Succubus Blues CHAPTER 12

â€Å"Man, if Jerome had threatened to stash me somewhere, I wouldn't be out snooping around.† â€Å"I'm not snooping. I'm just speculating.† Peter shook his head and took the cap off a beer. I sat with him and Cody in their kitchen, the day after Hugh's attack. A ham and pineapple pizza had just arrived, and Cody and I dug into it while the other vampire merely watched. â€Å"Why can't you just accept this for what it is? Jerome's telling the truth. It's a vampire hunter.† â€Å"No. No way. None of this adds up. Not the goofy way Jerome and Carter are acting. Not Hugh's attack. Not that fucked-up note I got.† â€Å"I figured you get screwy love notes all the time. ‘My heart bleeds for you, Georgina.' Written in actual blood. Stuff like that.† â€Å"Yeah, nothing like self-mutilation to turn a girl on,† I muttered. I gulped some Mountain Dew and returned to my pizza. Really, as far as caffeine and sugar went, Mountain Dew was nearly as good as one of my mochas. â€Å"Hey, why aren't you eating any of this?† Peter held up his beer bottle by way of explanation. â€Å"I'm dieting.† I peered at it. Golden Village Low- Carb Ale. I froze, mid-bite. Low- carb? â€Å"Peter†¦ you're a vampire. Aren't you by definition always on a low- carbdiet?† â€Å"It's no use,† Cody chuckled, speaking up for the first time. â€Å"I've already had this argument with him. He won't listen.† â€Å"You wouldn't understand.† Peter eyed our pizza wistfully. â€Å"You can make your body look like anything you want.† â€Å"Yeah, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I looked to Cody. â€Å"Can he really even put on weight? Aren't immortal bodies, I don't know, unchangeable? Or timeless? Or something?† â€Å"You'd know more about it than me,† he said. â€Å"We eat other things.† Peter rubbed his stomach selfconsciously. â€Å"Not just blood. It all adds up.† This had to be weirdest thing I'd heard since Duane's death. â€Å"Stop it, Peter. You're being ridiculous. Next thing, you'll be down at Hugh's asking for liposuction.† He brightened. â€Å"Do you think that would help?† â€Å"No! You look fine. You look the same as you always have.† â€Å"I don't know. Cody's been getting all the attention whenever we go out. Maybe I should get more blond put into the spikes.† I refrained from pointing out that Peter had been almost forty when he'd become a vampire, his hair heavily receding. Cody had been very young – barely twenty – and bore tawny, leonine good looks. Immortals who were formerly human stayed fixed at the age and appearance immortality had taken over. If the two vampires still frequented clubs and college bars, I didn't doubt Cody had more luck. â€Å"We're wasting time,† I exclaimed, wanting to derail Peter from this whole image thing. â€Å"I want to figure out who attacked Hugh.† â€Å"Christ, you have a one-track mind,† he snapped. â€Å"Why can't you just wait to find out?† Good question. I didn't know why. Something inside me was tugging to get to the truth of this, to do what I could to protect my friends and myself. I just couldn't stand passively by. â€Å"It couldn't have been a mortal. Not from the way Hugh described the attack.† â€Å"Yeah, but no immortal could have killed Duane. I already told you that.† â€Å"No lesser immortal,† I pointed out. â€Å"But a higher immortal†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Peter laughed. â€Å"Oh-ho, you are pushing the envelope now. You think there's some vindictive demon out there?† â€Å"They'd certainly be capable.† â€Å"Yeah, but they have no motivation.† â€Å"Not nece – â€Å" A funny sensation suddenly spread over me, tingly and gentle and silvery. I was put in mind of the fragrance of lilacs, the tinkling of small bells. I looked sharply at the others. â€Å"What the – † began Cody, but Peter was already moving toward the door. The signature we all felt was similar to Carter's in certain ways but lighter and sweeter. Less powerful. A guardian angel. Peter opened the door, and Lucinda stood there primly, her arms clasped tightly around a book. I nearly choked. It would figure. As a general rule, I didn't interact with many angels in the area, Carter being the exception because of his relationship with Jerome. Still, I knew who the locals were, and I knew Lucinda. She wasn't a true angel like Carter. Guardians were more like the heavenly equivalent of Hugh: former mortals who served and ran errands for all eternity. I had no doubt Lucinda performed all sorts of good deeds on a daily basis. She probably worked in soup kitchens and read to orphans in her free time. Whenever she was around us, however, she became a prissy little bitch. Peter shared my sentiment. â€Å"Yes?† he asked coolly. â€Å"Hello, Peter. Your hair is very†¦ interesting today,† she observed diplomatically, not moving from the doorway. â€Å"May I come in?† Peter scowled at the hair comment but had too many good hosting instincts drilled into him to not wave her inside. He might tease me about mortal hobbies, but the vampire had a meticulous sense of propriety and etiquette bordering on obsessive-compulsive disorder. She swept inside, proper in an ankle-length plaid skirt and high-necked sweater. Her short blond hair curled under in a perfect bob. I was a different story. Between my plunging neckline, ultratight jeans, and fuck-me heels, I felt like I might as well lie down on the floor and spread my legs. The demure look she gave me clearly implied she was thinking the same thing. â€Å"Charming to see you all again.† Her tone was crisp, formal. â€Å"I'm here to deliver something from Mr. Carter.† â€Å"Mr. Carter?† asked Cody. â€Å"Is that his last name? I always thought it was his first.† â€Å"I think he just has one name,† I speculated. â€Å"Like Cher or Madonna.† Lucinda said nothing to our bandying. Instead, she handed me a book. Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex. â€Å"What the hell is that?† exclaimed Peter. â€Å"I think I saw it on some talk show.† I suddenly remembered walking out with Carter in the hospital and how he'd claimed to own a book that would help me with Seth. I tossed it on the counter disinterestedly. â€Å"Carter's fucked-up sense of humor in action.† Lucinda flushed deep crimson. â€Å"How can you use such language so carelessly? You sound like you're†¦ like you're in a locker room!† I smoothed down my tank top. â€Å"No way. I'd never wear this in a locker room.† â€Å"Yeah, it isn't even in school colors,† said Peter. I couldn't resist toying with the guardian. â€Å"If I were in a locker room, I'd probably have on a short cheerleader skirt. And no underwear.† Peter continued playing off me. â€Å"And you'd do that one cheer, right? The one with your hands splayed against the shower wall and ass sticking out?† â€Å"That's me,† I agreed. â€Å"Always ready to take one for the team.† Even Cody flushed at our crassness. Lucinda was practically purple. â€Å"You – you two have no sense of decency! None at all.† â€Å"Oh whatever,† I told her. â€Å"Back at the country club, or wherever you and the rest of the choir hang out, you probably wear a shorter version of that skirt all the time. With knee socks. I bet the other angels really go for the schoolgirl look.† If Lucinda were any one of my friends, a comment like that would have only escalated into more sarcasm and snide remarks. The guardian, however, merely stiffened and chose to rely on deadpan self-righteousness. â€Å"We,† she declared, â€Å"do not carry on in such an unseemly manner with each other. We act with decorum. We treat each other with respect. We do not turn on each other.† This last one came with a brief eye-glance toward me. â€Å"What was that for?† She tossed her hair, what little of it there was. â€Å"Oh, I think you know. We've all been hearing about your little vigilante act. First that vampire, then the imp. Nothing about you people surprises me anymore.† Now my face flushed. â€Å"That's bullshit! I was cleared of Duane a long time ago. And Hugh†¦ that's just stupid. He's my friend.† â€Å"What does friendship mean among your kind? He's just as bad. From what I heard, he received a great deal of amusement telling anyone who would listen about your little whip and wings getup. Oh, and by the way, if you don't mind my observation, I think that has to be the most degrading thing I've ever heard. Even for a succubus.† She arched a glance toward the book I had tossed to the counter. â€Å"I'll tell Mr. Carter you, uh, received the book.† With that, she turned neatly and left, closing the door behind her. â€Å"Sanctimonious bitch,† I muttered. â€Å"And how many people know about that demon girl thing anyway?† â€Å"Forget her,† said Peter. â€Å"She's a nobody. And an angel. There's no telling what they'll do.† I scowled. And then, it hit me. I couldn't believe I'd never thought of it before. Maybe Lucinda needed more credit. â€Å"That's it!† â€Å"What's it?† mumbled Cody through a mouthful of nearly cold pizza. â€Å"An angel killed Duane and attacked Hugh! It's perfect. You were right in saying a demon would have no reason to take our side out. But an angel? Why not? I mean a real one, not a guardian like Lucinda.† Peter shook his head. â€Å"An angel could do something like that, but it'd be too petty. The great cosmic good-versus-evil battle is bigger than one-on-one matches. You know that. Taking out one agent of evil at a time would be a waste of resources.† Cody considered. â€Å"What if it was a renegade angel? Someone not following the rules of the game.† Peter and I both turned to the younger vampire in surprise. He'd been more or less avoiding our speculation this evening. â€Å"There's no such thing,† his mentor countered back. â€Å"Is there, Georgina?† I felt both vampires' eyes turn to me, waiting for my opinion. â€Å"Jerome says there are no bad angels. Once they're bad, they become demons, not angels anymore.† â€Å"Well, that kills your theory then. An angel doing something bad would fall and not be an angel anymore. Then Jerome would know about him.† I frowned, still intrigued by Cody's use of the word â€Å"renegade† over â€Å"fallen.† â€Å"Maybe angel sin is like human sin†¦ it's not always ‘bad' if the person thinks they're doing ‘good.' This one hasn't gone over yet.† We all pondered this a moment. Humans continually labor under the delusion that there really is a precise set of rules on what sin is and is not, rules that one might break without even realizing it. In reality, most people know when they do wrong. They feel it. Sin is more of a subjective matter than an objective one. Back in the days of the Puritans, corrupting souls had been no problem for a succubus since almost anything sexual and pleasurable felt wrong to those men. Nowadays, most people don't regard premarital sex as wrong, hence no sin is committed. Succubi have been forced to become more creative over the years if they want to get an energy fix and corrupt a soul. Still, by that logic, it was possible that a renegade angel who believed he or she was doing good might not cross into the realm of sin. If there was no sin, then there could be no fall. Or could there be? The whole concept strained the mind, and Peter apparently thought so too. â€Å"So what's the difference? What makes an angel fall? We're staking a lot here on a technicality.† I could have concurred until I recalled something else. â€Å"The note.† â€Å"Note?† asked Cody. â€Å"The note that was on my door. It said I was beautiful enough to tempt angels into falling.† â€Å"Well, you do look pretty good.† When I raised an eyebrow, Peter said grudgingly, â€Å"Okay, that is kind of suspicious†¦ but it's almost too suspicious. Why would someone overtly leave a calling card?