The Problems of Lima City

The problems of Lima city Lima city is full of charm and scenic beauty, so visitors from around the world come to enjoy its typical dishes, museums,countless beaches and scenic wonders. Although Lima seems like a paradise,Not all what we find there is as as good as we think. Believe it or not, but Lima has several serious problems such as the poor public transportation,crime-violence and the bad infrastructure due to the lots of suburbs and places that have lack of lots of services. The first and most important problem in lima is its inadequate public transportation system. Thousand of residents rely on the city’s buses and minibuses to travel throughout this large city, however the bus routes are poorly planned wich cause rush hours and traffic. For example: a person who should take the bus at 7:45 am may not take it until eight o’clock or even later. Sometimes three or more buses or minibuses arrive in bunches at time that people are waiting, but they can’t the buses because they are full. That’s why, passengers frequently become unhappy become this problem causes them to be late for work or to miss important appointments. THE TRANSPORTATION,2010 ISABEL GUERRA The second serious problem that Lima faces is crime and violence. The security in Lima has declined in the last years because police corruption have increased in line with rising level of poverty. Besides the profileration of low-income settlements wich are known as â€Å"barriadas† that have as members young people that steal.. Nowadays, we can see lots of people who are complaining about the security in this city. According to some city polls, 82% of people who live in Lima say that they were robbed at least once while they were walking around the streets of this â€Å"insecure† city. Not only that, but people are also concerned about leaving home alone. To illustrate it, more than 50% houses were robbed during the last holydays. So to wrap out this, people are not secure neigher on the streets nor at home. BULLETIN OF LATIN AMERICAN RESEARCH VOL. 27, NO. 2 The final problem is the lack of good infrastructure of housing and services in Lima. This is an interesting city that offers a good lifestyle for young, ambitious business and professional people. Also, immigrants are attracted to this city because is has tourist attractions and offers variety of typical dishes. All of these tourists or immigrants would need rental units that are in good conditions like apartments, flats and single family houses. But, unfortunately, Lima’s rental units have an old infrastructure. That’s why most of the buildings of Lima downtown are declarated in danger. Even though this, we insist on living in those old buildings. That is not secure for all the people who live, work or go to those places at all. â€Å"LIMA:BIG CITY AND BIG PROBLEM†, 2000 GILBERT A. In conclusion, Lima city must improve its public transit system for avoiding the traffic, develop a project to become places safe and housing in good conditions. In others words, Lima city must improve its image, or it will soon become just mediocre city due to the lack of administrative responsability to solve these problems. .

Manage Operational Plan Essay

1.List some of the details outlined in an operational plan. An operational plan, also known as an action plan, is derived from an organisation’s strategic plan. It is a more concrete, detailed document that outlines how the strategic plans of an organisation will be achieved in practice. It includes projects to be undertaken, actions, resource policies, responsibilities and timeframes. It outlines the actions teams/individuals within an organisation will take to achieve its objectives and also outlines any major projects within the relative time period. An operational plan will contain details of: †¢Organisational structure †¢Short- or medium-term business strategies †¢Major projects †¢Available resources (including human and physical resources, also financial) †¢Performance targets †¢Responsibilities for actions †¢Timeframes for projects, goals and evaluations †¢Contingency measures 2.Broad consultation with other members of the organisation, from team members to senior management, is a good way to contribute to the success of operational planning. When, in the planning cycle, should it be carried out? What outcomes would you be looking to achieve from this process? Consultation is a key element in the development of an operational plan and it is imperative in ensuring the details of the plan, the resource allocations and the timelines set are realistic, relevant and achievable. Consultation should be an ongoing process, right from the beginning and throughout the entirety of the operational plan. Consultation can be achieved in many ways, both formally, using such tools as information sessions, meetings, workshops, focus groups, one-on-one interviews, feedback mechanisms or communication mechanisms; or informally, by relying on personal relationships and informal conversations with other stakeholders. Use of these techniques should be scheduled to occur before the operational plan is put to action, but they should not stop there. As planning progresses, it is important to consult with stakeholders to seek further  input and, for those that have major contributions, to gather feedback. As plans come to fruition and projects commence, it is important to constantly seek feedback and input, in order to monitor, evaluate and refine the planning processes and the actions undertaken. The next important step of the consultation process, once feedback has been gathered, is to use the information effectively and communicate this back to the relevant stakeholders. When stakeholders see the positive flow-on effects of feedback they have offered, it makes them more likely to offer quality contributions the next time they are asked. This creates an open and flowing cycle of communication and feedback throughout the entire planning process, which leads to a highly monitored plan, formed through consultation with relevant stakeholders. This regular feedback enables the organisation and those managing the operational planning, to evaluate and refine the planning procedure. 3.Why do budgets need frequent reviews and adjustments? Who is responsible for ensuring that budgets and other financial documents are accurate? When creating financial reports, what sources of information need to be analysed? Budgets are the mechanisms through which organisations can monitor their financial health. Budgets are essentially plans for the organisation’s money and resources. They should be monitored regularly to assess the organisation’s progress against agreed targets and to flag any potential issues. Individual areas should update and report internally on a regular basis (i.e. monthly), which, in turn, would lead to reports being delivered to senior management every quarter. These reports can be used to update the budget forecast and contain information about the current state of accounts (i.e. spendings vs earnings). It is important to frequently review and adjust budgets to take into account changing circumstances, such as, project delays, project blowouts, changes to staffing levels and changes in the currency exchange rates. These adjustments are necessary to reflect actual circumstances that apply to specific projects, work units, the organisation as a whole and the broader economic and financial climate. Within an organisation, there is generally a senior management group or committee responsible for ensuring the financial statements present a full and accurate position of the organisation’s financial situation and that any  variants from budget are fully explained. When creating financial reports, depending on the level of detail the organisation requires, the following sources may need to be analysed: †¢Budgets †¢Budget forecast reports †¢Reports of actual financial performance †¢Budget principle reports †¢Revenue reports †¢Expense and output reports †¢Balance sheet reports †¢Asset and cash management reports †¢Investment/derivative reports †¢Liability reports 4.Resources can mean many things when you are preparing an operational plan. What kinds of ‘resources’ might you have to plan for? There are many resources that require planning for an operational plan. These can include: †¢Goods and services †¢Human resources (i.e. staff, consultants, contractors) †¢Physical resources (i.e. equipment, property, machinery, facilities) †¢Financial resources (i.e. budget allocations, money) †¢Stock requirements and requisitions A process of research and consultation needs to be carried out to adequately allocate resources. A detailed planning ‘diary’ can be a useful resource for helping individuals who are responsible for planning and to carry out their duties in a timely and comprehensive fashion. 5.Today, more and more businesses understand that being successful is about more than just economic performance, but that it is also about their environmental and social performance. They are aware that increasing use of the Earth’s natural resources places a strain on the planet. Responsible businesses are, therefore, making every effort to ensure that they use resources efficiently. What does the term resource efficiency refer to? Identify five things an organisation could do to reduce the amount of paper  and energy used and wasted. Resource efficiency refers to maximising the supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively, with minimum wasted effort or expense. Five ways an organisation could reduce the amount of paper and energy used and wasted could include: 1.Improving purchasing Cleaner production starts with cleaner procurement. Buying recycled materials can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. Give preference to products that are designed for long life, are reusable or recyclable, and are made and packaged with minimum material. 2.Improving storage Only store what you need. Good inventory management can save money. Keep all storage areas uncluttered, clean and clearly labeled. Avoid keeping empty containers, unless they have a specific use. Establish clearly signed, segregated areas for appropriate storage of all equipment, materials and wastes. 3.Conserving energy Using less costs less. If you reduce your energy consumption you can save money and reduce greenhouse gases caused by burning fossil fuels. Turn off all lights and equipment when they do not need to be operating. Use energy efficient office equipment and power saving functions where they will be most effective. Use the most efficient lights — triphosphor tubes are cheaper to run than fluorescent lights. 4.Conserving water Fix dripping taps and leaking pipes — a dripping tap wastes more than $100 a year. Install water saving accessories around your business, contact your local water authority for ideas. 5.Reducing waste Segregated waste can often be recycled and may be a valuable product for another business. The three R’s – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Quantify the waste you produce. Waste is the difference between the materials you pay for and the materials your customer pays for. Examine each process step to determine where wastes are produced and to devise measures for waste prevention or reduction. Many wastes occur because of process inefficiency. Devise ways of reducing your waste with your employees and suppliers so they  too can share in the savings, for example rewards for employees and suppliers who reduce waste. Reuse drums and containers where possible. Ask suppliers to exchange empties. Identify ways of reusing materials in the process at different stages.

Arthur Miller creates the tension Essay

I have chosen to write my essay on a section in Act VI, starting on page 105 from where Elizabeth Proctor enters, ending just before John Proctor enters at the bottom of page 106. This scene in ‘ The Crucible ‘, is a heated dialogue between Deputy-Governor Danforth, Reverend Hale, Reverend Parris, Judge Hathorne and Goodwife Elizabeth Proctor whom the four men are desperately trying to persuade to save her husband, John Proctor’s life. I chose this scene because it makes clear how Arthur Miller uses all the means available to a dramatist to make a section tense. He creates the extreme tension between the characters and makes the mood obvious to the reader using; language devices, the interrogation of characters, pauses, disagreement between characters, stage directions to create images for us to visualise the action, and our previous knowledge of events and relationships between these characters in particular. The scene is set inside a cell in Salem jail. Earlier in Act IV, Miller used stage directions to show us how uncomfortable he wished for the room to look. Also as the season is Autumn, Miller described the weather as bitterly cold and told us that â€Å"the place is in darkness but for the moonlight seeping through the bars.†These conditions add to the tension in the scene as characters are much more likely to be irritable and short-tempered if they are cold, especially as it is night time and a prison in darkness would seem very sinister. People often expect bad happenings at night, such as the dancing in the woods at the beginning of the play, which was a forbidden event in the Puritan society and had terrible after-effects. Also Abigail when threatening the other girls said,†I have seen some reddish work done at night.† We are therefore already expecting the unexpected due to this imagery and theme of darkness, used by Miller to create tension with the setting. The tension has already been built up to this section by the background knowledge that we have from other scenes in the play. Danforth, Hale, Parris and Hathorne are proposing to gain Goody Proctor’s help in saving her husband from hanging the next morning. We have seen John and Elizabeth alone together and the limited information that we have about their relationship leaves the reader with a questioning mind on how she will react to: John being condemned, and to them wanting her to persuade him into a false confession. Miller has given us contrasting pieces of evidence as to whether she cares enough about him to be willing to talk to him: in Act II we see tension between the couple during their dinner when they were falsely polite and formal to each other, and seemed to have unloving relationship with a lack of trust. However, in Act III Elizabeth lies in an attempt to protect John. Elizabeth’s hatred for lying is another reason that could lead the reader to doubt if she will agree to speaking with John, especially as she is a religious person and one of the Ten Commandments is ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness’ – In doing what they wish, Elizabeth would have to persuade another person to lie. Miller has put this scene at this point in the play so it can follow on from the sections that give the reader the knowledge of Elizabeth’s inner tensions are and how they could affect her descisions; we know that Elizabeth is aware of her husband’s principles, but also that her conflicting emotions will tell her to attempt at saving his life. This doubt of what Elizabeth will do will make the audience increasingly tense, as they know her descision over whether to help is crucial: If she agrees to speak with him, John could be saved. However, if she will not speak with him, John will hang the next morning, as there is no-body else who could possibly make him listen and reconsider. The section that I chose starts with Parris saying,†Hush,† on hearing footsteps. This leaves the room in a tense silence, during which the audience will be focused on anticipating what Elizabeth will look like and how she will react to their news of John. Miller uses stage directions to help us visualise Elizabeth’s appearance- â€Å"Her clothes are dirty; her face is pale and gaunt.† Miller also uses this to imply how they may feel uncomfortable in each others company, by showing us the very different positions they are in. We can see the tension due to this when Danforth begins to speak,†(very politely)†, as this is obviously false. She is silent when he adresses her and the tension increases again when Danforth says,†I hope you are hearty?†. This could be seen as ironic and sarcastic from how Miller previously presented her to be visibly unwell. However, from what we already know of Danforth’s character, the reader is more likely to assume that he merely said the wrong thing due to not knowing how to handle the delicate situation- this makes the scene even more tense as the most authotitive person doesn’t seem to know what to say. His words could also be interpreted as a deliberate use of informal/coloquial language which can be effective for means of persuasion- Miller could have been making it look as though Danforth was speaking in a controversial way, and trying to make Elizabeth regard him as a friend. However, pleasantness from Danforth could just result in making Elizabeth more tense, and suspicious of what they want from her. The silence from Elizabeth could result in making Danforth even more tense, especially if he was already uneasy, due to the fact that he may feel that him being involved is unfair because, as he said himself, â€Å"twelve are already hanged for the same crime.† Miller uses silence many other times within this small section to build up tension as we wait for a reaction from a character. Pauses are also used by Miller when a character doesn’t know what to say or is being extremely careful in their response.

