English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 28

English - Essay Example The animals come here to quench their thirst; some lapping up the water with their tongues, others taking a deep in the relieving water. Birds from all corners of the forest come to make their nests near her; for there is always plenty food where she passes. The little boys and girls are always lost in wonder at the graceful flow of the river, creating shallow pools in its wake where they spend most of their time splattering around without a care in the world. Their parents nearby are going on with their daily chores of fishing, cleaning, and singing in unison joining nature in its never ending orchestra by the river. It has many sacred places and shrines where elders come to perform rites to their ancestors, where initiates come to be one with nature, to ask for her permission before taking the bold step into adulthood. It is the place where people feel at most with nature and their gods. It is where all life culminates and where it is most vibrant; it is felt in the inner core of the soul of everything there. River Ptoon is a home away from home. In an eerie calm by the river bank a scream shatters the silence another victim falls prey to the unusually calm river. Lurking in the deeper pools of the river there are ravenous predator fishes and alligators ready to snap their jaws at anything that comes near them. The ever present birds always ready to play the role of â€Å"garbage collectors†, nibbling the bones of the dead animals to scorched white, cleaning away the wine; the water stinks of death after the massacres. The stones by the banks are marked by bird droppings like a mad painter’s work of art. Only the tall old trees remain alive with their long deep tap roots reaching the pure water underground, and their shadows casting sinister looking impressions. Parents bring their children to play but pretend to be busy with their chores, but they are hawk eyed for any sign of danger from within or out of the

Emergency preparedness Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Emergency preparedness - Assignment Example Risk and vulnerability assessment is the process of investigating whether or not there is a risk or threat that poses danger to a specific institution. This is done by security personnel who look at a threat, vulnerability, and consequences of a suspected risk (Threat/Vulnerability Assessments and Risk Analysis, n.d.). Some of the major needs of a Healthcare Organization would be a complete set of medical equipments, tools, drugs; enough space to accommodate people; and most especially a group of knowledgeable and skilled nurses and doctors. On the other hand, a healthcare organization’s major responsibility during an emergency would be to be able to provide initial treatment to ease the pain or even save a life during the most crucial time, before a patient’s condition is stabilized. Emergency preparedness is all about foreseeing all the possible risks or threats that could happen with regard to a certain activity, event, or in a certain location. On the other hand, disasters are damages that could be caused by nature or man. However, though there are disasters we cannot contemplate such as some earthquakes, there are also some natural disasters that we can contemplate such as tsunamis being caused by an earthquake aftershock or a typhoon caused by global warming. Man-made caused disasters, for me, are a result of carelessness or irresponsibility which we can totally

Dichotomy of Good and Evil in Beowulf

Dichotomy of Good and Evil in Beowulf Beowulf: Good versus Evil The heroic poem, Beowulf, is a combination of society’s views and religious ideals and concepts of the Anglo-Saxon period, although some of the poem today may appear different compared to the original text prior to translation. The central conflict of good versus evil in Beowulf may have been altered to fit the Christian beliefs of the time. â€Å"Beowulf is considered the oldest of the great long poems written in English, may have been composed more than twelve hundreds years ago, in the first half of the eighth century, although some scholars would place it as late as the tenth century† (Greenblatt, 2012, p. 36). Being one of the oldest verbal and written poems has caused the original meaning and writing to change over the years. Yet, the central themes of good versus evil and the religious undertones could have been an adaptation to the world that was dominated by the Christian believers. The central focus between good versus evil is represented within the combination of pagan and Christian allegories that provides readers with an insight not only what society found acceptable, but the religious convictions of the Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages, the church was a major power house and influencing many scholars to adapt pagan heroes into a more acceptable Christian faith hero. It would have been unacceptable for a pagan hero to triumphant over the forces of evil, while proclaiming only one religious belief to be correct. According to Stevick (1963), in order to honor God and the Christian beliefs of the time, the transcriber may have chosen to adapt the pagan references to Christianity in order to make the poem relatable to the Christian believers (p. 80). As readers enter the world of Beowulf, they are giving a glimpse of the social conflict during the Middle Ages. This conflict in expressed through the religious views of a pagan society adapting to a new religion with the mention of One God versus the several Deities normally followed in pre-Anglo-Saxon culture. When Beowulf is considered a Christian story, the strong allegories may be found within the characters of Beowulf and Grendel. Beowulf, the Geat warrior, could be a reference to Jesus in the Christian faith. Jesus had traveled to Israel to save them from their sinful ways, Beowulf comes to the Danes â€Å"to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted or perish in the attempt, in the fiend’s clutches† (Greenblatt, 2012, p. 54, line 634-636). Although the image of Jesus is widely known as a humble man, Beowulf appears to be boastful about his feats. The commonality between the two individuals is clear when referencing the Christian faith. Jesus and Beowulf both fight an evil that is determined too great for the likes of normal humanity. Each are willing to sacrifice their lives in order to being salvation to people whom they feel are worthy of the action. Each are faced with a trail of the battle without seeking guidance from God, but rather put their faith in the protection and safety that God has shown them. The most interesting is the lack of reference to Jesus within the tale. According to Blackburn (1897), Beowulf is seen as a representation to the Christian Savior within the poem, even though Beowulf contains no references to him, â€Å"to the cross, to the virgin or the saints, to any doctrine of the church in regard to the trinity, the atonement, etc., or to the scriptures, to prophecy, or to the miracles† (p. 216). Readers are presented with a plot that focuses on Scandinavian culture, however much of the poet’s narrative interference reveals that the poet’s culture is silently different from that of his ancestors and that of his character’s as well. For example, Beowulf lives by the heroic code of honor that is often defined as a relic of pre-Anglo-Saxon culture. Some principles seen within the text, â€Å"Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, spoke: Wise sir, do no grieve. It is always better to avenger dear ones than to indulge in mourning. For every one of us, living in this world means waiting for our end. Let whoever can win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, that will be his best and only bulwark† (Greenblatt, 2012, p.72, line 1383-1389). The concept of eye for an eye, death for death was met with same justification during this time period. Yet, in some ways it remembers the First Testament of the Bible when eye for eye was the manner of payment injustices. Grendel represents the evils of the world as a whole, although some may see it as the Satan confronting Jesus in his three trails of faith. According to Greenblatt (2012), â€Å"the poem turns on Beowulf’s three great fights against preternatural evil, which inhabits the dangerous and demonic space surrounding human society,† which would be another reference to the Christian allegory reference. (p. 38-39). Grendel is one of three manifestations of evil and the first for Beowulf to face. Grendel’s first attack of evil is on the order of the Danes and wreaking havoc on the people. His evil appears to seek the destruction of the Danish society from the top down, leaving the community without leadership and protection against the evils that may surround them. In this approach, Grendel would be an allegory for the minion demons that cause destruction to order and civil society with wholesome values. While good versus evil is a common theme seen in multiple of folklores prior to Christianity can be seen, the Christianization of the Anglo-Saxon society has influenced the transcriber to relate the story to a boarder Christian audience. According to Stevick (1963), when passages use references to pagan traditions and then mention a Christian reference or lack Christian elements, â€Å"into which at one point a Christian explanation is added in anticipation of a subsequent Christianized account of the fight and explanation of its outcome, and because the poet was attempting to produce a major, written poem about Beowulf that avoided inconsistency in Christianized and non-Christian matter with which he was working† (p. 84). The information and facts that point to a transcriber who found in somewhat necessary to conform the Germanic hero tale into something about the Christian society in which the poem may have originated, and something about the society in which the Christian w riter lives within. The original tale informs readers that the society that the poem may have been written in valued great acts of courage and strength. It would be a society that relished in the tales of great conquests and hardships as a pastime entertainment. However, this would have been different from the time of the poem was transcribed; the rewrite would have been influenced by the power of the Church. All the honor and prestige would have been given to God for blessing them with extraordinary men granting who were favored by God. Success with battles was no longer considered the achievement of the individual’s strength, but by the will of God. It was no longer acceptable to praise or boast about the achievements over a good meal, but rather to be thankful and put one’s faith into God for providing victory over evil. According to Stevick (1963), Beowulf belongs to a more Christianized Anglo-Saxon society and the oral materials existed prior to the conversion of the British kingdom. While oral tradition may have continued with the pagan beliefs still attached, the written version was adapted to include the Christian beliefs. While there is no actual reference to Jesus within the tale, the references to God and contributin g the success to him allowed the stale to be acceptable in a Christian society during the Middle Ages. While the central conflict of Beowulf is good and evil, the rewritten tale removes many elements referencing the pagan beliefs and converting them into the Christian concept of God winning over horrors of evil. This coincides with the conversion of Druid and pagan beliefs into the new belief of Christianity. The church would find ways to convert pagans and druids into accepting the new faith by combining pagan traditions, folklore and references with Christian beliefs. Beowulf appears to be just another victim of Christianity overtaking an existing culture and finding ways to find it acceptable for their beliefs. References Blackburn, F. A. (1897). The Christian Coloring in the Beowulf. PMLA, (2). 205. Retrieved on June 7, 2015 from http://www.jstor.org.proxy- library.ashford.edu/stable/456133?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Greenblatt, S., et al. (Eds.) (2012). The Norton anthology of English literature (9th ed., Vol.1). New York, NY: W. W. Norton Company, Inc. Stevick, R. D. (1963). Christian Elements and the Genesis of Beowulf. Modern Philology, (2). 79. Retrieved on June 7, 2015 from http://www.jstor.org.proxy- library.ashford.edu/stable/435497?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Portrayal of Women in James Joyces Ulysses Essay -- Joyce Ulysses Ess

Portrayal of Women in James Joyce's Ulysses The novel, "Ulysses", by James Joyce shows the reader hour by hour a single day in the life of one man.   But this epic which specifically deals with Leopold Bloom and has reference to Stephen Dedalus, holds so much more appendage to other areas of life.   One, is the portrayal of women in Ulysses. A common speculation is that men seem to have a more dominating status over women.   However, in Ulysses  that theory dwindles due to the women who   play significant roles in the story.   Although the women in the novel all use various tactics to entice the men to succumb and cower to them, it all ends up that the men do heed to the qualifying factors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first woman of purpose that we become aware of is Stephen Dedalus's mother.   Even though she is dead, her presence is accounted for in Stephen's night and day dreams.   His refusal to pray at her bedside while she was dying triggered an immense amount of guilt that he cannot shake.   His undeniable brooding over her was shown when he remembered the song by W.B. Yeats, " and no more†¦the brazen cars."   In the annotated text it claims that, "The song, accompanied by a harp, is sung to comfort the countess, who has sold her soul to the powers of the darkness that her people might have food."   That song is important because he is trying to lift the blame from his heart by reaching out for forgiveness.  Ã‚   The book then tells of a "bowl with bitter waters."   That bowl implies what is told in "Portrait of a Young Man", which is that his mother was an adulteress, and that recollection was bothering him. He even goes a s far to say aloud, "No mother, let me be and let me live."   It seems that he wants to escape her clutches, yet is clinging... ... get away with acting disdainful and speaking to Bloom with a harsh tongue, but he does not leave her.  Ã‚   In fact, he does cower, and takes her, illicit affairs and all.     Ã‚  Ã‚   The men in "Ulysses" are viewed as the warriors, or bread-winners, yet they are only characterized as that due to the women in the novel.   Many of the women are able to be looked upon as the "hierarchy" in a sense because of the way the people around them reacted.   It is said that whenever there is an action, there is a reaction.   As clichà © as that may be, the women were the ones that created the "action" and the men rebutted with the "reaction".   Despite the social conventions that most of us are familiar with pertaining to men and women, "Ulysses", can surely counteract with notable arguments. Works Cited Joyce, James. Ulysses. Ed. Hans Walter Gabler. New York: Random House, 1986.

