Thursday, September 3, 2020

8 Unique Nursing Careers You Didnt Know Existed

8 Unique Nursing Careers You Didnt Know Existed There are a thousand nursing claims to fame out there, yet a great many people just know about a bunch. On the off chance that you need to pick nursing as your profession, however you need to accomplish something somewhat unique in relation to working in an emergency clinic or office setting, at that point you should consider a couple of these progressively dark nursing positions. Think outside the emergency clinic! 1. Lawful Nursing ConsultantIf you have an enthusiasm for law just as nursing, you could think about getting confirmed as a LNC. You’ll work with claims and worker’s comp cases, or as such an in-house clinical master as the go-to on wording, clinical practices, and human services. Accreditation isn’t consistently required, yet it will surely give you a boost.2. Legal NursingYou’ll still be rewarding patients and dressing wounds, however you’ll additionally be surveying patients to decide if a wrongdoing has been submitted and gathering p roof. This activity may even include recognizing bodies. It’s likely not as glitzy as T.V. demonstrates describe it, yet at the same time exceptionally cool, and you get the opportunity to have your influence in ensuring equity is served.3. Journey Ship NursingSee the world, sail the oceans, and carry on with your life where others just excursion. You should simply treat the a huge number of patients cruising around with you at some random time. The outstanding burden is differing, the individuals are from all finished, the advantages are verifiable: you’ll get free food and lodging in addition to great excursion time after extended lengths of work.4. Camp NursingLove nature? Is it accurate to say that you were a camp child once upon a time? Join to be the medical caretaker at a late spring or wild camp to manage debilitated campers. You won’t get that much cash-flow, nearly, yet you will lead a considerably more loosened up life (and work life) and get the chan ce to work with kids, if that’s your preference.5. Flight/Transport NursingRural regions don’t have the sorts of clinical assets for crises that bigger metropolitan territories do. The long rescue vehicle rides or helicopter flights regularly need a medical caretaker to ride along to support. Get yourself guaranteed as a CFRN (Certified Flight Registered Nurse) for this continually energizing gig. What's more, reward: the cash is pretty great!6. Nursing InformaticsWant to be a medical caretaker yet find that you likewise truly love geeking out about innovation? You could work in huge clinical offices or private counseling firms, staying aware of the most current innovation to improve quiet care.7. Ward NursingBring your otherworldliness and confidence to function as an area nurture, where you can enable your patients to improve their physical wellbeing just as their general profound prosperity. This can be an extremely remunerating profession for the correct sort of me dical attendant who needs to serve a particular network. This kind of nursing is generally basic in Christian categories, yet others are beginning to spring up as well.8. Hyperbaric NursingThis field is in shockingly popularity. Hyperbaric medical attendants treat patients in decompression chambers to calm numerous sorts of intense side effects. You’ll work with front line medicines and be at the cutting edge of assisting with this developing clinical practice, however this activity accompanies some physical hazard, given how much presentation you’ll have to the decompression chambers.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

The Secret Six, the Men Who Financed John Browns Raid

The Secret Six, the Men Who Financed John Browns Raid The Secret Six was an approximately associated bunch which gave money related support to John Brown before his assault on the government arsenal at Harpers Ferry in 1859. Cash acquired from the northeastern abolitionists of the Secret Six made the strike conceivable, as it empowered Brown to go to Maryland, lease a ranch to use as a refuge and arranging region, and get weapons for his men. At the point when the assault on Harpers Ferry fizzled and Brown was caught by government troops, a rug pack containing records was seized. Inside the sack were letters building up the system behind his activities. Dreading arraignment for connivance and injustice, a few individuals from the Secret Six fled the United States for a concise period. None of them were ever arraigned for their association with Brown. Individuals from the Secret Six Gerrit Smith: Born into a rich family in upstate New York, Smith was an incredible supporter of different change causes, including the American annulment movement.Thomas Wentworth Higginson: A pastor and writer, Higginson would proceed to serve in the Civil War, telling a regiment of dark soldiers, and would compose an exemplary journal dependent on the experience.Theodore Parker: A priest and unmistakable open speaker on change subjects, Parker had been taught at Harvard and was partnered with the Transcendentalist movement.Samuel Gridley Howe: A clinical specialist and promoter for the visually impaired, Howe was dynamic in the nullification development. His significant other, Julia Ward Howe, would get acclaimed for composing The Battle Hymn of the Republic.Franklin Benjamin Sanborn: A Harvard graduate, Sanborn was associated with the Transcendentalist development and got engaged with abolitionist servitude legislative issues in the 1850s.George Luther Stearns: An independent busi nessperson, Stearns was a maker and had the option to monetarily bolster different causes, including the abolitionist cause. Activities of the Secret Six Before John Brown's Raid All the individuals from the Secret Six were engaged with different ways with the Underground Railroad and the nullification development. A repeating theme in their lives was that, in the same way as other different northerners, they accepted the Fugitive Slave Law went as a component of the Compromise of 1850 had made them ethically complicit in subjection. A portion of the men were dynamic in what was called carefulness councils, which secured and conceal outlaw slaves who in any case could have been captured and reclaimed to servitude in the South. Conversations in abolitionist circles frequently appeared to concentrate on hypothetical thoughts which could never be actualized, for example, plans to have New England states withdraw from the Union. Be that as it may, when New England activists got together with John Brown in 1857, his record of what he had done to forestall the spread of subjection in what was called Bleeding Kansas put forth a persuading defense that unmistakable moves must be made to end subjugation. Also, those activities could incorporate brutality. It is conceivable that a few individuals from the Secret Six had dealings with Brown returning to when he was dynamic in Kansas. What's more, whatever his history with the men, he found a mindful crowd when he started discussing another arrangement he needed to dispatch an assault in order to bring a conclusion to servitude. The men of the Secret Six fund-raised for Brown and contributed assets of their own, and the deluge of money made it feasible for Brown to see his arrangement into the real world. The huge slave uprising which Brown would have liked to start never appeared and his attack on Harper Ferry in October 1859 transformed into a disaster. Earthy colored was captured and put being investigated, and as he had never decimated archives which could involve his money related benefactors, the degree of his help immediately turned out to be broadly known. The Public Furor John Browns assault on Harpers Ferry was, obviously, exceptionally dubious, and created huge consideration in the papers. What's more, the aftermath over the association of New Englanders was additionally a subject of significant conversation. Stories flowing naming different individuals from the Secret Six, and it was claimed that a boundless scheme to submit injustice went a long ways past the little gathering. Representatives known to be against bondage, including William Seward of New York and Charles Sumner of Massachusetts were erroneously blamed for having been engaged with Browns plot. Of the six men ensnared, three of them, Sanborn, Howe, and Stearns, fled to Canada for a period. Parker was at that point in Europe. Gerrit Smith, professing to endure a mental meltdown, conceded himself to an asylum in New York State. Higginson stayed in Boston, resisting the administration to capture him. The possibility that Brown didn't act alone aroused the South, and a congressperson from Virginia, James Mason, assembled a board of trustees to research Browns monetary supporters. Two of the Secret Six, Howe and Stearns, affirmed that they had met Brown yet had nothing to do with his arrangements. The general story among the men is that they didn't completely fathom what Brown was doing. There was significant disarray about what the men did know, and none of them was ever indicted for contribution in Browns plot. Also, when the slave states started withdrawing from the Union a year later, any hunger for indicting the men blurred.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Movie review examples (camera shots, camera angles, transition)

Models (camera shots, camera edges, change) - Movie Review Example From this shot, the foundation of the kid is obvious uncovering a study hall arrangement. A writing board is unmistakably noticeable and the teacher’s work area. From the youthful dark kid, the scene quickly travels to another. The progress impact is â€Å"cut:, an unconstrained change starting with one scene then onto the next. This is the primary progress in the film and together with the initial barely any shots they help make the subject (Penz and Andong 106). The new shot is a since quite a while ago shot if the homeroom. This shot is utilized to uncover the whole broadness of the study hall. It is additionally used to show the somewhat clear agreement a major trend dark kid and the class loaded up with white kids. The cut progress makes the quick differentiation required to bring the â€Å"jump† fantasy starting with one of the scenes then onto the next. This progress effectively draws out the complexity between the young men dark shading and a greater part of the white understudies in the class. The following scene is of a shrewd kid attempting to threaten the new kid. The shot is an extraordinary close up into the boy’s face. Beforehand, as the educator a major trend dark kid, the camera had zoomed into the bashful boy’s face bringing an outrageous close up shot of his focal face. At the point when the following scene is presented by a cut progress and is an extraordinary close up of the white kid, the thought accomplished by the maker is to bring to the fore the better subtleties differencing the two young men. The two differentiating scenes uncover the distinction in the shades of the skins of the two young men. The harasser character of the white by is quickly settled from the edge the camera zooms into him (Penz and Andong 76).

