Employee Monitoring Essay

Employee Monitoring: Employer Safeguard or Invasion of Privacy? Employee privacy has been a controversial topic especially with the rise in internet usage, the popularity of social media increasing, and the addition of GPS to mobile devices. With these advances in technology there are numerous ways for employers to monitor their employees’ time at work. According to Evans (2007) as many as eighty percent of the employers, who employ twenty percent of the American population, monitor employees’ telephone conversations, e-mails, and voicemails. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology has made tracking the whereabouts of employees easier rather than tracking only information passed between employees and other individuals. The United States does offer privacy laws to help safeguard employees’ expectations of privacy; however, the laws are formatted around the physical realm such as desk drawers or an employee’s home, not an employee’s computer files or even social networking site (Riego, Abril, & Levin, 2012). It has become apparent that social media is here to stay. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter have changed how people communicate in their daily lives and even how organizations do business. Employers have begun using social networking sites not only to market themselves but also as a human resource tool, making themselves accessible to potential customers and employees alike. Some of the ways employers have begun utilizing social networking include orientation, training, faster innovation of products and services, and improved efficiencies of operations through employee collaboration (Mello, 2012). Although there are clear advantages for employers using social networking sites, there are some murky areas that are becoming increasingly common when using these sites as an instrument to monitor and screen employees as well as applicants. The Social Norm of Employee Monitoring In the digital era of today’s working environment, almost all employees are aware their employer is performing some form of monitoring with email monitoring being the most expected. However, the degree of monitoring employers partake in varies. With the lines between personal lives and the  work environment blurring, employers are taking advantage of the array of technology they have at their disposal. A heightened awareness of this blurring requires employers to become more probing towards their employees. This becomes apparent with the discovery of 85% of employers recognizing their employees’ use of social networking and personal internet usage during work hours (Mello, 2012). There are many ways that employers utilize applicable technologies, including GPS and social networking sites. GPS: Advantages and Disadvantages Employers have a legitimate reason to need and want to monitor their employees. GPS systems can be useful for organizations that have a mobile workforce. Installing GPS systems can be used to help cut cost as well as unauthorized usage of company vehicles (Towns & Cobb, 2012). Most GPS systems not only have the ability of pinpointing locations within 100 feet but also track speed and inform the drivers of the current speed limit. Major cost savings can be seen due to increased productivity of employees due to more effective usage of their time when employees are aware of employers tracking their movements. Likewise, when employees follow the speed limit it can be translated in savings in fuel costs and decreased number of accidents (Towns & Cobb, 2012). Like most advancements in technology, when there is a positive use there is also a negative misuse. While there is a potential for efficiency to increase with GPS usage, there is also the potential for employers to set irrational time frames and quotas to try to increase efficiency (Towns & Cobb, 2012). This can place unwarranted pressure on employees. Some employees start to be concerned about the lack of privacy with the use of GPS tracking. It is often a necessity for mobile workforces to use their company vehicle to facilitate breaks such as lunch. GPS systems have the potential to disclose personal information about employees when used during such nonworking hours. All travels tend to be recorded with the use of GPS tracking which can lead to an employer knowing detailed information about an employee’s personal life such as preferences or appointments. To avoid conflict with the use of GPS systems, Towns and Cobbs (2012)  suggests taking the following steps. Incorporate GPS usage with other policies by publicizing a policy limiting the use of company property, including electronic devices such as phones and computers as well as vehicles, to work related purposes. Combined with policies, employers should inform their employees of their right to monitor their usage of such property. However, employers should proceed with caution when monitoring with GPS technology by informing employees that GPS systems and tracking are specifically being used. Obtaining employees’ consent to use tracking systems can assist in preventing employees from feeling scrutinized. Limiting the use of GPS to working hours only will also help employers and employees alike. This can be done by placing a timer or an on/off switch on the device to prevent tracking when an employee is on personal time. Finally, maintain both equipment and records that pertain to GPS systems. Restricting access to these items will ensure privacy for the employee and continue a positive working relationship between employee and employer. The Use and Abuse of Social Networking Sites Most monitoring of employees is done electronically. Software programs are available to track time, content, and size of data being shared through e-mail or viewed on the internet alleviating the need for manual monitoring. The electronic monitoring that is being conducted manually is primarily done through search engines or social networking sites. According to Mello (2012), an average of 26% of human resource departments admit to using search engines while 18% use social networking sites to screen and disqualify applicants rather than recruit them. Riego, et al. (2012) discovered reports that many employers were requesting job applicants to make login and password information to their social networking sites available during the interview process. This kind of monitoring of employees and applicants is not only detrimental to morale and trust by making individuals feel violated due to lack of privacy but also can leave open a wide range of legal issues. The American legal system currently does not adequately regulate privacy issues as related to modern technology (Evans, 2007). US law and courts struggle with current privacy laws to incorporate employees’ rights to a  degree of privacy within such technologies and employer’s â€Å"legitimate interest, rights, and concerns† in obtaining relevant information (Riego, et al., 2012). However, questions as to the motivation of an employer’s searches into private lives of current and potential employees could come into play. When the information obtained from such monitoring is not job performance related, speculation starts to rise on how the information gathered is going to be used. Despite the cost effectiveness and ease of this type of monitoring, ethical issues also arise. Employers defending the appropriateness of these searches argue on behalf of due diligence and the desire to provide the fit for both applicant and the company (Mello, 2012). They use their right of having a legitimate business interest as grounds for justification due to the cost of recruiting, hiring, and training employees being too high if the working relationship is terminated by either party due to an improper fit. Organizations also claim this use of monitoring on current employees helps expose misconduct in the workplace during work hours. Global Stance The US is not the only country to face dilemmas posed by breaches of privacy by employers due to modern technology. However, most countries focus on the dignity of privacy rather than the physical aspect (Reigo, et al., 2012). The dignitarian approach emphasizes the fundamental human right to privacy with respect to their personal life (Evans, 2007). Due to this approach, most employers in other regions of the world have allowed for a certain amount of digital private space in the work environment if properly labeled as such. Some countries have gone so far as to issuing guidelines for social networking background checks, recognizing that the employees and employer are not equally leveraged once information from such searches has been ascertained. The ability of the US to use foreign regulation on privacy issues as related to technology in order to draft one of its own is feasible. Disclosure to applicants and current employees of social networking monitoring, both before and after the search, should be required just as it is for a criminal and credit background check. Provisions for â€Å"clear remedies and preventative  measures against such intrusions† (Reigo, et al., 2012) are an immediate necessity as more aspects of employees lives become digital. Conclusion Until there are clear rules and regulations put into place concerning privacy issues in the digital age of the work environment, employees and applicants alike should be aware of the potential use of their electronic data. If employees and employers are both willing to respect one another’s needs a mutual understanding can be easily reached. Employers have the right to know how their property is being used and where with the assistance of GPS tracking and software monitoring. Nevertheless, employers also need to recognize employees’ rights to maintain some autonomy in their personal life with concerns to their social media outlets. References Evans, L. (2007). Monitoring technology in the American workplace: would adopting English privacy standards better balance employee privacy and productivity?. California Law Revie, 95(4), 1115-1149. Retrieved from Business Source Complete database. Mello, J.A. (2012). Social media, employee privacy and concerted activity: brave new world or big brother?. Labor Law Journal, 63(3), 203-208. Retrieved from Business Source Complete database. Riego, A.D., Abril, P.S., & Levin, A. (2012).Your Password or Your Paycheck?: A job applicant’s murky right to social media privacy. Journal of Internet Law, 16(3), 2-3. Retrieved from Business Source Complete database. Towns, D.M. & Cobb, L.M. (2012). Notes on: GPS technology; employee monitoring enters a new era. Labor Law Journal, 63(3), 165-173. Retrieved from Business Source Complete database.

How Does Mccarthy Tell the Story in Pages 229-241?

In this extract, McCarthy conveys the anticlimax of the protagonist and his son’s arrival at the â€Å"Cold. Desolate. Birdless. † environment of the beach. McCarthy juxtaposes the bleakness of the landscape with the boy’s optimism in order to highlight the boy’s inherent goodness. McCarthy tells the story using narrative voice in this section of the text. He contrasts the third person extradiegetic narrator with the man’s interior monologue in order to convey multiple perspectives to the reader. He’d left the cart in the bracken beyond the dunes and they’d taken blankets with them and sat wrapped in them in the wind-shade of a great driftwood log. † Here, McCarthy constructs the lexis of the third person narrator using what some critics have called a limited linguistic palette. The polysyndeton creates a steady rhythm, which parallels the rhythm of the journey the man and boy are on, which is, like the sentence, seemingly never- ending. Here the narrator presents the reader with a practical account of the man and boy’s response to the disappointment of the beach, detailing their movements with unelaborated, unemotional language.The pared back language poignantly conveys the sense that the bleakness of the beach was inevitable. In contrast, the tricolon: â€Å"Cold. Desolate. Birdless†, is clearly the man’s interior monologue. The three adjectives highlight the extent to which the reality of the beach does not live up to the characters’ expectations of it. Where they had hoped for warmth when heading south, instead they found â€Å"cold†. Where they had hoped for a more habitable climate, they found a â€Å"desolate† environment. Where they had hoped for life, they had found a â€Å"birdless† environment.Thus, the tricolon convey’s the man’s disappointment to the reader. McCarthy utilizes stream of consciousness in order to enable the reader to u nderstand the man’s emotional response. The narrator is typically unemotive, presenting a pared back account of events and it is thus these rare glimpses into the man’s thoughts that enable the reader to empathise with his perspective. McCarthy also manipulates language in order to convey the bleakness of the beach. The â€Å"Cold. Desolate. Birdless† beach has a parallel in the â€Å"barren. Silent.Godless† landscape in the novel’s opening pages, creating symmetry in the narrative. Just as the rest of the narrative is permeated with metaphorical â€Å"ash†, so the beach too is describes as â€Å"gray†, with the â€Å"gray squall line of ash†. This lexical clusters connoting decay suggests that the beach, like the rest of the world, has been irreparably tarnished by the apocalypse. The simile, â€Å"like the desolation of some alien sea breaking on the shore† is poignant as the sea is â€Å"alien†, belonging to an other world, highlighting the extent to which the sea has disappointed the man and boy.McCarthy also utilizes structure in order to present this anticlimactic moment to the reader. The writer presents uninterrupted passages of narration and then starkly juxtaposes them with almost two pages of unattributed dialogue between the protagonist and his son. McCarthy presents the unadulterated dialogue without narrator intrusion, bringing the reader closer to the narrative as if they are experiencing the conversation firsthand. Although McCarthy does not explicitly attribute dialogue to either character, the reader has become accustomed to patterns within the speech of each of the characters.This dialogue is to a certain extent typical of the two characters, with the boy expressing his optimism through a series of questions. In spite of the desolation, the boy asks, â€Å"do you think there could be ships out there? † and suggests that other humans could also be â€Å"carrying the fire† in spite of negligible evidence that this could be the case. Furthermore, he suggests that â€Å"maybe there’s a father and his little boy and they’re sitting on the beach†. Through the boy’s dialogue, McCarthy reinforces the sense that the boy could be an â€Å"angel† or a â€Å"god† in his unwavering optimism.

