Gender and Hand-Grip Strength essays

What Inspired Edward Munch to draw The Scream Essay

What Inspired Edward Munch to draw The Scream - Essay Example He is cited as saying â€Å"I was strolling along the street with two friendsâ€then the Sun setsâ€all immediately the sky became blood redâ€and I felt defeat with despairing. I stopped and inclined toward the railing, dead tiredâ€clouds like blood and tongues of fire hung over the blue-dark fjord and the city. My companions went on, and I remained solitary, trembling with tension. I felt an extraordinary, ceaseless shout puncturing through nature† (Olson and Doescher Web) Various variables can be ascribed as having assumed a significant job in rousing Edward Munch to draw the image. We can get a few indications from the set-up of the image. One of the significant wellsprings of his nervousness was the monetary condition that existed during that time. Around then there was a monetary emergency, which prompted a great deal of wretchedness to the individuals. This implies people groups organizations were breaking down in execution and the joblessness rate was high. At an individual level, Edward Munch was experiencing through this condition notwithstanding the brutal condition from the isolating with his long-lasting sweetheart. This prompted pressure, gloom, and later uneasiness (Messer and Munch 7). Another wellspring of motivation can be drawn from the seasons in which the image was drawn. While thinking about the time that the image was drawn, and its substance, we can discover that this image was drawn during the nightfalls of a pre-winter season, in a matter of seconds before the fall. Besides, the shouts can be identified with the Awu ejection of June 7, 1892. It was the ejection that gave the skies the red foundation shading that is mirrored the shout (Bischoff 10). Additionally, we can infer a portion of the motivations from Edward Munch’s remain in Nice, France, somewhere in the range of 1891 and 1895. It was right now that Edward Munch expressly examined workmanship with his companion putting together their craft conversation w ith respect to past works of different painters. Chomp himself makes reference to that the year 1884 was the time of unique motivation for three works of art. One of the headliners that happened during that period was the Bohemian days of the 1880s. Crunch as a craftsman and essayist, was incredibly engaged with the exercises of the bohemian network. He was engaged with imparting a studio to Christiania, and six other youthful specialists identified with the Bohemian people group. During this occasion, he displayed his drawings without precedent for a fiercely angry Christiania presentation of Henrik Ibsen's play, â€Å"Ghosts†, on October 17, 1883. The play gave an understanding of the exercises completed by the Bohemian people group involving deceitfulness, absence of a free life, and bad faith. This drawing was painted in when sky watchers had a momentous season. Also, the period between the finish of 1883 and the main long stretches of 1884, had the most wonderful night fall’s for as far back as 150 years. An alternate wellspring of motivation can be drawn from the ejection of the volcanic island of Krakatoa in a cataclysmic blast on August 27, 1883, which sent residue and toxic gases into the air. Thus, there were brilliant and red hot nightfalls and dawns for the most part in the southern half of the globe and later in the equator. The searing nightfalls and dawns later spread toward the northern scopes ingraining dread in a large portion of the individuals in the influenced locale (Olson and Doescher Web). Another wellspring of the motivation can be drawn from the dull lunar overshadowing on December 10, 1992. This overshadowing occurred in when there were numerous optical consequences for the sky during the night. This contributed enormously to imparting dread among the individuals who lived in the area. In addition, the lunar obscuration was trailed by the ejection of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. The emissions in this mountain add ed to a great deal

