Online Bookstore E-marketing Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Online Bookstore E-marketing - Term Paper Example Online bookstores have altered the way in which readers and writers interact and are expected to have a huge impact on the book retail business in the future. Starting a website to sell books will benefit Book Bunker in numerous ways, not least by increasing their stock space. Physical bookstores are limited in space, which is not a problem for online bookstores. Online bookstores are perfect for popular titles as well as rare ones, thus being a perfect avenue for Book Bunker as these rare titles receives the same space in relation to popular titles on the bookstore’s website. Ordering rare titles online will take the same time for delivery, as it would be for popular titles. Online bookstores are also convenient for customers in rural areas; they do not require physical access and are open for 24 hours including winter. Finally, an online bookstore will allow customers to post reviews about titles, which will aid Book Bunker since this feedback will affect the ratings of the title online, especially for rare titles, and will make for a unique interactive shopping experience that will attract other customers to the site. Online Bookstore Website Design One thing that needs to be considered when designing a website for a book store is that Book Bunker should ease up for their clients to buy titles and make the experience unique and interactive (Gay et al, 2010). The website should provide the client with extra information on top of the author and title. A system such as this has search as its lifeblood, and thus, it should include all information that a person browsing for a book would be searching for, including name, types of available copies, information on editions and whether it constitutes of a bigger pack (Gay et al, 2010). Simply, the website must capture and maximize the physical bookstore experience as much as possible. The website should also provide an opportunity for customers to add information on the titles that Book Bunker does not have, s uch as literary events, reading marathons, envision lists, book clubs, book marks, discussion boards, ratings, tagging, and detailed reviews. The website should also be designed in such a way that it works as a link between customers and suppliers with the store acting as an intermediary (Gay et al, 2010). Therefore, it becomes irrelevant whether the book is in stock. Book Bunker should factor in flags and notifications in their website coupled to appropriate icons, as well as allow effective forms to input and wish lists. Book Bunker also needs to network its website with other similar bookstores in order to possess a comprehensive catalogue, which caters to all book readers in multiple formats. This will also allow a review system that provides valuable and honest advice for purchase (Gay et al, 2010). The website should also possess the look inside section where the customer is allowed to have a peek into the book before buying it. Redemption facilities such as gift vouchers shou ld also be included in the website, as well as making it easier to order, pre-order, back-order, and return books (Gay et al, 2010). In addition, the website needs to be colorful and attractive on top of the text and white background, even with the necessity of optimization and fast loading. There should be a visual color-coded separation between the books to make it appealing to search for books. The site should also allow for a trail-back to the previous link levels clicked to get to the book itself in case the client decides that the clicked book is not the correct one (Gay et al, 2010). The â€Å"list page† should be in grid-style, which would enable Book Bunker to list more books with reduced vertical scroll. This would also allow the bookstore to increase the

Week 3, Learning Team - Aggregate Demand and Supply Models - Economic Critique Essay Example for Free

Week 3, Learning Team Aggregate Demand and Supply Models Economic Critique Essay An Economic Critique of Aggregate Demand and Supply Models The recent fall of the United States economy has created a society of fear, insecurity, and doubtful investors, retirees, and consumers world-wide. Economists from around the world have come together to solve world-wide economic issues and bring stability back to businesses, households, and the government. Economics teaches you how to approach problems; it does not provide what is right or what is wrong, nor does it provide you with a definitive answer. Consistent evaluation of economic factors like unemployment, economic expectations, consumer income, and interest rates, can prove to be highly effective. Unemployment Rate The unemployment rate steadily has declined over the last three years; there was a difference of 1.6% from July 2011 to July 2013. In July 2011 the unemployment rate was at 9% while in July 2013 it was reported at 7.4% so there was a decline of 1.6% (Bureau of Labor Statistics: The Employment Situation, 2013). The unemployment rate lowering over the last three years has been a positive thing for the United States economy because it means more jobs were created in 2013 and thus more people are working. The positive upturn in the unemployment rate would means that the household income has increased and there is more spending money power available. Even though there is some positive feedback in the unemployment rate numbers there are still other issues that affect the economy and still need to be dealt with like the government budget cut, which could produce more businesses taxes. The economy is on a slow but steady up-swing do to job creations, which has caused the unemployment rates t o lower for the last three years. Some job markets have created new jobs like the retail and service market but other have not improved at all like the manufacturing and health care markets. The important thing is that there are more jobs being created and the unemployment rate is lowering. Expectations In the current economy, many Americans are concerned that a rebound is still many years away. The hope and expectation appears to be that a new Presidential administration will help turn the tide on the depressed economy. However, expectations do not appear to be overzealous as Americans still witness home foreclosures, job layoffs, bankruptcies, and an increase in requests for public assistance. The average American still seems to be overwhelmed with these economic issues, whether on a personal basis or among friends and family. There are numerous factors affecting consumer income during the current economic recession. The aggregate demand effects are the Keynes’ interest rate effect and the Mundell-Fleming exchange-rate effect. It is often mentioned that the aggregate demand arch is a sliding slope, since the lesser price levels, a greater amount is required. These factors are the existing factors on aggregate demand and supply. The Obama administration has a few strategies to join our economic growth and our fiscal prospects by stimulating a sound profitable recovery, taking initiative toward bringing down the deficiency and placing a foundation and contain health care costs.  "Experience suggests that the tough choices that are necessary to put the budget into what economists call â€Å"primary balance† – a situation where taxes and expenditures cover each other, excluding interest payments, or what is essentially equivalent, a situation where the debt-to-GDP ratio can stabilize – will require the cooperation of both political parties. Experience suggests that achieving this kind of cooperation will require deliberation outside the immediate cut and thrust of political debate (Reflections on Fiscal Policy and Economic Strategy, 2010). The Keynesian perspective is often focused on immediate results in economic theories. Policies focus on the short-term needs and how economic policies can make instant correction to a nation’s economy. â€Å"Classical economics focuses on creating long-term solutions for economic problems. The effects of inflation, government regulation and taxes can all play an important part in developing clas sical economic theories. Classical economists also take into account the effects of other current policies and how new economic theory will improve or distort the free market environment (Differences Between Classical Keynesian Economics, 2013). Consumer Income As of June 2013, median household incomes were up $598 month-over-month and $960 year-over-year. According to U.S. Department of Commerce (2013), â€Å"wages and salaries, the largest component of personal income, increased 0.5 percent in June after increasing 0.3 percent in May.† Personal expenditure is the vast element to aggregate demand. It is set on a household’s disposable income. There will be a shift to the left on aggregate demand if consumers buy more output at the price level. The current fiscal policy in place as it relates to consumer income states that the government can increase or decrease taxes on household income. An increase in taxes means a decrease in disposable income, because it will take money out of households. The opposite holds true if there is a decrease in taxes, because it will leave households with more money. Disposable income accounts for two-thirds of total demand. Economist had forecast a 0.1% rise, but reports show that spending fell 0.2% in May 2013 when adjusted for inflation. It is suggested that consumers pulled back from spending due to a weak income data. During periods of recession, the Keynesian theory recommends that Congress should increase government spending and decrease taxes to give households more disposable income to purchase more products, simultaneously. Through these methods of fiscal policy, the rise in aggregate demand stimulates businesses to increase production, employ more workers, and increase household incomes, enabling them to buy more. The classical theory concept known as â€Å"free market† requires little to no government intervention. This allows consumers to act in their own self-interest in regards to economic decisions. In the current issues regarding consumer income, Keynesian theory has been proven effective as shown in the increase of income and the shift in aggregate demand. If the current state of the U.S. consumer income remains on course, there should be a steady climb household disposable income. Interest Rates Based on my finding, as an international reporter, it was disclosed that interest rates have been the primary macroeconomic indictor of our economy today. It is an aggregate figure that represents how the present banks and financial sector operate on a national and regional economy level. So what is an interest rate, According to Colander (2010), Chapter 13, â€Å"Interest rates — the prices that are charged or paid for the use of a financial asset —are key variables in the financial sector.† It’s the rate of the cost of borrowing money, which reflects both the supply and demand of United States currency at a particular time. Therefore, after critiquing the current state of the U.S. economy interest rate, it was uncovered that monetary policy plays a major part in the decision making. This is why, According to Colander (2010), Chapter 13, â€Å"Money is a highly liquid financial asset that’s generally accepted in exchange for other goods, is used as a reference in valuing other goods, and can be stored as wealth.† It’s the Federal Reserve that uses the supply of money to regulate the current interest rate, which affects the cost of borrowing money to regulate the economy. According to Colander (2010), Chapter 13, â€Å"Federal Reserve Bank (the Fed) — the U.S. central bank whose liabilities (Federal Reserve notes) serve as cash in the United States.† Therefore, borrowing money is really known as interests’ rate that is set by the Federal Reserve that affects the rates on credit cards and home mortgages. In this current state of the U .S. economy, it has affected the interest rate and the exchanged rate; this is where the Fiscal policy has become a major factor. This policy has macroeconomic implications beyond consumer spending. In fact, when the government runs a deficit, it has to borrow from investors by issuing treasury bonds. Therefore, when the government competes with others borrowers, such as corporation, or consumer saving this will affect the raising of the interest rate. So in result, this policy recommendation should be setting interest rate sufficiently to attract investors and their money, so the government can have the cash to cover the budget deficits. Conclusion In conclusion, the economy plays an important role in all the markets and sectors whether it is with the government, households, or businesses. Each sector or market affects the other since it is a never ending cycle that affects job creation, consumer, and business spending power, and government spending. Economists study to prevent recessions and keep our economy on a positive cycle with continuous growth and spending power. In order to do this, businesses, government, and household need to continue spending to provide jobs for people. The people in turn will continue spending providing more money spending power. The government needs to analyze situations to prevent financial crisis and have ways to strength our economy (Colander, 2010). Everyone needs to play their part for continuous growth and prosperity. References U.S. Department of Commerce. (2013). Personal income and outlays, June 2013. Retrieved from http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/pinewsrelease.htm Bureau of Labor Statistics: The Employment Situation. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf Colander, David. C. (2010). Macroeconomics (8th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. Reflections on Fiscal Policy and Economic Strategy. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/nec/speeches/fiscal-policy-economic-strategy. Differences Between Classical Keynesian Economics. (2013). Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/differences-between-classical-keynesian-economics-3897.html

The Entertainemnt Industry :: Art

The Entertainemnt Industry In the past five years, the entertainment industry has been more and more focused on the idea of reality-based entertainment. This vast desire for seemingly live television has made a great impact upon major network television stations. Shows such as MTV’s Real World and CBS’s Survivor are great indicators of society’s obsession with drama in a â€Å"live† situation. It seems our infatuation with these shows stems from our desire to focus our attention away from our own tribulations and focus on problems elsewhere. Our mysterious want for conflict among others has forced many networks to provoke such drama, for example in Survivor, where castaways are forced to take sides and vote another member off the island. This idea of social Darwinism in shows like Survivor and the ever so popular Big Brother force major networks to create entertainment that both provoke and stimulate disagreement among participants. Personally, I feel that because of television†™s fixation with reality-based programs, people are now turning to the movie industry to get away from such realistic forms of entertainment. Popular movies such as Bedazzled, The Ladies Man, and The Exorcist all deal with fantasy type situations. Bedazzled, starring Brendan Frasier and Elizabeth Hurley is about a man who sells his soul to the devil, played by Hurley. Moviegoers can simply escape reality for a few hours by entertaining themselves with themes such as this. Genres focusing on such fantasy are rarely seen on prime-time television these days, especially on the major networks such as FOX and ABC. Why is this? Well my impression is that people feel as if they deserve to come home and take their mind of the troubles they had for the day. By being able to watch shows such as ER, which ranked first among viewers this past week, people can direct their attention onto another person’s drama while ignoring their own. Voyeurism today is clearly an indicator of change in taste for viewers around the world. According to Time Almanac:1999, the top three shows of 1998 were Seinfeld, Veronica’s Closet, and Friends. If you look at the top three shows during months while a reality based show is being aired, you will most typically find that show to be number one among viewers in the rankings. This growing trend of live-based entertainment is setting a new stage for twenty first century viewers today. Real-life issues however can be distorted at times when being seen second hand.

