Dissociative Identity Disorder in Women

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) in Women An Annotated Bibliography Dissociative Identity Disorder is also known as â€Å"Multiple Personality Disorder†. This can be defined as an effect of severe trauma during early childhood, usually extreme, repetitive physical, sexual or emotional abuse. I chose this topic because I had to do a research paper about it in my Psychology class, so I just used the research I did to do this paper.This was my first choice of a topic because it’s a psychological disorder that I have been fascinated with, since coming to America. Although there were times that I had to look for a topic that was much broader, such as, â€Å"disorders and women† in general in order to find anything reliable about my topic. By broadening my research to include the â€Å"disorders that relate to men and women†, I was able to write a paper with a much more effective argument. I initially started to do research using the Internet and looking for scholastic journals.While this provided plenty of sources it was often difficult to determine if the information was reliable and half of the results were not relevant to my topic, like there were many times that I found myself looking through thousands of search results. Many of which were so irrelevant to my topic, like bulimia and anorexia, which are disorders but these are eating disorders, not psychological disorders. The most effective research method I found was going into EBSCOHOST and using the Academic Search Premier and Psychology databases, while trying a variety of search phrases.This method helped me find many useful journals with information that I could use directly, or, by going to the reference section of the journal, would lead me to other sources. I used IUCAT to find the reference books and the encyclopedias for my paper, the reference books were much more useful than I expected, proving that women suffer from DID more than men. I assumed that all encyclopedias were filled with broad, general definitions, but I found several that had very specific information on my topic and also listed sources that I could use for further research.I found several of the new research methods introduced during this course to be extremely helpful. I was surprised by how much of a difference changing a phrase or using Boolean Operators made at the beginning of a search. I hated the nesting search method, because it complicated everything and gave me millions of results, most of which were very irrelevant. I started out on the internet using the search phrase, â€Å"Dissociative Identity Disorder and women† which gave me plenty of results, but when I put limiters like Peer Reviewed Journals and Scholarly articles, I got fewer, more relevant articles.When I replaced â€Å"and† with â€Å"or† I got much different articles. By isolating or deleting certain words in a search phrase I would get a completely new set of sources, and I was comple tely surprised at how little I knew about doing research in the library. The library turned out to be much more useful to me than the Internet since I did not have to spend nearly as much time verifying the reliability of a source or checking to see if the source was relevant.I learnt that to judge the relevance of anything- a journal article, website, a book, we do so with the following criteria: The purpose of the article, Type of Journal, Coverage, Date of Article, Authority, Usefulness, Bias (of the publisher) and Organization and Content, and this was indeed the most important thing I learnt in this class. MLA Format Movies The Three Faces of Eve. Dir. Nunnally Johnson. Perf. Joanne Woodward, David Wayne and Lee J. Cobb. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, 1957. DVD.I watched this movie in high school; it was about Eve White, who had 2 other personalities living in her. Whenever she is faced with different situations like fear, anger, happiness, sadness, a different person ality would take over her actions. She was Eve White, a quiet, mousy, unassuming wife and mother who keeps suffering from headaches and occasional black outs. Eventually she is sent to see psychiatrist Dr. Luther, and, while under hypnosis, a whole new personality emerges: the racy, wild, fun-loving Eve Black. Under continued therapy, yet a third personality appears, the relatively stable Jane.This film, based on the true-life case of a multiple personality, chronicles Dr. Luther's attempts to reconcile the three faces of Eve. The movie really captures the frustration of a person with Dissociative Identity Disorder, because after each personality takes over, Eve White does not remember anything the other personalities said or did, so in the movie the therapist is trying to combine all 3 personalities back into 1 personality, so it was a very good visual representation of a woman with DID. Books Schreiber, Flora Rheta. Sybil. Chicago: Regnery, 1973. Print. I actually read this book a nd own it.This book is a fictional story about Sybil Dorsett, a pseudonym for a real woman named Shirley Ardell Mason, who was originally in treatment for social anxiety and memory loss, but whom during the course of treatment, manifests 16 other personalities. Throughout the book, her psychoanalyst, Cornelia Wilbur, encourages Sybil’s various selves to communicate and reveal information about her life. It describes Sybil's selves gradually becoming co-conscious, able to communicate and share responsibilities, and having musical compositions and art published under their various names.Wilbur attempts to integrate Sybil's various selves, first convincing them via hypnosis that they are all the same age, then encouraging them to merge. I included this in my research because at the book's end, a new, optimistic self-called â€Å"The Blonde† emerges, facilitating Sybil's final integration into a single, whole individual with full knowledge of her past and present life, whi ch is the goal of every person with DID. Comer, Ronald J. Abnormal Psychology. 7th ed. New York: Worth, 2010. Print. I found this book through the IUCAT online library catalog using the search terms â€Å"Dissociative Identity Disorder and women†.This is a book about different types of abnormal disorders. It offers a fresh, comprehensive, and exciting presentation of the field, with objective, balanced coverage of a wide range of theories, studies, disorders, and treatments and all major models. According to student reviews, â€Å"There has never been a text for the course so well-attuned to both the field of abnormal psychology and the wide range of students exploring it†. I liked this text because it presented the information in an unbiased manner.It used a lot of case studies and current events to support the various psychological theories. Hyman, Jane Wegscheider. I Am More than One: How Women with Dissociative Identity Disorder Have Found Success in Life and Work. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. Print. I read this book in high school and also own it. In the book, I Am More Than One, Jane Hyman takes on and succeeds at a difficult task, one which few authors manage to accomplish: communicating to her readers the deep respect with which she holds the women she interviews, even though their experiences are so foreign to her.It is clear from the beginning that Jane wants us to understand these women's experiences from their own perspectives, without denying the clinical descriptions of their illness. The stories in this book are riveting; the women are sharply and almost affectionately drawn, but as much as possible Jane â€Å"gets out of the way† of her subjects. Most chapters focus on a theme such as work, family, or relationships, but all in all, my favorite part of the book is that the author treats all her subjects with the same respect and a sincere desire to understand a life lived with DID and pass that understanding on to the reader .Reference book First, Michael, M. D. , ed. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR. Vol. 4 Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000. Print. I found this source by using the IUCAT online library catalog and it was available in the reference section of the IUSB library. This book covers all mental health disorders for both children and adults. It also lists known causes of these disorders, statistics in terms of gender, age of onset, and prognosis as well as some research concerning the optimal treatment approaches.In here, I discovered that, â€Å"Dissociative Identity Disorder is diagnosed 3 to 9 times more frequently in adult females than in adult males. Also, that females tend to have more identities than do males averaging 15 or more, whereas males average approximately 8 identities†, which did my topic a lot of justice. I liked this source a lot because some of the websites I had visited; had redirected me to this book as additional reference, and it was of great help. Government Publication United States. United States Courts. Court of Appeals. 6-3545 – United States v. Carol L. Gillmore. N. p. : n. p. , n. d. GPOaccess. Web. 8 Aug. 2012. . I found this publication by doing a search on GPOAccess. It is a court case about a woman who had DID, Carol Gillmore, who alleged at trial that her actions toward George Stately were a result of her DID causing her to experience a â€Å"red-out,† meaning that she entered into a dissociative state in which she suffered â€Å"a disruption . . . of consciousness, memory, identity and perception of [her] environment. She killed someone while in a state of amnesia with DID, so she is appealing her sentence because she claims she doesn’t remember killing George. I included this article because it is a life example of how the government handles people with DID. Journal articles Eric Eich, Dawn Macaulay, Richard J. Loewenstein and Patrice H. Dihle. â€Å"Me mory, Amnesia, and Dissociative Identity Disorder†. Psychological Science 8. 6 (1997): 417-422. EBSCOhost. Web. 23 July 2012. I found this article during a search in EBSCOhost.I found this article particularly interesting, because it explained a very common symptom of DID. It explained that virtually all patients with dissociative identity (or multiple personality) disorder manifest interpersonality amnesia, a situation where events experienced by a particular personality state or identity are retrievable or can be remembered by that same identity but not by a different one. That though it is considered as a hallmark of dissociative identity disorder (DID), inter-personality amnesia has to date being payed little to no attention.I found this article interesting because I remember how Eve from the movie got frustrated with herself when she could not remember things that she herself had just done or said. Ennis, Mark William, and Pamela Pater-Ennis. â€Å"Sanctuary Healing: One Congregation's Experience with Dissociative Identity Disorder. † Journal of Religion & Abuse 7. 4 (2006): 19-39. EBSCOhost. Web. 23 July 2012. I found this article in EBSCOhost. This article looked at different religions and how they view people with DID. Specifically the Christian and how they did a sanctuary healing to try to heal a woman with DID.The other personalities are seen as demons that have to be cast out of a person’s body. I found it as an interesting article, it was a very different view about DID, it’s good to be included in a research paper. Baker, Karen. â€Å"From â€Å"It's Not Me† to â€Å"It Was Me, After All†: A Case Presentation of a Patient Diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder. † Psychoanalytic Social Work 17. 2 (2010): 79-98. EBSCOhost. Web. 27 July 2012. I found this article in EBSCOhost. It sheds light on the fact that, in cases of extreme childhood trauma associated with abuse and neglect, one's sense of self is seriously compromised.Attachment patterns, symptoms, defensive operations, and character formation will differ depending upon the level of interference and impingement. That when repeated trauma occurs in early childhood, the dissociative response may become the first line of defense for the person to rely upon. This paper addresses the case of a woman diagnosed with DID. It describes the restoration of a unified sense of self from the eight parts of a dissociated and fragmented self in the course of therapy. The clinical case material presented is that of the child part of her, known as Lucy. Her treatment resulted in the integration of the ‘it's not me! self to the patient's knowledge that ‘it was me, after all. I like this article because it focuses on the child identity of an adult woman and what the child identity in the midst of adults has to go through, it was very interesting. Laddis A, Dell P. Dissociation and Psychosis in Dissociative Identity Disorder and Schizophrenia. Journal Of Trauma ; Dissociation July 2012; 13(4):397-413. Academic Search Premier. Web. July 17, 2012. I found this article using the Academic Search Premier in EBSCOhost. This is a case survey of people with DID versus those with schizophrenia.Dissociative symptoms, first-rank symptoms of schizophrenia, and delusions were assessed in 40 schizophrenia patients and 40 dissociative identity disorder (DID) patients with the Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation (MID). DID patients obtained significantly (a) higher dissociation scores; (b) higher passive-influence scores (first-rank symptoms); and (c) higher scores on scales that measure child voices, angry voices, persecutory voices, voices arguing, and voices commenting. Schizophrenia patients obtained significantly higher delusion scores than DID patients. It was an interesting article of how other disorders relate to DID.Websites Johnson, Kimball. â€Å"Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality D isorder): Signs, Symptoms, Treatment. † WebMD. WebMD, 26 May 2012. Web. 10 Aug. 2012. ;http://www. webmd. com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder;. I found this website while doing a search on Google. I choose to include this article in my bibliography because WebMD has always had a very reliable name. The information they provide is unbiased and is simply there to inform and help the reader. The article includes everything you need to know about DID – from the symptoms, causes, and possible treatments. Grohol, John. Dissociative Identity Disorder Symptoms. † PsychCentral, 9 July 2012. Web. 9 Aug. 2012. . I found this website while searching using Google. I included this website because the article goes into depth about the several different treatments of DID. These include Psychotherapy, Medications and Self Help. How effective each treatment type is, and it was determined that psychotherapy is the most effective way of trea tment that gives way to â€Å"integration† of the personalities. There are some things included in this website that were not included on the WebMD website and vice versa.

