Rabi’a Al-Adawiyya

Rabi’a al-Adawiyya is recognised as the first female Saint of Islam due to her major role in the early maturation of Islam, specifically, the expansion of Sufism. It was she who focused on a rigorous asceticism that required complete abandonment of ones worldly pleasures in order to detach one from the fear of hell and enter the passionate love and devotion for God. Her belief in this notion â€Å"Muhabbah† (Divine Love) and her dismissal of materialism became a strong prestige throughout her teachings and poetry. Additionally, her incomparability from the traditional female ideology of the time period challenged the specific roles of gender as delineated by Islam. It latter became widely accepted within the Sufi movement that women had gained a greater role within the religion due to Rabi'a's actions and influences. The Sufis are not an ethnic or religious group, but a mystical movement that is found all over the Islamic world and that still has a deep influence on the varied populations of the Middle East. Sufism searches for a direct mystical knowledge of God and of his Love. Its goal was to progress beyond mere intellectual knowledge to a mystical (existential) experience that submerged man in the infinity of God. Sufism had an important part in the formation of Muslim societies as it educated the masses and met their felt needs, giving spiritual meaning to their lives and channeling their emotions. The goal of the sufi's is to reach a strong amalgamation with Allah (their god) through love and true faith. ‘Mahabba' or Love as it is known, is a noble state that God has bestowed as a quality belonging to the creation, through this love, he has has touched that who seeks him. Rabi'a al Adawiya, believed that God's love is at the core of the universe and that we need to feel that love in all we do. Walking through the streets she was seen carrying a bucket of water in one hand and a burning candle in the other. When asked why, she said: â€Å"I want to set fire to heaven with this flame and put out the fire of hell with this water so that people will cease to worship GOD for fear of hell or for temptation of heaven†(stated in myclasses notes). With the divine love that she felt towards her God, she obviously felt the comfortability that she would be able to change the fates of men, meaning that with the bucket and he torch of fire she would extinguish the burning flames of hell and light the way to heaven. Her prayers became widely used among Sufism today and is one of the way that her prayer had contributed to Islam. In particular an excerpt of her poem â€Å"My Greatest Need is You† is an example of how she was able to bring forth this pers onal connection when she states â€Å"O Allah I can't live in this world/Without remembering you† Through this example, the poetry of Rabi'a was highly important as it allowed the individual to identify with her teachings on a more personal, thus portraying the ultimate significance she had on the religion itself. Rabi’a’s use of simple language and the very prominent concept of Heaven and Hell in Islam are extremely helpful in understanding the focus of her work. She uses a very simple structure and does not hide her meaning behind metaphors. Overall, her work is short, but sweet and succinct. Rabi’a’s goal as a Sufi was to give up worldly want, remove the fear of hell and the desire of Heaven all for the love of God. The main idea in both of her poems is that God is all one needs. This idea is presented in selection 47. Give the goods of this world to Your enemies Give the treasures of Paradise to Your friends- But as for me- You are all I need (Upton, 47, lines 5-7). These lines communicate Rabi’a’s beliefs plainly. Worldly possessions are what keeps one’s spirit limited to this earth, and thus cannot achieve oneness with God. The person is too caught up with material things to gain the ideal closeness with God. Paradise is something ordinary believers are after, seeing that as the end, but in reality the love of God is what they should be seeking. Her unambiguous writing style makes these ideas available to everyone. These ideas advocated by Rabi’a are not necessarily esoteric, but things that all believers should know and follow. (stated by Rabi'a Al-Adawiyya's Poetry: A Tool of Communication. The Writing on the Wall) The first Sufis were ascetics meaning the self disciplined themselves and meditated on the Day of Judgement. They were called â€Å"those who always weep† and â€Å"those who see this world as a hut of sorrows. † They kept the external rules of Shari'a, but at the same time developed their own mystical ideas and techniques. As Sufism isn't a variant of Islam, it is a part of Islam by a way of approaching the entire religion as a whole. As Cambridge professor Margaret Smith explains, Rabi'a began her ascetic life in a small desert cell near Basra, where she lost herself in prayer and went straight to God for teaching. (By Kathleen Jenks, Ph. D. ) Rabi'a was In the branch of sufism that is known as Divine Love, from several ways of practising the religion. Within the Sufi traditions, the recognition of this truth has encouraged the spiritual maturation of women in a way that has not always been possible. As the mystical side of Islam developed, it was Rabi'a, who first expressed the relationship with the divine in a language that refers to God as the Beloved. Rabi'a was the first human being to speak of the realities of Sufism with a language that anyone could understand. Though she experienced many difficulties in her early years, Rabi'a's starting point was neither a fear nor desire, but only love. The influence that Rabi'a had to the adherents of Islam was her concept of divine love and for one to become completely unselfish in order to amalgamate with Allah. With the reward being â€Å"his garden† but instead she makes mention that she only choses his love and to become one with him. Rabi'a al-Adawiyya played a vital role in the development of the Islamic religion as a whole as she selflessly and utterly amalgamated solely to Allah. Her way of ascetic and simple lifestyle became a guide of Muhammad’s message: to live simple with the focus on Allah rather than luxury. This teaching is reflected through the ascetic ethics of Islam, where they believed they could attain a spiritual connection with God while still alive through secluded prayer and utter devotion and true faith. Her devotion to Allah was reinforced through her her practice of Salat; one of the five pillars, a religious ritual that is undertaken by adherents five times a day. Likewise this obedience was again established by her refusal of several marriages. Being single, Rabi'a caused concern for some Muslims, as Islam places much emphasis on family as the key block in society. When asked why she did not marry, Rabia replied â€Å"The marriage knot can only tie one who exists. Where is existence here? I am not my own I am his and under his command. You must ask permission from him. Reaffirming her commitment to God, stating that no man shall come between her and her faith. The faith that Rabi'a had together with her absolute amenability to Allah, the adherents of Islam can clearly depict a lifestyle that will structure their lives in a positive manner in order to reach a spiritual enlightenment. The influence of Rabi'a towards the religion not only affected its system by her being a women, b ut it showed the possibility of God being present through love instead of commands, allowing the religion to grow and for the Sufi movement to germinate in the hearts of its adherents.BIBLIOGRAPHY 1- King, R, Mooney, J, Carnegie, E, Smith, H, Johns, A, Johns, D, Pattel-Gray, A, Hollis, S, McQueen, K. (2008). Cambridge, Studies of Religion, Stage 6. Cambridge university press. London. 2- Morrissey, J, Mudge, P, Taylor, A, Bailey, G and Rule, P. (2005) â€Å"Living Religion 3rd Edition†. Parson Education. Melbourne. 3- Kathleen Jenks, Ph.D, 17 September 2009, Graphical Regions, Pacifica Gradute Institue, viewed on 23rd May 2011, http://www.mythinglinks.org/NearEast~3monotheisms~Islam~Rabia.html 4- Widad El Sakkakini, 1982, First Among Sufis: The Life and Thought of Rabia al-Adawiyya, The Octagon Press, Great Britain. 5- Margaret Smith, Rabi’a: The Life & Work of Rabi’a and Other Women Mystics in Islam Oxford: Oneworld, 1994. 6- Mircea Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion, translated by Willard R. Trask New York, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1959. 7- Azzad Muna, June 13, 2002, Rabi al-Adawiyya, Gopshop, viewed 17th May 2011, http://www.paklinks.com/gs/religion-and-scripture/43432-rabia-al-adawiyya-basri-earliest-femalemuslim-mystic.html. 8- Mr.Jier, 2010, HSC Year – Topic 3 – Islam Depth Study – Rabi'a and Ethics, myclasses, viewed 24th May 2011, http://www.allsaintscasula.catholic.edu.au/myclasses/Class,102612021849191.

