Assignment 2 MJ Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

2 MJ - Assignment Example The scene then fast forwards to the present day where the first born son named Jamal is older and his son is about to get married and the second born son had fled to America to escape the injustices that were happening in his country. The second born son, Bassam goes back to Abuddin with his American family for the wedding. The president dies during the wedding ceremony and Jamal inherits the presidency. The country is ruled through a lot of fear as the ruling family is known to persecute anyone who threatens to oppose their rule. The royal family lives a lavish lifestyle and has servants at their beck and call. However, the time is when most parts of the world were calling out for the end of dictatorial rule and thus the royal family was under a lot of pressure from a rebel group to hold an election. Bassam, being more accepting of the democratic ways, convinces his brother to go through an election. Jamal is definately authoritative and does whatever he wants to satisfy himself. He does not care much about anyone else or what anyone would say. He does things that only benefit him; satisfy his needs, and his hold onto power. His first action shown in the series is him forcing himself on one of his subject’s wife as the husband waits outside and he does not care about the husband’s feelings and neither those of the children of the woman who are waiting outside. His major aim is to satisfy himself regardless of who gets hurt. Jamal justifies his actions by claiming that his wife had left him and that his subjects are there to please him and do as he wishes whenever he wants. He extends his cruelty to innocent people simply because he has the authority and capacity to do as he wishes and no one is bold enough to face him. Jamal had been brought by his father and taught to be ruthless to people who did not agree with him. From his childhood, he had been forced to go everywhere with his father and even

Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous Essay Example for Free

Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous Essay Philonous, in Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous, attacks Hylas arguments toward the distinction between primary and secondary qualities. The distinction between primary and secondary qualities is a peculiarity between qualities which depend for their existence on the relation between an object and a perceptual device. An example of this would be smell and color, which has properties that an object has independently of any perceiver. What objectively, with out bias, exist and what merely subjectively exist? When something is clear and distinct it is true, and when it is not clear and distinct, like sensations that can be interpreted differently, it is false. Berkeley rejects this notion of primary and secondary quality distinction, which implies that material things exist independently of us. Philonous continues to argue against Hylas when he explains that sensible things are defined as those things that are immediately perceived; therefore, eliminating mediated perception. He gives a case by case examination of sensible qualities; such as heat and cold; sound; and colors. None of these qualities contain the ability of pleasure or pain independently because that is an identify we give it; therefore we give it its existence. He rejects Hylas claim that heat is motion, and he also proclaims that color varies with light. Philonous reminds Hylas that causes of ideas are not immediately perceive, and thus are not perceived at all; this makes them non- sensible things. Berkeley aimed to demonstrate that materialism is artificial because we have no reason to believe in the reality of mind autonomous material objects. He attempted to prove that we have no immediate perception of mind-independent material objects, so we have no source on which to assume the existence of mind-independent material objects from our instant experience. One can not imagine of primary qualities in objects totally separately of their secondary qualities. Therefore, primary qualities must exist in the mind, just as secondary qualities do.

The Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients with Severe Depression

The Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients with Severe Depression or Schizophrenia â€Å"In surveys, individuals with both a history of severe depression and a history of physical trauma due to an accident ranked the pain of mental illness as much worse than that of physical trauma† (Isaac 5). Mental illnesses cause immense suffering and potentially even death; in the year 2000, the suicide rate of patients suffering from depression was estimated at fifteen percent. This is a testament to the fact that mental illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia are serious issues, and those suffering from them deserve the most effective treatment available. Many psychiatrists turn to anti-depressants and â€Å"talk-therapy† in attempts to heal their patients; however, there are other options. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as electroshock, or simply electrotherapy, is a controversial treatment of numerous mental illnesses, including depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders. The procedure consists of sending an elect ric current through the brain, essentially shocking it and inducing a seizure. There are many known side-effects, including memory loss; however, their prevalence and magnitude are much debated and far over-dramatized, creating a negative reputation. The origin of this reputation lies in electroconvulsive therapy’s questionable history. Many people look at the use of electroshock in the past, rather than the current advancements that have been made, providing an unfair prejudice regarding the procedure’s use today and causing the population to associate electroconvulsive therapy with images of torture. Despite the preconceived notions that the procedure is cruel and often unsuccess... ...lectroconvulsive Therapy is an Effective Treatment for Schizophrenia and Depression.† Mental Illness. Ed. Tamara L. Roleff and Laura K. Egendorf. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2000. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. George Mason University. 28 Sep. 2012.. Kneeland, Timothy W., and Carol A.B. Warren. Pushbutton Psychiatry: A History of Electroshock in America. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 2002. Sherer, Richard A.  "Kitty Dukakis Book: In Praise of ECT- Despite the Memory Issue.(electroconvulsive therapy)(Shock: The Healing Power of Electroconvulsive Therapy)."  Psychiatric Times  23.13  (Nov 1, 2006):  1.  Expanded Academic ASAP.  Thomson Gale.  George Mason University.  7 Dec. 2012.   . Thackery, Ellen, and Madeline Harris. The Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Group, 2003. The Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients with Severe Depression The Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients with Severe Depression or Schizophrenia â€Å"In surveys, individuals with both a history of severe depression and a history of physical trauma due to an accident ranked the pain of mental illness as much worse than that of physical trauma† (Isaac 5). Mental illnesses cause immense suffering and potentially even death; in the year 2000, the suicide rate of patients suffering from depression was estimated at fifteen percent. This is a testament to the fact that mental illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia are serious issues, and those suffering from them deserve the most effective treatment available. Many psychiatrists turn to anti-depressants and â€Å"talk-therapy† in attempts to heal their patients; however, there are other options. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as electroshock, or simply electrotherapy, is a controversial treatment of numerous mental illnesses, including depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders. The procedure consists of sending an elect ric current through the brain, essentially shocking it and inducing a seizure. There are many known side-effects, including memory loss; however, their prevalence and magnitude are much debated and far over-dramatized, creating a negative reputation. The origin of this reputation lies in electroconvulsive therapy’s questionable history. Many people look at the use of electroshock in the past, rather than the current advancements that have been made, providing an unfair prejudice regarding the procedure’s use today and causing the population to associate electroconvulsive therapy with images of torture. Despite the preconceived notions that the procedure is cruel and often unsuccess... ...lectroconvulsive Therapy is an Effective Treatment for Schizophrenia and Depression.† Mental Illness. Ed. Tamara L. Roleff and Laura K. Egendorf. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2000. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. George Mason University. 28 Sep. 2012.. Kneeland, Timothy W., and Carol A.B. Warren. Pushbutton Psychiatry: A History of Electroshock in America. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 2002. Sherer, Richard A.  "Kitty Dukakis Book: In Praise of ECT- Despite the Memory Issue.(electroconvulsive therapy)(Shock: The Healing Power of Electroconvulsive Therapy)."  Psychiatric Times  23.13  (Nov 1, 2006):  1.  Expanded Academic ASAP.  Thomson Gale.  George Mason University.  7 Dec. 2012.   . Thackery, Ellen, and Madeline Harris. The Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Group, 2003.

