LUNG CANCER Essays - Cancer, Clinical Medicine, Lung Cancer, Health

LUNG CANCER WHAT IS LUNG CANCER? Lung disease is the uncontrolled development of strange cells in the lung. Ordinary lung tissue is comprised of cells that are modified commonly to make lungs of a specific shape and capacity. Now and again the directions to a phone go haywire and that phone and its posterity repeat uncontrollably, without respect for the shape and capacity of a lung. That wild proliferation can frame tumors that obstruct the lung and make it quit working as it should. In view of the enormous size of the lungs, malignancy may develop for a long time, undetected, without causing doubt. Truth be told, lung disease can spread outside the lungs without creating any indications whatsoever. Most of individuals who get lung malignant growth have been cigarette smokers, yet not all individuals who smoke get lung disease, numerous individuals who have never smoked despite everything get it. A few reasons for lung malignant growth can incorporate smoking, air contamination, nutrient A lack or hereditary elements. Manifestations OF LUNG CANCER Here are a few manifestations of lung malignant growth - A hack is one of the more typical manifestations and is probably going to happen when a tumor develops and hinders an air entry. - Chest, shoulder, or back agony is another. - Shortness of breath, weariness, rehashed pneumonia or bronchitis, hacking up blood or growing of the neck and face. The chart beneath gives some more indications and the recurrence of each. THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LUNG CANCER The sort of cells found in a tumor decides the sort of malignant growth. The two primary sorts of lung disease are little cell and non-little cell. The term's little cell and non-little cell allude to the sort of cell a specialist can see under the magnifying lens, not to the size of the tumor. There are in excess of twelve various types of lung malignancy. Little cell carcinoma (additionally called oat cell carcinoma) This malignant growth for the most part begins in one of the bigger breathing cylinders, develops decently quickly, and is probably going to be enormous when of determination. Non little cell lung malignant growth: is comprised of the accompanying three subtypes: - Epidermoid carcinoma This malignant growth normally begins in one of the bigger breathing cylinders and develops moderately gradually. The size of these tumors can extend from extremely little to very enormous. - Adenocarcinoma carcinoma This lung disease begins becoming close to the outside surface of the lung and may fluctuate in both size and development rate. Some gradually developing adenocarcinomas are call alveolar cell malignant growth. - Large cell carcinoma Starts close to the outside of the lung, develops quickly, and is generally huge when analyzed. The names of a portion of the unprecedented sorts of lung disease are carcinoid, cylindroma, mucoepidermoid, and threatening mesothelioma. Just about 5% to 10% of lung malignancies are of these sorts. WHO GETS LUNG CANCER Studies show that individuals living in the United Kingdom have the most elevated danger of creating lung malignant growth the explanation being is that the UK is an extremely industrialized nation. Individuals at the most noteworthy danger of getting lung malignancy include: - Those living in a Westernized society. - Those who smoke. - Those who are 60 or over. - Those who live in a urban domain. TREATMENT Treatment for non-little cell malignant growth is generally medical procedure. The main occasions when an activity won't be valuable is if: 1. The malignancy has spread outside the chest. 2. In the event that the malignancy is pushing on the significant aviation routes of the chest. 3. In the event that the malignant growth is attacking the trachea. 4. In the event that the malignant growth is attacking the heart or significant veins. 5. In the event that there is liquid around the lung. 6. Or on the other hand if there is loss of voice. Treatment of little cell lung disease can be chemotherapy, radiotherapy, medical procedure or immunotherapy. Right now numerous researchers are attempting to locate an increasingly solid procedure in relieving lung malignant growth.

Multicultural Counseling Critique Essay -- Counseling

Multicultural Counseling Critique: Counseling Utilization by Ethnic Minority College Students In spite of the fact that the act of directing has advanced extensively since its origin, the idea of multicultural skill stays novel. Charmed in the lives of each clinician are underlined predispositions and biases that go about as channels in which each communication with a customers is influenced. Momentum explore on the subject of multicultural advising has indicated that albeit multicultural mindfulness is on the ascent there is as yet a momentous hole in inquire about with respect to the utilization of directing help and results for racial and ethnic minorities (Kerney,Draper, and Baron, 2005). Bits of knowledge, for example, these have urged scientists to examine multicultural guiding, on a wide range of levels of conveyance. One such level is that of the college advising focus setting. Kerney, Draper, and Baron (2005) recommend that so as to address the requirement for look into on the adequacy of treatment for minorities, one must analyze the present viability of treatment o n college grounds and the corresponding use of guiding administrations by racial and ethnic minorities. So as to do this the specialists analyzed the distinctions among African American, Asian American, Latino, and Caucasian understudies in treatment participation after admission, and the seriousness of pain at both admission and last meeting (Kerney,Draper, and Baron, 2005). The ebb and flow paper will evaluate the examination led by Kerney, Draper, and Baron, so as to increase further mindfulness into multicultural skilled techniques for working with ethnic and racial minorities. The ebb and flow explore tended to the issue of ethnic and racial minorities’ usage of guiding administrations in a college setting... ...nd racial minorities, an expanded measure of consideration ought to be centered around normalizing guiding for ethnic and racial minority understudies. In doing so the shame of directing might be diminished and expanded utilization of administrations may happen. Endless supply of the present writing concerning multicultural advising, it has become apparent that an equipped guide is an individual both mindful of his way of life, and dually mindful of his client’s social perspective. So as to be a guide who is skillful in his art, a comprehension of different societies should initially be practiced, and coordinated as a major aspect of an advising methodology that is both adaptable and ready to suit customer worries in whatever way they show. This consolidation is urgent in turning into an all the more socially mindful and delicate advisor, and is a segment worth incorporating into training.

Work and Study

Work and Study Work and Study: How to Find a Happy Medium? Home›Tips for Students›Work and Study: How to Find a Happy Medium? Tips for StudentsNowadays combining work and studying is the reality of almost every student. There is no doubt that it is rather exhausting and hard. Anyway, it is possible to combine both without harm to your health. Many people have a full-time job and study when they have free time or quite the opposite â€" they work at their free time. Some people even have a family. If you need some useful tips from QualityCustomEssays.com on how to deal with all this spheres without ruining yourself, keep on reading…Inform your professor about your job. If you have difficulties with combining your work with the process of studying, let your professor know about the situation. This might inspire the latter to offer you flexibility regarding the deadlines of your course paper, essay, etc. We are all humans after all.Ask your family to give you a hand. Work, study and household du ties can be too much. That is the reason why it is worth to ask your relatives to help you. Save your time on washing and cleaning and spend it on more important things like studying. In case if you are single, ask your friends to help you!Study at work. If you have some free time at work, make advantage of it. Instead of chatting about your new girlfriend or your boss, focus on your subjects. Read something and write something down. Your lunch br?ak is ideal for this. If you are a commuter, spend the time on the way reading.Do not take on too much. If you study too much while you are working, it will not do you any good â€" you won’t do anything right. Chose your priorities and focus on them. Leave less important things for later. If you are a person that finds it difficult to refuse a request, you have to learn to say NO. Remember that every employee has his or her own responsibilities.Be ahead with your studies. Whenever it is possible, do some of your assignments in advance. R emember that there can be busy periods at work and you might stay late. You will not have a possibility to do your homework. This is one of the most efficient methods to combine your job with your studies without exhaustion. Say NO to stress! Keep in mind that our service is also able to help you in coping with your studies, namely academic writing assignments. Our highly qualified writers will help you with any kind of academic papers.Make sacrifices for your studies. When you combine studying and work, it is difficult to carve out some time for your hobbies. Anyway, it is normal to sacrifice something for the sake of your studying. Of course, you need some time for leisure, but opt for going for a walk rather than visiting an all night long party. Sacrificing is tough, but it is rewarding.

Essay about Emily Dickinson and Interpretations of Her...

