The Inequality of Women in the Enlightenment Essay

Battle of the Sexes: Inequality of Women During the Enlightenment The Enlightenment was a period when clusters of philosophers, writers, scholars, and aristocrats sharply debated standards and assumptions about womens rights in society. Issues that pertained to widening the womens sphere into more than just the household, questioning the ability of women to logic as men, and debating egalitarian co-educational opportunities for both boys and girls. This was a time when women started to come forth as intellectuals in response to the unbalanced status given to the â€Å"weaker† sex. Both male and female Enlightenment thinkers had opinions that spanned across each side of the issues. Jean-Jacque Rousseau, who in his novels, such as Emile,†¦show more content†¦From obiendience to the father, to not subordinated to the husband, women are constantly chained with oppression. Rousseau stresses that feelings and passions are directed to the women, and that wit and rationale a re for the men. Wollstonecraft, on the other hand, tries to bring together passion and rationale, rather than separating them and dividing one for women and one for men. Instead of trying to imply that women deserve the opportunity to take on the â€Å"mans roles,† Wollstonecraft tries to prove that by combinding both traits will better society as a whole. She provides a solution for men to, â€Å"generously snap our chains, and be content with rational fellowship instead of slavish obedience, they would find us more obervant daughters, more affectionate sisters, more faithful wives, more senseable mothers- in a word, better citizens† (Wollstoncraft, The Enlightenment Reader, Page 628). Wollstoncraft agrees with Rousseaus ideals of women needing to be good mothers and respectable wives, but she adds that men also need to take up more responsibilities in the household. She continues support the notion that men too need to be good fathers and decent husbands that meet an intellectual partnership with their wives; furthermore, both species can discuss rational thoughts as indistinguishable citizens in the household. It is only when there is gender symmetry in theShow MoreRelatedThe Enlightentment of Age of Reason Sparked Change1049 Words   |  4 PagesThe Enlightenment brought new thinking, making people closely examine the world around them, which sparked change. Also known, as the Age of Reason there was a questioning of authority as people became enlightened and this caused new thoughts such as liberalism, conservatism, skepticism, and Francis Bacon’s empiricism brought over from the scientific revolution. The Enlightenment was a maturity of mankind to higher level thinking, not just following the status quo. It was a raise in education againstRead MoreBoundless Lack Of Freedom And Inferiority848 Words   |  4 Pages which in turn caused inequality, a lack of freedom and inferiority to occur. Immanuel Kant (2016) explores and deconstru cts the notion of enlightenment in ‘An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?† by claiming that people with power cause fear in others, which has created a society that has restrictions and rules to control and ‘guide’ the general public. On the other hand, Mary Wollstonecraft (2016) highlights the inferior status that has been imposed upon women by those with power, whichRead MoreImmanuel Kant And Mary Wollstonecraft888 Words   |  4 Pagesthat binds around our wrists and ankles, but this could be removing the limitations that are put on specific people based on their status or gender. Immanuel Kant (1784) approaches the theme of ‘being free’ in ‘An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?’ that is about reaching a psychological state, which is to able express and act freely without being guided by the monarchy. However, Mary Wollstonecraft’s (1792) ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’ conveys ‘being free’ as giving females identicalRead MoreEnlightenment : The Age Of Enlightenment And The Enlightenment782 Words   |  4 Pages The Enlightenment or The Age of Reason was an European intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries. The ideas during this period were about God, reason, nature, and developments in art, philosophy, and politics. The â€Å"Enlightenment thinkers† affected the development of the United States Government. The Declaration of Independence, Constitution Bill of rights and The Federalist Papers were all influenced by important enlightenment ideas of freedom, unavailable rights, and government. DeclarationRead MoreThe French Revolution And The Enlightenment1601 Words   |  7 PagesThe Enlightenment was an extensive intellectual, philosophical, and cultural movement that spread throughout Europe, predominantly England, France and Germany during the 18th century. The Scientific Revolution, which began in the 16th century, gave way to a new and revolutionary way of thinking. It encouraged independent thought, the capacity to ask questions, and a progressive attitude. Additionally, the enlightenment arose during a time when there was absolute monarchy and an extremely powerfulRead MoreReligion: Gender Inequality1395 Words   |  6 PagesIn world religion, gender inequality has always been a great concern. This inequality did not exist based on the concepts of original religion but through cultural influence and social manipulation. The essence of Buddhism originated from a human being (known as Buddha). And Buddha is the one who achieved the highest enlightenment. Often in Buddhism concept, there was confusion about how much devotion is required to achieve the great â€Å"Enlightenment† for monk or nun. Women in the Buddhism face muchRead MoreThe Theory Of Government, Science And The Nature Of Human Beings1466 Words   |  6 Pagesthought for the Enlightenment in the late 18th and early 19th century was laid down in the 17th century with the commencement of reason. The authority of the Catholic Church had been broken by radicals, such as Martin Luther, and the liberation from orthodoxy meant that there was no longer a single authority. People began to examine the world with reason rather than faith.This intellectual curiosity eventually led to the Era of Enlightenment. The central ideals of the Enlightenment ultimately ledRead MoreVoltaire s Candide : The Enlightenment Principle Of Reason1201 Words   |  5 Pagesfour values of the Enlightenment: hope, progress, natural law, and reason. Being a man of the enlightenment, it makes sense for Vo ltaire’s novel to include these values. Using ironic humor and satire, Voltaire managed to say what he needed to say without being directly responsible for having said it. As Candide reads like an adventure story, there is a lot of dialogue between characters. Through these conversations and stories, Voltaire’s Candide shows support for the enlightenment principle of reasonRead MoreThe Enlightenment Period1243 Words   |  5 PagesThe Enlightenment period was an extremely impactful revolution which caused changes in societies around the world. It began in 1651, people across the country took a stand against their unfair rights. In order to have a peaceful society, everyone must be treated with equality which can only occur if there is a fair government system in place. If people have to fight and kill to have their natural rights granted, something has to be done about it. The enlightenment period encouraged the people toRead MoreEnlightenment Rationalism and Romantic Subjectivism1187 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Enlightenment Rationalism and Romantic Subjectivism In the eighteenth century social theories had a huge impact on individuals within a society. Two social theories in particular came to be during radical times. The enlightenment rationalism theory was based on human reason and rational thought. The romantic subjectivism theory was based on the importance of individual freedom with an emphasis on the subjective mind and culture. These two social theories were both highly influential during their

Smoking Must Be Banned from All Public Places Essay

In this lifetime, all the public seems to be worried about is effects of global warming. Everyone is trying to make the environment safer so that Earth does not combust within the next 50 years. Yes, that is a global crisis, but there is one forming right under the publics’ nose, literally. The effect of second- and third- hand smoke is something that has become a hot topic and put on the back burner until recently. Some states have adopted a law that prevents smoking in places like restaurants and bars, but that isn’t far enough. Banning smoking in all public places will significantly improve the health of innocent bystanders, which is something the public should want to strive for. More than 42,000†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"It is especially toxic for babies still in the womb [and] infants†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Nordqvist). Tar can remain in the lungs one inhaled. Second-hand smoke has almost the same effects as first-hand. It can cause cancers, heart problems, and lung problems if chronic exposure is evident. Third-hand smoke is also something that has come about in the last few years. Third-hand smoke is smoke that can be found on clothes, hair, and in ventilation systems of smoking establishments. In recent years, many states have taken steps forward in banning smoking in public places. Approximately 21 states are 100 percent smoke-free in non-hospitality workplaces, restaurants, and bars (â€Å"†). Although the other 29 states are not 100 percent smoke-free, cities and counties within these states have taken it upon themselves to pass local laws prohibiting smoking in such public areas (â€Å"†). Since some of these laws have been implemented, heart attack hospitalizations fell an average 15 percent, while stroke hospitalizations fell 16 percent and hospitalizations for respiratory disease fell 24 percent (Szabo). Smoking bans have also reduced health care costs in Starkville, Miss., by $302,000 (Szabo). Although tiny steps have been taken in the fight against second-hand smoke, it is not enough. More information should be readily available and made public about theShow MoreRelatedShould Smoking Be Banned?895 Words   |  4 PagesPeople smoke all over the world. Smoking has been around for many decades. Controlling the usage of smoking depends on the smoker. Believe it or not, the government has a huge part on this. In some countries, smoking in public or enclosed areas is banned. In the United States, the owner of any public place has the right to put a â€Å"No Smoking Area† sign. Unfortunately even with these regulations, the smoker doesn’t realize how smoking can be harmful to them and their surroundings; people are simplyRead MorePersuasive Essay Smoking885 Words   |  4 Pagessuch as smoking. People smoke for numerous reasons. These reasons include: socializing, coping with emotions, parental influences, advertising, and for the thrill of risk takin g behaviors. In consequence, many people are unaware of the negative aspects to smoking. Smoking not only affects the individual but has negative impacts on others that are around the smoker and the environment as well. In result of these harmful aspects of smoking, smoking should be banned in public places. Smoking shouldRead MoreThe Debate of Banning Smoking in Public Places Essays718 Words   |  3 PagesThe Debate of Banning Smoking in Public Places â€Å"There is no difference between a smoker and a suicide, only that one takes longer to kill themselves than the other†. Everyone has their rights, and if you want to smoke or not should be your choice because you are doing the damage to your own body. But if it’s supposed to be your choice and every gets their own choice then when you smoke in public places or wherever anyone is around you, you are making that choiceRead MoreThe Negative Consequences Of Public Smoking1347 Words   |  6 PagesThe Negative Consequences of Public Smoking Smoking is known to be one of the most dangerous medicine and can come with some seriously negative to one’s lungs. Research studies have shown that second- hand smoking can be equally as bad. According to the 1964 Surgeon General’s Report, â€Å"2.5 million adults who were nonsmokers died because they breathed secondhand smoke† (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). To those who own restaurants, oversee public places, and others in charge of entertainmentRead MoreThe Ripple Effect of Smoking1133 Words   |  5 PagesThe Ripple Effect of Smoking It has become common knowledge that smoking is bad for people’s health, nonetheless people continue to smoke. To be honest, that is fine. If people want to endanger themselves by smoking then I wish them a swift and peaceful end (though most smokers die a slow and agonizing death). What is not acceptable is the effect that smoke has on non-smokers who have almost no way of getting away from smoke unless they want to stay in their house. Smokers affect everyoneRead MoreShould Smoking Be Banned?1326 Words   |  6 Pagesthough people are well equipped with the knowledge of how unhealthy smoking can be and what can it causes to their hearts and lungs, they still choose to smoke. Nowadays smoking becomes a trend like a social media, and especially teenagers, are participating in this as well. Although smoking makes you a person feel relaxed from the stress, it harms the body of the smokers in the long run. We have known that smoking can kill us from past 50-60 years, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO)Read More Smoking should be banned all over the United States Essay1657 Words   |  7 Pages Smoking is an activity that has been around for many years for people to use and adapt into their lifestyle. It is a tool that many people use to help reduce the stresses of life and put them in a comfortable position that enables them to cope with the hectic lifestyle they are living. However, smoking has been scientifically proven to cause many types of cancer, the most common being lung cancer resulting in numerous deaths across the United States. According to BBC, Smoking is a greater causeRead MoreBanning Tobacco Advertising Ban On The Public Health Of Their People976 Words   |  4 Pagesplan to soon pass a bill banning Tobacco companies from displaying any source of advertising or sponsoring any public events. The advertising ban took effect from May 1, 2004. In October 2, 2005, the Government of India prohibited any new programs or movies from showing any actors or actresses smoking as it glorifies smoking and sends a bad message to its viewers. According to a CNN article written by Leo Juarez, some actors seem to support the smoking censorship but some film directors seem concernedRead MoreTobacco Smoking1372 Words   |  6 PagesSmoking is an activity that has been around for many years for people to use and adapt into their lifestyle. It is a tool that many people use to help reduce the stresses of life and put them in a comfortable position that enables them to cope with the hectic lifestyle they are living. However, smoking has been scientifically proven to cause many types of cancer, the most common being lung cancer resulting in numerous deaths across the United States. According to WHO (World Health Organization),Read MoreShould Electronic Cigarettes Be Banned?911 Words   |  4 PagesBACKGROUND While the rate of traditional cigarette smoking in the United States, including California, has decreased, the rates of electronic cigarette smoking, known as vaping, has drastically increased. In 2013 2.6 percent of all Americans used electronic cigarettes, including 3.5 percent of all Californians. While the 2015 statistic for California has not been released, nationwide that number has jumped to 10 percent1. Electronic cigarettes are often marketed as a safe alternative to traditional

