Wednesday, December 25, 2019
The Appeal of Body and Identity Essay Topics
The Appeal of Body and Identity Essay Topics When an identity thief receives a hold of one of your cards there's no telling what he or she'll do with them. The purpose was supposed to stop parents from needing to purchase new clothes for their children at the beginning of the school year. The identity is quite essential for the well being of somebody in their everyday life, on the job and despite their relaintionships. The identity of somebody that's in question needs to be able to realize them, and he has to be identified by other individuals. DID is usually treated with a blend of therapy and medication. Enzyme deficiencies and a deficiency of a DHT hormone, a potent type of testosterone, could result in something similar. Analyze why eating disorders are difficult to cure. Keeping a nutritious diet and eliminating artificial components can only benefit an individual's health. It is essential for the author to learn more about the effect of private life in order to comprehend the effect of distinct people who are forming your identity. That some choose to recognize a person's gender by the way that they dress or appear is a display of ignorance on the topic of gender, which only proves to propel the issue of societal influence over a person. To sum up all the research and theories above, it's safe to say that each facet of somebody's life has an effect on an individual's identity in 1 way or another. Throughout history, relationships have emerged and gone through dramatic changes dependent on the social norms at the moment. The Secret to Body and Identity Essay Topics If there isn't any jam and the cutting mechanism is still operational, you probably require the support of a professional because there might be an issue with the motor or gears. Three goals are necessary for the job of identity formation. After observation is the point where the supp ressers must be extra vigilent. A planning stage which causes the essay outline will help to stick to the logic and include every required thought retrieved during the practice of brainstorming. Ok, I Think I Understand Body and Identity Essay Topics, Now Tell Me About Body and Identity Essay Topics! A cultural identity essay is a sort of creative or academic writing that expresses the sensation of belonging to a specific culture credited to the growing up and becoming a distinct person with its personality. In earlier times marriage and romantic relationships were handled with a specific amount of formality. Before discussing the part of society, it ought to be clarified what we actually mean by society. Generally speaking, a society usually means a huge group of folks dwelling in a place or within a country below the control of same laws, values and culture. Simply speaking, the essays should be concise enough. The themes are opinions of mine and ought to be taken by the expert world as simply a college student's ramblings. Body and Identity Essay Topics - Overview Identity theft isn't something to be played with. Once you get your identity straightened out, you might think about registering with Equifax Credit Watch. Identity is the thing that makes us move in a specific direction. Bodily identity is the claim that personal identity is the same from identity of different objects, such as, for instance, a book. The Body and Identity Essay Topics Cover Up Men are often CEOs or find the job effortlessly. By comparison, many men and women in recent generations appear to have forgotten what commitment means anymore. It is vital to choose what we're seeking to achieve in our lives. Make what you go for an integral portion of all your lives. Hearsay, Lies and Body and Identity Essay Topics For online business, it's a superb conc ept to only shop or share information with reputable sites, if you aren't familiar with the company or agency running the site, you might want to reconsider sharing personal information since you will never know where it may wind up. When you send information over the web, be sure you've got good firewall and anti-virus software installed. The reverse process occurs whenever your computer should communicate to the world wide web. Additional help may be to conduct surveys of the general public. Body and Identity Essay Topics and Body and Identity Essay Topics - The Perfect Combination Begin with the introduction revolving about your thesis and explain what you're going to be exploring in the essay. Essays are given on lots of topics. If you think nobody will read your private essay attentively because it's boring, you can't be more wrong. Make it a conventional 5-paragraph essay.
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Hurricane Katrin A World Country - 1302 Words
After Katrina made landfall, Mississippi and Louisiana looked like a third world country. With over 50 levee failures and numerous levee breaches causing severe flooding in 80% of the city and 180,000 in structural damage the cities were faced with a death toll of 1,300 casualties (Hurricane Katrina Rebuilding). Half the cities were sitting under water, which made it hard for rescue missions, recovery and evacuation organizations to be able to begin the recovery phase. What made it even harder was that just a couple of weeks later hurricane Rita made landfall to the already devastated states. Local authorities and trained, professional emergency-response teams began search and rescue and discovered that people who were trapped in their houses surrounded by floodwater, were either with some type of access to food and water or had neighbors who shared their emergency supplies. This helped survivors to be able to sustain themselves longer before rescuers were able to get to them. Search and rescue phrase was stretched out for weeks. American Red Cross sets up camps where they were passing our food, water and treated the most severely injured. The Mental health specialist were on hand to give counseling to the people that were affected by the hurricane. On Wednesday,August 31,2005 Fema reported that there were people dying in the Superdome were there was shelter and that food and water were starting to run out. Mississippi and Louisiana resulted in the largest relocationShow MoreRelatedRastafarian79520 Words à |à 319 PagesDar es Salaam Delhi Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kolkata Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Mumbai Nairobi Sà £o Paulo Shanghai Taipei Tokyo Toronto Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries Copyright à © 2003 by Ennis Barrington Edmonds The moral rights of the authors have been asserted Database right Oxford University Press (maker) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
Monday, December 9, 2019
News Channels Turning Into Entertainment Channels free essay sample
yes we are getting a feeling that they are becoming entertainment channels.. .but in business point of view, what they are doing is right to some extent. .. there are hundreds of news channels in India each month the number is increasing the aim of every channel is to get new customers and retain the existing as far as financial cost for maintaining a channel is concerned ,its huge so it is a do or die situation for them.. a channel has to target all kinds of viewers .. if u examine the viewers of television channels, the majority are young people ajority of young people like the latest fashion trends and films. i am not saying they completely dislike politics. so the main aim of news channels is to catch this young vibrant generation and get the maximum advertisement revenue.. thats the reason why they are giving preference to films and latest trends. We will write a custom essay sample on News Channels Turning Into Entertainment Channels or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page further the concept of news include entertainment news also. some people even think that this type of entertainment news is a relief from dirty politics. if u check American news channels they some times give preference to celebrity news to other national and political news.. he preference they are giving to paris hilton an britiney spears are examples(FOX news).. .. but according to me the first priority for every news channels should be the national and international news.. after that they can give due importance to entertainment.. in my opinion the Indian news channels are doing a commendable role in safeguarding our democracy and freedoms. the sting operations are only one of them (but not by LIVE INDIA) a free and independent media is considered to be the fourth pillar of democracy. ometimes i feel that our media is much for free than many American news channels but Indian media has to go a long way. they should concentrate more on exposing corruption and human right violations . if they do this they can change the life of millions . India should be proud for having freedom of speech and press.. i hope that they will use this freedom for giving real independence to people of India.. The entertainment served on news channels can be divided into two types: First, news presented in a more entertaining way and, second, an emphasis on entertainment news. Presentation and delivery of news is becoming more dramatic, friendly and entertainingââ¬âa compulsion of this visual medium. However, what is even more interesting now is the rising interest in, and visibility of, news on entertainment There is an old quote-Quality is better than quantity. This is something which Indian news channels of the present era need to understand. As the media sector is seeing a cut-throat competition sector, the news channels now-a-days resort to anything and everything they could possibly do to fetch high TRPs.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
The Impact of the Megatrends in Business
The modern business world develops according to the progress of the megatrends in such spheres as Information Technologies (IT), Human Resources (HR), and Management. These trends influence many aspects of the business and the companyââ¬â¢s development also including the range of duties and responsibilities of the Purchasing and Supply Management professionals (P/SM).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of the Megatrends in Business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some years ago the main accents in the work of P/SM professionals were made on the effective interactions with suppliers and customers with basing on the successful problem-solving and decision-making process. Today, the duties and responsibilities of P/SM professionals are affected by such tendencies as globalization, e-commerce, professional development, cross-functional teaming and project management. Thus, to follow these tendencies, P/SM professionals are expected to orient in their responsibilities to global purchasing, and as a result, widening the relations with customers and suppliers. Moreover, the development of e-commerce makes P/SM professionals focus on the opportunities provided by the Internet. Today, the online market is discussed as more economically advantageous in comparison with the traditional market because of saving the costs on advertizing, retailing, and delivery (Wisner, 2011). Furthermore, modern P/SM professionals also actively use the possibility of auctioning online. Such megatrends in HR and management as the necessity of the intensive professional development, the concentration on cross-functional teaming and project management result in the increase of the improvement of P/SM professionalsââ¬â¢ skills, in the growth of the competitiveness within the industry, in the orientation to the balance between the role of the individual and team in the decision-making process toward achieving the definite goal. Nowadays, there are few aspects which can limit the deepening and expansion of the relations between customers and producers, and the P/SM professionalââ¬â¢s duty is to use all the opportunities effectively and reduce all the challenges. It is also possible to speak about the impact of these trends on the organizational and operational aspects of the Purchasing and Supply Management Department.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this case, the main focus is on the effective supplier selection and strategic relationships with suppliers, on the development of the strategic perspective and the vision of a wide picture of the situation with references to the results of the project management and concentrating on the global diversity and integration. The major aspects of the process are flexibility in overcoming the industryââ¬â¢s challenges and risks wit h the help of effective planning and making decisions (Wisner, 2011). In this situation, to face all the business, IT, HR, and management challenges of the 21st century, it is necessary for P/SM professionals to develop their specific skills which are based on the improvement of the communication and presentation skills in the work with suppliers and customers, of the ethical knowledge, of flexibility and a quick reaction to the situation, and of the problem-solving skills. The development of these skills is significant in the context of the managerââ¬â¢s purpose to work out and follow the effective strategy in relation to reducing the costs, increasing quality and service (Wisner, 2011). From this point, P/SM professionals should be able to provide the broad vision of the situation in the industry with references to the developed e-commerce and globalization trends. Moreover, the abilities to review, analyze, and evaluate the tendencies of the development with choosing the best strategies to follow are as important as the skills to manage the work of the employees, to organize the relationships with customers and suppliers effectively. Reference Wisner, J. D. (2011). Principles of supply chain management: A balanced approach. USA: Cengage Learning. This essay on The Impact of the Megatrends in Business was written and submitted by user Dangelo Ryan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Schindler Ver Essay Example
