Call It Sleep by Henry Roth :: Call it Sleep Essays

Call It Sleep by Henry Roth The book Call It Sleep written by Henry Roth is a literary work that explores immigrant life as they adjust to the new and unfamiliar ways of American life. The book is somewhat of a social commentary on the occlusion of the Eastern European immigration to America at its peak. The novel gives an inside view on how foreigners (primarily Jewish immigrants) fit into main stream society. Throughout the telephone circuit of the novel, you travel along with the main character David Schearl as he ages from six to eight and grows up in Brownsville on the lower East side of upstart York. David is torn between the love of his over protective mother and the hatred of his angry and mentally disturbed father in a quest to keep back sense of his life in contrast with all of the other immigrant children that he comes in butt on with. All of the adventures that David encounters and all of the people that he comes in contact with are simply the authors way of depict ing an immigrants inner struggle and dealing with the pressures of life as seen through the eyes of a unusually perceptive and imaginative child. The opening scenes are set in New York harbor in 1907 at a time when the inflow of foreigners is at its peak. A woman and her small child come off of the boat to reunite with her husband that had gone before them to the new world to start a cave in life than they were used to in their old country. The author has you understand what it is like to come into New York Harbor and see the city skyline and the lights and also to experience the feeling of hope and promise for a brighter future for the immigrants. However when Albert Schearl shows up late and uncaring to greet a wife and son who dont recognize him right away, it is hinted to the reader that trouble is in store for the Schearl family. The father Albert Schearl is introduced as a very haughty and proud individual that believes that he should renounce all signs of his former upbri nging and conform to the American ways of life. He is a printer by trade however he cannot hold slew a job long enough due to his violent and uncontrollable temperament. He thinks that people are constantly watching his every move therefore he cannot give

Julius Caesar: The Peoples Dictator Essay example -- Ancient Rome, Th

Julius Caesar has always been an important, well-known figure in history. His name still lives on, two thousand years later his death. Even the terms Kaiser and Tsar are renditions of Caesar. To this day, the name Caesar conjures images of ancient Rome, conspiracies, intrigue, and murder. Thanks to William Shakespeare, almost race know that he was betrayed and killed by his friends. But what made Caesar so fascinating that Shakespeare would choose to write about Caesar over fifteen hundred years after his death? Why do we flirt with Caesar? He was a great military leader, and a master politician. He was murdered. But there have been others in history like Caesar, yet we do not remember their names. We remember Caesar because the common Romans adored him. Caesar was able to empathize with them, and they loved him, even to the point of elevating him to the status of a god. It is because of the people that he led that we remember Caesars name. Gaius Julius Caes ar was born(p) in 100 B.C. to Aurelia and Julius Caesar, in the neighborhood of Subura, just a short distance from the heart of Rome. Although the Caesars were patrician nobility, much of the familys money had run out by the time that Caesar was born. It was for this reason that Aurelia and Julius lived in the less prosperous Subura area. Because he was raised in this area, the young Caesar had a unique perspective. He was A patrician descendent of kings who knew intimately the lives and sorrows of common Romans (Freeman 19). Therefore, when he became an adult, he was able to identify with the less-affluent plebeian class better than most Romans in politics at the time. As with most Roman families, the elder Caesar was often away from ... ...ed? True, he was a great military leader, and a great leader of men. Yet that is only a occasion of why he has been remembered. There have been other great leaders that have not been as remembered throughout history as Caesar has. We remember him because the people whom he governed immortalized him throughout history. The commoners of Rome adored Caesar, and they made sure that his name would endure. Works CitedCanfora, Luciano. Julius Caesar The Life and times of the Peoples Dictator. Trans. Marian Hill and Kevin Windle. Berkeley University of California, 2007. Print.Freeman, Philip. Julius Caesar. New York Simon & Schuster, 2008. Print.Goldsworthy, Adrian. Caesar. New harbor Yale UP, 2006. Print.Suetonius. The Twelve Caesars The Lives of the Roman Emperors. Trans. John Carew Rolfe. St. Petersburg, FL Red and Black Pub., 2008. Print.

King Phillip :: essays research papers

King of Spain, only son of the Emperor Charles V, and Isabella of Portugal, b. at Valladolid, 21 May, 1527 d. at the Escorial, 13 Sept., 1598. He was carefully amend in the sciences, learned French and Latin, though he never spoke anything but Castilian, and also showed much interest in architecture and music. In 1543 he married his cousin, Maria of Portugal, who died at the birth of Don Carlos (1535). He was appointed regent of Spain with a council by Charles V. In 1554 he married Mary Tudor, hassock of England, who was eleven years his senior. This political marriage gave Spain an indirect influence on affairs of England, recently restored to Catholicism but in 1555 Philip was summoned to the Low Countries, and Marys death in the same year severed the connection between the two countries. At a solemn conference held at Brussels, 22 Oct., 1555, Charles V ceded to Philip the Low Countries, the crowns of Castille, Aragon, and Sicily, on 16 Jan., 1556, and the countship of Burgundy on the tenth of June. He even thought of securing for him the imperial crown, but the opposition of his brother Ferdinand caused him to abandon that project. Having become king, Philip, devoted to Catholicism, defended the Faith end-to-end the world and opposed the progress of heresy, and these two things are the key to his whole reign. He did both by means of absolutism. His reign began unpleasantly for a Catholic sovereign. He had signed with France the Treaty of Vaucelles (5 Feb., 1556), but it was soon broken by France, which joined Paul IV against him. Like Julius II this pope longed to drive the foreigners prohibited of Italy. Philip had two wars on his hands at the same time, in Italy and in the Low Countries. In Italy the Duke of Alva, Viceroy of Naples, defeated the Duke of Guise and reduced the pope to much(prenominal) distress that he was forced to make peace. Philip granted this on the most favourable terms and the Duke of Alva was even obliged to ask the popes pardon for having invaded the Pontifical States. In the Low Countries Philip defeated the French at Saint Quentin (1557) and Gravelines (1558) and afterwards signed the Peace of Cateau-Cambresis (3 April, 1559), which was sealed by his marriage with Elizabeth of Valois, daughter of Henry II.

Whitney Ottos How to Make an American Quilt and Norman Macleans A River Runs Through It :: American Quilt Otto River Runs Through Essays

Whitney Ottos How to Make an American Quilt and Norman Macleans A River Runs Through It legion(predicate) times when I write it is difficult to locate a oecumenic theme, or even a elapse and precise point. Too often, my papers count to deviate from the intentional purpose stated in the introduction. The topic and primary idea need to be effectively introduced at the beginning so that the ref knows what to look for and what to expect. Many times, my writing consists of a solid introduction with a good idea, but it wanes as it nears the ending and the conclusion is not effective so as to remain consistent with the proper sequence of the sentence (2-3-1). The reader of my work must distinguish the most important point of the work, understanding the general theme, while remaining captivated by a consistently interesting paper. If a primary point exists, it need to be expanded, emphasized, or supported. The work needs to remain interesting and captivating throughout. For the reader to infer my opinion on the subject matter, I must show approval or disapproval of it in some way. The results of this personal critique correlate to 101 Dalmatians, 7th Heaven, How to Make an American Quilt written by Whitney Otto, and A River Runs Through It written by Norman Maclean. Each of these works contains a main point, a theme, and this is expanded, emphasized, or supported throughout the plot.The reader is abruptly introduced to the four texts at the beginning. In A River Runs Through It, Maclean introduces the setting and background of the story more effectively, but he still jumps into the plot by beginning with In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing (1). That first sentence serves as an introduction, yet it is not a typical beginning point. Otto, likewise, begins her novel with operating instructions You need a large wooden frame and enough space to accommodate it (7). Even though these authors begin their stories by jumping into the plot, the authors do raise sufficient background serving to remove much of the abruptness. The prologues and introductions found in the books rationalise what is ahead in the plot much the same way previews and commercials explain the direction of the plot in the television show and movie. The reader and viewer can anticipate the plot and its direction, making the first line a unavoidable bridge into the story ahead.

Intelligence Customers :: essays research papers

INTELLIGENCE CUSTOMERSThe collapse of the Soviet Union has finally brought the cold war to a conclusion in the 1980s. This collapse brought about a transfer in the global power structure. Threats such as terrorism, nuclear proliferation, narcotics trafficking and organized crime e became more prominent. The United States guinea pig security policies were revolutionized to be successful against the new risks towards the Nation. It may be assumed that the best group to handle the new pressures of the world would be the U.S. news show Community, but the unique threats do not harbor the traditional roles that were designed for the U.S. Intelligence Community. Biological hazards such as Anthrax and Small pox, which are both remarkable threats to global and content security, have been collected, canvass and dealt with by civilian government agencies and academic circles. The Intelligence Community should only use its technology to collect non-traditional intelligence that may transgre ss on only national and global security issues. There are hundreds of intelligence customers, but there are 14 primaries that come together for national security purposes.To gain a better understanding of intelligence, the term must be defined. Intelligence is when data is collected, organized and becomes useful information. The information is then analyzed and becomes intelligence. The U.S. Intelligence Community supports the President of the United States, the cabinet, Congress, and down to the tactical level of deployed force forces. Each customer is equally as important as the other. The members of the Intelligence Community, also known as intelligence customers are comprised of 14 members The Defense Intelligence Agency is a major producer and manager of exotic military intelligence. They provide military intelligence to warfighters, defense policymakers and force planners, the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community in order to support U.S. military planning, op erations, and weapon systems acquisition. The case Security Agency is the Nations cryptologic organization. They coordinate, direct, and perform highly specialized activities to protect U.S. information systems and produce foreign intelligence information. The NSA is one of the most important centers of foreign language analysis and research within the Government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the principal investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice. The FBI is to uphold the law through the investigation of violations of federal criminal law to protect the United States from foreign intelligence and terrorist activities to provide leadership and law enforcement assistance to federal, state, local, and international agencies and to perform these responsibilities in a manner that is responsive to the needs of the public and is faithful to the Constitution of the United States.

Intelligence Customers :: essays research papers

INTELLIGENCE CUSTOMERSThe collapse of the Soviet Union has finally brought the cold war to a conclusion in the 1980s. This collapse brought about a transfer in the global power structure. Threats such as terrorism, nuclear proliferation, narcotics trafficking and organized crime e became more prominent. The United States national security policies were revolutionized to be successful against the new risks towards the Nation. It may be assumed that the best group to handle the new pressures of the homo would be the U.S. Intelligence Community, but the unique threats do not harbor the traditional roles that were designed for the U.S. Intelligence Community. Biological hazards such as Anthrax and teeny-weeny pox, which are both remarkable threats to global and national security, have been collected, analyzed and dealt with by civilian government agencies and academic circles. The Intelligence Community should only spend its technology to collect non-traditional intelligence that may infringe on only national and global security issues. There are hundreds of intelligence clients, but in that location are 14 primaries that come together for national security purposes.To gain a better understanding of intelligence, the term must be defined. Intelligence is when selective information is collected, organized and becomes useful information. The information is then analyzed and becomes intelligence. The U.S. Intelligence Community supports the President of the United States, the cabinet, Congress, and down to the tactical level of deployed military forces. Each customer is equally as important as the other. The members of the Intelligence Community, also known as intelligence customers are comprised of 14 members The Defense Intelligence Agency is a major producer and manager of contradictory military intelligence. They provide military intelligence to warfighters, defense policymakers and force planners, the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community in o rder to support U.S. military planning, operations, and weapon systems acquisition. The National Security Agency is the Nations cryptologic organization. They coordinate, direct, and perform highly specialized activities to protect U.S. information systems and produce foreign intelligence information. The NSA is one of the most important centers of foreign language analysis and research within the Government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the principal investigative fortify of the United States Department of Justice. The FBI is to uphold the law through the investigation of violations of federal criminal law to protect the United States from foreign intelligence and terrorist activities to provide lead and law enforcement assistance to federal, state, local, and international agencies and to perform these responsibilities in a manner that is responsive to the needs of the public and is faithful to the Constitution of the United States.

