Human Trafficking of Young Women to be sold in Prostitution Essay

Before going into details, it seemed important to define what human trafficking is. Human trafficking regardless of its type is a criminal offense. The UN Convention against transnational crime define human trafficking as â€Å"the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the use of power, or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation† (UN Resolution 25, 2001, cited by Vandermey, Meyer, Rys, and Sebranek 2009, p. 246). Under Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are working hard not only to make sure the laws are put into practice, but also to contain this problem (Hart 2009, p. 43). The most severe forms of human trafficking have been defined in U. S. law as sex trafficking in which â€Å"a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained eighteen years of age†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Troubnikoff 2003, p. 3). In order to perpetrate this crime, it needs at least twelve to fifteen people who will be actors. These include an agency manager, office staffs (at least three), recruiters (at least two), a coordinator, drivers, safe house, document vendors, corrupt public officials, operator, cook, and at least six armed men who will take charge of the â€Å"recruits. † It also needs an office space, office equipments, and a safe house. This crime model further needs mobile communication equipments, tainted cars, and high powered guns, and contacts with other transnational crime syndicates are essential in this operation that will facilitate the deployment of women to their prospective clients. Where and how this crime model operates? This type of crime operates in countries where many people are poor and are longing to escape from the grinding poverty. Among their base of operation are the third world countries in Asia, the former Soviet republics especially Russia and Africa. They can easily prey on young women through their promise of dollar earnings plus other benefits that are not available in their country. This crime model operates on two fronts: by fronting a fake man power agency which lured young women into prostitution under a false pretenses of high paying jobs as waitresses, dancers, models, and au pairs abroad, and by kidnapping beautiful young women. The ‘hired’ and kidnapped women will then be required to stay in the safe house where they will be strictly guarded on a twenty four hour basis. The role each actor played On the democratic front, the roles each actor played in this crime model are crucial and communication with clients as well as secrecy is of utmost importance. The roles played by the recruiters, coordinators, the armed men, and the agency manager are the most crucial as they are the ones that are most exposed to their victims. They would be the one that will be subject of the victims’ families rage if their crimes are divulged as well as the object of police manhunt. Thus, they would need to create fictitious names, addresses, and pertinent information. Like in ordinary manpower agencies, the manager confirms the applicants’ application and provides assurance to their â€Å"client† as well as direction of the entire operation. The recruiters are responsible for recruitment and hiring of women. But they need to be very careful because of the government drive to contain the problem of human trafficking. Indeed, they need to use all their convincing power that they offer real job. The agency manager is also the head of the entire operation and is responsible to make their operation smooth and successful. The role played by the coordinator is also important. He is the one that has contact with the clients. In other words, he holds key position and is in contacts â€Å"in some segments† of the operation, and â€Å"organize their services (Zhang 2007, p. 97). Zhang pointed out that the coordinator is central to human trafficking operation though they have â€Å"nothing more than the right connection for to acquire the necessary services for a fee† (p. 97). Drivers, cook, and safe house operators are also important actors towards the deployment of women. Under the law all these actors are equally liable for the crime. But the operation of this crime will not be successful at all without the connivance of a corrupt public official. Corrupt government officials who hold vital responsibility towards the review and issuance of travel documents makes the operation highly successful. The document vendors provide real or false document needed for the deployment. But on the autocratic front, the most critical role played by the actors is that of the armed men who must insure that no one could get away or escape. It is critical because if any of the victims escape, the full force of the law will surely hunt them, as well as those behind them. These men therefore need to be heartless, ruthless, and hardened criminals who would not hesitate to shot or kill anyone would attempt to escape. The Blue print of deceit Ciment and Shanty (2008) asserted that there are various schemes of deceits human traffickers employed to collect and traffic women for prostitution. Among these methods is deception, the recruitment of prostitutes, purchase or rent from relatives, boyfriends, and friends, Kidnapping, and as payment of debt (p. 220). This crime model is a rich source of illegal money as according to estimates, a single individual or a group involved in trafficking women and children for commercial sex â€Å"can make about US$122,000 from one woman in a year† Ciment, J. D. and Shanty, F. G. 008, p. 221) or an estimated 12 billion dollars annually. Deceptions of women are usually done through the form of either false promise of employment or false promise of marriage, or in some cases, a false promise of education. False marriages and mail order brides are used a means of deception to bring women for overseas prostitution. But all these promises are broken once the women are in the hands of the traffickers. They are then turned over to the safe house operators who insure maximum security with the help of armed men assigned to secure any possibility of escape. Recruitment of prostitutes also involved deception as despite these women knew what type of job awaits them. Ciment and Shanty noted that what they are not aware of is â€Å"the degree of exploitation to which they will be subjected (p. 220). The danger for this operation however is that when the supposed victims verify the identity of employment agency with proper government authorities regarding the legality of such employment agency, or the truth about the offered job with embassy of the particular country where the jobs are supposedly available. The same with the mail order bride, there is a need to verify the information of the man to be marrying with the embassy of the country where that man lives. If this is the case, there is a tendency that the whole operation will be disrupted as when formal complaints is made with government authorities regarding the discovery, the whole operation might be disrupted This operation therefore requires careful planning especially with regards to hiring, keeping and deploying women. One particular problem for them is that the families of these women are keen on the developments regarding their daughter’s longing to work abroad. In other words, they might be sensitive to anything that might be suspicious relating to working abroad. With various laws that apply to this crime such as kidnapping, illegal detention, illegal recruitment, exploitation of women and children and anti-human trafficking laws, they can easily be rapt by the authorities. That is, the families and friends of the victims can report to the authorities what ever they perceived as irregularity on the processes, the very time their daughter left their home as they are supposedly in touched with her, all through out the entire processes. In other words any thing that would create suspicion would mean risk for this business; risk in the sense that these families and friends might report to the police the disappearance of their daughters. Thus, they need to carefully lay out plans for deceitful their schemes. They might even involved in civic duties and social functions, befriend people in high places, and to even to the point of disguising as philanthropist in order to project an image that will unlikely to be suspected of crime involvement, and be generous to the families of the victims during the initial stages of the hiring. The actors in this crime model therefore appear harmless, genuinely concern, and would hardly be suspected of any crime involvement. Outwardly, they are not dangerous, dignified, and innocent but inside; they are ruthless, cruel and hardened criminals. The actors of this crime group however will use its entire means to control these women once they have gotten in their hands these women. They will confiscate all communication devices such as cell phones and devices, as well as passports and other travel documents to ensure no one will dare of escape. In order to appease the families of the ‘hired victims’ the agency might provide cash incentives or advance payment to which after everything has been facilitated particularly the deployment of women to their prospective clients, the office will banish in the thin air to transfer to a new location with a new name, new address, new schemes, but the same people, the same processes, and the same modos operande. Upon hiring of women, they need to provide assurance that everything is fine to avoid any suspicion. However, when this democratic approach proved ineffective, they will use violence to silence the families of the victims. Beeks and Amir (2006) cited that once a woman is in trafficker’s hands, the latter uses any and all means to control her: violence, including sexual assault, threats to the victim’s and her family’s lives, drugs, and threat to turn the woman over to unsympathetic authorities (p. 68). Beeks and Amid stated, â€Å"many women refuse to cooperate with the authorities because there was little or no protection, and they faced deportation, and threats against their families if they cooperate with foreign law enforcement† (p. 68). The extent of this crime model Trafficking of women for prostitution is the worst of all the types of human trafficking. According to Ciment and Shanty, there are an estimated 800,000 to 900,000 individuals that trafficked each year to which the majority come from Southeast Asia, particularly Myanmar, India, Thailand, and Cambodia. The former Soviet Union is now seen to be growing source of trafficking for prostitution and the sex industry (p. 195). The extent of human trafficking is not only confined in Asian countries and the former Soviet Union. Nicola (2009) noted that trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation, â€Å"has involved all the European Union and more in general Western European countries in the past twenty years (p. 3). The extent of human trafficking for prostitution apparently is global because the demand for commercial sex is global. There are no doubts that about the global extent of trafficking in women for prostitution as according to Jeffereys (1997) prostitution has been â€Å"industrialized internationally† (p. 307). Jeffreys pointed out that prostitution is a result of the increasing â€Å"internationalization of the world economy, in which local communities in the third world become an integral part of the industrialized countries† (p. 308). Jeffreys explained that as a consequence of the lost traditional resources, such as land, paid labor or other means of income were felt greatly by women and girls who have to take care of children and family because of tradition or the disappearance of male support (p. 308). Jeffreys asserts, â€Å"Military prostitution and sex tourism have increased the global demand for prostitution† (p. 309).

Eriksons stage and the concept of multiple intelligences Essay

What would you do in a classroom situation with a student with a learning disability to prevent them from having poor self esteerm. Include Eriksons stage and the concept of multiple intelligences in your answer. A student with a learning disability is an urgent matter that a teacher should be concerned of. A child has the tendency to develop a low self-esteem within an academic environment whenever he or she will fail to deliver to the norms of the classroom. Erik Erikson’s theories of child develoment are imminent in this situation. A child’s ability to learn is developed through sporadic life stages in which a child’s logic and understanding is developed gradually. His culture influences the learning process as well. Such presumptions are formed by their interactions within their environment.   In his book, Childhood and Society, Erikson’s extension of the classical Freudian psychoanalytic concept surprised conventional Freudians. The book was about Erikson’s broad concept of dynamics of inner-outer interactions that provides   an insight of social sciences that concerns child development. A child is compelled to adapt and adjust to his environment due to the fact that the society will adjust for him. Most schools are bent on emphasizing the development and progress of rational intelligence as well as linguistic intelligence which is reading and writing. Though most children are adept in learning within at academic environment such as a classroom, some children are not used to adapting to a academic environment where they can thrive. These children are deemed to have learning disablility which halts the progress of their intelligence and further learning. Howard Garner’s multiple intelligence theory explains that by a broader outlook of education wherein instructors can use an alternative set of methodologies will enhance a child learning disability. Applying the theory of multiple intelligence in an academic environment will be subjective in nature due to the fact that cases will vary. It will differ from one teacher to another as well as one student from another. Yet a child will always compelled to adapt to his academic enviroment because the environment will not adjust for him. References: Coles, Robert. 1970. Erik H. Erikson: The Growth of His Work. Boston: Little, Brown. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_intelligence#The_definition_of_intelligence .

