Organizational Conflict and Conflict Resolution at John Lewis Waitrose Assignment

Organizational Conflict and Conflict Resolution at John Lewis Waitrose - Assignment Example It is against this background that organizational conflict and conflict resolution as a leadership and management issue at John Lewis Waitrose has been outlined in the current paper. Generally, Waitrose is identified as the supermarket division of the larger chain of companies operated under the brand of John Lewis Partnership. With an employee base of over 85,500 in almost 230 branches, it is common that issues of inter-personal conflicts will arise in the conduct of the daily tasks of employees. Through a comprehensive secondary data collection that was conducted on the company, it was realised that like most other organisations where employee-to-employee communication is part of the key chain of processes to get pieces of tasks executed, issues and reports of conflicts are very common. Some key words that emanate from the case study are organisational conflict, conflict resolution, conflict prevention, productivity, inter-personal, and maturity Waitrose is a supermarket component of the larger John Lewis Partnership. Waitrose is thus responsible for the food retail division of John Lewis Partnership, which has been identified as Britain’s largest employee-owned retailer (John Lewis Partnership, 2013). ... Meanwhile in a situation where there exists such differences, perceived and actual oppositions set in, bringing about organizational conflicts (Canary, Coach & Serape, 2001). This situation has however not been a major cause to deter the company from a rapid annual growth, for which reason the company currently boasts of revenue of ?5400.4 million, backed by an operating income of ?173.5 million and net income of ?123.3 million (Gardener, 2013). This feat has been achieved while operating under the mission and vision to be a dedicated, energized and team spirited company that brings excellent food retail services to customers. Cases of Organizational Conflict A case of organisational conflict was found in literature through secondary research in Ting-Toomey, Oetzel & Yee-Jung (2001). It was realised that one employee, Staff X (name withdrawn for ethical purposes) had a communication confrontation with another employee, Staff Y (name withdrawn). Staff X was the employee responsible fo r giving customised service and assistance to a prestige customer of the company. One day as the prestige member comes to the premises of the store, he first approaches Staff Y and asks if Staff X was around to deliver serve as usual. Meanwhile, Staff X had noticed Staff Y that she was going on a lunch break and that Staff Y should cover her back. Because of this, Staff Y accepted to take the role of Staff X and give the prestige member the needed service he always had from Staff X. It turned out that the prestige customer became very satisfied with the services of Staff Y and personally requested from management to assign Staff Y to him from henceforth. Once Staff X was

Kind of body Essay Example for Free

Kind of body Essay It reads, I know exactly what kind of body I want to have this year the font is very clear and big and bold making it easy to read, the black and white colours react well enhancing the view of the quote, there is a play on words in the writing of the quote which sits on top of the main block of text and acts like a sub heading. Reality confirms that it is just impossible for todays weight watchers to choose how they want to look and always dream of that miracle cure that will instantly change their physique and make them more attractive to the opposite sex, but this quote, which adds to the unique aspect of the text because it has been said by a person (woman) states that someone is saying that they will choose what kind of body they want this year, which instantly makes the reader that little more interested, being able to state such a thing lures the readers further into the advert, bringing them onto the main bulk of the text, now they have been briefed on what the product could do for you, with the help of the images titles and quotes the reader develops (her) interest enough to want to read the small print which a success on the count of the editor and retailer. Coming to the last few points of the advert analysis we see that there are some very considerable features that are hidden to the ordinary Joe Bloggs but seem to work like a charm unbeknown to them.  Ã‚  Moving on to the main bulk of text situated on the extreme right of the A4 spread. One point I have noticed is that the advert seems to form a secret map, for the readers eyes, there are certain features that follow on from each other that guide the eyes all round the advert gradually covering everything there is to see, below I have described how my map theory seems to function; You start with the large (st) picture of the woman,  Ã‚  Very close to that, close enough to not let the eyes wonder off is the big title stay special the eyes then run along the title crossing the textual bridge across the page  Which then leads the eye to the top of that page, using the natural instinct of the eye to go to the top of the following page when reading, which then Brings us to the next base where there is another title/quote then this leads you down  Ã‚  To the large capital N starting off the block of text the eyes read through this quite oblivious to the mapping system going on  Leading all the way down to the final caption and a finishing image to fixate in the readers mindAmazing!  And there you have it, moving back to the main bulk of text; this paragraph contains the main detail that the customer/reader needs to know, but would not instinctively stop to read while reading the whole magazine, even though if the reader may want the product, if they read the details their eyes do not recognise this while glancing at the page. Moving on to analysing the text itself; the entire paragraph is addressed to the reader personally like a one to one conversation, this adds familiarity between the reader and the woman in the advert, a very informal vocabulary is used with words such as beefcake and dream boy, and the subject of the text is associating the cereal with setting up a perfect relationship with a womans ideal man, by gaining the apparent impossible, and I quote, a figure thats irresistible. Further more as I read deeper into the text, a kind of friendly relationship is built up between the reader and the woman in the article and then some sentences, that are said soon make sense of the once mysterious images, like the picture of the man on the fridge; we soon understand that the picture is there to stop the woman pigging out because the image reminds her of her prize at the end. It states, A splash of ice cold milk on a bowl of Special K is a pleasure not a chore this has a great effect on the reader because everyone knows, that dieting and eating healthy just seems like hard work. However for the woman to say its a pleasure, coaxes the reader further and now that there is this little relationship going on with the reader and writer a sense of trust develops, the paragraph finishes off nicely with all I need now is someone just as tasty to share it with this Is a perfect finish if you ask me because it gets the reader thinking, and soon has them begging for the source that will grant them this perfect scenario, and they then finally read on to the final part which states all the nutritional facts about the cereal, as discussed before the last picture is of the box, and this is the last thing the reader sees, before turning the page and will be the most recent thing they remember when they go shopping for another Bach of cereal. Some very good features were described; we have witnessed the very skilful and cunning minds of editors for adverts, how deep planning and thinking is needed to capture the readers interest and also just as importanttrust.  My Advert (MFI)  My advert is advertising a well-known furniture store called MFI; the advert is set upon one single A4 sheet, and only contains one main image, one title and a logo. As with the previous analysis I will start with the images and the rest of the features will follow after one another. As I said there is only one main image this is of a beautiful bedroom that has a very warm feel to it because of the mixture of dark reds and purples, used in the room. In the centre of the bedroom is a bed and on the bed lying down is ruby wax a very well known TV presenter, in a night gown with her feet up in the air smiling looking towards the reader. The room is truly fit for a king/queen, as all the features of the room are immaculate and matching almost impeccably. Now to pinpoint the effect of this;  First of all the whole page is taken up by the colours of the image and this will easily attract the readers attention, as it did mine when I was searching for an advert to study. So the advert relies a lot on its image functions to attract attention and not so much on titles and quotes. The room is immaculate telling the reader that their bedroom may well look like this if they shop at MFI  There is a teddy on the bed and I feel this adds a bit of familiarity to the advert and associates it with everyday people  A known celebrity is used to sell the product, and as people will flick through the pages of a magazine a face that they recognise will almost certainly make them stop and want them to read on  Also Ruby Wax is a very high rate celebrity and people know that she has a few quid, and when they see Ruby Wax with some products from MFI they suddenly think well if its good enough for its good enough for me, for celebrities may shop where ever they want, and if she has chosen MFI this forms a trust bond with the reader of good quality. Moving on to the text, there is only one main title piece of text which reads, all the big names under one roof  This is corresponding to two things at one time so is a play on words. One meaning is referring to Ruby Wax, as she without a doubt is a big name and she is under one roof in the bedroom so that is one of the meanings of this text piece. Then the second meaning is referring to the actual brands of the furniture, all the big names under one roof all the best furniture brands in one shop. This effect causes the reader to think for a second and choose which out the two ways they interpret this title either way they will be impressed by the statement and will instantly be intrigued to go and check out the big names under the roof of MFI. Then finally we have the logo of the brand that kitted out the bedroom that Ruby Wax is displaying, this the last thing the reader sees and this sticks in the readers mind for when they may visit MFI so SCHREIBER at MFI assists the reader in what they look for first when they visit the store, this is a beneficial technique for both MFI and SCHREIBER and this about wraps up the features of this advert, not quite as complex as Kelloggs but that advert had more of psychological effect on woman of today and their scenario of wanting a man and needing a nice figure to find a decent one, where as furniture is more of a general subject and requires less detailed features.

Dynamic Characters and Survival in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath

Dynamic Characters and Survival in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath In the American epic novel, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, there are pivotal and dynamic changes that occur in the various significant characters of Jim Casy, Ma Joad, and Tom Joad. Steinbeck specifically uses these characters to show their common realizations about all of humanity, in order to demonstrate his underlying meaning about the importance of people coming together, helping each other out, and surviving. Ma Joad illustrates this idea clearly when she speaks to Tom mid-way through the novel: â€Å"Why, Tom, we’re the people that live. They ain’t gonna wipe us out. Why we’re the people--we go on.† (350) Early in the novel we are introduced to a journeying preacher named Jim Casy, who has already been drifting for four years. He has gone through a dynamic change, and through the course of the novel he learns how to apply his new Emerson worldview of an Oversoul that all of humanity is a part of. Jim Casy sees the good in all things and people: â€Å"There ain’t no sin and there ain’t no virtue. There’s just stuff people do.† (30) He therefore shares a concern for and a need to be with the people. It isn’t until later in the novel, however, that Jim Casy becomes fully aware of the truth behind his ideas. When he sacrifices to go to jail for Tom, he learns in prison about the strength and power of men working together to reach their goals. Jim Casy is murdered after he gets out of jail, trying to put some of these new ideas into action. His message only comes into true realization after his death, as it branches out and attracts followers suc h as Tom Joad, but it can be seen in many of the actions of Ma Joad throughout the book. To... ... She comforts the Wilsons, feeds the starving nameless faces when she barely has enough for her own family, works together with the Wainwrights, and as the novel closes she is still directing her assistance to those who are in need any way she can, by helping the starving man and taking control of the situation. She feels that as long as she can hold on to some part of the family, she will see to it that they keep on going. Thus with the Joads and company, the journey West is also a journey from personal concern for oneself, to a larger concern for all of humanity. When there doesn’t seem to be anything left, at least you have each other, the people. That is what will endure, continue, live on, and populate the world. Ma reassures the family at the end of the novel that they are not going to die out, they may change a little, but they will go right on.