Apparent Provisions Cannot Be Recognized †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Apparent Provisions Cannot Be Recognized? Answer: Introducation The recognition of provisions is driven by AASB 137 in accordance to which the following three conditions are required to be met (AASB, 2010). A present obligation should arise based on the events in the past. In order to settle these obligations, it must be likely that economic resource outflow would be required. The amount of outflow can be estimated in a reliable manner. It is essential that all the above conditions need to be met and failure of even one condition would lead to non-recognition as a provision (Deegan, 2014). In relation to the given case including Shire Pty Ltd, the following points are noteworthy in relation to the recognition of provisions. A present obligation does exist for the company as there is a warranty that the company offers whereby it would repair or replace the tools which tend to become dysfunctional within 12 months of purchase. This clearly provides legal rights to the customers and a legal obligation for the company which it has to meet on account of the commitment it has given.Since, the company would need to either repair or replace the tools under warranty, therefore, it is apparent that there would be outflow in terms of financial resources. This is because both in repair or providing a new tool, economic resources would be utilised. With regards to reliable estimation, till recently the warranty was pegged at 3% of the sales which was a reliable estimation. However, offlate this is proving to be less as the machine is getting older and hence the tools quality is not as good as before. Further, as the machine is getting older, there is risk of more dip in quality. Besides, between the two partners, there is lack of clarity on the future course of action regarding this problem. As a result, reliable estimation of warranties is difficult in the present scenario. On account of the above discussion, it is apparent that provisions cannot be recognised. A better way to capture the likely outflow of economic resources would be in the form of contingent liability as the increasing warranty outflow cannot be reliably estimated. Also this would also have adverse impact on the reputation of the business. This problem is further compounded due to inherent differences between the partners. Also, the accountant Brooke is not of much help in this regard considering the lack of experience. Thus, recognition of contingent liability currently would be appropriate (Deegan, 2014). Reference AASB (2010), Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets, AASB Website, [online] management at https://www.aasb.gov.au/admin/file/content105/c9/AASB137_07-04_COMPoct10_01-11.pdf [Accessed September 9, 2017] Deegan, C. (2014). Financial Accounting Theory, 4th edn. Sydney: McGraw-Hill

hills like white elephants Essay Example For Students

hills like white elephants Essay Hemingways Hills like White Elephants: Unease Conversation What do you think about when you read the words Hills like White Elephants? Ernest Hemingway was a handsome man that had everyone captivated by his 1927 short story Hills like White Elephants . Hemingway writing was very important in the late 20th century. His writing was straight forwarded and brief. Nevertheless his literature, he was married 4 times with different woman. He would seemingly fall in love with much younger woman every time he divorce the others. Hemingway provides the sense of a personal experience through his dialogue and he symbolizes he setting of two extraordinary characters unease conversation. Hills like white elephants by Ernest Hemingway is a story written in 3rd person omission. The story contains two characters The American and a girl named Jig. In the story the two are sitting in a station- bar waiting for the train to Madrid. While they are waiting they order drinks and they start to engage in an intense yet lightly conversation on whether she should or not have an abortion. While both care about each others feelings they are not ready to take the blame of this hard decision. As the American guy says Well, the man said, if you dont want to you dont have to. I wouldnt have you do it if you didnt want to. But I know its perfectly simple. #5) Hemingway once suggested that his purpose in such a story is to tell the reader as little as possible directly yet to reveal characters motives and their conflict. How does this principle operate in this story? Where would you like to have more information (besides he said and she said)? Hemingways principle operates in this story very well since the story has information all over in bits and pieces. Also in the beginning of the story there should be a little insight on their background of work, home, relation etc. I would like to see more data especially at the end when they are preparing to leave the station they should tell about whether the girl gets the abortion done or not.

7 Warning Signs Your Talent Is Being Wasted at Work

7 Warning Signs Your Talent Is Being Wasted at Work So you sought out a job, went through the interview process, and got hired. Whoo hoo, so exciting! What’s more, you even feel confident that you were the best out of the bunch of candidates. But all the same, maybe since you started you haven’t been quite sure that your talents and particular skills are being used to their full effect. Take a look at the following warning signs that you are not reaching your full potential. If a few of these signs apply to you, you might want to consider seeking out a bigger pond, one where you can stretch your wings, challenge yourself, and reach the career goals you know you’re capable of reaching.1. Your boss is threatened by your best ideas.If all your ideas end up in the â€Å"Maybe Someday† file, and your manager seems to prefer bumping along with the status quo rather than pushing the envelope, you’re not going to get much traction. Maybe you’re hearing a lot of â€Å"but this is how it’s alway s been done† and not enough â€Å"that’s a great idea; we should try it,† or getting shut down (or outright ignored) by your boss for ideas you know to be good. If any of this is the case, then maybe it’s time to start to worry.2. You work with automatons.Instead of everyone pitching in to realize some long-term goal or vision, you find that all of your coworkers are merely on autopilot, doing task after task that doesn’t seem to generate any new sparks or momentum.3. You never receive any sort of appreciation.If you’re working hard and no one at work sees you for the superstar you are, then you A) haven’t shown them, or B) they’ve seen your talents and are choosing to ignore them. Your once bright future starts to grey.4. You’re trapped.Are you confined by your title? This could be your own fault or the fault of your workplace: you’re so hemmed in by your specific role and tasks that you don’t feel the free dom to be able to fluidly reach out to your team members and help with other projects and initiatives when necessary. Even if this kind of effort might require you to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, it can be good for your growth.5. Your boss is putting your light under a bushel.Whether your boss is afraid of change or threatened by your rising star, perhaps he or she isn’t being the kind of mentor that lets you shine. Maybe they even call you in and tell you to hold back a little, or pipe down in meetings, instead of batting around your best ideas.6. Your company values policy over passion.You’re a rule-follower, and you’re feeling stifled. It’s possible that you’re very comfortable where you are, but still- biding your time and knowing real change and real challenge are too far around the corner to be feasible it a recipe for nothingness. Meanwhile, you keep on toeing the company line and following policies you don’t think are best practice. You’re going nowhere, and slowly.7. You’re burnt out and bored.After your first entry-level gigs, you should probably never be bored at work. If your job is boring you, it’s time to move on for sure. Watch for burn-out also; it’s not just for people in high powered careers that work too fast and too hard. It can strike anyone who’s been grappling with long-term demoralization and lack of inspiration. Remember, you’re a person, not a robot just completing tasks.

Hijacked train Essays

Hijacked train Essays Hijacked train Essay Hijacked train Essay Australian men pulled the emergency brake on an E-Z Express freight train in Toronto, and planted a bomb in the front engine. The hijackers held 50 male employees hostage onboard the train for 10 days. The reason for this unforeseen hijacking is due to the five million dollars of gold bars onboard. The train that was on route to Hamilton, Ontario was headed for Hamilton Harbor. The harbor is known for its easy access to the seaway where the gold was destined for Europe. This operation was supposed to be confidential through ISIS, but there was a breach of confidentiality in the system and now the RECAP is doing a thorough investigation on how it was leaked. After several lengthy negotiation tactics with the men, they were able to work out a deal to let a painfully sick crew member out of the train. They were not able to work out any other deals as the demands were too high. The RECAP then took it to the next level. They sent out 3 Z- 500 Jet planes to fly over the train to hopefully get hostages o duck down, where they would be safer. Then the Marines Special Force Unit started to shoot the train, in the first class areas and in between compartments, killing 10 hijackers. Through this hijacking process 12 hostages were killed, on the scene and several others died in hospitals due to hypothermia, land lack of food and water. The police were not able to recover to the dead bodies until several days later. Salina Amnesia, the wife of Bernie Amnesia one of the crew members said, I just cant believe it, how could someone do something so bad to someone who they never even known? Ten days after the hijacking first started, the hijackers surrendered due to the harsh weather conditions, below zero and shortage of food. Six hijackers survived and were later convicted and sentenced from six to nine years. The Australian government hasnt offered any apologies as of now. Rick Hansen one of the twenty hijackers told reporters, This isnt the last of me, I will be back Hijacked train By Antidisestablishmentarianism

Safety Management in Karachi Factory Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Safety Management in Karachi Factory - Assignment Example There were no casualties after the explosion. The event was unintentional because its cause was a natural disaster, Hurricane Sandy. Preventing the explosion was hard as its cause mentioned before is Hurricane Sandy, which caused flooding of electrical equipment rendering them useless. The event was sudden because the residents were caught unaware (Boyle). An accident in the factory area in Dhaka, Bangladesh in a clothes factory fire caused 112 deaths while other people went missing. The event was not intentional as the cause is blamed on an electrical fault. Safety measures such as emergency exit could prevent such accidents. The accident could have been predicted because of the number of fire accidents, which are rampant in the country (BBC NEWS). An explosion occurred in a healthcare products manufacturing company called Neptune Technologies killing 2 people and injuring 19. Most of the accident victims had serious burns. The details of the cause of the accident were not provided as it was still under investigation. The accident could not have been prevented because it was unpredictable. From the number of casualties, it is evident that safety measures are already available in the industry (CBC News 2012). An industrial explosion in the steel making industry in China killed 10 people leaving 17 wounded. The industry does not provide safety measures to its workers so that they can cut costs and make more profits, which makes event human error. The accident could have been prevented if the company had provided full safety measures to its workers. The event could have been predicted. China industrial accidents are common due to poor safety measures as mention before (Aljazeera English  2012).

