The Perception of Homosexuality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

The Perception of Homosexuality - Essay Example Almost every person feels sexual attraction towards people of the same gender, though some feel it more while others feel it too less to give it any consideration. But people that say that they never felt sexual attraction in the people of their gender ever in their life lie. Knowing this, God has forbidden men to show their private parts to men. Likewise, God has forbidden women to show their private parts to women unless it is inevitable e.g. for medical reasons. The biggest and the most powerful example of the homosexual orientation of human beings is that the people of the Prophet Lut (P.B.U.H.) were involved in homosexuality (â€Å"The People of Lut†). From the viewpoint of the present trend, there should have been only a few people to feel sexual attraction towards people of their gender. But the fact that everybody was involved in homosexuality means it was a culture there, and people had chosen to be gays. This challenges the rationale put forth by the gays that they a re different people sexually, so they should be allowed to enter into gay marriages.

Critical Analysis of Two Primary Schools Essay Example for Free

Critical Analysis of Two Primary Schools Essay A critical analysis of the All Saints Primary School and Liverpool College Prep School websites. All Saints homepage immediately stresses the importance of learning together and demonstrates the emphasis that is placed upon religion within in the school. Their mission statement is presented as being â€Å"All Saints is a community where God’s light in each individual is nurtured and loved, allowing his spirit to shine in each one of us within our Catholic environment†. This is in contrast with Liverpool College which instead chooses to focus upon academic attainment on its homepage, stating: â€Å"High academic achievement is our primary aim and our results in national tests show that our standards are some of the best in the city and far above average in mathematics and English†. Both websites are extremely informative to the browser and offer detailed information on issues such as admission and behavioral policies. There is also a message from both headmasters outlining their visions for the schools. The schools contrast however in their ethos, religion appears to play an integral role within all aspects of All Saints whereas there is no mention of it within the Liverpool College website. Although both schools place a great importance upon producing an environment in which every child matters and feels secure. Liverpool College Prep School also displays information concerning tuition fees, whereas All Saints website being a voluntary aided school is free of cost to prospective pupils. Both schools however do demonstrate the significance they place upon extra-curricular activities by dedicating pages on their websites to the opportunities that are available to pupils within their school. The websites of both schools also outline the curriculum the school adheres to as well display their anti-bullying policies so they are accessible to all. The two schools display information for parents and offer advice and support in how they can effectively support their child through primary education. On the All Saints website this page is accompanied by a behavioural policy which the children are expected to comply with. Liverpool College asks parents to contact the school if they would like to receive a copy of the behavioural policy.

Symbols and Symbolism in Death in Venice Essay -- Death Venice Essays

Subtle Symbolism in Death in Venice    The dominant theme in Death in Venice is, obviously, death. This theme is exploited through the use of irony, imagery, and symbolism. The theme is most effectively explored by means of symbolism. Mann's symbolism is not as straight-forward as most authors, however, and the reader is forced to dig deep in order to determine the true meaning of any given passage. This pseudo-hidden symbolism forces the reader to be acutely aware of its presence from page one, or else the point may be missed altogether. During the opening of the novel, the reader is confronted with an exotic stranger, Aschenbach, who is the first of many "tokens" of death. This symbol is suggested in the description of the stranger: His chin was up, so that the Adam's apple looked very bald in the lean neck rising from the loose shirt; and he stood there sharply peering up into space out of colourless, red-lashed eyes.... At any rate, standing there as though at survey, the man had a bold and domineering, even a ruthless air, and his lips completed the picture by seeming to curl back, either by reason of some deformity or else because he grimaced, being blinded by the sun in his face; they laid bare the long, white, glistening teeth to the gums. This passage almost implies that the man is a skeleton, or at least that he is ghostly, with the bared teeth of a skull. The reader knows nothing about the stranger, is soon disappointed to learn nothing of him, and yet the stranger has already served his purpose: he is the first envoy of death in the novel. Also, the fact that the scene occurs in the vicinity of a cemetery is no coincidence. Later on, when Aschenbach arrives in Venice, Mann introduces symbolism to... ... (Mann, too, conducted all his literary work during first light). The determination to sustain and survive existed in the spirit of both artists. Yet "Death in Venice" is by no certain means a narrowly autobiographical narrative. Nevertheless, much that is the artist Aschenbach is part of the artist Mann, and thus can be interpreted as a faint symbol of Mann. Perhaps Aschenbach is an extreme example of the imperfections Mann combated during his own lifetime; if this indeed is the case, then Aschenbach is not only a token of the frailty of Mann, but an emblem of the fallacies plaguing us all. Works Cited and Consulted: Albert, George. Symbolism in Death in Venice. Notre Dame Press, Indiana. 1995 Mann, Thomas. Death in Venice and Other Stories. New York: Random House, Inc., 1989. Wagner, Rich. The Autobiographical Tragedy. New York: Vintage Books, 1992. Symbols and Symbolism in Death in Venice Essay -- Death Venice Essays Subtle Symbolism in Death in Venice    The dominant theme in Death in Venice is, obviously, death. This theme is exploited through the use of irony, imagery, and symbolism. The theme is most effectively explored by means of symbolism. Mann's symbolism is not as straight-forward as most authors, however, and the reader is forced to dig deep in order to determine the true meaning of any given passage. This pseudo-hidden symbolism forces the reader to be acutely aware of its presence from page one, or else the point may be missed altogether. During the opening of the novel, the reader is confronted with an exotic stranger, Aschenbach, who is the first of many "tokens" of death. This symbol is suggested in the description of the stranger: His chin was up, so that the Adam's apple looked very bald in the lean neck rising from the loose shirt; and he stood there sharply peering up into space out of colourless, red-lashed eyes.... At any rate, standing there as though at survey, the man had a bold and domineering, even a ruthless air, and his lips completed the picture by seeming to curl back, either by reason of some deformity or else because he grimaced, being blinded by the sun in his face; they laid bare the long, white, glistening teeth to the gums. This passage almost implies that the man is a skeleton, or at least that he is ghostly, with the bared teeth of a skull. The reader knows nothing about the stranger, is soon disappointed to learn nothing of him, and yet the stranger has already served his purpose: he is the first envoy of death in the novel. Also, the fact that the scene occurs in the vicinity of a cemetery is no coincidence. Later on, when Aschenbach arrives in Venice, Mann introduces symbolism to... ... (Mann, too, conducted all his literary work during first light). The determination to sustain and survive existed in the spirit of both artists. Yet "Death in Venice" is by no certain means a narrowly autobiographical narrative. Nevertheless, much that is the artist Aschenbach is part of the artist Mann, and thus can be interpreted as a faint symbol of Mann. Perhaps Aschenbach is an extreme example of the imperfections Mann combated during his own lifetime; if this indeed is the case, then Aschenbach is not only a token of the frailty of Mann, but an emblem of the fallacies plaguing us all. Works Cited and Consulted: Albert, George. Symbolism in Death in Venice. Notre Dame Press, Indiana. 1995 Mann, Thomas. Death in Venice and Other Stories. New York: Random House, Inc., 1989. Wagner, Rich. The Autobiographical Tragedy. New York: Vintage Books, 1992.

Stolpestad by William Lychack

Lychack, published in 2008, is about a policeman who gets called out at the end of his shift, to help a 9 year old boy with his suffering dog. Stolpestad is the main character in the story and the protagonist. He is not at all captivated by the task at hand, which I believe to be the antagonist of the story, but follows his orders and heads out to accomplish this odd task and shoots the dog.In the end he is confronted by the young boy and his father for not actually killing the dog. We are first greeted with a very explicit description of the day itself. â€Å"Sun never breaking through the clouds, clouds never breaking into rain – the odometer like a clock ticking all these bored little pent-up streets and mills and tenants away. † (Page 1, line 2-4) This description suggests that it is always like this, the town never changing, never moving on, constant and a duplicate of the day before, Just as the life of Stolpestad.Every street, every shop and home the same as they were in his childhood memories. He has always lived here, but his portrayal of he town bares little enthusiasm or fondness, almost suggesting a negative outlook on his life. The ambience of the setting continues on the same dull note, when the area in which the dog is located is presented. â€Å".. the grass and scrub weeds, the sumac, the old tires, empty bottles, paint cans, rusted car axel, refrigerator door.

