Monday, September 30, 2019
Food And Drug Administration On Tobacco Essay
Due to the remarkable number of premature deaths caused by smoking during the period of 1995-1999[1], the government agencies of America, especially the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made several attempts in regulating tobacco and tobacco products. Lots of laws have been made in order to solve this problem. There was an attempt in issuing additional tax on each stick of the cigarette. However, people who smoke ranging from ‘minor’ smokers to heavy smokers would still continue to buy cigarettes regardless of its price. Some rules recommended the limitation of people’s access to tobacco products, as well as restrictions on the marketing of these products to minors. Do there need to be changes in existing laws? Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act were introduced in 2007[2].  This Act though abundant of ‘good laws’ is not strong. Some amendments should be made on the laws involved. How should those changes be approached and effected? Lots of amendments have been made on the laws. Some attempts were on the regulation of tobacco products through disclosure, annual registration, inspection, record keeping, and user fee requirements. Others approaches involve (1)limiting product sales on licensed drugstores; (2)prohibiting product sales through face-to-face transactions in retail outlets; (3) establishing a minimum age greater than 18 years of age for product purchases; (4) warning label and advertising requirements. These attempts would be well effected through thorough and consistent public dissemination.[3] Is there an impact on other government agencies? Identify the agencies impacted.                The impact of this change is not only on the government agencies. It would also affect other organizations such as in the world of business, advertisement, etc. The government agencies are the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission, National Institute of Health, Peace Corps and as well as The White House. How should it be resolved?                Agreements should be made among affected agencies in order to resolve the impact of regularizing the circulation of tobacco. Others should give sacrifices for the sake of the health of the majority.                The best suggestion to solve this conflict is to develop a product that would totally replace tobacco products or at least replace nicotine-free ingredients for cigarettes. References: Bonnie, Richard J., Kathleen R. Stratton, Robert B. Wallace. (2007). Ending the Tobacco             Problem: A Blueprint for the Nation. Washington: The National Academy Press. Hickmann, Meredith A. (2003).The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). New York: Nova            Publishers. Kessler, David A. MD. (2000). A Question of Intent: A Great American Battle with a Deadly            Industry. Food and Drug Administration:Public Affairs. Redhead, Stephen and Jody Feder. (December 3, 2004). FDA Regulation of Tobacco             Products: A Policy and Legal Analysis. Retrieved from http://digital.library.unt.edu/            govdocs/crs/permalink/meta-crs-8198:1 on 13 April 2008. Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People. Washington: Diane Publishing ,[1997]. Taking Action to Reduce Tobacco Use. Washington: [1]             Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., Statement on H.R. 1108, Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, (October 3, 2007),                http://www.fda.gov/oc/oms/ofm/budget/2002/cj2002/HTML/Tobacco.htm, Accessed April 13, 2008. [2]             Richard J. Bonnie, Kathleen R. Stratton, Robert B. Wallace, Ending the Tobacco Problem: A Blueprint for the Nation, Washington: The         National Academy Press, 126. [3]             C. Stephen Redhead and Jody Feder, â€Å"FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products: A Policy and Legal Analysis,†(December 3, 2004), http://digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs/permalink/meta-crs-8198:1, Accessed 13 April 2008.                Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People (Washington: Diane Publishing ,[1997]), 278 – 282.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Prevention Interventions: Haiti 2010
Primary prevention and nursing interventions include: the workers and volunteers receiving available, necessary and appropriate shots prior to entering Haiti. For the Haitians, immunization would also be given. This is very important against, Hepatitis, and other rare, yet deadly diseases, such as measles, mumps, rubella, and pertussis.Education regarding: safe and proper sanitation practices; hand washing and personal hygiene; maintaining trash in designated areas; staying active by volunteering/assisting and caring for other fellow Haitian children and neighbors; clearing and cleaning out clutter and using available resources to cook and keep foods in safe places that are clean; dry and free from infestations of bugs; clearing out puddles of water that attract mosquitoes; and assigning an adequate amount of people per shelter or tent in order to not overcrowd any particular living/sleeping quarters; and lastly educated patients on the first sign of diarrheal disease and to seek med ical attention in order to contain the disease.Secondary Prevention nursing Interventions: secondary prevention would occur during the acute stage of the disaster. These interventions of course would differ depending on the type and scope of the disaster. Generally, the goal of secondary prevention intervention is to decrease the deleterious effects of the disaster on individuals and the community. In the type of disaster where there's the possibility of many casualties, several types of activities will take place simultaneously.Police, fire, and other first responders will be conducting search-and-rescue operations as well as security operations. To provide help for as many people as possible, triage activities will be taking place in the field as well as in emergency departments. If proper planning occurred prior to the disaster, casualties would be transported to many different institutions in an effort to avoid any one institution being overwhelmed. Hospitals are often perceived as a safe haven. A sound hospital disaster plan will include plans for how to manage non injured survivors of disasters. Finding a place away from the chaos to provide supportive care is desirable.Aside from providing care to the physically injured, secondary prevention strategies would also address decreasing the long-term emotional affects of trauma. As stated previously, how individuals cope with trauma depends on a myriad of factors. Lastly, secondary prevention strategies would also address the immediate community education needs. People need to be educated about the signs and symptoms of stress reactions and the available community resources where they can receive help. It's important to teach people to develop healthy coping strategies, such as seeking support from family and friends, joining a support group, practicing relaxation techniques, and taking care of their physical health. (See â€Å"Available Web resources.)Tertiary prevention strategies are interventions that a re designed to meet the long-term needs of individuals and the community after the disaster has been resolved. The required types and scope of tertiary services will largely be determined by the type and scope of the disaster. There will be a certain amount of people who'll need long-term services. Experts suggest a need for long-term treatment strategies that include individual, group, and family therapy; effective pharmacotherapy; as well as short and long term hospitalization and rehabilitation. Implementing programs that foster healing is another important tertiary intervention. Providing places for people to speak with others about their feelings is beneficial to healing.It's important to provide programs that teach people about stress responses, normal and abnormal coping strategies, and when and how to seek help. Parenting programs can help mothers and fathers learn how to provide support to their children and also to recognize symptoms of stress response. There are four phas e, the Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery. These prevention interventions would be started as early as the 1st phase, and throughout 4th phase. I would enroll the collaboration of the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), the Red Cross and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). I would also call on charitable organizations such as the catholic charities, to come in and help.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Radio Frequency Identification Tags Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Radio Frequency Identification Tags - Essay Example They proved that the once-thought virus-safe RFID tags are prone to virus attack even if the memory seems too small to contain all the information needed by the virus to ruin the technology. This research is a call for the RFID designers to take extra care in engineering the chips' code. Since the databases vary about their built in security, the designers should focus on the details of the lines of source code which numbers up to millions. Around 6 to 16 mistakes out of a thousand lines of code mean less security and vulnerability to virus attack. This is important because RFID tags have promising uses in industries such as groceries and airports, wherein important information are all stored in databases. The uses include tracking and inventories, storage of information about personal and financial matters, and property monitoring. Interference of the RFID tags using the viruses does not affect only the system, but the larger scale of the industries concerned. False tags can be used on an item to deliver a virus in a properly working system. This virus can then replicate its illegal code on the databases and corrupt the files. (Kirk, 2006). Privacy of information stored in RFID tags should start at the design and engineering stage. The RFID tags must be designed in such a way that it holds the minimum amount of information possible, without compromising its function and performance. Manufacturers must find a way to decrease the linkability of the tags with confidential data (Cavoukian, 2006). Since RFID tags carry important information, it is very usefule not only in identification but for access into different databases as well. The Senate of the California State had passed a legislation which bans RFID tags in government transactions and documentations. Integration of RFID in any form of identification card, license, and document issued by the state. This prohibition is applicable also in the use of RFID by the employees for security access. (Hook, 2005). The University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Science created a website called the RFID Guardian. The site aims to help RFID users secure their privacy. The website, www.rfidguardian.org, offers a free video about the function of RFID Guardian and how its system works (Faculty of Science). Data and identity theft The RFID tag user should be responsible for the information covered by his tag. He should definitely be in control of the information his RFID tag carries. The same goes for institutions and organizations. They, therefore, should allot resources for training their employees so that the organization as a whole would be able to comply with privacy and security guidelines. They should limit the use of RFID in the disclosure of information by assessing their files and classifying them according to their relevance and confidentiality. Data including those of personal and confidential nature, and those data containing dispersible information, should be updated and accurate. This could prevent subsequent transfer of information using RFID tags from one system to another, which makes the information vulnerable to illegal attacks. There should also be consent from an individual concerned whether or not certain information about him can be disclosed from his RFID tag (Cavoukian, 2006). Due to the important data stored in RFID tags, the technology attracts unauthorized individuals to invade somebody else's privacy. These illegally involved people can
Friday, September 27, 2019
What causes gas prices to fluctuate Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
What causes gas prices to fluctuate - Assignment Example f gas in many industries, there are a myriad of reasons that could be attributed to the constant changes in the price of gas, and the lack of price stability on the commodity (Diewert, Greenlees & Hulten, 2010). This research will seek to explore the fundamental reasons that drive the fluctuation of gas prices. The research will be a descriptive study that will be seeking to provide answers to various questions raised in relation to the problem of fluctuating gas prices. The study will involve collection of information concerning the current state of the problem in seeking to determine the factors that have driven the observed phenomenon of price fluctuation (Creswell, 2009). Although the research might not be able to provide conclusive answers, it will be able to present some of the key elements that could be associated with causing the price fluctuations. The study will be able to yield rich data that can be relied on by policy makers in establishing solutions to the problem. The sources of data will include economic journals and other academic materials providing explanations to causes of price changes. A survey of the industry will also provide information about the operational factors within the industry that could be causing price fluctuations. The collected data will be analyzed using STATA, which is a software that facilitates replicable analysis. Qualitative data analysis approaches will be employed to initially analyze the data collected from the various sources (Tracy, 2013). Logical analysis through inductive reasoning will be utilized in seeking to stratify the data before it can be analyzed using the STATA software. The initial analysis will be able to group the collected data into different categories in order to determine the factors that have been identified from the data collection. The stratification will be used to initially identify the factors that have caused the fluctuations in prices of gas. The factors will further be classified
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Respons Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Respons - Essay Example The nationalization of the Egyptian cinema industry also played a role in destroying creativity, amongst producers. This in turn, led to the decline of the Egyptian Cinema (Hammond, 122). In Lebanon, its 15 year civil war played a role in the decline of the cinema industry, while the war between Iraq and Iran in the 1980s, hampered the growth of cinema in these two countries. Viola Shafik argues that the traditional Islamic principles of representation are rarely applied or used in the Arab Cinema (54). Examples of these representations include non-spatial paintings of structures, ornamental rhythms of arabesque, etc. Shafik (62) further argues that almost all film makers, in the Arab world are using classic rules of Western art, to make their films. Shafik further denotes that the 20th century saw an increase in the use of a three-dimensional realistic art, and the use of new ideas that govern film production. This was able to promote artists as geniuses, undermining the traditional crafts and arts that were influenced by Islam. Shafik also denotes that Arab cinema has given women an important role in the film industry, and this is in line with the principles of Islam, which identify women as important pillars of the society (Shafik, 78). Hammond on the other hand argues that Islam has had a major contribution on film industry in the Arab world. This is because movies are censured, and any film that depicts Prophet Mohammed in a bad away is censured. Furthermore, all films produced in the Arab world, have to conform to the principles of Islam. This is one area where Viola Shafik and Andrew Hammond agreed upon. Any film that criticizes the personality of Prophet Mohammed is censored. Viola Shafik asserts that the use of symbolism in Arab art is not common. However, in the cinema, Symbolism has greatly been used, for purposes of identifying a hidden meaning, or representing an idea or a group of