Schindler Ver Essay Example Schindler Ver Essay Schindler Ver Essay OH major assignment initiated by VERA in 1995 Standardized ultra-low cost elevator, Nan-cuts amazed C]Sensitive discussions between Annapolis and plan ants in Switzerland, France, Spain C]Outcome: SOCIO C]landscaped out-source ratio Lionhearted processes never seen in Schneider Crisscrossed supply chain and reduced industry standard leading (20-gawks) to 50% Indian entry project C]Annapolis, assigned by VERA, to work with BCC to I identify suitable local partners after ABLE JP fail De in 1996 C]No suitable candidates found, but 100% whole y owned subsidiary was becoming legally feast able L]Annapolis spent 9 months with market experts an d local consultants and submitted his BP to IVR C]BP approved in Cot 1997 and Annapolis was offer De the job to of creating Indian subsidiary Why India? Clan 1995, Mr.. Schneider traveled to Asia during 6-months as batting period, to review long-term strategy Cafeteria 3,000 kern travel in 6 was in a small Ford rental I car in India, Mr.. Schneider saw India as a second China will be our Formula One racing track. In the taut o industry, 90% of all innovations are developed for and tee Steed on Formula One cars and then reproduced on a much larger scale and adapted for the mass market. We are test inning things in India-? in isolation and on a fast track -?t hat probably could not be done anywhere else in the com any. The expectation is that what we prove can be adapted d to the rest of the group. Annapolis view Call realized that the future manager Of the nee w company would be key to the success oft he business plan I had been worki ng on. 1 was conscious that my early involvement in t he project made me a candidate, so when the offer came, was not surprised. Deep down, I knew I could do it. Comer surprising was the reaction of my head quarters colleagues, who thought was razz to take such a high-risk career move the at involved dragging my family to a developing g country. Bonanzas view there are two possible profiles in a country like India. The first is a young guy who knows the company, people, and products; the second is someone who is 55 years old with grown kids looking for a new challenge. L]Mr.. Annapolis knew lots of people. He was open to go new way s. We needed someone who could handle different cult rest. Who was young and flexible. Owe needed to trust the person we sent, and we trusted h IM 100%. And we needed a generalist, not a pure special sit. We needed someone who had courage. Finally, I believe that the people who make the buss news plan should have to realize it. Of course, we alls o needed to have someone who was willing to go. Relocating to India C]Got stuck in one of the Bibs elevators on his 1 SST day I n the Delhi office C]errs after family landed the 2-yr-old daughter fell with deep wound requiring stitching under total anesthesia gawks later, my wife got food poisoning which required one week hospitalizing and even threatening miscarry rage the day she came back home my 3-yr-old son fell in h Tool bathroom and broke his front tooth For the only time in my life, I really wondered, whether r I could stand this much longer? C]You cant set your watch by the Indian trains. Sometimes even if you say no, its always ma De to sound like yes. Delhi Iambi , , , Rib. Mental power development CIT survive in India you need to be half moon k and half warrior. Cinchona is a warrior C] Driving very hard, impulsive, impatient, and at times eve r-communicative L] Gets angry when deadlines are not met C] Hes a pretty hard taskmaster C] Silvia has a lot of energy. C] When he focuses on an issue he manages to get everybody else s focus in hat direction. Annapolis will have to work on the monk part. Annapolis approach of hiring 0You try to see whether the character of the person is compatible with yours, whether you have a com moon set of values, which in our case range from high ethical standards, integrity, assiduousness to work, and drive. Mostly we were looking for people with the right attitude and energy, not just for elevator people. Mr.. Schneider had convinced me that the company really needed a front-line HRS manager who was ca able of developing a first-class organization. COM. K. Sings(Managing Director) 20 , O Annapolis , C] Asked Annapolis Who are your friends, who doesnt like you CIT. A. K. Matthews (UP Field Operations) OTIS 9 CLC , l realized that you dont have a chance to get involved with a start-up every day! C]Ronnie Dante (GM, Engineering) (l OTIS 24 L] Authentic depositories of an unpublished science, one oft he best! Panky Sinai(Head of HRS) Juju than Jean(GOOF) c] PG( ) Kellogg( ) Team building C]Len the first Schneider India staff meetings held at night, MO SST of those undercover sessions were dedicated to educe ting the new team about their new company and building c nonsense around our business plan. The team was really forged through days of late work, fuel De by the common motivation to see our project succeed. L]Mathews: Its true that if you look at Silvia, M. K. , and me w e are all very different. At first we had sessions where the discussion would get pulled in every direction, but I think I n the end, it did bring about a balance flout of this interaction emerged a company culture that me peoples described as informal, open, responsive, and proactive. It was also a lean, efficient organization. Profit analysis In rays life cycle of an elevator: Engineering, Production, Installation: C] 33% of labor. 20% of profit C]Service, Repair, Modernization, Replacement: CLC of labor. Of profit Core elements of BP 1 . Standard Product Strategy the need to sell a focused line of standard pro ducts Suspicious on solo (low-rise) SAPP (mid-rise) C]Differentiated sales and service. Account man cement concept with only One single hassle-free e window 2. Outsource Strategy C]The ability to outsource key manufacturing an d logistics functions AID competitors manufactured locally. L]Schneider India owns no in-house production, no centralized assembly, no logistics infrastructure C]SOCIO (Swatch project), 90% C]Maintenance stays in Schneider India Business Challenges Annapolis , Annapolis so 1) soon 30%, A 456%), Annapolis Discussion Questions This case study is about.. C]How would you evaluate Silos first seven moon this as general manager of the Indian company? C]What are his achievements? , That concerns do you have? Technical Director Schneider OPAC Left in 2004 TAKE Consultant oft in 2003 Managing Schneider S. Africa UP GOOF Schneider N. America Sows Silvia the right choice for general manage ere of Schneider India operations? Fife , , , 15 , , , ; Three major roles of a country manager 1. Bicameral Interpreter 2. National Defender Advocate 3. Frontline Implementer of Corporate Strategy Annapolis experience in India CEO Mr.. Schn eider This job requires high energy and courage. Its a battlefield experience.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Soler Conjugation in Spanish, Translation, and Examples
Soler Conjugation in Spanish, Translation, and Examples Soler is a Spanish verb frequently used to indicate the action of doing something as a customary practice or that something usually happens. It has no direct English equivalent, but it can be translated as tends to do something or usually does something. This article includes soler conjugations in the present and imperfect indicative, the present and past subjunctive, and other verb forms such as the gerund and past participle. Using the Verb Soler Soler is a unique verb for three different reasons: Soler is a defective verb in that it isnt used in all forms. It is rarely used in tenses other than the present indicative, imperfect indicative and present subjunctive, although it can be used with the past participle to form the present perfect. It isnt used in the preterite, future, or conditional tenses, nor in the imperative mood.As an auxiliary verb, it is always followed by an infinitive verb.Soler is a stem-changing verb, which means that when the stem is stressed, the -o changes to -ue. For example, the first-person indicative present form of soler is suelo. Its stem changes follow the same conjugation pattern as mover. Soler Present Indicative One of the most frequent uses of soler is in the present indicative tense. Notice that the stem changes from -o to -ue in all of the present tense conjugations except nosotros and vosotros. Yo suelo Yo suelo hacer la tarea por la noche. I tend to do my homework at night. Tà º sueles Tà º sueles trabajar muy tarde. You tend to work very late. Usted/à ©l/ella suele Ella suele ir a la iglesia con su madre. She usually goes to church with her mother. Nosotros solemos Nosotros solemos ver televisià ³n por la noche. We usually watch television at night. Vosotros solà ©is Vosotros solà ©is comer comida saludable. You tend to eat healthy food. Ustedes/ellos/ellas suelen Ellos suelen ser muy responsables. They tend to be very responsible. Imperfect Indicative The imperfect is used to talk about ongoing or repeated actions in the past. Soler in the imperfect is usually translated as used to do something. Yo solà a Yo solà a hacer la tarea por la noche. I used to do my homework at night. Tà º solà as Tà º solà as trabajar muy tarde. You used to work very late. Usted/à ©l/ella solà a Ella solà a ir a la iglesia con su madre. She used to go to church with her mother. Nosotros solà amos Nosotros solà amos ver televisià ³n por la noche. We used to watch television at night. Vosotros solà ais Vosotros solà ais comer comida saludable. You used to eat healthy food. Ustedes/ellos/ellas solà an Ellos solà an ser muy responsables. They used to be very responsible. Present Progressive/Gerund Form The gerund verb form can be used as an adverb or to form progressive tenses. This verb form is not very frequently used for the verb soler. Past Participle The past participle can be used as an adjective or to form perfect tenses like the present perfect. Perfect tenses are formed with the auxiliary haber, plus the past participle. Present Perfect of Soler ha solido Ella ha solido ir a la iglesia con su madre. She has tended to go to church with her mother. Soler Present Subjunctive In the present subjunctive there is also a stem change o to ue for all the conjugations except nosotros and vosotros, just like in the present indicative tense. Que yo suela Mi profesor sugiere que yo suela hacer la tarea por la noche. My professor suggests that I tend to do my homework at night. Que tà º suelas La jefa pide que tà º suelas trabajar muy tarde. The boss asks that you tend to work late. Que usted/à ©l/ella suela El padre espera que ella suela ir a la iglesia con su madre. The priest hopes that she tend to go to church with her mother. Que nosotros solamos El nià ±o espera que nosotros solamos ver televisià ³n por la noche. The boy hopes that we tend to watch television at night. Que vosotros solis La doctora espera que vosotros solis comer comida saludable. Your mother hopes that you tend to eat healthy food. Que ustedes/ellos/ellas suelan La consejera recomienda que ellos suelan ser muy responsables. The counselor recommends that they tend to be very responsible. Imperfect Subjunctive The imperfect subjunctive is used in situations that happened in the past, but it has the same usage as the present subjunctive. The imperfect subjunctive has two different possible conjugations: Option 1 Que yo soliera Mi profesor sugerà a que yo soliera hacer la tarea por la noche. My professor suggested that I tend to do my homework at night. Que tà º solieras La jefa pedà a que tà º solieras trabajar muy tarde. The boss asked that you tend to work late. Que usted/à ©l/ella soliera El padre esperaba que ella soliera ir a la iglesia con su madre. The priest hoped that she tend to go to church with her mother. Que nosotros solià ©ramos El nià ±o esperaba que nosotros solià ©ramos ver televisià ³n por la noche. The boy hoped that we tend to watch television at night. Que vosotros solierais La doctora esperaba que vosotros solierais comer comida saludable. Your mother hoped that you tend to eat healthy food. Que ustedes/ellos/ellas solieran La consejera recomendaba que ellos solieran ser muy responsables. The counselor recommended that they tend to be very responsible. Option 2 Que yo soliese Mi profesor sugerà a que yo soliese hacer la tarea por la noche. My professor suggested that I tend to do my homework at night. Que tà º solieses La jefa pedà a que tà º solieses trabajar muy tarde. The boss asked that you tend to work late. Que usted/à ©l/ella soliese El padre esperaba que ella soliese ir a la iglesia con su madre. The priest hoped that she tend to go to church with her mother. Que nosotros solià ©semos El nià ±o esperaba que nosotros solià ©semos ver televisià ³n por la noche. The boy hoped that we tend to watch television at night. Que vosotros solieseis La doctora esperaba que vosotros solieseis comer comida saludable. Your mother hoped that you tend to eat healthy food. Que ustedes/ellos/ellas soliesen La consejera recomendaba que ellos soliesen ser muy responsables. The counselor recommended that they tend to be very responsible.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Emerging Viruses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Emerging Viruses - Essay Example Obviously, it is adaptation which ensures continuity of its kind. While the constituencies of human living cells have not evolved, men have learned how to boost their immune system. This is to maintain good health, and to avoid the dangers of pathogens, without necessarily altering normal physiology. Fortunately, increasing the body's resistance to dreadful diseases has become ordinary because of the intensified information technology as well as the new findings and concoctions in the field of pharmacy. Some may have precautionary vaccines to develop antibodies, and others may have resorted to proper medication when ill with identified pathogens (Engelkirk and Burton, 2007). Unfortunately, these created barriers to the normal multiplication of pathogens, and are the most likely switch factors to the evolution of either the DNA or the RNA, whichever is present in an animal virus that infect cells. Normally, animal viruses complete their customary multiplication cycle in six (6) stages (Engelkirk and Burton, 2007). Initially, viruses attach on recognized receptors, usually proteins or polysaccharides, on surfaces of their specific living host cells ("Transmission of Influenza A Viruses and People-Information from CDC" 81).