Emily Dickinson and Interpretations of Her Poetry During Emily Dickinson’s fifty-six years she was able to produce many complex poems that contained deeply hidden meanings. When I consider the life she lived, this is not surprising to me. She was not only talented, but she also was born into a family and time that would provide much of her inspiration. Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born into the Dickinson family on December 10, 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her parents, Edward and Emily Norcross Dickinson, were strict and cold like the Puritan religion they upheld. Her father even went as far as to censor the books Emily read so she wouldn’t be lead astray from Puritanism. As a young girl she was expected to embrace the beliefs†¦show more content†¦Many of her death poems were representations of how repressive Emily felt her life and culture to be. As a woman in the 1800’s she felt like she was being held down and that she was not being allowed to live the life that she wanted to live. She never had the chance to grasp onto a loving relationship while she was alive, and ended up dying on May 15, 1886 in the isolation of the same room she had confined herself to for years. It is those poems about death that I would like to discuss here, and I’ll begin by trying to explain poem #335. Poem #335 In the first stanza of this poem Emily explains that it’s not dying that hurts people so, but it’s living that hurts us more. In these first two lines she’s actually addressing her life as a woman in the 19th century. To her, being alive was almost worse than being dead because of the way that women were repressed and because of the way in which she was forced to hold her feelings for touch and a romantic relationship inside of herself. The world during her time was wound up in industrialization, power, and money, and it had little to offer her. She felt death would be better than life because she was unable to satisfy her own desires while living. The third and fourth lines of the first stanza refer to dying as a different way that occurs behind a door. In these two lines Emily is describing how trapped she felt within the New England culture in which she lived and theShow MoreRelatedEmily Dickinson : The Point When A Reader1749 Words   |  7 PagesKnoernschild November 27, 2015 Emily Dickinson At the point when a reader hears the name Emily Dickinson, they consider a female who composed verse that has been surely understood for a considerable length of time and years. Much to their dismay that Emily Dickinson established American Literature, and began an entire unrest of verse. The procedure Dickinson used to keep in touch with her verse was at no other time seen and was the foundation of her compositions. Major themes, FigurativeRead MoreEmily Dickinson s `` Because I Could Not Stop For Death `` Essay1355 Words   |  6 PagesModernism for Emily Dickinson has to do with the uncertainty. Emily Dickinson was a somber thinker who doesn’t try to enlighten anyone of anything. Her poems were uniquely written and she wrote about the uncertainty, which makes her poetry easy to empathize with in the 21st century. The 21st century, is a period of science which is used as a tool to make sense of the uncertainty. Emily Dickinson uses her poetry as a means to question and obs erve the trauma of human existence. For instance, she doesn’tRead MoreThe Works of Emily Dickinson726 Words   |  3 Pages Emily Dickinson’s writing reflects the Realistic period through personal themes: death, isolation, God, marriage, women in society, and love. Dickinson’s writing is affected by numerous factors. Among these are her family, the Realism period, and her life experiences. Emily Dickinson herself was a sort of mystery. Emily Dickinson’s background had a profound effect on her writing. Family always plays an important role in the upbringing of an individual. Her grandfather had a prominent position inRead MoreSymbolism in Emily Dickinson’s Poetry918 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in Emily Dickinson’s Poetry Kevin Hardy Jr. English 215 Dr. Maxwell Poems have many different interpretations, but let it be known that different people could see poems in many different ways. In Emily Dickinson’s poetry, she uses interpretations that refer back to mortality because of her past experiences throughout life that influenced her to write. But, there are other hidden facts that you would be able to see Dickinson’s poems, she uses symbolism of immortality, death, sorrowRead MoreSome Keep the Sabbath Going to Church931 Words   |  4 PagesMegan McCullough Briejer English 101 15 April 2013 Emily Dickinson â€Å"Some Keep the Sabbath Going To Church† In the poem â€Å"Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church,† Emily Dickinson expresses the feeling that everybody practices their faith and religion in a different way. The narrator of this poem portrays the idea of self practice. Being able to completely understand and interpret the meaning of this piece of poetry was not a short and simple process. When first reading â€Å"Some Keep the SabbathRead More A Comparison of the Poetry of Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost1062 Words   |  5 PagesThe Poetry of Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost The poetry of Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost contains similar themes and ideas. Both poets attempt to romanticize nature and both speak of death and loneliness. Although they were more than fifty years apart, these two seem to be kindred spirits, poetically speaking. Both focus on the power of nature, death, and loneliness. The main way in which these two differ is in their differing use of tone. The power of nature is a recurring themeRead MoreEssay on Emily Dickinson: Untitled, Unregulated, and Unchained942 Words   |  4 PagesYou know her name. You’ve seen it following quoted lines of poetry; printed on greeting cards, cross-stitched and framed on your grandmother’s bathroom wall, and engraved into silver lockets. Regarded as one of the greatest American poets, you are no stranger to her work. You know her name. Say it. Emily Dickinson. And boy, was she a wierdo! †¦admittedly, most geniuses are. Emily Dickinson dedicated most of her privileged, reclusive life to her art. She employed a brilliance for lyricism, unconventionalRead More Literary Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Poetry Essays1053 Words   |  5 PagesLiterary Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Poetry   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Emily Dickinson is one of the most famous authors in American History, and a good amount of that can be attributed to her uniqueness in writing. In Emily Dickinsons poem Because I could not stop for Death, she characterizes her overarching theme of Death differently than it is usually described through the poetic devices of irony, imagery, symbolism, and word choice.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Emily Dickinson likes to use many different forms of poetic devicesRead MoreEmily Dickinson s Poem, A Fairer House Of Poetry905 Words   |  4 PagesPoetry Explication Poetry has the ability to expand minds and put its reader in touch with the world around them. Emily Dickinson attempts to convey the power of poetry in her poem I Dwell in Possibility. She pours her passionate feelings about poetry into this poem and drives her point home with a comparison to prose. Using language, structure, and symbolism, Emily Dickinson’s I Dwell in Possibility effectively articulates how poetry can broaden horizons and provide an escape from the mundaneRead MoreEmily Dickinson s Poetry And Poetry1312 Words   |  6 PagesEmily Dickinson’s poems â€Å"They shut me up in Prose† and â€Å"I Dwell in Possibility† on the surface may seem similar, both having the same structure, three-four lined stanzas, and punctuation. However, they convey different messages. Typically Dickinson writes dark, meditative and defiant toned poems about death, gender and poetry itself, often challenging social beliefs and traditions. Each poem sticks to th ese pre-modernist views and styles, but place the emphasis on different aspects of her common

Essay about Away by Michael Gow - 1387 Words

Away Set in the Australian summer of 1967, Michael Gow’s Away is an elaborate play which explores the ideas of self- discovery and change. Through the war affected nation, three families, each from different social classes, depart on an iconic Australian holiday to the beach. In the play, Gow utilises the characters to demonstrate that going away physically is intrinsically linked to their mental developments. With the help of references to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer night’s Dream, Away uses Gwen and Coral to show the significant psychological changes made by the characters during holidays to the coast. Tom throughout the play acts as a catalyst for the change in other characters and is associated with Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.†¦show more content†¦During this scene, Gwen realises how easily possessions are lost, thus readjusting her views on what is truly important in life. By using the storm as one of the main turning points for Gwen, Gow ex plores the power of nature in solving problems and, in this case, it as being a power to ‘wash away’ Gwen’s issues. The representation of the four campers as the pixies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and referring the storm to the scene where the all the mayhem caused by Puck is occurring is an ingenious link to the famous Shakespearian play. The intertextuality references help the audience relate to well-known plays and receive a deeper meaning of Away. The Mendelssohn music sets the mood of the scene and gives the audience a hint of the events coming. After talking with Vic, Gwen completes her transformation and loses her difficult, aggressive personality. She becomes an understanding and compassionate mother and is reflected by her conversation with Jim, which she says ‘What do you think of me? You must hate me? Why do you still bother? I’m sorry...’ (p46). The power of Tom’s influence on Gwen is the most prominent in this scen e, when Gwen talks with Vic and realises his condition. Here, Gwen opens her mind to the world and finds out that life is precious and easily lost, that people need to enjoy every moment in it. Gwen realises that she has been too selfish andShow MoreRelatedAway by Michael Gow857 Words   |  4 PagesMichael Gow’s play Away is the story of three different Australian families who go on holiday for Christmas in the sixties. By going away each family is hoping to resolve their issues. Although Away is set some time ago the themes and issues explored in the play are still relevant to a modern day audience, even one of a non-Australian background. Shakespearean plays that were written many hundreds of years ago and are still understandable and relevant to people all over the world today. AwayRead MoreAnalysis Of Away By Michael Gow925 Words   |  4 PagesIn Michael Gow’s play ‘Away’, a story of families in the 1960’s and how they come to embrace each other’s differences through gaining self-knowledge. Through identifying the context of act 3 scene 2, as well as the relationships between characters and the reasons behind them, as well as the stylistic devices used by Gow to share a message with his audiences that, even today, an audience can relate too. By analysing quotes from the scene to support conclusions, the purpose of this scene will be identifiedRead MoreAnalysis Of Away By Michael Gow751 Words   |  4 PagesAWAY Michael Gow â€Å"Away† is a play written in 1988 by Michael Gow. Away refers to the central ideas of Australia in 1967-68. The central ideas embrace the outsiders, family conflicts and grief and loss which affected families in the play. Gow uses three main families to convey the message of the play. The use of language and stylistic devices influence the way Gow has been able to speak to the modern Australian audience. In the play â€Å"Away† Gow is able to speak to the modern Australian audience withRead MoreAway Michael Gow Analysis808 Words   |  4 PagesSelf-discoveries can affirm or challenge an individual’s previously held attitude through acceptance contributing to a change in perception of self and the world. This notion is explored in Michael Gow’s play â€Å"Away† where three fractured families go on transformative holiday as they experience discoveries about themselves and others. Self-discovery of a certain individual can stimulate modification f or others’ perception and lead them to a more prominent discovery. Similarly, the poem: â€Å"the core†Read MoreAnalysis Of Away By Michael Gow883 Words   |  4 PagesAway is a play written by Michael Gow in 1986. It took him three weeks to write and it had little editing, as there was no complex writing involved. Gow admired Shakespeare’s refusal to be literal and so this was adapted into his play. ‘Despite its historical setting, Away is still able to speak to modern Australian audiences.’ This statement holds a lot of truth, as the play shows family conflict in three separate families, grief and loss in two different stages and people who are seen as differentRead MoreDiscovery Essay on Away Michael Gow923 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"To discover is to gain sight or knowledge of something.† How have ideas about discovery been shown in Away and The Book Thief Discovery allows main characters to gain sight or knowledge into themselves and others. This is evident in Michael Gow’s Away, as seen through the characters of Gwen, Coral and Tom. The three gain sight and knowledge into theirRead MoreAway by Michael Gow Character Analysis Essay2386 Words   |  10 Pagesis supported by her husband Roy, but Roy is not the best supporter at times. Coral is quiet and hasn’t built many strong relationships with others as others are trying to with her ‘Did you enjoy the play? [Coral stares at her for a moment then looks away’.] Roy: Roy is the principal at Meg and Tom’s school. He is a very well-spoken man who seems to be quite successful. â€Å"So what do you think of our little Chips Rafferties, eh? Proud mums and dads?† He’s married to his wife Coral who is a very mysteriousRead MoreAway by Michael Gow: Character Analysis Essay examples684 Words   |  3 Pagesattitude and this causes Coral to lower herself to the behavior of a naà ¯ve child â€Å"I’ll be good! I’ll improve!† When Coral does begin to speak, it is presented as very expressive and mournful. Her tone is filled with emotion as she is constantly â€Å"wiping away tears†. Coral finally begins to socialize, with a woman named Leonie. She seems instigated by the fact that Leonie (the woman) appeared to be hiding something. Leonie (like Roy) attempts to conceal her distress with a social disguise. Whilst dismissingRead Moreessay on preliminary topic journey847 Words   |  4 Pagesfound. Through Michael Gow’s ‘Away’ and ‘The Blind Side’ produced by John Lee Hancock, applications of both dramatic and film techniques allow the responder to see the direct impacts a journey puts on the traveller, either physically, emotionally or spiritually. We see this through bald transformations in the characters of both texts when they part take on a physical travel that takes them on an internal journey to discover a renewed inner purpose. In Michael Gow’s play â€Å"Away† Coral’s, physicalRead MoreBelonging Essay1446 Words   |  6 Pagesare clear divisions in him not belonging. The related texts reviewed include ‘The Arrival’ (Shaun Tan, 2006) graphic novel which illustrates a visual story of an immigrant who leaves home to create a better life for his family and the play ‘Away’ (Michael Gow, 1993). Thus it may be ascertained, that belonging defines who we are. In the poem of ‘Feliks Skrzyneckis’ Peter Skrzynecki explores filial relationships. This issue is highlighted between Feliks and Peter Skrzynecki, a cultural barrier