Confidentiality and Informed Consent

In the article by Martindale, Chambers, and Thompson, we learn that Informed consent and confidentiality. A person should be informed of their right to confidentiality and the treatment they are consenting to in the therapeutic relationship. This study Is significantly Important because we are shown that there has been not very much previous research done on how well we manage consent, how Informed the patient Is, how honest they are, and what they actually know about the policies of the provider. Professionals in many settings create and utilize very ifferent techniques of informed consent and confidentiality.In professions where professionals constantly see people who are troubled. who see the everlasting devastation of grief, pain, and the disparities of people in situations that they cant change, it can be very taxing and wearing on even the most seasoned professional person, but do we actually communicate well to the patient that they have rights? In the article, we see that so many patients are so desperate to receive care that they Instantly Just â€Å"sign papers† so that the can see the psychologist.If a patient Is that esperate, how do we know that mental health professionals are performing to their maximum standards of Informing the patient about their care standards and things like who has the appropriate access to their medical information? We, as counseling psychology graduate students and professionals alike, have a strong moral and ethical responsibility to ourselves, our colleagues. and our clients to make sure that we provide appropriate documentation, informing the patients clearly of their rights and responsibilities, so that we do not potentially negatively affect the lives of other eople.In the article by Martindale, Chambers, and Thompson, In the four themes that emerge, â€Å"being referred; the participant's feelings, mental health difficulties, and their Impact; relationships with workers and carers; and autonomy (Martindale et al, p. 355)†, we see that many clients have concerns about continuing care. I think the most difficult and problematic Issue to handle there Is the patient's mental health and stability. In chapter 5 of the textbook, the ACA Code of Ethics, Section 8. 5. on informed consent states: â€Å"Responsibility to Clients.When counseling minor clients or adult clients who lack the capacity to give voluntary, Informed consent, counselors protect he confidentiality of information received in the counseling relationship as specified by federal and state laws, written policies, and applicable ethical standards. (Welfel, 2012, p. 142)†. It is the professional responsibility of the provider to be aware that the client has good mental standing to be able to know their rights. However, how dowe know upon first seeing the client that they are In a good mental standing to be completely informed? This puts providers in a tough situation.What happens to the clients they counsel who never k now of their consent rights and their confidentiality? How can we test for that if it we have no idea if the client is being honest with us? How do we know the frequency of occurrence? How do we know It Is not happening all the time? That Is why It is absolutely imperative to have open and t Of2 nonest communlcatlons wlt n tne cllent as oTten as posslDle. As graduate students, It is important for us to foster a supportive working relationship with our advisor, so hat we are absolutely sure the client is informed about what comes next in their therapy process.What if clients are too scared to ask how many sessions they have left? What if they are a â€Å"yes† person and can't say no to more or less treatment options? What if they have concerns but are too scared to ask about what is upcoming? I have personally seen a therapist who, after every session, had me fill out a questionnaire about my ability to see things clearly in the session; if I understood what my objectives were , if I understood her clearly, and if there was anything I was ersonally hesitant to share or anything that bothered me about our last session.This was extremely problematic for me because I always answered â€Å"no problems with last session† for fear that I would disappoint my provider or that she would then bring up the issue that I had experienced a problem with. I always felt uncomfortable, but continued to answer the questionnaires and continue care anyway because I needed it. In Martindale, Chambers, and Thompson's article, there are some limitations to the study. Primarily collected data were from mainly white omen.There seemed to be no measure of marginalized communities, under represented populations, or any data from the people who seem to struggle the most: people needing critical care. How would ethnic minorities respond to a provider who may not understand their cultural differences? How do we make sure those people are being informed appropriately? What about m arginalized communities who are in crisis and need care? How do we handle special situations appropriately? What about people who can't consent to appropriate care guidelines?