Commitment and Dedication

As a Boy Scout what commitment and dedication mean to me is being completely ready to carry out my responsibilities as a Boy Scout. I will do my very best to uphold my duties and responsibilities in the best way that I can, and I will always be willing to help others, if a situation arises. I will always appreciate the experience and knowledge that I have gained while being a Boy Scout and I will also encourage others to join.I will remain dedicated and committed to my title and I will do my very best to use my knowledge for the good of others. Whenever I am in a situation where I must choose between my Boy Scout meetings or play, I will do my very best to attend the meetings. I will remain a loyal Boy Scout who values the time he has spent in the Boy Scouts and will strive to demonstrate the skills that I have learned. I will also always remember to respect my fellow Boy Scouts and remain a good friend to them.I will always be committed to helping them and be fully dedicated as a Bo y Scout. My dedication and commitment will always remain with me, for I am grateful for the ones who trained me to be knowledgeable in so many areas and I will always appreciate them for the dedication and commitment that they gave to me. Dedication and commitment are two things that the Boy Scouts have taught me that I will keep with me and appreciate for the rest of my life.

Orange juice target market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Orange juice target market - Essay Example The customer service is covered by giving a number on the back of the packaging to contact in case of further information, problems and suggestions. The advertisement is properly designed for its desired target market as it has both its USP placed at the front of the package in order to make the customer know what the manufacturers are offering. The saving option that the juice offers is also written on the package. The product is simply Apple juice, it's a normal consumer non durable good that has nutrients and gives energy plus the taste of apple is sweeter than that of orange hence making it more preferred among Apple Juice lovers. The pricing has been done keeping in mind a low profit margin and cost of ingredients. The target market is an essential factor in this case to decide the price of the product. The promotion is done by advertisement and signboards plus the one USP of the product that it does not have any added sugar. The quality of the packaging is also less enhanced and attractive. The distribution is at all the vendors of juices, bakeries, grocery stores and super stores that are located near the potential customers of this product. ... The customer service is maintained through a mail address that is provided at the back the customer who has a query can write to the company to get the desired information. The product promotion technique and the USP is telling that its designed for the lower and the lower middle class people. The saving option with this product is higher than the offer with the previous product. The packaging is also not that expensive as compared to the last product. Campbell's V8 Juice This juice targets the upper middle class and the upper class, which is diet conscious and need energy through out the day plus the people who love carrot juice. The product is the carrot juice manufactured by Campbell. The product offers energy boost and carrot juice also helps in finishing blood problems. The pricing is based on four factors the major one being the class that the product is catering to, then comes the profit margin and the cost of ingredients that the company bares and in the end the brand name. The promotion is done through television advertisement and banners. Other techniques used are the USP of the product, that include the level of energy it provides plus removing the major problems that can arise in the blood of people. Distribution channel is through the vendors, juice and cold drink stores and all the major super store of the country. The shelve position is also a vital one hence the customer can locate the product easily. The juice is easily available around the country in any location. The customer service is handled through calls, emails and mails. The queries are answered immediately and appropriately. Suggesti ons to improve the product are also welcomed by the manufacturers, as they

Project Management - Forming the Project Team Research Paper

Project Management - Forming the Project Team - Research Paper Example Therefore, Royal Tires & More Inc. will need to create and fill the roles or positions of accountants who will handle the accounting duties as well as the payroll, inventory manager/ supervisor or a store manager, who will be in-charge of the company’s inventory, cashiers who will use the point of sales system. In addition, the implementation of the new system will require Royal Tires & More Inc. to have mechanics who will use the customer and vendor management system while transacting with the customer on a face-to-face basis. According to Barry and Jamie (2004), a well-qualified accountant should be a certified public accountant, whom must have undergone an accountancy course and passed, and therefore he or she is well conversant with all accounting duties that range from financial accounting, tax accounting, and even the preparation of the payroll. In the case of Royal Tires & More Inc., they will require accountants who have knowledge and experience in using accounting software such as Sage, QuickBooks, or Pastel, and even payroll software. The accountants should have at least a work experience of one to two years. The store managers who will be in-charge of the inventory should have a knowledge on store keeping or inventory management, secondly they should be conversant with the use of inventory management software such as NetSuite. In addition, the store managers should also have a one to two years experience (Kieso et al. 2007). Thirdly, there is no specific qualification for the cashiers and they may even be recruited from amongst the mechanics who are good in calculations and are fast learners. There will be no experience required for this role as it not complex and even using the point of sale system does not involve any complexity. Lastly, the mechanics should have qualifications in the field of mechanical engineering with at least one and a half years of experience. As for the use of the customer

Islamic finance and conventional finance Research Paper

Islamic finance and conventional finance - Research Paper Example There is a growing global concern of the inequity in the allocation of wealth and income in the modern world, between and within countries, than has been witnessed before, with little hope of bridging the disparity. In this perspective, this essay will discuss ways in which Islamic finance can be seen as an innovative way that could substantively redefine finance and why it is different from conventional finance. Islamic finance is distinguished from conventional finance by the key attribute of adding moral and ethical aspects to fiscal transactions, hence providing a practical alternative to promoting responsibility in a free-market economy (Warner 301). Unlike the conventional financial and banking system, Islamic finance prohibits the opportunities for gambling-like speculation (or maysir), exchanging money for money (or riba) and making profit maximization the only endeavor for investment managers while disregarding other human perspectives of wealth. Instead, Islamic finance has innovatively introduced financial products based on Islamic law and also regulated and reciprocated by conventional monetary rules and regulations. Islamic Finance Products From the below examples, one can see that Islamic finance is geared towards reducing financial exploitation, especially among the less privileged. All rates of return are determined by the asset transaction, unlike conventional finance systems that base the returns on the interest accrued from loaned money (Warde 124). This is why it is increasingly appealing not only to non-Muslim countries, but also non-Muslim individuals, by redefining the way they perceive financial transactions. Istinaa: Also known as Commissioned Manufacture, Istinaa is a contract for the manufacture of goods under the perspective that speculation avoids the sale of a product that a person does not own yet. A promise under agreed specifications is arrived at, and a bank commissions the manufacture, hence undertaking the risk, and later sel ls to the buyer at agreed profit (Timur 799). Ijara: This is a leasing contract in which a party obtains an asset under lease for a specified cost and time from another, often a bank. All the risk is borne by the bank while a portion of the installments pay towards completion of the purchase at the time the asset will be transferred. Mudaraba: This is a trustee-type partnership financing whereby one party offers capital and another labor. Musharakha: This is equity participation whereby the involved parties contribute capital in terms of technical expertise or assets and set an agreed percentage of the risk and returns. If a bank is involved, it purchases property alongside the customers, and repayments are partly constituted of payback and rent. Differences between Islamic Finance and Conventional Finance In Islamic finance, there is the notion of a captive market, where products are based on Islamic principles and the market comprises of customers willing to adhere to the concepts of their religion. All transactions are based on the principle of sharing profit and loss, with returns varying depending on a bank’s performance. Customers can take part in profit sharing in more equitable ways than getting predetermined returns. On the other hand, in conventional finance and banking, customer returns are irrespective of a bank’s profitability or performance (Kadri 53). The banks only treat customers as depositors who do not receive any compensation apart from interest. Unlike conventional

History Matrix Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History Matrix - Coursework Example The Mesopotamians were commoners who never lived within their citadels walls which were protective. They were always subjected to raids by roaming armies making the are unsafe. Additionally, the Mesopotamians believed the world was more like a prison to them especially with their continuous suffering. Unlike their counterparts, the Egyptians had a stable lifestyle and viewed the world positively. One major difference between Mesopotamian and the Egyptian religions was the regional quality or rather the local of the latter. Another distinction that existed between the two was their hierarchical division with the Mesopotamian deities, with water, earth and four gods of heaven (Dudley, 1973). Generally, there are various factors, which played a key role in influencing Egyptians and Mesopotamians civilizations in developing their worldviews. Most of the factors in this case were influenced by the cultures, religion and the lifestyle of the two civilizations. Generally, geography played a key role in differentiating the Mycenaean and the Minoan civilizations. In Mycenaean and Minoan case, geography dealt with interaction and location. Therefore, the Minoan civilization collapsed after the eruption of Thira/Santorini island volcano after which the Mycenaeans took over the military. The Mycenaean civilization tended to fall with the movement of a different bellicose group of people hence making the civilizations different and in this case the Dorian. In simple terms, the geography of their areas ensured that their civilizations were different in terms of their culture and day to day life (Nilsson, 1972). Generally, the Achaeans or rather the Indo-European people tended to adopt and develop on the Minoan civilization achievements. Alternatively, the Achaean artisans tended to adopt the Minoan civilization design on jewelry, tools and pottery. On the other hand, the Archaic Greece also

Persuation paper regarding Family Therapy in school setting Essay

Persuation paper regarding Family Therapy in school setting - Essay Example Also, student needs are being met by career counselors and nurses, so it would be a good idea to have family therapy added. Family therapy would help families stay together. There are many problems that families have that students have to deal with on a daily basis. When they come to school they may be tired, upset, or angry and they have no where to go to talk about their feelings. A family therapy program could help them by allowing them to talk about their feelings. The therapist could then bring the entire family in during school hours and everyone would be helped. Although many parents would have to work during school hours, they may be able to get off for an hour or two in order to do therapy. Family therapy would be free in school. Many families do not have money to go t a therapist in the community and some people do not have insurance that will pay for them to go. By having a family therapy program in school, the cost could be paid for through a grant or other educational fu nd. There might also be people in the community who would contribute to the program. When there is a problem with a student and there is no place in school for them to go, they have to find someone outside of school to help them. If they do not have the resources to find someone, they do not get the help they need. A family therapy program would accomplish two things in this situation: The first thing it would do is help them have a therapist they already know. During the school day, a family therapist could get to know students and begin to understand their problems. The second thing that this would accomplish is that it would give parents a person who already knew their child from school. Bothe the parents and the child would have a therapist they were already comfortable seeing. Some parents might be afraid to go to family counseling because they would feel they would not want to have the school know their family business. However, if their child was having problems in school, th ey should be encouraged to help their child in any situation. Some parents might feel that going to a therapist means they are mentally ill or that people would think they were crazy. A family therapy program could encourage parents to come in for events that were geared just for them. As an example, a tea or a luncheon to tell parents about the program would be an ideal way for them to get to know more about the family therapy program. The therapist and the principal could make sure that all students take home information about the counseling program that would encourage parents to come to these events or stop in if they needed to talk to someone. Many schools have school psychologists but they are not the same as a therapist. The school psychologists usually do a lot of testing and they do not really do counseling. The therapist would be able to be the one to do the counseling and they may also get some ideas from the psychologist about what issues students need to address in thei r studies. Some of the issues that a counselor could help students with would include: adjustment to school, adjustment to divorce, any abuse issues that might happen at home, alcohol or drug abuse, and peer pressure. These are just some of the issues a skilled counselor could help with and by talking about these issues students may be able to do better in school. Counselors could also do group counseling. There would be students who have the same issues and they could come together as a group and talk about their problems. Maybe

Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8

Report - Essay Example (Reed, Andy) International corporations are reported to be interested in Miami as a suitable for conventions and conferences, but there is doubt here whether they could afford the rate of four figures. Since Miami is a favorite destination, people who will come to visit the proposed resort hotel are those who do not make a big deal about money. These are the billionaires, top world leaders and politician, celebrities and honeymooners. The place could also easily attract golfers who come from the row of billionaires. These golfers form regular tournaments and stay at the most luxurious hotel in the area. They shun onlookers and would prefer privacy and luxury. Forbes has listed the world’s billionaires, who came from many parts of the world. Surprisingly, these billionaires start counting their billions at age 39. Saad Hari 39 years old, is a Lebanon national. Others are of younger generation who undoubtedly are pleasure seekers. Florida has been the favorite of celebrities today and in the past. Top stars of the 50s who were visitors of Miami were Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davies, Jr., Dean Martin and Joey Bishop. Lucille Ball and Desni Arnaz stayed at a Miami Beach Hotel for a shot of their TV series. Elvis Presley had a room in Jacksonville Hotel. Today, some of the celebrities you see walking in the beach in Miami are Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Jaime Foxx, Gloria Esteffan, Ricky Martin and many more. Demand for luxury hotels in Miami are increasing as hotel occupancy in 2011 was 55.7% in February 2011 and even reached 98.97%. Rise in demand was caused by increase in consumer travels and business growth. It is predicted by the PFK Hospitality Research that there will be high levels of occupancy in Miami hotels and that the hotel sector will be performing above average. Local hotel operators have confirmed the increase of international visitors and they believe this trend will

Conflicts between perspectives and points of view Essay

Conflicts between perspectives and points of view - Essay Example I always wondered where I was doing the mistake when I studied so well. I used to tell my class fellows to stay awake at nights and study because I was of the point of view that night time allows one to concentrate on the study well. One friend of mine, Joe, always would disagree with me. This was the friend who used to get all straight A’s. I used to make fun of him when he used to tell me that he slept early at night and got a full eight hours sleep before going to college. I would tell him the advantages of studying at night and he would advise me to change my routine and see the difference. I was not ready to change my perspective yet I always wondered how come he was able to get the highest GPA in class when he slept so early until morning. In fact, my mother in her childhood used to study late night and I was following her. But, I should not blame her, as J.K. Rowling states in her article that she does not blame her parents for their point of view because a time comes when children should start making their own decisions rather than gettin g directed by the and then blaming them for wrong consequences. One morning, I failed in getting up for college as I had been studying all night and had fallen asleep just one hour before leaving for college. And that day I had to take a test. I was absent and I missed the test. I was so furious at myself but then again, Joe told me that I would have gotten up right in time if I had fallen asleep at time. That was when I decided to change my routine. I discussed this thing with Joe and he told me that there is a vital role of sleep time and schedule in the student’s academic outcomes. I also went into the library to do a research on this issue and found some journals in which the researchers had concluded that students getting at least eight hours of sleep each night will have higher GPAs than students who get less than eight hours of

Goddesses of the Middle East Essay Example for Free

Goddesses of the Middle East Essay The mythical legends surrounding the Goddesses of the Middle East date back to around 2500 B. C and form a part of some of the earliest recorded literature about ancient civilizations. These legends centre around the Divine Entities worshipped and revered in various sub regions in what was once known as the Ancient Near East but today is known as the Middle East. Though the religious beliefs in these regions were distinctive and each Civilization followed their own Gods and Goddesses most of these divine entities reacted to human conditions and were a product of the cultures that created them. As these cultures evolved over time, so did the Gods and Goddesses who protected and created them. Some of the prominent religions and civilizations who’s Divine Entities were revered and worshipped in the region known as the Ancient Near East includes: (Gordon 1965) †¢ Assyro-Babylonian religion followed in most of Mesopotamia include Sumer, Assyria, Akkad †¢ Ancient Egyptian religion followed in Ancient Egypt †¢ Canaanite religion followed in most of the Levant region including Canaan, Ugarit, Ebla, Mitanni †¢ Hittite, and Hurrian Religions originating in Anatolia and followed by the Hittite Empire including Assuwa, Arzawa †¢ Minoan religion followed by the Minoan civilization including Cyprus and Crete among others. The goddess in early classical mythology has traditionally played the role of a creator. She is believed to have existed before everything and has been credited with creating both heaven and earth as well as giving birth to both other gods and subsequently to human beings. In nearly all early civilizations the Goddess symbolized noble and basic concepts such as birth, death, honour, and justice. She was revered for her divine beauty and also for protecting her husband and children. While the male gods were relegated the duties of guarding the underworld, it was the goddesses who were given the responsibilities of providing comfort and standing guard over the dead until they were given a funeral and send to the underworld. Most of the civilizations depicted above sprung up around great rivers in the Middle east including, the Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, and Ganges. The presence of these rivers nourished a rich agricultural landscape and provided sustenance to agricultural gave civilizations which were predominantly matriarchal societies. (Sasson 1995) These civilizations were heavily influenced by both the blessings and ravages of nature. The rivers that they depended upon for sustenance would both give them abundant crops and wreck immense havoc and destruction in the form of devastating floods. People in these civilizations believed that there was a link between their lives and the pattern of birth –maturity death and re-birth that they observed in the plants and animals around them. The religious beliefs of most of these civilizations compelled them to worship or hold sacred what they thought provided them life and sustenance and also protected them from ravages and destruction the importance of goddesses in the myths and religious beliefs of these civilizations reflected this. The myths and legendary tales of powerful beautiful goddesses who had magical powers and controlled the various forces of nature helped t the people of these ancient civilizations understand the mysteries that pervaded their existence, birth, death, seasons, floods, harvests and drought all made so much more sense when they believed that there was a Supreme or Divine Deity who controlled it all and who they could appease through worship and prayer. In most of these matriarchal societies, this supreme deity was the Great Mother Goddess, who personified all the blessings and peculiarities of Mother Earth. Though there are countless Goddesses who were revered and worshiped in the ancient civilizations of the Middle East the most popular and common ones who were personified in the role of being creators, sustainers and the universal source of nourishment include(Christ 1998) Asherah –This is one of the names of the Sacred Goddess worshiped by the ancient Semitic Civilizations. Other names of this Great Goddess include Goddess of the Tree of Life, Goddess of the Grove. Wet-nurse of the gods. among many others This Goddess worshiped widely in Canaanite religion followed in most of the Levant region was symbolized by a multi branched tree and considered the very force of life that could be found in flocks of cattle and among groves of trees. This Goddess was often worshipped before childbirth and at planting time to grant sustenance. In popular mythology Asherah sometimes appears as curly-haired Goddess riding a sacred lion often holding lilies. Ishtar: Another very famous and popular Babylonian Goddess often known as Light of the World. Righteous judge, Forgiver of Sins and the Framer of all decrees are also few of her other roles and names that she was worshipped by. This Great Goddess is often depicted in breast-offering pose and is also known as the Mother of the fruitful breast. Inanna – was a very powerful Sumerian Goddess who was believed to provide earth with its source of life-water. Often called the Source of the Earths life blood it was believed by the ancient civilizations that this Goddess filled the wells, rivers and springs of the land with her own blood Isis- a very popular and powerful Goddess worshipped by the Ancient Egyptians Isis is perhaps the most famous of all Ancient Middle Eastern Goddesses. Some sources claim that her name means: She of throne, while other sources imply that her name means: She of flesh. Isis’s was revered for using her powers of magic and healing to help humanity Ashnan – She was the ancient Sumerian Goddess of Grain who controlled agricultural sustenance for the civilizations that worshipped her. Belit-Ilani – Worshipped by the ancient Babylonian this Goddess was often held in esteem as the Mistress of the gods. In popular depictions she is portrayed as a woman bearing baby on her left arm and blessing a child with her left. Anath Worshipped by Canaanites, Amorites, Syrians, Egyptians, Hebrews and the Phoenicians. This Goddess symbolized the strength of Life and was the Queen of Heaven and also the Mistress of all the Gods. Anatu – She was the Great Mesopotamian Goddess, often considered the Ruler of the Earth and Queen of the Sky. Chaabou – was held in high reverence by the Semitic religion and relegated as Earth Mother responsible for sustenance and nourishment. Achamoth – Worshipped by the Early Gnostic Christians. She was the Mother Goddess, who was responsible for giving birth and was the effective creator of the material universe, Deborah – was the Sacred Goddess worshiped frequently in the Mycenae and Anatolia regions often identified with the Tree of Life. Erua – was the Babylonian Goddess often revered as the Queen of Heaven. She was responsible for controlling the birth of all creatures big and small in her land. Gula – was another popular Babylonian Great Goddess who was also known as the Fate Goddess and the Great Doctor who was believed to cure any kind of sickness or ailment . Lahmu- a famous Goddess in Akkadian mythology, who is considered to be the mother of Anshar and Kishar, who are credited to have fathered the first Gods of that great ancient civilization. Persian mythology which also plays a part of ancient Middle Eastern Mythology also held the Goddess. Rudaba† in great esteem. This Goddess gave birth to Rostam, the greatest hero in Persian mythology. Derceto –was the Babylonian Sea Goddess also known as the Goddess of Justice. Kadi –was a Babylonian Goddess believed to have the body of a Serpent and the head and breasts of a Woman. Mari –was revered as the Mother Sea, who gave birth to the gods, Shebat was worshipped as the Mesopotamian Moon Goddess responsible for bringing night after day. Tirgata – was revered as Fish Goddess of Syria who controlled the sea and all life within it As these Civilization evolved so did the role of their gods and goddesses. By 2400 B. C religious and devotional practices began to change as aggressive tribes with strong beliefs in worshipping a supreme male god began to invade the matriarchal communities whose supreme diets were Goddesses . New myths developed in which these goddesses were made evil, slain or made inferior to the patriarchal god of the conquerors. The goal in creating these myths was to defame and to dethrone the goddess from her traditional role of Creator and sustainers and to give this role to a new generation of patriarchal warrior Gods who ruled the world through valour and heroic endeavour. As a direct consequence the role of the Goddess in the Patriarchal societies underwent a change from being a loving supreme deity to a vengeful, spiteful Entity who had to be either slain or made subordinate to the male gods in order to control her powers. Many Ancient Babylonian and Mesopotamian Goddesses who were once revered as the Source of Life and Sustenance was discredited slain or made subordinate to a new patriarchal male warrior God. (Christ 1998) One example of how ancient myths of Goddesses changed in patriarchal societies is the legend of the Mesopotamian divinity Tiamat. Revered by the ancient Sumero-Babylonian civilization as a Serpent Goddess of the Watery Abyss a Mother, from whose formless body the Universe was born. She was believed to nourish all life and rule the ocean. Tiamat, in her role as Mother Goddess and Mother Earth, reflected the matriarchal civilization that created her. (Christ 1998) In a patriarchal society the role of Tiamat and the legend surrounding her changes drastically. According to these new myths The Goddess once credited with the creation of the Universe is upset when her husband Appu is slain and decides to destroy what she has created. She gives birth to a race of evil monsters to help in her quest. Together the Goddess and her army of monsters wreck chaos and havoc on all around them. There is no one who can stop Tiamat until Marduk accepts the challenge. In violent battle, Marduk manages to wedge open the mouth of the serpent goddess and fill it with winds of a horrible storm. While the serpent goddess is distracted he slains her by cutting her womb. After killing the Goddess the patriarch warrior feels glorified. He then desecrates the womb that previous mythologies and civilizations revered as the Source of All Life. The myth ends by establishing that the supreme deity is now male and that he and his cohorts of warrior Gods will now be responsible for protecting the civilization. In a patriarchal society the role of the God is relegated from giving birth and nurturing traditionally seen as motherly tasks to being the protector traditionally seen as fatherly tasks The roles of the goddesses in these societies were reduced to subservient status In the new patriarchal civilization, the myths regarding the Goddesses were recreated and often retold till they achieved credibility and became part of a new folklore designed to promote the religion of the new civilization. In this fashion countless legendary myths depicting the creative, nurturing and forgiving nature of the female goddesses were desecrated and in their place grew new myths propounding their evil deeds. In many of these myths the goddess is first discredited and then engaged in battle with the patriarch God. At the end the Patriarch God achieves victory over the Goddess and she is either slain or looses her powers. Another myth which was refashioned along these lines was that of Hathor an Ancient Egyptian Goddess. Hathor, in Ancient Egyptian mythology was revered as the goddess responsible for evoking emotions such as joy, love, dance and song. (Christ 1998) She is fabled to have provided her own nurturing milk to the living and also carried the dead to the underworld. But somewhere in mythology the Hathor who is revered for her very instincts of Love and joy is also painted as a demon that wrecks death and destruction on Humanity. Acting on the directives of the sun god, Ra, who was under the impression that some of his subjects were planning to Kill him Hathor was sent on a mission to destroy the plotters Hathor who also manifested herself in the guise of a lioness known as Sekhmet, attacked all the plotters killing them instantly. Ra was forced to intervene to stop the bloodshed by tricking Sekhmet into believing that she had killed a lot of people so by pouring a massive amount of pomegranate coloured liquid over the battlefield . Sekhmet mistook the liquid for blood stopped the slaughter and transformed back into her goddess form of Hathor. It is ironic in the least to observe that in cultures where the feminine spirit has always been seen as nurturing, loving and creative the role of goddesses of mythology is associated with evil deeds. Perhaps these mythologies have been restructured to assimilate in Patriarchal Societies where the god is associated with social order and discipline. But regardless of their role in mythology many famous Goddesses of the Middle East continue to live in popular imaginations even though the religions and cults associated with them have now been banished. Though the Middle East is now home to new religions such as Christianity Judaism and Islam and the age of idol worship and plural Gods is over, these deities have become part of the common folklore. The Worship of these Goddesses may now be defunct but their legend lives on and continues to pervade subsequent cultural practices in these regions. Works Cited Gordon, Cyrus. The Ancient Near East, 3rd Edition, Revised. W. W. Norton and Company, Inc. , New York, 1965. Christ Carol: Rebirth of the Goddess: Finding Meaning in Feminist Spirituality Routledge; 1st edition 1998 James. E. O. The Ancient Gods: The History and Diffusion of Religion in the Ancient Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean, 1960. Sasson Jack: Civilizations of the Ancient Near East. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1995. Morton Smith, The Common Theology of the Ancient near East, Journal of Biblical Literature 1952.

