Essay --

Gerald ArenasMs. HowellEnglish 10 CPAFebruary 25, 2014Annotative Bibliography of Romantic Era PoetryBlake, William. The spousal of Heaven and hell. The Sorcerers Apprentice. 2010. Web. 2-10 24. January 2014.The Marriage of Heaven and Hell is about Heaven and Hell. It questions if Heaven is as good as it seems, or is it deceiving us. Throughout the poem we see that the narrator is on the deception side. Firstly he states that the Bible is the causes of human errors. The narrator also feels positively about Hell, because he describes his walk in Hell as, delighted with the enjoyments of Genius Finally, in the narrators imagination, he explains that he read the following sentence, How do you know but every Bird that cuts the airy way, Is an immense world of delight closed by your senses five. What the author is trying to say is that we commonly use the Bible as our religious beliefs, but its possible that the Bible is limiting how we perceive the world.Coleridge, Samuel. The agree of the past Mariner. The Pennsylvania State University. 2013. Web. 27 January 2014.The Rime of the Ancient Mariner begins with three men walking to attend a wedding. One of the wedding guests tump over gets grabbed by and old man, the mariner. After the mariner lets go, the wedding guest listens like a three years child to the accounting the mariner is about to tell. The story begins with the mariner and he crew out at sea. The mariner explains it suddenly got dark and they unexpectedly encountered a giant sea bird, called the Albatross. The Albatross was a symbolic representation of good luck, but the mariner felt the need to kill it. The mariner did just that. Once the Albatross was slain the weather got clearer and the crew congratulated him for his... ...ther example from The Marriage of Heaven and Hell would be is sight of a mighty Devil folded in black clouds. The Prelude uses personification to further explain the potential of the earth. This arsehole be seen from the quot e, Walk on this Earth (148). It tells us the earth is powerful and it is also imagination, because the earth cant walk. In he Rime of The Ancient Mariner, the author uses imagination to better display the irritation of a certain scene. After the mariner shot the Albatross, the narrator cross outs a creepy mood by stating that, The bloody Sun, at noon. Imagination can be seen here, as the sun cannot be bloody. The author in Adonais uses imagination to further set the mood of the scene. The shadow of white Death, and at the door. (VIII) describes how scary death is and is imagination, because Death isnt a physical person that can stand at a door.

Free Narrative Essays - Voices :: Example Personal Narratives

Voices The Voice Well, Mrs. Dryer, I go to a very competitive school. I keep back to take competitive classes. Its not as though the work load would go down if I dropped to a lower level. I had a very busy week, and the play expert started. Ill have more time this week. I promise to practice more between now and next lesson. The Scholar (that lives in my mind) What is that woman saying? disgorge my AP classes so that Ill have more time for piano? Does she realize that piano isnt life? Or at least not my life? Ive taken decade years of music, I think thats enough. Id rather be spending my time becoming a more prolific writer. Thats were my passion lies, not in music. medicinal drug is just romanticized math. It doesnt say anything deeper than its title. Not anything specific, at least. The Musician(that lives in my mind) Ummmm...excuse me? The Scholar You heard what I said. Everyone gets sick of a song after awhile. Its because there are no life issues in music. Y ou hear it and its over, and theres nothing to hold on to, nothing to cherish, not even an image, afterwards. It distracts me from reading. Yes, its part of culture, but to really appreciate it you have to have an ear for it. Its not my thing. To really get it, it has to be your thing. The Musician Not your thing? Honey, listen to me, music is most definitely your thing. You cant escape it. As the account book goes up, your soul goes under, submerged in tone and rhythm and rubato (if youre lucky). It takes over your breath. The Scholar I think thats more a function of sound wave shudder than anything else. The Musician No, think of it this way. When we play gently we arent gentle with the keys. We are gentle in the sound. But how do we get that sound? How do we know instinctively, or at least after practice, that a certain touch give aways dolce? The key is breath, is mind. Its in us, not the music. No formula of physics could ever produce that type of sound.

Schindlers lost Essay -- essays research papers

Shindlers List Schindlers List "Memory is all we have, and when the memories are dreadful- when they go for images of the pain we have suffered or, perhaps inflicted- they are what we are try to escape" (Corliss 110). Steven Spielberg captures the audience in this critically acclaimed picture about the Holocaust. Schindlers List is a movie made to induce the mind into the unk at one timen, the horrors of World War II. David Ansen states "Schindlers List plunges us into the nightmare of the Holocaust with newsreel-like urgency- and amazing restraint" (Newsweek 113). Spielberg brings out all emotions in recapturing this life-threatening time period. Schindlers List is about Oskar Schindler, a German Nazi who uses the Jews to make money off the war. At the beginning of the movie Schindler is portrayed as a womanizer, gambler, and heavy drinker. He becomes friends with some top Nazi officials to better himself. As the movie progresses Schindler begins to produce war materials using the Jews as a labor force. As he sits back and watches the various actions of the Nazis he begins to question his morals. His accountant, Itzhak Stern, begins making a list of around 1200 Jews. These Jews were to come and work in Schindlers factory. When Germany surrendered all of the Nazis were to be hunted. some Jews thanked him and all of the workers wrote a letter explaining Schindlers actions. Also, a gold ring was given to him inscribed, "Whoever saves one life saves the world entire" (Talmud). Schindler said good-bye to his workers and fled. Only now the Jews are liberated to have nowhere to go and nowhere to leave. Many great directors concentrate on dialogue, scenery, and plat however, Spielberg stresses the importance of camera angles and the effect of mysterious and white film, scenes and characters, on viewers in Schindlers List. With his outstanding work on camera angles, Steven Spielberg holds the audience at breath while waiting for the next scene. Spielberg uses a hand held camera to grasp the effects. David Denby explains how the use of a handheld camera is much more accurate. "The camera keeps moving moving fast, chasing corners and up stairways ." Spielberg makes the movie confront "like and advertent look of newsreel footage" (1282). Life magazine quoted Spielberg discussing the image of Amon Goeth sunbathing. A man named Raymon... ...s that there is mass murdering going on. By looking on the walls at the shadows, the sights seen are atrocious. These shadows came from the black and white color of the film. So what caused the Holocaust? Many agree the main factor was indifference. "Schindlers List is about the triumph of the human touch over sadism and degradation, indifference and silence" (Rader 6). Oskar Schindler saved 1200 Jews. Today more than 6000 Jews are descendants of the Schindler Jews. Spielberg ends the movie with the Schindler Jews placing stones on Schindlers grave. The mov ie is now in color to propel the audience that there is still mourning going on for the Holocaust victims. Someone who was dedicated to recreating an awful historical event could only do this movie. Steven Spielberg, a Jew himself, never believed he could make it through the movie. He too believed that the black and white made the movie easier to bear with, and gave it a more realistic viewpoint. "The movie ends with the final message "Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire." This message is true. Spielberg has constructed this movie as an educational film, so that it may never happen again.

The Character of O-lan in Pearl S. Bucks The Good Earth :: Pearl Buck Good Earth Essays

The Character of O-lan in Pearl S. Bucks The Good Earth Pearl S. Bucks The Good Earth depicts the journey of a Chinese farmer and his family in the early twentieth century. It begins with the protagonist, Wang Lung, marrying a servant, O-lan, from a neighboring rich house. They start a family in their small country town, and start grueling times, including droughts, floods, and war. Wang Lung and O-lan work as hard as horses to ensure their familys survival. The familys persistence finally prevails, and the land eventually produces great riches. O-lan plays a considerable role in the success of the family. Buck portrays O-lan as a resourceful and reliable woman. O-lan is very knowledgeable and draws on past experiences. She is a acquiremented cook because she worked in the kitchens as slave. When O-lan first arrives at Wang Lungs house, she prepares a deliciously cooked meal. In response to Wang Lungs questions of her dexterity, she blandly replies, I have been kitch en slave since I went into the House of Hwang. There were meats at all(prenominal) meal (22). Wang Lung received many compliments from his family and friends for O-lans dinner. She is familiar with the preparation many different kinds of food, such as corn cobs, meats, and other varied foods. O-lan is an experienced beggar. This skill was employ in a critical time. The family was forced to face many adversities during the drought. Wang-Lung and O-lan reluctantly decided to move to a southern city to escape starvation. O-lan used her childhood begging talents to assist the family in surviving the dilemmas of the city. She knew who to plead to, where to beg, and most importantly, taught the other children to beg.

Surrealism in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock :: Love Song J. Alfred Prufrock

Surrealism in The Love pains of J. Alfred Prufrock           Surrealism is a dangerous password to use about the poet, playwright and critic T.S. Eliot, and certainly with his depression major work,  The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock . Eliot wrote the poem, after all, years before Andre Breton and his compatriots began defining and practicing surrealisticism proper. Andre Breton published his first Manifesto of Surrealism in 1924, s point years after Eliots publication of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.  It was this manifesto which defined the movement in philosophical and psychological terms. Moreover, Eliot would later on show indifference, incomprehension and at times hostility toward surrealism and its precursor Dada.         Eliots favourites among his French contemporaries werent surrealists, but were rather the figures of  St. John Perse and Paul Verlaine, among others.  This does not mean Eliot had nothing in common with surrealist poetry, but the facts that both Eliot and the Surrealists owed much to Charles Baudelaires can perhaps best explain any similarity strangely evocative explorations of the symbolic suggestions of objects and images.  Its unusual, sometimes blow out of the water juxtapositions often characterize surrealism, by which it tries to transcend logic and habitual thinking, to reveal deeper levels of meaning and of unconscious associations. Although scholars might not classify Eliot as a Surrealist, the surreal landscape, defined as an attempt to express the workings of the subconscious mind by images without order, as in a dream   is exemplified in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.         Prufrock presents a symbolic landscape where the meaning emerges from the mutual interaction of the images, and that meaning is enlarged by echoes, often heroic, of other writers.         &n bsp The juxtapositions mentioned earlier  are evident even at the poems opening, which begins on a rather sombre note, with a nightmarish passage from Dantes Inferno.  The main character, Guido de Montefeltro, confesses his sins to Dante, assuming that none has ever returned alive from this depth this depth being Hell.  As the reader has never experienced death and the passage through the Underworld, he must rely on his own imagination (and/or subconscious)  to place a proper reference onto this cryptic opening.  Images of a landscape of fire and brimstone come to mind as do images of the two characters sacramental manduction a surprisingly casual

Surrealism in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock :: Love Song J. Alfred Prufrock

Surrealism in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock           Surrealism is a dangerous word to use about the poet, playwright and dilettante T.S. Eliot, and certainly with his first major work,  The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock . Eliot wrote the poem, after all, long time before Andre Breton and his compatriots began defining and practicing surrealism proper. Andre Breton published his first Manifesto of Surrealism in 1924, seven years after Eliots publication of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.  It was this manifesto which defined the movement in philosophical and psychological terms. Moreover, Eliot would later show indifference, incomprehension and at times opposition toward surrealism and its precursor Dada.         Eliots favourites among his French contemporaries werent surrealists, but were quite the figures of  St. John Perse and Paul Verlaine, among others.  This does not mean Eliot had nothing in common with surrealist poetry, but the facts that both Eliot and the Surrealists owed untold to Charles Baudelaires can perhaps best explain any similarity strangely evocative explorations of the symbolic suggestions of objects and images.  Its unusual, sometimes startling juxtapositions often characterize surrealism, by which it tries to give-up the ghost logic and habitual thinking, to reveal deeper levels of content and of unconscious associations. Although scholars might not classify Eliot as a Surrealist, the surreal landscape, defined as an attempt to bear the workings of the subconscious mind by images without order, as in a dream   is exemplified in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.         Prufrock presents a symbolic landscape where the meaning emerges from the mutual interaction of the images, and that meaning is enlarged by echoes, often heroic, of other writers.           The juxtapos itions mentioned earlier  are evident even at the poems opening, which begins on a rather sombre note, with a nightmarish passage from Dantes Inferno.  The main character, Guido de Montefeltro, confesses his sins to Dante, assuming that none has ever returned alive from this depth this depth being Hell.  As the reader has neer experienced death and the passage through the Underworld, he must rely on his own imagination (and/or subconscious)  to place a proper annexe onto this cryptic opening.  Images of a landscape of fire and brimstone come to mind as do images of the two characters sharing a surprisingly casual

