul Essays - Virtue, Nicomachean Ethics

The Greatness of Corporate Soul Essays - Virtue, Nicomachean Ethics Bus 102 Sec 022 The Greatness of Corporate Soul In the article The Greatness of Corporate Soul, the author suggests that business enterprises are looking for a paradigm of the market economy that both achieve intellectual and practical authenticity of the corporation's purpose. In order to understand greatness of soul, we should first understand Aristotles conception of virtue itself. According to Aristotle, there are two classes of virtues. There are intellectual and character virtues. It is certain that Aristotles virtues was widely recognized by the people from Aristotles period to present. A companys greatness can be both financially or philosophically or both. This essay includes essential informations that reveals how greatness driven by superior expertise can help households, small businesses, and multinational corporations to exceed their potentials and lead to success. If an employee in the company can make commitment to hard work and have perpetual endurance for his/her tasks, the likelihood of them succeeding in the co mpany is very high. Not only does these ingredients move cooperations toward greatness, but also help to promote a healthier environment for the society. The idea of greatness requires discipline of perseverance. The foundation of business are closely related to social,behavioral and management science. According to Aristotles Nicomachean Ethics, the standards for corporation to success are not fully based on building prestige and honor but rather to have a strong integrity of character of management decisions in order to perpetual vitality of the firm. This kind of standard is the paradigm of a successful management and should be adopt by all corporations. In essay one, the author suggests that the political and economic system that support the idea of greatness is capitalism. However, capitalism is not simply just the definition of wealth and resources but is infused deeply within the social contract. The social contract is a theory addresses the questions of the origin of our soc iety and authority of the state over the individual. Today in our society, there are many mechanisms available to managers to maintain their high ethicality in their organization. examples can be ethics-oriented management and ethics training. We can make use of such mechanisms to make corporation stronger both financially and ethically. Greatness of soul is a type of virtue of character which requires the owner to have intellectual virtue. Greatness of soul is closely related to generosity. Since the great souled person has the correct view of value, external goods are often seem to be not the first priority when they think about management. External goods without virtue is not acceptable because those goods are not earned based on ethics guideline. Only the good person deserves glory and honor. Also, the great-souled person does not really care about everything. A person with greatness of soul will not even care even for honor because the desire for external good is weak and thus he will not have the motivation to perform despicable actions. Overall, the greatness of soul make the virtues greater. The author believes that all virtues are closely related to each other, there are always connections amongst any virtues. This is because things will not occur in isolation with other things. Aristotles purpose of showing the idea of the greatness of soul is to teach us how to distinguish the promise of human. There are many great companies around the globe who already have adopted the idea of corporate soul. Understand greatness is the key for a company to establish effective management systems that can utilize their resources to fairly serve the society. In order to understand greatness of soul, we should first understand Aristotles conception of virtue itself. The idea of greatness requires discipline of perseverance. Not only does these ingredients move cooperations toward greatness, but also help to promote a healthier environment for the society. Understand greatness is the key for a company to establish effective management systems that can utilize their resources to fairly serve the society.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Free Essays on In a Station of the Metro

associated with black used in this context are indicative of places that are of little law, unknown dangers or catastrophic events (i.e. Black Plague, Black Monday). By placing fragile â€Å"petals† in to what seems as a harsh environment, the beauty of the faces that he sees is magnified by the unpleasant surroundings. Pound writes this poem to share his experience at the subway station from his perspective. His concise grasp of imagery gives the reader every detail and nuance to completely immerse the imagination in his reality. In whole, Pound’s poem creates an image from... Free Essays on In a Station of the Metro Free Essays on In a Station of the Metro The Explication of Ezra Pound’s â€Å"In a Station of the Metro† Ezra Pound’s words portray a moment frozen in time. The poem, â€Å"In a Station of the Metro,† is a poem of imagery. Through imagery, Pound imbues his vision and thoughts of his surroundings while on a subway train. Pound’s title, â€Å"In a Station of the Metro,† sets the stage to allow the reader to visualize a â€Å"†¦ dark, cold, wet†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (p657) subway station. Pound uses these words to set the ambiance. He puts the reader at the station watching â€Å"the apparition of these faces in the crowd†(1). The word â€Å"apparition† takes away the identity of the peoples’ faces as what seems like a train speeding by and blurring the faces of the awaiting passengers. Yet Pound does allow the reader to notice the faces that he sees by giving a select few form, hence, â€Å"Petals on a wet, black bough†(2). The author uses â€Å"Petals† to relate to the faces that he notices in the amorphous crowd from the â€Å"bough† which he relates to the train. Pound uses â€Å"Petals† which signify beauty and delicacy, an object spawned from the sun and places them in the â€Å"wet, black bough† which relates to subjects of a subterranean plane, a place that is void of sun which is indicative of a subway station. The word â€Å"black† used by Pound describes the conditions of the subway. Words associated with black used in this context are indicative of places that are of little law, unknown dangers or catastrophic events (i.e. Black Plague, Black Monday). By placing fragile â€Å"petals† in to what seems as a harsh environment, the beauty of the faces that he sees is magnified by the unpleasant surroundings. Pound writes this poem to share his experience at the subway station from his perspective. His concise grasp of imagery gives the reader every detail and nuance to completely immerse the imagination in his reality. In whole, Pound’s poem creates an image from...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Diversified groups Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Diversified groups - Coursework Example the members in a group are talented and skilled, are clear about the goals they want to achieve and their individualistic and collective responsibilities in that, and deem the work more important than their personal ego, the group succeeds in achieving its goal. On the other hand, a group is likely to fail in achieving its goal when its members are not talented and skilled enough to play their individualistic roles in the achievement of goal, fight with each other over petty matters, and deem their personal ego more important than work. Chances of success of a group, irrespective of the differences in the views, opinions, and approach of the members it is composed of, can be maximized with good management and leadership. Tom Ruddy, who has served at Xerox Worldwide Customer Services as a manager, comments on the strategy managers should adopt to make teams successful; â€Å"What we encourage [managers] to do is start off very slowly and keep the boundaries pretty tight†¦As the team starts to grow and expand, and take on responsibility, start moving those boundaries out† (Ruddy cited in HBR,

