Community Nursing Hat 1 Essay

   I chose as my community El Dorado County in the foothills of Northern California. I live in this community. We are a very healthy and active community with a large retirement group. I will go through the four assessments next. The Population Economic Status Assessment shows our population to be around 181,000. We are made up of 80% white Christian, with the next largest ethnic group being about 15% Mexican. The average household income is around $70,000 with 7.9% of people being at or below the poverty level. The Mexican population makes up the biggest percentage of the poor. El Dorado County’s median household income has been higher than the state average since 2000, indicating that its residents have more spending power than the average Californian (El Dorado Co). The unemployment rate is 11.8%. El Dorado County’s unemployment rate has been consistently lower than the California average since 1990. At any given time, there are 600+ homeless people in this community. Around 9000 people receive food stamps & another 3000 receive cash aid. On an average, we have much fewer people on public assistance than the national average. According to the information I gathered in the Cultural Assessment Tool, the population in this community has slightly more females than males which is very typical in these rural areas. There are 80% white people living here with about a 15% Mexican population (El Dorado Co). 27% of the populous are affiliated with a church, mostly Catholic Christian, compared to the 50% in the USA (Religions). About 85% of the people are covered by health insurance, which is very high compared to the rest of California. Cancer is the leading cause of death, with heart disease being second. The birth rate is 10.1 per 1000. County birth rates are consistently below average compared to the state, which is attributed to the higher senior population of the county (El Dorado Co). There is a high prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse in this community, related to poor or ineffective coping skills in the populous. There is a  real powerful stigma against the homeless community here, which really could benefit from some community teaching and outreach. The Neighborhood Community Safety Assessment shows that the air and water quality is very good in this community. Carbon monoxide levels are below the US average. They do usually have a few bad air days a year due to fires. There is some residual mercury left over from the mining days, but in low levels (El Dorado Co). During the winter snow, flooding and the cold pose health hazards. During the summer, fires are a hazard to public safety. However, there is excellent fire and police response here in this community. Many rivers and lakes in this community pose a risk for drowning; however, there are very few documented drowning’s here per year. There is quite a bit of poison oak & ivy here, and grass and hay fever irritants. Last, I will discuss the Disaster Assessment & Planning in this community. Through my research, I found that this community does follow federal guidelines for disaster management (OES). There is a County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan that was adopted in 2007 (City of Placerville). This plan has four parts that cover administrative, an emergency operations center plan, a recovery plan, & plans specific to a type of emergency (terrorism, multi-casualty incidents, hazard mitigation plan, etc.). This plan meets needs for rescue, medical care, food, shelter, clothing, temporary housing, and employment should an emergency arise. This community also uses the CDC’s Public Health Emergency Response Guide for emergency preparedness & response. I found all this information on line, but it took considerable research and was not easy. In my research, I found that most residents in this community are not aware of any disaster preparedness plan, nor do they know where to find one. There needs to some community wide teaching on disaster preparedness, an d where to find information regarding this. The following is my community genogram and diagnosis. Community Diagnosis Within the parameters assessed above, El Dorado County California is a healthy community. The areas that need improvements are discovering a way to help people respond in healthy ways to painful life events other than drugs & alcohol, to create & implement a plan to help the homeless community, to educate the public regarding the causes and preventative  measures for Cancer & Coronary Artery Disease, and to educate the public regarding emergency & disaster preparedness through community outreach programs. Community Diagnosis Within the parameters assessed above, El Dorado County California is a healthy community. The areas that need improvements are discovering a way to help people respond in healthy ways to painful life events other than drugs & alcohol, to create & implement a plan to help the homeless community, to educate the public regarding the causes and preventative measures for Cancer & Coronary Artery Disease, and to educate the public regarding emergency & disaster preparedness through community outreach programs. El Dorado County, California hhhh El Dorado County, California hhhh Population Economic Status Located in Northern California Population 181,058 Mostly white Next largest ethnic group Mexican Median household income 70,000 7.9% households at or below poverty level 11.8% unemployment rate 600+ homeless 9,000 receive food stamps 3,000 families receive cash aid Population Economic Status Located in Northern California Population 181,058 Mostly white Next largest ethnic group Mexican Median household income 70,000 7.9% households at or below poverty level 11.8% unemployment rate 600+ homeless 9,000 receive food stamps 3,000 families receive cash aid Cultural Assessment Slightly more females than males Mostly white Christians Subcultures small Mexican & Asian Many know how to achieve good health-60% put forth effort 85% have health coverage Most know how & where to obtain medical care High prevalence of alcohol & drug abuse due to a variety of stressors Stigmas of homelessness Vast variety of outdoor recreational activities Cultural Assessment Slightly more females than males Mostly white Christians Subcultures small Mexican & Asian Many know how to achieve good health-60% put forth effort 85% have health coverage Most know how & where to obtain medical care High prevalence of alcohol & drug abuse due to a variety of stressors Stigmas of homelessness Vast variety of outdoor recreational activities Neighborhood/ Community Safety Health dept very involved in providing health services, education & information Very good air quality Very good water quality Potential for wildlife disease Vast amounts of rivers & lakes potential for drowning Severe weather events potential Potential for fires due to vast forestry Excellent fire & police response Domestic violence calls 10.5 per 1000 Neighborhood/ Community Safety Health dept very involved in providing health services, education & information Very good air quality Very good water quality Potential for wildlife disease Vast amounts of rivers & lakes potential for drowning Severe weather events potential Potential for fires due to vast forestry Excellent fire & police response Domestic violence calls 10.5 per 1000 Disaster Assessment/Planning El Dorado County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan California Emergency Management Agency & Federal Emergency Management Agency preparedness plan Following federal guidelines Rescue, medical care, food, shelter, clothing Temporary housing, food stamps, employment Public Health Emergency Response Guide by CDC for emergency preparedness and response Most residents unaware of any plan Disaster plan not readily available or easily found Disaster Assessment/Planning El Dorado County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan California Emergency Management Agency & Federal Emergency Management Agency preparedness plan Following federal guidelines Rescue, medical care, food, shelter, clothing Temporary housing, food stamps, employment Public Health Emergency Response Guide by CDC for emergency preparedness and response Most residents unaware of any plan Disaster plan not readily available or easily found The community genogram shows a relatively healthy mostly white community. As a whole, the people here make a good living, with unemployment below the national average. A small percentage receives food stamps and public cash benefits, also below the national average. Most people have health coverage, and about 60% of the population is proactive with their health. The leading causes of death are cancer and then cardiac disease occurring in the high 80’s of age, due to the large retirement population. The public health department is very involved in providing health services here (CDHP). The air and water quality is good here, with pollution below the national average. There is some potential for bad weather and fires, however, our fire and police response are excellent here. There is a good disaster preparedness plan, however, it is difficult to find, and few know about it. There is a high incidence of alcohol and drug use here, with poor and inadequate coping skills to handle d ifficult life events. The homeless population is really looked down upon here. Within the parameters assessed above, El Dorado County is a healthy community. The areas that need improvement are discovering a way to help people respond in healthy ways to painful life events other than drugs & alcohol, to create & implement a plan to help the homeless community, to educate the public regarding the causes and preventative measures for Cancer & Coronary Artery Disease, and to educate the public regarding emergency & disaster preparedness through community outreach programs. Bibliography CDHP. Retrieved from http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Pages/HealthyCommunityIndicators.aspx City of Placerville. Retrieved from http://www.cityofplacerville.org/ El Dorado County Economic and Demographic Profile. Retrieved from http://www.eldoradocounty.org/ Office of Emergency Services (OES). Retrieved from http://www.edcgov.us/Government/Sheriff/Divisions/Support/Office_of_Emergency_Services_

Epekto Ng Teknolohiya Nakakabuti Nga Ba?