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence Assignment
Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence - Assignment Example categories; the first category is leadership which examines senior leadership, how they lead, communicate with the workers, motivate the workforce and how their actions and decisions affect the overall performance of the organization. It also examines governance and social responsibilities that is; how the organization determines and sustains legal and ethical behavior and the execution of the organizations social responsibilities. The second category strategic leadership examines the organization’s strategy development, factors influencing strategy, strategy objectives and strategy implementation. Thirdly, customer focus examines how the organization relates to its customers. It involves evaluating the customer listening of both existing and potential customers, customer satisfaction and engagement as an organization and in comparison with competitors as well as customer dissatisfaction. It also looks at how the organization involves its customers in their business in order to better address their needs and build sustainable relationships. Fourth we have measurement analysis which evaluates the organization’s collection, analysis and management of data to achieve its goals. Such data includes, performance measurements, analysis and reviews and the use of other external information and resources to the organizations advantage. The fifth category work force focus examines the organization’s ability to employ its workforce to its optimum capability and capacity to attain its goals. The next category operations focus evaluates the organizations designs as well as manages and improves its work systems and processes to ensure the organization delivers to its customers. The final category result evaluates the results of all the previous categories in relation to the organizations goals. It reflects the outcomes whether the application of the six categories to the organization (Baldrige Perfomance Excellence Program, 2011-2012). The Baldridge criteria have been
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Religious diveristy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Religious diveristy - Research Paper Example Moreover, the author will be supporting the stand for religious diversity in the country on the basis of respect for individual rights, knowledge of good and evil and the treatment of diverse choices like commodities (Wuthnow 76). According to Wuthnow (Wuthnow & Myers), America claims to have been built on Christianity when in fact religion already existed even before Christopher Columbus discovered the land. This has caused the problem we have today because of the information instilled in the American minds that the country progressed economically, technologically as well as other aspects where the nation succeeded, because of Christianity. These days, the modern American now assumes the right to insist on his/her belief in the Christian God and disregards the other religions as exemplified by the then presidential candidate George Bush who was reported to have claimed that only Christians have a place in heaven to which his own mother did not agree with (Wuthnow & Myers). This reck less comment gained Bush a number of enemies at least when it comes to religious discussions with the Muslims, Jews, Hindus and other religions. Just this example may probably suffice to represent the tension experienced in America because of individual religious convictions. Being a political leader, the aforementioned statement of Bush has been unwittingly uttered because knowing the laws, he should have borne in mind the spirit of democracy which is freedom and in this freedom is included the respect for individual rights to religion (Balmer). It is unwise for an individual, not to mention a political leader to try to coerce somebody to conversion by scaring them about heaven or hell. People have individual rights and they have the right to choose so that proselytizing would not be a good means of sharing one’s faith but as one preacher once said, faith is not a matter to argue upon but is a gift to be shared. If an individual thinks his religion is the right one, then he should share the reasons why he has such convictions. If his reasons are acceptable enough for his prospect, then that person will have all the right to have the freedom to choose or to reject the religion even if he is fully convinced of a person’s convictions and arguments. The second argument to be discussed is the belief that people have the ability to distinguish good from evil on the basis of their common experience as human beings, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality or religion (Wuthnow 76). This is in relation to the right to religion, leaving the person to choose the beliefs he wants to embrace, trusting that they are able to make wise choices. Salvation is a choice and should not be insisted. It can be encouraged but not forced nor become a threat to an individual, like he does not have the capacity to decide for himself. The third argument is that diverse choices are like commodities (Wuthnow 76), where when there are more choices, a person can have a choic e that would really fit his/her needs and satisfy individual expectations. For instance, where there is a wider selection of clothes there is the greater possibility that the one that best suits a customer can be found. Correspondingly, diversity in religion will allow a person to choose
Monday, September 23, 2019
Marketing Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 2
Marketing Research - Essay Example This research method is flexible can easily adapt to the research settings (Newman, 1998, p.56). The aim of qualitative research is to get a clear understanding on how the participant’s develop an understanding of their surroundings, and how this understanding affects the participant’s behavior. The main method of collecting data in qualitative research is the use of observations (Goertz and Mahoney 2012, 78). Observation implies the collection and recording of the behaviors of the participants in their environment. This approach is useful in the generation of in-depth explanation of events or organizations; it is also practical in obtaining information that is not accessible and conducting research where other research methods are insufficient. The benefit of employing observation is that it reduces distortion between what is observed and the observer and can be produced by instruments such as questionnaires (Gray, 2007, p.126). The main features of qualitative researc h include the fact that they focus on natural settings and have a primary interest in real life situations. This method seeks to find out the meanings participants attach to behavior, their interpretations, and their perspectives on situations. Qualitative research also looks into the process involved and seeks to understand how things happen and how they develop. Additionally qualitative research follows an inductive analysis and seeks to generate a theory on an issue from the data (Martin, 2012, p.16). The advantages associated with using this method include the production of more detailed and comprehensive information. This method also seeks an extensive understanding of the situation by the use of subjective information and employs the observations of the participants in describing the situation (Singh, 2007, p.84). However, the disadvantages of using this method include complications in establishing reliability and validity of the methods and data due to the subjectivity of inq uiry. Researcher induced bias is also another challenge to the approach as it is difficult to either detect or prevent them. Furthermore, the scope of this process is restricted by the detailed and comprehensive approaches to data collection Punch 2005, 211. Quantitative research This research technique follows an objective, formal and systematic process in obtaining quantifiable information about a situation. The presentation of data on this technique uses a numerical form and employs statistics in analysis (MacDaniel,1998, p. 45). Quantitative research aims at providing descriptions and testing relationships. This technique also examines the cause and the effect of a relationship. The aim of the quantitative research aim is to elaborate how the independent variables relate to the dependent variables in a given situation. These research designs are either descriptive or experimental where the subjects are either measured once or before and after treatment. A descriptive approach es tablishes the associations between variables whereas an experimental approach establishes causality (Martin 2012, 16). Quantitative research methods take two approaches, which are experiments and surveys. In this, context experiments comprise real experiments with the unselective assignment of participants or subjects to research conditions and quasi experiments, which use designs that are nonrandomized (Vogt 2007, 120.)
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Sprint Communication Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
Sprint Communication - Term Paper Example The merger of Sprint and Centel in 1993 gave the company an edge by providing wireless communication packages across long distances (Sprint). Company Founder and Vision The company was founded by Cleyson Brown in 1991 (Sprint). The company is centered on four main principles: integrity, honesty, creativity and commitment. The company’s mission is to create sustainable partnerships with customers on a long term basis, based on trust and collaboration. There are four central tenets of its mission. Firstly, to provide high quality, out of the box solutions for customers to provide them with cutting edge technology (Sprint). Secondly, it provides strong communications platforms to enable customers to deal with day to day networking issues (Sprint). Thirdly, it is responsible for accounting for managers who are loyal to the business and who truly understand the needs of the businesses and align their personal needs with those of the business (Sprint). Fourth, providing highly respo nsive and interaction based service on a localized basis which is capable of being trusted and guaranteed to give ultimate peace of mind to the customer (Sprint). Empowerment The company has gone at lengths to ensure empowerment of not only its employees, but the community in general. It has a plan under the banner of â€Å"inclusion and diversity†which addresses the issue of corporate citizenship and allows minorities and ethnic groups an equal share in the operations of the company (Sprint). The company proudly declares itself as a learning organization and offers merit based advancement of its employees with extensive training programs to ensure their personal as well as professional growth. Under this strategy the company has created â€Å"employee resource groups†that comprise of self-directed work teams where constructive discussion and contribution is encouraged. These teams are also continuously benefitting from the advice of their seniors (the executive cham pions) who provide mentoring and counseling as well. In its efforts to provide Equal Opportunity, the company was recognized by the Hispanics Magazine as among the top 100 companies to work for (Black Enterprise). It further received the â€Å"Empowerment†award by Urban League of Kansas City (Sprint). Ethical Behavior and Social Responsibility As far as ethical behavior is concerned, the company has a stringent â€Å"Sprint Code of Conduct†that needs to be followed by all managers, employees and stakeholders of Sprint (Sprint). The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to ensure good practice, and foster a character consistent with the company’s mission of which integrity and honesty are the founding pillars. The Code of Conduct allows the company to take ethical decisions and enhances the goodwill of the company in the market. As far as corporate social responsibility (CSR) is concerned, Sprint offers â€Å"wireless recycling†and use of renewable energy i n its communications along with grants in education (Sprint). In pursuance of its recognition of CSR, Sprint announced its plan for producing environmentally friendly devices in 2007 with the popular Sprint Green Logo (Sprint). The company plans to address CSR at all levels: the customer, employees, community, operations and product offerings. For instance, the
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Colonization of Mexico Essay Example for Free
Colonization of Mexico Essay The main purpose of this chapter is to explain the process of the Mexican northern states conquest. It addresses the events that occurred since the Mexican independence from Spain to the annexation of Texas to the United States and the loss of the Mexican more than half territory. 2. The key question(s) that the author is addressing is: What were the facts that led to the conquest of Mexican territories by the United States? What led to the legacy of hate? 3. The most important information in this article/chapter is: The chapter give us the causes of why the hate of legacy started and why it is still impacting. 4.The main inferences /conclusions in this article/chapter are: Mexico did not just lose over half of its territory, but also dignity. The wars brought losses that impacted the lives of Mexicans. Mexico didn’t just loss part of its land that would make it a major powe, but also its population, which day by day migrate in search of survival. 5.The key concept(s) we need to understand in this article is (are): * September 16, 1810 Mexico won independence from Spain (Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Jose Maria Morelos, and Guadalupe Victoria). * Mexico was on bankrupt, with low stability. Wanted to form a nation state and create an overriding identity. * Texas and Mexican war interrupted the process of state formation. * 1800-1819 United States expanded through a series of purchases and aggressions dramatically, bordering Texas, New Mexico and some other Mexican territories. * United States started thinking Texas once belonged to them and started the process of annexation and invaded Mexico which led to a bankruptcy to the country. * The United States believed in the manifest destiny. They said God had chosen them to expand trough out the continent and spread democracy. * President Adams offered to by Texas for $1 million, Mexican officials refused the offer; United States started an aggressive diplomatic campaign. * On May 13, 1846 congress declared war. * February 2, 1848 the Mexican congress ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Mexico accepting the Rio Grande as the Texas border and ceding almost half of its territory in return of 15 million. * By these concepts the author means: By those concepts the author addresses the facts that led to the Conquest of most of half of Mexican Territory. After Mexico gained independence from Spain, Mexico wanted to become a nation sate, but the process was interrupted when the Texas war begun. United States believed in manifest destiny and started expanding trough out its south. They tried to purchase Texas for 1 million but Mexico refused, war was declared and Mexico accepted lost Texas and some other territories on the northwest trough the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. 8.The main point(s) of view presented in this article is (are) The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo has not been clear and its interpreted in favor of special interests. It is said that it continues to be violated and that it has led to a legacy of hate that has impact our lives.