You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen Nobody Likes a Dead Whore Finding her boyfriend tied naked to an upright bed frame, covered in blood, with a dead, blue dominatrix at his feet would be enough to rattle some women's confidence in the stability of their relationship. Some women might even take it as a sign of trouble. But Jody had been single for a number of years – she'd dated rock musicians and stockbrokers – and was conditioned to unusual bumps on the road of romance, so she simply sighed and kicked the hooker in the ribs – more as a conversation opener than a confirmation that the ho was dead – and said, â€Å"So, rough night?† â€Å"Awk-ward,† Abby sang, peeking in the door, then immediately swinging back into the hallway. â€Å"I forgot my safety word,† Tommy said. Jody nodded. â€Å"Well, that had to be embarrassing.† â€Å"She beat me.† â€Å"You okay?† â€Å"Yeah. But it hurt. A lot.† Tommy looked past Jody toward the door. â€Å"Hi, Abby!† Abby swung around the corner. â€Å"Lord Flood,† she said, with a nod and a little grin. Then she looked down at the body, her eyes went wide, and she swung back out into the hall. â€Å"How're your sister's lice?† Tommy said. â€Å"Shampoo didn't work.† Abby called, without looking in. â€Å"We had to shave her head.† â€Å"Sorry about that.† â€Å"It's okay. She looks kind of cool, in a ‘Make a Wish kid' kind of way.† Jody said. â€Å"Abby, why don't you come in and shut the door? If someone walks by and looks in, it might, oh, I don't know, freak them out a little.† † ‘Kay,† said Abby. She stepped in and palmed the door shut behind her, as if the clicking of the door latch might actually be the thing that would attract attention. â€Å"I think I killed her,† Tommy said. â€Å"She was beating me, and she wanted me to bite her, so I did. I think I drained her dry.† â€Å"Well, she's dead all right.† Jody reached down and tossed the blue hooker's arm up. It fell back to the floor. â€Å"But you didn't drain her.† â€Å"I didn't?† â€Å"She'd be dust if you did. Heart attack or stroke or something. Looks like most of her blood went on you and the carpet.†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"Yeah, I sort of tore her throat out and she fell before I could finish.† â€Å"Well, what did she expect? You were tied up.† â€Å"You don't seem that bothered by it. I thought you'd be jealous.† â€Å"Did you ask her to bring you here and beat you until you snapped and killed her?† â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"Did you encourage her to beat you until you snapped and killed her?† â€Å"Of course not.† â€Å"And you didn't get off on her beating you until you snapped and killed her.† â€Å"Honestly?† â€Å"You're naked and chained to a bed frame, and I'm just inches away from both a riding crop and your genitals. I think honesty would be a good policy.† â€Å"Well, honestly, the killing part was kind of a turn-on.† â€Å"But not sexual.† â€Å"No way. It was totally homicidal lust.† â€Å"Then we're okay.† â€Å"Really, you're not mad?† â€Å"I'm just glad you're okay.† â€Å"I should feel bad about it, I know, but I don't.† â€Å"That happens.† â€Å"Some bitches just need killing,† Abby said, looking briefly at Tommy, then realizing he was naked under all that blood, looking away quickly. â€Å"There you go,† Jody said. She stepped up and began to undo his restraints. They were double bands of fleece and nylon, with heavy metal shackles locked over them. â€Å"What did she buy these for, to handcuff a grizzly bear? Abby, check the body for a key.† â€Å"Nuh-uh,† Abby said, staring down at the dead blue hooker. Jody noticed that the kid was focused on the breasts, which were defying gravity, and apparently death itself, by standing there at complete attention. â€Å"Those aren't real,† Jody said. â€Å"I knew that.† â€Å"She was a very mean woman,† Tommy said, trying to help. â€Å"With really big but insincere boobs. Don't be afraid.† Abby tore her gaze from the dead woman's chest and looked from Tommy, to Jody, to Jody's chest, and back to the body. â€Å"Fucksocks! Does everybody have big boobs but me? God, I hate you guys!† She ran out the door and slammed it behind her. â€Å"I do not have big boobs,† Jody said. â€Å"Perfectly proportioned,† Tommy said. â€Å"Perfect, really.† â€Å"Thanks, sweetie,† Jody said, kissing him on the lips lightly so as not to get a taste of the whore's blood. â€Å"I think I saw her hang the key in Lash's Forty-Fucking-Niners hat rack by the door.† â€Å"I really need to teach you how to go to mist,† Jody said, retrieving the key. â€Å"Yeah, that would have helped me avoid a lot of this.† â€Å"You know the Animals sold you out, right?† â€Å"I can't see them doing that. She must have blackmailed them or something.† â€Å"Clint told the cops, too. Rivera and Cavuto had our loft staked out.