Monday, December 30, 2019

Internet Based Educational Support for Students in...

TITLE PAGE Internet based Educational support for Students in Developing countries TABLE OF CONTENT CHAPTER 1 Introduction Purpose Significance of this study CHAPTER 2 Background Literature review CHAPTER 3 Methodology CHAPTER 4 Results CHAPTER 5 Conclusions and Recommendations Summary Recommendations REFERENCES APPENDIX INTRODUCTION The internet is a collection of computers connect together electronically over the world. The internet is also a collection of devices that are used for communication. People can make phone calls, send emails and chat using the internet. In order wards the internet is a tool for transfer of information. It can also be used for business and†¦show more content†¦The students I taught were preparing for their final examination. This examination is called the General certificate of education (G.C.E). It was a class of ten students. All these students were keen were keen to pass to pass the examination. But they had challenges. Some of them did not have enough money to buy all their books. While others did not know where to buy their books they needed for their examination. By this time, students were not use to studying on the internet. They were only use to communicating with their family and friends, by sending emails. Little did they know that they could access educational resources for their upcoming examination?. Well they did their best as they studied. A good number of them had the privilege to pass their examination. If intact this education online education is develop box office at speeds countries use the subjects in number of researchers and writers have studied on writing about it some time now. LITERATURE REVIEW Internet based education is not a common form of education in developing countries. But most developing countries not have an interest in Internet based education. Don’t you are quite a number of challenges faced by does developing countries. They still accept the Internet is a powerful tool for education. Information and communication technology bracket (I.C.T) in developing countries Is suggested as an effective way to improve the population’s life and well-being. InShow MoreRelatedA Brief Note On Open And Distance Learning1729 Words   |  7 Pagesimmensely to both social and economic development and has become an accepted as an indispensable part of the mainstream of educational system both in developing as well as in the developed countries with particular emphasis for the former. This growth has been the result of the interest that has been evinced both by the trainers as well as the educators in the use of new, Internet-based and multimedia technologies and also by taking cognizance of the fact that the traditional ways of learning need toRead MoreGlobalization of education Globalization has been of the leading factor in the spread of formal800 Words   |  4 Pagesfactor in the spread of formal education. Education is the backbone of a countries development. Without it, a country would remain underdeveloped and without a necessary tools to operate as a country. In saying so, education itself would also not be able to effectively be the means to develop a country. Globalization is the key factor that aids the spread of education, and increases its pervasiveness within a given country. An in depth look at three components, will better explain the use of globalizationRead MoreStudents Who Are Studying Through E Learning Effectively, They Will Have Preferable Results Level Than Those Who Do1390 Words   |  6 PagesStudents who are studying through E-Learning effectively, they will have preferable results level than those who do not!! Introduction The education system one of the fundamentally indispensable parts of any society also by using the information and communication technology undoubtedly led to appearance and development the E-learning, which helped students to develop their skills and expand educational opportunities for the advancement of their countries in the 21st century (Garrison and AndersonRead MoreImpact Of Globalization On Higher Education1631 Words   |  7 PagesGlobalization which is defined as the process which breaks down the barrier of geography, legality and politics among countries (Scholte, 2002, cited in Baburajan, 2011) has become a fashionable term of recent decades. It enables people worldwide to experience the unprecedented changes in various aspects of their life, varying from study to entertainment. This immediate prevalence of globalization plays an increasingly vital role in higher education and creates opportunities for people to continueRead MoreTechnology As A Tool For Technology931 Wor ds   |  4 PagesTechnology in the Classroom Many classrooms across the country are immersed with technology. Technology is used in a plethora of ways in today’s classrooms. The widespread use of technology in classroom instruction dates back to universities trickling down to pre-schools. When technology exists daily in the classroom; strategies are endless when dealing with classroom management. According to Khatib, (2014) â€Å"the use of the Internet as a tool for technology-enhanced instruction has educatorsRead MoreTechnology And The Impact Of Information Technology In Education1268 Words   |  6 Pagessystem has been a classroom setting with a professor giving a lecture and students listening and writing notes. Interaction between the professor and student has been viewed as an essential learning element within this arrangement. However, innovations in educational technology use of platform as delivery mechanisms have challenged this paradigm. Advances in Information Technology (IT) are enabling little use d educational delivery methods such as Distance Learning (DL) to gain new life. In additionRead More Distance Education Essay1550 Words   |  7 PagesDistance Education Traditionally, in the field of education, courses have been designed and student/teacher interactions have taken place through the teaching/learning process where the student and teacher are in the same location at the same time discussing the same topic. Students and teachers usually meet in this predetermined location at a predetermined time to interact in a classroom setting. The absence of either party usually has a negative result. Distance education has captured theRead MoreTechnology As A Global Phenomenon1330 Words   |  6 Pages As the world continues to advance, technology has become essential in most countries. In the past, using technology was not common among people like in today’s life. People are using technology these days in each domain of their lives, including entertainment, work, and education. The use of technology in education has become a global phenomenon. It plays a vital role in improving the educational skills and knowledge of the people. Over the past two decades in Saudi Arabia, there have been manyRead MoreIct And The Appropriate Instructional Design Of Tools For Ict1562 Words   |  7 Pagesshould be supported by ICT process in developing countries like Tanzania is inevitable (Sanga et al., 2013). Although PSS in Tanzania have poor environments for teaching and learning, limited number of teaching staff, limited number of text and reference books as well as large number of students in classrooms but ICT can solve some of these prevailing problems (Table 7).By using different ICT tools for teaching and learning will enable teachers and students to know the subject matter easier becauseRead MoreTeachers and Technology Essay828 Words   |  4 PagesWith advancements in technology rapidly developing, it is no surprise that it is affecting schools and teaching methods in a big way. The National Center for Educational Statistics reports that in the year 2001 ninety-nine percent of all schools had internet access and eighty seven percent had access in the classroom. Now, not only are the students being educated in using computers and other technological tools, but is now almost a requirement for most teachers to be skilled in that area. In addition

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Courage and Cowardice in The Things They Carried by Tim...

Courage and Cowardice in The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien Through The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien moves beyond the horror of fighting in the Vietnam War to examine with sensitivity and insight the nature of courage and fear. Included, is a collection of interrelated stories. A few of the stories are brutal, while others are flawed, blurring the distinction between fact and fiction. All the stories, however, deal with one platoon. Some are about the wartime experiences of soldiers, and others are about a 43-year-old writer reminiscing about his platoon’s experiences. In the beginning chapter, O’Brien rambles about the items the soldiers carry into battle, ranging from can openers, pocketknives, and mosquito repellent o†¦show more content†¦Some of the soldiers were such cowards that they injured themselves just to be taken away in a helicopter and extracted from the war scene. The soldiers â€Å"spoke bitterly about guys who had found release by shooting off their own toes or fingers. Pussies, they’ d say. Candy-asses† (22). However, deep down inside, the soldiers who did all the mocking â€Å"imagined the quick, sweet pain, then the evacuation to Japan, then a hospital with warm beds and cute geisha nurses† (22). The soldiers even dreamt at night about freedom birds. The men were flying on a â€Å"real bird, a big sleek silver bird with feathers and talons and high screeching†¦ The weights fell off; there was nothing to bear† (22). The soldiers did not want to be at war, they imagined to themselves â€Å"It’s (the war) over, I’m gone!—they were naked, they were light and free† (22). Furthermore, O’Brien himself admits he went to war not out of courage, but out of embarrassment and cowardice. In the chapter â€Å"On The Rainy River,† O’Brien received a draft letter for the Vietnam War. He was in shock, â€Å"I was too good for this war. Too smart, too compassionate, to everything. It couldn’t happ en. I was above it. A mistake, maybe—a foul up in the paperwork. I was no soldier†¦ I remember the rage in my stomach. Later it burned down to a smoldering self-pity, then to numbness† (41-42). Obviously, O’Brien did not want to go to war. However, he wasShow MoreRelated Myth of Courage Exposed in The Things They Carried Essay2662 Words   |  11 Pagesstudents we are brainwashed by ancient myths such as The Iliad, where war is extolled and the valorous warrior praised. Yet, modern novels such as Tim OBriens The Things They Carried (THINGS) challenge those very notions. Like The Iliad, THINGS is about war. It is about battles and soldiers, victory and survival, yet the message OBrien gives us in THINGS runs almost contradictory to the traditional war story. Whereas traditional stories of war take place on battlefields where soldier battles soldierRead MoreThe Things They Carried By Tim O Brien1377 Words   |  6 PagesTyler Nooney Trafford P.6 The Things They Carried Essay The central theme and true meaning of courage is shown vividly in numerous instances throughout Tim O’Brien’s classic novel The Things They Carried. O’Brien’s novel begins with the courage of coming of age, along with the author’s loss of his innocence. Tim, the protagonist of this novel, goes through an incredible change in belief when he must choose to either run away from the Vietnam War or unwillingly join the bloody battle, of which heRead MoreThe Things They Carried By Tim O Brien Essay832 Words   |  4 PagesSummary: â€Å"By and large they carried these things inside, maintaining the masks of composure† (21). In Tim O’brien’s The Things They Carried, the American soldiers of the Vietnam War carry much more than the weight of their equipment, much more than souvenirs or good-luck charms or letters from home. They carried within themselves the intransitive burdens—of fear, of cowardice, of love, of loneliness, of anger, of confusion. Most of all, they carry the truth of what happened to them in the war—aRead MoreCoping Methods in the Things They Carried Essay875 Words   |  4 Pagesdoes O’Brien use The Things They Carried to cope with the psychological impact of his experience in the war? In â€Å"The Things They Carried† Tim O’Brien uses this story as a coping mechanism; to tell part of his stories and others that are fiction from the Vietnamese War. This is shown by using a fictions character’s voice, deeper meaning in what soldier’s carried, motivation in decision making, telling a war story, becoming a new person and the outcome of a war in one person. Tim O’ BrienRead MoreConfusion in War1394 Words   |  6 Pagesown stories, one a true recollection of what actually happened and another, the fictional account he can tell when he returns home. The book is metafictional; it explores the process of writing a war story (Calloway 188). In Going After Cacciato Tim OBrien utilizes metafiction to examine the confusion of war. O’Brien’s narrative structure demonstrates the confusion of war. In no particular sequence, he explores three separate narratives, but only two of these narratives happen according to a logicalRead MoreTTTC2223 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿Kyla Cloud Paulson English 101 15 April 2015 They Carried Emotional Burdens In the novel, The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien not only are there many cases of lost innocence but there are many other complications that come with it. The novel itself is stated to be a fiction novel, but in many examples it shows that Tim O’Brien himself had a personal connection to the stories told. This leaves us with the idea that just like his character, Tim O’Brien was using storytelling to combat his experiencesRead MoreReflections on Literature by Tim OBrien and Henry David Thoreau681 Words   |  3 Pagesindividuals. Tim OBrien, in his book, describes a number of personal events that he experienced as a result of his experiences in Vietnam. One of the most interesting assertions he makes is when he claims that because he went to war, he was a coward. (OBrien) He makes this claim because he was really opposed to the war but did not have the courage to stand up an announce his opposition. Instead he simply obeyed orders and sent to war. But he for gets that there is a difference between the courage to standRead MoreEssay on The Things They Carried Chapter Analysis1989 Words   |  8 PagesThe Things They Carried: Chapter 1 Significant Quote: â€Å"In the accompanying letter, Martha wrote that she had found the pebble on the Jersey shoreline, precisely where the land touched the water at high tide, where things came together but also separated.† (8) Speaker: Tim O’Brien Audience: The reader Significance: This symbolizes Martha and Jimmy’s feelings for each other. They are separated by the war, but together in their minds. Questions: 1. What prompted the separate-but-together thoughtRead More The Things They Carried - Themes Essay970 Words   |  4 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In Tim O’Brien’s novel, The Things They Carried, numerous themes are illustrated by the author. Through the portrayal of a number of characters, Tim O’Brien suggests that to adapt to Vietnam is not always more difficult than to revert back to the lives they once knew. Correspondingly the theme of change is omnipresent throughout the novel, specifically in the depiction of numerous characters. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tim O’Brien is drafted one month after graduatingRead More Revelation through Experience in Heart of Darkness, Going After Cacciato, and The Things They Carri3247 Words   |  13 PagesRevelation through Experience in Heart of Darkness, Going After Cacciato, and The Things They Carried Foreign lands seemingly possessed by evil spirits as well as evil men, ammunition stockpiles, expendable extremities and splintered, non-expendable limbs carpeting the smoking husks of burnt-out villages, the intoxicating colors of burning napalm, and courage mixed with cowardice in the face of extreme peril. These are just a few examples of the spell-binding images presented in

