Hunting Is An Unnecessary Form Of Cruelty - 2027 Words

Sport hunting is very popular in this day and age, but not always for the right reasons. Many people believe it is cruel to animals and should not be allowed and others believe that it is fair to animals and it should be allowed. What many people do not know is that hunting can be very beneficial to both people and the environment. Hunters do not travel all over the world and spend all day outside and slay animals just for fun. Some people might believe that, but those are the people who do not have the pure facts that are needed for the argument. Sport hunting is not an unnecessary form of cruelty contrary to popular opinion; hunting is conservation and the hunters’ goals are to be humane, while providing a way of life and food for some families. Hunting is beneficial to the environment in many ways. Conservation is the number one reason why hunting is beneficial to the environment. The average person does not know that hunters pay around $796 million a year on conservation p rograms through state licenses and fees. â€Å"Through donations and programs, hunters add an additional $440 million a year to conservation efforts. All together, hunters spend around $1.6 billion a year for conservation programs. Not only does it benefit conservation programs, but the economy as a whole. Hunting supports over 680,000 jobs and generates $38 billion a year in retail spending.† It generates the economy and stimulates growth among the nation. Through conservation programs and the support andShow MoreRelatedSport Hunting Should Be Stricter Regulations1286 Words   |  6 PagesHunting was originally a resourceful activity and a necessity for survival. It was crucial to use the animal for food, clothes, and tools. With the exception of cultures who still depend on this method, there are many developed areas where this is not longer required. From the lack of needing to hunt animals for resources, sport hunting has emerged. This is the recreational act of killing animals to use as trophies. The problem with sport hunting is that it is an unnecessary and unreasonable activityRead MoreAnimal Abuse Is The Act Of Cruelty And Infliction Of Pain On Non Human Animals1120 Words   |  5 PagesCorbin 1 Jonathan Corbin Ms. Powell English 1020 5 Nov, 2015 Animal Abuse Animal abuse is the act of cruelty and infliction of pain on non-human animals. Dogs are the most common victims of the abuse. How do you feel about people abusing poor, innocent animals? I strongly believe there should be a greater punishment for the crimes committed.The controversy has grown greatly in the last few years with the increase of most abuse cases. Animal rights activists are working hard to bring successRead MoreThe Flawed Arguments Of Anti Hunters958 Words   |  4 PagesThe Flawed Arguments of Anti-Hunters Hunting is the world’s oldest and most productive means of food, yet it has begun to take a turn from its originality. Most â€Å"hunters† do hunt for food, but the select few that specifically hunt for the sport and nothing else have begun to sway organizations to the concept of â€Å"Anti-hunting.† These institutions have concluded some very critical, and factual, evidence in their opposing arguments on the matter, but in some ways the argumentation presents weaknessRead MoreAnimal Cruelty : The Impacts Of Animal On Animals1609 Words   |  7 PagesPROPOSED STUDY: Title: Animal Cruelty: The impacts of animal cruelty on animals focusing on puppy farming and bullfighting and why abusiveness towards animals occurs. Background: There are multiple reasons why an individual may be cruel to animals, the main reasons include psychological issues, culture and also for the beneficial factor. The psychological angle towards animal abuse is often due to negative thoughts. If an individual is under a lot of stress and or pressure, they may like to ventRead MoreA Life is a Life Essay1269 Words   |  6 Pageskind of research (Animal Welfare 1). Animals rights were made to prevent cruelty, even though these laws don’t necessary give animals rights they do give them some legal protection. All animals deserve attention, care, and protection. No animal should be mistreated or subjected to cruel activities. Wild animals should also have rights to, the right to stay in their natural environment. There are many different acts of cruelty happening every day. The Animal Welfare Act is the federal law that governsRead MoreSolving White Tailed Deer With Hunting And Sterilization2076 Words   |  9 PagesSamantha Shields 952673863 ENGL 030 001 Dr. Aaron Mauro 3 December 2014 Solving White-Tailed Deer Overabundance With Hunting and Sterilization In the past few decades, white-tailed deer populations in North America have increased drastically. Due to some relief in predation—in correlation with changes in the environment—deer populations in many zones meet or exceed 10 deer per square kilometer, which is a much higher ratio than in the 1960’s and 1970’s (Cà ´tà © 116). With an overabundance of deer,Read More Animal Rights Essay1300 Words   |  6 Pagestheory questioned all that was believed to be true in society and made people think about their purpose. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;With many of the experiments done today, animals are mistreated in every way shape and form. Usually, there is a lack of adequate food and water. Ventilation for the animals is minimal and many times cages are packed full with animals, leaving very little if any room to move around. On many occasions, the animal will die throughout the courseRead MoreAnimal Rights And Animal Testing And Abuse2163 Words   |  9 Pagesoff their meat, milk, and young. Organizations around the world try to help reduce the neglect and abuse they receive. Some of these organizations are PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), CARE (Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth), along with many local shelters and veterinary clinics. Although many people think that animal abuse isn’t very common, it happens every day all around the world. Cats, dogs, mice, horses,Read More How Golding Presents the Decline from Civilisation to Savagery in Lord of the Flies2816 Words   |  12 Pagesabsolve himself of decency and responsibility, realising his most extreme evil potential. The end of chapter 1 offers a great sense of foreboding, and indicates the transition from civilisation to savagery. Chapter 1 is the whole novel in embryo form, symbolic of furture events. The text concerns Ralph, Jack and Simon tackling the job of exploration with boyish enthusiasm, eventually discovering that they really are on a picturesque, tropical island, complete with lagoon, reefs, mountain andRead MoreAnimal Testing Is Cruel And Unusual Punishment2041 Words   |  9 Pageslaboratory animals are the two main regulations governing the use of animals in U.S. labs. Although, the AWA provides only an insignificant protection for specific species while excluding others such as rats, mice, and birds bred for research; who together form an estimated 90-95% of animals in laboratories. It eliminates cold-blooded animals, as well as farmed animals raised for food and fiber or used in agricultural research. Less than 10% of animals in labs covered by the AWA, the law that sets standards