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

One of the most widely used services in many distributed systems is Essay

One of the most widely used services in many distributed systems is the File Service. Investigate the issue of distributed file systems - Essay Example These challenges will be discussed in this section and also there will be a description of the main architectural features of the Network File System version 4 in relation to its previous versions. Adrian, Teodora and Naiana (2011, p. 801) say that in distributed file systems, caching is an approach that is used to reduce the traffic within the network. Moreover, Tanenbaum and Van Steen (2007, p. 276) emphasize that through catching the reliability and speed of access of data from the server is significantly increased. This means that the users of the system are able to access data with a guarantee of no delays in retrieval. Additionally, caching is aimed at preventing repeated access same data or information. It is through catching that access to data within a system is attained by one user without the redundancy which often results from many users requiring to access, retrieve or modify the same data at the same time. Tanenbaum and Van Steen (2007, p. 277) illustrate that unlike server access, which costs thousands of instructions, cache access is faster as it only costs the client terminal hundreds of instructions. Ainsworth (2009, p. 22) argues that the problem of consiste ncy can be overcome by implementing a write-through technique within the cache policy. The reliability of a write-through cache is relatively high. A delayed write approach may also be used because it saves remote writes, but has relatively poor reliability, especially in situations of a system crash. Caching techniques are designed so that the cached copies of files are presented to the user from the server in an effective manner. Therefore, users have access to the cached copy of files instead of contacting the server directly which mightlead to an overload of the network. According to Dolev and Kat (2005, p. 135), caching presents a challenge of consistency within the processes of file sharing and transfer within a distributed file system. This problem results from the difficulties

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Personal Statement Essay Example for Free

Personal Statement Essay I write this statement to support my application to Management and Leadership in Health and Social Care vourse at your university. Due to previous experiences of working with a range of people in the care sector I believe that throughout my time on various work placements with individuals with different disabilities and requirements in care along with the experiences gained throughout my studies, my wish to pursue a career in the care profession has grown. To further my interest in working with and around people I completed my first degree as a health visitor in Hungary. Prior of that I took a gap year in Germany with a church’s volunteer service called Freiwilliges Sociales Jahr (Voluntary Sociales Year). I worked as a health care assistant in a nursing home with 144 beds. While this year was very challenging I also found it an extremely rewarding and enjoyable experience. To further my knowledge and passion for working with those individuals who are in need of care I studied at Semmelweis University, Medical College Faculty and graduated as a health visitor. To put my academic knowledge into practice I worked as a school nurse in 3 different schools. It was an enjoyable experince but only to realize that I was more interested to do something with elderly people and move away from children. I decided to move to England and started to work as a home care worker first, but rapidly I was promoted to a field care supervisor and after that to a care coordinator. Working for different care companies in different cities was a valuable and great experience where I learnt how to improve my leadership and management’s skills and also to put my academic knowledge in practice. I always was looking to improve the company and bring innovative ideas to my role and complete my work to a high standard. I currently work as a care coordinator, which incolves human resource management, arranging and coordinating training, dealing with social workers and other health care professionals on a daily basis. I manage around 60 home care workers in terms of their compliancy and adequate training. I completed National Vocational Qualification in Health and Social Care Level 3 only to realize that I would like to study more and broaden my leadership skills in this area. Working in a senior team gives me a great satisfaction , where I can show my effective communication and organisation skills ad good working relationships. During my spare time I mainly like to read books, travel to other countries to explore different cultures. I also go to the gym to keep myself fit. I also attended a various events related to self development and self-management. This helps to increase my confidence and also gives me great oppurtunities to meet like-minded people. I feel that university is definitely the right path for me. I always work extremely hard to achieve my best, a feat which I intend to carry on throughout my university years. I believe I have the necessary skills needed to enjoy university to the full and also be successful in future years. In addition I would also like to go to university to develop my management and leadership skills even further so I can gain a valuable and rewarding, higher position in health and social care sector and lead that senior team to an absolute success.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Merciless Dogs :: essays research papers

Ever wonder why politicians are merciless dogs? Of course you have. Well, here's the answer. Machiavelli's classic text on acquiring and maintaining political power laid the foundation for modern politics, for better or for worse, and remains its bedrock. Machiavelli was an Italian patriot and a long-time member of the Italian hierarchy as a sort of political consultant, having been recently ejected from his position when he wrote this manual. Italy was then in a turbulent political situation, seemingly under attack from all quarters, and very unstable. The author wrote this treatise and sent it to Lorenzo Medici -- the Prince, as it were, who was ultimately responsible for Machiavelli's dispension. Such a loyal patriot was our good author that he actually wrote this book and sent it to him as a gift. Well, what does it contain? Just about everything that anyone would want to know about how to acquire political power, and how to keep it. Machiavelli covers just about every conceivable situation: how to rule a brand new land colonly, or one that has been taken over; how a Prince should bear him or herself; how they should keep faith; how to maintain their army; how to keep tabs on the commoners and the nobles, and much more. He includes many maxims and principles that have been taken up time and time again in the nearly 500 years since the publication of this slim volume. One need only look at the current political landscape to see just how inudated these principles have become in the political philosophies of our world leaders, e.g., Machiavelli's idea that it is better to go to war on your enemy's turf before they come to your own, in order to minimize losses, and his famous statement that it is better to be feared than to be loved -- but try your best not to be hated. Many have condemned the ideas and principles contained herein because they eschew moral and ethical standards in deference to pragmatic political gain. Well, wake up, folks. Politics is a dirty game and always has been. It is viscious, ruthless, and takes no prisoners -- a truly dog-eat-dog world. It is not for the faint of heart. Machiavelli tried to tell us this 500 years ago; it's about damn time we started listening. The writing style used in the book is very, very simple, and it is extremely short. Merciless Dogs :: essays research papers Ever wonder why politicians are merciless dogs? Of course you have. Well, here's the answer. Machiavelli's classic text on acquiring and maintaining political power laid the foundation for modern politics, for better or for worse, and remains its bedrock. Machiavelli was an Italian patriot and a long-time member of the Italian hierarchy as a sort of political consultant, having been recently ejected from his position when he wrote this manual. Italy was then in a turbulent political situation, seemingly under attack from all quarters, and very unstable. The author wrote this treatise and sent it to Lorenzo Medici -- the Prince, as it were, who was ultimately responsible for Machiavelli's dispension. Such a loyal patriot was our good author that he actually wrote this book and sent it to him as a gift. Well, what does it contain? Just about everything that anyone would want to know about how to acquire political power, and how to keep it. Machiavelli covers just about every conceivable situation: how to rule a brand new land colonly, or one that has been taken over; how a Prince should bear him or herself; how they should keep faith; how to maintain their army; how to keep tabs on the commoners and the nobles, and much more. He includes many maxims and principles that have been taken up time and time again in the nearly 500 years since the publication of this slim volume. One need only look at the current political landscape to see just how inudated these principles have become in the political philosophies of our world leaders, e.g., Machiavelli's idea that it is better to go to war on your enemy's turf before they come to your own, in order to minimize losses, and his famous statement that it is better to be feared than to be loved -- but try your best not to be hated. Many have condemned the ideas and principles contained herein because they eschew moral and ethical standards in deference to pragmatic political gain. Well, wake up, folks. Politics is a dirty game and always has been. It is viscious, ruthless, and takes no prisoners -- a truly dog-eat-dog world. It is not for the faint of heart. Machiavelli tried to tell us this 500 years ago; it's about damn time we started listening. The writing style used in the book is very, very simple, and it is extremely short.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Shinto in Modern Japan

