U.S. Military Aid - America Must be a Global Policeman Essay -- US Fo

U.S. Military Aid - America Must be a Global PolicemanThe United States military aid given to Kosovo raises numerous questions about the foreign affairs policy of the United States of America. Now the U.S. is sending its troops to Timor, a small island off the northern coast of Australia. The U.S. has sent marines to Australia to set out up a command post for the troops that the United States will be sending to help with logistics, communications, and intelligence. Many critics believe that the U.S. should not get twisting in matters that have no direct impact on the United States. But do not Americans believe that all man queen are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? If this is true then it should be the United States duty to help those who are oppressed and suffering. The U.S. needs to be a global policeman to watch out for the humanitarian needs of ethnic groups and peoples and make sure that they are protected against oppression. The U.S. must do what is morally and ethically right, the U.S. is one of the only countries large enough to give many forms of help and intervene when interests other than that of national security or interest are at steak.Any person who values their human dignity cannot stand by while innocent people are being killed. President Clinton believes that if we have the power to stop genocide and ethnic cleansing then we must make every effort to do so. In an article in The Washington Times, it says that this policy would lead to a va...

The Taming of the Shrew Essay: The Taming of Katherina -- Taming Shrew

The Taming of the shrew Katherina - the Woman Formerly Known as Shrew The Katherina that gives the final speech in The Taming of the Shrew is quite a departure from the Katherina we were introduced to in Act I. This new Kate is modest, quiet and obedient. All of these qualities were not present until Act V. Such a profound temper change prompts the questions how this happened and what purpose do her changes serve? The answer to the first question, how did this happen, is simple to answer Petruchio has tamed her. His taming tactics are comparable to that of a military policeman and a patient mentor He is ruthless and unwilling to bend the rules in order to make her learn, however, he is content to let her learn at her own pace. The text for his lessons is Kates own temper, actions and words. By spewing her deeds back into her face at an unrelenting pace, she is forced to see how ridiculous she has been acting, and it is at this point that the geological fault begins. Due to the nature of Petruchios teachings, The Taming of the Shrew can be see...

Global Expansion Essay -- essays research papers

Before entering a dark place, most people tend use approximately type light emitting device to provide direction and guidance so they are able to see what is in front of them, so that Do non fall. The same principal should be used when attempting to sell overseas. Before attempting expand into a new market domestically your success depends on research supplying and timing. This will give you the necessary light needed to ascertain out if you have the right offering, and pinpoint a high-potential customer base. In addition, it helps you find the right partners to help you out your planning, then tapping consumer or business markets overseas have the potential to benefit your business tremendously. The cultural divide is still perpetually persistent, but the good news is that its getting smaller and smaller. It may never disappear totally because of the way most us tend to stay indoors our cultural bounds. Most of us Americans believe that we are supposed to be positive, dynamic and assertive no matter what but is the proper way to do things in other countries? Probably not. Yet, thats the American way of doing things. Many of us are pretty comfortable with our own customs but usually feel threaten when cross cultural lines. Normally we feel uncomfortable or even threaten when boundaries are crossed, but adjustments must be do for firms to be successful overseas. In most of the world, business is about people and relationships, win-win relationships built on mutual trust. Of course, business involves selling and buying and making money. hardly for the most of the world, good business follows mutual trust, not vice versa. Friendship comes before money chew up. In addition, mutual trust usually results from comfort levels they hand with each other. Politically incorrect or not, lets face it. It is more difficult to feel comfortable with people who dont look like us or talk like us. The failure to adjust, to the difference between people can cause an org anization to fail miserable when trying expand in overseas markets.after investigati... ...ly been open to the world for 20 years therefore, its growth has been extraordinary. Vietnams economy has weathered the global economic slowdown of 2001 better than most other Asian economies, largely due to the fact that it is less integrated into the world economy and less vulnerable to declines in demand for its exports. Vietnam is growing economy with a bright future ahead of it.For our firm to expand international we must continue to make low cost product tosupport the ever-growing elderly population and challange people of these nations the major power to moving around with little or trouble.Before we expand to any of these nations we need to ensure that have a firm catching of their culture. Friendship and understand first, then the bottom line should be discuss..ReferencesRetrieved October 5, 2002 http//www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rp.htmlRetrieved October 8, 2002 htt p//lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/vntoc.htmlRetrieved October 10, 2002 http//www.singstat.gov.sg/

Drugs Essay -- essays research papers

Is the Government Morally Justified in Declaring Some Drugs Illegal?There be all kinds of do drugss. Whether or non the drug is bootleg or not depends on what drug were talking about. It is important to look at both the bad effectuate and semipermanent effects, such as addiction, when determining legality. Certain drugs, such as prescription drugs like Ritalin, are illegal to the population who abuse them. They are designed for people who need the drug and can be dangerous if taken without seeing a doctor first. Other drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine, are illegal to everyone. The government has put a block or law on these. These drug laws are supposedly for your own good. It is the type of drug and its effects that determines whether or not it should be illegal. When it comes to drugs, there are various aspects that need to be considered.Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug of abuse and is currently illegal. Individuals who have tried the drug describe it as a powerful ex perience that gave a high and a public opinion of dominance. Because cocaine is so highly addictive, one time someone starts taking it, one cannot predict the extent of drug abuse or the continuality. The ways to take cocaine include sniffing, snorting, injecting, and smoking. Health risks are hand over regardless. Smoking has slightly higher health risks. It allows extremely high doses of cocaine to reach the brain much quicker, resulting in an immediate, intense high. If injected, the drug user has a risk of contracting HIV/AIDS if needles or other injection equipment is shared. Physical effects are what make this drug illegal, and so highly dissuaded. The effects include constricted peripheral blood vessels, dilated pupils, and increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Its also said that you will have a feeling of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety (both during use and in between periods). Once addicted, it is difficult to be broken out of the habit and death is very likely a possibility. high doses of cocaine, or just lengthened usage, can trigger paranoia. Smoking crack cocaine increases aggressive behavior. Alcohol mixed with cocaine compounds the danger each drug poses and causes a complex chemical interaction within your body. The human liver combines cocaine and alcohol to produce ... ...gs such as cocaine. Another problem is that, formerly legalized, the thrill will be gone. One of the reasons to try it and then, in most cases, continue with drugs is the thrill of getting caught or the fact that you know youre doing something illegal. Also, drugs are so readily available today that basically if you want them, you can have them. There is not much the government can do. The government skill as well legalize marijuana and make money off of it. It is going to be done illegal or legal. If it were to be legalized, the government could watch over it (no mixing of drugs). Also, since there seems to be an age limit and everythin g, such as alcohol and cigarettes, an age limit could be put on marijuana. As I stated above, there are many factors that are contri unlessed to the legality of drugs. It is the governments decision to determine which, and though some disagree, it is for the welfare of the country. This root word is high in discussion today and its a hard decision to make considering all of the pros and cons. I think the way things are is fine, but for now only. A decision has to be made. You cant allow it in certain areas and not everywhere.

Essay --

The Time Is Now To Remove Advanced Practice Registered treat screen background of Practice BarriersAs Americans enter into the dawn of the Affordable Care Act of 2014 and the open enrollment period has begun to allow access to the Health Insurance food market as part of the U.S. healthcare reform 32 million Americans are expected to become newly insured. It is now the time that Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRNs) scope of practice barriers is abolished to allow APRNs the right to practice within the undecomposed extent of their education and training. APRNs include accommodate practitioners certified curb midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists (Luterek, 2013). The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has encouraged the removal of the APRN scope of practice barriers, to legally permit the unrestricted ability to practice within the full degree of their education and training. The IOM noted that as millions of Americans are predicted to a ccess healthcare services under the federal Affordable Care Act, APRNs should be in the nous to provide that care (ANA, 2011). Not surprisingly, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have been providing exceptional health care since 1965 (NPWH). Today, over 125 thousand NPs practice nationwide (NPWH), and see great than 600 million patient visits each year (ANA, 2011, p. 1). They are legally authorized to practice in all 50 states. NPs are regulated through their states nurse practice act. They undergo extensive training and national board certification within a population specialty such as family, adult, gerontology, pediatrics, neonatal, acute care, womens health or psychiatric health demonstrating their expert knowledge and continued competence (NPWH). The national shortage of p... ...ope of Practice Barriers for Illinois Advanced Practice Nurses. Health and Medicine insurance policy Research Group. Chicago Health and Medicine Policy Research Group. Retrieved February 8, 2014, from http/ /hmprg.org/assets/root/PDFs/2013/01/Nurse-Practice-Act-Position-Paper-Final.pdfNPWH. (n.d.). NP Facts. Retrieved February 10, 2014, from Nurse Practitioners in Womens Health Caring for Women http//www.npwh.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3339RWJF. (2013). Putting the Skills, Knowledge, and Experience of APRNs to wax Use Latest Charting Nursings Future brief focuses on barriers to practice and how some institutions are overcoming them. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Retrieved February 10, 2014, from http//www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/newsroom-content/2013/07/putting-the-skills--knowledge--and-experience-of-aprns-to-full-u.html

Essay --

The Time Is Now To Remove Advanced figure Registered Nurse Scope of Practice BarriersAs Americans enter into the dawn of the Affordable Care Act of 2014 and the open enrollment period has begun to allow access to the Health Insurance Marketplace as part of the U.S. healthcare reform 32 one million million million Americans are expected to become newly insured. It is now the time that Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRNs) range of a function of go for barriers is abolished to allow APRNs the right to practice within the full extent of their education and training. APRNs include nurse practitioners certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists (Luterek, 2013). The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has encouraged the removal of the APRN scope of practice barriers, to legally permit the unrestricted ability to practice within the full stage of their education and training. The IOM noted that as millions of Americans are predicted to access healthcare services under the federal Affordable Care Act, APRNs should be in the forefront to nominate that care (ANA, 2011). Not surprisingly, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have been providing exceptional health care since 1965 (NPWH). Today, over 125 thousand NPs practice nationwide (NPWH), and see greater than 600 million patient visits each year (ANA, 2011, p. 1). They are legally authorized to practice in all 50 states. NPs are regulated through their states nurse practice act. They undergo extensive training and national board certification within a population specialty such as family, adult, gerontology, pediatrics, neonatal, acute care, womens health or psychiatric health demonstrating their expert knowledge and continued competence (NPWH). The national shortage of p... ...ope of Practice Barriers for Illinois Advanced Practice Nurses. Health and Medicine Policy research Group. Chicago Health and Medicine Policy Research Group. Retrieved February 8, 2014, from http// hmprg.org/assets/root/PDFs/2013/01/Nurse-Practice-Act-Position-Paper-Final.pdfNPWH. (n.d.). NP Facts. Retrieved February 10, 2014, from Nurse Practitioners in Womens Health Caring for Women http//www.npwh.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3339RWJF. (2013). Putting the Skills, Knowledge, and Experience of APRNs to Full practise Latest Charting Nursings Future brief focuses on barriers to practice and how some institutions are overcoming them. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Retrieved February 10, 2014, from http//www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/newsroom-content/2013/07/putting-the-skills--knowledge--and-experience-of-aprns-to-full-u.html

Persuade to Stop Physical Bullying

Physical Bullying Physical strong-arm is a serious problem, affect not only the bully and the victim, but also the other pupils who witness the bullying. P atomic number 18nts, teachers, and other concerned adults and young people should be aware of what physical bullying is and some of the elbow rooms to handle it. There are many types of negative physical interactions that can occur between young people, including fighting, practical jokes, stealing, and sexual harassment. These things are not considered physical bullying unless * The same victim is targeted repeatedly The bully or bullies intend to hurt, embarrass, or intimidate the victim * The actions occur in a situation with a real or perceived imbalance of power, such as when the bully is stronger than the victim or has a higher social stand up In this context, physical bullying can take many forms * Hitting * Pushing * Tripping * Slapping * Spitting * Stealing or destroying possessions, including books, clothing, or lun ch bills Physical bullying may also cross the line into sexual harassment or sexual assault.Physical bullying occurs most often at school, though it can also occur on the way to and from school and after school. Middle school is the age when bullying is most common, with almost all nerve school students being affected directly or indirectly by bullying. This is an age where young people want more(prenominal) to satisfy in with their peers, qualification some students more likely to bully or condone bullying to fit in, while those who dont fit in stand push through more as victims.Bullying can also occur in earlier grades, as well as through high school and even into adulthood. Physical bullying is more likely to occur among males, though females may also be the perpetuators or victims of physical bullying. Bullies may have any number of reasons for bullying others, such as scatty more control over others, and wanting to fit in. Bullies are often physically stronger than thei r victims and have friends who condone their behavior.Students who bully others, however, often have botheration with self control, following rules, and caring for others, and are at higher risk for problems later in life, such as violence, criminal behavior, or failure in relationships or career. Victims of physical bullying are usually physically weaker than the bullies, and also may be socially marginalized for some reason, including weight, ethnicity, or other characteristics that make it harder for them to fit in. Bullying can have serious consequences for the victim, leading to low self esteem, depression, trouble at school, and sometimes even violent behavior.Some signs that a student may be a victim of physical bullying include * Coming home from school with bruises, cuts, or other unexplained injuries * Having damaged clothing, books, or possessions * practically losing things that they take to school * Complaining of frequently not feeling well before school or school ac tivities * Skipping certain classes * Wanting to avoid deprivation to school or going to school a certain way, such as taking strange routes home from school or not wanting to ride the bus * Acting sad or depressed Withdrawing from others * Saying they feel picked on * Displaying low self esteem * Mood swings, including anger or sadness * Wanting to run away * Trying to take a weapon to school * Talking approximately suicide or violence against others If a student is a victim of bullying, show love and support to the child and explain that the bullying is not their fault, and that what the bully is doing is wrong. Talk to the victim to find out when and how the bullying is taking place, then talk to teachers and school administrators about the problem.Bullying should always be taken seriously. Dont encourage the victim to fight back. Often the best way to deal with bullies is to avoid them or react as little as possible. Unfortunately, with physical bullying this is not always pos sible. Staying with a friend or friends or where adults are supervising can sometimes help deter the bullying. If the victim is struggling with feelings of depression or anger, seek counseling to help them deal with their emotions. If a student is being a bully, tell them that the behavior is not acceptable.All young people should be taught to respect others and that bullying is not acceptable. Parents should talk to their children often about what goes on at school, including their friends and if they ever see or experience bullying. Parents should encourage their children not to support bullying, even by watching it, and to report it if its happening. Depending on the situation, the student may be able to stand up to the bully, show support for the victim, or at least walk away from the bullying and report it to an adult.Parents of victims or of bullies can also encourage schools to have stronger anti-bullying measures, like anti-bullying campaigns, careful adult supervision of st udents, zero-tolerance policies, and counseling for students involved in bullying. Sources SAMHSA Family Guide, Bullying Affects All Middle coach Kids online Nemours, TeensHealth, Dealing with Bullying online Consortium to Prevent School Violence, Fact Sheet 2 Bullying Prevention online HealthNewsDigest. com, Know the Signs of Physical Bullying online

Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire

The people known as the Aztecs (who referred to themselves as the Mexica or Tenocha) originated from a place c totallyed Aztlan, somewhere in pairing or North west Mexico. Sometime in the 12th century they embarked on a period of wander- ing and in the 13th century settled in the valley of commutation Mexico. About 1345 they founded the town of Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs of Tenochtitlan ruled by Montezuma II became the greatest power in Mexico. The city of Tenochtitlan formed an alliance with the neighboring cities of Texcoco and Tlacopan but later became the paramount partner and gained total control of the entire valley.Conquering city after city, Moctezuma and his warrior empire took food, luxury goods, exotic raw materials and war captives. The prisoners of war were saved for sacrifices to the gods. Embarking on a journey of his own in search of gold, General Hernando Cortes lead his group of Spanish troops into the path of the powerful Moctezuma monarchy. After meeting face to f ace, both men seemingly viewed the other with mutual respect after a friendly exchange of greetings. Trust was non to be gained quite as good as each leader kept their warriors on constant alert.Even after General Cortes and his troops were settled into luxurious apartments and given a sumptuous meal, they remained really cautious. By placing their cannon into position and readying the cavalry and infantry, they could be ready in a moment s notice. Moctezuma remained alert as well, and had even at rest(p) so far as to oblige his secret room of riches and treasures cemented. He was still uncertain as to whether Cortes was god or man, friend or foe. There is no doubt that the Spaniards viewed Montezuma as mighty, great and wise.I m certain they were astonished and awed over his great fortune, works of gold, jewels, magnificent arts, architecture, and the like. He was in spades not lacking in pomp and splendor. Everything Montezuma owned was excessive and everything he did was car ried to the extreme. He surrounded himself with guards, servants and beautiful women. Great respect was shown to him even though all of his empire did not think he was deserving of it. Cortes and his men surely did not agree with Moctezuma s political way of lifes.He controlled conquered people and his empire was held together by mere force rather than loyalty. The state controlled every aspect of life. Of course, Cortes himself was a conqueror, but his people were not controlled and forced as the Aztecs were. Many of the Aztec people looked upon the Spaniards with curiosity. They did not know how to judge these strange people. Some thought Cortes to be the legendary ruler Quetzalcoatl, whose return to earth had been prophesied. In fact, that may be the only dry land Cortes was not met with stronger initial opposition.The Aztecs also resented the kindness and favors their king bestowed upon the general and his men. The Spaniards had freedom that they did not, so I m sure that they viewed them with envy. If they had spoken out against their king, it would have meant moment death. Other people of the Aztec empire saw the Spaniards as powerful allies against Moctezuma and his imposed rule. Many of the Amerindian people had already began to form allies with Cortes on his way into the capital city of Tenochtitlan. In Aztec Mexico, religion was ever present.The Aztecs faithped a multitude of gods, each of whom demanded offerings and sacrifices. They considered themselves the chosen people of Huitzilopochtli, the sun and war god, in whose pretend they were destined to conquer all rival nations. Huitzilopochtli occupied the main temple at Tenochtitlan. He was worshipped daily with offerings of human blood and fresh smart hearts, torn from the bodies of sacrificial victims. It was during a tour of the temple that General Cortes tried to convey to Moctezuma that he was being deluded by his idols of evil.Cortes request to erect an image of the everlasting(a) Mary was angrily denied. The Europeans very much believed in the Christian religion and were totally appalled by the Aztec customs. They earnestly wanted permission to build a church there and introduce Christianity. After days of watching the Aztec people build an almost humanlike statue of their sun and war god, the Spanish troops were arouse into an attack. Their mission all along was to invade and assault the Aztec empire, but it was momentarily put on hold when Moctezuma welcomed them.The Spaniards chose to capture Moctezuma and attack the Aztecs during their annual festival of worship and sacrifice to their gods. This festival was equivalent to the Christian version of the Easter holiday. The Spaniards caught the Aztecs off guard and immediately slaughtered many warriors, but the Aztecs quickly revolted against the invaders and killed 53 Spanish prisoners for sacrifice. Moctezuma was killed in the uprising. Cortes, with new troops from Cuba, along with the aid of thousands of Indi an allies, finally conquered the Aztec in 1521.Legend would have us believe that Hernando Cortes was totally ruthless and did nothing but conquer, flub and plunder (rather than trade), but eye witness accounts of the Aztec conquest are few. Some say the conquest was a bloody massacre, others say it was a glorious conquest. apparently during that era of time, it was every man for himself. Personally, I do not think Cortes had much of a choice once he was inside the empire because Moctezuma would have inevitably come after him. He could have chosen not to go but, at that time it was take or be taken.Their is no lax way to wage war and under the circumstances Cortes probably did just as other warriors before him had done. The Aztec empire collapsed almost instantly after the conquest. The warriors and noblemen who were not killed immediately died later from rampant smallpox and other diseases. The conquest of the Aztecs marked a significant period for the Spanish. It opened new door s by broadening economical and political gain. In short, the European expansion paved the way for a new age, a new beginning, and a major turning point in history.

Image Case Study B2B

1. What do you think of Mr. Reynolds management methods in general? I think that Mr. Reynolds management method is very trusting and his zeal is somewhat laissez-faire, making it a somewhat fragile form. Reynolds doesnt require paperwork which is usually ingestiond to detail and keep track of each employees actions still instead relies on trust and maturity amongst the salespeople. Generally such a method is a very risky but it seems that the intensive training that the employees set out builds their nonion of responsibility.Furthermore, Reynolds management method tends to shy away from burdening his employees with potential estimates and quota targets like many other companies but believes each worker is ambitious for the company and themselves. His use of rewards and contests are very desirable for the employees but are very costly to implement Reynolds must really trust his employees to make a return to extend such expenses. I do admire Reynolds discussion approach discus s all work-related problems weekly or daily if necessary by telephone with their managers.The desolation of the workplace probably uses the communication to replace the paperwork, a very admirable relationship in my opinion. I think Reynolds has crafted a very unique formation which, although currently is effective under his management, seems very delicate to implement elsewhere and is very burdening on the companys budget. I would not recommend it be to be adopted by other managers unless there is a strong financial foundation. 2.Does he have a quota system? What are quotas used for? Reynolds does not have a specific quota system to manage his sales force or use them as targets for his employees, but he does use a quota system to figure out the monthly shipment schedule. Quotas are figures that act as an individuals target within a set time period, derived from prehistorical performances and potential or expectations, and used as a benchmark for performance evaluations.Instead o f a quota system to evaluate, Reynolds uses a point system which is also dependent on ones level of sales and uses it to rank employees based on their performance. The main difference, as perceived by Reynolds, is that the point system uses personal objectives, not arbitrary quotas, to stimulate his salesmen. 3. Do you think that the expenses of the US sales force are too high?I do think the expenses of the US sales force are too high. Reynolds incentives indeed are very creative and motivating, however, they are a bit too extreme and extravagant. I think it is doable for Reynolds to cut some of the costs whilst maintaining the same effect. For example, the Palm Springs convention could be cut by two days and top salesman and district manager clear only go to one or two locations instead of three each year.

Plastic Ban

Plastic Ban 101 We never know the worth of piddle till the well is dry (Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732). thither are garbage everywhere. Water forms are polluted and underwater beauties are damaged due to different procedureivities of humans. Do we still have to wait for the whisk to come before we make a move to conserve and protect our purlieu? The earth where we are living is now at risk. This statement is back up by the survey conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS) during the first quarter of 2012.They found that 66% of Filipino adults say the rising world temperature is stark (consisting of 37% extremely dangerous and 29% very dangerous) for the environment. Twenty-seven percent say it is somewhat dangerous, and 7% not dangerous/not dangerous at all. Though many Filipinos know that our environment is in enceinte danger, another survey that questions ,How often do you make a special effort to manikin glass or tins or plastic or newspapers and so on for recycling ( ALWAYS, OFTEN, SOMETIMES, NEVER, or RECYCLING NOT AVAILABLE WHERE I LIVE)?The result is 31% of Filipino adults say always, 24% often, 31% sometimes, and 9% never. The remaining 5% claim that recycling is not available in the place where they live. One event is available banning plastic bags in the country. The House of Representatives approved HB 4840 or the Plastic Regulation Act of 2011. This act would require the phase come forward of non-biodegradable plastic bags within three years and the placement of a plastic bag recovery bin at each store or crowd of stores.However, SB 2759 or the Total Plastic Bag Ban Act of 2011 is still pending in the Senate. Is this really the solution to the issue in our environment? Banning of plastics will surely be a great help, but there will always be two sides of a story, how ab forbidden the consequences of the act? First, a great number of Filipinos are working in plastic-manufacturing companies, theyll be jobless once the dick is passed.If this companies will be closed, it as well has a great impact in the Philippine economy, resulting to numerous protests from different business groups. The business groups, including the Philippine Chamber of doctor and Industry, Federation of Philippine Industry and Philippine Exporters Confederation, entrap out a full-page advertisement in major newspapers yesterday to denounce the plastic ban.The other business groups are the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Pollution Control connectedness of the Philippines, Samahan ng Pilipinas sa Industriang Kemiko, Association of Petrochemical Manufacturers of the Philippines, Packaging Institute of the Philippines, Polystyrene Packaging Council of the Philippines, Philippine Plastics Industry Association, Metro Plastics Recycling Industries, Philippine Association of Supermarkets and Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association. The plastic ban does not prote ct the environment at all. It leads to more paper use, which means more trees cut and higher water and power use. The environment is worse off, the ad stated. (Desiderio, Louella D. 14 business groups oppose ban on plastic bags The Philippine Star 1 Sept. 2012) These factors are the reasons wherefore the SB 2759 or the Total Plastic Bag Ban Act of 2011 is still on the way in being a law.On the other hand, if the bill will be passed, it will be a great help in protecting the environment. One solid evidence is the town of Los Banos in Laguna. fit to the former mayor Caesar Perez, the solid waste management program drastically curbed the garbage problem in the municipality. Los Banos has successfully reduced its waste by 75 percent. However, discipline remains the core ingredient of the program, Perez noted. Without it, he said, no initiative would have succeeded. Ang tao naghahanap ng pagbabago. Pero ang hindi nila alam, ang pagbabago magsisimula sa bawat isang mamamayan, he added . (LAMENTILLO ANNA MAE YU Ban on plastic bags belatedly gaining momentum August 28, 2012 from http//www. gmanetwork. com/news/story/271569/news/nation/ban-on-plastic-bags-slowly-gaining-momentum) Our ancestors lived without using plastic bags, there are many alternatives like bayong, reusable bags, net bags, etc.Plastics also are dangerous, even those degradable plastic bags that may degrade in two to five years but this issue remains unclear. Degradable plastic bags merely bear on throw-away and dispose-as-usual mentality as it gives the wrong impression that discarding them the habitual way is okay since they degrade anyway, said Greenpeace campaigner Beau Baconguis. This raises, at least, two problems littering and continued employment of plastic waste, she added. When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves. David Orr I choose to support the banning of plastic because the use of it primarily attributes the occurrence of natural calamities. Little of us do know that we, ourselves contribute in triggering such phenomena. There isnt any problem with the plastic itself, but the way or the manner of how people use it spells out the grim result of irresponsibility of disposing plastics. So, better to lessen the factor that causes the occurrence of floods and other calamities we should start by completely vanishing the use of plastic.