A Change Is as Good as a Holiday. Free Essays

‘’A change is as good as a holiday†¦ really? ’’ According to my personal experience a change is better than a holiday. I changed my life by moving to another country, the UK, where I can create something and develop my life, unlike going on holiday for a short period of time and returning to do the same thing again. During my time in Iraq I enjoyed spending time with my family and I was happy as a clown. We will write a custom essay sample on A Change Is as Good as a Holiday. or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, on April the 9th 2003 USA had a master plan to invade Iraq, as a child I was scared due to my parents clearly being worried; this made me anxious I was so terrified and shaken like an electric tooth brush. It was like I had adrenalin rush, I couldn’t sleep – I was alive with fear. As the army entered the city of Baghdad, Iraq†¦ The sky was red like blazing flames and I could hear the bullets shoot through my ears like thunder. The gun powder rushed into my nose from the chimney from the fire place in the comfort of my own home. There were so many reasons why I had left my country with my family, and one of them was the war. However I’ve been through the hard times and I could’ve just stayed. Not knowing what my destiny would be but as a family we made the decision of leaving. We all agreed that if we left Iraq then we could all have a better life and could continue with our education to have the best life possible. Who wants to leave their home town? Obviously it was a struggle and to look back and leave behind everything and everyone I know: The home I grew in for 11 years and the place where my childhood was full with amazing memories. On the way to the airport I felt miserable; I was reluctant to get on the plane. I hesitated to step forward, however a decision has been made and I had no choice apart from getting on the plane as I knew that my dad was at the other end of the journey. The dream came true! My first step out of the plane towards success, I continued walking through the tunnel to see my dad for the first time in a year. I was bursting with joy to see my father; I was pumped with energy full of happiness: I couldn’t express my feelings so I just hugged him, and my heart was finally relieved. The family and I were on the way out of the airport, into to the car that my dad bought which was blue like the Circassian sea, and we were on the way to the house in Neasdon, London. When I was in the car whilst my dad was driving, I was scared; I didn’t know anyone or the language they spoke. The weather was dull; the clouds were grey and the dark streets. It was due to rain my dad said. I couldn’t play the sport I loved; swimming was my favourite sport back home. There was indoor swimming but it wasn’t the same. I couldn’t even go to my own back garden to do anything, and it was full of mud. A week after I arrived it had snowed, for the first time in my life I saw little white flakes falling from the sky, like a blessing from god. I wanted to go out, but I had a cold and I wasn’t even used to this miserable demotivating weather. Back in Iraq it was blazing hot nearly every day of the year. Every day it was a staggering 50 degrees Celsius like the Saharan desert. As I started school I felt the effects of the change, I didn’t know whether it would be for the better or worse; however I knew I was going to achieve something great, and become a role model to inspire my brother as he was young and needed someone to look up to besides my dad. I feel a little safer nowadays due to people being nice, although there are those occasional racist remarks people give. But altogether the people all colours, races and nationalities are not as I expected; there are mixed cultures and religions -they did not shun me they welcomed me to the area and country; even though they did not know where I was from, who I am, or what I do. Till this day the dream of a better life still lives on. Change instead of a holiday can be good in some circumstances such as mine. For me my safety was more important so I had to leave. Sometimes freedom and safety are something a holiday can’t give. How to cite A Change Is as Good as a Holiday., Papers

The Women of Sparta free essay sample

Sparta was cut off from the rest of Greece by high mountains and wild country sides, there for Spartans developed their own ideas of society and government. A domineering society that focused upon its military strength, Sparta did not allow its citizens the lenient lifestyle of Athenians. The ideology of Sparta was oriented around the state. The individual lived (and died) for the state. Their lives were designed to serve the state from their beginning to the age of sixty. Womens lives were similar in many parts of ancient Greece, but the Greeks themselves singled out the city state of Sparta as being greatly different. The women of Sparta were granted an equal stake in the success or failure of their state. With their fathers and husbands constantly away training or at war, the women of Sparta were responsible for all else in Spartan society. We will write a custom essay sample on The Women of Sparta or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Individual families headed by a husband were insignificant in Spartan society. Instead, the state laid down rules for everyone. Boys were sent away from home at around the age of seven to be trained as soldiers where they lived in army barracks until they were around 30 years old, even then, the men might have been absent for months, fighting in battles. This resulted in the Spartan women having to be very self dependent, they had to manage households all alone. Unlike other Greek women, Spartan women could own land and property and make all decisions on how it was to be run. â€Å"‘When a woman from Attica asked ‘Why is it that you Spartans are the only women who can rule men? Gorgo replied, ‘Because we are the only ones who give birth to men. ’† (Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women, 240. 5 translated in Pomeroy, 2002, 60) â€Å"‘The licence of the Lacedaemonian women defeats the intention of the Spartan constitution, and is adverse to good order of the State. For a husband and a wife, being each a part of every family, the state may be considered as about equally divide d into men and women; and, therefore, in those states in which the condition of the woman is bad, half the city may be regarded as having no laws. And this is what has actually happened at Sparta; the legislator wanted to make the whole state hardy and temperate, and he has carried out his intention in the case of the men, but he has neglected the women, who live in every sort of intemperance and luxury. The consequence is that in such a state wealth is too highly valued, especially if the citizens fall under the dominion of their wives†¦the influence of the Lacedaemonian women has been most mischievous†¦when Lycurgus, as tradition says, wanted to bring the women under his laws, they resisted, and he gave up the attempt. They, and not he, are to blame for what then happened, and this defect in the constitution is clearly to be attributed to them. We are not, however, considering what is or is not to be excused, but what is right or wrong, and the disorder of the women†¦not only of itself gives an air of indecorum to the state, but tends in a measure to foster avarice. ’† (Aristotle, Politics, 1269b12 translated in Lefkowitz and Fant, 1982, 39-40) â€Å"‘The mention of avarice naturally suggests a criticism of the inequality of property. While some of the Spartan citizens have quite small properties, others have very large ones; hence the land has passed into the hands of a few. And here is another fault in their laws; for, although the legislator rightly holds up to shame the sale or purchase of an inheritance, he allows anybody who likes to give and bequeath it. Yet both practices lead to the same result. And nearly two-fifths of the whole country are held by women; this is owing to the number of heiresses and to the large dowries which are customary. It would surely have been better to have given no dowries at all, or, if any, but small or moderate ones†¦Hence, although the country is able to maintain 1,500 cavalry and 30,000 hoplites, the whole number of Spartans citizens fell below1,000†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬  (Aristotle, Politics, 1270a15 translated in Lefkowitz and Fant, 1982, 40) When Spartan girl turned six or seven, they were sent to school where they were taught how to wrestle, as well as perform gymnastics. They were also schooled on the ins and outs of combat, developing skills that could be quite useful if the time came. Boys and girls had their separate physical training, and could be seen naked at their exercises and games. †- Victor Ehrenberg Solon to Socrates, 1967 When historians take a closer look at the schooling during this ancient period of time, many theories were established where the belief that the boys and girls schooling were not that different developed. Some believe that the girls were traine d just as hard as the boys. The reason why the Spartan women did not pass the time learning how to sew and cook a full-course meal was because , the Spartan women were expected to be strong. It was thought that a strong woman would be able to produce strong, healthy offspring. â€Å"‘†¦Lycurgus, rather, showed all possible concern for them too. First he toughened the girls physically by making them run and wrestle and throw the discus and javelin. Thereby their children in embryo would make a strong start in strong bodies and would develop better, while the women themselves would also bear their pregnancies with vigor and would meet the challenge of childbirth in a successful, relaxed way. He did away with prudery, sheltered upbringing, and effeminacy of any kind. He made young girls no less than young men grow used to walking nude in processions, as well as to dancing and signing at certain festivals with the young men present and looking on. On some occasions the girls would make fund of each of the young men, helpfully criticizing their mistakes. On other occasions they would rehearse in song the praises which they had composed about those meriting them, so that they filled the youngsters with great sense of ambition and rivalry†¦There was nothing disreputable about the girls’ nudity. It was altogether modest, and there was not hint of immorality. Instead it encouraged simple habits and an enthusiasm for physical fitness, as well as giving the female sex a taste of masculine gallantry, since it too was granted equal participation in both excellence and ambition. As a result the women came to talk as well as to think†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬  (Plutarch, 2nd century A. D. , Life of Lycurgus 14. 1-4 translation in Fantham, 1994, 62) Marriages were generally arranged between families; however, the bride and groom often knew each other. The average age for Spartan women to marry was age eighteen and was in keeping with the Spartan philosophy that maturity was essential to producing healthy and robust offspring. In preparation of the marriage, the bride was dressed like a young male with hair cropped short possibly to denote the transition in the female’s role in Spartan society. The marriage was consummated during a symbolic abduction of the bride. After marriage, the bride continued to live in her own home usually until her first pregnancy and the groom lived in the men’s communal barracks until he attained age thirty. Before the husband could live openly with his wife, the couple arranged secret meetings for the purpose of having sexual intercourse. In Spartan society, marriage was primarily for the purpose of producing healthy offspring for the state. Xenophon and Plutarch reported that Spartan husbands often shared their wives with another man in order to produce more children. It was considered acceptable for an older man with a young wife to grant permission for a younger man to have sexual intercourse with her as a means of begetting more physically fit children. In addition, a Spartan man, who wanted children but did not want to enter into a marriage arrangement, could request permission of a woman’s husband to share her sexually. There is no indication that the Spartan women objected to such arrangements; and, since many Spartan women owned land as well as managed the household, they may have seen it as an opportunity to supervise a second household; and, after all, a married woman’s duty in Spartan society was to beget and rear strong children for the state. Regardless of the motivations, it does appears that some ancient historians like Plutarch saw these Spartan customs being the reason adultery, illegitimacy and prostitution did not exist in Sparta. â€Å"the men of Sparta always did what their wives told them, and let women take part in public affairs†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Plutarch Motherhood was of primary importance for Spartan women. For much of its five hundred year history, Sparta was at war, therefore, in this â€Å"militaristic† society, it was a woman’s duty to bear and rear healthy children in particular strong and brave sons to serve in the Spartan army. The woman’s role in Spartan society was viewed by the state as equal in importance to that of a man’s. So important was the role of motherhood that mothers with numerous sons were afforded special status and those dieing in childbirth were the only women for whom markers were placed on their graves. As a result of the men in Spartan society generally being absent from the home in the early years of marriage and because of their military occupation, the care of children was for the most part left in the hands of the mother. Since girls remained at home until their marriages, they may have had more opportunity for contact with their fathers especially if their fathers were older. As boys resided at home only until age seven, contact with their fathers would have been rare. Therefore any emotional bonds that children may have formed during their early years would have mainly been with theirs mothers. Mothers encouraged bravery in their sons and did not tolerate cowardice in battle, neither did they mourn the loss of their sons in war. They took pride in the fact that their sons died defending Sparta and were known to kill their sons who had displayed signs of fear during battle. â€Å"Because Damatria heard that her son was a coward and not worthy of her, she killed him when he arrived. This is the epigram about her: His mother killed Damatrius who broke, the laws, She a Spartan lady, he a Spartan Youth. † (Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women, 240. f2) â€Å"’As a woman was burying her son, a shabby old woman came up to her and said, ‘You poor woman, what a misfortune! ‘No, by the two goddesses, what a good fortune,’ she replied, ‘because I bore him so that he might die for Sparta, and that is what has happened for me. ’† (Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women, 241. 8) By contrast, Spartan women lived in a closed society that, although militaristic, was basically patriarchal. In ancient Sparta women may have dominated their households and owned much of the private p roperty as well as being wealthy in their own right; however, there is no indication that, other than being permitted to freely and publicly comment on political matters, they had any governmental authority. Although they were considered to have had significant influence and control over their men folk, this appears to have been more in the domestic and economic arena as a result of inheritance customs, the frequent but not total absence of their husbands, and an educational system that emphasized their role in Spartan society. Unlike the Amazons, the primary function of Spartan women was to produce strong children for the state in particular warrior sons – not warrior daughters – and their physical education and training was to enhance their ability to create strong children and to withstand childbirth not to create a female warrior society. The short skimpy tunics worn by Spartan women may have resembled those outfights depicted in ancient art as worn by Amazons; however, there is no mention of the physical mutilation of Spartan females. Spartan women honoured goddesses like Artemis and Hera in ritualistic religious and athletic performances as it related to their roles as fertility and marital deities. Outside Sparta, Spartan women were looked upon as being rather immoral as a result of the wife-sharing custom, to bold and outspoken and, in general, criticized for not being the traditionally subservient female.