The Effect of Alcoholism on the Family

intoxication has been a business America has faced for thousands of years. There are intoxicants in every generation and they can be of both age, social or ethnic group, and socio-economic status. Numerous studies unexpectedly show that inebriety typically affects highly educated and highly motivated persons (Silverstein, 1990 cited in Parsons, 2003).Presently, in a national survey conducted in 2001 by the U. S. Department of health and Human Services (2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse), nearly i-half of Americans (48.3 per centum or roughly 109 million) at least 12 years of age reported that they were current inebriantic drink drinkers, while 5. 7 per centum or 12. 9 million reported that they engage in heavy imbibition.Most of the heavy drinkers were young adults aged 18 to 25 years old (13. 6 percent of the population within this age range), and heavy alcohol use rates decreased with increasing age as only 5. 4 percent of the middle-aged population admitt ed that they engage in heavy drinking. These heavy drinkers have caused many problems not only for themselves entirely for the family as well.Hence, dipsomania has been recognized as a family disease. An alcoholic in the family can have lasting detrimental effects to the family. In another survey conducted by the U. S Department of Health and Human Services together with Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 76 million American adults have been exposed to alcohol addiction in the family. Hence, its not surprising that family problems have been attributed mostly to alcoholism than to any other single cause (Parsons, 2003). McAneny (1997 cited in Walters, 2002) adds that in every ternion families, one family has alcohol-related problems.The significant effect of the presence of alcoholic in the family has caught the attention of many scholars and institutions. They contributed greatly in identifying the specific effects of alcoholism on the individual and on the family. This paper aims to describe the biologic and behavioral effects of alcoholism on the family of alcoholics. Specifically, it aims to discuss the fol minusculeing (1) The parental behavior of alcoholics (2) Spousal and electric shaver fury of alcoholics (3) The biological effects on the child of alcoholics (COAs)(4) The psychological effects of alcoholism on the family members Considering the findings of many studies, the author states that alcoholism has biological effects on children of alcoholics, contributes to nuptial and child violence, and has a psychological effect on the family members. Behavioral Problems of Alcoholics Parental Behavior of Alcoholics Alcoholic parents cannot provide their children the necessary proper bonding characterized by reproducible love and nurturing. The alcoholic parent is mostly absent. When he or she is present, he or she exhibits very inconsistent behavior.For instance, he or she may be vulgar and abusive at one time, the n remorseful and kind later (McGaha, 1995). This observation is further supported by a ascertain conducted by Lang (1999) involving alcoholic parents and their deviant children. Results of his experiment establish the causal effect of alcohol on parenting behavior. Intoxicated parents were less likely to cargo hold their attention focused on their child and respond appropriately. They were in like manner inclined to fail to attend or misperceive their childrens problem behaviors, placing the parents in a poor position to correct the problem behavior.Decrease in consistency of parenting behavior was also found to be a consequence of drinking. Due to changes in parental perception induced by alcohol alcohol addiction, Lang also concluded that these changes could cause the disciplinary patterns of the parents to vary as a result of alcohol intoxication. Being intoxicated also caused the interaction style of parents to be disorganized and inconsistent. They engaged in irrelevant tal k and failed to maintain task-oriented work behaviors as they were less congenial, i. e., laughed and played less, and inconsistent, i. e. , worked less, talked more. Based on these results, Lang concluded that alcohol intoxication lessens parental effectiveness. Alcoholic Violence on Spouses Kantor and Straus (1990) conducted a review of 15 empirical studies and discovered a range from 6 to 85% alcohol involution in collaborator holler. One of the studies they reviewed is Labells (1979) study the findings of which showed that nearly three-fourths or 72 percent of 512 physically abused women reported that their husbands have alcohol problems.In an analysis of the survey data that they gathered, results revealed that a direct linear relationship exists amongst the wife battering rates and typical drinking patterns. The rate of drinking of binge and heavy drinkers was nearly one half or 48 percent at the time of physical abuse incident (cited in Hutchison, 1999). potomania and Ch ild Abuse Research estimates reveal that more than 1 million children in the US are involved in some form of abuse or neglect every year (Widom, 1993 cited in Widom, 2001).Child abuse has been associated with alcohol use and abuse which has been considered either as a consequence or a causative factor. For instance, alcohol abuse of parents may contribute to an abusive treatment towards their child (Widom, 2001). Some studies support this conclusion, one of which is the study of Ammerman and his associates (1999) which revealed a relationship between parents with score of alcohol and other drug abuse (AOD) and a high potential to abusive treatment of children in comparison to parents without history of AOD (cited in Widom, 2001).Another study that supports the link of alcoholism and child abuse state that mothers who have histories of alcohol problems are more likely to use harsh punishment on their children compared with women without such histories (Miller et al. , 1997 cited i n Widom, 2001). Biological Effects on the Child of Alcoholics Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders When mothers consume alcohol during their maternalism, it causes the child in their womb to have birth defects, clinically known as a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).The most clinically recognized form of FASD is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is usually characterized by the following (1) a pattern of minor facial irregularity (2) prenatal and postnatal growth defects and (3) abnormalities in the functional or structural central nervous carcass (CNS). These birth defects cause neurocognitive impairment resulting in behavioral disturbances and learning difficulties. Another clinically recognizable form of FASD is alcohol related neuro developmental disorder which is similar to FAS but the defects in the facial feature are absent (Wattendorf, 2005).A study conducted by Sampson et al. (1997) and Stratton et al. (1996) reported that 1 percent of the US population may be moved(p) by FASD (cited in Wattendorf, 2005). Mothers who consume high levels of alcohol during pregnancy are likely to give birth to children who have FASD. In fact, animal studies show that during pregnancy, a single episode of alcohol consumption (two alcoholic beverages where one drink is equal to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1. 5 ounces of hard liquor), may lead about the loss of fetal brain cells (Olney, 2004 cited in Wattendorf, 2005).However, even when the deleterious effects of alcohol on the baby has survive a widespread knowledge, a study conducted by the National Task Force on Fetal alcohol Syndrome and Fetal alcohol Effect participated by 18 to 24 years old women showed that 10 percent of the mothers consumed alcohol while pregnant, of which 2 percent participated in binge drinking, i. e. , consuming five or more drinks on one occasion (Wattendorf, 2005). As alcohol consumption directly results in neuronal damage and fetal brain cell due to the toxin from alcohol, FASD is considered nonhereditary.No prenatal period has been exempted from the catastrophic effects of alcohol. Alcohol exposure in any period of pregnancy may result in CNS damage, even before doing a pregnancy test. Thus, women should not drink any beverage with alcohol content from the time of conception to birth (Wattendorf, 2005) Genetic Factors of Alcoholism Early family studies revealed that people with a family history of alcohol damage have three to four times higher chance of personally misusing alcohol than those who have no family history of alcohol misuse (Cotton, 1979, cited in Walters, 2002).Further studies on parent-to-offspring transmission of alcoholism were conducted by observing male children of alcoholics who were adopted-away or placed in adoptive homes since birth (Goodwim et al. 1973 Schuckit et al. 1972a, b all cited in Wilson, 1991). Findings of the study conducted by Goodwin and associates (1973) showed that 33 percent of adopted-away sons of alcoholic f athers became alcoholics as well, as opposed to 7 percent incidence of alcoholism on adopted-away sons of nonalcoholic fathers, representing a 26 percent increase in incidence of alcoholism (Winston, 1991).While these results may be significant in determining the probability of future alcoholism for the sons of alcoholics, knowing exactly who among them will turn out to be alcoholic is difficult to answer. After all, more than half of the sons of alcoholics studied (two-thirds) did not become alcoholics (Goodwin et al. , 1973 cited in Winston, 1991).Thus, providing noise or prevention strategies for the sons of alcoholics would be a waste of effort two-thirds of the time, and would overlook a more important matter rehabilitating alcoholic sons of nonalcoholics (Winston, 1991). Psychological Effects of Alcoholism on the Family Psychological Effects on Children of Alcoholics (COAs) It has been widely considered that parents with alcohol problems place their children at a high risk o f having several developmental and behavioral problems, including the development of substance abuse problems of their own (Conners, 2004).Numerous studies show that COAs are at an elevated risk of developing externalizing and behavior problems including conduct disorder, oppositional disorder, delinquency, and attention deficit disorders (Earls, Reich, Jung, & Cloninger, 1988 Kuperman, Schlosser, Lidral, & Reich, 1999 Merikangas & Avenevoli, 2000 Reich, Earls, Frankel, & Shayka, 1993, Sher, 1991 all cited in Ohennessian, 2004). Other studies focused on internalizing problems that develop in COAs such as depression and anxiety (Bennett, Wolin, & Reiss, 1988 Chassin, Pitts, DeLucia, & Todd, 1999 Reich et al., 1993 all cited in Ohannessian, 2004). There is also a higher possibility that COAs would experience substance abuse problems as to non-COAs (Chassin et al. , 1999 Goodwin, 1988 Russell, Cooper, & Frone, 1990 all cited in Ohannessian, 2004). In addition, these children also have negative psychological symptoms such as low self-esteem, loneliness, guilt, tactile sensationings of helplessness, fears of abandonment, and chronic depression (Berger, 1993 cited in Parsons, 2003). They also often experience high levels of tension and stress resulting in frequent nightmares, bed wetting, and crying.They may also feel that they are to blame for the problems of the alcoholic, thinking that they are the cause of the problem. Adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) may exhibit depressive symptoms such as obsessive perfectionism, hoarding, or being excessively self-aware (Parsons, 2003). The school performance of COAs may also be affected as stressful home environs prevents them from studying. In school, they may also develop the unfitness to express themselves and the difficulty in relating with their teachers and classmates.A survey conducted by the US government show that there are 30 percent of women who were not able to check high school are daughters of alcoholic s while only 20 percent of sons of alcoholics went to college. ACOAs also experience problems of depression, aggression, or impulsive behavior. As parents, they often tend to become failures and make poor career choices due to elevated feelings of worthlessness and failure (Berger, 1993 cited in Parsons, 2003). Although a portion of COAs develop psychological problems later in life, many of them do not manifest high levels of emotional and behavioral problems and become alcoholics themselves.The cause of variability may be attributed to individual differences and factors other than parental alcoholism that independently contribute to child outcomes (Loukas et al. , 2001). Psychological Effects on Spouses of Alcoholics Spouses of Alcoholics may develop negative emotions such as hatred, self-pity, and avoidance of social contacts. They may also suffer from exhaustion and from physical or mental illness as the spouse fulfills the responsibilities of two parents (Berger, 1993 cited in P arsons, 2003).The nonalcoholic spouses focus on the alcoholic spouse may cause them to neglect their children (McGaha, 1995 Berger, 1993 cited in Parsons, 2003). The marital conflict caused by alcoholism often leads to divorce (Parsons, 2003 McGaha, 1995). Family Problems of in an Alcoholic Family System The home environment of an alcoholic family system is characterized by bewildering emotional conflicts such as inconsistent and antagonistic behavior (Morehouse, 1994 cited in McGaha, 1995). As alcoholism is considered as one of the major instigators of divorce, alcoholic families are often broken.However, studies also show that spouse and children of alcoholics contribute to the drinkers irresponsible habit and make it worse by tolerating it to keep the family together (Parsons, 2003). Denial of the problem instigates multiple emotional problems in the family members. The family members also often become codependent i. e. , unconsciously addicted to the abnormal behavior of anothe r (Wekesser, 1994 cited in Parsons, 2003). The codependent family members of alcoholics try to do everything they can to hide the problem, causing the spouse and children to avoid making friends and bringing other people home (Parsons, 2003).The codependent family members often let go of their own needs or desires to attempt to control or cure the drinker (Parsons, 2003). Summary and Conclusion The studies cited in this paper suggest that alcoholism contributes to numerous problems in the family. Alcoholic parents tend to become ineffective as parents due to parental inconsistencies such as inconsistency in discipline caused by misperception of a childs behavior problem. Alcoholics were also found to inflict physical abuse on family members their spouse and children especially when they have consumed high levels of alcohol.Alcoholism has also biological effects on the child of alcoholics (COAs). Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) occurs when mothers consume alcohol during pregnancy. FAS i s characterized by physical deformities and cognitive impairment, resulting in learning disabilities. The role of genes in alcoholism was also considered, as findings of a study conducted on adopted-away sons of alcoholics reveal that 30 percent of the participants turned out to be alcoholics like their parents. Finally, alcoholism has a psychological impact on the family.Family members of alcoholics experience a bewildering mixture of emotional conflict at home and become codependent on the alcoholics behavior. Children of Alcoholics (COAs) and spouses of alcoholics have a higher risk of having behavior, development, and social problems. References Conners, N. A. (2004). Children of mothers with serious substance abuse problems an accumulation of risks. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 30(1), 85-100. Hutchison, I. W. (1999). Alcohol, fear, and woman abuse. Sex Roles, 40, 893-920. Lang, A. R. (1999).Effects of alcohol intoxication on parenting behavior in interactions wit h child confederates exhibiting normal or deviant behaviors. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 27(3), 177-189. Loukas, A. et al. (2001). Parental alcoholism and co-occurring antisocial behavior potential relationships to externalizing behavior problems in their young sons. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 29(2), 91-106. McGaha, J. E. (1995). Family violence, abuse, and related family issues of incarcerated delinquents with alcoholic parents compared to those with nonalcoholic parents.Adolescence, 30(118), 473-482. Ohannessian, C. M. (2004). The relationship between parental alcoholism and adolescent psychiatry a systematic examination of parental comorbid psychopathology. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 32(5), 519-533 Parsons, T. (December 14, 2003). Alcoholism and its effect on the family. AllPsych Journal. Retrieved November 7, 2007 from http//allpsych. com/journal/alcoholism. html Samhsa. gov (2002). Statistics. Alcohol and Drug Information. Retrieved November 7, 2007 from http//ncadistore. samhsa.gov/ compose/facts. aspx? topic=3 Walters, G. D. (2002). The heritability of alcohol abuse and dependence a meta-analysis of behavior genetic research. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 28(3), 557- 584. Widom, C. S. (2001). Alcohol abuse as a risk factor for and consequence of child abuse. Alcohol Research and Health. 25(1), 52-57. Wilson, J. R. (1991). Genetics of alcoholism. Alcohol Health and Research World, Winter, 1991. Retrieved November 7, 2007 from http//findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0847/is_n1_v15/ai_12148263/print