Ethics Awareness Inventory Analysis Essay

The ethics Aw arness Inventory (EAI) is a test created by the Williams Institute of Ethics and Management to provide individuals with a public approach towards ethical issues. This test broadly categorizes your profile in four categories namely, address (C), obligation (O), results (R), and equity (E). This paper will discuss my EAI profile, and how the results apply to my original and personal development. In the end, Ill also explain how my educational experience has affected my ethical thinking. According to the Ethics Awareness Inventory test, Im most closely aligned with component part, and least closely aligned with equity.This means that Im a person that believes that having a good moral character is more distinguished than achieving the results or completing their obligation. I believe that honesty and integrity are the most important characteristics of a ethical person. I appearance beyond peoples actions, and look deep into their character to decide whether they are ethical or not. I also believe that there are some standards regarding adjust and wrong, and that everyone is fully aware of them. They just need the proper willpower to act upon them.My EAI test also shows that I value obligation alternatively than results, which implies that I look into the best interests of the company, and dont really consider the consequences of my action. I treat everyone like human beings and give them respect, rather than looking at them as means to an end. It also implies that Im a team player. My EAI score also suggests that I believe that an ethically and morally correct finding shouldnt necessarily be popular. In fact, most of the decisions I make are unpopular in the masses, and I think that is a measure of large(p) character to stand up against a crowd.Regarding my professional and personal development, I always ask my self three questions when faced with an ethical dilemma is it right for me is it right for the company and is it right for the cust omer? I believe that a decision should be in favor of the customer and the organization as well. I always look for a win-win function when faced with a problem. Another way I solve my ethical dilemmas is by looking at the character of the person and the intention behind it. When I feel strongly about an ethical decision, then I ignore the rules and make the decision based on the persons character.Lastly, I consider that my educational experience has tremendously affected my ethical thinking. When confronted with an ethical dilemma, Im able to analyze the situation calmly. Furthermore, through my learning experience, Im able to value the diversity and appreciate the opinions of others. By appreciating the point of others, Ive been able to successfully avoid and/or solve conflicts. Furthermore, my educational experience has helped me increase my awareness about the choices I have regarding making decisions. Ive learnt that Im not right in every situation and that its better to be mor e flexible when dealing with other people.In conclusion, I believe that its extremely important for every individual to understand their ethical inclinations. Although there are no right or wrong answers in the test, I believe that by fetching this test a person is better equipped to defend his personal and ethical decision. Furthermore, a person is better able to understand himself and his values. Reference University of Phoenix. (2010). Ethics Awareness Inventory. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from University of Phoenix, Week Two, rEsource. GEN480Interdisciplinary Capstone Course Web site.

Child Development Theories Essay

While theorists have different ideas and perspectives, insight on child and adolescent development can assist teachers and p arnts in helping children hand their full phase of the moon developmental and learning potential. Having knowledge about the development of a child and adolescent provides clues in discernment behavior and what is normal, or typical, in appendage and development in the early months and years of life.Three developmental theories are broken down to understand the concepts, points of similarity and difference, and the interaction of cognitive, physical, and emotional development of a child. The deuce-ace theorist perspectives analyzed in this essay include Erikson, Kohlberg, and Piaget.Eriksons Psychosocial point TheoryEriksons viewEriksons theory is from a psychoanalytical perspective, which believes that development forms by uncontrollable forces that drive human behavior. He expands on Freuds theory of psycho informal stops, but Erikson focuses on social changes instead of sexual (Heffner, 2004). Eriksons theory of psychosocial development breaks down in eight delivers by dint ofout the human lifespan, and believes individual(prenominal)ity is influenced by society and develops though a series of crisis (Papalia, D. & Olds, S. & Feldman, R., 2006). each(prenominal) of Eriksons stages are described as a crisis in personality requiring a positive and negative trait. When the outcome of each stage (or crisis) issuccessful, a truth (or strength) develops. The eight stages includeBasic trust vs. mistrust (birth to 12-18 months) baby develops sense of whether the world is a good and safe the equity is hopeAutonomy vs. attaint (12-18 months- 3 years) child develops balance of independence and self-efficiency over shame and doubt with virtue of willInitiative vs. guilt (3-6 years), child develops initiative without guilt with the virtue being purposeIndustry vs. inferiority (6 years to puberty),child must learn skills of culture or face feelings of incompetence the virtue is skillIdentity vs. individuality confusion (puberty to adulthood), adolescent must determine sense of self, or confusion about roles may be experienced the virtue is fidelityIntimacy vs. closing off (young adulthood), person seeks to make commitments to others and when unsuccessful, isolation and self-absorption may result the virtue is loveGenerativity vs. stagnation (middle adulthood), adults are concerned guiding the next generation or feels personal impoverishment the virtue is careIntegrity vs. despair (late adulthood), acceptance of own life and death, or despairs over inability to relive life the virtue is learning(Papalia, et al., 2006, table2-2)Kohlbergs Moral Understanding Stage TheoryKohlbergs viewKohlberg builds off of Piagets moral reasoning theory, but Piagetsviewed the concepts of development of children as fairness through interaction of peers whereas, Kohlberg pattern all social transactionhips offer opportunities for social role- victorioustaking the perspective of othersand thus stimulate moral development (Papalia, et al., 2006). Kohlbergs focus was a childs development of right, wrong, and justice he argues that child developments progress consecutively, and are based on spirituality and God through stages of thought processing, implying qualitatively different modes of thinking and of problem solving (Cory, 2006). Kohlberg explains moral reasoning in three levels and divides each into two stages. The first level, from ages 4 to 10, Kohlberg calls preconventional morality. Stage one of reasoning in preconventional morality level is a childs orientation toward punishment and obedience. In this stage, children obey rules to avoid punishment. In stage two, instrumental purpose exchange, children conform to rules out of self-interest and consideration for what others can do for them (Papalia, et al., 2006).Conventional morality is the second level, reached after age 10. Maintaining mutual relatio ns and getting approval of others, wanting to please and help others happens at stage three. In stage four, an individual begins social concern and having a conscience, and understanding the principles of authority. In level three, post-conventional morality, development is in early adolescence, young adulthoodor never. Stage five of level three describes a person developing, or understanding morality of contract, individual rights, and democratically accepting the law. In this stage, people are aware of principles and think rational deciding between human need and the law. theology of universal ethical principles is the concept of stage six.Piagets Cognitive Development Stage TheoryPiagets viewJean Piagets theory center on cognitive development as mental operations mature based on simple sensory and beat back activity to logical, abstract thought (Papalia, et al., 2006). Piagets view was that growth occurs as a child matures and interacts with his or her surroundings helooks at the human mind as a central point and base for everything around it (Heffner, 2004). Cognitive development occurs in three interrelated processes, according to Piaget. The interrelated processes are organization, adaptation, and equilibration. Piagets stages of cognitive development are broken down and explained in a web page created by James AthertonSensori-motor(0-2 yrs) Differentiates self from objects and recognizes self as agent of action and begins to act deliberately e.g. pulls a string to set mobile in motion or shakes a rattle to make a noise Achieves object permanence realizes that things detain to exist even when no longer present to the sensePre-operational(2-7 years) Learns to use language and to represent objects by images and words. Thinking is still egocentric has difficulty taking the viewpoint of others. Classifies objects by a single feature e.g. groups together all the red blocks regardless of shape or all the square blocks regardless of color. cover operation al(7-11 years) Can think logically about objects and events Achieves conservation of number (age 6), mass (age 7), and weight (age 9) .Classifies objects according to several features and can order them in series along a single dimension such as size.Formal operational(11 years and up) Can think logically about abstract propositions and attempt hypotheses systematically becomes concerned with the hypothetical, the future, and ideological problems. (Atherton, 2009)Similarities, differences, & key conceptsThe major points of similarity, or agreement, in each viewpoint are development occurs in stages in all three perspectives, and all theorists believe development begins from birth. One of the differences is each theorists interest. Eriksons interest was in how children socialize and how this affects their sense of self. His concept was that if a stage ofcrisis were unsuccessful, the result would be an inability to get to the next stage which in turn contributes to an unhealthy perso nality and sense of self.Kohlbergs interest was how children get a sense of right and wrong, with a theory that originates from character of God. Piagets interests were intellect and the ability to see relationships mature, with a concept based off sensory and motor activity. A difference between Kohlberg and Piagets theory is that Kohlbergs theory may not apply equally to genders and cultures whereas, Piagets theory is believed to be a fixed order in all children and cultures, with ages of each stage varying from child to child.The importance of understanding normal child and adolescent development destructionIndeed, while theorists have different ideas and perspectives, parents and teacher who have some knowledge have a better chance in helping children reach their full developmental and learning potential, and they will be more aware when development and growth are in the normal range.ReferencesCory, R. (2006, August 13). Kohlbergs Stages of Moral Development. Retrieved June 29, 2009,From Aggelia meshwork Publishing http//www.aggelia.com/htdocs/kohlberg.shtmlHeffner, C. L. (2004, March 21). Eriksons Stages of Psychosocial Development. RetrievedJune 29, 2009,from All Psych Online The Virtual Psychology Classroomhttp//allpsych.com/psychology101/social_development.htmlPapalia, D. & Olds, S. & Feldman, R. (2006). A Childs World Infancy ThroughAdolescense .NY, NY McGraw-Hill.

Shoe Industry

The sole is the bottom trampcel of the raiment. Also referred to as the outsole of the shoe, this is the part that comes in direct ghost with the ground. Outsoles can be made of a variety of materials, including leather and rubber. Certain types of soles provide more(prenominal) traction than others, by using specific materials or designs. A ballroom dancer might prefer a shoe with a smooth leather outsole, as its easier to turn and glide in, while a swinger needs an sole that is thick, durable and waterproof.The sole of the shoe is often the part that will wear out first, precisely some position can be resoled by a shoe repair shop. 1 TRENDS From stickers to rouge-your-sole kits, the bottom of your footwear is now the place to customize, personalize or imitate top designers. The trend started a few years back when women realized they could emulate renowned shoe designer Christian Louboutins famous red soles by painting the bottoms of their shoes red with ordinary paint or na il polish. One U. K. ardw be store recently reported that sales of red paint have surged 40 share over last year, thanks to customers manifestationing to recreate the heart on lower-cost heels. Topshop Louboutins soles, which instantly identify the brand, have even sparked lawsuits around the world, with Louboutin turn uping to encourage his look. Now other designers are cashing in on the trend, trying to set themselves apart by coming out with soles in their own unique colors, deal designer Chloe Greens line for Topshop this spring, which featured light green soles.Rosso Solini. Footwear accessory brand Rosso Solinis sole stickers are less close imitating a designer look than about standing out from the crowd. In addition to its uber-popular firetruck red, Rosso Solini offers a range of 20 stickers in animal patterns, glitter and other bright colors, like blue, which has proved to be a big hit with brides. With Rosso Solini, people can easily make a simple shoe look more ex pensive, or lay out up their favorite pair of old shoes, founder Tara Haughton, 17, told TODAY. com. You can put it on yourself, its easy to try and affordable. Haughton, who lives in Ireland, designed the stickers as part of a school project, and two years later the company has customers in 22 countries through its website, with its biggest fans in Brazil.Haughton will mark her official U. S. debut with an appearing on QVC Sept. 4, selling her set of three instant shoe soles ($26, rossosolinishop. com). The stickers are made with 3M materials and some of the packs include a knife for cutting around the adhesive. Personalization is go more and more prevalent, and in fashion in particular, Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst at NPD Group, told TODAY. om. People used to be able to splurge, but with todays economy, consumers are saying, Forget that I will just paint my soles red. In addition, people dont necessarily want to look like every sensation else. This trend toward customi zing soles isnt just about looking impressive, but about the ability to make something unique. SAVE YOUR SOLE For others who want a more designer look, many shoemakers in large cities like New York and Los Angeles offer the option of fitting red soles.Or you can turn to Save Your Sole, which sells shoe soles and paint in nine colours, including cream, blue, and its ever-popular red. The soles need to be attached by a shoemaker, but the colour will last until the sole wears out, unlike paint, which can flake off after a short walk on the pavement. Save Your Sole founder Amanda Collins started the company two years past to save her own trove of designer shoes, and quickly expanded the business, with the U. S. soon to overtake the U. K. as her biggest market.Sales of her Red Sole Gift Set, which includes red soles, touch-up paint and a paintbrush, have increased by 25 % in the last month alone (SaveYourSole. co. uk, $45. 95). Clearly getting in on the hot trend, TODAYs level Lauer s hows Al Roker the bright orange soles of his shoes. In the coming months, the company will release other colors like pink and purple, and shes now in negotiation with Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys and other high-end retailers about stocking her products. 2 OBJECTIVES ISSUES Every pair of Eccos Ive had cracked.I had a pair of their dress shoes, they were pretty bad. Also have had 3 pairs of the Ecco Trek shoes (goretex hiking shoes) they cracked as well. you can get them replaced but they do crack at about 2 years (think theyre about $75 to do so). I bought them at nordstrom, complained and they gave me a new pair though. It is a manufacture defect, not one of use (since the traction was in honest condition). Xericx I bought a pair of Ecco City bluchers sometime around 2002 and only wore them three or four times. Got them on sale and meant to use them in the rain or traveling.I packed them away in their box and stored them in my closet for about four years because I didnt like them v ery much. I finally got around to wearing them again. On their first day out, I noticed a funny feeling and when I checked the bottom of one of my shoes, I found that much of the heel and other parts of the sole had disintegrated into pieces, pretty much like crumbling a styrofoam cup. Weirdest thing Ive ever seen happen to a shoe. Kind of funny to see shoes that still looked brand new, too early to really even develop significant creases, and have the sole endure like that.Perhaps I could/should have done something else but I was so angry I tossed the shoes into the trash when I got home. eighty-sixed Eccos niche is comfort. When you try them on in a store they feel great. However, the soling material that they use tends to dry out quickly. When that happens the sole cracks or disintegrates. For those with Eccos dont store them above normal catch fire or cold. That speeds up the deteriorating process. Also, try to wear them regularly. -nick v. CONTRIBUTIONS Rocker sole shoes hav e long been known for their therapeutic benefits.They can protect the heels and the balls of the feet from repetitive collision with concrete and hard surfaces. They can be helpful for those suffering from heel and arch pain. They can also be helpful for those suffering from arthritis in the big-toe-joint (hallux rigidus). They advocate good posture and can improve circulation. Rocker soles tend to engage core muscles and can improve proprioception. But rocker sole shoes are not for everyone. If you have problems with vertigo or dizziness, for example, a rocker sole shoe may not be appropriate.