Explore how Shakespeare develops Essay Example for Free

Explore how Shakespeare develops Essay Explore how Shakespeare develops the themes of duty, responsibility, love and loyalty in the Antony and Cleopatra. Throughout the play Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare develops and explores the themes of duty, responsibility, love and loyalty; from the very beginning of the play Shakespeare places these themes in conflict with one another and these conflicts are embodied in the most obvious sense through Antonys rejection of the Roman Empire and its ideals for the love of Cleopatra and a far more frivolous laid back life in Egypt. And in turn these differences in ideals are conveyed to the audience in the beginning of the first act when Philo and Demetrius come to the stage and discuss Antonys dotage over Cleopatra and how it Oerflows the measure. Philo laments at how Antony, once a powerful warrior, triumvir of the Roman Empire and a triple pillar of the world has given up all this power and become the bellows and the fan [that] cool a gipsys lust. The language used by Shakespeare at this point in the play helps to establish the antithetical nature of the Egyptians and the Romans; Philo describes Antony with powerful hyperboles and metaphors, evoking potent superhuman, heroic imagery as he speaks of Antonys eyes that glowed like plated mars, passionately and verbosely referring to his captains heart which was so powerful that it burst the buckles on his breast. The conviction with which Philo speaks brings the political and war faring nature of the Romans to the forefront and it becomes clear that the world Antony used to occupy is greatly at odds with the world he now inhabits with Cleopatra who is derogatorily described as having a tawny front (highlighting the Romans latent racial prejudices) and whose gipsys lust has reduced Antony to a strumpets fool. Philo never once uses positive words or language to describe the love between Antony and his queen; he constantly uses words that undermine the actual power she has a queen. The potency of his hatred for Cleopatra is conveyed eloquently through his use of language; Philo makes it obvious that in Rome intangible emotions such as love are undervalued in comparison to the far more corporeal physicality of great fights and the musters of war. It is very obvious that Philo does not view the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra as a great or Romantic but one of blind and foolish lust which has distracted Antony from his responsibilities and his duty. Furthermore, when Antony himself speaks of his love for Cleopatra the contrast between his former Roman ideals and his new Egyptian way of thinking become clearer, his first line to Cleopatra as he enters the stage is Theres beggary in the love that can be reckoned, implying that his love for her is immeasurable and takes precedence above all, the fact this is powerful and Romantic statement is the very first thing Antony says as he enters the stage magnifies the sentiment behind it. Further evidence of the greatness of Antonys love for Cleopatra is given when she chides him about the messenger from Rome who may be carrying a message from Caesar or his wife Fulvia, both of whom represent his responsibilities at home and both of whom he dismisses in his grand and dramatic statements that he provides her in response to her teasing (let Rome in Tiber melt and the wide arch of the ranged empire fall!), reassuring her that the two of them and their love for each other stand up peerless. It is Antonys use of imagery here that really encapsulates the depth of his love for Cleopatra, his acknowledgment of the greatness of Rome has a paradoxical quality to it as he confirms the greatness of its wide arch in the same breath and sentence as he confirms it.

Water Scarcity in Saudi Arabia

Water Scarcity in Saudi Arabia Students Name: Ella Abstract Nowdays, water supply and sanitation in Saudi Arabia is characterized by challenges and achievements. One of the main challenges is water scarcity. The assessment will talk about the process of the research and the reasons for why the information is appropriate for this academic report. After having some specific data for the water usage in Saudi Arabia, we will describe a potential solution to one of these issues. The hypothesis for this paper is the Saudi Arabia can solve the water scracity this issue so that people who live there do not worry about the water anymore. Introduction In this scientific assessment was write about several water scarcity issue, the water pollution and the way to finish off the problem in Suadi Arabia. Now day has many countries have the issue about the water scrcity and water pollution. For the Middle Easts largest country, the water scarcity and water use increased dramatically, becoming a growing problem in Saudi Arabia. At present the fresh water it is extremely important for many countries and it is a narrow non-renewable, generalized renewable resources. People can not live without the water, also all the food we eat is all have the water element. The water chemistry will influence water scarcity is because the water have solubility and transmissibility. This the reason why the polluted water from the factory can pollution the the fresh water. And also some harmful substances will dissolve into the water that make water scarcity. In my hypothesis the Saudi Arabi can solution water scracity this issue. Methodology The first plan for achieving research purpose is to write donw the information about the water pollution and water scracity in Saudi Arabia that will guide we to research. Second write some qusetion that can solution the water scarcity in Saudi Arabia. After this two steps to research the information for water pollution and water scarcity in Saudi Arabia on the Internet. The detail data for the total precipitation and the consumption of water for the people live in this country. Then research the document of the government solution for the water problem. Last is some key fresh water issues in the Saudi Arabia. Afterwards will write about the reason for why chosen this information and why this document is good quality for use in the academic report. All the information is useful for the asseaament this is one of the primary reasons. Generally the most reliable sources are all come from the Web site addresses that at end is .gov means the goverment agency and education organisation the meaning of the end is .edu. Also can use some document is write from some university professors. Findings Saudi Arabia is a true Kingdom of oil, oil reserves and production ranked first in the world, making it be one of the richest countries in the world. Saudi Arabia is the worlds largest producer of desalination, the desalination of sea water around 21% per cent of the world total. But the Saudi Arabia still have the water problem, there are two most serious issues. First one is the lack of water resources problems, although now Saudi Arabia is the largest brackish water production country in the world, but when they have not established water desalting plant, water is not enough people there to use. And in Saudi Arabia due to lack of water resources utilization provided, thus giving rise to utilization of water resources waste and low efficiency of water use is becoming more and more serious. For this two issues I think the beat way to chang the situation first is to make a regulations of the water use, reduce the population and use of the wealth of oil and energy for seawater desalin ation. Chart: Changes in water demand and water supply in Saudi Arabia Event 1980(mcm/yr) (%) 1985(mcm/yr) (%) Water demand agricultural water 1860 79 7430 84 City life and other 500 21 1400 16 Total 2362 100 8830 100 Water supply Surface water 485 20 900 10 Renewable water 660 28 950 11 non-renewable water 1154 49 6480 73 sea water desalination, 63 3 400 5 wastewater of re10claimed water 100 1 Total 2362 100 8830 100 à ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã‹â€ mcm=millton core metersà ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã¢â‚¬ ° Discussion The chart write about the changes in water demand and the water supply in Saudi Arabia from 1980 to 1985. This information is from an article, I put the text to the data and draw the graph. In this chart we can know that Saudi Arabias significant growth in demand for water in recent years. As the chart above shows, from 1980 to 1985, the increased water demand from 2362 to 8830, water demand has increased by 274% in the equivalent of 5 years, however, an average annual growth of 55%. These accurate data showing population impact on the utilization of water resources, also can to prove my hypothesis is correct, that the help the water resources be not in the absence have one of the methods is changing population Conclusions and Recommendations In conclusions I think the best way to tackle lack of water resources in Saudi Arabia this is to require a water use regulations. From the above data, we can see that peoples demand for water resources in Saudi Arabia year after year of growth and it was really fast, so I think the Saudi Government should require people to rational use of water resources. Everyone knows that Saudi Arabia is the worlds richest countries, if their rational use of water resources and rational use of groundwater, then maybe they dont have to worry about lack of water resources this issues in the future. Reference List Allan Foster, (Dec 9, 2010), Coping with Scarcity: Saudi Arabia and Water, Stimson Spotlight. [Online]. Available from: http://www.stimson.org/content/coping-scarcity-saudi-arabia-and-water [Accessed 24 December 2016] (14 March 2013),Saudi Arabias water problems stink, FAILAKA. [Online]. Available from: http://failaka.com/saudi-arabias-water-problem/ [Accessed 24 December 2016] Saud A. Gutub, Mohamed F. Soliman and Asif uz zaman, (2013), Saudi Arabia Confronts with Water Scarcity: An Insight, PSIPW. [Online]. Available from: http://www.psipw.org/attachments/article/342/IJWRAE_2(4)218-225.pdf [Accessed 24 December 2016] (July 2, 2013), Saudi Arabia: The Desalination Nation, ASHARQ AL-AWSAT. [Online]. Available from: http://english.aawsat.com/ [Accessed 24 December 2016]

