Women with guns Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Women with guns - Essay Example The reason that this happens is because these woman are defenseless at late night time, and they do not carry a gun at times when they need to protect themselves. If women knew how to use a gun for the purposes of self-protection, there would be fewer rapes and murders and also women would not be victimized as much. There are many single mothers raising children who sometimes feel defenseless in their own home, especially if they don’t have a male figure to protect them. Single mothers should keep a firearm safely concealeden in their homes in order to protect their young families. The reason for this is that many women are unable to defend themselves from large more, aggressive predator who tries to break in their house to rob or hurt them or their children. Most single mothers have no greater responsibility than to take care of themselves and those they love the most: their children. By allowing women to keep guns in their homes, it would ensure that their households are safe and everyone is protected. Finally, women should carry firearms for their own self-independence. The reason that a woman should carry a gun for self-independence is because they should not have to feel weak and afraid. Allowing a woman to carry a gun will make her feel safe and not afraid of what may be lurking around the next dark corner when they’re on their way home late at night. A woman should never have to feel as if they need a man for protection, so letting women have firearms gives them self-independence and prevents them from being victimized in the future. When a woman has the power of a gun, that she has a gun she has a lower chance of becoming victimized. There are many reasons why a woman should carry a firearm, but the reality is that women are still being victimized. because its the There is a perception and reality that not enough women are carrying

Architecture As My Major Subject Essay Example for Free

Architecture As My Major Subject Essay I would like to take up Architecture as my major. I find Architecture interesting because it enables me to use my individual creative taste to create structures that other people will also love, and possibly admire. My interest in Architecture first developed during my sophomore year. During that year, I was able to speak to architects on field day. They shared with me their experiences and, in the process, I found myself sharing their aspirations and visions of enhancing and using my artistic capabilities in creating a beautiful community and environment and providing a better quality of life through Architecture. This experience opened my eyes to the possibility of obtaining a new language that can transcend cultures, people and places, and which I can use to express myself spiritually, emotionally and creatively. That language is the language of designs. Therefore, I decided to pursue the field because I believe that the best career path a person can take is that which he loves and enjoys.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I have been exposed to several activities involving architecture. I have volunteered as a teacher assistant for Architecture Graphics I. I also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and became a member of an Architecture organization in my school. Lastly, I was employed in Design Perspectives, an interior design company, for one year. These activities exposed me to various aspects of architectural work and helped me acquire some needed skills. For example, through teaching, I was able to review my previously-acquired skills and test the limits of my knowledge. Habitat for Humanity gave me practical experiences in construction and exposed me to the humanitarian side of my chosen career. Working in an interior design company exposed me to the people-side of Architecture and taught me how to discover the client’s needs and to match our designs with these needs. All in all, these experiences helped me gain a basic grounding in architecture and a deeper respect for its art. Being an architect entails a big responsibility. I have begun to develop my own set of values and have identified the issues that I find most important. Most importantly, I have found a path in which I know I will gain not only money and success, but also fulfillment and satisfaction.

Free College Admissions Essays: Most Influential Event in My Life :: College Admissions Essays

College Admissions: Most Influential Event in My Life    26th of January. Republic Day of India.    Bhuj, home to my aunt and the place where I have been spending my holidays for the past 10 years or so. It was 8:55 in the morning. Everyone was ready for breakfast except me. I was always late on the dining table and often made mom angry. But that day mom didn’t get angry. Wondering why ? Bhuj and neighboring places had just witnessed a powerful earthquake that rocked the whole of gujarat. The word earthquake always evoked something-but that something was never akin to terror. On the other hand, it was something right out of a Bollywood potboiler. But......but not this time. I thought the earth had cracked open and was about to swallow me. It was the most horrifying experience of my life. All of us immediately rushed out of the house. I saw all my neighbours running away. We were not just nervous, we were frightened. I saw some three, four persons dead on the way. We could not see a thing because the air was full of dust. Houses were collapsing, and at one time it was so dark, so dark.........My father described it correctly. He said it was like a huge plane landing right on your head. First time in my life I was dragged face to face with reality, ironically the only reality of life that is death ! Isn't it incredible how with a tiny nudge, nature can annihilate a whole town ! A prospering state like Gujrat was ruthlessly kicked and trampled upon by the same affectionate mother nature that only showered bounty so far. Aren't we humans really powerful enough to have complete control on the place we live? Perhaps the answer is NO. When Nature goes beserk we just make way. Mysterious are the ways how nature can Toy with us. Soon enough rumours started to spread about the aftermath of the earthquake. More scary than the tremors were the rumours about them. They told us, the sun will rise tomorrow and the beams will be so strong that everything will burn down. And the tales keep spinning. The suspense, on the quake keeps building like a poltergeist in horror movies...and the people keep waiting when it will finally come and finish everything and they could start re-buil ding again.

Every End Is a New Beginning

Every end is a new Beginning They say old habits die hard but what if they never died? What if they were buried under our sub-consciousness? It had been a month since I left rehab. I still remember being confined within the cold stone grey concrete walls going through hours of mental and physical therapy. The sessions seemed long, painful and torturous but the most devastating ache of all was time. The nights spent were mostly sleepless and uncomfortable and at times the chronic insomnia left my body weak and sore.I missed my house, my family and friends at work but change is the only constant in life and life itself is very unpredictable indeed. Never in a thousand years would I have ever imagined myself a prisoner of what seemed like sniffing harmless white powder and inhaling the smoke of a burning herb. I recalled the first time I experimented with my college friends before attending a concert. The night that I termed then as â€Å"the best night of my life† was now the ni ght I would remember as my downfall.It had been five years since college ended and five years of continuous substance abuse that made me fall from grace and I couldn't do anything about it. I was helpless and utterly dependant. That is when I checked myself in a rehabilitation centre just a block away from my house. People can judge all they like but we all have a few skeletons hiding in our closets and none of us have a clean slate. No one can relate to the problems of others as long as they do not go through the same kind of hurdles themselves and me being the person I am generally disregarded any act of sympathy or spurious attempts of concern directed at me.I got myself in this mess and I was determined and adamant to get myself out of it. After spending three months in rehab I discovered that the treatment did not abide by the cookie-cutter approach, as the quality of treatment consisted of an individualized treatment plan. It not only encouraged me to explore the causes of my addiction but also made sure that I was provided with the emotional and mental tools to strengthen my resolve to stay sober.Therapy, though it seemed challenging and agonizing at first, helped me find meaning in life and in the end lifted the dark veil of misery I was hiding under to reveal a stronger and a morally sound ‘me'. I had learned not to give up on life but more importantly taking accountability of my own actions and being more responsible. At the end of it all, life presents us with certain challenges and obstacles. It tests us with hurdles that we need to overcome in order to learn and make progress as human beings but what we must never forget is that there is always light at the end of the tunnel and that every end has a new beginning.

Of Mice and Men and the American Dream Essay

John Stienbeck’s novel â€Å"Of Mice and Men† is about the death of the American dream. George, Lennie and Candy’s dream is to own their own piece of land to work and live independently on. This dream is destroyed by Lennie’s ignorance and Lennie’s strength, which he cannot control. Curley’s wife’s dream is to be a famous Hollywood actress. Her dream is destroyed by her marriage to Curley and the Hollywood director who promised to contact her about her acting career but never has. Crook’s dream is for equality. Racism and the attitudes of others destroy this dream. Lennie and George’s dream is to own a piece of land to work and live where they can have cows, pigs, chicken a vegetable patch with alfalfa and rabbits. â€Å"O. K Someday – we’re going to get the jack together and we’re going to have a little house and a couple of acres and a cow and some pigs and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ‘An’ live off the fatal the land’ â€Å"We’ll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit-hunch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter we’ll just say the hell with going’ to work, and we’ll build up the fire in the stove and set around it an’ listen to the rain coming’ down on the roof. (Steinbeck 1937:18) This quote illustrates the dream have about owning their own land and living independently on it, growing and harvesting their own crops in the vegetable patch, farming cows and goats for milk, pigs for ham and bacon and chickens for eggs. When Candy hears about this dream, he wants to become part of it by offering his saved money to fund the purchase of the piece of land and be able to work and live on the land with George and Lennie. George, Lennie and candy’s dream is destroyed by Lennie’s ignorance and Lennie’s ignorance of his own strength. When Lennie is in a stressful situation, like when he wanted to pat the girl’s dress and she screamed, Lennie panics and doesn’t know what to do. Lennie’s strength and ignorance ruins their dream when Lennie and Curley’s wife are talking in the barn. Curley’s wife invites Lennie to feel how soft her hair is. Lennie patted her hair very hard. Curley’s wife, not wanting her hair to be messed up, jerks her head away. Because Lennie is confused he grabs her hair and tries to make her stop yelling. But because Lennie does not know how to control his own strength, he squeezes Curley’s wife’s neck too hard and crushes her spine. Lennie then flees the ranch because Curley wants to kill him for what he did to his wife. So Lennie is not brutally murdered by Curley, George finds Lennie and, because he cannot get him out of trouble, shoots Lennie. Lennie’s uncontrollable strength and ignorance destroyed his, George and Candy’s dream Curley’s wife’s dream is to become a famous Hollywood actress. She dreams of fame, fortune, fancy clothes and large, expensive hotels. Curley’s wife is waiting for a Hollywood director to mail her about becoming an actress. This dream is destroyed by her marriage to Curley because once she is married she is not allowed to pursue an acting career because she has to look after the house, because Curley will not allow her to leave the ranch to become an actress. Her dream is also destroyed by a Hollywood director who believed she had the potential to become a film actress. Curley’s wife meets this director at a dance and he promises he would send her a letter about acting in one of his films, but she never gets the letter so she does not become an actress which is her dream. Her marriage to Curley and the Hollywood director who has not mailed her about her acting career destroys her dream. Crooks dream is to be equal. Because he is black, he is treated differently than others because of their racist attitudes. Crooks must not go in the bunkhouse so he has to sleep in the harness room. He is also abused by the boss of the ranch whenever the boss gets angry. Crooks dreams that he can be treated the same as everyone else, so he does not have to sleep in the harness room instead of the bunkhouse or by abused by another man. â€Å"And he gave the stable buck hell, too† â€Å"Give the stable buck hell? ’ he asked ‘Sure. Yak see the stable buck’s a nigger. † (Steinbeck 1937:22)This quote shows how Crooks is mistreated by the farm boss because he is a black man. The ranch boss thinks he can ill-treat and discriminate against Crooks because he is black. Crooks dream of becoming equal is destroyed by the racist attitudes of others The novel â€Å"Of Mice and Men† by John Steinbeck is about the death of the American dream. The dream of George, Lennie and Candy is to own their own piece of land to work and live on. Lennie’s ignorance and Lennie’s uncontrollable strength destroy this dream. Curley’s wife’s dream is to be a famous Hollywood actress. Her dream is destroyed by her marriage to Curley and the Hollywood director who promised to write to her about her acting career but never has. Crook’s dream is for equality. This dream is destroyed by racism and the attitudes of others.