† Cody nearly jumped out of his seat. â€Å"It's some kind of psycho angel who likes playing mind games. Like in those movies where killers carve clues into their victims, so they can watch the police puzzle things out.† I shuddered at that image as I thought over what I knew about angels in general, which really was nothing. Unlike our side, the powers of good did not have the same cryptic hierarchy of supervisors and geographical networks, no matter the stories about cherubim and seraphim. After all, we were the ones who had invented middle management, not them. I always had the impression that most angels and denizens of good operated like private investigators or field agents, completing assorted angelic missions in a very loosely organized way. Such an open venue would provide ample chance for someone to surreptitiously tackle a side agenda. Angelic involvement would also explain the subterfuge, I reflected. Their side was embarrassed. Typical, really. Little embarrassed our side anymore. They, however, would be shamefaced to admit one of theirs had turned rogue, and Carter, being so chummy with Jerome, had conned the demon into keeping quiet about the whole matter. All of his sarcasm and attempts to mock me were only more weak efforts at saving face. The more I considered this far-fetched theory, the more I liked it. Some disgruntled angel, wanting to be heroic, decided to turn vigilante and take on the forces of evil. The renegade angel theory would explain how any of us could be legitimate targets, as well as shed light on why no one could sense this being since we now knew higher immortals could hide their presence. Which made me wonder why exactly Jerome and Carter were also masking their presence. Were they hoping to catch this angel unaware? That, and†¦ â€Å"Why'd this person let Hugh live then?† I looked from vampire to vampire. â€Å"An angel could take out any of us. Hugh said he wasn't winning, and no one interrupted. The attacker just got bored and took off. Why? Why kill Duane but not Hugh? Or me, for that matter, since this person knows what I am.† â€Å"Because Duane was an asshole?† suggested Peter. â€Å"Personality aside, we all weigh in just as heavily on the evil side. Hugh maybe even more so.† Indeed, Hugh was in his prime as far as immortals went. He no longer held a novice's inexperience like Cody, nor had the imp grown world-weary and bored like Peter and I had. Hugh knew enough now to be good at his job, and he actually liked what he did. He should have been a prime target for any angelic vigilante wanting to make the world a better place. Cody agreed with Peter. â€Å"Yeah. Evil or not, some of us are more likable than others. Maybe an angel could respect that.† â€Å"I doubt an angel would find any of us likable – â€Å" I cut myself off. One angel did like us. One angel hung out with us a lot. One angel who seemed to be everywhere Jerome was lately when these attacks happened. One angel who knew us personally, who knew all of our habits and weaknesses. What better way was there to track and study us than to infiltrate our drinking group and pretend to be a friend? The idea was so explosive, so dangerous, I felt ill at ease just giving shape to the thought. I certainly couldn't utter any of it aloud. Not yet. Cody and Peter hardly believed the angel theory at all. I doubted they'd jump on board if I started accusing Carter. â€Å"You okay, Georgina?† Cody queried when I lapsed into silence. â€Å"Yeah†¦ yeah†¦ fine.† I caught a glimpse at the time on the stove and jumped up from my chair, head still reeling. â€Å"Shit. I've got to get back to Queen Anne.† â€Å"What for?† asked Peter. â€Å"I have a date.† â€Å"With who?† Cody grinned slyly at me, and I blushed in response. â€Å"Roman.† Peter turned to his apprentice. â€Å"Which one is that?† â€Å"The hot dancing guy. Georgina was all over him.† â€Å"I was not. I like him too much for that.† They laughed. As I picked up my coat, Peter asked: â€Å"Hey, I don't suppose you could do me a favor sometime?† â€Å"What?† My mind still clung to the mystery winding around us. That, and Roman. He and I had talked on the phone a few times now since the last date, and I was growing more and more amazed at just how well we clicked. â€Å"Well, you know how they've got those computer programs in salons that will show you what you'll look like with different colors and cuts? I was thinking you could be like a living one. You could morph into me and show me what I'd look like with different hairstyles.† Silence hung in the room for a full minute as Cody and I stared at him. â€Å"Peter,† I told him at last, â€Å"that's the stupidest idea I've ever heard.† â€Å"I don't know.† Cody scratched his chin. â€Å"For him, it's not bad.† â€Å"We have too many other issues to deal with right now,† I warned, having no patience to humor Peter with niceties. â€Å"I'm not wasting my energy on your vanity.† â€Å"Come on,† pleaded Peter. â€Å"You're still brimming from that good virgin guy. You can spare it.† I shook my head, slinging my purse over one shoulder. â€Å"Succubus 101. The farther a transformation takes me from my natural form, the more energy it expends. Cross-gender changes are a pain in the ass; cross-species ones are even worse. Playing salon with you would burn through most of my stash, and I've got better things to waste it on.† I eyed him dangerously. â€Å"You need some serious counseling for body image and insecurity, my friend.† Cody regarded me with new interest. â€Å"Cross-species? Could you, like, turn into a Gila monster or†¦ or†¦ a sand dollar or something?† â€Å"Good night, boys. I'm out of here.† As I departed, I could just barely hear Peter and Cody debating if it would take more energy for me to change into a really small mammal or a human-sized reptile. Vampires. Honestly, they're like children sometimes. I drove home in record time. I remembered to shape-shift my heels into sandals and walked up to my building's door just as Roman did. Seeing him banished any lingering thoughts of angels and conspiracies. He had told me to dress casually for this evening, and while he had done the same, he still managed to make jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt look like runway fashion. I apparently had the same effect on him because he caught me up in a giant bear hug and kissed my cheek. â€Å"Hey, gorgeous,† he murmured into my ear, holding on to the embrace a bit longer than necessary. â€Å"Hey, yourself.† I disentangled my body from his and smiled up at him. â€Å"You're so short,† he noted, cupping my cheek in his hand. â€Å"It's cute.† Those eyes threatened to engulf me, and I hastily turned away before I did something stupid. â€Å"Let's go.† I paused. â€Å"Um, where are we going?† He led me to his car, parked just down the street. â€Å"Since you seem to be so good with your feet, I thought I'd take us somewhere to test the rest of your bodily coordination.† â€Å"Like a hotel room?† â€Å"Damn. Am I that obvious?† Several minutes later, he pulled into a dilapidated establishment with a blinking neon sign reading BURT's BOWLING ALLEY. I stared in open distaste, unable to hide my feelings. â€Å"This is your choice of date? A bowling alley? Not even a nice one at that.† Roman seemed unconcerned about my lack of enthusiasm. â€Å"When was the last time you actually went bowling?† I suspected it had been back in the 1970s. â€Å"Not in a very long time.† â€Å"Exactly. You see,† he began conversationally as we went inside and approached the counter, â€Å"I've got you figured out. You claim you don't want to get serious with anyone, but I still get the impression you go out a lot. Size ten, please.† â€Å"Six and a half.† The cashier gave us each a pair of unsavory-looking shoes, and I felt grateful germs posed no threat to me. Roman handed over some cash, and she gestured us down to our designated lane. â€Å"Anyway, like I was saying, regardless of your intentions, you must still end up dating quite a bit. I don't know how you couldn't with the attention you attract.† â€Å"What's that supposed to mean?† I sat down by our lane and took off my Birkenstocks, still eyeing the rental shoes askance. Roman paused in his own shoe-tying and gave me a long, steady look. â€Å"Oh come on, you can't be that oblivious. Men check you out all the time. I always see it when I'm with you. Walking through the bookstore, going to that bar the other night. Even here, in this place. In just walking over from the counter, I saw at least three guys stop and watch you.† â€Å"Is there a point here somewhere?† â€Å"Eventually.† He stood up, and we walked over to a rack of communal bowling balls. â€Å"With all that attention, guys must ask you out all the time, and you must give in sometimes, just like you did with me. Right?† â€Å"I guess.† He paused in his ball selection and gave me another one of those breathtaking, soul-searching looks. â€Å"So tell me about your last date.† â€Å"My last date?† I somehow didn't think Martin Miller counted. â€Å"Your last date. I mean a real date, not like a casual grabbing a drink thing. A date where the guy gave his best shot at planning an itinerary he thought would get you into bed.† I tested the weight of a fluorescent orange and green swirled ball, racking my brain. â€Å"The opera,† I said at last. â€Å"And dinner at Santa Lucia's.† â€Å"Nice spread. And the one before that?† â€Å"Jesus, you're nosy. Um†¦ let's see, I think it was the opening of an art exhibit.† â€Å"Undoubtedly paired with dinner at some restaurant where stiff waiters say ‘thank you' after you make a selection, right?† â€Å"I guess.† â€Å"Just as I thought.† He hoisted a navy blue ball into the crook of his arm. â€Å"This is why you're resistant to dating, why you don't want to get serious with anyone. You're such a hot commodity that plush, five-star dates are par for the course. They're ordinary. Men try to throw out all the stops for you, but after a while, you get bored with them.† His eyes danced mischievously. â€Å"Therefore, I will differentiate myself from those losers by taking you to places your little elitist feet would never dream of touching. The salt of the earth. Back to basics. The way dating was meant to be: two people, more concerned with each other than their posh venue.† I walked with him back to our lane. â€Å"You just took an awfully long time to say you think I want to go slumming.† â€Å"Don't you?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Then why are you with me?† I eyed that gorgeous appearance and thought about the conversation we'd had the other night on classical languages. Looks and intellect. Hard to beat. â€Å"You're hardly slumming it.† He smiled at me and changed the subject. â€Å"That's your choice?† I looked down at the ball's psychedelic color pattern. â€Å"Yeah. This night is already turning surreal enough. Figured I might as well get the full experience. Maybe we'll drop some acid later.† Roman's eyes crinkled with amusement, and he cocked his head toward the lane. â€Å"Let's see what you can do with it.† I stepped up uncertainly, trying to remember how I used to do this. All up and down the alley, I could see other players walking up and throwing with ease. Shrugging, I stood at the line, drew my arm back, and threw. The ball flew out jerkily, sailed about four feet, hit the lane with a loud crack, and then promptly entered the gutter. Roman walked up beside me, and we silently watched the ball complete its journey. â€Å"Are you always that rough with balls?† he asked finally. â€Å"Most men don't complain.† â€Å"I imagine not. Try making contact with the floor before you let it go this time.