Against Green Energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Against Green Energy - Essay Example The cost of subsidizing green energy is therefore spread to individual and corporate taxpayers. The economic condition is likely to worsen due to the fact that generational effects of green energy utilize funds that could be pumped into other developmental projects. Green energy subsidies suppress sustainable development goals and objectives. This is more so when these subsidies increase energy consumption. With increased consumption of energy, wastes from such consumption would increase negative effects on the environment. The process is therefore prone to exacerbate harmful energy effects on environmental welfare. Burden to maintain low pollution levels in the environment is likely to increase and government spending doubles in that case (Douglas F, et al. 2000, p.60–66). Subsidies will be made available for green energy, but government and corporate efforts to combat environmental pollution will remain unchanged. Organizational operating costs should not be covered through subsidies. However, this has been the characteristic phenomenon in the use of subsidies. Organizations that formulate green energy projects and want to implement them seeks for subsidies. Rather than assisting companies to implement such projects, the subsidies should be used for the purposes of enhancing accessibility to contemporary sources of energy. The focus should be directed to households whose access to modern sources is limited as well as to those who cannot afford it. Since this is not the case, subsidies for green energy are argued against. World Bank and World Resource Institute have as well argued against subsidies for green energy in the same context (Brown, 2006, p.

The Bleakness and Humiliation of Our World Research Paper

The Bleakness and Humiliation of Our World - Research Paper Example Singer’s arguments in his article are that the suffering and death that are due to the lack of shelter, medical care, and food are damaging. That we ought, morally, to sacrifice anything that is of comparable moral importance when there is the power to prevent some things terrible from taking place, for instance, one might get wet in order that he or he saves a drowning a child. Singer also argues that it is the obligation of all to prevent the terrible thing. This is, in fact, to preventing people dying from starvation by trying to give food, money to famine relief than one does. The other argument is that by giving more money to famine relief that one do in normal circumstances, and then he or she is not sacrificing anything that is morally significant. The last argument Singer presents in his article is that we should give more to famine relief than we do. Therefore, the surest way to prevent lack of food and shelter without sacrificing anything that is of comparable moral importance is by giving maximally. That we ought to give maximally, or in other term, give at least much more than we currently do (Singer, 2005). The Singer’s concept of marginal utility states that one ought to give until a certain level (Marginal Utility), in which case one shall cause as much suffering to sell or the dependents as he or she would relieve by the gift. This implies that everyone obliged to give as much as possible, to at least some point of giving where one would begin to cause some serious suffering to others who depend on him or her or to oneself. Therefore, one ought to give until one become quite uncomfortable, even when one do not seem to encounter starving. Singer also proposes some ideas of duty and charity change in the world. He says duty is a duty in itself while charity is beyond the call of duty. He reiterates duty as wrong not to do it while, in charity, he reiterates that it is expedient to do it. However, it is not wrong to refrain from doing it. In addition, duty is doing the morally required while charity is doing what is charitable. He then reiterates that duty is refraining from murder and charity is giving to famine relief to the extent that one is sacrificing something morally significant. Therefore, according to Singer, one has to revise the way of thinking. That giving to famine relief should be thought of in terms of duty, as a wrong when one does not do it as morally required (Singer, 2005). Morality may be an object or its state of affair that can be invalid or wicked, an event that can be wrong or right, or it can be an agent that can be either blameworthy or praiseworthy. In the article, Singer suggests the agent that is praiseworthy because of giving to charity but not blameworthy because of not giving to charity is wrong. He stands out that the agent that does not provide to charity should be blameworthy, in which case Singer establishes charity as a duty. In his arguments, Singer is well direct, and henc e, we should be offering help to all those who are physically near to us. This is because of the close proximity. The only flaw that is there in many people is because they do not get the motivation to help someone that is far away, even though the person needs a lot of assistance. This, in essence, demonstrates that there are suffering and challenges in the world. (Singer, 2005, p.633). Singer also

Comparison of The Crucible and The Lottery

Comparison of The Crucible and The Lottery In Arthur Millers The Crucible, and Shirley Jacksons the Lottery the main characters, John Proctor, and Ms. Hutchison suffer inhumane treatment due to the societies conformity to the beliefs/traditions and the power of the authority in the two towns. The conformity of the town of Salem is because the government is ruled by the bible. It stated in the beginning that Salem developed theocracy, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep community together, and to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material or ideological enemies. (7) The town of Salem believes strictly on the bible, and does not question its power. If an individual in Salem were to question the words/beliefs of the bible it is seen that they are working with the devil. An example of this from The Crucible is the conversation between John Proctor, Elizabeth and Hale. Hale: Proctor, let you open with me now, for I have rumour that troubles me. Its said you hold no belief that there may even be witches in the world. Is that true sir? Proctor: I know not what i have said, i may have said it. I have wondered if there be witches in the world although I cannot believe they come among us now. Hale: Then you do not believe Proctor: I have no knowledge of it; the Bible speaks of witches, and I will not deny them. Hale: And you, woman? Elizabeth: I-I cannot believe it. Hale: You cannot! Proctor: Elizabeth, you bewilder him! Elizabeth: I cannot think the Devil may own a womans soul, Mr. Hale, when she keeps an upright way, as I have. I am a good woman, I know it; and if you believe I may do only good work in the world, and yet be secretly bound to Satan, and then i must tell you sir, I do not believe it. Hale: But, woman, you do believe there are witches in- Elizabeth: If you think that i am one, then I say there are none. Hale: You surely do not fly against the Gospel, the Gospel- Proctor: She believe in the Gospel, every word! Proctor: She do not mean to doubt the Gospel, sir, you cannot think it. This be a Christian house, sir, a Christian house. (69) This shows that everyone needs to believe in what the bible says, no matter what your own belief is. Anything against it will result in consequences. An example is when because of what Elizabeth had said, her and John Proctor were forced to that they had to come to church every Sunday, and that their last child was to be baptized right away. It was also and as importantly, a long overdue opportunity for everyone so inclined to express publicly his guilt and sins, under the cover of accusations against the victims. (7) John Proctor faces serious consequences when he does not agree to sign his name on the paper that confesses and shows everyone in town he saw witches. Danforth: Come then, sign your testimony. Give it to him. Come, man, sign it. Proctor: You have all witnessed it-it is enough. Danforth: You will not sign it? (141) Proctor: You have all witnessed it; what more is needed? Danforth: Do you sport with me? You will sign your name or it is no confession, Mister! Parris: Praise be to the Lord. (142) This ends up having John Proctorwho went against the bible, to suffer and be hanged. In the Lottery, the lottery has been tradition the town has followed for a long time. An indication that it has been happening for a long time, is because it stated that it has been happening even before the oldest man in town was born. Another indication it is tradition is when Mrs.Huticshson on page 254 comes running into town saying she remembered it was the twenty- seventh. The lottery is something the town takes very seriously. An example to show this is when Mrs. Adams says that the village in the north is thinking of giving up lotteries, and that some have already quit it. Old man Warner replies: Old Man Warner snorted. Pack of crazy fools, he said. Listening to the young folks, nothings good enough for them. Theres always been a lottery Nothing but trouble in that. (256) Old man Warners reply shows how much the town believes in the lottery. Even if people are starting to stop doing it, the town has conformed to what everyone else in the town is doing. Mrs. Hutchinson, who was shown to be the most against it, is the one who ends up suffering the most. The main characters of both stories suffer inhumane consequences also because of the authority and power of certain individuals. In the Crucible the town of Salem believes in the reverends of the court. The town does not question the authority of the town. This is shown multiple times in the book during court scenes. If anyone went against the political authority it was seen as a sin. The governments power is clearly stated by Parris. Parris: You people seem not to comprehend that a minister is the Lords man in the parish; a minister is not to be so lightly crossed and contradicted-. (30) The society conforms to the power of the authority. An example is when John Proctor tells Reverend Hale about how he feels about Parris. Proctor: I like it not that Mr.Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man. Ill not conceal it. (65) Hale: I must say it, Mr. Proctor; that is no for you to decide. The mans ordained; therefore the light of God is in him. (66) This shows that even if the attitude and person of authority should be questioned, an individual in Salem should not say anything of it. In the end it shows as if because of him saying that of Parris, he suffers. In the Lottery the individual with the most power and authority is Mr. Summers. Everyone in town listens to Mr. Summers because he conducts the lottery, and because he is very good at it. Mr. Summers shows his power and proves how the town trusts him in his conversation with Mrs. Hutchinson. Daughters draw for their husbands families, Tessie, Mr. Summers said gently. You know that as well as anyone else. (257) He is very calm about his authority which allows the town to further believe in his authority. Even her husband Mr. .Hutchinson does not deny his authority and instead tells her to Shut up. Her outcry against his authority then leads her to face the consequences. In conclusion the conformity of the societies in both texts is because of the traditions/beliefs of society and the authority in power in the towns. This ends up in serious consequences for the main two characters because they questioned the authority and beliefs.

Humans and Nature: The Sad Truth about the Relationship between Humans

Since the shift into the Holocene era with the rise of sedentism throughout various millenniums across six continents to present day human ingenuity, respect and attention towards the site gradually declined as technologies advanced human capability and chances of survival. Digging deep in time back to the ancestral hunter-gathering tribes of southwestern France in the Caves of Lascaux, where the site was the structure itself, shifting towards the Anasazi of Mesa Verde who created a structure utilizing the site, finally ending with modern day commercial chain buildings stamped onto landscape with neither respect nor consideration of natural landform and the grim outlook for the city of New Orleans, these sites offer insight to the nulling of human reverence to Earth as technology replaces the necessity for natural provisions. Evolution among ideas and communities both on a communal and global scale show the rising ignorance of Earth throughout history. Although co ntemporary sites break from this shift towards a product over placement, the overall generalization of architecture must recognize this change to shed light for a future of reinvesting in the earth’s protection and prolonging of humanity. Rewind the historical clock 19,000 years ago when anatomically correct, coherent humans first set out to alter the natural world’s many caverns and crevices such as in the Caves of Lascaux. In Paleolithic times when the formation of complex languages and cognitive skills replaced instinctive traits of nourishment, shelter, and procreation, so too did the formation of non-domestic ancestral sites. Archeologically, structures in prehistoric sites are either debunked as domestic or non-domestic, usually associating... ...history. Hurricane Katrina acts as a message to humanity across the globe, architecture must recognize this numbness and utilize the features of the Earth to rekindle light for a future within Earth’s protection and prolonging of humanity. Works Cited Ingersoll, Kostof. . World Architecture, A Cross-Cultural History. New York: Oxford University Press, USA, 2013. print. Varien, M. . Sedentism and Mobility in a Social Landscape: Mesa Verde & Beyond. Arizona: The University of Arizona Press, USA, 1999. print. Venturi et al. . LEARNING FROM LAS VEGAS: THE FORGO'rI'EN SYMBOUSM OF ARCHITECTURAL FORM. Massachusetts: The MIT Press, USA, 2013. print. Williams, R. . Keywords, a vocabulary of culture and society. New York: Oxford University Press, USA, 1976. print. 1 The Citation referring to Brush and Turner comes from a cited source in Varien, M’s book.