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Are You Selling Yourself Short

â€Å"I founded a small candy company,† said Roberto.* I could see in the faces of my fellow admissions committee members that they were not that impressed with the candidate; none of them had ever heard of â€Å"Del Sol Candy,†* and Roberto’s modest description did not make it sound all that impressive an accomplishment. Many times while interviewing international MBA candidates, I have found that some of them sell themselves short, particularly with regards to their work experience. Whether it is because of culture or family upbringing, there is a certain type of candidate who finds it hard to present their professional accomplishments in the best light. When Cultural Attitudes Don’t Match Expectations This contrasts dramatically with what is expected from MBA applicants; committee members expect candidates to present their best case and promote their accomplishments. This mismatch between the candidate’s culture and the committee’s expectations can sometimes harm the candidate’s chances of admission. A second layer of complexity also arises for some international students: if an American applicant mentions that they are a regional manager at Hershey’s, for example, the adcom would have at least an idea of the size of the operation, the level of responsibility, and the selectiveness of the company. If, on the other hand, you come from abroad and your company is not well known in the U.S., the adcom may have a harder time evaluating your work experience. Just by chance, I had been to Roberto’s home city the previous year on a recruitment trip, and I happened to know that the company he had started from scratch was not only the biggest candy maker in the country, but that it exported millions of dollars’ worth of goods to international markets as far away as the Middle East. During the interview I asked him a couple of probing questions about it, and once he started talking about specifics (sales figures, market share, etc.) he became more comfortable. More importantly, the committee was able to assess the magnitude of his accomplishments. MBA Admissions Tip: Understand the Difference Between Being Boastful and Confident If you, like Roberto, feel hesitant to promote your achievements for fear of sounding boastful, you need to be aware of those emotions and make a determined effort to overcome that tendency. It is up to you, the candidate, to provide the school with enough information to evaluate your accomplishments. A good way to overcome any qualms regarding self-promotion is to be ready to provide the adcom with hard data that will document what you have done. If at all possible, do research and be prepared to provide them with a benchmark, a point of comparison with an American company, or at least some details of the level of the operation, but most importantly, the size of your responsibilities. By arming yourself with facts, you will dramatically improve your chances of admission and, later on, your employability prospects for internship and beyond. Do you need help expressing your qualifications in the most impressive way possible? Work one-on-one with an expert Accepted admissions consultant to create a persuasive application that highlights your greatest qualities, talents, experiences, and achievements – a compelling application that gets you ACCEPTED. Learn more about our MBA Admissions Consulting Editing Services here. ; Esmeralda Cardenal is a Former Associate Director of Admissions at Yale SOM, Director of MBA Admissions at MSU Broad, and consultant at Cardiff Business School in the UK. Since 2014, she has guided Accepted clients to acceptance in various graduate programs including MBA and master's in finance, business analytics, data science, sustainability, and public policy.  Want Esmeralda to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch! Related Resources: †¢Ã‚  Perfect Answers to MBA Interview Questions, a free guide †¢ Getting Accepted to U.S. Universities from Abroad, a podcast episode †¢Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I’m Smart, Really I Am!† Proving Character Traits in your Essays *All names have been changed. Are You Selling Yourself Short â€Å"I founded a small candy company,† said Roberto.* I could see in the faces of my fellow admissions committee members that they were not that impressed with the candidate; none of them had ever heard of â€Å"Del Sol Candy,†* and Roberto’s modest description did not make it sound all that impressive an accomplishment. Many times while interviewing international MBA candidates, I have found that some of them sell themselves short, particularly with regards to their work experience. Whether it is because of culture or family upbringing, there is a certain type of candidate who finds it hard to present their professional accomplishments in the best light. When Cultural Attitudes Don’t Match Expectations This contrasts dramatically with what is expected from MBA applicants; committee members expect candidates to present their best case and promote their accomplishments. This mismatch between the candidate’s culture and the committee’s expectations can sometimes harm the candidate’s chances of admission. A second layer of complexity also arises for some international students: if an American applicant mentions that they are a regional manager at Hershey’s, for example, the adcom would have at least an idea of the size of the operation, the level of responsibility, and the selectiveness of the company. If, on the other hand, you come from abroad and your company is not well known in the U.S., the adcom may have a harder time evaluating your work experience. Just by chance, I had been to Roberto’s home city the previous year on a recruitment trip, and I happened to know that the company he had started from scratch was not only the biggest candy maker in the country, but that it exported millions of dollars’ worth of goods to international markets as far away as the Middle East. During the interview I asked him a couple of probing questions about it, and once he started talking about specifics (sales figures, market share, etc.) he became more comfortable. More importantly, the committee was able to assess the magnitude of his accomplishments. MBA Admissions Tip: Understand the Difference Between Being Boastful and Confident If you, like Roberto, feel hesitant to promote your achievements for fear of sounding boastful, you need to be aware of those emotions and make a determined effort to overcome that tendency. It is up to you, the candidate, to provide the school with enough information to evaluate your accomplishments. A good way to overcome any qualms regarding self-promotion is to be ready to provide the adcom with hard data that will document what you have done. If at all possible, do research and be prepared to provide them with a benchmark, a point of comparison with an American company, or at least some details of the level of the operation, but most importantly, the size of your responsibilities. By arming yourself with facts, you will dramatically improve your chances of admission and, later on, your employability prospects for internship and beyond. Do you need help expressing your qualifications in the most impressive way possible? Work one-on-one with an expert Accepted admissions consultant to create a persuasive application that highlights your greatest qualities, talents, experiences, and achievements – a compelling application that gets you ACCEPTED. Learn more about our MBA Admissions Consulting Editing Services here. ; Esmeralda Cardenal is a Former Associate Director of Admissions at Yale SOM, Director of MBA Admissions at MSU Broad, and consultant at Cardiff Business School in the UK. Since 2014, she has guided Accepted clients to acceptance in various graduate programs including MBA and master's in finance, business analytics, data science, sustainability, and public policy.  Want Esmeralda to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch! Related Resources: †¢Ã‚  Perfect Answers to MBA Interview Questions, a free guide †¢ Getting Accepted to U.S. Universities from Abroad, a podcast episode †¢Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I’m Smart, Really I Am!† Proving Character Traits in your Essays *All names have been changed.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Macbeth - Supernatural Forces Cause the Fall of Man in Macbe

In Shakespeare s Macbeth supernatural forces create a suspenseful atmosphere. The use of the supernatural in the witches, the visions, the ghost and the apparitions provides the backbone of the climax and excuses for Macbeth s change of character. Because conscience plays such a central role in Macbeth s tragic struggle, many critics use spiritual and supernatural theories to illuminate the drama s character development. The play opens with the use of the supernatural when three witches encounter Macbeth on his way home from a battle and proceed to predict his fate. This gives the audience a glimpse of the path the play will follow. The witches plan to meet again, When the battles (battle is) lost and wonÂ… (I. I. 1-4). This†¦show more content†¦Banquo s ghost is yet another paranormal experience Macbeth encounters, and also the one that sent Macbeth over the edge. Author Ludwig Jekels felt that the poet dramatizes, with wonderful clarity, the fear of the son (Banquo) now the father, upon confronting, in his own son (Macbeth), the same hostility that he (Macbeth) had harbored on his own father (Duncan). (Jekels 227) Banquo s ghost returned to torture Macbeth indefinitely. Eventually, the ghost drives Macbeth to his own, unintended, self-destruction. In act 3, scene 4, lines 112-115 Macbeth says to Lady Macbeth, Can such things be and overcome us like a summers cloud, without our special w onder? You make me strange even to the disposition that owe (my own nature). (3.4.112-115) After all Macbeth has been through at this point, the witches and apparitions, he still can t grasp his connection to the supernatural. This proves that Macbeth fell under the influence of the supernatural without knowing. Accredited author J. L. F. Flathe quotes, But we are constrained to ask, what devil gives the devil such power over this poor devil Macbeth that he is so immediately led astray, while we see, in the case of Banquo, that any man who chooses can easily withstand the devil? (Flathe 200) Any given person s human nature tempts them to take an easier path if shown the way. Some people exhibit more hardworking and honest traits than others. Macbeth was deceitful and dishonest, therefore following