Difference Between Men And Women

For centuries, the differences between men and women were socially defined through a lens of sexism, in which men assumed to be superior over women. The vision of equality between the sexes has narrowed the possibilities for discovery of what truly exists within a man and women. The world would be less interesting when everything is the same. Today none of us would argue that men and women are physically different, but they differ emotionally, and mentally. The physical differences are rather obvious and most of these can be seen and easily measured such as Weight, shape, and size.There are many physical differences that are not noticeable. Men are 3o percent stronger especially in upper body strength. On the other hand, women have greater body fat percentages because women have children. No matter how strong men are they will never be able to handle child birth. Men build muscle easily, they have thicker oilier skin, they bruise less easily, and have a lower ability of injuries to t heir extremities. Men and women have different hormone levels such as testosterone, while women have a higher concentration of estrogens.Testosterone is a male sex hormone that is important for sexual and reproductive development. Estrogen is a hormone in women that shapes the characteristic of the body. I can go on and on with many physical differences but lastly men have larger hearts, brains, and lungs. Since their hearts are bigger that means that they are filled with love, care and affection. Their brains are 11-12 percent bigger than women’s so this should mean that they are the smartest creatures ever. Even though they have big hearts and a bigger brain sadly it has nothing to do with intelligence or their emotions.It is for producing more red blood cells because of their muscle mass. Emotionally men and women have a significant difference. I am not a man so I cannot speak for men when I say that men need trust. A man feels trusted when a woman’s attitude is ope n, to trust a man is to believe in his abilities and intentions. Women needs caring, when a man shows interest in a woman’s feelings she feels loved and cared for and becomes more open. Men needs acceptance, men are not very comfortable of being changed. If a woman lovingly receives a man without trying to change him he feels accepted.Women need understanding, when a man listens without judgment, but with empathy she feels heard and understood. When a woman’s need to be heard and understood is fulfilled it is easier for her to accept his needs. A man needs appreciation, when a woman acknowledges the little things her man has done for her he feels appreciated. When he feels appreciated he is encouraged to do more. Now I understand that some guys here are not going to agree with me nor the girls, and I respect that because I can only speak for myself.Mentally men and women differ drastically. Women are better at communicating because of the frontal lobe which is responsi ble for problem solving. The limbic cortex of the female brain is larger than the male counterparts, this provides women with an advantage in problem solving and emotionally. Remember earlier I said that men have bigger brains? Well, the male brain contains more grey matter whereas a female brain contains more white matter. White matter basically increases thoughts more rapidly than males.Females speak from a more emotional perspective. It is due to chemistry and social learning. There is a stereotypical idea that females within the general public that has made it easier for women to openly cry, sympathize, laugh etc without feeling judged or vulnerable like male counterpart might feel in a similar situation. For instance, a man and a woman go on a movie date and there is a sad movie playing; and the woman starts to cry. The man might want to cry to but instead he hides it due to embarrassment. (I don’t know why)Everyone understands that there are plenty of differences betwee n men and women but we all have to realize that God created all of us for a reason. Men and women are totally different but it is more exciting to have varieties rather than everything being the same. As it is written in the Bible men cannot live without women. We need to all face the facts that men and women are different but we should all be treated equally. Guys have you ever had this said to you? You do this like a girl or you do that like a girl.It is not only offensive to guys, but it is offensive to girls as well. Now, girls do handle situations differently. I admit we can get a little feisty. For instance someone throws something at Jessie, Jessie would throw the object back and then proceeds in offensive word play. The same situation applies to Sammie he throws the object back and then laughs it off then it becomes a fun game rather than an unnecessary fight. Men and women do things differently but we still need to respect each other because we are all God’s children .

Coke as Cleaning Agent Essay

Trademark Facts Coke is known for being the most recognized trademark in all of the world, boasting a near 94% brand recognition by the world’s population. One contributing factor to this statistic is a long-term partnership with the Olympics. This partnership began at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. In 1983, Diet Coke was launched in Australia and within 12 months became the number two soft drink of choice in the country, after Coke. Coke also boasts over 500 brands and more then 1,200 bottling plants in various parts of the world. Sponsored Links Industrial Hand Cleaner Antibacterial, Protective Hand Soap Multi-purpose Ind. Hand Solutions www.chemsearch.ph/handsoap Consumer Facts According to CokeFacts.com, it is estimated that nearly 10,450 soft drinks from Coca-Cola are consumed every second of every day. Ten bottles of Coke on average were consumed during the first year that Coke was distributed. In 2009, it is estimated that more than one billion servings are consumed every single day. Cooking Agent Facts Coke can also be used in different cooking situations. Many people will pour a whole can of Coke into a baking pan and then wrap up the ham or other meat of choice in aluminum foil. They will then bake the ham while it is resting in the pan filled with Coke. It is said to produce a very moist ham once it is all done. Cleaning Agent Facts Surprisingly, Coke can be a great cleaning agent as well. It can be used to clean corrosion off of car battery terminals, to loosen a rusty bolt or help to remove film off of your car windshield. One of the most bizarre uses for Coke is to use it as a cleaning agent for the toilet. Supposedly, you can pour a can of Coke into the toilet, let it sit for several minutes, and then flush the toilet. The result: a clean and functional toilet. Read more: Facts About Coke | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5409773_coke.html#ixzz2K5itRtDt

The NHS in Relation to the Welfare State essays

The NHS in Relation to the Welfare State essays The NHS in relation to the Welfare State The Beveridge report in 1942, illustrated five interrelated social problems, which the British Welfare State was designed to tackle, these were Want, Disease, Ignorance, Idleness and Squalor. (Moran, M et al 2001). This report was published in order to find a solution to Britains social ills, which had multiplied during the Great Depression of the 1930s and the experience of the Second World War. With the publication of this report it was realised that the Laissez-Faire style of government was inadequate in providing a safety net for the disadvantaged members of British society, and that a comprehensive system of welfare was required. Although the concept was in place, much of the system of welfare that we see today was not initiated until the Labour government came to power in 1945. They then passed key legislation such as The Family Allowance Act 1945, Housing Acts of 1946 and 1949 which brought about subsidy to tackle the housing problem. National Insurance acts of 1946 and 1948 which provided a comprehensive benefits system for all unemployed, disabled, elderly and survivors and The National Health Service Act 1948, (Budge, I et al 1998) which, initiated by Anuerin Bevan , who was Labours Health Minister between 1945 and 51, provided Britain with the worlds first nationalised health service run solely on public funding to provide free health care for all. This National Health Service begun by the Labour government in 1948,was designed to provide free and universally available health care for all. This was done by nationalising all hospitals, surgeries and university hospitals, and placing them under fourteen new hospital boards, distributed on a regional basis (in England and Wales only, as Scotland had a separate system). General Practitioners worked much as they had before, but their revenue was now provided by...

Introduction to Pastoral Counseling Essays

Introduction to Pastoral Counseling Essays Introduction to Pastoral Counseling Essay Introduction to Pastoral Counseling Essay Do to this fact, instead of amplifying problems, we choose to amplify solutions. We believe you are the expert on yourself, because of this we want to partner with you to co-create solutions. In SCABS, the counseling sessions are brief and time-limited. The counseling relationship normally does not exceed more than 5 to 6, 50 minute sessions. Note taking will be used in these sessions by both you and the counselor. Homework will be given to you in order to implement what has been learned in the counseling sessions. You must also document the results of such homework in order to share your progress with the counselor. Termination of the counseling relationship may be done by the counseled at any time. The counselor will not terminate the sessions without appropriate reason. Whenever possible upon completion of the counseling sessions, the counseled will be directed to the appropriate small group ministry in order to foster love, support, and accountability. Guided Assumption to process uses guided assumptions adapted from ?solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling?o (Collar 1953,1997). Those assumptions are as follows: (1) Assume Is at work In ten Tie AT ten counseled (Collar 1 ) Recognize sees grace and mercy in the life of the counseled. (2) Understand that at some point all have needed restoration. All have fallen short of God?was glory and have been in need of encouragement to create an environment for change, rather than isolation. (3) The counseled is not the problem; the problem is (Collar 1953,1997). The counseled has to deal with the problem. Create an environment where the counseled knows that they can indeed be separate from their problem. (4) The counseled is the expert on themselves (Collar 1953,1997). Other than God, no one knows the oneself better than themselves. (5) Finding exceptions helps create solutions (Collar 1953,1997). Realizing the success, Joy and peace one feels away from their problems is key. Remind the counseled to remember events where the problem was not their focus and create to those events more often. (6) The aim is for solutions. Don?wet focus on the problem. The SIC represents my guarded, masked behavior. This behavior is what people expect from me. I am expected to be analytical and weigh options when making decisions. I am sensitive to the needs of others, but I can also be very critical. It may appear that I am uninterested at times because I am contemplative. What I like most is to do things the correct way. Again, this is what is expected of me. My unguarded, unmasked true self is a C/S/D personality profile. Being a C/S/D I am a very task driven person, but I really work well with people on an individual level as well. Most C/S/D?was don?wet like to speak in front of a large group of people, but my spiritual gifts have made this task less frightening and more fulfilling. I will say that I probably am still more effective one on one or in a small group setting. I am really up front and frank with people, often it can be confused or taken as though I am insensitive. I am actually very sensitive and I really care about people; I Just believe that I allow things to roll off of me easily. Essential that frees me up emotionally and mentally to be able to listen to and deal with the problems of others. I am a very serious person. I probably should lighten up a little, be more optimistic, be more positive, and less critical. I have a fairly constant personality with my guarded and unguarded self. I believe my spiritual gifts when used; help keep my personality in check. My three highest spiritual gift tendencies are: Encouraging/Exhorting; Teaching; Administration/ Ruling. This means I also tend to be more of an encouraging person. I often find myself in informal counseling situations. I have genuine concern for the well-being of others. With that concern, comes the desire to share truth with people, mainly the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I also am a visionary person who desires to organize and lead a cause. The overuse of these gifts sometimes makes me boring and annoying. I may tend to talk too much, desire to know too much. I also can be over critical Ana expect too much out AT people. 10 communicate Ana relate Walt others more effectively I should not be so hard on people, and be more sensitive to hey?were needs. I must also exhibit patience and kindness.