Austrian School Cost Essay

Our behaviors and decisions in our daily lives are affected by economics. When making decisions, we will use economic theories either consciously or subconscious to decide if we will make or reject that decision. The same can also be used to explain our actions and behaviors when making an economic decision to purchase a house. This paper will evaluate how economics affect one’s decision to purchase a new house. First, the decision to purchase a new house is considered a large and important decision by many. This is because the prices of houses are usually very high, and thus purchasing a new house will greatly deplete the savings of an individual. The demand of houses is highly price elastic. Economic theories state that the larger the proportion of income a certain purchase requires, the more price elastic the demand will be. In the case of the purchase of a new house, it will require the spending of a large proportion of an average person’s income, hence this will greatly lower the purchasing power of the individual when the decision is made to purchase the house. Furthermore, buying a new house will require people to shift from a familiar environment to a less familiar environment and this can be a life-changing experience which may be scary to some. Hence, these are all factors which make the purchase of a new house a very difficult decision to make. There are various principles of economics that can be applied to a decision to purchase a new house. First, one of the principles will be that of trade-offs which people have to face. Every decision comes at a cost. In this case, the decision to purchase a new house will deplete people of a large proportion of their savings. The tradeoffs which they face will be alternatives which they get to enjoy with the same amount of money. For example, the same amount of money spent on a new house can be used on sending a child to university, going on a long holiday or purchasing a new vehicle. I have to remember even though the APR’s may be low and I have my down payment or even if I am using HUD as a first time buyer to eliminate closing cost or no fees at all there may still be one depending on my situation. Purchasing a new home is a big step not only the financial part of if but also the area I chose and the economy at this point and time. I must think ahead to how the economy will be now and later, as well as the housing area I chose. Will the neighborhood be a good choice for my kids, and will my house be a smart investment in terms of efficiency and equity? I need to determine if a recession will place my decision in purchasing a home the wrong time to buy. A recession could cause job lose and no income to pay my mortgage or even placing me in default to take out a loan on my home. Taking a loan on my home to make ends meet would cause me to pay double for my home and never actually own it. Tradeoffs are important when purchasing a new home because you have to be willing to give up miscellaneous items to get where u want to be, extra expenses are not a good idea when purchasing a new home.

Comparative negligence of a child Essay

So†¦what do you think about this defense? Do you think it’s viable? Are there other things to consider?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Unfortunately, it is a viable defense.   At least there are legal precedents and provisions for contributory negligence.   But i always that defense was mostly used in business to business contract disputes.   I thought it worked this way: if company A hires company B to do, say, a financial audit.   If company A doesn’t give B all of its records, and then sues them for giving the wrong audit position, then company contributed to the wrongdoing by NOT giving company B the records it needed. Also, considering that this is a 7 year old, the question becomes what 7 year old is beyond negligence.   As adults we have a higher responsibility than children.   I would say that only adults can truly be guilty of contributory negligence.   The main thing to consider is that the driver was drunk.   What could any 7 year old (or 17 or 70 year old) do to ward off a drunk driver.   If he lost control due to his drunkeness there was nothing that child could have done except stay in the house.   And that is unreasonable.   No jury should award in their favor or against the defendant. Pre-Judgment versus Post-Judgment Interest (Response Question) Make sense?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The interest makes sense.   What doesn’t make sense is that there is no precedent or clarification on how the interest is actually calculated.   That is where a good lawyer comes in.   He/she would have to specify how they want it done in the initial lawsuit.   I think that interest on awarded damages gives the recipient an opportunity to be compensated for the time it takes to complete the suit and transfer the money. After 4 years the interest really isn’t pocket money, it is just adjusting the award for inflation.   The other thing interest does is allow you to get more money than would normally be allowed in a particular type of lawsuit.   I think that courts should make uniform rules for the interest rate that can be awarded on specific cases, and set rules on how it will be calculated to prevent further bickering between the parties, and further appeals over the interest that has to be paid.

Free Essays on Tounment

My stomach was turning, because I was very excited. The first day of my recreational soccer team’s first out of town tournament. The day was sunny, hot, and stirring with commotion. The Bandits were going to play some soccer. Saturday morning everyone on my soccer team met in the lobby of the Marriott in Beaumont. We piled into cars and headed to the soccer fields. We arrived and Coach Tim went to check us in. My team and I were standing around passing the ball, when Coach Tim walked over to us he had signed us up to late. We were all sad and thought we would have to go home, when the tournament director walked over to us and told us we could still play. He also told us that the only opening was in the under eight boys bracket. My team and I all agreed that we would: first of all, we were seven years old; and second of all; we wanted to play, not go home. So, there we were standing around waiting for our new Schedule to be delivered. When it was delivered we had to walk over to our first game. We ran onto the field and began our normal warm-ups. The referees walked onto the field and told us it was time to play. About that time my stomach felt like the butterflies would never go away. The whistle was blown and the game began. I was playing right forward when the ball was passed to me. I dribbled the ball as fast as I could, hoping and praying I would make it to the other end of the field. I lucky made it to the other side, and the goalie was starting to move toward me. I shot the ball and it hit him. I ran up and shot it again, but this time the ball flew to the back of the net. The rest of the game we went on scoring two more goals, winning our first out of town game. I will never forget that one game and the one moment when I scored the first goal, because I was congratulated so much it would have lasted me the rest of the year. Well, the rest of ... Free Essays on Tounment Free Essays on Tounment My stomach was turning, because I was very excited. The first day of my recreational soccer team’s first out of town tournament. The day was sunny, hot, and stirring with commotion. The Bandits were going to play some soccer. Saturday morning everyone on my soccer team met in the lobby of the Marriott in Beaumont. We piled into cars and headed to the soccer fields. We arrived and Coach Tim went to check us in. My team and I were standing around passing the ball, when Coach Tim walked over to us he had signed us up to late. We were all sad and thought we would have to go home, when the tournament director walked over to us and told us we could still play. He also told us that the only opening was in the under eight boys bracket. My team and I all agreed that we would: first of all, we were seven years old; and second of all; we wanted to play, not go home. So, there we were standing around waiting for our new Schedule to be delivered. When it was delivered we had to walk over to our first game. We ran onto the field and began our normal warm-ups. The referees walked onto the field and told us it was time to play. About that time my stomach felt like the butterflies would never go away. The whistle was blown and the game began. I was playing right forward when the ball was passed to me. I dribbled the ball as fast as I could, hoping and praying I would make it to the other end of the field. I lucky made it to the other side, and the goalie was starting to move toward me. I shot the ball and it hit him. I ran up and shot it again, but this time the ball flew to the back of the net. The rest of the game we went on scoring two more goals, winning our first out of town game. I will never forget that one game and the one moment when I scored the first goal, because I was congratulated so much it would have lasted me the rest of the year. Well, the rest of ...

Looking Backward,Fahrenheit451 essays

Looking Backward,Fahrenheit451 essays For more than half a century science fiction writers have thrilled and challenged readers with visions of the future and future worlds. These authors offered an insight into what they expected man, society, and life to be like at some future time. One such author, Ray Bradbury, utilized this concept in his work, Fahrenheit 451, a futuristic look at a man and his role in society. Bradbury utilizes the luxuries of life in America today, in addition to various occupations and technological advances; to show what life could be like if the future takes a drastic turn for the worse. He turns man's best friend, the dog, against man, changes the role of public servants and changes the value of a person. Looking Backward belongs to the centuries-old tradition of utopian fiction, fiction that attempts to portray a perfect human society. The plot is simple and minimal, merely a vehicle for Edward Bellamy's ideas for social reform. Bellamy knew that his nineteenth-century audience was extremely hostile to the idea of an economy based on public capital, a premier tenet of socialism, a reviled political movement in the nineteenth century. Therefore, Bellamy had a difficult task in persuading his readers to consider his proposal for an ideal society. He distances himself from the more radical political theories of the socialists and the anarchists. In his ideal society, the separation between the genders remains intact, and marriage remains an important institution. The government remains a respected, powerful means to maintain social order. Personal freedom is not threatened, but enhanced. An individual worker's merit is recognized and valued through a complex ranking system based on th e army. Consumer choice is enhanced because every consumer demand is met, and every citizen has easy access to the full range of the nation's products. Citizens are encouraged to choose the careers that best suit them. Overall, Bellamy represents his imagined...

Use of Estar and Ser with Adjectives of Marital Status

Use of Estar and Ser with Adjectives of Marital Status If you are learning to speak Spanish, you may be wondering which word describing martial status is correct - soy casada or estoy casada? The quick answer is that theyre both correct! With adjectives of marital status - ones other than casado (married) include soltero (single), divorciado (divorced) and viudo (widowed), along with their feminine equivalents - estar and ser are more or less interchangeable. Difference Between Ser and Ester Although the differences between ser and estar are usually distinct, that just doesnt seem to be so with the adjectives of marital status, where youll often hear the two verbs used with little difference in meaning. In some areas, however, one or the other may be preferred, and estar probably has an edge in everyday speech, at least with casado. Even so, use of estar can suggest (but doesnt always) there has been a change in marital status. Thus, you might ask a new acquaintance  ¿es usted casado? if you see his marital status as part of his identity. But you might ask a friend you havent seen for a while  ¿ests casado? as a way of asking, Have you become married since I saw you last? or Are you still married? Similarities With Other Spanish Adjectives The same is true with very few adjectives, such as gordo (fat) and delgado (thin), that describe personal characteristics. Both es gordo and est gordo can be used to say he is fat, for example. The latter often suggests that there has been a change, while the former may suggest merely a description of the way a person is. So the choice of verb can suggest an attitude - estar may suggest a state of being at the moment, while ser may suggest an inherent characteristic. In fact, that is the safest way to make your verb choice, and estar must be used where indeed there has been a change. But in everyday descriptions, the distinction of meaning isnt always a sharply clear one.

Sales proposal for Laduree Aviation Catering Coursework

Sales proposal for Laduree Aviation Catering - Coursework Example The company has highly experienced and dedicated employees that not only serves the customer as required, but also demonstrate the utmost level of professionalism in their approach to duties and responsibilities. As thus, the company mission of quality and timely delivery is instilled in them, consequently enabling it to soar to greater heights. The objectives of this sales proposal is to promote our services to international airlines including Qatar Airways through providing highly professional services to the passengers on board while embracing quality and an utmost competence. Another objective of Laduree Aviation Catering Company is to offer world class catering services that will go a long way in encouraging more passengers to board your airplanes The ultimate goal of Laduree Aviation Catering Company is to ensure that quality and timely customer services are mainstreamed in the system and that its operations are guided by the principles of high professionalism. The Company has an experience of over 100 years having been at the helm of this business. Laduree Aviation Catering services entails services dealing with a range of products that are well manufactured by the company and stored in various distribution shops for easy supply to the market and the main customers who are the airlines. The products are the Laduree Macaron, pastries, and chocolates that are well prepared by highly qualified catering professionals with a long experience in the field. Laduree Aviation Catering offers services to a wide range of airline companies. The company boasts of highly experienced chefs who can handle different kinds of food preparation with utmost competence and without compromising the quality. Laduree Aviation Catering offers a wide selection of the special meals that caters for different dietary requirements of varied people. A special meal on the flight is provided on prior request to provide

An Exploration into the Role of Nutrition Information in Influencing Literature review

An Exploration into the Role of Nutrition Information in Influencing Consumer Choice - Literature review Example The strong association between nutrition and health, alongside the ever rising problem of obesity justify a study into nutrition consumerism. The main aim of this literature review is to explore the role of nutrition information in influencing consumer choices. Objectives The following objectives will guide this review of literature towards achieving the stated aim: To perform a prudent search for relevant literature detailing the role of nutritional information on consumer choices To review the literature noting highlights and emerging themes To arrive at a conclusion based on the literature review on the role of nutritional information on consumer choices Literature Review The approach followed for sourcing the literature involved a search for research and theoretical work through the key phrase â€Å"Role of Nutrition Information in influencing Consumer Choice.† The search was focused on a number of peer-reviewed journals for the research articles. Further, a look at the bi bliographies of the journals was used to find more relevant literature. The sources selected for use were restricted to the last decade in order to ensure this literature review is up-to-date, valid and relevant. ... Factors determining Consumer Choices in Nutritional Purchases A number of studies have explored the factors determining consumer choices when making food purchases. One of these is by Petrovichi and Ritson (2006) who investigated the factors that influence individual decisions to engage in dietary health preventative behaviour in Romania. Conceptually, the close relationship between health and nutrition translates to an association of managing nutrition practices to prevent or manage health. The methodology adopted by the two researchers entailed face-to-face issuance of questionnaires to 485 adult respondents. This study established that the respondents’ health motivations, beliefs that diet choices have the capacity to prevent diseases, financial status of households and the level of educational influenced their nutrition and health and thus food purchase decisions. Ling and Horwath (2001) established that the perceived benefits of certain dietary products influenced consume r food purchase decisions. Through a cross-sectional telephone and mail survey, the scholars gathered data from 1200 households. They showed that the perceived benefits of fruits and vegetables in diet tipped the decisional balance towards purchasing these food items. Godwin, Speller-Henderson and Thompson (2006) undertook a consumer survey involving 160 participants and established that knowledge about nutrition greatly influenced consumer preferences in food purchases; the majority of respondents perceived themselves as knowledgeable enough to understand nutrition labels and use these to make purchase decisions. To conclude this part, the general factors that influence consumer purchase decisions include knowledge on nutrition; health