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Consumerism - 1100 Words

1.Whats consumerism ? Consumerism is defined by the preoccupation of society with the acquisition of consumer goods . Good morning/afternoon fellow classmates , today I’ll be discussing how the powerful images conveyed in Bruce Dawe’s texts Americanized and Abandonment of Autos, and a cartoon by Clay Butler, raise issues and concerns about consumerism. | 2. To start off, Bruce dawe’s text Americanized effectively portrays negative views on consumerism. Dawe uses an extended metaphor which involves a mother and a child symbolizing America and less powerful countries. The significance of using a mother and a child effectively conveys how the less powerful countries constantly need guidance from America. | 3.Throughout the poem, it is†¦show more content†¦To start off, Bruce dawe’s text Americanized effectively portrays negative views on consumerism. Dawe uses an extended metaphor which involves a mother and a child symbolizing America and less powerful countries. The significance of using a mother and a child effectively conveys how the less powerful countries constantly need guidance from America. Throughout the poem, it is shown that the mother has power over the child which represents how America dominates them. This again shows us that the smaller countries cannot look after themselves and are heavily influenced by the American lifestyle. the quote â€Å" today, I’ll let you play with mummy’s things â€Å" portrays how the less powerful countries use American products and that the products are constantly seen as a necessity. Dawe effectively uses the idea that the countries will lose their culture and identity through consumerism. Another text by Bruce Dawe, ‘Abandonment of Autos’ suggests many ideas about consumerism. The poem is a response to the abandonment of a consumer item, a car. The quote â€Å" It is the urban arab’s farewell to his steed† is used by Dawe to represent a man abandoning his car. The car is personified as the man’s steed which shows that the man treats and values the car well. The significance of this is that it portrays how people value their possessions more than family and friends. Another quote showing this idea is ‘final affectionate pat’ which shows the man patting theShow MoreRelatedDisadvantages Of Consumerism1154 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"The study of consumerism in world history does not provide a definitive balance sheet on whether the long-term results are favorable or unfavorable. But it does provide perspective, allowing [a] greater understanding of what consumerism involves, and perspective...offers a greater capacity to choose...rather than being swept away by the latest enthusiasm† (Stearns, 159). Peter Stearns’ book â€Å"Consumerism In World History: The Global Transformation of Desire† offers an extensive perspective on theRead MoreConsumerism Essay1620 Words   |  7 PagesConsumerism – Bruce Dawe Poetry || 2009 Every society has mythology. In some societies, it’s religion. Our religion is consumerism. As we are constantly exposed to mass media and popular culture in our modern society, the insidious nature of consumerism has allowed it to penetrate into every aspect of our lives, dictating our very beliefs, values and wants. Nearly every individual in our society subconsciously conforms to the shallow and superficial mindset that characterises our consumerist cultureRead MoreEssay on Effects on Consumerism742 Words   |  3 Pages Consumerism is a description of society’s lifestyle in which many people embrace to achieve their goals by acquiring goods that they clearly do not need (Stearns, 7). The idea that the market is shaped by the choice of the consumers’ needs and wants can be defined as a consumer sovereignty (Goodwin, Nelson, Ackerman, Weisskopf, 2). This belief is based on the assumption that the consumer knows what it wants. Contrary to this logic, marketers convince us that the consumer does not know what theyRead MoreThe Problem Of Extreme Consumerism926 Words   |  4 Pagesextreme amount of consumerism, but why exactly? What are the possible causes of extreme consumerism? Some of the few possible causes contributing to mass consumerism would include: the want for consumption, the need for consumption, and possibly even hoarders. Although many of the possible causes listed above tie together, it’s quite interesting exploring these causes of extreme consumerism and being able to shine a small light on the subject. As mentioned, extreme consumerism is what makes theRead MoreConsumerism Is All Around Us747 Words   |  3 Pagesto carry out the day-to-day happenings of our lives, the people of the 21st century cannot seem to escape the ever-powerful grasp of corporate consumerism. While many are aware that consumerism is all around us, few understand the true extent to which it impacts our lives. With constant exposure to advertising it’s hard not to get sucked into consumerism. The advertisements we see influence our spending habits by convincing us that certain material possessions will improve our lives. This is problematicRead MoreModern Society and Consumerism Essay1035 Words   |  5 PagesConsumerism is defined as â€Å"the theory that an increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable† (â€Å"Consumerism†). Its primary motivation is the idea that if one does not have all that money can buy, then he or she cannot be happy. This school of thought has beco me an integral part of modern society not only in the United States, but internationally as well. While the exact source of this term and ideology are debatable, it is certain now that consumerism is here to stay, intertwining withRead MoreConsumerism : The Great Gatsby, And Harrison Bergeron1441 Words   |  6 PagesConsumerism is defined as the increase in the consumption of goods. It is the theory that buying more goods will ultimately lead to economic advantages. Consumerism has destroyed the concept of the idealistic nuclear family in America, in favor of materialistic chaos. American society used to be content with the little things in life, up until the rise of consumerism, starting during the industrial revolution, but reaching its peak after World War II. Americans have become more occupied with theRead MoreEssay The Effects of Consumerism on Adults and Children1085 Words   |  5 PagesThe Effects of Consumerism on Adults and Children Consumers are creatively successful when designing a persuasive advertisement for increased profitability. In a normal household, it’s the parents who have the financial obligations; therefore, it would be wise to grab their attention. On the other hand, it takes less than a strategic mind targeting children because the simplest things fascinate them. Businesses have been perfecting commercials to be effective on the viewers, for years. AlthoughRead MoreConsumerism And Free Market Economy1509 Words   |  7 Pagescommercialism as essential in the enhancement of capitalism and free market economy. It can also lead to innovation competition of companies in meeting the needs of consumers. However, Commercialism can lead to an increase in wasteful consumption or consumerism. It can also lead to the depletion of natural resources in trying to meet the consumption needs of the people. Although commercialism have it draw backs, it is not all bad; commercialism promotes capitalism and free trade both of which are veryRead MoreHow Consumerism Changed The City London2342 Words   |  10 Pagesabriel and Lang (1995:3) define consumerism as a life â€Å"excessively preoccupied with consumption.† Individuals who are at the extreme end of the spectrum could be referred to as shopaholics. According to Bocock et al (1993) at the heart of consumerism is a belief that â€Å"goods and services specifically provide fun and enjoyment† for the consumer (Bocock et al, 1993, cited in Troy, 1995). It is a very important factor in our daily life as we are confronted with numerous products to choose from (Beer

Critical Argument Analysis free essay sample

One of the most hot topic issues of late is how the music industry influences our youth, and whether it is detrimental to our society. This hotbed of debate has been strongly reinforced by a thousand fold thanks to the presence of Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem. There are two essays that have polar opposite opinions as to whether Mathers is blight or a champion in the music industry. Lloyd Eby wrote, â€Å"Why Eminem is a Problem† for The World and I. Obviously, he is very concerned with the reach of influence that Mathers has. Honestly, in terms of citations and outside research to the subject, I do not think he did a very good job of informing his opinion. All Eby seemed to do was actually just mainly write up the history of rock music before even getting to mention Mathers. He spoke about Tipper Gore trying to head the advisory committee to rate music, and Charlton Heston being disgusted with Ice-T’s â€Å"Cop Killa† without really correlating why Eby himself thinks that Mathers is truly a problem. Eby says that children are copying Mathers in terms of language and attitude, but there was no mentioning of where he got this information. Eby is fond of saying how Bill O’Reilly â€Å"understands† this by citing O’Reilly comparing Mathers to Elvis Presley. At least O’Reilly actually attempts to give some sort of testimony as to how evidently Mathers is destroying the very delicate fabric of society by citing anecdotal evidence of two anonymous schoolteachers who have claimed to witness such behavior. It is thin, but at least there is an attempt. Eby really just cites his opinion as to why Mathers is a problem. Again, he goes in the whole history of the PMRC. It is a very thorough write up of the organization, but during this whole history lesson he does not mention whether he feels the organization was a good idea—and why. Eby just recounts it. Same with recounting Charlton Heston reciting the lyrics of â€Å"Cop Killer† to the shareholders of Time Warner. He does not commend, or condone, Heston of doing this act. He just recounts it, and does not transition all of this into the point he is making with his issues with the music of Marshall Mathers. It would not surprise me if he has only listened to a couple of soundbytes from certain songs that make him all concerned about the artist. In contrast, I can believe that Maury P. McCrillis did a lot of research in his opinion in â€Å"Why Eminem is Important†. McCrillis does give the same history censorship history lesson that Eby gives, but he takes the time to take Lynn Chaney, Tipper Gore, and etc., to task about their views with Mathers and the music industry in general. McCrillis does this by giving different interpretations of Mathers’ lyrics as well as explaining the history of Socrates and Plato; while enveloping his interpretations with their works to the topic of Mathers at hand. McCrillis does seem to be a bit unwieldy with his research, but at least he attempts to make a bridge between what he researched, and the topic that he is writing about. Whereas Eby seemed to give a history lesson, and then just went straight to saying Mathers is a problem. In terms of being unwieldy, this is what I mean: â€Å"Those who are concerned with the degeneration of cultural values seem to find supportin the Socratic/Platonic concern with the potentially corrupting influence of imitative art largely because of a dissatisfaction with the Aristotelian notion of catharsis. The notion that art helps to purge emotions which might otherwise manifest themselves in everyday life is interesting but not convincing enough to quell the anxieties of those who fear declining moral standards. Arguing that human beings by nature â€Å"learn or infer† through imitation, Aristotle moved to  rescue art from Socratic suspicions about its moral effects and instead claimed that â€Å"poetry is a higher thing than history because poetry tends to express the universal, history the particular. † This move was also an attempt to pay homage to Socrates’s theory of mimesis. That is, at its worst, art can still help an audience to purge itself of destructive tendencies. At its best, it can portray things as they â€Å"ought† to be; it can be morally instructive. To me, this just revisits the idea that art is good or bad with respect to the extent to which it is in accordance with facts. After all, art can protray things as they ought not to be as well. The notion of catharsis may give art enough integrity in such instances to protect it from being banned or maybe even censored, but ultimately such works become relegated to the dustbin of low art, where they are subjected to social and intellectual suspicion until they are forgotten. Only the art that can be deemed to provide the right moral instruction has the opportunity to be counted as high art, where it can receive serious intellectual consideration and perhaps real, lasting appreciation  and admiration. What McCrillis is saying here is that there are many different artists throughout the times that have been challenged with the accusations of vulgarity, and are now artists that are cited in today’s text. Is he saying that Mathers is going to be on that level? Maybe. He does concede that where he can think some of Mathers’ lyrics can be a bit too blue, but he does point out that Mathers writes what he thinks in terms of irony, and uses Aristotle as an example. A bit much, but that is more than Eby did with his essay.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Puerto Rico Essays (954 words) - Americas, Puerto Rico,