Learning Not Litigating Essay

Introduction: With the average age of working employees increasing, the amount of people covered under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) has also grown. With the rise in workers over the age of 40, there has been some indiscretion in regards to the training or lack of training made available to this group. This paper gives an in depth analysis of the findings of Todd J. Maurer and Nancy E. Rafuse in their article Learning, not litigating: Managing employee development and avoiding claims of age discrimination. The article addresses ways to avoid lack of training by creating an environment conducive to continuous learning which promotes employee growth and add value to the employer. The ways older workers have been denied and discouraged from training is explained as well as how the legal ramifications of these actions could hurt an organization. Because of the potential prevalence of age related discrimination, the definitions of terms, conditions and privileges of employment have been defined and may become increasingly actionable. Maurer and Rafuse detail how age discrimination can be avoided in training and development practices. Bringing change and evolution to and organization’s training practices through the use of top-down management training in an attempt to change culture and policies, decisions about who is trained, the supervision of development and bringing awareness to the potential effects of stereotypes. Topic Discussion: Training and Development Opportunities Are Increasingly Important to Today’s Workers Training and developmental activities are of paramount importance when it comes to keeping a company’s workforce competent. For this reason it is important to not only implement training but to also vary the training exercised as there are many forms and people learn in different ways. A few examples listed by Maurer and Rafuse include (but are not limited to) correspondence courses, independent reading, viewing videotapes, technology-based training, job rotation, special committees, and coaching (Maurer & Rafuse, 111). Training becomes important to the older workforce as technological advances occur as well as other innovations alter the way that businesses operate. Because of the ever-changing workplace it is necessary for employees to receive training so that they may adapt and thrive in their working environments. It is not a lack of ability or ignorance to change that is hurting the aging population, it is a lack of employer-provided training that can prevent the growth and progression of an employee. This is why continuous learning has become a prominent factor in the careers of older workers. As business practices change the way an organization operates, the organization needs to increase the amount of training offered to its employees. If there is innovation in business practices then there needs to be innovation in training. In the text Employee Training and Development, Raymond A. Noe discusses Nokia and its definition of continuous learning and how it means that employers support employees’ growth by providing them with the opportunity to develop themselves and to stay technologically current (Noe, 53). This type of environment, especially in a telecommunications company, is important to not only employee growth but also to company growth as the more employees who possess skill and knowledge will likely increase positive performance. The promotion of learning, not the discouragement of learning, will support the aging population and give them the tools necessary to succeed in the workplace bringing about commitment and prosperity to the organization (Noe, 53). Continuous training and learning need to be implemented because the workplace environment has evolved. Maurer and Rafuse allude to this by stating, â€Å"While mid- and late-career stages used to be viewed as periods of maintenance in which workers could avoid learning many new things, most workers now need to continuously learn and adapt† (Maurer & Rafuse, 112). Employees no longer have the ability to simply use what they know until they retire; employees are required to constantly experience gains in knowledge and skill to competitive and productive. The workplace is always changing and brings new challenges which increase the competition for jobs as employers want more knowledgeable and experienced employees. For this reason effectively using the aging workers by combining experience with new skills is in the best interest for organizations (Maurer & Rafuse, 113). Older workers denied access to training Not involving older workers, by failing to nominate, select, or inform them of opportunities to partake in training or development can be seen as a form of discrimination. While there is little documentation on this subject, published articles and literature have suggested that decision makers, whether that be an employee’s manager or a member of human resources, may deny additional training to older workers based on the idea that older workers cannot learn or do not want to learn. Also, if it is believed that an older worker will retire soon, decision makers may be unwilling to provide training to this employee under the assumption that it will reduce the company’s returns on investments. In a study completed by the Department of Labor, 55-64 year old workers are only 1/3 as likely to complete training as their 35-44 year old co-workers (Maurer & Rafuse, 113). In general, organizations that do not place a high value on their older employees do not have active policies or programs in place to advance or develop these employees (Armstrong-Stassen, & Cattaneo). Fewer job growth opportunities are given to older workers as well. Instead of being given job opportunities that are complex, that promote acquiring new skills and learning about different jobs, or that include status or location changes, older workers may be given routine job assignments. While it is difficult to analyze whether this may be a result of discriminatory treatment, the combination of a denial of training and comparatively different treatment of younger works (ex: younger workers receive training while older workers are denied the same training) can be legally supported as age discrimination. Because of the company’s failure to provide training to an older worker, this can result in that employee being denied promotions, being terminated, or being demoted (Maurer & Rafuse, 112-113). It is important to keep in mind that employers are not required to provide training to older workers if systems (computer systems or machinery) have been upgraded – ‘If younger employees adapt without training, then older workers must also’ (Maurer & Rafuse, 113). Older workers discouraged from training A less obvious form of discrimination would be the discouragement or lack of support for older workers to receive training and development opportunities, which can negatively affect terms, conditions, or privileges of employment or the status of an employee. The idea that people change in unfavorable ways with age is a belief held by various individuals, and this belief can affect the perceived ability of older employees’ learning abilities in the regards to the workplace (Maurer & Rafuse, 113). Employees aged 50 and older where described as being ‘inflexible, averse to change, and resistant to learning and understanding new technologies’ in a survey featuring HR executives as the respondents (Maurer & Rafuse, 114). Organization behavior literature has suggested that negative stereotypes may indirectly affect the behavior of older workers by influencing their ideas of what is normal aging behavior; this can lead to older workers conforming to the expectations set by negative stereotypes. In a recent study, regression analysis reaffirmed that older workers who hold greater beliefs that fellow older workers lack the ability and/or desire to further develop their job knowledge or skills are also less likely to have any interest in receiving any training and development activities themselves (Maurer, et all, 15). The more that older workers are exposed to these negative stereotypes and/or perceived discrimination can reduce older workers’ self-confidence, pursuit of learning, self-esteem, personal control, job involvement, and job satisfaction. Within a legal context, the more subtle types of discrimination such as exposure to stereotypes, lack of encouragement and motivation, and lack of access to training and development opportunities are likely to be seen as hostile-environment or constrictive-discharge claims. Since hostile-environment claims require severe and pervasive harassment and constructive discharge claims require that working conditions are so intolerable that a reasonable person would resign, it is difficult to take action against subtle forms of age discrimination in regards to training and development in court (Maurer & Rafuse, 115). What will be Legally Actionable in the Future? Age-related effects on training and development opportunities could become increasingly actionable based on how the courts have defined the terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. In the future, training and development opportunities may become more closely related with job opportunities including promotions, demotions, hiring, transfers, and reductions in the work force. This means that training and development may become the variable that determines an employee’s success or failure (termination) within the workplace. Denying or discouraging older workers access to training or development opportunities would then been seen as more ‘severe’ or ‘intolerable,’ which would lead to more legally actionable hostile-environment and constructive-discharge claims (Maurer & Rafuse, 115). Avoiding Age Discrimination Avoiding age discrimination in the allocation of training and development opportunities is not unlike other forms of discrimination. The best solution is to implement and follow human resource policies that mandate the use of job relevant criteria for decision making. It has also been shown that these same policies can increase the motivation to participate in learning by the workforce (Maurer & Rafuse, 116). There are four major areas in which managers need to evaluate their susceptibility to age discrimination litigation: culture and policies, decisions about training and development, supervision and support, and training managers on ADEA and the effects of stereotypes (Maurer & Rafuse, 116). Within these areas, it is important to focus on differences in access and encouragement. Culture and Policies Opportunities within a company must not be distributed based on anything except job related criteria. By establishing policies that avoid discrimination, a company’s culture will reflect those values. First, human resource policies should specifically state that all decision must be free of discrimination including age biases. These policies must be in plain language and available to all employees. In addition, current policies must be evaluated to ensure there is no intentional or unintentional age discrimination. This examination will help avoid disparate treatment and impact. Culturally, managers must take an active role in disseminating information about opportunities and not rely on informal communication channels. One way to avoid discrimination is to encourage all employees to take part in training, job assignments and job rotations (Maurer & Rafuse, 117). Training & Development Decisions The decision making process for allocating the limited training and development opportunities must be established and described in policy. This will guide managers in making lawful choices. The focus should be on job and task related factors which are best for the company and the most defensible (Maurer & Rafuse, 117). Companies cannot allow managers to give vague reasons for their training decisions because it may be based on stereotypes and ageist assumptions. Often, older employees are thought to fear new technology and cannot learn new skills (Noe, 461-465). A good policy to implement is to ask for self-nominations when it is possible. This will help managers identify motivated employees and provide justification if it is later needed (Maurer & Rafuse, 117). All final decisions to determine which employee should receive training and development resources should be based on who has the ability to benefit from the additional investments. Valid selection and training HR practices not only benefit employee self-efficacy but also the company’s performance from the macro perspective. Research has shown that a company’s performance can significantly change, even within a single year, with job- related selection and training systems (Iddekinge, 2009). There should also be a monitoring and audits of all training decisions to ensure fair distribution. It is illegal to discriminate against women, minorities and people over 40 years old. However, ageist practices tend to do not have the same stigma that workplace racism or sexism carries (Maurer & Rafuse, 117). Supervision and Support Developmental Relationships Beyond having policies that layout proper training and development protocol, managers need to recognize the importance of supporting and encouraging all employees equally. Companies might consider making managers responsible for meeting training and development involvement goals (Maurer & Rafuse, 118). Higher level managers should be receiving feedback from employees on the status of their development needs. This could be used as part of an evaluation that measures a manager’s effectiveness (Maurer & Rafuse, 118). Having open channels of communication between managers and subordinates is necessary to ensure no one feels left behind. Managers can use performance evaluations to encourage more training, get feedback and set goals for career development. Older workers feeling or becoming obsolete because of a lack in development and training can lead to poor performance. Part of the career development plan can be an introduction to new technologies as they become part of the required skills (Noe, 461-465). One factor that managers can use with resource allocation to older workers is plans for retirement if communicated by the employee (Maurer & Rafuse, 117). To further open communication channels and increase opportunities, companies can offer access to careers counselors and programs such as mentoring, apprenticeships and learning networks (Maurer & Rafuse, 118). Train Managers on ADEA The final step in avoiding age discrimination and possible litigation is to train managers and employees on The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). It would be a good investment for companies to hold training sessions on age-related stereotypes and discrimination regularly (Maurer & Rafuse, 118). There should be a strong emphasis on how stereotypes can affect managerial judgments. These trainings can be extended to employees and new hire orientations to avoid an ageist jokes and criticism which can create a hostile work environment. These sessions are a good time to reinforce a zero-tolerance discrimination policy and by doing so can portray a good faith effort which can help limit liability during litigation. Overall, managers need to understand that older workers are as differentiated and diverse as any other group. Their abilities and motivation to continuously learn and develop vary by the individual. Managers cannot assume retirement age or fail to see an older worker’s ability to grow and be a good investment for the company. Class Questions: * Can anyone think of new technology that can improve or promote employing training and development? * Can you think of ways to encourage, instead of discourage, older workers to take advantage of learning and development opportunities? * What are possible unintentional ageist assumptions in the workplace? Bibliography: Iddekinge, Chad. â€Å"Effects of Selection and Training on Unit-Level Performance.† Journal of Applied Psychology. 94.4 (2009): 829-843. Print. Marjorie Armstrong-Stassen, & Cattaneo, J. (2010). The effect of downsizing on organizational practices targeting older workers. The Journal of Management Development, 29(4), 344-363. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02621711011039150 Maurer, Todd J., and Nancy E. Rafuse. â€Å"Learning, Not Litigating: Managing Employee Development And Avoiding Claims Of Age Discrimination.† Academy Of Management Executive 15.4 (2001): 110-121. Business Source Premier. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. Noe, R. A.. Employee Training & Development. . 4th. New York, NY: Irwin Professional Pub, 2008. 461-465. Print. Todd J. Maurer, Frank G. Barbeite, Elizabeth M. Weiss, Michael Lippstreu, (2008),†New measures of stereotypical beliefs about older workers’ ability and desire for development: Exploration among employees age 40 and over†, Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 23 Iss: 4 pp. 395 – 418 United State Senate: Special Committee on Aging. (2011). Retrieved from website: http://aging.senate.gov/issues/olderworkers/index.cfm

