How to Write a Compare #038; Contrast Essay in Shakespeare Studies A Full Guide for Students

Step by step instructions to Write a Compare #038; Contrast Essay in Shakespeare Studies A Full Guide for Students Initially, a look into article is by all accounts a basic assignment †all things considered, you simply need to investigate two substances and point out their similitudes and contrasts. Be that as it may, even this apparently unassuming sort of scholastic work has its idiosyncrasies and points of interest that may cause challenges for unpracticed understudies. For instance, you can't simply haphazardly take two things and begin looking at them. The substances you investigate ought to share enough for all intents and purpose to be looked at genuinely †i.e., you can't contrast things that have a place with totally various classifications. Inside the limits of Shakespeare considers, you can pick two of the poet’s plays from a similar period, or think about his comedies and catastrophes as a rule, or break down two poems composed at various times of his life and look at in what ways their language, topics and symbolism is unique. As such, with regards to thoroughly analyze expositions, the decision of topic characterizes to a huge degree the future achievement of your composition. Step by step instructions to Choose a Suitable Topic for a Compare and Contrast Essay in Shakespeare Studies The fundamental issue with composing on Shakespeare concentrates when all is said in done and composing investigate articles specifically is that it is very elusive anything remotely unique to work with. Shakespeare’s works have been a subject of the most careful and composed exploration in the course of the most recent couple of hundreds of years. In spite of the fact that Shakespeare was a generally productive author, the body of his work is as yet restricted, and all conceivable relative examinations have just been completed on different occasions. Obviously, an exposition doesn't require a similar level of creativity as a proposition or a thesis, however you despite everything ought to stay away from trite and ordinary points like ‘Comparison between the characters of Juliet from Romeo and Juliet and Ophelia from Hamlet’. Here are a few recommendations on how you can think of themes that are somewhat more innovative. 1. Go Beyond Shakespeare It is exceptionally simple to get secured expounding on Shakespeare and his works essentially, however it doesn't need to be so. There are a lot of approaches to run examinations between Shakespeare-related subjects and different things. For instance, you can think about Shakespeare (his scholarly works, job in the improvement of Elizabethan theater, language, and so forth.) with different authors of the time. Or on the other hand you can look at exemplary and contemporary creations of his plays, and so forth. The way that the initiation of numerous Shakespeare’s plays is as yet challenged makes this sort of point significantly all the more intriguing. 2. Compare Shakespeare’s Works with the Sources of His Plots Shakespeare lived in the age when retelling existing stories has been a typical practice that didn't cause a stir. Truth be told, most if not the entirety of his plays are sensations of the plots from notable sources, for example, Plutarch and Holinshed. For instance, Romeo and Juliet begins from and intently follows Arthur Brooke’s sonnet Romeus and Juliet, which thus depends on an arrangement of fundamentally the same as stories whose soonest emphasis can be found in the Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Examination of different renditions of stories told by Shakespeare opens up a wide scene for expected exploration. 3. Compare Shakespeare’s Works with Later Interpretations On the other hand, you can go to the ever-developing number of reevaluations of Shakespeare’s plots made after his demise. In contrast to his antecedents, these works generally obviously allude to Shakespeare as their motivation, yet the modifications presented in them are frequently very emotional. 4. Compare Unrelated Characters from Different Shakespeare’s Plays Characters starting from a similar play are a characteristic decision for a thoroughly analyze exposition, which is actually why you ought to maintain a strategic distance from such themes †you can be certain that most of your friends will pick something like this. It is vastly improved to look at characters that are once in a while referenced together. In a perfect world, they should originate from various plays and have scarcely any qualities that would make them clearly relatable to one another (e.g., Shylock from The Merchant of Venice and Caliban from The Tempest). Be imaginative, discover approaches to draw matches among them, and you will have the option to compose an intriguing paper. 5. Pay Attention to the Language Shakespeare was an ace of mirroring the idea of his characters through the language they utilized. Concentrate in transit characters talk, pick a few of them that are remarkably comparable or diverse in both their personality and the manner in which they communicate, and investigate the associations between these two components. As should be obvious, there are a lot additionally encouraging ways to deal with composing a thoroughly analyze paper on Shakespeare concentrates than to just think about characters from his plays. Here are only a few instances of what you can concoct on the off chance that you think a bit: Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Brooke’s Romeus and Juliet: Parallels and Differences; Ruler Henry V from the Eponymous Shakespeare’s Play: What Makes Him an Outstanding Leader and How He Compares with Famous Real-Life Leaders; A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Contrasting Views on Love among Humans and Fairies; Likenesses and Differences between Caesar’s death from Julius Caesar and different popular political deaths; Macbeth and Malcolm: What Makes These Men Different and Similar to Each Other? Composing a Compare and Contrast Essay on Shakespeare: Pre-Writing Tips Arrangement is an immense piece of work on a look into paper. Do it right, and the real composing will come down to writing down the contentions you have just defined. 1. Define Similarities and Differences Do a touch of conceptualizing and scribble down all characteristics that make the subjects under investigation unique and like one another. You can basically record every one of these attributes in two segments or, in the event that you are all the more outwardly situated, draw a Venn outline †these can be valuable for sorting out your contemplations. Make the attributes contradicting each other in various records comparable with the goal that their resistance bodes well (e.g., Iago is fainthearted and slippery while Othello is valiant and naã ¯ve). 2. Define Your Main Argument An appropriate look into paper is considerably more than a straightforward list of likenesses and contrasts. It should utilize them as just structure hinders for an all-encompassing contention, demonstrating the equals and differences as parts of a greater picture. Glance through the rundowns you have made and ask yourself: Which focuses are noteworthy and applicable? Are there any examples? How are the focuses you have recorded applicable for your course? Which likenesses and contrasts run profound and which are shallow and can be excused? As a rule, what is increasingly huge: the similitudes or the distinctions? Separate between what is applicable and what is significant. For instance, in the event that you break down equals between A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth, you can see that the subject of nature assumes a job in them two. Be that as it may, the equivalent can be said about any number of different Shakespeare’s plays, so this reality, being pertinent, isn't significant. 3. Formulate Your Thesis A theory is a critical component of an investigate exposition on the grounds that the remainder of your paper will rotate around it. It will show the peruser that you have an engaged contention from the beginning, keeping them from losing all sense of direction in various lines of argumentations. By bringing up your fundamental thought from the earliest starting point, you show what the peruser should focus on in your composition. A theory explanation ought to be: Short (no longer than a solitary complex sentence); Direct (it should communicate your point without additional starters); Unambiguous (it should clarify what you need to state, with no dubiousness). You can utilize this for instance: â€Å"Although Shylock is clearly the antagonist of The Merchant of Venice, when contrasted with Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta it becomes evident that Shakespeare made his character significantly more human, thoughtful and realistic†. Look into Essay on Shakespeare Studies: The Writing Phase Stage 1. Pick the Type of Structure There are two basic methods of organizing an investigate paper: Point by Point With this methodology, you pick a solitary significant purpose of examination at once and look at the subjects you talk about according to it. For instance, in the event that you think about Julius Caesar and Henry V, you can concentrate on their own fortitude, capacity to move others, speechcraft capacities and so forth., and examine every one of these attributes independently. Either commit a solitary passage to cover the two characters or, on the off chance that you need a more inside and out methodology, spend a whole section to break down a character from the point of view of a picked trademark. Focus on the situation of your focuses and recall that the point you notice the last will establish the best connection with the peruser. Hence, on the off chance that you need the peruser to make a particular determination from your paper, make a point supporting it the last one. Subject by Subject With this methodology, you take one subject and educate everything there is to tell regarding it, at that point proceed onward to the following one and do likewise. E.g., you portray the character of Julius Caesar completely, at that point do likewise for Henry V. For the most part, this methodology is better for shorter expositions †now and again you can accommodate your whole depiction of a subject into a solitary passage. On the off chance that you need numerous passages to do as such, take a stab at keeping their structure equal: e.g., utilize a section each to depict Julius Caesar’s character, relations with others and characteristics as a ruler, than utilize three comparable passages for Henry V. The issue with this methodology I

Managing Human Resources in Health and Social Care Essay - 1

Overseeing Human Resources in Health and Social Care - Essay Example This article stressesâ healthcare aides are the experts liable for social insurance related exercises and treat the patients so as to furnish them with better human services arrangement upgrade their wellbeing condition. The social insurance collaborators need to follow the rule of the human services associations as for playing out their job in the organisation.According to the paper findingsâ being as a HR supervisor, screen the necessities of the medicinal services association and choosing an applicant who can comprehend the point and goals of the association is profoundly significant.  In this respect, for a medicinal services help, it is imperative to direct their activity job dependent on rules and guideline of the social insurance association is exceptionally essential to improve the general execution of the association. In this way, a competitor who is adaptable enough to play out his/her obligation just as undertakings could be chosen for this craving post. Educational foundation of the up-and-comer, which assumes an extremely critical job for enlisting, will likewise be key factor in determination of social insurance help with the association. By assessing instructive achievement of the applicants, the probability of the up-and-comers and pick the best competitor who best suit for the post could be assessed. Enlisting applicants dependent on their degree will improve the general execution and notoriety of the human services organisation. Particular instructive capability will help with understanding the capacity and limit of the possibility to play out the activity job.

How to Write a Supernatural Essay Topic

How to Write a Supernatural Essay TopicWith the popularity of writing essays for the SAT, the chances of you writing a supernatural essay topics are also growing. The question on how to do this successfully, is still the same.First, you need to focus on the theme of your essay. If you're writing a high school essay, you need to write on religion, if you're writing a college essay, you need to write on sexuality and sex education. Most students find that just writing about themselves isn't enough to make them an interesting writer.Most people don't know what to do after they graduate from college, or they do but are afraid to try it. Some college students think that writing for the SAT will ruin their chances at college, and they will be lucky to get into a great college.There is no way that a college student, who writes intelligently, should be treated as a person of lower intelligence. Writing well is not necessarily a matter of thinking well, or higher education is not the only ans wer. Since so many college students have no idea how to solve the problems in life, they usually get into college and fail to survive.When trying to come up with supernatural essay topics, it helps to read paranormal or sci-fi novels. These are books that tell an original story, often with an intelligent message that teaches something. The truth of the matter is that the essays that colleges use for the SAT were probably written by writers who did not do any research on the topics, since they are pretty simple and don't require much in-depth study.The good college writer of today does not rely on memorization, or complex memorization techniques. The best writers learn their craft by giving their full attention to their subject. They pay very close attention to the facts, so that their message will be clear to them. Make sure that when you start writing the essay that you make notes. Writing by yourself makes it easier to forget what you wrote or what ideas you have on paper, but if you make notes then you are more likely to remember what you've written.The hardest part of writing a supernatural essay topics is actually figuring out which ideas you need to include. By just reading about stories and novels that are considered supernatural, you will most likely find a topic that will interest you.