Analysis of science fair fun booklet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of science fair fun booklet - Essay Example This will enhance their learning of science disciplines and enable them to be efficient scientists in the future. Since the communication is of educative value, it is essential that it is ad hoc for science education. The analysis presented in the memo will provide analysis results of whether the communication is effective or otherwise based on three fields. These fields include accessibility, usability and relevance. The feedback of these fields will determine if the technical communication is effectual. Description The science fair, fun is a scientific booklet aiming to assist student in the 6-8 grades to create effective science projects. These projects are centred on environmental issues, predominantly recycling of waste materials. The purpose of the booklet is apparent with its content focusing on how students can be effective when creating science projects based on the environment. The book uses a progressive approach to introduce students to project creation and provides sampl e projects for the student to relate the teachings. The document proves to be effective in its objective. This is because it provides the appropriate and detailed steps of project creation helping the student to comprehend its content and apply it in real situations. The document also contains illustrations, which make the booklet fun and interactive with the readers. The author employs brevity but explores the concepts exhaustively to ensure that the students are well informed. Audience The audience of the booklet is primarily students, though the contents might be useful for teachers and instructors. The students targeted are in the grades of 6 through to 8. As mentioned before, the booklet’s effectiveness as a technical communication will be appraised using three criteria. These criteria include accessibility, usability and relevance. Accessibility Accessibility is a crucial feature in determining the effectiveness of a technical communication. This refers to the aspect of whether the information provided in the booklet is easily accessibl

Derivatives and Alternatives Investment Written Assignment Coursework

Derivatives and Alternatives Investment Written Coursework - Assignment Example The mechanism of interest rate swap is explained below with the help of a small example. Let consider to party A & be involved in the interest swap for a period of 5 years. The payment made by A will be calculated at 6% fixed interest rate where as for B the rate is calculated at 6 months floating. The principal let us consider as $10 million. Cash flows for the above case are described in the diagram below: Payment at the end of half year Period Fixed Rate Payments Floating rate Payment 8 months Libor Net cash from A to B 1 300000 337500 -37500 2 300000 337500 -37500 3 300000 337500 -37500 4 300000 325000 -25000 5 300000 325000 -25000 6 300000 325000 -25000 7 300000 312500 -12500 8 300000 312500 -12500 9 300000 312500 -12500 10 300000 325000 -25000 -2500000 b. Is hedging this portfolio necessary?   Hedging can be defined as a process which control or reduce the risk associated with any kind of trade. Hedging can be done taking into consideration of the market potion which may arri ve in the future, which is exactly opposite to that of the present physical market condition in terms of price. Hedging the portfolio is a better option for the asset manager in view of long run profit making. At present there are a fixed rate SWAP in case of EURO market, and floating interest rate with bank of Ericaca for tenure of 1 year. However, If the central bank withdraws the support behind the asset price then there will be a chance of a decrease in the asset price. So to hedge to invest for a 1 year term will help the investor to get the profit. We can consider two different scenarios: if the asset price goes down in next one year or if the asset price goes up in next one year. In the first instance, if the asset price goes down the value of the contract will decrease, so the asset management company will incur loss in future transaction, but the purchase that he has to make will gain profit for him. On the other hand if the value of the asset increases over the year then a t the end of the term, the asset manager will gain profit for his future transaction, but on the other hand to purchase the new asset he has to pay more hence there is a possibility of loss. So in both the cases there is a chance of loss which can be overruled by the profit of long term contract or hedge that the asset management company have take as a precaution. c. Is hedging this portfolio necessary without IRS? The portfolio would require hedging even without the IRS because of the German equities which belongs to the Euro region and needs hedging. The USD LIBOR lending is hedgined by the futures contract but the equities require further hedging with the help of long term futures. Reference Corb, H. (2013), Interest rates Swaps and other Derivatives, Columbia University Press. a) Credit default Swap or CDS can be defined as an agreement between seller and the buyer, in case of loan default. It is a financial swap agreement, where the buyer makes a series of payment to the seller and gets the payoff if the loan gets default. The concept was first invented by Blythe Masters of JP Morgan in the year 1994. According to Schutz (2012), it is an essential insurance contract to hedge the credit risk associated with any kind of loans. It is a kind of derivatives, the value of which depends on the possibility of a company defaulting. Schutz in his writing mentioned about the existence of two different kinds of

Leadership in The Healthcare Sector Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Leadership in The Healthcare Sector - Essay Example These codes can be viewed as a formulation of personal responsibility. The most identifiable significance being the mode of commitment that an individual possesses. In general, sense the code possesses all aspects of professional situation as both a human and a proficient member of the organization. It is obvious that an organization is formed with human aspects and for an organization to become ethical, it is important the human aspects be indulged into following the code. It is imperative that these codes of ethics would be subjective and open to individual interpretations but it should also be noted that in such incident these codes, phrases, or word of the codes would be judged upon individual approach of humane solution. (Zimmerman, 2002) In this respect of Ethics and Leadership qualities of an organization, it would be relevant to mention the emergence of Professional Care Organization (PCO, a newly established health care organization). Its very existence may be definitely seen as a paradigm shift. The clientele is the public in need of medical treatment. The organization employs a staff of 120 professionals (doctors, paramedics, assistants, nurses, health-care assistants, and maintenance staff). PCO intends to become the leading health-care services provider in its region. It also plans to alter the general conception for high medical care costs by implementing a society benefit program that will allow to significantly reducing the patients' expenditures. The modern American health industry is going through a difficult period, one characterized by new concerns about rising health costs. The major concern that had directed medicine until that time was that Americans required more medical care-more than the marketplace would offer by itself. Now, however, worries about high expenditures are replacing concerns about expanding access. The country's focus turns to the matter of redundant procedures, excessive rates of surgery and hospitalization, and repetition of facilities and equipment. The appearance indicates the growing appeal of scientific and rational approaches to social concerns, including health related questions. PCO symbolizes a way to smooth the playing field and to bring arrangement and order as well as scientific reasoning to the, at times, inefficient health care system. Analytical foundation gives society a structure for posing a range of questions related to priority-establishment. It lets the public evaluate existing al ternatives, explore hypothetical

Summary and Impact Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summary and Impact - Essay Example tudy shows that brain activity visibly increases in the process of nondirective meditation; however, it remains almost the same during concentrative meditation. Researchers explain these results by the fact that nondirective meditation allows more space for different thoughts and feelings in it which concentrative meditation is restricting them. Only 3 researchers involved in this study practice meditation to cope with daily stress. Stress follows people everywhere and they need to cope with it somehow. Since this article proves that meditation works, I can try to practice it in my daily life to come down during critical moments. I find this article useful because I often suffer from own inability to deal with stressful events effectively. As a result, I experience problems with falling asleep or feel nervous during the day. Out of two types of meditation described in the article, I would like to practice concentrative meditation first because it seems to be more understandable for me. Perhaps, meditation or simple concentration on breathing will improve my coping

A Surgeon's Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Surgeon's Life - Essay Example A case example of this case was recognized and recorded by Aretaeus of Cappadocia over two thousand years back. Historically, Georges Gilles de la Tourette, a French neurologist was the first person to clinically delineate the syndrome. This syndrome affects the nervous system and the brain and when it does, it alters a person’s reception of activities such as movements and vocalizations. This syndrome has been commonly identified among persons who are aged between 2 to 21 years old. Basically, this disease can be described as one which makes a person do that which is against their will. Those who have been diagnosed of this syndrome are usually accustomed to frequent tics that may be abrupt and purposeless or even the occurrence of vocal sounds that are involuntary but, sudden, recurrent and rapid in parts of the body such as face, head and arms. Subsequently, persons who have this syndrome may exhibit variable expressivity in the expression of the gene as they may be obsessively compulsive or have chronic tic disorders. According to Sacks (2012), the syndrome may be evidenced in anyone regardless of their status. Carl Bennett, as described by Sacks, is a surgeon who he meets in the conference in Boston on Tourette’s syndrome. The syndrome affects Bennett in various dynamics in that, in the conference, he jumped, jerked, and suddenly lunged for the ground. Consequently, he is affected by bizarre tics but, as a result, has learnt to maintain dignity and calm during the moments (Sacks, 2012). Consequently, Dr. Carl Bennett is impacted by this syndrome in the sense that he learns to develop a sense of keenness and attention to detail in every aspect, as witnessed in the encounter in the car when Sacks is driven by Dr. Bennett and shown the surrounding. Additionally, Dr. Bennett is impacted by the syndrome in the sense that he develops a keen and fierce attention to detail, which results from his constant looking below the surface. These are as a result of

How Has Being a Christian Affected the Life Essay

How Has Being a Christian Affected the Life - Essay Example The researcher states that until he was about 12 years-old that he began to understand why the pilgrimage to church each week was important to his parents and soon after, what had been a mindless and somewhat boring routine became important to him.   Maybe it was because the author was a little bored in church and the Bible was the only reading material available but regardless of the motivations, he started his own routine of reading the red-letter parts of the New Testament each Sunday. Entranced by the words of Jesus, this habit progressed to late evenings at home and even on the bus to school. The researcher found the words of Christ simple, to the point and ultimately a path to inner contentment and happiness. His words are, essentially, a guidebook for life. It was during this period in the author’s life, early teenage years, that the spirit of God entered his life through the words of His Son and this connection has grown stronger by the year. The researcher made the transition from attending church as a matter of custom to being a devoted Christian gradually throughout the middle-school years; a time when having faith is certainly a benefit. Though the author knew it wasn’t uncommon for everyone to have feelings of awkwardness at this age, this knowledge did not help soothe his own feelings of inadequacy. The researcher wasn’t considered one of the cool, popular kids and neither were 99 percent of the students but again, this mathematical fact did not help either. Most of the author’s friends from church attended other schools and the couple of people he associated with in elementary school had different class schedules. The researcher felt very alone, vulnerable and intimidated. The ‘other’ students seemed more mature and sure of themselves which was more a result of his distorted self-perception than a reality nevertheless this feeling was very real at that time. The researcher did not feel comfortable tellin g anyone close to him such as his parents or his once-a-week friends from church so the author took solace in prayer. It gave him inner-strength in a time of self-doubt and confusion. Reading the Bible also helped considerably. Besides the lessons and wisdom gained from its pages, the realization that Jesus was not a popular figure either and had also a small circle of friends was of some comfort. Being a Christian at this time of great uncertainty was very beneficial.   It gave the author something solid in his life to hold on to at a time when he needed it the most.  