Power of Wind Free Essays

Power of Wind Jason A. Jennings Principles of Marketing (BUS 330) Instructor: Debra McCoskey-Reisert January 28, 2012 Power of Wind There is a large sector in the United States that believes wind energy is an excellent alternative resource. There is also a group of people that believe that the wind turbines that are used to generate wind energy is a bad idea because they obstruct the natural view, causes death to birds, and generates noise pollution. We will write a custom essay sample on Power of Wind or any similar topic only for you Order Now They also argue that wind energy is not a dependable source of energy because the wind does not blow continually. Wind as a viable source of energy will be evaluated from a positive and negative perspective. Wind energy has long history of being used as a power source (Berry, History of Windmills, 2011). Considering the current issues that the global community faces concerning green house gases and pollution alternative energy sources must be evaluated. As of 2010 the United States Energy Information Administration listed Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United States as being the top three world oil producers (U. S. Department of Energy). The top three oil consumers are the United States, China, and Japan. As of 2009 the United States Energy Information Administration listed Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait as having the highest level of proven world oil reserves (U. S. Department of Energy). In 2010 the United States Imported close to forty nine percent of the petroleum products that it consumed in that same year (U. S. Department of Energy). About half of those imports came from nations located in the Western Hemisphere. The world currently faces a shrinking petroleum based energy supply and a rapidly growing pollution problem as a result of the dependency on petroleum. Countries around the world increasingly have to compete with each other in order to secure petroleum based energy resources. China and India continue to place a higher demand on the worlds petroleum supply because of their rapidly growing economies. High gasoline prices, global warming concerns, and fears that fossil fuel resources are likely hitting peak supply while global demand is surging demands the modern world’s undivided attention. Oil producing countries in the Middle East currently hold a forty percent share of the world’s oil market. Wind energy has the ability to market itself. There is a large sector around the world with a belief that wind energy is an excellent alternative resource. Wind farms are also one of the emerging green technologies that are beginning to show their true value. Between the year 2000 and 2010 the wind power capacity of the United States jumped exponentially (see page 6). That is a direct result of the hundreds of new wind farms that came on line in the American power grid. In 2010 global wind installation hit 196,000 gigawatts. In a recent study conducted by the United Nations said renewable energy accounted for sixty percent of new electricity generation capacity in Europe and more than half in the United States of America. The human relationship with the wind has been a long one with the use of sailing ships and windmills. For centuries past the wind was used as the main power source for sailing ships. The use of windmills seems to have started with the Persians for grinding grain (between 500 and 900 A. D. ). Windmills started appearing in Europe around the time of the Crusades (1096 -1270). The European design is very different from the Persian one and there is an ongoing debate whether the Europeans developed the windmill themselves or the Crusaders had taken the idea back to Europe (Berry, History of Windmills, 2011). The earliest windmills found in Europe were a post mill construction. The main structure of the windmill sits on top of a post and could be rotated to face the wind. Human power was needed to rotate the windmill to face the direction of the prevailing winds. The windmill was turned by a long beam that was attached horizontally to the body of the mill. The mills sat upon a tripod structure that consisted of two crossed beams resting on the ground with four angled beams coming up to support the post in the center. These windmills used a horizontal axis allowing the sails of the windmill to take better advantage of the wind. The power was then transferred to machines by cogs and gears. In 1650 smock mills were developed with just the top part of the windmill being turned to face the wind. This was a huge improvement to the windmill because the sail structure was much lighter and easier to turn. Permanent structures could be built to house the mill. Brick and stone tower mills were built using the new smock mill method. Smock mills received that name because they resembled a nineteenth century countryman’s smock. They were built in a tapered, boarded, Octagonal shaped tower form. The Chinese built their first documented windmill in 1219 A. D. and was used to grind grain. In the late 1300’s the Dutch developed a new sail design that increased efficiency. The sail was constructed with a leading edge that created aerodynamic lift. Windmill sails were made of cloth stretched over a wooden frame. Some windmill designs incorporated trimmed sails allowing them to take better advantage of the variable wind conditions. The English used a fantail on their windmills that allowed them to be turned by the wind. The large Dutch designed windmills continued to be used all across Europe until the development of the steam engine in the 1880’s. The use of steam power caused a decline in the use of large tower windmills. In the United States windmills were used in the west for pumping water to the ranchers live stock. In the mid 1900’s Charles Brush developed a huge wind dynamo that generated electricity and became fascinated with the possibility of producing free energy for the general public. Beginning in the 1930’s a group of disgruntled ranchers got together and started the development of wind energy. The ranchers were facing rising prices, power outages and poor customer service. Robert Righter is a historian that has done extensive research on wind energy in the United States. The first wind farms were built in the state of California in the 1980’s. The Altamont Pass, located near the San Francisco Bay area there are still some of the older and much smaller turbines. They only had a rotor diameter of 15 meters and a capacity of tens of kilowatts. The new turbines being manufactured today have a capacity of 1. 5 – 2. 5 megawatts (MW), rotor diameters as great as 100 meters allowing the blades to sweep an area the size of a football field. Wind power is on the rise in the United States with capacity jumping by 45 percent at the end of 2007 and capacity reaching to 17 gigawatts (GW). Wind power is an attractive alternative to fossil fuels such as coal and oil because it is an energy source that does not produce pollution or climate altering greenhouse gases. When the massive turbines have been installed the only fuel that is needed to run them is the wind. Wind resources found around the world are so massive that they could easily meet the worlds current energy needs. A study that was conducted by researchers at Stanford University found that global wind energy potential in the year 2000 was about 72,000 gigawatts (GW), almost five times the world’s total energy demand at that time. The technology used to tap into the wind energy resources is getting much cheaper. In the early 1980’s electricity produced by the wind cost as much as 30 cents per kilowatt hour. In 2007 the cost had fallen to 10 cents per kilowatt hour. There are various incentives in the form of tax credits and feed in tariffs that make electricity generated from the wind cost competitive with electricity generated from natural gas and coal. Maria Sicilia of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has stated that a $30. 0 dollar tax per ton of carbon dioxide emitted would allow electricity produced on wind farms could compete in most markets without subsidies [ (International Energy Agency, 2009) ]. Even with no tax being placed on carbon emissions the growth of wind power is very likely to continue. The European Union has set a goal of getting 20% of its energy from renewable resources by 2020, with a large portion of it coming from wind power. The United States Department of Energy has laid out a plan to get 20% of the energy needed in the United States from wind power by 2030 [ (U. S. Department of Energy, 2008) ]. Asia may become the biggest market for new wind installations over the next five years. The wind does not blow all of the time and wind farms cannot be placed in some areas of the United States. For wind to stay on the path of expansion the industry will have to build new transmission lines and improve the integration of electricity produced by the wind into the power grid [ (IBM) ]. The industry is also vulnerable financially if subsidies are suddenly phased out. Some groups will say that the massive wind turbines cause the needless deaths of birds. The effect that the wind farms have on the view is one reason that has been cited for saying no to wind power. There have been issues concerning the noise that the turbines create. Wind energy is an excellent and valuable resource that can be used as a replacement for dirty fossil fuels and the dangers of nuclear power. It cannot be the only replacement for those energy sources but it can be used in conjunction with solar power, geothermal, and hydroelectric to fulfill our nation’s energy requirements. The use of coal as an energy source for the generation of electricity can gradually be scaled down. Mankind has had a long relationship with the wind as an energy source and should continue to use it well into the future. Pollution has become a major problem that is affecting the climate and that problem should be resolved on a global scale with all nations working together for the common good. A comparison of year end wind capacity in the United States between 2000 – 2010 (U. S. Department of Energy, 2011) References Berry, M. (2011, May 24). History of Windmills. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from Windmill World: http://www. windmillworld. com/windmills/history. htm GWEC. (2011). GWEC. Retrieved January 5, 2012, from Global Wind Energy Council: http://www. gwec. net/http://www. gwec. net/index. php? id=28 IBM. (n. d. ). Wind power is the fastest growing source of electricity. Retrieved December 26, 2011, from IBM – Greener Energy – Smarter Planet: http://www. ibm. com/smarterplanet/us/en/smart_grid/article/wind_power. html International Energy Agency. (2009, October 1). Renewable Energy Essentials: Wind. Retrieved January 5, 2012, from iea. org: http://www. iea. org/Papers/2008/Wind_Brochure. pdf Kotler, P. , Armstrong, G. (2010). Principles of Marketing. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (2011, July 22). Wind Research. Retrieved December 28, 2011, from NREL: http://www. nrel. gov/wind/ U. S. Department of Energy. (2008, May). 20% Wind Energy by 2030. Retrieved January 1, 2012, from Increasing Wind Energy’s Contribution to U. S. Electricity Supply: http://www. 20percentwind. org/default. aspx U. S. Department of Energy. (n. d. ). Oil Production. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from Independent Staistics ; Analysis: http://38. 96. 246. 204/countries/index. cfm? view=production U. S. Department of Energy. (2010, September 1). Wind ; Water Program. Retrieved December 26, 2011, from Technologies: http://www1. eere. energy. gov/windandhydro/wind_how. html U. S. Department of Energy. (2011, September). Wind Powering America. Retrieved January 7, 2012, from Energy Efficency ; Renewable Energy: http://www. windpoweringamerica. gov/ How to cite Power of Wind, Essay examples

