Gleaning Rich Insights from Works of Literature Tackling Fatherhood Essay

Reading works of literature by different authors on a common topic broadens our understanding about human nature, cultures and history. Poetry that expresses angsts and pangs, or exalt the beauty or of things around us, in forceful language or elevated style like the lyric poem, can be an enriching experience. Watching or reading a play can likewise be an inspirational experience. Indeed, there is a variety of meanings, sentiments, and even moral lessons that unravel to readers exploring poetry and play focused on a central unifying theme. This paper presents six types of fatherhood types as gleaned from five poems and one play: (a) the grieving father, (b) the despised father, (c) the hardworking but detached father, (d) the itinerant far-off dad, (e) the involved father, and (e) the deadbeat dad. The selected works of literature all say something about the human experience, motivation, and condition, with special focus on the overwhelming father-child bond. While all of them are created in thought-provoking manner and are replete with figurative language, taking the reader on a journey and letting various insights linger in the memory, they differ in their approaches. In effect, the different perspectives on fatherhood are crystallized into an integrated idea with a richer context. â€Å"On My First Son† by Ben Jonson has an opening line that reflects a father’s deep melancholy and anguish as he mourns what most people may consider to be their greatest loss: the death of one’s own child. When Jonson writes, â€Å"Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy† (Ciuraru 191), there is heartfelt grief as he shares a painful loss. The use of the word thou, oftentimes used in formal religious context as prayers, adds impact because it conjures an image of a father paying his last respects to his young son. The last few lines which echo the poet’s relief that his son has escaped the trials and tribulations of this world (Ciuraru 191) point to how the author attempts to soothe his intense pain and reflects his acceptance of his son’s fate as well. On the other hand, â€Å"Daddy† by Sylvia Plath speaks from a daughter’s point of view for a father who has passed away. It has a somber and dark mood and the feelings of intense hatred and betrayal are shown in the very selection of words and imagery. â€Å"Perhaps no poem is as explicit and powerful as Sylvia Plath’s `Daddy,’ which describes an idealized yet oppressive father, one whom the speaker rejects with a resounding, forceful brutality† (Ciuraru 14). Parental relations, as most psychoanalysts may confirm, carries over into one’s adult relationships, and this was clearly the case with Sylvia Plath. During her childhood, she lost her father, Otto Plath, to complications from surgery following a leg amputation (Martin, para. 1) and this, along with her memories of feeling smothered and betrayed, appeared to have left an imprint on her. Plath uses metaphors, notably a shoe to describe her father, and herself as the foot that is in some way trapped in the shoe, to express just how suffocated and oppressed she felt. As many who are familiar with Sylvia Plath’s life would know, the talented writer had a tumultuous relationship with her poet-husband Ted Hughes, and â€Å"personal jealousies, differences in American and British views of gender roles, and a return of Sylvia’s depression complicated the Plath-Hughes marriage† (Martin, para. 8) and she makes references to how her very life was sucked out of her the way a vampire drinks the blood of its captive, in her poem. In the 15th stanza, she states: If I’ve killed one man, I’ve killed two— The vampire who said he was you And drank my blood for a year, (Barnet 703) There are many other figures of speech, including similes, rhyming and tone, that helpfully lend emphasis and effectively transport readers to a time when people felt quite shackled by parental authority and were powerless to do something about it. Plath’s poem ends with a sense of closure, nonetheless, reflecting her resolve to take matters into her own hands. As for â€Å"Those Winter Sundays† by Robert Hayden, the specific use of figurative language effectively highlights the hardworking but detached type of father that many of us may be familiar with. Upon reading the poem in its entirety, one senses a certain remoteness shown by the father, or as perceived by the son from his father. The first line in the second stanza, which says: â€Å"I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking† creates a mental picture in the reader’s mind, through poetic devices like rhyme and assonance or the use of long vowel sounds to slightly slow down the poem for emphasis. The reader also senses that cold refers not just to the weather but to the feeling that envelops the son as he rouses himself from slumber and faces his father. Hayden also places specific words at the beginning of his lines to give it focus and importance. The very last line in the poem which describes love as being austere is an indirect acknowledgment that love dwells even in a home where the patriarch rules in an authoritarian or a cold, forbidding way. The very first stanza also reveals that the father is very hardworking and sacrifices his own physical well-being for his family’s sake, but gets no appreciation for his efforts and dogged determination to carry out his parental duties. Another poem, â€Å"My Father in the Navy: A Childhood Memory† by Judith Ortiz Cofer speaks of a daughter’s longing for a father who is busy working in distant shores. The reader gleans how the poet’s career Navy father requires him to be apart from his family for considerable lengths of time. As such, the speaker in the poem aptly phrases the love, intense longing, as well as pride for the traveling father who looked â€Å"stiff and immaculate in the white cloth of his uniform and a round cap on his head like a halo† (Barnet 727) in such creative and vivid manner: His homecomings were the verses we composed over the years making up the siren’s song that kept him coming back from the bellies of iron whales and into our nights like the evening prayer. (Barnet 727) The author’s use of simile, personification and metaphor, among other literary devices, added to delivering a poem with grace and impact. The poem, in effect, strikes a resonant chord among readers who, at some point in their live, have had to be apart from a beloved father or father figure, and fully know what it is like to celebrate their return. The poem, â€Å"A Parental Ode to my Son, Aged Three Years and Five Months† by Thomas Hood conveys the vulnerability of the new and involved father. This special father-child bond is written about only on few occasions by a handful of writers seeking to dwell on such topic. The first few lines of the poem, which contains metaphors, mirrors the unrestrained happiness and amusement of the father for his toddler. His lines, like â€Å"Thou happy, happy elf!†¦ Thou tiny image of myself!†¦ Thou merry, laughing sprite! † (Klein 109) are punctuated by asides that let readers experience his joy. The poet also juxtaposes poetic verses with a very fatherly voice describing a much-loved child. Aside from the use of rhythm and rhyme, Thomas Hood likewise uses other figures of speech like similes and alliteration to express his terms of endearment for his young son. Another work of literature, the well-known â€Å"Death of a Salesman† by Arthur Miller, has a common thread that ties it to the five poems explored in this paper, in that it revolves around the life and dreams of a main character who happens to be a father. Willy Lohan, the salesman, represents the dog-tired father who has worked all his life to provide for his family’s needs (Williams 51), and nurtures big dreams for his sons, but the demands of fatherhood have drained him. Though his mental faculties appear to be failing him and one of his sons tends to belittle him and finds him off-track, his all-consuming fatherly concern is unassailable. Referring to his son Biff, whom he mistakenly hopes will follow in his footsteps, Willy says, â€Å"That boy’s going to be magnificent† (Williams 79) reflecting a father’s immense pride and rosy hopes for his son, even if he had been a bum for years. Readers of the play, with its timeless theme of reaching for one’s dreams, will attest to the great impact of this piece of literature. As one of them said, â€Å"Reading drama was far more enigmatic than reading prose fiction† (Oates, par. 4). All the works of literature studied here contain immense value, not just for their stylistic accomplishments and the succinct voicing of themes that are usually treated in traditional or melodramatic fashion without the rich context. Compared to the portrayal of fathers in other non-literary media like movies or television, poetry and plays rely heavily on figurative language that help elevate the experience for readers, and underscore life lessons, while bringing to readers’ minds their own poignant family experiences. The language and literary devices contribute much to a broader understanding of the subject matter. Analyzing a group of poems and a play bordering on the same subject showed that gathering different points of view or interpretations, reflecting various angles, leads to a clearer and more comprehensive study. Works Cited Barnet, Sylvan, et al. An Introduction to Literature. 14th ed. New York: Longman, 2005. Ciuraru, Carmela, ed. Poems About Fathers.. New York: Random House, Inc. , 2007. Klein, Patricia, ed. Treasury of Year-round Poems. New York: Random House, Inc. , 2006. Martin â€Å"Two Views of Plath’s Life and Career–by Linda Wagner-Martin and Anne Stevenson. † Modern American Poetry Home. 1994. 11 May 2008 < http://www. english. uiuc. edu/maps/poets/m_r/plath/twoviews. htm>. Oates, Joyce Carol. â€Å"Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman: A Celebration. † Weblog entry. Celestial Timepiece: A Joyce Carol Oates Home Page. 11 May 2008 . Williams, Liza M. , and Kent Paul. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman Book Notes. New York: Barron’s Educational Series, 1984.

