Jade Goody’s life – creative writing

As I turned on the TV to catch the first episode of Big Brother 3, I watched eagerly as each housemate entered the famous ‘Big Brother House'. One by one the participants passed over the threshold like lambs being lead to the slaughter. They wore nervous smiles of anticipation. The third housemate caught my eye; she was a twenty year old dental nurse who spent her early years in Bermondsey. Jade soon earned her place in the house, as the majority of housemates were picked decisively to keep the audience amused. Jade was known for causing trouble throughout her time in the BB house, ending up drunk and she was also criticized for backstabbing. From then on she was known as a loud mouthed rebel, who had a poor standard of knowledge, but she withstood numerous amounts of evictions and her popularity grew. Her time in the BB house soon came to an end and overall she came fourth in the competition. Jade's life in the public eye did not end there and then; she had a few years of publicity ahead of her†¦ Also read The Story of an Eyewitness Essay Analysis Determined and strong, Jade carried on in the spotlight and appeared in numerous gossip oriented women's magazines such as Heat and OK! She was one of the most talked about celebrities for weeks after the BB house. I admired her courage and willpower to stay popular, and in 2006 I was pleased to hear that she put herself forward to take part in the London marathon. I was proud of her because she was doing it for charity; there was a lot of negative publicity about this as people did not think that she would be able to finish the race. Anyone who is willing to participate in any form of marathon must have fortitude to do so as twenty six miles is an extensive distance. But as her drive took her to a dedicated twenty one miles her body gave in. It shows how much Jade wanted to finish the race as she did not stop until she was at the state of collapse. I think this reflects me as I usually don't give up until I am injured, or there is something permanently blocking my path! This is one of the reasons why I look up to Jade, although she had her defaults she aspired to grow in knowledge and acquire respect from the public. Very rarely did Jade seem despondent about the harsh press, and that's what I think kept her going. She even published her own autobiography: Jade: My Autobiography. Many people had no clue as to how Jade was brought up, and when this book was released in May 2006 numerous people were intrigued to find out how tough her upbringing was. Her father who was of mixed race was a drug addict who a frequent visitor in her majesties service. Jade's mother, Jackiey Budden separated from Jade's father and was left to bring her up single handedly. This was demanding for Jade's mother, but I can relate to Jade as I no longer live with my dad. After appearing on Big Brother three, Jade decided she would accept the invitation to enter Celebrity Big Brother five, as she was now a public figure. At this point in her courier Jade had earned between two million and eight million pounds. I think most people do not aspire to become famous through reality TV, as it doesn't require talent. Jades second appearance on BB included her Mother and Boyfriend entering the Big Brother house. This was when the whole racial feud between Jade and the Bollywood star Shilper Shetty took place. I felt that Jade made a fool of herself on national TV and my respect for her took a step back. As I watched the headlines I questioned whether Jade should be the only one to blame. As Jade began to redeem herself I valued her strength of mind to get her life back on track. In late 2008 Jade appeared in India's version of BB, ‘Big Boss'. I didn't think it would do anything for Jade as Shilper Shetty was going to appear on ‘Big Boss' alongside her. I was worried for Jade after the ordeal she went through previously. But nothing was said and two days into the show something awful had been uncovered. Something that made me shudder at the thought because she was a young mum with all of her life ahead of her. Something finally that could be terminal. She had been diagnosed with cervical cancer. It was all over the headlines, and when I heard I felt disbelief. The first thing that came to mind was her two sons. How is it going to affect their lives? How are they going to cope? Jade was immediately flown back to England for further testing. From that day on Jade suffered. She was strong willed and kept her battle up for a year. Her story really touched me, and this is why I have chosen to write about her because I think she is an inspiration to many women out there. It has been made apparent that because Jade made her battle with cancer so publicized more women will be aware of cervical cancer and a lot more will be saved. I think that by saving just one life, Jade's short life will not have been in vein. Jade had her ups and downs, but at the end of the day if she has prompted women to get checked out then she is, in my eye a hero.

Entertainment History Essay

Within this essay it describes the popular and most common entertainment in Britain, from radio to the movies, in the beginning of the 1930’s. It reveals key feature of entertainment in the early 1930’s, for instance how it started, what were their intentions and what they involved. The radio plays a huge amount in our lives that’s why when it first began it was a phenomenon for the public and became a big success for the nation. It was formed on 18th October 1922, by a group of leading wireless manufactures. Its founder, John Reith, believed that the BBC should educate, inform and entertain the public, he states this when he says ‘Broadcasting should bring †¦ all that is best in every department of human knowledge, endeavour and achievement’. Reith enforced many regulations for instance; rude jokes were not allowed; he banned light entertainment on Sundays; and presenters had to speak properly so accents or dialects were not allowed. He felt that the BBC should provide popular programmes, however he also wanted BBC to be educational and enlightening experience. Which the BBC accomplished, it broadcast all over the U. K and was able to entertain and inform those in their own home, which brought families together. Though the radio had its rivals such as newspapers, and magazines it managed to overcome this by reaching out to all types of the public for example male, female, all classes, the educated and the illiterate. It became even more popular when the new wireless sets were invented; this was a great delight to all homes in Britain, it was very accessible in letting families enjoy listening to the radio. As well as putting across the news around the world the BBC also aired other kinds of interest such as dance music and comedy. This was a great improvement for singers and band leaders because it made them a vast amount of recognitions by the public because it caused their sales of their records to increase hugely. Band leaders such as Jack Payne and Henry Hall were very popular also common programs for example ‘Bandwagon’ went unmissed. As a result, radio was a family orientated source of entertainment and became a way of spending the night in, whilst enjoying yourself, rather than spending your night out. Another big source of entertainment was the cinema. Just as the radio allowed families coming together the so did the cinema, though it was more a family outing. The film industry grew rapidly, however at first the British film industry couldn’t compete with the American film industry. It wasn’t as technically advanced as the American films and the British public preferred to watch more films from America which didn’t created a bigger obstacle for the British film industry. Consequently in 1927 the government passed an act ensuring that at least 5% of the total number of films should be shown in cinemas had to be British. And during that year sound movies was introduced this was a set back for the British film industry economically the silent movies were no match to the ‘talkies’. Such film like ‘The Jazz Singer’ starring Al Jolson was the first sound movie to be shown though the first ten minutes of the film really had sound. Sound became a sensation; people were able to engage in the films for low prices. This was a way of bringing many forms of relationships together such as, couples, friends and families. It was seen as a safe, comfortable and relaxing environment for everyone to enjoy an evening and because one ticket could be used for the whole day, people could spend the entire day in the cinema. Also Tennis became very popular, tennis clubs emerged increasingly and tennis courts were built in public parks by the local council. Though tennis was very popular it was quite expensive therefore it mainly attracted the middle and the upper class. Also because of its uniform it generally appeals to women, there dresses were shorter and movable as a result women could play much more comfortably. Cricket was a further type of entertainment that attracted the middle and upper class. This was an extremely popular sport, it grabbed a lot of attention especially the men. Matches were filled with people mostly the men. And the success of Don Bradman, who was the one who sailed through nearly every match, initiated cricket hitting headlines. Football was a tremendously popular sport that was also male dominated, however it generally drew the attention of the working class. Because this was a new sport, and the prices were very cheap crowds of 50,000 to 60,000 attended the first division matches. It was so crowded people were literally on the field, although during the early 1930’s, since this was a fresh new sport the men weren’t as rowdy and uncontrollable as the men are today. Even football pools were produced, this suggests the popularity of football and how the people of the 1930’s were influenced by this sport. In contrast to these sports greyhound racing was very popular as well though it weren’t as positive as the others. It attracted the working class and made them spend money to get money, although it didn’t work like that for the majority of people; it increased gambling; dept and led to addiction. The unemployed gambled as much as the working class but just spent less money, all of this reflected the fact of entertainment rising in the early 1930’s. Music halls were an additional strong type of entertainment in the early 1930’s, however as grey hound racing was a negative type of sport so was music halls. It was where a selection of entertainment was staged in a large hall with tables at which drinks were served. It presented a variety of entertainment involving a mixture of popular songs, performing animals, acrobats, male/female impersonators, and comedians. It also assists in many acts becoming popular such as Flanagan and Allen, Gracie Fields, Max Miller, and George Formby. The halls mostly attracted the working class because of its cheap prices; it was a place to socialize; and the availability of alcohol was one of the music hall’s attractions. People really came to music halls to unwind and have a lively time. Therefore, because the hall encouraged heavy drinking among both men and women, it didn’t appeal to families seeing as it wasn’t a place for children. Music halls went into a gradual decline after the introduction of talking films, Jazz, Swing, Big Band dance music and cinema. It’s restriction on the range of audience, which limited their customers, was another reason of their failure. Musicals were similar to the music halls as they were both centered on music and performances; however because of the two different audiences it was incredibly different as well. Because of it sophistication musicals mainly attracted the middle and upper classes, the result of this meant that there was no competition. Therefore they carried on being successful. To conclude entertainment was a break through in allowing people to overcome to effects of the depression. Therefore it gave a rise to the upcoming of entertainment and how it affects our lives today.

“Love” in Carol Ann Duffy’s Valentine Essay

Many people usually see â€Å"love† only one side especially when they deeply fall in love with someone. There are a lot of poems that respond the feeling of these falling in love people about how beautiful love is. It is true that love is beautiful. On the other hand, for me sometimes love is also painful. I really like the sentence that â€Å"love is color-blind† because this sentence can show not only the positive side of love but also the negative side of love. So does Carol Ann Duffy’s Valentine. On Valentine’s day, many people will neatly prepare the present such as a red rose, a cute card, or something that extremely beautiful and worthwhile for their beloved couples but Carol Ann Duffy thinks that these presents are predictable. Carol Ann Duffy says that she will give an onion to whom she loves. Why onion? It is because an onion represents both sides of love. Love has many layers like an onion. You may waste your time for many people who are not the right one for you and will face many problems and barriers that you and your love have to fight for love before you will find â€Å"true love.† Along this way, sometimes you will be sad and cry many times like an onion when you peel it because an onion can make your tears. In contrast, you can say that the nature of an onion can refer to the levels of happiness that happiness has many levels itself. Sometimes it means comfort and memories but sometimes it means like a firework. In addition, Carol Ann Duff compares an onion to the moon too. Although the moon is wrapped in brown paper, it still has light. Like love, no matter what is going to happen, it is still light and beautiful. On the contrary, the moon is the sign of sorrow opposite of the sun. At first when you see the moon, you may consider that it is extremely beautiful but if you see it much closer, you will see it is rough. It is not so beautiful as you firstly see it from the far. It is like an onion because you will think it causes nothing until you peel it. In other word, it is like love. You cannot know that love can also hurt you whether you face it yourself. It takes time to know how painful love can be like it takes way to know how rough the moon is. Carol Ann Duffy tries to tell about the truth of love as she says â€Å"I am trying to be truthful†. You have chances to choose â€Å"to love or not to love† whether you choose â€Å"to love†, you should know that love is no t always end of happiness. It is like when you have the proposal. It is optional. You can choose to be still alone or to walk together with your love. Love will be possessive and honest as long as we walk along together or love can bring heartache if we do not get along well. If you agree the proposal, your life will be changed. If you are married, the wedding ring will stay on your left ring finger to show love between you and your love and it will stay forever if you get along well like the smell of an onion that will stick to your fingers when you peel it. But if not love can be deadly. You can get the suicide holding the knife if you are really disappointed â€Å"Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring, if you like. Lethal. Its scent will cling to your fingers, cling to your knife.† In my opinion, the knife also has two sides. It depends on you that you can use the knife in the useful way as the real knife can be used in your daily life. You can be a good wife with the knife because you can use knife to make amazing food for your husband. Conversely, you can also use the knife to make a tragedy scene. Therefore, you can choose your way by yourself. Love is always bitter-sweet. No one will be happy or sad about love all the time. Love has both sides itself. It can fulfill your hope or make you upset. Hence, Carol Ann Duffy’s Valentine is the poem that builds the realistic portray of love to make the reader be aware of love because love is not always beautiful, sometimes it is painful.