Sample Resume Certified Nursing Assistant Interview Essay

Certified Nursing Assistant Interview When faced with having to find a job and then securing a job, the job interview has to be a home run! Simply submitting a professional resume and completing an application is not enough. You cannot settle for being average. You can wait for the next job opportunity, but there are no guarantees there will be one. In Piotrowski’s article, â€Å"Preparing for the Job Interview: Know Thyself,† she identifies the process of a job interview (Wyrick, 2014). The steps Piotrowski identified in her article are included below. The steps below focus on identifying job openings, researching companies, preparing for the interview: the pre-interview, the job interview, and the post-interview summary. First, I conducted research on the job I wanted to apply for. I have always wanted to help the elderly. Through this research, I identified two local nursing home companies that offered entry-level medical positions for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). I identified the key job functions and education requirements for becoming a CNA. I contacted the Human Resources office and submitted applications. It was important for the Human Resources mangers to become familiar with who I am. I was going to achieve this by standing out from other applicants. I sent several copies of my resume to the Human Resources office. I made weekly trips to the company’s employment office. I wanted them to know I was genuinely interested in becoming an employee of their company.Show MoreRelatedDaily Physical Activity Can Improve Exercise Tolerance And Functional Capacity5823 Words   |  24 Pagesand weather. When surveyed at the completion of this trial, correlations in the awareness of physical a ctivity as well as a change in the amount of physical activity having had the pedometer alone will be discussed. Further research with a larger sample population would support further clinical use and implementation of a pedometer as a comparative tool to the 6-minute walk test for evidence-based practice. Introduction Over six million American’s have a diagnosis of heart failure with a projectedRead MoreHuman Resources Management150900 Words   |  604 PagesDatabase administrators, computer support specialists, and all other computer scientists Computer engineers Systems analysts Personal and home care aides Physical and corrective therapy assistants and aides Home health aides Medical assistants Desktop publishing specialists Physical therapists Occupational therapy assistants and aides Employment 1996 212 216 506 202 84 495 225 30 115 16 2006 461 451 1,025 374 151 873 391 53 196 26 Change, 1996—2006 Number 249 235 520 171 66 378 166 22 81 11 Percent 118Read MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesRobbins San Diego State University San Diego, CA Tenth Edition Contributor Susan L. Verhulst Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA John Wiley Sons, Inc. Associate Publisher Executive Editor Senior Editoral Assistant Marketing Manager Marketing Assistant Production Manager Senior Production Editor Freelance Development Editor Senior Designer Interior Design Senior Media Editor Senior Photo Editor Production Management Cover Design Cover Credit George Hoffman Lise Johnson SarahRead MoreChap 533156 Words   |  133 Pages | | 30 | | 10 | |Checking Credit | | | | 10 | |Samples, Catalog Info. |  5 | | 10 | | |Special Handling Charges |  5 | | Read MoreCareer Choice Factors of High School Students18925 Words   |  76 Pagesthese students upon entering a structured cooperative work program varied from â€Å"eager† to â€Å"skeptical and suspicious† to â€Å"a resume ´ builder.† Students see the world in many different ways according to O’Brien. The various views were described in the interviews that took place during implementation of that Workbound program. Opportunities that students pointed out in these interviews motivated students to pursue future career choices with every one of theses students. These motivational values will affectRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesTokyo Editorial Director: Sally Yagan Editor in Chief: Eric Svendsen Acquisitions Editor: Kim Norbuta Editorial Project Manager: Claudia Fernandes Director of Marketing: Patrice Lumumba Jones Marketing Manager: Nikki Ayana Jones Senior Marketing Assistant: Ian Gold Senior Managing Editor: Judy Leale Senior Production Project Manager: Kelly Warsak Senior Operations Supervisor: Arnold Vila Operations Specialist: Ilene Kahn Senior Art Director: Janet Slowik Interior Design: Suzanne Duda and Michael Fruhbeis Read MoreProject Managment Case Studies214937 Words   |  860 Pagesmade to prevent these problems from reoccurring in the future. The use of cases studies is applicable both to undergraduate and graduate level project management courses, as well as to training programs in preparation to pass the exam to become a Certified Project Management Professional ( P M P ~ administered by ) the Project Management Institute. Situations are smaller case studies and usually focus on one or two spec ific points that need to be addressed, whereas case studies focus on a multitudeRead MoreMastering Graduate Studies 1e32499 Words   |  130 Pagesgraduates as they walk across the platform at a GCU graduation. It may seem far away and overwhelming now, but it will come. Keep breaking down the goal into smaller pieces. What is the next step to take to be successful? For some it may be creating a resume. For others it may be as simple as purchasing some file folders to stay organized. Perhaps you need to rework your schedule to dedicate time to study, which may mean suspending a hobby or group for a period of time. As you continue in your programRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesToronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo Editorial Director: Sally Yagan Director of Editorial Services: Ashley Santora Acquisitions Editor: Brian Mickelson Editorial Project Manager: Sarah Holle Editorial Assistant: Ashlee Bradbury VP Director of Marketing: Patrice Lumumba Jones Senior Marketing Manager: Nikki Ayana Jones Senior Managing Editor: Judy Leale Production Project Manager: Becca Groves Senior Operations Supervisor: Arnold Vila Operations Specialist:Read MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 Pagesbusiness education. In 2005 he was a visiting professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. He received a B.A. in psychology from Claremont McKenna College and a Ph.D. in management from State University of New York at Buffalo. 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Geography of the Worlds Sinkholes

A sinkhole is a natural hole that forms in the Earths surface as a result of the chemical weathering of carbonate rocks like limestone, as well as salt beds or rocks that can be severely weathered as water runs through them. The type of landscape made up of these rocks is known as karst topography and is dominated by sinkholes, internal drainage, and caves. Sinkholes vary in size but can range anywhere from 3.3 to 980 feet (1 to 300 meters) in diameter and depth. They can also form gradually over time or suddenly without warning. Sinkholes can be found all over the world and recently large ones have opened in Guatemala, Florida, and China. Depending on location, sinkholes are sometimes also called sinks, shake holes, swallow holes, swallets, dolines, or cenotes.   Natural Sinkhole Formation The main causes of sinkholes are weathering and erosion. This happens through the gradual dissolve and removal of water absorbing rock like limestone as percolating water from the Earths surface moves through it. As the rock is removed, caves and open spaces develop underground. Once these open spaces become too large to support the weight of the land above them, the surface soil collapses, creating a sinkhole. Typically, naturally occurring sinkholes are most common in limestone rock and salt beds that are easily dissolved by moving water. Sinkholes are also not normally visible from the surface as the processes that cause them are underground but sometimes, however, extremely large sinkholes have been known to have streams or rivers flowing through them.   Human Induced Sinkholes In addition to natural erosion processes on karst landscapes, sinkholes can also be caused by human activities and land-use practices. Groundwater pumping, for example, can weaken the structure of the Earths surface above the aquifer where the water is being pumped and cause a sinkhole to develop.   Humans can also cause sinkholes to develop by changing water drainage patterns through diversion and industrial water storage ponds. In each of these instances, the weight of the Earths surface is changed with the addition of the water. In some cases, the supporting material under the new storage pond, for example, may collapse and create a sinkhole. Broken underground sewer and water pipes have also been known to cause sinkholes when the introduction of free-flowing  water into otherwise dry ground weakens soil stability.   Guatemala Sinkhole An extreme example of a human-induced sinkhole occurred in Guatemala in late May 2010 when a 60 foot (18 meters) wide and 300 foot (100 meters) deep hole opened in Guatemala City. It is believed that the sinkhole was caused after a sewer pipe burst after tropical storm Agatha caused a surge of water to enter the pipe. Once the sewer pipe burst, the free-flowing water carved out an underground cavity that eventually could not support the weight of the surface soil, causing it to collapse and destroy a three-story building. The Guatemala sinkhole was worsened because Guatemala City was built on land made up of hundreds of meters of a volcanic material called pumice. The pumice in the region was easily eroded because it was recently deposited and loose- otherwise known as unconsolidated rock. When the pipe burst the excess water was easily able to erode away the pumice and weaken the structure of the ground. In this case, the sinkhole should actually be known as a piping feature because it was not caused by entirely natural forces. Geography of Sinkholes As previously mentioned, naturally occurring sinkholes mainly form in karst landscapes but they can happen anywhere with a soluble subsurface rock. In the United States, this is mainly in Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania but about 35-40% of the land in the U.S. has rock beneath the surface that is easily soluble with water. The Department of Environmental Protection in Florida, for example, has a focus on sinkholes and how to educate its residents on what to do should one open up on their property. Southern Italy has also experienced numerous sinkholes, as has China, Guatemala, and Mexico. In Mexico, sinkholes are known as cenotes and they are mainly found on the Yucatan Peninsula. Over time, some of these have filled with water and look like small lakes while others are large open depressions in the land. It should also be noted that sinkholes do not occur exclusively on land. Underwater sinkholes are common around the world and formed when sea levels were lower under the same processes as those on land. When sea levels rose at the end of the last glaciation, the sinkholes became submerged. The Great Blue Hole off the coast of Belize is an example of an underwater sinkhole.   Human Uses of Sinkholes Despite their destructive nature in human-developed areas, people have developed a number of uses for sinkholes. For example, for centuries these depressions have been used as disposal sites for waste. The Maya also used the cenotes on the Yucatan Peninsula as sacrificial sites and storage areas. In addition, tourism and cave diving is popular in many of the worlds largest sinkholes. References Than, Ker. (3 June 2010). Guatemala Sinkhole Created by Humans, Not Nature. National Geographic News. Retrieved from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/06/100603-science-guatemala-sinkhole-2010-humans-caused/ United States Geological Survey. (29 March 2010). Sinkholes, from USGS Water Science for Schools. Retrieved from: http://water.usgs.gov/edu/sinkholes.html Wikipedia. (26 July 2010). Sinkhole - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinkhole

Essay about The Vast Roman Empire - 1052 Words

The Roman Empire was the most extensive in social and political order in western civilization. It began when Augustus Caesar became the emperor of Rome. It is important to note that Rome started out very humble and archaic. Despite how primitive it was, Rome managed to become a world dominating power. Some of the advantages that Rome had were its location near the sea which facilitated and enhanced trade, and the proximity of the Greek influence which gave potential to the uprise of the Roman Empire. Along with a new empire comes new economical values, governments and class structure. And along with the undoing of an empire comes the destruction of those values, the government and the class structure. As the Roman Empire rises, so does†¦show more content†¦The availability of such top government position drew in many ambitious men. One of them was Julius Caesar who took control of all Rome and its empire. This meant that the empire had to forgo the ancient government system that was used. As a consequence, there was some anger flooding in the hearts of some denizens of the empire. Brutus was so enraged with the new ruling system that he murdered Caesar. After an exhausting war, Augustus came into play. People saw him as the best choice to end the chaos the the empire had stumbled into it. He became the next roman emperor which brought an end to the republic of Rome. The fall of the Roman Empire was the begging of the Middle Ages. The government in the Middle Ages was highly influenced by what used to be a great empire. Government in the Middle Ages was known as feudalism. In it, kings and upper nobility managed to keep dominating the serfs and the peasants. The citizens sought protection against enemies and security from barbarians from other lands. Additionally, the wealthy nobilities wanted to maintain control over the lower classes that sought securities. With the needs of each class, the development of the feudal system was inevitable. The Roman Empire had a social class in which the haves and the have nots were segregated. The social structure was based on property, wealth, citizenship and freedom. People were also classed off based on their gender. Women wereShow MoreRelatedRoman Society : The Great And Vast Republic And Empire1722 Words   |  7 PagesRoman society was one of ever changing complexity. At a size of approximately one million people Rome was the pinnacle of an age long lost. Yet the society created by these ancient people remains in the ever changing culture of today. Whether it be the creation of a republic, the political entity still used by many today, to the mannerisms of war still taught by military schools the world over, Rome gave more to the development of civilization than almost any society. Even the phrase, â€Å"When in RomeRead MoreHow did the Romans obtain and control such a vast empire?809 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿How did the Romans obtain and control such a vast empire? In its time, the Roman Empire was the largest empire the world had ever seen. The fact that the Romans were able to control and obtain an empire of this size was due to plenty of factors, but the main ones are the Roman army, the Roman roads, Pax Romana, the borders of the empire, and the benefits of the barbarians who became ruled by the empire. On their own, these factors wouldn’t do much at all, but such a combination brought great successRead MoreAncient Civilizations During The Persian Empire920 Words   |  4 PagesPowerful ancient civilizations, such as Rome and Persia, are known for their territorial conquest of vast amounts of land, and having the ability to govern and control these territories effectively. At its height, the Roman empire controlled nearly the entire Mediterranean shore, and controlled large parts of Europe. The Persian empire at its height controlled lands equaling 8,000,000 sq. km from Macedonia to the Indus Valley. The ability to govern and contro l these lands was achieved using differentRead MoreEssay on A comparison of Ancient Rome and Pre WW1 United States908 Words   |  4 PagesA comparison of Ancient Rome and Pre WW1 United States Title: The Roman Empire and the Early United States A comparison The purpose of this paper is to show the comparison between remarkable empires that were created in many years apart. I chose to compare Pre-World War I United States and the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire information is said to be recorded between 753BC – 1184 BC (ThinkQuest) and the Pre World War I information is between late 19th century and early 20th century (Encarta)Read MoreEssay about The Roman Empire979 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscussing the greatest empires in the history of the world, one that will always be included in the conversation is the Roman Empire. With an empire that spread from Hadrian’s Wall to Arabia, it is considered one of the mightiest empires in history. There was no single factor or individual that can be considered to be the driving force behind the success of the Roman Empire. It is rather a success founded upon political policies, military strength and cultural prosperity. No empire in history has everRead MoreCauses of the Fall of the Roman Empire Essay1421 Words   |  6 PagesFor a long period of time, Rome seemed like an unstoppable empire. It conquered the majority of the land surrounding it, including Greece, Turkey, Iraq, and many of its other neighboring countries. It seemed as though Rome would conquer the entire world, as it was the center of it, until it began to decline in 476 C.E. The very aspects that made it so successful were the ones that caused its collapse. Various political, religious, and economic reasons caused its downfall. The fact that the entireRead MoreThe Fall Of The Roman Empire1440 Words   |  6 PagesSophie Loren Plays a Leading Role in the Fall of the Roman Empire? The reason for the fall of the Roman Empire is a controversial topic under much historical debate. How did such a great empire, known for being one of the largest that lasted over a millennium, fall? The Roman Empire transitioned from a republic to an empire in 31 BCE. Augustus Caesar was the first emperor. He created harmony in Rome, but not in calendars as he added August as the eighth month to follow July, which was named afterRead MoreThe Greek And Greek Influence Of The Roman Empire1604 Words   |  7 PagesAnother empire would soon take many influences from the Greeks. In Rome, an empire was beginning to rise. Roman civilization had its roots in Hellenistic culture because they idolized them. They borrowed and enhanced upon the Greek intellectual accomplishments. As the empire expanded this would become increasingly important. As the Romans continued to expand their empire and influence, they were also spreading the culture of those who influenced them—the Greeks. The Roman Empire at their peak hadRead MoreThe Fall Of The Western Roman Empire833 Words   |  4 PagesRome was a great nation of conquerors, vast wealth and riches which stretched most of Europe, parts of North Africa, and areas of Asia. Its army is arguably the longest surviving and most effective fighting force in military history. Every empire has to terminate and Rome disassembled rather swiftly. The fall of the empire is mentioned in virtually every type of informative media including books and television networks. The fall of the Western Roman Empire was caused by the lack of monetary fundsRead MoreThe Rise Of The Roman Empire1611 Words   |  7 PagesRome was an empire with extremely high aspirations and expectations from. Its founders chose to steal women from neighboring villages, in order to grow its population. These aggressive and expansionary ideologies remained within the personalities of every Roman, living inside the great empire 755 years later. And yet despite its vast military presence and growing cities and towns, the Roman Empire and its capital still succumbed to a barbarian takeover. This was widely regarded as one of the greatest

