Sunday, August 18, 2019
Childhood Abuse and Neglect and Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome Essay
Introduction This study briefly reviews complex trauma and discusses how it manifests in adolescents with a history of childhood abuse and neglect. A history of childhood abuse and neglect often leads to long-term emotional, behavioral and physical dysregulation that do not always fit the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) diagnostic criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This has led to the proposal of a separate but related diagnosis termed Developmental Trauma Disorder (Cook, Blaustein, Spinazzola & van der Kolk, 2003; van der Kolk, 2005; Najjar, Weller, Weisbrot & Weller, 2008). This diagnosis is based on an assessment of the literature on complex trauma and its long-term mental and physical health consequences. In this study, we will review the following: 1) the scope of complex trauma in terms of its general impact on individuals and society; 2) a description of the phenomenology of complex trauma; 3) the develop mental impact of complex trauma on adolescents; and 4) the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of complex trauma in adolescents. Complex trauma refers to both the exposures and the developmental impact of long-term exposure to traumatic events during childhood and adolescence. Traumatic exposures are commonly of an interpersonal nature, including childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect. Traumatic exposures can also include repeated surgical procedures, chemotherapy or other adverse events during childhood. Complex trauma has a significant developmental impact across the life-span. In a large epidemiological survey, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, of more than 17,000 adults from the general popula... ...icine, 14, 245-258. Gabowitz, D., Zucker, M., & Cook, A. (2008) Neuropsychological assessment in clinical Evaluation of children and adolescents with complex trauma. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 1, 163-178. Najjar, F., Weller, R.A. Weisbrot, J., & Weller, E. B. (2008). Post-traumatic stress disorder its treatment in children and adolescents. Current Psychiatry Reports, 40, 104-108. Perrin, S., Smith, P., & Yule, W. (2000). Practitioner Review: The assessment and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41, 227-280. Van der Kolk, B. A. (2005). Developmental trauma disorder. Psychiatric Times, 35, 401-408. Weiss, D., S. (2004). The Impact of Events Scale ââ¬â Revised. In J. P. Wilson, & T. M. Keane (Eds.), Assessing Psychological Trauma and PTSD. New York: Guilford.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Review of Patient Safety Standards for Hospitals by Joint Commision on Healthcare Essay
The safety goals outlined for hospitals are intended to stimulate greater awareness of the elements of vulnerability or risk associated between patient and worker. Ultimately, patient safety, worker health and safe practice methods can have a positive influence on saving lives, reducing risk and controlling costs. The goals attempt to outline a uniform standard. When adopted by a health care organization, a successful culture of safety that benefits everyone has an opportunity to develop. The following are the Commissionââ¬â¢s patient safety goals with respect to hospitals. The first goal is to improve the accuracy of patient identification. Patients are given the wrong medications, taken to the wrong surgical rooms, and specimens get contaminated or mixed up. To address this issue and achieve improved accuracy, implementation of two patient identifiers attempts to reduce these errors. First, the patient should be identified reliably by their name, telephone number or other number that is person specific. The second is to verify that the treatment matches the patient. The verification of the identifiers should be done with two individuals checking the same patient or having one person identify the patient, with a second verification assisted by the addition of a technology item, like a barcode. The second goal is to improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers. Each clinical aspect of healthcare utilizes a different vocabulary. A patient may be seeing a psychiatrist, a physical therapist and a cardiologist at the same time. While each profession has a foundation of science that is designed help them communicate in a uniform manner, each clinical area will have specific language and understanding that may not translate from one specialty or discipline to another. Critical results of tests and diagnostics that are outside the normal range and indicate a life threatening situation must be communicated. Reports must be delivered and critical results given on a timely basis so the patient can be treated as soon as possible. Third, is the goal to improve the safety of using medication. Medications that are not labeled properly or medications that are similar in name or packaging can obviously lead to a 1 deadly consequence. Suggested ways to achieve this goal is to make sure all medications, and containers are labeled correctly. Some of the specific suggestions to achieve this safety goal are to adopt the use of oral unit-dose products, prefilled syringes, or premixed infusion bags when these products are available. The fourth goal is to reduce the risk of health care-associated infections. Many people are in fear of going to a hospital. They may feel at risk of getting a communicable disease. And while that is a possibility, few are aware that they may experience infections directly associated with the delivery of the medical service or treatment. The simplest and most obvious way to protect the patient from infection is to feverishly adhere to the Centers for Disease Control or World Health Organizations guidelines for hand washing. The late physician and scientist Ignaz Semmelweis would be astonished to see this method universally adopted. Although, with as much science that has since validated his pioneering work, he could be annoyed to see a lack of compliance, considering the volumes of evidence published which supports his early theory. Patients are acquiring hospital based infections at an alarming rate, according to an NBC news story which was based on data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. And a brief review of the CDC report from 2011 on rates of infections clearly shows a link between number of days in the hospital and acquired infections. The longer a patient is in the setting, the more likely it is that the patient is at risk. The likelihood of risk depends on the kind of treatment the patient receives. Risk assessment tools are essential to understanding which staff, providers, or independent practitioners need to be educated to understand the types of infections and their origins as they relate to their practice area. The families and patients must likewise be educated to understand the risks, complications and microbial hazards that are inherent to the treatment or service they are receiving. Finally, goal fifteen is for the hospital to identify safety risks inherent in its patient population. This goal is a contributing factor to why Patient Safety Coordinators and certifications to become one are becoming more popular. Particularly, the goal speaks to the population that is at risk for suicide. While this goal is stated to apply only to psychiatric hospitals and patients being treated for emotional or behavioral issues, most all hospitals have at least a small population that could fit into this category. While not every hospital has a psychiatric floor, or even a psychiatrist on call, patients that appear or make a statement that they fear harming others or themselves may be detained temporarily at the discretion of the medical staff. The terms and length varies from state to state. Georgiaââ¬â¢s law, O. C. G. A. à § 37-3-41 allows basically for a forty-eight hour detainment period. But, that can be extended indefinitely if the treating physician deems it necessary and appropriate based on their examination.
