Eating Out in Paris free essay sample

An enormous scope of food is accessible in Paris, from the rich meat dishes to the light, flaky for which France is well known. 1. French cooking is a despite everything developing workmanship. Conventional French cooking is spread put together and focuses with respect to meat, poultry and fish. Today, be that as it may, the culinary specialists of numerous Parisian eateries are getting increasingly keen on territorial food and in straightforward, home-style admission which depends on new, occasional fixings. French cooking tends not to be exceptionally spiced, albeit new herbs like chives and parsley are basic fixings in the sauces that go with most exquisite dishes. 2. One of the most charming parts of Paris is the assorted variety of spots to eat. Bistros are little, regularly respectably estimated, eateries with a constrained determination of dishes. Brasseries are bigger, clamoring diners with colossal menus, and most serve food for the duration of the day and are open late. Bistros (and some wine bars) open early and the dominant part near to 9 pm. We will compose a custom exposition test on Eating Out in Paris or then again any comparable point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page They serve beverages and food throughout the day from a short meny of servings of mixed greens, sandwiches and eggs. At lunch most offer a little decision of hot day by day specials. 3. The server for the most part takes your decision of dish (first course), at that point the plat (mail course). Sweet is requested after you have completed your fundamental course except if there are some hot treats which must be requested toward the beginning of the supper. In many cafés you will be inquired as to whether you might want a beverage before requesting food. In many eateries you will be inquired as to whether you might want a beverage before requesting food. An ordinary aperitif is kir (white wine with a blackcurrant alcohol). Spirits are not commonly tanked before a supper in France. 4. The main course for the most part incorporates a selection of servings of mixed greens or vegetables or pate. Little fish dishes like smoked salmon, flame broiled sardines, herring, shellfish or clams are likewise on offer. Primary dishes for the most part incorporate a determination of meat, poultry or fish presented with french fries and vegetables. Strongly suggested are moules marinieres (mussels steamed in wine) and chevre tiede sur un lit de salade (barbecued goats cheddar with a blended leaf serving of mixed greens). . Costs change from incredibly conservative to galactic. Numerous spots offer a formule or fixed-value menu, particularly at lunch, and this will quite often offer the best worth. In the event that you need a more noteworthy selection of dishes, go for the individually menu. Recollect that a container of wine will expand the size of y our bill altogether and that espresso for the most part conveys an additional charge. Costs for the most part incorporate assistance. In spite of the fact that you don't need to leave a tip, it isn't unexpected to do as such and depends on 5-10% of the aggregate.

First assist surgical study Case Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

First help careful - Case Study Example It includes cutting the connecting parts and afterward leading a standard vaginal medical procedure to remove example from the body. 1. Organ Structure work: The ovaries are two organs that are a constituent of the female conceptive framework and are answerable for creation of ova. Every one of them is oval fit as a fiddle and practically equivalent to the almond in size. They are found close the fallopian tubes in the extraneous mass of the pelvis in a walled in area alluded to as ovarian fossa. Every one of the ovaries is associated with the fimbria of the fallopian tube. Three entry points will be made. These can be seen by the patient. The first is to oblige the telescope and is inside or near the navel. Different cuts are done in the lower some portion of the midsection. These are 5mm extended period of time the first is 1 cm long (Petri et al. 170). Another cut is done at the highest point of the vagina to evacuate the required material for examination. The patient will wake up in the recuperation room after the technique and after the impacts of the sedative decrease. A few patients may require a breathing apparatus to aid the inward breath of oxygen ((Querleu, Leblanc and Castelain 580). Lukanovic, A; Drazic, K (2010). Hazard factors for vaginal prolapse after hysterectomy. Global diary of gynecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 110 (1): 27â€30. Petri Nahã ¡s, E.; Pontes, A.; Nahas-Neto, J.; Borges, V.; Dias, R.; Traiman, P. (2005). Impact of total stomach hysterectomy on ovarian blood flexibly in ladies of conceptive age. Diary of ultrasound in medicineâ : official diary of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine 24 (2):

Smokers Lungs vs. Normal Healthy Lungs

Smokers Lungs vs. Normal Healthy Lungs Addiction Nicotine Use Smoking-Related Diseases Print Smokers Lungs vs. Normal Healthy Lungs Visual, Cellular, Molecular, and Functional Changes in Smokers Lungs By Lynne Eldridge, MD  Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time. Learn about our editorial policy Lynne Eldridge, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on December 01, 2016 Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 More in Addiction Nicotine Use Smoking-Related Diseases After You Quit How to Quit Smoking Nicotine Withdrawal The Inside of Cigarettes Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Coping and Recovery Many people remember hearing about the difference between smokers lungs and normal healthy lungs at some point in time. These changes occur on a visual level, on a cellular level (under the microscope), and even on a molecular level. In addition to these structural changes, there are several functional differences between healthy lungs and smokers lungs as well, ranging from lung capacity to oxygen exchange. You may even recall the posters depicting the black, ugly-looking lungs of people who smoke. Does that really happen? What does cigarette smoke really do to the lungs? Differences Between Smokers Lungs and Normal Healthy Lungs To really comprehend the effect of tobacco smoke on the lungs we need to take a look at both the anatomyâ€"how the appearance of the lungs changes, and the physiologyâ€"how the function of a smokers lungs differ from those of healthy lungs.?? Yet we want to dig even deeper than that. What do a smokers lungs look like beginning with the changes you can see with your naked eye, down to the genetic changes too small to even be seen under a microscope, but often more ominous? The posters we spoke of earlier didnt lie. Lets start with what you may see if you could look at whole lungs exposed to tobacco. What Do Smokers Lung Look Like? The photo above is honestly what the lungs of a life-long smoker look like on a visual inspection with the naked eye. Its important to state that not all black lungs are related to tobacco smoke. Other irritants that can be inhaled may cause this appearance as well, such as the black lung disease sometimes seen in coal miners. Yet, its very easy to tell when looking at a set of lungs whether or not a person smoked during his life. Many people wonder what the black or brown color comes from. When you inhale cigarette smoke, there are thousands of tiny carbon-based particles that are inhaled. Our bodies have a special way of dealing with these particles to get them out of the way  if you will. As soon as you inhale a puff of cigarette smoke, your body is alerted to the fact that toxic particles have invaded. Inflammatory cells rush to the scene. One type of white blood cell called  macrophages  may be thought of as the garbage trucks of our immune systems. Macrophages essentially eat the nasty brown-black particles in cigarette smoke in a process called phagocytosis. Since these particles could be damaging even to garbage truck cells, they are walled off in tiny vesicles and stored as toxic waste. And there they sit. As more and more macrophages containing debris build up in the lungs and lymph nodes within the chest, the darker the lungs appear. You may be wondering if the brown and black color ever goes away. After all, macrophages dont live forever. When a macrophage dies, and the vesicles of cigarette waste are released, younger macrophages rush to the scene and ingest the particles. This process can occur over and over during a persons life. This is not to say that healing doesnt take place when someone quits smoking. It does. But the discoloration in the lungs may remain indefinitely. Smokers Lungs at a Cellular Level Taking a step down in size and looking at the lungs more closely, an increasing number of tobacco-related injuries are found. Under a microscope, the cells and surrounding tissues become visible as a well-appointed city, but a city ravaged by the toxic cloud of smoke that has descended upon it. Different structures in the respiratory tract are affected in different ways.?? Cilia:  The  cilia are tiny hair-like appendages that line the bronchi, and the smaller  bronchioles. The job of the cilia is to catch foreign material that finds its way into the airways and propel it up and out of the lungs to the throat in a wave-like manner. From the throat, this material can then be swallowed and destroyed by stomach acids. Unfortunately, toxins in cigarette smoke such as acrolein and  formaldehyde paralyze these tiny cilia so they cannot perform their function. This result is that other toxins (over 70 of them  carcinogens) and infectious organisms end up being left within the lungs where they can do damage both at the cellular level  and at the molecular level, changes that can, in turn, lead to cancer and other diseases. Mucus:  Inflammatory cells that are drawn to the scene in the airways secrete mucus in response to the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. This mucus can limit the amount of oxygen-rich air that reaches the smallest airways where gas exchange takes place. Mucus can also provide a nourishing breeding ground for the growth of harmful bacteria. The Airways:  Under the microscope, the airways can appear stretched outâ€"like the elastic in an old pair of shorts. This decrease in elasticity caused by components of tobacco smoke has important functional repercussions as well (discussed later on). The Alveoli:  The  alveoli  are the smallest of airways and the final lung-based destination of oxygen that we breathe in. These alveoli contain elastin and collagen which allows them to expand with inspiration and deflate with expiration. Altogether, the surface area of your alveoli is around 70 square meters, and if you laid them flat and placed them end to end they would cover a tennis court. Toxins in cigarette smoke damage these tiny structures in a few ways. It is easy for toxins to damage the thin walls causing them to rupture. Cigarette smoke also damages the alveoli that remain intact, decreasing their ability to expand and contract. Damage to the alveoli is a self-perpetuating problem. As more alveoli become damaged, there is more air trapping in the alveoli (air cannot be breathed out) which results in the dilation and rupture of more alveoli. In general, a large percent of the alveoli must be damaged before symptomsâ€"hypoxia due to less oxygen being present for exchange to take placeâ€"occurs. Problems with oxygen exchange between the alveoli and capillaries are discussed further under function. The Capillaries:  At the cellular level, its not just lung tissue that is damaged. The tiniest of blood vessels, the  capillaries, that are closely associated with the smallest airways are also damaged by tobacco smoke. Just as smoking can cause the damage to larger blood vessels (that can eventually lead to heart attacks), it can cause scarring and thickening of the capillary walls in the lungsâ€"walls that oxygen needs to pass through in order to combine with the hemoglobin in red blood cells to be carried from the lungs to the rest of the body. Smokers Lungs at a Molecular Level:  Genetics and Epigenetics To really understand how smoking causes some lung diseases such as lung cancer, we need to look deeper inside the cells to the molecular level. This is a level that we cant see directly through a microscope.?? In the nucleus of each of our lung cells lives our DNAâ€"the blueprint of the cell. This  DNA  contains the instructions for making every protein that is needed for the cell to grow, function, repair itself, and tell the cell it is time to die when it becomes old or damaged. You may have heard that a series of mutations in a cell is responsible for the link between  lung cancer and smoking, but many mutations usually take place prior to a cell becoming cancerous. In fact, there are usually thousands of mutations in a single lung cell exposed to tobacco. Some genes in lung cells code for proteins that are responsible for the growth and division of the cell. One type of genes called oncogenes, cause cells to grow and divide (even when they shouldnt). Other genes, called  tumor suppressor genes, code for proteins which repair damaged DNA or eliminate damaged cells which cannot be repaired.?? Several components in cigarette smoke have been found to cause mutations (they are carcinogenic) but studies have even shown ways in which tobacco specifically causes the damage which may  lead to cancer. For example, some tobacco carcinogens cause mutations in the  p53 gene, a tumor suppressor gene that codes for proteins that repair damaged cells or eliminate them so that a  cancer cell  isnt born. Epigenetics Finally, in addition to genetic changes caused by smoking, tobacco can cause epigenetic changes in lung cells as well. Epigenetic changes refer not to actual changes in the DNA of a cell, but the way that genes are expressed. According to a 2017 study, DNA methylation (epigenetic changes) that can be detected in the blood of people who smoke are associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Unlike genetic changes in cells, epigenetic changes are more likely to be reversible with a healthy lifestyle. Function of Smokers Lungs vs Healthy Lungs (Physiology) Just as there are many changes that occur structurally in the lungs of someone who smokes, there are several changes that take place on a functional level as well. Pulmonary function tests  comparing people who smoke with those who do not smoke often show changes very early on, even in teens who smoke, and long before any symptoms occur. Some people who smoke feel reassured that if they are breathing without problems, they dont have a problem. Yet a large percent of lung tissue is usually destroyed before any symptoms occur. To understand this better, consider that people who have a whole lung removed (a pneumonectomy), and are otherwise healthy, can adapt so that they can carry on a reasonably normal lifestyle. Some have even climbed mountains. Lung Capacity in Smokers Lungs vs. Healthy Lungs Smoking can affect measurements of lung function in a number of ways. Total Lung Capacity The  total lung capacity, or the total amount of air you can breathe in taking the deepest breath possible is decreased by smoking in several ways. Smoking can result in damage to muscles in the chest reducing the expansion necessary to take a deep breath. The elasticity of the smooth muscle in the airways is likewise affected, and combined with the  loss of elasticity, can limit the amount of air breathed in as well. And at a microscopic level, when fewer alveoli are present (due to destruction by cigarette smoke), or air cant reach the alveoli (due to cigarette-related damage to the airways and build up of mucus), the intake of breath is also affected. These forces all work together to decrease lung capacity. Forced Expiratory Volume In addition to lung capacity, smoking results in difficulty in exhaling the carbon dioxide that is transferred from the capillaries in the lungs to the alveoli. As noted above, decreased elasticity of the larger airways and decreased recoil of the alveoli leads to air trapping. This results in a decrease in  forced expiratory volume. Smoking Cessation Helps Thankfully, researchers have noted that one of the  benefits of quitting smoking that occurs after only 2 weeks  is an increase in both lung capacity and expiratory volume. Oxygen Exchange in Smokers Lungs vs. Healthy Lungs Its not just the ability of oxygen to enter and pass down to the alveoli, or even the number of healthy alveoli present. Oxygen that reaches that alveoli must pass through the single cell lining of the alveoli and then through the double cell layer of the capillaries to reach the hemoglobin in red blood cells to be delivered to the rest of the body. Diffusing Capacity As noted above, cigarette smoke can affect both the alveoli and the lining of the capillaries making the passage of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the two more difficult. Not only is there less surface area available for gas exchange, but the exchange is compromised. Its harder for oxygen to pass through the scarred walls of the alveoli and capillaries. The  diffusing capacity  is a pulmonary function test which measures this ability of a gas to make this transition from the alveoli into the bloodstream. Weve known for several decades that cigarette smoking can reduce diffusing capacity. Other Physiological Changes in the Lungs of a Smoker There are many more changes that occur in the lungs of someone who smokes, and the ones mentioned here only touch the surface. We mentioned how cigarette smoke can affect the capillaries, but also affects every blood vessel in the body. Damage to the larger blood vessels can lead to changes in blood flow that compromise the delivery of blood to the capillaries in the lungs in the first place. And its not just the arteries. Cigarette smoking is associated with a significantly increased risk of blood clots in the legs (deep venous thrombosis). These blood clots can in turn break off and travel to the lungs (pulmonary emboli) causing further damage, resulting in less healthy lung tissue (if a person survives). While some of these changes are not reversible, it is never too late to quit smoking both to minimize the damage and to allow your body to repair the damage that can be restored and healed. The Bottom Line: Lungs of a Smokers vs. Non-Smoker   Looking at all of the structural and functional changes in the lungs of someone who smokes stresses the importance of smoking cessation, though its not just the lungs that are of concern. There are a multitude of  diseases caused by smoking, with tobacco playing a role in nearly every body system. It is also not just lung cancer  that is of concern. Take a look at this list of  cancers caused by smoking  if you still feel any reluctance to stop today. If you still need a few facts?? to encourage you to quit: Overall, 1 in 5 deaths are due to smoking30 percent of cancers are due to smokingSmoking is responsible for 80 percent of lung cancers, the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and womenSmoking is responsible for 80 percent of COPD deaths, the fourth leading cause of death in the United States But the news isnt all bad: Heart disease risk drops drastically within a year of quittingStroke risk drops significantly two to five years after quittingThe risk of many cancers declines significantly by five years post-quitting Quitting Smoking:  Help Is Available! Thankfully, quitting smoking at any time can stop further damage from being done to your lungs and can reduce your risk of developing the diseases and cancers linked to the habit. We know its not easy.Yet its possible. Start today with quit smoking lesson 101 - reasons to quit  in order to make this attempt your final and successful attempt to kick the habit. A Word From Verywell It can be somewhat overwhelming to look at the vast number of ways that smoking affects both the structure and function of the lungs, but the important point is that smoking does not affect the lungs in just one way. Even if we had a way to bypass the damage caused, say, to alveoli, smoking would still be a problem. In other words, theres no healthy alternative to quitting. Despite this vast amount of damage, our bodies are amazingly resilient, and repair begins only seconds after the last puff.