Shinto in Modern Japan Religion is a constant variable in today’s world as well as the past. In order to understand Shinto in modern Japan first Shinto must be looked at from the past. Native Japanese religion states Shinto is the way of the gods. Going into depth of Shinto history and the modern view of Shinto now will bring up where Shinto originated from, it’s comparison to other religions, and Shinto’s role in modern Japan. Like many main religions, Shinto originated from prehistoric times but is not truly known because it goes much too far back in time showing as far back as 720 A. D. Its name comes from Chinese words â€Å"shin-tao†. Native Japanese religion, Shinto, plays a very significant part in Japan’s society (Shinto2). Shinto is not only a religion but a way of living for the Japanese. This religion has made a permanent place in history around the world. Writer Chikao Fjisawa pronounced, â€Å"State Shinto – a system embodying nationalism loyalty and Emperor Veneration the Shinto was a â€Å"perversion of Shinto theory and beliefs into militaristic and ultra-nationalistic propaganda† (Boyd). State Shinto is known as the old Shinto. Just as any other religion, Shinto has been compared to other religions show close resemblance. Shinto has no defined dogma, scared scriptures, or ethical precepts. Japanese tend to combine Shinto with other religious beliefs like Buddhism and Christianity. They also tend not to attach just one of the religious beliefs giving each equal attention. Shrines called jinja is used to practice Shinto and has very distinct gates which make it easy to tell from Buddhist temples. The only reason Shinto was named and systemized in the 16th century was to mark the difference from Buddhism and Confucianism (Shinto1). After World War II a separation between government and Shinto took place. This separation was noted in the constitution and history. As history shows, the emperor issued a statement forbidding use of Shinto symbols as nationalistic reasons and renouncing all rights to divinity. Even in modern day, extremists still favor protests against these and other changes involving the Shinto. Today Shinto is still a strong practice. Many Japanese still use the Shinto shrines for marriage, or to bless a new child, car, and etc. Building, homes and other architectural plots are also known to be blessed for safety and protection. Hundreds of Shinto ceremonies are still carried out daily in today’s modern life such as festivals just naming one. In modern life the old Shinto is the main practice still being used. Main religions around the world have an unknown exact birth dates as well as playing an influence role in history. Shinto has not only made its mark in Japanese history, but still withstands in present day society. Religion tends to be a subject who holds controversy and mystery intriguing the minds of almost everyone at some point. Shinto’s origin may not be able to be definitely pinpointed but it’s very apparent that Shinto religion still stands very prominent in Japan’s modern life. As stated earlier, Shinto ceremonies take place daily in Japan and the religion is still practiced by a very large population of Japanese still today. Religion is truly a everlasting time capsule of knowledge telling bits and pieces of the world and relationships within the world. Works Cited Boyd, W. James and Williams, G. Ron â€Å"Reconsidering Shinto after World War II: Perspectives from the Life and Thought of a Shinto Priest. † . Motonisa, Yamakage. â€Å"The Essence of Shinto: Japan’s Spiritual Heart. † Kodansha America, Inc. , 2006. â€Å"Shinto. † . â€Å"Shinto. † .

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Facts and Inferences

F&I Page 1 Facts & Inferences Richard Melton 2/01/13 Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communications – 97 Zelda Togun F&I Page 2 Facts & InferencesIt was a real â€Å"eye opener† to see how much people make inferences when they aren’t sure what the real facts are. I noticed that even though I was taking notes and looking for inferences I am guilty of making them myself. For example, my best friends’ husband is at home all the time and they struggle to pay their bills. My friend is always asking me to loan her money. I was talking to my sister about it and I told her I thought my friends’ husband was lazy and shouldn’t be relying on her to take care of him.My sister agreed and we left it at that. Later on that day my best friend called me and asked if I could help her till next payday. I said sure and asked her why her husband isn’t working. She told me he has bipolar disorder and can’t hold a job, he has tried numerous times but has difficulty concentrating. They were in the middle of applying for S. S. I and that it was a long drawn out process. He is very ashamed of it and that’s why nobody knows about it.I should of thought it through when I was talking to my sister before I made the inference that he was lazy. Now that I know the truth I feel really bad for talking about him that way. F&I Page 3 References: Wood, Julia T. (2010). â€Å"Interpersonal Communication-7th Edition†. Boston, MA. Wadsworth; Cengage Learning.

Friday, November 8, 2019

The best custom essay writing services

The best custom essay writing services The fact that custom essay writing services are here does not guarantee academic success. There are a few who offer genuine services while others out to frustrate students. And knowing very well how students are quick to agree, they take it as a life time opportunity. Such a custom writing service goes ahead to completely twist the mind of the students. The fact that they want to get rid of the assignment badly, they hire a company that is only out to steal money. But we are here to prevent students from making wrong choices. Being a custom essay writing service that has existed over 10 years, we continue to educate our customers. We do not want to deal with customers who are not sure whether they are in the right place or not. We provide all the necessary information to guide in choosing the best custom essay writing company. To begin with, is information found on our testimonials page. Find interesting and inviting comments from our previous users. Get a chance to interact with them and enquire more on our services. That is how transparent our company and our services are. We give the best in order to receive the best. Another way to know if a service is good is by number of orders placed. If a service is genuine it will definitely attract more customers meaning more orders. Check out our custom writing services reviews and see company ratings. Due to their affordable prices, high quality and good customer response our ratings are amazing. We urge all students to read our reviews before placing their order. They should be able to anticipate the kind of experience we will offer as they place their order. Do not be cheated by anyone who needs to be hired. As much as online essay writing is offered, give it a thought. Do not go for a service that will stress you the entire semester. Its better to take time looking for a reliable and trust worthy service and get your assignment in a week. Go through each custom writing website one by one until you are sure of your choice. If in a complete fix, our professional writers will give additional assistance. Find the best custom essay writing company with our specialized service that has many reviews and testimonials from real customers.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Suffixes That Denote Relation or Resemblance