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 14 Free Essays

â€Å"You called us together for biblical porn?† Hugh turned away with disinterest from where the vampires and I huddled around my kitchen table. Barely a bruise showed on him anymore. Putting a cigarette to his lips, the imp produced a lighter from his coat pocket. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Blues CHAPTER 14 or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"Don’t smoke in here,† I warned. â€Å"What do you care? Are you saying you didn’t smoke throughout most of the twentieth century?† â€Å"I’m not saying that at all. But I don’t do it anymore. Besides, it’s bad for Aubrey.† The cat, sitting on one of my counters, paused mid-bath at the sound of her name and eyed him askance. Hugh, glaring back, took a long drag on the cigarette before putting it out on the countertop next to her. She returned to her cleaning, and he paced around the apartment. Beside me, Cody leaned over the table, studying my proffered Bible. â€Å"I don’t get how these guys are actually angels. ‘Sons of God’ seems like a generic term for humans. I mean, aren’t we all supposed to be children of God?† â€Å"Present company excluded, of course,† called Hugh from the living room. Then: â€Å"Jesus Christ! Where’d you get this bookcase? Hiroshima?† â€Å"Theoretically we are,† I agreed, ignoring the imp and answering Cody’s question. I’d done a lot of biblical perusal since my earlier discovery today and was growing tired of looking at the book. â€Å"But Warren’s right – that term is used throughout to refer to angels. Plus, the women here aren’t called ‘daughters of God.’ They’re called ‘daughters of men.’ They’re human, their husbands are not.† â€Å"Could just be good old-fashioned sexism.† Peter had finally taken the plunge and shaved his hair off. I did not find the look flattering at all, considering the shape of his head. â€Å"It’s not like that’d be a new concept in the Bible.† â€Å"Nah, I think Georgina’s right,† said Hugh, returning to us. â€Å"I mean, we know something made angels fall. Lust is as good a reason as any, and it beats the hell out of gluttony or sloth.† â€Å"So what’s the point then?† Peter wanted to know. â€Å"How does this relate to the not-just-a-vampire hunter?† â€Å"Here.† I pointed to verse 6:4. â€Å"It says, ‘There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.’ The key words here are ‘in those days’ and ‘also after that.’ It’s saying angels have fallen for human women more than once. This answers our question about whether angels still fall anymore. They do.† Cody was nodding along with me. â€Å"Which backs up your theory that one is trying to fall right now.† â€Å"It doesn’t sound like lust is going to be his catalyst, though,† Hugh noted. â€Å"I think assault and battery will do it first.† â€Å"Unless it’s lust for Georgina,† suggested Peter dryly. â€Å"He seems to think you’re pretty enough.† Something odd struck me at Hugh’s observation. â€Å"Would assault and battery really do it, though? Especially of vampires and imps? It might be frowned upon by the other side, but I’m not convinced taking out evil agents would necessarily warrant an angel turning into a demon.† â€Å"Past evidence suggests the other side isn’t exactly†¦ flexible with transgressors,† observed the imp. â€Å"And ours is?† wondered Peter. Cody gave me a sharp look. â€Å"Are you backing out of your own theory?† â€Å"No, no. I’m suddenly reconsidering the falling bit, that’s all. The ‘rogue’ or ‘renegade’ part might be more accurate.† â€Å"But your note did mention angels falling,† Hugh pointed out. â€Å"Surely that’s indicative of something? A meaningful clue and not just a bad attempt at humor?† I thought about the note. Yes, Hugh was right. I felt certain the note’s content played a role here; I just couldn’t yet grasp what it meant. â€Å"Bad humor is par for the course with angels,† Peter reminded us. â€Å"At least if Carter’s any indication.† I hesitated a moment, nervous about bringing up my secondary theory. They all seemed to be going along with the angel idea, however, so I figured it was now or never. â€Å"Do you guys think†¦ do you think it’s possible Carter might be the one behind all of this?† Three sets of eyes turned on me in astonishment. Hugh spoke first. â€Å"What? Are you crazy? I know you two spar a lot, but Christ, if you think†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Carter’s one of us,† agreed Cody fiercely. â€Å"I know, I know.† I proceeded to explain the reasoning behind my accusation, citing his weird shadowing of me and subsequent conversation at Erik’s. Silence fell. Finally, Peter said, â€Å"All of that is strange. But I still can’t buy it. Not Carter.† â€Å"Not Carter,† agreed Hugh. â€Å"Oh, I see. Everyone’s quick to implicate me for Duane, but not perfect Carter?† My ire rose at their automatic solidarity, at the idea that Carter would be above reproach. â€Å"Why does he hang out with us then? Have you ever heard of an angel doing anything like that?† â€Å"We’re his friends,† said Cody. â€Å"And we’re more fun,† added Hugh. â€Å"You can believe that if you want, but not me. Going from pub to pub with a demon and his cronies is the perfect setup for sabotage. He’s been spying on us. You’re just biased because he’s such a good drinking buddy.† â€Å"And don’t you think, Georgina,† warned Peter, â€Å"there’s just the slightest possibility that you’re the one who’s biased? I admit, this crazy angel theory makes more and more sense as time goes on, but where’d Carter come from?† â€Å"Yeah,† said Hugh. â€Å"Seems like you just sort of threw him in for no good reason. Everyone knows you two don’t get along.† I stared disbelievingly at the three sets of angry eyes. â€Å"I have plenty of good reason. How do you explain him being at Erik’s?† The imp shook his head. â€Å"We all know Erik. Carter could have been there for the same reasons you were.† â€Å"What about the things he said?† â€Å"What did he say really?† Peter asked. â€Å"Was he like, ‘Hey Georgina, hope you got my note’? It’s all pretty flimsy.† â€Å"Look, I’m not saying I have strong evidence, just that circumstantially – â€Å" â€Å"I need to go,† interjected Cody, standing up. I gave him a cold look. Had I pushed them that far? â€Å"I understand if you don’t agree with me, but don’t just walk out.† â€Å"No, there’s something I’ve got to do.† Peter rolled his eyes. â€Å"You’re not the only one dating now, Georgina. Cody won’t admit it, but I think he’s got a woman stashed somewhere.† â€Å"A live one?† asked Hugh, impressed. Cody put his coat on. â€Å"You guys don’t know anything.† â€Å"Well, be careful,† I warned automatically. The tense mood was suddenly shattered, and no one seemed to be angry with me about suspecting Carter anymore. It was clear, however, that no one believed me about him either. They were dismissing my ideas like one does a child’s irrational fears or imaginary friends. The vampires left together, and Hugh followed soon thereafter. I wandered off to bed, still trying to put the pieces into place. The note writer had made a reference to angels falling for beautiful women; that had to be significant. Yet, I just couldn’t reconcile it with this bizarre pair of attacks on Duane and Hugh, which had more to do with violence and brutality than beauty or lust. When I got to work the next day, my e-mail inbox revealed a new message from Seth, and I feared some sort of follow-up to his date request from yesterday. Instead, he merely responded to my last message, which had been one in an ongoing conversation about his observations of the Northwest. The message’s writing style and voice were as entertaining as ever, and he seemed for all the world not to have minded – or even noticed – my wacky rejection yesterday. I verified this further when I went upstairs to buy coffee. Seth sat in his usual corner, typing away, oblivious to it being Saturday. I paused and said hello, getting a typically distracted response in return. He did not mention asking me to the party, did not seem upset, and indeed apparently didn’t care at all about it. I supposed I should have been grateful that he’d recovered so quickly, that he wasn’t pining or breaking his heart over me, but my selfishness couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. I wouldn’t have minded making a slightly stronger impression on him, one that elicited some regret over my refusal. Doug and Roman, for example, hadn’t let one rejection deter them. What a fickle creature I was. Thinking of both of them reminded me I was meeting Roman later to go to Doug’s concert. I grew heady at the thought of seeing Roman again, though apprehension tinged the feeling. I didn’t like him having this effect on me, and I had thus far demonstrated no aptitude in refusing his advances. We were going to reach a critical point one of these days, and I feared for its outcome. I suspected that when it did come, I would wish Roman had bowed out of my pursuit so easily as Seth seemed to have. Such worries vanished from my mind that evening when I admitted Roman into my apartment. He wore dress clothing all done in elegant shades of blue and silvery gray, every hair and fold perfectly in place. He flashed me one of those devastating smiles, and I made sure my knees didn’t start knocking, schoolgirl style. â€Å"You do realize this is a post-grunge, punk rock, ska -type of concert we’re going to. Most everyone else will be in jeans and T-shirts. Maybe some leather here and there.† â€Å"Most good dates do end in leather.† His eyes took in the sights of the apartment, lingering briefly on the bookcase. â€Å"But didn’t you say this was a late show?† â€Å"Yup. Starts at eleven.† â€Å"That gives us four hours to burn, love. You’re going to have to change.† I looked down at my black jeans and red tank top. â€Å"This won’t work?† â€Å"That does wonderful things for your legs, I admit, but I think you’re going to want a skirt or dress. Something like you wore swing dancing, only maybe†¦ steamier.† â€Å"I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard the word ‘steamy’ applied to any of my wardrobe.† â€Å"I find that hard to believe.† He pointed down my hall. â€Å"Go. The clock is ticking.† Ten minutes later I returned in a clingy, navy dress made of georgette. It had spaghetti straps and an asymmetrical hemline, jagged and ruffled, that rose high on my left leg. I had taken my hair out of its ponytail and now wore it long over my shoulders. Roman looked up from where he’d been having meaningful, eye-to-eye communication with Aubrey. â€Å"Steamy.† He pointed to the King James Bible sitting on my coffee table. It was open, like he’d been perusing. â€Å"I never took you for the churchgoing type.† Both Seth and Warren had made similar jokes. That thing was ruining my reputation. â€Å"Just something I’m researching. It’s only been moderately useful.† Roman stood up and stretched. â€Å"Probably because that’s one of the worst translations out there.† I remembered the plethora of Bibles. â€Å"Is there a better one you’d recommend?† He shrugged. â€Å"I’m no expert, but you’d probably get more out of one meant for research, not devotional use. Annotated ones. Ones that they use in college classes.† I filed the information away, wondering if the mystery verses might still have more to reveal. For now, I had a date to contend with. We ended up at a small, hidden Mexican restaurant I’d never been to. The waiters spoke Spanish – as did Roman, it turned out – and the food had not been watered down for Americans. When two margaritas appeared on our table, I realized Roman had ordered one for me. â€Å"I don’t want to drink tonight.† I recalled how flaky I’d been the last time we went out. He stared at me like I’d just declared I was going to stop breathing for a change. â€Å"You have to be kidding. This place makes the best margaritas north of the Rio Grande.† â€Å"I want to stay sober tonight.† â€Å"One won’t kill you. Take it with food, and you won’t even notice.† I stayed silent. â€Å"For Christ’s sake, Georgina, just try the salt. One taste and you’ll be hooked.