Saturday, November 23, 2019
Federalism and the United States Constitution
Federalism and the United States Constitution Federalism is a compound system of government in which a single, central or â€Å"federal†government is combined with regional government units such as states or provinces in a single political confederation. In this context, federalism can be defined as a system of government in which powers are divided among two levels of government of equal status. In the United States, for example, the system of federalism - as created by the U.S. Constitution - divides powers between the national government and the various state and territorial governments. How Federalism Came to the Constitution While Americans take federalism for granted today, its inclusion in the Constitution did not come without considerable controversy. The so-called Great Debate over federalism took the spotlight on May 25, 1787, when 55 delegates representing 12 of the original 13 U.S. states gathered in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention. New Jersey was the lone state that chose not to send a delegation. The main goal of the Convention was to revise the Articles of Confederation, adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, shortly after the end of the Revolutionary War. As the nation’s first written constitution, the Articles of Confederation provided for a decidedly weak federal government with more significant powers granted to the states. Among the most glaring of these weaknesses were: Each state - regardless of its population - got only one vote in Congress.There was only one chamber of Congress rather than a House and Senate.All laws required a 9/13 supermajority vote to pass in Congress.Members of Congress were appointed by the state legislatures rather than elected by the people.Congress had no power to levy taxes or regulate foreign and interstate commerce.There was no executive branch provided to enforce laws passed by Congress.There was no Supreme Court or a lower national court system.Amendments to the Articles of Confederation required a unanimous vote of the states. The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation had been the caused a seemingly endless series of conflicts between the states, especially in the areas of interstate trade and tariffs. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention hoped the new covenant they were crafting would prevent such disputes. However, the new Constitution finally signed by the Founding Fathers in 1787 needed to be ratified by at least nine of the 13 states in order to take effect. This would prove to be far harder than the document’s supporters had expected. A Great Debate Over Power Erupts As one of the most impactful aspects of the Constitution, the concept of federalism was considered extremely innovative - and controversial - in 1787. Federalism’s sharing of powers by both the national and state governments was viewed to be in stark contrast to the â€Å"unitary†system of government practiced for centuries in Great Britain. Under such unitary systems, the national government allows local governments very limited powers to govern themselves or their residents. Thus, it is not surprising that Articles of Confederation, coming so soon after the end of Britain’s often tyrannical unitary control of colonial America, would provide for an extremely weak national government. Many newly-independent Americans, including some tasked with drafting the new Constitution, simply did not trust a strong national government - a lack of trust that resulted in a Great Debate. Taking place both during the Constitutional Convention and later during the state ratification process, The Great Debate over federalism pitted the Federalists against the Anti-Federalists. Headed by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, the Federalists favored a strong national government, while the Anti-Federalists, led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, favored a weaker U.S. government leaving more power to the states. Opposed to the new Constitution, the Anti-Federalists argued that the document’s provision of federalism promoted a corrupt government, with the three separate branches constantly battling each other for control. In addition, the Anti-Federalists stirred fear among the people that a strong national government might allow the President of the United States to act as a virtual king. In defending the new Constitution, Federalist leader James Madison wrote in the â€Å"Federalist Papers†that the system of government created by the document would be â€Å"neither wholly national nor wholly federal.†Madison argued that federalism’s system of shared powers would prevent each state from acting as its own sovereign nation with the power to override the laws of the Confederation. Indeed, the Articles of Confederation had unequivocally stated, â€Å"Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.†Federalism Wins the Day On September 17, 1787, the proposed Constitution - including its provision for federalism - was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention and sent to the states for ratification. Under Article VII, the new Constitution would not become binding until it had been approved by the legislatures of at least nine of the 13 states.  In a purely tactical move, the Federalist supporters of the Constitution began the ratification process in those states where they had encountered little or no opposition, postponing the more difficult states until later. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. Effective March 4, 1789, the United States officially became governed by the provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Rhode Island became the thirteenth and final state to ratify the Constitution on May 29, 1790. The Debate Over the Bill of Rights Along with the Great Debate over federalism, a controversy arose during the ratification process over the Constitution’s perceived failure to protect the basic rights of American citizens. Led by Massachusetts, several states argued that the new Constitution failed to protect the basic individual rights and freedoms that the British Crown had denied the American colonists -  the freedoms of speech, religion, assembly, petition, and the press. In addition, these states also objected to the lack of powers granted to the states. In order to ensure ratification, supporters of the Constitution agreed to create and include the Bill of Rights, which at the time, included twelve rather than 10 amendments. Mainly to appease Anti-Federalists who feared that the U.S. Constitution would give the federal government total control over the states, Federalist leaders agreed to add the Tenth Amendment, which specifies that, â€Å"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.† Updated by Robert Longley
Thursday, November 21, 2019
NUR 654 Class Evaluation Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
NUR 654 Class Evaluation - Personal Statement Example Public Policies, I can say, overrule Nursing practice. In fact, going by the various policies that were reviewed through NUR 654, it is blatant that Nursing is at the mercies of the Public Policies. The policies can either lift the standards of nursing or bring it down. For instance, Representative Manny Diaz had sponsored a House bill that, in my opinion, would lift the face of Nursing in the State of Florida by liberating the experienced nurses. Before then, the prior laws had tied their hands. From a personal perspective, the policies are both constructive and destructive. These policies have been very instrumental in curbing the emergence of fraudulent nurses. The policies have always aimed at the perfection of nursing practice. For instance, even as HB 547 sought for the liberation of nurses, it still emphasized that a nurse must be under a strict supervision for a period not less 2000 hours in 3 years. This step is just to ensure that perfection is achieved for the good of the public. However, who formulates these policies and how they are passed into laws is a debatable matter. How can a legislator who has never stepped into a Nursing class, for instance, sit down and design policies that guide the practice? What does he or she know about nursing practice? I find this a weakness in the making of public policies. I suggest that policies that govern nursing be drafted by a panel of nurses, with little political and public