Suffixes That Denote Relation or Resemblance Suffixes That Denote Relation or Resemblance Suffixes That Denote Relation or Resemblance By Mark Nichol When we refer to something suggestive of William Shakespeare’s works, why do we write Shakespearean (or, seldom, Shakespearian) rather than Shakespearesque? Why is an epic tale labeled Homeric rather than Homerian? What’s the difference between Christian and Christ-like? Is there a method to the madness of these suffixes? The transformation of surnames into adjectives is fairly random, and writers are strongly advised to consult a dictionary or to research online usage rather than rely on common sense. When such a suffix has not yet been bestowed on a name, audition the four forms (-ean, -esque, -ian, and -ic) and select the most euphonious among them, but only after considering whether it’s wise to use any of the options at all, rather than to simply state that something is reminiscent of the works or beliefs of a particular person. It takes a significant achievement or, more likely, set of achievements to merit this form, and your attempt to honor someone may be interpreted as irony. The good news, however, is that attaching one of these suffixes to a person’s name is, in a satirical context, an effective form of mockery or parody. (Consider, for example, a reference to a vocalist’s Bieberesque stylings. But beware of clumsy constructions like Kardashianian.) In sincere usage, reserve -esque for the most deserving recipient names, as with Lincolnesque. The suffixes -ean and -ian the former form dominates, though the choice often seems arbitrary is suitable for most other references (Sartrean, Freudian). The -ic option is most suitable for classical (Platonic) or historical (Napoleonic) references. And note the conversion of names ending in vowel sounds: Themes suggestive of George Bernard Shaw’s philosophy or the tone of his work, for example, are called Shavian, and a worldview akin to that of Henry David Thoreau is Thoreauvian. The seemingly most sensible alternative to simply append -like to a name is rarely employed; the only widespread example that comes to mind is in the distinction between reference to Christian theology or values and to Christ-like behavior or appearance. (The suffix -like is usually attached to a root word without hyphenation, but an exception is made for proper nouns.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Has vs. HadConnotations of 35 Words for Funny People5 Examples of Insufficient Hyphenation

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Developing Hospitality properties Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Developing Hospitality properties - Essay Example So, the advertising will consist of direct mail, banner ads, and inserts. Also, special efforts will be taken to ensure the appearance of special articles about the restaurant in newspapers and other health magazines. This is so because it has been found that such articles have the potential to attract people easily and convince them. It has been found that restaurants and other businesses which manage to have articles published in newspapers and magazines experience dramatic growth in business. So, personal relationships will be utilised to achieve this aim. Allen Pasta Restaurant aims to offer its customers the best and most delicious pasta meal in the city. Also, this will be offered in the best and most pleasing ambience. Furthermore, special attention will be taken to ensure that the customers are given a better service than they anticipated (Marketing strategy, 2000). Thus, it becomes evident that Allen’s customers are aged from 25-55, who are responsible for 62% of the total consumption in the city of -------. Though age is not a matter of important concern, Allen’s customers will be young working people and families with an income above $ 40,000. Another point is the increasing health-consciousness in the city. So, a considerable proportion of the customers will be the health-conscious eaters of the city who are willing to spend money for healthy eating options. Allen Pasta Restaurant wants to position itself as an average-priced, upscale, pasta restaurant. The customers will be the ones who love quality and tasty pastas, health-conscious, educated individuals, groups, and families, usually within the age of 25-50. Service- In order to ensure that the customers are offered the best service experience in the city, the employees will be given special training. Only quality employees will be deployed. It is calculated that better product along with better service will help the company beat its rivals. The most important

Friday, November 1, 2019

Childhood memory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Childhood memory - Essay Example The intricacies of a busy family life then was the culprit for my entering school almost two months after the official opening of classes. I gathered, they just forgot. I can still remember the fear I have inside with my heart throbbing ferociously. There I was in my crisp new uniform with a heavy bag loaded with books sheepishly creeping in the classroom accompanied by my mother. Her warm hands clasp my cold sweaty palms. There she was, the teacher – Miss Cruz, (I could never forget her name) smiling and beckoning me to her side. She briefly made a short, rather loud introduction in front of those staring, rather, glaring eyes attached to little children seated in their respective desks. I somehow wondered how in the world did I get an instant desk. And how come they all seem to know each other – whispering to each other (aloud) –when I could hardly recognize any of them? My mother started to bid me goodbye but I refused to get my sweaty hand’s grasp out of her warm palm. No, mommy! Don’t leave me here with these strangers all staring at me like I am some alien from another world – so I thought. With relentless reassurance from Miss Cruz (who started to take my hand off from my mother) and my mom who promised she would stay only outside the classroom where I can still see her and wait until classes are over – did I finally succumb. Anyway, they added, recess is almost near. What is the world does that mean? I wondered. After being seated, a girl right beside my desk, in braids and spectacles, Rebecca, started to talk to me. She asked me what my name was and offered to assist me in the topic they were discussing when my entrance rudely interrupted them. She appeared friendly and her spectacles prevented me from seeing her stare. After that tragic, drastic, nerve-wrecking day, as a naà ¯ve girl of five, I started my academic journey of which until

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

How to Write a Good Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

How to Write a Good Paper - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that when writing a good research paper, you, as the author, must first do the research. You need to consider the topic that you want to discuss and decide your stance on that topic. Do you agree or disagree with what it is saying? This is important to know because you are trying to convince your audience of your position by providing them with this paper. The research will allow you to back up your argument, letting your audience see the evidence you have to support your claim. Once you have your resources and the basis of your paper, it is best to write an outline. This will allow you to stay on track when writing your paper and to keep your ideas and facts organized. It will also help you to flesh out your ideas even more, in the case you want to dwell a bit more on certain aspects of your argument. A good thesis statement states quite clearly the purpose of the paper. In one or two sentences, you prepare your audience for what the topic of your paper is; this is what will grasp their attention, letting them know upfront if the paper is something that would interest them. The thesis statement sets up the rest of the paper, whether it is presenting an argument, a claim, or a stance that you take on a certain subject. It acts like "a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper." Following your thesis statement, you should briefly sum up the rest of your paper in a paragraph.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Music Analysis Essay Example for Free