Why Men Should Consider Becoming a Nurse

Why Men Should Consider Becoming a Nurse Nurses have always been in high demand. That’s as true today as it always was, and the number and scope of nursing jobs is expanding every day. Nurses are more critical to the health care process then ever, and there is currently a shortage of qualified nurses! (And a shortage of primary care physicians†¦ so nurses are even more in constant demand!) As health care demands continue to increase- along with costs- nursing will become even more crucial. In the past, a career in nursing hasn’t been on the radars of many professional men, as it is a career more traditionally filled by women. But really, why not even consider an entire booming career path, one with opportunity for great compensation, job security, and other benefits that might increase your quality of life?Here are some good reasons why men should roll up the sleeves of their scrubs and get involved.Why not?Would you tell your kid to overlook an entire in-demand and lucrative, rewarding career path just b ecause it’s traditionally been a field for one gender or the other? Of course not. So why would you overlook it? The biggest obstacle you’d have to clear as a dude entering the profession would be your own gender stereotypes. Nursing is a highly valued and very sturdy career choice. Why let tired gender stereotypes keep this work only for the ladies?If you’re reading this and considering nursing, congrats! You’re already over that hump! If you can be mentored and trained by highly competent women in a highly technical and demanding field, then you’re good to go.Show you’re an enlightened guy and join this under-appreciated field. Then join an organization like the American Assembly of Men in Nursing for extra support while you break into your new career.You can specialize.Whatever picture you have in your head for what a nurse’s job is like, you’re probably wrong. But probably you also didn’t realize just how wide the op tions are for specialization in the field. Try any number of fields, such as anesthesia, flight, emergency, trauma nursing. Even middle management, nursing education, nurse practitioner work, oncology, psychiatry, pediatrics, and administration.Find your interest, claim your niche, and pursue whichever part of this wide-ranging profession that interests you. Don’t get us wrong- you of course will have to start with the basics and build a solid foundation. But once you do, you have the freedom (and opportunity!) to make it your own.You will likely be well-compensated.Like in most professions, male nurses tend to out-earn female nurses.Hey, this might not be fair, but it’s true. Right out of the gate, you’re more likely to be compensated (more) fairly for your time and work. It’s a consistent and reliable career choice wherein you have a financial leg up. Just be sure once you get hired, you start fighting for fair pay for your female colleagues. After all, they’re just as qualified and overworked as you will be.

Balancing Expectations of Superiors and Subordinates

Balancing Expectations of Superiors and Subordinates Introduction The measure of expectancy theory depends on attitude of employees as the only measure for their relationships (DuBrin, 388, 2008). Every person has a different perception of achieving firm’s set targets/goals.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Balancing Expectations of Superiors and Subordinates specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They also have various personal targets such as the anticipate goals set during their elevated efforts in performances. The expectancy theory is one of the standardized measures of how people make their own business decisions depending on the differences of behavioural patterns, which determine the alternatives they are likely to choose. These behavioural patterns are known as the motivational forces (MF) over tasks, actions or business conducts, which determines performance (DuBrin, 388, 2008). According DuBrin (388, 2008), Vroom’s Expectancy theory presents the motiv ational force as a measure that depends on three factors namely, Valence, expectancy and instrumentality. Motivational force is thus a product of the three factors. MF= Valence * Expectancy * Instrumentality Reference of the Expectancy theory The emotional point of reference that each employee has towards satisfactory achievement of personal goals refers to valence. One needs to place some motivating goals such as the rewards they anticipate at the end of the contract. These rewards can be needs, goals or personal values such as better remuneration packages, promotion, and engagement into a program. From the case study, Andrew’s valence was the promised nomination for the firm’s management course, which would provide opportunity for possible posting as a future executive. Andrew anticipated higher income was indirect since his primary concern was possibility of getting promotion to a management position after the firm’s managerial studies. The program sponsored by the company is highly respected since upon completion, successful learners have high possibilities of becoming executives in the firm. Andrew hard and long input hours were in the aim of securing a place at the program.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Valence depends on one’s expectations of satisfaction. It is a force that makes people to react differently for a given situation for instance, the position one get appointed to may be having situations that cause a lot of anxiety but one can give in all other aspirations, to achieve the goals amidst crisis. It is individual’s attitude towards determining the motivational levels. These personal perceptions are subject to intrinsic beliefs for instance, a person might shy away from a task or role due to value for personal peace of mind, while those with greater value for money will work towards the goa ls to enhance their pays. Valence is therefore not the final product or satisfaction that one gets after attaining a goal, but the expectations for some personal goals (DuBrin, 389, 2008). This means that employees who lack motivating factors have zero valences. They have negative point of reference or find no need of attaining goals. Contrary David felt that Andrew had not attained the require competence to get a nomination for a position to the graduates ‘management training program due to the reports about his performance on the assigned tasks, and this injured his further prospects in the firm. According to DuBrin (389, 2008), Expectancy Theory indicates that expectancy is a personal conviction over ability or strength to meet firm or self-set targets/goals. It is personal desire to achieve expected levels, especially those set by the management. The desire makes one to have a strong conviction over personal ability to deliver, therefore one is able to place expectancy bas ed on prior analysis of efforts and performance on similar tasks. At the attachment and casual levels, Andrew had the submissive and agreeing personality that went well with the supervisors as well as the customers. This good quality made him a good sales person and presented him as an amiable personality among his clients who had become regular customers. His advice to clients enhanced his relationship with supervisors since it was crucial for their decision-making and need to return to the store. His reputation at the store during internship and casual programs was excellent and the relationship with the store manager caused his recall after his six-month certificate course to serve as the assistant manager. David was sure that Andrew would meet the expectancy levels based on his prior performances.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Balancing Expectations of Superiors and Subordinates specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The recall also boosted Andrew’s confidence and therefore all along he expected that his efforts would lead to anticipated performance. He was sure that positive interactions with others and hard work would improve customer experiences, and consequently improve sales. Andrew was a self-proclaimed achiever as indicated by his actions. He was immensely confident of achieving the set objective of enhancing employees- customers’ relationship and gain a subsequent accomplishment of his set-objective, to win nomination for the prestigious company’s managerial course. Contrary, when an employee feels that the efforts may fail to meet the set targets, their probable expectations are lower. The level of confidence determines the employees’ expectancy and eventually boosts motivational levels. In accordance with McShane et al (331, 2010) Expectancy Theory indicates that when the employee is confidence enough, the managements are ready to live up to the end of the bargain since his involvement is a good deal. This influential or convincing level is termed as instrumentality. European clubs bargain for good international athletes and are often ready to pay highly since they eventually anticipate better results and consequently better financial benefits for their clubs. Instrumentality is therefore the probability that a certain engagement will deliver better outcomes based on the relationship between prior perceived performances and offered rewards. It is a personal believe that ability to meet performance levels translates to better or hefty rewards. In most firms people believe that better performances such as better production leads to bigger rises in salary or levels of command. Various companies offer commission for achievement of certain levels of performances. In such a situation, employees will be motivated to achieve the set level for the material gains. The companies therefore fail to establish a better, constant method of motivatio n. The extra gain is the valence since it creates satisfaction. The set target is achievable, but it depends on one’s confidence over ability. In such a case, the valence and personal expectancy of higher compensation are very instrumental in determining possibilities of working hard to realize the set target. In line with Gitman and McDaniel (246, 2008), â€Å"The product between perceived levels of satisfaction, the personal confidence of achieving the level and the rewards that one hopes to achieve makes up a motivated person.