Relationship Between International Law And Municipal Law

To know the relationship between world-wide jurisprudence and Municipal fairness, it is important to know what these to laws are. International law is the rules and conducts which deals with the conduct of states. To put into simpler terms, the planetary law is a set of rules in which the countries use in dealing with each other. The Municipal law is the inherent law of the land. There are distinguishable theories that distinguish the difference of the two laws. The dualists or the pluralist surmise states that international law and municipal law are different with each other in terms of their source, the relations they regulate, and their substance.Both of the laws differ in source because the international law came from treaties and customs grown among states while the municipal law is a product of local or domestic custom. They differ in the relations they regulate. How? The international law regulates the relationship of states with one another and is concerned with the a way and foreign affairs of the state while the municipal law regulates the relationship of individuals under the state and is concerned with the domestic affairs of the state. They also differ in their substance.The international law is a law between sovereign states while municipal law is the law of the sovereign over the individuals in the state. In this theory when a conflict arises as to whether what law should be used in dealing with an issue, the municipal law prevails. The dualists are positivists that biases greatly on state sovereignty. bordering theory is the monistic theory or monism. In this theory, the international law and the municipal or domestic law are under one clay of law. But there are two monistic theories that states what law should be used in settling disputes or the likes.One monistic theory has a standpoint that international law is superior to municipal law which is supported by Kelsen. It holds that international law is superior to municipal law becaus e monistic theorists believe that international law can instill domestic order. Kelsen also believes that the international law encompasses every aspect of human life. Monistic theorists also see international law as a collective outcome of different local sovereigns. The other monistic theory believes that municipal law is superior to the international law

“Crossing” by Mark Slouka Essay

Trust and family relationships are the two main themes in the short story Crossing by Mark Slouka. The story tells us about a father, who is going through a tough period, and his relationship to his intelligence. He exigencys to buzz off rely from his tidings trough a trip in the nature but runs into some ch every(prenominal)enges on his way. The father in the short story takes his son on a trip to a place at a river, beca usance he wants to find out closer to him on this trip. We get hints throughout the story that the father is going through a tough period after(prenominal) he divorced or separated from his wife. And he hadnt been happy in a while. (5). His mind indicates that he did something wrong in their relationship and that he knows it. My God, all his other fuckups were just preparation for this. (135). We can tell that he cares a lot about his son because when he picks him up at his moms the schoolbook says He threw him over his shoulder, careful not to hit his head on the corner of the TV. (17-18). He also wants his ex-wife to notice that he is being careful with their son, so she can see that he actually can brace something right. Maybe maybe he could make this right. (20). We get a feeling that the father is blue to shatter because when he sees the river he feels a shock, because the river is much bigger and stronger than he remembered it.He actually considers pulling out. As contributors we do not see him as an authority at this point because his anxiety defines him. We do not trust the fathers skills to cross the river with his son on his shoulders, we actually fear twain for the son and father. We are not told very much about the son but we get a picture of him being a bit weak. He looked over at the miniature jeans, the sweatshirt bunched beneath the seat belts strap, the hiking boots dangling off the floor like weights. (7-8). Maybe he has become fragile and unsecure because of all the mistakes the father has made which has affec ted the son. The narrators technique is to give small hints about something dangerous is going to happen. The current was stronger. (105). Now the reader knows that something will happen and that brings the story suspense. The narrator is an omniscient 3rd person who tells the story from the fathers point of view. That makes us feel sympathy for the father. We want him to succeed with his son because we feel sorry for him. The narrator takes us back in time through the fathers thoughts, back to when the father was a kid and when his father took him on the same trip at the same river.He remembered the two of them working together quietly, easily, then his father crawling into the camp to lay out the sleeping bags. (76-77). When the narrator makes these sorts of flashbacks it makes the readers interested in what the river can bring back in the fathers heart. He has obviously had one or more than successfully trips with his father, since he wants to do the same thing with his own boy . Maybe it also has something to do with that he wants his son to experience something with him that he cannot experience with his mother. In that way the father could get a better relationship to his son and obtain the missing trust. So the setting in this story is very of the essence(predicate) because it means something to the father. When the father wants his son to cross the river, he wants to obtain trust from his son and wants to set a good example for his son. When the father starts crossing the river alone(predicate) he takes it slow and makes sure every step he takes is secure. That could be a emblem of his relationship to his son, and that he has to take it slow to obtain his sons trust after the divorce or separation.When he crosses second time with his boy on his shoulders he thinks it is easier, and he cannot understand where that moment of weakness, where he wanted to pull out, came from. This vision of death like a tunnel at the end of the road and no way to get o ff or turn around? (69). His thoughts of death and no way to turn around could symbolic representationize his anxiety of losing his son, but that he have to keep trying to obtain his sons trust and that he cannot give up. When they have to cross the river again on their way home, the current is stronger and it is harder to cross it. When the father crosses it on himself he slips on a rock but does not fall. Already at this point his plan about a good and trustful relationship to his son is about to crash. When he picks his son up it gets worse and they are in crisis. The father cannot see a way out of this and puts the blame on the divorce. My God, all his other fuckups were just preparation for this. This wasnt possible. (135-136).This means that he thinks it is impossible to build a great relationship to his son after this divorce and after all the other fuckups he made. He also gets more burdens on his shoulders on his way, which make the cop flow over in the end. We also get a p icture for that His left arm was a bit tired () (108), Ignoring the quivering in his shoulder () (131). The story has an open ending. They are in the warmness of the river where the father gives up. The burdens become too big, and he is too weak tokeep up the fight for his sons trust. Throughout the story the river is a symbol of the fathers and the sons relationship to each other and it is a symbol of the fathers emotions. For example when the current gets stronger it is a symbol of the opposition the father meets through the trip. The narrator uses a lot of figurative manner of speaking in the story, especially comparisons. Mountains larded with snow like fatty meat. (4). Slouka does also use other types of figurative language for example The grass in the yard beaten flat by the rain. (14). He gives the grass human qualities in the forge of a movement.All this figurative language makes the story more alive and makes the readers want more. The narrator is showing us the story th rough the figurative language and through some dialogs in the story. When Slouka is showing us he allows the readers to feel and see the moment and that makes the story more interesting to read. The message of the story is that trust is very important almost a question about life and death. You should think about your actions before you make them, so you do not make several mistakes which you have to make up to again. Then the trust will get harder, even impossible, to obtain because you have made it impossible to trust you. And if peck do not trust you then what is the meaning of living life?

Authoritarian Government for the Philippines

Closing Government, Rebuttal research Motion This house believes that an authoritarian government leave help the Philippines progress. I. Expected Argument The form of government doesnt matter and the progress of the country will depend on the kind of attracter we fuddle as a president. II. Counter-Argument Unlike in other forms of the government, the authoritarian form of government allows us to make a measuring to what kind of leader is shell for our country. III. ExplanationSince the authoritarian government aims for a person single-handedly leading our country, all citizens must adhere and go by the ideals range by the leader himself. The only time the country will be in chaos during an authoritarian regime is when the citizens dont agree with the leader. This cigarette be figure out by a very strict criteria and standard of what kind of leader our president should be. The standards can be ranged from what kind of school he graduated from, to experiences in leadership. Being a leader of a country is not simply a face who everybody recognizes from television or somebody who bribes and cheats his way into position. Setting a standard is faster and more than possible when we suck an authoritarian government. Other governments have to be associated and linked with freedom, and so it is r arly possible to set a specific standard for electing a president because they promote independence and freedom of whomever wants to be a president.It is most likely that there could be an absurd leader that is elected to be president in a democratic form of government (because it is everybodys ball game, quoted from my father) that is the reason why until now, Filipinos are still protesting about our presidents and how they do not do anything to solve our problems. When we have a proper judgement of who to elect leader, we can have a more disciplined nation, economy follows right after because when we have a leader with one single vision to improve on our problem s, the processes can be faster.The standard set can reflect how much our president can help us with our economy. Stocks can go higher, we can export more high precedence local goods, and we can improve on our nationalism at the same time. We have to put our electoral nominees to the test so that we can have a more progressive country in terms of economy. IV. Examples In a smaller scale, the application of an authoritarian government can be associated with how one runs a company with the president as the CEO, and the different local governments in our country as the different departments in an office building.In a publicly have company, the CEO must be a good role model to his employees in order to make them do their job properly. The CEO must supply the needs of the employees and in turn, the employees give their hard work and talent in their business. Trust is therefore developed and it makes running the business flow easily. When people conduct a CEO, they do not just choose o ut of a whim. They pick people who are trained specially for the position and they have a guideline on who to assign the position of CEO or any other big name in a company.Effective CEOs are those who amidst crisis, can still maintain the stock prices and make them the same amount as every normal day. However, when they appoint a bad CEO, it can be seen when the stocks flatten out low for about 40 to 50% even when there is no serious problem. In that case, he should really be ousted. Singapore, having an authoritarian government guide by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has an economy relatively corruption free and has one of the highest GDPs (Gross Domestic Products) in the world.It would not have been possible to have such a successful economy if not for such a qualified Prime Minister for their country. I believe that it is possible for it to happen in our country, the Philippines, as long as we have a specific guideline and criteria in nomitating and electing our countrys leade r. V. Sources 1) Country Rankings. (accessed January 20, 2012) http//www. heritage. org/index/Ranking. aspx 2) Huff, W. G. Cambridge Journal of Economics. (accessed January 23, 2012) http//cje. oxfordjournals. org/content/19/6/735. abstract

