The Vampire Diaries: The Fury Chapter Ten

December 12, Thursday morning Dear Diary, So after a week of work, what have we accomplished? Well, between us we've managed to follow our three suspects just about continuously for the last six or seven days. Results: reports on Robert's movements for the last week, which he spent acting like any normal businessman. Reports on Alaric, who hasn't been doing anything unusual for a history teacher. Reports on Mrs. Flowers, who apparently spends most of her time in the basement. But we haven't really learned anything. Stefan says that Alaric met with the principal a couple times, but he couldn't get close enough to hear what they were talking about. Meredith and Bonnie spread the news about other pets besides dogs being dangerous. They didn't need to work very hard at it; it seems as if everybody in town is on the verge of hysteria already. Since then there've been several other animal attacks reported, but it's hard to know which ones to take seriously. Some kids were teasing a squirrel and it bit them. The Massases' pet rabbit scratched their littlest boy. Old Mrs. Coomber saw copperhead snakes in her yard, when all the snakes should be hibernating. The only one I'm sure about is the attack on the vet who was keeping the dogs in quarantine. A bunch of them bit him and most of them escaped from the holding pens. After that they just disappeared. People are saying good riddance and hoping they'll starve in the woods, but I wonder. And it's been snowing all the time. Not storming but not stopping, either. I've never seen so much snow. Stefan's worried about the dance tomorrow night. Which brings us back to: what have we learned so far? What do we know? None of our suspects were anywhere near the Massases' or Mrs. Coomber's or the vet's when the attacks happened. We're no closer to finding the Other Power than we were when we started. Marie's little get-together is tonight. Meredith thinks we should go to it. I don't know what else there is to do. Damon stretched out his long legs and spoke lazily, looking around the barn. â€Å"No, I don't think it's dangerous, particularly. But I don't see what you expect to accomplish.† â€Å"Neither do I, exactly,† Elena admitted. â€Å"But I don't have any better ideas. Do you?† â€Å"What, you mean about other ways to spend the time? Yes, I do. Do you want me to tell you about them?† Elena waved him to silence and he subsided. â€Å"In the basement,† chorused several voices. â€Å"And we're all just sitting here. Does anybody have a better idea?† Meredith broke the silence. â€Å"If you're worried about its being dangerous for me and Bonnie, why don't you all come? I don't mean you have to show yourselves. You could come and hide in the attic. Then if anything happened, we could scream for help and you would hear us.† â€Å"I don't see why anybody's going to be screaming,† said Bonnie. â€Å"Nothing's going to happen there.† â€Å"Well, maybe not, but it doesn't hurt to be safe,† Meredith said. â€Å"What do you think?† Elena nodded slowly. â€Å"It makes sense.† She looked around for objections, but Stefan just shrugged, and Damon murmured something that made Bonnie laugh. â€Å"All right, then, it's decided. Let's go.† The inevitable snow greeted them as they stepped outside the barn. â€Å"Bonnie and I can go in my car,† Meredith said. â€Å"And you three-â€Å" â€Å"Oh, we'll find our own way,† Damon said with his wolfish smile. Meredith nodded, not impressed. Funny, Elena thought as the other girls walked away; Meredith never was impressed with Damon. His charm seemed to have no effect on her. She was about to mention that she was hungry when Stefan turned to Damon. â€Å"Are you willing to stay with Elena the entire time you're over there? Every minute?† he said. â€Å"Try and stop me,† Damon said cheerfully. He dropped the smile. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because if you are, the two of you can go over alone, and I'll meet you later. I've got something to do, but it won't take long.† Elena felt a wave of warmth. He was trying to trust his brother. She smiled at Stefan in approval as he drew her aside. â€Å"What is it?† â€Å"I got a note from Caroline today. She asked if I would meet her at the school before Alaric's party. She said she wanted to apologize. Elena opened her mouth to make a sharp remark, and then shut it again. From what she'd heard, Caroline was a sorry sight these days. And maybe it would make Stefan feel better to talk to her. â€Å"Well, you don't have anything to apologize for,† she told him. â€Å"Everything that happened to her was her own fault. You don't think she's dangerous at all?† â€Å"Be careful,† Elena said as he started off into the snow. The attic was as she remembered it, dark and dusty and full of mysterious oilcloth-covered shapes. Damon, who had come in more conventionally through the front door, had had to take the shutters off to let her in through the window. After that they sat side by side on the old mattress and listened to the voices that came up through the ducts. â€Å"I could think of more romantic settings,† Damon murmured, fastidiously pulling a cobweb off his sleeve. â€Å"Are you sure you wouldn't rather-â€Å" â€Å"Yes,† said Elena. â€Å"Now hush.† It was like a game, listening to the bits and pieces of conversations and trying to put them together, trying to match each voice to a face. â€Å"And then I said, I don't care how long you've had the parakeet; get rid of it or I'm going to the Snow Dance with Mike Feldman. And he said-â€Å" â€Å"-rumor going around that Mr. Tanner's grave was dug up last night-â€Å" â€Å"-you hear that everybody but Caroline has dropped out of the snow queen competition? Don't you think-â€Å" â€Å"-dead, but I'm telling you I saw her. And no, I wasn't dreaming; she was wearing a sort of silvery dress and her hair was all golden and blowing-â€Å" Elena raised her eyebrows at Damon, then looked meaningfully down at her sensible black attire. He grinned. â€Å"Romanticism,† he said. â€Å"Myself, I like you in black.† â€Å"Well, you would, wouldn't you?† she murmured. It was strange how much more comfortable she felt with Damon these days. She sat quietly, letting the conversations drift around her, almost losing track of time. Then she caught a familiar voice, cross, and closer than the rest. â€Å"Okay, okay, I'm going. Okay.† Elena and Damon exchanged a glance and rose to their feet as the handle on the attic door turned. Bonnie peered around the edge. â€Å"Meredith told me to come up here. I don't know why. She's hogging Alaric and it's a rotten party. Achoo!† She sat down on the mattress, and after a few minutes Elena sat back down beside her. She was beginning to wish that Stefan would get here. By the time the door opened again and Meredith came in, she was sure of it. â€Å"Meredith, what's going on?† â€Å"Nothing, or at least nothing to worry about. Where's Stefan?† Meredith's cheeks were unusually flushed, and there was an odd look about her eyes, as if she were holding something tightly under control. â€Å"Nothing, or at least nothing to worry about. Where's Stefan?† Meredith's cheeks were unusually flushed, and there was an odd look about her eyes, as if she were holding something tightly under control. â€Å"Never mind where he is. Who's coming up the stairs?† â€Å"What do you mean, ‘who's coming up the stairs?' † said Bonnie, rising. â€Å"Everybody just stay calm,† Meredith said, taking up a position in front of the window as if guarding it. She didn't look overly calm herself, Elena thought. â€Å"All right,† she called, and the door opened and Alaric Saltzman came in. Damon's motion was so smooth that even Elena's eyes couldn't follow it; in one movement he caught Elena's wrist and pulled her behind him, at the same time moving to face Alaric directly. He ended in a predator's crouch, every muscle drawn taut and ready for the attack. â€Å"Oh, don't,† cried Bonnie wildly. She flung herself at Alaric, who had already begun to recoil a step from Damon. Alaric nearly lost his balance and groped behind himself for the door. His other hand was groping at his belt. â€Å"Stop it! Stop it!† Meredith said. Elena saw the shape beneath Alaric's jacket and realized it was a gun. Again, she couldn't quite follow what happened next. Damon let go of her wrist and took hold of Alaric's. And then Alaric was sitting on the floor, wearing a dazed expression, and Damon was emptying the gun of cartridges, one by one. â€Å"I told you that was stupid and you wouldn't need it,† Meredith said. Elena realized she was holding the dark-haired girl by the arms. She must have done it to keep Meredith from interfering with Damon, but she didn't remember. â€Å"These wood-tipped things are nasty; they might hurt somebody,† Damon said, mildly chiding. He replaced one of the cartridges and snapped the clip back in, aiming thoughtfully at Alaric. â€Å"Stop it,† said Meredith intensely. She turned to Elena. â€Å"Make him stop, Elena; he's only doing more harm. Alaric won't hurt you; I promise. I've spent all week convincing him that you won't hurt him.