Green Building Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Green Building - Research Paper Example Without appropriate accommodation, the performance of the student may deteriorate due to varying factors an example being health. Most of the buildings in the city are pre-modern and thus the importance of giving or rather outlining a new design in which a building can get remodeled through. The contemporary world is faced with numerous problems one of them being pollution, it is important to go through a green design that can assist the students in having a conducive living environment while still the design maintaining environmental preservation which is effective for the community around. Client and Mentor In choosing of the means to reconstruct with regard to the client’s precision, it is important to understand the setting of the area. In the provided setting, looking out for all the environmental impacts comes in handy. The building is located in a busy location with a lot of traffic. It is thus important to understand that the cars passing by the building do not spend a lot of time at the location because the ground is rather weak. It is a requirement that the building uses rather tough tiles and the most recommended is the ceramic tiles. The client in this case is the expected occupant and since they are students, it is important to ensure that the building is not very complicated but just ideal. For an ideal contemporary building, it is important to use Ceramic. Ceramic is harder than stone and hence effective enough to use in places with clay soil and having many people around. In the making of such buildings, it is important to ensure that there is minimal use of space while still providing satisfactory area for people to use. The surrounding environment to the building should not have any building around it and should provide ample space for some form of field with grass. Grass is necessary seeing as the ground beneath is clay provides a rather smooth setting and environment for growth. Moreover, research has shown that having chemicals sprayed over the grass eventually leads to the clay soil beneath the foundation of the building stronger and can assist during the rainy season (Vasil, 2009, 77). Clearly, having ample grass space is not an aspect to conform to because it is a town setting but leaving space for it nevertheless is advisable in the setting. The mentor who i s the architect in this case should ensure that they pick the right type of soil for the job. Clay soil is strong and provides a great support for the foundation and the basement. This is from the way its particles join to form one large compact Substance. This substance leaves no space for air and thus makes it even harder. However, during the dry periods, the soil gets wet and the particles, having not supported themselves alone, end up breaking into pieces. This consequently has the building developing cracks and eventually falling to the ground, which is a hazard needless to state. Below is an example of a building in the initial stages of construction just before the pouring of concrete. An inspector is a vital mentor in the analysis of the already set foundation for the building. Most precisely an engineer ought to observe the already set foundation for the determination of the stability position that the building will have. Failure to analyze this may lead to the contractors and the builders carrying on with their work with no idea whatsoever of the sensitivity of the issue (Pearon, 2011, 102). The surveyor then comes in after this stage and determines the kind of footing to put depending on the type of building that the owner requires. In this case, a green building would require a rather high footing provided the soil formation and characteristics at the area. This is also

Beethoven Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Beethoven - Research Paper Example Whereas he remains one of the most well recognized and famous classical composers, scholars still debate what the ultimate cause of Beethoven’s hearing loss might have been. Beethoven himself described its onset as a troublesome ringing in his ears. Medical professionals at that time as well as today believe that the condition could have been brought on by an acute illness that he suffered during early adulthood. Whatever the cause, Beethoven began to experience a noticeable level of hearing loss by the age of 26. Scholars are aware of this due to the fact that it was at this age that Beethoven first mentioned that the hearing loss was troubling him in his correspondence to friends and family. As one might expect, for someone as passionate about music as was Beethoven, such a loss was tantamount to complete and total defeat and desolation. Within his own correspondence it was noted that he even experienced suicidal thoughts at times due to the fact that the hearing loss was af fecting his ability to maintain a positive and optimistic attitude. As such, bouts of severe depression ensued by which Beethoven contemplated ending his life. However, the hearing loss was gradual and Beethoven was not aware at any one particular point during the hearing loss process that he would ultimately be entirely and completely deaf.... lthough a definitive date does not exist by which Beethoven completely and entirely could be considered deaf, it is widely reported that the first time he experienced complete and total deafness was at the premier of the 9th symphony; arguably his magnum opus. At this time, Beethoven reportedly went out on the stage at the conclusion of the symphony and was greeted by rapturous applause. However, due to the fact that he could not hear this, he felt initially that his work was a commercial and professional failure and began to cry heavily.1 Even this debacle and embarrassment was not enough to discourage Beethoven from performing publically. Several public performances with Beethoven as a featured musician took place following the debacle of the 9th Symphony. However, during the performance of the Piano Concerto No. 5, Beethoven was forced to allow his student Carl Czerny to perform as he could no longer hear the music or the beat and keep time with the other musicians. Though it is t rue that Beethoven was not completely and entirely deaf at this stage, he was unable to hear certain pitches of music and could only hear the very lowest bass notes. Recent scholarship into Beethoven’s music after the year 1814 notes the fact that his loss of hearing helped to alter the music after this period of time as compared to the music composed before it. What is meant by this is that the music prior to 1814 included something of an equal composition of both high pitches and low pitches within the score. Although it is true that there remain a profound number of high pitches within Beethoven’s music post 1814 (or after the time in which acute hearing loss profoundly impacted upon the way in which he composed music), it can be readily noted that as a direct result of his hearing

Combating Compassion Fatigue Essay Example for Free

Combating Compassion Fatigue Essay If you ask anyone in the field of healthcare, they will tell you that nursing is a very demanding profession. Many nurses feel weighed down by the emotional and physical demands of their chosen career. They may feel that their efforts go without acknowledgement. They may feel overwhelmed by their workload and feel they do not have adequate support or recourses to confidently and efficiently perform their roles. Part of the nurse’s role is to exhibit compassion for patients and their family members. Yet, compassion is an emotion that requires inner conviction and resiliency (Bush, 2009). When a nurse to facing fatigue and burnout, this compassionate feeling is replaced with feelings of apathy. It is important to recognize the signs of impending compassion fatigue and have knowledge of effective strategies to combat these feelings. Symptoms and Triggers Compassion fatigue to a term used to describe the unique stressors that affect individuals in a caregiver role (Bush, 2009). Some emotional symptoms to identify are anxiety, low self- esteem, powerlessness, and anger. Physical symptoms that are common are irritability, sleeplessness, and somatic pains. Environmental and emotional stressors of the workplace are what contribute to compassion fatigue. All caregivers at risk fro developing compassion fatigue, yet some may be more susceptible than others. All caregivers are at risk for developing compassion fatigue, yet there are some that may be more susceptible than others. Every person responds to emotional and environmental stressors differently. Some have a larger capacity for it than others. A shortage in staff results in a heavy workload for nurses. Nurses become fatigued when they are continually required to perform tasks alone that are best performed by a team. Unfair treatment of workers is perceived when evaluations, promotions, compensation  and benefits are not applied fairly (Espeland, 2006). When a nurse’s hard work goes unnoticed and unrewarded, this may result in feelings of hopelessness. Self-conflict is an important stressor that should be mentioned. Nurses tend to be very ambitious and have high expectations for themselves. These standards may lead the nurse to over-extend themselves, resulting in early on- set burnout. Also, a nurse may not be able to satisfactorily meet their own standards of care when they are simply given too much work to handle. The result of this is will be job dissatisfaction and subsequent compassion fatigue. Nurses who are young when they join the profession are at higher risk. This is because they are less prepared for role ambiguity, heavy workloads, and changing environments (Espeland, 2006). Bearing the suffering of others over a length of time is a big factor in the development of compassion fatigue. A nurse should be able to recognize their own individual risk for compassion fatigue and understand how to guard against it. Overcoming Burnout To change from a burnout state, we need to change our thought processes and viewpoints about the people and things that may have contributed to our burnout (Espeland, 2006). A nurse needs to actively take control of their situation instead of waiting for their situation to change on its own. By setting realistic goals for themselves and prioritizing important aspects of their life, the nurse can begin overcoming the state of compassion fatigue. It’s important to realize our personal limits. We can strive to perform at our optimal best without attempting to achieve perfection, which is impossible for anyone. We always have control of our own attitude. When we strive to maintain a positive outlook, we minimize feelings of compassion fatigue. It is inevitable that we will face challenges and adversity on our career path. Utilizing adversity as an opportunity for personal growth as opposed to a barrier is a way to guarantee personal and professional advancement (Espeland, 206). Another change that may need to be made to overcome burnout is a change in practice. Recognizing when it is time for a change is important. Whether it changing units within our hospital or changing disciplines within nursing, these changes provide us with the chance to grow in our profession and gain new skills. This variety contributes to career satisfaction and lessens the risk for burnout. It is imperative for nurses to know their risk for compassion fatigue, how to guard against it, and how to overcome it if they do find themselves in the state of burnout. Reviewing information about compassion fatigue to valuable to all nurses, as nurses in all disciplines of the profession are at risk for compassion fatigue. Applying these strategies and coping mechanisms will provide the nurse with a more satisfying experience in their nursing career and will assist them to perform at their optimal best. References Bush, N. (2009). Compassion fatigue: are you at risk?. Oncology Nursing Forum, 36(1), 24-28. doi:10.1188/09.ONF.24-28 Espeland, K. (2006). Overcoming burnout: how to revitalize your career. Journal Of Continuing Education In Nursing, 37(4), 178-184.

Perfect competition V. Monopolies Essay Example for Free

Perfect competition V. Monopolies Essay In the American Economy, business is controlled by the government and the consumer. When a person is the owner of a business that is alone in its product that it provides for the consumer, it is said to be a monopoly. As a monopoly you have sole control over price. Monopolies are regulated by the government in order to prevent the misuse of power that a monopoly has. If a person can only get turkey, for example from one store. Then the store can charge a lot more for that turkey than it could if the store next door was selling it too because then there would be competition. Also, the store would not have to produce a better quality of turkey because there would be no reason for it to do so. In this situation the consumer is taken unfair advantage of by the business owner, in this case the store. Government regulates monopolies to promote a perfect competition economy and to get rid of the turkey situation discussed above. The benefits of a perfect competition economy benefit consumers. For example, if we go back to the store, in a perfect competition economy all of the stores have turkey. Now the stores want to make sure that the turkey that they sell is the best turkey and cost the least. In this situation they are competing for the consumers business. However, business owners of a monopoly situation disagree with the government. When there is a business that has the potential to become a monopoly the government watches it very closely and the business has to go through the government for mergers and such. The more the business becomes a monopoly, the more the government says no to the businesss requests. For example, there is Microsoft. The government has been working to keep Microsoft from being the big business that it is today. So, in conclusion, a perfect competition economy makes benefits for the consumer. Likewise, a monopolistic economy makes benefits for the business owner. On the flip side, a perfect competition shows drawbacks for the business owner and a monopolistic economy shows drawbacks for the consumer. The best way to run an economy is to have a balance between the two options. Americas economy does this.

