Corruption Phenomenon

Romeo And Juliet Essays (604 words) - Characters In Romeo And Juliet

Romeo And Juliet Essays (604 words) - Characters In Romeo And Juliet Romeo And Juliet Romeo and Juliet Essay In Shakespeares tragedies the main characters die in the end, and in his comedies people marry. Since Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy, Romeo and Juliet are going to die in the end. Some events have to lead to their deaths, and someone makes these events happen. The people who started it all and did something that led to all the other events that caused the death of the couple. The Capulets and Montagues would be the most responsible ones for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because if their families didnt start the fighting, and they didnt continue it, nothing bad would have happened. The first lines of the book tell us about the hate and envy between the two houses. The whole fight started a long time ago with really stupid little things, and then grew into huge fights involving many people. No leader of either household even thought about making peace, they were all too busy to spoil everything for the rival family. Only after the death of their children they realized how wrong they were. Romeo and Juliet first met each other at a party at the Capulets house. They fall in love with each other at the first sight without knowing that they are from families who hate each other, and when they do learn about it, it is too late. Juliet realizes that it was a mistake to fall in love with Romeo, because he is one of the people she should watch out for. He is her first and only love, but he is an enemy of her family. Lucky for Romeo, Juliet is smart, and such dumb thing as hate between their parents wouldnt stop her from loving Romeo and getting married with him. She is sorry that their families are enemies, though, because everything would be much easier if they werent. So this is the first time when the hate between Capulets and Montagues becomes problem to Romeo and Juliets happiness. Only after their children die, the Montagues and Capulets come to their senses. The Prince accuses them of killing Romeo and Juliet. The Prince makes them see how wrong they were all the time, that all because of their hate, because they couldnt let their children love each other, Romeo and Juliet died. After that, Capulets and Montagues decide to call it quits. No more fighting, and Montague even says that he will make a gold statue of Juliet, but what is that going to do? It is too late, nothing will bring them back. It is totally Capulets and Montagues fault that Romeo and Juliet died. If they didnt hate each other so much, they would let their children get married, and they would be able to live happily ever after. There was only one person that realized how unreasonable the fighting was and even tried to stop it, and he was Benvolio. Benvolio was a Montague, but the Capulets didnt have a peacemaker like Benvolio. They only had Tybalt, whose only goal was to destroy all the Montagues. We dont really know how Romeo and Juliets parents would have reacted if they had known that their children were in love with each other. Romeo and Juliet didnt even try to tell them about love between them because they were afraid that their parents wouldnt understand, but maybe they would have. But, Capulet and Montague learned about their childrens love when they were already dead. It is still mostly Capulets and Montagues fault that Romeo and Juliet died, but maybe it was just their fate to die.

Analysis of Zara case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysis of Zara - Case Study Example This made Inditex one of the chief merchants in the world. The major branch, Zara, of Inditex was first launched in Spain in the year 1975 and has currently grown and spread to other parts like German and Portugal. Zara offers stylish designs for gents, ladies, and children. They also vend accessories to complete their merchandise (Zara, 9). The success of Zara, from operations management point of view, can be attributed to many factors as discussed in the subsequent paragraphs. In relation to design and manufacturing, Zara comes up with innovative design collections at the beginning of each season. Moreover, it continuously brings in new items with short lead times all through the year. By providing more fashionable clothes which are not readily available, the customer have limited option, and they have to move quickly in purchasing the little available stock and hence a high turnout for Zara. On the other hand, Zara strategy to embark on the vertically incorporated industrialized undertakings and well-organized production system has also enabled them increase sales. Moreover, there was extensive and equal distribution of production resources across the network of facilities all over the supply chains where errands were well segregated. As a result of this segregation, new clothing design were innovated and were afterw ard displayed it in its stores for vending in a month’s period span. This is a short period span and therefore, manufactured quantities can be solely based on the approximation and any alteration in the production can be made without difficulty and quickly. Secondly, Zara spent modest on advertising for its fashion. As an alternative, it has played attention on opening its stores in major city locations. Across the world, store layouts and pricing of the outfits are also homogeneous so as to reflect the main branch, the H Q in La Coruna (Zara, 9). Despite the fact

English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 22

English - Essay Example One of the main differences between soccer and football is the use of the hands and feet. In soccer, the only person who can touch the ball with his hands is the goalie. In football, the ball is carried by hand or thrown by hand only (Tara OÂ ´Gorman) For American football the playing field will be of size 90-120 m long and 45-90 m wide while in world football it is around 110 m long and 48.8 m wide. In world football each player will have specific positions while in American football such positions are not defined. In football there will be mostly the match is controlled by a referee and 2 lines man while in American football apart from a referee another 6 more judges will be there. In football the ball will be a round leather ball measuring 68 and 71 cm in circumference, weighing between 396 to 453 g. But in American football the ball is an extended spheroid with a circumference of 72.4 cm around the long axis and 54 cm around the short axis, weighing about 397 to 425 g. Though both in American football and in world football colored uniform is used by player, the pants of the world football players will be little longer than that used in American football. American football players enjoy direct contacts with the fans while in world football players will be under protective armor. World football playing time is 90 minutes consisting of two equal halves of 45 minutes with a 15 minute break in between while in American football is divided into 4 quarters of 15 minutes each. World football is more popular than the American football with famous football playing countries like, Brazil, Italy, England, Argentina, Germany, Netherlands, etc. which brings joy to trillions of fans