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Strategic Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Strategic Management - Assignment Example Starbucks purchases Fair Trade coffee. This arrangement helps local farmers by guaranteeing a minimal price of $1.26 per pound of wholesale coffee. It also provides them with technology transfers and access to financial assistance such as short term loans to finance the crops of Coffee. Starbucks believes in the value of implementing wellness programs to help out different stakeholder groups including customers, suppliers, and employees. Starbucks purchased 269 million pounds of coffee in 2010; 84% of its purchases came from C.A.F.E. Practices approved suppliers (Starbucks, 2011). The Starbucks stores are designed to save as much energy as possible through the acquisition of superior technology and innovative processes. Water conservation is another practice that Starbucks Cafe practices. The average American uses more than 6 times more water per year than the average African. The company supports social causes such as world hunger and the AIDS/HIV epidemic. The company refers to its employees as baristas. The baristas are supposed to help the company create the ââ¬Å"Starbucks Experience.â⬠The wastage that Starbucks stores produce is minimized through the implementation of its recycling program. The implementation of the firmââ¬â¢s recycling program is customized per store since it is dependent on the availability of existing recycling programs in the community. # 2--Week 3 Discussion Question 2 A company is constantly in the news due to its dominance of the retail marketplace is Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is the most successful retail store in the history of the United States. The company creates value by offering products at lower prices than the competition. The firm has a superb supply chain that allows the company to source products at lower costs. The company also uses bulk purchasing to achieve savings. Wal-Mart is the worldââ¬â¢s largest employer with over 2.1 million employees worldwide (Walmart, 2011). The competitive advantage the company enjoy s is composed of a variety of factors which include: better customer service, lower prices, superb marketing, size of product offering, and superior locations. The firm offers over one million products to its customers. Wal-Mart is a multinational corporation that is publicly traded in the NYSE that operates in 28 countries. My employer does business in the United States solely. The core strategy used by Wal-Mart of beating the competition in terms of price is not aligned with the strategy the company I work for uses. My employer uses a differentiation strategy to attract customers. The products and services offered by my employer are unique, which is contrary to Wal-Martââ¬â¢s strategy of offering common household products. An attribute or characteristics that both Wal-Mart and my employer share is a commitment towards customer service. A second characteristic that both companies share is the existence of an e-commerce operation. Wal-Mart has an online store that sell is product s to the entire global customer base. The e-commerce operation my employer uses differs in that the company focuses only on the domestic marketplace. # 3-- Week 3 Discussion Question 3 People eat outside their homes more often when the economy is doing well and their disposable income is higher. During bad economic times upper level restaurants are hurt more than cheap products. The industry leader in the fast food industry, McDonaldââ¬â¢s, achieved global sales of $24 billion and $4.94 billion in net income
Sunday, November 17, 2019
History of education Essay Example for Free
History of education Essay ââ¬Å"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. â⬠ââ¬âNelson Mandela The importance of learning is to enable the individual to put his potentials to optimal use. Education makes man a right thinker and a correct decision-maker. It achieves this by bringing him knowledge from the external world, teaching him to reason and acquainting him with past history, so that he can be a better judge of the present. With education, he finds himself in a room with all its windows open to the outside world. A well educated man is a more dependable worker, a better citizen, a centre of wholesome influence, pride to his community and honour to his country. A nation is great only in proportion of its advancement in education. Education is Self Empowerment. Receiving a good education makes a person strong enough to look after himself in any given situation. It keeps him aware of the given surrounding as well as the rules and regulations of the society. Its only through knowledge that one can question authority for its negligence or discrepancies and only then that can a person avail his rights as a citizen and seek improvement in the structural functioning of governance and economy. As a whole, people can bring about development only when they know where improvement is necessary for the greater good of mankind. Education gives a better understanding to the person, it helps realize potential and qualities one possesses as a human being. It helps tap into latent talent, so that people can sharpen their skills. Education teaches what man lives and struggles for. It cultivates an integrated life. By so doing, it gives significance of life. It helps restores financial stability and dignity of life. It is the essential basis of a good life. Education enlightens and lifts a nation to heights of progress. The problem in India is that it has adopted democracy without preparing the ground for it by educating population. But its never too late to undertake mass programmes of Adult education or Social education. Adult education is the education of grown up men and women. In the complex modern times, people must be knowledgeable and be aware of what they are doing and what is being done to them. To create such sentience every responsible citizen should take up this social cause and educate the knowledge deprived people. Teaching a daily worker for just an hour daily can change their lives in propitious ways as it was rightly quoted by Neil Armstrong, ââ¬ËOne small step is a giant leap for mankindââ¬â¢. In recent history our country has taken up good measures to ensure a high educated population by taking up several social causes and concentrating on the rural areas, since they comprise a majority but the system has been laid back due the restraints imposed by old cultural ethics. For the past few centuries in India, the girl has been completely neglected even as a human being, her sole purpose of life has been to feed the family and bear a child. Good education has been denied to women. It is argued that women have their domestic duties to perform and that, if they were educated, they would bury themselves in their books and have little time for attending to the management of their households. But what people fail to understand is education involves knowledge of the means by which health may be preserved and enable a mother to consult such modern books as will tell her how to rear up her children into healthy men and women and skilfully nurse them and her husband, when disease attacks her household. The purpose of education is not just earning a livelihood but education makes an individual into a good human being, which is passed on to the next the kith and kin. It is true that, the education of girls has lately taken a slight leap but this is only in a very small segment of Indian society. Unless the motion is fast and continuous, and includes more of poor urban and rural girls in the field of education, there can be no hope of having a developed and first world country status for India. ââ¬Å"When a man is educated, only he is educated but, when a woman is educated, a family is educated. â⬠ââ¬â Indira Gandhi ââ¬Å"Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farworkers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another. â⬠ââ¬â Nelson Mandela.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Internet Censorship Essay - Internet AccessShould be Restricted to Prot
Access to the Internet Should be Restricted to Protect Children à à à à We are now entering an age of computers where people have almost unlimited access to information. There are entire books and encyclopedias that can be purchased for use on personal computers. Information such as stock prices to computer-aided design programs to entire business operations is being used and accessed through the power of the computer. This information is obtained through the thousands of computer programs out on the market, but most importantly, it is obtained by access to what is called the "Internet." The Internet is the term for the ten thousand plus interconnected computer networks throughout the world that enable us to gather and dispense any type of information almost instantly. For the 1.5 million computers and the 10 million plus users, the Internet gathers information easily and quickly by means of messages, newsgroups, discussion groups, and conferences (rmuir, '94). Anyone who owns a computer and has the necessary software and hardware can have a ccess to this infinite amount of information. à This, of course, can include children. Right now children at the age of seven are speeeding down the "information superhighway," accessing an almost unlimited amount of information. In fact, there are schools on the Internet with their own World Wide Web homepages already. Unfortunately, some of this information isn't geared for children and can even be strictly for adults. Just as inappropriate material in books and magazines is regulated, there too should be some form of Internet regulation and ethics because children of secondary schools have access to any and all information including that information which is objectionable and ev... ...p://www.eff.org:80/CAF/cafuiuc.html rmuir@chs.cusd.claremont.edu FYI, RFC#1578 -Schools and Internet, February 22,1994, http://chs.cusd.claremont.edu:80/www/people/rmuir/rfc1578.html Abrahams, Janice. Janice's k12 Cyberspace OUTPOST. October 1,1994. http://k12.cnidr.org/janice_k12/schools.html, http://k12.cnidr.org/janice_k12/menu.html The Family Resource Center in Santa Clara, California, Parents Helping Parents. October 25, 1994, http://www.portal.com:80/~cbntmkr/php.html Gore, Albert. Speech at Royce Hall, UCLA Los Angeles, CA. January 11, 1994. http://sunsite.unc.edu:80/icky/speech2.html Morrison, Michael. Computer Writing and Research Center. University of Texas at Austin. Personal Interview. December 3,1994. Hoker, Delia. Computer Writing and Research Center. University of Texas at Austin. Personal Interview. December 3,1994. Ã
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Example of report Essay