Abandoning or Keeping Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Abandoning or Keeping - Essay Example Upon reaching the new destinations, immigrants experience many problems such as the new culture adaption and keeping up with different local customs. The imminent question from the experiences then is reason behind abandoning own native culture and people and facing challenges in new environments. The realization of blood is thicker than water becomes evident from the experience of immigrants in new regions. According to Gary Shteyngart’s memoir; â€Å"Little Failure† and a movie named â€Å"Everything Is Illuminated†, immigration is not only a population movement and change. On a more important note, there are implications based on the political, cultural and economical aspects of a population migration. An appreciative perspective is on the cultural angles where multicultural consequences results from migrations. From the Shteyngart’ memoir; â€Å"Little Failure†, Shteyngart articulates his story and experiences through a sickly Soviet childhood, middle-school bullying, and own insecurities prior to his success. Shteynagart’s background was that of a typical Russian-Jewish immigrant based family. Shteyngart tried to join the American life but his parents were Russian traditionalists. This reciprocated to Shteyngart experiencing many problems while he lived in America as an immigrant. After he graduated from the university, he tried working as a paralegal for a civil rights law firm but was unsuccessful. However, it was his parent’s dream to achieve the American dream. His parents pushed him towards attaining the American Dream in multiple occasions. Shteyngart tried establishing himself within a new environment in order to get rid of the immigrant geared mentality (Shteyngart 4). Shteyngart embraced the an old proverb that postulates that ‘When in Rome do as the Romans do†. He recalls reminding himself and internalizing inwardly â€Å"Where am I? I am in Manhattan, the chielborought of New York City, the biggest city in America. Where am I not? I am

What should be the future of 'diversity-management' Essay

What should be the future of 'diversity-management' - Essay Example The importance of diversity management is an integrative part of modern management. Global tendencies in the world lead to overall balancing of various people. Successful cooperation of people with diverse cultural and religious background, from different societies should be mediated by managers. Unfortunately, there is an efficient gap between theoretical and practical approaches to diverse management. Propagation of human freedom and equality of human rights and processes of democratization is not always followed by managers. There is a lack of professional knowledge about diverse management. Therefore it is relevant to develop theoretical and practical bases of diverse management in the future. â€Å"Culture is the totality of values, beliefs, and behaviors common to a large group of people. A culture may include shared language and folklore, communication styles, and ideas and thinking patterns—the â€Å"truths† accepted by members of the group. Members of a cultur e have similar expectations of life† (Cross, p. 48). People are different and they tend to interpret any behavior through the prism of their own values. Literature review Currently, the influence of diverse management on relations inside the organizations is vividly discussed. Thus, in the article by Dameron and Joffre â€Å"The good and the bad: the impact of diversity management on co-operative relationships† (2007) practical aspect of diversity management is discussed. There is given a dualistic approach to the discussion about cultural diversity at the workplace. There are two kinds of co-operation: â€Å"community based co-operation†, caused by human necessity to belong, and â€Å"complementary co-operation† (Dameron and Joffre, 2007). Strategic development of human resources is created in terms of diverse management. The authors of the articles claim that individual’s development happens in terms of diverse management. It is important to discu ss the influence of diverse management on the development of an individual employee and then on the human resources of the company. Thus, diverse management is a perfect background for interaction of employees in the business world among them and with their employers (Burke and Cooper, 2005). A separation of diversity management from the issue of diversity in the world is a modern tendency. What is the reason for this separation and what is the perspective of further development of this field? Every organization pays a great attention to the development of diversity management and it can be said that every organization follows national tendencies of culture development. In case of future development of diversity management, organizations and companies will benefit from cooperation with foreign partners in the international arena. Currently, there is even a greater progress in the field of diversity management. Diversity management is a motive force of modern businesses. In case an o rganization is successful, it operates in the international arena. Moreover, it is a common tendency in many organizations to hire employees and managers from different nations. From the article considered above, cultural diversity is titled as â€Å"a zone of uncertainty from which one can profit† (Dameron and Joffre). This concept was borrowed from Crozier and Friedberg (1977). These authors considered cultural diversity to be a ‘goal-oriented collective action’ (Crozier and Friedberg, 1977). Thus, Crozier and Friedberg (1977) considered cultural diversity in relation to a certain organization, but currently this concept is considered from a broader perspective. Other authors who discuss diversity management, are Ronald J. Burke and Cary L. Cooper in the book â€Å"Reinventing Human Resources Management: Challenges and New Directions† (2005). These authors underline the importance of a shift of consideration about diversity management from an organizatio nal context to a more global context. Dameron and Joffre underline that diverse management

Drama in Raging Bull (1980 film) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Drama in Raging Bull (1980 film) - Essay Example tic and sport films that are deal with the emotional issues that the characters have to undergo in order to achieve their aims or in order to achieve a happy life. The centre of these films is often based on characters that undergo some form of conflict at very important moments in their lives, especially when it seems that they have everything that anybody could want. The aim of these films is to ensure that their audiences are able to have a peek into their own lives and ask themselves some pertinent questions concerning the way that they live. Moreover, these films normally touch on the emotions of ordinary people as they come to view the tragic things which affect people who live similar lives to them (Robà © 71). In most instances, the plot in drama is centred around a tragic event and how the various characters within it come to deal with these events and survive it, achieving redemption. Among the best film performances come from the drama genre and this is mainly because the y allow actors to immerse themselves into their roles so that they can make them as realistic as possible; a feature which other film genres normally cannot achieve. Among the greatest films of the drama genre is 1980’s Raging Bull, which starred Robert De Niro as the boxer Jake La Motta and all the evidence from the film suggests that De Niro paid a lot of attention to the details concerning La Motta’s life so as to be as close to the historical record as possible. The making of Raging Bull seems to pay a lot of attention to the issues concerning realism, history and artistic truth, which are the main ingredients in the making of successful dramas. The way through which the actor perceives his role on screen allows him to make an accurate depiction of the emotions that a real life individual, such a Jake La Motta, experienced. The heart of Raging Bull is based on the ability of De Niro to recreate the life of La Motta in particular moments of his life since this enable his to

What should be the future of 'diversity-management' Essay

What should be the future of 'diversity-management' - Essay Example The importance of diversity management is an integrative part of modern management. Global tendencies in the world lead to overall balancing of various people. Successful cooperation of people with diverse cultural and religious background, from different societies should be mediated by managers. Unfortunately, there is an efficient gap between theoretical and practical approaches to diverse management. Propagation of human freedom and equality of human rights and processes of democratization is not always followed by managers. There is a lack of professional knowledge about diverse management. Therefore it is relevant to develop theoretical and practical bases of diverse management in the future. â€Å"Culture is the totality of values, beliefs, and behaviors common to a large group of people. A culture may include shared language and folklore, communication styles, and ideas and thinking patterns—the â€Å"truths† accepted by members of the group. Members of a cultur e have similar expectations of life† (Cross, p. 48). People are different and they tend to interpret any behavior through the prism of their own values. Literature review Currently, the influence of diverse management on relations inside the organizations is vividly discussed. Thus, in the article by Dameron and Joffre â€Å"The good and the bad: the impact of diversity management on co-operative relationships† (2007) practical aspect of diversity management is discussed. There is given a dualistic approach to the discussion about cultural diversity at the workplace. There are two kinds of co-operation: â€Å"community based co-operation†, caused by human necessity to belong, and â€Å"complementary co-operation† (Dameron and Joffre, 2007). Strategic development of human resources is created in terms of diverse management. The authors of the articles claim that individual’s development happens in terms of diverse management. It is important to discu ss the influence of diverse management on the development of an individual employee and then on the human resources of the company. Thus, diverse management is a perfect background for interaction of employees in the business world among them and with their employers (Burke and Cooper, 2005). A separation of diversity management from the issue of diversity in the world is a modern tendency. What is the reason for this separation and what is the perspective of further development of this field? Every organization pays a great attention to the development of diversity management and it can be said that every organization follows national tendencies of culture development. In case of future development of diversity management, organizations and companies will benefit from cooperation with foreign partners in the international arena. Currently, there is even a greater progress in the field of diversity management. Diversity management is a motive force of modern businesses. In case an o rganization is successful, it operates in the international arena. Moreover, it is a common tendency in many organizations to hire employees and managers from different nations. From the article considered above, cultural diversity is titled as â€Å"a zone of uncertainty from which one can profit† (Dameron and Joffre). This concept was borrowed from Crozier and Friedberg (1977). These authors considered cultural diversity to be a ‘goal-oriented collective action’ (Crozier and Friedberg, 1977). Thus, Crozier and Friedberg (1977) considered cultural diversity in relation to a certain organization, but currently this concept is considered from a broader perspective. Other authors who discuss diversity management, are Ronald J. Burke and Cary L. Cooper in the book â€Å"Reinventing Human Resources Management: Challenges and New Directions† (2005). These authors underline the importance of a shift of consideration about diversity management from an organizatio nal context to a more global context. Dameron and Joffre underline that diverse management

Book report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Book report - Essay Example The Author Ernest Miller Hemingway is an American author who had been actively writing between 1920’s and 1950’s. Due to his influence in modern literature, he had been awarded with a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. During that time, his work under study which is Across the River and into the Trees had already been published. Hemingway’s reputation can be attributed to the character of his works which belong in the identity of the 20th century works of literature, specifically fiction. His capability to present influential characters in his fiction works that can relate to people is considered to be one of his most notable capabilities (Bloom 25). Ernest Hemingway originated in Oak Park, III. He was born on July 21, 1899 and was observed to have an inclination in writing even at a young age. In the school paper, Hemingway already contributed notable articles. In 1925, after his career in the United States as a cub reporter and as a volunteer Red Cross ambulanc e driver, he moved to Paris which became the mark of his career as a novelist. He documented the said stage in his life and actively made important contributions to the literary world (Hemingway 1998, p. 27). Hemingway made and published the novel Across the River and into the Trees during the peak of his career. His main inspiration in writing the story was deeply rooted on the trip during the fall of 1948 when he visited Italy. Venice is the main location of the plot and the place of inspiration in the story (Hemingway 1998). The Plot of the Novel The novel is about the Richard Cantwell, who is a war veteran, scarred and experienced in battles. The story happened during the winter of 1949, in the post-war period in Venice, Italy and the surrounding area. The main character is a colonel who can be considered as a sad man. Although he is not that old, he had the sadness that is beyond his years due to the experiences that he had already been through (Hemingway 1959, p. 1; Kellman 7) . Colonel Cantwell, regardless of his character, fell in love with a young and beautiful Italian countess. The love and passion between the two characters can be considered as one of the most important factors of the story. This feeling in addition to torment, passion, courage and even the feeling of death are the main themes represented in the story (Hemingway 1950, p.1). The plot started as the main character Colonel Cantwell, a 50 year old man, went on a duck hunting trip in Trieste. This constituted the first chapter of the novel which was set in the present time. The scene wherein he rode a boat was dramatically expressed in a form that depicts parallelism of being in a war (Hemingway 1959, p.5). This can be attributed to the fact that the main character is continuously living in his past which is being part of a war. The next consecutive chapters dealt with the flashback of memories in the life of the protagonist. Through the 38 chapters, the life of Colonel Cantwell during th e early part of his life had been recounted. This is considered as one of the highlights of the novel since the author was able to present a realistic and affective presentation of events in the life of the protagonist. The message of the novel had been presented in an approachable manner through the narration of the main character which gives access to the inner self and brings the