Three Domain System

The Three Domain System, developed by Carl Woese in 1990, is a system for classifying biological organisms. Before Woeses discovery of archaea as distinct from bacteria in 1977, scientists believed there were only two types of life: eukarya and bacteria. The highest ranking previously used had been kingdom, based on the Five Kingdom system adopted in the late 1960s. This classification system model is based on principles developed by Swedish scientist Carolus Linnaeus, whose hierarchical system groups organisms based on common physical characteristics. The Current System As scientists learn more about organisms, classification systems change. Genetic sequencing has given researchers a whole new way of analyzing relationships between organisms. The current Three Domain System groups organisms primarily based on differences in ribosomal RNA (rRNA) structure. Ribosomal RNA is a molecular building block for ribosomes. Under this system, organisms are classified into three domains and six kingdoms. The domains are ArchaeaBacteriaEukarya The kingdoms are Archaebacteria (ancient bacteria)Eubacteria (true bacteria)ProtistaFungiPlantaeAnimalia Archaea Domain This Archaea domain contains single-celled organisms. Archaea have genes that are similar to both bacteria and eukaryotes. Because they are very similar to bacteria in appearance, they were originally mistaken for bacteria. Like bacteria, archaea are prokaryotic organisms and do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. They also lack internal cell organelles and many are about the same size as and similar in shape to bacteria. Archaea reproduce by binary fission, have one circular chromosome, and use flagella to move around in their environment as do bacteria. Archaea differ from bacteria in cell wall composition and differ from both bacteria and eukaryotes in membrane composition and rRNA type. These differences are substantial enough to warrant that archaea have a separate domain. Archaea are extreme organisms that live under some of the most extreme environmental conditions. This includes within hydrothermal vents, acidic springs, and under Arctic ice. Archaea are divided into three main phyla: Crenarchaeota, Euryarchaeota, and Korarchaeota. Crenarchaeota include many organisms that are hyperthermophiles and thermoacidophiles. These archaea thrive in environments with great temperature extremes (hyperthermophiles) and in extremely hot and acidic environments (thermoacidophiles.)Archaea known as methanogens are of the Euryarchaeota phylum. They produce methane as a byproduct of metabolism and require an oxygen-free environment.Little is known about Korarchaeota archaea as few species have been found living in places such as hot springs, hydrothermal vents, and obsidian pools. Bacteria Domain Bacteria are classified under the Bacteria Domain. These organisms are generally feared because some are pathogenic and capable of causing disease. However, bacteria are essential to life as some are part of the human microbiota. These bacteria preform vital functions, such as enabling us to properly digest and absorb nutrients from the foods we eat. Bacteria that live on the skin prevent pathogenic microbes from colonizing the area and also aid in the activation of the immune system. Bacteria are also important for the recycling of nutrients in the global ecosystem as they are primary decomposers. Bacteria have a unique cell wall composition and rRNA type. They are grouped into five main categories: Proteobacteria: This phylum contains the largest group of bacteria and includes E.coli, Salmonella, Heliobacter pylori, and Vibrio. bacteria.Cyanobacteria: These bacteria are capable of photosynthesis. They are also known as blue-green algae because of their color.Firmicutes: These gram-positive bacteria include Clostridium, Bacillus, and mycoplasmas (bacteria without cell walls.)Chlamydiae: These parasitic bacteria reproduce inside their hosts cells. Organisms include Chlamydia trachomatis (causes chlamydia STD) and Chlamydophila pneumoniae (causes pneumonia.)Spirochetes: These corkscrew-shaped bacteria exhibit a unique twisting motion. Examples include Borrelia burgdorferi (cause Lyme disease) and Treponema pallidum (cause syphilis.) Eukarya Domain The Eukarya domain includes eukaryotes or organisms that have a membrane-bound nucleus. This domain is further subdivided into the kingdoms ProtistaFungiPlantaeAnimalia Eukaryotes have rRNA that is distinct from bacteria and archaeans. Plant and fungi organisms contain cell walls that are different in composition than bacteria. Eukaryotic cells are typically resistant to antibacterial antibiotics. Organisms in this domain include protists, fungi, plants, and animals. Examples include algae, amoeba, fungi, molds, yeast, ferns, mosses, flowering plants, sponges, insects, and mammals. Comparison of Classification Systems Systems for classifying organisms change with new discoveries made over time. The earliest systems recognized only two kingdoms (plant and animal.) The current Three Domain System is the best organizational system we have now, but as new information is gained, a different system for classifying organisms may later be developed. Here is how the Five Kingdom System compares to the Three Domain System, which has six kingdoms: Five Kingdom System: MoneraProtistaFungiPlantaeAnimalia Archaea Domain Bacteria Domain Eukarya Domain Archaebacteria Kingdom Eubacteria Kingdom Protista Kingdom Fungi Kingdom Plantae Kingdom Animalia Kingdom Three Domain System

Kennedy Last Name Meaning and Origin

The Irish and Scottish surname  Kennedy  has more than one possible meaning or etymology: A name that means ugly head, a surname derived  from the  Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Ceannà ©idigh, meaning descendant of Ceannà ©idigh.  Ceannà ©idigh is a  personal name derived from ceann, meaning head, chief or leader and à ©idigh, meaning ugly.An  anglicized form of an Old Gaelic personal name Cinneidigh or Cinneide, a compound of the elements cinn, meaning head, plus eide,  translating variously as grim or helmeted. Thus, the Kennedy surname could possibly be translated as helmet head. Kennedy is one of 50 common Irish surnames of modern Ireland. Surname Origin:  Irish,  Scottish (Scots Gaelic) Alternate Surname Spellings:  KENNEDIE, CANNADY, CANADY, CANADAY, CANNADAY, KENEDY, OKENNEDY, CANADA, KANADY, KENNADAY, KANADAY Interesting Facts About the Kennedy Surname The OKennedy family were an Irish royal dynasty, a sept of the Dà ¡l gCais, founded in the Middle Ages. Their founder was the nephew of  High King  Brian Boru  (1002–1014). It is said that the famous  Kennedy family  of the United States descends from the Irish OKennedy clan. Where in the World Is the Kennedy Surname Found? According to WorldNames public profiler, the Kennedy surname is most commonly found in midwest Ireland, specifically the counties of Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Wexford, Carlow, Wicklow and Dublin. Outside of Ireland, the Kennedy surname is most commonly found in Australia, and in Nova Scotia, Canada. Famous People With the Surname Kennedy Joseph Patrick Kennedy -  American businessman, investor, and politician, and father of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Senator Ted Kennedy.John F. Kennedy - 35th president of the United StatesFlorynce Kennedy - American lawyer, activist, civil rights advocate and feministGeorge Kennedy - American actor Genealogy Resources for the Surname Kennedy Kennedy Society of North AmericaSeveral hundred active members belong to this society,  a non-profit social and historical organization interested in the Scots, Scots-Irish, and the Irish Kennedys (including spelling variations,) and their descendants who came to America. Kennedy Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Kennedy surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Kennedy surname query. Kennedy Family DNA ProjectA Y-DNA project set up on FamilyTreeDNA to utilize DNA testing to help prove a family connection between Kennedys and related surnames when a paper trail cannot be established. FamilySearch - Kennedy GenealogyExplore over 3.8 million results, including digitized records, database entries, and online family trees for the Kennedy surname and its variations on the FREE FamilySearch website, courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kennedy Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Kennedy surname. DistantCousin.com - Kennedy Genealogy Family HistoryFree databases and genealogy links for the last name Kennedy. References Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1967. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. New York:  Oxford University Press, 2003. MacLysaght, Edward.  Surnames of Ireland. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1989. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 9 Free Essays