† â€Å"Valence* Expectancy* Instrumentality = Motivation†. Since motivation forces is a product of the three factors, if any of them is zero, then there is lack of a motivating force.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More During the call up, Andrew was assigned role of restructuring the employee’s relationships with clients across the entire city store. His confidence emerged due to fact that most colleagues liked him even better than they liked their manager. They were free to discuss with him various business challenges and follow his guidance. This was a boost on his expectancy probability and his confidence that his efforts would deliver required results. Andrew’s confidence strengthened his instrumental probability to meet the set expectations and therefore receive the promised reward. The reward was his immediate valence to win nomination for the prestigious management-training program. Equity Theory of employees’ Motivation According to Gitman and McDaniel (247, 2008), equity theory of employees motivation determines the relationship between the drudgery of an employee and the fairness of the management’s actions against their work. Berating staff due to failure to meet achievements is common in many organizations or firms. There is a great correlation between an employee’s perception of supervisors’ treatments and efforts required for the task. This relationship determines the motivational level and any future decisions. Equity theory enables employees to find a balance between their input to a job/task and output (Gitman and McDaniel, 247, 2008). The employees unconsciously place values for their contributions such as time factor (amount of time lost), qualifications, contributed experience, strength and capabilities. The output values are often promotion (status or power gains), recommendation, monetary gains, work flexibility, variety and perquisites, some of which one is able to gain after a promotion. Andrew perceived David’s decision to nominate a colleague instead for the management course as unfair and considered a quit would be better than another year’s wait. His efforts were enormous since he had follow- up programs for the employees and worked extra hours due to the expectancy probability of winning the nomination. Although the efforts were great, he lacked strategy and evaluation procedures. Lengthy sessions were devoted to training and solving individual problems to perfect their presentations. He forgot that the performance analysis, mainly analysis of company’s income from sales would be the key determinant of performance and not the employees’ abilities. At one time, Andrew considered the performance analysis to be David’s task and confidently thought that his strategies would deliver better results. This was a clear indication that achievement depends on performance of various people in the organization; therefore, cooperation and guidance are key aspects of performance. Comparison of Case to Expectancy Theory According to DuBrin (289, 2008), on expectancy theory, a highly motivated person is one who is able to achieve his/her valence, but achievement is also measurable in terms of whether the rewards are measurable to the efforts. Fair treatment therefore comes in when the remuneration is equivalent or close to the work input. Although fair treatment is essential, employees should not be treated equally, despite others measuring up better in terms of their contributions to the firm. In line with DuBrin, (289, 2008), over rewarded employees perform better and have better produce compared to the under-rewarded employees. David’s failure to nominate Andrew was a clear indication that there existed conflict over their valence. Andrew worked towards achieving the nomination from his supervisor, while David focused on his bonus gains after enormous sales volumes. However, there is negligence from both since Andrew would have found some means of determining his performances other than basing on possibility of performing better as per the employee’s responses. David on the other hand should have been involved in evaluation pr ocedures and thus offer guidance early enough to avoid poor outcomes that were converse to expectations. Andrew deserved better treatment and encouragement even when he failed to meet the sales levels. He had achieved the set goal of improving customer experiences but in a different manner, which failed to be productive enough. Andrew felt the urge to quit and find something different such as enrol for the commerce degree elsewhere because his instrumental probability in line with expectancy theory has failed thus killing his motivating factor (Gitman and McDaniel, 247, 2008). His output as the assistant manager at city store was in vain, since it was the only bridge for the managerial course and consequently long-term prosperity at Myer Company. Andrew was being compelled by consequences. According to Gitman and McDaniel (246, 2008), reinforcement theory states that behaviour exists as a meaning of one’s consequences. The manager’s decision not to nominate him shutter s Andrew’s self-confidence. Instead of just indicating his intentions of nominating one of Andrew’s colleagues for the program, David would have taken time to review Andrew’s performance together with him and point out the problems that caused failure. Providing alternative offered would also not shutter his motivation to a point of forfeiting his job for a different option. Clarification and alternative rewards encourage employees to work smarter or work on the same tasks/situations, since their instrumental probability is still in existence although lowered. Poor relationship between managers and subordinates creates discouragement and feeling of failure among the subordinates. They often cannot question the responsibility of the manager and thus endure the whole burden solemnly. Conclusion Good Working Relationships It is important to have good working relationships between managers and subordinates. The work relationship between David and Andrew must have go ne wrong considering that David had initially promised Andrew direct nomination into the management program, as long as he performed well as assistant manager during his first six months of service. Placing personal needs ahead of others destroys performances since there are high possibilities of obliterating any existing motivation among subordinates. David had a slow and hierarchical career progress, where he worked very hard in various companies to progress to the next level. He did not have job mentors and considered his experience as an essential business learning procedure. Due to his prior business-performance relationship with Andrew at Myre, David believed in Andrew’s excellence and knew that by engaging him as assistant manager, he would improve the aspect of customer courtesy across the entire store. This would eventually improve the store’s performances and he would gain better bonuses. On the other hand, having been awarded team responsibility in various s ections of the store, Andrew found this to be an opportunity to prove and market his leadership skills among them for a possible senior management position in the future. They were both acting selfishly for some personal gains or relating to personal prior experiences. Bibliography DuBrin, A. J. (2008). Essentials of Management. Ohio, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning Publishers. Gitman, L. J. McDaniel, C. (2008). The Future of Business: The Essentials. Ohio, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning Publishers. McShane, S., Olekalns, M. and Travaglione, T. (2010). Organisational Behaviour on  the Pacific Rim. 3rd Edition. North Ryde: McGraw-Hill Australia.