Infant mortality Essay Example for Free

Infant mortality Essay Infant mortality simply refers to the number of death amongst the young ones per 1000 births. In this historical study, infant mortality rate between a range of time starting from 1750 to 1917 is studied. Its rate varies from one century to another with the 18th century recording the highest number of deaths among the young. Progressing towards the 20th century, there has been a drastic decline in the death rate of infants. Some medical professionals believe that this is because of the social health reform and medical improvement during the 19th and 20 centuries. On the other hand, some scholars, like Thomas McKeown, strongly suggest that this is mainly attributed to the improved nutrition and sanitation of the infant’s environment (McKeown, 121). Thomas McKeown is the scholar who spearheaded the well known McKeown Thesis. There has been an ongoing debate between the two ideas about which played the main significant role in checking the rampant death of the infants for several decades featured in countless student reading, so who actually saw the truth between the 19 and the 20th centuries? Infant mortality reduced over the centuries starting in the late 19th and early 20th century in the United States. The highest rate of death among the infants was observed in the first half of the 18th century (McKeown, 65) , this high rate of infant mortality was viewed as caused by societal break-down and poor policies rather that specific pathological organism. This was considered as a reflection of a poor frame work in the society. Between 1750 and 1800, the infant mortality rate was at the peak with many of the infants succumbing to their diseases. At the time, the technical aspects in undertaking comprehensive investigation to establish the actual cause of the diseases and finally finding the cure had not been successful. Many infants therefore died in large numbers. The community attributed all this to the broad and unfortunate societal problems. Many major countries had areas with indecent housing, flooded basements, contaminated water supplies and poverty, resulting in diseases such as typhoid, scarlet fever, tuberculosis and typhus to thrive (McVeigh). This in the end challenged them to actually think of ways to handle these problems. What they have come to conclude was that prenatal and postnatal diseases were ultimately influenced by external factors such as food deficiency, alcohol and tobacco use (Mudd, 117). While diseases and disabilities that are determined during conception or after birth are invariably different, both their origins can still be potentially controlled. In the second half of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the government of the United States came up with efforts to curb this menace. They recommended the removal of infants in the cities; this was considered a major success since most mothers who were residing in the city end up having their young ones dying at a tender age. Some prenatal diseases, for example was due to exposure to harmful toxins in the environment, thereby affecting the child’s development in the mother’s womb (Mudd, 117-118). This was viewed that the city exposed the young to unhealthy environment hence exposing them to diseases. The congestion in the city was also found to facilitate the spread of contagious diseases among the young. Various forms of pollutants were rampant in the city and therefore the infant could easily contract infections. Many women at the turn of the 18th century were working in gas lit factories and sweatshops, which may affect their pregnancy (McVeigh). The mothers were advised to settle in their rural homes where these hazards were considered to have minimal consequences on the infants. It was fortunate that legislations were finally passed during 1848 to promote genuine concern for public health (McKeown, 66). Similarly, international city in Great Britain during the era, as well as an important location throughout Europe and the rest of the world in terms of international trade and human transit. Because of so many international produce, goods and people arriving in London daily, it became clear to medical professionals that foreign bodies can often be the bearers of disease; from London, such illnesses were doomed to spread throughout the rest of the country. In helping London’s citizens stay healthy, infant mortality rates were automatically dropped simultaneously. By exploring London’s newspaper archives, as well as other contemporary newspaper articles and even the correspondence of health care workers during the era, the information concerning infant mortality rates can be gathered and compared. In contrast, some scholars, such as Thomas McKeown, strongly suggest that this is mainly attributed to the improved nutrition and sanitation (Colgrove). The milk supply was improved among the young one, because the milk handling and supply of edible products was improved by the government. This government strategy has been significant in preserving the life of infants at the time. Child hygiene was another factor considered in checking the high rate of infant mortality. A child hygiene program was established by the government to ensure the infants were provided with the highest quality of hygiene . With the advancement on the technological innovations, infant mortality reduced in significant proportions over the centuries. The discovery of the various medical equipments and apparatus including the microscope and the stethoscope in the late 19th century boosted the medical field’s capabilities to handle these challenges (McVeigh). Simultaneous to this, great strides in the improvement of education of interns started happening in Europe. The scientist who specialized in medical microbiology studied deeper and discovered very many minute microbes which were found to cause high rate of infant mortality. These microbes were found to thrive on unhygienic conditions therefore causing high rate of infant mortality. They were found to be rampant especially in poorly handled milk and other foodstuff. With these discoveries of stethoscope and the microscope in the 20th century, many diseases were kept under control. This was because scientists had become knowledgeable about health matters. Before this tremendous discovery, many minute microorganisms causing several diseases amongst the young ones were at large and scientists were puzzled with unchecked high rate of infant mortality. The electron microscope with high magnification enabled these scientists to recognize the various disease causing organisms including viruses and bacteria. They managed to know the specific diseases that these microorganisms caused and the appropriate control measures needed to keep them at bay. They came up with antibiotics to cure infection in the infants. Antibiotics such as penicillin were also discovered in the early 20th century. At this time, due to these discoveries and appropriate measures taken by the government, the infant mortality drastically reduced. Medical attention to the infants was considered a priority and hence reducing the rate of infant’s death. Another important factor in curbing infant mortality is the development of obstetrics and the rise of gynecology in that time (McVeigh). It encompassed all aspects of pregnancy, and allowed sanitary and safe conditions for the mother and child. Arguably, poor sanitary conditions during childbirth are also one of the main causes of infant mortality in earlier centuries. McKeown’s views on public health sparked controversy during the 1970’s and 1980’s with its focus on allocation of medical resources. While the foundation of his empirical views might be considered flawed today, it spearheaded studies of where should public health practitioners should focus their efforts and the most important determinants of a society’s mortality (Colgrove). The thesis he authored was about the explanation of the dramatic population growth from around 1770 to the present (Szreter). It stated that it was because of the domino effect of improved economic conditions: better standards of living and enhanced nutritional status that strengthened infant resistance to most diseases. His works have been about the synthesis of these advanced ideas and later on his works began getting much attention because of its profound content (Szreter). It was curious to note that it attracted more audiences during its later years, even though it didn’t substantially contain any new information. It was probably the stronger awareness in public health that caused this. However, McKeown will always be considered a figure of importance because of his role in shaping contemporary systems to prevent infant mortality. Other factors that can be attributed to a precipitous decline in infant mortality rate starting from the late 19th and early 20th century include the improvement in economic growth, improvement in nutrition, new sanitary measures by the government and advances in knowledge about infant care in the united states of America (Colgrove). Though little is known about how each of this factors contributed in the reduction in the infant mortality rate, a systematic review of the data from the specific period stressed that providing clean milk in market was the main contributor to this decline in the infant mortality . However, the writer of this journal was biased in the sense that handling milk supply and milk hygiene was not the only cause of infant mortality. It‘s important to note that the both technological advancement and improved nutrition played a very crucial role in checking the infant mortality rate starting from the late 18th to early 20th century. The perception that the high rate of infant mortality was due to societal problems and poor policies could not help in reversing the trend in the first half of the 18th century. Technological advancement saw the discovery of the various medical apparatus and equipments in the 20th century which helped in the reduction of high infant mortality rate. The scientists discovered the actual causes of these deaths being pathological organism which could be controlled. The economic growth and education enabled this scientist to conduct further research and hence control measures were devised which came up with cure for various diseases affecting the infants.

