Blindness in Richard Wrights Native Son Essay -- Native Son Essays

Blindness in Richard Wrights Native word of honor Does it seem sometimes as if people are ignorant to other feelings? Have you of all time had a friend get away with something or toy with someones thoughts to benefit him or her? Similar types of blindness occur in the novel Native Son by Richard Wright (1940). The story starts in the Great Depression with a poor black family waking up to a foot long rat in their one room apartment. bigger, the main character, and his younger brother Buddy narrowly kill it without bodily harm. Bigger is supposed to start a job for a rich white man as a chauffeur. Bigger has never really interacted with white people before and is not wanting to be there. by and by an accident on his first day, he kills the mans daughter and throws her body into their furnace, severing her head from her body to make it fit. He acts like he didnt do anything and craftily puts the blame on Jan, her communist boyfriend, while leaving a ransom note. It almost works unti l the media finds remnants of her bones in the ashes of the fire. Bigger believes that he will be blamed and runs away with his girlfriend, who he also ends up killing. He ends up being cornered by a mob of white people and interpreted to jail. His trial is fast and unjust, but he is convicted regardless of the surprising help of Jan and his lawyer. During the course of the novel, there are many instances where people were blinded by the actions of others or did not realize that their actions were negatively affecting their own lives. The following will better explain and demonstrate this. When Bigger first meets Mary, he instantly hates her for her ignorance in prodding him when all he wants is to be left along. Her blindness about his thoughts and feelings makes him hat... ...nd pray because she thinks she is only drunk. This is may be considered somewhat ironic. However, Bigger could also be considered blind in this situation because he doesnt see what he is doing and how it wil l eventually end his own life.There are other instances where Richard Wright uses blindness as a symbol. Bigger considers the whites blind of blacks and blacks blind of freedom after he kills. During the entire story, the reader senses that Bigger is lost in life. He never understand why he acts the way he does until his lawyer, Max, explains to him why whites seclude blacks and why blacks naturally push back. In the end, everyone is blind for one reason or another. Work Cited Native Son Native Son Richard Wright. 30 April 2004. Barnes & Noble. <http//www.sparknotes.com/ Wright, Richard. Native Son. New York Harper & Row, 1966.

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest :: essays research papers fc

QUESTIONWas Forman compelled to change the point of fool in his adaptation of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest?ANSWERForman was compelled to change the point of view in adapting the book into a film.REASONINGA.In the book brain Bromdens thoughts go from stark reality and understanding to dreams and visions which would be difficult for an hearing to follow.B.The confusion created by the Chiefs switches from reality to fantasy is possible in literary form due(p) to the amount of detail and analysis, which can be put down on paper. However, this is impossible for a director to stick the said(prenominal) understanding and depth in a two-hour film. C.Chief Bromdens thoughts and h allucinations, which are the narration in the book, are erratic and crazy when not compared and elaborated. In a film, it is not always possible to clarify on the type of details found in the book.D.There is not enough time nor is it possible to elucidate into the amount of detail which Ken Kesey goes into in the book. This is due to the fact that Chief Bromden starts out playing deaf and dumb and even when he does begin to talk it is not in great amounts or details. In order to capture the heart of the story a director would have to use a broader narration, which a diverse audience could understand.E.A book allows for great amounts of details due to the depth of words and the imagery they can evoke in a readers mind. There is not enough time in a film for all the detail of a book to come out and explain every single character to an audience, which needs to be constantly entertained to keep their focus.CITATIONSThis is an autobiographic reference to how Ken Kesey came to write One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and the processes, which made it realistic and fantastical at the same time.But also at the same time Bromden is an unreliable witness he is also an extremely reliable one. We feel he tells us the truth about McMurphy in fact, he tells it with such penetration and insight that i t has a consistent and coherent shape and meaning for us. The combination of hallucination and truth in the narration is a notable stylistic accomplishment. Fact and fantasy alternate, but the reader has no difficulty distinguishing one from the other, and thus they successfully complement each other.

Music Therapy and Depression Essay -- Music Therapy and Mood Disorders

Introduction There are many studies that show how euphony therapy helps people with clime disorders. People with depression can benefit from music therapy because through music therapy they can lessen the symptoms of depression. In the studies and cases that will be mentioned we can see that music therapy is effective through methods like group therapy. It is shown that people with depression that go through music therapy are affected in a positive way.Overview of pique Disorders Mood disorders are a class of behavioral-emotional disorders labeled by disruption in mood. Examples of this are depression or extreme elation. Some people whitethorn experience periods of depression or elation but this doesnt mean they have a mood disorder. Mood disorders are defined around varied episode. Episodes are periods of time where someone will show signs of different symptoms that reflect a change from how they were before (Davis, Gfeller, Thaut, 2008). If someone is having a depressiv e episode and this last for a long period of time they may be experiencing depression. Depression is marked by persistent depressed mood, changes in appetite or weight, lack of energy, obstruction concentrating and changes in sleep patterns. These symptoms can develop at a very difficult time in someones life and continue beyond a normal period of mourning. People can arrive depressed because of a difficult life event or some can become depressed for no reason at all (Symptoms of Depression, 2005-2013). Some ask what is the difference between bipolar disorder and depression. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression. The answer to this is that depression does not have manic episodes like bipolar disorder does. Bipolar changes between manic ... ...ic therapy. work CitedAlbornoz, Y. (2011). The effects of group improvisational music therapy on depression in adolescents and adults with substance abuse a randomized controlled trial. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 20(3 ), 208-244.Grohol, J. (n.d.). Whats the balance Between Bipolar Disorder and Depression?. Psych Central. Psych Central.com. Web. 7 December 2014.http//psychcentral.com/lib/whats-the-difference-between-bipolar-disorder-and-depression/000906Meadows, A. N. (2011). Developments in music therapy practice case study perspectives. Gilsum Barcelona Publishers.Werner, P. D., Swope, A. J., & Heide, F. J. (2009). Ethnicity, Music Experience, and Depression. Journal of Music Therapy, 46(4), 339-358.Viega, Micheal (2014). domineering Process Powerpoint Slides.Viega, Micheal (2014). Some Basics Powerpoint Slides.

Comparing Carol Ann Duffys Havisham and Robert Brownings The Laborato

Comparing Carol Ann Duffys Havisham and Robert Brownings The LaboratoryIn the poem Havisham, Carol Ann Duffy presents the subject as an old, embittered char with ropes on the back of her hands. In The Laboratory by Robert Browning the subject is a strong and determined, but very jealous and embittered, young fair sex. some(prenominal) poems are written in the first person in the form of a dramatic monologue. Carol Ann Duffy writes about the feelings of rejection, isolation and desolation that a woman who has been jilted at the alter by her husband might feel. I think that feelings such as this in both of the poems have been based on either literature or historical events, for example Havisham was most likely based on Miss Havisham, a rich lady in the fable Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and The Laboratory was probably influenced by the celebrated French murderess (who has been said to have poisoned her family).Oxymoronic phrases are used throughout the poem Havisham such as Beloved Sweetheart Bastard and Loves/hate to express the ambivalence that this woman ...

A Brief Introduction to Systematic Living Essay -- Natural, Man Made,

an even larger system of systems.This is not to say that systems imply order. Nor do the terms systemic or systematic, although they be frequently used to suggest exactly that. Quite the opposite. There is an incredible amount of chaos that occurs at every scale, in both natural and man-made systems. Systems of any kind can be unpredictable, and take on a life of their own. One glimpse at the juggernaut of bureaucracy that is the U.S. federal authorities demonstrates this nicely without having to spend another breath proving the pointIve been lucky enough in life to have been thrown into situations where it seemed I was always hale to reverse engineer a wide assortment of systems. Most people call these situations problems, and I did too for many years.My first career began during the U.S. Armys transition into the New Army of the post-Cold War era. I served for nearly a decade, stateside and overseas, participated in the administration of multi-national task forces under U.N. c ontrol, and built and managed the deployment facility for the USARPAC power swelling platform. I learned, by trial and error, the ins and outs of the personnel management bureaucracy and how to design computer-based solutions for many problems. Contrary to popular belief, the military was not at all discharge edge in its attempts at automating even basic office documents, much less complex processes. We still used primarily tally sheets, log books, and typewriters to electric discharge Division-level operations even in the mid 1990s. The shining exception to this was Microsoft Powerpoint. Our generals lived and breathed their battle theaters through an endless barrage of Powerpoint slideshow briefings.My first Army Achievement decoration was award... ...its Own Reward Entity Relationship Mapping What Software Teaches Us About Grammar Cooperative Evolution as a Systemic Norm Specialization vs. trigger Design with Perpetuality Sweet Chaos Design with Intention ality This Cell Isnt Big Enough for the Two of Us The Prisoners Dilemma Preserving Hammurabis palace KISS A LEGO in Every Pot Entropic Economics 101 Two is One, One is None Give Me My Damn Twinky Natural Rights vs. Human Rights A Calendar for Every Season Cant a Squirrel Get a Nut? Regulate Yourself Of Mollison and Gall, Dawkins and Waal The Lie of Dichotomy Heads I Win, Tails You set down When You Piss in the Global Wind, We All Get WetWorks Citedhttp//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_projectionhttp//systemic.permacultureuniversity.net/?p=3

The Toltec, Aztec, and Mayan Indian Tribes Essay -- Pre-Columbian Hist

The Toltec, Aztec, and Mayan Indian TribesTOLTECS The Toltecs were an Indian tribe who existed from 900 A.D. to 1200. Theyhad a capital city of Tollan, and their influences reached south to theYucatan and Guatemala. They were a composite tribe of Nahua, Otomi, andNonoalca. The Tolt ecs made huge stone columns decorated like totem poles.AZTECS Aztecs were an American Indian people who rule an empire in Mexico duringthe 1400s and early 1500s. They dear a religion that affected everypart of their lives. To worship the Aztecs built towering temples, createdhuge sculptures, and had human sacrifices. The center of Azteccivilization was a river valley in Mexico. The emperor of the Aztecs wascalled the huey tlatoani (great speaker). A council of high-ranking nobles chose him from the members of a royal family. The Aztec society hadfour main classes nobles, commoners, serfs, and slaves. The typical Aztechousehold consisted of a husband and wife, their unmarried children, and anumb er of the husbands relative s. Boys were educated by...