Designing neew product Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Designing neew product - Essay Example Organizations are faced with high intensity of competition within the industry and also from new entrants. There is even competition from the outside players as well. Every business has to innovate to stay ahead in the competitive market. No business can afford to offer the same unchanged product. This will lead to a decrease in sale and profits reduced. Hence new product development has become an indispensable strategy for any organization in order to build a competitive advantage and carry out its operations effectively in the market place. Discussion The advancement in information and communication technology, computes etc., is influencing almost all aspects of the business world, from networking to marketing, research and development. Understanding and effectively utilizing the advancements in this technology are vital for any business if they aspire to continuously grow their business and attract new customers and clients. Technology is transforming the core of innovation. With the help of technology, companies can now test new ideas with unimaginable speed and minimum prices. Online resources help a company to test market its product or service after the initial development, to assess or evaluate the viability of the product and make necessary changes according to customer feedback. Technological advancements have helped companies to launch their innovative initiatives within no time and with least amount they have ever imagined. As information technology becomes cheaper and available to public at large, the competition for continuously growing and developing innovative products and services for the customers is becoming a necessity for companies to thrive. This makes continuous use of advancement in information technology very crucial for companies for constant innovation and growth in the market. There are various ways by which market can be segmented such as demographic segmentation, geographic segmentation, psychographic and behavioural segmentation ( Pride, Hughes & Kapoor, 2011, p.343). The present generation of young people are tech-savvy. This generation want quick solutions for everything, starting from their daily requirements, likes and preferences, means of pleasure etc. Customers look for products with multiples features or products and devices which are multi-tasking. Considering the present trend of consumers, two products can be targeted. Wrist watch is a common accessory today, which is not only used as a time tracker but has become a status symbol, owing to the continuous developments in the design and features. People, especially college students and young working professionals also carry with them music players such as iPod and other music devices. These people are music lovers and like to listen to music during their free hours such as travelling and lunch and also sometimes during work. Sometimes it becomes tedious to take iPods or music players everywhere they go. They also forget to carry it sometimes, as it i s not a regular accessory like a wristwatch. Looking at this opportunity the new product which has been planned to develop and launch in the market will be an innovative wrist watch with an embedded music system or music player in it. The music system will be equipped with a wireless Bluetooth. The watch will work as a touch screen for changing songs and folders. Wrist Watch with Music: A Brief Overview The new product whi

Compare and contrast the use of the death penalty around the world Essay

Compare and contrast the use of the death penalty around the world before explaining why you believe it will or will not be abolished in the near future - Essay Example As at present, it was also used to deter other persons from committing more crime in the society. The crimes deemed worse by the society absolutely received the death penalty. In western countries, capital crimes like murder, treason and or espionage received the capital punishment that is a death penalty for the accused. In Middle Eastern countries, sexual crimes that included rape, incest or adultery and sodomy were the worst crimes and the criminal received death penalty. Other authorities recognized drug trafficking, human trafficking and religious crimes as serious crimes that deserve the death penalty. Most armed forces around the world termed any crime committed by a soldier like disobedience, spying as a capital crime punishable by death penalty. Since the past forms of capital punishment were more inhumane, there was a need for more humane forms of punishments and in the 18th century, most countries adopted modern methods to execute the death penalty. The guillotine was introduced in France, electric chair in Louisiana State, death by firing squad and lethal injection in most western countries. The Death penalty is in use in almost all countries in the world. In the recent past, most countries have done away with the penalty. Statistics shows that 103 countries have abolished the use of the penalty, 6 countries only use it for crimes committed in extraordinary circumstances like during war, 50 countries have not used it for almost 10 years the penalty is under suspension. 36 countries use the penalty to date; it is in their law and practice. In Algeria, the death penalty is for crimes like espionage, treason and attempts to overthrow the government, destruction of countries territory, terrorism, massacres and manslaughter, participation in rebellious movements. Other crimes include torture, kidnapping, counterfeiting and aggravated theft.

Decision-Making Models And Leadership Theories Of Wal-Mart Research Paper

Decision-Making Models And Leadership Theories Of Wal-Mart - Research Paper Example The leadership concepts and decision-making models will be critically analyzed. Wal-Mart is among the leading American multinational retail corporation that operates warehouses and discount stores (Nandagopal & Sankar, 2009). It has created numerous employment opportunities within the United States and across the world. However, a majority of its workers live below the poverty line due to its poor pay and poor styles of leadership. The company has been criticized by a number of groups such as labor unions. There have been protests against the company’s policies as well as business practices. Racial and gender intolerance is yet another area that sees the company face a lot of criticism Poor leadership is the main organizational problem that has affected the operations of the company. The leadership at the company has been involved in various unethical practices as well as failure to address the issues facing the employees. The management staff is the key stakeholders in the problem. This problem has been going on for a long period of time until a bribery scandal at the company was revealed in 2012. This problem is attributed to poor leadership at the company and it affecting the brand image of the company. The poor leadership at the company has impacted negatively on the other internal stakeholders within the company (Albareda, et al, 2008). The employees of the company have been greatly affected as the management has been unable to address their welfare problems. The employees are being paid poorly despite being subjected to a huge workforce. The values and behaviors of the organization have also been affected by the poor leadership. The ethical values of the org anization have been compromised by the widespread corruption at the company. The public image of the company has also been affected by the corruption scandals and poor leadership.

My father's song (Poem analysis) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

My father's song (Poem analysis) - Essay Example Their content shows different kinds of father-son relationships, though both are filled with intense bonds of love, while their forms and symbolism suggest the cycle and rhythm of life that can be distinct to every father and cultural group. Ortiz and Roethke both express intense devotions to their father, which is typical of the adoration that boys feel for their fathers, the main plot of the poems and evident in the diction that speak of their livelihoods. Ortiz remembers his father and misses him terribly. The plot of the poem talks about how he misses his father, â€Å"His voice, the slight catch,/the depth from his thin chest† (Ortiz 3-4). He misses him enough that his senses are all awakened, as if he can hear, see, and feel his father. Having the kind of memory that becomes almost physically real signifies a son’s intense devotion to his father. Furthermore, Ortiz uses diction that has rich imagery that is typical of Native American language. The â€Å"tremble of emotion† (5) and his song for his son are elements of Native American identity, where oral histories are part of everyday activities shared through songs and stories. The boy in Roethke’s poem also expresses his strong love fo r his father. He calls him â€Å"Papa,† a term of endearment, and he does not mind that he comes home drunk and dances the waltz with him, for he still â€Å"hung on† (Roethke 3) and clung to his shirt, as his Papa waltzed him roughly to bed (Roethke 16). It does not matter if Papa’s ritual is too rough for the boy; he enjoys it anyway and takes pleasure in being the center of his father’s attention. Lisa Jadwin underlines that the boy must be terrified of his father’s smell, actions, and appearance, but it does not matter. She interprets the plot of poem as one that â€Å"captures some of the fundamental joy a child experiences when playing with a parent and receiving that parents

BMW Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

BMW - Research Proposal Example The purpose of this analytical report was to identify some areas where BMW needs to bring changes in order to maintain its market share. The areas of improvement identified in the report included design of cars and technologies included in cars. The report also included some recommendations aimed towards improving the business of the company and increasing its customer base. Three recommendations were given in this regard which included signing contracts with a cooperated technology company to provide more technologies to customers, hiring some designing and programming specialist to improve the design of cars, and setting competition among programmers and designers to come up with new ideas related to design and technology to be use to build cars. Introduction: Synopsis of the Issue In today’s competitive world, it is the dream of almost every company to achieve competitive advantage in market. If we talk about automobile companies, we can say that competition in this industr y is even more intense because automobiles have become a common need for every individual. In such circumstances, automakers are putting every effort to design such cars which can meet the needs and expectations of their customers. Retaining existing customers and attracting more customers is the goal of every automobile company and to achieve this goal, continuous improvement is the only option. However, BMW is not being able to meet the pace of technological change by adapting to the concept of continuous improvement. BMW is one of such companies which must focus on changing its designs and technological features in order to remain competitive. BMW is losing its market share to Lexus and Audi in America (Anonymous, 2013). To overcome the challenge of adapting to technological changes and decreasing market share, the company needs to design customer-focused products by considering the demands of the customers. A company can only maintain its image and position in market if the cust omers are satisfied with its products. BMW can do this by improving its business strategy and shifting focus towards changing the interior and exterior design of cars at least every two years. This purpose of this analytical report for BMW is to provide an overview of potential challenges or problems for the company in order to find proper solutions well before the time those problems start affecting the business of the company. The report will include some key recommendations that the company can consider and work on as solutions for the potential upcoming problems. Company Background Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) is a German automobile manufacturing company which was founded in 1916 by Franz Josef Popp. The company is known for its innovative car designs, luxurious features, and comfort that it provides to its customers. The company is considered one of the top automobiles brands because of its huge customer base all over the world. It is due to effective business strategies of t he company that it has been able to acquire some very famous automobile compan

