Ch 9 and 10

How are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis different? Osteoarthritis usually affects people 60 or older and is caused by increasing wear and tear at the joint surfaces or from genetic factors affecting collagen formation. On the other hand rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition. It is caused by the body attacking its own tissues as well as allergies, bacteria, viruses, and other genetic factors. 2) When the triceps brachii muscle contracts, what movements does it produce? When the triceps brachii muscle contracts, it produces extension of the arm. ) Why is the inferior region of the shoulder joint most vulnerable to dislocation? It is most vulnerable to dislocation because it is the most mobile synovial joint. Because of this it is frail and relies only on the surrounding ligaments, muscles, and tendons for stability. 4) A high school student comes to the emergency room complaining of persistent pain and stiffness in her shoulder joint. In talking with her, you discov er that she has been spending many hours trying to improve her pitching skills for her school's softball team.What is likely causing the pain? A shoulder subluxation is most likely causing her pain. This is a partial dislocation of the shoulder and is caused by her overusing her shoulder. This may cause a loose shoulder where her shoulder capsule will be stretched out as well as the ligaments. This could further lead to chronic shoulder instability. 5) Mary wants to enter a weight-lifting competition and consults you as to what type of muscle fibers she needs to develop and how she should go about it. What would you suggest to her?Mary needs to develop her fast muscle fibers. In order to do this, she will need to have frequent, brief and intensive workouts. She also needs to create muscle hypertrophy which will create an enlargement of the stimulated muscle. She can gain this by repeated and exhaustive stimulation which will create more mitochondria. With repeatedly stimulated muscl es she can create near-maximal tension. 6) Describe the basic sequence of events that occurs at the neuromuscular junction and in the muscle cell.The first step is the arrival of an action potential at the synaptic terminal, next is the release of acetylcholine into the synaptic cleft, then Ach binds at the motor end plate and causes sodium-ion to rush into sarcoplasm which is then quickly broken down by AChE. The last step is it returns to initial state which occurs if another action potential arrives at the NMJ. 7) Many visceral smooth muscle cells lack motor neuron innervation. How are their contractions coordinated and controlled? Visceral smooth muscle cell’s contractions are coordinated by rhythmic cycles of activity that are controlled by pacesetter cells. ) A hypothetical genetic disease causes the body to produce antibodies that compete with acetylcholine for receptors on the motor end plate. Patients with this disease exhibit varying degrees of muscle weakness and f laccid paralysis in the affected muscles. If you could administer a drug that inhibits acetylcholinesterase or a drug that blocks acetylcholine, which one would you use to alleviate these symptoms? I would use a drug that inhibits acetylcholinesterase so that acetylcholine is not blocked.If the disease is producing antibodies that compete with acetylcholine than we would not want a drug that blocks it, we would want to inhibit it to activate the muscles. 9) Thirty minutes after Mary has completed a 25-km race, she begins to notice severe muscle soreness and stiffness in her legs. Her urine is dark colored. She wonders whether she may have damaged her muscles during the race. She visits the ER, and the doctor orders several blood tests. What kind of blood tests can help determine whether muscle damage has occurred?The type of blood tests that can help determine whether muscle damage has occurred include Creatine kinase tests, blood enzyme tests, kidney tests, electrolytes tests, red blood cells tests, and a complete blood count test. 10) Describe a motor unit. How many fibers does a muscle unit contain? A motor unit is controlled by a single motor neuron. It contains hundreds of muscle fibers that contract at the same time. All of the fibers will be the same type and the number of muscle fibers will vary within each unit. Usually, the number of muscle fibers innervated by a motor unit is a purpose of a muscle's need for polished motion

Intellectual Reasoning vs. Instinct

It has been said from Plato onward that man's reasoning is his highest faculty and makes him superior to animals. In the short story â€Å"To Build a Fire,† by Jack London, man’s intellectual reasoning ability is regarded as â€Å"second class† to that of the survival mechanism that is embedded within humans and animals alike. This survival mechanism is sometimes referred to as instinct. If solely depended on, man’s intellectual reasoning may be clouded, imprudent and even detrimental, leading him to the wrong decision.Instinct, on the other hand, is a natural reaction pre-programmed into man for survival and cannot be altered by reasoning, making it superior to reason. As the story opens, the man clearly understands that the â€Å"day had broken cold and gray, exceedingly cold and gray,† and still he insists on continuing his journey (650). The fact that the temperature is below freezing did not seem to bother him. He is ignorant of the cold.As he stands surveying the snow covered Yukon trail, â€Å"the mysterious, far-reaching hair-line trail, the absence of sun from the sky, the tremendous cold, and the strangeness and weirdness of it all—made no impression on him† (651). He is determined to join the boys at camp to enjoy the warmth, food, and companionship regardless of the weather. The man is very observant about his surroundings, however, â€Å"he was without imagination† (651). The temperature is about seventy-five degrees below zero, which means that it is about one hundred and seven degrees below freezing.To him, the air is cold and uncomfortable, and nothing more. He ignores the fact that he is a warm blooded creature and as such only able to survive at certain temperatures. Anything beyond that range requires not only intellectual reasoning ability but also instinct. The big native husky that accompanies him on his journey is his only companion. The animal can adapt to the cold weather, but on t his occasion it is very apprehensive about traveling in the extreme cold. The dog’s instinct â€Å"knew that it was not time for traveling.Its instinct told it a truer tale than was told to the man by the man’s judgment† (652). The dog does not understand how temperature is measured or even how a thermometer works. It inherited this instinctual ability from its ancestry. It relies on this innate ability for survival. It craves warmth, and knows that man can create fire and warmth. Its instinct for warmth and survival tells it this is not a time to be traveling. The man stops at each creek or river bend, and observes â€Å"the changes around the creek, the curves and bends and timber-jams† (653).He knows if he walks on ice that is not frozen to the bottom he will crack the ice cap and break through it. Breaking through the ice will cause him to get wet. Under such an extreme, bitter cold temperature, being wet can be fatal. The man tries to compel the dog to go ahead. However, it hesitates. It will not go and stays back until â€Å"the man shoved it forward, and then it went quickly across† (653). The dog brakes through the ice and scampers back on land. Quickly, it begins to â€Å"lick off its legs, then dropped down in the snow and began to bite out the ice that had formed between the toes† (653).This is not a matter of intellectual reasoning but rather instinct. Because the dog is now wet and cold, the dog is apprehensive about traveling further. The relationship between the man and the dog is like that of an owner to an animal. There is no â€Å"keen intimacy between the dog and the man, the dog made no effort to communicate its apprehension to the man† (654). When the man finally reaches the left fork on the other side of the creek, he did not see signs of any springs. Once again, the man is relies on his visual perception, but he fails to recognize the danger.He thinks it is not necessary to send the dog ah ead because he did not see any signs of danger. Unfortunately, at a place â€Å"where the soft, unbroken snow seemed to advertise solidity beneath, the man broke through† (655). He is now wet from the waist down to his foot-gear. He escapes from the water and quickly works to build a fire. Memories of old-timer on Sulphur Creek creep into his consciousness. The old-timer repeatedly warned him of extreme cold temperatures in the Klondike, cautioning him not to travel alone without a partner when the temperature is fifty below or colder.The man laughed and thought, â€Å"the old-timer was rather womanish† (656). In his haste to start a fire, he did not notice that he built it under a spruce tree. The tree held the weight of the snow from many previous storms. Each time the man pulled on a twig, the tree moved. Finally, the branches released the snow, sending it falling down onto to man and extinguishing the fire. Standing in disbelief, he â€Å"heard his own death sente nce. † (656). Again, his memories returned to the old-timer on Sulphur Creek.Maybe the older-timer is right—â€Å"after fifty below, a man should travel with a partner† (657). With his life at the mercy of nature, he recognizes his foolishness. His final attempt to rebuild a fire is unsuccessful. He sees the dog and remembers a tale of a man who was caught in a blizzard. This man survived by killing a steer and crawling inside the cavity to keep warm. Perhaps killing the dog and burying his hands in its body will thaw them so he can build a fire. He calls to the dog, but the dog senses a â€Å"strange note in his voice that frightened it† (658).Its instinct senses danger – â€Å"it knew not what danger, but somewhere, somehow, in its brain arouses an apprehension of the man† (658). The dog stays clear of the man. Instinct is a natural part of every living creature. Its purpose is to alert its owner of impending danger, to override reason, to survive. The dog, through its instinct, is aware of the life-threatening conditions in the Yukon. The man, thinking he is smarter than nature, relies on his knowledge and ignores his instinct. By relying on his knowledge, mistakenly believing it to be his highest faculty, he ultimately forfeits his life.

Binary oppositions of Male/Female in Wide Sargasso Sea Essay

The novel Wide Sargasso Sea is basically a contrast as well as shows similarities between main male and female characters of the novel. The Male of England vs. the Female of Caribbean is the focus of this essay. Both the characters play an important role in enhancing the themes, symbols and metaphors of the novel. No doubt, the writer of the novel Rhys has done a great job in explaining different psychological states of both the characters while putting them in different social situations. The first similarity between them is the search for security. In their entire lives they keep on searching for physical and mental securities. Antoinette wants it in the form of a man who can support him in many different ways and Rochester wants security in terms of finance and of the fulfillment of his lust. With security, they are in search of happiness also but the operational definition of happiness to both of them is completely different and which is the main crises of the novel. According to Rochester, happiness is in physical love and wealth while to Antoinette happiness is in being a protected woman. The main desire of Antoinette in the novel is being loved and respected but unfortunately her man is unable to satisfy her in that manner. He never tries to understand his wife and always wants her to follow what he says, regardless of the fact that she is a human being and trusts him to extent. Rochester is in a superiority complex because of his complexion and is under the impression that he’s superior to others because he belongs to England. Not only he himself is in superior complex, he wants to have an upper hand on Antoinette and associates her with inferiority because of her dirty childhood. This is a human nature that everyone likes his/her mother land and so in the case of the novel. The guy of England doesn’t like to live in Caribbean and the girl of Caribbean can’t adopt the culture of England. They not only love their places but also hate to live at each other’s†¦ Rochester feels insecure with the people of Caribbean and not feels comfortable living there. He is the man who has spent his early years in a developed country and can’t adjust to a landscape now. On the other side, Antoinette is under the impression that her man’s dry behavior is due to the fact that he has to live in a totally different environment and she is, to some extent, true as well. One of the very important similarities between both the characters is dependence. She is dependent on him for social and financial management. Being a lady, she has to have a man to secure her in every possible way while he’s dependent on her for sexually satisfying himself. He’s dependent in the context of wealth as well. Antoinette wants to dominant her fear (of childhood) through getting a life partner where Rochester wants a companion to satisfy his sexual desires. She goes through a miserable childhood and this is the cause of her psychological state that comes in the later part of the novel. In the novel, both of the main characters go through some type of mental disorder. Antoinette, being insecure to an extent that locks her in the room while Rochester experiences paranoia and thinks that his lady will leave him in that fearful and insecure place. The novel is tragic, not because it has a sad ending but because both of the characters are unsuccessful in achieving their targets. Not only they lead their lives miserably but they meet an unhappy and tragic end as well. Instead of becoming a lady of her man’s heart, she is supposed to become a slave and on the other hand Rochester is under the impression that his lady doesn’t love him at all and has no interest in living with him. Throughout the novel, both of them keep on expecting from each other but running after their own happiness and desires of lives. We see that they want to lead their lives according to their wishes. She doesn’t want to live in England while he hates Caribbean. We hardly see any element of compromise between them. They are less human in the sense that they give importance to their desires over people. But we have sympathy to both the characters also because this behavior of being selfish is due to the society. Her nature of being loved is due to her dark and unloved childhood while his obsession of money has excuses too. In a sense, both of them want happiness throughout the novel but meet a woeful end! Work Cited Rhys, Jean. , Wide Sargasso Sea