Unionization and the nursing process Research Paper

Unionization and the nursing process - Research Paper Example For instance, there is major focus on addressing issues pertaining to nursing shortages and resource allocations thereby improving the quality of health outcomes. This implies that unionization in the nursing profession plays an important role of improving performance through quality service delivery. An analysis on the effects of unions in nursing profession indicates that unions are facilitators of effective nursing practice. This is attributed to the fact that unions work towards ensuring the wellbeing of nurses yet simultaneously maintaining and improving the quality of services delivered. Therefore, the role and goals of unions in nursing profession are in concurrence with nursing objectives as a profession. Nonetheless, union membership requires participation in the various activities of the union. This implies that members have a role to play in the union and it is not the responsibility of the management only to take part in union activities. For example, members are required to attend union meetings, take part in projects and act in support of the union even in seemingly challenging times such as during demonstrations. This implies that nurse are required to maintain active membership in unions. However, the increased focus towards unionization has seen establishment of relatively many unions with different goals (Benson, 2010). In a bid to reduce conflict of interest there are suggestions on establishment of a centralized union. Formation of a centralized union would arguably be a great step towards strengthening nurses and ensuring fair representation. Considering all the advantages of unions, it is relatively difficult for unionized members to cope in a nonunionized environment. Nonunionized workers have to cope with all their work related problems including possible management oppressions. This implies that working in a nonunionized environment is relatively frustrating and undesirable (Laureate Education, Inc. 2012). Therefore, it

International business in focus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International business in focus - Essay Example Section B: Identification of the Challenges Pestle Analysis Pestle Analysis will help in understanding the macro environmental issues (Lorat, 2009) Political The road tax has directly been linked to the total amount of emission and MOT (Merchant Over Time) has been increased. The Government has held a meeting with the automobile sector to decide about the rules and regulations related to this industry. Economic Presently the global recession has resulted in the financial crisis and has decreased the consumer purchasing power all over the world. Due to this crisis, Mercedes and various other car manufacturers are finding it difficult in increasing the revenue and profit of the companies. It has even resulted in the closure of plants by many automobile manufacturers. In this global crisis, the exchange rate between Euro and pound has resulted in high price of the cars in United Kingdom. This has decreased the sales of the company even more. Social The social environment can mainly be c ategorized into the following categories: a) Age, b) Gender, c) Income. Mercedes products have been mainly targeted for the middle aged customers. The products are not popular to that extent among the youngsters because of high price of the cars. The overall high expenditure related to the Mercedes products is the reason behind targeting the middle and high income people. As the products do not offer different range of prices starting from high price to low price for covering all classes of the society, the products do not target low income consumers. In the present situation of economic recession, this strategy is creating various challenges for the company. Technological Mercedes adds advanced technological details like air bags, shatter proof windscreens, crumple zones, collapsible steering columns etc. Use of these technologies has allowed the company in manufacturing safer cars. The plant efficiency is increasing with time. Various new production methods have been introduced fo r improving the efficiency. The facility of e-commerce and Gizmos has helped in upgrading the technology advancement. Environmental The European Union has planned to bring a new legislation which states that the average carbon dioxide emitted from the European cars must not exceed 130 g/km by the year 2015. This might be a reason of increasing concern for the company. Legal The company has maintained good relationship with the government by following the legal framework of the country. The imposition of higher tax might increase the threat of the company. Porter’s Five Forces The industry analysis of Mercedes Benz will help in understand the competitive intensity in the automobile industry (Porter, 1980; 1985; Ahlstorm and Bruton, 2009) 1) Rivalry among the existing firms The rivalry among the companies in the market where Mercedes is operating is intense. The big competitors of Mercedes Benz are BMW, AUDI, JAGUAR, ALFA ROMEO, ASTON MARTIN. Thus all big players provide their best offerings to the customers to seek their attraction. The increased rivalry has resulted in all these firms producing similar types of products, and expanding their operations into other segments like offering financial services, various alcoholic products etc. Thus the rivalry from the existing firms is very high. 2) Threat of new entrants Presently the threat of new entrants is low in the market segment where Mercedes Benz is performing its business operations. This might be because of the

Masquerades Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Masquerades - Essay Example The masquerades are dramatized to an extent with music and dances that it symbolizes power and infallibility. They are made in such macabre, grotesque yet illuminant manner that they at once evoke attention and awe1. The festivals and rituals surrounding masquerades have become regular part of the African culture. It is difficult to put a stop to them now. 1The attention and awe inspired by masquerades did not come because of their appearance. The masquerades were part of a system that ruled Africa for thousands of years. History reveals that the masquerades were silent witnesses to mayhem and murder. If you're thinking about getting a masquerade, make sure you are up to date with all the rest of the outfit that must cover your body. You must also familiarize yourself with the music and dance steps and movements that accompany the masquerade. Added to these, you have to take the precaution of consulting your witchdoctor without which the masquerade will only remain a mute part of your grotesquely stylized garment. The masquerades were part of large-scale mumbo-jumbo commanding obeisance of societies and nations. They were the cause of festivals and mass processions. They provided omens and cures in the hands of witchdoctors. They were ideal leverages in the hands of power-brokers. With such advantages, it was difficult to neutralize the influence of masquerades. The maThe masquerades are made in all shapes and sizes.1They may resemble the hyena or the vulture. These have their specific significance. The hyena is associated with possession of ethereal knowledge. The vulture, a flying bird of prey, is believed to bring knowledge from the spiritual world (Lamp, Frederick; 2010). It is not only the mask that prominently figures in the dancer's scheme. It is the entire outfit. The mask plays a vital role due to the importance associated with the countenance. The transformation in the dancer's behavior permeates every iota of his being. The head, bearing most sense, takes the cake. 1Whatever the shape and size, the object of the masquerade was to dominate and demand respect. They exist in the form of art today. But they cannot undo the havoc they wreaked in the millions of lives that even dared to question them. The Significance of the Masquerades' Longevity The African continent is over 26,000 years' old culture. That art has existed for such a long period of time in human history is mind-boggling. It is another matter that it has continued in this fashion till date. The African contin

The 2004 and 2011 Tsunamis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The 2004 and 2011 Tsunamis - Essay Example Such occurrences, lead to a series of irregular movements that generates shock waves at the waves’ focus and this results in an earthquake. The magnitude and size of the resultant earthquake depends on the magnitude of the movement, and the depth at which the quake has occurred. The earthquakes that are intense but occur at relatively shallow points of water mass do result into severe earthquakes. Tsunami can only occur if the intensity of the quake developed exceeds earthquake magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale with a focus less than fifty kilometers in depth; otherwise, the entire effect is absorbed and no tsunami occurs. However, the main factor for consideration is the displacement of the intensity or the degree of placement of the sea floor. If an earthquake occurs on a large but shallow water mass, an intensive tsunami is realized. It is worth noting that the phenomena that lead to the 2004 and 2011 are extremely rare circumstances. The effects of quake waves are inte nse and usually lead to severe effects to both humanity and the earth itself. Notably, the 2004 and 2011 earthquakes that lead to tectonic plates and oceanic floor movement by about fifteen meters permanently altered the surrounding islands geography. Additionally, such quakes led to wobbling of the earth’s axis thus altering or shortening the length of days by fractions of seconds. The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was later identified as an undersea mega-thrust earthquake. The earthquake that led to the 2004 tsunami is believed to have resulted from the subduction movement of the tectonic plates. This movement triggered a series of devastating tsunamis on the surrounding landmasses bordering Indian Ocean. The resulting waves stretched to numerous neighboring towns and cities killing over 230,000 people. The effects of this quake were felt in fourteen countries. The wave developed were thirty meters high with magnitude of Mw 9.1 – 9.3. This magnitude is the third large st that had ever recorded on a seismograph. The earthquakes’ effects lasted for the longest duration that had ever been observed, approximately 8.3 and 10 minutes. Notably, this earthquake led to a one centimeter vibration of the entire planet a phenomenon that triggered another earthquake in far regions including Alaska (Moos 1). The 2011 earthquake had a magnitude of MW 9.0. It was less than the 2004 tsunami in magnitude. It occurred undersea, and it was as well regarded as a mega-thrust earthquake. The 2011 earthquake triggered waves off the coast of Japan and had its epicenter approximately seventy kilometers east of Oshika Peninsula and its hypocenter at underwater depth that was later approximated to be about 32 kilometers (Rajamanickam 78). It was the most powerful wave to have ever hit Japan and the 5th most powerful earthquake on the global listing. The 2011 earthquake triggered a powerful tsunami with waves hitting the heights of up to 40.5 meters and travelled a di stance of up to ten kilometers inland. This earthquake moved the Honshu about 2.4 meters towards the east; thus, shifting the Earth’s axis by approximately a distance of between ten to twenty five meters (Nanto 5). The Japan tsunami led to numerous, devastating effects to objects and human life. It led to a number of nuclear accidents; notably, the level 7 meltdowns of at least three reactors in

Wolseley Accounts Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Wolseley Accounts Report - Essay Example This report will analyse the financial performance of Wolseley Group and how the group has performed in the last year or so. The report has been divided into three sections; the first section of the report will discuss and analyse how the group has performed in the last three years, the second section of the report will analyse the financial performance of the company using financial ratios of the year 2010 and 2009. The third section of the report will discusses about one of the items in the current assets of the company’s balance sheet, financial receivables. Section 1: Analysing the performance of Wolseley Group Wolseley Group is the leading trade distributor of heating and plumbing products to different professional contractors. The group operates in 25 countries and has more than 4000 branches around the world with more than 47,000 employees working for the Wolseley Group (Wolseley Group, 2011). The financial crisis has made a huge impact on different industries therefore the industries to which the Wolseley Group has been offering its products were affected as well. The demand of the products had reduced considerably around the world and therefore it influenced the sales of the company negatively. One of the most important industries to which the group has been offering its products is the construction industry. The clients of the Wolseley Group include large construction companies, professional contracts, individual contracts etc. However, with the economic crunch, the overall demand of the of construction projects has reduced to a great extent. There have been several factors that have lead to the reduction in the demand of construction industry as currently the economy is suffering with more unemployment and lower credit available, large number of housing inventory remained unsold etc. Therefore all these have resulted in reduction in overall construction in both the commercial as well as the residential sector. The following image reflects diff erent sectors of the group and it can be seen that most of them are directly or indirectly related to the construction industry. (Wolseley Group, 2010) In several countries including United States of America, United Kingdom, Nordic region, France and Central and Eastern European countries, the sales have reduced however only in Canada the sales of the Wolseley Group grew in the year 2010. But the problem is that Canada only contributes 6% of the total sales of the company as it has been shown in the image below. (Wolseley Group, 2010) All in all, the overall performance can be said to have improved as the sales declined by almost 14% in the year 2009 however in 2010 this figure has reduced to 6% and therefore it can be considered as a positive sign for the group. (Wolseley Group, 2010) Section 2: Analysing The Financial Performance Of The Group Using Financial Ratios Financial ratios are used to analyse the financial performance of the company. Financial ratios are used to analyse a nd compare one company from the other and it is also used to compare the performance of the company with its past performances (Ross, Westerfield, and Jordan, 2009). This section of the report will analyse the compare the financial performance of the company in the year 2009 and 2010 using financial ratios. Different types of financial ratios like the profitability ratios, liquidity ratios and the efficiency ratios are used in this report to analyse the performance of the company in the two years under study. Profitability Ratios Profitability ratios are used to analyse the profitability of the company. The higher the value of the profitability

Analyze the case and answer the questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Analyze the case and answer the questions - Essay Example Imaging-X-rays, ultrasounds, CT-scans, MR- are also used to determine tumor stage. Biopsies, laboratory tests of fluids (cytology) such as urine, blood, and lymphatic fluids can also be used. Surgical reports on the size and appearance can also be used. The doctor selected an ultra sound to determine the exact location, size and spread of the tumor to the lymphatic nodes and other organs. A biopsy is the removal of part or the whole tumor for pathology examination such as microscopy. This is done to determine malignancy or benign. A combination of the two methods was sufficient to determine the mode of treatment. Chemotherapy is the application of antineoplastic drugs to kill cancer cells and inhibit the tumor growth. Surgery removes the entire tumor and a regimen of chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells. If any remaining cells are left the cells proliferate faster and become more invasive. Monthly systematic palpation of the breast aids in earlier detection. It should be done after menstruation when hormones are more stable. If a lump is detected further consultation at a doctor is

Db5 1 employment and labor law Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Db5 1 employment and labor law - Research Paper Example The followings are some of the federal law prohibiting job discrimination according to federal equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws; According to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, and sex or nationality. Equal Pay Act protects women and workers who perform substantially similar work in the same establishment from sex based wage discrimination. Sections 501 and 505 of the rehabilitation work act of 1973, prohibits discrimination against qualified individual with disabilities who work in the federal government. Discriminatory practices under these laws include: Harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, genetic information and disability, employment decision based on stereotypes or assumption about the abilities, denying employment opportunities to person because of marriage to a particular race or religions. Look at a scenario where a big and well known company like Coca-Cola being sued for allegedly violating a number of Californian labor laws. According to (www.bestattorney.com) they have filed a class action lawsuit against Coca-Cola and its affiliate for allegedly violating multiple California labor laws, such as failing to pay overtime wages for hours worked in excess of eight hours per day. From this real life scenario the lesson learnt is that, labor laws should actually need to be obeyed because they are aimed are protecting both parties; the employer and employee. This scenario in some aspect has set precedent to managers who have not taken labor laws seriously. In summary, this paper has clearly helped in defining the meaning of labor laws, some of the labor laws and an example of a real life situation whereby a Coca-Cola company violated some of the labor law in California. Therefore, it is upon managers and directors of companies to treat their employees with regard