Ethical Delima

This case presents an ethical dilemma, a situation which arises when one must choose between mutually exclusive alternatives (Beauchamp& Walters, 2003). Decisions may have results that are desirable in some respects and undesirable in others. In Juana's case, her decision to refuse the blood transfusion had the desired outcome of allowing her to remain true to her religious beliefs. However, her choice also resulted in her death. If she had followed the recommendation of the physicians and the team, the desirable outcome would have been possible survival but would have had the undesired effect of violating her religious principles.The major ethical dilemma was that by honoring the patient's autonomy and religious beliefs, the physicians and interdisciplinary team were faced with compromising their moral duty to administer professional care in accordance with established standards (Chua & Tham, 2006). A brief review of the literature of Nursing Collection II: Lippincott Nursing Journa ls (from Ovid) and CINAHL databases for the past 5 years found no evidence to support best practice for a Jehovah's Witness who is pregnant and has experienced blunt trauma.Healthcare providers faced with this situation have sometimes attempted to obtain court orders that would overrule the patient's decision and result in her submitting to recommended medical treatment. For example, the Illinois Supreme Court (Illinois v. Brown, 1996) upheld a mother's decision to refuse blood transfusions even though they were vital for both the mother's and fetus' survival. The Patient's Bill of Rights states that the healthcare providers' responsibility is to give patients accurate information and that patients must consent to treatment (New York State Department of Health, 2008).This is consistent with the Federal government's recommendations to create guidelines that assure healthcare quality and to reaffirm the critical role consumers play in safeguarding their own health, (United States Depa rtment of Health and Human Services, 1999). Nursing practice is governed by the patient's right to autonomy rather than her religious beliefs (Levy, 1999). The first item in the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code for Nurses with Interpretative Statements (2001) addresses respect for human dignity:â€Å"Truth telling and the process of reaching informed choice underlie the exercise of self-determination, which is basic to respect for person †¦ Clients have the moral right to determine what will be done with their own person; to be given accurate information, and all the information necessary for making informed judgments; to be assisted with weighing the benefits and burdens of options in their treatment; to accept, refuse, or terminate treatment without coercion; and to be given necessary emotional support† (p. 1).However, it is difficult to witness death based on a person's decision to forgo care when medical options to sustain life are available. Treating this type of patient becomes particularly challenging when it involves two lives. Virtue ethics To analyze this ethical dilemma, the principles of Western medicine and the religious beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses were examined. The questions that surfaced were (a) how would the application of virtue ethics provide insight into Juana's situation, (b) what were the ethical principles in conflict, and (c) why was it an issue to administer a blood transfusion to Juana in an emergency situation.Volbrecht's framework for ethical analysis was utilized to address the clinical dilemma and the questions listed above. Virtue ethics was the primary theory employed prior to the 17th century. This theory centers on shared familial and cultural histories and religious traditions and acknowledges the community's ability to identify, interpret, prioritize, and adjust to moral considerations within a particular context (Volbrecht, 2002). The following is an exposition of this case according to virtue ethics. Virtue ethics focuses on what is morally correct from the patient's viewpoint and centers on the patient's autonomy.Actions and character are intertwined, and the ability to act morally is contingent on one's moral character and integrity. Virtue ethics focuses on the context of the situation (Volbrecht, 2002). Ethical analysis of virtue ethics entails (a) identifying the problem, (b) analyzing context, (c) exploring options, (d) applying the decision process, and (e) implementing the plan and evaluating results (Volbrecht, 2002). Identifying the problem Juana, a 20-year-old Hispanic woman, 32 weeks pregnant, was involved in a car accident. Internal bleeding to the thoracic or abdominal cavity was suspected.The stakeholders were the woman, her husband, the fetus, and the interdisciplinary healthcare team. The team thought the best method of treatment for this patient was to administer a blood transfusion and perform an emergency cesarean section. Both the patient and her husband ref used this option because of their religious beliefs and provided written documentation indicating that the patient would not accept blood or blood products. The value issues were the physical survival of the woman and her fetus versus the woman's religious integrity. Analyzing contextTo understand the decision-making process in this case, one must consider the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, compassion, and respect. The patient's religious beliefs and how they influenced her decision must also be taken into consideration. Gardiner (2003) confirms that the ethical principles mentioned above influence one's choices. In Juana's case, the healthcare team suspected she was experiencing internal bleeding and that she and the fetus were in physiological distress. Juana's decision to reject the proposed treatment was based on her stated religious beliefs.The contextual factors of this case centered on the patient's religious beliefs. The patient stated she would â€Å"rather be embraced in the hollow bosom of Jehovah than to be condemned for all eternity,† if she should receive a blood transfusion. Nurses draw from the code of ethics to reflect upon and understand the person's perspective, and to honor her wishes. â€Å"The nurse provides services with respect for human dignity and the uniqueness of the client, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes or the nature of the health problem† (ANA, 2001, p.1). To respect the patient's decision and honor her dignity, supportive care was provided to the patient in an effort to save her life, while at the same time respecting her wishes. The ANA Code of Ethics supports the point of view that healthcare providers should respect patients' wishes and decisions despite their own personal beliefs (ANA, 2001). Applying an ethical decision process Looking through the lens of virtue ethics, the caregivers focused on Juana's autonomy and her ri ght to choose what she perceived best in spite of the possible outcomes.Juana was a competent, pregnant woman who made informed decisions not to receive blood transfusions or a caesarean section. Based on virtue ethics, the healthcare providers respected the patient's autonomy by reflecting on and honoring the decision of the patient and her husband based on her religious values and beliefs. The healthcare providers also drew on the principle of beneficence, which centers on promoting the well-being of others. In this case, the well-being was not physiological but spiritually oriented.The principle of nonmaleficence was also employed by not intentionally inflicting harm on the patient and honoring her wishes. Violation of a client's deeply held beliefs is a form of doing harm. (Leonard & Plotnikoff, 2000). They also drew from the principles of veracity and respect, which entail being truthful to the patient and allowing her to make an informed decision (Volbrecht, 2002). The nursing virtues of compassion, moral courage, and self-reliance also contribute to an understanding of this situation. Evaluating resultsAt the time this clinical situation presented itself there were no specific guidelines in the institution for dealing with the dilemma presented by this case. However, there are guidelines for Jehovah's Witnesses specifically geared to early identification and management of gynecological patients. For example, in Australasia, there are specific guidelines for treating pregnant women that focus on stabilizing the patient by using traditional and new treatment modalities to meet patient needs, particularly for Jehovah's Witnesses or other patients who decline blood transfusions (Women's Hospitals Australasia, 2005).For antepartum patients, the guidelines focus on early identification of Jehovah's Witnesses during prenatal visits, as well as placing these patients on a high risk protocol, including maintenance of high hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, having advance directives completed, and establishing affiliations with other hospitals that are well-equipped and staffed to meet these patients' needs (Women's Hospitals Australasia, 2005). The Hartford Hospital in Connecticut has a similar program and also performs bloodless procedures on patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses (Miller, 1996).As a result of Juana's case being reviewed by the ethics committee post-mortem, a risk-management protocol was developed requiring patients who refuse blood transfusions to sign a waiver that removes the legal responsibility for the decision from the hospital and caregivers. To support this type of protocol, the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management maintains a database of hospitals that provide blood-conserving services in the United States as well as in Canada, Chile, Korea, and South Africa (Society for the Advancement of Blood Management, 2008).The problem, however, in an emergency situation is that it may not be possible to get the pat ient to a participating hospital. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (2004) recommends that advance directives and other legal papers be in place should an emergency arise. These documents should be easily accessible so that healthcare providers can honor the patient's directives. In so doing, they will be applying the theory of virtue ethics and, therefore, respect the patient's wishes (Macklin, 2003).Healthcare providers should practice beneficence and non-maleficence without imposing their beliefs as to the right thing to do. More explicit and universal guidelines would benefit both patients and providers when faced with similar ethical dilemmas. Conclusion In nursing practice, cases of patients refusing blood transfusions or other interventions are becoming more common. Therefore, content regarding ethical issues, such as Juana's case, needs to be integrated into nursing curricula and the clinical arena.Nursing educators who incorporate bioethics into critical thinking in cl inical decision making situations can prepare novice and experienced nurses to handle complex ethical dilemmas, such as described in this paper. The learning process may be facilitated through integrating lectures with case studies and utilizing patient simulators to further enhance the learning process (Larew et al. , 2006).These teaching approaches would provide the opportunity to expose nurses to scenarios of acute patients where they can intervene in a safe environment, which in turn would decrease their anxiety and promote learning. Nurse educators can further facilitate the learning process by providing clinical experiences with diverse patient populations in a variety of settings followed by discussion of actual clinical experiences, ethical issues, and debriefing (Larew et al. , 2006).Nursing faculty have an ethical responsibility to prepare competent nurses and facilitate continuing education that will help nurses recognize ethical dilemmas in practice and apply ethical pri nciples in trying to resolve them. The focus in practice, education, and research must be on providing care that respects patients' cultural beliefs and autonomy. Nursing educators should place equal emphasis on ethics in order to provide the best holistic care possible. To do anything else is a disservice both to the profession and to our patients.