† I reluctantly ran my tongue around the edge. It triggered a longing to taste tequila that rivaled my succubus urge for sex. Giving in against my better judgment, I took a sip. It was fantastic. The food was too, not surprisingly, and I ended up having two margaritas, instead of just the one. Roman proved to be right about drinking with food, fortunately, and I only felt mildly buzzed. I did not feel out of control and knew I could handle things until the sobering up began. â€Å"Two more hours,† I told him as we left the restaurant. â€Å"Got something else in mind?† â€Å"Sure do.† He inclined his head across the street, and I followed his motion. Miguel’s. I racked my brain. â€Å"I’ve heard of that place†¦ wait, they do salsa dancing there, don’t they?† â€Å"Yup. Ever tried it?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"What? I thought you were a dancing queen.† â€Å"I’m not done with swing yet.† Truthfully, I was dying to try salsa. Like Seth Mortensen’s books, though, I did not like to burn through too much of a good thing too fast. I still enjoyed swing and wanted to run it into the ground before I switched dances. Long life tended to make one savor things more. â€Å"Well, now you’ll just have to multitask.† Taking my hand, he led me across the street. I tried to protest but couldn’t really explain my reasoning to him, and so, like the margaritas, I gave in fairly easily. The club was warm and packed with bodies, and the music was to die for. My feet immediately began counting out beats as Roman paid our entrance fee and led me to the dance floor. Just like with swing, he turned out to be an expert at salsa, and I found myself easily catching on after a few practices. I might not have demonstrated much talent for standing my ground against margaritas, but I had been dancing for centuries. The skill was fused into me. Salsa turned out to be a lot sexier than swing. Not that swing wasn’t sexy, mind you, but salsa had a dark, sinuous edge about it. One couldn’t help but focus on the closeness of the other person’s body, the way hips moved together. I now knew what Roman had meant about steamy. After about a half hour, we took a break, and he led us to the bar. † Mojitosnow,† he told me, holding up two fingers for the bartender. â€Å"In keeping with our Latin theme tonight.† â€Å"I can’t†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But the mojitos appeared without my counsel and turned out to be pretty damned good. We finished them faster than we should have, so we could get back out on the floor. By the time we had to leave for Doug’s concert, post-grunge, punk rock, ska -type music didn’t sound so good anymore. I was exhilarated from dancing, hot and sweaty, and I’d gone through another mojito and a tequila chaser. I knew I’d found a new passion in salsa and silently cursed Roman for what would probably become a dancing addiction, even though I had exalted in the movement. His body had moved with a seductive grace, brushing against mine in a way that left me quivering and aching. We stumbled out into the street, holding hands, breathless and laughing. The world spun around me slightly, and I decided it was probably just as well we’d left when we did. My motor controls had stopped operating at normal levels. â€Å"Okay, where’d we park?† â€Å"You’ve got to be kidding,† I told him, jerking him around the corner where I could see the soft glow of a yellow taxi. â€Å"We have to take a cab.† â€Å"Come on, I’m not that bad.† But he had the wisdom to protest no further, and we caught the taxi up to the brewery in Greenlake. People milled in and out of the building; there had been two other performances before Doug’s. As I had feared, our posh dancing clothing looked hopelessly out of place among the rough and tumble ware of the college-aged, but it no longer seemed the big deal it had when Roman picked me up. â€Å"Don’t get caught up in fashion games,† he advised as we squeezed our way inside the packed brewery. â€Å"These kids probably think we’re old, nark conformists or something, but really, they’re just conforming in their own ways. They’re conforming to nonconformity.† I scanned for the bookstore crew, hoping they’d secured a table. â€Å"Oh no. You don’t wax political when you’re drunk, do you?† â€Å"No, no. I just get tired of people always trying to fit a mold, trying to toe some line, regardless if it’s right or left. I’m proud to be the best-dressed person in this room. Make your own rules, that’s what I say.† I spotted Beth and dragged Roman over to a table on the other side of the room. Other bookstore natives sat with her: Casey, Andy, Bruce – and Seth. My stomach sank. â€Å"Nice dress,† said Bruce. â€Å"We saved you a seat.† Casey indicated a chair. â€Å"I didn’t realize you’d have a†¦ friend.† The chair situation held little concern for me. All I could feel were Seth’s eyes on me, his face thoughtful but neutral. Flushing, I felt like a complete idiot and wished I could just turn around and leave. After refusing him with my stupid tirade about not dating, here I was, hand in hand, drunk off my ass with Roman. I couldn’t even imagine what Seth must think of me now. â€Å"Not a problem,† Roman declared, oblivious to my churning emotions and unfazed by my colleagues’ bemused attention. He sat down in the chair, pulling me onto his lap. â€Å"We’ll share.† Andy made a bar run, bringing back beers for all of us except Seth who, just like with caffeine, chose to abstain. Roman and I explained where we’d been, lauding salsa as the world’s new greatest pastime, thus earning demands from the others that I start up a second wave of dance lessons. Doug’s group soon came on stage, and we all cheered appropriately at the sight of Doug-the-assistant-manager turned Doug-the-lead-singer of Nocturnal Admission. Beer kept coming, and while continuing to drink was probably the stupidest thing I could have done, I was beyond the point where I could reasonably stop. Besides, I had too many other things to worry about. Like avoiding eye contact with a thus-far-silent Seth. And savoring the feel of being on top of Roman, his chest against my back and arms around my waist. His chin rested on my shoulder, giving him easy access to whisper in my ear and occasionally run his lips by my neck. The hardness I felt underneath my thighs suggested I wasn’t the only one getting something out of this seating arrangement. Doug came to talk to us during a break, covered in sweat but thoroughly ecstatic. He took in the sight of me plastered on Roman. â€Å"You’re a little overdressed, aren’t you, Kin- caid?† He reconsidered. â€Å"Or under. Hard to say.† â€Å"You’re one to talk,† I shot back, finishing my†¦ second†¦ or was it third†¦ beer. Doug wore tight, red vinyl pants; combat boots; and a long, purple velvet jacket left open to expose his chest. A ragged top hat perched jauntily on his head. â€Å"I’m part of the entertainment, babe.† â€Å"So am I, babe.† Some of the others chuckled. Doug’s expression turned disapproving, but he said nothing to me, instead making some comment to Beth about the number of people who had turned out for the show. I entered that weird sort of tunnel vision that occurs sometimes with alcohol, where I became so consumed with my own buzzing, swirling perceptions that the conversation and noise around me blurred to an indistinct drone, and faces and colors faded out to an irrelevant background separate from my existence. Indeed, all I really felt was Roman. Every nerve in me was screaming, and I wished the hands he rested on my stomach would slide up to touch my breasts. I could already feel my nipples hardening under the thin fabric and wondered what it’d be like to turn around and ride him like I had Warren†¦ â€Å"Restroom,† I suddenly exclaimed, clambering ungracefully off Roman. It was weird how one’s bladder could turn from tolerable to unbearable so quickly. â€Å"Where’s the restroom here?† The others looked at me strangely, or so it seemed to me. â€Å"Back there,† pointed Casey, her voice sounding far away despite her close proximity. â€Å"You okay?† â€Å"Yeah.† I pushed a slipping strap up. â€Å"I just need to use the restroom.† And get away from Roman, I silently added, so I can think about things clearly. Not that that last feat would probably be possible in my current state. Roman started to rise, as drunk and fumbling as me. â€Å"I’ll go with you – â€Å" â€Å"I will,† offered Doug hastily. â€Å"I need to get back there anyway before the next set.† Taking my arm, he wound us through the people toward a less-populated back hallway. I staggered slightly as we went, and he slowed his pace to help. â€Å"How much have you had to drink?† â€Å"Before or after I got here?† â€Å"Holy shit. You are trashed.† â€Å"You got a problem with it?† â€Å"Hardly. How do you think I spend most of my nights off?† We paused outside the ladies’ restroom. â€Å"I bet Seth thinks I’m a lush.† â€Å"Why would he think that?† â€Å"You don’t see him drinking. He’s such a fucking purist. Him and his stupid no caffeine and no alcohol shit.† Doug’s dark eyes flickered in surprise at my language. â€Å"Not all nondrinkers despise drinkers, you know. Besides, Seth’s not the one I’m worried about. I’m more concerned about Mr. Happy Hands out there.† I blinked, confused. Then: â€Å"You mean Roman?† â€Å"You’ve come a long way from refusing to date to practically making out in public.† â€Å"So?† I countered hotly. â€Å"Can’t I be with someone? Aren’t I entitled to do something for a change that’s actually something I want to do, not something I have to do?† My words came out with more bitter truth – and volume – than I intended. â€Å"Of course,† he soothed, â€Å"but you aren’t yourself tonight. You’re going to do something stupid if you’re not careful. Something you’ll regret later. You should ask Casey or Beth to take you home – â€Å" â€Å"Oh, you’re a piece of work,† I exclaimed. I knew I was being irrational, that I’d never have turned on Doug sober, but I couldn’t stop. â€Å"Just because I won’t go out with you, just because I choose to fuck Warren or someone else, then you have to step in and try to keep me pure and untouched. If you can’t have me, then no one can, is that it?† Doug blanched, and a few passersby stared at us. â€Å"Christ, Georgina, no – â€Å" â€Å"You’re such a fucking hypocrite,† I yelled at him. â€Å"You have no right to tell me what to do! No fucking right.† â€Å"I’m not, I – â€Å" I didn’t listen to what else he had to say. Turning, I stormed into the ladies’ restroom, the only place I could go to escape these men. When I’d finished and gone to wash my hands, I looked up in the mirror. Did I look trashed? My cheeks were pink, some of the waves in my hair a little limper than when I’d started the evening. And I was sweating. Not too trashed, I decided. I could be a lot worse. I felt hesitant to leave the restroom, fearing Doug waited for me. I didn’t want to talk to him. Another woman came in with a lit cigarette, and I bummed one off her, smoking it in its entirety while I crouched in a corner to kill time. When I heard the band kick up again, I knew it was safe. I walked out of the restroom and ran straight into Roman. â€Å"Are you okay?† he asked, his hands catching me around the waist to steady me. â€Å"I was worried when you didn’t come back.† â€Å"Yeah†¦ I’m fine†¦ er, no, I don’t know,† I admitted, leaning into him, wrapping my arms around him. â€Å"I don’t know what’s going on. I feel so strange.† â€Å"It’s all right,† he told me, patting my back. â€Å"Everything’s going to be all right. Do you need to leave? Is there anything I can do?† â€Å"I†¦ don’t know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I pulled away slightly, looking up into his eyes. Those blue-green depths were drowning me, and suddenly, I didn’t care. I don’t know who started it – it could have been either of us – but suddenly we were kissing, there in the middle of the hallway, arms pulling each other tighter, lips and tongues working furiously. The alcohol enhanced my base physical response yet numbed my awareness of succubus energy absorption. It must have still been working in spite of my inability to sense it, however, because Roman abruptly pulled away from me, looking aghast. â€Å"Weird†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He put a hand to his forehead. â€Å"I feel†¦ dizzy all of a sudden.