Returning to Queen Anne, I discovered I still had a lot of evening left. Unfortunately, I had nothing to do. A succubus without a social life. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Blues CHAPTER 9 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Very sad. It was made sadder still by the fact that I could have had any number of things to do but had dropped the ball on them. Certainly Doug had asked me out often enough; no doubt he was now enjoying his day off with a more appreciative woman. Roman I had also turned down, beautiful eyes and all. I smiled wistfully, remembering his easy banter and quick, bright charm. He could have been O’Neill, made flesh from Seth’s novels. Thinking of Seth reminded me he still had my book and that I was going on Day 3 without it. I sighed, wanting to know what would happen next, to be lost in the pages of Cady and O’Neill. Now that would have been a way to spend the evening. The bastard. He’d never bring it back. I’d never find out what – With a groan, I suddenly wanted to smack my forehead for my own stupidity. Did I or did I not work for a large bookstore? After parking my car, I walked over to Emerald City and found the massive display of The Glasgow Pact that was still up from the signing. I grabbed a copy and carried it to the front counter. Beth, one of the cashiers, was momentarily free. â€Å"Will you demagnetize this for me?† I asked her, sliding the book over the counter. â€Å"Sure,† she said, running it across the pad. â€Å"Are you using your discount on it?† I shook my head. â€Å"I’m not buying it. I’m just borrowing it.† â€Å"Can you do that?† She passed the book back to me. â€Å"Sure,† I lied. â€Å"Managers can.† Minutes later, I showed my prize to an unimpressed Aubrey and turned on the water in my bathtub. While it filled, I checked my messages – none – and sorted through the mail I’d picked up on the way in. Nothing interesting there either. Satisfied nothing else required my attention, I stepped out of my clothes and sank into the watery depths of the tub, careful not to get the book wet. Aubrey, crouching on a nearby counter, watched me with squinty eyes, apparently pondering why anyone would willingly immerse themselves in water ever, let alone for extended periods of time. I figured I could read more than five pages tonight since I’d been deprived for the last couple of days. When I finished the fifteenth, I discovered I was three pages from the next chapter. Might as well end with a clean break. After I was done, I sighed and leaned back, feeling decadent and spent. Pure bliss. Books were a lot less messy than orgasms. The next morning, I went to work, happy and refreshed. Paige found me around lunchtime as I sat on the edge of my desk and watched Doug play Mine Sweeper. Seeing her, I leapt from my position while he hastily closed down the game. Paige ignored him, fixing her eyes on me. â€Å"I want you to do something with Seth Mortensen.† Uneasily, I remembered the love slave comment. â€Å"Like what?† â€Å"I don’t know.† She gave a small, unconcerned shrug of the head. â€Å"Anything. He’s new to town. He doesn’t know anyone yet, so his social life is probably dismal.† Recalling his cold reception yesterday and conversational difficulties, I wasn’t exactly surprised by this news. â€Å"I took him on a tour.† â€Å"It’s not the same.† â€Å"What about his brother?† â€Å"What about him?† â€Å"I’m sure they’re doing social things all the time.† â€Å"Why are you fighting this? I thought you were a fan.† I was a fan – a major one – but reading his work and interacting with him were proving to be two very different things. The Glasgow Pact was amazing, as was the e-mail he’d sent. Spoken conversation was a bit†¦ lacking. I couldn’t tell Paige this, of course, so she and I went back and forth a bit on the issue while Doug looked on with interest. Finally, I agreed against my better judgment, dreading the prospect of even proposing the venture to Seth, let alone embarking upon it. When I finally made myself approach him later in the day, I was fully braced for another brush-off. Instead, he turned from his work and smiled at me. â€Å"Hey,† he said. His mood seemed so improved that I decided yesterday must have been a fluke. â€Å"Hey. How’s it going?† â€Å"Not so well.† He tapped the laptop’s screen lightly with his fingernail, eyes frowning as he focused on it. â€Å"They’re being a bit difficult. I just can’t quite get the grip I need on this one scene.† Interest swept me. Bad days with Cady and O’Neill. I had always imagined interacting with such characters must be a nonstop thrill. The ultimate job. â€Å"Sounds like you need a break then. Paige is worried about your social life.† His brown eyes glanced back to me. â€Å"Oh? How so?† â€Å"She thinks you aren’t getting out enough. That you don’t know anyone in town yet.† â€Å"I know my brother and his family. And Mistee.† He paused. â€Å"And I know you.† â€Å"Good thing, because I’m about to become your cruise director. â€Å" Seth’s lips quirked slightly, then he shook his head and looked back at the screen. â€Å"That’s really nice – of you and Paige both – but not necessary.† He wasn’t dismissing me as he had yesterday, but I still felt miffed that my generous deal was not being embraced, especially since I was offering it under duress. â€Å"Come on,† I said. â€Å"What else are you going to do?† â€Å"Write.† I couldn’t argue with that. Writing those novels was God’s Own Work. Who was I to interfere with their creator? And yet†¦ Paige had given a directive. That was nearly a divine commandment in itself. A compromise popped into my head. â€Å"You could do something, I don’t know, research-related. For the book. Two birds with one stone.† â€Å"I’ve already got all the research I need for this one.† â€Å"What about, uh, ongoing character development? Like†¦ going to the planetarium.† Cady had a fascination with astronomy. She would often point out constellations and link them to some symbolic story analogous to the novel’s plot. â€Å"Or†¦ or†¦ a hockey game? You need fresh ideas for O’Neill’s games. You’ll run out.† He shook his head. â€Å"No I won’t. I’ve never even been to a hockey game to begin with.† â€Å"I – what? That’s†¦ no. Really?† He shrugged. â€Å"Where†¦ do you get the game info from then? The plays?† â€Å"I know the basic rules. I pick up pieces on the Internet, patch it together.† I stared, feeling betrayed. O’Neill was absolutely obsessed with the Detroit Red Wings. That passion shaped his personality and was reflected in his actions: fast, skilled, and at times brutal. Believing Seth to be meticulous about every detail, I had naturally assumed he must know everything about hockey to have written such a defining trait into his protagonist. Seth watched me, confused by whatever stunned look I wore. â€Å"We’re going to a hockey game,† I stated. â€Å"No, we – â€Å" â€Å"We are going to a hockey game. Hang on a sec.† I ran back downstairs, kicked Doug off our computer, and got the information I needed. It was just as I’d suspected. The Thunderbirds’ season had just started. â€Å"Six-thirty,† I told Seth, minutes later. â€Å"Meet me at Key Arena, at the main window. I’ll buy the tickets.† He looked dubious. â€Å"Six-thirty,† I repeated. â€Å"This’ll be great. It’ll give you a break and let you actually see what the game’s like. Besides, you said you were blocked today.† Not only that, it would fulfill my obligation to Paige in a way that didn’t require much talking. The stadium would be too loud, and we’d be too busy watching to need conversation. â€Å"I don’t know where Key Arena is.† â€Å"You can walk to it from here. Just keep heading for the Space Needle. They’re both part of the Seattle Center.† â€Å"So when are you meeting me?† There was a warning note in my voice, daring him to cross me. He grimaced. â€Å"Six-thirty.† After work, I set off to run my own errands. I had nothing new to work on with the vampire hunter enigma until Erik got back to me. Unfortunately, the mundane world still had its own share of requirements, and I spent most of my evening taking care of miscellany. Like restocking my supply of cat food, coffee, and Grey Goose. And checking out the new line of lip glosses at the MAC counter. I even remembered to pick up a cheap, assemble-it-yourself bookshelf for the fire-hazard stacks of books in my living room. My productivity knew no bounds. For dinner, I grabbed Indian food and managed to land at Key Arena precisely at six-thirty. I didn’t see Seth anywhere but didn’t panic just yet. The Seattle Center was not easy to navigate; he was probably still wandering around the Needle, trying to make his way over here. I bought the tickets and sat down on one of the large cement steps. The air had turned chilly tonight, and I snuggled into my heavy fleece pullover, shape-shifting it a bit thicker. While waiting, I people-watched. Couples, groups of guys, and excited children were all turning out for Seattle’s fierce little team. They made for interesting viewing. When six-fifty rolled around, I started getting nervous. We had ten more minutes, and I worried Seth might have gotten seriously lost. I pulled out my cell phone and dialed the store, wondering if he was there. Nope, they told me, but Paige did have his cell number. I tried it next, only to get voice mail. Annoyed, I snapped my phone shut and huddled farther into my own embrace to stay warm. We still had time. Besides, Seth not being at the store was a good thing. It meant he was on his way. Yet, when seven and the start of the game arrived, he still wasn’t there. I tried his cell again, then looked longingly at the doors. I wanted to see the beginning of the game. Seth might never have watched hockey, but I had and liked it. The continual movement and energy held my attention more than any other sport, even if the fights sometimes made me squirm. I didn’t want to miss this, but I’d also hate for Seth to walk up and not know what to do when I wasn’t where I said I’d be. I waited fifteen more minutes, listening to the sounds of the game echoing toward me, before I finally faced the truth. I had been stood up. Such a thing was unheard of. It hadn’t happened in†¦ over a century. I felt more stunned than embarrassed or angry by the revelation. The whole thing was just too weird to fathom. No, I decided a moment later, I was mistaken. Seth had been reluctant, yes, but he wouldn’t just refuse to come, not without calling. And maybe†¦ maybe something bad had happened. He could have been hit by a car for all I knew. After Duane’s death, one could never predict when tragedy might hit. Yet, until I had more information, the only tragedy I faced now was missing the game. I called his cell again, this time leaving him a message with my number and whereabouts. I would come outside and retrieve him if needed. I went into the game. Sitting alone made me feel conspicuous, driving home the sadness of my situation. Other couples sat nearby, and a group of guys kept eyeing me, occasionally nudging one of their number who wanted to come talk to me. Being hit on didn’t faze me, but looking like I needed it did. I might choose not to date, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t do it when I wanted. I didn’t like others perceiving me as desperate and alone. I felt that way enough sometimes without outside confirmation. At the first break, I bought a corndog to console myself. While sifting through my purse for cash, I found the slip of paper with Roman’s phone number. I stared at it while I ate, remembering his persistence and how bad I’d felt refusing him. My sudden painful abandonment fired the need to hang out with someone, to remind myself I really could have social contact when I wanted. Common sense froze me briefly as I was about to dial, cautioning that I would be breaking my decades-long vow of not dating nice guys. There were more prudent ways to deal with an unused hockey ticket, that reasonable inner voice reminded me. Like Hugh or the vampires. Calling one of them would provide a safer interaction. But†¦ but they treated me like a sister, and while I loved them like family too, I didn’t want to be a sister just now. And anyway, it wasn’t like this was even a real date. This would be a simple matter of companionship. Plus, the same precautions it had provided for Seth – lack of interaction – applied for Roman too. It would be perfectly safe. I dialed the number. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"I’m tired of holding on to your coat.† I could hear his smile on the other end. â€Å"I figured you’d thrown it away by now.† â€Å"Are you crazy? It’s a Kenneth Cole. Anyway, that’s not really why I called.† â€Å"Yeah, I figured.† â€Å"Do you want to come to a hockey game tonight?† â€Å"When does it start?† â€Å"Um, forty minutes ago.† A Seth-worthy pause. â€Å"So, you just now thought to invite me?† â€Å"Well†¦ the person I was going with didn’t exactly show up.† â€Å"And now you call me?† â€Å"Well, you were so adamant about going out.† â€Å"Yes, but I’m†¦ wait a minute. I’m your second choice?† â€Å"Don’t think of it like that. Think of it as more like, I don’t know, you’re stepping up to fulfill what someone else couldn’t.† â€Å"Like the Miss America runner-up?† â€Å"Look, are you coming or not?† â€Å"Very tempting, but I’m busy right now. And I’m not just saying that either.† Another pause. â€Å"I’ll stop by your place after the game, though.† No, that wasn’t how this was supposed to play out. â€Å"I’m busy after the game.† â€Å"What, you and your no-show have other plans?† â€Å"I†¦ no. I have to†¦ put together a bookcase. It’s going to take a while. Hard work, you know?† â€Å"I excel at that handy-type stuff. I’ll see you in a couple hours.† â€Å"Wait, you can’t – † The phone disconnected. I closed my eyes in a moment of exasperation, opened them, then returned to the action on the ice. What had I just done? After the game, I skulked back home. The elation of winning couldn’t overpower the anxiety of having Roman in my apartment. â€Å"Aubrey,† I said upon entering, â€Å"what am I going to do?† She yawned, revealing her tiny, domestic-sized fangs. I shook my head at her. â€Å"I can’t hide under the bed like you. He won’t fall for it.† Both of us jumped at the sudden knock at the door. For half a second, I did consider the bed before deigning to let Roman in. Aubrey studied him a moment, then – apparently being too overwhelmed at the sight of a sex god in our midst – darted off for my bedroom. Roman, casually dressed, stood bearing a six-pack of Mountain Dew and two bags of Doritos. And a box of cereal. â€Å"Lucky Charms?† I asked. â€Å"Magically delicious,† he explained. â€Å"Requisite for any sort of building project.† I shook my head, still amazed at how he had managed to weasel his way over here. â€Å"This isn’t a date.† He cut me a scandalized look. â€Å"Obviously. I’d bring Count Chocula for that.† â€Å"I’m serious. Not a date,† I maintained. â€Å"Yeah, yeah. I get it.† He set the stuff on the counter and turned to me. â€Å"So, where is it? Let’s get this started.† I exhaled, uneasily relieved by his matter-of-fact manner. No flirtation, no overt come-ons. Just honest, friendly helpfulness. I’d get the shelf built, and then he’d be gone. We tore into the huge box, dumping out loose shelves and panels, as well as an assortment of bolts and screws. The directions were short on words, mostly containing some cryptic diagrams with arrows pointing to where certain parts went. After minutes of scrutiny, we finally decided the large backboard was the place to start, laying it flat on the floor with the shelves and walls placed on top. Once everything was properly aligned, Roman picked up the screws, studying where they joined the various parts together. He examined the screws, looked at the box, then turned back to the shelf. â€Å"That’s weird.