Let There Be Light Lamp Shade Company

According to Murphy & Wood (2011), Let There Be Light Lamp Shade Company serves an upscale local market and is currently placing a bid for several public buildings in Asia. Total of 5,400 identical lights will be installed and delivered to the foreign port where the buyer would take possession. Let There Be Light Lamp Shade Company has three styles of lamp shades. In order to determine the best possible bid, the company will determine how many lamp shades can fit in the intermodal container and the total cost of delivering for style A, B, and C lamp shades. The interior dimensions of the intermodal container are 8 feet wide by 8. 5 feet high by 40 feet long and can hold up to 44,000 pounds per loaded container (Murphy & Wood, 2011). The intermodal container could hold 2,560 style A lamp shades because it holds 2,720 cubic feet, however, the top six inches cannot be used. The style B shades can be stacked two packages high with the square foot on the bottom. Each column could hold 12 shades and there can be a total of 320 (8 x 40) columns of 12. In terms of style B, the intermodal container could hold 3,840 lamp shades without exceeding the weight. Style C shades can be stacked the same ways as style B and a container could hold 320 columns of 20, totaling 6,400 lamp shades. However, this would exceed the 44,000 pound weight limit. To stay under the weight limit, the number of lamp shades the container could hold is 4,356 lamp shades (10. 1 the weight of one lamp shade divided by 44,000). The total cost of delivering of each style of lamp shades can be calculated by adding the cost of the lamp shade being manufactured, packaged, shipped, insurance, and ocean freight rates. For style A lamp shade, the cost of 5,400 lamp shades to be manufactured is $21,600 ($4 x 5,400). Packaging style A lamp shades is $0. 60 per lamp shade for a total of $3,240. The lamp shades will need to be shipped to the Port of Oakland, which will cost $3,000 ($1,000 per load). The cost of insurance for shipping style A lamp shades is $556. 80 because the total cost of the company at this point is $27,840 times 2% of the value of the shipment. The cost of ocean freight rates is $2,970. Adding the figures together brings the total costs of delivering for style A shades to the port of importation to $31,366. 80. Style B lamp shades cost $5 per lamp shade for a total cost of $27,000. The packaging of the style B lamp shade is $1,800 ($2 x 900). It will take two loads to the Port of Oakland for a total of $2,000. Insurance for style B lamp shade will cost $616 because the total cost thus far is $30,800 time 2% of the value of the shipment. The ocean freight rate cost is $1,960; for a total cost of delivering of $33,376. For style C lamp shades, the cost per shade for manufacturing is $6 for a total of $32,400 and the total packaging cost is $1,620. Again, two loads will be needed to deliver to the Port of Oakland for a total of $2,000. The insurance for style C lamps shades is $720 ($36,020 x . 02). The ocean freight rate cost is $1,238. The total cost of deliver the style C shades to the port of importation is $37,978. Thus, style A lamp shades would be preferred because it the least expensive out of all three styles. In conclusion, Let There Be Light Lamp Shade Company will be placing a bid for large public buildings in Asia. After analyzing how many lamps shades can be loaded into the intermodal container and the total cost of delivering, the company will be placing a bid with style A lamp shades. References Murphy, P. R. , & Wood, D. F. (2011). Contemporary Logistics. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

Course work Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Course work - Coursework Example This report will delve into the contractual process and suggest the most suitable form of contract that will have both parties satisfied. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) sought to manoeuvre this issue and develop a contract that is satisfactory to everyone (Broome, 1999, p3). The New Engineering Contract (NEC), also known as the NEC Engineering and Construction Contract, was their solution to this problem. This contract is an official system that seeks to guide individuals in the drafting of projects; both engineering and construction, to obtain tenders and the awarding of contracts (Forward, 2002, p7). This contract details the duties and responsibilities of the clients (employers) and the contractors (employees) during the progress of the project. A Works Information is also included in the NEC; this also includes the first Contract Data, client’s information, and the second Contract Data, contractors’ information (Institution of Civil Engineers 1995, p.6). NEC is an international standard that is adopted by several countries, notably the United Kingdom. Despite being internationally recognized, there are several reasons for choosing this contract. First and foremost, NEC emphasizes on developing mutual trust and co-operation for all parties involved in the contract. The risk involved in the project is collaborated and managed by all parties leading to efficient contract management practices (Broome, 1999, p19). It fosters good management of the work detailed in the contract. It does this by ensuring both parties are in good terms with one another. Secondly, NEC as a contract is applicable in all fields that involve contracts. It is applicable in construction, engineering, maintenance and consultancy contracts (Weddell & Weddell, 2006, p4). Furthermore, this contract has several payment options that cater for the clients and

Operation Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Operation Management - Essay Example They could be involved in trading activities. Under such circumstances, there should a clear green channel established which reduces the lead time to a manageable limit. In these cases, the turnaround time could be limited to say, 48 hours. In such exception orders, the customer service executives and managers need to play the role of single window clearance agents. In other words, they need to be the face of the company. The customer service personnel need to be capable of handling all order related communication, product related enquiries and any other pertinent information. There should be no involvement of sales and marketing personnel. In the case, we read about exceptions relating to the prices. Necessary approvals are obtained and the orders are processed. However, we also need to address customers who automatically become eligible for some price cuts, once they have placed a certain defined quantum of orders. This information needs to be decided in coordination with finance and sales personnel. Accordingly, for the specific customers, the applicable price discounts could be automatically applied for either bulk orders or for cumulative orders that have exceeded defined tonnage. We reiterate that this process should be captured in SAP and should not fall within the daily purview of sales and marketing divisions. In our case, we talk about shipments by sea and road. The company also needs to consider air shipment as another possible mode for express delivery. There could be a certain class of customers who are keen on availing this facility. Accordingly, the third party logistics provider should be informed to use this option in specific cases. The customer service team should also make provisions for the right set of documentation relating to air shipment. The case mentions modes of dispatch. We find that it does not talk about measuring supply chain efficiencies. Unless the company measures performance

Analysis MYB26 gene and male sterile and Anther dehiesence Literature review

Analysis MYB26 gene and male sterile and Anther dehiesence - Literature review Example The Arabidopsis plant produce flowers from April to early June. The plants of this family are known as crucifers due to their uniform flower structure that resembles a ‘cross’ and are also characterized by a fruit named silique which is 5-20mm long with 20-30 seeds. The leaves are alternate (rarely opposite) and sometimes organized in basal rosettes. Figure 1. Arabidopsis thaliana plant: Left, the vegetative stage, before flowering and growth of the floral stalk (bottom left). On the centre an adult plant at full flowering/seed set. On the right, flower, floral stem and seeds. White bars represent 1 cm, except for flower and seeds: 1 mm. (image from http://www-ijpb.versailles.inra.fr/en/arabido/arabido.htm) Taxonomy of A. thaliana Genus Arabidopsis has several species but A. thaliana (L.) Heynh. 2n=10 is the most studied as the model plant. Kingdom: Plantae Order: Brassicales Family: Brassicaceae Genus: Arabidopsis Species: Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Importance of A. thaliana as a model plant Though it has no significant economic value, A. thaliana is widely used as a model plant in studying a wide range of subjects in plant science. This was first proposed as a model plant by Friedrich Laibact in 1943 (Meyerowitz, 2001) and now it is used extensively in studies based on evolution, genetics, population genetics and plant development. It is widely applied in genetic transformation studies, chromosomal analysis, genetic mapping and genome sequencing work. One important trait that makes A. thaliana an ideal model plant in plant science research is its small genome size. It has only five chromosomes with 157 million base pairs (Bennet et al., 2003) and the genetic and physical maps of all five genes are available. This is useful for genetic sequencing and mapping. In fact the first plant genomes sequenced were of A. thaliana in the year 2000 where 115.4 mega bases of the 125mb genome were sequenced (â€Å"Analysis of the genome sequence of the f lowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana†, 2000). Such information provides the basis of understanding molecular biology of many plant traits and research has defined the functions of its 27,000 genes and the 35,000 proteins they encode (Integr8, 2011). In addition, A. thaliana has a short life cycle (six weeks from seed germination to seed maturation), has prolific seed production and the plant can be easily cultivated in restricted space. A. thaliana can be efficiently transformed with Agrobacterium and large number of mutants is available (www.arabidopsis.org). This plant has thus become valuable in genome projects and facilitates molecular level understanding of the biology of a flowering plant. Since Arabidopsis thaliana is similar to many other plants, it is believed that the properties found in Arabidopsis likely to be found in other flowering plants too. Therefore analyzing the structure and functions about Arabidopsis genes will pave the pathway to study about other plant species. Arabidopsis Information Resources (TAIR), located in Carnegie Institute for Science Department of Plant Biology, USA maintain a genetic and molecular biology database of A. thaliana (www.arabidopsis.org). TAIR includes data on complete genome sequence with gene structure, gene product information, metabolism and gene expression, genome maps, genetic and physi

First thing First Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

First thing First - Essay Example I said, "Honey, Pastor Jamal is going to be on Paula White Ministry and youve got to see it." He said "Ok." I was happy that he was willing to watch with me. As he stood in the middle of the room watching, I stood right behind him. After the program was off, I asked what his thought on first fruit was. He said it made sense. After introducing the idea to him, I left the room. I waited until the next morning and while we were sitting at the table I said, " Honey, I was hoping you give first fruit with your first paycheck in January." He understood why I wanted him to participate and loved how I explained it to him, but he had already made plans to use the money for something else. There was no changing his mind. He had his heart set on using his first pay check to purchase parts for his motorcycle. Since getting his motorcycle chrome out was a big deal to him, I had to drop the issue for the moment, but I was not finished with him yet. Later that evening I repeated what he had said about first fruit and how he agreed that it is important back to him. He finally said, "Well, I knew you were going to do what you wanted anyway. If it makes you happy go ahead." After thinking about it, I did not use his check for first fruit. I paid the bills and decided to ask about giving first fruit two months before the New Year. I would still use the same approach, but I would start earlier in getting him prepared to give up his whole pay

