Narcissism as Liberation and Deep Play: Notes on a Balinese Cockfight E

Looking at Susan Douglas' Narcissism as Liberation and Clifford Greetz's Deep Play: Notes on a Balinese Cockfight The strategy utilized by Susan Douglas in her article â€Å"Narcissism as Liberation† to portray the manner in which a specific occasion to practice may have a more profound importance appears to contrast to some degree with that utilized by Clifford Greetz in â€Å"Deep Play: Notes on a Balinese Cockfight†. In the previous, the creator focuses on the strategy which would be best portrayed as â€Å"direct approach†. In her clarifications of the subjects behind various publicizing rehearses and their suggested implications she makes it sound like the ones liable for the promotions inject these subtle cues intentionally into the specific circumstance. She depicts the play on women’s sentiments to dairy animals them into feeling that they are never the perfect and ought to consistently be attempting to consummate their bodies (utilizing the advertiser’s items) is a deliberate subconscious prompt that is mixed into each business ad is done in light of t he fact that that strategy is by all accounts compelling. She focuses on that the media and enterprises have molded...

Economics Essay

Destitution can be estimated on various scales through numerous ways like through a Lorenz bend, a chart of the total dispersion capacity of a likelihood circulation which is utilized in speaking to pay dissemination. Lorenz bend shows dispersion of advantages and is viewed as a proportion of social imbalance. Gini coefficient can likewise be utilized in estimating neediness. Gini coefficient estimates factual scattering and is typically utilized in estimating imbalance of salary circulation. High Gini coefficient implies or shows that there is high inconsistent conveyance watched while a lower Gini coefficient demonstrates that there is a high equivalent salary dissemination. Exchange benefits a country from various perspectives. In the law of similar preferred position accomplices are permitted to profit by having some expertise in creating administrations and products they make best. At the point when makers make merchandise in which they are equivalently gifted or prepared at, those products increment in quality and number. Exchange likewise improves appropriateness in allotment of assets. It carries products and ventures to other people who esteem them. Exchange permits shoppers to have progressively effective creation techniques. Enormous creations are acceptable in lessening item costs. Lower creation expenses may prompt a lot less expensive administrations and merchandise which may expand expectations for everyday comforts. Human capital, one of the variables of creation which alludes to the hold of specialized information and beneficial aptitudes found in labor. It is one of the components which impact a financial framework like in advertise economy. A guide to this is the market economy in the U. S. in which laborers get information and aptitudes. Preparing and instruction builds human capital which make the specialist all the more valuable to their bosses. Today, programming designers and software engineers are sought after making them increasingly prepared and talented coming about to a high human capital and this thusly may profit the monetary framework that the U. S. has.

Gangs Of New York: The Irish Immigrants

Posses Of New York: The Irish Immigrants Posses of New York, coordinated by Martin Scorsese, delineates how rushes of Irish outsiders that went to the United States were treated upon appearance. English and Dutch locals in New Yorks city of Five Points plainly demonstrated that they were not for the newcomers. Bill the Butcher brought the case into boundaries when he drives a posse of local people into a war with the Irish. Bill executes Priest Vallon, the pioneer of the Irish, and his child Amsterdam flees. A long time later, Amsterdam returns and looks for vengeance for his dad. Posses of New York a verifiable film which follows the experiences of a youthful Irish American man, is an instrument that to some degree outlines history during the hour of movement; significant components talked about in the content of Foners Give Me Liberty were not consolidated into the film. Groups of New York begins in the year 1846, in which Amsterdams father, a Catholic Irish worker, embarks to fight the Protestants as of now in New York. Irish cooperation in the war happened in light of the fact that they didn't need Protestant lessons, which they were not for, to be affirmed by government. After the abhorrent scene where Amsterdams father is killed, the film is told from Amsterdams perspective. He depicts what occurs in the city of Five Points and how the residents demonstration. In Five Points, Amsterdam says that settlers are not invited nor are they recruited by any activity. Irish migrants went to the United States, especially the in the north, since openings for work were generally plentiful and the fresh introductions would not need to contend with slave work (Foner 319) Locals of Five Points didn't acknowledge any worker newcomers since they were following requests from Bill the Butcher, who appears as though he has absolute control of the city. Bill is worki ng under William Boss Tweed, head of Tammany Hall. His method for battling for control of the city is through fights and lighting structures ablaze. Amsterdams perspective shapes the authentic account in the film by portraying what occurred during the timespan of the 1860s just as recounting to an incredible narrative with his partners, who were additionally migrants, and what he had experienced so as to take endure this period. One of Amsterdams partners later on in the film was the pickpocket Jenny Everdeane, a neighborhood of Five Points. He rapidly succumbs to her, which had an effect on the verifiable piece of the film. At the point when Martin Scorsese coordinated Gangs of New York, he adjusted history. She was an associate of Bill the Butcher. In a scene where the two were distant from everyone else, Amsterdam in the long run discovers that she was working with Bill when he solicits her where she got one from the few accessories that were in her ownership. His affections for her dropped after hearing the news. Martin Scorsese embedded a scene where there is love since he didn't need the film to concentrate just on the chronicled record of the timeframe, yet needed to make the film claim to the target group. During when Irish migrants were battling for their opportunity, there presumably were no relationships going on. Irish settlers chose to go to the United States was on the grounds that the vast maj ority of them were attempting to get away from the calamity that had struck Ireland, which was the Great Famine during the years 1845-1851. In the genuine timeframe, there were no genuine love expressions of love going on after migration. Because of the movies language and arousing quality with Amsterdam and Everdeane, the target group of the film are secondary school understudies or more. The target group shapes the storyline and the chronicled record of the film since they are sufficiently developed to deal with a portion of the unusual scenes and might have the option to comprehend the storyline. When understudies take a U.S. History course in secondary school, they will most likely cover the timespan that Gangs of New York was set in. The secondary school U.S. History course comprises of the beginnings of America up to the current day. In school, in any case, U.S. History is part into two-early and present day history. The school U.S. History consists of the timespan of the 1860s. After a careful investigation of the course, understudies who watch Gangs of New York will be comfortable with the subject of foreigners going to the United States, in spite of the fact that the secondary school course doesn't portray in detail the genuine aims of the Europeans movement to the most impressive nation on the planet. In spite of the fact that the makers of Gangs of New York may have taken a U.S. History course in secondary school or school, the association they made with history was to some degree precise, yet avoided two significant occasions that occurred in the United States. In part 9 of Foners Give Me Liberty, the ascent of movement is examined. As per Foner, settlers from Ireland and Germany set out toward northern states. Packs of New York depicted the Irish settlers moving to New York precisely. In any case, the film didn't what the Irish were experiencing after they went to the United States. Scorsese concentrated more on posse battles in the city as opposed to focusing on the issue of the Irish. In the Foner content, the Irish were working low-wage occupations that local Americans stayed away from definitely. Irish were workers when they moved to the United States. Work was done by the Irish, however by blacks also. Packs of New York had scenes where a few blacks were incorporated, however they were not appeared as slaves. They were indicated quickly in the film being executed by Bill the Butcher, who detested everybody that was against his vision of having a Protestant America. The film was additionally right for the bigotry that the Irish and the blacks experienced. Section 11 of Foner portrays bigotry, which was that that the white race, which means the people that were brought up in America, was better than some other race. The film shows Bill the Butcher as a contender for bigotry; he just needed Protestantism to administer America just as the idea that locals of the nation were the most second rate contrasted with different societies that existed in the United States. Prejudice, Irish migration, and fights among Catholic and Protestants were significant pieces of history that influences the current day, in any case, Gangs of New York would not be suggested as a showing instrument for learning the Irish-American chronicled understanding during the mid-nineteenth century United States. In spite of the fact that the film is engaging, it discards certain occasions in history that understudies will in the end learn, for example, the Civil War and how it influences the North and South. Bondage in New York was excluded from the film, despite the fact that it had a couple of scenes that demonstrated how blacks were abused. The movies center is chiefly around a person who needs retribution for the slaughtering of his dad. Amsterdams father himself was a settler to the United States and was in the end executed for his confidence in Catholicism. Amsterdam was an American brought into the world Irish resident who would not like to change over to Protestantism . Scenes which show Amsterdam and Everdeane having fondness just fill in as an interruption to the individual who needs to find out about Irish migration to the United States. The possibility of Irish movement is undeniably more significant than love, just as the work that they had experienced so as to live among neighborhood Americans. Packs of New York would be suggested for its diversion, however not as an instructing apparatus.