Perseverance and Persistence the Key to Success Personal Statement - 6

Perseverance and Persistence the Key to Success - Personal Statement Example It is not a hidden fact that in India and other countries with similar culture, the head of families, the eldest brother in my case, is expected to support all the other family members and do anything and everything that falls under their responsibilities or even beyond. And the list of such responsibilities is endless. For instance, I am supposed to feed and drape them, meet the expense of my siblings’ education, accumulate enough funds for my sisters’ dowry and wedding expenditures and also to set aside finances for the recommencement of my own professional education. Besides these and other duties, if I want to study, develop a better career for myself or do anything else for my self-actualization, then that all have to be secondary when it comes to prioritizing my tasks. It is not a hidden fact that in India and other countries with similar culture, the head of families, the eldest brother in my case, is expected to support all the other family members and do anythi ng and everything that falls under their responsibilities or even beyond. And the list of such responsibilities is endless. For instance, I am supposed to feed and drape them, meet the expense of my siblings’ education, accumulate enough funds for my sisters’ dowry and wedding expenditures and also to set aside finances for the recommencement of my own professional education. Besides these and other duties, if I want to study, develop a better career for myself or do anything else for my self-actualization, then that all have to be secondary when it comes to prioritizing my tasks.         Mostly men belonging to this region of the world, in such scenarios give up their own individuality and compromise on their self-esteem. The culture calls for too much devotion and self-less commitments. I certainly praise the inhabitants of this region for their fidelity and conformity to any circumstances they are made to live in. The immense disappointment is when a man loses his own distinctiveness. I think people should stay persistent in what they want to do and how they want to do it. This does not suggest a rebellious attitude at all. I can easily say that I m a good son and a brother, at the same time I excel in all other professional matters too. If one has the mindset to take up challenges and prove oneself, then nothing remains unattainable. It takes an extraordinary amount of discipline though. I have always managed my time so as to accommodate all of my tasks. Assigning priorities makes life easier. But it should be better done than said.

Library Media Center Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Library Media Center - Essay Example Information technology enabled libraries to expand their horizons by gaining access to diverse sources of information, which are always ready for updates due to rapid changes of the modern times. Consequently, libraries gained trust from the users of the new generation, who used to have doubt on published resources which can only be timely at the time of their publication. Additionally, extensive sharing has enabled libraries to save costs from spending library budgets due to the explosion in published output (Tanvir, 2005). However, due to the rise of the utilization of information technology in libraries, some students have began to make decisions on which school to go to based on a school library's computer services (Capron, 2002) This has created overwhelming advantages for the large universities over small universities which are still in the process of adapting the latest technology in their school libraries. Hence, the bandwagon of information technology in libraries have somehow deprived small universities from expanding technology services as potential incoming students tend to prefer universities which have already adapted to the latest technological advances. Consequently, this case applies to all libraries as most users prefer "wired" libraries than conventional ones. Hence, the increased reliance on information technology has generated a disadvantage for most conventional libraries. Moreover, as libraries tend to prefer online output of modern resources, conservative library users who still favor the use of books and journals are disadvantaged as the possibility of gaining access to published output of modern sources have become limited. If I were to assume management of a school library center in a school with little or no technological infrastructure, where would you begin your efforts to upgrade computer resources Which library related technology should receive first priority If I were to assume management of a school library center with little or no technological infrastructure, I would begin my efforts in upgrading computer resources by providing an ample amount space for a computer laboratory consisting computers with modern operating systems. Then, the first pace of adapting information technology should begin in providing internet access to this laboratory. Internet access should receive the first priority in school library centers. This is because access to the internet will enable students to get hold of online sources of information of different fields, some of which are rare to find in publications. Also, students can somehow be assured that the information on the internet is updated, as compared to the information disseminated in published resources. For instance, modern lifestyle and the latest technological advances, which may take a year before entering the pages of a published output, can instantly appear on web pages within a matter of minutes or hours. Additionally, most reliable information sources have initiated the World Wide Web, as their internal information service. For example, the European research center CERN uses the Internet in order to disseminate latest research findings to the public (Book, 1994). Hence, as the Internet rapidly spread in the academia, it will serve as a strong source of information in school library

Design Consulting Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Design Consulting - Research Paper Example The objectives and goals have to be analyzed so as to be able to develop the training program. The factor that is addressed in this phase is the method that will be used and be convenient in the training. The training methods may be used include training via the internet or training that takes place in classrooms (Bari, 2000). The designer of the training session then puts up a layout that is useful in developing a document for design. The design document usually contains the content that is actual for design and an outline of the content. In this phase, storyboards that are useful in development and training are then created. The storyboards usually make use of graphics. The graphics available are useful in creating visuals that are used in complementing the content of training. After finalization and approval by business owners, the training is then launched. The curriculum that is used for training must be understood by the facilitators. The training process must also be understood properly. The training tools that are useful include software’s, manuals and books. The evaluation phase allows employees been trained to give feedbacks on the training session. Evaluation may be conducted by surveys. The surveys can be done by the use of paper media or

Globalizations has spawned a new frontier in the fight for human Essay

Globalizations has spawned a new frontier in the fight for human rights protections - Essay Example The United States is a super power because of the fact that it imperialized and was able to control its colonies compared to its European predecessors. It is clear that globalization allowed a system of seamless integration in which trade was cultivated within countries. Although trade is beneficial, it diminishes human rights. This is vital to understand as new Empires emerged and literally obtained new identities because of this emphasis of globalization. Stearn also reemphasizes the fact that United States was in the prime position to take advantage of globalization and has made itself a dominating superpower in the 20th century because of its focus to imperialize and control its territories. Globalization is detrimental to human rights because of low wages and low capitals. In third world countries where manufacturing is conducted, children and women almost have no rights. Imagine working as a child in a non-stop unhygienic conditions to earn around $3 for a day. With the labor force ready to combat poverty in third world countries, the economical behavior of the nation has undoubtedly suffered because of the factors mentioned above. chaos as millions of poor workers were frustrated with working conditions as corruption loomed in city government. Packed in small quarters, these workers are living in a prison in essence with little chance of surviving. Individuals struggle to support households and have no funds to invest in their business. Women and children get exploited the most as they have no rights in developing countries. Moreover, the rich get richer in a pendant system where there is no paradigm of middle class. This causes issues because customers do not have p urchasing power or rights in any manner. It is clear that there has to be a plant to rectify this issue. Women and children needs rights to set hours of constant workload. The International Human Right Services is

Elements of Genre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Elements of Genre - Essay Example Thrillers are meant to instill a high sense of excitement in the movie-goer, as well as a good amount of anxiety, high-heart rates, and nervous tension as the characters struggle for survival against both internal and external survival threats. Directors use these elements of tension masterfully on their audiences, and can easily manipulate an audience’s level of anxiety or suspense with clever usage of music, action sequence, and dialogue. Movie-goers willfully oblige the director, eager to suspend belief and throw their emotions into the director’s crafty hands which increase or decrease the related tension and anxiety throughout the film as they bring the audience along for the ride. In three â€Å"thriller/suspense† genre films, â€Å"The Black Lagoon,† â€Å"The Planet of the Apes,† and â€Å"The Shining,† the directors masterfully utilize these elements to build tension and anxiety in the movie-goer. In all three movie clips, there is a noted lack of dialogue and a reliance on music and mood to increase the tension in the scene. The directors use music to build tension and signal to the movie goer that action is about to take place, create a crescendo of tension, and also bring the viewer down from the thrills he or she just experienced.

Karma-Yoga Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Karma-Yoga - Essay Example The action path proposed in Bhagavad-Gita teaches someone how to remain in the world, doing their duties and still get qualification for the spiritual life. It is in contrary to the common opinion that people should go to the forest, renounce their worldly belongings, away from the community like a cave and do meditation or tapas to achieve self-realization. According to Hindu, Karma operates both in a lifetime and across lifetimes; the actions results may only get experienced after the life in the present. Virtuous or good actions, harmony actions with dharma, will get good responses or reactions while bad actions, those that are against dharma will get the opposite consequences. Krishna explains that actions bind people to their subject and impact them to their karma. Though, it does not mean that non-action or inaction is a solution to karma problem. It is clear that none of the actions, non-action, wrong action and right action, give individuals freedom by renouncing work or abstaining from work. It is because one cannot remain inactive as the gunas drive each one helplessly in performing actions physically and mentally. Right action is when one who know the truth about functions and qualities of their functions, understanding gunas as senses and tend to move between them as the sense-objects. A wrong action is when a person deluded by egoism describes the Self with the mind, body, the senses, and life-forces, ascribing to the Self every body’s attributes and the senses (Sargeant 5).

Critical analysis of market access with regard to the ECJ rules on Outline

Critical analysis of market access with regard to the ECJ rules on free movement of goods - Outline Example To be noted in this regard, ECJ has imposed a few laws regarding the free movements of goods and market integration within EU member states. ECJ has also imposed several laws that has emphasised environmental protection as well as social policies ensuring transparency and equality to a considerable extent2. Based on this understanding, the study intends to examine the pros and cons associated with the free movement of goods allowed by ECJ, to obtain a critical purview of the market access enjoyed by participant countries. An elaborated rational will be delivered regarding the method to be used when considering the stated aim for this study. To be noted in this regard, as the study will follow a qualitative approach, it is important to determine the variables to be considered when performing the intended thematic analysis of the gather information. With this emphasis, the chapter will hence discuss about the assumptions taken to interpret how market access to EU, for the member states as well as for the foreign nationals, are getting influenced by the prevailing free trade regime as per the ECJ. This chapter will elaborate on the importance of ECJ over internal market integration. This particular chapter will therefore contain a critical review of the viewpoints presented by researchers that will help to provide a detailed overview regarding the ECJ’s contribution towards the market integration. A methodological brief of the study will also be delivered in this section wherein the rationalisation will be provided concerning the selection of the literature. To be stated precisely, literature published within the span of past 10 years will be considered for the study, although this bar of the mentioned period will be ignored when referring to cases. That is, cases must be relevant to free trade of goods in EU and be registered under ECJ to be