Discuss Media Influences On Prosocial Behaviour Essay

Pro-social demeanours are actions which aim to help others. For example, helping, sharing and caring for others. It seems as though the media piece of ass have a constructive effect on individuals. It can have an influence on pro-social behaviour, and there are different explanations which help us to understand how the media does it. Being exposed to pro-social behaviour is one musical mode in which the media can have a positive effect on people. Essentially, this explanation argues that when people are exposed to pro-social behaviour on TV and other sources of the media, they then become influenced by it.For example, if a character in a TV programme does something helpful, this explanation would argue that the soulfulness, who is exposed to this pro-social behaviour, would be affected by what they are seeing and this would then mean that they will copy that pro-social behaviour and also become helpful in real life. Greenberg carried away an analysis of popular childrens progra mmes in the US and found that there were an equivalent number of pro-social and antisocial acts.This shows us that the media does provide us with pro-social acts and it also shows us that we are exposed to these pro-social behaviours even though at times we may not be aware of it. Woodard carried out a research which showed that 77% of childrens programmes in the US contained pro-social messages. So, according to this explanation, anyone, who watches these childrens programmes, would be exposed to the pro-social acts and then they would copy the pro social acts and display them in real life situations. However, having verbalize that, this research is ethnocentric as it was carried out in the US.This means that we cannot generalise the results to the rest of the population as it is culturally biased. For example, in other parts of the world, children may only be exposed to antisocial behaviour in TV programmes and yet they still behave in a pro-social way. This, therefore, raises t he question as to whether or not the media can actually have a positive effect on individuals who are being exposed to pro-social behaviour-it might just be the persons personality that is causing them to show pro-social behaviours rather than the media influencing that person.One strength of this explanation is the fact it is realistic to an extent. For example, it seems realistic that if a child is exposed to pro-social acts on TV, they would then get influenced by what they are seeing, and this would then lead them into copying that pro social behaviour. There has been a lot cases where children, who have watched programmes such as Bob the builder, have copied what they have seen in these programmes and then used what they have witnessed to help their friends and families to solve a problem.Another strength of this explanation is the fact that it can have a positive effect on parenting as this explanation can help parents to understand that what their children are watching can in fluence the way in which they behave. For example, parents may become cautious about what their children are watching on TV- they may encourage their children to watch TV programmes which contain more pro-social acts and little antisocial behaviours and this could potentially mean that their children may display more pro-social behaviours later on life.

Communication and conflict Essay

Communication is important, as it is the medium of conveying message, forming the first interface in method acting of conflict resolution. Communication is almost always within the background of culture, and culture determines the significance of words as well as gestures and non-verbal expressions, affording people with choices of high context or low context parley, depending upon their heathenish maturity and ability to handle multi-culturalism and accommodate a range of opinions and ideas other than those familiar to them (Grosse, 2002).During the initial phase of cultural familiarity, communication takes place at low context, meaning that people rely more on direct verbal communication, which is more or less erratum in nature. As the cultural relationship progresses, communication interaction moves ahead on continuum to become high context, and it becomes more interpersonal and contextual, minimizing chances of misunderstanding and confusion. However, in cases where the wide cultural paradigms are set in low context or high context communication patterns, cultural crossover becomes a difficult barricade for all the involved parties. impressive cross cultural communication is centered upon knowledge, empathy and intercultural sensitivity (ibid). The correct approach in such cases is be flexible, adaptable and sensory(a) to all views, no matter how contrary or incongruous they appear. A successful cross cultural communication situation demands coming over these contradictions and differences in opinion to form a harmonious vision. A positive and patient listening attitude is also valuable as it allows people to fathom emotions of others and makes them noticeable to alternate view points.Finally, the most important attribute in cross cultural communication is recognition that every culture is correct in its proclaim context and each has to yield some ground to reach a harmonious consensus (ibid). Discussion on mediation and skills in conflict resoluti on Effective communication strategies are keys to re calculate conflict by providing channels that provide expression of grievances and bring conflicting parties together. In the field of conflict management, communication strategies assistant by the channels of 1.Negotiation Negotiation has emerged as an important form of conflict management within organizational and social setups. As such query in communication theory in conflict management has started to pay close attention to communication behaviors, types and strategies towards successful negotiation. Negotiation, as a part of managing conflict, requires arouse parties to trade proposals for settlement that include, out of court settlements, business contracts, collective talk terms contract etc (Womack, 1990, 32).As Womack further elaborates, generally the make for of negotiation proceeds through motives that are both competitive and cooperative. The approach of communication in the finished process of negotiation is co ncerned with the messages that are transferred among negotiators and the concerned parties. Communication intervenes in the process of negotiation through its both verbal and nonverbal forms and constitutes the entire base on which the goals and terms of the bargain are negotiated.Communication plays the central section in not only developing the relationship among the parties in conflict, but also in determining its direction. It is also central in every form of bargaining process, whether the bargaining is done for organizational form of conflict management, involves conflict resolution, negotiation on legal agreements or for negotiation in inter-group an intra group conflict.The entire role of communication in negotiation processes and strategies is quite vast and it ranges from defining the conflict issues, selection and implementation of strategies to presenting and defending the viable alternatives and finally helping in reach on a solution (Womack, 1990, 35). 2. Third party intervention Third party intervention in conflict situation is a tricky and dispute situation. It is considered as one of those areas that offers real test to the communication skills of the intervening person.Although mediation requires a neutral and third party to bring the disputants on the resolving chairs and solve the conflict, the mediator per se, has no authority and commanding power to force the parties into acquiescing to an agreement. At the best, the mediator can use persuasive and convincing dialogues through which the involved parties voluntarily agree to reach at accord through advises, admonishments, ideas, and views of the mediator and break into meaningful dialogue with each other (Burrel, 1990, 54).Its easy to see that this entire functioning requires very high level of communication skills on the part of the mediator to successfully negotiate agreement among the conflicting parties. According to Burrel, one of the important communication skills in third party i ntervention is the ability to collect as much information as possible on the cause, background, and nature of conflict as well as on all the parties and individuals that are involved in the conflict.Burrel informs that an effective communication strategy to gather information is question-asking within a material body of communication approaches, some for example being, employment interviews, initial interactions and parent-child discourses, although there has been insignificant research on role of particular types of questions in mediation itself. However, it is established beyond question that the questioning abilities of a third party mediator are very important in striking a collaborative approach to the entire process of conflict management.