Ancient Nepal, ca. 500 B.C.-A.D. 700

Ancient Nepal, ca. 500 B.C.-A.D. 700 Neolithic tools found in the Kathmandu Valley indicate that people were living in the Himalayan region in the distant past, although their culture and artifacts are only slowly being explored. Written references to this region appeared only by the first millennium B.C. During that period, political or social groupings in Nepal became known in north India. The Mahabharata and other legendary Indian histories mention the Kiratas (see Glossary), who still inhabited eastern Nepal in 1991. Some legendary sources from the Kathmandu Valley also describe the Kiratas as early rulers there, taking over from earlier ​Gopals or Abhiras, both of whom may have been cowherding tribes. These sources agree that an original population, probably of Tibeto-Burman ethnicity, lived in Nepal 2,500 years ago, inhabiting small settlements with a relatively low degree of political centralization. Monumental changes occurred when groups of tribes calling themselves the Arya migrated into northwest India between 2000 B.C. and 1500 B.C. By the first millennium B.C., their culture had spread throughout northern India. Their many small kingdoms were constantly at war amid the dynamic religious and cultural environment of early Hinduism. By 500 B.C., a cosmopolitan society was growing around urban sites linked by trade routes that stretched throughout South Asia and beyond. On the edges of the Gangetic Plain, in the Tarai Region, smaller kingdoms or confederations of tribes grew up, responding to dangers from larger kingdoms and opportunities for trade. It is probable that slow and steady migration of Khasa (see Glossary) peoples speaking Indo-Aryan languages were occurring in western Nepal during this period; this movement of peoples would continue, in fact, until modern times and expand to include the eastern Tarai as well. One of the early confederations of the Tarai was the Sakya clan, whose seat apparently was Kapilavastu, near Nepals present-day border with India. Their most renowned son was Siddhartha Gautama (ca. 563-483 B.C.), a prince who rejected the world to search for the meaning of existence and became known as the Buddha, or the Enlightened One. The earliest stories of his life recount his wanderings in the area stretching from the Tarai to Banaras on the Ganges River and into modern Bihar State in India, where he found enlightenment at Gaya still the site of one of the greatest Buddhist shrines. After his death and cremation, his ashes were distributed among some of the major kingdoms and confederations and were enshrined under mounds of earth or stone called stupas. Certainly, his religion was known at a very early date in Nepal through the Buddhas ministry and the activities of his disciples. continues... Glossary KhasaA term applied to the peoples and languages in the western parts of Nepal, closely related to the cultures of northern India. KirataA Tibeto-Burman ethnic group inhabiting eastern Nepal since before the Licchavi Dynasty, just prior to and during the early years of the Christian era. The political struggles and urbanization of north India culminated in the great Mauryan Empire, which at its height under Ashoka (reigned 268-31 B.C.) covered almost all of South Asia and stretched into Afghanistan in the west. There is no proof that Nepal was ever included in the empire, although records of Ashoka are located at Lumbini, the Buddhas birthplace, in the Tarai. But the empire had important cultural and political consequences for Nepal. First, Ashoka himself embraced Buddhism, and during his time the religion must have become established in the Kathmandu Valley and throughout much of Nepal. Ashoka was known as a great builder of stupas, and his archaic style is preserved in four mounds on the outskirts of Patan (now often referred to as Lalitpur), which were locally called Ashok stupas, and possibly in the Svayambhunath (or Swayambhunath) stupa. Second, along with religion came an entire cultural style centered on the king as the upholder of dharma, or the cosmic law of the universe. This political concept of the king as the righteous center of the political system had a powerful impact on all later South Asian governments and continued to play a major role in modern Nepal. The Mauryan Empire declined after the second century B.C., and north India entered a period of political disunity. The extended urban and commercial systems expanded to include much of Inner Asia, however, and close contacts were maintained with European merchants. Nepal was apparently a distant part of this commercial network because even Ptolemy and other Greek writers of the second century knew of the Kiratas as a people who lived near China. North India was united by the Gupta emperors again in the fourth century. Their capital was the old Mauryan center of Pataliputra (present-day Patna in Bihar State), during what Indian writers often describe as a golden age of artistic and cultural creativity. The greatest conqueror of this dynasty was Samudragupta (reigned ca. 353-73), who claimed that the lord of Nepal paid him taxes and tribute and obeyed his commands. It still is impossible to tell who this lord may have been, what area he ruled, and if he was really a subordinate of the Guptas. Some of the earliest examples of Nepalese art show that the culture of north India during Gupta times exercised a decisive influence on Nepali language, religion, and artistic expression. Next: The Early Kingdom of the Licchavis, 400-750The River System In the late fifth century, rulers calling themselves Licchavis began to record details on politics, society, and economy in Nepal. The Licchavis were known from early Buddhist legends as a ruling family during the Buddhas time in India, and the founder of the Gupta Dynasty claimed that he had married a Licchavi princess. Perhaps some members of this Licchavi family married members of a local royal family in the Kathmandu Valley, or perhaps the illustrious history of the name prompted early Nepalese notables to identify themselves with it. In any case, the Licchavis of Nepal were a strictly local dynasty based in the Kathmandu Valley and oversaw the growth of the first truly Nepalese state. The earliest known Licchavi record, an inscription of Manadeva I, dates from 464, and mentions three preceding rulers, suggesting that the dynasty began in the late fourth century. The last Licchavi inscription was in A.D. 733. All of the Licchavi records are deeds reporting donations to religious foundations, predominantly Hindu temples. The language of the inscriptions is Sanskrit, the language of the court in north India, and the script is closely related to official Gupta scripts. There is little doubt that India exerted a powerful cultural influence, especially through the area called Mithila, the northern part of present-day Bihar State. Politically, however, India again was divided for most of the Licchavi period. To the north, Tibet grew into an expansive military power through the seventh century, declining only by 843. Some early historians, such as the French scholar Sylvain LÃ ©vi, thought that Nepal may have become subordinate to Tibet for some time, but more recent Nepalese historians, including Dilli Raman Regmi, deny this interpretation. In any case, from the seventh century onward a recurring pattern of foreign relations emerged for rulers in Nepal: more intensive cultural contacts with the south, potential political threats from both India and Tibet, and continuing trade contacts in both directions. The Licchavi political system closely resembled that of northern India. At the top was the great king (maharaja), who in theory exercised absolute power but in reality interfered little in the social lives of his subjects. Their behavior was regulated in accordance with dharma through their own village and caste councils. The king was aided by royal officers led by a prime minister, who also served as a military commander. As the preserver of righteous moral order, the king had no set limit for his domain, whose borders were determined only by the power of his army and statecraftan ideology that supported almost unceasing warfare throughout South Asia. In Nepals case, the geographic realities of the hills limited the Licchavi kingdom to the Kathmandu Valley and neighboring valleys and to the more symbolic submission of less hierarchical societies to the east and west. Within the Licchavi system, there was ample room for powerful notables (samanta) to keep their own private armies, ru n their own landholdings, and influence the court. There was thus a variety of forces struggling for power. During the seventh century, a family is known as the Abhira Guptas accumulated enough influence to take over the government. The prime minister, Amsuvarman, assumed the throne between approximately 605 and 641, after which the Licchavis regained power. The later history of Nepal offers similar examples, but behind these struggles was growing a long tradition of kingship. The economy of the Kathmandu Valley already was based on agriculture during the Licchavi period. Artworks and place-names mentioned in inscriptions show that settlements had filled the entire valley and moved east toward Banepa, west toward Tisting, and northwest toward present-day Gorkha. Peasants lived in villages (grama) that were administratively grouped into larger units (dranga). They grew rice and other grains as staples on lands owned by the royal family, other major families, Buddhist monastic orders (sangha), or groups of Brahmans (agrahara). Land taxes due in theory to the king were often allocated to religious or charitable foundations, and additional labor dues (vishti) were required from the peasantry in order to keep up irrigation works, roads, and shrines. The village head (usually known as pradhan, meaning a leader in family or society) and leading families handled most local administrative issues, forming the village assembly of leaders (panchalika or grama pancha). This ancient history of localized decision making served as a model for late twentieth-century development efforts. The River System of Nepal One of the most striking features of present-day Kathmandu Valley is its vibrant urbanism, notably at Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhadgaon (also called Bhaktapur), which apparently goes back to ancient times. During the Licchavi period, however, the settlement pattern seems to have been much more diffuse and sparse. In the present-day city of Kathmandu, there existed two early villagesKoligrama (Village of the Kolis, or Yambu in Newari), and Dakshinakoligrama (South Koli Village, or Yangala in Newari)that grew up around the valleys main trade route. Bhadgaon was simply a small village then called Khoprn (Khoprngrama in Sanskrit) along the same trade route. The site of Patan was known as Yala (Village of the Sacrificial Post, or Yupagrama in Sanskrit). In view of the four archaic stupas on its outskirts and its very old tradition of Buddhism, Patan probably can claim to be the oldest true center in the nation. Licchavi palaces or public buildings, however, have not survived. The truly impor tant public sites in those days were religious foundations, including the original stupas at Svayambhunath, Bodhnath, and Chabahil, as well as the shrine of Shiva at Deopatan, and the shrine of Vishnu at Hadigaon. There was a close relationship between the Licchavi settlements and trade. The Kolis of present-day Kathmandu and the Vrijis of present-day Hadigaon were known even in the Buddhas time as commercial and political confederations in north India. By the time of the Licchavi kingdom, trade had long been intimately connected with the spread of Buddhism and religious pilgrimage. One of the main contributions of Nepal during this period was the transmission of Buddhist culture to Tibet and all of central Asia, through merchants, pilgrims, and missionaries. In return, Nepal gained money from customs duties and goods that helped to support the Licchavi state, as well as the artistic heritage that made the valley famous. Data as of September 1991 Next: The River System of Nepal Nepals Climate | Chronology | Historical Setting Nepal can be divided into three major river systems from east to west: the Kosi River, the Narayani River (Indias Gandak River), and the Karnali River. All ultimately become major tributaries of the Ganges River in northern India. After plunging through deep gorges, these rivers deposit their heavy sediments and debris on the plains, thereby nurturing them and renewing their alluvial soil fertility. Once they reach the Tarai Region, they often overflow their banks onto wide floodplains during the summer monsoon season, periodically shifting their courses. Besides providing fertile alluvial soil, the backbone of the agrarian economy, these rivers present great possibilities for hydroelectric and irrigation development. India managed to exploit this resource by building massive dams on the Kosi and Narayani rivers inside the Nepal border, known, respectively, as the Kosi and Gandak projects. None of these river systems, however, support any significant commercial navigation facility. R ather, the deep gorges formed by the rivers represent immense obstacles to establishing the broad transport and communication networks needed to develop an integrated national economy. As a result, the economy in Nepal has remained fragmented. Because Nepals rivers have not been harnessed for transportation, most settlements in the Hill and Mountain regions remain isolated from each other. As of 1991, trails remained the primary transportation routes in the hills. The eastern part of the country is drained by the Kosi River, which has seven tributaries. It is locally known as the Sapt Kosi, which means seven Kosi rivers (Tamur, Likhu Khola, Dudh, Sun, Indrawati, Tama, and Arun). The principal tributary is the Arun, which rises about 150 kilometers inside the Tibetan Plateau. The Narayani River drains the central part of Nepal and also has seven major tributaries (Daraudi, Seti, Madi, Kali, Marsyandi, Budhi, and Trisuli). The Kali, which flows between the Dhaulagiri Himal and the Annapurna Himal (Himal is the Nepali variation of the Sanskrit word Himalaya), is the main river of this drainage system. The river system draining the western part of Nepal is the Karnali. Its three immediate tributaries are the Bheri, Seti, and Karnali rivers, the latter being the major one. The Maha Kali, which also is known as the Kali and which flows along the Nepal-India border on the west side, and the Rapti River also are considered tributaries of the Karnali. Data as of September 1991 Nepals Climate | Chronology | Historical Setting

