Arab-Israeli War of 1973 Essay

The Arab-Israeli War was an armed conflict initiated by the Arab nations of Egypt and Syria against Israel on October 6, 1973 in an effort to reclaim territories that Israel had controlled since the Six Day War of 1967. The date holds special significance to the Jewish calendar, being Yom Kippur, hence this war is also known as the Yom Kippur War. Though Israel was caught by surprise and experienced severe losses during the war, assistance from the United States military led to a cease-fire less than three weeks later. In the aftermath, Israel retained its territories and its aftermath had far ranging effects on the geopolitics of the Middle East. First, the victory of Israel had an uplifting effect on its population. Its military had been seen to have grown largely complacent following the Six Day War. However, despite initial defeats, they managed a successful turnaround of the Yom Kippur War’s outcome. As such, despite the surprise advantage of Egypt and Syria they had regained the upper hand in less than two weeks, though at a high cost in casualties. In effect, Israel woke up to the reality that their military supremacy in the region was not absolute. (Rabinovich 498) Second, by granting support to Israel, the United States invited the ire of oil-producing Arab states. This manifested itself in the actions of Saudi Arabia, which not only reduced its oil production but declared an embargo against the United States. Saudi Arabia was later joined by other oil-producing Arab states and together they extended their embargo against other import dependent nations in Western Europe as well as Japan. The result was the 1973 energy crisis that sent oil prices spiraling past $60 per barrel and close to $100 per barrel in 1979. (Smith 329) Third, on the geopolitical front, enemy states of Israel concluded in the aftermath that they could not defeat it by force, and thus turned towards diplomatic tactics in antagonizing it. The effect was that many African and Third World nations, under pressure from the Arab states, broke their diplomatic ties to Israel. Works Cited No author. â€Å"The 1973 Yom Kippur War. † Anti-Defamation League, 1999. Retrieved September 24, 2008 from: http://www. adl. org/ISRAEL/record/yomkippur. asp Smith, Charles. Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict. New York, NY: Bedford, 2006. Rabinovich, Abraham. The Yom Kippur War: The Epic Encounter That Transformed the Middle eAst. New York, NY: Shocken Books, 2005. Rabinovich, Abraham [2005]. The Yom Kippur War: The Epic Encounter That Transformed the Middle East. New York, NY: Schocken Books. ISBN 0 8052 4176 0. Charles D. Smith, Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, New York: Bedford, 2006, p. 329.

Barack Obama`S Speech Analysis

INTRODUCTION The aim of this paper is to examine the strategies of President Barack Obama, and its ideological component, also why Barack Obama use exact words and how strong is the influence. The topic has been studied before by Juraj Horvath (2010),Jana Langrova(2010) and Junling Wang(2010). Therefore, the goal of the conducted research paper is to find out which of the political are used more often in the speech of Barack Obama, and what does it mean. The enabling objectives to get the research goal are the following: ) To read and analyze the secondary sources on the research topic 2) To collect the empirical data 3) To implement the necessary research method 4) To create a table, showing the most frequent terms. The hypothesis is that convinced political terms are used more often in the speech of Barack Obama than other terms. The research methods of research applied in the study: Library research: the study of the secondary sources on the research theme. Quantitative empirical research method: corpus-based quantitative research.The main research method applied in the study was quantitative frequency analysis. Chapter 1 is devoted to the secondary sources analysis on the research topic. Chapter 2 explains the research methodology applied in the study. Chapter 3 presents the research results and discussion on finding. Appendix contains the table presenting the most frequently used terms. Analysis of Secondary Sources (The Literature Review) Chapter I presents the literature connected with analysis of Barack Obama`s speeches.The power and influence of Barack Obama speeches are discussed in this text; also his expressed ideology and its manipulations are mentioned then. Opinions and thoughts of Juraj Horvath â€Å"Critical Discourse Analysis of Obama`s Political Discourse† and Jana Langrova â€Å"Ideology in Obama`s Prague Speech in the Mirror of Discourse Analysis† (2010) are presented and compared in Chapter I. Juraj Horvath used quantitative method to write his analysis, and when he counted all the words, what he were interested in, he expressed the ideas, which are very remarkable. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ new†, which characterizes the strategy and ideas of the newly sworn president and his administration†, this extract is about Barack Obama`s often used word â€Å"new†. Juraj Horvath`s opinion about the use of this word is very interesting. He considers that the fact of using the word â€Å"new†, so often as Barack Obama does, shows his ideological aspects and promptitude for the innovations. Jana Langrova looked for the rhyme, speed and phonetic features of Barack Obama`s speech, but her conclusion and thoughts are very similair to Juraj Horvath.Jana Langrova considered that his speech employs rhyme, repetition and stress. He also stresses the word â€Å"new† in his speeches very often, and Jana Langrova noticed it. â€Å"There is new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to b uilt†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ,-these are Barack Obama`s words which were analyzed by two people. To summarize, Chapter I deals with the secondary sources concerned with previous analysis of the speeches of Barack Obama. Methodology This Chapter II will deal with the methodology used in this research.First the research method will be presented and then the research procedure will be described step by step. There are many methods to analyze the text, but theme of chosen paper will be analyzed by quantitative method. Quantitative research is used generally in social sciences such as political science. Qualitative methods construct information just on the particular cases studied, and any more main conclusions are only hypotheses. Quantitative methods may be used to verify, which hypotheses are true.Advocates of quantitative methods dispute that only by use of such methods can the social sciences become truly scientific, also advocates of qualitative methods argue that quantitative methods tend to obscure the reality of the public phenomena under the study, because they abandon the non-measurable issues, which could be the most valuable. In this paper the author was used to gather quantitative data —to deal with information connected with numbers and anything that is measurable. Statistics, tables and graphs will be presented as the results of these methods in appendix.The following chapter will be devoted to giving the results. Findings and Discussion The world of linguistics has been affected he and stimulated by Barack Obama`s individuality. Many new words have been created. Obamania, is linking with the passion and obsession he has been accepted and favored by many. Barack Obama`s ideology and philosophy have been referred to as one of the most confusing and difficult ideologies to analyze. In the speech of Barack Obama the strong religious content ideas can be found, for example: 1) â€Å"Thank you. God bless you.And God bless the United States of America. † 2) â€Å"This is the source of our confidence – the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny. † 3) â€Å"†¦on the horizon and God’s grase upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations. † 4) â€Å"†¦the God – given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness. † That fact that he also uses the direct and indirect speeches from Bible can all help Barack Obama to win the supporting of audience.The fact, which was very interesting to find out was that Barack Obama uses the words â€Å"we†, â€Å"Americans†, â€Å"each of us†, â€Å"all†, â€Å"our† very often to his speech(1), and from the psychological point of view it is made to create a close relationship between the president an his honorable audience. ( From Barack Obama`s inaugural speech quantitative analysi s) In order to arrive at a more quantitative result of this analysis, a keyword analysis of the most frequently used words and nuances in Obama`s speech gave the following findings.His speech consisted of 2403 words, and the pronoun â€Å"we† – was repeated 62 times. It was the most frequently used word by Barack Obama,for example: 1) â€Å"†¦we must work together†¦Ã¢â‚¬  2) â€Å"†¦we are bound by shared values†¦Ã¢â‚¬  3) â€Å"†¦we will seek to include all nuclear weapons†¦Ã¢â‚¬  4) â€Å"†¦we believe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  5) â€Å"†¦we cannot succeed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  6) â€Å"†¦we know the path†¦Ã¢â‚¬  7) â€Å"†¦we have to insist†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Also it is important to mention that it was very interesting to found that Barack Obama uses biblical language and quotations, non-traditional speech, and his position shows his liberal stand of him, what could be found in each speech of Barack Obama.Finally, the most imp ortant part, what I have found in his speeches is that Obama want to create a new nation which will be free from the war or other bad influence, and also he tries to get away from the old partisan divisions and looks for to be perceived as being above ideology. His thoughts and ideology about the better future without any bad elements in it show the hidden meaning of his ideas and promisses, which is logically followed from his ideas – â€Å"new† is always better, and for him the best nation is new = free nation.

Is Evolution True Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Is Evolution True - Essay Example Individuals who have better survival characteristics will have greater chance of reproducing and pass on those characteristics to the off springs (Shubin, 2009). Comparative anatomy is the evidence that two different species of animals share similar anatomical similarities such as similar bone structures. For example, whales and hummingbirds have tetrapod skeletons that are inherited from a common ancestor. However, their bodies have changed and parts have been lost through natural selection. Another example that clearly demonstrates this is the similarities between crocodiles and alligators (Coyne, 2010). Comparative embryology is another concept supporting the theory of natural selection. All vertebrate embryos follow a similar developmental path because of their common ancestry. These embryos have a similar basic body plan due to the similar set of genes they exhibit. For example, the embryos of humans, fish, birds and rabbits look very similar during the early stages. In addition, they all have gill slits and two-chambered heart (Shubin, 2009). In conclusion, evolution by natural selection can still be exhibited in day to day life. For example, nowadays bacteria and viruses are constantly becoming resistant to antibiotics that would work effectively previously. Also, if two people get into a fight, the strongest is likely to win or whereby the strongest and fastest sperm cell usually fertilizes the ovum in

Circles in a Circle by Vasily Kandinsky Term Paper

Circles in a Circle by Vasily Kandinsky - Term Paper Example The essay "Circles in a Circle by Vasily Kandinsky" explores the work of art Circles in a Circle by Vasily Kandinsky. The paper also considers how Circles is not an offbeat experimental work within Kandinsky’s broad oeuvres. He developed a unique style, whereby, he tried to reign in his artistic imagination within the structure of geometry. The work has several features that were deemed novel upon their introduction. One of the prominent features is the usage of perfect geometric forms. Conventional aesthetic sense had it that mellifluous and obtuse curves comprised the grammar of the art. But what Kandinsky’s art achieved was to open up a new idea of aesthetic. Under this new sensibility, the precision of mathematics is shown to have a place in visual arts. When we search for socio-cultural analogies, there are parallels to the compositional technique of Johann Sebastian Bach. Experts widely accede to the mathematical element behind the composer’s technique. One could read Circles within a Circle as a tribute to the musical genius from the Baroque era. At once, it is also an experiment to test if an idea could be transposed across art forms. Given the rich legacy of appreciation that Kandinsky’s Circles has drawn over the centuries, it is fair to claim that the experimentation has been a success. The great Italian polymath set forth an intellectual tradition wherein science and art were closely connected. Circles is also strikingly representative of Nicholas Copernicus’ illustrations of the order of the Universe.