Biography of Marco Polo, Famous Explorer

Biography of Marco Polo, Famous Explorer Marco Polo was an inmate in the Genoese prison at the Palazzo di San Giorgio from 1296 to 1299, arrested for commanding a Venetian galley in a war against Genoa. While there, he told tales of his travels through Asia to his fellow prisoners and the guards alike, and his cellmate Rustichello da Pisa wrote them down. Once the two were released from prison, copies of the manuscript, titled The Travels of Marco Polo, captivated Europe. Polo told tales of fabulous Asian courts, black stones that would catch on fire (coal), and Chinese money made out of paper. Ever since people have debated the question: Did Marco Polo really go to China, and see all of the things he claims to have seen? Early Life Marco Polo was probably born in Venice, although there is no proof of his place of birth, around 1254 CE. His father Niccolo and uncle Maffeo were Venetian merchants who traded on the Silk Road; little Marcos father left for Asia before the child was born, and would return when the boy was a teenager. He may not have even realized that his wife was pregnant when he left. Thanks to enterprising merchants such as the Polo brothers, Venice flourished at this time as the major trading hub for imports from the fabulous oasis cities of Central Asia, India, and far-off, wondrous Cathay (China). With the exception of India, the whole expanse of Silk Road Asia was under the control of the Mongol Empire at this time. Genghis Khan had died, but his grandson Kublai Khan was Great Khan of the Mongols as well as the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China. Pope Alexander IV announced to Christian Europe in a 1260 papal bull that they faced wars of universal destruction wherewith the scourge of Heavens wrath in the hands of the inhuman Tartars [Europes name for the Mongols], erupting as it were from the secret confines of Hell, oppresses and crushes the earth. For men such as the Polos, however, the now stable and peaceful Mongol Empire was a source of wealth, rather than of hell-fire. Young Marco Goes to Asia When the elder Polos returned to Venice in 1269, they found that Niccolos wife had died and left behind a 15-year-old son named Marco. The boy must have been surprised to learn that he was not an orphan, as well. Two years later, the teenager, his father, and his uncle would embark eastward on another great journey. The Polos made their way to Acre, now in Israel, and then rode camels north to Hormuz, Persia. On their first visit to Kublai Khans court, the Khan had asked the Polo brothers to bring him oil from the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, which Armenian Orthodox priests sold in that city, so the Polos went to the Holy City to buy the consecrated oil. Marcos travel account mentions various other interesting peoples along the way, including Kurds and Marsh Arabs in Iraq. Young Marco was put off by the Armenians, considering their Orthodox Christianity a heresy, puzzled by Nestorian Christianity, and even more alarmed by the Muslim Turks (or Saracens). He admired the beautiful Turkish carpets with the instincts of a merchant, however. The naive young traveler would have to learn to be open-minded about new peoples and their beliefs. On to China The Polos crossed into Persia, through Savah and the carpet-weaving center of Kerman. They had planned to sail to China via India but found that the ships available in Persia were too rickety to be trusted. Instead, they would join a trade caravan of two-humped Bactrian camels. Before they departed from Persia, however, the Polos passed by the Eagles Nest, scene of Hulagu Khans 1256 siege against the Assassins or Hashshashin. Marco Polos account, taken from local tales, may have vastly exaggerated the fanaticism of the Assassins. Nevertheless, he was very happy to descend the mountains and take the road toward Balkh, in northern Afghanistan, famed as the ancient home of Zoroaster or Zarathustra. One of the oldest cities on earth, Balkh did not live up to Marcos expectations, primarily because Genghis Khans army had done its best to erase the intransigent city from the face of the Earth. Nonetheless, Marco Polo came to admire Mongol culture, and to develop his own obsession with Central Asian horses (all of them descended from Alexander the Greats mount Bucephalus, as Marco tells it) and with falconry - two mainstays of Mongol life. He also began to pick up the Mongol language, which his father and uncle already could speak well. In order to get to the Mongolian heartlands and Kublai Khans court, however, the Polos had to cross the high Pamir Mountains. Marco encountered Buddhist monks with their saffron robes and shaved heads, which he found fascinating. Next, the Venetians traveled toward the great Silk Road oases of Kashgar and Khotan, entering the fearsome Taklamakan Desert of western China. For forty days, the Polos trudged across the burning landscape whose very name means you go in, but you dont come out. Finally, after three and a half years of hard travel and adventure, the Polos made it to the Mongol court in China. In Kublai Khans Court When he met Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, Marco Polo was just 20 years old. By this time he had become an enthusiastic admirer of the Mongol people, quite at odds with the opinion in most of the 13th century Europe. His Travels notes that They are those people who most in the world bear work and great hardship and are content with little food, and who are for this reason suited best to conquer cities, lands, and kingdoms. The Polos arrived in Kublai Khans summer capital, called Shangdu or Xanadu. Marco was overcome by the beauty of the place: The halls and rooms... are all gilded and wonderfully painted within with pictures and images of beasts and birds and trees and flowers... It is fortified like a castle in which are fountains and rivers of running water and very beautiful lawns and groves. All three of the Polo men went to Kublai Khans court and performed a kowtow, after which the Khan welcomed his old Venetian acquaintances. Niccolo Polo presented the Khan with the oil from Jerusalem. He also offered his son Marco to the Mongol lord as a servant. In the Khans Service Little did the Polos know that they would be forced to remain in Yuan China for seventeen years. They could not leave without Kublai Khans permission, and he enjoyed conversing with his pet Venetians. Marco, in particular, became a favorite of the Khans  and incurred a lot of jealousy from the Mongol courtiers. Kublai Khan was extremely curious about Catholicism, and the Polos believed at times that he might convert. The Khans mother had been a Nestorian Christian, so it was not so great a leap as it might have appeared. However, conversion to a western faith might have alienated many of the emperors subjects, so he toyed with the idea but never committed to it. Marco Polos descriptions of the wealth and splendor of the Yuan court, and of the size and organization of Chinese cities, struck his European audience as impossible to believe. For example, he loved the southern Chinese city of Hangzhou, which at that time had a population of about 1.5 million people. That is about 15 times the contemporary population of Venice, then one of Europes largest cities and European readers simply refused to give credence to this fact. Return by Sea By the time Kublai Khan reached the age of 75 in 1291, the Polos probably had just about given up hope that he would ever allow them to return home to Europe. He also seemed determined to live forever. Marco, his father, and his uncle finally got permission to leave the Great Khans court that year, so that they could serve as escorts of a 17-year-old Mongol princess who was being sent to Persia as a bride. The Polos took the sea route back, first boarding a ship to Sumatra, now in Indonesia, where they were marooned by changing monsoons for 5 months. Once the winds shifted, they went on to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and then to India, where Marco was fascinated by Hindu cow-worship and mystical yogis, along with Jainism and its prohibition on harming even a single insect. From there, they voyaged on to the Arabian Peninsula, arriving back at Hormuz, where they delivered the princess to her waiting bridegroom. It took two years for them to make the trip from China back to Venice; thus, Marco Polo likely was just about to turn 40 when he returned to his home city. Life in Italy As imperial emissaries and savvy traders, the Polos returned to Venice in 1295 laden with exquisite goods. However, Venice was embroiled in a feud with Genoa over control of the very trade routes that had enriched the Polos. Thus it was that Marco found himself in command of a Venetian war galley, and then a prisoner of the Genoese. After his release from prison in 1299, Marco Polo returned to Venice and continued his work as a merchant. He never went traveling again, however, hiring others to make expeditions instead of taking on that task himself. Marco Polo also married the daughter of another successful trading family and had three daughters. In January of 1324, Marco Polo died at the age of about 69. In his will, he freed a Tartar slave who had served him since his return from China. Although the man had died, his story lived on, inspiring the imaginations and adventures of other Europeans. Christopher Columbus, for example, had a copy of Marco Polos Travels, which he notated heavily in the margins. Whether or not they believed his stories, the people of Europe certainly loved to hear about the fabulous Kublai Khan and his wondrous courts at Xanadu and Dadu (Beijing). Sources Bergreen, Laurence. Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu, New York: Random House Digital, 2007. â€Å"Marco Polo.† Biography.com, AE Networks Television, 15 Jan. 2019, www.biography.com/people/marco-polo-9443861. Polo, Marco. The Travels of Marco Polo, trans. William Marsden, Charleston, SC: Forgotten Books, 2010. Wood, Frances. Did Marco Polo Go to China?, Boulder, CO: Westview Books, 1998.

How Did Japan's Successful Adaptation to the Challenges of Western Imp Essay - 1

How Did Japan's Successful Adaptation to the Challenges of Western Imperialism and China's Failure Complete - Essay Example Similarly for China, to revive an economy that was devastated by the ravages of a long civil war, and turn it into one of the fastest growing economies by the end of the century was a truly laudable achievement. Japan moved from a limited democracy with a semi-divine monarch before world war II, to a thriving progressive one by the last decade of the twentieth century. China, on the other hand, transformed from a communist form of government at the end of the civil war, to a more modern form of socialism using reform and an opening of its markets by the end of the century. At the beginning of the twentieth century, western powers like Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium had grown rich and powerful through the acquisition of colonies in Asia and Africa. Japan sought to imitate western imperial powers by acquiring foreign territorial possessions because of the power and prestige associated them. The frequent provocation by western powers, their racial prejudices towards Asian people; as well as its own concerns for its territorial and economic security, led Japan into a series of wars in China as well as other South Asian countries. This was done mainly to increase its sphere of influence and to secure much-needed markets for its goods. The disastrous results of trying to imitate western imperialism saw Japan reduced from a dynamic Asian empire in the 1930s and 1940s to a small group of islands in a western dominated order by the end of WWII. The result of the second world war changed Japan’s fortunes. Devastated by the atomic bomb and over-populated due to the return of its people from   Manchuria and Korea, a starving Japan was forced to accept free food from America. The impact of this on the Japanese people was naturally profound and resulted in a steely determination to return to a position of power in the new world order. Japan had to begin over again the process of developing industry and self-sufficiency. One advantage it had was its talent pool in terms of educated people in the field of science and technology. Another was its strong belief in free enterprise and its expertise in managing industry in such an environment.  

Richard Kims Lost Name Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Richard Kims Lost Name - Essay Example Korean echoes the boy’s worries about the changes he sees at school. The Koreans are confused about the new set of practices the Japanese authorities subject them to. Their only option is to subject to their masters. The Koreans were forced to renounce their names. Instead, they took up new Japanese names. This is something that does not go well with the Korean people. They have a feeling that the ancestors must be angry about the change of names. They must be angry that the colonizers are stealing their cultural identity. At one point, the narrator’s father takes the young boy to the cemetery so that they can ask the ancestors to forgive them for humiliation- the dropping of the ancestral names (Kim, 6). The Koreans underwent tough and painful times under the Japanese rule. Colonization led to the loss of cultural heritage among the Korean people. Their nationality was the destroyed-a painful experience that they must live with. The boy, in Lost Name, says, "my new nam e, my old name, my true name, my not-true name?" (Kim, 57). This quote illustrates the confusion that the Koreans have after their colonial masters change their names. The colonization also came with civility. The Koreans were required to attend school; they improved infrastructure; Korea became more industrialized; urban centers grew and the economy improved. These are the positive aspects of the colonization. Political analysts argue that, despite the high handedness and brutality used by the colonizers on the Koreans, Korea became financially stable and prosperous than it was some decades back (Kim, 89). The Koreans responded by minor protests but these were thwarted by the Japanese military who crushed any dissidents. Most of them failed to adapt their new names; instead preferring their ancestral names. They considered their culture superior to any other. They fought to protect their cultural heritage and regain their lost pride.  

The Heartbeat of Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Heartbeat of Culture - Essay Example Levine based his research on three factors, which are the accuracy of the country’s clock, the speed at which pedestrians walk, and the average time that postal clerk sell stamps. Although some critics believe that these factors are minor to determine the pace of life, the fact of the matter is that these factors are accurate in defining culture. It is crucial to note that, punctuality is restricted to some societies. It is undeniable fact that different cultures have different impression about time. In essence, some countries are more considerate about time. For instance, when one has an appointment, one is expected to be on time or earlier in America. According to the author, Americans are unlike Brazilians who rarely keep time. It has also been observed that, American students keep time and finish their projects on time. According to this article, Americans are known for their punctuality. They do their best to be on time and in most cases many would attend meetings earlier that the time scheduled. Form most Americans, punctuality is a strong attribute since it defines the efficiency of a person. With the fast-paced lifestyle of Americans, most people have established the need to keep time. The author captivates readers’ attention when he outlines how most American students would leave the classroom without permission.

