9 Signs Your Boss Secretly Hates Everything About You

9 Signs Your Boss Secretly Hates Everything About You Everybody wants to be liked- especially by their boss. Your job can go from wonderful to awful based on your relationship with your boss. If you feel yours is lacking- or something is just plain off- then you might want to think about whether any of these signs apply.  Whatever discord there is might just be in your head, but just in case, see if you recognize any signs. If you do, maybe it’s time to have a chat with him/or or HR. 1. You feel it in your gut.Don’t discount your own intuition! If you just feel like your boss hates you, it might be true. Don’t rely on this sign only, but it’s not one to be discarded lightly.2. You’re never asked for input.And you’re left out of key decision processes. It’s almost as if you don’t exist.3. There’s no eye contact.You can tell a lot from your boss’s body language and eye contact. If you’re being avoided, you’ll be able to tell physically. Almost as if it p ains them to look you directly in the eyes- let alone smile or laugh!4. You are getting micromanaged.You- and only you- are being hovered over. If your boss is just a micromanager in general, that’s one thing. But if it’s only in your direction, this could be a sign that you just aren’t trusted.5. You’re avoided.Your boss seems to go out of his way to dodge you in the corridors or elevators. He communicates with you only over email- even when your office is right next door. And when he does come close enough to you- say you show up at his  office door- he doesn’t acknowledge your presence. There’s no exchange of good morning/evening pleasantries either- you aren’t included in any jokes or banter.6.  There’s a sense of snippiness.You get monosyllabic answers to genial questions. Emails are not opened with a friendly salutation or a well-meaning sign off. Basically, your boss is acting like a teenager. This is not a great sig n. Does your boss make small talk about personal things with your other coworkers but not you? Also not a great sign.7. You don’t get enough feedback.Some managers are just terrible at giving feedback- especially positive feedback. If you get negative feedback, it’s usually super public. But if you find you’re getting no feedback, while your co-workers are getting constructive criticism and pats on the back, then you have a problem.8. The door is always closed.There’s nothing like looking at a closed door to make you feel like you’re not welcome. Whether it’s to your boss’s office, or to a big important meeting that you can’t seem to get invited to†¦ you might be out in the cold.9. You get all the worst jobs.You keep getting assigned tasks that are way beneath your level and your pay grade- just busywork that offers no challenge. And no matter how well you accomplish each task, you’re not moving forward. In fact, yo u seem to be moving backward.

Free Essays on Guns and Kids

Children younger than nine years old have been caught with guns in schools. In today’s society it is not unusual to pick up the newspaper and read a headline of a school shooting, or turn on the television and see the footage of body bags being carried out of a school. Gun related violence and our nations children has become a wide spread epidemic. Every 100 hours, more youth die on the streets than were killed in the Persian Gulf. This epidemic saturates not only the gang-ridden environment in America’s cities, but the supposedly more peaceful suburban world as well. In recent history youth disputes that were once settled with bloody noses and black eyes now end in gunshots. Kids are killing each other over a bump on the shoulder, a misinterpreted glance, romantic complications or flashy clothes. Much of the blame is directed toward the feet of media violence, Rambos killing at will. Some people believe that it is a reflection of how today’s children are being raised. Many inner-youths yield a â€Å"what the hell† attitude due to poverty and hopelessness. Family breakdowns seem to further fuel this epidemic. Statistics from a Baltimore public school student survey revealed that fifty-nine percent of males who come from a one-parent or no-parent home have carried handguns. The main reason this outbreak has become so widespread is the availability of guns. Some officials believe that tougher gun laws, such as the Brady bill, are going to solve the problem, but what many do not seem to realize is that kids aren’t getting guns legally. They are stealing them or in many cases buying them on the black market. The number of illegal guns in circulation has turned record numbers of everyday encounters into deadly ones. Headlines change daily, but still chillingly report the same thing. In Washington D.C. a fifteen year old is shot by his best friend. In New Haven, Connecticut, a fourteen year ol... Free Essays on Guns and Kids Free Essays on Guns and Kids Children younger than nine years old have been caught with guns in schools. In today’s society it is not unusual to pick up the newspaper and read a headline of a school shooting, or turn on the television and see the footage of body bags being carried out of a school. Gun related violence and our nations children has become a wide spread epidemic. Every 100 hours, more youth die on the streets than were killed in the Persian Gulf. This epidemic saturates not only the gang-ridden environment in America’s cities, but the supposedly more peaceful suburban world as well. In recent history youth disputes that were once settled with bloody noses and black eyes now end in gunshots. Kids are killing each other over a bump on the shoulder, a misinterpreted glance, romantic complications or flashy clothes. Much of the blame is directed toward the feet of media violence, Rambos killing at will. Some people believe that it is a reflection of how today’s children are being raised. Many inner-youths yield a â€Å"what the hell† attitude due to poverty and hopelessness. Family breakdowns seem to further fuel this epidemic. Statistics from a Baltimore public school student survey revealed that fifty-nine percent of males who come from a one-parent or no-parent home have carried handguns. The main reason this outbreak has become so widespread is the availability of guns. Some officials believe that tougher gun laws, such as the Brady bill, are going to solve the problem, but what many do not seem to realize is that kids aren’t getting guns legally. They are stealing them or in many cases buying them on the black market. The number of illegal guns in circulation has turned record numbers of everyday encounters into deadly ones. Headlines change daily, but still chillingly report the same thing. In Washington D.C. a fifteen year old is shot by his best friend. In New Haven, Connecticut, a fourteen year ol...