STI SAN JOSE CITY NUEVA ECIJA FOOD CARVING SUBMITTED BY: Paulino , G. T, Garcia S. and Alvarez Catherine B. SUBMITTED TO: Mr. Marvin Sinacay On the 8th of September Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, my hometown, celebrated 130 year anniversary since the time it was found in 1882. For these 130 years the city has changed 3 names as Vladimirovka, Toyohara and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The city has belonged to Russia, then to Japan and after all to Russia again. The city has an interesting history. Many cultures have mixed here in one multinational community.But my story today is about vegetable carving displays what we made for the CityDay. I asked two of my students to help with the exhibition. And they made a few crafts too. I made a bird sitting on a pumpkin tower. I carved carnations out of beetroot using the technique learned from  Mr. Chat Kunsri  at the III Thai Carving Event in Tokyo. The  3D pumpkin faces  made the visitor smiling and taking photo. (Mr. Chat Kunsuri on sEptember 24 2012) Fo od Carving & Garnishing Fruit and vegetable carving & Garnishing was first developed in the imperial palace of Chinese Dynasty around 800 years ago.The culinary workers in the imperial kitchen often served the royal family with sumptuously and   beautifully decorated food dishes in order to make food more attractive and appetizing. | | As the days past, food carving & garnishing is no long a decorative feast that only was served in the imperial palace. It became a traditional business feature at restaurants. | | Today, food carving & garnishing has moved to an artistic stage throughout the world. It not only can be found in the restaurants but also can be used in festive dinner parties, gathering events, home tables and all sorts of   occasions. | Food carving & garnishing has become an international food artistry, which can be an occasion for all professional food artisans to show off their   sophisticated carving and garnishing skills. | | Artistic carving and garnishing is by no means difficult. To display beautiful decorated food dishes, all it takes is concentration as well as practice. Although special carving tools will make the food carving quicker and   easier, one sharp-pointed knife is enough to commence to carve fruit and   vegetable. | |From root crops like carrots, radishes, yams and potatoes, along with   vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, cabbages and cucumbers to fruits like apples, pears, grapes and watermelons, which can be dedicated carved and garnished into a colourful display of flowers, animals or cartoon faces. (China Fong  on 2010)| | heart and apple butterfly I have many people visiting my blog by searching  Ã¢â‚¬Å"How to make an apple butterfly†. As many of you I love  butterflies  too. When I was a child I had a collection with bugs, moths, dragonflies and other flying creatures. We have a short summer season here on Sakhalin.The most of things from my collection were found   sleepy between window glasses and in some warm places in the balcony. In this video I show how to carve a butterfly pattern on an apple. It's not so difficult. You may do that with a knife only. Though some special carving tools will be in help. See this video to understand  how to make an Apple Heart  for Valentine Day. (Miss. Selena on January,3,2010) Mukimono, fruit and vegetable carving art Sajan Thapa Magar, born in April 18, 1986, received his basic education in Dharan, a city located in the eastern part of Nepal.He is a self taught artist who held a solo exhibition of his arts at Gurukul, Kathmandu from November 18 to December 7, 2010. His second exhibition, titled Mukimono (Fruits and Vegetable Carving), was showcased at Gurukul, Kathmandu in September, 2011. Mr. Thapa Magar works as a theatre actor at Gurukul, one of the leading theatre companies in Nepal. He has performed in numerous plays and is well appreciated by the theatre critics in Nepal. Besides acting he also looks after lights, props and publicity departments at Gurukul, a School of Theatre.Apart from performing plays and producing manpower for theatre, Gurukul also organizes art workshops and art exhibitions. At Gurukul, Sajan Thapa Magar got an exposure to numerous art events, which nurtured his interest in painting. In the beginning he copied other artworks, but as his creative impulse took rein over him, he marveled into his imagination. Today, he remains in touch with well established artists of Nepal like Prakash Chandwodkar, Karna Maskey and Kiran Manandhar, and has been receiving guidance and inspiration from them.After his first exhibition, he joined Kasthamandap Art Studio run by well established artists in Kathmandu, where he learned fruits and vegetable carving. â€Å"On September 3, artist Sajan Thapa Magar, gave a perfect example of vegetable and fruit art by creating stunning art pieces from them. His artworks amazed the visitors who got opportunity to witness his creations at the art exhibition Muk imono held at Gurkul, Puranobaneshwor, Kathmandu. †( Sajan Thapa Magar on September 7, 2011) Japanese cuisine is renowned for the beauty of its presentation.Among the key elements in this presentation style are  mukimono–the decorative garnishes and carvings that add the final flourish to a dish. It might be a carrot round in the shape of a plum blossom. Or a scattering of cherry blossoms plucked from a radish. Perhaps a swallow, a butterfly, a ginkgo leaf or a cluster of pine needles. Whatever the motif, it will have been created to delight the eye and the palate with its shape, color, and taste. In  The Decorative Art of Japanese Food Carving, internationally acclaimed chef Hiroshi Nagashima offers 60 edible garnishes and food carvings for home, party or professional use.Some are designed to be set on top of the food. Others are fashioned to hold the food–and sometimes, they simply  are  the food. Each is introduced in full color, with easy-to-follow, s tep-by-step instructions, sample food arrangements, further ideas and secret, insider tips for successful presentation. Most are simple enough for the amateur chef to master, although a few are quite challenging and require much practice. Nagashima's instructions rely on household utensils found in a typical American kitchen–from knives to peelers to cookie cutters–and use familiar, easily attainable ingredients. Kenji Miura on September 2012) Japanese cuisine is renowned for the beauty of its presentation. Among the key elements in this presentation style are mukimono — the decorative garnishes and carvings that add the final flourish to a dish. In The Decorative Art of Japanese Food Carving, internationally acclaimed chef Hiroshi Nagashima offers 60 edible garnishes and food carvings for home, party or professional use. Some are designed to be set on top of the food. Others are fashioned to hold the food — and sometimes, they simply are the food.Each is introduced in full color, with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions, sample food arrangements, further ideas and secret, insider tips for successful presentation. Most are simple enough for the amateur chef to master, although a few are quite challenging and require much practice. The Decorative Art of Japanese Food Carving is more than a practical handbook, however. It is also an inspiration book, filled with creative suggestions and inventive ideas to enhance and transform the way we cook. (Hiroshi Nagashima on 2009 )Vegetable carvers from around the world are taking part in the first European Carving Championships being held within the GASTE 2011 Trade Fair for the Restaurant, Hotel and Catering Business, in Leipzig, Germany. The three-day championships which was held from September 4th till 6th, included both individual and team competition. Individual food sculptors competed with each other in three categories: individual, cocktail and platter set and composition, and the n teamed with fellow competitors for the live carving competition.In the latter competition, participants had four hours to use their imagination and creativity to carve in front of the jury’s eyes. Each participant was provided with a basket containing melons, giant papayas, kohlrabi, cucumbers, radishes, Chinese cabbages and carrots. Participants may bring their own pumpkin too. (Kaushik on September 14,2011) The art of carving The detailed techniques used in bothm fruit and vegetable carving came to the U. S. from Asia, where it has been practiced for more than a thousand years. The traditional styles come from China, Thailand and Japan.The Chinese style is perhaps the oldest, and is said to have originated during the Tang Dynasty in the 6th century. In the traditional Chinese style, carvings are often three- dimensional and crowned with small nanimal figurines. In Thailand the art is called kai-sa-luk, and is said to have had its beginnings in The Royal Palace, Sukothai, about 700 years ago. Because it was once feared that this art would be lost, today it is taught in schools from the early grades through university. The other traditional style of carving, mukimono art, comes from Japan and is said to have been popular during the Edo period, 1600- 1800.Classic mukimono carvings typically have clean, precise lines. to create a multitier masterpiece that stood more than 6 feet tall and featured a sun sculpture towering over a seabed adorned with a carved treasure chest and shipwrecked vessel. The piece, which was completed in four hours, won a gold medal and $10,000. Competitions are becoming more popular, and many criteria are taken into consideration during judging, according to Bill Sy, CEC, AAC, academic department director of culinary arts at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Tucson (Arizona).Sy is trained in both Chinese and Thai techniques of fruit and vegetable carving, and often serves as an international judge. He say s judges look for the degree of difficulty in the techniques, as well as the variety of product, number of products used, detail, color contrast and, finally, overall design and total presentation. Sy says Chinese food seldom uses garnishes except for vegetable and fruit carvings (Daniel Paliska on january 6, 2011) TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover Page†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦1Pumpkin Carving Exhibition for the City Day †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 2 Vegetable & Fruit Carving and Garnishing†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 3 Apple heart and apple butterfly†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 4 Mukimono†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 4-5 The Decorative Art of Japanese Food Carving†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 5 Elegant Garnishes of All occasion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 6 European Vegetable Carving Championships†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 7 Fruit Carving101†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â ‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 8 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦9

Advantages Of CLassical Music

Throughout history there have been several genres of music. It is an important aspect of every culture, helping to define and shape it across the globe. Varieties range from Hip-Hop to RB, Country, Gospel, and several others. One type of music that has produced countless numbers of classics is, Classical music. Classical music is a great choice for anyone who enjoys a mellower, relaxed sound. It has been known to soothe the soul, help concentration, and give a pleasant feeling to its listeners.The belief that classical music soothes the soul can be proven true through overall instances. The first is, unlike Rock or Rap music which are both theoretically a somewhat harsher sound, Classical music produces a relaxing melody. It also has a harmony that is unguarded of in contemporary Rock music, not to mention other genres. Another circumstance in which Classical music is used to soothe the soul is on the phone lines. When a company places one on hold, the music being played on the other end of the line is more than likely Classical.This is not a coincidence. The music choice is made due to the fact hat it relaxes the listener, creating a greater chance that he will remain on the line. Another belief is that Classical music aids in concentration. I have had several teachers throughout my life who strongly believe that listening to Classical music while studying greatly improves their odds of retaining knowledge. The harmony and soft sound that are produced through Classical music help null all outside noises and distractions, allowing one to concentrate more on the task at hand.It is also a given that it is easier to focus when listening to a after, mellower sound than a loud sharp noise which is often related to genres like Rap or Rock. The last belief is that Classical music is pleasant to listen to. The previous two beliefs alone should prove that it is pleasant to the mind. If that is not enough there are, indeed, several more examples of how classical music is pleasant to listen to. Classical music is strictly instrumental and lacks any vocals whatsoever. Much remains to be interpreted. This leaves a great amount of meaning to be found in the imagination of the listener.The music can mean anything to anyone and something completely different to the person in the next seat. That is the beauty of Classical music and one of the reasons it is so pleasant to the mind. Despite all the positives of Classical music, its popularity has oddly enough decreased in the past few decades. The emergence of Rock and Roll and more recently Rap music has left it on the back burner. Classical music will always remain a large part of musics past and hopefully present and future. It is an enjoyable, relaxing, and soothing genre that should be praised for generations.

Media Education in Schools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Media Education in Schools - Essay Example This essay declares that the society generates needs that match with new and available technologies instead of technology being created to match current needs. With this argument, he seems to agree to McLuhan’s famous quote that ‘medium is the message’ where the kind of media used by the society is a prominent force of cultural and social change then any statement delivered through that media. This simply means that apart from providing education, the system needs to look into the manner in which it is imparting it and assess whether any changes need to be initiated to correct any deficiencies and enhance the quality of education imparted to students. Tis paper makes a conclusion that technology can shape society. Schools can no longer rely on traditional methods to educate the masses. The advent of modern media like television and the Internet have given people access to a lot more information that a school alone cannot teach any longer. In fact, much of this information can be accessed within the classroom especially through the instantaneous access to the World Wide Web. This enhances the role of the school as information, in itself, is not restricted to anyone and easy to access. The education system needs to focus primarily on two objectives: teaching children to behave as part of a new and broader community and to learn and ignore useless information. Thus, the emphasis of media education should rely increasingly on filtering information and learning the proper ways to handle it. In many ways, this addresses the predominant notion of media education.

Impact of First World War on Russia and Germany Essay

Impact of First World War on Russia and Germany - Essay Example This was also the result of Russia being isolating itself and sending belligerent messages to the rest of the astounded world that was aghast with the termination of Tsars that led to their cold-blooded killing. The direct impact of world war started with the vast mobilisation of military and Russian population even in the farthest corners of Russia started dreading the outbreak of war with most of the able bodied men disappearing into the defence forces. Social impact of the military disasters between 1914 and 1915 was terrible for Russian population, who, till then, lived a rather deprived, but peaceful existence and most of the Russians were peasants in the far-flung areas of Russia1.There were war refugees accompanied by vast displacement of population as a result of Russian retreats in the first two years of war. It is said that more than one fifth of Russia's railway wagons were involved only in the work of evacuating people and other equipments in the summer of 1915. This had become very important to save the population from perishing in the hands of advancing Germany. More than half a million peasant households were displaced with disastrous effects. It was not easy to provide eithe r employment or basic necessities to these displaced people and rehabilitation when the country was losing the war was extremely difficult. Military reverses as in any other country, had direct impact on ordinary people of Russia. Farmers had to leave their land and livelihood and farm machinery and this means they had no ways of continuing farming. They were unsuitable for any other life and living without a roof over their heads in Russian winter was another major problem. There was widespread chaos and confusion combined with acute shortage of food and shelter almost leading to starvation. Naturally the government was unable to meet the expenses of refugees and running a full-blooded military campaign against Germany who had prepared for this war for years. Different sections of Russian society reacted in different ways, no doubt. But all of them showed understandable desperation of not knowing when the war would end. Refugees had no idea when they would be able to return home. Educated sections of the society and the intellectuals were getting more and more alienated from the government. From hindsight it is difficul t not to sympathise with the government which was under enormous stress and strain of protecting the land from the enemy attack, facing the weather conditions, clothing and keeping the soldiers armed and happy and facing the internal upheaval of a ruined economy, though the Russian elite remained committed to somehow achieving victory in the ongoing war. There are also indications that other than the military, civil administration was uncooperative in the war efforts and this slowly created rift in the ranks and lines of educated society. Government had been unable to mobilise public opinion in favour of the war it had been fighting. People were more concerned about losing their homes and hearths and were worried about their livelihoods than about the real war. Their minds were full of the hardships and difficulties they were facing with their families and ideologies did not worry them much, faced with enormous problems which did not seem to end.