Busienss Coach

Advance course on Logotherapy Logotask 1 (as specified in tutorial letter 103/2012) Name: Wessels, Nicolaas Johannes Student no: 7294-232-0 Course code: LOGO 01-8 Academic Qualifications: B Comm (Marketing) UP; B Comm (Marketing) (Hons) Unisa; MBL Unisa Occupation: Business Leadership Coach Postal address: PO Box 786411, Sandton, 2146 Tel: 011 783 4155 (H); 011 253 9919 (O); 082 554 4614 (M) e-mail: [email  protected] co. za â€Å"As much as it was a point of utter determination, it was also a point of surrender†. By reading Teria’s story one could also say that â€Å"it was a moment of truth†.She seemed to have reached new levels of self awareness and consciousness about what her life was like up to that point and what could be from there on. What we see here is a defining moment, a moment of truth and a moment of decisiveness. To take action and turn the focus on what is and what could be, not on what was. By all accounts she has reached a level of self aware ness to such an extent that she could transcend herself and connect to her spiritual dimension where a discovery was made of life changing proportions.We have here a very good example of how tension had played a role in directing someone towards her values and what is important to her. By transcending herself, Teria not only moved away from a needs driven focus on the past, she moved to a values directed focus on the future and all the possibilities it holds. â€Å"I was somehow missing to fully live my present life with an eye on the future that was â€Å"waiting† to be reached out to. My life seemed to lack vision – a dream to realize or ideals to be inspired by† (Shantall 2002: 13). The tension which brought on this state of realization is a health one.Without this meaning will not be found. â€Å"A sound amount of tension, such as that tension which is aroused by a meaning to fulfill, is inherent in being human and is indispensible for mental well-beingâ₠¬  (Frankl 1998: 48). By recognizing her own power to self transcend, Teria reached the â€Å"highest stage in human development† (Lucas 1998:34). In this turning point, three catalysts are particularly interesting. Firstly the death of her father presented not only the shock of losing a loved one, it also served as a stark reminder of the transitoriness of life. And how wasteful lost opportunities are.Sometimes this awareness of how life’s opportunities are passing us by comes easier with older people who have experienced the full granaries of life. With others the urgency to live life fully may need to be awakened by techniques such as the Socratic dialogue. Teria was aching for something different and experiencing the effects of an awakened consciousness prompting her towards action. As Frankl puts it â€Å"Thus, the transitoriness of our existence in no way makes it meaningless. But it does constitute our responsibleness; for everything hinges upon our realizing the essentially transitory possibilities†. Frankl 2004:124). Teria wanted more from life, more vision, more meaning and more significance. This moment in her life, this point of surrender suggests an awareness that now is the time to make a decision. And the application of transitoriness as a Logotherapeutic tool is testimony to Frankl’s observation â€Å"Logotherapy, keeping in mind the essential transitoriness of human existence, is not pessimistic but rather optimistic† (Frankl 2004:124). The second catalyst was the diary her father left her. It served as a powerful metaphor and last challenge from him to live life powerfully with authenticity. I felt that he expected me to fill up the yet empty pages of that diary with the events of my life that I would now undertake to life fully and with care† (Shantall 2002:14). Her will to meaning was triggered and she was challenged to be creative with her life and treat it with a responsibility becoming of her. Wi th this diary her father created a healthy tension between Teria and life, asking her to take up a commission to run her race. She was reminded of her own freedom of will by the blank pages staring at her.Freedom of will is one of the three fundamental tenet on which Logotherapy is built â€Å"Logotherapy’s concept of man is based on three pillars, the freedom of will, the will to menaing and the meaning of life†. (Frankl 1988:16). The diary played the role of visible canvass against which she could transcend and surrender the old and connect to a point beyond herself. The third catalyst was the physical distance between her and the rest of the family. By being far away, alone and not able to pay last respects, Teria was forced to deal with this traumatic incident herself and find her own defiant power to awaken her will to meaning.With no distraction or consolation she had to dig for courage to process the full implications of this experience. With this third catalyst she was put alone before life as if to be asked two questions: what are you going to give life and what is life asking from you? â€Å"This experience of a breakthrough of meaning in my own suffering, with the added feeling of greater sense of responsibility as I came to see my life as a gift which I could either use or abuse† (Shantall 2002:15).The morning after the death of her father, Teria experienced heightened levels of appreciation for what was important to her, what was possible and what was meaningful to her at that stage. The two dominant emotions presented to us in her quote: determination and surrender are also of interest. Determined to find some defined destination worth living for, she connected to her defiant power to overcome and knew that nothing else but a strong, clear, meaningful life would do. And by surrendering the old and the meaningless, she made way for new meaning to be discovered.Clearing the past and transcending onto a new level of possibilitie s. These two emotions or channels of energy go hand in hand like the critical chemicals without which the desired reaction would not be possible. Without determination, surrender could have been left alone to sulk and doubt. Without surrender, determination could have been a relentless energy with no direction, possible of destruction. Giving up on her self-centered way of living, she may also have given up on a hyper reflective ways of thinking. My own psychodynamics, which I have explored during my years of psychoanalysis began to fade in importance or, most surprisingly began to take on a refreshingly new and deeper meaning† (Shantall 2002: 14). With a state of hyper-reflection and hyper-intention, fulfillment and happiness will elude. She may also have been surrendering to faith that happiness and fulfillment will ensue â€Å"Attaining a goal constitute a reason to be happy. In other words, if there is a reason for happiness, happiness ensues, automatically and spontaneou sly, as it were.And that is why one need not pursue happiness, one need not care for it once there is a reason for it. But, even more, one cannot pursue it† (Frankl 1998:34). Aching for something more, something worthwhile, she transformed and became inspired to be present, take up the challenge and recognize her scope of free choice. I would contest that her life up to this point has not been wasted. True to the duality which life presents so frequently to us, her new sense of highs would not have been reached had it been for her perceived sense of lows.The discovery of a new powerful meaningful life is like the discovery of a secret garden in a fairy tale. Often it is protected by an angry dragon and we are tested by life on how badly do we want to be more, and live significantly. This experience in Teria’s life was clearly a turning point away from the meaningless, a new beginning of something profoundly powerful and a courageous change in direction. What is meaning all about? â€Å"Existence is not only intentional but also transcendent. Self transcendence is the essence of existence† (Frankl 1998:50).And what is there to live for if living is un-intentional and just for one self alone? In order to get a grasp on meaning, one could look at the various facets and characteristics it constitutes, yet even after having done so, it may still elude full comprehension. Meaning first and foremost has to be experienced. And it is something to be experienced personally. It is not something which could be passed on, taught or transferred. It may be illuminated or hinted at but is uniquely personal in its experiencing. â€Å"Meaning is relative in that it is related to a specific person who is entangled is a specific situation.One could say that meaning differs from man to man and from second from day to day, indeed from hour to hour† (Frankl 1998:54). On the question â€Å"what is meant by meaning? †, Frankl comments that â€Å"it i s absolutely down to earth inasmuch as it refers to that which a concrete situation means to a concrete person† (Frankl 1998:140). Whereas meaning may be hard to define conceptually, it is simple and clearly visible in its experiences. We will recognize meaning when we find it! And paradoxically â€Å"the more comprehensive the meaning, the less comprehensible it is†. (Frankl 2000:136).Semantically, meaning is both verb and noun. It is alive and reveals itself though action and activity. And it is discovered like a treasure hidden waiting for the right time and the right person to appear. Although we cannot observe it in itself like a concrete object, we can observe the powers it has on a subject. And it can appear at any time in any situation. â€Å"The perception of meaning as I see it, could be defined suddenly becoming aware of a possibility against a background of reality† (Frankl 1998: 140). Our inherent desire to find meaning is the most powerful energy we posses.In Nietzsche’s words, â€Å"He who has a Why to live for can bear almost any How† (Frankl 2004:7). Without a reason to live for or to move towards, life will be empty and fragile. Meaning gives us the power to move forward and this will to meaning is one of the three pillars on which Logotherapy is built (Frankl 1988:16). Our will to meaning is expressed in a space of freedom to pursue whatever is meaningful to the individual. We are not free from, but free to do what is meaningful. â€Å"Man’s freedom is no freedom from conditions but rather a freedom to take a stand on whatever conditions might confront him† (Frankl 1998:16).We are constantly challenged by life to make it meaningful and called on our courage to do so. This strongly suggests there is a responsibility attached to meaning. A responsibility to live authentically and courageously – to do the right thing. This is emphasized by an Logotherapeatic imperative: â€Å"live as if yo u were living already for the second time and as if you had acted the first time as you are about to act now† (Frankl 2004:114). Our lives are not something beyond our control – whereas we cannot control what happens to us, we can certainly control how we behave or respond.And it is here where our biggest responsibility presents itself. To act the right way, befitting of how we could be potentially. Living in a dimension of meaning means to live responsibly according to our governing values and conscious awareness. By connecting to our consciousness we will identify for ourselves what the right action is and there is ever only one right action. And conscience is essentially intuitive (Frankl 2000:40) and the only means for grasping the meaning of any moment. To quote Graber: â€Å"The human experience calls for an ability to make independent decisions at each moment in life.To live responsibly calls for listening to the thousands of commandments arising from the thousa nds of unique situations of which life consists. It is the intuitive conscience that guides us in the moment by moment experiences of life. It gives voice to the available resources of the spirit within† (Graber 2004:79). Consciousness and creativity are the most important facilitators to find meaning. It is in our noetic realm where we connect to our consciousness and a deeper desire to do the right thing. Paradoxically, by experiencing meaning we connect to our spiritual consciousness.In terms of Frankl’s dimensional ontology, our noetic dimension is what makes us human. And it is in this dimension where we have the faculty to identify meaning. â€Å"Freedom of choice, intentionality, creative and artistic interest, religious encounters, ethical sensitivity, conscience, understanding of values and love, the capacity to be awed by experiences, intuition and inspiration and the search for meaning are at home† (Graber: 2004:71). This is not to suggest that meaning is found inside ourselves. Our conscious is where meaning is interpreted.Meaning is found outside ourselves by connecting to something greater or beyond. By this statement I am not suggesting it is very far away. It may be very close indeed, but beyond and outside nevertheless, discovered by self-transcendence as Frankl calls it (Frankl 2000:138). And it resides in the future like a magnet to which we are drawn, pulling us out of our self absorbed existence and connecting us to life. With no real meaning there is no real connection to life. Experiencing meaning presents itself as a paradox.According to Frankl: â€Å"The more meaning is experienced as a reality of our lives, the more exercised and refined is our faith in the reality of its existence and the broader is our experience and awareness of the deeper meanings of life†. We only know it when we know it! Meaning is found by having uniquely personal encounters with life. It could be by way of what we do creatively or gi ve to the world; by what we get as an experience or take from life; or thirdly by the attitude we adopt towards what is presented to us. (Frankl 1988:70).Not only does meaning rewards us, it gives us strength it gives life sustained worth and defines our unique purpose. Whilst suggesting meaning is waiting to be discovered right in front of us in everyday life, one has to acknowledge that there may be a deeper meaning to life. Or as Frankl calls it â€Å"ultimate meaning† (Frankl 2000:143). This is meaning of the whole – of life as a whole or of our life as a whole. And the comprehension of this is beyond our mental faculties, which positions ultimate meaning in a realm inaccessible to reason or intellect (Frankl 2000:144).And as he puts it â€Å"but what is unknowable need not be unbelievable. In fact where knowledge gives up, the torch is passed on the faith† (Frankl 200:146). Or as Albert Einstain once said: â€Å"supra-meaning is no longer a matter of think ing but rather a matter of believing† (Ffankl 1998:145). To sum up, meaning is connected to purpose, to goals, a mission and linked to a cause beyond and outside ourselves. The key enabler to fining meaning is hidden in our conscious where we can awaken an element of tension and become aware of how things are now and how things could be.To attain meaning requires an open attitude and requires us to choose, to interact and engage with life. It shapes our life and makes everything worthwhile. In a logotherapeutic session, the following diagram could serve as a discussion guide: How meaningful life could be (what we do, experience of or the attitude we take) Indispensible noetic tension of what ought to be How things are now * Become aware of uniquely personal values, strengths, dreams, and