The Deficit Of Collective Security Example For Free - Free Essay Example

ABSTRACT Political thought and philosophy holds relevance in contemporary world politics precisely due to its capacity to strengthen international law and morality. International law, if duly codified and extended to regulate the political relations of states, could become through its own inner force, if not a substitute for, at least a restraining influence upon, the struggle for power on the international scene. Since the end of the First World War, all politically active nations of the world have been, at one time or another, legally committed to collective security for the prevention of any future wars. Schwarzenegger says, collective security is the machinery for joint action in order to prevent or counter any attack against the established international order. Collective security, therefore, is based on the principle of one for all and all for one. The UN Charter makes elaborate provisions for collective security to maintain international peace. Article 39 gives power to the Security Council to determine existence of any threat to peace or act of aggression. However, the Security Council was ineffective in maintaining world peace especially in light of the Korean, Congo and Gulf crisis. The system of collective security as it exists suffers from serious deficits viz. firstly, it tends to increase the global use of violence by legitimizing local aggression in name of peace, secondly, it is based on equal participation of the States though in reality it operates only with the help of powerful states as witnessed during the Second Gulf War in the name of the coalition of the wi lling, thirdly, it has remained ineffective due to the absence of the unanimity within the permanent members of the Security Council, and fourthly, the critics have pointed that collective security is not only imprudent and unworkable but also an unwise and dangerous proposition mainly because by using it no war can be localized and every war would lead to a World War. The Korean and Gulf crisis raised some grappling issues since by demonstrating that it is extremely difficult to draw a line of distinction between the collective purposes of national interest of those participating in it. The collective security operations could not maintain a truly collective character since many States rendered little material support to the UN and moreover, the scenario was monopolized by the United States. The UN shirked its responsibility of exercising independent judgment in making vital decisions and strategies of the operation. The use of force under the aegis of collective security runs g rave risk of triggering ever-widening violence and stopping an enforcement action is a more complex problem than starting one. PROLOGUE One of the most significant outcomes of the San Francisco meeting of the Allied powers in 1945 was the system of collective responsibility. The drafters of the UN Charter agreed that the five great powers of the world would take parallel steps to maintain international peace and security, with the hope that aggressor states would nevermore be left unbridled and allowed to open belligerent wars of invasion that could lead to global inferno. If such was the intention behind instituting the system of collective security, then why did it fail? One reason is that the UN did not develop as a true collective security organization, but remained stranded in the doctrine of collective self-defense by states that would voluntarily regulate the new international order themselves.  [1]  For one thing, the UN was by no means assigned with its own military force in accordance with the special agreements foreseen in Article 43 of the Charter. And as the two superpowers ingrained themselves in the geopolitical opposition of the Cold War, they seemed ever dodgier to reach agreement on common terms for turning over national military contingents to UN command. The effects of the strategic competition between the United States and Soviet Union thus manifest themselves in the politics of the Security Council, proving to be a basic holdup to the effectual realization of UN collective security action.  [2] Collective Security refers to an interstate arrangement by which all states are committed to help any country threatened with armed aggression by any other state. The idea is to deter aggression with the power of collective force. There are no predetermined allies or foes among states in a collective security system.  [3] Collective security is the commitment by nations to resolve disputes, regardless of nationalistic concerns. When diplomacy has failed, nations committed to collective security can lend their armed forces to help settle a dispute. In the most prolifi c example of a collective security arrangement, nations send their forces to defend or liberate an invaded nation, in situations where they normally would have acted in their own national interest by either: (1) remaining neutral and not sending forces, or (2) sending forces to aid the aggressor. The UN war prevention role as envisaged under the Charter is termed as collective security. After World War I, collective security emerged as a conscious substitute for the system of alliances and balance of power policies. It is dependent on only one assumption that wars are probable and can be prevented by the deterrent effect of the overwhelming power of many against any one state contemplating the use of force. Article 1 of the UN Charter emphasizes that the purpose of UN is to maintain international peace and security and to that end to take effective collective measures for the preservation and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression of oth er breaches of the peace. Elaborate provisions regarding collective security are made in Chapter VII i.e. Articles 39 to 51 of the UN Charter. CASE STUDIES Indonesian Independence Struggle The Indonesian independence movement emerged after the Second World War as Allied troops prepared to vacate from the Indonesian archipelago.  [4]  Throughout two years of failed negotiations flowing Indonesias declaration of independence for the Netherlands in August 1945, sporadic fighting between Dutch and Indonesian nationalist forces continued to escalate despite a dead-letter truce concluded in October 1946 and the failed Linggadjati Agreement reached a month later. Given the violent escalation of the conflict in the next two years, American and British officials surmised that a Soviet, India, or other third-country appeal to the UN Security Council to address the situation could be imminent, and that action should perhaps be taken to preempt that contingency. Ultimately, Australia and India were the ones that brought the matter before the UN as a breach of the peace under Article 39, the first invocation of Chapter VII of the Charter. But the United States tactfully al lowed the matter to be dealt under Article 33 of the Charter. On August 1, 1947, the Security Council passed its 27th Resolution calling for a cease-fire between what it described as the armed forces of Netherlands and the Republic of Indonesia. However, despite its willingness to see the Republic of Indonesia represented in the dispute settlement process, the United States refrained from taking a position on whether Indonesia constituted a state. The Indonesia independence struggle thus turned out to be an early conflict that the UN failed to curb by the use of collective military force. By advocating negotiations through the Good Offices Committee at the invitation of the Netherlands, the United States led effort sidestepped the issue of a peace enforcement operation that would invoke Chapter VII, although the threat to the peace was very real.  [5] Arab-Israeli Conflict in Palestine After the Second World War when the British vacated Palestine, the government assigned the task of determining the territorial dispute between the Palestinian Arabs and the Jews in the region to the newly formed UN. On November 29, 1947, the General Assembly voted to separate Palestine into two states, one Arab and one Jewish, in accordance with the majority recommendations of the UN Commission on Palestine, which had been instituted to probe into the matter. The Arab states out rightly rejected the UN proposal, refuting the right to subsistence of a Jewish state in Palestine, and maintained that sales of Arab lands there to Jewish settlers dating back to the repercussions of the First World War and the British governments Balfour Declaration of 1917 favouring the establishment of a national Jewish homeland were null and void.  [6]  The stage was thus set for conflict when, one day after the expiry of the British mandate for Palestine on May 14, 1948, a coalition of Arab states declared war on the newly proclaimed state of Israel. Like the Indonesian independence struggle, the Arab-Israeli conflict, whose root causes remain unresolved today, proved one of the seminal early challenges for UN collective security. However, the Security Council did not initially invoke Chapter VII of the Charter and authorize the use of armed force to restore peace at the start of the war.  [7]  Given the gravity and intensity of the cross-border violence, and the palpable breach of the peace that it constituted, one might wonder why UN mechanisms to preserve the peace failed in this instance. Kashmir Issue When the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir declared its accession to India in 1947, the transfer of power propelled a cycle of events leading to an ostensibly perpetual variance between India and Pakistan. The signing of the instrument of accession on October 26 augmented the grit of Muslim tribal Pashtun fighters supported by Pakistan to prevent India from obtaining administrative control over the state.  [8]  In January 1948, partly at the behest of the United Kingdom, India brought the matter before the UN Security Council, charging that Pakistan had committed belligerence in Kashmir a charge that would probably have been difficult for the international community to rebut from the outset had the de facto presence of Pakistani military forces in Kashmir been known at the time. The conflict was yet another perfect test case for the new practice of UN peace enforcement. But the question remained whether the Security Council could act when matters came to a head, by collating ample political will and the military means to intrude in the dispute. Robert Wirsing argued that the triviality of the Indian subcontinent as a battle ground of the global Cold War accounted for the indifference of the United States towards pushing for a full settlement in Kashmir.  [9]  Yet other concerns, aside from direct geopolitical antagonism with the Soviet Union over South Asia, came to inform United States policy on the deployment of international troops in Kashmir. British officials had proposed to their American counterparts the [u]se of [an] international police force if possible on January 14, 1948, shortly after the matter of Kashmir was brought before the Security Council. However, Secretary of State Marshall had expressed reservations about the obvious complications arising from the use of such troops. When pressed by the British representatives to propose an alternative for maintaining law and order in Kashmir, none of the United States officials seem to ha ve mentioned the possible use of foreign troops, suggesting instead that local militia could be set up in these areas on a provisional basis. On January 20, 1948, the Security Council passed Resolution 39 creating a three-member UN Commission on India and Pakistan, and statements by the United States at the UN made subsequently substantiated on the rationale behind its approach of seeking mediation based on the consent of the parties, as opposed to an at-best-tenuous peace enforced by foreign militaries. Congo Crisis The Congo crisis of 1960 is a case in point where the collective security mechanism was successfully applied by the UN Security Council. The civil strife and guerilla war in Congo had assumed serious ramifications due to the involvement of two big powers viz. United States and the Soviet Union. The Security Council passed a resolution urging Belgium to withdraw its troops from Congo. The Council authorized a coalition of peace forces of 29 nations which stayed in Congo for about four years and succeeded in demolishing the civil strife in Congo.  [10] Korean War On June 25, 1950, North Korea attacked South Korea with the support of communist China. The Security Council passed a resolution providing collective security to South Korea and called for an immediate ending of hostilities and withdrawal of North Korean forces from South Korea. The aggression was met with armed forces of 16 nations under the aegis of international authority. As North Korea failed to comply with the directives of the Security Council, a police action was sanctioned by the Security Council. The UN action did help to preserve the independence of Korea in 1953. But the Korean War highlighted the basic defects of UN as an organization for launching collective security. Only the absence of the Soviet delegate allowed the initial Security Council action to be realized in Korea. This case further revealed the disadvantages of depending on voluntary commitment of forces in times of crises. It was only the United States which contributed more than half the armed forces w ith only about 10% coming from other contributors. A collective response so heavily dependent on a single state questions primarily the basic existence of a collective security mechanism.  [11] Gulf Crisis Iraq annexed Kuwait in 1990 and refused to withdraw its troops from Kuwait despite several resolutions of the UN urging her to withdraw. The Security Council imposed mandatory economic sanctions on Iraq following which the United States ordered deployment of American troops in Iraq. Later the Security Council passed a resolution authorizing all necessary means to drive the invading Iraqi troops out of Kuwait. The vote in the 15 member Security Council was 12-2 in favour of eliminating troops from Kuwait. The US led coalition of 34 countries liberated Kuwait from the clutches of the Iraqi forces. It may be noted that while in Korea the troops of various countries fought under the UN banner, in the Gulf operation each individual country acted on its own. In Korea the collective security action was possible due to the abstention of the Soviet delegate on the day of voting. On the other hand, in the Gulf crisis United States led coalition was possible due to the changed climate of c o-operation between the Soviet Union and United States. This case also demonstrated that operations could not maintain a truly collective character because it was virtually monopolized by the United States and other states contributed little support to the UN.  [12] HOW FAR IS THE UN ABLE TO JUSTIFY COLLECTIVE SECURITY? The essential elements of an effective collective security system are prohibition of the use of force under all circumstances by all states, collective guarantees of security by all for all states, collective force as deterrence to end aggression anywhere, automatism of collective action in case of aggression anywhere, use of the system without any partiality towards the aggressor or victim by any state, quick assign ability of guilt to an aggressor, and permanence and generality of the system.  [13] This demands the examination of the deficit of the collective security mechanism of the UN. The deficit is dealt hereunder: Prohibition against force The UN Charter prohibits arbitrary use of force by states without realizing that it leads to serious contradiction and misinterpretation of the provisions. Article 106 permits the Big Five to take any kind of joint action for maintaining world peace and security. But Article 51 gives the right of self-defense thereby undermining the UN prohibition on the use of force. Acts of aggression during the cold war have been committed by military alliances in the name of national self- defense and therefore this right to self-defense is antithetical to the principle of national security. The notion of collective responsibility has to be reconciled with the right of self-defense. But this right of collective self-defense under Article 51 is circumscribed by many restrictions viz. if an armed attack takes place against a member of the UN, the right to self-defense cannot be exercised until such time as the Security Council acts to maintain peace and security. If a state takes any action in self-defense pending fulfillment of the above two conditions it has to report the measures taken to the Security Council. As collective security measure can be undertaken only if the Security Council approves the same by at least 7 votes including the votes of the permanent members, such actions are rendered impossible without the consensus amongst the permanent members. Collective guarantees of security Though the Charter underlines the concept of collective security, the veto power available with the permanent members of the Security Council can be used to stall any decision. This accentuates block antagonism and undermines the basic concept of collective security. It is due to the difficulty raised by the veto power that collective security action could be unanimously taken only twice during the long history of UN. However, after the passage of the Uniting for Peace Resolution of 1950, the General Assembly was authorized to take action for the preservation of peace and security in the world, in case the Security Council was not able to take a decision due to the casting of the veto. Collective force as deterrence to end aggression The collective security system is far from possessing the power of collective deterrence both in theory and practice because deterrence can only be achieved when the collective power of the UN cannot be challenged by any other power. Therefore, the UN force cannot be expected to possess overwhelming power and the possibility of organizing preponderant power against the super powers seems remote. In short, collective deterrence is not a very feasible option for the UN Security Council. Automatism of collective action in case of aggression The Security Council cannot automatically respond or act quickly for resorting to war against any aggression because it has to determine the crisis and then start with provisional measures  [14]  which may be escalated to economic and diplomatic sanctions  [15]  and then may ultimately reach the stage of military sanctions.  [16]  Therefore, an automatic response which is a pre-requisite feature of collective security is not a built-in feature of the UN security scheme. In short, the Security Council is unable to provide genuine collective security as its processes may get delayed or may lead to biased and partial decisions of imposing economic and other sanctions like arms embargo, severing of diplomatic relations etc. against any country that defies the resolutions of the world body and hence of the international community. The UN sanctions were imposed in recent times against South Africa, Rhodesia, former Yugoslavia, Angola, Haiti, Somalia, Iraq and Libya. In these cases, the countries suffered heavily without the basic purpose of the sanction getting fully achieved because no direct hit country was brought to its knees and made to abandon the stand that it had taken in defiance of the Security Council directives. The experience of recent events in Angola, Haiti and Somalia have clearly shown that the purpose of UN sanctions has been defeated because of counter-threats by a strong and popular tribal war leader M.F. Hasan Aidid, and by drug mafias who went against Security Council in Haiti, and by a guerrilla group in Angola. Anonymity of aggressor and victim The veto power of the permanent members of the Security Council does not let the UN take any action against the Big Five. The permanent members can and do use their veto in support of their military allies or support the position of a non-aligned state. Thus this element of working without any collective security is undermined due to the veto power exercised by the permanent members of the Security Council. How to assign guilt Another major defect in the UN security system is the absence of a definition of aggression or armed attack for which the Security Council first has to determine the nature of the crisis.  [17]  This issue of determining a crisis often becomes a matter of political controversy. Permanence and generality of collective security system The reason why the provision in the UN Charter did not facilitate to transform action of the UN security system into a full-fledged collective security system is that it is difficult to implement and is not politically feasible. Neither the Charter drafters nor the world leaders had a clear concept of the establishment of a genuine system of collective security. Also, the world is not ready for a system of collective security which means that the pre-requisites for a fully workable system of collective security are not yet present in the world. No room for neutrals Under this system of collective security, no war could be localized and every war would become a world war because the UN Charter says that a state can either be supporter of peaceful order or a member of a collective enforcement body and so there is no room for any state to act as a neutral entity. Equal say for collective decisions It is pointed out that one of the basic principles of collective security is that all the states should have equal say in arriving at collective decisions and in fact small states should have a greater say in collective security because they are more dependent on it than the larger states. But the fact remains that the collective security efforts are largely dependent on support of the powerful states that are reluctant to act unless their own national interest is affected. All aggressions cannot be opposed by means of collective security In the contemporary international scene, consistent conflicts of interest are naturally assumed and no nation or combination of nations, however strong and devoted to international law, can afford to oppose collective security against all aggressions at all times. The United States made the UN come to the aid of South Korea when it was attacked in 1950 because they had the strength and interest to do so. But would it champion collective security if tomorrow South Korea turns the table and commits an act of aggression against North Korea or China? What would the United States and the UN do if two aggressors start marching at the same time? Would they oppose these two aggressors at random and refuse to violate the principles of collective security or would they take on to only one aggressor who is either more dangerous or easier to handle.  [18] CONCLUDING REMARKS In light of the above discussion, it is concluded that the collective security mechanism can be implemented in the contemporary world only if individual nations forego their national policies and egotisms and have a spirit of mutual assistance and self-sacrifice for global benefits. The states should be willing to subordinate their conflicting political interests and collective security measures against an aggressor without discrimination. REFERRED WORKS Rumki Basu, The United Nations, Structure and Functions of an International Organisations, Ed. 2004 Chander, Prakash, and Arora, Prem. Comparitive Politics And International Relations. 28th ed. Cosmos Bookhive Pvt. Ltd., 2005. Print. Morgenthau, Hans J. Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace. 6th ed. Ludhiana: Kalyani Publishers, 2007. Print.