Heraldic Code of the Philippines Essay

Dont walk in front of me, I may not deliver the obedients dont walk behind me, I may not lead Just walk beside me, and be my friend.I have 1 much(prenominal) safe friend who walks beside me and who extends his hand, when I am about to slip and fall. He is my greatest asset in life, which I treasure more than anything else in this world. He is my best friend.My best friend is Tom Sangma. We come from the same neighbourhood. Our houses be situated close to each others. Both Tom and I are of same age and belong to more or less same economic background.In fact, what has cemented our companionship deep is that our families have been close to each other for a long time. My father and his father were classmates. My mothers best friend is Toms mother. Another reason, which probably helped us to become good friends, is that we have grown together. We have spent our childhood days playing, fighting, learning, and enjoying together.My memory of sweet bygone days of the noncurrent is a nostalgic memory of beaming days spent together in Toms company. Today Tom and I study in Class X in a reputed school in the town. We generally go to school together and have been lucky enough to be studying in the same class for the past ten years and more.Tom has many excellent qualities of heart and mind. His simplicity, smartness, neatness, intelligence, straightforwardness, cool temperament, pleasant behaviour, gentle ways, dutifulness, etcetera have made him one of the most care and popular students in the school. Toms sweet temperament is his greatest quality. He never hurts others or speaks ill of others. He has a charming personality. For some(prenominal) years consecutively, he has been given the Best Student award in the school.Despite my best efforts I have never managed to reach his level. Yet I never feel jealous of him. Because he helps me more than anybody. He tries to do all he can to make me come up to his level. He never goes to any function or party or film w ithout me. I do the same for him.Whenever I am sick, he is the first to come and depict me. There is no function in my home without his presence. The same is true in his house as well. All these have combined to make our friendship deep and lasting.The best trait that I admire and like most in my friend is his disciplined life. He would not do anything that goes against accepted norms or decency. He gets up on time, does his homework always, attends school regularly, respects his teachers and elders and never indulges in unhealthy ways such as, smoking, taking alcohol, idling away time, skipping classes etc.His principle of duty first- enjoyment second is something that I find difficult to follow, yet try to imitate. He corrects me whenever I commit any mistake. For me he is a source of inspiration, support and also a role model to imitate.I am ever grateful to the almighty for having given me such a good friend. I cherish it as my greatest treasure. I am sure our friendship will g row deeper and deeper in the years to come. I wish everyone had such friends in life. One cannot describe the thrill and the joy of journeying together in life, sharing its ups and downs, rainbows and thunders and Good Fridays and Easters. It has to be experienced.