† I gave him a sharp look. â€Å"You aren't one of those guys that gets off from showing women how much better you are at stuff, are you?† â€Å"Nope. Just offering friendly advice.† My ball returned, and I followed his instructions. The ball's impact proved quieter that way, but I still ended up in the gutter. â€Å"All right. Show me what you can do,† I grumbled, sitting down huffily into a chair. Roman strode up to the lane, movements graceful and flowing like a cat's. The ball poured from his hand like water from a pitcher, sailing smoothly down and hitting nine pins. When his ball returned, he threw it effortlessly once more and took out the obstinate tenth. â€Å"This is going to be a long night.† â€Å"Cheer up.† He chucked my chin. â€Å"We'll get you through this. Try it again, and aim more toward the left. I'm going to get us some beers.† I threw to the left as advised but only succeeded in hitting the left gutter. On my second throw, I tried greater moderation and managed to hit one pin on the far left. I whooped in spite of myself. â€Å"Nicely done,† cheered Roman, setting two mugs of cheap beer down on the table. I hadn't drunk anything not from a microbrewery in over a decade. â€Å"It's all about baby steps.† That certainly turned out to be true as our evening progressed. My pin count increased slowly, though I soon developed the nasty habit of creating splits on my first throw. I showed no aptitude for picking them up, despite Roman's best explanations. To his credit, he gave good, nonthreatening advice, as well as some hands-on instruction. â€Å"Your arm goes like this, and the rest of you leans like this,† he explained, standing behind me with one hand on my hip and the other on my wrist. My flesh warmed at his touch, and I wondered if his actions were truly driven by altruism or were an excuse to get his hands on me. I exercised such techniques regularly in succubus work. It drove men wild, and now I knew why. Ruse or no, I didn't tell him to stop. I hit my peak in the second game, even managing one strike, though my performance declined in the third round as beer and fatigue took over. Sensing this, Roman called our bowling adventures closed, lauding my progress as highly impressive. â€Å"Do we have to go to a dive now for dinner, in order to keep with this dream-date slumming fantasy you've got going?† He put his arm around me as we walked out to the car. â€Å"I guess that depends if you've succumbed to my wily charm or not.† â€Å"If I say yes, will you take me somewhere good? Sometimes the posh places do work, you know.† We ended up at an upscale Japanese restaurant, much to my satisfaction. Taking our time, we savored both food and conversation, and again Roman's knowledge and wit impressed me. This time we discussed current issues, sharing opinions on recent news and culture, things we liked, things that drove us crazy, etc., etc. I discovered Roman had traveled quite a bit and held strong views on world politics and affairs. â€Å"This country is so in love with itself,† he complained, sipping sake. â€Å"It's like one big mirror. It just sits all day and looks at itself. When it can be bothered to look away, it's only to tell others ‘do this' or ‘be just like me.' Our military and economic policies bully people outside our borders, and inside, conservative groups bully other citizens. I hate it.† I listened with interest, intrigued at this side of a normally light and easygoing guy. â€Å"So do something about it. Or leave.† He shook his head. â€Å"Spoken like a comfortable citizen. The old ‘if you don't like it, you can just leave' policy. Unfortunately, it's a lot harder than that to cut yourself off from your roots.† Leaning back, he forced levity with a small grin. â€Å"And I do do things here and there. Small acts. My own battle against the status quo, you know? Attend the occasional protest. Refuse to buy products made with third world labor.† â€Å"Avoid fur? Eat organic food?† â€Å"That too,† he chuckled. â€Å"Funny,† I said after a moment's silence. Something had just struck me. â€Å"What?† â€Å"This whole time, we've talked about current things. No sharing of traumatic childhoods, college days, exes, or whatever.† â€Å"So what's funny about that?† â€Å"Nothing really. It's just that the human mating process usually seems to dictate everyone share their histories.† â€Å"You want to do that?† â€Å"Not really.† I actually hated that part of dating. I always had to edit my past. I hated the lying, having to keep track of my stories. â€Å"I think the past plagues us enough without muddling it into our present. I'd rather look forward, not backward.† I studied him curiously. â€Å"Does your past plague you?† â€Å"Very much so. I fight every day to not let the past overtake me. Sometimes I win, sometimes it does.† God only knew mine did the same. It was odd to talk to someone about this, someone who felt the same way. I wondered how many people in the world walked around with invisible baggage, hiding it from others. Even while packing said baggage, I'd always kept it concealed. I had a driving need to keep up surface appearances – hence the so-called â€Å"happy face.† I'd smiled and nodded through the worst times of my life, and when that superficial reaction had not been enough, I'd finally just run – even though it cost me my soul. I smiled slightly. â€Å"Well then. I'm glad you and I stick to the present.† He tweaked my noise. â€Å"Me too. In fact, my present is looking pretty damned good right now. Maybe my future too, if I keep weakening your resolve.† â€Å"Don't push it.† â€Å"Aw, come on. Admit it. You find my outrage at the powers-that-be endearing. Maybe even erotic.† â€Å"I think ‘entertaining' would be a better word. If you want outrage, you should spend time with Doug, my coworker. You guys have a lot in common. By day he cleans up and plays respectable assistant manager, by night he's the lead singer of this wacky band, registering his discontent against society through music.† Roman's eyes flickered with interest. â€Å"Does he play around here?† â€Å"Yup. He'll be at the Old Greenlake Brewery this Saturday. Me and some of the other staff are going.† â€Å"Oh yeah? What time should I meet you?† â€Å"I don't recall inviting you.† â€Å"Don't you? Because I could have sworn you just named a day and place. Sounded like a passive invitation to me. You know, the kind where it'd be my job to say ‘mind if I come along,' and then you say ‘yeah, no problem,' and so it goes. I just skipped a few steps.† â€Å"Most efficient of you,† I observed. â€Å"So†¦ mind if I come along?† I groaned. â€Å"Roman, we can't keep going out. It was cute at first, but it was only supposed to be one date. We've already gone past that. People at work think you're my boyfriend.† Casey and Beth had informed me recently what a † hottie† I had. â€Å"Do they?† He looked very happy about this. â€Å"I'm not joking here. I mean it when I say I don't want to get serious with anyone right now.† And yet, I didn't really mean it. Not in my heart. I'd spent centuries cutting myself off from any sort of meaningful attachment with another person, and it hurt. Even when I had purposely cultivated relationships with nice guys in my succubus glory days, I had immediately dropped them and disappeared post-sex. In some ways, my life now was even harder. I avoided the guilt of stealing a nice man's life energy, but I never had true companionship either. No one who cared exclusively for me. Sure, I had friends, but they had their own lives, and those who got too close – like Doug – had to be pushed away again for their own good. â€Å"Don't you believe in casual dating? Or even male-female friendships?† â€Å"No,† I answered decisively. â€Å"I do not.† â€Å"What about the other males in your life? That Doug guy? The dance instructor? Even that writer? You're friends with them, aren't you?† â€Å"Well, yeah, but that's different. I'm not attracted – â€Å" I bit off my words, but it was too late. Roman's face bloomed with hope and pleasure. He leaned toward me, touching my cheek with his hand. I swallowed, terrified and thrilled by how close he was. Beer and sake had made me fuzzy in body and mind, and I made a mental promise not to drink the next time we went out. Not that we were going out again†¦ right? Alcohol confused my senses, made it harder to differentiate between the succubus feeding instinct and pure, primal lust. Either one was dangerous around him. And yet†¦ in that moment, lust wasn't even really the issue. He was. Being with him. Talking to him. Having someone in my life again. Someone who cared about me. Someone who understood me. Someone I could go home to. And with. â€Å"What time should I meet you?† he murmured. I looked down, suddenly feeling warm. â€Å"It's a late show†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His hand slid from my cheek to the back of my neck, intertwining with my hair and tipping my face toward his. â€Å"You want to hang out beforehand?† â€Å"We shouldn't.† My words all seemed long and drawn-out, like I was swimming in molasses. Roman leaned over and kissed my ear. â€Å"I'll be at your place at seven.† â€Å"Seven,† I repeated. His lips moved to kiss the part of my cheek closest to my ear, then the cheek's center, then just below my mouth. His lips hovered so close to mine; my whole body concentrated on that proximity. I could feel the heat from his mouth, like it had its own private aura. Everything moved in slow motion. I wanted him to kiss me, wanted him to consume me with his lips and his tongue. I wanted it and feared it, yet felt powerless to act either way. â€Å"Can I get you something else?† The waiter's mildly embarrassed voice shattered my numbing haze, snapping me back to reason, reminding me what would happen to Roman even with a kiss. Not too much, true, but enough. I broke out of his grasp and shook my head. â€Å"Nothing else. Just the check.† Roman and I spoke little after that. He drove me home and made no advances when he walked me to the door, only smiling kindly as he chucked me under the chin again and reminded me he'd be by at seven on Saturday. I went to bed restless and aching for sex. The alcohol helped me fall asleep easily, but when I awoke in the morning, lying in bed in a drowsy state, I could still remember how it had felt to have his lips so close to mine. The lustful yearning returned with a vengeance. â€Å"This is no good,† I complained to Aubrey, rolling out of bed. I had three hours before work and knew I needed to do something other than daydream about Roman. Remembering that I had never followed up with Erik, I decided I should pay him a visit. The vampire hunter theory was more or less obsolete as far as I was concerned, but he might have found something else of use. I could also ask him about fallen angels. Considering the whole â€Å"stashing† threat, I probably should have experienced more concern about going back to Arcana, Ltd. Still, I felt more or less safe. One thing I had learned about the archdemon was that he was not a morning person. He didn't really need rest, of course, but it was a mortal luxury he'd taken to wholeheartedly. I expected him to still be asleep, wherever he was, with no way of knowing what I planned to do. Dressing and eating breakfast, I soon hit the road to Lake City. I found the shop effortlessly now, feeling dismay once more at its barren look and empty parking lot. Yet, when I entered, I saw a dark shape leaning over a corner of books, too tall to be Erik. Pleasure at the thought of Erik getting more business coursed through me until the figure straightened and fixed me with a sardonic, gray-eyed expression. â€Å"Hello, Georgina.† I swallowed. â€Å"Hello, Carter.†