Music Analysis Essay â€Å"Bitch Bad† is popular hip-hop song performed by Chicago native rapper, Lupe Fiasco. The song depicts the word bitch in the many forms that it is used in today’s urban society. The song starts with a dark weary synthesizer and a heavy deep 808 drum pattern that reflects the sound that is used in many of today’s popular club/party songs. The words to the song shine a stereotypical light on â€Å"bad bitches,† but there is a twist. Fiasco highlights 3 significant points which is the basis of the song, â€Å"Bitch bad, woman good, lady better† (Fiasco, Bitch Bad). By producing this song, Lupe Fiasco points out the relevance and impact that the term has on modern day youth. Fiasco also wanted to make an attempt to steer people in the opposite direction from the normal stereotype of the well-known and overrated term ‘bad bitch. ’ As the first verse starts, Fiasco brings listeners into the world of a young male, around the age of 4 or 5 that picks up on the music his mother listens to that has references of women as being bad bitches. Fiasco describes how the mother sings to the song playing and her son is listening to her sing along to the lyrics. Fiasco states the more the son hears his mother play this type of music, he develops a certain complex on how he views women that use the â€Å"bad bitch† phrase. By the son being such a tender age, he receives the song based on what he sees in his mother instead of the derogatory way the song is describing women. The young boy forms his own opinion of the bad bitch theory. His own mother, whom he looks up to and admires, calls herself a bad bitch, so he depicts the term â€Å"bad bitch† to be positive. To him it resembles a strong, independent, respectful woman because this is how he sees his mother, as opposed to a woman that is weak, dependent and unstable. The hook to the song â€Å"Bitch Bad† illuminates the 3 categories of women: bitch, woman, and lady. â€Å"Bitch bad, woman good/ Lady better, they misunderstood/ (Im killin these bitches)† (Fiasco, Bitch Bad). These lyrics are self-explanatory. This hook is saying that being called a bitch is a bad thing, being called a woman is better, but being called a lady is phenomenal. Lupe Fiasco is trying to tell young girls, or young women, what they should be trying to aspire to be instead of trying to be what they see on the television screens or hear on the radio. More recently in urban society being a woman or a lady has lost its value. The message that Lupe Fiasco is trying to send out to the audience of this song is that being a bad bitch is not a positive look. In verse two of the song â€Å"Bad Bitch,† Fiasco breaks down how a young group of girls in their pre-teen stage listen to songs and watch music videos on the internet. The videos are uncensored and because they know more about the internet than their parents, they don’t get parental consent. Children tend to know a lot more about modern day technology than their parents. This is how children such as the ones described in this verse, are able to watch uncensored items online. The young girls are at an age where they need a positive female role model, but instead they are influenced by the women they see in music videos. These young girls receive a different persona of a bad bitch than the young boy in the first verse. Bad bitches to them are women that have sex appeal, skinny with big butts, and wear sexy and revealing clothing. As the song states â€Å"High heels, long hair, fat booty, slim They don’t see a paid actress, just what makes a bad bitch† (Fiasco, Bitch Bad). The girls have this image in their heads, and without proper guidance, this is what they want to grow up to be. The third verse begins by Fiasco stating that he is not trying to teach children to use the term â€Å"bitch† but as a psychological way to let listeners know that he is against the use of the word. This verse combines the first two and it continues with the observation of how small the world really is and the young boy from the first verse and one of the young girls from the second verse meet. Fiasco continues on to illustrate how the boy is viewing the girl in an insolent way based on how she is dressed, but she is saying it in a sexual way. His viewing of a bad bitch is not what the girl is showcasing. Sure enough, in this little world/The little boy meets one of those little girls/And he thinks she a bad bitch/And she thinks she a bad bitch/He thinks disrespectfully/She thinks of that sexually/She got the wrong idea/He don’t wanna fuck her/He thinks she’s bad at being a bitch/Like his mother† (Fiasco, Bitch Bad). She is flaunting her half-dressed body i n front of him, yet he is telling her that his mother didn’t do things like that, and that is what he knows to be a bad bitch. The young man fostered his view on the term from what he saw in his mother, a respectful woman. They young lady obtained her view from the flashy video girls she saw in music videos. The term ‘bad’ back in earlier years portrayed a woman who had her life together and was sexy in a respectful way. She was the woman that didn’t need assistance from the male counterpart. Black moguls in the rap/hip hop community, such as Dame Dash, Russell Simmons, Nicki Minaj, and Jay-Z have taken the word ‘bad’ and made the ‘bitch’ addition and spread it through the black culture. Now a female who has lower standards perceives that she’s a bad bitch because she is being uplifted by the black urban community. Society today can take the term â€Å"bad bitch’ as being either good or bad. Marc Hogan, writer for Spin Magazine, stated â€Å"Clearly, something has changed in hop hop’s relationship with anti-woman slurs†¦and that’s ostensibly what Lupe Fiasco tries to address†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hogan). The perception of women slurs all depend on individual perceptions and how much impact social media has on an individual. This song released in August 2012. Upon its music video release, MTV did an interview with Lupe Fiasco. During this interview, Fiasco stated that he â€Å"just wanted to have a conversation,† (Fiasco, Interview). Lupe also suggested that because there is no solidification to the term bad bitch, â€Å"†¦it’s definitely something that I think we should talk about because it’s so prevalent in our culture right now† (Fiasco, Interview). Lupe is trying to get the world to understand that a bad bitch is a double standard as stated in the lyrics â€Å"Bad mean good to her/She really nice and smart/ But bad mean bad to him/Bitch don’t play your part/ But bitch still bad to her if you say it the wrong way/ But she think she a bitch/What a double entendre† (Fiasco, Bitch Bad). Rob Markman stated that â€Å"Lupe Fiasco knows all too well the power of words. † This is very true. Fiasco’s music is well known in the hip hop industry for relaying some kind of message. Lupe Fiasco did precisely what he set out to do, spark a conversation and produce different point of views. â€Å"Depending on where you stand, the term â€Å"bad bitch† may have positive or negative connotations†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Markman). Fiasco let the world know that is was more to being a ‘bad bitch’. What viewers see in music videos is only one perception. Needless to say, â€Å"†¦whether you consider â€Å"bitch† empowering or degrading, there is always something to ponder on† (Viera), and Lupe Fiasco definitely gave his listeners, and non-listeners, something to think about.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Physics of Car Collisions Essay -- Physics

Basic Concepts Issac Newton was the first to state the concepts that are necessary to understanding the physics of collisions. His three laws are used again and again in all the fields of physics: Newton's 1st Law In the absence of external forces, an object at rest remains at rest and an object in motion remains in motion with a constant velocity. This law can be best observed in space, far from the gravity of a star or planet, where there is no friction or air resistance. If, in the middle of deep space, you give a rock a little push, it will continue with the direction and velocity you gave it forever. The only way to stop it is to apply a force in the opposite direction. This law is not intuitive because we are surrounded by air and gravity - if we give a rock a little push on the surface of the earth, it won't travel far. Newton's 2nd Law The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. This boils down to force equals mass times acceleration, F = ma. This little equation turns out to be immensely useful, again and again. If you add together all the forces acting on an object, they equal the mass of the object (in kg) times the acceleration of the object (in m/sec^2). Force is measured in newtons. One newton is the force required to accelerate a 1-kg mass to 1 m/sec^2. Newton’s 3rd Law The force exerted by object 1 onto object 2 is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force exerted by object 2 onto object 1. This law appears to make little sense and can be difficult to grasp. If you push on a brick wall, the wall is pushing back on you with an equal force. If the wall was not pushing back, then your hand wou... ... hammer hitting a concrete wall is about 3,600,000. Sources: Barr, L.C. Safety Report. 1996. University of New Hampshire. 26, Nov. 2002. Borges, Danny. The Physics in Car Collisions. 22, Nov. 2002. Braking Distance. 2002. University of Idaho. 26, Nov. 2002. Safety Fact Sheet. 1999. Airbag Testing Technology, Inc. 26, Nov. 2002. Serway, Raymond A., and Robert J. Beichner. Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Fifth edition. Thomson Learning Inc. U.S.A., 2000. Toor, Amrit, Michael Araszewski and Ravinder Johal. Technical Assessment of Seatbelt Usage and Effectiveness. 2000. Intech. 26, Nov. 2002.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Is Expanding Nuclear Power Really Beneficial to Society Development Essay