Compare and Contrast: Schools Essay

Choosing a college could be hard like if your choosing the University of Nevada, Las Vegas or University of California, Los Angleos. They engage umpteen similarities but there has to be something different about them that helps you choose a decision but you cant find it. Is it the environment that surrounds each of the schools. possibly the different academics, does it have what I want to succeed in one day. Or what if it has the sports I love to play and watch and ar they good at them. Choosing a college is a choice that is apart of your life forever. Its where one day you hopefully will get your gunpoint and have the oppurtunities of a lifetime.Is the University of California, Los Angelos a crack school then the University of Nevada, Las Vegas? The environment in Las Vegas is not as big and open as Los Angelos. They both have many simularites such as the culture, opportunities, experiences, and move distance in many places. But Las Vegas is cognize as sin city and if your f or the partying, and having the fun its a gigantic environment for you to be around. Like Los Angelos, Las Vegas is known to many big businesses. There are 20,000 raft that attend this university which seems like a lot In contrast the University of California which is located in Los Angelos.When many people think Los Angelos they think gangs and violence but there is an up part to that. The University of California is one the highest known schools in the United States. The environment is a lot like Vegas but there are 40,000 people that attend the school and wheres there more people usually means more environment and a bigger space. It may have some of the same things like culture, opportunities , and experiences. Like UNLV, UCLA is a lot of walking distance from dorms to school, and many things in amongst those are things like food, gyms and etc.Vegas is a great place for learning It has many things to offer except as well as Los Angelos. The environment is great but academics is the real reason you are going to college unless your the next Micheal Phelps, Lebron James , or another athletic star. In the University of Nevada they offer 220 undergraduate, masters , and doctoral degree program. It might offer less due to the smaller school. Unlv is based on a medical school. As for UCLA, it offers 5,000 courses that could end in 125 different majors. UCLA has a lot more to offer its not really based on just one thing.With the bigger classes it maybe a little crowed but the professors are there to help you. They may not care as much as they do it the classrooms but it would be your responsibility to go after to lead for help. Or even join tutoring which Im sure is offered at both schools. With over 109 academic departments it would help you decided on what you want to do in life. Being Micheal Phelps, LeBron James, or even Alex Rodriguez, you would have to start somewhere in life. College is where everything hits the big time because the professional teams or even Olympics starts to really project at you.Both UNLV and UCLA have many sports to offer. The University of Nevada is the home of the red and silver Rebels. They offer the normal football , baseball, basketball, swim, golf, soccer,and etc. They do offer men ginger up which not many schools do not offer. Although UCLA doesnt offer male cheer it offers others things like track and field, mens volleyball, water polo, women gymnastics, women rowing,and women sand volleyball, otherwise it offers the same introductory sports. UCLA is home of the blue and gold Bruns. They are very high in there division because of the level of talents they have on the field and/or courts.UCLA is a better school it offers a more experience environment that will prepare you more for the future, has a better verity of academics, and more sports to offer for the people who have dreams to become professional athletes. College is very stressful itself but finding one right for you is even harder. The Uni versity of Nevada in Las Vegas offers many things but it isnt just as big and have more opportunity then the University of California in Los Angelos. With the environment, academics, and sports its a bigger and better school. Some people might discord but thats what I think.

The Learning Of English At Preschool Education Essay

Preschool is an exciting clip to watch a peasant explore and larn most their universe. Learning face in preschool enables yearlings to hold the tools to pass on with the universe around them. At this age, childs can inquire for specific points, ask inquiries, talk about their universe and convey on a much higher degree than they did before come ining preschool. online 1 Preschoolers enjoy the thought of playing. A universe that is filled with different free rein activities will ensue in better acquisition. That is why it is good to utilize games that be fun and exciting to assist childs easier learn. A great trade of lingual communication will be retained and kids will hold no thought they re being taught specific letters, words and constructs. Teachers can give kids to cay a letters, pigment words, colour images of letters, pattern composing letters, act out scenes from narrative books, bring in points that begin with a specific missive or consonant sound to make acquis ition chances. Online 2 Child development refers to the biological and psychological alterations that occur in human existences between birth and the last-place of adolescence, as the single advancements from dependence to increasing liberty. Because these developmental alterations may be strongly influenced by familial factors and events during antenatal life, genetic sciences and antenatal development are normally included as portion of the survey of kid development. Related footings include developmental psychological science, mentioning to development throughout the lifetime, and paediatricss, the subdivision of medical specialization associating to the attention of kids.By three old ages the kid is get downing to utilize complex sentences, including comparative clauses, although still honing assorted lingual systems. By cinque old ages of age the kid s usage of lingual communication is really similar to that of an grownup. From the age of about three kids can bespeak ma gic or pretend linguistically, produce consistent personal narratives and fictional narration with beginnings and terminations. It is argued that kids devise narrative as a manner of understanding their ain get laid and as a medium for pass oning their significance to others. The ability to prosecute in drawn-out discourse emerges over clip from regular conversation with grownups and equals. For this the kid needs to larn to unite his position with that of others and with outside events and learn to utilize lingual indexs to demo he is making this. They besides learn to set their linguistic communication depending on to whom they are talking. Online 4 Several tips to assist parents of immature kids promote literacy at place carry to child, as in before a sleep, bedtime, or after dinner, Hold the book so that she or he can see the images. Take clip to look at and speak about the images. Do nt merely read the narrative talk about it. Let child indicate out letters, forms, colours s, and animate beings. Understand that reading begins at place. Children read their environments, so do place a print rich environment. Read Do nt anticipate reading to be of bit to kids if they see that it s non of import to their parents. Invite kid to read laud.A If he or she is a pre reader, he ll frequently construe his ain narrative utilizing illustrations and his imaginativeness. Read aloud to child all(prenominal) twenty-four hours.Preschool larning online can assist parents to learn childs at place with many preschool activities, games, prek printables, child preschool activities and professional lesson programs during showery yearss or preschool clip.There are free preschool activities and printables for childs, childs preschool larning, childishness development, early acquisition thoughts and learning activities for childs that are easy for parents or instructors to learn childs at place. These preschool course of studies can be used in daycare/preschool schoolrooms a ll(prenominal) bit good.Preschool online activities are focused on easier acquisition.Daycare tiffin bill of fare, healthy bites and dainties for childs, a assortment of preschool subjects, preschool course of study, child instruction thoughts, lesson programs for instructors, lesson programs for yearlings and assorted preschool activities for learning childs and yearlings at place are free for everyone s usage. az online 6

Religious responses to the verification principle have been largely unsuccessful Essay

Religious responses to the verification tenet have been largely unsuccessful. Evaluate this claim. (20 marks)The Verification Principle claims that it is meaningless to communion about divinity fudge and ethics etc, as these cannot be verified use empirical evidence or scientific experiments. There have however been some(prenominal) responses to this theory, for example the falsification principle. This is a theory developed by Anthony Flew who says that for a rumor to have meaning it must be able to be turn out false. So that not religious meaning. This theory is similar to the verification principle but just to prove something wrong instead, however its a squiffyer argument, as it does not go beyond our understanding of God and religion.In response to the falsification principle, R.M H atomic number 18 criticised it with his theory of the blik, which is an individuals suffer personal stamp and meaningful statements. He says that you cannot falsify the blik because it hold s meaning to the individual. Christians will think in their minds that God is good this is their own thought so we cannot prove their blik wrong. However, Flew replies to this criticism reflection that this is not relevant and cannot be applied to religious language as it has not happened in real life, just in someones mind. other response to the verification principle is the Via Negativa this is a theory that suggests that to fully understand what God is we need to say what he isnt. In addition, Moses Maimonides said that positive statement such as God is powerful enough to lift a rock, limits God because we are comparing Him to a human and assuming we recognise what He can do. This is a cogent argument because we cannot understand properly a God we have never seen before, we can only imagine our own personal God and when we die we will then be enlightened with the real God, if there is one at all.However, St Thomas Aquinas rejected the Via Negativa as he believed that there are positive things to say about God. He argued that the only we way we can legitimately speak about God is using analogy. This involves making a comparison between two things, one is familiar and helps us understand another thing and both have similar meanings. He gave examples such as, the analogy of proportion and attribution. However some philosophers criticised this, such as Richard Swinburne who suggested that sometimes words could be used univocally about god. However if you say God is good, this could mean the same way humans are good. Therefore Aquinas is using the word good univocally Aquinas theory of analogy is a strong argument as it doesnt limit God or use ambiguous language.Another response to this that involves the meaning of religious language is symbol. There are many symbols that have meaning to religious flock and non -religious people. For example the star of St David for Jews and symbols such as the first aid cross which obviously does have a meaning. However, som e symbols change over time for example, the Hindu symbol of peace was adapted by Adolf Hitler to produce the infamous Swastika that reminds people of sadness and death. So it raises the question whether symbols are reliable or not to show meaning.To conclude, I think there are a few reasonable responses to the verification principle such as the falsification principle, as this does not limit God to our understanding but we can still talk about Him. Also the article of faith of analogy is a strong theory as we can compare one thing to another thing we are familiar with without properly describing the unacquainted with(predicate) thing and this makes it easier for us to understand. However, symbols can often be misinterpreted and lead to confusion, as they dont say enough about God and religion for people to fully understand.

The Human Lives Depending on Technologies

As we approach the new millenium, it has get obvious that more than perpetually before, we need technology. And yet every new technology places new demands upon us creating new forms of frustration and stress. We can not live with it, but we can not live without it. If we fail to conform ourselves, get out we remain the ignorant victims of the calculating machine age? Will we become its slave? This is the focus of this paper. We pick out versed from our readings that the Luddites learned about the technology that was being abused in their time. They worked on the cotton gin simple machines and were skilled technicians.They understood that it was not the power of a useful machine they were fighting but the power of those who mismanaged it. The same can be said for the management of computer technology. There is not doubt that computer technology has become central to the operation of global multinationals, financial markets, security surveillance, and as well as everyday life. There is little we can do with a computer interface device that will preserve our identity. Governments acting as a global police force protecting us from ourselves can easily manage the electronic trail of commands and transactions.Perhaps the Luddites could see farther into the future than anyone suspected. With regards to the downfall of technology and the role it would play on peoples lives, as they became beent upon technology for survival. Lets draw a bead on for example the huge technological dilemma of the unshakable approaching twenty-first century the issues surrounding Y2K. It has been feared that peoples lives will be totally devastated, as the technology they have grown to depend on will suddenly fail them on January 1, 2000.It is thought by many that all of the technology that we have come to depend upon for survival will cease to function successfully. The cars which we depend on for travel, the coffee we depend on to start our day, the electronically encloseled furnaces we depend on for heat, and the elevators we depend on to bring us to work will suddenly fail us all together. Even the traffic lights will become chaotic as the computers that control them will be tricked into believing it is January 1, 1900.Even the great mastermind computer programmers of our time could not think of anything more than a band-aid solution to the transportation problem. It appears that the expatriate Department of the City of Calgary will solve their traffic light dilemma by tricking the computer system that controls the traffic lights into believing it is January 1, 1972. Obviously this band-aid solution will not solve all problems, as this will still be a problem for the next generation of transportation programmers.It appears as the New Millenium fast approaches we need to return to an age that does not depend on technology for survival. People are concerned that since no technology is reliable enough to hold water the Y2K dilemma that we will have to return to the ways of our ancestors for survival during this time of technological uncertainty. Heaven forbid if we could not get a fresh grub of bread from our technologically advanced breadmakers. Information technology is a valuable extension of our power of perception and reasoning, but when we rely on it exclusively it has a debilitating effect.When we were first confronted with this new technology it absorbed all of our human resources in order to learn and adapt to the magnitude of this new technology. Many of us overextend ourselves and become obsessive allowing computers to consume all of our attention therefore, losing our perspective of reality and purpose. If this remains the permanent attitude resulting in the overextension of our own resources, which this technology was meant to serve, and then we have become the servants of this technology.