Anna Karenina: a Different Kind of Love Essay

Progress is â€Å"the development of an individual or society in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level (Dictionary.reference.com)†. Anna Karenina, written by Leo Tolstoy, is a book filled with tragedy, love and choices. This novel can be interpreted in several different ways, but the most common interpretation is that Anna’s husband Alexis Karenin represents the old fading traditions in Russia and Count Vronsky, Anna’s lover, represents the progress of Russia; Anna who is torn between choosing her husband and young son and her lover represents Russia itself, faced with the choice between the old traditions and the new â€Å"progressive† era. This â€Å"progressive† interpretation of Anna Karenina is the best and most accurate understanding of the book because of its meaning, its origination, and the affect it has on the characters. In Leo Tolstoy’s book Anna Karenina, the theme of â€Å"progression† plays a major role throughout the whole of the book. Count Alexis Kirillovich Vronsky, Anna Karenina’s lover, is an officer in the Russian army who is handsome, young, and charming, but morally unstable. When Vronsky first meets Anna he is mesmerized by her beauty and, for him, it is love at first sight; for a while his chief goal in life was to make Anna his own. Vronsky is a significant character throughout the novel because he embodies the modernization and progress of Russia. In contrast, Karenin personifies the old and dying customs of Russia. Because Anna decided to have an affair with Vronsky, she symbolizes Russia struggling while choosing between the old, Karenin, and the new, Vronsky. Because Anna chose Vronsky, at least at first, and forsook Karenin, or the old ways, she fell to ruin. As a result of her choices, Anna went mad with uncertainty; because she committed adultery, she began to doubt Vronsky’s faithfulness to her. Soon, Anna became wholly dependent of Vronsky, so much that he grew tired of her, believing that her new way of clinging to him was old fashioned and annoying. Convinced that Vronsky no longer loved her, Anna threw herself under a moving train at the train station where she was supposed to meet up with Vronsky. Anna did not realize that although there are certain things about progress that are virtuous, too much of anything, even a good thing is bad. The topic of â€Å"progress† seen throughout the book Anna Karenina was implied due to the setting of the book. Leo Tolstoy, the author, placed the book in the 1870s. From the 1850s to early 1900s Russia had the fastest and largest population growth rate out of all the important major powers after the U.S.A.; during this time Russia’s population nearly doubled. In 1870 the czar or Russia authorized city councils to be made that raised taxes and charged labor to help with city expenses, such as: roads, local schools, public healthcare, food supplies, and jails (Wikipedia.org, History of Russia; geographic.org). During the 1960s and 1970s the percentage of working age people with at least a minor education nearly doubled. All of this â€Å"progress† steadily affected the characters of Anna Karenina. This kind of modernization helped instigate Anna to be discontent with her life as Karenin’s wife and desire to be with Vronsky. If Anna had not desired life to be exciting, as modern ideas portrayed life to be, she would have easily been satisfied with a dull life with her old husband Karenin. All through the entirety of Anna Karenina, one can see how Anna’s choosing Vronsky over Karenin (the new over the old) affected her and the people around her. Before Anna met Vronsky she was much more contented with her life; after she met Vronsky and had grown to know him, her life, her husband and her son, seemed dull and boring in comparison. Upon getting to know Vronsky, Anna began to crave love, the kind that was exciting, and the kind that Vronsky offered her. Slowly, Anna realized how tedious her relationship with Karenin was; she realized that before Vronsky had come into her life, she had poured out all her love on her son. In the beginning, Anna did not wish to affiliate with Vronsky because she knew that an affair with another man would not only affect her and her place in society, but it would also affect her young son and her relationship with him. Not long after Vronsky had proclaimed his love to her, Anna told him â€Å"What you are saying is wrong, and if you are a good man, I beg you to forget it, as I will forget it (Part 1, Chapter 30, and Page 2).† From this quote an individual can see that, Anna was a conscientious woman, who knew right from wrong, and chose, at first, to do what was right. However, she was tempted by evil and sadly she gave in. Later on in the story, Anna discovered that she was pregnant with Vronsky’s child; in her confused frightened state of mind, she told Karenin, her husband, that she was Vronsky’s mistress. One would think that this would be a significant turning point in the book, but instead of breaking off their marriage Karenin decided that he wanted to put an end to their affair as privately as possible and have his marriage with Anna appear as it had before. For the longest time, Karenin had been suspicious, but he trusted his wife and believed she would never be disloyal to him; in his heart of hearts Karenin realizes that he is jealous of Vronsky because Vronsky is young, handsome, and the embodiment of progress and modernization. In comparison, Karenin was old; he was twenty years senior to Anna. A successful marriage is built around love and trust; in Anna and Karenin’s marriage there had been no true and enduring love; this caused Anna to be unfaithful to Karenin, which caused Karenin to be envious of Vronsky, and as a result of it all no love or trust remained between them. In comparison, two other character’s relationship was quite the opposite. Anna’s brother’s wife’s sister was a young woman named Kitty; near the end of the book Kitty married a man named Levin, who was also an old friend of Anna’s brother. Earlier in the book, even before Anna met Vronsky, Kitty had rejected Levin’s proposal believing that Vronsky intended to propose to her. However, after Vronsky had met Anna he stopped going to see Kitty and went instead to follow Anna wherever she went. Well along in the story, Kitty regrets rejecting Levin and after a while they get back together. Because of how Anna had stolen Vronsky from her Kitty, for the longest time, was envious of Anna and Levin was jealous of Vronsky because Vronsky had also taken his love. Since Kitty’s and Levin’s love was much deeper than that of Anna’s and Karenin’s, they were able to overcome these trifles and (basically) lived happily ever after. In conclusion, the understanding of â€Å"progress† seen throughout the book Anna Karenina is accurate because of its meaning, origination, and overall effect of the characters. The interpretation of Alexis Karenin representing the fading old area of Russia, Vronsky symbolizing â€Å"progress†, and Anna herself signifying Russia is most relevant because of how significant it is throughout the entire book.

The target audience Essays

The target audience Essays The target audience Paper The target audience Paper There are many languages used in the advert, but the ones that I thought of straight away are shocking, aggressive and factual.  I found it shocking, because the dog is happy as if the owner hasnt taken the dog for a walk. Now the dog says hes going for a swim, but then he changes his mind, because the river looks cold and dirty plus the owner didnt bring a towel, instead he bought a sack. When the dog says the owner a sack you can assume that he is going to put the dogs in the sack and throw them in the canal. You see this through pathos. I found it aggressive at the end, when the slogan came up, because I have already explained, it is direct appeal. It is aggressive because they use the word DAMN. That is an unusual word to use in adverts, but then again it is important. That is why I found it factual just before the slogan. The woman voice over says that every year the RSPCA has to rescue thousands of unwanted pets, and it is true, that is why I think it is factual.  Using camera angles, diegetic sound and an aggressive slogan at the end put the RSPCAs television campaign together.  The use of camera angles in the advert makes the advert more important. There are many camera angles used in the RSPCAs broadcast, there are, medium shots, low angle and the god shot (birds eye view). The purpose of the medium shot is to set the atmosphere. Medium shots are sort of like flash backs, but theyre just still shots. We see this shot in the advert, when the dog changes his mind about swimming, because the river is cold and dirty. After the dog says that, the camera goes back to show us how dirty the river is and the camera stays there for five seconds.  The other shot is when the owner takes the dogs to put them in the sack, there is a wall with graffiti on it, and bin bags in front. Already that shop makes the atmosphere seem dangerous. Low angle shots make the owner seem powerful. This is because this angle is through the dogs eyes. This camera angle is the dog, because the camera is shaking. This angle is good because it shows us what the dog sees, and how we would feel if we were in the dogs position. This is a sort of persuasive shot, because if you were a dog then you wouldnt want that happening to you.  This angle makes the owner seem powerful, because in the advert when it comes up to the graffiti on the walls, the owner puts a rope around the camera to make it a leash.  The birds eye shot is the most important shot. There is only one of these shots, which makes it special. This shot is probably the biggest shot in the advert, because this proves you are right about the owner, if he is really going to kill the dogs. This shot shows the owner putting the dog in the sack and walking towards the river.  The diegetic sounds in the advert give us an affect of isolation and fear.  The diegetic sounds in this advert are; footsteps, river flowing, cars and trees moving in the wind.  The fear factor is when the owner crosses the road with his dogs, but doesnt have them on a leash. This makes us think he deliberately wants them to get run over by a car.  When they are walking or running through the grass, the dog looks at the river and thinks again about going for a swim, but still the owner takes him. This is isolation. What gives this advert a big affects that the dogs voice is young and Scottish, which makes the audience think the dog is care free and happy and is more vulnerable.  Without the owners diegetic sound, then we wouldnt have suspected that the owner was going to do this, because he started off happy, but then gradually gets angry, stressed and inpatient.  No voice-overs make the audience think back on images.  The slogan at the end is really aggressive, but it still is persuasive. This is because the slogan is presented on a blank screen, followed by the birds eye view shot of the dog being thrown in the river. My opinion is that the television advert is more persuasive than the radio advert. The radio advert you have to think and listen to the advert and work out that it is a dog, but in the television advertise you already know it is a dog because another dog is running in front of the camera that is speaking. Radio adverts are some how good, because the people that dont have time cant watch it on television, so they just listen to it on the radio. If you were a blind person then you would prefer the television advertise because it has diegetic sounds, which make you imagine what is going on. Some people prefer radio adverts, because the television takes up a lot of electricity, plus radio is cheaper than television.