† â€Å"What is?† â€Å"I think†¦ most of these things usually have holes in the wood, then they include a little tool to put the screws in.† I leaned over the wood. No premade holes. No tools. â€Å"We’ve got to screw these in ourselves.† He nodded. â€Å"I’ve got a screwdriver†¦ somewhere.† He eyed the wood. â€Å"I don’t think that’ll work. I think we need a drill.† I felt awed at his hardware prowess. â€Å"I know I don’t have that.† We hightailed it over to a big chain home store, walking in ten minutes before they closed. A harried salesclerk showed us to the drill section, then sprinted off, calling back a warning that we didn’t have much time. The power tools stared back at us, and I looked to Roman for guidance. â€Å"Not a clue,† he finally admitted after a span of silence. â€Å"I thought you excelled at this ‘handy-type stuff.’ â€Å" â€Å"Yeah†¦ well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He turned sheepish, a new look for him. â€Å"That was kind of an exaggeration.† â€Å"Like a lie?† â€Å"No. Like an exaggeration.† â€Å"They’re the same.† â€Å"No they aren’t.† I let the semantics go. â€Å"Why’d you say it then?† He gave a rueful headshake. â€Å"Partially because I just wanted to see you again. And the rest†¦ I don’t know. I guess the short answer is you said you had something hard to do. So I wanted to help.† â€Å"I’m a damsel in distress?† I teased. He studied me seriously. â€Å"Hardly. But you are someone I’d like to get to know better, and I wanted you to see I’ve got more on my mind than just getting you into bed.† â€Å"So if I offered you sex here in this aisle, you’d turn me down?† The flippant remark came off my tongue before I could stop it. It was a defense mechanism, a joke to cover up how confused his earnest explanation had made me. Most guys did just want to get me into bed. I wasn’t quite sure what to do with one who didn’t. My glibness succeeded in killing the pensive moment. Roman became his old confident and charming self, and I almost regretted the change I’d wrought, wondering what might have followed. â€Å"I’d have to turn you down. We’ve only got six minutes now. They’d kick us out before it was done.† He snapped his attention to the drills with renewed vigor. â€Å"And as for my so-called handy skills,† he added, â€Å"I’m a remarkably fast learner, so I wasn’t really exaggerating. By the end of the night, I will excel.† Not true. After arbitrarily picking out a drill and coming home, Roman set himself to aligning the bookcase’s pieces and putting them together. He fit one of the shelves to the backboard, lined up his screw, and drilled. The drill went through at an angle, missing the shelf entirely. â€Å"Son of a bitch,† he swore. I moved in and yelped when I saw the screw sticking through the back of my bookshelf. We took it out and stared bleakly at the conspicuous hole left behind. â€Å"Probably it’ll be covered by books,† I suggested. He set his mouth in a grim line and attempted the same feat again. The screw made contact this time but was still at an obvious angle. He pulled it out again, finally inserting it correctly on his third try. Unfortunately, the process only repeated as he continued. Watching hole after hole appear, I finally asked if I could try. He waved his hand in a defeatist gesture and handed me the drill. I fitted in a screw, leaned over, and drilled it in perfectly in my first attempt. â€Å"Jesus,† he said. â€Å"I’m completely superfluous. I’m the damsel in distress.† â€Å"No way. You brought the cereal.† I finished attaching the shelves. The walls came next. The backboard had small hash marks to help with alignment. With careful scrutiny, I tried to line it up cleanly along the edges. It proved impossible, and I soon realized why. Despite my perfect drilling, all of the shelves were affixed crookedly, some too far to the left or right. The walls could not fit flush with the backboard’s edges. Roman sat back against my couch, running a hand over his eyes. â€Å"My God.† I munched on a handful of Lucky Charms and considered. â€Å"Well. Let’s just line them up as best we can.† â€Å"This thing’ll never hold books.† â€Å"Yeah. We’ll do what we can.† We tried it with the first wall, and though it took a while and looked terrible, it sufficed as serviceable. We moved on to the next one. â€Å"I think I finally have to admit I’m not so good at this,† he observed. â€Å"But you seem to have kind of a knack. A regular handywoman.† â€Å"I don’t know about that. I think the only thing I have a knack for is barely scraping by with things I have to do.† â€Å"That was a world-weary tone if ever I heard one. Why? You got a lot of things you ‘have to do’?† I nearly choked on my laugh, thinking about the whole succubus survival scene. â€Å"You might say that. I mean, doesn’t everyone?† â€Å"Yes, of course, but you’ve got to balance them with things you want to do. Don’t get bogged down with the have- to’s. Otherwise, there’s no point in being alive. Life becomes a matter of survival.† I finished a screw. â€Å"You’re getting kind of deep for me tonight, Descartes.† â€Å"Don’t be cute. I’m serious. What do you really want? From life? For your future? For example, do you plan on being at the bookstore forever?† â€Å"For a while. Why? Are you saying there’s something wrong with that?† â€Å"No. Just seems kind of mundane. Like a way to fill the time.† I smiled. â€Å"No, definitely not. And even if it was, we can still enjoy mundane things.† â€Å"Yes, but I’ve found most people harbor dreams of a more exciting vocation. The one that’s too crazy to ever actually do. The one that’s too hard, too much work, or just too ‘out there.’ The gas station attendant who dreams of being a rock star. The accountant who wishes she’d taken art history classes instead of statistics. People put their dreams off, either because they think it’s impossible, or because they’ll do it ‘someday’ â€Å" He had paused from our work, his face serious once more. â€Å"So what do you want, Georgina Kincaid? What is your crazy dream? The one you think you can’t have but secretly fantasize about?† Honestly, my deepest longing was to have a normal relationship, to love and be loved without supernatural complications. Such a small thing, I thought sadly, compared to his grandiose examples. Not crazy at all, just impossible. I didn’t know if I wanted love now as a way of making up for the mortal marriage I’d destroyed or simply because the years had shown me that love could be a bit more fulfilling than being a continual servant of the flesh. Not that that didn’t have its moments, of course. Being wanted and adored was an alluring thing, a thing most mortals and immortals craved. But loving and longing were not the same things. Relationships with other immortals seemed a logical choice, but employees of hell proved nonideal candidates for stability and commitment. I’d had a few semisatisfying relationships with such men over the years, but they’d all come to nothing. Explaining any of this, however, was not a conversation Roman and I were going to have anytime soon. So instead, I confessed my secondary fantasy, half-surprised at how much I wanted to. People didn’t usually ask me what I wanted from life. Most just asked me what position I wanted to do it in. â€Å"Well, if I weren’t at the bookstore – and believe me, I’m very happy there – I think I’d like to choreograph Vegas dance shows.† Roman’s face split into a grin. â€Å"There, you see that? That’s the kind of wacky, off-the-wall thing I’m talking about.† He leaned forward. â€Å"So what holds you back from bare breasts and sequins? Risk? Sensationalism? What others will say?† â€Å"No,† I said sadly. â€Å"Simply the fact that I can’t do it.† † ‘Can’t’ is a – â€Å" â€Å"I mean, I can’t choreograph because I can’t write routines. I’ve tried. I can’t†¦ I can’t create anything, for that matter. Anything new. I’m not the creative type.† He scoffed. â€Å"I don’t believe that.† â€Å"No, it’s true.† Someone had once told me that immortals were not meant to create, that that was the province of humans who burned to leave behind a legacy after their short existence. But I’d known immortals who could do it. Peter was always concocting his original culinary surprises. Hugh used the human body as a canvas. But me? I had never been able to do it as a mortal either. The lack was in me. â€Å"You don’t know how hard I’ve tried to do creative things. Painting classes. Music lessons. I’m a dismal failure at worst, a copycat of another’s genius at best.† â€Å"You’ve been pretty adept with this building project.† â€Å"Another person’s design, another person’s directions. I excel at that part. I’m smart. I can reason. I can read people, interact with them perfectly. I can copy things, learn the right moves and steps. My eyes, for example.† I pointed to them. â€Å"I can apply makeup as well or better than any of the department store girls. But I get all my ideas and palettes from others, from pictures in magazines. I don’t make up anything of my own. The Vegas thing? I could dance in a show and be perfect. Seriously. I could be the star of any revue – following another’s choreography. But I couldn’t write any moves myself, not in any major or significant way.† The wall was done. â€Å"I don’t believe it,† he argued. His passionate defense both surprised and charmed me. â€Å"You’re bright and vivacious. You’re intelligent – extremely so. You have to give yourself a chance. Start small, and go from there.† â€Å"Is this the part where you tell me to believe in myself? The sky is the limit?† â€Å"No. This is the part where I tell you it’s getting late, and I need to go. Your shelf is finished, and I have had a lovely evening.† We stood up and lifted the bookcase, leaning it against my living room wall. Stepping back, we studied it in silence. Even Aubrey appeared for the inspection. Each shelf sat at a crooked angle. One of the sidewalls almost lined up straight with the backboard’s edge, the other had a quarter-inch margin. Six holes were visible in the backboard. And most inexplicably of all, the whole thing seemed to lean slightly to the left. I started laughing. And I couldn’t stop. After a moment of shock, Roman joined me. â€Å"Dear Lord,† I said finally, wiping tears away. â€Å"That’s the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen.† Roman opened his mouth in disagreement, then reconsidered. â€Å"It just might be.† He saluted. â€Å"But I think it’ll hold, Captain.† We made a few more mirthful comments before I walked him to the door, remembering to give him his coat back. In spite of his jokes, he seemed more genuinely disappointed about our shelf failure than I did, like he had let me down. Somehow, I found this more appealing than his perfectly timed lines or charming bravado. Not that I didn’t love those too. I studied him as we said goodbye, thinking about his â€Å"chivalry† and passionate belief in me following my heart’s desire. The lump of fear I always carried around people I liked softened a little. â€Å"Hey, you never told me your crazy dream.† The aqua eyes crinkled. â€Å"Not so crazy. Just still trying to score that date with you.† Not so crazy.Just like mine. Companionship over fame and glamour. I took the plunge. â€Å"Well, then†¦ what are you doing tomorrow?† He brightened. â€Å"Nothing yet.† â€Å"Then come by the bookstore just before closing. I’m giving a dance lesson.† The dance lesson would have lots of people. It would be a safe compromise for us. That smile faltered only slightly. â€Å"A dance lesson?† â€Å"You have a problem with that? Are you changing your mind about going out?† â€Å"Well, no, but†¦ is it like the Vegas thing? You covered in rhinestones? Because I could probably get into that.† â€Å"Not exactly.† He shrugged, the charisma on high-beam. â€Å"Well. We’ll save that for the second date.† â€Å"No. There’s no second date, remember? Just the one, then that’s it. We don’t see each other anymore. You said so. Super-secret Boy Scout†¦ whatever.† â€Å"That might have been an exaggeration.† â€Å"No. That would be a lie.† â€Å"Ah.† He winked at me. â€Å"I guess those two aren’t the same then after all, eh?† â€Å"I – † My words halted at the logic. He gave me one of his roguish bows before sweeping away. â€Å"Farewell, Georgina.† I went back inside, hoping I hadn’t just made a mistake, and found Aubrey sitting on one of my shelves. â€Å"Whoa, be careful,† I warned. â€Å"I don’t think that’s structurally sound.† Although it was late, I didn’t feel tired. Not after this wacky evening with Roman. I felt wired, his presence affecting both my body and mind. Inspired, I shooed Aubrey off the bookcase and started transferring my stacks. With each new weight addition, I expected collapse, but the thing held. When I got to my Seth Mortensen books, I suddenly remembered the cataclysm that had sparked this whole evening. Anger kindled in me once more. I’d heard nary a word from the writer the entire time. The getting-hit-by-a-car thing might still be a possibility, but my instincts doubted it. He had stood me up. Half of me considered kicking his books in retaliation, but I knew I could never do that. I loved them too much. No need to punish them for their creator’s shortcomings. Longingly, I picked up The Glasgow Pact, suddenly anxious to read my next five-page installment. I left the rest of my books unshelved and settled on the couch, Aubrey at my feet. When I reached the stopping point, I discovered something incredible. Cady was developing a love interest in this one. It was unheard of. O’Neill, ever the charming ladies’ man, got around all the time. Cady remained virtuously pure, no matter the number of sexual innuendoes and jokes she traded across the table with O’Neill. Nothing tangible had happened thus far in the book, but I could read the inevitable signs of what was to come with her and this investigator they’d met in Glasgow. I kept reading, unable to leave that plotline hanging. And the farther I read, the harder it was to stop. I soon took a secret, irrational satisfaction at breaking the five-page rule. Like I was somehow getting back at Seth. The night wore on. Cady went to bed with the guy, and O’Neill became uncharacteristically jealous and freaked out, despite his usual surface charm. Holy shit. I left the couch, put on pajamas, and curled up in my bed. Aubrey followed. I kept reading. I finished the book at four in the morning, bleary-eyed and exhausted. Cady saw the guy a few more times as she and O’Neill wrapped up their mystery – as enthralling as ever, but suddenly less interesting compared to the interpersonal developments – and then she and the Scotsman parted ways. She and O’Neill returned to Washington, D.C., and the status quo resettled. I exhaled and set the book on the floor, unsure what to think, mainly because I was so tired. Still, in a valiant effort, I got up from bed, found my laptop, and logged into my Emerald City e-mail. I sent Seth a terse message: Cady got some. What’s up with that? Then, as an afterthought: By the way, the hockey game was great. Satisfied I’d registered my opinion, I promptly fell asleep†¦ only to be awakened a few hours later by my alarm clock. How to cite Succubus Blues CHAPTER 9, Essay examples