9 Reasons You Have a Metallic Taste in Your Mouth

9 Reasons You Have a Metallic Taste in Your Mouth You jump out of bed, throw on some clothes and dash out, the alarm clock didnt wake you up when you it expected it too and now youre late for work.However, on your way, you notice that theres a horrible, weird taste in your mouth.What could it be?It tastes like you had some rusted old coins for breakfast or you snacked on a bowl full of metal spoons.Now except you love having coins in your milk instead of cornflakes during breakfast (which by the way I wouldnt recommend as a healthy breakfast), the presence or assault of this weird taste seems to be out of place.As it turns out though, this strange taste in your mouth is quite common and most times it is a symptom of various background issues.There are numerous reasons behind this metallic taste and they can range from negligible to very urgent.Hence, its very critical to notice how frequently you experience this unpleasant taste in your mouth and any other symptom that comes alongside it.One of the best ways to know the reason for t he metallic taste is to keep tabs on when and how it occurs and what is associated with it.Pen down every instance it occurs as soon as you start to taste it and look for any similarities between two incidences.Your body is great at passing the message across as to what is happening to it, but youll have to look intently at the signs it gives to know the right steps to take in order to maintain your health.If youve ever experienced this unpleasant, weird metallic taste in your mouth, read on to find out 9 reasons that could be behind this odd occurrence.1. Kidney and Liver DiseaseKnown as the silent disease, because of how it causes harm to the body without being noticed, Kidney disease is a deadly one.However, many people miss out on its early symptoms or are simply not aware of that could be a symptom.In the United States alone studies have shown that 1 in 7 of Americans or 30 million Americans are suffering from kidney disease, which is a whopping 15 percent of the nations popula tion. Source: KeryxA survey was carried out with the purpose of finding out the correlation between taste distortion and chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 96.60% of the respondents who were CKD patients showed significant correlation with taste distortion.This is why you must never take the metallic taste in your mouth for granted.It could be indicative of kidney issues, meaning that these vital organs arent filtering out the right substances out of your body.It could also mean that you have liver disease especially if the metallic taste is quite bitter. This could imply that your liver isnt doing what its meant to do and is backed up full with bile.However, if it tastes ammonia-like, it could very well be a symptom of a kidney challenge, due to ammonia being a content of urine.This taste occurs in your mouth because it is not being flushed out or expelled by your kidneys.Ensure you consult your doctor if you notice such symptoms as it could be an indication of diabetes as well.2. Prescribe d Drugs or MedicationCertain kinds of prescribed medications can cause impairment of taste buds.Medications like antibiotics such as clarithromycin, tetracycline, and metronidazole as well as medications for blood pressure, medication for glaucoma, and drugs used to treat psychiatric conditions, calcium or iron supplement and other kinds of medications can leave a metallic taste in your mouth after you take them.When you take these kinds of drugs, your body absorbs the medicine and it will begin to come out in the saliva and since the saliva is manufactured by the tongue where you have your taste buds, you will begin to have a metallic taste in your mouth.Most often when you stop taking the prescribed medication, the metallic taste in your mouth will eventually disappear.Once the medicine or vitamins are processed the metallic taste will stop. If it doesnt stop once you are done with the medication, then you should talk to your doctor.3. Cancer Treatment Cancer patients who are unde rgoing radiation and chemotherapy can experience some sort of distortion in their taste buds.In addition, bitter drugs given to cancer patients get into the bloodstream of the patients and it leaves a metallic taste in the mouth of the patient.The metallic taste that chemotherapy or radiation leaves in the mouth of the patient is often referred to as “chemo mouth.”The metallic taste felt by cancer patients is not a strange occurrence, in fact, the American Cancer Society recognizes this and also suggests that taking vitamin supplements such as vitamin D and zinc will help to prevent or control the metallic taste.So if you are a cancer patient and you have a metallic taste in your mouth, there is no cause for alarm, its most likely just a side effect of the chemotherapy and radiation.4. InfectionAnother possible cause of metallic taste is an infection.Cold, sinuses and upper respiratory tract infections can leave a metallic taste in your mouth.The taste will remain as long as the infection remains and will go away when the infection is treated.Your sense of smell and your taste bud are closely related and if anything goes wrong with your respiratory system, the effect may spill over and affect your taste bud thats why a sinus or repository infection will cause you to feel a metallic taste in your mouth for as long as the infection remains.Research shows that odor can get to the olfactory epithelium which connects the back of the oral cavity and the nasal cavity.This is a very important pathway that is responsible for the intricate relationship between the sense of taste and smell.Once the smell of the food gets to the nasal cavity, the taste buds will be stimulated immediately and this is why once a person has a cold or a respiratory infection, it becomes hard for him to taste food properly.This is because even though there is nothing wrong with the taste receptors, the blocking of access to the olfactory epithelium cases difficulty in the proper functionin g of the taste buds.So in essence, when your nose is congested due to an infection, the mucus which is associated with the infection is responsible for the metallic taste in your mouth, this is because the mucus in the throat and nose will be tasted on the tongue hence the unappealing metallic taste.In situations like this, you do not need to panic or be scared, just focus on treating the respiratory infection, once the infection is handled, the metallic taste will vanish and your taste buds will return to normal.In addition, a Central Nervous System Disorder can cause you to feel a metallic taste in your mouth.Once there is a problem with your nervous system, a signal is sent to the rest of your body and that includes your taste buds and this could lead to the distortion or impairment of taste buds. Such Central Nervous System related issues can be Bells palsy or stroke.5. PregnancyA lot of changes occur in the body of a woman when she is pregnant and the effects of these changes a re evident in various areas.Some pregnant women have issues with distortion of their taste buds during the early stages of their pregnancy and this can translate to having a metallic taste in the mouth.A study showed that during pregnancy, the repository mucosa of the woman swells and this causes an increase in the flow of blood which results in nasal congestion.Due to the relationship between the nose and the tongue, there is bound to be an effect of this on the tongue or the bud.This situation becomes heightened during cold and dry weather and to subdue the nasal congestion, there needs to be an increase in the intake of fluid or a humidifier should be used.Although the real cause of the change in taste bud is not known, the metallic taste can be attributed to changes in the hormones which a woman experiences in the early stages of pregnancy.A particular school of thought believes that this change in the taste bud and the metallic taste could be due to the fact that the sense of s mell becomes heightened during pregnancy and because of the connection between the sense of smell and taste; the taste buds will also be affected.Even though the metallic taste is experienced by pregnant women, it doesnt last throughout the entire period of pregnancy; it usually starts in the first trimester and goes away within or after the end of the second trimester.6. Food Allergies Allergic reaction to certain kinds of food can cause a metallic taste in the mouth.There are certain foods that can cause allergic reactions such as tree nuts like pine nuts and seafood such as shellfish are known to cause a metallic taste in the mouth.People who have pine nut syndrome have allergic reactions to pine nuts and will most likely experience a metallic taste in their mouth for about twelve to forty-eight hours after eating line nuts.A research that was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology showed that 3.6 percent of the 2.7 million patients that received medical care in Boston had allergies or intolerance to different kinds of food.Even though this figure may not look like its much, it actually indicates that food allergies are a regular occurrence but they require medical attention. Below is a graph showing the prevalence of food allergies in the United States. Source: JacionlineIn addition, a metallic taste in the mouth could be an early symptom that you are about to experience a serious allergic reaction which is also known as anaphylactic shock.Most often when you eat something that doesnt go down well with your system you will begin to feel a metallic taste in your mouth and this is often followed by other symptoms like sweating, disorientation, headache and even itching on different parts of your body like feet, mouth, and hands.Other adverse symptoms such as difficulty in swallowing and breathing as well as swellings on the tinge and face will proceed after a short while.This kind of allergic reaction to food doesnt just affect your taste bud; it can also endanger your life.So, if you notice a metallic taste on your mouth immediately after eating a particular kind of food, it is a warning signal that your system is reacting to the food and it is highly advisable that you seek medical help immediately.Once you get to the hospital, you will be accessed by a doctor and if the need arises, you will be placed in an emergency room and administered airway support or supplement oxygen and other kinds of medication that is necessary.Dont take the metallic taste in the mouth for granted especially when you just finished eating a particular kind of food that is known to cause allergies in most people.Once you notice it and you suspect that it is an allergy, speak to your doctor immediately.7. Poor/Bad Oral HygieneIf you have a metallic taste in your mouth, it could be due to the fact that you do not pay much attention to your oral health.Not brushing or flossing your teeth regularly could lead to gum and teeth related problems such as periodontitis and gingivitis and this could result in having a metallic taste in your mouth.The taste dysfunction caused by not taking proper care of your oral health will most likely go away when the infection caused by poor hygiene is treated.To avoid developing any gum related disease, whi ch would result in having a metallic taste, it is important to pay attention to your oral hygiene.Change your toothbrush regularly, you also need to brush and floss regularly, purchase good quality toothpaste and mouthwash and most importantly, ensure you visit your dentist once every six months.When you visit your dentist, you will be checked to see if there is anything wrong with your oral health and if there is any problem; your dentist will prescribe the appropriate medication to you.When next you have a metallic taste in your mouth, do a quick check and ensure that your oral health is intact, if it isnt then thats probably the reason why you have the metallic taste.8. Zinc Deficiency Zinc is a vital mineral required by your body for immune system function, growth and catalyzing certain enzymes.When your diet is deficient of adequate zinc intake or if you have a medical condition that prevents the absorption of zinc, it could lead to a deficiency which has various health consequ ences, one of which is taste distortion conditions such as hypogeusia, dysgeusia or a blunted taste sense.Dysgeusia or that weird metallic feeling in your mouth has been associated with zinc deficiency based on numerous research carried out.There are several symptoms that accompany that metallic taste when its related to zinc deficiency some of which include reduced mental function, anorexia, and a damaged sense of smell.Even though zinc is vital for the health of your taste bud, the complete mechanism of how zinc deficiency relates with taste buds isn’t totally understood.However, it is known that zinc is needed to produce alkaline phosphatase, which is the most important enzyme on your taste bud membranes.Zinc is also a part of the salivary protein required for the maintenance and development of taste buds.9. Mercury Poisoning Ever wondered how harmful mercury is to your body? Well, scorecard carried out a study which shows that its among the top 10% of the most harmful chemical s to human health.Asides from this, mercury is seen as a developmental toxicant which means that it causes very negative implications during pregnancy.Mercury poisoning comes as a result of exposure to excess mercury, mainly through your diet or the environment.Most often you can get mercury poisoning from seafood consumption. As the levels of mercury in your body increase, a lot of symptoms appear one of which is a metallic taste in your mouth.As an adult, if you have mercury poisoning asides from metallic taste in your mouth, you could also feel muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, vomiting or nausea.So if you experience any of these other symptoms alongside that awful metallic taste in your mouth it could mean you have mercury poisoning.HOW TO GET RID OF METALLIC TASTEWhen you first begin to have this metallic taste in your mouth, it may seem alarming at first but keep in mind that it is caused by various factors and not just the serious ones.If youre on some medications such as prenatal vitamins, certain antibiotics, antidepressants or some high blood pressure, kidney stones or rheumatoid arthritis drugs they can be the reason for the terrible taste.However, even though this unpleasant taste can be quite unpleasant it can be gotten rid of when it isnt related to serious illnesses.You can reduce the taste by sucking on lemon drops, chewing on gum, licking hard candies, rinsing your mouth with tea, club soda, ginger ale, or fruit juice right before you eat.In cases where the metallic taste is there to stay for a while especially when as a result of chemotherapy or kidney challenges, you may have to change your protein diet to eggs, peanut butter, beans, fish and dairy products as meat and poultry would be intolerable.Dairy products that would be tolerable are yogurts and ice cream.MEDICAL TREATMENTIf you suspect that the reason for the metallic taste in your mouth is quite serious, you should definitely visit a doctor.The doctor would then refer you to an otolaryngologist, who is a medical practitioner that specializes in ear, throat and nose diseases.The initial step the doctor would most likely follow to find the reason behind the unpleasant taste in your mouth includes:a) A dental test to determine your oral hygieneb) Your general medical historyc) A taste test to diagnose the presence of taste disorders. This test involves testing various substances in order to gauge your ability to pick up the changes in taste intensity.Additionally, as a patient you may have to do a sip, spit and rinse test to determine diagnose taste disorders.However, if the medical specialist believes the reason for the taste distortion is from nerves in your head or mouth, then they may carry out an X-ray.Based on the final diagnoses, the medical practitioner would most likely prescribe a drug to relieve the unpleasant taste. If it’s a serious situation then youd be referred to a specialist.CONCLUSIONHaving that metallic taste in your mouth is an awful e xperience. The taste could be mild or strong, and it could happen all of a sudden or it may have been a lingering taste in your mouth.Basically, it tastes just like you licked an old penny, or sometimes it could taste like blood but your mouth isnt bleeding.As we have already seen this unpleasant and mysterious taste can be caused by unserious issues or sometimes major issues.To be able to identify the difference, pay deep focus to the taste, what you did before it came and other symptoms that appear alongside it.Keep in mind that not every metallic taste in your mouth could mean that you have a terminal disease, ensure that you interpret the symptoms adequately before losing your wits.Its also vital to state that you do not have to go through the whole day with that taste in your mouth. By taking certain dairy products you can easily get your taste bud in order before eating a full meal.