The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove Chapter 28~29

Twenty- octonaryThe SheriffTo Burton, it sounded like t present(predicate) could be thirty or forty people wailing in the sabotage, let alone whatever was making the roaring noise. It mutilateice not be as easy to get rid of witnesses as hed thought. If e rattling(prenominal) the people hed passed on the road earlier were in the countermine, the swat snipers were expiration to have their work cut stunned for them. One thing was for sure, he couldnt let Crowe and this muliebrity, whoever she was, leave the spreading alive.His cell phone rang and he pushed the answer thatton. What? He set his gun cumulation and c overed his ear to shut out the noise from the cave.Nailsworth here, the Spider give tongue to. Theyre on the bureau. Give it forty minutes. And in that locations no other entrance to that cave.Burton was not happy, having to lie in this crevice for another forty minutes, but at one time the SWAT team arrived, it would be over. Nailsworth, shot in the dark here, but have you ever heard of or soone calling themselves Kendra, Warrior Babe of the Wasteland?The Outland, the Spider corrected. Warrior Babe of the Outland. Of course, single the finest series of nuked-out future movies ever made. Kendras a huge star. Was a huge star. mollie Michon was the actresss name. Why?Never mind. One of the suspects returns shes a comedian.If you want some of the cassettes, I tail let you have some copies for twenty bucks apiece. Ive got almost the whole collection.Nailsworth, youre a pathetic piece of shit. Burton disconnected. The wailing was still flood tide from the cave and the woman was clamoring something he couldnt make out.MollyTheos sneakers were still showing, sticking out betwixt Steves teeth. Molly grabbed her broadsword, ran up the sea Beasts foreleg, and leapt onto his broad neck. She brought the broadsword d ca office hard between his eyes and the impact made her hands go numb. Spit him out Spit him outSteve tossed his foreman, tryin g to throw her discharge, but she gripped him with her thighs and hacked away at his head. Chunks of his scales flew off and the blade sparked. Spit him out Spit him out Molly screamed, punctu-ating the panicked chant with blows from the sword. Shed seen this before. She knew that if she heard a c rankch, Theo was finished.The Sea Beast opened his jaws to deliver the translateover de grace and Molly could hear a gurgling scream come from Theo. She leapt to her feet on Steves forehead, gravel the tip of the broadsword in the corner of his eye, and prepared to leap on the hilt to thrust it into his eye socket. Spit him out NowSteve went cross-eyed trying to see his attacker, then made a grunting noise and hacked the constable out on the cave floor. He whipped his head and Molly went fly ing, hitting her back hard on the cave wall ten feet away and sliding mound.The pilgrims wails false to sobs as Steve slunk to the back of the cave.Theo, mired in a puddle of blood, bat guano, a nd tophus spit, pushed himself up on his hands and knees and sapidityed to Molly. You okay? he gasped.She nodded. I think so. You?Theo nodded and looked down to make sure his legs were still there. Yeah. He crawled over to her and sat back against the cave wall beside her, still heaving to get his breath back. exquisite friends you have. Whyd he stop?I think his feelings are hurt.Sorry.Hell get over it. Hes a big boy.Despite himself, Theo started laughing, and before long he and Molly were leaning against each other, giggling uncontrollably.Steve, huh? Theo said.He looks like a Steve, dont you think? Molly said.Theo wiped the firedrake spit from his mouth and leaned over to kiss her. She caught his chin in her hand and pushed him away. Bad idea. other roar rose from the back of the cave, this one less angry and more sad than the last.I guess so, Theo said.What in the hell is going on in there, Crowe? Burton called from outside. You dont have a lot of judgment of conviction to dick close to here. Theres a SWAT team on the way. What do you want?I dont even distinguish what the hell youre lecture about, Theo shouted.What do you want to walk away from this? Leave the state. Forget everything. How much? Give me a figure.Theo looked at Molly as if she might have the answer. She said, I thought we made our demands pretty clear.Hes not going to let me go, Molly. And now hes not going to let you go either. If theres a SWAT team on the way, were in big anesthetise.I command to go talk to Steve. Molly stood and walked between the sobbing pilgrims to the back of the cave. Theo watched her fade into the dark where the Sea Beast was pulsing with dim spots of green and blue. Theo rubbed his eyes to try to clear his vision. strong, Crowe? Whatll it be?Make me an offer, Theo said, trying to figure out some kindhearted of insurance. Something that would keep him alive more than two seconds after he stepped out of the cave.Ill give you a hundred thousand. Its a fair offer, Crowe. You cant prove anything anyway, not if Leander is dead. income tax return the money and walk away.Im dead, Theo said to himself. The size of the bluff offer itself betrayed Burtons seriousness. There was no way he was letting Theo get away alive. Well talk it over Theo shouted. His head was throbbing from the pistol whipping hed taken and the vision in his left eye was blurry. His cell phone chirped from within the pile of pilgrims clothing and he scrambled through the clothes and pill bottles to find it. His vision went black with the move-ment and he had to steady himself until it cleared. He found the phone nestled in a pair of panty hose and hit the answer button.SteveHe knew an enemy when he saw one. He could sense waves of aggression and fear coming from them, and he had felt those things coming from his warmblood lovemakingr. He could feel the fear even now as she approached him through the feeder people. Why, if she was going to find another mate, did she go to the trouble of unwrapping the feeder people for him?He didnt mind being hit with the sharp thing, that felt good, he thought she wanted to mate again, but when she put it in his eye, he knew she would have carry offed him. He felt it. She had off her loyalties to another. He considered biting off her head to show her how badly he felt.He tucked his head under his foreleg as she approached. She rubbed his gill tree and he sent a bolt of s railcarlet over his back to tell her to stop.Im sorry, Steve. I dont have many friends. I couldnt let you eat Theo.He could sense benevolence in her tone, but he didnt trust her now. Maybe he would hardly bite off an arm as a test. His back pulsed magenta and blue.You have to go, Steve. Theres a SWAT team coming. You can get past that guy outside without a problem. In fact, you can eat that guy outside if you want. In fact, Id really appreciate it if youd eat that guy outside.She stepped back from him. Steve, you have to get out of here or the yre going to kill you.He pulsed a dull olive drab to her and tucked his head farther under his foreleg. She wanted him to go away, he could feel it. And he wanted to go away, but he didnt want her to want him to go away. He knew she could never be what he wanted, and he tacit never now, but he didnt want the warmblood to have her either. Colors ran like sorrow over his scales.Im not rejecting you, Molly said. Im trying to save your life.She pushed through the pilgrims, who were all on their knees sobbing, and one woman, a thirtyish redhead with gravity-defying fake breasts, grabbed her arm. I can sacrifice, the woman said. I can.Molly pulled her arm away from the woman. Fuck off, lady, Molly said, Martyrdoms easy, it comes with the plumbing.TheoIt was scarcely when he answered the cell phone that Theo realized one of Burtons blows had caught him on the ear. Ouch Goddamn it. Ouch Theo limped around in a circle, despite the fact that his limbs werent injured at all.Theo? Gabe said, h is vocalize tinny in the receiver.Yeah, its me. Theo changed the phone to his other ear, but still held it a few inches away, now that it had bitten him once.Where are you? Who answered your phone?That was Molly Michon. Were in that cave up on the ranch where the mushroom farm used to be. Burton has us pinned in here and hes called in a SWAT team.Have you seen it?Yeah, Ive seen it, Gabe. I think you were remunerate about the brain chemistry thing. Theres a bunch of people here all tranced out, saying they were called to give sacrifice. They all have prescriptions written by Val.Wow, Gabe said. Wow. Whats it look like?Its large, Gabe.Could you be more specific?Look, Gabe, we need some help. Burton is going to kill us. I need witnesses up here so he cant subscribe that we fired on his men. Call the TV station and the paper. Get a news helicopter up here.Theo felt Molly grab his shoulder. He turned to see her shaking her head. Just a second, Gabe. He covered the mouthpiece with his hand.No reporters, Theo.Why not?Because if they find out about Steve, theyll put him in a cage or kill him. No reporters. No cameras. She gripped his shoulder until it hurt and tears welled up in her eyes. Please.Theo nodded. Gabe, he said into the phone, Forget the reporters. No news people. No cameras. You guys come, though. I need witnesses here that dont work for Burton.You said there were a bunch of people there?Theyre all out of it, I dont think theyre worth a damn. Besides, theyre naked.There was a pause. Gabe said, Why are they naked?Theo looked to Molly, Why are they naked?To deter them from coming into the cave.To deter them from coming into the cave, Theo said into the phone.Well, that didnt work very well, did it? Gabe said. Why didnt she scare them off with the savage?Thats what Ive been telling you, Gabe. Theyre here to be with the creature.Fascinating. And Molly has control over him?Theo looked at the dragon spit running down his jeans. Not exactly. Gabe, please, bri ng Val and get your ass up here. You can claim to be here for scientific reasons or something. Val can say shes a trained surety ne-gotiator. These people are her patients that should help her credibility. Bring as many people as you can.Molly grabbed Theos arm again and shook her head. Just the people who already know.Theo cursed under his breath. Scratch that, Gabe. Just you and Val. Dont tell anyone else.Mavis and Howard and Catfish know already.Just them. Please, Gabe, borrow Maviss car and get up here.Theo, this isnt going to help you much. We might keep you from getting killed, but Burton is still going to arrest you guys. You know it. And once he gets you in his jail, well, you know.One thing at a time.Theo, weve got to preserve that creature. This is the greatestGabe, Theo interrupted. Im trying to preserve my ass. Get going, please.Youve got to get that creature out of there, Theo. They might not burgeon forth you if there are witnesses, but they wont let the creature go. He wont move. Hes in the back of the cave, sulking.Sulking?I dont know, Gabe. Just come, okay. Theo disconnected and sat down. To Molly he said, Gabes skilful. We may just be delaying the inevitable by bringing in witnesses. Maybe we should rush Burton before SWAT gets here.Molly picked up the AK-47 from the floor, released the clip and tilted it so Theo could see it was empty. Bad idea.The Head of the SlugHostage negotiator? Val Riordan said. I did my residency in eating disorders. The closest Ive ever come to a hostage negotiation is talking a sugar-jagged actress out of purging fourteen quarts of Ben & Jerrys Monkey Chunks after she lost her part on Baywatch.That counts, said Gabe. Hed related everything that Theo had told him and was ready to run to the rescue, but Val was reluctant.I believe the flavor is Chunky Monkey, H.P. said.Whatever, said Val. I dont see why Theo needs us if hes got a whole cave spacious of my patients.Gabe was trying to be patient, but he could feel a clock ticking in the back of his brain, each tick taking away his incident to save his friend and lay eyes on a living specimen from the Cretaceous period. I told you, Theo says theyre out of it.Perfectly logical, said H.P.How so? asked Val, on the face of it irritated at the stuffy restaurateurs tone.The tradition of making sacrifice is as old as man. It may be more than just a tradition. The Babylonians sacrificed to the ophidian, Tiamet, the Aztecs and Mayans sacrificed to serpent gods. Perhaps this creature was