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall Essay Example for Free

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall Essay â€Å"There’s an honest graft and, I’m an example of how it works†¦I’ve seen my opportunities and I took ‘em† (3). An excerpt that defines the confident and political leader: George Washington Plunkitt. As a brilliant and successful businessman Plunkitt managed to use his method of machine politics to win the heart and commitment of people and political power. In the novel Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, author William L. Riordon, Plunkitt’s political reporter who records the many lectures Plunkitt presented at Tammany Hall. The book emphasizes on Plunkitt’s advocacy for political control and the political machine that helped him gain wealth and a political seat in Tammany Hall. In novel, Plunkitt defends the political machine by explaining the difference between â€Å"honest graft† and â€Å"dishonest graft†. Many accused the political leaders of Tammany Hall of gaining wealth from graft. Plunkitt describes the difference between the two terms. He describes â€Å"dishonest graft† as â€Å"blackmailin’ gamblers, saloonkeepers, and disorderly people† (3). In other words, the corruption of gaining political or business power used from bribery. Plunkitt’s term for â€Å"honest graft† has to do with the example of purchasing and selling off land for business projects. For example, if the town begins discussing a specific piece of land to be used for a community park, Plunkitt would buy that piece of land, inflate the price, and sell the property to the project developer. Plunkitt finds his way of profiting â€Å"honest†; I call this taking advantage of ones political power. As an â€Å"honest† Irish- American Plunkitt knows how to take advantage of the game and he will continue to play it until sand turns into stone. With the ability to win over voter’s hearts and gain political support Plunkitt comfortably knows how to keep a seat in Tammany Hall. One of his, again, â€Å"honest† tactics, Plunkitt knows how to target specific types of voters. In the chapter â€Å"To Hold Your District†, Plunkett claims how to target the lower class people. He would start house fires so that the poor would not have any clothing or food. Then Plunkitt would act as a friend to the people giving them quarters for clothing and food to win the heart of the people. In other words, he was gaining a vote. Plunkitt would even hand out candy to children to promise to make sure their parents were voting for him in elections. As a corruption to society, Plunkitt knew how fake the political act and win people over with friendships. According to Plunkitt in order to become a politician in Tammany Hall one must know how to bluff. Everything was about winning a vote, whether it was taking someone to a baseba ll game or handing out candy to children. What ever it took. As a business and political man, Plunkitt knew the political game inside and out. With corruption, he managed to continue to remain in office for countless years. Even though Plunkitt’s grammar was inferior to a professors’ or college graduate, it had nothing to do with being a political powerhouse. A politician had to have common sense and know how to gain ones trust, even if it meant dishonesty. By selling himself and taking advantage of political and business opportunities with â€Å"honest† or â€Å"dishonest† graft, Plunkitt attentiveness always kept himself in front with wealth and politically.

Tips for writing formal reports Essay Example for Free

Tips for writing formal reports Essay 1. I t is necessary to write for a specific audience e.g. colleagues or the scientific public and to recognize the kind of information and order that that person or people will require. This means that there is no one format. 2. All reports must be written in the third person rather than the first or second i.e. ‘100 mls of water was added.’ Rather than ‘I’ or ‘We’ added 100 mls of water 3. A Grade Sheet is required as the first sheet This, like the rest of the report, should be produced on a word processor, double spaced on standard unlined paper with 1 inch margins all round. I t should include the experiment’s number, title of report, date and authors name. 4. Pages should be numbered from the title page onwards. 5. If this is a report produced by a student it should have a title page with the following information:- the title of the course taken, the author and title, names of any associates who assisted with the experiment, the name and address of the college department involved, the person to whom the report is being submitted such as a professor and the date of that submission. 6.This is followed by either an abstract , or the executive summary, usually of about 200 words, on occasion longer. These are written after the completion of the experiment and the rest of the report. The following points should be included, the purpose of the work, a statement of how this was accomplished and a summary of any conclusions reached together with any recommendations for future action. 7. This is followed by a table of contents. 8 There follows the introduction an explanation of why this experiment was done. 9.Then comes the experiment i.e. what was done and why 10 The results are outlined and discussed 11 Finally there must be a brief conclusion and any recommendations. 12 References should be made according to an agreed format e.g. A.P.A. 13 In some cases an appendices are needed for such things as lengthy lists of statistics or a list of calculations made. Each appendix should be numbered separately 14 Any report must be carefully checked for accuracy before submission.

Effect Of UV Rays On Pool Chlorine Biology Essay

Effect Of UV Rays On Pool Chlorine Biology Essay Pools have always been a source of leisure for Australians. They provide enjoyment and good times for many households generated in a family or local swimming pool. Despite this, pools have to be maintained by using chemicals or disinfectants, lest unwanted pathogens create health hazards. However, the over use of these chemicals can also result in health hazards such as; serious irritation and breathing problems. A balance or equilibrium, therefore, must be achieved to maintain suitable conditions. This is where chemistry comes into play. The main type of chemicals used in pools to prevent unwanted pathogens is pool chlorine. Sodium hypochlorite is a commonly used as pool chlorine. It was discovered by Louis Pasteur in the late 19th century that sodium hypochlorite had disinfectant properties. Sodium hypochlorite effectively kills bacteria, viruses and fungi. When pool chlorine is added to water, a reaction takes place where hypochlorus acid is formed. In the past, most consumer chlorine bleach was sold in a 5.25% solution. Today, some more concentrated solutions are being sold and touted as an improvement over the less concentrated bleaches. To check for the concentration of the pool chlorine, excess potassium iodide is to be added to it and then it is to be titrated with a solution of sodium thiosulfate. The concentration of the liquid chlorine is then to be calculated using stoichiometry. The net ionic equations of the chemical reactions are: Source: Chemistry In use Book 2 There are also many factors that affect the effectiveness of pool chlorine such as sun radiation. Ultra-violet (UV) light degrades hypochlorous acid to hydrochloric acid (HCl). Ultraviolet (UV) radiation not only destroys light sensitive chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), it also has the potential to significantly degrade the structural integrity of the storage tank or IBC containing the light sensitive material.   According to the NSW  Ministry of Health  (2010) roughly 1/3 of free chlorine exposed to UV lights in a outdoor swimming pool is destroyed every hour. UV light therefore lowers the concentration of the disinfection component of free chlorine. In this experiment, the concentration of sodium hypochlorite in pool chlorine, left under a UV lamps for different periods of times, was measured. Aim: To investigate the effects of Ultra Violet (UV) rays on sodium hypochlorite (a bleaching agent used commonly in pools). 2.0 Hypothesis: As pool chlorine is left for longer periods of time under UV rays, the concentration of the pool chlorine will decrease. This was hypothesised as the theory suggests that UV rays degrade the component in pool chlorine which allows it to disinfect bacteria. 3.0 Equipment/Material Material Diluted Sodium hypochlorite Sodium thiosulfate Potassium iodide Starch indicator Boiling water Equipment 2 x 100 mL Beaker 5 x 250 mL Beaker 15 x 100 mL Flask 2 x 1L Volumetric flask 1 x 500 mL Volumetric flask 1 x 100mL Measuring cylinder 2 x 20mL Measuring cylinder 3 x Funnel 5 x 20 mL Pipette 2 x 1mL Pipette 3 x Stirring rod Senior Balance Burette and stand UV Lamp Permanent marker Stopwatch 4.0 Safety To prevent any harm to the group during this experiment, safety precautions were taken to ensure the safety of the members. Refer to Appendix A for MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). Lots of glassware was used Refrain from holding too many pieces of glassware at once. Clean up glass immediately if any is broken. Handle boiling water with care Boiling water was used to create a solution of starch. Beaker tongs were used to carry the boiling water. Potassium iodide is irritating to eyes and skin Avoid contacting without gloves. Wash with water if contact occurs. Sodium thiosulfate is irritating to eyes and skin Avoid contacting without gloves. Wash with water if contact occurs. Starch gives skin discomfort Avoid contacting without gloves. 5.0 Procedure Refer to Appendix 1 for preparation of solutions Preparation of titration A burette and stand was filtered with the sodium thiosulfate solution. The burette was filled up with the sodium thiosulfate solution to around the 0mL mark. 100mL of diluted sodium hypochlorite was poured into 5 individual 250mL beakers. These beakers were labelled 0min, 15m, 30m, 1hr, 3hrs and 4hrs. All the beakers, except the 0min beaker, were placed under the UV lamp for the amounts of time labelled on them. At this point the stopwatch was started, once the samples had reach the specified time they were taken out. For each time sample, 20mL was measured with a pipette and placed into 3 100mL flasks. 10mL of potassium iodide solution and 2mL of starch indicator solution were prepared prior to every titration. Titration The mark of where the sodium thiosulfate solution in the burette was recorded before the titration occurred. 10mL of potassium iodide solution was added to each time sample of 20mL sodium hypochlorite solution in the 100mL flasks. The new solution was left until it has completed reacted (when the solution turns light yellow). The solution was then titrated until it turned a very pale yellow. 2mL of starch indicator solution was added to the titrating solution. This should make the solution a dark blue/black colour. Titration continued at a slower rate until the solution had turned clear. Record the finishing titre mark on the burette. These steps were repeated 3 times for each time sample (total of 18 titrations). Figure 1: Diagram of titration in progress. 6.0 Results Table 1: Table showing the amount of sodium thiosulfate solution added to sodium hypochlorite and potassium iodide solution at different times left under the UV ray. Refer to Appendix 2 for initial volume and final volume calculations and averages. Time (mins) Volume (mL) Average of 3 titrations 0 23.35 15 22.95 30 22.51 60 18.35 180 16.03 240 12.70 Table 2: Table showing the concentration of pool chlorine Refer to appendix 3 for converting of average volume of titration to concentration. Amount of time left under UV lamp (mins) Concentration of OCl (M) 0 0.03250 15 0.03198 30 0.03131 60 0.02558 180 0.02234 240 0.01770 Figure 1: Graph showing the concentrations of pool chlorine left under a UV lamp for different periods of time. 7.0 Discussion An experiment design was made to test and compare the effects of UV rays on pool environments, particularly on the impacts of chlorine concentration. In doing this, a total of 18 pool chlorine samples were put under a UV lamp for different periods of time. The concentrations of the chlorine when left untouched by UV rays were stable at around 0.03M. By exposing the pool chlorine samples to ultraviolet lights for given periods of time, the concentration of the chlorine decreased. The graph shows that as the sodium hypochlorite is more exposed to UV rays, the lower concentration of the pool chlorine was. A line of best fit was drawn to display the trend in the data. It showed that there is a linear relationship between the concentration and time left under a UV lamp. The data collected agrees with the theory that UV rays disrupt the structural integrity of the pool chlorine. The photodecomposition of chlorine is apparent as the initial levels of hypochlorite ion decreased by a signific ant amount when exposed to sunlight. The photochemical reaction that represents the situation of the experiment is: The main errors of the experiment were the inaccuracies of most aspects dealt with when implementing the experiment. One anomaly occurred when one sample of chlorine was left under the UV lamp for 60minutes. There is a major drop in concentration from 30min. This suggests that there was experimental error during the investigation. 8.0 Conclusion The results collected from this experiment suggest that the more pool chlorine is subject to UV lights, the lower the concentration of the chlorine will be. It has partially supported the hypothesis Bibliography Deb Smith, D. R. (2006). Chemistry in use Book 2. Sydney: Queensland Chemistry syllabus. Date retrieved: 05/09/12 Fletcher, D. J. (N/D). (The Sodium Hypochlorite Story). Retrieved September 5, 2012, from south shore gunite pools: http://www.southshoregunitepools.com/resources/htms/naocl.htm Gina A. Ishida, B. à ·. (N/D). IMPACT OF CHLORINE AND MONOCHLORAMINE ON ULTRAVIOLET. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC: N/A. Date retrieved: 05/09/12 N/A. (N/D, N/D N/D). Chlorination of pool water. Retrieved September 6, 2012, from pested: http://www.pested.msu.edu/resources/bulletins/pdf/2621/e2621chap7.pdf N/A. (1968). Stabiliser (Cyanurate) Use in Outdoor Swimming Pools. Retrieved September 5, 2012, from NSW Government Health: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/utilities/copyright.asp Appendices Appendix A Going to add MSDS later†¦ Appendix 1 Diluting sodium hypochlorite 100mL of sodium hypochlorite was measured and put into a 1000mL volumetric flask. The flask was filled with distilled water up to the 1L mark The flask was inverted several times Sodium thiosulfate solution 8.82g of sodium thiosulfate was placed into a 1L volumetric flash The flask was filled with distilled water up to the 1L mark The flask was inverted several times Potassium iodide solution 5g of potassium iodide was weighed and placed into a 250mL beaker Distilled water was poured until it reached 105g on the scale The solution was thoroughly mixed Starch solution 1g of starch indicator was weighed and placed into a 250mL beaker 100mL of water was boiled and placed into the 250mL beaker The solution was thoroughly mixed and was left to cool down All solutions were labelled with the name of the solution, the concentration, a group members name and the teachers name. Appendix 2 Initial volume and final volume of sodium thiosulfate left under a UV lamp at different periods of time. 0 min 23.35-0.04 15 min 45.63-23.29 30min 22.34-0.07 = 23.31mL =22.34mL =22.27mL 46.76-23.31 23.04-0.14 44.78-22.32 = 23.45mL =22.90mL =22.46mL 23.54-0.13 46.66-23.04 23.01-0.21 =23.29mL =23.62mL =22.80mL Avg = = = =23.35mL =22.95mL =22.51mL 60 min 41.22-23.01 3 hour 15.62-1.23 4hours 13.23-0.12 =18.21mL =14.39mL =13.11mL 18.62-0.33 30.59-15.62 26.35-13.23 =18.29mL =14.97mL =13.12mL 37.26-18.72 49.32-30.59 38.21-26.35 =18.54mL =18.73mL =11.86mL Avg = = =18.35mL =16.03mL =12.70mL

