Women’s Health & Preventative Care

Wowork forces wellness Cargon and Preventative Care In the United States, the cost of wellness direction is on the rise and it is almost impossible to receive whatsoever wellness mete out service at an affordable rate. Whether insured or uninsured, women of all demographics are faced with this problem. Women should not put their health or life at risk because they fear receiving another medical dick. overdue to the rising cost of health care and insurance, to a greater extent(prenominal) women do not receive preventative medical treatment and are currently in debt.Often, women do not receive or delay receiving preventative health care due to the cost of treatment. Learning about and practicing preventive healthcare, i. e. maintaining your personate and good health throughout your entire lifetime, is properly the best manner to prevent disease from happening in the first place ( initiation search Foundation, n. d. ). Women require more preventative health care than men and s ome(a) of these preventative services are not always fully cover by insurance such as mammograms or prenatal care.Prenatal care is not only important for the womans health, but alike for the childs health. Preventative health care can keep an eye on as well as prevent diseases. Early detection is sometimes the key to curing certain diseases. More women currently are in debt or have unpaid medical bills. The rising cost of health care combined with the current job trade has left more women in debt (Robertson & Collins, 2011). Health insurance succeedrs do not always provide the cover suppurate women need.In fact recent studies have shown few plans offer maternity coverage and young women can face substantially higher(prenominal) premiums than men of the same age (Robertson & Collins, 2011). Although, The Affordable Care Act is bringing trade for women through required free coverage of preventive care services, weensy business tax credits, new affordable coverage options, and i nsurance market reforms, including bans on gender rating the law will not be implemented until 2014 (Robertson & Collins, 2011).Something needs to be done before then in order to cut down on debt from unpaid medical bills. The federal as well as the state government should implement more programs that offer preventative care at income based rates. There should also be more programs directed at lowering medical bill debt. A debt acquired by a medical bill should not scratch a persons credit. More insurance companies should provide age and gender specific plans at affordable rates, in order to see everyone receives the proper healthcare needed.Although, some of these solutions may have to be funded with higher taxes or budget cuts, these programs would definitely have a large jar on the amount of women who receive preventative care. Preventative care is a necessity in ensuring healthy living for women. Receiving preventative care is a cost effective way to save lives by treating and diagnosing diseases and conditions early. see to it and uninsured women should be able to receive preventative care without bedevilment about how and if they will pay the medical bill.Although womens health care cost is a rising issue in the U. S, there are cost effective solutions to alleviate this problem. References Robertson, R. , & Collins, S. R. (2011) Realizing Health Reforms Potential. Retrieved fromhttp//www. commonwealthfund. org//media/Files/Publications/Issue%20Brief/2011/May /1502_Robertson_women_at_risk_reform_brief_v3. pdf World Research Foundation. (n. d. ) Preventive Health Care Helps Everyone. Sedona, AZ WorldResearch Foundation. Retrieved July 15, 2012 from http//www. wrf. org/preventive-healthcare/preventive-healthcare. php

Judaism: Its identity and position to society

Judaism is more than a righteousness. It is the itinerary of life of the Judaic volume. Culture, customs, ethics, and sense of self these are a part of Judaism as much(prenominal) as the faith and the rituals of the Jewish religion. A Jew can be eruptlined in more than one way. Within Jewish law, being Jewish is a kind of citizenship. One is a Jew if one is born of a Jewish m opposite or has undergone a conversion. Conversion to Judaism is like a bestowal of citizenship it compels one a member of the people.A person who fits the reasoned definition of a Jew is recognized as a fellow Jew by the Jewish community. Even if a Jew does non share the spectral tactual sensations of Jews and does not participate in the customs and practices of Judaism, one is still considered a Jew if he or she fits the legal definition. One could define a Jew ghostlikely to the religious beliefs and practices of Judaism. A Jew is one believes in the One idol, Creator and master of the Univer se, the deity with whom the people Israel have a special kind. Many Jews believe divinity fudge chose them to be his people.They follow the laws that God revealed to Moses. The Ten Commandments are the most measurable of these laws. In ancient times the Jews were the only people who worship a single, exclusive God, and the only people who worshiped without physical images of God. The Jews were resented by other people for not participating in the worship of all gods. This led to the guardianship that Jews were antihumanitarian, since sharing gods was considered to be an act of friendship and universalistic concern for other people.When Christianity replaced the pagan religions of antiquity, the old misunderstanding of Jews did not die out. Added to it was the resentment that the Jews, rescuer own people, has not be jazz Christians. Jews were protected under Christian law but were restricted in many ways. The laws in Christian lands called for Jews to be humiliated and despised in order to encourage Jewish conversions to Christianity. When Jews did not transmute they were acc determinationd of stubbornness or spiritual blindness (Wylen).Judaism teaches that God is the God of all humankind and that He wants all people to dispense Him by living their lives the way He wants. The guidelines for this lifestyle are act down in the Noachide Laws, the basic framework for a moral and spiritual life. They believe that every person is completely free to choose whether to do good or evil for God is completely free to do as He wishes, so are humans. Jews regard any religion which upholds the Noachide Laws as an acceptable way for non-Jews to serve God.This does not mean that they defend with everything that other religions teach, but that they can recognize some religions as pointing out a path to God. For this reason, Jews do not see the need to convert other people to their religion. In particular, Jews recognize that Islam teaches pure monotheism and that Muslim s have a strict morality that upholds the principles of the Noachide Laws. The same may be said of the Sikh religion. Jews have always been less certain about Christianity.Although they acknowledge Christianitys high moral principles, they feel uneasy about the Christian belief that Jesus is God. They are also unhappy about the use of images and icons in Catholic and Orthodox worship. They feel that this comes rather close to idolatry. Nonetheless, Jews have always recognized a special relationship with Christianity and Islam. Rabbi Judah Halevi, a twelfth-century scholar, described Judaism as the seed of the tree and Christianity and Islam as the branches, since through these religions, millions of people have come to worship the one God (Forta).At the turn of the twentieth century, a movement of interfaith chat between Jews and non-Jews served as a sensitive that facilitated the changes upon conflicts in religion. Although there had been some obstacle along the transit, the in terfaith dialogue helped to develop a better relationship between Jews and non-Jews in America. As a result it came into advancement of the well-being of the Jewish community in America.This interfaith dialogue took place in America in 1893 when the earth Parliament of Religions (WPR) convened in Chicago bringing together Protestants, Catholics, Greek Orthodox Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Bahai, Muslims, Native Americans and representatives of other faiths as well. It offered Jewish religious leaders such as Alexander Kohut, Isaac M. Wise, Kaufmann Kohler, Emil G. Hirsch, and Marcus Jastrow, an opportunity to present their views to a non-Jewish audience and make a case for Judaism (Kaplan).The majority of Jews, especially in North America, resided in religiously pluralistic communities where people of diverse backgrounds and faiths, including many who had themselves experienced religious persecution, live side by side. Perhaps for this reason, they felt more prospering in teracting with Christians than Jews did in most parts of the world so much so that we know of Jews and Christians who joined forces in business, witnessed each others documents, and socialise in each others homes (Bernardini and Fiering).Over the century parvenue discoveries, new methods of manufacture, new social conditions have changed peoples way of living and thinking about the world. For Jews, this has always created the need to reapply the halakhah (Jewish religious law) to changing conditions for living by halakhah is essential for Jews to fulfill their part of their covenant relationship with God.During this century advances in technology have led Jews to raise questions which could not have been thought of in earlier times questions about the use of automated electrical machinery on Sabbaths, whether computer hacking is theft, whether surrogate mother is permissible, whether a person on a life-support machine is alive or dead. To enable rabbis to answer this questions, up-to-date commentaries have been added to the Shulchan Aruch (written catalogue of halakhah), and whole books concerned with specific topics of halakhah are now being published. The continued reapplication of halakhah is an ongoing process (Forta).Works CitedBernardini, Paolo, and Norman Fiering. The Jews and the Expansion of Europe to the West, 1450 to 1800. Berghahn Books, 2001.Forta, Arye. Judaism. Heinemann, 1995.Kaplan, Dana Evan. The Cambridge Companion to American Judaism. Cambridge University Press, 2005.Wylen, Stephen M. Settings of flatware An Introduction to Judaism. Paulist Press, 2000.

The Influence of Early Attachments on Later Relationships

In a way, a psyches behaviors and mode of thinking towards others, every romantic or otherwise, hold something to do with the emotional and mental relationship developed during his sisterhood with his parents or the people who raised him. Psychologist John Bowlby said, in his Attachment Theory, that attachment is the psychological connectedness among individuals, particularly between the infant and the caregiver which is, primarily, the mother1.In his theory, Bowlby emphasizes four views 1) very young children develop attachment to familiar caregivers who are sensitive and responsive 2) young children explore the environment with familiar people as a secure base 3) the attachment has continuous effect to the childs personality development and social behaviors that will show later in his life and 4) any event that interferes with the attachment may have either a short or long-term negative impact in the life of the child.He further stresses that the child seeks the proximity or accessibility of the caregiver as a way of survival especially during troubled times. Apparently, a caregiver who is present always gives a sense of security to the child2. In her strange situation research in 1970, Psychologist Mary Ainsworth finds out that children start in their attachment behaviors while some toddlers can adapt and act with anybody, other kids are either ambivalent or anxious with the movement of strangers and hesitant to explore their environment3.The psychological and emotional tie developed at early age is significant as the child may practice this as a guiding principle or prototype for his hereafter relationship, especially intimate love and parenting. In some cases, an attached child becomes dependent to the caregiver and may suffer anxiety upon their separation. A young finding states that some children who experienced attachment can develop an ludicrous deficiency called reactive attachment disorder (RAD) which is characterized by the childs inap propriate ways in most social interactions4.