Friday, September 20, 2019
The History Of The Electoral College Politics Essay
The History Of The Electoral College Politics Essay The Electoral College is a body of electors chosen by the political parties in each state to elect the President of the U.S .The Electoral College was created because the Framers were wary of giving the people the power to directly elect the President. They felt the people were not educated enough to elect the national leader. The Founding Fathers established the Electoral College as a compromise between election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote. The presidential election became a collection of state elections, which would result in a national candidate. The Electoral College consists of 538 electors, which are divided up between the states according the number of representatives in the House, plus 2 votes for each of the Senate members. The political parties pick electors for each state. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President. Article Two of the Constitution states, Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct a number of electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the States may be entitled in the Congress. (U.S. Constitution,art.2,sec. 2.) Although ballots list the names of the presidential candidates, citizens do not vote for the President directly. People are voting for an elector in the college who, in turn, will vote on the states behalf. These electors votes will decide who the President is, and not necessarily the popular vote. These presidential electors in turn cast electoral votes for the Presidential Candidate. The winner take all system, also known as the plurality voting system, awards all of the Electoral College votes to the winning presidential candidate from each state. In this voting system the single winner is the person with the most votes, there is no requirement that the winner gain an absolute majority of votes. The winner will take all the votes and the loser will get none. For example, all 55 of Californias Electoral votes go to the winner of the popular vote in the state election, even if the margin of victory is only 50.1 percent to 49.9 percent. The Electoral College system plays a role in how Presidential Candidates campaign by making the candidates focuses all their attention on getting electoral votes. Parties focus on the electors because they have to convince the electors to vote for them not so much as the people themselves The parties also concentrate on large states that have more electoral votes than the small states. Big states with the most electoral votes are the key to winning the election so they concentrate their power in them. Most commonly, Presidential candidates also heavily concentrate their attention on a handful of closely divided battleground states, or swing states. These states dont have a lot of electoral votes but still will decide the outcome of the race because they do not favor a particular political party or change their preference each election. In these states, campaigning will have the most impact since a small change in popular votes could result in a big win in electoral votes. Consequently, other states considered either safe or hopelessly lost and are largely ignored in the campaign. In the elections, small states and swing states are overrepresented in the Electoral College while leaving the rest of the nations voters on the sidelines. The Electoral College hinders 3rd party candidates because the 3rd party is over shadowed by the majority vote, so 3rd parties almost never get electoral votes. Winner take all minimizes the influence of third parties. However, this can also deny fair representation to positive 3rd parties. For example if a 3rd party gets 25% of the votes in one state those votes does not matter because of the winner take all majority of the Electoral College. The power of a 3rd party is in spoiling an election by taking votes from one of the major parties that is most like it. To avoid this, major parties may take up causes and ideas from the 3rd party to keep them from becoming too popular. Although, 62% of people said they would change the electoral college system, over the past 200 years over 700 proposals have been introduced in Congress to reform or eliminate the Electoral College, (Office of the Federal Register, Electoral College: Frequently Asked Questions. Archives) but very little has been done to change it. The Electoral College has not been abolished because the small states and swing states would have to give up power and be equal to everyone else. The House of Representatives passed an amendment in 1969, backed by President Richard Nixon, to directly elect the president (niemanwatchdog.org Is it time to do away with the undemocratic Electoral-College system?) But the amendment was blocked in the Senate, in part by Southern senators who opposed any changes they saw as weakening states rights. The Electoral College system can end up putting in office someone who lost the popular vote, which is contrary to democracy. For example the Presidential election in 2000, George Bush won the electoral votes and Al Gore won the popular vote. (Oyez) The fairest solution is to have a Presidential election solely on a popular vote. This will solve the disconnect of the American people and election process. Candidates would need to care about voters across the nation, not just undecided voters in a handful of swing states and the large states. Almost all Americans think that democracy is One Person, One Vote, and all votes are count equally, but The Electoral College violates that fundamental American principle. Some people do not participate in elections because they know that their vote will not matter in the Presidential elections. One Person One Vote means that each person has an equal amount of representation in government. Government should be for the people, not the electors deciding the fate of the country (Annenberg Classroom). Every vote, by everyone, would be relevant and equal in Presidential elections. The election should change from a winner take all system to a proportional system. The winner does not need to reach a majority, just a plurality. The candidates with the most overall percent of votes will win. This will give a stronger chance for 3rd party groups in the elections, by still having their votes count and not be outshined by the two major parties. Another improvement is the use of ranked base voting where voters order the candidates from least preferred to most preferred. To be practical, the top three choices could be chosen. The election is decided by picking everyones top choice and removing the candidate with the least votes. This process is repeated so that candidate is removed and the top preferences are only counted for each elimination round. This allows a voter to pick the candidate they want the most for their top choice followed by a slightly lesser desired candidate. And the third choice could be a main party safety candidate. This allows for a 3rd party candidate to come in and not steal votes away from a similar party. The system has been used in San Francisco since 2004. Its been proposed everywhere from Los Angeles to Modesto, but only the three Alameda County cities have signed on for it. (Williams, Lance California Watch) The Electoral College does not provide a straightforward process for selecting the President. Instead, it can be extraordinarily complex and has the potential to undo the peoples will at many points in the long journey from the selection of electors to counting their votes in Congress, (George Edwards). The government should be for the people and the Electoral College is not since it treats people unequally. Many American people want the Electoral College abolished, but so little has been done to improve the outdated system. It makes the candidates campaign unfairly, making them focusing on swing states and forgetting all other states. The winner takes all system over shadows 3rd parties giving them unfair representation in the elections. The US needs to elect Presidents by popular vote; it is fair to all people. One Person One Vote should be used to ensure equality in voting. The American people should be able to choose their leader as equals. Work Cited Bach, Stanley, and Jack Maskell . Overview of Electoral College Procedure and the Role of Congress . Library of Congress Congressional Research Service. electoralcollegehistory.com, November 17, 2000. Web. 7 Sep 2012. . BUSH v. GORE. Oyez. Oyez, n.d. Web. 7 Sep 2012. . Bush v. Gore United States Supreme Court Oral Arguments. American Rhetoric. americanrhetoric, n.d. Web. 7 Sep 2012. . Edwards III, George C., Martin P. Wattenberg, and Robert L. Lineberry. Government in America People, Politics and Policy. AP 12. Illinois: Pearson Longman, 2006. Print. Edwards III, George C. (2011) (in English). Why the Electoral College is Bad for America (Second edition ed.). New Haven and London: Yale University Press. pp. 1, 37, 61, 176-7, 193-4. ISBN 978-0-300-16649-1. . .Electoral College: Frequently Asked Questions. Archives: The Electoral College. Office of the Federal Register, 9/26/2012. Web. 26 Sep 2012. . . Electoral College (United States). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 18 September 2012 at 19:38.. Web. 26 Sep 2012. Fobes, Richard. VoteFair Ranking. votefair.org. N.p., 13 2012. Web. 13 Dec 2012. . Kimberling, William C.. The Electoral College . The Electoral College . N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Sep 2012. . . Is it time to do away with the undemocratic Electoral-College system?. http://niemanwatchdog.org. N.p., 13 2012. Web. 13 Dec 2012. . Leip, David The Pros and Cons of the Electoral College System. The Electoral College. US Selection Atlas, n.d. Web. 7 Sep 2012. http://uselectionatlas.org/INFORMATION/INFORMATION/electcollege_procon.php Neale, Thomas H. . The Electoral College: How it Works in Contemporary Presidential Elections . Library of Congress Congressional Research Service . electoralcollegehistory.com, July 21, 1999 . Web. . . . One Person, One Vote. Annenberg Classroom. Annenberg Classroom, 02 2001. Web. 13 Dec 2012. . One Person, One Vote. One Person, One Vote. Ciros Books, Inc., 2008. Web. 26 Sep 2012. . . Plurality voting system. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2 September 2012 at 21:36.. Web. 26 Sep 2012. U.S. Constitution,art.2,sec. 2. Williams, Lance. Ranked-choice voting complicates elections. californiawatch.org. California Watch, 13 2012. Web. 13 Dec 2012. .