Compare Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Essay

In the 1960’s there was an uprising of sorts. The â€Å"black† communities were beginning to realize their constitutional rights†¦or the lack there of. There were a few bold souls that decided to take a stand, no matter what the consequences. Many know of Rosa Parks, the woman who decided to take a stand (no pun intended) on a local bus, refusing to give up her seat near the front and move to the back. Others participated at â€Å"sit in’s† inside diners labeled â€Å"whites only†. For every attempt of expressing their desire and need for equality, all efforts were shot down. There was no unity, no one to rally the hearts and minds of blacks and whites alike. But then a pastor from Montgomery Alabama leaded the largest civil rights boycott against busses to date. Through his soothing voice and outstanding charisma, Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the strongest and most influential civil rights activists. But he was not alone in his drive for equality. There were others fighting for the same cause. One of those zealots was a man named Malcolm Little (later ditched his â€Å"slave name† and picked up X to signify his lost tribal name). Both men were similar in many ways, but yet at the same time were very, very different. in his speeches Malcolm refers to himself and his followers as Black Nationalist Freedom Fighter. He viewed the â€Å"white supremacists† as enemies. In his speeches he talks about how the white politicians hired black and white promoters to go into the black neighborhoods to press the flesh for them promising false promises. His belief of Black Nationalism is that they stay away from their enemy. Create their own community and have their own politicians who have the communities’ interests at heart. If you can take notice in his speeches he is not trying to get the blacks to beg for equality or ask to end segregation. He is saying that blacks should unite together and fight against their common enemy. The philosophy of Black Nationalism can be enforced no matter what your religion, he makes points that they don’t hang you because you are Lutheran, Christian, or Muslim, they ha ng you because you are black. He states in several other occasions that these sit in’s cannot accomplish anything. They must take action to affect the crackers. He refers to the Revolution war, how the little tea boycott did not work, how the Americans were tired of being taxed and oppressed and compares it to the struggle for black rights. These are just a few points that Malcolm makes in his speeches. On the flip side, The man, Martin Luther King Jr. gives several  speeches concerning the freedom and the relief from oppression of the black people. For example, in his â€Å"I Have A Dream† Speech, 200 Thousand people, black and white, have gathered to hear the inspiring wordsof Martin Luther King Jr. He asks those gathered to ask the government for their constitutional right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Then he assures that there will be no rest until the blacks are granted and guaranteed civil rights. This next sentence, it is one of the biggest differences between MX and MLKJr. He said: â€Å"Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred†. That statement is the biggest divider between the beliefs of Mr. X and Mr. King. â€Å"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.† I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.† Is there a alternative motive in the eyes of Mr. King? I think not. In the eyes of Mr. X? I believe there is. If Black Nationalism had evolved, it would have resulted in a war. Not a war of words or of silent hate†¦but a violent war of death and destruction. All that Mr. King wanted was his constitutional rights for him and everyone across the globe. Before he was assassinated, Mr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize and an award of $54 ,000, which he promptly donated to his civil rights movement. So through comparing the ideals and lives of both these great and influential men, we can see that they both have a same idea†¦.but methods and desires for change are much different. Mr. King wanted to have a peace full protest, to open the eyes of the public, white or black; Whereas Mr. X wanted change, and he wanted it now.

Mart -to- Market Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Mart -to- Market Accounting - Essay Example Thus all the assets and liabilities recorded on the balance sheet of the firm are recorded at their cost value and are further adjusted by the value of the depreciation or any impairment. However, as the overall complexity of the assets and liabilities increased, it became evident that that the values of these assets and liabilities can also vary due to the changes in their market values. A substantial decline in the value of the asset can actually erode the profitability of the firm and as such if their values are not recorded properly, they may give a different picture to the investor than the actual. It is in this perspective that the role of mark to market accounting emerges wherein the values of the assets are periodically recorded at their market value and all gains or losses are subsequently adjusted in the profit and loss account of the firm. (Schuetze and Wolnizer). During current financial crisis, mark to market accounting played critical role because due to reduction in the values of the assets, firms were forced to record them at lower level thus they booked substantial losses. 3) It may be prudent to relax this idea during the time of crisis because if the overall risk return characteristics of the assets remain same during the crisis, they should not be written down to their market

CASE STUDY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

CASE STUDY - Essay Example Although the quotation given by him was $200,000 higher than what Frank wanted, they agreed to proceed with agreement pending negotiations (Crawford 2012 p.57). Early January the following year, Frank sent Jack from Boston to St. Paul in order to confer with the EMFs superintendent. Byers was identified as the final superintendent during the job, after meeting Byers; Jack went ahead as instructed to assess labor situation. In addition, the most important deal was to meet Bye and the prospective subcontractor, Elnicky and give him quotation that indicated the reduction of the initial bid and possibly got the job started. Frank had given Jack quotation prepared by Sullivan, although he had not seen the initial contract for the job. This was certainly the greatest error that happened ahead of the unfolding legal debate. On 22nd January, Jack made the first visit to the Midwest office. During the hearing, he noted that it was the first time he was encountering Jack, and he had identified himself as part of Sullivan team. In what remains a legal argument, Jack allegedly had claimed he had "a piece of it" implying he suggested that he was among the owners of Sullivan. Although Jack denied vehemently, Elnicky admits that he did not bother to ask the official position of Jack within the Sullivan neither did he request for a formal written document (Crawford 2012 p.59). Besides, what caused legal controversy is the fact that he testified that Jack had no objection when he suggested that he wanted to take over the entire job from Sullivan. Besides, he agreed to get a copy of the prime contract to the Midwest in preparation for a takeover. On 23rd Tuesday, a historic event happened when Jack availed the prime contract copy from Sullivan and handed it over to him. On 24th January, Jack made a call informing Frank the ongoing discussion with Midwest, a decision that Frank disagreed since EMF wanted Sullivan in the job. Just before Jack left for

Political Economy of Communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Political Economy of Communications - Essay Example Herein, it should be noted that the major distributors of 19th and 20th century Nickelodeon era were pioneers of motion pictures namely Thomas Edison, George Eastman and more. It was the moment in the history of film developmental era that distributors like Thomas Edison monopolized the market of motion pictures. This paper is a clear understanding of the readings that have been selected for undertaking political economic analysis. Investors in the US film industry were one of the major cultural shifts that were noted in the 19th century. With the advancement of technology, the field developed to the extent in 20th century when motion pictures were being broadcasted with the help of celluloid. This further provided recognition to the filmed entertainment. However, the pioneers were the ones who had control over the equities (Litman 15). In order to gain capital, more and more innovation was needed in this newly born economic sector. It is for this reason that Thomas Edison used all h is engaging resources in order to sell motion pictures. The fact remains that capital that was being received by filmed entertainment did not exceed much until the nickel arcades spurted up. In order to gather larger groups of consumers, an arena was needed where people could experience entrainment resulting in buying products from the distributors (Bettig and Hall 110). The invention of Kinestoscope and camera stands allowed the filmmakers to record films more than a minute duration. A penny was the minimal cost for viewing the motion films. It was much needed that the hold of the industry was divided among more people because the filmed entertainment was merely being provided to the upper classes only (Meehan 48). The domestic companies such as Bio-graph and Vita-graphs helped in taking the films to middle class as well. As discussed in Meehan’s study, these domestic companies joined hands with the international companies as well that were focusing distributing of films acr oss borders in order to gain the hold of international markets. By this time, it was evident that motion films were now out of pioneer control i.e. Thomas Edison and George Eastman. Films were no longer limited to the premises of penny arcades, parlors etc. as more and more people ushered to experience filmed entertainment within exhibitions (Meehan 52) At this point of the film development, exhibition criterion became a new way to earn money. This rather made film industry became a serious economic contributor for which increased entrepreneurs joined the field as filmmakers and distributors. According to Betting and Hall, the increase in filmmakers and points of exhibitions, there was an avid need of increasing the crowd for viewing the films (Litman). It was for this reason that the rate of per viewing was kept flat. One viewing cost remained one penny for a long time for which films were made from ten minutes to sixty minutes. The change in films was increased so that the Nickelo deon (penny theatres) could have stayed flocked. At this point, films were made a regular entertainment as an accepted culture (Bettig and Hall 62). This helps us understand that the economic model that was applied at the origination of the film was to keep the cost minimal by making sure that the production was limited as well. It is one of the reasons behind film duration to be no more than sixty minutes (Bettig

The Situation of a Company Hanson Private Limited Assignment

The Situation of a Company Hanson Private Limited - Assignment Example The biggest issue HPL faces are regarding the size of the investment. The company has never made such a large investment in a single project at one go. This would practically stall investments into all other projects in the pipeline for the medium term. Hence, the company is not in a position to afford any failure in this project. The retail partner is willing to agree to a 3-year contract only. However, with such a large investment, there is a risk of not getting the money back within 3 years. It is possible that the products fail or are rendered obsolete at the end of 3 years. The company faces a risk of the debt trap. Right now, HPL maintains a highly favorable debt position. For adding new capacity, there are constraints in raising money through equity and almost all the financing will have to be done through debt. This raises the risk exposure of the company enormously. Hanson manufactures private label products in the personal care space where the competition is very intense. A large number of branded and non-branded companies are vying for a limited shelf space. Hanson already covers 28% of the private label market in personal care space. Therefore, there is a limit to the scope of further acquiring the market share. The personal care market volumes have increased less than 1% in the past 4 years. The marginal growth (1.7%) has been largely driven by the price increases. However, one of the biggest USPs of private label products has been their low prices as compared to the branded ones.