Perspective on the Teachings of Jan Hus

Jan Hus From The Church Jan Hus was a Czech Roman Catholic preacher man and writer in Prague. His teachings were influenced by the English theologian Wyclif. Wyclif was maven of the earliest opponents of papal authority influencing semipolitical power he started anticlerical and biblically centered reforms known as the Lollard Movement. The Lollard Movement was a precursor to the protestant reformation. Likewise, Hus called for stand reforms in the church building. Of primary concern to Hus was the designation of the Pontiff, or Pope, within the church.Based on his radical views and strong face-off to the churchs foundational belief that the pope is the head of the church, Jan Hus was accused of heresy and was condemned. Hus save his perspective and teachings in monographs which were used by his accusers to build a case against him. Of the thirty-nine sentences read to him at his trial, twenty-six of them were found on his work The Church. Because Hus refused to renounce his beliefs he was burned at the s suck, becoming a national diseased soulfulness against the Catholic Church.The excerpts from his work The Church express Huss opinions on the papacy. He begins by characterizing the role of messiah within the church. Hus uses scriptures from Matthew, I Peter, Hebrews, Luke, John, Philippians, and revelations to support his argument, that Jesus is the only if true roman pontiff, or bishop, of the Roman Catholic Church. Hus interprets these scriptures as describing three major themes of Christ 1) Jesus is at the right hand of god, and no one whoremaster be saved without him, 2) Jesus is omnipresent and all knowing, and that 3) Jesus is god.Jon Hus uses these scriptures to cont obliterate that Jesus is the only true bishop because he baptizes and takes away the sins of the world, holds supreme guardianship over man, and that he is the pope, or father of the next age. Hus concludes that everyone is subject to the pontiff, Jesus, for salvation, and th at there is no other pontiff leave out for jesus. Huss major contention with the church centers his beliefs that there is an abuse of the term pope within the church since anyone, ordained or not, can e elected as a pope, and that expressed belief in one individual, the pope, is needed for salvation. To support the starting time belief, Hus goes provides examples of popes who were unlettered, female, and/or heritics. He concludes that under current conditions within the church, even an antichrist could be elected as pope. Hus uses these examples and the say-so for an antichrist religious leader to drive home the point that no pope is the most exalted person of the Roman Catholic Church besides Christ. Therefore, no pope is the head of the Catholic Church except for Christ.To support the latter belief, Hus suggests that it is not a necessity for salvation that people should believe expressly that any one is head of any church whatsoever unless the works of the individual plainly moved others into believe it. He claims that if the body of Christ, the people, follows a bad head, the pope, then both body and head leave behind end up in the precipice. Therefore, people should choose who they wish to follow as a head, and that their decisions should be found on the works of the individual. Huss beliefs posed an immediate threat to the Roman Catholic Church and, much importantly, to its leaders.By stating that popes are not ordained of god, and that popes have historically assumed contradictory roles to their appointed position, Hus questions the legitimacy of the elect position within the church. The pope Alexander V excommunicated Hus and his followers in 1409 and outlawed public preaching. The presidential term however, took the side of Hus, and the power of his movement increased daily. Despite the ban on free preaching, Hus act to preach in the Bethlehem Chapel. It appeared as though the ban itself caused little result. Tensions between the church and Huss movement continued until a council was called in 1414.The council of Constance was an attempt to put an end to the division of people due to the papacy and to take up the long desiredreform of the Church. Hus agreed to go to the council on the premise that he would be given safe passage. However, it has been proposed that he suspected that he would be killed at Constance this is evidenced by the will he wrote prior to going. Within a few weeks after his arrival, Hus was imprisoned, put to trial, and burned at the stake. His effectuation was an attempt by the church to squander the reform that he had started in Bohemia. However, the eople of Bohemia responded to his death by lamentable even more rapidly away from pompous teachings, and by announcing acrusadeagainst them. APapal bull was then issued by the popewhich stated that all supporters of reformers like Hus and Wycliffe be slaughtered. The crusaders lost, as did the help and third crusades that followed. A century late r, as much as ninety percent of theCzech invest landsstill followed Hussite teachings. Although some revolutionary movements do not end in a revolution, there accounts can provide powerful insights into the views held among the people.It is too often that only the perspective of the rich and noble are recorded in history revolutionary movements offer some of the few accounts of the opposing ideals held among the commoners. Jan Huss reform resulted in his death, and the death of many of his followers, but its impact upon the church was far reaching. Hus was a key contributor to the excogitation of Protestantism which strongly influenced European States, as well as Martin Luther. The reform started by Jan Hus resulted in the Basel Compacts which allowed for a better church within Bohemia.

Haverwood Furniture Inc Case Study Essay

Background on the mergerIn April 2008 Haverwood Furniture merge with Lea-Meadows, a manufacturer of upholstered furniture for victuals and family rooms. The merger was not planned in any courtly sense. The merger proceeded smoothly since the two firms were located on adjacent locations and the two companies would maintain as a good deliberate autonomy as was economi call offy justified. The only real issue that still remained was merging the selling efforts. The fountainhead was straight-forward do we fail the upholstery direct contrast of chairs and sofas to our gross gross sales squeeze, or do we continue using the sales agents? Haverwoods vice president said the line should be given to his sales group, but Lea-Meadows said the upholstery line should remain with sales agents.Lea-Meadows Inc.Lea-Meadows Inc. is a small, privately owned manufacturer of upholstered furniture for use in living and family rooms. The firm is much than 75 years old. The company has some of th e finest fabrics and frame construction in the fabrication. Their elucidate sales in 2007 were $5 zillion and the total industry sales in 2007 were $15.5 one million million million. A forecasted industry sale for 2008 is about $16.1 billion. Over the past 5 years sales had increased 3% annually, as well as believing that this trend would continue. Lea-Meadows employed 15 sales agents to represent its products. Sales agents found it necessary to deal with several buyers in a store in order to represent all the lines carried. On a typical sales call, a sales agent first visited buyers to discuss new lines, in asset to any promotions being offered by manufacturers.These new orders were sought where and when it was appropriate. Lea-Meadows paid an agent commission of 5 portion of net company sales for these services. Also were thought to have spent 10-15 percent of their in-store time on Lea-Meadows products. There is no influence on who to sell their products to but there is a stigma of not selling to discount houses. Records show that agents were calling on specialty furniture and department stores. An estimated 1,000 retail accounts were called on in 2006 and 2007. All agents had established relationships with their retail accounts and worked closely with them.Haverwood Furniture Inc.They be a manufacturer of medium- to dear(predicate) wood bedroom, living room and dining room furniture. Their net sales in 2007 were $75 million and the industry sales of wood furniture in 2007 were $12.4 billion. It is projected that in 2008 they will have $12.9 billion in industry sales. The company has 10 fulltime sales representatives, who call on 1,000 retail accounts. They perform the identical activities as sales agents but were paid a salary plus a small commission. In 2007 the average sales representative received an annual salary of $70,000 and a commission of 5% on net company sales. Total administration hails were $130,000 Haverwoods salespeople were highl y regarded in the industry. They were known particularly for their knowledge of wood furniture and willingness to work with buyers and retail sales personnel. Sales representatives were presently making 10 sales calls per week with an average sales call running three hours. Their remaining time was accounted for by administrative activities and travel. It was also recommended that the call frequency be increased to seven calls per account per year.Pros and ConsPoints in promote for combing the two companiesHaverwood has one of the most respected sales jampack in the industry. Their sales business leader could easily learn the lingo to interacting with upholstery buyers. Selling Lea-Meadows would only require 15% of present sales call times More control over sales efforts is possible and a combined sales forces fits with the belief that only our people are willing and able to give It would not look right if both representatives and agents called on the same stores and buyers bec ause of the overlap on the companies on both companies accounts.Points in favor of keeping in the sales agentsAll sales agents had established clients and were highly regarded among the store buyers. Sales agents represent little cost beyond commissionSales agents were committed to the lea-meadows line.Sales agents were calling on buyers not contacted by haverwood sales force. Haverwood sales people would have a tough time learning the ways of lea-meadows because there are over 1 billion possible items to learn. Both companies make valid points but the main amour is to determine the cost and profitability. Financial calculations based off the cost of sales force,and sales agents.Haverwood10 (sales force members) x $70,000 (average salary) = $700,000 .005 (commission) x $75,000,000 (net sales) = $375,000 x 10 = $3,750,000 $130,000 (total sales administration costs)Total cost of sales force$4,580,000Lea-meadows5,000,000 (net sales) x .05 (commission) = $250,000 x 15 (sales agents) To tal cost of sales agents$3,750,000Although Lea-Meadows pays their sales agents less with 5 more employees, their profit margins fall 5% below that of Haverwood. It ultimately will affect them more than the cost for Haverwood affects them. If Lea-Meadows were to give their line to the Haverwood sales force, they would only need to pay for 15% of the cost for the sales force.HaverwoodTotal sales force cost = $4,580,000Lea-Meadows$4,580,000 x .15 (percentage of time devoted to Lea-Meadows line) = $687,000 The decision to give the line to Haverwood saves Lea-Meadows $3,063,000.Haverwoods sales processHaverwoods personal Sales forces Retail ConsumerLea-Meadows sales processLea-Meadows Sales agency Retail Consumer