Solar energy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Solar energy - Research Paper Example Solar energy is the power that is produced directly by the sun and collected somewhere else, mostly on the Earth. The sun is the nearest and biggest star and the source of energy for the planet of Earth. The sun's energy has been in use for a lengthy time, and it is a critical part of life. The solar energy is a fundamental need for humans. The image of the sun has many theories, histories and myths associated with it. For centuries, it has been the God, or the holy part of different religions, for example, the American native tribes and Greeks worshipped it. It is also an essential part of many religions as they hold it dear to their worship, for example, Hinduism, Buddhism and druids of England hold the sun as the precedence of their existence. It is a fact that without the solar energy, human life would be inexistent. Sunlight is crucial as the living organisms circle around it for survival. According to Mahaney (10), plants depend on sunlight for photosynthesis to take place, thu s, helping in their growth while, on the other hand, providing food for animals. The sun and other stars are, in essence, responsible for providing human beings with energy. In the current climate, mounting power requirements and escalating environmental worry, unconventional to the exploit of non-renewable and polluting relic fuels, have to be scrutinized. An instance of energy that requires to be investigated is the solar energy (Tiwari 199). The sun produces its energy by a thermonuclear process that converts several tons of hydrogen to helium each second. The procedure produces heat and electromagnetic radiation as the sun retains the heat, which is instrumental in maintaining the thermonuclear reaction. The electromagnetic radiation is distributed and streamed out into space in all directions. These rays entail noticeable and infra-red, as well as ultraviolet, light. From the radiations produced, only a little fraction manages to penetrate, and reach the planet Earth (Mahaney 4 ). The radiations reach the Earth in a form of indirect source of nearly every type of power used today. The only form of energy that does not rely upon solar energy is the geothermal energy and nuclear fission and synthesis. Even fossil fuels are reliant on the sun for their energy, as they were once live creatures and plants that utilized solar energy for their survival. Table of world energy usage as per the year 2000 Energy source Solar energy Electricity Fuel oil Liquefied petroleum other percentage 51.2 30.3 9.3 6.5 1.9 The table above shows world consumption rates of different sources of energy. Solar energy is the most utilized one followed by electricity, according to the table. The world’s most needed solar energy can easily be harnessed and completed by solar power. Much of it can also be supplied indirectly. Because of its nature, solar energy requires two components for it to perform; these are the collector and the storage unit. The radiations are gathered by th e collector as they fall on it and convert a fraction of the radiations to other varieties of energy, such as electricity and heat. The storage unit holds the excess energy produced at maximum productivity and discharges it when the productivity falls. The storage unit is necessary because of the inconsistencies of solar energy (Tiwari 192). Solar energy is one of the most plentiful sources of energy, which is easily available to

Can an eye for an eye be morally justified Essay - 2

Can an eye for an eye be morally justified - Essay Example Beginning with the premise that killing someone is a barbaric act solves nearly half the problems. But then again, this has to be comprehended in due course of time and through different events. An eye for an eye will actually make the entire world blind and this globe would be filled with disabled people all around. Hence an eye for an eye concept simply nosedives for obvious reasons. When people start killing each other, the entire society comes to a standstill. There are families which lose out on their loved ones and then there are individuals who suffer because they have started missing a near and dear one within their lives. There is so much trouble happening within the world of today that it is next to impossible to fathom what exactly is going about. The people are fighting amongst themselves and thus killing each other because they feel this is the best way to find solace. I am vehemently against this dictum because it spells out negativity from the very outset of these nuan ces. There are individuals who will go all out in even a small dispute or moment of disparity. They will do everything to get their message heard and make their own selves the much-cherished winners. This, according to them, can only be done through killing the opponent – an act that is not only unacceptable but also barbaric in the sheerest sense. It makes life miserable for just about everyone within the society and gives a whole new meaning to the philosophy of living and letting others live as well.

Personal Experience at Alcoholics Anonumous Term Paper

Personal Experience at Alcoholics Anonumous - Term Paper Example This was accomplished by having the attendees share their unique stories about how alcoholism had affected their lives, opening the door for other group participants to offer either condolences or shared sympathy. Throughout the meeting, elements of altruism were present, which is giving members a sense of self esteem by allowing others to offer their help and/or opinion for those who were obviously troubled by alcoholism and how it had caused dishonor at the personal or family level (hanbleceya.com, n.d.). Individuals shared stories about being put before the court system in front of their peers and felt indignity or how they had lashed out at their children while under the influence of alcohol. This shared forum seemed to give the more troubled participants a sense of honor and self-respect rather than embarrassment. Development of socializing techniques were also part of the group curriculum, which was apparent by drawing out discussion from those that were more reserved about sharing their stories. This technique involves â€Å"creating an environment that fosters adaptive and effective communication† (agpa.org, 2007, para.5). There were at least two people that the researcher could recognize, through body language and more reserved behaviors, that they did not want to be attending the group meeting. The leader forced social discussion from these individuals and remind them that the goal of the meeting was to promote inclusion rather than segregation. Imitative behavior was part of this philosophy by finding confidence to share openly by modeling support from their peers. With this also came cohesiveness as on several occasions the leader reminded the group that they were accepted and their value justified as worthwhile human beings. Several individuals showed signs of catharsis, relief of their own feelings of guilt regarding how alcoholism had

Can an eye for an eye be morally justified Essay - 2

Can an eye for an eye be morally justified - Essay Example Beginning with the premise that killing someone is a barbaric act solves nearly half the problems. But then again, this has to be comprehended in due course of time and through different events. An eye for an eye will actually make the entire world blind and this globe would be filled with disabled people all around. Hence an eye for an eye concept simply nosedives for obvious reasons. When people start killing each other, the entire society comes to a standstill. There are families which lose out on their loved ones and then there are individuals who suffer because they have started missing a near and dear one within their lives. There is so much trouble happening within the world of today that it is next to impossible to fathom what exactly is going about. The people are fighting amongst themselves and thus killing each other because they feel this is the best way to find solace. I am vehemently against this dictum because it spells out negativity from the very outset of these nuan ces. There are individuals who will go all out in even a small dispute or moment of disparity. They will do everything to get their message heard and make their own selves the much-cherished winners. This, according to them, can only be done through killing the opponent – an act that is not only unacceptable but also barbaric in the sheerest sense. It makes life miserable for just about everyone within the society and gives a whole new meaning to the philosophy of living and letting others live as well.

Strategic Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Strategic Business - Essay Example Furthermore, while the mission statement of Microsoft formally articulates organizational purpose, it is the organization’s culture that gives life to the organization and helps make the realization of its mission possible. The concept of Microsoft’s of organizational culture has been the focus of much attention with analyst associating it with superior corporate performance, increased productivity, improved morale and high rates of return on investment. The organizational culture is the collectively accepted meaning that manifests itself in the formal and informal rules of an organization or a sub-group. The culture embodies the collective symbols, myths, visions and heroes of the organization are past and present (Ouchi, 1981). Culture basically involves what to wear, how to address staffs and what is rewarded and punished. It is often not written. When individuals join an organization, in addition to learning about its formal aspects, they spend much of their time be ing socialized into the less formal aspects of organizational life which is the culture. As Microsoft developed their approach in analyzing their organization, it became apparent to them and their people, that they have different personalities and work in different rhythms. People who feel professional jealousy want to be recognized by the leader of the organization. As we have said earlier, rewards or punishment is a motivation. Some people when not being rewarded feel that they are less important in the organization and eventually become unsatisfied with their job and some simply want higher position in the organization. Communication with members of the organization is and good relationship towards each other important in order for the organization to achieve their goal which can be hindered by professional jealousy. On the other hand, people feel job dissatisfaction because they want more challenging jobs. They feel they are more capable of other job than what they are

Implications for Marketing Organizations Essay Example for Free

Implications for Marketing Organizations Essay Among these, the shift in the nature and growth rates of the world population has perhaps drawn much more attention of the business leaders because demographic variables reflect changes in consumer patterns and behaviors (Martins Brooks 2009) which can impact their business practices. This report will examine the main trends in age structure of the global population and their implications to business strategies of marketing organizations throughout the world. The increase in ageing population is an important trend in many parts of the world, especially in developed countries (Madalina 2010), resulting mainly from the decline of fertility and increase in life expectancies (United Nations, 2011). After World War II, there was a sudden rise in the population which was termed as Baby Boom (Tombs Seamons, 2010). They form an important target group for marketers. However, Tombs and Seamons (2010) pointed out that following the baby boom, the birth rate declined significantly in several nations such as Australia and New Zealand and a low fertility rate has existed since the mid 1970s. According to United Nations (2011), the aged population in the developed world is increasing rapidly and the number of old people will probably have outnumbered the young for the first time by 2050. People now prefer smaller families and this has led to a sharp fall in the birth rate. The improvement in living standards has a contributed to an increase in life expectancies. These factors have caused major changes in market patterns as well as in the type of goods being bought. For example, Gumbel (2008) demonstrated that the generation of Japanese women aged in their twenties who drove the growth in luxury fashion groups in most of the 1990s have mostly settled down to start families and buy apartments. As a result, the sales of luxury goods in Japan have fallen sharply. The age brackets which make up different proportions in the demography as a result of the changing age structure, have influenced the targeted markets and marketing strategy of companies (Tombs Seamons 2010). The authors distinguish 6 different age groups within the Australian population, wherein each one has specific growth rates. The first category consisting of children below the age of five accounted for 6. 2% of the population in 2007. It is a promising market for companies who provide childcare services and children-related products. The population in the second group consisting of 10 to 19 year olds had declined at the beginning of the 1990s, but is gradually rising. This bracket is a targeted market for education, garment products, and entertainment. Post-teenagers and young adults aged 20 34 years constitute the grown-up category which was affected by the low fertility rate during the 1970s, causing its reduction through the 1990s. This group with a high disposable income purchase a variety of technologically advanced electronics along with branded garments. The fourth group of early middle aged people consisted of 13% of Australian population in 2007 and is predicted to increase to 23-25% by 2056 (Chandler 2008, cited by Tomb Seamons 2010). The subsequent category is ‘Late middle age’ (Tomb Seamons 2010, p. 161). Both these segments will have more importance for companies in the coming years as its share of the total population will grow gradually and consume a variety of high-priced luxury products. The last group comprising of senior citizens will also have a positive growth rate during the coming years similar to the two previous groups. These aged people are more interested in health care services, travelling and relaxation as opposed to the younger population which is easily attracted by technological commodities providing a positive social experience, creativity, innovation and uniqueness (Cuddeford 2012). A very important methodology behind television advertisements while targeting the middle aged groups is portraying celebrities in middle aged characters in order to please them by creating a sense of familiarity and thus, affinity (Diaz 2012). This is especially effective when several marketing ploys propagate youth culture. This approach is targeted towards expanding this segment which is attractive not only because of its increasing growth rate as the world population is ageing, but also because their exhibition of a loyalty related to service industry is considerably higher compared to the younger age groups (Paul Patterson 2007).