E-Business Plan (Supply Chain Management, Competitive Tracking, and Research Paper

E-Business Plan (Supply Chain Management, Competitive Tracking, and Conclusion) - Research Paper Example The main geographic market being targeted by the company is that of United States of America (USA). Some of the characteristics of primary target market of Kidz-IDz are that they are caring and concerned with respect to the safety of their children and are ready to spend money in order to ensure that the children are protected and safe. At the same time, the target market of the company is ready to take part in the educational process for learning different safety precautions. Marketing Mix: One of the important elements of the marketing plans is the marketing mix or most commonly known as the 4P’s of marketing (Kotler & Armstrong, 2010). In this section the strategies of 4P’s of marketing with respect to the e-business are presented. Product: Kidz-IDz presents the parents with different options and products which can facilitate the parents in the process of keeping the children safe. Different kits offered by the company includes different identification details about the child along with the picture identity. The main kit, known as Kidz-IDz kit consists of different products like identification card with photo, medical card, fingerprinting, and several other tools (Kidz-IDz). With the help of all of these tools, parents can make sure that all essential measures are taken for the safety of the children. This product will carry all necessary information about the child and if he or she get lost somewhere or get indulge in some medical emergency, it will become easier to take life saving measures and contact the parents. Apart from this, the data and information can be converted into electronic information which can be forwarded to different institutions quickly in the case of emergency. Along with this the company allows the parents to update the data regularly in order to make sure that the data is not outdated. Price: All these safety items or tools in the Kidz-IDz kit are available at the price of $100.00. All products of the company are reason ably priced, so that most of the parents can afford the child safety products. Promotion: The company is currently promoting and marketing itself by taking part in different fundraising and charity programs. Kidz-IDz has positioned itself as the leader in the field of providing the all required information in order to keep the children safe and protected. In order to target more customers and ensuring that more and more children are protected, the company will promote itself online. For this purpose, Kidz-IDz will focus more on social media marketing and will launch the e-business with the help of TOP shelf marketing. Place: Along with the traditional brick and mortar physical store, the company will now also enter into the industry of e-commerce or e-business and launch the online store. The company will use penetrating pricing in order to increase the penetration of the product in the market. Online Strategies: In order to make sure that more and more traffic is targeted towards t he website and there are more revenues, the company will

Business ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 6

Business ethics - Essay Example If many patients working under the old plant have already been diagnosed with Cancer, the firm cannot risk continuing with the operations knowing the health implications involved. Even if a cleanup occurs, it is not a guarantee that the scenario will occur again due to the plant being old. Option B, on the contrary, is also unethical because it will expose the workers from Liberia at a serious health risk, not to mention the negative effects on the community. Paying employees’ low wages because of the country they come from is unethical. Employees should not be shown favoritism due to their nationality or ethnicity. The strategy by the firm to cut on labor costs at an expense of the workers in Liberia is very unethical. The firm opting to use Low-tech methods that would cause a health risk to the workers and the community because of toxic hazards released to the Environment is against the Environmental principle of managing toxic wastes. , From an Ethical point of view Option C, can work as the best option among the three options that TK Company has now. Now the Government is offering low interest rates on their financial facilities, thus the firm could resort to take a loan at a low interest rate and use it to improve their new facilities. Facing out the old facilities is ethical on TK’s part because it will reduce the chances of more employees being exposed to cancer infections. In addition, the mechanism they are using to reduce the workforce is very ethical, because no employee will be laid off in an inhumane manner, but has a chance to receive their pension, in addition to all the other retirement benefits. Even though the debt liabilities will rise, the firm can manage it well in the future after the operation at the new facility picks up (Vincent, 2011). Vincent asserts that, every organization, including TK has ethical rules and guidelines, which they refer to as ‘code of ethics’ that they have to

Influence of video games on youth Essay Example for Free

Influence of video games on youth Essay What is not normally thought about when buying a new game console or game is: Do video games influence a child’s psychological development and make them more aggressive and violent? Do video games affect a child’s grades? These will be some of the topics we will be discussing. Some parents have the concern that video games, among other outlets, affect their children and cause them to be more aggressive and violent with other children their age and elders, also. Parents have the right to limit the time spent playing video games and partaking in the other outlets available such as media. According to Anderson and Gentile, [Parents have an important role to play. Psychologists have found that when parents limit the amount of time as well as the types of games their children play, children are less likely to show aggressive behaviors (Anderson et al. , under review; Gentile et al. , 2004). Other research suggests that active parental involvement in childrens media usage-including discussing the inappropriateness of violent solutions to real life conflicts, reducing time spent on violent media, and generating alternative nonviolent solutions to problems-all can reduce the impact of media violence on children and youth (Anderson et al. , 2003). ] On the contrary, as according to Anderson and Gentile, [Dr. Anderson and colleagues have shown that playing a lot of violent video games is related to having more aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (Anderson Bushman, 2001). Furthermore, playing violent games is also related to children being less willing to be caring and helpful towards their peers. Importantly, research has shown that these effects happen just as much for non-aggressive children as they do for children who already have aggressive tendencies. ] Some studies have been done about the habits of children. Some of the studies showed that although children love to play video games alone, they prefer to play them more within groups. Parents, as well as teachers, have found that with some games, where reading, doing mathematical problems, and following instructions are needed, that their children’s grades have improved. The BBC (2002) stated, â€Å"Computer games could become part of the school curriculum after researchers found they had significant educational value. The UK study concluded that simulation and adventure games such as Sim City and RollerCoaster Tycoon, where players create societies or build theme parks, developed childrens strategic thinking and planning skills. Parents and teachers also thought their childrens mathematics, reading and spelling improved. The investigation into the habits of 700 children aged seven to 16 also found that, far from being a solitary activity, children preferred to play games in pairs or small groups. † (para. 1-4) Video games can help develop the brain’s response time when the games used are dealing with with variables, teaching a specific skill or problem solving. Games have been used by several websites by politicians teaching politics and by the Nobel Prize Foundation to teach history. The Wikipedia () stated, â€Å"Video games can aid the development of proficiency by allowing users to interact with objects and manipulate variables. They are said to be particularly effective when designed to address a specific problem or teach a certain skill in curriculum subjects, where specific objectives can be stated and when deployed selectively within a context relevant to the learning activity and goal. Simple types of games can be designed to address specific learning outcomes such as recall of factual content. For instance, the Nobel Prize Foundation website uses on-line games to aid children in understanding the discoveries made by its laureates by embedding the scientific knowledge as part of the game environment. Video games have historically received more criticism than other forms of recreational learning because they are often perceived as or associated with issues such as mindless entertainment, enhanced social recluse, sexism and consumerism. However, a shift from pure entertainment to educational tool has emerged in recent times. Children growing up today can benefit from educational video games because they are already exposed to a society that is increasingly dependent on digital technology. The medium of educational games provides an opportunity for teachers to introduce educational and playful elements into the learning environment. With computer-aided learning programs, teachers may assist students on social aspects such as critical learning, knowledge based communication and effective interpersonal skills that traditional methods of teaching cannot offer. † (para. 2, 5-6). Many people are under the conclusion that by letting children play video games, they will spend less time outside. Even though children play video games, most children still partake in old fashion activities such as soccer, baseball, and many others. Most children still prefer to play in groups than to play alone. According to Cauchon (), [The fundamental nature of American childhood has changed in a single generation. The unstructured outdoor childhood days of pick-up baseball games, treehouses and be home for dinner has all but vanished. Today, childhood is spent mostly indoors, watching television, playing video games and working the Internet. When children do go outside, it tends to be for scheduled events soccer camp or a fishing derby held under the watch of adults. In a typical week, 27% of kids ages 9 to 13 play organized baseball, but only 6% play on their own, a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found. ] On the contrary, according to Anderson and Gentile, [Drs. Anderson and Gentiles research shows that children are spending increasing amounts of time playing video games 13 hours per week for boys, on average, and 5 hours per week for girls (Anderson, Gentile, Buckley, under review; Gentile, Lynch, Linder, Walsh, 2004). ] In conclusion to all of the information above, we have concluded that video games are not the only effect on children that could cause them to be violent or aggressive in their childhood and when they are older. Children learn from the programs they see on TV, Music Videos, Video Games, and especially from what they see going on in their home. It is unfair for us to exclusively blame the video game creators and the stores that sell the products for the aggressiveness in children. Parents should also be held accountable, especially if they are the ones buying the games for their children. We both came to this agreement, thanks to the information we have gathered in reference to our topic of the influence of video games on the youth. It is irrelevant to believe that video games are a main factor or the most important factor of a negative development in children. References Pros: BBC. (2002). Video Games Stimulate Learning. Retrieved July 3, 2008, from http://news. bbc. co. uk/1/hi/education/1879019. stm Cauchon Dennis, (2006). Kids are Living Under House Arrest. White Dot. Retrieved July 3, 2008, from http://www. whitedot. org/issue/iss_story. asp? slug=sedentary%20kids Wikipedia. (). Video Games. Retrieved July 3, 2008, from http://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_game Cons: Anderson, Craig A. , Gentile, Douglas A. , Buckley, Katherine E. (2007). Violent Video Game Effects on Children and Adolescents. Oxford, Connecticut. Cauchon Dennis, (2006). Kids are Living Under House Arrest. White Dot. Retrieved July 3, 2008, from http://www. whitedot. org/issue/iss_story. asp? slug=sedentary%20kids Kent Steven, (2006). Anti-video Games to Me Misses Its Target Widely. Tegenwicht. Retrieved July 3, 2008, from http://www. tegenwicht. org/03_littleton/anti_video_games. htm.