Just Vs. Unjust Essay - 1386 Words

Just vs. Unjust. We, as U.S. citizens, are guaranteed basic equal rights, but do these rights extend to all U.S. citizens? Honestly, they do not. Homosexuals have had their rights have been minimized or depleted since U.S. citizens can remember. It should not matter what ethnicity, sexuality, or religion you have; you deserve equal rights if you are a citizen of the U.S. because you pay the same taxes as everyone else in this country and are guaranteed the same rights under The Bill of Rights. Homosexuals can be charged with the same crime as a heterosexual, and they have the right to a speedy fair trial. However, homosexuals have been suffering injustices for far too long ranging from being banned from joining the military to getting married, and they are not allowed to search for their pursuit of happiness because other U.S. citizens continue to shut this right down. This is unjust because everyone is guaranteed their right to the pursuit of happiness under their basic Human Rights unless you are homosexual, and that is flat out discrimination. It has been said that we discriminate because we are scared, and people do believe that holds some value. Why else would we hate for no reason? How do we define discrimination against homosexuals as just? Discrimination is fueled by hate and ignorance. In Human Rights a Short Introduction by Andrew Clapham, he discusses The Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948 that describes to whom human rights should be bestowed upon.Show MoreRelatedLetter From A Birmingham Jail972 Words   |  4 PagesJr. did. 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The essay will present a simpleRead MoreMLK vs. Obama1461 Words   |  6 Pages Martin Luther King Jr. vs. President Obama Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama have both written and performed their fair share of speeches throughout their respective lives. The two speeches that are being compared are President Obama’s â€Å"A More Perfect Union† speech and Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham City Jail† letter. President Obama spoke this speech while his was campaigning for the presidency in February of 2007, while his was running against Senator HillaryRead MoreHow Social Complexity Develop Through Consensus Or Conflict?1698 Words   |  7 PagesDid social complexity develop through consensus or conflict? In this essay I will be considering only but one of the many questions that archaeologists analyse when researching the human past. As the title suggests, did civilization, or, a term preferably used by scholars; social complexity, arise from a conflicted band of nomadic people or from a mutual consensus among them? As well as my own thought’s, I will be discussing the ideologies of a number of professionals, both in archaeology and social

Impact of Appearance Synopsis of Three Essays - 882 Words

Appearance is the first thing that catches ones attention. Whether it be a supermodel, a famous photograph or the golden arches almost anyone can spot from miles away, we take notice. Appearances are often time superficial, and sometimes deceiving. The essays written by Judith Ortiz Cofer, Eric Schlosser and Nora Effron help identify some instances where appearances can be powerful honest and dishonest. Through these three essays the ideas and impact of appearances will be conveyed. In Judith Ortiz Cofers essay The Story of My Body, she shares her struggles with appearance and self esteem. Cofer mentions that her definitions of appearance changed when she relocated to the United States at age eight.. She states, I was born a†¦show more content†¦Fortunately Cofer focused on her education and embraced her exotic appearance seeing size, color and skin as only variables, she says. It is important appearances arent the only asset of a person, place or thing, as sometimes they a re deceitful. Eric Schlosser identifies the dishonesty appearances can encompass in his essay What We Eat. He depicts the fast food industry as a revolutionary force in Americas life. He exhibits that the growth and jobs created by the McDonalds Corperration represents 90 percent of the countrys new jobs. This appears true, but is also somewhat deceitful. If we take a close look, it is a chain reaction the fast food industry has developed with its high demand and fast growth for which 90 percent of Americas new jobs have been created. He states that McDonalds is the largest purchaser of beef, pork, and potatoes- and the second largest purchaser of chicken. This shows that McDonalds growth has enabled them to control the job market in the entire food industry down to our family owned dairy farmer. Uniformity, Schlosser stated is the key to a successful franchise. The franchises lure customers with the appearance of consistency. Customers believe they are buying the same burger t hat was made when McDonalds began as a modest hamburger stand. This is false. While our burgers and french fries appear to be the same, they are not. Technology has become a factor inShow MoreRelatedAltering Perspectives And Their Underlying Research Methods1557 Words   |  7 PagesAltering Perspectives Their Underlying Research Methods In Relation To Sporting Injuries It is my aim within this essay to examine the implications and relative sporting issue relating to injury and rehabilitation. Both injury and rehabilitation go hand in hand, as a consequence those studying in the field of physiology, sociology and psychology have different approaches, research methods and coping strategies they portray onto the athlete to resolve said issue. It is important from an investigativeRead MoreReflection for â€Å"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings†2242 Words   |  9 PagesWhy the Caged Bird Sings† Abstract This essay consists of three sections. The first section, a brief synopsis of the book â€Å"I know why caged bird sings† is presented. At the second part, three insights after reading the book are introduced. That is, metaphor of caged bird, power of literacy, and power of silence. At the last section, discipline-specific knowledge that relevant to the main character of book is stated. Synopsis of the Text This autobiography is Maya Angelou’s comingRead MoreCleanth Brookss Essay Irony as a Principle of Structure9125 Words   |  37 PagesHistory and Class Consciousness Preface THE collection and publication of these essays in book form is not intended to give them a greater importance as a whole than would be due to each individually. 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At any point in the multiple narratives in Absalom, Absalom!, it is essential to keep in mind that there are two stories being told: one, the tragic history of the Sutpens, the other, the unwitting autobiography of the raconteur.This essay attempts to examine the different narratives in the novel in order to identify and analyze the traits of each of the narrators. By doing this, I also hope to clear up some of the ambiguities of the narration in the novel. The question in Absalom, AbsalomRead MoreOrganizational Behaviour Analysis28615 Words   |  115 PagesORGANISATIONAL ANALYSIS: Notes and essays for the workshop to be held on 15th - 16th Novemeber 2007 at The Marriot Hotel Slough Berkshire SL3 8PT Dr. Lesley Prince, C.Psychol., AFBPsS University of Birmingham November 2007  © Dr. Lesley Prince 2007. Organisational Analysis: Notes and Essays Page i Page ii Please do not attempt to eat these notes. CONTENTS Introduction to the Workshop Topics And Themes The Nature and Scope of Organisation Theory Levels of Analysis The MetaphoricalRead MoreFun with Literature10373 Words   |  42 PagesVocabulary Across 6. stubborn 7. hurtful in a subtle way 10. emerging, just beginning 12. distrustful, doubtful 13. close friend 14. unfeeling Down 1. huge 2. practical 3. plain, simple 4. evasive, vague 5. favorable 8. not able to reform 9. pale in appearance 11. pleasant, friendly 14. prevent, dislike 15. secretive, illicit Word Bank: austere equivocate pragmatic mulish aversion clandestine benignly unregenerate crony Across incipient 6. stubborn affably 7. hurtful in a subtle way Read MoreThesis - Information Operations in Strategic, Operational, and Tactical Levels of War23393 Words   |  94 Pageslevels. Sample systems were provided for each capability when appropriate. IO efforts in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Allied Force were analyzed. This thesis concluded that a balanced systematic approach to IO through its integration at all three levels of warfare will produce much better results than the uncoordinated cases in order to exploit the integrative effect of IO on the instruments of national power and the military capabilities at different levels of warfare. 14. SUBJECT TERMSRead MoreProject Managment Case Studies214937 Words   |  860 PagesFems. After two months of meetings, the committee identified the need for three different stage-gate models: one for information systems, one for new products1 services provided, and one for bringing on board new corporate clients. There were several similarities among the three models. However, personal interests dictated the need for three methodologies, all based upon rigid policies and procedures. 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Fall Of Man Essay Example For Students

