The Gold Coast Of West Africa - 1703 Words

The importance of Elmina formally referred to as the Gold Coast of West Africa is that of a stepping stone for European interaction and colonization of Africa. To understand how Elmina led the way for European colonization and interaction, there must be an understanding of the history of Elmina, African and European relations and the importance of trade goods flowing out of Africa. Elmina, a port on the coastal modern day Ghana near the capital Accra in Africa, was one of the first settlements in West Africa being a city of great importance that â€Å"encapsulates the years of European contact, trade, and colonization better than any other site in Africa.† The city was built around the fort Sao Jorge Da Mina or Elmina castle and would later be†¦show more content†¦However the Portuguese were able to only arm their forts and the Elminas, who were used to protect their trade routes. It was not until the Dutch and English intervention that firearms trade exploded in the Gold Coast. â€Å"The concentration of Dutch, English, Swedish, Danish and Branden-burg commercial establishments on the Gold Coast in the course of the seventeenth century obliged each trading power to maintain a strong and capable military position in order to protect its mercantile operations.† During the early to mid-sixteen-hundreds the Dutch only sold firearms to their trade partners to protect themselves. They worked towards protecting their monopoly and taking over rival companies and territories. The English were the true exporters of firearms to the Gold Coast locals. From 1673 to 1704 the Royal African Company shipped around 66,000 firearms to the Gold Coast. â€Å"This gradual dispersion of guns coincided with the rise and consolidation of expansionist states.† These expansionist states would later become dominating states that controlled the exportation of slaves. During â€Å"the mid-eighteenth century Asante and Dahomey dominated the Gold and Slave Coasts, politically and militarily,† they were able to control the Gold Coast and subjugate many smaller neighboring states. The Asante were a true

The Autobiography Look Me The Eye By John Elder Robison

Courage George Carlin, an American stand-up comedian and author, once said, â€Å"I like it when a flower or a little tuft of grass grows through a crack in the concrete. It s so f****n heroic.† The autobiography Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison is a memoir about a man’s strange aloofness towards others, but also the difficulties he has had to over-come and the courage he needed to get through them. This story gives a glimpse into the life of an Aspergergian- as he likes to call himself. Aspergers syndrome is a form of autism that affects the ability to effectively socialize and communicate. This syndrome generated a vast majority of complications all throughout his life. During his childhood, John is a social outcast. He does not know how to befriend people, and he is very blunt and rude to his peers. This makes it very difficult for him to create bonds with people, but he did occasionally become acquainted with the other outcasts such as his friend named Jef f. Robinson’s teenage years were even worse. John was labeled as the â€Å"class-clown† and began to fail school even though he was very smart he just did not care anymore; consequently, this lead him into the path of dropping out of school. However, after he quit school he had started working for a small band fixing their EQ amps. This was good for John because it gave him a chance to interact more with people while making money and traveling. After that, he started working for successful bands like KISS and PinkShow MoreRelatedStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesSpiritual Organization 530 †¢ Achieving a Spiritual Organization 531 †¢ Criticisms of Spirituality 531 Global Implications 532 Summary and Implications for Managers 533 S A L Self-Assessment Library What’s the Right Organizational Culture for Me? 512 glOBalization! Face Culture, Dignity Culture, and Organizational Culture 515 Myth or Science? â€Å"Employees Treat Customers the Same Way the Organization Treats Them† 518 An Ethical Choice Designing a Culture of Ethical Voice 526 xviii

Last Sacrifice Chapter Twenty-eight Free Essays

I STOPPED BREATHING. WE’D each had our own blankets, but even in the middle of summer, the temperature had dropped during the night. Dimitri, in his sleep, had rolled over against me, merging our blankets into one pile and resting his head on my chest. We will write a custom essay sample on Last Sacrifice Chapter Twenty-eight or any similar topic only for you Order Now His body lay against mine, warm and familiar, and he even snuggled a little closer. He was more exhausted than I’d realized if he was doing this in his sleep. After all, this was the guy who slept with one eye open. But his guard was down now, his body unconsciously seeking †¦ what? Simple warmth? Me? Damn it. Why had I asked Sonya my question? Why couldn’t I keep going with my easy role as Adrian’s girlfriend and Dimitri’s friend? Because honestly, I wasn’t doing a very good job at either one right now. Tentatively, fearfully, I shifted slightly so that I could put one arm around Dimitri and draw him closer. I knew it was a risk, one that might wake him and break this spell. But it didn’t. If anything, he seemed to relax more. Feeling him like that †¦ holding him †¦ it churned up a swarm of emotions within me. The ache I had felt since his loss burned within me. At the same time, holding him like this also seemed to fill that ache, as though a piece of me that had been missing was now restored. I hadn’t even realized that piece was missing. I’d blocked it all out until Sonya’s words had shaken my fragile new acceptance of life. I don’t know how long I stayed like that with Dimitri. It was long enough that the rising sun began to illuminate the tent’s translucent fabric. That was all the light my eyes needed to now see Dimitri, to see the finely carved lines of his face and softness of his hair as he lay against me. I wanted so badly to touch that hair, to see if it felt like it used to. That was a silly sentiment, of course. His hair wouldn’t have changed. Still †¦ the urge was there, and I finally gave in, gently running my fingers over some stray locks. They were smooth and silky, and that barest touch sent chills through me. It also woke him up. His eyes opened, instantly alert. I expected him to jump away from me, but instead, he only assessed the situation–and didn’t move. I left my hand where it was on the side of his face, still stroking his hair. Our gazes locked, so much passing between us. In those moments, I wasn’t in a tent with him, on the run from those who regarded us as villains. There was no murderer to catch, no Strigoi trauma to overcome. There was just him and me and the feelings that had burned between us for so long. When he did move, it wasn’t to get away. Instead, he lifted his head so that he looked down at me. Only a few inches separated us, and his eyes betrayed him. He wanted to kiss me–and I wanted him to. He leaned over me, one hand resting against my cheek. I readied myself for his lips–I needed them–and then he froze. He pulled back and sat up, exhaling in frustration as he looked away from me. I sat up as well, my breathing rapid and shallow. â€Å"Wh-what’s wrong?’ I asked. He glanced back at me. â€Å"Pick. There are lots of choices.’ I ran a finger along my lips. So close. So, so close. â€Å"I know †¦ I know things have changed. I know you were wrong. I know you can feel love again.’ His mask was back up as he formulated his answer. â€Å"This isn’t about love.’ The last minute replayed in my head, that perfect connection, the way he’d looked at me and made my heart feel. Hell, Sonya claimed we even had some mystical connection. â€Å"If it’s not about love, then what is it about?’ I exclaimed. â€Å"It’s about doing the right thing,’ he said quietly. The right thing? Right and wrong had been perennial topics at St. Vladimir’s. I wasn’t eighteen. He was my teacher. We were slated to be Lissa’s guardians and had to give her our full attention. All of those were arguments for why staying apart had been necessary back then. But those had long since fallen by the wayside. I would have questioned him more–if someone hadn’t scratched at our door. Both of us sprang up and apart, reaching for the stakes we’d slept near. Grabbing my stake was instinct because I knew there was no Strigoi out there. But lately, Strigoi had been the least of our worries. â€Å"Rose? Dimitri?’ The voice was barely audible–but familiar. Relaxing slightly, I unzipped the tent’s entrance and revealed Sonya kneeling in front of it. Like us, she wore the same clothes from earlier, and her auburn hair was messy. Otherwise, she seemed to have escaped her pursuers unscathed. I scooted aside so that she could enter. â€Å"Cozy,’ she said, glancing around. â€Å"You’ve got the farthest spot out on the campground. Took me forever to find the car you described.’ â€Å"How’d you get here?’ I asked. She winked. â€Å"You’re not the only ones who can steal cars. Or, in my case, get people to â€Å"willingly’ lend them.’ â€Å"Were you followed?’ asked Dimitri. He was all seriousness again, with no sign of what had passed moments ago. â€Å"Not that I could tell,’ she said, shifting into a cross-legged position. â€Å"A couple guardians followed me back in the neighborhood, but I lost them a while ago. Most of them seemed more interested in you two.’ â€Å"Imagine that,’ I muttered. â€Å"Too bad Victor was long gone–he might have taken priority.’ â€Å"He didn’t kill a queen,’ she said ruefully. We’d had to eventually tell her why Victor was wanted and that he’d been the one Sonya had sensed was stalking Lissa back at St. Vladimir’s. â€Å"But the good news is I know where they’re at now.’ â€Å"Where?’ asked Dimitri and I in unison. A small, knowing smile came to her lips at that. â€Å"West Michigan,’ she said. â€Å"They took off in the opposite direction from Court.’ â€Å"Damn,’ I muttered. Dimitri and I had gone southeast from Ann Arbor, clipping the Detroit suburbs and just crossing into Ohio. We’d picked the wrong direction. â€Å"But you saw Jill? Is she okay?’ Sonya nodded. â€Å"Fine. Scared, but fine. She described enough landmarks that I think we can locate their motel. I found her in a dream a couple hours ago; they had to rest. Victor wasn’t feeling well. They might still be there.’ â€Å"Then we need to leave now,’ said Dimitri, instantly in action. â€Å"Once they’re moving, Jill will be awake and out of contact.’ We packed up our campsite with amazing speed. My ankle felt better but was still sore. Noticing my limp, Sonya called a halt just before we got in her car. â€Å"Hang on.’ She knelt before me, examining the swelling ankle that was easily exposed by my torn dress. Taking a deep breath, she rested her hands on me, and a surge of electricity shot through my leg, followed by waves of heat and cold. When it was over and she stood up, the pain and swelling were gone, as were the scrapes on my legs. Probably the cuts on my head too. Spirit users had healed me so often that you’d think I’d be used to it, but it was still a little startling. â€Å"Thank you,’ I said. â€Å"But you shouldn’t have done that †¦ shouldn’t have used the magic †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ â€Å"You need to be in peak condition,’ she said. Her gaze drifted from me, staring off at the trees. â€Å"And the magic †¦ well, it’s hard to stay away from.’ Indeed it was, and I felt guilty that she was using it on me–and moving closer to insanity. Robert’s restoration had healed her mind a little, and she needed to take advantage of that. This was no time for a lecture, though, and Dimitri’s expression told me he too thought it best I get back in shape. We took off toward where Sonya told us Jill was, and this time, her directions were as specific as she could make them. No more vagueness or binding promises. We stopped once to â€Å"acquire’ a new car and get a map. The info Sonya had gleaned from Jill led us to a town called Sturgis. While it was in the western half of Michigan, it was also south–meaning the distance wasn’t quite as long as we’d expected. Nonetheless, Dimitri drove at least fifteen miles per hour over the speed limit the whole time. â€Å"There,’ said Sonya, as we rolled into downtown Sturgis–which wasn’t much of a downtown. We were near a modest-looking motel on a side street. â€Å"That’s what she described. The Sunshine Motel.’ Dimitri pulled into the lot behind the building, and we all sat there, staring at the motel, which didn’t look as cheerful as its name. Like me, I presumed my companions were trying to figure out how to approach this. Jill’s dream info had gotten us here, but Sonya had nothing else to help us find their room–if they were even still here. They certainly wouldn’t have checked in under real names. I was going to suggest we just walk past the doors and hope Sonya would sense Robert when she suddenly pointed. â€Å"That’s their car,’ she said. â€Å"They’re here.’ Sure enough. There was the CR-V we’d taken to Jill’s house. Talk about karma. I’d swiped Victor’s keys, and he’d repaid the favor by taking ours. None of us had thought much about his escape vehicle in the ensuing chaos. â€Å"Sloppy,’ murmured Dimitri, eyes narrowed thoughtfully. â€Å"They should have switched cars.’ â€Å"That’s Sydney’s,’ I pointed out. â€Å"It’s not technically stolen, so it’s not on any police lists. Besides, something tells me Victor and Robert aren’t hot-wiring pros like some people are.’ We’d left a string of stolen cars across the Midwest. Dimitri nodded, like I’d actually just complimented him. â€Å"Whatever the reason, it helps us.’ â€Å"How do we find them?’ asked Sonya. I was about to suggest the aura plan but dismissed it. Robert would sense Sonya at the same moment, giving him brief warning. Plus, when we found the brothers, there’d likely be a fight. Doing it in the motel would attract attention. This parking lot was in back, away from the main road. â€Å"We wait,’ I said. â€Å"It’s amazing enough that they even stopped this long. If they have any sense, they’ll leave soon.’ â€Å"Agreed,’ said Dimitri, catching my eyes. Souls in sync. The memory of that near-kiss returned, and I looked away, fearing what my face would betray. â€Å"The lot’s easy to defend too. Not much room for escape.’ It was true. The motel flanked one side, a concrete wall the other. There weren’t many other buildings nearby either. He moved our car to the farthest spot he could in the lot, providing us with a full view of it and the motel’s exit–but keeping us semi-concealed. We considered sitting in the car, but Dimitri and I decided we should wait outside, giving us more mobility. We left Sonya inside. This wasn’t her fight. Standing behind the car with Dimitri, in the shadow of a leafy maple, I became acutely aware of his proximity and fierce warrior stance. He might be missing his duster, but I had to admit I liked the view of him I got without the coat. â€Å"I don’t suppose,’ I said softly, â€Å"that we’re going to talk about this morning?’ Dimitri’s eyes were fixed so hard on the CR-V that he might have been trying to make Jill and the brothers materialize inside it. I wasn’t fooled. He was just avoiding looking at me. â€Å"There’s nothing to talk about.’ â€Å"I knew you’d say that. Actually, it was a toss-up between that and â€Å"I don’t know what you’re talking about.† Dimitri sighed. â€Å"But,’ I continued, â€Å"there is something to talk about. Like when you almost kissed me. And what did you mean about â€Å"the right thing’?’ Silence. â€Å"You wanted to kiss me!’ It was hard to keep my voice low. â€Å"I saw it.’ â€Å"Just because we want something doesn’t mean it’s right.’ â€Å"What I said †¦ it’s true, isn’t it? You can love, can’t you? I realize now that right after the transformation, you really didn’t think you could. And you probably couldn’t. But things have changed. You’re getting yourself back.’ Dimitri gave me a sidelong look. â€Å"Yes. Things have changed †¦ and some haven’t.’ â€Å"Okay, Mr. Enigma. That doesn’t help explain the â€Å"right thing’ comment.’ Frustration filled his features. â€Å"Rose, I’ve done a lot of bad things, most of which I can never fix or find redemption for. My only choice now, if I want to reclaim my life, is to go forward, stopping evil and doing what’s right. And what is not right is taking a woman from another man, a man I like and respect. I’ll steal cars. I’ll break into houses. But there are lines I will not cross, no matter what I–‘ The motel’s back door opening jolted us to attention. It was no wonder my love life was so messed up when the most profound and intimate moments were always being interrupted by dire situations. It was just as well because I had never, ever seen that line coming: What is not right is taking a woman from another man, a man I like and respect. New drama took precedence. Victor stepped outside, with Robert and Jill walking side by side behind him. I’d half expected to see her tied up and was surprised that she accompanied them so calmly. Too calmly, I soon realized. It wasn’t natural. There was an almost robotic feel to her movements: she was being compelled into docility. â€Å"Compulsion,’ said Dimitri quietly, recognizing it as well. â€Å"Go for Victor. I’ll get Robert.’ I nodded. â€Å"Jill will run as soon as the compulsion’s broken. I hope.’ I didn’t put it past her to join our fight, which could cause more harm than good. We’d find out soon enough. Mercifully, no one else was around. It was still fairly early in the morning. Dimitri and I sprang out from our hiding spots, crossing the distance of the parking lot in a matter of moments. Two healthy dhampirs could outrace two old Moroi any day. And as crafty as they might be, the brothers hadn’t expected us. In my periphery, I just barely saw Dimitri kicking into warrior god mode, fierce and unstoppable. Then, I focused entirely on Victor, throwing my full weight at him and knocking him to the ground. He hit hard against the asphalt, and I pinned him down, slamming my fist into his face and making his nose bleed. â€Å"Well done,’ he gasped out. â€Å"I’ve been wanting to do that for a very long time,’ I growled. Victor smiled through the pain and the blood. â€Å"Of course you have. I used to think Belikov was the savage one, but it’s really you, isn’t it? You’re the animal with no control, no higher reasoning except to fight and kill.’ I clenched his shirt and leaned him over him. â€Å"Me? I’m not the one who tortured Lissa for my own benefit. I’m not the one who turned my daughter Strigoi. And I’m sure as hell not the one who used compulsion to kidnap a fifteen-year-old girl!’ To my disgust, he kept that maddening smile on his face. â€Å"She’s valuable, Rose. So, so valuable. You have no idea how much so.’ â€Å"She’s not an object for you to manipulate!’ I cried. â€Å"She’s a–ahh!’ The ground suddenly rolled up beneath me, a mini-earthquake centered around us. The asphalt bucked up, giving Victor the leverage to push me off. It wasn’t a strong push, and I could have easily recovered my balance if not for the ground rippling and surrounding me, rolling like ocean waves to knock me over. Victor was using his earth magic to control the area where I stood. Faint cries of surprise told me others were feeling a little of it, but the magic was clearly focused on me. Not without cost, though. Victor was an old man–an old man I’d just shoved onto asphalt and punched. Pain and fatigue were all over him, and his labored breathing told me wielding magic this powerful–something I’d never seen an earth user do–was pushing every ounce of strength he had left. One good punch. That was all I needed. One good punch would knock him down and take him out of this fight. Only, I was the one being taken down. Literally. Try as I might, my personal earthquake got the best of me, knocking me to my knees. I was still in that stupid dress too, meaning my newly healed legs got scraped again. And once I was down, the asphalt rose around me. I realized Victor was going to ensnare me by creating a stone prison. I couldn’t let that happen. â€Å"All that brawn for nothing,’ gasped out Victor, sweat pouring off his face. â€Å"It does you no good in the end. Real power is in the mind. In cunning. In controlling Jillian, I control Vasilisa. With Vasilisa, I control the Dragomirs, and from there–the Moroi. That’s power. That’s strength.’ Most of his smug tirade went over me. But part of it stuck: In controlling Jillian, I control Vasilisa. Lissa. I couldn’t let him hurt her. I couldn’t let him use her. In fact, I couldn’t let him use Jill either. Lissa had given me a chotki, which was kind of a cross between a bracelet and a rosary. It was a Dragomir heirloom, bestowed upon those who protected the family. That was my duty: to protect all the Dragomirs. The old guardian mantra rang in my mind: They come first. With skill I didn’t know I possessed, I sized up the shaking ground and attempted to stand again. I made it, practically dancing in that parking lot. And as I stared at Victor, I felt what Sonya had warned about: the catalyst. The spark that would ignite the darkness I’d gathered and gathered from Lissa. In looking at him, I saw all the evils of my life in one man. Was that entirely accurate? No, not exactly. But he had hurt my best friend–nearly killed her. He’d toyed with Dimitri and me, complicating what was already a mess of a relationship. He was now trying to control others. When would it end? When would his evil stop? Red and black tinged my vision. I heard a voice call my name–Sonya’s, I think. But in that moment, there was nothing else in the world but Victor and my hate for him. I sprang at him, fueled by rage and adrenaline, leaping out of the epicenter of shaking ground that threatened to seize me. Once more, I threw myself at him, but we didn’t hit the ground. We’d shifted position slightly, and instead, we hit the concrete wall–with just as much force as I might have thrown a Strigoi. His head bent back at the impact. I heard an odd cracking sound, and Victor slumped to the ground. I immediate dropped down, grabbing his arms and shaking him. â€Å"Get up!’ I screamed. â€Å"Get up and fight me!’ But no matter how much I shook him or yelled, Victor would not stand. He wouldn’t move on his own. Hands grabbed me, trying futilely to pull me away. â€Å"Rose–Rose! Stop. Stop this.’ I ignored the voice, ignored the hands. I was all anger and power, wanting– no, needing–Victor to face me once and for all. Suddenly, a strange sensation crept along me, like fingertips across my skin. Let him go. I didn’t want to, but for half a second, it seemed like a reasonable idea. I loosened my hold slightly, just enough for those hands to jerk me away. Like that, I snapped out of the haze and realized what had happened. The person who’d pulled me was Sonya, and she’d used a tiny bit of compulsion to get me away and let go of Victor. She was strong enough in her power that she didn’t even need eye contact. She held onto me, even though she had to know it was wasted effort. â€Å"I have to stop him,’ I said, wriggling from her grasp. â€Å"He has to pay.’ I reached for him again. Sonya gave up on physical restraint, appealing to words instead. â€Å"Rose, he has! He’s dead. Can’t you see that? Dead. Victor’s dead!’ No, I didn’t see that–not at first. All I saw was my blind obsession, my need to get to Victor. But then, her words broke through to me. As I gripped Victor, I felt the limpness in his body. I saw the eyes that looked blankly at †¦ nothing. That crazy, churning emotion in me faded, transforming into shock. My grip slackened as I stared at him and truly understood what she had said. Understood what I had done. Then, I heard a terrible sound. A low wailing broke through the frozen horror in my mind. I glanced back in alarm and saw Dimitri standing with Robert. Robert’s arms were pinned behind his back as Dimitri effortlessly held him, but the Moroi was doing everything in his power–and failing–to break free. Jill stood nearby, looking uneasily at all of us, confused and afraid. â€Å"Victor! Victor!’ Robert’s pleas were muffled by sobs and as useless as my own efforts to get Victor up. I dragged my gaze back down to the body before me, barely believing what I had just done. I’d thought the guardians had been crazy in their reaction to Eddie killing a Moroi, but now, I was starting to understand. A monster like a Strigoi was one thing. But the life of a person, even a person who– â€Å"Get him out of here!’ Sonya was so near me that the unexpected exclamation made me wince. She’d been kneeling too but now jumped to her feet, turning toward Dimitri. â€Å"Get him out of here! As far as you can!’ Dimitri looked surprised, but the powerful command in her voice drove him to instant action. He began dragging Robert away. After a few moments, Dimitri simply opted to toss the man over his shoulder and cart him off. I would have expected cries of protest, but Robert had fallen silent. His eyes were on Victor’s body–their gaze so sharp, so focused that they seemed like they could burn a hole through someone. Sonya, not having my fanciful impression, thrust herself between the brothers and dropped to the ground again, covering Victor’s body with her own. â€Å"Get him out of here!’ she called again. â€Å"He’s trying to bring Victor back! He’ll be shadow-kissed!’ I was still confused and upset, still appalled at what I’d done, but the danger of what she said hit me hard. Robert couldn’t be allowed to bring back Victor back. The brothers were dangerous enough without being bonded. Victor couldn’t be allowed to summon ghosts the way I could. Victor had to stay dead. â€Å"Doesn’t he have to touch the body?’ I asked. â€Å"To finish the bond, yes. But he was wielding tons of spirit just now, calling Victor’s soul back and keeping it around,’ she explained. When Dimitri and Robert were gone, Sonya told me to help her move the body. We’d made too much noise, and it was a wonder no one had come out yet. Jill joined us, and I moved without really being aware of what I was doing. Sonya found the keys to the CR-V on Victor and flattened the backseats to increase the rear cargo space. We crawled into it, the three of us having to hunch down to stay out of sight. We soon heard voices, people coming to see what had happened. I don’t know long they were in the parking lot, only that they mercifully didn’t search cars. Honestly? I had few coherent thoughts at all. That rage was gone, but my mind was a mess. I couldn’t seem to get a hold of anything concrete. I felt sick and just followed Sonya’s orders, staying low as I tried not to look at Victor’s body. Even after the voices were gone, she kept us in the car. At last, she exhaled a deep breath and focused on me. â€Å"Rose?’ I didn’t answer right away. â€Å"Rose?’ â€Å"Yeah?’ I asked, voice cracking. Her voice was soothing and cajoling. I felt that crawling on my skin again and a need to please her. â€Å"I need you to look at the dead. Open your eyes to them.’ The dead? No. My mind felt out of control, and I had enough sense to know bringing ghosts here would be a bad idea. â€Å"I can’t.’ â€Å"You can,’ she said. â€Å"I’ll help you. Please.’ I couldn’t refuse her compulsion. Expanding my senses, I let down the walls I kept around me. They were the walls that blocked me from the world of the dead and the ghosts that followed me around. Within moments, translucent faces appeared before me, some like normal people and others terrible and ghastly. Their mouths opened, wanting to speak but unable to. â€Å"What do you see?’ asked Sonya. â€Å"Spirits,’ I whispered. â€Å"Do you see Victor?’ I peered into the swarm of faces, seeking anyone familiar. â€Å"No.’ â€Å"Push them back,’ she said. â€Å"Put your walls back up.’ I tried to do as she said, but it was hard. I didn’t have the will. I felt outside encouragement and realized Sonya was still compelling me. She couldn’t make the ghosts disappear, but feelings of support and determination strengthened me. I shut out the restless dead. â€Å"He’s gone then,’ Sonya said. â€Å"He’s either completely consumed by the world of the dead or is wandering as a restless spirit. Regardless, any lingering threads to life are gone. He can’t come back to life.’ She turned to Jill. â€Å"Go get Dimitri.’ â€Å"I don’t know where he is,’ said Jill, startled. Sonya smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. â€Å"Close, I’m sure. And watching. Go walk around the motel, the block, whatever. He’ll find you.’ Jill left, needing no compulsion. When she was gone, I buried my face in my hands. â€Å"Oh God. Oh God. All this time, I denied it, but it’s true: I am a murderer.’ â€Å"Don’t think about that yet,’ said Sonya. Her take-charge attitude was almost comforting. Almost. It was easier to take orders than fend for yourself. â€Å"Deal with your guilt later. For now, we have to get rid of the body.’ I uncovered my eyes and forced myself to look at Victor. Nausea welled up within me, and those crazy feelings spun even more out of control. I gave a harsh laugh. â€Å"Yes. The body. I wish Sydney was here. But we don’t have any magic potions. The sun won’t destroy him. Weird, isn’t it? Strigoi are harder to kill †¦ harder to kill, easier to clean up.’ I laughed again because there was something familiar about my rambling †¦ it was like Adrian in one of his weird moments. Or Lissa when spirit had pushed her to the edge. â€Å"This is it, isn’t it?’ I asked Sonya. â€Å"The flood †¦ the flood you warned me about. Lissa escaped spirit, but it finally defeated me †¦ just like Anna †¦ just like the dream †¦ oh God. This is the dream, isn’t it? But I won’t wake up †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Sonya was staring at me, her blue eyes wide with †¦ fear? Mockery? Alarm? She reached out and took my hand. â€Å"Stay with me, Rose. We’ll push it back.’ A knock at the window startled us both, and Sonya let Jill and Dimitri in. â€Å"Where’s Robert?’ asked Sonya. Dimitri glanced down at Victor and then promptly looked away. â€Å"Unconscious, hidden in some bushes around the corner.’ â€Å"Charming,’ said Sonya. â€Å"Do you think that’s smart? Leaving him?’ He shrugged. â€Å"I figured I shouldn’t be seen carrying an unconscious guy in my arms. In fact †¦ yes, I think we should just leave him there. He’ll wake up. He’s not a fugitive. And without Victor, he’s †¦ well, not harmless. But less harmful. We can’t keep dragging him with us anyway.’ I laughed again, that laugh that seemed unhinged and hysterical even to me. â€Å"He’s unconscious. Of course. Of course. You can do that. You can do the right thing. Not me.’ I looked down at Victor. â€Å"†An animal,’ he said. He was right. No higher reasoning †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ I wrapped my arms around myself, my fingernails digging into my skin so hard they drew blood. Physical pain to make the mental pain go away. Wasn’t that what Lissa had always said? Dimitri stared at me and then turned to Sonya. â€Å"What’s wrong?’ he demanded. I’d seen him risk his life over and over, but never, until now, had he truly looked afraid. â€Å"Spirit,’ said Sonya. â€Å"She’s pulled and pulled for so long †¦ and managed to hold it back. It’s been waiting, though. Always waiting †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ She frowned slightly, maybe realizing she was starting to sound like me. She turned to Jill. â€Å"Is that silver?’ Jill looked down at the heart-shaped locket around her neck. â€Å"I think so.’ â€Å"Can I have it?’ Jill undid the clasp and passed it over. Sonya held it between her palms and closed her eyes a moment, pursing her lips. A few seconds later, her eyes opened, and she handed me the locket. â€Å"Put it on.’ Just touching it gave me a strange tingling in my skin. â€Å"The heart †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ I looked at Dimitri as I fastened the clasp. â€Å"Do you remember that? â€Å"Where’s the heart?’ you asked. And here it is. Here it †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ I stopped. The world suddenly became crisper. My jumbled thoughts slowly began to move back together, forming some semblance of rationality. I stared at my companions–the living ones–truly seeing them now. I touched the locket. â€Å"This is a healing charm.’ Sonya nodded. â€Å"I didn’t know if it’d work on the mind. I don’t think it’s a permanent fix †¦ but between it and your own will, you’ll be okay for a while.’ I tried not to focus on those last words. For a while. Instead, I tried to make sense of the world around me. Of the body in front of me. â€Å"What have I done?’ I whispered. Jill put her arm around me, but it was Dimitri who spoke. â€Å"What you had to.’ How to cite Last Sacrifice Chapter Twenty-eight, Essay examples

Pathophysiology and Epidemiology of Asthma

Question: Explain the disorder you selected, including its pathophysiology and epidemiology. Explain a protocol for the diagnosis, management, and follow-up care of this disorder. Explain how culture might impact the care of patients who present with the disorder you selected. ? Answer: Asthma is considered as the most common chronic provocative disease of the airways, which is associated with variable and a recurring number of symptoms. Some of the typical symptoms of the disease include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, difficulty in breathing and coughing. Thus, asthma is characterized by a variable number of symptoms, which primarily includes airflow obstruction and bronchospasm (Alexander et al., 2012). Asthma is also considered as the most common chronic disorder of childhood, which affects 12.5% of children. Asthma is primarily caused by a amalgamation of environmental and genetic factors. The chronic inflammation of the conducting zone of the airways (bronchi and the bronchioles) results in the onset of the disease, which is associated with an increase in the contractibility of the surrounding smooth muscles disease (Melen Pershagen, 2012). Thus, this leads to bouts of narrowing of the airway and the symptom of wheezing. With the onset of asthma, the cha racteristic changes in the airways include coagulating of the lamina reticular and increase in the size of the eosinophils. There is an also an increase in the size of the mucous gland due to an increase in the size of the smooth muscle. Almost 330,000,000 people worldwide remain affected by asthma and approximately more than three hundred thousand people die per year from the onset of the disease (Alexander et al., 2012). It has been estimated from a report that the incidence rate of the disease is between 2.65 to 4/1000 per year (Melen Pershagen, 2012). In childhood, the onset of the disease is very much frequent among offspring less than five years of age and is more prevalent in boys than in the girls. Diagnosis