Critical Thinking for Novice Nurses - Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss about the Critical Thinking for Novice Nurses. Answer: Introduction In healthcare, there are various skills that a nurse has to possess to attain competency or be termed as an expert. One of these skills is learning to think and acting critically. This is critical in the sense that it is part of the requirement that nurses have to attain to be competent. However, novice nurses, or those registered to practice in Australia, usually have problem inculcating critical thinking in their practice. It is therefore essential that this kind of group learn to think and act critically in their practice and not blindly following procedures put forward either by their senior colleagues or doctors (Kong, Qin, Zhou, Mou, Gao, 2014, p.461). Thus, this essay tries to elaborate why learning to think and act critically is essential for novice nurses. Additionally, the essay will elaborate some of the importance of a novice nurse having the ability to think and act critically. In addition to that, it is essential to explain why it is not prudent for nurses to enact proc edures blindly without utilizing their skills in thinking and circumstances where this can become unprofessional and even unrealistic. Therefore, even though it is challenging for inexperienced nurses to be tasked with the responsibility of making decisions on their own, it is important to look at the reasons why this is essential. Novice Nurses Newly registered nurses, from nursing college, lack the ability to move swiftly and make decisions on their own. Various reasons study attribute this, firstly, is that the new nurses feel unprepared or cannot make decisions that meet the daily challenges characteristics of the workforce (Parahoo, 2014, p.424). In addition to that, it is common for the novice nurses to feel that they do not possess critical thinking and clinical knowledge essential for one to come up with a sound decision. In dealing with specific cases, the novices appear to face challenges in dealing with an emergency, when caring for a dying patient or end-of-life scenario (Bradshaw, Hultquist, 2016, p.236). Also, in patients suffering from acute illness, new nurses tend to fare poorly in regards to thinking and acting critically. Even though novice nurses execute their decisions appropriately, they lack the confidence to ascribe a rationale behind their decisions, either because of lack of confidence or inexperie nce in dealing with real-life situations. It makes it essential thus for them to find a way to learn the ability to think and act critically. There are various important levels in learning that a novice nurse undergoes before he or she becomes confident enough to make his or her own decisions or attain the status of making his or her decisions based on ability. The first stage is the basic level where a nurse believes that the senior nurse is the one to offer him or her all the answers for any problem (Saintsing, Gibson, Pennington, 2011, p. 356). The second stage is called the complex level, and in this stage, the nurse becomes slightly independent. Even though he or she takes procedures and answers from the senior nurse or doctor, he or she also start making some decisions on her own without involving anyone else. The last level for a nurse is the commitment level, and here, the nurse is entirely independent and has acquired the confidence and clinical knowledge to make almost all decisions on his or her own (Ingham-Broomfield, 2015, p.34). All these levels are as crucial for this topic as they depict the stages and imp ortance of each level that a novice nurse undergoes before gaining the necessary experience and knowledge to think and act critically in regards to treating patients. Additionally, the levels denote various ways that newly registered nurses need to adapt to avoid taking instructions and be independent in solving problems in the workplace (Theisen, Sandau, 2013, p.429). In addition to that, moving from the lower stage to the highest stage improves the nurses professional practice. Importance of Nurses Thinking and Acting Critically For newly registered nurses in Australia, it will be challenging for them to form a successful career in nursing without having to think and act critically. It is also true that clinical skills are essential, but to be a competent nurse, there is more to that. It needs some bit of reasoning and thinking and not just taking procedures. As far as nursing is concerned, the aspects that the new novice need is to be precise, fair, logical, complete, clear and accurate (Freeling, Parker, 2015, p.46). All these elements the novice nurses must be taught during their practice and have to maintain them during talking or acting. This will ensure that the nurse is not just a puppet but one with the know-how and ready to respond to a patient for whatever concern that may arise. The skills that the newly graduated and registered nurse needs to be taught include but are not limited interpreting, evaluating and analyzing (Rush, Adamack, Gordon, Lilly, Janke, 2013, p.350). To start with interpreting , the new nurse has to understand and be in a position to elaborate the meaning of a given scenario. On the other hand, the new nurse needs to possess analyzing skills as a component of critical thinking for investigating of course of action but must come from data which meets the criteria of being objective or subjective (Edwards, Hawker, Carrier, Rees,2015, p. 1258). It is for this reason among many others that make it important for newly registered nurses to learn to think critically and acting the same as well for a successful treatment. Another reason that novice nurses need to learn on how to think and act critically and not just the following procedure is for forming a workplace. This entails making performance expectations which can be in the form of values that are well spelled out for everyone to apprehend in the given workplace. This appears to have a positive influence, especially on professional practice simply because nurses have the option of taking part in the process or have their opinion had in a particular subject (Pfaff, Baxter, Jack, Ploeg, 2014, p.7). Therefore, it is very crucial to create such kind of environment that cultivates professional behaviors because it makes nurses think on how they tackle issues and topics when they practice or rather administer a patient. In addition to that, it is important for novice nurses to learn to think and not just take procedures blindly as this enables them to deal with difficult situations. For instance, in a situation where a choice determines which course of action is fit to be implemented. Moreover, for the novice nurses to make clinical decisions, it is essential that they learn reasoning strategies and some of the criteria which are used by clinical nurses to come up with such decisions (Peters, 2014, p.225). The novice, therefore need to learn by asking why a certain decision has to be made for the nurse to be in the right position to make the right choices for the patient (Reem, Kitsantas, Maddox, 2014, p.1026). By learning how to think and act critically but not taking procedures blindly, the novice nurses put themselves in a position to either make sound judgment or decisions that are largely derived from their knowledge and experience which in turn can develop further skills. On the other hand, one of the best ways for novice nurses to learn problem-solving skills is to stop taking instructions blindly and start learning on how to think and act critically. For the newly registered nurses in Australia, they have to be taught in this phase on ways on how to examine the patient in all manners to identify what the patient needs (Hendricks, Cope, 2013, p.720). It is after this point of critical thinking that the nu nurses should then proceed to solve the problem by the use or application of evidence-based or the characteristics of the patients aimed at improving his condition (Sargent, Olmedo, 2013, p.605). In addition to that, by acquiring skills in problem-solving, the novice nurse put himself or herself in the right position to perform similar tasks again in the future should such a problem arise in the same condition which will not have been the case if she or he continues taking procedures blindly. There arise situations where a patient is unable to adequately communicate or show signs of what he or she requires. By taking instructions from senior nurses or any other authorities blindly, a nurse can never be in a position to help such a patient. This is another situation that calls for not only learning to think but acting critically for newly registered nurses in Australia. A nurse with vast knowledge and experience is such situation may be able to think critically and come up with new and various ways that can be helpful to the patient (Theisen, Sandau, 2013, p.430). On the other hand, a nurse who is not exposed to such situation or one who keeps on relying on another person to formulate procedures or decisions to be followed may prove to be ineffective or rather fail to offer any help to the patient. Novice nurses need to be taught that problems exist and prepare themselves with that kind of attitude. That sort of attitude is essential in both problem-solving and decision-ma king process in a hospital or in a patient to nurse interactions (Franklin, Burns, Lee, 2014, p.1300). Unlike in cases where a nurse is bound to wait for somebody to make decisions or offer guidance, the new nurses, by having this kind of attitude, are well prepared. Additionally, the nurse is aware of the problem that takes place and can form the guideline for solving various problems. It is challenging for nurses to operate in situations where they cannot completely make decisions. For newly registered nurses, it is important they take note that cases arise in a hospital that needs the person next to the patient to offer a solution (Morton et al., 2017, p.141). Additionally, following instructions blindly makes it unprofessional as a nurse need to have some know-how in various ways of responding to a patient. It is with this regard that newly registered and graduated nurses need to learn how to treat, respond and act promptly in situations of emergencies or any other that need their assistance (Phillips, Kenny, Esterman, Smith, 2014, p.110). This explains the reasons behind the need for learning among novice nurses. Studies also show that nurses who are critical thinkers are likely to stick to intellectual standards. This enables them to avoid ambiguity and confusion in ideas. Thus, there are numerous befits that call upon all nurses, and in this case, new gradua te registered nurses to stop following procedures blindly but instead learn how to think and act critically. There are various reasons that novice nurses need to learn the ability to think and act critically. The first thing that makes it so essential is that it brings nurses a form of independence. It is worth noting that nurses enter medical field with little or no working experience (Taylor, 2002, p.15). This makes them be over-reliant to senior nurses or the experienced ones who then act as their leaders in executing most of their decisions (Black, 2016, p.127). In effect, this creates some form of dependence for any decision that they have to make in regards to patients treatment or as the emergency arises. Thus, by learning to think and acting critically is essential to avoid such kind of dependency and attachment that comes with it. Conclusion It is evident that nurses need more skills than clinical knowledge. For the new graduate who has been recently registered as practicing nurses, it is important they learn how to think and act critically for many reasons. Firstly, a practitioner who thinks critically is likely to maintain all the standards practicing procedures. Secondly, a novice nurse will be in a better position to solve problems that emanate from patients that do not necessarily require an experienced nurse. In addition to that, this kind of learning will make it possible for the novice nurse to become independent and thus stop relying on the senior or top authority to offer guidance on the best decisions to make for problems emanating from patients. Another reason is that it helps in the process of decision-making both in the hospital setting and for patients concerns. Critical thinking skills act as guidelines for future references should the same problem show up. Lastly, where nurses think and act critically, i t promotes the workforce of the hospital as they are able to generate new ideas in helping the department. References Black, B. (2016). Professional Nursing-E-Book: Concepts Challenges. Elsevier Health Sciences, 124-129. Bradshaw, M., Hultquist, B. L. (2016).Innovative teaching strategies in nursing and related health professions.Jones Bartlett Learning, 234-237. Edwards, D., Hawker, C., Carrier, J., Rees, C. (2015).A systematic review of the effectiveness of strategies and interventions to improve the transition from student to newly qualified nurse. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 52(7), 1254-1268. Franklin, A. E., Burns, P., Lee, C. S. (2014). Psychometric testing on the NLN Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning, Simulation Design Scale, and Educational Practices Questionnaire using a sample of pre-licensure novice nurses. Nurse Education Today, 34(10), 1298-1304. Freeling, M., Parker, S. (2015). Exploring experienced nurses' attitudes, views, and expectations of new graduate nurses: a critical review. Nurse education today, 35(2), e42- e49. Hendricks, J. M., Cope, V. C. (2013). Generational diversity: what nurse managers need to know.Journal of advanced nursing, 69(3), 717-725. Ingham-Broomfield, R. (2015). A nurses' guide to Qualitative Research. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, The, 32(3), 34. Kong, L. N., Qin, B., Zhou, Y. Q., Mou, S. Y., Gao, H. M. (2014). The effectiveness of problem-based learning on development of nursing students critical thinking: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International journal of nursing studies, 51(3), 458- 469. Parahoo, K. (2014). Nursing research: principles, process and issues. Palgrave Macmillan, 421-432. Peters, A. B. (2014). Faculty to faculty incivility: Experiences of novice nurse faculty in academia. Journal of Professional Nursing, 30(3), 213-227. Pfaff, K., Baxter, P., Jack, S., Ploeg, J. (2014).An integrative review of the factors influencing new graduate nurse engagement in interprofessional collaboration.Journal of advanced nursing, 70(1), 4-20. Phillips, C., Kenny, A., Esterman, A., Smith, C. (2014). A secondary data analysis is examining the needs of graduate nurses in their transition to a new role. Nurse Education in Practice, 14(2), 106-111. Reem, A. D., Kitsantas, P., Maddox, P. J. (2014). The impact of residency programs on new nurse graduates' clinical decision-making and leadership skills: A systematic review. Nurse Education Today, 34(6), 1024-1028. Rush, K. L., Adamack, M., Gordon, J., Lilly, M., Janke, R. (2013). Best practices of formal new graduate nurse transition programs: an integrative review. International journal of nursing studies, 50(3), 345-356. Saintsing, D., Gibson, L. M., Pennington, A. W. (2011). The novice nurse and clinical decision?making: how to avoid errors. Journal of Nursing Management, 19(3), 354-359. Sargent, L., Olmedo, M. (2013).Meeting the needs of new-graduate nurse practitioners: a model to support transition. Journal of Nursing Administration, 43(11), 603-610. Taylor, C. (2002). Assessing patients needs: does the same information guide expert and novice nurses?. International Nursing Review, 49(1), 11-19. Theisen, J. L., Sandau, K. E. (2013). Competency of new graduate nurses: A review of their weaknesses and strategies for success. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 44(9), 406-414. Morton, P. G., Fontaine, D., Hudak, C. M., Gallo, B. M. (2017).Critical care nursing: a holistic approach. Lippincott Williams Wilkins, 137-143.