Fight the Good Fight Against Creeping Errors

Fight the Good Fight Against Creeping Errors Fight the Good Fight Against Creeping Errors Fight the Good Fight Against Creeping Errors By Mark Nichol Editing, the skill set practiced by the other half of my writer/editor dual personality, is a pleasurable pursuit for me. It enables me to practice problem solving, help people express themselves, and improve my own writing. But as I peruse some of the prose I examine professionally more than a million words each year I repeatedly come across banal but annoying errors that baffle me. There are corollaries of these mistakes in every profession, and in the personal compartments of one’s life. They’re the editorial equivalent of finding that the toilet seat has been left up. (I’m sure you can think of cognates in your experience.) These are among those indefensible editorial errors that seem to perpetuate themselves like a virus, inconsequential in isolation but aggravating in the aggregate. One irritating error I find often is the intrusive framing of a name in commas when it is an appositive of a preceding description of the person named, as in â€Å"The exhibition showcases the work of photographer, Mathew Brady, who produced many iconic images from the Civil War era.† This mistake is rarely replicated in well-edited publications. Unfortunately, many people are corrupted by its ubiquitous appearance in not-so-well-edited publications, and it is thus passed on to infect others. (This error is no doubt influenced by a superficially similar and correct construction: â€Å"The exhibition showcases the work of the photographer, Mathew Brady, who produced many iconic images from the Civil War era.† This is correct form only if the photographer has already been referred to as such in a previous sentence without being named. Also, some publications precede an epithet describing a prominent person with the as in â€Å"The exhibition showcases the work of the photographer Mathew Brady, who produced many iconic images from the Civil War era† though the insertion is an unnecessary affection but notice that the name is not set off by a pair of commas.) Many other examples of such evergreen errors exist, including words misspelled (definately in place of definitely), imperfectly rendered because they’re imperfectly heard (supposably substituting for supposedly), unnecessarily augmented (irregardless, when regardless is sufficient), or faultily combined (alot instead of â€Å"a lot†). The persistent prevalence of these mutations is baffling, considering that the correct forms are found in any self-respecting publication. But the answer must lie in the explosion of email and texting, the proliferation of blogs and websites with less-than-rigorous editing, and the erosion of editorial quality in traditional print publications. The only defense against deterioration of grammar, syntax, usage, spelling, and punctuation standards is careful writing and careful editing with the assistance of good role models, knowledgeable editors, and reliable reference sources. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Computer Terms You Should Know36 Poetry Terms1,462 Basic Plot Types

Human Services Program and Profession SEMINAR UNIT 6 Research Paper

Human Services Program and Profession SEMINAR UNIT 6 - Research Paper Example Basically the service offered should be tailor-made depending on the student background so that student develop the qualities that make him more resourceful, intelligent, understanding and he get connected to group and enjoy life and the process of learning. The diverse culture makes it difficult to treat the child in the same manner while rendering human service. Children form one community, culture tend to be more close with similar culture and avoid other groups which later might result in conflicts. It would result in group within the group. The challenge is to make children open minded. It is necessary to understand the psychology of child which generally is founded on diverse culture base. The language used communication methods also differ based on the background of diverse culture. Skills also differ depending on the cultural background. Health, nutrition condition also differ resulting in different characters, attitude and personality. What are three careers in the field of human services working with children, adolescents, and their families? Give some background on the positions you discuss including some of the training and skills needed for the positions. Would you be interested in pursuing any of the careers you listed? Why or why not? 3 careers in the field of human service are Counsellor, Social service Assistant and Childcare Worker. As Counsellor it is necessary to study the background of the child and family. In career counselling it is necessary to know the tradition and skills of family .Important aspect is child skill. As Social service assistant basically it is necessary to provide food, mental healthcare including adoption of child and to take all the needed measures to make the child pursue the career which interests the child so that child can make maximum contribution. As Child care worker the responsibilities would be to feed, ensure safety and make child to

Advertising is Manipulative Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Advertising is Manipulative - Research Paper Example People fail to realize that they are being exploited and led down the garden path, the cream has been selling like a hot cake for the last several years and it is mainly because of manipulative advertisement, they recruit models who are beautiful and convince people that an average looking person can also look like a model, this is highly unacceptable but it is successful because people have fallen for it in the past and will continue to fall for this in the future too. This is a classic example of manipulative advertisement, people are being manipulated into buying products that are of no use to them and will probably do more bad than good to them. This paper will shed more light upon the same and how advertisers are exploiting the naivety of the people and how they are misguiding the people into buying products that are absolutely of no use to them. The advertisers spend a lot of money on advertisements and the only way of recouping money is by manipulation and by selling products that never do even half as much work as they claim to do in the advertisements. Fair and lovely is not the only example, there are many more products that are being sold on a daily basis by misguiding the people. In today’s cut throat competition companies often use aggressive advertising to push their products in the market. The essay will discuss ways and techniques in which advertising is used as a medium to push products thereby making it manipulative in most cases. With the advent of new products and technology, consumers are becoming sensitive towards their needs and businesses across the globe are finding newer ways to increase their turnover.

Knowldge Sharing case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Knowldge Sharing case - Essay Example â€Å"A sufficient reason for KM is that right now a major and increasing part of the world’s wealth is being generated from represented objects, rather than objects themselves† (Gamboa, 1998). When a company implements the strategy of KM into the business the company is attempting to improve the culture of the business. Implementing a new strategy into a company can be a challenging experience as many companies that have implemented KM into the businesses they operate have discovered. Knowledge Management is not yet a style of management that is taught in schools. The Knowledge Management style of management is a fairly new style of management. â€Å"A knowledge-based system is an application that falls under the umbrella of a branch of computer science properly known as artificial intelligence† (Thomas, & Howells, 2000). When someone implements the strategies of KM they would implement them in different styles. Each form of Knowledge Management has a different strategy. This is why it is difficult to implement the strategies of Knowledge Management within a company. The company needs to choose what type of Knowledge Management practice to implement within the company and to implement the strategies accordingly.

Influence of buddhism on asia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Influence of buddhism on asia - Essay Example Buddhism is one of the older religions of the world and is considered a noble religion. It originated in India. Buddhism is a religion of tolerance and breeds’ compassion in its followers. This is reflected in the character of the people that have adopted it and has spread this philosophy to the religions that it has influenced. Buddhism spread to many parts of Asia and is still the religion of many countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia. There are close to four hundred million followers of Buddhism in the world today. Advent of Buddhism in India: The religious philosophy of Buddhism is founded in the teachings of Gautama Buddha, who is believed to have lived from 566 to 486 BCE. The word Buddha does not mean just the founder of the religion, but is a description of the person, who is the true follower of Gautama Buddha and has attained enlightenment and thereby freed himself from the cycle of birth and death.

Trademark Dilution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Trademark Dilution - Essay Example Trade Marks Act 1984 section 5 (3) confers right to the owner of the existing trade mark to prevent registration of a rival trade mark that dilutes the distinctness and exclusivity of his existing trade mark. The owner of the original trade mark is entitled under section 10 (3) of the said Act to sue the duplicator for infringement. In fact, section 5 (3) bars a trade mark from being registered if it is identical or similar to an earlier trade mark which has a reputation use of which will give unfair advantage to the new trade mark sought to be registered and/or will erode the distinctive character or reputation of the original trade mark 1. Richard Conroy v Smithkline Beecham PLC 2 involved similar sounding name of a product NIT NURSE, an anti-lice product sought to be registered by the applicant was opposed by Smithkline Beecham PLC on the ground that its long established product of repute namely NIGHT-NURSE, a oral decongestant would suffer from erosion of its uniqueness it had enjoyed all along in the market. Although the name NIT NURSE would not give any unfair advantage , it would be detrimental to Night-Nurse in the â€Å"tarnishment† of a oral medicine of repute by the similar mark meant for treatment for â€Å"blood-sucking insects†. The detrimental effect was recognized as also the diluting effect of NIGHT-NURSE’s distinct character.3 In the United States , Federal Trademark Dilution Act passed in 1995 (subsequently amended in 1999 as Trademarks Amendment Act 1999 (TAA)) sought to protect large companies against the ‘gradual whittling away’ of renowned brands by new entrants4 as an effort to protect big business at the expense of upcoming businesses. This is in addition State laws against dilution and trademark owners are able enjoy the twin protection. While federal law require that dilution has actually occurred,

Influence of buddhism on asia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Influence of buddhism on asia - Essay Example Buddhism is one of the older religions of the world and is considered a noble religion. It originated in India. Buddhism is a religion of tolerance and breeds’ compassion in its followers. This is reflected in the character of the people that have adopted it and has spread this philosophy to the religions that it has influenced. Buddhism spread to many parts of Asia and is still the religion of many countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia. There are close to four hundred million followers of Buddhism in the world today. Advent of Buddhism in India: The religious philosophy of Buddhism is founded in the teachings of Gautama Buddha, who is believed to have lived from 566 to 486 BCE. The word Buddha does not mean just the founder of the religion, but is a description of the person, who is the true follower of Gautama Buddha and has attained enlightenment and thereby freed himself from the cycle of birth and death.

Pre-writting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pre-writting - Essay Example For instance, if you say that Joy is 90 years old, it automatically means that Joy is over 20 years even without mentioning that in the premise. This is because 20 is less than 90 and that it can validated by that, on the same not if Joy is 20 years, then you could not say that she is 90 years because it cannot be validated by the conclusion. The chapter then emphasizes on the arguments that are sound, effective, and cogent. The conclusion of a statement should be carved from the premise of the same sentence, this is what the book tries to put forth in terms of developing a research paper. The chapters have given a legion ways of ensuring that your writing is carefully argued with precaution of not falling into the trap of vagueness. For the authors to make the audience understand the points that they wants taken, they fondly use rhetorical strategies, this means that the author has to consider several factors before choosing on which rhetorical strategy to be used as it determines how the information will be consumed by the intended person. In the case of this book, the author has in forms those rhetorical analyses are important for communicating your purpose of writing and that one has to choose carefully which one to use when developing a research paper (Faigley and Selzer 244). The author has also informed that writing different research papers calls for different use of rhetorical analyses, for instance the way one would report a science paper based on a laboratory research is different with the way a paper that in forms on how something comes into existence or the working mechanism of a process. This book forms the basis of good writing especially for those who want to give a concise paper on their writings. Logical and sound writing is important for the conveyance of intended information, otherwise, the intended meaning of the whole process will no longer hold

Coldplay Essay Example for Free

Coldplay Essay British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. [3] After forming Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. [4] Will Champion joined as a drummer, backing vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, completing the line-up. Manager Phil Harvey is often considered an unofficial fifth member. [5] The band renamed themselves Coldplay in 1998,[6] before recording and releasing three EPs; Safety in 1998, Brothers Sisters as a single in 1999 and The Blue Room in the same year. The latter was their first release on a major label, after signing to Parlophone. [7] They achieved worldwide fame with the release of the single Yellow in 2000, followed by their debut album released in the same year, Parachutes, which was nominated for the Mercury Prize. The bands second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), was released to favourable reviews and won multiple awards, including NMEs Album of the Year, and has been widely considered the best of the Nelson-produced Coldplay albums. Their next release, XY, the best-selling album worldwide in 2005, was initially met with mixed reviews upon its release. However, the bands fourth studio album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), was produced by Brian Eno and released again to largely favourable reviews, earning several Grammy nominations and wins at the 51st Grammy Awards. [8] In August 2011, they announced that a fifth studio album, titled Mylo Xyloto, would be released on October 24, 2011. The band has won a number of music awards throughout their career, including six Brit Awards — winning Best British Group three times, four MTV Video Music Awards, and seven Grammy Awards from twenty nominations.