To What Extent Did The X Factor Alter The Distribution of Popular Coursework

To What Extent Did The X Factor Alter The Distribution of Popular Music - Coursework Example Over the last decade, reality shows have been the most popular programs on television. This phenomenon is not restricted to the United States or the UK, but is a universal phenomenon. There seems to be a correlation between the emergence of reality TV as a force, and the universal uptake of the internet (Butje, 2005). The X-Factor provides an interesting case study relating to the impact of reality TV on the lifestyle of people across the world. The show started in the UK and then spread to other countries. There are various franchises of the show in different countries across the world. The goal of this paper is to examine the impact of the X-Factor on the distribution of popular music. The best records relating to the show come from the UK since this is where the show has been running for the longest time. The other significant market for the show is the United States. This paper will focus on the impact of the show on distribution of music in the UK. ... In both shows, the participants undergo a series of auditions before reaching the screening stages where the finalists come up for intensive training and competition during the show. The basic idea behind the naming of the program and its whole gist is the discovery of the â€Å"X factor† that makes a musician tick. The show aims at discovering this intangible and indescribable factor in the contestants. b. Production Stages The show progresses through five stages. In the first stage, the producers carry out the primary auditions and gives contestants who will meet senior producers a â€Å"golden ticket†. The senior producers further identify contestants who proceed to the second stage. At the second stage, the judges audition the participants and classify them into three – the good ones who proceed to the next stage, the bad ones who are poor at singing, and the bizarre ones. This last category refers to those who stand out in some way that is neither good nor b ad. The successful contestants go through further processing at the â€Å"boot camp† and then at the judges houses where the judges get an opportunity to mentor them. Those who pass these two stages successfully proceed to the final stage that forms the main part of the TV show. It is at the end of this final stage that the show picks its winner. c. Key Players The most influential person in the X-Factor show is Simon Cowell. Cowell was part of the team that produced Pop Idol in America. He left the Pop Idol production team in order to start the X-Factor in the UK. Cowell is currently part of the inaugural team of judges in X-Factor USA. The other key personalities in X-Factor are the judges. Each season has a set of judges to take the show through. This makes them very influential

Against the Machiavellian Principles of Politics Essay Example for Free

Against the Machiavellian Principles of Politics Essay According to Machiavelli, the affairs of the state reside in the power of the prince. It is the prince which determines, directs, and unifies the components of the state. The prince therefore should act to preserve, strengthen, and protect his position from danger, whether external or internal, without due moral consideration. In short, with the preservation of the state in mind, the prince should act with political diligence to promote it, regardless of the means. According to Machiavelli, â€Å"he who considers what ought to be done rather what is done will rather find himself in a state of ruin than preservation† (Machiavelli, 29). Political action free from any moral consideration is based from three assumptions: 1) Human nature is corrupt and selfish. It is impossible for the prince to satisfy all the needs of the people without injuring the welfare of others. The people is always eager to overthrow their government, to mock the instruments of the state, and to criticize the actions of the prince, whenever their interests (whether political or economic) are affected. According to Machiavelli, â€Å"Because this is to be asserted in general of men, that they are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous, and as long as you succeed they are yours entirely; they will offer you their blood, property, life and children, as is said above, when the need is far distant; but when it approaches they turn against you† (Machiavelli, 29); 2) Morality and religion only limit the actions of the prince. In fact, when fortune fades away, the prince may become unable to defend himself from disconcerting threats. It is therefore important, according to Machiavelli, for the prince to â€Å"guard himself as from a rock; and he should endeavour to show in his actions greatness, courage, gravity, and fortitude; and in his private dealings with his subjects let him show that his judgments are irrevocable, and maintain himself in such reputation that no one can hope either to deceive him or to get round him† (Machiavelli, 32). The prince should endeavour to show himself as the bearer of righteousness, fidelity, and religion, without endangering his own power. This impression is only used to preserve the power of the state. Only in this way can religion and morality be twisted for the benefit of the prince; 3) The success of a prince is never solely dependent on law, morality, or religion. Sometimes, political success is achieved by political deception, alteration of political favors, and in general by arms. It is therefore necessary for the prince to use these instruments to preserve the instruments of the state. It is this condition that the position of a prince who took the state by arms is much more endangered than that of a prince appointed by the people or the Church. To preserve his power, the prince must take moral considerations and religion as only instruments of that purpose. General Critique In order to provide a more comprehensive criticism against Machiavellian politics, there is a need to draw important propositions from different thinkers and theories. Some of the selected philosophers and social theorists are as follows: St. Thomas Aquinas, Immanuel Kant, Rousseau, and Montesquieu. According to Aquinas, morality and religion are necessary instruments for the governance of the state. In his book â€Å"De Regnum† (On Kinship), Aquinas argued that it is always necessary for the ruler to take the precedents of moral and religious obligations as a means to please Divine justice (Curtis, 431). For Aquinas, the foundation of the state is divine in orientation. It is founded by the grace of the Divine Being (who willed the creation of the state after man’s fall). A prince who disregards the religion and morality disregards the Creator. Aquinas here does not disregard the necessity of preserving the power of the state. What Aquinas emphasized is the excesses of unscrupulous rule – a condition which would be punished by God. For Aquinas, a good prince ‘will always be favored by God’ (and preserve his base of power). Rousseau argued that morality is borne out of the so-called ‘social contract. ’ The people gathered to appoint a ruler who would promote their interests. The ruler has the following obligations: 1) to protect the people from threats, 2) to maintain peace and order, 3) to promote solidarity and good governance, and 4) to relinquish power whenever the people chooses a new ruler. A ruler who fails to accomplish these tasks would lose his position. The state, however, would remain intact because the instrument of power resides not in the prince but in the people. According to Rousseau, a prince who put all the instruments of power in his hands is more likely to fall than a prince who measure his authority based on public will. Montesquieu offered a more critical and comprehensive understanding of the position of the prince. According to him, an unruly rebellion of the people is tantamount to political disobedience – a violation of the law of the land. This instance applies only if two conditions are met. First, the ruler does not show any violation of the law. And second, the people unlawfully breaks the social contract and sought to depose a good government. In short, according to Montesquieu, there is no need for a ruler to follow the Machiavellian principles because the law is the manifestation of social and moral obligation, the codec of ethics (Curtis, 613). Here, one may infer that the actions of the ruler should be based solely on this criterion. A ruler who follows the law would never fall in disgrace. Using Kant’s universal moral standards (in his book â€Å"Prolegomena†), one can create a set of moral standards which would be used in judging the actions of a ruler. First, one should determine whether the consequence and intensity of political actions. If a political decision disfranchises a significant portion of the population, such decision is illegitimate (not morally neutral). Second, one may determine the means by which decisions are carried out. Here, legality is an important factor. Third, one may determine whether the actions of the state are in congruent with accepted international standards of morality. Here, an external standard is added in order to ensure the moral efficacy of the state in all levels. The proper enforcement of these external standards is either left to the disposition of international agencies or to the efficacy of treaties. In short, internal political standards of morality are enforced by the state (the people serve as the watch guard of the state). Machiavellian concepts of political deception and moral neutrality have no standing in this type of political set-up. Works Cited Curtis, Michael. The Great Political Theories. New York: Avon Books, 1981. Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. Trans. by W. K. Marriott. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1995.