Robert Mapplethorpe: Photography, Homoeroticism, and Senator Jesse Helms :: Photographer Robert Mapplethorpe Papers

Robert Mapplethorpe: Photography, Homoeroticism, and Senator Jesse Helms No medium or arena is free from political assimilation. Perhaps this is why the term "the personal is political" is so reverberant in such a multitude of communities. In the fine arts community, every art piece reflects a personal decision or touch; what medium to best describe a subject or idea in, or the physical shape and making of art by an artist, for example, are ways in which each artist has ownership over his or her own work. When art is displayed for an audience, the very act of placing a personal piece into the public sphere creates a forum for interactive and political dialogue and judgment. To present artwork in a public arena authorizes the audience to construe interpretation and assess that art. The policies and politics that dictate the arrival of art for the public purview are not immune to the authority and judgment making that occurs once the art is on display. In order for galleries, museums, or universities to display artwork, their high level officials must appro ve the works. Furthermore, when the work is on display it reflects back on the institution it is in, the leaders of that institution who approve it, and ultimately the artist who made the work herself. There are foundations and organizations that are funded by the government for the promotion and distribution of fine arts, which of necessity are bound by the legal dictates of the governing bodies and the public it represents for these reasons. When artwork or an artist is controversial, it becomes a political issue due to governmental involvement in funding of --and thus universally approving-- the contentious art or art-maker. For artists who work in the photographic medium, controversies arise more readily due to the realism of the images. Homoerotic photographic art in particular is the site of political and social stigmatization, as exemplified by Robert Mapplethorpe's life and work. Mapplethorpe's photography was the catalyst from which conservative senator Jesse Helms was able to symbolize the misinterpretations of visual representation for "real" or authentic action and criticize his work as "obscene" due to its homoerotic content. Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989) was a gay male artist who died at the age of 43 of AIDS. His technically brilliant and stylistically disreputable images sparked both controversy and contemplation. He was equally praised and derogated by his stark and honest appraisal of the erotic male nude, his depiction of sadomasochistic culture and practices, and his own and others' homoerotic and multiracial portraits.

Phoenixs Hardships and Racism in A Worn Path Essay -- Literary Analysi

â€Å"A Worn Path† tells of an elderly and frail black woman and of the hardships that she must overcome. Upon reading the story, you realize that there is more to the story than meets the eye. She faces many roadblocks along her way. Phoenix faces many dangerous obstacles along her way, for a person of her age. She faces racism from some of characters she meets along the way. Phoenix faces inferior treatment, as though she is nothing more than some insect to squash. This story is about not only her ‘journey’ to Natchez, but also about her journey through society and the struggle to overcome the dangers, being treated inferior, and the racism. It’s December when Phoenix starts on her journey to Natchez and it is a journey she has taken many times before. This journey is no journey an elderly and weaken person should have to make by themselves, yet Phoenix does. She does not allow her age or her condition to keep her from it. Deep through the pines, the path takes her, and her first task would be to make it over a hill that seems to take all her energy and strength. â€Å"Seems like there is chains around my feet, time I get this far†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Welty 5), here the reader can tell Phoenix does not have the strength that she really needs to make it up the hill. Yet somewhere she finds the will to keep pushing on and moving forward. This same type of spirit that allows Phoenix to keep pushing forward in society, and not to back down. Showing the younger generation that you have to fight your way through to a brighter day. It is later down the path that Phoenix comes to a creek and the only way to get across, is by walking on a log. Phoenix walks across this log with her eyes close. Once across she opens her eyes and says, â€Å"I wasn’t as old as I ... ...f questions and she answers all of them respectfully and honestly. Phoenix cleverly distracts the man, with the two dogs that are fighting and he goes off to scare the big black one away by shooting at it. It is when he comes back and points his gun at her, that Phoenix shows no fear if it. When she is asked if she is afraid of it, her reply is, â€Å"No sir, I seen plenty go off closer by, in my day, and for less than what I done† (Welty 58). Her unusual courage shows just how far racism stretches. Normally a human being would show fear when staring a gun down, but with years of white people making slaves out of them; black people had learn to face persecution head on. Therefore, Phoenix faced her trial head on, and the white hunter left with a little more respect for her than before. Which in the society she lived in respect was a gift and to be cherished.

Magical Realism: A Fusion of Dream and Reality Essay -- Literature Ess

Magical Realism: A Fusion of Dream and Reality Franz Roh originally coined the term magical realism as pertaining to art, magical realism also evolved as a form of literary writing that began in the Latin and Central American countries. Magical realism is an amalgamation of the real and unreal, a fusion of dream and reality, and confusion within clarity. Magical realism became known for changing the way in which one thinks. Instead of seeing the ordinary and mundane, the Magical Realist brings a spark of life to the imagination that in turn enlightens the reader on a whole new level of thinking. As magical realism was defined as confusion within clarity, so is the world of probability. Magical Realism is a fusion of dream and reality, an amalgamation of realism and fantasy, and a form of expression that is reality based with several fantastic elements that are regarded as normal by both the readers and the characters. This definition is the simplest way in which Magical Realism can be described. Magical Realism is also known for showing a different viewpoint on life and the...