Budget analysis assignment Ctiy of Lebanon Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Budget analysis Ctiy of Lebanon - Assignment Example The process of managing the financial statements includes the design, implementation, and the maintenance of the internal control that has relevance during preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements. The financial statements need to be free from any material mistreatment, irrespective of error or fraud. In June 30, 2014, the total net position of the Lebanon City did amount to $44,799,068. Pert of this amount, $27,614,924 was subject to invest in the capital assets, which was net of the related debt. The remaining balance that was including of $9,449,690 was subject to restrict for various purposes, and the remaining $7,734,454 was of the unrestricted net position. The basic financial statement of the Lebanon City comprises three components. These are government-wide financial statements, the fund financial statements, and notes to the financial statements. The government-wide financial statements are with the design of providing readers with the broad overview of the City’s finances through a manner that is similar to the private-sector business. The over time increase or the decreases in the net position may be useful tools for indicating whether the City’s financial position is on the improving or the deteriorating track. The business-type of activities that the City engages in may include water, sewer, and the storm drainage services. The fund financial statements are with the design of demonstrating the compliance with the related finance legal requirements while overseeing the use of fund accounting. All of the funds of the Lebanon City can be subject to divide to three categories, namely the governmental funds, property fu nds, and the fiduciary funds. Just as earlier mentioned, the net position may be helpful at serving over time as being the useful indicator when it comes to the City’s financial position. The total assets of the

Three Rhetorical Strategies and Effects Assignment

Three Rhetorical Strategies and Effects - Assignment Example Cause and effect is a rhetorical strategy that a writer uses to focus on or explain why an event or situation occurs and links this with what might happen. Cause deals with the investigation and analysis of past events while effects deal with the prediction of future events based on past events (Mukalel 80). Writers employ this method when explaining pertinent global issues such as global warming or social issues like the investigation of the reasons for the rise in teenage drug abuse. Comparing and contrasting: Comparisons are used to look for similarities between things while contrasts look for differences. Application of this strategy requires the writer to locate similarities and differences between two or more things. At first glance, only differences may be obvious but upon closer analysis, the writer is likely to find more similarities than earlier anticipated and convey them to the reader. Compare and contrast is mainly used in report writing, giving a speech especially to persuade your audience to hold a particular position, endorsing an individual or party and making an argument. It can be done it two ways; block technique, the writer gives the differences first and then later list the similarities, Point- by- point involves explaining both sides in an alternating manner, for instance, A,B, A,B to the exhaustion of all points. A description is a rhetoric technique that involves describing a place, person or thing. The writer when describing often attempts to paint a mental picture of the person, place or thing to the reader in such a way that the reader can visualize the object in detail. He or she achieves this by indicating how the object looks like, feels smells, sounds, tastes. It requires a proper choice of verbs, clear adjectives, and specific nouns in order to be successful (Mukalel 109).  

Content and language Essay Example for Free

Content and language Essay In this piece of coursework I will be comparing the front cover of a broadsheet and a tabloid newspaper on the day that labour won the 2001 Election. To do this I will be concentrating on three main attributes, which are design and layout, content and language. First of all I will look at how effective the design and layout of the front cover is. On my chosen tabloid, The Sun, there is of course the bright red Sun logo but even more striking is the headline, Blairs Back. This headline is over double the size of The Sun logo. There is then on the left-hand side of the page a big picture of Tony Blair. Below the big heading is a sub heading which reads, Labour romps in with epic second landslide. Below the sub heading is a small section of text that carries on inside the paper. Overall the design and layout of this front cover is quite effective because the bold headline stands out and really hits you in the face which makes you want to buy the paper to see what the headline means. The sub heading then gives you more information, which shows that the paper is quite informative. The photograph on the front cover ads a bit of colour and life to the paper to show the reader that it isnt a dull paper. There is also a lure at the bottom of the page that says, See pages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 4-page pullout. This shows the potential buyer that there is a lot more information inside the paper about the election that encourages them to buy the paper. Basically, the front cover of The Sun concentrates entirely on the election. On the other hand in my chosen broadsheet, The Times, it is a very different story. The front page of The Times doesnt just concentrate on the election but on many other topics including things like sport. Like The Sun it has a date and price at the top of the page. The main headline reads, Election reward for Prescott. This is referring to the new job John Prescott will get now that Labour has been re-elected. Below that in the centre of the page is a picture of Tony Blair enjoying a day out with his family. Below that is another smaller story about the election. The headline says, Blair forecasts further growth. There is another smaller picture of the Blair family to the left of the headline. Below that is a completely unrelated article about Lord Archer. To the right of this story is an advertisement for Tiffany Co. diamonds. Overall the design and layout of The Times is very effective. The main headline is bold and simple which stands out. The photographs add life and colour to the paper. The amount of text shows the buyer it is a very informative paper that will appeal to a lot of people. The second story and the advertisement shows the buyer that the paper is interested in the election but the final story shows the buyer that it is also interested in the rest of the world. There is also a lure at the bottom of The Times. It reads, The Times Today: page 2. Crossword: p 32. Media: Times 2, p 21-25. TV radio: Times 2, p 27-32. This also encourages the buyer to buy because there are other things inside apart from news. The photographs on both papers are also important. In the Sun it shows a smiling Tony Blair in a shirt and tie. I think that the picture is trying to say that Tony Blair is happy to be back in office and he is going to try his hardest to make a difference. In The Times there are two photographs which show a very similar thing. Both of the photographs show Tony Blair acting very relaxed with his family. The bigger photograph was taken this year just before the election but the smaller one was taken in 1997 before the election. I think the photos are trying to say that Tony Blair is almost taking it too easy and that he thinks he has already won. The headline of a newspaper and the way it is presented is also very important. On the front cover of The Sun the headline is short, snappy, bold, big and close together. The headline reads, Blairs back, which is in block capitals. The headline takes up just over half the page even though it is very short. I think the headline is trying to create the effect that Labour is back, bigger and better than ever. On the front page of The Times it is very different. The main headline on the front page is a lot smaller and less bold than the one in The Sun. It is a lot more spaced out and not as to the point as The Sun. The headline reads, Election reward for Prescott. The headline is in lower case writing but is bolder than the text in the article. I think the headline is trying to create the effect that if Labour win the election people involved get rewards. In other words if you work hard you will get a treat! The arguments and issues presented in the lead story are a very important part of a front page. On the front page of The Sun it is obvious straight away that The Sun is very pro Labour. You dont even need to read the article to know this. At the top of the page there is a badge with the Labour symbol in the middle. In the article though it says, Tony Blair powered back into No10 early today after a SECOND landslide victory. You can see straightaway that The Sun is persuading the public that Labour deserves to be back in office. After reading the article you can also tell that The Sun does not like the Torys. In the article it says, Jubilant Mr Blair crushed Tory dreams of a revival-and put William Hagues job as Opposition leader in peril. This is a very blunt and uncaring comment and it shows The Suns loyalty to Labour. In the article it also gives you all the statistics to show you by how much Labour won, as if they havent already! The ITN exit poll gave Labour 417 seats. The Suns article is also very brief with not much detail in it. The Times article though is very different. It has a very neutral attitude and it is almost being unfair to the Labour party. In the article the writer raises the issue that although John Prescott has been given a new title he has been doing that job all along. Mr Prescott is being switched from his role as Environment Secretary to become Mr Blairs deputy in fact as well as name. The writer then raises the argument that John Prescott wont be with Labour come next election. Even so, some ministers believe it will be surprising if he stays in the Government throughout the new Parliament. The article in this paper is a lot longer and more detailed. The language in the two newspapers is very different. This is because The Sun appeals to the working class person where as The Times appeals to the more professional classes. That is why The Times uses more sophisticated language and The Sun is very blunt and to the point.

Biopsychosocial Assessment of Dr. A. Elizabeth “Bessie” Delany Essay Example for Free

Biopsychosocial Assessment of Dr. A. Elizabeth â€Å"Bessie† Delany Essay The following information for this biopsychosocial assessment of Dra. Annie Elizabeth â€Å"Bessie† Delany was found from the autobiography of Bessie and her sister, Sadie (Delany, Delany, Hearth, 1993). Bessie Delany was born in 1891, she is the third daughter of Henry and Nanny Delany. she studied at Columbia University and she became the second female dentists in New York. In that time the segregation, violence, and discrimination took a big part of Delany family, and her parent had a very difficult time raising their family. Bessie and her parents were involved in politics social activism known as the civil movement. Bessie’s parents were an example of life for their children and others in their community. By being a family who succeeded in life. In those days, white people thought that the success for black was waste of time since at that time it was unusual for black people to become successful in their life’s. sheets (Delaney, Delaney, Hill Hearth, 1993). In the book, â€Å"Having Our Say†, Bessie and Sadie Delany reflect on their personal, professional, and social experiences. Both Bessie and Sadie would be considered in Older Adulthood as defined by Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2010). At the time that the book was written, Bessie was criticizing the positive and negative. She often got upset as she sees that people were doing the right things. Bessie was the younger of the two sisters, she was a leader, her personality showed anger comparing to her sister that she was very calm. Bessie was reliant on her sister Sadie. For example, Bessie didn’t have a pension and depended upon Sadie’s Board of Education pension to live throughout retirement. (Delaney, Delaney, Hill Hearth, 1993). Biological Issues During the adulthood stage, people have many biological issues like when a person reaches this point in life they begin to face aging problems. One of those issues is the senescence that an individual is affected in different parts of the body, at various rates due to some parts of the body being stronger and resist aging. Older people regularly suffer the most visible effects of physical appearances, like shakiness of the hands and legs. Problems with bodily coordination, shoulder struggles, reduced agility, an increase in wrinkles of the skin, and the slowdown of the Psychomotor skills all occur currently (Zastrow Kirst-Ashman, 2010, pg. 588-589-590 According to the textbook, Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment, the slowdown of the Psychomotor skill specifies that the central nervous system is slowing down the information processing. Older people may come across problems such as difficulty remembering things as well as learning or retaining new information from memory. Problems can arise in certain activities such as driving a car. This can cause an increase in the risk of accidents while they drive. Even in older adulthood, however, if an individual has a healthy physical and mental state, Psychomotor skills can be highly functioning, and the person doesn’t have to have these challenges. Not everyone ages at the same rate, this is true for biological functioning (Zastrow Kirst-Ashman, 2010, pp. 588-590). Bessie Delany’s Biological Development Based on descriptions of Bessie in the book, there are a few of examples that may show signs of aging in her adult biological development. Bessie was walking along with her sister and mother when a boy called them â€Å"grandmas† because of their grey hair, slow movements, and wrinkles (Delaney, Delaney, Hill Hearth, 1993, p. 250). Her body showed her that her youth was gone because they were walking slowly as elders do. Bessie stopped driving a vehicle because of her body changes as her hand movements are diminished, reflexes are different from when she was young. Because of her age, Bessie had also stopped cutting her trees. She did not feel confident to be climbing a ladder and utilized sheets (Delaney, Delaney, Hill Hearth, 1993, pg. 297). Assess Bessie’s Development Normal or Healthy? Yes, Bessie’s biological development was healthy because she still functioned at a high level. She always ate healthily, ate different vegetables every day, and they also included fruits and vitamins. Usually, in her daily routine, she took Vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, as well as minerals and zinc. Bessie participated in exercises such as yoga, and she also enjoyed cultivating their garden that helped to maintain mental and active physical conditions. Identified Biological Strengths. Bessie had many strengths, despite her age, and she did not lose her vision. She was very independent, motivates her father to become a professional. Her professional goal became a dentist. (Delaney, Delaney, Hill Hearth, 1993, pg. 297). She decides to be a professional instead of being a mother. She had a very strong character, where she didn’t like what she sees, she will protest, especially when she suffered racial attacks. She had a great memory. As she could remember her early childhood. (Delaney, Delaney, Hill Hearth, 1993, pg. 289). Bessie’s Biological Needs Bessie did not have any outstanding biologicals needs, she was healthy at the age of 101 years old. Reference Delaney, Sarah L., Delaney, Annie Elizabeth, Hill-Hearth, Amy (1993). Having our Say. The Delany Sister’ First 100 years. N. Y. New York. Dell Publishing a Division of Random House, Inc. Zastrow, Charles H. Kirst-Ashman Karen, K. (2010). Understanding Human Behavior and Social Environment. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning

E Commerce Also Called Electronic Commerce Information Technology Essay

E Commerce Also Called Electronic Commerce Information Technology Essay E-commerce, also called electronic commerce is use of the Internet and to transact the business. More formally, we must focus on the digital enabled commercial transactions between and among the organization and the individuals. Each of these components is very important in the e-commerce. The digitally enabled transactions are include all the transactions that mediated by the digital technology. These means the transactions will occur over the Internet and the Web. Besides that, the commercial transactions are involved with the exchange of the value such as money across the organizational or the individual boundaries in return for the services and the products. The exchange of the value is very important for understanding the limits of the e-commerce because without an exchange of the value, there will not have the commerce occurs. Other than that, e-commerce can do different types of the business activity such as online shopping, electronic payments, online auctions, internet banki ng, online ticketing and others. The online shopping is the people can buy or selling the goods through the Internet. The electronic payments are when the people buy the goods at the e-commerce website, they will be use the electronic payments to pay the fee and this also can reduce the inefficiency and associated with writing or mailing the checks. The internet banking is the people can do the banking operations through the banks website and no need to visit to the bank, so it will save our time. The online ticketing is the people can book the tickets such as train tickets, movie tickets, air tickets and other tickets through the online, so the people no need to queue up at the ticket counters. Moreover, there have the seven unique features of the e-commerce technology, which are ubiquity, global reach, universal standards, richness, interactivity, information density and personalization/ customization. So, the e-commerce website that I choose is the eBay.com. 3.0 Answer of Question 1: The eBay website is the website that allow the people sales or purchase the goods. The people can register the account of this website to get more clearly information and easily to sales your goods on this website or purchase the goods on this website. When people have the account, the website wills automatic record the history that they selling and purchasing and the people also can send the message to merchant to get more clearly information about the goods. 3.1 Seven Unique Features of E-commerce Besides that, there are the seven unique features of e-commerce technology inside this website and have one feature is implementing well and one is implementing poorly. 3.1.1 Ubiquity Ubiquity means that the commercial transaction or any activities that related with the e-commerce is available at everywhere such as at workplaces, at homes and even on the mobile devices and also can sign in to the e-commerce websites anytime. The ubiquity of e-commerce website can help the consumers reduces the transaction costs that the costs of participating in the market. In additional, the consumers no need to spend the time to go market to make a purchase. During this time, the people will always choose the path that requiring the least effort and can make them more convenient, so the e-commerce website is more suitable to them. For example, the eBay website is not only in Malaysia but also in United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada, China, Korea, Singapore and other country. So, the consumers can purchase the goods from other country. In addition, this website also can stay connected to Facebook, Google+, Twitter and eBay mobile. 3.1.2 Global Reach Global reach means that the e-commerce technology is permits the commercial transaction to cross the national boundaries and make it more conveniently. So, they have many e-commerce merchants will create an e-commerce website to make it become a potential market and famous in the world. The total number of the users or consumers in the e-commerce business can obtain is a measure of its reach. For example, eBay website is the ubiquity website, so people in the whole world can go through this website to do the goods sales or purchases. It also can let people do the commercial transaction between each nation. 3.1.3 Universal Standards A universal standard means the standards that are shared by all nations around the world. The universal technical standards of the e-commerce are a greatly lower market entry cost, which means the merchants must pay the costs of the goods that they bring to the market. Besides that, for the consumers, the universal standards will reduce the search costs, which means the effort required to find the suitable products. Furthermore, to create the one-world marketspace, where the prices and product descriptions must be inexpensively displayed for all people to see and the price discovery must becomes faster, simpler and more accurate. For example, eBay website has the universal standard that can share by all nations which have this website. The entire eBay website will have free cost of visit this website for users and users can register the account to get more details information of the products. 3.1.4 Richness Richness means the complexity and content of a message. Back to the early days, the traditional markets have a great richness; they are able to provide the personal, face-to-face services using an aural and visual cue when they do the selling with consumers. So, the richness of the traditional markets makes them have a powerful selling or commercial environment. The e-commerce technologies have changed the traditional trade-off between the richness and reach, the larger the people reached, the less rich the message. For example, the eBay website will deliver the full descriptions or details of each product. So, it will let the consumers know the feature of each product and decide whether want to buy the product or not. Besides that, eBay website provide the community to let the seller communicate with the consumers to promote and explain the products to them. 3.1.5 Interactivity Interactivity means the technology that allows for two-way of communication between the merchant and consumer. The interactivity is works through the interaction with the people. Moreover, the interactivity is allows the online merchant to attract the consumer in the ways similar to the face-to-face experience and it is more massive and global scale. For example, the eBay website has provided a community to allow everyone do any announcement, enquiry and discussion between each and other. So that, the buyer and consumers which are stay at different nation also can do the commercial transaction. They can communication at the eBay website or change the e-mail each other for more detail asking. 3.1.6 Information Density Information Density means the total amount and the quality of information are available to all market participants. It is reduce the information costs and increases the quality of the information to making it more useful and important. For example, the eBay website is full of the information such as the detail information of the goods with the picture. So that, the consumers no need to pay any costs for searching the details information and the information that provide by eBay website is accurate and useful. 3.1.7 Personalization/Customization Personalization means the merchants can target their marketing messages to the specific individuals by adjusting the message to the persons name, last purchases and interests. For example, eBay website will send the different marketing messages to the different consumers which are already register and have the record in their system. The customization means the users can change the delivered goods or service based on their own preferences or prior behaviour. For example, eBay website allows the consumers do the wish list that is which products that you want to deliver first or which service you want to the seller to do. 3.2 Implement Well and Implement Poorly The ubiquity is implementing well in the eBay website because there are many country have this official website, so the people can sales or purchase the goods from different country. So, consumers can do the comparison of products between different country and choose the suitable products that they need. The interactivity is implementing poorly in the eBay website because it is not a real time chat. They just provided the community to allow everyone do any announcement, enquiry and discussion between each and other. If the consumers do the announcement, they must wait for the seller do the reply and this is inconvenience. In my opinion, I suggest the eBay website must add the real time chat like the Facebooks real time chat because it let the consumers and seller can communicate to each other, so can easily do the commercial transaction. This method can increase the interactivity between the seller and consumer and can make eBay website more famous. 4.0 Conclusion of Question 1: In the conclusion, there have many advantages of the online purchase. The first advantages are lower price. The goods are usually cheaper on the website because the warehouse and staff costs are lower and the e-commerce website want to attract and keep the customers. The second advantages are convenience. People can access the e-commerce website through the internet and they can do it at anywhere such as home and it also can save their time. The third advantages are wide choice. There have many e-commerce website around the world, so it will give more choices to the people to choose the good and famous website. The last advantages are quick delivery. Most of the e-commerce website will deliver the goods to consumer within a few days. So, the e-commerce website gives many benefits to the people. 5.0 Introduction of Question 2: During this technology generation, there have many people are using the computer through online to visit the e-commerce website to do online shopping. This means the online purchase has gained immense popularity and famous in todays times. What is means of the online shopping? Online shopping is the process that the sellers will sales the goods to the e-commerce website or the buyers purchase the goods through the e-commerce website. The sellers and buyers will interact and negotiate through the e-mail messages, chat, or video call by using the VoIP (Voice-over Internet Protocol) service providers. Some of the e-commerce website can stay connected to the Facebook, Twitter or Google+ like the eBay website, and then the sellers and buyers also can do interact in these few website. Besides that, there are some several names that we can find pertaining to the online shopping itself such as e-store, e-shop, web store, web shop, virtual store and online store. In addition, there also have the advantages and disadvantages of the online purchase. 6.0 Answer of Question 2: 6.1 Buying Products through Online I have chosen to buy the product through online and didnt buy from the physical shop because it is more convenience. I can just order the product that I need at home or anywhere through the internet and no need to go to the physical shop or shopping mall to purchase the product. After do the order, I just need to wait for the product that delivers to my home. Besides that, I not have my own vehicle so cannot always go out to the physical shop to purchase the product and it is give the inconvenience to me. So, that is why I have chosen to buy the product through online. In addition, it also can save my time because I no need to spent time to go the physical shop and I can use that time to do my own work. Furthermore, I can do the comparison of the products such as the features and prices of the products and it can help me to do the deciding to purchase which products better. 6.2 Advantages of Online Purchase There are many advantages of the online purchase such as convenience, research capabilities, infinite choice and no pressure sales. 6.2.1 Convenience The first advantages of the online purchase are convenience. All the e-commerce websites are allow the people to purchase the products in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So people can visit the websites anytime and can do online purchase at their leisure or regardless of their time zone. Besides that, people also can do the online purchase at everywhere such as their home or office and no need to go the physical shop to purchase the products. This is especially useful for mothers that want to take care for the small children. By purchasing through online, people no need worry about the inclement weather or havent vehicles to go to the physical shop. So, the online purchase is making us more convenience. 6.2.2 Research Capabilities The second advantages of the online purchase are research capabilities. There are many e-commerce website in internet to allow people purchase the product. So, people can easily do the comparison of the features and prices of the products that they want. It can let the people can purchase the good products and also can save their money. Besides that, the online merchants can provide more detail information about their product that they sales on the website and this can help them save the cost of print catalog. They also can share the products information and reviews to some website to let people interest to the product. 6.2.3 Infinite Choices The third advantages of the online purchase are infinite choices. There are many e-commerce website and people can choose the website that they think is good. There are some famous e-commerce websites such as eBay.com, Amazon.com and Mudah.com. There are many products sales in the e-commerce website such as cloths, mobile phones, computer, jewellery and vehicles. So, people have the infinite choices to choose the products that have the good quality, features and lower prices. Other than that, because have the infinite choices of the products, people can easily to do the comparison of the products. For example, people can do the comparison between the own country products and other country products to know about which country products are the best. 6.2.4 No Pressure Sales The last advantages of the online purchase are no pressure sales. When we are go to the shopping mall, must have the aggressive salesman often pressurize us to test their products and then call us to buy their products. This action will make us feel troublesome and dont want to go there again. On the contrary, the online shopping will not have this kind problem and we also can keeps annoying salesman at bay. The e-commerce website will not force people to purchase anything and they just allow them to visit their website with no cost entering. 6.3 Disadvantages of Online Purchase There are many disadvantages of the online purchase such as cannot physically see the products, must wait the products arrive, delivery risks and online security. 6.3.1 Cannot Physically See the Products The first disadvantages of the online purchase are cannot physically see the products. Normally, when we are going to the physical shop, we at least can see the model of products and we can choose the size and colour of the products. On the contrary, when we are purchase the products through online, we just only can see the picture of the products and cannot to see the physical products, so that we cannot touch and try out the products to estimate the qualities of the products. Some people are like to try the products before do the payment, but this feature is cannot find in the online purchase. 6.3.2 Wait the Products Arrive The second disadvantages of the online purchase are must wait for the products to arrive. When we are purchase the products through the e-commerce website, we must take the few days to wait the products to arrive and during the times to wait for the products, it can be make us quite frustrating. If we are purchase the products from other country like United States, so we must take a long time to wait for the products because the distance is too far. On the contrary, if we are purchase the products at the physical shop, we can get it after make a payment and no need to wait for long times. 6.3.3 Delivery Risks The third disadvantages of the online purchase are delivery risks. When we are doing the online purchase, we must be wait deliver to us. What if the products that we are expecting are never arrives at long time, we will worry about is the seller scam us or the courier company didnt deliver the products to us. Besides that, what if the courier company is deliver the products to us during the time we are not at the home, is the courier company leaves the products on the door and the passer will steal it when see the products at the outside of door. In addition, what if the shipping company is broke our products and we are realizing it after opening the products when the courier man has already gone away. Then, when we are doing the feedback to the seller, the seller might claim that is our broking it and cannot make the amends. 6.3.4 Online Security The last disadvantages of the online purchase are online security. During the recent survey showed that the majority of the online shoppers were not aware of the various phishing scams, hacker attacks, and how it will affected to them. Furthermore, we are making the payments through online is usually safe but not always. There may have some of the e-commerce website are not secure because they do not encrypt our personal credit card data, so if the hacker is breaks their system, our personal data will be compromised. 7.0 Conclusion of Question 2: In the conclusion, there are many advantages and disadvantages of the online purchasing. The introduction of the e-commerce give the convenience to the people such as people can purchase the products that needs through online and no need to go to the physical shop and this help the people save for their time to do other important work. On the contrary, the convenience of the e-commerce maybe will make the people become lazy because they always dependent to the e-commerce website and dont want go out to the physical shop. So that, if you think the e-commerce give you more advantages, then it will good for you.