Equity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Equity - Essay Example Chancellor being unbound by Common Law, this gave rise to direct petitions to him by people who were disillusioned by unbending legal rulings and needed immediate remedy and this urgency and huge requirement led to appointment of Chancery Masters. Equity flourished for centuries, and gave relief to ordinary people with sensitivity and awareness of social difficulties. Equity deals with Inquisitorial procedure (based on questioning and examination by the judge) and judge can sub poena the suspects and witnesses to compel them to attend proceedings. We come across historical evidence that Common law courts resented the wide popularity of Court of Chancery. Contradictions and opposition went on for some time and reached the peak in 17th century dispute, The Earl of Oxford's Case (1615) and King James I had to order for Attorney General's intervention to stop Lord Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor from bickering and according to King's dictum where there is a conflict between equity and common law, equity prevails and it holds good even today. Equity remains the name given to a set of legal principles practiced where English law is in vogue. Sometimes referred to as Natural Law, it is part of English legal tradition. Sources of Equity are far removed from sources of Common Law. The set of remedies that law and equity offer differ and uphold the difference between common law and equity. Equity bends more towards injunctions or degrees with directives for acting or refrain from acting and this relief is considered more practical and based on sound common sense and social knowledge. Equity with its emphasis on fairness and flexibility has only general guides known as the maxims of equity. Criticism prevails that it has no set of rules of its own and is baseless. At times, it is called a set of fluctuating rules that the Lord Chancellor, depending on his common sense and conscience has collected. Today it is not as flexible as it used to be and got consolidated by systems and precedents and has attained certain rigidity in its approach. Earlier Chancellors were not legally trained and this was remedied when Sir Thomas Moore became Lord Chancellors in 1529 and only lawyers succeeded him. Today's Equity has equitable doctrines and impressive precedents and has grown into an independent branch of law. It is also referred to as Supplementary Law which is part of law of the land. "In my view equity has added to our legal system, together with a number of detached doctrines, one novel and fertile institution, namely the trust; and three novel and fertile remedies, namely the decree for specific performance, the injunction, and the judicial administration of estates," Maitland (1949, p.22). Equity has made substantial contributions to the body of law in the form of trusts, mortgage and equitable jurisdiction through Natural Justice. It adopted a more metaphysical approach than common law, whose approach is materialistic, while give preference for substance over form, and preventing use of statutes as instruments of fraud. No doubt,

Labor rights for illegal immigrants and why we should support them Research Paper

Labor rights for illegal immigrants and why we should support them - Research Paper Example Who are Illegal Immigrants? It is difficult to define illegal immigrants. Where illegal migration begins and ends is a matter for each sovereign state to define (Tapinos). There are two types of illegal migrants- those who enter illegally and those who overstay after entering legally. Seasonal workers who fail to return after the expiry of the contract and rejected asylum seekers are also part of the second group. In countries like USA and Canada, which are open to migration, illegal immigration is one of the options to become would be immigrants. But in countries of Europe, it is the only option except for those applying for asylum or family reunification (Tapinos). It is estimated that there is about four to five million illegal immigrants in USA, which is about 1.5% of the population 300,000 in Greece (3%) and Italy (0.5%) ( Tapinos). Illegal migrants join illegal job market where he agrees to work for fewer wage than the local workers. Employers in developed countries benefit as they need to pay only low wages. The welfare contributions and non wage costs would be less. The illegal workers do not bargain and will not create any problem even if forced to work for long hours. The illegal immigrants are always eager to get regularised. ... Importance of Labour Rights for Working Immigrants According to International Labour Organization (ILO), 20% of world’s workers are in industrialised countries ie.600 million. There are 2.5 billion workers in the developing countries (Martin). There were 191 million international migrants in 2005. It was 76 million in 1960 and 175 million in 2000 (Dittrick). A migrant worker is "a person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national (Convention). In 1990, the UN General Assembly adopted International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. It may be noted here that labour rights are human rights. International human rights apply to all human beings. Everyone, whether citizen or immigrant, legal or illegal enjoys basic human rights such as right to life, liberty and security of person; freedom from slavery and torture; right to equal protecti on of law and freedom from discrimination; freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention; the presumption of innocence; and the right to freedom of association, religion and expression (The Rights of Migrants). The universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and Conventions adopted by the International Labour Organisation gives the right of association, the right to free choice of employment, the right to equal remuneration for work of equal value, and the right to just and favourable conditions of work to the immigrants. It also prohibits forced labour and

Report Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Report - Case Study Example New homes built on traditional practices cannot improve the general respiratory health of occupants. Further, well executed energy retrofits have led to improvement in self rated health and ensures that occupants have reduced visits to general health practitioners (Tassos, 6). Energy efficient devices are important to low income families because the income they save in using efficient energy sources can be used to by food, afford medical care and health insurance. Weatherization assistance programs are important in saving energy bills. In addition, they also ensure that there is a reduced water cost (Tassos, 7). Energy Efficiency and Renewable in Home Retrofits reduce the production of contaminants that can harm the health of occupants. Some of the contaminants that harm the health of occupants include carbon monoxide, mold and mist. Efficient energy home retrofits improve ventilation in rooms, reduce moisture and condensation, increase safety, improve thermal comfort and ensure that residents live in a comfortable environment (Tassos, 14). Conventional energy upgrades are dangerous to the occupants. Homes without measure put in place to ensure that there is adequate flow of air can affect the indoor air quality. The risk factors associated with poor quality indoor air include asthma, allergies and other respiratory complications. Efficient home energy retrofits reduce the water heater temperature to 120 degrees. This ensures that energy is saved and reduces the risk scalding (Tassos, 12). Saving on the energy use in homes requires the use of specific technology such as the properly designed and executed home energy retrofits. These home retrofits also ensure that green house gases are not emitted into the atmosphere. Investing in the use of efficient home energy retrofits will help in the implementation of healthy housing best practices in order to meet the objectives of energy

British culture Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

British culture - Case Study Example His younger sister is still in the university undertaking bachelor of Medicine. Callum is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Neurosurgery. The interview was successful because Callum was cooperative and gave out all the information. I had to inform him first about the intention. I also assured him that the information will not be disclosed to anybody else. From the interview, I was able to get more information about the changing nature of masculinity, multiple identities, femininities, and cultural capital among British citizens. Gender identity is an aspect involved in the process of socializing and growth. There are some behaviors and activities associated with men and others women (Collins, 2009). In order to know Callum’s attitude towards masculinity, I had to ask him different questions regarding the differences in roles, cloths, behavior and talks between men and women. He claimed that he understood there some behaviors which he was not supposed to adopt, since they are made for women. He said that some dresses like pencils, hipster and cloths with multiple colors are made for women and he can not wear them. Further, he added that there are men suit and women suit and to be respected an individual should wear cloths in respect to gender. I had to ask him about the talks or the way in which men talk whether it is different from the women talk. He claimed that women are involved in gossips and he is not supposed to engage in gossips because they are made for women. He claimed that men talks are supposed to focus on life issues and not what other people do. He also claimed that men are not supposed to blink eyes or have facial movement while talking. He claimed that he can not talk the same way with women because that is lowering his dignity. In the society today, men who adopt the women’s way of life are not respected. He was more focused on the issue of masculinity because he also claimed that men should

Is Criminal Behavior Determined Biologically Essay

Is Criminal Behavior Determined Biologically - Essay Example Some do believe that crime has a genetic disposition but I believe that any person, irrespective of their biological or genetic background, when faced with certain stress factors can commit crime. Since the very beginning of the 20th century, several social researchers have reported that Blacks tend to commit more crimes when compared to their White or Asian counterparts (Piquero and Barme,2008). In fact official statistics also support this claim since and the racial minorities are regarded to be more genetically disposed towards crimes than other groups. In the recent years the field of behavioral genetics has conducted massive studies to understand whether genes and crimes are related or not. Race studies, adoption studies and twin studies have suggested that anti-social behavior is linked to the genes. Experts believe that since things such as gambling, drug abuse, risk-taking behavior and pleasure-seeking show evidence of genetic influence and since all of these behaviors have the potential to initiate crimes; one may suggest that crime and genes maybe closely related (Baker et al, 2006). In fact the field of forensic psychiatry supports the idea that chronic criminals h ave mutations in their genes which are hereditary in nature. According to this these mutations have an effect on the autonomic nervous system which in turn reduces an individual’s ability to learn normal social forces in inhibiting criminal behavior (Mednick and Finello,1983). On the other hand, with regards to the Nature versus nurture theory, I feel that nurturing has profound influence on one’s behavior. The environment and stress factors that an individual is exposed to, has a great deal of influence on his behavioral outcomes. Some of these stress factors are poverty and drug abuse. The constant association of Black minorities to commit crimes is overrated. In fact,

Believe and Culture Build Awareness Research Paper

Believe and Culture Build Awareness - Research Paper Example However, despite this seemingly important trend, many other security concerns are also emerging, which threatens the effective use of these technologies (Erickson 2008). This paper examines some of the challenges being associated with the process of establishing firm security systems in individual and corporate information systems. According to Scambray & McClure (2001), hacking can be described as the unauthorized entry into a person’s information database online. In the need for creating and using technology as a leveraging point for organizational effectiveness, individuals and organisations have developed websites and other online databases where they develop and store their confidential information. In this regard, the information is supposed to be kept away from the reach of unauthorized persons. In order to ensure that this information is secured safely, it is often expected that one uses effective and reliable passwords among other important approaches that can ensure that this information is safely secured (Scambray & McClure 2001). Additionally, the process of hosting these websites is supposed to be done on secure networks, which ensure that hackers and other malicious attackers do not gain entry into these information systems. Just like in normal aspects of life, intruding into someone’s physical space without his/her permission or context amounts to security threat. Culturally, it is important that one seeks permission before entry into a house or an office, in the same way, hacking can be seen to be violating the cultural ties that concern respect for one’s space and freedom. In all societies across the world, good mannerism involves several subsets including observing and respecting people’s physical space among others. In the same way, the development of online systems like websites and social sites is supposed to incorporate this important security concern. Across the world, many issues have so far been raised about the