Smallest Contribution Towards the Society

How can we contribute towards our society in the smallest possible way? We are apes,copycatsof west in Culture,Fashion,Independence,Freedom. We as individuals need to understand our responsibility. Our youths have loved their dresses,became party animals,night owls have engaged live-in relationships. Teenagers can be seen flaunting in front of their comrades. But friends i would like to raise a question ain't we trampling our freedom? Are we really behaving as human beings and not opportunist animals who encroach the shelters of others?In abroad no one makes parks,streets,pathways dirty by spitting,spilling left over drinksor beverages,chips wrappers,beverage cans etc. every Indian may be living in a small town,district,city,metro enjoys same menatility â€Å"keep your house clean† . If a person is living in a flat , they are not worried about the cleanliness of the space around stairs ,lift, outside their flat. If a person residing in a independent house they are not bothered about the street just following to their house ,opens stinking potholes.I want to cater attention of the so called civilised individuals busy discussing about politics ,technologies , duties , knowledge, when they themselves make the nation gardens ,streets deterrant by throwing away non-renewal plastic bags , banana peels disposable plats on the road. People blame goverment for not placing dustbins but what about places where scrap container are available but still we don't realize our duty and dispose garbage not in place. we go for picnics , parties ,long drives to enjoy nature ,food and return home after having a blast leaving that place in a mess.It leaves me flabbergasted that the destination point or the road leading to it can remain so beautiful if we are not selfish and think of others and make it a point that we are not going to dispose any waste in open surroundings. We are 1. 2 billion why engage more people in maintaining or cleaning but to emphasize that large chunk o f our population should be engaged in creation . We can have not only our homes clean but offices,markets,parks,colleges,,schools,temples,mosques,churches,railway stations,cinema halls/multiplexes,toilets etc.Only one thought of treating every public place as your own home and trying to keep that place clean for the next user can be real help for our society. A large amount of money to maintain public places can be saved if we show our concern and just dispose garbage at proper place allocated for it. Large amount of funds which are wasted in cleaning the clutter can be channelised and used for the upliftment of the under privileged,downtrodden. May lord convey this polite request of care and concern about others to all the citizens

Analysis of “On Being a Cripple” by Nancy Mairs

The descriptive essay, â€Å"On Being A Cripple,† by Nancy Mairs demonstrates a purpose to postulate the way society has brainwashed people to judge others incorrectly in order to expose the true thoughts of a person living beneath the glamorized world. Mairs strongly feels that â€Å"[she has not] lost anything in the course of this calamitous disease† (37), known as Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that deteriorates the nerves and interferes with brain and body communication because the immune system has eaten away the protective covering on the nerve cells.To assert her confidence, Mairs initiates her essay with a strong, simple term to define herself: â€Å"a cripple† (37). She wants society to â€Å"wince† (37) in order to portray that candy coated euphemisms have made society weak. Mairs does not want her readers to feel sympathy, but to see the perspective of a person with the disease. Towards the end of the essay, Mairs is reflects back on society's w ays by comparing herself to other women who have the same disease and by declating she is â€Å"not a disease† (43) magnifies what this condition is to her on a more personal level.This disease is not just a besetment, it is a part of her life. Mairs exemplifies her suggested use of â€Å"cripple† by alluding to the â€Å"Lindsfarne Gospel† (37), which contains the first use of the word â€Å"cripple. † Mairs uses this to allow the audience to view the world in a more formal way. Therefore, a gospel might put on a different view of â€Å"cripple† rather than an impolite slang term.Her goal is to create an acceptance and understanding of the word and her condition to the society and the people who are living with the condition as well. Mairs points out numerous times that she has as learned to live through her disease in which she compares herself to many others who have MS yet gave up on trying to live their life; Mairs sees herself â€Å"like fat people, who are expected to be jolly,† (41) but states â€Å"cripples must bear their lot meekly and cheerfully,† (41) creating a comparison for herself.Subsequently, Mairs has added on more pressure for herself. Although she claims that she is against society's ways, she cares about the expectations they give her, later adding â€Å"this is a class act† (41). Trying to please society and herself at the same time is difficult for Mairs as she â€Å"[winds] up feeling like Tiny Tim, peering over the edge of the table†¦waving [her] crutch† (41), but prefers to be a â€Å"Caliban, a most scurvy monster† (42).When she feels like â€Å"Tiny Tim† (41), she is viewing herself how the world views her, a person who is disabled. Mairs would rather classify herself as a â€Å"Caliban† (42) or a â€Å"cripple† to evoke society to â€Å"wince† (37) at her and see her as the strong woman that she truly is. Nancy Mairs' purpose is to leave an effect on her readers to help them understand her feelings about the pressure society has established and how it has changed her and the rest of humanity in order to prove them wrong.

Indian Tourism Industry Essay Example

Indian Tourism Industry Essay Example Indian Tourism Industry Essay Indian Tourism Industry Essay Indian Tourism Industry The Indian Tourism Industry Forecast focuses on different parameters of tourism industry including: inbound tourism, outbound tourism, expenditure by inbound tourists, and medical tourism in India. It also helps clients to analyze the opportunities and factors critical to the success of tourism industry in India. In India, inbound tourist expenditure per head is third highest in the world and even more than global average tourist spending. India has been promoting its healthcare tourism by providing the visitors with private healthcare facilities. It is expected that the number of tourists visiting India for the purpose of medical treatment will reach one Million by 2012, representing a CAGR of 28. 09% from 2007. Disposable income in past (during 2001-2006) grew at a CAGR of 10. 11%, thereby driving domestic as well as outbound tourism. Room rent accounts for more than 50% of revenue earned by Indian hotel industry. Indian outbound tourist flow is expected to increase at a CAGR of 12. 79% over the five-year period spanning 2007-2011. Tourist influx to India is expected to increase at a CAGR of 22. 65% between 2007 and 2011. India’s share in global tourism is expected to reach 1. 5% by 2010. Key Issues and Facts Analyzed What is the current state of tourism industry in India? What are the emerging trends in the tourism sector in India? What is the future outlook of the tourism industry in India in terms of inbound as well as outbound tourism, and expenditure by inbound and outbound tourists? Which factors are driving the India tourism industry? Hotel industry scenario in India? Hotel industry occupancy rate and room supply by 2011 This highlights only the synopsis of the Indian tourism industry. **

Employee Satisfaction in the Hospitality Business

Employee Satisfaction in the Hospitality Business Introduction According to Kuballa (2007), employee satisfaction can be defined as a measure of how enthusiastic employees can be towards their duties and their workplaces. Maintaining a high morale at the workplace can be of great benefit to any corporation since contented employees are more probable to produce more; they remain loyal to the corporation and usually take fewer days off.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Employee Satisfaction in the Hospitality Business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Maintaining high employee satisfaction involves several factors that can be implemented by wise employers. In addition, satisfied workers are also more probable to be inventive and innovative in developing breakthroughs, which can allow any business to advance and transform positively with shifting market conditions and time. To determine the level of employee satisfaction, most corporations conduct compulsory surveys of c onfrontational meetings with their employees to acquire information (Hayes Ninemeier, 2009). The importance of this subject has led to a lot of research. In this essay, a literature review is conducted on various research works that have been done on employee satisfaction in the hospitality industry. Literature Review Hospitality business is one of the industries that is rapidly growing. However, there are still challenges of acquiring and keeping a competent workforce (Tanke, 2001). Basically, there are two things that are most prevalent in this business. The first one is high incidences of staff turnover influencing the capacity to provide a consistent brand experience, which adversely affects the industry; the second one consists in the fact that most individuals do not view hospitality industry as rapidly developing, which implies that they do not want to stay and advance their careers in such businesses (Gitman McDaniel, 2009). These are indicators of employees who are not co ntented. As it has been mentioned, lot of research has been conducted in this field, however, there are still loopholes that have not been fully explored. In 2006, Hemdi and Nasurdin conducted research to investigate the employee turnover in the hotel industry throughout the world. In their research, they indicated that the turnover of employees in the hotel industry could be approximated at 60% to 300% per year, which is very high as compared to the manufacturing industry at 34.7%.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This indicates that the turnover rate of employees is very high. Most significantly, they assert that this kind of turnover is unfavorable for the business because it is apparent that they are closely correlated to direct and indirect rates. In addition, it impacts the ethical, output, reputation and subsistence of organizations. In their findings it is h ighlighted that, in case the turnover is high, it is implied that employees are not contented with the work or payment. It could as well indicate insecure or unhealthy working conditions or the fact that very few workers perform well, probably, because of impractical expectations or poor employee recruitment. Conversely, low turnover shows employee satisfaction (Yeh, 1999). There are theories and models that have been used to explain the cause of high employee turnover in the hospitality industry. Some of the most common theories and models used by different authors include two factor theory, job characteristics model, Peter Principle, McClelland’s Theory, and Mobley’s model (Walker Miller, 2010). The two factor theory used by Herzberg in 1973 claims that the job an individual performs can warrant needs such as accomplishments, proficiency, position, individual value, and self-realization, which could result into a happy and contented person. However, without such gra tification, job nature does not result into a happy and satisfied person. McClelland’s theory, which was developed by McClelland in 1973, postulates that a person’s desires are developed over time and is formed by a person’s childhood experiences. The needs are classified as the need for achievement, affiliation, and power. These theories have been used to explain the reasons for high turnover in hospitality organizations (Cook, 2008). Even though, the theories have proved very accurate in explaining the causes of high employee turnover, there is still little research on methods of determining employee satisfaction in an organization. Currently, direct interviews and compulsory surveys are the commonly used methods. However, these approaches have their advantages and disadvantages. In most cases, interviews with the management can be intimidating, though if done appropriately, could let the employees know that issues are addressed by the management. Nevertheless , the responses could as well be very misleading especially when there is no good rapport between the management and the workers. This implies that some responses cannot be used to make conclusions at the level of employee satisfaction (Kusluvan, 2003).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Employee Satisfaction in the Hospitality Business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Identified research questions aims and objectives Owing to the existing loopholes in the existing research especially with regard to assessment of employee satisfaction, there are areas that still need to be researched. The research questions that need to be addressed include the following: What factors determine the accuracy of an employee satisfaction assessment method? What are the most appropriate methods of assessing employee satisfaction? How does the employee satisfaction method affect the accuracy of outcome determined? What are the most effectiv e ways of boosting the employee morale in a hospitality industry? How has poor methods of evaluating employee satisfaction affected the results obtained? References Cook, S. (2008). The essential guide to employee engagement: Better business performance through staff satisfaction. London: Kogan Page. Gitman, J McDaniel, D. (2009). The future of business: The essentials. Mason, OH: South-Western Cenage Learning Hayes, K Ninemeier, D. (2009). Human resources management in the hospitality industry. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley Sons. Hemdi, A Nasurdin, M. (2006). Predicting turnover intentions of Hotel employees: The influence of employee development human resource management practices and trust in organization. Gadjah Mada international Journal of business, 8(1), 21-42. Retrieved from EBSCOhost database. Kuballa, J. (2007). Employee satisfaction A precondition for economic success of service companies? München: GRIN Verlag GmbH.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Kusluvan, S. (2003). Managing employee attitudes and behaviors in the tourism and hospitality industry. New York: Nova Science Publishers. Tanke, L. (2001). Human resources management for the hospitality industry. Albany, NY: Delmar Thomson Learning Walker, R Miller, E. (2010). Supervision in the hospitality industry: Leading human resources. Hoboken, N.J: J. Wiley. Yeh, Y. (1999). Employee satisfaction of hotel industry: A case study of the Grand Hotel Taipei. Rochester Institute of Technology