Macbeths Tragedy :: essays research papers

Shakespeare is perhaps most noted for his many tragic plays. One of his most acclaimed works Macbeth, is a great example of this. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare there are many incidents within the play that agree with the fact that Macbeth’s greatest tragedy is the deterioration of its main characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The most prominent reason for the fact that Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s character is decaying is noticed with the hallucinations that both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth experience as a result of guilt. The decline of their character is manifested into the inability to remain true to ones character, delusional behavior, and a conscience that only works once the harm is committed. Guilt should be held accountable for the degradation of what would have been one of the most courageous and honorable characters in all of Shakespeare’s plays. The guilt that causes the delusional state in both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth begins with the questioning of Macbeth’s ambition and capacity to obtain what he wants. Lady Macbeth first sells out her position by following the words of the weird sisters that predict that Macbeth will become king. After allowing the prophecy overcome her, Lady Macbeth convinces herself that she will do anything to make sure that the prediction is followed out. She states, " Hie thee hither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear, and chastise with the valor of my tongue which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crowned withal." Macbeth’s ineptness in remaining loyal to his self is evident when Lady Macbeth attacks his ego by negotiating with him that the murder will make him a better man, â€Å"When you durst do it, ten you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man.† Thus, Lady Macbeth is as responsible for the death becau se she was the one that convinced Macbeth to continue the plan to execute King Duncan. Also passion and greed govern their souls and their common sense, they forget that the world does not revolve around them and what they wish to accomplish. The murders, which would to any sane person seem grotesque becomes a normal thing to them as if nothing more than washing ones hands. Macbeth is originally courageous and a godlike figure with great success in the battlefield who descends to scum by the end of the play.

Katherine Mansfields Six Years After :: essays papers

Katherine Mansfield's Six Years After In the short story ‘Six Years After’ written by Katherine Mansfield. There are many stereotypes (mostly aimed at men) and role-playing (played by men). When it comes to men and women, men are always the ones taking care of things or being ridiculed. In this essay I will prove that role-playing is what the author is trying to point out as the key theme in this short story. The steward plays the role of a host type of character. He was doing everything he could do in his power to make this couple as comfortable as possible. He went out of his way to put up chairs where there was available shelter, and tried to place them in a spot with the least amount of smell as possible. Another example of role-playing in this novel is when the Husband goes to tip the steward for his excellent work. The husband’s wife tries to tell him what kind of money he should tip the steward, but the husband just listens and tips what he thought the steward should get. This is a classic example of the man being in charge as the man of the house. The man has to show everybody that he is in charge and what he does goes. After the husband tips the steward, he asks his wife if she thinks that is a good tip. The wife simply agrees. When the wife does this it reinforces the husband’s ego of being the one in charge. On the third page of this story, the wife makes fun of her husband by telling him that his hat makes her snicker. She tells him that he looks like a burglar. obviously he was not very amused. He tries to justify his hat by telling her that the hat that he was wearing is one of the best hats he has ever owned. He also mentions that the hat had very rich white satin lining. He believed that this was the hats better attribute. He then took off his hat and then made her touch the lining. Regardless of the fact that the hat made his wife snicker, he turns the conversation around and tries to convince her that the hat is nice. That is lined with very rich white satin. Surely it must be good! â€Å"how often had she rubbed between finger and thumb his coat, his shirt cuff, tie, sock, linen handkerchief† this quote shows that the husband is always doing this when his wife makes a comment about something.

Purchasing and Supply Chain Management

Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Assessment 1 Nessa’s Bar Report Course Code: BS1D75 Student Number: 08154619, 09046100, 09030883, 09046577, 09047735 Contents Page †¢1. 1. 1 Problem – Poor Organisation on Purchasing and Supply†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¢1. 1. 2 Solution – Poor Organisation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¢1. 2. 1 Problem – Purchasing Policy Procedures†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¢1. 2. 1 Solutions – Purchasing Policy Procedures†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¢1. 3. 1 Problem – Poor Management†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¢1. 3. 2Solution – Poor Management†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢ € ¦.. †¢1. 4. 1 Problem – Costs/ Expenses†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¢1. 4. 2 Solution – Costs/ Expenses†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 2. 0 Recommendations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¢3. 0 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¢4. 0 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¢5. 0 Bibliograpgy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â ‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 1. 1. 1 Problem – Poor Organisation on Purchasing and Supply The business suffers from poor organisation in the purchase of supplies. The purchasing of goods and services for the business use is known as Procurement. There are three managers who all participate in the purchase of items; each person purchases items they think necessary often leading to double orders or items not being bought at all. There are several suppliers used some of which deliver while others operate a cash and carry policy, causing partners to use their own transport. Although several suppliers are utilised, the lack of regular custom by the company causes lack of interest by the suppliers and so the company misses out on priority service and possibly loyalty bonuses sometimes offered by these outlets designed to encourage repeat custom. Webster and wind (1972) Are concerned with sellers being aware of what buyers may be doing but also it should be important that buyers are aware of what seller are likely to do. A significant amount of stock is wasted due to the haphazard means of stock control. The company likes to have a well filled freezer to protect against low stock levels or unavailability of items, which in turn ties up capital unnecessarily. 1. 1. 1Solution – Poor Organisation A solution to this problem could be the hiring of a trained buyer who would control purchases made by the company. The advantage of this would be a single buyer would not order double quantities and excessive or unnecessary stock would not be purchased. As a result stock control would be easier to manage. Organised purchasing would help to keep stock levels steady and unnecessary goods would not be stock piled, thereby releasing capital allowing money to be used efficiently and cost effectively. Hiring an expert may seem expensive but could save significant amounts of money and time. Possibly one of the managers could take part in a purchase training programme to gain the skills as they already have inside understanding of the company and how it is run. This would prove cost efficient and save money on outsourcing. To solve the problem, the organisation could hire trained buyers to take over the three manager’s buying work. The advantages of hiring experts on buying stock for the organisation are that when there is only one person managing the buying, stock would be clearer and overlapping or lack of stock would be avoided. This could release the capital as stock would be more organised and money would be used more efficiently. However, hiring experts might be expensive and would be costly efficient for the organisation. In this case one of the managers could go on purchasing training program to gain skills in terms of buying, meaning the company will have a buying expert, who also knows the business well, and the company will not be wasting capital on hiring an external expert. 1. 2. 1Problem – Purchasing Policy Procedures The company experiences problems with paper work not matching the goods purchased. This has resulted in some suppliers banning the buyers from their establishment and refusing credit facilities as payment may have been overlooked or invoices mislaid and no payment being processed. The reputation of the company has been spoiled as non payment of invoices has caused it to be branded untrustworthy, subsequently it is not given priority as a respected business would be. Some suppliers expect cash on receipt of goods and this can cause a cash flow problem. Negative word of mouth may be passed around trade fairs or board meetings, which will have a negative impact on suppliers considering entering in to business with `Nessa’s Bar’. 1. 2. 2Solutions – Purchasing Policy Procedures A solution to this problem could be a change in the purchasing procedure of the company. In a mechanistic structure, authority is centralised at the summit of the managerial hierarchy and vertical authority is use to control human and material resources. Mechanistic structures operate most effectively in stable environments. † (Lysons, P158) A management structure needs to be established in which everyone understands their role within the company. Also a system for dealing with paperwork needs to be organised so that a good relationship can be developed between the company and its suppliers. 1. 3. 1Problem – Poor Management The company wastes a great deal of time on low value goods. Security is very expensive but necessary. The bar employs its own cleaning staff and purchase cleaning materials as needed but these disappear from the stockroom as there is no inventory method in place to control the use of these items. All members of staff have access to the stockroom and as there is no organisation there is no stock checking system. This ultimately leads to confusion with the buying of items as the company is unaware of the exact inventory of goods available for use and what needs to be purchased. . 3. 2Solution – Poor Management To solve the problem, the organisation could introduce VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory) â€Å"VMI is a collaborative strategy between a customer and supplier to optimize the availability of products at a minimal cost to the two companies. † (Baily, P 181) Suppliers take responsibility for managing the stock which is constantly monitored and updated. (Baily, P181) Time could then be utilised on other jobs rather than being spent on low value goods. This could be a problem as the supplier then controls the stock rather than the company, but any shortfalls would again become the responsibility of the company. â€Å"Acronyms for VMI include: CRP (continuous replenishment programs), SAIM (supplier-assisted inventory management), SAIR (supplier-assisted inventory replenishment), ECR (efficient consumer response). † (Lysons, P357) The organisation could outsource cleaning and security to professional companies as they would be more skilled and knowledgeable than the staff in the organisation. Outsourcing as: The strategic use of outside resources to perform activities traditionally handled by internal staff and resources. † (Baily, P115) It can be considered that outsourcing both cleaning and security could be expensive and there is no guarantee as to the standards of the work carried out, but the training of staff to carry out these services could cost even more. By outsourcing the less important work more time would be come available to be spent on core business operations. However there are disadvantages to outsourcing as Lacity and Hirscheim point out that; â€Å"†¦the employee culture is too fragmented or hostile for the organisation to come back together† (Lysons, P402). The employees from the outsourcing company might have a strong employee culture or different work ethics and find it difficult to fit into the working environment of Nessa’s Bar. 1. 4. 1 Problem – Costs/ Expenses The majority of expense faced by the company are; rent, staff wages, beverages, food and other consumables. The bar spends approximately ? 00k per annum on beverages with a further ? 60k being spent on foods and other consumables. 1. 4. 2 Solution – Costs/ Expenses A possible solution to these problems would be the reduction of staff employed at the business. Should cleaning and security be outsourced then the staff currently employed to carry out these tasks are no longer required and could be laid off. Well managed stock would save the com pany money as would developing a better relationship with suppliers who might offer discounts on goods and better delivery services. †¦requiring production when, and not before, a customer requires something, and the pursuit and elimination of waste in production and associated planning and purchasing†¦ †(Baily, P177) JIT can keep the stock level to be low in the organisation, which can prevent unnecessary capital to be stuck as stock. The utilisation of a VMI system for stock control could prove to be more cost effective for the company as the supplier takes responsibility for stock management. Suppliers have more experience of this kind of system and would ensure the smooth running of the stockroom. The company would receive higher levels of service as less time would be spent on low value goods and as there would be less stock wastage the company would achieve improved revenue. (Baily, P182) 2. 0 Recommendations 3. 0 Conclusion Currently there are problems with Nessa’s bar as it operates on an inefficient and disorganised system. Basic errors including order duplication, failing to pay suppliers, wasting time on low value goods, and a lack of purchasing knowledge has resulted in a loss of money, time and stock. Also the non payment of invoices has given the company a bad reputation with suppliers. The company could hire a professional buyer who specialises in purchasing goods thereby eradicating the possibility of mistakes being made when goods are ordered. Time would be saved by orders not being duplicated, items overstocked, or wasted on low value goods. If this is not a viable economic option then one of the three managers could be trained to assume the role and take on the responsibility for these tasks. One person would then make decisions, an advantage would be that they already have a working knowledge of the company and they are also known to the other managers from the outset. A centralised approach with just one national supplier would make purchasing easier and more cost effective for the company as they will reduce the amount of paperwork by receiving one invoice rather than several. This will assist ease of stock control and management. 4. 0 Reference Baily P. Purchasing Principles and Management, Financial Times/Pitman Publishing (Tenth edition) Lysons K. 2000) Purchasing and Supply Chain Management (5th Edition), Financial Times/Pitman Publishing Webster F and Wind Y (1972) Organisational buying behaviour, Prentice Hall, New York. American Marketing Association. (1995). Market research. Available: http://dis. shef. ac. uk/sheila/marketing/research. htm. Last accessed 28. Febuary 2010. R. Srinivasan. (1988). Brand Accounting-An Emerging Concept. Available: www. londonmba. o rg/†¦ /Brand%20Accounting-An%20Emerging%20Concept_by%20R. %20Srinivasan. doc. Last accessed 1 March 2010. 5. 0 Bibliography Kotler, P. & Armstrong, G. (2000) Principles of Marketing (9th edition) Prentice Hall.