Anorexia Nervosa Essays (2159 words) - Eating Disorders,

Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia Nervosa is a very serious disease that is plaguing many young people in our society. This is something that is becoming more and more prevalent. It is something that should not be taken lightly. I have chosen to do my Science report on this topic, because it is something intriguing and it is found in many teens. This is a topic that is too foreign to many people and they need to be educated on the subject. I hope to help that in anyway I can. In the following paragraphs I will discuss the warning signs of anorexia, the people affected by the disease, the disease itself, and certain types of treatments for the disorder. Firstly, I would like to discuss the warning signs of an eating disorder. The physical symptoms are much easier to identify, so I will start with them. The first and most obvious sign is extreme weight loss, which you can easily identify. To try and conceal this the anorexic will start to wear baggy clothing in an attempt to conceal the weight loss. An anorexic will also make every attempt to avoid a situation where food or meals are served. Times like this will be very uncomfortable to them, because it leaves them vulnerable to questions about their eating habits. This is something they want to avoid at all costs. Another part of avoiding meals is to prepare big meals for groups of people and eat very little. The anorexic will give excuses like, I'm to tired to eat, or, No, that's okay you should just eat. I prepared it for you. This let's them off the hook in their own mind. They make it look as they are too tired after all the hard work they have put in and usually nobody draws at tention to it. An anorexic may also start to lose hair on their head or begin to grow finer hair on the body. This is one sign that you will want to look for if you have the opportunity. It will be a very accurate sign of an eating disorder. Also, a person with an eating disorder will show different types of emotional and mental symptoms. A few of the more obvious symptoms are depression, being grouchy, temperamental, and withdrawal. These are the most common signs of a person with anorexia. However, you must be very careful when assuming that a person has an eating disorder. It should not be confused with mood swings caused by trouble with friends or at home. These symptoms are usually with the person most of the time, not just periodically. They are usually accompanied by some of the physical signs. There are a few other signs that an anorexic person may have but are hard to identify with such as fear of gaining weight and perfectionist tendencies. These are harder to identify bec ause they can be confused with other feelings or easily concealed. You should not confuse goal setting and high aspirations with perfectionist tendencies and if the person exercises daily it does not mean they are afraid of weight gain. By using common sense you can easily identify if a person has signs that are serious. That is the time you need to take action. In closing, there are many ways to identify an eating disorder, but you must do it with carefulness and thinking. Next, I will talk about the people that are most commonly affected by anorexia and who is most likely to get it. So far, I have talked about the different warning signs that you will find in anorexia. Now I will talk about what type of people to look for it in and it will give you a better idea of a person that could have it. The first thing I would like to make clear, is that any person can have an eating disorder. Statistics show different groups with anorexia, but the truth is that anyone can develop anorexia. After surveys, doctors have found that the age group where you will most commonly find anorexic people is between the ages of 13 to 21. Doctor's believe that these people are more at risk because of being exposed to people

language teaching and learning essays

language teaching and learning essays The Legend of 1900 is really a deep, significence movie which overwrought with personal philosophy. Through symbols, the features of 1900s personality and the questions he faced in life. The "Virginian" is a wonderful microcosm, a jumping off point for hundreds of thousands of immigrants. The vessel serves as a character herself, a place where both death and life abound. No gimmicks are used to make the ship into a character, but we still become attached to it and share Max's sadness as he surveys its final rotted interior, searching for the elusive nautical semi-poltergeist. We don't learn much about 1900 except his relationship to the Virginia; he jealously guards his talent against challenges and even keeps his music from being heard on a recording almost like a ghost who wants to be in control of his manifestations. Maybe he's the human child of the boat itself. On board the Virginian, anything seems possible for 1900. He has his music. He has an enthralled audience every crossing. He has friends like Max, who joins the ship's band. What he doesn't have is the ability to set foot on land. He is a true creature of the sea - apart, disconnected, viewing life from the safety of a piano bench or a ship's deck. In some ways he's as sadly isolated as Quasimodo perched among Notre Dame's spires. That is his weak point in his temperament. Nothing can get him to leave. Not Max's entreaties. Not a record producer's offers of fame and fortune. Not even an enigmatic, beautiful girl who represents all the promise of the unknown. The ship begins as 1900's floating cradle and ends, metaphorically and more, as his floating crypt. The sad truth is, instead of celebrating his genius, 1900's life is suffused with such a sense of moping terror and sheer "smallness" that the entire story shudders just to look at him. the shy, fragile charm of 1900. 1900 becomes a figure larger than life, a musician with ...

Israeli perception on the six day war and the security dilemma Research Paper

Israeli perception on the six day war and the security dilemma - Research Paper Example The Israeli were angered by the actions of the Arab Nations and the lack of action from the United States and UNEF. Israeli decided to seek a peaceful agreement from the U.S. and UNEF but failed to reach an agreement, this made the Israeli’s to start war with the Arab countries, and in the end Israeli emerged victorious over these countries. Israeli`s Defense Forces had no reason to go to war but were forced by circumstances to fight, for the protection of its people, and securing security for its people. Key words: Israeli, Six Day War, Security, Dilemma, Perception, Israel, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Arab, U.S., Israeli Defense Force, Army, National Security, Doctrine, Forces, Quality, Quantity, Resources, Threat The Six Day War was a war between five Arab neighbors namely; Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Israeli and her neighbors, in which Israeli captured the most part of Arab territory. This war broke out on 5 June, 1967 and ended on 10 June 1967, following a three week tension, when th e Israelites learned that Egypt had deployed a large army in Sinai Peninsula. The cause of the Six Day War was as a result of increased tension between Israel and its Arab neighbors in the mid 1960`s. Israeli ruling to divert the waters of River Jordan to Negev Desert frustrated the Arabs, who wanted the river to flow to Lake Galilee. Syria had begun to divert the waters but this made Israel bomb Syria in the years 1965 and 1966. Egypt played a big role in the Six Day War; this was because of the: blockade of the Gulf of Aqaba, the Fatah and PLO raid on Israel, the creation of an independent Israel, Israel decision to strike first in 1967, and expulsion of UN forces from Egypt (Rea and Wright, 1997). Historians sited that the reason for Israel attack was because of the poor economic conditions it was experiencing at the time. They explained that a war would distract people`s minds from unemployment and low development and this would bring foreign currency, to boost the economy (â₠¬Å"Causes of the War,† n.d.). The cold war tension motivated and exploited the soviets, to take advantage of the destabilized region, and provide them with military and economic assistance, in order to outsmart Jordan and Iraq, as it increased threats on Israeli By the end of the war, Israeli had captured triple the size of the area controlled. Israeli unified Jerusalem, Sinai, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip and West Bank. Israeli hope was to have peaceful negotiations with the Arabs states (Bard, 2012). Israelis perspective on the events that led to the Six Day War was influenced by views of itself in the region and in the international community during that time. Israeli thought its existence was been threatened, before the war broke out, leaders were also concerned about how Israel would survive. This made Israel to pay back the continued Arab hostility and specific attacks. They thought that this would make the Arab leaders cease to attack Israel and caution them to control the ir acts against Israeli. Many unfriendly superpowers gave Arab countries aid to attack Israeli, and this angered them because of their hostility and unfriendly ways. The main reasons for Israeli attacks were the severe Arab threats, and the role of the United States in a threat that was serious. On May 23, President Nasser of Egypt announced the blockage of strait of Tiran, this changed Israeli`s perception. The question many asked was, what is the United States doing about this decision, and was is