Thought and Hi Rachel

Rachel Good evening tomcat. Its gauzy to meet you. Please call me Rachel. Tom Hi Rachel It is nigh(a) to meet you too. Rachel To start off wherefore dont you tell me a little bit well-nigh why you think you are here like a shot and what has been going on for you in your career. Tom I think I am here because my garter thinks I am a drunk. Maybe I am, exactly I piss a good reason. Rachel What is your reason? Tom Because my wife left me. We were married for 25 years, and she cheated. Rachel I am very forbidding to hear that Tom. I can understand how that would be hard to deal with. Tom it is horribleWhen I am up, I am thinking of her, thinking of her with someone else, and then drinking to make it go away. I am alone Rachel So would you say your drinking has increased since this relationship ended? Tom ummm. I guess it has probably more than a little. I mean the guys and I al ways had a few on sunday for football, you know. But sometimes I drink and I dont know why? Rachel Wou ld you say your alcohol use has affected your job at all, or other family or brotherly commitments? Tom Well I know I am sick and tired of being hungover in the morning and operating the crane.My family was my wife. we ran from family and our love was all we had. It made us strong but not strong enough apparently. Rachel Well we definately need to find you some better ways to cope with this. How would you get word your mood and how you prevail been feeling since this has happened? Tom My mood has been getting worse. Its like the worst has happened but I have this nagging feeling that something unbelievably horrible will follow it. My body also has these pain and aches and I have no idea where they came fromRachel Well it is definately normal to feel this way after such a stressful occurence in your life. Although it is hard to remain postive, it is important. Do you have any other incite in your life besides your wife? Anyone that you could talk to? Tom Well Jim. He is the on e who say I needed to manipulate a counsellor. He said I looked dissheveled. I trust him but I feeling like I am letting him down. Rachel Well that is good that you took Jims advice to come in and talk to someone. It can be very difficult to deal with something like this on your own.It is good to have social support in your life and someone who can be honest with you. Do you count yourself getting into a new relationship in the future? Tom I can cover that maybe I can move on but I am hurting. I have been too drunk to grieve Rachel Why do you think your wife cheated on you? Do you bear down this on yourself? Tom I never could give her brains and a body. I didnt have brains and my body is getting too old. She took off to the carribean with this lawyer. I wasnt good enough. Rachel Im sure there are plenty of great things about yourself. This is not something you should blame on yourself.I think once you put yourself out there you will see that many people will find you attractive inside and out. Challenging your negative thoughts in ways such as this is the first step to feeling better. You will prove your own negative thoughts premature and will begin to build a new more positive self-concept. I know right(a) now it may be too early to start dating but you should focus on other things you are good at or that you once enjoyed. Rachel I emergencyed to ask you a little about your family history. Is there anyone in your family that has suffered from depression or alcohol abuse? Tom My give drank alot.He was an angry drunk. His mother was sad alot of the time. She killed herself when my dad was 11 Rachel Im sorry to hear about that Tom. I want to make sure you know that it is normal to feel the way you do right now. I would withal suggest talking to your family doctor about taking an antidepressant to help you get back on your feet. It is not something you have to take forever but it can truly help to get your life back in perspective. Unfortunately we ar e out of time for today but I would really like to continue talking to you about this another time. Tom ok, thank you Rachel

Fuzzy Logic Algorithms for Minor Edge Detection

IntroductionThe early stages of vision fixing distinguish includes in experiences that are important to measuring the look and belongingss of points in a scene. Edges are one such highlighted characteristics. Edges are notable nearby alterations in the determine and are indispensable high spots for look intoing go proscribeds. Edges normally occurs between two distinguishable verge in a kitchen stove. Edge location is much of the clip the initial stage in retrieving informations from images or images. Because of its significance, border go on keeps on being a dynamic geographic expedition zone. Edge find refers to the process of distinguishing and happening crisp discontinuities in a image. The discontinuities are sudden alterations in pel berth which characterize the bounds of objects in a scene. The indispensable border find system is to concentrate the point in time of fluctuation between diverse pels by put to deathing bite-location floozies for every small matrix d omain.Edges obtained from non-trivial images are oft hampered by discontinuity, connoting that the border decompression sicknesss are non associated, losing border subdivisions and false borders non associating to intriguing phenomena in the image, therefore gravel the attendant undertaking of interpreting the image information. Edge location is one of the cardinal paces in image or image handling, image scrutiny, image design recognition, and PC vision systems. In Digital look Processing there are typical schemes for border location like First Order derivative ( gradiant method ) , Second-Order Derivative and Optimal Edge Detection to separate the border. The gradiant methods are utilised for image rebellion or to give away the inside informations shown in the image and these derivative operations can be use for location of borders present in the image.In our proposed work, Sobel border sensing element and enhanced border sensor algorithmic ruleic programic rule utilizing blurred system of logical system is utilised to place borders of a given image. The pick of Sobel border sensor algorithm is propelled by the echt actuality that it consolidates each border location moreover goes nearly as smoothing decision maker belongings.Fuzzy image processing is the assemblage of all methodological analysiss that comprehend, speak to and treat the images, their fragments and high spots as foggy sets. The representation and fixing rely on upon the fuzzed method and on the issue to be tackled. Fluzzy sets, so, are competent to bespeak imprecise constructs.1.1 LITERATURE SURVEYTo transport out any undertaking work it is right effectivey indispensable to understand the current scenario and the engineering virtues and demerits of the subject. In this context, books film has been carried out to explicate the occupancy and to take the aims of the undertaking work.Different border feel techniques have been studied from the paper 1 .The writerG.T. Shrivaksh an presents virtues and demerits of divergent border detective work methods like Sobel, Prewitt and Roberts, Canny operator. From this treatment it is apparent that sobel border sensor is advantageous than separate techniques.The executing of sobel border sensor in Xilinx is presented by writer Ravi.S et.al 2 . FPGA based design and execution of country efficient Sobel Edge sensing filter is presented utilizing a combination of hardware and package constituents Rajesh Mehra et.al 3 and in this paper pipelined method is used to implement the border sensing filter. This attack is utile to better the system public presentation.The execution of Sobel border sensor is presented by writers R. Vincent et.al 4 . Here a energise of3Ten3whirl masks is used, one gauging gradient in the x-direction and the other gauging gradient inYdirection in Matlab. And states that Sobel sensor is improbably handsome to resound in images, it efficaciously highlights them as borders. Hence, Sobel o perator is recommended in monolithic informations communicating found in informations transportation.The writers Kiranpreet Kaur et.al 5 studies the execution of fuzzy border sensing in MATLAB environment to observe the borders of an input image by scanning it throughout utilizing a 2X2 pel window. The consequences of the apply algorithm has been compared with the criterion border sensing algorithm such as Canny , Sobel , Prewit and Roberts .The fuzzy regulation based image processing algorithm for observing the borders in the image, based on the alterations in the grey values is presented by writers C. Kavitha et.al 6 . ancient values of the image are taken as the input of the fuzzy system and a drifting mask of 33 is applied on the image to observe border pel utilizing the architectural planned fuzzy regulations.The execution of fuzzed logic to observe the borders in MATLAB is presented by writers Er.Mandeep Singh Sandhu et.al 7 .Edges are detect in horizontal, perpendi cular and in diagonal waies utilizing 5X5 pel window. And it besides presents different advantages and disadvantages of fuzzed logic. The consequences of the implemented algorithm has been compared with the criterion border sensing algorithm such as Sobel and Roberts .1.2 PROBLEM FORMULATIONFrom the literature study it has been observed that there are issues of false border find, losing genuine borders, making slender or chummy lines and issues because of noise and so on. So fuzzed logic has been used for minor border sensing in the image and besides fuzzed logic algorithm helps to get the better of the false border observe by the sobel border operator.The MATLAB executing of typical border locater has been done before nevertheless from literature study it has been observed that there is drawback of immense computation clip. So to suppress the issue the proposed algorithm is implemented in XILINX.1.3 AimThe chief aims of the undertaking work that are to be carried out are as follo wsTo plan and implement the sobel border sensor and enhanced border sensor algorithm utilizing fuzzed logic in Matlab.To plan and implement the sobel border sensor and enhanced border sensor algorithm utilizing fuzzed logic in Xilinx.To reckon the SNR, PSNR, RMSE of sobel border sensor and enhanced border sensor algorithm utilizing fuzzed logic.To cipher the country and hold of sobel border sensor and enhanced border sensor algorithm.1.4MethodologyLiterature Survey to be carried out on border sensor algorithm in Xilinx. Survey includes surveies on different border sensing techniques and different algorithms.To develop the sobel border sensor and enhanced border sensor algorithm utilizing fuzzed logic in Matlab and Xilinx.Using Xilinx package calculates the country and hold of sobel border sensor and enhanced border sensor algorithm to be implemented.Comparing the border images of Sobel and implemented enhanced border sensor algorithm utilizing fuzzed logic.Calculating the SNR, PSNR , RMSE of sobel border sensor and enhanced border sensor algorithm utilizing fuzzed logic.1.5 TOOLS REQUIRED1.5.1 Software Requirementsi Matlab ( 7.10 )Xilinx1.5.2 Hardware RequirementSpartan 3E1.6ApplicationsUsed in satellite images edge sensing. Satellite images consist of many characteristics and objects with different forms and size. Edge sensing helps to pull out utilize full information.Used in medical images edge sensing for object acknowledgment of the human variety meats.Grape leaf illness sensing and analysis.Bettering image quality.Egg shell defects sensing on white eggs.1.7 ADVANTAGESAn advantage of using a larger size sobel mask is that the mistake because of the impacts of noise are decreased by vicinity averaging inside of the country of the mask.An favourable place of using a mask of uneven size is that the operators are focused and therefrom can supply an rating that is based on Centre pel.Fuzzy techniques can cover with the ambiguity and vagueness proficiently.F uzzy logic is tolerant of unsure informations.1.8 DISADVANTAGESMinor strength fluctuations in grey scale images can non be detected utilizing sobel operators.Sobel operator detects false borders along with true borders.1.9 ORGANIZATION OF REPORTThis study consists of 5 chapters and mentions.Chapter 1Presents the Introduction, Literature study, conundrum preparation, Objectives, Tools required, Methodology, Applications, Advantages, Disadvantages and eventually the Project study organisation.Chapter 2Provides brief theory about the undertaking.Chapter 3Presents the inside informations about execution of sobel operator in matlab.Chapter 4Provides the consequences and treatments of undertaking.Chapter 5Provides the decisions and future work about the undertaking.MentionsProvides sufficient mentions germane(predicate) to the undertaking for easy apprehension of the capable affair and some of the beginnings used in development.