Threat To The Growth Of The Company Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Threat To The Growth Of The Company. Answer: Introduction In modern day business, companies all around the world are facing several kinds of challenges (David, 2011). These challenges are posing threat to the growth of the company irrespective of the industry they belong to. It is essential for the firm to take care of the strategies they are making for their business. It is also due to the fact that there had been a lot of change in the ways of doing business (Kovarik, 2015). The mediums of communication have changed over the years where electronic forms of communication have superseded the traditional letter and mails. Australian post which was once one of the biggest in the industry has seen a downfall. This report highlights the environment that is present around the company as well as the condition of the industry. It also provides the analysis on the completion that it is facing in the market due to alternative sources of communication. Company and Industry Mail and post Industry have many years of history as in the olden times it was the only way of making the communication. Before the commencement of Digital era of communication it was considered to be as the best mediums of transferring messages from one place to another. This industry has seen a gradual decline in terms of becoming a way for doing the communication (Hitt, Ireland and Hoskisson, 2012). These days In Australia, 97 % of the post are send only for government works and only 1% is sent for having private communication. This has created a whole lot of challenges for the companies like Australia Post. This company has faced a huge loss to its financial resources due to the declining of the mail business. It is due to the reason that cheaper and faster mediums of communication have emerged (Milne, 2012). Another major challenge that Australia Post is facing is that the delivery of post have become expensive and they cannot charge high from the clients. Australia post was established in the year 1809 and in only a decade it was capable of delivering mails in almost every part of the Australia (Australian Postal Corporation, 2016). They have played a greater role in the Industrial revolution of Australia. This company was known for doing innovations in speeding and sorting of the mails and its delivery practices. At present this company is delivering around 60 million items per week. It is employing around 36000 employees in 3832 communities and having around 10000 delivery contractors (Australia Post, 2016). It has seen a steady growth in its revenue but has seen the drop in the letter volume. It is operating with 4406 post. Core competencies It is also having large consumer base that highly trusts them in terms of their services. This company has an experience of working in the Australian market for over two centuries. Higher cash deposits from the previous operations will help them in their plan of transforming their business. Large number of offices and a very skilled workforce. Lesser number of strategic failures in its record books. A good leadership at the top helps the firm in making quick decisions as per the requirement. Resources and capabilities This company is having one of the largest chains of networks approx. 4,379 post that help them in delivering services on time. Its financial performance is very good with a profit after tax is around $95.4 million. Their post registration is up by 146% in 2016/17 and greater choice and flexibility is provided to consumers. It is operating in rural and remote areas as well. It is operational in more than 190 countries all across the globe and they are capable of expanding their business in other parts of the globe as well. Macro Analysis It is essential for every organisation to understand its external environment (Wheelen and Hunger, 2011). This helps in understanding the factors that are influencing the business of the company. Factors that are making external environment of the company are as follows: Political: Government of Australia is planning to move towards e-governance. This is matter of concern for the company as 97% of the letter that cited company delivers is related with the government works. The government policies favouring electronic mediums of communication have also reduced the business of Australia Post. Economic: There is downfall in the economic stability of nations all around the world (Barney and Hesterly, 2015). This has forced people to choose those mediums of communication that are cheaper. Generation of higher margins of profits is a difficult task for the company. Social: Society has changed and so is its communication needs (Coffield, 2013). People now days are demanding for the communication mediums that is faster and cheaper. Electronic mediums have increased the ways in which people can express themselves and since post provides just a written form of communication and hence they have lost their position in the market. Technology: With the introduction of telephonic mediums of communication, post has lost their value in the market. People are using advance mediums of communication for transferring personal information (Keupp, Palmi and Gassmann, 2012.). With further advancement in internet facilities that too at cheaper rates has almost wiped out the conventional letters through companies like Australia Post. Environmental: Since the concerns related to the environment is increasing and hence communication has taken internet mediums. Mails and letters were using papers and hence use of such mediums of communication was discouraged. Industry Analysis It is also essential that company understands its position in the industry. Australia post also has to understand the position of the industry. Cited company also needs to understand the demands of the market and the condition of industry in the changing global market. It helps to make the strategies for the future business as well as it helps in making plans for their operations (Sebastian, 2012). From the age of Industrialisation mails become not only the part of personal communication but it also became the way for communicating with each other in the business. In the beginning, Horses were used for transferring mails from one place to another. In the 20th century they started the business of delivering goods also. But with the introduction of modern mediums of communication like the telephones this industry has seen a gradual decline (Beko and Jagric, 2011). It is due to the fact that method of delivering the message was too much expensive and it took a lot of time to deliver even a single page of message. Electronic mediums were capable of transferring messages overseas instantly. Mails provided complexity as the amount of message that can be delivered at one time was very less. With the further advancement in technology and introduction of Internet mediums like the e-mails, voice and video calls has affected the industry in a larger manner as it enabled people to communic ate with each other in various forms. Porters five forces analysis can be extremely helpful for understanding the condition of Australian Post. Threat of New entrants: Since the number of users that is using letters as a medium of communication are decreasing day by day and hence it is not attracting new firms to come into the business. But the major challenge is produced by the companies that are dealing in the business of goods delivery for example Fed EX. This somehow makes the chances of new firms to coming into this business otherwise this threat is on the lower side. Bargaining power of suppliers: Number of Suppliers in Australia has increased and hence bargaining power of theirs is on the lower side. Paper suppliers as well as the transportation suppliers are also present in high numbers and hence supplying required products at lower cost (Van der Linden, 2015). Australian post has stronger bonds with their suppliers. Bargaining power of consumers: People are adopting modern mediums of communication for transferring the message and hence the bargaining power of the consumers has increased. Day by day the speed of transferring the data is increasing and hence consumers prefer it over the traditional post office mails. Threat of substitutes: This threat is very high it is due to the fact that other mediums of transferring message have become easier, cheaper, real time and faster. This provided consumers with variable options to communicate with others. Goods and parcel delivery companies have taken the business from Australian Post as they are providing better services to their consumers. Threat of competitors: There are many competitors present in the market offering different forms of communication mediums (Thompson, 2013). Some of the bigger competitors of the cited company are Fed Ex., Toll Holdings, Japan Post, China Post and Telstra. These competitors are making it difficult for Australian Post to ensure higher growth. On a concluding remark it can be said that there is very less chance for the new companies to proper in this market if they seek to do business in only letter delivery services. The attractiveness of the industry for new ventures is on the lower side. Competitors analysis There are various competitors present in this industry and have the capability to influence the market and choice of people (Crowley and Heyer, 2015). Companies like Fed Ex. have captured the larger part of the Australian market. They have become a brand name in safely delivering goods on time. People already started to understand Australia post as the parcel company and hence other private parcel firms are making the difference. Australia post has its business in many other parts of the world but it is facing stiff competition from the companies like Japan Post and China post. With the changing global market of parcel and letter delivery the chances of expanding their business is further narrowing down (Peters, 2012). Company are finding innovative ideas for doing their business. Strategy analysis Identification of strategy Australian post has made many strategies for their future operations. First strategy that this company has decided is to convert its business into more of digital form. This strategy is necessary as it will help them in capturing the digital market of logistics and retail. It is the need of modern day business irrespective of the industry. It will not only help company in transforming their business but also helps company in reducing its cost of operations. Digital mediums will also help consumers in knowing their delivery status hence making the whole system more accountable. Apart from this cited company has decided to adopt strategy related to entering into new business like the parcel industry or the retail industry of Australia where it can be the partners of delivery for the other firms. This strategy will help company in ensuring a long term growth even when the letter delivery services will come into extinction. Is it working? On answering to this question it can be analysed that yes it is working since already people have started to understood it as a parcel delivery company. This image of the company will help them in entering into the new markets with such kind of service background. New strategy The present day strategy of the company is very effective as it will help them in capturing the larger part of the market. In order to continue with this strategy of becoming a digital company, they should make their own app that makes booking of the orders easier as well as facilitates customers in tracking their order status. Apart from this it is also essential for the company to adopt digital medium for marketing their products since the company has performed poor in terms of marketing its services. New strategy that this firm can adopt is to come into business of home delivery of retail products where it can become the partner of the new ventures that aims to deliver products at lower cost. Since this company has a long delivery chain which it can effectively utilised for this purpose. It has deeper understanding of the ways to operate in Australian market that too in the business of delivery and logistics. All these experience will help in start of new business. Conclusion From the above based report it can concluded that Australian Post was known for its service in letter delivery industry in all over the world. With the adoption of digital mediums for communication this mode of message transfers is very rarely used. In the coming years also this is expected to reduce to further lower levels. In order to ensure the long term growth company needs to come in other businesses also like parcel or logistic delivery. Adoption of digital mediums can help in this regards. It is essential for the company to understand the future of the industry as well as the environment in which it is working. Recommendation This is an era of digital business and hence company like Australia Post has to think about taking more of digital means for completing its operations. This will not only help companies in reducing their cost of operations but will also assist consumers in easily availing required services. This company must train their employees so that they can easily work on these digital mediums. It will help in ensuring that there is no loss of jobs while the company is making business shift. While predicting the future of this industry it can be said that the amount of letter that is sent through these companies is going to decrease. Even the government is shifting towards the electronic governance. This industry is going to somehow merge with the parcel and retail delivery services and hence companies also have to think about tending towards such business. References Australia Post, 2016. Australia Post- our past. [Online]. Available at: https://auspost.com.au/education/ourpost/students/our-post/timeline.html. [Accessed on: 21st February 2018]. Australian Postal Corporation, 2016. Domestic Letters. [Online]. Available at: https://auspost.com.au/sending/send-within-australia/compare-letter-services. [Accessed on: 21st February 2018]. Barney, J.B. and Hesterly, W., 2015.Strategic management and competitive advantage concepts and cases. Pearson. Beko, J. and Jagric, T., 2011. Demand models for direct mail and periodicals delivery services: results for a transition economy.Applied Economics.43(9). pp.1125-1138. Coffield, K., 2013. Keeping Post Offices Public: Three Case Studies On The Disposal And Rehabilitation Of Historic Post Offices. Crowley, D. and Heyer, P., 2015.Communication in history: Technology, culture, society. Routledge. David, F.R., 2011.Strategic management: Concepts and cases. Peaeson/Prentice Hall. Hitt, M.A., Ireland, R.D. and Hoskisson, R.E., 2012.Strategic management cases: competitiveness and globalization. Cengage Learning. Keupp, M.M., Palmi, M. and Gassmann, O., 2012. The strategic management of innovation: A systematic review and paths for future research.International Journal of Management Reviews.14(4). pp.367-390. Kovarik, B., 2015.Revolutions in communication: Media history from Gutenberg to the digital age. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. Milne, E., 2012.Letters, postcards, email: Technologies of presence(Vol. 24). Routledge. Peters, J.D., 2012.Speaking into the Air: A History of the Idea of Communication. University of chicago Press. Sebastian, H.J., 2012. Optimization approaches in the strategic and tactical planning of networks for letter, parcel and freight mail. InModeling for Decision Support in Network-Based Services(pp. 36-61). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. Thompson, J.B., 2013.Ideology and modern culture: Critical social theory in the era of mass communication. John Wiley Sons. Van der Linden, F.R., 2015.Airlines and Air Mail: The Post Office and the Birth of the Commercial Aviation Industry. University Press of Kentucky. Wheelen, T.L. and Hunger, J.D., 2011.Concepts in strategic management and business policy. Pearson Education India.