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Case study for Tourism and hospitality Workforce Essay
Case study for Tourism and hospitality Workforce - Essay Example Customers determine where they need to be served. Employees need to know this because hotels operate in the service industry (Hsu, 2005). The main point is for the front office staff to know the visitors before and after opening the guest door. It is imperative for employees to always be alert and aware of what goes around them. This is the reason Joe engages with employee selection, recruitment, and training. Interpersonal communication The hiring process marks the start of getting a good front office employee. Since the size of the hotel is small, Joe takes over the responsibilities of the human resources management. He runs the functions that include job analysis, recruiting, and evaluation (Hotel, Catering & Institutional Management Association, 2011). When he carries out these duties, Joe closes the gap between the actual performance and the perfect necessities of the hotel to attain superior organizational success through profitability (Rhodri, 2010). Joe achieves this by enhan cing hotel objectives that utilize, develop, and train employees. Joe grew through the ranks from a front office employee to a General Manager. Therefore, he understands the primary factors of success in the hotel, tourism, and hospitality industry. His involvement in almost the entire process of acquiring and developing employees serves as a motivational factor to the success of Sunrise hotel. Interpersonal communication initiatives motivates employees, maximizes their abilities, and in the process increases productivity and economic outcomes (Kerr, 2012). It creates a working environment where employees become creative, innovative, develop teamwork, and spirit. The channels of communication at Sunrise hotel are clear indicators of the importance of interpersonal communication. Motivation Joe’s actions and management style help Sunrise hotel to maintain a very low rate of employee turnover that is at twenty-five percent. It is not surprising that a bigger size of the twenty- five percent goes to students on internship and attachment that leave to develop their careers elsewhere (Croatian Tourist Board & Institute for Tourism, 2010). The rest of employees tend to associate more with the success of Sunrise hotel than individual success. Joe makes sure that through his polices, employees integrate their plans with both hotel objectives and strategies. Strategically, Sunrise hotel employees manage to develop a new working culture, style, organizational structure that targets success (Rosyidie, 2012). Their quality and commitment as well as motivation contribute fully to the realization of Sunrise hotel goals. Joe’s system of running affairs has various crucial benefits. Some of the benefits are general and do not require complex strategies. His management style helps Sunrise hotel to manage its workforce in a better and more efficient way. This method makes sure that every employee puts his or her major target as customer satisfaction. The hotel ensu res that employees use their potential to the maximum and in the process perform their work better. Leadership Style Joe focuses mainly on hotel profitability and employee development. This results in high degree of workforce management and efficiency. Courtesy of Joe, Sunrise hotel has an almost perfect yet modest structure of organizational change. His efficiency justifies the
Sunday, November 17, 2019
The Status Of E-Commerce Essay Example for Free
The Status Of E-Commerce Essay Introduction            This chapter present the findings of the survey completed. The survey was conducted through the distribution of questionnaires. Such instrument contained three parts with a total of 21 questions. Each part dealt with a distinct subject matter which is vital and relevant to the aims of this research. All questions are centered on online shopping through Chinese websites and the attitudes and beliefs of people that influence their choices. The discussion will follow the flow of the questionnaire beginning with demographical questions.            A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed. However, only 221 were considered valid. The remaining 29 were either never returned or invalid due to the incomplete answers or information. Demographics of the Sample            Determining the demographic characteristics of the respondents is a vital element of any research. Such demographic information allows the researcher to create a profile of the sample. Furthermore, demographic characteristics may influence certain responses from the sample which may then lead to vital information for the research.            Of the 221 respondents, 125 were male and 96 were female. These figures are conducive to the study as the sample is not dominated by either gender. The ages of the respondents were varied. However, the greatest number of respondents placed their age between 19 and 29. 82 responded that they were between 19 and 29 while 63 responded that they were between 30 and 39. Shown below are the graphs of such findings: It was also determined that most of the respondents held undergraduate degrees. 82 members of the sample placed their educational background at the undergraduate postgraduate level. Likewise, only 18 of the respondents said that they did not finish high school. The graph below shows the breakdown of the sample based on educational background: The following question dealt with the monthly income of the members of the sample. 31.67% of the sample placed their income in the 2000 to 4000 RMB bracket while 25.34% said that the income was in the range of 4000 to 6000 RMB. Only 19 respondents placed their income to be less than 2000 RMB a month. The following chart provides an illustration of such findings: With such demographic information provided, a profile of the sample can then be created. Based on the given demographic data, it can be assumed that majority of the sample is made up of professionals who hold jobs that provide sufficient or more than sufficient income. Also, these individuals are well-educated which would mean that they are up-to-date with the present trends and technologies. The monthly income is highly relevant for it is a determinant of the dispensable income that is used purchase goods and services that are offered through e-commerce websites. The age of the respondents is likewise vital for people between the ages of 18 and 39 have been identified as the most likely to make online purchases. (Pew Internet, 2008)            The demographic profile of the sample reflects the widely acknowledged belief that online shoppers are younger, better educated, and high income earners. As Pew Internet (2008) stated, â€Å"Some expected demographic factors account for some of the differences between online shoppers and other internet users. Online purchasers tend to be younger, better educated, and higher-income than those who have not bought a product over the internet.†Internet Usage and Online Shopping            The next segment of the survey aimed to gather data on the respondents’ internet usage and online shopping. The survey reveals that most of the respondents are seasoned users of the internet. As the graph below would show, most of the member of the sample have been using the internet for more than 3 years. Specifically, all of the respondents have used the internet with almost 78% of them acknowledging that they have used the internet for more than three years.  