Impact of Telemarketing on Forrest Marketing Group

Question: Discuss about the Impact of Telemarketing on Forrest Marketing Group. Answer: Introduction: The telemarketing is increasing rapidly in most of the multinational companies in various countries. The telemarketing is increasing with the aim towards the need of the updated information of the market and also to reduce the attrition rate of the employee as well. Telemarketing gain positive impact as it can be either operated live or can also be operated as recorded message. The recorded message thus helps the company to reduce the cost of the employees (Sinha Yacob, 2012). However, the recorded message is termed as impersonal which sometimes may affect the service of the company and thus add negative feedback to the customers as a whole. The Forest Marketing Group provides led the generation to the telemarketing in Australia, and also provides telemarketing and appointment setting, customer service, call center to all companies around the country. Background of the study: Forrest Marketing Group was established in the year 2006 and is well known for its excellence in the field of lead generation and appointment setting. It also provides services towards the large range of business and thus helps in the profitability of the company as a whole. It is the sales team that provides high quality services to the customers through various telecommunicating companies in Australia (Michela, 2012). The company is situated in the New South Wales of Australia and is best known for its services towards the clients and the customers as well. The company mainly deals with the telemarketing business and thus helps the customers around Australia with various modes of telecommunications and services. Research Aims and Objectives: The aim of the project is to analyze and investigate the issues while conducting the impact of the telemarketing by Forrest Marketing Group. The objectives are as follows: To analyze the relationships among factors that evolved in conducting the impact of telemarketing by Forrest Marketing Group. To analyze the impact of spam and unsolicited communications of telemarketing by Forrest Marketing Group To critically evaluate the impact of telemarketing strategies and its effects towards Forrest Marketing Group. Research Questions: What are the main factors that evolved while conducting telemarketing? What are the impacts of spam and unsolicited communications on telemarketing of Forrest Marketing Group? What are the various affects of telemarketing that affects the Forest Marketing Group? Problem Statement: The telemarketing is considered to be effective marketing tool for the business. Telemarketing helps the business to easily advertise the products and thus helps in gaining more loyal customers towards the organization as well. The various marketing strategy helps the business to expand the market and also helps in satisfying the need of the customers as well. The telemarketing department thus helps the customers as well as the clients towards providing the high quality of products which help in increasing the growth rate of the business in the market. The project proposal states that the Forrest Marketing Group conducts an impact of telemarketing towards the customers and also helps in increasing the rate of profitability of the business (Latimer, 2012). On the downside, a company also faces certain issues towards implementing telemarketing and thus faces certain problems regarding people reviews towards the service. The reviews of the people also state that the services are facing spam and unsolicited communications towards the customers. Thus, the complaint stands as a barrier to the success of telemarketing industry in the market. Rationale of the study: The company faces spam as a barrier in the market which affects the profitability of the company. The rapid increases in the industry it affects the quality of the service which further dissatisfy the customers towards the organizational service (Yee Eze, 2012). Research Hypothesis: Hypothesis 1: The aspects of telemarketing imply high impact towards the organizational operations. The aspects of telemarketing imply low impact towards the organizational performance. Hypothesis 2: The impact of spam led high affect towards the brand value of the organization. The impact of span led high affect towards the brand value of the organization. Hypothesis 3: The telemarketing strategies led a positive effect towards the organizational performance. The strategies evolve a low effect towards organizational performance. Structure of the study: The project paper will contain the chapters that are discussed below: 1. Introduction This will contain the introduction of the topic and the aim and objectives of the research paper. The problem statement and research questions are also discussed. 2. Literature review This will contain the description of the topic and the conceptual framework of the various theories and strategies applied for the topic. 3. Research Methodology This contains the data collection process and the sampling of the research paper. It will also contain the ethical consideration and limitation of the structure as well. This paper will also conclude the whole research study. Literature Review Introduction: The telemarketing also helps the company to increase the profit sales of the business and thus to provide quality production towards the customers service as a whole. The research analysis with the help of various scholars and articles and journals vividly describe the impact of telemarketing in Forrest Marketing Group. The sections describe the various factors that help led impact towards the organizational performance. It also states that the negative impact of spam affects the quality and brand value of the organization. The various strategies are also described towards the impact of the telecommunication industry towards the customers and clients (Moro et al., 2012). Conceptual Framework: Fig. 1 Conceptual Framework (Source: Created by Author) Factors affecting the telemarketing industry: Telemarketing industry has emerged since 2000 when the phones and the internet start expanding its market (Brown et al., 2012). The telemarketing industry thus gets affected through various factors which further affect the organizational performance as well. The factors thus include both the positive and negative impact towards the organizational performance: Positive impact: Personal interaction Provides more personal and interactive sales service towards the consumers. Leads and Appointments The industry generates leads and appointment which help in satisfying customer more towards the organizational products (Kumar Reinartz, 2012). Effective Sales Strategy The industry thus implements the effective sales strategy that helps both the new and existing customers with high quality of service. It also helps to increase the sales territory as a whole. Solutions The telemarketing industry helps the company to gain customer satisfaction through providing the effective solution to the technical issues faced by the customers (De Oliveira et al., 2012). This led the company to gain positive impact of service towards the customers and helps the company in increasing the profit margin of the company in the competitive market. Negative Impact: Expensive The customer data can prove to be expensive for Forrest Marketing Group incurs cost effectiveness in the profit rate of the company (Hsieh et al., 2012). The expense thus may affect the profit rate of the company which may also affect the satisfaction level of the employees within the workplace and thus lowers the growth rate of the company as a whole. Resented - Telemarketing face challenges regarding evening calls which may sometimes prove to be disturbing for the tired customers after returning to home. The appointments are made fixed but mostly the calls are taken at evening which might affect the mood of the customers, and thus, the company may suffer from the negative impact as well. Dissatisfaction The spam dissatisfies the customers towards the service of the industry (Jain, 2012). The cost and time consumption also affects the employee within the organization and thus led to negative impact towards the organization. Competitors The outside service stands as a competitor for the company which led the organization to lose control over the sales process as the sales team is not assigned as the employee of the organization (Wolfenden et al., 2012). This also led the company to face challenges regarding brand reputation in the market. Thus, the various factors lead an impact towards the Forrest Marketing Group and further affect the organizational performance as well. The industry thus needs to undergo various challenges which affect the customer satisfaction as well. The satisfaction of the customer plays a vital role in increasing the growth rate of the company in the competitive scenario. Impacts of spam and unsolicited communications on telemarketing: Spam is referring to as unwanted emails or text messages over the phones or device that irritates the customers. This led to a negative impact of the industry towards the customers in the market. The unwanted messages also led the company to suffer a negative feeling which affects the productivity rate as well. The employee within the Forrest Marketing Group also gets dissatisfies and thus led the business to suffer an increase in the attrition rate of the employee within the workplace (Aliata et al., 2012). The unsolicited communications are also referred as recorded messages which fail to satisfy the query of the customers at times which affect the feeling of the customers and thus negatively led impact towards the organizational performance. The unwanted messages disturb the customers which affect the efficiency of the employee within the organization. The employee also gets affected and thus it also lowers the motivation level of the employee as well. The effective strategy implemented by the industry might help the company to avoid the dispute and helps in increasing the rate of consumer satisfaction as well. The identification and steps regarding the spam messages help the organization to retain the employees and also help in retaining existing loyal employees and also attracting new employees towards the organization (Arshad et al., 2012). Affects of Telemarketing Strategies towards Organizational performance: The telemarketing strategies thus help the organization in increasing the growth of the company (Nuseir, 2012). The telemarketing strategy also helps the company towards the improvement of the skills of the employee which further help in the customer satisfaction towards the organizational products as a whole. The various strategies that are implemented by the company include: Telemarketing Agency The telemarketing agency helps to generate the leads for the Forrest Marketing Group and also help in fixing the appointments for the employee (Fang et al., 2012). The telemarketing agency thus helps the company as a whole in increasing the growth rate of the company and also helps in improving the customer satisfaction more towards the organization as well. The telemarketing agency also helps the employee towards identifying the spam calls towards the customers and thus helps in improving the areas within the organizational structure (Bakker et al., 2012). The telemarketing agency also helps in the improvement of the quality of service of the company which adds value to the organization. The brand value of the organization also helps in increasing the rate of profitability of the company and also helps in gaining competitive advantage as well. Forrest Marketing Group also implements effective marketing strategy live effective advertisement which helps to attract more customers towards the service and thus helps in organizational performance in the market (Shaik Ritter, 2012). The marketing strategy also includes the updated services which help the customers to get latest updated service and thus help t pain customer satisfaction more towards the organization. This also helps the company to retain existing customers and also help to attract new customers. Thus, it helps in the improvement of the performance of the organization in the market (Wright, 2013). Chapter Summary: The paper thus concludes that the telemarketing industry gets affected and influenced by various factors that led the company to gain customers as well as also led the company to suffer a decrease in the satisfaction level of the customers. The paper also states that that the spam and the unwanted messages led the company to lowers the satisfaction level of customers and thus led negative impact towards the organizational service. The various strategies of the industry help the business to improve the rate of growth to the certain extent which further helps in the sustainability of the company in the market. Research Methodology Introduction: The research methodology is conducted by implementing the strategy which will help the researcher to carry out the research work. The research work thus includes the effective Qualitative and Quantitative date process which will help the research to collect the data and complete the research work (Neuman Robson, 2012). Data Collection Process: The data collection method thus includes the Qualitative and Quantitative method that will help the researcher to carry out the process of data collection method (Krippendorff, 2012). The Quantitative method thus includes the questionnaire for the survey by the researcher. This is carried out by the employees within the workplace to gain response for improving the organizational performance. The Quantitative Process helps the researcher to carry the interview process with the manager of the organization to analyze the areas and get the exact information from the managers regarding the company as well (Maxwell, 2012). The Quantitative process will help the researcher to identify the data and thus help in carrying the research process more effectively and efficiently. Sampling Method: The Sampling method of the research project will help the researcher to carry out the process with efficiency. The Sampling method thus comprises with two types namely Probability Method and Non- probability method (Miller et al., 2012). Thus, this method will help the researcher to carry out the research process with approximate data which further helps the company to forecast the position of the organization in the market. The Probability method thus helps the researcher to choose the sample randomly which might give the researcher approx figure for the calculation. The probability thus gives the fair proposal for the researcher to carry out the process of research method (Pickard, 2012). The non- probability method includes the researcher to select biased sample for carrying out the research process. Thus, it helps the researcher to calculate the exact figure which will help the company to predict the exact data for future use. Sample Size: The sample size helps the researcher to carry out the research process either by the Probability method or Non- probability method (Easterby-Smith et al., 2012). The sample size will include the Quantitative Method for carrying out the data process. The method thus includes 100 employees to carry out the questionnaire by the researcher. The employees thus need to respond to the questionnaire conducted by the researcher to provide with the exact data for carrying out the research process. The Qualitative method thus includes three managers to conduct the research process by the researcher. The method thus includes the personal interview which needs to be carried out by the researcher towards managers of the organization to complete the research process. Ethical Consideration: The ethical consideration thus includes the researcher to take the consent of everyone to carry out the research process (Neuman Robson, 2012). The ethical consideration also includes the researcher to give due respect to everyone for carrying out the process and also includes the researcher not to include any commercial site for carrying out the research process as well. As per the Data Protection Act 1998, the researcher also needs to abide the questionnaire and the interview session from any personal questions towards the employees and the managers of the organizations. Limitations of the study: The researcher needs to maintain certain limitations to carry out the research process. The research process thus gets the limit regarding finance and time. Due to time limitation the researcher need to provide sometime with improper data and also sometimes affect the quality of the research work (Krippendorff, 2012). The limitations also faced by the researcher are the financial part. This refers to cost effectiveness and due to which the researcher might provide the research work with second rated software which incurs the lower cost. This might affect the research work, and thus, the data might suffer a low quality as a whole. Conclusions: Telemarketing refers to direct marketing where the sales executive promotes the products to the clients over the phones and also provides the service with fixing a subsequent meeting or web conference which is scheduled as per the requirements. It also helps the company to increase the annual growth of the business. Telemarketing with its increased rate of growth also helps the business to increase the revenue through providing the clients with lower operational costs which help in substantial savings and service functions as well. The telemarketing thus gets influenced by various factors which further affect the impact of the industry towards Forrest Marketing Group. The company also implemented various effective strategies that help in the development of the company in the market. The spam also helps the company to rectify and improve the software of the company which further helps in increasing the customer satisfaction and sustainability in the market. Reference list: Aliata, V. L., Odondo, A. J., Aila, F. O., Ojera, P. B., Abongo, B. E., Odera, O. (2012). Influence of promotional strategies on performance.International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology,2(05), 169-178. Arshad, N. H., Salleh, S. S., Aris, S. R. S., Janom, N., Mastuki, N. Strategic Analysis towards the Formulation of Micro Sourcing Strategic Trusts. InInternational Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 2013, Special Issue on Extended Papers from Science and Information Conference 2013(pp. 43-52). Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E., Lieke, L. (2012). Work engagement, performance, and active learning: The role of conscientiousness.Journal of Vocational Behavior,80(2), 555-564. Brown, P. B., Casselman, B., Conn, G., Malmi, R. A., Matula, V. C., Redberg, M. H., ... Strout, B. M. (2012).U.S. Patent No. 5,164,983. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. De Oliveira, A. G., Gouveia, N., Behlau, M. (2012). The effectiveness of a voice training program for telemarketers.Journal of Voice,26(6), 815-e1. Easterby-Smith, M., Thorpe, R., Jackson, P. R. (2012).Management research. Sage. Fang, Z., Yang, Y., Li, W., Deng, F. (2013). Quantify sales impact of locationbased advertising.International Journal of Mobile Communications,11(5), 513-529. Hsieh, P. F., Lee, C. S., Ho, J. C. (2012). Strategy and process of value creation and appropriation in service clusters.Technovation,32(7), 430-439. Jain, S. C. (2012). Marketing Planning. Krippendorff, K. (2012).Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Sage. Kumar, V., Reinartz, W. (2012). Strategic Customer Relationship Management Today. InCustomer Relationship Management(pp. 3-20). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Latimer, P. (2012).Australian Business Law 2012. CCH Australia Limited. Maxwell, J. A. (2012).Qualitative research design: An interactive approach: An interactive approach. Sage. Michela, P. E. (2012). " You May Have Already Won...": Telemarketing Fraud and the Need for a Federal Legislative Solution.Pepperdine Law Review,21(2), 5. Miller, T., Birch, M., Mauthner, M., Jessop, J. (Eds.). (2012).Ethics in qualitative research. Sage. Moro, S., Cortez, P., Rita, P. (2014). A data-driven approach to predict the success of telemarketing.Decision Support Systems,62, 22-31. Neuman, W. L., Robson, K. (2012). Basics of social research: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Nuseir, M. (2012) Internet Marketing and Its Impact on Online Communities. Pickard, A. (2012).Research methods in information. Facet publishing. Shaik, N., Ritter, S. (2012). Social Media Based Relationship Marketing.E-Marketing: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications, 88. Sinha, P. K., Yacob, S. (2012). Impact Of Format On Retailers'brand: Its Threats And Opportunities A Theoretical Analysis.Jurnal Manajemen Pemasaran Modern. Wolfenden, L., Wiggers, J., Paul, C., Freund, M., Lecathelinais, C., Wye, P., Gillham, K. (2012). Increasing the use of preventative health services to promote healthy eating, physical activity and weight management: the acceptability and potential effectiveness of a proactive telemarketing approach.BMC public health,12(1), 1. Wright, L. S. (2013). Strategic Audit and Marketing Plan.Online Submission. Yee, K. P., Eze, U. C. (2012). The influence of quality, marketing, and knowledge capabilities in business competitiveness.International Journal of Innovation and Learning,11(3), 288-307.