Biography of Mark Twain

Biography of Mark Twain Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens Nov. 30, 1835 in the small town of Florida, MO, and raised in Hannibal, became one of the greatest American authors of all time. Known for his sharp wit and pithy commentary on society, politics, and the human condition, his many essays and novels, including the American classic,The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, are a testament to his intelligence and insight. Using humor and satire to soften the edges of his keen observations and critiques, he revealed in his writing some of the injustices and absurdities of society and human existence, his own included. He was a humorist, writer, publisher, entrepreneur, lecturer, iconic celebrity (who always wore white at his lectures), political satirist, and social progressive. He died on April 21, 1910 when Halley’s Comet was again visible in the night sky, as lore would have it, just as it had been when he was born 75 years earlier. Wryly and presciently, Twain had said, â€Å"I came in with Halleys Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year (1910), and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I dont go out with Halleys Comet. The Almighty has said, no doubt: Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together.†   Twain died of a heart attack one day after the Comet appeared its brightest in 1910. A complex, idiosyncratic person, he never liked to be introduced by someone else when lecturing, preferring instead to introduce himself as he did when beginning the following lecture, â€Å"Our Fellow Savages of the Sandwich Islands† in 1866: â€Å"Ladies and gentlemen: The next lecture in this course will be delivered this evening, by Samuel L. Clemens, a gentleman whose high character and unimpeachable integrity are only equalled by his comeliness of person and grace of manner. And I am the man! I was obliged to excuse the chairman from introducing me, because he never compliments anybody and I knew I could do it just as well.† Twain was   a complicated mixture of southern boy and western ruffian striving to fit into elite Yankee culture. He wrote in his speech, Plymouth Rock and the Pilgrims,1881: â€Å"I am a border-ruffian from the State of Missouri. I am a Connecticut Yankee by adoption. In me, you have Missouri morals, Connecticut culture; this, gentlemen, is the combination which makes the perfect man.† Growing up in Hannibal, Missouri had a lasting influence on Twain, and working as a steamboat captain for several years before the Civil War was one of his greatest pleasures. While riding the steamboat he would observe the many passengers, learning much about their character and affect. His time working as a miner and a journalist in Nevada and California during the 1860s introduced him to the rough and tumble ways of the west, which is where, Feb. 3, 1863, he first used the pen name, Mark Twain, when writing one of his humorous essays for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise in Nevada. Mark Twain was a riverboat term that means two fathoms, the point at which it is safe for the boat to navigate the waters. It seems that when Samuel Clemens adopted this pen name he also adopted another persona - a persona that represented the outspoken commoner, poking fun at the aristocrats in power, while Samuel Clemens, himself, strove to be one of them. Twain got his first big break as a writer in 1865 with an article about life in a mining camp, called Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog, also called The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. It was very favorably received and printed in newspapers and magazines all over the country. From there he received other jobs, sent to Hawaii, and then to Europe and the Holy Land as a travel writer. Out of these travels he wrote the book, The Innocents Abroad, in 1869, which became a bestseller. His books and essays were generally so well-regarded that he started lecturing and promoting them, becoming popular both as a writer and a speaker. When he married Olivia Langdon in 1870, he married into a wealthy family from Elmira, New York and moved east to Buffalo, NY and then to Hartford, CT where he collaborated with the Hartford Courant Publisher to co-write The Gilded Age, a satirical novel about greed and corruption among the wealthy after the Civil War. Ironically, this was also the society to which he aspired and gained entry. But Twain had his share of losses, too - loss of fortune investing in failed inventions (and failing to invest in successful ones such as Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone), and the deaths of people he loved, such as his younger brother in a riverboat accident, for which he felt responsible, and several of his children and his beloved wife. Although Twain survived, thrived, and made a living out of humor, his humor was borne out of sorrow, a complicated view of life, an understanding of life’s contradictions, cruelties, and absurdities.   As he once said, â€Å"There is no laughter in heaven.†Ã‚   HUMOR Mark Twain’s style of humor was wry, pointed, memorable, and delivered in a slow drawl. Twain’s humor carried on the tradition of humor of the Southwest, consisting of tall tales, myths, and frontier sketches, informed by his experiences growing up in Hannibal, MO, as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River, and as a gold miner and journalist in Nevada and California. In 1863 Mark Twain attended in Nevada the lecture of Artemus Ward (pseudonym of Charles Farrar Browne,1834-1867), one of America’s best-known humorists of the 19th century. They became friends, and Twain learned much from him about how to make people laugh. Twain believed that how a story was told was what made it funny   - repetition, pauses, and an air of naivety. In his essay How to Tell a Story Twain says, â€Å"There are several kinds of stories, but only one difficult kind- the humorous. I will talk mainly about that one.† He describes what makes a story funny, and what distinguishes the American story from that of the English or French; namely that the American story is humorous, the English is comic, and the French is witty. He explains how they differ: â€Å"The humorous story depends for its effect upon the manner of the telling; the comic story and the witty story upon the matter. The humorous story may be spun out to great length, and may wander around as much as it pleases, and arrive nowhere in particular; but the comic and witty stories must be brief and end with a point. The humorous story bubbles gently along, the others burst. The humorous story is strictly a work of art, - high and delicate art, - and only an artist can tell it; but no art is necessary in telling the comic and the witty story; anybody can do it. The art of telling a humorous story - - understand, I mean by word of mouth, not print - was created in America, and has remained at home.† Other important characteristics of a good humorous story, according to Twain, include the following: A humorous story is told gravely, as though there is nothing funny about it.The story is told wanderingly and the point is â€Å"slurred.†A â€Å"studied remark† is made as if without even knowing it, â€Å"as if one were thinking aloud.†The pause: â€Å"The pause is an exceedingly important feature in any kind of story, and a frequently recurring feature, too. It is a dainty thing, and delicate, and also uncertain and treacherous; for it must be exactly the right lengthno more and no less- or it fails of its purpose and makes trouble. If the pause is too short the impressive point is passed, and the audience have had time to divine that a surprise is intended- and then you cant surprise them, of course.† Twain believed in telling a story in an understated way, almost as if he was letting his audience in on a secret. He cites a story, The Wounded Soldier, as an example and to explain the difference in the different manners of storytelling, explaining that:   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The American would conceal the fact that he even dimly suspects that there is anything funny about it†¦. the American tells it in a ‘rambling and disjointed’ fashion and pretends that he does not know that it is funny at all,† whereas â€Å"The European ‘tells you beforehand that it is one of the funniest things he has ever heard, then tells it with eager delight, and is the first person to laugh when he gets through.† †¦.†All of which,† Mark Twain sadly comments, â€Å"is very depressing, and makes one want to renounce joking and lead a better life.† Twain’s folksy, irreverent, understated style of humor, use of vernacular language, and seemingly forgetful rambling prose and strategic pauses drew his audience in, making them seem smarter than he. His intelligent satirical wit, impeccable timing, and ability to subtly poke fun at both himself and the elite made him accessible to a wide audience, and made him one of the most successful comedians of his time and one that has had a lasting influence on future comics and humorists. Humor was absolutely essential to Mark Twain, helping him navigate life just as he learned to navigate the Mississippi when a young man, reading the depths and nuances of the human condition like he learned to see the subtleties and complexities of the river beneath its surface. He learned to create humor out of confusion and absurdity, bringing laughter into the lives of others as well. He once said, â€Å"Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.† MARK TWAIN PRIZE Twain was much admired during his lifetime and recognized as an American icon. A   prize created in his honor, The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the nation’s top comedy honor, has been given annually since 1998 to â€Å"people who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist best known as Mark Twain.† Previous recipients of the prize have included some of the most notable humorists of our time. The 2017 prizewinner is David Letterman, who according to Dave Itzkoff, New York Times writer, â€Å"Like Mark Twain †¦distinguished himself as a cockeyed, deadpan observer of American behavior and, later in life, for his prodigious and distinctive facial hair. Now the two satirists share a further connection.† One can only wonder what remarks Mark Twain would make today about our government, ourselves, and the absurdities of our world. But undoubtedly they would be insightful and humorous to help us â€Å"stand against the assault† and perhaps even give us pause. RESOURCES AND FURTHER READING Burns, Ken, Ken Burns Mark Twain Part I, https://www.youtube.com/watch?vVs, https://amphilsoc.org/sites/default/files/proceedings/150305.pdfMoss, Walter, Mark Twain’s Progressive and Prophetic Political Humor, http://hollywoodprogressive.com/mark-twain/The Mark Twain House and Museum, https://www.marktwainhouse.org/man/biography_main.php For Teachers: Learn More About Mark Twain, PBS, pbs.org/marktwain/learnmore/index.htmlLesson 1: Mark Twain and American Humor, National Endowment for the Humanities, https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/mark-twain-and-american-humor#sect-introductionLesson Plan | Mark Twain and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, WGBH, PBS, https://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/773460a8-d817-4fbd-9c1e-15656712348e/lesson-plan-mark-twain-and-the-mark-twain-prize-for-american-humor/#.WT2Y_DMfn-Y

Apple inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Apple inc - Essay Example res and distribute personal computers, cell phones, portable music digital players, software, computer peripherals, related services etc either through third party sellers or its own retail shops. In early 1990s, Apple Inc dominated the market for personal computer with Apple II and gained wider popularity and achieved strong brand reputation with the development of Macintosh. Apple inc employs more than 34,000 employees throughout its manufacturing plants, own retail stores, offices worldwide and offers wide ranges of technology products and services such as iPods, iPhone, 3G iPhone, iTune, iMusic, iTune, iLife etc. Apple Inc, especially among its major competitors such as Acer, Fujitsu, Dell, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Nokia, Motorola Corp, etc, remains to possess higher competitive advantages since it thrives largely on innovation and has proved greater success with product differentiation in its concerned markets. It operates through more than 350 Apple’s stores worldwide and all of these stores are renowned for its very successful and unique marketing strategy of ‘Own-store retailing’. Apple’s stores continue to add advantages to company’s customer loyalty since these stores attract millions of customers to it as they are provided with customer services, technology-assistance, troubleshooting, fun, gaming, kids’ corner etc. In the first quarter of 2011, Apple reported a 23 percent increase in its total sales exhibiting the total revenues to be $26.74 billion and $ 3.38 billion as the net profit for the same quarter. Most companies become highly admired among its public due to the values that its customers perceive it to be of the highest quality and uniqueness. When it comes to Apple, the company always thrives on innovation, technology and product differentiation. The way Apple designed its products, they style it named them, the way they marketed as well attracted customers and created a positive marketing zeal among their minds. When hundreds of cell

How am I prepared to contribute to Pepperdine's mission and community Essay

How am I prepared to contribute to Pepperdine's mission and community of faith, learning, and service - Essay Example Starting from my school I have always been obedient to my religion and faith and have took all the aspects of life along with my strong faith. I have strived for education all my life and have come to the conclusion that one can never stop learning. I can contribute to the mission of Pepperdine university by using my skills to bring about a change in the society along with my faith. With my strong beliefs in religion I believe that I can take both my faith and education together at the same time. Throughout my life I have undergone many instances in which I had to act as a leader and this has given me experience when leading individuals. I believe that I can lead from the front and can strive for education if enrolled in the Pepperdine University. By getting enrolled in the University not only would I be able to commit myself to the mission of Pepperdine but would also be able to learn more. The excellent curriculum of Pepperdine University suits the needs of every student who wants to learn. I being a struggling student always dreamt of studying in a reputable institute. By getting enrolled in the Pepperdine University I can be able to learn and experience more which I can share around with people and make them aware about different things. With the help of the excellence provided by Pepperdine University I would be able to excel in my studies and polish my talent so that it does not come to a waste.