School Laws Article

There is a need for a teacher to be a good example and a role model to the students. This is the only way that the students will be able to improve especially when they are having serious problem. In this case, the dean was very influential and after realizing what she had done to get where she is, most student are likely to be disappointed and frustrated. Her resignation means that the students will no longer fight for their freedom and this is likely to cause anxiety or even protest among the students. In addition, the dean is guilty of false pretence, if the university sues her; she is likely to pay them for damages. The reason is that for such a prestigious university to have such a case, the credibility of the university and its officials is likely to suffer as people might think that some of the professors who are teaching are not genuine professors at all. This is also likely to affect the education in the institution and the number of people who are attends it. It is therefore a complete negative publicity to the university. Article 2 The district superintendent should try to convince the PR Director of the importance of the use of the new technology to the students. He should try to convince him that a school is an institution that is supposed to assist students get useful knowledge so that they can become useful persons later on in their life. However, with the outdated phone lines and other electronic systems, there are chances that the school only wastes the student’s time. The reason is that the information that they are given is only outdated. This means that after they get out to the real world they will have to learn again so that they can fit in the society. There is therefore a need to upgrade these machines to assist the students. With such statements and such conviction, the district superintendent will assure the PR Director that even though they will spend a lot of money on this upgrade. This is because it saves a lot, as the students will no longer need to learn again. In addition, the new system will be more efficient and therefore more likely to give better results. Together, they should follow the right procedure and see to it that they have achieved their mission. Article 3 In a school setting, the first priority should be to the students. The only way to achieve this is to have the best team of teachers and other staff in line. The best team also has some disadvantages and therefore one should be prepared for this. In the first case of the renewal of chief’s contract, I would also do the same case. I would not care about what people or teachers think of feels, I would still renew the contract of Superintendent Sandra Schroeder, as she is still very effective and competent in her duties. In addition, I would reinstate the four teachers fired. They are very competent and without them, there is a chance that the school will go down. There are some mischievous students in every class and it is not advisable to fire a teacher simply because she tried to correct these students. It is clear that the strike has a great influence on the student’s learning. A sizeable portion of students failed to attend the classes due to the strike. What the drivers wanted are their rights. Everyone has a right to a better and a happy life and I feel that they should have that. I would therefore organize for a sitting so that we can negotiate with them and have solution on the issue. An instance where a superintendent can handle a similar situation is the case where a worker may be discriminated because the immediate boss does not like him. In such a case, the superintendent may fail the reason for firing such a person and may act competently. Article 4 It is necessary to understand that the students who are in school are there with the main aim of acquiring knowledge. These students happen to have different levels of knowledge and different personal attributes. It is therefore clear that there will be diverse personalities in the classroom. In addition, just because a teacher has some believes does not mean that all the students should have the same believe. This is the reasons why there is a syllabus and some books to offer guidance. This further means that whether it is the teacher, the administration or the society in general, personal attributes or rather personal values should not interfere with class teaching. Personal values and believes are not universal. They are unique from one person to the next and therefore if they interfere with what we are teaching in class, there is a chance that the teaching itself will be biased. There is also a possibility that effective teaching, which is the main aim of every teacher will not be there. Article 5 Campaigns do not come all the time and at the same time, they are very expensive. Proper planning for them should be there. In this case, I would first admit that this was a very serious blunder on all mails were sent to children. Secondly, I would gather all correct details concerning the parents and hire another company, which would send apology letter to all those parents whose children received previous mails. I would convene a meeting with the board members and explain to them what happened. I would clearly explain to them that the company we hired caused the mishap. I would assure them that next time we have a campaign, such an incident will not take place. To the media outlet, I would only give a brief explanation that whatever happened was a mistake by the company that we hired.

Free Essays on Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (1894 - 1961) Type of Work: Detective mystery novel Setting San Francisco; 1920s Principal Characters Sam Spade, a young hard-boiled detective Miles Archer, Spade's older partner Brigid O'Shaughnessy, a beautiful young woman (alias Miss Wonderly) Joel Cairo, an effeminate gangster-type Casper Gutman, a rotund, older man Iva Archer, Archer's wife and Spade's mistress Story Overview Effie Perine, secretary to private detective Sam Spade, opened his door to announce that a client, Miss Wonderly, was there to see him. A stunning young woman entered and shyly took a seat. She stammered and bit her lip as she tried to relate her story. Finally the detective assured her it would be best to begin at the beginning. Miss Wonderly said that she was concerned for her seventeen-year-old sister, who had run off with an older man named Thursby. She had arranged a meeting with Thursby for that evening, and now wanted to hire a detective to follow him from the meeting - straight to her sister, she hoped. Spade gave his partner, Miles Archer, the details of Miss Wonderly's case. She paid them two hundred dollars, and left with the agreement that Archer would tail Thursby that evening. That night Spade was awakened by a phone call: Archer had been murdered. Spaae rushed to the scene. According to the police ' Archer was shot with a British-made Webley revolver. Spade phoned his secretary and asked her to call Iva, his partner's wife, to break the bad news. Then he returned to his apartment. Sam had just "drunk his third glass Of Bicardi and was lighting his fifth cigarette" when the doorbell rang. It was the police; Lieutenants Dundy and Polhaus wanted to question Sam about the death of yet another man. Thursby, it turned out, had been shot outside his hotel shortly after Spade left the Archer murder scene. Considering the circumstances of Archer's death, the police reasoned Spade m... Free Essays on Maltese Falcon Free Essays on Maltese Falcon The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (1894 - 1961) Type of Work: Detective mystery novel Setting San Francisco; 1920s Principal Characters Sam Spade, a young hard-boiled detective Miles Archer, Spade's older partner Brigid O'Shaughnessy, a beautiful young woman (alias Miss Wonderly) Joel Cairo, an effeminate gangster-type Casper Gutman, a rotund, older man Iva Archer, Archer's wife and Spade's mistress Story Overview Effie Perine, secretary to private detective Sam Spade, opened his door to announce that a client, Miss Wonderly, was there to see him. A stunning young woman entered and shyly took a seat. She stammered and bit her lip as she tried to relate her story. Finally the detective assured her it would be best to begin at the beginning. Miss Wonderly said that she was concerned for her seventeen-year-old sister, who had run off with an older man named Thursby. She had arranged a meeting with Thursby for that evening, and now wanted to hire a detective to follow him from the meeting - straight to her sister, she hoped. Spade gave his partner, Miles Archer, the details of Miss Wonderly's case. She paid them two hundred dollars, and left with the agreement that Archer would tail Thursby that evening. That night Spade was awakened by a phone call: Archer had been murdered. Spaae rushed to the scene. According to the police ' Archer was shot with a British-made Webley revolver. Spade phoned his secretary and asked her to call Iva, his partner's wife, to break the bad news. Then he returned to his apartment. Sam had just "drunk his third glass Of Bicardi and was lighting his fifth cigarette" when the doorbell rang. It was the police; Lieutenants Dundy and Polhaus wanted to question Sam about the death of yet another man. Thursby, it turned out, had been shot outside his hotel shortly after Spade left the Archer murder scene. Considering the circumstances of Archer's death, the police reasoned Spade m...

Iraq Funding essays

Iraq Funding essays Picture yourself rolling through the streets of Baghdad in an armored personnel vehicle, when an adversary pops out of the shadows with a rocket launcher. You are dead in his sights, and you suddenly remember that your vehicle lacks much of the armor it is supposed to have, and your bulletproof vest never arrived. At that moment, how much do you care about midterm Congressional elections, or the 2008 White House run? How much do you care about politics at all? Unfortunately, politics could weight heavily on the preparedness of Americas troops as they battle a persistent insurgency in Iraq. Congressional leaders have attempted to tie a withdrawal date to much-needed military funds; one prominent Democrat, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, has even threatened to push for funding cuts. These tactics are part of a strategy to score political points over an unpopular war, but ultimately it will be Americas troops who suffer. Polls show many Americans do not support the war in Iraq, and I myself have some serious misgivings about the decision to invade Iraq and what exactly America hopes to accomplish. But, like many Americans, I also understand that we can not choose to support our troops only when it is popular or convenient. As Americans, we have an obligation to maintain the funding levels that our troops need to have the best possible opportunity to accomplish their mission and return home safely. The U.S. government has been spending a whopping $2 billion a week on the war in Iraq, and the fact is that American troops have not been getting all the equipment, supplies and resources they need (Iraq war, No date). One of the first problems to emerge was a lack of spare parts, and military commanders often had to wait an average of 40 days to get parts they needed to fix vital tanks and helicopters (Ricks, 2004). Similarly, many armored vehicles lacked the armor they needed to protect ...

ACT Question of the Day Complete Guide

ACT Question of the Day Complete Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you studying for the ACT? One great way to add some extra prep to your day is with ACT Questions of the Day. They are a fast and easy way to get in some additional prep and figure out where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Read on to find out where you can get the best ACT Questions of the Day, and how to use them most effectively to maximize your ACT score. Where to get the Best ACT Questions of the Day (QOTD) Online The best ACT QOTD can be found on the official ACT site. Every day they present a new question with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Here’s an example of an official QOTD grammar question embedded within a larger passage. You can also find decent quality questions here. This site also gives you an explanation of the correct answer, though it’s not always as detailed as the explanations of the official QOTD. The following is an algebra Question of the Day. On your Smartphone You can conveniently access ACT test prep materials on your phone. For Android users, download the ACT QOTD app here. This app makes it easy to access ACT questions anywhere at any time, and it lets you save your answers and look back at any previous ACT questions you may have missed. For iPhone users, you can download the free ACT Student App. While this app is more geared towards general practice than QOTD, you can use it to answer practice questions and learn vocab words. As you can see, it’s as easy to access QOTD as it is to add an extra ACT prep question to your daily routine. So how can adding a question a day help you prepare for the ACT? How to Prep Effectively with QOTD One question a day may not seem like it could accomplish that much, and it’s definitely not a replacement for more extensive study. However, it can be very effective in exposing you to a great variety of ACT questions. ACT Question of the Day involves all types of questions, including English, Math, Reading, and Science (but excludes Writing), so you can get a sense of what you know well and what you need to study up on. Maybe an algebra question is a breeze for you, but coordinate geometry leaves you feeling lost? Mark down any difficult questions or mistakes in your notebook, and use this discovery as a launching off point to overcome your weaknesses. Even if you got the answer correct, make sure you understand exactly why you got it right and can confidently answer similar types of questions that test the same skill. By understanding your answers and analyzing your mistakes, you’ll be able to figure out your strengths and weaknesses and customize your ACT study plan so it’s most effective for you. Start early - even months ahead of your test date. This will ensure you get exposed to the most variety of questions. Always set aside time to do them as a daily habit - if they start to pile up and get backlogged, there’s not a big chance you’ll have time to go back to them in your busy schedule! ACT QOTD are most effective when they are just that - questions of the day, every day. A Few Limitations of ACT QOTD One limitation of ACT Question of the Day is that you can’t choose the difficulty level of the questions, easy, medium, or hard. However, you can try to determine the difficulty level on your own, as part of analyzing your strengths and weaknesses and figuring out where you need the most practice. You also can't select questions by subject - you can't get an ACT Math Question of the Day, for example. If you ignore your strengths and weaknesses across subjects - and within a subject - you won't make as much progress. Unlike practice tests, QOTD are a quick injection of test prep to your day - they are not helpful for understanding the timing and pacing of the test, or how to keep up your stamina and focus. Taking a practice test under simulated testing conditions is best for that. Finally, they are not helpful for practicing for the ACT essay, if you’re taking the ACT Plus Writing. To Sum Up†¦ ACT QOTD are effective for preparing you for the ACT a little everyday, as well as allowing you to encounter a variety of questions and figure out your strengths and weaknesses. They are fast and convenient, though not a replacement for your general ACT prep. Start early and you’ll be familiar with the types of questions on the ACT by the time you take the real test! What’s Next? To best prep for the ACT, you need official ACT practice tests and strategies for effective studying. You’re in luck! Check out our free ACT practice tests and learn how to use them to maximize your score. Aiming for that top composite score of 36? We have a comprehensive guide for how to achieve your perfect score by a 36 full scorer. Read about what he did to prep and how you can use the same approach. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