Personal Knowledge Management Journey Assignment

Personal Knowledge Management Journey - Assignment Example through experience or association (2) acquaintance with or understanding of a science, art, or technique (3) the fact or condition of being aware of something or, (4) the range of ones information or understanding the fact or condition of having information or of being learned†. Scholar Barry Allen (1999) clarifies, having knowledge â€Å"is to have the privilege of making a statement pass among others as known or true†¦speech acts are dialogical, intersubjective exchanges with reciprocal effects on many speakers. Knowledge has its object (what is known) and its â€Å"other,† the person whom it is offered and received as knowledge, passing over the other as â€Å"truth† (Allen, 1999, p. 71). So it seems that knowledge generation goes through a process. A person engages in certain habits of thinking when faced with a certain problem. Costa & Kallick (2007) define a problem as any stimulus, question, task, phenomenon or discrepancy for which an explanation is not known immediately. That means, a certain amount of knowledge should be on hand to help him out or else, such knowledge must be available to him soon so as to be able to solve his problem. Costa and Kallick term certain behaviors or dispositions for such problem-solving as â€Å"habits of mind†. They qualify that a habit of mind is having the appropriate disposition toward behaving intelligently when confronted with problems which do not have answers as of yet, at least for the person concerned. When a person draws on his own habits of mind, he gains results which are more powerful, of higher quality and greater significance that if he does not use such habits. In my personal journey seeking for knowledge, I do get to engage in certain habits of mind as I go through the four dimensions of knowledge management, namely: the analytical, information, social and learning dimensions. In each dimension, I shall share what I have learned from others about each as well as how I go through each dimension, from

I have chosen to look at the Death Penalty in America. Each state in Research Paper

I have chosen to look at the Death Penalty in America. Each state in the US has a different view on what is and what is not a ca - Research Paper Example The execution of those who have committed capital offenses varies from country to country depending on the laws in place and in America it varies from state to state. Some states like Wisconsin, Michigan, New Jersey, Hawaii and the District of Columbia have already abolished the use of death penalty while states like California, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, and Texas among others still enact the practice (Galliher et al. 6). According to (Berkowitz, 66), capital punishment has been in use for many years, since the time of King Hammurabi, as well as during the Roman Empire. However, it has spurred a lot of controversies along political, judicial and moral lines. The proponents of the death penalty argue that it deters crime especially homicide but researchers have over the years established that even though the punishment continues to be imposed, the states that have long abolished the practice have lower rates of murder than those that continue to use it (Morrison, 201 1). This begs the question whether death penalty really deters crime. Criminologists argue that death penalty is necessary as it’s a preventive social measure however, religious leaders belief in sanctity of life thus making intentional killing immoral. On the other hand, the offenders are given a chance to defend themselves and appeal before being sentenced to death though this does not prevent innocent people from being convicted. The constitution of many states also seems to offer too much protection to the accused person which then raises the question whether this contributes to further crime. The paper will discuss the various states that support death penalty and those that do not as well as the pros and cons on the death penalty and why it should not be adopted by every state. History of Death Penalty Death penalty is not a new phenomenon as it was in existence as early a 10th century A.D in Britain where criminals were punished by hanging (Herrmann, 4). Later, they we re punished by burning and beheading among other cruel means. The first person to be executed in USA was Captain George Kendall for being a spy for Spain in 1608. Nowadays, more means of execution which are more humane have been put in place such as use of lethal injection, electric chair, and gas chamber. Under the 8th amendment on the constitution, death penalty is prohibited as it is cruel and unusual but some states still enforce it. The offenders in early times did not have many protections as they do now. A death row inmate can have his/her sentence reduced to life imprisonment if s/he can prove that the sentence was racially discriminatory (Death Penalty Information Center). The convicts are also provided with defense attorneys, investigators and experts and the jury and the judge have to be qualified. They are also entitled to make appeals which are paid for using tax payers’ money. Besides, some states protect the women and the mentally retarded as well as the juveni les against such punishment. In the past, a convict was executed without delay unlike nowadays where the process is too lengthy and those convicted are rarely executed as they die of natural causes before execution; the time between conviction and execution is 25yrs hence convicts have ample time to appeal (DPIC). In the past offenders were executed for committing crimes such as; murder, treason, and drug trafficking. Many states nowadays execute the offenders for committing first degree murder although some states are calling for

RIVERS AND ETHINIC'S 3WA Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

RIVERS AND ETHINIC'S 3WA - Article Example The above is evident in situation that life was saved and afterwards, the same patients wonder why that is pertinent to him or her (Burkhardt, 2008.p.12). Having put that across, it is pertinent for every nurse to realize the important of his or her decision to the patients. The responsibility of the nurses is that they are expected to be altruistic. The above means that nursing professionals should have ethical obligation by serving others without considering self-interest. According to experts, they affirm that an altruistic nurse will only make decision that interests the patients. It follows that, being an advocate to the patient, it is important for the nurses to practice excellent nursing ethnics. Now days, with the improvised and modern technology, nurses can keep individuals alive indefinitely, argues Colleen Moore. Despite of the ability to keep a patient alive indefinitely, to some extent the same may not be a good idea to the patients themselves. Some of the difficult ques tions that the medics ask themselves is that, despite of exposing patients on a life supporting machine, pump nutrients in them and hook them up in several tubes, is that a patients ‘ best option?. ... As nursing, it is necessary that the above decision be respected even if there is a chance of saving the life. Further, another challenge is that some patients may refuse to receive chemotherapy and it is important to respect that decision (Aiken, 1994. p.24). The book acknowledges the fact that sometimes family can make decisions due to lack of understanding or grief. Here, if the above dilemma arises that is when a strong committee of ethnics can be invaluable service. The article further outlines that committee on ethnics can primarily make decisions that best suits the patient despite of the different cultural beliefs of the patients, the expected outcomes and the wishes of the patients (Hunt, 1996.p. 14). It is surprising to note that to some extent the ethical committee can take off the large burden that the family as well, as patient is going through. With the above in minds, it is important to note that nurse practice act and code of ethnics are vital guidelines governing the behaviors of the nurses though the documents are not specific. Here, the document has limitations to extent that one cannot know wrong or right and so, the above is a decision left for the nurses to decide for themselves. In general, it is important to know that ethnics is something that encompasses the interpretation of the individuals, since it is based on the individual values and morals. Therefore, the article concludes that despite of the availability of NPA and Code, it is pertinent for the nurses to follow their own decision basing on the interest of the patients. Another pertinent article is the nursing ethical dilemmas. Here, Cathy Fant insinuates that nurses usually face

Jami jensen Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Jami jensen - Case Study Example As such, there are certain laws that can be applied in order to address this particular issue. The Sexual Harassment Policy that is administered by the US department of state can be applied to this case. This policy clearly outlines all the actions that constitute sexual harassment such as sexually suggestive behaviour, behaviour towards a co-worker as well as conditional terms of employment where a senior person for instance seeks to gain sexual benefits from the other employee. In this case, the Sexual Harassment Policy can be invoked by the responsible authorities in order to make sure that this kind of treatment to Jensen is solved. This policy is designed to protect the victims of sexual harassment. When a complaint about sexual harassment by the other co-worker is made to the Department of State, an investigation will be carried out and the offender may be disciplined for the bad behaviour. The penalty for committing this crime often varies depending with the seriousness of the offence. When the crime is too big, the offender can even be fired from work. In some cases, the perpetrator can be reprimanded or asked to pay damages to the victim. The sexual harassment policy is designed in such a way that it protects the interests of all employees in the organization without fear or favour. This policy is also color blind in that it seeks to protect all the employees in the company regardless of their skin color, creed or belief. In this case, the VP is taking advantage of Jensen by virtue of her skin color. The fact that she is dark does not entitle the VP to advance his sexual interests towards her since this is a serious crime. In the US, sexual discrimination on the basis of skin color is a serious offence and it can be noted that the VP is committing a crime by exposing his sexual desires towards Miss Jensen. Ethically, the VP should behave in a way which befits his status in the organization. This will also go a long way in building the much needed respe ct from the co-workers. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964) can also be applied to this case since it is designed to protect the interests of all people regardless of their race or creed. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces this law in the US. As noted in this case, Jensen is a light olive skinned black woman from Atlanta and this may be the reason why she is sexually harassed. The sexual harasser seeks to take advantage of her race to gain sexual favours in return for securing her job in the company. The other issue in this case is that her contract is not written and she is not offered salary that is similar to other co-workers. This shows that there is a sinister motive by the VP to take advantage of Jensen by virtue of her race and sex. The other law that can be applied in such a case is the Equal Pay Act of 1963. Once a person has been offered a job, then he or she is entitled to get pay that is equal to other co-workers that are doing the same job with hi m or her. It can be noted that Jensen accepts the employment offer even though the salary is different from other employees. The Equal Pay Act is meant to protect people like Jensen since they also have rights like any other employee in the company. Jensen also goes against the wishes of the VP to attend to her family and she is demoted from the position she has been elevated to. She also loses her salary since it is slashed to $40Â  000 a year. However, she is promised that she can get a