Friday, August 16, 2019
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program Paper
CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY Ià certify thatà the attachedà paper is my original work. I am familiar with, and acknowledge my responsibilities which are part of, the University of Phoenix Student Code of Academic Integrity. I affirm that any section of the paper which has been submitted previously is attributed and cited as such, and that this paper has not been submitted by anyone else. I have identified the sources of all information whether quoted verbatim or paraphrased, all images, and all quotations with citations and reference listings. Along with citations and reference listings, I have used quotation marks to identify quotations of fewer than 40 words and have used block indentation for quotations of 40 or more words. Nothing in this assignment violates copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property laws. I further agree that my name typedà on the line below is intended to have, and shall have, the same validity as my handwritten signature. Student'sà signature (name typed here is equivalent to a signature): Dwayne Wilson Individual Assignment MKT 421 Dwayne Wilson 11/01/2011 Terry Booker Marketing definitions Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. Approved October 2007) 1: the act or process of selling or purchasing in a market b: the process or technique of promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service 2: an aggregate of functions involved in moving goods from producer to consumer At its base, marketing is about the strategies and tactics you use to identify and cultivate the market for your products/services ââ¬â so it would seem to be pretty important to overall organizational success. Personal definiti on My personal definition of marketing is where the producer attempts to discover a way for the consumer to agree to purchase their product. An exchange (if you will) of product for money. The Importance of Marketing in Organizational Success The degree of importance is arguable based on the industry, but I can't think of any business that can survive without giving some thought to the way in which they grow demand for what they're selling. In many businesses, marketing needs to be a core concern, and often the overriding concern when it comes to running a successful business. The importance of marketing in organization success is the competition that might occur, challenge, team player, co-operation, confidence, big thinking, and self-esteem. Marketing means the organizations needs to reach for certain goal to complete their organization To describe the importance of marketing, one need not look further than this quote from Regis McKenna, ââ¬Å"Marketing is everything, and everything is marketing. â⬠Everyone is exposed to marketing daily, even when they donââ¬â¢t know it. Billboards surround the nationââ¬â¢s roads. Logos appear everywhere from t-shirts to the center field of the ââ¬Å"Tostitosâ⬠Fiesta Bowl. When a teenager is begging his dad to use the family car, he is in fact, marketing himself to his father for the exchange of the keys. And that is what marketing is about, trying to create exchanges that satisfy and benefit both parties. No consumer can escape from marketing campaigns, and no business should be operating without a marketing plan to identify potential customers, meet their needs and wants, and keep them coming back for more. You will hear about the 4 ââ¬Å"Pââ¬â¢sâ⬠of the marketing mix which are the important elements of a marketing plan. How your future customers are identified and place between the cross-wires with marketing research and target marketing. To get a specific message to a specific customer, one must be familiar with direct marketing. Internet marketing is one of more recent trends that many organizations are looking at. Overall this section should help you learn about the importance for small businesses to implement marketing plans It is important for marketing efforts to be customer-oriented. When marketing a product or service, the organization must be certain that the product or service that they are providing is one that the customer wants. Quite often marketing efforts fail when the organization developed the product/service first, then tried to convince itââ¬â¢s customer to buy it. One of the greatest marketing flops of all time was when the Coca-Cola Company decided to change itââ¬â¢s formula in 1985 and introduced it as ââ¬Å"New Coke. â⬠It was a disaster. Sales of the New Coke were very low and the Coca-Cola Company was receiving many phone calls and letters from angry customers who demanded the old formula back. The Coca-Cola Company brought back the old formula two months later. Reintroduced as ââ¬Å"Coca-Cola Classic,â⬠it was sold along with New Coke and outsold it by two to one in supermarkets. The Coke case is a classic example of what happens when an organization fails to conduct proper marketing research. The key for a successful marketing effort is maintaining a level of customer satisfaction while at the same time, creating a profit for the organization. Profits must be made in order for the organization to continue to do business. Marketing is a concept that is always evolving. New definitions of marketing are being written daily. Marketing plans are an inessential component for all businesses. All businesses that are successful have followed a plan. Their success did not happen because of luck, it happened because the success was planned. A marketing plan helps establish, coordinate, and direct marketing efforts. It forces the organization to take a good, hard look at the market of your field and what is currently happening to it. Itââ¬â¢s a time to establish marketing goals and objectives, which can be later used for benchmarking yourself. Marketing plans helps keep the organization on the right track by following the guidelines it sets. It is also critical when trying to borrow money. When an organization plans to allow you to borrow money or invest in your organization, they require to examine your business plan. The marketing plan is a critical part of the business plan. Marketing Plan Elements: Executive Summary: brief explanation of what the organization does, its mission statement, the managementââ¬â¢s infrastructure, and a short summary about the marketing objectives and the proposed plan. * Current Marketing Situation: provides information about the current location, the target markets, and competitors in the market. * Competitor and Issue Analysis: a more detailed description about the competition. Also includes potential challenges that could arise in the future due to business issue. * Marketing Objectives: where the marketing goals and financial objectives are set. Objectives should be challenging, yet attainable for the organization. * Marketing Strategy: plan for meeting the marketing objectives. Incorporates the marketing mix. * Action Programs: an explanation of the different tasks of the marketing strategy. What will be done? When will it be done by? Who will do it? What will it cost? * Budget: A more detailed look at the cost of the proposed marketing activities. * Measurements: sets levels to measure if objectives are being met. Sets timeline to meet these measurable objectives. * Supportive Documents: references to support the marketing plan. Includes the marketing research report. * Controls: monitoring system for the marketing plan. Monthly or quarterly checklists to insure that the plan is operating effectively. Also included contingency plans. Plans of action in the event of a crisis. It is important to regularly update your marketing plan. The market changes almost by the hour. The first marketing plan you create probably will not be effective in the future. Sources http://www. marketingpower. com/AboutAMA/Pages/DefinitionofMarketing. aspx http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/marketing