Desperation By Stephen King :: essays research papers

Desperation, a recent Stephen King novel, is not just a book, but an experience that leaves the reader frightened, paranoid, and questioning his moral beliefs. Picture, if you will, a lone, crazed Nevada policeman who pulls over vehicles on a lonely desert highway and forcefully takes away their occupants. Whichever of them he doesn’t kill immediately, he locks up in the jail of the small desolate town of Desperation. Among those captured are the vacationing Carver family, whose RV is sabotaged on its way to Arizona. Already incarcerated is Tom Billingsley, a once well-known member of the now slaughtered community of Desperation. They are soon joined by formerly famous, currently old and overweight writer, Johnny Marinville, who is riding across the country on his Harley-Davidson gathering material for a book of short stories. How to escape Desperation isn’t the only unanswered question, though. How could and why would one man single-handedly murder the population of an entire town? How does he have such control over the minds of the animals? Why are they locked up when he could have killed them like every one else? Whatever it is that possesses the body of officer Collie Entraigan can’t last forever, though. After several days his body is falling apart at the seams, and he is bleeding from every orifice. Weirder yet, he is growing several inches a day and is bound to burst soon. Will he? Or are the occupants of the local Desperation jail just backup bodies that the possessor will use when it wears out its current one? If so then what is it? More importantly, who’s next?An intriguing aspect of this book is that there is no real protagonist. King leaves the reader in constant suspense. Frequently changing views, the story follows one character or group of characters for one chapter and then in the next chapter, follows another, often intertwining the time sequences. The overlapping action is interrupted only by flashbacks that allow the reader to sympathize with a particular character’s actions or feelings. These flashbacks are so intricate that it is difficult to believe they are fictional at all. They go into such detail of the life-altering experiences of everyone involved that the reader gets a sixth sense as to how the characters will react to certain situations. Telling the story in this manner allows the reader to see why every character acts the way that he does.

American Drug Laws- Do They He :: essays research papers fc

American Drug Laws: Do They Help or Hurt? I believe the drug laws are in serious need of reform. We tend to forget that alcohol is a drug and that at one time it was prohibited without success. Also, I believe that a civil body of government rather than a criminal one should regulate drug use. It is a social problem, not a criminal one. As a largely victimless crime they should not have their civil rights taken away just because they like to take drugs which we have arbitrarily made illegal. Drugs are very expensive because they are illegal. Their procurement and use fuel crime and violence, which could be largely eliminated if organized crime did not have a monopoly and the free enterprise system could control the market. Potency regulated by licensed drug companies would prevent unusually pure substances from causing accidental overdose. There is an epidemic of unnecessary deaths from this cause. This problem is exacerbated by the fear users and bystanders have of seeking a highly effective antidote for drug poisoning that is universally available at hospitals. The U.S. drug laws violate our right to privacy, cost millions in tax revenue, overloads the criminal justice system, and are ineffective as a deterrent to drug use and trafficking. Laws that govern drug use are patently arbitrary and have their bases in racial prejudice and the comfort index of old male legislators. The first opium regulatory laws were enacted in San Francisco in response to Asian immigrants entertaining married white women in opium dens (Hamowy). The American and European tolerance for tobacco and alcohol use while fearing "counter-culture" marijuana, cocaine, and heroin is a strong prejudice based on ignorance of the comparative human misery caused by the inevitable misuse of mind-altering substances. Alcohol and tobacco cause more illness and death each year than all the illicit drugs combined. Legislative attempts to curb alcohol and tobacco use by children makes some of these very vulnerable people desire their use, but the age-restrictive and the accompanying time-of-purchase limits on widely abused drugs are the best that society has devised. Our knowledge of education techniques to encourage abstinence or moderate use of drugs is extremely inadequate. Laws for prevention of illegal drug use are wildly unsuccessful and have resulted in making drug-related criminals the majority of incarcerated offenders in U.S. prisons. The result of illegalizing use, and not necessarily abuse at all, is a 100% increase in drug criminals in the last ten years (Hamowy) for use of substances which have no more, and probably less, intrinsic potential for abuse.

Expression of Renaissance Ideals throught the Art of the Period :: European Europe History

Expression of Renaissance Ideals throught the Art of the Period The humanist and secularist beliefs of religion, individuality, and antiquity were evident in the style and illustration of Italian paintings and sculptures in the High Renaissance era. A deep sense of piety, Greek and Roman philosophy, and secularism, can be found in nearly all Renaissance paintings and sculptures, and the school of thought in Renaissance society that regarded the artist as genius contributed to all of these items. Historically, religion is the defining factor of nearly all paintings in modern and medieval European history. The Last Supper by Leonardo, The School of Athens by Raphael, Michelangelo's huge sculpture of the ancient Hebrew king David, Giotto's paintings of the Virgin Mary and Saint Francis of Assisi, and Masaccio's The Holy Trinity serve as an infinitesimally small sample of the vast selection of religiously inspired paintings, frescos, sculptures, and architectural endeavors created by Renaissance artists. The School of Athens by Raphael is an artistic representation of the beliefs and interpretations of the Renaissance humanist philosophers such as Petrarch and Drusus. Great classical mathematicians such as Pythagoras stand under the statue of the Greek goddess of reason, Athena, while intellectuals such as Socrates teach on the right, under the statue of the Greek patron of poetry, Apollo. This fresco also illustrates the existence of an intellectual community of painters, sculptors, and leaders such as Michelangelo and Leonardo, who exist in the painting as Greek philosopher Heraclitus and Plato, respectively. This select group of individuals was in fact the majority of the thinking power of the Italian Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci represents most strongly the secularist style in Renaissance art. His painting of The Last Supper shows the very strained emotions of Jesus' apostles when he informs them that he is to be betrayed. The lines of emotion and the expressions on the apostle's faces clearly depict the secularist real, the non-exaggerative, worldly style of secularism exhibited through the writings of Boccaccio and Lorenzo Valla. Michelangelo's dome for Saint Peter's Basilica and the roof of the Sistine Chapel display the secularist attitude the Roman Catholic Church adopted in the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The fact that the Catholic Church, the wealthiest institution in the world, sponsored this art shows the elitist status that artists must have assumed in the Renaissance, and how the church supported the belief that the hand of God worked through the hands of the artists.