The Scarlet Letter Compared to the 21st Century Essay Example for Free

The Scarlet Letter Compared to the 21st Century Essay â€Å"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that†- Martin Luther King Jr. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story that proves how far the love of a mother will go for their child. Hawthorne inspired a literature story that pushes the human soul past its own limits. The Scarlet Letter Demonstrates how the human spirit, in both Hester Prynne’s Puritan culture and in the lives of 21st century citizens is resilient. To begin, Nathaniel Hawthorne shows how morals in a human life can affect more than one person. A person could take it in many possible ways either being a negative or positive way. A negative way it could be taken is if a reader could compare it to a dictator’s harsh ways against a culture that he might not like. His own morals would force his people look down upon a group of people like for an example; North Korean citizens’ hates American people because their dictator has forced them to gain hatred against them even though America tried to help them. â€Å"if the United States did not end its hostile policy, the North would expand the deterrent, demonstrate it and transfer it.†(Green). North Korea has threatened America with using missiles like Hester Prynne being to have her child taken away. Another example that has bad moral standards would be genocides that are being committed all the over the world. It is a sickening movement that leaders use those actions to justify things that would make no sense to the â€Å"normal† human being because it just takes humanity back to their primal instinct of mammal to kill or be killed. Even so, there are also good morals that people follow each day to also bring back a peaceful resolution to the world. A leading point into this is that people like Martin Luther King Jr. shows how just one person’s moral can change people hatred in their hearts against a race to having love for a random stranger knowing they will be judged by the color of their skin. Hester Prynne, the main character, exposed many noble morals in the sense of that she never judged anyone else and it is not because she was an outcast but she didn’t need to worry about the things people say about her. Hawthorne creates a character that even though she gets judged, not once did she commit herself to fight other puritans. If the reader uses those same standards in reality, they will become a better person and that is one main theme that Nathaniel is trying to teach using Hester as gateway to it. To continue, Hawthorne displays that a mothers love will always be there for their child. Hester Prynne endures agony each day to protect not just herself but also her daughter Pearl. Hawthorne writes how much Hester has to go through to protect even while being an outcast and knowing how Pearl will be looked down by the community because she is the daughter of women who had an affair during her marriage. An example that can be used to prove it is that an Indiana mother lost parts of both her legs as she tried to protect her children from a tornado that hit her home. She risked her life for the safety of her own child. It shows how a mother risks all of herself to protect her children even if it cost body limps. That mother had the mentality to risk everything to ensure that her child would be saved and knowing that she might not make it but could careless because it is that same love that proves a mother is practically one of the best things that can to child even though sometimes the mother may not be great. Another example would be is when a Hispanic mother stayed at church after she found out she was to be deported. It’s a connection to the story because the mom didn’t want to leave her child even though the government wanted to deport her. Its’ a connection to story because it demonstrates how a mother defies law that everyone is supposed to go by just to try stay with her son because he is a big part of her life and doesn’t want to change it. The last example would be that a mother in Oklahoma shot two robbers to protect her child. She killed the men that tried to rob her family and she had the instinct to protect her young ones from any harmful actions that could have risked their safety. Hester Prynne risked her own life by being mocked each day by the community because she didn’t want to bring forward the father’s name out to public. Lastly, Hawthorne exhibits how no matter how much a person gets tormented they will always find a way that is stronger. Hester endures punishment after punishment to hold her secret in. A particular case that shows how much person can handle would be the holocaust. Jews were executed by man who was pure evil hearted and had twisted mind. â€Å"As the production of line of a slaughter-house, members of the SS†¦ Put them to death with a shot through the base of the skull.† (William 31) Yet, they survived all the hardships they had to go through, they had to face gas chambers, labor camps, and being shot down when getting off trains. The holocaust was one of the most gruesome genocide Jews to gain power over a group of people who did not really do anything. As a reader, The Scarlet Letter should be used to look at every aspect in life even if it is the past. Nathaniel describes how Hester had to scrap away at people because she committed a horrible crime to the puritan community. â€Å"There was a more real torture in her first unattended footsteps from the threshold of the prison† (Hawthorne 75). People get thrown to deepest holes in life but everyone has the will to fight for their life’s and does not matter what the situation is. The Holocaust and Hester Prynne â€Å"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that†- Martin Luther King Jr. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a verified story how faraway the love of a mother would go for their child. Hawthorne inspired a literature story that pushed the human soul past its own limits. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne shows how standards in a human life can affect more than one person, that a mothers love will always be there for their child and no matter how considerable a person gets tormented they will always find a way that is stronger.

Patient Refusal Of Treatment Nursing Essay

Patient Refusal Of Treatment Nursing Essay I dont want to be treated, Alice Nuvo said in the scenario 6. She is a woman who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and that has a very low percentage of survival for another year, even with the best treatment. Just give me something to control the pain and let me go home- she said. In this scenario we will talk about autonomy, which is typically defined as self-determination and refers to the ability of competent individuals to make decisions over their own lives. In order for autonomy to be meaningful, a competent individuals decisions should be respected even when those decisions conflict with what others believe to be reasonable. Over the last few decades, respect for autonomy has come to be recognized as a fundamental principle of Bioethics. In general, a patients autonomy should be respected even if the patient decides not to follow a doctors or health care teams advice. Respect for autonomy has helped to redefine the physician-patient relationship as patients have become more active participants in making health care decisions. Traditionally, the physician played a more paternalistic role in that he/she would largely decide for the patient what the best course of action would be. But now days the patient should not be coerced into making a health care decision, meaning that the patient should not be forced against his/her wishes into making a choice. The patients decision must be voluntary. The basic starting point for ethical analysis in health care, is the encounter between the patient and the health care professional. This relationship is shaped by the goals of that encounter, both the goals that health care professional has and the goals that the patient has. The goals of medicine, which guide the goals of all health care professionals, are: to prevent, cure, slow down or arrest the development of an illness; to stabilize a satisfactory condition; or to relieve the distressing symptoms of illness. It is important to note that these goals are more than simply seeking a cure, and are certainly not focused on seeking to preserve or prolong life at all costs. It is also important to recognize that it is not necessarily possible to meet all of these goals all of the time. The other person in the encounter is the patient, who also has her or his own goals, both health and broader goals in life, as well as values and preferences. Each person forms her or his own conception of what is a good life. This means each person has the freedom to act to put the choices that arise from that conception into effect. Everyone else must respect the space a person needs in which to do this. This is the basis of autonomy. However, autonomy is not an end in itself, but a means whereby a person takes responsibility for her or his own life. In health care, autonomy can be expressed in this way: the patient is the source of the health care professionals right to treat her or him. More specifically the patient has the right to choose to accept or refuse treatment that is offered or choose between different options. The important thing to remember is that the patient will consider her or his goals in life, will act upon her or his values and preferences as well as the medical facts in making such a decision, and all of these must be respected. In many situations the patients decision is not questioned. Decisions have been challenged when the choice does not seem reasonabl e to the health care professionals or others, generally it is challenged by questioning the competence of the patient, which we are not going to question in this particular case of Alice Nuvo. A patients decision to accept or refuse life-sustaining treatment needs to come out of a reflection on the usefulness and reasonableness of such treatment. Treatment has to be reasonable, this means that it has to be effective and that the benefits need to be in proportion to the burden for the patient of undergoing the treatment. There are two aspects of the refusal of life-sustaining treatment. The goals of medicine establish the purposes of treatment. It is not always possible to meet all of the goals, and at times may only be possible to relieve the distressing symptoms of illness. It is not a goal of medicine to prolong the dying process. The second aspect of any decision to forgo treatment is the patients right to choose whether or not to accept such treatment, even if the treatment has a reasonable chance of being effective. A person who is terminally ill is someone for whom there is no further curative treatment, like Alice Nuvo has no further CURATIVE treatment. Therefore, the only goal that it may be possible to meet is that of relieving symptoms. However, the point at which treatment is ceased and the decision made to forgo resuscitation varies with each patient. One person may wish to remain alive long enough to see a grandchild married. Another person may wish to spend the last weeks of life with close family members without suffering the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy. Id rather spend the remaining time with my husband and two daughters then die in the peace, instead of puking up my guts in some hospital Alice Nuvo said. After all this being said, the fact that refusal of any life-sustaining treatment is not to be equated with a slow, passive suicide, the person is not choosing to die. Rather she or he is choosing other goals, in line with her or his conception of a good life. In each case death is accepted as a foreseen, possible side effect of such a choice, but it is not directly chosen. Decisions regarding life-sustaining treatment are complex. Such decisions made by patients are based on a balancing of the benefits and burden of any such treatment and will include the goals, values and preferences that the patient has. But sometimes doctor thinks patient is making the wrong decision, how far should he go to try to persuade her or him to accept the treatment? Patient autonomy does not allow the health care provider to make the decision for the patient, but it does allow providers to educate the patient. It requires of health care providers that they respect patients by providing accurate and complete information that gives patient understanding of positive and negative sides of treatment.

The Characteristics of a Sandy Shore at Pallarenda Beach, Townsville, North Queensland :: essays research papers fc

The characteristics of a sandy shore at Pallarenda beach, Townsville, North Queensland. Introduction: The sandy shores of beaches can be considered as a very harsh environment to live in (Ted Klenk, 1999). Survival in such a habitat requires an organism to withstand strong wave and current action, tidal rise and fall, unstable substrate, heavy predation and wide variations in salinity and temperature (The Otter Island Project). Any organism found in this type of harsh environment is specialized and highly adapted (The Otter Island Project). Fine, sandy beaches often occur in areas with light wave action (California's Ocean Resources, 1995). While a more coarse sand is found with heavy wave action (California's Ocean Resources, 1995). The slope gradient of a beach also helps determine the grain size of the sediment (Bascom, 1959). The steeper a beach is, the larger the sand particles (Ted Klenk, 1999). The water retention of coarse sand is quite low allowing temperatures to rise easily at low tide (MB2050 lecture notes). Any organisms on a coarse particle beach will not only have to deal with the very unstable substrate but also the real danger of desiccation (MB2050 lecture notes). Fine sediment areas do not have much water moving through the particles (MB2050 lecture notes). Therefore any oxygen available is used up quickly by burrowing organisms (MB2050 lecture notes). There comes a point beneath the substrate where there is insufficient oxygen for organisms to respire, this is called the anoxic layer (MB2050 lecture notes). The anoxic layer is therefore much deeper under coarse sediments then fine (MB2050 lecture notes). The fish community of a surf zone is largely controlled by three factors (Robertson & Lenanton, 1984). The form of primary production input to the surf zone, the water movement pattern, and the geomorphology of the sandy beach (Robertson & Lenanton, 1984). Fish such as anchovies, herrings and mullets often inhabits surf zones around the world (The Otter Island Project). The aims of this experiment were to examine physical features and sediment-related characteristics of Pallarenda beach and the influence of these characteristics on the occurrence and distribution of the intertidal taxa. This experiment also aimed to describe the fauna in the surf zone region of Pallarenda beach. Materials and Methods: The beach studied during this experiment was Pallarenda Beach just North of the city of Townsville in North Queensland. The co-ordinates of the location were 19o11.8’S, 146o46.6’E. The beach experiences a tropical climate, the experiment was carried out on the 4th of March in the year 2000 after much rainfall.