† He hesitated a moment then shook it off, pulling me toward him again. Just like all the others. They never caught on that it was me doing it, me hurting them, so they still came back for more. His pause had been what I needed to gain some tiny sense of clarity in my drunken cloud. What had I done? What had I let myself become tonight? Every interaction with Roman had pushed me past another boundary. First I’d said we wouldn’t date. Then I’d confined us to limited dates. Tonight I’d sworn I wouldn’t drink, and now I could barely stand up from all the booze. Kissing was another taboo I had just broken. And it would only lead to the inevitable†¦ In my mind’s eye, I could see us after sex. Roman would sprawl, pale and exhausted, drained of his life. That energy would crackle through me like an electric current, and he would stare at me, weak and confused, unable to comprehend what he no longer had. Depending on how much I stole from him, he would lose years off his life. Some sloppy succubi had even been known to kill victims by drinking too much life too fast. â€Å"No†¦ no†¦ don’t.† I pushed him away, unwilling to see that future realized, but his arm still held me. Looking beyond him, I suddenly caught sight of Seth coming down the hallway. He froze when he saw us, but I was too preoccupied to pay any attention to the writer. I was a hair’s breath away from kissing Roman again, from taking him somewhere – anywhere – where we could be alone and naked, where I could do all the things I’d fantasized doing with him. Another kiss†¦ another kiss, and I would not be able to stop. I wanted it too much. I wanted to be with someone I wanted. Just once after all these years. And that was exactly why I couldn’t do it. â€Å"Georgina†¦Ã¢â‚¬  began Roman confusedly, hands still on me. â€Å"Please,† I begged, my voice a whisper, â€Å"let me go. Please let me go. You have to let me go.† â€Å"What’s wrong? I don’t understand.† â€Å"Please let me go,† I repeated. â€Å"Let me go!† The sudden volume of my own voice startled me, giving me a small boost of will to break from his grasp. He reached toward me, saying my name, but I stepped back. I sounded hysterical, like a crazy woman, and Roman was looking at me rightfully so. â€Å"Don’t touch me. Don’t. Touch. Me!† My anger was more at myself, at my life, than it was at him. A terrible rage and frustration, amplified by alcohol, coursed through me at the universe. The world wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair that some people had perfect lives. That beautiful civilizations should fall to dust. That babies should be born with only a handful of breaths. That I should be trapped in this cruel joke of an existence. An eternity of making love without love. â€Å"Georgina†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Don’t touch me. Ever again. Please,† I whispered hoarsely, and then, I did the only thing left to me. Escape. I ran. I turned from him and ran down the hall, away from Roman, away from Seth, away from the main seating area. I didn’t know where I was going, but it would keep me safe. Would keep Roman safe. I might not be able to heal my own pain, but I could prevent any more from coming to him. My poor coordination and desperation made me run into people who responded with varying degrees of politeness to my mania. Was Roman behind me? I didn’t know. He’d drunk at least as much as I had; his coordination couldn’t be any better. If I could just be alone, I could shape-shift or go invisible and get out of here†¦ I burst through a door, and a wave of cool night air suddenly engulfed me. Gasping, I looked around. I stood in the back parking lot. It was packed with cars, and a few people smoking pot lingered around, most not paying attention to me. The door I’d come through opened, and I turned, expecting Roman. Instead, I saw Seth, looking anxious. â€Å"Stay away from me,† I warned. He held up his hands, palms forward in an appeasing gesture as he approached me slowly. â€Å"Are you okay?† I took two steps back, fumbling for my purse. â€Å"I’m fine. I just have to†¦ have to get away from here†¦ get away from him.† I pulled out my cell phone, intending to call one of the vampires. It slipped from my hands, dodged my attempts to catch it, and hit the asphalt with a sickening crack. â€Å"Oh shit.† Kneeling down, I picked up the phone, looking with dismay at the gibberish on the display. â€Å"Shit,† I repeated. Seth knelt by me. â€Å"What can I do?† I looked up at him, his face swimming in my blurred vision. â€Å"I have to get out of here. I have to get away from him.† â€Å"Okay. Come on. I’ll take you home.† Seth took my arm, and I had a faint recollection of being led a few blocks to some dark-colored car. He helped me inside and drove away. Leaning back, I sank into the motion of the drive, letting it pull me under, the backward and forward of inertia, backward and forward, backward and forward†¦ â€Å"Pullover.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Pull over now!† He complied, and I opened the door, expelling the contents of my stomach onto the street outside. When I had finished, Seth waited a moment before asking, â€Å"Are you okay to keep going?† â€Å"Yeah.† But a few minutes later, I made him pull over and repeated the process. â€Å"This†¦ car ride is killing me,† I gasped once we were on the road again. â€Å"I can’t stay in the car. The motion†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Seth’s brow furrowed, and he suddenly made a hard right that nearly set me to throwing up inside the car. â€Å"Sorry,† he said. We drove a few more minutes, and I was on the verge of asking him to pull over again when the car stopped. He helped me out, and I looked around, not recognizing the building in front of us. â€Å"Where are we?† â€Å"My place.† He ushered me inside, straight to a bathroom where I promptly knelt and paid homage to the toilet, again releasing more liquid than I had realized was in me. I felt distantly aware of Seth behind me, pulling my hair out of the way. Dimly, I remembered that higher immortals like Jerome and Carter could be affected by alcohol as little or as much as they liked, choosing to sober up at will. Bastards. I don’t know how long I knelt there before Seth gently helped me to my feet. â€Å"Can you stand?† â€Å"I think so.† â€Å"It’s†¦ uh†¦ in your hair and on your dress. I think you’ll want to change.† I looked down at the navy georgette and sighed. â€Å"Steamy.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Never mind.† I started pulling the straps down so I could get out of the dress. His eyebrows rose, and he hastily turned away. â€Å"What are you doing?† he asked in a forcibly normal voice. â€Å"I need to shower.† Naked, I stumbled over and turned on the water. Seth, still not looking at me, retreated to the door. â€Å"You won’t fall or anything?† â€Å"I hope not.† I stepped into the water, gasping at its heat. I leaned against the tiled wall and just let the heavy stream power-wash me, the shock momentarily rousing my wits. Looking up, I saw that Seth was gone, the bathroom door closed. I sighed and shut my eyes, wanting to sink to my knees and pass out. Standing there, I thought again about Roman, about how good it had felt to kiss him. I didn’t know what he would think of me now, not after how I’d acted. When I turned off the water and stepped out, the bathroom door opened a crack. â€Å"Georgina? Use these.† A towel and an oversize T-shirt were tossed through before the door closed again. I dried myself off and put on the shirt. It was red and had a picture of Black Sabbath on it. Nice. The activity took its toll, however, and a wave of nausea rolled over me again. â€Å"No,† I moaned, making for the toilet. The door opened. â€Å"Are you okay?† Seth came in and pulled my hair back once more. I waited but nothing came. Finally, I stood uneasily. â€Å"I’m all right. I need to lie down.† He led me out of the bathroom and into a bedroom with an unmade queen-sized bed. I collapsed onto it, pleased to be flat and stationary, even though the room continued to spin. He sat down gingerly on the bed’s edge, watching me uncertainly. â€Å"I’m sorry about this,† I told him. â€Å"Sorry you had to†¦ do all this.† â€Å"It’s okay.† I closed my eyes. â€Å"Relationships suck. This is why I don’t date. You just hurt people.† â€Å"Most good things come with the risk of something bad,† he observed philosophically. I remembered the letter he’d sent me, about the long-term girlfriend he’d neglected for his writing. â€Å"Would you do it again?† I asked. â€Å"Go out with that one girl? Even if you knew things would turn out exactly the same?† A pause. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Not me.† â€Å"Not me what?† I opened my eyes and looked up at him. â€Å"I was married once.† It was the kind of drunken admission one made fully aware that it would never have been spoken sober. â€Å"Did you know that?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"No one does.† â€Å"It didn’t work out then?† Seth asked when I didn’t say anything for a minute. I couldn’t help a bitter laugh. Didn’t work out? That was an understatement. I had been weak and foolish, giving into the same physical urges that had nearly led me into disaster with Roman. Only with Ariston, I couldn’t claim drunkenness for that slip. I had been dead sober, and honestly, I think I’d been planning it for a long time anyway. We both had. He’d come over one day for another visit, only this time we didn’t talk much. I think we were past conversation by then. We’d both been restless, pacing and standing, making small talk that neither of us really listened to. My attention was on his physical presence – on his body and the powerful muscles in his arms and legs. The air was so thick with sexual tension it was a wonder we could move at all. I walked to the window, staring at nothing as I listened to him pacing the rest of the house. A moment later he returned, this time standing behind me. His hands suddenly rested on my shoulders, the first deliberate touch he’d ever made. His fingers burned me like a brand, and I shivered, making his hold tighten as he stepped closer to me. â€Å"Letha,† he said in my ear, â€Å"you know†¦ you know I think about you all the time. I think about what it would be like to†¦ be with you.† â€Å"You’re with me now.† â€Å"You know that’s not what I mean.† He turned me around to face him, and his gaze was like hot oil running over my body, slick and scorching. Trailing his hands up my neck, he cupped my face for a moment. He leaned down and held his mouth a breath away from mine. Then, his tongue darted out and lightly ran over my lips, the barest of caresses. My lips parted, and I leaned forward to take more, but he stepped away with a small smile. One of his hands moved down to my shoulder, to the clasp that held my gown together, and unfastened it. The fabric slid off me, pooling around me on the floor, so I stood naked before him. His eyes blazed, taking in every part. I should have felt embarrassed or shy, but I didn’t. I felt wonderful. Desired. Adored. Wanted. Powerful. â€Å"I would do anything, anything at all to have you right now,† he whispered. His hands traveled down my shoulders to the sides of my breasts, to my waist, and then my hips. My mother had always said my hips were too skinny, but under his hands, they felt lush and sexy. â€Å"I would kill for you. I would go to the ends of the earth for you. I would do anything at all that you ask. Anything just to feel your body against mine and your legs wrapped around me.† â€Å"No one’s ever said anything like that to me.† I was surprised at how calmly my voice came out. Inside, I was melting. I would hear variations of his promises for the next millennium or so, from a hundred different men, but at the time, the words were fresh and new. Ariston’slips turned up in a rueful smile. † Kyriakosmust say things like that all the time.