The Problem Of Child Abuse - 1909 Words

Introduction Child abuse is a rising topic of discussion in sociological debates across the nation due to the increased awareness concerned professionals are bringing to it. The issue has long been diagnosed as generational and cyclic in nature, where children who receive abuse grow up and replicate the process on their own offspring, and so on and so forth. This analysis attempts to illuminate possible connections between various factors within the parent’s lives that may correlate to child abuse in the home. Connections between the reproductive process (birth control, reproductive freedom, and population policies), economic stresses, character-based traits, and occupational stressors will be presented, analyzed, and then correlated†¦show more content†¦The 50 percent that Seager speaks of is comprised mostly of industrialized or Western nations with relatively easy access to some sort of modern contraceptive, such as condoms which can be bought at most gas statio ns in America. With every contraceptive, there still lies a chance of pregnancy, and if one of these chance events becomes a reality the possibility of child abuse rises significantly. Children that are deemed â€Å"mistakes† by their parents begin their lives with a lower level of acceptance into the world than that of a child that was planned. Immediately the bond between the parent and the child is damaged, which according to Wallace is a part of the psychodynamic model of child abuse; â€Å"lack of bonding between the parent and the child is an important factor in child abuse† (48). Essentially, â€Å"These individuals are unable to bond with children, and when crisis occurs, they respond with abusive acts† (48, Wallace). Children in these situations do not ask to conceived, yet they enter the world in search of nourishment and care by the man and woman that created them, instead they are met by being abused because of the confusion and regret of their existence by their parents. Connection between reproductive freedom and childShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of Child Abuse1134 Words   |  5 Pagesfollowing paper is about Child Abuse. This paper will look into the description of the problem, the policies that has helped solved the problem, involvement in resolving the problem, and person recommendations on changing the approach of the problem. Description of the Problem/History Child abuse is a form of any sexual activity that a child doesn’t give consent to. Whether it may be sexually or physically if the child is not mentally ready it is still a form of abuse. Child abuse also can lead to differentRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Abuse Essay1338 Words   |  6 PagesChild abuse Recently, one of the most alarming problems in America is child abuse. In fact this problem threaten the future of the country which lies in its youth energy and mind because of this problem the society, cannot brought up a generation can be relied upon, but they brought up a generation of criminals do not want anything except the destruction of the society, which was the reason for the demolition of their lives. According to World health organization child abuse is physical, sexual orRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Abuse1055 Words   |  5 Pages One of the biggest problems children deal with, especially younger ones is child abuse. â€Å"In 2009, the child protective services across the country received 3.3 million reports of child abuse. The farther the child protective services would investigate they discovered more than 700,000 children that had been abused or mistreated.† (Kauchak and Eggen 51) The U.S Congress in the Family Services Act of 1988 came up with a definition of all types of abuse. (Mufson and Kranz 26) There is neglect, emotionalRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Abuse1388 Words   |  6 PagesChild Abuse Community Agency To solve the problem we must first understand it. As a young person I believe that the issue of child abuse needs to be addressed. It is crucial for society to comprehend the extensive problems that it causes and how it impacts people. Child abuse is the physical, sexual or emotional maltreatment or neglect of a child or children. Anything deliberately to hurt a child or young person physically, sexually, emotionally or psychologically is child abuse. The five subtypesRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Abuse994 Words   |  4 PagesAbuse is to treat a person or object with cruelty or violence, and usually happens more than once. Child abuse is when a parent or caregiver through action or failing to act, will cause injury or will cause death to a child. This happens in many different ways, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. Every year more than three million reports of child abuse are filed and every year that number increases. This is a problem that has happened for over one hundred years. The baby boomerRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Abuse880 Words   |  4 PagesThese are activities that are targeted at members of the community and general population with the aim to raise awareness about the problems of child abuse. It involves an approach that targets helping families and children before child abuse occurs and not intervening after the harm has been done. This is very essential as every child deserves to gro w up and be nurtured in an environment that is safe and stable which helps in the child’s total development such as the physical, emotional, cognitiveRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Abuse1945 Words   |  8 Pagescare for them. Samantha had completing the 11th grade and during the summer before her senior year of High School, she realized she was pregnant again. This time Samantha was pregnant with triplets. This time she lost two babies and the remaining child was at risk of autism. The doctors discovered that the babies’ brain wasn’t developing as it should be. Teens do not realize the responsibilities that came along with having sex, especially unprotected sex. Teen pregnancies can be reduced withRead MoreChild Abuse Is A Worldwide Problem1037 Words   |  5 Pagesafraid to go home because of what awaits. Child abuse is a worldwide problem and it doesn’t matter what age, religion, gender, or ethnicity you are, it happens everywhere. It is negle cting, emotional, physical, and sexual maltreatment. Child abuse has serious physical and psychological consequences which affect the health and overall well-being of a child. There are different forms of maltreatment, abuse can result in bad consequences, check for signs of abuse, the statistics, and how people can helpRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Sexual Abuse1194 Words   |  5 PagesTopic/Problem Around the world there are sexual abuse victims suffering everyday from fear, pain, and emotions. â€Å"20.7% of adults report being sexually abused as a child† (Child Help, 2011). Often between the lines sexual abuse can be classified as a wide range of actions between a child and adult. Among many individuals that have been sexual abused on a legal criteria later report the emotions of feeling scared or hopeless in later relationships. Studies show that these sexual abuse survivors haveRead MoreThe Social Problem Of Child Abuse Essay1409 Words   |  6 PagesThese social problems can either affect the economy, humans, and neighborhood communities ranging from local or national. One social problem that has increased among humans today is child abuse. Child abuse is the physical mistreatment of a child by a parent or caregiver who is held responsible for a child at their time of care. It can be physical, sexual, or psychological. These forms of abuse can happen in many pla ces, including the home, schools, or camps. Physical abuse is an abuse where someone