History of Iron Smelting Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa

History of Iron Smelting Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa Introduction: The arrival of iron smelting technology in sub-Saharan Africa played a significant role in shaping the historical record of the area by bringing profound changes to the lives and societies of its inhabitants (Haaland Shinnie 7). In the parts of Africa south of the Sahara and south of the Ethiopian highlands, there has been no archaeological evidence supporting a Bronze Age (Van Der Merwe 463; Alpern ; Holl 6) and the evidence archaeologists do have point to iron being the first metal used to replace stone tools (Fagan 1). One area of intense debate regarding the African Iron Age is the process in which the technology of iron smelting arrived in sub-Saharan Africa. Over the past half-century, the interpretations and reconstructions of the origins of iron smelting in sub-Saharan Africa have changed considerably. The initial theory was based on an unquestioned belief of the superiority of Ancient Egypt over sub-Saharan Africa (Kense 12). Based on this framework, the site of Meroe was pr oposed by Arkell as an important link and the general belief was that the collapse of the Kingdom of Kush precipitated the spread of technology and Meroitic culture into the southwest (Kense 13). However excavations conducted in the 1960s determined that the iron smelting furnaces found at Meroe mostly dated to the first few centuries B.C.E (Shinnie 30) and its pivotal role in the spread of iron smelting technology was shown to be increasingly hard to defend (Kense 13). Three theories regarding the origins of iron smelting in sub-Saharan Africa have emerged and are currently disputed amongst scholars (Holl 7). Two of the theories are diffusionist meaning these theories claim the technology originated elsewhere and was transported into the region. These theories are based on the premise that iron smelting originated somewhere in Anatolia and from there the technology was adopted by other populations and spread throughout the Mediterranean and into Africa. The main diffusionist theory was first proposed by Raymond Muany in 1952. He argues that since the Phoenicians had iron by about 1100 B.C. and that they started colonizing Northern Africa at around the same time; it was possible that the knowledge of iron smelting was transmitted into sub-Saharan Africa with the Berber tribes living in the Saharan Desert as a medium (Alpern 46). The other diffusionist hypothesis arose as a counter to early iron smelting furnaces found west of Lake Victoria in Tanzania. This hypothesis proposes that the technology came from Arabia via the Horn of Africa (Alpern 80). The theory that has gained the most acceptance recently is the one arguing for the independent invention of iron smelting in sub-Saharan Africa (Alpern 41). A slew of archaeological discoveries in the past twenty years have strengthened the case for independent invention. Some people have even gone as far as arguing that, based on controversial discoveries made in 2008, inhabitants of sub-Saharan Africa were the first to smelt iron, preceding Anatolia by about 700 years (Pringle ). The strongest case against independent invention is the complexity of iron smelting. Iron requires specialized knowledge in order to transform iron ore into usable iron (Kense 19) and it has long been held that people without prior knowledge of smelting techniques would not be able to smelt iron successfully (Sassoon 5). Two areas of sub-Saharan Africa have emerged as candidates for areas where iron smelting could have developed, the Western Africa region around the Niger-Nigeria border or north-western Ta nzania. This essay will argue for the independent discovery of iron smelting technology in sub-Saharan Africa based on discoveries made in Western Africa. Background: To understand why there has been such a strong opposition to the idea of sub-Saharan Africa independently inventing iron smelting technology, it is necessary to consider the difficulty and skill required to smelt iron. It is hypothesized that iron was first used as a flux, a substance that is smelted together with the desired ore in order to make the slag, or waste rock, more liquid, in the smelting of copper (Wheeler Madden 114). The iron mixed with slag would have been spongy at the temperatures inside a copper smelting furnace. It could only then be shaped into something usable through repeated hammering and heating (Wheeler Madden 114). The difficulty in creating iron objects is testament in the value iron objects had during the early and mid Bronze Age. In Egypt, for example, Tutankhamen was wrapped in with a golden dagger and a matching iron dagger with a gold hilt (van der Merwe 466). So although ancient smiths, masters of smelting bronze and copper, knew about iron, the diffi culties in smelting the metal took a long time to overcome. The smelting of iron occurs when iron ore is heated together with a charcoal fuel. This causes the iron in the ore to fuse chemically with the carbon from the charcoal. The more carbon dissolved in the iron, the lower its melting point. The amount of ore to fuel, and the supply of combustion air determine whether cast iron, steel, wrought iron, or a useless lump of metal will form (Alpern 82). Copper on the other hand melts readily at 1084ÂÂ °, temperatures that can be reached in a charcoal fire or during ceramic firing (Holl 6). In sum, the reduction of iron ore requires much more sophisticated expertise than does the smelting of other metal ores. Without pre-existing furnace technology, the likelihood of stumbling upon the process required is slim (Sassoon 5). Due to these foundations and a lack of archaeological evidence supporting very early iron smelting in sub-Saharan Africa at the time, Mauny proposed the most plausible scenario for the diffusion of iron metallurgy (Alpern 45). He speculated that when the Phoenicians settled in North Africa, the Berbers living in the region, being from a nomadic warrior culture, would have been keen to acquire improved weapons made from iron metal. These Berbers living near the coast would then pass on this technology to their fellow Berbers living in the Sahara (Kense 24). He then suggested that the technology could have been taken south into the sub-Saharan savannah by fleeing slaves, or deliberately transmitted to the lands of black farmers where both iron ore and the wood to fuel smelting furnaces were relatively abundant. The farmers would in turn supply the Berbers with raw metal for ironworking in exchange (Alpern 46). Mauny offered some linguistic evidence for his model. Derivatives of the Phoenician word for iron, barzel, are found in Berber vocabularies throughout the Sahara and also in the Teda (Tubu) language of Tibesti and the Fezzan.20 Mauny also saw affiliations with the terms for iron among several savanna-dwelling black peoples, including the Bariba, Jukun, and Kanuri.21 He might have added that Carthaginian influence on the Berbers may be attested to this day by the Tifinagh alphabet of the Tuareg, which is thought by some scholars to derive ultimately from a Punic script. There is a strong case that Africa independently invented ceramics, however there does seem to be evidence for Berber transfer of metallurgy across the Sahara, but it comes not from Niger but from Mauritania in the far west. Ancient copper artifacts began to be noticed in that region in the early twentieth century. By 1951 enough had been found for Mauny to wonder, in print, whether Mauritania had experienced a Copper Age.70 An answer came in 1968, when French archeologist Nicole Lambert began excavating what was known as the Grotte aux Chauves-souris (Bat Cave) on a hill called the Guelb Moghrein near Akjoujt in western Mauritania. It was not a cave at all, but an ancient mining gallery dug by humans following a rich vein of malachite ore. The ore was not only extracted, but locally smelted, as furnace remains and slag attest. Four other ancient exploitation sites were found later on the Guelb Moghrein. Ra-diocarbon datings, eventually calibrated, are nearly all in the range 800 to 200 cal BCE. Subsequently at least three other metallurgical centers from the same period were discovered in the Akjoujt region. The number of ancient copper objects found in the western Sahara and attributed to the Akjoujt industry exceeded 160 at last count. The great majority are weapons: arrowheads, lance points, and daggers. Tools include hatchets, pins, awls, burins, and hooks. There are the inevitable personal ornaments-rings, earrings, pendants-and some ingots. All the items are very small and very light; when the number reached about 140, the total weight barely topped two kilograms. They were produced in a Neolithic context in which stone tools vastly outnumbered the metal ones, so one can hardly speak of a Copper Age on the basis of present evidence. How did copper mining and working get started at Akjoujt? It is possible the industry was indigenous, but no one yet seems to have made a real case for that. Lambert saw a resemblance between the Akjoujt products and those of the El Argar culture in southeastern Spain, where copper was being manufactured by at least 1700 BCE and bronze some 200 years later. She thought the few ancient brass and bronze artifacts also found in Mauritania might have been imported from the western Maghreb. She noted that chariot engravings had been found on rocks in three places near Akjoujt and thought they might be road signs indicating an early traffic between Morocco and Mauritania.71 Mauny discerned Phoenician or Carthaginian initiatives behind the Akjoujt industry, with Berbers actually importing the technology, but Lamberts idea of an Iberian connection might have some merit.72 In the late 1960s and early 1970s, British archeologist Colin Renfrew, in a sweeping challenge to the then-reigning diffusionist orthodoxy, suggested that copper metallurgy was independently invented on the Iberian Peninsula long before Phoenicians or Greeks reached the western Mediterranean. 73 Since then much evidence has accumulated that he was right, and that Iberian copper metallurgy dates back at least to 3000 BCE.74 It also seems that the technology crossed from Spain to Morocco before the Phoenicians set foot on the Moroccan coast. Until the mid-twentieth century, it was thought the western Maghreb had not experienced a Copper or Bronze Age. Finds of metal objects, ancient mines, and, especially, rock engravings have undercut that notion: copper in Morocco may date all the way back to the third millennium BCE, according to some leading researchers.75 Rock art in the High Atlas shows weapons typical of the El Argar culture, especially daggers, halberds, and axes.76 Conceivably, cuprous objects reached Morocco in exchange for two North African products, ivory and ostrich eggshells, that have been found in third- and second- millennium-BCE graves in southeast Spain.77 But no certain proof of early copper smelting has yet turned up in the Maghreb. Did the Akjoujt copper industry, whatever its origins, lead to an independent invention of iron metallurgy? The malachite of Bat Cave occurred in a matrix of hematite and magnetite that was discarded in the smelting process. There is no evidence that the coppersmiths ever produced iron, although the raw material was at hand. However, proof of ironworking from the same period has recently been found some 250 miles south of Akjoujt in the middle Senegal river valley. At a site called Walalde, iron artifacts dating to somewhere between 800 and 550 cal BCE have been found, and in a second phase of occupation, from ca. 550 to 200 cal BCE, clear evidence of iron smelting has been excavated. The latter phase also yielded three copper artifacts with a telltale chemical signature of the Akjoujt ores-more than 1% of arsenic and a smaller amount of nickel. Further excavation and study are required to evaluate the find, but it is clearly an important contribution to the history of metallurgy in sub-Saharan Africa.

Americas Flawed Constitution :: American History

America's Flawed Constitution Right from the beginning of it’s creation the constitution of the United States has been a shaky document. The very basis for it being there was in fact illegal. The story of American politics starts with the Declaration of Independence. This document was brilliantly written by Thomas Jefferson and compacted all of the great ideas of enlightenment into one short easy to read paper. The declaration stated all of the ideals the new American nation would strive for. A constitution was needed as a way in which to fulfill those goals. The articles of confederacy were created as that constitution. However, they were weak, because no state wanted to give away any of their powers, and so the articles eventually failed. That is when the modern day constitution was starting to form. The Articles of Confederacy stated that in order to change any part of the document all thirteen states must agree to the change. Therefor a meeting was called so that they could amend the failing articles. However, representatives from two of the states did not show up. Even though not all states were represented the meeting started and the first vote was to totally throw away the Articles of Confederacy. The constitution wasn’t formed yet and it was already a flawed document. Because not all states were represented when the articles required it, the constitution was an illegal document. The delegates working on the constitution new that they needed a stronger document, because the articles proved too weak, but it still needed to please all of the states. This was impossible. So what ended up happening was the new ducocument became more and more vague. The only way to create a document that would pass was to make a document which didn’t really solve any problems but make each state believe that there problems would be fixed. This was accomplished by making it so that it was too vague to offend anybody but you could read into it. This made for a document that would be seriously flawed because people would be able to read into it too much. It could not work. The Constitution of the United States of America was too vague to work. The way the constitution was written it gave power to four parts: the congress, the executive branch, the judicial branch, and the states. Because it was so vague it did not really define which powers went where (with a few exceptions).