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 3

Of course, I should clarify at this point that Jerome doesn't look like a demon, at least not in the traditional red skin and horns sense. Maybe he does on another plane of existence, but like Hugh, me, and all the other immortals walking the earth, Jerome wore a human guise now. One that looked like John Cusack. Seriously. No joke. The archdemon always claimed he didn't even know who the actor was, but none of us bought that. † Ow,† I said irritably. â€Å"Let me go.† Jerome released his grasp, but his dark eyes still glinted dangerously. â€Å"You look good,† he said after a moment, seeming surprised by the admission. I tugged at my sweater, straightening it from where his hand had crumpled it. â€Å"You have a funny way of showing your admiration.† â€Å"Really good,† he continued thoughtfully. â€Å"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you – â€Å" † – shine,† murmured a voice behind the demon. â€Å"You shine, Daughter of Lilith, like a star in the night sky, like a diamond glittering on the bleakness of eternity.† I started in surprise. Jerome cut a sharp glance to the speaker, not liking his monologue interrupted. I also glared, not liking an uninvited angel in my apartment. Carter only smiled at both of us. â€Å"As I was saying,† snapped Jerome, â€Å"you look like you've been with a good mortal.† â€Å"I did a favor for Hugh.† â€Å"So this isn't the start of a new and improved habit?† â€Å"Not on the salary you pay me.† Jerome grunted, but it was all part of a routine between us. He would berate me for not taking my job seriously, I'd give a few witty quips in return, and the status quo would resume. Like I said, I was something of a teacher's pet. Looking at him now, however, I could see no more jokes would follow. The charm that had so enthralled my customers today had no effect on these two. Jerome's face was drawn and serious, as was Carter's, despite the angel's usual sardonic half-smile. Jerome and Carter hung out together regularly, especially when alcohol was involved. This baffled me since they were supposedly locked in some sort of great, cosmic struggle. I'd once asked Jerome if Carter was a fallen angel, which had elicited a good laugh from the demon. When he'd recovered from the hilarity, he'd told me no, Carter hadn't fallen. If he had, he wouldn't technically be an angel anymore. I hadn't really found that answer satisfying and finally decided the two must stay together because there was no one else in this area who could relate to an existence stretching back to the beginning of time and creation. All the rest of us lesser immortals had been human at some point before; greater immortals like Jerome and Carter had not. My centuries were a mere blip on their timeline. Whatever the reasons for his presence now, I didn't like Carter. He wasn't obnoxious like Duane, but he always seemed so smug and supercilious. Maybe it was an angel thing. Carter also had the most bizarre sense of humor I'd ever seen. I could never tell if he was making fun of me or not. â€Å"So what can I do for you boys?† I asked, tossing my purse on the counter. â€Å"I've got places to be tonight.† Jerome fixed me with a narrow-eyed look. â€Å"I want you to tell me about Duane.† â€Å"What? I already did. He's an asshole.† â€Å"Is that why you had him killed?† â€Å"I – what?† I froze where I'd been sifting through cupboard contents and slowly turned around to look back at the duo, half expecting some joke. Both faces were in earnest, watching me. â€Å"Killed? How†¦ how does that work?† â€Å"You tell me, Georgie.† I blinked, suddenly realizing where this was going. â€Å"Are you accusing me of killing Duane? And wait†¦ this is stupid. Duane isn't dead. He can't be.† Jerome began pacing, his voice exaggeratedly civil. â€Å"Oh, I assure you, he is quite dead. We found him this morning, just before sunrise.† â€Å"So what? He died of sun exposure?† That was the only way I'd ever heard a vampire could die. â€Å"No. He died because of the stake wedged into his heart.† † Ew.† â€Å"So are you ready to tell me who you got to do it, Georgie?† â€Å"I didn't get anyone to do it! I can't even – I don't even understand what this is about. Duane can't be dead.† â€Å"You admitted to me last night you two got in a fight.† â€Å"Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"And you threatened him.† â€Å"Yeah, but I was joking†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I think he told me you said something about him never coming near you again?† â€Å"I was angry and upset! He was scaring me. This is crazy. Besides, Duane can't be dead.† That was the only piece of sanity I could cling to in all of this, so I kept repeating it to them and to myself. Immortals were, by definition, immortal. End of story. â€Å"Don't you know anything about vampires?† the arch-demon asked curiously. â€Å"Like that they can't die?† Amusement flickered in Carter's gray eyes; Jerome found me less funny. â€Å"I'm asking you one last time, Georgina. Did you or did you not have Duane killed? Just answer the question. Yes or no.† â€Å"No,† I said firmly. Jerome glanced at Carter. The angel studied me, his lank blond hair falling forward to partially cover his face. I realized then why Carter was along for the ride tonight. Angels can always discern truth from lies. At last, he nodded sharply to Jerome. â€Å"Glad I passed the test,† I muttered. But they weren't paying attention to me anymore. â€Å"Well,† observed Jerome grimly, â€Å"I guess we know what this means.† â€Å"Well, we don't know for sure†¦Ã¢â‚¬  † I do.† Carter gave him a meaningful look, and several seconds of silence passed. I'd always suspected the two were communicating mentally in such moments, something we lesser immortals could not do unassisted. â€Å"So Duane's really dead?† I asked. â€Å"Yes,† said Jerome, remembering I was there. â€Å"Very much so.† â€Å"Who killed him then? Now that we've determined it wasn't me?† The two glanced at each other and shrugged, neither answering. Negligent parents, both of them. Carter pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit up. Lord, I hated it when they got this way. Finally Jerome said, â€Å"A vampire hunter.† I stared. â€Å"Really? Like that girl on TV?† â€Å"Not exactly.† â€Å"So where are you going tonight?† asked Carter pleasantly. â€Å"To Seth Mortensen's signing. And don't change the subject. I want to know about this vampire hunter.† â€Å"Are you going to sleep with him?† â€Å"I – what?† For half a moment, I thought the angel was asking me about the vampire hunter. â€Å"You mean Seth Mortensen?† Carter exhaled smoke. â€Å"Sure. I mean, if I were a succubus obsessed with a mortal author, that's what I'd do. Besides, doesn't your side always want more celebrities?† â€Å"We've already got plenty of celebrities,† Jerome said in an undertone. Sleep with Seth Mortensen? Good grief. It was the most preposterous thing I'd ever heard. It was appalling. If I absorbed his life force, there was no telling how long it'd be until his next book came out. â€Å"No! Of course not.† â€Å"Then what are you going to do to get noticed?† â€Å"Noticed?† â€Å"Sure. I mean, the guy probably sees tons of fans on a regular basis. Don't you want to stand out in some way?† Surprise washed over me. I hadn't even considered that. Should I have? My jaded nature made it difficult to find pleasure in many things nowadays. Seth Mortensen books were one of my few escapes. Should I acknowledge that and attempt to connect with the novels' creator? Earlier today, I'd mocked run-of-the-mill fans. Was I about to become one of them? â€Å"Well†¦ I mean, Paige will probably introduce the staff privately to him. I'll sort of stand out then.† â€Å"Yes, of course.† Carter put out the cigarette in my kitchen sink. â€Å"I'm sure he never gets the opportunity to meet bookstore management.† I opened my mouth to protest, but Jerome cut me off. â€Å"Enough.† He gave Carter another of those meaningful looks. â€Å"We need to go.† â€Å"I – wait a minute!† Carter had succeeded in derailing me off the topic after all. I couldn't believe it. â€Å"I want to know more about this vampire hunter.† â€Å"All you need to know is that you should be careful, Georgie. Extremely careful. I am not joking about this.† I swallowed, hearing the iron in the demon's voice. â€Å"But I'm not a vampire.