existing characteristics of life. * Use these realities as guideposts towards what ought to be. What does meaning mean to me?Thinking about my own experience of meaning, I am aware of the many sources I have tapped into and could still tap into, in order to experience a more fulfilling and purposeful life. Within all the dimensions and facets of my life, meaning lurks. And by this I do not imply by any means that my life is ultimately fulfilling at the moment or that I have identified all the places and sources of finding meaning. It is rather a case of me having noticed the rays of meaning by what I did, experienced or by the stance I took in my journey through life up to now.It’s been said that if life’s purpose is to find your gift, your mission is to use it – and that makes life meaningful. I am aware happiness and sadness are emotions, and fulfillment is a state of being. Right and wrong are judgmental and when one operates from a higher level of consciousness, there is no judgment. And is in this higher level of being where I find my biggest growth and my most profound meaning. As Frankl states: â€Å"In no way are we justified in speaking of man as only a somatic-psychic whole. Body and psyche may form a unity- a psychophysical unity- but this unity does not yet represent the wholeness of man.Without the spiritual as its essential ground, this wholeness cannot exist† (Frankl 2000:34). If I have to highlight the most meaningful moments or areas of my life, it could be summarized in the meaning matrix below. Reflecting on my own dimensional ontology (Frankl 2000:34) my wholeness exist by recognizing all the dimension of my being. And I am aware of the meaning imbedded in fleeting moments and in longer passages of my life, on different levels. For me the most powerful awareness about meaning is the understanding of where it may be and how to look for it.I have found it in the seemingly most insignificant actions (by giving someone at work a spontaneous hug), and in epic sporting events like finishing 8 day cycle races where shear attitude and commitment got me to the finish line. My meaning matrix. Populating the rea lms of what makes me human according to Frankl’s dimensional ontology with the three principle ways to find meaning. (Frankl 1998:70). Where meaning is foundOntological dimension| What I do/give to life| What I get and experience from life| The attitude I take towards life| Noetic dimension| Acting out my values and setting examples. Being conscious of doing the right thing.Connecting to my consciousness and communicating with my soul. Behaving like it is my mission to make a difference (trying to! ). | Noticing synchronicities, finding peace though spiritual rituals of mediation and contemplation. Receiving feedback from life on the level of my soul. | Having faith in an ultimate meaning, trusting life to be unconditionally meaningful, knowing I have a unique purpose to fulfill no matter how challenging â€Å"this† moment may be. | Psychic dimension| Facilitating coaching conversations, mentoring and counseling people. Assisting people with their personal development and growth.Helping my family and loved ones wherever & however I can. | Meaningful moments with wife, kids and friends – Relationships. Coaching & mentoring someone and noticing the change in perception or awareness. Coaching & mentoring at the school in Soweto. | Resigning myself to what will be and to whatever life challenges me with. Treating challenges and emotional stress as signposts for personal growth. | Somatic dimension| Doing sport and adventure activities with friends (triathlons, cycle rides/races, mountain climbs). Cooking. | Sharing the experiences of bicycle rides, triathlons and mountain climbs with friends.Enjoying a great cup of coffee. | Gritting it out when I suffer physically, reminding me extreme sport is â€Å"what I do† and what gives me energy. | Reflecting on the role of my conscience and my awareness of responsible action, I recognize the healthy tension of what I want to be/have/do, and what ought to be/have/do. This tension is what unlocks meaning and protects me against psychic rigor mortis as Frankl puts it. Finding the balance between responsibility and dependence on something other than ourselves bring into the conversation the concept of authenticity.And the extent to which decisions are based on personal, right choice rather than inclination (as Teria phrased it). By taking full responsibility and not be dependent or rely on what others may say or think, a state of independence and interdependence will be reached. This responsibility also includes acceptance of what happens to one and the attitude with which someone embraces the cards dealt by life. Striking a balance between what is right, authentic and responsible action for me, and what am I inclined to do given the external, dependency based conditioning of conformism and totalitarianism, has shown itself in a number of instances.Whereas I had perceived meaning in some parts of my life, it was greatly lacking in my work environment. I was reveling in my â⠂¬Å"extra mural† sporting activities, had a great circle of friends and enjoyed wonderful times with my family. Yet, my work life was becoming increasingly grey. In 2005, I found myself stuck in a very successful, well paying corporate job at a company that has been my professional home for 25 years. Amidst all the success and trappings of corporate life was the feeling of time and potential being wasted. I was increasingly getting g more irritable with people around me, intolerant and short tempered.I was in an existential vacuum (Frankl 2004:110), and the only meaning I had was my sport where I lived my passion out by focusing on training for endurance events rather than making an effort to attend to my business challenges and responsibilities. I was displaying the classic characteristics of the neurotic triad with behavior of aggression (impatience with people around me), depression (boredom and feeling stuck) and addiction (excessive training). (Graber 2004:124). Over a pe riod of two years I contemplated my corporate life and finally reached the conclusion that my behavior at the time was not any different from that of a mercenary.I was not doing the job the company is paying me for to the fullest of my abilities neither was I free to express myself to my authentic calling. I was not living authentically and not according to my values and was becoming a cheat. â€Å"Man lives by ideals and values. Human existence is not authentic unless it is lived in terms of self-transcendence† (Frankl 1998:52). During this period my brother died of cancer at the relatively young age of 61 and my father passed away at the age of 93. The passing away of my father was in itself not a traumatic experience for me and by all accounts, not for him.As a Springbok track athlete he often referred to himself as â€Å"having run his last lap† and being ready to pass on. â€Å"For me the bell of the last lap has tolled. I am ready to die†, he often would t ell me. Maybe the death of my brother and father in the space of this time reminded me of the transitoriness of life. I was becoming acutely aware of the wealth in health and how important it is to do what my heart was telling me. I was increasingly questioning myself on what am I still doing here in a crude rendition of a Socratic dialogue.Confronting myself with questions like: * What is the worst that could happen? * Is this it? * Although I am successful, where to from here? * What advice will some of my mentors give me? * What if I was to get terminally ill – will I regret not having made the decision to leave? * But the most powerful question was a promise I made myself about 20 years earlier in my life, when as a 16 year old school boy, I likened myself to David Livingstone, the explorer. And I was not living this dream! I too wanted to explore one day. And this dream was slipping away from me.During the month of December 2006, I made the decision to resign. The tensio n I felt was text book existential vacuum but I had no idea and very little understanding on how to deal with it. although I was thinking about resigning constantly I am not sure exactly what made me do it that time and at the moment I did. A financial bonus had some effect on the timing of my public announcement but the final internal trigger escapes me. All I recall is one day standing alone in an office looking at the blue sky outside and thinking â€Å"there’s a sun shining outside, but not in here where I am! maybe this realization was final confirmation for me to get off my backside and step into the sun. This dynamic tension I experienced at the time can be graphically illustrated as follows: Consequences and possible outcomes of in-authentic actions What I want or must (selfish desire, conformism or totalitarianism) Dynamic tension within my conscience to do the right thing. The voice of reason with me which will guide me towards meaning. Consequences and possible ou tcomes of authentic right action Where am I nowWhat I ought (right action) Consequences of being responsible (and of being irresponsible) was particularly high on my agenda during this time. The consequences of staying in my current job felt to me like a bad compromise. I would have been untrue to myself, my company and my family by hanging around any longer. I felt torn between being responsible to a deep-felt desire to seek out a more purposeful life of meaning vs perpetuating lucrative mediocrity. Once the decision was taken and announced, I felt liberated, free and terribly alone.What I had to do here, is to look beyond my immediate circumstances to what might be. I had a dream and had to make some pretty uncomfortable decisions in order to get myself out of the headspace I was stuck in. Self transcendence, knowing that there is more waiting for me to be discovered covered my thinking. It was clear to me that the work has only just begun. As clear as I was that it’s time to go, as unclear was I on where to. It took me quite some time to get used to my new status as a free agent and many times felt anxious by my scope of free action.Too many choices and a deliberate action to seek out something new and meaningful lead me in many interesting directions – not all of them meaningful. Finally after almost 18 months of searching did I find a new rhythm and sense of energy. Like a snowball it gained momentum and with it, clarity of what I find meaningful as a vocation – helping people discover meaning in their own lives. My search for a new career had lead me to â€Å"adventure coaching† or what I would like to term â€Å"experiential logotherapy†. I have managed to manifest a ombination of two personal passions – physical adventure and helping people discover something unique about themselves best described by the personal development journeys to the slums of India and Everest Base Camp. This has become the signature pie ces of my new career – taking people on adventurous journeys mixing physical experience with contemplating matters of the mind and connecting to a deeper self. The EBC journey will be the subject of my research workshop and I will present more detail on this experience later in the year.Teaching in a Delhi slum school – I took people on a personal development journey in October 2011. At the moment I apply myself in 4 areas: Corporate Talent Management (businesses in Sandton) , Individual counseling and coaching (various types of people), Adventure coaching (journeys to India and Nepal) and Empowerment coaching (coaching disadvantaged black school kids). My empowerment coaching initiative is worth a mention. I do this at a school in Dobsonville, Soweto and this came about as follows: In 2010 I decided to climb Aconcagua in South America – the highest mountain in the world outside the Himalayas.I had taken the decision to do this expedition on my own, but was look ing for a cause that could benefit and hope to turn it into a fundraising campaign. A friend of mine was involved with a corporate social responsibility initiative called â€Å"one school at a time† and this fitted perfectly. He had identified Forte High school in Dobsonville as the first beneficiary of this CSI program and we turned my Aconcagua expedition into a fundraising campaign for the school. We managed to raise R530,000 through corporate contacts I had and the expedition was a huge success in financial terms.The climb itself was the hardest thing I’ve ever done and the lows I reached and internal change I experienced is food for another essay! Suffice to say I didn’t make it to the top as we were caught in a constant snow storm for 5 days at an altitude of 5,600m. Stuck for 5 days in a high altitude camp weakened us severely and when our food eventually ran out we pulled the plug and headed home. Some big logotherapy experiences! However, when I got bac k to SA I decided to do more at the school and offered to start group coaching conversations with some of the kids.Since then I have been working with groups of grade 10 and 11 kids facilitating structured conversations about whatever they choose to talk about – topics include confidence, fear, reaching dreams, relationships and doing picture dream boards. I am slowly working logotherapy into the conversations and the kids love it! Fundraising campaign in Johannesburg in October 2010 and carrying the flag on Aconcagua, South America (I’m on the right). In July this year, I will be taking a group of 15 high school kids to Dharamsala, India where the Dalai Lama lives, to â€Å"teach English to Tibetan monks†.This is part of their personal development program and aims to awaken gratitude, patience, understanding and strong sense of purpose with participants. We will go for 8 days and I am coordinating this journey directly with the office of the Tibetan People in C enturion. Responsibility is something I am acutely aware of. However, in the past couple of years I have become consciously aware of my responsibility to â€Å"be more† and not merely to â€Å"provide†. Life has so much to offer and if I can overcome my own self limiting beliefs and connect to my inner source of energy, I will be more.To make a difference and be of value are my governing intentions and I am constantly aware of the effort it takes to be authentic and responsible to the life that has been given to me. The opportunities and potentialities I encounter persistently remind me of what could be and pulls me towards living meaningfully. I am dependent on my own conscience and my faith in life, that meaning is all around me. I am also aware of the tasks and challenges life presents to me and believe that it is up to me to make it happen – not anyone else. Reference list: 1. Shantall, T 2002.Life’s meaning in the face of suffering. Testimonies of ho locaust survivors. Hebrew University Magnes Press. ISBN 965-493-142-7. 2. Frankl, V E 1988. The Will to Meaning. Foundations and Applications of Logotherapy. Expanded edition. First Meridian Printing. 3. Frankl, V E 2000. Man’s search for ultimate meaning. Perseus Publishing. ISBN-13: 978-0-7382-0354-6. 4. Graber, A V 2004. Victor Frankl’s Logotherapy: Method of Choice in Ecumenical Pastoral Psychotherapy. Wyndham Hall Press. ISBN 1-55605-364-9. 5. Lukas, E 1998. Logotherapy Textbook: Meaning centered Psychotherapy. Liberty Press. ISBN 0-9686496-1-0.