Usefulness of theory of kolcaba Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Usefulness of theory of kolcaba - Research Paper Example All these activities of nurses contribute to comfort of the patient that greatly enhances the healing process. The relationship between nursing care and comfort dates back to the early 1900s with the central focus on moral imperative. By 1903s, specialists in the nursing field perceived comfort as a strategy for attaining aspects of nursing care. By 1960s, comfort was a minor goal in nursing care, as physical aspects were dominant while emotional comfort was gaining importance. In 1990, Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory was fully dominant, with emphasis on childbirth pain, pain management, and palliative care and end of life (Kolcaba, 2003). Conditions in the nursing care sector such as loss and suffering of patients with complex medical care, pain scores of 10/10 even with increase in medication, and personal frustration and inability to change the situation contributed to the adoption of comfort as the foundation of nursing care. Comfort is relative. Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory seeks to address human needs, including transcendence, relief, and ease. It takes an individualized (holistic) approach to enhance the feelings of wellbeing and a sense of strength. Moreover, it provides a conceptual framework for nursing care (Kolcaba, 2003). The physical concept relates to homeostasis and bodily sensation, including regular bowel function, pain relief, adequate oxygen saturation, electrolytes and fluid balance, and positioning and turning. The socio-cultural concept concerns societal, interpersonal, and family relationships, rituals, and family traditions. These include cultural customs, continuity of care, caring attitude, education and information, and enhancing friend and family support. Psycho-spiritual concept revolves around the internal awareness of the meaning of one’s life, self-esteem, and sexuality, including improving and maintaining self-esteem, increasing relaxation, enhancing independence, and

The current Shipbuilding market in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The current Shipbuilding market in China - Essay Example The chief products of the Chinese ship manufacturing consist of large sized carriers and oil tankers. China has 70 shipyards that have the capacity to erect ocean gliding vessels. CSSC and CSIC are the main (Schuster, A M.H 2000).ship constructing giants. By 2005, the ship manufacturing authority; COSTICN announced ambitious schemes for the evolution of the Chinese ship designing industry that, the industry is scheduled to control twenty five percent of the bazaar share in 2010 and ultimately five years later, the projection that China would dominate as the world’s ship constructing nation with respect to tonnages. The contemplations anticipated 24 millions DWT; the analogous control of 35% of the market share. CSSC, the largest shipbuilding category, have committed $ 3.5 billion to enhance a modern shipping base in Chanxing isle of Shanghai. After the accomplishment of CSSC, Changxing would emerge as the leading ship building company world over. Future projections hold the ax iom of thinking that by 2015, three large ship construction centers of the Chinese shipbuilding industry are to be constructed. (Schuster, A M.H 2000). The shipping industry in china is a fundamental monetary domain for China’s very existence. For quite along time, the industry has been the main foreign exchange earner for China. China ship construction entry into the international market commenced in 1978. The industry has proved successful for the last 26 years. On the fourth year of the 21st century, China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was at 1.65 trillions, and as such it was positioned number seven globally, (Hutchins, J.G.B 1941). If rating is anything to go by, then China is the only developing country to feature among the top ten nations globally, in terms of GDP. For the last 25 years, the Chinese economy has maintained a high growth tempo, which is relatively at 9.4 percent per annum. With the impeccable statistics, it is therefore true that China is the

Polish Music Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Polish Music - Research Proposal Example The hymn was being used as a chant as far back as the 13th century, and also served as a national anthem. It was sung by Polish troops, especially during defensive wars with the knights of the Cross. The â€Å"Gaude Mater Polonia† (Rejoice, Mother Poland), a hymn in praise of St. Stanislaus, is to this day, sung at the beginning of every academic year in most of the Polish universities. With the unification of Poland and Lithuania in 1569, the music of Poland integrated the influences of the Germans, Jews, Ukrainians, Byelorussians, Tartars and Scandinavians. The 16th and 17th centuries were periods of economic prosperity coupled with peaceful conditions. This era was conducive to the development of all forms of art and is also referred to as the Golden Age of Polish music. The royal court granted patronage to musicians from all the countries of Europe, while many were employed in the chapels of the aristocracy. This period saw great growth in the musical tradition of Poland w hen many forms of vocal polyphony (choral music) were created. Music was also an integral part of court life, with its dances and other forms of entertainment, all accompanied by music.

Ethics and Moral Reasoning Essay Example for Free

Ethics and Moral Reasoning Essay Even though living in pain can be a physical and emotional toll on a person’s life, no one can judge or comment on it without knowing how it feels, but choosing to end your life for this cause is ethically wrong. A person should not be able to choose between life and death like it is something normal that we do every day. Dying is not the answer to a person’s problems, pains, or sufferings. Now a day technology and medicine are highly advanced and can cure or reduce the pain of a person with a disease. Choosing to end your life is basically committing suicide and suicide is wrong. First, I believe a person should not be able to choose whether they will live or die because dying will ease the pain and suffering they are experiencing but it is not the answer to their problems. People do not realize that by choosing to die they cause problems, pain and suffering to others. For example, a person may choose to die and have a big medical bill in which his spouse or family will be responsible for and not be able to afford it. Now because of his/her acts this family will be stuck with the financial problems left behind which can cause the person suffering due to financial burdens when they cannot afford it. Then to think on funeral expenses, and how the adults will explain it to children who might be too young to understand why was this chosen. Now a day medicine can cure or reduce the pain of a person with a disease. As I researched on the web I found that because of the â€Å"rapid and dramatic development in medicine and technology professionals have the power to save more lives.† For example, when a person has cancer they undergo chemo and/or radiation. Some people have it with success and kill the cancer cells while others don’t. We also have people with AIDS who can live their life pain and symptom free thanks to medicine they have to ta ke and things they have to undergo. Living with AIDS is a good example on a disease that is terminal and there is no cure for it but there are medicines that can and will help a person live life for many years and with very little to no problems. By ending life with the assistance of a doctor or medicine is basically committing assisted suicide and this is wrong and should not be assisted or encourage. Life is a gift from God and a person should not decide the end of it. Having a doctor assist you and give you medicine to end your life  whether it is to end your pain and suffering from a terminal disease is as bad as putting a gun to your head. I believe that having assisted suicide most people abuse it and think it’s the only way out. Some might even doing in despair or they might be desperate to stop all the pain they are in. Others might feel depressed in knowing they have a disease they might not be able to cure and will eventually die from. Ending a life due to medical issue is morally and ethically wrong and people should let the disease run its course. I don’t know how it is to live in pain and the physical and emotional toll it can have on someone. I cannot judge or comment on any person’s situation but a person should not be able to choose whether they will live or die. I believe it is selfish on their part to choose to end their life and should realize that dying will not stop the problems, pains, or sufferings. It will stop on their part because they will not be here to live it but it would not stop for the family and can even get worse with the death of that person. Medicine and technology are highly advanced and can cure or reduce the pain of a person with a disease. There are many medicines and equipment used to ease, stop and even prevent pain. When a person is choosing to end their life they are basically planning on committing suicide. People should look into the consequences it will bring if t hey do choose to end their life before even mentioning it. References: Assisted Suicide: A Right or a Wrong?. (n.d.). Assisted Suicide: A Right or a Wrong?. Retrieved July 7, 2014, from http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v1n1/suicide.html Physician-assisted Suicide: The Wrong Approach to End of Life Care. (n.d.). Physician-assisted Suicide: The Wrong Approach to End of Life Care. Retrieved July 7, 2014, from http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/assisted-suicide/to-live-each-day/physician-assisted-sucide-wrong-approach.cfm

Global Warming Essay Example for Free

Global Warming Essay Global warming pertains to the increase in temperature of the atmosphere based on the entrapment of gases that are emitted from activities on the surface of the earth. The increase in temperature is a direct result of the greenhouse effect, which involves heat that originated from the sun, which is entrapped within the atmosphere due to several factors. Scientists have determined that the atmosphere’s temperature has increased since the industrial revolution, which has maximized the use of chemicals in manufacturing various kinds of materials in industry. Global warming may result in regional changes in the weather, which will be more obvious if the weather were compared from one decade to another, and not on a daily basis. However, scientists have hypothesized that when the temperature of the surface of the earth has reached a highly critical level, such high temperature will cause severe and drastic changes to the atmosphere, affecting the oceans and will severely alter the weather patterns in a matter of years. Changes in the weather may include increasingly hot days and less cool days. The water levels will go down, exposing more land surface during the summer. Even higher latitude regions will be warmer by 40%. In addition, the amount the precipitation, be it rain or snow, will also increase, in the form of stronger storms and very intense typhoons and hurricanes. The El Nino events may also be more increase due to global warming. Global warming not only affects the weather, but it will also affect natural habitats. Higher levels of CO2 may facilitate the growth of forests, facilitating them to flourish and bloom. The warmer ocean waters will be helpful to fish and algae in the high seas. However, those organisms in higher elevations will find difficulty in surviving in warmer environments. Higher temperatures in oceans may kill corals, which are the nurseries for fishes and other aquatic organisms. For the human population, global warming may cause more incidents of infectious diseases such malaria, as well as systemic health problems such as heat stroke and respiratory diseases. Currently, the world is confused as society is ignorant of the detailed effects of global warming. Society is aware the summers are now longer and more intense and winters are envious of summer’s wrath, unleashing a fury that rivals the intensity of the heat. This is actually what global warming does. It confuses the world and now currently has also succeeded in confounding scientists. From a scientific point of view, global warming can be understood as a global environmental phenomenon which is characterized by an increase in the average temperature of the Earths near-surface air and oceans (Smith and Reynolds, 2005). There is certainly no doubt that global warming has a very detrimental effect on the environment as it causes rising sea levels and alters the amount and pattern of precipitation that a areas all over the world get (Gregory et al. , 2002). These environmental changes are also the projected causes of other ecological changes such as increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events which in turn creates changes in agricultural yields, glacier retreat, reduced summer stream flows, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors (Choi and Fisher, 2003). References Choi O and Fisher A (2003): The impacts of socioeconomic development and climate change on severe weather catastrophe losses: Mid-Atlantic region (MAR) and the U. S. Climate Change Vol. 58, pp. 149. Gregory JM, Stouffer RJ and Raper SCG (2002): An observationally based estimate of the climate sensitivity. J. Climate 15(22):3117-21. Smith TM and Reynolds RW (2005): A global merged land–air–sea surface temperature reconstruction based on historical observations (1880–1997). J. Clim. 18(12): 2021-2036.