Business and society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business and society - Essay Example Therefore, when a few employees are causing a hindrance in the achievement of any or all of these goals, it is naturally the employer’s responsibility to approach the employee with at least constructive criticism, if not a serious warning. This restaurant chain employs hundreds of people to perform its daily operations. Most of them are young adults, due to the nature and the low wage rate of the job. As recent reports have indicated, in Western society, the abuse of drugs for recreational purposes is extremely high in the case of this age group. This fact automatically leads to the assumption that quite a few of this restaurant’s employees may be included in this national statistic. At a superficial glance at this assumption, there seems to be no need to explore the matter. As long as the employee performs at par at his or her job, there is no reason to interfere with what they choose to do in their personal life. It can even be labeled an ethical dilemma as to whether the employer should give this much attention to an employee’s personal life outside the job. However, if one chooses to explore the statistic that the reports have laid out, with more depth, there is more reason to explore the problem. As the reports go on to elaborate, this drug abuse has a major negative impact on the professional lives of these young adults too. The companies that they work for suffer major losses each year, due to the drug problem of these employees, as it causes delays, accidents, lower productivity, and expensive healthcare. The report estimates these losses to be around seventy five to a hundred billion dollars per year in the US. Considering these significantly huge figures, the directors of this company realize the importance of addressing the problem. They realize how relevant this issue could be to their own workforce, and how urgently it needs to be addressed. There is still the argument of whether it is fair to take on such a serious matter when it can be a very private matter for the employees. A casual drug abuser would not want their employers involved in such a matter, because not only would it they be in the danger of losing their jobs, but it would harm their reputation in society as well as for future employers. This major ethical dilemma would pose a problem for the employers wishing to take action against this possible drug problem. It would help, perhaps, to view this problem in the light of the ethical theory of utilitarianism. This theory preaches that the actions one takes should be those, which maximize the utility that can be derived from the action. Enforcers of this theory believe also, that one should always seek to maximize the benefit that their actions have on the whole of society, instead of just themselves. This is often a guiding principle for people who find themselves at a crossroad, and have to choose between an action that would seems right, and one that seems moral. In this case, it would be be neficial to view the problem at hand in the light of utilitarianism. It seems like the wrong thing to do to approach a group of employees and try to screen out the drug users from amongst them. Nevertheless, this action would be in the best interest of the employee, her coworkers, her family as well as the restaurant’s productivity. As this ethical theory states, one should always prefer the action which ‘brings about the greatest good for the greatest number’

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Essay

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) - Essay Example The policies of IFRS are more advanced and precise for meeting the changes in the new accounting and audit systems, so US is also moving towards IFRS. The US GAAP is actually concept based, whereas IFRS is based on principles. The methodology of these two frameworks and the accounting treatments are also different. In US GAAP, the research is mainly based on the literature but in case of IFRS, the rules are mainly based on reviews and patterns of facts. Table of Contents International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 4 Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) 5 Different between IFRS and GAAP 5 International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is a principle based framework created to develop new standards of accounting and auditing. The International Accounting Standards (IAS) was renamed as IFRS and the policies of IAS was also changed or renewed under this. The IFRS was constructed to develop a globalised accounting an d auditing model. The IFRS approves three main accounting models: The current cost accounting, maintenance of financial capital in the units of the constant purchasing power and the capital for maintaining nominal monetary units. IFRS follows three basic assumptions: Going on Concern: It states that an entity will continue its activities and any form of hindrance would not stop it from doing so. The assumption for proper and stable measuring units: The changes in the purchasing ability of functional currency excluding the 26 percent p.a. for consecutive 3 years can be considered immaterial for not considering the capital maintenance as stated in the guidelines of IFRS. Purchasing Power: It considers the constant power to purchase at all levels of inflation and deflation in relation to the consumer price index. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) The Generally Accepted Accounting principles (GAAP) are the rules in relation to accounting and auditing which are used for pre senting, and preparing the financial reports or statements for different entity. It includes the policies for the entire accounting and auditing industry. The GAAP is actually set or formulated by the Government Accounting Standard Board (GASB). The basic objectives of GAAP are: To safe guard the interest of the investors. To help the authorities take important financial decisions. It plays a significant role in maintaining records. It improves the performance of the organization (Cerritos, n. d.). Different between IFRS and GAAP The basic difference between IFRS and US GAAP framework are: Inventory: Under the system of IFRS, the LIFO system cannot be used, but in GAAP both LIFO and FIFO are allowed. So companies have choices in the second case. Cost of Development: In case of IFRS the

Negative Consequences of Health Care Reform Assignment

Negative Consequences of Health Care Reform - Assignment Example The healthcare professionals, healthcare facilities, and drug companies increase their billing charges, billing the government (Hirschey, 2008). The government intervention could distort the healthcare market. In 2008, the Agency Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) observed that $24 million is lost through fraud, waste, and abuse of the U.S. healthcare system (Pyrek, 2011). The current healthcare program unfavorably forces the financially able individuals to pay for the free healthcare benefits of the poor and jobless residents. The results would be abuse. Abuse crops up when one party takes advantage of another individual. Free healthcare services discourage the lazy from finding jobs. The middle income earners are required to pay for the lazy individual’s medical bills. The middle income individuals must pay a fine for not paying for poor and lazy individuals’ healthcare expenses. Based on the above discussion, healthcare reform has many scenes. The other players pay for the poor and lazy persons’ medical bills. Fraud and billing abuse crop up. Evidently, there are unfavorable consequences of healthcare

Theory Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Theory - Research Paper Example Over the years, the model has been adopted to examine a wide range of long-and-short-term health behaviours among people of all ages and nationalities such as the spread of cancer due to the failure by people to go for free cancer screening clinics (Rejeski, Brawley, McAuley, & Rapp, 2006). The Health Belief Model was developed out of the realization that humans possess positive, negative and neutral values and their response to various issues is based on these three regions. The Health Belief Model often has two dimensions namely the threats and net threats. These two areas are categorized into susceptibility, severity, benefits and barriers and it is believed that these four constructs explain people’s willingness to react to situations. While these four concepts are usually constant, an addition of cues to action usually triggers the willingness and motivates clear behaviour. In recent days, there has been an addition of self-efficacy, which is the focus on one’s self-belief in the capacity to successfully complete an action (Rejeski, Brawley, McAuley & Rapp, 2006). Ideally, the Health Belief Model is founded on the hypothesis that if the end result is desirable, there is a higher likelihood for individuals to be more motivated to alter their behaviour. For this model to work, psychologists believe that certain behaviours are pointers to certain results. The self-efficacy expectancy concept posits that individuals have within them what it takes to bring about certain results. If a particular incentive is added to the environment within which an individual lives, then the chances of getting a certain outcome is amplified (Rejeski, Brawley, McAuley, & Rapp, 2006). Perceived Susceptibility; this is usually defined as an individual’s opinion of the probabilities of acquiring a certain condition. In the Health Belief Model, this is often used to define the threatened people as well as in defining the risk levels. This concept

Negative Consequences of Health Care Reform Assignment

Negative Consequences of Health Care Reform - Assignment Example The healthcare professionals, healthcare facilities, and drug companies increase their billing charges, billing the government (Hirschey, 2008). The government intervention could distort the healthcare market. In 2008, the Agency Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) observed that $24 million is lost through fraud, waste, and abuse of the U.S. healthcare system (Pyrek, 2011). The current healthcare program unfavorably forces the financially able individuals to pay for the free healthcare benefits of the poor and jobless residents. The results would be abuse. Abuse crops up when one party takes advantage of another individual. Free healthcare services discourage the lazy from finding jobs. The middle income earners are required to pay for the lazy individual’s medical bills. The middle income individuals must pay a fine for not paying for poor and lazy individuals’ healthcare expenses. Based on the above discussion, healthcare reform has many scenes. The other players pay for the poor and lazy persons’ medical bills. Fraud and billing abuse crop up. Evidently, there are unfavorable consequences of healthcare

Emotional Intelligence Essay Example for Free

Emotional Intelligence Essay Emotional intelligence is defined as an individual’s ability to perceive, control and appraise emotions. Emotional intelligence can be learned, strengthened or be an inborn characteristic. Emotional intelligence is thus the subject of social intelligence that entails the ability to monitor one’s own and other’s thoughts and emotions, to differentiate among them and to apply information in guiding one’s thinking and actions. There are four varied areas of emotional intelligence. This includes, identifying, understanding using, and managing emotions. In the current world, emotional intelligence influence behavior in various social settings such as schools, community and the work place (Matthews, Zeidner Roberts, 2004). Every activity that is done with application of emotional intelligence is aimed at superseding and helping persons in their academic achievement, work performance, capacity to communicate effectively and solving daily problems. This helps an individual in building meaningful affiliations and making moral decisions. Mindfulness is viewed as an emotional intelligence for an individual growth. Mindfulness involves centering on one’s concentration on thoughts, feelings and events in the present time while remaining inquisitive, open and admitting whatever happens. Mindfulness promotes effectiveness as an individual engrosses himself/herself in an experience so as to disregard himself/herself. Mindfulness can be used as a technique for management of intense emotions such as fear and anger that leads to misconstruction and conflict. This enhances minimization of human suffering. Mindfulness practice facilitates interpersonal perceptive and effectiveness through social and emotional progress. Therefore, mindfulness strengthens ourselves and also promotes others as well as increasing self-regulation which is a main component of emotional intelligence. In Effective Emotional Orientation (EEO), a leader must have emotional intelligence. This helps him/her to bring into line personal and subordinate goals so as to accomplish the company’s goals. Nevertheless, EEO can be promoted through achievement of competencies. The skills that an individual acquires help him/her to increase the ability to manage and monitor his or her own emotions and correctly determine the emotional status of others in influencing their opinions. According to Buddhist approach to emotional well- being, when training is done for a particular period of time, it fosters mental and emotional well-being. However, subjective interior experience must be acknowledged as a justifiable domain of reality. Buddhist view mental health as a condition of mental balance and division of emotions on the basis of either constructive emotions or destructive emotions. The conception of emotional intelligence has been applied in a number of areas that are outside the psychological research and therapy rings. Professional, educational and community organizations have incorporated various aspects of the emotional intelligence values. This helps institutions to promote working linkages, have better results and advance personal contentment. Emotional intelligence is applied so as to normalize emotions for personal health and more especially, mental health (Matthews, Zeidner Roberts, 2004). For instance low emotional intelligence is coupled with depression, low self-esteem, solitude, suicidal feelings and hostile behavior. On the other hand, high emotional intelligence is associated with increased well-being such as more fulfillments with life and increased happiness. Emotional intelligence has a significant function in medicine nursing and other healthcare disciplines for both personal healthcare and professional practice. In everyday life, emotional intelligence is seen as a possible aspect in mediating stress. Therefore, acknowledgement of emotional intelligence is vital to health care administration leadership in order to promote health in the society. References Matthews, G, Zeidner, M Roberts, D. (2004). Emotional intelligence: science and myth. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.