Fall Of Man Essay The fall of man as seen described in the first book of the Holy Bible,Genesis, is portrayed as a sinister act. The fact that Eve fell into temptationseems to be the foundation on which everyone bases his or her misplaced chanceat paradise. What many people fail to see is that much good came from thefall of man, and should be thanking Eve for choosing to fall into sin. Without Eve we would not have the concept of free will, good would havenever existed without bad, people would not have adapted and would havebeen satisfied with their original surroundings, and we would act automaticallywithout any thought. Man would be and just be. You will not die. For Godknows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be likeGod, knowing good and evil. When the serpent tempts Eve, she is given thechance to choose to eat from the tree of knowledge. She chooses to eat and shareher fruit with Adam. When they eat of the tree, their eyes are opened and theyboth realize that they are without clothes. This is the point at which manrecognizes the concept of free will. Now that Adam and Eve know the differencebetween good and bad, they have the responsibility of makingchoices. As opposed to the choices being made for them by their creator, God,before they ate of the tree of knowledge. We now have the power to choose whatwe want and not the way fate, or God, directs. Many people can also argue thatgood cannot exist without bad. There would have never been adifference unless Eve ate of the tree. We would be like children. We would sinand not know. You can look at it like two extremes, black or white. The colorwhite is made up of all colors and can only be a color if colors existed. Samewith the color black, black is the absence of all colors but can only bedescribed that way if there were colors. We can only be described as goodif there were bad in the world and strayed from it. Besides gaining freewill and good or bad, we were able to explore the globe and settle. If Adam and Eve would have never eaten the apple, they would be satisfied withtheir surroundings. The fact that God banished them from the Garden of Edenforced Adam and Eve to propagate, and forced offspring to explore and settle theglobe. This is where all the great explorers come into play. ChristopherColumbus had the opportunity to discover a part of the world, just as FerdinandMagellan had the good fortune of circumnavigating the globe for the CatholicChurch. As a result of travel, we were able to grow physically and mentally. Like in The Odyssey, Odysseus has to travel to several islands and otherinteresting places to find himself. Without the knowledge of good andbad we would only do what we are told and not what we choose. Exactly likeAdam and Eve were treated while they were housed in the Garden of Eden. We wouldhave automatic motions, motions without any thought or hesitation. We would obeyblindly. The human race would look like robots controlled by remotes, God beingthe lucky bearer of the remote controls and us being the robots. The fall ofman is inarguably a good thing. Man would not have all the things andthoughts we have today. The human race would be stuck; there would be nomovement to advance the human race culturally, mentally, and scientifically. Theknowledge of good and bad make us what we are. Without it everyonewould be too similar. The world would be perfect. Man would be and just beboring. .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba , .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba .postImageUrl , .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba , .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba:hover , .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba:visited , .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba:active { border:0!important; } .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba:active , .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4e069ee04b158f478539559885d40dba:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Carlos Santana EssayPhilosophy

Legalization Essays - Drug Policy Reform, , Term Papers

Legalization Legalization of marijuana has been a controversial issue in the U.S. for the past several years. The people vs. the federal government is just one of the main debates over legalization. In the past marijuana was required to be grown on most plantations in the southern region. It could be purchased in one ounce packages for only twenty five cents. Further down the time line we find that marijuana is increasingly being used in the inner cities and suburban areas. Marijuana was considers legal in the late 1800's but a bill was passed and marijuana was quickly considered to be illegal. The federal legislation prohibiting marijuana passed at the end of 1937 congressional session was virtually scare enacted. people feared the effects of it and wanted to stop the growth and importation of it. Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act, which requires all persons who import, manufacture, produce, compound, sell, deal in, and dispense pay a graduated occupational tax. This tax was an attempt to make it harder for dealers of marijuana to make money off the export and import of marijuana. Attempts that he government has made to pass bills that decriminalize marijuana were shot down by legislature and the federal government. A survey taken says that although illegality should be maintained, the penalties for it should be lessened. There is a theory that marijuana stimulates violence, yet it has not been proven as a fact. In several states, such as New Jersey, the marijuana regulations and penalties have been lessened. Governor Cahill, from New Jersey, recommended that criminal penalties for a small 2 possession of marijuana should be reduced by making it a disorderly person offense. Dr. Tod Mikuriya, from the Indian Hemp drug commission, proposed a list of regulations for the control of marijuana if it were to become legal. It stated that possession without intent to sell shall not be considered to be a crime, all growers importers shall be regulated and watched over like a typical industry, public places where marijuana is sold for on premises use shall be licensed like any alcohol serving bar, and determination of the THC potency and purity shall be regulated by the U.S. Drug and Food Administration. Attempts to legalize have also been made by presidential issued commissions. A commission issued by president Nixon researched marijuana and reached a conclusion that it would be okay to decriminalize marijuana. This, was of course, quickly shot down by the president and the congress. Jimmy Carter, another president of the United States, also wanted to legals marijuana. In the present day there are groups such as, NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) , that issue petitions and bills to the DEA and federal government that try to persuade the legalization of marijuana. NORML compared marijuana to alcohol and reached a conclusion that alcohol is more lethal than marijuana. Their studies have shown that prolonged use of marijuana causes lack of ingenuity severe bronchitis, and it lessens reaction speed. Alcohol has been named for hundreds of thousands of death in the United States. It causes liver disease, a severe mental and physical dependance, and depression. Marijuana is only 3 psychologically addictive and use of it can be stopped easier than alcohol abuse. Also no deaths have ever been recorded that were accused by the use of marijuana. Marijuana is considered to be a Scheduled I controlled substance. that means that it is considered to be a drug that can be easily abused. NORML has made attempts to get the DEA to reschedule marijuana, but they were rejected. If the opinions of major contributors to the illegal view of marijuana could be changed, marijuana might be legalized. Too many studies and too many federal officials tell us that it is wrong for our country to condone a so called life threatening drug. Legalization of marijuana could bring extra income to the country and also help in the decline of alcohol abusers. If legalization was to happen the united states would only prosper. Reefer Madness Atlantic Monthly; August 1994. Eric Schlosses; p. 45-63 Marijuana Crime and Delinquency Literature; June 1970. Linda Whitlock; p.363-382 Pot Law Experience The Washington Star; May 6, 1975 Lee Johnson; p.A1-A10 Marijuana Alert Peggy Man Copyright: 1985 p.261, 101, 444 International Drug Traffic Edward F. Dolan, Jr. Copyright 1985 p. 85-86

Free Essays on China

Population Disaster? The People’s Republic of China is a vastly populated country. The inhabitants of the country make up approximately twenty percent of the world’s population. For nearly 2,000 years, the population of China fluctuated between 60,000,000 and 110,000,000. When the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, the population was approximately 540,000,000. Within three decades, the population had increased to over 800,000,000. During the next three decades the population is expected to increase by over 260,000,000. Although this is not as tremendous an increase as in the first thirty years of the country, this number is equivalent to the total population of the United States. This increase is driven by the high fertility rates of the 1950’s and 1960’s, which averaged between 5.6 and 6.3 children per woman. During the 1970’s and 1980’s the fertility rate dropped to around 1.8 children per woman. Even though the fertility rate has dropped, the population will continue to experience tremendous growth because of the large number of young adults of reproductive age. The United Nations Population Division estimates that China’s population will grow to 1,490,000,000 by 2025, but will decrease slightly to 1,480,000,000 by 2050. This decline is a result of China’s government enforced one-child policy. Some 58,000 children are born every day in China, which averages out to 20,000,000 births each year. This number would be much higher if not for the one-child policy. Pregnancies must be authorized and women must obtain a birth coupon before conception. Couples who do not follow these procedures have fines imposed upon them, sometimes amounting to more than what they would earn in an entire year. This one-child policy has also resulted in the mass murder of infant girls. Many female fetuses are aborted because of the strong preference for boys in the country. Upon birth, girls are routinely... Free Essays on China Free Essays on China During the 18th century China went through a long period of peace and prosperity, which had adverse affects. The population increased from 100 million to 300 million, from 1644 till the end of the century. Corruption spread through the imperial court as well as a decline in military spirit. Upon entering the 19th century, China was shocked with revolt. The invasion of powers from the Western societies devastated the empire. The Ch’ing Dynasty had a strong opposition to foreign trade. During the 19th century China faced many conflicts with Western powers. Great Britain was not content with China’s trade agreements and instigated Opium War (1832-42). The United States and Great Britain put forth the Open Door Policy, stating that â€Å"all nations enjoy equal access to China’s trade.† China did not agree with this document and their dislike for foreign relations grew. The Boxer uprising (1900) was China’s last effort to stop foreign influence. The Ch’ing Dynasty ended with Tz’u-hsi in power, who dominated for 50 years, ending her rein in 1908. Tz’u-his ran a dishonest government and did not benefit the people of China. In 1911 the dynasty was overthrown and a republic was established with Sun Yat-sen as President. Since China was not receiving any aid from Western powers Sun made and alliance with the Chinese Communist Party (formed in 1922).... Free Essays on China Early China & Xia Dynasty: 10,000 BC to 1500 BC Daily Life in Very Early China Chinese civilization started around 10,000 BC, when a group called the Yangshao (yahng show) settled near the Huang He River. Archaeologists have uncovered many Yangshao villages in northern China. In one village, they found the remains of farmhouses, built partly underground, with plaster floors, and roofs held up with wooden posts. About 3,000 BC, another farming group appeared, the Lungshan people. The Lungshan were very advanced for their time. They harvested silk, and used it to weave fine fabrics. They used the potters wheel. They baked strong bricks in ovens, and used them to build their homes. They worked together on flood control and irrigation projects. They had great engineering skills. Legend has it that their "Great Engineer", Yu, founded the Xia (sometimes called the Hsia) Dynasty in about 2,000 BC. There are no written records. Our knowledge of their life comes from ruins of their town, ancient stories and legends. This story tells us quite a bit about ancient life in Xia times. Daily Life during the Shang & Chou Dynasties About 1700 B.C. to 250 B.C. These two ruling families controlled much of ancient China for about 1,500 years! Daily life was much the same during both dynasties. Shang & Chou Introduction: Shang and Chou times are known for their use of jade, bronze, horse-drawn chariots, ancestor worship, highly organized armies, and human sacrifice. Cities were surrounded by protective walls. One city was surrounded by a wall 30 feet high, 65 feet thick, and 4 1/2 miles long! Inside these walled cities lived the rulers, priests, and warriors. Merchants and craftsmen lived in mud houses built up against the outside walls of the cities. Farmers lived in nearby villages. Chopsticks were invented, which changed the way people ate their food. Family: For both the rich and the poor, the family was all important. The oldest male w... Free Essays on China MY CHINA REPORT China has the longest recorded history of it’s past. Chinese scholars wrote about lessons that people learn in their life. Confucius was a famous Chinese scholar that stressed the importance of keeping history records. In 1600 BC the Shang Dynasty ruled the Kingdom. In 500 BC Confusicious’s system of idea’s and values became popular and although it’s over 2000 years old it continues to guide China today. China is a massive country, it is 3,695,000 square miles. The highest point is Mount Everest, it is 29,028 feet above sea level. The lowest point is Turpan Pendi, it is 505 feet below sea level. China’s climate is similar to the United States, however they have monsoons in the summer and typhoons in the winter. The Yangtze River is the largest river in China , it is 3434 miles long. The Yangtze is a very important river and is used for transportation and irrigation of one of China’s main rice growing areas. China has a large variety of natural resources. One is mineral resources, such as mercury and maganese. Coal is one of their largest natural resources, they have over 115 billion metric tons of it, the world’s largest. Oil is also in abundance. China has major amounts of land and water resources because of it’s vast area’s, which it uses to it’s advantage. China has many culture’s and custom’s. Ancient folkways consist of worship, astrology, fortune telling and medicine. China practices ancestor worship. Ancestor worship says that the ancestor’s of people have great power and authority to influence events or control the well being of living family members. These ancestors have the ability to communicate with the supreme god, and the people through dreams and by possession. The government of China is run by the National Peoples Congress. The National People’s Congress is the highest government authority. According to ... Free Essays on China Modern China is an enigmatic country by today’s standards concerning economic values and political ideals. The â€Å"communist† government that Mao Zedong brutally sculpted and administered has gone through an intensive transformation. The days when Marxism and Socialism supposedly provided guidelines for Chinese economic policies have passed. Now the government exists as a quasi-communist authoritarian regime supported by a market economy. Economic progress is commonly associated with democratization, and in many cases this theory holds true. Taiwan is the exemplary East Asian model of a formerly authoritarian regime turned democratic due in part to economic development. Yet some nations, Singapore for example, maintain healthy economies and high standards of living despite the presence of authoritarianism within the government. Although China has experienced noteworthy economic development over the past twenty years, its government has not made any significant progress towards democracy. The Chinese economy stagnated during the social-oriented rule of Mao in the 1950’s. Instead of focusing on the modernization of the country’s agricultural-based economy, China’s leader intended to install the many values and doctrines of communism into Chinese society. It was evident that economics took a back seat to Mao’s greater vision of a communal society, â€Å"†¦Stalin emphasized only technology, technical cadres. He wanted nothing but technology, nothing but cadre; no politics, no masses†¦Stalin speaks only of the production relations, not of the superstructure, nor of the relationship between superstructure and economic base†¦Stalin mentions economics only, not politics.†1 The chairman of the People’s Republic believed that once communism had grown deep roots in his country’s society, economic development would inevitably follow. The failure and disastrous aftermath of â€Å"The Great Leap Forward† brings to light many asp... Free Essays on China Population Disaster? The People’s Republic of China is a vastly populated country. The inhabitants of the country make up approximately twenty percent of the world’s population. For nearly 2,000 years, the population of China fluctuated between 60,000,000 and 110,000,000. When the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, the population was approximately 540,000,000. Within three decades, the population had increased to over 800,000,000. During the next three decades the population is expected to increase by over 260,000,000. Although this is not as tremendous an increase as in the first thirty years of the country, this number is equivalent to the total population of the United States. This increase is driven by the high fertility rates of the 1950’s and 1960’s, which averaged between 5.6 and 6.3 children per woman. During the 1970’s and 1980’s the fertility rate dropped to around 1.8 children per woman. Even though the fertility rate has dropped, the population will continue to experience tremendous growth because of the large number of young adults of reproductive age. The United Nations Population Division estimates that China’s population will grow to 1,490,000,000 by 2025, but will decrease slightly to 1,480,000,000 by 2050. This decline is a result of China’s government enforced one-child policy. Some 58,000 children are born every day in China, which averages out to 20,000,000 births each year. This number would be much higher if not for the one-child policy. Pregnancies must be authorized and women must obtain a birth coupon before conception. Couples who do not follow these procedures have fines imposed upon them, sometimes amounting to more than what they would earn in an entire year. This one-child policy has also resulted in the mass murder of infant girls. Many female fetuses are aborted because of the strong preference for boys in the country. Upon birth, girls are routinely...