Not only are the respondents seasoned users of the internet, they are frequent users as well. Question 6 aimed to gather information as to how often the respondents used the internet. Out of 221 responses, 104 indicated that they use the internet daily while 75 answered that they accessed the worldwide web weekly. The responses show that the internet is an integral part of the everyday life of the respondents. For the majority of them, not a week goes by without them accessing the internet. Such data is graphically shown below: Respondents were likewise asked to state whether they have ever made an online purchase. 155 said yes while 66 said that they have yet to complete an online transaction. This means that 70 percent of the respondents have had experience using e-commerce websites. Thus, the information that they would share will be extremely valuable for their opinions would be based on actual experiences. Also, another question in the survey asked those respondents who have made an online purchase to indicate when their last online transaction was. 95 out of the 155 who said yes answered that their last online purchase was a month ago. This figure represents 61% of the total number of respondents who have made an online purchase. Provided below is the graph of the said data: What such data indicates is that online shopping has yet to become a habit for the respondents. Despite their frequent use of the internet, actual online purchases do not occur that often. This likewise shows that online shopping is not the primary purpose of internet usage.  Such finding is further strengthened by the information shown in the following graph. The answers to question 8 indicate that the respondents use the internet for reasons other than online shopping. 45% of the responses show that the participants only have occasional use of the internet to look for products or items to buy. These figures strengthen the earlier assertion made. They indicate that people have yet to fully utilize the internet for online shopping. The responses to question 8 are summarized below: It is evident that online shopping has yet to become a habit for the Chinese. Although they are habitual users of the internet, online shopping is not their primary purpose for accessing the worldwide web.            Having established the frequency of online shopping among the respondents, it is vital to determine how much they like online shopping. Question 10 in the survey specifically dealt with this matter. The responses gathered reveal that the respondents are not very akin to online shopping. 70 respondents rated that they only somewhat like online shopping and only 6 responded that they liked online shopping very much. Also, 34% of the respondents acknowledged that they were not so much fond of online shopping.  The graph below provides a detailed view of the responses: These responses reveal that there is hesitation on the part of the respondents about online shopping. Although they did not clearly reject the idea of purchasing products through e-commerce websites, the majority of them were uncertain as to how much they liked online shopping. There are reasons as to why such hesitation exists. It is critical that such reasons be explored as analyzing such information is vital to the achievement of the objectives of this research.            In question 11, respondents were asked to state the reasons why they purchase online. They were required to rate the given reasons on the basis of importance on a scale of 1 to 8 with options given a rating of 1 being the most important. Respondents were given 8 options and were given the freedom to pick and rate as many reasons as they want. To determine which reason was deemed as the most important reason for shopping online, the researcher devised a scoring scheme. A rating of 1 was given a score of 8. The score decreases as the level increases. Based on this scheme, if an option is given a rating of 8, it will gain a score of 1. The following table summarizes the point system: RATING GIVEN EQUIVALENT NUMBER OF POINTS 1 (Most Important) 8 2 7 3 6 4 5 5 4 6 3 7 2 8 (Least Important) 1 Based on the given point system, the score of each option were determined. This involved multiplying the number of responses for a given option at a given level/rating by the corresponding score/points. The sum of scores of a given option at the different levels is the total score of the said option. This process determined the option that was given the highest rating. The total score determines how important the respondents perceived the reason to be. Such method revealed that the most important reason why the respondents shopped online was the convenience of online shopping. Convenience received a score of 1087. This score was far greater than the rest since the next highest score was 793. This is the score accumulated by the reason that people shop online for items that are not available in local shops. The reason that had the lowest score is curiosity, which only garnered 57 points. The graph below summarizes the results of the said question: It is clear that the people shop online primarily because they find it convenient. Since online shopping does not require them to physically be at the shop, they can make purchases from anywhere and from any store online.            Another important factor that the questionnaire dealt with was the products that consumers commonly purchase from e-commerce websites. The 12th question in the survey aimed to gather such data. Respondents were asked to identify the products or services that they usually buy online. They were free to choose as many products or services as they want. The responses to the said question are summarized in the following graph: From the graph above, it can be seen that two types of products are commonly purchased online. Books and accessories were chosen 132 and 122 times respectively. It must be noted that these were the only two choices which had more than 100 respondents. The product that had the least number of responses was second hand goods, which was picked by only 28 respondents. This result is critical for auction sites which are the common sources of second hand goods. However, elaborating on such finding is beyond the coverage of this research.            Just as the respondents were asked to name the reasons why they choose to shop online, they were likewise asked to state the probable reasons why they would not purchase products or services offered through the internet. The results of question 13, which deals with this subject are vital for it will help explain the hesitation of respondents with online shopping as revealed in the discussion of the 10th question of the survey. (see page 8 of this section) Respondents were given 16 different reasons as to why they would not shop online. They were asked to rate their choice in terms of importance with options given a rating of 1 as the most important reason why they would choose not to complete online purchases. Furthermore, they were allowed to pick and rate as many options as they want. Since this question involves ratings, the results will be evaluated using the same methodology that this researcher utilized for question 11 of the survey. The same point system will be used. Although respondents had 13 different ratings to choose from, only ratings 1 to 8 received at least one response. Therefore, the researcher decided not to include ratings 9 to 13 in the evaluation and the same point system earlier described will utilized. The results of the evaluation, specifically the total points for each of the options given are graphed below: It is evident from the graph that the respondents were hesitant about shopping online because of the uncertainty with the quality of products that are sold in e-commerce websites. Such reason received a score of 1,243, the highest score among the given choices. The results also indicate that part of the reason why people refuse to shop online is their uncertainty over the security and privacy of the personal information they are required to give out when making online purchases. The following choices and their corresponding scores refer to security issues associated with online purchases: I worry about people may misuse my personal details 882 I do not trust online payment systems 862 I worry about someone may steal my credit card details online 714 I feel unsafe to provide personal information online 649 I do not trust e-commerce companies 574 These options obtained 5 out of the top 7 scores. Such finding is highly significant for it pinpoints a critical concern regarding online shopping, the security of personal and financial information. Furthermore, this result reveals the need to address such security concerns in order to better ensure the safety of online shoppers.            