Colonialism in Africa Essay example - 2840 Words

COLONIALISM IN AFRICA How does the legacy of colonialism affect contemporary African international relations? If questioned today about Africa in general the first reactions I would have are poor governance, poverty, conflict, economic instability and hunger. These are the major characteristics that dominate most of the states within the continent as a whole. The question would be has it always been this way? Different debates and differences have been focused on the colonial legacy for post-colonial Africa and the nature of colonialism. Various characterizations and conceptions tend to differ considerably among the international relations and African scholars. Between 1800 and 1900, majority of the European powers colonized†¦show more content†¦Section one will focus on the colonial conquest in Africa. Section two will look at the operation of colonial legacy with emphasis on the political and economic practice. Lastly, the third section will look at the impacts of the colonial legacy on the African continent. COLONIAL CONQUEST IN AFRICA The term colonialism developed a more precise meaning during the late nineteenth century. This in Europe was a period of industrialization. There was a hunt for fresh market, raw materials and also new field for investment by the European factories in Africa. Politics and economic inspiration as a result took a huge role in the colonization of Africa. After the Second World War, most of the developed European and American countries turned to tropical African states in order to acquire industrial raw materials to rebuild their economies. The West defended in their capture of alien terrains for the purpose of exploiting the natural resources for instance gold: a situation that left the exploited colonies with negative impacts[2]. Majority of the lives of the African people and their societies were affected causing transformations and interruptions as a result of the policies implicated by these colonial masters during. Nationalism in the Western states during this period was identified with pride in one’s nation bringing about stiff competition within the European nations. In addition it brought about the formation of nation-states within the EuropeanShow MoreRelatedColonialism in Africa911 Words   |  4 PagesLadonya Gatling World Civilizations II Mr. Mitchell 10:00-10:50 (MWF) Colonialism in Africa Neither imperialism nor colonialism is a simple act of accumulation nor acquisition†¦ Out of imperialism, notions about culture were classified, reinforced, criticized or rejected† (BBC World Service). The nineteenth century saw massive changes in Africa. Some were driven by famine and disease (BBC World Service). Some changes were the result of the territorial ambitions of African rulers. As the centuryRead MoreImapct of Colonialism on Africa889 Words   |  4 PagesIMPACT OF COLONIALISM ON AFRICA In this view of the circumstances that existed during history in regards to colonial Africa. I venture to examine how colonialism is viewed, introducing you to a variety of texts which expose you to different views and debates about what Africa may well have been like today, had the colonization never taken place. The African resistance to colonialism put another perspective on the colonization of Africa by the Europeans and the Western influence Africa faced. EachRead MoreColonialism And Its Impact On Africa1206 Words   |  5 PagesColonialism is the establishment of the political and economic control of one state over another state. This establishment had one of the biggest impacts on Africa. This experience of colonialism began to take effect between the 1400s and 1800s. It started when the Europeans arrived to Africa and set up trading posts. In the late 1800s and early 1900s the increase of European power took over most of the continent. The legacy of the colonial experience will influence the history of the continent.Read MoreThe Colonialism Effect Of Africa1002 Words   |  5 PagesThe Colonialism Effect of Africa As the world races for its place in history, many continents excel on their mark on the map. It is because Africa was in the right place, but in a different time they were taken advantage of their glory. Although it is difficult for Africa to retrace and reclaim its memoirs, it has an origin that had existed before colonialism. The attempt of challenging modern history has desperately provided an economical realm that extracts and injects into Africa resources. Read MoreThe Imposition of Colonialism on Africa1233 Words   |  5 PagesAfrican Colonialism The imposition of colonialism on Africa drastically reconstructed the continent. All over, European powers attempted to â€Å"assimilate† countries into their own, all the while exploiting and victimizing their people, culture, and resources. However, if there was one aspect of colonialism that provided a fertile ground for conflict, it was the unknowingly insidious method of introducing religion, specifically Christianity, into African families. This is particularly exemplified inRead More Colonialism and Africa Essays1687 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Modern African states have several problems ranging from corruption, to armed conflict, to stunted structural development. The effects of colonialism have been offered as a starting point for much of the analysis on African states, but the question of why African states are particularly dysfunctional needs to be examined, given the extent to which they have lagged behind other former European colonies in many aspects. In the first section, I will consider the problems with AfricanRead MoreAfrican Colonialism And Its Effects On Africa1669 Words   |  7 Pagesinto, this happened to many places including Africa. Colonialism was a time when countries took control of another land, which they then governed through direct or indirect rule depending on the country. During this time, Africa was most sought after due to its resources and its uninhabited land. Due to this, all colonial powers scrambled to get their hands on a piece of Africa in order to expand their areas of rule. As a resul t of the scramble for Africa the Berlin Conference was held. At this conferenceRead More Colonialism and Imperialism in Africa Essay1158 Words   |  5 PagesDisease and Imperialism in Africa      Ã‚  Ã‚   Diseases were prevalent in Africa during the time of European Imperialism. Disease affected both natives and European peoples in Africa. African diseases affected both natives and European explorers and soldiers as well as diseases brought by the Europeans that affected the Africans.      Ã‚  Ã‚   Numerouks diseases impadcted the Europeans in Africa during the time of Imperialism.   During the time of Imperialism many explorers and soldiers died of diseaseRead MoreThe Effects Of Colonialism And Western Powers On Africa890 Words   |  4 PagesAfrica has a complex history that has contributed to its current state, that to some seems hopeless and for others an opportunity for rebuilding and renewal in the continent. With the influences of colonialism and western powers the complete system of African cultures have been restructured and globalized. This has had negative and positive effects on the people of Africa, its economy and government. After colonialism, relationships between states have still remained and Western powers are a dominateRead MoreThe Economic And Economic Impacts Of European Colonialism In Africa780 Words   |  4 Pagesthe coasts of Africa. These forts and colonies began to nibble at the continent bit by bit; within thirty years, almost the e ntire continent had been claimed by colonial powers. Since there was a rise in nationalism among European countries, Africa provided these colonizers with their own market to produce raw materials and goods that would be used to benefit Europe’s Industrial Revolution. And so, with the increasing need for raw materials and a new market the ‘Scramble for Africa’ brought political

Being a Scottish Crofter Free Essays

I wake with the dawn, pulling on a slicker over my thick wool sweater and boots against the cold rain falling steadily from the sky. Walking through the rain to my sister’s home across the croft we’d split evenly between the family members when I’d been able to purchase the land as my own, I brace myself for a confrontation with my mad brother-in-law. From South Uist (51), I’ve never trusted him and don’t quite know why my sister had married him. We will write a custom essay sample on Being a Scottish Crofter or any similar topic only for you Order Now He brought less with him than we already had and took in more in food than was his share. With my hands twisted most days and unmovable, I’d hoped that my baby sister would marry a young man full of ambition. Instead, she has married someone with no past or future and with no respect. Without a son, he was my hope but now I will just have to wait for one of my girls to grow big enough to help share in the burden. Perhaps, by that time I will no longer have the sheep. I can smell the sea air, and hear the waves being pushed again the rocks along the shore. Despite the rain, the sound of the sea blankets the whole of this side of the island. With the steep cliffs, I keep the sheep away and take them to the old community grazing area to eat the seaweed (53), but still my ear strains to catch the sea’s strangely beautiful music. My sister meets me at the door to tell me her husband will be along shortly. I turn and walk back towards my own home, seeing the wife moving about as she readies herself and the children for the day ahead. They will help her to harvest some of the potatoes (68) growing in a patch behind the house before leaving to be educated in the town proper. Potatoes aren’t much but enough to keep our bellies full for a couple months as long as none of them are rotten or soggy (65) as they were last year at this time. Crofting is never an easy life but it is made harder still when there are too few hands to work so little land, even if the land is finally your own. We are still our own state, but what that means is slowly eroding as more and more changes are made, some for the better others for the worse How to cite Being a Scottish Crofter, Papers