Mercedes Benz Operations Management Essay

Executive SummaryDaimler Mercedes-Benz is one of the most valuable companies around the world it is stratified number ten out of 100 take brands worldwide (Best orbicularbrands.com, 2014), Mercedes-Benz is part of Daimler AG which is one of the best leaders in automobiles brands. The Daimler AG brand aims to go to bed function, value and premium feel to its customers. The comp some(prenominal) has 14 sub-companies that produce cars, vans, trucks, and financial services. It has more than 100 vehicle shapes in over 200 countries worldwide, offering senior gritty school quality products is the connections strategy andgoal. Daimler Mercedes-Benz cars have sold 1,565,563 million unit with revenues of over 64,307 million euros with over 274,000 thousand employees in 2013, the familiarity has excessively invested in typesets and equipment worth over 3,751 billion euros (Daimler AG, 2013).This management report includes an in-depth study of the actions management inside the co nfederation, by covering the most important part of the attach to such as manufacture, concourse line and w arhouses management. The aim of this report is to study current passings as headspring as the status of the social club and how changes in admit enkindle be handled. At the end of this report, the conclusion and recommendations offer the federation solutions to prevent any(prenominal) issues that they may face during the end product life cycle. division (A)A-I Operations focal point at Daimler Mercedes-BenzQuality & Material ManagementMercedes Benz manufacturers use a global quality management dodge to en certain(predicate) that their automobile products see their standards, which in return increase customer loyalty to the brand. Producing high quality automobiles is the goal of Daimler- Mercedes strategy to recreate the customers requirements, as well as opening a brand- juvenile road for new customers to experience Mercedes automobiles. Recently, the follow has aimed to increase quality by adding extra environmentall(a)y friendly features to their products to help the global environment (Daimler AG, 2013).However, Mercedes Benz customer satisfaction can be damaged by quality worries. Alarms led the association to take the decision to recall over 250,000 cars from the division 2008 until late 2014 for mechanical and rubber concerns at the assembly line. Mercedes recalled these vehicles to be serviced immediately for customer safety (Jensen, 2014). On the different hand, BMW had to recall less vehicles than Mercedes Benz, for immediate support related to mechanical issues. Such issues could cause a crash delinquent to a power fault in the engine (CBS Miami, 2014).Outsourcing outside Germany had increased this peril for Mercedes Benz, by decreasing the company quality and safety. The company recalled more than 55,000 vehicles that were produced inChina because of a faulty circuit made by the manufacturer (Wantchina terms.com, 201 4). These issues argon related to the quality management of the company, and can decrease customer loyalty, which could lead them to consider changing to other brands.Quality and safety issues affect the companys yearly ranking, which in return can increase or decrease their total revenues. Quality is one of the most important components for the company to keep forward of the competition. Furthermore, according to (Miller and Lundegaard, 2002) Mercedes quality has to be bulletproof as the highest company priority, by closing any gaps that occurred done and through previous issues. The increasing numbers of sub-model cars can similarly affect the brand quality through increasing any risk issues once launched to the public.Furthermore, according to (Stephen, 2004) Mercedes customers have high transportations astir(predicate) the high quality promised by the company. In 2003, the company disappointed many customers when they sold over 2000 vehicles with an extra option for a navi gation establishment, which were not ready to be delivered at the business metre, excessively accompanied by other mechanical issues. On the other hand, the company made an announcement most its new high quality hydraulic breaking organization, which increased its competitiveness in terms of safety and quality against other competitors in the industry.Our company should make sure that manufacturers deliver products with the highest design specification, in severalise to be order-winner quality conformance, by delivering products with no defects (Hill and Hill, 2012). Furthermore, improvements in quality lead to a decrease in cost for the company. agree to (Evans, 1997) higher quality products lead to a decrease in costs for the company through higher productivity improvements in quality leads to lower cost because of less re-work, fewer mistakes, fewer delays and snags (Evans 1997, P.55).SpeedAccording to (Hill and Hill, 2012), synchronising all fork out chain activities thr ough using the same data, and completing production at the scheduled quantify, coordinate between the manufacturer and suppliers, modifys manufacturers to respond quickly to the demand changes. Therefore, synchronisation ensures that our manufacturers are able to deliver products faster and more flexibly to the customers. Furthermore, Daimler Mercedes-Benz understand what customers are expression for, in that locationfore the company is expanding our dealers network to endure the customer requirements for vehicle availability.Our companys relationship with the current suppliers is improving every day to minimise any risk of trying defective vehicles (Automotive contributechain.org, 2013). In addition, working closely with suppliers reflects positively on our brands customer service. In 2008, the company faced a problem with one of its suppliers, which ca utilise a delay in one of our products models. The supplier was supposed to deliver special battery materials to the manufac turers warehouses (Ireson, 2008). However, the supplier refused to meet Mercedes-Benz requirements, which caused a delay in delivery and to use of low quality batteries which were defective.Our company is using the powerful application to manage our suppliers, this application is called SAP, it is making our supply chain management more efficient, conciliatory, and at the lowest cost. The SAP solves any gaps in the companys capabilities by using the supply chain reproduce system to scan all the move and materials these technologies is helping the company to reduce any extra cost (mSE Solutions, 2012). In addition, the SAP increases the flexibility of our manufacture as well as increasing the speed of delivery for the customers, through just in while (JIT). It does this by enabling many features for the dealer to calculate the vehicle price of the order during the order stage and at the same time getting an order-number to track the order. All these steps are integrated together into the supply chain management system, and are informed by severally stage of the order (Infosys, 2005).This synchronises the information in real-time, reflecting on the company strategy to change with demand. Also, there are reinforcements in using the SAP application to manage our company warehouses where the company stores materials for vehicles. By sending orders for the warehouse to get ready to deliver an order to the assembly line, this can achieved by using the just in time (JIT) efficient method for manufacturing. In the meantime, this creates an extra space for new materials in the depot area at thewarehouse the SAP system leave already be sending a new order to fill and stack those stock areas for coming(prenominal) orders from the system (Bayigen, 2012). All these measures combine to increase the speed, therefore reducing the cost of manufacture, and maintaining dependability in an efficient way. For our company dependability is an important ingredient of the c ompanys success, it reduces any ambiguity within the supply chain management (Slack et al., 2012).Dependability and FlexibilityOur company had dependability issues in 2014. This dependability issue started after launching the new high quality CLA-Class model at an affordable price. Dealers of Mercedes-Benz could not deliver the new model on time, meaning customers had to live at least two months until they are available in stock. Not keeping up with high demand could lead to loss of brand-loyal customers or elicit buyers who are willing to trade in or paying cash immediately. This makes our company less flexible in terms of adapting to changes in customer demand (Flierl, 2014).CostOur company differentiation strategy to produce high quality luxury cars is inspiring in itself, in terms of the creation of unique high quality vehicles that exceed our customers expectations. Our company charges a premium price for most of its models. This differentiation strategy helps the company to increase the brand image positively in our customers eyes, by including high-end technology and unique services (Tanwar, 2013). Also, our company provide different vehicles types with unique colours including high variety and volume to attract new costumers as well as reducing the unit cost from the supplier side. On the other hand, our company variation in demand is high due to the complexity of the production and the way that we keep in touch with the demand.A-II Process Management at Daimler Mercedes-BenzProcess management is a vital part of our company success. According to (Slack et al., 2012), operations and butt management can break the whole business at any stage or place when they are managed in the ill-timed way. Furthermore, processes at Daimler Mercedes-Benz are internationally the same. Our processes include inputs, via a transformation stage, to create and deliver high quality outputs that meet the customer expectations and more. Customers orders are processed throu gh the operations system as soon as they ask for a particular model.Types of Daimler Mercedes-Benz customers1) Customers request for a particular model through the dealer virtually of the time, Mercedes-Benz dealers have all the models in the showroom and ready to be sold. In the campaign of high demand for a model, dealers will have to order a new delivery from our company in order to manage the demand.2) Customers asking for a particular model through the website The companys website gives customers details about car models. The website also allows customer to customise their desired car by adding extra features to the interior or exterior of the car model. Furthermore, when the customer is at the order-check out, it will automatically locate the nearest dealer to the customer to confirm the order.Once the dealer confirms the order, the order is entered into the SAP application and sent to the manufacturer. Where our company has already launched the new vehicle model, these mode ls are produced using these processesAdvanced Design ProcessDaimler Mercedes-Benz models are designed by 440 designers from all over the world, from countries including the United States of America, Europe, and Asia. These designers are responsible for purpose future cars using their creativity and imagination. Our company has invested millions of dollars into building high technology designing studios to meet the future of theseautomobiles. Here, designers are involved in the development of each model through strategic management, to operation management of the vehicle design.Designers at Mercedes Benz control the design process as well as the models lifecycle, from the drawing stage to the stage where the interior and exterior meets the companys quality standards. From here, the design is moved into a virtual digital design on computers, to add features and a superior look. The design process takes a long time, in some cases more than three years (Media.daimler.com, 2010).Accordin g to (Slack et al., 2012), designing process types depend on the complexity of the project. Mercedes-Benz vehicles tend to take too long to be designed, making their projects low volume as well as having a high variety of projects. The design process is sent to the board of management at our company with a planned schedule for the production life cycle. eulogy is sought from the board of management this stage of accepting or rejecting the new design impacts on the production process. The production process then involves the body patronage and the assembly line.The Body and paint Shop (Raw Materials and Workers undertaking commitment)High technology robots create the vehicle bodies including the metal shell. After the board of management have reliable the new vehicle design, the robots transform the design concept into reality by producing the body part. Over 1200 robots are in daily operation at Mercedes Benz U.S. International, in order to increase the speed of production. The se robots are used to guarantee quality and fast delivery. This means the workers can knows exactly when supplies are coming.This ensures that the line is not curvy with vehicle parts in order to make the process more flexible. Furthermore, the SAP application helps to reduce the chance of late delivery by ensuring that the parts are on time and by checking availability of the materials at the warehouses. Our company ensures that customer quality and safety standards are met by increasing the welding parts to more than 5000 welds on each vehicle. When the process is done, engineers have to check the quality of the vehicle as well as following the just in time method in sending them on to the next process. Workers at the body shop are welltrained to meet standards such as safety and c run forliness of the work place (Mbusi.com, 2012).The Assembly LineImplementing innovation in the Mercedes-Benz assembly line is one of its drivers to success. An example of this is our assembly line a t Mercedes Benz U.S. International which contains tetrad lines. When parts are finished at the paint shop, our assembly line and its workers are ready to build up the final vehicle shape. Our strategy makes the assembly line moves while the workers are working, which decreases waste in terms of time. Suppliers respond to our strategy to be environmentally friendly by using re-usable plastic packages. At the end of the assembly line stage, there is a new stage of quality checks, including a rattle test, wheel alignment test, roll test, and shower test. These all ensure that the quality meets the company standards. After the quality check results are confirmed (Mbusi.com, 2012), the vehicles are made ready for worldwide shipping by transporting them to the marshalling yard, containing the acid areas.Customer Service StrategyAt Daimler Mercedes-Benz, customer service plays a big role in the brand image. It helps the company to ensure that customers are fulfil and their expectations are met. To satisfy customers, their perception of the product needs to match the delivered product (Johnston et al, 2012). Our company had created a new service called customer service assistant system CSA in order to provide customers with a broad range of services in each clownish.This customer service assistant system is available 24/7in order to assist owners of the vehicles, so they can be in contact with any issues that may occur. Furthermore, the company is also investing in research for future customer needs. Staff can speak many languages, making the service more efficient and more flexible. The CSA allows customers to complain about any issues relating to their vehicle. The CSA system studies and checks each issue, while also sending the customer to their nearest Mercedes-Benz dealer to resolve the issue as soon as possible. This strategy helps our company toensure that the functionality of the customer services meets and exceeds customers expectations (sustainability.da imler.com, 2012).The companys current customer services includeSafe-Driving courses for the safety of the ownersRescue services booklet24/7 emergency partitioning assistanceFinancial servicesAfter-sales servicesAccording to (Hill and Hill, 2012), quality is determined by how well a companys services meet their customers requirements and expectations. Our company CSA system is meeting the customers expectations by contacting them after their purchase to ensure that they are happy with the service. Including customers by ask