Cash Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cash Accounting - Essay Example You also have to satisfy the HP Revenue and Customs by clearing any VAT payment arrears to use the cash accounting scheme. When you start using the cash accounting scheme, it is must to use it for the whole business and it is desirable to continue it for a period of 2 years. However, you can quit the scheme at any moment, provided it does not contribute to your business as well as your accounting system does not support the necessary requirements for the scheme. While starting with cash accounting, you need to be very much careful that you do not re-account for any VAT on receipts and payments that are already dealt with. In cash accounting the main accounting record is kept in a cash book summarizing all the payments made and received. It has a separate column where you can specify the relevant VAT. In the cash book, you also need to record the corresponding tax invoices and provide an efficient system for cross referencing. The benefit of the cash accounting scheme primarily depends on the time period between the issuing of the sales invoice to receiving payments from the customers. Cash accounting is likely to be more beneficial when this time period extends.

Regulations Influence on Agencys Productivity and Efficiency Coursework

Regulations Influence on Agencys Productivity and Efficiency - Coursework Example Literature ReviewLiterature Review Internal regulations are a set of official/ unofficial set of rules that an agency should follow in order to be in compliance that is suppose to help the agency achieve its goal in an efficient and productive manner. There is no previous literature review performed on the productivity and efficiency of the Office of Inspector General-Office of Investigations, therefore, for the purpose of this study, similar studies on different agencies within the field of law enforcement and studies whose method of the study was the pooled cross-sectional time series regression will be used for guidance.   The Office of Investigations within the Office of Inspector General are divided by Field Offices whose are divided by region and are entitled to a certain regional jurisdiction, then followed by a set of Sub-Offices who have to report to the Field Offices. A conjunction of Sanhog Moon, Alex Sekwat, Rodney Stanley and Richard Bennett studies, it will serve as a foundation for the methodology of this research. â€Å"The goal of this research design is to test for a shift or change in the trend of the dependent variable at the point of the policy intervention. The premise for the design is that the post-intervention values of the dependent variables are different from the pre-intervention series,† (Moon, Sekwat & Standley, 2004).  Richard Bennett â€Å"explores the macrostructure tenet of the approach upon a sample of 52 nations spanning a 25-year period (1960-1984).

To what extent was the First World War a catalyst for change in the Essay

To what extent was the First World War a catalyst for change in the Middle East - Essay Example Political The First World War shaped the Middle East by having its unity disbanded in a brutal manner that paved the way for the modern Middle East known to man in the present day. As such, the First World War set the stage for a series of never before witnessed events that have been in play to the current times in that there have been revolutions and reforms that have seen the Middle East become a widely divided location especially in terms of modernity and development (Iran Review 2012). Traditionally and conventionally, the borders of the Middle East were not clearly defined and two parties, mainly the chieftains, controlled them and the British coupled with the French. This was prior to the First World War, in which case the nation was largely united under a common religion and a form of belief in a single ethnicity. This was in spite of the presence of factions that were divided on religious and ethnic grounds because of the death of the Islamic prophet. In this case, there were significant revolutions in Iran and neighbouring lands of modern times where there were riots against the Iranian monarchy led by merchants in an attempt to cut back on the powers of the absolute monarchy that arbitrarily shifted its powers back and forth over the people. Prior to the First World War, the leaders who served administrative duties ceased to function due to lack of political support by the people. It was after the First World War that the monarchy received a substantial blow, which saw the monarchy weaken to the extent of having a mark on Iranian history. The culminations of the First World War set the stage for future confrontations against the governments of the time by causing massive disunity between the monarchy and the people to the extent that after the constitutional revolution, the Islamic revolution took place. Without the presence of the First World War and significant weakening of the monarchy, the Islamic revolution of 1978-1979 would not have taken place and the urban middle would not have participated to bring about change. In addition, the First World War saw the Middle East thrown into a state of turmoil or chaos following the constitutional revolution. This allowed the people to have greater control over the happenings in Iran, which was significant for the overthrowing of the then government. This was done in the early years that followed the world war through a military coup that saw Zia thrown out of power in 1923 and saw the establishment of new government after deposing the then monarchy. This set the stage for modern day Middle East, as we know it due to the rapid shift in power and the impact that other coups occurring in Europe had. This also had plenty to do with the crowning of Qajar Shah in 1921 and invasion by the Ottoman Empire, British and Russians. It is these events, of the first war, that also saw significant disunity in Iran and the open view that the government had no power whatsoever. As a result, of the Fir st World War, the stage was set for drastic change that lasts to date in that there have been significant uprisings against governments in an attempt to get improved governance and proper leadership, as well as reforms. Moreover, the First World War saw the development of numerous changes in modern times as seen in the case of the Hussein-McMahon correspondence that shows the great influence the First World War had in the Middle East. The above-mentioned correspondence saw Hussein seek