Impact of Climate Change on Moose Population

Impact of Climate Change on Moose Population Moose in the Noose? From Montana to Minnesota, Ontario and Wyoming to Hew Hampshire moose numbers are in steep decline. Could climate change be to blame? These majestic animals, which can be over 6 feet tall and weigh 700 kg, are a highlight for wildlife enthusiasts visiting America’s northern states and bring in much needed revenue for local communities. They are also important components of the boreal forest ecosystem. Unfortunately these mostly solitary creatures are becoming increasingly more difficult to find by hunters and scientists alike. Moose number declines Montana 40% drop in the number of hunting tags released Minnesota Down 70% since 2006 New Hampshire Dropped from 7000 to 4600 Wyoming 70% drop since 1998 Montana Mystery Dwindling populations in Montana have left local people worried and scientists scratching their heads as to why. Currently moose numbers in Montana are not checked regularly, instead they rely on anecdotal evidence from biologists and hunters as to what the situation on the ground is. But many people are worried. Nick DeCesare, the biologist leading the study said â€Å"There’s fewer moose out there, and hunters are working harder to find them.† So worried are they that the Montana Fish, Wildlife Parks (FWP) department have just embarked on a 10 year investigation to track population changes. By tagging moose with radio collars they can check up on them year after year to measure their body fat and take blood, fecal, hair and teeth samples. They will also check whether they are carrying any diseases or infestations. With this data they’ll be able to tell how healthy the moose are individually and as a population and if any tagged moose die they hope to be able to determine the cause. For the time being though, why numbers appear to be dropping so quickly is a mystery. Mike Gurnett, also from the FWP said â€Å"in some parts of Montana, numbers have declined, hunting licenses cut back, and moose counts continue to drop†. 50% fewer hunting licenses were issued by the state between 1995 and 2011. Just a Fluke? Likewise in Minnesota, Michelle Carstensen of the state’s Department of Natural Resources is also trying to figure out what is happening to their much-loved moose, so popular that they even had an Ice Hockey team named after them – the Minnesota Moose. Ominously the team was relocated to Winnipeg in 1996. We used to have two significant moose populations in our state one in the northwest, one in the northeast. And the northwest moose population is pretty much gone. Numbers in the northwest population of Minnesota have dropped from 4000 in the 1990s to just 100 in the mid 2000’s. This rapid loss drove them to cancel the 2013 moose hunting season altogether in the hope that numbers would rebound. The north-eastern population is also thought to be declining with fewer calves seen over the last 10-15 years than previously. Hunters here too have reported difficulty in finding moose. One of the main causes for this is thought to the liver fluke (Murray et al. 2006), these cause damage to the liver, lungs, and other tissues in the moose’s body along with secondary infections resulting from the damage. This reduces their overall fitness and Murray thinks that the northwest population will cease to exist in 50 years time. Ticked off In Ontario, winter ticks are thought to be a major cause of moose deaths. An adult moose can have as many as 30,000 ticks on its body and some have been known be infested with as many as 100,000. All of these blood-sucking ticks can make moose anaemic; the lack of healthy red blood cells causes fatigue due to inadequate oxygen supplies. This lethargy makes it more difficult for the moose to get enough food. As you can imagine a lot of ticks can be itchy. Moose don’t groom themselves like deer and so scratch themselves by rubbing up against trees. This may be satisfying in the short term – like scratching a mosquito bite – but can be detrimental in the long term. Excessive scratching can remove clods of hair meaning the moose are in more danger of dying from exposure in the winter months. In New Hampshire, too, ticks are a big problem for the moose. Youngsters feel the effects more than adults, says wildlife biologist Ted Walski, â€Å"the 1-year-olds don’t have the blood volume or body size (to cope), which makes them more susceptible.† In the warm winter of 2011 it is thought that nearly all calves born the previous year died as well as 40% of the adults. In relatively extreme event such as this moose populations can rebound the following year, but if the situation persists for prolonged periods recovery is not possible. UmWhat has this got to do with climate change? The fact that there seem to be a number of different causes for the moose declines in these different areas implies that there may be an underlying cause. Population ecologist Denis Murray suspects that it is climate change. Moose have evolved to live in cold climates. As such they have thick, warm coats and get stressed if it’s too hot. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the 30 year period from 1983 to 2012 was probably the warmest period of the last 1400 years in the Northern Hemisphere (IPCC, 2013). Furthermore, temperatures in this region are predicted to rise by 1.5ËÅ ¡ to 2ËÅ ¡C in spring and summer between 2025 and 2035 with winter temperatures expected to rise by the middle of the century (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2003). Montana, Minnesota, and Ontario all have something in common. They’re at the southern edge of the moose’s range – the geographical limit of where they can live comfortably. Moose numbers in southern Sweden, too, have been reported to be dropping. Climate change makes it more difficult for moose to survive in the southern parts of their range. This is thought to be due to the increased heat stress but also the increased survival rate of its pathogens over the winter period. In these southern areas increased temperatures are felt more keenly by the moose. When they get too hot they seek shelter rather than forage for food. This leads to them being weaker but also stops them from building up important fat reserves for the winter. Biologist Mark Lenarz from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resourses found that increased summer and winter temperatures induced heat stress was one of the main factors leading to an increase in moose deaths (Lenarz 2009). White-tailed deer are the normal hosts for the live fluke. Deer densities are expected to increase in response to milder winters (Murray et al., 2006) – exposing a higher number of moose to infection. Murray also found that populations of moose were negatively affected by increases in annual temperature Ticks numbers can also be affected by climate change. To see how we need a bit of info on their life cycle: Ticks emerge from eggs in the late summer. After a short time they climb on to plants like grasses and trees, here they wait as moose brush up against them they attach themselves. They feed and grow into adults during the winter and then mate in January to February, shorter winters mean more survive until this time. In April they start to detach and fall to the ground to lay their eggs and the cycle continues. However, if temperatures are low there is more snow around. The white background makes the tick’s dark bodies stand out and they’re more likely to be eaten by birds(Addison et al. 1989). But if it’s warmer and there is less snow cover and the ticks are harder to spot on the dark ground more adult ticks survive to lay eggs, leading to increased infection rates later in the year which have a negative impact on moose health. Daniel Bergeron, from the un iversity of New Hampshire, thinks that the widespread die-off of moose in the warm, snowless conditions in the winter of 2001 -2 extended the period that ticks could be transmitted to moose (Bergeron 2011). http://www.ccwhc.ca/wildlife_health_topics/winter_tick/wintertick.php#canada Christy McCain from the University of Colorado Boulder found that larger animals 27 times more likely to react to climate change than smaller animals. This makes them more sensitive to change and so they face the highest extinction risk (McCain and King 2014). â€Å"The things that are responding most to climate change are the things we tend to like the most, that we go to parks to see to see – Big Horn Sheep, Elk, Polar Bears. These are the things that have the highest extinction risk†. Much like the dinosaurs that died out after 65 million years ago, it was the small mammals left behind that were able to adapt to their new environment more quickly and survive. So Consequences for boreal forest – less grazing etc As well as the threat of climate change there are also threats from logging and especially mining, which currently is not subject to environmental assessment. Less browsing by moose – loss of natural habitat areas maintained by such grazing, fewer wolves as less moose to hunt. References Addison, E. M., Strickland, R. D. and Fraser, D. J. H. (1989) Grey Jays (Perisoreus canadensis) and common ravens (Corvus corax) as predators of winter ticks, Dermacentor albipictus., The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 103(3), 406-408. Bergeron, D. H. (2011) Assessing relationships of moose populations, winter ticks, and forest regeneration in northern New Hampshire., University of New Hampshire Masters Thesis, [online], available: http://search.proquest.com/docview/884096564 [accessed 02/03/2014] IPCC (2013) Fifth Assessment Report,Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis, [online], available: http://www.ipcc.ch/ [accessed 02/03/2014] Lenarz, M. S., Nelson, M. E., Schrage, M. W. and Edwards, A. J. (2009) Temperature Mediated Moose Survival in Northeastern Minnesota, The Journal of Wildlife Management, 73(4), 503-510. McCain, C. M. and King, S. R. B. (2014) Body size and activity times mediate mammalian responses to climate change, Global Change Biology, [online], available: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.12499/abstract [accessed 25/02/2014]. Murray, D. L., Cox, W. E., Ballard, W. B., Whitlaw, H. A., Lenarz, M. S., Custer, T. W., Barnett, C. and Fuller, T. D. (2006) Pathogens, nutritional deficiency, and climate influences on a declining moose population, Wildlife Monographs, 166, 1-30. Union of Concerned Scientists (2003) Confronting climate change in the great lakes regions: impacts on our communities and ecosystems, available: http://www.ucsusa.org/greatlakes/glchallengereport.html [accessed 27/02/2014].

Captivity Narratives - Our Nig and Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson

Captivity Narratives - Our Nig and Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson  Ã‚   Our Nig; or Sketches from the life of a Free Black and   A Narrative of the Captivity and Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson   Harriet Wilson’s and Mary Rowlandson’s captivity narratives have three things in common.   First, they have a theme of sustaining faith in God throughout their trials.   Secondly, they portray their captors as savages.   Finally, they all demonstrate the isolation felt by the prisoner.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Our Nig: or, Sketches from the Life of a Free Black by Harriet Wilson is the story of a Northern girl, born into an interracial family and later abandoned by her parents, forcing her to become the servant of the Bellmont Household. After Mary, Mrs. Bellmont’s daughter falls into a stream, Frado must endure a horrific beating by both women.   â€Å"No sooner was he out of sight than Mrs. B. and Mary commenced beating her unhumanly, then propping her mouth open with a piece of wood, shut her up in a dark room, without any supper.† (Wilson, 34-35).   Yet Frado is able to continually endure the wrath and violence of Mrs. Bellmont.   â€Å"But, Frado, if you will be a good girl, and love and serve God, it will be but a short time before we are in a heavenly home together.   There will never be any sickness or sorrow there.† (Wilson, 95). As she is continually tortured, Frado finds salvation through her faith, thus allowing her to survive.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mary Rowlandson’s A Narrative of the Captivity and Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson displays this same theme as well.   The Narragansett Indians took Rowlandson and her children captive.   â€Å"All was gone, my Husband gone (at least separated from me, he being in the Bay, and to add to my grief, the Indians told me they ... ...ile Wilson’s novel exposed the savage treatment of â€Å"free† blacks in the North prior to the civil war. Works Cited American Authors. http://www.gonzaga.edu/faculty/campbell/enl311/aufram.html (October 28, 1999). Harriss, Sharon M. â€Å"Introduction to Mary Rowlandson.† The Heath Anthology of American   Literature. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1988. Lauter, Paul, Ed. 340-342. Rowlandson, Mary. â€Å"A Narrative of the Captivity and Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson."   The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Lauter. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1983. 343-366. Wilson, Harriet. Our Nig; or Sketches from the life of a Free Black. New York: Vintage Books,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1983.    "In [a captivity narrative] a single individual, usually a woman, stands passively under the strokes of evil, awaiting rescue by the grace of God.† – Richard Slotkin.     