Wegman's Supermarkets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Wegman's Supermarkets - Essay Example This makes it easy for the supermarket personnel know their various roles and responsibilities. Owing to its fewer layers of leadership, it also gives employees an idea of who to answer to (Berkun 78). Because projects are carried out within one department, it is easier for the unit to supervise the whole project. Departments are given the autonomy to determine the project targets and are, therefore, able to exercise complete control on the outcome of these projects. Berkun argues that enables the various projects to be designed according to departmental needs (78). In addition, the feeling of having absolute control over projects encourages creativity and offers a favorable work environment (Kloppenborg 103). Research indicates that decisions can be made quicker when people share similar perspectives than when they differ fundamentally. This model, therefore, leads to faster decisions and leaves little room for antagonism since the decisions are always made by an authoritative figure at Wegman’s supermarkets. Because this model clusters people of similar professions and ideals together, it encourages free communication between them. This leads to knowledge and skill sharing among the supermarket’s staff (Kloppenborg 104). Rather than spend unnecessarily on expensive capacity building workshops, the supermarket uses its experienced senior managers and supervisors to offer apprenticeship trainings to the less experienced employees. This leads to a more comprehensive and solid project execution. Wegman’s Supermarkets follow a functional structure because it gives the other team members a definite and clear corporate ladder for the supermarket’s employees to pursue. Because project managers are mostly drawn from a pool of experts in various domains, these managers are exceptionally gifted in their fields and this makes it easy for them