Metabolic Syndrome and Depression in Police Officers

Metabolic Syndrome and Depression in Police Officers Laurie Cyr-Martel Introduction Approximately 780,000 sworn police officers are accounted for in the United States, (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor 2014) and one out of eight officers are female. (U.S. Dept. of Labor Bureau of Justice Statistics 2007) The literature also supports that law enforcement is one of the most demanding professions in our country. (Marmar, C., McCaslin, S., Metzler, T., Best, S., Weiss, D., Fagan, Nelan,T. 2006: Gershon, R., Barocas, B., Canton, A., Li, X., Vlahov, D., 2009 : Wang, Z., Inslicht,S., Metzler, T., Henn-Haase, C., McCaslin , S., 2010) The general public’s perception is in direct conflict with the reality of those who wear the badge to protect and serve. The media either sensationalizes the profession or degrades the profession dependent on the situation. Men and woman place themselves in harm’s way for the protection of their communities while compromising their own emotional and physical health. The police academy does not prepare the offic er for the misery and sorrow encountered once they graduate, nor are they prepared for how the occupation will effects their mind and body. Exposure to human tragedy, trauma, violence, lack of support both personally and professionally can increase the stress the officer’s experience. The cumulative effect of stress within law enforcement can exacerbate underlying physical and behavioral conditions. Physical presentations appear as high blood pressure, increased glucose levels, chest pains and obesity, a condition liken to Metabolic Syndrome. Behavioral conditions present as anger, rage, irritation, bad moods or resentment. Working with police officers for the past fourteen years, eight of them on the street in uniform, allowed a unique perspective regarding their emotional and physical health. Literatures linking physical (metabolic syndrome) and behavioral (depression) conditions for the law enforcement population, although published, are limited. The following review of th e literature will attempt to provide an overview of Metabolic Syndrome and depression and how this might relate to those in law enforcement. Literature Review Definition Metabolic Syndrome (MetSyn) is a condition distinguished by several health issues that when placed together are the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, possible organ damage, and even mortality. (Han Lean 2011: Suls, J., Bunde J. 2005) These include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and obesity. To review and determine the correlation more closely, studies throughout the literature use various biometrics. These include; measuring waist circumference, allowing a difference for centimeters for men and women, measuring the individual’s blood pressure, and monitoring fasting blood glucose. MetSyn is also referred to as a â€Å"cluster of anthropological and biochemical abnormalities that predispose an individual to coronary artery disease.† (Grundy, Brewer, Cleeman, Smith Lenfant, 2004) Although various definitions are found throughout the literature, a universal definition that every author, discipline, or diagnostician can agre e upon was not found. When a patient presents with at least three out of the five risk factors listed below, a diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome can be made. (Thayyil, Jayakrishnan, Meharoof, Cheremanalil, J.2012) Regardless of a the differences among those definitions, the medical community agrees that if identification of MetSyn is diagnosed early, the practitioner can include preventative measures for Type 2 Diabetes and Cardio Vascular disease. (Huang 2009) One of the reasons this Syndrome is important to both the medical and behavioral sciences is that it would allow the medical practitioner to focus on the underlying medical concerns such as Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease. Although these are medical diagnosis, the behavioral interventions might alleviate further medical compromise. Metabolic Syndrome and the Police Officer Literature supports the link between MetSyn and the law enforcement population. (Hartley, Knox, Fekedulegn, Barbosa-Leiker, Violanti, Andrew Burchfiel 2010). What is known in the world of medicine and psychology is that various psychological presentations such as anxiety and depression are presumed as associated risk factors to diseases encompassed in Metabolic Syndrome. (Hartley et al., 2010; Toker, Shirom Melamed. 2008; Skilton, Moulin, Terra, Bonnet. 2007; Kahl, Greggersen, Schweiger, Cordes, Balijepalli , Lo ¨sch, Moebus,S. 2012 ) MetSyn is considered an important cardiovascular risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. However, variations due to socioeconomic status, environmental, professional, spiritual, and cultural and ethnicity must be considered. An evaluation of 900 officers found 16.8% or 138 officers were found to have MetSyn. (Thayyil et al., 2012 ) Although the study was conducted in India, the conclusion and relevance to police work in general provided information relevant to MetSyn. MetSyn has more connections to health for the officer than just running the risk of experiencing a heart attack. Hypertension, dyslipidemia (abnormal amount of lipids in the blood), impaired glucose tolerance and obesity are all key elements of MetSyn. (Austin-Ketch, Violanti, Andrew, Hartley, Vena, J. 2010). As previously stated many factors are inherent in police work. Shift work is a contributory factor to the physical and psychological health of the officer and has been linked to MetSyn. Officers at higher risk for MetSyn and had a significant number of the components for MetSyn were officers who obtained six hours of sleep or less and worked shifts referred to as midnight shifts. (Violanti, J.,Burchfiel, C., Hartley, T., Mnatsakanova, A., Fekedulegn, D., Andrew, M., . . . Vila, B., 2009) Sleep deprivation also presents in the literature as increasing an individual’s risk for cardiovascular disease and various metabolic dysfunctions and is a common denominator in shift work. (Rajaratnam, S., Barger, L., Lockley, S., Shea, S., Wang, W., Landrigan, C., . . . Czeisler, C. 2011) It is important to identify officers at risk for MetSyn. Without identification, prevention and intervention would not occur. Depression and the Police Officer A 12 month study of 119 from four different departments, New York Police Department, and three departments in California took into account not only demographic variables, but baseline depression symptoms using the, child hood trauma, using the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report—Short Form to assess experience of childhood trauma before 18 years of age, The NEO Five-Factor Inventory used to assess neuroticism. The officers self-worth was also assessed using The World Assumptions Scale to determine the officers understanding and perception of how he relates to the world around him. After twelve months the officers were then given the Beck Depression scale, a self-inventory PTSD check list, a critical incident exposure questionnaire, and Life Experiences Survey to assess the negative effects of life changes in the twelve months, and the Work Environment Inventory to assess work stress. The study proposes that the longer the officer is â€Å"on the job† the more likely they are to experience moderately high depressive symptoms and partly sovereign from PTSD. (Wang Inslicht Wang, Z., Inslicht,S., Metzler, T., Henn-Haase, C., McCaslin , S., 2010) Metabolic Syndrome and Depression in the Police Officer Several pieces of literature support the association of MetSyn with depression. (Kahl, , Greggersen, Schweiger, Cordes, Balijepalli, Lo ¨sch, Moebus, 2012; Goldbacher, Bromberger, Matthews, 2009; Toker,S.,Shirom, A., Melamed,S. 2008: Skilton, M., P., Moulin, Terra, J., Bonnet, F. 2007 ). An increased occurrence in cardiovascular risk, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and hypertension was also presented in the literature when comparing depression and MetSyn. (Skilton et al.,2007) An emergent body of evidence suggests if an individual is diagnosed with depression, this should be considered an important risk factor for MetSyn. Furth more, if a major depressive disorder was present throughout their life, they were at greater risk to develop MetSyn. (Butnoriene, J., Bunevicius, A., Norkus, A., Bunevicius, R. 2014) Another contributory factor to MetSyn is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA). The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis might also lead to underlying association for MetSyn an d depression. When an officer reacts to a threat, the heart rate increases, pupils dilate to allow our visual perspective to widen, blood pressure rises as adrenaline causes the constriction of blood vessels which in turn increases pressure. We know that cortisol‘s main attribute is to increase energy to the body for survival. When the HPA is activated for survival, prolonged activation of the HPA can be a health risk. Cortisol antagonizes insulin. This might indicate to us that if the cortisol levels remain high, the pancreas –which secretes insulin would struggle to respond to the bodies demand for the insulin. If the glucose levels do not decrease, the cells in our body would not obtain the sugar they need. Thus, when cortisol patterns are no longer normal, and the HPA axis is constantly challenged and prolonged, individuals risk for hypertension, cardiovascular disease and even depression would be increased. (Violanti, Burchfiel Dorn, 2009) Literature further revi ewed MetSyn and the psychological characteristics that might exacerbate CVD and T2D. When depressed patients present with HPA hyperactivity, there is associations with a multitude of psychological characteristics, such as anxiety and anger. Furthermore, those with high cortisol who were depressed were more likely to have been diagnosed with MetSyn. (Goldbacher Matthews 2007) The general public has a view that most officers are young and healthy, and cannot comprehend the reason the officer would present with physical or emotional problems. Research is now proving what many of us within the law enforcement world knew for a very long time, the occupation compromises physical and emotional well-being. The literature points to one of the first cohesive studies that correlates physical and emotional health. Several tools used in the study reviewed both physical health and depressive signs and symptoms. The Buffalo Cardio Metabolic Occupational Stress Study or commonly known as BCOPS was provided to assess the physiological and psychological ramifications of the stress the officer encounters. Measuring the depressive symptoms was accomplished by using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale. The MetSyn was based on the guidelines provided by the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The latitude given was much higher than listed above in the initial table which is from 2012. The individual MetSyn components included the following: (1) abdominal obesity (gender-specific waist circumference ≠¥102 cm in males, ≠¥88 cm in females), (2) hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≠¥ 130mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≠¥ 85mmHg, (3) reduced HDL-C (gender-specific fasting HDL-C 40mg/dL in men, 50mg/dL in women, (4) elevated triglycerides (fasting triglycerides ≠¥ 150mg/dL, and (5) glucose intolerance (fasting serum glucose ≠¥ 100mg/dL, or reported treatment for diabetes. MetSyn was conside red present in individuals with three or more components.} Although differences in age, education and length of employment were present, similarities were present. MetSyn and depressive symptoms were significantly associated. (Hartley et al., 2010) As indicated earlier in this review, more men than women enter the profession of law enforcement. (Bureau of Justice Statistics 2007) Gender may play an important factor in this comorbidity in police work. The literature indicated that for women, depression might lead to MetSyn, but further study is needed. (Toker et al., 2007) Intervention It is important to identify those officers who might be at risk in order to implement prevention strategies. Once the comorbidities are identified, it is paramount to intervene and present the officer with resources that are cost effective, efficient and solution focused. Literature supporting intervention and treatment programs for the comorbidity of Metabolic Syndrome and depression in police officers is limited. The literature does advise that building an effective training protocol within departments, would provide the competencies needed when the officer faces stressors, thereby preventing the officer from detrimental psychological and physiological effects. Aarnetz, B., Arble, E., Backman., Lynch, A., Lublin., A.,(2013) Motivational interviewing is another modality listed in the literature to address and change officers behaviors that will presumably lead to healthier outcomes. (Anshel, M., Kang, M. 2008) The literature supporting treatment programs for this population within t he New England area is limited. Treatment programs that are in existence for this population are aimed at psychotherapy rather than treatment for co-morbid presentations. (Berard, 2012) The creation and implementation of a population health management program for law enforcement would impact health care policy. When a police department has a partnership with a health program which treats a chronic condition, adding another component of the officer’s wellness might be added at a reasonable cost. If the program has a direct impact on the officers health care cost, the Population Health Management program our yield a return on their investment into the program. Grossmeier, J. , Terry, P. , Anderson, D. , Wright, S. 2012) Conclusion Metabolic syndrome and depressive presentations could be the precursor to a multitude of health concerns, but especially Type 2 diabetes and cardio vascular disease. Diagnosis of this co-morbid condition would lead to intervention and preventative health and wellness programs within police departments. When one has the opportunity to glimpse into the â€Å"thin blue line† as it is referred to – one realizes that not all police departments speak openly about the officers’ health and wellness. There are gyms on premises, EAP (Employee Assistance Programs), and perhaps yearly training on health programs. Many times it is not until an officer â€Å"crumbles† psychologically and physically that the department is forced to review their policies and protocols regarding overtime, training, inter-departmental conflicts, and a multitude of other concerns . When administration is unable to recognize the problem, the officer will bear the ramifications. References Aarnetz, B. , Arble, E. , Backman., Lynch, A. , Lublin. , A., (2013) Assessment of Prevention  Program for Work-Related Stress among Urban Police Officers. International Archives  of Occupational Environmental Health. 86:79-88 Anshel, M. , Kang, M. (2008) Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing on Changes in Fitness,  Blood Lipids, and Exercise Adherence of Police Officers: An Outcome-Based Action  Study. Journal of Correctional Health Care.14:48-62 Austin-Ketch, T. , Violanti, J. , Andrew, M. , Hartley, T. , Vena, J. (2010) Diabetes Metabolic  Syndrome: Clinical Research Reviews. Published by Elsvier (4) 82–88 Berard, P. , (2012) Program Helps Service Professionals. New England Psychologist  Retrieved from http://www.brattlebororetreat.org/usp Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. 2014-15 Edition, Police and Detectives, Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm Butnoriene, J. , Bunevicius, A. , Norkus, A. , Bunevicius, R. (2014) Depression but not Anxiety  is Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in Primary Care Based Community Sample Psychoneuroendocrinology. 40: 269—276 Goldbacher, E. , Matthews, K. (2007). Are Psychological Characteristics Related to Risk of the  Metabolic Syndrome? A Review of the Literature. Annals of Behavioral Medicine 34(3):240–252 Grundy, S. , Brewer, H., Cleeman, J. , Smith, S. , Lenfant, C. (2004) Definition of Metabolic  Syndrome: Report of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/American Heart Association Conference on Scientific issues Related to Definition. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis Vascular Biology 24:13-18 Gershon, R. , Barocas, B., Canton, A. , Li, X. , Vlahov, D. (2009) Mental, Physical, and  Behavioral Outcomes Associated With Perceived Work Stress in Police Officers. Criminal Justice and Behavior. 36: 275-289 Goldbacher, M. , Bromberger, J. , Matthews, K. (2009) Lifetime History of Major Depression  Predicts the Development of the Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-aged Women. Psychosomatic Medicine Journal 71:266–272 Grossmeier, J. , Terry, P. , Anderson, D. , Wright, S.(2012) Financial Impact of Population  Health Management Programs: Reevaluating the Literature. Population health  management. (15) 3:129 134 Han, T. , Jean, M. (2011) Metabolic syndrome. Medicine 4 (39): 1 Hartley, T. , Knox, S. , Fekedulegn, D. , Barbosa-Leiker, C. , Violanti, J. , Andrew, M. ,  Burchfiel, C. (2010) Association between Depressive Symptoms and Metabolic Syndrome in Police Officers: Results from Two Cross-Sectional Studies. Journal of Environmental and Public Health. Volume 2012. Article ID 861219, 9 pages Huang, P. (2009) A comprehensive definition for metabolic syndrome. Disease Models   Mechanisms 2: 231-237 Kahl, K. , Greggersen, W. , Schweiger, U. , Cordes, J. , Balijepalli , C. , Lo ¨sch, C. , Moebus, S.  (2012). Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome in Unipolar Major Depression. European  Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience 262: 313-320 Marmar, C. , McCaslin, S. , Metzler, T. , Best, S. , Weiss, D. , Fagan, . . . ,Nelan,T. (2006)  Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress in Police and Other First Responders. New York Academy of Sciences 1071:1-18  Office of Justice Programs. Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2007) Retrieved from  http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tptid=71 Rajaratnam, S. , Barger, L. , Lockley, S. , Shea, S. , Wang, W. , Landrigan, C., . . . Czeisler, C.  (2011) Sleep Disorders, Health, and Safety in Police Officers. Journal of American Medical Association. (306) 23: 2567-2578 Skilton, M. , Moulin, P. , Terra, J., Bonnet, F. (2007). Associations Between Anxiety,  Depression, and the Metabolic Syndrome. Biological Psychiatry 62:1251–1257 Suls, J. , Bunde, J. (2005) Anger, Anxiety, and Depression as Risk Factors for Cardiovascular  Disease: the Problems and Implications of Overlapping Affective Dispositions. Psych  Bull 131:260–300. Thayyil, J. , Jayakrishnan, T. , Meharoof, R. , Cheremanalil, J. (2012) Metabolic Syndrome  and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Police Officers. American Journal of Medical Science 4(12): 630–635. Toker, S. , Shirom, A. , Melamed, S. (2008) Depression and the Metabolic Syndrome: Gender-Dependent Associations. Depression and Anxiety. 25:661–669 Wang, Z. , Inslicht, S. , Metzler, T. , Henn-Haase, C. , McCaslin , S. (2010) A Prospective Study  of Predictors of Depression Symptoms in Police Psychiatry Research (1) 75:211–216 Violanti, J. , Andrew, M. , Burchfiel. C., Dorn, J, (2009) Cortisol Patterns and Brachial Artery  Reactivity in a High Stress Environment. Psychiatry Research 169:75–81 Violanti, J. , Burchfiel, C. , Hartley, T. , Mnatsakanova, A. , Fekedulegn, D. , Andrew, M., Vila, B., (2009) Atypical Work Hours and Metabolic Syndrome Among Police Officers. (64) 3: 194-200