ââ¬Å"Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and put oneââ¬â¢s thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world.â⬠Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Playwright, Poet, Novelist and Dramatist. 1749-1832) Looking back at the lecturer career, the important of critical thinking to success in the career thinking skills is real, students may not know how to actually apply the information that receive to real world application culture, or lives a life that demands them to talk, read or write to prove proficiency? Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally. It includes the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking. Someone with critical thinking skills is able to do the: understand the logical connections between ideas, identify, construct and evaluate arguments, detect inconsistencies and common mistakes in reasoning, solve problems systematically, identify the relevance and importance of ideas and reflect on the justification of oneââ¬â¢s own beliefs and values. Critical thinking is not a matter of accumulating information. A person with a good memory and who knows a lot of facts is not necessarily good at critical thinking. A critical thinker is able to deduce consequences from what student knows, and will knows how to make use of information to solve problems, and to seek relevant sources of information to inform. Critical thinking should not be confused with being argumentative or being critical of other people. Although critical thinking skills can be used in exposing fallacies and bad reasoning and constructive tasks. Critical thinking can help us acquire knowledge, improve our theories, and strengthen arguments. We can use critical thinking to enhance work processes and improve social institutions. Start from the week two, first exercise has started. On the second week,à student required to buy the materials such as artline pens 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.8, butter pad, layout pad, technical pen, regal bond, cutting mat and etc. In the first exercise, a student has to draw a box of 6x6cm with a title Visual Element of Form. For the first time, the very 1st sketch was using numbers to determine the dots, line, shape and volume. First time and the second time have been rejected and required to improve the artworks. The third time has accepted and it was four different types of flowers. In week three, the second exercise were introduced and the title is Encounter of Form. On the third week, before starting the second exercise, students required to study the samples which were given on the assignment briefing. Students have to draw the same boxes on the layout pad or butter pad or regal bond. Encounter of Form is about the positive and the negative under seven rules which is detachment, union, intersect, overlap, touching, interpenetration and subtraction. The first artwork was failure and required to improve. For the second artwork was complete success. In week four, the third exercise of the assignment one has given by the lecturer and the title is Space and Depth. Before starting the exercise, students have to understand what to draw and how to draw, how to start. For the first part of the exercise, student has to do boxes with four instruction which is increase, playful, congested and tension. And as for second part, students have to do A3 size artwork with four themes which is peace, war, hope and struggle. With these four themes was hard to choose but ended up with hope. The first artwork was failure and required to improve. For the second artwork was complete success and accepted. At the lecture class which held on week five, the lecturer play a video named Three Idiots which is interesting and funny, some moral values and the way to show critical thinking to argue the logic point. The last exercise of assignment one was called Orisimstylization, and inquire student to get a sample of the existing man-made object, animal and human model. The last exercise strictly follows back the exercise in the second box while the third was rather interesting due to use studentââ¬â¢s style and the originality. For the last exercise, the first artwork was failure again and required toà improve again. The second artwork was the different advertising models and has been accepted. In week six, students have to hand in the assignment one along with the front cover and back cover. But because a lot of student have fail to show a good and presentable assignment, whole of the exercise along the cover have to improve and the deadline was postponed to the week 9 with along assignment two. In week seven, the lecturer introduces the assignment two which consisting two part, one was to do Repetition: Unit and Flat Plan while the another were Application. The Unit and Flat Plan, requires student to draw one selected image over on internet or any media that can be used to inquired an image. Then on the 1Ãâ"1 inch small boxes over 9 x12 grid, student have to draw on it to show the repetition. As for the Application, using the same size of the 9Ãâ"12 inch over the layout pad, draw an image of the selected material of object to describe the repetition. Example, a t-shirt was used and draw at layout paper, then by applying the selected sample on the Unit and Flat Plan it will show the texture inlayed on the selected application. Around week eight and nine was the week where the lecturer giving opportunity to student to seek and given advice to for their assignment progression. With some feed back by the lecturer, student then improve student artwork while along learning some of the creative and critical thinking over several sample of video given by the lecturer. Within at week nine the student has to do their final makeup before hand in the assignment one along the current second assignment to the lecturer at office around Friday at 12.00 to 12.30pm sharp. With this, the whole assignment one and second has done and hand in by that day.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Concerted Cultivation VS. Natural Growth
Concerted cultivation and natural growth are two different types of educating a child by his or her parentââ¬â¢s. Each type of educational technique created a ââ¬Å"classâ⬠individual. Natural growth created a ââ¬Å"working classâ⬠individual, while concerted cultivation created a ââ¬Å"middle classâ⬠individual. Concerted cultivation is a middle class child educational technique parentââ¬â¢s use on a child to improve their childrenââ¬â¢s talents. Middle class parents do this through scheduled activities. Concerted cultivated parents also practice the language of reasoning with their child.The parents believe that their children have the right to find an agreement with each parent. Middle class parents also take more consideration with authorities that are connected with their children. Children from concerted cultivation households spend much time in after school classes or programmers such as taking dance lessons or being on a football team. Parents in th ese families are very involved in their childrenââ¬â¢s free time, transporting them from activity to activity, which, often, some moms are called ââ¬Å"soccer momsâ⬠for the children who play soccer.Concerted cultivation parents also emphasize negotiation, encouraging their children to question authority figures, including themselves. As a result, children from concerted cultivation homes tend to be less intimidated by authority, such as teachers, and attain a sense of ââ¬Å"powerâ⬠, believing they are ââ¬Å"worthy of adult interestâ⬠and can ââ¬Å"customizeâ⬠their environment. Natural growth is used by the working class or poor class. These parents focus on their childrenââ¬â¢s safety and discipline.These children usually do not have scheduled activities, but have a wide range of activities to choose from for the entire days-worth. Siblings of the children approached with the natural growth technique have a stronger bond because they are often togethe r and not separated by schedules, which exist in the middle class family and fall under the concerted cultivation. Unlike children who go through concerted cultivation, natural growth children cannot practice their use of reasoning.Parents usually have the upper hand in arguments and allow no questioning from the children; not to mention that punishment is taken into the hands of the parents, tending to be more severe, beatings are optional. The working and poor class families also view teachers and other authorities as high positions, and do not feel the need to confront them with issues. With concerted cultivation, Lareau gives the example of middle-class ââ¬ËAlexââ¬â¢, who is taken to the doctorââ¬â¢s by his mother. In the car, she tells her son that he should not be shy and ask the doctor anything he wants.Alex interacts in a relaxed way with the doctor, asking him questions and even interrupting him when he gets his age wrong and uses a word Alex does not know. The Doc tor notes that he is in the 95th percentile in height, Alex interrupts him. ââ¬Å"Alex: Iââ¬â¢m in what? Doctor: It means that youââ¬â¢re taller than more than ninety-five out of a hundred young men when theyââ¬â¢re, uh, ten years old. Alex: Iââ¬â¢m not ten Doctor: well they graphed you at ten. Youââ¬â¢re- nine years and ten months. They-they usually take the closest year to get that graphâ⬠.The act of interrupting a person of authority is a display of entitlement. It is also indicative of middle-class child- rearing priorities; the incivility of interrupting a speaker is overlooked in favor of encouraging childrenââ¬â¢s sense of their individual importance and of affirming their right to air their own thoughts and ideas to adults. (lareau, 2011, p. 124-125) Children from poorer class, natural growth, homes usually spend most of their time playing outside with siblings and other children from their area.Parents spend little time at home because they are worki ng, waiting for public transportation or waiting in line at social service agencies. They do not ââ¬Å"scheduleâ⬠their childrenââ¬â¢s time or care much about cultivating, or promoting, their childrenââ¬â¢s talents and interests. Parenting is usually strict and children are following commands without negotiation. Around authority figures, such as teachers, working-class children and their parents tend to be quiet and inactive, looking at the ground and not asking questions.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Free Essays on Essence Of Career Planning
ESSENCE OF CAREER PLANNING IN CHINESE COMMUNITY When we are still young, most people would ask is ââ¬Å"What do you want to be when you grow up?â⬠Initially we have a ready answer, some wanting to be astronauts, some dreaming of becoming doctors and some teachers. But as people progress in age and maturity, we get to feel how daunting our initial dreams were, especially if the person is ambitious and had set lofty goals on life. Some cave in to the enormous challenge and make do with whatever it is that they can easily have, setting for the next best or even third best option. Some take the challenge seriously and face it head-on. It is to these people that the concept of career planning is of paramount value. Career planning gives an orderly and systematic process with which to consummate a personââ¬â¢s goals and ambition. At the outset, the person should have a clear vision of what one wants to be in the coming years, an ideal future state that one desires to achieve. Questions as to what kind of life we dream about and how do we see ourselves in the next 20 to 40 years should be answered. For example, someone might dream of becoming an astronaut. Having done this, he or she should then proceed to outline the plan of action that needs to be executed in order to accomplish the goal. This plan of action should detail the steps, much like a staircase, that a person has to implement and go over, and the difficulties along the way that have to be surmounted. The plan should also explore the possible consequences of the personââ¬â¢s actions and provide contingencies measures for such. In our example, if one is to be considered into the space program, it is essential that one shou ld have a healthy mind and body, courage & maturity, and proficiency (almost being an expert) in mathematics and physics. Therefore, if one is serious in such ambition, a plan of action should entail a healthy lifestyle and excellent academic achievement... Free Essays on Essence Of Career Planning Free Essays on Essence Of Career Planning ESSENCE OF CAREER PLANNING IN CHINESE COMMUNITY When we are still young, most people would ask is ââ¬Å"What do you want to be when you grow up?â⬠Initially we have a ready answer, some wanting to be astronauts, some dreaming of becoming doctors and some teachers. But as people progress in age and maturity, we get to feel how daunting our initial dreams were, especially if the person is ambitious and had set lofty goals on life. Some cave in to the enormous challenge and make do with whatever it is that they can easily have, setting for the next best or even third best option. Some take the challenge seriously and face it head-on. It is to these people that the concept of career planning is of paramount value. Career planning gives an orderly and systematic process with which to consummate a personââ¬â¢s goals and ambition. At the outset, the person should have a clear vision of what one wants to be in the coming years, an ideal future state that one desires to achieve. Questions as to what kind of life we dream about and how do we see ourselves in the next 20 to 40 years should be answered. For example, someone might dream of becoming an astronaut. Having done this, he or she should then proceed to outline the plan of action that needs to be executed in order to accomplish the goal. This plan of action should detail the steps, much like a staircase, that a person has to implement and go over, and the difficulties along the way that have to be surmounted. The plan should also explore the possible consequences of the personââ¬â¢s actions and provide contingencies measures for such. In our example, if one is to be considered into the space program, it is essential that one shou ld have a healthy mind and body, courage & maturity, and proficiency (almost being an expert) in mathematics and physics. Therefore, if one is serious in such ambition, a plan of action should entail a healthy lifestyle and excellent academic achievement...