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Econ 101
Economics: intro â⬠¢Economic questions arise bc we want more than we can get. â⬠¢Inability to satisfy want: scarcity â⬠¢Incentives: rewards that encourage action or penalties that discourage action. â⬠¢Economics studies the allocation of scarce recourses among people â⬠¢Alfred marshell (1842-1924) shaped macro economics â⬠¢Joan robinson: ââ¬Å" the main reason to study econ is to avoid being fooled by it Two main parts: A) Microeconomics: studying the choice of individual decision makers. And how they interact in markets B) macroeconomics: how the overall economy performs. 2 big questions 1.What, how and for whom do goods and services get produced? 2. When do choices made in self interest align with the social interest? Answer 1) â⬠¢what: goods and services are objects that people value and are produced to satisfy human wants â⬠¢how: factors of production. A) Land: natural recourses. B) labour: work time & effort. ââ¬Å"quality of labourâ⬠(huma n capital). C) capital: tools, equipment, machines, computers, buildings.. D) entrepreneurship: human resource hat organizes the above. â⬠¢For whom: who gets good: services depends on the incomes people earn. oLand=rent oLabour=wages oCapital=interest oEntrepreneurship=profitAnswer 2) â⬠¢We make choices in self interest oChoices you think are best for you â⬠¢Choices that are best for society are said to be in the ââ¬Å"social interestâ⬠oUses resources efficiently oDistributes goods ââ¬Å"fairlyâ⬠When does self-interest align with social interest? (important) â⬠¢Environmental issues â⬠¢Bad corporate responsibility The ââ¬Å"Economicâ⬠way of thinking Choice under scarcity => trade offs Opportunity cost: the highest valued alternative that you give up to get something. Choices at the ââ¬Å"marginâ⬠â⬠¢We look at the tradeoffs ââ¬Å"at the marginâ⬠Marginal benefit (MB): benefit from an incremental increase in an activity.Marginal cost (MC): opportunity cost from an incremental increase in an activity. People respond to incentives MB>MC=> do more of an activity MB does less of an activity Lesson 2 Recap: â⬠¢Economics oMicro oMacro â⬠¢2 big question owhat, how, for whom oself interest vs social interest â⬠¢opportunity cost otrade-offs â⬠¢thinking at the ââ¬Å"marginâ⬠Lesson 2 Water vs. diamonds Water: essential but almost costless Diamonds: not essential but very costly What is value? What gives things value? Labour theory of value: the value of a commodity is proportional to the amount of labour that goes into it. Abandoned: ex. Cement lifejacketEconomists think about value differently: 1. the value of something is what youââ¬â¢re willing to give up to get it. 2. Economists think about marginal value instead of total value. Water is plentiful= marginal value low Diamonds are scarce= marginal value high Positive and normative statements Positive: statements of facts about observable data Normative: statements about what ought to be. Value judgments Ex. 20% of teens smokeâ⬠¦ Positive: â⬠¢Are you more likely to smoke if your parents do? â⬠¢Does living location affect likelihood of smoking? â⬠¢Are smoking rates different across education levels? â⬠¢Self reported reasons for smoking Do prices affect smoking rates? Normative: â⬠¢Kids shouldnââ¬â¢t smoke Cause and effect: Just because two things happen together doesnââ¬â¢t mean that one causes the other. Ex: ice cream sales & deaths by drowning â⬠¢Both related to temperature Economists try to unscramble cause and effect by building models. Model: a purposeful simplification of the real world. Ex: paper airplane Simplification. Learn about: aerodynamics, wind structureâ⬠¦ Cant learn about: thrust, fuel capacity, enginesâ⬠¦ Maps are models: Subway map â⬠¢Lines â⬠¢Stops Doesnââ¬â¢t show curves or turns Road map â⬠¢Street names â⬠¢Turns/curves Satellite photo à ¢â¬ ¢Adds detailGraphs: Reveal relationships between variables 3 main types: 1. Time series 2. Cross sectional 3. Scatter plots Lesson 3 Recap: water/diamondsâ⬠¦ Value: what youââ¬â¢re willing to give up to get something â⬠¢Positive vs normative â⬠¢Cause & effect oModels â⬠¢Graphs in economics The Economic problem â⬠¢Production possibilities frontier (ppf) Model: focus on tradeoffs between 2 goods. (holding other goods constant) PPF shows boundary between what we can produce and what is unattainable Building a PPF: First good: ââ¬Å"numbersâ⬠Ex. X + 3=7 Second good: ââ¬Å"wordsâ⬠Our PPF for Xââ¬â¢s & words EX. In textbook PFFââ¬â¢s show marginal cost. opportunity cost of producing one more unitâ⬠Preferences& marginal benefit â⬠¢your ââ¬Å"likesâ⬠and dislikes marginal benefit: what your willing to give up to get an additional unit of something what does MB look like? Principle: the more you have of a good, the less youâ⬠â¢re willing to pay for an additional unit. Allocative efficiency: $ up the left side of graph, pizza across the bottom. MC is a positive incline, MB is a negative decline at pt Awe have allocative efficiency. We cant produce more of any one godd without giving up some other good that we value more highly lesson 4 recap: â⬠¢allocative efficiency (MB=MC)Economic growth isnââ¬â¢t free 2 key factors â⬠¢Technological change oresearch and development â⬠¢Capital accumulation oDevote resources to production of capital Both require resources that could be used for current consumption â⬠¢Economic growth doesnââ¬â¢t eliminate scarcity â⬠¢Opportunity cost of growth is reduced current consumption Consuming outside your PPF. â⬠¢Gains from trade Imagine if you produced everything you consumeâ⬠¦(ââ¬Å"Autarkyâ⬠) Producing one (or a few) goods and trading with others is called ââ¬Å"specializationâ⬠Gains from specialization come from exploiting ââ¬Å "comparative advantageâ⬠Absolute Advantage: More productive at somethingComparative Advantage: Producing at a lower opportunity cost Ex: textbook smoothie bar exampleâ⬠¦ On lined paper Liz: absolute advantage in smoothies. And comparative advantage in smoothies Joe: no absolute advantage but comparative advantage in salads Where does Comparative advantage come from? â⬠¢Over time people or countries can develop comparative advantage through repeated production. ââ¬Å"learning by doingâ⬠(dynamic Comparative advantage) Economic Coordination? â⬠¢Who organizes all this? Centrally planned economy: USSR, chinaâ⬠¦ Decentralized market system: most countries Decentralized markets rely on 4 institutionsâ⬠¦ON MIDTERM . Firms: hire and organize factors of production 2. Markets: any arrangement that connects buyers and sellers 3. Property Rights: social arrangements that govern ownership and use 4. Money: any commodity or token that is generally accepted as a mea ns of payment Markets coordinate economic activity through price adjustments. Lesson 5 Demand and supply In a market system, economic coordination happens through price adjustment Competitive markets: many buyers and many sellers â⬠¢Prices determine the rate at which goods can be exchanged Money Price: number of dollars Relative price: $price of one good relative to anotherEx: coffee:$2, gum$1 (Money), one coffee costs 2 gums Demand: different than ââ¬Å"wantâ⬠â⬠¢To demand something you must: a. Want it b. Be able to afford it c. Plan to buy it Law of demand: holding everything else equal, the higher the price of the good the lower the quantity demanded 2 effects cause this: a. Income effect: when price increases, your money doesnââ¬â¢t buy as much b. Substitution effect: when a price increases people substitute to purchasing other goods