Measuring Economic Health Essay Example

Measuring Economic Health Essay Measuring Economic Health Name: Course: Instructor: We will write a custom essay sample on Measuring Economic Health specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Measuring Economic Health specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Measuring Economic Health specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Institution: Date: Measuring Economic Health Economics is the study of production, allocation and consumption of goods and services in either a household or industry at large. The economy of a country plays a vital role in knowing how the development process will advance. The economic health of a country should therefore, be monitored to ensure that the country does not go into a recession. The indicators of a country’s economic health are; interest rates, wealth distribution, per capita income, inflation rates, unemployment levels, balance of payment and gross domestic product or gross national product. The government studies these indicators in order to make sure its country’s economic health is excellent (Henderson, 2008). Gross Domestic Product (G.D.P) is the market value of all the goods produced within a country in a given year. Business cycle refers to fluctuations that take place in the economy over a certain period. The rate at which G.D.P increases or decreases helps to measure business cycles. When the G.D.P of a country increases, the business cycle is going to go through an expansion. When the G.D.P declines, the business cycle is then going to go through a recession. Thus, G.D.P and business cycles have a direct correlation to each other (Rittenberg, Tregarthen Mikalson, 2011). Various government bodies determine the national fiscal policies that a country decides to take how they are implemented and maintained. The Treasury department, which is in charge of government spending, administers and creates fiscal policies. It ensures that the policies are implemented as per how they were constructed. The Management and Budget Office assist the treasury department to conduct inquiries regarding the needs of the citizens of that country. They do this by providing information necessary in decision-making and then implement the new policies that are needed. The office of the president has the final say in the national fiscal policies that are implemented in a country. To ensure that the policies will help in a country the government accountability office audits it. It makes sure that the fiscal policies are up to par with the country’s development policies. Interest rates and Taxation are fiscal policies that affect production and employment respectively. Change in interest rates affects money supply in an economy. If interest rates are increased on loans are increased, it means that less people will take out loans but when thus reducing the money supply in the economy. When interest rates are reduced, money supply increases. Tax reduces an individual’s disposable income and thus affects employment. A decrease in tax affects may lead to an increase in employment opportunities. Increase in tax, on the other hand, is viewed by citizens as a form of punishment discouraging people from paying tax. This is because they prefer being paid under the table. Government spending and taxes affect the economy’s production and employment. This is because when the government spending increases and taxes reduce, it results in an increase in money supply. This is because the government pays for part of the consumer’s expenditure through subsidies and there are fewer taxes to be paid. The negative side of fiscal policies can be felt when the government spending is reduced, and taxation is increased. This will in turn result in the consumer paying more for the basic commodities that he or she might need. Therefore, the economic health of a country is determined by the fiscal policies that a government may choose to employ. Reference: Rittenberg, L., Tregarthen, T. D., Mikalson, B. (2011). Principles of macroeconomics version 1.1.1. Irvington, NY: Flatworld Knowledge. Henderson, D. R. (2008). The concise encyclopedia of economics. Indianapolis, Ind: Liberty Fund.

Thalassemia

Thalassemia Thalassemia is a blood disorder that causes mild or severe anemia (Antonio, 1993). This happens when people do not have enough hemoglobin and is caused by the inheritance of a defective gene (Nathan, 1998). Thalassemia is passed on from a parent to children through their genes (Simon, 1999). The name thalassemia comes from the Greek word "thalassa" meaning "the sea" because the condition was first described in populations living near the Mediterranean Sea (Nathan, 1998). However, the disease is also prevalent in Africa, Middle East, South Asia, and pacific descent (Simon, 1999). Moreover, thalassemia causes an immense disruption in the hemoglobin synthesis (Nathan, 1998). Although, there are two different types of thalassemia, alpha, and beta thalassemia they both affect the body.Alpha-thalassemia occurs most commonly in people from Southeast Asia and China (Ghosh, 1994). Its is caused when the hemoglobin does not produce enough alpha protein (Ghosh, 1994). The most severe form of al pha thalassemia causes (stillbirth, and death of fetus before delivery) (Ghosh, 1994).Nathan Perkins grave at Old South ChurchWhereas, beta thalassemia, is caused by a mutation in the beta globin chain (Nathan, 1998). Genes from both parents must be inherited to acquire the major form of this disease (Simon, 1999). In beta thalassemia major children are normal at birth, but develop anemia during the first year of life (Simon, 1999). The alpha and beta thalassemia's are distinct diseases that affect the body in different ways. Therefore, the symptoms of thalassemia, which are paleness, tiredness, dark urine, and spleen enlargement all, depend on the type and severity of the disease ( Simon, 1999).Furthermore, Thalassemia may be suspected if an individual shows signs that are suggestive of the disease. In all cases, however, laboratory tests are important to confirm the exact diagnosis. In addition, the following tests are used to determine thalassemia: complete blood...

Canterbury Tale(the Man of Laws Tale)

Her adventures and trials continue after she is shipwrecked on theNorthumberland  coast. Northumberland is a pagan country where the King, Alla (based on Chaucer’s understanding of the historical  ? lla of Deira[1]) eventually converted to Christianity. Alla’s evil mother intercepts and falsifies a letter between the couple, which results in Constance’s being banished. Constance is forced to go to sea again and is found by a Senator of Rome. The Senator takes Constance (and her child) back to Italy to serve as a household servant. King Alla, still heartbroken over the loss of Constance, goes to Rome on a pilgrimage, and fortunately finds Constance. In the end the couple return to Northumberland. Alla dies a year later, and the baby boy becomes the King. ————————————————- ————————————————- Sources The tale is based on a story within the  Chronicles  of  Nicholas Trivet  but the major theme in the tale, of an exiled princess uncorrupted by her suffering, was common in the literature of the time. 2]  Her tale is also told in  John Gower’s  Confessio Amantis, and both are similar to the verse  Romance  Emare, and the cycle is generally known as the â€Å"Constance† cycle. [2]  The oldest known variant of this particular type is  Vitae duorum Offarum. [3]  M ore distantly related forms of the persecuted heroine include  Le Bone Florence of Rome, and  Griselda. [4] An incident where Constance is framed for murder by a bloody dagger appears to be a direct borrowing from  Crescentia. [5] ————————————————- ————————————————- Analysis Saints’ lives genre The tale is meant as a morally uplifting story and is similar to  hagiography, or stories of the saints’ lives, which were common popular literature of the time. Custance, as her name suggests, is constant to her  Christian  religion despite the attacks and testing it receives from the  pagans  and  heathens  she meets on her travels. Rhetoric The Man of Law tells his story in a pompous over-blown style as if he is defending Custance in a court of law. He also uses manyrhetorical figures, taken straight from the manuals of rhetoric of the day, to emphasize Custance’s noble character—as well as the teller’s lawyerly skills—and state her case. John Gower Although Chaucer receives some praise and also criticism from his own character with favourable mentions of  The Book of the Duchessand  The Legend of Good Women; in the Man of Law’s prologue he seems to spare most of his opprobrium for  John Gower. [original research? ]  Two of the tales which he dislikes,  Canace  and  Apollonius of Tyre, involve  incest, as did the some versions of the story. Chaucer based this tale on the  Nicholas Trivet  story from his  Chronicle. Gower though had recorded all these stories. Chaucer is, perhaps, with friendly banter, trying to goad his friend and fellow writer into a storytelling challenge. But certeinly no word ne writeth he Of thilke wikke [wicked] ensample of Canacee, That loved hir owene brother synfully — Of swiche cursed stories I sey fy! — Or ellis of Tyro Appollonius, How that the cursed kyng Antiochus Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede, That is so horrible a tale for to rede, Whan he hir threw upon the pavement. Sequence with other tales The various manuscripts of the tales differ on the structure of the tales with some containing the Man of Law’s epilogue and others not. In the  epilogue, the host invites the  Parson  but he is interrupted before he can begin and a different speaker tells the next tale. TheSummoner, the  Squire  and the  Shipman  are listed as interrupters in the different manuscripts but it is the Shipman whose character best matches the rude remarks although the mention of his â€Å"joly body† sounds closer to something the  wife of Bath  may say. What it probably shows is that Chaucer had not fixed his overall plan. There are also hints, with his claim he will talk in prose despite rhyming throughout, that the Man of Law originally told the  Tale of Melibee  before he was assigned Custance’s tale late in the composition of the tales. Canterbury Tale(the Man of Laws Tale) Her adventures and trials continue after she is shipwrecked on theNorthumberland  coast. Northumberland is a pagan country where the King, Alla (based on Chaucer’s understanding of the historical  ? lla of Deira[1]) eventually converted to Christianity. Alla’s evil mother intercepts and falsifies a letter between the couple, which results in Constance’s being banished. Constance is forced to go to sea again and is found by a Senator of Rome. The Senator takes Constance (and her child) back to Italy to serve as a household servant. King Alla, still heartbroken over the loss of Constance, goes to Rome on a pilgrimage, and fortunately finds Constance. In the end the couple return to Northumberland. Alla dies a year later, and the baby boy becomes the King. ————————————————- ————————————————- Sources The tale is based on a story within the  Chronicles  of  Nicholas Trivet  but the major theme in the tale, of an exiled princess uncorrupted by her suffering, was common in the literature of the time. 2]  Her tale is also told in  John Gower’s  Confessio Amantis, and both are similar to the verse  Romance  Emare, and the cycle is generally known as the â€Å"Constance† cycle. [2]  The oldest known variant of this particular type is  Vitae duorum Offarum. [3]  M ore distantly related forms of the persecuted heroine include  Le Bone Florence of Rome, and  Griselda. [4] An incident where Constance is framed for murder by a bloody dagger appears to be a direct borrowing from  Crescentia. [5] ————————————————- ————————————————- Analysis Saints’ lives genre The tale is meant as a morally uplifting story and is similar to  hagiography, or stories of the saints’ lives, which were common popular literature of the time. Custance, as her name suggests, is constant to her  Christian  religion despite the attacks and testing it receives from the  pagans  and  heathens  she meets on her travels. Rhetoric The Man of Law tells his story in a pompous over-blown style as if he is defending Custance in a court of law. He also uses manyrhetorical figures, taken straight from the manuals of rhetoric of the day, to emphasize Custance’s noble character—as well as the teller’s lawyerly skills—and state her case. John Gower Although Chaucer receives some praise and also criticism from his own character with favourable mentions of  The Book of the Duchessand  The Legend of Good Women; in the Man of Law’s prologue he seems to spare most of his opprobrium for  John Gower. [original research? ]  Two of the tales which he dislikes,  Canace  and  Apollonius of Tyre, involve  incest, as did the some versions of the story. Chaucer based this tale on the  Nicholas Trivet  story from his  Chronicle. Gower though had recorded all these stories. Chaucer is, perhaps, with friendly banter, trying to goad his friend and fellow writer into a storytelling challenge. But certeinly no word ne writeth he Of thilke wikke [wicked] ensample of Canacee, That loved hir owene brother synfully — Of swiche cursed stories I sey fy! — Or ellis of Tyro Appollonius, How that the cursed kyng Antiochus Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede, That is so horrible a tale for to rede, Whan he hir threw upon the pavement. Sequence with other tales The various manuscripts of the tales differ on the structure of the tales with some containing the Man of Law’s epilogue and others not. In the  epilogue, the host invites the  Parson  but he is interrupted before he can begin and a different speaker tells the next tale. TheSummoner, the  Squire  and the  Shipman  are listed as interrupters in the different manuscripts but it is the Shipman whose character best matches the rude remarks although the mention of his â€Å"joly body† sounds closer to something the  wife of Bath  may say. What it probably shows is that Chaucer had not fixed his overall plan. There are also hints, with his claim he will talk in prose despite rhyming throughout, that the Man of Law originally told the  Tale of Melibee  before he was assigned Custance’s tale late in the composition of the tales.