Significance of Ginkgo Biloba Essay -- Botany

Significance of Ginkgo Biloba The ginkgo tree appeared on earth approximately 230 million years ago, which was before dinosaurs evolved. They were referred to as 'living fossils' by Charles Darwin. These trees are so hardy that one of them lived through the atomic blast that destroyed Hiroshima (Anonymous No. 2, 1997). This tree is one of the earth's two oldest trees, The members of the Ginkgoacae family grew in parts of what are now Australia, the British Isles, Greenland, China, Russia, northern Europe, Japan, South America, Africa, and in the United States during the Mesozoic Era. It later retreated to a small area in eastern China with the changes in the world climate. It is the only surviving tree of the ginkgo family (Corrigan, 1997). The ginkgo was reintroduced to the United States in 1784. Today, these trees are all over the world again. They can be found in almost every city in the United States. Its species name "biloba" refers to the two-distinct lobes, which is characteristic of the leaves. These trees have survived over millions of years due to their resistance of disease, pests, fires, and air pollution. They can grow in almost any condition, which includes sun, shade, heat, cold, smog, pollution, wind, and humidity (Foster, 1996). The ginkgo tree can grow 75 to 100 feet tall with a trunk up to 8 feet in diameter, They have a distinctive fan- shaped leaf, which are bright green in the spring. Their leaves turn to a dull green in the summer and become a translucent gold in the fall (Corrigan, 1997). The ginkgo tree was used for many purposes, even in the ancient times. The ginkgo leaf was first mentioned in Lan Mao's Dian Nan Ben Cao, published in 1436. Lan Mao notes the external use to treat skin and head ... ...iful 'living fossil'. St. Louis Post Dispatch, p. L14:1. Foster, Steven. 1996. Ginkgo biloba: a living fossil for today's health needs. Better Nutrition 58(4): 54-56. Mowrey, Daniel. 1997. Valerian root, passion flower, and ginkgo are top 'neurotonic' herbs. 59(l): 34. Tyler, Varro E. 1998. Boost your brain and your libido: ginkgo: this ancient herb may improve memory and (surprise) wake up your sex life. Prevention 50(6): 91-93. Additonal References Holt, Ben F. and Gar W. Rothwell. 1997. Is Ginkgo biloba really an oviparous plant? American Journal of Botany 84(6): 870-873. Huffman, Grace Brooke. 1998. Efficacy of Ginkgo biloba in treating dementia, American Family Physician 57(10): 2504-2506. Oken, Barry S. 1999, The efficacy of Ginkgo biloba on cognitive function in Alzheimer disease. Journal of American Medical Association 281(5): 402.

Ital cooking - necessity or religious fervor? :: essays papers

Ital cooking - necessity or religious fervor? The party started at around 9 PM but my girlfriend and I decided to get there a few hours early to help set up. We made our way into the Bronx with my friend Leroy, a co-worker who had invited us, and reached the house at around four. We helped them string up a tarp and set up the sound system. It was a small fenced-in backyard but we stacked up the speakers and woofers seven feet high. They had apparently gotten permits earlier for the music, which was good, since I couldn’t hear myself think when the DJ was at work on his system. We had been working for a while and the yard was looking good, the woman of the house asked us if we were hungry. This was a pointless question with me since I am always hungry and we quickly followed her into the kitchen. Once inside the house, the faint smells of cooking food became much stronger while she led us into the kitchen. The kitchen was about average, just like any other person’s except there was a huge pot of soup/stew on the stove. We approached it and were offered paper cups full of delicious, hearty fish soup. This was only the beginning, as I was to discover later, the party quickly progressed and grew. Earlier in the day, there were only a few people at the house and I felt quite welcomed and comfortable. As the night went on and people continued showing up my girlfriend and I slowly became the minority. By the time the party was in full swing, the whole yard was packed and we had flowed into the neighbor’s yard to barbecue. We were two of the four white people at the party but Leroy and the hosts still made us feel comfortable. It was an eye opening experience to be the minority especially after growing up in predominantly white towns. When the guests started showing up in force Leroy, along with a few other guys, got to the business of barbecuing. The music was pumping, the red stripe was flowing and the party was going but the fire wasn’t burning. They set up a fifty-gallon-drum-barbecue in the neighbor’s yard since theirs was quickly filling and fired up the charcoal. Once the fire was good and hot, they pulled out several bags of seasoned Jerk chicken.

Terroism Yesterday, Future & Chronology

Terrorism Introduction to Terrorism Susanne Prestininzi April 19, 2013 4:21 pm One cannot avoid long-standing debates, going back as far as Aristotle, over when it is politically and morally acceptable to use unconventional tactics such as violence and fear to bring about political and social change. History is replete with the ideas of great thinkers who believed that, under the right circumstances, unconventional tactics were not only smart, but a moral or civic duty.Religious leaders over the centuries have contributed thoughts about when unjust warfare is just, when â€Å"holy terror† is justified, and military thinkers have advocated less-than-honorable tactics. Most terrorism throughout history has been directed against governments also called political or revolutionary terrorism, but terrorism can also be global or take the forms of state terrorism or state-sponsored terrorism. These latter types occur when governments turn on their own citizens, or try to stir up troub le among the citizenry of another nation.In fact, it was state terrorism that put modern use of the term â€Å"terrorism† in our English vocabulary. Title 22 of the U. S. Code, Section 2656f(d) defines terrorism as â€Å"premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by sub national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience. † (National Institute of Justice) The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines terrorism as â€Å"the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives. (fbi. gov) Both definitions of terrorism share a common theme: the use of force intended to influence or instigate a course of action that furthers a political or social goal. In most cases, NIJ researchers adopt the FBI definition, which stresses methods over motivations and is generally accepted by law enforcement communities. The first story isn’t terrorism. According to the definition, is this terrorism? No, this action is not terrorism. The group who committed the action had an objective, which was to push the US out of Iraq. This is the nly trademark consistent with a terrorist activity. The target was solely a military target carrying U. S. soldiers and the terrorists employed a conventional weapon. Civilians were not targeted during this operation. Therefore, this action was a guerilla military action employed against an opposition force in a realm of conflict. These individuals were freedom fighters seeking to control their country. If I am wrong in my understanding it may be considered domestic terrorism. The second story again isn’t terrorism. This was a U. S. issile strike killed 25 people in Pakistan's North Waziristan region that signaled that Washington's use of drones against militants along the Afghan border will continue desp ite intensifying opposition from Pakistani leaders. The third one definitely is an act of terrorism by a suicide bomber terrorist. A suicide bomber steered a truck loaded with the equivalent of six tons of TNT down the airport road in Beirut, Lebanon. He plowed into the four-story barracks where more than 300 U. S. troops from a U. N. peacekeeping mission slept and detonated what the FBI called the largest non-nuclear bomb in history.This is an example of â€Å"Tactical Terror† in order for the Free Islamic Revolutionary Movement in order to bring international attention to their cause. The last story of Columbine was an act of domestic terrorism. It was an act of terrorism. However, most people wouldn't think of it as a terrorist act. Terrorism mostly has to do with political ideology; however, it’s not restricted to that. In a perverted way, the perpetrators of Columbine were making a statement, and that is terrorism. There are several different typologies of terrori sm Terrorism classified by place 1.Domestic — by residents of a country within that country 2. .International — by representatives of a country against another country 3. Non-state — extremism and revolution for its own sake 4. State-sponsored — by a government against its own people or in support of international terrorism against another government 5. Internecine — conflict that spills over into another country or fought on foreign soil Terrorism Classified by Personality Trait 1. Crazies — strong survival attitude, but not based in reality; self-centered; goals clear only to perpetrator; irrational and unpredictable; strikes at random 2.Crusaders — sacrificial, death attitude; blends politics and religion; seldom willing to negotiate; task-oriented and indifferent to risk; seeks publicity and largest group possible. 3. Criminals — strong self-preservation attitude; selfish; seeks gain and is task-oriented; avoids high risk; predictably targets small groups (Hacker 1976) Terrorism Classified by Purpose 1. Political — for ideological and political purposes 2. Nonpolitical — for private purposes or gain 3. Quasi-terrorism — skyjacking and hostage taking 4. Limited political — ideological but not revolutionary 5.Official or state — used by nation against nation or people Terrorism Classified by Target 1. Mass terror — targets general population 2. Dynastic terror — selective targeting of individuals or groups 3. Random terror — targets anybody in wrong place at wrong time 4. Focused random terror — targets specific public places frequented by opposition 5. Tactical terror — attacks government or politically attractive targets (Combs 2003) Terrorism Classified by Issue 1. Revolutionary — aims to replace the existing government by drawing out repressive responses which can be exposed as inhumane (Red Army Faction, PLO, Hizballah) 2. Political — heavily armed groups tending to be focused around supremacy, government intrusion, or religious revisionism (Aryan Nation, Posse Comitatus, Freemen) 3. Nationalist — promotes the interests of a minority or religious group that has been persecuted under majority rule (Sikh radicals, Muslim fundamentalism) 4. Cause-Based — groups devoted to a social or religious cause using violence to address their grievances (Islamic Holy War, Abortion clinic bombings) 5. Environmental — groups dedicated to slowing down development they believe is harming animals (Animal Liberation Front, Earth 1st) 6.State-sponsored — when a repressive regime forces its citizens into total obedience (Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Iraq, Sudan, Haiti) 7. Nuclear — outlaw states possessing nuclear threats (Libya, North Korea) 8. Genocide– when a government seeks to wipe out a minority group in its territory (Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Iraq, Tur key) Reference Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century Cynthia C. COmbs www. nij. com www. cia. gov Retrieved: April 19, 2013 3:12 pm You +1'd this publicly. Undo