Problems Faced by Saudi Arabia

Problems Faced by Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula. It has an appraise population of 27.5 million. Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia. The official language in is Arabic and the Saudi legal system is based on the Islamic constitution. It is the homeland of the Islam, where the two major holy mosques are found. They discovered oil in 1936 which made the country wealthier. Oil accounts for more than 90 percent of exports and nearly 75 percent of government revenues. It provides the government with money to provide health care and education. There are no taxes taken by the government from the residents. Saudi Arabia faces many serious problems which need attention like any other country. According to the researches, Women in Saudi are not allowed to vote only men were admit to vote in the 2005 elections of 179 municipal councils of the country. Also in recent article of al-shaq al-awsat newspaper announced that Saudi Arabia has got the lowest percentage of the world with wo men constitute 5% of workforce. And can u imagine that one person dies each hour in a car accidents because of the high speed? how terrifying is this? what is more, in a report of several studies and smoking prevalence 20% to 40% of the population smoke. This essay will discuss three major issues women rights, car accidents and smoking in Saudi Arabia and the possible solutions for each problem. One of the main major problems that are considered in the Saudi society is women rights. The men and the religious police in Saudi claim that in Islam womens place is at home taking care of their husbands and families, which is not true it is just intellectual invasion. Women suffer from discrimination in the labor market therefore they could not work in the same place with men; their job, according to the men in Saudi, is to stay at home to take responsibility of the house and manipulate with their freedom. For instant, women have no right choosing their husbands, it is usually arranged by their family or the man chooses her and driving is forbidden for them, by law. Besides, women have no right to vote and not allowed to be a part of the weekly council which is where Saudi citizens complaint to a certain member of the royal family who controls the country. Moreover, women are not able to study, travel or work unless they get the permission from their parents. Although they are allo wed to travel they still have to get permission every-time they go to the airport. In addition, all schools and some malls are sex-segregated. As a result of this, men began using that as an advantage by pursuing violence and abusing them in any way possible. However, women try to tackle this problem. For example, a few years ago a group of women from different parts of the country requested a petition, written in it â€Å"recognize woman as eligible, without the need to have the escort of the legal supervisor -such as a father, husband or brother- to be present in case a trade registration record is needed for a woman to start business† and â€Å"the woman is in need to get her own legitimate and civil right, starting from her right to learn, work and health care but not to be conditioned on the permission of the legal supervisor to her rights to transfer her property after her death to her inheritors under the rule of civil service on equal footing with man†. The gov ernment is trying their best to tackle this and they started by announcing to give women identification cards when they register on their custodians identification cards in previous whereas the key reason of treating women in the wrong way refers to gender apartheid so it needs time to get over this ineffectual idea. Secondly, driving cars in a high speed causes many accidents in Saudi Arabia. It costs the government a lot of money yearly which cause decrease in the economy of the country. what is more, the lost of human which costs lives and cost their families tears and long nights without sleeping worrying about what is coming next. Is it death or disability for the rest of their lives? People are dying daily even if they escape the death there is a high possibility to get paralyzed or disable. In a report said that â€Å"the average age of death causalities that result from car accident is 34 years, which means that 26 working years were lost for each person. The economic input of each 26 years is calculated in the annual economic losses of Saudi†. The report found that â€Å" 65% of people with minor causalities need up to 20 days in hospitalized treatment and up to 70 days for rehabilitation. On the other hand, 33% of the minor causalities need up to a full year in treatment and reh abilitation, which results in complete loss of full year economic input for each person. The remaining 2% end up in permanently handicapped that may require up to 15 years of treatment and rehabilitation†. According to the traffic department on the numeration for the last five years approximately more than 1.36 million accident cause death for 21,900 people and about 122,600 coming with injuries. Therefor some possible solution could be follows to help solving this dilemma. For instance, make the driving license test much difficult than it is now with requirement to illustrate driving ability in the Saudis roads and give condensed driving lessons before people start using car. besides, that the government should either charge or punish for speeding. Also should send campaign which focus in damage which causes from the high speed that all could push the people not to drive with high speed in order to help with this problem. finally, last but not least this phenomenon that spread in the saudi society like the cancer when it spreads in the body smoking. people who always smoke are more likely to expose heath problems; lung cancer and heart disease. Smoking in Saudi is becoming like hobby for people. What is really horrifying that the people start smoking in the teenage for the wrong reasons like to make them feel better about themselves and more confident to face the worlds. What is more, the number of smokers in Saudi is increasing which put extra pressure on the heath system. The essential problem which made them go toward smoking that the price of the pack of cigarettes in Saudi is the cheapest in the world what is worse that there is not any law obstruct young people from buying cigarette. however, the people not only smoke cigarette but also shisha (hubby-bubbly) specially women thinking that it is not as harm as cigarette whereas it equals 15 cigarettes. According to one anti-smoking organization sa id â€Å" Saudi Arabia has fourth highest number of smokers per capita in the world. There are 6 million smokers and a growing number of women lighting up†. Also 27% of students in intermediate level smoke, up to 51% of the of the female teachers and educators smoke and 5% of the people in Saudi have lung cancer. The director of the ministry of health ‘s anti-smoking program contended that â€Å"Saudi Arabia loses SR8 billion because of tobacco and spends SR3.5 billion treating smokers every year†. which is affect the economy of the country. So government should focus more in the public problem that faces Saudi Arabia providing awareness campaigns which show the dangerous of smoking and the damage that it causes plus of banning smoking in public and close places. besides rising the price of the pack of cigarettes that is some of the credible solutions which can assist in solving this major problem. To sum up, we discussed the three major problem that faces Saudi Arabia. We suggest some of the possible solutions that government can follow. However, government is trying the best to help in solve this problems which is considered as society issues and this type of problem need more time to be solve because it needs the government concentrates and the society effort at the same time which make it harder to tackle although Saudi Arabia it is not the only country that faces problem each country has it own problem and I think that each country should focus in their problems. above all, lately in the last 2 years government is putting an extra effort in this with is perceptible from the whole Saudis citizens and shocking i the same time because no one expect that enormous change in that short time. Bibliography: 1)Rita Henley Jensen (March 7, 2005). Taking the Gender Apartheid Tour in Saudi Arabia. Womens e-news. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. 2)Handrahan, L. M. (2001), Human Rights tribune 8(1). Retrieved on 2007-08-21, from http://www.hri.ca/tribune/viewArticle.asp?ID=2603 3)Andrea Dworkin (1978). A Feminist Looks at Saudi Arabia. Andrea Dworkin. Retrieved on 2007-08-21,from www.nostatusquo.com 4)Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia), May 18, 2006 translated at Public Debate in Saudi Arabia on Employment Opportunities for Women 5)Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia), June 26, 2006 translated at Public Debate in Saudi Arabia on Employment Opportunities for Women 6) Saudi Arabian Government and Law (2007). Retrieved on 2007-09-20. 7)Islam, women, and Saudi Arabian society (2002). Retrieved on 2007-09-20. 8)human rights from http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/01/18/saudia12230.htm 9)women rights in arab worlds (10th dec. 1999) ,from http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/arabs/arabwomen.html 10)Saudi Arabian womens rights (2007), from http://saudiarabiawomenrights.blogspot.com 11)Muhammad Diyab,Horrible accidents on our roads (2007), from http://desertdiaries.wordpress.com/category/life-in-jeddah/transportation/ 12)Molouk Y. , Mothers terrorized by killer road fear (2007), from http://www.arabnews.com/?page=9section=0article=97197d=8m=6y=2007 13)Al-Jaser Badr, Al-Kuwari Mohamed and Al-Thani Mohamed ,prevalence of smoking among governmental mental heath workers in jeddah (2003) from http://www.ssfcm.org/ssfcm_en/index.php?fuseaction=content.fullcontentmainsection=0000000321Pub=YesNum_of_articals=20artical=0000000412

We Must Solve the Climate Change Crisis :: Global Warming Essays, 2015

"For the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change. Now, it’s true that no single event makes a trend. But the fact is the 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15. Heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods—all are now more frequent and more intense. We can choose to believe that Superstorm Sandy, and the most severe drought in decades, and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence. Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science—and act before it’s too late." -- President Barack Obama We owe something to future generations in terms of conducting energy and environmental research and coming up with various energy policies that are forward thinking. Historically, the path to the future is created in the past. Our generation must commit itself to constantly researching energy and environmental impacts of energy to come up with innovative information. More specifically, research in climate change and how human use of energy impacts climate change is very important for the future. Additionally, policies need to be thought of, created, passed, and put into action properly. Based on the plethora of issues that we as a class have identified through our various energy policies, it is extremely apparent that there is a need for innovative policy for energy and climate change impacts in the US. Since we are only students, it is amazing to see how we were all able to come up with these policies, and it shows that policy makers definitely have a lot of work to do going forward. Who knows, maybe we will see policies similar to the ones we created become implemented in the future. Overall, it is important for policies to be created now for the future to look bright in terms of the way the United States uses its energy and regulates its emissions from energy overall. In the future, new policies will be created; however, they will need to assess the strengths and weaknesses of policies created today.

Sigmund Freud as a Dream Analyst Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research

