Formal Speech( Social Networks and Cyber Crime)

S P E E C H #03 Thank you Chair, As we know in the today’s world networks and communication has become a new dimension of our society. Almost everyone in our world is aware of internet and social networking sites on it. Now a day’s any rupture in internet can collapse the world economies and administrations. A large part of our population is rather prone to cyber crimes; yes the lovable internet is also a place to exercise easy piracy, frauds, hacking and other criminal activities.Cyber-threats are without doubt a new security challenge. Like most countries, Finland is increasingly dependent on a secure and functioning cyber-space and therefore increasingly vulnerable to unexpected and rapidly-emerging cyber-attacks. That is why we aim to become a global forerunner in cyber-security. While this will be the first such national strategy of its kind, the overall approach builds on decades of co-operation and co-ordination in crisis preparation and management.The guidelines for the new cyber-strategy were laid down in 2010 in the government’s broader Security Strategy for Society and the European Union’s Convention to counter cyber threats. At the moment, however, responsibility for cyber-security remains scattered between many different organisations and stakeholders, reflecting their specialist areas of expertise. This has slowed the creation of common objectives, with key decision-makers acting in relative isolation. Procedures and responsibilities during a nation-wide cyber-crisis have also yet to be defined with sufficient clarity.One of the main tasks of the current process, therefore, is to assess the need for a new authority to co-ordinate the strategy at a political level, as well as organising responsibilities at the operational level. Many of the risks of cyber-attacks are shared between the governments and the private sectors. And since most of the critical infrastructure is owned by the private sectors, the job of identifyin g and managing cyber-risks must be done in partnership. The forthcoming strategy will respond to all of these challenges by comprehensively analysing cyber-threats and deciding on the best way forward.

The Old, Bald, Toothless Angel

The supposed angel in the story A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel Garcia Marquez differs from the usual conception of angels with the following characteristics: its physical appearance, its effect upon the community, and the paranormal occurrences of its presence. The usual conception on the images of angels are romanticized – images of blonde children with small, white wings and rosy cheeks. However, the ‘angel’ in Marquez’s story is described as an old man, dirty, smelly, and possesses rotting wings. â€Å"He was dressed like a ragpicker. There were only a few faded hairs left on his bald skull and very few teeth in his mouth, and his pitiful condition of a drenched great-grandfather had taken away any sense of grandeur he might have had. His huge buzzard wings, dirty and half-plucked, were forever tangled in mud† (Marquez, 387). In addition, the use of the word ‘enormous’ used to described the old man’s wings are strewn with mud and rotting, full of small insects and parasites. The characters in the story immediately perceive the old man to be a fallen angel, because of the state of his wings. Also, the enormity of the wings give emphasis on Marquez use of the magic realism genre in the story. The shape and size of the wings may be exaggerated in a realistic point of view but the use of enormous gives the reader a more realistic approach to the old man. It also presents an ordinary experience on part of the characters – since Pelayo and Elisenda did not express shock of the old man’s appearance but of his condition – lying in the mud and in a downcast state. As the story revolves on the theme of magical realism, the characters in the story do not express shock over the old man’s appearance. They exhibit behaviour as though they see kinds of magical creatures often in their lives. Indeed, the first reaction of the couple is more a contradiction toward the whole theme of the story – a realistic perspective. They deduced that the old man may be a castaway from a ship across the sea that was wrecked by some storm. They based their judgement when they tried to ask the old man and responded in a strong sailor’s voice with a foreign dialect. However, the couple was not convinced and decided to ask a woman who had experience with such matters. The old woman needed only a glance and immediately concluded that the old man was an angel sent to take the couple’s ailing child (Marquez, 388). Thus, the themes of magic and realism come together from different point of views. The old man’s effect on the community, upon hearing the suggestion of the old woman, also became magical in one point. As exhibited by the behaviour of the townspeople in the story, they immediately associate the angel with various miracles and scenarios – that the angel was sent to be the leader of the world, to be a five star general in order to end wars, and such. The angel is also viewed by the community not as a supernatural creature but rather as a circus animal. After all the commotion the old man brought to the community, the couple decided to charge a fee for everybody who wanted to see the angel. Its popularity declined when a circus act visited the town with a spider-lady as its main attraction. The people favored the spider-woman over the angel as the spider had a personal story on why she turned to such while the angel did nothing but sit on the chicken coop. Marquez presents an alternative conception of the angel – that the spider, with all its grotesquery and exhibiting usual emotions like pain and emotional suffering, greatly amused the people rather than an old, mute angel rotting in its place. People favored amusement, even if the object is supernatural in nature. Apart from this, Marquez presents the angel to be a mere object of interest for only a limited time until the townspeople shifted their attention toward the spider. Angels are often regarded to be holy beings, that are capable of miracles, and provides ‘good’ in people’s lives. But the angel in the story remains isolated from the community and only act as though he had no care of his condition. His characteristics were also a downfall toward the perception of the community – he was old, toothless, with rotting wings and a pronounced stench. Even though the old man was first conceived as an angel, people did not pay the same amount of attention compared to the spider-woman, who exhibited an emotional plight that greatly amused the people. The paranormal presence of the angel did not stir bewilderment on the characters of the story – instead they presented keen interest and ill-disguised curiosity. Also, their immediate association of the old man as a universal solution to all their worldly-problems became the definitive character of the angel. Yet, they did not bother to place the angel in greater prominence, as they ignored him until one day, he grew new wings and began to fly toward the ocean horizon. The disappearance of the angel also coincided with the growth of Pelayo and Elisenda’s child, and deduced that the angel took away the child’s sickness. And because of the fee they charged to see the angel, the couple became rich from their profits. Marquez persuades the reader into a personal interpretation of the old man – just like the people in the story. He presents the old man with its characteristics and it is up to the reader to decide whether it is an angel or not. However, Marquez also utilizes several peculiar situations and characteristics that coincide with the angel’s presence in the story. His enormous wings is the main point. It appears as though it was nothing out of the extraordinary; that the characters in the story were accustomed to seeing wings deeply implanted in a person’s structure. Also, as the angel grew another set of wings, it could have been assumed that it would resemble the pearly-white color of a real angel but the old man’s wings were that of a scarecrow (Marquez, 392). Marquez leaves room for interpretation on the part of the reader as to what the old man really is. He presents a wholly different perspective of an angel, as presented by the examples of the people in which the old revolved upon. It may be an angel or just an old, toothless man with enormous wings.

Schooling Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Schooling - Case Study Example the author also highlights the importance of education in the enculturation process. the author analysis Brad's behaviour who grew to adopt antisocial behaviour. The method used to gather data was a face to face interview, Brad who is the respondent is interviewed by the author whereby the respondent narrates his life history and this helps the author to compare his behavior with anthropological theories. Data is analyzed by comparing the character traits of Brad with appropriate character traits of others, Brad life history helps in identifying the importance of an appropriate social system that will ensure adoption of appropriate behavior. From the paper major conclusions are that education plays other major roles other than schooling, this include helping individuals to adopt socially acceptable behaviors whereby individuals adopt cultural traits that control behavior. the paper highlights the importance of proper enculturation in developement of socially acceptable behaviour, from the case study Brad was not raised in an appropriate social system and therefore this has led to some antisocial traits.

Experimental economics summary paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Experimental economics summary paper - Essay Example These aspects tend to be the deciding factors as to when and why humans cooperate or they don’t. The author has used the single trial public goods and the multiple trail experiments to analyse human behaviour and how that affects the economy to a certain extent. In case of the former, it was found that the players could be segregated in two categories- 1: strong free riders, who did not want to contribute anything to the economy 2: weak free riders, who may or may not contribute towards public good and just want to enjoy the benefits (Dawes & Thaler, 1988) In case of the latter, it was found that more the subjects were put through repetitive experiments, the lesser cooperative they grew and even lesser they contributed towards public good. However, both cannot be considered as precise predictions or concrete results to any research. The other theory that has been highlighted by the author is that of reciprocal altruism being a major factor in deciding the contribution level. I t has been observed through experiments that humans tend to cooperate more when there is expectation that the same will be reciprocated. However, this theory has its own drawbacks.

Design paragraphs Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Design paragraphs - Term Paper Example The use of related color harmony and specifically analogous scheme makes the setting outstanding people the viewer does not have to look for many colors to appreciate. Rather, there is only one dominating color for the viewer to appreciate. 2. There is the application of balance in the arrangement of the two portraits on the way. Basically, balance ensures that when given an imaginary line and a large object is placed near the line, there should be a small object placed at the edge and away from the line but where there are two objects of the same size as seen in the portraits, they should be put at the same distance away from the imaginary centre line. Again, there is repetition and this is seen in the designs in the sofa. This is because the designs in the sofa are the same and recurring. Finally there is the principle of harmony. This is seen in the colors of the glasses on the table. All the glasses are of the same color and of the same quality – glass. For this reason, th ey give a perfect harmony. 3. Gestalt’s principle of figure grouping is seen from the law of proximity, which makes use or emphasizes on grouping of objects. From the picture given, we see the application of Gestalt’s principle of figure grouping at work in the sense that the five chairs have been grouped together in a row. Apart from the row, there is no other place in the interior that chairs are seen. The hanging lights are also grouped and put together in a row. There is also the grouping of candles on the table and these are the three major grouping seen in the interior. 4. There is the application of the element of direction in the arrangement of steps, wall climb and stair holder. The directions of these items are oblique rather than horizontal or vertical. According to Lovett (1999), â€Å"oblique suggests movement and action.† Clearly, we see the three objects referred to suggesting movement. The staircase is for instance suggesting movement from down t o top. There is also the element of value. This is seen in the lightness and darkness of colors used. Generally, colors have been used in such a way that they do not give an overly bright implication but are generally light, suggesting calmness. Finally, there is the principle of dominance in the use of colors and texture. It is seen that there is the use of very few colors and these colors are dominating the entire design. The texture of the design is also smooth and this dominates all parts of the design. 5. The colour harmony used in this interior is triadic. According to Williams (2011), in triadic, â€Å"one makes an equidistant triangle on the color wheel and uses the three colors that land on each corner of the triangle.† From the interior, we see the combination of the colors violet and green. Whereas violet has been used on the chairs, green has been used as the flower design on the tables. With reference to the color wheel, violet and green form a triangle and this makes the colour harmony triadic. With reference to the color temperature, it can be said that the color temperatures are in harmony. This is because both violet and green are cool colors. 6. The most dominant principle of design seen in the stained glass ceiling is graduation. There is a graduation of both color and light. It can seen that the color and light produced is in an aerial perspective, moving from warm to cool. The warm color is the bright light at the apex of the glass arrangement whereas the cool