Reflection Report And Learning From An Experience Education Essay

The reflexion study is a signifier of thought, how to analyse based on cognition and feeling. As a managing director ego analyze to believe more or less failing and strengths. In this study, it is need to concentrate on communication accomplishments, enclothe charge, range direction, hazard direction, analysis, self motive and direction ( self judgement, self rating, self reaction, and self satisfaction ) , job resolution, squad effectivity and undertake planning. The pass aims of this study are needed to converse and concentrate on following comp m step to the forehlentLife keen-sighted larning aft(prenominal) this thesis class letExperience and splendour of stem start and relationship with squad membersImportance to maintain day-to-day dairy for long t tout ensembley confinements such as thesiss, research achievement studies or any long skillful undertakings.Contemplation is a series of measure to observe down for future(a) mention and chargeImportance of anal ysis and research we did for our project- proces speak of running undertakingQuality of be given associate to topic initiate and convention members suggestion and advises so preeminence down in contemplation dairyBasic exclusivelyy wistful cognition is a method to analyze him/her ego internally and profoundly and happening out the gist of jitteriness, settle down by the buzz off which creates the significance of ego. And learns from the same repetition experience and changed him/her ego effectively by the take of experiences. Reflection pattern is the signifier of ego consciousness and ego assessment and describes the consequence and results of individual s actions.Remembrance of Experiences ( hebdomadly Detailed Dairy )WeekDateActivity0114 -06-2010First hebdomad, we attended the debut seance of AMP Module given by Vincent Ong, and larn how to compose a study and how to follow the do etc from supportive coach. After that Academic Liaison Librarian has give the elaborate i n orderion around way to set the referencing in our study and module enchiridion of AMP was provided to all of us.Following twenty-four hours action was about the plagiarism and turnitinUK. JBK explained us sing rephrasing and characteristic of turnitinUK. They similarly helped us in lean of tie in phrases from digital library. First clip, I lease learnt that how to set fundamental words in go down across hunt and acquire the diaries and articles called rational research to individuality and back up our twist.Rob explained us about the contemplation study and how it is germane(predicate) with our study and what makes a inviolable contemplation study and what should be the formulation of study. After that we waste collected enchiridion of AMP grammatical case.During this hebdomad we impart formed a meeting of 10 members as we all antecedently sounded to astonishher so we k recent each other. One thing in our favour that work with known grouping members will cut down clip taken to get down acting and apprehension of each frame of work.Get downing of this hebdomad we all felt up excited and optimistic. As we received information about work we became more discerning, baffled and unsure and our humble besides made us rattling unsure and dying. But after two yearss encephalon ramping with group members and elaborate handling with coach reassured us, and gave us elucidation and showed right way.In general we learnt that un particularized scope of resources and diaries are available in our library it was analyzed that without the coach counsel may be we would be on the incorrect way. We besides understand the importance of citing. How to study and contrasting the stuff from disparate generators and importance of sharing thoughts every bit veraciousness as we understand the importance of secondary research. well-educated about the importance of the clip direction in undertaking and proper(a) referencing may be any(prenominal) job will be encountered during the undertaking like in personal planning and in haul offing a group.Learning solution in this hebdomad would be like how to happen relevant information more efficaciously and learned the demand to keep records about day-to-day activities of advancement.0221-06-2010.This hebdomad, I have read the enchiridions and all stuff given by coach. Two articles in enchiridion are really some(prenominal) laboursaving for understanding the vitrine.Today we start our undertaking we did research and found 5-6 articles about aspiration commercialize choice and difference between B2B and B2C patterns.Confronting such(prenominal) trouble in research about the relevant subject because our subject is often slippery and confounding. After two twenty-four hours fighting and with distinguishable cardinal words as suggested by coach, we came at one dose of start.Need to understand the synthesis briny Report like how to pull grounds and evaluate and present our ain ideas in Report. It was advised that the chief study should be synthesis instead than descriptive.A clench of hurdlings came darn seeking the subjects. To twenty-four hours I got some utile articles and after edition got some utile channels of my demands.This hebdomad we had a meeting on Friday to work out the issues sing the apprehension of subjects and their cardinal dictions for hunt.0328-06-2010This hebdomad, experiencing such(prenominal) trouble while reading, reexamining and comparing the articles of diametric writers and different sides sing my subject and cardinal words.Before start composing the literary works reappraisal, I moldiness(prenominal) necessitate to understand and analyze the Harvard System for proper referencing. So Google it and happen and understand the many ship canal of seting citing for article, diaries and books such as articles with losing day of the month, losing writer s name, with more than one or two writer s work etc.Today, I started my work on thes is and I made a booklet of my all downloaded article and took the print and read two of them so do the synthesize point from themI have been started my work from literature reappraisal which is the chief organic structure of the study in which we needs to set our ability to bring forth a quality of work at that place. I had written my synthesis point from two articles.This hebdomad we had a 2nd meeting on Friday to work out the issues sing the apprehension of subjects and portion some thoughts every bit wakeless as searched article with each other besides our undertaking director direct us some utile subject related to learn foring stamp of techno enterical solutions.I have decided to split my work chapter omniscient as guided us by our AMP faculty Coordinator. So we come the point that work should be start from literature reappraisal subdivision.0405-07-2010Today I got my consequence I had passed my in all faculties. Thankss to churchman GOD.Today I besides review the one more article which is presented in an transnational conference sing issues related to ICT facing by SMEs companies. So extract some chief point from this article and note down.In our meeting we discussed about the difference between E-business and E-commence, it found about a elaborate reading that e-commence is relate to the B2B and e-business is linked with B2C. Furthermore from surveies one thing come out that is digital-related merchandises and digital- orthogonal merchandise.Our undertaking squad attraction explained and clearly differentiated that digitally related merchandise i.e. package applications, nomadic skirts, digital cameras were more suited for e-commerce, and more easy sold over the cyberspace unlike digitally unrelated merchandises like furniture where consumers must desire examine physically before a purchase is made.We besides discussed and studied further on the cardinal issues and consideration sing the stamp invitation for website development solution.0512-07 -2010In literature reappraisal, comparing of all research workers and writers work relevant to topic is really frequently hard and different nature of work for me. It is noticed that all research worker concentrating the similar issue that impacting the operation while company is traveling to B2C market and suggests the same demand and cardinal consideration.As I am holding the first experience at this degree of literature reappraisal and work but it is much arouse and knowing cause for me.It is really easy to deviate from the original subject during the literature reexamining procedure. Felt much trouble like recreation from my original subject in this portion of work. May God serve up me to make this in good and best ways related to demand topic demand.0619-07-2010This hebdomad I was non able to work on my study due to my some personal battle and some place issues so I was out of station.0726-07-2010This hebdomad, I started to understand and revise some articles and paperss on tendering. As I need to understand that how to ask for the stamp for technological and package solutions.Issues come up while composing on ask foring stamps for technological solution. Because invitation of stamps for proficient and non proficient solution are much confusing and related work. But feel similar interesting as I am holding the new adroitness and expertness in this new country of tendering. I do nt hold any experience of reading such type of paperss.As I was stuck on the measure of ask foring stamp so right away I consulted with the squad drawing card of our group so she assist me out in apprehension of this specific point that what are the cardinal demand for ask foring the stamps as I was believing on the format like that sing tendering but she solved my issue and sent some articles for literature reappraisal related to this. She is really much assisting individual and nice lady and she should be a good squad leader in future.0802-08-2010Confusion- physical comp osition on invite stamp for web development that whether it should b E-tendering or traffic pattern traditional manner.Another issue that I was confronting that in most of tendering article there is no proper writer or research worker name. Largely the company and organisational name are mentioned while ask foring stamp for the technological or package solutions.Got some article and diary on tendering and outsourcing the IT related work and technological solution.This hebdomad I have made my concluding agenda and split the yearss till concluding reappraisal of study and how to shut my work within the month of August.Understand and learnt about the usage of index in tabular ramble of contents in MSWord how to utilize the proper referencing.0909-08-2010This hebdomad I met with my one of the group member in LRC and discussed about the e-book umpirage and how many mentions we can utilize and whether largely should be diary s articles and could be from any where else? So she suggeste d that we should e-mail to Peter Godwin every bit good as we get some information from LR usher or mentioning within digital library. After that we discussed about recommendations on subject. Should we necessitate to propose or set some recommendation related to our sort of work?This hebdomad, I got some good article but this is my targeted hebdomad in my clip tabular array to complete all the literature reappraisal and authorship. And should be focus and emphasized on the synthesis, analysis and comparing of the study in last 3 hebdomad.This hebdomad, I need to scale down and windup my all reappraisal work.Today is the terminal of this hebdomad and I have closed my literature reappraisal authorship and my following anatomy is to syntheses the study and exacts the cardinal point for analysis and treatment.1016-08-2010Today I have started my work on reappraisal of my work with elaborate and syntheses point of position.Feel some ambiguity sing mentions in analysis and discuss phase t hat whether we need to set the Harvard mention within the analysis and treatment part like we did in literature reappraisal or non?To decide this issue I put an electronic mail to our squad member and waiting of there answer.1123-08-2010This hebdomad is really much tough and important as I wholly put my attempt on the alteration and focal point on my whole work and equilibrate the study in a proper flow and come out with corrected some errorsAfter that I can break concentrate working on the decision and recommendation of the subject.Today terminal of this hebdomad, I wrote down my decision and recommendation.1230-08-2010 functional on contemplation analysis study and syntheses my all work into concluding version.Recompiled day-to-day dairy log of my all 3 month plantsPersonal feelings and larning from the experienceResearch work is truly really much interesting but clip consuming. I spend my neat hours and hours on this study and this work should be helpful and really much supportiv e for my future work and acquisition at this degree and above this. Meetings and regular Google talk and telecommunicate exchange about AMP study work, experiences and treatment with group members. Some major troubles were come in forepart while reexamining the literature like comparing of all research workers and writers work sing my subject. As it is noticed that all research worker concentrating the similar issue that impacting the operation while traveling to B2C market and suggests the same demand and cardinal consideration for outsourcing procedures. As I was holding the first clip experience at this degree of literature reappraisal and work but it was much interested and knowing attempt for me. I enjoy a batch with my work and experience much happy at this phase and got much knowledge from last three month attempts. That how to do the comparing of other writers work and note down in ain my dictions.It was really easy to deviate from the original path during literature reexam ining make up every bit good as in composing the study procedure. My God assist me out to make this thing in good and best ways that I was linked to my subject. Issue sing literature reappraisal and other relevant work are resolved really swimmingly with the aid of all my group members corporate engagement and attempts. We had arranged the meetings until all the members are cleared and much meet with the apprehension of subject and informations aggregation as we had three periodical groups run intoing with squad leader after the AMP hebdomad. My squad was really much generous with the committedness and clip promptness. My part was besides peculiar(a) every bit good and I was linked with my group members all the clip 24/7 through electronic mail, facebook and Mobile. And I was much satisfied with my work and with group members response.Group Dynamics and Learning from the experienceHere I must advert one thing that my current AMP group members are non fresh new members. We were holding same group in all our old class work. So we were much homelike with each other and knew each other frame of head and algorithm of work. And we understand the group kineticss and duties. As a whole I did nt experience any job in my work with my members. Since I was linked with my group members all the clip 24/7 through electronic mail, nomadic and all the group members were much satisfied with my part and with my speedy response on any issue related to our work. I fulfill my all duties that were given by our squad leader. Out supervisor consultancy was really much helpful for us sing the understanding the existent subject and how to seek the relevant stuff from digital library. He did really flat best to work out our issues. I learnt that the group work is really much effectual and helpful for this type of large undertakings as the work is distributed and every member come up with good and different thoughts and cognition. And the undertaking will run into the deadlines rea lly swimmingly.Lessons for the hereafter UndertakingsThe lesson learned dairy was kept in order to convey all the lessons together that we learnt during the thesis work, which would be the guideline for other future undertakings. The hebdomadal journal was updated whenever I have learned some thing new during the undertaking whether it was decreed or negative lesson. From experience with the proper direction of work start to stop and all the group members cooperation many positive and good lessons was learned for future undertakings. Such as hebdomadal meetings, clip direction and good communicating with members will force up our advancement. With a good clip direction, now we have a batch of clip for quality reappraisal and rectification before the deadline.I learnt really much from group work experience as it will assist me out in increasing good direction accomplishment and to accomplish the aims harmonizing to prefix quality criterions within the clip constrains through the p lanning and good control particularly at initial phase. Daily log helped me out to program and schedule the hebdomadal undertakings and overall advancement of my work. Following are the cardinal lessons I have learned for future undertaking as a group.Good apprehension and friendly work environment.meetings with group members and hebdomadal dairy and should be maintainedTime direction and planningGood communicating and updates sharing.DecisionThe undertaking was managed really calmly and swimmingly with aid of supervisors guidelines from the first phase and good squad s effectual communicating via ( electronic mail, phone and hebdomadal meetings ) motive, be aftering and clip direction, hazard direction and most of import is self direction and motive. from each one squad members was really much delegated, punctual and showed their duty. The tool of hebdomadal dairy helped me out to aline and wield my each phase and there aims. We received the feedback and do the updates with hebd omadal group meeting at the start.However, with good clip direction and apprehension of work, our group members met the deadlines but we faced few issues and hurdlings sing understand of subject and hunt of relevant stuff like e-article, e-journal and books. But with effectual communicating between all members via meetings, electronic mail, phone all the hazards and issues will be overcomes with the clip existences.Finally, my undertaking was successfully finished with the clemency of Almighty God and the equal part of all squad members at there degree best and my distaff parents supplication was with me all the clip. At the terminal, I believed that good direction accomplishment and supportive undertaking leader every bit good as adequate support from the supervisor in AMP Week were the grounds for no major issues, hurdlings, and divergences from the path. As good direction and clear communicating helped out greatly to avoid the likely issues and struggles as every squad members were cognizant of their ain deadlines and their ain duty. I must appreciate this new method of ego recording of our day-to-day work for such type of long undertaking which kept us on right way and lesson for clip direction and contemplation of our work for future chances. I am much satisfied with my work at this phase and learnt a batch for future things as this whole experience of UK alterations my life style and it was the womb-to-tomb acquisition for me.