Incivility in Nursing: Causes and Intervention Strategies

Incivility in Nursing: Causes and Intervention Strategies Review of related literature a. Definition of incivility Incivility is defined as an uncivil behavior towards a person whether physical or verbal. Incivility is often seen in different environment and venue such as inside the classroom, clinical setting, community, and workplace. Incivility is always a major issue that affects the relationship between a student and a teacher. According to Clark (2008) she defined incivility as an â€Å"interactive and dynamic process that both parties are responsible†. She also stated that it creates a barrier between the teaching-learning environment. The most common issues about incivility between a student and a teacher are that teachers treat students unfairly and teachers pressure students to meet faculty demands. Faculty incivility is unprofessional and unethical, it is a behavior that compromises a students learning ability and decision making in the classroom or clinical setting. Incivility lowers one’s self esteem and self confidence that hinders the student’s ability to perfo rm in the classroom or clinical setting. Faculty incivility leaves a mark to a student, it makes a student feel bad of themselves. According to Clark (2008) students are helpless, powerless, and traumatized. Students’ performance will suffer drastically, she stated that students will have a harder time finishing the nursing program. According to Marchiondo (2010), she stated that faculty incivility will result into extreme cases like depression and violence. A student that feels depressed might have a hard time coping inside the classroom. The students’ safety is a main priority for faculty members, a result to violence may affect the environment in school and in the clinical setting. The American Nurses’ Association’s (2004) Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice stated that professionalism is important in interactions with others, it also stated that the art of nursing is based on caring and respect for others. Marchiondo (2010), she also stated that long term faculty incivility may result in program dissatisfaction and withdrawal. She also stated that faculty incivility ignored is also an act of incivility as well. Ignoring a negative behavior is an act of negative behavior as well. She also stated that there is a high chance of incivility in an educational setting if there are no rules or regulations regarding faculty incivility. Perpetrators of supervision fail to detect incivility or uncivil behavior and will be held responsible for their actions. According to Bautista (2013) posted journal, student behaviors most commonly reported as discourteous by faculty included making negative groans, making ironic comments or gestures, not interested in class, dominating class discussions, using gadgets in class, and cheating on tests and exams. The greater part of faculty reported that unethical or uncivil student behaviors occurred rarely or sometimes. Samples of faculty behaviors considered unethical or uncivil by students incorporated suspension of classes without warnings, being not ready for class, disallowing open discussions, being not interested or cold in class, mocking or provoking students, conducting fast-paced discussions and lectures, and being unavailable or unreachable outside class. Students think faculty incivility as a reasonable problem in the nursing education environment. Therefore, it is very important that nurse educators and administrators assist students and faculty handle efficiently with these behaviors. (Ba utista, 2013). According to Davis, Karen (2005) she confirmed that the notion of faculty incivility in nursing education is old. However, it has generated much conversation at nationwide conferences, faculty meetings and in the press. What’s disturbing the most is nurse educators are the frequency of faculty incivility being witnessed in every day encounters by teachers who teach students in the clinical setting and the class room. If these actions are not mentioned during the academic process, they can simply go beyond to health care environments.An incorporated assessment of the literature from five years ago, which included nursing students and faculty from programs conferring associate to doctoral degrees, recognized general unethical or uncivil behaviors from students: late in class, being noisy and inattentive in class, dominating class, shouting at professors, threatening and provoking, physical abuse, and threatening or blackmailing to give bad teacher evaluations. Behaviors of the t eachers most often measured unethical or uncivil by students were mocking or provoking students, being distant or unreachable, and being unavailable outside the class room. No wonder nursing education is now being considered by a society of incivility.(Davis, 2005). According to Marchiondo et. al. (2010) he stated that the unethical or uncivil behaviors can have many harmful effects on both faculty and students. Sufferers of incivility may feel symptoms such as pressure, stress and anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, sadness, annoyance and humiliation. One study found a strong connection between a student’s fulfillment and incivilitywith his or her nursing education. Incivility correlates strongly with program dissatisfaction. As the incivility goes up, a student’s fulfillment with the course some students finally leave their nursing course for another course; and some students decide not to enter the nursing career. (Marchiondo, Lasiter, 2010). B. Student incivility According to the book of Lower J. (2007) usually â€Å"bullies† don’t know their own attitude and behavior as being immoral or uncivil. They may depart one position, only to cause disorder anywhere else. Their insight truly becomes their reality. Incivility can become the standard for a class room, clinical setting, and workplace, which makes it harder to modify. Dealing with the negative behavior in a sensible way, will stop incivility from becoming the standard. Once incivility is permitted to become the standard, it takes time to get the place of work back to an optimistic, healthy atmosphere. Experts concur that it takes about 2-5 years for a group to change its customs. Policies are a must to stop and/ or progress incivility. A policy of behavior is essential to describe the behaviors that are considered troublesome. The system needs to deal with all employees in a group such as non employees such as providers, and nurses. In order for a policy of behavior to be ef ficient, it must be applied in all situations. Leadership needs to be not only implicated in the process, but dedicated to reinforcing its significance. With no enforcement, the policy is useless. All members of the team, including leadership, need to be responsible for enforcing and modeling the policy of behavior. Similarly important is assessing incidents and complaints in an appropriate method, and taking counteractive action so workers see it is not tolerated or condoned. Nurse leaders need to set the nature and outlook for the type of proficient communications that will occur in the workplace. Words can be typed in a mission statement, but the truth is that nurses and students will copy the behaviors they view and practice from the faculty and nurse leaders. If my nurse leader does not â€Å"walk the talk,† I am going to disregard the policy and act what I know I can get away with. We all float irregularly and that is human nature. However as nurses, we are responsible for our own behaviors and actions. Education is the key to serving others. Some health settings are looking for to teach nurses on how to get better at social communications, proper etiquette, and promote optimistic skills in the place of work. People may not understand they show unethical or uncivil behavior. People consider this is â€Å"not about me.† Many times people need insight or self-awareness, and have no idea how to modify behavior that may be embedded. Teaching everyone on the new code of conduct will assist produce an accepting, friendly, and an open atmosphere. It may be needed to offer guiding and coaching as desired to help develop the attitudes and behaviors of others. There should be a no acceptance for incivility. It’s significant for all of us to educate respect and teach others to know and react to incivility. Nurse leaders must get complaints critically and not let off the messenger. It takes great effort to tell incivility. Don’t make excu ses such as â€Å"that’s just the way she is, but you will get used to it† or â€Å"the unit cannot afford to lose him even though he makes worry on the unit.† As a nurse leader it’s vital to collect information swiftly, shake-up the facts, and act upon when needed. It’s important to carry out post-departure interviews, not at the time a student leaves, but weeks after leaving. This will give you an improved image as to what other essentials may have been concerned in the worker exit his or her situation. It’s significant to maintain the latest traditions by obliging open communication so that civility becomes the custom. Nurse leaders require showing dependably and making a safe atmosphere so nurses are not afraid when giving out complaints and concerns or telling reports. Nurse leaders also need to endorse positive and open response so nurses learn how to show common courtesy and respect. It’s significant to be tolerant of each othe r’s opinions and ideas. Nursing academic programs need to contain incivility issues and topics in the program. It’s also supportive to have students’ role play specific situations. It has been found that former students are able to feel unethical or uncivil behaviors in a more suitable approach, with the use of play-acting. C. Faculty incivility Regarding to the definition of Clark, et.al. â€Å"Incivility in the nursing education is perceived as impolite or troublesome behaviors which often effects in psychological or physiological suffering for people concerned and if left with no action, may develop into a provoking condition† (Clark, Farnsworth Landrom, 2008). Regarding to the â€Å"US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health† the incivility in the nursing education is a developing crisis and one that gravely affects the learning-teaching atmosphere and frequently outcomes in problematic and stressful faculty-student relationships. Nursing professors, who show constructive, ethical behaviors, support similar attitudes and behaviors from their students. Furthermore, professors who are unfriendly, not interested, and humiliating may call upon resentment. The document that was written by Cynthia M. Clark (2008) made a phenomenological research to observe nursing students view of faculty incivility and its effect on the students. Students recognized 3 major themes of faculty incivility: Professors behaving in humiliating and mocking ways, Treating students unjustly and personally, and Obliging and pressuring students to conform to difficult school demands. Furthermore, students felt helplessness and hopelessness to speak to the problem and described faculty superiority and misuse of power as main factors to the problem. (Clark, 2008) Regarding to the piece written by Susan Luparell (2008) â€Å"Incivility in Nursing Education: LET’S PUT AN END TO IT† she confirmed that both students and faculty have addressed that incivility is a reasonable problem in the nursing education. Fortunately, faculties will tell that they see incivility by only rare occasions. Yet addressing with these unusual problem students take an uneven number of their time and effort, and frequently ends up depriving diligent students of excellent educational experiences. Impolite behavior to faculty is not partial to being noisy in class, loud voices, and ironic comments. Nursing faculty have also implicated being pressed, having school stuff thrown at them, vandalizing their stuff and being stalked around and outside the classroom, and obtaining threats. Regrettably, the incivility matter isn’t one-sided. Students also indicate that they also feel disrepected. The people involved may be other students, professors, or staff. It’s not astounding to feel that students find mocking comments and provoking by professors to be unethical or uncivil. (Luparell, 2008) Regarding to the book of Carter, he confirmed that to make a more civil surroundings, he tells Americans to raise ordinary good over selfishness, to push wider civic contribution, and to renovate social standards. Carter feels that impoliteness and disregard are â€Å"the merest graze of the surface of problem† and proof of our nation’s rising incivility. According to Carter, self-interest and stealing one’s own desires met are crowding into the community of America, including our nation’s schools and classrooms. As Forni (2008) confirmed, â€Å"incivility frequently occurs when people are worried, stressed, miserable, or hurried. When these match, something can occur. Incivility affects self-confidence, damages relations, increases anxiety and stress, contaminates the work atmosphere, and may rise into cruelty.† It’s significant to note that many times the faculty showing the unethical or uncivil behavior is ignorant of how his/her behavior, actions or words may be upsetting others. The outcomes of incivility take a toll on us. It affects our self-confidence by affecting our mentality. When we feel susceptible, there is a rise in stress and anxiety, which can develop to anger and violence. It also affects our relations by causing depression, loss and isolation. It also increases anxiety and stress, which lowers the immune system, it greatly affects our body, soul and spirit. Furthermore, the effects can result to despair and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also affect s the atmosphere of the workplace by lowering confidence. Nurse leaders can also be in a difficult situation. For nurses in a management and leadership position, to stay still is to ignore the behavior. If leadership allows the behavior, it makes it difficult for others to tell the same kind of attitudes and behavior. The nurse may think his/her leadership accepts of the behavior. Furthermore, leadership may not understand incivility is happening. The behavior wishes to be told to the nurse leader’s notice for more action. Don’t presume the behavior has possibly been reported by a different nurse. Incivility also happens with student nurses. It results in students having lowered self-esteem and confidence, rage, disappointment, insomnia, stress, anxiety and worry. When student nurses are bullied by staff nurses, they are more suitable to imitate the attitudes and behaviors and result in bullying behavior themselves. (Forni, 2008) Incivility is defined as an uncivil behavior towards a person whether physical or verbal. Incivility is often seen in different environment and venue such as inside the classroom, clinical setting, community, and workplace. Incivility is always a major issue that affects the relationship between a student and a teacher. According to Clark (2008) she defined incivility as an â€Å"interactive and dynamic process that both parties are responsible†. She also stated that it creates a barrier between the teaching-learning environment. The most common issues about incivility between a student and a teacher are that teachers treat students unfairly and teachers pressure students to meet faculty demands. Faculty incivility is unprofessional and unethical, it is a behavior that compromises a students learning ability and decision making in the classroom or clinical setting. Incivility lowers one’s self esteem and self confidence that hinders the student’s ability to perfo rm in the classroom or clinical setting. Faculty incivility leaves a mark to a student, it makes a student feel bad of themselves. According to Clark (2008) students are helpless, powerless, and traumatized. Students’ performance will suffer drastically, she stated that students will have a harder time finishing the nursing program. According to Marchiondo (2010), she stated that faculty incivility will result into extreme cases like depression and violence. A student that feels depressed might have a hard time coping inside the classroom. The students’ safety is a main priority for faculty members, a result to violence may affect the environment in school and in the clinical setting. The American Nurses’ Association’s (2004) Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice stated that professionalism is important in interactions with others, it also stated that the art of nursing is based on caring and respect for others. Marchiondo (2010), she also stated that long term faculty incivility may result in program dissatisfaction and withdrawal. She also stated that faculty incivility ignored is also an act of incivility as well. Ignoring a negative behavior is an act of negative behavior as well. She also stated that there is a high chance of incivility in an educational setting if there are no rules or regulations regarding faculty incivility. Perpetrators of supervision fail to detect incivility or uncivil behavior and will be held responsible for their actions.