Letters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Letters - Essay Example It is my firm belief that we can attain client satisfaction, highest possible BER and successful completion of the project only by employing integrated design. Your collaboration along with the design team will ensure all engineering requirements are fulfilled under the current governing legislation and regulations. The attachments along this letter enlist my recent appointments in the energy management sector. The widely held building projects employed my expertises to achieve energy focused objectives. On the other hand some of them required building energy rating services. Regrettably my interaction with the architect is sometimes limited, major reason is, my involvement in current projects with diverse nature and scale. Second component of the attachment is a citation of previous projects where scope, value and risk were considerably greater. A number of prominent architectural firms were involved in these projects and hence it demanded continuous collaboration with all key stakeholders. One such relevant example is of ‘Energy Retrofit Scheme’ which is one among numerous grant support schemes by the state energy authority which aims to assist organizations in reducing energy requirement and carbon emission. It is observed that through improved and upgraded systems the energy requirements can reduce to 80% of pre-approved energy. A number of qualifying criteria must be satisfied, which include a fundamental requirement that the minimum capital expenditure is 40000 euro for energy upgrade works. I was approached by the national body for agricultural and food industry, namely xxx, back in June 2010. The body employs its 100 office facilities across the country to carry out its operations. The results of the initial consultation made us realize that in order to acquire support grant we have to formulate an energy

Eliade Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Eliade - Assignment Example This hierophany can be witnessed in the Jesus Christ himself who is a personification of God himself. According to him the sacred only reveals himself to the reality of holy and not that of natural reality. Eliade clearly distinguishes between an objects physical attributes and sacred attributes. He states that the sacred nature of objects is not to be counted as a physical attribute but rather a sacred attribute which he pronounces to be ganz andere. He tells about the sacred as something which is developing world order and is religious. He tells about nature as something which is conforming to the modes of sacredness. He differentiates between sacred and profane on the basis of the followers of both the existence. Individuals who believe in profane rely on natural realities rather than on sacredness and power is perceived by them as something which is eternal. In other words these followers are deviating from the role of existence in this world. Eliade describes the primitive race to be belonging to this world with natural realities and who deny their moral rights. These followers do not have a moral right to existence in this world as put by Eliade. He further concludes that profane and sacred are two different modes of existence in this world. 3. Mircea Eliade calls humankind â€Å"homo religious.† By homo religious Eliade is trying to tell that people in this world who follow this form believe in one religion and one god irrespective of their beliefs in profane or sacred. This is the very reason that Eliade distinguishes between the two forms of existence i.e. profane and sacred. 4. (a.) Desacralized cosmos† is used by the author to tell about the myth of the end of this world and existence. It is believed by him that this end would be marked by the hatred for profane and the eternal return of sacred to this world. (b.) â€Å"homogeneity of space† the author uses this term to signify

International Relations Theory Book Review on The Bottom Billion by Essay

International Relations Theory Book Review on The Bottom Billion by paul collier and the united states of europe by T.R. Reid - Essay Example The goal is not to pay for our sins but to give confidence financial enlargement. As Collier notes, the word expansion is now regularly encumbered by means of other Western agendas, as in the environmental actions persistence on "sustainable enlargement." The phrase sustainable increase has for decades been endorsed by groups such as the World Council of Churches and lots of NGOs. Too frequently it has meant that the worlds really poor ought to be given partial access to the circle of efficiency and exchange lest they add to the ecological burden that humankind has placed on our delicate planet. Devoid of that, the "bottom billion" will carry on to sink. Collier writes: "The difficulty of the bottom billion has not been that they have had the wrong type of enlargement; it is that they have not had any increase. The suspicion of growth has unintentionally undermined authentically strategic thinking." (Richard John Neuhaus, 2007) This research asked the question addressed with cautious argument and massive supporting confirmation by Paul Collier in The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest nation Are Failing and What Can Be Done concerning It. Facing up to the realities of globe poverty as well as what can be done regarding it requires concern, cleverness, and long-term pledge. Just how long-term our thinking has to be is underscored by Michael Clemens, who appraisal The Bottom Billion in Foreign Affairs: Collier writes: "Change in the societies at the very bottom must come predominantly from within; we cannot impose it on them. In all these societies there do struggles between brave people want change and entrenched interests opposing it. To date, we have largely been bystanders in this struggle. We can do much more to strengthen the hand of reformers. But to do so we will need to draw upon tools--such as military interventions, international standard-setting, and trade policy--that to date have been used for other purposes. The agencies that control these instruments have neither knowledge of nor interest in the problems of the bottom billion. " The United States Of Europe By T.R. Reid It is simple to scoff at the accessories of the European Union. Its flag of 12 gold stars on blue is insipid. Its nationwide festival Europe Day, honor the Schuman assertion of May 9, 1950--is unobserved. Its nationwide anthem is astounded because Euro attach could never concur on a language in which to sing Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." Its rapid-reaction force, ought to it ever form, will be no competition for the U.S. Army (Andrew Moravcsik, 2005). However, the EU is the nearly all ambitious and successful work out in international collaboration in globe history--and now even Americans are noticing. Over the past half-century it has emerged as the leading medium for monetary policy making in Europe. Tariffs, quotas, as well as mainly civilization barriers have been eradicated. The euro has relocated national currencies. Environmental,

Integrated Marketing and Communication Term Paper

Integrated Marketing and Communication - Term Paper Example However, depending on the context and environment in which the business is operating, different interpretations of IMC have evolved. IMC has gained importance from both academic researchers and corporate decision makers. According to academic scholars, the concept of IMC cannot be defined with the help of any rigid definition. An in depth understanding of the various ways of marketing communication would be useful in explaining the huge utility of this term in the present business context and the marketing activities made by companies all over the globe (Drummond & Ensor, 2005). Integrated marketing communications The procedure followed in integrated marketing communications refers to a series of activities made by companies in succession to one another. These activities are â€Å"the strategic analysis, choice, implementation and control of all elements of marketing communications which efficiently, economically and effectively influence transactions between an organization and its existing and potential customers, consumers and clients† (Panda, 2007, p. 524). ... This applies to any category of corporate organization that deals with any kind of product or service. Companies can however, customize each individual process of this entire system according to the marketing objectives and production goals of the organization. For all the years since 1950, companies have used this concept of marketing communications as an all inclusive notion of marketing that acts as an envelope to all the different levels of marketing activities and communication of the companies. However, the technique of integrating these varied functional areas strategically into the functioning of the companies differs from company to company. The approach is unique to the pattern of resource allocation made by the company and also its position and status relative to its competitors (FitzGerald, 2000). In this paper the concept of integrated marketing communications has been critically evaluated and the different elements of this process have been studied in order to device a single strategy for marketing communications. The prime aim of this strategy would be to allow companies to achieve customer satisfaction by following IMC. It would help companies to identify target audiences from the markets and frame the most appropriate strategy to communicate with them. Companies generally use multiple channels of communication. In order to generate best results, the strategy developed through the IMC process should be consistently used while executing each of all the communication functions made by the firm (FitzGerald, 2000). IMC Strategy & Plan Every organization runs its business with a three-fold objective; increasing market share, maintaining competitive advantage over the current rivals of the company and

Managing Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Managing Project - Essay Example b) Activity Q is completed 1 day before schedule Q is completed 1 day before schedule. In such an event, the project would be completed in 61 instead of 62 days. c) A 1-day delay during activity N. A period of 1 day delay during activity N would not affect the completion of the project as it is not within the ambit of the critical path. 6) Importance of network diagrams: Network diagram is a diagrammatical representation of different types of activities of a project. Various nodes in the diagram represent the different activities. "It should also be appreciated that model output is not necessarily an end in itself but may be an input for assessing the impact of changes in economic, social and ecological terms." (Environmental Impact Assessment of Irrigation and Drainage Projects: Mathematical Modelling). The network diagram is a management tool for assessing the path the various activities of a project needs to follow and what is the maximum period and length it would take. Based upon the network diagram, management could work out the time, costs, manpower requirements and resources mapping needed for executing the project with utmost efficiency and minimum costs. "However, the project's duration is equally calculated by determining the longest possible path through the project network." (Gantt Charts and Network Diagrams. 2008). The two frequently used network diagrams are Programme Evaluation Review Techniques (PERT)and Critical Path Method (CPM). Normally, PERT and CPM are used when the activities are multivariate, intricate, and heavy industries where the activities are numerous and risks factors high, It is a brainchild of strategic military usage but is now being extensively used in nuclear installations, missile launching and other high..."However, the project's duration is equally calculated by determining the longest possible path through the project network." (Gantt Charts and Network Diagrams. 2008). The two frequently used network diagrams are Programme Evaluation Review Techniques (PERT)and Critical Path Method (CPM). Normally, PERT and CPM are used when the activities are multivariate, intricate, and heavy industries where the activities are numerous and risks factors high, It is a brainchild of strategic military usage but is now being extensively used in nuclear installations, missile launching and other high technological areas. One of the most important features of a network diagram is that it can be used to determine the critical path, or the path, including all the probable variables of the project, which requires the attention of top management. Network diagrams are very much useful to determine the float, or slack in different activities which can be used by the top management to reschedule purchase, use of labour and other costs when necessary. Therefore one of the most notable features of a network diagram is that it can be used to reduce cost of project.