Reflecting on Competency with Subcutaneous Injection Technique

Reflecting on Competency with Subcutaneous Injection Technique The focus of this essay will be to select one clinical skill in which I am developing competence in and reflect upon how to achieve the necessary level of competence for this stage of the programme. For the purpose of this essay I have chosen to focus on subcutaneous injections technique as my clinical skill. The nursing and midwifery councils (NMC) Standards for Medicines management states that administration of medicine is not solely a mechanistic task to be performed in strict compliance with the written prescription other medical practitioner. It requires thought and the exercise of professional judgement. In order to perform safe practice it is essential to possess sound knowledge of the anatomy, patient assessment and nursing interventions and methods used are evidence based. (NMC 2007). My rationale for selecting subcutaneous injections (SC) was whilst on my first placement based on a surgical ward this was a widely used skill, which was performed on many occasions. This technique was mostly used for the administration of an anticoagulant (tinzaparin sodium) also know as heparin, given to patients in order to prevent harmful blood clots forming in veins following an operation. Heparin works by changing the way blood clots, allowing blood to flow smoothly through the vessels. (REF) Whilst giving an injection was once the role of the doctor, since the invention of penicillin in 1940s it became the activity of the nurse (Workman 1999). Administering injections is an important part of drug administration and a regular, common place activity for the nurse which unfortunately can easily become a complacent task; the technique should be mastered with a sound knowledge base. Injections are used to distribute medication through a needle or syringe. SC injections are administered for various reasons; these include slow distribution into the body, good absorption due to intramuscular tissue containing small blood vessels and unable to take orally because medication would become inactive by stomach acid. Workman (1999) suggests taking four considerations when administering injections; the site of administration, technique used, equipment used and the route to be used. The choice of the site of injection is based on sound clinical judgement, best evidence and patient assessment (Potter 2010). Site selection is normally upper arm, abdomen or thigh. (Lister Dougherty 2008) suggests upper arm as a most favourable choice as they contain fewer large blood vessels and less painful sensations, however in practice the abdomen is a more common site for heparin as the skin contains a thicker subcutaneous tissue (Hunter 2008).It has been expressed that rotation of sites can decrease the likely hood of irritation and ensure improved absorption (Dougherty and Lister 2009). Traditionally the technique used when administering subcutaneous injections has been using a 45degree angle into a raised skin fold, however since the introduction of shorter needles and pre filled syringes this has been challenged and it is now recommended that the injections are given at a 90 degree angle into a raised skin fold to ensure medication is given into the SC layer. (REF) The manner to which a medicine is administered determines the extent to which a patient gains clinical benefit. Nurses are responsible for the correct administration of prescribed drugs to patients in their care at all times. Standards for medicine management (NMC 2008a) Adopting a skilled injection technique may make the patients experience less painful and prevent unnecessary complications, whereas poor understanding of the technique could result in the injection being administrated intramuscular which could affect the rate of absorption and cause potential harm to the patient (Hunter 2008). SC injections involve depositing medications into the loose connective tissue underlying the dermis, this tissue is not a richly supplied with blood vessels as muscles are thus allowing the medication to be absorbed slowly. Prior to administering a SC injection the following precautions must be followed: a patients pre-existing condition must be assessed to prevent contraindications, patients prescription chart checked to check correct route, correct dosage of medication, expiry date, hands washed with soap and water to prevent infection, positive patient identification then record the administration on the appropriate chart to avoid any duplication of patients treatment (Dougherty and Lister 2009) The Royal Marsden Hospital Manual suggests that before administering injections the skin should be cleansed with an alcohol wipe for 30 seconds and allowed to dry in order to prevent any contamination, However it has been questioned that the alcohol in the wipe was causing irritation to the skin or prolonged use may cause skin hardening (Hunter 2008). The local trust do not recommend the use of any skin preparation prior to administering SC injections, however aseptic technique to be maintained and as with all patient contact gloves must be worn (Pratt et al 2007) Disposal of the used injection is extremely important to prevent needle stick injuries, a needle should never be re-sheathed; the most frequent route of exposure to blood-borne diseases for health care workers is from needle stick injuries (Potter 2010). The clinical environment is a never ending source of potential learning experiences that become more meaningful the more you participate. (Sharples 2009) The NMC will only accept that a nurse is competent if they are a competent learner (NMC 2004) Evidence Based Practice (EBP) is a systematic approach adopted by nurses to provide a rational decision making that facilitates achievement of best practices often achieved by obtaining the strongest available evidence whilst applying patient care (Potter 2010). EBP is implemented because it allows the highest quality of care and resulting in the best patient outcome (Melnyk and friecut-overholt 2011) The NMC (2008) states that patients have the rights to have a safe environment and staff has a duty to protect patients in maintaining knowledge based practice and continuing with their lifelong learning. I realised in order to be able to become a competent nurse in the future I would need to recognise the type of learner I am and be able to reflect upon this. If I am unaware of my strengths and weaknesses, it is more likely I will be unable to help others (Burnard 1992). Self-awareness and analysis are key component in reflection, and reflection is an essential skill which needs to be acquired, developed and maintained; being self- aware allows us to take control of the situations we find ourselves in, thus becoming less vulnerable (Wilding 2008). There are four different learning styles identified these are; Activists, Pragmatist, Reflector and Theorist. Activists immerse themselves in new experiences, using their enthusiasm to flourish on new challenges. Pragmatists are thought to be practical, putting thoughts, theories and techniques into practice. Reflectors like to take a step back and observe, collecting and analysing information about events and experiences, often slow to reach a conclusion. Theorists on the other hand have a tendency to to favour the facts and are not content on things which dont seem rational (McGill and Beaty 1995) I discovered my learning style was the Activist, although I felt I possessed a few of the other characteristics in the other styles. I enjoy learning most by doing the task at hand and witnessing things rather than reading about them. Bremer (1984) advocates the preferred method of learning is by observing role models, this is often displayed whilst on placement observing mentors carrying out tasks before they allow the student to attempt it for themselves. According to Boud (1993) reflecting on personal experiences plays a major factor in developing to a higher level. Brenner (1984) agrees by suggesting nurses develop to become experts by taught knowledge, by applying the intuition and experience through work practice, however, not all nurses will become experts. In order to develop my learning fully I recognised the need to start completing a reflective diary, recording experiences good and bad, strengths and weaknesses in order to improve my performance. Reflecting on experiences allows us to learn from them and how to improve on them to increase patient care. I am often told by nurses who have been qualified for many years that they often reflect on various situations and if they could have responded to a situation more differently and more effectively. Frazer and Greenhalgh (2001) states that capability is the extent to which the individual can apply, adopt and synthesize new knowledge from experiences and continue to improve performance. The World Health Organisation (WHO 1998) identifies competence as the ability to carry out a certain professional function which is made up of a repertoire of professional practice. Schon identifies two particular types of reflection, a reflection on action and a reflection in action. Reflection in action takes place in practice and may influence future decisions and outcomes, whilst reflection on action traditionally occurs in educational settings either clinical areas or in the classroom (Hinchliff et al, 2008). Ghaye et al (1996) believe that without reflection it is almost impossible to improve in practice. Understanding your own individual learning style is extremely interesting and considered invaluable in developing the ability to learn and partake in learning experiences, and especially important whilst on placement (Sharples 2009). By gaining personal insight and understanding it may help us understand others better (Burnard 1995) An essential part of learning is to seize any learning opportunity that may be presented, a student must show willing, motivated and recognise they are responsible for your own learning. If you as a student present yourself as unmotivated, it will be unlikely that your mentor or others will be motivated to encourage your learning (Sharples 2009). Learn through experimental learning on clinical placement and insightful learning in uni Strategic approach to learning (Kolb 1984)