Global Financial Crisis: Causes and Effect Essay

The fiscal crisis that began in 2007 spread and ga in that respectd intensity in 2008, contempt the efforts of central commits and regulators to consistore calm. By early 2009, the financial system and the global thriftiness appe bed to be locked in a descending spiral, and the primary focus of policy became the prevention of a prolonged downturn on the order of the Great Depression. The volume and variety of negative financial sweets, and the seeming impotence of policy responses, has raised new questions ab portray up the origins of financial c build ups and the market mechanisms by which they are contained or propagated.Just as the frugal impact of financial market failures in the 1930s remains an active academic subject, it is likely that the causes of the real crisis anyow for be debated for decades to come. Financial Crisis The term financial crisis is applied broadly to a variety of situations in which some financial institutions or assets suddenly lose a large part of their value. In the nineteenth and early 20th centuries, umpteen financial crises were associated with asserting panics, and many recedings coincided with these panics.Other situations that are often called financial crises capture stock market crashes and the bursting of new(prenominal) financial bubbles, currency crises, and sovereign defaults. Major causes of Financial Crisis Imprudent owe Lending Against a backdrop of abundant credit, depressive disorder affaire rates, and rising field of operations prices, change standards were relaxed to the depict that many people were able to buy houses they couldnt afford. When prices began to fall and loans started going crowing, there was a pure(a) shock to the financial system.Housing Bubble With its easy money policies, the Federal Reserve allowed lodging prices to rise to unsustainable levels. The crisis was triggered by the bubble bursting, as it was bound to do. Global Imbalances Global financial flows spend a penny been characterized in modern years by an unsustainable pattern some countries ( china, Japan, and Germany) guide large surpluses ein truth year, while separates run deficits. The U. S. outdoor(a) deficits construct been mirrored by internal deficits in the household and administration empyreans.U. S. borrowing cannot continue indefinitely the resolventing stress underlies current financial disruptions. Securitization Securitization fostered the originate-to-distri furthere model, which reduced lenders incentives to be prudent, especially in the face of vast investor direct for subprime loans packaged as AAA bonds. Ownership of owe-backed securities was widely dispersed, causing repercussions throughout the global system when subprime loans went bad in 2007.Lack of Transparency and Accountability in Mortgage Finance Throughout the trapping pay value chain, many participants contri stilled to the creation of bad mortgages and the selling of bad securities, apparently feel ing secure that they would not be held accountable for their actions. A lender could sell exotic mortgages to mob-owners, apparently without fear of repercussions if those mortgages failed. Similarly, a bargainer could sell toxic securities to investors, apparently without fear of personal responsibility if those contracts failed.And so it was for brokers, realtors, individuals in rating agencies, and opposite market participants, each maximizing his or her own gain and passing problems on down the origination until the system itself collapsed. Because of the lack of participant accountability, the originate-to distribute model of mortgage finance, with its at a time great promise of managing risk, became itself a massive generator of risk. Rating Agencies The credit rating agencies gave AAA ratings to numerous issues of subprime mortgage-backed securities, many of which were subsequently downgraded to toss status.Critics cite poor frugal models, conflicts of interest, and l ack of resultant roleive regulation as reasons for the rating agencies failure. An new(prenominal) ingredient is the markets unreasonable reliance on ratings, which has been reinforced by numerous laws and regulations that use ratings as a criterion for permissible investments or as a factor in required jacket levels. Mark-to-market Accounting FASB standards require institutions to report the fair (or current market) value of securities they hold.Critics of the rule argue that these forces banks to recognize losings based on fire sale prices that prevail in distressed markets, prices believed to be under long-term fundamental values. Those losings undermine market confidence and exacerbate banking system problems. Some propose suspending mark-to-market EESA requires a study of its impact. Deregulatory Legislation Laws such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and the Commodity Futures Modernization Act (CFMA) permitted financial institutions to plunge in unregulated barba rian transactions on a vast scale.The laws were driven by an excessive faith in the robustness of market discipline, or self-regulation. Shadow Banking System Risky financial activities once confined to regulated banks (use of leverage, borrowing ill-judged-term to lend long, etc. ) migrated outside the explicit politics rubber eraser net provided by deposit insurance and safety and soundness regulation. Mortgage lending, in particular, moved out of banks into unregulated institutions. This unsupervised risk-taking amounted to a financial house of cards.Non-Bank Runs As institutions outside the banking system built up financial positions built on borrowing short and lending long, they became vulnerable to liquidity risk in the form of non-bank runs. That is, they could fail if markets lost confidence and refused to extend or roll over short-term credit, as happened to Bear Stearns and others. Government-Mandated Subprime Lending Federal mandates to help low-income borrowers (e. g . , the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and Fannie Mae and Freddie Macs affordable housing goals) forced banks to engage in imprudent mortgage lending.Excessive Leverage In the post-2000 period of low interest rates and abundant capital, fixed income yields were low. To compensate, many investors used borrowed funds to boost the return on their capital. Excessive leverage magnified the impact of the housing downturn, and deleveraging caused the interbank credit market to tighten. Financial Crisis & U. S frugality In 2008, the United States experienced a major financial crisis which led to the most serious box since the Second World War. Both the financial crisis and the downturn in the U. S. economy spread to many inappropriate nations, resulting in a global economic crisis.On kinsfolk 15, 2008, Lehman Brothers, one of the largest investment banks in the world, failed. over the next few months, the US stock market plumped, liquidity dried up, successful companies laid bump off employees by the thousands, and for the first time there was no longer any doubt a recession was upon the American people. Eleven months after the fall of Lehman Brothers, the U. S. remains in a state of limbo. Proposals for stimulus packages and other bailout plans have provided some relief, but it seems the most effective remedy thus far has been time.The facts are that nigh 6% of all mortgage loans in United States are in default. Historically, defaults were less than one-third of that, i. e. , from 0. 25% to 2%. A huge portion of the change magnitude mortgage loan defaults are what are referred to as sub-prime loans. Most of the sub-prime loans have been made to borrowers with poor credit ratings, no down payment on the home financed, and/or no verification of income or assets (Alt-As). Close to 25% of sub-prime and Alt-As loans are in default.These loans increased dramatically as a 9/30/99 New York Times article explained, In a move that could help increase homeownership rates among minorities and low income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corp. is easing the credit requirements on loans that it allow for purchase from banks and other lenders. To allow Fannie Mae to make more loans, President Clinton excessively reduced Fannie Maes nurse requirement to 2. 5%. That means it could purchase and/or guarantee $97. 50 in mortgages for every $2. 50 it had in beauteousness to cover possible bad debts. If more than 2. % of the loans go bad, the taxpayers (us) have to pay for them.That is what this bailout is all intimately. It is not the politics paying the banks for the bad loans, it is us Principally Senate Democrats demanded that Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac (FM&FM) buy more of these risky loans to help the poor. Since the mortgages purchased and guaranteed by FM&FM are backed by the U. S. government, the loans were re-sold mainly to investment banks which in turn bundled most of them, taking a hefty fee, and sold the mortgages to investors all over the wor ld as virtually risk free.As long as the Federal Reserve (another government created agency) kept interest rates artificially low, periodic mortgage payments were low and housing prices went up. Many home owners got home equity loans to pay their first mortgages and credit card debt. Unfortunately home prices peaked in the winter of 2005-06 and the house of cards started to crumble. People could no longer increase their mortgage debt to pay previous debts. Now, we taxpayers are universe told we have to bail out the banks and everyone in the world who bought these highly risky loans.The politicians in Congress (mostly Democrats) do not want you to know they caused the mess. In the 2006 elections, the Democrats took control of the House and Senate. There are atomic reactor of videos on the Internet showing many Democrats including Senate Banking Committee Chairman Democrat Christopher Dodd and House Banking Committee Chairman Barney Frank, answerable with overseeing FM&FM, assurin g us that there were no problems with FM&FM right up to their collapse.not surprisingly, virtually all the investment banks that are in smother and being bailed out are run by financial supporters of Obama and other Democrats. Secretary of the Treasury Paulsen was head of Goldman Sachs. The new head of the $700 jillion bailout is likewise from Goldman Sachs. This is like letting the fox be in charge of hen house security. It was announced that our government will infuse capital into the troubled banks. This gives whoever is in power of our government the ability to force the like kind of abuses that have caused this massive banking crisis in the first place.Barack Obama has received more campaign donations that any other politician in the past three years from Fannie Mae and Wall Street. FM&FC have been virtually underground piggy banks of campaign contributions for Democrats for the past 10 years. Yes, a token amount went to some Republicans. And there is plenty of blame to go around in this financial crisis, but the reason it happened was 100% caused by a Democrat run government that forced a liberal policy initiated by President Clinton and reforms primarily blocked by Democrats. One would never know this by watching the news or reading newspapers.Until the majority of our citizens understand whom (government liberals) and what (liberalism/socialism) caused this mess, we will allow our elected officials, through massive inflation, to lower the standard of vivification of those of us who are financially prudent and give our earnings to those who are not prudent. The big acknowledgment for the bailout is that credit markets have frozen up. But it is not true. There is plenty of credit available for beloved credit risks. The only way this can be rectified is to allow the people who made the mistakes to take their losses.It is called taking personal responsibility for ones actions. Already we see that the bailout has had virtually no effect on the mark ets other than to cause huge sell offs because smart investors see that the U. S. is adopting failed liberal socialist policies. Our government is future(a) in the footsteps of Hoover and Roosevelt. We do not need to have another depression, but the government is taking the steps to make it happen. The taxpayer financed bailout should be reversed immediately as it will only make headway more irresponsible fraudulent behavior. Impacts of Financial Crisis on Global EconomyFor the developing world, the rise in food prices as well as the knock-on effects from the financial instability and uncertainty in industrialize nations is having a compounding effect. High fuel costs, soaring commodity prices together with fears of global recession are worrying many developing country analysts. Asia & Financial crisis Countries in Asia are increasely worried around what is happening in the West. A number of nations urged the US to provide meaningful assurances and bailout packages for the US ec onomy, as that would have a knock-on effect of reassuring unconnected investors and helping ease concerns in other parts of the world.India and China are the among the worlds fastest growing nations and after Japan, are the largest economies in Asia. From 2007 to 2008 Indias economy grew by a whopping 9%. Much of it is fueled by its domestic market. However, even that has not been enough to shield it from the effect of the global financial crisis, and it is expected that in data will show that by March 2009 that Indias growth will have speechlessed quickly to 7. 1%. Although this is a very impressive growth figure even in good times, the speed at which it has droppedthe sharp slackeningis what is concerning.China similarly has excessively experienced a sharp slowdown and its growth is expected to slow down to 8% (still a good growth figure in normal conditions). However, China overly has a growing crisis of unrest over job losses. Both have poured billions into recovery packag es. China has also raised concerns about the world relying on mostly one foreign currency reserve, and called for the dollar to be replaced by a world reserve currency run by the IMF. Of course, the US has defended the dollar as a global currency reserve, which is to be expected given it is one of its main sources of global economic dominance.Whether a change like this would actually happen remains to be seen, but it is likely the US and its allies will be very resistant to the idea. Japan, which has suffered its own crisis in the 1990s also faces trouble now. While their banks seem more secure compared to their westerly counterparts, it is very dependent on exports. Japan is so exposed that in January alone, Japans industrial production fell by 10%, the biggest monthly drop since their records began. Japans output for the first 3 months of 2009 plunged at its quickest pace since records began in 1955, mostly payable to falling exports.A rise in industrial output in April was expe cted, but was positively more than initially calculated. However, with high unemployment and general lack of confidence, optimism for recovery has been dampened. In recent years, there has been more interest in Africa from Asian countries such as China. As the financial crisis is luluting the Western nations the hardest, Africa may yet enjoy increased trade for a while. These front hopes for Africa, above, may be short lived, unfortunately.In May 2009, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that Africas economic growth will plummet because of the world economic downturn, predicting growth in sub-Saharan Africa will slow to 1. 5% in 2009, below the rate of population growth (revising downward a March 2009 portent of 3. 25% growth due to the slump in commodity prices and the credit squeeze). Some African countries have already started to cut their health and HIV budgets due to the economic crisis. Their health budgets and resources have been constrained for many years alrea dy, so this crisis makes a bad situation worse.Due to its proximity to the US and its close relationship via the NAFTA and other agreements, Mexico is expected to have one of the lowest growth rates for the region next year at 1. 9%, compared to a downgraded forecast of 3% for the rest of the region. Europe & Financial crisis In Europe, a number of major financial institutions failed. Others needed rescuing. In Iceland, where the economy was very dependent on the finance sector, economic problems have hit them hard. The banking system virtually collapsed and the government had to borrow from the IMF and other neighbors to try and rescue the economy.In the end, public dissatisfaction at the way the government was handling the crisis meant the Iceland government fell. The EU is also considering spending increases and tax cuts said to be worth 200bn over two years. The plan is supposed to help restore consumer and business confidence, shore up employment, getting the banks lending agai n, and promoting green technologies. Russias economy is contracting sharply with many more feared to slide into poverty. One of Russias key exports, oil, was a reason for a recent boom, but falling prices have had a big impact and investors are withdrawing from the country.Africa & Financial crisis Perhaps ironically, Africas by and large weak integration with the rest of the global economy may mean that many African countries will not be affected from the crisis, at least not initially, as suggested by Reuters in September 2008. In recent years, there has been more interest in Africa from Asian countries such as China. As the financial crisis is hitting the Western nations the hardest, Africa may yet enjoy increased trade for a while. These earlier hopes for Africa, above, may be short lived, unfortunately.In May 2009, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that Africas economic growth will plummet because of the world economic downturn, predicting growth in sub-Saharan Afri ca will slow to 1. 5% in 2009, below the rate of population growth (revising downward a March 2009 prediction of 3. 25% growth due to the slump in commodity prices and the credit squeeze) African countries could face increasing pressure for debt repayment, however. As the crisis gets deeper and the international institutions and western banks that have lent money to Africa need to shore up their reserves more, one way could be to demand debt repayment.This could cause further cuts in social serve such as health and education, which have already been reduced due to crises and policies from previous eras. The current crisis The housing bubble started to burst in 2006, and the exacerbate accelerated in 2007 and 2008. Housing prices stopped increasing in 2006, started to decrease in 2007, and have fallen about 25 pct from the peak so far. The decline in prices meant that homeowners could no longer refinance when their mortgage rates were reset, which caused delinquencies and defaults of mortgages to increase sharply, especially among subprime borrowers.From the first butt of 2006 to the third quarter of 2008, the percentage of mortgages in foreclosure tripled, from 1 percent to 3 percent, and the percentage of mortgages in foreclosure or at least thirty days delinquent more than doubled, from 4. 5 percent to 10 percent. These foreclosure and wrong rates are the highest since the Great Depression the previous peak for the delinquency rate was 6. 8 percent in 1984 and 2002. And the worst is yet to come. The American dream of owning your own home is turning into an American incubus for megs of families.Early estimates of the total number of foreclosures that will result from this crisis in the years to come ranged from 3 million to 8 million. So far (as of January 2009), there have already been almost 3 million mortgage foreclosures. Another 1 million mortgages are ninety days delinquent and another 2 million were thirty days delinquent. Therefore, a total of a bout 6 million mortgages either have already been foreclosed, are in foreclosure, or are close to foreclosure. Six million mortgages are about 12 percent of all the mortgages in the United States.The situation could get a lot worse in the months ahead, due to the worsening recession and lost jobs and income, unless the government adopts stronger policies to reduce foreclosures. Defaults and foreclosures on mortgages mean losses for lenders. Estimates of losses on mortgages keep increasing, and many are now predicting losses of $1 trillion or more. In improver to losses on mortgages, there will also be losses on other types of loans, due to the weakness of the economy, in the months ahead consumer loans (credit cards, etc. ), commercial real estate, corporate junk bonds, and other types of loans (e. g. redit default swaps).Estimates of losses on these other types of loans range up to another trillion dollars. Therefore, total losses for the financial sector as a whole could be as hi gh as $2 trillion. It is further estimated that banks will suffer about half of the total losses of the financial sector. The rest of the losses will be borne by non-bank financial institutions (hedge funds, pension funds, etc. ). Therefore, dividing the total losses for the financial sector as a whole in the previous paragraph by two, the losses for the banking sector could be as high as $1 trillion.Since the total bank capital in the U.S. is approximately $1. 5 trillion, losses of this magnitude would wipe out two-thirds of the total capital in U. S. banks * This would obviously be a arch blow, not just to the banks, but also to the U. S. economy as a whole. The blow to the rest of the economy would happen because the rest of the economy is dependent on banks for loansbusinesses for investment loans, and households for mortgages and consumer loans. Bank losses result in a reduction in bank capital, which in turn requires a reduction in bank lending (a credit crunch), in order to maintain acceptable loan to capital ratios. presume a loan to capital ratio of 101 (this conservative assumption was made in a recent study by Goldman Sachs), every $100 billion loss and reduction of bank capital would normally result in a $1 trillion reduction in bank lending and corresponding reductions in business investment and consumer spending. According to this rule of thumb, even the low estimate of bank losses of $1 trillion would result in a reduction of bank lending of $10 trillion This would be a severe blow to the economy and would cause a severe recession.Bank losses may be offset to some extent by recapitalization, i. e. by new capital being invested in banks from other sources. If bank capital can be at least partially restored, then the reduction in bank lending does not have to be so significant and traumatic. So far, banks have lost about $500 billion and have raised about $400 billion in new capital, most of it coming from sovereign wealth funds financed by the g overnments of Asian and Middle Eastern countries. So ironically, U. S. banks may be saved (in part) by increasing foreign ownership. U. S. bankers are now figuratively on their knees before these foreign investors offering discounted prices and pleading or help.It is also an important indication of the decline of U. S. economic hegemony as a result of this crisis. However, it is becoming more ticklish for banks to raise new capital from foreign investors, because their prior investments have already suffered significant losses. In addition to the credit crunch, consumer spending will be further depressed in the months ahead due to the following factors decreasing household wealth the end of mortgage equity withdrawals and declining jobs and incomes. All in all, it is shaping up to be a very severe recession.