Ancient Egypt Compare Old Kingdom to Middle Kingdom free essay sample

On October 29th, 1929, a day otherwise known as â€Å"black Tuesday†, marked the United States of America’s largest fiscal battle. Black Tuesday was the beginning of The Great Depression. The stock market plummeted on this day and the nation trembled in fear. This fear propelled Americans to withdraw their money from banks, for they anticipated the banks to plummet as well. The insufficient funds within the banks forced them to close their doors. The credit system that was developed in the ‘20s failed due to the incapability to repay loans. The following ten years are referred to as The Great Depression. The president at the time was Herbert Hoover. His approach to the economy was extremely nonchalant. Hoover considered this depression to be â€Å"a passing incident in our national lives. † His attitude did very little to stabilize the country’s economy. In 1932, the economy was at its worst and unemployment was at 25 percent. We will write a custom essay sample on Ancient Egypt: Compare Old Kingdom to Middle Kingdom or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This was around the same time that President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected. FDR attacked this depression aggressively with a series of programs and economic stimulus plans called The New Deal. After earning the trust of the citizens of America, the people felt comfortable again. This level of comfort liberated citizens to spend money again. At this time, the economy was as good as it ever was. President Barrack Obama took office in 2008 in the midst of a recession. While this recession was nowhere near as severe as the one that took place in the ‘30’s, he most definitely had a lot of work to do. By using techniques similar to those of FDR, he has been able to stimulate the economy and slowly, but surely, stabilize our economy. Without the knowledge of history and the actions of FDR, today’s economy would have been impacted more severely. This all may seem irrelevant to Ancient Egyptian studies, but this goes to show how difficult it must have been for the first leaders of the world to succeed. The rulers of Ancient Egypt had very little history to regard, contrary to the leaders of today. Almost everything that the Ancient Egyptians did was based on trial and error. Often times, decisions resulted in success; even more often did those decisions result in failure. The Old Kingdom in Ancient Egypt took place in 3100-2200 BC. The Middle Kingdom took place in 2050-1700. The 150 years separating the two kingdoms is called the First Intermediate Period. These three stages of Ancient Egypt are amongst civilization’s first documented historical events. Ancient Egypt took notes of the very few civilizations that preceded them. Mesopotamia was the very first civilization on earth and influenced Ancient Egypt in many ways. Much like Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt began with the accumulation of city-states within the region. These city states were referred to as nomes and there were 42 of them within the expanse. These 42 city-states often battled each other for resources, land, and power. It wasn’t too long before the fittest nomes ruled all of Egypt. These nomes divided Egypt in half and were called Upper and Lower Egypt. After Upper Egypt defeated Lower Egypt, the two city-states merged. This unification marks the beginning of the Old Kingdom. This kingdom was actually a serene and affluent period of history. The first pyramid ever built was constructed for King Zoser at this time. Pyramids were initially used to harbor the tombs of the deceased and shelter the corpses of the departed so that they may return for the afterlife. Common misconception alludes to the idea that slaves built these pyramids; however, it was peasants that did the constructing in hopes of being honored with an afterlife of their own. The Great Pyramid of Gizeh was unanimously the largest and most elegant of all pyramids. The Pyramid was comprised of 2. 3 million limestone blocks. This structure was expensive. The Construction of this pyramid negatively impacted the economy but wasn’t the driving force behind the struggling monetary system of Egypt. The toll the pyramid took on the economy played a minimal role in the decline of The Old Kingdom. Severe drought struck Egypt at this time and the lack of water forced Egypt into famine. During the Old Kingdom, the king was looked upon as a god. This idea gave the Egyptian people the perspective that their king was divine and can control the climate and environmental factors. Once severe drought occurred, the people began to question their king’s power. The Egyptians turned their faith toward the sun god, Re. This shift in religion becomes prevalent in Ancient Egyptian art and architecture. The political, religious, and economical shift drives The Old Kingdom into the ground. After the weakening of The Old Kingdom’s centralized monarchy, the unity between Upper and Lower Egypt dissolved as they separated from each other yet again. The First Intermediate Period, otherwise known as the First Disruption, was chaotic. Manetho, a Graeco-Egyptian priest, claims this period was â€Å"composed of seventy rulers for seventy days. Scholars assume this hyperbole describes the disorder of The First Intermediate Period. In 2055 BC, Mentuhotep II took Theban Throne. Thebes, the capital of Upper Egypt, took advantage of Lower Egypt by attacking in the midst of a Lower Egypt revolt. The inability to prepare due to the revolt allowed Upper Egypt to dominate and take over Egypt as a whole once again. The fusion of the two lands initiates The Middle Kingdom. Mentuhotep II reestablished order in Egypt and laid the foundation for more prosperity to come. Trade, art, and literature thrived once again; people had faith in their culture. The once flawed irrigation system was corrected as the Nile flowed regularly again. Egypt established a military to fend off foreign countries. At this time, pharaohs were thought of as good kings and wise leaders to their people. Pharaohs of this age seem to be more humble and no longer refer to themselves as gods. Instead of building massive pyramids for the deceased pharaohs, they were buried in tombs hidden in the hills. Not only did the land and people of Upper and Lower Egypt unify, but as did their cultures. Amun was the god of Upper Egypt as Ra was the god of Lower Egypt. After the unification, the two gods become one: AmunRa. The unification of the two gods lessened the likelihood of civil war between cities based on belief. The Middle Kingdom took a more conservative route than that of The Old Kingdom. While it didn’t last forever, by acknowledging the past mistakes of Ancient Egypt, The middle Kingdom prevented history from repeating itself. The arrogance of the pharaohs in the Old Kingdom applied a lot of pressure on themselves to be perfect. By being humble in The Middle Kingdom, the pharaohs retained the respect of the people even through times struggle.

10 Shelf-Sign Errors

10 Shelf-Sign Errors 10 Shelf-Sign Errors 10 Shelf-Sign Errors By Mark Nichol Errors on store signs are less egregious and more common than those on the products sold themselves, but one wonders, based on these photographs (and on the mistakes we see all the time while we’re shopping) if anybody who works in retail is paying any attention. Somehow, this rollback doesn’t seem like such a good deal. I assume the person who prepared the sign simply used the wrong currency symbol, and I assume store employees don’t ever look at the signs. This error rarely shows up in print or online, though redundant use of both dollars and the dollar sign (as in â€Å"He spent less than $500 dollars†) appears on occasion. What’s a flue shot? Getting ejected out of a chimney like a human cannonball? I’d pay twenty bucks for that as long as a parachute is included in the cost. The employee who typed this sign evidently didn’t have a 12-pack of â€Å"Genness† on hand for reference or maybe they did, and sampled some. No, thanks for some reason, I’m just not that hungry anymore. Now, that, on the other hand, I might just have to try. (What was on that employee’s mind?) The N key, you’ll note, is close to but not adjacent to the K key, so a simple slip of a finger didn’t cause this typo. I’ve been wondering what Dan Quayle is up to these days. Not only is potato misspelled, but salads has an extraneous apostrophe. Third offense: Why â€Å"potatoe salad† but â€Å"macaroni salad’s†? Make both salads singular, or make both plural, Dan. And the person who type’s these sign’s is misinformed about how to style plural’s. Stationary looks anything but it appears that the word (which should be spelled stationery in this sense) and flashlights are about to make a break for it. Just what, exactly, is a Skittles Theather Box? Presumably, theathering is involved. It appears that this shelf holds every type of movie-watching snack but Skittles, but whatever. The sign maker, and fellow Whole Foods employees, didn’t catch the dueling verbs at the beginning of the second line. As regular Daily Writing Tips readers are wont to remark, I make mistakes like this on occasion (despite reading posts aloud while I proof), but this error seems too obvious to overlook. And what’s up with â€Å"conventionally grown†? That’s an awkward counterpart to organic why would any self-respecting Whole Foods customer buy something conventional? These images are from the websites Apostrophe Abuse, English Fail Blog, GrammarBlog, The Great Typo Hunt, and Wordsplosion. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Incorrect Pronunciations That You Should Avoid16 Misquoted QuotationsHow to Write a Proposal

Food Safety College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Food Safety College - Essay Example The government at all levels has a role to oversee the enforcement of laws and regulations which are created for food safety. Although there are various agencies which take note of the health and safety of the public especially when it comes to the food they take, the presence of enforcement programs at the local health department is necessary. It can more far-reaching since it would be very well supervise whether everyone concerned adheres with it and violators can be easily identified. However, even with the presence of these enforcement programs, there are still many cases of food-borne diseases. This turns the focus to the food handling practices. Food handling practice may be the main cause of the persistent cases of food-borne illness. In many food establishments in the country, food handling training with particular mention to sanitation procedures has been inadequate because it is usually done quickly. This result to dangerous food handling practices related to temperature control, personal hygiene and prevention of cross-contamination. This makes effective training programs very important. The FDA Food Code recommends the certification of food safety managers as a way of demonstrating food safety knowledge. Studies have shown that sanitation in food service establishments are greatly affected by food safety training and certification (Almanza et al., 2004). In addition, the behavior of food handlers also determines food safety. If they be careless in preparing the food, it can result to contamination. Many food handling practices and sanitation procedures however can be learned through food safety training. This highlights the significance of food safety training as a very effective approach to food safety. Thu s everyone working in food establishments should undergo adequate food safety training and must be certified before they are allowed to work with food. Food safety must be ensured at all times. Since consumers may get sick with improperly prepared or contaminated foods, all food employees must undergo proper and adequate training with regards to food handling practices and all food establishments should deem it necessary. Mosquitoes are the most common vectors of many pathogenic microorganisms. A mosquito bite can sometimes result to a fatal disease. Hence, it is important that the community has enough knowledge on how to reduce the risk of acquiring these diseases. West Nile virus (WNV) is a group of disease-causing viruses usually carried by a female Culex pipiens mosquito. Each bite of this mosquito can transmit the West Nile virus. Worse is that people who become infected does not show symptoms. Only few show signs of fever and body aches but can further infect the brain and the spinal cord making it life-threatening. In places where it its endemic, it was observed that not all mosquitoes becomes infected and infection does not occur with all that individuals that are exposed to mosquitoes (Bren, 2003). According to Jesse Goodman, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, West Nile virus can be transmitted through organ transplant and blood transfusion. Aside from that, a September 2002 case in Michigan suggests that breast milk can transmit WNV. These cases however are rare. The common cause though is

Implement part Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Implement part - Essay Example It is pertinent to mention here that the scheduled date of the training course is 6th December 2012, from 0900 hours to 1700 hours at Delta Airline’s Auditorium. Moreover, during the training hours, the employees would not perform their daily office routine work. Therefore, they need to manage their office work scheduled on the training day before or after the training, as per the requirement of the work. You are requested to visit the News section of the internal portal of the Delta Airline to subscribe to get course material well before the training time. The training course is compulsory to attend by all the selected employees, therefore, make it convenient to attend the training course. There are three parts of the format; in the first part the trainer would be provided the learner profile (given above at Appendix – I) and summary analysis. In the second part, the designer of the course would provide the relevant course contents (given at Appendix – II) to the trainer. Furthermore, at this time, the role of the trainer would be a student. In the third part, the designer would provide the instructional materials to the trainer by â€Å"walk-through-talk-through† method. In this way, the trainer having above mentioned qualifications would be trained to provide training to the employees of the Delta Airline. The time duration of the train-the-trainer would be two (2) hours. Initially, there would be an introduction for fifteen (15) minutes that would be followed by the goals and objectives (given in the Office Memorandum) of the training for twenty (20) minutes. The course material (prepared in the development phase) would be provided to the trainer within thirty (30) minutes that would be followed by an informal walk-through for forty five (45) minutes. And in the end, there would be a question-answer session for fifteen (15) minutes. As the participants /