Overview of the Stock Market

Over the previous(prenominal) few social classs, m some(prenominal) millionaires waste been created referable to the economical explosion of the contrast marketplace. The market isnt just growing, as it did in the mid to latterly seventies that it is on steroids, and is growing want never before. support by the relentless, nonetheless sometimes spasmodic, growth of the NASDAQ Composite, W tot eachy Streets impact on the proximo suffernot be denied. For as capacious as the market has been in existence, drastic changes much(prenominal) as these have never taken place. What awesome power could have produced so much favourable in so little time?What colossal force could have display cased the United States economy to flourish? The answer lies in 1, simple, recently coined phrase the tech p arntage. The inception market has been close to since people traded silver for leave power of cargo 200 years ago, yet many people striket know how it works, or where their gold goes when they purchase a ext complete they simply think buy low, sell high. Although this is a practised fundamental investment plan, it is imperative that one knows where his money is headed when he buys a gramme dollars worth of a specific stock.When one purchases a stock, they are real purchasing part of a follow (Brian 1). The reason one would do this is because he wants part of the profits of the company. If one purchases 1% of a company, he will receive 1% of the income, to put it in a alter manner. The money the company gains from selling their stock is placed back into the company. This way, the company can grow, and produce more(prenominal) profits for the stockholders. The companys time value is represented by the stock price on the stock convince (Brian 2).Over time, a method of judging a stocks performance, called the profit to earning ratio was created. P/E is shorthand for the ratio of a companys share price to its per-share earnings. For example, a P/E ratio of 10 means that the company has $1 of annual, per-share earnings for every $10 in share price (Green 1). This ratio basically represents how much money the investor is putt in per dollar earned. This was generally a good function to anticipate at when choosing a stock to invest in, but the P/E ratio can be misleading, especially in the few tech stocks that have tremendous stock prices, yet have little last-place profit.No one knows exactly when the tech stock came ab come out of the closet, but it seems like it came all at at one time. The phrase tech stock simply refers to all stocks that deal with any form of technology related, directly or indirectly, to the estimator or computer chips. A good portion of the customary tech stocks today deal with the Internet (Brian 4). One reason for this is the easy regain by millions of people worldwide. Small companies are able to reach out to the whole globe with just a few bucks, and thus gravel prosperous over a short am ount of time.Just a few of the most popular tech stock corporations include Microsoft, Apple, TI, amazon, yokel, and Dell. Companies such as Microsoft, Apple and Dell are companies that handle computers directly, and have been around for a long time (NASDAQ 5) TI creates many semiconductors that are put in most all products that have computer chips in them. Amazon and Yahoo are both directly related to the Internet. These companies are popular due to their originality and business management. However, popularity hardly gains profit, so why is it that Yahoo can make so much money on the stock market?Surprisingly and ironically enough, it is precisely popularity that causes its gains. Because of the popularity, people continue to purchase Yahoos stock. Although the company isnt making direct profit, it certainly makes a lot of money from the stock purchases, so the company actually makes the money make of the stock market (Brian 5). Rare, indeed, to see this at such an extreme. Wi th all of this success must come organization, and thus is the role of the NASDAQ Composite. Although NASDAQ came about long before the rise of tech stocks, it now represents the growth that they portray.This is mostly due to the large volume of puritanical chip Internet stocks that have coupled the Composite, as strong as the small technical companies that are aspect for a big break. Duarte summarizes the whole NASDAQ universe in once clock time The NASDAQ is fueled by blue chip stocks and small caps which burst into high-earnings (Technology 1). And explode it did. In just over one year, The Index gained 1876. 62 points and 85. 59 part for the year. The NASDAQ Composite Index also eclipsed the 3000 and 4000 point milestones during the last one-quarter of 1999 (Nasdaq 1).This far surpasses the Dow Jones Industrial, which only gained 25. 22% over the 1999-2000 year. The markets go around index performers were the computer, telecommunications, and biotechnology up 105. 03 pe rcent, 102. 71 percent and 101. 64 percent respectively (Nasdaq 2). This obviously displays a growing interest in the tech stock, which has caused this major(ip) uprising to occur. One may wonder how the Dow Jones Industrial got off so bad, because, after all, it represents our nations largest companies. For a long time, the Dow Jones Industrial has represented the stock market as a whole, but times change.One cause of this change is the high interest values that affect the corporate stocks such as Wal-Mart and ExxonMobil. These stocks reduce in price as a topic of this, and therefore, the Dow average reflects the decrease. The Dow Jones blue chips remain stable, but havent change magnitude dramatically, and this isnt sufficient to make up for the losses of the stocks that tanked, such as banking stocks, financial stocks, and oil marketing stocks (Duarte, Technology 1). One topic that everyone wonders is Is the gold rush over? The answer is no, not as of 3-2-00, anyway.However, all good things must come to an end the question is when. Milton Friedman and Alan Greenspan are both major authorities in Wall Street, and when they speak, the world of investors listens. The one bad thing is this, they usually never agree. In late 1999, Friedman suggested the current market looks comparable to the pre-crash markets in the U. S. in 1929 and the pre-crash market in Japan in 1989. concisely after, Greenspan made equally scary remarks about the stock market and the riches effect (Duarte, Greenspan 1).These are remarkable authorities in the world of investing, but these notes dont specifically talk about the tech stock falling. Some people believe that the so-called crash that they spoke of has already happened at the turn of the millennium, when both the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq fell at record-breaking volumes. This prove that the NASDAQ wasnt invincible with its precious tech stocks, but it also started an ill-favored observation that whatever the Dow does, th e NASDAQ does at a more flamboyant rate (Jennings 1).This simply means that if the Dow goes up a little, the NASDAQ goes up a lot. When the Dow hooks a little, the NASDAQ drops a lot (Fool 9). However, theres no concrete picture to prove this theory that they are connected somehow. January 4th, 2000 a sigh of abatement sweeps the world as nothing too terribly devastating happens on the turn of the millennium. However, this sigh turns quickly into a gasp at least(prenominal) for those watching the stock market. The Dow Jones plummets nearly 360 points, and NASDAQ plummets nearly 230 points in just one trading day.The next two days, NASDAQ continues to fall another 200 points, resulting in nearly a 8% drop in just triplet days. It recovers from this drop in only about two days, only to drop back into a lower pit in three more days. Those who held onto their pocketbooks for this roller coaster ride found a light at the end of the tunnel, and by the end of February, the Composite h ad climbed to the 4600 mark, 600 points higher than at the beginning of the year (Fool 1). Many other times in the first quarter of 2000 NASDAQ took a hefty fall, but it always regrouped and rallied to surpass it is original price.Another thing to remember is that NASDAQ isnt made entirely of tech stock blue chips such as Dell and Amazon (Nasdaq 1). It is also made up of small caps that fail, large caps that fail, and those penny stocks that people get so worked up about that also fail so it is hard to judge how well tech stocks are actually doing by looking directly at the NASDAQ Composite or P/E ratios. Tech stocks are hushed a relatively sensitive thing for the market, and investors havent yet predicted their fate.However, they are still intensely popular, and as long as they are popular, people will keep buying and, of course, if people buy them, they will raise in value. Technology is not going away any time soon, theres no doubt about that the future is now. Computers rule o ur lifestyle, making everything faster, easier, cheaper, more efficient and these tech stocks represent our new economy based on this new efficient system. Even though they may not present themselves as strongly as they once did, tech stocks are definitely here to stay.

Home Depot Employee Benefits Essay

The first case is against an employee Gunderson working at JMI agency owned by Brown Corporation. It is filed by Brown on account of the suspects violation of the employee agreement by joining a competing company after(prenominal) working there continuously for seven months and soliciting and servicing Browns clients and disclosing confidential information. The summary judgment was made in favor of the defendant because an employment of seven months is non enough under Illinois law to assert the limiting agreement. (Findlaw, 2008)The second case is against an employee Robert M. Bono working at Chicago track Board who was discharged from his conjecture on account of misconduct by calling a customer while working though his job duties did not require calling any customers. The call was personal and neighborly in nature involving a sexual joke. The court affirmed the closing of Chicago Transit Board as being reasonable and appropriate. (Findlaw, 2008)IssuesThe end being discuss ed in the first case is the claim by the bring up company of breach of contract by the employee. But since the employment spot of Gunderson was only seven months so according to Illinois law no charges sack up be made against him In the second case, the issue discussed is of an employee misbehaving with a customer on telephone and making personal use of the phone though he is not allowed to do so. Therefore, he dismissed by the company.Implications for place DepotAt Home Depot, each employee should be clear told of his/her duties and the consequences of not acting accordingly. Secondly, the employee contract at Home Depot should specify clearly all the terms and conditions specially the measure period after which he can be accused of the violation of the contract.Conclusion Through the outline of the above cases, I learned that minor mistakes by an employee can result into big troubles and court procedures. Therefore, one should remain cautious every time while working on his job.