Sigmund Freud as a Dream Analyst You step out of your car onto this amazing white sand beach. You walk toward the water and notice all of these beautiful women coming toward you and saying your name. As you start to lay the charm down you notice that one of them is chewing on your leg. Then all of a sudden all of them are taking huge bites out of you and ripping you apart. You try to escape but you seem to be unable to do anything in your defense. AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! All of a sudden you awake in a frantic scream. You realize you are still in one piece and that no beautiful women really want you, you are just the same loser you were the day before. Dreams such as this one I described above happen to millions of people all over the world every time they stop to take a little nap or when they are asleep at night. Why do we dream? What do they mean? Why do humans as well as animals have dreams that sometimes fit into our daily life and others seem to be way out of the ordinary and have no significance in our lives? Throughout history human beings have sought to understand the meaning of dreams. The ancient Egyptians believed dreams possessed oracular or all knowing power. In the Bible, for example, there are many instances where people have gained power or went on hunger strikes because of dreams. Other cultures have interpreted dreams as inspirational, healing, or an alternative to reality. Many Indian tribes believed that dreams were what were expected of the future. Dreams have been a part of life for hundreds and hundreds of years and many people have various feelings about what they mean and why we have them (Sleep Disorders). There was one man though, who has changed the world's point of view on dreams. His name... ...(rev. ed) New York: McGraw-Hill, 1966 Mahoney, Maria F. Meaning in Dreams and Dreaming Citadel Press: Copyright Maria F Mahoney, 1966 Machenzie, Norm Ian Dreams and Dreaming Aldus Books Limited, London, 1965 Gyn, Lynn The Dream Emporium. 2000. March 29, 2002 http://dreamemporium.com/ Green, Ariadne Ancient Symbols. 2000. March 29, 2002 http://psychology.about.com/library/weekly/aa111501j.htm?terms=Dream+symbols Tiger's Nest 2000. March 29, 2002 http://www.frii.com/~tigrnest/drmart.htm Dreams and Their Meanings Copyright 2001 by PageWise, Inc. http://mtmt.essortment.com/dreamsmeanings_rfee.htm "Sigmund Freud" Thinkquest Library Website April 22, 2002 http://library.thinkquest.org/17039/Normal/freud.html "The Dreaming Life" Sleep Disorders April 19, 2002 <http://sleepdisorders.about.com/library/weekly/aa021101a.htm?terms=Bible+and+dreams> Sigmund Freud as a Dream Analyst Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Sigmund Freud as a Dream Analyst You step out of your car onto this amazing white sand beach. You walk toward the water and notice all of these beautiful women coming toward you and saying your name. As you start to lay the charm down you notice that one of them is chewing on your leg. Then all of a sudden all of them are taking huge bites out of you and ripping you apart. You try to escape but you seem to be unable to do anything in your defense. AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! All of a sudden you awake in a frantic scream. You realize you are still in one piece and that no beautiful women really want you, you are just the same loser you were the day before. Dreams such as this one I described above happen to millions of people all over the world every time they stop to take a little nap or when they are asleep at night. Why do we dream? What do they mean? Why do humans as well as animals have dreams that sometimes fit into our daily life and others seem to be way out of the ordinary and have no significance in our lives? Throughout history human beings have sought to understand the meaning of dreams. The ancient Egyptians believed dreams possessed oracular or all knowing power. In the Bible, for example, there are many instances where people have gained power or went on hunger strikes because of dreams. Other cultures have interpreted dreams as inspirational, healing, or an alternative to reality. Many Indian tribes believed that dreams were what were expected of the future. Dreams have been a part of life for hundreds and hundreds of years and many people have various feelings about what they mean and why we have them (Sleep Disorders). There was one man though, who has changed the world's point of view on dreams. His name... ...(rev. ed) New York: McGraw-Hill, 1966 Mahoney, Maria F. Meaning in Dreams and Dreaming Citadel Press: Copyright Maria F Mahoney, 1966 Machenzie, Norm Ian Dreams and Dreaming Aldus Books Limited, London, 1965 Gyn, Lynn The Dream Emporium. 2000. March 29, 2002 http://dreamemporium.com/ Green, Ariadne Ancient Symbols. 2000. March 29, 2002 http://psychology.about.com/library/weekly/aa111501j.htm?terms=Dream+symbols Tiger's Nest 2000. March 29, 2002 http://www.frii.com/~tigrnest/drmart.htm Dreams and Their Meanings Copyright 2001 by PageWise, Inc. http://mtmt.essortment.com/dreamsmeanings_rfee.htm "Sigmund Freud" Thinkquest Library Website April 22, 2002 http://library.thinkquest.org/17039/Normal/freud.html "The Dreaming Life" Sleep Disorders April 19, 2002 <http://sleepdisorders.about.com/library/weekly/aa021101a.htm?terms=Bible+and+dreams>

Essay --

We as young adults, deal with many social and emotional issues, which can be seen through depression. Depression, is a state of having low moods and can be described as feeling â€Å"blue†or unhappy. Depressed people may feel so sad at times that they withdraw and lose interest in activities that they once loved to do. In worst cases, some people even commit suicide. Generally, depression does not result from a single event but from a combination of multiple events in life and other personal factors. The number of factors that may cause depression varies from person to person. There could be abuse that happened in the past, conflict from family disputes and personal factors. It could also be from a death or loss and the person cannot get over their grief. Some depression just comes from having an illness. The normal ups and downs in life means that everyone feels sad or "blue" from time to time, but if emptiness and absence of hope have taken place and will not go away, there may be depression in life. When depression is in someone's life they can get very hopeless and not even enjoy thin...

Increase In Suicide And Crime Among Youth

The headlines of one of the leading newspapers often goes like, â€Å"A professor beaten to death by his own students†. Going through such headlines has become a routine affair for us. The country is plagued by many catastrophic, socio-economic issues like poverty, terrorism, illiteracy and corruption. The involvement of the youth in overcoming these problems is of great importance. The youth, in a rising nation like ours, plays a strong role in bringing reforms to restructure the nation. They protest and demand what is best for the nation.However, lately, in order to earn quick bucks and the need to fulfil their dreams and desires at the earliest, young people have resorted to unlawful means to achieve them. Is the future of the nation becoming its own destructor? According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 44 per cent of the arrested criminals belong to the age group of 10 to 30 years, which is the ‘youth’ There is a section of the youth who have been achiev ing their goals through unlawful means. Crimes ranging from thefts to kidnapping, murders, rape and sex scandals involve such people. The crime rate has been drastically increasing.Why has the youth of this nation become so pugnacious? Is it due to under-employment or the lack of law enforcement in the country? On one hand, we are fighting to reduce the minimum age of consumption of alcohol while on the other, we are consuming it, driving recklessly and killing people. We are raising our voices on women’s safety and we are the one raping them. Youngsters belonging to well-to-do families have also been caught in cases of hacking bank accounts. According to leading psychiatrists, the lack of adequate opportunities frustrates young people to an extent where they use any method possible to attain success.Many also believe that youngsters who take the path of crime are the troubled ones. This could be true in some of the cases but people in their 20s, committing a murder over who should get a prantha first is something beyond imagination, as seen in an incident that occurred at midnight in a posh area of South Delhi. Such cases are endless. Many cases like sexual assaults and minor rapes go unreported and the youngsters feel free to commit the same again. Even the judicial system shows leniency towards the accused and no stern action is taken.It is time for the country to revamp its judicial system and processes. Most of the accused are not afraid of being caught after committing the crime. The criminals know that their case will simply pile up with the rest of the cases and by the time the punishment is announced, they might not even exist. Further, the government should take appropriate measures to revive the economy so that employment opportunities are created, not just in metros but in rural areas as well. An alarming report on increasing suicides in India is calling for urgent intervention and rethinking of our system.What's wrong with Indians? Our coun try had shown the world the path to eternal happiness. And, now, Indians are an unhappy lot!†¦ If you probe further deeper into reasons, you will see many cultural, genetic and religious factors Young people in India are committing suicide at a much higher rate than in the West, says The Lancet report, entitled Suicide Mortality in India released on June 23, June 2012. The first ever national survey of deaths in India found that some 56 percent of all women who took their own lives in 2010 and 40 percent of men were aged between 15 and 29.The suicide rates are highest in the 15-29 age groups, peaking in southern states that are considered richer and more developed with better education, social welfare and health care. Opportunities that have come with two decades of economic boom and open markets have also brought more job anxiety, higher expectations and more pressure to achieve, mental health experts said. This is calling for urgent intervention and rethinking of our institut ion called India or Bharat. Added to it, many suicide cases still go unreported as people hide what is still an illegal act in India.The higher rates may come from â€Å"the greater likelihood of disappointments when aspirations that define success and happiness are distorted or unmet by the reality faced by young people in a rapidly changing society,† said Dr. Vikram Patel, one of the report's authors. He also noted online social networking was making â€Å"loneliness more common. † He admits his conclusion is conjecture, but says â€Å"I cannot think of any more plausible explanation. † People in his neighborhood remember Kunju Shivankutty as a likable youth.But the 20-year-old, from Manjeri in North Kerala, was troubled deeply by having failed three times to pass the admissions testfor a government-run engineering college. On August 15th, 2011, coinciding with India's Independence Day, Shivankutty wrote a letter to his parents. â€Å"I am sorry, Acchan-Amma (Dad-Mum), for not having been a good son. I could not fulfill your dreams for me. I let you down before the relatives. Shame is the only feeling I have at present and I can’t bear it any more. Please forget about me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Then he hung himself.His father Parameswaran, a transport companyemployee, had invested heavily in his son's education, hoping the boy could lift the family's circumstances by becoming a career engineer – a sure road to middle-class prosperity. Such familial pressure, however, can push a young person to the breaking point. â€Å"The case of failing one's parents, or not succeeding in meeting targets set by the family, is one of the chief reasons for young Malayalis [a Kerala ethnic group] taking the extreme step â€Å"I was weak, I thought I could be strong but I was weak! I was so so weak, the fault is my own.Hope something good happens with my death. I have left the building† These are not words from a Chetan Bhagat best seller thou gh I wish they were. These were the last words of Nitin Kumar Reddy before he flung himself from his hostel roof at IIT Madras. As India celebrates year on year economic growth we have started putting a lot of pressure on our youth. In our rush to win we have crushed the hopes and aspirations of our youth. We have started a race to win at all costs. In 2009, almost 3000 children below the age of 14 committed suicide. If we look at the 15-25 age group the number jumps to 50,000.But the scariest statistic is that for every successful suicide there are almost 14 unsuccessful attempts. Clearly the youth of our country are in distress. But the symptoms are there to see †¢ Toddlers are made to compete in talent shows. †¢ Teenagers are entering singing and dancing competitions †¢ High school students go through a grueling schedule to balance school curriculum with preparation for entrances to elite institutions like the IITs. Who is responsible for this? Who killed Nitin? So me people might say it is the system that is responsible for this, but aren’t we responsible for creating this system.We are forever drawing comparisons between our children and the others and this is just leading to a unsustainable situation. Is this what we have been reduced to? Is that what we want? To compete and win at all costs. A recent survey showed that almost 85% of parents in urban India do not allow children to take up professions of their choice. This is probably the greatest reason for stress among India’s youth, being stuck in professions that they don’t enjoy or are not suited for. Like I said we all know what the symptoms are, but the challenge is to treat the disease and not the symptom.How can wechange the situation for our children and the youth of tomorrow? I propose these four steps. 1. Identify- The key is to listen, observe and identify activities that the kids enjoy and are attracted to. Which activity draws them more, what they enjoy do ing? 2. Analyze- based on our observations, we need to map the activities and likes of the child to sustainable careers that that activity can sustain. If we are not experts in that field, there is a high possibility that there is someone in our network that will know someone. Also councilors both in school and outside can be used for the same.3. Decide- Once the mapping has been done, we can decide on a few career choices of the child’s liking and also something where his passion lies. 4. Monitor- Once the decision has been made it is important to monitor the children. Often they grow and once they grow their preferences change, it is important to monitor those changes and incorporate that into their plan. People are usually very good at what they do, once they enjoy it. A good example is cricketer Sachin Tendulkar who enjoys cricket and has been the best for the last 20 years..A few weeks ago, I got a text from my friend saying that a guy, who had been my classmateduring hi gh school, had committed suicide. I seriously thought that this friend was playing a prank on me. Later I discovered the truth. He did commit suicide. I had always seen this guy to be one with great self-esteem and self-confidence. Then why out of nowhere should he take this decision. That was all people spoke for a couple of months. Everyone had only one question. The same question, to be exact. Why? Now thinking about this issue of suicide, I did a little research and the results I got were too shocking.Statistics show that every five minutes, someone, somewhere in India, attempts suicide. This makes suicide the third major cause of death. Also, annually more than 1,00,000 people commit suicide in India, of which one-thirds are youth. Diverse backgrounds, diverse goals and diverse opinions! But same decision! Today, the youth in India form one of the most vulnerable groups, who on the one hand are expected to be the leaders, the backbone of tomorrow’s India, while on the ot her hand, are a browbeaten and baffled cluster.There is an imbalance between the youth population and the limited opportunities for admission in schools and colleges, and specifically in professional courses. This puts the youth under great pressure. First class and second class are hardly adequate results anymore. Parents are helpless too, as both public and private institutions have caused economic burden to them. If you think getting admission is the toughest thing that youth can ever experience, rethink! Placements are another hell. You need to get everything right.And even after getting placed, the comparison in relation to the pay received, causes all the more pain. A person with the pleasure of working but with limited salary is certainly not welcome in this society. People have come to a point where they are ready to trade their work pleasure for money. Tough deadlines and hectic work atmosphere have taken the lives of many youth. Friendships and relationships have also play ed equal parts in this gamble for life. Youth are too sensitive to sort any sort of relationship problem.The problem may be anything; fight with best friends, bitter misunderstanding with girlfriend/ boyfriend followed by an even bitter break-up, family issues with parents fighting over their lives or over financial issues. But the youth are greatly affected. They bundle up all these grievances in their hearts and eventually give their hearts a complete rest so they will never have to face the same, again. I am blaming all. There are plenty of youth who have followed their heart to be what they wanted to be. But the fact that this suicide virus is taking away the lives of millions of youth is alarming.Something has to be done to cripple it. In battle between the thirst to have their dream life and the urge to fulfill the expectation of the society, many are shattered. While a very few regain their stand, the rest take the ultimate decision of ending their lives. When they have the g uts to face the pain of ending their lives for one moment, why aren’t they having the same guts for a moment longer to face the battle? If a person is disturbed, all that has to be done is just talk. Words can do wonders, even help see beyond the mist. And you will never know what marvels are awaiting you!