and Management Asthma is primarily diagnosed with a therapeutic assessment and medical tests that helps in computing the airflow in and out of the lungs. Offspring associated with the disease may not be able to complete the airflow test, which requires blowing very hard into the tube. Also, since the children are not able to describe how they feel, caregivers and family members needs to take measures to remain alert for the symptoms. The diagnosis process also includes skin and blood test of the children in order to examine whether there is any presence of specific allergies that can trigger any asthmatic symptoms (Redwood Neill, 2013). Health care providers need to have a detailed family history of the children suffering from asthma or any allergies such as the hay fever hives etc. Depending upon the severity and frequency of the disease, treatment needs to be provided. Whether mild or severe, any asthma symptom is a matter of concern and thereby needs to be accurately controlled and diagnosed (Kennedy et al., 2012) Children suffering from asthma are thereby advised to use an inhaler in order to provide quick relief from the first sight of the symptoms. The use of inhaler helps in delivering the medication into the lungs for providing immediate relief. In case, if the drugs suggested by the doctor is not helping the child to avoid the asthma triggers, effective methods need to be implemented in order to determine whether the symptoms associated triggered due to exposure to any particular allergen such as pet dander or pollen. If positive outcomes are observed, then the care provider for providing relief to the chil d recommends suitable immunotherapy (Gupta et al., 2012). Impact of Culture Cultural factors such as the language boundaries and the parental beliefs are considered as the primary barrier to the asthma care. Patients with a language hurdle thereby have less access to the usual font of the medical care (Alexander et al., 2012). Thus, the patients do not receive preventive care at lower rates and thereby develops an increased risk of non-adherence to medication. By the childs asthma care, patients brawny beliefs beside the use of medication along with the preferences for the holistic approaches to treatment may serve to stand as an obstacle for providing the successful treatment. Individuals faiths, beliefs, language and home remedies may pose a potential threat to the successful implementation of evidence-based care plan (Coutinho et al., 2013). Thus, cultural knowledge is the process by which education regarding various cultures can be obtained. One of the best methods used to gain knowledge regarding the cultural beliefs of the patient forms the patients th emselves. Cultural skill also helps in obtaining appropriate cultural information regarding the patients clinical history and current problem. Seeking to gain knowledge regarding the culture influences helps in obtaining information concerning the lifelong process that is primarily based on the knowledge of one culture (Coutinho et al., 2013). The outcome of the patients health practices and beliefs including religion preferences, medicinal use of foods, communication needs and other alternative medication use helps the asthma care provider to create a trusting environment, which favors open communication (Gupta et al., 2012). References Alexander, A. G., Barnes, P. J., Chung, K. F., Flower, R. J., Garland, L. G., Goldie, R. G., ... Lulich, K. M. (2012).Pharmacology of asthma(Vol. 98). Springer Science Business Media. Coutinho, M. T., McQuaid, E. L., Koinis-Mitchell, D. (2013). Contextual and cultural risks and their association with family asthma management in urban children.Journal of Child Health Care, 1367493512456109. Gupta, A., Bush, A., Hawrylowicz, C., Saglani, S. (2012). Vitamin D and asthma in children.Paediatric respiratory reviews,13(4), 236-243. Kennedy, J. L., Heymann, P. W., Plattsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Mills, T. A. (2012). The role of allergy in severe asthma.Clinical Experimental Allergy,42(5), 659-669. Meln, E., Pershagen, G. (2012). Pathophysiology of asthma: lessons from genetic research with particular focus on severe asthma.Journal of internal medicine,272(2), 108-120. Redwood, T., Neill, S. (2013). Diagnosis and treatment of asthma in children.Practice Nursing,24(5), 222-229.

Romanticism In The Aspect Of Nature Essays - Literature, Romanticism

Romanticism in the aspect of Nature Romanticism began in the mid-18th century and reached its height in the 19th century. It was limited to Europe and America although different compatriots donated to its birth and popularity. Romanticism as a movement declined in the late 19th century and early 20th century with the growing dominance of Realism in the arts and the rapid advancement of science and technology. However, Romanticism was very impressionative on most individuals during its time. This was because it was expressed in two main aspects of life: literature, and art. In literature, Romanticism was to some extent a reaction against the strict rules formulated by the Neoclassicists. The first fully Romantic poetry was Lyrical Ballads (1798) by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Wordsworth's The World is Too Much With Us (1802) emphasizes a world being plagued by materialism while steadily losing its spirituality. He used Greek mythological figures to symbolize that the nature the ancients enjoyed could not be destroyed by the Industrial Age. Wordsworth, and Coleridge, described nature in an exclusive way because landscape was the main principal in their works. "Mind of Man," as Wordsworth observed, was a poets' response to the natural scenes that inspired their thinking. Despite all of this, nature commonly was the focus of Romantic painters. Romantic painters rebelled against the objectivity and composure of the prevailing Neoclassic style. The art is colorful, expressive, and full of movement. Though we have not read or talked about John Constable I thought he was a very interesting artist. John Constable's Wivenhoe Park, Essex (1816), is a pristine example of his scientific approach to capturing the qualities of atmosphere, light, and sky. Constable used God in nature, creativity, and the peaceful aspects of nature in this work. He is famed for his "Constable sky," which is the main element of his portrayal of the scene at Wivenhoe Park. In conclusion, Romanticism was a movement in the arts and in social thought. It varied from one group, or individual to another, but certain characteristics were common to most aspects of the movement. Among these characteristics were individualism, emotional expression, rejection of rules of art forms, imagination rather than reason, and expression of the sublime or peaceful aspects of nature. There were also definite or specific characteristics that Romanticists opposed. Such characteristics included empiricism, mechanization, dehumanization, and increased materialism.