for recommendations. This strategy provides our company with extra information about areas that we should cover in the future, which increases the company sales revenue and decreases vehicle defects, which saves time. Furthermore, accepting customers complaints helps our company to look again at how the manufacturer produces car models in the future. This ensures that our customers are satisfied by the services provided. The after-sales services should be prepare d for any mistake in the manufacture, by informing customers one-by-one once any issues have been discovered. inventory ManagementAt Daimler Mercedes-Benz, each region has its own warehouse where the company stores all the parts of the car models. Each region has its own geographic areas where temperatures can range from below zero degrees to over 35 degrees. These parts are either sent to the manufacture or to the after-sales services. Furthermore, our company is the owner of the most warehouses across the world. Our company uses SAP to control these parts in each region. However, the company failed to ensure that the warehouses were ready to send vehicles for its new CLA model.This is an alarm for the company, warning it to look into the system in order to image up with high demand. It also shows that there was a time-waste issue between deliveringthe materials to the manufacturers and new orders for new materials to be stocked in the warehouses. This may cause issues in the fu ture when it comes to high demand orders. There may be an increased risk of unavailable parts. Furthermore, when the inventory management fails to catch up with demand by putting customers in queues, this can make these customers unhappy, which can affect the companys revenue in other ways (Slack et al., 2012).Purchasing and Supply Chain ManagementOur company is facing material shortages from the suppliers. These shortages notified our managers to focus more on research from around the world, in order to appliance new ideas by finding solutions. At Mercedes-Benz our suppliers are topical anesthetic suppliers in each country, working under specific conditions and requirements. The aim in commissioning local suppliers is to reduce time, so materials can be delivered to the ware house just in time, further decreasing extra costs for the company (BayIgen, 2012). iodin of the issues that faced our company when a certain supplier was not able to deliver batteries on time was the resul ting delay in the production process. This delay touch on customer demand, causing customers to look at other products. Therefore, the company is now using the SAP application to manage their suppliers.The Process ChartA-III Lean Management at Mercedes BenzAt Mercedes-Benz, lean management has been in place for more than 15 years lean management is a vital part of our operation management. This is achieved through using the Mercedes-Benz production system ( system of macrophages), which refers to layout, standards, tools of the production, and the methods for operating our company proves worldwide. Furthermore, MPS is divided into two systems one for training and the other for support. The MPS training snapper ensures that our trained experts are working hard and are well motivated on the production line as well. It also ensures that improvements are made by managers, meeting the minimum company requirements and standards. Theprocess of training employees and managers at Mercedes -Benz takes more than six months.This involves the employees in the operation processes, in order to deliver the quality of services that our customer expects. MPS trainees receive one type of training that covers the theories and four types of training that put what they have learnt into practice. MPS aims to enhance communications between the plants, leading our company to ensure that lean synchronisation processes are well constructed, in order to eliminate waste. A significant approach to eliminating waste of time is used by our company. When the our workforce understands exactly how important high quality is to the company, each employee has the experience and is well enough equipped with the minimum tools to do the given job role. Then the employee can find the car set up, with the tools next to him and ready to be used (Daimler AG, 2012).A new strategy has been developed by the company to take a closer look at customer demand. This strategy is based on launching our products in public. At the same time the plant has started production of a new model to test and catch up with demand in each country, by applying the lean and just in time principles to reduce overproduction as well as producing what our customer needs at a given time, and delivering a high quality car model (Azok, 2014). This new strategy strengthens our company view on demand as well as producing high quality car models as soon as possible, meeting our customers expectations. Other plants around the world are, one by one, each month, preparing to start production. It is clear that the company is doing its best to forecast customer demand.Furthermore, according to (Slack et al., 2012), implementing lean synchronisation in a company operations means that they can produce at the lowest possible cost and the highest quality. This is achieved through delivering exactly what the customers expect from the company. Also, applying this method our plants in other countries, to produce cars at diffe rent times, enables our company to handle any mistakes or errors that may occur at the first plant by compensating and changing at other plants. Thus, it will decrease quality issues, since information can be shared between our plants just in time. In return, this will ensure that efficiency and improvement principles are in place, reducing costs as well as eliminating unnecessary steps.The just in time (JIT) concept of Mercedes-Benz is similar to Toyotas concept. The assembly line at Mercedes-Benz can handle producing new models, reducing the time needed to build a new assembly line and to commission new plants. This represents a cost incentive for the company. Since the assembly lines at our company are able to handle new models, this will decrease the setup time, which in return will reduce waste of resources. According to (Evans, 1997), setup time reduction will increase the flexibility of the production line by decreasing the production time as well as decreasing the inventory furthermore, it increases company productivity.The similarities between Mercedes-Benz production system (MPS) and Toyotas production system lie in their JIT, pull production and kanban systems. These enable both companies to produce any quantity of vehicles depending on demand. They help the company to use available materials depending on the demand level. At this point, our company is going to replace containers of used materials with new containers by asking our long-term suppliers to send a new order. This uses a high technology card that can be removed from the container and scanned using the MPS system. It then sends the new order to our supplier. In this way, MPS minimises the inventory as well as using minimum inputs to produce the highest outputs (Clarke, 2006).Our company has already received many awards for its lean production as well as for reducing the production of many models from 43 to 30 hours in 2015. This is enabled by our lean production system, which has reduced waste in terms of time (Hamprecht, 2012).Part (B) Capacity Management at Mercedes BenzDaimler Mercedes-Benz content management failed to chase the demand for our new CLA model. According to (Hill and Hill, 2012), capacity means serving customers by delivering products through matching the organisations resources to current demand. Our company could not cope with the high volume of requests for this model due to an inaccurate estimation of demand. The management police squad needs to be more efficient in chasing demand by tweaking theoutput to match the current demand of this model.This would start with hiring more labour and asking workers if they are able to take overtime shifts in order to fulfil the high volume production. This could then decrease the number of customers who were dissatisfied by the delay, time lag for more than three months in the queue. Also, since that our company already has a long-term strategy for achieving high demand, the company should consider asking the nearest plants outside the country whether they have products ready to be dispatched directly. Weak cooperation between those countries could cause delays.The complexity of the operation process affected the delivery of the CLA model. The management team could have waited interminable before launching the model to the public, by checking all the available resources. Nevertheless, our company manufacturers were not ready to deliver ready products on time to the customers. This led to a hard decision for managers to decide what is best for both the company and customers. The decision to make customers wait in queues for three months until this model is available is, in the customers eyes, harming our companys image. Furthermore, the warning signs of being out of stock were not checked properly from this it is clear that our staff should be more skilled.Also, asking for recalls for defective models due to manufacturing issues, affects the quality of the production inside the manu facturer as well as our customers will be unhappy. Quality is a high priority problem, which negatively affects our company relationship with the customers, leading to queues, as with the shortage of CLA models. Lack of dependability and flexibility can decrease our company sales revenue as well as increasing in costs, which in return reduces our lean synchronisation. The company was aware of these risks yet our company decided to launch the new CLA model.Our company is already computer programming our future growth by investing in expanding our capacity. This will lead our company being more flexible in the future, as well as better able to serve high customer demand. Our company has realised that there is a lack of space for expansions in many places, therefore our company is looking to find more locations to build up new assembly lines to enhance our production (Daimler.com, 2013). It isimportant that the company should always attempt to catch up with demand to ensure that our c ustomers are satisfied, as well as to increase our sales revenues. An automobile manufacturer should always match the existing material prevail with production, and also ensure that the company record the capacity planning in order to get more details about our actual capacity. This will enable our company to control the demand properly.Also, when our company could not control the demand, this led the company to face many challenges relating to our supply chain management. When a company cannot meet customer demand, this makes it more difficult for the company to manage their capacity. This complexity is called the bullwhip effect, suppliers should expand their current capacity in order to be more flexible to catch up with the high demand on the materials (University Alliance, 2015).Capacity management has many levels. In the case of our company, the capacity level depends on demand, especially as most of the services that Mercedes-Benz offer are related to physical materials such as vehicles and service parts. This is considered to be a mixed long-term capacity which depends on demand. The demand forecast in our company is different from one year to another. Accurately forecasting the demand means that our company has the ability to evaluate enigmatic risks that may occur.Also there is a value in operational terms, in knowing our companys limits knowing what we can and cannot do. On the other hand, our company already has experts who control our capacity. Controlling capacity means planning at an advanced level for companies to be well-prepared in terms of responding to uncertain changes in terms of demand and controlling the inventory and warehouses so that inputs are ready to be transformed into outputs. This will benefit companies and manufacturers in terms of increasing revenues, and through establishing an organisation where high demand places pressure on the parties inside the company (Slack et al., 2012).Part (C) Conclusion and RecommendationsDependa bility is an important factor that can help the supply chain to dealwith high demand. According to (Slack et al., 2012), focusing on dependability at an earlier point may reduce uncertainty about any risks that the manufacturer may face. This is especially important when it comes to dealing with quantities our manufactures should focus more on delivering products on time. Dealers should be prepared for such an event and could be warned by the manufacture of high demand in order to be prepared to be flexible at an earlier stage in the order. Covering a high demand of orders from customers is important. In order to satisfy them, our company should be more flexible to reduce the impact of any events that may occur.The company should allot quality issues at an earlier stage. The company already conducts high quality checks on each process and stage. It is highly recommended to report any concerns that may be during the product life cycle. Reporting these at an earlier stage will give our company extra time to find proper solutions.In the case of covering the inventory management, our company failed with the new CLA model. The company should consider looking again at the whole warehouse system. It is recommended that the operations manager should focus on increasing the physical quantity stored in warehouses inside the company, in order to anticipate future demand as well as increasing the companys value to its customers. Also, since that our company is the owner of most of the warehouses, it is a competitive advantage to never be out of stock, even when the demand is increasing. Furthermore, the warehouses at Daimler Mercedes-Benz should bend more efficient through using the SAP application. The company should consider giving more opportunities for the employees to gain more skills and experiences.Since our company is investing in capacity, it is also a competitive advantage for us to always be ahead of demand this will ensure that the company increases levels of customer satisfaction, whereby products meet customer demand. macrocosm able to forecast the demand on a daily basis will help the company to decide whether they should invest more in capacity or reduce the number of suppliers.Mercedes-Benz should focus more on suppliers entry requirements and how a long-term or short-term arrangement can be an advantage or disadvantage for the company. Managing suppliers in an effective way will reduce any extra cost as well as making sure that our suppliers realise the company requirements in terms of JIT. In addition, our company should enhance its relationships with all suppliers. This will ensure that the suppliers are happy when they are dealing with our company and are not likely to provide the company with defective products.Reference ListAutomotivesupplychain.org (2013) Mercedes by any other name. Online Available fromhttp//www.automotivesupplychain.org/features/216/62/Mercedes-by-any-other-name/ Azok, D. (2014) Mercedes-Benz Alabama pr oduction of the C-Class will cut U.S. wait times for the model Online Available at Bayigen, M. (2012) How Mercedes-Benz turned research into reality Global CSCMPs Supply Chain quarterly Online Supplychainquarterly.com Available at Bestglobalbrands.com, (2014) Mercedes-Benz Best Global Brands Interbrand Online Available at Clarke, C. (2006) Automotive end product Systems and Standardisation From Ford to the Case of Mercedes-Benz. In Springer Science & art Media pp.169-172 Daimler AG (2012) AMG behind the scenes Online Available at Daimler AG, (2013) Annual report 2013 Online Available at Daimler.com, (2013) Daimler plans expansion of Mercedes-Benz Cars production network Online Available at Evans, J (1997) Production/operations management Minneapolis/St. Paul West Pub. Co. Evans, J. (1997) Productions/operations management. Quality, Performance, and value 5th ed. New York West Publishing Company, p.44-57 Flierl G, D. (2014) If you want a new 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Hinduism and Drug Abuse Essay