the serpent to which they sacrificed.Thats ridiculous, Val said. This thing eats people.H.P. chuckled, People have been loving vengeful gods for thousands of years. Whos to say it isnt the vengeance that inspires that love? Perhaps, as Dr. Fenton has pointed out, there is some symbiotic relationship between the hunting habits of this creature and the brain chemistry of its prey. Perhaps it inspires love as well as sexual stimulation. That feeling neednt be reciprocal, you know. He could be as oblivious to his worshippers as any other god. He takes the sacrifices as his due, with no responsibility on his part.Thats a steamin bag of shack snot if I ever heard it, Catfish spouted. I been near this thing and it aint never done nothin but scare the daylights out of me.Is that right, Mr. Fish? H.P. said. Isnt it accepted that your fear of this creature has inspired a lifelong career in music? Perhaps you owe thanks to this beast. I owe yall a come up to the booby hatch, thass what I owe.Enough Gabe shouted. Im going. You can come or you can stay, but Im going to help Theo and see if I can keep that creature alive. Mavis, can I borrow your car?Mavis threw her keys on the bar. Wish I was going with you, kid.May I join you? H.P. asked.Gabe nodded and looked at Val. They are your patients.She press her back against the bar. This is all going to blow up, and when it all comes out, Im going to go to jail. I should help with that?Yes, said Gabe. Why?Becau se its the right thing to do, and because its important to me and you love me. Val stared at him, then dragged her purse off the bar. Ill go, but you will all be getting hate mail from me when Im in jail. Mavis looked at Catfish. Well?Yall go on. I got the Blues on me. They started out the door. Dont you worry, honey, Mavis called after them. Youre not going to jail. Mavis will see to it.Twenty-nineGabeUp until the time that Steve had come to town, the most fearsome prehistoric beast on the Central Coast was Mavis Sands 1956 Cadillac convertible. It was lemon-pie yellow with a great chrome grill that seemed to slurp at the road as it passed and gold-plated curb feelers that vibrated in the wind like spring-loaded whiskers. The daytime regulars called it the banana tree and in a fit of ambition had once even fashioned a giant blue Chiquita emblem, which they stuck on the trunk lid while Mavis was working. Well, Mavis said, more than somewhat surprised by their efforts, it aint the fi rst banana Ive rode, but it takes the size record by at least a foot.Even in his youth, Gabe had never driven anything like the banana before. It steered like a barge and it rocked and lurched over dips and potholes like a foundering scow. Gabe had activated the electric top when theyd first climbed in and hadnt figured out how to put it back up.Gabe spotted Vals Mercedes parked on the side of a hill off the main ranch road. There were six other vehicles parked undermentioned to it, all four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicles two Blazers and two larger Suburbans. A group of men in black jumpsuits were standing by the vehicles, the tallest watching them through binoculars and talking on a radio or cell phone.Maybe we should have taken a more inconspicuous vehicle, Gabe said.Why didnt we take your car, Howard? Val asked. She was slouched in the passenger seat.Howard sat in the back, as stiff as a mannequin, squinting as if this was his first exposure ever to sunlight. I own a Jaguar . Superior coach works, none like them in the world outside of Bentley and Rolls. Walnut burl on all the interior surfaces.Doesnt run, huh?Sorry, said Howard.Gabe stop the Banana at the cattle gate. What should I do? Theyre watching us.Go on up there, Val said. Thats why were here. She had gotten brave all of a sudden.Gabe wasnt quite so self-assured. Someone tell me again why the sheriff wont just shoot us along with Theo and Molly?Val was getting into the spirit of the thing, realizing that this might be the tho way to atone for what shed done to her patients. Im a psychiatrist, Gabe, and you have a Ph.D. The police dont shoot people like us.Youre kidding, right?Howard said, Does one require an advanced degree to be immune to gunfire, or does a life of scholarship count as well?Go, Gabe, Val said. Well be fine.Gabe looked over at her and she smiled at him. He smiled back, sort of, and pulled the Banana into the pasture toward five heavily armed men who did not look happy to see t hem.TheoTheo had searched the rest of the cave, using the disposable lighter hed forgotten to forswear with the rest of his pot habit. The cathedral chamber was closed, except for the entrance where Burton waited. Theo gave the Sea Beast a wide clearance on his way back to Molly, who stood just inside the cave mouth.Burton shouted from outside, Crowe, weve got your friends locked up This is your last chance to make a deal Ill give you five minutes, then were using gasTheo turned to Molly in a panic. Weve got to get these people out of here, Molly. As soon as the first gas grenade comes in, its all over.Dont we need hostages?For what? Hes not going to negotiate. The only thing he wants is me and probably you dead.Why dont you call someone and tell them what you know? Then Burton wont have a reason to kill us. on the whole I know is what Ive seen. With Leander dead, theres no one to connect him to the labs. Ive already told Val and Gabe. Now hes got them. I was an idiot to bring th em into this.Sorry, Molly said.Wait. Theo flipped open his phone and dialed. The phone rang eight times and Theo was glancing at the battery gauge, which showed only a quarter-charge, when a man answered.Nailsworth, the Spider said, leaving the caller to guess that they had contacted the Sheriffs Departments information officer.Nailsworth, its Theo Crowe. I need your help.Having a bad day, Theo?What a prick, Theo thought. Listen, Im trappedI know where you are, Theo. Remember, I know ev erything. Actually, Im glad you called. I had something I wanted to ask you about.Theo fought the urge to scream at the megalomaniacal geek. Please, Nailsworth, I dont know how long this battery is going to hold out. I need you to do me a favor.Me first.Go, Theo barked.Well, when Burton called me, he mentioned that your accomplice said she was Kendra, Warrior Babe of the Outland. So I started looking around. Turns out there was a Molly Michon admitted to county psychiatric a few times. She left a Pin e Cove address. I wondered ifIts her, Theo said.Wow, youre kidding No wayShes right here. Theo looked at Molly and shrugged. Look, you warned me not to go on the ranch. You know about Burtons crank network.I might, Nailsworth said.Dont be coy. You know everything. but what I need to know is do you have access to information that could be used as evidence money transfers, checks, offshore accounts, phone records, and much(prenominal) stuff you could give to the state attorney?Why, Theo, youre starting to sound like a cop.Can you get it?Theo, Theo, Theo, dont be silly. Not only can I get it, but Ive had it. Ive been compiling a file for years.Can you get it to the attorney generals office right now?Whats in it for me?Nailsworth, hes going to kill us.Kendra is right there with you, huh? I cant believe it.Theo shuddered, halfway between panic and anger. He held the phone out to Molly. Say something Kendra-like.Molly cleared her throat and said, Die, you scum-sucking mutant pig. The only thing of mine youll feel is cold steelOh my God Its her the Spider said.Yeah, it is, Theo said. Now will you help?I want a copy of the Norse Battle Babes. Can I get one?Theo covered the receiver and looked at Molly. Norwegian Battle Babes?Molly smiled. Kendra VI Battle Babes in the furious Oil Arena. The Norwegian version is the only version that has full nudity in all the arena scenes. Its very rare.Theos mouth had dropped open. His survival had come down to this? So do you have a copy?Sure.You got it, Theo said into the phone. Ill bring Kendra naked and in person to your office if you get moving now.I dont think so, said Molly.Ill send the file to Sacramento, the Spider said, but that wont do you any good. Even if you tell Burton about it, hes got you in a perfect situation to kill you anyway. You need media.Media? Helicopters? Were too far north to get anyone here in time, Theo said.No Molly shouted.Ill call them, the Spider said. Hold them off for twenty minutes, by chan ce twenty-five.We dont have anything but naked people and a jealous sea monster to hold them off with.Is that more of your drug nomenclature? the Spider asked.Its what it is. If they use gas, we wont have twenty minutes.They wont.How doTwenty-five minutes. And Battle Babes better be in the original box. The Spider hung up. Theo clicked his phone closed.I said no helicopters, Theo, Molly said. Even if we get out, you know theyll hurt Steve. You need to call him and tell him no helicopters.Theo felt he was close to losing it. He clenched his fists and tried very hard not to scream in her face. His voice went to a whisper. Molly, even with a warrant out for Burton, he will kill us. If you want your dragon to live, then youve got to get him out of here before they get here.He wont leave. He wont listen to me. Look at him. He doesnt care about anything anymore.Sheridan serjeant Rich Sheridan was six-three, two-thirty, with dark hair, a mustache, and a long, hooked nose that had been brok en several times. Like the other men on the hill, he was wearing dead body armor and a radio headset, as well as a weapons belt. He was the only one not holding his M-16. Instead he was talking on a cell phone. He had been a cop for ten years and working for Burton on the side for eight. If this had been an official activation of Special Weapons and simulated military operation he would have been second in command, but as the real commander wasnt in Burtons pocket, Sheridan was in charge.He let the binoculars dangle around his neck and waited while his men got firing angles on all of the yellow Cadillacs passengers before he approached. Sheriff Burton was screaming at him on the cell phone.Im pinned down up here, Sheridan. Handle this and get your ass up here. NowYes, sir. What do you want me to do with them?Find out who they are, then cuff them and leave them there. And hurry.Sheridan hung up. Get out of the car. Keep your hands where I can see them.The two men and a woman did as they were told and submitted to pat-downs from Sheridans men. When they were handcuffed, Sheridan spun the younger man around.Who are you?Gabe Fenton. Im a biologist. Gabe smiled weakly. Nice headsets. You guys could all be standing by to take my subscription order for Corrup-tion Weekly.Sheridan didnt react. What are you doing here?Endangered species protection. Theres a very rare creature in that cave up there.Val winced. Were you supposed to tell him that? she whispered.How did you know to come here? Sheridan asked.This is the habitat of the California red-legged frog, very endangered. I saw your SWAT vehicle go by and the driver had that I want to kill some rare frogs look in his eye. Gabe looked at one of the other SWAT guys, a stocky Hispanic man who was glaring at him over the sights of his M-16. See, theres that look right there.We didnt bring the SWAT vehicle, Sheridan said flatly.Actually, Val jumped in, Im a clinical psychologist. I have experience in hostage negotiation. I heard the SWAT team being dispatched on my scanner at home, and since youre so far north, I thought you might need some help. Dr. Fenton agreed to ride along with me.We werent dispatched over the radio, Sheridan said, dismissing Val as if she were an insect. He looked at Howard. And you?Howard Phillips. Im merely here to observe a hid eous ancient creature that has arisen from the darkest Stygian depths to wreak havoc on civilization and feast on human flesh. Howard smiled (the smile of an undertaker at the news of a big bus crash, but a smile nonetheless).Sheridan stared blankly at H.P., saying nothing.Hes the caterer, Gabe said quickly. We brought him along to get your order. Ill bet none of you guys remembered to pack a lunch, did you?Who did you tell you were coming here?Gabe looked at Val and Howard for some clue as to the right answer. No one, he said.Sheridan nodded. We are going to put you in the back of that truck over there for your own safety, he said. Then to the othe rs he said, Lock them in the K-9 unit. Weve got to go.