An Analysis of Mel Lazarus’ Angry Fathers

Mel Lazarus, writer of Angry Fathers, showed by describing his relationship between him and his father, as he recalled an incident that happened when he was 9 years old, back in 1938, when corporal punishment was most used to correct bad behavior, â€Å"They’ll live, don’t worry â€Å", was the common idea, that event marked his relationship and trust with his father for life. Lazarus’ family stayed at a boarding house in Catskills for the summer during school vacations, and he and two buddies were hanging out one August afternoon, bored. So what they decided to do was engage in a little remodeling, as the owner of the place was furious, the three mothers basically decided to let their husbands discipline the boys. The bingo players felt a strong lust for vengeance; they wanted to see some beatings. As Lazarus tells it, his friends' fathers came home first, one at a time. The first dad, took off his belt and began whipping his son, the second father came home and when he learned what happened, began thrashing his boy, slamming him to the ground and kicking him. Lazarus was now terrified; his father had never raised his hand in violence, but after seeing this, the young boy was truly afraid that he'd crossed the line. His father came home; the owner explained what had happened. Lazarus's dad stared at his son for a moment. Then he suddenly left. He got back into his car and drove off. He returned an hour later with a stack of Sheetrock boards tied to the top of his car. He took the sheetrock into the remains of the casino, and then took a hammer he'd bought at the hardware store out of the front seat, and went to work. He said not a word to anyone; he just rebuilt the casino, taking most of the night to do it. Lazarus was still worried about retribution in the morning, but none came. The father never mentioned the incident and the weekend went perfectly fine. Lazarus says that, while he knew his father was angry, the father also believed that beating one's child is criminal, that children â€Å"always remembered the pain but often forgot the reason. † The father also understood that a child learns nothing by humiliation – he was not going to â€Å"play into a conspiracy of revenge and spectacle† by publicly flogging his own son. That was not his way, Although many years has passed since then, corporal punishment still being used sometimes with hard consequences, often we notice on television real cases of parents going too far, they are different ways that corporal punish is used, the most popular is within the family, typically children punished by parents or guardians; within the schools when students are punished by teachers or administrators’ or as part of a criminal sentence ordered by a court of law. Corporal punishment of minors within domestic settings is lawful in all 50 states and widely approved by parents. â€Å"They’ll live, don’t worry â€Å", Stanishly the consequences of corporal punishment are vivid, a 14% of all men in prison in the USA were abuse as children, 36% of all women in prison were abused as children and of course children who experience child abuse are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, and 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult. On the other hand we were very fortunate that my parents had the same level of understanding when it came to punishing us, (we were five kids growing up together), I called my sisters Nora and Veronica, to asked them if they recalled my parents ever punishing us that way, but they told me as I remembered, our parents used discipline on a different way, even then, almost 30 years ago, they lead us the way by using the scriptures,(Jehovah Witnesses), always talking to us, showing up â€Å"The bible’s way† and when, there was something very bad they showed us how to work, replace, put together, apologize, return anything that we just may had broken or misplaced. The golden rule, according to my parents must live in my mind and heart â€Å"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you†, somehow it work for all of us, finally Angry Fathers, show us just how important is that parents understand their children and find other ways to make sure their children are safe and trust in them. It’s a good example for all of us to see the father's refusal to get into a psychodrama are the fact that he also solves the problem of the destroyed casino. The other fathers, likely just as capable of putting up Sheetrock as Mr. Lazarus was. And Mr. Lazarus obviously understood that hitting his son was not going to fix the casino. And that the sound of the hammer banging on sheetrock not only allowed him to get out some aggression, but also served as a stern reminder to the young boy about what he did to the building, and how that lesson lasted a life time.

Orem

Strengths Orem’s theory provide a comprehensive base to nursing practice. It is functional in the different fields of nursing. May it be in clinical setting, education, research or administration. Moreover, this theory is as applicable for nursing by the beginning practitioner as much as the advanced clinician(George JB. , 1995). Another major strength of Orem’s theory is it’s advocacy for the use of the Nursing Process (Balabagno, et. al, 2006). Orem specifically identified the steps of this process.She also mentioned that the nursing process involves intellectual and practical phases. Limitations The ambiguity of applying theory to nursing practice may lie in the fact that one theory does not always specifically support all aspects of nursing care. Orem’s self care deficit theory may not encompass all aspects of care and needs of a specific client. For instance, some dilemma with Orem’s theory include having an unclear definition of family, the nu rse-society relationship and public education areas are weak.These issues are essential in the management and treatment plan in caring for patients. Although the family, community and environment are considered in self care action, the focus is primarily on the individual (Balabagno, et. al, 2006). Another limitation is the definition of health as being dynamic and ever changing with states ranging from health or non health, wellness or illness (Fitzpatrick JJ, 2005).This definition of health directly contradicts the experience of some patients with varying needs and levels of care requirements. One of the most obvious limitations of Orem’s theory is that throughout her work, it can be said that a limited recognition of an individual’s emotional needs is present within the theory (George JB. , 1995). It focuses more on physical care and gives lesser emphasis to psychological care. Other theories address this limitation quite adequately such as Jean Watson’s Theo ry of Caring.

Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 7

â€Å"Get out,† I said immediately. Yasmine and Vincent, finishing their breakfast at my table, looked up in surprise. Niphon gestured toward them. â€Å"I was invited in. I didn't think it'd be a problem.† Angel and human looked distinctly uncomfortable, and I could guess what had happened. Niphon had turned up, and they'd let him inside, not knowing about our animosity. They'd probably figured he was a partner in evil which, in the most technical of ways, he was. Vincent hastily stood up and took his empty plate to the sink. Yasmine followed. â€Å"Well,† said Vincent. â€Å"We should probably get going.† â€Å"Yeah,† agreed Yasmine, grabbing her coat. Fools rushed in where angels feared to tread, apparently. â€Å"Great seeing you guys.† They left so fast that they might as well have teleported out. I fixed my attention back on Niphon. â€Å"Get out,† I repeated. He leaned back against my couch, draping his arms over the back of it. â€Å"Letha, Letha – â€Å" â€Å"And stop calling me that.† â€Å"Whatever you like. And don't worry, I'll be out of your hair soon. I just wanted to give you a Tawny update.† Oh God. Tawny. Please, please let her have scored last night, I silently begged. Her attitude at the bar hadn't really inspired confidence, but maybe me leaving with Jude had set a good example. â€Å"She hasn't taken a victim yet.† Damn. â€Å"Alright, thanks,† I said, pointing at the door. â€Å"You can leave now. And next time, it's really okay if you call to give me an update. Preferably when you're in the taxi that's taking you to the airport so I don't ever have to fucking see you again.† He rose from the couch, giving me a wounded look. â€Å"Fine, fine. But there is one other thing I wanted to talk to you about.† â€Å"There is nothing at all I want to talk to you about.† I was on the verge of growling. â€Å"Oh, I'm not so sure about that.† His hand rested on the doorknob, but he showed no intention of actually leaving. â€Å"I think you'll be very interested. It's about your love life.† â€Å"No! We are not talking about this.† â€Å"Le – Georgina, I just want to help you,† he whined. â€Å"I think it's terrible that you two can't fully express your love.† â€Å"We. Are. Fine. And don't lean against the door. I don't want your hair to leave an oil stain.† Niphon straightened up and ran a solicitous hand over the back of his head. â€Å"Look, I get why you don't want to sleep with him. It's admirable. You want to protect his lifespan, not wipe him out, etc., etc. But what if that wasn't an issue? What if I made it so that you could have sex without the dire side effects?† â€Å"Right. And you'd do that out of the kindness of your heart.† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He shrugged and spread his hands wide. â€Å"There's always a price.† â€Å"It's not worth it. Not worth Seth selling his soul.† â€Å"I could sweeten the deal. Give him a longer lifespan†¦longer youth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No. I swear to God, if you don't leave now, I'm calling Jerome.† That was a bluff, seeing as Jerome was out of town. â€Å"Like I said, just trying to help,† Niphon said. â€Å"Yeah, like you helped me?† I asked, not bothering to hide the sarcasm. Suddenly, the mocking, teasing look vanished. Niphon's face grew hard. Angry. Scary. â€Å"I did help you, Little Letha. You were no one. No one at all. Some poor fisherman's daughter in a shit, backwoods town. Some whore in a shit, backwoods town. You fucked up your life, and I fixed it for you. I made you who you are. Erased your problems. Saved your husband. Gave you eternal life and beauty. If anything, you owe me.† â€Å"It wasn't worth it,† I said, in a voice that matched his dark expression. â€Å"It wasn't worth it.† â€Å"Wasn't it? Would you have rather watched your husband commit suicide? Would you rather have died an outcast and disgraced?† I didn't answer. I thought about the desperate look on my husband's face when he'd found out that I'd cheated on him. Even after all these centuries, that expression still haunted me. He'd been driven to such despair that he'd been on the verge of taking his own life. In selling my soul and becoming a succubus, I'd struck a bargain with Hell that made him and everyone else I knew forget me. My husband had lived and gone on with his life, forgetting I'd ever existed. Had it been worth it? Observing my silence, Niphon's face turned taunting once more. He opened the door. â€Å"Good-bye, Georgina. Let me know if you change your mind.† He left, and I stared at the door for a long time before finally forcing my feet to start moving. The Seth soul-selling offer held no temptation for me whatsoever. That didn't trouble me. But his other words†¦the reminders of my past†¦ I sighed. I didn't want to deal with that, not with everything else going on in my life right now. And speaking of which†¦with two hours left until work, I decided to bite the bullet and again try to get more information about my dreams. From Dante. His store looked as bleak as the last time I'd visited, but this time, he actually had a customer. She was a young woman, college-aged maybe, with layered brown hair and a gray sweatshirt. Seeing her, I started to step back outside, but he waved me in. â€Å"No, no, it's okay. You can wait here.† Dante glanced at the girl. Both of them sat at the shabby, velvet-covered table. â€Å"You don't mind, do you?† She barely spared me a glance. â€Å"No! No! Hurry, go on. I want to hear more about the man.† Dante produced a dazzling grin that seemed a bit fake to me but which I suspected was actually very effective on her. Taking a step closer, I realized he was reading her Tarot cards. Several already lay on the table. He flipped another over. â€Å"Ah, the Hierophant.† His voice held a mysterious, knowing note. â€Å"What's that mean?† she squealed. â€Å"You don't know? You don't know anything about these?† She shook her head. â€Å"Nothing.† â€Å"Well, the Hierophant is a great love card. It represents a romantic man, someone good-looking and charming who loves giving gifts and doing small gestures. You know the kind.† â€Å"I don't, actually,† she said wistfully. â€Å"All my boyfriends have been jerks.† â€Å"Well, that's going to change,† he promised. I knew quite a bit about Tarot cards, actually. The Hierophant represented tradition, wisdom, and organized religion. He wasn't exactly a romantic figure, particularly considering he was usually depicted as a priest. â€Å"Why is he dressed so weird?† asked the girl. â€Å"He looks like he's in robes.† â€Å"It's not weird,† Dante said. â€Å"It's opulent. Remember, the Tarot is an ancient system. A guy dressed like this represented the height of fashion back in the old days. You know, a real designer label kind of guy.† I caught Dante's gaze and rolled my eyes. He maintained his poker face and flipped the next card. â€Å"Things are looking good,† he declared. â€Å"The Tower.† The Tower was pretty much the worst card in the deck. â€Å"This shows you guys have a promising future.† â€Å"Why is it on fire?† she asked. â€Å"And why are people falling out of the windows?† â€Å"It's all symbolic,† he said hastily. â€Å"And although things look really good for when you meet this guy, it means you have to be cautious and read the signs around you.† â€Å"Oh, wow,† she said. â€Å"I hope I can.† Dante gathered up the cards and stacked them neatly. â€Å"Well, I can help if you want. I could give you a package set of readings at a discount. That way, you'll have a guide as you go along. You'll be prepared for when you meet him.† I sincerely doubted she was ever going to meet this mythical guy. â€Å"How much?† she asked hesitantly. â€Å"Hmm, let's see.† Dante turned speculative. â€Å"Well, they're normally fifty dollars. Usually, I give a five-dollar discount for packages†¦but, hell. I really want to see this work. I'm a romantic myself, you know? It's a stretch, but I'll do a set of six for forty dollars each. You can buy them now and then come in whenever you want to claim them.† The girl deliberated, and I wanted to yell at her that it was a scam. But I needed Dante's advice and didn't want to get on his bad side. Not that I was necessarily on his good side right now. â€Å"I don't want to pressure you,† he told her gently. â€Å"So, please. Don't feel obligated. Just do whatever your heart tells you to do. I mean, if the cards have told us anything, it's that you have to protect your heart now as you enter this important stage of your life.† That sold her. â€Å"Okay. I'll do it.† I watched in disbelief as the two of them walked to his register. She handed over two-hundred-forty dollars – plus tax – and he gave her a Tarot punch card, not unlike what you'd get at a coffee or sandwich shop. â€Å"You should be ashamed of yourself,† I told him when she was gone. â€Å"Succubus. Nice to see you too.† â€Å"That wasn't a romance reading.† â€Å"Nope,† he agreed, coming over to stand beside me. â€Å"It actually suggested she'd soon be having a sex change and joining a suicide cult.† â€Å"But you told her it was about love.† â€Å"She's twenty years old. Love's all they want to hear about at that age.† â€Å"You're going to Hell.† â€Å"I could have told you that. In fact, I did tell you that last time, didn't I? Now. What can I do for you? You change your mind about the sex?† â€Å"No. Of course not.† He looked offended. â€Å"Of course not? What's with the attitude? I'm not that unappealing.† â€Å"No,† I agreed. He looked like he still hadn't shaved in a couple days, and there was something very sexy about that and the way his indigo T-shirt fit him. I hadn't realized before what nice ab muscles he had. Probably the lack of business around here gave him lots of time to work out. â€Å"But that's not why I'm here. And honestly, if this behavior is just the tip of the iceberg, I'm thinking your soul isn't going to be worth my time anyway.† He threw his hands in the air. â€Å"She comes and insults me, then expects help. So what is it you want? Your dishwasher finally break?† â€Å"No, but I had the dream again. And there was more.† I recapped it, and he listened, face unreadable. â€Å"You sure you don't want a new dishwasher?† he asked dubiously. â€Å"No!† â€Å"What about kids?† â€Å"What about them?† â€Å"You want them?† I fell silent, and despite his lopsided smile, I could see Dante scrutinizing me. He might be a con artist, but he was smart. The best ones always are. People like him make their living reading people and exploiting little things – like that girl's longing for romance. â€Å"It doesn't matter,† I said. â€Å"You know that. I can't have them.† â€Å"I didn't ask that, succubus. I asked if you wanted them.† I averted my eyes, studying the crystal ball. With the way the sunlight hit it, I suspected it was actually plastic. â€Å"Sure. I did even when I was mortal. If I could have kids now, I would.† He nodded, and for the first time, I got the impression he might almost be taking me seriously. Almost. â€Å"And let me guess. You woke up without energy.† â€Å"Yes, and I'd gotten a victim the night before. Just like last time.† His face turned speculative. â€Å"Interesting. It only happens when you're charged up.† â€Å"What do you think it means?† â€Å"Dunno. Might not mean anything.† â€Å"It has to! I'm losing energy for no reason at all.† â€Å"You're stressed,† he argued. â€Å"And you're, like, one of the most uptight people I've ever met – immortal or otherwise. You've spent centuries wishing you could get knocked up. You have this celibate boyfriend thing going on. And you work for that demon, right? The one who looks like Matthew Broderick?† â€Å"John Cusack,† I corrected. â€Å"He looks like John Cusack.† â€Å"Whatever. That's enough to tax anybody. Your dreams are manifestations of the woes in your life, coming out of your subconscious in vivid, energy-sucking ways.† â€Å"You are so unhelpful. Your dream expertise is a scam – like everything else.† â€Å"Nah. Not everything I do is a scam. I know dreams. I know spells. And I know what could help you.† â€Å"What?† He pointed to the counter. â€Å"You and me. Up there. Naked. Horizontal.† I groaned. â€Å"Wow, you really weren't lying. You are a romantic.† â€Å"A pragmatist. And an opportunist.† â€Å"A sleazy guy, treating me like a cheap whore†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Fuck, I haven't been laid in months, and now this succubus shows up wanting my help. You'd try to bargain for sex too.† I eyed him warily. â€Å"Is that what this is about? I have to sleep with you to get help?† Dante shoved his hands in his pockets. â€Å"Nope. You'd be more fun if you were willing, I think. Besides, I have no other help to give.† Disappointed, I made motions to leave. â€Å"Okay. Thanks. Sort of.† â€Å"You know what else might help?† he called after me. â€Å"If it involves sex – â€Å" â€Å"A vacation. At the very least, a massage. Basic stress reliever things.† Those were actually reasonable things, and I was pleasantly surprised to see his mind wasn't always in the gutter. â€Å"They can help,† I told him. â€Å"But I doubt a massage will fix the problems in my life.† â€Å"Maybe. Maybe not. But if you want a free one†¦a naked free one†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I left. I'd already felt like my romance with Seth was some infinite loop tape reel. The rest of my life apparently was too. Have the same dream, go to Dante, get no help, go to work, and ruminate. Because that's exactly how my day was unfolding, just like before. I went through the motions of paperwork and customer service at Emerald City, all the while consumed by images of the little girl in the dream and the sweet fantasy of having a daughter. My heart ached to see her again, to see that smile. Everything at my job seemed so shallow and meaningless compared with her. When work ended, I brought Maddie back to my apartment to make good on my promise to get her a date. â€Å"You're going to sell me?† she exclaimed when I told her the plan. â€Å"It's an auction,† I said. â€Å"For a children's charity. You don't hate kids, do you?† â€Å"Well, no, but – â€Å" â€Å"Then this'll be great. Here, try this on.† I tossed her a BCBG shopping bag. She eyed it warily. â€Å"Isn't that a place for teenagers?† â€Å"It's a place for anybody with style,† I assured her. She opened the bag and pulled out the knee-length dress I'd picked up for her the other day. It was silk chiffon with a dark pink geometric print. The empire waist had a slightly gathered top, and the V-neck had a bow that tied underneath it. Fluttery cap sleeves finished it off. â€Å"I can't wear this,† she said immediately. â€Å"Why? Because it'll look good?† She shot me a glare. â€Å"There's hardly anything there.† â€Å"What? There's plenty.† I owned lots of dresses that had â€Å"hardly anything there.† This was elegant and tasteful. Amish country compared to some of my clothing. â€Å"Try it on, and we'll see.† She did, reluctantly, and I could have crowed with delight when she stepped out of my bathroom. I'd totally nailed the size. It fit perfectly. â€Å"There isn't an extra inch here,† she fretted, pulling at the fabric around the waist. â€Å"Exactly.† â€Å"Doesn't it make me look fat?† â€Å"It makes you look great. If it were spandex or something, there might be a problem, but this is light and drapey.† â€Å"The neckline's awfully low – â€Å" â€Å"Oh, be quiet,† I snapped. â€Å"And let's finish the rest of you.