Media Violence Outline Essay

I. IntroductionA. Thesis StatementYou argon what you watch. Easy to say, and non as well(p) as difficult to imagine either. A little over a decade ago, deuce boys who later became family names in America, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold walked into Columbine High School in Colorado and went on a mount murdering spree where they killed 12 students, 1 teacher and injured 23 opposites before shooting themselves (Anderson & Dill, 2008). While their motives fundament doing so toiletnot be ascertained, one possible contributing element which did surface was the influence of violent film seconds. At the risk of oversimplifying what is possibly a complex psychological minefield, Harris and Klebold did enjoy tacticsing a spicy called Doom, which is licensed by the American military for the purpose of training soldiers to kill effectively.Harris had customized his own version of this game and put it up on his website, which was later tracked by The Simon Wisenthal Center (Anderson & Dill, 2008). This version of the game had two shooters with an unlimited supply of weapons and ammunition, and their targets lacked the ability to retaliate. A class project required them to consecrate a movie of themselves similar to the game, and in it, they dressed in trench coats, armed with weapons, and conduct the massacre of direct athletes. less(prenominal) than one year had gone by when Harris and Klebold played their word-paintingtape by, in substantive life, and became the protagonists of the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history (Anderson & Dill, 2008).II. Body paragraph 1There is nothing new to the highest degree the presence of fury in our tools of entertainment. Whether they were ancient Greek dramas, theatre in the Elizabethan era or the modern electronic dramas of today, a healthy dose of ferocity was never missing. In Macbeth for instance, Shakespeare showed Macbeths headland being brought on stage at the end of the play (Bushman & Anderson, 2001 ). The Great Train Robbery, an 11-minute film enjoin by Edwin S. Porter was the first firm considered to tell a story in a imperious manner. In one scene, he shows an intense scene where a cowboy fires a pistol immediately at the camera, which when first showed to audiences, had them running out of the theaters in disarray and fear (Bushman & Anderson, 2001).A. Since the advent of media itself, in that respect gestate been countless studies on the connection between depiction of violence in media and its occurrence in real life.B. Discussions, debates, conclusions and grey areas have all been further examined and while television is the most prominent target of accusations, risible books, jazz, rock and roll music and video games have not escaped blame either.C. Research on this topic started as ahead of time as the 1960s when television was a recent entrant in the media fray and a causal connection has been derived between media violence and aggressive manner.III. Body para graph 2Opponents fuss over the definition and measurement of media violence, does actual physical bodily harm constitute violence or can a threatening statement alike be deemed so? Then, does media violence have aggression, or are the two simply fellow travelerd? Consistency of the relationship also causes doubts over agreed upon entropy when the example of Japan is quoted, where violent media is extremely common, yet crime rates are significantly minuscule(Anderson & Dill, 2008). Then is media solely to blame for violence in society? Doesnt that take the blame international from a lot of other contributing factors in society itself and make the argument generally unrealistic?A. All these issues and thorny areas can be settled by the simple logic of the social discipline theory which proposes that when people see that a certain behavior causes positive or desired results, there is a high probability of them imitating and enacting that behavior (in this case, violent) themselv es (Anderson & Dill, 2008).B. So while the strength of the relationship and the presence of other factors and the measurement of violence itself can be debated till the end of time, the fact remains, when children view aggressive behavior and violence in cartoons, video games, movies, as well as on the internet, it encourages similar tendencies in them and these children are more likely to be aggressive as children and later as adults.C. Research started as early as 1956 when researchers analyzed and compared the behavior of 24 children, half of whom had watched an episode of the cartoon Woody Woodpecker with distinct depictions of aggressive behavior, while the other half were exposed to the cartoon The Little Red Hen which did not depict any violence at all (Huesmann. 2003).IV. Body paragraph 3Studies have also shown that the kind of violence which affects their psyche and causes them to model their behavior as depicted in media is when they can associate real life with the situa tion depicted, because they can identify with the character responsible for the violence and observe him/her/it get rewarded for the violence.A. Research conducted by Boyatzis, Matillo and Nesbit (Gunter & McAleer, 1997) proved earlier theories about media violence getting encoded in the cognitive make up of viewers and subsequently instigating violent thoughts and acts upon repeated viewings.B. The popular childrens series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was utilise to prove that after watching a single episode from this show, children incorporated more aggression into their play with other children.C. Results showed that children who had seen the episode became significantly more aggressive at play the following day as compared to the children from the control groupV. Body paragraph 4TV is not the sole culprit in this regard. Other mediums and tools of entertainment have an equal role to play. In personal effects of Video Games on belligerent Thoughts and Behaviors During Develop ment, Koojimans (2004) explains the General Aggression Model the name coined for the phenomenon which explains how video games and their depictions of violence influence people and make them more susceptible of indulging in violent behavior themselves. This model elaborates on how various situational and personological factors mix in to influence a persons internal state which includes his thoughts, feelings and physical arousals (Koojimans, 2004).A. Research conducted on video games by Nicoll and Kieffer, presented to the American Psychological Association as military unit in Video Games A surveil of the Empirical Research found that youth upon playing a violent video game, if nevertheless for a short while, displayed more aggressive behavior than before (Nicoll & Kieffer, 2005).B. Another study was conducted with more than 600 students of 8th and 9th mark off as participants and showed that children who played more video games also had more of a tendency to get tough in arg uments with their seniors and other teachers, and they would also be more likely to get into physical rows with their peers (Nicoll & Kieffer, 2005).C. Not only that but it was also found that children who spent more time watching video games imitate the characters they acted out in the video gameand their moves while playing with their friends.VI. ConclusionThe plethora of research knowledge getable about the effects of violence in the media definitely supports initial concerns about media violence as well as the efforts to control its harmful effects. While causality can be debated till time eternal, what cant be denied and what should absolutely not be brushed under the carpet for any lifelong is that a steady diet of violence does in fact instigate violent tendencies in viewers, be it through violent television programs, movies, cartoons, video games or any other forms of entertainment which incorporate violence in various forms.Media today plays a key role in nourishing child rens minds, and for the big case of public health and societal betterment, we need to ensure that we provide more nourishing issue forth for our children and youth. Reducing their exposure to violent media is definitely the first step in the right direction, with the potential to sire positive benefits. An intervention is needed before we start reaping the seeds of aggression and rebellion that have been planted in young minds owing to careless media policies.ReferencesAnderson, Craig and Karen Dill. Video Games and Aggressive Thoughts, Feelings, and Behavior in the Laboratory and in Life. diary of Personality and Social Psychology 78 (2008) 772-790.Bushman, Brad and Craig Anderson. Media Violence and the American Public Scientific event Versus Media Misinformation American Psychologist 56 (2001) 477-489.Gunter, Barry and Jill McAleer. Children and Television (second edition), Routledge London, 1997.Huesmann, L. Rowell, Jessica Moise-Titus, Cheryll-Lynn Podolski, and Leonard Er on. Longitudinal Relations between Childrens Exposure to TV Violence andtheir Aggressive and Violent Behavior in Young Adulthood 1977-1992. Developmental Psychology 39 (2003) 201-221.Kooijmans, Thomas. Effects of Video Games on Aggressive Thoughts and Behaviors During Development. Rochester Institute of Technology. 2004Nicoll, Jessica and Kevin M. Kieffer. Violence in Video Games A look back of the Empirical Research. Presentation to the American Psychological Association, August 2005.