Thursday, September 19, 2019
South Africas Weather and Natural Disasters :: South Africa Climate Environment Essays Papers
Weather One of the many unique aspects of South Africa is its intense cultural background and tradition. It is very common in South Africa to know several myths about different towns and cities and to pass the stories on to each generation. There are some myths that explain all sorts of various aspects of South African life, but more importantly, there are some that relate to the weather. One of these myths has to do with a weather pattern that occurs everyday in Cape Town, and is one of the great myths of South Africa. The myth has to do with Table Mountain, the central mountain in Cape Town. Although the myth has been around for many generations, the weather aspect it relates to is true and still happens today. To begin, one must understand that Table Mountain sits in the center of Cape Town, while the town inhabits a circular form around the mountain. Table Mountain has become a focal point of the city and attracts many tourists to see it and also some venture up via the cable car. It seems very fitting that this mountain would be the focus of a very famous story in South Africa. The story goes as follows (it is told in many variations, this is as told by Lauren Smith, who studied in Cape Town in the spring of 2004): Their once was a man in Cape Town who was very well known and respected. He would smoke his pipe more than anyone else in Cape Town. Every afternoon he would smoke on top of Table Mountain. No one could ever out smoke this man, he was simply too good. One day, someone approached him and challenged him to a smoking contest. He agreed, figuring there was no way anyone could possibly out smoke him and he would surely win. The two contestants went on top of the mountain and smoked and smoked all afternoon. They smoked so much that it created huge billows of smoke that collected atop of the men and rolled down the mountain towards the Cape Town. The outcome of the bet is somewhat insignificant in this, because it is the billows of smoke that relate to today’s current weather patterns in Cape Town. In any case, the man realized he was smoking ag ainst the devil because the devil wasn’t affected at all by the smoke he was inhaling.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Heating Commodities Essay -- essays research papers
Heating Commodities      Back in the middle of October, the price of natural-gas had risen because a gas company was forced to shut down a pipeline due to the need for repairs. This impending shortage led to the decrease in prices for other heating commodities, as well as larger profits. The demand for energy was becoming greater and greater because it was that time of year when consumers began storing energy in their homes to prepare for the cold winter months ahead.      The four commodities mentioned in this article, crude oil, heating oil, gasoline and natural gas are all substitutes for one another. This is true because the cross elasticity of demand states that as the percentage change in the quantity demanded of one commodity results from a one percent change in the price of another commodity. In other words, the increase in demand for crude oil, gasoline, and heating oil was the outcome of the price increase in natural gas.      As shown in the graph below, the cross elasticity of demand is direct (positive). As the price of natural increases, the quantity demanded for the three other energy commodities increase.      The market system today functions on price. Consumers make their decision on what to buy by the price of their desired good. Naturally, consumers will choose the lower price of a commodity they wish to purchase. This is why consu...
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Essays --
Introduction The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has published that the tourism industry has experienced continued growth and diversification to become one of the largest and fastest growing economic sectors in the world for the past six decades. For many economies, tourism has become a key driver for socio-economic progress. It has generated an estimated gross output of US $3.5 trillion and the figure is expected to increase to US $7.0 trillion by 2011 (World Travel and Tourism Council, 2009). The future of the tourism industry is bright as the World Tourism Organization (WTO) forecasts that an estimated one billions tourists will be traveling around the world by the year 2010. The expansion and growth of tourism has contributed to the development of the developed countries as well as less developed counties. Moreover, the economic potential of tourism in less developed countries has been identified as an important contributing factor to global tourism growth (Palmer 2002; Honey 1999; Ashley & Reo 1998; Mowforth & Munt 1998). Malaysia, tourism is the second largest contributor to the economy next to the manufacturing sector. Malaysia’s efforts in developing and promoting its tourism products have produced impressive r esults. In year 2008, there were 22.05 million of tourist arrivals with total receipts of RM49.6 billion (USD13.4 billion). This amount represents an increase of 5.5% in tourist arrivals and an increase of 7.6% in revenue compared with year 2007. These increases are notable given difficulties and challenging environment with the global economic slowdown and the increase of oil prices in year 2008. The first quarter of 2009 showed a positive growth of 2.2% in tourist arrivals compared to the cor... ...budget and cost selection. 1.6.2 minor contribution A good quality of website with DSS system can use so many different field and promotion. This study don not only solve the current problems faced by the home stay Malaysia but it is can also be a generalized to other similar applications . thus it may help in overcoming the related problems faced by the other organizations in similar environment . Examples are such as in educational site, big industries, corporate office, large banking and firm stay. This study is hoped to be served as a guidance or reference for the similar field of future study. Outline of the paper Chapter two discusses the previous studies of homestay program with DSS system and its solutions. It reviews on literature which is relevant in the area of general homestay program. the discussions on similar works in multidimensional site.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Filipino Youth
Nearly three enduring decades of nothing but untainted, out and out public service made me the civil servant I am today. From a newcomer legislator of my hometown, then to a three-term local chief executive, to being here at this very chamber, I am deeply gratified to have stayed and committed for my beloved Tarlaquenos from the very beginning until now. It is but apt and proper to primarily express my unending gratitude to God Almighty, whom I have sought for guidance and never failed to impart me with prudence and vim to do nothing but good for our people. Lord, with unending praise, I shall yield to your Holy Name and Will. I am likewise, thankful to the integral constituency of the second district – from undivided voters to unwavering allies and friends who trusted me for the second time around to be part of this provincial council. To my loving family – God’s greatest gift to me, thank you for always being there. These span of years of serving the people from the grassroots up to the district echelon honed me to be further adroit in the daunting tasks of local policy-making. Hence, renewing this tenure implies another productive chapter for this representation, which I anticipate to be steadily imbued with dynamism and throughput. This renewed opportunity will further ascertain what we have already endeavored and prospered for our province†¦ for our people†¦ for our Tarlac. Being alongside with our kababayans – seeing, feeling, hearing and bearing with them, molded me to be more aware and proactive with the problems that afflicted their communities, which we can throw a light on at full tilt through appropriate legislative measures. These various hands-on involvements with communities taught me boundless points to improve my calling as a humble representation of our district. It is also a formidable admission on my part that through these experiences, I draw might and optimism to endure with the challenges that lies ahead. The propitious opportunity to serve this constituency hand in hand with our beloved provincial governor, honorable Victor Yap, similarly taught me valuable and progressive views on governmental headship and advocacies that guarantee the uninterrupted progress of our people. This grassroots ascendancy, where this humble representation unceasingly anchors its legislative agenda, places the province’s citizens as midpoints, a proven gauge that confidently invests on human capital and development. I warmly commend our governor for his tried and tested Sulong Tarlac platform with its four enduring pillars – Pagkain Muna, Kalusugan Muna, Trabaho Muna and Edukasyon Muna. This attainable quartet paradigm shall be my constant muse on instigating the initiatives and proposals solely catered for our people. Through these pillars, we have evolved from being a nearly crippled agency to a now effectual, dependable people’s body rolling a much-desired overhaul – straightway among the frontrunners on collective nation building. But more needs to be done. Allow me then, fellow members of this august body, to cite some of the accomplishments and envisioned proposals of this humble representation for our province. AGRICULTURE 1. Tarlac is anticipated to be the leader in agricultural innovation. Among my top agenda is to be able to draft a road map that will boost the local organic movement. Last year, a nationwide organic congress was held that showcased the different organic produces and commodities of Tarlac to the country. Let us not allow the opportunity to pass every year on encouraging different local cooperatives to organize and support organic farming within their assemblies. Inopportunely, the Gulayan venture has some deficiencies that need to be attended. In coordination with the Department of Agriculture by means of legislation, we are determined to provide an effective subsidy to farmers that will cater to their necessities. In this way, we can steadily reach our goal in making Tarlac the leader in agriculture. ENVIRONMENT 2. Relative to targeting a sustainable solution to environmental concerns, I shall prioritize the authorship of a statutory regulation towards visualizing and attaining a â€Å"Plastic-free Tarlac†. Major metropolises have already yielded on this scheme; it is of the time and essence that we also take the lead in our region for our mother Earth. 3. On top of this is our winning endeavor of effectively calling the attention of local hospitals of convincing their management to strictly impose the appropriate disposal of biological wastes within their communities. Yet, it is still essential for us to be vigilant particularly for funeral mortuaries and slaughterhouses to conform to the proper procedures on waste management. If the need arises, we shall revise existing local rulings based from national policies like the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Sanitation Code of the Philippines that will give teeth and permissible police powers to implementers as well as to levy for appropriate taxes and in contrast, to offer awards and incentives for those who will conform to this initiative. HEALTHCARE 4. With regards to our championing endeavors on local public healthcare, this representation shall fully devote on supporting through legislature, the award-winning, first field health service info system in the country, the Wireless Access for Health. We all discern that due to its success, it is already well sustained by numerous benefactors. However, this venture still hopes that it acquires a much-needed backing from a statutory perspective especially that it plans to expand soon to other municipalities of the province. 5. Though becoming an effective harbor for individuals who lacks capitals to access medical services locally, the Philhealth ng Masa program similarly requisites stronger legislative measures to ensure that every family shall be covered with affordable and quality healthcare. Utilizing suitable legislation and consistent discourse with Philhealth, we can solicit to this ever-accommodating public insurance figure to be more lenient and adaptable to indigent constituencies – the poorest of the poor, who lack or does not have any notion on how to get credentials necessary for getting covered (like birth certificates, clearances and the likes). Through proper legislation and consideration among concerned bodies, we can shed a light on this and with full hopes find a solution through this dignified chamber. LIVELIHOOD 6. This representation shall also thrust for a sounder investment code that will be adaptable to the needs of prospective investors. This will convey a mutually advantageous atmosphere between the province and investors that is favorable for employment generation. In partnership with corresponding local business chambers, we shall seek help on crafting a measure encouraging upright MFIs coupled with appropriate financial literacy trainings among our constituencies in the rural areas. EDUCATION 7. One of my primary focuses on education is for our province’s technical and vocational schools to come up with efficient curricula for enhancement and assessment of our future labor force. In the advent of the mandatory K-12 program of our national government, these ladderized courses offered by various tech-voc schools shall offer a window of fresh opportunity for our citizens to finish a short course, go out and work, and then return for a more advance course or maybe even move into a university for a degree. The practicality of ladderized education is to be understood as a shining beacon of hope for our indigent constituencies who desire to pursue their dreams through education. PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT AND LGUs 8. Our commitment with our fellow civil servants and government employees within the capitol workplace and other attached agencies is still deemed precedence where legal mandates are necessary to further redefine and innovate bureaucracy. Aside from streamlining to make our structure more efficient, we should, through legislative courses mechanize ingenious innovations highlighting human resources development and quality management system approaches. 9. Finally, a big fragment of my legislative agenda will focus on our local government units to competently generate revenues so they could come up with ways to solve the long-standing paucity of funds prevalent in them. I know for a fact that we should center our agenda to our districts, for I myself became a part of resolving its scenario, back when I was still the mayor of Gerona. This is of course, plausible with the support of our national, provincial and local governments and different exponents that are willing to work hand in hand for our province. There are big shoes to fill in, especially with these planned initial thrusts and agenda that I personally consider, would be indispensable for this very august chamber to discern and willingly take part of. This representation shall be and will be disposed to accommodate more rightful propositions pertinent to the issues of our times, most prominently those that sways our constituents, a vision that is truly reflective with that of the Sulong Tarlac manifesto. I am similarly poised that through the vitality and aggressiveness of our new vice governor, honorable Kit Cojuangco Jr. , and with your succor, fellow colleagues in this august chamber, we can build a more meaningful purposeful solidarity, regardless of political affiliation, towards formulating an all-inclusive agenda that will hopefully serve as a steadfast, literal ‘sanggunian’ for our counterparts in the seventeen municipalities and in this capital city. Participatory governance is the way to go for I consider it to be a two-way gain between our Sanggunian and these seventeen local Sangguniaans making up the whole province.