Analysis of Sickle Cell Disease

Analysis of Sickle Cell Disease Safiullah Barat Melissa Parker Canada is becoming more multicultural as individuals from developing countries are making Canada their home. As the rate of immigrants in Canada is rising, diseases that were uncommon are becoming more prevalent. For instance, disorders such as sickle cell disease are increasing in all regions in Canada (Neglected Conditions, 2014). Sickle cell disease is genetic disorder that causes undesired effects which decreases an individual’s quality of life. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease, and to research evidence based practice such as management and prevention measures. To begin, a brief explanation of the search strategy used will be discussed, followed by details on the epidemiology of sickle cell disease. Furthermore, aspects of the disorder will be discussed in the following order: risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnostic tests, complications, evidence based treatment, and different levels of preventive measures. Accord ing to RNAO, â€Å"knowledge provides the basis for professional practice and, is a central aspect of professionalism† (Professionalism in nursing, pg. 28). It is evident that nurses need to critically analyze disorders, such as sickle cell disease, in order to apply and provide competent care. Search Strategy To help retrieve the most up to date, recent and peer reviewed articles, different search strategies have been used. Nursing databases such as ProQuest, CINHAL and MEDLINE were used to find the appropriate journal articles. After doing so, search limiters were used to narrow down the search. Peer reviewed, full text and published dates set from 2009 to 2014 were selected, as well as the availability of references was included. Boolean operators, â€Å"and† and â€Å"or†, were commonly used ; furthermore, search term â€Å"sickle cell disease† and Boolean phrases including â€Å"complications†, â€Å"treatment†, â€Å"diagnostic test†, â€Å"pediatrics†, â€Å"prevention†, â€Å"etiology†, and â€Å"Canada† were combined to narrow the search. Epidemiology Sickle cell disease is prevalent in areas where malaria is common. This includes area such as the Caribbean, Nigeria, Middle East, Mediterranean, Indian sub-continent, Greek, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Ghana, and Far East China (Brown, M. 2012). A study conducted by Lanzkron et al (2013) took a look at mortality rates with individuals who had sickle cell disease over a time frame of thirty years. Over the course of thirty years, 16, 654 sickle cell-related deaths had occurred with a mortality rate of 0.7% each year (Lanzkron et al, 2013). In Canada, one in every 2500 babies will be born with sickle cell disease, and have a one in four chance (25%) of having sickle cell disease. Furthermore, they have a one in two chance (50%) of being a carrier for sickle cell disease (Sickle Cell Disease Association of Canada, 2013). Etiology/Risk Factors Sickle cell disease is an inherited autosomal recessive condition that causes an abnormal formation of hemoglobin. Different types of sickle cell disease includes sickle cell anemia (HbSS), sickle hemoglobin-c disease (HbSC), and sickle cell thalassemia (HbS) ( Brown, M. 2012).However, the most common is sickle cell anemia (Lewis, 2014). This inheritance occurs when both the mother and father pass on the defective gene to their child (Brown, M. 2012). Therefore, being a carrier of the sickle cell trail is a major risk factor. Individuals have an increased risk of developing sickle cell disease if residing in areas where malaria is endemic. Sickle cell disease puts individuals at risk whose ancestors came from West Africa, southern Italy, northern Greece, South and Central America, Middle East, Central India, southeast coast of Turkey and Mediterranean in Sicily (Pack-Mabian, A Haynes, J.r. 2009). Clinical Manifestations Although, each individual will display different signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease, they all display one similar characteristic: when exposed to factors that decrease oxygen, the hemoglobin forms into a sickle-shaped red blood cell which blocks the flow of blood. As a result, clinical manifestations often show anemia, jaundice and severe pain (Addis, G. 2010). Often, patients are asymptomatic except when experiencing a sickling episode (Lewis, 2014). An individual with sickle cell disease may develop anemia due to the complete destruction of red blood cells or hemolysis (Addis, G. 2010). Normally, red blood cells live for 120 days in our body but sickle cells usually die within ten to twenty days (Addis, G. 2010). As a result, the body’s organs are not receiving enough oxygen. The body compensates as it increase heart rate, increase blood pressure to allow the oxygenated hemoglobin to reach the necessary organs. Furthermore, individuals will display signs and symptoms of SNS or fight or flight response. Increase pupil dilation, diaphoresis and tachypnea are evident in patients with sickle cell crisis (Tortora Derrickson, 2012). In addition, the constant breakdown of hemoglobin produces bilirubin, a byproduct of hemoglobin, which cannot be processed by the liver. As a result, the bilirubin gets stored in the blood and connective tissue which results in yellowing of the eyes and the skin (Addis, G. 2010). However, the most common manifestation individuals with sickle cell disease experience are pain as a result of vaso-occlusive crises, also known as sickle cell crisis. Pain related to sickle cell disease accounts for ninety percent of hospital admissions (Musumadi, L. et al. 2012). This is mainly due to episodes of sickling that prevents oxygenated blood reaching organs, which results in ischemia and gradual deterioration of tissue and organ function (Musumadi, L. et al., 2012). Diagnostic Tests Diagnostic tests to diagnose sickle cell disease involve blood work. Often, individuals who have sickle cell disease are best diagnosed with the use of a peripheral blood smear test which reveals sickle cells (Lewis, 2014). In addition, sickle hemoglobin tests involve taking red blood cells, and expose them to factors that deoxygenate the blood, and determines if there is hemolysis (Lewis, 2014). Furthermore, a test known as the hemoglobin electrophoresis helps to differentiate sickle cell trait between sickle cell disease. It works by identifying various types of hemoglobin within a blood specimen to confirm the diagnosis of sickle cell disease (Randolph Wheelhouse, 2012). Additionally, secondary diagnostic tests could be used to diagnose complications that arise with sickle cell disease. Individuals may require a chest x-ray, skeletal x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and a Doppler ultrasound (Lewis, 2014). Skeletal x-rays are used to determine bone and joint deformities whereas chest x-rays are used to diagnose chest infection (pneumonia). MRIs are used to aid in the diagnosis of a stroke caused by blocked blood vessels from sickled cells Likewise, a Doppler ultrasound may be used to diagnose deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (Lewis, 2014). Course of the disease and complications Sickle cell disease causes a wide range of complications that begin at infancy and worsen with age when not controlled. Complications develop when sickling episodes causes vaso-occlusion which leads infarction of body tissues and organs (Lewis et al., 2010), and with increasing age, causes end-organ complications (Miller Meier, 2012). At age 2, children begin to experience dactylitis, pain in small bones of hands and feet (Miller Meier, 2012). Vaso-occlusive pain involving the back, chest, abdomen, or extremities continues to occur throughout the lifespan of an individual with sickle-cell disease (Pack-Mabien, 2009). Furthermore, both pediatrics and adults encounter the difficulty of anemia as it leads to other complications such as bone marrow suppression, renal insufficiency, and splenic or hepatic sequestration (Pack-Mabien, 2009). The infarction of the spleen can begin in infancy and causes another major complication: infection. The dysfunction of the spleen and its inability t o phagocytize foreign objects can cause major infection in both children and adults â€Å"and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with sickle cell disease† (Miller Meier, 2012). Additionally, sickling episodes can affect the pulmonary system in all affected age groups and causes acute chest syndrome, a disorder that includes pulmonary complications such as pneumonia, fat embolism, systemic infection, pulmonary infarction, and if not treated, can lead to respiratory failure (Miller Andrew, 2012). Unfortunately, children and adults are also at risk for stroke due to cerebral infarction (Miller Meier, 2012). Other complications include gallstones, kidney failure, priapism or involuntary erection, delayed sexual development, delayed growth, bone necrosis, and leg ulcers (Brown, M. 2012). Treatments The treatment of sickle cell disease involves the reduction of symptoms and complications. Treatment includes pain management involving opioid or non-opioid analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and NSAIDS (Addis, 2010). Also, cognitive behavioural therapy and non-pharmacological approaches can benefit patients with chronic or acute pain (Addis, 2010). Another treatment includes RBC transfusion and is required â€Å"as an emergency measure or to prevent short or long-term complications.† (Addis, 2010). Furthermore, a medication called hydroxyurea is a major advancement in the management of sickle cell disease and is available in Canada (Canadian Association of Sickle cell†¦). Hydroxyurea increases the level of fetal hemoglobin that results in an overall decrease in circulating sickle cells (Smith et al., 2011). A clinical study conducted by Smith et al (2011), has proven a decrease in pain intensity in patients undergoing hydroxyurea therapy, as well as a decrease in analg esic use and a significantly lower reduction in crisis and mortality. Moreover, multiple studies have shown bone marrow transplant as a potential cure of sickle cell disease; however, further studies are needed for this treatment to be recommended as a standard treatment for sickle cell disease (Thompson, 2012). Preventive Measures Primary Preventive Measures Although genetic risk factors are non-modifiable, there is a preventive measure for sickle cell disease: genetic counselling. Genetic counselling should be encouraged in patients with the sickle cell trait especially when planning to have a child. This preventive measure helps patients understand and adapt to the implications of genetic contributions to the disease and offers â€Å"counselling to promote informed choices and adaptation to the risk or condition† (Lewis, 2014. p. 787). A 6-year study in Saudi Arabia, a country of high prevalence of sickle cell disease, showed a significant decrease in the genetic disease through the use a genetic counselling program as it decreased the number of at-risk marriages (Memish, 2011). Secondary Preventive Measures Prevention measures in the secondary level focuses on diagnostic tests and screening for sickle cell disease. Newborn screening is the earliest way to detect whether the child has sickle cell disease in time to prevent serious complications from occurring (Newborn Screening Ontario, 2013). According to the Newborn Screening Ontario (2013), newborn screening can prevent â€Å"infection and sepsis, growth delay, painful sickle crisis, tissue ischemia and organ damage.† Secondary preventive measures also involve previously stated diagnostic testing for complications such MRI for stroke, the use of x-rays for chest infections, etc. Also, pain is a major complication in both adults and pediatrics and should be diagnosed; however, it is challenging to detect pain in unresponsive clients such as neonates. Registered Nurses Association of Ontario recommends the use of a validated pain assessment tool for neonates called Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) due its evidence of reliability and validity. This tool includes components such as facial express, cry, breathing patterns, arms, legs, and state of arousal component (Assessment and Management of Pain, 2013). Tertiary Preventive Measures Tertiary preventive measures involve treatments that aid in regaining patient’s functional ability and the elimination of the disease. For individuals with sickle cell disease, preventive measures at this level include medical interventions to prevent and control symptoms and complications. For example, interventions are pain management, hydroxyurea, and transfusion therapies as mentioned earlier. Furthermore, penicillin can be given to children starting at 2 months of age, and vaccinations against pneumococcal infections, flu, meningitis, and hepatitis are important to prevent infections and early death (Addis, 2010). Conclusion In conclusion, sickle cell disease is one that affects the quality of life of affected individuals. The analysis focused on different aspects of sickle cell disease such as the epidemiology in which prevalence is high in areas where Malaria is predominant. Also, due to increasing immigration, the incidence of the disease is increasing in Canada. Furthermore, known risk factors have been identified such as genetic and environmental factors. In addition, the main clinical symptoms with sickle cell disease include pain as well as symptoms of anemia. Furthermore, a variety of tests which include blood work are the determinants of the presence of sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease potentiates of a variety of complications, most commonly vaso-occlusive pain, acute chest syndrome, anemia and other major organ complications. Unfortunately, treatment only aids in controlling the complications and does not provide a cure for the disease. It is evident that the need for further research i n stem cell transplant as a potential cure is highly needed. Lastly, genetic counseling, neonatal screening, diagnostic tests, and current evidence based treatment such as pain management, hydroxyuria and transfusion therapy, are all preventive measures of symptoms and complications of the disease. The findings in this analysis are significant for nurses to apply when having encountered a patient with sickle cell disease. Certainly, it is important for nurses to acknowledge the increasing diversity in Canada and to continue competency by constantly seeking new pertinent information to apply to everyday practice. References Addis, G. (2010). Sickle cell disease, part 1: understanding the condition. British Journal Of School Nursing, 5(5), 231-234. Brown, M. (2012). Managing the acutely ill adult with sickle cell disease.British Journal Of Nursing,21(2), 90-96. Lanzkron, S., Carroll, C., Haywood Jr., C. (2013). Mortality Rates and Age at Death from Sickle Cell Disease: U.S., 1979-2005. Public Health Reports, 128(2), 110-116. Lewis, S. M. (2010). Medical-surgical nursing in Canada: assessment and management of clinical problems (2nd Canadian ed.). Toronto: Mosby Elsevier Canada. Memish, Z., Saeedi, M. (2011). Six-year outcome of the national premarital screening and genetic counseling program for sickle cell disease and [beta]-thalassemia in Saudi Arabia. Annals Of Saudi Medicine, 31(3), 229-235. doi:10.4103/0256-4947.81527 Miller, Andrew C., and Mark T. Gladwin. (2012) Pulmonary Complications of Sickle Cell Disease.American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine185.11 (2012): 1154-65.. Miller, J. L., Meier, E. (2012). Sickle Cell Disease in Children. Drugs, 72(7), 895-906. doi:10.2165/11632890-000000000-00000 Musumadi, L., Westerdale, N., Appleby, H. (2012). An overview of the effects of sickle cell disease in adolescents. Nursing Standard, 26(26), 35-40 Neglected conditions. (2014). Canadian Medical Association.Journal, 186(6), 452-453. Newborn Screening Ontario. (2013). Newborn screening manual: a guide for newborn care providers. Retrieved from http://www.newbornscreening.on.ca/data/1/rec_docs/795_CHO0093-NSM-Web.pdf Pack-Mabien, A., Haynes, J. r. (2009). A primary care providers guide to preventive and acute care management of adults and children with sickle cell disease. Journal Of The American Academy Of Nurse Practitioners, 21(5), 250-257. doi:10.1111/j.1745-7599.2009.00401.x Randolph, T. R., Wheelhouse, J. (2012). Novel test method (sickle confirm) to differentiate sickle cell anemia from sickle cell trait for potential use in developing countries. Clinical Laboratory Science, 25(1), 26-34. Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2013). Nursing Best Practice Guidelines: Assessment and Management of Pain. Retrieved from http://rnao.ca/ Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2007). Nursing Best Practice Guidelines: Professionalism in Nursing. Retrieved from http://rnao.ca Sickle Cell Disease Association (2013). Reterieved from http://www.sicklecelldisease.ca/ Smith, W. R., Ballas, S. K., McCarthy, W. F., Bauserman, R. L., Swerdlow, P. S., Steinberg, M. H., Waclawiw, M. A. (2011). The Association Between Hydroxyurea Treatment and Pain Intensity, Analgesic Use, and Utilization in Ambulatory Sickle Cell Anemia Patients. Pain Medicine, 12(5), 697-705. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4637.2011.01096.x Tortora, G. J., Derrickson, B. (2012). ANS Neurotransmitters and Receptors. Anatomy Physiology: Princples of Anatomy. Danvers, MA: JOHN WILEY.

Economy stability, standard of living, labour laws and disparity of wea

Economy stability, standard of living, labour laws and disparity of wealth and product. Flowers are beautiful. Flowers can grow in the wild, alone, with only nature affecting their growth, or they can grow in a greenhouse, where all their conditions are controlled. With either option we find different effects on the flowers. In nature the environment can destroy the flower, but the flower in the greenhouse lacks natural nutrients received by the outside world and usually become withered. This can be related to government control within the economy. With too much control, the economy can become smothered and with not enough, it can collapse upon itself, therefore a healthy balance must be found. This brings up the issues of economy stability, standard of living, labour laws and disparity of wealth and product. On the right side of the spectrum we find capitalism. Capitalism is an ideal of free trade with no government involvement in the economy. It was created by Adam smith, and exercises the theories of laissez faire. Although in a capitalist economy the economy can see great times of boom or bust. Monopolies are also prevalent within these societies because there are no laws against such things. On the left of the spectrum we find socialism. Karl Marx created this concept. His was an ideal of scientific, where he stated there would eventually be no class, and a pattern would be followed in the economy. Another form of socialism is utopian created by Robert Owen. Owen believed the same concept, but he believed through providing more he would get more in return. This however did not happen because the workers ended up becoming lazy when they were guaranteed the things they needed. Socialism follows the ... ...risk the consequences of the abuse of people, poor quality goods and lack of advance in products. But if you have too little you face booms and bust, disparity, and an unstable economy. Finding equilibrium of the two extremes is a problem that nations struggle with constantly and a popular choice of many, including the successful Canada, is welfare capitalism. It's the best choice because it promotes the ideals of both capitalism and socialism. The spirit of capitalism with its free trade and market economy with advancing products and aggressive markets and the control of socialism with state programs like healthcare and unemployment coverage, education taxing and the regulation that government can provide. So when asked the question, to what extent should government be involved in the economy an impeccable answer that comes to mind is welfare capitalism.

How We Find Meaning in Life Through Love Essay -- Essays Papers

How We Find Meaning in Life Through Love Life’s offerings such as: interests, talents, jobs, religion, or relationships are the catalysts through which we put meaning into our lives. When we find someone or something that we love or feel passionate about that puts meaning into life. It makes people feel as though they are fulfilling a want or desire, which would also lead to feeling very accomplished and happy. Finding a passion gives life a purpose. Jay Earley said it best when he wrote, â€Å"I define life purpose as a contribution to the world that uses your whole self fully and gives your life passion, fulfillment, and meaning through dedication to something larger than yourself† (Early 6). We are able to feel that we are here for a reason. Everyone needs something in their life that they strive for or love to execute. If we weren’t to look for these passions then there would be no purpose in living. We don’t want to go through life not caring about anything and having nothing that br ings great joy to our life. Not having a passion would put a void in one’s life and a feeling of emptiness. There are many ways to achieve this love or to find a passion. Many people obtain their purpose in life by seeing their interests or talents and pursuing them. Other people find meaning through their job. Many people turn to religion, primarily I would say that people find meaning in life through relationships. Finding love or fulfilling a passion in an interest or talent is an easy thing to do. Lots of people are able to find meaning through their interests. Collecting coins, stamps, comic books, porcelain dolls, magazine articles, spoons ect. are interests that some love to pursue. The spoons, or other collections, are a ... ...ave some one else’s company and having them to talk to makes life easier. Close friends that are with a people through everything give them a purpose in life. Whether people have a hobby, a talent, a job, religion, or if they have a close relationship with another person there is something that they are passionate about or love to do. It could even be finding a support structure or finding something that helps you escape from reality. Finding a passion or interest in life fulfills your purpose. There is a meaning in life and something that contains value for each person. Others might not understand what you think brings meaning to your life, while you might not understand how they find meaning in their life. That is why you have to know what you love hold that close and make it important in life, and this will help you with a more pleasant enjoyable life.