Blackberry Picking Essay Example for Free

Blackberry Picking Essay Task: Choose a poem that deals with an aspect of ordinary living. Analyse the poem showing how it . Pleasures are like poppies spread You seize the flower, its bloom is shed Bums Seamus Heaneys sensual and disturbing poem Blackberry -Picking explores aspects of ordinary living and enables us to see clearly the truth about a core element of human nature. This engaging piece of verse, written early in the Nobel laureates career, exposes humans perpetual desire for pleasure and the seemingly inescapable negative consequences attached to this pursuit. The poem is produced in a style readers familiar with Heaney will recognise: the deeper meaning is heavily cloaked in metaphor, and is therefore made clearer and more emphatic once understood. Upon reflection of these underlying themes about ordinary life, the reader experiences the clarity of vision usually associated with seeing something for the first time; this is a quality Heaney has claimed is essential to poetry. The poem is, on the surface, about a boys experiences at berry-picking time in the countryside. The anticipation and participation in this apparently very pleasant practice is conveyed for most of the first stanza of this two stanza piece. The poet describes an insatiable appetite (that verges upon greed) for indulging in the activity. In the latter part of this first stanza, however, a far less hedonistic mood can be detected by a very noticeable change in lexical choice and imagery; indeed, guilt and perhaps even remorse are evident here. In the second stanza the picked fruit becomes grotesque as it decays and the inevitable destructive forces of time take effect: Primarily, it is necessary to detail the larger metaphor which is relevant from the very beginning of the poem the title: Blackberry-Picking. The concept of picking fruit has irreducible associations with the Biblical story of Genesis an explanation of creation and mankinds fall from a state of innocence to one of sin a nd guilt. In this book Adam and Eve are templed by Satan to pick the forbidden fruit, resulting in their expulsion from Paradise. From this we can infer that the berries of Heaneys poem symbolise temptation, and that this temptation will lead to a loss of innocence and the incursion of guilt and sin into the world of the poem. In addition to this, the idea that the propensity for giving in to temptation is central to human nature, as it is of such ancient  origin, is strongly suggested. †¢ The time of year when these symbolic berries are picked, Late August, is given in the first line, and the sultry, humid, sensual atmosphere of this time of year is evoked by the following zeugma: given heavy rain and sun. This sensual atmosphere is developed in the first nine lines of the poem, and it clearly contains allusions to sex in lines 5-7: You ate that first one, and its flesh was sweet Like thickened wine: summers blood was in it Leaving stains upon the tongue and lust for Picking. Here the idea of the irresistible allure of the berries is emphasised, and the allusions to sexual pleasure through the lexical choice of that first one, its flesh was sweet, Leaving stains upon the tongue, and the direct reference to lust, heighten the mood of sensual temptation. This is reinforced and strengthened by the suggestion of intoxication in line 6 when the flesh of the berries is described in a simile as being Like thickened wine. Summer is subsequently personified and this reference to Summers blood thickens the languid, warm, impassioned atmosphere. In this section of the poem, then, very ordinary aspects of life sensuousness, sexuality, desire, temptation are conveyed cleverly and clearly through the metaphor of blackberry picking. This metaphor enables us to see these things as extraordinary driving forces behind our actions, and this is a disturbing realisation. The boy experiencing this burgeoning, bountiful time of the rural calendar cannot, as has been shown ab ove, get enough of the fruit he picks. He and others set out between lines 9-12 to gather as many berries as they can. After they have indulged in this harvest, however, a contrasting mood is introduced: .. on top big dark blobs burned Like a plate of eyes. Our hands were peppered With thorn pricks, our palms sticky as Bluebeards. Here the poetry is loaded with imagery and cultural associations. Initially the monosyllabic alliteration of the plosive b in big dark blobs burned strikes the reader as ponderous and menacing. This reaction is reinforced by the connotations of pain in the verb burned. The effect of this is aided by the gruesome and macabre simile that follows. The berries are described as being Like a plate of eyes. The very different mood engendered by this imagery is developed by the subsequent allusion to the crucifixion of Christ in hands in thorn pricks and the simile incorporating the legendary  character Bluebeard (a pirate who murdered many wives). This section of the poem, then, gives three consecutive images that evoke . connotations of guilt: the mutilation of the berries nat ural environment, the indirect reference to Christ (crucified by mankind), and the comparison between the berry pickers hands and the bloody hands of a serial murderer. In stanza two the mood of the poem deteriorates further as the harvested berries decay. In the first line the word hoarded, used to describe the volume of berries stored, reminds us of the insatiable appetite and self-indulgence depicted in the first stanza. The berries are now rotting, however, and this is conveyed effectively through word choice. They are described with the verbs stinking and fermented. Furthermore, a disease is spreading through the hoard. This is described as A ratgrey fungus, glutting on our cache. The connotations of disgust, revulsion and disappointment evident here are developed in lines 20-21: Once off the bush/I the sweet flesh would turn sour. What we can also perceive here is the notion of the inevitable and regularly experienced fate of all pleasure it cannot last and becomes satiety and guilt. The anguish at the fate of the berries, and therefore the fate of all indulgence is emphasised by the tone of the third last line: I always felt like crying. It wasnt fair. The boy of the poem is clearly still becoming accustomed to the irresistible forces of time. In the last line, however, we learn that the boy experiences this annually: That all the lovely canfuls smelt of rot Each year I hoped theyd keep, knew they would not Perpetual hope and the following inevitable disappointment is emphasised here, and the reader can directly engage with this as we all experience such sequences in ordinary life. By the process of reflecting upon, and understanding, the blackberry picking metaphor, the reader sees the driving forces behind human behaviour afresh, and they become extraordinary and disturbing. Blackberry-Picking is a sensual and evocative poem which entices the reader with rich and opulent images. In stanza one we are drawn into the pleasure of the activities depicted by the poet. The ideas of guilt, disgust, and disappointment are then introduced as the greed of the pickers and the decay of the berries are illustrated. The extension of this cycle to others areas of life is performed by the use of sexual and cultural  allusions, symbolism and metaphor. Through these techniques we are given a startlingly clear picture of a common and ordinary reality we may never before have considered: that our lives are driven by perpetually disappointed hope and desire and that pleasure cannot last. The disturbing nature of this realisation is compounded by the religious symbolism of the berries this state of affairs may have been with us from the very beginning, and there is no reason why it should not be with us to the end.

Introversion and Creativity

Introversion and Creativity Introversion- The Stairway to the Horizon of Creativity In the essay The Rise of the New Groupthink (Published on January 13, 2012), Susan Cain raises the awareness that the rise of group working is gradually replacing independent working even though it is very important in everyones life. By which, lead us to a world where group brainstorming sessions are now the new trend and private thinking is old-fashioned. Susan Cain is an American writer, a lecturer, a best selling author of a book about introversion in 2012 who has difficulties speaking in public and through those difficulties, developed an interest in writing about introversion. Her essay The Rise of the New Groupthink has opened up a whole new perspective about how important introversion is, and how underappreciated it has been over the years. Through my experiences, I support Cains idea that solitude and introversion are important to everyones life and there should be a balance between solitude and group thinking, not just give all the favor to group thinking and completely lef t out introversion. After researching various studies of psychologists, Cain stands on the side of introversion, stating that it is an important factor for creativity and thoughts. And according to another one of her article The Rise of the New Groupthink and the Power of Working Alone she uses a typical day in the life of Mr. Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, as a valuable example. Most of Wozniaks work came from all the time and hard work of inside his cubicle at Hewlett-Packard. Hed arrive alone around 6:30 am, early in the morning, read building magazines, and examine chip manuals, making plans, setting up designs in his mind. After work, hed go home, make a speedy spaghetti or Microwavable meal, then drive back to the workplace and work even until it passes midnight. He describes this period of quiet midnights and solitary early morning as the biggest high ever. Steve Wozniak is one of the biggest names there is when it comes to introverted geniuses. As seeing Steve Wozniak as a valuable exam ple, Cain acknowledges the importance of introversion and how it can be a tremendous help in peoples work and creativity. Also, she states two main reasons that help strengthen her acknowledgements and make it even more solid. Those two main reasons are the long-time bond between introversion with creativity and peoples productivity. First of all, solitude has long been related with creativity. Through Rise of the New Groupthink Cain solidify her idea by examining the research of two psychologists Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Gregory Feist, from which states that most creative people from many different fields are usually introverts. This is probably because that introverted people are happy with working alone, and just by being alone can they increase their creativity and innovativeness. This idea of Cain speaks to me pretty well because when I was young, I actually experiences just how important solitude is for an introverted person. My uncle is a game programmer, not a big shot in the business, but he has been working in a pretty steady job in a company named Ubisoft. He loves introversion more than anything else when hes working. He got tons of projects to work on all the time, but he never works with anyone, he said that he cant work or generates any ideas when he has to work in a group. And I actually witnes s it when he took me to work one day. When brainstorming with a group, he cannot concentrates due to a lot of different ideas, opinions from the co-worker. But after that is over, and hes back to his cubicle, his creativity just like come back and his assigned task was done with great rating from every co-worker for the new ideas and creativity of the game. Through my uncle experience, introversion has proven to be an essential factor and a crucial ingredient for creativity. At the same time, introversion and solitude are strongly relate with the need of privacy. Surprisingly, privacy plays a huge part in increasingly productivity. By having privacy, one can feels the comfortable and freedom from distraction that raise their focus, and, therefore increase their productivity. From a rather interesting study known as the Coding War Games, from the work of more than 600 computer programmers at 92 companies, consultants Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister compared among them and they found that from the same companies, the workers performed at roughly the same level with each other. However, between organization, there a huge gap! And just what made that huge gap? It was the privacy, personal workspace and freedom from interruption their company provides (Sixty-two percent of the best performers said their work space was sufficiently private). Through the research on the study, Cain shows us just how essential privacy is to ours creativity and productivity. Its w ithout a doubt that privacy has a lot of influences on ones performance. Just like the programmers, our minds need their private time to think, to be more creative. By having the privacy and the comfortable space as needed, ones productivity will increase dramatically. But, despite having such important factors, introversion still fall short in the race with group brainstorming of being the thinking trend of the society. Susan Cain also states this situation in Rise of the New Groupthink: Solitude is out of fashion. Most of us now work in teams, in offices without walls, for managers who prize people skills above all. Lone geniuses are out. Collaboration is in. The question is why? Why group brainstorming got so much credit but introversion wont? The reasons are that society now sees group working as a good way for people to learn how to work with others, make them feel more comfortable when working with other people, and furthermore, make better decision than the decision that an individual makes. However, various studies actually go against this statement. Studies show that offices with no private work space for workers actually make them uncomfortable, distracted and insecure. Theyre also easier to suffer from stress and exhaustion due to people watching everything they do. The studies also show that people who works in easy distracted environment make 50 percent more mistakes and take twice as long to finish it. For those reasons, introversion shows its superior sides over group working. But, for the society to realizes and give more credits for introversion, might take quite a long time. Through the course of a society that keeps advancing and developing, introversion plays a big role in making all of it comes true. But now, as group working increases, introversion is gradually being left out. If one day introversion is completely gone, there will not only limited the rate of creativeness within the society, but also our youth might never know how helpful introversion is to their creativity. And without the young generations creativity, the future ahead will not be bright. Work Cited Cain, Susan. The Rise of the New Groupthink. The New York Times. The New York Times, 14 Jan. 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2017. . Maryellen, Weimer, Phd . Five Things Students Can Learn through Group Work. Faculty Focus | Higher Ed Teaching Learning. N.p., 24 Aug. 2016. Web. 16 Feb. 2017. . Cook, Gareth. The Power of Introverts: A Manifesto for Quiet Brilliance. Scientific American. N.p., 24 Jan. 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2017. . Susan, Cain. The Rise of the New Groupthink and the Power of Working Alone. The Rise of the New Groupthink and the Power of Working Alone. Susan Cain, 3 June 2015. Web. 16 Feb. 2017. .