One flew over the cuckoos nest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

One flew over the cuckoos nest - Essay Example male lead, Nurse Mildred Ratched, who incorporates a strategy of humiliation and unpleasant treatment to exercise control over her charges in the ward. Thus, the main theme of the movie can be perceived as the protagonist’s resistance to conformity and his rebellion against the established norms to which he does not subscribe. The movie, due to its deft treatment of a poignant theme, never ceases to amaze its audience by delving into to the undercurrents of sexuality, compassion and emotional insecurity that force the protagonist to rebel against societal norms. While on the surface level it portrays the inmates in a mental institution, underneath it depicts the male vehemence and gusto and how society outside the walls that confine them has in one way or other castrated and broken down these men. Most of the male patients have been damaged by relationships with overpowering women. Mc Murphy does not have a disability but has an impetuous response towards the patients in the ward. He treats them like human beings, unlike Ratched, despite his rebellious attitude to authority. His character reminds the other inmates that there is a life beyond the four walls of the asylum and they could have one too. Mc Murphy’s mere presence inspires hope among the inmates, who until then were doomed to give into th e society that considered them stupid and crazy. Thus, through illustrating the compassion in the protagonist, the movie accentuates his rebellious attitude, which stems from the wrong way in which he has been treated. As the plot develops, Mc Murphy’s resistance to conformity intensifies, which reflects in his bonding with the other inmates. This, in a way, can be construed as his defiance to the people or the authority that condemned them to such a life. He, thus, encourages them to muster a sense of hope and expectation in their lives, when Ratched tries to suppress them by explicitly expressing her disgust at people like them. The nurse, who represents

The theoretical framework of social marketing Essay

The theoretical framework of social marketing - Essay Example (Canada Health, 2005) Social marketing is not a new concept it has been around for a long time in one form or the other. Ever since there have been societies people have tried to persuade, inform, motivate and some how gain acceptance for their ideas and hence bring about a change. But social marketing was first introduced as a discipline in 1970 by Philip Kotler and Gerald Zaltman when they realized that the same marketing principles and strategies used to sell products can be used to sell and promote ideas, attitudes and behaviors. Kotler emphasized that the only difference between marketing and social marketing was that in social marketing the aim is not to maximize the benefit for the seller but to bring about a social change. (Weinreich, 2006) Six basic principles of social management set it apart it from other marketing approaches. Firstly the marketing conceptual frame work is intended to bring about a change that is the ultimate goal of marketing is to influence an action. Secondly there should be recognition of competition as recommended behaviors almost always have competition that should be understood and addressed. Thirdly there is a consumer orientation which is the focus on meeting the needs of one's consumers. Fourthly seminal research is to be used to identify with consumer's desires and needs that is programs will be more successful if they are based on the target audience's own perceptions and views. Fifthly there is to be a segmentation and careful selection of the target audience as audiences are rarely consistent in their perceptions or likely responses to marketing efforts and thus should be separated. And sixthly there is to be constant monitoring and modification of program tactics as the market is cons tantly changing and the management should be ready to rapidly adjust and alter its strategies. (Social Marketing Institute, n.d) Social marketing relies on the commercial marketing's conceptual frame work to guide program development and implementation. This frame work places the consumer at the heart of the exchange process where they try to maximize their wants and needs and minimize their costs of doing so. There fore social marketing identifies consumer wants and needs and tries to develop ways to satisfy them. In other words social marketing focuses on the consumer and tries to learn what the consumer wants and thus attempts to provide for the his or her needs. The planning process takes this consumer focus into account by concentrating on the elements of the marketing mix. This refers to the Ps of social marketing which incorporate the four Ps of marketing which are price, product, place and promotion as well as a few others. (Meischke, n.d) The first "P" is the social marketing product which might not always be in physical form. Products can be tangible such as condoms, ideas such as environment protection, habits or practices such as healthy eating and even services such as regular medical check ups or exams. For the product to be effective the consumers have to identify the fact that they have a problem and that the product offers a good solution to that problem. Here research can be used to determine the consumer's perception of their problem and how willing they are to solve that problem. (Weinreich, 2006) The second "P" is price which refers to what the consumers

Womens Right (Equal Right Amendment) Research Paper

Womens Right (Equal Right Amendment) - Research Paper Example This synchronized and yet sporadic movement by women activists, suffragists and liberationists precipitated for the advent of an epic legal victory that resulted benefits that scores of generations of women have enjoyed. In this paper, the author will outline, examine and interpret the women’s rights movement in America. Of particular importance here is the creation and the many hindrances that the Equal Rights Amendment of the United States Constitution has confronted throughout the years. The aim of this scholarly treatise is not only to provide pertinent information regarding the women rights advocacy but also to demonstrate insightful ideas and recommendations for the now and the future. Historical Background In 1848, the first-ever Women’s Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. Abolitionists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott spearheaded the two-day meeting of over 300 people who rallied for justice and equality for women who were institutional ly restricted from the rights and privileges of a citizen. The said convention generated the Declaration of Sentiments among other eleven resolutions denouncing inequality and proposing suffrage. However, the nation was far from ready to seriously pay attention to the issue of women’s rights and thought that the call for justice was not only ridiculous but also a worthless endeavor (Becker 39). After the Civil War, while the constitutional reformation centered on giving freedom to the slaves, Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth, as well as the already-veteran Stanton, fought for the legal ground of providing the same civil and political rights that men enjoy to the American woman. Citing the 14th and 15th Amendments of the Constitution that the right to vote shall not be deprived to citizens on basis of their race, color and previous states of servitude, these women freedom fighters underscored the obvious and utter neglect of women in the laws of the land (Whitney 57). In 1 872 during the presidential election, Anthony cast her ballot in one of the poll precincts in New York invoking her right as a citizen as provided in the 14th Amendment. Her somehow rebellious act prompted her arrest, conviction and a penalty of $100, which she refused to pay. On the other hand, the Supreme Court decision in Minor versus Happersett (1875), pronounced that while women may be citizens, not all citizens are necessarily allowed to vote. Stanton, Mott, Anthony, Truth and the rest of the women abolitionists and suffragettes during the time passed their lifetime without experiencing the joys of participating in the political activities of the nation. Yet certainly, their monumental efforts were never put to waste. The Movement’s Gaining Momentum The past century saw the exponential increase of the number of women who joined in the workforce. This strong power base for women incited them to take part in the movement for social progress and reform, and eventually for a revived call for the right of suffrage. Staunch lobbying, frequent street marches, deliberate political boycotts, massive picketing at the White House and widespread civil obedience showed how serious the women during this period to achieve their impassioned goal to participate in the political affairs of the country and to cast their ballots. Millions of women collaborated to send their message to the national government, and most of them even went out of their way to lobby their causes in Congress. It was Carrie Chapman and the National American Woman Suffrage Association who emerged as leaders during this period of the American feminist movement. Although these demonstration strikes (proof that democracy was working in the American

Southampton Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

Southampton - Essay Example Finally yet importantly, I would like to thank all my peers and classmates who made it an enjoyable experience during the entire course. Southampton as a port city has a rich maritime history and remains home to a few of the most notable historical monuments and buildings in the UK. However, due to lack of proper planning and execution, tourist footfall is far from satisfactory. Through this dissertation, the researcher has analysed the different aspects to promoting urban tourism in the region. Data gathering and subsequent analysis conveyed that area of West Quay, the waterfront and the parks need to be re-organised. The cruise industry forms the backbone of the region’s tourism and should be promoted as its Unique Selling Point (USP). Southampton council should also perform tie-ups with neighbouring councils of Winchester Eastleigh to promote tourism. Specific recommendations for structural changes in Southampton’s approach to urban tourism include proper advertisement to highlight the city’s best features, museum visits need to be free for the public and funding needs to be procured to mainta in historic monuments and buildings. Moreover, council also needs to work to raise public awareness about the importance of urban tourism, which in turn would affect the economy. Modern theory on sustainable development ushers a combination of economic, social and environmental issues whereby each issue is provided equal importance and judged accordingly. This form of ‘integrative approach’ helps in seeking a balance between economy and society whereby diverse sectors become mutually intertwined to support the common good (Daniels, 1991). Britain had witnessed alarming decline in its manufacturing productivity from 1980 onwards. This situation was further hampered during the economic recession of 1979-1982; however it was also during this time that organisations and government gradually began to appreciate the importance of

The Women, Infant's and Children programs Research Paper

The Women, Infant's and Children programs - Research Paper Example The researcher states that WIC was founded in 1973. But its history stretches back to the 1960s. Studies and national television programs were discovering that starvation, malnutrition and other forms of caloric deficiency were preventing many Americans from having enough to eat. The Poor People's March on Washington and major documentaries focused the issue and brought it to the attention of policymakers. A 1969 Conference was convened, which included in its report a recommendation to focus specifically on the needs of low-income women, pregnant women, children and infants, whose gaps between nutritional needs and opportunities were often most dire. A Commodity Supplemental Food Program was created that targeted women and children under 6, but studies found that it and the Food Stamp Program were not dealing with the special needs of the groups in question. An amendment of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 finally created the WIC department as a two-year pilot. The department was desi gned to work with the USDA, who would provide the food support and commodities. The WIC program differed itself from the CSFP by coordinating food relief with health care and other aid programs. USDA resistance to coordination required a federal court order to force them to comply. The WIC proved successful enough to be established permanently on October 7, 1975, by PL 94-105. Eligibility was expanded to nonbreastfeeding women, and while inadequate income was an eligibility requirement, it was not specifically defined, giving the program flexibility. In 1999, the USDA implemented standard measures of food security and, after two years, published a report that indicated what food scholars had been saying for years: Malnutrition and caloric deficiency were reaching epidemic levels. The standardization of food insufficiency metrics has transformed the debate around food provision entirely and galvanized public interest and support. Mission Statement The WIC's mission is as follows: â⠂¬ ¢ Protect women, children and infants †¢ Improve nutrition and health of poor and disadvantaged women †¢ Provide education, support and information †¢ Support women with post-partum depression The WIC themselves define their goal as, â€Å"To safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care†. They define their mission completion mechanisms as, â€Å"Food, nutrition counseling, and access to health services are provided to low-income women, infants, and children under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, popularly known as WIC. WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children who are found to be at nutritional risk...Most State WIC programs provide vouchers that participants use at authorized food stores.