Integrated Marketing and Communication Term Paper

Integrated Marketing and Communication - Term Paper Example However, depending on the context and environment in which the business is operating, different interpretations of IMC have evolved. IMC has gained importance from both academic researchers and corporate decision makers. According to academic scholars, the concept of IMC cannot be defined with the help of any rigid definition. An in depth understanding of the various ways of marketing communication would be useful in explaining the huge utility of this term in the present business context and the marketing activities made by companies all over the globe (Drummond & Ensor, 2005). Integrated marketing communications The procedure followed in integrated marketing communications refers to a series of activities made by companies in succession to one another. These activities are â€Å"the strategic analysis, choice, implementation and control of all elements of marketing communications which efficiently, economically and effectively influence transactions between an organization and its existing and potential customers, consumers and clients† (Panda, 2007, p. 524). ... This applies to any category of corporate organization that deals with any kind of product or service. Companies can however, customize each individual process of this entire system according to the marketing objectives and production goals of the organization. For all the years since 1950, companies have used this concept of marketing communications as an all inclusive notion of marketing that acts as an envelope to all the different levels of marketing activities and communication of the companies. However, the technique of integrating these varied functional areas strategically into the functioning of the companies differs from company to company. The approach is unique to the pattern of resource allocation made by the company and also its position and status relative to its competitors (FitzGerald, 2000). In this paper the concept of integrated marketing communications has been critically evaluated and the different elements of this process have been studied in order to device a single strategy for marketing communications. The prime aim of this strategy would be to allow companies to achieve customer satisfaction by following IMC. It would help companies to identify target audiences from the markets and frame the most appropriate strategy to communicate with them. Companies generally use multiple channels of communication. In order to generate best results, the strategy developed through the IMC process should be consistently used while executing each of all the communication functions made by the firm (FitzGerald, 2000). IMC Strategy & Plan Every organization runs its business with a three-fold objective; increasing market share, maintaining competitive advantage over the current rivals of the company and

Soil Mechanics Lap Report Lab Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Soil Mechanics Lap - Lab Report Example rent laboratory tests, which were performed to determine various important mechanical properties and index of soils: Atterberg Limits, Visual classification, compaction (Moisture-Density relationship), Constant Head Method (Hydraulic Conductivity), Consolidation, and Unconfined Compression Test. This lab was performed with a view to determine the liquid and plastic limits of fine-grained soil. The LL (Liquid limit) is defined arbitrary as the water content expressed in percent, at which part of soil in a cut and standard cup by the groove of dimensions can flow together at a groove for 13 mm, when it is subjected to 25 shocks from a cup, which is being dropped from a distance of 10 mm in a standard LL apparatus operated at two shocks per second. The PL (Plastic Limit) refers to water content, expressed as a percentage, at which soil can be deformed any longer by rolling it into 3.2 mm diameter threads without crumbling. Porcelain dish, Liquid limit device, Flat grooving tool with gage, Balance, Spatula, Drying oven set at 150 degrees Celsius, Eight moisture cans, Wash bottle filled with distilled water, and Glass plate 1. About three quarters of the soil was taken and placed into the porcelain dish. The soil was thoroughly mixed with some small amounts of distilled water until a smooth uniform paste appeared. The cellophane was used to cover the dish in order to prevent moisture from getting out. 3. The liquid limit apparatus was adjusted by checking height of the drop of cup. The block which was the end of grooving tool was 10 mm high and was used as a gauge. Using the cup, the correct rate was determined by rotating the crank to drop the cup approximately 2 times per second. 4. A portion of previously mixed soil was placed into the cup containing the liquid limit apparatus at a point where the cup could rest on the base. The soil was squeezed down in order to eliminate air pockets and ensure it is spread into a cup to a 10 mm depth at its deepest point. 6.

Good Will Hunting Biopsychological Approach Essay Example for Free

Good Will Hunting Biopsychological Approach Essay The biopshychological approach to Wills behavior would suggest that he is like he is because of his brain chemistry. The chemicals in his brain cause him to respond violently to pressure. The make up of his genetics cause him to be the way he is and he would be this way no matter how he was raised. This approach would also suggest that he could be changed by drugs to balance the chemicals in his brain. Behavioral Approach: The behavioral approach would imply that all of Wills behavior is learned and he is a product of his environment. He is violent because he was probably beaten as a child and as he grew up he learned to handle his problems through violence. He kept up this behavior because he was never punished severely enough to get him to stop. He learned that he could go to court and talk his way out of his situations which did not give him any reason to stop doing what he was doing. He also learned not to get to close to anybody or open up to them. This was learned because some of the people in his life who were supposed to love him had abandoned him. Psychoanalitic Approach: The psychoanalitic approach would indicate that Wills behavior was from his subconscious mind and were impulses from childhood experiences. For example, Will was beaten up in kindergarten by a bully, later on in his life he sees the bully and starts a fight with him. His decision to fight was made subconsciously from an impulse from a childhood experience. When he was a child he was also abused by his parents. Later in Wills life, he often resorts to violence subconsciously due to his childhood beatings. Humanistic Approach: The humanistic approach would state that Will makes his decisions based on free will and is basically a good person. Will is how he is because that is how he wants to be. Will does not realize until later in life that he has to much potential to waste his life. Will is an overall good person. This is shown in his in his actions throughout the movie, for example, when he decided to keep working construction instead of taking a job with mil itary intelligence because he would rather help people by making housing than get people killed. Cognitive Approach: The cognitive approach would suggest Will is how he is because that is how he sees himself. Will is a well educated man but for most of the movie Will sees himself as a nobody who will work for cheap and stay in the ghetto. Once his intelligence is noticed realizes that he has the opportunity to use his knowledge and make something of himself. Sociocultural Approach: The sociocultural approach would say that Will is how he is because of influences from society. Society usually views people from the ghetto as people who will never make something of themselves so he feels the same way about himself. Society expects people from the ghetto to resort to violence to solve their problems. This is why Will usually resorts to violence in tough situations. Society also does not allow for men to open up and share their feeling freely. This is the reason why it is so hard for will to open up and get emotional.