Employment Of People With Mental Illness Social Work Essay

Employment Of People With Mental Illness Social Work Essay There is no health without mental health (Ki-Moon, 2010, para.2; World Health Organisation, 2005, p.11) and this is why this topic has become at the heart of many discussions. The World Health Organisation (1948) in WHO (2003), approaches this concept holistically and defines mental health as the balance between all the aspects of life; a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (p.100). Barry Jenkins (2007) add that mental health is an attitude that fosters in the individual a sense of control, hope, optimism and the capacity to build and sustain relationships in the society. Thus, mental health is said to be a measure of how people, organizations, and communities think, feel, and function, individually and collectively (Keyes, 2007, in Mc Collam, Mukkala, OSullivan, Rowe, Stengard, 2008, p.6). For this reason, Phillips (2008) affirms that the well-being and mental well-being, in particular, [are] a new frontier in the fight for social justice in the creation of a society which is fair; communities which offer the individual dignity and respect; the evolution of a people confident in their diversity. Given that mental illness has become the leading cause of disability in the European Community, with more than 130 million people expected to experience some kind of mental illness in their life (EUFAMI, 2004), many nations are acknowledging that they cannot ignore mental health and mental illness in their communities and workplaces anymore. As Gauci (2010) argues, countries that adopt legislations, policies and systems that protect vulnerable citizens, including people with mental illness reflects a society that respects and cares for its people (p.7). Extensive is the research carried out about mental illness, but for a common terminology of the different types of disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has been developed. The DSM-IV states that mental disorders are conceptualized as a clinically significant behavioural or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress (e.g., a painful symptom) or disability (i.e., impairment in one or more important areas of functioning) or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom. (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p.xxxi) Thus, for behaviour to be considered a disorder, it must be originally caused by a behavioural, psychological, or biological dysfunction in the individual (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p.xxxi). Conversely, expectable responses to particular events (e.g. the death of significant other), deviant behaviour (e.g. political, religious, and sexual behaviour), conflicts between the individuals and the society are not mental disorders. These only fall into the latter category when the deviance or conflict is a symptom of a dysfunction in the individual (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p.xxxi), as aforementioned. There is vast spectrum of mental disorders, each having their specific criteria, but for general use, Goldberg Huxley (1992) categorize mental disorders in two ways, namely, common mental illnesses and severe mental illnesses. The former are mostly evident in the community whilst the latter refers to disorders which are more common amongst people who receive mental illness services and thus, contrary to the above, may need special care to convalesce. Goldberg Huxley (1992) add that severe mental illnesses are associated with much greater social disability and are much less likely to resolve spontaneously with time. (p.5) At this point it is important to understand that despite its severity, mental illness does not lead to mental disability, and the two are different from each other. As aforesaid, mental illness impacts a persons behavior and feelings, however, the symptoms can be managed (Inclusion Europe and Mental Health Europe, 2007). On the other hand, mental disability, also known as intellectual disability refers to people who have difficulties in learning and understanding and whose skills in areas such as cognition, language, motor, and social abilities can be permanently impaired (Inclusion Europe and Mental Health Europe, 2007, p.2). Therefore, mental illness is not a disability, but the difficulties derived from the illness, can result in functional disability (Richmond, 2011). Functional disability is defined by the WHO (1976) as disability in which functional limitation and/or impairment is a causative factor, is defined as an existing difficulty in performing one or more activities which, in accordance with the subjects age, sex and normative social role, are generally accepted as essential, basic components of daily living, such as self-care, social relations, and economic activity. (para. 1.2 iii) 2.2 Employment In its simplest definition, work means the exchange of labour for wages (Danto, n.d, p.14). But employment has always had a higher value for humanity. Indeed the Ancient Greeks held that work formed part of the sphere of necessity (Haralambos Holborn, 2004, p.619). Notwithstanding the changes and revolutions that the world went through, work still remained a defining value of our culture (p.12) and this is so because the need to work is deeply rooted in our psychology and social existence (Dante, n.d, p.14). Work can take many forms but its benefits are rather homogenous. Cameron Conley (2010, in Topp, 2010) assert that work is meaningful because it connects individuals to their values and to their community. It is also acknowledged that good working experiences affect the individuals wellbeing and development, leading them to adopt more positive perspectives and attitudes. This is further reinforced by Finch Moxley (2003), who declare that employment offers much promise to people and is fundamental to their development as fully realized human beings (p.10). Underlining all this is the truth that employment is a human right. Hence, all people have the right to work; to free choice of employment; just and favourable conditions of work and protection against unemployment (Article 23, 1948, in United Nations, n.d). In the convention on the rights of persons with Disabilities, the United Nations (2006) accentuate that people who experience disability are also entitled to human rights and f undamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field (Article 2) and discrimination is proscribed, including the failure to provide reasonable accommodations for those who need it. This is sustained by Bassett Llyod (1997) in Bassett, Bassett Llyod (2001), when they claim that involvement in paid employment is a significant life occupation for many people and is a realistic goal for people who have experienced a mental health disorder (para.2). 2.3 The benefits of employment for people experiencing mental illness Therefore, work is not only important to maintain good mental health but also to enhance the improvement of those who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Enabling people to retain or gain employment has a profound effect on more life domains than almost any other medical or social intervention (Boardman, Grove, Perkins Shepherd, 2003,p.467). This is so because employment harbours inclusion, yields a sense of security, happiness and comfort; a sense of living needed for recovery. Recovery from mental illness is a reality nowadays and it has become a goal for many people. Recovery does not mean that symptoms disappear, but it is all about getting on with life beyond the disability (Deegan, 1988). Having experienced it herself, Deegan (1988) adds recovery does not refer to an end product or result. It does not mean that my friend and I were cured. In fact our recovery is marked by an ever-deepening acceptance of our limitations. But now, rather than being an occasion for despair, we find that our personal limitations are the ground from which spring our own unique possibilities (p.56). Work is central to the process of recovery (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005; HM Government, n.d). This is so because it provides both the financial means for living and also latent benefits. Olsheski Schelat (n.d) assert that employment is beneficial because it provides structures to daily activities, an identity, a sense of achievement, socioeconomic status and a sense of belonging. This is sustained through Hertzbergs theory who believed that work meets human needs in two ways. The acquisition of a salary, the working conditions and interpersonal relationships established at the working site make up the hygiene factors. According to Herzberg, their absence creates dissatisfaction in the individual, but does not lead him to feel satisfied and motivated (Herzberg, 1959, in Gawel, 1997). At this level, any changes towards job performance are only short-lived. Conversely, motivator factors produce long-term positive outcomes which appear to be a consequence of job satisfying events such as appraisals, achievements and advancements (Herzberg, 1959, in Gawel, 1997). Job satisfaction and longer job tenure have been found by Resnick Bond, (n.d) in URBIS (2007) to be co-related. As it is acknowledged above, the benefits of employment for people with mental health difficulties are various, yet the barriers for work are still a reality. In fact, people experiencing mental health difficulties rank low in employment when compared to other disabled groups (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2009; Duncan Peterson, 2007), despite that many of them have the aspirations to work (HM Government, n.d). In addition, Catalano et al (1990) claim that people with mental illness are many often employed in part-time work, characterized by little pay and possible insecurities. The reason behind this is that accessibility of the workplace most often is only associated with the adaptation of the physical environment through the use of various adaptive equipment, and adaptation of the social and emotional environment is often neglected. Accessibility also means opening up the labour market to facilitate participation in the economic activity and social funct ioning. While it is true to say that the illness often acts as an obstacle (Frado, 1993) and may create problems for the employee whilst in employment, but the working environment also lacks the tools to accommodate their interests, abilities and support needs (Bill et al, 2006, in URBIS, 2007, para.4.3.4). Some of the most severe forms of mental illness have their onset in late adolescence and beginning of young adulthood, whilst others strike in middle adulthood. As a matter of fact, both a persons education and working life could be significantly impacted; resulting in fewer credentials which are needed for employability and the disruption of employment for those who are already employed (WHO, n.d, in Richmond Foundation, 2011). Penrose-Wall Bateman (2007) in URBIS (2007) add that people with mental illness may experience a downfall in their confidence, motivation and social skills as a result of the episodic nature of the illness, and as a matter of fact, their employment is understandably disrupted (para.4.3.1). Once again, a persons educational and occupational attainment may be at a disadvantage (Robdale, 2008). Moreover, the level of severity of the illness has been linked to unemployment, with a percentage as high as 85% for people with severe mental illness (Crowther et al 20 01, in Duncan Peterson, 2007). Additionally, the medication used to treat the illness may pose some difficulties for the person whilst on the job. Some of which include drowsiness, tremors, blurred vision, nausea, agitation, bladder problems, dry mouth amongst others (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008). Despite the struggle to cope with the illness, people may also have to deal with bad financial issues that arise when their ability to work is affected. Thus in order to make ends meet, people with mental illness may force themselves back to work before they would have gained their health (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005). In the light of such delicate situations, Cappe (1999) avows that it is no longer enough to do the right thing, but we must also ensure that we are doing things right. It is no longer sufficient to be a place where people work-the workplace itself must be built around the people and give them the support they need (para.1) A place of work that is built around people is one that welcomes diversity. It signals the enthusiastic acceptance of the value to organizations of workforces that are diverse in terms of gender, age [and] (dis)abilityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Jackson Joshi, 2001, in Arnold, Burnes, Cooper, Patterson, Robertson Silvester, 2005,p.35). Mental illness is no longer a rare condition but it is has become one of the most common causes of disability with the World Health organization claiming that by the year 2020, depression will become the second leading cause of premature death and disability (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005). In the light of these statistics, employers cannot fail to acknowledge the concepts of mental health and mental illness in their workplace. It is time to do away with the misconceptions that people with mental illness are violent and have low intellectual abilities. To the contrary, they are usually the victims of violence and their intelligence and abilities are not dissimilar to the rest of the populace (Frado, 1993). Many people experiencing mental illness are able to work, want to work and can carry out their job successfully (Cook ODay, 2006). 