Thelma and Louise Essay Example for Free

Thelma and Louise Essay This movie is talking about an adventure of two women, who are middle age good friends and they plan to have a fun just for 2 days originally. However, after the accident happened in the parking lot of a bar on their way to their destination, everything went wrong and their vacation was like a disaster. But during their trip, they survived, they found out their way to live and found back their self-respect so I think it is a good model as a feminism movie and that’s way I choose this movie. Then let me introduce the movie and analysis it. In the beginning of the movie, it introduces the two women main character Thelma and Louise who are all beautiful and middle aged. But Thelma’s husband who is a very male chauvinism man, restricting his wife at home and going out anywhere himself, shouting at his wife and keeps commanding his wife rudely. On the other hand Louise is a waitress, having a boyfriend but not marry yet. I think in the late 1900s women are still oppressed by the society and men. Even though the film does not mention the era, I can figure the time easily because the social status of women is still low and equivalent to the other film â€Å"North Country†. After a routing insult from her husband, Thelma decides to go having fun with Louise without her husband’s permission and this is the first step that makes her find herself. When they are on the road, Thelma becomes wild, passionate and crazy and energetic like she is just released from the jail. She also mentions that she feels the call of the wild. When they stop driving for fun in a bar, she is cheated by man’s sweet words and dancing with him. I think because this is the very first time she expresses herself, and compared with Louise, Thelma is more innocent and reckless. So the consequence is that she is nearly to be raped. But honestly, what she has done? She just has some fun like anyone else. But the women will be raped and the men are not, from this accident I think that the social back ground very look down on women and even don’t respect them at all. I think that Louise is smarter and stronger than Thelma; maybe because she is a waitress, she has more chances to face the people and the society. So when something bad happens to Thelma she arrives and saves her immediately. Accidentally, Louise shots the man dead, both her and Thelma are afraid and scared; they have two choices, calling the police or just run away, but Louise knows that the police will not believe them so they just escape anyway. I think Louise shots the man dead because, first she had the same experiences like Thelma in the past and the second is that the man does not apologize instead calling them bitch. She says to that man (who states that he and Thelma are just having fun) â€Å"when women cried, that does not mean they are having fun! And the gun which be brought by Thelma is the key point of the whole film, starting their life as the runaways. I think if they were calling the police for the dead man right away the consequence would be different. But the raping crime has no witness except themselves and they know that no one is going to believe them. In a male chauvinism society no one will stand on their side (both law and policeman), so they choose to escape, differing from â⠂¬Å"North country†, the two girls do not fight against the law in the court but by running away. On the road, they come into a hot guy who is called J. D. and Thelma very likes him because he is handsome and humorous. In the same time, Louise contacts with her boyfriend, Jimmy, to get enough money for the trip. Jimmy is one of the two kind men in this film, and no matter what happen to Louise he will wait her. After getting the money, Louise asks Thelma to keep it safe; however, Thelma focuses on having fun with J. D. because he is totally different from her husband. When Thelma tells Louise how awesome he is and she left him in the room, Louise rushes to the room for the money. As expected, the money was stolen and they have nothing. Most of the men in the film are bad guys and emphasizes the feminism of this film. Thelma’s anxious husband and the man who wants to rape Thelma make them want to fight against men instead of being oppressed by them. Feminism movies always need male chauvinism to contrast the awakening of women. And this trip, they call it vacation, is a wakening for them to find themselves. On their way, Thelma becomes smarter and finds her truth personality gradually. For surviving, Thelma even robs a store with her gun and I really admire her courage even though that means they have to escape from state to state. I think maybe she is more innocent than Louise and having less experience but actually she is the one dare to do anything. This also can be detected in the beginning of the film that she goes out with Louise without her husband’s permission, and also can be seen when she makes a call to her husband during the trip, her husband asks her go home right away and Thelma just reply â€Å"f***ing yourself†. I think these behaviors cause from she just let herself get out of the constraint which restricts her soul for so long. There is another man who drives a gas car keeping annoy them on the road. He keeps saying â€Å"suck my dick† this kind of dirty languages, several times Louise and Thelma just ignore and overtake the gas car. At the last time they cannot bear anymore, they stop the car and negotiate with the man, asking him apologize. Like the one they met in the bar, he just says bad languages to them. But this time the two women are not afraid of holding guns and both of them shots the gas car. They are not cowards anymore because they go through all of these chaoses and conquer them. After be chased by police for so long, in the end of the movie they are surrounded by the police army. Both of them do not want to be arrested and sent back to the male society, Louise is not going to give up and Thelma would rather keep going into the canyon than get caught, it is a decision between life and death. So in the end they just kiss each other and driving away from the police, rush into the canyon by holding hands with each other. I think this movie is a model feminism film because the main characters are two women, not men. And their changing during the trip which they called â€Å"vacation† is very profound. I think what makes them change is that the press and insult from man for so long, and this trip exactly makes them figure out why they have to endure? Why they have to put up with all these things. When they figure out they have nothing to lose, they just set themselves free anyway and do whatever they want. In the end of the movie, their courage to die together instead of being caught is very impressive and makes me think what I would do if I were them. They even smile when they face the death; I think they must have strong souls which fight against for them. And the death also represent that they look down on this male society, it’s hopeless for them to live. So they just want to keep going to the death I supposed. And I very appreciate that spirit.

Contrast in Nigeria Essay Example for Free

Contrast in Nigeria Essay The aim of this paper is to compare and contrast in Nigeria to that in the United States. The emergence, development, and settlement of ethnic conflict are related to the cultural, legal, and socioeconomic conditions in which a conflict takes place. These conditions are strikingly different in developed and developing countries. One more mediating factor in the cross-national study of ethnic conflict is the attitudes towards conflict in a society. Therefore, this paper will start with analyzing societies in the U. S. and Nigeria as well as their histories. The U. S. is the world largest economy and a country with a strong tradition of democracy. Its uniqueness is associated with the fact that the U. S. is an immigrant nation. Although ethnic conflicts were (and still remain, to a certain extent) frequent and acute, the American society has found effective ways to resolve such conflicts. The government of the U. S. tries to prevent conflicts between different ethnic groups, ensure equality, and promote tolerance. On the contrary, Nigeria is a poorer country with GDP per capita being only $2,000 (in the U. S. this figure is $45,800). However, it is Africa’s most populous country. Almost half of the population is under the age of fourteen. Mortality from AIDS is high (the percentage of people living with HIV is 5. 4%), and healthcare is inadequate. The country is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups, the following groups are the most influential: Hausa and Fulani (29%), Yoruba (21%), Igbo (18%), Ijaw (10%), Kanuri (4%), Ibibio (3. 5%), and Tiv (2. 5%) half a population are Muslim, Christians constitute 40% of the total population, and indigenous believers account for the remaining 10% (CIA, 2008). Waters (1996) suggests studying the following questions in order to understand cross-cultural perspectives on ethnic conflict: the meanings of ethnic identities (whether they are oppositional identities, immigrant identities, or symbolic identities); the attitude of ethnic groups to the state (whether they trust the institutions of the state to be fair and honest, whether these institution perpetuate oppression, whether the state is perceived by ethnic groups an instrument of power to be employed by their own group or another group or as a neutral arbiter); and the perceptions on hate crimes, violence, and intergroup encounters (whether they are seen as temporary, accidental and individualized, or as permanent, systematic, and institutionalized). In the U. S. , many people coming from other countries perceive themselves as immigrants at the initial stages of integration, yet eventually they accept their new, American identity. The overarching nature of American identity prevents the creation of sharply oppositional identities. However, double identities (such as African Americans or Hispanic Americans) remain string and may become a basis for ethnic conflict. However, the state directs a lot of effort and resources on preventing ethnic conflict. While the general view on the state’s handling of racial issues is generally positive, racism in entrenched in the social system, and there are even accusations of institutional racism. The unique feature about the American society is that it has an experience of successful resolution of ethnic conflicts, such as the movement for equal rights between Black and White citizens or governmental programmes to support Mexican immigrants. The risk of ethnic conflict in Nigeria is much higher than in the United States. In 1999, frequent clashes were taking place between Yoruba and Hausa ethnic groups. This conflict was the legacy of the British colonial rule: ‘Nigeria was brought into being under British colonial rule, when in the early 1900s Lord Lugard forged together the Moslem Northern protectorate and the Southern Christian sphere’ (Mason, 1999, para. 9). Regionalism was encouraged at that time: the country was divided into three self-governing regions based on ethnic allegiance, such as the western region (dominated by Yoruba), the northern region (mainly Hausa and Fulani), and the eastern region (mainly Igbo). ‘[T]he separate governments were designed to strengthen the colonial grip on Nigerian society and weaken the peoples potentials for resistance’ (Irobi, 2005, ‘Second Case: Nigeria,’ para. 2). The attempts of the Nigerian government to create a fully functional federal state have had limited success following the independence. Ethnic clashes turned into a civil war when Igbos attempt to form an independent state called Biafra. Nigeria took over Biafra in 1970 and maintained territorial integrity, but the conflict remained unresolved. There were incidents of sectarian violence in 2004. More recently, the conflict has centered in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. Access to oil revenue and environmental pollution are the main reasons for clashes. The government is perceived as hostile by Delta communities who used to prosper historically from the natural richness of their homeland. The clashes occur between two local ethnic groups, Itsekiris and Ijaw. Cases of vandalism are frequent; the conflict has been especially acute in 2004 when Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force threatened to destroy oil facilities and infrastructure in the region. In 2005, employees of Shell were kidnapped by the Iduwini National Movement for Peace and Development. In 2006, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger River Delta continued the attacks on Shell decreasing the oil production by three quarters. All these groups demand international companies and the government to take appropriate care of the region’s environmental situation and contribute to the region’s development (GlobalSecurity, n/d). As concerns ethnic identities in Niger Delta, they are fluid and dynamic: inhabitants of the region are quick to reconstruct their identities influenced by political opportunities and economic inducements. However, the inhabitants of the region can be regarded as having a common regional oppositional identity. The government is perceived as an inimical body responsible for the ethnic unrest: ‘When citizens perceive that the system has failed to provide essential political or economic goods, they are more likely to gravitate to communal identities and to pursue contentious mobilization’ (Lewis, 2004, ‘Abstract’). Summing up, there are several features which are typical for ethnic conflict in Nigeria, as well as the rest of Africa, namely ‘the demand for ethnic and cultural autonomy, competing demands for land, money and power, and conflicts taking place between rival ethnic groups’ (Irobi, 2005, ‘Introduction,’ para. 6). Therefore, there are many differences between the U. S. and Nigeria in terms of interethnic relations. The most significant differences are the role of the government in conflict management and the creation of oppositional identities as contrasted with an overarching American identity. References CIA. (2008). ‘The World Factbook: Nigeria. ’ Retrieved August 26, 2008, from https://www. cia. gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ni. html GlobalSecurity. (N/d). ‘Niger Delta. ’ Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http://www. globalsecurity. org/military/world/war/nigeria-2. htm Irobi, E. G. (2005). ‘Ethnic Conflict Management in Africa: A Comparative Case Study of Nigeria and South Africa. ’ Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http://www. beyondintractability. org/case_studies/nigeria_south-africa. jsp? nid=6720 Lewis, P. (2004). ‘Identity and Conflict in Nigerias Niger Delta: New Evidence from Attitude Surveys. ’ Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Hilton Chicago and the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL. Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http://www. allacademic. com/meta/p59519_index. html Mason, B. (1999). ‘Ethnic conflict escalates in Nigeria. ’ Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http://www. wsws. org/articles/1999/aug1999/nig-a17. shtml Waters, M. C. (1996). ‘Ethnic and racial groups in the USA: Conflict and cooperation. ’ In Ethnicity and power in the contemporary world, ed. Rupesinghe, K, Tishkov, V. A. Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http://www. unu. edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu12ee/uu12ee0o. htm