† There was an arch tone to his voice, reminding me that even though the two men were longtime friends, there had always been a rivalry underscoring that friendship. â€Å"No. He makes love to me with his eyes.† â€Å"I want to use a lot more than my eyes.† In that moment, I suddenly understood the power women had over men. It was surprising and exhilarating. Never mind issues of property and politics; it was in the bedroom that women ruled. With flesh and sheets and sweat. The knowledge filled me, rushing through me with an arousal stronger than any aphrodisiac could produce. I thrived on it, liking this newfound clout. I think it was this revelation that would later make the powers of hell cast me as a succubus. I reached out trembling hands to him and began removing his tunic. He stood still as I undressed him, but every inch of him quivered with heat and longing. His breathing came heavy and fast as I studied his body now, noticing all the ways it was the same as Kyriakos ‘ and all the ways it was different. I moved my fingertips over him, lightly touching the tanned flesh, the well-defined muscles, the nipples. Then my hands moved lower, below his stomach, wrapping around the long, hard length they found there. Ariston emitted a soft groan but did not move toward me yet. He was still waiting for my consent. I raised my eyes from my fondling hands and looked into his face. He really would have done anything for me. That awareness increased my need for him. â€Å"You can do anything you want to me,† I told him finally. I made it sound like a concession, but truthfully, I wanted him to do anything he wanted. My words broke the spell that had been holding us apart. It was like a damn bursting. Like exhaling after holding your breath for too long. A rush. A release. My body nearly tumbled into his, like it had been straining and straining at bindings that had finally been cut. Touching him made me realize we should have been touching long before this. He jerked me into a harsh kiss, jamming his tongue into my mouth as his hands moved under me to grab the backs of my thighs. In one motion, he hoisted me up and pressed my back against the wall. My legs wrapped around his hips, needing him closer to me, and then with one hard thrust, he was inside. I don’t know if I was too tight or he was too big – maybe both – but it hurt in a sort of pleasurable way. I let out a surprised cry, but he didn’t stop to see if I was okay. The passion had seized him, that animalistic urge locked deep into our blood that ensures the continuation of our species. He focused only on his own pleasure now as he pushed into me, over and over, harder and harder, seeming to thrive on every moan and scream that crossed my lips. I wouldn’t have thought I could find release in such rough sex, but I did – more than once. Each time, it came as a great, consuming wave of sensation, starting deep within me and spreading through out my body, rubbing every nerve, covering every piece of me until I was completely saturated. Then the wave would explode into glittering fragments, leaving me warm and tender and breathless. Like being shattered then remade. It was exquisite. Each of these orgasms seemed to drive him more urgently until his own climax came. This time, I was the one thriving on his release, digging my nails into his back as tightly as I could, holding on to him, bringing the episode to a shuddering, gasping end. And yet, it wasn’t the end because in only a little while, he was ready again. He took me to my bed and this time put me on my knees, leaning into me from behind. â€Å"I’ve heard the old women say this is the best position for conceiving a child,† he whispered. I had only a moment to ponder this before he was in me again, still rough and demanding. I considered his words as he pumped away, that maybe he would be the one who gave me a child after all, not Kyriakos. The realization made me feel strange, eager yet regretful. Aristonfelt no such regret when we lay back on the blankets later in the afternoon, both of us exhausted and spent as warm sun spilled in over us through the window. â€Å"The lack could be in Kyriakos,† he explained. â€Å"Not you. With as many times as I’ve had you today, you can’t help but get pregnant.† He sucked my earlobe and wrapped his arms around me from behind, letting his hands rest on my breasts. â€Å"I’ve filled you up, Letha.† His voice was low and proprietary, like he’d just gained something more tangible than sex. Suddenly I wondered who really did have the power in the bedroom after all. I lay against him, wondering what I had done and what I wanted to do now. How did one go back to being a wife after being someone else’s goddess? I never got to decide, however, because the next thing I heard was Kyriakos calling me from the front of the house, home too early. Ariston and I both sat up, startled. My fingers fumbled as I tried to get the blankets off me, tangling in the fabric. My dress. I needed to find my dress. But it wasn’t here, I realized. I’d left it in the other room. Maybe, I thought desperately, I could get to it before Kyriakos found us. Maybe I could move fast enough. But it turned out I couldn’t. In the present, all I said to Seth was: â€Å"Yeah. It didn’t work out. Not at all. I cheated on him.† â€Å"Oh.† A pause. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because I could. It was stupid.† â€Å"That’s why you don’t date?† â€Å"Everything about that hurt too much. No good justified the bad.† â€Å"You can’t know that the next one will turn out badly. Things change.† â€Å"Not for me.† I closed my eyes to hide the tears welling up. â€Å"I’m going to pass out now.† â€Å"Okay.† He might have left or he might have stayed; I didn’t know. I simply slept, lost in black, numbing sleep. How to cite Succubus Blues CHAPTER 14, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Practical Introduction To Australian Taxation Law †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Practical Introduction To Australian Taxation Law. Answer: Heading: The problem here is based on the determination of the ordinary income under the provision stated under the section 6-5 of the ITAA 1997. The problem statement also deals with the expenses that are allowable as deductions under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997[1]. Issues: The issue to the case study of Kate revolves around the ascertainment of taxable income derived from personal exertion and allowable deductions that can be claimed for expenses occurred during the income year under section 8-1. Rule: Section 6-5 of the ITAA 1997 is concerned with the income that derived by an individual taxpayer from the personal exertion or in other words income that is obtained from personal exertion[2]. The earnings include of salaries, wages and receipt of gratuity relating to the services provided in the capacity of employee denotes income from personal exertion under ordinary or statutory conceptsAs held in the case of Dean v FCT (1997) the retention payment that is made to the employee to continue the employment services for a period of 12 months after takeover will be held as income. A person that receives money from prize for participating in an activity will not be considered as income under the statutory and ordinary concepts. However, winning from prize money will be held as taxable income given that the money received from prize money forms the part of taxpayers income earning activity. According to the judgement of the court in the case of Stone v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2005) where the taxpayer was policeman and javelin thrower. The taxpayer made derived income from salary and also received sum from endorsement and prize money[3]. The court held the taxpayer to be carrying on the business of the professional athlete and the earnings derived was held as taxable income. There should be an appropriate association between the receipt and the provision of services rendered which is the ordinary incident of the provision of services. According to the judgement of the court in the case of FCT v Brent (1971) where the wife of the train robber was granted an exclusive right by the media company to publish her life story. The court held that payment received by wife of train robber was the reward for service and will be regarded as income from personal exertion. A mere windfall gain could not be characterised as the income. For instance, an individual receiving money from gambling winnings cannot be held as income except for the circumstances where the person is carrying on the business of gambling. The court of law in the case of Harris v FCT (1980) has distinguished windfall amount that are received unexpectedly or infrequently. A mere prize is not characterized as income. The court of law referring to the legislation passed in the circumstance of Moore v Griffiths (1972) held that mere winning from prizes was not held as taxable income. A gain which is classified as the mere gift cannot be held as carrying the character of income. An unsolicited gift will not be the part of income of the recipient simply because generosity was inspired by the goodwill. The judgement of the court of law in FCT v Hayes (1956) where the accountant received shares in the company from the previous owner of company could not be held as income. Periodic receipts having the character of income will be held as assessable income. The judgement held in the case of FCT v Dixon (1952) any form of periodic receipts received by the taxpayer will be held as assessable income[4]. A compensation payment received is mostly considered to be capital where a substantial amount of inconvenience is caused to the structure. A payment is mostly likely to be considered as the substitute for the lost income when the inconvenience is incidental to the that form of business. In the event of Rowe v FCT (1997) the court of law held that amount paid as compensation or reimbursement relating to deductible expenditure cannot be regarded as income under ordinary concepts. The court of law held that payment was not regarded as remuneration but was held as reparation. Application: The receipt of $90,000 as salary by Kate represents employment remuneration from the ordinary concept and will be assessable as income. Citing the reference of Dean v FCT (1997) the receipt of salary by Kate is for the services provided in the capacity of employee and will be income from personal exertion. Kate in her spare time participates in high-jumping competitions that led her winning prize of $60,000 and sports equipment of $20,000 from high-jumping competition. Referring to Stone v FCT (2005) winning from prize money will be held as taxable income under section 6-5 of the ITAA 1997 since she regularly participated in such completion in pursuit of excellence[5]. Kate carried on the activities of professional athlete and the earnings derived was held as taxable income. Additionally, the receipt of $20,000 sporting equipment by Kate will be classified as CGT asset under section 108-5 of the ITAA 1997. The receipt of $10,000 by Kate had an appropriate relationship between the receipt and the provision of services rendered which is in the ordinary occurrence of the provision of services. Citing the reference of FCT v Brent (1971) the amount of $10,000 will be included in the assessable income since it is reward for service that originated from the personal exertion. The receipt of $3000 sum from gambling by Kate cannot be held as income in other words the sum won by Kate is a mere windfall gain that could not be characterised as the income. By citing the reference of Harris v FCT (1980) the amount received by Kate from gambling is received unexpectedly and did not had regular character of income[6]. By referring to the event of Moore v Griffiths (1972) the winning of $1000 from horse competition by Kate at the local ranch is again mere winning from prizes. Consequently, the act of engaging in horse riding by Kate was occasionally and the prize winning from such competition cannot be held taxable since it lacked an income character. Kate