Conformity and Convenience in Friedrich Durrenmatt’s The Visit Essays

Friedrich Durrenmatt’s epic tragicomedy The Visit is a haunting commentary on the nature of mankind and morality. Bringing to the surface many questions about the difference between justice and revenge, the play is constructed in a way that leaves the reader at once perplexed and conflicted. The difference between right and wrong is often overlooked and even contorted in order to conform with convenience as the citizens of the town become more desperate. The Visit is both a philosophical masterpiece and a harrowing tale of conditional morality. From the very first mention of the millionairess Claire Zachanassian, the reader is barraged with philosophical questions about the difference between right and wrong. Ill shares stories about Claire’s past which immediately foreshadow her perverted sense of morality and justice. For instance, he tells the mayor that: †Clara loved justice. Most decidedly. Once when they took a beggar away she flung stones at the police. . .She stole potatoes once for an old widow (Durrenmatt 15).† The town exalts her for her generosity and self-less behavior. Already, you begin to see the citizens of Guellen overlooking her immorality because it is convenient for them to do so, as she has the ability to help them recover from their state of financial distress. Upon hearing the proposition made by Claire Zachanassian, a million dollars in exchange for the murder of Alfred Ill, the town immediately reacts with disgust. The Mayor argues: †You forget, we are not savages. In the name of all citizens of Guellen, I reject your offer; and I reject it in the name of humanity. We would rather have poverty than blood on our hands (Durrenmatt 39).† The Mayor refuses to accept the offer made by Madame ... ...ty, good living, and luxury: we are moved by this matter of justice, and the problem of how to apply it.† Finally, we see the town conclusively turning their back on Ill, reversing their initial decision for one more suited to settle their problem; though, in order to grapple with what they’ve done, the town convinces themselves that they have done it for reasons of altruism so that their contorted sense of morality is justified. While the town had every intention of remaining humane originally, the escalation of poverty in the town, coupled with people’s willingness to overlook this, resulted in the inevitable murder of Alfred Ill. As the play ends, the viewer is left with a haunting picture of the members of Guellen standing together in a chorus, making one last justification for what they have done, conforming their morals to the mold of their convenience.

Ejlert Lovborg and Hedda Gabler direction and casting

Briefly outline your casting ideas for the roles of Hedda and Ejlert Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg and then explain how you would direct your actors, in the scenes in which they appear together, in order to reveal their complex feelings for one another. As a director I would direct this play to have a naturalistic style. The play should be as though the audience were watching a small slice of the lives being lived in the Tesman house. Therefore I would use realistic furnishings. For the role of Hedda Gabler I would cast an actor able to show military inheritance through stature, bearing and voice. Hedda would have perfect, aristocratic posture, an air of arrogance and power, and a strong, manipulating voice. As written in the stage directions, the actor would be a â€Å"lady of 29† or thereabouts. She would be tall and slim; have â€Å"steel grey† eyes, and â€Å"medium brown† hair, â€Å"not particularly ample,† which would be put up in a loose bun. Hedda would wear dark coloured satin dresses. She would speak with a slow pace and leave pauses, so as to keep the other characters waiting on her words. Her wit would be dry. The actor who would play Ejlert Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg would be 33 years old. He would be quite slim, with short dark hair, bright green eyes, and a short beard. He would be dressed in a dark, fitting, three piece suit, â€Å"quite new,† with a matching top hat. He would be pale, with definitive cheekbones. He would have fast paced delivery of lines and a low pitch. His most prized possession would be the manuscript for his new book, which is his ‘child' with Thea Elvsted. As a rehearsal process I would ask the actors to write down their previous relationship before the actual written play starts. I would ask them to improvise scenes which are linked with there previous lives. For example when Hedda was about to shoot Ejlert when they were younger. I would also ask the actors to write their biography for their characters. During Act two where Hedda and Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg first meet in the play, Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg â€Å"seems a little embarrassed.† I would direct the actor playing Hedda to show her boredom with Brack and Tesman just before Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg enters. When Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg comes in, Hedda's change in mood would be sudden, her eyes would light up and her body language would show excitement. Hedda would be stimulated by the situation unfolding before her. When Thea arrives she will be able to play. As Hedda takes the album from the desk, I would direct the actor to not look at Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg but at Brack and Tesman. As she sits Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg would move closer and take a seat next to her, â€Å"not once† taking â€Å"his eyes off her.† Then whispering to her, â€Å"Hedda†¦Gabler.† His expression would show that he is still in love with her. As Hedda's next line, â€Å"Now! Sh!† would be said with a smile, she's happy she still has a hold ov er him and she can manipulate him. We see how Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg is still infatuated with her as he is disgusted with Hedda that she has thrown herself â€Å"away like that.† He also calls her â€Å"dearest Hedda† and â€Å"darling Hedda,† the actor would show how he wishes the best for her, and his desire to be loved by Hedda. When Mrs. Elvsted enters Hedda will be happy as she is now able to see how her actions will affect people's lives. Although she doesn't quite expect Mrs. Elvsted and Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg to be as close. â€Å"He says I've inspired him, too,† Hedda's reaction to this line would be envy, she wanted to be the inspiration, she wanted to be at the heart of something exciting, instead she is bored all day. When Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg declines the punch, he would look to Mrs. Elvsted with an expression of enthusiasm, Hedda would just look straight on at him with a false expression of admiration. Then Hedda smoothly changes tactic by adding that he must drink â€Å"because of other people.† As Mrs. Elvsted realises that Hedda is beginning to win the fight, the changes in status and moods between the characters would gain momentum. After Hedda says that Mrs. Elvsted came around in â€Å"a state of desperation,† She would calm herself and relax back into the chair, whilst smiling between Mrs. Elvsted and Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg, and nod at Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg next line. â€Å"Desperation,† Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg would sit bolt up looking between Hedda and Mrs. Elvsted with a questioning look. The sudden turn in the situation would give Hedda joy, and fuel her to go on, â€Å"Your going to a party,† she has again found how to control Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg. In the final part of Act three, Hedda and Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg say goodbye for the last time. Just as Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg is â€Å"about to leave,† Hedda reaches her hand out in his direction and says, â€Å"No! Wait!† She moves across to the desk, and begins unlocking the pistol case as she says her following line. He stands there, motionless watching her, hoping she has the answer to all that is wrong, a look of hope in him. As she turns from the desk Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg is slightly disappointed that Hedda is carrying a pistol, she hands it to him slowly as she says, â€Å"do you recognise it?† He takes a slightly angry tone as he remarks that Hedda â€Å"should have used it† before. Hedda clasps her hands around his during the line â€Å"well†¦! You use it now,† showing a small but significant sign of affection for Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg. When he leaves she would move slowly over to the stove momentarily stopping to retrieve the manuscript. The pull ing up a chair she would begin to burn the manuscript, page by page, ripping each one with an audible tear. Saying her lines slowly with a sneer. During her time with Là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½vborg, we see that Hedda Gabler can show affection for others, and we also see her most manipulative side. The softly spoken â€Å"vine leaves† image shows how Hedda controls others to gain the perfect circumstances for her dull life, these ideals of love give her happiness. When her ideals are not met, then her attitude changes and the characters are put into place until she is happy with what is happening around her.