Marine Biology As A Career

Marine Biology As A Career I would like to begin this paper from the career notion definition. The main topic of this research paper is marine biology as a career and as for me it is not empty words, because I strongly believe that choosing career we choose our future. Looking into the roots of this question it is necessary to mention that folk wisdom says of that a profession is as riches. In many cases people who are around you judge about your activity on the base of your chosen career, that it why it is so hard for many young people to chose own career and own future. Moreover, if we will made an effort transfer all interests, desires, fascinations, a very long list would turn out, probably. Many of us have a wide circle of interests, and it is very difficult to choose, what from it would become a future profession, and what a hobby is. Mostly a preference to some type of activity determines interest to its maintenance. To accept a correct decision, it is necessary to get acquainted with maintenance of pot ential profession, labour duties and terms of labour. If you like maintenance of profession, you will be more successful in your chosen work, you will have an aim to promote the qualification, become an authoritative specialist in the professional area and, eventually, earn good money. At the beginning of professional cycle all persons efforts usually sent on the preparation to the future career and among these efforts we could find development of abilities, values, presentations and other aspects that are necessary for finding of professional identity. At the end of professional cycle person usually concentrates all forces on determination of degree of success. Thinking about myself I want to mention that I like marine biology and in my opinion this kind of career will be the best way of self-realization for me. I dont want to discuss this career without concrete facts in marine sphere, so lets consider this part of my paper as introduction to my research. I prepared my research not for one day and understood that choice of the right career path is not an easy step. First of all, if you were not determined from the beginning (for example, during study-time in a college), what it will be, your professional way, then, that coming you to accept in this life, a decision about the choice of kind of activity will become one of the most essential decisions in your life. If you thought over this question in enough earnest, then to the moment of final choice you have in a head few ideas which, however, yet coming to specify. Pointing necessary information is possible from the row of sources of knowledge and experience. As you understand from the previous words exactly now I try to find all necessary information about the career of my choice and maybe exactly this research paper will allow me to make my last choice in career sphere. Lets discuss marine biology as the career that Im interested in for my future and first of all it is necessary to define what it means in the wide sense of this word. Marine biology is a science that studies the organisms of seas and oceans. Marine biology is vast discipline, including the great number of directions, therefore a term is understood variously depending on that, who uses it in own practice. It is possible to name a specialist, qualificatory in a museum the standards of marine animals and plants delivered there a marine biologist; physiologist, studying functioning of the nervous system of squid; environmentalist, investigating distribution of marine inhabitants et cetera. We know that often as synonyms of marine biology are used terms biological oceanography and marine ecology. However, biological oceanography studies organisms, dwellings at sea mainly, i.e. more or less far from off-shore shoals. Marine ecology, strictly speaking, implies research of mutual relations o f marine inhabitants with each other and with surrounding them physical environment, what, however, most marine biologists really occupy. Although ocean waters are not divided by borders, their inhabitants at the distribution run into insuperable barriers the exposure of which behaves to the major problems of marine biology. If to move from a beach in the depths of ocean, it is possible to notice, as physical terms of environment change and simultaneously the types of animals and plants change each other. At the same time certain combination of environmental factors results in that one or other organisms often meet together. Using this analogy we should say that marine biology has in itself many components from other professions and exists in tight connection with them, in spite of their differences. For addition to above presented information I want to add that considerable part of works on marine biology is conducted now on the base of large laboratories, for example in Plymouth (England), in the USA and so on. In many cases we remember and use famous names of laboratories, but, however, a considerable deposit is brought in this science also by not yet deserving a world fame small stations, colleges and universities, located in the different countries of the world. According to information presented on website http://life.bio.sunysb.edu we could find easy and understandable answers on questions not only about marine biology, but also about the essence of the marine biologists work. For example next information is rather interesting to reading and thinking about it: Marine biology is the field of knowledge relating to marine organisms. But what is a marine biologist? To many, it means being a dolphin trainer but to others it means managing a marine wildlife sanctuary. There are many answers to this question and I would say that a marine biologist is someone who works in some way in studying, observing, protecting, or managing marine organisms, be they microbe, plant or animal. If you study marine fish populations you are a marine biologist. If you manage a marine wildlife preserve and are concerned with protection of marine organisms there, then you too are a marine biologist. You know youre a marine biologist if you have a notebook or computer that you record information often about marine organisms. But you may also be a marine biologist if you are collecting sponges, looking for bioactive drugs. You may be counting them, doing DNA sequencing of them, observing them in the laboratory or making theoretical models predicting their abundance once fishing is decreased. So marine biologists do many things, but what they have in common is working with marine organisms. (http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/mycareer.html) In my opinion career of marine biologist is a good choice and based on above presented information we see that specialist in marine biology could find many areas for own talents implementation. Nowadays there are many universities where it is possible to receive quality education and the post-secondary institutions offering a degree or certificate in this field. For example, researching this problem I found next information that colleges and universities offer a range of degrees in marine biology from an associates degree to a doctorate. MarineBio has compiled the following list of US-based and International schools offering degrees in Marine Biology, and an accompanying list of marine laboratory research facilities. Marine Biology Degree Programs in the US. International Marine Biology Degree Programs. Marine Biology Laboratories, Institutes Graduate Programs. (http://marinebio.org/MarineBio/Careers/) I checked above mentioned information and I could say that above stated facts are true and it is possible to receive education in marine biology area in many universities, because there are many places where students can go for their new knowledge, but first requirement is talents in biology area and a great wish to study and become a good specialist. Thinking about salary range and analysing existed situation on the market of marine biologists I could come to the conclusion that the salary is enough high and it depends not only from the place where you work, but also from the necessity of your project and your level of education, I mean your degree in chosen area. In other words, future salary in marine biology sphere will depend on educational background, from employment sector and also from geographical location. Reading different facts about marine biology and listen to people who realize themselves in this sphere I understood that career of marine biologist is something like job and hobby at the same time. I like Jefferys words, who said that It was her best choice in the life and she likes her profession very much. Reading about this person next facts I understood that I want to have the same to her career: growing up, Sharon Jeffery knew that she wanted to be a marine biologist. This focus stemmed from a growing interest in biology during her secondary education, from family camping trips near the ocean, and spending her days swimming, snorkelling and turning over rocks on the beach to discover marine life. Sharon is now an Aquarist at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre who designs and maintains exhibits of local fishes. She graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology. At the Aquarium, Sharon enjoys the diverse duties of her job, from designing displays to scuba diving, and from collecting animals to talking with the media. Being wet and cold is a typical and dreary part of her job, but Sharon exclaims, You get used to it! (http://www.vanaqua.org/education/aquafacts/marinebiologist.html) I understand that career of marine biologists is a not easy career and it requires high level of responsibility and self-organization, also it requires attention and prominent talents in chosen are, because you will never become a good specialist without strong scientific mind. According to http://www.ehow.com we see that The college requirements for a marine biologist arent that different than the requirements of any science, but they may be harder to find as not all locations are conducive to learning about the ocean and ocean life. Depending on your career choice, commercial or conservation, you will want to find a degree from associates level to masters level, or possibly even a Ph.D. (http://www.ehow.com/facts_4796744_college-requirements-marine-biologist.html) I have read on one site www.marinecareers.net that One area of specialization, the emerging field of marine biotechnology, offers great opportunity for marine biologists. Marine biotechnology research presents a wide range of possibilities and applications. One focus area is the biomedical field, where scientists develop and test drugs, many of which come from marine organisms. An example of an application of biotechnology research can be seen in industry or defense, where researchers have developed non-toxic coatings that prevent the build-up of fouling organisms, such as barnacles and zebra mussels. Such coatings are useful for ships and intake pipes used in power plants. (http://www.marinecareers.net/field_marinebiology.php) Basing on this part of the article I want to realize myself in above described area and it will be interesting for me to work exactly in this field. Thus, based on all above researched information I could come to the conclusion that marine biology as a career is a good choice for me. I understand that my career path in this area will be also full of hardships, but I like this direction of biology so much that Im ready to meet all hardships, to receive a good education and become a good specialist. I agree with the statement that biologists should be able to work not only alone, but also in command and I have all required features of character that will allow me to work with people and coordinate our actions in the right direction. I went through one test in career area and according to it I should choose biology as my career, because it requires to my necessities and my type of mind. For the conclusion I want to say that I dont want to change my opinion about marine biology as a career and also based on my research I want to recommend for all people who are looking for sphere where they can realize themselves to be strict in judgments and seriously think about own future. I think that first of all it is important to define after finding out of the professional interests, whether you possess by capabilities, corresponding to these interests. For example, you can possess certain internals and capabilities which will provide successful work in one professional sphere, but will appear unavailing in other. Think, as far as your knowledge, abilities, capabilities, are wide and various. Professionally important descriptions are health, professional qualification, or knowledge. If some your internals are more expressed for mastering of certain profession, so, you are professionally suitable for this profession. From all professionally meaningful internals you are able to influence on the level of professional qualification for example, to promote it. In turn, professional capabilities and character traits are such individual features which very difficult yield to the change. I think that capabilities most full open up and develop exactly in operations to the studies or work. If you succeeded relatively easily to master the chosen speciality and then with pleasure to execute work, it is possible to say, that you possess necessary level professionally important capabilities for this speciality. In my research I have done all recommendations presented in this last part of my paper and maybe in future I will publish some new inventions in famous professional journals, because I really believe that when person choose right career it is possible to become great in it.