Construction Of The Questionnaire And Interview Schedule Marketing Essay

Construction Of The Questionnaire And Interview Schedule Marketing Essay Setting up a research has different approaches. In order to have a structured research paper, the methods and processes have to be clarified before starting the research. Different research styles and traditions are explained in the book of Finn, Elliott-Whit, Walton (2000). In this Bachlor Thesis, the survey method as research style and the positivistic approach as research traditions have been chosen. The lead questions will be answerd in the Descussion of the Results. The results are measurable, and the presentation of new ideas are based on the empirical data from the survey. In the quantitative research, a descriptive data analysis has been done, as it has a deductive approach. Figure 1: Generall Research Approach Theory Hypothesis Data collection Data analysis Research findings Accept or reject hypothesis Procedure and Approach The procedure and approach that was applied for this work will be explained in this subchapter. In the table below there is an overview of the approaches used: Table 1: Research Procedure and Approach Literature Review Internet, computer database, reports, articles, books have been used Methodology Deduction = The lead question will be tested Research Paradigm A positivistic approach was used Research Designs Qualitative approach Survey Method Online Survey with the program Surveymonkey External sources Regular contact with the Advisor and the external partner Hilke Patzwall (VAUDE) Data Analysis The online program Surveymonkey helped to evaluate the survey and to develop figures and graphs. (Source: Own illustration)Setting up a Research Question In February 2010 the aim of this paper was introduced in the first meeting with Mr. Luthe. With the external advisor Ms. Patzwall, there was a continuous Email contact. The lead questions and research problems were defined and set up. The lead question is: Are customers ready to buy recycled products and would they participate in a recycling program? Wurde diese Frage beantwortet?In Discussion of the results Information Search In the meantime, useful primary and secondary data was collected. The link of the survey was sent to 4500 addresses through a newsletter of VAUDE. Approximately 50 surveys were completed. This is a return rate of 1.1%. A circular mail was sent to over 500 Email addresses, which were gained through the internet. These addresses were all somehow related to the outdoor industry. More answers were gained thanks to an outdoor blog, www.outdoor-blog.com, and through a twitter account with 165 outdoor followers. The rest of the responses were received at the OutDoor Exhibition in Friedrichshafen, where the author gained 30 Email addresses. Stages in Survey Research The effects and causes through statistical analysis are shown thanks to the emphasis of Finn, Elliott-Whit, Walton (2000). A survey research is proposed with different stages. Subsequent stages are considered in the survey development; it is a modified version based on Finn, Elliott-Whit, Walton ( 2000,p. 87): 1. Appropriate conceptualization and structuring of the research problem 2. Derivation of appropriate measures of the key concepts 3. Determination of the sampling strategy 4. Construction of the questionnaire and interview schedule 5. Pre-testing the survey 6. Refining and modifying 7. Administration of the questionnaire 8. Data coding and processing 9. Data analysis and evaluation 10. Report writing All these steps combined help to get a better output, as they support the use of multiple methods. (Finn, Elliott-Whit, Walton, 2000) Pretest Set Data for Survey A pre-test was done with 112 participants. Based on the results of the pre-test, some adjustments were made. First of all, some answer options were added and also some questions were removed and formulated differently. The following big adjustments were made: Answer options added: Question 3: Which products do you separate from the usual domestic waste? Medicinal products Question 4: What do you do with your clothes which you do not wear anymore? Donate them to a charitable organisation and throw them away. Question 6: What are the reasons for the disposal of your clothes? Clothes are shabby or damaged Question 9: Why do you purchase a new outdoor jacket? Damaged Question 10: What do you do with the old outdoor jackets, which you dont wear anymore? Throw them away Question that were reorganised/relocated: Question 14 (Are you ready now, with the new knowledge gained, to participate in a recycling program for outdoor jackets?) moved to question 22. As there are more questions between the first time asked, people taking the survey really had the opportunity to gain new knowledge. Questions 15, 16, 17 and 18. (Are you ready to return your outdoor jacket to a specialist shop for a shopping voucher of 5 Euro?) The amount of money was too high. The lowest amount of vouchers giving back is 5 Euro to the highest with 20. Internet Survey The survey is on the basis of opinion survey. The needs, beliefs and behaviour are needed for my bachelor thesis. The interview form is very structured and done online. It is filled out by the consumer of outdoor equipment. As an incentive, VAUDE provides a bag which is made of recycled PET bottles to participants. The first question (Which outdoor sport activities do you follow regularly?) was to identify what kind of outdoor sports participants do. The second question was connected with the first. The aim of this question was to get a deeper look into the regularity of the outdoor sport done. To introduce the issue of recycling, the third question was about the separation of used products form usual domestic waste. Question number four had the aim to gain a deeper look at how clothes have been disposed until now. This question can be compared with question number ten, as it is the same question but instead of clothes disposal, it is about the disposal of outdoor jackets. How often the clothes disposal is done, is the next question, which helps to gain a deeper view into the habits surrounding clothes disposal. Question number six has the same aim. The first question about outdoor jackets is number seven, which shows the kind of outdoor jackets the survey takers own. The following question shows how often a new outdoor jacket will be purchased. The aim of this question is to understand why a new outdoor jacket is needed, so a connection can be made with purchase frequency. After four introducing questions about the outdoor jacket, the following recycling question is asked: Are you ready to recycle your outdoor jacket? This question is asked again at the end of the survey, question 22. There are nine questions between the first time and the second time asked. This is done because it will show whether they vary their beliefs about recycling their outdoor jackets. In question number twelve the willingness to purchase a recycled outdoor jacket is inquired about, to get information about customers interest. The next question is about the willingness to recycle, with the information, that recycling saves resources. That should show how the survey taker reacts given more information, as well as having the idea to do something good with the recycling of old outdoor jackets. Question number 14 points out the cooperation possibilities in the recycling program, it discloses the preferences. A rating system was introduced, and the respondent had the choice between three answers: ready, not sure or not ready. Four questions are about the amount of a store credit if the outdoor jacket is brought back to the store. It was chosen to ask a separate question for each amount. The idea behind this is that the participants are not prejudiced by the different amounts. The answers here are also a rating system with the same three different responses. The first question has the amount of 5 Euro, second of 10 Euro, third of 15 Euro and the last one of 20 Euro. These four questions will be analyzed and compared to gain the highest return of the outdoor jackets. Another question is to gain information about the willingness to pay a fixed recycling fee, which is paid as an extra charge on the normal price of an outdoor jacket. A following question is how high the fixed recycling fee should be, that the customer of a new recycling jacket would pay this fee. At the end of the survey demographic questions are asked, like sex, age, monthly net income per person in Euro, residence, the profession and the highest education complete. Survey Data and Evaluation When the number of surveys needed was reached, the link was closed and the evaluation of the surveys could be started. Graphs and figures were created and interpreted. The result of each question is shown fist, afterwards the six most important questions are analysed by socio-demographic data. These socio-demographic factors are: age, sex and education. They were selected as the most participants filled out these three questions in the survey. A differentiation between age and sex shows the aspects of women and men as well as those of different age groups. Another reason for selecting education was that the LOHAS differentiate from the other Lifestyles through education. The result of this analysis can be seen in chapter five. It has to be said that the work is not representative, as there are not the same amount of people in each social factor group. It should have been measured with the help of the population structure. In this short time it is not possible to do a representative s urvey as would be needed for a dissertation. This survey shows tendency and gives some further inputs. It needs to be mentioned that for the questions asked in this survey, often there is a limitation in interpreting the questions. This limitation is known as the intention-behaviour gap. It is a big gap between having an intention to do so and the actual behavior. This theory was introduced by Martin Fishbein in 1975. Aizen said a behavior is a function of compatible intentions and perceptions of behavioral control in that perceived behavioral control is expected to moderate the effect of intention on behavior, such that a favorable intention produces the behavior only when perceived behavioral control is strong. (Aizen, n.d.) For this reason the results in this survey need to be considered with care. Sadly a big gap remains between the percentage of people which have an awareness of the problem and those who take action to solve it. A study at Yale University showed that 92% are aware about the problem of global warming but it has a low priority relative to other issues. (Tan, 2008) Hypothesis In this thesis there are tree hypotheses formulated, which are proved or disproved in the subchapter 5.7, where the discussion will be presented. The willingness of a customer to recycle old outdoor equipment rises if he has a monetary benefit; either through getting back the recycling fee paid at the time of purchase or through receiving a store credit. The awareness of saving resources when purchasing a recycled outdoor jacket and when taking part in a recycling program is higher in customers above 35 than in customers under 35. Men purchase outdoor jackets more frequently as they do so when new technologies arise in the market, whereas women purchase outdoor jackets less frequently as for them the function is essential. Survey Results The survey had 202 participants but only 185 people finished all the obligatory questions. The analysis of the survey was done with the 185 complete survey responses. The personal questions were not obligatory, so there are fewer responses. Each chart which has fewer responses than 185 has a mark with the number of participants. First of all we begin with the personal information, followed by the activities. The third subchapter shows a closer look at the outdoor jackets and in the fourth subchapter, the recycling habits are presented. In subchapter 5.5 the six main questions have been analyzed with the socio-demographic factors. Socio-Demographic Data The survey was mainly sent to outdoor consumers in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, which can be seen form the chart of the country derivation of the participants. 175 people of 185 answered this question. Figure 2: Living Country (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) Figure 3: Age (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study)The survey was mostly answerd by people between 26 to 35 with 69 answers. Followed by the age range of 46 to 55. With 15 answers, the age above 55 had the lowest participation. This question was answerd by 180 people. The sex of the participants is balanced: 90 male to 90 female. Figure 4: Education(Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) Figure 5: Main Activities (Profession)As it can be seen from the graph above, the education level is high. The people have at least an apprenticeship, only five participants have just a basic education. 45 survey takers have a diploma followed by 34 with a Masters degreeand 33 with a school leaving examination. 28 participants have a Bachelors degree and 25 have an apprenticeship. Moreover, eight participants have a Ph.D. and seven have completed the examination for the master craftsmans diploma. The high educational level is also reflected in the main activity (profession) of the participants in the next chart. Most of the survey takers, with 134 out of 185, are employed. 34 students took the survey, followed by 24 participants who are self employed. Three people are unemployed. (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) The monthly net income shows the differences between a LOHAS curve and this surveys curve. This curve shows that over 29% have less or up to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1500, which can be explained by the high student participation rate. à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1501 to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2500 is the next high point. The statistics of the federal office in Germany show that the average monthly net income is about à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1300 to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2500. This matches the high level of a low net income, as in this survey 43% are from Germany. The second peak of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬3501 to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬4500 can be related to the higher net income in Switzerland and to the large number of highly educated survey takers. Only 11 participants have a net income of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 4500. 111 anwers to this question were collected. Figure 6: Monthly Net Income (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) Figure 7: Monthly Net Income (LOHAS Survey 2007) This monthly net income curve is not typical for followers of LOHAS. This fact is proofed by a survey of Burda Research Development. The LOHAS net income curve is the opposite of the survey graph. This big difference indicates that a very high number of students participated in the survey made for this thesis. Also, the weak status of the current economy could have had an effect on the net income distribution of the participants. On the other hand Wenzel, Rauch Kirig (2007) affirmed that LOHAS cannot be fixed to a social stratum, which confirms the survey of this thesis. (Wenzel, Rauch, Kirig, 2007) (Source: Own illustration based on Schmidt, Littek, Nickel, 2007) Frequency of Sports Activities Figure 8: Regularly Engaged Outdoor Sport Activities As it can be seen, in the summer and autumn, hiking is very popular. With 137 participants who execute this sport, mountain biking follows in popularity. 85 people from a total of 185 ski in the winter; this is the most popular winter sport, followed by snowboarding and ski touring. The aim of this question was to have an introduction to the outdoor section. The sequent graphs show results based on the findings of 185 questionnaires. (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) Figure 9: Frequency of the Engaged Activities Above The graph below shows the frequency of engagement in the activities listed above. 52% stated that they engage in sport less than once in four weeks, while 49.7% do it once a week. More than 50% of all men do sport each week, whereas 60% of all women engage in the activity less than once in four weeks. After every second week, hiking is the most engaged-in sport activity. Jogging is the most popular sport to be engaged in once a week, followed by mountain biking. This graph shows that the majority who responded to this survey do not engage in sport every day. For this question, multiple answers were permitted. Recycling Habits The subsequent graphs are based on the findings of 185 questionnaires. Each question is related to recycling. Figure 10: Product SeparationFirst graph, the habit of consumers to recycle products of everyday use is revealed. As it can be seen, outdoor consumers are well informed about the recycling process and also take part in this process. 39 out of 185 people recycle all the products listed. From this number, 22 live in Germany, 9 in Switzerland, 2 in Austria, 1 in the Netherlands, 1 in Finland and 1 in Italy. While 23 of those surveyed are males, just 13 are females. Three other people did not share where they live. (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) Glass and paper/carton are the most frequently recycled materials, whereas aluminum is the lowest recycled material with 62.2%, as it can be seen on the graph. 87.6% of 185 respondents separate clothes from the domestic waste. This initial question was needed to introduce survey takers to clothing recycling habits. For this question, multiple answers were allowed. Figure 11: Frequency of Clothes Disposal (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study)The second question was to find out the frequency of the clothes disposal. Once a year is time to put away old clothes for 35% of 185 people. 29% dispose of clothes twice a year. 27% of those surveyed clear out the cupboard less than once a year. Additionally, 6% dispose of clothes three times a year, and 3% do so more than three times a year. (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) Figure 12: Reasons for the Clothes Disposal The most selected reason to dispose clothes, with 76.2%, is that the clothes have not been worn for a long time, followed by the reason of damaged clothes with 66.5%. For 42.7%, the size does not fit anymore, while no more place in the cupboard follows behind with 35.1%. Purchasing new clothes is the reason for 33.5% of the participants to disposal the clothes. 31% of those surveyed select their clothes for fashion reasons. For this question, multiple answers were allowed. Figure 13: Disposal Habits Disposal habits of old clothes Disposal habits of old outdoor jackets(Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) The aim of these two pie charts is to compare the recycling habits of old clothes and of old outdoor jackets. It can be seen that nearly a third in both pies are putting their old clothes and outdoor jackets in recycling bins. Clothes as well as outdoor jackets are likely to be given away to friends. While 20% of old clothes go to charitable organizations, 0% of outdoor jackets do. Instead, 2% reuse their old outdoor jackets for gardening. Another difference can be seen in keeping the clothes/jackets in the cupboard. 14% of outdoor jacket owners keep their old jackets in the cupboard, whereas just 6% keep their old clothes in the cupboard. These questions also had multiple response options. Closer look at outdoor jackets Figure 14: Assets of Outdoor Jacket This pie chart shows that all three types of outdoor jackets are fairly evenly distributed between the 185 participants. The aim of this question is to know which jacket is most represented. (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) Multiple responses were possible for this question as well. 107 survey takers own all three jackets. 32 participants have just a hard-shell jacket, and soft-shell jackets are owned by 47. An isolation jacket is owned by 53 participants. (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) Figure 15: Frequency of Purchase a New Outdoor Jacket Most of the customers do not intend to buy a new outdoor jacket each year. 33.5% of 185 participants buy a new outdoor jacket fewer than every third year, followed by 27.6% with Every second year and 18.4% with Every third year. Only 18.4% purchase a new outdoor jacket each year, and even fewer, 5.9% do so twice a year. Only 1.6% buy a new outdoor jacket more than twice a year. Figure 16: Purchase Reasons of New Outdoor Jackets (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) Most people purchase a new jacket because their current jacket is damaged or has lost its function. New fashion and new technology are nearly on the same level, and for the majority, they are not a main reason for buying a new outdoor jacket. The following questions, in which the willingness of the customer is asked, the reader needs to be aware of the intention-behavior gap. There is a difference between the intention some have and the behavior they exhibit. In this survey, the intention was found out. For more information about the intention-behavior gap, refer to subchapter 4.1.6. Figure 17: Purchase a Recycled Outdoor Jacket (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) The aim of this question is to gain an insight into the willingness of buying a recycled outdoor jacket. In terms of purchasing a recycled outdoor jacket, more than 80% agreed to do so. 16% are undecided and nearly 3% are not willing to buy a recycled outdoor jacket. Figure 18: Participation in a Recycling Program (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) The question was formulated to communicate briefly to the participant that if they recycle outdoor jackets, they help to save the environment. 75% stated that they are ready to take part in a recycling program. 19.4% are unsure about taking part and 4.8% are not ready to recycle their outdoor jackets. Recycling Possibilities In this subchapter the answers to the different recycling possibilities will be shown. Also, it was asked which return system the customer would most appreciate. Finally, there will be an overview about the willingness to take part in a recycling for outdoor jackets. Figure 19: Return MethodIn terms of popularity, the way to return the outdoor jacket is by a recycling bin with 42%, closely followed by giving the jacket back to the selling point with 39%. While 14% of all respondents would appreciate a return system by post, 5% do not want any of these returning systems. (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) A first method of trying to convince the customer to participate in the recycling program is with an incentive. The survey found out that with an incentive of 5 Euro, 67%, 10 Euro, 70%, 15 Euro, 74%, and 20 Euro, 80% of all respondents would be disposed to give back their outdoor jacket in a specialist shop. Figure 20: Store Credit (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) Figure 21: Fixed Recycling Fee Figure 22: Height of Fixed Recycling FeeThe second method is that customers pay a fixed recycling fee. This fee has to be paid when the customer buys the outdoor jacket. The fee is additional to the normal price and will be paid pack if the customer brings the outdoor jacket back. 63% stated that they are ready to pay the fixed recycling fee. While more than 11% do not accept the recycling fee, more than 25% are unsecure about it. (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) This graph shows the sum the customer would be ready to pay as a recycling fee. Most of those surveyed expect to pay not more than 10 Euro. In second place is 20 Euro. In third place is 0 Euro, followed by 5 Euro in fourth. Some people would not mind paying a higher amount. 11 paricipants see 50 Euro as acceptable. Figure 23: Participation in Outdoor Jacket Recycling Ready to recycel outdoor jacket at the end of the questionair Ready to recycel outdoor jacket at the beginning of the questionair (Source: Own illustration based on survey results of this study) The first question was posed before the participants had any information about the recycling of outdoor equipment. As it can be seen, 91% were willing to participate in a recycling program. Interestingly, 12% changed their minds from ready to unready after they had received more information from the survey. This is a surprising result, as after the questionnaire, fewer people are willing to participate than before. Some comments are made, which will be disussed in the next subchapter.