Murder Commiting Essays - Eli Lilly And Company, Medical Equipment

Murder Commiting The problem with committing murder is the high risk of being caught. When you decide that murder is justified, the problem of how to do it and how to avoid being found out are your first thoughts. Unfortunately, the police have become very sophisticated in their investigating skills. Very few murderers get away with it, until now that is. There are ways to fool the police and the coroner's office. If more people knew how to blow up a car with Drano, or cause a massive heart attack without any physical signs of foul play, there would be a lot more unsolved or unexplained deaths in which many life insurance policies would be paid without question. In my experience, the method of using Drano to blow up a car is very effective, yet it is very difficult to pull off. The first thing you must do is make sure your intended victim is nowhere in sight one hour before the car is started. The second thing is that rubber gloves are imperative; you do not want to leave fingerprints on a burnt - out car or on the Drano bottle. Remember to dispose of the gloves at a very distant location, perhaps making use of your local grocery store dumpsite. Once you have a full understanding of the timing in which to commit the act and the correct disposal of the gloves, you may continue with the steps in creating this destructive action. First you remove the gas cap on the car, then remove the cap on the Drano bottle, and pour the Drano into the gas tank. Then all you have to do is dispose of the Drano bottle and wait. It is a good idea to leave the area as soon as possible, making sure not to seem suspicious. When the intended victim engages the car engine, the Drano will then make its way to the engine, and the Drano will be ignited. This will, of course, cause a fire that will spread from the engine, to the cab of the car, and then to the gas tank itself. Although in theory, this seems to be a simple operation, I have found this method to be very difficult, because you must find the right circumstances in which to successfully complete this task. The most difficult part was getting my victim to be in the right places at the right time. One of my favorite methods of committing a murder would have to be the heart attack method. This technique is relatively easy and effective. There are some preparations to consider before diving into this process. You will have to find approximately 10cc of diabetic insulin. This may not be as difficult as you may think. You may not be aware of just how many people are insulin dependent, so try looking in your family and friend's medicine cabinets. Once you acquire the insulin, you will need to find a syringe. If you do not find a syringe with the insulin, you can buy a syringe at any drug store. Be sure to pay with cash; never leave a paper trail that may lead authorities to you. You will need to be very close to your victim; if it's your spouse you would like to remove from your life, you will want to choose a time when he or she is asleep or in a drunken stupor. Be sure to take mental notes of his or her body. Try to find an area where there are large amounts of freckles; this will be the place where you will make your injections. While your victim is asleep or passed out, fill the syringe with all 10ccs of the insulin. Make sure there are no air bubbles left in the syringe, for they will rush straight to the heart. A coroner will be able to spot the bubbles immediately. Creep over to your victim and find the freckle you chose in your preparation. Insert the syringe needle into the freckle. Doing this will cause your victim to awaken quickly, so make sure you have pulled the needle out fully. A broken needle will be spotted by a coroner during the autopsy. Your victim will, without doubt, become very angry and will possibly thrash about, causing items in the room to fall to the floor. Do not worry about this because it is not uncommon for a heart attack victim to cause damage while in the midst of an attack. The insulin

Coordination of Conjunctions and Punctuation

Coordination of Conjunctions and Punctuation Coordination of Conjunctions and Punctuation Coordination of Conjunctions and Punctuation By Mark Nichol When a conjunction is inserted into a sentence to separate two cumulative elements of the sentence, where commas, if any, are correctly positioned depends on the syntactical structure of the sentence regardless of whether a parenthetical phrase complicates the sentence. In each sentence with parenthesis below, the punctuation is not appropriate for the syntax. Discussion after each example explains the problem, and a revision provides a solution. 1. That debate could place everything on the table and, for that reason, significant tax reform in 2017 may prove challenging to achieve. This sentence consists of two independent clauses interrupted by the modifying phrase â€Å"for that reason† (which introduces the second clause). Without that phrase, the sentence would read, â€Å"That debate could place everything on the table, and significant tax reform in 2017 may prove challenging to achieve.† In the original sentence, â€Å"for that reason† is treated as a parenthetical phrase and is therefore bracketed by commas, but it is an introductory phrase, and so only the following comma is necessary: â€Å"That debate could place everything on the table, and for that reason, significant tax reform in 2017 may prove challenging to achieve.† 2. The business recently acted on the recommendation, and early on in its transformation process, has already generated valuable time and money-saving efficiencies. Here, the second part of the sentence shares the subject â€Å"the business,† so that section of the sentence is not an independent clause. The root sentence is â€Å"The business recently acted on the recommendation and has already generated valuable time and money-saving efficiencies.† Therefore, the punctuation should frame the parenthesis: â€Å"The business recently acted on the recommendation and, early on in its transformation process, has already generated valuable time and money-saving efficiencies.† 3. We observed several cases in which models were built solely based on a quantitative approach, and, as a result, generated poor model fit and model performance. This example has the same syntactical structure as the previous one but includes both a comma intended to separate independent clauses and a pair of commas to set off the parenthetical. However, the part of the sentence following the parenthetical is not an independent clause, so the first comma is an error: â€Å"We observed several cases in which models were built solely based on a quantitative approach and, as a result, generated poor model fit and model performance.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Examples of Passive Voice (And How To Fix Them)"Gratitude" or "Gratefulness"?Advance vs. Advanced

The Formula for Expected Value

The Formula for Expected Value One natural question to ask about a probability distribution is, What is its center? The expected value is one such measurement of the center of a probability distribution. Since it measures the mean, it should come as no surprise that this formula is derived from that of the mean. To establish a starting point, we must answer the question, What is the expected value? Suppose that we have a random variable associated with a probability experiment. Lets say that we repeat this experiment over and over again. Over the long run of several repetitions of the same probability experiment, if we averaged out all of our values of the random variable, we would obtain the expected value.   In what follows we will see how to use the formula for expected value. We will look at both the ​discrete and continuous  settings and see the similarities and differences in the formulas.​ The Formula for a Discrete Random Variable We start by analyzing the discrete case. Given a discrete random variable X, suppose that it has values x1, x2, x3, . . . xn, and respective probabilities of p1, p2, p3, . . . pn. This is saying that the probability mass function for this random variable gives f(xi)   pi.   The expected value of X is given by the formula: E(X) x1p1 x2p2 x3p3 . . . xnpn. Using the probability mass function and summation notation allows us to more compactly write this formula as follows, where the summation is taken over the index i: E(X)   ÃŽ £ xif(xi). This version of the formula is helpful to see because it also works when we have an infinite sample space. This formula can also easily be adjusted for the continuous case. An Example Flip a coin three times and let X be the number of heads. The random variable X  is discrete and finite.  The only possible values that we can have are 0, 1, 2 and 3. This has probability distribution of 1/8 for X 0, 3/8 for X 1, 3/8 for X 2, 1/8 for X 3. Use the expected value formula to obtain: (1/8)0 (3/8)1 (3/8)2 (1/8)3 12/8 1.5 In this example, we see that, in the long run, we will average a total of 1.5 heads from this experiment.  This makes sense with our intuition as one-half of 3 is 1.5. The Formula for a Continuous Random Variable We now turn to a continuous random variable, which we will denote by X.  We will let the probability density function of  X  be given by the function f(x).   The expected value of X is given by the formula: E(X)   Ã¢Ë† « x f(x) dx. Here we see that the expected value of our random variable is expressed as an integral.   Applications of Expected Value There are many applications for the expected value of a random variable. This formula makes an interesting appearance in the St. Petersburg Paradox.