Beka Lamb by Zee Edgell Essay -- Four Pillars Zee Edgell Essays Papers

Beka Lamb by Zee Edgell The four pillars of life include staying connected, motion, nutrition and reduction of stress. In the novel, Beka Lamb, by Zee Edgell, these pillars are examined. A novel about the upbringing and changes a young girl goes through. She makes some mistakes throughout her life but she soon realizes that she needs to alter her ways. With the help of a close friend, considered to be like a sister, she is able to look at life differently. Their friendship helps them to transform.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Beka is a young teenager, going through a tough time in her life. Her parents had enrolled her in a Catholic school in order to give her a best education. They want her to strive to be the best that she can. While at school, Beka became lazy and ended up failing her first year at the school. Aside from being a poor student, Beka is also a liar. Rather than telling her parents the truth, she lies and as a result, takes a beating from her father. Her best friend, Toycie, tries to guide Beka onto the right path.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Toycie is a few years older than her friend. She is now in fourth form at the Catholic school. As a child, she was abandoned by her parents and left to be cared for by her Aunt Eila. Characterized by her Aunt as a Queen, Toycie is almost the complete opposite of Beka. She is beautiful and studious. The quality that links them together is their ability to find themselves in bad situations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Their friendship had developed at a young age and has grown into a sisterhood. As a job, Toycie took care of Beka and her brothers. From there, the two shared many secrets. Being each others’ confidant, they spent a lot of time together. They would go on walks and share their thoughts or ambitions with one another. They also had a system of checks and balances. When Beka was in trouble at school, Toycie offered to help her with her studies. She also urged Beka to be truthful with her parents. In return, Beka tried to persuade Toycie to find help when she became pregnant. Beka was also there for her when her boyfriend refused to accept the baby as his own.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Toycie’s hardest times, Beka was always around, trying to help. Because of their strong friendship, Beka wanted to be her shoulder to lean on. In the first few months of her pregnancy, Toycie became very nauseous. While at school, she was vomiting everywhere and Beka would run to h... ...aditions of its mother country. Tea time offered a time for people to connect with others. It was a time where families could get together and bond. As mentioned before, women of the house joined together in the kitchen when preparing the snack. Motion plays it part when the family is together and talking. Their minds are consistently moving as they discuss their thoughts. Also, Beka and Toycie usually took their long walks after tea. Obviously, the pillar of nutrition was fulfilled when the family has tea and treats. Lastly, the family was able to relax when sitting down for tea. They were able to take some time out of their day to unwind.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Beka Lamb is a good example for the four pillars of life. The different aspects are displayed in Beka’s actions and beliefs. She is full of life and without these pillars she would not be able to get as far as she has. Still in her first form, Beka still has a lot to learn about herself and others. Everything happens for a reason and Beka has learned that her actions do have consequences. Although all consequences may not be good ones, she still has the basic foundations in life which are found in herself, her family and her friends.

Logic & Perception :: essays research papers

Logic can be defined as the subject that teaches the rules for correct and proper reasoning or in simpler terms, it can be best described as common sense. Some refer to the "science" of logic but logic is really more than just a science. The science part â€Å"is the knowledge of the principles, laws, and methods of logic itself.† (Dolhenty, J; 2002). Logic must be put into action or else the knowledge provided within the science of logic is of little use. â€Å"We can, therefore, also speak of the "art" of logic, that is, the practical application of the science of logic to our everyday affairs.† (Dolhenty, J; 2002). Logic is not only intended to inform or instruct; it is also meant to assist in the proper use of our power of reasoning. As such, we can speak of logic as both a science and an art, a practical art meant to be applied in our everyday interactions. Critical thinking is the method used when deciding rationally what or what not to believe. It can simply be described as the process for the use of reason in the pursuit of the truth. When thinking critically one must assess all assumptions for validity and appropriateness using our logic as a basis. Although the two concepts are closely tied, it is possible for a person to be logical but not be thinking critically. In this paper we will discuss the nature of logic and how it relates to critical thinking. Logic and Critical Thinking Critical thinking involves knowledge of the science of logic, including how to analyze information and using corrective reasoning. To think critically one must understand the source and nature of knowledge and the nature of truth. Critical thinking is the basis of the science of logic and logic is that branch of knowledge which reflects upon the nature of thinking itself. The key to thinking critically is applying logic in the process. This can often become hard to do as we find it difficult to separate out perception from reality. Perception Perception is â€Å"the process by which people select, organize, interpret, retrieve and respond to the information from the world around them.† (Schermerhorn, Hunt & Osborn, 2003; p.2). Perceptions are our way of forming opinions about ourselves, others and everyday experiences. They serve as a filter through which information passes before it has an effect. Since perceptions are created based on everyday experience or interactions, it is feasible to deduct that we create numerous perceptions about various subjects everyday.

Proposal Plan Essay

The purpose for the organization Walgreens is to stay put in a dynamic, self-motivated and energetic business environment. Walgreens is a successful business looking to progress overall presentation and place the company for potential expansion. In order for this to follow through, a total rewards program needs to be created. The incentives and compensation plan must connect with the goals of the organization. A solid rewards program will build motivation in the work place. As the text states, â€Å"The notions that rewards are means to motivate employees assuming that the rewards are distributed fairly. Rewards seem to be part of many different perspectives in motivation (Helsley, 2013). † The most important part is the employees in this organization, and sadly the motivation is not up to par. Employees who lack motivation, insinuates that employees are not receiving proper rewards. Instead of management focusing on only one specific part of a department, they should rather work together towards a solid vision for the business. Presently, there is room for opportunity, to actually analyze the Human Resource Management system and see which problems which are leading employees to show lack of motivation. Through various researches, employees and outside sources, especially Human Capital Consulting organizations, believe that financial compensation is lower than market value. Employees do also not comprehend how pay interlinks with job performance. 20011 to 20012 surveys show that employees think that pay connects to seniority (Pulakos, 2004). Adding to standard compensation, individual rewards are not well connected to performance. For example, departments like Research & Development and sales focus the transaction force and rarely see any return. The lack of proper positioning for financial compensation and work performance is causing confusion and affecting the motivational problems. Walgreens needs to acknowledge that employee’s views need to be considered. This is the reason why the distance in understanding between the employees and the business needs to be fixed. Alterations to financial compensation can be expensive. The consultant from Human Capital Consulting the reward and compensation system needs to be fully reformed. The total cost of the reward system alterations are about $165,000. Since the business has been dealing with sales declining an investment of that sort would put the organization at a high risk (Walgreens Co. , 2013). Even though the company has to cope with that expense the organization has the chance to better compete in the market and reduce the risk of losing employees to other businesses due to financial compensation formats. This problem can be resolved if the management team at Walgreens takes into consideration the cause of external competition. Key objectives to consider are to make certain that the pay is enough to attract and sustain employees. If employees do not see that their pay is competitive compared to what other organizations are giving for the same type of work, then that might cause for the employee to leave. Even though employee motivation and financial compensation are viewed as big problems for Walgreens, the business’ ability to form attraction and support career enhancement has been dwindling. The problems can be caused by the lack of Human Resource Management in the business strategic human capital management, with a failure by leadership to form a successful culture that aids the business objectives. As the business sets itself straight and alters its strategy, it will be vital to effectively train employees and make certain that they are set for the challenges that come their way. Sadly, motivation issues are harming the business and may affect the strategic changes. Examples of the weak culture and employee development are seen in the Research & Development and sales parts of the organization. Each section contributes to the success of the business but receives rarely any recognition, whether it is pay or just an overall recognition. Walgreens has the chance to brace the culture and form a complete employee development system that supports the enterprises vision and goals for the future. To add to this the business has the ability to explore other areas aside from the financial compensation to augment employee motivation and job satisfaction. Executing a career development system will not be enough for long-term enhancements. Management at Walgreens will need to center on building situations that practice career development (Walgreens Co. , 2013). Employees at Walgreens have different interests. These interests can include financial compensation, career enhancement or development, strong and effective communication and of course support from the management team. Employees have the right to be rewarded fairly and be acknowledged for their efforts and hard work to the organization. To add to this, employees have the right to be included in the organizations culture instead of being part of teams that are divided up. This usually leads to a lack of direction. Employees crave cooperation, a challenging working environment and dedication. That’s why effective end state goals would be to make certain that employee motivation is being measured effectively. Also, form career development plans and spot out important achievements within the business. Not only employee motivation should be worked on, but also set up a comprehensive rewards system. The reward system will give employees the chance to take charge of their reward as well as form a spot to market benefits that pertain to Walgreen employees. An internal web application should be created by HR (Walgreens Co. , 2012). The system will center on benefits administration, cross-function team goal management, and incentive rewards tracking systems. Employees will have the option of reviewing their benefits and make alterations on their time. Also, managers will be able to appraise the improvement and donations made by cross-functional teams. Sales statistics will also be part of the reward system to keep track of sales performance. Overall, Walgreens needs to restructure its employee compensation program. This means that the organization needs to first acknowledge that employee motivation is low. From there, increase it, by rewarding employees for a job well done. Acknowledging them in front of their employees and even bonuses will be nice. Flexible schedule is so important. Basically, re-evaluating everything to make certain that employees are feeling valued.