† â€Å"And now I think my wrist is broken,† Alaric said, rather calmly. His sandy hair was falling into his eyes in front. â€Å"You've got no one but yourself to blame.† Meredith returned bitterly. Bonnie, who had been clutching solicitously at Alaric's shoulders, looked up at the familiarity of Meredith's tone, and then backed away a few paces and sat down. â€Å"I can't wait to hear the explanation for this,† she said. â€Å"Please trust me,† Meredith said to Elena. Elena looked into the dark eyes. She did trust Meredith; she'd said so. And the words stirred another memory, her own voice asking for Stefan's trust. She nodded. â€Å"Damon?† she said. He flipped the gun away casually and then smiled around at all of them, making it abundantly clear that he didn't need any such artificial weapons. â€Å"Damon?† she said. He flipped the gun away casually and then smiled around at all of them, making it abundantly clear that he didn't need any such artificial weapons. â€Å"Oh, I'm sure,† Bonnie said. Elena walked toward Alaric Saltzman. She wasn't afraid of him, but by the way he looked only at her, slowly, starting from the feet and then continuing up, he was afraid of her. She stopped when she was a yard from where he sat on the ground and knelt there, looking into his face. â€Å"Hello,† she said. He was still holding his wrist. â€Å"Hello,† he said, and gulped. Elena glanced back at Meredith and then looked at Alaric again. Yes, he was scared. And with his hair in his eyes that way, he looked young. Maybe four years older than Elena, maybe five. No more than that. â€Å"We're not going to hurt you,† she said. â€Å"That's what I've been telling him,† Meredith said quietly. â€Å"I explained that whatever he's seen before, whatever stories he's heard, you're different. I told him what you told me about Stefan, how he's been fighting his nature all those years. I told him about what you've been going through, Elena, and how you never asked for this.† But why did you tell him so much? Elena thought. She said to Alaric, â€Å"All right, you know about us. But all we know about you is that you're not a history teacher.† â€Å"He's a hunter,† Damon said softly, menacingly. â€Å"A vampire hunter.† â€Å"No,† said Alaric. â€Å"Or at least, not in the sense that you mean it.† He seemed to come to some decision. â€Å"All right. From what I know of you three-† He broke off, looking around the dark room as if suddenly realizing something. â€Å"Where's Stefan?† â€Å"He's coming. In fact, he should be here by now. He was going to stop by the school and bring Caroline,† Elena said. She was unprepared for Alaric's reaction. â€Å"Caroline Forbes?† he said sharply, sitting up. His voice sounded the way it had when she'd overheard him talking with Dr. Fein' berg and the principal, hard-edged and decisive. â€Å"Yes. She sent him a note today, said she wanted to apologize or something. She wanted to meet him at school before the party.† â€Å"He can't go. You've got to stop him.† Alaric scrambled to his feet and repeated urgently, â€Å"You've got to stop him.† â€Å"He's gone already. Why? Why shouldn't he?† Elena demanded. â€Å"Because I hypnotized Caroline two days ago. I'd tried it earlier with Tyler, with no luck. But Caroline's a good subject, and she remembered a little of what happened in the Quonset hut. And she identified Stefan Salvatore as the attacker.† â€Å"Don't you understand? You're not just dealing with high school students anymore,† Alaric said. â€Å"It's gone too far. Caroline's father knows about it, and Tyler's father. They're concerned for the safety of the town-â€Å" â€Å"Hush! Be quiet!† Elena was casting about with her mind, trying to pick up some hint of Stefan's presence. He's let himself get weak, she thought, with the part of her that was icy calm amid the whirling fear and panic. At last she sensed something, just a trace, but she thought it was Stefan. And it was in distress. â€Å"Something's wrong,† Damon confirmed, and she realized he must have been searching, too, with a mind much more powerful than hers. â€Å"Let's go.† â€Å"Wait, let's talk first. Don't just go jumping into this.† But Alaric might as well have been talking to the wind, trying to rein in its destructive power with words. Damon was already at the window, and the next moment Elena let herself drop out, landing neatly by Damon in the snow. Alaric's voice followed them from above. â€Å"We're coming, too. Wait for us there. Let me talk to them first. I can take care of it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena scarcely heard him. Her mind was burning with one purpose, one thought. To hurt the people who wanted to hurt Stefan. It's gone too far, all right, she thought. And now I'm going to go as far as it takes. If they dare to touch him†¦ images flashed through her mind, too quickly to count, of what she would do to them. At another time, she might have been shocked at the rush of adrenaline, of excitement, that coursed up at the thoughts. She could sense Damon's mind beside her as they raced over the snow; it was like a blaze of red light and fury. The fierceness inside Elena welcomed it, glad to feel it so near. But then something else occurred to her. â€Å"I'm slowing you down,† she said. She was scarcely out of breath, even from running through unbroken snow, and they were making extraordinary time. But nothing on two legs, or even four, could match the speed of a bird's wings. â€Å"Go on,† she said. â€Å"Get there as fast as you can. I'll meet you.† She didn't stay to watch the blur and shudder of the air, or the swirling darkness that ended in the rush of beating wings. But she glanced up at the crow that soared up and she heard Damon's mental voice. Good hunting, it said, and the winged black shape arrowed toward the school. Good hunting, Elena thought after him, meaning it. She redoubled her speed, her mind fixed all the while on that glimmer of Stefan's presence. Stefan lay on his back, wishing his vision wasn't so blurred or that he had more than a tentative hold on consciousness. The blur was partly pain and partly snow, but there was also a trickle of blood from the three-inch wound in his scalp. If only he could collect his thoughts enough to call for help†¦ but the weakness that had allowed these men to overcome him so easily prevented that, too. He'd scarcely fed since the night he'd attacked Tyler. That was ironic, somehow. His own guilt was responsible for the mess he was in. I should never have tried to change my nature, he thought. Damon had it right after all. Everyone's the same-Alaric, Caroline, everyone. Everyone will betray you. I should have hunted them all and enjoyed it. He hoped Damon would take care of Elena. She'd be safe with him; Damon was strong and ruthless. Damon would teach her to survive. He was glad of that. But something inside him was crying. The crow's sharp eyes spotted the crossing shafts of headlight below and dropped. But Damon didn't need the confirmation of sight; he was homing in on the faint pulsation that was Stefan's life-force. Faint because Stefan was weak and because he'd all but given up. You never learn, do you, brother? Damon thought to him. I ought to just leave you where you are. But even as he skimmed the ground, he was changing, taking a shape that would do more damage than a crow. The black wolf leaped into the knot of men surrounding Stefan, aiming precisely for the one holding the sharpened cylinder of wood above Stefan's chest. The force of the blow knocked the man ten feet backward, and the stake went skittering across the grass. Damon restrained his impulse-all the stronger because it fit the instincts of the shape he was wearing-to lock his teeth in the man's throat. He twisted around and went back for the other men who were still standing. His second rush scattered them, but one of them reached the edge of the light and turned, lifting something to his shoulder. Rifle, thought Damon. And probably loaded with the same specially treated bullets as Alaric's handgun had been. There was no way to reach the man before he could get a shot off. The wolf growled and crouched for a leap anyway. The man's fleshy face creased in a smile. Quick as a striking snake, a white hand reached out of the darkness and knocked the rifle away. The man looked around frantically, bewildered, and the wolf let its jaws fall open in a grin. Elena had arrived.