Life and Art of Eva Hesse, Postmodern Sculpture Pioneer

Life and Art of Eva Hesse, Postmodern Sculpture Pioneer Eva Hesse was a German-American artist known for her work as a postmodern sculptor and draughtswoman. Her work is characterized by a willingness to experiment with material and form, fashioning work from latex, string, fiber glass, and rope. Though she died at the age of thirty-four, Hesse has had a lasting impact on American art as a radical voice that pushed the New York art world into an era beyond Abstract Expressionism and stark Minimalism, the dominant art movements at the time she was working in the 1960s. Fast Facts: Eva Hesse Occupation:  Artist, sculptor, draughtswomanKnown for:  Experimenting with materials such as latex, string, fiber glass, and ropeEducation: Pratt Institute of Design, Cooper Union, Yale University (B.A.)Born:  January 11, 1936 in Hamburg, GermanyDied:  May 29, 1970 in New York, New York Early Life Eva Hesse was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1936 to a secular Jewish family. At the age of two, she and her older sister were put on a train to the Netherlands in order to escape the increasing threat of the Nazi party in Germany following Kristallnacht. For six months, they lived in a Catholic orphanage without their parents. As Hesse was a sickly child, she was in and out of the hospital, with not even her older sister for company. Once reunited, the family escaped to England, where they lived for several months, before they were miraculously able to sail to the United States in 1939, on one of the last boats of refugees welcomed on American shores. Settling in New York did not spell peace for the Hesse family, however. Hesse’s father, a lawyer in Germany, trained and was able to work as an insurance broker, but her mother had trouble adjusting to life in the United States. As a manic depressive, she was frequently hospitalized and eventually left Hesse’s father for another man. Following the divorce, young Hesse never saw her mother again, and she later committed suicide in 1946, when Eva was ten years old. The chaos of her early life characterizes the trauma Hesse would endure throughout her life, with which she would wrestle in therapy for her entire adult life. Eva’s father married a woman also named Eva, the strangeness of which was not lost on the young artist. The two women did not see eye to eye, and Hesse left for art school at the age of sixteen. She dropped out of the Pratt Institute less than a year later, fed up with its mindless traditional teaching style, where she was forced to paint uninspired still life after uninspired still life. Still a teenager, she was forced to move back home, where she got a part time job at Seventeen magazine and began taking classes at the Art Students’ League. Hesse decided to take the entrance exam for the Cooper Union, passed, and attended the school for a year before moving on to get her BFA at Yale, where she studied under renowned painter and color theorist Josef Albers. Friends who knew Hesse at Yale remembered her to be his star student. Though she did not enjoy the program, she stayed until graduation in 1959. Return to Germany In 1961, Hesse married sculptor Tom Doyle. Described as equally â€Å"passionate† people, their marriage was not an easy one. Reluctantly, Hesse moved back to her native Germany with her husband in 1964, as he was awarded a fellowship there. While in Germany, Hesses art practice matured into what would become her best known work. She began using string in her sculpture, a material which resonated with her, as it was the most practical way of translating the lines of drawing into three dimensions. Critical Success Upon returning to the United States in 1965, Hesse began to hit her stride as a critically successful artist. The year 1966 saw two landmark group shows in which she exhibited: â€Å"Stuffed Expressionism† at Graham Gallery, and â€Å"Eccentric Abstraction† curated by Lucy R. Lippard at Fischbach Gallery. Her work was singled out and critically praised in both shows. (1966 also saw the dissolution of her marriage to Doyle through separation.) The next year Hesse was given her first solo show at Fischbach, and was included in the Warehouse Show, â€Å"9 at Leo Castelli† along with fellow Yale alumnus Richard Serra. She was the only woman artist among the nine to be given the honor. Artistic Milieu in New York City Hesse worked in a milieu of similarly-minded artists in New York, many of whom she called her friends. Nearest and dearest to her, however, was sculptor Sol LeWitt, eight years her senior, who she called one of the two people â€Å"who really know and trust me.† The two artists equally exchanged influence and ideas, perhaps the most famous example of which is LeWitt’s letter to Hesse, encouraging her to quit distracting herself with insecurity and just â€Å"DO.† Months after her death, LeWitt dedicated the first of his famous wall drawings using â€Å"not straight† lines to his late friend. Art In her own words, the closest summation Hesse managed to come up with to describe her work was â€Å"chaos structured as non-chaos,† as in sculptures that contained within them randomness and confusion, presented within structured scaffolding. â€Å"I want to extend my art into something that doesn’t exist,† she said, and though conceptualism was gaining popularity in the art world, critic Lucy Lippard says that Hesse was not interested in the movement as â€Å"material meant much too much to her.† The creation of â€Å"non-shapes,† as Hesse termed them, was one way to bridge the gap between her dedication to direct touch, investment in material, and abstract thinking.   Her use of unconventional materials like latex has sometimes meant that her work is difficult to preserve. Hesse said that, just as â€Å"life doesn’t last, art doesn’t last.† Her art attempted to â€Å"dismantle the center† and destabilize the â€Å"life force† of existence, departing from the stability and predictability of minimalist sculpture. Her work was a deviation from the norm and as a result has had an indelible impact on sculpture today, which uses many of the looping and asymmetrical constructions that she pioneered.   Legacy Hesse developed a brain tumor at the age of thirty-three and died in May 1970 at the age of thirty-four. Though Hesse did not live to participate in it, the women’s movement of the 1970s championed her work as a female artist and ensured her lasting legacy as a pioneer in the American art world. In 1972, the Guggenheim in New York staged a posthumous retrospective of her work, and in 1976 feminist critic and essayist Lucy R. Lippard published Eva Hesse, a monograph on the artist’s work and the first full length book to be published on virtually any American artist of the 1960s. It was organized by LeWitt and Hesse’s sister, Helen Charash. Tate Modern staged a retrospective of her work from 2002-2003. Sources Blanton Museum of Art (2014). Lucy Lippard Lecture on Eva Hesse. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?vV50g8spJrp8t2511s. (2014).Kort, C. and Sonneborn, L. (2002).  A to Z of American Women in the Visual Arts. New York: Facts on File, Inc. 93-95.Lippard, L. (1976). Eva Hesse. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.Nixon, M. (2002). Eva Hesse. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Sovereignty of the State and Multinational Corporations in the Essay

Sovereignty of the State and Multinational Corporations in the Post-Second World War Western Economies - Essay Example MNCs are such that they are subject primarily to the rules of the home state and based on that submission, they are able to gain the credibility and credence to enjoy all the support and benefit the country has in the international community (Bousseba & Morgan, 2014). The Home State has the power and authority to regulate the activities of these MNCs and set up laws that can control and impact upon their affairs both locally and internationally (Scott, 2012). The Home State of an MNC also has the obligation to provide support services and assistance including a properly coordinated chamber of commerce system and all the vital diplomatic support necessary to achieve results in the foreign markets. International regulations have their roots in the 1945 United Nations Charter which gave impetus for the formal recognition of numerous multinational organisations which set up various rules and regulations governing international trade. These rules are not absolute, neither are they strictly enforced. This has given room for most multinational entities to tilt towards a trend of self-regulation (Haufler, 2013). This implies that to a large extent, most of the rules and regulations regarding what MNCs should do in the international front are moral rather than legal. Thus, there are numerous options and opportunities for these MNCs to disregard important regulations and carry out activities on their own accord. In spite of this, the international legal framework is not as non-functional as it might seem. Some authorities argue that in some specific sectors like banking, there is global coordination and international rules are highly advanced and functional (Grubel, 2009). This is due to the fact that these sectors are considered vital and there are effective international community organisations that set up rules that they apply significantly in most contexts and situations (Ruggie, 2014). However, in an overall sense, it can be stated that multinational corporations