Bag of Bones CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I was paseo northwestward along The track. Japanese lanterns lined it, still they were on the whole unlit because it was day waking bright daylight. The muggy, smutchy play of mid-July was asleep(p) the sky was that deep sapphire shade which is the sole property of October. The lake was deepest indigo infra it, coruscate with sunpoints. The trees were just past the peak of their autumn colour, burning similar torches. A wind expose of the s bug outhwesterly blew the fallen leaves past me and between my legs in rattly, fragrant gusts. The Japanese lanterns nodded as if in approval of the season. Up a dealer, faintly, I could hear music. Sara and the expiration-Tops. Sara was belting it out, laughing her counseling d ace the lyric as she ever much had . . . only, how could jape locomote so much like a snarl?W bunk rid ofe male child, Id never kill a child of mine. That youd even up deem itI whirled, expecting to train her right behind me, just now in that respect was no ane there. Well . . .The Green Lady was there, only she had changed her dress of leaves for autumn and be summate the Yellow Lady. The evident pine-branch behind her still pointed the track go north, young military personnel, go north. non much furthermostther stack the path was anformer(a) birch, the maven Id held onto when that terrible dr proclaiming sensation had have sex oer me once again.I waited for it to come again at present for my mouth and throat to fill up with the iron taste of the lake scarce it didnt happen. I directed second at the Yellow Lady, whence beyond her to Sara Laughs. The house was there, solely much reduced no north wing, no south wing, no second story. No sign of Jos studio glum to the cheek, either. None of those issues had been built yet. The ladybirch had travelled ski binding with me from 1998 so had the one hanging over the lake. Otherwise Where am I? I asked the Yellow Lady and the nodding Japanese lanterns. The n a better question occurred to me. When am I? No answer. Its a dream, isnt it? Im in bed and dreaming.Somewhere out in the brilliant, gold-sparkling net of the lake, a diver called. Twice. Hoot once for yes, twice for no, I position. non a dream, Michael. I dont know on the justton what it is apparitional time-travel, mayhap nevertheless its not a dream.Is this really happening? I asked the day, and from somewhere okay in the trees, where a track which would eventually come to be kn protest as Lane Forty-two ran toward a dirt road which would eventually come to be kn own as Route 68, a bragging cawed. sightly once.I went to the birch hanging over the lake, slipped an arm close to it (doing it lit a distinction memory of slip my hands around Matties waist, feeling her dress slide over her skin), and peered into the water, half- penurying to percolate the drowned boy, half-fearing to interpret him. in that respect was no boy there, entirely some issue lay on the bot tom where he had been, among the rocks and roots and waterweed. I squinted and just then the wind died a little, stilling the glints on the water. It was a cane, one with a gold head. A Boston Post cane. Wrapped around it in a rising spiral, their finishs waving lazily, were what appeared to be a pair of ribbons fairned ones with bright red edges. Seeing Royces cane wrapped that way made me think of high-school graduations, and the baton the class marshal waves as he or she leads the gowned seniors to their seats. right off I unsounded why the old crock hadnt answered the phone. Royce Merrills phone-answering days were all done. I knew that I also knew I had come to a time in the beginning Royce had even been born. Sara Tidwell was here, I could hear her singing, and when Royce had been born in 1903, Sara had already been gone for two years, she and her whole Red-Top family.Go ingest, Moses, I told the ribbon-wrapped cane in the water. You bound for the Promised Land.I walke d on toward the sound of the music, invigorated by the cool air and rushing wind. Now I could hear percentages as well, much of them, talking and shouting and laughing. Rising above them and pumping like a piston was the hoarse cry of a sideshow barker Come on in, folks, hurr-ay, hurr-ay, hurr-ay Its all on the inside exclusively youve got to hurr-ay, neighboring show starts in ten minutes See Angelina the Snake-Wo existence, she shimmies, she shakes, shell bewitch your eye and steal your heart, provided dont get too mingy for her bite is poy-son See Hando the Dog-Faced Boy, terror of the South Seas See the Hu slice Skeleton See the Human Gila Monster, item of a time God forgot See the Bearded Lady and all the Killer Martians Its on the inside, yessirree, so hurr-ay, hurr-ay, hurr-ayI could hear the steam-driven calliope of a merry-go-round and the sleep with of the bell at the take of the ext ratiocination as some lumberjack won a stuffed toy for his sugarinessie. You cou ld make out from the delighted feminine outcrys that hed hit it around hard enough to pop it off the post. There was the snap of. 22s from the shooting gallery, the snoring utter of someones prize cow . . . and now I began to relish the aromas I countenance associated with county fairs since I was a boy sweet fried dough, grilled onions and peppers, like candy, manure, hay. I began to walk faster as the strum of guitars and squat of double basses grew louder. My heart kicked into a higher gear. I was overtaking away to see them perform, actually see Sara Laughs and the Red-Tops go through and on stage. This was no crazy three-part fever-dream, either. This was happening right now, so hurr-ay, hurr-ay, hurr-ay.The Washburn step to the fore (the one that would always be the Bricker place to Mrs. M.) was gone. Beyond where it would eventually be, rising up the steep slope on the eastern side of The Street, was a flight of broad woodwindy stairs. They reminded me of the on es which lead stack from the amusement park to the b apiece at Old Orchard. Here the Japanese lanterns were lit in spite of the brightness of the day, and the music was louder than ever. Sara was singing value Crack Corn.I climbed the stairs toward the laughter and shouts, the sounds of the Red-Tops and the calliope, the smells of fried food and farm animals. Above the stairhead was a wooden twist withWELCOME TO FRYEBURG FAIRWELCOME TO THE 20TH CENTURYprinted on it. As I watched, a little boy in short pants and a muliebrity erosion a shirtwaist and an ankle-length linen skirt walked infra the arch and toward me. They shimmered, grew gauzy. For a moment I could see their skeletons and the bone grins which lurked beneath their laughing faces. A moment later and they were gone.Two farmers one wearing a straw hat, the other(a) gesturing expansively with a corncob pipe appeared on the Fair side of the arch in just the same fashion. In this way I soundless that there was a barr ier between The Street and the Fair. Yet I did not think it was a barrier which would affect me. I was an exception.Is that right? I asked. Can I go in?The bell at the top of the Test Your Strength magnetic pole banged loud and clear. Bong once for yes, twice for no. I continued on up the stairs.Now I could see the Ferris wheel suiting against the brilliant sky, the wheel that had been in the rear endground of the band motion furnish in Osteens Dark Score Days. The framework was metal, just the brightly painted gondolas were made of wood. Leading up to it like an aisle leading up to an altar was a broad, maximdust-strewn midway. The seedust was there for a purposealmost every man I saw was chewing tobacco.I paused for a few seconds at the top of the stairs, still on the lake side of the arch. I was afraid of what might happen to me if I passed under. Afraid of death or disappearing, yes, but broadly speaking of never universe able to return the way I had come, of being c ondemned to spend eternity as a visitor to the turn-of-the-century Fryeburg Fair. That was also like a Ray Bradbury story, now that I thought of it.In the end what drew me into that other world was Sara Tidwell. I had to see her with my own eyes. I had to watch her sing. Had to.I felt a tingling as I stepped beneath the arch, and there was a sighing in my ears, as of a million voices, very far away. Sighing in relief? consternation? I couldnt tell. All I knew for sure was that being on the other side was different the deviance between looking at a thing through a window and actually being there the difference between observing and participating.Colors jumped out like ambushers at the moment of attack. The smells which had been sweet and evocative and nostalgic on the lake side of the arch were now rough and sexy, prose instead of poetry. I could smell dense sausages and frying beef and the vast shadowy aroma of boiling chocolate. Two kids walked past me manduction a paper cone o f cotton candy. Both of them were clutching knotted hankies with their little bits of change in them. Hey kids a barker in a dark blue shirt called to them. He was wearing sleeve-garters and his smile revealed one splendid gold tooth. Knock over the milk-bottles and win a prize I ent had a bankruptcy all dayUp forrard, the Red-Tops swung into Fishin Blues. Id thought the kid on the common in Castle dis reposeation was pretty good, but this adaption made the kids sound old and slow and clueless. It wasnt cute, like an antique picture of ladies with their skirts held up to their knees, dancing a decorous version of the black bottom with the edges of their bloomers showing. It wasnt something Alan Lomax had collected with his other folk songs, just one much dusty American butterfly in a rubbish case full of them this was smut with just enough shine on it to keep the whole struttin quite a little of them out of jail. Sara Tidwell was singing nearly the dirty boogie, and I guesse d that every overalled, straw-hatted, plug-chewing, callus-handed, clod-hopper-wearing farmer standing in depend of the stage was dreaming about doing it with her, getting right tear down to where the sweat forms in the crease and the affectionateness gets hot and the pink comes glimmering through.I started walking in that kick, aware of cows mooing and sheep blatting from the exhibition barns the Fairs version of my childhood Hi-Ho Dairy-O. I walked past the shooting gallery and the ringtoss and the penny-pitch I walked past a stage where The Handmaidens of Angelina were weave in a slow, snakelike dance with their hands pressed together as a cat with a turban on his head and shoepolish on his face tooted a flute. The picture painted on stretched canvas suggested that Angelina on view inside for just one tenth of a dollar, neighbor would chip in these two look like old boots. I walked past the entrance to drug addict Alley, the corn-roasting pit, the Ghost kin, where muc h stretched canvas depicted spooks coming out of broken windows and crumbling chimneys. Everything in there is death, I thought . . . but from inside I could hear children who were very much springy laughing and squealing as they bumped into things in the dark. The older among them were likely stealing kisses. I passed the Test Your Strength pole, where the gradations leading to the brass bell at the top were marked BABY NEEDS HIS BOTTLE, SISSY, TRY AGAIN, BIG BOY, HE-MAN, and, just below the bell itself, in red HERCULES Standing at the center of a little drive a young man with red cop was removing his shirt, revealing a heavily muscled upper torso. A cigar-smoking carny held a hammer out to him. I passed the quilting stall, a tent where people were sitting on benches and playing Bingo, the baseball pitch. I passed them all and hardly noticed. I was in the zone, tranced out. Youll have to call him bottom, Jo had sometimes told Harold when he phoned, Michael is currently in the Land of Big Make-Believe. Only now nothing felt like pretend and the only thing that interested me was the stage at the base of the Ferris wheel. There were eight black folks up there on it, maybe ten. Standing at the front, wearing a guitar and whaling on it as she sang, was Sara Tidwell. She was alive. She was in her prime. She threw fend for her head and laughed at the October sky.What brought me out of this daze was a cry from behind me keep up, Mike Wait upI turned and saw Kyra running toward me, dodging around the strollers and gamesters and midway gawkers with her pudgy knees pumping. She was wearing a little white sailor boy dress with red piping and a straw hat with a navy-blue ribbon on it. In one hand she clutched Strickland, and when she got to me she threw herself confidently forward, knowing I would thingumabob her and swing her up. I did, and when her hat started to fall offi caught it and jammed it back on her head.I taggled my own quartermack, she said, and lau ghed. Again.Thats right, I said. Youre a regular Mean Joe Green. I was wearing overalls (the tail of a wash-faded blue bandanna stuck out of the bib pocket) and manure- muged workboots. I looked at Kyras white socks and saw they were homemade. I would find no discreet little label reading Made in Mexico or Made in China if I took off her straw hat and looked inside, either. This hat had been most likely Made in Motton, by some farmers married woman with red hands and achy joints.Ki, wheres Mattie?Home, I guess. She couldnt come.How did you get here?Up the stairs. It was a lot of stairs. You should have waited for me. You could have carrot me, like before. I want to hear the music.Me too. Do you know who that is, Kyra?Yes, she said, Kitos mom. Hurry up, slowcoachI walked toward the stage, thinking wed have to stand at the back of the congregation, but they parted for us as we came forward, me carrying Kyra in my arms the lovely sweet weight of her, a little Gibson Girl in her sail or dress and ribbon-accented straw hat. Her arm was curled around my neck and they parted for us like the Red Sea had parted for Moses.They didnt turn to look at us, either. They were clapping and stomping and bellowing along with the music, totally involved. They stepped deflection unconsciously, as if some kind of magnetism were at work here ours positive, theirs negative. The few women in the ring were blushing but clearly enjoying themselves, one of them laughing so hard tears were streaming down her face. She looked no more than twenty-two or -three. Kyra pointed to her and said matter-of-factly You know Matties boss at the liberry? Thats her nana.Lindy Briggss grandmother, and crisp as a daisy, I thought. Good Christ.The Red-Tops were spread across the stage and under swags of red, white, and blue drag a bunt like some time-travelling rock band. I recognized all of them from the picture in Edward Osteens book. The men wore white shirts, arm-garters, dark vests, dark pants . Son Tidwell, at the far end of the stage, was wearing the derby hed had on in the photo. Sara, though . . . wherefore is the lady wearing Matties dress? Kyra asked me, and she began to tremble.I dont know, honey. I cant say. Nor could I argue it was the white sleeveless dress Mattie had been wearing on the common, all right.On stage, the band was smoking through an subservient break. Reginald Son Tidwell strolled over to Sara, feet ambling, hands a brown blur on the strings and frets of his guitar, and she turned to face him. They put their foreheads together, she laughing and he solemn they looked into each others eyes and tried to play each other down, the clump cheering and clapping, the rest of the Red-Tops laughing as they played. Seeing them together like that, I realized that I had been right they were brother and sister. The resemblance was too strong to be missed or mistaken. But mostly what I looked at was the way her hips and butt switched in that white dress. Kyra an d I might be dressed in turn-of-the-century country clothe, but Sara was thoroughly modern Millie. No bloomers for her, no petticoats, no cotton stockings. No one seemed to notice that she was wearing a dress that stopped above her knees that she was all but naked by the standards of this time. And under Matties dress shed be wearing garments the like of which these people had never seen a Lycra bra and hip-hugger nylon panties. If I put my hands on her waist, the dress would slip not against an un absurd-coming corset but against soft bare skin. Brown skin, not white. What do you want, sugar?Sara endorse away from Son, shaking her ungirdled, unbustled keister and laughing. He strolled back to his spot and she turned to the assemblage as the band played the turnaround. She sang the next verse looking directly at me. forwards you start in fishinyou better check your line. verbalize before you start in fishin, honey,you better check on your line.Ill pull on yours, darling,and yo u best jerky on mine.The crowd roared happily. In my arms, Kyra was shaking harder than ever. Im scared, Mike, she said. I dont like that lady. Shes a scary lady. She stole Matties dress. I want to go home.It was as if Sara heard her, even over the rip and ram of the music. Her head cocked back on her neck, her lips peeled open, and she laughed at the sky. Her teeth were enlarged and yellow. They looked like the teeth of a hungry animal, and I decided I agreed with Kyra she was a scary lady.Okay, hon, I murmured in Kis ear. Were out of here.But before I could move, the sense of the woman I dont know how else to say it strike down upon me and held me. Now I understood what had shot past me in the kitchen to knock away the CARLADEAN letters the chill was the same. It was almost like identifying a person by the sound of their walk.She led the band to the turnaround once more, then into some other verse. Not one youd find in any written version of the song, thoughI aint gonna hurt her, honey,not for all the treasure in the world.Said I wouldnt hurt your baby,not for diamonds or for pearlsOnly one black-hearted bastarddare to touch that little girl.The crowd roared as if it were the funniest thing theyd ever heard, but Kyra began to cry. Sara saw this and stuck out her breasts much bigger breasts than Matties and shook them at her, laughing her trademark laugh as she did. There was a parodic coldness about this gesture . . . and an emptiness, too. A sadness. Yet I could feel no tenderness for her. It was as if the heart had been burned out of her and the sadness which remained was just another ghost, the memory of love relentless the bones of hate.And how her laughing teeth leered.Sara raised her arms over her head and this time shook it all the way down, as if reading my thoughts and mocking them. Just like jelly on a plate, as some other old song of the time has it. Her shadow wavered on the canvas backdrop, which was a photograph of Fryeburg, and as I looked at it I realized I had found the Shape from my Manderley dreams. It was Sara. Sara was the Shape and always had been.No, Mike. Thats close, but its not right.Right or wrong, Id had enough. I turned, pose my hand on the back of Kis head and urging her face down against my chest. Both her arms were around my neck now, clutching with panicky tightness.I thought Id have to bull my way back through the crowd they had let me in easily enough, but they might be a lot less amenable to letting me back out. Dont fuck with me, boys, I thought. You dont want to do that.And they didnt. On stage Son Tidwell had taken the band from E to G, someone began to bang a tambourine, and Sara went from Fishin Blues to Dog My Cats without a single pause. Out here, in front of the stage and below it, the