Discuss the causes of World War I Essay

The most prominent factors which led to World War 1 were nationalism, militarism, imperialism, the Balkan and Morocco crises, and the alliance system. As luck would have it, these factors either started in response to, or because of each other. The alliance system was one of the last factors to emerge before the war. The alliance system was a main cause of World War 1; it came into play because of a few factors, and did not cause the war alone. Nationalism, the love and support of one’s country, has always existed. During this time, nonetheless, it took part in the culmination of one of the most famous wars in history. As so much pride was devoted to countries, it made the potential for peace between past rivals less likely. It also meant that most nations, particularly the great powers, would rather fight a war than back down from a rival’s diplomacy. Since no country felt easy about fighting in a war alone, nationalism was a contributing factor to the alliance system. Allies provided a lot of ease with the growing militaries in almost every country. Militarism, a policy of aggressive military preparedness, in this period of time gave all countries great reason to feel the heavy weight of a looming war. Great Britain had a naval policy to have the largest military force hands down. That, along with the predominate feeling of war, provided countries with a strong reason to create an incredibly strong military force. This led to an arms race, which made the impending war seem certain. The military planning in some countries also caused an increased fear of war. Military machines were being developed; each country was appointing a staff of experts. The greatest problem with this was the fear that the expert would precipitate war under a looming timetable. The alliance system was born from these two factors. If two or more countries are allied with each other they have a better chance of defeating their common enemy if war was declared. They also have a higher likelihood of winning if they have alliances providing support. Imperialism is defined as the control of people by another politically, economic exploitation, or the imposition of culture on another group. This not only played a large part in the creation of the alliance system, but it  also created enemies for many countries, which were grounds for war. For example, Austria wanted to dominate the Balkans in order to check for propaganda coming from Serbia. Germany supported Austria in its Balkan policy because it wanted to exploit the rich resources of Asia Minor, and had to have a peaceful route through the Balkans to get there. In this way, it led to the alliance of Germany and Austria when war was in the near future. Imperialism led countries to have conflicting national interests as well, which also led to war. Each country thought they were right and wanted to convert other cultures to be more like their own. With nationalism, militarism, and imperialism all showing a large presence at the same period, a solid ground was formed for the alliance system to build itself on. The Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria was formed, the Triple Alliance between Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy was created, and the Triple Entente was created between France, Russia, and Great Britain. Although the Triple Entente was not an official alliance, they all maintained a very close understanding, and were viewed by many as a threat. The crises in Morocco and the Balkans had a devastating result because it was one right after the other. The 3rd Balkan crisis led to what most would say was the immediate cause of the war. It was what caused the most damage, possibly only because it was followed soon after the first two. On June 28, 1914, the Black Hand, a Bosnian revolutionary, assassinated the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Francis Ferdinand. In retaliation, Austria decided to end the South Slav separatism, and issued an ultimatum. Austrian officials must be allowed to collaborate in the investigation and punishment of the assassinators. Austria, with the support of Germany, then declared war against the Serbs, since they had refused the ultimatum. Then, on August 1, 1914, Germany demanded that Russia’s military mobilization cease, and when Russia refused, Germany declared war. Russia then declared war on France, convinced that it would enter anyway. Germany was devastated when Great Britain entered the war. As one country declared war on another all alliances were brought into the war, and the First World War soon took place, thus, the alliance system  holds the greatest responsibility for the breakout of a world war. However, the alliance system might have never occurred had it not been for nationalism, militarism, and imperialism. Furthermore, the Morocco and Balkan crises did not directly cause the war, but they were used as justification for the war to begin. That’s why, many factors contributed to the formation of the alliance system, which led to tension between enemy countries, and the third Balkan crisis paved the way for the Great War to begin. Western Civilization: Since 1500, Chapters 13-29, Vol. 2 : Jackson J. Spielvogel (Paperback)Wikipedia

Why Islamic Financial Institutions in Need for Corporate Governance Essay

Why Islamic Financial Institutions in Need for Corporate Governance Legal Framework - Essay Example Islamic finanical systems were particularly sucessful in the pre-colonial era but were methodologicaly replaced by conventional financial institutions during the colonial era. However over the last thirty or so years, Islamic financial institutions have been making a formidible comeback. Today Islamic financial systems have not only been established in Islamic states, but also internationally. Moreover, a number of conventional banks are also offering Islamic financial services evidencing the global acceptance of Islamic financial institutions. According to the World Bank, Islamic fiancial services are offered globally via 284 financial institutions in 38 countries which are Islamic and non-Islamic states. Like any financial institution, good and effective corporate governance is necessary for the effective and efficient functioning of the institution and for the protection of stakeholder interests. The stakeholder insterest are not always monetary in nature and can include ethics, values and/or religion. For Islamic financial institution, the amin interests of stakeholders is that the institution offering Islamic financial services comply with Shariah principles. Thus Shariah-compliant functioning in an Islamic financial insitution is the key component of corporate governance in Islamic financial institutions. ... However over the last thirty or so years, Islamic financial institutions have been making a formidible comeback. Today Islamic financial systems have not only been established in Islamic states, but also internationally. Moreover, a number of conventional banks are also offering Islamic financial services evidencing the global acceptance of Islamic financial institutions.1 According to the World Bank, Islamic fiancial services are offered globally via 284 financial institutions in 38 countries which are Islamic and non-Islamic states.2 Like any financial institution, good and effective corporate governance is necessary for the effective and efficient functioning of the institution and for the protection of stakeholder interests. The stakeholder insterest are not always monetary in nature and can include ethics, values and/or religion. For Islamic financial institution, the amin interests of stakeholders is that the institution offering Islamic financial services comply with Shariah p rinciples. Thus Shariah-compliant functioning in an Islamic financial insitution is the key component of corporate governance in Islamic financial institutions.3 The challenge for Islamic financial institutions in formulating good and effective corporate governance constructs is reconciling Shariah-compliant principles with the interests of all stakeholders.4 The stakeholder relationship in Islamic financial institutions is different from conventional financial institutions because profit and risk sharing principles change the nature of the stakeholder relationship.5 Moreover, the definition of property also changes the Islamic financial institution’s perspective on corporate

Middle east Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Middle east - Research Paper Example First of all, the crude form of IS (say, the Islamic State) was established in the year 1999, known as Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad. This group was formed in Jordan, under the leadership of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Axel Hunsicker stated that, â€Å"Zarqavi and his group helped finance, recruit, transport, and train Sunni Islamic extremists for the Iraqi resistance† (420). Besides, this organization played an important role in creating internal problems in the Middle Eastern context during the time of insurgency in Iraq. One can see that the presence of foreign fighters in this group proves its effectiveness, beyond its decentralized leadership. In the year 2004, this group decided to extend its influence by affiliating itself to international terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda. For instance, the group’s name underwent transformation as Taná ºâ€œim QaÊ »idat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn. One can see that the insurgency in Iraq was not over during 2000s. So, the primary aim of this group was to take an active role in the internal politics of Iraq by taking arms against the coalition forces. Again in the year 2006, this group changed its name into Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). To be specific, this transformation is important because the Mujahedeen leadership decided to co-ordinate different insurgent groups under a single leadership. Besides, the core leadership was in decentralized form to overcome unexpected deaths of important leaders.