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 3

â€Å"You're such a dork, Doug!† â€Å"Fuck, that hurt!† Doug Sato, the other dysfunctional assistant manager here and one of the most entertaining mortals I knew, pulled off the rubber mask he'd been wearing, revealing the beautiful features he'd inherited from his Japanese ancestors. He rubbed his forehead, giving me a wounded scowl. Upon closer inspection, I saw that the mask was not that of a demon but rather Darth Maul from The Phantom Menace. I should have known. No self-respecting demon would have had that many horns. â€Å"What are you doing?† I leaned down to pick up my scattered belongings. â€Å"Halloween was, like, a week ago.† â€Å"Yeah, I know. Everything's on sale. I got this for three dollars.† â€Å"You got ripped off.† â€Å"Boy, you're one to nag, Miss I-Show-Up-When-I-Feel-Like-It. You're lucky it's just me here.† â€Å"Why are you here?† Doug and I held the same position. On days when we overlapped, we usually worked different shifts, not identical ones. It was for the best. We usually distracted each other enough to accomplish the work of one person. Sometimes less. He grabbed the back of the rolling desk chair and impressively flipped his body into it, the impact of which caused the chair to roll half-way across the office. â€Å"Paige called me in. She's sick.† Paige, our manager, was about six months pregnant. â€Å"Is she okay?† â€Å"Dunno. If she gets better, she'll come in later.† He spun around the room a few times, then rolled up to the desk and beat out a fast rhythm on it with his hands. I presumed the cadence was from one of his band's songs. â€Å"Jesus, you're wound up today. You get lucky last night?† â€Å"I get lucky every night, Kincaid.† â€Å"Whatever. Your demon mask was more believable than that.† â€Å"Okay, maybe I'm not getting lucky every night right now, but that's going to change. The group's getting fucking amazing.† â€Å"I've always thought you guys were fucking amazing,† I stated loyally. Doug shook his head, dark eyes almost feverishly bright. â€Å"Oh no. You can't even believe it now. We got this new drummer, and suddenly†¦it's just like, I don't know†¦we're doing things we've never done before.† I frowned. â€Å"Because of one drummer?† â€Å"No, I mean, it's all of us. He's just one of the good things that's happened. It's like†¦everything's just clicking into place. You ever have days like that? When everything is perfect? Well, we're having weeks like that. Songs. Gigs. Style.† His enthusiasm was palpable, and it made me smile. â€Å"We're even playing the Verona.† â€Å"Seriously?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"That's a major venue. I mean, it's not like the Tacoma Dome or anything, but then, they wouldn't let you play there anyway if you didn't have a monster truck worked into the act.† He spun the chair around again. â€Å"You should come see it. A bunch of the other staff is. It'll be the greatest night of your life.† â€Å"I don't know. I've had a lot of great nights.† â€Å"Second best then. Unless you're thinking of joining my groupies. I'd let you be their leader, you know. You could always have first dibs on me.† I rolled my eyes, then turned pensive as the sex jokes reminded me of my recent Seth issues. â€Å"Hey Doug, do you think men and women can date without having sex?† He had been tipping way back in the chair and suddenly snapped forward. â€Å"Oh my God. You are thinking of joining the groupies.† â€Å"I'm serious. Two people dating without sex. Fact or fantasy?† â€Å"Okay, okay. For how long? A week?† â€Å"No. Like, months.† â€Å"Are they Amish?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Are they ugly?† â€Å"Er, no.† â€Å"No.† â€Å"No what?† â€Å"No, they can't do it. Not in this day and age. Why do you want to know?† â€Å"No reason.† He cut me an arch look. â€Å"Of course not.† He didn't know about Seth and me, but he did know me. Our phone's intercom came to life just then, asking for backup on the registers. â€Å"Paper rock scissors?† Doug asked, spinning the chair around again. â€Å"Nah, I'll go. I should make up for my tardiness. Besides, I think you need to come down from your caffeine high. Or your megalomania high. Not sure which.† He flashed me a grin and turned to the paused game of Tetris on our shared computer. Truthfully, I didn't mind going out anyway. I worked for the fun of it, not the money. Immortality was long, and vocation and daily work sort of regulated human existence, even if I wasn't technically human anymore. It just felt right to be doing something, and unlike so many other unfortunate souls in this world, I actually liked what I did for a living. I checked in on Seth a few times as I worked throughout the day, drank a lot of white-chocolate mochas, and dealt with what was becoming a heavy flow of business as the holiday season grew ever closer. At one point, I finally did have to pull Doug out with me. I found him in our office, still playingTetris. I opened my mouth to make a joke about his work ethic and then caught sight of the computer screen. He played Tetris on a regular basis, so I was familiar with the game and his prowess, but what I saw now blew my mind. His score was the highest I'd ever seen, and he was at such an advanced level now that the pieces zoomed down the screen. I couldn't follow them. Yet, he caught and placed them all, never missing a beat. â€Å"My God,† I muttered. There was no way his hands and reflexes could be responding like that. The computer would probably implode at any moment. â€Å"I guess everything really is clicking into place for you lately. â€Å" He laughed, either at my pun or my astonishment. â€Å"Need me out there?† â€Å"Yeah†¦though it seems so wasteful now compared to this†¦mastery. Like interrupting Michelangelo.† Doug shrugged obligingly, shut down the game, and followed me out. I think the computer was relieved. He and I worked together cheerfully for the rest of my shift. His good mood over the band's success kept him chipper and lively, making the day fly by. When it was time for me to go, I offered to close for him since he'd had to come in unexpectedly early. He waved me off. â€Å"Forget about it. Go do something fun tonight.† As I was leaving the store, I passed a rack of magazines and saw a copy of the latest issue of American Mystery. In big letters, one of the headlines read: Cady and O'Neill Return! Seth Mortensen gives us an exclusive novella. Eek. What a bad girlfriend I was. Seth had told me about this story's upcoming appearance, and I'd completely forgotten about it. It had just come out yesterday. Apparently being with him regularly was distracting me from his art. Before the publication of his last novel, I'd literally marked off days on my calendar until its release. Longing washed over me, but I knew I couldn't read this story tonight. Bastien had left me a cell phone message saying he'd stop by my place later, and I had a feeling he'd distract me for most of the evening. Tomorrow, I promised myself. I'd read the story tomorrow. I'd just settled in back home when Bastien showed up bearing Thai food. â€Å"How was the literary world today?† he asked as we had a picnic on my living room floor. Aubrey watched sharply from a discreet distance, her eyes fixed covetously on a container of green curry. Pad Thai did nothing for her. â€Å"Weird,† I reflected, recalling sleeping in late, Doug's behavior, and the frenetic pace of early holiday shopping. â€Å"Yours?† It was clear from his expression he'd been dying to tell me this from the moment he'd cleared my door. â€Å"Fantastic. I moved into the house today. You should see the neighborhood. It's the American Dream and then some. Big appliances. Manicured lawns. Three-car garages.† â€Å"Three cars? Do you even have a car?† â€Å"Sure do. Company car.† â€Å"Hmphf. No one ever gave me a company car.† â€Å"That's because you aren't on the verge of the Seduction of the Century. I even met her already.† â€Å"Dana?† â€Å"First day, and she comes to me! Can you believe it? It's like I don't even have to do anything. This operation just runs itself. I am its tool. Its plaything even – or rather, Dana's plaything.† â€Å"I don't know about that,† I noted dryly, â€Å"unless you're going to add that she jumped on you and ripped your clothes off today too.† â€Å"Well, no. She actually just came by to welcome me to the neighborhood. But, she did also invite me to a party she's hosting. ‘A Barbecue in November.' Charming, huh?† â€Å"Adorable. Nothing I love better than eating hot dogs in the cold.† He elbowed me. â€Å"It's a theme, Fleur . It's fun. And it's all indoors. You know, you're turning into a regular cynic lately.† â€Å"Not cynical. Just still skeptical of this whole thing. It seems overly elaborate for what it is. A lot of work for one lay.† â€Å"One lay?† He tsked me and shook his head. â€Å"Let me see your laptop.† I retrieved it from my bedroom and returned to find Aubrey licking the edges of my plate. I shooed her away and handed Bastien the computer. A few quick clicks, and he soon had the Committee for the Preservation of Family Values' website open. Dana's organization. Most of her radio broadcasts were archived and available for download. He picked one, and we finished the rest of our meal to the sound of her rich, melodic voice. The first broadcast concerned homosexuality. The CPFV maintained an appearance of sugarcoated goodness, a desire to help people and improve American life. Consequently, because being openly racist or sexist was not good for one's image anymore, the organization only espoused views slanted in those directions in subtle ways. Blatantly condemning homosexuality, however, was not entirely taboo yet – unfortunately – and the bulk of this broadcast involved Dana oozing on about the importance of â€Å"helping† those people to understand the true way both nature and God intended love to be. Toleration of such misguided lifestyles, she claimed, would lead to a breakdown in our families. The children. For God's sake, think of the children. Her next broadcast damned the abominable state of today's clothing. School uniforms and fashion censoring were the only ways to go. How could we expect young girls to grow up with any self-respect when they walked around dressed like sluts? It led to sexual acts they weren't ready for, not to mention instilling in them the idea that their value came from appearance, not character. I thought of the lacy purple thong I wore under my jeans just then. What was wrong with character and sex appeal? The third one we listened to concerned the futility of teaching teenagers about safe sex and contraception. Abstinence training was the way to go. Keep them in pure ignorance. End of story. â€Å"Enough,† I said at that point. Her shallow, prejudiced values cloaked in so-called love and kindness unsettled the food in my stomach. Bastien grinned. â€Å"Still think it's just one lay?† I stretched back on my carpet, resting my feet on his lap. He massaged them for me. â€Å"I hate hypocrites, good or evil. Doesn't matter what they're touting.† â€Å"You should hear some of her background, some of the past issues she's advocated for with her group. Lovely stuff there – I researched her all day. I can pull it up for you. â€Å" I held up a hand. â€Å"No, please. I believe you. The bitch must fall, okay? If I had a sword, I'd tap your shoulders and send you off with my blessings.† He lay down beside me. â€Å"Well, why don't you take a front-row seat then? Come to the party with me. I'm sure no one would mind if Mitch brought his sister.† â€Å"Party on the Eastside? My blessing only goes so far.† â€Å"Oh, come on. Admit it. You have a perverse desire to meet her in the flesh. Besides, it's been a while since you've seen me in action. You might pick up on a few things. Get some pointers.† Laughing, I rolled over on my side to better study him. â€Å"Like I need pointers from you.† He rolled to his side as well, smirking. â€Å"Yeah? Then prove it. Let's go out tonight. Let's go hunting.† My smile diminished. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Just like the old days. We'll find some club, work up a sweat, then tag respective fixes for the night.† Bittersweet memories flashed into my brain, recalling the French cabarets of the nineteenth century. Bastien and I would go out in fine form, separate, and meet back in the morning to laugh and brag about our conquests. The game no longer held much appeal. â€Å"I don't do that anymore. I told you that.† â€Å"Yeah, but you've still got to survive.† â€Å"I am surviving. I got a fix just a couple days ago. I'm set for a while. â€Å" Bastien scowled. â€Å"A few days ago? Bleh. This writer guy's making you boring. â€Å" â€Å"Hey, it has nothing to do with him. It's my choice.† â€Å"Sure.† â€Å"What's with the tone?† â€Å"Not sure. I mean, I thought the whole writer-dating thing was amusing at first – even if he seems kind of dull and will probably only end up causing you pain. But now I'm starting to think it's indicative of a larger issue with you. I mean, there's the whole nice guy hang-up to begin with. Then you're, what? An assistant manager at a bookstore? Not to mention the fact that you have a cat.† Aubrey glared, and so did I. â€Å"There's nothing wrong with having a cat. And Seth isn't dull.† â€Å"I suppose you'd know better. He just didn't really strike me as much, that's all. If you wanted to obsess about a mortal, I could find you a better one.† â€Å"I don't want a better one. I mean, there is no better one. I want him.† â€Å"Suit yourself. You're just becoming ordinary, that's all. You used to be extraordinary.† â€Å"Ouch. All this because I won't go out with you tonight?† Bastien shrugged. â€Å"Okay then. We'll go. But no victim for me.† â€Å"Fair enough.