Zero-Day Vulnerability Attack

Zero-Day Vulnerability Attack As Forensics Expert discuss the process involve in investigating Zero-Day Vulnerability attack Introduction The Internet became essential in this 21st generation and people can’t live without Internet. As the growth of the use of Internet, new technologies are also invented to support our life. However this new technologies may also exploit to the vulnerability attack. One of the vulnerability attack is zero-day attack (0day). A zero-day attack is an attack that exploits a previously unknown vulnerability in a computer application, one that developers have not had time to address and patch.( Wikipedia, (2014)) The zero-day threat can be undetectable and unknown for most of the antivirus software and it is keep increasing in new form which try to hide itself. The incident handlers have to fight against this threat which may include both corporate and home users and security vendors. Once they found or discovered the new threat, they have to respond to it. In order to investigate and have better understanding to zero-day attack, research and pratices are carrying out. Different security researchers have different opinion and ways to handle the zero-day threat. Most of the incident response program will usually implemented using a aphased methodology. This is because by using phased methodology will allow the lifecycle of incident response to be break down into seperate managable components. However, there are two popular methodology which one is from SANS Institute and one from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Both the phased methodology are useful for handling incidents when zero-day exploits. The benefits of both the phased incident response plan and corresponding measures are they can detect and identify zero-day threat efficiently. 1. Phased Methodology 1.1 SANS Institute phased methodology SANS Institute phased methodology consist of six phases which include 1) Preparation 2) Identification 3) Containment 4) Eradication 5) Recovery 6) Lessons Learned (Murray,2007) 1.2 NIST phased methodology NIST version phased methodology consist of four phases which include 1) Preparation 2) Detection and Analysis 3) Containment, Eradication and Recovery 4) Post-Incident Activity (Scarfone, Grance, Masone, 2008) Both of the phased methodology have the similarity. However, the incident response team (IRT) may need to modify the methodology so that it can specifically to handle zero-day attack. From IRT, the phases that have most impact to zero-day incident response will be preparation, identification or analysis and containment. This three important phases is essential when handling incident response to zero-day attack. 1.3 Incident Response Team Methodology In order to deal with the zero-day threats, IRT have a methodology to perform proactively and reactively. The proactive will be focus to external threat when zero-day is known but haven’t any impacted to the organization. The reactive will be focus on how to response to the actual zero-day incident. This methodology consist of a cycle of three phases which are : 1) Monitor 2) Analyze 3) Mitigate The monitor phase refer to monitor the public resources which is still ongoing. This is to identify the zero-day threats. The analyze phase refer to analyze of the threats exploited which conduct in a lab environment. This purpose is to identify the potential threat that may impact to the organization. In mitigate phase, the information that gathered from analysis will be build and implement inside the mitigation mechanisms. 2. Three important phases 2.1 Preparation The two primary objective of preparation is to ensure incident response team (IRT) and sufficient controls to mitigate security incidents. (Scarfone,Grance,Masone,2008) First of all, IRT need to monitor on the Internet at all times to ensure the security. IRT should be able to react immediately to ensure the risk is mitigated. IRT need adequate controls to prevent and detect any possible attack. Besides that, this can be divided into two types of response which is external response and internal response. 2.1.1 External Response External response can include analyzing external advisories. This can help to gather the information about zero-day attack through 5W1H (what,where,when,why,who,how). How does zero-day works and exploits? What is the target is? When is the exploitation? Where zero-day exploited? Who get impacted by zero-day? Why zero-day attack such platform? The following methodology is for external response. 2.1.1.1 Build an Incident Response Lab IRT can have a lab environment which consist of system that can simulate the role of attacker and victim. The lab should also include machine that have tools, interpreters and compilers in order to provide different types of source code files that related with zero-day. However, the victim machines should in exactly the same condition within that organization include operating system used. 2.1.1.2 Monitoring to Public Resources Monitoring what happen to the Internet is one of the essential component in our daily life. IRT needs to be constantly monitoring and keeping an eye on new trends of attacks, public internet resources and any other security vulnerabilities. One of the well-known resources for notification is the SANS Internet Storm Center (ISC) (http://isc.sans.org). The ISC monitors different types of public resources which included the logs from devices that used by businness and home users. 2.1.1.3 Analyze the Threat Once a zero-day is found, IRT should able to reproduce it in lab environment to find out the impact level of it. This consist of few steps need to carry out. The first step is to review the targeted software or application, operating system or version of it. After that, all the settings and platform are set up so that it is applicable to the environment. The last step is to monitor the system and it should run a sniffer to capture all the packets. Once completed, the exploit is launched to attack the target. After the attack succesful, IRT can start to investigate and identify the threats include the ports use, payload size and others. 2.1.1.4 Mitigation Once the threat is been analyzed, IRT should gather all the information and start to mitigate. All the ports that was used, can be checked and filtered through firewall to ensure that it is blocked. 2.1.2 Internal Response For the internal response, the following methodology is used. 2.1.2.1 Monitoring Internal Log The log monitoring is an essential factors in secure network. All the information should recorded in log in order to trace back and secure the network. On eo f an open source platform is Alien Vault’s Open Source Security Information Management (OSSIM) (http://www.ossim.net). 2.1.2.2 Monitoring Suspicious Network Activity As most of the malicious are try to hide itself and traverse through the network, network activity logs is crucial. The network analyser should look for the malware propagation, command of communication and the network traffic. There are different types of tools that can be used to improve netowrk security systems such as Ourmon (http://ourmon.sourceforge.net/), Bothunter (http://www.bothunter.net/), Honeynet (http://www.honeynet.org/) and others. 2.1.2.3 Monitoring Host Activity In order to improve the monitoring, monitoring an individual systems can be also crucial to identify zero-day. This is because it attacks can be unnoticed, so host monitoring is important for indentification and detection. Some of the tools can used to identify anomalous activity such as Tripwire (http://www.tripwire.com), OSSEC (http://www.ossec.net) and others. 2.1.2.4 Malware Analysis and Collection In order to collect the malware and respond to it, some of the tools is needed to capture it. The IRT should ensure that they have the ability to capture and analyze malware. One of the best way to capture malware is using honeypots. Honeypots are used to identify new types of attack, track hackers and collect the malware. There are some tools that can be used as honeypots such as Honeyd (http://www.honeyd.org/). 2.1.2.5 Application Whitelisting Application whitelisting is popular used recently. It permits all known and safe production applications to run and install, but block all unkown applications. This will prevent any remote code execution. One of the benefit by using application whitelisting is it only allowed known trusted applications to run. On the other hand, the limitation could be malware injected itself into the whitelisting process memory. 2.2 Detection and Analaysis In order to detect and analyse, the following methodology is used. 2.2.1 Identify The IRT needs to identify the potential signs of compromise, gather events and investigate it. After gathered the information, it should analyzed and mitigated. The potential signs oof compromise may include strange log entries or network activities or any others anomalous activity. Besides that, end users are also can be indicators of suspicious activity. They may click suspect links, surf social netowrking sites and respond to phishing emails. 2.2.2 Correlate After all the information is identified and gathered, correlate events to investigate the source of the suspicious activity. All the connections should be identified in the netowrk logs and determine where is the source come from. One of the tools is Sysinternals (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb545021) used to gather system information which included incident response tools (Helix). 2.2.3 Analyze After the process is identified, it is going to analyze it. IRT should analyse all the suspicious process include the processes that hidden in Explorer.exe. As most of the times malicious are try to hide itself, IRT needs some trusted tools to identify and analysis all the processes. One of the tools that is useful to dump a process without killing it is Microsoft’s User Mode Process Dumper.( http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=4060) 2.2.4 Mitigate Once the processes is identified, in order to protect the mechanism, IRT should prevent it from executing. IRT should identified the child process launched, DLLs, and any related user information. One of the tools is CurrProcess by NirSoft (http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/cprocess.html). This useful tools will show all the process information which include name, priority level, process id and memory usage. 2.3 Containment The purpose of the containment phase is to prevent any further spread of the threats or incident. Once the incident is been detected and analyzed, action should be taken in order to prevent any further damaging make by the threats. 2.3.1 Network Level Containment In network level, the best way is to block on network devices. While IRT identified the particular was zero-day, other systems may get infected too. It is important that to implement containment across the network. This is to prevent any incident from propagation from one system to another. 2.3.2 Host Level Containment In host level containment, the information gathered previously in detection and analysis phase can be used. First of all, IRT should kill all the running processes which related to the incident analyzed. After that, firewalls should be configured to disallow any incident traffic. In addition, anti-virus programs need to allow for custom anti-virus signatures to be created. This helps to detect and eliminate the new form of malicious. 3. Conclusion Zero-day threats are a big challenge to all the incident response teams (IRT). As long as there is a software vulnerability been exploited, IRT need to fix it immediately for secure purpose. IRT need to approach different types of methodology in order to prevent, analysis and mitigate the zero-day threat. However, by having all these of methodology, IRT can conduct the incident response to zero-day threat much more easier. References : Wikipedia, (2014). Zero-day attack. [online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-day_attack Scarfone,K.,Grance,T.,Masone,K. (2008,March). Computer Securit Incident Handling Guide. Retrieved March 1,2011, from NIST Special Publications (800 Series): http//csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-61-rev1/SP800-61rev1.pdf Kliarsky, A. (2011,June). Responding to Zero Day Threats. [online] Available at : http://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/incident/responding-zero-day-threats-33709

Aluminum Essay -- essays research papers

Aluminum, symbol Al, the most abundant metallic element in the earth's crust. The atomic number of aluminum is 13; the element is in group 13 (IIIa) of the periodic table. Hans Christian Orstead, Danish chemist, first isolated aluminum in 1825, using a chemical process involving potassium amalgam. Between 1827 and 1845, Friedrich WÃ ¶hler, a German chemist, improved Oersted's process by using metallic potassium. He was the first to measure the specific gravity of aluminum and show its lightness. In 1854 Henri Sainte-Claire Deville, in France, obtained the metal by reducing aluminum chloride with sodium. Aided by the financial backing of Napoleon III, Deville established a large-scale experimental plant and displayed pure aluminum at the Paris Exposition of 1855. Aluminum is a lightweight, silvery metal. The atomic weight of aluminum is 26.9815; the element melts at 660Â ° C (1220Â ° F), boils at 2467Â ° C (4473Â ° F), and has a specific gravity of 2.7. Aluminum is a strongly electropositive metal and extremely reactive. In contact with air, aluminum rapidly becomes covered with a tough, transparent layer of aluminum oxide that resists further corrosive action. For this reason, materials made of aluminum do not tarnish or rust. The metal reduces many other metallic compounds to their base metals. For example, when thermite (a mixture of powdered iron oxide and aluminum) is heated, the aluminum rapidly removes the oxygen from the iron; the heat of the reaction is sufficient to melt the iron. This phenomenon is used in the thermite process for welding iron . The oxide of aluminum is amphoteric—showing both acidic and basic properties. The most important compounds include the oxide, hydroxide, sulfate, and mixed sulfate compounds. Anhydrous aluminum chloride is important in the oil and synthetic-chemical industries. Many gemstones—ruby and sapphire, for example—consist mainly of crystalline aluminum oxide. Aluminum is the most abundant metallic constituent in the crust of the earth; only the nonmetals oxygen and silicon are more abundant. Aluminum is never found as a free metal; commonly as aluminum silicate or as a silicate of aluminum mixed with other metals such as sodium, potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium. These silicates are not useful ores, for it is chemically difficult, and therefore an expensive process, to extract aluminum from them. bauxite an impure h... ...cling of such containers is an increasingly important energy-conservation measure. Aluminum's resistance to corrosion in salt water also makes it useful in boat hulls and various aquatic devices. A wide variety of coating alloys and wrought alloys can be prepared that give the metal greater strength, castability, or resistance to corrosion or high temperatures. Some new alloys can be used as armor plate for tanks, personnel carriers, and other military vehicles. In 1886 the world production of aluminum was less than 45 kg (less than 100 lb), and its price was more than $11 per kg (more than $5 per lb). In 1989, by contrast, the estimated world production of primary aluminum was 18 million metric tons and an estimated 4 million metric tons was produced in the United States alone, whereas the price of aluminum was less than $2 per kg. U.S. consumption, by major markets, consisted of containers and packaging, 31 percent; building and construction, 20 percent; transportation, 24 percent; electric equipment, 10 percent; consumer durables, 9 percent; and miscellaneous, 6 percent. In 1989, recycled aluminum accounted for over 20 percent of total aluminum consumption in the United States.