“Philip Condit and the Boeing 777

The case study „Philip Condit and the Boeing 777: From Design and Development to Production and Salesâ€Å" deals with the launch and development key points of the Boeing 777 model in the 90s. Generally, the aircraft industry is described as a very risky one as failure is the norm due to high product development costs. Furthermore it consists of a rival duopoly of the survival jet makers Boeing and Airbus. The Boeing company’s history of producing jets can be split into two eras. In the 1920s, 1930s and during Worlds War II., it was a military contractor producing bombers and fight aircraft. Later on, in the 1950, Boeing became the world‘ s largest manufacturer of commercial aircraft. Their first jet was the 707 model. Although Boeing was very successful, Airbus remained a serious rival. In 1988, Boeing planned to upgrade the 767 model in order to meet the level of Airbus‘ competition which launched two new models. As Boeing had no 300-seat jetlines, nor plans to develop such a jet, the Executive Vice President Philip Condit proposed to design a 767 double-decker jet. To explore the risks, he tried to find out if the customers were interested in such a launch. But United Airlines rejected the idea of a 767 double-decker, as it had no chance against Airbus‘ new model transports. Instead, Condit was won over to develop a completely new commercial Boeing jet which would be called the 777 project. One of the main characteristics of the Boeing 777 jet was that it was a consumer driven product. In order to decrease the risk of developing the new jet, Boeing approved the project only until it obtained 68 firm orders of the 777 jet by the carrier United Airlines. Only then Boeing commited to the 777 program and the directors approved the close cooperation of the two companies. For the design and development phase Boeing introduced the „Working Togetherâ€Å" with eight more carriers. Furthermore Boeing 777 was a globally manufactured product, for which 12 international companies were contracted. Boeing split the risk of the new product on a family of planes consisting of different planes build around a basic 777 model. By that, the design included a maximum flexibility for future changes of the model according to customer preferences. Besides these facts, the 777 project delivered the first jetliner designed entirely by computers. Instead of old-fashioned two-dimensional methods, the sophisticated computer program „Catiaâ€Å" (computer aided three-dimensional interactive application) had been used. Furthermore, all team members were connected according to Catia, which made them be cross-functional. During the 777 project, Boeing implemented a new company culture, where assembly line workers were empowered and encouraged to offer suggestions and participate in the desicion making. Managers also payed attention to problems faced by their workers, such as safety concerns, childcare, etc. The Leadership and Management style changed from a secretive one to open communication among employees; from an individualistic mentality to teamwork. In the 1990 the new 777 aircraft program had been launched and in 1995 the first jet had been delivered, while in 2001 the 777s were flying in the service of major U.S. and international airlines. Although Boeing produced the most successful commercial jetliner, it was a risky project and its process contained unresolved problems. Problem statement The main concern of Boeing was its insufficiency to reach the competitive level of its only rival, Airbus. While Boeing had no plans to even develop a 300-seat jetline, Airbus had launched in 1988 two new successful models. Condit’s proposition of a modernization of the already existing 767 model by upgrading it to a double-decker jet, had been refused by United Airlines. United’s contra argument was that a Boeing 767 double-decker was no match to Airbus’s new model transports. Boeing’s challenge was to create a completely new commercial jet model which should not only be the preferred airplane in the aircraft industry, but at the same time be launched at a competitive price. The most costly and risky part of the development of an aircraft was the production of the jet engine. Its production could cost as much as producing the airplane itself. By deciding to develop a completely new 777 model instead of updating the older 767 model, a new engine had to be developed. Although Boeing had been strong in the 90s, the project still was risky. A failure of the costful new jetliner might have led to a decline of the Boeing company. The question was how to develop technological and managerial innovations to cut costs. Those innovations in aircraft design, manufacturing and assembly were supposed to update Boeing’s engineering production system and manufacturing strategies. The case focuses on efforts done to survive in the aircraft market by modernization, success and cost effectiveness. All efforts finally run to the question, if Boeing will achieve a better competitive position to Airbus. Data analysis The main problem of the company arouse because its latest, eight-year-old, wide-body twin jet 767 Boeing model, even if upgraded and turned into a double-decker, still couldn’t be a match to Airbus’s new 300-seat wide-body models (the two engine A330 and the four engine A340). If Boeing wanted to have future on the market, it quickly had to resolve this issue by planning a way of enhancing its competitive position relative to Airbus. Boeing was also being urged by the United Airlines and also by other airline carriers to develop a brand new commercial jet, which was even expected to be the most advanced airplane of its generation. The decision to be made in terms of this issue lies in the responsibility of Frank Shrontz, Boeing’s CEO, in 1988. The stakeholders to be further affected by it were the future customers of the 777 Boeing model – airline carriers from all around the world, like United Airlines. Also relevant to the outcome of Shrontz’s decision were the manager Philip Condit, put in charge for the 777 project, as well as all the others 10 000 employees and lower level managers, that were recruited to work on it. The situation was going to affect as well Boeing’s suppliers for structural components, systems and equipment, which were twelve international companies located in ten countries. As first constrain for resolving the issue we can note that Boeing’s production system and manufacturing strategies were outmoded and needed to be updated. In order to create an aircraft, which could compete with Airbus’s latest ones, Boeing first needed to revitalize their mass production manufacturing system. Airbus also was ahead of Boeing because of their use of the most advanced technologies, and therefore Boeing had to introduce leading edge technologies into its jetliners. If we look at Exhibit II in the business case, we will see the market share of shipments of commercial aircraft of Boeing, McDonnell Douglas (MD) (until 1997, before the merger with Boeing) and Airbus, for the period 1992 – 2000. The percentage numbers on the table show the competitive relationship between Boeing and Airbus, especially when they remain the only players in the industry in 1997. Airbus is steadily raising the percentage of its market share of shipment throughout the years, for Boeing’s misfortune respectively. From here we can extend more our understanding of the threat that Boeing had in the face of Airbus and also of the need for the CEO of Boeing to come up with a solution for how to strengthen its competitive position.

Architecture As My Major Subject Essay Example for Free

Architecture As My Major Subject Essay I would like to take up Architecture as my major. I find Architecture interesting because it enables me to use my individual creative taste to create structures that other people will also love, and possibly admire. My interest in Architecture first developed during my sophomore year. During that year, I was able to speak to architects on field day. They shared with me their experiences and, in the process, I found myself sharing their aspirations and visions of enhancing and using my artistic capabilities in creating a beautiful community and environment and providing a better quality of life through Architecture. This experience opened my eyes to the possibility of obtaining a new language that can transcend cultures, people and places, and which I can use to express myself spiritually, emotionally and creatively. That language is the language of designs. Therefore, I decided to pursue the field because I believe that the best career path a person can take is that which he loves and enjoys.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I have been exposed to several activities involving architecture. I have volunteered as a teacher assistant for Architecture Graphics I. I also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and became a member of an Architecture organization in my school. Lastly, I was employed in Design Perspectives, an interior design company, for one year. These activities exposed me to various aspects of architectural work and helped me acquire some needed skills. For example, through teaching, I was able to review my previously-acquired skills and test the limits of my knowledge. Habitat for Humanity gave me practical experiences in construction and exposed me to the humanitarian side of my chosen career. Working in an interior design company exposed me to the people-side of Architecture and taught me how to discover the client’s needs and to match our designs with these needs. All in all, these experiences helped me gain a basic grounding in architecture and a deeper respect for its art. Being an architect entails a big responsibility. I have begun to develop my own set of values and have identified the issues that I find most important. Most importantly, I have found a path in which I know I will gain not only money and success, but also fulfillment and satisfaction. Architecture As My Major Subject. (2017, Feb 17).