Critical Thinking and Business Decisions Essay -- GCSE Business Market

Critical Thinking and Business Decisions Our basic concept of critical thinking is, at root, simple. We could define it as the art of taking charge of your own mind. Its value is also at root simple: "if we can take charge of our own minds, we can take charge of our lives; we can improve them, bringing them under our "self-command" and direction (McCall and Kaplan, 1990)." Of course, this requires that we learn self-discipline and the art of self-examination. This involves becoming interested in how our minds work, how we can monitor, fine tune, and modify their operations for the better. It involves getting into the habit of reflectively examining our impulsive and accustomed ways of thinking and acting in every dimension of our lives and business. Many various "Forms of Thinking" affect the way we rationalize problems and situations. We could approach a problem by utilizing the forms such as in "a logical, scientific, persuasive, or creative fashion (University of Phoenix, 2000)." The way we approach a problem or situation can be and is very important. In addition, all that we do, we do based on some motivations or reasons that are forces which influence our ways of thinking. However, we rarely examine our motivations to see if they make sense. We rarely scrutinize our reasons critically to see if they are rationally justified. "Some of the forces that influence are thinking can be gender, culture, ethnicity, religion, race, economic status, ethics, etc (University of Phoenix, 2000)." As consumers, for example, we sometimes buy things impulsively and uncritically, without stopping to determine whether we really need what we are inclined to buy, whether we can afford it, whether its good for our health, or whether the price is competitive. As parents, we often respond to our children impulsively and uncritically, without stopping to determine whether our actions are consistent with how we want to act as parents, whether we are contributing to their self-esteem, whether we are discouraging them from thinking, or from taking responsibility for their own behavior. The two examples above, illustrate how we could have used a "scientific form of thinking" to come to a conclusion but the "force", whatever it may have been, that influenced that way of thinking, was very strong. The same remains true in business as it pertains to our manageria... ...en seriously, it can transform every dimension of work life: how we formulate rules, how we relate to our employees, how we encourage them to relate to each other, how we cultivate their speaking and listening skills, as well as their decision making skills. Of course, we are likely to make "Critical Thinking" a basic value in work only insofar as we make it a basic value in our lives. "Therefore, to become adept at contemplating critical thinking, we must become committed to thinking critically and reflectively about our own lives and the lives of those around us (Shermerhorn, Hunt, and Osborn, 2000)." We must become active, daily, practitioners of critical thought. We must regularly model for our employees what it is to reflectively examine, critically assess, and effectively improve the way we live and think. References Morgan W. McCall Jr. and Robert E. Kaplan, (1990). "Whatever It Takes, Realities of Managerial Decision Making," (New Jersey: Prentice Hall) Schermerhorn, Hunt, and Osborn. (2000). Organizational Behavior. 7th Ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. University of Phoenix, (2000). Critical Thinking: Strategies in Decision Making. (Module) MGT 350.

Free Essays - Act 3 Scene 4 of Hamlet :: Shakespeare Hamlet Essays

Act 3 Scene 4 of Hamlet          Act 3 Scene 4, so called the closet scene, is the first time we see Hamlet and Gertrude together alone. In this scene Hamlet releases his anger and frustration at his mother for the sinful deed she has committed i.e. her marriage to her brother-in-law and the murderer. We can see that Gertrude is unaware of her husband's murder when she says `As kill a King?' and it is the first time she confronts her own behavior. There is a conflict between the two; Hamlet gives powerful replies    `Mother you have my father much offended'    `Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue'    Hamlet takes control of the conversation from the very beginning of the scene although it is Gertrude who was meant to be rebuking him and doing much of the talking. Hamlet succeeds in shaming her until the point when she begs him to stop. Hamlet having the upper hand in the conversation, asks his mother to change her ways, which she agrees to and asks for his advice, showing that she has submitted herself to her son. Hamlet does not really show much respect for his mother while reproving her and forcing her to sit down but he does love her. Some critics believe that his love shows sexual connotation and that is a reason why he gets so upset at her remarriage. There is a point in this scene when Gertrude thinks her life is in danger of Hamlet and gets frightened, which shows us that she considers him to be mad and harmful. After this scene she becomes aware that Hamlet isn't mad and starts trusting him as opposed to Claudius. This is exactly how Shakespeare has presented women throughout the play: they are easy to convince, very meek and become submissive to the men (as we can see Ophelia and her response to her father and brother). They are depicted as weak and inferior in comparison to the male figures, who control their lives. After the closet scene Gertrude keeps faith to her son and lies to her husband Claudius for Hamlet saying he killed Polonius in his madness:    `And in his brainish apprehension Free Essays - Act 3 Scene 4 of Hamlet :: Shakespeare Hamlet Essays Act 3 Scene 4 of Hamlet          Act 3 Scene 4, so called the closet scene, is the first time we see Hamlet and Gertrude together alone. In this scene Hamlet releases his anger and frustration at his mother for the sinful deed she has committed i.e. her marriage to her brother-in-law and the murderer. We can see that Gertrude is unaware of her husband's murder when she says `As kill a King?' and it is the first time she confronts her own behavior. There is a conflict between the two; Hamlet gives powerful replies    `Mother you have my father much offended'    `Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue'    Hamlet takes control of the conversation from the very beginning of the scene although it is Gertrude who was meant to be rebuking him and doing much of the talking. Hamlet succeeds in shaming her until the point when she begs him to stop. Hamlet having the upper hand in the conversation, asks his mother to change her ways, which she agrees to and asks for his advice, showing that she has submitted herself to her son. Hamlet does not really show much respect for his mother while reproving her and forcing her to sit down but he does love her. Some critics believe that his love shows sexual connotation and that is a reason why he gets so upset at her remarriage. There is a point in this scene when Gertrude thinks her life is in danger of Hamlet and gets frightened, which shows us that she considers him to be mad and harmful. After this scene she becomes aware that Hamlet isn't mad and starts trusting him as opposed to Claudius. This is exactly how Shakespeare has presented women throughout the play: they are easy to convince, very meek and become submissive to the men (as we can see Ophelia and her response to her father and brother). They are depicted as weak and inferior in comparison to the male figures, who control their lives. After the closet scene Gertrude keeps faith to her son and lies to her husband Claudius for Hamlet saying he killed Polonius in his madness:    `And in his brainish apprehension

Cult Conversion: Freewill Or Brainwashing? :: essays research papers fc

The controversy surrounding new religious movements seems to be foremost concerned with whether or not the members of these religions come of their own freewill or if they convert as a necessary and inevitable response to advanced coercion, or â€Å"brainwashing† techniques employed by the cult leaders. The concept of brainwashing came into popular existence in the 1950’s as the result of attempts to try and explain the behaviour of some American GI’s who defected to the Communists during the Korean War (19 Oct 1999). Many people, including some professionals, found brainwashing to be an acceptable explanation for the otherwise unexplainable behaviour. However, the brainwashing theory did nothing to explain why hundreds of other captured GI’s chose to remain true to their country even at the risk of being tortured. It could not accurately account for the behaviour of a select few GI’s when it did not offer any explanation for the behaviour of the majority. Since the 1950’s, the concept of brainwashing has faded in and out of public consciousness with a tendency to flare up again in the face of public controversy. In the 1960’s and 1970’s the brainwashing debate again took center stage, this time in an attempt to explain the behaviour of so-called radicals who left behind a â€Å"normal† life and opted instead for a â€Å"cult† existence. Although scholars of new religious movements would agree that religious groups often have substantial influence over their followers, they would also argue that the â€Å"influence exerted in "cults" is not very different from influence that is present in practically every arena of life,† (19 Oct 1999). Mainstream religions also exercise influence over their members concerning matters such as lifestyle choices, familial relations and monetary donations. Furthermore, most social scientists concede that some degree of influence is inevitable in each culture and facet of life even outside the arena of religious choice. Despite the fact that there do not appear to be any studies that conclusively provide evidence of brainwashing as a legitimate explanation for joining an NRM, and in spite of the many studies that have refuted that brainwashing defense successfully, the brainwashing theory continues to be debated regularly. The concept of brainwashing is still often relied on to account for behaviour that is otherwise culturally unjustifiable. If brainwashing is not an appropriate explanation for the conversion of people to NRM’s than what is? A common theme on the anti-cult side of the conversion debate is the argument that members are, to varying degrees, predisposed to becoming cult members.