Racism in Britain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Racism in Britain - Essay Example The British national self and race is constructed in relation to the other nations. Cultural differences are irreducible, and they revealed the ambivalence and hybrid nature of racism. Critics state that "The positing of ethnic origin raises the issue of the targets of racism being diverse and not restricted to groups defined in racial terms" (Anthias, Lloyd, 2002. p. 8). According to the nature of racism in Britain the great influx of immigrants had eroded homogeneous national identities, or rather the traditional, received instructive images and narratives of national homogeneity, and had thereby revealed the poor image of non-white race. Racism is akin to culture and religion rather than ideology in their depth and extent. The British nation is best seen as an imagined political community, at once sovereign and spatially finite-imagined. But once created, this imagined communion of the nation represents a powerful sociological reality as a community imagined to move in linear fashion through 'empty, homogeneous time. Critics and historians single out the following causes of racism in Britain. In Britain, racism can be explained as: "not just presence of physical differences between groups that creates races, but "the social recognition of such differences as socially significant or relevant" (Van the Berghe, 1967 cited Yassine, n.d.). The assumption that the root causes of these wars lay in antagonisms not only had its political and diplomatic uses therefore, but it also diverted attention from what really needed to be explained: how was it that these political elites were able to arouse people who had been living for generations in multi-ethnic, multilingual and multi-religious communities to such extremes of racism. Researchers suppose that "frustration-aggression" and "authoritarian personality" theories help to explain racism in Britain. A part of the explanation lies in the particular techniques and strategies which are deliberately employed by political leaders to turn these materials into a powerful resource for advancing nationalist claims. [They] "explain racism as a type of relief from "frustration", where a "scapegoat" may become the object of aggressive behaviour" (Yassine, n.d.). The failure, or refusal, of British public institutions to recognize the impact of political and economic change on the development of ethnic and national sentiment has made it easier for these British nation to ignore, or fail to give serious causal weight to, the role of racism in using ethnicity and religion to mobilize, polarize and radicalize larger target groups. Immigration is seen as another cause of racial ideas and prejudices existed in British society. "Immigrants from the 'New Commonwealth were not welcomed, or effectively woven into the fabric of a polyethnic, multicultural society" (Yassine, n.d.). For this reason, many British citizens do not respect other nations who come to their country looking for better life. In general, even if British society can be shown to have common values, they might be morally unacceptable. Inequality is a shared value in slave-owning, racist and caste-based societies, but historians would not wish to argue that it should therefore be cherished let alone enforced on their egalitarian minorities. Besides, the core values of any society