Reading response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 37

Reading response - Essay Example Another major hurdle that Wal-Mart employees face is discrimination against women. Many women employees who have faithfully served the organization for years fail to receive equal salary increment similar to male colleagues. Furthermore, they also face opposition from the company as they seek to form a union for employees. Often, those who show initiative in such activities find their jobs in jeopardy. A number of staff in Jacksonville, Texas found themselves unemployed after successfully voting for a union. Another concern for employees is the fact that many times, they are called upon to work overtime without payment. The company has very high targets, and supervisors regularly call employees to work extra hours to meet these demands. Mallaby argues that Wal-Mart caters to the poor and those households with little income. He claims that the prices of Wal-Mart commodities are pocket-friendly. A huge part of an employees salary usually goes to food and other basic needs. The company offers items at very reasonable prices and operates other programs focused on assisting employees (Mallaby 621). Therefore, Wal-Mart is of benefit to the underprivileged members of the community. He also goes further to respond to criticism about the alleged suppression of wages. He points out that the companys wage structure is better in comparison to that of other firms. Many people would like to work in Wal-Mart, and this is revealed in Mallabys account of a recruitment drive when the store opened a branch in Glendale, Arizona. There were 527 job openings advertised, and they received an overwhelming 8,000 applications for these positions. There is also criticism that Wal-Mart is a parasite on taxpayers. This is because 5% of its wor kers are on Medicaid. Mallaby argues that this is normal with large retail firms. He adds that the national average for all the companies is

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Reflection - Essay Example The Gibbs model of reflection divides the process into six stages, namely, the Description phase, where the event or topic is discussed; the feelings phase, where one’s thoughts and feelings about what happened are described; the Evaluation phase, where the positive and negative aspects, the pluses and minuses, good and bad aspects, of the experience or event are discussed; the Analysis phase, where one tries to piece together what the underlying dynamics and causes of the event or situation are, where one tries to grasp the essence of the event; the Conclusion phase, where one wraps up the preceding phases and tries to determine other courses of action that could have been pursued; and the Action Plan phase, where one draws up contingencies and plans of actions in the event of the reoccurrence of the incident or situation (The University of Northampton n.d.; La Trobe University 2011; Education Drop-In Centre 2012). Medication error or drug error is defined as any mistake or e rror in the administering a drug or medication, owing to a number of events, including mistakes in the way the drug was routed when administered, mistakes in the dosage administered, lapses in the prescription and administration of drugs for medical conditions, making use of expired medication, mistimed administration of the medication, and mistakes of ignorance arising out of not knowing what the adverse drug reactions are and what the adverse reactions are when co-administering or mixing different kinds of drugs or medications (Elsevier 2009; US Food and Drug Administration 2013; Hahn 2007; CTVNews.ca Staff 2013). The literature meanwhile traces the causes of medication errors to a number of factors, including that the handwriting in medical prescriptions are poor and its contents cannot be determined with certainty at the time of the reading; mistakes in choosing among drugs that have similar naming; and inadequate data relating to patient histories, sensitivities to certain medi cations, and any allergic reactions to any and all considered medications (Elsevier 2009). The emphasis in the discussions on medication errors is that they can be prevented, and the event itself has led to the misuse of medication or and the harming of the patient who took the medication. Medication error too covers the time when any and all medication is being handled not just by the medical practitioner, but also by the patient taking the medication itself, as well as the general consumer who has access to the medication. Medication error events, moreover, are tied to systems and procedures as well as the products of health care; the communication of the order; the labeling and packaging of the drug; the distributing, dispensing and compounding of a drug product; educating the patient about the drug; and the use and monitoring of the use of the drug by the patient. In all of these aspects there are possibilities for the occurrence or commission of drug error acts on the part of t he involved parties, as discussed above (US Food and Drug Administration 2013). Moreover, the literature notes that there are different rates of medication errors and adverse events associated with different classes and types of drugs, with some drugs, such as insulin and morphine, associated with higher rates of medication errors in their various aspects, including in their administration and in certain high-risk contexts, such as in acute care settings. The literature note

MID-TERM Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MID-TERM - Assignment Example The model of allies uses the doctrines of psychology and theology together for the attainment of truth. My personal epistemology supports personal experience. Personal experience is most relevant because it helps to relate the theory with the practical and under the circumstances where it becomes essential to relate the experiences of life with the spiritual theory; it benefits most in counseling and spiritual healing. Sharing is the true mark of a Christian and that can be attained through sharing personal experience. For example, when I was suffering through immense spiritual crisis after a certain personal loss, with sharing and joining community that indulges into prayer, I found back my spiritual self and in selflessness, I found back my own spirit. I understood the power of soulful talk during the period which is also termed as Christian counseling.. The two books according to Entwistle are those that display the work of God and the words of God. Psychology deals with the work of the God and Theology with the word of the God. Personally, a good blend of both the domain can make a difference in one’s life and as a Christian counselor the attainment of the best kind of work can be achieved through interpreting and integrating both the books to cater best result to our clients. Any conflict between both the domains needs to be clearly resolved before implementing it. There is a very thin line between right and wrong but as Entwistle has described in the book with reference to the events from personal life, similarly blending Theology with Psychology and putting them into the realm of spirituality, it becomes easy for anyone to attain the best of Christian counseling. However, right or wrong will always remain to be relative, yet some examples from real life can be used as a kind of motivating factor. Theory of personhood refers to the Christian theory where the individual in social

A clinical incident Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

A clinical incident - Essay Example Mr. Halliday who had just undergone surgery for gastric carcinoma under general anaesthesia had respiratory distress during my posting in the post operative room. The anaesthetist advised tracheostomy. Immediately my senior whom I had assisted twice already in the procedure and observed it being done by her many times, posted me to the duty of assisting the anaesthetist to do it. I had half an hour to prepare myself, the patient and the family for the procedure. The moment that I learned that I had been posted, I felt a little shaky. Could I go through with it? It was my first participation in a tracheostomy. The senior boosted my confidence and told me she would be around if assistance was needed. First I ensured the availability of the emergency tracheostomy kit. I had to speak to the patient and his family of wife and son about the procedure and its outcome. The patient himself was a little hazy from the anaesthesia of surgery. The wife and son were easily convinced but they wanted to know whether it is just for now or long term. Informing them that it has been intended for a short duration now and is being done for controlling the secretions, I felt pleased that things had started off smoothly. Checking the list that is used for the packing of instruments and other equipment for the emergency tracheostomy during preparation for autoclaving, I felt everything needed had been ready. The outer tube, the snugly fitting inner tube, the flange which lies against the patient’s chest and the 15mm termination which fits all ventilators and respiratory equipment were the main components necessary (Tracheostomy care working group, 2000). The optional parts were the cuff which helps fix the tube in position, the air inlet valve which prevents the escape of air, the air inlet line which would allow air to move from the air inlet valve to the cuff and the pilot cuff which is an indicator of the amount of air in the cuff (Tracheostomy care working group,

Questions to answer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Questions to answer - Essay Example This method fosters the chief motivation for reimbursing as setting up a more promising rate of interest over the period of the new issue. 3. Recognizing the difference on reimbursing is the same as the difference on other prompt terminations (Carmichael and Graham, 2010). Auditors argue that organizations should recognize this difference in income in the term of the termination. The third method makes practical sense since it is the only argument where an accountant records the whole difference when the particular agreement is extinguished. This process affects previous terms when the agreement was valid. However, the third method is the generally accepted one (FASB, 1972). This is because many accountants contend that the recognition of this difference might compel an organization to record returns by borrowing funds at high rates of interest to settle discounted, low-rate debts. I favor the first option because it takes into account equity categorization for a part of or the entire outstanding convertible debt issue. As a result, the first option is suitable for fiscal auditing and reporting from a tax point of view (Grant Thorton, 2013). Instruments with the features of both equity and liability categorizations are compound. The first option also qualifies as a requirement for the categorization of fiscal tools (Schneider et al., n.d.). FASB. (1972). APB 26: Early Extinguishment of Debt. FASB. Retrieved from http://www.fasb.org/cs/BlobServer?blobkey=id&blobnocache=true&blobwhere=117582 0898212&blobheader=application/pdf&blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs Schneider, D. K., Schisler, D., Mccarthy, M. G., and Hagler, J. L. (n.d.). Equity Classification of Convertible Debt? Tax and Cash Flows Considerations. Journal of Applied Business Research, 11(4), pp.

The Evolution of International Tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Evolution of International Tourism - Essay Example hough it is prone to be unbalanced as the issue of price is less considered in long-duration tours but of importance in the shorter route destinations hence the aspect price elasticity (Rossellà ³, 2003). International tourism however has always performed better than other economic sectors as evidenced by past records that reveal that, ‘In the last fifty years, for every 1% rise in the per capita income of the world’s inhabitants, the number of travellers has risen by over 3%’ (Manera and Taberner, 2007, pg.4). In the period between 1950 and 2001, global per capita GDP grew by an average of 2.1 percent while the number of tourists within the same period grew by seven percent hence the UNWTO forecasted growth was a modest 1561 million or an average 1.6 billion ITAs by 2020 dependent on a steady upsurge in per-capita income and population growth patterns (Manera and Taberner, 2007). The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer 2009, all the major tourist designations recorded declines with only Africa depicting a growth of three percent. The world tourist arrivals suffered a sharp decline of negative eight percent in 2009, a downturn that started in the second half of 2008. This have inevitably attributed to the impact of the worldwide economic recession that has spelt doom for the international travellers as most tightened on their budgets. The international tourist arrivals (ITA) had by 2008 reached 922 million which was 1.9 percent appreciation from that of 2007, while the international tourism receipts (ITR) rose to US$944 or Euro 642 billion within the same period a 1.8 percent upsurge. The UNWTO (2009) indicated that approximately US$165 billion was generated from the international passenger transport for the combined total tourism expenditure to US$1.1 trillion that more than US$3 billion daily. The expansionist growth has mirrored the explosion of mass tourism stimulated by the era of packaged tours and the growth of the low-cost flights mainly in short haul

John Holland's Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

John Holland's Theory - Essay Example It also explains concepts such as congruence, differentiation, consistency and identity in accordance with Holland’s theory. John Holland believes that humans are attracted to particular work environments in accordance with their personalities and backgrounds and they create specific work stereotypes to choose occupations that satisfy their preferred interests and capabilities (WCU, 2006). A premise of the theory is that people are profoundly influenced by their personality in their ultimate selection of a career and there are six types of personality types which every person falls under one of them. Another premise of Holland’s theory is that there are six analogous model environments that reflect the prevailing physical and social settings of a society (Smart & Feldman, 1998). The six personality types are interrelated and can be cross referenced with the six work environments and the a person that finds his calling in life will benefit from these environments because the characteristics and abilities of his personality reinforced in this setting. A realistic personality type are people who enjoy an active and stable lifestyle that gears them towards choosing jobs that are hands on and required manual abilities such as building, mechanics, machinery operation and athletics (John Hopkins University, 2007). These persons like to be outdoor and can not be confined to the strict environment of an office setting. They visualize work as something you can create in which a tangible result in noticeable and the skill level of a person improves with repetition and experience. They are not the best at dealing with other humans in a work setting. A person with an investigative personality type is a problem solver that is very adept at mathematics and scientific activities. He has the ability to solve complex and abstract problems by