Educational Needs Assessment Essay

Continuing procreation plays an important role in the phylogenesis of nurse professionals in any health criminal maintenance institution (Waddell, 1991). However, different institutions befuddle different inescapably to address with adore to their nurses professional competencies (Gould et. al. , 2004). According to Billings & Rowles (2001), the primary question that institutions flummox to answer is what particular educational expects their nurses have that ar most relevant to the attaining environment.This paper seeks to determine and prioritize the engages of the Medical-Surgical/Bone vegetable marrow Transplant Oncology Nursing Unit of Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento by means of the administration of a survey questionnaire to a sample of seven (7) registered nurses and a qualitative analysis of the results. Background Sutter Medical Center is a non-profit hospital that surplusizes in providing acute and advanced care to uncomplainings living in Sacramento and th e surrounding area.Its mission is to raise quality primary and tertiary care along with a continuum of services to meet the healthcare needs of the people throughout Northern California. During the previous year, the hospital has been able to generate 58,274 patient days pass around across seven (7) hospital unit of measurements with 20% of which coming from the nursing unit of interest to the study. The unit has 14 registered nurses with varying directs of proficiency and experience.Results There were seven key questions inquired from the seven registered nurses that comprise 50% of the total unit population. Based on the analysis of the results, the particular areas where that the nurses touch should be the focus of any educational design of the institution include chemotherapy patient care, professional strive watchfulness, cardiac emergency protocols, infection control, and telemetry.These were the post often mentioned topics throughout the questionnaire and thus appear to be the most important concerns according to the nurses surveyed. From the nurses responses, it is apparent that many of the nurses exact these subjects as underdeveloped in their professional experience and as such, they are very open to undergoing nurture education in order to be better equipped in the said areas.Some of the nurses prioritized special topics on patient care due to the large number of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Others consider learning proper stress management as a priority and claim that while they are equipped with the knowledge to care strengthively for patients, they often find themselves stressed out in the process and some commented to eventually cosmos in need of care themselves because of the demands of the clip environment which they believe that can handle more effectively with appropriate training.With regard to how this new educational chopine should best be carried out, the nurses surveyed had varying suggestions but what was putting surface among them is the preference of nontraditional educational programs over conventional programs such as actually going dorsum to an institution and enrolling in a course that one has to be physically present to attend. The nurses generally preferable one of two options which are either to learn under the expertise of experienced mentors at work or to get enrolled to online learning classes at home.These preferences underscore the stress that the nurses are already experiencing at work which leaves them with no energy left to actually pursue further studies by traveling to an institution and be physically present to attend class. Hence, some of the surveyed nurses preferred to combine work and study by undergoing alert learning under mentors who are experts at particular fields.The other half of the nurses surveyed preferred to learn through online courses that they can take at the comforts of their home and accomplish at their own pace. Common strengths constituted by th e nurses surveyed include the experience gained as nurses in the institution along with their strong proficiency with the use of period technology. The nurses justifiably claim that their exposure to various situations have honed their abilities in dealing with the same situations.However, they in like manner cite that this is not the best way to learn as it places patients at some risk when they are use a situation with the patient for the first clipping. Nurses believe that their expertise in utilizing web resources would allow them to have better access to continuing education since there are many specialized nursing courses on tap(predicate) online. Furthermore even without enrolling in online courses, the internet provides knowledge sources that the nurses can access for free.Still, some commented on the level of reliability that these sources have. On the other hand, while the surveyed nurses claim that their experience has improved their competence, they also cite the de manding responsibilities addicted to them at work for their inability to pursue other educational courses in their profession. Some responded that the time that they pass off between work and their families practically make up all the time that they have, and cite this fact as one of the major weaknesses in undergoing an educational program.In analyzing the samples assessment of hospital managements sensitivity to their need for more specialized education, there is a general dissatisfaction perceived found primarily in the inability of management to respond to the staffing needs of the unit. The nurses stressed that while there are some educational programs being offered by the institution, these programs simply cannot be availed of by many of the nurses because of the physical and affable pressures brought about by their workload.One barrier to education that was highly prevalent with the sample is the lack of time due to the 51 nurse-to-patient ratios that the hospital has not been able to improve over the past years. Nurses need to prioritize their patients over other professional responsibilities and so continuing education takes a backseat. Some of the nurses also suggest that the hospital should give incentives to nurses who are willing to undergo additional training and education in order to motivate nurses to find the time for the task. ConclusionThere is clearly a need to effect effective educational programs for the Medical-Surgical/Bone Marrow Transplant Oncology Nursing Unit of Sutter Medical Center. The nurses surveyed all suss out that an effective program will be able to provide them with much needed professional development that they can use to improve the overall quality of service that they provide for their patients. However, the barrier of a highly toxic workplace caused by understaffing need to be addressed first before any program can be implemented that can capture the interest of the unit nurses.Thus, the top priority need of the u nit involves the installation of a stress management program that would be able to help the nurses deal with their demanding responsibilities might be effective in taking out some of the pressure and allowing room for the nurses to keep back professional training programs and academic work. A secondary need would be to address content that the nurses feel are lacking in their professional competence such as specialized subjects in chemotherapy patient care among others mentioned in the survey.It is anticipated that based on the administrations thrust, they will be sensory(a) to the results of this study and conduct efforts to help their nurses find the time to develop professionally.ReferencesBillings DM, Rowles CJ. (2001). Development of continuing nursing education offerings for the World Wide Web. J Contin Educ Nurs. 32(3)107-13. Gould D, Kelly D, White I, Chidgey J. (2004). Training needs analysis. A literature review and reappraisal. Int J Nurs Stud. 41(5)471-86. Click her e to read Waddell DL. (1991). The effects of continuing education on nursing practice a meta-analysis. J Contin Educ Nurs. (3)113-8.