Euthensia

Literature REVIEW ON mercy stamp outing Subbmitted by Mayank Grover 19/053 Sec B PGDM-1 mercy k disastering euthanasia (from the Greek meaning tidy termination( well or good) + (death)) refers to the implement of excogitationally destination a emotional state history in order to assuage pain and distress. thither argon different mercy killing laws in severally country. The House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics of England defines mercy killing as a discuss intervention underinterpreted with the express intention of ratiocination a life, to relieve intractable suffering. In the Netherlands, mercy killing is soundless as termination of life by a doctor at the request of a patient.Wreen, offered a six part rendering Person A reachted an act of mercy killing if and only if (1) A killed B or let her die (2) A intended to kill B (3) the intention specified in (2) was at least partial derivative cause of the action specified in (1) (4) the causal journey f rom the intention specified in (2) to the action specified in (1) is more(prenominal) or less in accordance with As plan of action (5) As killing of B is a voluntary action (6) the motive for the action specified in (1), the motive standing behind the intention specified in (2), is the good of the individual killed.The definition offered by the Oxford English Dictionary incorporates suffering as a necessary condition, with the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful distemper or in an irreversible stupefaction. History According to the historian N. D. A. Kemp, the origin of the contemporary debate on euthanasia started in 1870. Nevertheless, euthanasia was debated and practiced long before that date. Euthanasia was practised in Ancient Greece and Rome for example, hemlock was employed as a inwardness of hastening death on the island of Kea, a technique besides employed in Marseilles and by Socrates in Athens.Euthanasia, in the sense of the deliber ate hastening of a persons death, was have goted by Socrates, Plato and Seneca the Elder in the ancient world, although Hippocrates appears to carry spoken against the practice, writing I provide non prescribe a deadly drug to please someone, nor give advice that may cause his death (noting there is some debate in the literature about whether or not this was intended to encompass euthanasia). Euthanasia was strongly opposed in the Judeo-Christian tradition.Thomas Aquinas opposed both and argued that the practice of euthanasia contradicted our natural serviceman instincts of survival. As did Francois Ranchin (15651641), a French physician and professor of medicine, and Michael Boudewijns (16011681), a physician and teacher. Nevertheless, there were voices arguing for euthanasia, such(prenominal)(prenominal) as outhouse Donne in 1624, and euthanasia continued to be practiced. Suicide and euthanasia were more acceptable under Protestantism and during the Age of Enlightenment, an d Thomas More wrote of euthanasia in Utopia, although it is not clear if More was intending to endorse the practice.Other cultures ingest compactn different approaches for example, in Japan suicide has not traditionally been viewed as a sin, and accordingly the perceptions of euthanasia be different from those in operateer(a) parts of the world. Classification of euthanasia Euthanasia may be categorise according to whether a person gives informed hope into three types voluntary, non-voluntary and unbidden. There is a debate within the medical and bioethics literature about whether or not the non-voluntary (and by extension, involuntary) killing of patients keep be regarded as euthanasia, disregarding of intent or the patients circumstances.In the definitions offered by Beauchamp & Davidson and, later, by Wreen, consent on the part of the patient was not considered to be one of their criteria, although it may have been required to justify euthanasia. However, others see cons ent as essential. Voluntary euthanasia Euthanasia conducted with the consent of the patient is termed voluntary euthanasia. Active voluntary euthanasia is legal in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Passive voluntary euthanasia is legal throughout the U. S. per Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health.When the patient brings about his or her suffer death with the avail of a physician, the term assisted suicide is oft used instead. Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland and the U. S. states of surgery, Washington and Montana. Non-voluntary euthanasia Euthanasia conducted where the consent of the patient is unavailable is termed non-voluntary euthanasia. Examples intromit child euthanasia, which is bootleg worldwide only decriminalized under certain specific circumstances in the Netherlands under the Groningen Protocol. Involuntary euthanasiaEuthanasia conducted against the will of the patient is termed involuntary euthanasia. Passive euthanasia Passive euthan asia entails the withholding of common handlings, such as antibiotics, necessary for the continuance of life. Active euthanasia Active euthanasia entails the use of fatal substances or forces, such as administering a fatal injection, to kill and is the most controversial means. intelligent status Wests Encyclopedia of American Law states that a mercy killing or euthanasia is generally considered to be a criminal homicide and is normally used as a equivalent word of homicide committed at a request made by the patient.The juridic sense of the term homicide includes any intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending a life, crimson to relieve intractable suffering. Not all homicide is unlawful. cardinal designations of homicide that carry no criminal punishment are justifiable and trivial homicide. In most countries this is not the status of euthanasia. The term euthanasia is usually confined to the active agent variety the University of Washington website states that euthanasia generally means that the physician would act directly, for instance by giving a lethal injection, to end the patients life.Physician-assisted suicide is thus not classified as euthanasia by the US State of Oregon, where it is legal under the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, and despite its name, it is not legally classified as suicide either. Unlike physician-assisted suicide, withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments with patient consent (voluntary) is almost unanimously considered, at least in the United States, to be legal. The use of pain medication in order to relieve suffering, even if it hastens death, has been held as legal in several court decisions.Some governments nearly the world have legalized voluntary euthanasia but generally it carcass as a criminal homicide. In the Netherlands and Belgium, where euthanasia has been legalized, it still clay homicide although it is not prosecuted and not punishable if the perpetrator (the doctor) meets c ertain legal exceptions. Legal Status in INDIA Passive euthanasia is legal in India. On 7 March 2011 the Supreme greet of India legalised unresisting euthanasia by means of the withdrawal of life support to patients in a perm vegetative state.The decision was made as part of the verdict in a case involving Aruna Shanbaug, who has been in a vegetative state for 37 years at King Edward Memorial Hospital. The high court jilted active euthanasia by means of lethal injection. In the absence seizure of a law regulating euthanasia in India, the court stated that its decision becomes the law of the land until the Indian parliament enacts a competent law. Active euthanasia, including the administration of lethal compounds for the purpose of ending life, is still misappropriated in India, and in most countries. Aruna Shanbaug caseAruna Shanbaug was a nurse working at the KEM Hospital in Mumbai on 27 November 1973 when she was strangled and sodomized by Sohanlal Walmiki, a sweeper. Dur ing the attack she was strangled with a chain, and the deprivation of oxygen has odd her in a vegetative state ever since. She has been treated at KEM since the incident and is kept a be by feeding tube. On behalf of Aruna, her chum Pinki Virani, a social activist, filed a petition in the Supreme Court arguing that the continued existence of Aruna is in violation of her salutary to live in dignity. The Supreme Court made its decision on 7 March 2011.The court rejected the plea to discontinue Arunas life support but coped a set of broad guidelines legalizing passive euthanasia in India. The Supreme Courts decision to reject the discontinuation of Arunas life support was based on the fact the hospital staff who treat and take care of her did not support euthanizing her. Supreme Court decision enchantment rejecting Pinki Viranis plea for Aruna Shanbaugs euthanasia, the court laid out guidelines for passive euthanasia. According to these guidelines, passive euthanasia involves the withdrawing of treatment or food that would allow the patient to live.Forms of active euthanasia, including the administration of lethal compounds, are legal in a soma of nations and jurisdictions, including Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as the US states of Washington and Oregon, but they are still illegal in India. The Euthanasia Global Issue. Recently, the phrase doctor-assisted-suicide has been added to the euthanasia vocabulary. Acting in accord with the patients wishes, a physician provides the entrepotly ill individual with lethal medication. The patient decides when to take the medication, so that the physician does not participate directly in the death.Of course, rational, but severely handicapped patients, such as those in the final stages of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), are mechanically eliminated from this mode of dying because they are not able to take medication without assistance. In countries where suicide and assisted suicide are against the law, doctor-assisted-suicide would not be tolerated. Recently, pliable-bag-death has received some publicity. Plastic-bag-death reserves a terminally ill patient to commit suicide without incriminating others.The patient is supplied with sleeping pills, perhaps a spyglass of alcohol, such as vodka, to enhance the effectiveness of the sleeping potions, an airtight plastic bag large enough to fit comfortably over the percentage point, a dust entomb, and an elastic band. The provider leaves the premises. The patient, now alone, swallows the sleeping tablets, drinks the alcohol, dons the dust mask (to keep the plastic from adhering to the mouth and nose), pulls the plastic bag over the head and secures it with the elastic band around the neck. Any temporary breathing innervation can be alleviated by extending the rubber band to permit air to enter.Ultimately, the patient falls asleep and dies quietly by asphyxiation. honourable Issues Moral, ethical and religious issues pert aining to euthanasia embrace subjects as diverse as patient autonomy, quality of life, sanctitude of life, death with dignity, patients rights, and playing God. Medical personnel office and their patients, both old and young, wrestle with problems associated with treatment futility, informed prime(a), right-to-die, autonomy versus paternalism, good-will versus maleficence, and so on, each of which impacts, either directly or indirectly, on the issue of euthanasia.What is most important in any discussion of global euthanasia is the recognition of the varied ethnic, national and religious differences to be found and esteem in communities throughout the world. At the same time, the ethical issues that are elevated by the subject of euthanasia are all embracing and include the following 1. Patient Autonomy In democratic countries, where individual exemption to choose is accepted as a civil right, end-of-life decisions should be made, primarily, by the patient.Self-determinism pay s respect to an individuals personal values and enables the individual to be responsible for his or her avow life. To deny competent individuals, and in particular senior(a) persons, the right to choose not only denies respect for their lifetimes of decision making but smacks of medical paternalism. Obviously, attitudes towards the process of dying will vary. Religious and cultural traditions including local anaesthetic customs will tend to dictate patterns to be followed. However, the empowerment of the elder and recognition of the elders personal values must not be denied.In most countries, however, elderly patients who wish to exercise their autonomy and choose nimble death over lingering death, are denied their right to choose. 2. certain Choice, Informed Consent Patient autonomy automatically includes the right to full info concerning the nature and development of the terminal illness, the choices for treatment that remain, the anticipated consequences of each form of tr eatment, and what will occur if the patient refuses treatment. Such information is often withheld from the elderly person.Paternalistic physicians may seek to shield the elderly patient from the right or from a full evaluation of a terminal illness in the belief that the elderly are less able than junior persons to handle troublesome information. When medical personnel conclude that further treatment is futile and that nothing can be done to stop the mature of the disease, all competent patients, including elderly patients, need to be fully informed. however then can the informed patient make an informed choice between alternate treatments and comprehend the consequences of choosing no treatment.Informed choice as well provides the terminally ill patient with time and opportunity to make declaration with those who matter most. 3. Playing God Sanctity of Life, Quality of Life For some, the sanctity-of-life dissertation rests upon the theological argument that life is a gift or a loan from God and that only God should determine when that gift or loan should be returned. Those who seek to end their life are, therefore, playing God. The thesis has been challenged for not every person will accept a theological interpretation of life. Sanctity of life may argue biologically.Each human life marks the end product of millions of years of evolution. Each person is absolutely unique, with a personal DNA and a lived life that can never be duplicated. As a one-of-a-kind individual life, the preciousness and sanctity of that existence is to be honored and revered. However, as we shall see below, some are born with defective genes. An encephalic infant will have a life span of a few hours or a few days. zipper can be done to replace the missing brain. The infant will automatically die. In most instances, the newborn is place in an isolation unit, receiving a minimal amount of care.Sustaining nourishment and health care is mute for infants who will survive. Neithe r God nor nature provides for us equally. Conclusion Euthanasia is morally permissible under certain circumstances. It is also believe that mass should be given the choice to voluntarily ask for some assistance in ending their own lives. We know that if we were dying with a terminal illness or even if we had some sort crippling disease we would at least like to have the right to choose my own fate. People do not see any arguments that prove to me that it should be wrong in a moral and legal standpoint to actively and voluntarily ask for euthanasia.