Secondary sources analysis paper(not decide topic yet) Essay

Secondary sources analysis paper(not decide topic yet) - Essay Example The book demonstrates how the traces of this world remain topical and tangible up to date.2 The book has been written using a provocative, persuasive, and innovative history work to support its thesis. This study is going to construct a relationship between Jasanoff’s main argument of ‘collecting’ as a way of encountering East and West and post colonialism, which is one of the theme discussed in class. The book has called into the question of postcolonial evaluation by adopting a stereotypical view of Europeans in their relationship with Asians and Africans. Jasanoff goes further to argue against extremes of postcolonial scholarships. For instance, Jasanoff explains, â€Å"the imperial project was not a simple play out but the history of collecting reveals the complexities of empire; it shows how power and culture intersected in tangled, contingent, sometimes self-contradictory ways. Instead of seeing â€Å"collecting† as a manifestation of imperial power, I see the British Empire itself as a kind of collection: pieced together and gaining definition over time, shaped by a range of circumstances, accidents, and intentions. (p. 23).3 Jasanoff has demonst rated how every generation concerning itself with British Empire history has sought to reassess it based on the dynamic attitudes and circumstances. Today, emphasis is laid on ‘otherness’ and fusion as well border multiculturalism to favor a benign recollection of the past according to Jasanoff. Jasanoff stumbled a new look of the empire be accident. She was studying European collectors in India and Egypt who bought or plundered the artifacts of the ancient cultures that they came across and transported them to Europe.4 In the course of her esoteric study, she realized the ill-tutored mania of the imperial collectors as a metaphor that led to the formation of the Empire. This encompassed the haphazard acquisition of territories that founded the lineaments of a

Darwins theory of evolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Darwins theory of evolution - Essay Example versity in life comes from natural selection, essentially meaning that those organisms of a species that are best suited to their environment are more likely to succeed in reproduction. Due to this, the traits of those individuals that ensure that they are best suited to their environment become more frequent in the population and can eventually become the norm for that species. Darwin came up with this theory with no knowledge of genetics. It is interesting to see this theory be put to work, as although genetics and genome theory have altered and adapted Darwins theory, the basic principles are the same. In the recent National Geographic article, for example, an article about the domestication of the silver Siberian fox. Nine generations ago, the relatives of the silver foxes at this farm were wild, but now they crave human attention like a Labrador. The researchers here have been selectively breeding the foxes with the traits most desirable in a pet – friendliness, loyalty and companionship. The speed at which they have become similar to standard domestic dogs has shocked the researchers. This is exactly what Darwin found and expressed in his book The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, showing that Darwin recognized this capability when developing his theory of

Fundamentals of Accounting Essay Example for Free

Fundamentals of Accounting Essay For â€Å"Goods for Sales† inventory is usually divided into 1. Raw Materials : a) Natural Raw Materials: Cotton, Wools and etc. b) Synthetic Raw Materials: Acrylic, Viscose, Nylon, Polyester, etc. 2. Work in Process (WIP) : It’s starting with making Fibre from raw materials (Natural and Synthetic). Following by the process of spinning with the produced Fibre and come out with Yarn as the final product in spinning. Furthermore, Yarn will be processed into Grey Fabric by the process of weaving. Lastly, Processed Fabric is to be done from Grey Fabric. Processed Fabric will be used for Technical Textiles, Readymade Garments and Home Textiles. These products will contribute to further production of final goods. 3. Finished Goods : Finished goods will be categorised under the brand of PADINI, SEED, PADINI AUTHENTICS, PCo, PDI, MIKI, VINCCI and so on. For example of finished goods are: sweater, skirt, knit vest, cotton pant, dress, shirt, belt, bag, tie, jeans, blouse, scarf, jacket, trousers, blazer and so forth. 1.2 Process of Manufacturing Raw materials that can be divided into two distinct categories: those derived from natural materials (cotton, et cetera) and synthetic materials (polyester, et cetera). Fibre will be produced by compounding raw materials into one. Fibre then will undergo the process of spinning to become yarn. The production process begins with yarn purchasing and progresses through knitting, dyeing, and finishing. The processed fabric is then ready for further production. Process of Manufacturing (after processed fabric) is given below in details: No. Design It is given by buyers to manufacturers containing sketches including measurements of particular styles Manual/Computerized 02 Basic Block Basic block is an individual component of garments without any style of design Manual/Computerized 03 Working Pattern When a pattern is made for a particular style with net dimension regarding the basic block along with allowance then it is called working pattern. Manual/Computerized 04 Sample Garments After making a sample, it is sent to buyer for approval to rectify the faults Manual 05 Approved Sample After rectify the faults, sample is again sent to buyers. Manual 06 Costing Fabric Costing, Making Charged, Trimmings, Profit Manual 07 Production Pattern Making allowance with net dimension for bulk production Manual/Computerized 08 Grading Different in sizes. S, M, L, XL, XXL Manual/Computerized 09 Marker Making Marker is a thin paper which contains all the components for different sizes for a particular style of garments Manual/Computerized 10 Fabric Spreading To spread the fabrics on table properly for cutting Manual/Computerized 11 Cutting To cut fabric according to marker dimension Manual/Computerized 12 Sorting Bundling Sort out the fabric according to size and for each size make in individual bundles Manual 13 Sewing To assemble a full garments Manual 14 Ironing Finishing After sewing we will get a complete garment which is treated with steam ironing also several finishing processes are done for example extra loose thread cutting Manual 15 Inspection Should be approved as initial sample Manual 16 Packing Treated by Polyethylene bag Manual 1.3 Inventories Valuation Method Cost is determined using the first-in-first-out method for Padini Holdings Berhad for the financial year ended 30 June. p. 62 Note: *Full page copy of Financial Statement for this particular section will show at Appendix. 1.4 Amount of Closing Inventories The amount of closing inventories as reported in the financial statement for Padini Holdings Berhad was RM192, 285, 000 for the financial year ended 30 June. p. 80 Note: *Full page copy of Financial Statement for this particular section will show at Appendix. References: 1) http://www.indiamart.com/kishco-silver/products.html 2) http://crisil.com/pdf/research/CRISIL-Research-cust-bulletin_jan12.pdf 3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textile_industry 4) http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/PAD:MK 5) http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/how-is-fabric-created1.htm

The Crusades Essay -- essays research papers

After the death of Charlemagne in 814 and the eventual collapse of his empire, Europe was under attack and on the defensive. Nomadic people from Asia pillaged eastern and central Europe until the 10th century. Beginning about 800, several centuries of Viking raids disrupted life in northern Europe and even threatened Mediterranean cities. But the greatest threat came from the forces of Islam. Eventually these threats became real. Battles broke out and these battles turned to wars spanning from 1095 to 1229; all this over one city, Jerusalem, on country, Israel, one land, the Holy Land. Islamic forces had already conquered North Africa, the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, and most of Spain by the 8th century. They also established bases in Italy, greatly reduced the size and power of the Byzantine Empire, and took over its capital, Constantinople. Islam was spreading even faster than the Islamic army was conquering. The five pillars of Islam appealed to many, as did the Koran and the founder of Islam, Muhammad. Eventually, Islam posed a threat of a rival culture and religion which seemed appealing and unstoppable. By the 11th century the balance of power began to swing toward the West. The church became more centralized and stronger from a reform movement to end the practice of kings installing important clergy, such as bishops, in office. Popes were able to effectively unite European popular support behind them. This greatly contributed to the popular appeal of the first Crusades. Europe's population was growing, its urban life was beginning to revive, and bot h long distance and local trade were gradually increasing. European human and economic resources could now support new enterprises on the scale of the Crusades. A growing population created more wealth therefore meant a greater demand for goods from elsewhere. Thus worldly interests coincided with religious feelings about the Holy Land and so the crusades began. Pope Urban II, in a speech at Clermont in France in November 1095, called for a great Christian expedition to free Jerusalem from the Turks, a new Muslim power that had recently begun actively harassing peaceful Christian pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem. These factors were genuine causes, and at the same time, useful justifications for the pope's call for a Crusade. As a result, Urban's speech appealed to thousands of people of all classes... ...cceed, however, in wrestling from Saladin control of a chain of cities along the Mediterranean coast. By October 1192, when Richard finally left the Holy Land, the Latin Kingdom had been reconstituted. Smaller than the original kingdom and considerably weaker militarily and economically, the second kingdom lasted for another century. In conclusion, the crusades were a very important part of European history that really affects the world. These people fought for what they believed in and, maybe, if they had not fought for what they believed in, we would practice Islam instead of Christianity. Though many people lost their lives and times were tough, balance of power was up for grabs, and it went on for so long, the crusades were fought over the Holy Land to preserve and protect the aspects of each side's religion. These first three crusades show, the best, how important they were to everyone and how they could have affected the world today. In the end I tried to summarize but also try to give points that most people did not know about the crusades that make them significant, important, and needed to understand how these people can fight over something like this land, The Holy Land.