2.4 Stigma But stigma has the power to erode this willingness. As HM Government (n.d) outlines, barriers to employment and sustainability of employment for people experiencing mental health difficulties are also found to be derived from society itself, with stigma acting as one of the major obstructions. Stigma can be described as severe social disapproval due to believed or actual individual characteristics, beliefs or behaviors that are against norms, be they economic, political, cultural or social. It is characterized by a lack of knowledge about mental health, fear, prejudice and discrimination. (Mc Daid, 2008, para.2.1) These are also the prevailing beliefs amongst certain employers, who are still afraid to employ and support people with mental illness (Waghorn Lloyd, 2005, in URBIS, 2007; Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005; Mc Daid, 2011). They may have unwarranted fears and see persons with psychiatric disabilities as unskilled, unproductive, unreliable, violent or unable to handle workplace pressures (Fenton Payne, 2005, p.8). But mental illness does not always encroach with the workers job performance or it may affect the ability to work only for a certain time, during which, some limitations may arise (Frado, 1993). These may include consistent late arrivals or frequent absences, decreased productivity, frequent complaints of fatigue or unexplained pains, difficulty concentrating, working excessive overtime and expressions of strange or grandiose ideas, amongst others (Fenton Payne, 2005, p.7). In view of these limitations, the untrained employer and colleague may fail to recognize men tal illness, and interpret inappropriate behavior negatively, thinking that their work mates are violent, dangerous and erratic (Harnois Gabriel, 2000). This is further manifested in incorrect and discriminating behavior as people with mental illness are often given insulting names, refusals by their colleagues to work with them and not considered for promotions (Fenton Payne, 2005). Just like students who tend to see themselves as bright or dull according to their teachers definition of them, people with mental illness may come to believe that they are truly no good. This negative general idea about mental illness is then often internalized within the individual himself, leading to self-stigma. Self-stigma refers to the negative feelings about oneself; manifesting itself into feelings of hopelessness, difference and unworthiness (Barnes, Duncan Peterson, 2008). As a matter of fact, people with mental illness may not be so willing to try new job tasks, opportunities and promotions (Frado, 1993). The media is said to have a profound effect in all this. As findings indicate, Coverage of mental health issues that was biased, negative, sensationalized, or incorrect was seen as contributing to the negative stereotypes that surround mental illness. These in turn influence the attitudes and behavior of the people who believe them, including people with experience of mental illness. (Barnes et al, 2008, p.60) 2.5 Maintaining employment In the essence of a holistic policy that targets mental illness, Maltese citizens who experience functional disability due to mental illness can in the meantime benefit from the provisions of the Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act (2000). In the light of this situation, Dr. C. Pace, social policy consultant and lecturer at the University of Malta, divulges that while we clearly and strongly distinguished mental health problems from intellectual or learning disability, I think it would be a disservice to persons with mental health problems if we fail to tell them and society that, in the case of a long-term impairment, they can have specific and important legal rights. (in a personal communication, January 2011, regarding how this was dealt with in a recent project) Therefore, under the provisions of this article, people with a mental illness who exhibit functional disability are to enjoy the protection against discrimination as well as reasonable accommodations in their working environment. It is the latter concept which encapsulates the commitment of employment corporations to create the necessary structures, be them legal, administrative or institutional, which facilitate both employability and adaptability at the place of work for persons with mental illness. As the Transition Strategies, LLC (2010) contend, Although the law prohibits discrimination against mentally disabled persons in the workplace, the economic impact of these numbers is so compelling that regardless of any concerns about disability discrimination lawsuits, employers cannot afford to ignore the problem. Even when a problem worker is fired, the odds are excellent that his or her replacement will be one of the remainingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.The solution? (para.2) In view of these emerging needs, the workforce is pressured to understand that people with mental illness may have certain needs to be met. However this does not imply that their skills and capabilities are of a substandard (Boardman, Grove, Perkins Shepherd, 2003). Employers and colleagues are suggested to increase their knowledge about mental illness and respond with anti-discriminative measures and reasonable adjustments so that people with mental illness can function in the working environment like their colleagues counterparts. Indeed, Frado (1993) claims that the antidote to stigma in the workplace is for the environment to be positive, encouraging and welcoming (p.6). However, there are people whose experience of mental illness does not affect their ability to work (Frado, 1993), and thus may not need help to maintain their job. Accommodation measures are in effect some of the tools which the employer can use to help bring about adjustments to the workplace. An accommodation is any change in the work environment or in the way things are customarily done that enables an individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities, claims the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (2002, para.2). Research shows that that workers with mental health difficulties does not necessarily cause any excessive burden on the employer (Diksa and Rogers,1996; Tetrick Toney, 2002) but with practical modifications in the social and organizational structure, they can act capably and competently in their work and as contributors to the society (Frado, 1993). Starting a new job may be a stressful experience to people with mental illness (Mc Kee, 1996). This is so because they may be faced with certain challenges and thus may need accommodation to maintain the employment. In fact, Shankar (2005), states that keeping a job is more exigent than obtaining it. This is sustained by a personal disclosure of a person who says that Because of my medication, its really difficult for me to keep to a schedule I mean to get up on time. My employer is happy with my work and as long as I put in my eight hours, she doesnt mind if I dont make it on time every day. This is the first job Ive been able to keep without being fired for lateness. (as cited in Frado,1993, p.15) People experiencing mental illness may find it hard to follow the demands of daily living such as waking up early but a positive and constructive principle like this provides a strong foundation for accommodation. Additional policies include allowing people to work flexible hours or to work at home, enable frequent breaks, allow workers to shift work hours to attend hospital appointments, allow telephone calls to doctors or others for support, and permit a self-paced workload amongst others (Loy, n.d). A working place is not solely run by the manager, but people at different levels constitute different roles and all are important in the running of the company. Thus, even the attitude of the supervisors, colleagues and other staff adds to providing a climate that supports accommodation. Given that people still make negative connotations with mental illness, it is important to address these misconceptions by educating staff and colleagues about these illnesses, its course and consequences. Moreover, supervisors closely working with the employees should be given training on how to improve ones approach and teaching methods. Examples include giving constructive feedback, offering praise and providing direction (Frado, 1993). Nonetheless, in order for the employer to provide such accommodation measures tailored for the specific needs of the employee, people need to disclose about their difficulties but this is not an easy task given the stigma that exists. They may think that the advantages of disclosing about these difficulties are very little compared to the disadvantages and thus they may choose to remain silent. Others may have worked so much to restore their health that they do not want to be categorized as disabled (Frado, 1993). But as Mc Kee (1996) claims, the employee does not necessarily have to give a specific diagnosis of his illness. To the contrary, she suggests people with mental illness to focus on how the disability impacts upon [their] ability to do the job and what positive steps can be taken to accommodate [their] needs (p.7). Such a disclosure can potentially reduce tension whilst increasing support and help on the job. Employing people with mental illness is not only beneficial for t heir health but as the Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005 outlines, it also bring[s] a new perspective to the workplace, and a new level of sensitivity among all employees to one another (p.23). The supported employment scheme is another benchmark in the commitment to provide people with mental illness the necessary services to find and keep employment. It was originally known as the place and train approach which embarked on the idea that people with mental illness shall first be placed in the job and then offered training (EUSE, n.d). The job coach has the imperative role to provide the service users with the necessary support to perform ordinary work requirements such as accompanying them to and from work, training and education of the employee, advocacy, assistive technology, behavioral training skills and other support to make the employment a positive experience both for the employee and the employer (Parent, 2004). The European Union of Supported employment defines this scheme as providing support to people with disabilities or other disadvantaged groups to secure and maintain paid employment in the open labour market (EUSE, n.d, p. 13). Family members and friends may not be able to help in acquiring the skills needed for employment, but they can be a source of support and hope for people with mental illness along their working life experience. These social support networks are described as a nexus of interpersonal ties consisting of family, friends, or other individuals who provide some type of support that leads one to believe that he or she is cared for, loved, valued, and belongs to a network with mutual obligations (Milardo, 1988, in Pernice, 2010, para.2 ). These can aid in making long-term employment a reality (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005) and recovery a lived-experience (Pernice, 2010). 2.6 The Social Model and Medical Model of disability The measures outlined above are aimed to provide assistance for people with mental illness in finding and retaining employment in the mainstream workforce. However, as aforementioned, difficulties that arise in this scenario are not only a responsibility of the employee, but also of the society at large. Therefore this calls on the need to not view difficulties as the result of the individuals disorder only; as anchored in the medical approach, but to also consider societal factors responsible for difficulties encountered (Mor, 2005). This is the social model of disability which focuses on the complex ways that economic relations, cultural meanings, social practices, and institutional settings participate in the disablement of persons (Mor, 2005, p.22). This shift in locus on the integration of people with mental illness in the society did not happen instantaneously. Although change in the beliefs, perceptions and attitudes towards mental illness seem to be taking a gradual pace, much improvement has been done along the years. Before the means of acquiring knowledge and information increased, people were not educated about mental health. This goes back to few centuries ago when mental illness was thought to be caused by supernatural forces. They were thought to be moonstruck and thus were referred to as lunatic (Pritchard, 2006, p.3). In fact, Mount Carmel Hospital, currently responsible of the rehabilitation of mental illness in Malta, was called the Lunatic Asylum in the 1800s (Savona-Ventura, 2004). These perceptions of madness and possessions lead to the abuse of many people with mental illness. As Cauchi (1999) reported, people with mental illness were beaten and treated badly. People with mental illness were made to believe that they were incurable and insane and were even denied civil rights (Daub, 2006). This is the medical model which rooted in its teachings has the basic ideology that mental illness is just a chemical imbalance or a biological malfunction of the brain (Daub, 2006,p.2). In this period, the mental health practice suggested that people with mental illness who were interested to work should stay away from working in the community. Instead, they were suggested to work in highly protected and isolated settings like the sheltered workshops (Becker Drake, nd). These gave the individual the opportunity to work without having to risk competition and failure experiences which, it was assumed, would occur in normal work environments (Bussone, Cramp, Dakunchak Rosen, 1993,para.2). Activities in this category were meant to shelter persons from normal problems while exposing them to normal task requirements such as time clocks and supervision (Beck er Drake, n,d). But as years passed by, sheltered workshops became less popular because work was demeaning and it offered no prospects since people always remained in an institutional setting (Bussone et al, 1993). Then focus was shifted on teaching people the necessary skills for employability. This was referred to as the train and place approach in which people mental health difficulties were given training in order to find employment. Once trained, they were free to find themselves a job. However this probability was not plausible since the acquisition of the skills alone were not sufficient to gain and maintain employment (EUSE, n.d). The concept of supported employment was the last to be introduced but it is the one which offers much promise to people with mental illness as it emphasizes the need for integration into society and engagement in open paid employment. Whereas before, people with mental illness were only seen in the context of health services, now their strengths are being recognized and are considered to be potential contributors to our society (Frado, 1993). Supported employment schemes and accommodation measures both provide the employee with the opportunity to enjoy a working life that best meets their needs. 2.7 The Current situation It could be that people are no longer beaten and retained due to their illness and sheltered workshops gain less endorsement, yet it is still a struggle for people with mental illness to find and keep jobs. As Gauci, (2010) says, the lack of flexibility at the work place and the stigma and fears, which still exist in our society; most frequently results in the violations of peoples right to work(para.5). Unfortunately, circumstances that defy the rights of persons with mental illness are not always given the prominence that they require (Gauci, 2010). Locally, supported employment services are very limited, even if they proved to be successful. In fact, the Richmond Foundation (2009), in Richmond Foundation (2011) asserts that in the year 2009, a total of twenty six persons with mental illness benefited from this scheme. This service has been unavailable for a period of time but is currently in the process of being re-introduced. Also, the Maltese mental health Act needs to be update d as it continuous to result in the violations of the rights of people experiencing mental illness (Ameen, 2009). To further stress this point, Mc Sween (2002) claims that mental health still receives less government support than general health care (para.1). Indeed, Gauci (2010) avers that it is very basic and superficial when a country has policies and legislation which promote community care when in practice community services are inadequate, scare, uncoordinated, understaffed or staffed by persons who are not trained to deal with persons with mental health difficulties in the community. ( para.4) These support lacking systems are also a major concern to many parents who fear that their children will become unemployed, poor and homeless, with no one to look after them, rotting away and walking around the village looking dirty and alone(Calleja, 2010b, para.16). 2.8 Social work and mental illness Social Work has an imperative role in all this since its core values are crafted to address social problems and challenge social injustices (Johnson Yanca, 2007). Not only should social workers provide people with mental illness with the support and skills needed to help them overcome disadvantage but also seek to transform the society for the benefit of their clients (Payne, 2005). This is so because the social work profession calls on its associates the need to consider the person in environment as sometimes there is a tendency to ignore environmental factors responsible for social problems (Johnson Yanca, 2007, p.60). It is this aspect of social work that moves in line with the social model of disability, as it too takes into consideration the societys attitudes that act as a barrier for people with mental illness to maintain employment. Th