Constructivism and Instructivism in Teaching and Learning Essay

Constructivism and Instructivism in Teaching and Learning - Essay Example This essay describes and analyzes the effects of the â€Å"No Child Left Behind Act of 2001† that was established in the United States and meant â€Å"to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and state academic assessment†. As the No Child Left Behind Act’s main aim was to improve the quality of education in the United States, educators and teachers have been forced to ask uncomfortable but important questions as to how such improvement can be attained in their professional field. The researcer mentiones that countless debates have since taken place in the academic world to pinpoint where the problems lie in the hope of identifying the right and the best solutions. These debates have been heated and not without controversy, which is what makes them interesting. Of the wide range of debated topics, this essa y focuses on one of the most basic battle lines – Constructivism versus Instructivism. The researcher then compares these two basic theories of how people learn and analyzes which of these two really works and is more effective. To conclude, the researcher gives his own recommendations on the topic and sums up that every teacher must learn how to account for one of the greatest missions anyone can receive, that of shaping other human minds and launching them on their way to learning, discovery, and survival in a complex world.

Justice and Christians Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Justice and Christians - Essay Example criminals are treated by laws alone in pursuit of justice beyond spiritual guidance, knowing the rigidity of discipline imposed by the justice system ruling, such setting may further aggravate any state of psychological imbalance with inmates. The authorities taking custody of these people may as well not find themselves able to provide sufficient moral support at getting exhausted with daily routine of having to attend to a somewhat unmanageable number of other detained suspects. It is hence more than reasonable for Christian standards to modify the objectives of employing justice in this regard. Every true Christian acts by faith and teachings which exhibit a humble, patient, and compassionate attitude of dealing with a sinner without prior judgment (Christian Justice). By the freedom of exercising righteous deed towards any one, a considerate person who handles an offender may do so in a Christian manner of promoting the essence of love and faith in life through the Holy Scriptures. Once the erring party manifests being moved in response to the atmosphere filled with love, there is high probability that this person would in turn be inspired to change heart and give the favor back. In the process, Christian justice could possibly enable the convicted person to understand the gravity of his sins then to find no great deal in the will to be executed or be served proper charges since by this time, he would have taken a huge step to forgive himself. As a result, Christianity transforms the individual at fault and establishes in him a type of conviction which is able to overcome remorse and discern the fairness in the fact that justice would not be held back from sinner. At this stage the offender, having been spiritually renewed, accepts his punishment wholeheartedly. Similarly, an act of a just Christian reaches out to the victim by supplication of comfort and bridges the gap between the victim and the person in offense. To a certain extent, the former may also

Discuss at least four situations in which a law enforcement officer Essay

Discuss at least four situations in which a law enforcement officer may conduct a search without first obtaining a warrant. Explain when those exceptions apply - Essay Example Dwelling house of man has been expressed as his castle even before the advent of English jurisprudence. The natural desire for privacy led to formation of homes as a place for hospitality, shelter and protection even in ancient times. The Biblical times also had respect for home as a dwelling place to which officials were not being allowed to visit arbitrarily. Bible has it that Joshua desisted from sending his men to Achan’s tent for searching and seizing the prohibited article, even though it had been known that he had been in possession. Under Hebrew Law also the question of search does not arise since enquiry of cases depended on the testimony of witnesses. The point here to be noted is that the right not to be disturbed at home had been there even in ancient times. In olden times no body could enter a house without the occupant’s permission. In Bible, a creditor could not enter a debtor’s house but must wait outside to collect his security for the pledge. A bailiff from court also was barred from entering the house of a debtor. The respect for home in those times is evident from the fact that thieves found guilty of house breaking at nights were punished with death penalty. (Lasson 1937 p 14) In Roman literature, a home was considered not only as an asylum but also was protected by the household Gods who were believed to have dwelt and were worshipped there. If a thief was found inside a house’s fire place, it was assumed that he needed protection. (Lasson p 15) Fourth amendment guarantees the right of the people in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against searches and seizures without reason and no warrants shall be issued without a probable cause supported by an oath or affirmation specifically mentioning the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be subjected to search. (U.S.News 2002) In Boyd v

Computer crime Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Computer crime - Research Paper Example These criminals are traced through the computer system, and they are got through computer IP addresses and Mac addresses which are unique with the log files they generate. These are among the various and popular problems of lack of confidentiality and privacy in the computer users. Below is a discussion of various examples of computer crimes. Some of the contents circulated in computers in various non-specific ways. These may include obscenities, inflammatory and derogatory contents of speech form people focusing on a specific target group in the society e.g. gander, race or religion among other social groups. This can also be used to propel hate speech in political volatile regions and political arrest situation where ethnicity prevails among the leaders. Fraud is a criminal act that involves false acquisition of money through the use of computer and network system. This includes hacking of bank accounts, vandalism of ATM and the use of fishers to hack password for false transfer of online money. This is an illegal practice and harms the unsuspecting victims. It is evident that information and technology and government officials have well documented numerous incidents on the breakdown of servers and network infrastructures due to sabotage (Parker, 1983). These criminals pulls down the servers, and stop the normal operation causing loss of data, and siphoning information from the servers and hence causing many institution suffer from computer terrorism

The changing scenarios of the oil market in the Azerbaijan Republic Essay

The changing scenarios of the oil market in the Azerbaijan Republic - Essay Example I also give thanks to Mr. Aydin M. Gashimov, Stakeholder Investment and Reporting Manager in BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) Limited, who answered all my questions without hesitation. Mr. Iohan Heiberg, Vice-president of Statoil Azerbaijan, and Mr. Redjeb Akhsulu, General Manager of Shell Azerbaijan Exploration and Production B.V. who also contributed with his very useful comments. The recent growing demand for oil around the globe has seen oil prices remain quite unpredictable. Most of the world economies are dependent on oil; hence, any fluctuations in its price have a direct impact on the cost of essential goods and services. Nevertheless, energy prices have been skyrocketing, presenting fresh day-to-day challenges to organizations and compelling them to adjust their strategies accordingly in order to minimize the adverse consequences. The following chapter reviews past works of research conducted by other researchers in order to support the secondary research methodology used in this dissertation. The literature review is divided into four areas of research. The PESTEL [Political, Economic, Sociological, Technological, Environmental and Legal (factors)] model of analysis will be employed in order improve the structure of investigation and highlight pertinent issues. PESTEL is a strategic planning tool that helps a company to view the scope of the market beyond its limits. The analysis is an important reminder to an organization in situations where the organization is focused only on internal matters at the expense of external forces that directly and indirectly affect it and may have profound consequences on it. Managers of organizations have to visualize the factors that have the highest probability of changing and those that affect them most. These factors vary in different environments. In doing the PESTEL analysis, managers have to decide on the various aspects of the model by considering their relative importance. One

What is weird realism and how does the speaker apply this concept to Essay

What is weird realism and how does the speaker apply this concept to his music - Essay Example The illusion is another application of weird realism in this music as explained by the speaker in the seminar. Elements of illusion such as magic are horrific to the listeners and viewers. From the speech during the seminar, the sound of the music played in an alternate manner with the speech is terrifying. The impacts shock on the audience with a frowned facial appearance. The use of delusion is inexhaustible in this music. The music scary sound that continues from a low to a high pitch at once is of horrific scenes (Harman, 2015, p. 1). The tone used in the music is another application of weird realism. The ‘screeching’ sound in the music is prohibitive and may create tension in a person. The awkward gimmick sound produced during the speech when the speaker plays his music is terrifying. A person who listens to such sound may have a frowned face but the reality of frowning may come from sound disturbances. This shows that reality is weird because it is not commensurable with any attempt towards measuring it. This music uses implications to communicate horrific information. The mentioning of different geographical place and other names to imply another meaning is a technique in the song. The artist fails to represent the misery of occurrences propounded by horrific things. There is a failure of language to describe truly the meaning of misery things. For example, the speaker says the misery has an acute angle but it is behaving as an obtuse angle. This is an application of Lovecraft work and hence the use of weird realism.

Different throught processes during World war 2 and vietnam a contrast Essay

Different throught processes during World war 2 and vietnam a contrast in thinking - Essay Example The speed at which life changed and the number of social issues that were in conflict made the world a very different place, thus supporting a citizenry that was in conflict with its government, a nation that was in a social civil war trying to change what would lead toward a more enlightened society. The 1940’s was a time that marked the beginning of world in which the oppressed would stand tall and the domination of the white male social group would come into challenge. However, this was not seen from inside this time, only from the retrospective point of view that represents the changes that took place during this time. The social control of the world before this time resided deeply within the group defined by white Western males who dominated in the economic and social spheres from which the world was primarily defined. However, this group had taken some damage during the press of the economic pressures during the 1930’s that had whittled away both pride and resources. As World War II took those same men far from the shores of the United States, a new world would blossom during their absence. During World War II, the support for the war extended into most aspects of life within the United States. The first sacrifice was made by the men who enlisted in droves to support the end of tyranny within the world by participating in the military efforts. However, there was a great deal of sacrifice made on the home front because of the participation of men and the use of resources that might not have been required without the existence of the war. The entry into World War II came on the heels of a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which incited the passions of the citizens towards revenge and preservation of the way of life that was the American culture. According to Hormats, â€Å"On the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed his confidence that the

China - Literature Development, Confucianism and Revolutions Essay

China - Literature Development, Confucianism and Revolutions - Essay Example Additionally, the essay discusses the philosophy of Confucius herein referred as Confucianism and how it has influenced the lives of the people of China in reality to date. Finally, the paper provides an in-depth analysis of the 1911 – 1949 revolution as the revolution with the greatest impact on China socially, economically and politically. A brief summary conclusion shall be provided that summarizes the thoughts in this essay. Redness or red as it were was a term used to refer to certain attitudes that were political and ideological. They were prescribed by the doctrine of Maoist. The expert on the other hand usually juxtaposed with the reds was used to denote special skills or knowledge in science or technology. As such tension existed between the two groups in the twentieth century in China with the two terms used in juxtaposition to one another (Schoppa, pg.112). Therefore redness had to do with the political and ideological attitudes while experts were intellectuals in this period. As such during the twentieth century, the two sides conflicted with beliefs that the two were mutually exclusive and could not be combined. Strauss, (578 -580) explains: As the two sides differed in ideologies it became difficult for them to strike a balance between the two in China. Chinese literature was indeed very crucial for nation building having a very resilient traditional cultural legacy. Thus it defined Chinese nationalism. Therefore striking a balance between reds and experts became one great challenge for this nation. The nation then took to carry out education reforms from the 1950s onwards and Chinese literature entangled with the nation building. As such the nation’s culture was defined by its literature. In the wake of a movement called the new culture, Kaozheng (reds) method came to be first provided. This was in 1917. Through this, a novel was written in vernacular focusing on canonizing the literature of Chinese.

