Expanding your business to China Essay

There are many advantages to expanding your business to China. Not only is China considered one of the largest economies in the world, it also has a vast emerging market that is still growing (Startup Overseas). Although China has embraced many Western Business ethics and practices, there are still numerous cross-cultural differences that can make it difficult to succeed without sufficient research and knowledge of the culture. Examples of these cross cultural differences include the Chinese’ attitude toward work and workplace, the labor laws, and how Chinese businesses collaborate with other organizations. More differences include how we market and sell a product, and how pricing differs between our two countries. Perhaps the most important differences are those of ethical positions, such as child labor and sexism. A Chinese worker’s attitude toward the job and the workplace depends on what position they have in an organization. China is considered a collectivist society, which means the majority of people within the society act in the interests of the group and not necessarily themselves (Geert Hofstede, 2010). The United States is considered an individualistic society and emphasizes the importance of the individual. This also applies to the way these countries do business. A collectivist business may have a team of workers contributing to satisfy all the customers, whereas an individualistic business may have several individual representatives who each have their own client list. Another difference in the workplace is how large an organization’s Power Distance is. Power distance is the acceptance that all individuals in the society are not equal (Geert Hofstede, 2010). China has a very large power distance, which means its’ workers accept the fact that there is a hierarchy within the organization, and they know their place within that organization. They expect power within the business to be distributed unequally. The United States has a lower Power Distance acceptance, which means that workers don’t accept that power is distributed unequally within the organization, and they expect to be treated as equals to even the people in the highest positions of the business. The Chinese also accept that decision making comes from the top, whereas in the U.S., everyone wants their suggestion and opinion to be heard, and they do not always accept decisions that are made within the organization. The  differences between Chinese and U.S. labor laws are subtle, but still worth mentioning. In China, a normal working week is 44 hours, with a maximum of 48 hours (only 4 hours of overtime is allotted). In the U.S., a normal working week is 40 hours, with overtime paid on any hours worked over that 40. Maternity leave is up to 3 months paid in China. In the U.S., Maternity leave is up to 12 months unpaid (at the company’s discretion). Surprisingly, women in China make 80.5% of what men in the same position make, whereas in the U.S., women only make 70% of what men make in the same position (Guo). In China, businesses tend to put an emphasis on personal relationships between business partners. An initial business meeting will consist of getting to know the personality and lifestyles of the one you are entering into a relationship with (Graf). Chinese business owners will want a loyal friendship when considering associations. This system of social networks and influential relationships that facilitate business and other dealings is called guanxi (Mah, 2012). In the United States, owners of a business as well as the workers within that organization strive to keep their personal and professional lives different. Though some partners end up being friends, and many workers build friendships outside of the workplace, it is not the intention at the start of a business relationship. Gift giving is also a large cultural difference. In the United States, if a gift is given at the start of a business meeting, or the start of an association, it can be seen as bribery or a way to make businesses feel obligated in working together. Chinese organizations are much more accepting of gifts although certain etiquettes must be followed in order for the gift to be given in good faith (Culture Crossing Guide). For example, gifts must be nicely wrapped and may not be opened right away unless prompted to do so. Also, do not give any gifts such as clocks, flowers, or cutting instruments as it is considered disrespectful. Negotiation style is a major difference between the United States and China. In China, social context, personal relations, and non-verbal behavior are very important in negotiation. There are usually many people from the  company who attend the meeting to discuss any topics that need negotiation. Americans value legal contracts and documents over personal relationships, and do not put as much stock in body language. American businesses usually only send one or two people do the negotiating on behalf of the entire company. For the purposes of this paper, let us assume that an American Company has seen great success with its toy product. This company is looking to expand its business to China. There is usually a demand for toys in any country and in China, 17.1% (roughly 223 million) of the nation’s population is under 14 years old (Central Intelligence Agency). Research also shows that the total retail sales of toys in China have increased by 14.2% since 2010 (HKTDC Research, 2014). The Design of this toy would have to be carefully rethought, particularly if it is a doll or Barbie type toy. The doll would have to be remanufactured to suit the needs of the children in China. Skin Color, Clothing, and accessories would all need to be redesigned. For example, although most girl-intended American Dolls wear pink, pink is considered a gender-neutral color in China. The color white is also associated with death and mourning, so any â€Å"wedding dress† dolls would need to be recolored to the traditional Chinese color of red (KaiWen, 2010). The clothing of the doll would probably have to become more modest. In looking at Chinese dolls, most are dressed in Geisha style robes. The United States dolls tend to show more â€Å"skin.† The packaging of the doll would also have to be translated to Chinese. The company would also need to avoid any symbolism that might offend Chinese parents or even the government, such as any American paraphernalia, like the flag, or anything with a religious context, like a cross. Imagine the price of this toy is $5.00. The value of a $1.00 is equal to 117.78 ( ¥). That would mean that the exchange rate on the toy would be $588.90. But with the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) factor, we know that China’s market exchange rate is .6 (World Bank, International Comparison Program Database, 2014). This means that China would actually pay 60% of what the United States would pay for the toy. The price of the toy would be  353.34  ¥. This price could be adjusted depending on competition in the Chinese market. The American company would also need to increase the price based on exporting costs. A sale price, or discounted price, in China is also different from what a sale price would be considered in the United States. In the U.S., if a product is on sale, the advertisement might say â€Å"10% off.† In China, they advertise the percentage of the price that you would pay for, in this example â€Å"90%† (Tyson, 2014). Good times for sales would be around National Chinese Holidays, such as the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), May Day, or the Mid-Autumn Festival. Several sales channels can be used to promote a product in China. Traditional avenues include major shopping centers, specialty stores, and franchise chains. There is also the internet platform and many sites such as Amazon or Baby.tmall.com. One of the best ways to break into the toy market in China is to have the toy include educational or technological aspects. This would help broaden the available channels of the toys to include museums, zoos, and electronic stores. This is very different from the United States, who tends to promote and market to the different genders. Most American toys are either for girls or for boys; there aren’t very many gender-neutral toys. Just like in the United States, China has import and trade regulations. Some of these regulations include import inspection (Regulations for the Administration of Inspection of Toy Imports and Exports), attention to the potential danger of toys, China Compulsory Certification (CCC), and standards such as plush toy fillings should be even and of an appropriate softness with no hard objects inside. It is also worth noting the Standardization Law of the People’s Republic of China, where four levels of standards are stipulated: national standards, industry standards, local standards, and enterprise standards. This company will have to adhere to all of these standard and regulations in order to export the toys from the United States to China. Another option for the company would be to open a factory in China, or use a preexisting Chinese toy factory to manufacture the toys and sell / distribute locally. In order to reach the more rural  areas of China, this company might consider making a deal with a Chinese company that already distributes to those small towns and rural areas. If this company does decide to open a factory in China, or utilize a preexisting factory, it will have to deal with ethical issues such as child labor, and sexism. Child labor has been a widely controversial issue for many years. The PRC Law on the Protection of Minors was first passed in 1991, and the newly revised Minors Protection Law entered the force in 2007. Many International rights documents have also been implemented by the UN (Library of Congress). Although the child labor conditions have been described as â€Å"improved† in China, there are actually no statistics or documentation to back it up. We still hear reports of Child Labor issues existing in China. As a company looking to do business in China, it is important to set certain standards within the organization that do not support and do penalize child labor. Although women in China make a higher percentage of what men make (80.5%) than what women in American make compared to men (70%), there is still a lot of sexism in the society and the culture of Chinese businesses. For example, women must always greet men first, and it is not acceptable for women to look men in the eye. Women are not allowed in higher or executive positions within the organization. Women are still expected to meet a nice man, get married, have children, and take care of the household. Not to mention the fact that having a son is extremely preferable to having a daughter in most Chinese families. While this behavior would be considered abhorrent (mostly) in Western cultures, foreign businesses may actually benefit from China’s oversight in regards to women. Foreign businesses may hire the talented women for executive positions that Chinese businesses have ignored or cast aside (Harris, 2010). While there are many differences between the Chinese culture and ethics from those of the United States, expanding a business in China can be mutually beneficial and successful. There is a balance between Chinese and American societies and laws that must be found, or all parties may be unhappy. Before growing your business to a foreign country, much research and planning must be done. Or, as the Chinese proverb says, â€Å"if a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.† Works Cited Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). The World Factbook: China. Retrieved from Central Intelligence Agency: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html Culture Crossing Guide. (n.d.). China. Retrieved from Culture Crossing Guide: http://guide.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student.php?id=43 Geert Hofstede, G. J. (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. New York: McGraw-Hill USA. Retrieved from The Hofstede Centre. Graf, R. (n.d.). 10 Major Cultural Differences Between China and the United States. Retrieved from Hubpages: http://hubpages.com/hub/10-Major-Cultural-Differences—China-and-the-UnitedStates Guo, B. (n.d.). China’s Labor Standards: Myths and Realities. Retrieved from academia.edu: http://www.academia.edu/165449/China_s_Labor_Standards_Myths_and_Realities Harris, D. (2010, 12 16). Sexism in Cina. A Good Thing for Foreign Business? Retrieved from China Law Blog: http://www.chinalawblog.com/2010/12/sexism_china_style_a_good_thing_for_foreign_busine ss.html HKTDC Research. (2014, 09 18). China’s Toy Market. Retrieved from HKTDC Research: http://chinatrade-research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/China-Consumer-Market/China-s-toymarket/ccm/en/1/1X000000/1X002MRF.htm KaiWen. (2010, 11 09). Ask the Chinese Girl. Retrieved from Blogspot: http://ask-a-chineseguy.blogspot.com/2010/11/colors-in-chinese-culture.html Library of Congress. (n.d.). Children’s Rights: China. Retrieved from Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/law/help/child-rights/china.php Mah, R. (2012, 11 23). Cultural Differences Between America and China. Retrieved from World-Class Business Etiquette: http://www.etiquetteoutreach.com/blog_new-york-etiquetteguide/bid/92662/Cultural-Differences-Between-America-and-China Startup Overseas. (n.d.). Expanding a Business in China. Retrieved from Startup Overseas: http://www.startupoverseas.co.uk/expanding-a-business-in-china# Tyson, K.