History of The Mackinac Bridge

Since Nov. 1, 1957, when the Mackinac Bridge opened to public traffic, the iconic symbol has stood as solemn testimony to mankind's engineering abilities. The Mackinac Bridge is made up of more than one million tons of concrete and steel. Its towers rise 552 feet above the Straits of Mackinac and reach 210 feet below the waves. From May 7, 1954, until late fall of 1957, about 3,500 laborers worked in and over the Straits of Mackinac constructing the bridge. The project cost the lives of 5 men. In addition, 7,500 people labored in offsite job shops and quarries from Duluth, Minn., to Pittsburgh, welding, forging and assembling steel, mining rock and mixing concrete. There was a total of 85,000 blueprints printed for the construction of the Mackinac Bridge.Construction began on the bridge on May 7, 1954, following years of debate on how to best cross the Straits of Mackinac. Everything from a tunnel to a series of causeways, tunnels and bridges going from Cheboygan to Bois Blanc Island to Round Island to Mackinac Island finally ending in St. Ignace- before a single suspension bridge with two towers was ultimately chosen. This was made possible because of Steinman's experience with other bridge projects, with it prompted him to encourage private financing for the Mackinac Bridge. The bridge was financed through a unique bond sale that covered its $100 million cost without using state or public funding. The bonds sold to pay for the Mackinac Bridge were retired July 1, 1986. To anchor the 100 million gross tons of the Mackinac Bridge, man-made mountains were required to be built in 88 feet of water. The anchor blocks- piers 17 and 22-were to become the beginning and end of the world's longest suspended span to date. The harbor at St. Ignace became the home base for Merritt-Chapman and Scott's marine construction equipment, regarded in 1954 as the largest gathering of its type ever assembled for a civilian project. St. Ignace was the location for land-based construction of the giant steel foundations and bridge support pieces. Decompression sickness, or â€Å"the bends,† was a constant threat to the safety of the divers who worked in the extremely cold, deep water of the straits. Commonly told among school children an ironworker who lost his footing fell to his death. It's said he landed in newly poured concrete, where his body lies today, preserved beneath the bride connecting the two peninsulas of Michigan. While historians say no iron, worker is encased in concrete, five people did die in accidents related to construction of the bridge. One died when he surfaced too quickly, a welder died when he fell into an underwater retaining structure, a worker fell from a short distance into the water and drowned, and two others fell 550 feet from a catwalk near the North tower, according to the authorities. Of the two workers who fell from the catwalk, one body was recovers immediately and the other was never found. Mackinac Bridge workers, like many workers involved in an intense high-stakes project, enjoyed a special camaraderie that they still speak of today. There was a feeling of togetherness, of them all being in the same situation, and of beating the odds. There was also a concern for each-others safety and welfare, with many of the men becoming lifelong friends. A new record for underwater consolidation of concrete was set in the spring of 1955, when work resumed after a long winter of ice and snow. During the 31 days of May that year, 103,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured into foundations of the Mackinac Bridge. A final step before the cables were encased in a protective piping was a coat the wire in a corrosive-resistant, â€Å"red-lead† paste. This was done to protect against rust and corrosion, two factors which could seriously compromise the integrity of the suspension system. The coating was a terrific success, as annual inspections done by removing the piping reveal little to no damage done by the forces of nature. Besides the main suspension span, the Mackinac Bridge is really constructed of a series of smaller, conventional bridges that would span many wide, formidable rivers and gorges. The building of these linked spans took place for the most part on land. All the work was done within sight of ferryboat passengers, crossing for the last 35-minute trips before they would be able to drive across the new route in less than 10 minutes. Michigan's miracle Bridge was becoming a reality. Workers were issued a safety helmet complete with miner's light and a life jacket for the boat trip out to the job site. Beyond that, all they took along was their lunch. The men would then leave the lifejackets on board for the next crew, disregarding the fact that they were working around very deep water that could be extremely cold. The general highway approach to the bridge was being formed at Mackinaw City, where a viaduct took the highway over the villages main street, Central Avenue. The date was July 22, 1957, and inclement weather delayed the raising of the final piece of Dr. David B. Steinman's geometric puzzle to conquer the Straits of Mackinac. That evening, the last section was raised and bolted into place, connecting the steel of a bridge that would tie Michigan together as a state. All suspension bridges are designed to move to accommodate wind, temperature change, and weight. Thanks to the open grating installed on the middle two lanes of the Mackinac Bridge, the design flexes easily when necessary. Wind water and snow easily passes through the grates surface. The completed tollbooth and administration building were readied just in time for occupancy before the Mackinac Bridge opened for business. The last job to get the Mackinac Bridge ready for traffic was to coat the concrete traffic lanes with a layer of bituminous asphalt, completed only days before the official opening. Tolls have always been a staple of the bridge to offset the costs of construction and maintenance. Opened on Nov. 1, 1957, tolls were set at $3.25 per passenger vehicle. In 1961, tolls rose to 3.50 and again to $3.75, where they stayed until 1969, when the Legislature passed funding for the authority and tolls were lowered to $1.50 for a passenger vehicle. The cost for traversing the bridge remained at $1.50 until 2005, when it was raised to $2.50, because of increased maintenance costs, Sweeney said. The Mackinac bridge is the third-longest suspension bridge in the world behind the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan at 12,826 feet between suspensions and the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark at 8,921 feet. Both bridges opened in 1998. At 8,614 feet between suspensions, the Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere. The total length of the Bridge 28,372 feet. It links Mackinac City in the Lower Peninsula. At just over five miles, the bridge is long enough to cause some trouble for crossing motorists who fail to fill up their gas tanks before crossing. To keep the bridge looking pristine, workers spend countless hours and use myriad gallons of paint. â€Å"Every year we use around 50,000 gallons for spot painting,† said Sweeney. Of the paint used each year, 45,000 gallons of green is used on the lower sections and cables, while 5,000 of ivory is used on the structures. Because of an $80 million maintenance plan, the 50-year-old structure is expected to have an infinite lifespan. Overhead highway lighting was installed to make nighttime crossings of the bridge safe and enjoyable. The bridge lighting could be seen for miles from either the Mackinaw City or St. Ignace shores, and cable lighting provided a further distinctive accent. One thing that bridge workers did not do before the bridge opened was paint it. The construction schedule dictated a November opening, and painters needed warmer temperatures before they could begin the big job of painting such a large structure.On November 1, 1957, traffic officially opened on the Mackinac Bridge. A huge story, the event attracted 150 newspaper men from throughout Michigan and neighboring states that included Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, New York, and Ontario. Only a comparative few of the thousands of people attending the celebration were able to watch the dedication of the Mackinac Bridge, held at pier 22, the north anchor block of the bridge, on June 28, 1958. It was there that a five-mile length of ribbon was stretched from Mackinaw City at the south end and from the St. Ignace shore to the north. The Mackinac Bridge began celebrating the first year it was open by offering the public a chance to walk across the span. The event started as a race-walking activity, but soon became popular with thousands who wanted to return the following year and bring their friends with them. On May 9, 2003, the highest wind speed ever recorded on the bridge occurred at 4:08 p.m. The anemometer read 124 miles per hour.Area: Bridge sparks questions, myths. Keywords used to find article: News paper articles on Mackinac Bridge. Found at the local library. Published in Lansing. Authors are Michael Carney and Capital News Service. It was published Monday, February 26th, 2007. The purpose this source serves for my topic. Gives important dates such as when construction started on the bridge, also goes into detail about the tolls and amounts for crossing the bridge. Michael Carney writes about the work of the Mackinac Bridge. The structure of the document would be an informative news paper article. Works Cited: Carney, Michael. â€Å"Area Bridge Sparks Questions, Myths.† The Mining Journal [Lansing] 26 Feb. 2007: 3A. Print. Images of America Mackinac Bridge. Keywords used to find book: History of the Mackinac Bridge. Found at Public Library. Published by Arcadia Publishing Charleston SC, Chicago IL; Portsmouth NH, San Francisco CA. Author Mike Fornes. Published in 2007. The purpose this source serves me is it gives me the history for both the bridge and everyone who helped to build it. Works Cited: Fornes, Mike. Mackinac Bridge. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2007. Print. Area: Model Marks ‘Big Mac's' 50th year. Looked up News paper articles on the Mackinac Bridge at the local library. Published in Farwell. I could not find an Author. Published in 2007. The information I pulled from this source help make my introduction to my essay with just enough to get the reader to question what all I was going to go into detail about. Works Cited: â€Å"Area Model Marks ‘Big Mac's' 50th year.† The Mining Journal [Farwell] 28 May. 2007: 3A. Print.

Political Cartoon Essay

In this cartoon Luckovic shows how President Barrack Obama holds only one piece of candy only for a huge crowd of kids outside of his house. In this case the piece of candy is catalogued as a job opportunity. All the kids appear to have a worried face, doubting that they will get something for this Halloween night. On the other hand, president Obama looks like he is frustrated and not satisfied by only having this one piece of candy for all the disappointed kids.It is also good to mention that all the kids have their candy bag open as if they are expecting to receive something even though there is only one piece of candy, even though it appears that only one kid is going to be fortunate enough to receive a treat that occasion. This cartoon shows how difficult the employment situation is at the moment due to the economic recession. It also reflects on the amounts of people that has lost their jobs and are waiting for a miracle from president Obama.Obviously Luckovic is disappointed wi th the government because it has been 10 months since president Obama took charge in January and there hasn’t been a real big improvement on the economy. In the cartoon Luckovic how president Obama holds a big bowl with the purpose of showing how years ago that bowl was big because there were actually jobs available. Obama’s ears are also big and open in this cartoon, trying to demonstrate how the president is very attentive when it comes to the people.In the crowd you might see characters such as a cowboy, a football player and Mickey mouse, all of these being important economic powerhouses struggling nowadays. Another important character in the back is Santa Claus with a worried face, demonstrating how Christmas time is rapidly approaching and there is a lack of funds available that are not going to be able to fulfill people’s wishes this December. Cartoon cited Luckovich, Mike. Cartoon. 7 Oct. 2009. 27 Oct. 2009. . Valzania, Gilberto MW 7am