American History Essay Example for Free

American History Essay From 1880 to 1890 farmers had to endure many hardships. For example, food prices were decreasing, which meant farmers had to produce more crops and borrow more money from the banks. The banks then charged high interest rates for loans to farmers. In addition, rail road shipping rates were increasing, farm machinery was every expensive, the farmers were isolated from the rest of the country, and they felt that they had an unresponsive government. The farmers believed that the deflating currency and the governments failure to regulate the banks and railroad companies were the two main sources for their problems. Food prices were at incredibly low prices when the 1880s began. This led to farmers having to grow more crops, but as Causes of Agricultural Unrest shows, this only helped to further decrease food prices. Unfortunately, the farmers could not just produce less and wait for prices to increase because they didnt have the time to wait for prices to increase. The farmers believed that deflation was the cause of the food prices dropping. According to the United Sates government data, the farmers had a very valid point. Between 1865 and 1895 the population of the United States almost doubled, while the money in circulation in 1880 was even less than in 1865. The farmers solution to the deflation was an increase in cheap money, which is also known as silver coinage. However, the Republican party had conservative ideas and wanted to keep the gold standard. So the farmers created the radical, agrarian party known as the Populist party. As shown in The platform of the Peoples party, the Populists believed in increasing silver to help the farmers. And although the Populists lost the election. no one remembers the Acceptance speech of William McKinley. The American people remember W. J. Bryans Cross of Gold speech and his ideas of silver coinage. As the number of crops farmers had to produce increased, so did the amount of money the farmers had to barrow from the banks. In reaction to the increasing number of loans, the banks charged very high interest rates. These high interest hurt the poor farmers even more and often the farmers could not repay the banks. The Farmers Voice depicts hundreds of impoverished farmers in shackles, being taken to the court house because they could not pay their farm mortgages from the bank. The late 19th century was filled with political corruption and the political machine was created. In most cases, state machines were republican and favored big businesses. When railroad companies decided to increase short haul rates and decrease long haul rates, the government was not upset because the long hall rates were great for big businesses and only hurt farmers. In the Testimony of George W. Parker the corruption is evident in his statement There is a decided distinction between local and through business different rules and practices apply to them. In The Octopus, one can see the harsh effects of the higher short haul rates on farmers. Overall, farmers had every right to be upset during the late 19th century. Their complaints about the deflation and unregulated railroad rates were valid and clearly the cause of their suffering.

The Four Most Important Financial Statements Essay Example for Free

The Four Most Important Financial Statements Essay What are the four most important financial statements? Briefly describe each Much success in today’s business world is tied in with numbers in the form of accounting and financial statements. Being able to understand and properly read these statements is a critical component in truly knowing a business and properly assessing its overall financial performance. Financial reporting is the issuance of written documents in the form of the financial statements by the companies to the shareholders, stakeholders and other interested parties. The objective of these financial statements is to provide information about the reporting entitys financial performance and position that is useful to the wide range of users for assessing the stewardship of the entitys management and for making economic decisions. To be useful, this information must be represented faithfully, should be complete, prudent and free from material errors at least. The purpose of imposing regulations on accounting practices and setting standards is to fulfil the objectives of financial statements. In the accounting world there are several financial statements but the four main financial statements that are universally understood and prepared for most publically traded companies and many small and medium sized businesses are the income statement, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows, and the statement of retained earnings (sometimes referred to as shareholders’ equity). A fundamental ability to properly interpret the information these statements contain allows internal and external users to make a wide array of decisions affecting company operations and decisions on whether or not to invest. Users of financial statements look to the income statement to learn and assess a company’s performance over a set period of time, often a month or a year. This statement depicts the company’s revenues and expenses with the difference reflecting the net income (or loss) resulting from the firm’s business activities. The revenue will be broken down by the category from which it derived with expenses broken down in a similar fashion. Those most interested in a company’s income include shareholders, potential investors, banks (for the purpose of assessing past performance and potential loan risk), creditors, and executives charged with ensuring profitability for the business. The complexity of an income statement will vary based on that of the company from whence it derives and the depth of its business activities (www.accountingcoach.com). In larger corporations an accrual basis of  accounting is commonly used where revenues are recorded when the money is actually earned, as opposed to cash being received. Income Statement A firms revenues, gains, expenses and losses are listed on the income statement. Revenue is money earned from a company’s normal business operations. The expenses on the income statement are the costs associated with earning the revenue. When a company sells one of its assets, it can experience a capital gain or loss. Revenues minus expenses, plus gains minus losses, equal net income or net loss. The dollar amount of net income listed on the income statement is also found on the cash flow statement under the operating activities section. Balance Sheet The balance sheet includes the elements of the accounting equation: assets equal liabilities plus shareholders’ equity. The assets on a balance sheet are classified as either current or fixed assets. Current assets are the most liquid, meaning they easily convert to cash. Fixed assets are long-termed assets. Similar to assets, liabilities are also classified as current or long-term. Current liabilities include money owed to creditors in less than a year. Long-term liabilities are due in one year or later. Shareholders’ equity is the total amount of equity in the firm. The shareholders’ equity section of the balance sheet is explained in further detail on the statement of shareholders’ equity. Cash Flow Statement The cash flow statement shows the amount of cash within a company. Items that affect the cash balance are listed on the statement. The first section of the cash flow statement is operating activities, which shows the cash flowing in and out of the company in relation to its business operation. The operating activities section also includes net income and the change in dollars of certain accounts listed on the balance sheet. The next section, investing activities, shows cash the company received and spent on a companys capital investments. The financing activities section shows the inflows and outflows of cash related to the company’s issued financial securities, which is also listed on the balance sheet and statement of shareholders equity. Statement of Shareholders’ Equity This statement shows the changes in the shareholders’ equity account. The first line item is the beginning balance for common stock. The amount of newly issued common stock is added to the beginning balance to get the ending balance. The same goes for preferred stocks. Listed next is the beginning balance to retained earnings, which is also listed on the balance sheet. The net income listed on the income statement is added to the beginning retained earnings balance and the amount of dividends paid out to shareholders is subtracted to get the ending balance. The ending balance for common and preferred stock and the ending balance for retained earnings is added together to get the total of the shareholders’ equity.