A Traumatic Brain Injury Health And Social Care Essay

A Traumatic Brain Injury Health And Social Care Essay The Brain Injury Association of America defines a traumatic brain injury as an insult to the brain, not of degenerative or congenital nature, caused by an external physical force that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, which results in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning. It can also result in the disturbance of behavioral or emotional functioning.Any injury to the head may cause traumatic brain injury (TBI). There are two major types of TBI: Penetrating Injuries:  In these injuries, a foreign object (e.g., a bullet) enters the brain and causes damage to specific brain parts. This focal, or localized, damage occurs along the route the object has traveled in the brain. Symptoms vary depending on the part of the brain that is damaged. Closed Head Injuries:  Closed head injuries result from a blow to the head as occurs, for example, in a car accident when the head strikes the windshield or dashboard. These injuries cause two types of brain damage: People with a brain injury often have cognitive (thinking) and communication problems that significantly impair their ability to live independently. These problems vary depending on how widespread brain damage is and the location of the injury. Brain injury survivors may have trouble finding the words they need to express an idea or explain themselves through speaking and/or writing. It may be an effort for them to understand both written and spoken messages, as if they were trying to comprehend a foreign language. They may have difficulty with spelling, writing, and reading, as well. The person may have trouble with social communication, including: taking turns in conversation maintaining a topic of conversation using an appropriate tone of voice interpreting the subtleties of conversation (e.g., the difference between sarcasm and a serious statement) responding to facial expressions and body language keeping up with others in a fast-paced conversation Individuals may seem overemotional (overreacting) or flat (without emotional affect). Most frustrating to families and friends, a person may have little to no awareness of just how inappropriate he or she is acting. In general, communication can be very frustrating and unsuccessful. In addition to all of the above, muscles of the lips and tongue may be weaker or less coordinated after TBI. The person may have trouble speaking clearly. The person may not be able to speak loudly enough to be heard in conversation. Muscles may be so weak that the person is unable to speak at all. Weak muscles may also limit the ability to chew and swallow effectively. Treating traumatic brain injury  occurs when a patient is admitted to the hospital. Doctors work diligently to stabilize his or her condition, which can include unblocking airways, maintaining blood flow to the brain and, in extreme cases, resuscitation. In addition, doctors treat open wounds and administer antibiotics to prevent infection. Once a patient has stabilized, his or her doctors may order MRI scans, CT scans, or X-rays to help assess the level of brain damage. Doctors may also prescribe anti-convulsion medication to prevent seizures. In some instances, traumatic brain injury can lead to increased intracranial pressure. These cases often require surgery to accommodate brain swelling and excess fluid. Open head injuries may require surgery to remove broken skull fragments and insert synthetic pieces that protect delicate brain tissue. Traumatic brain injury rehabilitation  is an important part of treatment because it helps patients regain or manage impaired brain functions and minimizes long-term traumatic brain injury disabilities. Through rehabilitation, patients are sometimes able to regain important brain functions such as speech, memory and mobility. Rehabilitation can also help a victims family cope with the tragedy. Traumatic brain injury has many other causes, complications and treatments. Please read other articles on this site for more information on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of traumatic brain injury. The recovery process is different for everyone. Just as no two people are alike, no two brain injuries are alike. Recovery is typically lengthy-from months to years-because the brain takes a long time to heal. These tips, directed at the person with a brain injury, will help your loved one improve after the injury: Get lots of rest. Avoid doing anything that could cause another blow or jolt to the head. Ask the doctor when its safe to drive a car, ride a bike, play sports or use heavy equipment, because reaction time may be slower after a brain injury. Take prescription medication according to thedoctors instructions. Do not drink alcohol or use street drugs. Write things down to help with memory problems. Ask the doctor to recommend rehabilitation services that might help recovery, and follow those recommendations Mild injury Mild traumatic brain injuries usually require no treatment other than rest and over-the-counter pain relievers to treat a headache. However, a person with a mild traumatic brain injury usually needs to be monitored closely at home for any persistent, worsening or new symptoms. He or she also may have follow-up doctor appointments. The doctor will indicate when a return to work, school or recreational activities is appropriate. Its best to avoid physical or thinking (cognitive) activities until symptoms have stopped. Most people return to normal routines gradually. Immediate emergency care Emergency care for moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries focuses on making sure the person has an adequate oxygen and blood supply, maintaining blood pressure, and preventing any further injury to the head or neck. People with severe injuries may also have other injuries that need to be addressed. Additional treatments in the emergency room or intensive care unit of a hospital will focus on minimizing secondary damage due to inflammation, bleeding or reduced oxygen supply to the brain. Medications Medications to limit secondary damage to the brain immediately after an injury may include: Diuretics.  These drugs reduce the amount of fluid in tissues and increase urine output. Diuretics, given intravenously to people with traumatic brain injury, help reduce pressure inside the brain. Anti-seizure drugs.  People whove had a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury are at risk of having seizures during the first week after their injury. An anti-seizure drug may be given during the first week to avoid any additional brain damage that might be caused by a seizure. Additional anti-seizure treatments are used only if seizures occur. Coma-inducing drugs.  Doctors sometimes use drugs to put people into temporary comas because a comatose brain needs less oxygen to function. This is especially helpful if blood vessels, compressed by increased pressure in the brain, are unable to deliver the usual amount of nutrients and oxygen to brain cells. Surgery Emergency surgery may be needed to minimize additional damage to brain tissues. Surgery may be used to address the following problems: Removing clotted blood (hematomas).  Bleeding outside or within the brain can result in a collection of clotted blood (hematoma) that puts pressure on the brain and damages brain tissue. Repairing skull fractures.  Surgery may be needed to repair severe skull fractures or to remove pieces of skull in the brain. Opening a window in the skull.  Surgery may be used to relieve pressure inside the skull by draining accumulated cerebral spinal fluid or creating a window in the skull that provides more room for swollen tissues. Rehabilitation Most people who have had a significant brain injury will require rehabilitation. They may need to relearn basic skills, such as walking or talking. The goal is to improve their abilities to perform daily activities. Therapy usually begins in the hospital and continues at an inpatient rehabilitation unit, a residential treatment facility or through outpatient services. The type and duration of rehabilitation varies by individual, depending on the severity of the brain injury and what part of the brain was injured. Rehabilitation specialists may include: Physiatrist,  a doctor trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation, who oversees the entire rehabilitation process Occupational therapist  who helps the person learn, relearn or improve skills to perform everyday activities Physical therapist,  who helps with mobility and relearning movement patterns, balance and walking Speech and language pathologist,  who helps the person improve communication skills and use assistive communication devices if necessary Neuropsychologist or psychiatrist,  who helps the person manage behaviors or learn coping strategies, provides talk therapy as needed for emotional and psychological well-being, and prescribes medication as needed Social worker or case manager,  who facilitates access to service agencies, assists with care decisions and planning, and facilitates communication among various professionals, care providers and family members Rehabilitation nurse,  who provides ongoing rehabilitation care and services and who helps with discharge planning from the hospital or rehabilitation facility Traumatic brain injury nurse specialist,  who helps coordinate care and educates the family about the injury and recovery process Recreational therapist,  who assists with