Lab Report 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Lab Report 2 - Essay Example Short tandem repeat or STR is polymorphic DNA loci present on chromosome containing repeated nucleotide sequence having two to seven nucleotides repeat. The number of repetition of this nucleotide is unique to particular individual and hence can be use as signature for that particular individual. After realization of STR profiling assay many companies have come out with commercial kit for easy analysis and reproducibility. AmplSTR COfiler PCR kit developed by applied biosystems is one of them. It amplifies 6 somatic STR loci along with one sex determination or amelogenin STR loci. Kit also includes positive and negative standard and amplified STR directly load in to 3100 Avant genetic analyzer and STR profile will be obtained by given software. In case of unknown criminal STR profile is matched with CODIS database to search for probable suspect. Crimes and criminal has become an integrated part of human society and the constant evolution of criminal procedure and sophistication used by criminals makes it huge task for crime investigators to identified criminals. The science used in crime investigation is known as forensic science which utilizes various scientific methodologies to identify the criminals and establish the links between crime and criminals. The biggest challenges in front of forensic experts includes very little sample at crime site, mixing up of evidences, and many in many cases completely burn victims etc. Development of DNA based identification system has revolutionized the way forensic science was operated. The biggest advantage of DNA based techniques is the requirement of very small amount of biological samples which includes blood, hair, semen or any body parts etc. Similarly, one can obtain DNA sample from highly decomposed or burned victim’s bodies. There are several reports where DNA based tec hniques are employed to

Compare and contrast the impact of late-19th and early-20th century Essay

Compare and contrast the impact of late-19th and early-20th century industrialization with that of late-20th and early-21st cent - Essay Example Division of labour is a key element in industrialization as it is essential to economic growth. On the other hand, globalization refers to the international integration resulting from interchange of world opinions, ideas, products, and general aspects of culture and religion1. Specifically, developments in telecommunication and infrastructure, use of the internet are the core drivers of globalization. This paper will focus on both positive and negative effects of industrialization as well as globalization. It will seek to establish the level of similar effects at the two different phases. By 1750 industrialization introduced mass production as several products could be manufactured as a go. This is because machinery replaced human labour and machinery could not get tired as human nature2. Therefore, machines could work longer hours as well as executing work that were initially done by several workers. Within 20th century, the emergency of globalization, production was made mare effec tive and faster processes as high advanced machines could be automated and function without human interference. Globalization enables production of as particular product in a different location with same qualities. This is because processes are duplicable and franchises are common. Both industrialization and globalization provided education and civilization to people. Before 1750, people were illiterate and primitive as they did not know the importance of education, schools were a rear commodity, and there were no resource centers to educate people on the importance of knowledge. With the rise of industrialization, people were getting aware of education, schools were set up, and children sent to school. Though learning institutions were available, children preferred going to work at the farms than going to school. During 20th and 21 centuruy, schools were available to every individual willing to advance knowledge; schools introduced exchange programs as international students would go on exchange academic programs within different country or even continent3. In addition, people are willing to learn as it is general knowledge that only the well-educated people scoop top jobs. Concisely, people associate education with a successful career contrary to industrialization. Both industrialization and globalization have a negative impact on the environment. They emit pollutants to water, air, soil, and atmosphere in general. Industrialization exposed people to a lot of noise from machineries, as most of the machines were crude and produced a lot of noise. This resulted to either permanent or partial hearing impairment to workers. By 1800, Mining was a substantial business whereby miners left open trenches after the mining process. This was dangerous to children and even adults as could cause accidents and deaths. Chemicals used in farms polluted soil and were mainly disposed to rivers. This act endangered the life of fish and other aquatic animals as well as human bei ng because water treatment was rare and rivers were the only source of water. The machinery used during industrialization was crude and could produce a lot of smoke hence polluting the air as coal was the main source of energy. On the other hand, globalization had same pollution challenges although less damaging than during industrialization because machineries were more developed hence could emit small smoke, water treatment

Cover Letter Handbook Essay Example for Free

Cover Letter Handbook Essay Register in the AIC Career Services database to view part-time and full-time jobs, work study opportunities, and internships in the Career Services web-page. View MonsterTrak jobs (jobs requiring 1-3 years) experience directly through the Career Services Job database. AIC Career Services is located in the Campus Center. E-mail: [emailprotected] or call 413-205-3237 to schedule an appointment Visit the college web-page at www.aic.edu, access the Career Services link to register. WHAT IS A COVER LETTER? A cover letter is an application or letter of interest for a particular job whether solicited from advertisement or non-solicited. A cover letter should always be included with a resume. A cover letter introduces a job hunter to an employer and indicates a desire for an interview with that employer. THREE COMPONENTS TO A COVER LETTER 1. First Paragraph: States the desired position and how you learned about the job. Job hunters find employment openings through the newspaper, school, an employee of the company, or the Internet. 2. Second Paragraph: Includes the body of the letter and explains why you should be hired by describing how your work experience qualifies you for the job. Refer the employer to the resume when describing qualifications. But do not repeat the same information that is in the resume. Indicate why you are interested in the company. (Use a third paragraph to further explain your qualifications and interests if necessary). 3. Final Paragraph: Indicates a desire for an interview. Include contact information and indicate the type of response you anticipate from the letter. Always detail how you will follow up on your application. With the exception of school districts, never end the cover letter with look forward to hearing from you soon. An employer (other than school districts) may not  call candidates so it is ineffective to put the ball in the employers court. As a freshman, your main concern is most probably what MAJOR to choose. There are a variety of different ways to help you determine a possible major: 1) Get feedback from friends and family or those who know you best. Often, they can share with you what skills or attributes you have and this can help you in your decision to choose a major or potential career. Remember to use their feedback only as assistance in your decision-making, and not as strict advice. 2) Take a values/skills/interests evaluation such as FOCUS that will assist to determine what kind of career you are interested in and also help with choosing a major. 3) Gain experience. Often, the best way to figure out your career path or major is to gain experience in fields that you are interested in. Look for a summer job or part-time job during school that will help you gain experience in a field that you are interested in. You can visit the career center or search online for employment. 4) Get involved with activities/groups/committees on your campus. This will not only be a way to socialize and build relationships, but is also a way to gain further experience and skills such as leadership, teamwork, community service, etc. 5) Take your general education requirements first. This will help you focus on future courses that will help you achieve your career goals. SOPHOMORE 1) Start to set goals for yourself: both Career and Personal: Examples: I will get a summer job that I am interested in I will work on my organization skills I will get work on my study skills and maintain my GPA 2) Do your best in school! Potential employers value an employee with good grades and high academic achievement. Doing well in school demonstrates that you have motivation, determination, and intellect. 3) Start working on a resume and cover letter that can be given to potential employers. The career center offers cover letter and resume-writing assistance. 4) Browse career literature in the career office or look online at different jobs you are interested in and the skills that each job requires. JUNIOR 1) Look into internships that align with your course of study. First, ask your advisor for contacts who offer internship experiences. The career center is a great place to search for internships. 2) Start developing a credential packet that can be sent to employers. This packet will include your resume, transcript, references, credential/certification documentations, and any other documentation that will enhance your opportunity to become employed. 3) Attend workshops that will build certain skills pertaining to your field of study and attend any career services workshops that are offered. 4) Update your resume periodically and have someone in the career office proof-read it along with any updated cover letters. SENIOR 1) Job search: Utilize the assistance of the career office and online websites. Attending job fairs is also a great way to meet employers. 2) Join associations within your field of study at a lower student rate. These memberships will also add credentials to your resume. 3) Mock interview: Practice your interviewing skills with a career services professional. 4) Maintain your credential packet that the career center can keep on file for you to send out to potential employers TIPS: Take care of yourself: physically and mentally. Make sure to get plenty of sleep and eat well. Exercising can also reduce stress and boost energy levels. Networking: The more people you know in a field that interests you, the better your chance is of getting a position in that field. Make yourself known to those who have connections and soon, you will have connections of your own. Keep options open. Your perfect job may not be the first one you get and being open to other locations, salaries, or populations can help you attain a job that will offer you the experience you need for future endeavors. Familiarize yourself with the latest technology in the career field you are interested in pursuing. Being knowledgeable of current technology is always an excellent asset to have and makes you more marketable.