Women in the Developing World Essay example -- Female Females Women Es

Women in the Developing World Studies of political and economic change in the developing worlds usually say little or nothing about women’s issues. In the past two decades, two factors have contributed to the new understanding of women in developing nations: the emergence of feminist or gender-related social science research and the growing awareness by policy planners that women play an important role in the modernization process. Third world women, just as woman in industrialized nations, are largely represented in particular occupations. The majority work in agricultural employment or jobs that are unregulated by the state, such as street vendors and small businesses. Similarly, as in industrialized nations, Third World professional women are over-represented in such professions as nursing and teaching. Divisions between women’s and men’s work have obvious economic and political implications. Evidence of gender inequality and exploitation of women exist in most societies, yet some of the worst cases are found in the developing world. The murder of some five thousand woman annually in India by dissatisfied husbands; the enslavement of women working in Pakistan’s brick-making industry; wife beatings in Zambia and the Andes; and the sale of child brides are only a few of the many instances of women’s subservient status in many Third World countries. Less dramatic examples of gender inequality include divorce laws that favor husbands; the restricted opportunities for women’s employment in universities, the professions, and higher-paid blue collar jobs; and the double clay that woman must frequently face (coming home from a long day’s work and having to do all the housework and child care). After years of neglect, man... ...dership positions. The Third World is surely no exception. During the mid-1980’s, women constituted only six percent of the national legislators in Africa and only two percent of all cabinet members. Throughout the developing world, United Nations surveys repeatedly show that even in countries where women are active professionally, their level of responsibility as policy-makers and planners is low. Analysis reveals that the political and economic status of Third World women is anything but uniform. Their position varies considerably from region to region and country to country. Within individual countries, the condition of women differs according to their social classes or ethnicity. Three factors seem most relevant in this regard: the prevailing cultural values, a region or nation’s level of socioeconomic modernization, and the type of political regime in place.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 14