leisure activities Vocational counselor,  who  assesses the ability to return to work and appropriate vocational opportunities, and provides resources for addressing common challenges in the workplace Prognosis (or Chance of Recovery) It is difficult to predict how well someone who has had a brain injury will recover, partly because there is no test a doctor can use to predict recovery. The Glasgow Coma Scale is used to determine the initial severity of a brain injury. It is often used at the scene of the accident or in the emergency room. This scale uses eye movements and ability to speak and move other parts of the body to determine the seriousness of the injury. Ask your doctor to explain the tests used to determine your loved ones ability to recover. Your loved ones prognosis will depend on many factors, including the severity of the injury, the type of injury, and what parts of the brain have been affected. Prompt diagnosis and treatment will help the recovery process. In discussing possible effects of TBI, the immediate physiological recovery (which may continue over months and years) was discussed in a  prior question. When the moderately or severely injured person has completed this initial recovery, the long-term functional deficits associated with TBI come to the fore. What areas of functioning may be affected by injury to the brain? Any or all of the functions the brain controls may be impacted. However, given that individuals differ greatly in their response to injury, any specific individual may experience only one, a few, or most of the possible effects. Further, a change in any of the possible areas of dysfunction, if it occurs at all, will vary in intensity across individuals from very subtle to moderate to life threatening. It is important to be aware also that not all functions of the individual are impacted by TBI. For example, feelings toward family, long-term memories, the ability to ski or cook, ones knowledge of the world, and so forth all may be intact, along with numerous other characteristics of an individual, even one who has experienced a moderate to severe injury. Individuals with a moderate-to-severe brain injury most typically experience problems in basic cognitive skills: sustaining attention, concentrating on tasks at hand, and remembering newly learned material. They may think slowly, speak slowly, and solve problems slowly. They may become confused easily when normal routines are changed or when the stimulation level from the environment exceeds their threshold. They may persevere at tasks too long, being unable to switch to a different tactic or a new task when encountering difficulties. Or, on the other hand, they may jump at the first solution they see, substituting impulsive responses for considered actions. They may be unable to go beyond a concrete appreciation of situations, to find abstract principles that are necessary to carry learning into new situations. Their speech and language may be impaired: word-finding problems, understanding the language of others, and the like. A major class of cognitive abilities that may be affected by TBI is referred to as executive functions the complex processing of large amounts of intricate information that we need to function creatively, competently and independently as beings in a complex world. Thus, after injury, individuals with TBI may be unable to function well in their social roles because of difficulty in planning ahead, in keeping track of time, in coordinating complex events, in making decisions based on broad input, in adapting to changes in life, and in otherwise being the executive in ones own life. With appropriate training and other supports, the person may be able to learn to compensate for some of these cognitive difficulties. TBI may cause emotional, social, or behavioral problems and changes in personality.[115][116][117][118]  These may include emotional instability,  depression, anxiety,hypomania,  mania, apathy, irritability, problems with social judgment, and impaired conversational skills.[115][118][119]  TBI appears to predispose survivors to psychiatric disorders including  obsessive compulsive disorder,  substance abuse,  dysthymia,  clinical depression,  bipolar disorder, and  anxiety disorders.[120]  In patients who have depression after TBI, suicidal ideation is not uncommon; the suicide rate among these persons is increased 2- to 3-fold.[121]  Social and behavioral symptoms that can follow TBI include disinhibition, inability to control anger, impulsiveness,  lack of initiative, inappropriate sexual activity, poor social judgment, and changes in personality. With TBI, the systems in the brain that control our social-emotional lives often are damaged. The consequences for the individual and for his or her significant others may be very difficult, as these changes may imply to them that the person who once was is no longer there. Thus, personality can be substantially or subtly modified following injury. The person who was once an optimist may now be depressed. The previously tactful and socially skilled negotiator may now be blurting comments that embarrass those around him/her. The person may also be characterized by a variety of other behaviors: dependent behaviors, emotional swings, lack of motivation, irritability, aggression, lethargy, being very uninhibited, and/or being unable to modify behavior to fit varying situations. A very important change that affects many people with TBI is referred to as denial (or, lack of awareness): The person becomes unable to compare post-injury behavior and abilities with pre-injury behavior and abilities. For these individuals, the effects of TBI are, for whatever reason, simply not perceived whether for emotional reasons, as a means of avoiding the pain of fully facing the consequences of injury, or for neurological reasons, in which brain damage itself limits the individuals ability to step back, compare, evaluate differences, and reach a conclusion based on that process. With appropriate training, therapy, and other supports, the person may be able to reduce the impact of some of these emotional and behavioral difficulties. The TBI Research Center at Mount Sinai is conducting research to help people with TBI who experience depression and other mood disturbances [ Useful Resources Services for Families Affected by TBI National Disability Rights Network Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Disabilities Protection and Advocacy (PA) System and Client Assistance Program (CAP) This nationwide network of congressionally mandated disability rights agencies provides various services to people with disabilities, including TBI. PA agencies provide information and referral services and help people with disabilities find solutions to problems involving discrimination and employment, education, health care and transportation, personal decision-making, and Social Security disability benefits. These agencies also provide individual and family advocacy. CAP agencies help clients seeking vocational rehabilitation. For more information on PA and CAP programs, contact the National Disability Rights Network at:  www.napas.org  or (202) 408-9514. Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Funded through the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, the TBI Model Systems consist of 16 TBI treatment centers throughout the U.S. The TBI Model Systems have extensive experience treating people with TBI and are linked to well established medical centers which provide high quality trauma care from the onset of head injury through the rehabilitation process. For more information on the TBI Model Systems, go towww.tbindsc.org/Centers/centers.asp  or call the TBI Project Coordinator at (973) 414-4723 to find the center nearest you. Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) Chartered State Affiliates BIAA is a national program with a network of more than 40 chartered state affiliates, as well as hundreds of local chapters providing information, education and support to individuals, families and professionals affected by brain injury. To locate   your states TBI programs that can be of assistance, visit the Brain Injury Association of Americas online listing of chartered state affiliates at  www.biausa.org/stateoffices.htm, or call (800) 444-6443. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) It is possible that your loved one may be entitled to SSDI and/or SSI. SSDI and SSI eligibility is dependent on a number of factors including the severity of the disability and what assets and income your loved one has. You should contact the Social Security Administration to find out more about these programs and whether your loved one will qualify for these benefits. For more information on SSDI and SSI, contact the Social Security Administration at  www.ssa.gov  or (800) 772-1213. Centers for Independent Living (CIL) Some families have found that it is important to encourage their loved one with a TBI to continually learn skills that can allow them to live independently in the community. The CILs exist nationwide to help people with disabilities live independently in the community and may have resources to help your loved one reach a goal of living alone. CIL services include advocacy, peer counseling, case management, personal assistance and counseling, information and referral, and independent living skills development. For more information on the CIL system, contact the National Council on Independent Living at  www.virtualcil.net/cils  or (703) 525-3406.