Jack Kerouacs Road to Postmodernity

Jack Kerouacs Road to Postmodernity Jack Kerouacs Road to Postmodernity: Tracing the Beat Rhythm through Lyotardian Sensibility. Dr. Ashima Bhardwaj Abstract: Jack Kerouac was an author of the iconic text On the Road that gave birth to the Beat Generation in America. He was the spokesperson of this cult movement who also bugled the advent of Postmodernity in America much before than the claimed Euro-centric origins of the movement. The aim of the paper is to critique On the Road utilizing the critical equipment of Jean Franà §oise Lyotard, a thinker of the late 20th century. The clarity of his thoughts helped to define the postmodernist tendencies prevalent in the works of Kerouac. The text showcases that postmodernism did not emerge in the artistic or cultural arenas of European Sixties but was a product of much earlier American Post-war transitional years. His work remains an epilogue to Modernism and a prologue to Postmodernism. The paper would contend that the American Postmodernist in literature begins with Beat writings. Keywords Postmodernism, Beat movement, Paralogy, Metanarrative, Grand narrative, Differend, Sublime. Postmodernism has been a decisive instrument in the tool box of critical theory. Much before the coinage of the term Postmodernism in the criticism terminology, the Beat writer Jack Kerouac had bugled its advent by denouncing the rigid societal structures in his writing style, narration and even in the way he lived. The paper would scrutinize the text of On the Road from the perspective of Jean Franà §oise Lyotards critical framework. Lyotards philosophy highlights the postmodernist tendencies that have been an innate part of Kerouacs repertoire. Lyotardian concepts would be extremely relevant in interpreting the transitional Post-war phase in America. In the process the contribution of On the Road in establishing postmodernity in America would become visible. Kerouacs seminal work On the Road was a stimulus to the tremors of arriving postmodernity in America much before the European claims of the movements inheritance. The novel transformed the American literary landscape and a Bea t Generation raised its head from the sinister alleys, crowning Jack Kerouac- the King of Beatniks. Kerouacs works and life depicts an advent of Postmodernism much before it is registered in the European criticism. The Postmodernism as a phenomenon was prevalent in 1940s in America instead of the claimed decade of 1960s in Europe. Jack Kerouacs lifestyle and the body of his works bespeak of the transitional period where postmodernity began to emerge. The literary notoriety gained by Kerouac, the hyped image of him as the trendiest fashion icon by media and his being a writer for being famous are the effects of the postmodernist tremors in womb. Kerouacs work On the Road plays an important role in giving birth to Postmodernism. Kerouac has alluded to this changing era with his stylistic breakthrough, acuity and originality. Postmodernism, as a term, contains its own paradox. The word post refers to an aftermath as well as it includes the sense of being constructed on the base of Modernism. In Lyotards work The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge, he differentiates between modernist and postmodernist art. He argues that the art forms of these periods incorporate Sublime and also express the inexpressible. Lyotard states that the modernist art reduces the enormity of an event to a recognizable form. But the postmodern work by contrast presents the un-presentable in presentation itself and in the process denies the work to have a recognizable form. Postmodernist art refuses to be contained by the accepted notions of art forms. In this vein, Kerouac has called his novel On the Road an Epos- falling outside the definition of an epic. Kerouacs writing style was the first shock to the accepted ways of book writing. The first version of On the Road was written in record twenty days, single spaced paragr aph of 175,000 words, typed on a 120 foot long taped paper scroll. It is said that Kerouac took the scroll to Robert Giroux, the editor of Harcourt Brace and rolled it out. But Giroux asked him how he could print that. Books could not be afforded to look like it. This novel became a legend. Kerouac was aware of the repercussions as he had given a voice to the silenced and the marginalized communities in the work. He had destabilized the hierarchical standards. Hereby compatibility can be observed with Lyotardss Postmodernism. For Lyotard, Postmodernism is not a chronologically demarcated period. It is a response to a changing culture. Lyotards idea of Postmodernism, stresses on the need of recognizing the failings in a system and resisting the dominant modes in practice. Kerouacs work gives the center stage to the marginalized forms that form the very crux of Beat life. The novel describes a trans-racial, transgendered countercultural backdrop. It defines those changes which surfaced up in the post-war generation. America was the only country to emerge as a leading power from the ashes of the World Wars. The Eisenhower era followed the dictum of least interference. The state absolved from an active participation in the lives of the citizens. The stability so achieved wa s temporal as insecurities were depicted in maniacal car journeys by the heroes of Kerouacs work. In Lyotardian terminology it can be seen as breaking of a grand narrative. Lyotards concept when applied to the novel magnified the areas depicting heterogeneity. In the novel On the Road, Sal Paradise (Jack Kerouac) and Dean Moriarty (Neal Cassady) journey across America and towards the end they undertake a trip to Mexico. The journeys of the two heroes emphasized on the multi-perspectives of viewing a nation and strengthened the notions of believing in the necessity of difference. The novel strongly rejected the defining narratives. In Lyotards sensibility, the Metanarratives fail in a postmodern world. In the post- industrial society, the grand narratives of Speculation and Freedom also collapse. Lyotard asserted that no effort should be made to conceive a universalizing narrative. This breaking of narratives was essential. It gave space to the multitudes of stories that were subdued earlier by the Metanarrative. The two American Beats are in the search of IT which is a fathomless ecstasy. They are poor and beaten down but the spiritual search in their c onscious minds elevates them. They gain beato the beatific existence in their journey. Sal and Deans friendship saw many ups and downs but it was always the road which joined them. Kerouacs text is the prophetic roadmap charting a search for life in the fellaheen world lying on the verge of the consumerist western civilization. The novel has an inbuilt tendency of non-conformism. The characters have offered resistance in their own unique way. They use drugs for getting ecstatic experience. Sex becomes a potent tool to shatter the traditional ways of thinking. The non-conformism displayed by the characters synchronizes with the concepts of Lyotard. His postmodernism involves an interrogation of the hegemonic structures set by the society. The journey taken by Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty (Neal Cassady) becomes a kaleidoscopic search for life. Sal undertakes the journey to escape the monotonous life and to overcome depression from a failed marriage and illness. He takes four trips along with other beat figures across America. Hitch- hiking on his route, he wants to reach the Promised Land of Denver. On his truck ride he becomes aware of multiple narratives which go into the making of a nation. He receives a cultural shock in a Wild West Week celebration. In this event a simulacra of the pristine Texas glory is created. People imitate Texan life in cowboy hats and boots. This simulation is far way from reality. Sals stay at Chad Kings house in Denver reveals the downside of rising capitalism. Chads father had invented a spot remover that was now copied by a big firm. While Chads family lived in poverty, the company was soaring high in profits. Capitalism had made people subservient to its demands. In the name of progr ess, Lyotard says that system becomes a vanguard machine which is dragging humanity and de-humanizing it. People are hegemonized by totalitarian discourses, grand narratives and metanarratives. Kerouac shows how the upcoming Postmodernity is an incredulity displayed towards such metanarratives. There are two types of grand-narratives- the narrative of emancipation and speculative grand narrative. In the grand narrative of emancipation, knowledge becomes a liberating force. Kerouac thus attempts to provide an antidote to metanarrative and grand narrative constructions of prosperity under the garb of Capitalism. The speculative grand narrative ends in a realization of the state of non-progress. Similarly Postmodernist void becomes prominent as in the Wild West Week, and thus the grand narrative of emancipation breathes its last. Sal Paradise also declares that he can feel the world collapsing around him. He has understood the raggedness of America and thus the idealistic visions start evaporating. Sal meets Carlo Marx (Allen Ginsberg) in Denver. Carlo makes him realize through his poems that language itself has a linear progression and dreams are a mosaic of the figments of imagination. Sal witnesses the disintegration of myths thus upholding the advent of postmodernity. In LA he meets a Mexican girl, Terry. They make love and she tells him to believe in manana: tomorrow things would be better. Kerouac makes his protagonist feel the presence of the Grey myth of the West and dark myth of the East. Death becomes the ultimate reality that Sal is afraid of. Here one can see a parallel of Kerouacs beliefs and Lyotards philosophy. Lyotards Postmodernism is differentiated from Modernism as it exhibits a celebration instead of fear. This fear finds a vent in the make-up of Dean Moriarty (Neal Cassady) for he is a performer who is not afraid of anything- not even death. Sal sees that Dean was mad in his movements that included: a shaking of the head, up and down, sideways; jerky, vigorous hands; quick walking, sitting, crossing the legs, uncrossing, getting up, rubbing the hands, rubbing his fly, hitching his pant, looking upand sudden slitting of the eyes to see everywhere (Kerouac, On the Road 110) Dean in his madness embodies the Lyotardian principle of Paralogy. Lyotard argues that in modern science the new discoveries that take place open up new language games. They defy the existing norms thus changing our former opinions. Paralogy- the fase logic has the potential to revert the existing understanding of the world. In the novel, Dean becomes the fountainhead of power that destabilizes logic. In Postmodern transitions, Paralogy of Dean helps to from new language games nullifying every other format. Postmodernism is not then an utterly hopeless era where anything goes, rather it is a continuum where resistance has to take birth. The pinnacle of Deans games is reached where he asks Sal to make love to his girlfriend Marylou in order to see how she makes love to another man. Sex here becomes a beatific experience where, three children of the earth try(ing) to decide something in the night and having all the weight of past centuries ballooning in the dark before them. (Kerouac, OTR 125). At one point Sal justifies Deans fulfillment of physical love. For him it becomes a medium to relish physical sensation of the source of life bliss, and a way of returning to innocence. For Sal, love becomes a refuge. Late in their journey, Dean shows the way to throw off every burden. He convinces Sal and Marylou to strip and run wild celebrating their existence. Sal and Dean visit Old Bull Lee (William Burroughs). They take drugs which become a mode to enter into ecstasy. Old Bull Lees drug intake has led him to an awareness of seven personalities within him, each growing worse and worse.The top personality was an English Lord, the bottom an idiot. Halfway he was an old negro (Kerouac, OTR 137). No authentic self is sustained by him and his body becomes a site of conflict. Lyotard claims that in postmodernism the authentic self ceases to exist. The identity crisis can also be witnessed as a deconstruction taking place due to an instability set in the post-war years in America. The drug induced hallucinations bespeak of cannibalization of real self in a post-industrial society. Old Bull Lees wife Jane (Joan Vollmer) enjoys reading the classified newspaper. When Sal asks her if she is looking for jobs she replies that she was reading the want ads as they are the most interesting component of a newspaper. The classified newspaper advertises the ads that are being produced by a system. In Postmodernist space, as Lyotard says the Denotative and Prescriptive principles fail to sustain themselves. Denotations prescribe the world whereas Prescriptions tend to change it. The classified space is a sheer mockery on the system. In the first instance, modern politics deals in Prescriptions which are based on Denotations, as Simon Malpas writes, if the good of society is X, we should do Y (Malpas 5). Secondly in the Totalitarian regimes as well as democracies, Prescriptions are not given down from any authority but are imbibed by people. In On the Road, Old Bull Lee and Jane challenge the Denotative and Prescriptive principles making every authoritative voice redundant. They thwart the system but Dean madness engulfs it altogether. In the next spring journey a new height is embarked by Dean and Sal. They give lifts to hobos, visit pubs, and listen to jazz. It becomes visible what is common between them- the Road. By living a ragged beat life they are participating in the void of Postmodernism. The void can be discovered in their lives when they discuss their roles in the family. Deans marriages, divorces and the kids from this experience do not curtail his exuberance for life. Through the application of Lyotardian philosophy, in Dean Moriartys case one can observe the formation of a Differend. It is a concept given by Lyotard which refers to a wrong occurring at a particular moment. Differend occurs when both good and evil occur at the same time. Sal sympathizes with Dean saying, Poor, poor Dean- the devil himself had never fallen further; in idiocy, with infected thumb, surrounded by the battered suitcases of his motherless feverish life across America and back numberless times, an undone bird. (Kerouac OTR 178 ) The presence of good and evil breaks the stereotype image of hero-villain boy. Dean embodies the Differend himself. In a Differend one faces the situation where all that remains is injustice. One is prevented from having a role in the game of justice. Language is unable to explain the event and as a consequence the victim is thrown into silence. No one approves of Deans life and he cannot utter a single word to defend himself when a friend scolds him. For Lyotard: The Differend is a moment of silence, a stutter in the flow of language where the right words will not come. It marks a point of suffering where an injustice cannot find a space to make itself heard where an injury is silenced and becomes a wrong. Differends are a point of departure for Lyotards exploration of the politics and philosophy of language in the Differend. (Malpas 60). The Injustice in Lyotardian sensibility manifests in the novel as Dean is blamed by his fellows for being a selfish maniac. But they cannot understand that Dean Moriarty has stopped role-playing. He is only following his urge to MOVE on the road. He inquires, Whats your road man?holy boy road, mad man road, rainbow road, guppy road, any road. Its an anywhere road for anybody anyhow. Where body how? (Kerouac, OTR 237). The next Mexico trip of Sal and Dean is a version of apocalyptic tone of postmodern. Together Sal and Dean challenge certain language games and create their own rules. According to Lyotard language is a medium to explicate the play of language games. There are three features of language games as given by Lyotard. First, the language games are an object of contract between the players. Second rules have to be sustained. Third, every utterance is a move of the game. The language games then decide the relationships and bonding in a society. The language game played in the void, has the ability to say the unsaid. This ability has been achieved by Dean for he is a hipster who has abandoned every responsibility. They traverse tracing the fellaheen civilization of Mexico that offers a contrast to the consumer culture hypocrisies. America has a sense of finite reality which is generated by the consumerist industry. Kerouacs reaction against this is a reverence for residue left in Mexican cul ture with is depthless signifiers. Kerouacs fellaheen world is the pure primitive humanity where ecstasy can be found. This raw ecstatic force is defined as IT. This IT can be treated as a version of Lyotards Sublime. Lyotards presumption is based on the notion of understanding how postmodernist art is empowered by Sublime. It demolishes the mediocrity of general opinion and employs the power of sublimity in analyzing the limit set by the society. The cause of Sublime remains un-deciphered yet it can be conceived. Lyotardian Sublime is understood in two ways: one termed by him as Modern and the other is Postmodern. One symbolizes modernist melancholia and the other is postmodernist jubilation. Modernist sadness is burdened with a longing for the world of stability whereas Postmodernist Sublime discovers new channels of expression. Postmodernist work breaks rules, challenges hierarchy and raises questions against hierarchy. In Kerouacs text, the IT becomes the epitome of Sublime. It is an ambiguous experience that cons tructs and demolishes itself. The aesthetic experience of Kant is bifurcated into the Beautiful and the Sublime. Whereas Lyotards Sublime occurs with a simultaneous existence of pain and pleasure. Sublime brings rapture and horrifies at the same time. The pain represents modernist nostalgia and pleasure embodies postmodernist celebration. The Sublime for Sal crystallizes in Dean Moriarty. Dean has the ability to enter ecstasy through sex, drugs and music. He imparts this wisdom to Sal. Nothing matters if one enters into the labyrinth of IT-the spastic power. Sal also becomes aware that Dean is the victim as much as he is a con-man. In Mexico, Sal gets dysentery and fever and becomes unconscious for many days. Dean deserts him and leaves for New York. A simultaneous existence of dark and light elements emerges in Deans character. The absolute goodness is countered by absolute evil. In such a situation no justice can be excluded. A residue of the feeling of injustice remains. Lyotard has elaborated the concept of Justice in a heterogeneous environment. His concept in context of the novel helps in understanding the injustice done to marginalized communities. Beats are the spokesperson of marginalized voices. They as a community include hobos, pimps, prostitutes, blacks, Hispanics, junkies and drug peddlers. Sal and Dean through their message of liberation provide justice to the down trodden victims of a Capitalist society. Based on Kants Critique of Judgment, Lyotard explains the injustice, by introducing the theory of genre of discourse. J udgment takes place when a specific genre of discourse is selected to understand the particular state of affairs. Judgments can thus be classified into two types- Determinate judgments and Reflective judgments. Determinate judgments take place when we fit in a given idea of a particular formulated context. Determinate judgments are made by the bourgeoisie on the Beats. In case of reflective judgment, a strange new event occurs and a search for context is generated. Lyotard gives an analogy of an archipelago where a navigator has to find his way linking various islands. Judgment becomes the basis of sailing among the islands. Reflective judgment sustains itself in the postmodernist philosophy as there are no pre-fixed laws of attributing justice. Dean becomes the crazy Ahab who then gives direction to the crew. Beats then indulge in Reflective judgments and give a new terminology to the system. Through their freedom they refuse to be judged by the norms of determinate judgments. Inst ead they pass on reflective judgments that initiate a role reversal between the dictator and victim. The quest motif takes the heroes of the novel to various places. This technique helps Kerouac to depict the transition taking place over the whole continent. In the end one realizes that there is no escape from reality. Dean says, No more land! We cant go any farther cause there aint no more land. (Kerouac, OTR 161). The road takes you back from where you started. Dean had come knocking at Sals door and their journey had begun. In the end the madman Dean comes again and leaves without Sal. Deans behavior though muted still carries a resistance. He symbolizes the Lyotardian Seed of Disruption whose impact remains on Sal and at a macrocosmic level, on the generations to come. Dean comes to meet Sal in New York from San Francisco, coming five weeks before the scheduled time. Sal has to leave him around a street corner as he has to go with another friend, but he continues to think of Dean who had come just to see him. WORKS CITED Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. Penguin, 1972. Lyotard, Jean Franà §oise. Le Differend: Phrases in dispute. Translated by Georges Van Den Abbeele. Theory and History of Literature. Vol. 46. University of Minnesota Press. 2002. . The Postmodern Tradition: A Report On Knowledge. Translated by Geoff Bennington and Brian Massumi. Theory and History of Literature. Vol. 46. University of Minnesota Press. 1984. Malpas, Simon, ed. Jean Franà §oise Lyotard: Routledge Critical Thinkers. Routledge 2003.