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico is an island. It's rectangular in shape. It's coasts measure approximately 580 kilometers. It is the smallest and most eastern island of the Greater Antilles. Puerto Rico has many Mountains; they cover 60% of the island. The territory also consists of a large amount of rain forests, deserts, beaches, caves, oceans and rivers. A few of the largest mountains in Puerto Rico are, the Cerro La Punta (4,389) Rosas (4,156), and Guilarte (3,952). Many of the rainforest that covered the island has vanished. The 28,00 acres that are left remain at El Yunque peak. Locations of mountains- This is the Carribean national Forrest. In this Forrest you can find many varieties of plant and animal life. Locations of rainforests- Also some very important caves of the west hemisphere are in Puerto Rico. For example the Rio Camuy. Within it are fine examples of stalactites, stalagmites, and plenty of bats. Due to the fact that Puerto Rico is a relatively short in whidth, it does not have any large bodies of water like rivers and lakes. However it is surrounded by water so that's not really a problem. There is also a very large amount of rainfall due to the rainforests. Puerto Rico's natural resources consist of some stone, fish, copper and nickel, and there is a potential for on and off-shore crude oil. The weather is regularly warm with an average temperature of 80 degrees F. The north coast gets twice as much rain as the south coast. The dry season is December to March. Puerto Rico is very exposed to the cyclones of the Caribbean. Not as bad however as Jamaica, Cuba, and other Lesser Antilles. Hurricanes frequently occur between August and October. The most destructive hurricane in Purto Rico's history was San Ciriaco. It occurred on August 8, 1899. History Puerto Rico's first inhabitants were the Taino Indians. They first called the island Boriken or Boriquen. The name means "the great land of the valiant and noble Lord". The island was first discovered by the Spanish in 1493. It went through many changes. The Indians were pushed aside and made slaves for the new settlers. Slaves were shipped in from Spain as well. Hundreds if Indians died from disease. Many Spanish men married Indian women. The island colony suffered for hundreds of years from hurricanes and plagues. After about 1850, the desire for greater freedom from Spain increased among the people of Puerto Rico. As a result of this a new form of government was set up in 1898. Puerto Rico was taken over by America. It became a part of the United States on December 10, 1898. Being a part of the U.S. helped the Puerto Rican society a lot. They built hospitals, dams, roads, and schools. In 1917 the second Organic Act gave Puerto Ricans the ability to become U.S. citizens. The U.S. Army's 65th Infantry Regiment won fame for their courage and daring. This regiment was made up of all Puerto Ricans. The government of Puerto Rico is run by the United States congress. Most federal laws apply to Puerto Rico. The Common wealth government is operated under its own constitution. The governer is chief executive officer and is pretty much in charge. Voters elect 2 senators and 1 representitive. The supreme Court is the highest court in Puerto Rico. It has 7 justices appointed by the govenor. They my serve as long as they want, as long as its not past retirement age. The 92 superior court judges are appointed to 12 year terms. Cases involving federal law are heard in the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico. It has 7 judges appointed by the President of the United States. Culture Puerto Rico is a very crowded island it is populated by about 3,522,037 people. The capital is San Juan. San Juan is also the largest city. Other large cities of Puerto Rico are, Carolina, and Mayaguez. Puerto Rico is a great place to go and see spainish culture. The food is a lot like Spanish and Mexican food. But certain spices make some things more Puerto Rican. Puerto Rico has many different types of music, as well as the United States. But it is most know for its Salsa. Many think it as a sauce to dip chips in. However in Puerto Rico it is a very commonly listened to music. And with Salsa music comes "The Salsa". The salsa is a Latin dance where a man and woman partner up and swing there hips in

Sunday, March 15, 2020

The Fight Against Terrorism essays

The Fight Against Terrorism essays On September 11, 2001, Americans realized the threat that terrorists pose in the world today. Over five thousand people died in the terrorist attack, and now Americans want revenge. They want terrorism to be stopped. In order to do that, several things must be done. Dealing with terrorists like Osama bin Laden is difficult because his group, like many others, is very large and the members of it are hard to recognize. The majority of terrorists are Muslim and come from Arab nations who hate the American culture. Osama bin Laden has terrorists in over 35 countries. Nevertheless, a group of that size is very difficult to terminate. Osama bin Laden is responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The U.S. military needs to make swift air strikes on terrorist camps to possibly eliminate the leader and destroy their defenses. After that, ground troops should be sent in to take over the camp. It is different with bin Ladens well-armed group because he is wealthy. The group is almost entirely funded by him. In this case, bin Laden should be the main target. A special forces team should covertly enter the camp and capture him. Even with these possible solutions, terrorism is still hard to stop especially when supporte d by a government known as the Taliban. In order to stop bin Laden, the Taliban must be stopped, too. The Taliban is the government of Afghanistan, which harbors bin Laden. Also, it supplies and aids him. The U.S. needs to cut all economic and social ties with Afghanistan in order to slow the economy as well as bin Ladens group. The Taliban is a fundamentalist group and control 95% of the country. Our military should attack the Taliban because they are withholding bin Ladens location and not turning him over to the United States. We should ally with the five percent of the country fighting the Taliban. Stopping the Taliban means the e ...

Friday, February 28, 2020

Trusts, Gifts and Estates term paper (ANY TOPIC) Essay

Trusts, Gifts and Estates term paper (ANY TOPIC) - Essay Example This results to the preservation of a harmonious familial relationship and the achievement of several financial benefits such as the creation of cash reserves and the after-tax income available. According to Brown and Myers (2008), it is important to underscore that the primary objective of all family estate planning is to provide psychological and financial security by obtaining â€Å"the maximum benefits of principal and income for the family and to pass on the family property intact (i.e. without losses)† (23). The last will and testament is an excellent example of estate planning and administration. There is also the case the revocable living trust. Both of these are popular choices for people seeking to manage and administer their assets and properties. This paper will explore why the revocable living trust can prove to be more beneficial for everyone than the last will and testament. Background The last will and testament or more generally known as the will is a legal do cument that provides the disposition of assets and properties. Simply put, in case of death, the ownership of a property is transferred according to the terms of the will of the deceased, the terms that document his desires particularly in the distribution of his estate and assets (Wardle and Nolan, 1042). Gau (2004) provided another definition, which states that it is â€Å"an expression of a person’s wishes for the disposition of property and the protection of loved ones at the time of the maker’s death† (7). The US legal framework considers the use of will as a developmental offshoot of basic estate planning, that one with the simple goal of planning for death (Wardle and Nolan, 1039-1043). It was further provided that the impetus for the development of wills was the need for federal estate tax planning for death and lifetime transfers (1039-1040). Baker wrote that the key is to keep it up to date because a clearly defined will could be the best piece of lega l work that one could have that can be used to honor one’s wishes and in defining the family’s futures (52). She also stressed that the will is a reliable backup to a trust in the estate planning process, in addition to several conditions, which she has listed such as: The fact that there are properties that are better left in a will; Money such as lottery winning can be distributed after death through a will and as a component of an estate plan; Parents with minor children. The will can name the guardian and the administrator of assets and properties before the children reach legal age; The appointment of an executor; and Disinheriting a person (Baker, 53-54). There are many other instances where the will is indispensable. It is important for people interested to draft their own wills to consult an estate planning professional or an estate planning team. The process may be simple, but there is a requirement to be thorough, clear and detailed so that the documented wou ld not be invalidated, contested and misinterpreted. It is also important to highlight that if assets are to be transferred through a will, the maker is necessarily deceased. The utility of the will as explained in this section does not mean that there are no other alternatives. There are several others that people prefer because it is more beneficial or that it is aligned with their own estate planning objectives. The Revocable Living Trust