Iago – character study

Iago is the villainous character of ‘Othello' and it is his behaviour that ultimately leads to the downfall of Othello himself, the tragic hero. Iago is duplicitous; to all the characters he is a source of friendship, honesty and knowledge, but in soliloquis he reveals his real self to the audience. It becomes apparent that his machinations are fuelled by anger and a desire for revenge, and he carries them out with an aura of self-belief and resoluteness. What makes Iago so different from the others is that he is calculating; while Othello operates and hindsight and naivety, Iago is much more perceptive and uses foresight. Although on the exterior Iago projects an image of practicality, rationality and self-confidence, it emerges that his behaviour stems from distraught emotions and feelings of inferiority. Iago's thoughts and attitudes are clear from the beginning of the play, and they are what drive him on into bringing down Othello. He calls virtue ‘a fig' and tries to persuade Roderigo that there is little point in being moral. His first word of the play, in Act I Scene I, of ‘SBlood' is an indication of the kind of man Iago is. This violent swear is fitting for the rough soldier, however it veils the cunning and cleverness which he possesses. Further proof of his cruel nature is exposed when he is in dialogue with Roderigo, saying â€Å"Drown cats and blind puppies†¦ † It is also during this scene that Iago reveals the dominant reason behind his loathing of the Moor, which is that Cassio, who Iago describes as a ‘bookish theoric' has been chosen over him as the new lieutenant. He is angered at the fact that Cassio's many paper qualifications diminish his extensive field experience, and so divulges to Roderigo that he in fact does not serve Othello, but instead serves himself. This is summed up with his line ‘I am not what I am. ‘ While it seems to the other characters, and indeed to Othello himself, that Iago is devoted to The Moor, really he is engineering Othello's demise. Also, in this and other scenes of the play, a racist element to Iago, and another reason of his hatred of Othello, is evident. This is illustrated by his crude line to Brabantio (Desdemona's Father) of ‘An old black ram is tupping your white ewe. ‘ The ‘black ram' meaning Othello, and the ‘white ewe' referring to Desdemona. Iago's view that he is inferior seems to have been established due to the fact that Othello, who is black, holds a higher ranked position than himself. Another of Iago's thoughts is visible by his constant use of the words ‘Fill thy purse' and ‘put money in thy purse' during his speech to Roderigo in Act I Scene 3. This suggests that Iago believes a life full of money and material possessions is that path to happiness. He reinforces this when speaking with Othello, stressing the importance of name and reputation by stating, â€Å"Good name in man and women, dear my lord, is the immediate jewel of their souls. ‘ He seems to have no desire for love, and treats women with disrespect, calling his own wife, albeit jokingly, a common prostitute. However, women, the audience is lead to believe, are the basis of further motivation for Iago to destroy Othello, as during one of his soliloquis he says he will not be satisfied, â€Å"Till I am evened with him [Othello] wife for wife† There are two distinct sides to Iago's behaviour throughout the first three acts of the play. Publicly, Iago is a friend to all. To Othello he is the trusted ‘ancient' and to Roderigo a counsellor and friend. Many of the characters refer to him as ‘Honest Iago' and when Othello arrives at the scene after Cassio's drunken episode, it is Iago he trusts to tell him the truth about what happened. All this however, is merely a faiade to the real Iago. Only alone, and partially when Roderigo is present, does he begin to act as his real self. During these times he openly mocks the Moor and Cassio, and make slanderous comments about women. It is during these rare moments of privacy that he reveals his plans for Othello, and the motives behind them. Firstly, A classic example of a trademark Iago scheme takes place in the first scene. Acting upon emotion and anger, Iago devises a well thought out plan, and with trusty sidekick Roderigo, proceeds to Brabantio's home. There, he drops his defences and to a degree, the real Iago comes alive. They break to Brabantio the news of his daughter's secret marriage to Othello, and he is enraged, as Iago knew he would be. However, using forethought and perception that Iago seems to be the only character in the play to be blessed with he departs conspicuously early in order to go to Othello and warn him that Brabantio is after him, and so keep intact the alternate part of his character, the ‘Honest Iago. ‘ In this, like so many of Iago's other ploys he has initiated the action because of his twisted deep hatred of the Moor and own self-serving nature, but it is Roderigo, who Iago has exploited, who delivers. In addition to Iago's exploits in Venice, he too drives the action once everyone arrives in Cyprus. Not surprisingly, the success of his plan hinges upon the ability of Roderigo, whom Iago has convinced that if the Moor is eliminated, he will have another chance with Desdemona, who Roderigo is totally in love with. Roderigo however is not the only one who has allowed themselves to be manipulated by Iago's eloquence. Cassio too, falls under his spell when he is convinced to have just one more drink. Iago's ability to persuade and cajole in his subtle, general, almost casual way is one of his most important traits, which he uses to devastating effect on Othello, and leads him in to believing Desdemona is having an affair. A crucial part in every one of his plans is his own confidence. He carries out his actions with aplomb and when present he is a commanding figure, dominating the stage and speaking with powerful assurance, much like Othello in the first act, when Brabantio insults him and accuses him of witchcraft. To the audience, Iago's behaviour qualifies him as the villainous character of the play, and his immoral nature is plain to see. He takes advantage of Othello's trust, and preys on each of the main character's weaknesses in turn, out of spite and self-interest. He claims, however he doing this for valid reasons, and through soliloquies begins to break down the barrier between himself and the audience by exposing his inner thoughts, in an attempt to provoke pathos and justify his actions. In addition, Iago's style of language plays an important role in establishing his character. He has a unique way of speaking, and when he does, it seems he holds the attention of everyone on stage. His speech is so important to the development of the plot in fact, that large parts of scenes are devoted entirely to him in soliloquis. Throughout the first three acts of the play he speaks with the utmost confidence in himself, and he has the ability to inspire similar confidence in others, or he can use his eloquence to push others, albeit gently, into a state of angst and worry. Firstly, one of the dominant features of Iago's speech is his constant use of hypocrisy. For example, at the opening of Act I Scene 2 Iago tells Othello how Roderigo †¦ â€Å"spoke such scurvy and provoking terms against your honour†¦ † when really, as the audience knows, it is Iago himself who so often insults the Moor behind his back. Irony, on the other hand, is not used by Iago himself, but it is present when the others characters of the play refer to him as ‘Honest Iago,' when really, this could not be further from the truth, as Iago's whole surface demeanour of respectability and friendship is a lie. A number of Iago's speech techniques become evident in Act 1 Scene 3, as he counsels the downcast Roderigo, who has been rejected by Desdemona. Throughout his speech, Iago uses a series of imperatives, preying on Roderigo's weakness of needing to be led. He orders Roderigo, ‘Come, be a man' and ‘Put money in thy purse. The latter of these two phrases is repeated several times by Iago, as he attempts to instil in Roderigo his own idea that happiness stems from material wealth. Not only is Iago able to speak intelligently and with style, he occasionally lapses into the speech of a hard soldier, being sexist and racist, and playing on Roderigo's pride and virility. Unlike other characters in the pla y, Iago is an orator, and is able to use a delicate balance of emotion and reason in his words and, which he pulls of with absolute self-confidence, often with his style driving the argument over substance. His ability to persuade lies also in the fact that he is never absolutely specific, often speaking in a speculative, indirect style, or using ambiguous metaphors or rhetorical questions. He demonstrates his ability to manipulate and toy with people on two important occasions; the first is when he convinces Roderigo to aid him to bring about the downfall of Othello, and the second is later in the play, at Act 3 Scene 3, when he insinuates to Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. It is Iago's language that shapes the play and drives the plot of the novel, as he is involved with every strand of it. He has a dominating presence and uses his eloquence to possess influence over every character, from the lowest citizen, to the highest-ranking official. In conclusion, over the first three acts of the play Iago's character is firmly established and his purpose and motives exposed to the audience. Whilst he keeps up a faiade of honesty and trustworthiness in public, in private he confesses to being immoral and self-serving. He is unique in that he is able to befriend all, and use a blend of emotion and rational calculation to achieve his goals, and simultaneously ruin others lives and careers. He does this without remorse and is propelled seemingly by his own unwavering self-belief, however if also becomes apparent that he is constantly at battle with his own feelings of inferiority, which he smothers by bringing down the lives of others and making them suffer, in the same way that he feels he has had to.