In recent decades, the coal consumption among the whole world has sharply increased so as to meet the rapid development in every country. As generating electricity by coal is not renewable and environmental unfriendly, people tend to develop renewable energy like nuclear power, wind power, hydropower etc. though the cost of constructing the plants and utilizing is extremely high. Among the renewable energy mentioned above, nuclear power is the most popular to expand. Nuclear power is the use of nuclear fusion or fission from the reactor to generate electricity. It is highly efficient and produces only nuclear waste but no carbon emission. Nuclear power seems to be an ideal energy source but is it that good? In my opinion, nuclear power has too many drawbacks that they outweigh its advantages undoubtedly, so I oppose the expanding of nuclear power in our society. The first reason I oppose is that nuclear reactor is inherently unsafe to human life. The accidents happened in Chernobyl and Fukushima has shown us apparently that nuclear meltdowns and explosions can occur at any time without any omen. Not only did the accidents bring destructive damage to the buildings or any infrastructure in the cities, but also caused hundreds and thousands of casualties. Despite the high technology and secure safety system implemented in the nuclear plant, and despite many scientists and professors claimed the percentage of not getting explosion is up to 90%, accidents can still happen and result in disastrous outcome. Frankly no one can afford the outcome and dare to say it is impossible for that 10% to occur. The most recent disaster in Fukushima once again alerts people from all around the world. As the communication media is well established nowadays, people in every corner of the world can watch this disaster—nuclear leakage and explosions on live through television or Internet. Current nuclear power plants are no longer safe! † Many communities from different countries ranted. They also vowed that they would use all means to oppose the expanding of nuclear so as to protect their offspring. Life is precious and anything that poses threats to human life should be halted. Secondly the construction and the maintenance of nuclear plant are exceptionally dear. In fact, the cost of building and doing maintenance is highly dependent on taxpayers’ handouts. US, one of the countries investing a lot on developing nuclear power, has put the cost burden to their citizens since 2005. In 2005, President Bush approved an energy bill that included over 13 billion USD in tax breaks and subsidies for the nuclear industry. However, nowadays in every country, including those developed countries, is suffering from the problem of poverty. The poor has difficulties in maintaining their life while the government still imposes heavy tax on them and that is unacceptable. On the other hand, since the nuclear plants are built far away from residence, long electrical wires are required to transfer electricity from the plants to our houses. Whenever electricity is transferred through wires, some energy will be lost to surroundings. Thus for a long distance transfer, much energy would be lost which is definitely uneconomical and inefficient. So please care about the poor. And the third reason that I disagree in expanding nuclear power is nuclear waste cannot be dealt adequately. Being generated during the fuel cycle, nuclear waste actually is not a clean source: it is a radioactive substance emitting radiation all the time and it takes millions of years to become harmless, so it poses a severe potential danger to human health. Furthermore, nuclear wastes are usually buried in a designated place where it is far away from residence, so it is required to transport the wastes to these locations. This may pose risks on the populations that live along the transport route. I am sure nobody wants any nuclear waste is accidentally left in front of their houses. Hence nuclear power should not be developed unless the problem of nuclear waste has been solved. However genuine and persuasive the disadvantages are, some proponents still think nuclear power is a perfect energy source. They believe nuclear power helps reduce the emissions and contribute in easing global warming. Nevertheless it is not the case. An ecologist has once stated that nuclear power is not totally emission free because when we examine the whole nuclear power generating cycle, we can see that in mining of uranium, running the nuclear reactor, transportation of nuclear waste and even the disposal of nuclear waste rely on fossil fuels and produces a lot of greenhouse gases. Therefore there is actually net emission of harmful gases and global warming would not be relieved because of using nuclear power. Although it is right for people to seek for progress and develop new technology to meet their wants, we still need to consider the consequence that expanding new technology brings. Nuclear power, frankly speaking, is much more efficient than the ordinary way of generating electricity, but the outcome of this is disastrous and people cannot afford to lose—that’s human life. Moreover it is very expensive in developing nuclear power, if I am the government I would rather spend this bucket of money to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. Last but not least, the issue brought by radioactive nuclear waste is very long-lasting which is always threatening our life. Hence unless the above three problems are solved, I am still opposing the development of nuclear power.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 58~59