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Racism (Walleye Warrior) Reading and Questions Coursework

Racism (Walleye Warrior) Reading and Questions - Coursework Example It is evident from the article that people of color suffered significant discrimination from the impacts of unchallenged white privilege. Other ethnic groups that were lobbying for their social justice ended up creating and promoting new identities, including the white identities, which oppress people of color and those who reject white privileges (Lipsitz 119). A new idea evident, in the article, is that the white community strongly campaigned to end treaty rights signed between the federal government and the Native American communities with the notion that it gave them more access to the nation’s natural resources more than other communities. However, when treaty rights were abolished and a number of economic activities such as lumbering, mining and extensive fishing begun in north Wisconsin, the land become polluted and considerably polluted. The supply of the game and fish were also threatened by carbon emission from motor boats, poor management of natural resources, corporate pollution and lax government regulations (Lipsitz 115). Additionally, many whites began killing Native Americans and African Americans who rejected their privileges. These are just, but a few evidences that white supremacist were specifically not interested in conserving environment, but in discriminating against people of color and accessing their natural resources without any opposition. This is something that makes me feel uncomfortable with this article. Under the courtesy of this article, I come to learn that the success of Native Americans, in fighting for their asocial justice, also came from the support of other whites who came to realize that the future success of north Wisconsin was more possible with Indians than the White Supremacists (Lipsitz 116). In this case, I do not expect white supremacists who were earlier strong anti-treaty rights and

Friday, January 31, 2020

The Future is Personalized Medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

The Future is Personalized Medicine - Essay Example Pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenetics, which are expected to be at the core of PM, combine to offer several advantages over conventional clinical methods. For example, while pharmacogenomics is limited to identifyng 'inheritable response' to medication across the whole genome, pharmacogenetics studies the effects of medication at the level of individual genes (the chart below outlines how it operates). The former also tries to reveal important links between genomic patterns and clinical responses. Such links are crucial sources of medical knowledge, as they empower clinicians to choose a particular treatment option based on individual patient condition as opposed to adopting a formulaic trial-and-error approach. (Hood, 2003, p.582) The Human Genome Project (HGP), initiated and supported by former American President Bill Clinton was pivotal to subsequent breakthroughs in Personalized Medicine. With the help of advanced computing power, already more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA hav e been successfully mapped. With the completion of the HGP in 2003, new possibilities for PM have been opened up. Working expeditiously to make Personalized Medicine a reality in the near future are such organizations as the International HapMap Project, the NIH Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE), the Roadmap Epigenomics Program, etc. (Cox, et. al., 2007, p.112) In order to understand the scope and effectiveness of Personalized Medicine, let us take a hypothetical case. For instance, in the case of oncology treatment, where presently oral-intake medicines can cost hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars per year for the afflicted patient, understanding the intricate 'genetic pathways' (which is unique to each individual) is important in order to determine the probable efficacy of a particular therapy course. It is a sign of progress that in the United States today â€Å"there are 6 drugs for which FDA requires diagnostic genetic testing before prescription, about 30 for which a d iagnostic test is recommended, and another 200 with pharmacogenomic information on the labels.† (Hesselgrave, 2010, p.16) Moreover, traditional healthcare provision adopts an one-size-fits-all approach. Whereas, under Personalized Medicine, this practice will be dismantled and unique prognostic courses would be designed based on the patient's genetic make up. Powerful technologies that try to understand the working of the human body down to the cellular level will be part of future PM treatments. These technologies include genomics, proteomics (the study of proteins), and metabolomics (the study of metabolites) amongst others. Metabolomics is of special interest to physicians as it has the potential to provide key information about individual patients. While the purpose of proteomics research is to identify abnormal protein patterns in patients, the purpose of metabolomic research is to identify abnormal metabolite patterns. Scientists are of the view that human bodies contain more than 3,000 metabolites that play a crucial role in proper growth and development of various organs. Apart from these primary metabolites there are secondary metabolites which strenghthen the immune system and helps reduce mental and physical stress. Of particular interest to the medical community are low-molecular-weight metabolites

Thursday, January 23, 2020

twiggy :: essays research papers

Custom Papers English Foreign History Miscellaneous Movies Music Novels People Politics Religion Science Sports Technology Information Questions? Search results for 'mark and twain' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Match: AllAnyBoolean Format: LongShort Sort by: ScoreTimeTitleReverse ScoreReverse TimeReverse Title Refine search: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Documents 1 - 10 of 527 matches. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can't find it with this search, try this one! Mark Twain's Life in His Writings In Mark Twain's two major works, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and it's sequel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, he develops and displays his humoristic abilities by concealing within them deeper meanings, ultimately producing a satire of the region in which he lived. Examined within this paper are ... Mark Twain Mark Twain "Man is made of dirt †¦ Man is a museum of diseases, a home of impurities, who begins as dirt and departs as stench."(1) -Mark Twain When Most people think of Mark Twain, they think of the Mississippi, or gold mining, or such things. But few people have come to realize the free ... Mark Twain Racisim Part 2: Was Mark Twain a Racist? For over thirty years critics of Mark Twain have called attention to the racial epithets in Huckleberry Finn as an example of the inherent racism of the author. African Americans in particular have objected to the book and in many school districts (most recently in Dallas ... How Mark Twain lived his life as an author during the late 1800's Question: How Mark Twain lived his life as an author during the late 1800's? Title: Mark Twain's biograph. I. Introduction A. Background 1. Childhood 2. Education 3 Professional life B. Problems: 1. Jobs 2. Literary works 3. Financial conditions II. Body A. Life style B. Family life C.General information ... Mark Twain Censorship The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a book written by Mark Twain. This book has been scrutinized, censored, and argued over since it’s publication. There are many ways to look at Huckleberry Finn. One can look at it as a derogatory book, focusing on the stereotyping of Negroes and the excessive use ... Mark Twain, Samuel Clemens, or None of the Above Mark Twain was one of the most popular and well-known authors of the 1800’s. He is recognized for being a humorist. He used humor or social satire in his best works. His writing is known for â€Å"realism of place and language, memorable characters, and hatred of hypocrisy and oppression† (Mark Twain 1 ... mark twain Mark Twain, a Racist?Mark Twain was a man that was way ahead of his time. In a time when people were judged on color,Mark Twain grew up in Florida, Missouri (Mandelbrot, Twain).

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Last Sacrifice Chapter Fifteen