Another question that the respondents were asked to answer was whether they have had a bad experience with online shopping. This was succeeded by a question asking those who have had bad experiences to describe such. Of the 221 responses, 83% said that they have yet to have a bad experience with online shopping. The 17% or 38 respondents who declared that they have had a bad experience with online shopping were asked to describe their experience. The results of such question and the preceding question are shown below: Question 15: Please you briefly describe the experience           No response when I required the vender to replace the goods. 19 Network outage issues. 4 Vendor delayed refund when I return the goods. 15 The results indicate that online shoppers commonly have trouble after the sale has been made. Dealing with the vendors after the sale has been completed is the problem that often arises that thereby leads to the online shopper having a bad experience. The results of question 15 are indicative of this finding since 34 out of the 38 responses named vendor-related issues.            The same respondents who said that they have had a bad experience with online shopping were asked, in question 16, to indicate what such bad experience led them to do. It is important to note that not one of the 38 respondents said that the experience led them to stop shopping from the Chinese e-commerce websites completely. Instead, 21 out of the 38 respondents said that their bad experience made them more careful in dealing with and completing online transactions with Chinese e-commerce websites. Such finding indicates that bad experiences with vendors do not deter people from continuing to shop online. Instead, such bad experiences only heighten the shoppers’ awareness of the risks or possible issues that they need to look out for when shopping from such websites. Preferred Payment method = Security            Questions 17 and 18 focused on the payment method preferred and the reason why they preferred such method. The results of question 17 show that payment on delivery was the most preferred payment method by online shoppers as 117 of the 221 respondents chose it. Paypal was the second most preferred method with 56 responses. Respondents indicated that their choice of payment method is influenced primarily by the security that such payment method. 218 out of 221 respondents cited â€Å"Most Secured†as their reason for picking the payment method they prefer. Payment on delivery is indeed the most secure method since the shopper need not worry about paying for the item and not receiving it. It is the most guaranteed method since it does not put the shopper’s money at risk.       In the next question, the respondents were asked to determine how relevant certain factors are to their confidence in Chinese e-commerce websites. For each given factor, the respondents were asked to state how much they agree or disagree with the statement. The table below summarizes the responses to the said question: The table reveals several critical findings. First, it shows that most people are wary of the information contained in websites. In other words, the respondents are uncertain of the website’s contents. Product quality is also a major concern of online shoppers. This finding is consistent with the results of earlier questions in the survey.            The final two questions in the survey dealt with the respondent’s opinion on security and trust issues with regards to e-commerce websites and the relevant steps that they believe should be taken to address such critical issue. All of the respondents agree that the trust issues of Chinese e-commerce sites should be addressed and tackled. All 221 respondents stated that tackling such issues is important for the improvement and development of Chinese e-commerce websites.            The last question of the survey asked the respondents to give their recommendations as to how the trust issues of Chinese e-commerce websites should be addressed. They were likewise asked to determine the rank of their reasons from 1 to 10 with 1 being the most important and 10 being the least important reason. The table below presents the summary of results for the said question: From the data gathered, it is apparent that people see the need for e-commerce laws in China to be established. Furthermore, most of the recommendations that the respondents chose or cited are related to the laws that govern e-commerce in China. Thus, it is evident that they believe that protecting the welfare of online consumers is the duty of the Chinese government. Among the ten recommendations listed, the two that were picked as most important on more occasions are those that concern government duty in the process. Summary            The discussion has shown that Chinese internet users, although seasoned and experienced users of the internet, are not keen on making online purchases. Based on the data gathered, it is evident that their hesitation to purchase goods online is rooted in their concerns over the security of their information and on the possibility that the websites are fraudulent. Furthermore, the survey revealed that trust is a very critical issue to internet users. Finally, the survey showed that Chinese online shoppers believe that it is the China’s government’s duty to protect the welfare of online shoppers through the establishment of relevant laws and policies. References Pew Internet. Online Shopping: Internet users like the convenience but worry about the security of their financial information. Feb. 2008. Retrieved online 18 Aug 2008 from: http://www.pewinternet.org.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
The Supernatural in H.P. Lovecraft’s The Outsider Essay -- Lovecraft