Protein Determination Lab Report

Protein Determination Lab Report Introduction Within protein biochemistry, analytical procedures and experiments have been designed to determine accurate measures of the protein concentration in a sample. A variety of protein assays are being and have been developed to be used in laboratories to examine a solution and to quantify protein from a biological specimen. For certain concentrations, protein assays such as the Bradford and the Lowry method will have advantages and disadvantages, for instance a higher cost but the results have a greater accuracy and are produced expeditiously (Becker, Caldwell and Zachgo, 2011). Protein assays are essential to determine if proteinuria is a result of glomerular or tubular manifestation, indicating serious health complications. The protein albumin is the most abundant in urine compared to that of other proteins, and therefore is the standard most common protein measured (Vogel, 2008). For decades, protein quantification has been an important laboratory technique that extracts, purifies, characterises and analyses protein concentrations throughout human biology, from enzymatic activity to clinical testing of urine samples. In many parts of the world, such as Australasia in New Zealand, routine checks are available to measure albumin levels in the urine to aid in the diagnosis of renal disease (Martin, 2011). Diagnosing disease through protein quantification is a long-lasting technique, ancient experts would try to identify albumin in the urine through a technique known as the foam-test, which is similarly still carried out today to detect glomerular disease. For this reason, protein quantification is a crucial diagnostic tool in early detection of disease, classification of disease and assessment of prognosis (Pisitkun, Johnstone and Knepper, 2006). Blood plasma is comprised of a combination of proteins to aid in various factors including the maintenance of blood plasma volume and/or a protein transporter. Of the blood plasma, albumin makes up 60% of plasma protein, and is the most copious protein to be measured in the plasma (Higgins, 2005). In healthy patients, the albumin concentration in the urine should be exceptionally low, between 20ug/ml and 30ug/ml are considered a normal level. However, any reading above 30ug/ml could be an indication that the person could have microalbuminuria or macro-albuminuria which increases the risk of a range of health conditions (Hasanato, 2016). To determine abnormal concentrations of albumin in the urine requires an accurate screening process, this is an essential diagnostic tool for the early detection of progressive kidney disease and a cardiovascular risk marker. The initial assessment uses proteinuria uranalysis on patients showing symptoms of chronic kidney disease (CKD). For instance, a clear indication that a patient with diabetes mellitus could develop Diabetic nephropathy is through an increase in the albumin in the urine. Non-diabetic patients that develop a protein concentration in the micro-albuminuria region of above 30ug/ml are still at risk of CKD progression and higher CVD mortality risk. (Carter et al., 2006) Proteinuria can affect people with or without diabetes, male or female but can progressively worsen with age. (Fraser et al., 2017) Several sources, including the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation study, found a correlation between abnormal albumin levels detected in a dipstick test and Cardiovascul ar diseases such as hypertension and strokes. A recent study found that from 48,000 participants, the presence of microalbuminuria was shown to increase stroke risk by up to 90% than that of normoalbuminuric individuals (Delles and Currie, 2013). For the protein determination laboratory experiment, the aim of the albumin assay was to determine the absorbance value of the 5 patient urine samples with the high and normal controls. To achieve the aim, three objectives were implemented; the first step was to create an accurate curve of albumin which aided in the second and third objective; to determine the quantity of proteinuria in each sample, followed by a diagnosis of the patients from the urine samples. Methodology Using the Bradford Assay procedure, 8 standards are generated with the protein concentration from 0ul in standard 0, 25ul, 50ul, 75ul, 100ul, 250ul, 500ul and 1000ul in standard 7, Adding water to labelled microtubules with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) 1mg/ml (1ug/ul). Duplicates of 100ul of each solution are then added to test tubes with 5ml of Bradford regent and incubated at room temperature for 10 minutes before being recorded at 595nm in the spectrometer. These values are recorded into excel, a calibration graph is formed through calculating the average, producing the R2 value. The calibration graph calculates the M value in y=mx; this is used to determine the protein concentrations of each sample. After the duplicated samples have been left for 10 minutes containing 100ul of each patients sample and 5ml of Bradford regent, these samples are read at 595nm in the spectrometer giving the Y absorbance values through light absorbance. In excel, 6 anomalies were removed from each data set before being analysed, averaged and the standard deviation being calculated. Using the average and x=m/y equation, a clustered column bar chart was formed showing the quantification of albumin protein concentration showing the +/- standard deviation. Results The protein albumin in the urine is an essential marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of certain diseases. Urine tests, which contain high levels of albumin are usually the first steps in determining illness and disease. Certain symptoms that a patient shows can be a clear indication that albumin levels are high. Testing of these albumin levels can then significantly help determine illness. It is paramount for this reason to quantify albumin protein concentrations in samples to aid in the prevention of morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. In this study, five patient samples were tested for albumin against a high controlled and normal controlled sample to show the importance of albumin in urine. Upon the results, shown in figure 1 and 2 a diagnosis could be made for the individuals. To critically analyse the calibration graph in figure 1, the R2 trend line label must have a value of >0.95 to indicate a good fit and a linear line for the data, the R2 label has a value of 0.99031 which follows this trend. It can be seen from the calibration graph has a linear relationship; as the concentration of albumin doubles, the absorbance @ 595nm also doubles. In figure 2, the normal controlled and high controlled sample give a clear indication of how healthy the albumin concentrations are that are found in each patient sample. Although the high controlled sample has an albumin concentration of over 300ug/ml representing macro-albuminuria, patient 1 and patient 4 have similar abnormal protein levels in the serum showing microalbuminuria. Furthermore, patient 2 and patient 5 are also classed as having microalbuminuria as the concentrations are over 30ug/ml, however the levels are not extreme, and are not an indication of chronic kidney disease. Patient 3 has a similar concentration to the normal controlled sample; the patients kidneys have virtually no protein and are classed as healthy. Discussion In a healthy urine sample, normal protein albumin concentrations are between 20ug/ml and 30ug/ml, this can be seen in Figure 2 with the Normal control having a value around 30 and for patient 3. However, protein levels from 30ug/ml to 300ug/ml are considered microalbuminuria; patient 1, 2, 4 and 5. The High Control Protein has a value in the 340 regions, this is known as macro albuminuria (Hasanato, 2016). Patient 1 35-year-old female. Albumin protein concentration is approximately 210ug/ml, abnormal level of protein is extremely higher than the normal range and can indicate preeclampsia. Women who experience preeclampsia during their pregnancy are more likely to experience complication than those with normal levels of protein, headaches are a clear indicator that the lady is showing signs of preeclampsia (Hawkins et al., 2015). It is essential that her blood pressure is monitored to prevent hypertension and sent for various blood tests to observe her kidney and liver function (NHS 2). Patient 2 50-year-old male. Albumin protein concentration is around 80ug/ml which is classed as microalbuminuria. Body mass index, waist circumference and high levels of protein in urine are linked with the formation of kidney stones (Garimella et al., 2015). The symptoms that patient 2 is experiencing suggest that he is suffering from a large kidney stone. Highly recommended that he is sent for blood and urine tests to check for infection (NHS 1). Patient 3 40-year-old female. Albumin Protein concentration is roughly 25ug/ml which indicates very little protein in her urine, concentration classed as normal as similar value to the Normal Control protein. Patient 4 23-year-old female. Albumin Protein concentration is in the region of 275ug/ml, classed as very high and could indicate albuminuria. Early diagnosis could prevent the patient from experiencing hypertension, type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (Yadav et al., 2016). The symptoms that the patient is experiencing could indicate a Urinary Tract Infection, there is a strong correlation in many studies that demonstrations how a UTI can impact the glomerular involvement increasing the levels of albumin in the urine (Gonzà ¡lez Rodrà ­guez et al., 2009). Patient 5 70-year-old. Albumin protein concentration boarding 60ug/ml which isnt significantly higher the normal range but still classed as micro-albuminuria. Patient showing signs of still recovering from influenza, immune system is weakened due to age and can take longer to recover. Renal function decline can occur with age and within the elderly generation, which could indicate the abnormal levels of albumin in his urine (Funk et al., 2016). Should be monitored regularly, a review of his medication that may cause a decline in his renal function and put on antibiotics if symptoms of flu continue. References Becker, J., Caldwell, G. and Zachgo, E. (2011). Biotechnology. 1st ed. San Diego: Academic Press, p.119. Carter, J., Tomson, C., Stevens, P. and Lamb, E. (2006). Does urinary tract infection cause proteinuria or microalbuminuria? A systematic review. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 21(11), pp.3031-3037. Available: https://academic.oup.com/ndt/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/ndt/gfl373. Last accessed: 12th March 2017. Delles, C. and Currie, G. (2013). Proteinuria and its relation to cardiovascular disease. International Journal of Nephrology and Renovascular Disease, p.13. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Delles%2C+C.+and+Currie%2C+G.+(2013). Last Accessed: 14th March 2017. Fraser, S., Roderick, P., McIntyre, N., Harris, S., McIntyre, C., Fluck, R. and Taal, M. (2017). Assessment of Proteinuria in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3: Albuminuria and Non-Albumin Proteinuria. Available: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0098261. Last accessed: 12th March 2017. Funk, I., Seibert, E., Markau, S. and Girndt, M. (2016). Clinical Course of Acute Kidney Injury in Elderly Individuals Above 80 Years. Kidney and Blood Pressure Research, 41(6), pp.947-955. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Funk%2C+I.%2C+Seibert%2C+E.%2C+Markau%2C+S.+and+Girndt%2C+M.+(2016). Last accessed: 12th March 2017. Garimella, P., Biggs, M., Katz, R., Ix, J., Bennett, M., Devarajan, P., Kestenbaum, B., Siscovick, D., Jensen, M., Shlipak, M., Chaves, P. and Sarnak, M. (2015). Urinary uromodulin, kidney function, and cardiovascular disease in elderly adults. Kidney International, 88(5), pp.1126-1134. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26154925. Last accessed: 15th March 2017. Gonzà ¡lez Rodrà ­guez, J., Canalejo, D., Martà ­n Govante, J., Garcà ­a de Guadiana, L., Rex, C., Gonzà ¡lez Morales, M. and Cayuela, A. (2009). Proteinuria in urinary infection and acute originals pyelonephritis in paediatric patients: can it replace scintigraphic studies in diagnostic localisation? Nefrologà ­a, 29(2), pp.163-169. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Gonz%C3%A1lez+Rodr%C3%ADguez%2C+J.%2C+Canalejo%2C+D.%2C+Mart%C3%ADn+Govante%2C+J.%2C+Garc%C3%ADa+de+Guadiana%2C+L.%2C+Rex%2C+C.%2C+Gonz%C3%A1lez+Morales%2C+M.+and+Cayuela%2C+A.+(2009). Last accessed: 13th March 2017. Hasanato, R. (2016). Diagnostic efficacy of random albumin creatinine ratio for detection of micro and macro-albuminuria in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Saudi Medical Journal, 37(3), pp.268-273. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26905348. Last accessed: 15th March 2017. Hawkins, M., Braun, B., Marcus, B., Stanek, E., Markenson, G. and Chasan-Taber, L. (2015). The impact of an exercise intervention on C reactive protein during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 15(1). Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26104503. Last accessed: 12th March 2017. Higgins, C. (2005). Understanding laboratory investigations. 1st ed. Malden, MA: Blackwell Science, p.159. Martin, H. (2011). Laboratory Measurement of Urine Albumin and Urine Total Protein in Screening for Proteinuria in Chronic Kidney Disease. Clin Biochem Rev., 32(2), pp.97-102. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Martin%2C+H.+(2011).+Laboratory+Measurement+of+Urine+Albumin+and+Urine+Total+Protein+in+Screening+for+Proteinuria+in+Chronic+Kidney+Disease. Last accessed: 13th March 2017. NHS 1. (). Diagnosing Kidney Stones. Available: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Kidney-stones/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx. Last accessed 12th March 2017. NHS 2. Pre -eclampsia Treatment. Available: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pre-eclampsia/Pages/Treatment.aspx. Last accessed 15/03/2017. Oda, E. (2014). Overweight and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein are weakly associated with kidney stone formation in Japanese men. International Journal of Urology, 21(10), pp.1005-1011. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Oda%2C+E.+(2014).+Overweight+and+high-sensitivity+C-reactive+protein+are+weakly+associated+with+kidney+stone+formation+in+Japanese+men.+International+Journal+of+Urology%2C. Last accessed: 14th March 2017. Pisitkun, T., Johnstone, R. and Knepper, M. (2006). Discovery of Urinary Biomarkers. Molecular Cellular Proteomics, 5(10), pp.1760-1771. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Pisitkun%2C+T.%2C+Johnstone%2C+R.+and+Knepper%2C+M.+(2006).+Discovery+of+Urinary+Biomarkers.+Molecular+%26+Cellular+Proteomics. Last accessed: 12th March 2017. Yadav, D., Kang, D., Koh, S., Kim, J. and Ahn, S. (2016). Association between Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio within the Normal Range and Incident Hypertension in Men and Women. Yonsei Medical Journal, 57(6), p.1454. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27593874. Last accessed: 15th March 2017. Vogel, H. (2008). Drug Discovery and Evaluation. 1st ed. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, p.476.