I DIDN'T LIKE TO SEE Victor Dashkov proven right. But, oh, was he ever. With Lissa's proclamation, the room that had been holding its breath suddenly exploded. I wondered if there had ever been a peaceful Council session in Moroi history or if I just kept coincidentally tuning into controversial ones. What followed today reminded me a lot of the day the dhampir age decree had passed. Shouting, arguments, people out of their chairs †¦ Guardians who normally lined the walls and watched were out among the people, looks of concern on their faces as they prepared for any disputes that might go beyond words. As quickly as Lissa had been at the center of everything, the room seemed to forget her. She sat back down, and Christian found her hand again. She squeezed it tightly, so much so I wondered if she was cutting off his circulation. She stared straight ahead, still reeling. Her mind wasn't focused on all the chaos, but everything her eyes and ears perceived came through to me. Really, the only attention my friends received was when Daniella came over and scolded Adrian for nominating outside his family. He shrugged it off in his usual way, and she huffed off, realizing–like many of us–that there was really no point in trying to reason with Adrian. You'd think that in a room where everyone was scrambling to push their own family's advantage, every single person would therefore be arguing that Lissa's nomination was invalid. That wasn't the case, however–particularly because not everyone in the room was royal. Just as I'd noted earlier, Moroi from all over had come to witness the events that would determine their future. And a number of them were watching this Dragomir girl with interest, this princess from a dying line who could allegedly work miracles. They weren't ravenously chanting her name, but many were in the thick of the arguments, saying she had every right to step up for her family. Part of me also suspected that some of her â€Å"common' supporters simply liked the idea of thwarting the royal agenda. The young couple that had been harassed by Lady Badica weren't the only ones there who'd been pushed around by their â€Å"betters.' Most surprisingly, there were some royals speaking up for Lissa too. They might be loyal to their own families, but not all of them were heartless, selfish connivers. Many had a sense of right and wrong–and if Lissa had the law on her side, then she was in the right. Plus, lots of royals simply liked and respected her. Ariana was one person who advocated for Lissa's nomination, despite the competition it created. Ariana knew the law well and undoubtedly realized the loophole that allowed Lissa to run would fail when election time came. Still, Ariana stood her ground, which endeared her to me even more. When the real voting did come, I hoped Ariana would win the crown. She was intelligent and fair–exactly what the Moroi needed. Of course, Ariana wasn't the only one who knew the law. Others picked up on the loophole and argued the nomination of a candidate that no one could vote for was pointless. Normally, I would have agreed. On and on the debate raged while my friends sat quietly in the hurricane's eye. At long last, the matter was settled the way most decisions should be: through voting. With Lissa still denied her Council seat, that left eleven members to determine her future. Six of them approved her candidacy, making it official. She could run. I suspected some of those who voted for her didn't truly want her running, but their respect for the law prevailed. Many Moroi didn't care what the Council said. They made it clear they considered this matter far from over, proving what Victor had said: this was going to rage on for a while, getting worse if she actually passed the tests and made it to the voting stages. For now, the crowd dispersed, seeming relieved–not only because they wanted to escape the yelling but also because they wanted to spread this sensational news. Lissa continued saying little as she and our friends left. Walking past the gawkers, she remained a model of regality and calmness, like she'd already been declared queen. But when she finally escaped it all and was back in her room with the others, all those locked-up, frozen feelings exploded. â€Å"What the hell were you guys thinking?' she yelled. â€Å"What have you done to me?' Along with Adrian, Christian, and Eddie, the rest of the conspirators had shown up: Tasha, Abe, and my mom. All of them were so completely stunned by this reaction from sweet Lissa that none of them could reply now. Lissa took advantage of their silence. â€Å"You set me up! You've put me in the middle of a political nightmare! Do you think I want this? Do you really think I want to be queen?' Abe recovered first, naturally. â€Å"You won't be queen,' he said, voice uncharacteristically soothing. â€Å"The people arguing about the other part of the law are right: no one can actually vote for you. You need family for that.' â€Å"Then what's the point?' she exclaimed. She was furious. She had every right to be. But that outrage, that anger †¦ it was fueled by something worse than this situation alone. Spirit was coming to claim its price and making her even more upset than she would have been. â€Å"The point,' said Tasha, â€Å"is everything crazy you just saw in the Council room. For every argument, for every time someone drags out the law books again, we have more time to save Rose and find out who killed Tatiana.' â€Å"Whoever did it must have an interest in the throne,' explained Christian. He rested a hand on Lissa's shoulder, and she jerked away. â€Å"Either for themselves or someone they know. The longer we delay their plans, the more time we have to find out who it is.' Lissa raked her hands through her long hair in frustration. I tried to pull that coil of fury from her, taking it into myself. I succeeded a little, enough that she dropped her hands to her side. But she was still pissed off. â€Å"How am I supposed to look for the murderer when I'm tied up doing all those stupid tests?' she demanded. â€Å"You won't be looking,' said Abe. â€Å"We will.' Her eyes widened. â€Å"That was never part of the plan! I'm not going to jump through royal hoops when Rose needs me. I want to help her!' It was almost comical. Almost. Neither Lissa nor I could handle â€Å"sitting around' when we thought the other needed our help. We wanted to be out there, actively doing what we could to fix the situation. â€Å"You are helping her,' said Christian. His hand twitched, but he didn't try to touch her again. â€Å"It's in a different way than you expected, but in the end, it's going to help her.' The same argument everyone kept using on me. It also made her just as angry as it had made me, and I desperately tugged at the wave of instability spirit kept sending through her. Lissa peered around the room, looking accusingly at each face. â€Å"Who in the world thought of this idea?' More uncomfortable silence followed. â€Å"Rose did,' said Adrian at last. Lissa spun around and glared at him. â€Å"She did not! She wouldn't do this to me!' â€Å"She did,' he said. â€Å"I talked to her in a dream. It was her idea, and †¦ it was a good one.' I didn't really like how that seemed to come as a surprise to him. â€Å"Besides, you kind of put her in a bad situation too. She kept going on about how much the town she's in sucks.' â€Å"Okay,' snapped Lissa, ignoring the part about my plight. â€Å"Supposing that's true, that Rose passes this â€Å"brilliant' idea on to you, then why didn't anyone bother to tell me? Didn't you think a little warning might help?' Again, it was just like me complaining about how my jailbreak had been kept a secret from me. â€Å"Not really,' said Adrian. â€Å"We figured you'd react exactly like this and have time to plan a refusal. We kind of gambled that if you were caught on the spot, you'd accept.' â€Å"That was kind of risky,' she said. â€Å"But it worked,' came Tasha's blunt response. â€Å"We knew you'd come through for us.' She winked. â€Å"And for what it's worth, I think you'd make a great queen.' Lissa gave her a sharp look, and I made one more attempt to drag away some of the darkness. I concentrated on those churning emotions, imagining them in me instead of her. I didn't pull it all but managed enough to take the fight out of her. Rage suddenly flared in me, blinding me momentarily, but I was able to push it off to a corner of my mind. She suddenly felt exhausted. I kind of did too. â€Å"The first test is tomorrow,' she said quietly. â€Å"If I fail it, I'm out. The plan falls apart.' Christian made another attempt to put his arm around her, and this time, she let him. â€Å"You won't.' Lissa didn't say anything else, and I could see the relief on everyone's faces. No one believed for a second she liked this, but they seemed to think she wasn't going to withdraw her nomination, which was as much as they could hope for. My mother and Eddie had said nothing this entire time. As was common for guardians, they'd kept to the background, remaining shadows while Moroi business was conducted. With the initial storm passing over, my mother stepped forward. She nodded toward Eddie. â€Å"One of us is going to try to stay near you at all times.' â€Å"Why?' asked Lissa, startled. â€Å"Because we know there's someone out there who isn't afraid to kill to get what they want,' said Tasha. She nodded toward Eddie and my mom. â€Å"These two and Mikhail are really the only guardians we can trust.' â€Å"Are you sure?' Abe gave Tasha a sly look. â€Å"I'm surprised you didn't get your special guardian â€Å"friend' on board.' â€Å"What special friend?' demanded Christian, instantly picking up on the insinuation. Tasha, to my astonishment, flushed. â€Å"Just a guy I know.' â€Å"Who follows you with puppy-dog eyes,' continued Abe. â€Å"What's his name? Evan?' â€Å"Ethan,' she corrected. My mother, looking exasperated by such ridiculous talk, promptly put an end to it– which was just as well since Christian looked like he had a few things to say. â€Å"Leave her alone,' she warned Abe. â€Å"We don't have time for it. Ethan's a good guy, but the fewer people who know about this, the better. Since Mikhail has a permanent post, Eddie and I will do security.' I agreed with all of what she'd just said, but it struck me that to get my mother on board, someone–probably Abe–had filled her in on all the illicit activity that had occurred recently. He was either really convincing or she loved me a lot. Grudgingly, I suspected both were true. When Moroi were at Court, their guardians didn't need to accompany them everywhere, meaning my mom would