Start Learning Spanish With Basic Lessons

Start Learning Spanish With Basic Lessons Spanish is one of the most-used languages in the world. Its also one that is relatively easy for English speakers to master. There are many reasons why you might want to learn Spanish. Maybe youre studying the language at school or planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country. Whatever it may be, there are a number of basics that will help you get started. The Spanish Alphabet Words are made up of letters, so its only logical that you begin by learning the Spanish alphabet. Its very similar to English, with a few exceptions, and there are some special pronunciations youll need to know. Many languages- Spanish included- use stress and accent marks to guide pronunciation. Since English is one of the few that doesnt, this can be one of the more challenging aspects of learning Spanish. Words and Phrases for Beginners Rather than dive right into the finer points of Spanish grammar, lets start with some basic vocabulary lessons. By learning simple things like the words for various colors and family members, you can feel a little sense of achievement right from the start. Greetings are among the first lessons in any Spanish class. When you can say hola, gracias, and buenos dias, you have a great start to any conversation. Likewise, if your ultimate goal is simple conversations to use on vacation, you may need a few common phrases. Asking for directions, for instance, can be very important for your travels. You might also need to read or ask for the time to keep your itinerary on track. Its not a bad idea to give the four seasons a quick study, either. Working With Nouns in Spanish Two rules stand out when using Spanish nouns. The most unique to English speakers are the masculine and feminine forms. Every Spanish noun has an inherent gender assigned to it, even if the subject is of the other gender. Quite often, the feminine will end with an -a  and will use the articles  una, la, or las  rather than the masculine  un, el, or los. The other rule of Spanish nouns comes into play when we are using the plural form. This tells you when to add an  -es  and when you can simply attach as  -s to the noun. Further, the adjectives attached to the nouns must agree with either the singular or plural form. Spanish Pronouns Are Important Subject pronouns include words like  I, you,  and  we, which we use all the time to form sentences. In Spanish, subject pronouns are  yo, tà º,  Ãƒ ©l, ella,  etc. Theyre used quite often to replace the subject of the sentence, but there are a few things you need to remember. For instance, Spanish has both a formal and informal version of  you. With someone youre familiar with, you can use  tà º,  but formally its proper to use  usted. In addition, there are certain times when its okay to omit the pronoun. Essential Spanish Grammar Other basic parts of Spanish grammar have their own rules that youll want to study. Verbs, for example, need to be conjugated to match the past, present, or future tense of the sentence. This can be difficult for students, but it is similar to adding the  -ed  and -ing  endings in English. Muy  means  very  and  nunca  means  never  in Spanish. These are just two  of the many adverbs you can use to explain what something is like and add emphasis. Adjectives in Spanish can be a little tricky. Many times, these descriptive words are placed before a noun, but there are other circumstances when they come after it. For example,  the red car  is  el coche rojo, with  rojo  being the adjective that describes the noun. One other very important part of speech is the preposition. These are short connective words like  in, to,  and  under. In Spanish, they are used much like they are in English, so learning prepositions is often a simple matter of studying the new words.

The Spiritual-Needs Assessment Tool Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Spiritual-Needs Assessment Tool - Essay Example From this discussion it is clear that  the reporter made several significant discoveries about the patient that he chose to assess. He found out that morality and ethics were high on his list of spiritual needs. The illness he had was a challenge and struggle to him and he needed guidance and support in maintaining a commitment to his principles that for a foundation of his spiritual life. For example, because of the realization that he could not make the decision by himself to do as he pleases in regard to his spiritual needs, for instance going to the mass, he requested that he be given particular times both in the morning and in the evening so that he can pray without disturbance. He also requested that his belongings for his spiritual needs be respected.  This study outlines that the author of the essay  discovered that the patient wanted his spiritual needs to be respected by the health care team and that he could put his trust on them to do exactly that. To him respect an d trust were very important as aspects that could help the healthcare team to fulfill his spiritual needs. His requests acted as an agreement between him and the healthcare team who will be providing care for him while he was in hospital. Therefore, this agreement ought to be respected.  The reporter discovered that the patient was not ready at any cost to compromise his spiritual needs even though he was ill.

Is the EU's Application of Its Emissions Trading Scheme to Aviation Article

Is the EU's Application of Its Emissions Trading Scheme to Aviation Illegal - Article Example The review to this literature is comprehensive. The authors give outlines of the ETS and further elaborate on each with recent research and literature findings where applicable. There is a perceptual sense of lack of fully detailed accounts regarding the cases involved despite the fact the necessary references carry weight (Bisset & Crowhurst, 2011). The authors try to explain the different outlines regarding ETS of which include the overview of the ETS, aviation in ETS, relevant EU legislation, procedural route, and lastly the case of the claimants. This last overview of the case of the claimants is further subdivided into four sub-categories namely, international customary law, convention of Chicago 1944; 16, the Kyoto protocol; 17 and finally the EU-US agreement on open skies 2007.18. The writers gave a better understanding of legalities both legally and illegally in a run-up to understanding the case studies involved. This is case study project is qualitative, and the authors use given cases to accomplish their studies. Usage of this method is evident in that the specifically mentioned cases are presented in the document to some detailed degree (Bisset & Crowhurst, 2011). The feeling here is that the authors have given a good account of the legalities. Hence making the objectives of the case study appropriate. The authors begin their case studies by providing cause of a dispute concerning why the EU wants to apply its emissions trading plan to aviation and what the repercussions could be. The authors use documentation gathered from the Internet while presenting these case studies.  

Determinism, Compatibilism, and Libertarianism Essay

Determinism, Compatibilism, and Libertarianism - Essay Example The essay "Determinism, Compatibilism, and Libertarianism" states the concept of determinism, compatibilism, and libertarianism. Free will can be termed as spiritual canon. In that some of our decisions are uncaused and effective at the same time. Absence of causes, conditions is what causes free will. Majority philosophers believe moral responsibility does not seen to require some sort of practical freedom of the will. Time and again free will is interpreted to mean could have done otherwise. There is a primary ethical dilemma that dates back to ancient time, in the sense that controversy arises if it is scientific substance. Total determinism views all events and even individuals actions are as a result of prior conditions, which makes those actions unavoidable. The pre-determined stimuli can either be biological, psychological, scientific environment, or divine forces. However, complete freedom of the mind provides that man is able to come into an agreement independent of natural or metaphysical influencing forces. Sadduceans believed in absolute free will with no godly providence, thus putting every action to mere chance. Ancient Pharisees accepted a notion that brings together free choice with godlike providences, terming it as a form of determinism. God regulates the rules and deeds occurring in the universe and also controls human actions. Sages have summarized the extensive range of human freedom of mind into a simplified eight letter statement. This knowledge was further explained by ancient Jews Sages.... They reported that every individual can opt to be good or evil with no heavenly prearrangement. If this was not the case the entire Torah would be unreasonable with no ground to reprimand, penalize the wrong doers or appreciate the righteous. However, contrary to their earlier remarks they realized the natural conflict between human freedom and Gods knowledge and foresight. In order to bring together common understanding, several ideas were proposed. The ideas were to ascertain a measureable input of each action or behavior. However, these arguments are beyond the range of this article. Jewish point of view summarized free will need not be interpreted as complete libertarianism, whereas determinism need not be comprehended as absolute fashion. With this it would see individual deeds; codes of conduct are not either free or determined. This means they are both free and determined in a relative admixture. Judaism believes in the capacity of freedom of the mind. The acceptance of medici ne in Jewish law is based on the refusal of absolute determinism. According to Talmud practicing medicine is allowed disapproving the idea that by doing one is doing away with Gods deeds. Engelhardt argues that full freedom and autonomy must be guaranteed, even if these appear wrongheaded or downright offensive and evil to others, in order to maintain a peaceable society. The right of autonomy in this libertarian view takes precedence over the good. This retreat to private principles eventually leads to a moral atomism in which each individual’s moral beliefs and actions unless they annoy the easygoing community are unquestionable. Moral debate thus becomes

Foreign Direct Investment Disadvantages Essay Example for Free

Foreign Direct Investment Disadvantages Essay There is a lot to be said for big retail to come to India, but we cannot simply be taken in and mimic something which is being pushed down our throats because those who make the policy appear to not have the faintest clue on how retail really works in India If there were clear answers in black and white to the question, there would really be no need for any debate on the issue, but the truth is that it is simply not that simple. On a philosophical and emotional level, the answer could be that any form of foreign participation in a domestic market is rife with dangers of the colonialism sort, but in this day and age, while the core concept of being wary of foreign dominance may still be true, the fact remains that there are plenty of ways to ensure that it works on a win-win basis for all concerned. The main problem with the current status of foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail in India is that it does not provide a level playing field to other players of the domestic and small sort. In addition, it appears to take a rather naive and simplistic view on certain aspects, which like myths being repeated, tend to become urban legends. On the other hand, no country can afford to take on an isolationist approach. To start with, it may help to go through the background and policy note on the Cabinet decision on FDI in retail, as put up on various places on the internet. Facebook, PIB) As this writer sees it, with a holistic view of the subject and not just based on jingoism of the â€Å"burn down the malls† (right view) and â€Å"bad for farmers† (left view) sort, but on rational evaluation of larger issues, there are some points which need to be straightened out. Large retail is inevitable, and that is a simple truth, but there has to be larger perspective for public good which seems to be missing from this policy. The people of India come first, including those who want a better product or service buying or selling experience, and at the end of the day i t is their wallets which will decide where they go. But at the same time, the government, with the policy as outlined above, cannot sell the baby with the bath-water, and make things worse. Some suggestions: 1) The present Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act requires urgent revamp if we really want to help the rural and agricultural sectors with a better go to market scenario. This, along with rapid introduction of the goods and services tax (GST) as well as ease of inter- and intra-state movement of foodgrain, agri products and fresh produce, would do more to improve matters, as well as do wonders for our conomy in a variety of ways—most of all in terms of controlling prices as well as reducing storage and transit losses. 2) The policy shown above makes a case that â€Å"brands† by big FDI retailers need to be carried across borders without in any way making it clear that the quality of those brands needs to be same across borders, too. As of now we see that with these manufacturers and retailers there is on e lower quality for sale in India and there is a better quality for sale in developed countries—case in point being soft drinks, processed foods, confectionery, electronics, motor vehicles and others. If anything is by way of a different quality for India for price or other reasons, then let it be clearly marked as such. 3) Specifically in the case of packaged and processed foods, the policy does not say anything about adherence to best case scenarios in terms of labelling of ingredients and avoiding misleading marketing ploys, thereby leading to a situation where outright dangerous products are foisted on Indian consumers. The amount of product detail available for consumers in developed countries must be matched for India, too. India cannot become a vast chemistry lab for processed foods or anything else. 4) More empirical data needs to be provided on subjects like â€Å"improvement in supply chain†. India is the country where the passenger rail ticket deliveries, fresh hot cooked food by dabbawallas and diamonds as well as other precious stones by angadias have set better than global standards in supply chains, so the same standards need to be quantified and applied to those seeking 100% FDI in retail. It is not too much to ask for them to match the Indian standards—unless those who made the policy are ashamed of our prowess. ) The investments in retail by the FDI route, when they come, should come only through a short-list of recognised tax adherence countries. The misused option of FDI coming in through known or suspect tax havens needs to be blocked—firmly. Likewise, full disclosures of the strictest sort need to be made on who the investors are—again, these cannot be suitcas e corporate identities hiding behind consultants and banks in shady tax havens or other countries. Unlike what happened in, for example, airlines, Indians need to know who is investing and from where. And in case there are legal issues, then we need to know who the faces are who will go through the Indian legal system, unless those who made the policy are ashamed of our legal system. 6) The payment processing and cash management as well as tax adherence part of this industry, both in terms of procurement and sale, need to be through the Indian banking system. And by fully transparent methods, so that float as well as control remains in India at all times, as is the case in developed countries.