Thorn Queen Chapter Twenty-Seven

When I crossed over to the castle in the Thorn Land, I was surprised to find Nia sitting on the floor beside my rabbit paperweight. Her knees were drawn up, and her face-which appeared tear-streaked-rested on her knees. Yet, when she saw me, her face lit up like the sun bursting from behind clouds. â€Å"Your majesty!† she cried, springing up. â€Å"Some of them said†¦they said you wouldn't come back. But I knew. I knew you would.† The devotion in the girl's eyes was startling. Nia had been another servant passed from Dorian, and it had never occurred to me that she would serve me out of such love. â€Å"Of course I came back,† I said softly. â€Å"Why wouldn't I?† She averted her eyes. â€Å"After everything that happened, and†¦well, because of Queen Katrice. There are those who assumed you'd abandon us and stay in the world of the humans.† I didn't bother pointing out that abandoning this land would kill me. I was too shocked by something else. â€Å"They thought†¦they thought I'd just start a war and leave?† â€Å"I knew you wouldn't,† she said fervently. â€Å"I knew you wouldn't.† I gave her a small, comforting smile while a knot twisted in my stomach. â€Å"Take me to Shaya and Rurik.† The two of them were surprised by my arrival, but something told me they hadn't doubted I would return either. I could tell by the compassion on Shaya's face that what Leith had done to me was common knowledge. To my surprise, it was Rurik I took the most comfort from. He didn't question my appearance. He offered no sympathies. He simply jumped straight to business. â€Å"We've gathered as many soldiers as we could while you've been gone,† he said. â€Å"Some are camped outside, and Dorian's said he'll send reinforcements-his military's much larger. The majority of yours is in Highmore. We'll need to determine the best way to distribute them.† For a moment, I felt dizzy as he continued rattling off military strategy. What was going on? What was I doing? I was a girl from Tucson who'd grown up in a middle-class neighborhood. How on earth was I standing here, listening to a fairy soldier explain how to lead a war? I held up a hand. â€Å"Wait†¦before you go any further. Is there†¦is there any way this can be avoided?† Kiyo's words came back to me, and I hated to say what I did next. â€Å"Is there any way to make peace?† Rurik's eyes widened, and shock and anger filled his features. â€Å"Peace? After what-â€Å" Shaya silenced him with a gesture of her own. â€Å"Yes, actually. Katrice sent a rather long letter about it.† â€Å"So†¦we could get her to understand that it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Was an accident? Hardly. â€Å"I mean, could Katrice let all of this go, considering Leith started it?† Shaya cleared her throat uncomfortably, and Rurik looked angry. â€Å"Well,† she began, â€Å"not entirely. For Katrice not to go to war, she demands that we become her subject kingdom and has very specific details on the kinds of tribute and taxes she requires for that. She also†¦she also says that you must marry her nephew in place of her son and tie this kingdom to her through that branch of the family. My impression is she sent a similar list of demands to Dorian-aside from the nephew part-which he refused rather, ah, indelicately.† I stared, my mouth agape. That was not what I had in mind. How could Katrice demand those kinds of things after what Leith had done? How dare she act as though I had done something wrong? Yes, I could imagine her grief for her only son. I wasn't that heartless. Yet†¦what she was suggesting was ludicrous. And if she thought I would ever, ever let another member of her family lay a hand on me†¦ I turned back to Rurik as though the issue of peace with Katrice had never been mentioned. Later, I would ask Shaya to help me compose a formal response to Katrice's letter, something along the lines of I am the Thorn Queen. Fuck off. â€Å"What should I do next?† I asked Rurik. He smiled, a fierce delight in his eyes. â€Å"You should speak to the soldiers gathered here and make an official declaration of war. And then you should go to Highmore and speak to the ones there. They don't even know you as their queen yet, let alone the person sending them to fight. And you should practice up on your magic, both for battle and to show your own people that that Rowan bitch can't touch you.† I shivered at the feelings his words inspired in me. In Tucson, I'd been trying to hide from my magic, but now it was calling to me again. And with this threat from Katrice-no, this insult from Katrice-there was nothing I wanted more than to summon all the forces of nature and rip her apart. â€Å"Dorian is coming here-today, I think,† said Shaya, interrupting my murderous thoughts. â€Å"Follow his lead. He knows what to do.† I wasn't entirely sure what that meant. The only thing I felt certain of was that I wasn't quite ready to go over the maps Rurik had laid out and examine all the troop placements he had in mind. I'd always sucked at Risk and had a feeling this would be similar. Besides, I hadn't returned to the Thorn Land to make war-not right at this second, at least. I'd come because of the dream from last night, the dream where I'd felt at peace. Because at the moment, I felt no peace. A gentry queen wanted to lead armies in and kill my people-and I was supposed to do the same to her. I'd just broken up with my boyfriend, someone I loved dearly, because I-possibly irrationally-held him responsible for not protecting me from an assailant. And as for that assailant†¦well, his face still flashed in my mind, and no matter how much time passed, I couldn't seem to rid myself of that dirty feeling within me or my repulsion at being touched. I swore to Rurik that I'd talk to him later, that I needed some time to myself first, and left them both for one of the castle's enclosed gardens. It was the one I frequently meditated in, where Shaya was still attempting to grow grass and where Kiyo and I had made love. I sat down there cross-legged, taking in the sun on the orange rocks around me and relishing in the faint breeze that stirred the branches of the mesquite and smokethorn trees. A tiny lizard scurried off behind a rock, and I heard what sounded like a hummingbird-or a big-ass bee-in a cluster of nearby flowers. I cleared my mind and tried to communicate with and heal the land like I had before, but for whatever reason, the connection didn't come. Panic seized me. Had the events with Leith broken something within me? Had I lost my ability to revive the kingdom? I sat there sweating, wondering what would happen to the land if I couldn't connect to it. The heat eventually made me sleepy, and I lay down on the grass, my hands digging into the earth. When I woke up, two things immediate became apparent. First, I felt†¦better. I felt strong and refreshed, and all around me, the colors and scents seemed stronger and more vivid. I still wasn't happy about the impending war, but that horrible feeling in me†¦the bitterness Leith had left†¦well, it had lessened. The air hummed around me, and for a disorienting second, I couldn't tell where I ended and the land began. It was then that I realized why my meditation hadn't worked. I had been in no condition to heal the land. It had had to heal me. I was energized now, ready to do anything. Ready to lead a war. The other thing I noticed after waking was that Jasmine was sitting right beside me, gray eyes staring into mine. I bolted upright. â€Å"What the hell are you doing here?† I exclaimed. â€Å"You're not supposed to be loose.† Girard's cuffs were still upon her, and she jerked her head back toward the castle. â€Å"I'm not exactly loose.† I followed her motion and saw a dozen guards, all keeping a respectful distance, but all watching Jasmine closely. When Volusian had disappeared, Rurik had undoubtedly increased her security detail. â€Å"Jasmine,† I said, â€Å"I'm not really in the mood for your banter, okay? Save your whining and insults for a day when I don't have to worry about having caused a war.† Her face was perfectly calm. â€Å"I heard what happened to you.† I braced for smugness. â€Å"Yeah, I'm sure everyone has.† â€Å"I'll fight for you, you know.† â€Å"Look, I'm sure-wait. What did you say?† I stared at her, waiting to see that composure crack. It didn't. She was still serious and actually looked older than her age. â€Å"He had no right. I told you before: no one does that to a daughter of Storm King. Not even to you.† I was speechless for a moment, still waiting for a punch line. â€Å"Jasmine†¦you hate me.† She nodded. â€Å"Yup. But that doesn't change what happened. No one does that to our father either and gets away without punishment. Dorian should stab Katrice too.† I decided not to mention that nothing had been done to our father technically, seeing as he had died years ago. â€Å"What will you do exactly?† â€Å"Same thing you will. Fight. Use my magic. Summon monsters.† â€Å"But†¦I mean, even if you're trying to, um, protect our family honor, you realize you're still helping me in the process, right? I thought you wanted to destroy me and go have Dad's world-conquering grandson.† â€Å"Oh,† she said sweetly, â€Å"I still do. And I will. But we're going to deal with Katrice first. Our father's heir cannot be born from rape. I told you before-only someone worthy. That bastard wasn't, and his mother has to pay for it. Once she's done†¦well, then I'll deal with you. Besides, someone's got to take her kingdom when we kill her. Might as well be me.† Whoa. There were so many parts of Jasmine's logic that were flawed that I didn't even know where to start. I didn't entirely know the story of her own conception, but my mother had been raped. God knew how many other women Storm King had taken advantage of; I found it hypocritical of Jasmine to take such a high moral ground about his heir in light of that. Still, I couldn't deny the fact that she would be useful, and if that was the reasoning it took for her to help me, so be it. It would also be handy to not have her trying to kill me. â€Å"Well, then, thanks,† I said at last. I decided not to mention just then that there was no way in hell I would ever let her rule the Rowan Land. Details, details. Jasmine looked supremely pleased. â€Å"So I can go free then, right?† I scoffed. â€Å"Not a chance.† â€Å"But I'm helping you!† â€Å"Yeah, and in the same breath, you talked about how you want to usurp me. Look†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I glanced back at her guardians. I would have to consult with Rurik about those least likely to try to knock her up, now that Volusian was missing. Some of my soldiers were female. â€Å"You can wander the castle more-under guard, of course. And I'll see about†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I frowned, suddenly recalling my helpers at Art's house. They were close to Jasmine's age, relatively speaking, and for Markelle at least, I had no doubts whatsoever of her loyalty. I wondered if she might have the makings of a bodyguard/friend. â€Å"I'll see about getting someone your own age to hang out with you.† Jasmine scowled. â€Å"That's not what I had in mind.† â€Å"Yeah, well, your cell in the dungeon is still available.† She gave me her trademark sullen glare and then stormed off back inside. Nonetheless, I felt like she really would help me, and frankly, I was going to need everyone I could find to get me out of this mess. Kiyo had implied that Katrice might call in some allies, and if this became about multiple kingdoms squaring off†¦ I stood up, suddenly feeling ill about it all once more. The flames of passion and initiative that had flared in me earlier began to flicker uneasily. I couldn't do this. I couldn't lead an army. I couldn't go to war. What was I thinking? Trying to shake off my building panic attack, I headed back toward the castle, wanting to hide in my room for a while. I passed Rurik along the way. He'd apparently been seeking me, hoping I'd go talk to the gathered soldiers and inspire them-particularly since word had come that Dorian was almost here. I nodded quickly, promising anything, so long as I could get a moment to compose myself and summon my earlier confidence. All of this was overwhelming me. I needed to be alone, lest I start crying. Only, I was apparently still a ways from being left alone. Ysabel was standing outside my bedroom, arms crossed. Apparently, my earlier suspicions had been right. She really did hang out in the hall waiting for me. â€Å"No magic lessons,† I told her. â€Å"Magic lessons?† she exclaimed, straightening up. She was as immaculate as ever, her red hair twisted into myriad braids. â€Å"I'm never teaching you anything again. My lord is sending me away-and all because of you!† The land might have healed me, but there were only so many weird revelations I could handle today. Jasmine becoming my ally currently held the lion's share. â€Å"What are you talking about?† â€Å"My lord is on his way,† she hissed. â€Å"And he sent word that I was to pack up my things and be prepared to leave. He has a small group of guards ready to escort me away.† â€Å"So?† I shrugged, eyeing my door longingly. â€Å"Isn't that what you wanted?† She took a step toward me. â€Å"He's not sending me back to the castle. He's sending me back to my village-back to my children. Don't you understand? He's through with me! He's casting me aside because of you!† The anger and hate on her face made me guess she'd forgotten I could suffocate her. As it was, she was in my personal space so much that I feared she might actually attempt physical blows. I wanted to tell her that Dorian casting her aside had little to do with me. That was just Dorian's way. Shaya had said Ysabel was one in a string of mistresses who resembled me. He'd grown tired of her, just like the rest, but that wasn't my fault. Telling her that wouldn't help, though. â€Å"I'm sorry. But, I mean, won't you be glad to see your kids?† â€Å"Glad?† she cried. â€Å"What do I have to give them? What do I have to show for my time at court? I have nothing. I came to Dorian's court to improve my children's lives-to bring us wealth. Now I have to return empty-handed, tossed aside to our backwoods village.† Ouch. I didn't know what to say, didn't know whether to laud a mother's attempts to improve her kids' lives or look down on someone who'd tried to do it via sleeping with a king. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I said wearily. â€Å"I'm sure you'll figure out something.† I started to turn away, and to my astonishment, she grabbed my shoulder and spun me toward her. I think she'd been about to hurl an insult, but I gave her no chance. I still wasn't ready to be touched, and she'd caught me off guard. With no second thoughts, my instincts summoned up magic, the air shoving her away from me and slamming her-hard-into a wall. She stood there, dazed, and I gasped, horrified at what I'd brutally done without even thinking. I really was turning into my father's daughter. â€Å"Are you okay?† I asked, stepping toward her when she didn't move. She jerked away from me, which I hoped meant no concussion. â€Å"This isn't over. I will never forgive you for taking him from me! I'll make you pay. He's mine. Do you understand? Mine.† This was followed by a whole tirade of ranting and insults about how much she hated me and would see me destroyed. She kept her distance, though, so apparently my brief lapse into violence had done some good. After a while, I had no patience for it and simply went into my bedroom, leaving her out there. I locked the door but could still hear her going on and on. Remembering Rurik saying that I should go out and talk to the people who could possibly be dying for me, I tried to distract myself from Ysabel by looking through the room's closet. I figured I should probably wear something gentry, and Nia had kept me well-stocked. The spark was rekindling in me, that need to take revenge against Leith and show Katrice we couldn't be pushed around. I would prove a strong leader for those out there. I was pulling out a silvery blue silk dress that looked suitable when Ysabel's shouting finally stopped. With a sigh of relief, I started to drape the dress over a chair-and caught a glimpse out the small window. There was an army out there. I immediately backed away, trying to block out the sea of faces encamped outside. I dropped the dress, feeling dizzy. The reality of it all hit me, and I again felt helpless and out of my league. A sharp knock sounded on the door, momentarily breaking through my panic. Anger was an easier emotion to deal with, and I hurried over, yanking the door open. â€Å"Look, I told you there's nothing I can do about-â€Å" I stopped. It wasn't Ysabel outside my door. It was Dorian.