HR & Communication in Projects - Weekly Discussion Topics Coursework

HR & Communication in Projects - Weekly Discussion Topics - Coursework Example Another important attribute that is vital in the building up of a team is that the project manager should have exceptional organizational skills. A work example of the importance of this attribute is that before and during a project, good organizational skills will help the project manager to plan strategies and objectives that will allow the team members to perform in an optimal manner (Scott, 2014). It is also important for a project manager to display the attribute of confidence in both his and the abilities of his team. In the course of a project, confident project managers are secure in the decisions that they make concerning the team. There are also a number of attributes which although they are important to a project manager, they are not quite vital in the building up of a team. One of these attributes is effective negotiation skills. Whereas this skill is important in the resolution of workplace conflicts, it is found to not be as important to project managers in building up of a team. Another attribute that can be considered to not be vital in the building up of a team is empathy. A project example of the relative unimportance of this attribute is that although empathy is important in the everyday management operations, it can be found to not be as important when building up a team. A team performance analysis can broadly be described as the process of evaluating the overall performance of a given team. The analysis seeks to try and establish the failures and successes of the team based on its efforts. To conduct an effective team performance analysis, there are a set of four key categories that are analyzed (Thompson. 2008). Each of these categories covers a number of key questions that must be answered before a project manager can be able to know how to plan for the future effectiveness of the team performance these categories are: Productivity: In conducting a team performance analysis,

Immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Immigration - Essay Example With terrorism a recurring threat in the country, the United States has enacted a number of immigration policies that some individuals argue infringe on the core values of the country. This essay considers the complex elements of United States immigration policy in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the United States economic structure and argues that immigration and must continue to remain core values of America. National security depends on the U.S. taking immigration standards seriously. Some policy makers want to shut down or limit the borders because they fear what happened on September 11th. They should reflect though upon what happened on September 12th, as the nation joined together and mourned the loss together. Regardless of where individuals have all come from, America is their home. America cannot be on lockdown because they fear a terrorist strike. The United States is vulnerable. The government cannot guarantee protection to 300,000,000 people at all times. If the United States knows who is entering the country at all times along with what their goals are, they could all sleep a little more soundly at night. The majority of the American population believes the country’s immigration policy is too lenient. Ewing notes, â€Å"†¦a solid eighty percent of Americans polled by CBS- New York Times after the trade center bombings agreed that it is too easy for foreigners to enter the U.S†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . People believe American officials are not policing the borders, yet amnesty has been discussed as a way to remedy this immigration concern. They also believe they are not keeping up on expired visas and adequate background checks are not in place to ensure that we they are letting in people that will enhance society. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) (2005, pg. iv) notes, â€Å"†¦the great American â€Å"melting pot† has begun to

Space Elevator Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Space Elevator - Research Proposal Example It is a fixed structure as opposed to a vehicle which will be fuel hungry and will have limited capacity of locomotion between the body and the space. A typical space elevator will be a cable like structure extending from the earth's surface into the outer space. It's center of mass will coincide with the Geostationary Earth Orbit, which is at an altitude of 35,786 km. Locomotion will be facilitated by electromagnetic vehicles which will travel along the cables and will be effective in the movement of people, power and other material. (Audacious & Outrageous: Space Elevators) The Space Elevator has caught the fancy of the scientific fraternity all across the globe. As the race to become the builder of the world's first Space Elevator gets heated up, interesting facts emerge. Japanese scientists have gone on record proclaiming that they were in the process of researching the possibility of building a Space Elevator - capable of transporting cargo as well as tourists, for $ 11 Billion. (Ramadge and Schneider) A region off the west coast of Australia has been identified as an Earth Dock, a location perfect for building the base earth station. "The Indian Ocean off Western Australia has been identified as an ideal location for a 'space elevator'; a thin carbon nano tube connecting a barge to a space station, along which supplies could be carried up. Construction could draw on the WA oil industry's expertise in constructing offshore platforms, as well as its material resources. NASA is currently investigating the feasibility of the project." (qtd. in "Lost in Space' Setting a new direction for Australia's space science and industry sector", 27) The structural specifications of the Space Elevator include several parts like the base station, a cable, climbers, and a counterweight. Base stations, in almost all prototypes, are of two varieties - stationary and mobile. Ships and other vessels can serve as mobile base stations while buildings at higher altitudes can suffice as stationary base stations. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages - while it will be cheaper to operate a stationary base station, a mobile base station can be moved so as to avoid any natural calamity. The cables are perhaps the most important part of the setup. It is necessary to manufacture the cables out of a light yet sturdy material. To be economically viable it will be necessary to produce the material at a mass scale and at a viable price. Research has shown that Carbon nano tubes have the capacity to withstand tensile strength of 63 to 177 GPa and are pretty light, as because of the chemical structure of the carbon atoms ensure that there is free space in between the carbon atoms. Thorough research is necessary to produce carbon nano tubes which are stronger. Another point needs to be kept in mind while constructing a nano tube; it will have to bear its own weight along with the weight of the particles which will be transported. Climbers are basically the vessels which will move along the cable. Climbers again will have to be light and heat resistant - they will encounter atmospheric friction while moving up and down a cable. The most important part is the source of power for the climbers. Options like nuclear power, solar energy, laser power beaming are there to be explored. The counterweight is the object which will hold

Architects of building with gargoyles in New York City Research Paper

Architects of building with gargoyles in New York City - Research Paper Example Gargoyles is a Gothic design which accentuates many buildings in New York. Although some views gargoyles as more on having a superstitious relevance, some say that it is merely used as a water diversion. Schermerhorn Building is one of the most popular gargoyle accentuated building and was designed by a great architect named Henry J. Hardenbergh. He was born in New Jersey and worked as an apprentice in New York with a architectural firm for five years before opening his own practice in 1871. Many refer to Hardenbergh as the architect who â€Å"left his indelible ink† in the world of architecture. (Gillon, 1988) Henry Vaughan is an Anglo-American architect who is claimed to be the one who the Americans owe the revival of Gothic designs to. His designs consists of churches, chapels and school buildings. One of the more famous designs of Vaughan is the St. John the Divine in New York known for its gargoyles. He was in America for approximately 36 years between 1881 to 1917 and hi s contributions to the architectural field is vast and known for being highly original. (Gillon, 1988) Vaughan was just becoming established in Boston, when he came into contact with Charles Perkins Gardiner of Brookline, Massachusetts and was, at the time, dedicating himself almost exclusively to church and church-related buildings. Vaughan, as a man, had deep religious conviction who was quite totally devoted to the Anglican and Episcopalian worship as well as to the English Gothic architecture which he perceived as their true and proper architectural expression.Vaughan's scheme for handling cluttered contexts were brilliant. Although he was attached to the English Gothic religiously, bordering on fanaticism, he remains, to this day, as one of the best architects. (Gillon, 1988) The Chrysler building, designed by the architect William van Allen, is among the last skyscrapers in the Art Deco style. The gargoyles of the said building depicts Chrysler car adornmenys and the spire is sculptured on a radiator grille. Since the building's restoration in 1996, the building once again shines as it must have way back in the 1930s. Despite the magnificence of the exterior of the building, the interior is even more so. Marbles floors and a generous display of Art Deco patterns as well as the stylishly designed elevator doors makes the Chrysler Building as one of the most beautiful office towers in New York. However, as an architect, van Alen was majorly dismissed by contemporary critiques of architecture. They claim that design of spire was pure folly and ostentatious. His design of the Chrysler Building has grown in popularity despite the many criticisms and is now considered as one of the greatest buildings in America, which frequently features magazines and covers of architectural books.(Gillon, 1988) James Bogardus, architect of the 75 Murray Street Building gargoyles pioneered cast-iron architecture. He is one of the most famous architects of New York although he personally did not consider himself as an architect. He considered himself more as an inventor in the 19th-century tradition who patented cotton-spinning machinery, grinding mills, gas meters, clocks and printing apparatus.Starting by 1848, he initiated the promotion of iron buildings as fireproof, mobile and efficient. He sold his ideas to developers up until 1860's before he shifted his attention to other work interests. (Gray, 1995) A common distinguishing factor of Bogardus' design is the Medusa-head keystones which were also used in Bogardus' ill-fated Laing Stores. The said design is believed to protect homes from the entering of evil. The Greeks, similarly, sometimes used the figure of Medusa's terrible gaze in order to protect objects which includes the windows and doors considered as the eyes of the buildings. Oswald Wirz', also a gargoyles architect, uses the same concept with his use of Green Men and numerous gargoyles. (Gray, 1995) Wirz is a designer a few New York City buildings in the Gilded Age. Among those of his buildings that have survived are now land-marked

Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Art - Essay Example This paper talks about the some of the works of Auguste Rodin in regards to their detailed compositions like texture, color, form and matrial. Auguste Rodin Auguste Rodin was a french sculptor in the modern era who did not rebel on the past. Unlike other artists who deliberately changed their ways and created masterpieces that had undertones of mockery of the previous period, Rodin remained a traditional sculptor and took a craftsman-like approach to his works. He possesed a unique ability to work on complex materials. Most of his famous sculptures, departed from the traditional themes of mythology allegory, were criticized that made him become sensitive towards his critics. Nevertheess, he continued on his style, far away from the used-to-be themantic sculpture of the predominant figures of the past, and celebrated realism and individualism. As time went by, accompanied by a series of works, his stature in the artists' social ladder increased a few notches higher and gained increase d favour from the government and the artists community. Modernism 3 The Age of Bronze One of Rodin's works that troubled the critics and enticed them to lambast him for not having a conrete theme was The Age of Bronze. Speculations were in the air that Rodin intentionally scuplted his work without a theme. But due to its realistic and lively figure, it gained the attention of the many, which aslo fueled the critics to accuse him of surmoulage. He strongly denied the accusation and defended his work. He wrote and presented photographs of his model to newspapers to show how the sculpture differed. The Age of Bronze became one of Rodin's most famous works due to the controversy it brought to the eyes of the critics. The intricacy of the details of a man's nude body, held an unconventional pose, was sculpted well-enough for it to look alive. It takes a genuinely brillant artist to be able to sculpt a bronze material and still come up with a realistic form of a nude man. Tagged with perf ect lights and shadows, they made the sculpture an intriguing work of art, which eventually led to being bought by the state. The sculpture was purchased for 2,200 francs. Rodin drew inspiration for his first full-scale sculpture from Michelangelo's Dying Slave and was shown at the Paris Salon in 1877.(Rilke & Rodin, 2004, 27) St. John the Baptist Preaching St. John the Baptist Preaching is Rodin's second full-scale work and again a nude man. Due to the charge of surmoulage for his previous work, he made his second piece bigger than a life-size statue. The statues gives an appeal that he is walking towards the audience while both feet are on the ground. The odd positions of Rodin's works became his signature. The peculiar sense of movement of Rodin's model was captured in his product. Modernism 4 Rodin's interpretation of St. John the Baptist is a man preaching while walking. Although it may appear that the stance of the man is a bit odd, since both feet are on the ground, it depict s a walk of a determined man, emotionally firmed on his preaching. Rodin later explained how he came up with the two phases of a stride in order to suggest a movement. It is evident in the sculpture that the man, St. John, is preaching to a a group and his conviction is noticed. According to studies, the form of the model was excellently sculpted with an outstanding delivery of its message. The shadows on the ribs, the details on the facial expression and the

Overview where you are and where you want to be in 3-6 months Essay

Overview where you are and where you want to be in 3-6 months - Essay Example I have also finalized the project plan, methodology, and questions, which were presented for final approval. After gaining approval, I drafted my introduction, literature review, and methodology chapters and finally received my upgrade from MPhil to Ph.D. In the next three to six months, I am planning to apply for ethics approval, which will hopefully present me with the go-ahead to undertake the research activities with human subjects. I am also planning to prepare the course content and material for the intervention training for the EFL teachers, which will draw on foundational theories to set the parameters of how to tackle and answer he research question (Adams & Puetow, 2014). Finally, I want to begin the initial collection of data to carry out a pilot for my research study. It is hoped that the pilot study will allow for the emergence of theoretical concepts and throw up an array of alternatives ideas about what will be observed, which should later coalesce into more articulated concepts (Adams & Puetow,

Studies Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Essay Example for Free