Aircraft Carriers: A Global Force Essay -- Military Science

In history though many countries share the same essential technologies they employ them in different manners which may be affected by military aims, geography and potential foes.   In particular in the Second World War this can be seen in the use of the aircraft carrier and the aircraft they transported.   Prior to World War II the major navies of the world did not view the aircraft carrier as a strategic weapon; instead the battleship was seen as the major force multiplier of the navy. This belief was because of the enormous firepower the battleship brought to the fight however; by the end of World War II the aircraft carrier would cement its place as the navy’s strategic projection platform. I will demonstrate this by explaining how Britain, Japan and the United States all developed and used their aircraft carriers in different manners, how the transition of the airplane from a scout to a fighter played a pivotal role in the use of aircraft carriers and how the battleship proved not to be the projection platform it was thought to be. The use of carriers by Britain, Japan and the United States was vastly different.   That these 3 nations developed and used carriers in different manners can be accredited to their own history and geographic placement.   Britain and the United States entered the Second World War with the premise that the battleship still ruled the waves and all doctrines were based on that principle.   Britain used hers to escort warships and track U-boats but most importantly they were used to ferry planes to Africa and Malta, the unsinkable aircraft carrier of the Mediterranean.   The impact they had on Axis operations in Africa was significant.   The greatest contribution of British carriers was in the hunt for th... ...o protect her vital mercantile trade.   Japan being the aggressor and needing imports had to take the war to the enemy by using her carriers in an aggressive manner. The aircraft carrier became the most important ship in every navy because of its ability to project air power over a much larger area than the battleship. Navies were now capable of destroying enemy navies without ever coming within range of the ships main guns. Works Cited Howarth, D. The Dreadnoughts. Time Life Books. Illustrated History of WW2. (1969). Readers Digest Association . Leckie, R. (1998). The Wars of America. Castle Books. Spurr, R. (1981). A Glorious Way To Die. New Market Press. Writer, S. (2010, 11 5). USS Enterprise (CV-6) Conventional-Powered Aircraft Carrier. Retrieved from Military Factory: http://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=USS-Enterprise-CV6 Aircraft Carriers: A Global Force Essay -- Military Science In history though many countries share the same essential technologies they employ them in different manners which may be affected by military aims, geography and potential foes.   In particular in the Second World War this can be seen in the use of the aircraft carrier and the aircraft they transported.   Prior to World War II the major navies of the world did not view the aircraft carrier as a strategic weapon; instead the battleship was seen as the major force multiplier of the navy. This belief was because of the enormous firepower the battleship brought to the fight however; by the end of World War II the aircraft carrier would cement its place as the navy’s strategic projection platform. I will demonstrate this by explaining how Britain, Japan and the United States all developed and used their aircraft carriers in different manners, how the transition of the airplane from a scout to a fighter played a pivotal role in the use of aircraft carriers and how the battleship proved not to be the projection platform it was thought to be. The use of carriers by Britain, Japan and the United States was vastly different.   That these 3 nations developed and used carriers in different manners can be accredited to their own history and geographic placement.   Britain and the United States entered the Second World War with the premise that the battleship still ruled the waves and all doctrines were based on that principle.   Britain used hers to escort warships and track U-boats but most importantly they were used to ferry planes to Africa and Malta, the unsinkable aircraft carrier of the Mediterranean.   The impact they had on Axis operations in Africa was significant.   The greatest contribution of British carriers was in the hunt for th... ...o protect her vital mercantile trade.   Japan being the aggressor and needing imports had to take the war to the enemy by using her carriers in an aggressive manner. The aircraft carrier became the most important ship in every navy because of its ability to project air power over a much larger area than the battleship. Navies were now capable of destroying enemy navies without ever coming within range of the ships main guns. Works Cited Howarth, D. The Dreadnoughts. Time Life Books. Illustrated History of WW2. (1969). Readers Digest Association . Leckie, R. (1998). The Wars of America. Castle Books. Spurr, R. (1981). A Glorious Way To Die. New Market Press. Writer, S. (2010, 11 5). USS Enterprise (CV-6) Conventional-Powered Aircraft Carrier. Retrieved from Military Factory: http://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=USS-Enterprise-CV6