The Supernatural in H.P. Lovecraft’s The Outsider One of H.P. Lovecraft’s many short stories, â€Å"The Outsider†has been praised since its publication as his most profound and meaningful. This story has been interpreted many different ways, varying from an autobiography of Lovecraft himself to several different philosophical analyses. One such interpretation, by Dirk Mosig compares the plot and settings of â€Å"The Outsider†to Lovecraft’s own doubtful views of religion and an afterlife. Mosig supports his interpretation with many facts from the story, I believe he pinpoints one very possible meaning of the story. His argument successfully uses the plot and details to convince the reader that his hypothesis is correct. In order to understand Mosig’s interpretation, one must first understand â€Å"The Outsider†and its general themes, from an unbiased viewpoint. The story begins with the narrator explaining his origins. He, a nameless creature, tells of his environment: a dark, decaying castle amid an â€Å"endless forest†of high, lightless trees. (Lovecraft) He has never seen light, nor a single living human being. He lives among crypts lined with decomposing bones and rats. He never mentions eating, but lives alone, with only the thousands of books that the castle holds as a mental way to escape from the boredom of his prison-like home. Everything he know has come from his reading of the â€Å"antique books†that line the walls of his castle. (Lovecraft) There is no escape from his world save one tall tower which seems to reach above the soaring treetops. He explains that he had once tried to escape through the forest, but became scared in the endless woods and returned before he became lost. He has... ... It seems strange that H.P. Lovecraft, who made his fortune from stories about the supernatural, would be seen as not believing in the subject which made him famous. This may subtract from Mosig’s arguments. Also, other sources suggest that this should be read as a horror story; not just for the people who saw the outsider, but also for himself, when he realized his own fate and past. Dirk Mosig’s arguments are convincing however, and his interpretation makes good sense with the complex story that is â€Å"The Outsider.†Works Cited Lovecraft, Howard Phillips. â€Å"The Outsider.†H.P. Lovecraft Library. 1921. 6 Nov. 2002 . Mosig, Dirk W. â€Å"The Four Faces of The Outsider.†Discovering H.P. Lovecraft. Ed. Darrell Schweitzer. Mercer Island, Washington: Starmont House, 1987. 6754
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 18
My dream-self sprinted out of the kitchen and toward the sound of the crying. Aubrey and the mystery cat jerked their heads up, surprised at my sudden movement. On the other side of the living room, the little girl sat on the floor beside an end table with sharp corners, a small hand pressed to her forehead. Tears streamed down her checks as she wailed. In a flash, my dream-self was on her knees and had wrapped the little girl up in a tight embrace. I could feel what the other Georgina felt, and I nearly wept as well over the feel of that soft, warm body in my arms. My dream-self rocked the girl, murmuring soothing, nonsensical words as she brushed her lips against the silken hair. Eventually, the girl's sobs stopped, and she rested her head against my dream-self's chest, content to simply be loved and rocked. I opened my eyes and stared at Seth's plain white ceiling. He lay beside me, curled up near my body and still smelling like the massage oil. Even awake, the dream's images were still strong and so real. I knew exactly how my daughter's hair had felt, the way she smelled, the rhythm of her heart. My own heart pined so much for her that I could almost ignore the fact that last night's energy was now gone. This was turning into a real problem. I sat up, gently pushing Seth off of me. But as I tried to figure out what to do about this latest dream, a strange thought kept pressing into the back of my head. Erik. I couldn't stop thinking about Erik. It was nothing in particular, either. No specific problem. But, whenever I tried to think about something else – my job, the energy loss, Seth – it was Erik's face that appeared in my head. I didn't understand it, but it worried me. Seth's arms reached for me as I slipped out of bed, but I skillfully avoided them. Grabbing my cell phone out of my purse, I headed off toward the living room. No one answered when I dialed Arcana, Ltd. It was almost ten†¦usually he was open by then. I called information in search of Erik's home number, but it appeared to be unlisted. A sense of dread was building in me. Desperate, I dialed Dante's store. â€Å"Dante, I think something's happened to Erik, but I don't have his home number and – â€Å" â€Å"Whoa, whoa, succubus. Slow down. Start from the beginning.†Backing up, I explained how I'd dreamed again and woken up obsessed with Erik. â€Å"Maybe it's nothing, but after the drowning thing†¦I don't know. Do you have his home number?†â€Å"Yeah,†Dante said after several moments. â€Å"I do. I'll†¦I'll check on him for you and give you a call back.†â€Å"Thanks, Dante. I mean it.†I disconnected as a sleepy Seth stepped out of the bedroom. â€Å"Who's Dante? Was that a collect call to the Inferno?†â€Å"They won't accept the charges,†I murmured, still troubled. Seth's face turned serious. â€Å"What's wrong?†I hesitated, not because I was afraid to tell him about Dante but because I didn't know if I wanted him caught up in all of this. â€Å"It involves immortal intrigue,†I warned. â€Å"And the higher workings of the universe.†â€Å"I live for those things,†he said wryly, settling into an armchair. â€Å"Tell me.†So, I did. He knew about my first energy loss but not the rest. I didn't tell him about the content of the dreams, merely that they drained me of energy. I also explained about the self-fulfilling prophecies and how I'd woken up damp one morning and thinking about Erik today. When I finished, I stared at the cell phone accusingly. â€Å"Damn it. Why isn't he calling?†â€Å"Why do you always tell me this at the last minute?†asked Seth. â€Å"It's been giving you trouble for a while. I thought it had been a one-time thing.†â€Å"I didn't want to bother you. And I know how funny you are about immortal stuff.†â€Å"Things that affect you – that may be harming you – don't bother me. I mean, well, they do, but that's not the point. This all goes back to commun – â€Å" The phone rang. â€Å"Dante?†I asked eagerly. I hadn't even bothered to check the number. But it was him. His voice sounded grim. â€Å"You need to come over here. To Erik's.†â€Å"The store?†â€Å"No, his house. It's close to my place here.†â€Å"What's going on?†â€Å"Just come over.†Dante rattled off an address and directions. With quick shape-shifting, I was dressed and ready to bolt out the door in an instant. Seth told me to wait, and in less than a minute – not as good as me, though still good – he was ready too. I'd never thought much about Erik having a home of his own. To me, he just always sort of existed in his store. The address was about a mile from Dante's, in an old, yet well-maintained neighborhood. Erik's house was one of the small bungalow types so common in Seattle neighborhoods, and the front yard was filled with roses gone dormant for the winter. As we walked up the steps, I entertained a brief vision of Erik out there tending the flowers in the summer. Dante opened the door before I could knock. I wondered if he'd sensed me or had simply seen us through the window. He displayed no particular reaction to Seth's presence and ushered us in toward the house's one bedroom. The house's interior looked like it hadn't been updated in a while. In fact, a lot of the furniture reminded me of mid-twentieth-century styles. A plaid sofa with rough fabric. A worn velvet armchair in seventies gold. A TV that dubiously looked capable of color. None of that triggered any sort of reaction in me, though. What startled me was one framed picture sitting on a bookshelf. It showed a much younger Erik – maybe in his forties – with fewer wrinkles in his dark skin and no gray in his black hair. He had his arm around a thirty-something brunette with big gray eyes and a smile as large as his. Dante nudged me when I stopped, an odd look on his face. â€Å"Come on.†Erik lay in bed. To my relief, he was alive. I didn't realize until that moment just how worried I'd been. My subconscious had feared the worst, even though I'd refused to let it surface. But alive or not, he really didn't look so great. He was sweating and shaking, eyes wide and face pallid. His breathing was shallow. When he saw me, he flinched, and for half a second, I saw terror in his eyes. Then, the fear faded, and he attempted a weak smile. â€Å"Miss Kincaid. Forgive me for not being able to receive you properly.†â€Å"Jesus,†I gasped, sitting on the bed's edge. â€Å"What happened? Are you okay?†â€Å"I will be.†I studied him, trying to piece together what had taken place. â€Å"Were you attacked?†His gaze flicked over to Dante. Dante shrugged. â€Å"In a manner of speaking,†Erik said at last. â€Å"But not in the way you're thinking.