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
How to Generate a Unique ID in PHP
How to Generate a Unique ID in PHP A unique user ID can be created in PHP using the uniqid () function. This function has two parametersà you can set. The first is the prefix, which is what will be appended to the beginning of each ID. The second is more_entropy. If this is false or not specified, it will return 13 characters; if itsà true, 23 characters will be returned. Examples For Creating a Unique ID Below are examples of creating a unique user ID, but each are a little different. The first creates a normal unique ID while the second shows how to make a longer ID. The third example creates an ID with a random number as the prefix while the last line can be used to encrypt the username before storing it. //creates a unique id with the about prefix $a uniqid(about); echo $a; echo br; //creates a longer unique id with the about prefix $b uniqid (about, true); Echo $b; echo br; //creates a unique ID with a random number as a prefix - more secure than a static prefix $c uniqid (rand (),true); echo $c; echo br; //this md5 encrypts the username from above, so its ready to be stored in your database $md5c md5($c); echo $md5c; ?
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Tips to help a teacher support a child with Asperger's syndrome and Outline
Tips to help a teacher support a child with Asperger's syndrome and social interaction difficulties - Outline Example Idea 1: Constant use of body movements such as gestures and facial expressions like eye gazing as a way of interaction between the teacher and the children. This will encounter the problem of marked impairment to boost interaction (Kumar, 2014). Idea 2: in terms of the arrangement, age factor should be a priority. It should involve arranging the students according to their age sets in the class setup. This ensures that any problem of peer relationship in terms of age inappropriateness is avoided (Montgomery, Stoesz & Mccrimmon, 2013). Black, D, Wallace, G, Sokoloff, J, & Kenworthy, L 2009, Brief Report: IQ Split Predicts Social Symptoms and Communication Abilities in High-Functioning Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 39, 11, pp. 1613-1619, Kumar, A 2014, Key factors associated with Aspergerââ¬â¢s syndrome and implications for effective teaching to enhance student participation and engagement, International Journal of Human Sciences, 11, 2, pp. 484-501, Montgomery, J, Stoesz, B, & Mccrimmon, A 2013, Emotional Intelligence, Theory of Mind, and Executive Functions as Predictors of Social Outcomes in Young Adults with Asperger Syndrome, Focus On Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities, 28, 1, pp. 4-13, Scharfstein, L, Beidel, D, Sims, V, & Finnell, L 2011, Social Skills Deficits and Vocal Characteristics of Children with Social Phobia or Aspergers Disorder: A Comparative Study, Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 39, 6, pp.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Company Promoter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Company Promoter - Essay Example 1) On 15th August, Bill signed a letter that stated, "For and on behalf of Cornhill Ltd, as agent only, Bill". He agreed to purchase computer equipment costing 30,000 pounds together with a servicing agreement for five years costing 120 pounds per month. Logitech was charging an exorbitant rate for the servicing agreement; hence they wished to terminate the contract. Owing to Salomon3 principle, a company is a separate legal entity different from its members and it can therefore sue and be sued in its own name. According to Salomon principle, Cornhill Ltd can claim can claim for wrong done against it. But here the company was not registered. A company does not come into existence until the promoter has completed the registration Requirements and the Registrar of the Companies issues a certificate of incorporation Prior to this time a company cannot bind by contracts entered into in its name or on its behalf. In practice, however, promoters will need to contract with the third parties for such things as a lease of premises, business equipments and connection to utilities so that once the certificate of incorporation is issued the company can begin trading4. The problem that arises in the relation to incorporation contracts is whether Bills can avoid being personally l... 9(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, now found in s.36C of the CA 1985. If somebody does not exist they cannot contract [Rover International Ltd v Cannon Film Sales Ltd (No 3)]5. So if this principle applied Cornhill Ltd can deny to follow the contract with Logitech because impose high price. Further, since at the time of a pre incorporation contracts the company does not exist, upon its subsequent creation it is necessarily a stranger to it and the doctrine of privity will operate to prevent rights and the liabilities being conferred to imposed on the company. The Contracts (Rights of third Parties) Act 1999, which allows enforcement of contracts by third parties if the contract expressly so provides or a term of the contract confers a benefit on the third party, does not apply to pre incorporation contracts. The Act is based on the recommendations of the Law Commission on its report, Privity of Contract: Contracts for the benefit of the Third Parties (Law Commission report No. 242, Cm 3329 (London, HMSO (1996)). Addressing the issue of pre incorporatio n contracts, the Law Commission drew the distinction between a contract on behalf of the third party and a contract for the benefit of a third party. The Law Commission stated that the former category involves the third party company becoming a party to the contract, and subject to all its rights and obligations, after its incorporation. In Kelner v Baxter6 promoters of a hotel company entered into a contract on its behalf for the purchase of wine the company, when incorporated, ratified. The wine was consumed but before payment was made the company went to liquidation.7 The promoters, as agents, were sued on the
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Planning task Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words
Planning task - Essay Example Ask students to think about how the early Egyptians computed for the dimensions and what kind of measuring units they used. The Base Area depends on the shape, there are different formulas for triangle, square, etc. But the Lateral Area is surprisingly simple. Just multiply the perimeter by the side length and divide by 2. This is because the sides are always triangles and the triangle formula is base times height divided by 2 Education today has undergone various transformations from days of old. Schools at present may have similar goals of optimizing studentsââ¬â¢ learning and maximizing their potentials but may have differing philosophies, approaches and educational strategies in fulfilling these goals. ââ¬Å"Predictably, the traditional teacher-centered model in which knowledge is ââ¬Å"transmittedâ⬠from teacher to learner is rapidly being replaced by alternative models of instruction (e.g., learner-centered, constructivist, and sociocultural ideas) in which the emphasis is on guiding and supporting students as they learn to construct their understanding of the culture and communities of which they are a part (Brown et al., 1993; Brown, Collins, & Duguid, 1989; Cobb, 1994; Collins, 1990; Duffy & Cunningham, 1996; Pea, 1993). In the process of shifting our attention to the constructive activity of the learner, we recognize the need to anchor learning in real-world or authentic contexts that make learning meaningful and purposeful. ââ¬Å" (Bonk & Cunningham, 1998, p.27). The lesson plans prepared above were meant to combine old and new methods of teaching and learning. It has the elements of both teacher-directed as well as learner-centred learning activities. Math concepts and problem solving still need teacher demonstrations, but it also needs practical application for the students to be able to appreciate it. The theories of Piaget and Vygotsky were based on their predecessorsââ¬â¢. ââ¬Å"Piaget believed that children create knowledge through
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Introduction to Noise Pollution
Introduction to Noise Pollution NOISE POLLUTION The word Noise is derived from the Latin word nausea which means feeling of sickness at the stomach with an urge to vomit. Disturbing or excessive noise that may harm the activity or balance of human or animal life. The source of most outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused by machines and transportation systems, motor vehicles, aircraft, and trains. What is Noise Pollution? According to Odum, noise pollution is the unwanted sound dumped into environment without regard to the adverse effect it may have. Noise pollution may be defined as any unwanted electromagnetic signal (sound) that produces a jarring or displeasing effect and which interferes with human communication, comfort and health. Noise pollution also caused when the loudness of the sound becomes irritating or unbearable. Noise pollution also refers to perturbations which interfere in the communication systems. The unit of sound intensity is decibel (dB). The sound intensity from 0 to 100 dB is pleasant but when the sound intensity exceeds 120 dB, it causes noise. Sound intensity of 130 dB is the upper limit of the threshold of hearing and beyond this, is the threshold of pain which may cause damage to car and leading to hearing impairment. So, sound of more than 130 dB causes noise pollution. Sources of Noise Pollution: The pollution of noise can be caused by natural processes or by human activities. (1) Transport noise; (2) Industrial noise; and (3) Neighbourhood noise. 1. Transport noise: The main threat of noise comes from transport sector. The transport noise includes road traffic noise, rail traffic noise and aircraft noise. (a)Ã Road traffic noise: The chief causes of road traffic noise are the number of road vehicles and their high traffic speed. Faster moving vehicles produce high noise from their gear box, exhaust system, vibrations from their body, etc. (b) Rail traffic noise: The noise from rail traffic is comparatively lower than that from road traffic. Introduction of diesel engines or electrical engines has reduced the intensity of rail traffic noise which was previously shown by steam engine. Besides use of welded tracks and improved coach suspension have contributed to the reduction in railways noise, (c) Aircraft noise: Larger and faster aircrafts produce high noise intermittently during take-off, landing and during flight. Noise generates from compressor and turbine and near jet exhaust. Jet engines create most noise around a radius of 16 km. Sonic boom is an important aspect of aircraft noise. Sonic boom occurs when an aircraft flies supersonically overhead. (2) Industrial noise: The different machines of numerous industries, factories and mills produce a lot of high intensity sounds causing noise pollution. Some industrial processes like weaning, ship building, boiler making, pressing and blasting operations are nosier than others. The operations in pneumatic drills, milling machines, cutters, printing press with an upward, downward and sideways movement and vibrations, cause lowering of hearing capacity to a large extent. The noise pollution is further magnified due to the installation of industries in compact places. For example, the workers near the heavy industrial blowers in steel industry are exposed to sound of 112dB for eight hours and hence suffer from occupational pollution. 3. Neighbourhood noise: This type of noise includes antisocial activities of neighbours like using of loud TV, stereo, radio sets, jazz music, fireworks parties, playing of children, barking of dogs, neighbourhood brawls out of intoxication and industrial neighbourhood noise etc. The machines used in house construction like concrete mixes, vibrators, bulldozers, heavy diesel lorry, building demolition activities also add to the noise pollution. Noise is air-borne mechanical energy striking the human eardrum. A sound of 65dB is the noise level for conversation heart at a distance of one meter. A sound of 125dB (A) gives the sensation of pain in the ear and 150dB (A) might kill a human being. If a noise of 90dB in the mid-frequency range reaches the ear for more than few minutes, then the sensitivity of the ear is reduced. The various effects of noise pollution on human beings may be classified in to two categories: (1) Auditory effects (2) Non-auditory effects. 1. Auditory effects: The impairing of hearing which may cause immediate auditory fatigue finally leading to deafness is known as auditory effects. 2. Non-auditory effects: These effects include interference with speech communication, annoyance leading to ill-temper, bickering, mental disorientation, violent behavior and a series of health hazards. Ã Ã Permissible Noise Levels (Control): We have already discussed the sources of noise of different intensity and their hazardous impact on living organisms particularly on man. Still we work and live in the environment where the noise level is not optimum. Thus it is rightly told by Robert Koch that noise pollution is a slow agent of death. The peoples working in areas where the intensity of noise is comparatively higher suffering from progressive hearing loss, physiological (health) and psychological hazards including tension. The maximum permissible noise levels at different are summarize. . Prevention and Control of Noise Pollution: Noise produced from different sources has created a catastrophe to the entire living world specially to man. Hence, necessary steps should be taken to minimise the level of noise thereby protecting the living world from its detrimental effects. Few methods of minimising noise pollution are discussed below: (1) Industrial noise pollution control: The level of noise pollution due to industries can be lowered down by adopting the following techniques: (a) Use of improved technique: The noise at source can be reduced by replacing noise producing machines with suitable improved technique. For example, the noise from exhaust fans can be decreased either by increasing the number of blades or by decreasing the rotational speed. (b) Sound proofing: An insulating material may be applied on the noise producing machinery and equipments which causes sound proofing. (c) Transmission control: The level of noise can be minimised by covering the walls of the room by sound absorber (e.g. acoustic tiles), introducing gaskets around the doors and windows, sealing all the outlets and putting carpet, drapery and acoustic materials inside the room. (d) Creation of green vegetation cover: Plants and trees should be planted along highways, streets and industrial areas because the vegetation covers absorb and dissipate sound energy and acts as a buffer zone. (e) Using protective devices: The use of ear plugs or ear muffs or even cotton balls by the worker in the industry can protect them from hazardous effects of noise pollution. (f) Operations in open space: Noisy industrial operations should be conducted at open spaces far off from residential areas. (g) Use of Building codes: Certain codes should be enforced which require sound proofing in the construction of industries, buildings and apartments. 2. Community noise control: Ã The community noise control includes minimization of noise from air traffic, transport system, building constructions etc. The noises from the above sources can be lowered by adopting the following procedures: (a) The air traffic noise can be reduced either by suitable technique or by zoning the area around the airport and not allowing for the construction of houses or industries within 10 meters of the airport. (b) The road traffic noise includes tyre noise, engine intake noise, exhaust noise, aerodynamic noise, noise from blowing of horns etc. Such type of noise pollution can be controlled by incorporating silencers in vehicles, maintaining speed limit prescribed for the vehicle and banning air horns. (c) The loudspeakers, radio and music system should be operated at threshold intensity so that the noise level should not be hazardous to living organisms. (d) Public awareness should be created to educate the common man about the harmful effects of noise pollution, through radio, television, newspapers etc. (e) The noise can be reduced by introduction of new regulations which mainly include lowering speed limits and designing for non-stop operation. (f) Stringent laws should be implemented to control noise pollution. For example, Motor Vehicle Act of India provides restrictions on heavy vehicles using double sirens while passing through populated areas. (g) The laying of ballast less tracks reduces the noise level due to railways. (h) The noise pollution can best be controlled by promoting education and research.