American reform movements of 1825-1850 Essay

In the period from 1825-1850, a majority of the reform movements in the United States sought to expand democratic ideals. However, some did so indirectly and unintentionally. The reform movements were spurred by the Second Great Awakening, which began in New England in the late 1790’s, and would eventually spread throughout the country. The Second GA differed from the First in that people were now believed to be able to choose whether or not to believe in God, as opposed to previous ideals based on calvinism and predestination. According to Charles G. Finney, the role of the church is to reform society. In 1834, he said, â€Å"When the churches are†¦awakened and reformed, the reformation and salvation of sinners will follow.† Finney had been influenced by Second Great Awakening ideals. He goes on to say that â€Å"drunkards, harlots, and infidels† would also be converted do to reform by the church. In this sense, the Second Great Awakening helped expand democratic ideals by bettering the moral standards of the common man. In 1835, Patrick Reason created an engraving depicting a black female slave in chains. Above her is the quote, â€Å"Am I not a woman and a sister† This reflects how the abolition and women’s movements often tied into one another. Both of these movements helped expand democratic ideals in that they desired increased rights (specifically suffrage) for minorities. However, women and blacks were simply trying to increase their own influence in society, and were not otherwise looking to expand democratic ideals for the benefit of everyone (Native Americans, Irish immigrants, etc.). The Grimke sisters (Angelina & Sarah) were southern abolitionists who also played a role in the Women’s Movement. Susan B. Anthony, a Quaker, and therefore opposed to slavery on moral grounds, also played a role in both movements. Anthony was a disciple of Eliizabeth Cady Stanton. Nativism was also an important reform movement of this time period. Nativism was the belief that only white Anglo-Saxon Protestants should be allowed suffrage and other rights. People believed this partly from fear of a  Catholic takeover, and partly because they did not want foreign immigrants competing with them for jobs. Samuel Morse was a key supporter of nativism. In his Imminent Dangers to the Free Institutions of the United States, written in 1835, he stated â€Å"that no foreigner who comes into the country after the law is passed shall ever be allowed the right of suffrage.† The law he referred to was a proposed law to replace the current Naturalization Law of the time. This movement did not seek to expand democratic ideals. Education reform was also an important movement of this period. Universal manhood suffrage created the need for education reform. The common laborer began to demand education for his children. This movement sought to expand democratic ideals in that more educated people meant more people would be able to be productive members of society. Emma Willard played a role in this movement as well as the Women’s Movement. She opened the Troy Female Seminary in 1821, which trained women to be members of the clergy. William H. McGuffey invented the â€Å"McGuffey Reader.† This was a standard reader that all children read based on their grade. In a passage from a McGuffey Reader from 1836, a poor young boy discusses how his parents are â€Å"very good to save some of their money in order that I may learn to read and write.† He is referring to tax-supported public schools, which were a result of the education reform movement. Alcohol abuse was becoming widespread throughout the early 1800’s. This was due in part to Elijah Craig’s invention of bourbon in 1789. Alcohol abuse led to decreased efficiency of labor, which was a problem for businessmen and consumers alike. The Temperance Movement began in an effort to end alcohol abuse. The American Temperance Society was formed in Boston in 1826, and urged people to give up alcohol. Neal Dow supported prohibition, and is considered the â€Å"Father of Prohibition.† He supported the Maine Law of 1851, which prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcohol. William Lloyd Garrison was an abolitionist who also supported temperance. An 1846 cartoon entitled â€Å"The Drunkards Progress. From The First Glass To The Grave† shows what a detrimental effect alcohol had on the life of the common laborer. The Temperance Movement sought to expand democratic ideals in that it protected the common man from himself. It improved the common man’s productivity as well as his well-being by discouraging him from the evils of alcohol. The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 sought to expand democratic ideals more vigilently and radically than perhaps any other event of any movement. Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton both played important roles in the convention. They produced a â€Å"Declaration of Sentiments† which stated that â€Å"all men and women are created equal.† They also produced a resolution formally demanding women’s suffrage. In an excerpt from the Seneca Falls Declaration (August 2, 1848), Stanton states that the women are â€Å"assembled to protest against a form of government, existing without the consent of the governed–to declare our right to be free as man is free.† Here she refers to the government-by-social contract philosophy of John Locke. She goes on to declare that â€Å"strange as it may seem, we now demand our right to vote according to the declaration of the government under which we live.† Here she refers to the Declaration of Independence of 1776, which stated that â€Å"all men are created equal.† Dorothia Dix travelled over 60,000 miles touring asylums across America. Her journals would help spread the idea that crazy people were actually mentally ill, and did not simply choose to be crazy. Her work led to 15 new hospitals and improved conditions in current hospitals of the time. While she did not seek to expand democratic ideals, she did improve the conditions in asylums, which is an indirect increase in the rights of the mentally ill. In the period from 1825-1850, a majority of the reform movements in the United States sought to expand democratic ideals. However, some did so indirectly and unintentionally.