†Dante leaned against the wall, appearing a little less grave than he had earlier. â€Å"Don't waste her time with riddles, old man. Spill it.†Erik's eyes narrowed, a bit of fire flaring in their depths. Then, he turned back to me. â€Å"I was attacked†¦mentally, not physically. A woman came to me tonight†¦wraithlike, inhuman†¦wreathed in energy. The kind of beauteous, enthralling energy I see you glow with sometimes.†It was a sweet way to describe my post-sex glamour. â€Å"Was she bat-winged and flame-eyed?†I asked, recalling Dante's long-ago joke about the mythological description of succubi. â€Å"Not a succubus, I'm afraid. That might be easier. No, this†¦I believe†¦was Nyx.†â€Å"Did†¦did you say Nyx?†Of course that was what he'd said, but I'd been waiting for him to launch into a discussion of Oneroi, not their mother. Nyx made no sense. It was one thing for dream spirits to appear in your bedroom and in your dreams. It was an entirely different matter for a monstrous primordial entity of chaos who had been instrumental in creating the world as we know it to appear in your bedroom. It was like saying God had stopped by for waffles on the way to work. Maybe Erik was still delirious. â€Å"Nyx,†he confirmed, no doubt guessing my thoughts. â€Å"Chaos herself. Or, more accurately, Night herself.†From the corner, Dante laughed softly. â€Å"We're all fucked now.†â€Å"She's the mother of the Oneroi,†Erik reminded me. â€Å"And, although dreams aren't her sole domain, she too is connected to them.†â€Å"Then†¦Ã¢â‚¬ I tried to grasp the implications. â€Å"Are you saying she's been responsible for what's been happening to me?†â€Å"It almost makes sense,†said Dante. Erik apparently agreed. â€Å"She's linked to time and all the myriad potential fates that exist for the universe. Fate and time are forever moving closer to chaos – to entropy – and that's what she feeds off of. She's trying to create more of it in the world, to bring us that much nearer to ultimate disintegration. But she's a long way from bringing anything like that about, so she settles for small acts of chaos.†I wasn't following. â€Å"My dreams and energy loss are acts of chaos?†â€Å"No.†Erik glanced at Dante again. â€Å"We believe you're her instrument. Since she's connected to time as well as space, she has the ability to see pieces of the future. And there is no greater way to cause chaos in this world than by revealing the future to mortals. Such visions prove consuming, and if crafted in a certain way, they can drive a person to madness. That person will obsess on it, struggling to either stop it or bring it about in a way it's not actually meant to unfold. Both acts are futile. The future plays out as it is meant to. In trying to alter it, we only make it happen that much more quickly.†â€Å"Like the Oedipus story,†noted Seth. â€Å"His father's attempts to change the prophecy's outcome are what actually made it happen.†Erik nodded. â€Å"Exactly.†I understood now too. â€Å"Just like the cop who saw his partner getting shot. And the man who saw his family benefiting by him swimming the Sound.†â€Å"It's how Nyx operates. Everything she shows them is true†¦just not true in the way they expect. The ensuing madness and destruction brought about by showing mortals their futures – futures that they end up bringing about – feeds her.†â€Å"But where do I fit in?†I demanded. â€Å"She isn't showing me my future or making me do crazy things.†â€Å"That's where the theory ends, succubus,†Dante said. â€Å"You're part of it, absolutely. And she needs you to do all this†¦but we don't know the mechanics of it.†â€Å"This is insane,†I said blankly. â€Å"I'm the instrument of an all-powerful primordial deity's wave of chaos and destruction.†â€Å"That's kind of extreme,†said Dante jovially. â€Å"It's not like you work for Google or anything.†Seth gently touched my shoulder. â€Å"Can I ask a question here? I'm confused by†¦like, how is it possible that you're just now realizing that this†¦Nyx†¦is out there? I mean, if she's as powerful as you claim†¦I don't know. Why didn't you think of her right away? Why hasn't this happened before?†â€Å"Because she's locked up,†I said. â€Å"Or well, she's supposed to be. Heaven and Hell have their own agendas for the world; they don't want her running loose and messing it all up. If this is her, I have no idea how she got loose. She's supposed to be guarded by angels, and if there was ever a group that could – †I let out a gasp that turned into a groan. The others stared at me. â€Å"What's wrong?†asked Seth. â€Å"That's why they're here,†I said. â€Å"I'm such an idiot. There's a monstrous regiment of angels in town. I knew they were looking for something, but I didn't know what.†That would also explain Vincent's interest in local news – he was looking for Nyx-patterns that would provide them with a trail. He'd even started to pursue my knowledge of the cop story, but Seth's shooting and his outing as a nephilim had distracted us all. â€Å"Yeah, well, they're doing a bang-up job,†said Dante. I rose from Erik's bedside. â€Å"I have to tell them what we know. Maybe they'll understand what she's doing to me.†â€Å"Be careful,†Erik warned. â€Å"She's suspicious now†¦I think that's why she came after me. I was looking into this, and she didn't want me to succeed.†Something else suddenly occurred to me. â€Å"Erik†¦did she show you a vision?†He nodded. â€Å"What was it?†It must have been horrible, whatever it was. He'd clearly been in shock when Dante had found him. Erik looked at me, and for an instant, I saw a flash of the terror he'd shown when I first walked into the room. Then, it was gone. â€Å"It doesn't matter, Miss Kincaid. She wanted to scare me, to stop me from helping you†¦but it didn't work. The future will unfold as it's meant to.†Seeing my doubtful look, he smiled again and pointed toward the door. â€Å"Stop worrying about me. I will be fine. Go find your angel friends before anything worse happens.†I gave him a quick hug before stepping into the other room with Seth and Dante. Once again, I paused to study the picture of Erik and the woman. Just as I'd always imagined Erik living in his store, I'd also never pictured him having any sort of personal life. Obviously, that was a foolish thought on my part. Who was this woman? Wife? Lover? Just a friend? Beside me, Dante held out his hand to Seth and introduced himself. The two men sized each other up. â€Å"I've heard so much about you,†said Dante cheerfully. â€Å"I never heard of you until this morning,†remarked Seth. My eyes were still on the picture. Near the edge of the frame, I noticed a crease in the photograph. I don't know what made me do it, but I picked the frame up and pulled the picture out. The right-hand third of the photo had been folded, obscuring another person who had been with Erik and the woman. Dante. I looked up in surprise. Dante took the picture and frame from me and reassembled them. â€Å"There's no time for this, succubus.†â€Å"But – â€Å" â€Å"We have more important things to deal with than your own curiosity right now.†I cast an uneasy look at Erik's closed bedroom door. Dante was right. â€Å"Do you think you could maybe†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Dante sighed, anticipating my question. â€Å"Yes, succubus. I'll check in on him today.†For a moment, I thought I saw something in his face†¦something that wasn't just him grudgingly humoring me. Like that maybe – maybe – he cared about Erik too. It was weird, but then, they'd all looked pretty happy in the photograph. The worst enemies were often those who had been friends. This Erik-Dante puzzle just got weirder and weirder. I started to turn away, then Dante called, â€Å"Oh, hey. I can probably make your charm, now that we know what this is.†Hope surged up in me at the thought of finally having safe dreams again. â€Å"Really?†â€Å"If you still want me to,†he added warily. I presumed he was subtly referencing my skepticism – which hadn't entirely abated. Still, now that I had a name for my predator, I was more anxious than ever to take whatever protection I could get. â€Å"Definitely. If you think it'll work.