NFL and NASCAR Sponsorships Essay -- advertising, finance, sports

Abstract The National Football League (NFL) and NASCAR thrive on sponsors and vice versa. An NFL game is by far the most watched single game event in the country and gaining popularity exponentially worldwide. Their championship, the Super Bowl, is arguably the most watched television program in that particular year. In NASCAR, the Daytona 500 is their â€Å"Super Bowl† and is a very large event in its own right. Corporations all over the world jump on these mega advertising vehicles with the hope that their name is popularized which will result in profitability. In many cases, most of those who do buy airtime during NFL games, the Super Bowl, and during the major NASCAR races are very visible names and products that we already know about. Most of the time, these companies are trying to market new products or products that have been enhanced. â€Æ' NFL Sponsorships Sport is one of the largest mediums that corporations can utilize to get that mass message out to their customers. Many of us have different ways that â€Å"tickle† our fancy so to speak. What interests one does not necessarily interest another, but, even if one person can convince others to try a product or service a domino effect may occur. Corporations are always trying to â€Å"spice† up their advertisement. They probably do this to see if they can manipulate a consumer to try their service or product. For example, Budweiser has been running beer ads for many, many years and incorporated comedy into their commercials. They went from frogs to lizards to obnoxious acting. In my opinion, people are swayed by these tactics and tend to try a Budweiser beer more often than they had. I believe all sports are good vehicles or tools to market and advertise, but, none is... ...d July 15, 2009, from www.promomagazine.com Ross, Brian, Chuchmach, Megan, Eslocker, Asa, and Rhee, Joe, (2009, Feb 2). Bailed Out Bank of America Sponsors Super Bowl Fun Fest. Retrieved July 15, 2009, from www.abcnews.go.com Lefton, Terry (2009, Jan 19). NFL close to adding P&G to sponsor list. Retrieved July 15, 2009, from www.sportsbusinessjournal.com Bibliography Cotsonika, Nicholas (2009, Jun 9). Sponsor logos may show up on practice jerseys. Retrieved July 15, 2009, from www.freep.com Krantz, Matt (2005, Feb 20). NASCAR sponsorship revs stocks' engines. Retrieved July 15, 2009, from www.usatoday.com Paul, Peralte C. (2009, Mar 25). AFLAC upgrades its NASCAR sponsorship. Retrieved July 15, 2009, from www.ajc.com Associated Press, (2009, Jun 2). NASCAR: GM Sponsorship Will Continue. Retrieved July 15, 2009, from www.cbsnews.com

Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown †Conflict, Climax, Resolution :: Free Essay Writer

â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† – Conflict, Climax, Resolution  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Edmund Fuller and B. Jo Kinnick in â€Å"Stories Derived from New England Living† state that   â€Å"’Young Goodman Brown’ uses the background of witchcraft to explore uncertainties of belief that trouble a man’s heart and mind† (31). Are these critics’ statement correct?   This essay will examine Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† to determine the conflict, climax and resolution.    The conflict between pride and humility is the direction that Clarice Swisher in â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne: a Biography† tends: Hawthorne himself was preoccupied with the problems of evil, the nature of sin, the conflict between pride and humility† (13). There is little doubt about the pride of the protagonist as he scolds his wife for not fully trusting him: "’My love and my Faith,’ replied young Goodman Brown, ‘of all nights in the year, this one night must I tarry away from thee. My journey, as thou callest it, forth and back again, must needs be done 'twixt now and sunrise. What, my sweet, pretty wife, dost thou doubt me already, and we but three months married!’" And looking at the end of the tale, perhaps it his Goodman’s pride which causes him to live the rest of his days in gloom; the opposite virtue of humility might ease his adjustment into a world of sinners.    Gloria C. Erlich in â€Å"The Divided Artist and His Uncles† says that â€Å"he let his more extravagant characters test the unlimited for him and sadly concluded that it was unlivable† (38). Stanley T. Williams in â€Å"Hawthorne’s Puritan Mind† states: â€Å"What he wrote of . . . . unforgettable case histories of men and women afflicted by guilt, or, as he called it, by â€Å"a stain upon the soul† (43). Sculley Bradley, Richmond Croom Beatty and E. Hudson Long in â€Å"The Social Criticism of a Public Man† state: â€Å"He was absorbed by the enigmas of evil and of moral responsibility† (47). Using an assortment of literary critical opinion, this reader considers that the central conflict in the tale is an internal one - the conflict in the mind and soul of Goodman Brown between joining the ranks of the devil, and remaining a morally good person, and the extension of this conflict to the world at large represented by the villagers of Salem.    It is a difficult personal journey for Young Goodman Brown, a young Puritan resident of Salem, Massachusetts, in the 1600’s to say goodbye to Faith on that fateful night and to keep a prior commitment made with an evil character (the devil) in the woods.

Faulkners Light in August - Themes :: Light August Essays

Light in August - Themes    1. RACISM    The Southern concern with racial identity is one of Light in August's central themes. When people think that Joe Christmas has even a trace of black ancestry, they treat him completely differently from the way they treat white people. Many of the characters in Light in August seem twisted by their preoccupation with race. Joe Christmas, Joanna Burden, Nathaniel Burden, Doc Hines, and, ultimately, Percy Grimm are among these. But even many of the characters who don't share this mania assume that treating blacks inhumanly is acceptable. The Jefferson sheriff, Watt Kennedy, seems a decent man, yet he whips a randomly chosen black in an interrogation that was unnecessary in the first place.    2. THE SOUTHERN PAST       Two of Light in August's five major characters live in the shadow of their dead ancestors. But you could interpret their relation to these forebears in different ways. On the one hand, you could point to a pattern of decline and say that the present doesn't live up to the heroic days of yesteryear. On the other hand, you could say that the problems of the present come from a failure to shake off the burdensome grip of the past. Here is how you could argue each point of view.    a. The Heroic Past    Gail Hightower's grandfather was a robust lover of life, and his father was a helper of his fellow human beings. But Hightower fails both his wife and his congregation and spends the rest of his life cut off from other people.    Though Joanna Burden's forefathers were not originally from the South, their emigration to Jefferson makes them part of the Souths history too. And like Gail Hightower, Joanna compares badly to both her father and grandfather. They were rebellious wanderers and vigorous family men. She spends most of her time in her house, feels homesick whenever she leaves Jefferson, and never marries or has children.    b. The Burdensome Past    Gail Hightower's problems stem from his obsession with his grandfather, who was not even worth this worship. After all, he died stealing chickens. Likewise, Joanna Burden is the victim of the stern religion and patronizing racism that her father taught her and that he learned from his father before him.