Iconic Construction Projects: Issues and Controversies

Iconic Construction Projects: Issues and Controversies Introduction Construction of large, expensive, and prestigious projects is an historical obsession of the human race. Every age of human history, as well as every human civilisation, features huge architectural showpieces (Silverberg, 1965). Religions have used enormous and ornate structures, churches, mosques, and temples, to shock and awe their followers into submission. Many of the ancient and modern seven wonders, e.g., the Coliseum of Rome, the Great Wall of China, or the Taj Mahal, were architectural wonders that were built with massive doses of money, effort, time, and genius (Silverberg, 1965). It took two emperors, ten years, and extensive public taxation to build the Coliseum. The Great Wall was built, over hundreds of years, to protect the Mings against invaders, by generations of architects; who did not foresee that the opening of one of its doors would neutralise centuries of sweat and toil (Silverberg, 1965). The Taj Mahal was built over 16 years with an unlimited budget by an idiosyncratic emperor who failed to connect the irony of amputating the arms of his sculptors (after the erect ion of the Taj) with the building of a monument to the cause of immortal love (Ahmed, 1993). In modern times each of these iconic projects would have been considered to be failures in some aspects, even though they have delivered and continue to deliver numerous benefits. Such awesome projects link humanity over time and distance with common threads of ambition, grandeur, status, and prestige. The construction of the Empire State Building in New York in 1931 set off a race, albeit some four decades later, among other cities, to build something grander and taller, (Cowan, 2007), the title for the tallest building going from skyscraper to tower in different locations until it was grasped in late 2007 by the under construction Burj Dubai, an architectural and construction wonder that will be ready only in 2009. Accepting numerous design modifications and a construction delay of many months, mainly to ensure that their project does not get upstaged in its target of becoming the world’s tallest building, the creators of Burj Dubai are motivated by ambitions that are largely iconic. â€Å"Chairman Mohammed Ali Alabbar said Dubai has resisted the usual and has inspired to build a global icon, ‘it’s a human achievement without equal.†™â€  (Dubai skyscraper worlds tallest, 2008) The urge to undertake iconic construction projects, projects that are commonly associated with size, status, prestige, architectural complexity, and grandeur, is not restricted to the oil rich sheikhdoms of the Middle East, the capitalist bastion of the United States, aggressive young economies like Australia, or the ambitious Asian Tigers. The United Kingdom, long associated with restraint and the virtues of understatement, has its fair share of projects that can be termed iconic; the Millennium Dome, the London Eye, Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower, and London’s Wembley Stadium; to name but a few. Iconic projects are usually undertaken with diverse objectives in mind, e.g., raising the profile of a city, creating a tourist attraction, or even increasing the status of a premier football club; they are normally complex in nature and require substantial outlays of money, long construction periods, large tracts of land, sophisticated construction and construction management skills, involvement of political and non-political organisations, agencies and individuals, and numerous administrative, financial, and legal issues (Prasser, 2006). Always in the arc of media attention, their progress receives inordinate publicity; their failures and successes are widely discussed, debated and often roundly criticised. The amount of controversy and censure that invariably attaches itself to most such projects, as well as their patchy records, can well lead people to believe that â€Å"iconic projects are virtually certain to fail†. With such sweeping statements possibly appearing to be somewhat naà ¯ve to serious students of management and construction, (more so in light of the rapid strides made by the construction management industry in recent years, both in terms of technological advances and in terms of utilisation of management processes), this study attempts to investigate the issue, with the aid of relevant current examples and current construction management theory. Commentary and Analysis A meaningful discussion on the italicised topic calls for logical and relevant structuring. This analytical commentary is structured into sequential sections that take up the determination of failure, as applicable to iconic projects, the various environmental, political, economic and managerial factors that can contribute to such failures, and the measures that can be adopted and implemented to lessen the chances of their happening. The concluding section summarises the discussion and contains appropriate recommendations. Determination of Project Failure A project can be defined as a discrete and predetermined endeavour that has specific commencement and conclusion nodes and is undertaken to construct a quantifiable deliverable (Lewis, 2007). Projects can be initiated in many areas of social, economic and business life and can be classified as iconic in terms of their status, importance, glamour, media friendliness and size. With the topic of this discussion being related to construction, the commentary is focussed on iconic projects that involve substantial construction activity, e.g. stadia, buildings, roads, dams, museums, monuments and the like. Large and prestigious projects in areas like IT or brand building, which can also be truly termed to be iconic, do not find place in this study. A project can be termed to be a failure if it does not meet its objectives (Lewis, 2007). With most modern day projects, especially those that are large and complex, having aims and targets, in terms of physical, cost, and time deliverables, and expected to conform to norms of accountability, transparency, and ethics during their execution, such projects can be deemed to be unsatisfactory if they fail to meet such signposts and requirements (Lewis, 2007). Properly set project objectives, in the language of project management, are expected to meet specific SMARTA criteria, i.e., they should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Framed, and Agreed (Lewis, 2007). Apart from such objectives, iconic projects have broad aims in terms of what they are expected to achieve and the services they are to provide (Prasser, 2006). The Millennium Dome at Greenwich in the outskirts of London, for example, was conceived as a mega project that was planned to be either a football stadium or a huge convention and exhibition centre (and an attractive tourist destination), after the completion of the Millennium Experience in December, 2000 (Maddox, 2000). The structure, which is the largest of its type in the world, whilst proving to be a huge tourist attraction in 2000, proved to be of little use thereafter. Horrendously expensive to maintain, it remained practically unused during the next five years. Most of its adjacent structures were demolished. Renamed O2 in 2005 it has since been transformed into an entertainment district at a cost of 600 million dollars (Millennium Dome, 2008). The Spinnaker Tower at Portsmouth is another example of an iconic project that has come in for widespread criticism. Reflecting Portsmouth’s maritime history and designed to resemble a sail, the tower was completed five years after schedule, incurred expenditures far beyond what was originally forecasted, was executed poorly, developed construction defects and was found to be unfriendly towards disabled visitors (Oates, 2006). The London Wheel, on the other hand, which received lesser visitors than the Millennium Dome in 2000, belied pessimistic forecasts and went on to become a hugely successful tourist attraction, redefining London’s skyline and being featured in every Bollywood movie that was shot in London. Projects to be successful should specifically deliver on the wider planned benefits and services. â€Å"The concept of project benefits is central to project success. A project will be deemed successful if it delivers its promised benefits. What about on time and on budget? These are different questions, relating to how well the project is managed. Important as they are, these are not the focus of a quest to clarify objectives. Besides, in the end we would rather have a successful project a little late and over budget than a beautifully managed disaster which fails to deliver on promises† (Writing Project Objectives, 2008, http://www.numerix.com.au/docs/newsletter-articles/writing-project-objectives.htm). Causes for Project Failure Commercial project management, as a discipline, has enlarged significantly in recent years. Imbibing theories and concepts from various sectors of management theory like strategic, human resource (HR), financial, general and environmental management, its evolution has been helped by the progressive sophistication of project management, decision making, monitoring and control techniques (like PERT (Project Evaluation and Review Techniques), CPM (Critical Path Method), Gantt Charts, and Fishbone diagrams) (Richman, 2002). With construction having progressively become one of the biggest business activities in the world, the use of sophisticated management practices, which otherwise originated and were developed in other business sectors like automobile and steel production, is but normal (Richman, 2002). The fact that project construction, especially on the scale of what is being attempted in the modern day, is an extremely complex process that involves political decision making, activist involvement, environmental repercussions, land acquisition, financial organisation, use of sophisticated technology and complex machinery, diverse human skills, and the involvement of numerous agencies, contractors, and subcontractors, results in the emergence of numerous variables, which, individually, and in tandem with others, can lead to partial or complete failure in achievement of project objectives (Richman, 2002). Despite the existence of numerous related and independent factors that can effectively hinder the success of projects, management experts feel it advisable to group and analyse these variables under specific categories. Again, whilst project management experts and project consulting organisations by and large appear to have their own interpretation of reasons behind failures of large and prestigious projects, they are united on some major causal factors. Problems in Project Initiation The most important of these causal factors arise during the initiation of the project, a process that in the case of iconic projects is likely to include issues of political governance, harmonisation of expectations of different stakeholders, environmental requirements, cost estimation, organisation of finances, selection of management team, and crystallisation of broad project objectives, benefits, and services, as well as its SMARTA criteria (Lewis, 2007). Ambiguity about any of these factors, especially at the initiation stage can lead to the perpetuation of uncertainties in objectives, as the project progresses, and inadequate or inappropriate managerial inputs at later times (Lewis, 2007). Large projects, more often those that are public in nature, or involve public private participation, need clarity in political approach, inter-departmental involvement, and decision making; the lack of which can lead to continuing snags in project implementation. The Millennium Dome, projected as the most celebrated iconic project of the beginning of the Millennium, went over budget by more than 200 million GBP and lay idle for five years after 2000 (Millennium Dome, 2008). It was mired in political and public controversy regarding its cost, design, and content right from project inception; developments that definitely contributed to unsteadiness in its management and leadership and uncertainty in its execution. Whilst the initiation stage of the project in matters of time is often much shorter than the actual time required for its completion, it is critical for satisfactory project outcomes, because of its key processes, (all of which involve high level decision making skills), namely (a) crystallisation of project benefits (b) agreement on project implementation at governing levels, (c) fleshing out of project dimensions and project design, (d) arrangement of finance, and (e) selection of management team (Lewis, 2007). Although commercial project management does borrow many managerial and control techniques from regular management theory and practice, its finite and bounded nature poses significantly different and multifaceted challenges, especially those that arise from the need to make route corrections, if and when such need arises (Hannigan Browne, 2000). Whilst such route corrections are part and parcel of regular management projects, their occurrences in construction projects invariably lead to disruption of time, cost, and completion targets; thus the need for careful project initiation. A project well begun often leads to far easier meeting of project objectives (Hannigan Browne, 2000). The costs of the project, its construction and finance requirements, and time frame, ultimately depend upon project design, the excellence of which has a significant effect on its final success. The design for the Millennium stadium at Cardiff had to take account of variables like the proximity of the river Taff, the issue of tidal flooding and the demolition of a number of buildings with consequent compensation and relocation costs (Lowe, 2008). Mishandling of these issues could well have fatally jeopardised the outcome of this project. Project design is also inextricably linked to the land needed for the project. With land for prestigious projects invariably being substantial, and more often than not in populated areas, land acquisition is a complex exercise with political, environmental, social, and economic aspects that need to be addressed separately and competently. The Tatas, recent acquirers of Corus Steel and Jaguar Landrover, are in the process of constructing their factory for the world’s cheapest car, the 2200 USD Nano, in India. In many ways the group’s most celebrated and iconic project, the original Nano site near Kolkata in East India had to be abandoned after a year’s work and more than 100 million US dollars in expenses, after protests from local landowners, (who did not agree with the land acquisition price negotiated by the concerned state government), led to riots and violence (Misery Is the Price Farmers Must Pay for â€Å"People’s Car†, 2008). The project, whi ch has been resumed in a totally different location, is now substantially behind, both in terms of costs and time, and only the future will tell whether the Tatas will be able to keep their price commitment. Provisioning of finance, its estimation, its sources, and its arrangement form another crucial component of project initiation activities. Project financing, especially in public private partnerships is a complex process, with different sources of finance carrying different cost and repayment commitments. Whilst the Millennium Commission projects were by and large funded by the national lottery, most projects are not so lucky and need to be funded adequately to ensure against work delays on account of financial inadequacy. The Spinnaker Tower, the showpiece of Portsmouth Harbour, suffered from underestimation of cost as well as under-arrangement of finances, leading to an overrun of 36 million GBP and the need to use taxpayers’ money, an avenue that was specifically not considered at the time of the project decision (Oates, 2006). With financial inadequacy likely to arise both from poor financial management and from wrong cost estimation, it is important to get the financials right before the start of a complex and expensive project. Activities like the estimation of finance and the coordination of design activity are the responsibility of the commercial management team of the project, the selection of which, along with that of the commercial manager, is critical to project success. Subject to the necessary provisioning of required inputs from the project owners, the functioning of the commercial management team assumes enormous responsibility for successful project execution. Commercial Management Commercial management of projects is a complex and multifaceted discipline requiring numerous managerial skills and inputs. The execution of large projects is possibly among the most challenging of modern day management tasks, an area of work that is distinguished by two main features, first the sheer number of variables that need to be controlled and issues that need to be attended, and second the minimal scope for wrong decisions or operational blunders (Frame, 2002). The commercial management function is underpinned on theory that is drawn from diverse disciplines like social sciences, management, economics, law, accountancy and finance, in addition of course to project management and supply chain management (Lowe, 2008a). Commercial managers of construction projects have extensive responsibilities that commence from the time of initiation and need to be appointed as soon as a final decision on project implementation is taken (Frame, 2002). Whilst commercial managers are not involved in much of the initial decision making that concern areas of political governance, environmental and ecological issues and sourcing of avenues of finance, their involvement at this stage can be rewarding because of their managerial expertise and their previous experience (Frame, 2002). Commercial managers are more often than not senior practicing managers with significant project experience and are expected to be competent in areas of technical and financial knowledge, budgeting, forecasting and monitoring, law, human resource management, supplier chain management and above all leadership and general management. They need to be selected with the utmost of care as much of the proper execution of projects depends upon their knowledge and competence. Whilst they are generally provided with adequate support in both line and staff functions, their own knowledge of finance management, HR management, supplier chain management and project management is under constant challenge and test; successful project progression depends significantly upon their own interpretation of cash flows and assessment of contractors and subcontractors for project jobs. With the overwhelming majority of project work being carried out by contractors who are chosen for and assigned specific jobs, the most important constraint and critical variable in successful project execution arises from the need to appoint, instruct, monitor and control them (Lowe, 2008a). Unlike regular business organisations, where the bulk of the work is handled by company employees, the majority of project work is undertaken by external contractors who are supervised by project managers with the help of support staff and project accountants, a phenomenon that leads to the emergence of numerous uncertainties and project risks. Much of the delay in the construction of the Wembley stadium, which was finally opened in 2007, more than a year after schedule, can be related to unsatisfactory working of Multiplex, the main contractor (Lowe, 2008a). Contractors are used for every conceivable function and service, from providing designing and architectural services to erection, masonry, electrical work, provisioning of machinery and vehicles, and secretarial and canteen services. A comparison of the nature of project work with that of the currently growing trend of outsourcing in routine business operations is apt. Outsourcing, a process by which internal operations of the company, is handed over to outsiders in return of cost and efficiency advantages, can make a company vulnerable to external factors and is handled by most organisations with utmost circumspection and care. It is used only for repetitive and low skills work and the credentials of service providers are literally tested with fire before they are engaged. The complexities associated with running a company where practically every activity is outsourced can be realistically compared with the challenges faced by commercial managers of large, iconic, projects. Whilst appointing contractors it is essential to gauge their competence and ability for fulfilling proposed responsibilities by assessing their size, competence, availability, financial position, and readiness to work (Frame, 2002). Although such contractors are routinely appointed in Asian countries on the basis of their closeness to and intimacy with the commercial management team (leading to informal and trust based client-contractor relationships), such relationships in Anglo American environments are governed by detailed contracts, and most commercial managers use sophisticated legal help to draw out elaborate agreements with their contractors (Frame, 2002). It needs to be mentioned here that few of the contractors who are engaged in large projects represent small one man organisations. Most of them are medium sized or even large, (where the requirement is substantial, involves the use of expensive machinery or large numbers of people), organisations employing thousands of peopl e. Some are joint stock or privately held companies, and many operate a number of projects simultaneously. In many cases main contractors engage sub-contractors to carry out different jobs that fall under their area of responsibility. Apart from contractual obligations, contractors are controlled by regular monitoring, quality checks, and financial incentives and penalties. Despite the use of legal and managerial methods for progressing work, advancement of project activity in line with forecasts and schedules are often affected adversely due to a number of operational reasons. Commercial mismanagement of projects occurs, in the opinion of experts mainly because of (a) lack of commercial and project management skills with the implementing management (b) inability to assess and control risks (c) lack of attention to breaking development and implementation into manageable and discrete steps, (d) lack of understanding and contact with the supply industry at senior levels and (e) lack of effective project team integration between the commercial management team, the subcontractors, and other participants of the supply chain (Frame, 2003). Experts are also quite clear in arguing that many of the problems that arise in p roject management occur because of overworked commercial managers. Project owners rarely understand the extent of detailed and complex work that is natural to commercial management of projects, a phenomenon that leads to unsustainable loads on executives and to consequential errors and delays (Frame, 2003). Failure of Iconic Projects Project execution is essentially a complex exercise and is affected by the inter-play of a host of variables, many of which arise from issues and developments that are not under the direct control of the project execution team. Project delays and cost overruns, are common to both the private and public sector, and continue to happen despite the increasing sophistication of project and commercial management techniques and methods. Project failure in the IT industry, for example, is an unhealthy 85 %! â€Å"Research highlights that only one in eight information technology projects can be considered truly successful (failure being described as those projects that do not meet the original time, cost and (quality) requirements criteria† (McManus and Wood Harper, 2008) The situation becomes even more complex in case of iconic projects. Such projects in the public or public-private domain arise because of a continuing historical obsession of decision makers with size and grandeur and often occur at the expense of more essential infrastructural projects like roads, hospitals, power and public transport. With the origins of such projects often mired in controversy and public disapproval, their approval leads to difficulties in balancing of public budgets and slashing of other required expenditure; the stated benefits of such projects often have to be related to the reduction of benefits from other areas that need to be cannibalised. Iconic projects, all over the world, irrespective of their location in the UK, Australia or the United States involve enormous costs and stress on size as a feature rather than as a requirement. They extol form over function and their benefits are more symbolic than measurable. Often large scale in nature they are taken up for boosting economic or tourism activity, (Millennium Dome), hosting huge sporting events, (Beijing and London Olympics), lifting regional prestige (The Millennium Stadium at Cardiff and Spinnaker Tower at Portsmouth), and symbolising governmental achievement (the magnificent Parliament House at Canberra). The Beijing Olympics led to an enormous demand for global steel and the intensification of a commodity super cycle, a phenomenon that now lies buried under the debris of the sub prime crisis. The London Olympics are similarly expected to generate 60,000 person years of employment during construction. With decisions for undertaking such projects often being founded on peripheral considerations, they are subject to excessive political interference, have unclear and ill defined objectives, over optimistic considerations, and inflated viability. More often than not they are driven by considerations of supply rather than demand and suffer from the â€Å"Build it and they will come† syndrome (Fenn, 2002). It is difficult to assess today whether the huge infrastructure that has been created at Beijing or is being created at London will be utilised in future after the dust of the three week Olympic spectacle subsides. With England in the middle of a severe economic crisis, the pound losing against all world currencies, and unemployment expected to rise, the justification of continuing with such massive expenditure at the cost of economic measures that could help overcome the recession appears to be difficult. Critics also associate iconic projects with poor governance, symbolised by secrecy, lack of transparency, minimisation of risk assessment, fudging of budgets, and political expediency. The Federation Square project at Melbourne had major icon implications. It had high profile and high visibility during construction and a complex architectural design. The haste shown in its construction led to construction activity moving ahead of detailed design work and its lack of transparency was revealed in the cost overrun of more than 350 million when it was inaugurated in 2002, two years behind the opening deadline and in a still incomplete state (Prasser, 2006). The project was affected by cost variations, trade disruption and contractor delay claims, increases in contracting costs, extra project costs, hidden design changes, and post completion changes (Prasser, 2006). Whilst examples of poorly executed iconic projects are not difficult to find, tarring all top drawer projects with the same critical brush appears to be cynical; there also being projects that have been handled and executed with utmost transparency and brilliance. Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium at Islington, completed in 2006, is an example of brilliant project visualisation and construction. Awarded the Building Project of the Year at the Annual Building Awards, the judges described it thus: â€Å"The whole process was an example of how important teamwork should be to a project, with everyone from the client to the contractor and subcontractors coming together and working successfully to ensure the project was completed on time and under budget. The way that this team tackled design changes should be a lesson to the industry† (Lowe, D, 2008, 21). Conclusion Much of the perceptions associated with the â€Å"failure† of large â€Å"iconic† projects arise out of their being over budget and behind schedule. The execution of such projects is in common perception also associated with poor risk management, bureaucratic thinking, and poor project execution. Whilst a number of big ticket projects have been rightly criticised for their failure in meeting of project objectives and underdelivery of promised benefits, the basic issue about viability of iconic projects is prone to becoming clouded by media publicity and public debate. Project conception and management are by themselves extremely complex tasks and it is not difficult to understand the reasons behind their execution problems. The private sector also witnesses numerous incidences of project failure, a fact that possibly does not come to light because of the shroud of confidentiality that covers much of private sector working. Successful project execution involves two discrete and distinct components, first, the conception and visualisation of and the decision to undertake a project and second, its actual physical execution and completion. The actual progression of a project is largely carried out by experienced professionals with the aid of experienced contractors and it would be nothing short of uncharitable to lay the blame for unsatisfactory project execution to the inferior project management skills of managers of iconic projects. Brilliantly executed iconic projects like the Emirates Stadium at Islington confirm that large and top drawer projects can indeed be successfully completed. Iconic projects, especially those that occur in the public space, are usually visualised by political leaders, who, whilst capable of feeling the public pulse and conceptualising ambitious and extravagant plans are not fundamentally strong in commercially complex areas of project management. Being impatient doers they tend to rush through the initiation stages of such projects without paying detailed attention to the greater practical ramifications of project execution, thus building in inherent weaknesses that lead to difficulties later. Iconic projects have a far greater chance of being successfully executed if such errors can be minimised by more transparent and participative working in the initial stages without sacrificing the project’s grand vision. The widely publicised aims and benefits of iconic projects are essentially subjective and their assessment in terms of right or wrong is beyond the scope of this commentary. Being public and long term decisions their benefits are judged more by posterity than by current applause or criticism and on many occasions assume dimensions that make issues like cost and time overruns trivial matters of detail and quibble. The public perception of success of iconic projects could however improve radically if their initiation and execution were tackled with clarity, conservatism and attention to detail. The responsibility for this lies essentially with the project owners, the people who conceptualise and decide upon the project, than on anybody else. Word Count: 4691 References Ahmed, A. S. (1993, May). The Taj Mahal, History Today, 43, 62+ Ali, M. M., Moon, K. S. (2007), Structural Developments in Tall Buildings: Current Trends and Future Prospects. Architectural Science Review, 50(3), 205+ Boss Stuck in Lift as Tower Opens. (2005, October 18). The Evening Standard (London, England), p. 9