Critical Thinking Questions Essay

Labeling is a societal way of correcting wrongs within the community by giving names related to the kind of wrong committed. Unfortunately, this does not always correct the deviant’s behavior. The labeled character internalizes the label and gets accustomed to it so as behave as labeled. Once one is called a thief they become one because the society is already aware of their character and they have no fear. They abide to the ascribed label, (Labeling and Crime, 2001). 2). What is the difference between primary and secondary deviance? Primary deviance, according to Edwin Lemert, is the initial act in which a person is identified to have committed a social wrong. When the society tries to correct it by punishing the offender they may or not stop committing this act depending on their perception of the form of correction. Secondary deviance is a kind of deviance that results from the reaction of the offender to the initial societal corrective measures. The offender tends to acquaint themselves with stubbornness against first hand correction to mistakes. As result of being labeled they develop a mind set that they are deviants. The community may try to punish them harder only to realize that they harden and commit the crime more frequently and fully become criminals rather than just deviants, (Crime and Criminology, 2010). 3). What are some examples of master status not in the text? A master status is acquired when one is successfully labeled and develops that particular kind of label making it his/her personality. For example, one may acquire a master status as a prostitute, rapist, gay or homosexual. This may have resulted from an act out of curiosity, desperation or poverty. When it is known to the public they may be labeled. The community does not want to associate with them and they may not get jobs due to the label and they decided to make it their personality for survival. 4). What are traits associated with them? Master status may result to a complete change in the character and personality of an individual. The new state makes them express low self esteem, shyness to the public, wild reactions that make them commit the crime more even after harsh punishment. They may tend to be closely associated with other criminals and may indulge in other related crimes other than the one they were labeled after. This mixed reaction results from victimization of the labeled person by capitalizing on his weakness rather than promoting their strengths. 5). How do those assumed traits affect our perceptions of people with that status? The perception of the community on a person who has acquired master status is transformed towards the description of this person in accordance to their label. They are called thieves other than teacher or father which would still be his other roles in the society. The community perceives them as evil and criminals despite any attempt to act well. 6). What are decision-making types used by rational choice theory? Decision making in rational theory may be in two types. Criminal event decision type and criminal involvement decision type. Criminal involvement type of decision making involve the criminal weighing options on whether participating in a criminal activity would yield more benefits or negatives. A cost benefit analysis is first taken before one commits crime. Crime event type of decision making involve the issues related to a particular crime that respond to the questions where, when, and how. The person must have decided to commit a crime and but they are either held back by either of the above mentioned situations which would promote the success of the crime, (Vito, Maahs, & Holmes, 2007). 7). How do these decisions apply to crime? The rational decision making applies in crime in a number of ways. If a criminal decides that it would be beneficial, advantageous, and lucrative to commit the crime then they would commit it at particular location and specific time as deemed appropriate. When the analysis is completed the criminal does not fear any punishment emanating for the crime they intend to commit. This is applicable in theft and burglary cases. References Crime and Criminology: retrieved in 2010. http://www. sociologyindex. com/crime. htm 2010 Labeling and Crime: edited in March 2001: http://www. le. ac. uk/education/resources/SocSci/labelling. html 09 Vito, GT F. , Maahs, J. R. & Holmes, R. M. (2007). Criminology: theory, research, and policy. Canada: Jones and Bartlett’s publisher.

Attitude Legislation And Litigation Education Essay

Provision of instruction in the current universe has been faced with many challenges particularly sing the equality issues in the society. This paper addresses the societal deductions of attitude, statute law and judicial proceeding on the lives of pupils with disablements. Introduction Over the old ages, handicapped people in the society have been forced to populate with many challenges sing their handicapped position. Disabled people have several jobs in footings of motion, instruction and many other societal activities as they are non able to take part and be able to be involved in these activities. The instruction sector has non been left out as the handicapped pupils are faced with many challenges in larning compared to their fellow pupils who are non disabled. The society has been forced to come up with ways in which the handicappeds can be given discriminatory intervention and services compared to the other members of the society through debut of statute law and extenuations to regulate the instruction of the handicapped. For the past old ages, the services given to people with disablement particularly in the instruction sector have been uneffective as a consequence of several grounds that cause hapless service bringing to the disabled in the particular instruction sector. Fiscal issue has been a major hinderance in proviso of services in the particular instruction sector as there have been issues of fewer financess allocated to this sector. There is besides a job sing logistics as the aid and services offered by several bureaus require a batch of attempt for them to move and give the necessary aid needed ( Gordon, 2004 p.72-89 ) . The attitude of people towards people with disablements has several impacts on the lives of the people populating with disablements. The handicapped have been forced to populate with the impacts of negative societal attitude towards them and a farther societal stigma apart from the larger job they are confronting sing their mental or physical hindrances as a consequence of their disablement. The negative attitude towards people with disablements can be seen through societal rejection of handicapped people by the society members a frailty that is present across several civilizations. Peoples with disablements have several more demands than that of a normal individual and therefore there is development of a impression in the society that people with disablements are a load to the society. This factor helps nature the negative attitude towards people with disablements in the society. This negative attitude impacts negatively on the lives of pupils with disablements as it makes them see themselves as a load to the society from their many demands and furthers the societal stigma these pupils are faced with a factor that impacts negatively on their instruction. Attitude towards people with disablement has been negatively displayed through several civilizations that see mental deceleration as psyches that are possessed by evil liquors or punished by God and therefore require spiritual intercessions or dispossession. Such attitudes vested in the heads of people impacts negatively on their attitude towards the disabled as they are forced to see the handicapped as less human existences and farther the societal stigma faced by people with disablement ( Gordon, 2004 p.72-89 ) Students without disablement have negative societal response to other pupils with disablements particularly the mentally retarded as a consequence O f their negative attitude towards them despite the several steps that have been developed to change this that include legislative support, improved attention and the improved and sophisticated ways to give a medical history of the beginning of different disablements. The fact that disabled pupils were treated otherwise from the other pupils by debut of particular instruction that was chiefly provided in particular schoolrooms or even particular schools a fact that furthered the stigma among the handicapped pupils as these meant they were non equal to their opposite numbers who are non disabled ( Ramirez ) . Provision of instruction to the handicapped pupils has become a major challenge to different authoritiess and provinces. Educators have been faced with challenges of how best they can supply instruction to the handicapped and has seen the debut of particular instruction that meant that handicapped pupils were non included in schoolrooms with other able pupils and meant arrangement in separate schoolrooms or schools. The societal attitude that the handicapped pupils should be treated individually as a consequence of their disablement is wholly incorrect and it discouraged the formation of Torahs that would regulate the general instruction of exceeding pupils or handicapped pupils on the footing that dividing the pupils with disablements from those who are non disabled is far from doing them equal and that all the pupils had equal protection from the jurisprudence. The thought that the handicapped pupils should be separated from their fellow pupils has greatly changed as a consequence inequality that consequences from this action and hence there was demand to develop the statute laws and judicial proceedings that govern the instruction of pupils with disablements ( Ramirez, 2003 p. 12 ) . Several opinions against segregation by the United States Supreme Court set the gait in the hunt for equality in the instruction sector that included people with disablement. The celebrated Fourteen Amendment provides the right to equal instruction for any member of the province and no province may deny equal right to education to any individual within its legal power. Students with disablements have a right to equal instruction like their nondisabled opposite numbers as provided by the jurisprudence. The proviso of particular instruction that was ab initio provided outside the regular schoolroom is now provided in the regular schoolroom and there is no separation of the handicapped pupils from the schoolroom hence they learn together a system referred to as inclusion ( Ramirez, 2003 p. 13 ) . Legislations and judicial proceedings have been passed to regulate the instruction of the handicapped pupils. The construct of particular instruction by the Congress as it passed an act that instruction would be provided for all the disabled kids and guaranteed the proviso of public instruction to all pupils irrespective of their ability which provided the footing for inclusive acquisition. It provided that every pupil was eligible to have appropriate public instruction and have the chance to larn in a no limitation environment. In inclusive acquisition, general instruction provided to pupils plants in cooperation with particular instruction with the chief purpose of proviso of quality instruction plans to the pupils irrespective of their disablement. Such statute laws provided that pupils with disablements both in public and private establishments would have instruction with the nondisabled pupils, there should be no particular categories, separate schooling and that no pupil should be removed in their categories unless the badness of the disablement hinders the proviso of instruction to that pupil wholly ( Ramirez, 2003 p. 12 ) . The inclusion of the handicapped pupils into mainstream categories with other chap nondisabled pupils has some positive and negative impacts to the pupils with disablement. Though we may state that the handicapped pupils benefit in this environment through societal and academic interaction with the other pupils, it is difficult to disregard the fact that they are forced to meet rough academic competition from their chap nondisabled pupils. The inclusion of the handicapped pupils in the same categories as the nondisabled pupils increases the force per unit area on both the instructor and the handicapped pupils to be at par with their chap nondisabled pupils and failure to make so may increase the stigma in the pupil. The current instruction clime may non prefer much the instruction and public presentation of certain disablement instances like the mentally retarded hence particular instruction will better flatly in the hereafter. Decision Students with disablement are faced with many challenges in life as a consequence of their disable position. Introduction of statute laws and judicial proceeding to regulate their instruction is a first positive measure in guaranting they benefit from instruction provided in establishments. Social forums and public instruction should besides be encouraged so as to assist alter the attitude of the society towards people with disablement hence bettering their lives.