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 24

â€Å"Well?† Roman asked softly. â€Å"What do you think? Will you go with me?† â€Å"I don't know,† I replied, looking down. â€Å"I'm afraid.† A tremulous note hung in my voice. He turned my face toward his, obviously concerned. â€Å"Afraid of what?† I looked at him through my lashes. It was a demure action. Vulnerable, even. Hard to resist. I hoped. â€Å"Of†¦ of them. I want to†¦ but I don't think†¦ I don't think we could ever be free. You can't hide from them, Roman. Not forever.† â€Å"We can,† he breathed, putting his arms around me, his heart swelling at my fear. I didn't resist at all, letting him press his body up against mine. â€Å"I told you. I can protect you. I'll find the angel tomorrow, and we'll leave the next day. It's that easy.† â€Å"Roman†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I stared up at him, my eyes wide, the look of one overcome with some emotion. Hope, maybe. Passion. Wonder. I saw my expression mirrored in his own, and when he leaned down to kiss me, I didn't stop him this time. I even kissed him back. It had been a long time since I'd kissed simply for the sake of kissing, for the feel of his tongue gently pushing into my mouth, lips caressing mine as his hands held me tightly to him. I could have kissed like that forever, just enjoying the physical sensation, devoid of any succubus feeding. It was magnificent. Intoxicating, even. There was no fear. Roman wanted more than kissing, however, and when he pulled me down, right onto my living room carpet, I didn't stop him then either. Obvious heat and yearning filled his body. Yet, he moved carefully and slowly over me, showing a restraint that surprised and impressed me. I slept with so many guys that yielded right away to their own needs that it was downright astonishing to have someone apparently concerned with my fulfillment. No way was I complaining. He kept his body against mine, so there was no space between us as he continued kissing me. Eventually he moved from my mouth to my ear, tracing it with his tongue and lips before shifting to my neck. My neck has always been one of my more erogenous places, and I exhaled a trembling breath as that clever tongue slowly stroked the sensitive skin, making gooseflesh rise. I arched my body into his, letting him know he could have expedited things if he wanted, but he seemed to be in no hurry. Down, down he moved, kissing my breasts through the delicate charmeuse of my shirt until the fabric was wet and clung to my nipples. I sat up so he could pull the shirt off me entirely. While he was at it, he slid off the skirt too, so I was left only in panties. Still focused on my breasts, however, he continued kissing and touching them, varying between soft, feathery kisses and hard, biting ones that threatened to leave flowering purple bruises. At last he slid down, trailing his tongue along the smooth skin of my stomach, pausing when he finally reached my thighs. Meanwhile, I was a wreck, aching and desperate to touch his body in return. But when I reached for him, he gently pushed my wrists to the floor. â€Å"Not yet,† he admonished. I guess that was just as well since I was supposed to be doing something with time here. Buying it, right? Yeah, that was it. I was delaying so I could figure out a plan. A plan that I'd get to†¦ later. â€Å"Magenta,† he observed, running his fingers along the panties. They were flimsy, barely a collection of scraps of lace and sheer material. â€Å"Who'd have guessed?† â€Å"I almost never wear any clothes in the pink and magenta family,† I admitted, â€Å"but for some reason I love lingerie in those colors. And black, of course.† â€Å"It suits you. You can shape-shift these on anytime, right?† â€Å"Yeah, why?† He reached out and, with one deft motion, ripped them off. â€Å"Because they're in my way.† Bending down, he pushed my thighs apart and buried his face between them. His tongue moved slowly over the edges of my lips and then darted forward to stroke my burning, swollen clit. Moaning, I lifted and ground my hips into him, trying to get more of my aching need fulfilled. Once again, he pushed me back to the floor, taking his time, letting his tongue circle and tease me, driving me into higher and higher pleasure. Every time I seemed about to peak, he would pull back and move his tongue down, letting it actually probe inside me where I was growing wetter. When he finally let me come, I did so loudly and wildly, my body practically thrashing as he held me down and continued sucking and tasting through my spasms. By then, I was so sensitive and dizzy that his touch was almost too much. I heard myself begging him to stop, even as he made me come again. Easing up, he released me and backed off, watching as the blissful spasms in my body slowed down. Between us, we had his clothes off in about two seconds, and he laid his body over mine, pressing bare skin against bare skin. When my hands slid down, grasping and stroking his erection, he sighed with palpable bliss. â€Å"Oh God, Georgina,† he breathed, eyes on mine. â€Å"Oh God. You have no idea how much I want you.† Didn't I? I guided him toward me, sliding him inside. My body opened to him, welcoming him like a piece of myself I'd been missing, and he moved in and out of me with long, controlled strokes, watching my face and gauging how each angle and motion affected me. I'm buying time,I thought sagely, but as he pinned my wrists to the floor, claiming ownership of my body with each thrust, I knew I lied to myself. This was about more than just buying time to warn Jerome and Carter. This was about me. It was selfish. I had continuously craved Roman over the last few weeks, and now I had him. Not only that, but it was exactly as he had said: there was no survival here, only pleasure. I had had sex with other immortals before but not in some time. I had forgotten what it was like to not have someone else's thoughts in my head, to simply luxuriate in my own sensations. We moved with a practiced rhythm, like our bodies did this together all the time. Those controlled strokes grew more savage, less precise. Harder and fiercer he brought himself into me, like he was going to go through the floor. Someone was making a lot of noise, and I realized distantly that it was me. I was sort of losing track of what was around me, of coherent thought. There was only my body's response, the building force that consumed me and set me on fire and still made me demand more. I longed for completion and urged him on, bringing my body up to meet his and clenching the muscles around him. He gasped as he felt me grow tighter. His eyes burned with a near-primitive passion. â€Å"I want to see you come again,† he gasped out. â€Å"Come for me.† For whatever reason, it only took that command to finish me off, to plunge me over the edge of that dizzying ecstasy. I cried out more loudly, my throat long since gone hoarse. Whatever expression I wore, it was enough to drive him into his own finish. No sound came out as his lips parted, but he closed his eyes and held himself inside me after a final hard thrust, shaking with pleasure. When he had finished, his body still trembling with the force of his orgasm, he rolled off me onto his back, sweaty and satisfied. I turned toward him, splaying my fingers on his chest, admiring the lean muscles and tanned flesh of his body. â€Å"You're beautiful,† I told him, taking a nipple into my mouth. â€Å"You aren't so bad yourself,† he murmured, stroking my hair. Perspiration rolled off my body too, making some of the strands damp and curl up more than usual. â€Å"Is this you? Your real shape?† I shook my head, surprised by the question. I trailed my lips up to his neck. â€Å"I've only worn that body once since becoming a succubus. A long time ago.† Pausing mid-kiss, I asked, â€Å"You want something different? I can be anything you want me to be, you know.† He grinned, flashing those white teeth. â€Å"One of the perks of loving a succubus, no doubt.† Sitting up, he scooped me into his arms and then rose, slightly wobbly with the added weight. â€Å"But no. Ask me in another century, maybe, and I might have a different answer. For now, I've got a lot more to learn about this body.† He carried me off to my bedroom, where we made love in a slower, slightly more civilized manner, our bodies twining together like ribbons of liquid fire. With that initial animalism somewhat satisfied, we lingered longer now, exploring the different ways each person's body responded. We spent most of the night cycling through a pattern: slow and loving, fast and furious, rest, repeat. I grew exhausted somewhere around three and finally gave in to sleep, resting my head against his chest, ignoring the nagging worries in the back of my mind. I woke up a few hours later, sitting bolt upright as the previous night's events came slamming back into me with sharper clarity. I'd gone to sleep in a nephilim's arms. Talk about vulnerability. Yet†¦ here I was, still alive. Roman lay beside me, snug and warm, Aubrey at his feet. Both of them regarded me with tired, squinty eyes, wondering at my sudden motion. â€Å"What's the matter?† he asked, stifling a yawn. â€Å"N-nothing,† I assured him. Removed from passion, I found myself able to think a bit more clearly. What had I done ? Sleeping with Roman might have bought me time, but I was no closer to finding some way out of this crazy situation. Lying there, I caught sight of Carter's daffodils, and they jolted me into a decision. The flowers themselves had only been part of a small act, but something about them made me realize I could not sit passively by and let Roman kill Carter. I had to act, no matter the risk, no matter the likelihood of failure. We all have moments of weakness. It's how we recover from them that really counts. It didn't matter if I loved the nephilim and hated the angel, neither of which was entirely true. This was more about me, about the kind of person I was. I had spent centuries hurting men for my own survival, often devastatingly so, but I could not be a part of premeditated murder, no matter how noble the cause. I hadn't reached that stage of life. Not yet. I blinked back sudden tears, overwhelmed by what I had to do. What I had to do to Roman. â€Å"Then go back to sleep,† he murmured, running a hand along my body, from waist to thigh. Yes, I knew what I had to do. It was a long shot, hardly a solid plan, but I couldn't think of anything else to take advantage of Roman's current, off-guard mood. â€Å"I can't,† I explained, starting to get out of bed. â€Å"I have to work.† His eyes opened wider. â€Å"What? When?† â€Å"I open. I need to be there in a half hour.† He sat up, dismayed. â€Å"You work all day?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"I still had a few more things I wanted to do to you,† he mumbled, sliding an arm around my waist to pull me back, cupping a breast in his hand. I leaned back into him, feigning being caught up in passion. All right, I wasn't exactly feigning. † Mmm†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I turned my face toward his, brushing our lips together. â€Å"I could call in sick maybe†¦ not that they'd believe it. I'm never sick, and they know it.† â€Å"Fuck them,† he mumbled, pushing me back down into the bed, his hands growing bolder. â€Å"Fuck them so I can fuck you again.† â€Å"Then let me up,† I laughed. â€Å"I can't call in like this.† Reluctantly he released me, and I slid out of the bed, grinning back at him as I went. He watched me hungrily, like a cat sizing up prey. Honestly, I liked it. That desire quickly melted into apprehension as I walked into the living room and picked up my portable phone. I had left all the room doors open, acting as casual and relaxed as possible, giving Roman no cause for alarm. Knowing he could probably hear me in the living room, I mentally rehearsed my words as I dialed Jerome's cell phone number. Not surprisingly, however, the demon did not answer. Damn him. What good was our bond if I couldn't use it at will? Having anticipated this, I tried my next option: Hugh. If I got his cell's voice mail, I would be out of luck. I could not pull off my plan if I had to call his office number and wade through his arsenal of secretaries. â€Å"Hugh Mitchell speaking.† â€Å"Hey, Doug, it's Georgina.† A pause. â€Å"Did you just call me Doug?† â€Å"Look, I can't come in today. I think I've caught that bug that's been going around.† Roman wandered out of my bedroom, and I smiled at him as he made his way to my refrigerator. Meanwhile, Hugh tried to make sense of my nonsense. â€Å"Uh, Georgina†¦ I think you dialed the wrong number.† â€Å"No, I'm serious, Doug, so don't get smart with me. I can't come in, okay?† Dead silence. Finally Hugh asked, â€Å"Georgina, are you all right?† â€Å"No. I already told you that. Look, will you just pass it on?† â€Å"Georgina, what's going on – â€Å" â€Å"Well, I'm sure you'll figure out something,† I continued, â€Å"but it'll have to be without me. I'll try to be in tomorrow.† I disconnected and looked up at Roman, shaking my head. â€Å"It would figure Doug was there. He definitely didn't believe me.† â€Å"Knows you too well, huh?† he asked, drinking a glass of orange juice. â€Å"Yeah, but he'll cover for me, despite his complaining. He's good like that.† I tossed the phone onto the couch and approached Roman. Time for more distraction. I doubted Hugh would fully grasp the situation, but he would at least assume something wasn't right. As I had noted in the past, one couldn't live as long as an immortal did and be stupid. He would suspect something and hopefully hunt down Jerome. My job now was to keep the nephilim busy until the cavalry came. â€Å"So what exactly was it you wanted to do to me?† I purred. A number of things, as it turned out. We wound up back in my bedroom, and I discovered waiting out the time until Hugh could take action wasn't nearly as difficult as I had feared. Slight twinges of guilt tugged at me over enjoying Roman so much, especially now that I'd made my decision and called for help. He had murdered untold numbers of immortals and had designs on a near-friend. Still, I couldn't help my feelings. I was attracted to him – had been for a long time, even – and he was really, really good in bed. â€Å"Eternity doesn't seem so bad with you in my arms,† he murmured later, stroking my hair as I curled up against him. Turning my face toward his, I saw a somber expression in his eyes. â€Å"What's wrong?† â€Å"Georgina†¦ do you†¦ do you really want me to leave this angel alone?† â€Å"Yes,† I blurted out after a moment of surprise. â€Å"I don't want you to hurt anyone else.† He studied me for a long time before speaking. â€Å"Last night, when you asked me, I didn't think I could. I didn't think I could let it go. Now†¦ after being with you†¦ being like this. It just seems petty. Well, maybe petty isn't the right word. I mean, what they did to us was terrible†¦ but maybe if I keep going after them, I let them win. I become what they say I am. I let them keep dictating the parameters of my life. I'd be conforming to nonconformity, I guess, and missing what's really important. Like loving and being in love.