Wild Swans

Wild Swans Three Daughters of China is a memoir of triple genesiss of Chinese women from Imperial China by means of and beyond the cultural Revolution. Changs nanna was a warlords concubine. Her gently raised perplex struggled with hardships in the early geezerhood of Maos change and rose, like her husband, to a prominent position in the commie Party before be denounced during the Cultural Revolution. Chang herself marched, worked, and breathed for Mao until incertitude crept in over the excesses of his policies and purges.Born just a few decades apart, their lives carrefour with the end of the warlords governing and overthrow of the Japanese occupation, violent struggles between the Kuomintang and the Communists to mold up China, and, approximately poignant for the author, the vicious cycle of purges orchestrated by Chairman Mao that discredited and crushed millions of people, including her p atomic number 18nts. Jung Chang has said that her intention in writing Wild Swans was to show how the Chinese people, and in particular the women in her family, fought tenaciously and courageously once morest impossible odds.The book is, indeed, a testimony to the military force and determination of herself, her mother and her grandmother and their resourcefulness in recreating themselves clipping and again in the face of suffering, humiliation and disillusionment. Personal and historical stories interweave and the stories of these women and their families move as a lens through which we gain further perceptivity into the turbulent history of twentieth century China. One such cleverness involves the treatment of women in Chinese society through the eld. There argon no stunning revelations here but there are some horrific reminders.The grandmothers early life reveals a litany of horrors, such as the agony which was the custom of foot binding and the slavery and hardship that was the lot of the concubine. Changs mother endures a contrary kind of hard ship, one born of her husbands unbending principles and her testify committedness to a warped ideology. At eighteen, and despite the fact that she is pregnant, she is labored to walk a journey of one thousand miles through quintuple mountain passes, musical composition her husband, a senior officer in the commie guerrilla army, rides in a jeep.He insists that she must walk lest he be accused of favouritism. The miscarriage that results does non, however, diminish the fanaticism which induced it, and it is not until his idealism has been totally shattered that he begins to realise the pain endured for its sake. This calamity of collapsed idealism and disillusionment lies at the heart of Wild Swans. Changs parents dogged dedication is rewarded by punishment and humiliation when the apprehension, through which control was maintained, infects the movement itself in the form of paranoia and suspicion.Jung Chang herself moves through the stages of allegiance, confusion and eventu al(prenominal) disillusionment as the rightful(a) nature of Maoism begins to reveal itself. Her father, now a victim of his own inflexibility, dies tormented, while Jung Chang and her mother find ways of using their experience to forge bare-assed lives for themselves. In fiction, such victory over evil might be considered improbable. In reality, it is nothing short of a miracle. The genre of this tonic is autobiography, which is realistically and vividly told.There are some very vivid and fervent keennesss given of valet relationships and love. The need for security and family is vividly evoked and subtly rendered. It forms a very faithful record and history of some of the bruise atrocities in China, a regime that showed itself to be totally self-destructive at the end. The narrative is brisk and fluid. At times the narrative verges on something connatural to a journalists report. The conclusion however is optimistic.Some of the values, which are portrayed in this book, are l ove, family life, loyalty, courage and a belief in the essential haughtiness of the human being. this brisk written by Jung Chang traces the life of common chord generations of her family. primed(p) in China it gives us an keenness into almost eighty years of the cultural history of that country, beginning in the year 1909 and moving up to the present day. The author a native Chinese now active in London builds the narrative somewhat her own experiences and her family all of whose lives spans different cultural periods in Chinas history.The Three Daughters of the title are Chang herself, her mother and her maternalistic grandmother and the novel chronicles the events of their lives spanning a century of Chinas stormy history. Chang begins the story by recounting her grandmothers experiences, in the 1920s, as concubine to a powerful warlord and her eventual escape from his household. She continues with the story of her mothers involvement, during the 1940s, 50s and 60s, with the communist movement under Mao Tse tung and her parents fall from power and subsequent imprisonment under the same regime.She goes on the recall her own experiences with the brutal Red Guards, her re-education as a advance and factory worker and her eventual departure from China to Great Britain in 1978. Womens Place in Chinese Culture The early part of the novel shows the position of the woman in this culture. Women had no position or show of view on things they were used as objects, do by as concubines and treated with disdain by society. The development of Communism is treated with realism and evokes the most gruesome aspects of Maos regime of dictatorship.The reiterated use of physical violence becomes almost extravagant at times. The destruction of Chinese culture, its seats of learning, books artistic treasures are not only mindless but also shown to be satanic at times. The death of Mao secretes the country somewhat from this state of oppression. Universities are emp ty to function, in sortectuals come tot the fore again and people are free to articulate their opposition to the regime. Violence The novel reflects the depths of cruelty and unnatural behaviour, which the human being outhouse descend. CommunismAll the horrors of life under Maos regime are depicted in graphic detail, and the underlying corruption, which sparked off the Cultural Revolution, is vividly recorded. As the novel unfolds the profoundly sadistic features of Communism and oddly the Cultural Revolution are exposed. Family life is slowly but consistently destroyed by suspicion and lies. Distrust and Deceit are rearing in this society and everyone is used to undermine their neighbour. It is an oppressive and stifling line sustained by brutal torture and violence, where betrayal and slander are rife.Wild SwansJung Changs 1991 novel, Wild Swans gives the indorser a significant insight into a period of uncertainty and insecurity in Chinese history. From the novel the viewer i s able to identify universal issues which are still public today. Feminism recurs throughout the text as the women fight for respect as their society faces turmoil, using the communist rein of Mao as their opportunity for equivalence. Wang Yu represents the public as his own values clash with that of the communists. Due to his unshakable loyalty to the party he dismisses his own morals for that of a higher(prenominal) power.Grandfather Wu Er-ya-tous attitude is echoed throughout the text as he believed that a women should smother their emotions and to produce no opinion. This is demonstrated as each women of each generation struggles against this outlook and either succumbs or fights against it. Foot binding represents submission to handed-down values and conventions, a metaphor for womens lack of rights. Women constantly circumscribed their bodies to conform to societys expectations, indicating their lack of dependency and individuality.Power and status is base on a mans p roperty such as concubines being collected. it was good for a man in his position to have as many concubines as possible they showed a mans status. This exhibits this period of Chinese history as emotional extension is removed and women are treated as a possession which bettered her husbands prestige. swallowed opium to accompany him into death. This establishes that there was no escape from the fealty which is forced upon the women by society.Womens lives were dedicated to serving their men as they followed them into death. seen as a means of keeping people like her satisfied society wanted people such as concubines to be in a constant haze where there was no chance of critical thinking or rebellion. The first my grandmother knew.. this demonstrates the grandmothers lack of participation in her own affairs. Jung Changs emotive writing style aims for sympathy from the reader as she is factual and brunt, hoping for the reader to connect to the situation as they rehearse their own emotions.The changing roles of women are significant as it demonstrates a time of change in Chinese history. As comparability in wealthiness is fought for under Maos rein the women have also fought for equality in genders. The traditional saying, Women have long hair and short science is distinguished as the women are displayed as strong and independent in the generation of De-Hong. These individuals are a contrast to their previous generation who were humble and obedient.As three generations of women are represented in the novel the audition has a rich understanding of the lives of women in a shifting period of history. Wang Yu (Jung Changs father) can be considered a representation of the people of China as he gives his staunch loyalty to fabianism. Although his personal values and the values of fabianism clash he continues to stand for communism and bring justice to for the cause. Dr Xia could tell that my father was not fully convinced himself, but felt he had to def end the party.This demonstrates Wang Yus uncertainty about the morals of the communism yet indicates his need for equality of the people. This could be due to his youth being surrounded by poverty while many flaunted their wealth around him. Objective language is used throughout the novel in sound out to shock the auditory sense as they describe brutal events in a factual mood. The reader is able to understand the fear of the public as an example of children being forced to watch the torture of rebels is executed in order to prevent an uprising.This indicates that the people were forced into loyalty by fear. By the voice having such an unsympathetic recount of the story she has actually manipulated the audience as they feel protective over the children. This universal theme of loyalty to your countrys values is exposed in an undesirable manner in the text as many primary characters are negatively affected. De-Hong (Jung Changs mother) becomes embittered by her husband as he displ ays allegiance to the revolution before her. One night she could not stand it anymore, and burst into tears for the first time.This demonstrates Wang Yus complete dedication to communism as his strict rules come before his wife. Jung Chang criticises her fathers strict and unswerving loyalty to communism as the hardship he had enforced onto his family can be compared to the suffering caused by the corruption within the party. Dongs conscience was troubled, and that whenever he was due to garrotte someone, he had to get himself inebriated beforehand. The executioner displays his lack of belief in the cause as he has to be intoxicated before killing a person.This expresses to the audience that he understands that the beliefs of Mao are wrong but due to fear he is forced to continue. Jung Chang has provided the audience of Wild Swans a clear insight into Chinese history as major changes developed throughout three significant generations of women. Universal issues are displayed as wom en begin their fight for equality and the reasons for loyalty are questioned in an uncertain environment. The reader gains comprehension of these matters through Jung Changs representation of the events.

Inclusion Is Thought To Be A Complex Education Essay

In familiar, inclusion of kids with particular educational demands in mainstream schools is an of import issue and both European states now have law laws promoting inclusive educational scenes. ( Evans & A Lunt, 2002 ) . Even though inclusion has obtained consort logical implications throughout the old ages, since the de just now of the confines in Warnock Report ( 1978 ) bargonly too through many an(prenominal) Codes of Practice, the signifi terminatece of effectual inclusion is mollify unclarified. ( Nind & A Wearmouth,2006 ) . So, it seems necessary, harmonizing to Unicef ( 2012 ) , to know apart inclusion from two another(prenominal) footings. First, segregation in which students are distri preciselyed to particular schools harmonizing to their damage. Second, from integrating in which pupils can be placed in mainstream schools yet in separate, particular demands schoolrooms and be atom of this educational seeting all(prenominal) bit long as they adapt to its environment. Nevertheless, inclusion has a more embracing significance as it proposes the suspension of all boundaries and a common assimilation of societal, cultural, curricular individuality of the kid but besides of the whole system. ( Nowich,2008 G, Richards et Armstrong 2011 ) . UNESCO refers this assimilation by stressing the duty of the nightclub to furnish focussing to everybody and by specifying that inclusion as a procedure of ontogenesis engagement in encyclopedism, civilizations and communities and cut downing exclusion within and from instruction ( Unicef 2012,4p ) . This combination of increasing entree and besides of extinguishing exclusions led sales booth ( 2003 ) to believe inclusion as an eternal process.However, it is something more than puting all kids, including those with SEN, in the same setting.It is, in contrast to integrating, the version of school to childrens demands. ( Heat et al. 2004 ) . However, it is non simplified to cop the verge of i nclusion in theory but besides in practice.That is why Giddens ( 1994 ) refers to an Utopian pragmatism that many desire but few truly believe it can go on ( Croll & A Moses, 2000 ) while Slee ( 2004 ) metaphorically says that inclusion has become jet lagged in tack together to exemplify the assortment of definitions existed for inclusion throughout the years.Indeed, inclusion is hard to be understood and identified because of its diverseness and the deficiency of a planetary significance as in many states it is confused with integrating ( Armstrong,2005 ) . What is of import to comprehend is that we should see inclusion in a wider context in pose to accomplish it.Thisagencies that if the purpose of extinguishing unintegrated instruction is successful, it is except because society believes in inclusion and topographic points accent on persons rights and non on their acquisition troubles ( Thomas, 1997 ) . So, it is a affair of handling all kids every bit and non merely in t he same manner ( Wedell, 2008 ) . This can be managed through a transmutation in the whole society and its rules and afterwards in every smaller context much(prenominal) as the educational 1 .On the other manus, SEBD is besides considered a obscure term and hard to be understood because of deficiency of lucidity and the diverseness of their features. Consequently, inclusion of kids who are labeled as prop SEBD raises many treatments throughout the old ages. ( Cole & A Knowles 2011 ) .Nevertheless, it was non until 1981 through the Education Act that ruttish and appearanceal troubles ( EBD ) as a term was introduced and accepted for the first time.The old Educational Act ( 1944 ) had instigated the term maladjusted by doing a more medical checkup attack of these troubles whereas in the 19th century, these students were confused with delinquents or mental defectives . ( Cole & A Knowles 30p. ) However, in spite of the abolition of maladjusted kids as a definition, the Edu cation Act proceed to advance integrating and non the inclusion of people with particular demands in general ..Besides, this advancement from covering these pupils as universe maladjusted or holding emotional upsets to kids with multiple troubles was besides considerable for switching off from the medical theoretical account and traveling towards the societal 1 Many inquiry workers argue that there is non a globally accepted definition for kids with emotional and behavioral troubles ( see e.g Benett & A Aalsvoort, 2005 ) even though many alterations in policy have been made through governmental paperss in line of battle to advance inclusion of these pupils in mainstream schools ( Goodman, 2010 ) . It is used as a quasi-official term that concerns pupils behavior described as riotous , exlcuded , disputing or at misadventure ( Clough, Garner, Pardek, Yuen 2005 p.7 ) . Despite the vagueness and the multiple definitions existed, there have been many governmental altera tions that increase the opportunities for pupils with SEN such as those characterised as holding SEBD to be portion of mainstream instruction. ( Goodman & A Burton 2010 ) .For case, SEN Code of Practice explains SEBD as a acquisition trouble where kids and childish people demonstrate characteristics of emotional and behavioral troubles such as being withdrawn or isolated, interrupting and disrupted being overactive and deficient engrossment holding immature societal accomplishments orshowing disputing behavior originating from other complex particular demands ( DCSF 2008, paragraph 49 ) .Indeed, it is an imprecise term, as Goodman and Burton note, that is connected with many different behaviors, internalizing and projecting but besides with other troubles such as the job in acquisition or the hyperactivity. However, one of the intimately of import issues that might be raised is how teaching and inclusion can be effectual when the significance of umbrella footings such as SE N or SEBD have so many premises. ( Campbell 2002 ) .Furthermore, contemplations should be made rough how to clear up the purposes of inclusion and why all these barriers for its accomplishment exist.Is it appropriate to speak about a spread between theory and pattern? Jull ( 2009 ) summarises that inclusion of kids with SEBD faces many jobs in execution because of deficiency of educational and administrative administration but besides because of the behavior itself of pupils as the chief trouble to accomplish inclusion.Indeed, kids with SEBD are at great hazard of being excluded ( DfeS, 2004 ) as their antisocial behavior is thought to be a great challenge ( White melodic theme 2010 Green Paper, 2007 ) .The troubles briefly outlined above high spot the complexity of inclusion of kids identified as holding SEBD in UK context as there is a scope of issues, challenges and quandary being raised. As a consequence, after analyzing these barriers, I will propose possible ways forrad t o get the better of them. Furthermore, I will reason that despite the jobs and contemplations, inclusion can be achieved but in order to be effectual, a whole transmutation must be occurred in society and educational scenes. Therefore, I will do connexions to my ain personal experience in Greece as a six months volunteer instructor of handicraft and lingual communication to striplings and grownups with high-functioning autism and Down syndrome who besides faced emotional and behavioral diificulties.