Chapter 14 Meanwhile, back at the hotel room, Raziel has given up his hopes to be a professional wrestler and has resumed his ambition to be Spider-Man. He made the decision after I pointed out that in Genesis, Jacob wrestles an angel and wins. In short, a human defeated an angel. Raziel kept insisting that he didn't remember that happening and I was tempted to bring the Gideon Bible in out of the bathroom and show him the reference, but I've just started reading the Gospel of Mark and I'd lose the book if the angel found out about it. I thought Matthew was bad, skipping right from Joshua's birth to his baptism, but Mark doesn't even bother with the birth. It's as if Joshua springs forth full grown from the head of Zeus. (Okay, bad metaphor, but you know what I mean.) Mark begins with the baptism, at thirty! Where did these guys get these stories? â€Å"I once met a guy in a bar who knew a guy who's sister's best friend was at the baptism of Joshua bar Joseph of Nazareth, and here's the story as best as he could remember it.† Well, at least Mark mentions me, once. And then it's totally out of context, as if I was just sitting around doing nothing and Joshua happened by and asked me to tag along. And Mark tells of the demon named Legion. Yeah, I remember Legion. Compared to what Balthasar called up, Legion was a wuss. I asked Balthasar if he was smitten with me,† Joshua said over supper. â€Å"Oh no,† said Joy. We were eating in the girls' quarters. It smelled really good and the girls would rub our shoulders while we ate. Just what we needed after a tough day of studying. â€Å"You weren't supposed to let him know we were on to him. What did he say?† â€Å"He said that he'd just come off of a hard breakup and he wasn't ready for a relationship because he just needed to spend a little time getting to know himself, but that he'd love it if we could just be friends.† â€Å"He lies,† said Joy. â€Å"He hasn't had a breakup in a hundred years.† I said, â€Å"Josh, you are so gullible. Guys always lie about stuff like that. That's the problem with your not being allowed to know women, it means you don't understand the most fundamental nature of men.† â€Å"Which is?† â€Å"We're lying pigs. We'll say anything to get what we want.† â€Å"That's true,† said Joy. The other girls nodded in agreement. â€Å"But,† said Josh, â€Å"the superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue, according to Confucius.† â€Å"Of course,† said I, â€Å"but the superior man can get laid without lying. I'm talking about the rest of us.† â€Å"So should I be worried about this trip he wants me to take with him?† Joy nodded gravely and the other girls nodded with her. â€Å"I don't see why,† I said. â€Å"What trip?† â€Å"He says we'll only be gone a couple of weeks. He wants to go to a temple at a city in the mountains. He believes that the temple was built by Solomon, it's called the Temple of the Seal.† â€Å"And why do you have to go along?† â€Å"He wants to show me something.† â€Å"Uh-oh,† I said. â€Å"Uh-oh,† echoed the girls, not unlike a Greek chorus, except of course they were speaking Chinese. In the week leading up to Joshua and Balthasar's departure, I managed to talk Pea Pods into taking on a huge risk during her shift in Balthasar's bed. I picked Pea Pods not because she was the most athletic and nimble of the girls, which she was; nor because she was the lightest of foot and most stealthy, which she was also; but because she was the one who had taught me to make bronze castings of the Chinese characters that were the mark of my name (my chop), and she could be trusted to get the most accurate impression of the key that Balthasar wore on the chain around his neck. (Oh yes, there was a key to the ironclad door. Joy had let it slip where Balthasar kept it, but I was sure that she was too loyal to him to steal it. Pea Pods, on the other hand, was more fickle in her loyalties, and lately I had been spending a lot of time with her on and off.) â€Å"By the time you return, I'll know what's going on here,† I whispered to Joshua as he climbed onto his camel. â€Å"Find out what you can from Balthasar.† â€Å"I will. But be careful. Don't do anything while I'm gone. I think this trip, whatever it is that we are going to see, has something to do with the house of doom.† â€Å"I'm just going to look around. You be careful.† The girls and I stood at the top of the plateau and waved until Joshua and the magus, leading the extra camel loaded with supplies, rode out of sight, then, one by one, we made our way down the rope ladder to the passageway in the cliff's face. The entrance to the passageway, and the tunnel for perhaps thirty cubits, were just wide enough for one man to pass through if he stooped, and I always managed to bruise an elbow or a shoulder along the way, which allowed me to show off my ability to curse in four languages. By the time I got to the chamber of the elements, where we practiced the art of the Nine Elixirs, Pea Pods had the small furnace stoked to a red heat and was adding ingots of brass to a small stone crucible. From the wax impression we had made a wax duplicate of the key, from that we'd made a plaster mold, which we'd fired to melt out the wax. Now we'd have one chance to cast the key, because once the metal cooled in the plaster mold, the only way to release it was to break off the plaster. When we broke off the mold Pea Pods held the end of what looked like a brass dragon on a stick. â€Å"That's some key,† I said. The only locks I'd ever seen were big bulky iron boys, nothing elegant enough for a key like this. â€Å"When are you going to use it?† asked Pea Pods. Her eyes went wide like those of an excited child. Times like that I almost fell in love with her, but fortunately I was always distracted by Joy's sophistication, Pillow's maternal fussing, Number Six's dexterity, or any one of the other charms that were heaped upon me daily. I understood completely Balthasar's strategy to keep from falling in love with any one of them. Joshua's situation, on the other hand, was harder to figure, because he enjoyed spending time with the girls, trading stories from the Torah for legends of the storm dragons and the monkey king. He said that there was an innate kindness born in women that he'd never seen in a man, and he liked being around them. His strength in resisting their physical charms astounded me perhaps even more than the other miraculous things I'd seen him do over the years. I couldn't relate to the act of raising someone from the dead, but turning down a beautiful woman, that to ok courage beyond my understanding. â€Å"I'll take it from here,† I said to Pea Pods. I didn't want her to be involved any further in case things didn't turn out well. â€Å"When?† asked Pea Pods, meaning when would I attempt to open the door. â€Å"Tonight, when you have all gone to live in the world of pleasant dreams.† I tweaked her nose affectionately and she giggled. It was the last time I ever saw her in one piece. At night the halls of the fortress were lit by the ambient light from the moon and the stars that filtered in from the windows. Everywhere we went we carried a clay oil lamp which made the serpentine curves of the passageways seem even more like the inside of a huge creature as they swallowed up the dim orange light. After several years with Balthasar, I could find my way through the main living quarters of the fortress without any light at all, so I carried an unlit lamp with me until I had passed the girls' quarters, stopping at the beaded doorway to listen for their gentle snores. Once I was well away from the girls' door, I lit my lamp using one of the fire sticks that I'd invented using some of the same chemicals we used to make the explosive black powder. The fire stick made a soft pop as I struck it on the stone wall and I could swear I heard it echo from the hall up ahead. As I made my way to the ironclad door I could smell burning brimstone and I thought it strange that the smell of the fire stick had stayed with me. Then I saw Joy standing by the door holding an oil lamp and the charred remains of the fire stick she'd used to light it. â€Å"Let me see the key,† she said. â€Å"What key?† â€Å"Don't be foolish. I saw what was left of the mold in the room of the elements.† I took the key from where I'd tucked it in my belt and handed it to Joy. She examined it by lamplight, turning it this way and that. â€Å"Pea Pods cast this,† she said matter-of-factly. â€Å"Did she take the impression as well?