Reflection about

Wars seemed like things that only happened in the past or in movies, but now we grew up seeing the news, the deadlines, and the stories of the horrific events that have been happening since 2001 and now we see them as normal issues in our world, our perspective about the wars, social and political tragedies are way too normal now.This film made me think about how twisted the mind of some people is, how they can agree to destroy the life of many innocent people, either way for the AH-Qaeda group and for the â€Å"supposedly† attack of the Americans to the Muslim people that Osama Bin Laden once claimed. It also got me thinking hat the security of the airports back in those days were highly poor, maybe they trusted more or they didn't even wonder that someone would dare to hijacked a flight, but of course it changed after all this tragedies, now you can't even travel with liquids that are more than 3 oz. ND obviously you can't travel with knives anymore. This film made me feel s o disturbed and uncomfortable, seeing what it actually happened in those towers, the Pentagon, how people were running for their lives, how they were struggling to get out and survive the hell that hey lived in, and the death of all the people that were in those planes.It made appreciate that life can be taking away from us in just the matter of 1 second, we should appreciate all the things that we have no matter what and always demonstrate the love that you have towards your family, never skipping a day telling that you love them. What I found most surprising/interesting was that all of this events happened in such a small matter of time, in less than 3 hours bunch of things happened, he two Twin Towers were hit, the Pentagon was hit also by an airplane, and that the passengers took over the plane that was going to hit the White House.Also I found out to be really interesting that the people that were in the United Airlines Flight 93 were brave enough to go and risk their lives jus t so they could save the life Of others, those people are the kind who should be called heroes. What I found most shocking or disturbing is that the fact of people who were in the Twin Towers got so desperate and they decided to kill themselves by mumping out of the building because they gave up, they couldn't stand all the suffer and the agony of being trapped in a 80 floor building and be completely helpless.Also, I got so disturbed in just thinking of hearing some outdoor soft music that was coming from the speakers while people were dying in the inside of those 2 buildings. The music felt and sounded so demoniac, like if it were a horror film. It is important for people to know about 9/11 because it was an event that left a mark in the world that we live in, it changed so many lives and the lifestyle f most human being in the Earth.It got some consequences that can explain why the present is like it is, the consequence of the problems that 9/11 caused, and because it's a tragic event that happened in our lifetime and we saw everything that was happening. Also, we should be informed in all the important and basic events that the humanity has lived and not repeating them again, these are mistaken decisions that people have made and We need to learn from them to not committing them again.

Malware review

While technology in computing continues to rise, computer hackers and crackers are also evolving. Cracking even started at the early age of computer technology. It started from simple codes exploiting bugs in Operating Systems. And now, it becomes a hobby of some. Stealing passwords and exploiting computers are common way of cracking. Some people termed it as hacking. Everyday, anti-virus companies are also upgrading their systems since viruses and other harmful softwares are upgrading. Piracy is another story. It is an act of duplicating someone’s work and sells it. Before, it is not common and hardly be seen. But as devices and softwares are upgrading, duplications can be made in a split of seconds. For some consumers, it is good but for the industry, it is a disadvantage. Piracy is one of the major problems that media industry is facing. But, technology cannot be fathom; it is continuously evolving in exponential manner. Music publishers (the entertainment industry is the ones affected) released their cure or prevention for such exploitation. The program is called â€Å"rootkit†. Basically, its task is to hide copy protection on computers.   With its ability, people can no longer copy music. In this way, piracy can be prevented. But, Sony admitted that someday somehow people will try to crack its code and continue on pirating. But for sure, media industry’s cyber security personnel well not let crackers succeed. On the other hand, due its capability to control computers, rootkit was distinguished by most anti-virus software as a malware. On an article on Technology Review published by MIT and written by Wade Roush, Technology Review interviewed Bruce Scheiener a computer security guru. There, Scheiener discussed about the tool and its capabilities. In â€Å"When Copy Protection Becomes Malware†, the computer security guru specifically identified the work of the rootkit and why it is called a malware. Basically, malware is a form of software that can control the system. Some malwares are harmful. But in the case of Sony, it has no other functions except to hide copy protections on users’ computer. The reason why it is distinguished as malware is because of its capability to manipulate the system wherein the user’s freedom of the product is given limitations. Added by Scheiener, computer users or consumers often times do not know what they are buying. Advertisements are so broad that buyers only see the outside appearance of the capability of the product. Consumers do not know what else their product can do. With this weakness, rootkit see an opportunity. It can’t be distinguished by consumers as harmful except when their anti-virus reacts on it (after distinguishing it as a malware). But these days, rootkit is accepted by anti-virus companies as useful software and now freely preventing music from being copied. In my opinion, it is illegal and unethical to copy a product. The ethical nature of copy protection and its implementation on the other hand is discussed in relation to a new set of copyright laws called The Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This act protects the media industry. It punishes those people involved in illegal duplication of digital products. In some point, consumers do not freely get what they needed for a product. Consumers buy digital products to satisfy their needs. But with this technology, some consumer’s rights are somewhat by passed. If we try to look at some point, there is a contradiction. Consumers wanted to buy a product that will make their lives easy. But this objective is not met since producers have the capability to control the product they want to sell. But, we can also say that it is a part of technology advancement. It is like before. There are no copying devices before so digital products are secured. It only came when the technology advances and devices able to duplicate are manufactured. Digital products vendors are only upgrading their system. They only restore what was lost. With the rootkit, digital products today have similar limitations before, except that it’s more advance and more easy to use. There’s another important thing the article discussed. The rootkit was not detected by anti-virus softwares before. There are people who know that Sony rootkit is freely exploring their computers. One of the reasons for this is that, Sony’s technology or program is more powerful than the anti-virus available that time. There were customers who noticed it. Some make noise that their anti-virus software did not detect the rootkit. It’s really shame on the part of anti-virus provider. Their software should be able to protect the computer from harmful viruses yet rootkit passed the test. We can picture out that programmers are getting their codes better in order to cross the gate which are set by protection softwares. However that did not last a long time. Anti-virus software providers developed further their products and able to detect the rootkit. Scheiener was asked if Sony will not make another program similar to rootkit. The guru said boldly that Sony will again do it when the controversy is over. Well, we cannot blame the company for it. They are only protecting their products from pirates. If more piracy will happen the digital industry will not also last for long. There will be no marketer on the said or similar products. It is also their way of saving their jobs and professions. Malware is really a big issue. Rootkit is not free from that controversy. The process will just create a cycle. There are people who will continue to find ways how to pirate a digital product. Crackers will continue to write codes in order to exploit bugs of every technology. While that is happening, cyber security personnel will find ways to prevent their products from being stolen. This is indeed an indication that we passed the days of low-technology and now experiencing a high-end digital technology. Nonetheless, copy protection will still be recognized as malware unless anti-virus provider withdraws its security on the program. Reference: Roush, W. (2006). When Copy Protection Becomes Malware. Technology Review. Retrieved

Fraud is Multifaceted Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fraud is Multifaceted - Essay Example The dishonest practices among American business executives are pervasive (Lane & Simpson in Lane & DiStefano, 1988) and rampant in the developing countries because of their capitalistic behavior (Magnis-Suseno, 2000) and in America as well because Americans can be bought and so easily sold (Choate, 1990). Among these executives, â€Å"your competitors use bribes and unless you are willing to meet this standard of competitive practice, you will lose business† (Lane & Simpson in Lane & DiStefano, 1988, 236). On page 237 they stated, â€Å"Bribery increases a product’s costs and often is used to secure import licenses for products that no longer can be sold in the developed world. Such corrupting practices also contribute to the moral disintegration of individuals and eventually the societies† (Ibid). Unfortunately, from the outside looking in, the blame is on government but too often, people see the beam on their brothers’ eyes more while the block in their eyes they cannot remove. Or like the rotten egg, the smell would eventually emerge. They are pointing at government officials of the developing countries or they are being claimed as the corrupt and pay off society (Lane & Simpson in Lane and DiStefano, 1988). Lahmeyer International consulting group was suspended by the World Bank for bribing the Nigeria minister who was taken to court on a charge of fraud. While the minister was charged by the state as fraud, in the early 1990s, more than 100 Americans ex-federal employees including politicians and Congressmen were also charged with fraud and bribery of the US government.

Heroic Firefighting Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Heroic Firefighting - Term Paper Example Evidently, the real majority here is the whole population of New Haven, whose welfare and safety is being threatened by certain implications of demoralization and disunity in their ranks as emergency first responders. The case of a city and their racially diverse workforce involves a group of experienced firefighters applying for the next higher rank and took a strict and expensive process of eligibility exams. The man behind the rejection of their new badge was their own Mayor John DeStefano of New Haven, who was accused of favoritism and acts of race-coding a job-related civil service eligibility tests. DeStefano and his alleged political cronyism and of politicizing civil service laws with his cohorts were put on the spot soon as the group of White Hispanic firefighters numbering about twenty went from court to court questioning the denial of their promotion to lieutenants and captains and their well-deserved, long-awaited promotion given a contentious coding of race. The complain ants, who underwent expensive and grueling phase-by-phase examinations accredited, programmed and funded no less by the city fought back with their complaint of reverse discrimination against a small group of disgruntled Black applicants who failed the tests and were the same group behind the raising of the issues of the lack of minority representation. Supreme Court, such an emerging condition has already created a division and animosity in the very core of important frontline services involving the protection of residents.... The man behind the rejection for their new badge was their own Mayor John DeStefano of New Haven, who was accused of favoritism and acts of race-coding a job-related civil service eligibility tests and certain political stunts. DeStefano and his alleged political cronyism and of politicizing civil service laws with his cohorts were put on the spot soon as the group of White Hispanic firefighters numbering about twenty went from court to court questioning the denial of their promotion to lieutenants and captains and their well-deserved, long-awaited promotion given a contentious coding of race. The complainants, who underwent expensive and grueling phase-by-phase examinations accredited, programmed and funded no less by the city fought back with their complaint of reverse discrimination against a small group of disgruntled Black applicants who failed the tests and were the same group behind the raising of the issues of the lack of minority representation. The crux of the matter: In th eir Case Summary What Our Case Is About (newhaven20.com) the group of lieutenants, who had been deprived of promotion have strongly suggested of DeStefano as â€Å"He has been accused repeatedly (and sued multiple times) for violating the law in order to politicize the civil service and award jobs based on race and political cronyism.† The managerial implications are wide-ranging as the case threatens to impede services among first responders in this city of the American East Coast due to possible demoralization, low morale or even disenchantment. Political repercussions is also great and no matter how judicious and fast the final outcome will be in the treatment of the case by the BRAVE,