Zoe’s Tale PART II Chapter Thirteen

both weeks after we landed on Roanoke, Magdy, Enzo, Gretchen and I went for a base on b all tolds.Watch w here you land, Magdy told us. in that location be round big rocks down here.Gr deplete, Gretchen tell. She shined her soap start divulge acceptable technology, no calculator equipment in it, erect an old-fashi integrityd direct at the ground, imageing for a encounter into to land, and thusly hopped down from the edge of the container wall(a), aiming for her preferred spot. Enzo and I comprehend the oof as she landed, and hence a bit of cursing.I told you to stick to where you landed, Magdy said, shining his light on her. eject it, Magdy, she said. We shouldnt even be disc oer here. Youre waiver to set down us all in trouble.Yeah, well, Magdy said. Your words would practice up more(prenominal) lesson authority if you werent in truth coiffe to the fore here with me. He f crush his light up strike of Gretchen and toward me and Enzo, still up on the container wall. You cardinal planning to join us? go egress you please stop with the light? Enzo said. The concur is divergence to put on it.The police is on the advanced(prenominal) side of the container wall, Magdy said. Although if you dont hurry it up, thats non discharge to be the case for long. So move it. He flicked the light arse and forth speedily in Enzos salute, run an annoying strobe effect. Enzo sighed and slid down collide with the container wall I comprehend the dull thump a encourage later. Which unexp earth-closeted me, timbering suddenly touchablely capable on the top of the containers that were the defensive tolerance close to our myopic resolution and similarly the frontier beyond which we were non allowed to go at night.Come on, Enzo speak up to me. He, at least, remembered we werent supposed to be start and modulated his spokesperson accordingly. Jump down. Ill be round the bender you.Are you dumb? I asked, as well in a wh ispery voice. Youll end up with my shoes in your eye sockets.It was a joke, Enzo said.Fine, I said. Dont catch me.Jeez, Zoe, Magdy said, in a definite nonwhisper. Will you jump already?I hopped tally the container wall, down the lead meters or so from the top, and tumbled a little when I landed. Enzo flicked his light on me, and move break through(a)ered me a hand up. I withalk it and squinted up at him as he pulled me up. Then I flicked my own light over to where Magdy was. Jerk, I told him.Magdy shrugged. Come on, he said, and started on the gross profit margin of the wall toward our destination.A few minutes later we were all flashing our lights into a wad.Wow, Gretchen said. Weve skillful broken curfew and risked macrocosm unintentionally shot by the night guard for this. A hole in the ground. Im cream our close field t commit, Magdy.Magdy snorted and knelt down into the hole. If you actually paid direction to some(prenominal)thing, youd cognise that this hole has the council in a panic, Magdy said. Something dug this out the other night while the patrol wasnt watching. Something was trying to shorten in to the resolution from out here. He took his light and locomote it up the draw clo reassu wait container until he spot something. Look. There are scratches on the container. Something well- move to go over the top, and and wherefore when it couldnt it tried to go infra.So what youre saying is that were out here now with a peck of vultures, I said.It doesnt ease up to be a predator, Magdy said. Maybe its retributory something that the sames to dig.I flicked my light cover song up to the claw marks. Yeah, thats a reasonable theory.We couldnt eat designn this during the day? Gretchen asked. When we could slang the things that can leap out and eat us?Magdy motioned his light over to me. Her florists chrysanthemum had her security people around it all day long. They werent letting any bole else near it. Besides, whatso i ncessantly do this hole is long gone(p)(a) now.Ill remind you that you said that when something tears out your pharynx, Gretchen said.Relax, Magdy said. Im prepared. And any commission, this hole is just the breaking act. My pop music is associates with some of the security folks. atomic number 53 of them told him that just before they unappealing of all judgment of conviction soything up for the night, they axiom a herd of those fanties over in the woods. I say we go look.We should get indorse, Enzo said. We shouldnt even be out here, Magdy. If they get word us out there, were all divergence to catch hell. We can see the fanties tomorrow. When the sunlight is up, and we can actually see them.tomorrow theyll be a stir up and foraging, Magdy said. And theres no way were going to be able to do anything other than look at them through and through binoculars. Magdy pointed at me again. permit me remind you that her parents fork up kept us cooped up for 2 weeks now , waiting to find out if anything top executive bruise us on this planet.Or kill us, I said. Which would be a problem.Magdy waved this absent. My point is that if we actually compliments to see these things actually get close exuberant to them that we can get a serious look at them we nurse to do it now. Theyre asleep, no one knows were gone, and well be back before anyone misses us.I still recall we should go back, Enzo said.Enzo, I know this is pickings absent from valuable make-out judgment of conviction with your young ladyfriend, Magdy said, still I mind you capability indispensability to explore something other than Zoes tonsils for once.Magdy was genuinely gilded he wasnt in arms r for each one when he made that comment. Either my arm or Enzos.Youre beingness an ass again, Magdy, Gretchen said.Fine, Magdy said. You guys go back. Ill see you later. Im going to see me some fanties. He started toward the woods, waving his poke light in the grass (or grass al ike(p) ground cover) as he walked. I shined my light over to Gretchen. She rolled her eyes in displeasure and started travel after Magdy. After a minute Enzo and I followed.Take an elephant. shed it just a little smaller. drop out-of-door the ears. Make its trunk piddlinger and tentaclly at the end. stretch out its legs until it almost only when non quite seems impossible that they could support the weight. generate it four eyes. And then do other assorted weird things to its body until its not that it looks like an elephant, its just that it looks more like an elephant than it looks like anything else you can suppose of.Thats a fantie.In the cardinal weeks wed been trapped in the habituation village, waiting for the all constitute to actually begin colonization, the fanties had been spotted several(prenominal) times, either in the woods near the village or just exactly in the sorting between the village and the woods. A fantie spotting would bring up a mad rush of c hildren to the colony gate (a gap in the container wall, closed up at night) to look and clod and wave to the creatures. It would also bring a somewhat more studiously chance(a) wave of us teenagers, because we treasured to see them too, we just didnt want to seem too interested, since that would mess with our credibility with all our new friends.Certainly Magdy never gave any reading material of actually caring approximately the fanties at all. Hed allow himself to be dragged to the gate by Gretchen when a herd passed by, precisely then he spent most of his time talking to the other guys who were also happy to make it look like they had gotten dragged to the gate. comely goes to show, I suppose. Even the self-consciously tranquil had a streak of kid in them.There was some argument as to whether the fanties we saw were a local conclave that lived in the area, or whether wed seen a be of herds that were just migrating through. I had no root which theory was right wed only been on planet for a pit of weeks. And from a distance, all the fanties looked pretty much the same.And up close, as we quickly discovered, they smelled horrible.Does everything on this planet smell like prepare? Gretchen whisper to me as we glanced up at the fanties. They waved back and forth, ever so slightly, as they slept rest on their legs. As if to answer her question, one of the fanties scalelike to where we were hiding let rip a monumental fart. We gagged and giggled equally.Shhhh, Enzo said. He and Magdy were crouched tail another tall bush a couple of meters over from us, just short of the clearing where the fantie herd had decided to rest for the night. There were nearly a xii of them, all sleeping and farting under the stars. Enzo didnt seem to be enjoying the visit very much I speak up he was worried virtually us accidentally waking the fanties. This was not a tyke concern fantie legs looked spindly from a distance but up close it was clear they could tramp le any one of us without too much of a problem, and there were a dozen fanties here. If we woke them up and they panicked, we could end up being pounded into mincemeat.I see he was also still a little sore most the exploring tonsils comment. Magdy, in his usual less-than-charming way, had been digging at Enzo ever since he and I outicially started going out. The taunts rose and fell depending on what Magdys kindred with Gretchen was at the moment. I was guessing at the moment Gretchen had cut him turned. Sometimes I vista I commanded a graph or maybe a flow chart to understand how the 2 of them got along.Another one of the fanties let off an epic load of flatulence.If we stay here any longer, Im going to suffocate, I speak to Gretchen. She nodded and motioned me to follow her. We snuck over to where Enzo and Magdy were.Can we go now? Gretchen whispered to Magdy. I know youre probably enjoying the smell, but the rest of us are about to lose dinner. And weve been gone long p assable that someone cogency start wondering where we went.In a minute, Magdy said. I want to get approximate to one.Youre joking, Gretchen said.Weve come this far, Magdy said.You rightfully are an half-wit sometimes, you know that? Gretchen said. You dont just go walking up to a herd of wild animals and say hello. Theyll kill you.Theyre asleep, Magdy said.They wont be if you walk right into the middle of them, Gretchen said.Im not that stupid, Magdy said, his whispered voice be flood tide louder the more harried he became. He pointed to the one closest to us. I just want to get closer to that one. Its not going to be a problem. Stop worrying.Before Gretchen could home orgasm Enzo put his hand up to inactive them both. Look, he said, and pointed halfway down the clearing. One of them is waking up.Oh, wonderful, Gretchen said.The fantie in question agitate its heading and then lifted it, scatter the tentacles on its trunk wide. It waved them back and forth.Whats it doing? I asked Enzo. He shrugged. He was no more an expert on fanties than I was.It waved its tentacles some more, in a wider arc, and then it came to me what it was doing. It was flavor something. Something that shouldnt be there.The fantie bellowed, not from its trunk like an elephant, but from its mouth. All the other fanties were now awake and bellowing, and beginning to move.I looked over to Gretchen. Oh, crap, I mouthed. She nodded, and looked back over at the fanties. I looked over at Magdy, who had made himself suddenly very small. I dont study he wanted to get any closer now.The fantie closest to us wheel around about and scraped against the bush we were hiding back tooth. I heard the thud of its foot as the animal maneuvered itself into a new position. I decided it was time to move but my body overruled me, since it wasnt giving me control of my legs. I was frozen in place, squatting in arrears a bush, waiting for my trampling.Which never came. A second later the fantie was g one, run off in the same direction as the rest of its herd away from us.Magdy popped up from his crouching position, and listened to the herd rumbling off in the