Online Communities :: Internet Technology Computers Papers

Online Communities The Internet...the most exciting, mysterious and phenomenal form of communication to date. It allows people to enter a world where they can explore far off places they would not dare to venture into in the tangible world. It gives people the opportunity to communicate with other human beings from all over the world using nothing but a keyboard. It is an information highway, a place where research can be gathered on any topic capable of entering into the imagination. My exposure to the world of Cyberspace began six years ago when I entered college at California State University, Chico. I obtained a school-based e-mail account. In addition to writing to friends at other colleges, I was able to chat with other people on campus using a "talk" command. Throughout my two-year experience at Chico, I never ventured far out of the school-based e-mail system and never once went surfing on the "net." It wasn’t until I transferred to California State University, Northridge that I began my exploration of the Internet. Since I was commuting from home where I had a computer with no modem, it was at the school library where I did my e-mail. It was on these library computers that I became familiar with the Internet. I was now exposed to a whole new aspect of being online. I began using the Internet to research topics for both papers and recreation. In fact, when I moved back home and started going to CSUN, I became very involved in swing dancing. I wanted to know the "where, when and how" of the swing dancing scene in Los Angeles. The Internet became my source of information. I became part of an online community of swing dancers. I joined a forum where people gathered to post announcements and talk about nothing more than swing dancing. The Internet provided me the opportunity to get hooked into the dancing community via an online community. After the first couple of years at CSUN, upon my graduation in Deaf Studies, I obtained a personal computer with a modem and signed up for America Online. I was now able to have both e-mail and access to the Internet from the comfort of my own home. And now, for the last two years, I have been using this AOL account almost exclusively for e-mail. I never use the Internet unless absolutely necessary and find myself getting impatient and agitated when I can’t find what I am looking for or when I come to a screen saying "Page Not Found.