Studies Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Essay Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has long been considered a disorder which principally affects men in our society; consideration of the occurrence of heart attacks in females, for example, has been largely an afterthought. In the past few years, however, it has become increasingly obvious that this is not a problem limited to males, but that it occurs with great frequency in women. We now know that CVD is the cause of death more than any condition in women over the age of 50, including cancer (1) and in fact is responsible for more than a third of all deaths in women (2). It is estimated that 370,000 women in the United States die from heart disease each year. However, our knowledge base regarding CVD in African American (AA) women has not kept pace with the accumulation of data on white females. Thus, there is a deficit of information about this subgroup and the prevalence of CVD despite the fact that black women have more risk factors for CVD than do white women (3). The purpose of this paper is to review the subject of CVD in African American women and to focus upon four principal CVD categories: Coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, stroke, and congestive heart failure (CHF).The impact of gender and race on each of these entities will be examined in comparison to white women, and a determination will be made as to whether a different approach to the management of these disorders should be made based on ethnicity and sex. Coronary Artery Disease It has long been held that men have much more of a problem with CAD than women do; the belief has been that men are more susceptible to the disease, whereas women enjoy the benefits of hormonal protection. Gender differences in the occurrence of heart attacks have been noted, especially in the younger years of adult life. However, as each decade passes, the gap between prevalence rates for males and females progressively narrows to the point where there is essentially no difference by the seventh and eighth decades (4). Thus, although heart attack rates in women lag behind that for men by approximately ten years in the early years of adult life, equivalency is achieved later. Clinical features of CAD have also been shown to differ  substantially between men and women. The Framingham Study (5) demonstrated that CAD presented much more frequently as myocardial infarction in men than in women (49 vs. 29 percent), but women developed angina pectoris more frequently than men (47 vs. 26 percent). Risk factors for CAD such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, family history, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle have about the same incidence in men and women. However, the effect that certain risk factors have is more adverse in women. For instance, the risk of developing CAD is much greater in diabetic women. Another risk factor with substantially greater impact on females is hypertriglyceridemia (6). African American women are especially affected by CAD in a negative manner. They have a higher mortality and morbidity than African American men and white women under the age of 55. In the age group 25-44, African American women have 2.5 times the coronary heart disease mortality risk of white women. The mortality rate from CAD for black women is about 69 percent higher than that for white women (7). Overall, in 1995, the CAD death rate for African American males was 133.1 per 1000 compared to 124.4 per 1000 for white males, or 7 percent higher for black males. Comparative rates for black and white women were 81.6 and 60.3 per 1000, respectively, indicating a 35 percent higher mortality rate for black women over white women. A study at West Virginia University stated that, compared to the overall national death rate from CVD in women of 401 per 100,000, the rate for black women in New York City was the highest among all major racial groups at 587 per 100,000. Rates for white and Hispanic women were 559 and 320 per 100,000, respectively. Mississippi had the h ighest black female CVD death rate in the nation at 686 per 100,000. The heart attack event rate is more than twice as high for black women than for white women in the age group 65-74 years (8), indicating that the impact of having a higher number of risk factors over time is more deleterious in black women. Despite a lower coronary artery disease prevalence in black women based on angiographic studies, mortality rates are higher in this group than in white women. This inverse relationship between angiographic evidence of CAD and CAD mortality represents what may be termed the paradox of CAD in African American women (9). Post-infarction mortality is also higher than that for black men and white men and women (10). It should be emphasized that first myocardial infarction occurs at an earlier age with an  earlier death in African American women. Certain risk factors are indeed more frequently seen in African American as compared to white women. There is a significantly higher incidence of hypertension and stroke in black women with myocardial infarct ion (11), and other risk factors which occur more frequently in this group include physical inactivity, higher mean body mass index (BMI) (12), and greater consumption of cholesterol and saturated fat (13). Cigarette smoking and obesity represent risks which have been documented to increase cardiovascular disease in black women. Smoking negates the advantage against CAD induced by estrogen in pre-menopausal women (14). Diabetes mellitus is of particular concern in black women as a risk factor; the death rate among diabetic blacks is 2.5 times higher than in diabetic whites (15), and black women have a higher prevalence of this disease. Diabetes completely eliminates the pre-menopausal protection that women have against CAD, and this would appear to be more of a problem for African American women. Access to preventive medical attention for CAD has been noted to be deficient for African American women. A classic example is the study performed by Schulman et al (16). Eight actors were used, of whom 4 were black, 4 were white, 4 were male, 4 were female, and the age range was from younger to older. All had videotaped interviews which were presented to more than 700 predominately white male primary care physicians attending a medical conference. The doctors were asked which patients they would be likely to refer for cardiac catheterization, based on a suggestive CAD profile which all of the patients possessed. Univariate analysis of the physicians’ responses revealed that both men (90.6 percent) and whites (90.6 percent) were more likely to be referred for cardiac catheterization than women (84.7 percent) and blacks (84.7 percent). A race-gender analysis also showed that black women in particular were referred for this diagnostic procedure 40 percent less often than white men. This study has been interpreted as demonstrating racial and gender bias against African American women by white male physicians regarding referral for a critical cardiovascular procedure designed to detect CAD. The use of hormone or estrogen replacement therapy (HRT or ERT) has been investigated intensively in the past several years regarding their possible reduction of CVD risk in post-menopausal women. Several clinical trials including PEPI, ERA, and HERS have been performed, producing results which do not show a clear CAD  mortality benefit derived from hormone use in post-menopausal women with CAD. There is still a possibility that they may be advantageous for primary prevention, and the ongoing Women’s Health Initiative should provide useful information when it is concluded. There is no indication that black women respond differently than white women to HRT/ERT regarding the impact on CVD risk. Hypertension Pre-menopausal women who are hypertensive have a CAD mortality risk which is ten times greater than normal (17). In the United States there are more hypertensive women than there are men with high blood pressure (18), and the prevalence of hypertension is greater among African American women than among white women. Specifically, the prevalence of hypertension in blacks twenty years of age or older is in excess of that for the population of the nation as a whole. The percentages are 35 for black males and 34.2 for black females, compared to 24.4 for white males and 19.3 for white females (19). Hypertension is the most important risk factor for stroke and is easily the most modifiable one. In addition, it is the largest contributor to CVD morbidity and mortality in blacks. Comparative death rates for hypertension per 100,000 population are 29.6 for black males (355 percent higher than for white males), and 21.7 for black females (352 percent higher than for white females). The third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) also found that blacks have a higher prevalence of severe or stage III hypertension compared to non-blacks (20). Several differences in the pathogenesis of hypertension have been documented to exist between blacks and whites (21). African Americans are characterized by low-renin hypertension accompanied by salt sensitivity, e.g., poor toleration of salt-loading, and greater volume expansion as a consequence. These characteristics tend to make blacks less responsive to drugs which impact on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta-blockers in the treatment of hypertension, and relatively more responsive to medications which decrease plasma volume, such as diuretics. Their salt sensitivity also renders them more susceptible to the hypertensive effects of a high-salt diet. It is estimated that over 70 percent of African Americans have low-renin h ypertension as compared to about half of whites. Although more  than 90 percent of blacks have essential, or primary, hypertension, the discovery of a high renin level in a black patient, for instance, an elderly African American female, is so unusual that it strongly suggests a secondary cause for the blood pressure elevation. Black patients also tend to be more responsive to dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers (CCBs) and alpha-1 blockers. However, there are some mitigating factors. For instance, although ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers may not be as effective as other drugs when used as monotherapy in blacks, they do have an antihypertensive result similar to that seen in whites when these drugs are administered in combination with diuretics. In addition, many black patients who do not respond to monotherapy treatment with these drugs used in conventional doses may respond to higher doses, although there is a risk of more side-effects. ACE inhibitors are also indicated in the treatment of congestive heart failure and for the deadly combination of hypertension and diabetes, especially if proteinuria is present. Other pathophysiological characteristics which are different between hypertensive blacks and whites are altered vascular reactivity, increased sodium retention, increased potassium excretion, and decreased kallikrein excretion seen in blacks, as well as more nephrosclerosis. Decreases in vasodilatory substances in blacks such as kinins, prostaglandins, and dopamine are also seen. Black hypertensives have also been noted to have increased intracellular sodium and calcium concentration, decreased membrane sodium transport, and decreased red-cell sodium-potassium transport activity. These changes are believed to render the African American patient more prone to vascular, renal and circulatory alterations which result in elevated blood pressure. Complications of hypertension have an earlier age of onset and a later age of detection in blacks than in their white counterparts. The principal complications are CAD, stroke, left ventricular hypertrophy, end-stage renal disease, and congestive heart failure. Because of these facts, it is important to treat hypertension in blacks more aggressively, e.g., early, thoroughly, and with multiple drugs as necessary. In addition, non-pharmacological measures such as diet, attention to obesity, increased physical exercise, and avoidance of excess alcohol intake are essential components of a well-rounded therapeutic approach to the black hypertensive. Stroke Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States after coronary heart disease and cancer. There are about 500,000 strokes each year of which 150,000 are fatal. Stroke is also a major cause of physical impairment and the cost of acute and chronic care exceeds $30 billion a year in this country. A so-called â€Å"stroke belt† exists in the Southeastern part of the country, where almost 60 percent of the African American population resides (22). Although stroke is generally thought of as a disorder primarily affecting the elderly, it should be recognized that 28 percent of the victims are under age 65. African Americans have a stroke mortality which is twice that of whites (23). Age-adjusted stroke mortality rates are 76 percent higher among African American than among white men, and 54 percent higher among African American than white women (24). Although the rate of decline for stroke mortality has increased since the 1970s, there has been a recent slowdown in thi s decline. This has been especially true for African Americans, in whom stroke mortality is actually increasing. Since it is very difficult to treat stroke once the process is initiated, much of the focus has been on primary prevention. Hypertension is the most powerful predictor of stroke and is found to be a factor in 70 percent of cases (25). Control of hypertension therefore represents the best strategy to prevent stroke, and in fact a meta-analysis showed that when all studies of the association between treatment to lower blood pressure and stroke were reviewed, there was a 42 percent reduction in the incidence of stroke and a 45 percent reduction in fatal stroke when the diastolic blood pressure was reduced by 5-6 mmHg (26). In addition, the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP) demonstrated that a 36 percent decrease in stroke risk resulted from mean blood pressure reduction of 11/3.4 mmHg. This benefit was seen in all ages, races, and genders. These data and other information support the need for vigorous drug therapy of hypertension for the primary prevention of stroke. This is especially important for African American patients, particularly women. Congestive Heart Failure Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the only cardiovascular disease whose incidence is increasing. There are great differences between blacks and whites in the etiology of CHF. Hypertension is the principal precursor of  CHF in African Americans, whereas ischemic heart disease more commonly precedes CHF in whites. Mortality due to heart failure is about 2.5 times higher in blacks than in whites less than 65 years of age. Additionally, in 1990 the age-adjusted death rate for CHF among patients older than 65 years of age was 143.9 for black men compared with 117.8 for white men, and 113.4 for black women compared with 97.5 for white women (27). In a study of racial differences in heart failure, Afzal et al (28) prospectively analyzed 163 consecutive patients admitted to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan with a diagnosis of CHF. They found that compared with whites, blacks were younger in age (mean age 63.8 vs. 70.8, p=0.0003), and had a higher prevalence of hypertension (86 vs. 66 percent, p=0.0004), left ventricular hypertrophy (24 vs. 8 percent, p=0.02), ejection fraction