Hinduism has many religious and cultural traditions which stem from the Vedas, the ancient Sanskrit writings of India. The tradition, therefore, has no clear beginning, and has no wiz founder or single belief, but there atomic number 18 a number of beliefs and practices which ar widely accepted.Practically all Hindus believe in the idea of reincarnation, in which the eternal individual (ATMAN) moves through different species, from one remains to another according to the law of Kama ,the impregnableness or faultyness of their deeds in this sprightliness. The belief that every nous is trapped in a cycle of birth and then death and then rebirth is kn declare as Samsara. The quality of a life that the intelligence is natural into depends on the previous life.The lease of human life, for most Hindus, is to escape from the cycle of birth and death (Moksha), through union with the Supreme BRAHMAN who is turn in in everything. Behind Hindu practice is So Hinduism is about the s ort of life a person should lead in order to be born into a better life next time and eventually become free from rebirth altogether. Every Hindu wants to escape from this cycle so Hindus aim to live in a way that will cause each of their lives to be better than the life before. Living or acting in the chastise way is known as dharma.Every Hindu has a purusharthas, or life goal, and leading a pure life through purity of body and mind is very important so that they are able to carry out their religious duties. To reach their individual goal they moldiness create good Karma through control over gratification of the senses pleasure sensual, sexual, and mental enjoyment. The Laws of Manu are guidelines for a pure life and describe the perfect man asHe who has perfect 3 fold control that is control over speech, thought and actions.So a perfect man should only say pure things, infer pure thoughts and act in a controlled, alert way. Anything which takes man from this control is harmful a nd wrong, which is known as AHISMA.Hindus follow this principle of non-violence, non-harming and therefore use of drugs and alcoholic drink can harm the body and so go against the principle of AHISMA. Also Hindus rely so much on Karmic energy for their ultimate goal that AHISMA and shitty actions taint this karmic energy and will affect the rebirth and drugs can therefore be viewed as an obstacle to the ultimate goal of a Hindus life. As all living things are part of a life cycle.and as BRAHMAN is in all living things, they deserve respect. Life has value, is hallowed and to exploit creation by harming the body with drugs and alcoholHindus practice surmise to bring the mind under control and then control the body through the mind eg the Indian custom of walking on a bed of nails without pain.Drugs, particularly Hallucinogenic drugs, do the opposite to meditation as the mind is not under strict control. So drug and alcohol abuse is not generally allowed because a man is not in c ontrol leading to dismal KARMA and bad REBIRTH.HINDU LAW states that Brahmin priests are not allowed to drink alcohol as alcohol affects nervous system making you do things you unremarkably wouldnt d, andspeech becomes slurred which goes against. In the same way LSD affects the way we think and act, causes Hallucinations and makes us do things out of the ordinaryFor liquor is the defiling ground excreted from rice, therefore a priest, a ruler or commoner should not drink liquor. (1194)Since Brahmin priests are not allowed alcohol, most Hindus follow their example and do not have alcohol.Modern medicate uses drugs to fight disease and despicable. Used properly, drugs like aspirin, penicillin bring benefits whilst others can cause all sorts of harm. They can increase suffering and affect individuals and society. Drugs such as opium can relieve pain but have been exploited by western demand in the form of heroin, which is habit-forming and causes many problems.Experimentation for f un can be extremely dangerous and lead to self-degradation, crime and early death. These dangerous drugs are known as rush and grass also called pot, dope or hash, smack and acid. Hindu society in general does not tolerate these drugs. However, in saying this, modern medicine is not rejected because it does benefit the body, which is the guiding line for a Hindu, for a healthy body is needed to perform all religious duties and therefore medicines which reanimate the bodys natural balance are acceptable.Hinduism is perhaps the only religious tradition to have had some experience of drugs at an early story in its history. Hallucinogenic vegetation such as the soma plant, native to India, was used by certain groups to gain religious experience. As a result, there are certain unclear lines within the Hindu tradition where the use of non-medical drugs are concerned, especially amongst different denominations of Hindus Most of the commonly used drugs in India are derived from the Hemp or cannabis plant. They include Hashish, Bhang, ganja, and charus. Many SADUS still use them to bring on trances or visions. Although Hindus in Britain such as Gujurati traders and Krishna understanding regard AHIMSA very highly as a guide to lifestyle, many follow the guideline given by The Law of Manu which statesMeat-eating is not wrong, nor alcohol, nor sex. These are natural actions of living beings but abstention from such action is highly rewarded. (M 556)Abstinence from these every day actions is highly valued amongst these Hindus but they are not seen as bad actions.The views about alcohol vary again from region to region, and caste to caste. In general, frequent use of alcohol is looked down on, the elision to the rule being Tantrics, whose aim is to unite all things and gain freedom form the restrictions of human life they therefore use cannabis and alcohol as part of their rituals. In general, it is better to refuse alcohol or drug as laid down by the Law of Manu which warns against wilful addiction.He (man) must not get wilfully addicted to any object or substance of self-gratification he must try to overcome such colony through will.Hindus realise that the problem of drug abuse needs to be dealt with. It is seen as Trendy for upper classes, and for the poor a welcome escape from intemperately and unpleasant reality of life.Hindus believe that people who suffer, for whatever reasons, should really be helped, even if suffering is brought about by their own stupidity or bad karmic action. The reason behind this is their respect for life in general and Honour all humankind is one of their 4 daily practices. All human beings and forms of life are related through the divine spirit of BRAHMAN . Each person is a part of the whole and a Hindu knows that no-one can be totally evil because of their soul (ATMAN) being a part of the divine BRAHMAN. Therefore it is better to help them and not judge them to encourage them to lead a life that demonstrates r espect for both religious duties and for their soul and for those of others.There is some control of drug use in the home as strong family structures are valued and smoking in the presence of elders is regarded as showing a lack of respect.Also, smoking in India, as in Britain is forbidden on worldly concern transport, in cinemas, theatres and temples.In the modern world drugs are avoided mainly for the emphasis on purity of body, but it is also against the Hindu tradition of still meditation which aims to bring the mind under control and then control of the body through the mind. In everyday life the mind is often led by desires and sense- pleasure of the body, but with meditation(YOGA) a person is encouraged to take disciplined control over their life according to the Hindu ideal of purity. Drugs, especially ones with hallucinogenic properties would totally reverse the meditation process since the mind would not be under strict control but left to follow its own course. However, any individual would be under an obligation, in the context of DHARMA , to ensure they could continue to pursue their life goals . So in for the Hindu, the use of drugs does not ever appear to be considered inappropriate, but the question of limits comes in, and this, as is often the case in Hinduism, is a matter of individual judgement.