Ways of representing demand: a. Demand schedule b. Demand curve: When the price of this good changes we move along the demand cur veChanges in Demand: when things other than the price of the good change, the demand curve shifts. Things that shift demand: â⬠¢Nature â⬠¢Quality â⬠¢Tastes/preferences â⬠¢Income â⬠¢Price of other goods oComplements: consume these goods together (Ex. Shoes, always need both) oSubstitutes: consume one or the other â⬠¢Expected future prices â⬠¢Population Supply: a firm supplies a good if itâ⬠¦ a. Has the resources and technology to produce it b. Can profit from producing it c. Plans to produce and sell it Law of supply: holding everything else equal, the higher the price of a good, the more is supplied The supply curve:IN binder Example Changes in Supply: â⬠¢Input prices â⬠¢Prices of related goods produced â⬠¢Expected future prices â⬠¢Number of suppliers â⬠¢Technology â⬠¢nature Lesson 6 Market Equilibrium Equilibrium: a state where opposing forces balance each other â⬠¢consists of a market price and quantity Changes in equilib rium (pg 74) 1. French fry demand 2. Market for cocaine 3. Market for kitchen sinks 4. Market for barrels of crude oil 5. Market for fresh orange juice Midterm exam review â⬠¢20 multiple choice â⬠¢2 short answers â⬠¢Multiple choice worth 2points â⬠¢Short answers worth 10 â⬠¢Exam worth 60 â⬠¢Chapters 1-3 Ch 1 â⬠¢What is microeconomics Scarcity and tradeoffs â⬠¢What is value â⬠¢2 big questions owhat how and for whom oself interest vs. social interest â⬠¢positive vs normative statements â⬠¢graphs in econ Ch 2 â⬠¢ppf and opportunity cost â⬠¢marginal benefit and marginal cost â⬠¢allocative efficiency â⬠¢growth â⬠¢specialization and trade â⬠¢absolute and comparative advantage â⬠¢economic coordination Ch3 â⬠¢demand curve (law of demand) â⬠¢movement along vs shifts of the demand curve â⬠¢factors that shift the demand curve â⬠¢supply curve (law of supply) â⬠¢movement along vs shifts of the supply curv e â⬠¢factors that shift the supply curve â⬠¢equilibrium pg 74, 75 changes in equilibrium Lesson 7 October 11, 2011 Modeling demand 1. Demand schedule (table) 2. Demand curve (picture) 3. Demand equation Ex: in notebook In general: P=a-bQ. (a and b are some numbers) A: vertical intercept B: absolute value of slope Modeling supply* 1. G 2. G 3. Modeling equilibrium â⬠¢At equilibrium price (P) quantity demanded equals quantity supplied Equilibrium quantity Q Ex: finding equilibrium Demand: p=800-2Q Supply: P=200+Q â⬠¢Make the right hand side of each equation equal 800-2Q=200+Q 600=3Q 200=Q Elasticity (Ch 4) Law of demand: when price increases quantity demanded falls This gives us direction Elasticity measures how much demand changes Ex: Good X â⬠¢Price increases by 1$ â⬠¢Demand drops by 100 unts Good Y â⬠¢Price increases 200$ â⬠¢Demand drops by 1000 units Cant compare the 2! In order to compare goods we need a measure of responsiveness Price of elasticit y demand= % change in quantity demanded over % change in price Ex: ticket price 21$- 9tickets/hr 19$-11 tickets/hr Find elasticity of demand 1. % change in quantity =change in Q =2/(over) 10 (from 9 to 11) over Average Q Fuck it. In notebook What does elasticity number mean? In notebook Lesson 8Elasticity of demand = % change in quantity demanded/ over % change in price If elasticity is 1 elastic Tuesday October 18, 2011 What affects elasticity? 1. Closeness of substitutes 2. Proportion of income spent on a good 3. Time since price change Other Elasticities 1. Cross elasticity = %change in demand for x % change of price of good Y if X & Y are: Substitutes: positive Complements: negative 2. Income elasticity = %change in demand %change in income bigger than 1: income elastic. As income increases demand increases a lot Between 0 &1: income inelastic. Income increases, demand increases by a littleNegative: inferior good. Income increases, demand decreases Elasticity of Supply = % Chang e in quantity supplied % Change in price What affects supply elasticity? 1. Resources substitutions possibilities 2. Time frame for supply decisions Efficiency and Equity (Ch5) Markets are one way of allocating goods Do they do a good job? A. Efficiency (do the goods go to those that value them the most? ) B. Fairness Ex. X pinsâ⬠¦ how should we allocate them? 1. Contest: 5 highest grades Ex sports, performance bonuses Pros: â⬠¢May encourage effort Cons: â⬠¢Goods may not go to those people that value them the most 2.First come, first serve: first 5 people to show up get them Ex: walk in clinics Pro: â⬠¢People who value the good highly will line up early Con: â⬠¢May get allocated to those with a low opportunity cost of their time 3. Command System: I decide who gets them Ex: how tasks get allocated inside a firm Pro: â⬠¢May work well when tasks/people are familiar and authority well defined Con: â⬠¢ I canââ¬â¢t tell who values the good the most 4. Lotte ry: draw names from a hat. Ex. Dorm rooms Pros: â⬠¢Fairâ⬠¦everyone gets an equal shot Cons: â⬠¢No reason to expect that high value people will get the good 5. Majority rule voteEx, voting politicians Pro: everyone gets an equal say Con: special interest group 6. Personal characteristics If you have a brown belt Ex. Relationships Pros: may work if characteristic highly related to value people have for the good Cons: discrimination 7. Force: everybody fights Ex organized crime/war Cons: strongest might not value the highest Pros: Force can work well in the background oCourts can forcibly reallocate goods 8. Market Mechanism oWhoever is willing to pay the price gets the good Pros: people who have high values are willing to pay more and are more likely to get itCons: people might not have enough money Tuesday October 18, 2011 Midterm #2 November 3 (Ch 4,5,6) â⬠¢Demand and supply â⬠¢Elasticity (ch 4) â⬠¢Efficiency and equity (ch 5) Obstacles to efficiency â⬠¢P rice and quantity regulations (govââ¬â¢t actions) â⬠¢Taxes and subsidies (govââ¬â¢t actions) Externalities: your actions impose costs or benefits on others Ex. Smoking. A person might take into account only their own personal benefits and costs but ignore social costs. (second and smoke) OR. Pollution. Firm doesnââ¬â¢t account for external social cost that its production creates. Public Goods A.Consumption by one person doesnââ¬â¢t ââ¬Å"use upâ⬠the good. B. Anyone can consume the good without paying Ex: lighthouse: people want to use these goods without paying. ââ¬Å"freeridingâ⬠. These are usually under provided Monopoly: a single firm sets the market price â⬠¢Price is higher, quantity is lower Fairness 1. Utilitarianism, (Jeremy bentham, John Stuart mill) â⬠¢Ã¢â¬Å"The Greatest Happiness for the greatest numberâ⬠â⬠¢people are roughly the same â⬠¢the marginal value of money is lower when you have more of it â⬠¢Redistribute wea lth to achieve equality (tax rich, subsidize poor) Problems: A) taxing income: less income generation (work)B) taxing capital: less capital produced (slower growth) C) costs in administering taxes (more fair but size of the ââ¬Å"pie shrinks) 2. Rawls: theory of Justice â⬠¢Fairness of society judged by the well being of the person who is poorest â⬠¢(Equal shares of a small pie) may be worse than (unequal shares of a larger pie) 3. Fairness in Rules, not outcomes â⬠¢Emphasis on equality of opportunity Robert Nozick A. Strong private property rights B. Private property should only be transferred through voluntary exchange Problems: A. No room for redistribution after the fact B. No taxes or government since these arenââ¬â¢t voluntaryGovernment Actions in Markets (Ch 6) Price ceiling: govââ¬â¢t regulations that makes it illegal to charge a price higher than some specified level â⬠¢Set above equilibrium price= no effect â⬠¢Set below equilibrium price= Example in notebook Black market â⬠¢Illegal market in which price is higher than price ceiling â⬠¢Graph in notebook â⬠¢ Thursday October 27, 2011 20 m/c few short answer midterm review: â⬠¢Note on demand on supply equations (end of ch 3) â⬠¢Elasticity (Ch 4) know how to calculate and know what it is â⬠¢Efficiency and equity (Ch 5) *consmer and producer surplus â⬠¢Government actions in markets (Ch 6) Price ceilings oPrice flooring oTaxes Price Floors: Mandatory minimum price Ex. Minimum wage Graph in notebook â⬠¢Unemployment increases search costs â⬠¢More power to firms in hiring decisions â⬠¢Black markets oEx. Illegal labour markets where people are paid below the min wage oIn notebook Taxes: When the government taxes a good the price paid by consumers and the price received by producers are now different Ex. Govââ¬â¢t puts a $5 (per unit) tax on producers In notebook Tuesday November 1, 2011 Midterm Thursday Material: 1. Note on demand and supply equations. (end of Ch 3) 2. Elasticity (Ch4) â⬠¢Price elasticity Elasticity and total revenue (figure 4. 