Strategy Guide to Arc The Lad :: Arc the Lad Video Games Entertainment Essays

Strategy Guide to Arc The Lad Characters and Spells: Arc Burn Ground (volcanic eruption on enemies) Total Healing (replenishes HPs) Gail Flash (mystic forces flashes on enemies) Slow Enemy (decreases dexterity of enemies) Meteor Fall (huge meteor clashes on enemies) Kukuru Cure (replenishes HPs) Depoison (cures poison status) Silent (disables enemy's magic use) Refresh (cures status) Ten No Sabaki (hail of explosions) Resurrection (revives dead party members) Divide (steals HPs from enemies) Poco Ikusa No Kodaiko (raises attack levels on party members) Arajishi Daiko (laser attack on enemies) Hero Hero Rappa (huge stone notes drop on enemies) Ieyashi No Tategoto (replenishes party member's HP) Noroma No Bass (decreases enemy's dexterity) Idaten No Okarina (raises party member's dexterity) Tosh Oukarai Bakuzan (three deadly slashes to enemy) Juubakuken (paralyzes enemy) Shinkuuzan (Illusion attack for enemy at two squares away from Tosh) Koenzan (Shadow attack to inflict deadly) Gogen Explosion (massive explosion against enemies) Dream Knock (casts "sleep" on enemies) Diamond Dust (hails of ice thrashes on enemies) Wind Slasher (cyclones thrash against enemies) Heat Wall (creates a fire barrier against enemies; see Hints) Thunder Storm (summons lightning bolts) Teleport (teleports) Iga Shingan Hoo (casts "rock" on enemies"; see Hints) Taimakoodan (releases lasers against enemies) Senbuugekishuu (releases a flaming kick to hit all enemies around him) Ryuusenbaku (summons winds to lift enemies and thrashes them on ground) Kishin Ryuueiha (throws ground lightning bolt) Metsushuu Reppa (energy wave attack) Chongara Keraku (three elves who heal members) Monfree (creates tiles for passage) Fuugin (wind demon; see Hints) Raigin (thunder demon; see Hints) Hemogee (transforms enemies into trolls) Odon (morphs into enemy) Hints: Iga's Rock Spell Once the "Shingan Hoo" spell (rock spell) is cast on enemies, the "Taimakoodan" spell (laser spell) is enabled/accessible. The laser will attack all the enemies under the rock spell. Note that the Taimakoodan spell is not usable independently. Chongara's Monsters and the 1100+ HP Damage Attack Chongara's abilities are unique. He summons enemies of all genera at his will. Though his monsters may not seem as useful at first, his two monsters "Raigin" and "Fuugin" can be quite a deadly combination when used accordingly. Though it takes some time to summon both Raigin and Fuugin, once they are out, place them around an enemy, preferably a strong one. But note that they must be in a VERITCAL FORMATION (example: Raigin over an enemy, Fuugin underneath the same enemy), in order for the attack to work: Once they are in a vertical formation, a spell will now be accessible, which can inflict more than 1100 HP damage! Death is inevitable. Chongara's Secret Character Chongara also has a secret character that he can summon at only certain times.