received a generous gift of $2000 in the Christmas party from her grandparents. Gain that is categorized as the mere gift cannot be regarded as having the nature of income. An unsolicited receipt of gift by Kate will not form the part of income simply because generosity was inspired by her grandparents to gift her. Citing the reference of FCT v Hayes (1956) the receipt of $2000 by Kate could not be held as income since mere gift is not characterized as taxable income[7]. Kate derived a rental income of $20,000 from her rental property in Blue Mountains. Citing the reference of Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Dixon (1952) the receipt of rental income by Kate is a periodic receipts having the character of income and the same will be held as assessable income. As per ATO an individual receiving compensation payment for the loss of profit making structure is held as capital in nature. Kate rental property was destroyed by the seasonal bushfire. The compensation payment received by Kate represents a payment that is mostly likely to be considered as the substitute for the lost income. The payment of insurance received by Kate is mostly considered to be capital where a substantial amount of loss is caused to the rental property[8]. Referring to the judgement of court of law in Rowe v FCT (1997) compensation received for loss of property cannot be regarded as income under ordinary concepts since the payment cannot be held as remuneration but it is classified as reparation. In compliance with the section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 the allowable expenditure of $40,000 that is reported by Kate will be held as allowable deduction by assuming that the expenses occurred is for deriving the assessable income. Conclusion: Conclusively, the income from salary and rental income will be assessable as ordinary concepts under section 6-5 of the ITAA 1997. Additionally, winning from high-jump and payment from event hosting will be included in taxable income of Kate. Kate would be entitled to allowable deductions of $40,000 under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 on assuming that the expenses were incurred in deriving taxable income. Heading: The current problem is relating to the ascertainment of claiming deductions under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 arising from loss and outgoings that is occurred during the income year of 2016-17. Issues: The issue examines the deduction of expenses such as occurred by Bags Co Ltd and providing advice on education expenses, travel expenses, conference and equipment cost under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997[9]. Rule: As held under section 8-1 there are two positive limbs where an individual can claim deductions from their assessable income any form of loss or outgoing up to the extent when the expenses is occurred in gaining taxable income or generating taxable income. As held in FCT v Ronpibon Tin NL (1949) expenses that are incidental and relevant will be considered as allowable deductions given it is incurred in generating taxable income[10]. Legal expenditure incurred by the taxpayer to prevent the defamatory statements would be considered as an allowable deductions section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997. The court in the case of Magna Alloys Research Pty Ltd (1980) stated that the company is allowed to claim deductions for legal expenditure occurred in defending against the defamatory charges will be considered as allowable deduction[11]. As stated under taxation ruling of TR 93/30 expenditure that is occurred with the taxpayer home are considered personal or domestic in character and they do not qualify as allowable deductions for taxpayer under section 8-1. However, an exception to this rule is that where the portion of home is used for generating income and having the character of place of business then the expenses incurred such as lease, rent and taxes might be partially considered for deductions. The court of law in FCT v Swinford (1984) allowed the scriptwriter for claiming deductions relating to the portion of rent paid for the flat where the taxpayer dedicated a separate room for writing script since the taxpayer did not had separate business premises. According to taxation ruling of TR 98/9 Self-education expenditure incurred to maintain or increase the skill of taxpayer in occupation where the taxpayer is engaged or particularly for improving the earning capacity of taxpayer will be considered as allowable deductions. As held in Highfield v FCT (1982) a dentist was allowed to claim allowable deductions for expenses incurred in course fees, travel and expenses related to Master of Science in Periodontics[12]. The court held that expenses were occurred necessarily in executing the business since the purpose of undertaking the degree was to advance his practice. According to legislative response in section 25-100 of the ITAA 1997 an individual is allowed to claim an allowable deductions relating to expenses incurred on travelling. As held in FCT v Wiener the teacher was allowed to claim allowable deduction for expenses incurred on travel between the place of work and home with first and last school attended every day. Division 40 of capital allowance provides under section 40-25 (1) that a unit can claim allowable deduction for amount that are equivalent to decline in value for the income year of the depreciating asset which is held during the year. Furthermore, division 40-25 allows deductions reduced when the asset decline in value is in respect to its use for the purpose other than taxable purpose. Application: As evident from the case study Bag Co Ltd occurred expenditure on trading stock and payment of wages to employees. Furthermore, it is noted that Bag Co Ltd also incurred expenses relating to rent paid to occupy the retail premises in the income year. The expenses incurred by Bag Co Ltd are occurred under section 8-1 of the positive limbs and a deduction can be claimed from its assessable income. Citing the reference of FCT v Ronpibon Tin NL (1949) expenses incurred by Bag Co Ltd are incidental and relevant will be considered as allowable deductions[13]. Bag Co Ltd also incurred legal expenses in defending legal actions for misconduct which can be considered allowable deductions section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997[14]. Citing the reference of Magna Alloys Research Pty Ltd (1980) Bag Co Ltd can claim deductions for legal expenditure occurred in defending against the misconduct charges up to the extent they are occurred in gaining the taxable income. Sally an employee of Bag Co Ltd incurred expenses on lease apartment for maintaining an office to carry-out the accountancy work. Citing the reference of FCT v Swinford (1984) sally would be allowed to claim allowable deduction for home office expenses under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997[15]. Sally later incurred expenses on self-education expenses for enrolling in Master of professional accounting to advance in her career. With reference to Highfield v FCT (1982) sally will be able to claim allowable deduction for improving the earning capacity of taxpayer. Sally occurred travelling expenses on attending chartered accountants conference and incurs $700 on air travel and $1000 accommodations. The expenses incurred by Sally on travelling and air accommodations were for improving her income earning capacity and with reference to FCT v Wiener she will be allowed to claim deductions on travelling expenses[16]. Sally will be further able to claim capital allowance deductions under section 40-25 (1) for decline in value of computer equipment in respect to 80% of the work purpose. Prime Cost Method: Decline in Value = $10,000 x 365/365 x 100%/5 = 2000 Deductible amount = 2000*80% Diminishing Value Method: Decline in Value = 10,000 x 365/365 x 200%/5 = 4000 Deductible amount = 4000 x 80% = 3200 Conclusion: Conclusively, Bag Co Ltd would be entitled to deductions on trading stock, wages and rent whereas sally will be entitled to deductions for home office expense, self-education expense, travel and accommodation expenses under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997. Reference List: Annette Morgan, Colleen Mortimer and Dale Pinto,A Practical Introduction To Australian Taxation Law(CCH Australia, 2013). Blakelock, Sarah, and Peter King. "Taxation law: The advance of ATO data matching."Proctor, The37.6 (2017): 18. Braithwaite, Valerie, ed.Taxing democracy: Understanding tax avoidance and evasion. Routledge, 2017. Cao, Liangyue, et al. "Understanding the economy-wide efficiency and incidence of major Australian taxes."Canberra: Treasury working paper2001 (2015). Chardon, Toni, Mark Brimble, and Brett Freudenberg. "Tax and superannuation literacy: Australian and New Zealand perspectives [Part 1]."Taxation Today102 (2017): 17-25. Cynthia Coleman and Kerrie Sadiq,Principles Of Taxation Law 2013. Davis, Angela K., et al. "Do socially responsible firms pay more taxes?."The accounting review91.1 (2015): 47-68. Davison, Mark, Ann Monotti, and Leanne Wiseman.Australian intellectual property law. Cambridge University Press, 2015. Fry, Martin. "Australian taxation of offshore hubs: an examination of the law on the ability of Australia to tax economic activity in offshore hubs and the position of the Australian Taxation Office."The APPEA Journal57.1 (2017): 49-63. Miller, Angharad, and Lynne Oats.Principles of international taxation. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016. Paul Kenny,Australian Tax 2013(LexisNexis Butterworths, 2013). H Woellner,Australian Taxation Law 2012(CCH Australia, 2013). Richard E Krever,Australian Taxation Law Cases 2013(Thomson Reuters, 2013). ROBIN BARKOCZY WOELLNER (STEPHEN MURPHY, SHIRLEY ET AL.).AUSTRALIAN TAXATION LAW 2018. OXFORD University Press, 2018. Saad, Natrah. "Tax knowledge, tax complexity and tax compliance: Taxpayers view."Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences109 (2014): 1069-1075. Woellner, Robin, et al. "Australian Taxation Law 2016."OUP Catalogue(2016). [1] Woellner, Robin, et al. "Australian Taxation Law 2016."OUP Catalogue(2016). [2] Annette Morgan, Colleen Mortimer and Dale Pinto,A Practical Introduction To Australian Taxation Law(CCH Australia, 2013). [3] Blakelock, Sarah, and Peter King. "Taxation law: The advance of ATO data matching."Proctor, The37.6 (2017): 18. [4] Braithwaite, Valerie, ed.Taxing democracy: Understanding tax avoidance and evasion. Routledge, 2017. [5] Cao, Liangyue, et al. "Understanding the economy-wide efficiency and incidence of major Australian taxes."Canberra: Treasury working paper2001 (2015). [6] Davis, Angela K., et al. "Do socially responsible firms pay more taxes?."The accounting review91.1 (2015): 47-68. [7] Chardon, Toni, Mark Brimble, and Brett Freudenberg. "Tax and superannuation literacy: Australian and New Zealand perspectives [Part 1]."Taxation Today102 (2017): 17-25. [8] Cynthia Coleman and Kerrie Sadiq,Principles Of Taxation Law 2013. [9] Davison, Mark, Ann Monotti, and Leanne Wiseman.Australian intellectual property law. Cambridge University Press, 2015. [10] Fry, Martin. "Australian taxation of offshore hubs: an examination of the law on the ability of Australia to tax economic activity in offshore hubs and the position of the Australian Taxation Office."The APPEA Journal57.1 (2017): 49-63. [11] Miller, Angharad, and Lynne Oats.Principles of international taxation. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016. [12] Paul Kenny,Australian Tax 2013(LexisNexis Butterworths, 2013). [13] Saad, Natrah. "Tax knowledge, tax complexity and tax compliance: Taxpayers view."Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences109 (2014): 1069-1075. [14]ROBIN BARKOCZY WOELLNER (STEPHEN MURPHY, SHIRLEY ET AL.).AUSTRALIAN TAXATION LAW 2018. OXFORD University Press, 2018. [15] R. H Woellner,Australian Taxation Law 2012(CCH Australia, 2013). [16] Richard E Krever,Australian Taxation Law Cases 2013(Thomson Reuters, 2013).