†â€Å"In theory, at least. Nyx isn't exactly a run-of-the-mill spirit. I'll see what I can do.†I drove Seth back to his condo, anxious to let him off, so I could do some searching. â€Å"I have to go find the angels,†I told him. â€Å"I'll catch up to you later.†â€Å"So†¦no movie tonight?†â€Å"I – what? Oh, damn it.†I'd forgotten about the plans we'd made. He'd gotten tickets for an indie movie that was showing one night only here. â€Å"I'm sorry†¦I really am†¦Ã¢â‚¬ â€Å"Well,†said Seth wryly, â€Å"considering life and death are literally on the line, I think I can forgive it this time.†â€Å"You know what you should do? You should take Maddie. You still owe her a date.†He smiled. â€Å"I have the best girlfriend in the world, always trying to push me into the arms of another woman.†â€Å"I'm serious! She's feeling unwanted. She thinks you don't like her.†â€Å"I like her a lot. The whole thing is just weird, that's all. I think I'm going to see if Terry can go to the movie. Don't give me that look,†he warned. â€Å"I'll still take her somewhere. Just not to this.†We kissed good-bye, and Seth promised to check on me later. Once he was gone, I set out to find my guardian angels.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Chilhood memories of Frankie Lennon and mine
Reading  Frankie Lennon feels like you become part of the story, you feel connected and involved at every scene that unfolds. The characters she introduces makes it more vivid and real, you can’t help but think of your own family and relatives that have been part of your past and shaped your own present life. You begin to look back at your own childhood and adolescent years and recall the many struggles you went through to become the person you are now. It makes us think back and wonder how we got over the conflicts and complications and been able to confront them. Readers connect to the stories due to similarities in culture, race, sexuality, and childhood.The author said in an interview, and to quote her:â€Å"†¦I narrate stories starting with my childhood and take you with me on my turbulent life journey and struggle to find freedom from the many prisons that bind me.I tell stories that make you think and re-evaluate issues. I offer the reader the chanc e to see and experience my naked feelings, conflicts, fears, and struggles and you get the chance to experience my trials and tribulations along with me. It will be exciting, funny, and heartbreaking. And it will never be dull.†â€Å"The  Mee  Street Chronicles: Straight up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life is a turn pager narrative of blunt memories in her struggle to live her own life and sexual identity. The book passes through generations dealing with sensitive issues like racism, oppression, homosexuality, and   alcoholism that  still  exists in our society today. It lets us enter to places never seen before but will make us aware of our own feelings, in what we love and fear of, of our desires and what we value in life. The book mirrors that presents to readers what has happened and still happening in our lives.  Many people identify and unconsciously reflect with at least one story in the book. In a special way, it surprised and touched re aders on their own personal journey.Like the author, we also preserve our memories through journals, diaries, photographs, and keep it in our hearts. We become proud of these memories because it is what our identity is all about. We pass them on to our children to tell them who we are to reveal secrets setting us free from denial. This book reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles. We may think we are strange and has a dark past, but who doesn’t? It inspires to move on no matter how bad it seemed or what people have done or said or how bad it appeared. Others out there also went through the same difficulties and survived. Others who repeat the same mistakes just when they have lifted themselves up, and picking themselves back in shape and has finally found their way.In it, stories on childhood life were depicted like it was your own. Significant characters were portrayed as if they were your own family. It is amazing to relate because you have your own aunt , gra ndmother, uncle, and cousins who can be irritating and unpleasant when they are around you, on the other hand you truly adore. People who in one way or another have contributed in shaping your life as a whole.One chapter in the book entitled â€Å"Adversaries†narrates some fragments on the childhood events in the author’s life. At a very young age she could still remember clear details and accounts of family members and various emotions in facing her auntie and the tensed encounters that prevail between them. You feel a little bit at the edge of your seat as words and emotions are revealed that causes you to be anxious and empathize with the girl..Somehow, upon reading this particular story, I was able to relate to the characters and circumstances that the author encountered.  Similar events and people I grew up with. I remember these people and what they signify had an impact in my life, may  it  be   good or bad memories. Reading through it br ings back memories of kids being punished for reasons not explained very clearly would sometimes make you think now that it was senseless. Folks back then were not even aware that we kids need to be treated fairly sometimes. They just come lashing out of nowhere and give you spanking for all the world to see. I had my own taste of that ‘cruelty’ back then.  I  experienced  some old school discipline where I can get so ashamed of myself for something I have done wrong, just because the ‘crime’ is against the elder’s rules. Characters like â€Å"Auntie†were also part of my so called privileged childhood. My mother’s sister would sometimes go on a vacation in our house and would stay for a long time I think for decades and my life miserable. I remember her as the lady who keeps an eye on me, scary sometimes because she would watch every move I make. She was so stern and uptight and she is so particular about being proper.She m ade a great deal of impact in the whole household with her continuous bickering, comparing her life to my mother’s. What’s worse is we have to bear with her and leaves us no choice, but  be under her rule when my parents are away for a few days. I did my best to please her and make her feel that I liked her though I was faking it. I pretended hard to be somebody else just for her to accept me and have a harmonious relationship altogether. She is now a ‘stigma’ among us cousins and her grand kids because of the character she played in our lives.The author in the story had to go through that kind of misery. The emotions she felt in some instances and the way she describes ‘Auntie’ in detail like her appearance, reactions, and attitude made me think back and reminds me of my own aunt. I was touched so much by the incident that her aunt would bad mouth her father. I cannot forget the way my aunt would back-stab my mother and insult her in front of us and for other people to hear. She compares her life and her way of raising her kids to that of my parents. She boasts of a better life and material things compared to my mother who has to work harder for a better life.My aunt and I did not talk too much. I tried the best I could to avoid her, not to be in the same room with her  and even look her in the eye. I was not sure if it is because I was scared of her or hated her. She, like Aunt seemed to be so powerful to make us frightened of her.  