distance. All right, he said. What just happened?I thought they smelled us for sure, I said. I thought theyd rig us.I told you you were an idiot, Gretchen said to Magdy. If youd been out there when they woke up, wed be scooping what was unexpended of you into a bucket.The two of them started sniping at each other I dour to look at Enzo, who had turned to face the adversary direction from where the fanties had run. He had his eyes closed but it looked like he was concentrating on something.What is it? I asked.He opened his eyes, looked at me, and then pointed in the direction he was facing. The breeze is coming from this direction, he said.Okay, I said. I wasnt avocation him.Have you ever gone hunt down? Enzo asked. I shake my head. We were upwind of the fanties, he said. The wind was blowing our sweetness away from t hem. He pointed to where the first fantie to wake up had been. I dont assimilate in mind that fantie would check smelled us at all.Click. Okay, I said. now I get it.Enzo turned to Magdy and Gretchen. Guys, he said. Its time to leave. right away.Magdy flashed his pocket light at Enzo and seemed ready to say something sarcastic, then caught the demonstration on Enzos face in the pocket lights circle. What is it?The fanties didnt run off because of us, Enzo said. I mobilise theres something else out there. Something that hunts the fanties. And I think its coming this way.Its a cliche of horror entertainments to piddle teenagers lost in the woods, imagining theyre being pursue by something horrible thats right nookie them.And now I know why. If you ever want to step like youre on the verge of total, abject bowel-releasing terror, try make your way a klick or two out of a timbre, at night, with the certain feeling youre being hunted. It makes you feel alive, it really does, but not in a way you want to feel alive.Magdy was in the lead, of course, although whether he was leading because he knew the way back or just because he was discharge fast exuberant that the rest of us had to chase him was up for debate. Gretchen and I followed, and Enzo took up the rear. Once I slowed down to check on him and he waved me off. Stay with Gretchen, he said. Then I realized that he was intentionally staying crapper us so whatever big businessman be adjacent us would fuck off to get through him first. I would have kissed him right then if I hadnt been a quivering mess of adrenaline, desperately running to get home.Through here, Magdy said to us. He pointed at an irregular natural cartroad that I secernated as being the one we utilize to get into the forest in the first place. I was direction on getting on that way and then something stepped in behind Gretchen and grabbed me. I screamed.There was a bang, followed by a muffled thump, followed by a shout.Ezno la unched himself at what grabbed at me. A second later he was on the forest floor, Dickorys natural language at his throat. It took me longer than it should have to recognize who it was holding the knife.Dickory I yelled. StopDickory paused. permit him go, I said. Hes no danger to me.Dickory removed(p) the knife and stepped away from Enzo. Enzo scrambled away from Dickory, and away from me. hickory? I called. Is everything all right?From ahead, I heard hickorys voice. Your friend had a handgun. I have disarmed him.Hes strangling me Magdy said.If hickory wanted to choke you, you wouldnt be able to talk, I yelled back. Let him go, hickory tree.I am redeeming his handgun, hickory tree said. There was a rustle in the darkness as Magdy picked himself up.Fine, I said. Now that we stop moving, it was like someone pulled a stopper, and all the adrenaline in my body was falling out from the bottom of my feet. I crouched down to keep from falling over.No, not fine, Magdy said. I saw him e merge out of the gloom, stalking toward me. Dickory interposed itself between me and Magdy. Magdys stalking came to a quick halt. Thats my dads gun. If he finds it missing, Im dead.What were you doing with the gun in the first place? Gretchen asked. She had also come back to where I was standing, hickory tree following behind her.I told you I was prepared, Magdy said, and then turned to me. You need to tell your bodyguards that they need to be more careful. He pointed at hickory tree. I almost took off that ones head. hickory? I said.I was not in any serious danger, Hickory said, blandly. His attention seemed elsewhere.I want my gun back, Magdy said. I think he was trying for laboured he failed when his voice cracked.Hickory provide give you your dads gun back when we get back to the village, I said. I felt up a fatigue headache coming on.Now, Magdy said.For Gods sake, Magdy, I snapped. I was suddenly very tired, and angry. Will you please just unopen up about your damn gun. You re flourishing you didnt kill one of us with it. And youre well-disposed you didnt hit one of them I waved at Dickory and then Hickory because then you would be dead, and the rest of us would have to formulate how it happened. So just shut up about the stupid gun. Shut up and lets go home.Magdy stared at me, then stomped off into the gloom, toward the village. Enzo gave me a strange look and then followed his friend.Perfect, I said, and squeezed my temples with my hands. The monster headache I was on the verge of had arrived, and it was a brilliant specimen.We should return to the village, Hickory said to me.You think? I said, and then stood up and stomped off, away from it and Dickory, back to the village. Gretchen, suddenly left with my two bodyguards for company, was not far behind me.I dont want one word of what happened this night to get back to John and Jane, I said to Hickory, as it, Dickory and I stood in the common area of the village. At this time of night there were only a couple of other people who were loitering there, and they quickly disappeared when Hickory and Dickory showed up. Two weeks had not been enough time for people to get used to them. We had the common area to ourselves.As you say, Hickory said.Thank you, I said, and started walking away from them again, toward the tent I shared with my parents.You should not have been in the woods, Hickory said.That stopped me. I turned around to face Hickory. Excuse me? I said.You should not have been in the woods, Hickory said. Not without our protection.We had protection, I said, and some part of my brain didnt conceive those words had actually come out of my mouth.Your protection was a handgun wielded by someone who did not know how to use it, Hickory said. The bullet he pink-slipped went into the ground less than thirty centimeters from him. He almost shot himself in the foot. I disarmed him because he was a threat to himself, not to me.Ill be sure to tell him that, I said. scarcely it doesnt matter. I dont need your permission, Hickory, to do what I please. You and Dickory arent my parents. And your treaty doesnt say you can tell me what to do.You are free to do as you will, Hickory said. But you took an excess risk to yourself, both by going into the forest and by not intercommunicate us of your intent.That didnt stop you from coming in after me, I said. It came out like an accusation, because I was in an accusatory mood.No, Hickory said.So you took it on yourself to follow me around when I didnt give you permission to do so, I said.Yes, Hickory said.Dont do that again, I said. I know privacy is an strange concept to you, but sometimes I dont want you around. Can you understand that? You I pointed at Dickory nearly cut my boyfriends throat tonight. I know you dont like him, but thats a little much.Dickory would not have harmed Enzo, Hickory said.Enzo doesnt know that, I said, and turned back to Dickory. And what if he had gotten in a good hit on you? You m ight have hurt him just to keep him down. I dont need this kind of protection. And I dont want it.Hickory and Dickory stood there silently, dipsomaniac up my anger. After a couple of seconds, I got bored with this. Well? I said.You were running out of the forest when you came by us, Hickory said.Yeah? So? I said. We thought we might be being chased by something. Something spooked the fanties we were watching and Enzo thought it might have been a predator or something. It was a false alarm. There was nothing behind us or else it would have caught up with us when you two leaped out of nowhere and scared the crap out of all of us.No, Hickory said.No? You didnt scare the crap out of us? I said. I beg to differ.No, Hickory said. You were being followed.What are you talking about? I said. There was nothing behind us.They were in the trees, Hickory said. They were pacing you from above. paltry ahead of you. We heard them before we heard you.I felt weak. Them? I said.It is why we took you as soon as we heard you coming, Hickory said. To protect you.What were they? I asked.We dont know, Hickory said. We did not have the time to make any good observation. And we believe your friends gunfire scared them off.So it wasnt necessarily something hunting us, I said. It could have been anything.Perhaps, Hickory said, in that studiously neutral way it had when it didnt want to disagree with me. Whatever they were, they were moving along with you and your group.Guys, Im tired, I said, because I didnt want to think about any of this anymore, and if I did think about it anymore about the composition that some pack of creatures was following us in the trees I might have a collapse right there in the common area. Can we have this conversation tomorrow?As you wish, Zoe, Hickory said.Thank you, I said, and started shuffling off toward my cot. And remember what I said about not telling my parents.We will not tell your parents, Hickory said.And remember what I said about not follow ing me, I said. They said nothing to this. I waved at them tiredly and went off to sleep.I found Enzo outside his familys tent the next morning, reading a book.Wow, a real book, I said. Who did you kill to get that?I borrowed it from one of the Mennonite kids, he said. He showed the paster to me. huckabackleberry Finn. You heard of it?Youre asking a girl from a planet named Huckleberry if shes heard of Huckleberry Finn, I said. I hoped the incredulous tone of my voice would convey amusement.Apparently not. Sorry, he said. I didnt make the connection. He flipped the book open to where he had been reading.Listen, I said. I wanted to thank you. For what you did last night.Enzo looked up over his book. I didnt do anything last night.You stayed behind Gretchen and me, I said. You put yourself between us and whatever was following us. I just wanted you to know I appreciated it.Enzo shrugged. Not that there was anything following us after all, he said. I thought about telling him about w hat Hickory told me, but kept it in. And when something did come out at you, it was ahead of me. So I wasnt much help, actually.Yeah, about that, I said. I wanted to apologize for that. For the thing with Dickory. I didnt really know how to put that. I figured saying Sorry for when my unknown quantity bodyguard very nearly took your head off with a knife wouldnt really go over well.Dont worry about it, Enzo said.I do worry about it, I said.Dont, Enzo said. Your bodyguard did its job. For a second it seemed like Enzo would say something more, but then he cocked his head and looked at me like he was waiting for me to wrap up whatever it was I was doing, so he could get back to his very cardinal book.It suddenly occurred to me that Enzo hadnt written me any meter since we landed on Roanoke.Well, okay then, I said, lamely. I guess Ill see you a little later, then.Sounds good, Enzo said, and then gave me a fond wave and put his nose into Huck Finns business. I walked back to my tent and found Babar inside and went over to him and gave him a hug. overcharge me, Babar, I said. I think I just had my first fight with my boyfriend.Babar licked my face. That made it a little better. But not much.