Friday, November 29, 2019

Blood Banking free essay sample

Blood banking law RA 1517: Blood banking law June 16 1956 PURPOSES -safeguarding -promoting -preventing RA 7719: Repealed or repeals 1517 May 5 1994 The national voluntary blood services act AO 9 s. 1995 Ao 17- As. 1998 Purpose of 7719 To promote voluntary blood donation To provide safe, adequate, affordable and equitable blood products To inform the public To require all blood banks/ centers to operate on a non profit basis Donors 1. Voluntary blood donors gave blood without something in return 2. Paid donors – donors who are payed . Replacement donors – donates blood in return of another blood Anticoagulants and preservative Anti-coagulant †¢ Acid- acid citrate dextrose -21 days †¢ Citrade phosphate dextrose -2 1days †¢ CP2D- 35 days †¢ CPDA1-35 days †¢ CPDA2- 42 days †¢ Heparin – 2 days Hospitals without blood banks takes blood from this : PBC- Philippine blood center PNRC- Philippine national red cross FWB(fresh whole blood)- P1 ,500 PRBC – P1,100 5 transmisible disease (serological test) Malaria HBsAg –hepatitis b surface antigen Syphilis –dies when refrigirated will writing service hemel hempstead Anti HCV – hepatitis c virus Anti HIV – human immune virus Syphilis 1st stage 2nd stage Latent stage Chronic stage PROMOTION OF VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONATION Public education – pnrc, pbcc Pbcc- Philippine blood coordinating council (baka lumabas) Promotion in schools – ched, deped Professional education – doh pbcc, pshbt, psp, pma, pamet, pna Establishment of blood service network Pshbt- Philippine society of hematology and blood transfusion PMA – Philippine medical association PNA – Philippine nursing association PSP – Philippine society of pathologist National voluntary blood services program (NVBSP) In charge : DOH, PNRC, PBCC Funds: PCSO and PAGCOR, DUTY FREE Philippines PAGCOR- Philippine amusement and gaming corporation PCSO – Philippine charity sweepstake office Donates 25M per year (pcso and pagcor) Duty free Philippines ( donates 20m per year) Commercial blood banks Phased out Regulation of blood services Licensed and qualified physician duly authorized by the DOH LTO Needs 2 LTO Importation Equipments, blood bags, Reagents – TAX FREE Help of DF (department of finance) – to make blood equipments free Penalties Profit based blood bank centers – 1 month to 6 moths, 5,000- 50,000 NO LTO Transfusing blood contaminated with blood transfusion diseases -Revocation of LTO by Health secretary – no money penalty but 10 years imprisonment Requirements for new license Minimum number of qualification of personnel -blood bank / centers 1 trained rmt (1year) 1 laboratory technician -category a (hospital and non hospital) Supervised and managed by a competent physician – 6 months bb procedures Requirements for new license Category b non- hospital based -same with category a blood bank /centers Managed by licensed physician (brl and philipppine board of hematology and blood transfusion) Pathologist or hematologist Category b hospital based Licensed physician with a valid certificate in clinical or anatomical pathology (6 months training) 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Blood Banking or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page rmt and 1 lab tech 2. Staff development plan 3. Physician facilities, equipments and supplies 4. Biosafety 5. Quality control – all technical staff of blood bank / centers shall satisfactorily passed the minimum proficiency test given by the BRL 6. Recording, reporting and documentation requirements 7. Blood distribution and transport requirements blood should be distributed to the hospitals, not to the patients or individuals 8. blood transfusion committee 9. preventive services 10. networking REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWAL OF LICENSE All the technical staff of bb/centers shall have passed the basic proficiency test The bb/centers shall have achieved at least 70% of the staff development plan targets The bb/centers shall have bled only voluntary blood donors the previous year The complete annual report of the preceding year`s operations shall have been submitted on or before January 31 of the succeeding year The bb has been shown to collect only the allowable service fee for each unit dispensed The inspection visit shall have confirmed that the bb centers is in good and prescribed condition The secretary of his duly-authorized representative Failure to renew license – 5k to owners/head Operating without securing authorized from the department or its designated officer Revocation or suspension of license -misinterpretation of facts/ falsification of documents or records Refusal of entry for inspection Refusal to make available its books, accounts and records Failure to inform the brl or representative about changes in the bb/centers AO 17 A s 1998 Amendment to sections 26 to 32 of ao no 9 s 1995 Requirements and procedures for a license to operate blood bank /centers in the Philippines Purpose : to protect and promote the health of the people by preventing the operational and maintenance of substandard bb in the country Human resource requirement Technical staff -RMT ; category a – atleast 4 rmt Category b – atleast 5 RMT Donor recruitment officer Charges Late submission for the renewal of license – 5,000. 00 Failed application of bb within the 2 months period shall be considered as blood bank centers operating without a license