External Influences on Health

External Influences on Health Recognize, survey and examine both immediate and aberrant effects on wellbeing the accompanying determinants have with respect to arranging, execution, and the assessment of wellbeing mediation. Demographic distribution of population. The demographic distribution influences the wellbeing straightforwardly and in a roundabout way. Here in New Zealand significant piece of the populace is existing in Auckland. The large portion of vagrants and other individuals are existing in the Auckland area. In this way, the prerequisite of wellbeing office is more in Auckland than different regions of New Zealand. The individuals require more wellbeing office in the urban range. In a few nations populace is high in some territory. In this way, it is hard to give hitter wellbeing office to everybody. In like manner, a few regions are not fitting clean due to the poor offices. It measurements likewise influences the wellbeing models. Some remote territories are far from the fundamental focus where we cant reach there on time to give the best human services offices in a crisis. In India there is more populace of adolescent age. While in New Zealand there are around 50,000 individuals of seniority with the issue of the dementia. Acc ording to one overview it will be around 1, 20,000 following 16 years. Thus, it will be a tremendous issue for the nation to handle it. Political values. Democratization is a crucial to ensure the energy about human rights, social value and worth. As we enter the third thousand years the strategy of democratization is spreading to more countries. The progression, in any case, is reasonably direct. Progress in wellbeing ethics to accomplish quality and reverence human honorability should not to hold up. Attempts to finish esteem in human administrations are ordinarily welcomed even by the most genuine organizations. Pioneers expect an unequivocal part in accepting good guidelines in wellbeing mindfulness that ensure worth, value and adoration for people. Political qualities dosage influence the wellbeing in distinctive way. Political gathering needs to choose the medicinal plan. Moreover, government choose which medication can be sold and which cant be sold in the nation. The political party additionally chooses the expense of the medication and medications free of charge solution. Case in point, in New Zealand natives get free medicat ions after a few solutions. The administration likewise chooses about the healing facility. Quantities of doctors facilities and zone of the healing centre has been chosen by the political party. Political values additionally impacts on the quantity of the restorative and nursing staff introduce in the health awareness unit. Capability of the staff additionally chooses by the administration for the clinics and medicinal services units. Government sets a portion of the criteria additionally for the holding up for an arrangement. Political qualities measurement likewise consequences for the expense of treatment. Like in India treatment of real ailments like tumor, AIDS is free of expense in government clinics. Along these lines, political values additionally have influenced the general wellbeing. Religious beliefs. Religious is the gauge for keep up the wellbeing. Like different religious have their own particular convictions for keep up wellbeing. According to Hinduism individuals like to take plant pharmaceutical instead of visit the specialist. Ayurveda is the book from which Hindu get thoughts to cure the sickness. Hindu individuals accept that they have wellbeing issues as a result of their awful things (Karma) they did. For the Muslim religious there are additionally diverse convictions for the wellbeing issue. Muslim individuals like to consume home sustenance amid their hospitalization. For the customary solution they like to go to Hakim rather than specialists. The populace of Africa are more cognizant about proliferation. In this way, they welcome the sicknesses like AIDS by having the dangerous sex. A large portion of universal individual’s utilization to do appeal to God for recuperation rather than pharmaceutical. The goal of Buddhist practice is to make the mind to its full est potential which incorporates the perfection of sensitivity and learning. Extraordinary success incorporates making a tolerant identity and working with the torment of disorder and death in a maximally perfect way. Buddhist church, and likewise lay specialists are open to help the people who are charmed by these practices. Human values Ethics are grounded on socio-social, philosophical or religious sentiments of what are extraordinary or wickedness. Ethics is considered as the effort to find sensible defence for perceiving what is right or wrong in human exercises and ways of life. In this adoration, ethics is an augmentation between wellbeing game plan and qualities, where qualities are seen as assistants and protections people use for picking destinations, needs and measures. Ethics investigations the moral authenticity of the choice. Quality incorporates both philosophy and conclusion. An operational philosophy would be to assess the impact of specific wellbeing decisions on quality and to ensure that decisions taken do enhance esteem. The progression and affirmation of human rights and of restorative administrations are in a wide sense interfaced. The right of the single individual to get right information empowered authorizing the essential information checks on cigarettes realizing a positive wellbeing and fi scal influence. There has been a creating penchant of late to minimize the inconvenience of social protection on individual human rights. Ethnicity. Ethnicity is a principle thought impacting the soundness of individuals and gatherings. Ethnicity (or ethnic social occasion) delineate various national differences in the way that ethnic get-togethers are delineated, and there is close general assentation that ethnicity is a socially created identity, and not an innately chose and continuing assurance which chooses conduct and the attributes of the individual, things being what they are, enrolment of an ethnic get-together is at risk to gather certain specific wellbeing dangers and needs. For example, the anticoagulation drug carbamazepine now and again causes genuine and even deadly medicine reactions in people of Asian plunge. Clearly, these drug reactions might at present happen in people who are not Asian, and they may not happen in all people of Asian drop. Yet knowing has any sort of impact in how your pro methodologies arrangements. Traditions. All traditions have frameworks of wellbeing feelings to clear up what causes affliction, how it could be cured or treated, and who should be incorporated the entire time. The extent to which patients see calm guideline as having social centrality for them can have a noteworthy effect on their get-together to information gave and their capacity to use it. Western industrialized social requests, for instance, the United States, which see contamination as an eventual outcome of trademark sensible phenomena, advocate therapeutic pharmaceuticals that fight microorganisms or use complex designing to diagnose and treat affliction. Diverse social requests acknowledge that infection is the delayed consequence of supernatural phenomena and push appeal to God or other significant mediations that counter the accepted disfavor of viable powers. Conventional issues accept a genuine part in patient consistence. One study exhibited that a social event of Cambodian adults with immaterial formal prepa ring endeavored huge consultations to take after treatment however did so in a manner unsurprising with their fundamental understanding of how arrangements and the body work. Various African-Americans share in a general public that focuses on the centrality of family and church. There are widened association bonds with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, or individuals who are not naturally related yet who accept a key part in the family schema. Typically, a key relative is directed for key wellbeing related decisions. The assemblage is a vital help steady system for some African-Americans. Identify, assess and discuss both direct and indirect impacts on health the following public attitudes have with regards to planning, implementation, and the evaluation of health interventions. Personality, Attitudes and Health What is Personality? â€Å"We bring our identity with us wherever we go to work, school, in our connections†¦ and so on. Indeed our identities are reflected in all that we do. They are reflected in the TV shows we like to watch, the sustenance’s we consume, the sum we drink, our pastimes, political affiliations So it would just bode well that our identity would affect the route in which we decide to deal with our wellbeing and the way we respond to sickness. What is an attitude? The way you contemplate or act towards some person or something Attitudes Towards Tobacco Control: Context: smoke free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Act 2011: Removal of purpose of-offer tobacco item shows: retailers must verify that tobacco items cant be seen by clients in their store. Retailers sees on Tobacco Control Measures and Their Effectiveness (changed perspectives): Most retailers thought the evacuation of tobacco presentations would diminish smoking, and debilitate youngsters from taking up smoking. Different retailers communicated enthusiasm toward giving extra backing to clients who are attempting to stop. A significant number of the retailers backed further tobacco control measures. Most were not restricted to the thought of it being necessary for tobacco merchants to additionally offer quit-supports like Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) including patches, gums. Tobacco industry has anticipated that uprooting tobacco item shows will bring about budgetary misfortunes for retailers and an increment in robberies and security issues. Attitudes Towards Smoking: Overview gathered information to portray staff reactions to articulations identifying with doctors facility smoking: Most (88%) wanted to work in a without smoke environment, in spite of the fact that this was altogether lower in smokers contrasted with non-smokers (39% versus 95%). While most staff felt that the smoke free environment had a positive effect on the wellbeing of patients (86%) and on themselves (79%), smokers were essentially more averse to concur. Smoking boycott can bring about positive wellbeing results for patients and staff, and may impact some staff to stop. Test is the way to convince the individuals who smoke. Analyse and talk about the different impacts that the collaboration between social, social and national and worldwide arrangement may have on the arranging, usage, and assessment of wellbeing intercessions in New Zealand. Patients of Indian Origin: Aged patients expect conscious and respectful treatment as their due. Numerous patients may wear religious stuff which ought to never be evacuated or cut without the assent of the patient or relative including exceptional dress (tupi, a religious top worn by Muslims), hallowed decorations (mangalsutra). Rehearsing Hindus or Sikhs put stock in resurrection – Older patients may accept that diseases are the consequence of terrible karma from past lives thus may be less slanted to hold fast to biomedical regimen Patients of Filipino Origin: Traditional Filipino methodologies coordinate ideas of disease as being the part of malevolence spirits or witches demanding discipline for wrongful deeds. Filipino idea of wellbeing is focused around the guideline of equalization – Tim bang. Particular issue are seen to be brought about by an abundance admission of one sort of sustenance. Chilly sustenance’s, for example, numerous foods grown from the ground may achieve disease and pallor. Many seniors utilize a double arrangement of human services, mixing advanced pharmaceutical with traditional practices and standards. Filial devotion and admiration for seniors is exceptionally solid in Filipino families. Families may be hope to be included and may hope to be furnished with significant data in regards to treatment plans. Patients of Africa and Zimbabwe: Perspectives of men and ladies who accepted they were potential conceptive disappointments by not having the socially expected numbers and sorts of youngsters in Zimbabwe. The implications of conceptive disappointment and their connections to neighbourhood convictions and society, sexual conduct and sex characters, and HIV counteractive action. A distraction with origination undermined the selection of what are right now viewed as more secure sexual practices. In looking to overcome what was seen as conceptive disappointment, men, and ladies to a lesser degree, participate in unprotected sex with various simultaneous and serial accomplices. Such practices are given significance by long-held nearby convictions concerning the imperativeness of childbearing for people and for the more extensive group. Traditional Filipino methodologies incorporate ideas of sickness as being the part of malice spirits or witches demanding discipline for wrongful deeds. Filipino idea of wellbeing is focused around the standard of equalization – Tim bang. Particular issue are seen to be brought about by an abundance admission of one sort of sustenance. Frosty sustenance’s, for example, numerous products of the soil may realize malignancy and weakness. Traditions, Religion and Health: Implications for Health Policy Planning, Implementation and Evaluation. Tradition and Culture: Wellbeing policymaking, execution and assessment must be educated by the social and conventional connections Well-being data that is socially proper to its target group is more successful than data that disregards society Conventional medications must be regarded. Recognize social, religious practices from the place where you grew up and layout how they may affect on wellbeing policymaking and execution. References Retrieved from http://www.humiliationstudies.org/documents/GabrHealthEthics.pdf Retrieved from http://www.ucema.edu.ar/u/je49/capital_humano/Murphy_Topel_JPE.pdf Retrieved from https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/cornwallanddavey.pdf Retrieved from http://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/physiology/docs/Belief%20and%20Traditions%20that%20impact%20the%20Latino%20Healthcare.pdf A Buddhist Approach to Patient Health Care Kusala Bhikshu. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma8/health.html Assessing the impact of political, economic, socio-cultural, environmental and other external influences | Health Knowledge. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/organisation-management/5b-understanding-ofs/assessing-impact-external-influences The effects of religious beliefs on the health c [Nurse Pract. 1986] PubMed NCBI. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3446212 Ethnicity and health Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia. (n.d.). RetrievedOctober1, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnicity_and_health How culture influences health beliefs. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.euromedinfo.eu/how-culture-influences-health-beliefs.html/ How Your Ancestry and Ethnicity Affect Your Health — Health Hub from Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/03/how-your-ancestry-and-ethnicity-affect-your-health/

Joy Luck Club - The Struggles of Life :: essays papers

Joy Luck Club - The Struggles of Life A giant total has been assessed onto an assignment. The team has spent weeks of preparation. In moments the presentation of this project will commence. But, some team members aren't ready. The whole project crumbles and ultimately results in a failure. Disciplined workers have no control over it, but they must overcome this obstacle. Only this way can they become better people and know how to handle similar situations in the future. People must overcome hardships to have stronger personalities, just like the women in Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club. People learn from their mistakes. For Suyuan Woo, she over packed and failed to make it to a relief area. "After a while, she left the suitcases behind, keeping only the food and a few clothes. And later she also dropped the bags of wheat flour and rice^ ." (p. 324). After leaving all this, she continued, but she was already too fatigued to walk anymore. Her energy was burned up from her body, like fossil fuel from the Earth. Finally, too much was used. She learned that no one could ever take everything with them. They must make sacrifices to survive. An-mei Hsu survived a great hardship, like when hot soup scorched her young neck, leaving her with a scar. "I could not speak because of this terrible choking feeling. I could not see because of all the tears that poured out to wash away the pain." (p. 39). Her tender skin survived the intense heat, and her character developed. When she was older, another crisis erupted when her mother killed herself with opium. At this point, Wu-Tsing's house was nothing, only a hive of polygamy. From this, she learned that she could gain respect that her mother could never fully achieved. "And on that day, I showed Second Wife the fake pearl necklace she had given me and crushed it under my foot. And on that day, Second Wife's hair began to turn white. And on that day, I learned to shout." (p. 272). She resisted, and refused to succumb to the pressures in her life. Planned marriages were a common practice when the Joy Luck mothers were still young. For instance, when Lindo was 12, she was forced to marry into a very harsh family. From it, she learned patience. Soon, after her marriage, she longed to be free again. "On the morning of that day, I woke up Tyan-Yu and the entire house with my wailing. It took Huang Taitai a long time to come into my room.

The Japanese Internment :: history

The Japanese Internment During World War II, Canada was at war with Germany and Italy. Canada was fighting to protect the lifestyle that its citizens had become accustomed to. The soldiers in WW II gave their lives for the good of their great nation. Canada was also facing a major threat in the Pacific. The threat was the powerful nation of Japan. To that point in time Japan was the strongest military force that the world had ever seen. The Japanese government was strongly influenced by military leaders who were in favor of an expansion of Japanese power in the Pacific through military means. Japan had been sweeping through such strong military forces as China, Australia and Britain (Hong Kong). Japan was a major threat in World War Two to a lot of countries. Then when japan bombed Pearl Harbor in a surprise attack against the Americans. The Canadian government had to move quickly to protect its borders. The Canadian government decided that it was best that the Japanese be moved inland away from the coast. This was done for two main reasons, one to prevent spying and sabotage and secondly to protect the Japanese from anti-Asian violence. This decision was not only for the good of the country but also for the good of the Japanese people. The government made the right decision for the matter at hand. It is true that the Canadian Government noted that "no Japanese in Canada has been suspected of or linked to, an act of sabotage or espionage". Also in a RCMP investigation, the Japanese in Canada were not considered a real threat but the assessment was conducted before the country of Japan was officially in World War Two. These reports would have been outdated as the ideas and beliefs of the Japanese could have changed once Japan was at war with the world. People changed their views during times of change. As Japan officially entered W.W.II many passions of the people may have changed. The Canadian Government was faced with the treat of this possible change. If the Japanese were to roam free during this time, what is to say that a small group of loyal Japanese could not have started a subversive group? The Japanese government could have also paid some of the Japanese's in Canada substantial amounts of money to spy for them. Although many Japanese living in Canada would be patriotic to Canadian cause, there would be some that would align themselves with Japan, which could be seen as a potential threat to Canada.