Founding Fathers
When you think of the Founding Fathers, the common names George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin often come to mind. What many people don't realize, is there were many more significant people besides them that helped make America free and independent. Even more than this, there were many women and minorities that contributed to this change. The women and minorities males that I am going to talk about in this paper show true drive, determination, and passion. These people prove that it doesn't matter what your gender or race is for you to make a difference and have extraordinary triumphs.There were countless women throughout history whose actions and sacrifices helped to establish our independence. The first story of these brave women is about Molly Pitcher in the Revolutionary War. From a young age, Mary Ludwig, nicknamed Molly, had wanted to be a soldier. This goal was looked down upon in girls, and would have been expected from a man or boy. She grew up on a farm , and in any weather condition, would be found outside working hard. This sense of determination gave Molly strength, and the ability to do whatever she attempted quickly and efficiently.Wanting to utilize this quality usefully, she went to live with a family friend, assisting her in household work. Molly then learned how to use her hand for anything, but her need for helping was not yet fulfilled. Molly eventually married a comrade, John Hayes, who joined the Continental army when the battle of Lexington began. Proudly, Molly stood by her husband excited that he was able to serve his country. On January 3, 1777, the Continental army fought the British at Trenton, loosing thirty men, and then retreating to Morristown, New Jersey.When she was aware of this, she went to the fields to make sure there were no hurt men. Unfortunately, she found a wounded soldier, but was able to nurse him back to health. When June occurred, temperatures began to rise, scorching the fighters. Because of t he heat and long hours of fighting on June 28, 1778, many of the man's tongues became swollen, and their bodies became exhausted. Molly decided to spend her time through the blistering heat going back and forth carrying water to the soldiers. â€Å"Molly Pitcher! †was a frequent exclamation they would say, thankful to see the water.The heat did get to her husband, causing him to pass out, but Molly was right by his side to help him in any way possible. Since her husband was not able to use the cannon, Molly took his place, loading and firing the gunner. The courageous acts displayed by Molly played an important part of the soldiers' victory. General Washington praised her, and even awarded her â€Å"one of his gallant men†. Sticking by her husband's side, fighting for him when he couldn't, and even bringing water for the thirsty soldiers were valiant acts Molly portrayed.Molly was a prominent part in this battle and earned a spot in American history. One year later an other brave female helped gain America its independence, Penelope Barker. Back in their time, women were expected to stay home, cook, clean, and take care of their family. Penelope lived with her husband in North Carolina. Unlike how female were supposed to act, Penelope had a mind of her own and was interested and engaged in politics. Even though her husband was an agent of the English crown, Penelope believed that England had gone too far with the Tea Act of 1773.Once she learned about the Boston Tea Party, Penelope decided to have her own. Door to door Penelope went speaking with and convincing other women to boycott all British tea and clothing. Penelope was able to convince fifty other women to attend a meeting he held on October 25, 1774. By the end of the meeting, they wrote a letter proclaiming about their boycott, signed it, and published it in a London newspaper. The better known Boston Tea Party was conducted by men, wearing costumes to protect their identity, yet she rej ected the notion of hiding and instead made it public.Penelope Barker went on to say, â€Å"Maybe it has only been men who have protested the king up to now. That only means we women have taken too long to let our voices be heard. We are signing our names to a document, not hiding ourselves behind costumes like the men in Boston did at their tea party. The British will know who we are. †This turned into the first women’s political activity in colonial American History. She took a stand in what she believed in and did something about it. Once this reached the newspaper in London, it received a lot of negative feedback.The crown did not take the women colonists seriously, and many citizens laughed at their attempts. Because women's views on matters politic were not considered worthy of consideration, the British laughed and their cartoonist's had a fun day being able to make fun of them. Others called the women bad mothers or â€Å"loose†women. This shortly stop ped though, when other women in the colonies started to boycott the goods and listening to what these ladies had to say. More and more people started to join and boycott which eventually got the crown’ attention.Although this movement may not seem like a huge deal, we have Penelope Barker to thank for advancing the cause of women’s rights to engage in politics, and gaining more independence. Stepping out of the norm, and doing what you believe is right is the most courageous act. By making a petition and boycott, Penelope was able to bring attention to something that wasn’t right with America. Sybil Ludington is the next American female hero on the list. It was 1977 and America was fighting with England to claim our independence. As she was lying in bed, she was wishing there was something she could do to help the cause.She already used spun wool instead of England’s fabric, and refused to drink the English tea. Sybil felt as if that was all women were do ing, and she wanted to do more. From outside she heard someone yelling, â€Å"Colonel Ludington! Colonel Ludington! The British are burning Danbury, Sir! You must gather your men and march against the British! †Sybil’s father then said that their supplies were in Danbury, so all their weapons would be destroyed and they would need to muster the men. Sybil already knew that the men in her father’s militia lived in farms scattered all over the country, being released from their duty to spring plant.They needed to be called out to form their fighting unit. Sybil offered to help and to go get the men since she knew the roads but her father said that it would be far too dangerous, that she could be attacked. As she pleaded that she really wanted to help, that there was no one else to do it her father saw the determination and strength in her and let her go. As Sybil started to leave on her horse, Star, the sky was bright red, meaning the British were currently burni ng Danbury. Her father gave her detailed instructions right before she left to take a stick and knock on the men’s farmhouse doors with it.He also told her to go as far south as Mahopac Falls and then north to Stromyville. Finally she was off, and started at Alder place charging up to the farmhouses, yelling that the British were burning Danbury and where to meet. As Sybil went from farmhouse to farmhouse it was also continuously raining, resulting in her getting drenched. Also at one point she had to fight off a â€Å"highway man†. Finally, she reached all of her destinations, a distance of 40 miles and gathered all 400 men to her father. At the time Sybil Ludington was only 16 years old.Her sense of stability, audacity, and determination was enough to get 400 of her father’s men to fight in the war. If it wasn’t for her, there would be no men, and America would have lost the war. Sybil significantly impacted the result of that war, which is what caused us to become free. The last female who helped participate in the Revolutionary War and earn America independence was Deborah Sampson. From a young age, she learned to work hard because her father died, and her mother sent her away to work on a farm. Deborah was best known for her eagerness to learn, begging her new family to teach her anything the boys knew.One of her passions was to help the men in the Revolutionary War, although this seemed impossible because girls were not allowed to fight. Disregarding that rule, Deborah dressed up like a man called â€Å"Robert†and became a soldier at the age of 19. Her dedication, braveness, and willingness to sign up for dangerous missions, made the other soldiers proud of her, and landed her a spot to be an aide for the general. When Deborah was sent to West Point, New York, she got wounded in the leg. She didn't tell anyone and tended the wounds herself so no one would find out her secret.After serving another eighteen months and a few battles at West Point, she was wounded again, and her identity was discovered by the doctor. On October 25, 1783, Deborah was â€Å"honorably discharged†from the army. Although this was discouraging, she received a letter from Paul Revere , granting her a pension. On January 20, 1792, Massachusetts General Court recognized Deborah as a hero. They decided that she did â€Å"perform the duty of a soldier†and exhibited extraordinary heroism. It didn't matter what gender, Deborah Sampson was a faithful, gallant soldier that impacted America in a huge way.Besides just women who helped in making America independent and free, there were minorities. The actions of black men for our nation’s founding have often been ignored. There were many slaves who joined the army to gain their freedom, but there were thousands of other African Americans who served America just because it was the right thing to do and we as a nation needed it. These hero’s deeds are no le ss important than any white man’s deeds. They have also fought and died, held office, wrote in support of independence, and led their communities. There were many black men, about 12,00- 15,00 that became soldiers in the American Revolution.They fought in an integrated army. By 1779, fifteen percent of the Continental Army was black, getting to fight in the first Battle of Lexington and Concord, and the last battle at Yorktown. Besides integrated units, there were three all black units: Rhode Island First regiment, the Black Bucks of America, and Volunteer Chasseurs. Caesar Augustus was enlisted in the Continental Army at the age of 14. He was of mixed race and from Dorchester, Massachusetts. Augustus was able to serve the entire length of the war. For the first two years he spent in the service of an officer but then he reenlisted to be able to fight.Although Augustus didn’t do anything extraordinary, he was an African American who fought in the war, and eventually di ed fighting for our country. Another African American was Cyrus Bustill. He was born in 1732, with his father being a lawyer but his mother being a slave. Since the child takes the mother’s job, he had to be a slave. Cyrus was trained how to bake and once he got his freedom at the age of 36, he helped out by making bread for the solider. It was something that the soldiers during the American Revolution needed. George Washington even gave his a silver piece and commended him for his service.Cyrus also became a member of the Free African Society. Next was Prince Hall. He was the slave of William Hall, a Boston Family. A month after the Boston Massacre, he was freed by his master and worked as a peddler, caterer and leather dresser. He eventually served in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Hall was able to supply leather drum heads to the