Monday, November 25, 2019

Deconstruction of I, Robot Essays

Deconstruction of I, Robot Essays Deconstruction of I, Robot Essay Deconstruction of I, Robot Essay Study the film I, robot and deconstruct using the key concepts. Look closely at the character played by Will Smith, how does his blackness impact on the audiences understanding of his role? I, robot is an action sci-fi film which stars Will Smith as Del Spooner. It is a futuristic view of the world and is set in the year 2035. This is a very common genre of film for Will Smith, as he has been in many action/ action sci-fi films such as Independence Day (1996), Men in Black (1997) and Enemy of State (1998). However, more recently, he has branched out into different film genres such as Shark Tale (2004) for which he did the voice over for Oscar and The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) which was a drama. He was born on the 25th September 1968 in Philadelphia. While at school he gained the nickname Prince because of his attitude and knack for getting out of trouble, he later added to this and became the Fresh Prince. Unusually this and the place he was born would later be the basis of an episodic comedy which he starred in called The Fresh Prince of Bel-air (1990) which ran for six years, and for which he also won an award for Top TV series, he was nominated twice for Best performance by an actor, twice for outstanding lead actor and many more. This was his first major break and lead to his acting career. Overall he has won 28 awards and has been nominated for 49. I, Robot is not a stereotypical futuristic film, although it was set 31 years in the future, it is still very realistic. There are many normal things which have just been upgraded to be futuristic. For example, the yellow police tape which section things off is still in this film, but now they are holograms instead, which subtly shows that this is the future, but it is not extremely advanced, so much so that the film would seem unreal. There is also a holographic projector which appears when Will Smith seems to be talking to an old man, but then the camera pans round so that the audience can see that it is simply a holographic image. These things slowly introduce the idea of the future to the audience. There are other objects in this film which do not fit in with the stereotypical view of the future, for example the cars do not hover and there is even a petrol fuelled motorbike. The clothes they wear in this film are very similar to the clothes we wear today. However some characters such as Calvin are wearing unusual clothes which do set them apart from people of today. For the start of the film she is wearing a shiny silver suit, which many people to associate with the future. However, the people are not outrageously different and advanced; they are still shown to be normal people by anyones standards, and although there are robots, a lot of them do normal everyday jobs, such as at the start of the film the audience can see two robots as dustmen, a dog walker and there is even a robot postman going door to door. The film opens with the audience viewing Del Spooner (Will Smith) at home, eating breakfast, having a shower, going through his normal chores and talking to his friend and going round his grandmas. This gives the audience an insight as to what he is like outside of work, it shows the audience that he is a normal person. This is when you first see his hatred for robots, when he tells his grandma, those robots arent going to do anyone any good which is then shortly followed by him chasing a robot with a handbag. This then introduces to the audience the fact that he is a police man. We then see him at work in the office, which shows the audience the two sides of his life. However it also soon becomes clear to the audience that he is suffering from survivors guilt which influences many of his actions. Will Smiths character is a police officer but, just like in Men in Black, he is not a stereotypical one. The stereotypical view of an American police officer is one who is always seen in his uniform, is overweight and is always seen to be drinking coffee and eating doughnuts rather than doing any actual work. However Will Smiths character does not conform to any of these stereotypes. He is also the only policeman who doesnt wear a uniform of some sort. In the whole film his character is a sort of black sheep, he is the only one without a uniform, the only one who believes the robots are no good, and even in his house he has a stereo which is controlled using a remote controller rather than voice recognition. The audience can tell this is obviously not normal for this time because when Calvin goes to his house and tries to figure out how to switch it on and off, she cant. It is clear that he is not comfortable with the amount of technology around him, as he says to Calvin I must be, l ike, a malfunction magnet, because your shit keeps malfunctioning around me. As with many of his films, Will Smith, rather than trying to hide it, draws attention to the fact he is black. For example, in Men in Black (in which he is also a police officer) he jumps down off a bridge onto an open top bus and he says its just raining black people in New York. It is obvious that the fact that Will Smith is black does not hinder his life or his acting and he is completely comfortable with it and it is obvious that he feels the same, in an interview about one of his previous movies he said its not a black movie or a white movie, its a movie1. I do not think that the fact he is black makes any difference to how the audience perceives his character, apart from the irony that he is so prejudice or racist to the robots. This is shown by the fact that he always makes reference to it in most of his films. In I, Robot he says at one point I mean, youre a cat, Im black and Im not going to be hurt again. The fact that he can make these comments in a film also implies that h is blackness does not really matter to the film and is not an important aspect of it. However there is one comment in I, Robot which is more serious than the others and is not said in a comic tone. Will Smith says to Calvin one look at the skin and we figure we know just whats underneath. This could just be referring to just seeing somebody and not really knowing them at all but it is more likely a reference to the fact that he is black and she is white. Will Smith does not stick to films which are primarily for coloured people, in many of his films, the lead could have been played by a person of any race, and in fact his role in Men in Black was originally cast for a white Caucasian male, which just emphasises the fact that the colour of his skin is not a major part of his role. This film is also very similar to Men in Black in many respects. For example to start with Will Smith is a police officer, and both he and his superior officer are black. In I, Robot Will Smith and Chi McBride (who plays Lt. John Bergin) are the only two black people in almost the entire film, and they are also the only people in authority. In the film the audience do see other police officers but they do not take a real role in the film, so these two men would be the highest ranking out of everyone else in the film. Everyone who is not in authority is white. This film also follows some of the theories such as Todorov and Propp. The state of equilibrium is that they all live happily with robots, which is disrupted when Dr Laninng dies and they find Sonny the robot. The recognition of the disruption is when Sonny is jailed and is suppose to be decommissioned and the attempts to repair the disruption are when Del Spooner, Calvin and Sonny kill Viki. A new equilibrium is reached when all of the robots are sent off to live away from the humans. It is also easy to see Propps theory in I, Robot. The Hero is Del Spooner, the Villain is Viki, the Donor is Sonny and the Helper is Calvin etc. however interestingly there is no romantic plot which does go against Propps theory.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Managerial Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Managerial Finance - Assignment Example For example a firm is investing a sum of money in a project which promises to yield $200, $400 and $ 1000 in the next three years. Simply adding this figure would give us a wrong estimation as the money is to be received in the coming years and not today therefore we will have to discount these sums of money using a particular interest rate to know the actual worth of dollars that would be today. 2 ) Opportunity Costs are those costs that a firm foregoes in order to pursue some other investment or decision. For example a company has a plot of land that is vacant, it now has two options either to rent it and receive rent income or to use that land to construct its factories that will again earn it some benefit. Now, if the company decides to construct a manufacturing plant on that site it has to forego that rental income which otherwise it would have received if the factory was not built. Hence in finance and business we factor in that cost and include it as an expense to gauge the true outcome of our actual decision. 3) Cost of capital is the cost for a firm of raising capital either through equity or debt. A company has te decide the optimum mix of both as it will invest that money to gain higher returns therefore the lower the cost of capital the better. The cost of capital is determined by the firms target capital structure which is the weight ages in which it wants to raise equity and debt. It is the duty of the Finance Managers to manage a firms cost of capital and define an optimum kevel. 4) The firm’s optimum capital structure is the weight ages of both equity and debt for which the cost of capital is the lowest. We also know that a company cannot raise unlimited amounts of capital for that lowest cost and optimum weight age level. The WACC (Weighted Average cost if capital) changes after a particular level of capital is reached also

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Compare and contrast 2 theoretical accounts of developmental dyslexia Essay

Compare and contrast 2 theoretical accounts of developmental dyslexia - Essay Example The distinguishing traits of the condition include reading and writing difficulties. It is surmised that it spawns from sensory dysfunctions, and these have been thoroughly backed up by empirical research. However, the definitive cause of the condition is yet to be determined (Coleman, 2002). The disorder has frequently been hypothesized to be the result of various sensory malfunctions. After years of research, it has been indicated that dyslexia also has visual and writing aspects, making it a learning disability that debilitates optimized performance (Francks et al, 2002). This essay aims to compare the two theories of dyslexia at the biological, cognitive and behavioral levels. However, before undertaking this comparison, it is important to lay down the different theories that explain this condition. These are the phonological, the magnocellular (auditory and visual) and the cerebellar theories (Ramus et al, 2002). I shall attempt to compare the phonological and cerebellar theories of dyslexia. Ramus et al (2002) undertook a multiple case study to evaluate the key theories explaining the origin of dyslexia. The sample of the study was composed of 16 university students for the control group. They were given various tests to gauge dyslexic traits. The outcomes suggest that majority of the respondents had a phonological deficit and that this was enough cause for them to have dyslexia. That is, in contrast with the cerebellar theory that has auditory and visual deficits as requisites to dyslexia, the study points out that the presence of a phonological deficit alone defines the condition. The presence of auditory deficits only worsens the condition, but are not necessarily required for having dyslexia. These deficits result in â€Å"literacy impairments.† Moreover, the study did not reinforce that motor deficiencies are rooted on the cerebellum (Ramus et al, 2002). At the biological and cognitive levels, the phonological deficit theory

Monday, November 18, 2019

Beginning of the slave trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Beginning of the slave trade - Essay Example Many countries such as United States, France, Britain and Germany also joined the trade as they continued colonizing Africa to expand their businesses (Rodriguez 81). The trade was massive to the extent that it was traded in a certain triangle across the world. The tremendous growth of the trade led to the emergence of various significant slave-trading routes. For instance, the growth of the trade led to the emergence of the Trans-Sahara slave trade and the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Countries that practiced slave trade developed tremendously; their businesses boomed as they registered incredible profits from their trading activities. This is because they exploited the available cheap labor (slaves) thus significantly reducing their costs of production. However, their wealth did not only come from the slave trade but also from the resources obtained from African countries. These countries traded gold and other mineral substances, which was an extremely lucrative business at that time (Rodriguez 81). After many years passed, late in the 1800, slave trade began collapsing after the public, activists and humanitarian bodies established strong campaigns against the trade. The end of the trade slowly began by certain countries such as United States withdrawing as other countries followed. However, it took some time before European countries such as Portugal to withdraw, despite the United States having done