† I nodded. Joy didn't seem angry, and Pea Pods was the only one of the girls skilled enough in metallurgy to have done the casting, so why deny it? â€Å"Getting the impression must have been the hard part,† Joy said. â€Å"Balthasar is fierce about guarding this key. I'll have to ask her what she did to distract him. Could be a good thing to know, huh? For both of us.† She smiled seductively, then turned toward the door and pushed aside the brass plate that covered the keyhole. In that second I felt as if a frozen dagger had been dragged over my spine. â€Å"No!† I grabbed her hand. â€Å"Don't.† I was overcome with a feeling of revulsion that wrenched my insides. â€Å"We can't.† Joy smiled again and pushed my hand away. â€Å"I have seen many wondrous things since I came here, but there has never been anything that was harmful. You planned this, you must want to know what is in here as much as I do.† I wanted to stop her, I even tried to take the key away from her, but she grabbed my arm and pushed into a pressure point that made my whole left side go numb. She raised an eyebrow as if to ask, â€Å"Do you really want to try that, knowing what I can do to you?† And I stepped back. She put the dragon key into the lock and turned it three times. There was a clicking of machinery finer than anything I had ever heard, then she withdrew the key and shot the three heavy iron bolts. As she pulled the door open there was a rush of air, as if something had moved by us very quickly, and my lamp went out. Joshua told me what had happened later and I put the timing together myself. As Joy and I were opening the room they called the house of doom, Joshua and Balthasar were camped in the arid mountains of what is now Afghanistan. The night was crisp and the stars shone with a cold blue light like loneliness or infinity. They had eaten some bread and cheese, then settled in close to the fire to share the last of a flask of fortified wine, Balthasar's second that evening. â€Å"Have I told you of the prophecy that sent me in search of you when you were born, Joshua?† â€Å"You spoke of the star. My mother told me of the star.† â€Å"Yes, the three of us followed that star, and by chance we met up in the mountains east of Kabul and finished the journey together, but the star wasn't the reason we went, it was only our means of navigation. We made the journey because each of us was looking for something at the end.† â€Å"Me?† Joshua said. â€Å"Yes, but not just you, but what it is said was brought with you. In the temple where we travel now, there lies a set of clay tablets – very old – the priests say that they date back to the time of Solomon, and they foretell the coming of a child who will have power over evil and victory over death. They say he will carry the key to immortality.† â€Å"Me? Immortality? Nope.† â€Å"I think you do, you just don't know it yet.† â€Å"Nope, I'm sure,† said Joshua. â€Å"It's true that I have brought people back from the dead, but never for very long. I've gotten better at healing over the years, but my back-from-the-dead stuff still needs work. I need to learn more.† â€Å"Which is why I have taught you, and why I am taking you to the temple now, so you may read the tablets yourself, but you must have the power of immortality within you.† â€Å"No, really, I haven't a clue.† â€Å"I am two hundred and sixty years old, Joshua.† â€Å"I've heard that, but I still can't help you. You look good though, I mean for two hundred and sixty.† At this point Balthasar started to sound desperate. â€Å"Joshua, I know that you have power over evil. Biff has told me of you banishing demons in Antioch.† â€Å"Little ones,† Joshua said modestly. â€Å"You must have power over death as well or it does me no good.† â€Å"What I am able to do comes through my father, I didn't bargain for it.† â€Å"Joshua, I am preserved by a pact with a demon. If you do not have the powers foretold in the prophecy I will never be free, I will never have peace, I will never have love. Every minute of my life I must have my will focused on controlling the demon. Should my will fail, the destruction would be unlike anything the world has ever seen.† â€Å"I know how it is. I'm not allowed to know a woman,† Joshua said. â€Å"Although it was an angel that told me, not a demon. But still, you know, it's hard sometimes. I really like your concubines. The other night Pillows was giving me a back rub after a long day of studying, and I started getting this massive – â€Å" â€Å"By the Golden Tenderloin of the Calf!† Balthasar exclaimed, leaping to his feet, his eyes wide with terror. The old man began loading his camel, thrashing around in the darkness like a madman. Joshua was following him, trying to calm him down, fearing he might have a fit any second. â€Å"What? What?† â€Å"It is out!† the magus said. â€Å"Help me pack up. We must go back. The demon is out.† I stood cringing in the dark, waiting for disaster to fall, for mayhem to reign, for pain and pestilence and no good to manifest, then Joy struck a fire stick and lit our lamps. We were alone. The iron door hung open into a very small room, it too lined with iron. The entire room was just big enough to contain a small bed and a chair. Every span of the black iron walls was inlaid with golden symbols: pentagrams and hex symbols and a dozen others I had never seen before. Joy held her lamp close to the wall. â€Å"These are symbols of containment,† Joy said. â€Å"I used to hear voices coming from in here.† â€Å"There was nothing in here when I opened the door. I could see in the second before the lamp blew out.† â€Å"Then what blew it out?† â€Å"The wind?† â€Å"I don't think so. I felt something brush me as it passed.† Just then someone in the girls' quarters screamed, then a chorus of screams joined in, primal screams of absolute terror and pain. Instantly Joy's eyes filled with tears. â€Å"What have I done?† I took her sleeve and dragged her down the passage toward the girls' quarters, snatching up two heavy lances that were supporting a tapestry as we passed and handing one to her. As we rounded the curves I could see an orange light ahead and soon I could see that it was fire blazing on the stone walls from broken oil lamps. The screaming was reaching a higher pitch, but every few seconds a voice was removed from the chorus, until there was only one. As we approached the beaded doorway into the concubines' chamber the screaming stopped and a severed human head rolled in front of us. The creature stepped through the curtain, oblivious to the flames that licked the walls around it, its massive body filling the passageway, the reptilian skin on its shoulders and its tall pointed ears grating against the walls and ceiling. In its talonlike hand it held the bloody torso of one of the girls. â€Å"Hey, kid,† it said, its voice like a sword point dragged across stone, a yellow light coming from behind its dinner-plate-sized cat's eyes, â€Å"it took you long enough.† As they rode back to the fortress, Balthasar explained to Joshua about the demon: â€Å"His name is Catch, and he is a demon of the twenty-seventh order, a destroyer angel before the fall. As far as I could tell, he was first called up to assist Solomon in building the great temple, but something got out of hand and with the help of a djinn, Solomon was able to send the demon back to hell. I found the seal of Solomon and the incantation for raising the demon almost two hundred years ago in the Temple of the Seal.† â€Å"Oh,† Joshua said, â€Å"so that's why they call it that. I thought it had something to do with one of the barky sea animals.† â€Å"I had to become an acolyte and study with the priests there for years before I was allowed access to the seal, but what is a few years against immortality. I was given immortality, but only so long as the demon walks the earth. And as long as he is on earth he must be fed, Joshua. That's the curse that goes with being this destroyer's master. He must be fed.† â€Å"I don't understand, he feeds on your will?† â€Å"No, he feeds on human beings. It is only my will that keeps him in check, or it was until I was able to build the iron room and put golden symbols on the wall that would hold the demon. I've been able to keep him in the fortress I made him build for twenty years now, and it has been some respite. Until then he was with me every minute, everywhere I went.