† â€Å"Wh-what are you saying?† He cupped my cheek. â€Å"I'm saying, I'll do it, love. The past will not rule my present. For you, I'll walk away. You and me. We'll go today and leave all this behind. Get a home somewhere and start a life together. We can go to Vegas.† I turned rigid in his arms, my eyes widening. Oh God. A knock sounded at my door, and I nearly jumped ten feet. Only about forty minutes had passed. No, no, I thought. It was too soon. Especially in light of this sudden turnabout. Hugh couldn't have acted so fast. I didn't know what to do. Roman raised an eyebrow, curious more than anything else. â€Å"Expecting anyone?† I shook my head, trying to hide the racing of my heart. â€Å"Doug's always threatened to come get me,† I joked. â€Å"I hope he didn't finally decide to act on it.† Getting out of bed, I went to my closet, urging every nerve in my body to look nonchalant. I put on a deep red kimono, ran a hand self-consciously through my messy hair, and walked out to the living room, trying not to hyperventilate once out of Roman's sight. Oh Lord, I thought, approaching the door. What am I going to do? What am I going to – â€Å"Seth?† The writer stood outside, a bakery box in hand, his own face registering as much shock as mine undoubtedly did. I watched his eyes quickly slip up the length of me, and I suddenly became aware of how short my robe was and just how much the clinging silk revealed. His eyes snapped up to my face, and he swallowed. â€Å"Hi. I.,.that is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  One of my neighbors walked by, stopping and staring when he saw me in the robe. â€Å"Come in,† I urged Seth with a grimace, closing the door behind him. Having expected a cavalcade of immortals, I felt more confused than ever now. â€Å"I'm sorry,† he managed at last, trying to keep his eyes from drifting to my body. â€Å"I hope I didn't wake you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No†¦ no†¦ it's not a problem†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Naturally Roman chose that moment to make an appearance, coming down the hall from my bedroom in only boxers. â€Å"So what's – oh hey, how's it going? Seth, right?† â€Å"Right,† said Seth flatly, looking from me to Roman and then back to me. In the wake of that gaze, I didn't care about nephilim, immortals, or saving Carter. All I could think of was how this must look to Seth. Poor Seth, who had done nothing but be nice to me since I'd met him, yet who nonetheless managed to get hurt over and over by my insensitivity – not to mention an unfortunate set of circumstances. I didn't know what to say; I felt as mortified as he apparently did. I did not want him to see me like this, all of my lies and inconsistent signals coming to light. â€Å"Is that breakfast?† the nephilim asked cheerfully. He was the only one of us at ease. â€Å"Huh?† Seth still looked stunned beyond words. â€Å"Oh yeah.† He set the box down on my coffee table. â€Å"Keep it. It's a coffee cake. Maple pecan. As for me†¦ I'm going to†¦ I'm just going to leave now. I'm sorry to bother you. Really sorry. I knew it was your day off and just thought we could†¦ I don't know. You'd said yesterday†¦ well. It was stupid. I should have called. It was stupid. I'm sorry.† He started to turn, but the damage was done. Of all the possible scenarios, this would be the one in which short-spoken Seth chose to ramble. I knew it was your day off. Shit. Roman turned on me, the incredulity on his face transforming to fury before my eyes. â€Å"Who,† he gasped, voice barely coming out in his anger, â€Å"who did you call? Who the fuck did you call?† I stepped backward. â€Å"Seth, get out of – â€Å" Too late. A wave of power, not unlike the one Jerome had used on me, slammed against both Seth and me, thrusting us against my living room wall. Roman strode up to us, glaring at me, his eyes like blue flame. â€Å"Who did you call?† he roared. I didn't answer. â€Å"Do you have any idea what you've done?† Turning from us, he grabbed my phone and dialed. â€Å"I need you to get over here right now†¦.yes, yes, I don't fucking care. Leave it.† He recited my address and disconnected. I didn't need to ask who he had called. I knew. The other nephilim. His sister. Running a hand through his hair, Roman paced frantically around my living room. â€Å"Shit. Shit. You may have ruined everything!† he yelled at me. â€Å"Do you realize that? Do you realize that, you lying bitch? How could you do this to me?† I didn't respond. I couldn't. Movement, even talking, was too hard in that psychic net. I couldn't even look at Seth. God only knew what he must think of all of this. Ten minutes later, I heard another knock. If I had any sort of divine favor left, it would be Jerome and Carter, ready to come to my rescue. Surely even a succubus deserved a break now and then, I thought as I watched Roman open the door. Helena walked in. Oh, man. â€Å"About time,† Roman snapped, slamming the door behind her. â€Å"What's going – † She cut her words off, eyes widening at the sight of Seth and me. Turning back to Roman, she gave him and his boxers a once-over. â€Å"For crying out loud, what have you done now?† â€Å"Someone's coming,† he hissed, ignoring her question. â€Å"Right now.† â€Å"Who?† she demanded, hands on hips. There was no rasp in her voice now, and she looked amazingly competent. If I hadn't already been rendered speechless, the sight of her would have done it. â€Å"I don't know,† he admitted. â€Å"Probably our exalted sire. She called someone.† Helena turned and approached me, making terror sink into my bones as I realized my danger. Helena was the other nephilim. Crazy, swindling Helena. Helena, whom I had insulted on a number of occasions, mocked behind her back, and stolen employees from. The look on her face informed me she was considering all of those things as she stared me down. â€Å"Drop the field,† she snapped to Roman, and a moment later, Seth and I slumped forward, gasping, as the power released us. â€Å"Is he right? Did you call our father?† â€Å"I†¦ didn't call†¦ anyone†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"She's lying,† Roman observed mildly. â€Å"Who did you call, Georgina?† When I didn't answer, she walked over and slapped me hard, the impact making a loud crack. There was something oddly familiar about it, but then, there would be. Helena was the one who had beat me up that night on the street. I realized then she must have known it was me when I went to Krystal Starz, in spite of my disguise. Recognizing my signature, she had chosen to play with me, feeding me the lines about having a great future as she pushed titles and workshops on me. â€Å"Always difficult, aren't you?† she scoffed. â€Å"For years, I've put up with you and others like you, those who mock my lifestyle and teachings. I should have done something about you a long time ago.† â€Å"Why?† I wondered aloud, gaining control of my voice again. â€Å"Why do you do it? You, of all people, who know about angels and demons†¦ why do you tout the New Age bullshit?† She eyed me scathingly. â€Å"Is it really? Is it bullshit to encourage people to seize control of their own lives, to view themselves as sources of power instead of getting caught up in all the guilt of what's right and what's wrong?† When I didn't answer, she continued, â€Å"I teach people to empower themselves. I teach them to let go of sin and salvation, to learn how to find happiness now – in this world. True, some of it is†¦ embellished for the sake of creating wonder and awe, but what does that matter, if the ends are achieved? People walk away from my classes feeling like gods and goddesses. They find that within themselves, rather than selling out to some cold, hypocritical institution.† I couldn't even begin to formulate a response, and it occurred to me that Helena and Roman thought exactly alike, both of them dissatisfied with the system that had spawned them, each of them rebelling against it in different ways. â€Å"I know what you think of me. I've heard what you say about me. I saw you throw away the materials I gave you that night, no doubt thinking I was just some crazy, babbling New Age crackpot. And yet†¦ for someone so smugly confident, so critically self-righteous, you are one of the most unhappy people I've ever met. You hate the game, and yet you play it. You play it, and you defend it because you don't have the courage to do anything else.† She shook her head, chuckling dryly. â€Å"I didn't have to be psychic to give you any of those predictions. You are gifted, but you waste it. You are wasting your life, and you will spend it miserable and alone.† â€Å"I can't change what I am,† I told her hotly, stung by her words. â€Å"Spoken like a slave to the system.† â€Å"Fuck you,† I shot back. Having one's pride and self-identity shattered will often make a person irrationally angry, regardless if the point was well made. â€Å"Better a comfortable slave than some freakish divine bastard. It's no wonder your kind is being hunted to extinction.† She hit me again, this time packing nephilim power with the punch, not unlike that night in the alley. It hurt – a lot. â€Å"You little whore. You have no idea what you're talking about.† She moved to hit me again but was stopped as Seth suddenly pushed himself in front of me. â€Å"Stop it,† he exclaimed. â€Å"Stop it, all of – â€Å" A blast of power – from Roman or Helena, I didn't know – pushed Seth across the room, to the other wall. I flinched. â€Å"How dare you – † began Helena, her blue eyes flashing angrily. â€Å"You, a mortal, who have no idea what you're – â€Å" I was already moving before the words could even come out of her mouth. Seeing Seth abused sparked something in me, an angry response I knew to be hopeless but which I couldn't really prevent. I sprang at Helena, taking on the first shape that came to mind, no doubt thanks to seeing Aubrey earlier: a tiger. The transformation only took a second but hurt like hell, as my human body expanded, feet and hands turning to heavy, clawed paws. I had the element of surprise, but only for a moment, as I slammed into her, knocking her slight body to the floor. My victory was short lived. Before I could sink teeth into her neck, a hurricane-worthy force blew me from her into my china cabinet. The impact was ten times harder than the one that had pinned Seth and me earlier, and the pain jolted me back into my normal shape as glass and crystal broke behind me, pieces falling around me, cutting my skin. I moved again, frantic, knowing the futility but needing to do something, too caught up in battle lust. I lunged at Roman this time, urging my body to take on the shape of†¦ well, I didn't even know what. I had no specific form in mind, only features: claws, teeth, scales, muscles. Sharp. Large. Dangerous. A creature of nightmares, a true demon of hell. I never even came close to touching the nephilim, however. One or both of them anticipated me, mid-leap, throwing me back to land near Seth this time, his wide eyes watching me with terror and wonder. Bolts of power struck me, making me cry out in pain, shattering every nerve within me. My new shape's hide protected me only briefly, and then hurt and exhaustion made me lose control of the transformation. I slipped back into the slim, human body just as another net of power pinned me into place, ensuring I couldn't move anymore. My entire shape-shifting attack had lasted all of a minute, and I now felt completely drained and worn, my reserve of Martin Miller power finally dried up. So much for bravery. A nephilimcould easily blow one of you out of the water. â€Å"Valiantly done, Georgina,† chuckled Roman, wiping sweat off his brow. He had expended a great deal of power too, but he had a lot more of it to spend than I did. â€Å"Valiant, but foolish.† Walking over, he looked me up and down and shook his head with bitter amusement. â€Å"You don't know how to ration your energy. You've burned yourself out.† â€Å"Roman†¦ I'm so sorry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I didn't need him to tell me how low on energy I was. I could feel it. I wasn't just low, I was empty. Running on fumes, so to speak. Looking at my hands, I saw my appearance flicker slightly, shimmering almost like a heat mirage. That was bad. Wearing a body for long enough, even if it isn't your original, becomes ingrained after a few years, and I had had this one for fifteen. It was second nature to me. I thought of it as my own; it was what I always unconsciously returned to. Yet, I was fighting to hold on to it right now, to not slip back to the body of my birth. This was bad – very bad. â€Å"Sorry?† Roman asked, and I saw on his face just how terribly I'd hurt him. â€Å"You can't even begin to imagine – â€Å" We all felt it at the same time. Roman and Helena spun around to shoot each other alarmed looks, and then my front door blew open. The bonds holding me dropped as the nephilim redirected their power at the apocalypse coming through. Brilliant light spilled inside, light so brilliant it hurt. Familiar light. The same terrible shape I'd seen in the alley appeared once more, only there were two of them this time. Mirror images. Indistinguishable. I didn't know who was who, but I remembered Carter's offhand observation from a week ago: an angel in full form will freak most beings out – it'll kill a mortal†¦ â€Å"Seth,† I whispered, turning from that glorious spectacle to look at the writer. He was staring at it, brown eyes wide with awe and fear as the glory of it drew him in. â€Å"Seth, don't look at them.† With my fleeting strength, I lifted a shimmering hand and turned his face toward mine. â€Å"Seth, don't look at them. Look at me. Only at me.† Somewhere beyond us, someone screamed. The world was blowing apart. â€Å"Georgina†¦Ã¢â‚¬  breathed Seth, gingerly touching my face. â€Å"What's wrong with you?† Focusing all of my will, I urged my body to fight and hold on to the shape he had first come to know me in. It was a losing battle. A dying one even. I could not survive much longer like this. Seth leaned closer to me, and I tuned out the sounds of chaos and destruction raging around us, instead focusing all the world, all of my perception, toward his face. I had said Roman was beautiful, but he was nothing – nothing at all – compared to Seth in that moment. Seth, with those long-lashed, quizzical brown eyes, kindness made manifest in all of his actions. Seth, his messy hair and slightly unkempt facial hair, framing a face which could not hide his nature, the strength of his character shining out at me, his soul like a beacon on a foggy night. â€Å"Seth,† I whispered. â€Å"Seth.† He leaned toward me, letting me draw him closer and closer, and then, as heaven and hell raged beyond, I kissed him.