Letter of Recomendation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Letter of Recomendation - Essay Example first impression of (Name of employee) was nothing extraordinary until he finally opened his mouth to ask me what he could be expecting to learn from this military job. In this first encounter alone, I knew that (Name of employee) was that employee who would flourish in the real world not merely because of what he is capable of learning but most importantly his willingness to learn from others. As I got to know (Name of employee) better, I would say that I am able to discover his values not only as an employee but at the same time as a person that I believe are ingredients to a good future law maker. In the simplest manner of how (Name of employee) is able to maintain his dedication to whatever task is required of him has impressed me especially because most people of his age would easily lose motivation and attention. Aside from that, I admire his maturity in dealing with conflict which is inevitable especially in working in groups. Despite different opinions from among his workmates, he is able to come up with a unifying resolution. (Name of employee) also possesses a lot of other admirable qualities that would be very significant in his road to becoming a successful student of the law. He is very diligent in his work and does not crack under pressure which is very important, considering the amount of reading required in law school. He is also very time conscious and knows how to balance his time for his family, friends, work, and fun. This for me is a good mix for a happy and motivated law student, instead of a burnt out law student which is common today. Being able to communicate one’s thoughts in the midst of pressure is indeed a quality that (Name of employee) possesses. I believe that this will enable him to voice out his arguments better in law school. Also, this is very instrumental in shaping him as a person, how he chooses to prioritize things and also his decision making that is not mainly based on emotions, instead with utmost consideration for

Williams Syndrome Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Williams Syndrome - Essay Example Williams Syndrome A Michael Williams can't go out the door without getting lost, yet can play almost anything. The brains of people with Williams syndrome are on average 15 percent smaller than normal. This size reduction almost comes from underdeveloped dorsal regions (Grice, Spratling, Karmiloff-Smith, Halit, Csibra, de Haan & Johnson, 2001). Because of the missing genes, a Williams person is liable to weakness in some functions regarding space and other abstractions. Fortunately, he is also endowed with some abilities like in processing emotion, sound and language wherein he may excel (Dobbs 2007, Bellugi, et al. 2000). As early as at birth, the Williams child comes faced with visible challenges (Science Daily, 2006). A Williams person, therefore, should not be looked upon as necessarily weird or hopeless. In music, for example, he may be able to excel if given the right preparation (williams-syndrome.org, 2008). Williams syndrome is the deletion of one of the two #7 chromosomes and is missing the gene that makes the protein elastin, a protein which provides strength and elasticity to vessel walls. Named after cardiologist Dr. J.C.P. Williams of New Zealand, and recognized in 1961, it is a rare congenital disorder characterized by physical and development problems. WS persons usually exhibit "elfin-like" facial features, heart and blood vessel problems, irritability during infancy, dental and kidney abnormalities, hyperacusis or sensitive hearing, and musculoskeletal problems (Levitin, Menon, Schmitt, Eliez, White, Glover, Kadis, Korenberg, Bellugi & Reiss, 2003). Williams syndrome is estimated to occur in 1/7,500 births which causes medical and developmental problems (williams-syndrome.org). It is present at birth, and affects males and females equally. It can occur in all ethnic groups and has been identified in countries throughout the world (williams-syndrome.org). Just like autism, this syndrome is a developmental disorder commonly described as having difficulties in integrating perceptual features, i.e. binding spatially separate elements into a whole. (Grice, et al. 2001). Common features of WS There are common features of Williams syndrome and three are most notable: characteristic facial appearance, overly friendly or excessively social personality and developmental delay, learning disabilities and attention deficit (williams-syndrome.org). Characteristic facial appearance. Most young children with Williams syndrome are described as having similar facial features. These features which tend to be recognized by only a trained geneticist or birth defects specialist, include a small upturned nose, long philtrum (upper lip length), wide mouth, full lips, small chin, and puffiness around the eyes. Blue and green-eyed children with Williams syndrome can have a prominent "starburst" or white lacy pattern on their iris. Overly friendly or excessively social personality. Individuals with Williams syndrome have a very endearing personality. They have a unique strength in their expressive language skills, and are extremely polite. They are typically unafraid of strangers and show a greater interest in contact with adults than with their peers. This behavior is opposite to that seen in autism (Bellugi, et al. 1999). This is the same observation noted in

'Dirty Pretty Things mixes realism and symbolism in a highly effective Essay

'Dirty Pretty Things mixes realism and symbolism in a highly effective way.' Discuss - Essay Example The film explores Londons illness, and takes viewers through several disturbing experiences, but does so without becoming unnecessarily vicious (Sneider, 2003). In this essay the effective use of symbolism and realism in the movie will be examined. Dirty Pretty Things portrayal of life for immigrants in London is revealing in its depiction of inhumanity that happens in big cities in the real world. Yet it conveys this message using symbols and metaphors, without forcing the message on the viewers, but rather allowing events to speak loudly of the harsh reality. It raises significant social problems while presenting a wide range of interdisciplinary allusions along the way. Thus, the explanation for the film’s title is understood in a conversation between two characters. â€Å"The hotel business is about strangers," Sneaky said to Okwe, â€Å"They go to the hotel at night to do dirty things, and in the morning we make it all look pretty again.† (Manitowoc Public Library, 2008) Symbolism can be defined as the utilization of non-direct articulation or a situation where the audience realizes that what the author is expressing and describing is possesses a â€Å"concealed or deeper meaning† (Todeschi, 1995). In The Encyclopedia of Symbolism (1995), Todeschi stresses that symbolism is utilized as an enhancement tool to emphasize the plot of a story. In books and movies, symbolism plays a bigger function in expressing the writer or director’s real meaning and emotions. Many of the characters and objects in the Dirty Pretty Things are symbolic. When symbols or metaphors are present, people often assume complex literary plots or themes. However, in the movie, symbols are evident because of the obvious messages they communicate to the audience. For instance, when the character Okwe is called to clean a toilet in the hotel, he discovers a human heart in it. This is an appalling symbol and

Education, No child left behind act Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Education, No child left behind act - Article Example Supreme Court banned racial segregation in public schools and determined that the "separate but equal doctrine" was unconstitutional. On Jan. 8, 2002, President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 into law with tremendous bipartisan support. The final votes were 87-10 in the Senate and 381-41 in the House. Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Congressmen George Miller (D-CA) and John Boehner (R-OH) were its chief sponsors in the Senate and the House. (US Department of Education). The main proponent of the Act was President George W. Bush. President Bush wanted to expand the educational opportunities for all students, including students who are just learning the English language and students who are new to the US. The law ensures that all children regardless of their ethnic and cultural origin can receive a quality education and enhance their academic potential. The Act reflects the President's education reform plan and contains changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The NCLB Act enhances the federal government's role in K-12 education by focusing on school success as measured by student achievement. The Act also contains the President's four education reform principles: stronger accountability for results, increased flexibility and local control, expanded options for parents, and an emphasis on teaching methods that have been proven to work. With this law, American taxpayers will derive benefits from their heavy investment in education. (Paige and Gibbons, 2004) No Child Left Behind was the successful culmination of a standards-and-testing movement that began with A Nation at Risk report by the Reagan administration in 1983. This push for a standards-based reform gained further support during the 1989 education summit in Charlottesville, Virginia. In that summit, President George H. W. Bush together with the nation's governors set performance goals for American schools. By 1991, President Bush's "America 2000" proposal included voluntary national testing tied to world class standards. President Clinton signed into law "Goals 2000," which provided grants to help states develop academic standards. With the 1994 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the states were required to develop content and performance standards for K-12 schools. Congress adopted the adequate yearly progress that became the linchpin of accountability in No Child Left Behind. States were mandated to make substantial progress toward the goal of aca demic proficiency for all students. However, at that time, there was no deadline for these standards to be met. Several states which were supposed to pass the standards failed to meet these standards. (Paige and Gibbons, 2004). Features of the Legislation The first feature of the NCLB is that it demanded greater accountability by increasing the annual goals for student achievement. Schools and districts register adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward meeting set targets. Educators must meet their targets. NCLB has set minimum standards for teacher quality. These standards assist local educational agencies such as districts on decisions covering curriculum, textbooks and materials. These standards constitute a starting point for developing assessments to measure student mastery. Annual assessments are done and all students are classified into one of these performance levels. NCLB requires all

Prescription Addiction Essay Example for Free

Prescription Addiction Essay Addiction by Prescription In this essay, I’m going to explore the abuse of prescription drugs, provide information on the most commonly abused substances, and on the current treatment options available for users. Because of the rise of prescription pill addiction, it is important that people are made aware of the very dangerous effects that these drugs can have on them. The negative effects can result in jail time, illness, and even death. Painkillers, Depressants and Stimulants, are currently the most commonly abused prescription drugs. Years of research has shown that addiction to any drug (illicit or prescribed) causes a brain disease that can be treated effectively. Successful treatment may need to incorporate several components, including detoxification, counseling, and sometimes the use of addiction medications. Behavioral and pharmacological treatments are both necessary for the recovery of individuals with addictions. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, it is estimated that 48 million people (aged 12 and older) have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons in their lifetime. That’s approximately 20% of the U.S. population. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in prescription drug misuse or abuse. This increase has led to a corresponding increase in ER visits because of accidental overdoses as well as admissions to drug treatment programs for drug addictions. Its thought that prescription drug addiction is on the rise because there are more drugs available to more people and the opportunity for abuse is greatly increased. Doctor’s are reporting writing more prescriptions for patients than ever before. In addition, you only have to go on the Internet to find high numbers of online pharmacies selling these addictive drugs. People become addicted to prescription drugs for various reasons. One may have an injury or any type of pain and begin to take the drug, and soon become dependent. Some take the drug longer than necessary and take more than the prescribed dosage. Other people have genetically addictive personalities. It just takes one prescription and the drug can quickly become ad dicting. Prescription drugs can still get you high, just like street drugs. People often don’t realize the impact these medications can have on them because they were prescribed by a doctor so they tend to think they are safe. Some people might abuse prescription drugs because they  are more readily accessible than street drugs. It is, unfortunately, very easy to doctor shop and get all of the pills that you want. Doctor shopping† is moving from provider to provider in an effort to obtain multiple prescriptions for the drugs an abuser is using.†¨ Vicodin, Oxycodone, OxyContin and Percocet are common painkillers that are abused. Painkillers often contain opioids which are highly addictive and can have a serious effect on the brain. They can cause a physical dependence, meaning the body becomes accustomed. There are also very severe withdrawal symptoms. Depressants, such as Valium and Xanax are drugs that slow brain function. They include sedatives (used to make a person calm and drowsy) and tranquilizers (intended to reduce tension or anxiety). These can cause depression, confusion, exhaustion and irritability and can dangerously diminish heartbeat and respiration. This is especially true when depressants are combined with alcohol and over the counter (OTC) medications. Its a combination that can even lead to death. Stimulants are a class of drugs intended to increase energy and aler tness. These drugs can increase blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. Stimulants affect the brain through a slow and steady release of two neurotransmitters; dopamine and norepinephrine. They are used for treating conditions including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy and, occasionally, depression. Excessive vomiting, tremors, sweating and anxiety are just some of the risks of abusing stimulants. †¨ Breaking free from prescription drug abuse takes much more than willpower. Fortunately, medications and counseling can improve the chances of success. New treatments like Suboxone, and traditional therapies like methadone and 12-step programs, are helping thousands of people stay on the road to recovery. There are various options such as; Drug Rehab Programs Available from Support Systems Homes, Detoxification, Residential Treatment (Residential Drug Rehab), Outpatient Treatment, and Community-Based Self-Help Groups. Now we have explored the depths and effects of addiction and dependency on prescription drugs. There are many causes for addiction and almost any substance can be dangerous if used improperly. As long as there are new drugs there will always be new developments in the way to treat them. In summation, there are many ways and substances to become addicted too and anyone can be at risk. If the dangers are known it is much easier to combat the problem of substance abuse. Work Cited  ·DRUG FACTS. Drug Facts. National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, 1 June 2011. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. .  ·The Truth About Prescription Drugs. Foundation for a Drug-Free World, Aug. 2012. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. .  ·Prescription Drug Abuse Rates Increase in the Western United States, Northwest Now Leading Area of Epidemic. Yahoo News. Passages Malibu, 3 Apr. 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. .  ·Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction. Drug Abuse. National Institue On Drug Abuse, Oct. 2011. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. .  ·Prescription Drug Abuse: Addiction, Types, and Treatment. WebMD. WebMD, 18 Dec. 2012. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. .  ·Prescription Drug Addiction: Information and Treatment. Treatment for Prescription Drug Addiction. Support Systems Homes Inc, Nov. 2011. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. .