Virginia Woolf’s Between the Acts Essay examples -- Between the Acts E

Virginia Woolf’s Between the acts Virginia Woolf uses many images in the Between the Acts. Like the other novels I read in the class, the images in the Between the Acts cannot be separated with the story development, and the images themselves construct the story in the book by dismantling the conventional expectation for the novel. However, Woolf uses common and conventional words and images with an experimental way in this novel. This novel constructs the images and the representation with their conventional words and actions of the characters. I think Woof explores how the communal use of the words like songs and clichà © makes another meaning or another reversion in their daily life here. The characters in the novel are in the between representative words and their intentions which are overlapped into the words or erased and hidden by the words. The acts in the title of the novel are not only the acts in the play, but also the motion which the characters make and expect, and the motion of the natural sounds and t he silence which the people cannot control the interruption from them. I want to look at how Virginia Woolf uses the words from the people, sounds from the things, and the images of clothes and history for her story in her last novel, Between the Acts. Virginia Woolf's words are not just the tools for her writing but the words themselves are constructing and de-constructing a main plot of the novel. And I think to look the gap between the words and the character's representations who is using the words is the one of the ways to read this novel. Especially, in this novel, she uses words and actions for showing and erasing the gap between the absence and the presence which is prevalent in this novel. Between th... ... Newman, Fashioning Femininity & English Renaissance Drama , from the footnote of chapter 6,(Chicago, Chicago University Press) I think the concept of heteroglossia is the good word for this book. The characters voice is not only dispersed, but the dispersed voice is making the novel. Works Cited Virginia Woolf, Between the acts, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992) Jacques Derrida, "Structure, sign, and play in the discourse of the human science," Modern criticism and theory, ed. David Lodge (New York: Longman Inc.,1988) Michel Serres, "Platonic Dialogue," Hermes, Literature, Science, Philosophy, ed. Josuà © V. Harari and David F., Bell (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1982), 67. Karen Newman, "Chapter 6, Englishing the other: Le tiers exclu & Shakespeare's Henry V," Fashioning Femininity, (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1991)