The Movie Industry

The Movie Industry Introduction The movie industry refers to the businesses that primarily deal with the exhibition of movies. It comprises of the film festival exhibitors, cinemas, outdoor and drive-in movie theaters. The PESTLE comprises of the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors. Both PESTLE forces and the Porter’s forces affect the performance of the movie industry.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on The Movie Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The paper will discuss the forces as well as evaluate the main strategic issues affecting the movie theatres. In addition, strategic initiatives that can help exhibitors in handling the strategic issues will be evaluated (Katkin 6). PESTLE Forces The meaning of the PESTLE analysis entails evaluating each of the PESTLE components and the way in which they influence the movie industry. Political factors The government plays a major role i n the way the movie industry operates. Some governments protect intellectual rights and patents for the movie industry. The protection of intellectual properties helps in preventing the copying of technological processes that negatively affects the company profits, sales and product prices. Government’s role in the release of films affects the industry (Katkin 6). Some jurisdictions control the release of films by protecting morals and culture, banning movies regarded as highly sexual and with violent subject matter and regulating the content of each movie. This is associated with the uncertainty regarding the date of the release of the movies. In addition, the movie industry is subject to the FCC, as well as the regulations imposed upon it. This affects the production of film and TV due to the fines imposed by the FCC (Slamanig 1). Economic Factors The industry is extremely expensive, which makes it very valuable to capture a small portion of the market share. The movie indu stry has a high cost of capital that makes it difficult for new firms to enter the industry (Slamanig 2). This is due to the high cost of production associated with movie products.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Economic forces such as the recession and high unemployment rates negatively affect movie attendance. This occurs when theatre owners charge higher ticket prices in order to maintain the sales for box office (Slamanig 2). Technological Factors There are several technological changes taking place in the movie industry over time. The use of internet platforms to facilitate entertainment has led to the growth of the industry in meeting advertisers concerns on the reduction in advertising opportunities due to piracy (Slamanig 4). In addition, the use of mobile devices and the introduction of the new video format shows the level at which advancement in tec hnology has propelled the movie industry to achieving higher quality. It is therefore essential for companies to adapt to the new technology that deals with online streaming in order to remain relevant in the industry (Slamanig 4). Legal Factors The movie industry has set a line between what it may or may not produce. There are different regulators who monitor the operation of the industry. Companies that engage in activities not allowed by the law, faces litigations that attract huge fines and penalties (Katkin 4). The legal environment has recently allowed the companies in the movie industry to buy phone companies as part of their franchise. This can help the movie industry in integrating into other fields, thereby creating bundles for generating more customer loyalty as well as the ability to raise switching costs, hence creating a barrier to entry (Partridge 76). Social Factors The frequent changes in moviegoers in different age groups affect the performance of the movie industr y. Movie and film venues that cater for the older group get higher real revenue in the short and long run. These moviegoers often drive the industry. The increased use of websites by customers affects the movie industry (Partridge 76). Theatres currently compete with other movie viewing options such as cell phones, televisions and computers. This has made theatres to become one of the many options available for consumers to watch a film. As a result, several theatre chains have gone bankrupt and eventually closed. The movie industry is also highly affected by piracy over the internet as well as the physical copies (Slamanig 3).Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on The Movie Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Environmental Factors Environment plays a role during the production process and the climate and location may either lower or raise costs. The rise in the environmental concerns of individuals all over th e globe influences the movie industry to some degree. The movie industry must address issues related to noise pollution and global (Katkin 7). Porter’s Forces Analysis of the porter’s factor model demonstrates the way in which they influence the whole movie industry. One of the forces is the competitive rivalry. This involves the level of rivalry that exists between companies in the movie industry. The bigger companies in the industry represent a large portion of the market share making it difficult for smaller firms to compete effectively (Katkin 2). This is the main reason the industry has high profitability due to the existing competition between the large companies. This has led to the high competitive landscape in the industry (Katkin 2). The other Porters force is the threat of new entrants. This force has been on the rise recently. Media streaming has attracted a high demand, thereby raising the threat of new entry. The increase in licensing agreements in the in dustry affects or rather puts the providers of entertainment at risk (Katkin 2). The increase in the number of new entrants in the industry who are able to produce programming increases the levels of competition in the market. High costs of productions acts as a barrier of entry to new entrants. Most of the existing firms’ use economies of scale in their production. This reduces production costs while making it very costly for new entrants (Cheverton 30). The customers bargaining power is moderate in the movie the industry. Customers are able to choose among the several available companies providing the movie services on which to spend their money. There are several products in the industry from which customers can make a choice. The choice of the consumers creates impact on the ratings, which, in turn, affects the expenditure of advertising (Cheverton 30). When companies fail to produce high quality products, then customers bargaining power comes into play by switching, ther eby reducing the advertising expenditure making it possible for competitors to capture it. There are now different segments of consumers in the industry due to growth of delivery methods. Companies that satisfy all the segments remain competitive in the market (Hill and Gareth 43).Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the movie industry, the suppliers bargaining power is low. Most of the suppliers in the movie industry are easily controlled by the movie companies. This makes it difficult for the suppliers to act freely and they are thereby, left at the will of the industry (Katkin 4). Threat of substitutes is the other Porter’s force. Competitors in the industry together with new entrants both also act as substitutes of products in the business. There are increased entertainment substitutes in the industry in addition to theatre, TV and film (Katkin 4). These substitutes have taken steps that have made them more competitive in the industry. For instance, the showing of movies in plays has recently increased in popularity, which acts as a substitute for other forms of entertainment. The advancement in technology has increased the availability of different substitutes in the industry (Katkin 4). Profitability model The movie tickets purchased by movie watchers highly determines the profit ability model of the movie industry. Additionally, movie theatres sell other items such as popcorns to those who attend the movies. This refers to as the concession sales. Some studies indicate that concession sales represent almost 40 percent of the total net income of movie theatres (Katkin 4). The markup generated from the sale of tickets is small as compared to that of concession sales. Those who operate the movie theatres charge low prices for tickets in order to attract a large volume of viewers. The viewers thereby end up purchasing concessions that are highly priced. This in turn increases the company profitability. The current attendance is at lower levels and in order for the theatre operators to compensate for the reduced ticket sales, they have increased the prices of the tickets, but more significant is the highly increased prices of secondary items such as popcorns (Silver 3). Strategic Issues Digital technology is one of the strategic issues affecting the movie theatr e industry. New technologies affect different media verticals including video games, TV, film and music. This in turn affects the advertising industry, the management of digital rights and management of customer relationships. The emergence of these digital markets will therefore affect the volume of sales and overall profitability of the movie industry since most consumers will turn to digital technologies instead of attending movie theatres (Silver 3). Strategic Actions The changes in the digital technology when well analyzed can create opportunities that come up with them that yield success in the business. Content owners can therefore deploy multi-format contents of delivery platforms so that they may be able to utilize or rather maximize the revenue opportunities that accrue from the use of the new digital markets (Silver 3). Recommendations Personally, I would recommend that companies adapt to the new technology that deals with online streaming in order to remain relevant in t he industry. Firms must use internet platforms and other mobile devices as well as introducing new video formats in order for them to achieve higher quality. This will also ensure that the movie industry remains relevant in the market (Silver 3). Conclusion In summary, the paper has critically analyzed the Porter’s and the PESTLE forces in relation to the movie industry. Different forces affects and impacts on the movie industry in different ways. Technological advancement in form of digital technology is one of the main strategic issues that affect the movie industry. The adoption of the new technology by movie theatres can facilitate in accessing various opportunities related to the business. Cheverton, Peter. Key Account Management in Financial Services: Tools and Techniques for Building Strong Relationships with Major Clients. London [u.a.: Kogan Page, 2004. Print. Hill, Charles W. L, and Gareth R. Jones. Strategic Management Theory: An Integrated Approach. Boston, MA: H oughton Mifflin, 2010. Print. Katkin, Michael 2013, External Analysis of Time Warner Inc. in The Entertainment and Film Industry. PDF file. Web. Partridge, Lesley. Strategic Management. London: Financial Times Management, 1999. Print. Silver, Jon n.d., Are Movie Theatres Doomed? Do Exhibitors See The Big Picture As Theatres Lose Their Competitive Advantage, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. PDF file. Web. Slamanig, Markus. Pest Analysis Hungary: Country Evaluation and Selection of Hungary. München: GRIN Verlag GmbH, 2012. Internet resource. Web. Appendix Appendix A Â  Porter’s Forces Threat of Rivalry Very high threat of rivalry Difficult to gain customer loyalty Competition based on advertising and product, expenditure Threat of Substitutes Moderate Different substitutes are readily available due to new technologies Availability of different entertainment outlets in addition to TV and Film entertainment Threat of Buyers Switching costs are relatively low for consumers The threat is low Opportunities for profits are driven by viewer ratings Threat of Suppliers The supply exceeds demand Low supplier threat Threat of Entry Entry and exit costs are very high Low threat of entry Appendix B Â  PESTLE Forces Political Government and other regulatory bodies such as FCC affects production aspects Affects production costs Economic Cost of capital is high Production costs are high Entry and exit costs are high Legal Fines and costs affect profits Reputation is affected by litigations Social What viewers enjoy is influenced by changes in cultural trends Technological Increased use of mobile devices and online for movie viewing New formats of video Production equipment Environmental Production location affects costs Appendix C Barriers to Entry checklist Level Competition High Technological Change High Industry Assistance Medium Concentration Medium Life Cycle Stage Growth Regulation Policy Light Capital Intensity Medium Appendix D

Argumentative and Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Argumentative and Assignment - Essay Example One of these alternatives of giving remedies to diseases and ailment is referred to as homeopathy. In homeopathy, the proponents propose that when highly diluted form of infection substances are injected into the body of an ailing person with the same disease; he/she is able to realize normalcy since the highly diluted form of the antigens injected in the body will eradicate the ailment. This proposal has elicited serious rejection form different quarters with the proponents and the opponents maintaining equal position with reference to the effectiveness of homeopathy. Thesis Statement Having conceptualize the information surrounding homeopathy and how it gives remedies to diseases and ailment, I have not found any scientific backing as to whether the proposed form of rendering remedy can indeed work as stated. I therefore hold a contrary opinion about the process, believe that the process is short of basic science, and cannot be relied upon in giving medication in the contemporary m edication arena. In the Article titled ‘Evidence and Simplicity. Why we should Reject Homeopathy’ by Scott Sehon and Donald Stanley, there is a logical criticism on the functionality of homeopathy as a form of medication. In the criticism of the way homeopathy works, the article sought to address two fundamental questions about the remedy; is there a plausible explanatory theory about homeopathy that will make it appreciable by the opponent and if that is the case. Can we fully rely on homeopathy as a way of giving remedies given it usefulness as proposed by the proponent and is there sound and empirical evidence that the effectiveness of homeopathy is real (Sehon and Stanley, 4). The tow questions that were sought in the articles drew party answers from the proponents leaving a row of speculation on the efficacy of their proposed method of remedies. The proponents of this method of medication themselves accept that they don’t understand the science behind it and all they know is that it works miraculously, this response is irresponsible in the science domain. In science, cogent evidence, clarity, examples, and inferences are important facets of convincing eager audience about a proposal. Without scientific backing, such proposals are at best considered bad jokes. According to science, for anything to be considered able to give remedy, it must consider to explain the chemistry art of the medication and how it interacts with the body physiology. These important facts are ignored by homeopathy making its belief significantly impossible. The only defense the proponents of homeopathy are putting forth is that the medication needs not to march the western medication. The reason as to why I find the functionality of homeopathy patchy is the principle known in the medicinal field. Small microorganisms called antigens are responsible for the occurrence of diseases. The diseases are caused by the antigens, which are specific, and exhibit similar cli nical symptoms from one person to another. The antigens are different and can only be cleared by the different drugs or prevented by vaccines. In homeopathy, this is not the case; the same antigens responsible for the occurrence of a disease are also responsible for the remedies upon dilution. This argument have no scientific reasoning and that explains why it has been disregarded by most scientist as