The main premises and limitations of functionalism

The main premises and limitations of functionalism The theory I have chosen is functionalism, whose basis is the systemic nature of culture, or what might be most appropriately designated as a glue concept of culture. I am however, deeply aware that no theory explains everything and every theory has its limitations, reason why the grand theories all failed: calling for complementarity in the theoretical frameworks and methodological assumptions that informs our research. This fact explains the continuous growth of theory in anthropology from evolutionism with its unilineality to poststructuralist theories today. In what follows, I will explain and illustrate the main premises of functionalism, and highlight the limitations of the functionalist framework. Functionalism was one of the earliest anthropological theories. Its main theoretical postulate is an analogy of the human organism as a microcosm of society: parts as making up the whole, different individuals playing different roles and having different statuses, although one individual can have different statuses simultaneously. According to this metaphor, the various parts of the human body like the traits and institutions of a culture are interrelated and work together to ensure its proper functioning (see Barth, 1979:20-22). Following one of functionalisms precursors, Polish-born British anthropologist Malinowski, who is associated with bio-cultural/psychological functionalism, cultural institutions are meant to meet human instrumental needs: economics, social control, education, political organization among others. On the other hand, Radcliffe-Brown who developed the idea of social structure presents human society as based on networks of social relationship and that institution s maintain society as a system. The difference between Malinowski and Radcliffe-Brown is that unlike the former who emphasizes the individual, the latter sees the individual as irrelevant'(Goldschmidt,1996:510) As a critique against evolutionism, diffusionism and historicism, functionalism wanted a shift away from speculative history and cultural survivals to ahistorical synchronic study of social institutions within bounded, functioning societies(Young,1991:445). The core idea of the functionalists was to look for the reality of events in their present day manifestations. This does not imply a wholesome rejection of history per se but rather, a rejection of what Harris (1968:524) calls pseudo-history. Methodologically speaking, the functionalists viewed society in systematic terms, parts as being dependent on one another so as to maintain social equilibrium, but they recognized the prospects for internal social conflicts and disequilibrium. The second methodological premise is that of intensive fieldwork through the traditional method of participant observation. It implies in this case, the search for functional relationships among customs and institutions as a useful mechanism of abstracting data. And thirdly, analysis was to be based on short time scale. As recent advances in anthropological and sociological theory suggests, culture is contestation and we need to write against the whole concept of culture so as to embrace the very dynamism of anthropological fieldwork due to the mobility of subjects owing to globalization. Gupta and Ferguson (1997:4) have rightly called for anthropology to embrace changing trends in contemporary world marked by people, objects and ideas rapidly shifting. These shifts; they argue have changed the notion of the field as a fixed territorial space and of people as immobile and dealt a serious blow to the traditional notion of community as bounded. This is quite evident when considering new tribes like refugees, migrants, displaced and nomadic communities. They note that culture is not bounded and therefore does not occupy designated spaces. They further note that such conception do not account for people inhabiting borderlands nor do they factor in cultural differences of people occupying the same geogra phical space. They further assert that post-coloniality and globalization have heralded the idea of hybrid cultures in which concepts like identity and solidarity are no longer based on proximity to marked spaces and contact zones and thus making the case for a radical re-thinking of anthropological models of analysis (Ibid). Following Appadurai, (1991; 191,196), the contemporary world structured by the overarching effects of globalization has become quite de-territorialized in ways that have altered the conception of locality and space. In the same light, Fox and Gingrich note that of late, the notion of whole cultures or integrated societies has been questioned and new ideas about globalization, cultural flows, fragmentation and fluid signs have been touted as definitive blows to anthropologys traditional objects of study: local communities of some order (2002:27). Clifford also observed that ethnographic studies seeking to disassociate themselves from totalizing anthropology use multiple allegories (1986:103). Against this backdrop, there has been a shift from single to multiple case studies: study individuals both in the village and in the urban milieu to which they have migrated, from single to multiple case studies, calling for the need to always extend out beyond the locale of natives and capture the voices of those away from home since migration may presuppose a change or modification of values and lifestyle. Multiple case study designs have been variously justified: Ethnographic data from multiple-case studies is often considered more persuasive and thus making the overall study more robust (Yin, 1994:141). A multiple case study exposes regularities through the simultaneous inspection of numerous cases (Eckstein, 2000:137). All other things being equal, a finding emerging repeatedly in the study of numerous sites (a multi-site study) would seem to be more likely to be a good working hypothesis about some yet unstudied site than a finding emerging from just one or two sites (Schofield, 2000:79). Such a study is capable of going beneath the political binaries (Burawoy,1998:6) of researcher and subject, local, national and international contexts so as to uncover multiple processes, interests and identities since the postcolonial context provides fertile ground for re-condensing these proliferating differences around local, national, and global links in view of the fact that various actors and stakeholders are multiply drawn into alliances at all levels (Buroway,1998:11). Like any other theoretical perspective, functionalism has received its own share of criticisms. Among these is the fact that the presence of an institution cannot precede its existence usefully suggesting that functionalist explanations carry a hardened notion of culture which is obviously not the case because historical processes are always at work. It is further assumed not to be concerned with social processes and to negate cross-cultural comparison because it sees every institution insitu. As one of the earliest anthropological theories, its forerunners suffered from lack of historical data in so-called primitive societies which might have greatly inhibited the quality of the data they obtained and therefore the type of analysis and theory they eventually came to construct. Secondly, proto-anthropology was begun by non-professionals: missionaries, travelers, and colonial administrators who wrote mostly to exoticize the communities they had come in contact with and to entertain people. First hour anthropologists were therefore partly preoccupied with making sense of these societies from the standpoint of the natives through participant observation. They were further preoccupied with particular questions, particular institutions, how societies that were presumed to have no histories and other institutions were capable of meeting particular cultural needs. Generally, they adopted an encyclopedic tradition, trying unlike today to study and grasp the functional relevance an d interrelationships of every institution to the other within a given culture. E.E. Evans-Pritchards (1940) classic study of the Nuer for instance, shows how an understanding of social structure is important to grasping the overall functioning of Nuer acephalous society. He does this using his concepts of fussion and fission, segmentation and combination with segments of the same order. By so doing, he demonstrates that in politics there are no permanent enemies. Malinowskis study of the Trobriand Islanders of New Guinea and the ceremonial annual kula Ring exchange shows its association with magic, religion, kinship and trade. In the same light, in Argonautes of the Western Pacific (1922), he paints a total picture of the peoples life through participant observation detailing among others, their technology, sexual life, everyday life and conflict resolution. One way of going beyond the limitations of these studies would have been to see these societies in historical context, as dynamic over time since the overall vision of the functionalist was not to negate history but rather, only to explain the present. Such a view will reconceptualize culture, not as based on consensus but rather as renegotiated by stakeholders in the light of changing circumstances. They dealt with circumscribed field sites and therefore did not go beyond local or how extra-local forces affected individuals in the societies that they studied. It is true from the history of sociological theory that every theoretical perspective has its shortcomings, calling for the need for complementarity. This is even more accentuated because social phenomena are multifaceted- different causal factors might explain the existence of a particular phenomenon. For instance, the classic example of Durkheims suicide based on observation may not be tenable today because of changes in soci al structures. Theories are rooted in particular historical epochs. Time changes and certain explanations become untenable, calling for more research and the need to reformulate old theories or discard them totally. This further demonstrates the spatio-temporal relativity of truth. There are of course, no universal truths despite the existence of cultural universals. Functionalist theories emerged as a response to the crisis of social order, seemingly the outcome of two developments. The first was industrial society with its loss of community, poor working conditions and increase in crime. The second was the French revolution with its ideals of equality, happiness and freedom of the individual. These two events were influential in the development of the consensus theory, although this theory fails to address conflict. Often times, some studies are replicated using different theoretical assumptions over time demonstrating that no theory is capable of explaining every aspect of human society. This explains why some anthropologists return to their field sites several years later so as to map the various changes that have taken place after their fieldwork. The dilemma with grand theories such as functionalism is their claim of attempting to explain every known phenomenon in the universe. The Durkheimian theory on suicide for example, seems to present a unilineal view of culture- some social groups and people with a protestant religious ethos are more prone to commit suicide than others. But even within a group, the groups values are constantly being contested and each group in reality might have multiple identities. Culture is actually a constant field of contest, negotiation and constant renegotiation. In summary, functionalism was geared towards investigating particular phenomenon using particular theoretical assumptions and methodological approaches. The authors were preoccupied with particular questions which largely determined their theoretical assumptions and above all, these theories were imbricated in particular historical moments and with changing times, some of their assumptions have been shown to be faulty.