The Changing Image of Women Position in Chinese Film Since 1950s Essay

The Changing Image of Women Position in Chinese Film Since 1950s Since 1950s, after the Chairman Mao Zedong’s Yanà ¡n conference, art and literature had strictly become tools of promoting the ideology of Communist Party, that is, the product of art and literature in China can be classified as highly popanganda. Chairman Mao Zedong and his Communist Party strongly suggested the equality of both genders - male and female. To promote Mao’s theory, certain kind of strong female character's image had been created in films since 1950s, and furthermore, the images of these female characters were changing during the time period. The common features of the female characters in Chinese film are usually being victimize, they always suffered under certain convention feudal rules, the effect of capitalism, the landlord, or fall victim to certain politics. And the films always targeted on how these female characters fight against those reasons of suffering, and creating tensions to the narrative because these confrontations. During the Cultural Revolution, a very popular female image had created, it is the White Hair Girl (Baimao Nà ¼) (1972) This female character image is a tough, strong and full of hatred to the feudal landlord who insulted her and her family. Her desire is very obvious -- to revenge. And finally, she ended up with a heroic image in the film with the help from Chairman Mao Zedong and his Communist Party. However, this film rarely announced the realistic of a female character, that is, despite the obsession hatred of White Hair Girl toward the landlord, and the joy of starting a new life with the Communist Party, audience can rarely feel the other kind of emotion from this female character, for example, the desire of to be loved, is absent in this film. Therefore, in the other hand, another question had been raisen: Do the White Hair Girl necessary to be a female character when she hasn’t shown any of the desire of female? In this film, White Hair Girl is not necessary to be a female, only the reason for it is , a victimized female is more easy to grip audience’s sympathy. And this also suggested the position of women as women itself is not important during that period. But obviously, this film is just purely a popanganda from the Communist Party during the Cultural Revolution - a model performance (geming yangbanxi) ... ...story. The conflict of old convention and the suffered women are only just part of the problems in China. However, from the popularity of The Yellow Earth and The Red Sorghum in China, we can knew that the problems that similar to the films are still existed quite often in the recent China. This suggested that although the position of women image in the recent film had being risen, but still there are many women and social problem remains in China today. Bibliography: McDougall, Bonnie S., The Yellow Earth, The Chinese Univrsity Press, Hong Kong, 1991 Ng, Yvonne, Imagery and Sound in Red Sorghum, 1996 Filmography Cheung, Yimou, Red Sorghum, (1987) Chen, Kaige, The Yellow Earth, (1984) The White Hair Girl (Baimao Nà ¼) (1972) Bibliography: McDougall, Bonnie S., The Yellow Earth, The Chinese Univrsity Press, Hong Kong, 1991 Ng, Yvonne, Imagery and Sound in Red Sorghum, http://www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/FINE/juhde/yvo951.htm, 1996 Filmography Cheung, Yimou, Red Sorghum, (1987) Chen, Kaige, The Yellow Earth, (1984) The White Hair Girl (Baimao Nà ¼) (1972)