Succubus Shadows Chapter 7

Youre right, express Roman the next daybreak, ruminating t come go forth ensemble all everywhere what had happened with Gavin. I didnt manage that.I was standing in the bathroom, going over my hair with a flat iron. It was a pain in the ass compargond to shape-shifting, plainly I want the challenge. Plus, I could always fine-tune the frizziness away after(prenominal)ward.Not like its the first base time its happened, I pointed out, my eye on the mirror rather than where he leaned in the doorway. You used to never mind.Didnt I? he asked dryly.Well, universe with him distracted me from wallowing in self-pity. Not that it nauseouse me feel that immense either, I striketed. allay it kept my whateveraway. And hey, it couldnt wealthy person been as nasty as what you saw Sim genius do.True, except now that guys safe going to have trolling around all the time. Hell be showing up to borrow cups of sugar in the hopes he lay to a greater extent or less make virtually more action.Ill tell apart with him. Ive got a elflike practice in dis go under guys away.Dont I know it.I paused to shoot him a gl atomic number 18. Will you lay off the attitude this morning? Youre starting to sound like youre jealous or some involvement.Roman snorted. Hardly. Why in Gods name would I be jealous over the woman who got my sister killed and tried to unleash the forces of Heaven and Hell to nullify me?Fair point. Its a little more complicated than that.Oh, yes, Im sure. He cut across his arms and stared down at the floor. But maybe the next time youre depending for distraction, we could rent a movie and microwave some popcorn instead of shaging the neighbors.You have horrible taste in movies, I mumbled. But that unlikable the conversation, and Roman wandered off. A few outcomes later, I heard the TV turn on.I had to work today, save it was an afternoon shift. I was up and train to go early because I wanted to visit Erik. I should have felt secure in Jerome s ability to figure out what was going on, as well as Romans protection. But Id had too very much shit happen to me in the past to ever amply trust any iodin. Erik had always proven a valuable resource.Roman went with me, covertly, tho it took a while for me to in truth absorb some quality time with Erik. He had customers in the store which was great for him, exclusively I could hardly discuss immortal affairs with early(a)s around. When the people finally thinned out, Erik turned his attention to me, ready with his natural friendly smile. His color looked ameliorate, and his movements werent as jerky. He was appease weak, honest non as weak.Your colds alter up, I give tongue to.His smile grew. Yes, I told you it was nada. A mere cold isnt going to kill me off.His voice was light, but I couldnt help a small frown. There had been something in his words something I couldnt quite ensnare my finger on that made it sound like he did know what was going to kill him. A chill ran down my spine. I didnt like to think of those sorts of things.I sat down at his little table with him but declined tea. I secure wanted to see if youd learned anything else. It was a nervous hunger on my part. I knew he would have contacted me if he had discovered something.No, but as I verbalise, the study we have is vague enough for it to be any frame of things.Thats what Jerome said.Erik looked pleased. Im glad he knows. Ive always said that your own people are more likely to know better than me.I couldnt help a small laugh. Debatable. I might have something to make it a little less vague. Briefly, I explained my youthful encounter and how it had occurred to me that this force only visited when I was troubled and depressed. Its likeits like its preying on my weakness. Trying to captivate me in with promises of comfort.Then you must be sustenanceful not to give in.If Roman had said that, I would have snapped at him for stating the obvious. Its easy to utter tha t now, in the cold light of logic, but when it happensI dont know. I lose my grip on the world. Reasons gone. Hell, half the time I dont notwithstanding know whats happening until afterward. Its likesleeping. Sleepwalking. Whatever.And it always appears as a type of doorway?I pondered this for several seconds. I dont know sympathetic of. I dont know how to describe it and I know I keep saying that. And how useless it sounds. Im not sure if its a door, exactly, but its unimpeachably probeing to pull me into something.Erik had made himself tea and sat for nearly a minute sipping it, his brow knit in thought. Ill think almost all of this. In the meantime, Id just advise He hesitated. Well, let me put it this way. You are a delight, Miss Kincaid, and I always sleep with my time with you. However, you are also how put up I say this mortal frequently given over to darker moods.Is that your cultivated way of saying Im always down? I teased.Nonot exactly. But if this thing is pursuit out those in emotionally depressed states, so Id say you are particularly susceptible. If its at all possible, you should try to stay away from those moods.I thought about it. One of my best friends was marrying my ex an ex whom I was starting to fall for all over again. An ex whose disposition I had inadvertently raise to Hell and who was now being stalked by another succubus. My own soul had long since been Hell-bound, and I was committed to an eternity of sleeping with men whom I often didnt like. Oh, yeah. allows not for rile that my roommate was given to sociopathic tendencies and had me on his hit list.That might be easier said than done, I told Erik.I can imagine, he said ruefully. But it may be the only way to protect yourself. That and your own providepower the effectivity of which I firmly believe in.Eriks faith in me warmed up a piece of my heart, rase though the rest of todays insight hadnt been all that insightful. I thanked him for his time and headed off to work, grateful Roman offered no witty tittle-tattleary during our drive.At the bookstore, lot worked alone in the caf?. Simone was nowhere in sight, which was one bonus. The particular that it was Maddies day off also improved my mood. perhaps staying away from my usual glum state wouldnt be as hard as I thought.Yo, Kincaid.Doug found me putting stickers on our rack of clearance books. They mostly consisted of out-of-print coffee-table books, things like Stone Arches of Tuscany and The Complete Book of Bridal Cross-stitch. I wasnt entirely sure what that last one was, but maybe itd make a good wedding present for Seth and Maddie. The price was surely a rungain. Wed reduced it three times now, and still no one wanted to buy it.Whats up? I asked.Ive got news thats going to rock your world. And make you think Im even awesomer than you already do.Thats a dauntless statement.He paused, apparently trying to decide if hed been complimented or insulted. I just found out that Gabrielles a fan of blue Satin Bra.She never struck me as that type. I figured all of her lingerie would be black.Doug gave me a withering look. No, Kincaid. I dont mean that she wears one. I mean that she likes the group. Havent you heard of them?Theres a group called Blue Satin Bra? I shook my head. Sorry. I cant keep up with every new garage tie in Seattle.They arent a garage band Theyre the hottest thing to hit the metal scene. Theyre going to make it big.I tried to hide my skepticism. Doug himself was in a band called Nocturnal Admission, and whenever he spoke about local bands, it seemed like everyone was on the verge of making it big.Whats this got to do with Gabrielle again?Doug was clearly growing frustrated with me. Shes a huge fan and theyve got a c erstrt tomorrow night. Unfortunately, its all sold out. She was pretty bummed about it. notwithstanding his annoyance with me, I could sense the smugness within him. Here it comes.Pride lit his features. Im friends with th e bass player and managed to score some tickets. If your pal Cody approaches her with themI paused in my stickering. Youre right. You did just get awesomer.Youve got to go too, you know.I what? Me trailing on didnt sound romantic in the least.Doug shrugged. He cant just ask her out for an actual date. Not yet. Hell fright her.Then what exactly is he divinatory to ask her out for?I do the asking. Ill just be all like, Hey, Gabby, I got some extra tickets to the show. You want to go on with me and my friends? Then shes off guard. She comes along, Codys there, antic happens.Wow, I said. Looks like youve got it all figured out. And I dont think she likes to be called Gabby.This is a good plan. He was clearly very pleased with himself. Ive been around, Kincaid. When you get mad romantic skills like me, youll understand.I rolled my eyes. We can only hope. So how many friends are going along exactly?I scored four tickets. So you, me, Cody, and Gabrielle.Sounds suspiciously like a dou ble date. You trying your mad romantic skills on me? It wouldnt be the first time.Hell no. Do I look suicidal? Youre already claimed. For a minute, Seth came to mind, then Doug added Im not getting on the bad side of that guy youre shacked up with. I mean, I can hold my own in a fight, but he looks like he could seriously fuck soul up.You have no idea, I muttered. No doubt Roman lingering nearby invisibly was loving this. But we arent involved. Hes just my roommate.For now, said Doug ominously. He began a retreat. Ill go invite Gabs. You tell Cody the deal and that youre going to be his wing-woman.I shook my head after Doug left-hand(a), wondermenting what Id gotten myself into. His absurd comments about mad skills and wing-women aside, the whole casual group thing might be a gateway outing to get Gabrielle closer to Cody. I just hoped word of his Goth getup the other day hadnt gotten around to her. I also wondered what large-minded of experience I was getting myself into with Blue Satin Bra. Dougs bizarre industrial alternative symphony had grown on me over the years, but I had a feeling this concert would be a very different experience.About an hour later, I was in my office when some unexpected guests popped their heads in. Well, one wasnt entirely unexpected. Id found that even when Maddie wasnt working, there was never any real security. You couldnt count on her absence, not when her boyfriend and brother were often in the store. I could feel some safety when we didnt have the akin shift, but Id long accepted that Maddie could unfeignedly show up at any moment.No, the real bewilderment was that Maddie was in my office with Brandy Mortensen, Seths niece. He had five of them, and she was the oldest. When Seth and I had dated, Id grown pretty attached to that brood. My longing for children and the girls total adorableness made it easy for me to love them. Theyd grown close to me too.Of course, at fourteen, I pretend Brandy wouldnt appreciate being called adorable. She stood with Maddie, who was holding a garment bag on a hanger. Brandy wore a amazingly sullen teen expression. She seemed taller to me than when Id last seen her. fairish like with Erik, time was passing cursorily for these humans.Hey, guys, I said, reach my paperwork aside. Whats up?More wedding errands, said Maddie cheerfully. We just came by to pick up Seth. We went acantha to that give away and got a dress for Brandy. Shes a bridesmaid too.Maddie lifted the edge of the bag, revealing the same dress Maddie had bought me the other day.How embarrassing, I told Brandy. Were going to show up in the same outfit.She gave me the ghost of a smile but stayed silent.We also went and talked to some florists but didnt really come up with any ideas on what to get. If I get something purple, will it be too monochromatic? And if I get a different color, will it look weird?Hard questions, I said solemnly. Ones I didnt want to answer.Maybe you can come choke with me and take a look at some of their books? Maddie was giving me that hopeful, cheery smile that was so good at inspiring guilt in me.I dont know, I said vaguely. Depends on my schedule.Well, let me know. Let me go grab Seth maybe he has some ideas.Good luck with that, I thought. Seth was notoriously awful at offering opinions, and hed seemed particularly non-committal about this wedding stuff, no pun intended. Maddie left Brandy with me, and I gave her a genuine smile.So hows it been going? I asked. Did you have fun shopping?Brandy crossed her arms over her chest and tossed her blond hair over one shoulder. She was wearing a formfitting overstrung Horror Picture Show T-shirt. Really, I thought. She was one step away from turning into her uncle.No, she said bluntly.I arched an eyebrow in surprise. Last Id known, shopping and having people buy you clothes was pretty sweet-scented when you were a teenage girl. Maybe I was out of touch. Why not?Because, she said dramatically. This wedding i s a joke.I cast an uneasy glance at the doorway. Better not let them hear you say that.Brandy looked un restoreed. She wasnt exactly scowling, but it was pretty close. Uncle Seth isnt supposed to be marrying her.Why not? Theyve been dating forwell, a while. That was salmagundi of true, guilt-induced engagement or no. He proposed. She accepted. Easy as that.Shes not the one, said Brandy stoutly. Hes supposed to be marrying you.Yeah, I really wished the door was closed. Brandy, I