The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove Chapter 1

This one's for Mom Prologue September in Pine Cove is a sigh of relief, a nightcap, a long-deserved nap. Soft autumn light filters through the trees, the tourists go back to Los Angeles and San Francisco, and Pine Cove's five thousand residents wake up to discover that they can once again find a parking place, get a table in a restaurant, and walk the beaches without being conked by an errant Frisbee. September is a promise. Rain will come at last and turn the golden pastures around Pine Cove green, the tall Monterey pines that cover the hills will stop dropping their needles, the forests of Big Sur will stop burning, the grim smile developed over the summer by the waitresses and clerks will bloom into something resembling real human expression, children will return to school and the joy of old friends, drugs, and weapons that they missed over the summer, and everyone, at last, will get some rest. Come September, Theophilus Crowe, the town constable, lovingly clips the sticky purple buds from his sensimilla plants. Mavis, down at the Head of the Slug Saloon, funnels her top-shelf liquors back into the well from whence they came. The tree service guys, with their chain saws, take down the dead and dying pines lest they crash through someone's roof with the winter storms. Woodpiles grow tall and wide around Pine Cove homes and the chimney sweep goes to a twelve-hour workday. The sunscreen and needless souvenir shit shelf at Brine's Bait, Tackle, and Fine Wines is cleared and restocked with candles, flashlight batteries, and lamp oil. (Monterey pine trees have notoriously shallow root systems and an affinity for falling on power lines.) At the Pine Cove Boutique, the hideous reindeer sweater is marked up for winter to await being marked back down for the tenth consecutive spring. In Pine Cove, where nothing happens (or at least nothing has happened for a long time), September is an event: a quiet celebration. The people like their events quiet. The reason they came here from the cities in the first place was to get away from things happening. September is a celebration of sameness. Each September is like the last. Except for this year. This year three things happened. Not big things, by city standards, but three things that coldcocked the beloved status quo nonetheless: forty miles to the south, a tiny and not very dangerous leak opened in a cooling pipe at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant; Mavis Sand advertised in Songwriter magazine for a Blues singer to play through the winter at the Head of the Slug Saloon; and Bess Leander, wife and mother of two, hung herself. Three things, omens if you will. September is a promise of what is to come. Admitting You Have a Problem â€Å"Dear, dear, how queer everything is today! And yesterday everything went on just as usual. I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think: Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is: Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle!† – LEWIS CARROLL, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland One Theophilus Crowe As dead people went, Bess Leander smelled pretty good: lavender, sage, and a hint of clove. There were seven Shaker chairs hung on pegs on the walls of the Leanders' dining room. The eighth was overturned under Bess, who hung from the peg by a calico cloth rope around her neck. Dried flowers, baskets of various shapes and sizes, and bundles of dried herbs hung from the open ceiling beams. Theophilus Crowe knew he should be doing cop stuff, but he just stood there with two emergency medical technicians from the Pine Cove Fire Department, staring up at Bess as if they were inspecting the newly installed angel on a Christmas tree. Theo thought the pastel blue of Bess's skin went nicely with her cornflower-blue dress and the patterns of the English china displayed on simple wooden shelves at the end of the room. It was 7 A.M. and Theo, as usual, was a little stoned. Theo could hear sobs coming from upstairs, where Joseph Leander held his two daughters, who were still in their nightgowns. There was no evid-ence of a masculine presence anywhere in the house. It was Country Cute: bare pine floors and bent willow baskets, flowers and rag dolls and herb-flavored vinegars in blown-glass bottles; Shaker antiques, copper kettles, embroidery samplers, spinning wheels, lace doilies, and porcelain placards with prayers from the Dutch. Not a sports page or remote control in sight. Not a thing out of place or a speck of dust anywhere. Joseph Leander must have walked very light to live in this house without leaving tracks. A man less sensitive than Theo might have called him whipped. â€Å"That guy's whipped,† one of the EMTs said. His name was Vance McNally. He was fifty-one, short and muscular, and wore his hair slicked back with oil, just as he had in high school. Occasionally, in his capacity as an EMT, he saved lives, which was his rationalization for being a dolt the rest of the time. â€Å"He just found his wife hanging in the dining room, Vance,† Theo pronounced over the heads of the EMTs. He was six-foot-six, and even in his flannel shirt and sneakers he could loom large when he needed to assert some authority. â€Å"She looks like Raggedy Ann,† said Mike, the other EMT, who was in his early twenties and excited to be on his first suicide call. â€Å"I heard she was Amish,† Vance said. â€Å"She's not Amish,† Theo said. â€Å"I didn't say she was Amish, I just said I heard that. I figured she wasn't Amish when I saw the blender in the kitchen. Amish don't believe in blenders, do they?† â€Å"Mennonite,† Mike said with as much authority as his junior status would afford. â€Å"What's a Mennonite?† Vance asked. â€Å"Amish with blenders.† â€Å"She wasn't Amish,† Theo said. â€Å"She looks Amish,† Vance said. â€Å"Well, her husband's not Amish,† Mike said. â€Å"How can you tell?† Vance said. â€Å"He has a beard.† â€Å"Zipper on his jacket,† Mike said. â€Å"Amish don't have zippers.† Vance shook his head. â€Å"Mixed marriages. They never work.† â€Å"She wasn't Amish!† Theo shouted. â€Å"Think what you want, Theo, there's a butter churn in the living room. I think that says it all.† Mike rubbed at a mark on the wall beneath Bess's feet where her black buckled shoes had scraped as she convulsed. â€Å"Don't touch anything,† Theo said. â€Å"Why? She can't yell at us, she's dead. We wiped our feet on the way in,† Vance said. Mike stepped away from the wall. â€Å"Maybe she couldn't stand anything touching her floors. Hanging was the only way.† Not to be outdone by the detective work of his protg, Vance said, â€Å"You know, the sphincters usually open up on a hanging victim – leave an awful mess. I'm wondering if she actually hanged herself.† â€Å"Shouldn't we call the police?† Mike said. â€Å"I am the police,† Theo said. He was Pine Cove's only constable, duly elected eight years ago and reelected every other year thereafter. â€Å"No, I mean the real police,† Mike said. â€Å"I'll radio the sheriff,† Theo said. â€Å"I don't think there's anything you can do here, guys. Would you mind calling Pastor Williams from the Presby-terian church to come over? I need to talk to Joseph and I need someone to stay with the girls.† â€Å"They were Presbyterians?† Vance seemed shocked. He had really put his heart into the Amish theory. â€Å"Please call,† Theo said. He left the EMTs and went out through the kitchen to his Volvo, where he switched the radio over to the frequency used by the San Junipero Sheriff's Department, then sat there staring at the mike. He was going to catch hell from Sheriff Burton for this. â€Å"North Coast is yours, Theo. All yours,† the sheriff had said. My deputies will pick up suspects, answer robbery calls, and let the Highway Patrol investigate traffic accidents on Highway 1, that's it. Otherwise, you keep them out of Pine Cove and your little secret stays secret.† Theo was forty-one years old and he still felt as if he was hiding from the junior high vice principal, laying low. Things like this weren't supposed to happen in Pine Cove. Nothing happened in Pine Cove. He took a quick hit from his Sneaky Pete smokeless pot pipe before keying the mike and calling in the deputies. Joseph Leander sat on the edge of the bed. He'd changed out of his pajamas into a blue business suit, but his thinning hair was still sticking out in sleep horns on the side. He was thirty-five, sandy-haired, thin but working on a paunch that strained the buttons of his vest. Theo sat across from him on a chair, holding a notepad. They could hear the sheriff's deputies moving around downstairs. â€Å"I can't believe she'd do this,† Joseph said. Theo reached over and squeezed the grieving husband's bicep. â€Å"I'm really sorry, Joe. She didn't say anything that would indicate she was thinking about doing something like this?† Joseph shook his head without looking up. â€Å"She was getting better. Val had given her some pills and she seemed to be getting better.† â€Å"She was seeing Valerie Riordan?† Theo asked. Valerie was Pine Cove's only clinical psychiatrist. â€Å"Do you know what kind of pills?† â€Å"Zoloft,† Joseph said. â€Å"I think it's an antidepressant.† Theo wrote down the name of the drug on his notepad. â€Å"Then Bess was depressed?† â€Å"No, she just had this cleaning thing. Everything had to be cleaned every day. She'd clean something, then go back five minutes later and clean it again. She was making life miserable for the girls and me. She'd make us take our shoes and socks off, then wash our feet in a basin before we came into the house. But she wasn't depressed.† Theo wrote down â€Å"crazy† on his notepad. â€Å"When was the last time Bess went to see Val?† â€Å"Maybe six weeks ago. When she first got the pills. She really seemed to be doing better. She even left the dishes in the sink overnight once. I was proud of her.† â€Å"Where are her pills, Joseph?† â€Å"Medicine cabinet.† Joseph gestured to the bathroom. Theo excused himself and went to the bathroom. The brown prescription bottle was the only thing in the medicine cabinet other than disinfectants and some Q-Tips. The bottle was about half-full. â€Å"I'm going to take these with me,† Theo said, pocketing the pills. â€Å"The sheriff's deputies are going to ask you some of these same questions, Joseph. You just tell them what you told me, okay? Joseph nodded. â€Å"I think I should be with the girls.† â€Å"Just a bit longer, okay? I'll send up the deputy in charge.† Theo heard a car start outside and went to the window to see an ambulance pulling away, the lights and siren off. Bess Leander's body riding off to the morgue. He turned back to Joseph. â€Å"Call me if you need anything. I'm going to go talk to Val Riordan.† Joseph stood up. â€Å"Theo, don't tell anyone that Bess was on antidepressants. She didn't want anyone to know. She was ashamed.† â€Å"I won't. Call me if you need me.† Theo left the room. A sharply dressed plainclothes deputy met him at the bottom of the steps. Theo saw by the badge on his belt that he was a detective sergeant. â€Å"You're Crowe. John Voss.