The Black and Decker Corporation Case Study Essay

The Black and Decker Corporation Case Study - Essay Example Case Study Synopsis A. Company Overview; Dissecting the Case The Black & Decker Corporation is an American firm that manufactures and markets power tools, power accessories, fastening systems, products for home improvements, and hardware. It manufactures its products in eleven countries spread worldwide, and markets those in a hundred plus countries. Its biggest markets are the United States, which accounted for 55 percent of all revenues in 2008, and Europe, for 25 percent in the same year. 2008 revenues were US 6.086 billion dollars, while gross margins were 32.8 percent for that year. By product group contribution, power tools contributed 73 percent of all revenues in 2008, at US 4.3 billion dollars, followed by hardware and products for the improvement of the home, at US 900 million dollars, making up 15 percent of all revenues. The balance was made up for by revenues from fastening systems, which was the smallest product group by revenue for that year, accounting for 12 percent of all sales, valued at US 700 million dollars (Black and Decker, n.d., pp. 1-14). By way of a look forward, by 2012 the Black & Decker Corporation had ceased to be an independent firm, having been bought out by Stanley Works in 2010, so that the merged entity had come to be known as Stanley Black & Decker Inc.(Google Finance, 2012; Stanley Black & Decker Inc., 2012; Black and Decker, n.d.; Reuters, 2012 (b)). ... The hypothesis is that the traditional market strengths of the original Black & Decker Company had something to do with this share price appreciation(Reuters, 2012; Google Finance, 2012; Reuters, 2012 (b)): Image Source: Google Finance, 2012 B. Business Groups and Market Segments Three product groups serve as the organizing principle of the organization. These product groups are, as already mentioned earlier, power tools, product for home improvement and hardware, and fastening systems. Of the three, as has been noted earlier, power tools make up the bulk of the revenues (73 percent), followed by home improvement at 15 percent, and fastening systems at 12 percent of all revenues. Absolute profits rankings are the same, with power tools contributing the most to profits, followed in the same order by the two other product groups (Black & Decker, n.d., pp. 1-14). Three different market segments for the power tools product group, the largest product group, have differing characteristics, defined along customer type. As discussed earlier, these are industrial users, general consumers, and professionals. Of the three, the company has had success with industrial users and general consumers, while as noted earlier, prior to the launch of the DeWalt brand, the corporation had suffered anemic following among professionals, owing to the market perception that the company's products were inferior (Black & Decker, n.d., pp 3-5). Moreover, the three market segments also differ in some other profound ways. Industrial users are the most demanding, requiring that products show resistance to wear and resilience, even as the rewards include long-lasting relationships with buyers, and large and frequent orders. Professionals, using the products as essential trade tools,

Comparison of Economic Systems: Germany and the UAE

Comparison of Economic Systems: Germany and the UAE Introduction â€Å"Economy is the state of a country or region in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services, and the supply of money†(Oxford Dictionaries 2012). Before profound studying about the mentioned countries one important aspect should be taken into consideration the similarity between these two countries is their critical role in their region, both of those countries has a significant influence on the political and economy climate in their respective regions. Germany is located in Central Europe, south of Denmark, between Poland and the Netherlands. It has a direct access to North and Baltic seas. The countrys total area is 357,022 sq.km and the population around 82 million people. Historically, Germany has evolved couple of unifications and reunifications including the last one in 1990. Excellent infrastructure, location, skilled workforce and moderate wage rate make Germany very attractive for business. Notwithstanding, there are some environmental problems, such as air and water pollution, soil erosion, diminishing biodiversity and shortage of resources. The United Arab Emirates is located on the eastern part of Arabian Peninsula and shares borders with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the south, Oman to the east and sea sharing borders with Qatar. Also, country has a direct access to Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. The UAEs total area is much smaller, only 83,600 sq. km. The United Arab Emirates thrift and stability is substantiating by its considerable oil wealth that was discovered in 1960th, most of which is concentrated in Abu Dhabi the countrys capital (â€Å"United Arab Emirates profile’ 2012). Although, the UAE will remain be contingent on the oil reserves for many years to come, nevertheless, its level of dependency is gradually declining. The main role in development was taken by Dubai, which has become a regional financial, commercial powerhouse and o one the prime tourism centers of the Gulf Region. Moreover, a strong combination of oil prices, plentiful financial and fiscal resources, political stability, regulator y reforms and infrastructure development will backing the UAEs country risk profile. Germany represents a federal parliamentary, representative republic with a six main political parties, dominated by the Christian Democratic Union, the Christian Social Union of Bavaria and the Social Democratic parties. The head of the government who exercises executive power is a Chancellor Angela Merkel. Nevertheless, due to the fact that Germany is a member of European Union and G8, policies are subordinated with those organizations. As the biggest economy in Europe, Germany contributes 25% of Eurozones GDP. The political structure of the United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven monarchical emirates. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is an emir of Abu Dhabi and the President of the country. The federal system of government includes the President, the Prime Minister, the Supreme Council, Crown Princes and Deputy Rulers, the Federal National Council,the Council of Ministers (UAE Government 2012). Although, Germany has the second largest population in Europe, it faces an aging population. This implies some long term problems, such as increase in governmental welfare expenditures, healthcare expenses, pension’s payments and loss in income tax. Nevertheless, countrys immigration policies and laws set up favorable conditions for immigrants, and immigration rate exceeds emigration level. 10% of Germanys population consists of non-native nations, such as Turkish, Greek, Italian, Russian, Polish, Spanish and Serbo-Croatian. According to World Bank, UAE’s locals constitute only 16.5% of the total population. Meanwhile, the number of expatriates increasing over time, Indians accounts the biggest part with a 1.7 million people. Also, most of native representatives tend to work in public sectors, benefiting with a higher salaries, shorter working hours, greater job security, while 98% of private-sector workplaces are occupied by expatriates. As the graphs below represent the population pyramids for compared countries, we can mention the aging population in Germany, as was described previously. Also we pay attention on difference in population composition of those countries. Almost in every age group Germany’s population is somewhat balanced between male and female genders. On the other hand, we can see the drastic difference between male and female composition of United Arab Emirates’ population. Age groups from 20-64 is highly dominated by males; this caused by the fact that most of them are expatriates and they are coming to the country in search of a job, leaving their families in home countries. Source: US Census Bureau, International Data base (IDB) GDP Growth The economy of Germany continues to be based on individual consumption and going to strengthen by further investments, meanwhile next exports is still deterring growth. Germany has been decreased its dependence on exports in recent years. In addition, the Social Democratic Party has successfully pushed for an expenditure increase in infrastructural, educational sectors, as well as pension increase and minimum-wage regulation across all country by 2015. Eurozone’s debt-crisis caused uncertainty on consumers’ confidence and future expectations about their personal finances. Income is continuing to be supported by stable employment and increase in average wages. Also the expected perseverance of historically low interest rates will reinforce investment growth during upcoming years. Cheap mortgages will robust construction industry. Exports will recover during 2014, but the Eurozone crisis and geopolitical conflicts in the Ukraine and the Middle East are limiting scope. Although consecutive economic stabilization in the European Union will permit German exports to strengthen, the spikes in rebound trend during end of 2013 and beginning of 2014 – the natural structure of European debt crisis which in turn will limit the speed and vigour of export recovery. Furthermore, incandesce of Ukrainian situation and possible further escalations of actions in Iraq are incrementing world’s uncertainty and keeps internati onal trade back. The expected growth of the GDP of UAE is 4.3% in current year. Compared to the previous year the GDP growth, the highest after Great Recession, has declined. Economic growth had a strong acceleration in 2013 of 5.2%, but then economy faces some difficulties. Oil GDP expands only at a 1.8% rate this year, following 4.8% in 2013. With average global price of $109 per barrel in 2014, UAE oil output – which concentrated within the Abu Dhabi emirate – is going to reach around 2.7-2.8 million barrels per day. Non-oil sectors of the economy will continue to outrun growth driven by oil extraction. Activity in the non-oil sector has been steadily recovering following the downturn in 2009 and will continue to be the driving force of the economy’s growth momentum in 2014. Non-oil GDP is continuing holding on the same level as in 2013 – approximately 5.4%. The UAE has economy is relatively stable amid the disorder in the region. The key non-oil activities such as tourism, retail, and service help to drive the growth. Manufacturing activities led by aluminium and petrochemical industries is going to strengthen the following years. Also strong economic conditions will benefit both the transport and trade sectors. Real estate and construction sectors also improved along with overall market conditions. Infrastructure and development projects also had an additional motivation with Dubai’s award of next Expo city. A set of regulations implemented by authorities will help against a repeat of a boom cycles in Dubai. All these facts regarding Expo 2020 should provide a platform for a stable growth in tourism, construction, transport and hospitality industries in next 5 years. 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Germany -0.38% 1.16% 0.68% 3.70% 3.27% 1.08% -5.14% 4.01% 3.33% 6.89% 4.32% UAE 8.80% 9.57% 4.86% 9.84% 3.18% 3.19% -4.80% 1.67% 3.88% 4.37% .. GDP by type of Expenditure According to the expenditure approach of calculation of Gross Domestic Product, it equals to the sum of such components as consumption (C), investment (I), government purchases (G), and net export, i.e. difference between export and import (NX): Y=C+I+G+NX. Germany UAE Gross capital formation (% of GDP) 17.26 22.66 General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP) 19.29 6.90 Household final consumption expenditure, etc. (% of GDP) 57.53 49.75 Net Export (% of GDP) 5.92 20.68 Inflation UAE consumer inflation surpassed the 2% mark in April for the first time in five years, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Housing price inflation was relatively continual with 2.6% year on year in May; Dubai’s inflation has lowered to 3.7% compared to 4.9% in April. Real estate has become the main inflation driver in UAE, excelling food price inflation of 2.1%, even as food prices are increasing at 0.9$ rate per month. Consumer inflation is soon averaging 2.2% in 2014. The recovery of housing prices reflects the prolonged downturn in the real estate market. The annual inflation rate is expected to soar up to 3% by the end of 2014. Mildness of world’s commodity prices is going to benefit the inflationary pressures. The United Arab Emirates could face higher problems in their inflation outlook if commodity and food prices go up. 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Germany 2.6% 0.3% 1.1% 2.1% 2.0% UAE 12.3% 1.6% 0.9% 0.9% 0.7% Germany’s nationwide inflation should remain at a very kind level between 1% and 2% in near future. Following the consumer prices inflation leaped from a 22-year low of -0.5% in 2009 to around 2.5% in 2011, the economic deceleration caused by the Europe’s debt crisis during 2012 and early 2013 have led to a softening below 1.5% that will remain during 2014. On balance, core inflation should move broadly sideways to around 1.5% during 2014, as a boosting effect from the Germany’s economic recovery is offset by the continuing restraints of the Eurozone debt crisis, also the anticipated downward tendency of oil prices due to global supply factors. Although, monetary policy of the European Central Bank (ECB) will be much lighter than Germany’s economy is demanding. Germans’ traditional disinclines to inflation should limit the extent to which Germany’s inflation will exceed the European average. Also, inflation will be stacked the level ECB considers unproblematic. Also due to pressure on ECB to buy Eurozone’s governments’ bonds and to allow higher inflation rates is enduring upward economic risk within the region. 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Germany 96.1 98.6 98.9 100 102.1 UAE 87 97.6 99.1 100 100.9 Human Development Index The Human Development Index summarizes the long-term development of a particular country or region. It includes three basic parameters: living standard, knowledge accessibility and health and longevity. The HDI is primarily based on international data provided by the United Nations Population Division, the United Nations Educational. In year 2013, The United Arab Emirates had a very high HDI value of 0.827— which places the country on 40 out of 187 countries. From the very beginning of its existence as a government, the United Arab Emirates HDI had value increased from 0.640 to 0.827, and soared up for 29.2 percent. This gives us the average increase of about 0.78 percent per year. The Table below reviews the United Arab Emirates progress of the HDI indicator. Between 1980 and 2013, that was achieved by couple of factors: the United Arab Emirates life expectancy at birth increased by 9.2 years, average years of schooling increased by 5.5 years and expected years of studying increased by 4.7 years. On the other hand, the United Arab Emirates GNI per capita has decreased by about 62.2 percent between 1980 and 2013, due to tremendous increase in expatriate population. UAE Germany GNI per capita (2011 PPP$) HDI value GNI per capita (2011 PPP$) HDI value 1980 153,654 0.64 25,588 0.739 1985 139,421 0.686 27,355 0.752 1990 97,141 0.725 31,002 0.782 1995 102,203 0.764 32,643 0.825 2000 103,798 0.797 35,497 0.854 2005 104,668 0.823 37,259 0.887 2010 57,360 0.824 40,542 0.904 2011 56,393 0.824 41,907 0.908 2012 57,095 0.825 42,965 0.911 2013 58,068 0.827 43,049 0.911 The recent Germany’s HDI value is 0.911— which in turns is one of the highest on the globe —positioning the country at 6 out of 187 countries and territories. Taking the same time range as for UAE, 1980 and 2013, Germany’s HDI value increased from 0.739 to 0.911, an increase of 23.3 percent or an average annual increase of about 0.64 percent. This in comparison to UAE is slightly lower. The table reviews Germany’s progress in the HDI index. The increase in HDI is consisting of: Germany’s life expectancy at birth increased by 7.7 years, mean years of schooling increased by 7.2 years and expected years of schooling increased by 1.9 years. In terms of GNI, Germany’s per capita increased by about 68.2 conversely to UAE, during the same period of time.