Men of Respect and Macbeth Essay -- Compare Contrast Respect Macbeth E

Men of Respect and Macbeth   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1991, William Shakespeare’s great play â€Å"Macbeth† was re-created into a modern day version titled â€Å"Men of Respect.† Was the plays textual fidelity lost in transition during the making of the film, or did the film show total loyalty and devotion to the text and the feelings of the play? A closer examination of the characters/lines, classification between good and evil, and the use of light and dark will compare the many differences and similarities between William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Macbeth† and William Reilly’s â€Å"Men of Respect.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Set in present day New York (present as in 1991), the various warring kingdoms of the play become organized crime factions in the film, King Duncan becoming the "padrino" or godfather of the main "family," Charlie Di'Mico. His chief lieutenant, Mikey Bataglia is, of course, the corollary to the treacherous Macbeth. The character of Lady Macbeth (Ruthie Bataglia) remains instinctive yet ruthless in her goal to get Mikey to become the â€Å"padrino.† William Reilly at times stuck to Shakespeare’s original version word for word. Other lines were re-worked for the modern audience, such as Lady Macbeth’s speech that states â€Å"They have made themselves, and their fitness now does unmake you. I had given suck, and know how tender ‘tis to love the bebe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, and dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done this.† (A ct...

The Minimum Wage Must Be Raised Essay -- Increase Minimum Wage Essays

"Los Angeles lawmakers Tuesday voted to boost the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020, the largest city to try to help its lowest-paid workers survive amid the nation's growing income inequality." -- Michael Winter, USA TODAY May 19, 2015 Understanding the potential of an increase in today’s minimum wage is the key to understanding the above statement. As a financial mechanism in American society, the minimum wage has helped to sustain generations of workers. Yet, there are two sides to the debate over minimum wage increases. One side—the proponents—feel strongly that low-income workers need some incentive to earn a sufficient living. Conversely, opponents believe that changing the minimum wage does not always help workers and can hurt businesses. Nevertheless, the minimum wage should be raised in order to assist American families, aid economic recovery, and help people get out of debt. Background In 1938, Congress began the minimum wage at 25 cents per hour, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (Sherk, 2013). By July 2009, the minimum wage had been raised to $7.25 an hour. Washington State boasts one of the highest minimum wages in the country--$9.19 an hour (Sherk, 2013). The number of Americans who earn minimum wage has always been in question. In 2011, it was reported that 3.7 million Americans earned minimum wage, and that is equivalent to just 2.9 percent of the working population in the country (Sherk, 2013). Next, it is important to note what types of workers get minimum wage earnings. According to Sherk (2013), there are two categories----young workers (still in school) and old workers (out of school). Moreover, these young adults are not likely to live in middle or high income families, and they are typic... ...ey, A. (2013). Raising minimum wage would ease income gap but carries political risks. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/us/politics/obama-pushes-for-increase-in-federal-minimum-wage.html Matthews, D. (2013). Four things to know about Obama’s minimum wage increase. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/13/four-things-to-know-about-obamas-minimum-wage-increase/ Sherk, J. (2013). What is minimum wage: its history and effects on the economy. Retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/research/testimony/2013/06/what-is-minimum-wage-its-history-and-effects-on-the-economy Wilson, M. (2012). The negative effects of minimum wage laws. Retrieved from http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/negative-effects-minimum-wage-laws Winter, Michael. "L.A. to boost minimum wage to $15", USA TODAY May 19, 2015

Satire in Jonathan Swifts Gullivers Travels :: Gullivers Travels

Satire in Gulliver's Travels  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   On the surface, Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver's Travels appears to be a travel log, made to chronicle the adventures of a man, Lemuel Gulliver, on the four most incredible voyages imaginable. Primarily, however, Gulliver's Travels is a work of satire. "Gulliver is neither a fully developed character nor even an altogether distinguishable persona; rather, he is a satiric device enabling Swift to score satirical points" (Rodino 124). Indeed, whereas the work begins with more specific satire, attacking perhaps one political machine or aimed at one particular custom in each instance, it finishes with "the most savage onslaught on humanity ever written," satirizing the whole of the human condition. (Murry 3). In order to convey this satire, Gulliver is taken on four adventures, driven by fate, a restless spirit, and the pen of Swift. Gulliver's first journey takes him to the Land of Lilliput, where he finds himself a giant among six inch tall beings. His next journey bring s him to Brobdingnag, where his situation is reversed: now he is the midget in a land of giants. His third journey leads him to Laputa, the floating island, inhabited by strange (although similarly sized) beings who derive their whole culture from music and mathematics. Gulliver's fourth and final journey places him in the land of the Houyhnhnm, a society of intelligent, reasoning horses. As Swift leads Gulliver on these four fantastical journeys, Gulliver's perceptions of himself and the people and things around him change, giving Swift ample opportunity to inject into the story both irony and satire of the England of his day and of the human condition. Swift ties his satire closely with Gulliver's perceptions and adventures. In Gulliver's first adventure, he begins on a ship that runs aground on a submerged rock. He swims to land, and when he awakens, he finds himself tied down to the ground, and surrounded by tiny people, the Lilliputians. "Irony is present from the start in the simultaneous recreation of Gulliver as giant and prisoner" (Reilly 167). Gulliver is surprised "at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals, who dare venture to mount and walk upon my body" (I.i.16), but he admires this quality in them. Gulliver eventually learns their language, and arranges a contract with them for his freedom. However, he is bound by this agreement to protect Lilliput from invasion by the people of Blefuscu.