How were the pyramids at Giza Constructed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How were the pyramids at Giza Constructed - Essay Example The great pyramids consist of huge stone blocks, carefully measured out and carved, and then slotted in to fit a perfect geometric shape on a truly colossal scale. Scientists today are still trying to figure out how a nation without modern lifting equipment and mechanized transportation could possibly have had the technical skill and physical power to construct these tall edifices in the sandy ground. The fact that the Egyptians possessed such a capability is undeniable, since the pyramids are still standing there as evidence. How these people managed this great feat is, however, a deep mystery. It has long been recognized that the ancient Egyptians used ramps and wooden sleds to transport huge blocks of stone from the quarries to the building site, and that there is no evidence that they knew about the wheel, the pulley or the derrick (Dunham, 1956, p. 161). It seems that they just built ramps and used many thousands of workers, and this simple explanation is widely accepted. Another, much more radical theory has been advanced by Danish scholar Erich von Dà ¤niken who argues that it would have taken human beings some 600 years to build the great pyramid of Cheops, the largest of the pyramids at Giza, shifting more two and a half million blocks of stone (Von Dà ¤niken, 1970, p.96) and using tens of thousands of workers at any one time. He theorized that there was insufficient food and shelter for such a number of workmen in the largely desert land around the area, and that therefore the ancient Egyptians must have had help from some supreme god-like beings from outer spac e. Assembling arguments gathered from other massive structures across the planet, and from legends about Egyptian gods such as Ra, who â€Å"travelled through the heavens on a bark† (Von Dà ¤niken, 1970, p. 94), the theory of ancient aliens helping to build the pyramids emerged. The two theories outlined above argue on very different principles. Von Dà ¤niken’s argument is based on vivid

Food safety Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Food safety - Research Paper Example The report of Potter and Hotchkiss stated that, â€Å"food preservation is an action or method designed to maintain foods at a desired level of quality. A number of new preservation techniques are being developed to satisfy current demands of economic preservation and consumer satisfaction in safety, nutritional and sensory aspects† (McElhatton & Marshall,3). Since food is perishable in nature, there is a necessity to preserve the food that we eat through food preservation techniques. The importance of food safety has become the main concern of the consumers worldwide because health issues and several food-related diseases that can go with it. The first thing to consider before dining-out or buying take-away food is to make sure that the food that you are paying for is nutritious and safe. Nowadays, people prefer to dine-out than cook their own meals at home because of their busy lifestyle. Eating out or buying food to take home from food establishments actually saves time and effort of its consumers. In fact, there are several fancy and affordable fast food restaurants which offer great-tasting meals. Consumers patronize them especially if they are busy with work and just buy take-away food for their families. Thus, most of the big or small food corporations alike should practice sanitation and cleanliness in preparing food because this concerns the health of the general public which is of utmost concern. Food corporations must be transparent to their consumers on the ways and methods used in preparation of the meals they serve to the general public. Thesis: The proper preparation of food by maintaining cleanliness and good sanitation by the food-producing corporations shall ensure food safety and protect the health of its consumers. II. Ethical Issue and Debates The study of Sherrow and Marzili reported that â€Å"widespread outbreaks of illnesses cause by the food we eat have grabbed headlines, but news reports have been left unanswered. In the US, e verything from snack food made with spice imported from China to spinach grown organically in California has been implicated. Critics of the food industry and the government agencies that regulate it such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), argue that the government is subservient to powerful industry interests which result to unsafe food supply† (9). Thus, many Americans suffer from foodborne illnesses due to the passive and unreceptive response of the government agencies to combat this growing problem. Included are the big corporations, engaged in food industry who fail to monitor the safety of the food supply, and sometimes poor hygiene implemented in their food premises. Government agencies such as FDA and USDA must be able to carry-out the objectives of their offices to protect the general public. Food is a basic necessity and human beings are dependent on food for survival. However, the government should regulate the food ma nufacturers, food operators and restaurant owners, by enforcing stricter laws to safeguard the safety of the consumers. III. Corporate Social Responsibility It is the responsibility of food corporations to be transparent when it comes to serving the food that they serve to their consumers. It is

Love and Time in Rossettis Poems Essay -- Dante Gabriel Rossetti Poet

Love and Time in Rossetti's Poems It is evident that themes of love and time are frequently referred to in several of Rossetti’s poems and I believe that she treats these themes in a variety of ways. Regarding love, Rossetti explores the disappointment and betrayal caused by love, her love of God as though part of an intimate relationship and the temptation that love causes young women to abandon the traditional rules. Using seasonal imagery, Rossetti relates to time contradicting herself as she often implies that we should take time to enjoy and observe life whilst she also states that she is unable to be satisfied with earthly life and it is death that will provide the ultimate fulfilment. Aware of the inevitable that seasons will always change and can never be controlled, Rossetti uses the motif of life cycles in order to demonstrate that we should be satisfied with all that God provided us with on earth. â€Å"Life nursed in its grave by death†, In ‘Spring’ Rossetti implies a significant image that death is the protector of life and nurtures new growing life. Supporting this in ‘Bitter for sweet’, Rossetti stimulates us not to rush through life but observe more and slow down, â€Å"Its sun and perfumes and sweet flowers†. Demonstrating that rapid changes in life take place and as humans we never notice these Rossetti chose to present this poem in only 8 lines, however in this she progresses through 4 months. This conveys that cycles are to be anticipated and using a passage of time through seasons she is able to symbolise the journey through life, â€Å"And even autumn closes†. Looking back at her life in regret in ‘Another Spring’ she confesses â€Å"If I might see another Spring/ I’d listen to the daylight birds†... ...ing to look forward to as she believes that death will enable her a truly satisfying life. To conclude, I believe that Rossetti treats the theme of time by creating a parallel to the inevitability of seasons emphasizing that with all good comes bad and that however hard you try to control life, it never stands still and you will never be able to turn back in time. Presenting her warnings about love and her doubts that she will ever find happiness, Rossetti treats the theme of love as a challenge as she states that if you are able to find love on earth, you are lucky and therefore able to enjoy your time on earth. However if like Rossetti you are unable to find your perfect partner, you may resolve into finding your faith in God as inevitably no one will ever match up to him and he is responsible for our happiness whether we find it on earth or by death.