Poetics in 330 BC. Shakespeare

Plays have been written ever since Aristotle discussed the origin and function of theater in his famous treatise Poetics in 330 BC. Shakespeare, William the supreme English poet and playwright, recognized in much of the world as the greatest of all dramatists. He was also the first person to have a script for his plays, macbeth is thought to be the first, written in 1606 and published in 1623. As the play unfolds, Macbeth's ambition causes him to change his nature towards evil.At the beginning of the play, Macbeth was portrayed as a courageous soldier who fought for his King without mercy. But once the witches planted the seeds of greater things and Lady Macbeth fuelled his ambition, which lead him to become greedy and power hungry. What is ambition? Ambition is described as eager for success, power or fame. For Macbeth. Ambition was what drove him to become great, it forced him to change his nature towards evil. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth was portrayed as a courageous soldier who fought for his King without mercy. But once the witches planted the seeds of greater things and Lady Macbeth fuelled his ambition, which lead him to become greedy and power hungry. Macbeth was led down to an unescapable road of doom by an outside force, namely fate in the form of the three witches. There was no supernatural force working against Macbeth, which therefore makes him responsible for his own actions and inevitable downfall. Macbeth is indeed responsible for his own actions, which are provoked by an unwillingness to listen to his own conscience, the witches, and his ambition. The witches tempted Macbeth with their prophecies, which made Macbeth ¡Ã‚ ¦s heart and mind slowly filled with ambition and his huger for power. The witches predicted, at the beginning of the play, that Macbeth would soon become the Thane of Cawdor and eventually the outright King. They tell Macbeth this, simply to ignite what would finally end up being a burning desire for success. Lady Macbeth then help Macbeth by inserting ill thoughts into his mind, and provided suggestions as to how to become King. At first, Macbeth rejects the horror in his mind but eventually he succumbs to evil for his ambition is far too great. The effect of the witches on the action of the play can be summarised by these words:  ¡Ã‚ §while the influences of the Witches' prophecies on Macbeth was very great, but it was quite clearly shown that it was only an influence and nothing more ¡Ã‚ ¨ (from a book called Macbeth Analyse). What I want to say was that Macbeth was just morally weaker than other normal human beings such as Banquo, who have very little ambition, Macbeth should been more responsible for his own actions and not blaming his downfall on the witches and his wife. Thanks to Lady Macbeth who acts as a ruthless, overpowering woman who dominates her husband and his actions. She makes Macbeth's decisions for him without giving him any say in his own actions, and she orders her husband to do what she determines to be best for him. It was Lady Macbeth who contrives the plan to kill King Duncan, because she knows that Macbeth would never commit such an act on his own without her prodding. At this present stage, Macbeth still has a conscience and he was very hesitant about killing the King but his weak nature over powers his conscience. Throughout the entire play Macbeth had by many imagination due to his guilt. Like seen the vision of the dagger, the ghost of Banquo, his vivid imagination and his constant worries also provokes him, this showed that he still has a conscience. This was also evident in his terrible dreams, which gives the solid theme that he has indeed â€Å"Murdered sleep†. Macbeth's personnel ambition and his insatiable lust for power drives him to his downfall. Although Macbeth's ambition was not in itself evil. Macbeth ¡Ã‚ ¦s new knowledge, which he obtained from the witches, makes him uncomfortable, as he realises the implications. His first thoughts considering murdering Duncan appeared, and he was scared. But his ambition, his desire for power over comes his fear, for him to pursue the murder. After he commits the murder, Macbeth Say,  ¡Ã‚ §The voice cried  ¡Ã‚ ¥sleep no more ¡Ã‚ ¦ to all the house  ¡Ã‚ ¥Glamis ¡Ã‚ ¦ hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more. ¡Ã‚ ¨ Knowing that has committed such a vile act makes him uncomfortable. It will be difficult to act innocent and to deal with his guilt. However when he reaches the kingship, his ambition grow like never before, with his new found power, Macbeth begins to gain strength which he never before possessed. He starts to take charge of his own actions, and Lady Macbeth loses control of him. He no longer needs her to make his decisions for him. This becomes evident, as he planned the murder of Banquo and hired the murderers himself without consulting his wife at all. In fact, Lady Macbeth urges him to forget what has happened in the past and move on. Macbeth, however, with his new sense of control, refuses to submit to her command. He goes on with his plans to kill Banquo because he was the only one that know about witch ¡Ã‚ ¦s prophecies other than himself and his wife, he was also scared that his later generations will become king at the same way that he become king (murdering Duncan). He later decides to kill Macduff's family as well, because he had decide from now oh he ¡Ã‚ ¦ll act whatever his heart told him to. Lady Macbeth was no longer involved in the decisions of Macbeth's life, decisions over which she formerly exercised total control. She was left behind with no part in his life, as Macbeth heads off with new plans of his own. Towards the end of the play when Lady Macbeth went insane and kills herself but still unable to remove the â€Å"damned spot† When she died, Macbeth shows some good which may have been. He wishes for a normal life for which he would have lived to an honourable age but he realised that can ¡Ã‚ ¦t be done. Even when Macbeth hears that the prophecy has become true of Birnam Wood coming to Dunsinane, he rejects this idea and fights on until he realised that Macduff wasn ¡Ã‚ ¦t born in a natural birth but instead was â€Å"Untimely ripped† from his mother ¡Ã‚ ¦s womb. When Macbeth hears of this he realises what he has done and how the witches tricked him, he was absorbed in his own ambition and can not pull out of it. He realise it was too late so he fights on only to be slain by Macduff. Macbeth was a virtuous man, corrupted by power and greed. His ambitions led him to treason, murder and brutal killings by ordering the deaths of individuals, including his friends. The witches, to some extent are responsible for these temptations, as they had the power to provide temptation and to induce wrongful doings. His ambition grew within his head until his thirst for power caused him to lose it all to the blade of Macduff ¡Ã‚ ¦s sword It is my opinion; Macbeth is by no means but a butcher. Unfortunately his great ambition destroyed him and his relationship between his wife, friends (Banquo) and King Duncan. He was simply tempted by the witches to commit these acts with the only motive being personal glory and achievements. Usually, when not being manipulated, Macbeth was a good, loyal and courageous man, who was held by others of the community, in high esteem.