Blood Promise Chapter Eighteen

Unsurprisingly, I woke up with a headache. For a few addled seconds, I had no idea what had happened or where I was. As drowsiness wore off, the events on the street came slamming back to me. I sat upright, all of my defenses kicking into action, despite the slight wooziness in my head. Time to figure out where I was now. I sat up on an enormous bed in a darkened room. No-not just a room. More like a suite or a studio. I'd thought the hotel in Saint Petersburg was opulent, but this blew it away. The half of the studio I sat in contained the bed and usual bedroom accessories: a dresser, nightstands, etc. The other half looked like a living room area, with a couch and a television. Shelves were built into the walls, all of them filled with books. Off to my right was a short hall with a door at the end. Probably a bathroom. On my other side was a large picture window, tinted, as Moroi windows often were. This one had more tint than any I'd ever seen. It was almost solid black, nearly impossible to see through. Only the fact that I could differentiate the sky from the horizon-after a fair amount of squinting-let me know it was daytime out there. I slid off the bed, my senses on high alert as I tried to assess my danger. My stomach felt fine; there were no Strigoi in the area. That didn't necessarily rule out some other person, however. I couldn't take anything for granted-doing so was what had gotten me in trouble on the street. There was no time to ponder that, though. Not quite yet. If I did, my resolve here was going to falter. Sliding off the bed, I reached into my coat pocket for the stake. Gone, of course. I saw nothing else nearby that would pass as a weapon, meaning I'd have to rely on my own body to do my fighting. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a light switch on the wall. I flipped it on and froze, waiting to see what-or who-the overhead lights would unveil. Nothing unusual. No one else. Immediately, I did the first obvious thing and checked the door. It was locked, as I'd expected, and the only way of opening it was a numeric keypad. Plus, it was heavy and made of what looked like steel. It reminded me of a fire door. There was no getting past it, so I turned back around to continue my exploration. It was actually kind of ironic. A lot of my classes had gone over detailed ways of checking out a place. I'd always hated those; I'd wanted to learn about fighting. Now it appeared those lessons that had seemed useless at the time had real purpose. The light had brought the suite's objects into sharper relief. The bed was covered in an ivory satin duvet, filled to maximum fluffiness with down. Creeping over to the living room, I saw that the TV was nice-really nice. Large-screen plasma. It looked brand-new. The couches were nice too, covered in matte green leather. It was an unusual color choice for leather, but it worked. All of the furniture in the place-tables, desk, dresser was made of a smooth, polished black wood. In a corner of the living room, I saw a small refrigerator. Kneeling down, I opened it up to find bottled water and juice, assorted fruits, and bags of perfectly cut cheeses. On top of the refrigerator was more snack-type food: nuts, crackers, and some type of glazed pastry. My stomach growled at the sight of it, but no way was I going to eat anything in this place. The bathroom was done in the same style as the rest of the studio. The shower and large Jacuzzi tub were made of black polished marble, and little soaps and shampoos lined the counter. A larger mirror hung over the sink, except†¦ it wasn't actually hanging. It was embedded so tightly into the wall that there was absolutely no way it could be removed. The material was strange too. It looked more like reflective metal than glass. At first I thought that was strange, until I raced back out to the main room and looked around. There was absolutely nothing here that could be turned into a weapon. The TV was too big to move or break, short of cracking the screen, which looked like it was made of some high-tech plastic. There was no glass in any of the tables. The shelves were embedded. The bottles in the refrigerator were all plastic. And the window†¦ I ran over to it, feeling along its edges. Like the mirror, it was fitted perfectly into the wall. There were no panes. It was one smooth piece. Squinting again, I finally got a detailed view of my outer surroundings and saw†¦ nothing. The land appeared to be rolling plains, with only a few scattered trees. It reminded me of the wilderness I'd traveled while going to Baia. I was no longer in Novosibirsk, apparently. And peering down, I saw that I was fairly high up. Fourth floor, maybe. Whatever it was, it was too high to jump without breaking a limb. Still, I had to take some sort of action. I couldn't just sit here. I picked up the desk's chair and slammed it into the window-and achieved little effect on either the chair or the glass. â€Å"Jesus Christ,† I muttered. I tried three more times and still had no luck. It was like they were both made of steel. Maybe the glass was some kind of bulletproof industrial strength stuff. And the chair†¦ well, hell if I knew. It was all one piece of wood and showed no signs of splintering, even after what I'd just put it through. But since I'd spent my whole life doing things that weren't that reasonable, I kept trying to break the glass. I was on my fifth try when my stomach warned me of a Strigoi's approach. Spinning around, I kept a hold of the chair and charged the door. It opened, and I slammed into the intruder, with the chair's legs pointing out. It was Dimitri. Those same conflicted feelings I'd felt on the street returned to me, love mingled with terror. This time, I pushed through the love, not flinching in my attack. Not that it did much good. Hitting him was like hitting the window. He shoved me back, and I staggered, still holding onto the chair. I kept my balance and charged once more. This time, when we collided, he grabbed a hold of the chair and ripped it from my hands. He then tossed it into the wall, like it weighed nothing. Without that meager weapon, it was back to relying on my own body's strength. I'd been doing it for the last couple of weeks with our Strigoi questioning; this should have been the same. Of course, I'd had four other people then as backup. And none of those Strigoi had been Dimitri. Even as a dhampir, he'd been hard to beat. Now he was just as skilled-only faster and stronger. He also knew all my moves, seeing as he'd taught them to me. It was almost impossible to surprise him. But just like with the window, I couldn't stay inactive. I was trapped in a room-the fact that it was a big, luxurious room didn't matter-with a Strigoi. A Strigoi. That's what I had to keep telling myself. There was a Strigoi in here. Not Dimitri. Everything I'd told Denis and the others applied here. Be smart. Be vigilant. Defend yourself. â€Å"Rose,† he said, deflecting one of my kicks effortlessly. â€Å"You're wasting time. Stop.† Oh, that voice. Dimitri's voice. The voice I heard when I fell asleep at night, the voice that had once told me he loved me†¦ No! It's not him. Dimitri is gone. This is a monster. Desperately, I tried to think of how I could win here. I even thought of the ghosts I'd summoned on the road. Mark had said I could do that in moments of wild emotion and that they'd fight for me. This was as wild as emotion could get, yet I couldn't seem to call them. I honestly had no clue how I'd done it before, and all the wishing in the world couldn't make it happen now. Damn. What good were terrifying powers if I couldn't use them to my advantage? Instead, I pulled the DVD player off its shelf, cords ripping from the wall. It wasn't much of a weapon, but I was desperate now. I heard a strange, primal battle scream, and some distant part of me realized I was making it. Again, I ran at Dimitri, swinging the DVD player as hard as I could. It probably would have hurt a little-if it had hit him. It didn't. He intercepted it again, taking it from me, and throwing it down. It smashed to pieces on the floor. In the same motion, he grabbed a hold of my arms to stop me from hitting or reaching for something else. His grip was hard, like it could break my bones, but I kept struggling. He tried reason again. â€Å"I'm not going to hurt you. Roza, please stop.† Roza. The old nickname. The name he'd first called me when we'd fallen prey to Victor's lust charm, both of us wrapped naked in each other's arms †¦ This isn't the Dimitri you knew. My hands were incapacitated, so I struck out with my legs and feet as best I could. It didn't do much. Without full use of the rest of my body for balance, I had no force to throw into my kicks. For his part, he looked more annoyed than truly concerned or angry. With a loud sigh, he grabbed me by the shoulders and flipped me around, pressing me against the wall and immobilizing me with the full force of his body. I struggled a little but was as pinned as the Strigoi had been when the others and I had gone hunting. The universe had a sick sense of humor. â€Å"Stop fighting me.† His breath was warm against my neck, his body right up against mine. I knew his mouth was only a couple inches away. â€Å"I'm not going to hurt you.† I gave another fruitless shove. My breath was coming in ragged gasps, and my head injury throbbed. â€Å"You'll have to understand if I have a hard time believing that.† â€Å"If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. Now, if you're going to keep fighting, I'll have to tie you up. If you stop, I'll let you stay unrestrained.† â€Å"Aren't you afraid I'll escape?† â€Å"No.† His voice was perfectly calm, and chills ran down my spine. â€Å"I am not.† We stood like that for almost a minute, deadlocked. My mind raced. It was true that he probably would have killed me already if that were his intent, yet that gave me no reason to believe I was even remotely safe. Nonetheless, we were at a draw in this fight. Okay, draw wasn't entirely accurate. I was at a draw. He was toying with me. My head was throbbing where his blow had landed, and this pointless fighting would only take a further toll. I had to regain my strength in order to find a way to escape-if I lived that long. I also needed to stop thinking about how close our bodies were. After our months of being so careful not to touch, this much contact was heady. I relaxed in his hold. â€Å"Okay.† He hesitated before letting me go, probably wondering if he could trust me. The whole moment reminded me of when we'd been together in the little cabin on the periphery of the Academy's grounds. I'd been raging and upset, brimming with spirit's darkness. Dimitri had held me down then, too, and talked me out of that horrible state. We had kissed, then his hands had lifted my shirt, and-no, no. Not here. I couldn't think about that here. Dimitri finally eased up, releasing me from the wall. I turned around, and all my instincts wanted to lash out and attack him again. Sternly, I reminded myself to bide my time so that I could gain more strength and information. Even though he'd let me go, he hadn't moved away. We were only a foot apart. Against my better judgment, I found myself taking him in again, like I had on the street. How could he be the same and yet so different? I tried my best not to focus on the similarities-his hair, the difference in our heights, the shape of his face. Instead, I concentrated on the Strigoi features, the red in his eyes and pallor of his skin. I was so fixated on my task that it took me a moment to realize he wasn't saying anything either. He was studying me intently, like his eyes could look right through me. I shivered. It almost-almost!-seemed as though I captivated him the same way he captivated me. That was impossible, though. Strigoi didn't possess those kinds of emotions, and besides, the thought of him still having any affection for me was probably just wishful thinking on my part. His face had always been hard to read, and now it was overlaid with a mask of cunning and coldness that made it truly impossible to know what was on his mind. â€Å"Why did you come here?† he asked at last. â€Å"Because you hit me on the head and dragged me here.† If I was going to die, I was going to go in true Rose style. The old Dimitri would have cracked a smile or given an exasperated sigh. This one remained impassive. â€Å"That's not what I meant, and you know it. Why are you here?† His voice was low and dangerous. I'd thought Abe was scary, but there was no competition at all. Even Zmey would have backed off. â€Å"In Siberia? I came to find you.† â€Å"I came here to get away from you.† I was so shocked that I said something utterly ridiculous. â€Å"Why? Because I might kill you?† The look he gave me showed that he thought that was indeed a ridiculous thing to say. â€Å"No. So we wouldn't be in this situation. Now we are, and the choice is inevitable.† I wasn't entirely sure what this situation was. â€Å"Well, you can let me go if you want to avoid it.† He stepped away and walked toward the living room without looking back at me. I was tempted to try to do a sneak attack on him, but something told me I'd probably only make it about four feet before getting backhanded. He sat down in one of the luxurious leather armchairs, folding his six-foot-seven frame up as gracefully as he'd always done. God, why did he have to be so contradictory? He had the old Dimitri's habits mixed with those of a monster. I stayed where I was, huddled against the wall. â€Å"Not possible anymore. Not after seeing you now†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Again, he studied me. It felt strange. Part of me responded with excitement to the intensity of his gaze, loving the way he surveyed my body from head to toe. The other part of me felt dirty, like slime or muck was oozing over my skin as he studied me. â€Å"You're still as beautiful as I remember, Roza. Not that I should have expected anything different.