Ideas from the Underground :: Critical Thinking Cars Essays

Ideas from the Underground Automotive designer Jerry Hirschberg was speaking to the product planning manager for marketing at Nissan about redesigning their light trucks:'Really, "I responded, growing intrigued. "Yep. Seems they use their trucks as trucks less than twenty-five percent of the time"... "What do they use them as the rest of the time?"I wondered. "Basic transportation. Cars." There. A small, barely detectable synaptic spark The truck trisected itself in my mind in to three discrete boxes: one for carrying the engine, one the driver, and one the cargo. Seen in this formulation, it became dramatically evident that the former & latter were quite ample, but between them they sandwiched a rather stingy, cramped volume for the human cargo. And yet, according to Sheldon Payne's information, it was precisely this middle box that was most important and received the greatest use. In his essay "The Three Domains of Creativity" Arthur Koestler states that, "Creativity often starts where language ends, by regressing to preverbal levels, to more fluid and uncommitted forms of mental activity." Although at that point in the essay, he is speaking of scientific creativity, later on he conveys that it can be applied to almost any kind of creativity. Take Hirshberg in the above passage as an example. He was trying to access the raw information gathered by the marketing department at Nissan about what improvements consumers wanted in the light trucks. When he got to a point where his idea began to form in his mind, he stopped talking and started visualizing how he could redesign the new model of the truck. Another example of non-verbal thinking is shown in Ron Howard's film A Beautiful Mind, where John Nash is in a bar with his friends and he reasons out his new idea that won a Nobel Prize. His reasoning on the screen is shown as images of his friends and the girls they are trying to "get", as he thinks of how they could all win. The scene mirrors how he came up with his revolutionary theory. Koestler also emphasizes this idea of the visual playing a greater part in creativity than verbal thinking with the results of an inquiry, in 1945, into the working methods of eminent mathematicians in America. He wrote, "The results showed that all of them, with only two exceptions, thought neither in verbal terms nor in algebraic symbols but relied on visual imagery of a vague, hazy kind.

Digital Home Convergence Essay -- Technology Technological Essays

Digital Home Convergence Overview As technology and entertainment converge inside the home, major players in various industries are taking different strategies in planning for the future. The concept of the â€Å"digital home† will likely take one of two forms: a closed wired entertainment network (PVRs, OnDemand) or an open wireless data network (web, email, VOIP, IPTV). The closed model is already being offered in many homes across the country, but as technology advances, the open model will become the standard. It is important to understand how both technology and entertainment are companies are strategizing to control the â€Å"digital home†. Based on research in this report, it appears that four things are likely to occur. First, convergence of technology will create the need for standards in the digital home network. Much in the way it took some time before the Wintel model became standard, we will have to wait and see which model takes hold in home entertainment. Once a model is chosen as standard, there will be an explosion of products and services catering to that model in the market. Second, increasing competition will lead to alliances between companies in different industries. PC technology companies that have no presence in home entertainment might look to deal their way into the â€Å"digital home†. For example, Microsoft is currently striking deals with several major phone companies to provide the platform for IPTV. Many people also suspect that Apple might acquire TiVo in order to gain a presence in TV and create a service platform for video-on-demand. Third, the successful companies in the battle for t he digital home will be the ones who earn customer loyalty. Consumers are reluctant to change their behaviors, especially ones like TV watching that are so entrenched. Companies need to deliver products and services reliably in order to facilitate a consumer shift to the â€Å"digital home†. Finally, major content providers will hold up the process until they see digital distribution as a way to increase their long-term profits. Home video divisions of entertainment companies are extremely profitable. They do not want to jeopardize this profitability just to be at the front of the technology curve. The infrastructure behind the â€Å"digital home† will have to be in place before the major studios choose to participate. Hardware - PCs Companies in the ... ...cess is due to a combination of factors, including â€Å"pricing, infrastructure, demographics, geography, deregulation, and clear user benefits.† Conclusion In conclusion, we expect to observe significant convergence of technology and entertainment, which will either be in the form of a closed wired entertainment network (PVRs, OnDemand) or an open wireless data network (web, email, VOIP, IPTV). We predict that the open model will become a standard in the future. In support of our thesis, we would like to recapitulate four major trends that will likely happen in the near-term future. 1. A standard(s) will be created in the digital home network. Once a model is chosen as a standard, we can expect to see a proliferation of products and services that are compatible with that standard. 2. Increasing competition will lead to increased synergies and alliances amongst hardware, software and distribution companies. 3. The companies successful in the digital home entertainment space will be the ones who earn customer loyalty. 4. Major content providers (e.g. movie studios) will hold up the process until they see digital distribution as a way to increase their long-term profits.