The Islamism: Origin, Ideology, Aims & Objectives

Nations around the world follows different ideologies to generate a direction for themselves. An ideology is a way of thinking, a set of beliefs, aims and ideas. It sets the vision for the group attached to it. Its purpose is to bring a specific change or carry out a certain task among its followers in accordance with a thorough thought process. When ideologies differ it gets difficult for the people belonging to a certain group to stay coherent. Ideological differences have triggered such events that were found to be powerful enough that they have shrugged the atlas several times. Wars had been fought by those who reject leading their life in the ways that conflicts with their own ideological beliefs. Islamic Ideology Islam is a religion of having faith in the oneness of God, finality of Prophet-hood, following the code of conduct according to the principles mentioned in the Holy Book and practicing the preaching of Holy Prophet. Islam emphasizes on building individual characters in an exemplary way so that a foundation of an ideal society could be laid. All Muslims have been ordered by their God Almighty to follow instructions prescribed in their Holy Book Quran, the purpose of this guidance is to lay down a way of life in which the laws mentioned in the book regulates a men’s relationship with other men and with his God. It provides a guideline for a man to maintain his social life along with his communion with the God. It indicates to a Muslim in his quest for knowledge, principle that enhances his capability to observe universe and nature with more understanding. Quran is not a book of science; it’s basically a book that deals with the basic principles of human life it preaches belief in oneness, immateriality, absolute power of the creator, charity for needy, brotherhood among mankind, subjugation of passions, the concept of accountability of human actions in the life after death, a system that teaches men to be grateful to all those who help and development of a sense of social consciousness by carefully performing those actions that are sensible and right and avoiding those that are forbidden and harmful for self and others. Islamism Islam provides Muslims a code of conduct that has been written in the Holy Book. Muslims are supposed to understand and follow it and when it comes to understanding there are different possible interpretations of the same text. Islamism is not a single concept rather it’s a product of different ideologies that exists within the umbrella of Islam. Islam is a religion that provides guideline for the Muslims around the world. Islamism has ideological conflicts. In general all these ideological groups call them Islamists, a group of people that completely rejects accepting secular governments and institutions and aim to align the entire world and its establishments in accordance to Sharia, the Muslim Law. One single society could have several directions of Islamism contributing to the fact that it’s been initiated by different groups trying to enforce their own ideologies and they seemed to never cooperate. Islamism expects its followers to align his life in complete adherence to the sacred law of Islam and completely rejects any foreign influences that may try to force any law or code of conduct that contradicts what is being mentioned in Islamic law. Islamism has in its root anger for non-Muslims and it condemn west to greatest extent. What it aims is to convert a religion into a kind of ideology. Origin of Islamism A little more than just 200 years before Muslim world was considered the hub of science and literature. Muslim scholars have laid such foundations that were later used by European researches to build extremely beneficial artifacts that have amazed the world. During the prime era of Muslims, there were mathematicians, doctors, scientists, philosophers, researchers and artists that people from around the globe used to come and learn from them. The theories presented by Muslim scholars are the basis of most of the modern scientific inventions and innovations. The downfall arose when the Muslim world interacted with the Europeans; its dated around 200 years back in 1798 when Napoleon landed in Egypt and the Muslim worlds came in contact with the Europe. From here came the influence and impact of European culture and civilization on the Muslims. The two nations are not incompatible but the ideological differences became evident when conflicts triggered events that lead to development of anger and hostile feelings among contradicting nations. According to Daniel Pipes: This confrontation was clearly shown in the aftermath of the fatwa by Ayatollah Khomeini against Salman Rushdie. Contrary to popular expectation, the lines in 1989 were drawn not between Muslim and Westerners, but between those who supported the ayatollah, or in some fashion sympathized with him, and those who were against him. One found many Muslims and Westerners on both sides. This illustrates how it is ideas that count, not religion. (Distinguishing between Islam & Islamism, 1998) The origination of Islamism is neither a single event nor responsibility of a particular person. It is the fundamentalist Islamic approach carried forward by those Islamic radicals that completely rejects the western culture and way of thinking. Series of events in history builds such anger among the Muslims that were once the most successful nation on the map of earth that they started to rebel and participate in destructive activities so that world could again come in their control, this time if not by education or technology then by force and devastation. Aims and Objectives There can’t by another explanation of Islamism but just that it’s like the other utopian schemes that have been proposed and adopted world wide and provides its followers ways and guidelines to control a state, take measures that help running a society and extend philosophies in order to re-make human beings inhabiting that state. The concept has been given an Islamic touch but over all it’s a totalitarian scheme. It embodied a complete transformation of the actual traditional Islam. It has an element of modernization, for instance it deals with issues related with a modern society, address problems arises in urban living and modern day women issues, and it provides guidance for the non-traditional problems faced by my occupations. It completely ignores Islamic principle of restricting laws and regulations to the individual and society rather it tries to inject geographically restricted rules in its effort to come at par with western style geographic law. It’s not a system that has evolved as result of poverty and money. It’s a reaction to modernization by those thinkers that try to find their own ways out in changing world environment and politics. Many educated people are Islamists and running their states according to their own ideology. Islamism has been evolved lately as a huge force that is responsible for running countries like Iran, Sudan and Afghanistan. In Algeria, Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, and Palestine they exists as the strong opposition force. Though its been observed that Islamists are not in majority but even if they consists of minority it’s a very active one. The countries where they have establishments they are very successful and they not only run their own territories but they also interfere in their neighborhood and participate in overall world politics. Its been feared that if they grow their powers they will be responsible for contraction of economic stability, women oppression world wide, human right violation, terrorism and arms race. The ideas presented by Islamists belonging to different countries differ in ideologies and they are very difficult to predict. All Muslims are all well aware that they were the superior military and cultural force in the world for centuries, and the reversed situation in the modern ages hurts the pride of Muslims. As many Muslim countries have tried to copy both the capitalist system, and others the socialist system, and all have seen little but marginal success, Islamists are working for re-establishing what the promote as a â€Å"third alternative†; a political system that they claim is similar to the one which once made unknown tribes grow into becoming lords of empires in a few decades. But in order to create such a society, the Islamists are not rejecting modern technology, and are very concerned about implement this on a grand scale in an Islamist society. And because of the technology, the Islamists believe that the coming Islamist society will be an even better society than the one of the Golden Age. (Islamism, 2008) Even if what Islamists are trying is to bring the Golden period of Muslims back they are overlooking the fact that being intolerant, conservative and violent is something that was even practiced by Muslim rulers of history who ruled the world. A liberal Islam that encourages peace and harmony has always been the pride of a Muslim. Islam in its fundamental teachings promotes tolerance and love. Islamists have originated from people having moderate background living in cities. Mostly youngsters have are its prime followers. They don’t consider themselves to be the revolutionaries rather they say they are bringing the lost values back to the culture and society. Islamism condemns the economic system that world follows and suggests the Islamic economic system where interest rates should be replaced by investments made on profit and loss basis. When it comes to women they have contradicting views leading from conservatives to liberal. Sometimes they encourage women to work outside and sometimes they advocate women taking care of their families as their prime concern. The Islamist ideology could in no way support democracy, dictatorship is what they profess. A leader is responsible for listening to people’s problems and solving them accordingly. The Islamists have started to adopt a violent approach towards addressing different issues and demands for almost last two decades and are considered responsible for many destructive activities killing thousands of people worldwide. Nowadays, Islamists have been feared as a long term threat as there are growing powers day by day with more and more young people joining their force.