Baló-like Lesion With Psoriasis and Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Balà ³-like Lesion With Psoriasis and Autoimmune Thyroiditis BALÓ-LIKE LESION ASSOCIATED WITH PSORIASIS AND CHRONIC AUTOIMMUNE THYROIDITIS Authors: Corina Roman-Filip1, Aurelian Ungureanu2, Ileana Prăvariu3 Abstract Variants of multiple sclerosis are seldom encountered in clinical practice, sometimes with reserved prognosis or possibly serious disability. These pathologies are characterized by atypical demyelinating lesions such as Balà ³-type lesions or tumefactive lesions. The mechanism behind these lesions still remains a debate, since genetic and immune factors are incriminated. We present a case of multiple sclerosis variant with remarkably good outcome in association with autoimmune thyroiditis and psoriasis. This concomitant process questions the possibility of shared immune pathogenesis regarding the activation of T helper 17 cells lineage and mitochondrial oxidative stress. The imagistic appearance of the found lesions raises discussions on a possible radiologic diagnosis. Keywords: Balà ³-type lesions; tumefactive lesions; psoriasis; autoimmune thyroiditis; T helper 17 cells; Introduction Pathologist Jà ³zsef Balà ³ described a particular form of demyelinating disease, leukoencephalitis periaxialis concentrica, classically named Balà ³Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s concentric sclerosis (BCS). Nowadays, this is defined as a variant of multiple sclerosis. The intensive use of magnetic resonance showed an increasing number of different types of demyelinating lesions. Some of these are specific, but a large variety is under debate regarding the classification. Tumefactive demyelinating lesions (pseudotumoral) can sometimes present a degree of concentricity and can be easily mistaken for a genuine Balà ³ lesion, or at least a Balà ³-like demyelinating lesion. Historically, the variants of multiple sclerosis were regarded as serious disabling inflammatory damages of the central nervous system, but recent works have demonstrated that the course of the disease may be more variable, at least regarding BCS. Imagistic studies can lead to a better appreciation on the prognosis of BCS and its ass ociation with other types of demyelinating lesions [1]. The pathological mechanism behind it still remains a debate, although one can find similarities with multiple sclerosis (MS) and even overlapping lesions of these conditions. Case report We present the case of a 40-year-old woman admitted for mild incoordination of the left arm and speech impairment. The patient’s medical history is positive for psoriasis (since 2002) and autoimmune thyroiditis under treatment with levothyroxine 50 ug/day (since 2010). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies revealed FLAIR and T2 weighted inhomogeneous hyperintense lesions with concentric enhanced and non-enhanced lesions on T1 with gadolinium contrast (fig 1ab). The lesion was characterized as atypical demyelinating with 22.5/21.6 mm in size, with late concentric enhancement and without mass effect. Additionally, two demyelinating periventricular enhancing lesions were found (fig 1def). A biochemistry panel, antinuclear antibodies, anti-ds DNA antibodies, ANCA antibodies, anti Ro antibodies and anti-Borrelia antibodies were negative. Slight pleocytosis (16 cells/mm3 with 75% monocytes) was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid together with present oligoclonal bands and normal proteins. Serum myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies, myelin basic protein antibodies, IgG anti-aquaporin 4 antibodies were negative. Moreover, a high serum titre of anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies (60.73 IU/mL – normal Discussion The association of the pathologies described may seem incidental. However, strong research evidence shows the implication of Thelper17 cells (Th17) and Interleukin 17 (Il17) in the autoimmune pathways of MS, autoimmune endocrinopathy and psoriasis [2,3]. BCS type lesions and MS lesions may both be present simultaneously in the same patient, and Balà ³-like lesions may change over time into the classic appearance of MS lesions [4]. The lesions are characteristic, with rings of demyelination, surrounded by partial demyelinated regions, reflecting the concentricity within the lesion. The lesion type is classified as MS pattern III with oligodendrocyte loss, microglial activation and loss of myelin-associated glycoprotein [4]. Studies of 7 Tesla MRI support the microvascular pathology associated to inflammation, which seems to be consistent with pattern III lesions [5]. These studies are sustained by identifying Notch 3 mutation in a patient with BCS phenotype and a family history of No tch 3 mutation carriers and CADASIL. Mitochondrial respiratory chain disturbance and the expression of some molecules probably tend to precondition hypoxic tissue to inflammation, such as mitochondrial heat shock protein 70 [6]. Furthermore, new cellular biology studies of cancer found that hsp70 can mediate the Th17 differentiation [1]. We consider that the simultaneity with the autoimmune endocrinopathy and psoriasis may be more than incidental and raises the hypothesis of probable linkage of the proinflammatory and autoimmune role of Th17 cells lineage with mitochondrial oxidative stress. Compliance with Ethical Standards Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study Fig. 1 a. T1 gadolinium sequence showing a frontal demyelinating lesion with concentric enhancing rings (arrow); b. T2 weighted image with concentric rings of demyelination and myelinated regions (arrow); c. DWI sequence with diffusion restriction in the active lesion; d. T1 gadolinium enhancement of periventricular lesion (arrowhead); e. Enhancing periventricular lesion in the occipital lobe (arrowhead); f. Coronal T2 small demyelinating lesion (arrowhead) with enhancement on T1 (not shown) Fig. 2 a. T1 gadolinium sequence showing a significant improvement six months later (arrow); b. T2 weighted image showing the demyelinating lesion markedly decreased (arrow); c. DWI; d, e, f. Improvement of demyelinating lesions References Hardy TA,Miller DH (2014) Balà ³s concentric sclerosis. Lancet Neurol 13(7):740-6. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70052-3. Kottke T, Sanchez-Perez L, Diaz RM, Thompson J, Chong H, Harrington K, Calderwood SK, Pulido J, Georgopoulos N, Selby P, Melcher A, Vile R (2007) Induction of hsp70-Mediated Th17 Autoimmunity Can Be Exploited as Immunotherapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer. Cancer Res 67(24):11970-11979. Bossowski A, Moniuszko M, Dabrowska M, Rusak M, Jeznach M, Bodzenta-Ã…Â ukaszyk A, Bossowska A (2013) Role of Th17 cells and IL-17, IL-23 cytokines in pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disease in children. Thyroid Research 6(Suppl 2):A8.doi:10.1186/1756-6614-6-S2-A8. Stadelmann C, Ludwin S, Tabira T, Guseo A, Lucchinetti CF, Leel-Ossy L, Ordinario AT, Brà ¼ck W, Lassmann H (2005) Tissue preconditioning may explain concentric lesions in Balà ³s type of multiple sclerosis. Brain 128(Pt 5):979-87. doi:10.1093/brain/awh457. Berghoff M, Schlamann MU, Maderwald S, Grams AE, Kaps M, Ladd ME, Gizewski ER (2013) 7 Tesla MRI demonstrates vascular pathology in Balos concentric sclerosis. Mult Scler 19(1):120-122. doi: 10.1177/1352458512445302. Chitnis T, Hollmann TJ (2012) CADASIL mutation and Balo concentric sclerosis: a link between demyelination and ischemia? Neurology 78(3):221-3. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31823fcd3c.

Voltaires Candide Essay -- Enlightenment Voltaire Essays

Voltaire's Candide Candide is a reflection of the philosophical values of the Enlightenment. Voltaire’s novel is a satire of the Old Regime ideologies in which he critiques the political, social, and religious ideals of his time. A common intellectual characteristic of the Enlightenment was anti-feudalism. Philosophers were against the separations in the Old Regime and pushed for equality among human beings. Voltaire parodies the pompousness of the nobility several times throughout his novel. As we are introduced to the Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh, Voltaire describes his castle as luxurious, even though it is inferred that Westphalia is only a moderate estate. Although the name may sound important, Thunder-ten-tronckh lacks the luxury of nobility. The Baron lives off of the labor of others, justifying it by his birth into the right of power. Furthermore, the Baron’s sister refuses to marry Candide’s father because he has one less quarterling than she on his coat of arms. The difference in their lineage is minute; however, the Baroness refuses to marry someone that is less important than she is. Candide himself also experiences a similar incident. The Baron’s son refuses to allow Candide to marry his sister, Cunegonde. Although Candide rescues Cunegonde from several misfortunes, the Baron feels that he is unworthy of someone with such status. In his display of noble arrogance, Voltaire suggests that the accident of birth is meaningless. He continues his parody of the nobility by introducing Don Fernando, the governor of Buenos Ayres. Don Fernando carries with him a long list of names to accentuate his power and wealth. In the days of the Old Regime, this was custom in order to recognize nobility. However, Voltaire portrays Don Fernando as a predator, a liar, and a cheat. He shows that even though Don Fernando may be characterized as wealthy and powerful, he is not superior to others. Finally, Candide’s experiences in the army suggest Voltaire’s bitterness toward the aristocracy. In every war Candide participates in, the common people suffer the consequences of the nobility’s actions. Another characteristic of the Enlightenment was that of optimism; however Voltaire was a pessimist. Voltaire uses Candide to criticize the Enlightenment view that reason can overcome social chaos. Pangloss, Candide’s devoted friend, is an optimist who claims th... ...e a Franciscan can enter the order, they are required to take a vow of poverty. In stealing the jewels, the theft was breaking this religious vow. The Old Woman was the illegitimate daughter of a Pope. He not only broke his vows of celibacy, but he refused to protect his daughter from society. Also, while Candide was in France he met an abbe. The abbe was involved in things such as gambling, extortion, cheating, and stealing. He also promoted loose morals and involved Candide in these practices by introducing him to a seductress. The abbe only showed kindness to Candide because of the jewels and gold he possessed. Finally, Giroflee is introduced as a satire of the church. Friar Giroflee has hired Pacquette for prostitution services. In a monastery, monks are supposed to refrain from participating in any secular activities, especially prostitution. Voltaire cleverly parodies the events of the Old Regime in his novel, Candide. With wit and sarcasm, the ideologies of the Enlightenment philosophers are candidly displayed through fictitious, absurd characters. The entire novel is a satire of the political, social, and religious ideals that Voltaire so tirelessly advocated against.