Dower and Dowry Confusion

Dower and dowry confusion The dower is a sum of money or other property which becomes payable by the husband to the wife as an effect of marriage[1]. On the other hand, Dowry is a transaction between two parties involving cash, or other valuable articles such as precious metals, gems, clothing, appliances, real estate, or goods for entertainment, made as a condition for entering a marriage contract[2]. The dowry system is not recognised in the religion or the law of the Muslim societies but has spread into it. 3] Conversely, Islamic law provides dower to enhance the status of women[4]. It is important to note that until now authors confuse dower with dowry. Perhaps the aspect of women's property or stridhanam in Hindu law and dower as the exclusive property of the wife are seen as synonymous. When dowry is regarded as stridhanam or pre-mortem inheritance for women, contradictions arise and the equation of dowry with stridhanam has been disputed by several authors.They argue that the situation is absolutely reverse, as dowry is not a gift to the wife or her exclusive property but the property of her in-laws. [5] Islam has legislated the giving of the dower by the husband to the wife in order to please the woman’s heart and to honour her. It is also meant to bring an end to what was done in the Days of Ignorance wherein she was wronged, exploited, despised and robbed of her wealth. The dower is a right exclusively for the wife. It is her possession and none of her guardians or relatives may share any part of it[6].No one has any power over her concerning how she wishes to dispose of it, as long as she does so in a legally acceptable manner. She may give it away as a gift, she may lend it to others or she may give it in charity or do any other permissible acts she wishes with it[7]. But dowry is totally different. At times people think that dower is some sort of acronym of dowry, which is literally incorrect. Dower is the money paid by the groom to his brid e while dowry is trousseau, gift of money or valuables given by the bride's father to the groom at the time of the marriage.It is important to understand that there is absolutely no similarity between dower and dowry; with the former being a legal right and the latter being a tradition[8]. Dowry is predominantly a Hindu tradition carried on after the people of the subcontinent embraced Islam. Women are given the right of inheritance but there is no concept of dowry in Islam. If it was a part of our religion, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) must have granted valuables to his only daughter Fatima on her marriage to Ali. Instead, Ali had to pay for the valima by selling his armour[9].This problem has intensified to the extent that women in both India and Pakistan commit suicide considering themselves burden on their families as they can't afford to give heavy dowry or entertain the in-laws years after marriage. At times the girl's family pays part of the dowry at the time of the marriage, prom ising to pay the rest after the marriage. This stipulation causes a lot of grief and mistreatment to the girl and her family especially if the ‘payment' is delayed[10]. ———————– 1]Monsoor, Taslima: â€Å"Gender Equity and Economic Empowerment: Family Law and Women in Bangladesh†. Dhaka, p. 22 2 http://www. indiatogether. org/women/dowry/pledge. htm 3 Sivaramayya, B. : Inequalities and the law. New Delhi 1984, p. 66 4 Monsoor, Taslima: â€Å"Gender Equity and Economic Empowerment: Family Law and Women in Bangladesh†. Dhaka, p. 47 5 Ibid [2] http://www. islamweb. net/emainpage/index. php? page=articles&id=97117 [3] Ibid [4] http://jang. com. pk/thenews/feb2007-weekly/you-20-02-2007/ [5] Ibid [6] Ibid