Feminism in India

Feminism in India  is a set of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for Indian women.It is the pursuit of  women's rights  within the society of  India. Like their feminist counterparts all over the world,  feminists  in India seek gender equality: the right to work for equal wages, the right to equal access to health and education, and equal political rights. [1]  Indian feminists also have fought against culture-specific issues within India's  patriarchal  society, such as  inheritance laws  and the practice of widow immolation known as  Sati.The history of feminism in India can be divided into three phases: the first phase, beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, initiated when male European colonists began to speak out against the social evils of Sati;[2]  the second phase, from 1915 to Indian independence, when Gandhi incorporated women's movements into the  Quit India movement  and independent women's organizations began to emerge;[3]  and finally, the third phase, post-independence, which has focused on fair treatment of women in the work force and right to political parity. 3] Despite the progress made by Indian feminist movements, women living in modern India still face many issues of discrimination. India's patriarchal culture has made the process of gaining land-ownership rights and access to education challenging. [4]  In the past two decades, there has also emerged a disturbing trend of  sex-selective abortion. [5]  To Indian feminists, these are seen as injustices worth struggling against. [6] As in the  West, there has been some criticism of feminist movements in India.They have especially been criticized for focusing too much on women already privileged, and neglecting the needs and representation of poorer or lower  caste  women. This has led to the creation of caste-specific feminist organizations and movements. [7] Contents  Ã‚  [hide]   * 1  Defining feminism in the Indian context * 2  History * 2. 1  First phase: 1850–1915 * 2. 2  Second Phase: 1915–1947 * 2. 3  Feminism: Post-1947 * 3  Issues * 3. 1  Birth ratio * 3. 2  Marriage * 4  Theology * 4. 1  Hindu feminism * 4.   Islamic feminism * 5  Impact * 5. 1  Employment * 5. 2  Globalization * 5. 3  Education * 5. 4  Modernization * 6  Notable Indian feminists * 7  See also * 8  References * 9  Further reading * 10  External links| ————————————————- [edit]Defining feminism in the Indian context Tribal widow and single women protesting in  Jawhar,  Maharashtra Women's role in Pre-colonial social structures reveals that feminism was theorized differently in India than in the West. 8]  In India, women’s issues first began to be addressed when the state commi ssioned a report on the status of women to a group of feminist researchers and activists. The report recognized the fact that in India, women were oppressed under a system of structural hierarchies and injustices. During this period, Indian feminists were influenced by the Western debates being conducted about violence against women. However, due to the difference in the historical and social culture of India, the debate in favor of Indian women had to be conducted creatively and certain Western ideas had to be rejected. 9]  Women’s issues began to gain an international prominence when the decade of 1975-1985 was declared the  United Nations Decade for Women. [2] Historical circumstances and values in India have caused feminists to develop a  feminism  that differs from Western feminism. For example, the idea of women as â€Å"powerful† is accommodated into patriarchal culture through religion,[10]  which has retained visibility in all sections of society. Th is has provided women with traditional â€Å"cultural spaces. Furthermore, in the West the notion of â€Å"self† rests in competitive  individualism  where people are described as â€Å"born free yet everywhere in chains. † In India the individual is usually considered to be just one part of the larger social  collective. Survival of the individual is dependent upon  cooperation, and  self-denial  for the greater good is valued. [10] Indian women negotiate survival through an array of oppressive patriarchal family structures: age, ordinal status, relationship to men through family of origin, marriage and procreation as well as patriarchal attributes.Examples of patriarchal attributes include:  dowry, siring sons etc. ,  kinship,  caste, community, village, market and the  state. It should however be noted that several communities in India, such as the  Nairs  of Kerala,  Shettys  of Mangalore, certain  Maratha  clans, and  Bengali   families exhibit matriarchal tendencies. In these communities, the head of the family is the oldest woman rather than the oldest man. Sikh  culture is also regarded as relatively  gender-neutral. 10][11] The heterogeneity of the Indian experience reveals that there are multiple patriarchies, contributing to the existence of multiple feminisms. Hence, feminism in India is not a singular theoretical orientation; it has changed over time in relation to historical and cultural realities, levels of consciousness, perceptions and actions of individual women, and women as a group. The widely used definition is â€Å"An awareness of women’s oppression and exploitation in society, at work and within the family, and conscious action by women and men to change this situation. [11]  Acknowledgingsexism  in daily life and attempting to challenge and eliminate it through  deconstructing  mutually exclusive notions of  femininity  and  masculinity  as  biologically de termined  categories opens the way towards an equitable society for both men and women. [11] The male and female dichotomy of polar opposites with the former oppressing the latter at all times is refuted in the Indian context because it was men who initiated  social reform movementsagainst various  social evils. Patriarchy is just one of the hierarchies. Relational hierarchies between women within the same family are more adverse.Here women are pitted against one another. Not all women are powerless at all times. [12] There have been intense debates within the Indian women's movements about the relationship between Western and Indian feminisms. Many Indian feminists simultaneously claim a specific â€Å"Indian† sensitivity as well as an international feminist solidarity with groups and individuals worldwide. [9][13]  The rise of liberal feminism in the West in the 1970s focused deeply on demands for equal opportunities in education and employment, as well as ending vi olence against women.To a large extent, the emerging feminist movement in India was influenced by Western ideals. These called for education and equal rights, but also adapted their appeals to local issues and concerns, such as dowry-related violence against women,  Sati, sex selective abortion and custodial rape. Some Indian feminists have suggested that these issues are not specifically â€Å"Indian† in nature but rather a reflection of a wider trend of patriarchal oppression of women. [9] ————————————————- [edit]History Kamini Roy  (poet and suffragette) became the first woman Honors Graduate in India in 1886.Unlike the Western feminist movement, India’s movement was initiated by men, and later joined by women. The efforts of these men included abolishing sati, which was a widow's death by burning on her husband's funeral pyre,[2][14]  the custom of child marriage, abolishing the disfiguring of widows, banning the marriage of upper caste  Hindu  widows, promoting women’s education, obtaining legal rights for women to own property, and requiring the law to acknowledge women’s status by granting them basic rights in matters such as adoption. 15] The 19th century was the period that saw a majority of women's issues come under the spotlight and reforms began to be made. Much of the early reforms for Indian women were conducted by men. However, by the late 19th century they were joined in their efforts by their wives, sisters, daughters, protegees and other individuals directly affected by campaigns such as those carried out for women's education. By the late 20th century, women gained greater autonomy through the formation of independent women's own organizations.By the late thirties and forties a new narrative began to be constructed regarding â€Å"women's activism†. This was newly researched and expanded with the vision to create ‘logical' and organic links between feminism and Marxism, as well as with anti-communalism and anti-casteism, etc. The Constitution of India did guarantee ‘equality between the sexes,' which created a relative lull in women's movements until the 1970s. [3] During the formative years of women's rights movements, the difference between the sexes was more or less taken for granted in that their roles, functions, aims and desires were different.As a result, they were not only to be reared differently but treated differently also. Over the course of time, this difference itself became a major reason for initiating women's movements. Early 19th century reformers argued that the difference between men and women was no reason for the subjection of women in society. However, later reformers were of the opinion that indeed it was this particular difference that subjugated women to their roles in society, for example, as mothers. Therefore, there was a ne ed for the proper care of women's rights.With the formation of women's organizations and their own participation in campaigns, their roles as mothers was again stressed but in a different light: this time the argument was for women's rights to speech, education and emancipation. However, the image of women with the mother as a symbol underwent changes over time – from an emphasis on family to the creation of an archetypal mother figure, evoking deep, often  atavistic  images. [3] [edit]First phase: 1850–1915 The colonial venture into  modernity  brought concepts of  democracy,  equality  and individual  rights.The rise of the concept of  nationalism  and introspection of discriminatory practices brought about social reform movements related to caste and gender relations. This first phase of feminism in India was initiated by men to uproot the  social evils  of  sati  (widow immolation),[16]  to allow widow remarriage, to forbid child marri age, and to reduce illiteracy, as well as to regulate the age of consent and to ensure property rights through legal intervention. In addition to this, some upper caste Hindu women rejected constraints they faced under Brahminical traditions. 3]  However, efforts for improving the status of women in Indian society were somewhat thwarted by the late nineteenth century, as nationalist movements emerged in India. These movements resisted ‘colonial interventions in gender relations’ particularly in the areas of family relations. In the mid to late nineteenth century, there was a national form of resistance to any colonial efforts made to ‘modernize’ the Hindu family. This included the Age of Consent controversy that erupted after the government tried to raise the age of marriage for women. 2][17] [edit]Second Phase: 1915–1947 Women's procession during Quit India Movement in 1942 During this period the struggle against colonial rule intensified. Nationa lism became the pre-eminent cause. Claiming Indian superiority became the tool of cultural revivalism resulting in an essentializing model of Indian womanhood similar to that of  Victorian  womanhood: special yet separated from public space. Gandhi  legitimized and expanded Indian women’s public activities by initiating them into the non-violent  civil disobedience  movement against theBritish Raj.He exalted their feminine roles of caring, self-abnegation, sacrifice and tolerance; and carved a niche for those in the public arena. Women-only organizations like  All India Women's Conference  (AIWC) and the  National Federation of Indian Women  (NFIW) emerged. Women were grappling with issues relating to the scope of women’s political participation,  women’s franchise, communal awards, and leadership roles in  political parties. [3] The 1920s was a new era for Indian women and is defined as ‘feminism’ that was responsible for the creation of localized women’s associations.These associations emphasized women’s education issues, developed livelihood strategies for working class women, and also organized national level women’s associations such as the All India Women’s Conference. AIWC was closely affiliated with the Indian National Congress. Under the leadership of  Mahatma Gandhi, it worked within the nationalist and anti-colonialist freedom movements. This made the mass mobilization of women an integral part of Indian nationalism. Women therefore were a very important part of various nationalist and anti-colonial efforts, including the civil disobedience movements in the 1970s. 3] After independence, the All India Women’s Conference continued to operate and in 1954 the Indian Communist Party formed its own women’s wing known as the National Federation of Indian Women. However, feminist agendas and movements became less active right after India’s 1947 indepen dence, as the nationalist agendas on nation building took precedence over feminist issues. [18] Women’s participation in the struggle for freedom developed their critical consciousness about their role and rights in  independent India. This resulted in the introduction of the franchise and civic rights of women in the Indian constitution.There was provision for women’s upliftment through  affirmative action, maternal health and child care provision (creches), equal pay for equal work etc. The state adopted a patronizing role towards women. For example, India’s constitution states that women are a â€Å"weaker section† of the population, and therefore need assistance to function as equals. [15]  Thus women in India did not have to struggle for basic rights as did women in the West. The utopia ended soon when the social and cultural ideologies and structures failed to honor the newly acquired concepts of fundamental rights and democracy. 3] [edit]Femi nism: Post-1947 Post independence feminists began to redefine the extent to which women were allowed to engage in the workforce. Prior to independence, most feminists accepted the sexual divide within the labor force. However, feminists in the 1970s challenged the inequalities that had been established and fought to reverse them. These inequalities included unequal wages for women, relegation of women to ‘unskilled' spheres of work, and restricting women as a reserve army for labor.In other words, the feminists' aim was to abolish the free service of women who were essentially being used as cheap capital. [3]  Feminist class-consciousness also came into focus in the 1970s, with feminists recognizing the inequalities not just between men and women but also within power structures such as caste, tribe, language, religion, region, class etc. This also posed as a challenge for feminists while shaping their overreaching campaigns as there had to be a focus within efforts to ensur e that fulfilling the demands of one group would not create further inequalities for another.Now, in the early twenty-first century, the focus of the Indian feminist movement has gone beyond treating women as useful members of society and a right to parity, but also having the power to decide the course of their personal lives and the right of self-determination. [3] ————————————————- [edit]Issues Despite â€Å"on-paper† advancements, many problems still remain which inhibit women from fully taking advantage of new rights and opportunities in India. There are many traditions and customs that have been an important part of Indian culture for hundreds of years.Religious laws and expectations, or â€Å"personal laws† enumerated by each specific religion, often conflict with the Indian Constitution, eliminating rights and powers women should legally have. Despite these crossovers in legality, the Indian government does not interfere with religion and the personal laws they hold. [19]  Religions, like Hinduism, call for women to be faithful servants to God and their husbands. They have a term called  pativrata  that describes a wife who has accepted service and devotion to her husband and her family as her ultimate religion and duty.Indian society is largely composed of hierarchical systems within families and communities. These  hierarchies  can be broken down into age, sex, ordinal position, kinship relationships (within families), and caste, lineage, wealth, occupations, and relationship to ruling power (within the community). When hierarchies emerge within the family based on social convention and economic need, girls in poorer families suffer twice the impact of vulnerability and stability. From birth, girls are automatically entitled to less; from playtime, to food, to education, girls can expect to always be entitled to less than their brothers.Girls also have less access to their family’s income and assets, which is exacerbated among poor, rural Indian families. From the start, it is understood that females will be burdened with strenuous work and exhausting responsibilities for the rest of their lives, always with little to no compensation or recognition. [20] India is also a  patriarchal  society, which, by definition, describes cultures in which males as fathers or husbands are assumed to be in charge and the official heads of households.A  patrilinealsystem governs the society, where descent and inheritance are traced through the male line and men are generally in control of the distribution of family resources. [12] These traditions and ways of Indian life have been in effect for so long that this type of lifestyle is what women have become accustomed to and expect. Indian women often do not take full advantage of their constitutional rights because they are not properly aware or inf ormed of them. Women also tend to have poor utilization of voting rights because they possess low levels of political awareness and sense of political efficacy.Women are not often encouraged to become informed about issues. Due to this, political parties do not invest much time in female candidates because there is a perception that they are a â€Å"wasted investment. â€Å"[15] The female-to-male ratio in India is 933 to 1000, showing that there are numerically fewer women in the country than men. This is due to several factors, including  infanticides, most commonly among female infants, and the poor care of female infants and childbearing women. Although outlawed, infanticides are still highly popular in rural India, and are continuing to become even more prominent.This is due to the fact, most especially in rural areas, that families cannot afford female children because of the  dowry  they must pay when their daughter gets married. Like infanticide, the payment of dowry is also  illegal, but is still a frequent and prevalent occurrence in rural India. [21]  Women are considered to be â€Å"worthless† by their husbands if they are not â€Å"able† to produce a male child, and can often face much abuse if this is the case. [22] [edit]Birth ratio Between the years of 1991 to 2001, the female-male ratio of the population of India fell from 94. 5 girls per 100 boys to 92. girls per 100 boys. [5]  Some parts of the country, such as  Kerala, did not experience such a decline, but in the richer Indian states of  Punjab,  Haryana,  Gujarat, and  Maharashtra, the female-male ratio fell very sharply (the female-male ratios in these states were between 79. 3 and 87. 8). [5]  This is evidence of natality inequality, and an indication that  sex-selective abortion  has become more pervasive. The Indian parliament has banned the use of sex determination techniques for fetuses due to this, but enforcement of this law has been lar gely ignored. [23] [edit]MarriageMost of the average Indian woman's life is spent in marriage; many women are still married before the legal age of 18, and the incidence of non-marriage is low in India. Childbearing and raising children are the priorities of early adulthood for Indian women. Thus, if they enter the workforce at all, it is far later than Indian men. Urban Indian men reach the peak of their labor force participation between the ages of 25 and 29, while urban Indian women do so between the ages of 40 and 44. [4]  Because of this, women have less time for the acquisition of skills and fewer opportunities for job improvements.There is a poor representation of women in the Indian workforce. Females have a ten percent higher drop-out rate than males from middle and primary schools, as well as lower levels of literacy than men. Since unemployment is also high in India, it is easy for employers to manipulate the law, especially when it comes to women, because it is part of Indian culture for women not to argue with men. Additionally, labor unions are insensitive to women’s needs. Women also have to settle for jobs that comply with their obligations as wives, mothers, and homemakers. [4][21] ————————————————- edit]Theology [edit]Hindu feminism In the  Hindu  religion, there has been partial success in terms of gender equality reform laws and family law. While this is a major advancement relative to other religions in India, it is still not a complete triumph in terms of feminism and relieving oppression. [19]  Gandhi  came up with the term  stree shakti  (women power) for the concept of womanhood. In the Hindu religion, Gods are not exclusively male. Hinduism sheds a positive light on femininity; females are considered to compliment and complete their male counterparts.It is important to note that the deities of both knowl edge and wealth are female. [15] There has been some criticism from  Dalit  groups that Indian feminism tends to represent â€Å"upper caste† and upper class Hindu women, while ignoring and marginalizing the interests of Dalit women. Debates on caste and gender oppression have been furthered by  Other Backward Class  (OBC) members of different political parties, arguing in state assemblies that â€Å"lower caste† women's interests are best represented by women from these castes. 7]  Working towards this end, women within Dalit castes have formed organizations such as the All India Dalit Women's Forum and the National Federation of Dalit Women and Dalit Solidarity, which focus on the gendered implications of caste based violence and oppression, such as the ways in which Dalit women suffer from urban poverty and displacement. [7] [edit]Islamic feminism The Hindu and Muslim communities in India were treated differently by the government in that separate types of concessions were made for each community in order to accommodate their separate religious laws and regulations.The case of  Shah Bano  begun in 1985 was one such example of  Rajiv Gandhi  attempting to make â€Å"concessions† for the Muslim community to in turn secure support for the Congress. Shah Bano, a 73-year-old Muslim woman, was divorced by her husband after forty-three years of marriage. According to the Sharia or Muslim Law, her husband was not required to pay her alimony. Shah Bano challenged this decision in the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in her favor and ordered her husband to pay her a monthly maintenance allowance.This caused chaos amongst the Muslim clerics who denounced the judgement and suggested that their religion, Islam was under attack in the country. In a fear of losing overall Muslim support, Rajiv succumbed to the pressures of the Muslim community and his own party and backed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Bill t hat overruled the Supreme Court's decision. This caused an outcry from Hindu nationalists who found the appeasement of minorities by the Congress for political purposes wrong and opportunistic. 24] Feminism was challenged by various minority groups for not entirely addressing the needs of minority populations. It was suggested that ‘mainstream' feminism was upper caste and Hindu in its orientation and did not address the concerns of minority women. This led to the formation of the Awaaz-e-Niswaan (The Voice of Women) in 1987 in Mumbai in largely Muslim part of the city. The Muslim community has been subjected to personal laws that often were considered harmful to the rights of Muslim women. [25] ————————————————- [edit]ImpactWestern-educated Indians introduced  equality  in the early nineteenth century. However, the term did not gain meaning or become an operatio nal principle in Indian life until the country gained independence in 1947 and adopted a democratic government. [15]  The  Indian Constitution  then granted equality, freedom from discrimination based on gender or religion, and guaranteed religious freedoms. [19]  Also, seven  five-year plans  were developed to provide health, education, employment, and welfare to women. The sixth five-year plan even declared women â€Å"partners in development. [15] [edit]Employment In general in the uneducated and rural section of the Indian society, which forms a major percentage of the total population, women are seen as economic burdens. Their contributions to productivity are mostly invisible as their familial and domestic contributions are unfairly overlooked. Indian women were contributing nearly 36 percent of total employment in agriculture and related activities, nearly 19 percent in the service sector, and nearly 12. 5 in the industry sector as of the year 2000.The unfortunat e reality is that the high illiteracy rate among women confines them to lower paying, unskilled jobs with less job security than men. Even in agricultural jobs where the work of men and women are highly similar, women are still more likely to be paid less for the same amount and type of work as men. [26]  However in the urban section of Indian society, women are empowered with laws such as IPC 498a which are heavily biased against the men in the society. Educated women are sometimes accused of using such laws to unleash legal terrorism on husbands by disgruntled wives. 24] [edit]Globalization Feminists are also concerned about the impact of globalization on women in India. Some feminists argue that globalization has led to economic changes that have raised more social and economical challenges for women, particularly for working class and lower caste women. Multinational companies in India have been seen to exploit the labor of ‘young, underpaid and disadvantaged womenâ€⠄¢ in free trade zones and sweat shops, and use â€Å"Young lower middle class, educated women,† in call centers.These women have few effective labor rights, or rights to collective action. [27][28] In addition to this, multinational corporations are seen to advertise a homogenous image of ideal women across the country is argued to cause an increase in the commodification of women’s bodies. This is also manifested in the form of nationalist pride exhibited through Indian women winning international beauty pageants. According to some feminists, such developments have offered women greater sexual autonomy and more control over their bodies.However, many other feminists feel that such commodification of female bodies has only served the purpose of feeding to male fantasies. [27] [edit]Education Girls in Kalleda Rural School,  Andhra Pradesh. Some of the main reasons that girls are less likely to reach optimal levels of education include the fact that girls are needed t o assist their mothers at home, have been raised to believe that a life of domestic work is their destined occupation, have illiterate mothers who cannot educate their children, have an economic dependency on men, and are sometimes subject to child-marriage. 26] In 1986, the  National Policy on Education  (NPE) was created in India, and the government launched the program called  Mahila Samakhya, whose focus was on the empowerment of women. The program’s goal is to create a learning environment for women to realize their potential, learn to demand information and find the knowledge to take charge of their own lives. In certain areas of India, progress is being made and an increase in the enrollment of girls in schools and as teachers has begun to increase.By 2001 literacy for women had exceeded 50% of the overall female population, though these statistics were still very low compared to world standards and even male literacy within India. [29]  Efforts are still being made to improve the level of education that females receive to match that of male students. [26] [edit]Modernization Modern influences are affecting the younger generations in parts of India, where girls are beginning to forgo the more traditional ways of Indian life and break gender stereotypes.In more flourishing parts of the country, the idea of â€Å"dating,† or more specifically  openly  dating, has come into play, and the terms â€Å"girlfriend† and â€Å"boyfriend† are being used. Some women have landed highly respectable careers, and can be seen across  Bollywood  billboards and advertisements. However, this is not the norm throughout the country; such modernizations and the women behind them face serious resistance from anti-liberalists. The country is still severely male-dominant and unwelcoming to such movements that go against sex and gender traditions in India. Hasselrlis, Kaj. â€Å"Making a Statement. †Ã‚  Herizons  23. 2 (2009): 33-35.