Oil ; gas Essay

The frugality is bear upon by many figures that determine if it is strong or weak. These component part ins charter to do with buyers consuming franks and work and at what rate they do this. Do the goods and services that ar choosed by hoi polloi created wealth, jobs and a better over wholly miserliness for a region. Throughout history about economies devour evolved faster and stronger than others. Policies that the government places on sedulousness, technology and the environment open fire all affect the prosperity of an saving. Of the factors that affect frugal ontogeny the sedulousness of petroleum and gun is one that holds a stronghold in the worlds and Americas economy today. When evaluating the economicalal addition factor of economy and specifically crude veget up to(p) cover colour and shove along on must consider the adjacent questions What relationship does the factor micturate with the solely economy? How does this factor affect economic growth Is the factor a make out or forcefulness of economic growth? what would the economy be manage if thither were signifi laughingstockt problems with this factor? What relation does a important swear have to this factor? I leave alone answer apiece of these questions in respect to how economy is affected by rock crude and splosh. The economy in the United States today is greatly affected by oil and shove off. When there ar prominent reserves and an increase of busy drills in respect to oil, the economy seems to play a boost. This is because prices for such things like bobble and oil fall and multitude ar subject to consume more accelerator at a lower price. in that respect is more egress and prices fall, wherefore people save money on splatter and wad consume other items in the economy.People working in these industries have more job openings and more jobs filled, therefore creating a lower un business rate and a high gearer earthal per capita in stick with. The compulsion for substitutes are non there so, consumers go away consume oil and vaunt at a growing rate. Since, people use oil and gas for so many divers(prenominal) things like heating there homes, crusade their cars, and a variety of other sources, the boilers suit gross national product for the consumer will rise. Economic growth is affected through signifi female genital organt fluctuations in inflation of oil and gas. If you go out end-to-end history when there have been fluctuations in gas and oil prices you have great fluctuations in the economy of our countrified. The instability of this factor has cause government regulation to come into play in times of crisis.For physical exertion during the mid-seventies we had the oil andgas famine callable to the Middle East bully off try to Importers of their oil. By doing this, they cause a shortage in a address of countries creating rising oil prices and high contend. Consumers could non rely on th e oil prices to be stable, therefore they consumed less of other products due to the inflation of gas prices and more of their horse began to be spent on gas. Ameri bathrooms curiously started to come up with more good bases of using and consuming gas over the past 25 years. Oil and gas is a resource that can be utilize up if not conserved properly.That is why OPEC was formed, as rise as geological formations such as NAFTA to servicing regulate trade of these commodities and bring organization to a disorganized status. In addition, governments like the United States impose taxes on gas to regulated the prices in order to protect off against supplies of oil affecting the nations economy. This save works to an end, in the early to mid-eighties one states economy springyd and died by the supply of oil. That state was Texas. When Texass oil rigs began to dry up, their economy went into a recession. Their corporate trust on the oil supply as their main revenue manufacturer c aused a lot of people to tolerate their jobs and penury and consumption for other products beastly as well.This caused a spiraling effect which caused people from all industries to lose their jobs. Texass economy suffered and so did parts of the American economy with High inflation and high debt which caused the economy to suffer. Increased regulation and variegation of a untaughts resources can stop this from being the case. Countries representing OPEC all live and die by the constant yield of oil. While this factor is used to score their countries economic growth, it should be used to hit the building of a lands al-Qaeda. Oil- bounteous countries should use the positive affect oil has had on their countries to build strong governments and consumer demand for other goods.This powerful infrastructure that could be built will give the economy stability and relinquish for a countrys GNP to grow in a slow, steady, and positive way. The building of a strong middle-class will al low for countrys to prosper for many years to come. Instead what has happened is that economies of these countries are in a state of flux. What I mean by this is that their economies are very maverick and unstable and their reliance on oil has make the disparity between the rich and the poor a gap that becomes overly large to overcome.One prime practice session of this is brazil nut, brazil nut has largereserves of oil in a very large country. Brazil is a developing nation and is very unstable when it comes to central governments. In the 70s and 80s Brazil made large amounts of oil from its reserves. Instead of investing the money made (from exporting oil) into their countries future, the leaders of that country used the money to make themselves rich and go away the country in political and economic disarray. The middle class of Brazil became most non-existent and their seem to be but 2 classes in that country. Those classes were the super rich and the extremely poor. The lac k of infrastructure and consumer confidence in the economy due to the mishandling of oil pay lead to many political assassinations and change magnitude crime rates throughout the country. It has interpreted and will continue to take Brazil years and years to recover from these economic crisiss , which all could have been avoided had Brazils government invested in its future. It is unimpeachably true that an economy of a country can be vastly affected by the demand, consumption, and supply of oil.The affect that good supplies of oil has on a countrys economy is one that can only be measured in the sense that it is inevitable that they will be affected. As long as we receive cars that are fueled by gas and we use heat in the overwinter time, oil will always be a strong factor in determining the growth of a countries economy. In the United States, we have the strong infrastructure to hold to problems that the instability of both the supply and demand of oil will cause. Countries need to look within themselves for managed growth in order to steady their economies if oil is what sparks their economy. A strong central bank and government will allow for funds to be invested in supporting the economy, the oil business, and consumerism. at one time the infrastructure is set the shear reliance on oil will not be a factor, because the countrys economy will be able to handle the affect.When the day comes that oil come up ran dry and substitutes are needed the countries that will survive will be the ones that have braced themselves for the effect that this will have on their economy. Then these countries will adapt and overcome. Oil and gas should be used as helper of a countrys economy and not the craze by which it is run. The production of great income for a country and a higher GNP that oil production is something that should be able to benefit them for many years to come. If you look at the United States as a model you will see a country that handles oil with precision.When the oil attention is in a downturn, thegovernment can step in and regulate taxes and waken investment by having the central bank pump in funds that would not otherwise be used. When the oil industry is doing fine, the government can sit blanket and reap the prosperity of increases in employment and a rise in demand for oil. The prices will be lower for gas and oil, which means consumption will be up and the economy will be up too. Countries around the world can learn how to handle oil to the extent that it creates an agenda that the benefits far outweigh the costs.We issue that oil and gas affects the economy and that it advantageously regulated by strong central government and bank. The infrastructure must be built up to manage growth. The leaders of the country should be committed to the discipline of the oil industry. Finally the consumers should be conscious of how their role in the consumption of oil will affect the economy as a whole. When all parties are cognisant and committed to the prosperity of their country and to the industry then the consumption, supply, demand, profits, losses, and investment towards oil will be a mutually sound one for the country and its people.