Picturing Aunt in my mind while reading makes me feel scared just by recalling how my own aunt was.However, unlike the author, I was never confrontational. I never talked or fought back. Frankie had the courage to stop Aunt from hitting her. I had my share of hard spankings courtesy of not only of my aunt, but in some instances from my own parents. But I just take it as part of growing up and that is how I should be disciplined. Sometimes I would ponder, regrett ing that I did not question or prevent it from coming or could have ran away.If only I had the choice and wishes come true, I could have spent more time with my mother and have spent more loving moments with her. I could have understood it better if the she did the spanking herself.REFERENCE :Sundararaj, A. ( 2007, March 14). How to Tell a Story, A Beginner’sGuide to Storytelling. Interview with Frankie Lennon. RetrievedMay 23, 2007, from www.howtotellagreatstory.com/byot/byot70.html – 60k- Chilhood memories of frankie lennon and mine Reading  Frankie Lennon feels like you become part of the story, you feel connected and involved at every scene that unfolds. The characters she introduces makes it more vivid and real, you can’t help but think of your own family and relatives that have been part of your past and shaped your own present life. You begin to look back at your own childhood and adolescent years and recall the many struggles you went through to become the person you are now. It makes us think back and wonder how we got over the conflicts and complications and been able to confront them. Readers connect to the stories due to similarities in culture, race, sexuality, and childhood.The author said in an interview, and to quote her: â€Å"†¦I narrate stories starting with my childhood and take you with me on my turbulent life journey and struggle to find freedom from the many prisons that bind me. I tell stories that make you think and re-evaluate issues. I offer the reader t he chance to see and experience my naked feelings, conflicts, fears, and struggles and you get the chance to experience my trials and tribulations along with me. It will be exciting, funny, and heartbreaking. And it will never be dull.†â€Å"The  Mee  Street Chronicles: Straight up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life is a turn pager narrative of blunt memories in her struggle to live her own life and sexual identity. The book passes through generations dealing with sensitive issues like racism, oppression, homosexuality, and   alcoholism that  still  exists in our society today. It lets us enter to places never seen before but will make us aware of our own feelings, in what we love and fear of, of our desires and what we value in life. The book mirrors that presents to readers what has happened and still happening in our lives.  Many people identify and unconsciously reflect with at least one story in the book. In a special way, it surprised and to uched readers on their own personal journey.Like the author, we also preserve our memories through journals, diaries, photographs, and keep it in our hearts. We become proud of these memories because it is what our identity is all about. We pass them on to our children to tell them who we are to reveal secrets setting us free from denial. This book reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles. We may think we are strange and has a dark past, but who doesn’t? It inspires to move on no matter how bad it seemed or what people have done or said or how bad it appeared. Others out there also went through the same difficulties and survived. Others who repeat the same mistakes just when they have lifted themselves up, and picking themselves back in shape and has finally found their way.In it, stories on childhood life were depicted like it was your own. Significant characters were portrayed as if they were your own family. It is amazing to relate because you have your own au nt , grandmother, uncle, and cousins who can be irritating and unpleasant when they are around you, on the other hand you truly adore. People who in one way or another have contributed in shaping your life as a whole.One chapter in the book entitled â€Å"Adversaries†narrates some fragments on the childhood events in the author’s life. At a very young age she could still remember clear details and accounts of family members and various emotions in facing her auntie and the tensed encounters that prevail between them. You feel a little bit at the edge of your seat as words and emotions are revealed that causes you to be anxious and empathize with the girl..Somehow, upon reading this particular story, I was able to relate to the characters and circumstances that the author encountered.  Similar events and people I grew up with. I remember these people and what they signify had an impact in my life, may  it  be   good or bad memories. Reading throu gh it brings back memories of kids being punished for reasons not explained very clearly would sometimes make you think now that it was senseless. Folks back then were not even aware that we kids need to be treated fairly sometimes. They just come lashing out of nowhere and give you spanking for all the world to see. I had my own taste of that ‘cruelty’ back then.  I  experienced  some old school discipline where I can get so ashamed of myself for something I have done wrong, just because the ‘crime’ is against the elder’s rules. Characters like â€Å"Auntie†were also part of my so called privileged childhood. My mother’s sister would sometimes go on a vacation in our house and would stay for a long time I think for decades and my life miserable. I remember her as the lady who keeps an eye on me, scary sometimes because she would watch every move I make. She was so stern and uptight and she is so particular about being prop er. She made a great deal of impact in the whole household with her continuous bickering, comparing her life to my mother’s. What’s worse is we have to bear with her and leaves us no choice, but  be under her rule when my parents are away for a few days. I did my best to please her and make her feel that I liked her though I was faking it. I pretended hard to be somebody else just for her to accept me and have a harmonious relationship altogether. She is now a ‘stigma’ among us cousins and her grand kids because of the character she played in our lives.The author in the story had to go through that kind of misery. The emotions she felt in some instances and the way she describes ‘Auntie’ in detail like her appearance, reactions, and attitude made me think back and reminds me of my own aunt. I was touched so much by the incident that her aunt would bad mouth her father. I cannot forget the way my aunt would back-stab my mother an d insult her in front of us and for other people to hear. She compares her life and her way of raising her kids to that of my parents. She boasts of a better life and material things compared to my mother who has to work harder for a better life.My aunt and I did not talk too much. I tried the best I could to avoid her, not to be in the same room with her  and even look her in the eye. I was not sure if it is because I was scared of her or hated her. She, like Aunt seemed to be so powerful to make us frightened of her.  Picturing Aunt in my mind while reading makes me feel scared just by recalling how my own aunt was.However, unlike the author, I was never confrontational. I never talked or fought back. Frankie had the courage to stop Aunt from hitting her. I had my share of hard spankings courtesy of not only of my aunt, but in some instances from my own parents. But I just take it as part of growing up and that is how I should be disciplined. Sometimes I would ponder , regretting that I did not question or prevent it from coming or could have ran away.If only I had the choice and wishes come true, I could have spent more time with my mother and have spent more loving moments with her. I could have understood it better if the she did the spanking herself.REFERENCE :Sundararaj, A. ( 2007, March 14). How to Tell a Story, A Beginner’sGuide to Storytelling. Interview with Frankie Lennon. RetrievedMay 23, 2007, from www.howtotellagreatstory.com/byot/byot
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