Frankenstein Bibliography

Bewell, Alan. â€Å"An Issue of Monstrous Desire: Frankenstein and Obstetrics. † The Yale Journal of Criticism 2. 1 (1988): 105-128. Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Ed. Denise Kasinec and Mary L. Onorato. Vol. 59. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. 105-128. Literature Resource Center. Web. 12 Nov. 2009. This essay pretty much discuss how Mary Shelley gives to the development of a human being (the creature). It remarks female imagination, and how it works mimetically in fetuses. And talks alot about women pregnancy. Seabury, Marcia Bundy. The Monsters we Create: Woman on the Edge of Time and Frankenstein. † Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction 42. 2 (2001): 131. Literature Resource Center. Web. 12 Nov. 2009. This article points out the creature differences from the rest of the society. It also describe similarities between Walton, Frankenstein, and the creature, such as isolation and very introspective. â€Å"Through the Looking Glass: Victor Frankenstein and Ro bert Owen. † Extrapolation 43. 3 (2002): 263. Literature Resource Center. Web. 15 Nov. 2009. This article discusses the importance of education.It explains how Victor was obsessed with education. It mentions how the creature survives and handles to educate himself with less train than average people. Yousef, Nancy. â€Å"The Monster in a Dark Room: Frankenstein, Feminism, and Philosophy. † Modern Language Quarterly 63. 2 (2002): 197. Literature Resource Center. Web. 4 Nov. 2009. This article talks about Frankenstein’s endeavor, and his dream to create life without a woman. It also explains the creature’s peculiar isolation and his education. The article gives some example of the creature’s first sense an reactions.