† â€Å"Clint doesn't really count, though. He traded in all his moral credibility in this world when he committed to live forever.† â€Å"Amazing how badly the promise of immortality makes people behave.† â€Å"Like it doesn't matter how you treat people,† Tommy said. â€Å"There!† Jody finally got the shackle on Tommy's right wrist unlocked and started working on the left. They were heavy, but she thought that given the motivation of torture, she could have broken loose, or at least torn apart the bed frame. â€Å"You couldn't just snap these?† â€Å"I guess I need to work out.† He scratched his nose furiously. â€Å"So, should we hide the body or something?† â€Å"No, I think it's a good warning for your buddies.† â€Å"Right.† â€Å"What about the cops?† â€Å"Not our problem,† she said as she twisted the key in the lock and snapped the restraint off his left wrist. â€Å"We don't have a dead blue hooker in our apartment.† â€Å"That's an excellent point,† Tommy said, rubbing his wrist. â€Å"Thank you for rescuing me, by the way. I love you.† He grabbed her and pulled her to him, nearly tumbling over on his face when she stepped back and he encountered the resistance of his ankle restraints. â€Å"I love you, too,† she said, palming his forehead and pushing him back on balance, â€Å"but you are covered with skank oil and you will not get it on my new leather jacket.† In the cab, Abby pouted – sticking out her lower lip far enough that pink was showing above her black lipstick, making her look vaguely like a cat eating a plum. â€Å"Just drop me at my house.† Tommy, who sat in the middle, wearing one of Lash's Forty-Niners jerseys, put his arm around Abby's shoulders to comfort her. â€Å"It's okay, kid. You did great. We are most pleased with you.† Abby snorted and looked out the window. Jody, in turn, put her arm around Tommy's neck and dug her nails into his shoulder. â€Å"Shut up,† she whispered, so soft that only Tommy would be able to hear it. â€Å"You're not helping.† â€Å"Look, Abby,† Jody said, â€Å"it's not something that happens all at once, like in the movies. Sometimes you have to eat bugs for years before you become one of the chosen.† â€Å"I know I did,† Tommy said. â€Å"Beetles, bugs, spiders, mice, rats, snakes, marmosets, OUCH! Stop that, I've been tortured already tonight.† â€Å"You two are just into each other,† Abby said. â€Å"You don't care about anyone else. We're like cattle to you.† The cabdriver, who was a Hindu, looked in the rear-view mirror. â€Å"So what's your point?† Jody said. Tommy elbowed her in the ribs. â€Å"Kidding. Jeez. Abby, we care very deeply about you. We've trusted you with everything. In fact, you may have saved my life tonight.† Tommy reared back and looked at Jody. â€Å"Long story,† the redhead said. Then to Abby again: â€Å"Get some rest and come to the loft tomorrow at dusk. We'll talk about your future.† Abby crossed her arms. â€Å"Tomorrow is Christmas. I'm trapped with the family.† â€Å"Tomorrow is Christmas?† Tommy said. â€Å"Yeah,† Jody said. â€Å"So?† â€Å"The Animals won't be working. I have some issues with them.† â€Å"You were thinking revenge?† â€Å"Well, yeah.† Jody patted the flight bag on the seat, which held all of the money that the Animals had paid to Blue, almost six hundred thousand dollars. â€Å"I think you have that covered.† Tommy frowned. â€Å"I'm beginning to doubt the steadiness of your moral compass.† â€Å"Sure, I'm the one with skewed ethics, when you spent the whole night tied up and beaten by a blue dominatrix and then ripping her throat out.† â€Å"You make everything sound so sleazy.† Abby put her fingers in her mouth and whistled – shrill and nearly deafening in the enclosed space. â€Å"Hello, there's a cabdriver here. Would you two shut the fuck up.† â€Å"Hey,† Jody said. â€Å"Hey,† Tommy said. â€Å"Hey, you, little creepy girl,† said the cabdriver, â€Å"you will not be whistling in my cab again or I will be putting you out on the curb.† â€Å"Sorry,† Abby said. â€Å"Sorry,† Tommy and Jody said in unison. With the exception of the odd serial killer, and car salesmen who think of them as the perfect unit for measuring trunk space, nobody likes a dead whore. (â€Å"Yeah, you can get five-maybe six dead hookers in this baby.†) â€Å"She looks so natural,† said Troy Lee, looking down on Blue. â€Å"Except for the way her arm is bent under her – and the riding crop – and the blood everywhere, I mean.† â€Å"And she's blue,† said Lash. The other Animals nodded mournfully. It was turning out to be a stressful morning for the Animals: cleaning up the mess that Jody had made of the store, getting Drew to the emergency room to get his forehead sewn up where the wine bottle had hit him (they immediately passed around the painkillers he was prescribed, which help to take the edge off), then explaining the broken front window to the manager when he came in, and now this – â€Å"You're the one with almost an MBA,† Barry, the short balding one, said to Lash. â€Å"You should know what to do.