Blood Promise Chapter Thirty

Alberta was waiting for me in the front office of the guardians' administrative building. Alberta's role as captain here was remarkable considering the lower numbers of women in our ranks. She was in her fifties and one of the toughest women I'd met. Her sandy hair was showing some gray, and years of working outdoors had weathered her skin. â€Å"Welcome back, Rose,† she said, standing up at my approach. She certainly didn't hug me, and her manner was businesslike, but the fact that she used my first name was a generous gesture for her. That, and I thought I saw a small spark of relief and happiness in her eyes. â€Å"Let's go to my office.† I'd never been there. Any disciplinary issues I had with the guardians were usually addressed in committee. Unsurprisingly, the office was spotless, everything arranged with military efficiency. We sat on opposite sides of her desk, and I braced myself for an interrogation. â€Å"Rose,† she said, leaning toward me. â€Å"I'm going to be blunt with you. I'm not going to give you lectures or demand any explanations. Honestly, since you aren't my student anymore, I don't have the right to ask or tell you anything.† It was like what Adrian had said. â€Å"You can lecture,† I told her. â€Å"I've always respected you and want to hear what you have to say.† The ghost of a smile flashed on her face. â€Å"All right, here it is. You screwed up.† â€Å"Wow. You weren't kidding about bluntness.† â€Å"The reasons don't matter. You shouldn't have left. You shouldn't have dropped out. Your education and training are too valuable-no matter how much you think you know-and you are too talented to risk throwing away your future.† I almost laughed. â€Å"To tell you the truth? I'm not sure what my future is anymore.† â€Å"Which is why you need to graduate.† â€Å"But I dropped out.† She snorted. â€Å"Then drop back in!† â€Å"I-what? How?† â€Å"With paperwork. Just like everything else in the world.† To be honest, I hadn't known what I'd do once I got back here. My immediate concern was Lissa-to be with her and make sure she was okay. I knew I couldn't officially be her guardian anymore, but I'd figured once we were together, no one could stop her from hanging out with a friend. I'd be her hired bodyguard, so to speak, kind of like what Abe had. And in the meantime, I'd bum around campus like Adrian. But to enroll again? â€Å"I†¦ I missed a month. Maybe more.† My days were scattered. It was the first week of May, and I'd left near the end of March, on my birthday. What was that? Five weeks? Almost six? â€Å"You missed two years and managed to catch up. I have faith in you. And even if you have trouble, graduating with low grades is better than not graduating at all.† I tried to imagine myself back in this world. Had it really only been a little over a month? Classes†¦ day-to-day intrigue†¦ how could I just go back to that? How could I return to that life after seeing the way Dimitri's family lived, after being with Dimitri and losing him-again. Would he have said he loved me? â€Å"I don't know what to say,† I told Alberta. â€Å"This is kind of a lot to take in.† â€Å"Well, you should decide quickly. The sooner you're back in class, the better.† â€Å"They'll really let me?† That was the part I found a little unbelievable. â€Å"I'll let you,† she said. â€Å"No way am I letting someone like you get away. And now that Lazar is gone†¦ well, things are crazy around here. No one's going to give me much trouble in filing the paperwork.† Her wry smile slipped a little. â€Å"And if they do give us any trouble†¦ I've been made to understand that you have a benefactor who can pull a few favors to smooth everything over.† â€Å"A benefactor,† I repeated flatly. â€Å"A benefactor who wears flashy scarves and gold jewelry?† She shrugged. â€Å"No one I know. Don't even know his name-only that he'll threaten to withhold a considerable donation to the school if you aren't let back in. If you want in.† Yeah. Deals and blackmail. I was pretty sure I knew who my benefactor was. â€Å"Give me some time to think about it. I'll decide soon-I promise.† She frowned, thoughtful, and then gave a sharp nod. â€Å"All right.† We both stood up, and she walked me toward the building's entrance. I glanced over at her. â€Å"Hey, if I do graduate†¦ do you think there's ever any way I could be in line to be Lissa's guardian officially again? I know they've already picked out people for her and that I'm in, ah, a bit of disgrace.† We stopped by the outer doors, and Alberta rested a hand on her hip. â€Å"I don't know. We can certainly try. The situation's gotten a lot more complicated.† â€Å"Yeah, I know,† I said sadly, recalling Tatiana's high-handed actions. â€Å"But, like I said, we'll do what we can. What I said about graduating with low grades? You won't. Well, maybe in math and science-but that's out of my control. You'll be the best among the novices, though. I'll work with you myself.† â€Å"Okay,† I said, realizing what a concession that was on her part. â€Å"Thank you.† I had just stepped outside when she called my name. â€Å"Rose?† I caught the door and glanced back. â€Å"Yeah?† Alberta's face was gentle†¦ something I'd never seen before. â€Å"I'm sorry,† she said. â€Å"Sorry for everything that happened. And that none of us could do anything about it.† I saw in her eyes then that she knew about Dimitri and me. I wasn't sure how. Maybe she'd heard it after the battle; maybe she'd guessed beforehand. Regardless, there was no chastisement in her face, only sincere sorrow and empathy. I gave her a brief nod of acknowledgment and went outside. I found Christian the next day, but our conversation was brief. He was on his way to meet with some of his trainees and was running late. But he hugged me and seemed genuinely happy to have me back. It showed how far we'd come, considering the antagonistic relationship we'd had when we first met. â€Å"About time,† he said. â€Å"Lissa and Adrian get the market share on worrying about you, but they're not the only ones. And someone needs to put Adrian in his place, you know. I can't do it all the time.† â€Å"Thanks. It kills me to say this, but I missed you too. No one's sarcasm compares to yours in Russia.† My amusement faded. â€Å"But since you mentioned Lissa-â€Å" â€Å"No, no.† He held up his hand by way of protest, face hardening. â€Å"I knew you were going to go there.† â€Å"Christian! She loves you. You know that what happened wasn't her fault-â€Å" â€Å"I know that,† he interrupted. â€Å"But it doesn't mean it didn't hurt. Rose, I know it's in your nature to rush in and say what everyone else is afraid to, but please†¦ not this time. I need time to figure things out.† I had to bite back a lot of comments. Lissa had mentioned Christian in our talk yesterday. What had happened between them was one of her biggest regrets-probably the thing she hated Avery the most for. Lissa wanted to approach him and make up, but he'd kept his distance. And yes, he was right. It wasn't my place to rush in-yet. But I did need them to fix this. So I respected his wishes and simply nodded. â€Å"Okay. For now.† My last words made his smile twist a little. â€Å"Thanks. Look, I've got to head off. If you ever want to show these kids how to kick ass the old-fashioned way, come by sometime. Jill would pass out if she saw you again.† I told him I would and let him go on his way, seeing as I had places to be. No way was I finished with him, though. I had a dinner date with Adrian and Lissa, up in one of the lounges in guest housing. Talking to Christian had made me late, and I hurried through the building's lobby, barely taking note of my surroundings. â€Å"Always in a rush,† a voice said. â€Å"It's a wonder anyone can get you to stop moving.† I came to a halt and turned, my eyes wide. â€Å"Mom†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She stood leaning against the wall, arms crossed, with her cropped auburn hair as curly and messy as ever. Her face, weathered like Alberta's from being out in the elements, was filled with relief and-love. There was no anger, no condemnation. I had never been so happy to see her in my life. I was in her arms in an instant, resting my head on her chest even though she was shorter than me. â€Å"Rose, Rose,† she said into my hair. â€Å"Don't ever do this again. Please.† I pulled back and looked at her face, astonished to see tears spilling from her eyes. I had seen my mother tear up in the wake of the attack on the school, but never, never had I seen her outright cry. Certainly not over me. It made me want to cry too, and I uselessly tried to dry her face with Abe's scarf. â€Å"No, no, it's okay. Don't cry,† I said, taking on an odd role reversal. â€Å"I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I missed you so much.† It was true. I loved Olena Belikova. I thought she was kind and wonderful and would cherish the memories of her comforting me about Dimitri and always going out of her way to feed me. In another life, she could have been my mother-in-law. In this one, I would always regard her as a kind of foster mother. But she wasn't my real mother. Janine Hathaway was. And standing there with her, I was happy-so, so happy-that I was her daughter. She wasn't perfect, but no one was, as I was learning. She was, however, good and brave and fierce and compassionate-and I think she understood me more than I realized sometimes. If I could be half the woman she was, my life would be well spent. â€Å"I was so worried,† she told me, recovering herself. â€Å"Where did you go-I mean, I know now you were in Russia†¦ but why?† â€Å"I thought†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I swallowed and again saw Dimitri with my stake in his chest. â€Å"Well, there was something I had to do. I thought I had to do it on my own.† I wasn't sure about that last part now. True, I had accomplished my goal on my own, but I was realizing now how many people loved me and were with me. Who knew how differently things might have turned out if I'd asked for help? Maybe it would have been easier. â€Å"I have a lot of questions,† she warned. Her voice had toughened, and I smiled in spite of myself. Now she was back to the Janine Hathaway I knew. And I loved her for it. Her eyes flitted to my face and then to my neck, and I saw her stiffen. For a panicked moment, I wondered if Oksana had missed healing one of the bite marks. The thought of my mother seeing what I'd lowered myself to in Siberia made my heart stop. Instead, she reached out and touched the bright colors of the cashmere scarf, her face filled with wonder as much as shock. â€Å"This†¦ this is Ibrahim's scarf†¦ it's a family heirloom†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No, it belongs to this mobster guy named Abe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I stopped as soon as the name crossed my lips. Abe. Ibrahim. Hearing them both out loud made me realize how similar they were. Abe†¦ Abe was short for Abraham in English. Abraham, Ibrahim. There was only a slight variation in the vowels. Abraham was a common enough name in the U.S., but I'd heard Ibrahim only once before, spoken in scorn by Queen Tatiana when referring to someone my mother had been involved with†¦ â€Å"Mom,† I said disbelievingly. â€Å"You know Abe.† She was still touching the scarf, eyes filled with emotion once more-but a different kind than she'd had for me. â€Å"Yes, Rose. I know him.† â€Å"Please don't tell me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Oh, man. Why couldn't I have been an illegitimate half-royal like Robert Doru? Or even the mail-man's daughter? â€Å"Please don't tell me Abe is my father†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She didn't have to tell me. It was all over her face, her expression dreamily recalling some other time and place-some time and place that had undoubtedly involved my conception. Ugh. â€Å"Oh God,† I said. â€Å"I'm Zmey's daughter. Zmey Junior. Zmeyette, even.† That got her attention. She looked up at me. â€Å"What on earth are you talking about?† â€Å"Nothing,† I said. I was stunned, trying desperately to assimilate this new piece of data into my worldview. I summoned a picture of that sly, bearded face, trying to hunt down family resemblance. Everyone said my facial features were like my mom's when she was younger†¦ but my coloring, the dark hair and eyes†¦ yes, that was the same as Abe's. I'd always known my father was Turkish. That was Abe's mystery accent, the one not Russian but still foreign to my ears. Ibrahim must be the Turkish version of Abraham. â€Å"How?† I asked. â€Å"How in the world did you get involved with someone like that?† She looked offended. â€Å"Ibrahim is a wonderful man. You don't know him like I do.† â€Å"Obviously.† I hesitated. â€Å"Mom†¦ you must know. What is it that Abe does for a living?† â€Å"He's a businessman. And he knows and does favors for a lot of people, which is why he has the influence he does.† â€Å"But what kind of business? I've heard it's illegal. It's not†¦ oh God. Please tell me he isn't selling blood whores or something.† â€Å"What?† She looked shocked. â€Å"No. Of course not.† â€Å"But he is doing illegal things.† â€Å"Who's to say? He's never actually been caught for anything illegal.† â€Å"I swear, you almost sounded like you were trying to make a joke.† I never would have expected her to defend a criminal, but I knew better than most how love could drive us to crazy acts. â€Å"If he wants to tell you, he'll tell you. End of story, Rose. Besides, you certainly keep your share of secrets too. You two have a lot in common.† â€Å"Are you kidding? He's arrogant, sarcastic, likes to intimidate people, and-oh.† Okay. Maybe she had a point. A small half-smile played upon her lips. â€Å"I never really expected you to meet this way. I never expected you to meet, period. We both thought it'd be best if he wasn't in your life.† A new thought occurred to me. â€Å"It was you, wasn't it? You hired him to find me.† â€Å"What? I contacted him when you went missing†¦ but I certainly didn't hire him.† â€Å"Then who did?† I wondered. â€Å"He said he was working for someone.† Her lovestruck, reminiscent smile turned wry. â€Å"Rose, Ibrahim Mazur doesn't work for anyone. He's not the kind of person you can hire.† â€Å"But he said†¦ wait. Why was he following me? Are you saying he was lying?† â€Å"Well,† she admitted, â€Å"it wouldn't be the first time. If he was following you, it wasn't because anyone was making him or paying him. He did it because he wanted to. He wanted to find you and make sure you were okay. He made sure all his contacts knew to look out for you.† I replayed my brief history with Abe. Shadowy, taunting, infuriating. But he'd driven out into the night to get me when I'd been attacked, been adamant in his goal to get me back to school and safety, and had apparently gifted me with an heirloom because he thought I'd get cold on my way home. He's a wonderful man, my mother had said. I supposed there were worse fathers to have. â€Å"Rose, there you are. What's taking so long?† My mom and I turned as Lissa entered the lobby, her face lighting up when she saw me. â€Å"Come on both of you. The food's going to get cold. And you won't believe what Adrian got.† My mom and I exchanged a quick look, neither of us needing to speak. We had a long conversation ahead of us, but it would have to wait. I have no idea how Adrian had arranged it, but when we got to the lounge, there was Chinese food set up. The Academy almost never served it, and even then, it just never tasted†¦ right. But this was the good stuff. Bowls and bowls of sweet-and-sour chicken and egg foo young. In a corner garbage can, I saw some restaurant takeout cartons with an address in Missoula printed on the side. â€Å"How the hell did you get that here?† I demanded. Not only that, it was still warm. â€Å"Don't question these things, Rose,† said Adrian, loading up his plate with pork fried rice. He seemed very pleased with himself. â€Å"Just roll with it. Once Alberta gets your paperwork settled, we'll eat like this every day.