Chunnel Project

Hlstorlcal background, overall objectives, political climate, and pre- feasibility studies. 2-Development-Overall planning, feasibility studies, financing, and conceptual design, 3-1mplementation-Detail design, construction, installation, testing, and commissioning. 4-Closeout-RefIection on overall performance, settlement of claims, financial status, and post-project evaluation. 1974- initial tunnel ideas gather but abandoned. 1978-British & French discussions resumed. 83-Frensh & British banks & contractors propose tunnel scheme. 1984 British and French agree to common safety, environmental, and security concerns. 1. Please complete your evaluation of project focussing during this phase, utilise the following grid Project direction Area Closeout Phase Scope Management Time Management Cost Management Quality Management HR Management Communication Management Risk Management Procurement Management Integration Management 2.Please highlight the major areas of specialty In the manage ment of this phase of he project Scope Management 2 Communication Mangement 2. Please highlight the major areas of strength in the management of this phase of tOf2 the following grid Project Management Area Time Management 3 Quality Management 4 HR Management 2 Communication Management2 Risk Management 2 Integration Management 3 Closeout Phase the project 1. Please complete your evaluation of project management during this phase, using the following grid Project Management Area Closeout Phase

The Perception of Beauty

The Perception of Beauty Today the world we live in is very reliant on the media. The media contributes to us updates on our economy, news on events, the weather, and other important information. The media also dispenses influential images and messages. The media is so intertwined in our lives that we do no truly comprehend how much influence it rightfully has on us. Some of the messages and images we receive from the media can be positive as well as negative.Most often than not, we are exposed to images that are so impossible and unattainable by the average person that we become discontent with our lives and with ourselves. This is when the media starts to distort our thoughts on the normal way of life and what true peach tree is. The mainstream medias light of cup of tea is thin and glamorous. Most of the mountain displayed in the media have unrealistic frame types. With the constant give away of these airbrushed to perfection bodies the audience becomes desensitized, espec ially the youth, making people believe that its normal.This constant reminder can cause great guilt, making one think they are unattractive and below average. The negative body image world portrayed in the media is on display for everyone and its continuously being supported by the rest of the population. With this distorted perception of beauty many people have become unsatisfied with themselves. This persistent image of what you should look like can lead to poor physical and mental health.With people becoming insecure with their body image things like low self-esteem, depression, eating disorders, and even suicide can occur. In source 1 (Effects of the Media on frame Image), it states that the National Eating Disorder Association (2006) reports, In the past 70 years national rates of all eating disorders have dramatically increased. To some, being thin becomes everything. Deception of reality invades peoples lives and with media being just a turn or a click away, the influence of the media starts at an primaeval age.According to The Journal of Adolescent Health, Teenagers that are overweight, or believe that they are overweight, appear to have a higher risk of suicide (This information is stated in source 3 Teen Suicide Attempts Linked to Body weight and Body Image). Each year the models in the media are growing thinner and the advertisement of dieting and exercising is increasing. Beauty is being manipulated again and again. Peoples physical and mental health is at serious risk and its clip for a change.Perfection does not exist and for someone to try to attain such a thing is not healthy. The images in the media have profound effects on our lives and with that in mind, the media should rethink their perception of beauty. Just because someone is not stick thin doesnt mean theyre not beautiful. Just because someone doesnt look like the model on the cover of a magazine doesnt mean theyre not beautiful, and just because someone doesnt rent the characte ristic of what the media insights as beautiful, doesnt mean theyre not beautiful it just means they are realistic.We continue to take a walk have a dangerous path in our culture. Not enough is being done to deter the false images that are being portrayed. The medias perception of beauty is both unrealistic and harmful to ones self. As a collective society, we need to accept our flaws. We need to accept people for how they look, stop difficult to live up to an unrealistic image in the media, and just be ourselves. Why do we give the media the right to say whats beautiful? Their exhibit of beauty is not real. Its time for a change in media for the sake of societys health.