How to Be a Successful Working Student Essay Example for Free

How to Be a Successful Working Student Essay How to Be a Successful Working Student To work while studying is something that will really stress you out if you don’t know how to manage your time and settle your priorities. Your life, your work, your relationships all seem to conspire to deny you the time needed to do the reading, the writing, and the classes needed to complete your course of study, or so it seems. However, it doesn’t mean that you have to punish yourself and neglect the enjoyment that is offered by student life. As for me, now that I have to balance my work and my studies, I follow some guiding principles so that as much as possible I would not sacrifice my performance in school and in my work. There are a lot of things to consider before I decide on how I will spend an hour, a minute, or a moment of my day but to manage time does not mean about getting more time, it is about using it more effectively. We can’t control time, but we can always settle what to do with it. Planning my day ahead and knowing what my limitations are, I try to follow a scheduled time so that I won’t be trapped in a situation that is already out of my control. And with other obligations, I know that I have less study time than those students who can spend full-time on study. So, I know that I have to maximize it. There are times here and there which I use to maximize my time. For example, reading a course material on the commute, during the meal break at work, while waiting for the class to start, or in other spare minutes. Since these pockets of times are short-spare time in between tasks, I make my reading materials in a handy format. Then, as much as possible, I try to connect with others. I know that I should not take it all by myself. A good way to combat stress and loneliness is to seek out the company of people whom you know you can have a good time and share your problems with. Those â€Å"pieces of gold†, or the positive and enjoyable moments could lift up my spirits and help me to begin to see things in a new and balanced way. And lastly, I learn to always see things positively. That is a rule of thumb, because if I allow myself to be consumed by negative thoughts, it will only leave me depressed and would not be able to cope up with what my schedule asks of me. To always ask GOD for guidance and acknowledging that I cannot do things by my own. I just always remind myself that I am a student who is working, not a worker who is studying. I always put my studies first before anything because I know that it is one thing that I can hold on in the long run. To work while studying is one opportunity that I know I should be thankful, so now that I am already in this situation and is handling more responsibility, I just see this as a chance to grow and become more of a better, mature person. Any working student may agree with me that it is really hard to balance school and work, so to those who are committing their time fully to their studies, do not envy us when we receive our salaries. Just be grateful because time cannot be bought. That’s one thing that I have learned since I started to become a working student.

Sociology Asian Family Essay Example for Free

Sociology Asian Family Essay Myths about the Family Ever since the 1950s to this day, common discourse regarding the family, especially in the United States, has been based on Talcott Parsons’ (Parsons Bales, 1955) functionalism views. According to Parsons, the contemporary family form is the nuclear family composed of a breadwinner husband and a homemaker wife with their children. This particular family form emerged as a result of modernization and industrialization and displaced the extended family. This contemporary nuclear family is unctional in that the breadwinner provides for the instrumental needs of the family unit (food and shelter as well as other material needs) whereas the housewife provides for the expressive needs of the family unit (affective and emotional needs as well as socialization). As long as individuals perform their instrumental or expressive roles, the family is a functional unit that contributes to the stability of society as a whole. This gendered division of labor is therefore viewed as essential for the harmonious and orderly functioning of society. This view of the family is also called the male breadwinner model. This theoretical view became the dominant way of examining the family and family life and any deviation from the male breadwinner model is usually labeled a dysfunctional deviation. This is especially the case in the United States where Talcott Parsons’ brand of functionalism dominated social research until the 1960s. Social policies regarding the family are still designed with an eye to what is now considered the â€Å"traditional family,† such as policies encouraging single mothers to marry in order to get out of poverty through the re-creation of an intact nuclear family. Moreover, this model was not only generalized in the United States, it became the prism through which families around the world were seen as well. This view was especially promoted by William Goode (1963). In line with modernization theory, Goode postulated that as countries develop, extended families would be discarded to be replaced by the functional nuclear family, essential to modern society. The major problem with these functionalist views is that they are ideologies rather than derived from observable realities. The so-called traditional family, defined as the male breadwinner model, was an exceptional occurrence in the Western world after the Second World War, and it lasted only a few decades. In this sense, it is a socially invented tradition. Moreover, one of the main functions of ideologies is to maintain the status quo, thereby preserving privileges and maintaining oppressive social mechanisms. In this case, of course, the functional ideal is based on relegating women to the domestic sphere while proclaiming at the same time that expressive roles come more naturally to women and instrument roles more naturally to men. We have already examined how gender roles are socially constructed in our chapter on gender stratification. Also, the male breadwinner model of the family was only available to certain social classes (upper middle and above) as well as to the dominant racial group (whites). Finally, this ideological view of the family ignores cultural variations in family structures as well as the impact of changing socio-economic structures. This is what we turn to now. Family Systems Further evidence of the misleading and ideological nature of the functionalist the breadwinner model of the family is revealed by the variations in family structures across the globe. Using worldwide data, sociologist Goran Therborn (2004) identifies seven family systems, each with their specific regional social and cultural characteristics. According to Therborn, these different family systems do not have dynamics of their own but change based on external factors, such as modernization and globalization. Their inherent characteristics then make them more receptive or resistant to social change. * Sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa (map source) comprises all the countries south of the Sahara desert and that are not considered part of North Africa. As previously mentioned, European colonization had a strong impact of African family structures. Nevertheless, the African family was always strongly based on kinship ties. Depending on the regions, the family structure may patrilineal or matrilineal but in any cases, male relatives exercise authority. According to Therborn (2004), a specific African norm is that of substitutability: in the context of mass polygyny, if a wife does not bear heirs or simply becomes undesirable to the lineage, she can be easily replaced or substituted by the husband taking another wife. Similarly, if a husband dies, he can be replaced by his brother. Another norm that involves fluidity in kinship structure is the mass practice of fostering, lending and borrowing children among kin when necessity demands it. This practice also underlines the idea that individuals belong to a wide kinship network and not a narrow-based family structure. * East Asia The East Asian family system (map source) includes Mongolia, China and Japan. The Chinese society is still dominated by Confucian beliefs. Such beliefs involve a concern for social order and stability through the subordination of individual wishes to collective and familial interests. Central to the Confucian view is the notion of filial piety, that is, the respect for elders as pillars of childrearing. In other words, the typical Chinese family is a strongly patriarchal and hierarchical arrangement based on the three rules of obedience: a daughter obeys her father, a married woman her husband, and a widow her son (Chen and He, 2005). As part of the collective outlook based on Confucianism, there are still a considerable number of households comprising three generations based on patrilineality (parents of the husband, husband and wife, and usually, one child). There is a strong emphasis on family interdependence which maintains the divorce rate at a low level. These traditional patterns are mixed, and sometimes conflict, with the Communist regime’s law mandating equality between men and women as well as with the rapid urbanization and modernization of the Chinese society and the import of western influence on intimate relationships. South Asia The South Asian family pattern (map source) – geographically including countries such as India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Burma – involves high fertility as well as extended family networks as well as strong religious influence (Laungani, 2005). Although not all family members live under the same roof, the Indian family system is extended in the sense that most social relationships and decisions take place within the network of relatives in the context of mostly Hindu religious norms. For instance, in India, the sacred nature of marriage creates a low divorce rate based on the economic and financial dependence of women as well as the strong social stigma associated with divorce, especially for women. The Indian family system is therefore strongly patriarchal supported by strong social norms that may cover up dreadful domestic situations. The Indian family is strictly hierarchical along age and gender lines. The caste system is still pervasive so that endogamy is still the norm, especially in rural areas (over 70% of Indians still live in villages). In order to preserve such endogamy, arranged marriages are still practiced whereby marriages are negotiated between the parents of the potential husband and wife. As with other family systems, the impact of globalization and the massive urbanization has strongly impacted the traditional South Asian system. * West Asia / North Africa The West Asia – North Africa system (map source) covers countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt in Africa, as well as the Middle East in Asia. This is the area commonly called the Muslim world because this is where Islam seems to exercise the most influence. In this system as well, collective family interests take precedence over personal preferences. Moreover, the concept of family honor is particularly strong. The behavior of each individual in a family reflects on the family honor and its standing in the community. It is in this family system that we find the practice of honor killing: the murder of female family members who are seen as having shamed the family and tarnished its honor, by being raped for instance or by not conforming to the dictates of family, tradition or religion. The fact that the victims of honor killings are women is another indicator of the extreme patriarchal nature of this family system which is centered on the strict control over the sexuality of women. This control can take the form of body cover, such as veiling, or of seclusion, whereby women are not allowed to interact with other men except under very restrictive conditions. This system also emphasizes high fertility with a strong preference for boys, especially in rural areas. The value of a woman is often based on her virginity prior to marriage and her fertility once married. Southeast Asia The Southeast Asian system (map source) – which includes countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia – enjoys religious diversity that comprises Muslim and Confucian populations whose marital and sexual norms have been relaxed under Buddhist influence and Malay customs (Therborn, 2004). For instance, in parts of Indonesia, Muslims do not follow the usual patriarchal family patterns. On the contrary, they observe matrilinearity. However, the great ethnic diversity of the Indonesian population generates some degree of extended family-enforced endogamy. Decisions on who can marry whom are made collectively (Sarwono, 2005). Similarly, Indonesia has a strong family planning program that emphasizes smaller families and the health of women through education and improvements in quality of life thanks to reproductive health clinics. In this sense, the status of Indonesian women is very advanced compared to other non-western family systems even though Indonesia is a largely Muslim country. * Creole America The Creole American system originated in the European colonization of the Americas and the Caribbean (which includes countries such as Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobaggo) and the development of the plantation economy largely based on slavery. This estate system of stratification involved a white European dominant culture with a patriarchal family system alongside black African, mulatto, and mestizo family patterns. The Creole family pattern is present throughout the Americas, including African American ghettos in the United States. According to Jaipaul Roopnarine et al. (2005), the Creole system in the  Caribbean is characterized by a large number of nonmarital unions where fathers and husbands are largely absent and women assume the most responsibility in childrearing. Such marital patterns come from the colonial economic system whereby African Caribbean men were forced to leave their families to work in mines or plantations. A value system developed whereby African masculinity was based on successive but temporary sexual relationships and motherhood became the utmost form of femininity. When men and women live together, it is usually in cohabiting or common law relationships that reproduce the traditional patriarchal division of labor. This family system is also characterized by child-shifting, that is, the passing of children to other relatives or acquaintances if the parents find themselves unable to take care of them. As a result, multiple women are involved in childhood socialization. * European And New World Settlements The Western European system and its New World Settlements (such as the United States and Canada, as well as some parts of Central and South America) has always been the least patriarchal of all family systems. Apart from the European monarchies and nobility where marriage was strictly family-controlled with limited individual choice, this system has been based on marriage by consent, supported by the Catholic Church (family pressure was not absent, to be sure, but it was not enshrined into the law). Neolocal pattern has prevented the practice of child marriage: newlyweds were expected to create their own household, something that required financial means. As a result, people tended to marry later and to decide on their own fertility within monogamous arrangements. The Western system is also the one characterized by dramatic changes over the past centuries, changes that are still going on today and define the contemporary supposed marriage and family â€Å"crisis. † Before industrialization, as in other parts of the world, marriage and family formation patterns were patriarchal and fulfilled economic (production) and political (alliance making) functions. With industrialization, families were stripped of these functions taken over by the market and the state. What were left to the families were emotional and social functions. This became known as the love-based male breadwinner model that persisted until the late 1960s. Since then, cultural and economic factors, such as increased women’s independence and entry into the workforce have shattered that model to replace it with a more egalitarian one, with a progressive acceptance of different family forms.