Bloodlines Chapter Twenty-Five

I HAD MOCKED KEITH when we first came to Palm Springs, teasing him for freezing up around Moroi. But as I stood there now, face-to-face with the stuff of nightmares, I knew exactly how he felt. I had no right to judge anyone for losing all rational thought when confronted with their greatest fears. That being said, if Keith was here, I think he would've understood why Moroi weren't as big a deal to me anymore. Because when compared to Strigoi? Well, suddenly the little differences between humans and Moroi became negligible. Only one difference mattered, the difference between the living and the dead. It was the line that divided us, the line that Adrian and I firmly stood together on one side of – facing those who stood on the other. I had seen Strigoi before. Back then, I hadn't been immediately threatened by them. Plus, I'd had Rose and Dimitri on hand, ready to protect me. Now? There was no one here to save us. Just ourselves. There were only two of them, but it might as well have been two hundred. Strigoi operated at such a different level than the rest of us that it didn't take very many of them to tip the odds. They were both women, and they looked as though they'd been in their twenties when they became Strigoi. How long ago that was, I couldn't guess. Lee had zealously gone on and on about how being Strigoi meant you were â€Å"forever young.† Yet in looking at these two monsters, I didn't really think of them that way. Sure, they had the superficial appearance of youth, but it was marred with evil and decay. Their skin might be wrinkle free, but it was a sickly white, far whiter than any Moroi. The red-ringed eyes that leered out at us didn't sparkle with life and energy, but rather an unholy sort of reanimation. These people weren't right. They weren't natural. â€Å"Charming,† said one, her blond hair in a pixie cut. Her facial structure made me think she'd been a dhampir or human before being turned. She was eyeing us the same way I'd often seen my family's cat watch birds. â€Å"And exactly as described.† â€Å"They're soooo pretty,† crooned the other, a lascivious smile on her face. Her height said she had once been Moroi. â€Å"I don't know which one I want first.† The blonde gave a warning look. â€Å"We'll share.† â€Å"Like last time,† agreed the other, tossing a mane of curly black hair over one shoulder. â€Å"No,† said the first. â€Å"Last time you made both kills. That wasn't sharing.† â€Å"But I let you feed from both afterward.† Before she could counter back, Lee suddenly recovered himself and staggered forward to the blond Strigoi. â€Å"Wait, wait. Dawn. You promised me. You promised you'd awaken me first before you do anything.† The two Strigoi turned their attention to Lee. I was still frozen, still unable to move or really react while being so close to these creatures of hell. But somehow, through the thick and overwhelming terror surrounding me, I still managed to feel small and unexpected pity for Lee. There was a little hate there too, of course, considering the situation. But mostly I felt terribly sorry for someone who truly believed his life was meaningless unless he sacrificed his soul for hollow immortality. Not only that, I felt sorry for him for actually thinking he could trust these creatures to give him what he wanted. Because as I studied them, it was perfectly clear to me that they were deciding whether or not to make this a three-course meal. Lee, I suspected, was the only one who didn't realize this. â€Å"Please,† he said. â€Å"You promised. Save me. Restore me to how I was.† I also couldn't help but notice the small red patch on his face where I'd hit him. I allowed myself to feel a bit of pride over that but wasn't cocky enough to think I possessed any noteworthy fighting skills to battle my way out of this situation. The Strigoi were too close, and our exits were too few. â€Å"I know where more are,† he added, beginning to look uneasy that his â€Å"saviors† weren't immediately jumping in to make his dreams come true. â€Å"One's young – a dhampir.† â€Å"I haven't had a dhampir in a while,† said the curly-haired Strigoi, almost wistfully. Dawn sighed. â€Å"I don't really care, Jacqueline. If you want to awaken him, go for it. I just want these two. He doesn't matter to me.† â€Å"I get the dhampir all to myself, then,† warned Jacqueline. â€Å"Fine, fine,† said Dawn. â€Å"Just hurry up.† Lee turned so radiant, so happy†¦ it was sickening. â€Å"Thank you,† he said. â€Å"Thank you so much! I've been waiting so long for this that I can't believe it's – ahh!† Jacqueline moved so quickly that I hardly saw it happen at all. One moment she was standing in the doorway, the next she had Lee pinned against the recliner. Lee gave out a semi-muffled scream as she bit into his neck, a scream that soon quieted. Dawn shut the door and nudged us forward. I flinched at her touch. â€Å"Well,† she said with amusement. â€Å"Let's get a good view.† Neither Adrian nor I responded. We simply moved into the living room. I dared a glance at him but could discern little. He was so good at hiding his true feelings in general that I supposed I shouldn't be surprised he could mask abject terror just as easily. He offered me no encouragement with either his expression or words, which I actually found kind of refreshing. Because really, I didn't see any good end to this situation. Up close, forced to watch Jacqueline's attack, I could now see the blissful expression that had settled over Lee's face. It was the most awful thing I'd ever witnessed. I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut or turn away, but some force beyond me kept me staring at the grisly spectacle. I'd never seen any vampire feed, Moroi or Strigoi, but I now understood why feeders like Dorothy could so willingly sign up for their lifestyles. Endorphins were being released into Lee's bloodstream, endorphins so strong that they blinded him to the fact that he was having his life drained away. He instead existed in a joyous state, lost in a chemical high. Or maybe he was just thinking about how happy he'd be once he was a Strigoi again, if it was possible to have any sort of conscious thought under these circumstances. I lost track of how long it took to drain Lee. Each moment was agonizing for me, as though I was taking the pain Lee should have been feeling. The process seemed to last forever, and yet there was also a weird sense of speed to it. It felt wrong that someone's body could be drained in so short a time. Jacqueline drank steadily, pausing only once to remark, â€Å"His blood's not as good as I expected.† â€Å"Then stop,† suggested Dawn, who was starting to look bored. â€Å"Just let him die and have these two with me.† Jacqueline looked as though she was actually considering it, again reminding me what a fool Lee had been to put his trust in these two. After a few minutes, she shrugged. â€Å"I'm almost done. And I really want him to get me that dhampir.† Jacqueline resumed drinking, but as she'd said, it didn't take much longer. By this point, Lee was nearly as pale as the Strigoi, and there was a strange, stretched quality to his skin. He was perfectly still now. His face seemed frozen in a grin that was nearly as much shock as it was joy. Jacqueline lifted her face and wiped off her mouth, surveying her victim with pleasure. She then pushed up her shirtsleeve and rested her nails on his wrist. Before she could tear her own flesh, however, she caught sight of something. â€Å"Ah, much neater.† She stepped away and leaned down, retrieving Lee's knife. It had slid under the love seat in our altercation. Jacqueline took it and effortlessly slashed her wrist, causing deep red blood to well out. Part of my brain didn't think their blood should look so similar to mine. It should be black. Or acidic. She placed her bleeding wrist against Lee's mouth and tipped Lee's head back so that gravity could help the blood flow. Every horror I'd witnessed tonight had been worse than the last. Death was terrible – but it was also part of nature. This? This was no part of nature's plan. I was about to witness the world's greatest sin, the corruption of the soul through black magic to reanimate the dead. It made me feel dirty all over, and I wished I could run away. I didn't want to see this. I didn't want to see the guy I'd once regarded as something like a friend suddenly rise up as some perversion of nature. A touch to my hand made me jump. It was Adrian. His eyes were on Lee and Jacqueline, but his hand had caught hold of mine and squeezed it, even though he was still cuffed. I was surprised at the warmth of his skin. Even though I knew Moroi were as living and warm-blooded as me, my irrational fears always expected them to be cold. Equally surprising was the sudden comfort and connection in that touch. It wasn't the kind of touch that said, Hey, I've got a plan, so hang in there because we're going to get out of this. It was more like the kind of touch that simply said, You aren't alone. It was really the only thing he could offer. And in that moment, it was enough. Then, something strange happened. Or rather, didn't happen. Jacqueline's blood was pouring steadily into Lee's mouth, and while we didn't have many documented cases of Strigoi conversions, I knew the basics. The victim's blood was drained, and then the killing Strigoi fed his or her blood back into the deceased. I didn't know exactly how long it took to work – it certainly didn't require all of the Strigoi's blood – but at some point, Lee should be stirring and getting up as one of the walking dead. Jacqueline's cool, smug expression began to change to curiosity and then became outright confusion. She glanced questioningly at Dawn. â€Å"What's taking so long?† Dawn asked. â€Å"I don't know,† Jacqueline said, turning back to Lee. With her free hand, she nudged Lee's shoulder as though that might serve as a wake-up call. Nothing happened. â€Å"Haven't you done this before?† asked Dawn. â€Å"Of course,† snapped Jacqueline. â€Å"It didn't take nearly this long. He should be up and moving around. Something's wrong.† I remembered Lee's words, describing how all his desperate attempts at taking innocent lives hadn't converted him back. I only knew a little about spirit – and even less about it restoring Strigoi – but something told me there was no force on earth that would ever turn Lee Strigoi again. Another long minute passed as we watched and waited. At last, disgusted, Jacqueline backed away from the recliner and rolled up her sleeve. She glared at Lee's motionless body. â€Å"Something's wrong,† she repeated. â€Å"And I don't want to waste any more blood figuring out what it is. Besides, my cut's already healing.† I wanted nothing more than for Dawn and Jacqueline to forget I existed, but the next words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. The scientist in me was too caught up in a revelation. â€Å"He was restored – and it affected him permanently. The spirit magic left some kind of mark, and now he can't be turned again.† Both Strigoi looked at me. I cringed under those red eyes. â€Å"I never believed any of those spirit stories,† said Dawn. Jacqueline, however, was still clearly puzzled by her failure. â€Å"There was something wrong with him, though. I can't explain it†¦ but the whole time, he didn't feel right. Didn't taste right.† â€Å"Forget him,† said Dawn. â€Å"He had his chance. He got what he wanted, and now I'm moving on.† I saw my death in her eyes and tried to reach for my cross. â€Å"God protect me,† I said, just as she lunged forward. Against all odds, Adrian was there to stop her – or, well, try to stop her. Mostly, he just got in her way. He didn't have the speed or reaction time to effectively block her and was especially clumsy with his cuffed hands. I think he'd just seen what I had, that she was going to attack, and had preemptively moved in front of me in some noble but ill-fated attempt at protection. And ill-fated it was. With one smooth motion, she shoved him aside in a way that looked effortless but knocked him halfway across the room. My breath caught. He hit the floor, and I started to scream. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain against my throat. Without a pause, Dawn had promptly grabbed me and nearly lifted me off my feet to get access to my neck. I mustered another frantic prayer as that pain spread, but within seconds, both prayer and pain disappeared from my brain. They were replaced by a sweet, sweet feeling of contentment and bliss and wonder. I had no thoughts, except that I was suddenly existing in the happiest, most exquisite state imaginable. I wanted more. More, more, more. I wanted to drown in it, to forget myself, to forget everything around me – â€Å"Ugh,† I cried out as I suddenly and unexpectedly hit the floor. Still in that blissful haze, I felt no pain – yet. Just as quickly as she'd grabbed me, Dawn had dropped and pushed me away. Instinctively, I reached out an arm to break my fall but failed. I was too weak and disoriented and sprawled ungracefully on the carpet. Dawn's fingers were touching her lips, a look of outrage twisting her already-horrific features. â€Å"What,† she demanded, â€Å"was that?† My brain wasn't working properly yet. I'd only had a brief taste of endorphin, but it was still enough to leave me addled. I had no answer for her. â€Å"What's wrong?† exclaimed Jacqueline, striding forward. She looked from me to Dawn in confusion. Dawn scowled and then spit onto the floor. It was red from my blood. Disgusting. â€Å"Her blood†¦ it was terrible. Inedible. Foul.† She spit again. Jacqueline's eyes widened. â€Å"Just like the other one. See? I told you.† â€Å"No.† Dawn shook her head. â€Å"There's no way it could be the same. You would never have been able to drink that much of her.† She spit again. â€Å"It didn't just taste weird or bad†¦ it was like it's tainted.† Seeing Jacqueline's skeptical look, Dawn punched her on the arm. â€Å"Don't believe me? Try her yourself.† Jacqueline took a step toward me, hesitant. Then Dawn spit again, and I think that somehow convinced the other Strigoi that she wanted no part of me. â€Å"I don't want another mediocre meal. Damn it. This is becoming absurd.† Jacqueline glanced at Adrian, who was standing perfectly still. â€Å"At least we've still got him.