† â€Å"Didn't that attract enemies to you?† â€Å"No. Unless he is in his eating form, I am the only one who can see Catch. In his noneating form he's small, the size of a child, and he can do little harm (except for being incredibly irritating). When he feeds, however, he's fully ten cubits tall, and he can tear a man in half with the swipe of his claw. No, enemies are not a problem, Joshua. Why do you think there are no guards at the fortress? In those years before the girls came to live there, some bandits attacked. What happened to them is legend now in Kabul, and no one has tried since. The problem is that if my will were to fail, he would be set loose again on the world as he was in the time of Solomon. I don't know what could stop him.† â€Å"And you can't send him back to hell?† Joshua asked. â€Å"I can with the seal and the right incantation, which is why I was going to the Temple of the Seal. Which is why you are here. If you are the Messiah predicted in Isaiah, and on the clay tablets in the temple, then you are the direct descendant of David, and therefore Solomon. I believe that you can send the demon back and keep me from suffering the fate of his return.† â€Å"Why, what happens to you if he is sent back to hell?† â€Å"I will assume the aspect of my true age. Which I would guess, by this time, would be dust. But you have the gift of immortality. You can stop that from happening.† â€Å"So this demon from hell is loose, and we are returning to the fortress without the Seal of Solomon or this incantation to do exactly what?† â€Å"I hope to bring him back under control of my will. The room has always held him before. I didn't know, I truly didn't know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Know what?† â€Å"That my will had been broken by my feelings for you.† â€Å"You love me?† â€Å"How was I to know?† The magus sighed. And Joshua laughed here, despite the dire circumstances. â€Å"Of course you do, but it is not me, it's what I represent. I am not sure yet what I am to do, but I know that I am here in the name of my father. You love life so much that you would brave hell to hold on to it, it's only natural that you would love the one who gave you that life.† â€Å"Then you can banish the demon and preserve my life?† â€Å"Of course not, I'm just saying that I understand how you feel.† I don't know where she found the strength, but the diminutive Joy came from behind me and hurled the heavy lance with as much power as any soldier. (I felt my own knees starting to buckle in the face of the demon.) The bronze tip of the lance seemed to find its way between two of the monster's armored chest scales and drove itself a span deep under the weight of the heavy shaft. The demon gasped, and roared, opening his massive maw to show rows of saw-edged teeth. He grabbed the shaft of the lance and attempted to pull it out, his huge biceps quivering with the strain. He looked sadly down at the spear, then at Joy, and said, â€Å"Oh, foul woe upon you, you have kilt me most dead,† then he fell back and the floor shook with the impact of his huge body. â€Å"What'd he say, what'd he say?† Joy asked, digging her nails into my shoulder. The demon had spoken in Hebrew. â€Å"He said that you killed him.† â€Å"Well, duh,† said the concubine. (Strangely enough, â€Å"duh† sounds exactly the same in all languages.) I had started to inch forward to see if anyone was still alive in the girls' quarters when the demon sat up. â€Å"Just kidding,† he said. â€Å"I'm not kilt.† And he plucked the spear from his chest with less effort than it might take to brush away a fly. I threw my own lance, but didn't wait to see where it hit. I grabbed Joy and ran. â€Å"Where?† she said. â€Å"Far,† I said. â€Å"No,† she said, grabbing my tunic and jerking me around a corner, causing me to nearly coldcock myself on the wall. â€Å"To the cliff passage.† We were in total darkness now, neither one of us having thought to grab a lamp, and I was trusting my life to Joy's memory of these stone halls. As we ran we could hear the demon's scales scraping the walls and the occasional curse in Hebrew as he found a low ceiling. Perhaps he could see in the dark somewhat, but not a lot better than we could. â€Å"Duck,† Joy said, pushing my head down as we entered the narrow passage that led to the cliff above. I crouched in this passage the way the monster had to crouch to move in the normal-sized halls and I suddenly realized the brilliance of Joy's choice in taking this route. We were just seeing the moonlight breaking in through the opening in the cliff's face when I heard the monster hit the bottleneck of the passage. â€Å"Fuck! Ouch! You weasels! I'm going to crunch your little heads between my teeth like candied dates.† â€Å"What'd he say?† asked Joy. â€Å"He says that you are a sweet of uncommon delicacy.† â€Å"He did not say that.† â€Å"Believe me, my translation is as close as you want to the truth.† I heard a horrible scraping noise from inside the passage as we climbed out on the ledge and up the rope ladder to the top of the plateau. Joy helped me up, then pulled the ladder up behind us. We ran to the stable where the camel saddles and other supplies were normally kept. There were only the three camels that Joshua and Balthasar had taken, and no horses, so I couldn't figure out why we were taking the time to stop until I saw Joy filling two water skins at the cistern behind the stable. â€Å"We'll never make it to Kabul without water,† Joy said. â€Å"And what happens when we make it to Kabul? Can anyone there help? What in the hell is that thing?† â€Å"If I knew, would I have opened that door?† She was remarkably calm for someone who had just lost her friends to a hideous beast. â€Å"I guess not. But I didn't see it come out of there. I felt something, but nothing that size.† â€Å"Act, Biff, don't think. Act.† She handed me a water skin and I held it in the cistern, trying to listen for the sound of the monster over the bubbles as it filled. All I could hear was the occasional bleating of the goats and the sound of my own pulse in my ears. Joy corked her water skin, then went about opening the pig and goat pens, shooing the animals out onto the plateau. â€Å"Let's go!† she shouted to me. She took off down the path toward the hidden road. I pulled the water skin from the cistern and followed as quickly as I could. There was enough moonlight to make traveling fairly easy, but since I hadn't even seen the road in daylight, I didn't want to try to negotiate its deadly cutbacks at night without a guide. We had almost made the first leg of the road when we heard a hideous wailing and something heavy landed in the dust in front of us. When I could get my breath again I stepped up to find the bloodied carcass of a goat. â€Å"There,† Joy said, pointing down the mountainside to something moving among the rocks. Then it looked up at us and there was no mistaking the glowing yellow eyes. â€Å"Back,† Joy said, pulling me back from the road. â€Å"Is that the only way down?† â€Å"That or diving off the edge. It's a fortress, remember – it's not supposed to be easy to get in and out of.† We made our way back to the rope ladder, tossed it over the side, and started down. As Joy made it to the ledge and ducked into the cave something heavy hit me on the right shoulder. My arm went numb with the impact and I let go of the ladder. Mercifully, my feet had tangled in the rungs as I fell, and I found myself hanging upside down looking into the cave entrance where Joy stood. I could hear the terrified goat that had hit me screaming as it fell into the abyss, then there was a distant thump and the screaming stopped. â€Å"Hey, kid, you're a Jew, aren't you?† said the monster from above. â€Å"None of your business,† I said. Joy grabbed the ladder and pulled me inside the cave, ladder and all, just as another goat came screaming past. I fell on my face in the dust and sputtered, trying to breathe and spit at the same time. â€Å"It's been a long time since I've eaten a Jew. A good Jew sticks to your ribs. That's the problem with Chinese, you eat six or seven of them and in a half hour you're hungry again. No offense, miss.† â€Å"What'd he say?† Joy asked. â€Å"He says he likes kosher food. Will that ladder hold him?† â€Å"I made it myself.† â€Å"Swell,† I said. We heard the ropes creak with the strain as the monster climbed onto the ladder.