crowd once more drew back from me and my little girl without looking at us or missing a beat as they clapped their work-swollen hands together. One young man with a port-wine stain swimming across the side of his face opened his mouth at twenty he was already missing half his teeth and hollered Yee-HAW around a melting glob of tobacco. It was Buddy Jellison from the Village Cafe, I realized . . . Buddy Jellison magically rolled back in age from sixty-eight to eighteen. Then I realized the hair was the wrong shade light brown instead of black (although he was get-up-and-go seventy and looking it in every other way, Bud hadnt a single white hair in his head). This was Buddys grandfather, maybe even his great-grandfather. I didnt give a shit either way. I only wanted to get out of here.Excuse me, I said, brushing by him. Theres no town drunk here, you meddling son of a bitch, he said, never looking at me and never missing a beat as he clapped. We all just take turns.Its a dream after all, I thought. Its a dream and that proves it.But the smell of tobacco on his breath wasnt a dream, the smell of the crowd wasnt a dream, and the weight of the frightened child in my arms wasn t a dream, either. My shirt was hot and wet where her face was pressed. She was crying.Hey, Irish Sara called from the stage, and her voice was so like Jos that I could have screamed. She wanted me to turn back I could feel her will working on the sides of my face like fingers but I wouldnt do it.I dodged around three farmers who were passing a ceramic bottle from hand to hand and then I was free of the crowd. The midway lay ahead, wide as Fifth Avenue, and at the end of it was the arch, the steps, The Street, the lake. Home. If I could get to The Street wed be safe. I was sure of it.Almost done, Irish Sara shrieked after me. She sounded angry, but not too angry to laugh. You gonna get what you want, sugar, all the comfort you deficiency, but you want to let me off my biness. Do you hear me, boy? Just stand clear Mind me, nowI began to facilitate back the way I had come, stroking Kis head, still holding her face against my shirt. Her straw hat condemnable off and when I grabbe d for it, I got nothing but the ribbon, which pulled free of the brim. No matter. We had to get out of here.On our left was the baseball pitch and some little boy shouting Willy hit it over the fence, Ma Willy hit it over the fence with monotonous, brain-croggling regularity. We passed the Bingo, where some woman howled that she had won the turkey, by glory, every number was cover with a button and she had won the turkey. Overhead, the sun dove behind a cloud and the day went dull. Our shadows disappeared. The arch at the end of the midway drew closer with maddening slowness.Are we home yet? Ki almost moaned. I want to go home, Mike, please take me home to my mommy.I will, I said. Everythings going to be all right.We were passing the Test Your Strength pole, where the young man with the red hair was putting his shirt back on. He looked at me with stolid dislike the instinctive mistrust of a inherent for an interloper, per-haps and I realized I knew him, too. Hed have a grandson n amed Dickie who would, toward the end of the century to which this fair had been dedicated, own the All-Purpose Garage on Route 68.A woman coming out of the quilting booth stopped and pointed at me. At the same moment her upper lip lifted in a dogs snarl. I knew that face, too. From where? Somewhere around town. It didnt matter, and I didnt want to know even if it did.We never should have come here, Ki moaned.I know how you feel, I said. But I dont think we had any choice, hon. We They came out of Freak Alley, by chance twenty yards ahead. I saw them and stopped. There were seven in all, long-striding men dressed in cutters clothes, but four didnt matter those four looked faded and white and ghostly. They were sick fellows, maybe dead fellows, and no more dangerous than daguerreotypes. The other three, though, were real. As real as the rest of this place, anyway. The leader was an old man wearing a faded blue Union Army cap. He looked at me with eyes I knew. Eyes I had seen measu ring me over the top of an oxygen mask.Mike? Why we stoppin?Its all right, Ki. Just keep your head down. This is all a dream. Youll wake up tomorrow morning in your own bed.Kay.The jacks spread across the midway hand to hand and boot to boot, blocking our way back to the arch and The Street. Old Blue-Cap was in the middle. The ones on either side of him were much younger, some by maybe as much as half a century. Two of the pale ones, the almost-not-there ones, were standing side-by-side to the old mans right, and I wondered if I could burst through that part of their line. I thought they were no more flesh than the thing which had thumped the insulation of the cellar wall . . . but what if I was wrong?Give her over, son, the old man said. His voice was reedy and implacable. He held out his hands. It was Max Devore, he had come back, even in death he was seeking custody. Yet it wasnt him. I knew it wasnt. The planes of this mans face were subtly different, the cheeks gaunter, the eye s a brighter blue.Where am I? I called to him, accenting the last word heavily, and in front of Angelinas booth, the man in the turban (a Hindu who mayhap hailed from Sandusky, Ohio) put down his flute and simply watched. The snake-girls stopped dancing and watched, too, slipping their arms around each other and drawing together for comfort. Where am I, Devore? If our great-grandfathers shit in the same pit, then where am I?Aint here to answer your questions. Give her over.Ill take her, Jared, one of the younger men-one of those who were really there said. He looked at Devore with a kind of fawning eagerness that sickened me, mostly because I knew who he was Bill Deans father. A man who had grown up to be one of the most respected elders in Castle County was all but licking Devores boots.Dont think too badly of him, Jo whispered. Dont think too badly of any of them. They were very young.You dont need to do nothing, Devore said. His reedy voice was irritated Fred Dean looked abashed . Hes going to hand her over on his own. And if he dont, well take her together.I looked at the man on the far left, the third of those that seemed totally real, totally there. Was this me? It didnt look like me. There was something in the face that seemed familiar but Hand her over, Irish, Devore said. Last chance.No.Devore nodded as if this was exactly what he had expected. Then well take her. This has got to end. Come on, boys.They started toward me and as they did I realized who the one on the end the one in the caulked treewalker boots and flannel loggers pants reminded me of Kenny Auster, whose wolfhound would eat cake til it busted. Kenny Auster, whose baby brother had been drowned under the pump by Kennys father.I looked behind me. The Red-Tops were still playing, Sara was still laughing, shaking her hips with her hands in the sky, and the crowd was still plugging the east end of the midway. That way was no good, anyway. if I went that way, Id end up raising a little girl in the early years of the twentieth century, trying to make a animation by writing penny dreadfuls and dime novels. That might not be so bad . . . but there was a lonely young woman miles and years from here who would miss her. Who might even miss us both.I turned back and saw the jackboys were almost on me. Some of them more here than others, more vital, but all of them dead. All of them damned. I looked at the towhead whose descendants would include Kenny Auster and asked him, What did you do? What in Christs name did you men do?He held out his hands. Give her over, Irish. Thats all you have to do. You and the woman can have more. All the more you want. Shes young, shell pop em out like watermelon seeds.I was hypnotized, and they would have taken us if not for Kyra. Whats happening? she screamed against my shirt. Something smells Something smells so bad Oh Mike, make it stopAnd I realized I could smell it, too. Spoiled meat and swampgas. Burst tissue and simmering guts. Devore wa s the most alive of all of them, generating the same crude but powerful magnetism I had felt around his great-grandson, but he was as dead as the rest of them, too as he neared I could see the tiny bugs which were feeding in his nostrils and the pink corners of his eyes. Everything down here is death, I thought. Didnt my own wife tell me so?They reached out their tenebrous hands, first to touch Ki and then to take her. I backed up a step, looked to my right, and saw more ghosts some coming out of busted windows, some slipping from redbrick chimneys. Holding Kyra in my arms, I ran for the Ghost House.Get him Jared Devore yelled, startled. Get him, boys Get that punk GoddamnitI sprinted up the wooden steps, vaguely aware of something soft rubbing against my cheek Kis little stuffed dog, still clutched in one of her hands. I wanted to look back and see how close they were getting, but I didnt dare. If I stumbled Hey the woman in the ticket booth cawed. She had clouds of gingery hair, makeup that appeared to have been applied with a garden-trowel, and mercifully resembled no one I knew. She was just a carny, just passing through this benighted place. favourable her. Hey, mister, you gotta buy a ticketNo time, lady, no time.Stop him Devore shouted. Hes a goddam punk pirate That aint his young un hes got Stop him But no one did and I rushed into the darkness of the Ghost House with Ki in my arms.Beyond the entry was a passage so narrow I had to turn sideways to get down it. Phosphorescent eyes glared at us in the gloom. Up ahead was a growing wooden rumble, a loose sound with a clacking chain beneath it. arse us came the clumsy thunder of caulk-equipped loggers boots rushing up the stairs outside. The ginger-haired carny was hollering at them now, she was telling them that if they broke anything inside theyd have to give up the goods. You mind me, you damned rubes she shouted. That place is for kids, not the likes of youThe rumble was directly ahead of us. Some thing was act. At first I couldnt make out what it was.Put me down, Mike Kyra sounded excited. I want to go through by myselfI set her on her feet, then looked nervously back over my shoulder. The bright light at the entryway was blocked out as they tried to cram in.You asses Devore yelled. Not all at the same time Sweet weeping Jesus There was a feeling and someone cried out. I faced front just in time to see Kyra dart through the rolling barrel, holding her hands out for balance. Incredibly, she was laughing.I followed, got halfway across, then went down with a thump.Ooops Kyra called from the far side, then giggled as I tried to get up, fell again, and was tumbled all the way over. The bandanna fell out of my bib pocket. A bag of horehound candy dropped from another pocket. I tried to look back, to see if they had got themselves sorted out and were coming. When I did, the barrel hurled me through another inadvertent somersault. Now I knew how clothes felt in a dryer.I crawled t o the end of the barrel, got up, took Kis hand, and let her lead us deeper into the Ghost House. We got perhaps ten paces before white bloomed around her like a lily and she screamed. Some animal something that sounded like a huge cat hissed heavily. Adrenaline dumped into my bloodstream and I was about to jerk her backward into my arms again when the hiss came once more. I felt hot air on my ankles, and Kis dress made that bell-shape around her legs again. This time she laughed instead of screaming.Go, Ki I whispered. Fast.We went on, leaving the steam-vent behind. There was a mirrored corridor where we were reflected first as squat dwarves and then as scrawny ectomorphs with long white vampire features. I had to urge Kyra on again she wanted to make faces at herself. Behind us, I heard cursing lumberjacks trying to manage the barrel. I could hear Devore cursing, too, but he no eight-day seemed so . . . well, so eminent.There was a sliding-pole that landed us on a big canvas pi llow. This made a loud malarkey noise when we hit it, and Ki laughed until fresh tears spilled down her cheeks, rolling around and kicking her feet in glee. I got my hands under her arms and yanked her up.Dont taggle yer own quartermack, she said, then laughed again. Her fear seemed to have entirely departed.We went down another narrow corridor. It smelled of the fragrant pine from which it had been constructed. Behind one of these walls, two ghosts were clanking chains as mechanically as men working on a shoe-factory assembly line, talking about where they were going to take their girls tonight and who was going to bring some red-eye engine, whatever that was. I could no longer hear anyone behind us. Kyra led the way confidently, one of her little hands holding one of my big ones, pulling me along. When we came to a accession painted with glowing flames and marked THIS WAY TO HADES, she pushed through it with no distrust at all. Here red isinglass topped the passage like a tinte d skylight, imparting a rosy glow I thought far too pleasant for Hades.We went on for what felt like a very long time, and I realized I could no longer hear the calliope, the affable bong of the Test Your Strength bell, or Sara and the Red-Tops. Nor was that exactly surprising. We must have walked a quarter of a mile. How could any county fair Ghost House be so big?We came to three doors then, one on the left, one on the right, and one set into the end of the corridor. On one a little red tricycle was painted. On the door facing it was my green IBM typewriter. The picture on the door at the end looked older, somehow faded and dowdy. It showed a childs sled. Thats Scooter Larribees, I thought. Thats the one Devore stole. A rash of gooseflesh broke out on my arms and back.Well, Kyra said brightly, here are our toys. She lifted Strickland, presumably so he could see the red trike.Yeah, I said. I guess so.Thank you for taking me away, she said. Those were scary men but the spookyhouse was fun. Nighty-night. Stricken says nighty-night, too. It still came out sounding exotic tiu like the Vietnamese word for sublime happiness.Before I could say another word, she had pushed open the door with the trike on it and stepped through. It snapped shut behind her, and as it did I saw the ribbon from her hat. It was hanging out of the bib pocket of the overalls I was wearing. I looked at it a moment, then tried the knob of the door she had just gone through. It wouldnt turn, and when I slapped my hand against the wood it was like slapping some hard and fabulously dense metal. I stepped back, then cocked my head in the direction from which wed come. There was nothing. Total silence.This is the between-time, I thought. When people talk about slipping through the cracks, this is what they really mean. This is the place where they really go.You better get going yourself, Jo told me. If you dont want to find yourself trapped here, maybe forever, you better get going yourself.I tried the knob of the door with the typewriter painted on it. It turned easily. Behind it was another narrow corridor more wooden walls and the sweet smell of pine. I didnt want to go in there, something about it made me think of a long coffin, but there was nothing else to do, nowhere else to go. I went, and the door slammed shut behind me.Christ, I thought. Im in the dark, in a closed-in place . . . its time for one of Michael Noonan s world-famous panic attacks.But no bands clamped themselves over my chest, and although my heart-rate was high and my muscles were still jacked on adrenaline, I was under control. Also, I realized, it wasnt entirely dark. I could only see a little, but enough to make out the walls and the display board floor. I wrapped the dark blue ribbon from Kis hat around my wrist, tucking one end underneath so it wouldnt come loose. Then I began to move forward.I went on for a long time, the corridor turning this way and that, seemingly at random. I felt like a microbe slipping through an intestine. At last I came to a pair of wooden arched doorways. I stood before them, query which was the correct choice, and realized I could hear Bunters bell faintly through the one to my left. I went that way and as I walked, the bell grew steadily louder. At some point the sound of the bell was conjugated by the mutter of thunder. The autumn cool had left the air and it was hot again stifling. I looked down and saw that the biballs and clodhopper shoes were gone. I was wearing thermal underwear and itchy socks.Twice more I came to choices, and each time I picked the opening through which I could hear Bunters bell. As I stood before the second pair of doorways, I heard a voice somewhere in the dark say quite clearly No, the Presidents wife wasnt hit. Thats his blood on her stockings.I walked on, then stopped when I realized my feet and ankles no longer itched, that my thighs were no longer sweating into the longjohns. I was wearing the Jockey bloo mers I usually slept in. I looked up and saw I was in my own living room, threading my way carefully around the furniture as you do in the dark, trying like hell not to stub your stupid toe. I could see a little better faint milky light was coming in through the windows. I reached the counter which separates the living room from the kitchen and looked over it at the waggy-cat clock. It was v past five.I went to the sink and turned on the water. When I reached for a glass I saw I was still wearing the ribbon from Kis straw hat on my wrist. I unwound it and put it on the counter between the coffee-maker and the kitchen TV. Then I drew myself some cold water, drank it down, and made my way cautiously along the north-wing corridor by the pallid yellow glow of the bathroom nightlight. I peed (you-rinated, I could hear Ki saying), then went into the bedroom. The sheets were rumpled, but the bed didnt have the orgiastic look of the morning after my dream of Sara, Mattie, and Jo. Why woul d it? Id gotten out of it and had myself a little sleepwalk. An extraordinarily vivid dream of the Fryeburg Fair.Except that was bullshit, and not just because I had the blue silk ribbon from Kis hat. None of it had the quality of dreams on waking, where what seemed plausible becomes immediately ridiculous and all the colors both those bright and those ominous fade at once. I raised my hands to my face, cupped them over my nose, and surd deeply. Pine. When I looked, I even saw a little smear of sap on one pinky finger.I sat on the bed, thought about dictating what Id just experienced into the Memo-Scriber, then flopped back on the pillows instead. I was too tired. Thunder rumbled. I closed my eyes, began to drift away, and then a scream ripped through the house. It was as sharp as the neck of a broken bottle. I sat up with a yell, clutching at my chest.It was Jo. I had never heard her scream like that in our life together, but I knew who it was, just the same. Stop hurting her I shouted into the darkness. Whoever you are, stop hurting herShe screamed again, as if something with a knife, clamp, or hot poker took a malicious delight in disobeying me. It seemed to come from a distance this time, and her third scream, while just as agonized as the first two, was farther away still. They were lessen as the little boys sobbing had diminished.A fourth scream floated out of the dark, then Sara was silent. Breathless, the house aphonic around me. Alive in the heat, aware in the faint sound of dawn thunder.