Cheerleading Is a Sport Essay

Cheer preeminent started as a male endeavor in 1898, when a University of Minnesota football fan led the crowd in rhythm in support of their team. It was non until World War II, when men shipped turn out to war, that women took over. Then cheerleaders came to represent the the Statesn ideal of femininity wholesome orchard apple tree pie with washboard stomachs, perfect teeth, and flawless complexions. Stereotypes cast them as blond, petite, and impossibly perky. From its blue beginning cheerleading has blossomed into a competitive athletic bodily function with a terrible image problem (Forman 52).But todays post-feminist youth corroborate put a new, diverse face on cheerleading. Cheerleading in America is no extended a matter of waving pom-poms, a sly smile and being overly perky. Calling themselves athletes, non eye candy, cheerleaders are pushing harder for deferred payment as participants in an official sport. Today, cheerleading involves skills which require the pecu liarity of football, the grace of dance, and the agility of gymnastic exercise. Complex maneuvers are performed which challenge the limits of the body.Safety organizations such(prenominal) as the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators were formed to develop safety rules to occur programs in the safe cognitive process of cheerleading gymnastics, which include jumps, partner stunts, pyramids and tumbling. With the run a risks gnarly today, cheerleading should generate statewide recognition as a sport. Opposition to making cheerleading a sport, continually say, cheerleaders are not athletes.Confirmation of this lies in the position report of Womens Sports Foundation, any physical activity in which relative performance can be judged or quantified can be developed into a competitive sport as long as (1) the physical activity includes the above defined elements and (2) the primary target is competition versus other teams or individuals within a competition structure comparable to other mutation activitiesCheerleading in its current format, does not meet the second criteria listed above.The primary purpose is not competition, but that of raising school unity through leading the crowd at athletic functions. (Forman 51) Yet, as sports like football, basketball, and wrestling plow more popular, so does the cheerleaders. Nay-Sayers of the movement are content to have cheerleaders safe be the back-up dancers. Not understanding that cheerleaders are just as plaintful as the sports teams they cheer for. Challengers say cheerleaders do not have the akin time commitments as other sports teams.While they as well as do not recognize the physical strain put on cheerleaders bodies and the increased risk for injuries. The long-held view of cheerleading as merely another school activity is also a concern. If the athleticism of cheerleading is not recognized, the supervision will continue to light up to teachers that are not qualified to adeq uately supervise. Additionally, existing advisors will not receive the training necessary to provide adequate supervision of an increasingly athletic activity. Cheerleading has all the elements of a sport competition, practice skills, teamwork, and training.It also has a year round commitment. An important movement in the world of cheerleading is the spit out to legitimate the activity in the eyes of the public, said Laura Grindstaff, assistant prof of sociology and cultural studies at the University of California-Davis(Coman Cheerleading is now risker). Cheerleaders are struggling to gain the recognition and love they deserve for their sport. Although some colleges offer cheerleading scholarships, cheerleaders still face contrariety in spunky school and college athletics.It is alarming considering all the new risks involved that it has yet to be mandated in all states as a sport. 20 six state athletic organizations have deemed cheerleading should be recognized as a sport, but what about the other twenty five? Cheerleading was excluded as a sport when Title IX was passed, which forbids sex discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funding (Rondon 98). Title IX was mantic to be legislation that mandated that boys and girls receive equal sporting opportunities.But even certification just requires that coaches pass an online test theres no requirement for training in gymnastics or spotting techniques. (Ebersole Thrills and Spills). And only about a dozen states regulate cheer according to the rules adjust by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). For high school football, on the other hand, all states follow the NFHS rulebook except Texas, which uses the NCAA college-level rules. Soccer, hockey, basketball, and gymnastics cannot compete when it comes to serious back problems, fractures and, in grave cases paralysis(Forman 51). Cheerleading is not considered a sport, so none of the safeguards that other sp orts have developed applies(Forman 52). In the two states where cheerleading is classified as a sport, cheerleaders are subject to the alike(p) rules as athletes, regarding practice and travel restrictions, safety, camps, and coaching certification. Cheerleaders need the guarantee of puritanical training room, proper medical care, and proper checks and screenings for participants. If properly recognized teams would be provided better training facilities, coaches would be properly trained, injuries would decrease and funding for the programs would increase.With all aspect of cheerleading becoming increasingly difficult cheerleading deserves the state-wide recognition as a sport just as any other physical sporting activity. In the words of Kane of the Tucker Center, when the culture starts rewarding cheerleading in the very(prenominal) way in which it rewards women and men sports with economic parity and scholarships, not patently regulated to the sidelines, then I think were ont o something (Rondon 99). No longer content to just cheer on the sidelines, cheerleaders are now demanding the respect they so rightfully deserve.

College Is It Worth It Essay

Right now in our society university pedagogy is no longer an option or privilege, but rather a necessity. We be practically raised and conditi adeptd to believe that one needs high gentility in order to succeed in life. There is a saying that says if you call preparation is expensive, try ignorance. But as engineering science is constantly advancing and computers ar running almost anything, is a college education really necessary? There are tribe who be possessed of never set foot in a college and are doing better than people who have their masters pointedness.There are views from both sides that engage a valid argument. The main reason why people go to college is non because they want to but because they have to. Most 11th and twelfth graders are pressured by their parents to go to college because it is the right thing to do. In the butt jointvass that Caroline Bird wrote College is a Waste of Time and Money, she states that students go to college because . . . Mot her wanted them to go, or some other reason whole irrelevant to the note of studies for which college is supposedly organized. The student may have unalike ideas approximately what he or she wants to do in life, but because they think that their parents know what is shell for them, they probably end up doing something they do not want to do, resulting in being miserable and resentful. Lets slip it, passing play to college is socially prestigious. Most people go to college lone(prenominal) for the ennoble of being called a college student. For some young people, it is a graceful air to necessitate away from home and become independent without losing the financial condescend of their parents.They do not want to be looked down upon so they do what would look best in the eyes of society. It is practically deplete into our heads that in order to be a respectable citizen of society, you should have some sort of university education. Being a college student is perhaps a more respectable role than being, for example, a clerk or a drool man because of the negative connotations such jobs receive. Going to college and getting a degree does not necessarily guarantee that an individual is going to get a job right later graduation.It is hard out there for impertinently-made graduates to find a good job since there is so often metres competition due to the insanely increasing numbers of our population and a wildrace for the lions share in every field. Even if they do get a job, it is usually not in what they got their degree for. Many college students would feel that college is a waste of money because they do not learn what they want to. or else they have to take classes that have close to nothing to do with their study but are only taking these classes in order to receive a general educational requirement.Upon graduation, some feel that they are at a disadvantage because more time could have been spent on breeding more within their field of study an d less on irrelevant materials. Now for the pros of having a professional college education. The major reason of going to college is, of course, to get a good job. College prepares us with academic knowledge in order to succeed in the future. According to Ernest Boyner higher education is subjective for preparation for ones future. He states that In spatial terms, dogma and learning may begin in a classroom, but course work also spills over into the life of the campus and the community.Students engage in experimential learning and co-curricular activities that take abstract ideas and anchor them in real-life problems. As the competition to get a decent job is increasing, it is close to impossible to obtain a high paying job without at least a suffers degree. Many jobs that only used to want their workers to have a high school diploma now require some college education due to their extremely complicated nature. Another way college is worthy the money, however, is because it is o ne of the few institutions that often contains people of different ethnic and racial backgrounds. much(prenominal) a situation allows one to develop their social and communicative skills because they are exposed to unfamiliar cultures. This is necessary for the fact that a person does not want to come across as ignorant towards a trustworthy culture. This only, however, comes in handy when you are being educated abroad. College is like a stepping stone to becoming a responsible adult because for the first time most people are practically on their own (that would in spades include me). It is completely different from high school in that not only that school has to be dealt with, but you have to juggle your personal time and financial state as well.They go away to college and side circumstances that they would most likely come across when they finally do go on their own. Bills have to be paid, time has to be managed efficiently, and deadlines have to be met, just like in the real wo rld. College is not only about getting a good job but about acquiring knowledge and broadening ones horizon. A plenteousness of courses that are at school are not needed for a trusted major but are just there for implicated people who want to learn more about a certain subject.Bowen explains this by breaking it down into three aspects the specific goals for the education employment are derived. This function is intended to help students develop as persons in three respects cognitive learning, by expanding their knowledge and intellectual powers affectional development, by enhancing their moral, religious, and emotional interests and sensibilities and practical competence, by improving their performance in citizenship, work, family life, consumer choice, health, and other practical affairs.It is sometimes just as good to be an intelligent person and know about a lot of things instead of being someone who makes a lot of money. My admission into an arts college after a lifetime of struggle of being an a-grade science student, had led me to staidly consider the complexity of this topic and what i have learned is that college definitely has its pros and cons. But I think that college is what you make of it. It can be the best time of your life, but only if you want it to.You can take the hopeless view about it and think that college is a waste of money, or it can be looked at as a challenging and exciting new frontier that basically allow set the precedent for the rest of your life. No matter what i learn in this environment that has been setup on an organised platform to produce strong and self assured individuls that will help make this deteriorating world a better place to live in ,even if we dont do it conciously, what I know for sure is that the education I recieve in this college will always be of invaluable worth once i step out in the ruthless fish-eat-fish world.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge and Its Effect on Canadian Nationalism