Clearer Understanding of the Stress Phenomenon

The word underline has been expenditured al locoweed nowadays. To us air means something that puts twinge on some part of our life. even this is just a small piece in the puzzle. Stress is an explanatory factor in numerous ain or social problems. In other words Stress is the normal response of your soundbox to any change. We feel it when we pass from a warm to a cold room, when we run for a bus. Stress prep ars us for change by pumping suprarenal glandine into your system. In this process our muscles get tense, our center field pounds, our blood pressure rises. We use this mechanism for adapting and surviving.However if this response is constantly triggered and surpasses distemper or even death whitethorn follow. We as humans usher outnot avoid latent hostility, we mint nonetheless unwrap to use to our advantage. Many people build numerous problems that occurred from separate out. Problems like cholesterol, insomnia, high blood pressure, and stomach ulcers, chronic b ack cark and other very adept and fatal diseases. However you prat learn to make life easy for yourself by some(prenominal) stress administerment techniques such as breathing right, piddle right, exercising, and using relaxation techniques.In the early 19th century, scientists tried to explain the phenomena of how humans are affected by our surroundings and daily activities. Claude Bernard was one of those scientists that tried to prove the bodys motions during a stress related event. He emphasized how the underlying conditions affect free and in depended life. He said all(prenominal) living animal tends to maintain a state of upcountry stability in spite of changes in the external environment. Scientist Walter Cannon was another innovator in the studies of psychology that gave his work recognition in todays society.He concluded from his work that animals or primate men, when confronted by peril to their inside equilibrium, would either prepare to fight or to take fligh t. However it took the work of Hans Selye to provide clearer understanding of the stress phenomenon. He noted that various factors like chills, traumas, and infections produced a stereotyped syndrome characterized by hypertrophy and hyperactivity. Then in 1950 he introduced the symptoms as stress. Today we still dont have the unanimous comment of the term stress. Many people give different definitions to the word.Some give it the meaning that is, the group of biochemical changes, which typically occur in the organism when the internal equilibrium is threatened. Others psychologists use the term stress to talk of a stimulus. There are umpteen psychological reactions to stress. These biochemical reactions may be benign, but in some cases they alter the bodys serviceing to the point of inducing illness or death. Many of the reactions are well kn testify like the heart footstep increases, muscles tend to contract and a pile of the time perspiration increases.All of these reactions are very little for importance. Emotional and behavioral reactions to stress are often much apparent than psychological reactions since everyone could see. Thats why when a human being reacts to a stimulus you can see if he or she laughs cries, jumps. Emotions and behaviors due to culture vary, personality varies and time period always changes. Another very important criteria that help define stress are the present of stimuli or other agents that make us react to stress. However this criterion varies be originator of different traits that the human being may have.Many laboratories testing on humans have been done to show that humans react to different stimuli in different ways. Humans in many testing were subjected to loud noises or sometimes would be shown stimuli like a dog barking or even a snake. All of these things were great stimulis that affected the human in different ways. Stress may not be triggered by all the stimuli to which we are exposed but by the action of definite psychological factors, which make us perceive certain stimuli as dangerous, or threatening to life. Also perceptions of danger depend on many things.For example, past experiences, cognitive expectations which is the way you interpret the situation, personality, and your emotional factors. Many researchers have found several general rules that depict stress agents. One is that pervious experiences of stress agents diminish the stress felt. It has also shown that the greater the stimulation the greater the stress felt. Another stimuli is emotions. With the increase of emotional intensity of an experience the lower the stress level becomes. However the stress level can never be at zero because that means that youre dead.When a person has a very low stress level it isnt favourable. Low levels of stress can cause symptoms similar to those of intense stress. Many researchers use the word stress to describe not only reactions that humans or animals give off, but also the many internal pr essures that provoke these reactions. Another name for this is stress agent. Hans Selye defined the stress agent as any demand made on the caput or body. Some people think that only life threatening situations are stressful for human beings. I personally believe that stress has to do with the individual person and how he perceives the stressor.Stress agents can be negative or positive, pleasant or unpleasant. Some say that anticipation of an event is more stressful then the actual event. One example of this is skydiving. When you get to specific height and you have to jump you become so stress that you are terror-stricken to jump. Even if you know you wont die. On the other hand an unexpected occurrence can cause greater stress on a person. Like a car accident can cause great stress because of amnesia or sometimes even comas. When a human is stressed it is being in a state of psychological alert. This provides a better perception of danger.When confronted with a dangerous situati on we as humans think of ii things that we can do flight or fight. We use fight when we want to defend ourselves, or flight when we want to live or survive the danger by not interfering with it. However a very high level of activation can bring about a state of corporal or psychological distress. In todays world fight or flight response is very useful. It can help us to consort a fire or survive a disaster. When the body prepares for a fight or flight response, the adrenal gland releases hormones into the body, increasing the heart rate as well as the blood pressure.In many cases digestion stops eyesight is sharpened and muscles tense. Stress doesnt only cause physical illness but also mental illness. Some symptoms are benign and common but such as fatigue and muscles however too much stress can bring on depression and even schizophrenia. According to Epstein moderate stress can help achieve self-concept. However heavy stress can rapidly unbalance self concept functions like thre at to physical integrity and loss of self-esteem. He defined many of these functions as maintaining new existential data and maintaining self esteem.If an imbalance occurs, the individual may become defensive in order to keep his self-concept enact, and varying degrees of pathological symptoms appear. Many psychologists allot that exoneration mechanisms are ways of facing stress. A good defense mechanism that has been proven to work is humor and jokes. Another example of a defense mechanism is defence reaction. Denial can either help or hurt you. For example if a women has breast cancer and she is in denial that she has this disease, she then can hurt herself by not going to the doctor and trying to solve the problem and try to treat it.However she can be in denial and not do something that can alter her well being permanently like taking her own life as a means of make out from the illness. There are many psychological disorders however the cardinal most known and common are m acro-stressors and micro stressors. A serious accident or a very stressful experience are very good examples of macro-stressors. Reactions to these stressors are so intense that it causes temporary chronic traumatic neurosis. A good example of micro-stressors is depression. These stressors may vary because of daily criticism, unrealistic goals, and sometimes lack of social communication.Both of these stressors bring on difficulties in breathing, frequent sighing, and a lot of the times emptiness in the stomach. In most cases these symptoms disappear with time however for some people this becomes into a chronic condition and it disturbs their every day life. They lose all interests in everyday activities, develop problems at work and live in a state of mind where they are afraid of their own self-confidence. To control stress Psychologist say that stress management is the only way to go. The reason for this is because managing stress through special techniques will reduce the stress that affects your health in a bad way.Self-management comes from a belief in internal rather then external controls of ones life. Many people think that their lives are enjoin by destiny. However this has never been proven. In my opinion and many psychologist opinion is that self determination of ones power to maintain or modify your behavior match to your goals will overcome any obstacles. A lot of what stress management consists of is in the body. Selye believed that adaptation energy is limited and the cause of most deaths related to stress.However we see in many cases that this isnt true because we as humans know that being in good physical and mental condition helps us overcome daily difficulties and traumatic life events. Managing stress is a very important thing. However their is a limit on the right way to manage internal factors that act on stress is to take care of your body with the following. utilisation is the primary stress reducer that we are exposed too. Exercise is a very important factor in keeping physically fit. Exercising acts directly on hart efficiency, blood circulation in the lungs and in the vascular system.Exercising lets us digest better look better and feel better. Another important aspect to reducing stress is eating properly. A good fast gives the body the right amount of nourishment that it collects to survive. Eating the wrong foods stress the body because it lacks normal functioning and harms the bodys cells. Another very important and crucial aspect of stress reduction is relaxation and relaxation techniques. Never ending activities and daily worries are constant sources of tension. Because of this we need to relax. To relax many people often smoke cigarettes or even weed.Other use tranquilizers and drink liquor. In todays society we find out that these types of stress reducing agents are wrong and sometimes fatal. About 20-30% of Americans smoke and this increases the lung cancer risk by 700%. Smoking also brings on ot her dangerous problems with the colorful kidneys and poor heart and blood circulation. Many relaxation methods more natural and safer than drugs should be used. The right methods reduce the psychological effects of tension. This helps to slow down adrenal secretions and allow the parasympathetic nervous system to work with ease.Physical conditioning was only introduced to us in the beginning of the 19th century when scientist found a correlation between health and fitness. Exercises help people consentrate, improve sleep and get rid of aggression that gives us stress. Exercising also gives us a emotional state of personal control and provides us with greater bodily awareness. Physiologists say that sports act as medicine for relieving most stressful situations. It takes your mind away from pain and lets you relieve it. When people exercise it also gives them more energy to do other things because you get tired less quickly.All of this is a very dependable stress reducing agent. H owever if you dont exercise you can increase your risks of obesity, bad digestive functioning, back pain, and other problems of the body. For our bodys to function well we need a good diet. A good diet consists of carbohydrates, fats, protein, minerals and water. To have all of these aspects you need a balanced diet. There has been a lot of evidence that having a poor diet increases stress levels. When a person doesnt eat right that stresses the body by preventing normal metabolism. To reduce stress you have to eat the right food.If you have low calcium levels you should start eating more dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurts. Many dieticians prefer eating all grain products because they contain alimentary fibers needed for digestion. Fruits and vegetables are another source of healthy foods. They provide us with vitamins we need for living. You should reduce the fat content by about thirty percent because the more fat you eat the more stress you are putting on the function ing organs in your body like the heart. There are many relaxation techniques that you can do.Some have to do with playing a sport or some you can do while doing nothing at home. The most important and the most affective relaxation techniques have to do with ones control over mind and body. supposition is one thing you can do that helps to achieve a stress free environment. Meditation has to do with centering your attention on one thing. The two main goals that are tried to reach during meditation are states of a deep relaxation and a mental state of awakening and alertness. When you reach a state were you feel relax your body also relaxes and takes time out for itself.The body slows down and you feel warm and comfortable. However there is no scientific proof of this but it works and helps to relieve stress. Another very affective way to achieve peace within your body is to tighten specific muscles. You mustiness first learn what muscles you have to relax, and then you begin the pr ocess. When you find the muscles and tighten them you then let the muscle loose up, which gives a very comfortable feeling. This feeling is equivalent to taking a hot bath after exercising. Laboratory tests have shown that this exercise really reduce stress a lot.Stress cannot be avoided, however we can limit the amount of it that is subdued on us. Each time the body reacts to a stressor, numerous biochemical changes occur. If the stressor goes beyond the available reconciling abilities, illness or even death may occur. We as humans instead of battling stress need to reduce the amounts that we are exposed to. We should do what we need to stop the hurting of our body. We need to adopt a lifestyle that is stimulating and maintain a physical and mental state which gives a resistance to stressors.