† â€Å"I don't care. These hunter types sometimes follow vampires around, hoping to find others. You could be implicated by association. Lay low. Avoid being alone. Stay with others – mortal or immortal, it doesn't matter. Maybe you can follow up on your favor for Hugh and score some more souls for our side while you're at it.† I rolled my eyes at that as the two walked to the door. â€Å"I mean it. Be careful. Keep a low profile. Don't get involved with this.† â€Å"And,† added Carter with a wink, â€Å"say hi to Seth Mortensen for me.† With that, the two left, closing the door gently behind them. A formality really, since either of them could have just teleported out. Or blown my door apart. I turned to Aubrey. She had watched the proceedings cautiously from the back of my sofa, tail twitching. â€Å"Well,† I told her, reeling. â€Å"What am I supposed to make of that?† Duane was actually dead? I mean, yeah, he was a bastard, and I had been pretty pissed when I threatened him last night, but I'd never actually wanted him to be really dead. And what about this vampire hunter business? Why was I supposed to be careful when – â€Å"Shit!† I had just glanced at my microwave clock. It coolly informed me I needed to return to the bookstore ASAP. Pushing Duane out of my brain, I dashed to my bedroom and stared at myself in the mirror. Aubrey followed more sluggishly. What to wear? I could just keep my current outfit. The sweater and khakis combination looked both respectable and subdued, though the color scheme blended a bit too well with my light brown hair. It was a librarian sort of outfit. Did I want to look subdued? Maybe. Like I had told Carter, I really didn't want to do anything that might solicit the romantic interest of my favorite author in the whole world. Still†¦ Still, I remembered what the angel had said about getting noticed. I didn't want to be just another face in Seth Mortensen's crowd. This was the final stop on his latest tour. No doubt he'd seen thousands of fans in the last month, fans who blurred together into a sea of bland faces, making their inane comments. I had advised the guy at the counter to be innovative with his questions, and I intended to behave the same way with my appearance. Five minutes later, I stood in front of the mirror once more, this time clad in a silk tank top, deep violet and low-cut, paired with a floral chiffon skirt. The skirt almost covered my thighs and swirled when I spun. It would have made a great dancing outfit. Stepping into strappy brown heels, I glanced over at Aubrey for confirmation. â€Å"What do you think? Too sexy?† She began cleaning her tail. â€Å"It is sexy,† I conceded, â€Å"but it's classy sexy. The hair helps, I think.† I had pulled my long hair up into a romantic sort of bun, leaving wavy locks to frame my face and enhance my eyes. Momentary shape-shifting made them turn greener than usual. Changing my mind, I let them go back to their normal gold-and-green-flecked hazel. When Aubrey still refused to acknowledge how awesome I looked, I grabbed my snakeskin coat and glared at her. â€Å"I don't care what you think. This outfit was a good call.† I left the apartment with my copy of The Glasgow Pact and walked back to work, impervious to the drizzle. Another perk of shape-shifting. Fans milled inside the main retail area, eager to see the man whose latest book still dominated the bestseller lists, even after five weeks. I squeezed past the group, making my way toward the stairs that led to the second floor. â€Å"Young adult books are over there by the wall.† Doug's friendly voice drifted nearby. â€Å"Let me know if you need anything else.† He turned away from the customer he'd been helping, caught sight of me, and promptly dropped the stack of books he'd been holding. Customers stepped back, politely watching him kneel down to retrieve the books. I recognized the covers immediately. They were paperbacks of Seth Mortensen's older titles. â€Å"Sacrilege,† I commented. â€Å"Letting those touch the ground. You'll have to burn them now, like a flag.† Ignoring me, Doug gathered up the books and then ushered me off out of earshot. â€Å"Nice of you to go home and change into something more comfortable. Christ, can you even bend over in that?† â€Å"What, do you think I'll have to tonight?† â€Å"Well, that depends. I mean, Warren's here after all.† â€Å"Harsh, Doug. Very harsh.† â€Å"You bring it on yourself, Kincaid.† He gave me a reluctant, appreciative glance just before we started climbing the stairs. â€Å"You do look pretty good, though.† â€Å"Thanks. I wanted Seth Mortensen to notice me.† â€Å"Believe me, unless he's gay, he'll notice you. Probably even then too.† â€Å"I don't look too slutty, do I?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Or cheap?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"I was going for classy sexy. What do you think?† â€Å"I think I'm done feeding your ego. You already know how you look.† We crested the top of the stairs. A mass of chairs had been set up, covering most of the cafe's normal seating area and spreading out into part of the gardening and maps section of books. Paige, the store manager and our superior, busily attempted some sort of wiring acrobatics with the microphone and sound system. I didn't know what this building had been used for before Emerald City Books moved in, but it was not an ideal venue for acoustics and large groups. â€Å"I'm going to help her,† Doug told me, kindly chivalrous. Paige was three months pregnant. â€Å"I'd advise you do something that doesn't involve leaning more than twenty degrees in any one direction. Oh, and if somebody tries to get you to touch your elbows together behind your back, don't fall for it.† I gave him a sharp jab in the ribs, nearly making him lose the books again. Bruce, still manning the espresso counter, made me my fourth white chocolate mocha of the day, and I wandered over to the geography books to drink it while I waited for things to pick up. Glancing beside me, I recognized the guy I'd discussed Seth Mortensen with earlier. He still held his copy of The Glasgow Pact. â€Å"Hey,† I said. He jumped at the sound of my voice, having been absorbed in a travel book about Texas. â€Å"Sorry,† I told him. â€Å"Didn't mean to scare you.† â€Å"I – no, you d-didn't,† he stammered. His eyes assessed me from head to toe in one quick glance, lingering ever so briefly on my hips and breasts but longest on my face. â€Å"You changed clothes.† Apparently realizing the myriad implications behind such an admission, he added hastily, â€Å"Not that that's bad. I mean that's good. Er, well, that is – â€Å" His embarrassment growing, he turned from me and tried to awkwardly replace the Texas book back on the shelf, upside down. I hid my smile. This guy was too adorable. I didn't run into many shy guys anymore. Modern-day dating seemed to demand men make as great a spectacle of themselves as possible, and unfortunately, women seemed to really go for it. Okay, even I went for it sometimes. But shy guys deserved a break too, and I decided a little harmless flirting with him would be good for his ego while I waited for the signing to start. He probably had terrible luck with women. â€Å"Let me do that,† I offered, leaning across him. My hands touched his as I took the book from him, replacing it carefully on the shelf, front cover out. â€Å"There.† I stepped back as though to admire my handiwork, making sure I stood very close to him, our shoulders nearly touching. â€Å"It's important to keep up appearances with books,† I explained. â€Å"Image goes a long way in this business.† He dared a look over at me, still nervous but steadily recovering his composure. â€Å"I go more for content.† â€Å"Really?† I repositioned slightly so that we were touching again, the soft flannel of his shirt brushing my bare skin. â€Å"Because I could have sworn a moment ago you were pretty caught up in outside appearance.† His eyes shifted down again, but I could see a smile curving his lips. â€Å"Well. Some things are so striking, they can't help but draw attention to themselves.† â€Å"And doesn't that make you curious about what's inside?† â€Å"Mostly it makes me want to get you some advanced copies.† Advanced copies? What did he – ? â€Å"Seth? Seth, where – ah, there you are.† Paige turned down our aisle, Doug following behind. She brightened when she saw me, and I felt my stomach sink out of me and hit the floor with a thud as I put two and two together. No. No. It couldn't be – â€Å"Ah, Georgina. I see you've already met Seth Mortensen.†