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 5

â€Å"For someone who just orchestrated a murder, you're kind of overreacting.† Overreacting? In the last twenty-four hours, I'd had to endure virgins, scary vampires, murder, accusation, and humiliation in front of my favorite author. I really didn't think coming home to a quiet apartment was too much to ask for. Instead, I found three interlopers. Three interlopers who were also my friends, mind you, but that didn't change the principle of the matter. Naturally, none of them understood why I was so upset. â€Å"You're invading my privacy! And I didn't murder anybody. Why does everyone keep thinking that?† â€Å"Because you said yourself you were going to,† explained Hugh. The imp sprawled on my love seat, his relaxed posture indicating I might actually be the one in his home. â€Å"I heard it from Jerome.† Across from him, our friend Cody offered me a friendly smile. He was exceptionally young for a vampire and reminded me of the kid brother I'd never had. â€Å"Don't worry. He had it coming. We stand by you all the way.† â€Å"But I didn't – â€Å" â€Å"Is that our illustrious hostess I hear?† called Peter from the bathroom. A moment later, he appeared in the hallway. â€Å"You look pretty snazzy for a criminal mastermind.† â€Å"I'm not – † My words died on my lips as I caught sight of him. For a moment, all thoughts of murder and apartment intrusion blanked out of my mind. â€Å"For God's sake, Peter. What happened to your hair?† He self-consciously ran a hand over the sharp, half-inch spikes covering his head. I couldn't even imagine how much styling product it must have taken to defy the laws of physics like that. Worse, the tips of the spikes were white-blond, standing out boldly against his normally dark hair color. â€Å"Someone I work with helped me with it.† â€Å"Someone who hates you?† Peter scowled. â€Å"You are the most uncharming succubus I've ever met.† â€Å"I think the spikes really, um, emphasize the shape of your eyebrows,† offered Cody diplomatically. â€Å"They just take†¦ some getting used to.† I shook my head. I liked Peter and Cody. They were the only vampires I'd ever been friends with, but that didn't make them any less trying. Between Peter's assorted neuroses and Cody's dogged optimism, I sometimes felt like the straight man – er, woman – on a sitcom. â€Å"A lot of getting used to,† I muttered, pulling up a bar-stool from my kitchen. â€Å"You're one to talk,† returned Peter. â€Å"You and your wings and whip getup.† My mouth dropped, and I turned an incredulous look on Hugh. He hastily shut the Victoria's Secret catalog he'd been leafing through. â€Å"Georgina – â€Å" â€Å"You said you weren't going to tell! You sealed your lips and everything!† â€Å"I, uh†¦ it just sort of slipped out.† â€Å"Did you really have horns?† asked Peter. â€Å"All right, that's it. I want you all out of here now.† I pointed at the door. â€Å"I've been through enough today without you three adding to it.† â€Å"You haven't even told us about taking the contract out on Duane.† Cody's puppy-dog eyes looked at me pleadingly. â€Å"We're dying to know.† â€Å"Well, Duane's the one who technically did the dying,† pointed out Peter in an undertone. â€Å"Watch the snide comments,† warned Hugh. â€Å"You might be next.† I half expected steam to pour from my ears. â€Å"For the last time, I did not kill Duane! Jerome believes me, okay?† Cody looked thoughtful. â€Å"But you did threaten him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Yes. And from what I recall, so have all of you at some time or another. This is just a coincidence. I didn't have anything to do with it, and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Something suddenly occurred to me. â€Å"Why does everyone keep saying things like ‘arranged his death' or ‘got someone to murder him'? Why aren't you saying that I did it myself?† â€Å"Wait†¦ you just said you didn't.† Peter rolled his eyes at Cody before facing me, the older vampire's expression turning serious. Of course, â€Å"serious† means all sorts of things when paired with a hairstyle like his. â€Å"No one's saying you did it because you couldn't have.† â€Å"Especially in those shoes.† Hugh nodded toward my heels. â€Å"I appreciate your complete lack of faith in my abilities, but isn't it possible I could have, I don't know, taken him by surprise? Hypothetically, I mean.† Peter smiled. â€Å"It wouldn't have mattered. Lesser immortals can't kill one another.† Seeing my astonished look, he added, â€Å"How can you not know that? After living as long as you have?† Teasing laced his words. There had always been an unspoken mystery between Peter and me concerning which of us was the oldest of the mortals-turned-immortals in our little circle. Neither of us would openly admit our age, so we'd never really determined who had the most centuries. One night, after a bottle of tequila, we'd started playing a â€Å"Do you remember when†¦Ã¢â‚¬  sort of game. We'd only gotten back as far as the Industrial Revolution before passing out. â€Å"Because no one's ever tried to kill me. So what, are you saying all those turf wars vampires have are for nothing?† â€Å"Well, not for nothing,† he said. â€Å"We inflict some pretty terrific damage, believe me. But no, no one ever dies. With all the territory disputes, there'd be very few of us left if we could kill each other.† I stayed silent, turning this revelation over in my head. â€Å"Then how do – † I suddenly remembered what Jerome had told me. â€Å"They get killed by vampire hunters.† Peter nodded. â€Å"What's the deal with them?† I asked. â€Å"Jerome wouldn't elaborate.† Hugh was equally interested. â€Å"You mean like that one girl on TV? The hot blonde?† â€Å"This is going to be a long night.† Peter gave us both scathing looks. â€Å"You all need some serious Vampires 101. I don't suppose you're going to offer us anything to drink, Georgina?† I waved an impatient hand toward the kitchen. â€Å"Get whatever you want. I want to know about vampire hunters.† Peter sauntered out of my living room, yelping when he nearly tripped over one of the many stacks of books I had sitting around. I made a mental note to buy a new bookshelf. Scowling, he surveyed my nearly empty refrigerator with disapproval. â€Å"You really need to work on your hosting skills.† â€Å"Peter – â€Å" â€Å"Now, I keep hearing stories about that other succubus†¦ the one in Missoula. What's her name again?† â€Å"Donna,† offered Hugh. â€Å"Yeah, Donna. She throws great parties, I hear. Gets them catered. Invites everyone.† â€Å"If you guys want to party with all ten people in Montana, then you're welcome to move there. Now stop wasting time.† Ignoring me, Peter eyed the red carnations I'd bought the other night. I'd put them in a vase near the kitchen sink. â€Å"Who sent you flowers?† â€Å"No one.† â€Å"You sent yourself flowers?† asked Cody, his voice quaking with sympathy. â€Å"No, I just bought them. It's not the same. I didn't – look. Why are we talking about this when there's an alleged vampire killer on the loose? Are you two in danger?† Peter finally opted for water but tossed beers to Hugh and Cody. â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"We aren't?† Cody seemed surprised to learn this. His scant years as a vampire practically made him a baby compared to the rest of us. Peter was teaching him â€Å"the trade,† so to speak. â€Å"Vampire hunters are simply special mortals born with the ability to inflict real damage to vampires. Mortals in general can't touch us, of course. Don't ask me how or why this all works; there's no system as far as I can tell. Most so-called vampire hunters go through life without even realizing they have this talent. The ones who do sometimes decide to make a career out of it. They pop up like this from time to time, picking off the occasional vampire, making a general nuisance of themselves until some enterprising vampire or demon takes them out.† â€Å"‘Nuisance'?† asked Cody incredulously. â€Å"Even after Duane? Aren't you the least bit worried about this person coming after you? After us?† â€Å"No,† said Peter. â€Å"I am not.† I shared Cody's confusion. â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"Because this person, whoever he or she is, is a total amateur.† Peter glanced over at Hugh and me. â€Å"What did Jerome say about Duane's death?† Deciding I needed a drink myself, I raided my kitchen liquor cabinet and made a vodka gimlet. â€Å"He wanted to know if I did it.† Peter made a dismissive gesture. â€Å"No, about how he died.† Hugh frowned, apparently trying to piece together the logic afoot. â€Å"He said that Duane had been found dead – with a stake through his heart.† â€Å"There. You see?† Peter looked at us expectantly. We all looked back, baffled. â€Å"I don't get it,† I finally said. Peter sighed, again looking utterly put out. â€Å"If you are a mortal who has the semidivine ability to kill a vampire, it doesn't fucking matter how you do it. You can use a gun, a knife, a candlestick, or whatever. The stake through the heart thing is hearsay. If a normal mortal does it to a vampire, it won't do a damned thing except really piss the vampire off. We only hear about it when a vampire hunter does it, so it carries some special superstitious lure, when really, it's only like that egg thing on the equinoxes.