Cheap and Simple Desk Hacks That Will Boost Your Productivity [Video]

Cheap and Simple Desk Hacks That Will Boost Your Productivity [Video] A clean and clear desk makes for a clean and clear mindwhich, in turn, makes for better work. It sounds like nonsense, but theres no denying that clutter is distracting–if not to you, than to the people around you.Be respectful to your colleagues as well as yourself by trying out some of these no-cost desk hacks from BuzzFeedYellow.

Free Essays on Drama

The following paper will present aspects of two fictional plays compared to a non-fictional play, The Laramie Project. The Glass Managerie and Death of a Salesman are both fictional works, but are reflections on the difficulties of life. An author of a fictional play text uses plot, setting and characters to create imagery and influence the reader's response on how the author wishes the reader to perceive a situation. An author can present his or her work to a reader or audience by descriptions of any settings, detail of weather, characters stereotypical of society and color association. The author has an opportunity to be creative in his descriptions of characters. Characters have certain features that all contribute to the 'characters profile'. Their profile can be built up using many methods as was done in . Each of the main characters have a meaning to their name. For example, Willy Loman has connotations of a man who has lost hope in life due to his mundane occupation and pursuit of the American Dream. He maintains a low, depressed mood throughout the play. Characters can also represent stereotypes of society from their attitudes and behavior. In the play, The Glass Managerie the author presented the characters as stereotypical of society with the female role of doing all the cooking and cleaning and the male role of relaxing and having a good time while telling his wife what and not to do. Arthur Miller deliberately makes him out to be a fool for the pure reason to emphasizes his purpose - mock American society. Willy is wound up in his idea of being 'well liked' success, the materialistic version of the dream. By doing this, miller creates a character that appears to be a pathetic character whom the audience pity and feel for. Miller holds compassion for Willy. Willy has dreams that are self deluding Willy clings to the idea of making... Free Essays on Drama Free Essays on Drama Drama, a five letter word that is used worldwide, everyday. It is a way of communicating a point, a thought, an opinion, an idea, an event†¦through acting and taking on a different role. Drama can be molded and shaped to transform the mind. It causes awareness and in doing that, it brings forth controversy, as a result of allowing people to see more than one side to the story. Look at drama as a tool, a way to make learning exciting and entertaining, allowing students to become participants rather than passive listeners. Augusto Boal, author of Theatre of the Oppressed, references theatre as a weapon, a way of opening the doors to its spectators, and increasing their awareness of a situation, seeing it at an angle in which they may have never acknowledged before. Drama and its history show the steps different cultures took in modifying its meaning and purpose and further explaining the foundation that these cultures laid down to make drama what it is today. Drama as seen in today’s society, highlights some specific events that demonstrate the variety of ways theatrical shows are performed throughout the world and how these performances impact the audience. Augusta Boal once said, â€Å"Theatre is a weapon, and it is the people who should wield it.† There is little evidence that can concretely show how drama evolved in the first place. Researchers strongly consider that the basic concept travels as far back as the cavemen. It is a strong possibility that cavemen would center themselves around a campfire, each taking turns reenacting the events of a hunt from that day. Researchers believe this gradually took on a more ritualistic meaning and incorporated chanting, dancing and some early forms of music. These enactments were assumed to bring good luck for the hunt of the following day. Although these conclusions are not factually based, historians pungently feel that due to limited means of communication through languag... Free Essays on Drama The following paper will present aspects of two fictional plays compared to a non-fictional play, The Laramie Project. The Glass Managerie and Death of a Salesman are both fictional works, but are reflections on the difficulties of life. An author of a fictional play text uses plot, setting and characters to create imagery and influence the reader's response on how the author wishes the reader to perceive a situation. An author can present his or her work to a reader or audience by descriptions of any settings, detail of weather, characters stereotypical of society and color association. The author has an opportunity to be creative in his descriptions of characters. Characters have certain features that all contribute to the 'characters profile'. Their profile can be built up using many methods as was done in . Each of the main characters have a meaning to their name. For example, Willy Loman has connotations of a man who has lost hope in life due to his mundane occupation and pursuit of the American Dream. He maintains a low, depressed mood throughout the play. Characters can also represent stereotypes of society from their attitudes and behavior. In the play, The Glass Managerie the author presented the characters as stereotypical of society with the female role of doing all the cooking and cleaning and the male role of relaxing and having a good time while telling his wife what and not to do. Arthur Miller deliberately makes him out to be a fool for the pure reason to emphasizes his purpose - mock American society. Willy is wound up in his idea of being 'well liked' success, the materialistic version of the dream. By doing this, miller creates a character that appears to be a pathetic character whom the audience pity and feel for. Miller holds compassion for Willy. Willy has dreams that are self deluding Willy clings to the idea of making...

Strategic Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

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Social Enterprises Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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