5 in text) â⬠¢Cross elasticity and income elasticity â⬠¢Supply elasticity 3. Efficiency and equity (Ch 5) â⬠¢Alternative allocation methods â⬠¢Consumer and producer surplus â⬠¢Efficiency of equilibrium â⬠¢Ã¢â¬Å"fairnessâ⬠4. Government Actions (Ch 6) â⬠¢Price ceilings â⬠¢Price floors â⬠¢Taxes Tuesday November 14, 2011 Global Markets Many of the goods and services you consume arenââ¬â¢t produced in Canada Ex. Iphones (all over), clothes (china), tech support (india) â⬠¢Part of the globalization process oImports: goods we buy from other countries oExports: goods we sell to other countriesGlobal Imports: Exports in 2008 =$35 trillion Canada: â⬠¢exports: $535 billion. Agriculture, forestry, energy, mining, machinery, automotive, aircraft â⬠¢Imports: $503 billion In binder example Tariffs: a tax imposed by the importing coun try on goods that come from another country Arguments for protection 1. Infant industry Argument â⬠¢We need to protect domestic industries when they start so that they can mature enough to compete on world markets. â⬠¢Develop comparative advantage â⬠¢Everyone can argue this 2. Barriers to trade to protect jobs. â⬠¢Trade costs jobs â⬠¢There isnââ¬â¢t a ââ¬Å"fixed number of jobsâ⬠â⬠¢Trade also creates jobs
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Blood Promise Chapter Sixteen
Denis and his two unpromised friends, Artur and Lev, were ecstatic that I was going to be part of their posse. But if they expected me to share their crazy enthusiasm for reckless Strigoi hunting, they were about to be sorely disappointed. In fact, it didn't take long after I joined them before they realized that I was approaching the hunt very differently than they were. Denis's friend Lev had a car, and we took turns driving to Novosibirsk. The drive was about fifteen hours, and even though we stopped at a hotel for the night, it was still a lot of continuous time to be cooped up in a small space with three guys who couldn't stop talking about all the Strigoi they were going to kill. In particular, they kept trying to draw me out. They wanted to know about how many Strigoi I'd slain. They wanted to know what the battle at the Academy had been like. They wanted to know my methods. Anytime my mind turned to those topics, though, all I could think of was blood and grief. It was nothing I wanted to brag about, and it took about six hours on the road for them to finally figure out that they weren't going to get much information from me. Instead, they regaled me with tales of their own adventures. To be fair, they'd slain several Strigoi-but they'd lost a number of their friends, all of whom had been in their teens, like these guys. My experiences weren't that dissimilar; I'd lost friends too. My losses had been a result of being outnumbered, though. Denis's group's casualties seemed to have been more due to rushing in to without thinking. Indeed, their plan once we got to Novosibirsk wasn't really that solid. They reiterated that Strigoi liked to hunt at places that were crowded at night, like dance clubs, or in remote places like alleys, that made for easy pickings. No one noticed as much when people disappeared from those kinds of places. So Denis's plans mostly involved trolling those hot spots in the hopes that we'd run into Strigoi. My initial thought was to immediately ditch this group and strike out on my own. After all, my main goal had been to simply get to Novosibirsk. With everything I'd learned now, it seemed logical that Siberia's largest city would be the next best place to look. Then, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that jumping into the Strigoi scene alone would be as stupid as one of the unpromised gang's plans. I could use their backup. Plus, since I didn't actually know where Dimitri was yet, I had to come up with a method of getting some information. I'd need help for that. We made it to Novosibirsk at the end of the second day of driving. Despite hearing about its size, I hadn't imagined it would be anything like Moscow or Saint Petersburg. And true, it turned out to be not quite as large as they were, but it was still just as much a city, complete with skyscrapers, theaters, commuters, and the same beautiful architecture. We crashed with a friend of theirs who had an apartment downtown, a dhampir named Tamara. Her English wasn't very good, but from the sounds of it, she was another unpromised one and just as excited as everyone else to rid the world of Strigoi. She was a little older than the rest of us, which was why she had her own place, and was a cute brunette with freckles. It sounded as though she waited until whenever the guys came to town to hunt, which I took as a small blessing. At least she didn't go out alone. She seemed particularly excited to have another girl around, but like the others, she quickly picked up that I didn't share their enthusiasm. When our first night of Strigoi hunting came around, I finally stepped up into a leadership position. The sudden change in behavior startled them at first, but they soon listened with rapt attention, still caught up in my superstar reputation. ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠I said, looking from face to face. We were in Tamara's tiny living room, sitting in a circle. ââ¬Å"Here's how it's going to work. We're going to hit the nightclub scene as a group, patrolling it and the alleys behind it for-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Wait,â⬠interrupted Denis. ââ¬Å"We usually split up.â⬠ââ¬Å"Which is why you get killed,â⬠I snapped. ââ¬Å"We're going as a group.â⬠ââ¬Å"Haven't you killed Strigoi by yourself, though?â⬠asked Lev. He was the tallest of the group, with a long and lanky figure that was almost Moroi-like. ââ¬Å"Yes, but I got lucky.â⬠That, and I also just thought I was a better fighter than any of them. Call me arrogant, but I was a damned good guardian. Or near-guardian. ââ¬Å"We'll do better with all five of us. When we find Strigoi, we've got to make sure we take care of them in an isolated place.â⬠I hadn't forgotten Sydney's warnings. ââ¬Å"But before we kill them, I need to talk to them. It'll be your job to restrain them.â⬠ââ¬Å"Why?â⬠asked Denis. ââ¬Å"What do you have to say to them?â⬠ââ¬Å"Actually, it's what they have to say to me. Look, it won't take long. And you'll get to make your kill in the end, so don't worry about it. Butâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ This next part went against my grand plans, but I knew I had to say it. I wouldn't get them killed for the sake of my own quest. ââ¬Å"If we get ourselves in a situation where you're trapped or in immediate danger, forget the talking and restraining. Kill. Save yourself.