† â€Å"What?† Hugh looked totally lost. I rubbed my eyes. â€Å"I actually know what he's talking about, as scary as that is to admit. There's this urban myth that eggs balance on their ends during the equinoxes. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but the truth is, you'd get the same results any time of the year. People only try it on the equinoxes, however, so that's all anyone notices.† I glanced over at Peter. â€Å"Your point is that a vampire hunter could kill a vampire in any number of ways, but because the stake gets all the attention, that's what has become the accepted method of†¦ ‘revocation of immortality.' â€Å" â€Å"In people's minds,† he corrected. â€Å"In reality, it's a pain in the ass to drive a stake through someone's heart. A lot easier to shoot them.† â€Å"And so you think this hunter is an amateur because†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Cody trailed off, obviously unconvinced by the compelling egg analogy. â€Å"Because any vampire hunter worth his or her snuff knows that and wouldn't use a stake. This person's a total newbie.† â€Å"First,† I advised Peter, â€Å"don't say ‘worth his snuff.' That expression's out-of-style and makes you sound dated. Second, maybe this hunter was just trying to be old-school or something. And even if this person is a ‘newbie,' does it really matter since they managed to take out Duane?† Peter shrugged. â€Å"He was an arrogant asshole. Vampires can sense vampire hunters at close range. Combined with this one's inexperience, Duane should have never been taken. He was stupid.† I opened my mouth to counter this. I would be among the first to agree that Duane had indeed been both arrogant and an asshole, but stupid he was not. Immortals could not live as long as we did and see as many things as we did without gleaning substantial know-how and street smarts. We grew up quickly, so to speak. Another question moved to the forefront of my reasoning. â€Å"Can these hunters hurt other immortals? Or just vampires?† â€Å"Only vampires, as far as I know.† Something didn't add up here between Peter's comments and Jerome's. I couldn't quite put my finger on what was bothering me exactly, so I kept my misgivings to myself as the others chatted on. The vampire hunter topic soon became passe, once they'd decided – with some disappointment – I hadn't contracted anybody. Cody and Hugh also seemed content to buy Peter's theory that an amateur hunter posed no real threat. â€Å"Be careful, you two,† I warned the vampires when they were getting ready to leave. â€Å"Newbie or no, Duane is still dead.† â€Å"Yes, Mom,† answered Peter disinterestedly, putting on his coat. I gave Cody a sharp look, and he squirmed a bit. He was easier to manipulate than his mentor. â€Å"I'll be careful, Georgina.† â€Å"Call me if anything weird happens.† He nodded, earning an eye roll from Peter. â€Å"Come on,† said the older vampire. â€Å"Let's get some dinner.† I had to smile at that. While vampires getting dinner might have frightened most people, I knew better. Peter and Cody both hated hunting human victims. They did it on occasion but rarely killed when they did. Most of their sustenance came from extra-rare butcher shop purchases. Like me, they were half- assingtheir infernal jobs. â€Å"Hugh,† I said sharply as he was about to follow the vampires out. â€Å"A word, please.† The vampires gave Hugh sympathetic looks before leaving. The imp grimaced, closing the door and facing me. â€Å"Hugh, I gave you that key for emergencies – â€Å" â€Å"Vampire murder doesn't constitute an emergency?† â€Å"I'm serious! It's bad enough Jerome and Carter can teleport in here without you deciding to open up my home to God and the world.† â€Å"I don't think God was invited tonight.† â€Å"And then, you went and told them about the demon-girl outfit†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Oh come on,† he protested. â€Å"That was too good to keep to myself. Besides, they're our friends. What's it matter?† â€Å"It matters because you said you weren't going to tell,† I growled. â€Å"What kind of friend are you? Especially after I helped you out last night?† â€Å"Christ, Georgina. I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd take it so personally.† I ran a hand through my hair. â€Å"It's not just that. It's†¦ I don't know. It's this whole business with Duane. I was thinking about what Jerome told me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Hugh waited, giving me time to gather my thoughts, sensing I was about to unleash something. My mind pondered the night's unfolding as I studied the imp's large shape beside me. He could be as silly as the vampires sometimes; I didn't know if I could speak seriously to him. â€Å"Hugh†¦ how do you know if a demon is lying?† There was a pause, then he emitted a soft laugh, recognizing the old joke. â€Å"His lips are moving.† We leaned against my counter, and he studied me from his greater height. â€Å"Why? Do you think Jerome's lying to us?† â€Å"Yes, I do.† Another pause followed. â€Å"Tell me then.† â€Å"Jerome told me to be careful, said I could be mistaken for a vampire.† â€Å"He told me the same thing.† â€Å"But Peter said vampire hunters can't kill us.† â€Å"You ever had a stake driven through your heart? It might not kill you, but I bet you wouldn't like it.† â€Å"Fair enough. But Jerome claimed vampire hunters find other vampires by following their prey. That's bullshit. Cody and Peter are the exception. You know how most vampires are – they don't hang out with other vampires. Following one generally won't lead to another.† â€Å"Yeah, but he said this one was a newbie.† â€Å"Jerome didn't say that. That was Peter's theory based on the stake.† Hugh gave a conciliatory grunt. â€Å"Okay. So what do you think is going on?† â€Å"I don't know. I just know these stories are contradicting each other. And Carter seemed awfully involved, like he was in on some secret with Jerome. Why should Carter even care? His side should technically approve of someone picking off our people.† â€Å"He's an angel. Isn't he supposed to love everyone, even the damned? Especially when said damned are his drinking buddies.† â€Å"I don't know. There's more here than we're being told†¦ and Jerome seemed so adamant about me being careful. You too, apparently.† He stayed quiet a few moments before finally saying, â€Å"You're a pretty girl, Georgina.† I started. So much for serious talk. â€Å"Did you drink more than that beer?† â€Å"I forget, though,† he continued, ignoring my question, â€Å"that you're also a smart one. I work around shallow women so much – suburban housewives wanting smoother skin and bigger breasts – who have no other concerns but their appearances. It's easy to get caught up in the stereotypes and forget that you have a brain in there too, behind your beautiful face. You see things differently than the rest of us – more clearly, I guess. Sort of a bigger picture kind of thinking. Maybe it's your age – no offense.† â€Å"You did drink too much. Besides, I'm not smart enough to figure out what Jerome isn't telling us unless†¦ there aren't really succubus or imp hunters out there, are there?† â€Å"Have you ever heard of one?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Neither have I. But I have heard of vampire hunters – independent of pop culture.† Hugh reached for his cigarettes and changed his mind, remembering I didn't like smoking in my apartment. â€Å"I don't think anyone's going to put a stake through us anytime soon, if that's what's bothering you.† â€Å"But you do agree we're being left out of the loop?† â€Å"What else do you expect from Jerome?† â€Å"I think†¦ I think I'm going to go see Erik.† â€Å"Is he still alive?† â€Å"Last I knew.† â€Å"That's a good idea. He knows more about us than we do.† â€Å"I'll let you know what I find out.† â€Å"Nah. I think I'd rather stay ignorant.† â€Å"Fine. Where are you off to now?† â€Å"I've got to go put in some after-hours time with one of the new secretaries, if you catch my meaning.† He grinned, dare I say, impishly. â€Å"Twenty years old, with breasts that defy gravity. I should know. I helped install them.† I couldn't help but laugh, despite the grim atmosphere. Hugh, like the rest of us, had a day job when not furthering the cause of evil and chaos. In his case, the line between occupations was a little thin: he was a plastic surgeon. â€Å"I can't compete with that.† â€Å"Not true. Science can't duplicate your breasts.† â€Å"Praise from a true connoisseur. Have fun.† â€Å"I will. Watch your back, sweetie.† â€Å"You too.† He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead and left. I stood there, alone at last, staring idly at my door and wondering what all this meant. Jerome's warning probably had been overkill, I decided. As Hugh had said, no one had ever heard of imp or succubus hunters. Still, I clicked my deadbolt and fastened the chain on my door before going to bed. Immortal I might be, but reckless I was not. Well, at least not when it counted.

French Verb Conjugations for Sauver to Save