most likely be free of her assignment while Lord Szelsky stayed here. Eddie didn't have an assignment yet, which also gave him flexibility. Lissa started to say something else when a sharp jolt in my own reality snapped me away from her. â€Å"Sorry,' said Sydney. Her slamming on the brakes was what had brought me back. â€Å"That jerk cut me off.' It wasn't Sydney's fault, but I felt irritated at the interruption and wanted to yell at her. With a deep breath, I reminded myself that I was simply feeling spirit's side effects and that I couldn't allow it to make me act irrationally. It would fade, like always, yet some part of me knew I couldn't keep taking that darkness from Lissa forever. I wouldn't always be able to control it. Now that I was back to myself, I looked out the windows, taking in our new surroundings. We weren't in the mountains anymore. We'd reached an urban area, and while the traffic was hardly heavy (seeing as it was still the middle of the human night), there were definitely more cars on the road than we'd seen in a while. â€Å"Where are we?' I asked. â€Å"Outskirts of Lexington,' Sydney said. She pulled over to a nearby gas station, both to refill and so we could plug Donovan's address into her GPS. His place was about five miles away. â€Å"Not a great part of town, from what I hear,' Dimitri said. â€Å"Donovan runs a tattoo parlor that's only open at night. A couple of other Strigoi work with him. They get partiers, drunk kids †¦ the kind of people that can easily disappear. The kind Strigoi love.' â€Å"Seems like the police would eventually notice that every time someone went for a tattoo, they disappeared,' I pointed out. Dimitri gave a harsh laugh. â€Å"Well, the â€Å"funny' thing is that they don't kill everyone who comes in. They actually give tattoos to some of them and let them go. They smuggle drugs through the place too.' I regarded him curiously, as Sydney slipped back into the car. â€Å"You sure know a lot.' â€Å"I made it my business to know a lot, and Strigoi have to keep a roof over their heads too. I actually met Donovan once and got most of this straight from the source. I just didn't know where exactly he worked out of until now.' â€Å"Okay, so, we've got the info on him. What do we do with it?' â€Å"Lure him out. Send in a â€Å"customer' with a message from me needing to meet him. I'm not the kind of person he can ignore–well, that he used to not–never mind. Once he's out, we get him to a place we choose.' I nodded. â€Å"I can do that.' â€Å"No,' said Dimitri. â€Å"You can't.' â€Å"Why not?' I asked, wondering if he thought it was too dangerous for me. â€Å"Because they'll know you're a dhampir the instant they see you. They'll probably smell it first. No Strigoi would have a dhampir working for him–only humans.' There was an uncomfortable silence in the car. â€Å"No!' said Sydney. â€Å"I am not doing that!' Dimitri shook his head. â€Å"I don't like it either, but we don't have a lot of options. If he thinks you work for me, he won't hurt you.' â€Å"Yeah? And what happens if he doesn't believe me?' she demanded. â€Å"I don't think he can take the chance. He'll probably go with you to check things out, with the idea that if you're lying, they'll just kill you then.' This didn't seem to make her feel any better. She groaned. â€Å"You can't send her in,' I said. â€Å"They'll know she's an Alchemist. One of those wouldn't work for Strigoi either.' Surprisingly, Dimitri hadn't considered that. We grew quiet again, and it was Sydney who unexpectedly came up with a solution. â€Å"When I was inside the gas station,' she said slowly, â€Å"they had, like, one rack of makeup. We could probably cover most of my tattoo up with powder.' And we did. The only compact the station sold wasn't a great match for her skin tone, but we caked enough of it on to obscure the golden lily on her cheek. Brushing her hair forward helped a little. Satisfied we'd done all we could, we headed off to Donovan's. It was indeed in a rundown part of town. A few blocks away from the tattoo parlor, we spotted what looked like a nightclub, but otherwise, the neighborhood appeared deserted. I wasn't fooled, though. This was no place you'd want to walk around alone at night. It screamed â€Å"mugging.' Or worse. We checked out the area until Dimitri found a spot he felt good about. It was a back alley two buildings away from the parlor. A gnarled wired fence stood on one side while a low brick building flanked the other. Dimitri instructed Sydney on how to lead the Strigoi to us. She took it all in, nodding along, but I could see the fear in her eyes. â€Å"You want to look awed,' he told her. â€Å"Humans who serve Strigoi worship them– they're eager to please. Since they're around Strigoi so much, they aren't as startled or terrified. Still a little afraid, of course, but not as much as you look now.' She swallowed. â€Å"I can't really help it.' I felt bad for her. She strongly believed all vampires were evil, and we were sending her into a nest of the worst kind, putting her at great risk. I knew also that she'd only ever seen one live Strigoi, and despite Dimitri's coaching, seeing more could completely shell shock her. If she froze in front of Donovan, everything could fall apart. On impulse, I gave her a hug. To my surprise, she didn't resist. â€Å"You can do this,' I said. â€Å"You're strong–and they're too afraid of Dimitri. Okay?' After a few deep breaths, Sydney nodded. We gave her a few more encouraging words, and then she turned the corner of the building, heading toward the street, and disappeared from our sight. I glanced at Dimitri. â€Å"We may have just sent her to her death.' His face was grim. â€Å"I know–but we can't do anything now. You'd better get into position.' With his help, I managed to make it onto the roof of the low building. There was nothing intimate in the way he hoisted me up, but I couldn't help but have the same electric feeling all contact with him caused or note how easily we worked together. Once I was securely positioned, Dimitri headed for the opposite side of the building Sydney had gone around. He lurked just around the corner, and then there was nothing to do but wait. It was agonizing–and not just because we were on the verge of a fight. I kept thinking about Sydney, what we'd asked her to do. My job was to protect the innocent from evil–not thrust them into the middle of it. What if our plan failed? Several minutes passed, and I finally heard footsteps and muttered voices at the same time a familiar wave of nausea moved through me. We'd pulled the Strigoi out. Three of them walked around the building's corner, Sydney in the lead. They came to a halt, and I spotted Donovan. He was the tallest–a former Moroi–with dark hair and a beard that reminded me of Abe's. Dimitri had given me his description so I wouldn't (hopefully) kill him. Donovan's henchmen hovered behind him, all of them alert and on guard. I tensed, my stake gripped tightly in my right hand. â€Å"Belikov?' demanded Donovan, voice harsh. â€Å"Where are you?' â€Å"I'm here,' came Dimitri's response–in that cold, terrible Strigoi voice. He appeared from around the building's opposite corner, keeping to the shadows. Donovan relaxed slightly, recognizing Dimitri–but even in darkness, Dimitri's true appearance materialized. Donovan went rigid–suddenly seeing a threat, even if it was one that confused him and defied what he knew. At the exact same moment, one of his guys jerked his head around. â€Å"Dhampirs!' he exclaimed. It wasn't Dimitri's features that tipped him off. It was our scent, and I breathed a silent prayer of thanks that it had taken them this long to notice. Then, I leapt off the roof. It wasn't an easy distance to jump–but not one that would kill me. Plus, my fall was broken by a Strigoi. I landed on one of Donovan's guys, knocking him to the ground. I aimed my stake at his heart, but his reflexes were quick. With my lighter weight, I was easy to shove off. I'd expected it and managed to keep my footing. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sydney dropping low and hurrying off out of here, per our instructions. We wanted her away from the crossfire and had told her to go to the car, readying herself to take off if things went bad. Of course, with Strigoi, things were always bad. Donovan and his other guy had both gone for Dimitri, assessing him as the greater threat. My opponent, judging from his fanged smile, didn't seem to regard me as a threat at all. He lunged toward me, and I dodged away, but not before snaking out a kick that took him in the knee. My hit didn't seem to hurt him, but it did ruin his balance. I made another strike at staking and was thrown off again, hitting the ground hard. My bare legs scraped against the rough cement, tearing skin. Because my jeans had grown too dirty and torn, I'd been forced to wear a pair of shorts from the backpack Sydney had brought me. I ignored the pain, shooting right back up with speed the Strigoi didn't expect. My stake found his heart. The hit wasn't as hard as I would have liked, but it was enough to throw him off, then allowing me to drive the stake in further and finish him. Not even waiting to see him fall, I jerked my stake out and turned toward the othe rs. I hadn't hesitated once in the battle I'd just fought, but now, I paused at what I saw. Dimitri's face. It was †¦ terrifying. Ferocious. He'd had a similar look when he'd defended me at my arrest–that badass warrior god expression that said he could take on hell itself. The way he looked now †¦ well, it took that fierceness to a whole new level. This was personal, I realized. Fighting these Strigoi wasn't just about finding Sonya and helping Lissa. This was about redemption, an attempt to destroy his past by destroying the evil directly in his path. I moved to join him, just as he staked the second henchman. There was power in that strike, much more power than Dimitri needed as he shoved the Strigoi against the brick wall and pierced his heart. It was impossible, but I could imagine that stake going straight through the body and into the wall. Dimitri put more attention and effort into that kill than he should have. He should have responded like I had and immediately turned to the next threat, once the Strigoi was dead. Instead, Dimitri was so fixated on his victim that he didn't notice Donovan taking advantage of the situation. Fortunately for Dimitri, I had his back. I slammed my body into Donovan's, shoving him away from Dimitri. As I did, I saw Dimitri pull out his stake and then slam the body against the wall again. Meanwhile, I'd