58 Malink's Song â€Å"They're flying the new pilot in tomorrow,† said Sebastian Curtis. â€Å"I told them that Tucker wouldn't fly, so he had to be eliminated. They weren't happy about losing the heart and lungs.† Beth Curtis sat at her vanity, putting on her eye makeup for the appear-ance of the Sky Priestess. The red scarf was draped over the back of the chair. â€Å"Did you check the database? Maybe we can send another set of or-gans back with them. I can pick the chosen tonight and keep them in the clinic until tomorrow morning.† â€Å"The customer already died,† Curtis said. â€Å"Well, I guess he really was sick, then.† She laughed, a girlish laugh full of music. Sebastian loved her laugh. He smiled over her shoulder into the mirror. â€Å"I'm glad you're not concerned about Tucker Case. I understand, Beth. Really. I was just jealous.† â€Å"Tucker who? Oh, you mean Tucker dead-at-sea Case? ‘Bastian, dear, I did what I did for us. I thought it would keep him under control. Write it off as one of life's little missteps. Besides, if he's not dead now, he will be in a day or so.† â€Å"He made it here on the open ocean. Through a typhoon.† â€Å"And with the navigator. Remember, I've seen him fly. He's dead. That old cannibal is probably munching on his bones right now.† She checked her lipstick and winked at him in the mirror. â€Å"Showtime, darling.† Malink trudged through the jungle, his shoulders aching from the basket of food he was carrying. Each day he had been taking food to Sarapul's hiding place. It was not that he didn't trust his people, but he did not want to burden any of them with such a weighty secret. The last of them to see the cannibal saw him covered with blood, gasping in the sand. Malink had told them that Sarapul was dead and that Malink had given his body to the sharks. A chief had to carry many secrets, and sometimes he had to lie to his people to spare them pain. After the third day, Malink was ready to let the cannibal go back to his house on the far side of the island. The guards were no longer searching, and the Sorcerer had stopped asking questions. Perhaps things would go back to the way they were. But maybe that wasn't right either. Malink didn't want to, but he believed the pilot. The Sky Priestess and the Sorcerer were going to hurt his people. He was too old for this. He was too old to fight. And how do you fight machine guns with spears and machetes? He paused by a giant mahogany tree and put the basket down while he caught his breath. He saw smoke drifting in streams over the ferns and looked in the direction it was coming from. Someone was there, obscured by a tall stand of taro leaves as big as elephant ears. There was a rustling there. Malink crouched. â€Å"You're not scared, are you, squirt?† Malink recognized the voice from his childhood and he wasn't scared. But he knew he didn't have to say so. â€Å"I am not a squirt. I am old man now.† Vincent swaggered out of the taro. His flight suit and bomber jacket looked exactly as Malink remembered. â€Å"You're always gonna be a squirt, kid. You still got that lighter I gave you?† Malink nodded. â€Å"That was my lucky Zippo, kid. I shoulda hung on to it. Fuck it. Spilt milk.† Vincent waved his cigarette in dismissal. â€Å"Look, I need you to build some ladders. You know what a ladder is, right?† â€Å"Yes,† Malink said. â€Å"Of course you do, smart kid like you. So I am needing you to build, oh, say six ladders, thirty feet long, strong and light. Use bamboo. Are you getting this, kid?† Malink nodded. He was grinning from ear to ear. Vincent was speaking to him again. â€Å"You're talkin' my ear off, kid. So, anyway, I need you to build these ladders, see, as I am having big plans for you and the Shark People. Large plans, kid. Hugely large. I'm talking about substantial fuckin' plans I am having. Okay?† Malink nodded. â€Å"Good, build the ladders and stand by for further orders.† The flyer began to back away into the taro patch. â€Å"You said you would come back,† Malink said. â€Å"You said you would come back and bring cargo.† â€Å"You don't look like you been shorted on the feedbag, kid. You got your cargo in spades.† â€Å"You said you would come back.† Vincent threw up his hands. â€Å"So what the fuck's this? Western Union? Don't go screwy on me, kid. I need you.† The pilot started to fade, going as translucent as his cigarette smoke. Malink stepped forward. â€Å"The Sky Priestess will tell us orders?† â€Å"The Sky Priestess took a powder fifty years ago, kid. This dame doing the bump and grind on my runway is paste.† â€Å"Paste?† â€Å"She's a fake, squirt. A boneable feast to be sure, but she's running a game on you.† â€Å"She is not Sky Priestess?† â€Å"No, but don't piss her off.† With that the pilot faded to nothing. Malink leaned back against the mahogany tree and looked up through the canopy to the sky. His skin tingled and his breath was coming easy and deep. The ache in his knees was gone. He was light and strong and full, and every birdcall or rustle of leaves or distant crash of a wave seemed part of a great and wonderful song. 59 Call in the Cavalry They had missed Guam and Saipan (passing at night) and all the Northern Mariana Islands (drifting in fog) and Johnston Island and all ships at sea (no reason, they just missed). The sunscreen had run out on the seventh day. The drinking coconuts ran out on the fourteenth. They still had some shark meat that had been smoked and dried, but Tuck couldn't choke down a bite of it without water. They had had nothing to drink for a full day. They were at sea for three days before Sepie came out of her catatonia, and after a day of sobbing, she started to talk. â€Å"I miss him,† she said. â€Å"He listen to me. He like me even when I am being mean.† â€Å"Me too. I treated him badly sometimes too. He was a good guy. A good friend.† â€Å"He love you very much,† Sepie said. She was crying again. Tuck looked down, shielding his face so she couldn't see his eyes. â€Å"I'm sorry, Sepie. I know you loved him. I didn't mean to put him in danger. I didn't mean to put you in danger.† She crawled to his end of the canoe and into his arms. He held her there for a long time, rocking her until she stopped crying. He said, â€Å"You'll be okay.† â€Å"Kimi say he would sail me to America someday. You will take me?† â€Å"Sure. You'll like it there.† â€Å"Tell me,† she said. She grilled Tuck about all things American, making him explain everything from television to tampons. Tuck learned about men, about how simple they were, about how easily they could be manipulated, about how good they could make a woman feel when they were nice, and how much they could hurt a woman by dying. Telling the things that they knew made them each feel smart, and sharing the duties of sailing the boat made them feel safe. It was easier to live in the little world inside the canoe rather than face the vast emptiness of the open ocean. Sepie took to curling into Tuck's chest and sleeping while he steered. Twice Tuck fell asleep in her arms and no one steered the boat for hours. Tuck didn't let it bother him. He had accepted that they were going to die. It seemed so easy now that he wondered why he'd made such an effort to escape it on the island. Roberto hadn't spoken since the first night. He hung from the lines and pointed with a wing claw when Tuck called to him. When Tuck was still reckoning, he reckoned that they were traveling at an average speed of five knots. At five knots, twenty-four hours a day, for fourteen days, he reckoned that they had traveled well over two thousand miles. Tuck reckoned that they were now sailing though downtown Sacramento. His reckoning wasn't any better than his navigation. On the fifteenth day Roberto took flight and Tuck watched him until he was nothing but a dot on the horizon, then nothing at all. Tuck didn't blame him. He accepted his own death, but he didn't want to watch Sepie go before him. At sunset he tied off the steering oar, took Sepie in his arms, and lay down in the bottom of the boat to wait. Sometime later – he couldn't tell how long, but it was still dark – he woke with a parched scream when a tube of mascara dropped out of the sky and hit him in the chest. Sepie sat up and snatched the tube from the bottom of the boat. â€Å"To make you pretty,† she said. Her voice cracked on â€Å"pretty.† Tuck was too disoriented to recognize what she was holding. He took it from her and squinted at it. â€Å"It's mascara.† â€Å"Roberto,† Sepie said. Tuck looked around in the sky, but didn't see the bat. It was beginning to get light. â€Å"You brought us mascara? We're dying of thirst and you brought us mascara?† â€Å"Kimi teach him,† Sepie said. Tuck didn't think he had the energy left for outrage, but it was coming nonetheless. â€Å"You†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Sepie put a finger to his lips. â€Å"Listen.† Tuck listened. He heard nothing. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Surf.† Tuck listened. He heard it. He also heard something else, a rhythmic stirring in the water much closer to the canoe. He looked in the direction of the noise and saw something moving over the water toward them. â€Å"Aloha!