Morality and Destiny in Othello Essay -- Othello essays

Morality and Destiny in Othello   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They are questions as old as civilization itself. Does man have control over his own destiny? Is man ultimately held accountable for his actions by a higher power? Within the plays of William Shakespeare can be found such fundamental questions and conflicts of humanity, as well as situations, attitudes, and problems that continue to hold strong universal meaning to this day. During his lifetime, morality was at the forefront of society's concerns. Outstanding men such as Newton, Copernicus, Bacon, and Locke were leading great advances in science and reason, and these new ways of thinking, combined with the need for order and religious stability provided the perfect foundation for the development of the morality-based style of writing which is especially evident in his powerful tragedies.    ..........Shakespeare's tragic heroes and villains have flaws which are synonymous with Christian sins. Greed, lust, envy, and jealousy are consistently among the issues that arise with these characters. The idea that improper dealings with such evil emotions must surely lead to a terrible fate is consistently demonstrated. Sylvan Barnet notes that after creating this world of certain consequences the author adds a special "twist" to his tragedy "for it insists that the good are rewarded and the bad are punished" (227). In William Shakespeare's classic tragedy, Othello, the playwright emphasizes the belief in man's inability to control his own destiny because of the actions of rivals, the emotional conflict within himself, and the moral guidance of the universe.    ..........From the onset of this tragic play, conflict begins to brew in the soul of the title character's ensign, Iago. ... ...use of the actions of rivals, the emotional conflict within himself, and the moral guidance of the universe. Introduction I......Iago plants the seeds of hate. .......A..... Iago plots against Othello. ......B......Others are affected by Iago's web of revenge. ......C......Coincidence and opportunities for deceit arise. II.....Emotional conflict brews within the minds of the characters. ......A......Othello struggles with trust and honor. ......B......Iago is a product of his own insecurities. ......C......Roderigo, Emelia, and Cassio fight their emotions. III....In a triumph of morality, God's justice prevails. .......A.....Desdemona dies an innocent death, and Othello commits suicide. .......B......Cassio's honor is reinstated. .......C. ....Iago declares his silence and realizes his punishment. Conclusion

The Franco-Prussian War Essay -- Papers

The Franco-Prussian War During the first half of the nineteenth century, Germany was made up of more than 30 small states, the largest and most dominant of which was Prussia. Prussia had decided that all of the states should all be united to create a bigger and better country, Germany. By the end of 1870 it had forced all of the German states to accept its authority and create the German Empire with the King of Prussia at its head (the Hohenzollen's). Everything was going to plan as Chancellor Prince Otto Von Bismarck (person who was behind the unification of Germany) had anticipated apart from the four large states in southern Germany who remained independent. Bismarck now needed a way to unite these states with the German Empire that he was creating, so he decided that in order to do this he believed that it was necessary to defeat France. The French Emperor Napoleon III was the main obstacle in the way of Bismarck as Napoleon distrusted Bismarck and believed that he was trying to dominate Europe. Luckily Bismarck had already motivated wars against Denmark and Austria (1864 and 1866), managing to provoke his enemies declaring war against Prussia. So in the eyes of other countries Prussia was innocent and Denmark and Austria seemed like the perpetrators. Meanwhile in Spain, 1868, there had been a revolution, the outcome of this was that Queen Isabella had been overthrown and now there was a vacancy for the throne of Spain. They reduced this problem by asking Leopold of Hollenzollern (the King of Prussia's nephew) to step in for them, if Leopold accepted then there would be a link between Spain and Prussia, isolating France. .. ...ellor was secured, the four independent states in the South agreed to join the German Empire, Germany was now the most powerful country in Europe, and the German Army had proved itself invincible and the German Economy began to quickly dominate Europe. But what Bismarck feared the most was the French desire for revenge, and planned to keep France isolated. However the effects of the War and the Treaty on France were completely different. Their pride for their army and country was shattered, and the treaty was treated with disgust and rage. As a consequence of this Napoleon III left the country to live in exile in Britain and a republic was set up. The loss of Alsace and Lorraine ashamed France, and was a national disgrace. The French were seething at the Germans for humiliating them and secretly dreamed of revenge.