Continental Army. Before the war even began he joined the British Army Lodge of Masons, and once the British retreated they took over. It was the fir st African America Lodge, and was named after Hall. He became one of Boston’s most prominent citizens and a leader in the black community.Prince Hall was able to speak out against slavery and the rights of blacks. Because of the lack of schools for black children, he set one up in his own home. He also in 1797 spoke out against violence. â€Å" How, at such times, are we shamefully abused, and that to such a degree, that we may truly be said to carry our lives in our hands, and the arrows of death are flying about our heads†¦tis not for want of courage in you, for they know that they dare not face you man for man, but in a mob, which we despise†¦Ã¢â‚¬ During a harsh winter at Valley Forge, there was a new regiment created, the Rhode Island First.This was made up of all African Americans, 125 men, some were free and some were enslaved. Their first fight was at the Battle of Newport in 1778, resulting in the Continental Army forcing to retreat. The regiment put its elf between the retreating Americans and the British and were able to hold the line when the British attacked, causing the British to have many casualties. These men’s bravery helped save many lives not only there, but in other battles like the Battle of Croton River. Eventually, there was a statue in honor of the Black soldiers. It read, â€Å"?When the Constitution of the United States was framed, colored men voted in a majority of these States; they voted in the State of New York, in Pennsylvania, in Massachusetts, in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware and North Carolina; and long after the adoption of the Constitution, they continued to vote in North Carolina and Tennessee also. The Constitution of the United States makes no distinction of color. †These men that I have mentioned above risked their own lives to help make America free. Sometimes when we hear the big named, popular people, we tend to forget about everyone else that was involved. Top of F orm
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Ancient Culture of Mesopotamia Essay
Between 3000-550BC, the civilization of the culture of Mesopotamia, also known as â€Å"The Land Between Two Rivers†was at its peak. Unfortunately, much of Mesopotamia’s contributions to the history of human civilization go unnoticed. The limited history available on this magnificent land shows that a great deal of human civilization begun in Mesopotamia. This is proven by its extensive trade routes, outstanding leaders, and astronomical development in technology that came into being in the ancient Mesopotamia. Undoubtedly, the ancient culture in Mesopotamia was the epitome of civilization. Duker and Spielvogel enumerate a number of aspects that need to considered for a culture to be referred to as civilized (7). They include the existence of written laws, intensive agriculture, division of labor, highly structured communities, market economy, among other variables. Thus, drawing from these elements that dictate civilizations, this essay attempts to explain why the ancient culture of Mesopotamia deserves to be called a civilization. By 3000 BC, the Sumerians, people of unknown origin had expanded the cities in Mesopotamia. During this period, they began to exercise political and economic control over other parts of the vast Mesopotamia. In addition, they formed city states, the most basic units of civilization in Mesopotamia. To start with, it is necessary to consider how Mesopotamia was divided. Mesopotamia was divided into what is now referred to as Sumerian cities. Walls surrounded these cities with towers for defense shooting up high to 35 feet. Uruk, for instance, was a city heavily protected by Sumerians’ remarkable creativity and innovation. The buildings in Mesopotamia were outstanding. Made of sun-dried-bricks and bound together by mud, Sumerians, both peasants put up dwellings that housed their households. Evidently, Mesopotamia has displayed the most artistic and creative architecture made of bricks of all time. Secondly, the economic might of the people of Mesopotamia further proves the level of civilization exhibited by Mesopotamia’s culture. Sumerian cities were predominantly agricultural. However, Mesopotamians practiced other economic aspects such as commerce and industry. For instance, they produced metalwork, pottery, and woolen textiles. In a display of their established trade market economy, Mesopotamians exchanged their agricultural products such as dried fish, barley, and wheat for imports that included copper, timber, and tin. Trade in Mesopotamia was made even easier with the introduction of carts with wheels. Duker and Spielvogel postulate that close to 90% of the entire Mesopotamian population practiced agriculture (8). With the increase in the numbers of Sumerian cities, Mesopotamia saw the need for the creation of more elaborate leadership structures. Thus in 2340 BC, the city states were abolished and more expansive and inclusive concept of leadership came into force, the empire. Mesopotamia did not only thrive on extensive and highly structured trade routes it enjoyed the leadership of a flourishing system of governance. Despite having fallen almost the time when city states were abolished ushering in the concept of an empire, Mesopotamia had accomplished leaders. Sargon I, for instance, was able to bring together the vast land of civilized people together and foster unity, which further gave his subjects the peace necessary for development. Along with the highly structured and remarkably efficient government systems was the rule of law that existed in Mesopotamia. The Code of Hammurabi, for instance, was a collection of laws that provided a platform for exercising justice in Mesopotamia. Just as most laws in this day and age are strict, Duker and Spielvogel give an insight into how these laws were enforced (9). The Hammurabi Code is proof of a civilized ancient society with strict rules that came with strict punishments for breach any. As far as religious aspects of this ancient culture were concerned, it is evident that the people of Mesopotamia were spiritual. In Mesopotamia, religion was led by priests who were accorded respect and valued by everyone including the kings. They believed in the existence of gods who were said to be at the helm of all the endeavors in Mesopotamia. It was in this effect that kings and other leaders had the responsibility of dedicating monuments and offerings for the gods for their much needed favor, especially at times of war. With many gods to be observed by the Mesopotamians, it suffices to say that religion was based on polytheism. Another aspect of ultimate importance in the ancient culture of Mesopotamia is that of the invention of arts and sciences. At around 3000 BC, the Sumerians introduced a system of writing that they referred to as cuneiform. Out of reeds, they inscribed wedge-shaped writings on clay tablets. The tablets were then baked, and once dry, they left permanent impressions that have continued to be sources of fascinating literature of this ancient society. It is from this invention that the art of writing began, without which we would have known nothing about writing. Therefore, it is agreeable that the ancient culture of Mesopotamia was civilized. Initially, Sumerian art of writing began with pictures of concrete objects, but gradually developed to form a phonetic system that made it possible for them to put abstract ideas into writing. Tracking the importance of writing in the ancient Mesopotamia, Duker and Spielvogel show how writing was vital to the people of Mesopotamia (13). With writing came the practice of keeping records of previous activities in addition to enhancing non-verbal communication. In addition to the outstanding art, Mesopotamians made incredible achievements as far as scientific discoveries are concerned. Arguably, their contributions to the math we perform today never go unnoticed. Thus, Mesopotamians played a pivotal role in the field of mathematics and astronomy. Duker and Spielvogel suggest that Mesopotamian culture ushered in a wave of technological advancements that no man had ever known (12). The period between 3000- 550 BC saw great scientific revolutions in Mesopotamia that led to the invention of exponents and roots in mathematics. Surprisingly, 4000 years later, no such discoveries have been made, discoveries so simple that no man has been able to improve on. With this breakthrough in mathematics and geometry, Sumerians could now employ this new concept in their various architectural designs. For instance, it was after the introduction of architectural concepts of arch, dome, and vaulted ceilings used in designing dwellings in Mesopotamia. Consequently, more people could fit into less space because of the new and effective designs of the dwellings. On the same note, it is paramount to note that it was in Mesopotamia that the numbers we now see in math were first coined. Mesopotamians devised the numbering, which they used in astronomy and keeping their calendar. With their newly found mathematical concept, they were able to base their calendar on the on the 12 lunar months. Duker and Spielvogel further use the elaborate trading system in Mesopotamia to illustrate how civilized it was (7). History suggests that Mesopotamia had the most civilized trading system with its trading routes running from Egypt to India. Initially, most nations of Mesopotamia’s age had trades that only operated within villagers. However, in Mesopotamia, trade extended beyond its borders through which Mesopotamia obtained most of its commodities through barter trade. Thus, it is through these far-reaching trade routes that one can confidently argue that the ancient culture of Mesopotamia had an immense deal of civilization. At the mention of Mesopotamia and civilization, one never fails to note the early forms of education systems that existed during this period. In Mesopotamia, Sumerians had devised a way of educating the young members of the society how to read and write Algaze 8). However, this never came to be until the art of writing was discovered. The Sumerians came up with what they referred to as writing schools that provided avenues through which early scholars learned creative writing (Algaze 6). These centers formed vibrant systems of apprentice. It was in the apprentice schools that craftsmen and artists trained on the job. They offered training on woodwork, metal work among other forms of art. Through this early system of education, other skills such as brewing and baking were taught. On the other hand, Sumerian schools provided graduates who later served as scribes in palaces, temples, and other affluent dwellings. Others proceeded to become instructors in other learning centers. Finally, it is necessary to look at how Mesopotamia displayed civilization via the field of medicine. It is evident that Mesopotamia was at the heart of the invention of practical medicine. Archaeologists have stumbled on pharmaceutical tablets that are said to have cured wounds, venereal diseases among other ailments of the ancient times. Whist other places are said to have resorted to dancing to drive away headaches; Mesopotamians had made a breakthrough in the field of medicine and were actually treating headache (Algaze 5). This only serves to demonstrate how the ancient culture of Mesopotamia was civilized. Therefore, in view of the compelling evidence of civilization, it suffices to say that the ancient culture of Mesopotamia was civilized. It is obvious to draw a conclusion that owing to Mesopotamia’s highly structured and elaborate leadership system, trade routes, technological advancements, educational systems, and well established religious system the culture of Mesopotamia is an ideal example of civilization of the ancient times. It is evident that, most of the technologies available today have a history with Mesopotamia. From carts with wheels to mathematical functions, symbols of Mesopotamia’s culture are evident. Thus, using Duker and Spielvogel’s elements as a yardstick against which to measure civilization, it is evident that Mesopotamia’s ancient culture did exhibit most of the elements therefore, deserves to be called a civilization. Works Cited Algaze, Guillermo. Ancient Mesopotamia at the Dawn of Civilization: The Evolution of an Urban Landscape. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 2008 Print. Duker, William & Spielvogel, Jackson. The Essential World History. 6th edition, Wadsworth Publishing 2011. Print.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Thorn Queen Chapter Fifteen