Many historians believe that the success of the Canadian corps in the Great contend was a primary root system in the development of Canadian nationalism and pride amongst citizens and soldiers. Canadas identity and reputation evolved on an transnational scale as a provide of Canadas contend efforts through memorable battles such as the action of Somme and the Battle of Vimy ridge. These battles withal helped Canada earn its sovereignty, making them less and less of an violet dominion under the control of Britain, therefore allowing Canada to make more independent decisions in regards to world affairs. french-Canadians sought for independence as they were opposed to some(prenominal) British imperialism and Canadas involvement in the War this would help venting Canadian nationalism and help preserve French culture. The Canadian Corps was formed by the Canadian Expeditionary Force and consisted of quaternion divisions by August 1916. It was made up of people from differen t provinces and different ethnicities provided they all fought representing their Country. It was noted by one veteran, We went up as Albertans and Nova Scotians. We came calibrate as Canadians.When Canadian troops first arrived in England, Lord Kitchener, the British Minister of War, intended to split up the Canadian divisions amongst existing British battalions. However, Sam Hughes, the Canadian military commander ignored Lord Kitcheners intentions and kept the Canadian soldiers together. This showed that Canada could fight as an independent unit and was not undecomposed an extension of the British army. Distinguishing the Canadian Expeditionary force out from the British force gave soldiers a sense of national identity and pride.While Canada joined the war found on the obligation to help Britain, they were now representing Canada by fighting for their patriotism. The Canadian Corps was regarded as one of the most effective fighting forces on the Western Front. Their effecti veness came from their ability to study the successes from other assort forces, which they employ to implement doctrine and new tactics that were religiously practiced in training and eventually put to utilise on the battlefield. This was most broad during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917, where Canadians achieved victory that no other confederate force could achieve.The Canadian victory at Vimy Ridge was referred to by the media as the birth of a nation where they earned respect from the other allied nations and proved that they were a strong and independent nation. For the first time, all four Canadian divisions fought in the same battle as a cohesive unit where they captured more arms and more prisoners (4,000) than any other affiliate offensive since the start of the war. This instilled national pride not tho within the soldiers but within the nation itself.After the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Sir Arthur William Currie was appointed as the first Canadian commander of the Cana dian Corps which was previously commanded by the British. This was a pivotal point in Canadian history as Canada earned the respect from the British to command their own units, auguryifying Canadas independency from Britain. After the Great War, Canada continued to demonstrate its independency from Britain. At the 1919 genus Paris Peace Conference, all the countries involved in the war were gathered to sign the Treaty of Versailles Canada demanded to sign the treaty without British permission.This gave Canada worldwide recognition of be a separate nation from Britain and allowed them to have a stronger position in regards to world affairs. The view of Canada being a separate identity from Britain was also amplified when they joined the League of Nations as an independent country. Both these events demonstrated that Canada has a voice and is able to make independent decisions in regards to world semipolitical affairs. On the opposite scope, French-Canadians were establishing natio nalism within Canada.The majority of French-Canadians were highly against British imperialism and the fact that Canada joined the war based on this notion. French-Canadians wanted to be independent of Britain and felt that it was not their duty to swear them in the war. Henri Bourassa with support from French Canada urged that Canada separate from Britain so that they would no longer be dragged into wars. By the influence of Bourassa, many French Canadians were opposed to volunteering to the Canadian Expeditionary Force.Bourassa believed that Canadas commitment to help Britain win the war would eventually lead to conscription this would then force many French-Canadians to introduce in the war. Bourassa felt that the war was merely serving British imperialist aims as Canadian authorities introduced decree 17 in 1912 which limited French language education. Regulation 17 was believed to be the main reason why French-Canadians did not participate in the war. English Canadians thou ght that French Canadians were not pulling their clog in the war effort as only 5% of volunteers came from French Canada.Despite Bourassas efforts to prevent conscription, Prime Minister Robert Borden implemented conscription in 1917. In the end, only 24,132 conscripts made it to France before the end of the war. The Great War was considered by many Canadas war of independence. Through the progression of the war and after many victories, Canada earned worldwide recognition for their achievements. to a greater extent specifically, their use of highly developed tactics enabled them to earn victory at Vimy Ridge where both the British and French forces had failed.Battles such as the one at Vimy Ridge provided a national identity for Canada, both on the international and domestic scales. This marked the start of Canadas sovereignty, separating them from British Imperialism which would continue easily up into the mid 20th century. 1 . Weir, E. (Fall, 2004). Using the Legacy of insta uration War I to Evaluate Canadian Military Leadership in World War II. Journal of Military and Strategic Studies. 2 . Maroney, Paul. (1998). Lest We impede War and Meaning in English Canada.Journal of Canadian Studies. pp. 108-124. 3 . Bindo, Kathryn (1979). More Than Patriotism. Toronto, ON Personal Library Publishers. 4 . Nersessian, Mary (April 9, 2007). Vimy battle mark birth of Canadian nationalism. CTV. ca 5 . Baril, Lynda (2002). Ordeal by Fire. Canada A peoples History. http//www. cbc. ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP12CH1PA3LE. html, accessed 2012 Nov 3. 6 . Bourassa, Henri. The French Canadian in the British Empire. (London John Murray, 1902), 26, 30-31. 7 . Brookl, Adriana.The Canada/Britain Relationship. The William Ready Division of record and Research Collections. http//library. mcmaster. ca/archives/exhibits/worldwar_canadabritain, accessed 2012 Nov 3. 8 . Murrow, Casey (1968). Henri Bourassa and French Canadian Nationalism. Montreal, QC harvest home House. pp. 87-88. 9 . ib. p91. 10 . Bumstead, J. M. The Peoples of Canada, A Post-Confederation History. 11 . Ibid. 12 . English, J. (1991). The Canadian Army and the Normandy Campaign A Study of reverse in High Command. Praeger Publishers.

Resembling peace Essay

In the overbold Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad the author condemns the colony of the Europeans on the African islands of Congo, eminently focusing on the barbarous and insensate treat workforcet of the natives. In this loss though, the central character Marlow narrates to the other men on his ship about his perspective of the experience he had when he went up the river Congo passing through the wild jungle in order to reach the inner station. The tone throughout the passage suggests a negative connotation of the wilderness of Congo because of the choice of watchwords Marlow uses to exposit the jungle.Phrases such as unrestful and the noisy world of plants portraits the jungle as creation quite sinister instead of peaceful and quiet as the readers would pack it to be. This passage is a composition of parables, allegory, symbolism, dark and light contrast and overstatement which Marlow uses abundantly to describe his journey. Marlow compargons going up the river as being same traveling back to the earliest beginning of the world. (1) He uses a simile to describe the jungle as being how the world was earlier to begin with the technology and civilization was born, when the world was pure as it was when it was created by nature. besides then he continues the remark by saying when ve substantiateation rioted on the earth and the big trees were kings. Marlow paints this picture as the wilderness having the ability to maintain against each other and when there was power between the trees. He uses the word king to describe the variation of power between the trees much analogous how the Europeans were being superior by trying to civilize the natives through bestial means. Marlow adds to the interpretation of the jungle as having a great secretiveness. (2) The phrase silence is inserted in his description to give a contrast of whats chance inside the jungle.Inside the jungle, in the inner station, it has been said that Kurtz uses unconventional meth ods to recover the ivory he makes. This suggests that Kurtz is probably using violence or manipulations which are contrasts of silence. More ever, as Marlows journey proceeds march on and further into the jungle and closer to the inner station, Marlows streamer gets attacked by the natives. Moments onwards they are being attacked, Marlow describes to have heard voices crying wildly approach path from the jungle.The diction silence not only is a contrast of what is possibility inside the jungle, it is also a contrast of a future mount where they are being attacked. Marlow further describes the river as being facile to get lost in as you would in a desert. This phrase shows that Marlow is alienated as to his purpose in this voyage, why he wanted to keep abreast on this journey and what he was expecting to find. This phrase also indicates that Marlow perceives the river to be inexplicable and that is one of the qualities of the river that urge him to continue his journey bec ause of his curiousness.Later in the passage, Marlow indicates that the river as this stillness of life which did not in the least resemble peace. (9) This description of the river as not resembling peace connects directly to the journey that Marlow has been traveling in. of all time since Marlow decided to come on this voyage, he has been uncertain as to whom he really is and what he wants to do or what need to be done. Marlow has operose opinions about the Europeans as being fools, devils, and folly, for not knowing what they are doing. non for being racists or discrimination of the natives as they are being tie up and worked to death.Marlow considers him self as being not especially in the altogether towards the Africans which contradicts to what he has been saying all along through out the novel as Africans as not being our enemies. This passage describes the wildness and the sinister appeal of the river and the wilderness which is a comparison to the look of Marlow. Insi de his head, Marlow is confused, unrestful, and not in the least resembling peace. This journey takes Marlow to the places he has neer been before in order to find himself inside.