Succubus Heat CHAPTER 24

Once I'd assured Evan I wasn't calling him a son of a bitch, I got off the phone and turned to Roman. â€Å"The vessel's not anywhere around here. It's up in BC.† Roman's eyes had followed my finger to White Rock on the map. â€Å"Okay, you get points for the compelling name, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.† â€Å"Yes! It means everything. The Army's been a distraction from the beginning, when the seal was created, when Ephraim talked to Cedric†¦and when Jerome was summoned. They staged their event on the Space Needle- here , but they didn't actually do anything until Jerome was taken. As soon as he was, they acted out to draw Cedric's attention here, away from his own territory.† Realization lit Roman's features. Sociopath or not, he'd always been smart. â€Å"Because Grace then hid the vessel in Cedric's territory.† I nodded. â€Å"That's where it's at. She needed Cedric gone, in case he noticed its presence before it was hidden. I think he's down here for the thing with Ephraim, but if I call now and tell him-â€Å" â€Å"No,† said Roman quickly. â€Å"We can't tell anyone.† â€Å"What is up with you?† I exclaimed, standing up. â€Å"The clock's ticking. We may not have time for a leisurely drive before the stasis ends.† â€Å"Chance we've gotta take, love.† He rose as well. â€Å"Grab your keys. Let's go.† I started heading toward my bedroom, then hesitated. â€Å"Damn. I told Seth I'd consider taking him with me. Too late now.† Roman considered. â€Å"No, do it.† â€Å"Why?† I asked in surprise. â€Å"I'll go invisibly. I don't know if anyone'll notice you leaving, but if they're tracking you, better they think you're on a romantic getaway. Even masked, I don't want anyone in power seeing my face yet.† That put me in a weird situation. Roman's entire reasoning throughout all of this was increasingly bizarre. There was also the debate I'd had last night, about whether I should let the balcony date shine on us as my last beautiful moment with Seth or if I should eke out a few more seconds. Letting it end at last night would have been the poetic thing to do†¦but I was made of baser stuff. I called him as soon as I was on the road and picked him up shortly thereafter. He rode in the front with me while Roman lounged invisibly in the back, which was creepy, to say the least. Fortunately, none of my talk with Seth was sappy or romantic. He sensed the urgency crackling around me and asked questions about my reasoning for the trip. I answered as thoroughly as I could, all the while trying to drive the speed limit. I couldn't risk the delay of a ticket-or count on supernatural charms to get me off. It took a little less than two hours to get there. We'd accidentally left the atlas at home but had all but memorized the directions anyway, which were straightforward. When we'd almost reach the park where the aforementioned rock was, I had the sense to call Peter and tell him not to go outside. â€Å"You think I'm stupid?† he asked. â€Å"I know as well as you the stasis is about to end.† â€Å"Yeah,† I agreed. â€Å"But it might not end like you're thinking.† We disconnected. â€Å"This is it, isn't it?† asked Seth. A sign directed us to the beach's parking lot, and I turned toward it. â€Å"Yeah, I think so.† I could feel myself starting to panic. â€Å"God, I'm afraid†¦I don't know what'll happen†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Seth reached over and patted my shoulder. â€Å"Easy, Thetis. This'll end the way it's supposed to. Do what you have to do, and we'll manage the best we can.† I parked the car and looked over at him. So much burned between us, it was a wonder it didn't suffocate Roman. Seth was right. This was the end, and we would face it and do what needed to be done, no matter how hard. That was one of the wonderful things about Seth. He knew what the right thing was. We got out of the car. Seth and I headed off down the beach, hand in hand. It was low tide, and the receding waters had revealed a landscape that had almost as much gravel as sand. Once you moved farther inland, though, the terrain turned green and grassy-probably the result of park maintenance crews. Semiahmoo Bay itself stretched off into a dark, choppy vastness that would have probably been blue and beautiful on a nicer day. Heavy gray clouds obscured most of the land surrounding the far sides of the bay, and I thought I heard a rumble of thunder, something that wasn't so common in the mild Pacific Northwest. I hoped we'd find what we needed soon because it looked like a storm was about to break out. Ah, metaphor. Seth interrupted my ponderings. â€Å"That,† he said, â€Å"is a white rock.† I came to a halt, turning my attention from the larger panorama to the path in front of me. There, about eighty feed ahead of us, was a white rock-a huge, white rock. And from the looks of it, Evan hadn't been exaggerating when he'd said it was about five hundred tons. â€Å"I kind of feel stupid wasting my time with scraps of white gravel,† I mused, brushing hair out of my eyes. The wind promptly whipped it back. â€Å"It was so obvious†¦and yet not. Shall we?† I nodded, and we approached the rock, our steps filled with both eagerness and apprehension. After all this time and all the failed efforts, it didn't seem possible that we'd really done it. Something was going to happen. Something had to happen. â€Å"Whoa,† I breathed, staring up at the rock's top when we reached it. It was so massive that it covered us in shadows. â€Å"I can see why people thought this came from the gods.† Seth was looking down. â€Å"Unfortunately, we've got to direct our attention to less lofty places. How are we supposed to find this? Just dig at random?† If Seth and I were alone, that would have been the method. Now, I was hoping Roman would reveal some insight about where the vessel was-if it was even here. A small part of me panicked that us ending up here might have been the biggest misdirection of all. I scanned the ground around the rock, but there was nothing indicative of a recent digging. On a beach like this, all of the ground was uneven. â€Å"Something like that,† I said, needing Roman to pick up on his cue. Seth had let go of my hand when we reached the rock, but now he caught hold of it again and pulled me to him. â€Å"Georgina†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I dragged my eyes from the ground and met his. My adrenaline was up, ready for the conclusion to this adventure†¦and yet, my heart was heavy, knowing what the consequences of this would be. I squeezed Seth's hands and stepped closer, resting my head against his chest. His heart beat heavy within. No doubt his emotions were tangled up as well. â€Å"I know,† I said softly. â€Å"I feel the same way.† He held me tight and kissed my forehead. â€Å"When we find Jerome†¦when you free him†¦it'll go quickly, won't it?† â€Å"Yeah. I don't know how long it'll take, but†¦well, I think it'll be pretty fast. That's how it was when he was taken.† â€Å"And that's it.† â€Å"I guess.† We stood there, both of us hurting and confused. I didn't think anything could be worse than when Seth had forcibly ended things back in December. I understood now that he'd done it because he thought it would be for the greater good, but it still smarted. And this†¦this was a pain of a different type. When Seth and I first kissed back at my apartment, I thought this could all be a vacation for me, just as it was for the vampires. Seth would be my sunshine, something I could have a brief fling with before returning to my dreary immortality. I could take the memories with me, and that would be enough. Only now, standing with him, I realized it wouldn't be enough. It would only hurt more now, knowing exactly what I could never have again. I would never make love with Seth again, never have these intimate moments of comfort and rapport. He wasn't mine anymore. He never could be again. â€Å"I don't know what to do,† Seth said, kissing my forehead. â€Å"What do you mean? We don't have a choice.† â€Å"We always have a choice, Thetis. After this, even when you're a succubus again†¦I don't know. I wanted so badly to protect you from all the world's hurts. I still do. But after being with you this last week, I'm starting to wonder if-â€Å" â€Å"You have got to be fucking kidding me.† Seth and I looked up in surprise. I would have expected Roman to come bust up our romantic interlude or maybe even Grace, in defense of her prize. What I was not expecting, however, was Dante. I didn't know where he'd come from. He stepped around the side of the rock like he'd been lurking behind it, but I suspected he'd just walked up to us unnoticed in our moment of lovers' angst. Anger radiated off him, and his eyes were as dark and stormy as the sea beyond us. And as soon as I saw him, I needed no drawn-out questioning, no build-up to a revelation. I didn't need to ask what he was doing there because I suddenly knew. â€Å"You're the summoner,† I said. â€Å"Of course.† There was a dismissive tone to his voice as he said that, like it was an insult that anyone else could have played that role. â€Å"Who else? I wasn't kidding when I told you I was the best in the area. I can't honestly believe you never even considered me. No, scratch that. Of course I can believe that. No matter how jaded or sorrowful you get, there's still that Pollyanna piece of you that wants to believe the best in those you care about.† â€Å"You say that like it's a bad thing,† I said, feeling my own anger grow. Being played this whole time was bad enough. But being played by my own boyfriend? Unacceptable. And yet†¦he was right. It had been stupid of me not to consider him, yet I couldn't believe he would have subjected me to all this torment. â€Å"It is a bad thing. I was hoping I could break you of it, but I guess not.† His eyes flicked to Seth's face and then back to mine. â€Å"Of course, I can't really talk about naà ¯vet? ¦ since you were screwing me over this whole time. Or, well, screwing him.† There wasn't really anything I could respond with. I could hardly say, â€Å"It's not what you think,† because†¦well, it was exactly what he thought. Regardless of his role in Jerome's summoning, the fact remained that I had cheated on Dante, and I'd been caught. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I said lamely, my hand still clutching Seth's tightly. He'd taken a step forward. He wasn't blocking me from Dante, but there was definitely a protective stance going on. â€Å"Yes, yes, I know.† Dante gave an exasperated sigh. â€Å"Damn it, Georgina. What does it take with you? I never gave you shit about your job. I was trying to make a good life for us. And yet†¦you still went back to him . As soon as you could fuck him without hurting him, you jumped right on it.† â€Å"Trying to make a good life†¦is that why you did all this?† I remembered Greg's comments about how anyone assisting a demon in this affair would be getting paid in concubines and TVs. In Dante's case, it had been much more basic. He'd simply been paid in money, enough to buy me jewelry and flowers and start talking about sharing a home with me. â€Å"Succubus, what else was I supposed to do?† He was still speaking to me in a mocking tone, but I could see the raw anguish on his features. It tore at my heart. â€Å"You can enslave kings and rock stars. There was no way you were going to stick with me forever, not where I was going. The palms barely pay the bills, and the window for when my spells could really pay off has passed.† â€Å"None of that mattered,† I said resolutely. â€Å"I would have stayed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Yet, even as I spoke, I recognized the contradiction. So did Dante, as he gestured at a thus-far silent Seth. Seth seemed very intent on something. Dante rolled his eyes. â€Å"Yes. Clearly.† â€Å"I never wanted this†¦never wanted you to literally make deals with the devil.† â€Å"What did you expect from me? You know what I am. You got involved with me because you wanted to walk on the dark side. This deal was my biggest chance-the biggest payoff I was going to get for my power. She needed the best, and she could pay for my services.† â€Å"She†¦Grace.† Dante gave me a twisted smile. â€Å"I should have known you'd figured that part out too and had been sitting on it. Even when you trusted me†¦you still didn't really trust me. Maybe you aren't as oblivious as I thought. And when I got to your place and saw the atlas-well, that's when I knew I'd underestimated you. You're lucky Grace just sent me up here and didn't come herself. We might get you out of here alive after all.† Seth and I still stood close, close enough that when he spoke into my ear, he barely had to raise his voice at all. â€Å"The watch,† he breathed. â€Å"It's in the watch.† I had no time to process that further because suddenly, Seth broke from me and advanced on Dante. â€Å"Look, just leave her alone, okay? You caught her. She caught you. Call it even, and let us go.† I stared. It was uncharacteristically aggressive for him. â€Å"Even?† exclaimed Dante. â€Å"It is not even. I did what I did because I love her.† Seth's voice was level yet hard. â€Å"Love her? You got her caught up in that cult mess. You nearly got her killed by a demon.† Dante glowered and took a step toward Seth. â€Å"That wasn't supposed to happen. Jerome came up with the Canada thing on the fly. She wasn't supposed to be caught in the middle of this. The plan was for her to wait out the stasis like everyone else, and then return to normal once Grace was in power. Grace messed up when she told Nanette about her meddling, but then Grace made sure Nanette wouldn't fuck with her again. I worked to keep Georgina safe.† Cedric had told the truth. He really hadn't told Nanette about my theories; Grace had. â€Å"Yeah, you did a great job.