Friday, October 25, 2019
The Hartford Whalers Are Going Going ... :: essays research papers
The Hartford Whalers Are Going Going ... Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã The Hartford Whalers are in a very tough situation at this time. When Peter Karmanos bought the team in May of 1994, he inherited the worst lease agreement at the smallest arena in the NHL. Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã The Hartford Civic Center lease agreement creates profit for private companies; however, the lease causes the Whalers to lose money. The mall is owned and operated by Aetna; therefore it has nothing to do with the Whalers. The city of Hartford owns the coliseum, parking garage, and exhibition hall. The state of Connecticut pays a 1.6 million dollar annual leasing fee to take control of the coliseum, parking garage, and exhibition hall. The state hired Ogden Entertainment Services to run the coliseum, and Ogden receives all of the revenue from luxury boxes, the coliseum club, advertisements, rental fees and the exhibition hall. The state also hired Kinney Systems to run the parking garage and Service America Corporation to run the concessions. Both companies receive all revenue from the service they run. After all of this, there is no money left for the Hartford Whalers (Swift & Arace, 1+). Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã The reason why these three companies keep all of the revenue from the Civic Center can be blamed on Richard Gordon, the former owner of the Whalers who did not want the city of Hartford to run the Civic Center. In 1993, the state decided to negotiate a new lease with the Whalers. The state of Connecticut did not want to run the coliseum so they hired three private companies to take this job. These companies would only run the Civic Center if they could keep all of the revenue from the service they controlled. Richard Gordon accepted this lease because this agreement would repay him for an additional ten million dollars in loses and he sold the team a year later (Lang 53-69). Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã The Hartford Whalers is the only major league team in Connecticut and at the Civic Center. They currently have a bad lease which causes them to lose money. The Hartford Whalers play all exhibition, regular season, playoff games, the training camp, and some practice time rent free at the Civic Center. However, the Whalers get no revenue from concessions, luxury boxes, parking, and the coliseum club. The Whalers get sixty percent of the revenue from advertisements along the boards but no revenue from all other ads around the coliseum (Swift, 1+). The Whalers can leave Hartford after the 1997-98 season if they lose a cumulative thirty million dollars from 1994-95 through 1997-98. They must also pay a five million dollar penalty to leave Hartford.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 22
Seth wasn't at the bookstore the next day, which I took as a bad sign. It was usually his passive-aggressive reaction to whenever we had a fight. I thought about him a lot while I worked, thinking of that awful blowout. We'd had a lot of uncomfortable talks in our time together, but we'd never had anything like that. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what about it bothered me ââ¬â aside from the obvious ââ¬â but I kept feeling like it was a pivotal moment, something that was going to have long-reaching effects. It scared me, and I wanted to fix things. And, of course, there was Nyx to worry about. I was going to find a victim after work, and then Vincent said the angels would come while I was asleep ââ¬â when Nyx made her move. ââ¬Å"You okay?â⬠I looked up from the stack of checks I was signing in my office. Maddie stood there in a black pencil skirt and fitted white blouse that made her look super amazing. She'd worn her hair down too. ââ¬Å"Wow,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"What's the occasion?â⬠ââ¬Å"Nothing,â⬠she said, with a shrug. ââ¬Å"Wardrobe overhaul.â⬠She lifted one foot, revealing three-inch black heels. ââ¬Å"Holy shit,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"You don't do anything in halves.â⬠She beamed, and I noticed something about her that had nothing to do with the new clothes. There was joy in her eyes ââ¬â a happiness that made her confident and even more radiant. She was a far cry from the bitter woman who'd shown up at the auction. ââ¬Å"What's going on?â⬠I asked, not fixating on myself for the first time today. Her grin widened, revealing her phantom dimple. A moment later, she turned more serious. ââ¬Å"I'll tell you later. My news is good. But youâ⬠¦what's the matter? You look awful.â⬠Yasmine had said the same thing last night. It really was a sad day when a succubus couldn't stay on top of her game. I shook my head. ââ¬Å"It'sâ⬠¦complicated.â⬠I offered a weak smile. ââ¬Å"I'll deal with it, don't worry. Now, come on. I'd rather hear something cheerful. Tell me what's going on.â⬠ââ¬Å"Can't. They need me out there. I just came to drop these off.â⬠She set a stack of papers on my desk. They practically melted into the other stacks I already had. My office was so chaotic, it could have been a lair for Nyx in and of itself. ââ¬Å"Come on, the suspense is going to drive me crazy,â⬠I teased. ââ¬Å"Wellâ⬠¦you think you can give me a lift to the airport tomorrow? I'm going home for Christmas.â⬠ââ¬Å"You taking Doug with you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Nope. He's your holiday gift. But I'll give you the scoop then if you can give me a ride. I'd probably need to leave around five.â⬠ââ¬Å"Five o'clock traffic on the Friday before Christmas. We're going to have a lot of time to talk.â⬠A bit of her normal nervousness reappeared. ââ¬Å"If it's a problemâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Nope. We're closing early anyway. We'll go then.â⬠Maddie left, and I found myself momentarily distracted by whatever her news could be. Whatever it was, it was a good thing. I liked the change it had brought about. That sort of happiness and confidence suited her. My thoughts were interrupted by the phone ringing. I answered and found Seth on the other end. ââ¬Å"Hey,â⬠I said, hoping I sounded cool and confident and not desperate and relieved. ââ¬Å"Hey.â⬠A long pause followed. ââ¬Å"Iâ⬠¦justâ⬠¦wanted to make sure we were on for Christmas.â⬠My heart sank. No: ââ¬Å"I've missed you.â⬠No: ââ¬Å"I'm sorry.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sure. Wouldn't miss it.â⬠Thinking about Christmas. I experienced a weird sense of d?à ¦j?à ¤ vu. We'd also been with his brother on Thanksgiving. And like now, we'd also been fighting. There it was again: my life, the endless loop. You aren't learning. You aren't changing. Of course, Seth and I had patched up the other fight. Maybe that kind of resolution would repeat itself too. After all, holidays were supposed to be magic, right? ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠he told me. ââ¬Å"I'll pick you up.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay.â⬠Another long pause. ââ¬Å"I'd come by today, butâ⬠¦well. The bookâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ The book. Always the book. Then again, I was busy with chaos deities today. ââ¬Å"Yeah, I know. It's fine.â⬠ââ¬Å"We'll talk on Christmas.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay.â⬠We hung up. A chill ran through me. There it was again. I had no gift for premonition, but an inner instinct ââ¬â one that had nothing to do with Nyx's visions of the future ââ¬â told me there was something big coming. After work, I drove over to Bellevue, Seattle's richest and most pretentious suburb. A city in its own right, Bellevue was pretty much the polar opposite of SeaTac. Hotels, restaurants, and shopping were continually being added to its downtown strip, and the influx of money from Boeing and Microsoft was steadily replacing older, plain buildings with sleeker and more stylish architecture. Bellevue was also home to a guy I knew named Kevin. I'd met him years ago in a bar. There was nothing overly extraordinary about Kevin. He was neither a sinner nor a saint, instead occupying some happy ground in the middle that yielded a decent amount of energy whenever I slept with him. His most notable trait was that he was perpetually available. He worked at home ââ¬â some Web business, I believed ââ¬â and never seemed to go out, despite being good-looking and sociable. I didn't question that too much, though, because it suited my purposes whenever I needed quick and easy sex with someone I didn't completely loathe. ââ¬Å"Sandra,â⬠he said happily, opening the door of his condo for me. He had dark brown hair and a closely trimmed, very new beard that I approved of. Dark brown eyes regarded me with amusement. ââ¬Å"Been a while.â⬠My ââ¬Å"Sandraâ⬠form had a petite build similar to the one I usually wore. After that, the resemblance ended. My hair was now curly and black, my eyes a blue that looked violet sometimes. Underneath my long black coat, I wore a sleeveless navy blue dress that fit snugly and was far too skimpy for this kind of weather. ââ¬Å"It has been,â⬠I agreed. ââ¬Å"Does that mean you aren't going to let me in?â⬠He smiled and stepped back, grandly waving me inside. ââ¬Å"What, do you think I'm crazy or something? Only an idiot would turn you away.â⬠I followed Kevin down the hall and into his living room. He'd redecorated since the last time I was here, and the change was nice. The furniture and d?à ¦cor were now all done in shades of a grayish blue that reminded me of winter twilights. A fireplace crackled on one side of the room, and a large bay window looked out to another set of condos. I draped my coat over a chair and smoothed miniscule wrinkles out of the dress. ââ¬Å"You want something to drink?â⬠he asked, hands in his pockets. I shook my head. ââ¬Å"I don't have much time.â⬠He gave me a rueful smile. ââ¬Å"You never do. You know, sometimes I feel used.â⬠ââ¬Å"Is that a problem?â⬠ââ¬Å"Problem?â⬠he asked with a snort. ââ¬Å"A beautiful woman who wants to have sex with me and no commitments? Hardly a problem.â⬠He took a few steps toward me. ââ¬Å"Use me all you want.â⬠He came closer still, and we met in a kiss. No delay, no preamble. I wrapped my arms around his neck and parted my lips, eager to feel him and taste him. His hands rested on my hips for a moment, then slid upward. He caught my dress's straps and pulled them down, baring my breasts and still kissing me the whole time. Pushing forward, he pressed me against the wall, near the fireplace. I felt its heat against the bare skin of my legs. His hands cupped my breasts, thumbs sliding to my nipples and squeezing them. He varied the intensity, sometimes hard and sometimes gentle. I broke the kiss long enough to incline my head toward the uncovered window behind him. ââ¬Å"The window ââ¬â ââ¬Å" He crushed his mouth back against mine. Our tongues danced together briefly, and then he pulled back just long enough to say, ââ¬Å"I know.