† He extended his hand and Theo shook it. â€Å"We're supposed to take it from here,† Voss said. â€Å"What have you got?† Theo was at once relieved and offended. Sheriff Burton was going to push him off the case without even talking to him. â€Å"No note,† Theo said. â€Å"I called you guys ten minutes after I got the call. Joseph said she wasn't depressed, but she was on medication. He came downstairs to have breakfast and found her.† â€Å"Did you look around?† Voss asked. â€Å"This place has been scoured. There isn't a smudge or a spot anywhere. It's like someone cleaned up the scene.† â€Å"She did that,† Theo said. â€Å"She was a clean freak.† Voss scoffed. â€Å"She cleaned the house, then hung herself? Please.† Theo shrugged. He really didn't like this cop stuff. â€Å"I'm going to go talk to her psychiatrist. I'll let you know what she says.† â€Å"Don't talk to anybody, Crowe. This is my investigation.† Theo smiled. â€Å"Okay. But she hung herself and that's all there is. Don't make it into anything it's not. The family is in pretty bad shape.† â€Å"I'm a professional,† Voss said, throwing it like an insult, implying that Theo was just dicking around in law enforcement, which, in a way, he was. â€Å"Did you check out the Amish cult angle?† Theo asked, trying to keep a straight face. Maybe he shouldn't have gotten high today. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Right, you're the pro,† Theo said. â€Å"I forgot.† And he walked out of the house. In the Volvo, Theo pulled the thin Pine Cove phone directory out of the glove compartment and was looking up Dr. Valerie Riordan's number when a call came in on the radio. Fight at the Head of the Slug Saloon. It was 8:30 A.M. Mavis It was rumored among the regulars at the Head of the Slug that under Mavis Sand's slack, wrinkled, liver-spot ted skin lay the gleaming metal skeleton of a Terminator. Mavis first began augmenting her parts in the fifties, first out of vanity: breasts, eyelashes, hair. Later, as she aged and the concept of maintenance eluded her, she began having parts replaced as they failed, until almost half of her body weight was composed of stainless steel (hips, elbows, shoulders, finger joints, rods fused to vertebrae five through twelve), silicon wafers (hearing aids, pacemaker, insulin pump), advanced polymer resins (cataract replace-ment lenses, dentures), Kevlar fabric (abdominal wall reinforcement), ti-tanium (knees, ankles), and pork (ventricular heart valve). In fact, if not for the pig valve, Mavis would have jumped classes directly from animal to mineral, without the traditional stop at vegetable taken by most. The more inventive drunks at the Slug (little more than vegetables themsel ves) swore that sometimes, between songs on the jukebox, one could hear tiny but powerful servomotors whirring Mavis around behind the bar. Mavis was careful never to crush a beer can or move a full keg in plain sight of the customers lest she feed the rumors and ruin her image of girlish vulner-ability. When Theo entered the Head of the Slug, he saw ex-scream-queen Molly Michon on the floor with her teeth locked into the calf of a gray-haired man who was screeching like a mashed cat. Mavis stood over them both, brandishing her Louisville Slugger, ready to belt one of them out of the park. â€Å"Theo,† Mavis shrilled, â€Å"you got ten seconds to get this wacko out of my bar before I brain her.† â€Å"No, Mavis.† Theo raced forward and knocked Mavis's bat aside while reaching into his back pocket for his handcuffs. He pried Molly's hands from around the man's ankle and shackled them behind her back. The gray-haired man's screams hit a higher pitch. Theo got down on the floor and spoke into Molly's ear. â€Å"Let go, Molly. You've got to let go of the man's leg.† An animal sound emanated from Molly's throat and bubbled out through blood and saliva. Theo stroked her hair out of her face. â€Å"I can't fix the problem if you don't tell me what it is, Molly. I can't understand you with that guy's leg in your mouth.† â€Å"Stand back, Theo,† Mavis said. â€Å"I'm going to brain her.† Theo waved Mavis away. The gray-haired man screamed even louder. â€Å"Hey!† Theo shouted. â€Å"Pipe down. I'm trying to have a conversation here.† The gray-haired man lowered his volume. â€Å"Molly, look at me.† Theo saw a blue eye look away from the leg and the bloodlust faded from it. He had her back. â€Å"That's right, Molly. It's me, Theo. Now what's the problem?† She spit out the man's leg and turned to look at Theo. Mavis helped the man to a bar stool. â€Å"Get her out of here,† Mavis said. â€Å"She's eighty-sixed. This time forever.† Theo kept his eyes locked on Molly's. â€Å"Are you okay?† She nodded. Bloody drool was running down her chin. Theo grabbed a bar napkin and wiped it away, careful to keep his fingers away from her mouth. â€Å"I'm going to help you up now and we're going to go outside and talk about this, okay?† Molly nodded and Theo picked her up by the shoulders, set her on her feet, and steered her toward the door. He looked over his shoulder at the bitten man. â€Å"You okay? You need a doctor?† â€Å"I didn't do anything to her. I've never seen that woman before in my life. I just stopped in for a drink.† Theo looked at Mavis for confirmation. â€Å"He hit on her,† Mavis said. â€Å"But that's no excuse. A girl should appreciate the attention.† She turned and batted her spiderlike false eyelashes at the bitten man. â€Å"I could show you some appreciation, sweetie.† The bitten man looked around in a panic. â€Å"No, I'm fine. No doctor. I'm just fine. My wife's waiting for me.† â€Å"As long as you're okay,† Theo said. â€Å"And you don't want to press charges or anything?† â€Å"No, just a misunderstanding. Soon as you get her out of here, I'll be heading out of town.† There was a collective sigh of disappointment from the regulars who had been placing side bets on who Mavis would hit with her bat. â€Å"Thanks,† Theo said. He shot Mavis a surreptitious wink and led Molly out to the street, excusing himself and his prisoner as they passed an old Black man who was coming through the door carrying a guitar case. â€Å"I ‘spose a man run outta sweet talk and liquor, he gots to go to mo' direct measures,† the old Black man said to the bar with a dazzling grin. â€Å"Someone here lookin fo' a Bluesman?† Molly Michon Theo put Molly into the passenger side of the Volvo. She sat with her head down, her great mane of gray-streaked blonde hair hanging in her face. She wore an oversized green sweater, tights, and high-top sneakers, one red, one blue. She could have been thirty or fifty – and she told Theo a different age every time he picked her up. Theo went around the car and climbed in. He said, â€Å"You know, Molly, when you bite a guy on the leg, you're right on the edge of ‘a danger to others or yourself,' you know that?† She nodded and sniffled. A tear dropped out of the mass of hair and spotted her sweater. â€Å"Before I start driving, I need to know that you're calmed down. Do I need to put you in the backseat?† â€Å"It wasn't a fit,† Molly said. â€Å"I was defending myself. He wanted a piece of me.† She lifted her head and turned to Theo, but her hair still covered her face. â€Å"Are you taking your drugs?† â€Å"Meds, they call them meds.† â€Å"Sorry,† Theo said. â€Å"Are you taking your meds?† She nodded. â€Å"Wipe your hair out of your face, Molly, I can barely understand you.† â€Å"Handcuffs, whiz kid.† Theo almost slapped his forehead: idiot! He really needed to stop getting stoned on the job. He reached up and carefully brushed her hair away from her face. The expression he found there was one of bemusement. â€Å"You don't have to be so careful. I don't bite.† Theo smiled. â€Å"Well, actually†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Oh fuck you. You going to take me to County?† â€Å"Should I?† â€Å"I'll just be back in seventy-two and the milk in my refrigerator will be spoiled.† â€Å"Then I'd better take you home.† He started the car and circled the block to head back to the Fly Rod Trailer Court. He would have taken a back way if he could, to save Molly some embarrassment, but the Fly Rod was right off Cypress, Pine Cove's main street. As they passed the bank, people getting out of their cars turned to stare. Molly made faces at them out the window. â€Å"That doesn't help, Molly.† â€Å"Fuck 'em. Fans just want a piece of me. I can give 'em that. I've got my soul.† â€Å"Mighty generous of you.† â€Å"If you weren't a fan, I wouldn't let you do this.† â€Å"Well, I am. Huge fan.† Actually, he'd never heard of her until the first time he was called to take her away from H.P.'s Cafe, where she had attacked the espresso machine because it wouldn't quit staring at her. â€Å"No one understands. Everyone takes a piece of you, then there's nothing left for you. Even the meds take a piece of you. Do you have any idea what I'm talking about here?† Theo looked at her. â€Å"I have such a mind-numbing fear of the future that the only way I can function at all is with equal amounts of denial and drugs.† â€Å"Jeez, Theo, you're really fucked up.† â€Å"Thanks.† â€Å"You can't go around saying crazy shit like that.† â€Å"I don't normally. It's been a tough day so far.† He turned into the Fly Rod Trailer Court: twenty run-down trailers perched on the bank of Santa Rosa Creek, which carried only a trickle of water after the long, dry summer. A grove of cypress trees hid the trailer park from the main street and the view of passing tourists. The chamber of commerce had made the owner of the park take down the sign at the entrance. The Fly Rod was a dirty little secret for Pine Cove, and they kept it well. Theo stopped in front of Molly's trailer, a vintage fifties single-wide with small louvered windows and streaks of rust running from the roof. He got Molly out of the car and took off the handcuffs. Theo said, â€Å"I'm going to see Val Riordan. You want me to have her call something in to the pharmacy for you?† â€Å"No, I've got my meds. I don't like 'em, but I got 'em.† She rubbed her wrists. â€Å"Why you going to see Val? You going nuts?† â€Å"Probably, but this is business. You going to be okay now?† â€Å"I have to study my lines.† â€Å"Right.† Theo started to go, then turned. â€Å"Molly, what were you doing at the Slug at eight in the morning?† â€Å"How should I know?† â€Å"If the guy at the Slug had been a local, I'd be taking you to County right now, you know that?† â€Å"I wasn't having a fit. He wanted a piece of me.† â€Å"Stay out of the Slug for a while. Stay home. Just groceries, okay?† â€Å"You won't talk to the tabloids?† He handed her a business card. â€Å"Next time someone tries to take a piece of you, call me. I always have the cell phone with me.† She pulled up her sweater and tucked the card into the waistband of her tights, then, still holding up her sweater, she turned and walked to her trailer with a slow sway. Thirty or fifty, under the sweater she still had a figure. Theo watched her walk, forgetting for a minute who she was. Without looking back, she said, â€Å"What if it's you, Theo? Who do I call then?† Theo shook his head like a dog trying to clear water from its ears, then crawled into the Volvo and drove away. I've been alone too long, he thought.