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 14

â€Å"You called us together for biblical porn?† Hugh turned away with disinterest from where the vampires and I huddled around my kitchen table. Barely a bruise showed on him anymore. Putting a cigarette to his lips, the imp produced a lighter from his coat pocket. â€Å"Don't smoke in here,† I warned. â€Å"What do you care? Are you saying you didn't smoke throughout most of the twentieth century?† â€Å"I'm not saying that at all. But I don't do it anymore. Besides, it's bad for Aubrey.† The cat, sitting on one of my counters, paused mid-bath at the sound of her name and eyed him askance. Hugh, glaring back, took a long drag on the cigarette before putting it out on the countertop next to her. She returned to her cleaning, and he paced around the apartment. Beside me, Cody leaned over the table, studying my proffered Bible. â€Å"I don't get how these guys are actually angels. ‘Sons of God' seems like a generic term for humans. I mean, aren't we all supposed to be children of God?† â€Å"Present company excluded, of course,† called Hugh from the living room. Then: â€Å"Jesus Christ! Where'd you get this bookcase? Hiroshima?† â€Å"Theoretically we are,† I agreed, ignoring the imp and answering Cody's question. I'd done a lot of biblical perusal since my earlier discovery today and was growing tired of looking at the book. â€Å"But Warren's right – that term is used throughout to refer to angels. Plus, the women here aren't called ‘daughters of God.' They're called ‘daughters of men.' They're human, their husbands are not.† â€Å"Could just be good old-fashioned sexism.† Peter had finally taken the plunge and shaved his hair off. I did not find the look flattering at all, considering the shape of his head. â€Å"It's not like that'd be a new concept in the Bible.† â€Å"Nah, I think Georgina's right,† said Hugh, returning to us. â€Å"I mean, we know something made angels fall. Lust is as good a reason as any, and it beats the hell out of gluttony or sloth.† â€Å"So what's the point then?† Peter wanted to know. â€Å"How does this relate to the not-just-a-vampire hunter?† â€Å"Here.† I pointed to verse 6:4. â€Å"It says, ‘There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.' The key words here are ‘in those days' and ‘also after that.' It's saying angels have fallen for human women more than once. This answers our question about whether angels still fall anymore. They do.† Cody was nodding along with me. â€Å"Which backs up your theory that one is trying to fall right now.† â€Å"It doesn't sound like lust is going to be his catalyst, though,† Hugh noted. â€Å"I think assault and battery will do it first.† â€Å"Unless it's lust for Georgina,† suggested Peter dryly. â€Å"He seems to think you're pretty enough.† Something odd struck me at Hugh's observation. â€Å"Would assault and battery really do it, though? Especially of vampires and imps? It might be frowned upon by the other side, but I'm not convinced taking out evil agents would necessarily warrant an angel turning into a demon.† â€Å"Past evidence suggests the other side isn't exactly†¦ flexible with transgressors,† observed the imp. â€Å"And ours is?† wondered Peter. Cody gave me a sharp look. â€Å"Are you backing out of your own theory?† â€Å"No, no. I'm suddenly reconsidering the falling bit, that's all. The ‘rogue' or ‘renegade' part might be more accurate.† â€Å"But your note did mention angels falling,† Hugh pointed out. â€Å"Surely that's indicative of something? A meaningful clue and not just a bad attempt at humor?† I thought about the note. Yes, Hugh was right. I felt certain the note's content played a role here; I just couldn't yet grasp what it meant. â€Å"Bad humor is par for the course with angels,† Peter reminded us. â€Å"At least if Carter's any indication.† I hesitated a moment, nervous about bringing up my secondary theory. They all seemed to be going along with the angel idea, however, so I figured it was now or never. â€Å"Do you guys think†¦ do you think it's possible Carter might be the one behind all of this?† Three sets of eyes turned on me in astonishment. Hugh spoke first. â€Å"What? Are you crazy? I know you two spar a lot, but Christ, if you think†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Carter's one of us,† agreed Cody fiercely. â€Å"I know, I know.† I proceeded to explain the reasoning behind my accusation, citing his weird shadowing of me and subsequent conversation at Erik's. Silence fell. Finally, Peter said, â€Å"All of that is strange. But I still can't buy it. Not Carter.† â€Å"Not Carter,† agreed Hugh. â€Å"Oh, I see. Everyone's quick to implicate me for Duane, but not perfect Carter?† My ire rose at their automatic solidarity, at the idea that Carter would be above reproach. â€Å"Why does he hang out with us then? Have you ever heard of an angel doing anything like that?† â€Å"We're his friends,† said Cody. â€Å"And we're more fun,† added Hugh. â€Å"You can believe that if you want, but not me. Going from pub to pub with a demon and his cronies is the perfect setup for sabotage. He's been spying on us. You're just biased because he's such a good drinking buddy.† â€Å"And don't you think, Georgina,† warned Peter, â€Å"there's just the slightest possibility that you're the one who's biased? I admit, this crazy angel theory makes more and more sense as time goes on, but where'd Carter come from?† â€Å"Yeah,† said Hugh. â€Å"Seems like you just sort of threw him in for no good reason. Everyone knows you two don't get along.† I stared disbelievingly at the three sets of angry eyes. â€Å"I have plenty of good reason. How do you explain him being at Erik's?† The imp shook his head. â€Å"We all know Erik. Carter could have been there for the same reasons you were.† â€Å"What about the things he said?† â€Å"What did he say really?† Peter asked. â€Å"Was he like, ‘Hey Georgina, hope you got my note'? It's all pretty flimsy.† â€Å"Look, I'm not saying I have strong evidence, just that circumstantially – â€Å" â€Å"I need to go,† interjected Cody, standing up. I gave him a cold look. Had I pushed them that far? â€Å"I understand if you don't agree with me, but don't just walk out.† â€Å"No, there's something I've got to do.† Peter rolled his eyes. â€Å"You're not the only one dating now, Georgina. Cody won't admit it, but I think he's got a woman stashed somewhere.† â€Å"A live one?† asked Hugh, impressed. Cody put his coat on. â€Å"You guys don't know anything.† â€Å"Well, be careful,† I warned automatically. The tense mood was suddenly shattered, and no one seemed to be angry with me about suspecting Carter anymore. It was clear, however, that no one believed me about him either. They were dismissing my ideas like one does a child's irrational fears or imaginary friends. The vampires left together, and Hugh followed soon thereafter. I wandered off to bed, still trying to put the pieces into place. The note writer had made a reference to angels falling for beautiful women; that had to be significant. Yet, I just couldn't reconcile it with this bizarre pair of attacks on Duane and Hugh, which had more to do with violence and brutality than beauty or lust. When I got to work the next day, my e-mail inbox revealed a new message from Seth, and I feared some sort of follow-up to his date request from yesterday. Instead, he merely responded to my last message, which had been one in an ongoing conversation about his observations of the Northwest. The message's writing style and voice were as entertaining as ever, and he seemed for all the world not to have minded – or even noticed – my wacky rejection yesterday. I verified this further when I went upstairs to buy coffee. Seth sat in his usual corner, typing away, oblivious to it being Saturday. I paused and said hello, getting a typically distracted response in return. He did not mention asking me to the party, did not seem upset, and indeed apparently didn't care at all about it. I supposed I should have been grateful that he'd recovered so quickly, that he wasn't pining or breaking his heart over me, but my selfishness couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. I wouldn't have minded making a slightly stronger impression on him, one that elicited some regret over my refusal. Doug and Roman, for example, hadn't let one rejection deter them. What a fickle creature I was. Thinking of both of them reminded me I was meeting Roman later to go to Doug's concert. I grew heady at the thought of seeing Roman again, though apprehension tinged the feeling. I didn't like him having this effect on me, and I had thus far demonstrated no aptitude in refusing his advances. We were going to reach a critical point one of these days, and I feared for its outcome. I suspected that when it did come, I would wish Roman had bowed out of my pursuit so easily as Seth seemed to have. Such worries vanished from my mind that evening when I admitted Roman into my apartment. He wore dress clothing all done in elegant shades of blue and silvery gray, every hair and fold perfectly in place. He flashed me one of those devastating smiles, and I made sure my knees didn't start knocking, schoolgirl style. â€Å"You do realize this is a post-grunge, punk rock, ska -type of concert we're going to. Most everyone else will be in jeans and T-shirts. Maybe some leather here and there.† â€Å"Most good dates do end in leather.† His eyes took in the sights of the apartment, lingering briefly on the bookcase. â€Å"But didn't you say this was a late show?† â€Å"Yup. Starts at eleven.† â€Å"That gives us four hours to burn, love. You're going to have to change.† I looked down at my black jeans and red tank top. â€Å"This won't work?† â€Å"That does wonderful things for your legs, I admit, but I think you're going to want a skirt or dress. Something like you wore swing dancing, only maybe†¦ steamier.† â€Å"I'm pretty sure I've never heard the word ‘steamy' applied to any of my wardrobe.† â€Å"I find that hard to believe.† He pointed down my hall. â€Å"Go. The clock is ticking.† Ten minutes later I returned in a clingy, navy dress made of georgette. It had spaghetti straps and an asymmetrical hemline, jagged and ruffled, that rose high on my left leg. I had taken my hair out of its ponytail and now wore it long over my shoulders. Roman looked up from where he'd been having meaningful, eye-to-eye communication with Aubrey. â€Å"Steamy.† He pointed to the King James Bible sitting on my coffee table. It was open, like he'd been perusing. â€Å"I never took you for the churchgoing type.† Both Seth and Warren had made similar jokes. That thing was ruining my reputation. â€Å"Just something I'm researching. It's only been moderately useful.† Roman stood up and stretched. â€Å"Probably because that's one of the worst translations out there.† I remembered the plethora of Bibles. â€Å"Is there a better one you'd recommend?† He shrugged. â€Å"I'm no expert, but you'd probably get more out of one meant for research, not devotional use. Annotated ones. Ones that they use in college classes.† I filed the information away, wondering if the mystery verses might still have more to reveal. For now, I had a date to contend with. We ended up at a small, hidden Mexican restaurant I'd never been to. The waiters spoke Spanish – as did Roman, it turned out – and the food had not been watered down for Americans. When two margaritas appeared on our table, I realized Roman had ordered one for me. â€Å"I don't want to drink tonight.† I recalled how flaky I'd been the last time we went out. He stared at me like I'd just declared I was going to stop breathing for a change. â€Å"You have to be kidding. This place makes the best margaritas north of the Rio Grande.† â€Å"I want to stay sober tonight.† â€Å"One won't kill you. Take it with food, and you won't even notice.† I stayed silent. â€Å"For Christ's sake, Georgina, just try the salt. One taste and you'll be hooked.† I reluctantly ran my tongue around the edge. It triggered a longing to taste tequila that rivaled my succubus urge for sex. Giving in against my better judgment, I took a sip. It was fantastic. The food was too, not surprisingly, and I ended up having two margaritas, instead of just the one. Roman proved to be right about drinking with food, fortunately, and I only felt mildly buzzed. I did not feel out of control and knew I could handle things until the sobering up began. â€Å"Two more hours,† I told him as we left the restaurant. â€Å"Got something else in mind?† â€Å"Sure do.† He inclined his head across the street, and I followed his motion. Miguel's. I racked my brain. â€Å"I've heard of that place†¦ wait, they do salsa dancing there, don't they?† â€Å"Yup. Ever tried it?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"What? I thought you were a dancing queen.† â€Å"I'm not done with swing yet.† Truthfully, I was dying to try salsa. Like Seth Mortensen's books, though, I did not like to burn through too much of a good thing too fast. I still enjoyed swing and wanted to run it into the ground before I switched dances. Long life tended to make one savor things more. â€Å"Well, now you'll just have to multitask.† Taking my hand, he led me across the street. I tried to protest but couldn't really explain my reasoning to him, and so, like the margaritas, I gave in fairly easily. The club was warm and packed with bodies, and the music was to die for. My feet immediately began counting out beats as Roman paid our entrance fee and led me to the dance floor. Just like with swing, he turned out to be an expert at salsa, and I found myself easily catching on after a few practices. I might not have demonstrated much talent for standing my ground against margaritas, but I had been dancing for centuries. The skill was fused into me. Salsa turned out to be a lot sexier than swing. Not that swing wasn't sexy, mind you, but salsa had a dark, sinuous edge about it. One couldn't help but focus on the closeness of the other person's body, the way hips moved together. I now knew what Roman had meant about steamy. After about a half hour, we took a break, and he led us to the bar. † Mojitosnow,† he told me, holding up two fingers for the bartender. â€Å"In keeping with our Latin theme tonight.† â€Å"I can't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But the mojitos appeared without my counsel and turned out to be pretty damned good. We finished them faster than we should have, so we could get back out on the floor. By the time we had to leave for Doug's concert, post-grunge, punk rock, ska -type music didn't sound so good anymore. I was exhilarated from dancing, hot and sweaty, and I'd gone through another mojito and a tequila chaser. I knew I'd found a new passion in salsa and silently cursed Roman for what would probably become a dancing addiction, even though I had exalted in the movement. His body had moved with a seductive grace, brushing against mine in a way that left me quivering and aching. We stumbled out into the street, holding hands, breathless and laughing. The world spun around me slightly, and I decided it was probably just as well we'd left when we did. My motor controls had stopped operating at normal levels. â€Å"Okay, where'd we park?† â€Å"You've got to be kidding,† I told him, jerking him around the corner where I could see the soft glow of a yellow taxi. â€Å"We have to take a cab.† â€Å"Come on, I'm not that bad.† But he had the wisdom to protest no further, and we caught the taxi up to the brewery in Greenlake. People milled in and out of the building; there had been two other performances before Doug's. As I had feared, our posh dancing clothing looked hopelessly out of place among the rough and tumble ware of the college-aged, but it no longer seemed the big deal it had when Roman picked me up. â€Å"Don't get caught up in fashion games,† he advised as we squeezed our way inside the packed brewery. â€Å"These kids probably think we're old, nark conformists or something, but really, they're just conforming in their own ways. They're conforming to nonconformity.† I scanned for the bookstore crew, hoping they'd secured a table. â€Å"Oh no. You don't wax political when you're drunk, do you?† â€Å"No, no. I just get tired of people always trying to fit a mold, trying to toe some line, regardless if it's right or left. I'm proud to be the best-dressed person in this room. Make your own rules, that's what I say.† I spotted Beth and dragged Roman over to a table on the other side of the room. Other bookstore natives sat with her: Casey, Andy, Bruce – and Seth. My stomach sank. â€Å"Nice dress,† said Bruce. â€Å"We saved you a seat.† Casey indicated a chair. â€Å"I didn't realize you'd have a†¦ friend.† The chair situation held little concern for me. All I could feel were Seth's eyes on me, his face thoughtful but neutral. Flushing, I felt like a complete idiot and wished I could just turn around and leave. After refusing him with my stupid tirade about not dating, here I was, hand in hand, drunk off my ass with Roman. I couldn't even imagine what Seth must think of me now. â€Å"Not a problem,† Roman declared, oblivious to my churning emotions and unfazed by my colleagues' bemused attention. He sat down in the chair, pulling me onto his lap. â€Å"We'll share.† Andy made a bar run, bringing back beers for all of us except Seth who, just like with caffeine, chose to abstain. Roman and I explained where we'd been, lauding salsa as the world's new greatest pastime, thus earning demands from the others that I start up a second wave of dance lessons. Doug's group soon came on stage, and we all cheered appropriately at the sight of Doug-the-assistant-manager turned Doug-the-lead-singer of Nocturnal Admission. Beer kept coming, and while continuing to drink was probably the stupidest thing I could have done, I was beyond the point where I could reasonably stop. Besides, I had too many other things to worry about. Like avoiding eye contact with a thus-far-silent Seth. And savoring the feel of being on top of Roman, his chest against my back and arms around my waist. His chin rested on my shoulder, giving him easy access to whisper in my ear and occasionally run his lips by my neck. The hardness I felt underneath my thighs suggested I wasn't the only one getting something out of this seating arrangement. Doug came to talk to us during a break, covered in sweat but thoroughly ecstatic. He took in the sight of me plastered on Roman. â€Å"You're a little overdressed, aren't you, Kin- caid?† He reconsidered. â€Å"Or under. Hard to say.† â€Å"You're one to talk,† I shot back, finishing my†¦ second†¦ or was it third†¦ beer. Doug wore tight, red vinyl pants; combat boots; and a long, purple velvet jacket left open to expose his chest. A ragged top hat perched jauntily on his head. â€Å"I'm part of the entertainment, babe.† â€Å"So am I, babe.† Some of the others chuckled. Doug's expression turned disapproving, but he said nothing to me, instead making some comment to Beth about the number of people who had turned out for the show. I entered that weird sort of tunnel vision that occurs sometimes with alcohol, where I became so consumed with my own buzzing, swirling perceptions that the conversation and noise around me blurred to an indistinct drone, and faces and colors faded out to an irrelevant background separate from my existence. Indeed, all I really felt was Roman. Every nerve in me was screaming, and I wished the hands he rested on my stomach would slide up to touch my breasts. I could already feel my nipples hardening under the thin fabric and wondered what it'd be like to turn around and ride him like I had Warren†¦ â€Å"Restroom,† I suddenly exclaimed, clambering ungracefully off Roman. It was weird how one's bladder could turn from tolerable to unbearable so quickly. â€Å"Where's the restroom here?† The others looked at me strangely, or so it seemed to me. â€Å"Back there,† pointed Casey, her voice sounding far away despite her close proximity. â€Å"You okay?† â€Å"Yeah.† I pushed a slipping strap up. â€Å"I just need to use the restroom.† And get away from Roman, I silently added, so I can think about things clearly. Not that that last feat would probably be possible in my current state. Roman started to rise, as drunk and fumbling as me. â€Å"I'll go with you – â€Å" â€Å"I will,† offered Doug hastily. â€Å"I need to get back there anyway before the next set.† Taking my arm, he wound us through the people toward a less-populated back hallway. I staggered slightly as we went, and he slowed his pace to help. â€Å"How much have you had to drink?† â€Å"Before or after I got here?† â€Å"Holy shit. You are trashed.† â€Å"You got a problem with it?† â€Å"Hardly. How do you think I spend most of my nights off?† We paused outside the ladies' restroom. â€Å"I bet Seth thinks I'm a lush.† â€Å"Why would he think that?† â€Å"You don't see him drinking. He's such a fucking purist. Him and his stupid no caffeine and no alcohol shit.