â⬠The tone of his voice told me that he not only knew ââ¬â he also wanted it that way. I didn't question it. This apparently was the season for exhibitionism. Eventually, he moved his mouth away from mine and trailed kisses down my neck. I tilted my head back and arched the rest of my body toward his. One of his hands continued cupping a breast as he nibbled on its nipple, teeth and tongue stirring it to arousal. His other hand pushed up my skirt, eagerly seeking my panties and what lay within. The ache for his energy and his touch coursed through me. I moaned softly as he moved his lips down my body. Shifting to the floor, he settled on his knees while still keeping me standing against the wall. He pulled the panties down all the way, so they hung around my ankles. Sliding his hands between my thighs, he pulled them apart slightly and then buried his face between them, his stubble tickling me. I was burning and wet, more so than I'd realized, and when his tongue touched my aching clit, I moaned more loudly and felt my knees tremble slightly. I started to tell him that he didn't need to do this, that it was okay if he just wanted to get straight to the main event. But as his tongue gently moved back and forth, building the heat and ecstasy within me, I swallowed my words. The last three guys I'd slept with hadn't made me come, and although this visit was strictly utilitarian and part of the Nyx plan, I suddenly and selfishly wanted to get more than his life energy out of it. Back and forth his tongue moved, speed and intensity continually shifting. As his thoughts began to trickle into me, I could tell that he liked doing that not simply for the sake of novelty, but also because he liked seeing the way I reacted to each slight change. He was one of those men who truly enjoyed making a woman happy. The burning spot he'd brought to life between my legs grew and grew, expanding beyond where his tongue touched, beyond my thighs. Steadily, it spread into my whole body, all the way to my fingertips. I felt like fire in human ââ¬â or rather, succubus ââ¬â form and writhed against the wall, against him. My knees buckled as the searing pleasure reached a critical point inside me, and his hands moved down to steady my legs and keep me upright. At last the core within me exploded, the fire turning to pure light, pure bliss. I cried out at the way the orgasm consumed me, at the way his tongue still kept teasing me even in the throes of my climax. Finally, even he couldn't keep me upright. My legs had turned to jelly, and I sank to the floor in front of him. He smiled, genuinely pleased, and leaned forward to kiss me. I could taste me on his lips. ââ¬Å"Come on,â⬠he said, taking my hands and helping me up. He led me over to the window and peeled off the rest of my dress. He eased me onto a high window seat. Removing his own clothes, he murmured, ââ¬Å"I should go find a condom.â⬠My breathing was rapid, my heart pounding away. ââ¬Å"No, I want to feel you ââ¬â just you.â⬠I took his hand and brought it between my legs, guiding his fingers into me. ââ¬Å"I want you to feel me.â⬠I'd been wet before starting all this and was now doubly so after what he'd just done. His fingers glided easily inside of me, and his eyes widened at what he felt. Indecision played on his face, and then he nodded. If counseling any of my human friends, I would certainly advocate safe sex. It didn't matter for me personally, however, since I couldn't catch anything or get pregnant. Often with victims, I'd talk them out of any sort of protection in order to increase their guilt. With Kevin tonight, I didn't want to bother with condoms simply because I didn't want to waste the time. My urgency and desire were too strong. I wanted him now. I slid my hands down his stomach and felt how hard he was. He wanted me too. I wrapped my fingers around him, stroking and massaging and loving the way he swelled within my hand. Pressing my back against the cold glass, I drew my knees up to me and then spread them wide, feeling rather like a butterfly. The window seat was exactly the perfect height, putting us hip to hip as I led him inside of me. We both gasped at the contact. He pushed in as far as possible, our hips pressed skin to skin. The way he filled me up was exquisite. Shape-shifting meant I could make myself as tight as possible, and I loved how he tested the limits of it. He paused a moment, simply savoring the way our bodies felt together, and then slowly began moving in and out of me, rocking me against the window with each thrust. And with that, his life began pouring into me in earnest. I nearly exhaled with relief. The sensation of that energy filling me up rivaled the feel of his body inside me. I had missed it so much, missed the wonder and joy of that pure, indescribable energy generated by the human soul. Nyx had been stealing a part of me, and I was glad to have it back, if only for this moment. The thoughts coming through with his energy were happy and content ones as he reveled in the pleasure of being with me. A secret, kinky part of him was turned on by hoping that his neighbors across the way might be watching. He hoped they were. He hoped they were jealous. His thrusts grew harder and harder, and he murmured over and over how wonderful I was, how beautiful. Still sensitive from him going down on me, I came twice more, my body melting as the orgasms' spasms shook me. At last, I felt his body tense and saw his expression signal he was about to lose control. I dug my nails into his arms and begged him to come in me. He did, shoving me so hard against the window that I hoped the glass would hold. The peak of his energy hit me with his climax, and as it faded, we both sighed happily. I didn't abandon him quite as quickly as I had Bryce, but I didn't spend time lounging in the afterglow either. I helped him get dressed and made sure he was situated comfortably on the couch before I left. I liked him, after all, and hoped I'd see him again in some other casual situation. His face was languid and content as we made our good-byes. ââ¬Å"You are the most exhausting woman I've ever been with,â⬠he told me, eyelids flickering with fatigue. I couldn't help a smile. Of course I was. Other lovers didn't steal his soul ââ¬â at least not literally. ââ¬Å"Does that mean you want me to stay away longer next time?â⬠He smiled and yawned. ââ¬Å"No. Absolutely not.â⬠Still smiling, I left and headed back to the city. But as I drove closer to downtown, brimming with energy, my happy feelings faded. I remembered why I'd had to go see him in the first place and what would happen tonight. My body, so achingly hot an hour ago, grew cold. When I arrived back at my apartment, Vincent, Carter, and Yasmine were already waiting for me. None of them commented on my glow. Instead, they launched right into the plan. ââ¬Å"Nyx will probably come trolling around tonight,â⬠Carter explained. ââ¬Å"And when she sees you've got energy again, she'll do her thing.â⬠Yasmine nodded along. ââ¬Å"We can't be here when it happens. Vincent will be around, out in the living room. She won't suspect him of anything; she'll figure he's an ordinary human. But when he senses her feeding off of you, he'll let us know. Then, we'll show up and bind her.â⬠I didn't like the sound of any of that ââ¬â neither the feeding nor the binding. ââ¬Å"What's that mean?â⬠ââ¬Å"We'll pull her out and trap her,â⬠said Carter. Presumably ââ¬Å"outâ⬠meant out of me. Yikes. ââ¬Å"Then we'll take her away, back to her prison,â⬠added Yasmine. Their confidence inspired confidence in me, and I suspected I was being influenced by angelic charisma. But there was no way out of this, not if I wanted to shake my nighttime visitor. ââ¬Å"All right,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Let's do this.â⬠The angels left. It was still early evening, so I hung out with Vincent. We played a couple games of cards and watched bad movies. Hanging out with him in such a casual way made it easy to forget he was a nephilim. When midnight loomed, I stood up and stretched. ââ¬Å"I don't think I can sleep,â⬠I remarked. ââ¬Å"It's like trying to go to bed on Christmas Eve. Too jittery to settle down. Exceptâ⬠¦it's not Santa I'm waiting for.â⬠He smiled. ââ¬Å"Well, try. If we need to, we can probably give you a sedative or something, but this whole thing will be more efficient without.â⬠It took a long time ââ¬â lying in bed for almost two hours ââ¬â before I fell asleep. It wasn't easy to relax when you were inviting a creature of chaos to come feed off of you. And yet, as I drifted off, I couldn't help a small flicker of eagerness. I'd be dreaming the dream again. And I did. It started from the beginning, like always, running all the way to the part where the little girl fell and my dream-self comforted her. The girl's tears were drying when we both heard the faint sound of a car door closing. My dream-self straightened up. A smile blossomed on her face as she regarded her ââ¬â my ââ¬â daughter with the kind of over-exaggerated excitement adults often use with children. ââ¬Å"You hear that?â⬠my dream-self asked. ââ¬Å"Daddy's home.â⬠Mirrored excitement showed on the girl's face as my dream-self stood up, still holding the girl and balancing her on one hip. It was an act of some coordination, considering how small my dream-self was. They walked to the front door and stepped outside onto a porch. It was nighttime, all quiet darkness, save for a small light hanging on the porch. It shone onto a long stretch of unbroken white snow on the lawn and the driveway. All around, more snow fell in a steady stream. I didn't recognize the place, but it certainly wasn't Seattle. That much snow would have sent the city into a panic, putting everyone on Armageddon alert. My dream-self was perfectly at ease, barely noticing the snow. Wherever she was, it was a common occurrence. In the driveway, a car had just pulled up. I felt my dream-self's heart swell with happiness. A man stood behind it, a non-descript dark figure in the faint lighting. He took out a rolling suitcase and slammed the trunk shut. The little girl clasped her hands in excitement, and my dream-self waved a hand in greeting. The man returned the wave as he walked toward the house, and my waking self tried desperately to see his face. It was too dark. I needed him to get closer, just a little closer ââ¬â I couldn't get any closer because just then, I felt my soul get ripped out of me. I sat up in bed, nearly screaming in agony at the pain coursing through me. All four angels, plus Vincent, ringed the room. The power pulsing around us felt like smoke. I could barely breathe. And there, beside my bed, was Nyx. She looked a lot like Erik's description: an old, emaciated woman. Her skin and hair were white, her dark eyes