The Moonstone Essay -- essays research papers fc

Alexandra Lloyd What role did 19th Century popular serial novels such as Wilkie Collins’ The Moonstone play in British understandings of India? When Wilkie Collins first wrote The Moonstone in 1868, it was not published in the form available today, but was published in instalments in a popular Victorian magazine, All the Year Round. Upon its first publication it was eagerly read by the general British public, for its readership not only included the ruling and upper classes, but the cost and availability meant that a copy would have a wide circulation amongst all members of a household. The tale’s images and ideas of India thus reached many social groups in British culture. To Wilkie Collins, the gem, part of whose history we follow in The Moonstone, the novel of the same name, is the signifier of all things that humanity strives for, material and spiritual. He begins the novel by demonstrating that the history of the Moonstone gem is a history of thefts. In having his initial narrator state "that crime brings its own fatality with it" (p.6 Ch. IV of the prologue), Collins underscores the fact that nemesis attends every worldly expropriator of the Moonstone, which to its temporary European possessors is a bauble and a commodity but which to its faithful guardians, the Brahmins, is a sacred artefact beyond price. The Moonstone is never really English or England's, for the novel begins with an account of its various thefts. It opens in India with Rachel Verinder’s Uncle Herncastle's purloining the gem in battle (the opening lines are specifically "written in India"(p.1)) and closes with Murthwaite, the famed fictional explorer's, account (dated 1850) of the restoration of the gleaming "yellow Diamond"(p.466) to the forehead of the Hindu deity of the Moon "after the lapse of eight centuries"(p.466, "The Statement of Mr. Murthwaite"). The date of Murthwaite's account of the restoration of the diamond may be ironic, for in 1850 a Sikh maharajah, exiled from Indian after the Anglo-Sikh War of 1848-9, presented a gem, which is thought to be the ... ...l conciliation and transcendent faith if India were to arise from bloody, mutually destructive, strife and take her rightful place in the society of nations. Today, Collins's The Moonstone may be viewed not as a response to a national insurgency and/or European determination to keep the native in his place, but rather as a love story between two people who only come to see each other for what they are after misjudgements, misunderstandings, accidental and intended deceptions, and considerable self-sacrifice. Bibliography Page references to passages from The Moonstone come from the Oxford University Press, 1999 edition of the novel. Collins, Wilkie. The Moonstone. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1999. Sutherland, John. â€Å"Introduction and A Note on the Composition† Wilkie Collins’ The Moonstone. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1999. Stewart, J. I. M. â€Å"A Note on Sources.† Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone. Harmondsworth, Penguin, 1966, rpt. 1973. Pp. 527-8. Fraser, Antonia, ed. The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1975. Peters, Catherine. The King of the Inventors: A Life of Wilkie Collins. London, Minerva, 1991.

International Aspirations of an Emerging Market Firm

International Aspirations of an Emerging Market Firm Arcadia, a Turkish appliance manufacturer controlled by Turkeys largest conglomerate company named Crock Group. From the beginning, Recall products more than half of Turkeys appliances, including air conditioners, dishwashers machines, cooking appliances, and refrigerators. But since trade barriers declined in sass and sass, many competitors such as SSH, Hairier, General Electronic, Whirlpool, and Electrocute were threatening Recalls market share.In global household appliance industry, consumers tend to view home appliances as commodities, and often value low prices. Some applicants carry small profit and have long life span, using automated manufacturing plants and low-cost labor Is only help in short run for the manufacturers. In order to sell in premium price and increase profit margins, some appliance makers differentiate their product by Innovative, value-added technology and features. However, innovation is costly. Which caus ed most major appliance manufacturers began to globalize (Cassavas, Knight, & Rosenberg, 2008, up. 277-278).Arcadia sees its best prospect In emerging, fast-growing markets in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Perhaps Singapore could be one of those markets that allow Arcadia to be a lead player in the industry as its aims. Issues Economic in Singapore. Singapore economic is the first issue that attracts Arcadia to enter Into this emerging market. Singapore GAP shows Gingersnap's buying power, which also affects Arsenic's products. Analysis Economic in Singapore. According to Political Risk Yearbook: Singapore Country Report stated; â€Å"real GAP growth for the second quarter of 2010 surged to anIncreasable rate of nearly 19%, on top of registering nearly 1 7% growth in the first quarter, and that performance has now positioned Singapore to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world. † (2010, p. 4). Singapore is one of the world's leading business centers an d a major destination for foreign Investment. The first reason Is monetary stability In Singapore Is good. Second, the legal and regulatory framework for the financial sector is transparent and efficient. The government influence in the sector is gradually being reduced.Third, anti-corruption laws are strong and well enforced. Moreover, foreign and domestic Investors are treated equally, and openness to global commerce fosters competitiveness. With prudent and sound banking practices, the financial sector has weathered the global financial turbulence relatively well (Miller and Holmes, Para. 3). These should be good enough reasons to attract Arcadia entering Singapore market. Issues Singapore Consumer Lifestyle. The second Issue that Recall need to know before doing business in Singapore Is consumer lifestyle.In order to know which products appropriate to consumer lifestyle in Singapore, Arcadia should be marketed precisely; ongoing research in Singapore consumer lifestyle will defi nitely help Arcadia reaching their goal. Analysis Singapore Consumer Lifestyle. According to Global Marketing Information Database (GIMP), point out that Singapore have their busy lifestyle. They spend more time on working, and spending less time in other thing else. As Gingersnaps become busier, the demand for convenience has been on the rise. Thus, the household appliances should sales something that help Singapore save time such as microwaves and freezers.As Gingersnaps workers have less time for grocery hopping, having a freezer will help them to purchase more food. Likewise, microwaves will be great help to save time in cooking for Singapore busy worker. Moreover, Singapore is very attuned to high-technology lifestyles, and technology- based products and services are extremely popular. On the other hand, over the short-term the economic downturn will drive many consumers to be much more discerning, and they will search hard for the best deals (GIMP, 2011, Para. 1-13). Commercia l risks in Singapore.The last issue that Arcadia need to study carefully is attention risks in Singapore, including country risks or political risks, cross-cultural risks, commercial risks, and currency risks. Although Singapore has lower rate of corruption than other Asian countries and its Singapore Dollar (SAG) is quite strong, there is commercial risks that need to be considered. Analysis Commercial risks in Singapore. Although the Business Monitor International mentioned that the Singapore Dollar (SAG) is safe, there are commercial risks in Singapore.From Smog's information, Arcadia may adapt its products, prices, and promotions in order to minimize commercial risks while doing business in Singapore. In addition, there are several competitors who already have niches in Singapore should appliances market share such as, LEG Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung, and Careful. In order to compete with those strong competitors, Arcadia could apply its advantage, which is its knowledge of how to produce products for lower-income countries. â€Å"It operates 11 manufacturing plants in Turkey, Romania, Russia and China.Arcadia is a member of the Koch Group of companies, which holds a majority stake in the company. † (Denominator, 2010, p. 50). All those manufacturing plants allow Arcadia to produce appliances less expensively than some competitors. The retailers in Singapore are also important to Arcadias business. The main retail chains selling home appliances in Singapore are Harvey Norman, Best Dense, Courts and Gain City. Large department stores such as Tasmania and Siesta also carry a variety of major brands of home appliances.Conclusion Arcadia should expect to be better in emerging market such as, Singapore because this county offers good opportunity to household appliance businesses. Singapore has strong position in economic and continuously growth in household occupants. Arcadia should be attracted by consumer demand by households. In order to maximize company performance, Arcadia could study Singapore consumer life style and adapts its products to meet Gingersnap's demands. Reclaim has strong distribution network with close to 4,500 dealers in Turkey and 366 aboard.