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 18

That night, Damon invited me to play cards with some of his soldier friends, who were camped out for the moment in Leestown, twenty miles away. â€Å"I may not agree with them, but damn, can they play a good hand and drink a good pint,† Damon said. I'd found myself agreeing, eager to avoid Father and any questions about vampires. But by the time twilight rolled around and I hadn't seen any sign of Katherine or Emily, I wished that I hadn't agreed to accompany Damon. My mind was still jumbled, and I wanted a night with Katherine to reassure me that my desire was leading me in the right direction. I loved her, but the practical, sensible side of me was having trouble disobeying Father. â€Å"Ready?† Damon asked, clad in his Confederate uniform, when he stopped by my bedroom at twilight. I nodded. It was too late to say no. â€Å"Good.† He grinned and clattered down the stairs. I glanced wistfully out the window toward the carriage house, then followed him. â€Å"We're going out to the camp,† Damon yelled as we passed by Father's study. â€Å"Wait!† Father emerged from the study into the living room, several long branches filled with tiny, lilac-like purple flowers in his arms. Vervain. â€Å"Wear this,† he commanded, tucking a sprig into each of our breast pockets. â€Å"Y shouldn't have, Father,† Damon said ou tersely, as he plucked the sprig out of his pocket and shoved it into his breeches pocket. â€Å"I've given you latitude, son, and given you a roof. Now all I ask is that you do this,† Father said, slamming his meaty fist into his palm so hard, I saw him wince. Thankfully, Damon, usually so quick to pounce at any sign of weakness, didn't notice. â€Å"Fine, Father.† Damon shrugged easily and spread his arms as if in defeat. â€Å"I would be honored to wear your flower for you.† Father's eyes flickered with rage, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he simply broke off another sprig and tucked it into Damon's coat pocket. â€Å"Thank you,† I mumbled as I accepted my own branch. My statement of thanks was less for the flower and more for Father showing mercy on Damon. â€Å"Be careful, boys,† Father said, before retreating to his study. Damon rolled his eyes as we walked outside. â€Å"Y shouldn't be so hard on him,† I mumbled, ou shivering in the night air. The summer-like day had become a chilly fall evening, but the mist that had been everywhere last night had lifted, giving us a been everywhere last night had lifted, giving us a crystal-clear view of the moon. â€Å"Why not? He's hard on us.† Damon snorted as he led the way to the stable. Mezzanotte and Jake were already bridled and stamping their hooves impatiently. â€Å"I had Alfred get everything ready. Thought we'd need a quick getaway.† Damon swung his leg over Jake's back, then galloped him down the path and turned in the direction opposite of town. We rode in silence for at least a half hour. With just the sound of the hooves and the sight of the moon peeking through the dense foliage, it felt like we were riding into a dream. Finally, we began to hear sounds of flutes playing and laughter and the occasional gunshot. Damon directed us up over a hill toward a clearing. Tents were set up all over, and a piper played in the corner. Men were walking around, and dogs were stationed at the entrance. It was as if we'd arrived at a mysterious, hidden party. â€Å"Hello, sir?† Two Confederate soldiers came up to us, their rifles pointed toward us. Mezzanotte took a few steps back and whinnied nervously. â€Å"Soldier Damon Salvatore, sir! Here on leave from General Groom's camp down in Atlanta.† Immediately, the two soldiers relaxed their rifles and tipped their hats at us. â€Å"Sorry 'bout that, soldier. We're gearin' up for battle, and we're losing our men like flies, before they even hit the battlefield,† the taller soldier said, stepping up to pat Jake. â€Å"Y and not because of typhus,† the other, es, smaller, mustachioed soldier said, obviously pleased to share this information with us. â€Å"Killings?† Damon asked tersely. â€Å"How'd you know?† the first guard asked, stroking his rifle. I glanced at the ground, unsure what to do. I felt that Damon was getting us into a dangerous situation, but I didn't know what I could do to fix it. â€Å"My brother and I are coming from Mystic Falls,† Damon said, jerking his thumb back as if to prove that was the direction we came from. â€Å"The next town over, past the forest. We've had some of our own trouble. People are saying it's some type of animal.† â€Å"Not unless it's an animal that only goes for the throat and leaves the rest of the body untouched,† the mustachioed soldier said knowledgeably, his tiny eyes flicking back and forth between us. â€Å"Hmm,† Damon said, sounding suddenly uninterested. But then he changed the subject. â€Å"Any good games of poker going on tonight?† â€Å"Right there in that clearing by the oak trees.† The small soldier pointed a little ways off into the distance. â€Å"Have a good evening, then. I thank you for your help,† Damon said with exaggerated politeness. We walked in the direction the soldier pointed, until Damon stopped abruptly at a small circle of soldiers, huddled around a fire and playing cards. â€Å"Hello! Soldier Damon Salvatore on leave from General Groom's boys,† Damon said confidently as he slid off his horse and glanced around the faces lit up by the campfire. â€Å"This is my brother, Stefan. Can we be dealt in?† One ginger-haired soldier glanced at an older, grand-fatherly type whose arm was in a sling. He shrugged and gestured for us to sit on one of the logs set up around the fire. â€Å"Don't see why not.† Adrenaline seeped through my veins as we settled down and took our hands. Mine was good: two aces and a king. I immediately threw in some rumpled notes from my pocket, making a bet with myself. If I won money, then everything would be fine with Katherine. And if I didn't, then †¦ well, I didn't want to think about it. â€Å"All in,† I said confidently. After we settled the game, I wasn't surprised to emerge as the victor. I smiled as I took the pile of money and carefully put it in my pocket. I grinned in relief, finally feeling sure in my love for Katherine. I imagined what Katherine would say. Smart Stefan, maybe. Savvy Stefan. Or maybe she'd simply laugh, showing her white teeth, and allow me to take her into my arms and twirl her around and around the room†¦. We played several more hands after that, during which I lost the money I had won, but I didn't care. The first hand had been the test, and now my heart and mind felt remarkably light. â€Å"What are you thinking?† Damon asked, taking a flask from his pocket. He held it toward me, and I took a long swig. The whiskey burned going down my throat, but I still craved more. It didn't seem that any of the other soldiers were up for another hand. The five we were playing with had drifted off to chew tobacco, drink more whiskey, or tearfully talk about their sweethearts back home. â€Å"Come on, brother, you can tell me,† Damon encouraged. He took the flask, swigged from it, then passed it back toward me. I took another, deeper drink and paused. Should I tell him? Any hesitation I had earlier had disappeared. After all, he was my brother. â€Å"Well, I was thinking about how different Katherine is than any other girl I've met †¦,† I began evasively. I knew I was treading into dangerous territory, but part of me was dying to know whether Damon also knew Katherine's secret. I took another sip of whiskey and coughed. â€Å"How's she different?† Damon asked, a smile curving on his lips. â€Å"Well, I mean she's not,† I said, sobering up as I frantically tried to backtrack. â€Å"I just meant that I noticed that she is–† noticed that she is–â€Å" â€Å"That she's a vampire?† Damon interrupted. My breath caught in my throat, and I blinked. I glanced around nervously. People were drinking, laughing, counting their winnings. But Damon was simply sitting there, the same smile on his lips. I couldn't understand how he was smiling. And then a new, darker thought appeared in my mind. How did Damon know that Katherine was who she was? Had she told him? And had it been the same way, in the misty predawn, in bed? I shuddered. â€Å"So she's a vampire. What of it? She's still Katherine.† Damon turned to look at me, urgency in his dark-brown eyes. â€Å"And you won't say anything to Father. He's half crazy as it is,† Damon said as he scuffed his boot against the ground. â€Å"How did you find out?† I couldn't stop myself from asking. Suddenly, a shot was fired. â€Å"Soldier down!† a uniformed boy who looked to be about fourteen yelled as he charged from tent to tent. â€Å"Soldier down! Attack! Out into the woods!† Damon's face paled. â€Å"I need to help. Y little ou, brother, go home.† â€Å"Are you sure?† I asked, feeling torn and suddenly frightened. Damon nodded tersely. â€Å"If Father asks, I drank too much at the saloon and am sleeping it off somewhere.† Another shot was fired, and Damon took off into the woods, blending into the sea of soldiers. â€Å"Go!† Damon yelled. I ran in the opposite direction to the now-abandoned camp and dug my heels into Mezzanotte, whispering in her velvety ears and imploring her to go faster. Mezzanotte rode through the forest faster than she ever had before; once across the Wickery Bridge, she turned, as if she knew exactly how to head home. But then she reared and whinnied. I held on with my thighs and saw a shadowy figure with golden-brown hair, arm-in-arm with another girl. I stiffened. No women would be out after dark unaccompanied by a man in the best of circumstances, but definitely not in these times. Not with the vampire attacks. The face turned, and in the reflection on the water I saw a pale, pointed face. Katherine. She was escorting little Anna from the apothecary. All I could see were the dark vines of Anna's curls, bouncing over her shoulders. â€Å"Katherine!† I yelled from the horse, with a strength I did not know I possessed. Now, instead of wanting to hold her, I wanted to use my arms to restrain her, to make her stop carrying out the awful thing she was about to do. I felt bile rise in my throat as I imagined finding a jagged branch and ramming it into her chest. Katherine didn't turn around. She held Anna's shoulders tighter and led her into the forest. I kicked Mezzanotte hard on the flanks, the wind whipping against my face as I desperately tried to catch up with them.