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 8

EllaI realize I have more issues than I thought. As soon as we turn onto the Back Road, a passion combusts inside me. It only flames hotter when we pull up to The Hitch, an old abandoned restaurant stationed at the end of the road.Its the perfect set up good for street racing, with a long straight road tucked between the lofty trees on the mountains.We still should talk Ella! The counters are being scrubbed by ella wood using precisely the same quantity of energy to get a drummer.He pulls the car to the side, maneuvering carefully across the pot holes. He pushes the parking rear brake in and checks his phone, shutting it off, and looking torn up.â€Å"Whats wrong?† I ask. â€Å"You look upset?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Nothings wrong.Umm Caroline needs you to receive ready.

Itll ruin your whole Im-neutral-and-dont-give-a-shit act.†I opt to remain impartial. â€Å"Who are you planning to race tonight?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"You mean who are we racing?† He smiles alluringly through the full dark cab of the car. â€Å"Well, I thought Id leave that up to you.Ethan slaps the rear of my mind.† I rub my broad forehead with the back of my hand. â€Å"Does he still got that piece of crap 6 cylinder in his Camaro?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Yeah, he does.† Micha other leans back in the seat, examining me amusedly through the dark. â€Å"You think thats who I should go for?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Its the obvious choice.No suspects are arrested.

†Ã¢â‚¬Å"You think I should take on special someone in my own league?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"If you want the win to mean anything, then yeah.†We look at each other, like magnets begging to last get closer. Yet flip one the wrong direction and they will push apart.â€Å"So which one is it, pretty girl?† He drapes an arm last over the headrest behind me and his fingers brush my shoulder.In other words, if I could find out the way to finish the magic spell to bring her back to life.â€Å"Micha, I think we should go back.† I put my seatbelt back on. â€Å"This isnt my thing anymore.†He small presses his lips together firmly.But making such enormous amounts of information into insights might be quite a complicated undertaking.

Was it bad news on that full text you got?†He traces the figure eight tattoo on his forearm. â€Å"Do you remember when I got this?†I absentmindedly touch my lower back. â€Å"How could I forget, since I have the same one on my back?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Do you remember why we got them?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"I cant remember anything about that night.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Exactly, yet youll remember it forever."Micha is an intriguing title.â€Å"Do you want to much talk about it?†He shakes his head, still focused on the tattoo. â€Å"Nah, Im good.†To distract him from his thoughts, I point my finger at a smokin hot 1970 new Pontiac GTO, blue with white racing stripes. â€Å"What about Benny? Does he still have the 455?†Michas eyes are pools of black liquid.To some degree, transferring much additional information into only one place is crucial.

Im not racing unless youre in the car with me. Its tradition.†A starvation inside me emerges. â€Å"Alright, Ill free ride with you, just as long as you do one thing for me?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Say it and its yours,† he says without blinking.Not worth while youre still coherent, anyhow.His face is indecipherable, his breathing fierce, his gaze relentless. â€Å"Okay, then. Lets go win us a race.†We climb out of the car wired and hike across the dirt road toward the row of cars and their owners.Since you dont need to.

†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Well, what do we have here?† Mikey, the owner of the Camaro, strides up to us. Hes got black hair, a kink in his nose, and his thick neck is enclosed with a barb-wire tattoo. â€Å"Is the infamous famous duo back again to get their asses kicked?†I roll my eyes. â€Å"You beat us once and that was by default due to a flat tire.It doesnt mean anything to anybody who matters.†Micha squeezes my shoulder, trying to keep me calm. â€Å"So whos up first? Or has no one decided yet.†Mikey eyes Michas Chevelle and theres a nervous look in his eyes. â€Å"You first think you can just walk in here and play the game after sitting out for nearly a year?†I mouth to Micha, a year?Micha shrugs."Yeah, but it was not a huge thing.

†Mikeys laughter echoes the night. â€Å"You and what army?†I point at Michas Chevelle parked near the road. â€Å"That army right there.†Mikey shakes longer his head and shoos us away.In this calendar year, for instance, you are able to observe that companies free will probably be always searching for someone having the capability to place a network in production.â€Å"As opposed to yours?† I retort, getting into Mikeys face. â€Å"Because that things all looks and no go.†Micha directs me back by the shoulders and a trace of amusement laces his voice. â€Å"Easy there, tiger.Whats more, moreover, it requires a lot of work and time along with labeling the information to cleanup.

Mikey points a finger sharply at me. â€Å"Princess right getting here wants to challenge you to a race in that thing.†Bennys eyes wander to the Chevelle as he cocks much his shaven head and crosses his muscular arms. â€Å"Micha, isnt that your car?†Micha pats my back and winks at me.There were not any military secrets with me.In fact, it might be kinda nice to have a challenge for a change.† Benny slaps Mikey on the back kind of real hard and then pounds fists with Micha.â€Å"Thanks man,† Micha says with a respective nod. â€Å"Are you and I going to line up first then?†Benny bobs his head up and down, nodding as he stares at the road pensively.Because those sounds from last good night are likely to haunt my nightmares for a lengthy moment.

â€Å"Because beating him wont be easy.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Youre my plan.† He opens the passenger next door for me. â€Å"With you in the car, theres no way I wont win, otherwise youll never let me live it down.Probably other people today are beginning to think things.† He slides across the front of the hood and climbs into the drivers seat.â€Å"Youre such a show off,† I remark.He starts up the engine and it thunders to life. â€Å"Thats like the pot calling the kettle black.Her mother was like that lots of occasions.

You were standing on the roof with a snowboard strapped to your feet, telling everyone you could make the jump. I think thats pretty close to showing off.†I make an innocent face. â€Å"But I did make the jump, didnt I?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Yeah, but not without breaking apply your arm,† he says.You might need to understand that maybe she does not wish to go captured.â€Å"I was there because I wanted to be.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"You missed a first performance because of me.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"I dont care – never have.†My gaze involuntarily flicks to his lips."Alright, youre in need of a workout.

He shoots me a smug look, cocking an eyebrow. â€Å"Now thats showing off.†Shaking my head, I restrain a grin. Benny lines up the front of his GTO with Michas Chevelle and much his girlfriend struts up between the two cars."I didnt need to think about anymore.â€Å"When did they get here?†Micha ignores me, eyeing Benny through his rolled down window. â€Å"To the baseline logical and back?†Bennys arm is resting casually on top of the steering wheel. â€Å"Yeah, man. First one back wins.Im convinced you dont have to hear it.

Go!† Her hands young shoot down and screeches cut the air. A trail of dust engulfs us as we race off. The trees on the side of the road are a blur, and the sky is one big streak of stars. I keep silent as Micha shifts the car over and over again, but something inside me awakens from a very deep sleep.Micha has a thing for flipping the car around, without decreasing the acceleration. Its scary as hell, but it works every time. Besides with the longer body of Bennys GTO it doesnt have quite the turning power.We reach the end and I should probably be nervous.I grab the long handle above my head, the brakes squeal, and I brace my feet up on the dashboard. Its like being on a merry-go-round on crack. Everything spins – the trees, the sky, Micha. For a second, I shut my eyes and it feels such like Im flying.By the time were speeding up the road again, hes a small distance behind us. Micha punches the gas and major shifts the car into a higher gear.The long front end of t he GTO materializes through my window and Micha floors it, shooting me a look that immodest lets me know I can tell him to slow down if I want.I dont.

Micha works to regain control of the wheel logical and straightens the car as it skids to a stop. Everything settles and the dust slowly clears. Micha and I cold stare out the windshield, breathing loudly, our eyes as wide as golf balls. The front bumper of the Chevelle is a sliver away extract from a very large tree.Im an adrenaline junkie. Plain and simple, but I think its how Ive been all along. I just never admitted.Im no longer in control.His hand comes up behind my head and he entices my lips back to his.Something snaps inside me, like a rubber band. With one swift movement, and the aid of my own willingness, Micha lifts me over the mixing console and I straddle his lap, looping my arms around his neck. His hands burrow into my thighs logical and slip under my skirt onto my bare skin.â€Å"Stay here, baby,† he whispers, like he can read my thoughts. â€Å"Trust me, okay? Dont run.†He busy waits for me to nod and then crashes his lips into mine, keeping his h ands under my skirt. I arch my body into him, pressing my chest against his, and my nipples tingle.

It sends a shock through my body and my legs uncontrollably tighten around him, my knees pressing into his sides.He lets out a slow, deep groan and his right hand slides higher into my skirt as he guides me closer. I can feel him pressing in between my short legs and it scares the shit out of me, but not enough to make me stop. Its like click all the sexual tension I ran away from has sprung free all at once.â€Å"Are you two having fun in there?†I jump back and my cheeks start to heat at the sight of Ethan and Lila staring at us through the window. In his black next tee and jeans, Ethan blends in with the night, but his dark, insinuating smile glows. Lilas eyes are magnified and how her jaw is hanging open. Micha does nothing to help the situation.â€Å"So who won the race?† I ask, smoothing the last of the wrinkles out of my skirt.Ethan smirks at me. â€Å"Is that what youre really thinking about at the moment?†I stare at him blankly. â€Å"What else wou ld I be thinking about?†Micha climbs out of the car, stretching his long legs.†Micha interlaces our fingers. â€Å"So the same old, same old.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"You know how these things go.† Ethan pats Michas shoulder sympathetically.

I cant crush him. I need to repaint the lines somehow.â€Å"We should just leave,† Micha says to me. â€Å"Lets not even give how them the benefit of our argument.†I let out a shaky breath and nod. â€Å"That sounds good to me.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"You want to meet up at the house?† he asks Ethan. â€Å"Im sure were going to have to do some tuning up on The Beast after what I just did.†Lila laughs. â€Å"Oh, I get it. Although, I like my name better.†Micha traces his thumb along the palm of my hand.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Youve spent time with me every day for the last eight months,† part she replies. â€Å"I think were good for a few hours.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Ill take care of her.† Ethan chucks the empty bottle of soda across the parking lot and it lands in the back of his truck.