† We went down to a club in Pioneer Square, both of us groomed to the kind of sexy, beautiful perfection that only an incubus and a succubus could achieve. I had pulled my hair up in messy, sex-kitten glory and wore a baby blue tank top with a V-neck that almost went to my belly button. The opening was covered in very sheer lace and made wearing a bra utterly pointless. So I didn't. The tension between us evaporated as we hit the dance floor. The rhythm pulsed through me, the movement and sweat intoxicating. Bastien and I danced together for a while, both of us aware of the admirers we drew, even in a packed room like this. Physical attraction was about so much more than just superficial appearance. It was about eye contact, outgoingness, and movement too. Incubi and succubi learn this early on, and the good ones move with a grace few mortals can match. I, who had danced well before becoming a succubus, knew I was among the best when it came to body language. Watching us was irresistible. A turn-on in itself. After a while, we split up. The results of the succubus game distressed me sometimes, but the game itself was fun. Very fun. I moved from partner to partner, thriving on the effect I created, on the desire I could see mounting in those whose bodies mine toyed with. It was why, despite my frequent bitching, I had given up my mortal soul for this vocation. I confess, that the thought of going home with someone grew tantalizing, my body warming to the idea of someone's hands upon me, but then I thought about Seth and his determined adherence to the arrangement we'd entered into. No. No superfluous victims for me tonight. I could be good. I wanted to be good. I'd wait until I actually needed a recharge. From across the room, Bastien inclined his head to me when he left the club, his arm around a small, entranced blonde. When he turned, I noticed a brunette in his other arm. Overachiever. It was two in the morning when I finally made it home. I woke aching and tired the next day, the weather making me feel worse. Rain formed a steady gray curtain as I walked to work. Everything seemed colder. I had been raised in a warm Mediterranean climate; I could never quite accept these kinds of temperatures. When I showed up at the bookstore, it had once again opened without me. Oddly, though, despite exactly the same staff working today, I didn't get the same boisterous greetings as yesterday. Casey and Janice, on the registers, paused in their work to watch me walk in, their expressions enigmatic. Janice leaned over, murmuring something in the other woman's ear. When they noticed my curious look, they both forced smiles. â€Å"Hey, Georgina.† â€Å"Hey,† I responded, puzzled and slightly uncomfortable. Passing by the information desk a moment later, I found Beth regarding me with an equally peculiar look. â€Å"How's it going?† I asked when she didn't say anything. â€Å"Fine.† She hastily turned to the computer screen in front of her. Now, I'd been subjected to my share of strange looks upon coming into work before, but this was weird even for me. Sometimes, after being with a lover, their absorbed life energy gave me a glamour that unconsciously attracted mortals. It was the same glow that Hugh had teased me about during poker. That was not to blame now, however. My last fix, as I'd told Bastien, had occurred a few days ago. The glow would have weakened by now. Besides, I know entranced looks when I saw them. These were not it. These were curious, what-is-she-doing looks. The kind of looks you get when you have food on your face or a missing button. The likelihood of either of those seemed low, but I ducked into the restroom anyway, just to check. Nope. Flawless. A long denim skirt and a navy, off-the-shoulder sweater. Both smooth and perfect. Makeup in place. Unbound hair hanging to the bottom of my shoulder blades. A typical look for me. Nothing to warrant this attention. Assuming I was reading too much into things, I continued on to thecafe,getting a friendly nod from Seth as he worked in his corner. At least he was behaving normally. A new barista bustled at the espresso bar, and she nearly dropped the cups she held upon seeing me. â€Å"H-hi,† she stammered out, wide-eyed, looking me over from head-to-toe. â€Å"Hi,† I returned. This woman didn't even know me. Why was she acting weirdly too? â€Å"Medium white-chocolate mocha.† It took her a moment to churn into action, writing my order on a cup. As she rang it up at the register, she asked curiously, â€Å"You're Georgina, right?† â€Å"Um, yeah. Why?† â€Å"Just heard of you, that's all.† She looked back down. She said no more to me after that, simply making and handing me the mocha. Taking it, I walked over to Seth and sat across from him. The barista continued watching us with interest, though she immediately turned away upon catching my eye. â€Å"Hey,† Seth greeted me, eyes and fingers busy. â€Å"Hey,† I returned. â€Å"Everyone's acting really weird today.† He glanced up. â€Å"Are they?† I immediately recognized the thrall he fell into when his writing seized him. He became even more distracted and scattered than usual under such conditions. A succubus should be so lucky to have that kind of effect on a man. â€Å"Yeah. Have you noticed anything? I feel like people are staring at me.† He shook his head, stifling a yawn before returning to typing. â€Å"Things seem the same to me. I like your sweater. Maybe it's that.† â€Å"Maybe,† I conceded, slightly mollified by the compliment, even if I didn't believe it. Not wanting to distract him further, I stood up and stretched. â€Å"I should get back to work.† Glancing over at the espresso bar, I noticed Andy, one of the cashiers, buying coffee. â€Å"There!† I hissed to Seth. â€Å"Did you see that?† â€Å"See what?† â€Å"Andy just smirked.† â€Å"No he didn't.† â€Å"He did. I swear it.† When I went downstairs, back to the main part of the store, I passed Warren. Mid-fifties and strikingly handsome, the store's morally questionable owner had once been a regular for me before I'd promised Jerome I'd go back to seducing good men. Warren and I had not had sex in some time. Considering my current regiment of decent souls, I kind of missed having an occasional guilt-free one. â€Å"Hello, Georgina.† I was relieved to see he at least didn't give me any of those gaping looks. â€Å"Been up talking to Mortensen, I presume?† â€Å"Yes,† I agreed, wondering if I was going to be chastised for not getting to work right away. â€Å"Pity you had to take the stairs. We do have an elevator, you know. â€Å" Now I stared open-mouthed. Of course we had an elevator. It was key operated, there for handicapped customers and shipment transport, and was almost never used otherwise. â€Å"Yes. I know that.† Warren winked at me and continued on his way upstairs. â€Å"Just making sure.† Shaking my head, I went back to the main floor and took over a register, giving Andy his lunch break. Janice and Casey remained stiff with me at first, eventually warming somewhat as time progressed. Other staff, moving in and out around me, continued to give me wondering looks, occasionally whispering to each other when they thought I wouldn't notice. When Seth passed by at one point to tell me he had to run errands but would see me later, I thought Beth – dropping off a book – might pass out. â€Å"All right,† I exclaimed once Seth was gone, â€Å"what's going on here?† Casey, Beth, and Janice all turned sheepish. â€Å"Nothing, Georgina, honest.† Beth gave me what was apparently supposed to be a winning smile. The others remained silent, faces perfectly innocent, nigh angelic. I didn't believe any of it, of course. Something weird was going on. Weirder than usual. I needed answers, and there was only one person in the store candid enough to give them to me. Shutting down my register, I stormed back to my office where Doug sat occupied by the computer. Bursting in, I opened my mouth, ready to rant and rave. He jumped about two feet in the air at my sudden arrival, reflexes kicking in with astonishing speed so as not to slosh coffee from the cup he had just raised to his lips. There was a funny look on his face, almost like guilt. No doubt another Tetris game was in progress. But it wasn't that that delayed my tirade. A strange feeling was creeping along my flesh – a feeling that brushed my immortal senses, rather than the usual five that accompanied a human body. It felt weird, almost uncomfortable. Like nails raking down a chalkboard. Nothing I could identify or had even ever felt before. I looked around the room, half-expecting to find another immortal lurking, even though that strange sensation didn't quite touch me like the signature I'd usually feel off of an individual. Doug drank from the cup and then set it down, watching me with bemused calmness. â€Å"Something I can help you with, Kincaid?† Blinking, I gave the office another once-over and then shook my head. The feeling disappeared. What the hell? I could have blamed it on stress-induced imagination, but after over a millennium of succubus life, I doubted my immortal senses would start falling prey to hallucinations now. And yet the only thing in here that could possibly be construed as supernatural or divine was Doug's Tetris mastery. That, I thought wryly, had more to do with hours of skirting work than any sort of magic. Remembering my righteous fury, I pushed aside that momentary weirdness and ratcheted my anger back up to the other weirdness in my life. â€Å"What the fuck is going on?† I exclaimed, slamming the door. â€Å"My sweet Tetriss kills?† â€Å"No! With everyone! Why is everyone treating me so strangely today? They keep staring at me like I'm a freak or something.† Doug's expression stayed baffled, and then I saw understanding flood his face. â€Å"Ah. That. You really don't know?† I could have grabbed his neck and shook him. â€Å"Of course I don't know! What's going on?† Casually, he moved some papers around on the desk and lifted up a copy of American Mystery. â€Å"You read Seth's story yet?† â€Å"I haven't had time.† He tossed me the magazine. â€Å"Do it. Go take your dinner break somewhere – not here – and read. I won't leave until you get back.† Looking at the time, I realized his shift was nearly over. â€Å"But what's that got to do with – â€Å" He held up a hand to silence me. â€Å"Just read it. Now.† Scowling, I took the magazine and left the store, settling myself at one of my favoritecafesdown the street. With clam chowder secured, I turned to the first page, wondering what in the world Doug expected me to find. As Seth had explained a few weeks ago, the story was more of a self-contained mystery, dealing little with the overarching psychology and development of his characters. Cady and O'Neill worked for a fictitious institute based out of Washington, D.C., one that researched and secured archaeological and artistic relics. Thus, the two often found themselves liberating art from international thieves or uncovering mysterious code on a piece of pottery. In traditionally gendered styles, Bryant O'Neill worked as a sort of field agent, doing most of the physical work, getting into a lot of fist-fights and whatnot. Demure Nina Cady focused on the research, often staying up late to unravel some key piece of evidence in an ancient text. This particular story contained a lot of those same elements, but like always, Seth's beautiful writing and quick, witty dialogue kept the material captivating. In another trend consistent with his characters' behavior, O'Neill almost always got involved with some beautiful woman, though Seth's last book had turned this pattern on its head, letting Cady finally see some action. The story I read today fell into old ways, and O'Neill, in his ever suave manner, made the moves on a stunning museum curator: Genevieve sauntered through the halls, a queen among subjects, surveying people and displays with both calculation and command. With those green-flecked hazel eyes, she put him in mind of a cat sizing up its next meal. He felt exactly like prey as she paused in front of him, favoring him with a languid look that oozed over his body, her tongue lightly moistening bee-stung lips. Oh God, to be a mouse, he thought. â€Å"Mr. O'Neill,† she purred, brushing a lock of that shining hair away from her face. Faint streaks of honey laced those pale brown strands, like gold veins in ore. He wanted to bury his face in it. He wanted to taste it. â€Å"You're late.† Despite nearly a foot separating their heights, he felt like the underling here, like he should do penance for his tardiness and kneel in her presence. Not that he would mind that so much, he decided, trying not to stare at the way her dress's thin material molded itself to her hips and full breasts. Those breasts, he decided, were perfect. Definitely impressive in size, but not grotesquely out of control. And their shape†¦ah, even a master sculptor could never have duplicated those exquisite curves†¦ Realizing she expected a response, he filed his base thoughts away under L for Later and gave her an unruffled smile. â€Å"My apologies.† Now probably wasn't the time to mention the attack back at his hotel. â€Å"But I never rush anything. At least not when a woman's involved. â€Å" With that being only the mildest of the suggestive dialogue, I wasn't surprised when things escalated between them near the end of the story. After all, I thought dryly, it wouldn't be a true Cady and O'Neill experience if someone didn't score. And man, did he score. The feline comparisons were right on because Genevieve was a cat in heat. She ended up tying O'Neill up in an elevator, performing an array of kinky acts on him that made even me raise an eyebrow. I was surprised American Mystery hadn't edited them out, though I'd be lying if I said it wasn't sort of a turn-on to realize such sordidness had come from mild, complacent – Elevator? We do have an elevator, you know, Warren had told me. Light brown hair. Hazel-green eyes. Petite. Nice breasts. â€Å"Ahh!† I cried, dropping the magazine as if it might bite me. It landed next to my now-empty bowl, and a passing waitress gave me a startled look. Hastily leaving a wad of cash on the table, I grabbed my coat and purse and sprinted back to the bookstore. Doug was still playing Tetris in our office, but I was too upset to speculate much on what was again an amazing performance. All those looks. The whispers and smirks. It all made sense now. â€Å"They think it's me!† I told him, making him jump for the second time that day.† Genevieve. They all think I'm some sort of horny, rope-wielding, elevator-fetish dominatrix!† Doug raised an eyebrow. â€Å"You mean you aren't?†