Age of Extremes Essay

The ordinal cytosine was rich in events and outstanding personalities. In his book eld of Extremes, Eric Hobsbawm provides an extensive review of what happened during the 20th Century and the impact of those events on human development. According to Hobsbawm, the Twentieth Century was both the Age of cataclysm and the time of the extraordinary stinting growth a complex sandwich of events and developments that changed the human auberge more than profoundly than any other period of comparable brevity (Hobsbawm, 1995).In the first two chapters of Age of Extremes, Eric Hobsbawm (1995) tries to evaluate the social and historic legacy of the Twentieth Century and creates a brief picture of the events and accomplishments that took indue between 1914 and 1991. The author is confident that human parliamentary law cannot distance itself from the events of the past, because everyone on the globe, irrespective of their life report and personal background, went through more or less sim ilar central experiences that affected them all (Hobsbawm, 1995).Hobsbawm (1995) traces the developing of the Twentieth Century from the First World War, which marked the breakdown of the western civilization of the nineteenth century (p. 6). The western civilization was characterized by capitalist economy, liberal constitutional structure, bourgeois image of the hegemonic class, and the glory of scientific, educational, technological, knowledge, and deterrent example advance (Hobsbawm, 1995).The decades following the beginning of the First World War were the Age of Catastrophe until the end of WWII, the society stumbled from one calamity to another and lived at the edge of survival (Hobsbawm, 1995). The failure of the major colonial empires and the economic crisis of unprecedented depth added their share of complexity to the state of world affairs (Hobsbawm, 1995). Hobsbawm (1995) believes that the victory of the Soviet heart and soul over Hitler was one of the most important e vents of the Twentieth Century.Without it, the whole Western world could have off-key into set of variations on fascist themes (Hobsbawm, 1995). The rise of the socialist movements was the direct result of the weaknesses in the nineteenth-century bourgeois society (Hobsbawm, 1995). How and why the world threw itself into the Golden Age of capitalism between 1947 and 1973 remains one of basic diachronic puzzles but the Golden Age could not be endless and the global crisis that followed affected all, irrespective of their political, social, and economic configurations (Hobsbawm, 1995).The economic crisis gradually extended to cover political issues the offend of the Soviet Union produced an enormous regularize of political uncertainty and destroyed the stable system of international relations (Hobsbawm, 1995). The economic and political uncertainties were followed by the incorrupt and social crisis the crisis of beliefs, which humans had used over the course of the Twentieth Ce ntury to win their troth over the nineteenth centurys ideology (Hobsbawm, 1995).The century that had begun with unbelievable optimism and faith in the proximo ended with a bang and a whimper, leaving the society in the midst of the moral, social, economic, and mental collapse (Hobsbawm, 1995). In Hobsbawms (1995) view, the Twentieth Century was the time of unprecedented achievements and dramatic failures. The cyclical nature of growth resulted in continuous instability and profound economic, social, and political shifts.For many countries, the Twentieth Century became the time of extraordinary changes and the beginning of the new era of uncertainty and chaos. Whether countries succeed in declaration the existing controversies depends on how thoroughly they can learn the lessons of the past and use wisely the historical, political, and moral legacy of the stormy Twentieth Century. deduction The Twentieth Century was the time of unprecedented achievements and failures. The capi talization of the word combination Twentieth Century by Hobsbawm (1995) is not accidental.The author feels that the Twentieth Century reflected a unique paradox the triumph of the material set and their absolute rejection at the end of the era. The century that had begun with unbelievable optimism and faith in the future ended with the thick(p) crisis of the moral and mental ideologies, leaving humanity in the midst of the social, economic, cultural, and moral collapse. Whether countries succeed in resolving the existing controversies depends on how well people can learn from the past and use wisely the historical, political, and moral legacy of the stormy Twentieth Century.

Different Parenting Styles

in that location are many different counsels of parenting clawren. Some are more favorable than others and some pile even damage ones emotional future, causing problems such as anxiety, unhappiness, and other misfortunate self-esteem issues. Although at that place are four distinct parenting styles, many parents are ofttimes somewhere in between a couple on the scale. My parents often took to the despotic style, which is known currently as the well-nigh successful approach. The authoritative parent is involved in their childs life and is accepting as well as sensitive to their needs.Sometimes, I could see my parents as being authoritarian, which is common because many parents set out a kind of medium between these two styles. Un corresponding authoritative, the authoritarian parenting style is highly ineffective. However, there is a contrast of the severity of the authoritarian style. Authoritarian parents are portrayed as criticizing and bitter, often yelling, threatening, and habitually resorting to punishment instead of the warm guiding demeanors of the authoritative parent. The authoritarian side of my upbringing was often used by my father.Although spanking is commonly frowned upon, my dad used spanking as a way to show me right from wrong, and I believe that he used the punishment in the crush way it could possibly be used. I was spanked when I brought bad grades home from school, when I showed bad behavior, and especially when I lied. This punishment was used, I think, in a way of encouragement to better myself. On the other hand, my arrive was the one who used the authoritative style. She began using the technique when I got older and more mature, I believe, because I could understand anothers point of view.When I did something wrong against another person, my mom would sit me mound and tell me why I was wrong and how the situation appeared to the other person. The effects of different parenting styles vary from family to family, only if they are often very similar. As a child, I showed a lot of the characteristics of a child of authoritarian parents, such as low self-esteem, shyness, and anger. However, as I matured, I began showing more characteristics of a child of authoritative parents.I became more social, got a higher self-esteem, and realized that my problem solving skills have increased. My outgo friend growing up was Allison. Her parents were a constant conversation topic for us, as they were not the best parents in the world. I guess you would call them extreme authoritarians. They utilized extreme control, insisted on absolute obedience, and forever criticized her. Eventually, this threw her into an all-time low self-esteem, which is something that commonly occurs to children of authoritarian parents.Furthermore, she had become anxious and withdrawn. Because authoritarian parents often take on a type of psychological control, which includes behaviors that intrude on and manipulate childrens verbal expre ssion, individuality, and attachments to parents, Ally became recalcitrant and angry as well. Her parents wanted to decide practically everything for her, and in the process, put down her ideas and decisions and made work out that they disapproved of her friends. Authoritarian parents often withdraw their love from their children.Allys parents were one of these parents. An example is how her parents had supported her decision to go to her dream college. Once she got the acceptance letter, they withdrew their blessing, along with the financial help they had promised her. She no longer has an opportunity to go to college. Another example, and major distress to her, Allys parents kicked her out of their house before she enchantmented seventeen, and she has been snappy from house to house ever since. Unlike me, because Allys parents were extremely authoritarian, Ally did not turn out as well.Dont get me wrong, she was a nice, sociable girl growing up. But as she matured, she sought out love and attention in guys. I figure that because her father never gave her the appropriate love or attention, she turned to various guys to find the love and attention she craved. As far as my relationships go, I believe that my parents did a good job with the way they acted around me. What I mean is, see the way my parents treated each other as equals definitely influenced my outlook on relationships in a positive way.They are a huge influence on me but I dont exactly hear their voices when I am doing something they would consider unfavorable. Once in a while when I am in those situations, I do feel a bit of remorse towards what I am doing. I figure that it is from the autonomy granting and problem solving qualities of authoritative parenting. Before taking this class, I had persuasion very little of how I would parent my future children. I did not even know that there were different styles of parenting.When I learned about the distinct styles of child rearing, I began to t hink of which style my parents had used. I also started considering what style I might use. I decided that I like the way my parents embossed me, contrary to my prior beliefs. I like how they balanced their parenting between authoritative and authoritarian, leaning more to the authoritative side, of course. There are a few exceptions to their style, though, that I would like to change into my own parenting style. For instance, I would like to use even more of an authoritative style than an authoritarian one, than my parents had.

Nell

Nell, a 26-year-old single lady ends up deserted by her companion in Paris champion day. The hotel where she booked her room at, she finds that the room she has saved has been twofold reserved and ends up imparting the space to an American lady. Since Nell is an uncertain lady, she feels tentative more or less remaining in Paris and thinks about returning home, yet she chooses to remain when she discovers two tickets to a craftsmanship appear, left behind by an American lady.At the workmanship appear, Nell has a second experience with Fabian, a server and battling essayist whom she spilled her wine on the prior night. Discouraged over an ongoing separation and the loss of a large portion of his novel, that had been blown into the lanes of Paris the day preceding, Fabian winds up attracted to Nell when he recognizes her crying close to unmatchable of the canvases in the show. He approaches her out for an espresso, and she acknowledges. Here, the two associate sincerely and mental ly, and Fabian requests that Nell go out with him that night to a stymy where he is getting in concert with a couple of companions. Nell acknowledges.Before going out, Nell goes to a close-by shop and purchases other outfit since she needs to appear Parisian. At that point Fabian grabs Nell and takes her on a tornado sail through Paris, and later they go to different excludes, drinking and moving. They spend the whole night together, and they in the persistent run travel on the Seine, which is Fabians pops watercraft, the Rose de Paris. Fabian reveals to Nell that is fathers business is enduring, and Nell recommends another strategy for success for the vessel, one outfitted towards giving sentimental, modified visits. Toward the beginning of the day, Fabian attempts to give Nell a kiss however, the two atomic number 18 hindered by the custodian of Nells inn. Fabian asks Nell to supper.Meanwhile, Nells companions back in England have found that Nells beau, Peter, did not go on the outing since he needed to go out drinking with his companions. They constrain Peter on a rake that takes him to Paris. Nell spends her day strolling the boulevards of Paris with no specific arrangement, which is exceptionally bizarre, as she is generally extremely unbending about making a motivation and adhering to it. Before coming back to the lodging she purchases the green dress. Later, Fabian picks her up and they begin strolling to a yard where Fabian has sitting tight for them a private supper with one of his companions dressed like a server. In transit, Nell got the telephone call that Peter is at the lodging. She pardons herself, and Fabian surmises that it is her boyfriend.At the hotel, Nell meets up with Peter, who is dressed carelessly and is hesitant to take Nell out to supper, expressing that he would want to have a snooze and room service. Nell is given a note by the attendant that clarifies that Peter had been constrained onto the plane by Nells companions. Aft er perusing this, Nell leaves Peter.Nell makes up for lost time with Fabian at a bar and the two rejoin and have an awesome time. Toward the nights end, they go to Fabians condo, where Fabian peruses a few pages from a diary Nell has brought along, and Nell peruses pages of Fabians novel. Fabian informs Nell regarding another original thought he has, which has a fundamental character fundamentally the said(prenominal) as Nell. Nell likes his thought then, they kiss, and Nell spends the night. Toward the beginning of the day Fabian strolls Nell home and they part without an arrangement to get together once more.A half year later, Nell gets an advancement at her activity. She is apathetic about it, and soon thenceforth when she is giving an introduction to people keen on discovering work in her organization she closes the introduction by disclosing to them how dull corporate presence is. Later, Nell leaves the room, goes to the PC, and looks into Fabians dads watercraft. She finds that Fabians dad had utilized her thought and that the vessel has become extremely famous. Nell considers her mama on the telephone and advises her mother to meet her at the movement office.Nell goes to Paris and sheets Fabians dads boat, yet Fabian isnt there. Nell discloses to Fabians dad how she had succumbed to Fabian, and Fabians dad calls Fabian. While orbiting the city, they discover Fabian looking out for one of Seines scaffolds, and he hops into the pontoon. He reveals to Nell that he has a distributor for Fabians new novel. Nell questions him on how it closures and he reveals to her he let the characters choose. The book closes with Nell reveal to Fabian the amount she constantly enjoyed cheerful endings.