Last Sacrifice Chapter Eleven

I BRACED MYSELF, EXPECTING TO see the Dashkov brothers appear again with some last minute â€Å"advice.' Instead I saw– â€Å"Adrian!' I ran across the garden I'd appeared in and threw my arms around him. He hugged me back just as tightly and lifted me off the ground. â€Å"Little dhampir,' he said, once he put me down again. His arms stayed around my waist. â€Å"I've missed you.' â€Å"I've missed you too.' And I meant it. The last couple days and their bizarre events had completely unhinged my life, and being with him–even in a dream–was comforting. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, enjoying a small moment of warmth and peace as our lips met. â€Å"Are you okay?' he asked when I broke away. â€Å"No one'll tell me much about you. Your old man says you're safe and that the Alchemist would let him know if anything went wrong.' I didn't bother telling Adrian that that probably wasn't true, seeing as Abe didn't know we'd gone freelancing with some backwoods vampires. â€Å"I'm fine,' I assured Adrian. â€Å"Mostly bored. We're holed up in this dive of a town. I don't think anyone will come looking for us. I don't think they'd want to.' A look of relief spread over his handsome face, and it occurred to me just how worried he was. â€Å"I'm glad. Rose, you can't imagine what it's like. They aren't just questioning people who might have been involved. The guardians are making all sorts of plans to hunt you down. There's all this talk about â€Å"deadly force.† â€Å"Well, they won't find me. I'm somewhere pretty remote.' Very remote. â€Å"I wish I could have gone with you.' He still looked concerned, and I pressed a finger to his lips. â€Å"No. Don't say that. You're better off where you are–and better not to be associated with me any more than you already are. Have you been questioned?' â€Å"Yeah, they didn't get anything useful out of me. Too tight an alibi. They brought me in when I went to find Mikhail because we talked to–‘ â€Å"I know. Joe.' Adrian's surprise was brief. â€Å"Little dhampir, you've been spying.' â€Å"It's hard not to.' â€Å"You know, as much as I like the idea of having someone always know when you're in trouble, I'm still kind of glad I don't have anyone bound to me. Not sure I'd want them looking in my head.' â€Å"I don't think anyone would want to look in your head either. One person living Adrian Ivashkov's life is hard enough.' Amusement flickered in his eyes, but it faded when I switched back to business. â€Å"Anyway, yeah. I overheard Lissa's †¦ um, interrogation of Joe. That's serious stuff. What did Mikhail say? If Joe lied, that clears half the evidence against me.' It also theoretically killed Adrian's alibi. â€Å"Well, not quite half. It would have been better if Joe said you were in your room during the murder instead of admitting he's a flake who doesn't remember anything. It also would have been better if he hadn't said all this under Lissa's compulsion. Mikhail can't report that.' I sighed. Hanging out with spirit users, I'd started to take compulsion for granted. It was easy to forget that among Moroi, it was taboo, the kind of thing you'd get in serious trouble for. In fact, Lissa wouldn't just get in trouble for illicitly using it. She could also be accused of simply making Joe say whatever she wanted. Anything he said in my favor would be suspect. No one would believe it. â€Å"Also,' added Adrian, looking dismayed, â€Å"if what Joe said gets out, the world would learn about my mother's misguided acts of love.' â€Å"Im sorry,' I said, putting my arms around him. He complained about his parents all the time but really did care about his mother. Finding out about her bribery had to be tough for him, and I knew Tatiana's death still pained him. It seemed I was around a lot of men in anguish lately. â€Å"Although, I really am glad she cleared you of any connection.' â€Å"It was stupid of her. If anyone finds out, she'll be in serious trouble.' â€Å"What's Mikhail's advice then?' â€Å"He's going to find Joe and question him privately. Go from there. For now, there's not much more we can do with the info. It's useful for us †¦ but not for the legal system.' â€Å"Yeah,' I said, trying not to feel disheartened. â€Å"I guess it's better than nothing.' Adrian nodded and then brushed away his dark mood in that easy way of his. Still keeping his arms around me, he pulled back slightly, smiling as he looked down at me. â€Å"Nice dress, by the way.' The topic change caught me by surprise, though I should have been used to it with him by now. Following his gaze, I noticed I was wearing an old dress of mine, the sexy black dress I'd had on when Victor had unleashed a lust charm on Dimitri and me. Since Adrian hadn't dressed me for the dream, my subconscious had dictated my appearance. I was kind of astonished it had chosen this. â€Å"Oh †¦' I suddenly felt embarrassed but didn't know why. â€Å"My own clothes are kind of beat up. I guess I wanted something to counteract that.' â€Å"Well, it looks good on you.' Adrian's fingers slid along the strap. â€Å"Really good.' Even in a dream, the touch of his finger made my skin tingle. â€Å"Watch it, Ivashkov. We've got no time for this.' â€Å"We're asleep. What else are we going to do?' My protests were muffled in a kiss. I sank into it. One of his hands slid down the side of my thigh, near the dress's edge, and it took a lot of mental energy to convince myself that him pulling the dress up was probably not going to clear my name. I reluctantly moved back. â€Å"We're going to figure out who killed Tatiana,' I said, trying to catch my breath. â€Å"There's no â€Å"we,† he said, echoing the line I'd just used on Victor. â€Å"There's me. And Lissa. And Christian. And the rest of our misfit friends.' He stroked my hair and then drew me close again, brushing a kiss against my cheek. â€Å"Don't worry, little dhampir. You take care of yourself. Just stay where you are.' â€Å"I can't,' I said. â€Å"Don't you get it? I can't just do nothing.' The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. It was one thing to protest my inactivity with Dimitri, but with Adrian, I needed to make him and everyone else at Court think I was doing the â€Å"right thing.' â€Å"You have to. We'll take care of you.' He didn't get it, I realized. He didn't understand how badly I needed to do something to help. To his credit, his intentions were good. He thought taking care of me was a big deal. He wanted to keep me safe. But he didn't truly get how agonizing inaction was for me. â€Å"We'll find this person and stop them from doing whatever it is †¦ they want to do. It might take a long time, but we'll fix it.' â€Å"Time †¦' I murmured against his chest, letting the argument go. I'd get nowhere convincing him I needed to help my friends, and anyway, I had my own quest now. So much to do, so little time. I stared off into the landscape he'd created. I'd noticed trees and flowers earlier but only now realized we were in the Church's courtyard–the way it had been before Abe's assault. The statue of Queen Alexandra stood intact, her long hair and kind eyes immortalized in stone. The murder investigation really was in my friends' hands for now, but Adrian had been right: it might take a while. I sighed. â€Å"Time. We need more time.' Adrian pulled away slightly. â€Å"Hmm? What'd you say?' I stared up at him, biting my lower lip as a million thoughts spun through my mind. I looked again at Alexandra and made my decision, wondering if I was about to set new records in foolishness. I turned back to Adrian and squeezed his hand. â€Å"I said we need more time. And I know how we can get it †¦ but †¦ well, there's something you have to do for me. And you, uh, probably shouldn't mention it to Lissa yet †¦' I had just enough time to deliver my instructions to Adrian–who was as shocked as I'd expected–before Dimitri woke me up for my shift. We switched off with little conversation. He had his usual tough face on, but I could see the lines of fatigue etched upon his features. I didn't want to bother him–yet–with my Victor and Robert encounter. Not to mention what I'd just told Adrian to do. There'd be plenty of time for a recap later. Dimitri fell asleep in that easy way of his, and Sydney never stirred the entire time. I envied her for a full night's sleep but couldn't help a smile as the room grew lighter and lighter. She'd been inadvertently put on a vampire schedule after our all-night adventures. Of course, Lissa was on the same schedule, which meant I couldn't visit her during my watch. Just as well. I needed to keep an eye on this creepy collective we'd stumbled into. These Keepers might not want to turn us in, but that didn't make them harmless either. I also hadn't forgotten Sydney's fears about surprise Alchemist visits. When late afternoon came for the rest of the world, I heard stirring inside the house. I gently touched Dimitri's shoulder, and he jerked awake instantly. â€Å"Easy,' I said, unable to hide a smile. â€Å"Just a wakeup call. Sounds like our redneck friends are getting up.' This time, our voices woke Sydney. She rolled over toward us, her eyes squinting at the light coming through the badly screened window. â€Å"What time is it?' she asked, stretching her limbs. â€Å"Not sure.' I had no watch. â€Å"Probably past midday. Three? Four?' She sat up almost as quickly as Dimitri had. â€Å"In the afternoon? † The sunlight gave her the answer. â€Å"Damn you guys and your unholy schedule.' â€Å"Did you just say â€Å"damn'? Isn't that against Alchemist rules?' I teased. â€Å"Sometimes it's necessary.' She rubbed her eyes and glanced toward the door. The faint noises I'd heard in the rest of the house were louder now, audible even to her ears. â€Å"I guess we need a plan.' â€Å"We have one,' I said. â€Å"Find Lissa's sibling.' â€Å"I never entirely agreed to that,' she reminded me. â€Å"And you guys keep thinking I can just magically type away like some movie hacker to find all your answers.' â€Å"Well, at least it's a place to–‘ A thought occurred to me, one that could seriously mess things up. â€Å"Crap. Your laptop won't even work out here.' â€Å"It's got a satellite modem, but it's the battery we have to worry about.' Sydney sighed and stood up, smoothing her rumpled clothes with dismay. â€Å"I need a coffee shop or something.' â€Å"I think I saw one in a cave down the road,' I said. That almost got a smile from her. â€Å"There's got to be some town close by where I could use my laptop.' â€Å"But it's probably not a good idea to take the car out anywhere in this state,' said Dimitri. â€Å"Just in case someone at the motel got your license plate number.' â€Å"I know,' she said grimly. â€Å"I was thinking about that too.' Our brilliant scheming was interrupted by a knock at the door. Without waiting for an answer, Sarah stuck her head inside and smiled. â€Å"Oh, good. You're all awake. We're getting breakfast ready if you want to join us.' Through the doorway, scents of what seemed like a normal breakfast drifted in: bacon, eggs †¦ The bread had gotten me through the night, but I was ready for real food and willing to roll the dice on whatever Raymond's family had to offer. In the house's main section, we found a flurry of domestic activity. Raymond appeared to be cooking something over the fireplace while Paulette set the long table. It already had a platter of perfectly ordinary scrambled eggs and more slices of yesterday's bread. Raymond rose from the fireplace, holding a large metal sheet covered in crisp bacon. A smile split his bearded face when he spotted us. The more of these Keepers I saw, the more I kept noticing something. They made no attempts to hide their fangs. From childhood, my Moroi were taught to smile and speak in a way that minimized fang exposure, in case they were out in human cities. There was nothing like that here. â€Å"Good morning,' said Raymond, carefully pushing the bacon onto another platter on the table. â€Å"I hope you're all hungry.' â€Å"Do you think that's, like, real bacon?' I whispered to Sydney and Dimitri. â€Å"And not like squirrel or something?' â€Å"Looks real to me,' said Dimitri. â€Å"I'd say so too,' said Sydney. â€Å"Though, I guarantee it's from their own pigs and not a grocery store.' Dimitri laughed at whatever expression crossed my face. â€Å"I always love seeing what worries you. Strigoi? No. Questionable food? Yes.' â€Å"What about Strigoi?' Joshua and Angeline entered the house. He had a bowl of blackberries, and she was pushing the little kids along. From their squirming and dirty faces, they clearly wanted to go back outside. It was Angeline who had asked the question. Dimitri covered for my squeamishness. â€Å"Just talking about some of Rose's Strigoi kills.' Joshua came to a standstill and stared at me, those pretty blue eyes wide with amazement. â€Å"You've killed the Lost? Er–Strigoi?' I admired his attempt to use â€Å"our' term. â€Å"How many?' I shrugged. â€Å"I don't really know anymore.' â€Å"Don't you use the marks?' Raymond scolded. â€Å"I didn't think the Tainted had abandoned those.' â€Å"The marks–oh. Yeah. Our tattoos? We do.' I turned around and lifted up my hair. I heard a scuffling of feet and then felt a finger touching my skin. I flinched and whipped back around, just in time to see Joshua lowering his hand sheepishly. â€Å"Sorry,' he said. â€Å"I've just never seen some of these. Only the molnija marks. That's how we count our Strigoi kills. You've got †¦ a lot.' â€Å"The S-shaped mark is unique to them,' said Raymond disapprovingly. That look was quickly replaced by admiration. â€Å"The other's the zvezda.' This earned gasps from Joshua and Angeline and a â€Å"What?' from me. â€Å"The battle mark,' said Dimitri. â€Å"Not many people call it zvezda anymore. It means â€Å"star.