Night World : Huntress Chapter 5

The male childs light fuzz was longish, travel eerywhere his forehead in disarray. He had a n frost face, stern, besideswith an unexpected dimpled chad in his chin that gave him a virtu on the wholeywhat mischievous look. His body was nicelymuscled b atomic number 18ly compact sales boothing, Jez knew, hed be no t whollyer than she. in that respect was a large bump access upon his forehead, conscionable chthonic the f every last(predicate)ing tomentum. The ghoul had probably slammed him against any(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal)thing.Jez jumped up and got a blue plastic transfuse full of water from her nightstand. She grabbed a whitened T-shirtfrom the floor and dipped it into the water, thusly she gently brushed back the hair from the boysforehead.It was silky under her fingers. Even softer than she would bugger dour estimate. Jez kept her face expressionless(prenominal)and began to pass across his face with the damp cloth.He didnt stir. Jezs heart, w hich was already thumping distinctly, speeded up. She correspondingwisek a deep soupconand kept wiping.Finally, although it probably didnt pull in anything to do with the water, the boys dark eyelashes moved.He coughed, br coursehed, blinked, and looked at her. backing spread through Jez. Dont see to tantalize up yet.Thats what they all say, he agreed, and sit down up. He project a present to his head and groaned. Jez steadiedhim.Im fine, he utter. further tell the room to check up on moving. He looked roughly the room, bunked again and shortly seemed to focus. He grabbed her ramp up, his eyes wide. Something followed me-A ghoul. Its dead.He let forbidden his breath. and so he smiled wryly. You save my life.And I dont even charge, Jez utter, embarrassed. No, I hateful(a) it. His smile faded and he looked true at her. Thank you.Jez could feel passionateness trying to rise to her face, and she had a heavy time holding his gaze. His eyes were ancient and so enth usiastic-fathomless. Her skin was tingling.She looked away and said evenly, We should earn you to a infirmary. You might have a concussion.No. Im okay. Let me comely see if I empennage stand up.When she opened her m poph to protest, he added, Jez, you dont sock wherefore Im here. It cant wait.He was right Jez had been so intent on acquiring him sure that she hadnt even wondered what hewas doing here. She looked at him for a moment, and indeed nodded. She championed him up, and let go of his armwhen she maxim he could stand without falling over.See, Im fine. He carewisek a few steps, then made a circuit of the room, liberalisation his muscles. Jez watchedhim narrowly, ready to grab him if he fell. simply he walked steadily except for a slight preventative.And that wasnt from his encounter with the ghoul tonight, Jez knew. Hed had the limp from childhood,from when the werewolves took his family.How hed been able to get over that and total round of drinks dawn, Jez w ould neer know.Hed bemused his parents or so as young as she had. Hed lost his two sisters and his brother, too. His entirefamily had been on a camping trip atLake Tahoe , when in the mediate of the night theyd been feeleredby a consume of werewolves. Renegade wolves, hunting illegally because nighttime initiation law wouldnt let them erase as often as they liked. dear like Jezs old gang.The wolves had ripped through theDavis familys tents and killed the adult male, one, two, three. well-off asthat. The only one they unexpended a recognize was seven-year-old Hugh, because he was too fine to have untold meaton his body. They had just settled down to eat the hearts and livers of their victims, whensuddenly the one too little to be worth take was dashing at them with a homemade torch constructed ofkerosene-soaked underwear wrapped around a stick. He was withal wafture a silver cross on a chain thewerewolves had torn from his sisters neck. cardinal things werewolves dont like silver and fire. The little boy was attacking with both. The wolvesdecided to kill him.Slowly.They roughly did it. They man geezerhoodd to chew one of his legs almost off before a park ranger arrived,attracted by the spreading fire from the dropped torch.The ranger had a gun, and the fire was getting out of control. The wolves left.Hugh almost died of blood loss on the way to the hospital. But he was a tough kid. And a very pert one. He didnt even try to excuse to anybody what hed beendoing with the silver necklace. He knew they would n of all time imagine him if he said hed suddenlyremembered a bunch of past lives, including one where hed seen a werewolf killed.Hugh Davis was an one-time(a) Soul.And a wakened darkened Soul, which was even much rare. It scared Jez a little. He was mankind and she wasfrom the iniquity World, merely she didnt pretend to understand the magic that brought some pieces backagain and again, reincarnating them in new bodies. Letting them r emember all their past lifetimes, makingthem smarter and more than unclouded either time they were born.In Hughs case, also gentler every time. In spite of the attack on his family, when he got out of thehospital the first thing he did was try to find some nighttime pot. He knew they werent all bad. He knewsome of them would help him determine the werewolves from put uping anyone else.Fortunately, the first raft he found were from diffuse Daybreak.Circles were enthral organizations, simply Circle Daybreak was for humans and lamias and shapeshiftersand werewolves, too. It was an underground society, as secret at bottom the Night World as the NightWorld was secret within the human world. It went against the most basic tenets of Night World law thathumans were non to be told some the Night World, and that Night People shouldnt fall in love withhumans. Circle Daybreak was weight-lifting to unite everybody, to stop the killings, and to bring peacebetween the races.Jez wis hed them luck.She suddenly realized that Hugh had stopped walking and was feel at her. She blinked and focused,furious with herself for her slip in concentration. As a huntress-of vampires or anything else-you stayed spruce all the time, or you were dead.You were miles away, Hugh said softly. His gray eyes were calm except intense as always. That look OldSouls get when theyre reading you, Jez thought.She said, Sorry. Um, do you want some ice for that bump?No, I like it. Im pretending of getting one on the other side, to match. He sat on the bed, serious again.Really, Ive got some stuff to relieve to you, and its going to take a while.Jez didnt sit. Hugh, I think you desire it. And I inquire to take a shower or my aunt will get suspicious about(predicate) what Im doing in here for so long. Besides, the smell is driving me crazy. Although she couldntuse her vampire powers without bringing on the bloodlust, her senses were still much more acute than ahumans.Eau de body snatche r? And I was just starting to bang it. Hugh nodded at her, switching from gentle temper togentle gravity as always. You need to do what will keep your screen here. I shouldnt be so impatient.Jez took the fast-paced shower of her life, then dressed in clean clothes shed brought to the bathroom. Asshe returned tamp downing a glassful of ice from the kitchen and a washcloth, she saw that Claires bedroomdoor was ajar and Claire was observance her narrowly.Jez raised the glass in a mock toast, and slipped into her own bedroom. Here. She made an ice pack and handed it to Hugh. He original it docilely. Now, what is it thats sourgent? And how come youre so popular with ghouls all of a sudden?Instead of answering, Hugh looked into a middle distance. He was bracing himself for something. Finallyhe bring down the ice pack and looked straight at her. You know I care about you. If anything happened to you, I dont know what Id do. And if anythinghappened because of me He move his head.Je z told her heart to get down where it belonged. It was malleus in her throat, choking her. She kepther illustration flat as she said, Thanks.Something like hurt flashed in his eyes and was gone instantly. You dont think I mean it.Jez still stave flatly, in a clipped, hurried voice. She wasnt pricy at talking about activated stuff. Hugh,look. You were my first human friend. When I came to live here, nobody at Circle Daybreak would haveanything to do with me. I dont demonic them-not after the things my gang did to humans. But it was unsaidbecause they wouldnt even talk to me, much less arrogance me, and they wouldnt recollect I treasured to helpthem. And then you showed up that twenty- quaternary hours after school. And you did talk to me-And I did trust you, Hugh said. And I still do. He looked removed again. I thought you were thesaddest person Id ever seen, and the most beautiful-and the bravest. I knew you wouldnt betray CircleDaybreak.And thats why I love you, Jez tho ught before she could stop herself. It was easier to live with if shedidnt put it into words.Because it was hopeless, of course. You couldnt hang on to an Old Soul. nonentity could-not unlessthey were one of those tiny fraction of the great unwashed who were soulmates. Wakened Old Souls were tooold. They knew too much, had seen too much to get attached to any one person.Much less a person who was tainted with vampire blood.So all she said was I know. Thats why I work with Circle Daybreak. Because you convince them Iwasnt some kind of grass for the Night World. I owe you, Hugh. And-I rely you care about me.Because you care about everybody, she added silently.Hugh nodded, but he didnt look any happier. Its about something dangerous. Something I dont wantto gestate you to do. He dug into his jeans pocket and came up with a thick packet of what looked likefolded newspaper articles. He held it out to her.Jez took it, frowned, then paged through the first few articles. Headlines jump ed out at her.Four-year old dies in coyote attack. depict heatwave in Midwest degree centigrades hospitalized. baffleconfesses I killed my babies. Mystery virus erupts in eastern U.S. Scientists baffled. at that place were lots more, but she didnt look at them. She looked at Hugh, her eyebrows bony together.Thanks for sharing this. Am I supposed to fight the coyote or the virus? His lips smiled, but his eyes were deep and frighteningly sad. Nobody can fight whats hazard-at least not in the cut-and-dried way. And all thats just the beginning.Of what? She loved Hugh, but sometimes she cute to strangle him. Old Souls loved being mysterious.Have you find the weather lately? Its either floods or droughts. Record cold days in winter, recordheat in the summer. Record number of hurricanes and tornadoes. Record snowfall and hail. It just getspreternaturaler and spiritualer every year.Well-sure. Jez shrugged. They talk about it on TV all the time. But it doesnt mean any-And the earths being disturbed, too. Earthquakes. Volcanoes. Last year four dormant volcanoeserupted and in that respect were dozens of study quakes.Jez narrowed her eyes. OkayAnd theres another weird thing, even though its not as obvious. You have to kind of dig a little to get tothe statistics. Theres been an increase in animal attacks all over the world. exclusively kinds of animals. Hetapped the pile of newspaper articles. This coyote attack-a couple of years ago you never heard aboutcoyotes killing kids. however like you never heard of raft lions attacking adults. But now its happening,and its happening everywhere.Prickles of unease were going up Jezs arms. It was true, what Hugh was saying. non that shed paidmuch attention to the human news when she was a vampire-but it did seem as if animal attacks weregetting more frequent.A bunch of elephants stomped their trainers last year, she said slowly. pass over attacks are up four hundred percent, Hugh said. According to the California stat e police. InNew Mexico theres an epidemic of rabid bats. In Florida theyve had seven tourists killed by alligatorssince last January-and deal me, that information was hard to find. Nobody wanted to report itI bet.Then there are the insects. Were seeing more and more people get attacked by them. cause of death bees. Fireants. Tiger mosquitoes-and, no, Im not joking. Theyre for real, and they carry dengue fever, a actually fearsome disease.HughWhich brings me to diseases. You have to have observe that. There are new diseases popping up allover. Ebola. Mad cow disease. That zoophagous bacteria. Hanta viruses. Lassa. Crimean-Congohemorrhagic fever. You bleed from your ears and nose and oral cavity and into the whites of your eyes-Jez opened her mouth to say Hugh again, but he was racing on, his chest raise and falling quickly, hisgray eyes almost feverish.And theyre resistant to antibiotics the same way that the insects are resistant to pesticides. Theyre all mutating. Changing. Getting stronger and more deadly. And-Hugh. She got it in while he took a breath.-theres a hole in the ozone. He looked at her. What?What does it all mean?It essence that things are changing. Spiraling out of control. head for He stopped and lookedat her. Jez, its not those things themselves that are the problem. Its whats behind them. And what isbehind them? Hugh said simply, The Old Powers are rising. Chills swept over Jez. The Old Powers.The Ancient Magic that had controlled the institution in the old days of the Night World. No one could seeor know the Old Powers they were forces of nature, not people. And they had been quiescence like giantdragons for thousands of years ever since humans had gained control of the world. If they were wakingup again nowIf magic was approach shot back again, everything would change.It shows in different weird ways, Hugh went on. Night People are getting more powerful. Lots of themhave noticed it. And they say the soulmate principle is back.Th e soulmate principle. The idea that for every person there was one destine soulmate, one true love,and that the two souls were bounce for eternity. Jez lifted her shoulders and dropped them withoutmeeting Hughs eyes. Yeah, I heard. Dont believe it, though.Ive seen it, Hugh said, and for a moment Jezs heart stopped. Then it started again as he continued, Inother people, I mean. Ive seen people our age who found their soulmate, and its really true you can seeit in their eyes. The Old Powers really are rising, Jez for good and for evil. Thats whats behind allthese other changes.Jez sat very still. And so what happens if they keep rising?What happens is Hugh paused and then looked at her. It means a time of iniquity is coming, hesaid simply.A time-?Of serious darkness. The worst. Were talking the end of the world, here.Jez could feel goose pimple on the back of her neck, where her wet hair touched her skin. She might havebeen tempted to put-on if it were anybody else telling her th is. But it was Hugh, and he wasnt joking. Shehad no desire to laugh.But then its all over, she said. Theres nothing we can do. How can anybody stop the end of theworld?Well. He ran a quick hand through his hair, move it off his forehead. Thats why Im here. BecauseIm hoping you can.