† â€Å"If he's not ruined too,† Dawn muttered. My senses were coming back to me, and for half a second, I wondered if there was some insane way we might survive this. Maybe the Strigoi would write us off as bad meals. But no. Even as I allowed myself to hope that, I also knew that even if they didn't feed off of us, we weren't going to leave here alive. They had no reason to simply walk off. They'd kill us for sport before they left. With that same remarkable speed, Jacqueline sprang toward Adrian. â€Å"Time to find out.† I screamed as Jacqueline pinned Adrian against the wall and bit his neck. She only did so for a few seconds, just to get a taste. Jacqueline lifted her head up, pausing and savoring the blood. A slow smile spread over her face, showing her bloody fangs. â€Å"This one's good. Very good. Makes up for the other.† She trailed her fingers down his cheek. â€Å"Such a shame, though. He's so cute.† Dawn stalked toward them. â€Å"Let me try before you take it all!† Jacqueline ignored her and was leaning back toward Adrian, who had gone all glassy-eyed. Meanwhile, I was free enough of the endorphins that I was thinking clearly again. No one was paying attention to me. I tried to stand and felt the world sway. Staying low, I managed to crawl toward my purse, lying forgotten near the living room's edge. Jacqueline had drunk from Adrian again, but only briefly before Dawn pulled her away and demanded a turn so that she could wash the taste of my blood out of her mouth. Startling myself with how fast I moved, I rustled through my cavernous purse, looking desperately for anything that might help. Some cold, logical part of me said there was no way we could get out of this, but there was also no way I could just sit there and watch them drain Adrian. I had to fight. I had to try to save him, just as he'd tried for me. It didn't matter if the effort failed or if I died. Somehow, I had to try. Some Alchemists carried guns, but not me. My purse was huge, full of more stuff than I really needed, but nothing in the contents resembled a weapon. Even if it did, most weapons were futile against Strigoi. A gun would slow them down but not kill them. Only silver stakes, decapitation, and fire could kill a Strigoi. Fire†¦ My hand closed around the amulet I'd made for Ms. Terwilliger. I'd shoved it in my purse when she gave it to me, unsure what I should do with it. I could only assume blood loss and scattered thoughts made me draw it out now and consider the possibility of using it. Even the idea was ridiculous. You couldn't use something that didn't work! It was a trinket, a worthless bag of rocks and leaves. There was no magic here, and I was a fool to even think along those lines. And yet, it was a bag of rocks. Not a heavy one, but surely enough to get someone's attention if it hit her in the head. It was the best I had. The only thing I had to slow Adrian's death. Drawing back my arm, I aimed at Dawn and threw, reciting the foolish incantation like a battle cry: â€Å"Into flame, into flame!† It was a good shot. Miss Carson would have been proud. But I had no chance to admire my athletic skills because I was too distracted by the fact that Dawn had caught on fire. My jaw dropped as I stared at the impossible. It wasn't a huge fire. It wasn't like her entire body was engulfed in flames. But where the amulet had struck her, a small blaze ignited, spreading rapidly through her hair. She screamed and began frantically patting her head. Strigoi feared fire, and for a moment, Jacqueline recoiled. Then, with grim determination, she released Adrian and grabbed a throw blanket. She wrapped it around Dawn's head, smothering the flames. â€Å"What the hell?† Dawn demanded when she emerged. She immediately began charging toward me in her anger. I knew then the only thing I'd accomplished was to speed up my own death. Dawn grabbed ahold of me and slammed my head against the wall. My world reeled, and I felt nauseous. She reached for me again but froze when the door suddenly burst open. Eddie appeared in the doorway, a silver stake in his hand. What was truly amazing about what followed was the speed. There was no pausing, no long moments to assess the situation, and no snarky banter between combatants. Eddie simply charged in and went for Jacqueline. Jacqueline responded with equal quickness, rushing forward to meet her one worthy foe here. After she'd released him, Adrian had slumped to the floor, still in the throes of the Strigoi endorphins. Keeping low to the ground, I scurried over to his side and helped drag him back to the â€Å"safety† of the far side of the living room while Eddie clashed with the Strigoi. I spared them only a moment's glance, just enough to take in the deadly dancelike nature of their maneuvering. Both Strigoi were trying to get a grip on Eddie, probably in the hopes of breaking his neck, but were careful to stay away from the bite of his silver stake. I looked down at Adrian, who was dangerously pale and whose pupils had reduced to the size of pinpoints. I had only a sketchy impression of how much Jacqueline had drunk from him and didn't know if Adrian's state was more from blood loss or endorphins. â€Å"I'm fine, Sage,† he muttered, blinking as though the light hurt. â€Å"Quite the high, though. Makes the stuff I've used seem pretty soft-core.† He blinked, as though fighting to wake up. His pupils dilated to a more normal size and then seemed to focus on me. â€Å"Good God. Are you okay?† â€Å"I will be,† I said, starting to stand. Yet even as I spoke, a wave of dizziness hit me, and I swayed. Adrian did his best to support me, though it was pretty awkward with his bound hands. We leaned against each other, and I almost laughed at how ridiculous the situation was, both of us trying to help the other when neither of us was in any condition to do it. Then something caught my eye that chased all other thoughts away. â€Å"Jill,† I whispered. Adrian immediately followed my gaze to where Jill had just appeared in the living room's entry. I wasn't surprised to see her. The only way Eddie could be here was if Jill had told him what was happening to Adrian through the spirit bond. Standing there, with her eyes flashing, she looked like some fierce, battle-ready goddess as she watched Eddie spar with the Strigoi. It was both inspiring and frightening. Adrian shared my thoughts. â€Å"No, no, Jailbait,† he murmured. â€Å"Do not do anything stupid. Castile needs to handle this.† â€Å"She knows how to fight,† I said. Adrian frowned. â€Å"But she doesn't have a weapon. Without one, she's just a featherweight in this.† He was right, of course. And while I certainly didn't want Jill endangering her life, I couldn't help but think if she were properly equipped, she might be able to do something. At the very least, a distraction might be a benefit. Eddie was holding his ground all right against the two Strigoi, but he wasn't making any progress against them either. He could use help. And we needed to make sure Jill didn't rush into this with only her wits to defend her. Inspiration hit me, and I managed to stay on my feet. The world was spinning even more than before, but – despite Adrian's protests – I managed to stagger to the kitchen. I just barely was able to get to the sink and flip the faucet on before my legs gave out underneath me. I caught hold of the counter's edge, using it to keep me upright. â€Å"Jill!† I yelled. She turned toward my shout, saw the running water, and instantly knew what to do. She lifted her hand. The stream coming from the faucet suddenly shifted, shooting out of the sink and across the living room. It went to Jill, who collected a large amount of it between her hands and magically forced the water into a long cylindrical shape. It held itself in the air like that, a rippling but seemingly solid club of water. Gripping it, she hurried toward the fight and swung her weapon of water into Jacqueline's back. Drops flew off of the â€Å"club,† but it held on to its rigidity enough for her to get a second hit in before completely exploding into a spray of water. Jacqueline spun around, her hand swinging out to strike Jill. Jill had expected as much and dropped to the floor, dodging in exactly the way I'd seen Eddie teach her. She scurried backward, out of Jacqueline's way, and the Strigoi pursued – giving Eddie an exposed shot on her back. Eddie took the opportunity, evading Dawn, and plunged his stake into Jacqueline's back. I'd never given it much thought before, but if shoved hard enough, a stake could pierce someone's heart just as easily from the back as the chest. Jacqueline went rigid, and Eddie jerked his stake out, just managing to avoid the full force of a strike from Dawn. She still caught him a little, and he stumbled briefly before quickly regaining his footing and setting his sights on her. Jill was forgotten and hurried over to us in the kitchen. â€Å"Are you okay?† she exclaimed, peering at both of us. That fierce look was gone. She was now just an ordinary girl concerned for her friends. â€Å"Oh my God. I was so worried about you both. The emotions were so strong. I couldn't get a fix on what was happening, just that something was horribly wrong.† I dragged my gaze to Eddie, who was dancing around with Dawn. â€Å"We have to help him – â€Å" I took two steps away from the counter and started to fall. Both Jill and Adrian reached out to catch me. â€Å"Jesus, Sage,† he exclaimed. â€Å"You're in bad shape.† â€Å"Not as bad as you,† I protested, still worried about helping Eddie. â€Å"They drank more from you – â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, but I don't have a bleeding arm wound,† he pointed out. â€Å"Or a possible concussion.† It was true. In all the excitement, I was so full of adrenaline that I'd all but forgotten about where Lee had stabbed me. No wonder I was so dizzy. Or maybe that was from getting my head smacked into the wall. It was anyone's guess at this point. â€Å"Here,† said Adrian gently. He reached for my arms with his cuffed hands. â€Å"I can take care of this.† A slow, tingling warmth spread through my skin. At first, Adrian's touch was comforting, like an embrace. I felt my tension and pain begin to ease. All was right in the world. He was in control. He was taking care of me. He was using his magic on me. â€Å"No!† I shrieked, pulling away from him with a strength I didn't know I had. The horror and full realization of what was happening to me was too powerful. â€Å"Don't touch me! Don't touch me with your magic!† â€Å"Sage, you'll feel better, believe me,† he said, reaching toward me again. I backed away, clinging to the edge of the counter for support. The fleeting memory of that warmth and comfort was being dwarfed by the terror I'd carried my entire life for vampire magic. â€Å"No, no, no. No magic! Not on me! The tattoo will heal me! I'm strong!† â€Å"Sage – â€Å" â€Å"Stop, Adrian,† said Jill. She approached me tentatively. â€Å"It's okay, Sydney. He won't heal you. I promise.† â€Å"No magic,† I whispered. â€Å"For God's sake,† growled Adrian. â€Å"This is superstitious bullshit.† â€Å"No magic,† Jill said firmly. She took off the button-up shirt she'd been wearing over a T-shirt. â€Å"Come here, and I'll use this to wrap it so that you don't lose any more bl – â€Å" An earsplitting shriek jerked us all back toward the living room. Eddie had made his kill, driving his stake right into the middle of Dawn's chest. In my brief scuffle with Adrian and Jill, Dawn must have gotten some shots in on Eddie because there was a large red mark on one side of his face, and his lip was bleeding. The expression in his eyes was hard and triumphant, however, as he pulled the stake out and watched Dawn fall. Through all the confusion and horror, basic Alchemist instincts took over. The danger was gone. There were procedures that needed to be followed. â€Å"The bodies,† I said. â€Å"We have to destroy them. There's a vial in my purse.† â€Å"Whoa, whoa,† said Adrian as both he and Jill restrained me. â€Å"Stay where you're at. Castile can get it. The only place you're going is to a doctor.† I didn't move but immediately argued with that last statement. â€Å"No! No doctors. At least, you have to – you have to get an Alchemist one. My purse has the numbers – â€Å" â€Å"Go get her purse,† Adrian told Jill, â€Å"before she has a fit here. I'll bind the arm.† I gave him a warning look. â€Å"Without magic. Which, by the way, could make this ten times easier.† â€Å"I'll heal on my own,† I said, watching as Jill retrieved my purse. â€Å"You realize,† added Adrian, â€Å"you're going to have to get over your dieting fixation and consume some major calories to fight the blood loss. Sugar and fluids, just like Clarence. Good thing someone bagged up all this candy on the counter.† Eddie walked over to Jill, and she paused as he asked if she was okay. She assured him she was, and although Eddie looked like he could kill about fifty more Strigoi, there was also a look in his eyes†¦ something I couldn't believe I'd never noticed before. Something I was going to have to think about. â€Å"Damn it,† said Adrian, fumbling with bandages. â€Å"Eddie, go search Lee's body and see if there's a key for these goddamned handcuffs.† Jill had been caught up in talking to Eddie but froze at the words â€Å"Lee's body.† Her face went so pale, she could have been one of the dead. In all the confusion, she hadn't noticed Lee's body in the chair. There'd been too much movement with the Strigoi, too much distraction by the threat they presented. She took a few steps toward the living room, and that's when she saw him. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out right away. Then she sped forward and grabbed his hands, shrieking. â€Å"No,† she cried. â€Å"No, no, no.† She shook him, as though that would wake him. In a flash, Eddie was by her side, his arms around her as he murmured nonsensical things to soothe her. She didn't hear him. Her whole world was Lee. I felt tears spring to my eyes and hated that they were there. Lee had tried to kill me and then had summoned others to kill me. He'd left a trail of innocents in his wake. I should be glad he was gone, but still, I felt sad. He had loved Jill, in his insane way, and from the pain on her face, it was clear she'd loved him too. The spirit bond hadn't shown her his death or role in our capture. Right now, she simply thought he was a victim of Strigoi. Soon enough, she'd learn the truth about his motives. I didn't know if that would ease her pain or not. I was guessing not. Weirdly, an image of Adrian's Love painting came back to me. I thought of the jagged red streak, slashing through the blackness, ripping it apart. Staring at Jill and her inconsolable pain, I suddenly understood his art a little bit better.