THE CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR Essays - Slavery In The United States

THE CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR Essays - Slavery In The United States THE CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR "The tragic ?fireball in the night? imagined by Jefferson had finally rung. The Missouri Compromise had failed. Proslavery and antislavery civilians clashed in the streets and took up arms. Thousands of Northerners were willing to die for their beliefs. The Civil War had begun. The states were at war with each other." This dividing battle between the North and the South was unavoidable. The Civil War was caused by economic, political and moral problems. It all started by an alarming increase in a need for cotton, which triggered the building of a barrier between two territories in a growing nation. New Machinery was changing the textile industry in New England and Britain. These mills needed more and more cotton, creating a new demand in the south. For this trade with Europe, after 1812, raw cotton accounted for one-third all cotton exports of the United States. By 1830, it increased to half. Cotton quickly became a big money-making cash crop for the South and North economy alike. But the demand also revived the need for slaves. The plantations had to be worked, and blacks were a cheap, efficient way to get the cotton picked. To make their jobs easier, Eli Whitney took advantage of the new idea, and invented the cotton gin(short for engine). It rapidly cleaned the seeds from the short, sticky fibers of upland cotton, the variety that grew all over the South. The process was simple: a roller carried raw cotton along wooden slats. Sharp metal teeth thrust through the slats and quickly pulled the fibers from the seeds. In 1794, he obtained a patent. Whitney still earned little because it was simple enough for manufacturers to copy. Even though the machine made attaining cotton faster, slaves were still pushed to work harder and produce more. Blacks under captivity certainly led a harsh, unfair life. But that is where the white southerners believed blacks belonged. Northerners knew better. Harriet Beecher-Stowe, a female, black abolitionist was aware of these conditions. She wrote Uncle Tom?s Cabin, which was published in 1852, and described the incredible cruelty and horrors of slavery. Stowe wanted to "write something that would make the whole nation feel what an accursed thing slavery is." Her novel became widely popular, and within a year, readers had bought 300,000 copies. Wherever it went, it carried it?s powerful message of the evils of slavery. She hoped the novel would bring a peaceful end to slavery, but instead it seemed to bring the nation closer to war. Of course, not all Southerners supported slavery, nor did all Northerners oppose it. Yet antislavery feelings were on the rise in the North?few white Southerners went to extremes. Their concern lay in maintaining the plantation system as it existed. With her book she was able to gain many Northerners support in the antislavery race, yet at the same time she outraged the Southerners. Harriet?s novel was one of the many things that sparred mistrust between the North and South. The North didn?t trust the South because they refused to help Southern plantation owners capture slaves. North depended on the South for making money, and the South depended on the slaves to pick their cotton. This created the Northern fear of Competition. The North was afraid that South would gain power of crops and put them out of business. This meant that slavery would double. The North was torn between giving the slaves their rightful choices, or keeping the economy balanced. It was a matter of moral standards. The South wanted to break away from the union, while the North still wanted the two territories to stick together. This conflict was the main cause of the Civil War. The South argued about their state?s rights. They said a state could nullify a federal law it did not consider constitutional. Southern states based their right to leave the union, on the fact the original 13 states had existed separately before they formed together for the United States. The South could break their allegiance to the union because they were not part of the original U.S. If they could form there own confederacy, the South could continue the use of slaves while also

Religion In Public Life Essays - Prayer, Spirituality, Free Essays

Religion In Public Life Essays - Prayer, Spirituality, Free Essays Religion In Public Life Prayer in school has been the topic of the century, Is it right to pray in school, stated a Texas teacher. The society as a whole believes it is wrong, but there is some people that thinks it would be a good addition to our school. Maybe it will lower school violence. Yeah, right, whatever! Come on people, be a little intelligent. Our country has had violence before we created prayer in school. Religion will probably make it worse. Sociologists has taken a look at this issue. They perceived it preposterous. Sociologist think if we had prayer in school, might as well force us to read a bible and say amen every time a teacher finishes a sentence. Prayer in school is ridiculous and absurd. Sociologists opposes school prayer for a number of reasons. To begin, it is unconstitutional and a clear violation of our First Amendment. Remember, that amendment contains the Establishment Clause which prohibits the government fromestablishing religion. Simply put, secular institutions like the publ ic schools should NOT be a forum for religious ritual or indoctrination. And do a majority of people support school prayer? Often, those results depend on exactly how the question happens to be asked. Surveys suggest that most people reject the notion of mandatory prayer. But even if the overwhelming majority thought that prayer was, somehow, a good idea, that does not make the practice ethically just or constitutional. Sociologists also points out, in opposing school prayer, that prayer is not efficacious. School prayer is obviously a form of religious indoctrination; it teaches children that there are invisible, supernatural entities which can be implored and appeased through mumbling prayers or reading from holy books. Many people believe that just because there is a bible, does it mean we have to take it seriously. If we wrote a book and put it in a time capsule and send it back 4000 years ago it will become a religion. What about school initiated prayer? Before getting excited about student initiated prayer, ask yourself: which students are doing the initiating? Student populations often reflect the diversity of the culture. Some students may wish to pray in class or at official school ceremonies like graduation exercises or sporting events, but are they being fair to other students who may not wish to pray? Lately, there have been court cases involving this very question. It is clear that even in areas such as Utah where a school may have a high percentage of students from the same religious background, not all students feel comfortable with this bogus student led religious ritual. If you see a huge group of people praying will you join them? The survey says 1 out of 4 students say yes. The reason is, they want to keep their friends. Sociologists believe teen peer pressure is why this is the way it is. What about a moment of silence? What for? Why do we need a moment of silence? School prayer boosters have sometimes proposed this as a way of establishing a legal precedent which, they hope, will eventually lead toward explicit and vocal school prayer. Over a decade ago, the Supreme Court struck down this type of proposal; legislation of this type often calls for the moment of silence to be used for meditation or prayer. Besides, consider the declining number of hours that students are in school each year. Every moment should be used for useful and educational instruction, not meditating! The whole idea of this is if we create some way to do this, without violating any rights, it wont effect any one. But yes it does, even a moment of silence is basically saying you must do this or else... Our government has always stood by the First Amendment, For one reason. The First Amendment creates an issue with how to stop certain things from happening. There is a lot of power in the First Amendment. But, our government exercises this right narrowly. We are always battling with the First Amendment. There is a lot of culture in this issue. One main reason we live in America is because we wanted the right to believe in a god, many gods, or no god(s)