successfully drawn Donovan's attention and was now having a difficult time eluding him without killing him. â€Å"Dimitri!' I yelled. â€Å"Come help me. I need you!' I couldn't see what Dimitri was doing, but a few seconds later, he was by my side. With what almost sounded like a roar, he leapt at Donovan, stake out, and knocked the Strigoi to the ground. I breathed a sigh of relief and moved in to help with the restraint. Then, I saw Dimitri line up his stake with Donovan's heart. â€Å"No!' I dropped to the ground, trying to both hold Donovan and push away Dimitri's arm. â€Å"We need him! Don't kill him!' From the look on Dimitri's face, it was unclear if he even heard me. There was death in his eyes. He wanted to kill Donovan. The desire had suddenly taken precedence. Still trying to hold Donovan with one arm, I smacked Dimitri in the face with my other hand–going for the side I hadn't punched the other night. I don't think he felt the pain in his adrenaline rage, but the hit got his attention. â€Å"Don't kill him!' I repeated. The command made it through to Dimitri. Our struggle, unfortunately, gave Donovan maneuvering room. He started to break free of us, but then, as one, Dimitri and I threw ourselves into holding Donovan. I was reminded of the time I'd questioned Strigoi in Russia. It had taken a whole group of dhampirs to restrain one Strigoi, but Dimitri seemed to have unnatural strength. â€Å"When we were interrogating, we used to–‘ My words were interrupted when Dimitri decided to utilize his own method of interrogation. He gripped Donovan by the shoulders and shook him hard, causing the Strigoi to keep hitting his head against the cement. â€Å"Where is Sonya Karp?' roared Dimitri. â€Å"I don't–‘ began Donovan. But Dimitri had no patience for Strigoi evasion. â€Å"Where is she? I know you know her!' â€Å"I–‘ â€Å"Where is she?' I saw something on Donovan's face that I'd never seen in a Strigoi before: fear. I'd thought it was an emotion they simply didn't possess. Or, if they did, it was only in the battles they fought with one another. They wouldn't waste time with fear around lowly dhampirs. But oh, Donovan was scared of Dimitri. And to be honest, I was too. Those red-ringed eyes were wide–wide, desperate, and terrified. When Donovan blurted out his next words, something told me they were true. His fear wasn't giving him a chance to lie. He was too shocked and unprepared by all of this. â€Å"Paris,' he gasped out. â€Å"She's in Paris!' â€Å"Christ,' I exclaimed. â€Å"We cannot road trip to Paris.' Donovan shook his head (in as much as he could with Dimitri shaking him in return). â€Å"It's a small town–an hour away. There's this tiny lake. Hardly anyone on it. Blue house.' Vague directions. We needed more. â€Å"Do you have an addr–‘ Dimitri apparently didn't share my need for more information. Before I could finish speaking, his stake was out–and in Donovan's heart. The Strigoi made a horrible, blood-curdling scream that faded as death took him. I winced. How long until someone heard all this and called the police? Dimitri pulled his stake out–and then stabbed Donovan again. And again. I stared in disbelief and horror, frozen for a few moments. Then, I grabbed Dimitri's arm and began shaking him, though I felt like I would have had more effect shaking the building behind me. â€Å"He's dead, Dimitri! He's dead! Stop this. Please.' Dimitri's face still wore that terrible, terrible expression–rage, now marked with a bit of desperation. Desperation that told him if he could only obliterate Donovan, then maybe he could obliterate everything else bad in his life. I didn't know what to do. We had to get out of here. We had to get Sydney to disintegrate the bodies. Time was ticking, and I just kept repeating myself. â€Å"He's dead! Let it go. Please. He's dead.' Then, somewhere, somehow, I broke through to Dimitri. His motions slowed and finally stopped. The hand holding the stake dropping weakly to his side as he stared at what was left of Donovan–which wasn't pretty. The rage on Dimitri's face completely gave way to desperation †¦ and then that gave way to despair. I tugged gently on his arm. â€Å"It's over. You've done enough.' â€Å"It's never enough, Roza,' he whispered. The grief in his voice killed me. â€Å"It'll never be enough.' â€Å"It is for now,' I said. I pulled him to me. Unresisting, he let go of his stake and buried his face against my shoulder. I dropped my stake as well and embraced him, drawing him closer. He wrapped his arms around me in return, seeking the contact of another living being, the contact I'd long known he needed. â€Å"You're the only one.' He clung more tightly to me. â€Å"The only one who understands. The only one who saw how I was. I could never explain it to anyone †¦ you're the only one. The only one I can tell this to †¦' I closed my eyes for a moment, overpowered by what he was saying. He might have sworn allegiance to Lissa, but that didn't mean he'd fully revealed his heart to her. For so long, he and I had been in perfect sync, always understanding each other. That was still the case, no matter if we were together, no matter if I was with Adrian. Dimitri had always kept his heart and feelings guarded until meeting me. I thought he'd locked them back up, but apparently, he still trusted me enough to reveal what was killing him inside. I opened my eyes and met his dark, earnest gaze. â€Å"It's okay,' I said. â€Å"It's okay now. I'm here. I'll always be here for you.' â€Å"I dream about them, you know. All the innocents I killed.' His eyes drifted back to Donovan's body. â€Å"I keep thinking †¦ maybe if I destroy enough Strigoi, the nightmares will go away. That I'll be certain I'm not one of them.' I touched his chin, turning his face back toward mine and away from Donovan. â€Å"No. You have to destroy Strigoi because they're evil. Because that's what we do. If you want the nightmares to go away, you have to live. That's the only way. We could have died just now. We didn't. Maybe we'll die tomorrow. I don't know. What matters is that we're alive now.' I was rambling at this point. I had never seen Dimitri so low, not since his restoration. He'd claimed being Strigoi had killed so many of his emotions. It hadn't. They were there, I realized. Everything he had been was still inside, only coming out in bursts–like this moment of rage and despair. Or when he'd defended me from the arresting guardians. The old Dimitri wasn't gone. He was just locked away, and I didn't know how to let him out. This wasn't what I did. He was always the one with words of wisdom and insight. Not me. Still, he was listening now. I had his attention. What could I say? What could get through to him? â€Å"Remember what you said earlier?' I asked. â€Å"Back in Rubysville? Living is in the details. You've got to appreciate the details. That's the only way to defeat what the Strigoi did to you. The only way to bring back who you really are. You said it yourself: you escaped with me to feel the world again. Its beauty.' Dimitri started to turn toward Donovan again, but I wouldn't let him. â€Å"There's nothing beautiful here. Only death.' â€Å"That's only true if you let them make it true,' I said desperately, still feeling the press of time. â€Å"Find one thing. One thing that's beautiful. Anything. Anything that shows you're not one of them.' His eyes were back on me, studying my face silently. Panic raced through me. It wasn't working. I couldn't do this. We were going to have to get out of here, regardless of whatever state he was in. I knew he'd leave, too. If I'd learned anything, it was that Dimitri's warrior instincts were still working. If I said danger was coming, he would respond instantly, no matter the self-torment he felt. I didn't want that, though. I didn't want him to leave in despair. I wanted him to leave here one step closer to being the man I knew he could be. I wanted him to have one less nightmare. It was beyond my abilities, though. I was no therapist. I was about to tell him we had to get out there, about to make his soldier reflexes kick in, when he suddenly spoke. His voice was barely a whisper. â€Å"Your hair.' â€Å"What?' For a second, I wondered if it was on fire or something. I touched a stray lock. No, nothing wrong except that it was a mess. I'd bound it up for battle to prevent the Strigoi from using it as a handhold, like Angeline had. Much of it had come undone in the struggle, though. â€Å"Your hair,' repeated Dimitri. His eyes were wide, almost awestruck. â€Å"Your hair is beautiful.' I didn't think so, not in its current state. Of course, considering we were in a dark alley filled with bodies, the choices were kind of limited. â€Å"You see? You're not one of them. Strigoi don't see beauty. Only death. You found something beautiful. One thing that's beautiful.' Hesitantly, nervously, he ran his fingers along the strands I'd touched earlier. â€Å"But is it enough?' â€Å"It is for now.' I pressed a kiss to his forehead and helped him stand. â€Å"It is for now.'

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

People Get Ready By Robert Mcchesney And John Nichols

People Get Ready proved itself to be a quick, thought-provoking read. Of the three books we have read this semester, this one has probably done the most to make me think about and re-evaluate my own views of our political system. I found it at some points to be frightening because of the direction America seems to be heading in. However, I was very impressed by the authors’ portrayal of the situation as important enough to call attention to the crisis but not so bleak as to give the idea that we are doomed. The central idea of Robert McChesney and John Nichols’ book, People Get Ready, is that the only way to enact economic change in America is through political change. The United States as a democratic country is somewhat of a paradox. The idea of democracy implies equal opportunity for all citizens but the social diversity that we value often takes opportunities away from minority groups, creating inequality. In an age where technology is so advanced that robots replace humans in the workplace, it is no surprise that increasingly fewer Americans are considered full-time employees. While proponents of advancement argue that technology adds a high level job for every low level job it takes away, low class manufacturing jobs will not be the only newly-automated jobs. Due to rapid advancement, computers are projected to be one thousand times more powerful in the 2030s than computers today (McChesney and Nichols, 2016, 246). With these improvements, no human’s job is safe.