Night World : Secret Vampire Chapter 5

James dodged as Poppy lobbed a paper back book athim. â€Å"Poppy† â€Å"You jerk! You snake! How can you dothis to me? You spoiled, selfish, immature-â€Å" â€Å"Shhh! They're going to hear you â€Å"Let them! Here I am, and I've just found out that I'mgoing to die,and all you can think of is playing a joke on me. A stupid, sickjoke. I can't believethis. Do youthink that'sfunny?†She ran out of breath to rave with.,James, who had been making quieting motions withhis hands, now gave up and looked toward the door. â€Å"Here comes the nurse,† he said. â€Å"Good, and I'm going to ask her to throw you out, â€Å"Poppy said. Her anger had collapsed, leaving her neartears. She had never felt so utterly betrayed andabandoned. â€Å"I hate you, you know,† she said. The door opened. It was the nurse with the flowered blouse and green scrub pants. â€Å"Is anything the matter here?† she said, turning on the light. Thenshe saw James. â€Å"Now, let'ssee; you don't look like family,† she said. She was smiling, but her voice hadthe ring of authority about to be enforced. â€Å"He's not, and I want him out of here,† Poppy said. The nurse fluffed up Poppy's pillows, put a gentle hand on her forehead. â€Å"Only family members are allowed to stay overnight,† she said to James. Poppy stared at the TV and waited for James to go.He didn't. He walked around the bed to stand by the nurse, who looked up at him while she continuedstraightening Poppy's blankets. Then her hands slowed and stopped moving. Poppy glanced at her sideways in surprise. The nurse was just staring at James. Hands limpon the blankets, she gazed at him as if she were mesmerized. And James was just staring back. With the lighton, Poppy couldseeJames's face-and again she had that odd feeling of not recognizing him. He was verypale and almost stern looking, as if he were doing something that required an effort. His jaw was tight and his eyes-his eyes were the color of silver. Real silver, shining in the light. For some reason, Poppy thought of a starvingpanther. â€Å"So you see there's nothing wrong here,† Jamessaid to the nurse, as if continuing a conversation they'd been having. The nurse blinked once, then looked around theroom as if she'd just awakened from a doze. â€Å"No,no; everything's fine,† she said.† Call me if †¦Ã¢â‚¬  She looked briefly distracted again, then murmured, â€Å"If, um, you need anything.† She walked out. Poppy watched her, forgetting to breathe. Then, slowly, moving only her eyes, she looked at James. â€Å"I know it's a cliche,† James said. â€Å"An overuseddemonstration of power. But it gets the job done.† â€Å"You set this up with her,† Poppy said in a bare whisper. â€Å"No.† â€Å"Or else it's some kind of psychic trick. The Amazing Whatshisname.† â€Å"No,†James said, and sat down on an orange plastic chair. â€Å"Then I'm going crazy. † For the first time that evening Poppy wasn't thinking about her illness. She couldn't think properly about anything; her mindwas a whirling, crashing jumble of confusion. She felt like Dorothy's house after it had been picked up by the tornado. â€Å"You're not crazy. I probably did this the wrongway; I said I didn't know how to explain it. Look, I know how hard it is for you to believe. My people arrange it that way; they do everything they can to keep humans not believing. Their lives depend on it.† â€Å"James, I'm sorry; I just—† Poppy found that herhands were trembling. She shut her eyes. â€Å"Maybe you'd better just-â€Å" â€Å"Poppy, look at me.I'm telling you the truth. I swear it.† He stared at her face a moment, then let out a breath. â€Å"Okay. I didn't want to have to do this, but †¦Ã¢â‚¬  He stood, leaning close to Poppy. She refused toflinch, but she could feel her eyes widening. â€Å"Now, look,† he said, and his lips skinned backfrom his teeth. A simple action-but the effect was astonishing.Transforming. In that instant he changed from the pale but fairly ordinary James of a moment ago-intosomething Poppy had never seen before. A different species of human being. His eyes flared silver and his entire face took on a predatory look. But Poppy scarcely noticed that; she was staring at his teeth. Not teeth. Fangs. He had canines like a cat's. Elongated and curving, ending in delicate, piercing points. They were nothing like the fake vampire fangs soldat novelty stores. They looked very strong and very sharp and very real. Poppy screamed. James clapped a hand over her mouth. â€Å"We don'twant that nurse back in here.† When he lifted the hand, Poppy said, â€Å"Oh, myGod; oh, my God†¦.† , â€Å"All those times whenyousaid I could read yourmind,† James said. â€Å"Remember? And the times when I heard things you didn't hear, or moved faster than you could move?† â€Å"Oh. my God.† â€Å"It's true, Poppy.† He picked up the orange chairand twisted one of the metal legs out of shape. He did it easily, gracefully. â€Å"We're stronger than humans,† he said. He twisted the leg back and put thechair down. â€Å"We see better in the dark. We're builtfor hunting.† Poppy finally managed tocapture an entirethought. â€Å"I don't care what youcan do,† she saidshrilly. â€Å"You can't be a vampire. I've known yousince you were five years old. And you've gottenolder every year, just like me. Explain that.† â€Å"Everything you know is wrong.† When she juststared at him, he sighed again and said, â€Å"Everything you think you know about vampires, you've picked up from books or TV. And it's all written by humans, I'll guarantee that. Nobody in the Night World wouldbreak the code of secrecy.† â€Å"The Night World. Where's the Night World?† â€Å"It's not a place. It's like a secret society-for vampires and witches and werewolves. All the best people. And I'll explain about it later,† Jamessaidgrimly. â€Å"For now-look, it's simple. I'm a vampire because my parents are vampires. I was bornthatway. We're the lamia.† All Poppy could think of was Mr. and Mrs. Rasmussen with their luxury ranch-style house and their gold Mercedes. â€Å"Your parents?† â€Å"Lamia isjust an old word for vampires, but for usit means the ones who're born that way,† James said, ignoring her. â€Å"We're born and we age like humans-except that we can stop aging whenever we want. We breathe. We walk around in the daylight. We can even eat regular food.† â€Å"Your parents,† Poppy said again faintly. He looked at her. â€Å"Yeah. My parents. Look, why doyou think my mom does interior decorating? Not because they need the money. She meets a lot of peoplethat way, and so does my dad, the society shrink. It only takes a few minutes alone with somebody, andthe human never remembers it afterward.† Poppy shifted uncomfortably. â€Å"So you, um, drinkpeople's blood, huh?† Even after everything she'd seen, she couldn't say it without half-laughing. James looked at the laces of his Adidas. â€Å"Yes. Yes,I sure do,† he said softly. Then he looked up andmet her gaze directly. His eyes were pure silver. Poppy leaned back against the pile of pillows onher bed. Maybe it was easier to believe him because the unbelievable had already happened to her earliertoday. Reality had already been turned upsidedown-so, honestly, what did one more impossibility matter? I'm going to die and my best friend is a bloodsucking monster, she thought. The argument was over, and she was out of energy. She and James looked at each other in silence. â€Å"Okay,† she said finally, and it meant everythingshe'd just realized. â€Å"I didn't tell you this just to get it off my chest,†James said, his voice still muted. â€Å"I said I could save you, remember?† â€Å"Vaguely.† Poppy blinked slowly, then said moresharply, â€Å"Save me how?† His gaze shifted to empty air. â€Å"The way you'rethinking.† â€Å"Jamie, Ican'tthink anymore.† Gently, without looking at her, he put a hand on her shin under the blanket. He shook her leg slightly, a gesture of affection. â€Å"I'm gonna turn you into a vampire, kid.† Poppy put both fists to her face and began to cry. â€Å"Hey.† He let go of her shin and put an awkwardarm around her, pulling her to sit up. â€Å"Don't do that. It's okay. It's better than the alternative.† â€Å"You're . . .freaking . . .crazy,† Poppy sobbed.Once the tears had started, they flowed too easily she couldn't stop them. There was comfort in crying, and -in being held by James. He felt strong and reliable and he smelled good. â€Å"You said you had to be born one,† she addedblurrily, between sobs. â€Å"No, I didn't. I said I was born one. There areplenty of the other kind around. Made vampires. There would be more, but there's a law against justmaking any jerk off the street into one.† â€Å"But I can't.I'm just what I am; I'm me. Ican'tbe-like that.† He put her gently away so he could look into herface. â€Å"Then you're going to die. You don't have any other choice. I checked around-even asked a witch.There's nothing elseinthe Night World to help you. What it comes down to is: Do you want to live ornot?† Poppy's mind, which had been swamped in confusion again, suddenly fixed on this question. It was like a flash light beam in a pitch-black room. Did she want to live? Oh, God, of courseshe did. Until today she'd assumed it was her unconditional right to live. She hadn't even been grateful for the privilege. But now she knew it wasn't something totake for granted-and she also knew it was some thing she'd fight for. Wake up, Poppy! This is the voice of reason calling.He says he can save your life. â€Å"Wait a minute. I've got to think,† Poppy saidtightly to James. Her tears had stopped. She pushed him away completely and stared fiercely at the white hospital blanket. Okay. Okay. Now get your head straight, girl. You knew James had a secret. So you never imagined it was anything like this, so what? He's still James. He may be some godawful undead fiend, buthe still cares about you. And there's nobody else to help you. She found herself clutching at James's hand without looking at him. â€Å"What's it like?