You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 27~28

Chapter Twenty-seven Well, That Was Fucked Up â€Å"Then, Lucifer Two attains the blood sword and takes Jared the White as his consort, and they hold dominion over all of the Kindred for ever and ever,† said Jared White Wolf, concluding the hour-long plot synopsis of his unwritten epic vampire adventure novel. â€Å"So what do you think?† â€Å"I really liked it, but I think you may need to work on the characters more,† Tommy said, flexing his writer muscles a little. It helped him to not think about the thirst that was rising in him. Jared looked to Jody, and raised a drawn-on eyebrow. â€Å"I think we must get out of this basement right now,† Jody said, â€Å"and if that means murdering your parents and little sisters, well, you don't make an omelet – â€Å" â€Å"But what did you think of my novel?† Jared said. â€Å"I think it's not a novel, it's a sexual fantasy about you and your rat.† â€Å"It is not. That's just the characters' names.† â€Å"Try Abby's cell again, Jared.† Jody was gritting her teeth. â€Å"Tell her to get back here,† Tommy said. He was starting to get cramps from the blood thirst. â€Å"Hold on, I get shit reception down here.† Jared took his cell and his rat and headed out the door and up the steps. When he was gone, Tommy turned to Jody. â€Å"I'm really feeling the hunger.† â€Å"Me, too.† â€Å"Should we maybe just, you know, sample Jared?† â€Å"I don't think that's a good idea.† â€Å"Well,† Tommy said. â€Å"William is in the hospital, and we don't know where Abby is, and I don't see as we have that many options.† â€Å"Tommy, let's just walk out of here. What's the worst that can happen? We shock Jared's parents? I get the feeling they may be desensitized.† â€Å"That's fine, but then where do we go tomorrow? A hotel? I guess, if we get the money, we can have Abby guard the door to keep the maid from coming in and frying us.† Tommy brightened. â€Å"Hey, maybe Abby grabbed some money from the loft?† â€Å"Abby might not even be alive,† Jody said, more than just irritation in her voice now. â€Å"You know how Elijah was going to kill you to fuck with me? If he's been watching us, he has to know about Abby. She'll be next. We should have left here right away. I feel horrible for leaving her out there alone.† â€Å"She went right to him.† Tommy cradled his head in hands. â€Å"I hate this, Jody. Why did you do this to me? It could have worked. I could have looked out for you and had a real life. Now I just live from feeding to feeding, putting people in danger. Everyone wants to kill us or take something from us. I'm from Indiana, they don't prepare us for this kind of thing in the Midwest.† Jody slid off the bed to the floor and sat next to him, put her arm around his shoulders. â€Å"It's not like that, Tommy. We're like gods. Sure, we have to hunt, but if you let go to the predator part of you, you'll lose that anxious feeling. You have to feel the power of it.† â€Å"Power? What power? I was ready to have the rat as a snack.† â€Å"Well, you can have the rat if you need him, because that little fucker is creepy.† Tommy pulled away from her. â€Å"Don't.† Jared came through the door then, pumping his inhaler. â€Å"Oh my God! Oh my God! She met the hottest guy who is a ninja, and they're like totally into each other. And those guys you told us about, that kidnapped you, a bunch of them are vampires now. And there's a tall woman vampire, too, who tried to bite Abs. And Abby totally took them all on and burned them up with some kind of portable sunlight. Oh my God, she's so awesome. I wish I had balls like her.† â€Å"Where is she now?† Jody asked. â€Å"She's having a Mochaccino at Tulley's on Market. I loaned her like twenty dollars. Which she's going to pay me back out of her Christmas bonus you're giving her. Hey, do I get a Christmas bonus, because – â€Å" â€Å"Call her and tell her to stay right where she is,† Jody said. â€Å"We're on our way.† â€Å"We are?† Tommy said. They could get out of here, find a – a donor! â€Å"No, not you,† Jody said. â€Å"We are.† She patted Jared on the shoulder, careful not to get her hand near the rat. â€Å"We are?† Jared said. â€Å"Yes, Jared, you have to come out to your parents. You have to confess that you've had a girl in your room all day. We'll walk up and you can just introduce me as your girlfriend.† â€Å"Okay. I guess. You might want to borrow some eyeliner and touch up your lipstick a little first, okay?† â€Å"I will slap the gloom off of you, rat shagger,† Jody said with a smile that was just a few degrees below being warm. Over his very long life, Elijah Ben Sapir had been hunted, beaten, tortured, drowned, impaled, imprisoned, and even burned on two occasions – tolerance for those who live off the lifeblood of others being what it is – but in eight centuries, this was the first time he had been flash-fried by a tricked-out Honda. Despite the novelty of it, when novelty had just become his new joy, he figured that if he went another eight hundred years before it happened again, he'd be okay. Creeping down a SOMA alley, snatching rats from behind Dumpsters and draining them to dust just so he could heal himself enough to hunt a real victim, was serving as an abject lesson as to why he and his kind were sworn to remain concealed. It was bound to happen: the application of new technology for the detection and destruction of vampires. Hadn't he adopted technology to protect himself? His self-piloting yacht with its sensors and sealed vault had served him as well as any guarded castle. But he'd forgotten the rule – not forgotten, really, but ignored it – deciding to indulge in hope, to the point of faith, that he would always prevail. So some clever cow had figured out how to package sunlight and unleash it upon his arrogant carcass. The cow would never have found the solution had the vampire not shown him the problem. Humbled was Elijah, and angry, and hungry, and a little sad, because he had loved his yellow tracksuit, and now it was but beads of blackened pol yester burned into his skin. He picked at them as he listened for prey, tucked between a Dumpster and a white step-van full of bread racks. Here came one now – fat enough to complete the healing, Elijah could tell by the weight of his step. The back door of the bakery opened and the rotund baker stepped out and shook a cigarette out of his pack. His life aura was pink and healthy, his heart thumped strong, and would for a long time if Elijah did not suck it dry. Normally he only took the sick and the weak, those who were short for the grave anyway, but this was a desperate time. He leapt on the big man's back and rode him to the ground, catching his scream in one hand, using the other to hit pressure points in his neck that had the baker unconscious in two seconds. Elijah drank, listening to his blackened skin crackle, slough, and heal, even as the baker still breathed. There would be no neck snap, no body to find this time. He dumped the dust from the baker's clothes and slipped into them. His white Nikes were the only survivors of his previous outfit, so he threw the baker's clogs into the Dumpster along with his wallet, pocketed the cash, and took off, dressed in white from head to foot. The vampire smiled to himself, not with joy, but with the grim irony of the situation. People often speak of things coming to them in a flash of inspiration, but the clich held new meaning for Elijah. The flash meant that the game was over, that his foray into human desire, even for revenge, had gone far enough, and now it was time for damage control. They all had to die. He wouldn't enjoy killing her. Not her. After being burned up for the second time in two days, Blue was ready for a healing massacre – a bloodbath – but the Animals had stopped her, citing sissy ethical reasons like murder was, you know, wrong. â€Å"You're burned up!† Blue said. â€Å"This is no time to develop a conscience. Where was your conscience when you were making me do you a dozen times a day, huh?† â€Å"That's different,† said Drew. â€Å"You were in on it.† â€Å"Yeah,† added Jeff. â€Å"And we paid you.† â€Å"No one was hurt, amiga,† Gustavo added. Blue broke off some charred crust coming over the seat of the Mercedes at Gustavo, who was in the passenger seat. Drew dragged her back into her seat by her hips. She crossed her arms and pouted, huffing out little flakes of ash in exasperation. They were supposed to be doing her bidding. They were supposed to be her seven – well, three – dwarves. â€Å"You shut the fuck up, bean town. I was hurt. I am hurt. Look at me.† They didn't look at her. They were all burnt black from the waist up, in the front at least. Their shirts hung on them in charred shreds. The linen dress that Blue had been wearing had incinerated almost completely. She was wearing only her panties and a severely singed bra. Her face was still a bit lopsided from where Elijah had banged it on the car hood. â€Å"We didn't do this, Blue,† Drew said. Blue smacked him repeatedly in the head a half-dozen times, knocking off most of one of his charred ears and all of the carbon strands that were what was left of his hair. The tip of her little finger broke off in the process, at which point she sat back and growled like a beaten dog. â€Å"We need blood to heal,† Blue said. â€Å"Lots of it.† â€Å"I know,† Jeff said. The charred power forward was driving. â€Å"I'm takin' care of it.† â€Å"You just passed five perfectly good teenagers,† Blue said. â€Å"Where the fuck are you going?† â€Å"Somewhere where the donors can handle our action,† Jeff said. â€Å"Well, we're broke until you get my money back, so your donors better have some fucking cash.† â€Å"We can't exactly go into a bar in the financial district,† Drew said. â€Å"Not looking like this.† â€Å"Oh, like they'd let you dirtbags in at your best.† Blue found that being burnt up put her on edge more than normal. She'd tried taking a Valium left by the Mercedes guy, just like Drew and the other had downed handfuls of his painkillers, only to find their vampire systems rejected them with extreme violence. â€Å"We're here,† Jeff said, pulling the Mercedes into a wide public parking lot. â€Å"You're fucking kidding me,† Blue said. â€Å"The zoo?† Tommy waited half an hour before he called Jody's cell, only to get a dropped signal, then voice mail. He called three more times in the next half hour, played two rounds of Gunning for Nuns Xtreme on Jared's Xbox, called Abby's cell only to get voice mail, then made his first sincere attempt at turning to mist. Jody had said it was a mental thing, you just had to see yourself as mist, force yourself to mist, â€Å"like flexing a muscle,† she had said. â€Å"Once you've done it once, you just know how it feels and you can do it again. Like getting up on water skis.† It wasn't that he could get out of the basement undetected, it was what Jody had said about being in the mist state – that time sort of just glided, like you were in a dream. It was the only reason, she said, that she hadn't beaten him senseless for having her bronzed. When you were mist, it just wasn't all that bad. Maybe if he could turn to mist, he could pass the time without driving himself nuts with worry. For all his mental flexing, all he got was a flatulent toot that sent him diving for the door and fanning the room out with it. He was truly a foul dead thing – fouler than he'd even guessed. He looked for paint peeling off the walls. That was it. He was not a kid hiding in his friend's basement, he was a – what did Abby call it? – he was one of the anointed, a prince of the night. He was going to walk out of here, right past the family, and if he had to take them out, well, so be it. That would teach Jody for leaving him behind and turning her phone off. How do you feel now, Red? Huh? Massacred, dismembered family? Huh? Glad you saved your anytime minutes now?! He tramped up the steps and into Jared's parents' family room. â€Å"Hi,† Jared's father said. Tommy had expected a bit of a monster based on Jared's description of his father. Instead what he saw was a bit of an accountant. He was about forty-five, in pretty good shape, holding a little girl on his lap who was coloring a picture of a pony. Another little girl, who looked about the same age, was coloring on the floor at his feet. â€Å"Hi,† Tommy said. â€Å"You must be the vampire Flood,† Jared's dad said, with a bit of a knowing smile. â€Å"Uh. Well. Kinda.