† â€Å"It's not my fault!† yelled Dante. â€Å"Say what you want about me, my reasons were noble. Whereas hers†-he pointed at me-â€Å"were in keeping with the selfish little whore she's been her entire life.† And then†¦the unexpected truly happened. Seth sprang forward and punched Dante. I didn't know what was more surprising, that Seth would be so aggressive or that he could throw such a clean punch. He'd thrown himself at a mugger once, and while it had been wonderfully brave, it hadn't been nearly as precise or coordinated. I had no idea where he'd learned that. Dante appeared as startled as me. He staggered back from the blow and took a moment to recover. Then, with a snarl, he leapt toward Seth. Seth only partially dodged the blow-on purpose, it seemed-and fell back with the impact, causing both men to collapse to the ground. They grappled around a bit, trying to get leverage and blows in, and for a moment, I was too stunned by it all to react. Then, finally, Seth's words hit me. The watch . I hurried over to them, careful not to get hit by a flailing limb. Seth caught a glimpse of me and did his best to grab a hold of Dante's wrist and thrust it toward me. Dante kept squirming, however-I had a feeling he'd been in a few more fights in his life than Seth had-and increased his struggles once he realized what was happening. The watch. It made sense, really. Grace wore her part of the seal around her neck. Dante would want to keep his safe as well, and why not hidden in the only accessory that he-by his own admission-ever wore? At last, Seth managed to immobilize Dante's wrist just long enough for me to get my fingers under the watch's straps. I gave a hard jerk, using more strength than I thought possible, and the strap broke. The watch came away in my hand, and I scurried back as Dante yelled in rage. Seth eased up on restraining Dante, now that our goal was achieved. As soon as he was free, however, Dante came after me, and Seth shot up to catch a hold of him. I continued backing up, the watch clutched in my hand, until I hit something-or rather, someone. I turned and found myself staring into Grace's cold, hard eyes. Whereas Dante had seemed to appear out of nowhere, I knew Grace actually had. I froze, and behind me, the sounds of fighting stopped. I think the guys were just as surprised as me to see her-or maybe not. Dante had all but said he'd told Grace we were here. â€Å"Georgina,† she said. â€Å"You are such a good employee†¦and yet, you're also a bad one.† Her voice was as flat and emotionless as ever, except unlike in the past, I had a feeling she was actually planning to kill me now. â€Å"Why?† I asked, playing for time. â€Å"You had a good job under Jerome.† â€Å"Under being the operative word. I wasn't going to spend the rest of my existence as someone's second-in-command and certainly not their co-second-in-command.† â€Å"She has the seal,† I heard Dante say behind me. â€Å"I know she does,† Grace replied. â€Å"You gave it to her.† â€Å"Hey, I-â€Å" She raised her hand, and Dante screamed. Jerking my head around, I saw him writhing in pain, like he was suspended by strings that she controlled. After enduring Nanette's wrath, I knew how truly excruciating demonic torture was, and I couldn't stand to see anyone else go through that. Seth looked from me to Dante, clearly unsure what to do. Fistfights might be out of his comfort zone, though they were something he could do. But this? Totally different. â€Å"Let him go!† I said. As stupid as it was, I reached out and tried to shake her, but I would have had as much luck budging the huge glacial rock beside her. â€Å"I should never have relied on someone who was close to-â€Å" Her words were cut off when she suddenly went flying through the air, slamming into the rock. The impact seemed to surprise more than it hurt her, and mercifully, her torture of Dante stopped. She looked around, eyes wide and confused. â€Å"What the-â€Å" Roman materialized out of the air and strode toward her, fierce and frightening. Finally, I thought. Without my immortal senses, I couldn't feel his aura or signature, but something told me he was wielding a considerable chunk of his power as he advanced. Doing so was risky. It would make his identity known to any greater immortals nearby, though with all the drama in Seattle, there probably weren't any in the area to sense him. Cedric certainly wasn't around. Grace gave a sharp intake of breath. â€Å"You†¦I remember your signature.† That was all the warning she gave before fire streaked from her hands toward Roman. He didn't move or bat an eyelid, but the fire hit an invisible wall. It arced around him, leaving him unscathed. â€Å"Georgina,† he said, not taking his eyes off Grace. â€Å"The vessel's over by the north side of the stone's base.† I wasted no time in hurrying over to the spot he'd indicated. I heard Grace's outrage and caught her moving toward me in my periphery. But then, her anger turned to pain. Roman had blasted her with something, and her attention returned to him. My own attention was on the rocky ground as I began digging with my bare hands. In my zeal, I'd once again forgotten a spade. Seth was by my side in an instant, clawing at the sandy surface with me. Large, fat drops of rain began falling on us, but I didn't have time to care. â€Å"Who's stronger?† he asked as the sounds of fighting raged behind us. If Roman's appearance startled him, he was ignoring it for now. â€Å"I don't know,† I said. The ground was getting harder to dig in. It was damp and caked together from a recent rain, and I could feel it building up under my nails. â€Å"Roman can theoretically be as strong as Jerome, and I'm guessing she's less powerful than Jerome. I don't know for sure, and he might be holding back. The more power he uses, the more he alerts others that he's here.† My fingers hit something hard, and Seth and I both worked to pry it out. It was a wooden box, an old cigar case from the looks of it. I managed a good hold on it, and it began lifting out. â€Å"Here,† I said, pausing. I tossed him my purse and then immediately returned to my digging. â€Å"Get my phone. Look in the numbers, and you'll find Mei. Call her. Tell her where we're at.† The cigar box came up out of the earth. â€Å"You want me to call a demon?† he asked in shock. â€Å"We need her. Tell her where we're at. Then get away from here. Get in my car and go.† â€Å"Georgina-â€Å" â€Å"Go!† I shouted. Seth hesitated for the space of a heartbeat, then got up and ran with my purse, keeping well away from the combatants. I didn't know if Mei would react to a call from a mortal. I didn't even know if she'd answer, nor did I know if she could be trusted. I was relying on instinct-and that na;ve hope about everyone's good side-that she and Grace weren't collaborating. Roman's scream caused me to look up sharply. He was on his back, Grace advancing. What looked like lightning crackled toward him, though just with the fire, it split away. Only, it got a lot closer to him than before. He was weakening. Frantically, I scraped sand off the cigar box. It looked deceptively easy to open, but when I attempted to pry the lid up, nothing happened. It wouldn't budge, and I knew no efforts of mine would make it happen. Turning to the watch I'd taken from Dante, I peered at it. The face was a pale brown marbleized pattern-one that easily blended in with the seal. It was an ingenious hiding spot. I smashed the watch against the cigar case, and on the third try, the glass cracked. I plucked away the pieces and tried to pull up the face. It was embedded firmly. Taking a small shard of the watch's surface, I slipped it under the seal's edge, and after a few moment's pressure, everything fell apart, and†¦there was no seal. I stared. Gears, watch hands, pieces of glass, and the face†¦but no seal. Seth had been certain. I had been certain. Dante had no other place on him that he would keep it. Carter had said it was possible that the summoner might hide the seal elsewhere, and if Dante had done that, we were screwed. â€Å"Fuc-â€Å" I cut my own profanity off and stared at my wrist, at the glittering watch winking up at me. No. Surely it wasn't this obvious. Dante had given me the watch before Jerome had been summoned, and then I'd lost it right around the time of the summoning. I'd blamed it on myself, but was it possible that Dante had actually briefly taken it back†¦? Jerking the watch off my wrist, I didn't hesitate to give it the same treatment as Dante's watch. It killed me to shatter that beautiful gold-and-glass piece of work, but when the filigree face popped out, I found a piece of smoky quartz that complemented Grace's. Dante needed more credit. He'd kept the seal close to him and hidden it where no one who was looking for it-i.e., me-would ever think to search. The seal was useless, though, without the other half. Looking up, I saw that Grace had her hand around Roman's neck and was lifting him off the ground. He was completely limp. I didn't quite understand, but something told me he'd completely shut off all his power. Why? It was suicide. I wanted to scream, to run over and save him, but there was nothing I could do. Her back was to me, but I could imagine the gleam in her eyes. â€Å"When I kill you,† she hissed, â€Å"my position will be secured.† Suddenly, she jerked her head back toward me. For a moment, I thought I'd attracted her attention, but she wasn't looking at me. She was looking beside me, having sensed what I no longer could: the signature of another greater immortal. Mei stood there, hard and grim. I'd always considered her stone-faced, but the look she wore was truly terrifying, and I cringed. She and Grace locked gazes, and then a few seconds later, Grace flung Roman away. He landed with a hard thud and lay still for a moment. Then, he lifted his head and slowly began crawling across the sand toward me, every movement seeming to cause him agony. â€Å"You have seriously screwed things up,† said Mei. â€Å"I have improved my situation,† said Grace evenly. â€Å"And I can improve yours.† â€Å"I don't need your help-especially when I reveal that you were behind all this. The others will reward me. Jerome will reward me.† â€Å"You're an idiot! Do you want to spend the rest of eternity working for someone else?† â€Å"My time will come,† Mei returned smoothly. â€Å"And I'd rather work for him than you.† And without any more banter, they lunged at each other. It was a bizarre fight. Half of it seemed very human, complete with physical blows and grappling. At the same time, there was definitely a supernatural element to it, as they wielded the same kind of elements and invisible blows Grace and Roman had. The rain was pouring down, drenching both of them. With their abilities, they could have remained impervious, but they were too distracted by each other. Roman was still crawling toward me. Holding onto the seal and the box, I hesitantly moved to meet him half-way. â€Å"Can you open it?† I asked, handing him the box. His breathing was heavy and pained, but he gripped the box like I had and tried to pry the lid open. His fingers clenched the wood, and I saw exertion on his face, both of a physical and magical level. At last, he grimaced. â€Å"No. Not a greater immortal power I inherited.† I looked up at the demonesses. There was a slight shimmer around both of them. As the battle intensified, they were in danger of shifting to their true immortal forms, which would be bad for me to see. â€Å"Who's stronger?† I asked. â€Å"They're evenly matched,† said Roman, following my gaze. â€Å"Grace is a little worn down, though.† I hoped it would be enough. Hugging the box to my chest, I watched them fight, ready to look away if they totally shifted form. I'd always thought they had a hard sort of beauty, but now, it was all hardness and no beauty, and it wasn't difficult to see that under their human facades, they were truly demons of hell. I could also see what Roman meant about them being evenly matched. Each time one gained an advantage, the other took it back. Until, just when it seemed Grace might be getting the better of Mei, Mei suddenly came on full force with an attack of unseen blasts that caught Grace off-guard and made her stumble back. With inhuman speed, Mei reached forward and ripped the choker from Grace's neck. Equally fast, she threw it toward me and then turned back to block Grace, who seemed to realize the end was near. I grabbed hold of the necklace with trembling fingers and pulled off the crescent-shaped piece of the seal. I placed it next to Dante's half, unsure what to do, but as soon as they were close enough, they merged together into one whole disc. â€Å"Put it on the box,† said Roman. â€Å"Hurry.† I pressed the seal onto the box's top, and again, it seemed to know what to do, embedding itself in the wood's surface, almost like it melted. And with that, there seemed to be no other option. I opened the lid. The power that blasted out of it knocked both Roman and me backward, and at the same time, I felt a different sort of power snap into my body. The strings that bound my soul to Hell reattached. My immortal essence coursed through me, and with it, I felt all the other abilities Hell had granted me return. I felt strong. Charged. Invincible. My senses tuned back in to the unseen world, and the blast of powerful immortal auras filled the air. And there, in the rain, light and color slowly coalesced out of the box and into a man-shaped form. A few minutes later, it took on a completely human appearance. One that looked like John Cusack. Grace and Mei halted their attack, both staring. Carefully, hesitantly, Mei then took a few steps back. Jerome paid her no attention. He was focused on Grace. â€Å"Oh man,† I said softly. â€Å"You are so fucked.†