Prom Nights from Hell Chapter Six

â€Å"Sheba,† she said, her dark eyes widening. â€Å"Sheba†¦ Smith.† â€Å"Well, would you like to dance then, Sheba Smith? If you feel well enough.† â€Å"Yes,† she breathed, half to herself. â€Å"Yes, why not?† Her eyes never left his. Not moving from where they were, Gabe and Sheba began swaying to the rhythm of yet another wretched song. This time, the horrid music didn't offend Gabe as much. Gabe put it together then. New girl. Amazing dress. Sheba. This was Logan's date, the one who'd asked him to the prom and then wanted nothing more to do with him. For a half second, Gabe worried if it was wrong for him to infringe on his friend's date. But the worry passed quickly. For one thing, Logan was happy with Libby. There was no sense in interrupting something that was clearly meant to be. For another, Sheba and Logan were clearly not meant to be. Gabe had always had a good instinct for that-for the personalities that belonged together, for compatible natures that would pull together harmoniously. He'd been the butt of many jokes about matchmaking, but he didn't mind. Gabe liked people to be happy. And this intense girl with the deep pools in her eyes-Sheba-did not belong with Logan. That desperate sense of need had calmed when he'd touched her. Gabe felt much better with her in his arms-holding her seemed to soothe the strange call. She was safe here, no longer drowning, no longer lost. Gabe was afraid to let her go, worried that the burning need would return. It was an odd first for Gabe, this feeling of being in exactly the right place, of being the only one that belonged here. It wasn't that he'd never had a girlfriend before-girls liked Gabe, and he'd had many casual relationships. But they never lasted. There was always someone else they belonged with. None of them really needed Gabe, except as a friend. And they'd always stayed good friends. It had never been like this. Was this where Gabe belonged? Shielding this slender girl, holding her safe in his arms? It was silly to think so fatalistically. Gabe tried hard to act normal. â€Å"You're new at Reed River, aren't you?† he asked her. â€Å"I've only been here a few weeks,† she confirmed. â€Å"I don't think we have any classes together.† â€Å"No, I would have remembered if I'd been close to you before.† It was an odd way of phrasing it. She stared into his eyes, her hands clinging gently to his shoulders. Instinctively, he pulled her a little closer. â€Å"Are you having a good time tonight?† he asked. She sighed, a deep sigh from the center of her being. â€Å"I am now,† she said, oddly rueful. â€Å"A very good time.† Trapped! Like an idiot, like a new-spawned whelp, a novice, a rookie! Sheba leaned into Gabe, unable to resist. Unable to want to resist. She stared into his heavenly eyes and had the most ridiculous urge to sigh. How had she not seen the signs? The way goodness itself surrounded him like a shield. The way her suggestions bounced right off him harmlessly. The way the only ones safe from her evil tonight-those little bubbles of happiness outside of her control-were the people he'd touched and interacted with, his friends. The eyes alone should have been warning enough! Celeste was smarter than Sheba. At least her instincts had kept her away from this dangerous boy. Once she was free of his piercing gaze, she'd kept a safe distance between them. Why hadn't Sheba understood the reason behind this? And the reason Gabe had chosen Celeste in the first place. Of course he'd been drawn to Celeste! It all made sense now. Sheba swayed to the beat that rumbled through the air, feeling the security of his body around her, protecting her. Tiny, unfamiliar tendrils of happiness twisted their way through her empty core. No-not that! Not happiness! If she was already feeling happy, then better things couldn't be too far behind. Was there no way to avoid the horrible wonder of love? That wasn't very likely when you were in an angel's arms. Not a true angel. Gabe didn't have wings, he'd never had them-he wasn't one of those sappy birdbrains who'd traded feathers and eternity for human love. But one of his parents had done just that. Gabe was fully half-angel-though he didn't have a clue about his nature. If he'd had any idea, Sheba would have heard that in his mind and escaped this divine horror. Now it was only too obvious to Sheba-this close, she could smell the scent of asphodel clinging to his skin. And, clearly, he'd inherited his angel-parent's eyes. The heaven-blue eyes that should have been a dead giveaway, if Sheba hadn't been so wrapped up in her evil plotting. There was a reason even experienced demons like Jezebel were wary of angels. If it was hazardous for a human to stare into a demon's eyes, it was doubly so for a demon to get locked into an angel's. If ever a demon met an angel's gaze for too long, pfffffft! – out went the fires of hell and the demon was trapped until the angel gave up on saving him. Because that's what angels did. They saved. Sheba was an eternal being, and she was trapped for however long Gabe decided to keep her. A full angel would have known what Sheba was at once, and driven her out if he were strong enough, or given her a wide berth if he wasn't. But Sheba could imagine what her presence would feel like to someone with Gabe's instinct to save. Innocent of the knowledge he needed to understand, Sheba's damned state must have been like a siren's call. She stared helplessly into Gabe's beautiful face, her body filling with happiness, and wondered how long the torture would last. Already too long to save her perfect prom. Without her hellfire, Sheba had no influence over the mortals here. But she was still fully aware, watching helpless and disgustingly blissful, as it all fell apart. Cooper Silverdale gasped in horror as he looked at the gun glistening in his shaking hand. What was he thinking? He shoved the weapon back into its hiding place and half ran to the bathroom, where he violently vomited the punch into the sink. Cooper's stomach problems interrupted Matt and Derek's fistfight, which was just warming up in the men's room. The two friends squinted through their swollen eyes at each other. Why were they fighting? Over a girl that neither of them even liked? How stupid! Suddenly, they were interrupting each other in their urgent need to apologize. With smiles on split lips and arms around shoulders, they headed back to the ballroom. David Alvarado had given up his plans to jump Heath after the dance, because Evie had forgiven him for disappearing with Celeste. Her cheek was soft and warm against his now as they swayed to the slow music, and there was no way he would hurt her by disappearing again, not for any reason. David was not the only one who felt that way. As if the new song was magical rather than insipid, the dancers in the big ballroom each moved instinctively toward the person they should have come with in the first place, the one that would transform the night's misery into happiness. Coach Lauder, lonely and depressed, looked up from the unappetizing cookies straight into Vice Principal Finkle's sad eyes. She looked lonely, too. The coach walked toward her, smiling hesitantly. Shaking her head and blinking her eyes like someone trying to escape a nightmare, Melissa Harris pulled away from Tyson and ran for the exit. She would find the concierge and get a cab†¦ Like a rubber band that had been stretched too far, the atmosphere at Reed River's prom now snapped back with a vengeance. If Sheba had been herself, she would have pulled that rubber band until it exploded into pieces. But now all the misery and wrath and hate vanished. The human minds had been stuck in their grip too long. With relief, everyone at the prom relaxed into happiness, grasped at love with two hands. Even Celeste was tired of the mayhem. She stayed in Rob's arms, shuddering slightly at the memory of those perfect blue eyes, as one slow song melted into the next. Neither Sheba nor Gabe even noticed the song change. All her delicious pain and misery destroyed! Even if she did get free, Sheba was destined for middle school now. Where was the injustice?! And Jezebel! Had she planned this? Tried to distract Sheba from the fact that a dangerous half-angel was here tonight? Or would she be disappointed? Was she really there in encouragement? Sheba had no way to find out. She wouldn't even be able to see Jezebel now-whether the horned demoness was laughing or chagrined-with her fires extinguished. Disgusted with herself, Sheba sighed in happiness. Gabe was just so good. And, in his arms, she felt good, too. She felt wonderful. Sheba simply had to get free before happiness and love ruined her! Would she be trapped with some feather-back's heavenly offspring forever? Gabe smiled at her, and she sighed again. Sheba knew what Gabe would be feeling now. Angels were never happier than when they were making someone else happy, and the bigger the lift in that other person's spirit, the more ecstatic the angel. As perfectly miserable and damned as Sheba had been, Gabe must be flying now-it would be almost as good as having wings. He would never want to let her go. There was just one chance left for Sheba, just one way back to her wretched, miserable, burning, stinking home. Gabe had to order her there. Thinking of this chance, Sheba felt much worse, felt a welcome wave of her former misery. Gabe tightened his hold on her as he sensed her slipping down, and the misery was drowned in contentment, but Sheba remained hopeful. She stared up into his love-filled angel-eyes and smiled dreamily. You're evil incarnate, Sheba told herself. You have a true talent for misery. You know suffering inside and out. You can get yourself out of this trap and everything will be like it used to be. After all, with as much pain and havoc as Sheba was capable of causing, how hard could it possibly be to get this angelic boy to tell her to go to hell? Prom Nights from Hell Chapter Six â€Å"Put them up,† Glasses Geek said. â€Å"I mean your arms. Miranda did what he said because his hands were shaking so much she was afraid he'd shoot her by accident. â€Å"Who are you? What are you doing here?† he demanded in a voice that shook almost as much as his hands. â€Å"I just wanted to get a glimpse of Her,† she said, hoping she made it sound right. He narrowed his eyes. â€Å"How did you know She was here?† â€Å"The Gardener told me, but I didn't know where She was being kept so I climbed up that tree to look.† â€Å"Which affiliate are you with?† I knew this would end in tears. What now, smarty pants? Miranda raised an eyebrow and said, â€Å"Which affiliate are you with?† Adding for good measure, â€Å"I mean, I would remember a guy like you if I'd seen you before.† It worked! She saw him swallow hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. She would never doubt How to Get-And Kiss-Your Guy again! He said, â€Å"I'd remember you, too.† She hit him with a dose of Winsome Smile and saw the Adam's apple do some more moving. She said, â€Å"If I give you my hand to shake, will you shoot me?† He chortled and put down the gun. â€Å"No,† still chortling. Holding out his hand now. â€Å"I'm Craig.† â€Å"Hi, Craig, I'm Miranda,† she said, taking it. Then flipped him onto his back and knocked him out cold in a single silent move. She looked at her hand for a second in shock. She'd definitely never done that before. That had been very cool. If you're going to be an idiot and risk everything, you might as well do what you came for. You know, instead of just staring at the guy you knocked out? She bent to whisper, â€Å"Sorry. Take three aspirin for your head when you wake up and you'll feel better,† in his ear, and moved around the edge of the safe house. There must have been an open window because she could hear voices here, the man who had been outside before now saying to someone, â€Å"Are you comfortable?† And Sibby answering, â€Å"No. I don't like this couch. I can't believe this is the nicest room in the house. It looks like a place for a grandma.† Heh! Miranda followed the sound of Sibby's voice and found herself standing in front of one of the street-facing plate-glass windows, looking through a gap in dark blue drapes into a living room. There was a spindly-looking couch, chair, and coffee table. Sibby was in the chair, her profile to Miranda, with a plate of Oreos in front of her. She looked fine. The man was perched on the couch, smiling at Sibby, saying, â€Å"So, where are we supposed to drop you?† Sibby took the top cookie off the Oreo and ate it. â€Å"I'll tell you later.† The man kept smiling. â€Å"I'd like to know so I can plan the route. We can't be too careful.† â€Å"Oh my gods, there's like hours before we go. I want to watch some TV.† Miranda heard the man's heart speed up and saw his hand flex but he kept his tone light when he said, â€Å"Of course.† Then added, â€Å"As soon as you tell me where we're taking you.† Sibby frowned at him. â€Å"Are you deaf or something? I said I'd tell you later.† â€Å"It's in your best interest to talk to me. Otherwise I'm afraid I'll have to bring in someone else. Someone a bit more†¦ forceful.† â€Å"Fine. But while I'm waiting, can I please watch TV? Tell me you get cable. Oh gods, if you don't have MTV, I'm going to be really pissed.† The man stood up with an expression on his face like he wanted to break something, then abruptly turned to face the door. Miranda heard footsteps coming toward the room from the hallway, and with them a familiar cha-cha heartbeat. Two seconds later Deputy Sergeant Caleb Reynolds burst through the door. See? Sibby's in no danger. The police are here. Scram. Deputy Reynolds said to the man, â€Å"What's taking so long?† â€Å"She won't talk.† â€Å"I'm sure she'll change her mind.† His heartbeat picked up. Sibby glanced at him. â€Å"Who are you?† Caleb said, â€Å"I'm the Gardener.† This was extremely not good, Miranda decided. â€Å"I wasn't very impressed with the front lawn,† Sibby told him. â€Å"I'm not that kind of Gardener. It's a nickname. They call me that because-â€Å" â€Å"Actually, I'm not even vaguely interested. I don't know what you're planning, Plant Boy-â€Å" â€Å"Gardener,† he corrected, going a touch red. † – but if you need to know where I'm supposed to be picked up by the Overseer, then you have to keep me alive, right? So you can't exactly threaten me with death.† â€Å"Not death, no. But pain.† He addressed the man. â€Å"Go get me my tools, Byron.† As the man left the room, Sibby said, â€Å"I'm not going to tell you anything.† Deputy Reynolds circled around so he was leaning over her chair, his back to the window. â€Å"Listen to me-† he said, his heartbeat slowing down suddenly. Miranda did a round-off, smashing through the window feet first, then knocked him unconscious with a side kick to the neck before he could turn around. She bent to whisper, â€Å"Sorry,† in his ear, decided as punishment not to tell him about the aspirins, grabbed Sibby, sprinted to the car, and stepped on the gas. Prom Nights from Hell Chapter Six Yun Sun's voice grew sharp. â€Å"Frankie, no!† â€Å"I'm such an idiot-why didn't I think of it before?† â€Å"Wait. Don't do it, don't make the-† She broke off. I heard a â€Å"whoops,† followed by drunken apologies and someone saying, â€Å"Oh, I love your dress!† It sounded like everyone was having fun. I'd soon be having fun with them. I made it to the den and approached the bookshelf where I'd left the corsage. I patted the tops of the books and then the space behind them. My fingers found softness, like petals of skin. â€Å"I'm back,† Yun Sun said. The background sounds had diminished, suggesting she'd stepped outside. â€Å"And, Frankie, I know you're hurting. I know that. But what happened to Will was just a coincidence. A terrible, terrible coincidence.† â€Å"Call it what you want,† I said. â€Å"I'm making my second wish.† I plucked the corsage from behind the books. Yun Sun's anxiety intensified. â€Å"Frankie, no, you can't!† â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"He fell from three hundred feet! His body was†¦ they said he was mangled beyond†¦ that's why they had a closed casket, remember?† â€Å"So?† â€Å"He's been rotting in a coffin for thirteen days!† she cried. â€Å"Yun Sun, that is a tasteless thing to say. Honestly, if it were Jeremy being brought back to life, would we even be having this conversation?† I drew the flowers to my face, lightly touching the petals with my lips. â€Å"Listen, I've got to go. But save some punch for me! And Will! Ooo, make that lots of punch for Will-I bet he'll be absolutely crazed with thirst!† I flipped my phone shut. I held the corsage aloft. â€Å"I wish for Will to be alive again!