Dystopia in Aldous Huxleys Brave New World :: Brave New World

Dystopia in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World It's hard to imagine yet somehow so extremely close to us is the possibility of a world of ideal perfection where there is no room or acceptance of individuality. Yet, as we strive towards the growth of technology and improvement of our daily living we come closer to closing the gap between the freedom of emotions, self understanding, and of speech and the devastation of a dystopia. A utopia, or perfect world, gone awry is displayed in Aldous Huxley's provocative novel Brave New World. Dystopia is drawn on "political and emotional events, anchoring its vision of a nightmarish future in contemporary fears of totalitarian ideology and uncontrolled advances in technology and science" (Baker 22). It is the situation that costs a piece of an unhealthy environment for human beings, is the theme of the novel. The dystopian setting is brought about by technology and by higher authorities. As technology increases, the use for human beings in the work force decreases leaving an overwhelming amount of depression among humans. Therefore, a way to continue the production of technological findings is by bringing up humans from day one to accept their unhappiness as normal. By "breeding" human beings to accept the fact that they are born to do a specific group. Higher authorities know the illimination of humans' emotions is useful to stabilize what they think to be a utopian society. Huxley portrays a "perfect dystopia" where scientists "breed people to order" in a specific class (Baker 2). The purpose of this paper is to shows that Aldous Huxley clearly introduces a river of cases and incidences, which adds to the dystopia in his science fiction novel Brave New World. Aldous Huxley was born on July 26, 1894 in England into a family of novelists and scientists. Leonard Huxley, Aldous's father, was an essayist and an editor who also was a respected, leading biologist in the time of Darwinism. Both his brother and half-brother worked in the science field. Huxley received an extensive training in both medicine and in the arts and sciences. Huxley was described by V.S. Pritchett as "that rare being-the prodigy, the educable young man, the peremial asker of unusual questions" (Introduction to Aldous Huxley 1). Huxley wrote a series of novels and essays as his career progressed. Two of his best known novels are Brave New World and Island. These two novels depict a world of dystopia. In Brave New World it's author "shifts his mildly satiric observations of a limited group of people to a broader and more ironic satire of a utopian society" (Introduction to Aldous Huxley