The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove Chapter 26~27

Twenty-six Val and Gabe entered the bar, then stepped out of the doorway and stood by the blinking pinball machine while their eyes adjusted to the darkness. Val wrinkled her nose at the hangover smell of stale beer and cigarettes; Gabe squinted at the sticky floor, looking for signs of interesting wild life. Morning was the darkest part of a day at the Head of the Slug Saloon. It was so dark that the dingy confines of the bar seemed to suck light in from the street every time someone opened the door, causing the daytime regu-lars to cringe and hiss as if a touch of sunshine might vaporize them on their stools. Mavis moved behind the bar with a grim, if wobbly, determin-ation, drinking coffee from a gar-goyle-green mug while a Tarryton extra long dangled from her lips, dropping long ashes down the front of her sweater like the smoking turds of tiny ghost poodles. She went about setting up shots of cheap bourbon at the empty curve of the bar, lining them up like soldiers before a firing squad. Every two or three minutes an old man would enter the bar, bent over and wearing baggy pants – leaning on a four-point cane or the last hope of a painless death – and climb onto one of the empty stools to wrap an arthritic claw around a shot glass and raise it to his lips. The shots wer e nursed, not tossed back, and by the time Mavis had finished her first cup of coffee, the curve of the bar looked like the queue to hell: crooked, wheezing geezers all in a row. Refreshments while you wait? The Reaper will see you now. Occasionally, one of the shots would sit untouched, the stool empty, and Mavis would let an hour pass before sliding the shot down to the next daytime regular and calling Theo to track down her truant. Most often, the ambulance would slide in and out of town as quiet as a vulture riding a thermal, and Mavis would get the news when Theo cracked the door, shook his head, and moved on. â€Å"Hey, cheer up,† Mavis would say. â€Å"You got a free drink out of it, didn't you? That stool won't be empty for long.† There had always been daytime regulars, there always would be. Her new crop started coming in around 9 A.M., younger men who bathed and shaved every third day and spent their days around her snooker table, drinking cheap drafts and keeping a laser focus on the green felt lest they get a glimpse of their lives. Where once were wives and jobs, now were dreams of glorious shots and clever strategies. When their dreams and eyesight faded, they filled the stools at the end of the bar with the day-time regulars. Ironically, the aura of despair that hung over the day-time regulars gave Mavis the closest thing to a thrill she'd felt since she last whacked a cop with her Louisville Slugger. As she pulled the bottle of Old Tennis Shoes from the well and poured it down the bar to refill their shot glasses, a bolt of electric loathing would shoot up her spine and she would scamper back to the other end of the bar and stand there breathless until her stereo pacemakers brought her heartbeat back down from redline. It was like tweaking death's nose, sticking a KICK ME sign on the head of a cobra and getting away with it. Gabe and Val watched this ritual without moving from their spot by the pinball machine. Val was cautious, just waiting for the right moment to move to the bar and ask if Theo had called. Gabe was, as usual, just being socially awkward. Mavis retreated to her spot by the coffeepot, presumably out of death's reach, and called down to the couple. â€Å"You two want something to drink, or you just window-shopping?† Gabe led them down the bar. â€Å"Two coffees please.† He looked quickly to Val for her approval, but she was fixated on Catfish, who was seated across from Mavis near the end of the bar. Just beyond him was another man, an incredibly gaunt gentleman whose skin was so white it appeared translucent under the haze of Mavis's cigarette smoke. â€Å"Hello, uh, Mr. Fish,† Val said. Catfish, who was staring at the bottom of a shot glass, looked up and forced a smile through a face betraying hangdog sorrow. â€Å"It's Jefferson,† he said. â€Å"Catfish is my first name.† â€Å"Sorry,† Val said. Mavis made a mental note of the new couple. She recognized Gabe, he'd been in with Theophilus Crowe a number of times, but the woman was a new face to her. She put the two coffees in front of Gabe and Val. â€Å"Mavis Sand,† Mavis said, but she didn't offer her hand. For years she'd avoided shaking hands because the grip often hurt her arthritis. Now, with her new titanium joints and levers, she had to be careful not to crush the delicate phalanges of her customers. â€Å"I'm sorry,† Gabe said. â€Å"Mavis, this is Dr. Valerie Riordan. She has a psychiatric practice here in town.† Mavis stepped back and Val could see the apparatus in the woman's eye focusing – when the light from over the snooker table caught it right, the eye appeared to glow red. â€Å"Pleased,† Mavis said. â€Å"You know Howard Phillips?† Mavis nodded to the gaunt man at the end of the bar. â€Å"H.P.,† Gabe added, nodding to Howard. â€Å"Of H.P.'s Cafe.† Howard Phillips might have been forty, or sixty, or seventy, or he might have died young for all the animation in his face. He wore a black suit out of the nineteenth century, right down to the button shoes, and he was nursing a glass of Guinness Stout, although he didn't look as if he'd had any caloric intake for months. Val said, â€Å"We just came from your restaurant. Lovely place.† Without changing expression, Howard said, â€Å"As a psychiatrist, does it bother you that Jung was a Nazi sympathizer?† He had a flat, upper-class British accent, and Val felt vaguely as if she'd just been spat upon. â€Å"Ray of sunshine, Howard is,† Mavis said. â€Å"Looks like death, don't he?† Howard cleared his throat and said, â€Å"Mavis has come to mock death, since most of her mortal parts have been replaced with machinery.† Mavis leaned into Gabe and Val as if guarding a secret, even as she raised her voice to make sure Howard could hear. â€Å"He's been cranky for some ten years now – and drunk most of that time.† â€Å"I had hoped to develop a laudanum habit in the tradition of Byron and Shelley,† Howard said, â€Å"but procurement of the substance is, to say the least, difficult.† â€Å"Yeah, that month you drank Nyquil on the rocks didn't help either. He'd drop off at the bar stool sittin' straight up, sit there asleep sometimes for four hours, then wake up and finish his drink. I have to say, though, Howard, you never coughed once.† Again Mavis leaned into the bar. â€Å"He pretends to have consumption sometimes.† â€Å"I'm sure the good doctor is not interested in the particulars of my substance abuse, Mavis.† â€Å"Actually,† Gabe said, â€Å"we're just waiting for a call from Theo.† â€Å"And I think I'd prefer a Bloody Mary to coffee,† Val said. â€Å"Ya'll ain't goin to talk me into chasin no monster, so don't even try,† Catfish said. â€Å"I got the Blues on me and I got some drinkin to do.† â€Å"Don't be a wuss, Catfish,† Mavis said as she mixed Val's cocktail. â€Å"Monsters are no big deal. Howard and me got one, huh, Howard?† â€Å"Walk in the proverbial park,† Howard said. Catfish, Val, and Gabe just stared at Howard, waiting. Mavis said, â€Å"Course your drinking started right after the last one, didn't it?† â€Å"Nonstop,† Howard said. Theo It occurred to Theo, as he tried to keep a safe distance from the sheriff's Caddy turning into the ranch, that he had never been trained in the proper procedure for tailing someone. He'd never really followed anyone. Well, there was a sixth-month period in the seventies when he had followed the Grateful Dead around the country but with them, you just followed the trail of tie-dye and didn't have to worry about them killing you if they found out you were behind them. He also realized that he had no idea why, exactly, he was following Burton, except that it seemed more aggressive than curling into a ball and dying of worry. The black Caddy turned through a cattle gate onto the section of the ranch adjacent the ocean. Theo slowed to a stop under a line of eucalyptus trees beside the ranch road, keeping the sheriff in sight between the tree trunks. The grassy marine terrace that dropped to the shoreline was too open to go onto without Burton noticing. He would have to let the Caddy pass over the next hill, nearly half a mile off the road, before he dared follow. Theo watched the Caddy bump over the deep ruts in the road, the front wheels throwing up mud as it climbed the hill, and suddenly he regretted not having driven the red four-wheel-drive truck. The rear-wheel-drive Mercedes might not be able to follow much farther. When the Caddy topped the hill, Theo pulled out and gunned the Mer-cedes through the cattle gate and into the field. Tall grass thrashed at the underside of the big German car as rocks and holes jarred Theo and threw Skinner around like a toy. Momentum carried them up the side of the first hill. As they approached the crest, Theo let off the gas. The Mercedes settled to a stop. When he applied the gas again, the back wheels of the Mercedes dug into the mud, stuck. Theo left Skinner and the keys in the car and ran to the top of the hill. He could see more than a mile in every direction, east to some rock outcrop-pings by the tree line, west to the ocean, and across the marine terrace to the north, which curved around the coastline and out of sight. South, well, he'd come from the south. Nothing there but his cabin and beyond that the crank lab. What he could not see was the black Cadillac. He checked the battery in his cell phone and both pistols to see that they were loaded, then he set out on foot toward the rocks. It was the only place the Caddy could have gotten out of sight. Burton had to be there. Twenty minutes later he stood at the base of the rock outcroppings, sweating and trying to catch his breath. At least maybe he'd get some lung capacity back, now that he wasn't smoking pot anymore. He bent over with his hands on his knees and scanned the rocks for any movement. These were no gentle sedimentary rocks formed over centuries of settling seas. These craggy bastards looked like gray teeth that had been thrust up through the earth's crust by the violent burp of a volcano and the rasping shift of a fault line. Lichen and seagull crap covered their surfaces and here and there a creosote bush or cypress tried to gain a foothold in the cracks. There was supposed to be a cave around here somewhere, but Theo had never seen it, and he doubted that it was big enough to park a Cadillac in. He stayed low, moving around the edge of the rocks, expecting to see the flash of a black fender at every turn. He drew his service revolver and led around each turn with the barrel of the gun, then changed his strategy. That was like broadcasting a warning. He bent over double before peeking around the next corner, figuring that if Burton heard him or was waiting, he would be aiming high. The vastness of what Theo didn't know about surveillance and combat techniques seemed to be expanding with every step. He just wasn't a sneaky guy. He skirted a narrow path between two fanglike towers of rock. As he prepared to take a quick peek around the next turn, his foot slipped, sending a pile of rocks skittering down the hill like broken glass. He stopped and held his breath, listening for the sound of a reaction somewhere in the rocks. There was only the crashing surf in the distance and a low whistle of coastal wind. He ventured a quick glance around the rock and before he could pull back, the metallic click of a gun cocking behind his head sounded like icicles being driven into his spine. Molly Molly was sorting through the piles of clothing the pilgrims had left by the cave entrance. She had come up with two hundred and fifty-eight dollars in cash, a stack of Gold Cards, and more than a dozen vials of antidepressants. A voice in her head said, â€Å"You haven't seen this many meds since you were on the lock-down ward. They have a lot of gall calling you crazy.† The narrator was back, and Molly wasn't at all happy about it. For the last few days, her thinking had been incredibly clear. â€Å"Yeah, you're helping a lot with my mental health self-image,† she said to the narrator. â€Å"I liked it better when it was just me and Steve.† None of the pilgrims seemed to notice that Molly was talking to herself. They were all in some trancelike state, stark naked, seated in a semicircle around Steve, who lay in the back of the cave, where it was dark, with his head tucked under his forelegs, flashing sullen colors across his flanks: olive drab, rust, and blue so dark that it appeared more like an afterimage on the back of the eyelid than an actual color. â€Å"Oh yeah, you and Steve,† the narrator said snidely. â€Å"There's a healthy couple – the two greatest has-beens of all time. He's sulking, and you're robbing people who are even nuttier than you are. Now you're going to feed them to old lizard lick over there.† â€Å"Am not.† â€Å"Looks like none of these people has had any sun or exercise since high school gym class. Except for that guy who came in Birkenstocks, and he has that Gandhi-tan vegetarian starvation stare that looks like he'd slaughter a whole kindergarten for a Pink's foot-long with sauer-kraut. You feel okay about making them strip and prostrate themselves before the big guy?† â€Å"I thought it would make them go away.† â€Å"The lizard is using you.† â€Å"We care about each other. Now just shut up. I'm trying to think.† â€Å"Oh, like you've been thinking so far.† Molly shook her head violently to try and dislodge the narrator from her mind. Her hair whipped about her face and shoulders and stood out in a wild mess. The narrator was quiet. Molly pulled a compact out of one of the pilgrims' purses and looked at herself in the mirror. She certainly couldn't have looked much crazier. She braced for the narrator's comment, but it didn't come. She tried to get in touch with the warm feeling that had been running through her since Steve had appeared, but it just wasn't there. Maybe the pilgrims were using up his energy. Maybe the magic had just passed. She remembered sitting on a deck in Malibu, waiting for a producer who had just made love to her, only to have his Hispanic maid show up with a glass of wine and an apology that â€Å"The mister had to go to the studio, he very sorry, you call him next week please.