Zappos.Com Case Essay

1. Sources of competitive prefer lay in the field of their first offer. * First of all they willd a huge selection of styles, colors and sizes of shoes as it was one of the biggest problems of traditional retailers. * At the first stage of their entering of the market, Zappos was the first-mover, which eventually supported its succeeder as the market for on-line order of shoes was estimated to be intimately $2 billion. * High take aim of customer satisfaction was also one of the important factors to indicate proper operations of the Zappos.Company achieved such a success due to its corporate refining and a value of extreme concentration on its customers. In the retail business on of the indicators of retailer success is the level of customer return and Zappos succeed to attain this indicator on a very high level. Corporate culture was about delivering impress effect by dint of dish and hiring pot who were passionate about suffice was the most important concerns of the top- managers.This WOW effect was delivering through many ways from the speed of site loading, all-around(prenominal) telephone support, al poorance for 365 days of return, extensive information about the products and fast site loading. Thats why customers were willing to make purchases more often. In my opinion, service is a very important part of providing sustainable sales growth for the union as it creates an image of reliable company which operates in the internet and helps people to choose between traditional shopping and e-shopping. This image while managed properly was a sustainable competitive advantage for Zappos.As it was mostly mentioned features of a corporate culture which provide this competitive advantage than we lav say that corporate culture is a background for it. 2. According to the position of the company to retain loyalty of the customers and provide WOW effect through service, it became more important to expend UPS as a reliable logistics provider and organize 1 -day air delivery with no surplus price. Therefore, I can assume that reducing marketing costs for gaining new customers were the right decision as long-term partnership with previous customers was able to dedicate profit and new customers in the long run perspective.From an opposite side, Zappos was able to keep transportation costs on the constant level partly from the scale of the collaboration with UPS (as it was mentioned, Zappos has become one of the top three UPS shippers). And as it was estimated, UPS ground shipping was able to reach only 11% of Zappos customer within 1 day. Knowing the fact that consumers got used to high qualitative and fast delivery, this could significantly harm the perception of the brand by loyal customers. This is the reason why company didnt refuse to provide one-day air shipping. . First of all, we should understand that in situation of crisis people are decreasing their spending on high-end products if they previously had opportunities for that . Thats why it can be suggested, that company should slim down more on mass market products and decrease costs while being very circumspect about scalable expansion. As it was mentioned in the case, Zappos searched for opportunities to improve its supply chain without harmful effect on customer satisfaction.From this point of view, company can concentrate more on retaining loyal customers and acquiring new customers partly by providing promotional discount actions, but at the like time keep prices on the same level, other(a)wise it can create a sense of discounter among Zappos clients. 4. The most important concern while expanding such business as Zappos is retaining this WOW effect. There are many factors which could affect this service oriented culture negatively, so that company should understand that rapid expansion in the situation of crisis can be very risky.From the other hand, there is no need to add more product to its product range as its already sell shoes, clothing, handbag, accessories, minor products, beauty, entertainment, eyewear, home, jewelry, sporting goods, and watches. In my opinion, company can diversify its businesses by developing other e-platforms with mentioning that they are powered by Zappos. That means that company could partly parry risks connected with brand perception and increases sales level by selling more products. 5. The environment of a more cost-conscious consumer can harm the business if it wont be careful about its costs.The main idea here is to provide at least the same level of quality in service with constant rates. Zappos can lower transportation costs through developing closer relationships with transport companies (for ex. try to reduce shipment costs from UPS or use ground shipment when it wont extend delivery time). Company can also provide selective discounts (for ex. providing promotion discounts for loyal customers or creating advance promotional events). They could also take into consideration competi tors activities and offers in order to make sure that they provide the best prices or better opportunities for their clients.Zappos must take advantage of its other core competencies to ensure that the customer will choose to buy from Zappos as long as they are not paying more for the product. Probably, other variant to boost sales would be testing the system when customer have an opportunity to enjoy free shipping for a bit high price, while company could gain profitability from a scope of the shipments. 6. First thing which comes to a mind is preserving Zappos corporate culture and brand on the same level as these things made Zappos that successful.In my opinion, it would be better to leave Zappos as an independent entity with its charismatic top-manager and founder Tony Hsieh while his forces led company to the leading position. some other thing to concern is a cost structure. One of the ways that Amazon tries to deliver a great customer experience is by offering low prices, wh ereas Zappos wasnt ever been concentrated on price competition. This policy also shouldnt be excluded from the Zappos future strategy as Zappos brand is more about service, but not a lowest price.Probably, another important step would be Zappos access to Amazon resources. They could be improvements and access to supply chain expertise, warehouses, suppliers and other advantages. Finally, Amazon could use Zappos for looking upmarket towards higher-priced goods. The high touch model obviously comes with higher costs. Its much more attractive when selling a $400 pair of boots than a $29 pair of flip-flops. Zappos has already been rapidly expanding their product offerings so greater sales of fashion items like handbags and wallets are already steps in this direction.

Research Paper Puerto Rico

Juan David Vivas Professor Holt ENC 1102 Honors English Final Research Paper La ficcion y la realidad en Seva Seva Hi business relationship of the first U. S. intrusion of the island of Puerto Rico that took place in may 1898, is a story written by Dr. Luis Lopez Nieves that defies the boundaries of truth and fiction. This story was published on December 23, 1983 in the supplement of the newspaper Red Clarity. A story that was able to leave a legacy behind. This legacy created an atmosphere of questions and answers among the people in the island.The devastation that puertorricans felt over the words they were reading were caused by a simple proofreading error, arose much confusion where people were heroical for answers, and the perfection of how Seva was written made it impossible to be questioned. Before I continue on informing about this dreadful story, it is important that I enjoin several historical facts in order to accept the authors full credentials and obtain a better g rasp of the story. Luis Lopez Nieves was born on January 17, 1950 in Washington, DC, from Puerto Rican parents.As earliest as s rase years old he moved to the capital of Puerto Rico and at fifteen years of age began his studies at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus. The nearly wonderful university to study at that time. During his second year he was in Greenwich Village, an artistic and bohemian neighborhood of New York (Ciudsv. com/Datos). At twenty years of age he returned to the University of Puerto Rico and in 1973 graduated with a degree in general studies with concentrations in Comparative Literature and Hispanic Studies.Then he moved to the University of New York at Stony Brook, where he began his Masters degree in Hispanic Studies with a grant from the Ford Foundation. In 1980 he received a doctorate in school of thought specializing in Comparative Literature and sets a precedent by being the first student to deliver a novel as a doctorial thesis The Prin ce Alexander excessive happiness. Lopez Nieves is the author of the novels The Silence of Galileo, published in June 2009 and The heart of Voltaire, published in December 2005 (Ciudsv. om/Datos). This writer is also known for his splendid work as a storyteller with his books of short stories entitled The real death of Juan Ponce de Leon, published in April 2000, Writing for Rafa, published in 1987 and Seva. The calendar week this story was published, the people of Puerto Rico were shocked to learn that the first U. S. invasion of Puerto Rico did not occur July 25, 1898 by the town of Guanica but that it happened on May 5th on the coast of the village that no longer exists called Seva (Ciudsv. com/Datos).That day, the 2,000 troops of General Nelson Miles was ambushed by 721 patriotic savaenos that resisted the American attack on the island and at long last disappointed the troops of General Miles. Actually it was not a historic victory but a great literary epic written by Luis Lo pez Nieves (Ciudsv. com/Libros). A clarification that seemed to be absent on the published story of Seva in the newspaper Clarity caused much controversy in Puerto Rico since people were misled to entrust the events occurred were true. The reaction was strong but confused. A harrowing mixture of joy, anger and pain.Joy because finally the old hated myth was destroyed of the alleged docility of puertorricans, their supine alleged delivery to the conquerors. At last, after many years of historical ignorance, puertorricans began to learn a few episodes of their true and heroic epic. Anger because such a noisome act as the slaughter of Seva, and the total eradication of the people by the invaders, with good reason (Ciudsv. com/Libros). Pain because the people more courageous than ever, heroic even Lares, lay murdered, buried and forgotten under the planes, buildings and nuclear missiles of the naval stolid at Roosevelt Roads.After the Seva news, reports were confirmed that in Naguab o, Ceiba, Guayanilla, Rio Piedras, San Sebastian and several military commissions were organized within hours. The first committal was intended to find Don Ignacio Martinez, the only survivor of the slaughter of Seva My life has changed forever because last January 17 after 14 months of searching disheartened, I finally found the child-without-ear-left Don Ignacio Martinez. When the Slaughter of Seva was 9 years old (and not 7 as I had estimated) and now has 92, but looks much younger. (Seva, 45) Another committee was organized to dig in the Roosevelt Roads naval base at any cost until they found the remains of Seva, The People Martyr. In gain to the committees, a bad psychologist met with the governor of Puerto Rico, Carlos Romero Barcelo, and demanded an investigation to realise the whereabouts of Dr. Victor Cabanas. The Governor, given the facts, he was obliged to study the events. This reaction from readers and patriots is admirable, but there was a job Seva is a story, th e result of a deep dissatisfaction with Luis Lopez Nieves history of Puerto Rico (Ciudsv. om/Datos). The newspaper Clarity, stunned by the events caused by the story he was obliged to publish an acknowledgment The text Seva History of the first U. S. invasion of the island of Puerto Rico took place in May 1898, published in the last edition of In Red, is a story. The corresponding has caused shock and alarm in parts of the country because it suggests a major historical discovery. While some read the text as a story, it seems that most of our readers thought it was a sensational historical article, the harvest-home of a thorough investigation and risky.But this is a story and nothing else but a story that became the product of imagination and the combination of literary resources of its author, Luis Lopez Nieves. The immense controversy that caused Seva took the complete simplicity of just another column in the newspaper to have immediate political sympathies intervention to fin d answers. It rose over the whole story that threatens to take folkloric proportions. In sectors of intellectual, artistic, and academic independence of the country there was another issue this week. At parties, businesses, libraries and homes continually arose gatherings and discussions on the Slaughter of Seva.Attitudes towards the story begin in the euphoria (Seva is a rallying cry, says Ferdinand Quintana, Guayanilla musician). Several crosses appeared in front of the Roosevelt Roads naval base with the inscription Seva Lives (Seviv. com/criticas). The Capitolio News Agency (The white house of Puerto Rico) assigned the reporter Jennifer Wolfe to travel immediately to Washington with the intention of interviewing Peggy Ann Miles, the granddaughter of General Nelson Miles that received Dr. Victor Cabins with biscuits, tea and very polite words, a person that does not exist (Ciudsv. om/Datos). The poet Jose Manuel Torres Santiago confirmed that following the clarification of the m agazine Clarity to the effect that Seva was a story, many in Guayanilla and San Sebastian protested and refused to believe it was said then that Seva editorial creation and fiction. Many refused to believe that Seva was a story and chose to stay with the version of Luis Lopez Nieves. A prominent flag-waving(a) claims to know a veterinarian who, in turn, had an uncle who spoke of Seva. Its Ceiba, the vet told his uncle. No, he replied, I do not speak of Ceiba but of Seva.This nationalist seemed very concerned and said that Seva is a reality. He resists, moreover, to believe that Don Ignacio Martinez is a fictitious entity created by Luis Lopez Nieves (Seva, p. 58). Fortunately, in the same way that people were ruin or did not understand the satire of Lopez Nieves, there were people who understood. A famous guayanillense wrote the following note with the real meaning of the story Seva is for me a reality of all Puerto Ricans, regardless of political positions, that could happen or has happened in our town that is still suffering the same symptoms of the past.But as long as men persistent as Seva, Puerto Rico will have a firm hope, of all Puerto Ricans who believe in the values that the country means for everyone. Although they do not be to have benefits and come to mourn for what they have not earned or deserved. But we are all too Ay Bendito that we forgive him. (January 9, 1984, Jose Eugenio Rivera Castagnet) The elaborate and well expound of the context in Seva presented the story so well that it was extremely difficult to determine fact from fiction.For the first time an author was able to take a story that was not true but because of historical events, it seemed as if it had happened exactly as stated (Seviv. com/critocas). This work is extraordinary. This paper published by Luis Lopez Nieves is a hit. It is an invitation to toil into the history of Puerto Rico, for Seva is not far from the truth. Among the readers of Clarity are probably the most sophisticated, better informed and more critical of the island professors and university students, boxes on the left, lawyers, labor leaders, and professionals (Ciudsv. om/Libros). The author treasured to share with the people the truth that good fiction reveals the truth about puertorricans. That is, it looks like people get an immediate sense of patriotism to see how a town was erased from history. Puerto Ricans know the abuses that the American people rushed against Puerto Rico, the problem is that they forget or are given a blind eye when they give their coupons, housing and entertainment, among other things. They think that to swim against the current is comprehensive and to swim along is demeaning and insulting for the soul and freedom.So they are undecided and have a lifestyle like if nothing is happening around them (Ciudsv. com/Datos). We find reality hard to believe and accept. The fiction on the other hand can slow be taken as true. How else can one explain that a publi city stunt by the author of Seva The True Story of the American invasion in 1898 has caused such a stir, mostly clarifications and explanations from the area called the countrys intelligence? Works Cited Lopez Nieves, Luis. Seva Historia de la primera invasion norteamericana de la isla de Puerto Rico ocurrida en mayo de 1898. ra ed. Bogota, Colombia Editorial Norma 2006 Puerto Rico Cementerio de la acrobacia, revista Borinquen Grafico ? Seva Vive? . Site Oficial De Seva Vive. N. p. , n. d. Web. 25 June 2012. Datos Personales Y BiogrA? ficos Luis Lopez Nieves Ciudad Seva. Datos Personales Y BiogrA? ficos. N. p. , n. d. Web. 25 June 2012. . Seva Luis Lopez Nieves. Seva. N. p. , n. d. Web. 25 June 2012. http//ciudadseva. com/libros/seva. htm.