† I did her makeup and arranged her hair down for a change. It shone like black silk when brushed out, and I thought it was a shame she wore it in a haphazard ponytail so often. Besides, everyone knows that in the movies, shy girls always become beautiful by letting down their hair and taking off their glasses. Maddie already wore contacts, but the principle was still sound. I finally finished her off with half-heeled shoes I'd bought to match the dress. Higher ones would have looked better, but even I knew when not to press my luck. Satisfied with the results, we headed out to the auction. â€Å"You're like my fairy godmother,† she muttered as we walked into the hotel the event was being held at. â€Å"But I'm still a pumpkin.† I elbowed her. â€Å"How did you get so negative? You should start some angstful emo rock band to compete with Doug's.† â€Å"Oh, yeah. That'd go over – hey, is that Seth?† We were cutting across the open room the auction would take place in, heading toward the volunteers' area. Lots of people had gathered, filling most of the round tables facing the stage. I followed her gesture to where Seth sat at one of the few tables that wasn't already full. Seeing us notice him, he held up his hand in greeting. â€Å"He wanted to come support you,† I told her. Actually, Seth had been appalled at me strong-arming Maddie into this and had attended mainly out of a perverse fascination at what he thought might end in disaster. But Maddie, not knowing his motives, was pleasantly surprised. She smiled, and I nearly swooned. â€Å"That,† I said. â€Å"That right there is what you need to do.† The smile dropped. â€Å"That what?† Hugh practically skipped over when he saw us. â€Å"I knew you didn't hate kids. I knew you'd cave and come help – â€Å" â€Å"Not me,† I said. â€Å"Maddie.† I rested a hand on her shoulder. Hugh's face turned perfectly blank. â€Å"Oh?† Just then, a tall brunette in a black satin evening dress strolled over. The â€Å"fucking fox,† presumably. She extended her hand. â€Å"Hello, I'm Deanna, the coordinator. You must be Hugh's friend?† â€Å"Georgina,† I said, shaking. â€Å"But Maddie here is your volunteer. She's a journalist for an important women's magazine.† Deanna's eyes lit up. â€Å"Ah! We love celebrities. Let me take down your information.† She led Maddie away. As soon as they were gone, Hugh turned on me. â€Å"What the hell? I wanted Georgina, and you give me Georgy Girl.† â€Å"You are such an asshole. That's a horrible thing to say.† He shrugged, eyes on Maddie. â€Å"I call 'em like I see 'em. She's huge.† My eyes were on Maddie too. She actually looked quite slim in the dress, but Hugh was one of those guys who liked bony types – so long as their chests were big enough. â€Å"You're the reason women have such horrible self-esteem issues. You tear them apart. Women, I mean. Not the issues.† â€Å"Look, I'm sure she's not all bad,† he said. â€Å"She probably gives good head.† I rolled my eyes. â€Å"Flatterer. Why do you say that?† â€Å"Fat girls always do. They have to. Only way they can get men.† I punched him in the arm. Hard. â€Å"Ow! Fuck, that hurt.† â€Å"You're a jerk,† I told him. â€Å"Maddie's beautiful.† â€Å"She's okay,† he said, rubbing his injured arm. â€Å"And I can't exactly have just okay tonight – not with that liability already on deck.† He pointed over to where some of the other volunteers waited. Immediately, I found what he referred to. It was easy because Tawny towered over the other women by about a foot. â€Å"Holy Christ,† I said. â€Å"How did that happen?† He threw up his hands, looking miserable. â€Å"She latched on to the idea when you mentioned it at the bar.† â€Å"I didn't even think she heard me,† I said apologetically. Hugh waved me toward the crowd. â€Å"Too late now. Go have a seat, Brutus, so this disaster can get under way. You've ruined the night. I don't know why you hate kids so much.† I gave him a parting glare and went off to find Seth. The vampires had joined him since I'd come in. â€Å"You guys here to get a date or a victim?† I asked. â€Å"Neither,† said Peter. â€Å"We're here to see the Tawny Show.† I sighed. â€Å"This is supposed to be a charity event, and people are treating it like a freak show. Hugh already accused me of ruining it by bringing Maddie.† Seth looked surprised. â€Å"Why? She looks great.† I pointed her out to Peter and Cody, who also concurred about her cuteness. â€Å"She'll be fine,† said Cody. â€Å"Tawny's going to be the one to watch. I haven't really been able to see what she's wearing. I hope it's up to her usual standards.† â€Å"Maybe her Secret Santa will get her some nicer clothes,† said Peter. He glanced at me. â€Å"You bought for yours yet?† â€Å"Huh?† Right. Carter. I'd completely forgotten. Buying something for that cynical angel hadn't exactly been at the top of my priority list. â€Å"I, um, have some ideas. Still thinking about it.† â€Å"What about a Christmas tree? You got one of those?† â€Å"Um, haven't done that either.† â€Å"I didn't know you wanted a Christmas tree,† said Seth. â€Å"Do you need help picking one out?† â€Å"Well, I don – â€Å" The auction started, cutting me off. The auctioneer, Nick, was a young guy in his early thirties who probably had a second job doing minor modeling contracts that would never actually get him out of Seattle. He smiled non-stop and did a good job flirting with the women and making guy-jokes to the men. Bids flew fast and furious, and it was easy to get caught up in the excitement. â€Å"Next up,† said the auctioneer, reading from a card, â€Å"is Tawny Johnson.† â€Å"Johnson?† asked Cody. â€Å"Kind of boring.† â€Å"She made up both her names,† I said. Succubi often did. â€Å"She probably didn't have any mental energy left after choosing the first one.† â€Å"Ouch,† said Seth. â€Å"Who's being mean now?† â€Å"You haven't met her,† I warned. Tawny pranced up, wearing seven-inch high-heeled shoes that appeared to be made out of stainless steel. They looked like medieval torture devices but matched her super-tight, silver lam? ¦ hot pants and jacket. â€Å"She didn't disappoint,† said Cody, studying the outfit. Unsurprisingly, she stumbled the last couple of steps, and Nick reached out to steady her. â€Å"Careful there,† he said, flashing his brilliant white teeth. â€Å"Men are supposed to fall all over you.† It took her a moment to get the joke, and then she burst into small, high-pitched giggles. The noise grated on my nerves, but Nick seemed quite pleased to have someone appreciate his jokes. â€Å"Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself, Tawny,† he said. â€Å"It says here you're currently unemployed. Does that mean you're out looking for something right now?† â€Å"Well, Nick, I'm out looking for someone right now – if you know what I mean.† â€Å"Oh my God,† I said. â€Å"That was kind of funny,† Peter noted. â€Å"No, it wasn't.† Nick apparently agreed with Peter. He threw back his head and laughed. â€Å"Careful there, guys†¦we got a dangerous one on our hands. Tell me, Tawny, what is it you're looking for in a man?† She pursed her red-lacquered lips in deep thought. â€Å"I'm looking for heart, Nick. Heart and soul. Those are the most important things.† There was a collective â€Å"aww† from the audience. Beside me, Peter said, â€Å"Okay, the soul thing really was funny. Only to us, of course, but still.† Tawny then winked at the crowd. â€Å"But stamina and a big checkbook can make up for that sometimes.† Nick waited for the audience's laughter to fade. â€Å"Okay, let's start the bidding at fifty – oh my God.† Tawny had taken off her jacket, revealing a zebra-print bandeau top underneath. ‘Top' was a dubious term at best, though. When wrapped around her enormous bust, it looked more like a rubber band and really only served to cover her nipples. Bids exploded from the audience, much to the astonishment of my friends and me. More surprising still was when Nick the auctioneer actually joined in. â€Å"Folks, I know this is a bit unusual†¦but, well, I just can't help myself. Three-hundred dollars.† â€Å"Three-fifty!† â€Å"Four-hundred!† In the end, Nick was the one who ended up winning her, paying a startling five-fifty. â€Å"Well, I'll be damned,† said Peter. I would have made a joke about his comment if I wasn't so shocked. When I finally found my voice, it was to say, â€Å"Well†¦this is a good thing, right? That guy looks like he'd sleep with her right now.† â€Å"And,† added Cody, â€Å"it was all for the kids.† Slowly, my astonishment faded into relief. This was an unexpected twist to the evening. The Tawny problem was fixed. Apparently, all we'd needed to do was essentially run an ad for her. She'd sleep with him, and Niphon would get off my back. One less thing for me to worry about – which was good, because I certainly had plenty of other things. Like Maddie. It was her turn next. She walked out, face grim and set for battle. She looked both terrified and terrifying. In spite of that hard countenance, I still saw a few interested faces in the audience. â€Å"Smile, smile,† I muttered to no one in particular. â€Å"Maddie Sato,† said Nick cheerily. â€Å"You write magazine articles. Anything I'd know?† â€Å"Probably not,† she said, still wearing that grimace. â€Å"Not unless you read feminist publications.† â€Å"Feminist,† he said, clearly amused. â€Å"Next you'll be telling us you hate men.† She gave him a blank look. â€Å"I only hate stupid men who don't actually understand what ‘feminist' means.† He laughed. â€Å"You run into a lot of men like that?† â€Å"All the time.† â€Å"Really?† â€Å"Even as we speak, Nick.† â€Å"Oh no she didn't,† said Peter. I groaned. It took Nick a full ten seconds to realize he had just been insulted. Then, for the first time that night, he stopped smiling. Turning to the crowd, he said flatly, â€Å"Okay, let's start the bidding at fifty.† Silence met him. The interested faces no longer looked so interested. I swallowed a scream. No, this couldn't be happening. I'd promised her a date. This would destroy her. After what seemed like an eternity, I heard a voice in the back of the room. â€Å"Fifty.† Relieved, I craned my head and looked. The guy who had bid was about fifty years old and looked exactly like this pedophile I'd once seen on a news special. â€Å"Fifty,† said Nick. â€Å"Do I hear seventy-five?† Silence. I turned to Seth. â€Å"Do something!† I hissed. He flinched. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Going once†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I elbowed him, and his hand shot up. â€Å"Seventy-five.† There was a collective â€Å"ooh' in the room. Apparently no one, including Maddie, had expected a bidding war for the belligerent man-hater. Her eyes widened in surprise. â€Å"One hundred,† said the pedophile look-alike. Then, either to end this quickly or because he felt sorry for Maddie, Seth said, â€Å"Three hundred.† More sounds of astonishment followed. The other bidder couldn't compete; he must have spent all his money on bail. â€Å"Sold to the gentleman in the Welcome Back, Kotter T-shirt.† â€Å"Nice,† said Cody, as Maddie exited the stage. I reached out and squeezed Seth's hand. â€Å"Thank you.† He gave me his half-smile. â€Å"Anything for the kids.† Nick flipped to his next card. â€Å"And now we have†¦Georgina Kincaid.† My head shot up. Across the room, I saw Hugh's smirking face. â€Å"Oh no he didn't,† I said through gritted teeth. Nick, puzzled, glanced toward where the other auctionees were. â€Å"Georgina Kincaid?† â€Å"No avoiding it,† Peter told me. â€Å"Might as well go up there. Otherwise people'll think you hate kids.† â€Å"That joke is getting old,† I hissed. Vowing to slap Hugh later, I reluctantly rose from my chair. Upon seeing me, Nick turned on the supernova smile. â€Å"Ah, there she is. Fashionably late.† On the subject of fashion, I wished I'd worn something as nice as Maddie's dress. I might have just gotten tricked into this thing, but now I wished I could do it right. I still looked good; my normal sense of aesthetics would allow for nothing less. I had on a black skirt and a purple cashmere sweater, my hair in a ponytail. In tiny increments – too slow and small for anyone to notice – I tightened the sweater around my figure and made the neckline bigger. I put a saunter into my hips and pulled out my ponytail tie, shaking out my hair. It had worked for Maddie and countless nerdy movie girls. It would work for me because I suddenly had a serious issue at stake here. There was no way on God's green earth that I was going for less than Tawny. â€Å"Georgina,† said Nick, helping me onto the stage. â€Å"My notes say you prefer Georgie.† Yeah, Hugh was definitely getting slapped. â€Å"And that you run a bookstore.† If I'd taken a victim recently and had succubus glamour on me, I wouldn't have to do a single thing except stand there. I wouldn't even have to smile. Now I'd have to work a little. Quickly, I assessed this crowd. The kinds of guys who came to events like this tended to be white-collar professionals with disposable income. Some would be here simply because philanthropy was trendy and good for the image, and this was a stylish way to do it. Others, while perhaps not desperate, were nonetheless intellects and introverts who found this a good opportunity to meet women. These men all wanted smart, competent women – women who were also pretty, of course. And wit†¦wit always went over well. I gave Nick, then the audience, a heart-stopping smile. â€Å"That's right. I organize events, bring in money, make sure everything looks good, and whip people into shape.† â€Å"Sounds like a lot of work,† he said. â€Å"Or,† I said, â€Å"an excellent first date.† There was no cymbal crash, but my punch line elicited the laughs I'd hoped for. â€Å"You have some high expectations,† said Nick. â€Å"Well, I think everyone should. Why settle? If a guy meets my expectations, I'll meet his. And in the end, it's all about sense of humor and a conversation that won't put me to sleep.† I realized I sounded vaguely like a Miss America contestant, but maybe there wasn't much difference. I could see from the intrigue in the audience that I'd made a good impression. â€Å"This one's a keeper,† said Nick. â€Å"Let's start at fifty for Georgie.† I got my fifty and then some. Bids flew around the room. At one point, I glanced at Seth. Our eyes met, and I could tell by his expression that he was on the verge of bidding. I shook my head. He was the only one I wanted to go out with in this room, but I didn't want to taint Maddie's win. I wanted her to feel special. Besides, I also didn't want Seth to blow that much money. I went for seventeen-hundred dollars. â€Å"I can't believe that,† Maddie whispered to me afterward. â€Å"I think you're the highest one so far. The guy looked cute too.† He had. Late thirties. Armani suit. Harmless. Nobody I planned on establishing anything meaningful with, but he'd do for a casual date. Maybe an energy fix if I decided to use this body. â€Å"You brought in some money yourself,† I teased. Her eyes found Seth, sitting across the room, and studied him speculatively. â€Å"Seth probably did it because he felt sorry for me.† â€Å"Of course not,† I said quickly. She still looked skeptical. â€Å"Well, it doesn't matter. I'd rather drink coffee and talk shop with him than go out with some sleazy guy. That other bidder reminded me of this sex offender I saw on TV once†¦Ã¢â‚¬  When the auction wound down, I exchanged contact info with my buyer for a future date. Hugh attached himself to Deanna and stayed as far away from me as possible. No worries. I'd have plenty of time to deal with him later. Tawny, fortunately, also stayed away from me and clung to Nick's arm. I watched them like a proud parent. Tonight was going to be a great night.