Unilateral Peters Anomaly in a Nigerian Child

Unilateral Peters Anomaly in a Nigerian Child Case report Abstract 10-week-old female infant presented in our clinic in March, 2013 with history of small right globe since birth. There is associated history of whitish speck in the affected eye. The child is a product of term pregnancy which was uneventful. Mother denied any history of febrile illness during pregnancy. Nil history of maternal rashes, nil hearing or visual challenges, nil use of any drug apart from routine ante-natal haematinics. No history of use of traditional medicine in the course of her pregnancy. The patient is the second child of her parents. There is no similar occurrence in the other sibling or in any other member of the monogamous family. Ocular examination revealed right microphthalmos, microcornea and cornea opacity with pannus. The whole extent of the cornea was affected. An assessment of right Peters anomaly was made. The ocular ultrasound done revealed that the right globe measured 16.1mm in its AP diameter and the left globe measured 16.9 mm. There was cataract in the right eye and the anterior chamber was absent with adherence of the iris to the cornea. Patient was to be placed on cosmetic contact lens in future when she would be old enough t o manage it. Key words : Cornea opacity, microphthalmos, unilateral, Nigerian, child INTRODUCTION Peters anomaly is a form of congenital corneal opacity. It is associated with malformation of the anterior segment of the eye. 1 The aetiology of the condition is not clear. The most likely causes include genetic, infectious, traumatic and toxic factors. 1 Peters anomaly is a rare form of anterior segment dysgenesis in which abnormal cleavage of the anterior chamber occurs. The condition may involve the central or entire cornea. The leucoma is associated with irido- corneal adherences at the area of the leucoma. In the inherited form, mutations involve the PAX6 gene.2 Peters’ anomaly was described by Peters about one hundred years ago. 3It is a rare condition world wide, however the incidence rate is unknown. The condition does not have racial or sexual predilection. A study done by Bhandari et al. Showed equal distribution in both sexes. 4 There are two types of Peters anomaly based on the state of the lens namely type 1 and type 2. In type 1, the lens may or may not be cataractous but the lens does not adhere to the cornea. In type 2, the lens is cataractous and adheres to the cornea. 5 Type 1 is usually unilateral while type 2 is bilateral in 60% of cases. The cornea is usually clear at the periphery and vascularisation is not common however there may be sclerization of the limbus. Case History A 10-week-old female infant presented in our clinic in March,2013 with history of small right globe since birth. The mother noticed patient to have small right globe since few hours after birth. There is associated history of whitish speck in the affected eye. The child is a product of term pregnancy, which was uneventful. Mother denied any history of febrile illness during pregnancy. Nil history of maternal rashes, nil hearing or visual challenges, nil use of any drugs apart from routine ante-natal haematinics, nil ingestion of native concoction during pregnancy. She received routine antenatal Tetanous Toxoid vaccination. She neither smoked cigarette nor drank alcohol. She did not chew kola either. Child was delivered by spontaneous vagina delivery, vertex presentation. She cried spontaneously immediately after birth and the umbilical cord was cut using sterile cord scissors. She had received immunization according to National Programme on Immunization schedule. She had also been ac hieving all the normal developmental milestones. There is no history of any febrile illness since birth. She is the second child of her parents. There is no similar occurrence in the other sibling or in the family. Ocular examination revealed right microphthalmos, microcornea and cornea opacity with pannus. General and systemic examination did not reveal any other abnormality. An assessment of right Peter’s anomaly was made. The nature of this condition was explained to patient’s parents with counselling on how to raise the patient. Consent was obtained from the mother and clinical photograph of the condition was taken. The ocular ultrasonography done revealed that the right globe measured 16.1mm in its AP diameter and the left globe measured 16.9 mm. There was cataract in the right eye and the anterior chamber was absent. The left eye was sonographically normal. It is our belief that patient may benefit from the use of cosmetic contact lens in future. Discussion The early presentation of the patient is quite commendable. This may be related to the rarity of the ocular condition and the fact that the parents were enlightened. Most cases of Peters anomaly are sporadic however the inherited ones could be of autosomal recessive and dominant modes of inheritance. It is associated with abnormalities of chromosome 4. 6 We could not establish family history of similar presentation in the family of this patient. The other child of the parents was also said to be normal and in stable condition. Based on this fact, it is our considered opinion that the case may actually be a sporadic one. Peters anomaly is often an isolated ocular defect but there may be associated ocular and systemic anomalies. However further examination of the patient did not reveal any other systemic abnormality. This may be related to the fact that the condition was unilateral as bilateral Peters anomaly is more often associated with systemic anomalies. The globe was observed to be small and this was confirmed with the aid of ultrasonography. The associated anterior segment anomalies with Peters anomaly include glaucoma, anterior polar catarac t, cornea plana, sclerocornea, microphthalmos, colobomata as well as mesodermal dysgenesis of the anterior chamber angle and iris. 7 Peters anomaly may be associated with systemic anomalies like limb deformities, craniofacial anomalies, cleft lip and palate as well as genitourinary defects. 8-10 Treatment of Peters anomaly is challenging and unsatisfactory. The outcome of corneal transplantation is not rewarding due to post operative complications like graft failure, cataract, retinal detachment and glaucoma.11 Alternative treatment measures include rotation of corneal autograft, atropinisation of the pupil most especially if the visual axis is spared and optical iridectomy. The involvement of the whole extent of the cornea and the microphthalmic globe are associated with poor prognosis for visual recovery. Affectation of only one eye is also risk factor for amblyopia. The patient was not suitable for corneal grafting in view of the vascularisation of the cornea. Optical iridectomy or atropinisation was also not considered as the whole extent of the cornea was affected. In view of the poor prognosis coupled with the cosmetic challenge, the patient was to be placed on cosmetic contact lens when she is old enough to manage contact lens. Conclusion We conclude that prompt presentation and treatment of patients with Peters anomaly is desirable. There is need to create more awareness about the condition among health care providers and the populace in view of the fact that it is rare. Multidisciplinary approach should be adopted in the management of affected patients most especially those with associated systemic anomalies. Figure 1 : Child with right eye Peters anomaly

The Night that Changed My Life :: essays research papers

The Night that Changed My Life The night’s darkness blanketed the cabin and the landscape like a mother and her newly born child. The winter snow on the ground illuminated the moon’s light and made it very easy for seeing into the distance, but there was nothing to see; for miles and miles tall pines and rolling terrain contained nothing but Mother Nature. I lay silently in my bed and watched out my window the snow drifting methodically to the ground. The tall pines stood watching over the cabin and their shadows seemed to have a life of their own. The howling wind caused an occasional screech and moan of the old wooden door. I was alone in my cabin except for the wicked cold, which made me a number of times reach for my blanket as it nipped at my exposed body. I trembled and my teeth began to chatter as I read my newspaper by the candlelight. As I began reading I came across an article about an escaped madman from a Maine jail. I looked at the picture and for some reason I thought I knew the man, bu t in reality I knew I did not. I continued to read as I tried to pass time as I expected the arrival of my girlfriend, Michelle, who like myself, was looking for an escape from this harsh world. This isolated spot in Northern Maine had great privacy and seldom had visitors. I lay patiently awake and a wait a knocking on my door. Suddenly, without warning, the candle blew out and a chill came across my body that was indescribable. I quickly rose to my feet to relight the candle, but I soon realized that I was out of matches. I hesitated to move, I hesitated to breathe, but then there was a knocking on my door and my heart suddenly dropped into my stomach. BANG, BANG, BANG. I stood frozen in the middle of the room like a deer caught in a car’s headlights. I practically crawled to the door to see who it was. I prayed after each step that it was Michelle, but for some reason I knew it was not. I went to the door and stood silent, almost like I was waiting for that person on the other side to open the door before I did, but they didn’t. I searched for the handle in the darkness, but I need not to find it.