A Dirty Job Chapter 21

21COMMON COURTESYCharlie was torn he re alto perk uphery valued to come ski binding his s record book- slash, unless he couldnt carry it dapple using the crutches. He conside loss duct-taping it to ace of the crutches, unspoiled now he thought that talent attract attention.You want me to go with you? irradiation asked. I mean, you okay to drive, with your leg and all in all?Ill be fine, Charlie unravel. person extremitys to visualise the store.Charlie, before you go, fag end I ask you some occasion?Sure. Dont ask, dont ask, dont ask, Charlie thought.why did you need me to hear these devil women?You robot-necked bastard, you had to ask. I t sometime(a) you, estate pres real. Charlie shrugged. No braggy deal, let it go, cryptograph to analyze here.Yeah, I screw you told me that, and normally that would concur sense, barely I found come in a lot active these two while feel for them no angiotensin-converting enzyme in both of their families has died rece ntly.Funny thing, Charlie ordain, juggling his keys, the lash, his date hold, and his crutches by the hour entrystep. Both bequests were from nonrelatives. experienced friends. No wonder women dont kindred you, you adept wont leave things al 1.Uh-huh, shaft utter, unconvinced. You know, when hoi polloi run, when they go as far as faking their own death to bug out away, they are usually running from something. Are you that something, Charlie?Ray, listen to yourself. Are you thorn on your serial-killer thing? I thought Rivera explained that.So this is for Rivera?Lets verify hes interested, Charlie verbalise. wherefore didnt you just say so?Charlie sighed. Ray, Im not supposed(a) to let the cat out of the bag slightly this stuff, you know that. Fourth Amendment and all. I came to you because youre good, and you bear contacts. I regard on you and I trust you. I think you know that you faeces depend on me and trust me, compensate? I mean, in all these years, Ive neer put your disability pension in jeopardy by universe careless close our arrangement, corroborate I?It was a threat, however subtle, and Charlie matte hard for doing it, moreover he just couldnt let Ray happen to push on this, particularly since he was in unexplored territorial dominion himself he didnt even know what kind of bluff he was coering.So Mrs. Johnson isnt dismission to end up dead(a) if I find her for you?I provide not lay a hand on Mrs. Johnson or Mrs. PojoMrs. Pokojo or that other fair sex either. You have my word on it. Charlie raised(a) his hand as if swearing on a Bible and dropped one of his crutches.Why dont you just use the flocke? Ray said.Right, Charlie said. He leaned the crutches on the door and move his weight on the bad leg and the cane. The doctors had, indeed, said that it was just a flesh wound, so thither was no tendon damage, just muscle, further it hurt the the wish wells ofs of stone to put whatsoever weight on that foot. T he cane would work, he decided. I should be adventure to relieve you before five. He limped out the door.Ray didnt uniform be lied to. Hed had quite enough of that from his desperate Filipinas and was becoming sensitive about being draw backn for a fool. Who did Charlie Asher think he was fooling? As soon as he got the store squared away, hed own Rivera a call and tincture out for himself.He went out into the store and did a puny dusting, because went to Charlies special rack, where he kept the weird estate items that he made such a fuss about. You were solo supposed to get by one to each customer, simply Ray had sold five of them to the very(prenominal) woman in the last two weeks. He knew he should have said something to Charlie, but really, why? Charlie wasnt being decipher competent with him about anything, it elatemed.Besides, the woman who bought the stuff was cute, and shed smiled at Ray. She had nice copper, a cute figure, and really smash light blue eyes. Plus there was something about her voice she confabmed so, what? Peaceful, whitethornbe. equal she knew that everything was way out to be okay and no one needed to worry. perhaps he was projecting. And she didnt have an Adams apple, which was a big plus in Rays book lately. Hed tried to get her crap, even get a look at something in her wallet, but shed paid in cash and had been as careful as a poker player covering her cards. If shed driven, shed parked as rise as far away for him to see her get into her car from the store, so there was no license human action to trace.He resolved to ask her boot if she came in today. And she was due to come in. She only came in when he was working(a) alone. Hed seen her check by dint of the window once when he was working with Lily, and only came into the store by and bywards when Lily was gone. He really hoped shed come in.He tried to calm himself work with for his call to Rivera. He didnt want to seem like a rube to a rib who was still on the job. He used his own cell phone for the call so Rivera would see it was him calling.Charlie didnt like leaving Sophie for this yearn, given what had happened a few days ago, but on the other hand, whatever might be threatening her was evidently being caused by his missing these two soul vessels. The quicker he fixed the problem, the quicker the threat would be diminished. Besides, the hellhounds were her best defense, and hed given express instructions to Mrs. Ling that the dogs and Sophie were not to be separated for any fall of time, for any reason.He took Presidio Boulevard by means of Golden Gate putting green into the Sunset, reminding himself to take Sophie to the Japanese Tea Garden to feed the koi, now that her abomination on pets seemed to have subsided.The Sunset district lay just sec of Golden Gate Park, bordered by the American Highway and ocean Beach on the west, and Twin Peaks and the University of San Francisco on the east. It had once been a suburb, until the city expanded to include it, and many of its houses were modest, single-story family dwellings, built en masse in the 1940s and 50s. They were like the mosaics of detailed boxes that peppered neighborhoods across the entire country in that postwar period, but in San Francisco, where so much had been built afterward the quake and fire of 06, then(prenominal) again in the economic skag of the late twentieth century, they seemed like anachronisms from both ends of time. Charlie felt like he was driving through the Eisenhower era, at least until he passed a start with a shaved head and tribal tattoos on her scalp button twins in a double stroller.genus Irena Posokovanovichs sister lived in a pure, one-story frame house with a delicate covered porch that had jasmine vines suppuration up trellises on either side and springing off into the air like morning-after-sex hair. The rest of the picayune yard was meticulously groomed, from the holly h brim at the pav ement to the red geraniums that lined the concrete path up to the house.Charlie parked a block away and walked to the house. On the way he was nearly run over by two different joggers, one a new(a) mother pushing a running stroller. They couldnt see him he was on track. straight off, how to go about getting in? And then what? If he was the Luminatus, then perhaps just his presence would take care of the problem.He check out around back and sawing machine that there was a car in the garage, but the shades were drawn on all the windows. Finally he decided on the frontal approach and rang the doorbell.A few seconds later a short woman in her seventies wearing a pink chenille housecoat opened the door. Yes, she said, looking a piffling suspicious as she eyed Charlies walking cast. She quickly flipped the lock on the silver screen door. Can I help you?It was the woman in the picture. Yes, maam, Im looking for Irena Posokovanovich.Well, shes not here, said Irena Posokovanovich. You must have the ravish house. She started to close the door.Wasnt there a death notice in the composing a couple of weeks ago? Charlie said. So far, his awesome presence as the Luminatus wasnt having much of an effect on her.Well, yes, I believe there was, said the woman, sensing an out. She opened the door a little more. It was such a tragedy. We all loved Irena so much. She was the kindest, most generous, most loving, mesmeric you know, for her age well-read And evidently didnt know that its considered common courtesy when you resign a death notice to actually die Charlie held out the overstated drivers-license picture. He considered adding aha but thought that might be a little over-the-top.Irena Posokovanovich slammed the door. I dont know who you are, but you have the wrong house, she said through the door.You know who I am, Charlie said. Actually, she probably had no idea who he was. And I know who you are, and you are supposed to have died three weeks ago.Youre mistake n. Now go away before I call the police and verbalise them that theres a rapist at my door.Charlie gagged a little, then pushed on. I am not a rapist, Mrs. PosoPosokev Im decease, Irena. Thats who I am. And you are overdue. You need to die, this minute if possible. Theres nothing to be afraid of. Its like exhalation to sleep, only, well Im not quick, Irena whined. If I was ready I wouldnt have left my home. Im not ready.Im sorry, maam, but I have to insist.Im sure youre mistaken. Perhaps other Mrs. Posokovanovich.No, here it is, right here in the schedule, with your address. Its you. Charlie held his date book revokeed to the page with her name on it up to the little window in the door.And you say that that is endings calendar?Thats correct, maam. Notice the date. And this is your second notice.And you are final stage?Thats right.Well, thats just silly.I am not silly, Mrs. Posokovanovich. I am Death.Arent you supposed to have a reaping hook and a long black robe?No, we don t do that anymore. Take my word for it, I am Death. He tried to sound really ominous.Death is always tall in the pictures. She was stand up on tiptoe, he could tell the way she kept bouncing up by the little window to get a look at him. You dont seem tall enough.Theres no height requirement.Then could I see your personal line of credit card?Sure. Charlie took out a card and held it against the crank.This says Purveyor of Fine Vintage Clothing and Accessories.Right on the dot He knew he should have had a second set of business cards printed up. And where do you think I get those things? From the dead. You see?Mr. Asher, Im going to have to ask you to leave.No, maam, Im going to have to insist that you pass away, this instant. Youre overdue.Go away You are a charlatan, and I think you need rational help.Death Youre fucking with Death Capital D, flakech Well, that was uncalled for. Charlie felt bad the second he said it. Sorry, he mumbled to the door.Im calling the police.You go ahead, Mrs. uh Irena. You know what theyll tell you, that youre dead It was in the Chronicle. They hardly ever print stuff thats not true.Please go away. I practiced for a long time so I could live longer, its not fair.What?Go away.I heard that part, I mean the part about practicing.Never you mind. You just go take someone else.Charlie actually had no idea what he would do if she let him in. Maybe he had to touch her for his Death abilities to heyday in. He remembered seeing an old Twilight Zone as a nestling, where Robert Redford was Death, and this old brothel keeper wouldnt let him in, so he pretended to be injured, and when she came to help himALA-KAZAM She croaked, and he peacefully led her off to Hole in the Wall, where she helped him produce independent movies. Maybe that would work. He did have the cast and the cane going for him.He looked up and down the street to make sure that no one could see him, then he lay down, half(a) on the little porch, half on the concre te steps. He threw his cane against the door and made sure that it clattered loudly on the concrete, then he let out what he thought was a very convince wail. Ahhhhhhhhh, Ive broken my leg.He heard footsteps inside and saw gray hair at the little window, bouncing a little so she could see out.Oh, it hurts, Charlie wailed. Help.More steps, the shade in the window to the right of the door separate and he saw an eye. He grimaced in fake pain.Are you all right? said Mrs. Posokovanovich.I need help. My leg was hurt before, but I slipped on your steps. I think Ive broken something. Theres blood, and a enchantment of bone sticking out. He kept his leg below the direct where she could see it.Oh my, she said. Give me a minute.Help. Please. The pain. So much pain. Charlie coughed the way cowboys do when they are dying in the dirt and things are getting all dark.He heard the latch being thrown, and then the inner door opened. Youre really hurt bad, she said.Please, Charlie said, holding h is hand out to her. Help me.She unsecured the screen. Charlie suppressed a grin. Oh, thank you, he gasped.She threw open the screen door and blasted him in the suit with a stream of pepper spray. I saw that Twilight Zone, you son of a bitch The doors slammed. The latch was thrown.Charlies face felt like it was on fire.When he could finally see well enough to walk, as he limped back to his van, he heard a female voice say, Id have let you in, lover. Then a refrain of spooky-girlish laughter erupted from the storm sewer. He backed against the van, ready to draw the leaf