â⬠Apparently, I seemed confident and badass enough that they decided to go along with whatever I said. Part of our plan involved going ââ¬Å"undercover,â⬠so to speak. Any Strigoi who was close or got a good enough look would immediately recognize us as dhampirs. It was important that we not attract any attention. We needed a Strigoi scanning for victims to pass right over us. We needed to look like other human club-goers. So we dressed the part, and I was a bit astonished at how well the guys cleaned up. Denis, crazy or not, was particularly good-looking, sharing the same dark gold hair and brown eyes that his brother Nikolai had. My few changes of clothes weren't quite up to partying standards, so Tamara delved into her wardrobe for me. She seemed to take a lot of delight in finding things for me to wear. We were actually similar in size, which was kind of amazing. With her tall, super-slim build, Lissa and I had never been able to share clothes. Tamara was my height and had a similar body type. She first offered me a short, tight dress that was so similar to the one Viktoria had worn that I just shook my head and handed it back. The memories of our argument still hurt, and I wasn't going to relive that night or in any way play blood whore dress-up. Instead, Tamara settled for dressing me in black jeans and a black tank top. I consented to hair and makeup too, and studying myself in the mirror, I had to admit she did a good job. As vain as it was, I liked looking good. I especially liked that the guys looked at me in a way that was admiring and respectful-but not like I was some piece of meat. Tamara offered me jewelry too, but the only thing I'd wear was the nazar around my neck. My stake required a jacket, but she found a sexy leather one that didn't take away from the rest of the outfit's appeal. Setting out around midnight, I couldn't help shaking my head. ââ¬Å"We're the goddamned hottest vampire hunters ever,â⬠I muttered. Denis led us to a club where they'd found Strigoi before. It was also apparently where one of their unpromised friends had been killed. It was in a seedy part of town, which I guess added to its appeal for Strigoi. A lot of the people there were middle- and upper-class young people, apparently drawn in by the ââ¬Å"dangerousâ⬠aspect. If only they'd known just how dangerous it was. I'd made a lot of jokes to Dimitri about Russia and Eastern Europe being ten years behind in music, but when we entered, I discovered the ground-thumping techno song playing was something I'd heard in the U.S. just before leaving. The place was crowded and dark, with flashing lights that were actually a little annoying to dhampir eyes. Our night vision would adapt to the darkness and then be blasted when a strobe light kicked on. In this case, I didn't need my sight. My shadow-kissed senses didn't feel any Strigoi in the area. ââ¬Å"Come on,â⬠I said to the others. ââ¬Å"Let's dance for a while and wait. There are no Strigoi nearby.â⬠ââ¬Å"How do you know?â⬠asked Denis, staring at me in wonder. ââ¬Å"I just do. Stay together.â⬠Our little circle moved to the dance floor. It had been so long since I'd danced, and I was a bit surprised at how quickly I found myself getting into the rhythm. Part of me said I should have stayed ever vigilant, but my Strigoi alarm system would immediately snap me awake if any danger came. That nausea was kind of hard to ignore. But after an hour of dancing, no Strigoi had appeared. We left the dance floor and started circling the club's edges, then moved outside to sweep that area too. Nothing. ââ¬Å"Is there another club nearby?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"Sure,â⬠said Artur. He was stocky, with close-shaved hair and a ready smile. ââ¬Å"A couple blocks over.â⬠We followed him and found a similar scene: another secret club hidden in a run-down building. More flashing lights. More crowds. More pounding music. Disturbingly, what started to bother me first was the smell. That many people generated a lot of sweat. I had no doubt even the humans could smell it. To us, it was cloying. Tamara and I exchanged looks and wrinkled our noses, needing no words to convey our disgust. We moved to the dance floor again, and Lev started to leave to get a drink. I punched him in the arm. He exclaimed something in Russian that I recognized as a swear word. ââ¬Å"What was that for?â⬠he asked. ââ¬Å"For being stupid! How do you expect to kill something that's twice as fast as you while drunk?â⬠He shrugged, unconcerned, and I resisted the urge to hit him in the face this time. ââ¬Å"One won't hurt. Besides, there aren't even any-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Be quiet!â⬠It was creeping over me, that weird stirring in my stomach. Forgetting my cover, I stopped dancing, scanning the crowd for the source. While I was relying on my senses to feel Strigoi, spotting them in the crowd was a bit harder. I took a few steps toward the entrance, and my nausea lessened. I moved toward the bar, and the feeling increased. ââ¬Å"This way,â⬠I told them. ââ¬Å"Act like you're still into the music.â⬠My tension was contagious, and I saw the anticipation sweep them-as well as a little fear. Good. Maybe they'd take this seriously. As we headed in the bar's direction, I tried to keep my body language oriented toward it, like I was seeking a drink. All the while, my eyes swept the crowd's periphery. There. I had him. A male Strigoi was standing off in a corner, his arm around a girl close to my age. In the dim lighting, he almost seemed attractive. I knew closer examination would reveal the deathly pale skin and red eyes that all Strigoi had. The girl might not have been able to see them in the darkened club, or the Strigoi might have been using compulsion on her. Probably both, judging from the smile on her face. Strigoi were able to compel others just as well as a spirit user like Lissa could. Better, even. Before our eyes, I saw the Strigoi lead the girl down a small, unnoticed hallway. At the end, I could just make out a glowing exit sign. At least, I presumed it was an exit sign. The letters were Cyrillic. ââ¬Å"Any idea where that door goes?â⬠I asked the others. The guys shrugged, and Denis repeated my question to Tamara. She answered back, and he translated. ââ¬Å"There's a small alley out back where they keep trash. It's between this building and a factory. No one's usually there.â⬠ââ¬Å"Can we get to it by going around the club?â⬠Denis waited for Tamara's response. ââ¬Å"Yes. It's open on both sides.â⬠ââ¬Å"Perfect.â⬠We hurried out of the club by the front door, and I divided our group into two. The plan was to come at the Strigoi from both sides and trap him in the middle-provided he and his victim were still out back. It was possible he could have led her elsewhere, but I thought it more likely he'd want to subdue her and get his blood right there, particularly if it was as deserted as Tamara said it usually was. I was right. Once my group had split off and peered around behind the club, I saw the Strigoi and the girl lurking in the shadow of a trash can. He was leaning over her, mouth near her neck, and I silently swore. They didn't waste any time. Hoping she was still alive, I came charging down the alley, the others on my heels. From the alley's other side, Denis and Lev also came running. As soon as he heard the first footfall, the Strigoi reacted instantly, his staggeringly fast reflexes kicking in. He immediately dropped the girl, and in the space of a heartbeat, he chose Denis and Lev over Artur, Tamara, and me. Not a bad strategy, really. There were only two of them. Because he was so fast, he probably hoped to incapacitate them quickly and then turn on us before we could flank him. And it almost worked. A powerful