† Doug's dark eyes flickered in surprise at my language. â€Å"Not all nondrinkers despise drinkers, you know. Besides, Seth's not the one I'm worried about. I'm more concerned about Mr. Happy Hands out there.† I blinked, confused. Then: â€Å"You mean Roman?† â€Å"You've come a long way from refusing to date to practically making out in public.† â€Å"So?† I countered hotly. â€Å"Can't I be with someone? Aren't I entitled to do something for a change that's actually something I want to do, not something I have to do?† My words came out with more bitter truth – and volume – than I intended. â€Å"Of course,† he soothed, â€Å"but you aren't yourself tonight. You're going to do something stupid if you're not careful. Something you'll regret later. You should ask Casey or Beth to take you home – â€Å" â€Å"Oh, you're a piece of work,† I exclaimed. I knew I was being irrational, that I'd never have turned on Doug sober, but I couldn't stop. â€Å"Just because I won't go out with you, just because I choose to fuck Warren or someone else, then you have to step in and try to keep me pure and untouched. If you can't have me, then no one can, is that it?† Doug blanched, and a few passersby stared at us. â€Å"Christ, Georgina, no – â€Å" â€Å"You're such a fucking hypocrite,† I yelled at him. â€Å"You have no right to tell me what to do! No fucking right.† â€Å"I'm not, I – â€Å" I didn't listen to what else he had to say. Turning, I stormed into the ladies' restroom, the only place I could go to escape these men. When I'd finished and gone to wash my hands, I looked up in the mirror. Did I look trashed? My cheeks were pink, some of the waves in my hair a little limper than when I'd started the evening. And I was sweating. Not too trashed, I decided. I could be a lot worse. I felt hesitant to leave the restroom, fearing Doug waited for me. I didn't want to talk to him. Another woman came in with a lit cigarette, and I bummed one off her, smoking it in its entirety while I crouched in a corner to kill time. When I heard the band kick up again, I knew it was safe. I walked out of the restroom and ran straight into Roman. â€Å"Are you okay?† he asked, his hands catching me around the waist to steady me. â€Å"I was worried when you didn't come back.† â€Å"Yeah†¦ I'm fine†¦ er, no, I don't know,† I admitted, leaning into him, wrapping my arms around him. â€Å"I don't know what's going on. I feel so strange.† â€Å"It's all right,† he told me, patting my back. â€Å"Everything's going to be all right. Do you need to leave? Is there anything I can do?† â€Å"I†¦ don't know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I pulled away slightly, looking up into his eyes. Those blue-green depths were drowning me, and suddenly, I didn't care. I don't know who started it – it could have been either of us – but suddenly we were kissing, there in the middle of the hallway, arms pulling each other tighter, lips and tongues working furiously. The alcohol enhanced my base physical response yet numbed my awareness of succubus energy absorption. It must have still been working in spite of my inability to sense it, however, because Roman abruptly pulled away from me, looking aghast. â€Å"Weird†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He put a hand to his forehead. â€Å"I feel†¦ dizzy all of a sudden.† He hesitated a moment then shook it off, pulling me toward him again. Just like all the others. They never caught on that it was me doing it, me hurting them, so they still came back for more. His pause had been what I needed to gain some tiny sense of clarity in my drunken cloud. What had I done? What had I let myself become tonight? Every interaction with Roman had pushed me past another boundary. First I'd said we wouldn't date. Then I'd confined us to limited dates. Tonight I'd sworn I wouldn't drink, and now I could barely stand up from all the booze. Kissing was another taboo I had just broken. And it would only lead to the inevitable†¦ In my mind's eye, I could see us after sex. Roman would sprawl, pale and exhausted, drained of his life. That energy would crackle through me like an electric current, and he would stare at me, weak and confused, unable to comprehend what he no longer had. Depending on how much I stole from him, he would lose years off his life. Some sloppy succubi had even been known to kill victims by drinking too much life too fast. â€Å"No†¦ no†¦ don't.† I pushed him away, unwilling to see that future realized, but his arm still held me. Looking beyond him, I suddenly caught sight of Seth coming down the hallway. He froze when he saw us, but I was too preoccupied to pay any attention to the writer. I was a hair's breath away from kissing Roman again, from taking him somewhere – anywhere – where we could be alone and naked, where I could do all the things I'd fantasized doing with him. Another kiss†¦ another kiss, and I would not be able to stop. I wanted it too much. I wanted to be with someone I wanted. Just once after all these years. And that was exactly why I couldn't do it. â€Å"Georgina†¦Ã¢â‚¬  began Roman confusedly, hands still on me. â€Å"Please,† I begged, my voice a whisper, â€Å"let me go. Please let me go. You have to let me go.† â€Å"What's wrong? I don't understand.† â€Å"Please let me go,† I repeated. â€Å"Let me go!† The sudden volume of my own voice startled me, giving me a small boost of will to break from his grasp. He reached toward me, saying my name, but I stepped back. I sounded hysterical, like a crazy woman, and Roman was looking at me rightfully so. â€Å"Don't touch me. Don't. Touch. Me!† My anger was more at myself, at my life, than it was at him. A terrible rage and frustration, amplified by alcohol, coursed through me at the universe. The world wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that some people had perfect lives. That beautiful civilizations should fall to dust. That babies should be born with only a handful of breaths. That I should be trapped in this cruel joke of an existence. An eternity of making love without love. â€Å"Georgina†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Don't touch me. Ever again. Please,† I whispered hoarsely, and then, I did the only thing left to me. Escape. I ran. I turned from him and ran down the hall, away from Roman, away from Seth, away from the main seating area. I didn't know where I was going, but it would keep me safe. Would keep Roman safe. I might not be able to heal my own pain, but I could prevent any more from coming to him. My poor coordination and desperation made me run into people who responded with varying degrees of politeness to my mania. Was Roman behind me? I didn't know. He'd drunk at least as much as I had; his coordination couldn't be any better. If I could just be alone, I could shape-shift or go invisible and get out of here†¦ I burst through a door, and a wave of cool night air suddenly engulfed me. Gasping, I looked around. I stood in the back parking lot. It was packed with cars, and a few people smoking pot lingered around, most not paying attention to me. The door I'd come through opened, and I turned, expecting Roman. Instead, I saw Seth, looking anxious. â€Å"Stay away from me,† I warned. He held up his hands, palms forward in an appeasing gesture as he approached me slowly. â€Å"Are you okay?† I took two steps back, fumbling for my purse. â€Å"I'm fine. I just have to†¦ have to get away from here†¦ get away from him.† I pulled out my cell phone, intending to call one of the vampires. It slipped from my hands, dodged my attempts to catch it, and hit the asphalt with a sickening crack. â€Å"Oh shit.† Kneeling down, I picked up the phone, looking with dismay at the gibberish on the display. â€Å"Shit,† I repeated. Seth knelt by me. â€Å"What can I do?† I looked up at him, his face swimming in my blurred vision. â€Å"I have to get out of here. I have to get away from him.† â€Å"Okay. Come on. I'll take you home.† Seth took my arm, and I had a faint recollection of being led a few blocks to some dark-colored car. He helped me inside and drove away. Leaning back, I sank into the motion of the drive, letting it pull me under, the backward and forward of inertia, backward and forward, backward and forward†¦ â€Å"Pullover.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Pull over now!† He complied, and I opened the door, expelling the contents of my stomach onto the street outside. When I had finished, Seth waited a moment before asking, â€Å"Are you okay to keep going?† â€Å"Yeah.† But a few minutes later, I made him pull over and repeated the process. â€Å"This†¦ car ride is killing me,† I gasped once we were on the road again. â€Å"I can't stay in the car. The motion†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Seth's brow furrowed, and he suddenly made a hard right that nearly set me to throwing up inside the car. â€Å"Sorry,† he said. We drove a few more minutes, and I was on the verge of asking him to pull over again when the car stopped. He helped me out, and I looked around, not recognizing the building in front of us. â€Å"Where are we?† â€Å"My place.† He ushered me inside, straight to a bathroom where I promptly knelt and paid homage to the toilet, again releasing more liquid than I had realized was in me. I felt distantly aware of Seth behind me, pulling my hair out of the way. Dimly, I remembered that higher immortals like Jerome and Carter could be affected by alcohol as little or as much as they liked, choosing to sober up at will. Bastards. I don't know how long I knelt there before Seth gently helped me to my feet. â€Å"Can you stand?† â€Å"I think so.† â€Å"It's†¦ uh†¦ in your hair and on your dress. I think you'll want to change.† I looked down at the navy georgette and sighed. â€Å"Steamy.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Never mind.† I started pulling the straps down so I could get out of the dress. His eyebrows rose, and he hastily turned away. â€Å"What are you doing?† he asked in a forcibly normal voice. â€Å"I need to shower.† Naked, I stumbled over and turned on the water. Seth, still not looking at me, retreated to the door. â€Å"You won't fall or anything?† â€Å"I hope not.† I stepped into the water, gasping at its heat. I leaned against the tiled wall and just let the heavy stream power-wash me, the shock momentarily rousing my wits. Looking up, I saw that Seth was gone, the bathroom door closed. I sighed and shut my eyes, wanting to sink to my knees and pass out. Standing there, I thought again about Roman, about how good it had felt to kiss him. I didn't know what he would think of me now, not after how I'd acted. When I turned off the water and stepped out, the bathroom door opened a crack. â€Å"Georgina? Use these.† A towel and an oversize T-shirt were tossed through before the door closed again. I dried myself off and put on the shirt. It was red and had a picture of Black Sabbath on it. Nice. The activity took its toll, however, and a wave of nausea rolled over me again. â€Å"No,† I moaned, making for the toilet. The door opened. â€Å"Are you okay?† Seth came in and pulled my hair back once more. I waited but nothing came. Finally, I stood uneasily. â€Å"I'm all right. I need to lie down.† He led me out of the bathroom and into a bedroom with an unmade queen-sized bed. I collapsed onto it, pleased to be flat and stationary, even though the room continued to spin. He sat down gingerly on the bed's edge, watching me uncertainly. â€Å"I'm sorry about this,† I told him. â€Å"Sorry you had to†¦ do all this.† â€Å"It's okay.† I closed my eyes. â€Å"Relationships suck. This is why I don't date. You just hurt people.† â€Å"Most good things come with the risk of something bad,† he observed philosophically. I remembered the letter he'd sent me, about the long-term girlfriend he'd neglected for his writing. â€Å"Would you do it again?† I asked. â€Å"Go out with that one girl? Even if you knew things would turn out exactly the same?† A pause. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Not me.† â€Å"Not me what?† I opened my eyes and looked up at him. â€Å"I was married once.† It was the kind of drunken admission one made fully aware that it would never have been spoken sober. â€Å"Did you know that?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"No one does.† â€Å"It didn't work out then?† Seth asked when I didn't say anything for a minute. I couldn't help a bitter laugh. Didn't work out? That was an understatement. I had been weak and foolish, giving into the same physical urges that had nearly led me into disaster with Roman. Only with Ariston, I couldn't claim drunkenness for that slip. I had been dead sober, and honestly, I think I'd been planning it for a long time anyway. We both had. He'd come over one day for another visit, only this time we didn't talk much. I think we were past conversation by then. We'd both been restless, pacing and standing, making small talk that neither of us really listened to. My attention was on his physical presence – on his body and the powerful muscles in his arms and legs. The air was so thick with sexual tension it was a wonder we could move at all. I walked to the window, staring at nothing as I listened to him pacing the rest of the house. A moment later he returned, this time standing behind me. His hands suddenly rested on my shoulders, the first deliberate touch he'd ever made. His fingers burned me like a brand, and I shivered, making his hold tighten as he stepped closer to me. â€Å"Letha,† he said in my ear, â€Å"you know†¦ you know I think about you all the time. I think about what it would be like to†¦ be with you.† â€Å"You're with me now.† â€Å"You know that's not what I mean.† He turned me around to face him, and his gaze was like hot oil running over my body, slick and scorching. Trailing his hands up my neck, he cupped my face for a moment. He leaned down and held his mouth a breath away from mine. Then, his tongue darted out and lightly ran over my lips, the barest of caresses. My lips parted, and I leaned forward to take more, but he stepped away with a small smile. One of his hands moved down to my shoulder, to the clasp that held my gown together, and unfastened it. The fabric slid off me, pooling around me on the floor, so I stood naked before him. His eyes blazed, taking in every part. I should have felt embarrassed or shy, but I didn't. I felt wonderful. Desired. Adored. Wanted. Powerful. â€Å"I would do anything, anything at all to have you right now,† he whispered. His hands traveled down my shoulders to the sides of my breasts, to my waist, and then my hips. My mother had always said my hips were too skinny, but under his hands, they felt lush and sexy. â€Å"I would kill for you. I would go to the ends of the earth for you. I would do anything at all that you ask. Anything just to feel your body against mine and your legs wrapped around me.† â€Å"No one's ever said anything like that to me.† I was surprised at how calmly my voice came out. Inside, I was melting. I would hear variations of his promises for the next millennium or so, from a hundred different men, but at the time, the words were fresh and new. Ariston'slips turned up in a rueful smile. † Kyriakosmust say things like that all the time.† There was an arch tone to his voice, reminding me that even though the two men were longtime friends, there had always been a rivalry underscoring that friendship. â€Å"No. He makes love to me with his eyes.† â€Å"I want to use a lot more than my eyes.† In that moment, I suddenly understood the power women had over men. It was surprising and exhilarating. Never mind issues of property and politics; it was in the bedroom that women ruled. With flesh and sheets and sweat. The knowledge filled me, rushing through me with an arousal stronger than any aphrodisiac could produce. I thrived on it, liking this newfound clout. I think it was this revelation that would later make the powers of hell cast me as a succubus. I reached out trembling hands to him and began removing his tunic. He stood still as I undressed him, but every inch of him quivered with heat and longing. His breathing came heavy and fast as I studied his body now, noticing all the ways it was the same as Kyriakos ‘ and all the ways it was different. I moved my fingertips over him, lightly touching the tanned flesh, the well-defined muscles, the nipples. Then my hands moved lower, below his stomach, wrapping around the long, hard length they found there. Ariston emitted a soft groan but did not move toward me yet. He was still waiting for my consent. I raised my eyes from my fondling hands and looked into his face. He really would have done anything for me. That awareness increased my need for him. â€Å"You can do anything you want to me,† I told him finally. I made it sound like a concession, but truthfully, I wanted him to do anything he wanted. My words broke the spell that had been holding us apart. It was like a damn bursting. Like exhaling after holding your breath for too long. A rush. A release. My body nearly tumbled into his, like it had been straining and straining at bindings that had finally been cut. Touching him made me realize we should have been touching long before this. He jerked me into a harsh kiss, jamming his tongue into my mouth as his hands moved under me to grab the backs of my thighs. In one motion, he hoisted me up and pressed my back against the wall. My legs wrapped around his hips, needing him closer to me, and then with one hard thrust, he was inside. I don't know if I was too tight or he was too big – maybe both – but it hurt in a sort of pleasurable way. I let out a surprised cry, but he didn't stop to see if I was okay. The passion had seized him, that animalistic urge locked deep into our blood that ensures the continuation of our species. He focused only on his own pleasure now as he pushed into me, over and over, harder and harder, seeming to thrive on every moan and scream that crossed my lips. I wouldn't have thought I could find release in such rough sex, but I did – more than once. Each time, it came as a great, consuming wave of sensation, starting deep within me and spreading throughout my body, rubbing every nerve, covering every piece of me until I was completely saturated. Then the wave would explode into glittering fragments, leaving me warm and tender and breathless. Like being shattered then remade. It was exquisite. Each of these orgasms seemed to drive him more urgently until his own climax came. This time, I was the one thriving on his release, digging my nails into his back as tightly as I could, holding on to him, bringing the episode to a shuddering, gasping end. And yet, it wasn't the end because in only a little while, he was ready again. He took me to my bed and this time put me on my knees, leaning into me from behind. â€Å"I've heard the old women say this is the best position for conceiving a child,† he whispered. I had only a moment to ponder this before he was in me again, still rough and demanding. I considered his words as he pumped away, that maybe he would be the one who gave me a child after all, not Kyriakos. The realization made me feel strange, eager yet regretful. Aristonfelt no such regret when we lay back on the blankets later in the afternoon, both of us exhausted and spent as warm sun spilled in over us through the window. â€Å"The lack could be in Kyriakos,† he explained. â€Å"Not you. With as many times as I've had you today, you can't help but get pregnant.† He sucked my earlobe and wrapped his arms around me from behind, letting his hands rest on my breasts. â€Å"I've filled you up, Letha.† His voice was low and proprietary, like he'd just gained something more tangible than sex. Suddenly I wondered who really did have the power in the bedroom after all. I lay against him, wondering what I had done and what I wanted to do now. How did one go back to being a wife after being someone else's goddess? I never got to decide, however, because the next thing I heard was Kyriakos calling me from the front of the house, home too early. Ariston and I both sat up, startled. My fingers fumbled as I tried to get the blankets off me, tangling in the fabric. My dress. I needed to find my dress. But it wasn't here, I realized. I'd left it in the other room. Maybe, I thought desperately, I could get to it before Kyriakos found us. Maybe I could move fast enough. But it turned out I couldn't. In the present, all I said to Seth was: â€Å"Yeah. It didn't work out. Not at all. I cheated on him.† â€Å"Oh.† A pause. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because I could. It was stupid.† â€Å"That's why you don't date?† â€Å"Everything about that hurt too much. No good justified the bad.† â€Å"You can't know that the next one will turn out badly. Things change.† â€Å"Not for me.† I closed my eyes to hide the tears welling up. â€Å"I'm going to pass out now.† â€Å"Okay.† He might have left or he might have stayed; I didn't know. I simply slept, lost in black, numbing sleep.