† â€Å"They don't cover what to do with a dead hooker,† Lash countered. â€Å"That's a whole different program. Political science, I think.† Despite the dulling they'd given themselves with the painkillers and a case of beer they'd shared in the parking lot at the Safeway, they were all feeling sad, and a little frightened. â€Å"Gustavo is the porter,† Clint said. â€Å"Shouldn't he do the cleanups?† â€Å"Ahhhhh!† said Jeff, the tall ex-jock, as he thumped Clint on the head with a protruding knuckle. Feeling like the knuckle might not quite be enough, he snatched off Clint's horn-rimmed glasses and threw them to Troy Lee, who snapped them into four neat pieces and handed them back to Clint. â€Å"This is all your fault,† Lash said. â€Å"If you hadn't ratted Flood out to the cops, this wouldn't have happened.† â€Å"I just told them that Tommy was a vampire,† Clint whined. â€Å"I didn't tell them he was here. I didn't tell them about your whore of Babylon.† â€Å"You didn't know her like we did,† Barry added, his voice breaking a little. â€Å"She was special.† â€Å"Expensive,† Drew said. â€Å"S, expensive,† added Gustavo. â€Å"She probably could finally afford to go to Babylon,† said Lash. â€Å"Forgive them, for they know not what they do,† Clint said. Troy Lee bent and examined Blue, careful not to touch her. â€Å"It's hard to see bruising through the blue dye, but I guess she broke her neck. The blood must be Flood's. I don't see any marks on her.† â€Å"No bite marks, you mean,† said Clint. â€Å"Of course that's what I mean, nit wit. You know Flood's girlfriend did this, right?† â€Å"How do you know?† Lash asked. â€Å"It could have been Flood.† â€Å"I don't think so,† said Troy Lee. â€Å"Tommy was tied up here – see the orange crap all over the restraints. And these were unlocked, not broken.† â€Å"Maybe when Blue let him go he killed her.† Troy Lee picked something off of Blue's face, as delicately as if he were taking her ghost. â€Å"Except for this.† He held a long red hair up where Lash could see it. â€Å"No reason for her to be here, if Flood was loose.† â€Å"Dude, you're like one of those CSI guys,† Drew said. â€Å"We should call those two homicide cops,† Barry said, like he was the first who might have thought of it. â€Å"And tell them to come help us with our dead hooker,† Lash said. â€Å"Well they know about the vampires,† Barry said. â€Å"Maybe they'll help us.† â€Å"How 'bout we move her to your apartment, and then call them?† â€Å"Well, what are we going to do with her?† Barry said, standing feet apart, hands behind his back, a brave Hobbit ready to face a dragon. Troy Lee shrugged. â€Å"Wait until dark, then drop her in the Bay?† â€Å"I can't bear to touch her,† Barry said. â€Å"Not after the moments we shared.† â€Å"You little puntas,† Gustavo said, stepping up and beginning to roll up the bloodstained rug. He had a wife and five children, and although he had never disposed of a dead hooker before, he thought that it couldn't be any worse than changing the diaper on a gloopy infant. The other Animals all looked at one another, embarrassed, until Gustavo growled at them and they jumped to move the heavy bed frame out of his way. â€Å"I never really liked her that much, anyway,† Barry said. â€Å"She really did take advantage of us,† Jeff said. â€Å"I just went along with you guys so I didn't ruin the party,† said Troy Lee. â€Å"I didn't enjoy even half of those blow jobs.† â€Å"Let's just put her in my closet until tonight, then a couple of us can sneak the bitch out to Hunter's Point and drop her off.† â€Å"On Christmas?† Drew asked. â€Å"Can't believe she took all our money and now she's going to ruin Christmas,† said Troy Lee. â€Å"Our money!† said Lash. â€Å"That bitch!† Nobody likes a dead whore. â€Å"I do like a dead whore now and then,† said the vampire Elijah Ben Sapir, derailing a perfectly good theme. He'd snapped the whore's neck right before she was completely drained so there would be a body. â€Å"But one doesn't want to be too obvious.† He dragged the whore's body behind a Dumpster, and watched as the wounds on her neck healed over. He'd taken her in an alley near Tenth and Mission streets. He'd had the hood up on the oversized tracksuit he was wearing, so she'd been surprised when they'd ventured down the alley and he threw it back to reveal a very pale Semitic man. â€Å"Look at-chew. Thought baby was a playa – † the whore had said, her last words. She'd only had a hundred dollars on her, which, along with the tracksuit and a pair of Nikes, were the complete resources the ancient vampire had at his disposal. He'd come to the city in a yacht worth millions, filled with art worth millions more, and now he was reduced to making kills for petty cash. Of course he owned several homes around the world, and had stashes of cash put away in a dozen cities, but it would take some time to access it. And perhaps it wasn't so bad to have the wolf at the door, for a change. After all, he'd come to the City and taken a new fledgling in order to alleviate his boredom. (It's very hard to feel alive when you've been dead for eight hundred years.) And she had done that. He was not bored – and he felt very much alive. He walked out of the alley and checked the sky. Dawn was threatening – he had perhaps twenty minutes until sunup. â€Å"Where does the time go?