† â€Å"Huh. Makes sense,' I said. The tattoo was, in fact, kind of shaped like a star and was given when someone had fought in a big enough battle to lose count of Strigoi kills. After all, there were only so many molnija marks you could cram on your neck. Joshua smiled at me in a way that made my stomach flutter just a little. Maybe he was part of a pseudo-Amish cult, but that didn't change the fact that he was still good- looking. â€Å"Now I understand how you could have killed the Tainted queen.' â€Å"It's probably fake,' said Angeline. I'd been about to protest the queen-killing part, but her comment derailed me. â€Å"It is not! I earned it when Strigoi attacked our school. And then there were plenty more I took down after that.' â€Å"The mark can't be that uncommon,' said Dimitri. â€Å"Your people must have big Strigoi fights every once in a while.' â€Å"Not really,' said Joshua, his eyes still on me. â€Å"Most of us have never fought or even seen the Lost. They don't really bother us.' That was surprising. If ever there was a Strigoi target, a group of Moroi, dhampirs, and humans out in the middle of nowhere would be it. â€Å"Why not?' I asked. Raymond winked at me. â€Å"Because we fight back.' I pondered his enigmatic statement as the family sat down to eat. Again, I thought about the entire community's willingness to fight when we'd first arrived. Was it really enough to scare off Strigoi? Not much scared them, but maybe certain things were too much of an inconvenience to deal with. I wondered what Dimitri's opinion would be on that. His own family had come from a community that separated itself somewhat from mainstream Moroi life, but it was nothing like this. All of this spun in my mind while we ate and talked. The Keepers still had a lot more questions about us and Tatiana. The only one not participating was Angeline. She ate as little as Sydney and kept watching me with a scowl. â€Å"We need some supplies,' said Sydney abruptly, interrupting me in the middle of a gruesome story. I didn't mind, but the others looked disappointed. â€Å"Where's the nearest town that would have a coffee shop †¦ or any restaurant?' â€Å"Well,' said Paulette. â€Å"Rubysville is a little over an hour north. But we have plenty of food here for you.' â€Å"Its not about food,' I said quickly. â€Å"Yours has been great.' I glanced at Sydney. â€Å"An hour's not so bad, right?' She nodded and then glanced hesitantly at Raymond. â€Å"Is there any way †¦ is there any way we could borrow a car? Ill †¦' The next words clearly caused her pain. â€Å"I'll leave the keys to mine until we get back.' He arched an eyebrow. â€Å"You've got a nice car.' Sydney shrugged. â€Å"The less we drive it around here, the better.' He told us we could take his truck and that he â€Å"probably' wouldn't even need to use the CR-V. Sydney gave him a tight smile of thanks, but I knew images of vampires joyriding in her car were dancing through her head. We set out soon after that, wanting to be back before the sun went down. People were out and about in the commune, doing chores or whatever else it was they did with their lives. A group of children sat around a dhampir reading a book to them, making me wonder what sort of education process they had here. All of the Keepers stopped whatever they were doing as we passed, giving us either curious looks or outright smiles. I smiled back occasionally but mostly kept my eyes ahead. Joshua was escorting us back to the â€Å"parking lot' and managed to walk beside me when we reached the narrow path. â€Å"I hope you won't be gone long,' he said. â€Å"I'd wanted us to talk more.' â€Å"Sure,' I said. â€Å"That'd be fun.' He brightened and chivalrously pushed aside a low-hanging branch. â€Å"Maybe I can show you my cave.' â€Å"Your–wait. What? Don't you live with your dad?' â€Å"For now. But I'm getting my own place.' There was pride in his voice. â€Å"It's not as big as his, of course, but it's a good start. It's almost cleaned out.' â€Å"That's really, um, great. Definitely show me when we're back.' The words came easily to my lips, but my mind was pondering the fact that Raymond's house was apparently â€Å"big.' Joshua parted ways from us when we reached Raymond's truck, a big red pickup with a seat that could just barely hold the three of us. Considering the Keepers didn't leave the woods much, the truck seemed like it had seen a lot of miles. Or maybe just a lot of years of disuse. â€Å"You shouldn't lead him on like that,' Dimitri said, when we'd been on the road for about ten minutes. Surprisingly, Sydney had let him drive. I guessed she figured a manly truck deserved a manly driver. Now that we were moving, my mind had focused back on the task at hand: finding the other Dragomir. â€Å"Huh?' â€Å"Joshua. You were flirting with him.' â€Å"I was not! We were just talking.' â€Å"Aren't you with Adrian?' â€Å"Yes!' I exclaimed, glaring at Dimitri. His eyes were fixed on the road. â€Å"And that's why I wasn't flirting. How can you read so much into that? Joshua doesn't even like me that way.' â€Å"Actually,' said Sydney, sitting between us, â€Å"he does.' I turned my incredulity on her. â€Å"How do you know? Did he pass you a note in class or something?' She rolled her eyes. â€Å"No. But you and Dimitri are like gods back at camp.' â€Å"We're outsiders,' I reminded her. â€Å"Tainted.' â€Å"No. You're renegade Strigoi – and queen-killers. It might have all been southern charm and hospitality back there, but those people can be savage. They put a big premium on being able to beat people up. And, considering how scruffy most of them are, you guys are †¦ well †¦ let's just say you two are the hottest things to walk through there in a while.' â€Å"You're not hot?' I asked. â€Å"It's irrelevant,' she said, flustered by the comment. â€Å"Alchemists aren't even on their radar. We don't fight. They think we're weak.' I thought back to the enraptured faces and had to admit that a lot of the people there did have a weathered, worn-out look. Almost. â€Å"Raymond's family was pretty good- looking,' I pointed out. I heard a grunt from Dimitri who no doubt read this as evidence of me flirting with Joshua. â€Å"Yeah,' she said. â€Å"Because they're probably the most important family in town. They eat better, probably don't have to work in the sun as much. That kind of stuff makes a difference.' There was no more talk of flirting as we continued the drive. We made good time to Rubysville, which looked eerily similar to the first town we'd stayed in. When we stopped at what appeared to be the Rubysville's only gas station, Sydney ran inside to ask a few questions. She came back, reporting that there was indeed a cafe of sorts where she could plug in her laptop and try to look up what we needed. She ordered coffee, and we sat there with her, too full from breakfast to order anything substantial. After a couple dirty looks from a waitress who seemed to regard us as loiterers, Dimitri and I decided to take a walk around town. Sydney looked almost as pleased as the waitress about this. I don't think she liked having us hover around. I'd given Sydney a hard time about West Virginia, but I had to admit the scenery was beautiful. Soaring trees, full of summer leaves, surrounded the town like an embrace. Beyond them, mountains loomed, very different from the ones I'd grown up with near St. Vladimir's. These were rolling and green, covered in more trees. Most of the mountains surrounding St. Vladimir's had been stony and jagged, often with snowy peaks. A strange sense of nostalgia came over me, thinking back to Montana. There was a good possibility I'd never see it again. If I spent the rest of my life on the run, St. Vladimir's was the last place I could go. If I was caught, well †¦ then I'd definitely never get to see Montana again. â€Å"Or any place,'I murmured, speaking out loud before I could catch myself. â€Å"Hmm?' asked Dimitri. â€Å"I was just thinking about if the guardians find us. I never realized how much there was I wanted to do and see. Suddenly, that's all at stake, you know?' We moved off to the side of the road as an orange pickup came driving by. Children out of school for the summer screeched and laughed in the back of it. â€Å"Okay, suppose my name isn't cleared and we never find the real murderer. What's the next-best-case scenario? Me: always running, always hiding. That'll be my life. For all I know, I will have to go live with the Keepers.' â€Å"I don't think it'll come to that,' said Dimitri. â€Å"Abe and Sydney would help you find some place safe.' â€Å"Is there a safe place? For real? Adrian said the guardians are increasing their efforts to find us. They've got the Alchemists and probably human authorities looking for us too. No matter where we go, we'll run the risk of being spotted. Then we'll have to move on. It'll be like that forever.' â€Å"You'll be alive,' he pointed out. â€Å"That's what matters. Enjoy what you have, every little detail of wherever you are. Don't focus on where you aren't.' â€Å"Yeah,' I admitted, trying to follow his advice. The sky seemed a little bluer, the birds a little louder. â€Å"I suppose I shouldn't whine over the dream places I won't get to see. I should be grateful I get to see anything at all. And that I'm not living in a cave.' He glanced over at me and smiled, something unreadable in his eyes. â€Å"Where do you want to go?' â€Å"What, right now?' I glanced around, sizing up our options. There was a bait and tackle store, a drugstore, and an ice cream parlor. I had a feeling that last one would be a necessary trip before leaving town. â€Å"No, in the world.' I eyed him warily. â€Å"Sydney's going to be pissed if we take off for Istanbul or something.' This got me full-fledged laughter. â€Å"Not what I had in mind. Come on.' I followed him toward what looked like the bait and tackle store and then noticed a small building tucked behind it. Naturally, his sharp eyes had seen what I missed– probably because I'd been fixated on the ice cream. RUBYSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY. â€Å"Whoa, hey,' I said. â€Å"One of the few perks of graduating was avoiding places like this.' â€Å"Its probably air conditioned,' he pointed out. I looked down at my sweat-soaked tank top and noticed a faint pink tinge to my skin. With my tanned complexion, I rarely burned, but this was some serious sun–even so late in the day. â€Å"Lead on,' I told him. The library was mercifully cool, though even smaller than the one at St. Vladimir's. With some uncanny sense (or maybe just a knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System), Dimitri led us over to the travel section–which consisted of about ten books, three of which were about West Virginia. He frowned. â€Å"Not quite what I expected.' He scanned the shelf twice and then pulled out a large, bright-colored one entitled 100 Best Places to Visit in the World. We sat down cross-legged on the floor, and he handed me the book. â€Å"No way, comrade,' I said. â€Å"I know books are a journey of the imagination, but I don't think I'm up for that today.' â€Å"Just take it,' he said. â€Å"Close your eyes, and flip randomly to a page.' It seemed silly, considering everything else going on in our life, but his face said he was serious. Indulging him, I closed my eyes and selected a page in the middle. I opened to it. â€Å"Mitchell, South Dakota?' I exclaimed. Remembering I was in a library, I lowered my voice. â€Å"Out of all the places in the world, that makes the top hundred?' He was smiling again, and I'd forgotten how much I'd missed that. â€Å"Read it.' â€Å"†Located ninety minutes outside of Sioux Falls, Mitchell is home to the Corn Palace.† I looked up at him in disbelief. â€Å"Corn Palace?' He scooted over next to me, leaning close to look at the pictures. â€Å"I figured it'd be made of corn husks,' he noted. The pictures actually showed what looked like a Middle Eastern–or even Russian–style building, with turrets and onion domes. â€Å"Me too.' Reluctantly, I added, â€Å"I'd visit it. I bet they have great T-shirts.' â€Å"And,' he said, a sly look in his eyes, â€Å"I bet no guardians would look for us there.' I made no attempts to conceal my laughter, imagining us living as fugitives in the Corn Palace for the rest of our lives. My amusement brought us a scolding from a librarian, and we quieted as Dimitri took his turn. Sao Paolo, Brazil. Then my turn: Honolulu, Hawaii. Back and forth we passed the book, and before long, we were both lying on the floor, side by side, sharing mixed reactions as we continued our â€Å"global tour of the imagination.' Our arms and legs just barely touched. If anyone had told me forty-eight hours ago that I'd be lying in a library with Dimitri, reading a travel book, I would have said they were crazy. Almost as crazy was the realization that I was doing something perfectly ordinary and casual with him. Since the moment we'd met, our lives had been about secrecy and danger. And really, those were still the dominant themes in our lives. But in those quiet couple of hours, time seemed to stand still. We were at peace. We were friends. â€Å"Florence, Italy,' I read. Pictures of elaborate churches and galleries filled the page. â€Å"Sydney wants to go there. She wanted to study there, actually. If Abe could have managed that, I think she would have served him for life.' â€Å"She's still pretty obedient,' Dimitri remarked. â€Å"I don't know her well, but I'm pretty sure Abe's got something on her.' â€Å"He got her out of Russia, back to the U.S.' He shook his head. â€Å"It's got to be more than that. Alchemists are loyal to their order. They don't like us. She hides it–they're trained to–but every minute with the Keepers is agony. For her to help us and betray her superiors, she owes him for some serious reason.' We both paused a moment, wondering what mysterious arrangement my father had with her. â€Å"Its irrelevant, though. She's helping us, which is what matters †¦ and we should probably get back to her.' I knew he was right but hated to go. I wanted to stay here, in this illusion of tranquility and safety, letting myself believe I might really make it to the Parthenon or even the Corn Palace someday. I handed the book back to him. â€Å"One more.' He picked his random page and opened the book. His smile fell. â€Å"Saint Petersburg.' A weird mix of feelings entangled themselves in my chest. Nostalgia–because the city was beautiful. Sorrow–because my visit had been tainted by the awful task I'd gone there to do. Dimitri stared at the page for a long time, wistfulness on his face. It occurred to me then that, despite his earlier pep talk, he had to be experiencing what I did for Montana: our old, favorite places were lost to us now. I nudged him gently. â€Å"Hey, enjoy where you're at, remember? Not where you can't go.' He reluctantly shut the book and dragged his eyes away from it. â€Å"How'd you get so wise?' he teased. â€Å"I had a good teacher.' We smiled at each other. Something occurred to me. All this time, I'd figured he'd helped break me out because of Lissa's orders. Maybe there was more to it. â€Å"Is that why you escaped with me?' I asked. â€Å"To see what parts of the world you could?' His surprise was brief. â€Å"You don't need me to be wise, Rose. You're doing fine on your own. Yes, that was part of it. Maybe I would have been welcomed back eventually, but there was the risk I wouldn't. After †¦ after being Strigoi †¦' He stumbled over the words a little. â€Å"I gained a new appreciation for life. It took a while. I'm still not there. We're talking about focusing on the present, not the future–but it's my past that haunts me. Faces. Nightmares. But the farther I get from that world of death, the more I want to embrace life. The smell of these books and the perfume you wear. The way the light bends through that window. Even the taste of breakfast with the Keepers.' â€Å"You're a poet now.' â€Å"No, just starting to realize the truth. I respect the law and the way our society runs, but there was no way I could risk losing life in some cell after only just finding it again. I wanted to run too. That's why I helped you. That and–‘ â€Å"What?' I studied him, desperately wishing he wasn't so good at keeping emotions off his face. I knew him well; I understood him. But he could still hide things from me. He sat up, not meeting my eyes. â€Å"It doesn't matter. Let's go back to Sydney and see if she found out anything †¦ although, as much as I hate to say it, I think it's unlikely.' â€Å"I know.' I stood with him, still wondering what else he would have said. â€Å"She probably gave up and started playing Minesweeper.' We headed back toward the cafe, stopping briefly for ice cream. Eating it while we walked proved quite the challenge. The sun was nearing the horizon, painting everything orange and red, but the heat lingered. Enjoy it, Rose, I told myself. The colors. The taste of chocolate. Of course, I'd always loved chocolate. My life didn't need to be on the line for me to enjoy dessert. We reached the cafe and found Sydney bent over her laptop, with a barely eaten Danish and what was probably her fourth cup of coffee. We slid into seats beside her. â€Å"Hows it–hey! You are playing Minesweeper!' I tried to peer closer at her screen, but she turned it from me. â€Å"You're supposed to be finding a connection to Eric's mistress.' â€Å"I already did,' she said simply. Dimitri and I exchanged astonished looks. â€Å"But I don't know how useful it'll be.' â€Å"Anything'll be useful,' I proclaimed. â€Å"What did you find?' â€Å"After trying to track down all those bank records and transactions–and let me tell you, that is not fun at all–I finally found a small piece of info. The bank account we have now is a newer one. It was moved from another bank about five years ago. The old account was still a Jane Doe, but it did have a next-of-kin reference in the event something happened to the account holder.' I could hardly breathe. Financial transactions were lost on me, but we were about to get something solid. â€Å"A real name?' Sydney nodded. â€Å"Sonya Karp.'