Succubus Shadows Chapter 1

I was drunk. I wasn't entirely sure when it had happened, but I suspected it had occurred around the time my friend Doug had bet me I couldn't take down three vodka gimlets faster than he could. He'd promised to take my weekend shift at work if I won, and I was going to do his stock duty for a week if he won. When we'd finished, it looked like I wasn't going to be working next weekend. â€Å"How did you out-drink him?† my friend Hugh wanted to know. â€Å"He's twice your size.† Through the crowd of people crammed into my condo, I peered at the closed bathroom door, behind which Doug had disappeared. â€Å"He had stomach flu this week. I'm guessing that doesn't go so well with vodka.† Hugh raised an eyebrow. â€Å"Why the fuck would anyone take a bet like that after having the flu?† I shrugged. â€Å"Because he's Doug.† Hoping Doug would be okay, I scanned the rest of my party with the pleased air of a queen sizing up her kingdom. I'd moved into this place back in July and had been long overdue for a housewarming party. When Halloween had finally rolled around, combining the two events had seemed like a pretty reasonable solution. Consequently, my guests tonight were clad in an array of costumes, everything from elaborate Renaissance fair quality garb to the slackers who'd simply thrown on a witch's hat. Me, I was dressed as Little Bo Peep – well, that is, I was dressed the way Little Bo Peep would if she was a stripper and/or a shameless strumpet. My frilly blue skirt stopped just above the halfway point on my thighs, and my puff-sleeved white blouse was so low-cut that I had to be careful when leaning over. The crowning achievement – literally – was my curly mane of flaxen blond hair, neatly arranged into two pigtails tied with little blue bows. It looked perfect, absolutely indistinguishable from the real thing because†¦well, it was real. Shape-shifting always came in handy as a succubus, but for Halloween, it was golden. I always had the best costumes because I really could turn into anything I wanted. Of course, I had to keep it within reason. Too much of a change would raise the suspicions of the humans around me. But for a hair change? Yeah. Shape-shifting was pretty convenient. Someone touched my elbow. I turned, and my smug enthusiasm dimmed a little when I saw who it was: Roman, my sociopathic roommate. â€Å"I think someone's getting sick in the bathroom,† he told me. Roman was a nephilim, half-angel and half-human, with soft black hair and sea-green eyes. If not for the fact he occasionally went on immortal killing sprees and had me on his hit list, he would have been a pretty good catch. â€Å"Yeah,† I said. â€Å"It's Doug. He lost a vodka challenge.† Roman grimaced. He wore devil horns and a red cape. The irony wasn't lost on me. â€Å"Hope he's got good aim. I don't want to clean that up.† â€Å"What, you don't do housework either?† asked Hugh. He'd recently learned Roman wasn't paying me rent because he was â€Å"between jobs.† â€Å"Seems like you should pull your weight around here somehow.† Roman gave Hugh a warning look. â€Å"Stay out of this, Spiro Agnew.† â€Å"I'm Calvin Coolidge!† exclaimed Hugh, highly offended. â€Å"This is the same suit he wore at his inauguration.† I sighed. â€Å"Hugh, nobody here remembers that.† That was one of the downsides of being immortal. Our memories became obsolete as more time passed. Hugh, an imp who bought souls for Hell, was much younger than Roman and me, but he had a lot more years than any human here. Slipping away from Roman and Hugh's argument, I headed across the room to mingle with my guests. Some of my coworkers from the bookstore Doug and I worked at were huddled around the punch bowl, and I stopped to chat. Immediately, I was bombarded with compliments. â€Å"Your hair is amazing!† â€Å"Did you dye it?† â€Å"It doesn't even look like a wig!† I assured them it was a very good wig and dealt out praise for them in return. One person, however, earned a rueful head-shake from me. â€Å"You have more creativity than all of us put together, and that's the best you could do?† I asked. Best-selling author Seth Mortensen turned to look at me with one of his trademark, slightly scattered smiles. Even when I was dizzy with vodka, that smile never failed to make my heart speed up. Seth and I had dated for a while, plunging me into the depths of a love I'd never imagined possible. Part of being a succubus was an eternity of seducing men and stealing the energy of their souls – a real relationship had seemed out of the question. And in the end, it had been. Seth and I had broken up – twice – and while I usually accepted that he had moved on, I knew that I would love him forever. For me, forever was a serious matter. â€Å"I can't waste it on a costume,† he said. His amber-brown eyes regarded me fondly. I no longer knew if he loved me too; I only knew for sure that he still cared about me as a friend. I kept trying to portray the same image. â€Å"Gotta save it for the next book.† â€Å"Lame excuse,† I said. His shirt depicted Freddy Krueger, which might have been acceptable if not for the fact I suspected he had owned it long before Halloween. Seth shook his head. â€Å"Nobody cares what guys wear at Halloween anyway. It's all about the women. Look around.† I did and saw that he was right. All the elaborate, sexy costumes were on my female guests. With a few exceptions, the men's dulled by comparison. â€Å"Peter's dressed up,† I pointed out. Seth followed my gaze to another of my immortal friends. Peter was a vampire, a very fastidious and obsessive-compulsive one. He was clad in pre-Revolutionary French garb, complete with brocade coat and a powdered wig over what was normally thin brown hair. â€Å"Peter doesn't count,† said Seth. Recalling how Peter had painstakingly stenciled swans around his bathroom's baseboards last week, I couldn't help but agree. â€Å"Fair point.† â€Å"What's Hugh supposed to be? Jimmy Carter?† â€Å"Calvin Coolidge.† â€Å"How can you tell?† I was saved from answering when Seth's fianc? ¦e – and one of my best friends – Maddie Sato appeared. She was dressed as a fairy, complete with wings and a gauzy dress nowhere near as slutty as mine. Fake flowers wreathed black hair that had been pulled into a bun. Her being with Seth was something else I'd more or less come to accept, though I suspected the sting of it would never leave. Maddie didn't know Seth and I had dated and had no clue about the discomfiture I felt over their whole relationship. I expected her to slip her arm around Seth, but it was me she grabbed hold of and jerked away. I stumbled a bit. Five-inch heels weren't normally a problem for me, but the vodka complicated things a bit. â€Å"Georgina,† she exclaimed, once we were far enough away from Seth. â€Å"I need your help.† Reaching into her purse, she pulled out two pages torn from magazines. â€Å"With wha – oh.† My stomach twisted uncomfortably, and I hoped I wouldn't be joining Doug in the bathroom. The pages showed photos of wedding dresses. â€Å"I've almost narrowed it down,† she explained. â€Å"What do you think?† Grudgingly accepting the man I loved was going to marry one of my best friends was one thing. Helping them plan their wedding was an entirely different matter. I swallowed. â€Å"Oh, gee, Maddie. I'm not very good at this stuff.† Her dark eyes widened. â€Å"Are you kidding? You're the one who taught me how to dress right in the first place.† She apparently hadn't taken the lessons to heart. The dresses, while beautiful on the anorexic models wearing them, would look terrible on Maddie. â€Å"I don't know,† I said lamely, dragging my eyes away. The dresses were conjuring mental images of Maddie and Seth walking down the aisle together. â€Å"Come on,† she entreated. â€Å"I know you have an opinion.† I did. A bad one. And honestly, if I were a good servant of Hell, I would have told her they both looked great. Or I would have endorsed the worst one. What she wore was no concern of mine, and maybe if she showed up at her wedding looking subpar, Seth would realize what he'd lost when we broke up. And yet†¦I couldn't. Even after everything that had happened, I just couldn't let Maddie do it. She'd been a good friend, never suspecting what had occurred between Seth and me before and during their relationship. And as much as that petty, selfish part of me wanted it, I couldn't let her go forward in a bad dress. â€Å"Neither are good,† I said at last. â€Å"The full skirt on that one will make you look short. The flowers on top of that one will make you look fat.† She was taken aback. â€Å"Really? I never†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She studied the pictures, face falling. â€Å"Damn. I thought I had this stuff down now.† I can only assume my next words came from the liquor. â€Å"If you want, I'll go with you to some places this week. You can try some stuff on, and I'll tell you what works.† Maddie lit up. She wasn't gorgeous in the popular, magazine sort of way, but when she smiled, she was beautiful. â€Å"Really? Oh, thank you. And you can look for your dress too.† â€Å"My what?† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her smile turned sly. â€Å"You're going to be a bridesmaid, aren't you?† At that moment, I reconsidered my earlier thoughts about nothing being more painful than helping plan her wedding. Being her bridesmaid pretty much blew that out of the water. Those who believed we made our own hells on earth must have had something like this in mind. â€Å"Oh, well, I don't know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You have to! There's no one else I'd rather have.† â€Å"I'm not really the bridesmaid type.† â€Å"Of course you are.† Maddie's eyes suddenly looked at something beyond me. â€Å"Oh, hey. Doug's back. I'm going to go check on him. We'll talk about this later. You'll give in.† Maddie scurried off to her brother, leaving me numb and speechless. I decided then it was worth risking illness to go get another drink. This party had taken a definite U-turn. Yet, when I turned around, it wasn't toward the bar. It was toward my patio. One of the best features of this condo was its expansive balcony, one that looked out over Puget Sound and the Seattle skyline beyond. As I stood there, though, it wasn't the view that captivated me. It was†¦something else. Something I couldn't explain. But it was warm and wonderful and spoke to all my senses. I imagined I could see colored light on my balcony, kind of like the waves of an aurora. I could also hear a type of music that defied all human words and had nothing to do with the Pink Floyd blasting from my stereo. The party faded into the background as I slowly moved toward the balcony. The door was open to air out the hot room, and my two cats, Aubrey and Godiva, lay near it to look outside. I stepped past them, drawn toward that which had no explanation or description. Warm autumn air engulfed me as I groped for what called me. It was all around me and yet out of my reach. It was summoning me, drawing me toward something right on the balcony's edge. I almost considered climbing on the ledge in my heels and looking over. I had to reach that beauty. â€Å"Hey, Georgina.† Peter's voice jerked me out of the trance. I stared around, startled. There was no music, no color, no beckoning embrace. Only the night and the view and the patio furniture on my balcony. I turned around, meeting his eyes. â€Å"We have a problem,† he said. â€Å"We have a lot of problems,† I said, thinking of Maddie's wedding dress and the fact that I'd nearly walked off my own balcony. I shivered. I definitely was not going back for that next drink. Sick was one thing. Hallucinations were another. â€Å"What's wrong?† Peter led me inside and pointed. â€Å"Cody's in love.† I looked over at our friend Cody, another vampire and Peter's apprentice. Cody was a young immortal, optimistic and endearing. He was dressed as an alien, with green antennae sticking out of his shaggy blond hair. The perfection of his silvery space suit made me think Peter had played a role. Right now, Cody was staring across the room, mouth open as he gazed at someone. He looked like I had felt just moments ago. Her name was Gabrielle, and she'd just started working at the bookstore. She was tiny, almost pixie like, and wore black fishnets and a ripped black dress. Her spiky hair was also black, as was her lipstick. Easy coordination. Cody was staring at her like she was the most beautiful creature on earth. â€Å"Huh,† I said. Hugh dated all the time, but I'd never really thought of the vampires – particularly Peter – having any sort of romantic interactions. â€Å"I think he likes that she's dressed as a vampire,† said Peter. I shook my head. â€Å"Actually, that's how she always dresses.† We walked over to Cody, and it took him several moments to notice us. He seemed excited to see me. â€Å"What's her name?† he breathed. I tried to hide my smile. Cody being smitten was one of the cutest things I'd ever seen and a welcome distraction from the other drama tonight. â€Å"Gabrielle. She works at the store.† â€Å"Is she single?† I looked back at her as she laughed at something Maddie had said. â€Å"I don't know. Want me to find out?† Cody blushed – in as much as a pale vampire could. â€Å"No! I mean†¦unless you think it wouldn't be too obvious? I don't want you to go to any trouble.† â€Å"No trouble for me,† I said, just as Doug walked by. â€Å"Hey.† I caught hold of his sleeve. â€Å"Do me a favor, and I'll take my shift back.† Doug, whose Japanese-American skin was normally golden tan, could have also currently passed for an alien with his green hue. â€Å"I'd rather have my stomach back, Kincaid.† â€Å"Go investigate Gabrielle's romantic status. Cody's interested.† â€Å"Georgina!† exclaimed Cody, mortified. Sick or not, Doug couldn't resist a little intrigue. â€Å"Sure thing.† He headed off across the room and pulled Gabrielle to him, leaning down so she could hear. At one point, he glanced over toward us, and Gabrielle looked as well. Cody nearly died. â€Å"Oh God.† Doug returned five minutes later and shook his head. â€Å"Sorry, kid. She's single, but she doesn't think you're her type. She's into the Goth and vampire scene. You're too mainstream for her.† I was sipping a glass of water and nearly choked on it. â€Å"That,† said Peter, as soon as Doug was gone, â€Å"is what we call irony.† â€Å"How is that possible?† exclaimed Cody. â€Å"I am a vampire. I should be exactly what she wants.† â€Å"Yeah, but you don't look like one,† I said. If Gabrielle had been a Trekkie, he might have had a shot tonight. â€Å"I look exactly like a vampire because I am one! What should I dress up as? Count Chocula?† The party continued in force for another couple hours, and finally, people began trickling out. Roman and I, playing good hosts, smiled and bade each of them farewell. By the time everyone left, I was weary and more than happy for it all to be over. I'd refused to drink after the balcony incident and now had a headache as a pleasant reminder of my indulgences. Roman looked as exhausted as me as he scanned the messy condo. â€Å"Funny, huh? You throw a housewarming party to show the place off, and then people trash it.† â€Å"It'll clean up fast,† I said, studying all the bottles and paper plates with remnants of food. Aubrey was licking frosting off a half-eaten cupcake, and I hastily took it away from her. â€Å"But not tonight. Help me take care of the perishables, and we'll do the rest tomorrow.† â€Å"There's no ‘we' in ‘clean,'† Roman said. â€Å"That doesn't even make sense,† I said, covering up some salsa. â€Å"And Peter's right, you know. You really should do more around here.† â€Å"I provide good company. Besides, how can you get rid of me?† â€Å"I'll get Jerome to,† I warned, referring to his demon father, who also happened to be my boss. â€Å"Sure. Run off and tell on me.† Roman stifled a yawn, demonstrating just how worried he was about his father's wrath. The annoying part was, he had a point. I couldn't get rid of him on my own, and I doubted Jerome would really help. Still, I could hardly believe it when Roman did wander off to bed and leave me alone with the cleanup. I hadn't thought he'd go that far. â€Å"Asshole!† I yelled after him, getting only a slammed door in response. He really wasn't that bad of a roommate, but our troubled past often made him want to annoy me. It worked. Fuming, I finished the necessary tidying and dropped into bed a half-hour later. Aubrey and Godiva followed me, lying side by side at the end of the bed. They were a contrast in colors, like some piece of modern art. Aubrey was white with black specks on her head; Godiva was a riot of orange, brown, and black patches. All three of us drifted off to sleep immediately. Sometime later, I woke to the sound of singing†¦or, well, that was the closest I could come to describing it. It was the same thing I'd felt earlier, an alluring, haunting pull that spoke to every part of me. Warm and bright and beautiful. It was everywhere and everything, and I longed to have more of it, to walk toward the light that shone with indescribable colors. It felt so, so good – like something I could melt into, if only I could reach it. I had the impression of an entrance, a door I simply had to push open and step through and – Rough hands gripped my shoulders and jerked me around. â€Å"Wake up!† Like before, the sensory overload vanished. I was left alone in a quiet, empty world. No more siren song. Roman stood in front of me, hands shaking me as his face stared down at me with worry. I looked around. We were in the kitchen. I had no memory of getting there. â€Å"How – what happened?† I stammered. The face that had taunted me earlier was now filled with concern, something that troubled a small part of me. Why should someone who wanted to kill me be worried about me? â€Å"You tell me,† he said, releasing his grip. I rubbed my eyes, willing myself to recall what had happened. â€Å"I†¦I don't know. I must have sleepwalked†¦.† His face was still drawn and anxious. â€Å"No†¦there was something here†¦.† I shook my head. â€Å"No, it was a dream. Or a hallucination. I had it happen earlier†¦. I just drank too much.† â€Å"Didn't you just hear me?† There it was again, fear for me underneath the anger. â€Å"There was something here, some†¦force. I felt it. It woke me up. Don't you remember anything at all?† I stared off, trying to summon up the light and haunting melody. I couldn't. â€Å"It was†¦it was exquisite. I wanted†¦I wanted to go to it†¦to be part of it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  There was a dreamy, wistful note in my voice. Roman's expression grew dark. As a succubus, I was a lesser immortal, one who had once been human. Greater immortals, like angels and demons, had been created at the universe's beginning. Nephilim were born and fell somewhere in the middle. As such, their powers and senses were greater than mine. Roman could detect things I couldn't. â€Å"Don't,† he said. â€Å"You feel it again, you pull away. Don't let it draw you in. Under no circumstances should you go to it.† I looked back at him with a frown. â€Å"Why? Do you know what it is?† â€Å"No,† he said grimly. â€Å"And that's the problem.†