blade from the cane, but then he heard what sounded like a small dog barking in the sewer.Where did he come from? said one of the harpies.He bit me You little fuckerGet himI hate dogs. When we take over, no dogs.The barking faded away, followed by the voices of the sewer harpies. Charlie took a deep breath and tried to blink the pain out of his eyes. He needed to regroup, but then he was taking the old lady down, p epper spray or not.It took him the better part of an hour to get into position, but once he was ready, he put down the cinder block, flipped open his cell phone, and dialed the number hed gotten from information.A woman answered. Hello.Maam, this is the gas company, Charlie said in his best gas-company voice. My power system is showing pressure loss at your address. Were sending a hand truck right out, but you need to get everyone out of the house, right now.Well, Im the only one here right now, but Im sorry, I dont smell gas.It may be building up under the house, Charlie said, feeling proud of himself for being quick on his feet. Is there anyone else in the house?No, just me and my kitty, Samantha.Maam, occupy take the cat and go out by the street. Our truck will meet you there. Go right now, okay?Well, all right.Thank you, maam. Charlie clicked off. He could feel movement inside of the house. He moved right to the edge of the porch roof and raised the concrete cinder block ove r his head. Itll look like an accident, he thought, like a cinder block cut off the porch roof. He was glad that no one could see him up here. He was sweating from the climb, his armpits stained, his trousers wrinkled.He heard the door open and got ready to throw the cinder block as soon as his stigma emerged from under the roof.Good afternoon, maam. A mans voice, out by the street.Charlie looked down to see Inspector Rivera standing at the sidewalk, having just climbed out of an unmarked car. What the hell was he doing here?Are you the gas company? said Mrs. Posokovanovich.No, maam, Im from the San Francisco police. He flashed his badge.They told me there was a gas leak, she said.Thats been taken care of, maam. Could you step back inside and Ill check with you in a minute, okay?Well, okay, then.Charlie heard the doors open and close again. His arms were trembling from holding the cinder block over his head. He tried to breathe quietly, thinking that the sound of his wheezing migh t attract Riveras attention, make him visible.Mr. Asher, what are you doing up there?Charlie nearly befuddled his balance and went over. You can see me?Yes, sir, I certainly can. And I can also see that cinder block youre holding over your head.Oh, this old thing.What were you planning on doing with that?Repairs? Charlie tried. How could Rivera see him when he was in soul-vessel-retrieval mode?Im sorry, but I dont believe you, Mr. Asher. Youre going to have to drop the cinder block.Id or else not. It was really hard getting it up here.Be that as it may, Im going to have to insist that you drop it.I was planning on it, but then you showed up.Please. Indulge me. Look, youre sweating. Climb down and you can sit in my air-conditioned car with me. Well chat talk about Italian suits, the Giants I dont know why you were about to brain that sweet old lady with a cinder block. Air-conditioning, Mr. Asher wont that be nice?Charlie brought the cinder block down and rested it on his t bro ad(prenominal), feeling his trousers snagging beyond repair as he did so. Thats not much of an incentive. What am I, some primitive Amazon immanent? Ive had air-conditioning before. I have air-conditioning in my own van.Yes, Ill admit its not merely a weekend in Paris, but the next choice was that I shoot you off the roof, and they put you in a body bag, which is going to be sweltering on a warm day like this.Oh, well, yes, Charlie said. That does make air-conditioning sound a lot more inviting. Thanks. Im going to cast aside my brick down first, if thats okay?That would be great, Mr. Asher.Disillusioned with DesperateFilipinas, Ray was browsing through the selection of lonely first-grade teachers with masters degrees in nuclear physics on when she came through the door. He heard the bell and caught her out of the corner of his eye, and forgetting that his neck vertebrae were fused, he sprained the left side of his face trying to turn to see her.She saw him looking and smiled.Ray smiled back, then, out of the corner of his eye, saw the monitor with the photo of the first-grade teacher holding her breasts, and sprained the right side of his face trying to turn in time to punch the power button before she passed the counter. righteous browsing, said the love of his invigoration. How are you today?Hi, Ray said. In his mental rehearsals, he started with hi, and it just sort of burped out of him before he realised that it put him behind a beat. I mean, fine. Sorry. I was working.I can see that. Again the smile.She was so understanding, forgiving and kind, you could just tell that by her eyes. He knew in his heart that he would even sit through a hat movie for this woman. He would watch A board with a View AND The English Patient, back-to-back, just to share a pizza pie with her. And she would stop him from eating his service revolver halfway through the second movie, because thats just how she was compassionate.She made a show of browsing the store, but tw o minutes hadnt passed before she made for Charlies special shelf. Even the sign said SPECIAL ITEMS ONE PER CUSTOMER, but it didnt say if that was a per-day policy, or one per lifetime. Charlie hadnt really specified, now that Ray thought about it. Sure, Lily had yammered on about how important it was that they adhere to the policy, but that was Lily, she might have grown up some, but she was still disturbed.After a short time she picked up an electric alarm clock and brought it over to the counter. This was it. This was it. Ray heard the back door open.Will this be everything? he said.Yes, said the future Mrs. Ray Macy. Ive been looking for one like this.Yep, you cant beat a Sunbeam, Ray said. Thats two-sixteen with tax aw, heck, call it two even.Thats very nice of you, she said, digging into a small purse woven from colorful Guatemalan cotton thread.Hi, Ray, Lily said, suddenly standing there beside him like some evil phantom who appeared out of nowhere to leech every potential ly joyous moment out of his life.Hi, Lily, he said.Lily clicked some keys on the computer. Slowed down by his freshly sprained face, Ray wasnt able to turn before shed hit the power button on the monitor.Whats this? asked Lily.With his let go hand, Ray thumped Lily in the thigh under the counter.Ouch FreakIm sure youll make happy waking up with that, Ray said, handing the alarm clock to the woman who would be his queen.Thank you so much, said the lovely brunette goddess of all things Ray.By the way, Ray said, pushing on, youve been in a couple of times, I was wondering, you know, because Im peculiar(a) that way, uh, whats your name?Audrey.Hi, Audrey. Im Ray.Nice to meet you, Ray. Gotta go. Bye. She coild over her shoulder and headed out the door.Ray and Lily watched her walk away.Nice butt, Lily said.She said my name, Ray said.Shes a little bit I dont know unimaginary for you.Ray turned to the nemesis Lily. You have to watch the store. I have to go.Why?I have to follow her, fi nd out who she is. Ray began to gather his stuff phone, keys, baseball cap.Yeah, thats healthy, Ray.Tell Charlie I dont tell Charlie.Okay. So is it okay if I switch the computer from the pitiful Web site?What are you talking about?Lily stepped back from the screen and pointed to the letters as she read, Ukrainian Girls Loving You U-G-L-Y, ugly. Lily smiled, a perky, self-satisfied smile, like that kid who won the spelling bee in third grade. Didnt you hate that kid?Ray couldnt believe it. They werent even being subtle about it anymore. Cant talk, he said. Gotta go. He ran out the door and headed up Mason Street after the lovely and compassionate Audrey.Rivera had driven up to the Cliff House eating place overlooking Seal Rocks and forced Charlie to buy him a drink while they watched the surfers down on the beach. Rivera was not a morbid man, but he knew that if he came here enough times, eventually hed see a surfer get hit by a white shark. In fact, he sorely hoped that it wou ld happen, because otherwise, the world made no sense, there was no justice, and life was just a tangled ball of chaos. Thousands of seals in the water and on the rocks the mainstay of the white shark diet hundreds of surfers in the water, dressed like seals, well, it just needed to happen for all to be right with the world.I never believed you, Mr. Asher, when you said that you were Death, but since I couldnt explain whatever that thing was in the alley with you, didnt want to explain, in fact, I let it slide.And I appreciate that, said Charlie, showing a little discomfort at drinking a glaze over of wine with handcuffs on. His face was candy-apple red from having been burned by the pepper spray. Is this normal procedure for interrogations?No, Rivera said. Normally the city is supposed to pay, but Ill have the judge take the drinks off your sentence.Great. Thanks, Charlie said. And you can call me Charlie.Okay, and you can call me Inspector Rivera. Now, braining the old lady wi th the cinder block just exactly what were you thinking?Do I need a lawyer?Of course not, youre fine, this bar is full of witnesses. Rivera had once been a by-the-book kind of cop. That was before the demons, the giant owls, the bankruptcy, the polar bears, the vampires, the divorce, and the saber-clawed woman-thing that turned into a bird. Now, not so much.In that case, I was thinking that no one could see me, Charlie said.Because you were invisible?Not really. Just sort of not noticeable.Well, Ill give you that, but I dont think thats any reason to crush a grandmothers skull.You have no proof of that, Charlie said.Of course I do, Rivera said, holding up his glass to signal to the waitress that he needed another Glenfiddich on the rocks. I saw pictures of her grandchildren, she showed me when I went in the house.No, I mean you have no proof that I was going to crush her skull.I see, said Rivera, who did not see at all. How did you know Mrs. Posokovanovich?I didnt. Her name just sh owed up in my date book, like I showed you.Yes, you did. Yes, you did. But that doesnt really give you a license to kill her, now does it?Thats the point, she was supposed to be dead three weeks ago. There was even a death notice in the paper. I was just trying to make sure it was accurate.So in lieu of having the Chronicle print a correction, you thought youd bash in grannys brains.Well, it was that or have my daughter say kitty at her, and I pooh-pooh to exploit my child in that way.Well, I admire your taking the high ground on that one, Charlie, Rivera said, thinking, Who do I have to shoot to get a drink around here? But lets just say that for one millisecond I believe you, and the old lady was supposed to die, but didnt, and that because of it you were shot with a crossbow and that thing I shot in the alley appeared lets just say I believe all that, what am I supposed to do about it?You need to be careful, Charlie said. You may be turning into one of us.Pardon?Thats how it ha ppened to me. When my wife passed away, in the hospital, I saw the guy that came to collect her soul vessel, and wham, I was a Death Merchant. You saw me today, when no one else could, and you saw the sewer harpy, that night in the alley. Most of the time, Im the only one who can see them.Rivera really, really wanted to turn this guy over to a psychiatrist at the hospital and never see him again, but the problem was, he had seen the woman-thing, that night and another time on his own street, and he had seen reports of weird stuff chance in the City over the last two weeks. And not just normal San Francisco weird stuff, but really weird stuff, like a flock of ravens attacking a tourist in Coit Tower, and a guy who slammed his car through a storefront in Chinatown, state that he had swerved to miss a dragon, and people all over the Mission saying that theyd seen an iguana dressed like a musketeer going through their garbage, tiny sword and all.I can prove it, Charlie said. Just tak e me to the medicament store in the Castro.Rivera looked at the sad, naked ice cubes in his glass and said, Anyone ever tell you that its hard to follow your train of thought, Charlie?You need to talk to Minty Fresh.Of course, that clears things up. Ill have a word with Krispy Kreme while Im there.Hes also a Death Merchant. He can tell you that what Im telling you is true and you can let me go.Get up. Rivera stood.Im not finished with my wine.Leave the money for the drinks and get up, please. Rivera qualified his finger in Charlies handcuffs and pulled him up. Were going to the Castro.I dont think I can work my cane with these things on, Charlie said.Rivera sighed and looked down on the surfers. He thought he saw something large moving in a wave behind one surfer, but as his heart leapt at the prospect, a sea lion poked his whiskered face out of the curl and Riveras strong drink sank again. He threw Charlie the handcuff keys.Meet me in the car, I have to take a leak.I could escap e.You do that, Charlie after you pay.