† I didn't know what to say to that. I'd never really had a conversation with a Strigoi, short of trading a few insults and threats in the midst of a fight. The nearest I'd come was when I'd been held captive by Isaiah. I actually had been tied up then, and most of the talking had been about him killing me. This†¦ well, it wasn't like that, but it was still definitely creepy. I crossed my arms over my chest and backed up against the wall. It was the closest I could come to some semblance of a defense. He tilted his head, watching me carefully. A shadow fell across his face in such a way that it made the red in his eyes hard to see. Instead, they looked dark. Just like they used to, endless and wonderful, filled with love and bravery†¦ â€Å"You can sit down,† he said. â€Å"I'm fine over here.† â€Å"Is there anything else you want?† â€Å"For you to let me go?† For a moment, I thought I saw a bit of that old wryness in his face, the kind he'd get when I made jokes. Studying him, I decided I'd imagined it. â€Å"No, Roza. I meant, do you need anything here? Different food? Books? Entertainment?† I stared incredulously. â€Å"You make it sound like some sort of luxury hotel!† â€Å"It is, to a certain extent. I can speak to Galina, and she'll get you anything you wish.† â€Å"Galina?† Dimitri's lips turned up in a smile. Well, kind of. I think his thoughts were fond, but the smile conveyed none of that. It was chilling, dark, and full of secrets. Only my refusal to show weakness before him stopped me from cringing. â€Å"Galina is my old instructor, back from when I was in school.† â€Å"She's Strigoi?† â€Å"Yes. She was awakened several years ago, in a fight in Prague. She's relatively young for a Strigoi, but she's risen in power. All of this is hers.† Dimitri gestured around us. â€Å"And you live with her?† I asked, curious in spite of myself. I wondered exactly what kind of relationship they had, and to my surprise, I felt†¦ jealous. Not that I had reason to. He was a Strigoi, beyond me now. And it wouldn't be the first time a teacher and student had gotten together†¦ â€Å"I work for her. She was another reason I returned here when I was awakened. I knew she was Strigoi, and I wanted her guidance.† â€Å"And you wanted to get away from me. That was the other reason, right?† His only answer was a nod of his head. No elaboration. â€Å"Where are we? We're far from Novosibirsk, right?† â€Å"Yes. Galina's estate is outside the city.† â€Å"How far?† That smile twisted a little. â€Å"I know what you're doing, and I'm not going to give you that sort of information.† â€Å"Then what are you doing?† I demanded, all of my pent-up fear bursting out as anger. â€Å"Why are you holding me here? Kill me or let me go. And if you're going to just lock me up and torture me with mind games or whatever, then I really would rather you kill me.† â€Å"Brave words.† He stood up and began pacing once more. â€Å"I almost believe you.† â€Å"They're true,† I replied defiantly. â€Å"I came here to kill you. And if I can't do that, then I'd rather die.† â€Å"You failed, you know. On the street.† â€Å"Yeah. I kind of figured that out when I woke up here.† Dimitri made an abrupt turn and was suddenly standing in front of me, moving with that lightning-fast Strigoi speed. My Strigoi-nausea had never gone away, but the more time I spent with him, the more it faded to a low-level sort of background noise that I could more or less ignore. â€Å"I'm a little disappointed. You're so good, Rose. So very, very good. You and your friends going around and taking down Strigoi caused quite a stir, you know. Some Strigoi were even afraid.† â€Å"But not you?† â€Å"When I heard it was you†¦ hmm.† He turned thoughtful, eyes narrowing. â€Å"No. I was curious. Wary. If anyone could have killed me, it would have been you. But like I said, you hesitated. It was your ultimate test of my lessons, and you failed.† I kept my face blank. Inside, I was still beating myself up over that moment of weakness on the street. â€Å"I won't hesitate next time.† â€Å"There won't be a next time. And anyway, as disappointed as I am in you, I'm still glad to be alive, of course.† â€Å"You aren't alive,† I said through gritted teeth. God, he was so, so close to me again. Even with the changes to his face, the lean and muscled body was the same. â€Å"You're dead. Unnatural. You told me a long time ago you'd rather die than be like this. That's why I'm going to kill you.† â€Å"You're only saying that because you don't know any better. I didn't either back then.† â€Å"Look, I meant what I said. I'm not playing your game. If I can't get out of here, then just kill me, okay?† Without warning, he reached out and ran his fingers along the side of my face. I gasped. His hand was ice cold, but the way he touched me†¦ again, it was the same. Exactly the same as I remembered. How was this possible? So similar†¦ yet so different. All of a sudden, another of his lessons came to mind, about how Strigoi could seem so, so like those you'd once known. It was why it was so easy to hesitate. â€Å"Killing you†¦ well, it's not that simple,† he said. His voice dropped to a low whisper again, like a snake slithering against my skin. â€Å"There's a third option. I could awaken you.† I froze and stopped breathing altogether. â€Å"No.† It was the only thing I could say. My brain couldn't come up with anything more complex, nothing witty or clever. His words were too terrifying to even begin to ponder. â€Å"No.† â€Å"You don't know what it's like. It's†¦ amazing. Transcendent. All your senses are alive; the world is more alive-â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, but you're dead.† â€Å"Am I?† He caught hold of my hand and placed it over his chest. In it, I could feel a steady beating. My eyes widened. â€Å"My heart beats. I'm breathing.† â€Å"Yeah, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I tried desperately to think of everything I'd ever been taught about Strigoi. â€Å"It's not really being alive. It's†¦ it's dark magic reanimating you. It's an illusion of life.† â€Å"It's better than life.† Both of his hands moved up and cupped my face. His heartbeat might have been steady, but mine was racing. â€Å"It's like being a god, Rose. Strength. Speed. Able to perceive the world in ways you could never imagine. And†¦ immortality. We could be together forever.† Once, that was all I'd ever wanted. And deep inside of me, some part still wished for that, wished desperately to be with him for all time. Yet†¦ it wouldn't be the way I wanted it. It wouldn't be like it used to be. This would be something different. Something wrong. I swallowed. â€Å"No†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I could barely hear my own voice, barely even form the words with him touching me like that. His fingertips were so light and gentle. â€Å"We can't be.† â€Å"We could.† One of his fingers trailed down the side of my chin and came to rest on the artery in my neck. â€Å"I could do it quickly. There'd be no pain. It'd be done before you even knew it.† He was probably right. If you were forced to become Strigoi, you had the blood drained from you. Then a Strigoi would usually cut himself and bring that blood to your lips. Somehow, I imagined I'd pass out before I was even half-drained. Together forever. The world blurred a little. I don't know if it was because of my head trauma or the terror coursing through my body. I had envisioned a hundred scenarios when I set out after Dimitri. Becoming a Strigoi hadn't been one of them. Death-his or mine-had been the only thought consuming me, which had been stupid on my part. My sluggish thoughts were interrupted when the door suddenly opened. Dimitri turned, shoving me away hard so that he stood protectively in front of me. Two people entered, shutting the door before I could even consider running for it. One of the newcomers was a Strigoi, a guy. The other was a human woman carrying a tray, her head bowed down. I recognized the Strigoi immediately. It was hard not to; his face haunted my dreams. Blond hair, about the length of Dimitri's, hung over the side of a face that looked like he'd been in his early twenties when he turned. He had apparently seen Lissa and me when we were younger, but I had only seen him twice before. Once had been when I fought him on the Academy's grounds. The other time was when I'd encountered him in the cave that other Strigoi were using as a hangout. He was the one who had bitten and turned Dimitri. The guy barely spared me a glance and instead turned the full force of his anger on Dimitri. â€Å"What the hell is going on?† I had no trouble understanding him. He was American. â€Å"You're keeping some pet up here?† â€Å"It's none of your concern, Nathan.† Dimitri's voice was ice. Earlier, I'd thought he conveyed no emotion in his words. Now I realized it was just more difficult to detect. There was a clear challenge in his voice now, a warning for this other guy to back off. â€Å"Galina gave me permission.† Nathan's eyes drifted from Dimitri to me. His anger turned to shock. â€Å"Her?† Dimitri shifted slightly, putting himself directly in front of me now. Some rebellious part wanted to snap that I didn't need a Strigoi's protection, except†¦ well, I kind of did. â€Å"She was at the school in Montana†¦ We fought†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His lips curled back, showing his fangs. â€Å"I would have tasted her blood if that fire-using Moroi brat hadn't been around.† â€Å"This doesn't have anything to do with you,† replied Dimitri. Nathan's red eyes were wide and eager. â€Å"Are you kidding? She can lead us to the Dragomir girl! If we finish that line off, our names will be legendary. How long are you going to keep her?† â€Å"Get out,† growled Dimitri. â€Å"That's not a request.† Nathan pointed at me. â€Å"She's valuable. If you're going to keep her around as some blood whore plaything, at least share. Then, we'll get the information and finish her.† Dimitri took a step forward. â€Å"Get out of here. If you lay a hand on her, I will destroy you. I will rip your head off with my bare hands and watch it burn in the sun.† Nathan's fury grew. â€Å"Galina won't allow you to play house with this girl. Even you don't have that much favor.† â€Å"Don't make me tell you to leave again. I'm not in a patient mood today.† Nathan said nothing, and the two Strigoi stood there in a staring match. I knew Strigoi strength and power were partially related to age. Nathan had obviously been turned first. I didn't know by how much, but watching them, I got the feeling that Dimitri might be stronger or that it was at least a very, very even match. I could have sworn I saw a glimpse of fear in Nathan's red eyes, but he turned away before I could get a good look. â€Å"This isn't over,† he snapped, moving toward the door. â€Å"I'm talking to Galina.† He left, and for a moment, nobody moved or spoke. Then Dimitri looked at the human woman and said something in Russian. She'd been standing there, frozen. Leaning over, she carefully placed her tray on the coffee table by the couch. She lifted a silver lid up, revealing a plate of pepperoni pizza loaded with cheese. Under any other circumstances, someone bringing me pizza in a Strigoi home would have been ludicrous and funny. Now, in the wake of Dimitri's threat to turn me Strigoi and Nathan's desire to use me to get to Lissa, nothing was funny. Even Rose Hathaway had limits when it came to making jokes. Next to the pizza was a huge brownie, thick with frosting. Food I loved, as Dimitri well knew. â€Å"Lunch,† he said. â€Å"Not poisoned.† Everything on the tray looked amazing, but I shook my head. â€Å"I'm not going to eat.† He arched an eyebrow. â€Å"Do you want something else?† â€Å"I don't want anything else because I'm not going to eat anything at all. If you aren't going to kill me, then I'll do it myself.† It was occurring to me that the suite's lack of weapons was probably for my own protection as much as theirs. â€Å"By starving to death?† There was dark amusement in his eyes. â€Å"I'll awaken you long before then.† â€Å"Why aren't you just doing it now?† â€Å"Because I'd rather wait for you to be willing.† Man, he really did sound like Abe, except that breaking one's kneecaps seemed kind of soft-core in comparison. â€Å"You're going to be waiting a long time,† I said. Dimitri laughed out loud then. His laughter had been rare as a dhampir, and hearing it had always thrilled me. Now it no longer had that rich warmth that had wrapped all around me. It was cold and menacing. â€Å"We'll see.† And before I could form a reply, he moved in front of me again. His hand snaked behind my neck, shoving me against him, and he tilted my face up, pressing his lips against mine. They were as cold as the rest of his skin†¦ and yet there was something warm in there, too. Some voice in me screamed that this was sick and horrible†¦ but at the same time, I lost track of the world around me as we kissed and could almost pretend we were back together in the cabin. He pulled away as quickly as he'd moved in, leaving me gasping and wide-eyed. Casually, like nothing had happened, he gestured to the woman. â€Å"This is Inna.† She looked up at the sound of her name, and I saw she was no older than me. â€Å"She works for Galina too and will check in on you. If you need anything, let her know. She doesn't speak much English, but she'll figure it out.† He said something else to her, and she meekly followed him to the door. â€Å"Where are you going?† I asked. â€Å"I have things to do. Besides, you need time to think.† â€Å"There's nothing to think about.† I forced as much defiance into my words as I could. It must not have sounded very fierce, though, because all my speech earned me was one mocking smile before he left with Inna, leaving me alone in my luxurious prison.