Supply Chain Operations Management Assignment Essay

Supply Chain Operations Management Assignment - Essay Example Ownership upstream towards suppliers and subsidiaries of inputs to production is known as backward vertical integration, while ownership downstream towards buyers and distribution centres is known as forward vertical integration. Figure 1: Vertical Integration (Source: PPT) The disadvantages associated with vertical integration in achieving economies of scale can be highlighted as: 1. The costs incurred in forward and backward vertical integration are huge and can be used to expand production activities which would contribute more towards profits than that contributed through integration. 2. The core management time gets more involved in managing diverse structure of the organization as a result of integration. Such time could otherwise be devoted to core activities of management and contribute to organizational profits. 3. It is argued that production capacities, as a result of vertical integration, may become so large that customer demand might fall short and hence, economies of sc ale might not be fully utilised. Also, a lot of production time might get wasted in meeting a definite customer demand, thereby reducing scope for optimum utilisation as well. This becomes a major disadvantage because as a result of vertical integration, fixed costs sharply become so high that in times of slumps in demand, a fall in production might lead to a greater rise in per unit fixed costs rather than variable costs. Such a scenario makes realisation of breakeven point near difficult. Question 1b It is suggested that vertical integration decreases costs, but when it is viewed from the organizational point of view, vertical integration leads to higher cost in terms of managing different new organizational departments and also, backwards integration tends to reduce efficiencies of suppliers by eliminating competition, thereby increasing costs. When a firm decides over vertical integration, it invests significantly in terms of investments in the organizational process. These inve stments arise out of forward and backward integration and are done on acquiring firms. Such costs are capital expenses. Huge expenses made during integration reduce a firm’s capability to stretch production capacity at least for some period of time. In an unpredictable market environment, such inflexibility can be quite serious and might lead to loss of market share altogether. During the process of integration, a firm invests in high cost machines which are necessary to carry out production activities of the acquired firm. In the slump demand scenario, the machine might not be utilised to the fullest or utilised at all. However, the acquiring firm has made expenses for the machine and the costs of which shall get added to per unit produce. Variable costs, on the other hand, are incurred per unit of good produced and can be reduced during slack in demand. Additionally, such costs cannot be shared with the consumer owing to competition. Hence, we see how vertical integration c ontributes to higher fixed costs and lower variable costs. In such a scenario, a firm can explore alternatives to vertical integration for eliminating the disadvantages associated with the integration process. Only after due consideration of the competitive environment, efficient scale of production of the prospective firm to be acquired and its alignment with the company’

The History and Practices of Voodoo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The History and Practices of Voodoo - Essay Example In the documentary, Witchcraft & Magic, Patrick Macnee suggests that â€Å"voodoo is generally perceived as tribal black magic practiced in primitive cultures.† Ross Heaven, the first white priest of Vodou in Europe, explains that â€Å"Vodou is a spiritual tradition of Africa and Haiti† (Heaven 7). Brandi Kelley, the Director of the Voodoo Museum in New Orleans, states that â€Å"voodoo is a compromise between African voudon and Catholicism† (Macnee). While all of these statements are applicable, the history of voodoo and its evolution is somewhat nebulous. In the book for middle school students, The Real Monsters, Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen discusses perception and reality, â€Å"sometimes movies and books portray voodoo as a dark and evil religion that is dominated by black magic and pin-struck voodoo dolls. In reality, these things are not a part of traditional voodoo practices† (45). Bardhan-Quallen relates the observations of photographer Lynne Warberg, who has documented Haitian voodoo for years. â€Å"Participation in voodoo ritual reaffirms one’s relationships with ancestors, personal history, community relationships—and the cosmos. Voodoo is a way of life† (qtd. in Bardhan-Quallen, and Cochran 45). Slavery played a defining role in the history of voodoo. ... Linking their deities [†¦] to Catholic saints, slaves could pretend to pray to St. Barbara, for example, while really delivering their wishes to the vo-du thunder god, Songo† (Davis 8) Open to suggestion and seeking answers within the social constructs that confined them, slaves developed a new religion in which â€Å"transplanted voudon borrowed freely from native Indian cultures, European witchcraft, and other non-voudon African slave religions, for example the Kongo-based palo mayombe. And it co-opted precisely as much Catholicism as locally necessary to prevent the African content from being crushed by the Europeans† (Davis 8). In the words of Rod Davis, a reporter who researched and studied Voodoo for his book, American Voudou: Journey into a Hidden World, â€Å"Voudou took as many guises as necessary to survive, [†¦] hoodoo, root medicine, spiritual healing, ju-ju, black magic, and dozens of other euphemisms and forms† (75). Davis states that †Å"in different areas, voudou has different rituals and doctrines† (9). One can deduce that differing circumstances in each location, as well as other religions and cultures in the region, influenced the evolution of the religion. According to Davis, â€Å"in Haiti, the religion metamorphosed into vodun or vaudoux; in Cuba, Santeria; in Brazil, candomble; in Trinidad, Shango Baptist; in Mexico, curanderismo; in Jamaica, obeah. In the American South, it became voodoo and, in the most extreme caricature, hoodoo, the petty hexing (pins in dolls, love potions, etc.) which most people, black and white, confuse with the real thing† (Davis 9). In discussing people’s attitudes toward voodoo in early