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 8

â€Å"Georgina?† I looked up from a baffling return Tammi had asked me to help her with. A customer without a receipt was attempting a refund on a stack of books with dog-eared pages and broken spines, claiming all of them were duplicates someone had just given him for his birthday. â€Å"Just a sec,† I told her. â€Å"I've got to finish this.† â€Å"Okay,† Beth said. â€Å"I just thought you should check out Casey.† â€Å"Casey?† â€Å"Yeah. She's up in the cafe.† That snagged my attention. I finished up with the customer, telling him nicely that we couldn't accept books in this condition. Maybe if the alleged other books were in better shape, he could bring those in. He pouted and argued a bit before finally skulking off. I rolled my eyes once he was gone. One thing that never changed among humans: there were always those who wanted to get something for nothing. It was what kept hell in business. I found Casey sitting in the cafe, drinking a glass of water. There were dark circles under her eyes, and she didn't display her usual care in makeup and hairstyling. She stared bleakly at the table, eyes dull and glazed over. â€Å"Hey,† I said gently, pulling up a chair across from her. â€Å"How's it going?† After a moment's delay, she looked up, not really focusing on me. â€Å"Okay.† â€Å"You sure? You don't look so okay.† â€Å"Dunno.† Her tone was flat, distracted. â€Å"I just had a late night, that's all. Sorry. Sorry I came in like this.† â€Å"No problem. I've had my share of crazy nights.† The thing was, Casey didn't exactly look hung over. I mean, she definitely looked like she was recovering from something†¦but I couldn't put my finger on it. It was weird. â€Å"What'd you get into? A party?† â€Å"Yeah. Doug's band had another one.† â€Å"Really.† News to me. â€Å"Must have been pretty good.† â€Å"Dunno.† â€Å"What do you mean? You were there.† Her brow furrowed, confusion glinting in her brown eyes. â€Å"I don't†¦really remember. Stupid, huh? I must have really been trashed. I remember†¦being with Alec. Then we left. We went somewhere. â€Å" â€Å"You don't know?† She looked upset and closed her eyes. â€Å"There was this big house, and†¦I don't know. I just†¦I just can't remember. I'm sorry, Georgina. I shouldn't have come in today, okay? Sorry.† â€Å"It's okay. So you have no idea what you did with him? Nothing at all?† She shook her head. I shouldn't have kept pushing for details of an employee's personal life, but something here bothered me. It was more than my bias against Alec too. I remembered him pushing alcohol on women, his invitation to go somewhere â€Å"more intense.† Casey's inability to remember what had happened with him smacked of date-rape drugs. â€Å"Did Alec give you anything?† For the first time in this conversation, her dull expression sharpened and looked alert. â€Å"I†¦no. No.† But she was lying. I could tell. Why? Fear of him? Embarrassment? I couldn't bring myself to question her anymore. She looked too miserable. I told her she should go home and get some rest; she didn't need much convincing. I took her place at the registers, silently fuming at that jerk Alec. My anger was furthered by the fact that I could do nothing. Casey's life wasn't really my business, and without her admitting to anything, Alec stood blameless. With Casey now gone, Paige out sick again, and Warren golfing in Florida, I felt relieved when Doug showed up. He looked as energetic as ever, so I hoped he could counter my plunging mood. â€Å"I heard you had a party.† â€Å"Yup.† He grinned, working the register next to mine. â€Å"I tried calling you, but you weren't home.† â€Å"Had a party of my own. Hey, did you notice anything weird with Casey and Alec last night?† â€Å"Weird how? I mean, they seemed to be hitting it off.† â€Å"Nothing else?† â€Å"Nope. Not that I saw. Why? Are you interested? He's a little young for you, but if you're into that, I can give you his phone number.† â€Å"Hardly.† â€Å"Whoa,† he suddenly exclaimed. â€Å"Check this action out.† He picked up one of the books his customer was paying for. It was a romance novel, emblazoned with a big chested man holding an equally big chested woman. Her neck was arched back, her lips open in a moan. And her dress was falling off. â€Å"Bet there's some good shit in here. Nothing like some throbbing members and private time to get you off, eh?† He winked at the customer, who turned crimson and didn't say anything. She handed over some cash and hurried away as fast as she could. Aghast, I ignored the customers standing there and grabbed Doug's arm, jerking him away from the counter. â€Å"What the hell was that?† I asked in a low, angry whisper. He laughed loudly. â€Å"Oh come on, Kincaid. I was just having a little fun. Those romance novels always crack me up.† â€Å"You do not comment on customer purchases. Furthermore, you certainly don't swear in front of them.† â€Å"Basic training. I know all this.† â€Å"Yeah? Then act like it.† We stood there, both of us shocked at my tone. I didn't think I'd ever talked to Doug in such a reprimanding way. Certainly not here. We were both assistant managers, partners in crime. Our entire working relationship was one of lightheartedness and messing around. â€Å"Fine,† he said after a moment. â€Å"Whatever.† We went back to the registers, both of us pointedly ignoring the other. We worked without incident a while longer until I heard him say, â€Å"Man, this has to be rough. Hope it all works out.† Looking over, I saw his customer buying a book about STDs. Doug returned my gaze with a challenging look. I finished my own purchase and then put up a â€Å"register closed† sign. Finding Andy at the information desk, I told him to ask Doug to swap spots. â€Å"Don't tell him I told you to.† Doug seemed safer helping customers find books, yet no matter where I was in the store, I could hear him. He spoke and laughed too loudly. Whenever I caught sight of him, he was always in motion – like he couldn't stay still. Once, he was – literally – juggling books for a customer. Another time, I saw him actually skipping as he led a customer over to the cooking section. I frowned, unsure what to do. His lively nature had been fun this last week, but he was pushing it now, and I wasn't entirely sure what my role should be in all of this. â€Å"That redheaded girl said you're the manager here,† a middle-aged woman suddenly said, approaching me as I rearranged a display. â€Å"I'm an assistant manager,† I told her. â€Å"What can I help you with?† She pointed to the information desk. â€Å"That man was so rude to me. He helped me find some books, and then†¦he said†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She couldn't finish, oscillating between anger and distress. I looked at what she held. Books on clinical depression. Lovely. At least it wasn't called Going Postal in an Insensitive Bookstore. I took a deep breath to steady myself and apologized profusely, promising I'd deal with it. I then walked her over to the head of the check-out line and told Andy to ring her books up for free. Warren never approved of that, but I didn't care at the moment. I waited for Doug to finish with his customer and then pulled him aside once more. â€Å"We need to talk in the office.† He gave me a lopsided grin. Studying him, I saw his eyes glittering with a distracted fervor. â€Å"What for? Let's talk here. I've got customers to help, you know. Can't let this goddamned place go unattended.† I blanched at this, still forcing calm. We had a line of about four customers listening. â€Å"No. Let's go in the back.† He rolled his eyes and threw a friendly arm around me. â€Å"Christ, you're uptight. What's this about?† â€Å"You know what it's about,† I returned, wiggling out from under the arm. â€Å"You're out of line today.† His smile fell. â€Å"No, you're out of line. What's with the attitude anyway? You can't talk to me like this.† He was still too loud. More people were stopping. â€Å"I can talk to you like this when you're acting like a jerk. You're upsetting customers. You're doing stuff that's completely inappropriate, and you know it.† â€Å"‘Inappropriate?' Jesus Fucking Christ, Kincaid! You sound like Paige now. I'm having fun. Remember that? Remember when you and I used to do that around here back before you got this stick up your ass?† We had a bona fide audience now. Customers and staff alike. Dead silence, save for the faint sounds of Vivaldi playing through the store's sound system. â€Å"I mean,† he continued, thriving on the attention, â€Å"where do you get off acting like this? Who put you in charge? You and I are the same rank, remember? It's like you get ten seconds of fame in Mortensen's story, and now you think you can put on airs. Why don't you go find him? Maybe if you got laid again, you'd stop being such a bitch.† â€Å"Doug,† I said, astonished at how firm and strong my voice was. It was like someone else was using my body to confront him, and I only watched. â€Å"You need to go home. Now. If you don't leave, I'll have you removed.† Of course, I had no clue how I was going to pull that off. As it was, I felt almost terrified to be facing off against him like this. My heart raced. We were standing close, thrusting our wills at one another, and he had half a head's height on me and a bigger build. I didn't really fear violence from him, but the physical intimidation was as scary as the psychological. Still, I held my ground, keeping my expression commanding and decisive. At last, he backed down, breaking eye contact. He shrugged and gave his goofy grin to those watching, like they were in on some joke with him. â€Å"Sure. Whatever you want. I don't care. I could use a day off anyway.† He looked around again, face smug and defiant, like he'd won. After another survey of the crowd, he laughed and stalked out. Nobody spoke or breathed after that. I drew myself up, like none of this had bothered me either. I strode purposefully away, saying to Beth as I passed: â€Å"Will you cover the desk now?† I went upstairs to the caf? ¦ and had the barista make me a mocha. I took it with shaking hands and turned around to find Seth standing there. He wore a Ratt shirt today. â€Å"Thetis,† he said softly. I walked over to one of the windows, and he followed. Outside, cars and people moved throughout Queen Anne. I watched them without seeing them. Seth moved behind me, his presence steady and reassuring. Waiting to catch me, even though I refused to fall just yet. This, I realized, was why I chose to stay with him, sexual mishaps or no. â€Å"I suppose you witnessed all that.† â€Å"Yeah,† he said. â€Å"You handled it well.† â€Å"I didn't want to handle it at all.† â€Å"Someone had to.† He touched my arm gently. â€Å"You can be pretty fierce sometimes.† I shook my head, still numb. â€Å"I don't want to be fierce either.† â€Å"Georgina. Look at me.† I turned and looked. Those lovely eyes were soft and full of love, yet underscored with strength. â€Å"You did the right thing.† He rested his hands on my arms, thumbs stroking the bare skin. â€Å"You did the right thing.† â€Å"He's my friend.† â€Å"That doesn't matter.† â€Å"What's wrong with him, Seth? What's gotten into him?† â€Å"Isn't it obvious?† â€Å"Not to me.† He smiled ruefully. â€Å"The same thing that made you eat a bag of Taco Bell food last night.† â€Å"What? Pot doesn't do that. Make him behave like he did, I mean. Not the Taco Bell thing.† â€Å"No,† he agreed. â€Å"Pot won't do that, but he was obviously on something. â€Å" I turned back to my view, thinking. I recalled Doug's nonstop vigor, that feverish look in his eyes. Yes, it made sense, and it was saddening. I'd never known him to mess around with anything much harder than alcohol and marijuana. Yet†¦there was more to his exuberance lately. A drug couldn't make you good at Tetrisor churn out an album's worth of songs in under a month. â€Å"I don't know what it could be then. I've tried almost everything once,† I admitted sheepishly. Immortality allowed experimentation without the dangerous consequences mortals faced. â€Å"But I haven't made enough of a study to really ID anything. What do you think? Some kind of amphetamine?† â€Å"I don't really know either.† I rubbed my temples, sensing a nasty headache coming on. I wanted nothing more just then than to go home and veg on the couch with Seth on one side, Aubrey on the other, and a plate of brownies on my lap. It wasn't going to happen. â€Å"I've got to get back down there. We're short two people now. I'm going to be here until closing again.† â€Å"You want me to come over after work? I'm supposed to paint at Terry's, but I can bail on it.† I assured Seth he didn't need to change his plans for me and then returned downstairs. Functionality had resumed as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The only thing noteworthy was the way the other staff watched me now. Not with mockery or amusement, but something else. If I hadn't known better, I would have said my respect rating had just shot up. I got home after work, drained. Weak with exhaustion, mental and physical. When I absorbed life from victims, it was usually to sustain my immortal existence and shape-shifting. But life was full of other things that required energy. Breaking and entering. Working two twelve-hours shifts in a row. Staying virtuous around the man of your dreams. Reprimanding one of your best friends and discovering he was probably addicted to something nasty. The need for vitality itched within me, making me irritable and anxious despite my worn-out feeling. For me, that energy-longing translated into lust, a sudden need to be touched and consumed by someone I could consume in return. I called Bastien. â€Å"What is it now?† he asked sarcastically. â€Å"I suppose you're just going to cut to the chase and call Dana. That way you can get it over with and tell her how her neighbor has a plan to seduce her and bring down her organization. Maybe while you're at it, you can mention the break-in and get me arrested. You could even key my car if you wanted. It would be a perfect ending to my already ruined career.† â€Å"Oh shut up,† I snapped, not having the patience for this. Apparently I still had some fury left in me from earlier. â€Å"First, you were not going to bed Dana last night, so get that out of your system. Second, you probably deterred her by answering the door in the first place, as stoned as you were. Third, if you'd really wanted to endear yourself to her, you would have shown more concern for me rather than coming off as an uncaring asshole.† â€Å"How is your ankle?† he asked reluctantly. â€Å"Fine. You know how it goes.† A sprain was barely a day's concern for an immortal. â€Å"Good enough to go dancing on.† â€Å"Dancing?† â€Å"Yes. I want you to take me out. Now. I just had the worst day ever. â€Å" â€Å"Sorry.† â€Å"Sorry? Are you turning me down? Since when have you been such a grudge-holder?† â€Å"It's not just that†¦well, okay, maybe a little. But Bill invited me over to watch a football game.† â€Å"You hate football.† â€Å"Yeah, but I might see Dana. Sorry, Fleur . You're on your own tonight. â€Å" Annoyed, I hung up and dialed the next best dancer I knew. â€Å"Cody,† I said, â€Å"we're going clubbing.† â€Å"Okay,† he returned agreeably, â€Å"but I'll have to bring Hugh and Peter.† â€Å"Ack. They dance almost as badly as Seth.† â€Å"Yeah. But I promised I'd hang out with them tonight. Unless you want to come over here? We're playing D&D right now. Do you know how many hit points a succubus has?† â€Å"All right, all right. Bring them along.† I hung up. It didn't really matter who came anyway. I mostly just wanted people to go out with. Companionship gave the outing some semblance of normality, though it wasn't like I needed any of them for what I was going to do. â€Å"Jesus, woman,† breathed Hugh when I answered my door an hour later. â€Å"You're kind of screwing with my sisterly feelings for you.