Nothing Gold Can Stay Essay

The verse form Nothing Gold Can Stay, by Robert Frost, uses a abcb rhyme scheme to smartly explain natures downfall, due to opulent, in the world. The author begins by showing that natures true color is commonality, however, due to mans greed they unless see gold. Being that nature supplied the earth with gold, man should respect it and give back. Instead the author depicts that nature is stripped of her importance and sad therefore the clack goes down to day meaning instead of the weather staying beautiful, like it does in the morning, it turns to the hot, muggy afternoon.On the last line the author says, Nothing gold burn stay (914), because mans inability to let go of greed is destroying our planet. The author also uses figurative language to reveal the poems meaning. In the beginning of the poem he personifies nature into a female so that the audience better understands natures pain and suffering due to humans greedy ways. Also, he uses imagery to cay the picture of the g arden of Eden sinking to grief meaning that nature is in duress and even the first garden known to man is on the verge of destruction unless we change our ways.Lastly the author uses a metaphor comparing green to gold by saying Natures first green is gold (914), explaining that green is the symbol of life and prosperity. For example money is green and when nature is described green typically comes to mind. But he says gold is the first green because all humans care about is gold and as a result they are giving it greater importance than nature, our source of life.

Airasia’s Strategic Management

Case assume AIRASIA air travelAsia was launched in 2002 by Tony Fernandes, at the time a pioneer of low-cost flights in Asia. At first, the confederation operated three Boeing 737s. In 2004, after a in truth successful public offering, AirAsia was called on the Malaysian demarcation Exchange and from there grew rapidly. As of 2011, the AirAsia Group has 93 aircraft spread across 12 hubs (see appendix 1) and is straightaway to more than 60 destinations in 16 countries with 130 municipal and international routes.AirAsia operates 3,500 flights every week on domestic and international routes from nine regional hubs in Malaysia, Thailand (Thai AirAsia) and Indonesia (Indonesia AirAsia). AirAsias head office and its main al-Qaida is the Low damage Carrier Terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. This terminal handles 48. 4% of AirAsias merchandise (see appendix 2). AirAsia is the leading low-cost carrier in the world and won the Skytrax award for Worlds Best low-priced Ai rline in 2009 and 2010.In addition, the company is Asias largest low-f argon, no-frills airline business and has a long-haul arm, AirAsia X, which currently flies to chinaware, India, Iran, Taiwan, the UK and Australia with plans to launch function to Japan and South Korea. This report ordain use the PESTEL framework to evaluate the opportunities and threats presented by AirAsias away environment. It go away then apply a SWOT framework to analyse the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of the AirAsia group.Finally, this report leave list three recommendations, to be evaluated by the AirAsia board of directors before implementation. To begin, a PESTEL framework lead en fitting us to understand all the macro-environmental divisors affecting AirAsia. 1. Political Opportunities Deregulation and privatization present Air Asia with opportunities for new routes. For example, the ASEAN governments signed the ASEAN triangular Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Pa ssenger Air Services (an open skies policy) in 2010.From 2015, designated airlines from ASEAN countries testament be able to fly to any city with an international airport in a genus Phallus nation. AirAsia will therefore rent the opportunity to penetrate undeveloped grocerys in the ASEAN region by scuttle new routes. However, it should be noted that foreign competitors will have the same opportunity and new routes will require the utilization of more aircraft. The Malaysian government activity has constantly supported the Malaysian airline industry. unity example of this is the opening of the Low Cost Carrier Terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.Further, the Malaysian Government has helped all low-cost carriers (LCCs), and in particular AirAsia, to develop a competitive edge by trim their in operation(p) costs and improving their logistics. Secondly, the Malaysian Government has given AirAsia, along with all Malaysian airlines, hearty tax incentives (see appendi x 3). These tax-incentives in fact helped AirAsia to cover a substantial part of its loan kindle when purchasing aircraft. It is besides important to naughtylight that other southeastern United States Asian countries argon often wellhead state owned.This allows the government to control the airline and protect it from competition. As an example, AirAsia accomplished a joint move with Shin Corp when it began operating in Thailand with Thai AirAsia. AirAsia had a holding of 49% of Thai AirAsia magic spell the dwellder was held by Shin Corp. , owned by the former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (2001 -2006). Threats AirAsia and its competitors goat also be negatively affected by government decisions. For example, unless the Malaysian government makes an effort to minimise crime, travellers whitethorn choose to visit other destinations.Low-cost carriers are also suffering from recent delays in the construction of a new permanent low-cost carrier terminal (Expecte d to open in October 2012), work macrocosm undertaken by the Malaysian government. These delays reduce the ability for low-cost carriers to expand their power by catering for new passengers. Barriers to slew between countries may also inhibit low-cost carriers in Malaysia from get ining more protected trades bid China where the government tightly controls the airline industry.Civil conflicts and conflicts between regional governments can also affect AirAsias operations. For instance, there has been a resurgence of violence in Southern Thailand and terrorism attacks have occurred in the lay of Thailand and Indonesia. Additionally, Malaysias recent decision to explore oil-rich waters off the coast of Borneo has led to additiond tensions with Indonesia. These tensions could harm customer confidence and affect all businesses operating in sou-east Asia. 2. Economic OpportunitiesThe frugal situation in Malaysia is stable. As an illustration, from 2004 to 2010, Malaysias fair in terest rate was 2. 91%, its average inflation rate was 2. 77% and its average unemployment rate was 3. 43%. In addition, the Government of Malaysia has a current account surplus that enables them to continuously encourage domestic demand, resulting in an average annual GDP Growth of 4. 5% between 2000 and 2011. The global aim for all Asian countries for 2011 anticipates an average GDP maturation of at least 3% for 2011.Countries like China, India and Indonesia are expected to experience GDP crop exceeding 6% (see accompaniment 4). Although, economic downturns are always complicated for any business to negotiate, they can also present certain opportunities for companies like AirAsia because, for example, aircraft leasing costs are often reduced by about 40% at such times. Thus, companies with deep pockets are able to invest and expand their fleet at a very competitive price. Threats Fluctuating oil prices are a major challenge for airlines.For example, in 2009 and 2010 the pric e of jet kerosene price represented between 40 to 55% of AirAsia C use up (cost per purchasable seat kilometre). From the latest information, the fuel price in 1Q11 was US$117 per pose, relatively high when compared with 1Q10 when the price was only US$99. 6 per barrel. Fluctuating oil prices have a major impact on operational costs. This is why all airlines use fuel-hedging contracts to stabilise the price they comprise for the purchase of jet kerosene. By hedging fuel, Air Asia paid an average price of US$107 per barrel in Q1 2011 from (see appendix 5).The last decade was very prosperous for some(prenominal) Southeast Asian airlines and the Asia peaceful domestic LCC penetration by capacity has expanded rapidly, and has reached a saturation level in some(prenominal) countries. For instance, in countries like the Philippines (61. 8%) or Malaysia (56. 5%), more than half of the regions airline seats are supplied by low-cost carriers compared with the world average of 24% (se e cecal appendage 9). 3. Social/Cultural / Demographic Opportunities Firstly, Southeast Asia offers an important advantage to airlines because the egion is comprised of multiple ethnic groups that are able to speak several languages. For example, Malaysia is composed of several ethnic groups Malay, Chinese, Indian and Thai and this provides a company like AirAsia with the ability to find staff that can speak several languages, something which is useful as they rapidly expand their business outside Malaysia. Secondly, the rapid urbanization of Southeast Asia clearly helps airlines because it forces governments to develop important infrastructures and open new airports in dictate to facilitate the blend of people between countries.According to the UN, seven out of the 15 some populated cities in the world (10 million) are predicted to be in Asia by 2025 (see Appendix 6). Thirdly, rapid economic yield also drives a rapid growth in the middle trend within Asias large population. According to the latest OECD forecast, the amount of money spent by the Asian middle class is expected to represent 59% of the total amount spent by the middle class in the world by 2030 (see Appendix 7).By analysing average household consumption within Asia, we can also confirm that the communication and transport pass category will increase from less than 10% in 1995 to 15% in 2015 and this will by all odds increase the demand for air travel between Asian countries (see Appendix 7). Threats The emergent middle class is growing more rapidly in countries like India and China. It is likely that these countries will develop foreign LCC competitors that will have a higher growth rate as well as a large economy of collection plate than Malaysian airlines like AirAsia. 4.Technological Opportunities By utilizing information technology, airlines have been able to reduce their operating costs. LCCs were clearly the most effective players in the airline industry at implementing breakthr ough information technologies. By implementing e-ticketing systems and using e-commerce to bypass traditional travel agents, LCCs have been able to lean their processes by removing unnecessary costs. Furthermore, new, progressive aircrafts are more fuel-efficient than older models, and this has helped airlines to reduce their fuel consumption.AirAsia has implemented these technologies and they have contributed to their operational efficiency. Today, AirAsia has the worlds last CASK (cost per available seat kilometre), at just US$3. 52 in 2010 (see Appendix 8). It has achieved this by implementing the following best practices a powerful Yield Management as well as Computer Reservation transcription (Novitiate Open Skies), a global Enterprise Resource Planning System (powered by Microsoft Business Solutions) and a Customer Relationship Management system provided by Siebel.Threats By being highly dependent on technology, LCCs incur costs in ensuring that their systems operate smooth ly and safely (i. e. from assuagement systems and maintenance). In addition, by relying heavily on online sales, LCCs expose themselves to large financial losses when system fracture occurs. 5. Environmental/Legal Opportunities Firstly, AirAsia has the youngest fleet in Asia, with the new Airbus A320 and A330 providing improved fuel efficiency.This is fortunate because the EU has take a new policy (coming into effect January 1, 2012) that requires all airlines to pay for greenhouse gas emissions released on journeys to and from EU airports. Secondly, labour unions in Asia are relatively weak when compared with EU or USA and this helps airlines in Asia to remain competitive by reducing their overhead cost to a minimum. Threats Natural disasters force airlines as well as airports to reduce or shut down their operations for hours or even days.In the last decade, airlines have been exposed to Hurricanes, snow, fog, H1N1 influenza pandemic, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. SWOT Opp ortunities Threats O1) The population of Asian middle class is booming and will reach almost 700 million by 2012O2) Lots of potential to expand and exploit growing markets in China, India, Japan and Korea as well as the long haul approach in Europe (AirAsia X)O3) high fuel costs may force some competitors out of the industry T1) ASEAN Open Skies will increase competition, for example Singapore Airline and Thai Airways will start LCCs in 2012T2) Saturation of he LCC market in the Philippines and MalaysiaT3) Aviation regulation and Government interference will impact AirAsias passenger capacity (recent delays in the construction of the new, permanent low-cost carrier terminal (Expected opening date October 2012)T4) Accidents and disasters affecting customers Strengths Weaknesses S1) Cost leadership The worlds lowest CASK (Cost per available seat kilometre) with $US3. 52 in 2010. S2) Economies of scale The biggest and youngest fleet among the LCCs in the region, with an average age of 2. 5 familys.S3) Single aircraft fleet (which reduces maintenance and training costs)S4) bifurcate digit growth of all AirAsia subsidiaries AirAsia achieved record profit in Q42010S5) Quick turnaround of 25 minutes, which is the express in the regionS6) AirAsiaX has the world best fleet-utilisation, in wasted of 17 hours, achieved by focusing on price-sensitive, time-insensitive customers S7) wage margin is the highest margin in the LCC industry with 23% by way of comparison, Ryanairs profit margin is 20%S8) The highest ancillary revenue in the LCC industry (through services like pick a seat, cancellation, baggage supersizing, excess baggage, cargo, as well as travel and tours through AirAsiaGo. com, e-coupon with AirAsia Megastore or Hotels with TuneHotels. om)S9) Brand name is well established in Asia PacificS10) Good at using IT to deliver low-cost operations (ticketless travel, online booking, online check-in)S11) Strong management squad consist of industry experts wit h fast decision making processes (entrepreneurial)S12) Not sensitive to seasonal factors due to the high diversification of routesS13) Partnership ANA S14) virgin Group has 20% share in AirAsia XS15) Weak labour unions W1) AirAsia lode factor fluctuates a lot and is not optimal. W2) Limited human resources due to low costsW3) Non-central location of collateral airportsW4) Heavy reliance on outsourcing (maintenance, repair). W5) Not financially strong enough to compete with deep pocket international airlines, e. g.Singapore Airlines new LCC * Main Recommendations * O3 with W1 = Recommendation 1 (CI to benchmark European LCC Load factors)O2, S13,S14 with T2 = Recommendation 2 (Partnership to enter new countries due to high LCC penetration level in Southeast Asia)S4 with T1 and W5 = Recommendation 3 (IPO of Thai and Indonesian AirAsia as well as AirAsia X to pay future growth) Recommendations 1) Load factor As can been seen from the SWOT analysis, AirAsia is outperforming its c ompetitors in terms of operation in several fields. It has the worlds lowest CASK, the worlds highest ancillary revenues per passenger and is the largest discount carrier in South easternmost Asia.However by analysing the cost structure of Air Asia, it is clear that revenue can be improved by increasing the passenger agitate factor from 75% to more than 85%, something Easyjet has been able to do (see Appendix 10 for more information). The CI team must be deployed to investigate in detail the strategy that Easyjet has apply. 2) LCC penetration in Southeast Asia is reaching maturity level need for diversification Appendix 9 and the SWOT together highlight the fact that domestic LCC penetration by capacity (seats) within Southeast Asia is starting to reach its maturity by exceeding LCC penetration worldwide (30% of Southeast Asian flights are supplied by LCCs compared with 24% in the world).Countries like the Philippines and Malaysia are clearly the most mature, with more than 50% of airline seats supplied by low-cost carriers. By analysing LCC penetration per country, we can see that AirAsia can leverage its AirAsia subsidiaries(Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia) to enter new countries with very low LCC penetration rate, such as Taiwan, Indonesia, China and Japan. The recent partnership of AirAsia with the Nipponese airline ANA underlines the possibilities of this strategy. LCC penetration within Japan is only 9. 1%, far more than China with 6%, Indonesia with 5. 2% or the empty market in Taiwan with 0%. Meanwhile, Air Asia X (in which Virgin Group has an ownership position along with Air Canada) could be used to enter the difficult market in China more deeply.CI teams (AirAsia, Virgin Group, Air Canada) should be able to share information and friendship in order to define several scenarios for future collaboration within China. 3) IPO to finance growth The construction of the new, world-class low-cost carrier terminal in Kuala Lumpur is expected to be co mpleted in October 2012. Once built, it will be able to serve over 30 million passengers a year and, with expansions, will have the capacity to serve up to 45 million passengers a year. By analyzing the forecasted growth of AirAsia as well as it cost structure (see Appendix 11) we can see than the current economic downturn has increased the cost of aircraft by 212%, mainly due to the credit crunch.In addition, AirAsias ability to finance the expected growth forecasted is limited because its current structure includes only one publicly listed company that is used to finance all the capital expenditures for Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia and AirAsia X. One solution to cope with this situation of high growth and important capital requirements is to launch IPOs in 2011, especially because AirAsia X and Thai AirAsia are performing very well in 2011. The proceeds of IPOs could enable AirAsia to buy new planes and fund growth in order to compete with Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways wh o will start their own LCCs in 2011. In order to perfect the IPO the CI team will evaluate the best time for implementing this strategy.In, addition, the CI team will also evaluate the possible risks that IPO will have on the autonomy of AirAsia. Appendixes Appendix 1 AirAsia Group fleet composition Q1-2011 reservoir http//www. airasia. com/iwov-resources/my/common/pdf/AirAsia/IR/AA_1Q11_Analyst_Presentation. pdf Appendix 2 AirAsias extensive domestic and regional network Source http//www. airasia. com Source http//www. centreforaviation. com/profiles/airlines/airasia-ak Appendix 3 Malaysian government Tax inducing Source http//www. centreforaviation. com/profiles/airlines/airasia-ak Appendix 4 Asian countries GDP Forecasts Appendix 5 Jet Kerosene prices Source spunk for Asia Pacific Aviation & US Energy Information AdministrationAppendix 6 Top 15 most populated cities in the world (10 million) are predicted to be in Asia by 2025 Appendix 7 acclivitous middle class in Asia Sour ce http//www. oecd. org Source http//www. adb. org Appendix 8 AirAsia has the worlds lowest CASK (Cost per available seat kilometre) with 3. 52 USD in 2010. Selected airlines RASK and CASK Three months ended 30-Jun-2010 (RASK = Revenue per available seat kilometre and CASK = Cost per available seat kilometre) Airline RASK CASK AirAsia USD 4. 87 USD 3. 52 Air Arabia** USD 4. 88 USD 4. 43 Tiger Airways USD 4. 61 USD 4. 58 JetBlue USD 6. 72 USD 6. 04 COPA USD 7. 37 USD 6. 58Norwegian Air Shuttle USD 7. 34 USD 6. 82 Southwest USD 7. 73 USD 6. 84 Vueling USD 7. 68 USD 6. 91 China Southern Airlines** USD 7. 32 USD 6. 98 Thai Airways USD 6. 76 USD 7. 15 WestJet USD 7. 95 USD 7. 43 Continental Airlines USD 8. 25 USD 7. 52 Virgin Blue** USD 7. 43 USD 7. 52 GOL USD 7. 99 USD 7. 71 Air New Zealand** USD 9. 22 USD 7. 71 Delta USD 8. 65 USD 7. 74 US Airways USD 8. 93 USD 7. 88 United Airlines USD 8. 82 USD 8. 08 Air Berlin USD 7. 76 USD 8. 12 Jet Airways USD 8. 09 USD 8. 20 American Airlines USD 8. 51 USD 8. 22 Cathay Pacific USD 9. 55 USD 8. 41 TAM USD 8. 54 USD 8. 44China Airlines** USD 10. 60 USD 8. 49 Air China** USD 9. 75 USD 8. 60 China Eastern Airlines** USD 9. 25 USD 8. 63 Malaysia Airlines USD 7. 90 USD 8. 75 Singapore Airlines USD 9. 61 USD 8. 92 local area network USD 10. 31 USD 9. 18 British Airways USD 8. 88 USD 9. 21 EVA Air** USD 10. 47 USD 9. 38 Qantas** USD 9. 84 USD 9. 68 Iberia USD 9. 78 USD 9. 75 Korean Airlines USD 12. 65 USD 9. 82 Finnair USD 10. 20 USD 10. 68 Asiana USD 12. 48 USD 10. 69 Air France USD 12. 05 USD 12. 51 SAS USD 15. 03 USD 14. 18 Lufthansa** USD 16. 41 USD 16. 49 easyJet USD 6. 99 n/a Source contract for Asia Pacific Aviation and company reports Appendix 9Asia Pacific domestic LCC penetration by capacity 2011 Source Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & OAG Facts Appendix 10 Passenger load factor Easyjet, Ryanair vs AirAsia Selected European airlines intra-Europe passenger load factor and passenger load factor growth Mar-2011 AirAsia lo ad factor development 2Q2008 to 2Q2010 Source Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation and AirAsia AirAsia cost structure Source Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & AirAsia Appendix 11 AirAsia A320 and A320neo aircraft delivery schedule 2011 to 2026 Source Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation and Ascend AirAsia cost breakdown / ASK 1Q08 vs 1Q09 Source Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Airasia