† she said through clenched teeth. Steady and matter-of-fact, he said, â€Å"It'sdifferent. It's not something I'd recommend if there was another choice, but †¦it's okay. You'll be sick while your body's changing, but afterward you'll never get any kind of disease again.You'llbestrongandquick-and immortal.† â€Å"I'd live forever? But would I be able to stop aging?†She had visions of herself as an immortal crone. He grimaced. â€Å"Poppy-you'd stop aging now.That'swhat happens to made vampires. Essentially, you're dying as a mortal. You'll look dead and be unconscious for a while. And then†¦you'll wake up.† â€Å"I see.† Sort of like Juliet in the tomb, Poppythought. And then she thought, Oh, God†¦Momand Phil. â€Å"There's another thing you should know,† Jameswas saying. â€Å"A certain percentage of people don't make it.† â€Å"Don't make it?† â€Å"Through the change. People over twenty almost never do. They don't everwake up. Their bodies can't adjust to the new form and they burn out. Teenagersusually live through it, but not always.† Oddly enough, this was comforting to Poppy. Aqualified hope seemed more believable than an absolute one. To live, she would have to take a chance. She looked at James. â€Å"How do you do it?† â€Å"The traditional way,† he said with the ghost of asmile. Then, gravely: â€Å"We exchange blood.† Oh, great, Poppy thought. And I was afraid of asimple shot. Now I'm going to have my blood drawn by fangs. She swallowed and blinked,staring atnothing. â€Å"It's your choice, Poppy. It's up to you.† There was a long pause, and then she said, â€Å"I want to live, Jamie.† He nodded. â€Å"It'll mean going away from here.Leaving your parents. They can't know.† â€Å"Yeah, I was just realizing that. Sort of like gettinga new identity from the FBI, huh?† â€Å"More than that. You'll be living in a new world,the Night World. And it's a lonely world, full of secrets. But you'll be walking around in it, instead oflying in the ground.† He squeezed her hand. Thenhe said very quietly and seriously, â€Å"Do you want tostart now?† All Poppy could think of to do was shut her eyesand brace herself the way she did for an injection.†I'm ready,† she said through stiff lips. James laughed again-this time as if he couldn'thelp it. Then he folded the bed rail down and settled beside her. â€Å"I'm used to people being hypnotized when I do this. It's weird to have you awake.† â€Å"Yeah, well, if I scream you can hypnotize me,†Poppy said, not opening her eyes. Relax, she told herself firmly. No matter how muchit hurts, no matter how awful it is, you can deal with it. You haveto. Your life depends on it. Her heart was thumping hard enough to shake her body. â€Å"Right here,† James said, touching her throat with cool fingers as if feeling for a pulse. Just do it, Poppy thought. Get it over with. She could feel warmth as James leaned close toher, taking her carefully by the shoulders. Every nerve ending in her skin was aware of him. Then she felt cool breath on her throat, and quickly, before she could recoil, a double sting. Those fangs, burying themselves in her flesh. Making two little wounds so he could drink her blood†¦ Now it's reallygoing to hurt, Poppy thought. Shecouldn't brace herself anymore. Her life was in the hands of a hunter. She was a rabbit trapped in thecoils of a snake, a mouse under the claws of a cat. She didn't feel like James's best friend, she felt like lunch†¦. Poppy, what are you doing? Don't fight it. It hurts whenyou resist. James was speaking to her-but the warm mouthon her throat hadn't moved. The voice was in her head. I'm not resisting, Poppy thought. I'm just ready forit to hurt, that's all. There was a burning where his teeth pierced her.She waited for it to get worse-but it didn't.It changed. Oh, Poppy thought. The feeling of heat was actually pleasant. A sensation of release, of giving. And closeness. She and James were getting closerand loser, like two drops of water moving together until they merged. She could sense James's mind. His thoughts-andhis feelings. His emotions flowed into her, throughher. Tenderness†¦concern†¦ caring. A cold black rage at the disease that was threatening her. Despair that there was no other way to help her. And long ing-longing to share with her, to make her happy. Yes, Poppy thought. A wave of sweetness made her dizzy. She foundherself groping for James'shand, their fingers intertwining. James,she thought with wonder and joy. Her communication to him a tentative caress. Poppy.She could feel his own surprise and delight. And all the time the dreamy pleasure was building.Making Poppy shiver with its intensity. How could I have been so stupid? Poppy thought. To be afraid of this. It isn't terrible. It's.. . . right. She had never been so close to anybody. It was as if they were one being, together, not predator and prey, but partners in a dance. Poppy-and-James. She could touch his soul. Strangely enough, he was afraid of that. She couldsense it. Poppy,don't-so many dark things-I don't want you to see †¦ Dark, yes, Poppy thought. But not dark and terrible. Dark and lonely. Such utter loneliness. A feeling of not belonging in either of the two worlds he knew.Not belonging anywhere. Except †¦ Suddenly Poppy was seeing an image of herself. Inhis mind she was fragile and graceful, an emeraldeyed spirit of the air. A sylph-with a core of puresteel. I'm not really like that, she thought. I'm not talland beautiful like Jacklyn or Michaela†¦. The words she heard in answer didn't seem directed toward her-she had the feeling they were something James was thinking to himself, or remembering from some long-forgotten book. You don't love a girl because of beauty. You love her because she sings a song only you can understand†¦. With the thought came a strong feeling of protectiveness. So this was how James felt about her-she knew at last. As if she were something precious,something to be protected at all costs†¦. At all costs. No matter what happened to him.Poppy tried to follow the thought deeper into hismind, to find out what it meant. She got an impression of rules-no, laws †¦ Poppy, it's bad manners to search somebody's mind when you're not invited.The words were tinged with desperation. Poppy pulled back mentally. She hadn't meant topry. She just wanted to help†¦. I know,James's thought came to her, and with ita rush of warmth and gratitude. Poppy relaxed and simply enjoyed the feeling of oneness with him. I wish it could last forever, she thought-and justthen it stopped. The warmth at her neck disappeared, and James pulled away, straightening. Poppy made a sound of protest and tried to draghim back. He wouldn't let her. â€Å"No-there's something else we have to do,† hewhispered. But he didn't do anything else. He just held her, his lips against her forehead. Poppy feltpeaceful and languid. â€Å"You didn't tell me it would be like that,† she said. â€Å"I didn't know,† James said simply. â€Å"It never hasbeen before.† They sat together quietly, with James gently stroking her hair. So strange, Poppy thought. Everything is thesame-but everything's different. It was as if she'd pulled herself up on dry land after almost drowningin the ocean. The terror that had been pounding inside her all day was gone, and for the first time inher life she felt completely safe. After another minute or so James shook his head,rousing himself. â€Å"What else do we have to do?† Poppy asked. For an answer, James lifted his own wrist to hismouth. He made a quick jerking motion with hishead, as if tearing a strip of cloth held in his teeth. When he lowered the wrist, Poppy saw blood. It was running in a little stream down his arm. So red it almost didn't look real. Poppy gulped and shook her head. â€Å"It's not that bad,† James said softly. â€Å"And you have to do it. Without my blood in you, you won't become a vampire when you die, you'll just die.Likeany other human victim.† And I want to live, Poppy thought. All right, then.Shutting her eyes, she allowed James to guide her head to his wrist. It didn't taste like blood, or at least not like theblood she'd tasted when she bit her tongue or put a cut finger in her mouth. It tasted–strange. Richand potent. Like some magic elixir, Poppy thoughtdizzily.Andonce again she felt the touch of James's mind. Intoxi cated with the closeness, she kept drinking. That's right. You've got to take a lot,James told her.But his mental voice was weaker than it had been. Instantly Poppy felt a surge of alarm. But what will it do to you? â€Å"I'll be all right,† James said aloud. â€Å"It's you I'mworried about. If you don't get enough, you'll bein danger.† Well, he was the expert. And Poppy was happy tolet the strange, heady potion keep flowing into her. She basked in the glow that seemed to be lighting herfrom the inside out. She felt so tranquil, so calm†¦. And then, without warning, the calm was shattered. A voice broke into it, a voice full of harshsurprise. â€Å"What are you doing?† the voice said, and Poppylooked up to see Phillip in the doorway.