A Dirty Job Chapter 3

3 BENEATH THE NUMBER FORTY-ONE BUS It was two weeks before Charlie left the apartment and walked down to the auto-teller on Columbus Avenue where he first killed a guy. His weapon of choice was the number forty-one bus, on its way from the Trans Bay station, by the Bay Bridge, to the Presidio, by the Golden Gate Bridge. If you're going to get hit by a bus in San Francisco, you want to go with the forty-one, because you can pretty much figure on there being a nice bridge view. Charlie hadn't really counted on killing a guy that morning. He had hoped to get some twenties for the register at the thrift store, check his balance, and maybe pick up some yellow mustard at the deli. (Charlie was not a brown mustard kind of guy. Brown mustard was the condiment equivalent of skydiving – it was okay for race-car drivers and serial killers, but for Charlie, a fine line of French's yellow was all the spice that life required.) After the funeral, friends and relatives had left a mountain of cold cuts in Charlie's fridge, which was all he'd eaten for the past two weeks, but now he was down to ham, dark rye, and premixed Enfamil formula, none of which was tolerable without yellow mustard. He'd secured the yellow squeeze bottle and felt safer now with it in his jacket pocket, but when the bus hit the guy, mustard completely slipped Charlie's mind. It was a warm day in October, the light had gone autumn soft over the city, the summer fog had ceased its relentless crawl out of the Bay each morning, and there was just enough breeze that the few sailboats that dotted the Bay looked like they might have been posing for an Impressionist painter. In the split second that Charlie's victim realized that he was being run over, he might not have been happy about the event, but he couldn't have picked a nicer day for it. The guy's name was William Creek. He was thirty-two and worked as a market analyst in the financial district, where he had been headed that morning when he decided to stop at the auto-teller. He was wearing a light wool suit and running shoes, his work shoes were tucked into a leather satchel under his arm. The handle of a compact umbrella protruded from the side pocket of the satchel, and it was this that caught Charlie's attention, for while the handle of the umbrella appeared to be made of faux walnut burl, it was glowing a dull red as if it had been heated in a forge. Charlie stood in the ATM line trying not to notice, trying to appear uninterested, but he couldn't help but stare. It was glowing, for fuck's sake, didn't anyone see it? William Creek glanced over his shoulder as he slid his card into the machine, saw Charlie looking at him, then tried to will his suit coat to expand into great manta-ray wings to block Charlie's view as he keyed in his PIN number. Creek snatched his card and the expectorated cash from the machine, turned, and headed away quickly toward the corner. Charlie couldn't stand it any longer. The umbrella handle had begun to pulsate red, like a beating heart. As Creek reached the curb, Charlie said, â€Å"Excuse me. Excuse me, sir!† When Creek turned, Charlie said, â€Å"Your umbrella – â€Å" At that point, the number forty-one bus was coming through the intersection at Columbus and Vallejo at about thirty-five miles per hour, angling toward the curb for its next stop. Creek looked down at the satchel under his arm where Charlie was pointing, and the heel of his running shoe caught the slight rise of the curb. He started to lose his balance, the sort of thing we all might do on any given day while walking through the city, trip on a crack in the sidewalk and take a couple of quick steps to regain equilibrium, but William Creek took only one step. Back. Off the curb. You can't really sugarcoat it at this point, can you? The number forty-one bus creamed him. He flew a good fifty feet through the air before he hit the back window of a SAAB like a great gabardine sack of meat, then bounced back to the pavement and commenced to ooze fluids. His belongings – the satchel, the umbrella, a gold tie bar, a Tag Heuer watch – skittered on down the street, ricocheting off tires, shoes, manhole covers, some coming to rest nearly a block away. Charlie stood at the curb trying to breathe. He could hear a tooting sound, like someone was blowing a toy train whistle – it was all he could hear, then someone ran into him and he realized it was the sound of his own rhythmic whimpering. The guy – the guy with the umbrella – had just been wiped out of the world. People rushed, crowded around, a dozen were barking into cell phones, the bus driver nearly flattened Charlie as he rushed down the sidewalk toward the carnage. Charlie staggered after him. â€Å"I was just going to ask him – â€Å" No one looked at Charlie. It had taken all of his will, as well as a pep talk from his sister, to leave the apartment, and now this? â€Å"I was just going to tell him that his umbrella was on fire,† Charlie said, as if he was explaining to his accusers. But no one accused him, really. They ran by him, some headed toward the body, some away from it – they batted him around and looked back, baffled, like they'd collided with a rough air current or a ghost instead of a man. â€Å"The umbrella,† Charlie said, looking for the evidence. Then he spotted it, almost down at the next corner, lying in the gutter, still glowing red, pulsating like failing neon. â€Å"There! See!† But people were gathered around the dead man in a wide semicircle, their hands to their mouths, and no one was paying any attention to the frightened thin man spouting nonsense behind them. He threaded his way through the crowd toward the umbrella, determined now to confirm his conviction, too far in shock to be afraid. When he was only ten feet away from it he looked up the street to make sure another bus wasn't coming before he ventured off the curb. He looked back just as a delicate, tar-black hand snaked out of the storm drain and snatched the compact umbrella off the street. Charlie backed away, looking around to see if anyone had seen what he had seen, but no one had. No one even made eye contact. A policeman trotted by and Charlie grabbed his sleeve as he passed, but when the cop spun around and his eyes went wide with confusion, then what appeared to be real terror, Charlie let him go. â€Å"Sorry,† he said. â€Å"Sorry. I can see you've got work to do – sorry.† The cop shuddered and pushed through the crowd of onlookers toward the battered body of William Creek. Charlie started running, across Columbus and up Vallejo, until his breath and heartbeat in his ears drowned all the sounds of the street. When he was a block away from his shop a great shadow moved over him, like a low-flying aircraft or a huge bird, and with it Charlie felt a chill vibrate up his back. He lowered his head, pumped his arms, and rounded the corner of Mason just as the cable car was passing, full of smiling tourists who looked right through him. He glanced up, just for a second, and he thought he saw something above, disappearing over the roof of the six-story Victorian across the street, then he bolted through the front door of his shop. â€Å"Hey, boss,† Lily said. She was sixteen, pale, and a little bottom heavy – her grown-woman form still in flux between baby fat and baby bearing. Today her hair happened to be lavender: fifties-housewife helmet hair in Easter-basket cellophane pastel. Charlie was bent over, leaning against a case full of curios by the door, sucking in deep raspy gulps of secondhand store mustiness. â€Å"I – think – I – just – killed – a – guy,† he gasped. â€Å"Excellent,† Lily said, ignoring equally his message and his demeanor. â€Å"We're going to need change for the register.† â€Å"With a bus,† Charlie said. â€Å"Ray called in,† she said. Ray Macy was Charlie's other employee, a thirty-nine-year-old bachelor with an unhealthy lack of boundaries between the Internet and reality. â€Å"He's flying to Manila to meet the love of his life. A Ms. LoveYouLongTime. Ray's convinced that they are soul mates.† â€Å"There was something in the sewer,† Charlie said. Lily examined a chip in her black nail polish. â€Å"So I cut school to cover. I've been doing that since you've been, uh, gone. I'm going to need a note.† Charlie stood up and made his way to the counter. â€Å"Lily, did you hear what I said?† He grabbed her by the shoulders, but she spun out of his grasp. â€Å"Ouch! Fuck. Back off, Asher, you sado freak, that's a new tattoo.† She punched him in the arm, hard, and backed away, rubbing her own shoulder. â€Å"I heard, you. Cease your trippin', s'il vous plaà ®t.† Lately, since discovering Baudelaire's Fleurs du Mal in a stack of used books in the back room, Lily had been peppering her speech with French phrases. â€Å"French better expresses the profound noirness of my existence,† she had said. Charlie put both hands on the counter to keep them from shaking, then spoke slowly and deliberately, like he was speaking to someone for whom English was a second language: â€Å"Lily, I'm having kind of a bad month, and I appreciate that you are throwing away your education so you can come here and alienate customers for me, but if you don't sit down and show me a little fucking human decency, then I'm going to have to let you go.† Lily sat down on the chrome-and-vinyl diner stool behind the register and pulled her long lavender bangs out of her eyes. â€Å"So you want me to pay close attention to your confession to murder? Take notes, maybe get an old cassette recorder off the shelf and get everything down on tape? You're saying that by trying to ignore your obvious distress, which I would have to later recall to the police, so I can be personally responsible for sending you to the gas chamber, that I'm being inconsiderate?† Charlie shuddered. â€Å"Jeez, Lily.† He was continually surprised at the speed and accuracy of her creepiness. She was like some creepiness child prodigy. But on the bright side, her extreme darkness made him realize that he probably wasn't going to go to the gas chamber. â€Å"It wasn't that kind of killing. There was something following me, and – â€Å" â€Å"Silence!† Lily put her hand up, â€Å"I'd rather not show my employee spirit by committing every detail of your heinous crime to my photographic memory to be recalled in court later. I'll just say that I saw you but you seemed normal for someone without a clue.† â€Å"You don't have a photographic memory.† â€Å"I do, too, and it's a curse. I can never forget the futility of – â€Å" â€Å"You forgot to take out the trash at least eight times last month.† â€Å"I didn't forget.† Charlie took a deep breath, the familiarity of arguing with Lily was actually calming him down. â€Å"Okay then, without looking, what color shirt are you wearing?† He raised an eyebrow like he had her there. Lily smiled and for a second he could see that she was just a kid, kind of cute and goofy under the fierce makeup and attitude. â€Å"Black.† â€Å"Lucky guess.† â€Å"You know I only own black.† She grinned. â€Å"Glad you didn't ask hair color, I just changed this morning.† â€Å"That's not good for you, you know. That dye has toxins.† Lily lifted the lavender wig to reveal her close-cut maroon locks underneath, then dropped it again. â€Å"I'm all natural.† She stood and patted the bar stool. â€Å"Sit, Asher. Confess. Bore me.† Lily leaned back against the counter, and tilted her head to look attentive, but with her dark eye makeup and lavender hair it came off more like a marionette with a broken string. Charlie came around the counter and sat on the stool. â€Å"I was just in line behind this William Creek guy, and I saw his umbrella glowing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And Charlie went through the whole story to her, the umbrella, the bus, the hand from the storm sewer, the bolt for home with the giant dark shadow above the rooftops, and when he was finished, Lily asked, â€Å"So how do you know his name?† â€Å"Huh?† Charlie said. Of all of the horrible, fantastic things she might have asked about, why that? â€Å"How do you know the guy's name?† Lily repeated. â€Å"You barely spoke to the guy before he bit it. You see it on his receipt or something?† â€Å"No, I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He didn't have any idea how he knew the man's name, but suddenly there was a picture in his head of it written out in big, block letters. He leapt off the stool. â€Å"I gotta go, Lily.† He ran through the door into the stockroom and up the steps. â€Å"I still need a note for school,† Lily shouted from below, but Charlie was dashing through the kitchen, past a large Russian woman who was bouncing his baby daughter in her arms, and into the bedroom, where he snatched up the notepad he kept on his nightstand by the phone. There, in his own blocky handwriting, was written the name William Creek and, under it, the number 12. He sat down hard on the bed, holding the notepad like it was a vial of explosives. Behind him came the heavy steps of Mrs. Korjev as she followed him into the bedroom. â€Å"Mr. Asher, what is wrong? You run by like burning bear.† And Charlie, because he was a Beta Male, and there had evolved over millions of years a standard Beta response to things inexplicable, said, â€Å"Someone is fucking with me.† Lily was touching up her nail polish with a black Magic Marker when Stephan, the mailman, came through the shop door. â€Å"‘Sup, Darque?† Stephan said, sorting a stack of mail out of his bag. He was forty, short, muscular, and black. He wore wraparound sunglasses, which were almost always pushed back on his head over hair braided in tight cornrows. Lily had mixed feelings about him. She liked him because he called her Darque, short for Darquewillow Elventhing, the name under which she received mail at the shop, but because he was cheerful and seemed to like people, she deeply mistrusted him. â€Å"Need you to sign,† Stephan said, offering her an electronic pad, on which she scribbled Charles Baudelaire with great flourish and without even looking. Stephan plopped the mail on the counter. â€Å"Working alone again? So where is everyone?† â€Å"Ray's in the Philippines, Charlie's traumatized.† She sighed. â€Å"Weight of the world falls on me – â€Å" â€Å"Poor Charlie,† Stephan said. â€Å"They say that's the worst thing you can go through, losing a spouse.† â€Å"Yeah, there's that, too. Today he's traumatized because he saw a guy get hit by a bus up on Columbus.† â€Å"Heard about that. He gonna be okay?† â€Å"Well, fuck no, Stephan, he got hit by a bus.† Lily looked up from her nails for the first time. â€Å"I meant Charlie.† Stephan winked, despite her harsh tone. â€Å"Oh, he's Charlie.† â€Å"How's the baby?† â€Å"Evidently she leaks noxious substances.† Lily waved the Magic Marker under her nose as if it might mask the smell of ripened baby. â€Å"All good, then,† Stephan smiled. â€Å"That's it for today. You got anything for me?† â€Å"I took in some red vinyl platforms yesterday. Men's size ten.† Stephan collected vintage seventies pimp wear. Lily was to be on the lookout for anything that came through the shop. â€Å"How tall?† â€Å"Four inches.† â€Å"Low altitude,† Stephan said, as if that explained everything. â€Å"Take care, Darque.† Lily waved her Magic Marker at him as he left, and started sorting through the mail. There were mostly bills, a couple of flyers, but one thick black envelope that felt like a book or catalog. It was addressed to Charlie Asher â€Å"in care of† Asher's Secondhand and had a postmark from Night's Plutonian Shore, which evidently was in whatever state started with a U. (Lily found geography not only mind-numbingly boring, but also, in the age of the Internet, irrelevant.) Was it not addressed to the care of Asher's Secondhand? Lily reasoned. And was she, Lily Darquewillow Elventhing, not manning the counter, the sole employee – nay – the de facto manager, of said secondhand store? And wasn't it her right – nay – her responsibility to open this envelope and spare Charlie the irritation of the task? Onward, Elventhing! Your destiny is set, and if it be not destiny, then surely there is plausible deniability, which in the parlance of politics is the same thing. She drew a jewel-encrusted dagger from under the counter (the stones valued at over seventy-three cents) and slit the envelope, pulled out the book, and fell in love. The cover was shiny, like a children's picture book, with a colorful illustration of a grinning skeleton with tiny people impaled on his fingertips, and all of them appeared to be having the time of their lives, as if they were enjoying a carnival ride that just happened to involve having a gaping hole being punched through the chest. It was festive – lots of flowers and candy in primary colors, done in the style of Mexican folk art. The Great Big Book of Death, was the title, spelled out across the top of the cover in cheerful, human femur font letters. Lily opened the book to the first page, where a note was paper-clipped. This should explain everything. I'm sorry. – MF Lily removed the note and opened the book to the first chapter: â€Å"So Now You're Death: Here's What You'll Need.† And it was all she needed. This was, very possibly, the coolest book she had ever seen. And certainly not anything Charlie would be able to appreciate, especially in his current state of heightened neurosis. She slipped the book into her backpack, then tore the note and the envelope into tiny pieces and buried them at the bottom of the wastebasket.