Erics perfect society :: essays research papers

ERIC’S VERY GOOD CITIZENSHIP ESSAY I have learned that I have the freedom to be who I am. I know that everyone else has freedoms and rights. I have the right to make decisions along with the rest of the world. We all have opinions that matter. We all can benefit society and ourselves. Everything else I have learned can help benefit myself. I personally have benefited from this course by learning that I can make a difference to every endeavour and challenge I pursue for the rest of my life. Civics is really a course on everyday life that I believe to be very important to society and myself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I have learned how to use my legal privileges with regard to rights during my everyday life. It gives me a sense of freedom and even though I am a teenager I know I have an opinion and an important position in society. There were times when I went places when there where adults and really was quiet because I didn’t think what I had to say was important. I feel comfortable meeting with people who may be more knowledgeable and more experienced than I am. I have much more self-confidence than before I took this course because I know my rights. I am much more comfortable even with teachers thanks to you Mr. Harris.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I know that when I am old enough and able to vote that my vote will be important. I know that my vote will mean something. I know that my vote will count. I can get involved in politics and assist with the important issues in life. I have confidence that I can make a difference and help others with their issues and concerns. I listen to others opinions with more interest. I also give my opinion with much more confidence and enthusiasm. For example, when my family is making a decision on something I am much more confidant putting my two cents in the conversation. I know that no matter how old or young we are we all have opinions that count. Freedom is a wonderful thing. We really are interesting individuals and all should be heard. When we where young and in public school we felt intimidated and sometimes suppressed when forming our opinions. I wish they taught civics and the rights of freedoms in public school. It really is important to know you have an opinion.

Pygmalion :: essays research papers

During the time of the play, Pygmalion, classes in England were seemingly artificial. It is shown very well in Act III during one of Mrs. Higgins’s at-home days the differences between classes. Mrs. and Miss Eynsford Hill claim to be of the upper class and they act as if they are in the upper class to try and impress Henry Higgins during this scene.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eliza Doolittle is being tutored by Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics, to speak clearly and correctly; to change from her old flower girl way to a lady of class. Having not been eduacated fairly well and not having learned this â€Å"new† language quite well a remark from Freddy Eynford Hill sends her back into her old ways.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At the being of the conversation, in Act III, Eliza is speaking with pedantic correctness of pronunciation and great beauty of tone. â€Å"How do you do, Mrs. Higgins?[she gasps slightly in making sure of the H in Higgins]....† Eliza starts to go off and loses control of her emotions later on during the conversation when she misconstrues the remark of Freddy Eynsford Hill. She starts to get like her old flower girl self and gets so comfortable that she doesn’t even realize it. Henry jumps into the conversation and stops her and she finally realizes what happens. The Eynsford Hills still seem a little bit puzzled because they have never heard a person of such â€Å"high class† speak in such a manner.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Henry goes on to explain that she is just talking the new small talk and that everybody who is anybody is doing it. The Eynsford Hills being the rocket scientist that they are don’t realize that Higgins is not telling them the truth about Eliza and who she really is. They want to be accepted so much by him and his upper class friends that they believe him and start talking in the same way. On the way out the door Clara imitates the silly nonsense and laughs as she says goodbye.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alfred Doolittle is another character in the play that doesn’t really show a class distinction. When you first see Alfred in Act II he is a trash man. â€Å"He is an elderly but vigorous dustman , clad in the costume of his profession, including a hat with a back brim covering his neck and shoulders,† states Shaw (the author of Pygmalion).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  While his clothing and his appearance are disapproving, his language of persuasion is very appealing. Higgins is surprised by the way that Doolittle speaks and becomes somewhat interesting.

Challenges of Being an Advocate and Neutral Facilitator Essay

Dual Relationship Challenges A mediator is an impartial third party who meets with two or more people to encourage and facilitate communication in order to reach an agreement or conclusion over a conflict that exists between the two parties. The mediator is not the decision maker. The two parties and not the mediator will make the final decision. It is the legal and ethical job of the mediator to keep all communication confidential unless otherwise specified (The Association of Attorney-Mediators, 2001). The mediator should never choice anyone side or force one party to agree with the other. Because mediators are neutral, their personal beliefs and values can be a challenge. There are legal, moral, and ethical issues that mediators have to tackle when they deal with the parties conflicts. The mediator has to assure that each party is comfortable and know that their issues and thoughts are heard. It is important the mediator remain bias. Personal Perception Mediators and advocates are the vital to the human services field. Their clients depend on the mediator to inform them of their rights. They do not know the laws and the procedures that protect them. That is why mediators and advocates there to assist them. Personal Philosophy and Approach The services that are provided at the Planned Parenthood Agencies, I feel are important. Most soon to be, parents are teen who have no idea on how to tell their parents or guardians that they are expecting. The mediator at Planned Parenthood (the counselor) will be the one that will assist them on informing their parents or guardians and be the neutral party that will help them to determine the next step. Whether it be abortion, adoption or to keep the baby. The mediator is has no personal interest in the family but they do have to accept the decision of the family no matter what their personal beliefs are. Planned Parenthood is trusted health care providers, informed educators, passionate advocates, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world. Planned Parenthood delivers vital sex education and information to millions of women, men, and young people worldwide (Parenthood) . They are mediators must remain neutral if they really want to help the families through their difficult ordeal because it takes a person who can help the two parties come to a civilized decision about their issues. Conclusion It is important that human service professionals who are mediators and advocates remain neutral when assisting parties with their issues.