Succubus Revealed Chapter 12

My brief conversation with Kayla tormented me for the rest of the evening as I corralled kids at the mall. I couldn't shake the image of her eyes as she told me about â€Å"the Darkness.† It was one of those times I both blessed and cursed her psychic abilities. If she hadn't had them at all, I never would've known anything was amiss in the Mortensen household. But with her imprecise understanding of her powers, I was left with too many questions about what she might have sensed. Erik would've known instantly. There was another thing for me to worry about. Erik. Murdered because of me. And if we were operating on the assumption that Hell had directly acted against him, then what was I supposed to think about Kayla? In the past, any unusual supernatural activity in the area had been the result of rogue forces outside of the Heaven and Hell system. After all, Heaven and Hell had certain rules they were supposed to follow. Milton was proof, however, that Hell wasn't above breaking those. So was it possible someone from my own side had been visiting Andrea Mortensen – coincidentally during the times her condition worsened? And if so, why? That, as Roman had pointed out, was a question with an answer that would crack all of this wide open. My only pause in ruminating on immortal affairs came when I tried to coax Walter into doing a house call to the Mortensens. Two mothers had gotten in a fight in line, so we were all on an impromptu break while mall security sorted matters out. â€Å"Santa doesn't do house calls,† Walter told me. â€Å"Last time I checked, that's exactly what Santa does,† I countered. â€Å"Every Christmas Eve.† â€Å"Santa can't just be hired out for entertainment. Children must either wait until Christmas morning or come visit the retail wonderland Santa's gazebo is in. Those are the rules.† â€Å"Of course you can be hired out,† I said. â€Å"It's why you're working here to begin with! Come on, I'll pay you. I'll buy you a drink. Both, if you want. These are little girls who need to see Santa. Their mother has cancer, for God's sake. How can you not be moved by that?† He peered at me through his spectacles. â€Å"I'm very sorry for their plight, but I can't do it. Taking on this role is a commitment for the holiday season, a vow to stay true to the spirit of Santa. If I'm outside this mall while playing this role, and Bob is here playing the same role, then what does that say to the children?† I stared at him incredulously. â€Å"Well, unless these children are capable of breaking the rules of time and space, none of them would know there's a Santa here, in Lake Forest Park, or in any of the other thousands of malls in this country.† â€Å"I would know. I can't be Santa while Bob is playing Santa. It would break our sacred pact.† † ‘Sacred pact?' It's just a job!† I was seriously considering breaking the drinking rule. If I got him tipsy enough, surely he'd agree to what I wanted. â€Å"Not to us, it isn't,† he told me solemnly. Security finished up their intervention, and the line began moving again, bringing the discussion to a halt before I could point out that last I'd checked, liters of whiskey weren't part of the â€Å"spirit of Santa† either. I might as well have been Grumpy for the rest of my shift. I appreciated Walter's dedication to the role, but honestly, it was kind of pushing absurdity. I stayed at Seth's place that night, in spite of my earlier plans to talk to Roman about what Kayla had told me. But when I called Seth on my way home, there was just something so sad and strained in his voice that I knew it was more important to be with him. Andrea's worsening condition had hit him hard. He and I spent the night chastely, but there was a desperation in the way he held me, a sense that I was all that was keeping him going in this madness. â€Å"Oh, Thetis,† he whispered, kissing my cheek as we snuggled in bed. â€Å"What am I going to do without you?† â€Å"Don't worry about it,† I said automatically. â€Å"I'm still here for a while.† â€Å"I know,† he said. â€Å"But then . . .† Silence. My heart lurched. â€Å"I know,† I said at last. â€Å"I know you can't leave them. It's okay.† â€Å"At least until she gets better. . . .† His words faltered for a moment. I could guess his emotions because I shared them. We were both worried about that looming, unspoken fear. That maybe Andrea wouldn't get better. And the really, really awful thing was that if she didn't, then eventually, Seth might be able to come to me in Las Vegas. But how could I live with myself knowing what the price of my happiness was? He finally managed to find his words again. â€Å"I understand why you get so frustrated with the universe,† he said. â€Å"I've never wanted anything so much as I've wanted to be with you. I finally got you . . . and now this happens. People talk about throwing everything away for love, but reality doesn't work out that way. And honestly, if I was the kind of guy who could ignore his family for his own selfish wants . . . well, then, I don't think I'd be worthy of you. So here we are.† â€Å"It's okay,† I repeated, forcing more bravery than I felt. â€Å"We'll be fine. They need you. Do what you have to do.† â€Å"Georgina.† â€Å"Seth.† I brushed my lips against his. â€Å"This is more important right now.† â€Å"Than us?† he asked. It took me a long time to answer. But I did. â€Å"Yes.† The next day I had an early shift at the mall, working with Bob. I attempted the same bargain I had with Walter, in the hopes of arranging a visit to the Mortensen girls, only to be met with the same response. I'd kind of hoped that since Bob wasn't a blatant alcoholic, he'd be more reasonable. No such luck. He was full of the same nonsense about the magic and integrity of the Santa role. Fortunately, things improved when I found Roman at home afterward. We had bowling practice that night, but I'd wanted to talk to him in private. My other immortal friends could be coaxed on board with a lot, but as Hell's hand became more obvious in all of this, I was hesitant to get them involved. Roman didn't face the same repercussions, and I didn't mind exposing myself to the wrath of my employers. I was less excited about subjecting my immortal friends to that same wrath on my behalf. â€Å"Did she say anything else about this ‘Darkness'?† Roman wanted to know, once I'd recapped everything for him. â€Å"Greater immortal, lesser immortal, outside deity?† â€Å"She doesn't understand what any of that is,† I said. â€Å"She's only four. Five now, I guess.† â€Å"She needs to understand it,† he said darkly. â€Å"You should train her up.† â€Å"With everything else going on in her life? I think that's the last thing she needs.† â€Å"Not if some supernatural creature is making her mom sick!† Roman perched on the edge of the couch, his sea green eyes both thoughtful and angry. â€Å"And let's face it, Georgina. If something is, I really can't imagine it's because the powers that be have singled out that family by random. If something's targeting Andrea Mortensen, it's because of her connection to you.† I felt ill. More consequences, laid at my feet. â€Å"So Andrea suffers because of me,† I said, sinking into a chair. â€Å"Wonderful.† â€Å"It's Hell,† said Roman. â€Å"What do you expect? If they want back at you for something, then they're going to find creative ways to do it.† â€Å"Seems like there are more direct ways to make me ‘pay,' † I noted. â€Å"Especially seeing as they own the contract on my soul. We're assuming a lot that this is Hell.† Roman shrugged. â€Å"Not really. We already know they're interfering with your life. And healing and injuring are specific powers given to angels and demons.† â€Å"Do you think Carter could tell what visited her?† I asked. â€Å"If he looked at Andrea?† â€Å"I think he could.† Roman considered for a few moments. â€Å"The question is if he would get involved with it at all. You know how he is. Heaven, at least, makes a pretense of playing by the rules.† I nodded slowly, remembering my last conversation and how reluctant Carter had been to intervene. â€Å"True,† I murmured. â€Å"Well,† said Roman, straightening. â€Å"You can ask him right now.† â€Å"Huh? How?† â€Å"He's coming to practice. I overheard him and Jerome talking about it yesterday.† Apparently, Seth wasn't the only one with a perverse interest in watching Jerome's misfits bowl for his honor. I stood up as well. â€Å"Then let's go. I'll drive.† As we headed downstairs, I gave Roman a sidelong look. â€Å"Have you ever wondered how you'd look in a white beard and Santa hat?† Roman returned my look warily. â€Å"No, I have not.† I quickly explained how the Mortensen girls hadn't seen Santa yet this year. He was already shaking his head before I finished the story. â€Å"Come on, Roman. They need to see Santa. And I know you don't have any of those hang-ups like Walter does about multiple Santas existing together.† â€Å"Nope,† agreed Roman. â€Å"My hang-up is about preserving my dignity, no matter how good the cause. Besides, I don't feel that guilty. If you really wanted them to see Santa, you could shape-shift and put us all to shame.† I scowled. It was annoying because it was true. Roman and I were the last to arrive at the bowling alley, much to my dismay. I'd hoped to speak with Carter privately, but he and Jerome were already deep in conversation (and in their cups). The rest of the Unholy Rollers were waiting anxiously for their leader and gave me no end of grief for not wearing my shirt. â€Å"I forgot,† I said. â€Å"It's no big deal. I'll wear it for the real game.† Peter sighed. â€Å"But it helps build team solidarity now. And that sense of bonding and closeness will make us better.† â€Å"Actually,† said Jerome, â€Å"hitting more pins would make you better.† â€Å"Look,† I told Peter. â€Å"If I have to use the bathroom at some point, I'll shape-shift the shirt on.† â€Å"It's not the same,† he grumbled. Fortunately, Jerome's impatience allowed little time for further debate on the matter. He hadn't seen how our last practice had ended and was anxious to know if we'd improved. We had, to be fair, but I think Jerome was expecting us to all be throwing strikes every time. When it was clear that wasn't the case, he grew impatient and angry. â€Å"How can you do that?† he demanded, after Cody made an impressive 9-1 spare. â€Å"Why can't you just hit them all the first time?† He glared at Roman. â€Å"Do something.† Roman eyed his father irritably, not liking his teaching skills questioned, especially since Cody was the best of us. â€Å"Why don't you? Why don't you give it a shot, Pop?† Jerome had been up pacing by the lane but wouldn't deign to actually touch a ball himself. â€Å"Because it's not my job,† Jerome retorted. Roman rolled his eyes. â€Å"Then let me do mine.† While they bickered, I leaned over to Carter. â€Å"I need to talk to you. In private. Can you stick around after this?† Carter had been watching the father?Cson exchange, but his eyes flicked briefly toward me when I spoke. He gave a small, barely perceptible nod. And when Jerome returned to his seat a few moments later, saying he wanted to leave and drink off his annoyance at the Cellar, Carter declined the offer. â€Å"Nah,† he said lazily, stretching. â€Å"I think I'll see how this pans out. There's no way Peter can keep throwing splits like that every time. It defies all the rules of physics.† Peter looked torn on whether he should be flattered or not by that. â€Å"Fine,† said Jerome. â€Å"If you've got any miracles you can work to help them, now's the time to cash them in.† â€Å"Noted,† said Carter, waving as Jerome left. My lesser immortal friends were agitated by our boss's disapproval, so I focused on the game and didn't bring anything up with Carter until we finished our practice. Jerome could criticize all he wanted, but Roman really was a good teacher. I think our greatest triumph was when Peter went four frames in a row without a split, thus returning the laws of physics back to their rightful state. True, he didn't get any strikes or spares either, but by that point, we were all so exhausted that we were willing to take what victories we could. Roman, Carter, and I let the others leave ahead of us – once I'd promised I would definitely wear my team shirt next time, of course. As soon as we had relative privacy, I explained my problem to Carter. His face grew graver and graver as he listened. â€Å"Daughter of Lilith,† he said when I was done, â€Å"you know I can't interfere.† â€Å"I'm not asking you to,† I said. â€Å"Not exactly. I just want to know if you could tell if someone – like a demon – had made Andrea Mortensen sick.† Carter's gray eyes were unreadable. â€Å"Yes. I can tell.† â€Å"Will you go see her with me and tell me what you sense? That's it. I'm not asking you to break any rules.† Well, I didn't think I was. Honestly, I didn't understand half of these â€Å"rules† he was always talking about. â€Å"I just need the information.† â€Å"Okay,† he said, after what felt like forever. â€Å"I'll go with you. Giving you that information doesn't violate anything.† â€Å"I don't suppose,† said Roman, â€Å"that telling us why Hell would do this wouldn't violate anything either?† I answered before Carter could. â€Å"We already know. To get to me. I've pissed somebody off, and they're going to make me suffer by making those I love suffer.† â€Å"Yeah, but why Andrea?† asked Roman. â€Å"I mean, no offense, but there are other ways to hurt you more. Why not make Seth suffer?† I couldn't help but scoff. â€Å"Well. With this transfer, I kind of feel like he already – † I came to a screeching halt, once I realized what I'd been about to say. Roman was sitting opposite me in one of the worn leather chairs, and from the rabid look in his eyes, I thought he was going to reach over and shake me. â€Å"What?† he demanded. â€Å"What did you just think of?† â€Å"Andrea's sickness is terrible,† I said slowly. â€Å"A horrible, unfair thing that could hurt her whole family. But there's something else. As long as she's sick, as long as the whole family needs help . . . Seth has to stay with them. He can't go to Las Vegas with me.† â€Å"And there it is,† said Roman, wonder lighting his eyes. â€Å"That's what this transfer is about. To get you out of Seattle, away from Seth, and to make sure he can't follow.† â€Å"Eventually . . .† My stomach was twisting again, just like it always did when I thought of people being affected because of me. â€Å"Eventually he'd be able to. Andrea will either get better, or . . . or she won't.† â€Å"Yes, but how long?† demanded Roman. â€Å"How long will that take? Long enough for you to fall even more in love with your picture-perfect scenario – the one that they handcrafted for you? Long enough for you to move on with some other artsy introverted mortal? By the time he's free, it won't matter.† I was staring off at Roman but not really seeing him. Jerome had always been annoyed at my relationship with Seth, chastising me for being too attached to a mortal and letting it affect my job. Carter himself had said I was doing something that Hell didn't like. Was it possible this was it? That all of these forces were moving to keep Seth and me apart? â€Å"If Hell wants me away from Seth, then why not just forbid it?† I asked. â€Å"Jerome's given me a hard time before. Or why not just drop me somewhere . . . anywhere . . . that isn't here? Why should they care that it's a place I'll fall in love with?† â€Å"So that you'll forget him,† said Roman. â€Å"So that you won't look back. If they ordered you apart, a teenage forbidden romance complex would kick in like that.† He snapped his fingers. â€Å"You'd never stop pining for him. But this . . . this is more subtle. And effective.† â€Å"It is,† I agreed, still reeling. â€Å"Even after all of Jerome's criticism, I never thought . . . I never thought Hell would be this upset over me being with a human.† Roman had no answer for me but lifted his eyes to Carter. â€Å"You're being awfully quiet.† Carter shrugged, face neutral. â€Å"You two have plenty to say. No need for me to chime in.† â€Å"Are we right?† I asked the angel. â€Å"Of course we are,† said Roman. â€Å"You've always known Hell thought you were too distracted by Seth. This explains everything.† â€Å"Doesn't explain Erik,† I said. â€Å"Are you sure you have nothing to add?† asked Roman, gaze still on Carter. â€Å"I think we should get to the Mortensens' before it gets much later,† said Carter mildly. â€Å"I'm sure those girls have respectable bedtimes.† I stood up, knowing we'd get nothing else from him. â€Å"I have to drop Roman off at home first. Then we can go over there.† â€Å"How are you going to get me in to see her?† asked Carter. â€Å"It'll be a little weird bringing in a stranger to a sick woman's bedroom. Do you want me to go invisibly?† I'd been about to suggest that very thing when a new idea struck me. I gave Carter a once-over. â€Å"Have you ever wanted to put on a Santa suit?† â€Å"I have always wanted to do that,† said Carter gravely. Roman groaned. Once I explained the situation to Carter, however, he was totally on board. In fact, he told me not to worry about the costume arrangements and promised to meet me at Terry's in an hour, once I'd had a chance to drop Roman off. As soon as we were in the privacy of the parking lot, Carter vanished into thin air. â€Å"I hope he doesn't get an outfit from wherever it is he normally does his shopping,† I mused to Roman as we drove. â€Å"We don't want a hobo Santa. Although, if Ian's there, he'd probably approve and say we were breaking out of the mainstream's iron grip.