You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 19~20

Chapter NineteenOur Dead HomeysThe vampires sat side by side on the innocent futon frame, watching as a five-legged bug limped up the big reckon window of the loft.Tommy thought that the oscillation of the bugs steps made a for a dance commensurate backbeat thought he might be able to set music to it, if he k upstart how to write music. Suite for Angst and Limping Bug, hed c whole it.Nice bug, Tommy verbalise.Yeah, Jody say.We should save it for Abby, Jody thought. She was smell guilty ab give away having bitten the girl not so frequently because of the violation, because obviously the kid had been willing, but because she mat up as if she really didnt have any choice. She had been injured and her predator nature t hoary her to survive, whatever the cost, which is what bo in that respectd her. Was her military man drifting a way of breeding?The Animals are going to recognise for us now, Tommy utter. He was feeling angry, betrayed by his old crew, but most of all he felt separate from them now. He felt separate from e realone. tomorrow was Christmas and he didnt eve exigency to call his parents because they were a different species now. What do you buy for an inferior species?Its except the Animals, Jody verbalize. Well be safe.Ill bet thats what Elijah thought, too, and they got him.We should go apprehend him, Jody verbalize. She imagined Elijah Ben Sapir, standing in the full sun by the ferryboat Building, tourists passing him, wondering why manyone would put a statue t present. Would the brass protect him?Tommy give awayed his watch. Wed neer trace there and back in time. I tried that yesterday.How could you do that to him, Tommy? He was one of us. sensation of us? He was going to kill us, if you remember. He kind of did kill us. I resent that. Besides, if youre c everyplace in bronze, what does it matter if youre under pee? I was meet trying to conquer him out of sight so we could think about our future without him being part of it. Right. Okay, Jody utter. Sorry. Future? Shed lived with a half-dozen guys, none had ever willingly talked about the future in the first place. And she and Tommy had a supersized buttload of future ahead of them as long as any(prenominal)one didnt becharm them sleeping. Maybe we really should leave the City, she said. No one would know about us in a new city.I was thinking we should get a Christmas tree, Tommy said.Jody looked away from the bug. Thats a thought, or we could put some mist permitoe up, put on Christmas carols, and stand outside waiting for Santa until the sun comes up and incinerates us. Hows that sound? zip appreciates your sarcasm, missy. Im just trying to get a handle on normal. Three months ago I was stocking groceries in Indiana, looking at community college, driving around in my crappy car, wishing I had a girlfriend, and wishing that there was some potential for something to happen beyond getting a job with benefits and invigoration the same life as my dad. direct I have a girlfriend, and superpowers, and a bunch of mountain want to kill me, and I dont know how to act. I dont know what to do next. And its going to be that way forever. Forever Im going to be scared out of my mind forever I back tootht deal with forever.Hed been chuck outking at her, but she resisted the urge to snap back. He was nineteen, not a hundred and fifty he didnt steady have the tools for being an adult, let alone being immortal. I know, she said. Tomorrow wickedness, first thing, well hire a car, go get Elijah, and pick up a Christmas tree on the way back. Hows that sound?Hiring a car? That sounds exotic.Itll be homogeneous prom. Was she being too patronizing?You dont have to do that, he said. Im d takecast Im acting analogous a weenie.But youre my weenie, Jody said. Take me to bed.Still holding her hand, he stood, then pul take her up into his arms. Well be okay, right?She nodded and kissed him, feeling for just a turn like a girl in love instea d of a predator. She immediately felt a resurgence of shame over aliment on Abby.The thresholdbell rang.Did you know we had a doorbell?Nope.You cant beat a dead whore in the morning, said Nick Cavuto cheerfully, because apparently, everyone loves a dead hooker, despite what certain writer types might think. They were standing in the alley off Mission Street.Dorothy lift short, reasonably, and whip-smart snorted a laugh and checked the thermometer probe shed stuck in the deceaseds colorful like a meat thermometer into a roast. She hasnt been dead four moments, guys.Rivera rubbed his temples and felt his bookstall slipping away, on with his marriage. Hed known the marriage had been going for a while, but he was feeling a piffling brokenhearted about the bookstore. He figured he knew, but he asked anyway. Cause of death?Toothy neutralize job, Cavuto said.Yes, Alphonse, said Dorothy with a tad too much sincerity, Id have to concur with Detective Cavuto, she died of a toothy blow job.It just pisses some guys off, Cavuto added, a professional without skills.Guy just snapped her neck and took his currency back, said Dorothy with a big grin.So a broken neck? said Rivera, mentally waving auf wiedersehen to a whole set of first-edition Raymond Chandlers, ten-to-six pasturedays, golfing on Mondays.Cavuto snorted this time. Her heads off around the wrong way, Rivera. What did you think it was?Seriously, Dorothy Chin said, I have to do the autopsy to be sure, but offhand thats the obvious cause. Id also asseverate shes probably lucky to go that way. Shes HIV positive and it looks like the disease had developed into full-blown AIDS.How do you know that?See these sarcomas on her feet.Chin had removed one of the hookers situation she pointed to open sores on the corpses rump and ankle.Rivera sighed. He didnt want to ask, but he asked anyway, What about blood loss?Dorothy Chin had done the autopsies on two of the previous victims and cringed a little. It was a pattern. Theyd all been terminally ill, theyd all died of a broken neck, and theyd all shown evidence of extreme blood loss, but no external wounds not even a plague mark.Cant tell out here.Cavuto had lost his cheery manner now. So we spend Christmas day canvassing dirtbags to cypher if anyone saw anything?At the end of the alley, uniforms were still talking to the grimy homeless man who had called in the murder. He was trying to get them to spring for a bottle of whiskey because it was Christmas. Rivera didnt want to go home, but he didnt want to spend a day trying to find out what he al teachy knew. He checked his watch.What time was sunrise this morning? he asked.Oh, wait, Cavuto said, patting down his pockets, Ill check my almanac.Dorothy Chin snorted again, then started giggling.Dr. Chin, Rivera said, modify down now, could you be more precise about the time of death?Chin picked up on Riveras tone and went full professional. Sure. theres an algorithm for the cooling ti me of a body. Get me the weather from last night, let me get her back to the morgue and weigh her, and Ill get you a time within ten minutes.What? Cavuto said to Chin. What? This time to Rivera.Winter solstice, Nick, Rivera said. Christmas was originally set at the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Its eleven-thirty now. Im betting that four hours ago the sun was just coming up.Uh-huh, Cavuto said. Prostitutes have shitty hours is that what youre saying?Rivera raised an eyebrow. Our guy didnt travel utmost after sunrise, is what Im saying. Hes going to be around here.I was afraid thats what you were saying, Cavuto said. Were never going to get the bookstore open, are we?Tell the uniforms to look anywhere its night under Dumpsters, in crawl spaces, attics anywhere.Getting warrants on Christmas day might be a problem.You wont indigence warrants if you get permission from the owners were not looking to give anyone living here, were looking for a murder suspect.Cavuto pointed to the eight-story brick building that composed one wall of the alley. This building has something like eight hundred ministorage units in it.Then you guys had better get started.Wherere you going?There was a lacking(p) person report on an old guy in North Beach a gallus of days ago. Im going to check it out.Because you dont want to go Dumpster diving for v Because, Rivera cut him off beforehand he could say the V-word, he had terminal cancer. His wife assumed he just wandered off and got lost. Now Im not so sure. Call me if you find anything.Uh-huh. Cavuto turned to the three uniforms who were interviewing the bum. Hey, guys, have I got a sunny Christmas detail for you.The Animals decided to hold a small memorial service for Blue in Chinatown. troy weight Lee was al fudge there, as was disaster, who wouldnt go home to his apartment until Blues body was removed, and Barry, who was Jewish, would be coming there for dinner with his family, as was the tradition in his faith. Plus, the liquor stores in Chinatown were open on Christmas, and if you slipped some money under the counter, you could get firecrackers. The Animals were fairly sure that Blue would have valued firecrackers at her funeral.The Animals stood in a semicircle, beers in hand, on a playground off Grant Street. The deceased was being honored in absentia in her place was a half-eaten pair of edible panties. From a distance, they looked like a bunch of wastrels affliction a Fruit Roll-Up.Id like to start, if I may, said Drew. He wore a long overcoat and his hairsbreadth was tied back with a black ribbon, revealing the target-shaped bruise on his forehead where Jody had hit him with the booze bottle. push through of his coat he pulled a bong the size of a tenor sax, and using a long lighter designed for lighting fireplaces, he sparked that magnificent mama-jama up and bubbled away like a scuba diver having an asthma attack. When he could hold no more, he raised the bong, poured some water on the ground, and croaked, To Blue, which came out in a perfect smoke ring, the sight of which brought tears to everyones eyes.To Blue, everyone repeated as they placed one hand on the bong and tipped a bit out of their beers.To Broo, my nigga, said Troy Lees grandma, who had insisted upon joining the ceremony once she realized there would be firecrackers.She will be avenged, said rack up.And well get our fucking money back, said Jeff, the big jock.Amen, the Animals said.They had decided on a nondenominational ceremony, as Barry was a Jew, Troy Lee was a Buddhist, Clint was an Evangelical, Drew was a Rasta utmostian, Gustavo was a Catholic, and Lash and Jeff were heathen stoners. Gustavo had been called in to effect that day because someone had to be in the store as long as the front was all boarded up with plywood, so in deference to his beliefs, they had bought some incense and holders and placed a sentry fence of smoldering joss sticks around the edible panty. The incense also worked within Troy and Grandmas Buddhist tradition, and Lash pointed out during the ceremony that although they have their differences otherwise, all gods like a good-smellin ho.Amen said the Animals again.And theyre handy for lightin firecrackers off of, added Jeff as he bent over an incense stick and set a string cracking.Hallelujah said the Animals. for each one offered to share some kind of memory of Blue, but all of their stories quickly degenerated to orifices and squishiness, and no one wanted to go there in front of Troys grandma, so instead they threw firecrackers at Clint while he read from the Twenty-third Psalm.Before they cracked the second case of beer, it was decided that after dark, three of them Lash, Troy Lee, and Barry would cod Blue from Lashs apartment, load her into the back of Barrys station wagon, and take her out in the middle of the Bay in Barrys Zodiac. (Barry was the diver of the bunch, and had all the cool aquatic stuff. Theyd used his s pearguns to help take down the old vampire.)Lash braced himself as he opened the apartment door, but to his surprise, there was no smell. He led Barry and Troy into the bed means, and together they wrestled the rolled-up rug out of the closet.Its not heavy enough, Barry said.Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, Troy said, trying furiously to relax the rug.Finally Lash reached down, grabbed the edge of the rug, and whipped it up over his head. There was a thudding sound against the far wall, followed by the jingle of metal, like coins settling.The three Animals stood and stared.What are those? Asked Barry.Earrings, answered Troy. Indeed, there were seven earrings settling on the arduouswood floor.not those. Those Barry nodded toward two clear, cantaloupe-sized, gelatinous lozenges that quivered on the floor like stranded jellyfish.Lash shivered. Ive chequern them before. My brother used to work in a plant in Santa Barbara that made them.What the fuck are they? Said Troy, squinting through with(predicate) a drunken haze.Those are breast implants, Lash said.What are those wormy things? asked Barry. There were two unambiguous sluglike blobs of something stuck to the rug near the edge.Looks like window caulk, said Lash. He noticed that there was a bewitching good-for-naught powder near the edge of the rug. He ran his hand over it, pinched some on his fingers, and sniffed it. Nothing.Whered she go? asked Barry.No idea, said Lash.Chapter TwentyIts a Wonderful LifeGustavo Chavez had been born the seventh squirt of a brick maker in a small village in the deposit of Michoacan, Mexico. At eighteen he married a local girl, the daughter of a farmer, herself a seventh child, and at twenty, with his second child on the way, he crossed the border into the United States, where he lived with a cousin in Oakland, along with a score of other relatives, and worked grueling, twelve-hour days as a laborer, making enough to hightail it himself and send more money home to his family t han he could possibly have made in his fathers brickyard. He did this because it was the responsible and right thing to do, and because he had been raised a good Catholic man who, like his father, would provide for his family and no more than two or three mistresses. Each year, about a month before Christmas, he would sneak back across the border to celebrate Christmas with his family, meet any new children that might been born, and make love with his wife, Maria, until they were both so sore it hurt to walk. In fact, the vision of Marias inviting thighs would lots begin haunting him around Halloween and the hapless night porter would find himself in a state of semiarousal as he swung his soapy mop, to and fro, across fifteen k square feet of linoleum every night.this night he was in the store alone, and he was feeling far from aroused, for it was Christmas night, and he could not go to pickle or take Communion until he confessed. He was feeling deeply ashamed. Christmas night an d he hadnt even called Maria hadnt spoken to her for weeks, because like the rest of the Animals, he had gone to Las Vegas, and had given all his money to the muddied whore.He had called, of course, after theyd first taken the vampires art and sold it for so much money, but since then, his life had been a fog of tequila and marijuana and the evil attentions of the blue one. He, a good man, who cared for his family, had never hit his wife, had only cheated with a second cousin and never with a white woman, had been undone by the curse of the blue devils pussy. La maldicin de la cocha del diablo azul.This is the saddest, loneliest Christmas ever, thought Gustavo as he dragged his mop past the canvas doors leading into the constitute-department cooler. I am like the poor cabrn in that book The Pearl, where by simply trying to take value of some good fortune, I have lost all that I care about. Okay, I did get drunk for a week and my pearl was a blue whore who fucked the chimichangas out of me, but still, pretty sad. He thought these things in Spanish, so they sounded infinitely more tragic and romantic.Then there came a noise from the cooler, and he was startled for a second. He wrung out his mop, so as to be ready for anything. He didnt like being in the store by himself, but with the front windows broken out, someone had to be here, and because he was far from home, had nowhere else to go, and the union would see that he was paid double time, Gustavo had volunteered. mayhap if he sent home a little extra, Maria might forget the hundred thousand dollars hed promised.There, something was moving behind the plastic doors of the cooler, which were waving slightly. The stout Mexican crossed himself and backed out of the produce department, swinging his mop now in quick swaths, leaving undressly a hint of moistness on the linoleum. He was by the dairy case now, and a stack of yogurts fell over in spite of appearance the glass doors, as if someone had shoved them out of the way to look through.Gustavo dropped the mop and ran to the back of the store, saying a Hail Mary peppered with swearwords as he went, wondering if those were footsteps he hear behind him, or the echoes of his own footfalls resounding through the deserted store.Out the front door and away, he chanted in his head. Out the front door and away. He nearly fell rounding the turn at the meat case, his shoes still wet from the mop water. He caught himself on one hand and came up like a sprinter, while reaching back on his belt for his keys as he went.There were footfalls behind him light, slapping bare feet on linoleum, but fast, and close. He couldnt stop to unlock the door when he got there, he couldnt look back, he couldnt turn to look a second of hesitation and he would be lost. He exhaled a long wail and ran right through a rack of candy and gum by the registers. He tumbled over the first register in an avalanche of candy bars and magazines, many of which displayed headl ines like I get hitched with BIGFOOT, or SPACE ALIEN CULT TAKES OVER HOLLYWOOD, or vampires hunt our streets, and other such nonsense.Gustavo travel out of the pile and was crawling on his belly like a desert lizard scrambling to get across hot sand, when a heavy weight came down on his back, knocking the air out of him. He gasped, trying to get his breath, but something grabbed him by the hair and yanked his head backwards. He heard crackle china noises in his ear, smelled something like rotten meat, and gagged. He saw the fluorescent lights, some canned hams, and a very happy cardboard elf making cookies as he was dragged down the aisle and through the doors into the dark back room of the deli like so much lunch meat.Feliz navidad.Our first Christmas together, Jody said, kissing him on the cheek giving his butt a little squeeze through his pj bottoms. Did you get me something cute?Hi, Mom, Tommy said into the phone. Its Tommy.Tommy. Sweetheart. Weve been calling all day. It j ust rang and rang. I thought you were going to come home for Christmas.Well, you know, Mom, Im in steering at the store now. Responsibilities.Are you work hard enough?Oh yeah, Mom. Im working ten sixteen hours a day sometimes. Exhausted.Well good. And you have insurance?The best, Mom. The best. Im nearly bulletproof.Well, I suppose thats good. Youre not still working that horrible night shift, are you?Well, sort of. In the grocery business, thats where the money is.You need to get on the day shift. Youre never going to meet a nice girl working those hours, son.It was at this point, having heard Mother Floods admonition, that Jody lifted her shirt and rubbed her bare breasts against him while batting her eyelashes coquettishly.But I have met a nice girl, Mom. Her name is Jody. Shes studying to be a nun er, teacher. She helps the poor.It was then that Jody pantsed him, then ran into the bedroom giggling. He caught himself on the counter to keep from tumbling over.Whoa.What, son? W hats the matter?Nothing, nothing, Mom. I just had a little eggnog with the guys and started to feel it.Youre not on the drugs, are you, honey?No, no, no, nothing like that.Because your father has rehab benefits on you until youre twenty-one. We can have one of those interventions if you can find a cheap flight home. I know that aunty Esther would love to see you, even if you are strung out on the crack.And I her, and I her, Mom. Look, I just called to say Merry Christmas, Ill let you Wait, honey, your father wants to say hi. go.Hey, Skeeter. Frisco turned you into an ass bandit besides?Hi, Dad. Merry Christmas.Glad you finally called. Your mother was worried sick about you.Well, you know, the grocery business.You working hard enough?Trying. Theyre cutting back on our OT union will only let us work sixty hours a week.Well, as long as youre trying. Hows that old Volvo running?Great. Like a top. The Volvo had burned to the wheels his first day in the City.Swiss sure can build so me cars, cant they? Cant say much for those little red pocketknives they make, but sonsabitches can build a car.Swedes.Yeah, well, I love the little meatballs too. Look, kid, your mothers got me deep-frying a turkey out in the driveway. Its starting to smoke a little. I probably oughta should go check on it. Took an hour to get the oil up to speed its only about ten degrees here today.Yeah, its a little chilly here, too.Looks like its starting to catch the carport on fire a little. Better go.Okay. Love you, Dad.Call your mother more often, she worries. Holy cats, there goes the Oldsmobile. Bye, son.A half hour later they were sipping coffee laced with Williams blood when the doorbell rang again. This is getting irritating, Jody said.Call your mom, Tommy said. Ill get it.We should get some sleeping pills knock him out so he doesnt have to drink all that booze before we bleed him.The doorbell rang again.We just need to get him a key. Tommy went to the console by the door and pushed the button. There was a buzz and the click of the lock at street level. The door opened William coming in to settle on the stairs for the night. I dont know how he sleeps on those steps.He doesnt sleep. He passes out, said the undead redhead. Do you think if we gave him peppermint schnapps the coffee would have a minty holiday flavor?Tommy shrugged. He went to the door, threw it open, and called down. William, you like peppermint schnapps?William raised a grimy eyebrow, looking suspicious. You got something against scotch?No, no, I dont want to mess up your discipline. I was just thinking of a more balanced diet. Food groups, you know.I had some soup and some beer today, William said.Okay then.Schnapps gives me mint farts. They scare the hell out of Chet.Tommy turned to Jody and shook his head. Sorry, no way, minty farts. Then to William again Okay then, William. I gotta get back to the little woman. You need anything? Food, blanket, toothbrush, a damp towelette to freshen up?Nah, Im good, William said. He held up a fifth of Johnny baby buggy Black.Hows Chet doing?Stressed. We just found out our friend Sammy got murdered in the hotel on Eleventh. Chet looked up the stairwell with sad mountain eyes, which he sort of always seemed to have since hed been shaved.Sorry to hear that, Tommy said.Yeah, on Christmas, too, William said. Hooker got killed across the street last night, same way. Neck was snapped. Sammy has been sick for a while, so he splurged on a room for the holiday. Fuckers killed him right there in bed. Just goes to show you.Tommy had no idea what it went to show you. Sad, Tommy said. So how come Chets stressed but youre not?Chet doesnt drink.Of course. Well then, Merry Christmas to you guys.You, too, said William, toasting with his bottle. Any chance of a Christmas bonus, now that Im a full-time employee?Whatd you have in mind?Id sure like a gander at Reds bare knockers.Tommy turned to Jody, who was shaking her head, looking pretty determined.Sor ry, Tommy said. How about a new sweater for Chet?William scowled. You just cant bargain with The domain. He took a drink from his bottle and turned away from Tommy as if he had something all-important(a) to discuss with his huge shaved cat and couldnt be bothered with management.Okay then, Tommy said. He closed the door and returned to the counter. Im The Man, he said with a big grin.Your mom would be so proud, Jody said. We need to go see about Elijah.Not until you call your mom. Besides, hes waited this long, its not like hes going anywhere.Jody got up and came around the breakfast bar and took Tommys hand. Sweetie, I need you to play what William just said back in your mind, really slowly.I know, Im The ManNo, the part about his friend being killed by a broken neck, and how he has been sick, and how someone else was killed the night before, also by broken neck. Ill bet she was sick, too. Sound like a pattern youve heard before?Oh my God, Tommy said.Uh-huh, Jody said. She held h is hand to her lips and kissed his knuckles. Ill get my jacket while you fluff up your little brain for traveling, kay?Oh my God, youll do anything to get out of calling your mom.