† I had on a pleated black skirt that covered less than half my thighs. My top was off the shoulder with three-quarter sleeves, and it stopped just above my belly button, leaving my midriff bare. It was made of clinging, stretchy black lace that looked opaque in dim lighting and showed everything – and I do mean everything – in full light. The only decision left was what body to go out in. I didn't like to do succubus work in my usual shape – the one that worked at Emerald City and slept with Seth. I wanted an anonymous face, one that could forget and be forgotten. Staring at my bathroom mirror, I considered a number of features and ethnicities. Finally, I opted for a pretty Latina look, sultry with long dark hair. We went to the same club Bastien and I had danced at before. It played varying genres of music, but all of it was fast and heavy. It thrummed in the blood. Hugh immediately parked himself at the bar, looking exactly like the creepy guy who ogled younger women that he was. Peter seemed torn between joining him and hitting the floor. He was homebody enough to want to stay with Hugh, but I knew places like this were fertile hunting grounds for vampires and succubi alike. Reluctantly, the frumpy vampire bought a drink and then made his way to the dancers, looking hopelessly out of place. I knew he'd survive, though; he'd been doing what he did almost as long as I had. I walked up to the bar and ordered a shot of Rumple Minze, which I downed immediately. It was funny – part of me thought that I could scorn Doug for getting mixed up with some drug when I turned so readily to alcohol to ease my own tension. â€Å"Dance with me,† I told Cody, grabbing his hand. He looked good tonight, wearing a button-up shirt untucked and loose. It had a neat printed pattern on it, one of those that only confident guys with real fashion sense could actually wear. With his agile dancing and golden blond looks, he made a good partner. â€Å"What am I, your warm-up?† he asked me a few songs later. I laughed. We were dancing awfully close, and I had been moving my body more provocatively than I normally would with a friend. Unconscious motion. My succubus hunger surfacing. â€Å"Does it bother you?† â€Å"Nope. Well, other than giving me that weird incest feeling Hugh was talking about. But I don't think you're going to get what you need off me.† â€Å"True,† I said scanning the crowd. The place was packed with mortals, all warm and energetic and burning with life in a way my friends and I did not. Again, the itch of longing seized me. I wanted to touch them all and knew I'd have to break from Cody soon. â€Å"What's got you all fired up anyway? We don't usually see you like this.† That was true. Mostly he and the others just heard me bitching and moaning about my infernal job and how I hated seducing nice guys. â€Å"Need to burn off some Seth lust. That, and I got majorly run down today,† I explained, proceeding to tell him the rest. Cody felt as sad as I did about Doug, whom he knew and liked. The young vampire agreed that Doug's erratic behavior sounded amphetamine based, and he threw out a few suggestions for me. I made a mental note to look them up later. Cody and I finally split up, each to take care of our own business. I started working the room, much as I had the other night, only this time my motivation was legitimate. I had my pick of partners and no end of free drinks. Each time I got someone to buy me one, Hugh – still at the bar – would shake his head with wry amusement. In about two hours, I had my mark. He was young and muscular, made extra gorgeous by sexy Mediterranean features. Italian descent, I suspected. He was also sweet and shy, clearly astonished that I kept dancing with him. His friends, watching from afar, apparently felt the same way. We had moved to a crowded part of the dance floor, jam-packed with other sweating, frenzied bodies. I rubbed mine against his in a more intimate way than the crowd quite required, my hands sliding over his body as we swayed. When our lips brushed against each other's, he pulled back. He told me then – awkwardly and reluctantly – that he had a girlfriend. That didn't come as a surprise to me. We stopped dancing, getting jostled by the crowd, and I feigned modest embarrassment for my boldness while pretending not to notice how he hadn't seemed to want to make the girlfriend admission. â€Å"Er, wait,† he said as I started to turn and leave. Hesitation hung heavy in his voice. The voice of someone trying to rationalize something he knew he shouldn't be doing†¦but wanted to anyway. True consternation churned on his face. â€Å"I mean, we can still†¦we can still†¦keep dancing. Can't we?† Five dances later, I'd sweet-talked – and bribed – one of the waiters into letting us into a storage room in the club's basement. It was dark and small and filled with extra tables, but it sufficed for what we needed. I could still hear the music from above, though none of the song's specifics. The whole building vibrated with the beat. My guy still appeared nervous, but alcohol and opportunity were clearly winning out over his better judgment. I didn't tell him my name. I didn't ask for his. I pulled him to me, and we kissed – the kind of hard, furious kissing that makes your lips feel swollen afterward. His hands started on my hips and then moved upward, peeling the lace shirt up as they went, exposing my breasts. His hands fondled them wonderingly, feeling their shape and size, making my nipples harden and stand out. He leaned down and put his lips to one, sucking hard. When I felt his teeth bite gently, I grunted in approval and shifted my hands down to loosen his belt. He straightened back up, and this time I was the one who went down – literally. On my knees, I tugged on his boxers and released the erection that had been straining at the fabric. I ran my tongue along its tip, tasting the few salty drops that had already seeped out. Then, without further hesitation, I took the whole thing into my mouth, letting my tongue roll over it as my lips moved back and forth along the length of the shaft. He groaned and laced his fingers across the back of my neck, trying to push more of him inside. The first tendrils of his energy began flowing into me, sweet and delicious. He was a good one, full of strength. I sucked harder, teasing him for a couple more minutes, then broke away and stood up. The look on his face when I stopped became almost comically desperate. Like he couldn't believe I had just done that to him. Like I had just gone and hit his shins with a baseball bat. I licked my lips and smiled. â€Å"You want more? You're going to have to come and get it. â€Å" This was the clincher. If I was going to go to the trouble of bagging a guy with a strong life force, I might as well hit my quota with Jerome and do some corrupting as well. A guy with a serious girlfriend might feel guilty about fooling around with another woman, but he'd feel guiltier still if he was the one who took serious steps toward initiating it. It was too easy to say she made me do it. My part was done; he had to take over now. This guy might not have realized my ulterior motives here, but he seemed to sense the gravity of the situation. He stood on the edge now, the edge of a decision that could affect his eternal soul. Did he or didn't he? Did he give in to his lust and betray a woman he cared about? Did he take a chance with me he might never get again? Or did he reject me and walk away? Did he stay faithful? My smile grew, slow and languid, as he debated. I paced around the room like I had all the time in the world, like I didn't care what he decided to do. The click of my heels sounded loudly on the hard floor. I turned away from him, trying to make out some old framed picture on the wall. It was mostly a dark blur in the dim lighting. Then, I felt him behind me. His hands slid from my waist down to my hips, then lower to cradle my ass. He pushed up what little of the skirt there was and pulled down the strappy black thong I had underneath. Slowly, his hands traced every curve, feeling and exploring. One hand moved around the outside of my leg toward the front, between my thighs. The movement forced him to move closer to me, and I could feel him – still hard, still ready – press against my flesh. The exploring hand pushed farther between my thighs, and his breath was hard and hot on my neck. His fingers brushed the small, neatly trimmed patch of hair between my legs, then moved lower, dancing at the edges of my lips, teasing them. A small, urgent moan left my mouth, and I ground against him, hoping to get a response. He slid his fingers in a smooth rhythm, stoking my already raging desire. A minute later, those urgent fingers moved into me, probing and exploring. I was wet and slippery, but it still caught me by surprise, and I exclaimed loudly. He wrapped his other arm around my waist, pulling me even closer, and continued driving those fingers in and out. His life poured into me again. A purely physical burning welled inside of me too, growing stronger each time he moved in. But before that feeling could reach completion, he pulled his fingers out and left them out. My turn to feel unfulfilled. Gripping my shoulders, he turned me around, and I braced myself to be shoved on top of the table or up against the wall. To my astonishment, he pushed me onto my knees instead, his breathing frantic now, his eyes burning with hunger and lust. â€Å"Your mouth,† he gasped out. â€Å"I want your mouth again.† Unexpected – and perhaps a little disappointing – but it all worked the same for me. Before I could even act, he thrust himself back between my lips. A surprised sound lodged in my throat, and it seemed to turn him on even more. I no longer had to worry about who was taking the initiative here; it was all him. His hands held my head and neck in place as he pumped away, pushing into me over and over. The life-force transfer started in earnest, his energy flooding into me with his thoughts and feelings. Finally, finally, finally, he thought, aching desire crackling through him. Feeling his mind and soul, I realized then he might not have been so easy a tag as I originally thought. He loved his girlfriend. Loved her passionately. But she didn't like oral sex, and one of the biggest fantasies of this guy's life was to – bluntly – fuck her face. Had I started foreplay in some other way tonight, he might very well have been strong enough to decline. But I had given him the one thing he couldn't refuse. It overpowered the guilt lurking in the back of his mind. I'll never get this chance again. Allison doesn't have to know. I knew that rationalization well. It was just about the oldest in the book. He thrust more urgently, that long shaft filling my mouth as his eyes watched me eagerly, and unintelligible, primal noises sounded in his throat. And for me, who had been denied an orgasm, pleasure was building in a different way. Life-force transfer doesn't occur at the point of a physical contact or even orgasm. It's bigger than that, more holistic. Soul to soul. His energy washed over me now in waves, and it was pure ecstasy as I rode that ocean higher and higher. My body burned with it, nearly to the breaking point. Before that crest crashed over, before our connection broke, I caught one more thought from him, plain and simple: mouth or face} Ah, men. He chose mouth, moaning loudly as he came. Warm, bitter liquid flooded over my tongue as his body spasmed and his nails dug into my neck and scalp. I waited until he finished, then swallowed because I knew it was what he wanted me to do. It was what every guy wanted. And really, it was the least I could do for him, because with his orgasm came a climax of my own. The full force of his energy hit me like a bolt of lightning at the same time he felt its loss. I broke from him, gasping at the feel of that power, swimming in that bliss, invigorated and alive. He, however, stiffened and paled, suddenly weak and confused at losing something he hadn't even known he had. He groped blindly for support and caught the edge of a table as his legs gave out underneath him. The table saved him from completely falling over, and I caught his other arm, balancing him. Carefully, I eased him down so he could sit and lean his body against a chair. His eyes struggled to stay open as the shock of his energy loss pulled him toward unconsciousness. Another cardinal succubus rule: the stronger the guy, the stronger his loss would be. â€Å"Oh my God†¦what's wrong with me?† Pushing aside whatever kindly feelings or sympathy I might have, reminding myself he'd – eventually – recover, I stared down at him coolly and rearranged my clothes. â€Å"I think you drank too much.† I leaned over and tugged up his pants. â€Å"I'll go get help.† He started to protest, but I was already out the door. I strode back to the dance floor, haloed in his energy. I felt like a goddess entering a temple of worshippers, and many sets of eyes seemed to regard me as exactly that. A few quick searches, and I found his friends from earlier. I told them he'd passed out downstairs and left them to deal with it. â€Å"This one's on me,† I heard Hugh say when I walked back up to the bar. My post-sex glamour would be especially obvious to him. I ordered a shot of Jagermeister and chased it with another shot of Goldschlager. Nothing like funny-named liquor to top off an evening. â€Å"Does it make you feel better?† the imp asked. He inclined his head toward the two empty glasses. â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"But sometimes it helps me not remember as much.† I went home after that and cooked myself in a long, hot shower, trying to wash away the feel of sex. My buzz soon yielded to my second headache of the day and a slightly nauseous feeling. I had just settled down on the couch for mindless TV watching, back in my normal shape, when Seth showed up. â€Å"I wanted to see how you were doing,† he explained, sitting down next to me. â€Å"Better,† I told him uneasily. â€Å"Sort of. I went out with the gang.† â€Å"Ah. Sounds fun.† He didn't sound entirely sincere. I think â€Å"the gang† still kind of weirded him out a little. He leaned his head on the couch and stared at me for a long time, not saying anything. I laughed in spite of myself. â€Å"What?† â€Å"I don't know,† he said, face serious. He reminded me of a child staring at the tree on Christmas morning. â€Å"It's weird. It's just you're so†¦so beautiful tonight. I mean, you're always pretty, of course, but tonight, I don't know – I can't take my eyes off of you. I want to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He didn't give voice to the urge. â€Å"Must be the wet hair and pajamas,† I said lightly. â€Å"Always a turn-on.† But I knew what was bedazzling him. The guy from the club. Or rather, that guy's stolen life. Humans couldn't resist it. Immortals couldn't resist it. Racking my brain, I realized Seth had never seen me so soon after a fix. He'd seen me the same day sometimes – and also commented on my attractiveness then – but this was the first time he'd received its full effect. It made me feel guilty to see him looking at me like this. His hand reached for mine, and I tried not to flinch as he took it. Even after the shower, I felt dirty and cheap. I didn't want him to touch me after what I'd done, even if it had been in a different body. I didn't deserve such love. Seth sighed, still enchanted. His long fingers traced warm, whirling patterns on my skin. I felt my breathing grow heavier. â€Å"I wish I could put your beauty into words. But I'm not that good of a writer. Guess I need some work.† I stood up hastily and tugged at his hand. â€Å"Now you're just being silly. I think you're the one that needs to go home and rest.† He blinked. â€Å"Oh. So no more, uh, attempts at sleeping?† I hesitated. I wanted to do it again but still didn't trust myself. Or Seth actually, not with the way he kept watching me with such rapt admiration, that heat burning in his eyes. One would have thought a backroom fling might have sated my lust for the night, but I wanted Seth just as much as ever. Of course, in retrospect, maybe that wasn't a surprise after all. Said fling hadn't exactly addressed my physical needs. â€Å"No,† I told Seth. â€Å"Not yet. Too soon.† He looked like being separated from me would hurt him physically, but he finally conceded when I let him kiss my cheek. It was long and lingering, more sensuous than one would expect, making me inhale and then exhale a long, shuddering breath. I wouldn't return the gesture, however. Not with these lips. He waxed on about my beauty a few more times before finally leaving, and I went to bed shortly thereafter. Lying there, I told myself over and over that I had done the right thing at the club. I had done what I needed to do to keep myself strong and capable. After all, Seth had said he loved my â€Å"whirlwind.† Sex was the means of keeping it strong. I had done the right thing. And I had done the right thing with Doug too. Everything I'd done today had been for the best. And yet†¦if that was true, then why did I feel so terrible about it all?