sunken and inhuman. A tattered, gossamer dress wrapped around her body. She had an almost translucent look, like she wasn't entirely solid, and a sparkling aura shone around her. I couldn't see the forces being wielded, but I felt them distinctly. The angels temporarily had her enclosed in walls of power, but she wasn't bound, not yet. She pushed back against their restraints with considerable power of her own, and I gaped. Any one of those angels dwarfed my own power ââ¬â yet, their combined force was still an even match for hers. It was a staggering thought, and I couldn't understand why she'd need my energy since she had so much of her own. And actually, she did have some of mine. She'd taken about half before they'd pulled her out of me. Nyx shrieked in rage, still pushing back on them. Then, bit by bit, I could see the balance shift. Her power was fading the more she used it. The angels' was steady. They were weakening her. She realized this and panic showed on her face. Casting frantic eyes over all the angels, she finally rested her gaze on Yasmine. There was still enough of a faint connection between us that I realized what Nyx was going to do. She'd sought out the least powerful of the foursome. Mustering the last of her power, she blasted it toward Yasmine, hoping both to smash the angels' united front and hurt Yasmine enough to cause a distraction. A heartbeat before Nyx unleashed her attack, I saw Vincent's face. He too realized what she was going to do. He moved forward, and I felt his mask drop. The telltale nephilim signature washed over me, and his power filled the room as well. There was a lot of it. He'd held back in the alley. Invisible energy rushed from Nyx toward Yasmine, trying to destroy the angel. But Vincent was there, blocking the attack. It rebounded back on Nyx. She screamed again, her defenses shattering. The other angels seized the opportunity, and bands of light snapped into place around her. A moment later, the light faded, but the restraints were there, even if I could no longer see them. She clawed around her, like a twisted version of a mime in a box, but she was trapped. She couldn't get through the walls they'd locked her in. They'd done it. They'd recaptured Nyx. But none of the angels were paying attention to her. They were all looking at Vincent. ââ¬Å"You,â⬠gasped Joel. He didn't hesitate. He strode toward the nephilim, and I saw Joel's body start to shimmer with light. He was about to transform into his true form, a form of terrible beauty and power. But Yasmine was faster. The slim, dark-haired woman became pure light. She was all the colors of the rainbow and none of them. A sword of flame appeared in her hands. She stepped in front of Vincent ââ¬â who was screaming at her to stop ââ¬â and swung toward Joel. The blade hit him, and he screamed. An awful, burning sensation was starting to flood me. Hastily, I shielded my eyes and looked away, realizing what I'd almost done. An angel's true form was an indescribable thing, requiring senses a human ââ¬â or a human-turned-succubus ââ¬â didn't possess. Staring at her could cause me major damage. Even being in the same room with her hurt. But I'd seen what I'd needed to before looking away. I'd seen the sword fall. Yasmine had attacked Joel. Nyx had pegged her as the weakest of the four, but Yasmine and Joel must have been incredibly close in power. Catching him by surprise like that tipped the scales. The air in the room swirled, reaching hurricane levels. Power exploded around me, like a sun going supernova. Everything was fire and wind. And screaming. Twin screams: Yasmine's and Joel's. I wrapped my arms around me, burying my face, certain I was going to die. The energy exploding toward me reached a point in which it would surely blow up the building, blow up the world. Stronger and stronger it grew. Suddenly, it all reversed. Power rushed away from my side of the room, back toward the angels. It was like a black hole had formed, sucking everything toward it. Of course, it was only pulling energy, not physical objects, but I nonetheless felt like it was dragging me in too. I clutched the bed's comforter, using it like an anchor to hold me down. Time ceased to have meaning. Ten seconds or ten hours could have passed for all I knew. Finally, the rushing stopped, and everything went still. The atmosphere returned to normal. No more insane power levels. There was only what you would normally expect in a room with three angels, a nephilim, a succubus, and a primordial entity of chaos. The latter had suddenly moved to the backburner of everyone's attention. Yasmine had returned to her ââ¬Å"humanâ⬠form. It was safe for me. I looked up, expecting Carter and Whitney to swoop in and attack her. But they stood frozen. No trace of Joel remained. He was gone, destroyed. The typhoon of power had marked his death. Yasmine was on her knees, fingers digging into the sides of her face. She sobbed, murmuring words that sounded like frantic prayers. Vincent, like the angels, kept his distance from her. She had just killed Joel. I didn't understand why no one was acting. Why were they just standing there? Everyone seemed to be waiting for something. Suddenly, a voice hissed beside me, more in my mind than spoken aloud. ââ¬Å"Succubus.â⬠I looked into Nyx's cavernous eyes. Like Vincent and the angels, I'd forgotten about her. She extended her hand toward me, and I cringed. Fortunately, the invisible binds kept her from getting any closer. ââ¬Å"Succubus,â⬠she repeated. ââ¬Å"Touch the walls. Use the last of your power to set me free.â⬠ââ¬Å"What? No!â⬠I was dividing my attention between her and the others. The angelic group still stood motionless. ââ¬Å"Free me, and I'll help you exact your revenge.â⬠ââ¬Å"Revenge? Who are you talking about?â⬠ââ¬Å"The one who sent me to you when I escaped,â⬠she rasped. ââ¬Å"The one who promised you to me.â⬠I had no clue what she meant. ââ¬Å"Likeâ⬠¦who freed you?â⬠She cast an uneasy look behind her. Time was ticking down on her distraction. ââ¬Å"No, you were promised to me! But I can help you. Help you punish ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I said. She was too dangerous. Whatever insane revenge she was talking about wasn't worth what she could do to mortals if she was freed. Her desperation grew. The angels were eventually going to remember her, and we both knew it. ââ¬Å"I will show you the end of the dream!â⬠she cried. ââ¬Å"I'll show you the man. The man in the dream.â⬠My heart stopped. ââ¬Å"He isn't real,â⬠I whispered. ââ¬Å"It was all a lie. You used it to trick me.â⬠ââ¬Å"No! Everything I show is true. Always true.â⬠ââ¬Å"It can't beâ⬠¦it's impossible.â⬠I swallowed and felt tears starting to fill my eyes. I wanted it to be true. More than anything. ââ¬Å"That can't ever happen to me.â⬠Nyx beat her hands on her unseen prison walls. ââ¬Å"It's real! It's the future! I've seen it. Touch the walls, and I will show you. I will show you the man in the dream!â⬠I wanted to. I wanted to see him. I needed to see him. The man in the dream. The man who could maybe truly make this future happenâ⬠¦. My hand moved forward, like it was being controlled by an outside force. Nyx's eyes widened, eager and hungry. All of a sudden, a scream split the air. No, it was more than a scream. When Yasmine had destroyed Joel, that had involved screaming. This was more than that. It was the most horrible noise in the universe, a phenomenon that went beyond mere sound. Much as my eyes couldn't exactly perceive an angel's appearance, my ears couldn't fully comprehend this. My hand dropped from Nyx, and I jerked my gaze to the angels. Yasmine was still on her knees, and flames were starting to consume her. It was no ordinary fire, though. It reminded me of the light of her true form: all colors and none. Carter and Whitney watched, faces unreadable. Vincent also watched. He'd taken a few steps toward me, backing away from the fire. The look on his face was filled with a jumble of emotions, none of them good. I didn't understand what was happening to Yasmine yet, but I knew what would happen to him. ââ¬Å"Get out,â⬠I told him in a low voice. His face was pale, as pale as Nyx's. He looked like he'd aged a hundred years. ââ¬Å"I can'tâ⬠¦I can't leave herâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"You have to. They'll destroy you. Or if they don't, someone else will. Someone else in the city will have noticed this. You know I'm right.â⬠His eyes were still on Yasmine. I could no longer see her, though. She was all flame ââ¬â flame that had turned black. ââ¬Å"Go!â⬠I exclaimed. ââ¬Å"It's what she'd want. She did this for you!â⬠Vincent flinched at those words and finally looked at me. The full force of his grief made the held-back tears spill down my cheeks. ââ¬Å"Go. Please,â⬠I begged. Joel had been destroyed. Yasmine looked like she was about to be. I couldn't stand anymore death. He said nothing, but after several seconds, he turned invisible. I felt his aura go. Across the room, the flames were starting to fade. Yasmine was slowly reappearing, completely unscathed. She looked no different, but something about her signature had changed. I felt the same golden light, the impression of saffron and frankincense. But it was edged in something else. It no longer had the sharp, crystalline quality of angelic auras. That was gone, replaced by a dark and smoky feel ââ¬â a smokiness that had nothing to do with the fire. The flames finally disappeared altogether, and Yasmine still knelt on the floor. Seconds later, another signature joined us, one I knew well. Jerome stood in the room, apparently back from whatever clandestine matters he'd needed to oversee. He looked from face to face, finally focusing on mine. ââ¬Å"Jesus Christ. What have you done now?â⬠I ignored him, unable to tear my gaze from Yasmine. She looked the same, exactly the same. And yet, she wasn'tâ⬠¦ She'd noticed the change too. She held her arms out in front of her, studying them as though she'd never seen herself before. Horror flooded her features. ââ¬Å"No,â⬠she moaned. ââ¬Å"Noâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ She began sobbing again. Carter finally looked away from her and met Jerome's eyes. ââ¬Å"This is yours now, Charon.â⬠Jerome nodded and stepped toward Yasmine. ââ¬Å"Time to go.â⬠She looked up at him, face glistening with tears. She said nothing, but she didn't need to. Her expression said everything. It was a plea, a plea that none of this was real, that maybe ââ¬â just maybe ââ¬â Jerome could make it all go away. He shook his head and touched her shoulder. They vanished. The room was quiet, an unnatural quiet that felt almost oppressive. My voice seemed strange and out of place. ââ¬Å"Wh-what happened?â⬠I asked Carter. I noticed now that Whitney was crying. ââ¬Å"Yasmine has fallen,â⬠he said softly. ââ¬Å"She's a demon now.ââ¬
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