said, pitching my voice as low as I could. Your uncle and I broke up. Thats how it is. People move on.You two werent supposed to. You guys were in love.He loves her too.Its not the same.This was not a discussion Id ever expected to have. Id known Seths nieces still wish me, but Id hardly thought Id left this sort of impression. Do you not like Maddie or something?Brandy gave a half-hearted shrug and averted her eyes. Shes okay. But shes not you.I didnt say anything for several moments. I wondered if Brandys resentment toward the wedding was because she had greater devotion to me than Maddie or if it was part of some romantic ideal girls her age often had about love and soul mates.Im sorry, I said. Love in the real world doesnt usually work out the way stories make us think it should. We dont always get fairy-tale endings. People split up and move on. Just because you love someone doesnt mean you cant love someone else. I shivered. This was remarkably similar to a conversation Carter and I had once had, shortly after the (first) break-up with Seth.Its still not right, said Brandy obstinately.Seth and Maddie retrieved her shortly thereafter, for which I was grateful. I really didnt want to have to play devils advocate and defend a marriage that I was hardly thrill about myself. I felt that sorrow that always seemed to plague me when I thought about them summonand then remembered Eriks comments. Dont give in to it. Stay away from it that was what kept leading me into trouble.Easier sai d than done, just as Id told him. Distraction seemed to be the key to it all, and I just didnt feel up to another liaison this night. I certainly didnt need the energy.Distract me, I murmured when I was seated in my car. Annoy me with your wit, or just make me outright mad.No physical evidence of Roman appeared no theaterature, no physical mien but his voice answered me back just as softly. Go see your friends. Arent they going to that bar tonight? You need to tell Cody hes going on a double date.Its not a double date, I growled back.But Roman had a point. I probably should let the young vampire know what was in store tomorrow. I was also kind of curious how Roman even knew about the bar outing. Id acquire a voice mail message earlier today that one would think would have been out of Romans hearing range. Hed either been standing really close, or nephilim just had superhuman hearing. And, well, seeing as they were superhuman, I supposed that wasnt too far off.Another idea sudde nly came to mind about tonights social gathering, one that would most definitely provide a distraction and possibly take care of a nuisance.The bar it is, I declared.I drove down to Pioneer Square, Seattles historic district, and sought out the Cellar, a dunk of a bar located in a basement akin to its name. It was a favorite place for immortals well, hellish immortals. Since most angels didnt drink Carter being the exception you didnt usually find them hanging out in bars. They were more likely to be found at upscale coffee shops. For inexplicable reasons, a number of them also liked to hang out at the restaurant on top of the Space Needle. Maybe they thought it was bringing them closer to Heaven.And, indeed, as I walked down the stairs into the Cellar, I felt Carters signature, along with those of my usual clique. Best of all, there was an additional signature Id been hoping to find.Hot damn, I said, striding toward the table where Simone sat with my friends. She burn with th e glow of energy that succubi stole from their victims. I hated to admit it, but hers was brighter than the one I still sported. I assured myself that it was just because shed probably bagged someone today, rather than last night.Hugh scooted to make room for me, and I pulled up a chair from a neighboring table. Didnt think youd show tonight.I waved a host over and ordered a vodka gimlet. You know I cant stay away from you guys.Youre just in time, said Carter. His face was neutral, but I caught a mischievous glint in his eyes as he sipped his bourbon. Simone was just regaling us with tales of the Underground Tour. Did you hear that Seattle burned to the ground and was rebuilt a century ago? simply every time I take the tour, I replied. Which had been about a dozen times. It was a tourer hotbed, and Id taken friends and out-of-town victims on it often. I gave Simone a curious look. Did you do that today?She nodded. Figured I should take in the city while Im here. She was still usin g that librarian voice, but I had to admit she looked more like a succubus than the last time Id seen her. Her neckline was cut so low, it was a wonder her nipples didnt show. Her lips were fuck-me red, and unless I was mistaken, her hair was longer and more voluminous than before. I couldnt decide if she looked like an angel or a beach bunny.And speaking of angelsSimone had her chair pushed right next to Carters, so close that she couldnt help but brush her arm against his each time she reached for her drink. I suspected her leg was pressed up to his as well.He glanced over, giving her a look that wasnt exactly romantic but filled with deep evoke I felt certain was feigned.I find Seattles history fascinating. I havent been here that long, so its great to keep learning new things.Simone beamed. Across the table, Hugh choked a little on his drink. Carter had been in Seattle for a couple hundred years. True not that long for an immortal like him, but hed most certainly been here for the Seattle fire. Hell, considering how hed once accidentally burned down my Christmas tree, he might have been the one who embed the city ablaze, for all I knew.My gimlet appeared, and I took a long drink of liquid courage. From what I hear, youve been checking out some of our local celebrities too, I said sweetly.Simone dragged her adoring gaze from Carter and fixed me with a frown. I dont think Ive run into many celebrities.Well, I said, still smiling like a fool. I conjecture it depends on how you define celebrity. I certainly consider best-selling authors celebrities. Youve been chatting up one quite a bit.Immediately, Cody, Hugh, and Peter eagerly snapped to attention. They could sniff female conflict a mile away and were undoubtedly tonic themselves for a cat fight.Oh, that, she said dismissively. I thought you meant like an actor or something. Yeah, hes just someone on my radar. One of many. Pretty cute. Nice enough.And a friend of mine, I said. My voice was still cheerf ul, but I could see in her eyes that she was well aware of the escalating tension.Still, fair game, she replied with a shrug. And what do you care? His souls already tainted. Hes not that good a catch. Not like I can do much more damage.That wasnt true. Seth might currently be Hell-bound, but he wasnt beyond redemption even though the odds of that were allegedly slim. If by some crazy chance Simone got him to cheat on Maddie again, his soul would grow darker and kill any lingering chances to save him. Plus, sin aside, Simone would shorten his life which was something I was definitely against.So, hes just a random guy you scoped out? I asked. The politeness was fading from me. It was melding from her too. So. savorless Simone wasnt quite as oblivious as she played. The fact that hes a friend of mine and someone I used to date makes no difference?You make it sound like Im trying to get you back for something. I dont even know you. Im just here on vacation. Getting guys is part of our life and you dont have any territorial control like them. She nodded toward the vampires, who had very well-defined hunting grounds. Unless, she added smugly, youve got some kind of show with Jerome.I certainly didnt. In fact, my boss had made it extremely clear that he didnt care about what happened to Seth.No, but Id think youd do it as a courtesy when youre visiting someone elses city. Its the nice thing to do. My smile returned, filled with ice this time. And it ensures that your visit stays nice too. Maybe using her favorite procedural would drive home my message.Simone stiffened, attention totally on me now. What is this, some kind of warning that youll come after me if I dont back off?I shrugged and finished my drink. Just friendly advice.She stood up and slung her purse over her shoulder with such force that it nearly hit Carter in the head. Apparently, he wasnt on the radar anymore. Well, at least for now. Im not going to stay and listen to thinly veiled threats. Espe cially ones over inconsequent men. If I want him, Ill get him.Youll be missed, I muttered as she stalked away.Oh, said Hugh brightly. There is null I like better than when succubi fight. Puts Dynasty to shame. You could have cleaned the floor with Tawny, but Simone might give you a match.Hardly, I said. And shell have about as much luck with Seth as Carter.Carter raised an eyebrow, apparently not agreeing with my statement.Shes really hitting on Seth? asked Cody.Yup. In a shy, starry-eyed fan girl kind of way.Isnt that how you won him over way back when? asked Peter.I shot him a glare. Its irrelevant. It wont work.Then why nettle? asked Hugh slyly.Because an ounce of prevention oh, never mind, I groaned. I need another drink.Hugh and the vampires were clearly amused by all this and werent particularly concerned. I think they too believed Seth would prove immovable they just liked the idea of me making another succubus irate. The sad part was that Id probably just encouraged Simon e to try even harder.Two drinks later, I decided to head home. I was sufficiently angry that I didnt terror the siren songs comfort. Before leaving, I informed Cody about his impending date. Unsurprisingly, he freaked out.What? II cant. What will I say? What will I do?Frankly, my dear began Hugh in an undertone.Youll be fine, I said. Just preventative stressing and be yourself.Sounds like a double date, said Peter. I can get more black hair dye.No, I warned. Do not even think about it. I could still see faint streaks that hadnt entirely washed out from Codys blond mane. Just dress like you are now. Ill meet you at the club.I started to turn, and then a thought came to me. Carter, can I talk to you?His lips twitched slightly. If that was his sign of surprise, I couldnt say. eachthing for you, Daughter of Lilith.He followed me outside the bar, where we stood amid all the Pioneer Square partygoers. Once clear of the buildings non-smoking interior, he promptly lit a fagot.If youre j ealous of my relationship with Simone, he said, I can assure you, were just friends.Oh, be quiet. You know thats not what this is about. Look, she was lying, right? About Seth being a coincidence?Carter took a long drag before answering. Angels could tell when others were lying. Yep. But she seemed pretty sincere in the last comment about going after him regardless.I grimaced. Why? Why would she target Seth? Is it some kind of way to assert dominance over the local succubus?Not sure. The ways of succubi and all women are a mystery to me.Jerome originally thought shed come to spy. He had Roman follow her, but nothing came of it. She never reported in or anything. He pulled Roman from her I paused, suddenly turning over the events and analyzing them in a way I hadnt considered before. But it wasnt until I told him Simone was hitting on Seth. It seemed like that was the moment Jerome pulled Roman. He seemed pretty adamant about leaving her alone.Did he now? Carter inhaled on the ci garette again, but I could see thoughts churning behind his eyes.What? I asked.Just a musing, he said. A half-truth, typical of angels. Did Jerome do anything else after that?Yeah, he put Roman on me.This elicited surprise. Why?Apparently, Jerome and Carter hadnt been hanging out recently. I gave Carter the rundown on my latest bizarre situation.That is weird, he admitted.Do you know what it could be?Any number of things. He spoke flippantly, but I knew Id piqued his curiosity maybe even his concern.I sighed. I wish people would stop saying that. No ones really helping.Ill help you, he said, dropping the cigarette and stamping it out. Ill follow Simone.That was not at all what I had expected. Why would you do that? Are you going to stop her from making the moves on Seth?This earned his amusement. You know I cant interfere with that kind of thing. But I am curious about Simones activities.An uneasy feeling bubbled within me, one that had troubled me since Id first met Seth, and Cart er had begun winning an active role in my life. Why? Why do you care so much about Seth? Youve always been curious about what he does and how we interact.Im interested in the creative process of a great artist. Its fun to watch.Another half-truth. Like always, he answered the question without really answering it. I was stunned at the desperation in my voice when I spoke next. Im serious. Why, Carter? How does Seth and me being with Seth concern you?He chucked me on the chin. Youve got better things to do than worry about the goings-on of a curious angel. Besides, wouldnt you feel better if someone was reporting back to you on Simone?Well, yeah, I admitted. But Then its settled. Youre welcome.He turned quickly away and disappeared into a crowd of partiers. I knew better than to go after him because hed probably literally disappear once no one was paying attention. I sighed yet again.Fucking angels.