hit sent Lev flying. To my relief, a couple of trash cans blocked him from the building's wall. Hitting them wouldn't feel good, but if I had the choice, I'd rather hit metal cans than solid bricks. The Strigoi pounced on Denis next, but Denis proved remarkably fast. Unfairly, I'd assumed none of these unpromised had any real fighting skills. I should have known better. They'd had the same training as me; they just lacked discipline. Denis dodged the blow and struck out low, aiming for the Strigoi's legs. The hit landed, though it wasn't strong enough to knock him over. A flash of silver showed in Denis's hands, and he managed to partially swipe the Strigoi's cheek just before a backhanded slap knocked the dhampir into me. A cut like that wouldn't be lethal to the Strigoi, but the silver would hurt, and I heard him snarl. His fangs gleamed with saliva. I sidestepped Denis quickly enough that he didn't knock me over. Tamara grabbed his arm, holding him so that he wouldn't fall either. She was fast too and had barely steadied him before leaping up at the Strigoi. He swatted her away but didn't manage to hit her hard enough to push her far. Artur and I were on him by that point, our combined force knocking him against the wall. Still, he was stronger and the pinning was brief before he broke free. A responsible voice in my head-that sounded suspiciously like Dimitri's-warned me that that had been my window to kill him. It would have been the smart and safe thing to do. I'd had the opening, and my stake was in my hand. If my crazy interrogation plan failed, the others' deaths would be on my head. As one, Artur and I leapt out again. ââ¬Å"Help us!â⬠I yelled. Tamara threw herself against the Strigoi, landing a swift kick to the stomach as well. I could feel him starting to shake us off, but then Denis joined in too. Between the four of us, we wrestled the Strigoi down so that he lay back-first on the pavement. But the worst wasn't over. Keeping him down wasn't easy. He thrashed around with incredible strength, limbs twisting everywhere. I heaved myself up, trying to throw my body's weight across his torso while the others restrained his legs. Another set of hands joined us, and I looked up to see Lev lending his strength too. His lip was bleeding, but his face was determined. The Strigoi hadn't stopped moving, but I felt satisfied he wouldn't break away anytime soon, not with all five of us holding him. Shifting forward, I placed the point of my stake at his neck. It gave him pause, but he soon resumed his struggle. I leaned over his face. ââ¬Å"Do you know Dimitri Belikov?â⬠I demanded. He shouted something incomprehensible at me that didn't sound very friendly. I pressed the stake in harder and drew a long gash against his throat. He screamed in pain, pure evil and malice shining out from his eyes as he continued swearing in Russian. ââ¬Å"Translate,â⬠I demanded, not caring who did it. ââ¬Å"What I said.â⬠A moment later, Denis said something in Russian, presumably my question since I heard Dimitri's name in there. The Strigoi growled back a response, and Denis shook his head. ââ¬Å"He says he isn't going to play games with us.â⬠I took the stake and slashed at the Strigoi's face, widening the gash Denis had made earlier. Again, the Strigoi cried out, and I prayed club security wouldn't hear any of this. I gave him a smile filled with enough malice to match his own. ââ¬Å"Tell him we're going to keep playing games with him until he talks. One way or another, he dies tonight. It's up to him whether it happens slowly or quickly.â⬠I honestly couldn't believe those words had come out of my mouth. They were so harshâ⬠¦ so, well, cruel. I'd never in my entire life expected to be torturing anyone, even a Strigoi. The Strigoi gave Denis's translation another defiant response, and so I kept on with the stake, making gashes and cuts that would have killed any human, Moroi, or dhampir. Finally, he shot off a string of words that didn't sound like his usual insults. Denis immediately translated. ââ¬Å"He said he's never heard of anyone named that and that if Dimitri's a friend of yours, he'll be sure to kill him slowly and painfully.â⬠I almost smiled at the Strigoi's last effort at defiance. The problem with my strategy here was that the Strigoi could be lying. I'd have no way of knowing. Something in his response made me think he wasn't. He'd sounded like he thought I was referring to a human or a dhampir, not a Strigoi. ââ¬Å"He's useless then,â⬠I said. I leaned back and glanced at Denis. ââ¬Å"Go ahead and kill him.â⬠It was what Denis had been dying to do. He didn't hesitate, his stake striking hard and swift through the Strigoi's heart. The frantic struggling stilled a moment later. The evil light faded from the red eyes. We stood up, and I saw my companions' faces watching me with apprehension and fear. ââ¬Å"Rose,â⬠asked Denis at last. ââ¬Å"What are you hoping to-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Never mind that,â⬠I interrupted, moving over to the unconscious human girl's side. Kneeling down, I examined her neck. He'd bitten her, but not much blood had been taken. The wound was relatively small and bled only a little. She stirred slightly and moaned when I touched her, which I took as a good sign. Carefully, I dragged her away from the trash can and out into the light where she'd be most noticeable. The Strigoi, however, I dragged into as dark a place as I could, almost completely obscuring him. After that, I asked to borrow Denis's cell phone and dialed the number I'd kept crumpled in my pocket for the last week. After a couple of rings, Sydney answered in Russian. She sounded sleepy. ââ¬Å"Sydney? This is Rose.â⬠There was a slight pause. ââ¬Å"Rose? What's going on?â⬠ââ¬Å"Are you back in Saint Petersburg?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yesâ⬠¦ where are you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Novosibirsk. Do you guys have agents here?â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course,â⬠she said warily. ââ¬Å"Why?â⬠ââ¬Å"Mmmâ⬠¦ I've got something for you to clean up.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh dear.â⬠ââ¬Å"Hey, at least I'm calling. And it's not like me ridding the world of another Strigoi is a bad thing. Besides, didn't you want me to let you know?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, yes. Where are you?â⬠I put Denis on the phone briefly so that he could explain our specific location. He handed the phone back to me when he finished, and I told Sydney about the girl. ââ¬Å"Is she seriously injured?â⬠ââ¬Å"Doesn't look like it,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"What should we do?â⬠ââ¬Å"Leave her. The guy who's coming will make sure she's okay and doesn't go telling stories. He'll explain it when he gets there.â⬠ââ¬Å"Whoa, hey. I'm not going to be here when he arrives.â⬠ââ¬Å"Rose-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"I'm out of here,â⬠I told her. ââ¬Å"And I'd really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone else that I called-say, like, Abe.â⬠ââ¬Å"Rose-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Please, Sydney. Just don't tell. Or elseâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ I hesitated. ââ¬Å"If you do, I'll stop calling when this happens. We're going to be taking down a few more.â⬠God, what next? First torture, now threats. Worse, I was threatening someone I liked. Of course, I was lying. I understood why Sydney's group did what they did, and I wouldn't risk the exposure. She didn't know that, though, and I prayed she'd think I was just unstable enough to risk revealing us to the world. ââ¬Å"Rose-â⬠she tried yet again. I didn't give her the chance. ââ¬Å"Thanks, Sydney. We'll be in touch.