Numbing Creams for Tattoos

Numbing Creams for Tattoos Some tattoo artists will say no. Others will say yes. There are many factors to consider when getting a tattoo and obviously the amount of pain you must go through for that tattoo will vary. Old school tattoo artists are of the mind, that you must earn your tattoo with the pain you go through to get the tattoo. This is a pretty outdated way of thinking. Many factors play into how much a tattoo will hurt. One important factor is where the tattoo will be located on your body. Areas such as the outer arms, outer legs, upper back and upper chest are not very painful for tattooing. Other areas such as the lower back, inside the arms, or legs, near elbows and knees, along the spine, along the ribs, the lower front torso are all considered to be more painful areas. The feet and ankles are definitely more painful than other areas. This applies also to inside the wrist and hands. Best Practices Effective Pain Management For Botox Patients Since first introduced to the medical community in 1989, as a treatment for eye muscle disorders, administering of Botulinum Toxin Type A: Botox and similar neurotoxin injectables, has now become the most popular non-invasive aesthetic medical procedure performed worldwide. However, as physicians strive to make aesthetic medicine procedures more comfortable for their patients, a cold war of sorts has emerged regarding the use of topical anesthetic and ice during injectable procedures. Through a survey of expert practitioners the following best practices for the use of topical anesthetic and ice emerges. The critical factor to minimizing discomfort and bruising is technique. However, based on a patients tolerance, topical anesthetic can be used to minimize, but not extinguish, the pain associated with subcutaneous injections. Ice is generally considered the best tool to minimize bruising. Other tools in the physician arsenal to minimize pain are size of needle (32 gauge is recommended) and ensure minimal volume is injected (e.g. dilute the Botox at 2.5 cc per bottle =4u/.1 cc). Finally, for a select group of physicians and patients, ice and topical anesthetic completely take a back seat to a gentle hand. Best numbing cream How Much Does it Cost to Remove a Tattoo? We are all taught that tattoos are forever so you should be darn sure that the tattoo design your are getting inked on your skin that you will be able to live with it for the rest of your life. With that being said the above statement isnt necessarily true. Tattoos in a sense are forever but if you have the money and can endure the pain of getting a tattoo removed by a laser you can always go down the route. However, getting a tattoo removed by a laser doesnt always mean your tattoo will be gone forever. You can develop some scarring where the tattoo was and more than likely you will be able to still faintly see the tattoo, not unless you get it covered up with another tattoo. But if that is the case make sure you dont make the same mistake again and be 200% sure that the new tattoo design you are getting is something you can live with for the rest of your life. The tattoo removal business is ironically booming right now. So you should not have a hard time finding a facility to remove your unwanted tattoo. Now for the facts about laser tattoo removal. Insurance will not pay for these procedures and one session will not make your tattoo mistake go away. Often it takes up to 8 to 12 very painful sessions to complete the tattoo removal process. Now for the cost, it typically cost anywhere from $50 to $100 per square inch of course some places charge more. If you want numbing cream to help with the pain that is an extra $75 per session. Also if you tattoo is colored you will be charge more as well as colored tattoos are harder to get rid of. Lastly, you have to wait 8 to 12 weeks between sessions. So the moral of this story is, dont make the tattoo mistake in the first place. Think long and hard about your tattoo design and the location you want your tattoo and stay away from lovers names. Its best to keep the its forever in your mind. Numbing cream for piercings and tattoos How Much Does It Hurt To Get A Tattoo? Pain is part of getting a tattoo. For some people the pain is even an important part of the experience because it allows them to more fully connect with their physical existences. Regardless of your attitude about the pain of the tattooing process, you are certainly interested in how much it will hurt as you anticipate your first tattoo. The first thing for you to understand is that pain is subjective. This means that people feel pain in different ways and cope with it according to their own abilities. For example, if you are particularly worried and nervous about pain, then you are preparing your brain to interpret the pain in a strongly negative way. You may have heard of people referring to their pain tolerance. Some people say they have a high tolerance to pain and others are quite aware that they have a low tolerance for pain. Much of your tolerance for pain will derive from your mental preparation for the experience and your acceptance that getting the tattoo will hurt. Painless tattoos The Secret of Painless Tattoos Have you ever dreamed about making a tattoo? Surely, you have had a desire to decorate your body with an interesting and meaningful picture, but you hesitated. Now you have such an opportunity! Nowadays in order to apply a tattoo it is not always necessary to visit a tattoo salon, it is enough to use the possibilities of such graphic editor as Adobe Photoshop. It offers you a way to change your photo image without any pain and without breaking your moral and aesthetic principles. It allows to apply pictures, preserving the skin structure and the treatment of light and shade, thanks to its special tools. Besides, this program can help you to play a trick on your friends! You just apply a tattoo on your photo and everybody will believe, that it is realistic. Strongest topical anesthetic Laser Skin Treatment Removes Acne Scars For those with very severe acne who may not want to risk the side effects of Accutane there are acne laser treatments available. These treatments can be very expensive but can be very effective in treating the worst cases of acne. There are 2 popular types of lasers used in treating acne: Best tattoo numb Getting Your First Tattoo? Getting your first tattoo is not the same as getting your first hair cut. Both may be for vanitys sake but with a tattoo, pain accompanies it. Pain is relative. It really varies from one person to another. But there are other people who have a low pain threshold. Many who are contemplating to get a tattoo ask most about the pain. The degree of pain is often times the issue. How much does it hurt? Cream that numbs skin Laser Treatment to Zap Acne Scars Many innovations have been made in recent years towards healing acne scars and removing acne itself, including Smoothbeam laser treatment. These lasers have been very effective in not only temporarily removing acne, but most importantly eliminating acne scars, which can often remain permanently even after acne is no longer a major problem! While there are tons of methods and products available for getting rid of acne, the scars that are left are often a much tougher problem, so this kind of innovation is a welcome treat for acne sufferers. Cream that numbs the skin Painful Tattoo Places Useful Information! While getting tattooed is always somewhat painful, some places will hurt more than others. Read this to find out where the most painful tattoo places are. Getting tattooed on areas where there are lots of nerves, little fat and where the bone is close to the skin, will hurt more than other places with more padding. Here is a list of some of the most painful tattoo places: Behind the ear: Many people get tattoos behind the ear. This is a very painful place to get tattooed, because of the many nerves and little padding. People are often surprised of how painful these tattoos can be. The good thing about these tattoos, is that there is not much room there so the tattooing process wont last that long. Ankles: Many women get ankle tattoos. These are sexy and cute and nice to show off in the summer. Because of the little padding, these tattoos can hurt a lot as well. Toes: A popular place for women to get tattooed is on their toes. As with ankle tattoos, these are nice to show off in the summer, but are also one of the most painful tattoo places because of the near bones. Toe tattoos are obviously quite small though so getting the tattoo wont take that long. Ribs: This is one of the most painful places to get a tattoo, especially if youre a skinny person. Some other painful tattoo places include the lips, back of the neck, lower back and obviously the pubic area. The tolerance level of people vary greatly though, so getting tattoos on typical painful tattoo locations may not be that big of a problem. The pain factor also depends on the tattoo artist, since the distance and speed of the needle can vary. Benzocaine cream Benzocaine is a broadly used local anesthetic often used in various forms and preparations of topical pain relievers. It is widely available as topical creams, but can also be found as sprays, oral gels, capsules among other forms. Benzocaine eases pain by blocking sodium from passing electrical signals to the pain receptors which trigger the sensation of pain. It also discovers use as a fish tranquilizer, as part of anti-inflammatory drugs and even as an essential component in certain desensitizing condoms. Best numbing cream for tattoos Dr. Numb is a Numbing Anesthetic Cream Dr. Numb is a NON-OILY topical anesthetic cream(creme) that contains purest Lidocaine and Prilocaine, the highest amount allowed by Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Numb is the only water-based numbing cream on the market. Dr. Numb doesnt interfere with the ink or the skins elasticity, making it safe to reduce the GREAT PAIN of Tattooing, Body Piercing, Laser Tattoo Removal, Laser Hair Removal, Waxing, Permanent Cosmetics and other Minor Surgical Procedures. Dr. Numb is voted as the #1 numbing creams by tattoo artists and cosmetic professionals around the world. Topical anaesthetics Many alternatives to deliver anesthesia have developed over the last decades. Dispensation of topical anesthetic to manage pain associated with procedures such as laceration repair may avoid the need for infiltrative local anesthesia injections and associated pain from the injections. Topical anesthetic also keeps away