† I cried exultantly. The stench of decay thickened the air. The corsage curled, as if the petals were shrinking in on themselves. I flung it away on autopilot, just as I'd shake off an earwig that chanced to light on my hand. But whatever. The corsage wasn't important. What was important was Will. Where was he? I glanced around, ridiculously expecting him to be sitting on the sofa, looking at me like You're scared of a bunch of dried flowers? Pitiful! The sofa was empty, a gloomy, looming shape by the wall. I darted to the window and peered out. Nothing. Just the wind, fluttering the leaves on the trees. â€Å"Will?† I said. Again nothing. A tremendous well of disappointment opened inside me, and I sank into my father's leather armchair. Stupid Frankie. Stupid, foolish, pathetic me. Time passed. Cicadas chirped. Stupid cicadas. And then, so faint, a thud. And then another. I straightened my spine. Gravel popped on the road†¦ or maybe the driveway? The thuds came closer. They were labored and with the odd offbeat of a limp, or of something being dragged. I strained to hear. There-a thump, ten feet away on the porch. A thump that was distinctly inhuman. My throat closed as Yun Sun's words wormed back to me. Mangled, she'd said. Rotting. I wasn't paying attention before. Now it was too late. What had I done? I jumped out of the chair and fled to the entry hall, safe from the eyes of anyone-or anything-who might choose to peer through the den's wide windows. What, exactly, had I brought back to life? A knock echoed through the house. I whimpered, then clapped my hand over my mouth. â€Å"Frankie?† a voice called. â€Å"I'm, uh†¦ yikes. I'm kind of a mess.† He laughed his self-deprecating laugh. â€Å"But I'm here. That's the important thing. I'm here to take you to prom!† â€Å"We don't have to go to prom,† I said. Was that me sounding so shrill? â€Å"Who needs prom? I mean, seriously!† â€Å"Yeah, sure, this from the girl who would kill for the perfect romantic evening.† The knob rattled. â€Å"Aren't you going to let me in?† I hyperventilated. There was a series of plops, like overripe strawberries being dropped into the trash, and then, â€Å"Aw, dude. Not good.† â€Å"Will?† I whispered. â€Å"This is so uncool†¦ but do you have any stain remover?† Holy crap. Holy, holy, holy crap. â€Å"You're not mad, are you?† Will asked. He sounded worried. â€Å"I came as fast as I could. But it was so frickin' weird, Frankie. Because, like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My mind flew to airless caskets, deep in the ground. Please, no, I thought. â€Å"Forget it. It was weird-let's leave it at that.† He tried to lighten things up. â€Å"Now are you going to let me in, or what? I'm falling to pieces out here!† I pressed my body against the hall wall. My knees buckled, I wasn't doing too well with muscle control, but I reminded myself that I was safe behind the solid front door. Whatever else he was, Will was still flesh and bones. Well, partially. But not yet a ghost who could move through walls. â€Å"Will, you've got to go,† I said. â€Å"I made a mistake, okay?† â€Å"A mistake? What do you mean?† His confusion broke my heart. â€Å"It's just†¦ oh God.† I started crying. â€Å"We're not right for each other anymore. You understand, don't you?† â€Å"No, I don't. You wanted me to ask you to prom, so I asked you to prom. And now for no good reason†¦ ohhh! I get it!† â€Å"You do?† â€Å"You don't want me to see you! That's it, isn't it? You're nervous about how you look!† â€Å"Um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Should I run with this? Should I say yes just so he would leave? â€Å"Frankie. Dude. You have nothing to worry about.† He laughed. â€Å"One, you're beautiful; and two, compared to me, there's no way you won't look like†¦ I don't know, an angel from heaven.† He sounded relieved, as if he'd had a niggling sense of something being off, but couldn't quite place his finger on it. But now he knew: It was Frankie having self-esteem issues, that's all! Silly Frankie! I heard a shuffling, and then the bump of a small wooden lid. My body tensed, because I knew that bump. The milk box-crap. He'd remembered the key in the milk box. â€Å"I'm letting myself in,† he called, slump-thumping back to the front door.† ‘Kay, Franks? ‘Cause all of a sudden I'm, like, dying to see you!† He laughed, jubilant. â€Å"I mean, wait, that came out wrong†¦ but, heck, guess that's the theme of the night. Everything's coming out wrong-and I do mean everything!† I fled to the den, where I got on my hands and knees and frantically patted the floor. If only it weren't so dark! The deadbolt stuck, and Will jangled the key. His breathing was clotted. â€Å"I'm coming, Frankie!† he called. Jangle, jangle. â€Å"I'm coming as fast as I can!† My fear ratcheted so high that I was thrown into an altered state of reality. I was gasping and crying out, I could hear myself, and my hands were blind feelers, pawing and slapping as I crawled. With a thunk, the bolt slid home. â€Å"Yes,† Will crowed. The door swished over the frayed carpet at the exact instant my fingers closed on the crumbling corsage. â€Å"Frankie? Why is it so dark? And why aren't you-â€Å" I squeezed my eyes shut and spoke my final wish. All sounds ceased, save for the rustle of wind in the leaves. The door, continuing its slow trajectory, bumped against the doorjamb. I stayed where I was on the floor. I sobbed, because my heart was breaking. No, my heart was broken. After several moments, the cicadas once again took up their yearning chorus. I rose to my feet, stumbled across the room, and stood, shivering, in the open doorway. Outside, a pale shaft of moonlight shone on the deserted road. Prom Nights from Hell Chapter Six I'm too stunned to do anything to stop him, really. Well, okay, as the initial shock of it is wearing off, I find I don't want to stop him. I'm stunned to realize that†¦ well, I like how it feels, being in Adam's arms. It feels good. It feels safe. It feels warm. It feels†¦ well, almost as if I were a normal girl, for a change. Not the new girl. Not the exterminator's daughter. Just†¦ me. Mary. It's a feeling I could get used to. â€Å"Mary,† Adam says. He's so much taller than me that his breath tickles the tendrils that have fallen from the updo that I've twisted my hair into. I don't mind, though, because his breath smells good. I look up at him dreamily. I can't believe I never noticed-really noticed-how handsome he is before now. Well, last night, actually. Or maybe I noticed, but it never really registered, because what would a guy like him ever see in a girl like me? In a million years, I never thought I'd end up at the prom with Adam Blum†¦ And okay, sure, he only asked me because he obviously feels sorry for me, on account of my mother being a vampire and all. But still. â€Å"Hmmm?† I say, smiling up at him. â€Å"Uh.† Adam seems uncomfortable, for some reason. â€Å"I was wondering if-you know, when this is all over, and you've dusted Drake, and Lila and Ted are back together-you'd want to, um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Oh God. What's happening? Is he†¦ is he about to ask me out?. Like on a real date? One that doesn't include sharp, pointy objects? No. This isn't happening. This is a dream or something. In a minute, I'm going to wake up, and it's all going to go away. Because how could such a thing even be possible? I can't breathe, I'm so sure I'll break whatever spell we're both under if I do†¦ â€Å"Yes, Adam?† I ask. â€Å"Well.† He can't seem to make eye contact anymore. â€Å"Just if you'd want to, you know, maybe hang out-â€Å" â€Å"Excuse me.† The deep voice that interrupts Adam then is all too familiar. â€Å"But may I have this dance?† I close my eyes in frustration. I cannot believe this. I am never going to get a guy I actually like to ask me out at this rate. Never. Never. Never. I am going to stay a freak-the product of similar freaks-for the rest of my life. Why would a guy like Adam Blum ever want to go out with me in the first place? The child of a vampire and a mad scientist? Let's face it. Not going to happen. And I've had it. I've had it up to here. â€Å"Listen, you,† I say, whirling around to face Sebastian Drake, whose blue eyes widen a little at the fire in mine. â€Å"How dare you come oozing around†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But then my voice trails off. Because suddenly all I can see are those eyes†¦ †¦ those hypnotically blue eyes, which suddenly make me feel like I could dive into them, letting their warmth wash over me in sweet, soft waves†¦ It's true he's no Adam Blum. But he's looking at me in a way that makes it clear he knows that, and that he's sorry for it, and that he's going to do everything he can to make it up to me†¦ more than make it up to me, even†¦ And the next thing I know, Sebastian Drake is taking me into his arms-gently, so gently-and leading me from the dance floor toward a set of French doors through which I can see a night-darkened garden, bathed in twinkling fairy lights and moonlight†¦ just the kind of place to which you'd expect to be led by the golden-haired descendant of a Transylvanian count. â€Å"I'm so glad we finally have the chance to meet,† Sebastian is saying to me in a voice that seems to caress me like a feather-soft touch. Everyone and everything we've left behind us-the other couples; Adam; a stunned Lila, staring after us jealously; Ted, staring jealously at her; even the streamers and rosettes-seems to melt away as if all that exists in the world is me, the garden that I find myself in, and Sebastian Drake. Who is reaching up to smooth some loose tendrils away from my face. In a dim, inner recess of my mind, I remember that I'm supposed to be afraid of him†¦ to hate him, even. Only I can't think why. How could I possibly hate someone as handsome and sweet and gentle as he is? He wants to make me feel better. He wants to help me. â€Å"You see?† Sebastian Drake is saying, as he lifts one of my hands and presses it, softly, against his lips. â€Å"I'm not so terrifying, am I? I'm just like you, actually. Just the child of-let's face it-a very formidable person, who's trying to figure out his own place in the world. We have our burdens, do we not, you and I, Mary? Your mother says hello, by the way.† â€Å"M-my mother?† My brain seems to be as filled with fog as this garden we're standing in. Because while I can picture my mother's face, I can't remember how Sebastian Drake could possibly know her. â€Å"Yes,† Sebastian says, his lips now moving from my hand and up toward the crook of my elbow. His mouth feels like liquid fire against my skin. â€Å"She misses you, you know. She doesn't understand why you won't join her. She's so happy now†¦ she doesn't know the pain of illness†¦ or the indignity of aging†¦ or the heartbreak of loneliness.† His lips are on my bare shoulder now. I'm having trouble breathing. But in a good way. â€Å"She is surrounded by beauty and love†¦ just like you could be, Mary.† His lips are by my throat. His breath, so warm, has seemed to cause my spine to go limp. But it's all right, because one of his strong arms has gone around my waist, and he's holding me up, even as my body, as if of its own volition, is arching backward, allowing him an unobstructed view of my bare throat. â€Å"Mary,† he whispers against my neck. And I feel so peaceful, so serene-something I haven't felt in years, not since Mom left-that my eyelids drift closed†¦ And the next thing I know, something cold and wet hits me in the neck. â€Å"Ow,† I say, opening my eyes and slapping a hand there†¦ then pulling it away to find my fingers slick with some kind of clear moisture. â€Å"Sorry,† Adam calls from where he's standing a few feet away, his arms stretched out in front of him, the mouth of his Beretta 9mm water pistol aimed right at me. â€Å"I missed.† A second later, I am gasping for air as a thick cloud of acrid, burning smoke hits me in the face. Coughing, I stagger away from the man who, just seconds before, had been holding me so tenderly, but is now clutching at his smoldering chest. â€Å"Wha-† Sebastian Drake gasps, pounding at the flames leaping from his chest. â€Å"What is this?† â€Å"Just a little holy water, dude,† Adam says, as he continues pumping away at Drake's chest. â€Å"Shouldn't bother you. Unless, of course, you're a member of the undead. Which, unfortunately for you, it appears you are.† And a second later, I've come back to my senses and am reaching beneath my skirt for my stake. â€Å"Sebastian Drake,† I hiss, as he sinks to his knees before me, howling in pain. And rage. â€Å"This is for my mother.† And I plunge the hand-carved piece of ash deep into the place where his heart would have been. If he'd had one. â€Å"Ted,† Lila says, in a syrupy voice, as her boyfriend lies across the contoured plastic bench with his head in her lap. â€Å"Yes?† Ted asks, looking up at her adoringly. â€Å"No,† Lila says. â€Å"That's what I'm getting for my tattoo next time I'm in Cancn. Across the small of my back. The word Ted. So from now on, everyone will know I belong to you.† â€Å"Oh, honey,† Ted says. And pulls her head down so he can stick his tongue in her mouth. â€Å"Oh my God,† I say, looking away. â€Å"I know.† Adam's returned from throwing a glow-in-the-dark twelve-pound bowling ball down the disco-lit lane. â€Å"I almost liked her better when she was under Drake's spell. But I guess it works out better this way. Ted'll hurt a lot less than Sebastian. That was a strike, by the way. In case you missed it.† He slides onto the bench beside me and looks down at the scoring sheet in the glow of the lamp just above my head. â€Å"Well, what do you know? I'm winning.† â€Å"Don't get cocky,† I say. Although I have to admit, he has a lot to brag about. Not just winning at Night Strike bowling, either. â€Å"Just tell me,† I say as he reaches up and finally pulls off his bow tie. Even in the weird disco lights of Bowlmor Lanes-the bowling alley where we'd retreated for our post-prom activities, a mere nine-dollar cab ride from the Waldorf-Adam still looks obscenely handsome. â€Å"Where'd you get the holy water?† â€Å"You gave a bunch of it to Ted,† Adam says, looking down at me in some surprise. â€Å"Remember?† â€Å"But how'd you get the idea to put it in the water gun?† I demand. I'm still reeling from the evening's earlier activities. Midnight bowling is fun and all. But nothing can really compare with slaying a two-hundred-year-old vampire at the prom. Too bad he'd fizzled into ash out in the garden, where no one but Adam and I could see it. We'd have been voted prom king and queen for sure, instead of Lila and Ted, who are both still wearing their crowns†¦ although they've tilted a little rakishly, due to all the kissing. â€Å"I don't know, Mare,† Adam says, filling in his own score. â€Å"It just seemed like a good idea at the time.† Mare. No one has ever called me Mare before. â€Å"But how did you know?† I ask. â€Å"I mean, that Drake had-well, whatever? I mean, how could you tell that I wasn't faking it? To lull him into a false sense of security?† â€Å"You mean besides the fact that he was about to bite you on the neck?† Adam raises a single dark brow. â€Å"And that you weren't doing a damned thing to stop him? Yeah, I had a pretty good idea of what was going on.† â€Å"I'd have snapped out of it,† I assure him, with a confidence I most definitely do not feel, â€Å"as soon as I felt his teeth.† â€Å"No,† Adam says. Now he's grinning down at me, his face illuminated by the light from the scoring desk's single lamp. The rest of the bowling alley is in darkness, except for the balls and pins, which glow with an eerie fluorescence. â€Å"You wouldn't have. Admit it, Mary. You needed me back there.† His face is so close to mine-closer than Sebastian Drake's ever got. Only instead of feeling as if I could dive into his gaze, I feel as if I'm about to melt under it. My heartbeat staggers. â€Å"Yeah,† I say, unable to keep my gaze from drifting toward his lips. â€Å"I guess I kinda did.† â€Å"We make a good team,† Adam says. His own gaze, I can't help noticing, isn't straying far from my mouth, either. â€Å"Wouldn't you say? I mean, especially in light of the coming apocalyptic event? When Drake's dad finds out what we did tonight?† I can't help gasping a little at that. â€Å"That's right,† I cry. â€Å"Oh, Adam! He's not just going to come after me. He's going to come after you, too!† â€Å"You know,† Adam says. And now his gaze has drifted from my mouth, and downward. â€Å"I really do like that dress. It goes great with bowling shoes.† â€Å"Adam,† I say. â€Å"This is serious! Dracula could be getting ready to descend upon Manhattan at any moment, and we're wasting time bowling! We've got to start getting ready! We need to prepare a counterattack. We need to-â€Å" â€Å"Mary,† Adam says. â€Å"Dracula can wait.† â€Å"But-â€Å" â€Å"Mary,† Adam says. â€Å"Shut up.† And I do. Because I'm too busy kissing him back to do anything else. Besides, he's right. Dracula can wait.