† He crossed the street and was buzzed into a hotel with a sign that read for rent, by hour, day, or week. He could smell the cigarettes, sweat, and heroin on the desk clerk, and he kept his head down so the hood covered his face. â€Å"Do you have a room without a window?† â€Å"Twenty-five bucks, like all the others,† the clerk said. â€Å"You want sheets? Sheets are five more.† The vampire smiled. â€Å"No, I don't want to spoil myself.† He paid the clerk, took the key, and trudged up the steps. Yes, he felt very much alive. One really can't appreciate what one has until it's gone. And without a significant loss, how would one enjoy the process of revenge?

Morality of War essays

Morality of War essays In the wake of the destruction of September 11th, 2001, the United States of America were faced with an insecure future. With massive amounts of anti-American sentiments present all over the world, along with the growing threat of more terrorism against the US, President George W. Bush was forced to make a decision on whether or not to send the country to war. The war in Iraq was morally justified because Bush had a moral obligation to protect the interests of US citizens. Iraq presented a great threat to the United States as a whole, with the weapons of mass destruction that American allies believed to exist, posing destruction of insurmountable amounts if utilized by Saddam Hussein against American lives. Hussein, the leader of Iraq, had been killing massive amounts of his citizens in genocide as well. Bush had enough evidence to know that American lives were threatened, so his decision to go to war with Iraq was morally justified. The United States had been subject to terrorism from other countries in the Middle East for years, most notably the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11. To protect the US from further attacks from the Middle East, Bush led the country into war to put a stop to the terror. In Iraq Bush had a country that had provided aide to terrorism and was openly opposing UN orders regarding the weapons of mass destruction. Bush chose Iraq as a country to make an example of, in order to prevent more terrorism attacks on the US, and thus protect the lives of US citizens. Iraq was setting the stage for other countries to attack the US. In showing that they could sidestep the UN whenever it wanted, Iraq was in essence laying a blueprint to show how to terrorize America. With no strong deterrence from the US or its allies, Iraq was free to terrorize anyone in ways that Hussein saw fit. Bush knew that invading Iraq and taking Hussein out of power was going to be a relatively easy task, which is ...

Beware of the Media essays

Beware of the Media essays Through out the history of the United States of America, the Constitution has constantly been put challenged and tried. The first amendment guarantees freedom of speech and the press. The great founders of this incredible country originally created the first amendment to enable colonists to defy the British and create a new standard of living. The press in the 17th century was generally accurate and informative with little competition among journalists. However, today in the 21st century, the media has evolved into a mass of . Due to incredibly high amount of competition among journalists today, the information is usually exaggerated and slanderous in order to capture a viewing audience. The media is everywhere you turn. You can find the media in various forms such as television, radio, magazines, newspapers, and now on the information superhighway. In the process of capturing ratings, who is the media hurting more? Is it people who are accused of a crime, such as O.J. Simpson, or is it the American publics stupidity for believing everything they hear? Limitations greatly need to placed upon the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution in regard to freedom of the press because presently the media is doing more harm than good. The job of the media is to find the truth and tell it to the people. The media has the power to inform the public, but often the information they receive is distorted. The media has shaped our view of society and the process by which we choose our leaders, make our rules, and construct our values. The media has the power, although indirectly, to encourage people to like or hate the government. The media promotes what it believes is easiest for the public to accept, but in the process it fails to cover the issues adequately. The media can make us wiser, fuller, sure and sweeter than we are. (Orr 61) But, the media can also cloud the publics judgments, and cause confusion and disill...