I stood there for several long seconds, staring at Shaya but not really seeing her. â€Å"Thank you,†I said at last, my voice unnaturally flat even to me. She hesitated, eyes worried. â€Å"Is there†¦is there anything I can get for you?†More wine, I thought. But I shook my head. Wine suddenly didn't seem strong enough. I wanted to go home just then and raid my liquor cabinet, seeking solace in my own home and its bed, not this godforsaken Dark Ages fortress. The wine was going to make transitioning between the worlds harder, though. It wasn't impossible but would hardly be as smooth as usual. No, it seemed I might be stuck here for a while. â€Å"I need to see Volusian,†I said. She stepped aside for me, and though I didn't ask for it, she followed me solicitously as I headed downstairs, down to the keep's dungeon. It seemed darker and drearier than it had last time, but maybe that was the wine. Jasmine's cell was easy to spot because four guards stood in the hall outside it. I reached it, and through the bars, I saw Volusian standing in one corner, perfectly still, with his arms crossed over his chest. Jasmine sat as absolutely far from him as she could, her face equal parts fear and sullenness. â€Å"What do you want now?†she snapped. I didn't even look at her. â€Å"Volusian,†I said. â€Å"I have an errand for you. I'll watch Jasmine while you're gone.†Volusian walked forward, passing through the bars and coming to stand in front of me. â€Å"No doubt my mistress has a more urgent task.†â€Å"Moderately. I want you to go back to Tucson and bring me the bottle of tequila I keep in my liquor cabinet. And don't scare Tim.†Volusian remained motionless in that way of his. â€Å"My mistress grows increasingly creative in her ways to torment me.†â€Å"I thought you'd appreciate it.†â€Å"Only in so much as it inspires me to equally creative means to rip you apart when I am able to break free of these bonds and finally destroy you.†â€Å"You see? There's a silver lining to everything. Now hurry up.†Volusian vanished. With him gone, Jasmine grew bolder. She hurried to the front of the cell, holding the bronze bars as best she could with her bound hands. â€Å"When are you going to let me go?†I sat down against the hall's wall, opposite her. I wondered if she'd try any of her stunted magic with me around. â€Å"When are you going to stop asking?†â€Å"You're a real bitch, you know that?†â€Å"Look, little girl,†I growled. â€Å"You do not want to mess with me tonight. I'm not in a good mood.†Jasmine was undeterred. â€Å"I can't believe you're keeping me in here with that†¦that thing! That's just cruel and sadistic.†â€Å"Wow, sadistic's kind of a big word. I didn't think you'd stayed in school long enough to learn that kind of vocabulary.†Her glower darkened. â€Å"When I get out, I'm going to kill you.†â€Å"Then you and ‘that thing' should get along beautifully, seeing as he spends all his time plotting my grisly death too.†She nodded down to her bound hands. â€Å"I can barely feed myself, you know.†â€Å"Barely isn't the same as can't.†But I did feel a little bad about that. Was I really going to keep her in cuffs forever? Yet, how could I not? Maybe I should investigate that potion Rurik had told me about. No†¦that wasn't right either. I sighed, and spent the next half-hour listening to her alternate between insults and whining. It was better than thinking about Kiyo, though. All the while, I was sobering up, so when Volusian finally appeared and handed me over a full bottle of Jose Cuervo, I gave silent thanks that I'd purchased an extra-large bottle. â€Å"Thanks,†I said, rising to my feet. I pointed to Jasmine's cell. â€Å"Now-back to guard duty.†I turned around without a second glance, Jasmine's cries of outrage echoing behind me. Shaya, who had waited silently the whole time, fell in step with me as I walked back upstairs. â€Å"Are you sure there isn't anything I can do for you?†I eyed the bottle. â€Å"See if you can find some little glasses about this big.†I held my fingers out to the size of a shot glass. â€Å"And bring enough for†¦I don't know. You, Rurik†¦hell, anyone who wants to get drunk with me. Even Ysabel.†I was feeling magnanimous tonight. Or, well, at least in a misery-loves-company mood. Shaya's face looked more troubled than ever, but I paid it little concern as I walked outside to a small circular courtyard in the castle's center. This seemed to be a fixture in most gentry holdings. Dorian had a couple. I'd been told that this one had been green in Aeson's time, filled with lilies and lilacs. Now, it was sandy and gravelly, lined with cacti, mesquite, and even some of the thorn trees that had given the land its name. At least the mesquite scented the air, and I decided one perk of the Otherworld was that those trees always seemed to be in bloom. I sat down cross-legged in the middle of the courtyard, noticing that someone had started to set stone tiles into it to create a kind of patio area. It hadn't been there last time, and I wondered if it was Shaya's doing, just like the patches of grass she kept trying to grow around here. Not waiting for shot glasses, I uncapped the tequila and took a long swig, the strong liquor burning my throat. Shaya returned shortly, Rurik following. His face was uncharacteristically serious. After a brief moment of exchanged looks, they joined me on the tiled ground. Shaya set down some tiny cups made of engraved silver. Not quite shot glasses, but they would do. I took the bottle and filled three of them up. â€Å"To the Willow Queen and her child,†I said, holding my cup in the air. I downed it one gulp. â€Å"Damn. Wish I had some salt and lime.†Shaya and Rurik exchanged glances once more-did they honestly think I didn't notice each time?-and then followed my lead with the tequila. Rurik took his down stoically, but Shaya choked on hers. â€Å"What†¦what is this?†she asked, once she was able to speak. â€Å"God's favorite liquor. I should have had Volusian run to the grocery store and get some margarita mix while he was out.†I paused, laughing at the thought. I poured another shot. â€Å"It's made from a kind of cactus, you know.†Shaya eyed the bottle askance. â€Å"Truly?†â€Å"Yup. Huh. I wonder if we could manufacture this stuff. I've seen agave around. I bet we could set up some serious trade with it.†â€Å"I'm not so certain,†she said. Rurik was pouring another glass. â€Å"I don't know. It might appeal to some.†â€Å"Ah, Rurik. I knew we were kindred spirits.†I held up my empty shot glass, studying the way the half-moon's light shone on it. My head was regaining its pleasant buzz again. â€Å"Do you think Maiwenn's going to have a boy or a girl?†â€Å"I don't know,†said Shaya after several moments of silence. â€Å"There are those who can magically determine such things. But I haven't heard of the Willow Queen doing that.†â€Å"Probably not.†Kiyo would have told me. Or would he have? Maybe he would have held on to that news, keeping it as a special secret between him and Maiwenn. I poured another shot but didn't drink it yet. Shitfaced was one thing; sick was another. â€Å"Back in my world, they would have known its gender a long time ago. They also would have been able to tell all sorts of things-its size, if it had any diseases, even if it was twins or triplets. There's this machine we've got. You run a paddle over the mother's stomach, and then you can see the baby up on this screen. Or, sometimes, even earlier, they can take a needle and suck up amniotic fluid to find out the same things.†Rurik and Shaya were staring at me wide-eyed. It was a common expression amongst Otherworldly denizens whenever I began talking about human technology. â€Å"I wonder sometimes if there's any mystery or wonder left in your world at all.†I glanced over and saw Ysabel's form silhouetted in the doorway to the castle. â€Å"Oh, sure. Plenty of it.†I gestured her over. â€Å"Come have a drink. I'm pretty sure I'm too drunk to kill anyone tonight.†Ysabel hesitated a few seconds and then slowly walked over, sitting near Rurik and Shaya, as far from me as she could respectfully go. She grimaced slightly at the tiles as she tucked her flowing silk skirts underneath her. No doubt being on the ground went against her fastidious nature. Rurik cheerfully handed her a tequila shot. She sniffed it, and her scowl returned. My mind was still on babies. â€Å"Seems like ultrasounds would be useful to you guys. I mean, what with the trouble you have having kids.†There was a good chance, I knew, that Maiwenn might not even survive the delivery. Or that her child wouldn't. It was common among the gentry, sort of the cost for their long and healthy lives. I didn't know how I felt about that. I didn't wish death on either of them†¦and yet, how much simpler would things be if there was no Maiwenn and no baby? Even now, I could picture Kiyo by her side, holding her hand. His handsome face would be lined with worry as he spoke words of encouragement. Surely, with his human blood, their baby would be healthy and strong. And Maiwenn was a healer†¦. would that be useful to herself? Maybe. Everything would go well, I was certain, and they'd undoubtedly have a beautiful baby, one that would create a bond between them forever, a bond I could never be a part of†¦. I drank my next shot and noticed that Ysabel had manfully downed hers. â€Å"Nice work,†I said. â€Å"You want another?†She shook her head. â€Å"I don't consider it ladylike to drown oneself in excess, losing hold of inhibitions and all sense of decorum.†â€Å"Of course you don't,†I said. â€Å"I believe,†she added primly, â€Å"that the Willow Queen shares my views.†I smiled, spinning my cup on the ground, watching in fascination as it turned in smaller and smaller circles before coming to a stop. With Maiwenn's baby consuming my thoughts, Ysabel's baiting seemed insignificant tonight. We continued on for a while, Rurik keeping up with me in shots, with Shaya only occasionally indulging. Ysabel seemed to have lost her fear of me and continued her running commentary of barbed remarks. I think knowing I was in a fragile state over Maiwenn's labor had emboldened her. In fact, she was in the middle of some anecdote about how Kiyo and Maiwenn had first gotten involved when her words came to a halt, and her features lit up with surprise. â€Å"My lord!†she cried, springing up just as one of my servants began announcing, â€Å"His royal majesty, King Dorian, of the House of Arkady, caller of earth-â€Å" Dorian strode forward into the courtyard without waiting for his titles to finish. Ysabel fell to her knees before him, face radiant. â€Å"My lord!