† I stopped mid-bite. â€Å"How do you know about that?† He merely winked. â€Å"When you have nothing to do but hang out on campus all the time, you kind of pick things up.† Lissa glanced between the two of us. She'd been in class all day, and we hadn't had much time to talk. â€Å"What's this?† â€Å"Alberta wants me to enroll again and graduate,† I explained. Lissa nearly dropped her plate. â€Å"Then do it!† My mother looked equally startled. â€Å"She'll let you?† â€Å"That's what she told me,† I said. â€Å"Then do it!† my mother exclaimed. â€Å"You know,† mused Adrian, â€Å"I kind of liked the idea of us going on the road together.† â€Å"Whatever,† I shot back. â€Å"You probably wouldn't let me drive.† â€Å"Stop this.† My mother was firmly back to her old self, no grief over her daughter's departure or wistfulness for a lost lover. â€Å"You need to take this seriously. Your future's at stake.† She nodded toward Lissa. â€Å"Her future's at stake. Finishing your education here and going on to be a guardian is the-â€Å" â€Å"Yes,† I said. â€Å"Yes?† she asked, puzzled. I smiled. â€Å"Yes, I agree.† â€Å"You agree†¦ with me?† I don't think my mom could ever recall that happening. Neither could I, for that matter. â€Å"Yup. I'll take the trials, graduate, and become as respectable a member of society as I can. Not that it sounds like much fun,† I teased. I kept my tone light, but inside, I knew I needed this. I needed to be back with people who loved me. I needed a new purpose, or else I would never get over Dimitri. I would never stop seeing his face or hearing his voice. Beside me, Lissa gasped and clasped her hands together. Her joy flooded into me. Adrian didn't wear his emotions as openly, but I could see he too was pleased at having me around. My mom still looked kind of stunned. I think she was used to me being unreasonable-which, usually, I was. â€Å"You'll really stay?† she asked. â€Å"Good God.† I laughed. â€Å"How many times do I have to say it? Yes, I'll go back to school.† â€Å"And stay?† she prompted. â€Å"The full two and a half months?† â€Å"Isn't that implied?† Her face was hard-and very mom like. â€Å"I want to know for sure you aren't going to up and run away again. You'll stay and finish school no matter what? Stay until you graduate? Do you promise?† I met her eyes, surprised at her intensity. â€Å"Yes, yes. I promise.† â€Å"Excellent,† she said. â€Å"You'll be glad you did this down the road.† Her words were guardian-formal, but in her eyes, I saw love and joy. We finished dinner and helped stack dishes for the building's cleaning service. While scraping uneaten food into a trash can, I felt Adrian beside me. â€Å"This is very domestic of you,† he said. â€Å"It's kind of hot, really. Giving me all sorts of fantasies about you in an apron vacuuming my house.† â€Å"Oh, Adrian, how I've missed you,† I said with an eye roll. â€Å"I don't suppose you're helping?† â€Å"Nah. I helped when I ate everything on my plate. No mess that way.† He paused. â€Å"And yes, you're welcome.† I laughed. â€Å"You know, it's a good thing you didn't say much when I promised Mom I'd stay here. I might have decided otherwise.† â€Å"Not sure if you could have stood up to her. Your mom seems like someone who gets her way a lot.† He cast a covert look to where Lissa and my mom stood talking across the room. He lowered his voice. â€Å"It must run in the family. In fact, maybe I should get her help on something.† â€Å"Getting a hold of illegal cigarettes?† â€Å"Asking her daughter out.† I nearly dropped the plate I held. â€Å"You've asked me out tons of times.† â€Å"Not really. I've made inappropriate suggestions and frequently pushed for nudity. But I've never asked you out on a real date. And, if memory serves, you did say you'd give me a fair chance once I let you clean out my trust fund.† â€Å"I didn't clean it out,† I scoffed. But standing there, looking at him, I remembered that I had said that if I survived my quest for Dimitri, I'd give Adrian a shot. I would have said anything to get the money I needed then, but now, I saw Adrian through new eyes. I wasn't ready to marry him by any stretch of the imagination, nor did I fully consider him reliable boyfriend material. I didn't even know if I wanted a boyfriend ever. But he had been a good friend to me and everyone else throughout all of this chaos. He'd been kind and steady, and yeah, I couldn't deny it†¦ even with a fading black eye, he was still extraordinarily handsome. And while it shouldn't have mattered, Lissa had gotten it out from him that a lot of his infatuation with Avery had been compulsion-induced. He'd liked her and hadn't been ruling out a romantic attachment, but her powers had cranked up the intensity more than he actually felt. Or so he claimed. If I were a guy and all that had happened to me, I'd probably say I'd been under the influence of magic too. Yet from the way he looked at me now, I found it hard to believe anyone had taken my place for him in this last month or so. â€Å"Make me an offer,† I said at last. â€Å"Write it up, and give me a point-by-point outline of why you're a good would-be suitor.† He started to laugh, then saw my face. â€Å"Seriously? That's like homework. There's a reason I'm not in college.† I snapped my fingers. â€Å"Get to it, Ivashkov. I want to see you put in a good day's work.† I expected a joke or a brush-off until later, but instead, he said, â€Å"Okay.† â€Å"Okay?† Now I felt like my mom had earlier, when I'd quickly agreed with her. â€Å"Yep. I'm going to go back to my room right now to start drafting my assignment.† I stared incredulously as he reached for his coat. I had never seen Adrian move that fast when any kind of labor was involved. Oh no. What had I gotten myself into? He suddenly paused and reached into his coat pocket with an exasperated smile. â€Å"Actually, I already practically wrote you an essay. Nearly forgot.† He produced a piece of folded paper and waved it in the air. â€Å"You have got to get your own phone. I'm not going to be your secretary anymore.† â€Å"What is that?† â€Å"Some foreign guy called me earlier†¦ said my number was in his phone's memory.† Again, Adrian eyed Lissa and my mom. They were still deep in conversation. â€Å"He said he had a message for you and didn't want me to tell anyone else. He made me write it out and read it back to him. You're the only person I'd do that for, you know. I think I'm going to mention it when I write up my dating proposal.† â€Å"Will you just hand it over?† He gave me the note with a wink, sketched me a bow, and then said goodbye to Lissa and my mom. I kind of wondered if he really was going to go write up a dating proposal. Mostly, my attention was on the note. I had no doubt who had called him. I'd used Abe's phone to dial Adrian in Novosibirsk and had later told Abe about Adrian's financial involvement in my trip. Apparently, my father-ugh, that was still an unreal thought-had decided that made Adrian trustworthy, though I wondered why my mom couldn't have been used as a messenger. I unfolded the note, and it took me a few seconds to decipher Adrian's writing. If he did write me a dating proposal, I really hoped he would type it. The note read: Sent a message to Robert's brother. He told me there was nothing I could offer that would make him reveal Robert's location-and believe me, I have much to offer. But he said as long as he had to spend the rest of his life in there, then the information would die with him. Thought you'd like to know. It was hardly the essay Adrian had made it out to be. It was also a bit cryptic, but then, Abe wouldn't want its contents easily understandable to Adrian. To me, the meaning was clear. Robert's brother was Victor Dashkov. Abe had somehow gotten a message to Victor in whatever horrible, remote prison he was locked away in. (Somehow, it didn't surprise me that Abe could pull that off.) Abe had no doubt attempted one of his trades with Victor in order to find out where Robert was, but Victor had refused. No surprise there either. Victor wasn't the most helpful of people, and I couldn't entirely blame him now. The guy was locked up for life â€Å"in there†-in prison. What could anyone offer a condemned man that would really make a difference in his life? I sighed and put the note away, somehow touched that Abe had done this for me, as futile as it was. And again, the same argument came to mind. Even if Victor had given up Robert's location, what did it matter? The farther I got from the events in Russia, the more ridiculous it became to even consider turning a Strigoi back to his original form. Only true death could free them, only death†¦ My mom's voice saved me before I could begin reliving the bridge scene once more in my head. She told me she had to leave but promised we'd talk later. As soon as she was gone, Lissa and I made sure everything was set in the lounge before heading off to my room. She and I still had a lot of talking to do too. We went upstairs, and I wondered when they'd move me out of guest housing and back to the dorm. Probably whenever Alberta finished with the red tape. It still seemed impossible to accept that I was going to be able to return to my old life and move on from all that had happened in the last month or so. â€Å"Did Adrian give you a love note?† Lissa asked me. Her voice was teasing, but through the bond, I knew she still worried about me grieving for Dimitri. â€Å"Not yet,† I said. â€Å"I'll explain later.† Outside my room, one of the building attendants was just about to knock on the door. When she saw me, she held out a thick padded envelope. â€Å"I was just bringing this to you. It arrived in today's mail.† â€Å"Thanks,† I said. I took it from her and looked at it. My name and St. Vladimir's address were printed in neat writing, which I found odd, since my arrival here had been sudden. There was no return address, but it bore Russian postmarks and delivery through global overnight mail. â€Å"Do you know who it's from?† Lissa asked once the woman was gone. â€Å"I don't know. I met a lot of people in Russia.† It could have been from Olena, Mark, or Sydney. Yet†¦ something I couldn't quite explain set my senses on high alert. I tore open one side and reached in. My hand closed around something cold and metallic. I knew before I even pulled it out what it was. It was a silver stake. â€Å"Oh God,† I said I rolled the stake around, running my finger over the engraved geometric pattern at its base. There was no question. One-of-a-kind. This was the stake I'd taken from the vault in Galina's house. The one I'd â€Å"Why would someone send you a stake?† asked Lissa. I didn't answer and instead pulled out the envelope's next item: a small note card. There, in handwriting I knew all too well, was: You forgot another lesson: Never turn your back until you know your enemy is dead. Looks like we'll have to go over the lesson again the next time I see you-which will be soon. Love, D. â€Å"Oh,† I said, nearly dropping the card. â€Å"This is not good.† The world spun for a moment, and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. For the hundredth time, I ran through the events of the night I'd escaped from Dimitri. Every other time, my emotions and attention were always on the look on his face when I stabbed him, the sight of his body falling into that black water. Now my mind summoned up the details of the struggle. I recalled how his last-minute dodge had interfered with my shot at his heart. For a moment out there, I hadn't thought I'd gotten the stake in hard enough-until I'd seen his face go slack and watched him fall. But I really hadn't gotten the stake in hard enough. My first instinct had been right, but things had happened too fast. He'd fallen†¦ and then what? Had the stake been loose enough to fall out on its own? Had he been able to pull it out? Had the river's impact knocked it out? â€Å"All those practice dummies, all for nothing,† I muttered, recalling how Dimitri had drilled me over and over to plunge a stake into the chest so it would get past the ribs and into the heart. â€Å"Rose,† exclaimed Lissa. I had a feeling this wasn't the first time she'd said my name. â€Å"What's going on?† The most important staking of my life†¦ and I had messed it up. What would happen now? Looks like we'll have to go over the lesson again the next time I see you-which will be soon. I didn't know what to feel. Despair that I hadn't released Dimitri's soul and fulfilled the promise I'd secretly made to him? Relief that I hadn't killed the man I loved? And always, always that question: Would he have said he loved me if we'd had a few moments more? I still had no answers. My emotions were running crazy, and I needed to put them on hold and analyze what I knew here. First: two and a half months. I'd promised my mom two and a half months. No action until then. Meanwhile, Dimitri was still out there, still a Strigoi. As long as he was loose in the world, there would be no peace for me. No closure. Looking at that card again, I realized I would have no peace even if I tried to ignore him. I understood the card's message. Dimitri was coming for me this time. And something told me that I had blown my chance at being turned Strigoi. He was coming to kill me. What had he said when I escaped the manor? That there was no way we could both be alive in the world? And yet, maybe we could†¦ When I didn't answer her right away, Lissa's worry grew. â€Å"Your face is freaking me out a little. What are you thinking?† â€Å"Do you believe in fairy tales?† I asked, looking up into her eyes. Even as I said the words, I could imagine Mark's disapproval. â€Å"What†¦ what kind of fairy tales?† â€Å"The kind you aren't supposed to waste your life on.† â€Å"I don't understand,† she said. â€Å"I'm totally lost. Tell me what's going on. What can I do?† Two and a half months. I had to stay here for two and a half months-it seemed like forever. But I'd promised my mom that I would, and I refused to be rash again-particularly with the stakes so high now. Promises. I was drowning in promises. I'd even promised Lissa something. â€Å"Did you mean it before? You want to go with me on my next crazy quest? No matter what?† â€Å"Yes.† There was no uncertainty or hesitation in the word, no wavering in her steady green eyes. Of course, I wondered if she'd feel the same way later when she found out what it was we were going to do. What could anyone offer a condemned man that would really make a difference in his life? I'd pondered that earlier, trying to figure out what could get Victor Dashkov to talk. Victor had told Abe there was nothing anyone could offer that would make him give up the information about his brother's alleged ability to restore Strigoi. Victor was serving a life sentence; no bribe could matter to him anymore. But one thing could, I realized. Freedom. And there was only one way to achieve that. We were going to have to break Victor Dashkov out of prison. But I decided not to mention that to Lissa quite yet. All I knew for now was that I had a fleeting shot at saving Dimitri. Mark had said it was a fairy tale, but I had to take the chance. The question was: how long did I have until Dimitri came to kill me? How long did I have to figure out if the impossible was actually possible? That was the real issue. Because if Dimitri showed up before I had a chance to find the dragon in this story-Victor-things were going to get ugly. Maybe this whole Robert thing was one big lie, but even if it wasn't†¦ well, the clock was ticking. If Dimitri came for me before I could get to Victor and Robert, I'd have to fight him again. No question. I couldn't wait for this magical cure. I'd have to kill Dimitri for real this time and lose any chance I might have to bring back my prince. Damn. It's a good thing I work well under pressure.