Perception: Seeing is Believing - UFOs :: essays research papers

Perception: Seeing is Believing - UFOs Since the times when the earth was believed to be a flat object, man has had a lust and curiosity about space and the bodies that exist in it. Early astronomers trying to grasp the incomprehensible mysteries of the universe would study the patterns of the stars and planets to try to put this massive puzzle together. In their studies history has recorded sightings of objects that didn't hold to any pattern or set movement supposedly proved to be correct. Objects that moved freely in the sky in any way, shape or form they pleased. Having no further explanation for these dilemmas of space, they were dubbed "UFO's". The acronym UFO stands for Unidentified Flying Object. Modern electronics and science have helped us in the search for an explanation of these mysterious floating objects. In actuality they haven't gotten us much further on the mission for proof of other living beings in the universe. But in a universe so incomprehensibly large that we no not even a boundary, I sincerely doubt that the human race is the only form of life. It seems certain scientists have come up with other hypotheses concerning UFO's. While all astronomers yearn for a concrete explanation on UFO's, their beliefs on their origin contrast. Many looking for a more scientific definition disregard UFO's as nothing more than a mere misinterpretation of a plane, weather balloon, or meteor. Some have gone so far as to say that specific witnesses to UFO's have seen nothing more than a hallucination and "wanted" to see a UFO so their minds adapted that idea into an illusion to satisfy the urge. Personally, I have had two encounters with unexplainable objects in the sky and to disregard them as a misinterpretation or hallucination is an impossibility. Witnesses who were with me on one of the occasions saw exactly what I did and we concluded it impossible to be anything but unexplainable. Numerous other people out there have also had personal experiences with UFO's and have proof of what they saw. Some people lucky enough have had cameras and home video recorders with them at the time of the encounter caught them on tape. Further analysis of the tapes and photos have proved them to be real, strengthening the believers point of view on alien existence. The strongest piece of evidence on alien existence is the efforts the government makes to cover up the proof on UFO's. The most famous example of this is a building compound found out in the deserts of Nevada called Area 51. Employees of this top secret alien research compound have talked out on the Perception: Seeing is Believing - UFOs :: essays research papers Perception: Seeing is Believing - UFOs Since the times when the earth was believed to be a flat object, man has had a lust and curiosity about space and the bodies that exist in it. Early astronomers trying to grasp the incomprehensible mysteries of the universe would study the patterns of the stars and planets to try to put this massive puzzle together. In their studies history has recorded sightings of objects that didn't hold to any pattern or set movement supposedly proved to be correct. Objects that moved freely in the sky in any way, shape or form they pleased. Having no further explanation for these dilemmas of space, they were dubbed "UFO's". The acronym UFO stands for Unidentified Flying Object. Modern electronics and science have helped us in the search for an explanation of these mysterious floating objects. In actuality they haven't gotten us much further on the mission for proof of other living beings in the universe. But in a universe so incomprehensibly large that we no not even a boundary, I sincerely doubt that the human race is the only form of life. It seems certain scientists have come up with other hypotheses concerning UFO's. While all astronomers yearn for a concrete explanation on UFO's, their beliefs on their origin contrast. Many looking for a more scientific definition disregard UFO's as nothing more than a mere misinterpretation of a plane, weather balloon, or meteor. Some have gone so far as to say that specific witnesses to UFO's have seen nothing more than a hallucination and "wanted" to see a UFO so their minds adapted that idea into an illusion to satisfy the urge. Personally, I have had two encounters with unexplainable objects in the sky and to disregard them as a misinterpretation or hallucination is an impossibility. Witnesses who were with me on one of the occasions saw exactly what I did and we concluded it impossible to be anything but unexplainable. Numerous other people out there have also had personal experiences with UFO's and have proof of what they saw. Some people lucky enough have had cameras and home video recorders with them at the time of the encounter caught them on tape. Further analysis of the tapes and photos have proved them to be real, strengthening the believers point of view on alien existence. The strongest piece of evidence on alien existence is the efforts the government makes to cover up the proof on UFO's. The most famous example of this is a building compound found out in the deserts of Nevada called Area 51. Employees of this top secret alien research compound have talked out on the

Carson McCullers - Exploring the Depths of the Human Heart :: Biography Biographies Essays

Carson McCullers   - Exploring the Depths of the Human Heart      Ã‚  Ã‚   "With poignant insight and compassion Carson McCullers (1917-1967) wrote of human loneliness, unfulfilled love, and the frailty of the human heart."    Of all the characters in the work of Carson McCullers, the one who seemed to her family and friends to be most like the author herself was Frankie Addams: the vulnerable, exasperating, and endearing adolescent of The Member of the Wedding who was looking for the "we of me." However, Carson once said that was, or became in the process of writing, all the characters in her work. This is probable true of most real writers who often with pain draw from their unconscious what the rest of us would just as soon keep hidden from ourselves and others. So accept the fact that Carson was not only Frankie Addams but J.T. Malone, Miss Amelia, and Captain Penderton; but familiarity with the work that she was not able to finish would only be only a partial clue to who and what she was. This was not simply because she had not finished what she had to say, but that she was the artist, and as she often quoted, "Nothing human is alien to me."    So many people were unable to acknowledge Carson's constant closeness to death, and many more resented her for trying to make them face it, but she had lived through enough close calls to convince everyone that she was indestructible.    Carson saw her life one way and those intimate with her often perceived it differently. Intentionally or unintentionally, she added to the confusion about herself. An interviewer was more likely to be cannily interviewed than to extract an interview from her. Besides, she simply liked a good story and frequently embellished the more amusing ones of her life. The one person who singled out this quality in a particularly loving way was Tennessee Williams in his unpublished essay "Praise to Assenting Angels":    The great generation of writers that emerged in the twenties, poets such as Eliot, Crane, Cummings, and Wallace Stevens, prose-writers such as Faulkner, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Katharine Anne Porter, has not been succeeded or supplemented by any new figures of corresponding stature with the sole exception of the prodigious young talent that first appeared in 1940 with the publication of her first novel, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.

Age and Youth by William Shakespeare Essay

The poem â€Å"age and youth†, by William Shakespeare (born April 26th 1564 ? died April 23rd 1616) is one of his profound poems which was published in 1588. It is apart of a collection of numerous poems in â€Å"The Passionate Pilgrim†, ? Age and Youth being numeral XII. These various poems centre on the ideas of the early and late stages in life. More notably however his one sided perception on the two topics. â€Å"Youth† is cast as being the more favourable and several lines throughout the poem display this bias. â€Å"Youth is hot and bold, age is weak and cold†. â€Å"Youth like summer brave, age like winter bare† In fact the whole poem centers around the aforementioned topic (youth) being the more beautiful and aesthetically pleasing than barren and cold â€Å"old age†. Shakespeare’s themes in this particular poem are not unlike many of the others in â€Å"The passionate pilgrim†, the set of poems from which â€Å"age and youth† originates, with conventional themes such as love and beauty and the related motifs of time and mutability. Being a â€Å"continuation† of the previous poems in â€Å"The Passionate Pilgrim† it connects with his theme of addressing love and praise not to a woman but instead to a young man full of youth and vitality. â€Å"Venus, with young Adonis sitting by her Under a myrtle shade, began to woo him† The passionate pilgrim XI â€Å"My better angel is a man right fair† The passionate pilgrim II However â€Å"youth and age† is focused primarily on the topics previously stated (youth and age) but with respect to the young man in the previous poems of â€Å"The Passionate Pilgrim†. In effect the young man is immortalised by the poem thereby defying the destructiveness of time. This is one of the reasons behind this poem, to show how time destroys youth and beauty. â€Å"Youth is full of sport, age’s breath is short†. A number of poetic devices such as the juxtaposition of two complete opposites, the repetition of themes, the explicit imagery, metaphoric language and similes, just to name a few, have been used to convey these themes. â€Å"Youth like summer morne, age like winter weather†. A good example of the juxtaposition of age and youth as summer and winter, used intentionally to create an imagery of youth as being fertile, full of life and pleasant (as we would picture summer) and age being cold, dark and associated with death. Shakespeare has used this as though he is describing the lifecycle from birth (summer, youth) to death (winter, old age). In addition similes have been used as another technique showing the similarities between summer and youth and old age and winter. â€Å"Youth is nimble, age is lame†. Once again shows the simplicity of the poem and the theme Shakespeare is conveying to the reader. Metaphoric language is used here to define youth and age, it gives it an almost human quality as though youth and age can be imagined as two different people (i. e. personification). It is a very effective way of providing imagery for the reader. Other lines follow a similar pattern, â€Å"Youth is full of sport, age’s breath is short† again showing the vitality of youth and the frailty and finality of old age. The use of hyperbole as a technique is evident throughout the poem. Most of the lines have some form of hyperbole by using to greatly exaggerated extremes. â€Å"hot and cold†, â€Å"wild and tame,† â€Å"summer and winter,† â€Å"age and youth cannot live together†. All of these quotes exaggerate the characteristics of both age and youth and are important so there are no ambiguities between the two. They are as opposite as â€Å"hot and cold†. The use of masculine rhyme is present in the poem however it is not consistent throughout the whole poem. â€Å"Youth is full of sport, Ages breath is short, Youth is nimble, Age is lame Youth is hot and bold, Age is weake and cold. Youth is wild, and Age I s tame. † The repetition of youth and age gives it flowing rhythm and therefore rhyme is not necessary. Alliteration is used sparingly and not a strong technique in the poem. It is only used as a play on words, to humorously emphasise the initial consonants of the lines being read. â€Å"Age, I do abhor thee; youth, I do adore thee†. It is uplifting and gives the mood a somewhat flavour due to the alliteration being used. In brief the most focal and constant theme in the poem is the unwillingness to become old and the negative aspects of old age. â€Å"Age, I do abhor thee; youth, I do adore thee†. Youth is so vibrant and lively, a stark comparison to old age, an idea which Shakespeare stubbornly holds on to. â€Å"Age, I do defy thee: O, sweet shepherd, hie thee†. The melancholic mood of the poem expresses Shakespeare’s thoughtful sadness on growing old and the inevitability life and death. The poetic techniques effectively contrast how wonderful youth is and how lackluster and bleak we become as we get older. â€Å"Youth† is consistently depicted as being that of a young person with â€Å"age† being that of an old â€Å"lame† nearly dying man,† ages breath is short†.