†He gave her a brief nod of acknowledgment and then swept on past her toward me. I don't think anyone except me saw the devastation that filled her face over the slight. Shaya and Rurik began to rise out of courtesy, but Dorian quickly motioned them down. Unfastening his cloak-it appeared to be navy in the moonlight-he spread it on the ground and sat beside me. â€Å"Well, well, a party, and no one invited me.†â€Å"It was kind of impromptu,†I said, reaching over to pour him a shot. My hand trembled as I held the bottle. Dorian took it from me and finished pouring. He eyed me carefully. â€Å"And yet, it appears to have been going on for some time.†â€Å"Yes. We're toasting the birth of the next king or queen of the Willow Land.†â€Å"So I've heard, which is why I came to see how the news was received here.†Dorian tossed back the tequila. His eyebrows rose in surprise at the taste, but it didn't stop him from pouring another. â€Å"And don't presume her child will inherit. It all depends on strength and power.†His words reminded me distantly of Leith's own inheritance problems, which then reminded me of Leith's declaration of love. Ugh. I'd probably killed our one chance at engineering help. Well, that was a concern for another day. â€Å"How'd you get here so fast?†I asked Dorian. â€Å"Not that fast. I heard hours ago.†Hours ago. Dorian had found out before I had. Probably everyone had. Who was I, after all? Certainly no one who was connected to this birth. I was just another monarch who'd be expected to send jewels or tapestries when the baby was born. I poured another shot, but Shaya reached for it. â€Å"May I have another?†She wasn't a fan of this stuff, but I had a feeling she wanted to stop me from drinking any more. Oh, well. There appeared to be about one more shot in the bottle-though Dorian beat me to that one too. â€Å"You'll make yourself sick,†I warned, reaching for the bottle. Only a few drops poured into my cup. â€Å"I'll take my chances. This is a fascinating substance.†â€Å"It comes from cacti,†I said helpfully, hoping it might deter him from that last shot. It didn't. â€Å"Intriguing,†he said after downing it. â€Å"You should try producing it here. I'm certain a number of people would trade for it.†I couldn't be certain in the near-darkness, but it looked like Shaya rolled her eyes. Part of me resented Dorian's presence, though I had to admit that he did a good job in keeping the subject away from Maiwenn and Kiyo. That didn't stop me from thinking about them, of course, but I couldn't help but smile as he entertained the others. Whether it was part of being a king or just something inherently Dorian, he had a powerful charisma about him that could make everyone laugh and stay captivated. With my social reticence, his were skills I admired-and occasionally envied. As the night wore on, though, I could feel the tequila's effects lessening a little. That wasn't to say I still wasn't drunk as hell; I'd taken down half that bottle myself. But, I wanted to go to bed while I was still in that delirious haze. It didn't stop me from feeling down over Kiyo, but I had to imagine being sober would be worse. Everyone stood up when I did, and I felt my legs struggle for balance. â€Å"Let me assist you,†said Shaya, reaching toward me. Dorian intervened before she could help. â€Å"No, no. Allow me to guide the Thorn Queen to her room. I'd like a few words.†Ysabel's face darkened at this, and he gave her a chastising look. â€Å"Oh, stop it. I'll come to you shortly-provided Eugenie will allow me to stay overnight in her castle.†â€Å"Sure, sure,†I said. â€Å"Come on over. Make yourself at home. Pick out curtains.†He extended his arm to me, and I decided the indignity of letting Dorian guide me was less than that of me falling over in front of my servants. Ysabel's eyes followed us furiously, and I couldn't blame her. If my boyfriend were taking a drunk woman to her bedroom, I'd be pissed too. â€Å"It was very high-handed of you to think I needed your moral support,†I told him once we were out of earshot of the others. â€Å"Right. You only need the moral support of a bottle,†he teased. â€Å"Be honest, Eugenie. Your lover's at the side of a former lover, eagerly awaiting the birth of their child. I'd be distressed as well.†â€Å"Nothing distresses you,†I grumbled. We reached my room, and he followed me in without invitation. â€Å"Plenty of things do,†he said. He frowned, ever so slightly, and it occurred to me he was none too sober himself. I let go of his arm and walked over to the full-length mirror that stood on one side of the room, edged in gold. I'd pinned up my hair earlier and let it down now, wondering if I wanted to bother with sending Nia for a nightgown or if I'd just sleep in my clothes. Standing there, I stared at my body, thinking again of my mother's claims that I was too skinny. I always argued it was an athletic build. Running my hands over the sides of my stomach and down to my hips, I studied my figure. Whatever you wanted to call it, it was slim. â€Å"I can never do that for him,†I said in a small voice. â€Å"I can never give him a baby like she can.†Dorian strolled over and stood behind me, meeting my eyes in the mirror. â€Å"Do you want to?†â€Å"I don't know. Kids were never on my radar†¦it was always a ‘maybe someday' kind of thing. But now†¦knowing I can't†¦Ã¢â‚¬ My hips and stomach suddenly seemed as unhealthily skinny as my mother had always said. They would remain untouched and infertile, never filling out with the kind of life Maiwenn's had. I would never share that with Kiyo. I flinched as Dorian reached from behind and placed his hands on the narrowest part of my waist. He rested his head on my shoulder, and I was too weary to shoo him away. â€Å"You speak like someone who's been condemned with infertility or like you've passed your prime.†â€Å"I might as well be.†â€Å"That's not true. You're young. You radiate health and fertility. You could have a dozen children.†I shook my head slowly. â€Å"I can't,†I said sadly. â€Å"I won't. You know I won't, no matter how much you and every other Otherworldly creature want me to.†â€Å"Maybe you'd have a daughter.†â€Å"I can't take the risk.†I knew I'd never be confiding in him sober. â€Å"And what if Kiyo decides he doesn't want that-to be with someone who's always going to be childless? What if he wants more kids? Maybe this baby†¦Maybe he'll go back to Maiwenn. Maybe†¦maybe he'll leave me†¦.†I could feel tears forming in my eyes and hated myself for the weakness. Dorian tightened his grip on my waist. â€Å"He'd be a fool. And you'd be a fool to mourn him if he did. You're more than a childbearing vessel.†â€Å"Not the way everyone talks. Not the way you talk.†To my shock, Dorian spun me around. Still gripping me, he pressed his forehead to mine so that only an inch was between us. I could smell the tequila on his breath, no doubt mirroring my own. â€Å"Eugenie, you're a woman without equal, and no matter how much you annoy the hell out of me and no matter how much I try to get you out of my head-and believe me, both occur regularly-I can't stay away from you. Even if you were barren, I'd take you as my consort in an instant and spend the rest of my life with you-childless, so long as it meant you'd be by my side. I would gladly bring you to my bed with no other thoughts than taking joy from your body. It would be enough.†I swallowed. â€Å"But you're with†¦I mean, what about†¦what about Ysabel? She can have kids†¦.†â€Å"Ysabel,†he said dismissively, â€Å"is nothing. A pale imitation of you-and not even a good one at that.†That was harsh of him, but it filled me with something warm and loved and special. I realized then that no matter the bantering, sexual tension, and many schemes, Dorian really was my friend. I also realized that I wanted so badly then for him to kiss me, to crush his body against mine and run his hands along my bare skin. I wanted to have sex with him against the wall, on the bed, on the floor†¦it honestly didn't matter, so long as our bodies were joined, and I could feel him in me†¦. Whoa. I jerked away, my heart racing, barely stopping myself from doing something I'd regret. Deciding he was my friend was one thing; jumping into bed was another. I knew it was the tequila and my worry over Kiyo causing this. I didn't want to be with Dorian again; I couldn't be. Even if he claimed it would be for love and pleasure, I knew it could never be that simple. There would always be politics and schemes†¦. And so, I did the most unsexy thing I could. I summoned Volusian. The icy, dark presence of my minion caught even Dorian by surprise, and he took a step back. It was the Otherworldly equivalent of a cold shower. Volusian's eyes flicked to him and then turned back to me. â€Å"My mistress requires more intoxication,†he said. â€Å"No.†My magical hold on him trembled ever so slightly. It was nowhere near enough for me to lose control, but the alcohol messed with my power a bit. â€Å"I wanted you to go to the Willow Land and see if there's any news.†â€Å"More romantic errands.†â€Å"Just go,†I snapped, trying to sound as harsh and commanding as I could. As soon as Volusian was gone, Dorian strode angrily to me, all traces of sensuality gone. â€Å"That was stupid, Eugenie. You shouldn't have summoned him after drinking so much.†I turned away from him. â€Å"I need to find out what's going on.†â€Å"You need to banish him. You're going to regret keeping him someday.†â€Å"He's useful,†I protested. â€Å"I don't need any lectures. You should go to Ysabel now. I don't need any more declarations of love today.†â€Å"Oh?†His light tone returned. â€Å"Had a few of those today?†â€Å"Leith,†I admitted. â€Å"He came by tonight to profess his undying devotion and see if he had a chance with me.†Dorian's green eyes watched me carefully. â€Å"And?†â€Å"And, of course not. I had to tell him no a few times before he finally got it.†Dorian didn't bother hiding his satisfaction. â€Å"You've broken the poor boy's heart. And his mother's, no doubt. There'll be no ball now. Would you like me to throw one instead?†â€Å"No.†My sadness was turning into irritability. â€Å"I want you to leave. Go to Ysabel and paint her or tie her up or whatever it is you do together. I'm tired and want to go to bed. Alone.†To my surprise, Dorian didn't protest. Much. â€Å"As you wish. If you need me, you know where I'll be.†â€Å"It would take a lot for me to interrupt you,†I said dryly. Dorian gave me one of his knowing, sly smiles and then left without another word. The thought of him going to Ysabel's bed troubled me more than I would have liked. He'd barely been gone a few minutes when Volusian returned. â€Å"Well?†I asked. My stomach was queasy. I didn't know what I wanted to hear. If it was in Volusian's nature to smile, I swear, he would have. â€Å"The servants of the Willow Land report joyfully that their queen has given birth to a daughter. All are healthy and well.†My body went perfect still, and for a moment, I saw nothing in the room except those glowing red eyes. Finally, I snapped back to myself. â€Å"Thank you, Volusian.†â€Å"Does my mistress require me to learn anything else about this joyous occasion?†There was a sneer in his voice. â€Å"No. Go back to Jasmine. Now.†He obeyed, leaving me alone. I sat on the bed for several minutes, thinking of everything and nothing. I felt numb. I felt every emotion in the world. And when I suddenly ripped the air from the room and used it to smash a vase against the wall, I couldn't say if it was because of Dorian or Kiyo.
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