† â€Å"Goddamned hipsters,† said Roman. He leaned his head against the car's window. â€Å"You're rolling the dice a little with Carter, but something tells me he won't mess this up, not for a bunch of girls with a sick mother. He's an angel, after all. He's got to earn his keep somehow.† â€Å"And thank goodness he doesn't have any hang-ups about Santa being at more than one place at the same time,† I joked. â€Å"No space?Ctime contradictions there.† Roman jerked up so fast, I nearly slammed on the brakes, thinking I was about to hit something. Half a second later, I realized whatever had startled him was in his own head. â€Å"Oh God,† he said. â€Å"What?† I asked, acting like him earlier. â€Å"What did you just think of?† â€Å"I think . . . I think I've figured this out.† There was awe in his voice. â€Å"What? This mystery we've been beating our heads against? We already figured it out.† Roman shook his head, wide-eyed. â€Å"No . . . oh, Jesus. Georgina, if I'm right . . . how do I even prove if I am?† He leaned back in dismay. â€Å"How do I get proof?† â€Å"Tell me what you're thinking,† I demanded. â€Å"No. Not yet. Just drop me off, and we'll talk when you're done. I have to figure this out.† There wasn't much that was more infuriating than that. I hated having the lure of a secret being dangled before me. I hated the â€Å"I'll tell you later† stance. But no matter how much I badgered him, he refused to say any more. With Carter on his way to Terry's, I couldn't linger long over Roman. I had to get to Lake Forest Park first. With much grumbling, I left Roman to his machinations, after first warning him that he'd better be ready to spill when I got home later. When I arrived at the Mortensens' soon thereafter, I was relieved to see that Seth was around and that all the girls were still awake. Recalling Carter's joke, I'd worried on my drive over that it might be past the littler ones' bedtime. Most of them were in their pajamas, but it was clear from their excited reaction to me that sleep was the farthest thing from their mind. Returning their hugs, I couldn't help but imagine their response when the real act showed up. Only Brandy stayed on the couch when the others hugged me. She still smiled and nodded in greeting, but there was a haunted, hollow look that hadn't been there yesterday during our outing. My heart ached for her. After letting her have her night out, they must have told her the truth today about her mom. I sat down on the other end of the couch. â€Å"Did you have fun last night?† â€Å"Yeah,† she said. â€Å"It was okay.† â€Å"Do you want to see the pictures?† asked Kendall excitedly. She nudged Brandy. â€Å"Show her!† Smiling at her sister's enthusiasm, Brandy produced her cell phone and gave it to me to scroll through. It was filled with the kinds of pictures girls her age like to take, group shots of her and her friends crowded in, some with silly faces. I was pleased to see that it looked like any other school dance. I hadn't been sure what to expect from a church. The shots of her in particular were stunning. Margaret had done a good job with the French twist. One picture showed Brandy grinning next to a cute boy with sandy blond hair. He looked like a smart surfer. I glanced over at her and raised a questioning eyebrow. She nodded. â€Å"Nice,† I said. A knock at the door brought everyone's excited chatter to a halt. Terry looked up in surprise from where he'd been leafing through a picture book with McKenna. â€Å"Who on earth is that?† He glanced around the room, as though doing a head count to make sure anyone who might possibly stop by was already here. I suppose with that many daughters, there was always the risk of losing track of one. Ian, Margaret, Seth, and I were also accounted for. There weren't too many others who would drop in unannounced. â€Å"I don't know,† I said cheerfully. â€Å"Seth, why don't you answer the door and see?† Seth immediately picked up on the tone in my voice. He shot me a questioning look but walked over to the door anyway. He turned the knob and leaped back in astonishment when Carter burst in through the door. Well, I was taking it on faith that it was Carter, based on our earlier conversation. Because really, the man who entered the living room looked nothing like the disreputable angel I knew. In fact, he didn't look like any of the Santas I knew. He looked better. There was magic in the way he moved his round frame. His red suit seemed to shimmer, and his rosy cheeks looked like he'd just come in from the North Pole, not a dreary Seattle winter. He had out-Santa'ed Santa. â€Å"Ho ho ho!† he bellowed, in a voice that filled the entire house. â€Å"Merry Christmas!† Dead silence and wide eyes met him for a few moments. Then Kendall and the twins began squealing in delight as they ran over to him. â€Å"Santa! Santa!† â€Å"What are you doing here?† demanded Kendall. â€Å"You aren't contractually obligated to come here until Christmas Eve.† â€Å"True,† he said in a booming voice that I still couldn't believe was Carter's. â€Å"But I have to find out what you want for Christmas, don't I?† This was met with more oohs and ahhs, and the twins urged him to sit down on the couch. Brandy scrambled out of the way, and Kendall immediately took her turn first, claiming Santa's lap. Margaret and Terry looked like they were going to burst into tears. Ian looked dumbfounded. Seth caught my arm and pulled me to the side. â€Å"Is that one of the guys you work with?† he whispered. I grinned. â€Å"In a manner of speaking. It's Carter.† Seth did a double take, wearing the amazement I'd felt earlier. â€Å"Really? But how . . . I mean . . . even his body . . .† â€Å"Mysterious ways,† I replied. Kendall was rattling off a list of board games and economics books. Nearby, the twins stood quivering with excitement, eager for their turn but too well bred to show bad manners in front of Santa. After a few subscriptions to prominent business magazines and newspapers, Terry gently cut Kendall off and suggested she let her sisters take a turn. Kendall agreed eagerly, but not before throwing her arms around Carter and thanking him. â€Å"Okay,† said Seth, drawing me near. â€Å"This was kind of amazing. Not that I should be surprised by anything you do anymore.† He kissed my forehead. â€Å"We definitely have to make the most out of your last month. If we're going to be apart for a long time, then we have to find a way to work around my schedule here.† I started to protest and tell him not to change his plans with the family because of me but stayed silent instead. Some desperate part of me wondered, what did any of it matter? If Hell wanted us apart, then we couldn't stand against that. â€Å"A long time† would become â€Å"never.† Maybe I really should be trying harder to maximize these last precious days. And yet if I did . . . would that make Hell work harder against us? Glancing up, I saw Morgan had now replaced McKenna on Carter's lap. They were having a discussion on the virtues of two different kinds of pony action figures. Morgan wasn't sure what kind she wanted. â€Å"Princess Ponies come in more colors,† she told him seriously. â€Å"True,† he said. â€Å"But some of the Power Prism Ponies are unicorns. And you can do more stuff with their hair.† Across the room, I saw Kayla curled up in a chair, watching Carter raptly but making no moves to talk to him. Slipping away from Seth, I walked over and knelt beside her. â€Å"Are you going to tell Santa what you want?† I asked in a very soft voice. It took Kayla several moments to tear her gaze from him. â€Å"He's not Santa,† she said. I was grateful she spoke as quietly as me. No one else heard. â€Å"Of course he is,† I said. â€Å"Who else would he be?† â€Å"He's not Santa.† She smiled and studied him again. â€Å"He's beautiful. He's more beautiful than anything.† No human could see an angel in his or her true form, unless the angel revealed it. Even then, a human would be destroyed by it. No, Kayla wasn't seeing Carter's true form, not exactly, but she was seeing something. Some piece of his true nature. I felt a moment of envy, wondering what it was she saw, what her senses allowed her that mine didn't. Whatever it was, I'd never know, but the enchanted look on her face made it clear it was wonderful. â€Å"Beautiful,† she repeated. She looked back at me. â€Å"Can he stop the Darkness?† â€Å"He'll try,† I said. Not the entire truth, but it would have to suffice. â€Å"Can you pretend he's Santa? Tell him what you want for Christmas?† She nodded solemnly, just as Morgan finished and Carter beckoned toward us. I walked Kayla over. I helped her onto his lap, and he glanced up at me with twinkling gray eyes. Those, if nothing else, were definitely Carter's. I stepped back and let them talk. Kayla continued staring adoringly at him, but no one except me knew what truly captivated her. She looked like any other child starstruck by Santa as she related her list, making no mention of his beauty or supernatural creatures prowling through her home at night. Leaving them to it, I quietly went upstairs and peered in Andrea's room. She was awake, reading a book. Dark circles hung under her eyes, and her face looked gaunter than last time. She nonetheless gave me a cheery smile. â€Å"Georgina,† she said. â€Å"I should've known you were the source of all that commotion.† I laughed. â€Å"Not all of that. A friend of mine is here, playing Santa for the girls. He's taking their Christmas orders right now.† Her expression softened, resembling the near tears I'd seen on the others' faces. â€Å"That's very sweet of him. And of you.† â€Å"Would you like to meet him before he leaves?† I asked. Andrea grimaced and absentmindedly patted her hair. â€Å"Yes, in theory . . . but Lord. I look terrible.† â€Å"Believe me,† I said. â€Å"He doesn't care.† When I went back downstairs, Kayla had finished, and Carter was trying to get a list out of Brandy who told him point-blank there was no way she was getting on his lap. â€Å"I think you have plenty to work on with their orders,† she told him good-naturedly. â€Å"And there's nothing you want?† he asked in his best echoing Santa voice. â€Å"Nothing you can give, I'm afraid,† she said. Her smile faltered. â€Å"But thanks.† Carter peered at her with that piercing look he sometimes used on me, the one that seemed to look right inside me. â€Å"No,† he agreed. â€Å"You're right. But I can give you all my prayers. And my hopes for the best.† Brandy stared at him, caught up in that gaze, and simply nodded. I don't think she knew what a powerful thing it was, for an angel to offer all of his prayers, but she most certainly sensed the sincerity and intention in his words. â€Å"Thanks,† she repeated. I caught hold of Carter's arm. â€Å"Their mom wants to meet you, Santa.† He stood up and followed me to the stairs. We passed Ian along the way, who watched us condescendingly. â€Å"Aren't you going to ask what I want?† Carter paused and looked him over from head to toe. â€Å"Sorry. My workshop doesn't do shabby chic.† Carter continued following me, despite Ian's protest that his style was â€Å"vintage† and that â€Å"shabby chic is for wannabes.† If Andrea felt insecure at the thought of meeting a stranger, she did a good job of hiding it. Indeed, when Carter walked into her bedroom, a little awe passed over her face, reminding me of Kayla. Andrea couldn't see what her daughter had, but I think she sensed some of Carter's grace. He came to a halt at the foot of her bed and took of his red hat in a genteel style, revealing rows of white curls. â€Å"This is my friend Carter,† I said, after first making sure no one small had followed us. â€Å"Mrs. Mortensen,† he said, dropping the showmanship. â€Å"It's very nice to meet you.† She smiled, and the joy in it made her beautiful, despite her weary state. â€Å"Nice to meet you too. Thank you for coming over and seeing the girls.† Their exchange was brief. He said something nice or funny about each girl, making Andrea's smile grow and grow. She in turn couldn't stop thanking him. When the pleasantries were finally done, I bid her farewell and stepped outside the room with Carter. I closed the door and was about to head downstairs when he caught my hand. â€Å"Did you see what you needed to?† I asked quietly. He nodded, face grave, looking more like Carter than ever. â€Å"You were right. Her condition was made worse – by a demon.† â€Å"Can you tell which demon?† I asked. I knew Jerome didn't have my best interests at heart, but it was a hard thing to think of him purposely harming those I cared about. â€Å"No,† said Carter. â€Å"But it probably wasn't Jerome. It's the kind of dirty work a minor demon would do. I can also tell you that her illness, originally, was natural. Nothing gave this to her.† â€Å"They just made her relapse when she was starting to get better.† To get to me. To keep Seth busy. Carter nodded. â€Å"Okay. Thank you for coming here tonight. I appreciate it.† I started to turn, and he again stopped me. â€Å"Georgina . . .† There was an odd, troubled note in his voice, one I didn't usually associate with confident, laconic Carter. â€Å"Georgina, I've told you over and over that there are rules about what I can and can't do, how much I can be involved. As a general rule, I'm really not supposed to do too much active interference in mortal lives.† â€Å"I understand,† I said. â€Å"But what happened to her . . .† He frowned slightly. â€Å"That was another breaking of the rules, something that shouldn't have happened. And in this situation, two wrongs can make a right.† I stared up at him in amazement. â€Å"What are you saying?† â€Å"I'm saying that I can heal her. I can't completely eradicate the cancer, but I can take it back to the level it was at before she was harmed this week. I can undo what they did to her and clean the slate.† My jaw wanted to drop. â€Å"That . . . that would be amazing !† Carter still looked sad, and I couldn't figure out why. Did he feel like he was violating a rule, even if he was righting a wrong? â€Å"What's the matter?† He sighed. â€Å"What you and Roman said earlier . . . about Hell wanting to keep you and Seth apart? About how her condition keeps him here? Well . . . it's possible, this is exactly what they want. She got better, then they made her worse again. Then, if she gets better on her own – or because of me – then everyone gets hopeful again, until they come back and make her worse. I'm not saying they will come back. But that they could. A limbo state like this ensures Seth stays around. If I heal her now – and I will if you want – I might be perpetuating that.† There were two key things I pulled out of that. One was a very, very subtle acknowledgment that Roman and I were right. Oh, Carter wasn't saying for sure that Hell was after Seth and me, but he certainly wasn't denying it either. It was all part of that careful angel way of his. The other thing – the most startling one – was the implication that thwarting Hell meant keeping Andrea out of the limbo they wanted her in. Seth would always be tied to his family if she moved in and out of health. If she completely recovered, he would be free. And if she died . . . â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"It doesn't matter. Heal her. I don't care if he stays here forever, so long as it keeps her alive.† Carter nodded, and something shone in his eyes, something a little like pride . . . and sadness. â€Å"I thought you'd say that.† He knocked gently on Andrea's door before stepping back inside. â€Å"Sorry to bother you,† he said. â€Å"But I forgot to ask what you wanted for Christmas.† Andrea laughed, eventually degenerating into coughing. Reaching for a glass of water beside her bed, she finally recovered herself. â€Å"That's nice of you, but I'm too old.† â€Å"Never,† said Carter. â€Å"There must be something.† Andrea was still smiling, but it grew a little wistful. â€Å"There is something,† she said. I wondered if she'd ask to be cured, which was obviously what Brandy had wanted as well. â€Å"I want . . . I want my girls to be happy. No matter what happens to me, I want them looked after and cared for.† Carter-as-Santa studied her with that soul-searching gaze, and it was as though something passed between them, something I wasn't part of. At long last, he said, â€Å"I swear, it will be so.† He walked over to her bedside and extended his hand to her. A chill ran down my spine as he did. I swear. Those weren't words an angel could say lightly. I'd thought what he'd said earlier to Brandy was powerful, but it was nothing compared to this. Tentatively, Andrea took Carter's hand. I saw nothing blatant, no blinding flash of light or anything like that. I didn't even feel anything with my immortal senses. But Andrea's face transformed, growing radiant and dreamy, as though she were seeing and hearing the most beautiful things in the world. When Carter released her hand, she smiled at him and closed her eyes, drifting into sleep. â€Å"You healed her?† I asked, deciding not to mention the promise. â€Å"Yes,† he said. â€Å"She won't remember much of my visit.† â€Å"Probably just as – â€Å" My cell phone rang, and I hurried out of the room to answer it before Andrea woke up. It was Roman. â€Å"Hey,† I said. â€Å"Hey, are you still with the Mortensens?† â€Å"Yeah, why?† â€Å"Because I think I've figured out how to prove my theory,† he said, voice stern and strained. â€Å"I still don't even know what your theory is,† I said. â€Å"You will soon enough. Ask Seth how he feels about hypnosis.†