† came out of the dark, followed by a middle-aged white man in an ocean kayak. â€Å"I guess I'm not the only one who likes to get out early,† he said. In their first hour at the Waikiki Beach Hyatt Regency, Sepie flushed the toilet seventy-eight times and consumed two hundred and forty dollars' worth of product from the minibar (five Pepsis and a box of Raisinets). â€Å"You poop in here and it just goes away?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"In this big bowl?† She pointed. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"You poop?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"And you push this?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"And it goes away?† â€Å"That's right.† â€Å"Where?† â€Å"To the next room.† Plumbing. They hadn't talked about plumbing. â€Å"And they push this and it goes away?† â€Å"Look, Sepie, there's a TV in here. You push this and it changes the picture.† Tuck couldn't be sure because they'd never had sex and because she'd told him about how she could fool a man, but he thought she might have come right then. He made her promise not to leave the room and left her there flushing and clicking while he went to the police. The desk sergeant at the Honolulu police department listened patiently and politely and with appropriate concern right up until Tuck said, â€Å"I know I look a little ratty, but I've been at sea in an open boat for two weeks.† At which point the sergeant held up his hand signifying it was his turn to talk. â€Å"You've been at sea for two weeks?† â€Å"Yes. I escaped by boat.† â€Å"So how long ago did these alleged murders happen?† â€Å"I don't know exactly. One about a month ago, one longer.† â€Å"And you're just getting around to reporting them now?† I told you. I was trapped on Alualu. I escaped in a sailing canoe.† â€Å"Then,† the sergeant said, â€Å"Alualu is not a street in Honolulu.† â€Å"No. It's an island in Micronesia.† â€Å"I can't help you, sir. That's out of our jurisdiction.† â€Å"Well, who can help me?† â€Å"Try the FBI.† So Tuck, on the cab ride to the FBI offices, changed his strategy. He'd wait until he got past the front line of defense before spilling his guts. The receptionist was a petite Asian woman of forty who spoke English so precisely that Tuck knew it had to be her second language. â€Å"I'm sure I can help you if you will just tell me what it is that you'd like to report.† â€Å"I can't. I have to talk to an agent. I won't be comfortable unless I talk to a real agent.† She looked offended and her speech became even crisper. â€Å"Perhaps you can tell me the nature of the crime.† Tuck thought for a moment. What did the FBI always handle on television? Al Capone, Klansmen, bank robberies, and†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Kidnapping,† he said. â€Å"There's been a kidnapping.† â€Å"And who has been kidnapped? Have you filed a missing persons report with the local police?† Tuck shook his head and stood his ground. â€Å"I'll tell an agent.† The receptionist picked up the phone and punched a number. She turned away from him and covered her mouth with her hand as she spoke into the mouthpiece. She hung up and said, â€Å"There's an agent on his way.† â€Å"Thanks,† Tuck said. A few minutes later a door opened and a dark-haired guy who looked like a mobile mannequin from a Brooks Brothers window display entered the reception room and extended his hand to Tuck. â€Å"Mr. Case, I'm Special Agent Tom Myers. Would you step into my office, please?† Tuck shook his hand and followed him though the door and down a hallway of identical ten-by-twelve offices with identical metal desks that displayed identical photos of identical families in identical dime-store frames. Myers motioned for Tuck to sit and took the seat behind the desk. â€Å"Now, Rose tells me that you want to report a kidnapping?† Special Agent Myers unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. â€Å"You allowed to do that?† Tuck asked. â€Å"Casual Fridays,† the special agent said. â€Å"Oh,† Tuck said. â€Å"Yes. Kidnapping, multiple murder, and the theft and sale of human organs for transplant.† Myers showed no reaction. â€Å"Go on.† And Tuck did. He began with the offer of the job on Alualu and ended with his arrival in Hawaii, leaving out the crash of Mary Jean's jet, the subsequent loss of his pilot's license and pending criminal charges, anything to do with cargo cults, cannibals, transvestites, ghost pilots, talking bats, and genital injuries. As he wrapped up, he thought the edited version sounded pretty credible. Special Agent Myers had not changed position or expression once in the half hour that Tuck had talked. Tuck thought he saw him blink once, though. Special Agent Myers leaned back in his chair (casual Fridays) and templed his fingers. â€Å"Let me ask you something,† he said. â€Å"Sure,† Tuck said. â€Å"Are you the Tucker Case that got drunk and crashed the pink jet in Seattle a few months ago?† Tuck could have slapped him. â€Å"Yes, but that doesn't have anything to do with this.† â€Å"I think it does, Mr. Case. I think it affects the credibility of what is already an incredible story. I think you should leave my office and go about the business of putting your life in order.† â€Å"I'm telling you the truth,† Tuck said. He was fighting panic. He worked to stay calm. â€Å"Why would I make up a story like that? As you pointed out, I've got enough on my plate just rebuilding my life. I'm not so stupid that I'd add charges for filing a false crime report to all the others. If you have to take me into custody, do it. But do something about what's going on out on that island or a lot more people are going to die.† â€Å"Even if I believed your story, what would you like me to do?† And there Tuck lost it.† ‘Special agent.' Does that mean that you had to take the little bus to the academy?† â€Å"I was at the top of my class.† A rise. â€Å"Then act like it.† â€Å"What do you want, Mr. Case?† Tuck jumped up and leaned over the desk. Special Agent Myers rolled back in his chair. â€Å"I want you to stop them. I want covert action and deadly technology. I want Navy SEALS and snipers and spies and laser-guided smart stealth gizmos out the ying-yang. I want surgical strikes and satellite views and a steaming shitload of every sort of Tom Clancy geegaw you got. I want fucking Jack Ryan, James Bond, and a half-dozen Van Damme motherfuck-ers who can jump through their own asses and rip your heart out while it's still beating. I want action, Special Agent Myers. This is evil shit.† â€Å"Sit down, Mr. Case.† Tuck sat down. His energy was gone. â€Å"Look, I'm giving myself up. Arrest me, throw me in jail, beat me with a rubber hose, do whatever you want to do, but stop what's going on out there.† Special Agent Myers smiled. â€Å"I don't believe a word you've told me, but even if I did, even if you had evidence of what you're claiming, I still couldn't do anything. The FBI can only act on domestic matters.† â€Å"Then tell someone who handles international matters.† â€Å"The CIA only handles matters that affect national security, and frankly, I wouldn't embarrass myself by calling them.† â€Å"Fuck it, then. Take me away.† Tuck held out his arms to receive handcuffs. â€Å"Go back to your hotel and get some rest, Mr. Case. There are no outstanding warrants for your arrest.† â€Å"There aren't?† Tuck felt as if he'd been gut-punched. â€Å"I checked the computer before I brought you in here.† Myers stood. â€Å"I'll show you out.† After another cab ride and another truncated telling of his story, Tuck was also shown out of the Japanese embassy. He found a pay phone and soon he had been hung up on by both the American Medical Association and the Council of Methodist Missionaries. He found Sepie curled up on the king-size bed, the television still blaring in the bathroom, three minibottles of vodka empty on the floor. Tuck considered raiding the minibar himself, but when he opened it, he opted for a grapefruit juice instead of gin. Getting hammered wasn't going to take the edge off this time, and at this rate, the money he'd left on deposit at the desk in lieu of a credit card – the money that Sarapul had found in Tuck's pack – would run out in two days. He sat down on the bed and stroked Sepie's hair. She had put on mascara while he was out and had made a mess of it. Funny, she'd walked into the hotel wearing one of Tuck's shirts – the first time she'd worn a top in her life – looking very much the little girl and now she had on makeup and was passed out drunk. Tuck had a feeling that coming to America was not going to be easy on either of them. He kissed her on the forehead and she moaned and rolled over. â€Å"Perfume tomorrow,† she said. â€Å"You get me some, okay?† â€Å"Okay,† Tuck said. â€Å"A woman who smells good is a woman who feels good.† The phrase rattled off the walls of his brain. He snatched up the phone and punched up information. When the operator came on, he said, â€Å"Houston, area code 713†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 