â⬠I disconnected and handed Denis the phone. ââ¬Å"Come on, guys. We're not done tonight.â⬠It was clear they thought I was crazy to be interrogating Strigoi, but considering how reckless they were sometimes, my behavior wasn't quite weird enough for them to lose their faith in me. Soon they grew enthusiastic again, high on the idea of our first kill on this trip. My uncanny ability to sense Strigoi made me even cooler in their eyes, and I grew confident they'd pretty much follow me anywhere. We caught two more Strigoi that night and managed to repeat the procedure. The results were the same. Lots of insults in Russian. No new information. Once I was convinced a Strigoi had nothing to offer us, I'd let the unpromised go in for the kill. They loved it, but after that third one, I found myself growing weary both mentally and physically. I told the group we were going to go home-and then, while cutting around the back of a factory, I sensed a fourth Strigoi. We jumped him. Another scuffle occurred, but we eventually managed to pin him as we had the others. ââ¬Å"Go ahead,â⬠I told Denis. ââ¬Å"You know what to-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"I'm going to rip your throat out!â⬠the Strigoi snarled. Whoa. This one spoke English. Denis opened his mouth to begin the interrogation, but I shook my head. ââ¬Å"I'll take over.â⬠Like the other Strigoi, he swore and struggled, even with the stake against his neck, making it hard for me to talk. ââ¬Å"Look,â⬠I said growing impatient and tired, ââ¬Å"just tell us what we need to know. We're looking for a dhampir named Dimitri Belikov.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know him.â⬠The Strigoi's voice was smug. ââ¬Å"And he's no dhampir.â⬠Without realizing it, I'd called Dimitri a dhampir. I was tired and had slipped up. No wonder this Strigoi was so pleased to talk. He assumed we didn't know about Dimitri turning. And like any arrogant Strigoi, he was happy to tell us more, clearly in the hopes of causing us pain. ââ¬Å"Your friend has been awakened. He stalks the night with us now, drinking the blood of foolish girls like you.â⬠In a split second, a thousand thoughts raced through my head. Holy crap. I'd come to Russia thinking it would be easy to find Dimitri. I'd had those hopes dashed in his hometown, nearly causing me to give up, and I'd swung the other way, resigning myself to the near impossibility of my task. The thought that I might be close to something here was staggering. ââ¬Å"You're lying,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"You've never seen him.â⬠ââ¬Å"I see him all the time. I've killed with him.â⬠My stomach twisted, and it had nothing to do with the Strigoi's proximity. Don't think about Dimitri killing people. Don't think about Dimitri killing people. I said the words over and over in my head, forcing myself to stay calm. ââ¬Å"If that's true,â⬠I hissed back, ââ¬Å"then I've got a message for you to deliver to him. Tell him Rose Hathaway is looking for him.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'm not your errand boy,â⬠he said, glowering. My stake slashed out, drawing blood, and he grimaced in pain. ââ¬Å"You're anything I want you to be. Now go tell Dimitri what I told you. Rose Hathaway. Rose Hathaway is looking for him. Say it.â⬠I pressed the point to his neck. ââ¬Å"Say my name so I know you'll remember.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'll remember it so I can kill you.â⬠The stake pressed harder, spilling blood. ââ¬Å"Rose Hathaway,â⬠he said. He spit at me but missed. Satisfied, I leaned back. Denis watched me expectantly, stake poised and ready. ââ¬Å"Now we kill him?â⬠I shook my head. ââ¬Å"Now we let him go.ââ¬
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
The Twin Issues of Climate Change and Global Warming Essay
The Twin Issues of Climate Change and Global Warming - Essay Example à In effect, it is crucial to highlight the important role that an increment in fuel prices will play towards achieving these objectives to thus crucial and important population that is aware of global warming and climate change. For this reason, I addressed this open letter to the citizens of the United States. I believe that we have all heard the adage that "desperate times call for desperate measures." In our endeavor and the quest to satisfy the most basic of human needs, we face a momentous challenge on our environment and other essential components of human life. In line with this, we cannot live oblivious to the fact that some activities that we engaged in can bring untoward effects to our lives. In effect, such activities required urgent action in order to converse the world for future generations. You may be wondering about the motive behind this letter. However, I need to explain the intention behind this letter before I support my argument. First, how many times have we heard or read about the term global warming today on any form of media? In addition, what proactive measures were are taking to ensure that we maintain an environment that was safe for current and future living organisms? Besides, who amongst us today would not wish to experience new approaches that were safe and innovative and solved human kinds problems? I believe your guess is as good as mine with regard to all these questions. The underlying issue in this letter regards the divisive and emotive issue surrounding increasing of fuel prices. In this case, the issue has revolved around two opposing sides with each side putting up strong arguments for their cases.à à On one hand, those proposing an increment in fuel prices argue about the economic, social, and environmental benefits arising from the increase.
R#4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
R#4 - Essay Example According to the author, the term emergent bilingualism associates with a development process among the learners, and it is likely to motivate them to be efficient in learning English. In addition, referring to the children as second language learners creates an impression that they are, and may always be, inferior to native speakers. Garciaââ¬â¢s explanation of the basis of the American classification of limited English learners also explains the classificationââ¬â¢s discriminative scope that could lead to stigmatization. Using the term emergent bilingualism is therefore better for psychological and social well being of the non-native children (Garcia, 2009, page 322, Line 18- 29, Page 323, Line 1- 16). The concept of emergent bilingualism is also significant to educators, whose objective is to promote learning outcomes. In using the concept, educators will be focusing on positive aspects of the studentsââ¬â¢ language background and appreciating the studentââ¬â¢s native language could also help them to understand English and even improve their proficiency. Bentham & Hutchins (2012, Page 22, Line, 1-4) argues that children are the target of learning and therefore define their learning environment and things that motivate them. Creating a negative attitude among children, by calling then second language learners or limited English proficient students will therefore promote an environment of negative attitude and lack of motivation. A transition to the concept of emerging bilingualism will therefore help teachers to facilitate studentsââ¬â¢ performance. Similarly, the concept is likely to promote a positive approach to policy making by focusing on the studentsââ¬â¢ strengt hs instead of weakness (Garcia, 2009, Page 323, Line 1-4). I also agree with Garciaââ¬â¢s opinion that bilingualism will be an important aspect of the society (Garcia, 2009, Page 325, Line 14-17), and this is because of the increasing wave of
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