† Molly had really liked the guy. She'd broken her foot kicking his spare Ferrari as she left and had to eat painkillers through the filming of her next movie, which eventually put her in detox. She never heard from the producer again. That was being used. This was different. â€Å"Right,† said the narrator sarcastically. â€Å"Shhhhh,† Molly said. She heard someone scuffling on the rocks outside the cave. She snatched up the assault rifle and waited just inside the cave mouth. Twenty-seven Val Val was wishing she had a video recorder to preserve the gargantuan lie that Mavis Sand and Howard Phillips had been telling over the last hour. According to them, ten years ago the village of Pine Cove had been visited by a demon from hell, and only through the combined effort of a handful of drunks were they able to banish the demon whence it came. It was a magnificent delusion, and Val thought that she could at least get an aca-demic paper on shared psychosis out of it. Being around Gabe had ignited her enthusiasm for research. When Mavis and Howard wrapped up their story, Catfish started in with his tale of being pursued through the bayou by a sea monster. Soon Gabe and Val were spouting the details of Gabe's theory that the monster had evolved the ability to affect the brain chemistry of its prey. Tipsy after a few Bloody Marys and taken by the momentum of the tale, Val confessed her replacement of Pine Cove's supply of antidepressants with placebos. Even as she unburdened herself, Val realized that her and Gabe's stories were no more credible than the fairy tale Mavis and Howard had just told. â€Å"That Winston Krauss is a weasel,† Mavis said. â€Å"Comes in here every day acting like his shit don't stink, then overcharges the whole town for something they ain't even gettin. Should'a known he was a fish-fucker.† â€Å"That's in strictest confidence,† Val said. â€Å"I shouldn't have mentioned it.† Mavis cackled. â€Å"Well, it ain't like I'm gonna run tell Sheriff Burton on you. He's weasel with a capital Weas. Besides, girl, you increased my business by eighty percent when you took the wackos off their drugs. And I thought it was old Mopey down there.† Mavis shot a bionic thumb toward Catfish. The Bluesman put down his drink. â€Å"Hey!† Gabe said, â€Å"So you believe that there really is a sea monster on that ranch?† â€Å"What reason would you have to lie?† said Howard. â€Å"It would seem that Mr. Fish is an eyewitness as well.† â€Å"Jefferson,† Catfish said. â€Å"Catfish Jefferson.† â€Å"Shut up, you chickenshit,† Mavis spat. â€Å"You could have helped Theo when he asked you. What's that boy think he's doing following that sheriff out to the ranch anyway? It's not like he can do anything.† Gabe said, â€Å"We don't know. He just left and told us to come here and wait for his call.† â€Å"Ya'll some heartless souls,† Catfish said. â€Å"I lost me a good woman because of all this.† â€Å"She's smarter than she looks,† Mavis said. â€Å"Theo has my Mercedes,† Val added, feeling out of place even as she said it. Suddenly she felt more ashamed of looking down on these people than she did about all of her professional indiscretions. â€Å"I'm getting worried,† said Gabe. â€Å"It's been over an hour.† â€Å"I don't suppose you thought about calling him?† Mavis asked. â€Å"You have his cell phone number?† Gabe asked. â€Å"He's the constable. It's not like he's unlisted.† â€Å"I suppose I should have thought of that,† said Howard. Mavis shook her head and one of her false eyelashes sprung up like a snare trap. â€Å"What, you three got thirty years of college between you and not enough smarts to dial a phone without a blueprint?† â€Å"Astute observation,† Howard said. â€Å"I ain't got no college,† Catfish said. â€Å"Well, cheers to you for being just naturally stupid,† Mavis said, picking up the phone. The daytime regulars at the end of the bar had snapped out of their malaise to have a laugh at Catfish. There's nothing quite so satisfying to the desperate as having someone to look down on. Theo The gun barrel was pushed so hard into the spot behind Theo's ear that he thought he could hear bone cracking. Burton reached around and took the .357 and tossed it aside, then he took the automatic from Theo's waistband and did the same. â€Å"On the ground, facedown.† Burton kicked Theo's feet out from under him, then put his knee in the constable's back and handcuffed him. Theo could taste blood where his lip had split hitting the rock. He turned his head to the side, raking his cheek on some lichen. He was terrified. Every muscle in his body ached with the need to run. Burton smacked him across the back of the head with his pistol, not hard enough to knock him out, but when the white-hot light of the blow faded, Theo could feel blood oozing into his right ear. â€Å"You fucking stoner. How dare you fuck with my business?† â€Å"What business?† Theo said, hoping ignorance might buy his life. â€Å"I saw your car at the lab, Crowe. The last time I talked to Leander he was on his way to see you. Now where is he?† â€Å"I don't know.† The pistol smacked Theo on the other side of the head. â€Å"I don't fucking know!† Theo shrieked. â€Å"He was at the lab, then he was gone. I didn't see him leave.† â€Å"I don't care if he's alive or dead, Crowe. And it doesn't make any difference to you either. But I need to know. Did you kill him? Did he run? What?† â€Å"I think he's dead.† â€Å"You think?† Theo could feel Burton rearing back to hit him again. â€Å"No! He's dead. He's dead. I know it.† â€Å"What happened?† Theo tried to think of a plausible explanation, something that would buy him a minute, a few more seconds even, but he couldn't clear his head. â€Å"I'm not sure,† he said. â€Å"I?CI heard gunfire. I was in the shed. When I came out, he was gone.† â€Å"Then how do you know he's dead?† Theo couldn't see any advantage to telling Burton that Molly had told him. Burton would track her down and put her in the same shallow grave that he was going to end up in. â€Å"Fuck you,† Theo said. â€Å"Figure it out.† The pistol whipped across the back of Theo's head and he nearly passed out this time. He heard a ringing in his ears, but a second later he realized that it wasn't in his ears at all. His cell phone was ringing in his shirt pocket. Burton rolled him over and put the barrel of the gun on Theo's right eyelid. â€Å"We're going to answer this, Crowe. And if you fuck up, the calling party is going to hear a very loud disconnect.† The sheriff bent down until his face was almost touching Theo's and reached for the phone. Suddenly a series of deafening explosions went off a few feet away and bullets whined off the rocks like angry wasps. Burton rolled off Theo and into a shallow crevice just below them. Theo felt someone grab his collar and pull him to his feet. Before he could see who it was, a dozen hands closed on him and dragged him out of the sun. He fell hard on his back and the gunfire stopped. His phone was still ringing. A cloud of bats was swirling above him. He looked up to see Molly Michon standing over him with a smoking assault rifle, and in that second, she looked like what he had always ima-gined an avenging angel might look like, except for the six naked white guys standing behind her. â€Å"Hi, Theo,† she said. â€Å"Hi, Molly.† Molly pointed to the phone in his shirt pocket with the barrel of her rifle. â€Å"You want me to get that?† â€Å"Yeah, it might be important,† Theo said. There was a gunshot and a bullet whined off the edge of the cave entrance and ricocheted into the darkness. Theo could feel the roar that rose up out of the back of the cave vibrating in his ribs. The Sheriff Burton reached over the edge of the crevice and fired a shot in the general direction of the cave, then braced himself for return fire from the AK-47, but instead he heard a roaring that sounded like someone had dropped the entire cast of The Lion King in a deep fryer. Burton was not a coward, not by any means, but a man would have to be insane not to be frightened by that noise. Too much weirdness, too fast. A woman in a leather bikini and thigh-high boots firing an AK-47 while six naked guys dragged Crowe into a cave. He needed time to regroup, call in backup, drink a fifth of Glenlivet. It seemed safe here for the time being. As long as he didn't move, no one could get a firing angle on him without making a target of himself. He pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket, then paused, trying to figure out who to call. A general officer-in-trouble call could bring anyone, and the last thing he needed was television helicopters hovering around. Besides, his goal wasn't to arrest the suspects, he needed them silenced for good. He could call in the guys from the crank lab, if he could get hold of them, but the vision of a bunch of untrained illegal immigrants running around on this hill with automatic weapons didn't seem like the best strategy either. He had to call SWAT, but only his guys. Eight of the twenty men on the SWAT team were in his pocket. Again, he couldn't go through dispatch. They'd have to be called in on private lines. He dialed the number that rang into the information center deep in the basement of the county justice building. The Spider picked up on the first ring. â€Å"Nailsworth.† â€Å"It's Burton. Listen, don't talk. Call Lopez, Sheridan, Miller, Morales, O'Hara, Crumb, Connelly, and LeMay. Tell them to come in full SWAT to the Beer Bar Ranch north of Pine Cove, the northern access road. There's a cave here. Pull up whatever maps you need and give them directions. Do not use open channels. They are not to log in or report to anyone where they are going. There are at least two suspects in the cave with automatic weapons. I'm pinned down about ten yards from the west-facing entrance. Have them meet south of the rocks, they'll see them, then have Sheridan call me. No aircraft. Find out if there's another entrance to this cave. I need everyone in place ASAP. Can you do it?† â€Å"Of course,† the Spider said. â€Å"It's going to take them a minimum of forty minutes, maybe more if I can't find them all.† Burton could hear the Spider's fat fingers blazing on his keyboard already. â€Å"Send whoever you can find. Tell them to come in separate cars. Tell them to avoid sirens if possible on the way up, definitely once they hit the ranch.† â€Å"Do you have descriptions of the suspects?† â€Å"It's Theophilus Crowe and a woman, five-eight, one twenty, twenty-five to forty years old, gray hair, wearing a leather bikini.† â€Å"Twenty-five to forty? Pretty specific,† the Spider said sarcastically. â€Å"Fuck you, Nailsworth. How many women do you think are running around these hills wearing a leather bikini and shooting an AK? Call me when they are on the way.† Burton disconnected and checked the battery on the phone. It would last. Since the roaring sound had come from the cave, it had been quiet, but he didn't dare peek over the edge of the crevice. â€Å"Crowe!† he shouted. â€Å"It's not too late to work this out!† Theo The naked guys were standing over Theo, wearing dazed smiles, as if they'd all just shared a big pipe of opium. â€Å"Jesus, was that it?† Theo asked, Steve's roar still ringing in his ears. â€Å"Him,† Molly corrected, holding up a finger to shush Theo as she pressed the answer button on his phone. â€Å"Hello,† she said into the phone. â€Å"None of your business. Who is this?† She covered the mouthpiece and said, â€Å"It's Gabe.† â€Å"Tell him I'm okay. Ask him where he is.† â€Å"Theo says he's okay. Where are you?† She listened for a second, then covered the mouthpiece again. â€Å"He's at the Slug.† â€Å"Tell him I'll call him right back.† â€Å"He'll call you back.† She disconnected and tossed the phone in the pile of clothing by the door. Theo looked up at the naked guys. He thought he recognized a couple of them, but didn't want to acknowledge that he did. â€Å"Would you guys back off a little?† Theo said. They didn't move. Theo looked at Molly. â€Å"Can you tell them to go somewhere? They're making me nervous.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Molly, I don't know if you've notice, but all these guys are in a – a state of arousal.† â€Å"Maybe they're just glad to see you.† â€Å"Would you tell them to back off, please?† Molly motioned for the naked guys to move away. â€Å"Go. Go. Back to the back of the cave, guys. Go. Go. Go.† She poked at a couple of them with the assault rifle. Slowly they turned and ambled farther back into the cave. â€Å"What in the hell is wrong with them?† â€Å"What do you mean, wrong? They're acting like all guys do, they're just being more honest about it.† â€Å"Molly, seriously, what did you do to them?† â€Å"I didn't do anything. That's how they've been acting since they saw Steve back there.† Theo looked to the back of the cave, but could only see the partially lit backs of a group of people sitting on the cave floor. â€Å"It's like they're in a trance or something.† â€Å"Yeah, isn't it cool? They came to help me get you when I asked, though. So they're not total zombies. I'm, like, in charge.† Blood was dripping out of Theo's scalp, matting his hair and leaving spots on his shirt. â€Å"That's great, Molly. Could you get these handcuffs off me?† â€Å"I was going to ask you about those. Every time I see you, you're in handcuffs. Do you have a fetish or something?† â€Å"Please, Molly, there's a key in my front pocket.† â€Å"He gave you the key?† â€Å"It's my key.† â€Å"I see,† Molly said with a knowing smile. â€Å"Handcuffs all use the same key, Molly. Please help me get out of these.† She knelt and reached into his pocket, keeping her eyes locked on his through the process. His head throbbed when he rolled over so she could get to the cuffs. As she pulled them off, they heard Burton call from outside. â€Å"Crowe! It's not too late to work this out!† Once his hands were free, Theo threw his arms around Molly and pulled her close. She dropped her rifle and returned his embrace. Another roar emanated from the back of the cave. A couple of the pilgrims shrieked and Molly let go of Theo and stood up, gazing back into the darkness. â€Å"It's okay, Steve,† she said. â€Å"What in the hell was that?† Burton shouted from outside. â€Å"That was Steve,† Molly shouted back. â€Å"You were asking what happened to Joseph Leander. Well, that was it. Steve ate him.† â€Å"How many of you are in there?† Burton asked. Molly looked around. â€Å"A bunch.† â€Å"Who in the hell are you?† â€Å"I am Kendra, Warrior Babe of the Outland.† She shot a silly grin at Theo, who was trying to follow what was going on up here, while listening to some disturbing stirring noises going on in the back of the cave. â€Å"What do you want?† Burton asked. Without a beat, Molly said, â€Å"Ten percent of the gross on all my films, retroactive fifteen years, an industrial-strength weed-whacker with gas, and world peace.† â€Å"Seriously. We can work this out.† â€Å"Okay. I want sixty peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a couple of gallons of Diet Coke, and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She turned to Theo, â€Å"You want anything?† Theo shrugged. Hell, as long as they were stalling. â€Å"A new Volvo station wagon.† â€Å"And a new Volvo station wagon,† Molly shouted. â€Å"And we want it with two cup holders, you bastard, or the deal's off.† She turned and beamed at Theo. â€Å"Nice touch.† â€Å"You deserve it,† Molly said. Suddenly her eyes went wide as she looked past Theo. â€Å"No, Steve!† she screamed. Theo rolled over to see a huge pair of jaws descending over him.