Stefan’s Diaries: The Craving Chapter 4

November 5, 1864 It feels like so long ago, but in reality little time has passed since my transformation, since my father killed me. It was barely a month past that Damon and I tried to save Katherine's life, and her blood saved ours. Barely a month since I was a living, warm-blooded human, who sustained himself on meals of meat and vegetables, cheese and wine – and who slept in a feather bed, with clean linen sheets. Yet it feels like a lifetime, and by some definitions, I suppose it is. But just as quickly as my fortunes turned after New Orleans, leaving me to live as a vagrant in a rocky hollow in the park, here I am at a proper desk under a leaded window, a thick rug at my feet. How quickly I am slipping back into human ways! The Sutherlands seem like a kind family. I picture tempestuous Bridget and her long-suffering older sister as mirror versions of Damon and myself. I never appreciated how harmless Damon's and my father's fights were back when they were just about horses and girls. I was always terrified one of them would say or do something that would end forever what semblance of a family we had left. Now that my father is dead and my brother and I are . . . what we are, I realize how much more serious things can get, and how simple and easy life was before. I shouldn't even stay here, even tonight. I should sneak out the window and flee to my place of exile. Being enfolded in the warm, living embrace of the Sutherland family for any amount of time, no matter how short, is dangerous and deceptive. It makes me feel like I could almost belong to the world of humans again. They don't realize they have welcomed a predator into their midst. All that would need to happen is for me to lose control once, to slip from my room right now and take my fill of one of them, and their lives would be filled with tragedy – just as mine became when Katherine arrived on our doorstep. Family has always been the most important thing to me, and I would be lying if I didn't admit how comforting it is to be among people who love one another, if only for one borrowed night. . . . For the first time since I'd left New Orleans, I rose with the sun, intent to slip out of the mansion and disappear into the morning mists before anyone came to wake me. But it was hard to resist the pull of crisp linen sheets, the soft mattress, the shelves of books, and the painted ceiling of my room. After admiring the fresco of winged cherubs above me, I pushed off the soft covers and forced myself out of bed. Every muscle in my body rippled under my pale skin, full of strength and Power, but every bone in my rib cage showed. The Sutherlands had taken my clothes to be washed but hadn't given me a nightshirt. I enjoyed the feeling of morning sunlight on my flesh, the glowing warmth fighting with the chill in the room. Though I'd never forgive Katherine for turning me into a monster, I was grateful at least for her lapis lazuli ring that protected me from the sun's otherwise fatal rays. The window was open the slightest bit, ushering a cool breeze into the room and setting the diaphanous curtains aflutter. Though temperature no longer affected me, I closed the window, locking the latch with some puzzlement. I could have sworn all the windows had been shut tight last night. Before I had time to further consider the matter, the tell-tale thump of a heartbeat sounded close by, and after a light knock, the door cracked open. Lydia stuck her head in, then immediately blushed and looked away from my nearly naked form. â€Å"Father was afraid you might try to leave without saying good-bye. I was sent to make sure you didn't charm a maid into helping you.† â€Å"I'm hardly in a state to sneak away,† I said, covering my chest with my arms. â€Å"I will need my pants to do that.† â€Å"Henry will be up shortly with your trousers, freshly pressed,† she said, keeping her eyes on the ground. â€Å"In the meantime, there is a bathing room just down the hall to the right. Please feel free to refresh yourself, and then come down to breakfast.† I nodded, feeling trapped. â€Å"And, Stefan.† Lydia looked up briefly and met my eye. â€Å"I do hope you'll be able to locate a shirt as well.† Then she smiled and slipped away. When I finally came downstairs for breakfast, the entire Sutherland clan was waiting for me – even Bridget, who was alive and stuffing toast into her face like she hadn't eaten in a fortnight. Except for a slight paleness to her complexion, it was impossible to tell that she'd nearly died the night before. Everyone turned and gasped as I approached. Apparently, I cut a different figure from the hero in shirtsleeves the night before. With freshly polished fine Italian shoes, neat pants, a new clean shirt, and a borrowed jacket Winfield had sent up for me, I was every inch the gentleman. I'd even washed my face and combed my hair back. â€Å"Cook made you some grits, if you like,† Mrs. Sutherland said, indicating a bowl of gloppy white stuff. â€Å"We don't usually indulge, but thought our Southern guest might.† â€Å"Thank you, ma'am,† I said, taking the empty seat next to Bridget and eyeing the spread on the large wooden table. After my mother passed away, Damon, my father, and I made it a habit to dine casually with the men who we employed on the plantation. Breakfast was often the simple stuff of workers, hominy and biscuits, bread and syrup, rashers of bacon. What was laid out at the Winfield residence put to shame the finest restaurants in Virginia. English-style toast in delicate wire holders, five different types of jam, two kinds of bacon, johnnycakes, syrup, even freshly squeezed orange juice. The delicate plates had blue Dutch patterns, and there was more silverware than I was accustomed to seeing at a formal dinner. Wishing I still had a human appetite – and ignoring the fire in my veins that thirsted for blood – I pretended to dig in. â€Å"Much obliged,† I said. â€Å"So this is my little sister's savior,† said the one woman in the room I didn't know. â€Å"Allow me to introduce the eldest of my daughters,† Winfield said. â€Å"This is Margaret. First married. And first with grandchildren, we're hoping.† â€Å"Papa,† Margaret admonished, before turning her attention back to me. â€Å"Pleased to meet you.† Where Bridget was full of life and the plumpness of youth and Lydia was the elegant, cultivated one, Margaret had something of a practical and inquisitive good sense, an earthiness that showed in questioning blue eyes. Her hair was black and inclined to straightness. â€Å"We were just discussing what prompted my child's rash actions,† Winfield said, bringing the conversation back to the previous night. â€Å"I don't know why I ran off,† Bridget pouted, drawing deeply from a cup of orange juice. The older sisters gave each other looks, but their father leaned closer, worry lines marring his forehead. â€Å"I just felt that I absolutely had to leave. So I did.† â€Å"It was foolish and dangerous,† her mother reprimanded, shaking her napkin. â€Å"You could have died!† â€Å"I am glad to see you are doing so well today,† I said politely. Bridget grinned, displaying teeth that had little bits of orange pulp stuck in them. â€Å"Yes. About that.† Margaret spoke up, tapping her egg spoon on the side of her plate. â€Å"You say you found her covered in blood in the park?† â€Å"Yes, ma'am,† I answered warily, taking the smallest piece of bacon on my plate. This sister sounded more astute than the others and wasn't afraid to ask uncomfortable questions. â€Å"There was a lot of blood, and Bridget's dress was torn.† Margaret pressed, â€Å"Did you find it odd that there was no actual wound?† â€Å"Uh,† I stammered. My mind raced. What could I say? The blood was someone else's? â€Å"I thought there was a knife wound last night,† Mrs. Sutherland said, pursing her lips and thinking. â€Å"But it was just clotted blood, and wiping it down cleared it away.† Margaret pierced me with her eyes. â€Å"Maybe she was afflicted with a nosebleed . . . ?† I mumbled lamely. â€Å"So you're saying that you didn't see any attacker when you came upon my sister?† Margaret asked. â€Å"Oh, Meggie, you and your interrogations,† Winfield said. â€Å"It's a miracle that Bridge is all right. Thank goodness Stefan here found her when he did.† â€Å"Yes. Of course. Thank goodness,† Margaret said. â€Å"And what were you doing in the park last night by yourself?† she continued smoothly. â€Å"Walking,† I said, same as I had answered her father the night before. In the bright light of morning, it struck me as odd that Winfield had asked me nothing more than my name and why I'd been in the park. In times like these, and after his daughter had just suffered a great blow, it was hardly standard to accept a stranger into one's home. Then again, my father had offered refuge to Katherine when she'd arrived in Mystic Falls, playing the part of an orphan. A nagging piece of me wondered if our story could have ended differently, if the entire Salvatore brood would still be alive, if only we'd pressed Katherine for answers about her past, rather than tiptoeing around the tragedy she'd claimed had taken her parents' lives. Of course, Katherine had Damon and me so deeply in her thrall, perhaps it would have made no difference. Margaret leaned forward, not politely giving up the way Winfield had the night before. â€Å"You're not from around here, I take it?† â€Å"I'm from Virginia,† I answered as she opened her mouth to form the next, obvious question. In a strange way, it made me feel better to offer this family something real. Besides, soon enough I would be out of this house, out of their lives, and it wouldn't matter what they knew about me. â€Å"Whereabouts?† she pressed. â€Å"Mystic Falls.† â€Å"I've never heard of it.† â€Å"It's fairly small. Just one main street and some plantations.† There was some shuffling movement under the table, and I could only assume that either Bridget or Lydia was trying to give Margaret a good kick. If the blow was successful, Margaret gave no sign. â€Å"Are you an educated man?† she continued. â€Å"No, ma'am. I planned to study at the University of Virginia. The war put a stop to that.† â€Å"War is good for no one,† Winfield said as he stabbed a piece of bacon with his fork. â€Å"The war put a stop to much casual travel back and forth between the states,† Margaret added. â€Å"What's that to do with anything?† Bridget demanded. â€Å"Your sister is suggesting that it's an odd time for me to come north,† I explained. â€Å"But my father recently died. . . .† â€Å"From the war?† Bridget demanded breathlessly. Lydia and Mrs. Sutherland glared at her. â€Å"Indirectly,† I answered. A war had claimed my father's life, a war against vampires – against me. â€Å"My town . . . it burned, and there was nothing left for me anymore.† â€Å"So you came north,† Lydia said. â€Å"To try your hand at business, maybe?† Winfield suggested hopefully. Here was a man with three daughters, three beautiful daughters, but no sons. No one to share cigars and brandy with, no one to push and encourage and compete with in the world of business. I was both worried and amused by the gleam in his eye when he looked at me. Surely there were families with sons in Manhattan who would make for more auspicious marital alliances. â€Å"Whatever I can do, I aim to make my way in the world on my own,† I replied, taking a sip of coffee. I would have to, without Lexi or Katherine to guide me. And if I ever saw Damon again, the only thing he would guide me toward was a newly sharpened stake. â€Å"Where are you living?† Margaret continued. â€Å"Do you have family here?† I cleared my throat, but before I had to tell my first real lie, Bridget groaned. â€Å"Meggie, I'm bored of this interrogation!† A hint of a smile bloomed on Lydia's lips, and she quickly hid it behind her napkin. â€Å"What would you prefer to talk about?† â€Å"Yourself?† Margaret said with an arched brow. â€Å"Yes, actually!† Bridget said, looking around the table. Her eyes glowed as green as Callie's, but with her petulance on full display, she no longer reminded me of my lost love. â€Å"I still don't know why I ran out on the party.† Margaret rolled her eyes. Lydia shook her head. â€Å"I mean, you should have seen the looks I got!† she started up, waving her knife in the air for emphasis. â€Å"Flora's dress was the worst, especially considering she's a newly married woman. And my new sash – oh no, was it ruined last night? I would hate to have it ruined! Mama! Was it on me when Stefan brought me home? We have to go back to the park and look for it!† â€Å"How about we go back to the park and look for the person who tried to kill you,† Margaret suggested. â€Å"We've already had a discussion with Inspector Warren about it. He promises a thorough investigation,† Mrs. Sutherland said. â€Å"But, Bridget, you must promise not to run off from the Chesters' ball this evening or I will be forced to stand watch over you in your bedroom.† Bridget crossed her arms over her chest with a huff. â€Å"And neither shall you run off,† Mrs. Sutherland said more pointedly to Lydia. The middle sister blushed. â€Å"Lydia has fallen in love with an Italian count,† Bridget confided, her pout evaporating as she indulged in gossip. â€Å"We all hope he asks her hand in marriage – wouldn't that be splendid? Then we'd all be like royalty, sort of, and not just rich merchants. Imagine, Lydia a countess!† Winfield laughed nervously. â€Å"Bridget . . .† Bridget fluttered her thick eyelashes. â€Å"It's so wonderful that Lydia has a suitor, much less a count. After Meggie was wed, I was afraid Mother and Papa would become traditional and not let me marry until Lydia did and who knew how long that was going to take.† â€Å"Lydia is . . . particular,† Mrs. Sutherland said. â€Å"Oh really, Mama,† Bridget rolled her eyes. â€Å"As if anyone even had an interest before. And now she has a count. It's really . . . it's really not fair, you know, if you think about it . . . if I had a proper coming out . . .† I shifted in my seat, at once embarrassed for everyone, and yet glad to be involved in something as ordinary as a family squabble. This was the first time I'd been among company since leaving Lexi in New Orleans. â€Å"So many handsome, strange men in our lives these days,† Margaret said, somewhere between whimsy and warning. â€Å"What an odd coincidence, Mr. Salvatore. Perhaps I needn't make the grand tour, after all.† â€Å"Hush now, Margaret,† Winfield said. â€Å"And actually I have no one to go to the Chesters' with anyhow, Mama,† Bridget was continuing, actually growing red in the face as if she was trying quite hard to cry. She looked at me sidelong the entire time. â€Å"I am sure Milash won't escort me after last night. . . . I am in dire need of rescue. . . .† Bridget widened her green eyes at her father. Winfield frowned and stroked his muttonchops thoughtfully. In that moment, Bridget seemed as powerful as a vampire, able to compel her father to her every wish. Margaret put a hand to her head as if it ached. â€Å"Mr. Salvatore will take you,† Winfield said, gesturing at me with a fork full of biscuit. â€Å"He's rescued you once; I'm sure he's a gentleman who wouldn't leave you in distress again.† All eyes were turned on me. Bridget perked up, smiling at me like a kitten just offered a bowl of cream. I balked. â€Å"I'm afraid I haven't the proper attire . . .† I began. â€Å"Oh, that is solved easily enough,† Mrs. Sutherland said with a knowing smile. â€Å"Once again,† Lydia murmured, too low for anyone else to hear, â€Å"we are holding poor Mr. Salvatore at our mercy. With pants.†