† It showed. He could no longer hide among the humans. It must be because it had been so long since he had fed. â€Å"Sort of a weak ensemble, don't you think?† Jared's dad said. â€Å"Weak,† repeated the little girl without looking up from her pony. â€Å"Huh?† Tommy inquired. â€Å"For a vampire. Jeans, sneakers, and flannel?† Tommy looked at his clothes. â€Å"Black jeans,† he pointed out. Shouldn't this guy be cowering in fear, maybe begging Tommy not to put his little daughter in a sack for his vampire brides? â€Å"Okay, I suppose times change. You know that Jared and his girlfriend went up to Tulley's on Market to meet Abby, right?† â€Å"His girlfriend, Jody?† â€Å"Right,† said Dad. â€Å"Cute girl. Not as many piercings as I expected, but we're just happy she's a girl.† An attractive blond woman in her late twenties came into the room carrying a tray with carrot and celery sticks on it. â€Å"Oh, hi,† she said, dazzling a smile at Tommy. â€Å"You must be the vampire Flood. Hi, I'm Emily. Would you like some crudites? You're welcome to stay for dinner. We're having mac and cheese, it was the girls' night to pick.† I should drink her blood and put her kids in a sack, Tommy thought. But his vicious predator nature was overcome by his Midwestern upbringing, so instead he said, â€Å"Thank you very much, Emily, but I really should be going if I'm going to catch up to Jared and Jody.† â€Å"Well, okay then,† said the woman. â€Å"Girls, say good-bye to the vampire Flood.† â€Å"Good-bye, the vampire Flood,† the girls sang in chorus. â€Å"Uh, bye.† Tommy bolted out of the room, then back in again. â€Å"Where's the door?† Everyone pointed through the kitchen, whence Jared's stepmonster had just come. He ran through the kitchen and out the door, then stood with his back against the minivan in the drive, trying to catch his breath. â€Å"That was fucked up,† he gasped, then realized that he wasn't out of breath from exertion at all. He was having an anxiety attack. â€Å"That was really, really fucked up.† Chapter Twenty-eight Wallflowers of the Night It was a lot like trying to get your courage up to ask a girl to dance, except that in this case it wasn't so much the fear of rejection, or that you'd be awkward and embarrass yourself, although that was a consideration, but that whoever you picked was going to be reduced to dust, which was somewhat more significant than trampling her toes. Tommy stood on Castro Street looking for his next victim. His first victim, really. He was tired of being the apprentice. If Jody was going to just leave him in the basement because he wasn't vampire enough for her, then maybe he'd have to become like her. Maybe he'd learn about this predator nature she talked about. Maybe, like that guy in the basement in The Phantom of the Opera, he would have to hear â€Å"The Music of the Night.† He wasn't sure what had happened to the basement guy. He'd gone to see the movie with a girl from his high school, but had to leave halfway through to keep from taking his own life. It hadn't been a good date. There were plenty of people out on the street, even at this hour, but none of them screamed victim. There were no women in low-cut dresses who had just turned an ankle. There were no girls in negligees running down the street, glancing back over their shoulders. There were, in fact, not many girls at all. Lots of guys. Lots. He reckoned that it wasn't really necessary that he pick a woman. After all, he'd fed off of William and Chet, both of whom were male, but this was different. This was really becoming the hunter, and despite his hunger, there was no little bit of revenge in his decision to bite someone. So it had to be a girl. He had to get back at Jody for ditching him at Jared's. He had to show her that she wasn't the only vein in the circulatory system. Or whatever. The few women he saw were so healthy, with big bright pink life auras around them, and weren't alone either. He had to get someone alone. Frustrated, he backed down the alley and started pacing back and forth. After a short time he took a run at the wall, ran up ten feet or so, then turned and ran back across the alley and up the other wall about ten feet, then back, and up the wall fifteen feet – like a skateboarder working a half-pipe, he ran back and forth, feeling the strength and speed of what he was – feeling his confidence rise. I am a superior being, he thought. I am a friggin' god! Then his foot went through a window and he sank up to his crotch into the building, then dangled over the alley upside down, three stories up, flailing. Stupid place for a window, he thought. Then he saw her. She was sort of tall, but dressed in a red evening gown, with athletic curves, and long red hair that had been lacquered into ringlets. She was perfect, and she was coming down the alley. It was like he'd ordered her from an old Hammer film to be the hapless victim. Sweet! So he was hanging upside down by one leg. That could be a tactic. He felt his fangs extending and he drooled a little, which hit her on the shoulder. She started a little, and that's when he made his move. He'd always loved the scene in Dracula where Jonathan Harker sees the Count climbing, facedown, down the castle walls and thinks, Hey, something is up here. Tommy had pleaded with Jody to try it, but she never would, so this was his chance. He pulled himself out of the window, hooked his fingers between the bricks, and began his climb. And dropped thirty feet to the alley, landing flat on his back. â€Å"Ouch.† Upon Tommy's impact, his intended victim had let out a very masculine scream, jumped three feet straight up, and came down sideways on her high heels. She knelt over him rubbing her ankle. â€Å"Cheesy Christ on a cracker, darlin'. Where did you come from?† Southern, and deep. â€Å"Slipped,† Tommy said. â€Å"You're a man, huh?† â€Å"Well, let's say that is a street which I have walked, to which I do not wish to return.† â€Å"You're very pretty,† Tommy said. â€Å"Sweet of you to say.† He tossed his hair a bit. â€Å"You want I should call an ambulance?† â€Å"No, no. Thanks. I'll be okay.† â€Å"What were you doing up there, anyway?† Conveniently, Tommy was still staring straight up at the sky, framed by the buildings, and he could see that she thought he'd fallen from the roof. â€Å"Listening for ‘the music of the night. â€Å" â€Å"Were you watching the DVD? I heard people tried to kill themselves rather than sit through it.† â€Å"Something like that.† â€Å"Honey, just push pause. Just push pause.† â€Å"I'll remember that. Thanks.† â€Å"You sure you don't want me to call someone?† â€Å"No, no. I'll call someone as soon as I catch my breath.† Tommy reached into his back pocket and pulled out a handful of broken plastic and wires that had once been his cell phone. â€Å"Okay then, y'all take care.† She stood, turned, and walked slowly out of the alley, trying not to limp. â€Å"Hey, miss,† Tommy called after him. â€Å"I'm not gay.† † ‘Course you aren't, darlin'.† â€Å"I rule the night!† She waved without looking as she rounded the corner. â€Å"Redheads,† he growled. He could feel his broken ribs knitting together. It wasn't pleasant. As soon as they were healed enough, it was back to Jared's house to eat the rat. Move up the food chain slowly, maybe. An hour later the torn and tattered vampire Flood limped up the driveway to Jared's house. Abby and Jared were smoking in the driveway. â€Å"Lord Flood,† Abby said. â€Å"What are you doing here?† â€Å"You look like someone opened a whole six-pack of whup-ass on you,† Jared said. â€Å"You shut up. How did your family know I was a vampire?† â€Å"Well, certainly not from your wardrobe.† â€Å"Jared, I am all busted up, and I'm feeling hungry, and a little fragile. Now answer my question or I will go inside and murder your family, feed on their blood, step on your rat, and break your Xbox.† â€Å"Whoa, drama queen much?† â€Å"Fine,† Tommy said. He shrugged, which hurt, and headed for the kitchen door. â€Å"Find me a sack big enough for your two little sisters.† Jared jumped in front of him. â€Å"I told them we were playing Vampire the Masquerade and that your part was the Vampire Flood.† Abby nodded. â€Å"We used to play all the time before we actually became minions.† â€Å"It's like Dungeons and Dragons but way cooler,† Jared said. â€Å"Okay.† Tommy nodded. Which hurt. There they were, two perfectly healthy donors from whom he could feed, who would be willing. And he was hurt, and he needed to feed in order to heal. Still, he couldn't ask. He was staring at Abby's neck, then looked away when she appeared to notice. â€Å"Where's Jody?† â€Å"She'll be here soon,† Abby said. â€Å"She sent us back to find you. We called but your cell wasn't on.† â€Å"Where is she?† â€Å"She went to the new loft. She said she'd bring some money and what was left of William's blood back for you. You can stay in a hotel. Jared and I can guard you.† â€Å"She went to the loft? Where Elijah is?† â€Å"Oh, that's not a problem,† Abby said. â€Å"My Samurai prince burned him up while rescuing me from the blond vampire ho and her grocery-store vamplets.† Tommy looked at Jared. † ‘Splain please.† â€Å"Just knock,† Drew said. â€Å"They'll unlock it for you. You're almost naked.† They stood by the front door of the Marina Safeway. Drew had healed a little from his burns, but was still bald and covered with a dusting of soot. Blue was completely healed, but wore only her charred underwear and the beige high heels that had looked so lovely with her linen dress. Since the first time she took the stage in high heels and a bikini back in her first Fond du Lac beauty pageant, right through her career stripping and then bonking for dollars, she thought the whole idea of high heels and underwear patently absurd. Yet here she was, rich, powerful, and immortal – yet still standing around wearing high heels and underwear. This time, however, there was some rationale for the outfit beyond that it floated some horndog's hormonal boat. At the zoo, while the Animals had pursued their prey among animals, she had found two night watchmen, each isolated on his rounds, and took them down. Unfortunately, she hadn't taken their clothing because she didn't want to have to explain to the Animals why she was dressed like a night watchman, since they had suddenly decided to take the moral high ground on slaughter. The Animals had not fared so well. Drew was the only one in better shape than when they'd first been burned. He'd gone for a llama, because he'd always thought they were cute. He was able to feed only a little, however, before he was bitten and spat upon, and decided to call it a night. Gustavo had gone for a zebra, under the mistaken assumption that his experience with horses as a boy in Mexico would somehow give him an edge in handling the African equine. Consequently, he had been summarily stomped, and now had several broken bones, including a nasty compound fracture of one leg, in addition to being burned up. Jeff, the basketball failure, was still embarrassed about having been taken down by a girl, and so picked a jungle cat as his victim, thinking that he would take on the strength and speed of his donor. His right arm was attached only by a few muscles and much of that shoulder was gone altogether. His skin was still crusty black from the waist up. â€Å"Fuck knocking,† said Blue. The big front window had only that day been replaced, but she was going to lead her charge right through it. â€Å"Get in, find them, and take them.† She found she was falling back on her dominatrix experience a lot lately, which was not a skill in which she had complete confidence, having only recently been killed while performing it. She took three quick steps up, snatched up the steel-reinforced trash can that Jody had used on the window only days ago, and flung it underhanded with all her strength. The can rocketed through the air, bounced off the new, double-impact-resistant Plexiglas window, and knocked Blue on her ass. Blue climbed to her feet without making any eye contact with her undead posse, dusted off her bottom, then snapped her newly broken nose back into place. â€Å"Well, knock then, fuckstick,† she said to Drew. â€Å"Knock, knock, knock. We don't have all night.†