from the risk of wound margin distortion that exists with infiltrative injection administration. Countless dosage forms exist (eg, gels, sprays, creams, ointments, patches) and provide the clinician with accurate options for application under a variety of circumstances. Topical anesthetics reversibly block nerve transmission near their site of administration, thereby producing temporary loss of sensation in a limited area. Nerve signal conduction is blocked by decreasing nerve cell membrane permeability to sodium ions, possibly by challenging calcium-binding sites that control sodium permeability. This change in permeability takes part in decreased depolarization and a n increased excitability threshold that, eventually, prevents the nerve action potential from forming. Dr. numb] In 1989, Dr. Brian Smith, at the New York Childrens hospital, was faced with a dilemma of children that had certain conditions such as mitrovalve disorder. With these conditions, it is prohibited to administer general anesthetics to put them to sleep before surgery. Therefore, Dr. Brian and his team made a historic discovery of the first numbing cream that is strong enough to do open surgery without pain. Over the years, the cream was perfected and took on the official name of Dr. Numb. Now, Dr. Numb is being used worldwide in different industries, such as: in professional sports, cosmetics, laser industry, waxing industry, immunization industry and tattoo industry. Dr Numb is the strongest skin numbing cream in the market today. Through the years, it has proven effective in minimizing the pain that comes with surgical procedures. It is also a favorite companion of laser treatments, tattooing, body waxing. Dr Numb numbing cream is very effective in numbing the skin for preparation in any type of procedure. Dr. Numb is proven to numb the skin for more than three hours. It is easy to apply and releases the numbing effect for at least three hours. Tattoo cream numb Before You Get a Tattoo A tattoo is forever. If you decide that you want a tattoo, know exactly what you want before you find a studio. After you have decided, you will need to find the right artist to do the work. Choose someone with a good reputation or someone whose work you have seen on your friends or other people. Remember, just because a tattoo parlor is in business doesnt mean it is maintaining safety and sterility precautions. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that gangrene, syphilis, tuberculosis and HIV are just a few diseases you could contract from contaminated instruments. To avoid these risks, ask to see a state license and accreditation from The Alliance of Professional Tattooing (or a similar organization). Look for basic equipment like germicidal soap, needle buckets, proper disposal containers, packaged gauze with the sterility intact and disposable gloves. The studio should also be equipped with an autoclave, a device that pressurizes instruments and kills viruses or bacteria. Finally, look for single-use or disposable needles (single-use are preferred). What to Look for The analgesic cream 14 is the preferred method used according to patentstorm.us. This cream includes an analgesic ingredient (with about 5-15wt% of analgesic concentrations, compared to the 10-60wt% of the standard analgesic range). The analgesic cream 14 also has an anti-inflammatory ingredient, such as aloe vera gel, which is about 50wt% of the cream, and has either a small amount or no capsaicin ingredients that would irritate the skin. Other main ingredients include the linoleic ester concentration (1-10 wt-%) and methyl salicylatem (10%), with the rest of the ingredients being at about 5 wt-%, or at the usual range for creams. Best numbing cream for waxing Reduce waxing pain? Yes you can! The first time getting waxed in an area hurts the most and does get less painful each time after. Hard to believe when your hair has just been ripped out for the first time, but its true. Dr.numb review What is Dr. Numb? Dr. Numb contains lidocaine, medications that have been used for many years as anesthetics in medical and dental offices. Dr. Numb contains these medications in a cream form and is used as a numbing cream that would numb the skin. For example, when getting a tattoo you will feel no pain . Pain is caused by the stimulation of pain receptors at the ends of nerves. The stimulation causes sodium to enter the nerve ending, which causes an electrical signal to build up in the nerve. When this electrical signal is big enough, it passes along the nerve to the brain, where the signal is interpreted as pain. Dr. Numb work by temporarily blocking this pathway of pain signals along nerves. Dr. Numb does this by stopping the sodium entering the nerve ending at the site of the pain. This prevents an electrical signal building up and passing along the nerve fibres to the brain. Numbing tattoo cream Most Painful Tattoo Locations Its commonly known that getting a tattoo hurts. Your skin is being pricked repeatedly with a needle, and youre not allowed to move. That alone is enough for some to consider getting a tattoo as tantamount to torture. For others with a considerably high-level of pain tolerance, the deed may just be a simple discomfort. Though the level of pain depends on the individual pain threshold, there are specific areas of the body where getting a tattoo proves to be incredibly more painful than other body parts. The rule of thumb is that areas where there is a dense concentration of nerves, or there is no layer of fat between the skin and bone, are the most painful locations for tattoos. Numbing creams for waxing Bikini Wax Tips Contrary to what the name suggests, a Full Bikini Wax is actually not a complete removal of hair down there. Instead, it involves removing all the hair around pubic area, except those directly in the Mound of Venus, also known as the mons pubis. Why leave hair in? For most folks, its because that part of the skin is considerably more sensitive than the rest of the pubic area. Waxing it can mean too much pain, particularly for some people who are more sensitive to the sensation. If youre not familiar with the pubic mound, its that part of your crotch area the consists largely of fatty tissues, right above the pubic bone. It forms the front of the actual vulva. Yep, its that area that shows up bulging during camel toe shots. In case you opt for this a Full Bikini Wax due to extra sensitivity of your pubic mound, do note that you can still trim the hair in that area. Most women I know who are afraid to get waxed there, choose to either shave or cut down the hair there instead. After all, its the hair there that usually catches female excretions, so a close trim helps makes sure that it stays clean. Waxing numbing cream Waxing has been around for a long time and is still one of the best methods for removing unwanted hair from many areas of the body. Here are some techniques that can minimize the pain associated with waxing. Difficulty: Easy Instructions Step 1 Take a anti-inflammatory pill two hours before you plan to wax to minimize the pain. Or drink coffee or a caffeinated drink before you plan to wax for the same effect. If neither of those appeal to you, and youre of legal age, take a shot of your favorite liquor! Step 2 Numb the area before waxing by applying an Dr.Numb Step 3 Pull the skin tight where the hair is growing. For example, if you are waxing your eyebrows, pull the skin on the brow bone towards the ear to tighten the skin, allowing the wax strip to adhere to the skin. Step 4 Pull the strip off quickly in the opposite direction the hair grows. Step 5 Apply a cold, damp towel immediately to the skin after you pull the strip off anesthetic for tattoos If you have a tattoo that you do not like, then perhaps you should consider removing it. There are many options available to you, so make sure you investigate them thoroughly. Many people have one that they love and cherish however there are others that want to get rid of their tattoo. Perhaps it was not done correctly, or it no longer has the same meaning as it had before. Perhaps it reminds the individual of a time that they choose to forget, such as affiliation with an organization or with a gang. Regardless of the reasoning, there are several ways you can remove a tattoo that are safe Many people choose to get laser removal to get rid of the particular unwanted item. The technician will use a laser to burn the ink, turning it into tiny fragments which are cleared away through your body. If you go several times, the laser can really penetrate and remove deep layers or ink. However, this can really damage your skin and can cause scabs and even scars. Many people believe that laser removal is very painful and very expensive. Depending on where you live, session costs can range from three hundred to one thousand dollars and you may need several sessions to get the results that you actually want. What to take before tattoo i guess i already found the best ever numbing cream for my tattooing sessions i really thanks DrNumbs numbing cream,, actually ive just tried it once before,, but when i proven its really effective and very safe, now Im not worried about the pain in my tattoo sessions, i got already the confident every time Im going at the tattoo shop,, other things why i really trust DrNumbs numbing cream,, because its contains 5% lidocaine the highest amount allowed by food and drug administration.. DrNumb voted as a #1 numbing cream by the tattoo artist around the world..And also it is the only one water-based numbing cream on the market!!it is also medically tested and resonably priced.. Got to know more about this product you may visit their website at http://www.drnumb.com/ . What to use to numb skin If you are attempting to wax your body at home and have extremely sensitive skin, there are several ways that you can numb your skin without a doctors care. Although over-the-counter numbing creams, sprays and gels only last temporarily, they can help you avoid the pain that may be associated with cosmetic procedures such as eyebrow tweezing or hair waxing. All numbing creams, sprays and gels are not right for everyone, and if you have extremely sensitive skin, test the solution on the inside of your arm before using on your face or any other sensitive areas of the body. Purchase Numbingcream at www.drnumb.com. Numbingcream is useful for numbing any skin area.

How Do Cultural Differences Affect International Marketing Marketing Essay

How Do Cultural Differences Affect International Marketing Marketing Essay Markets are becoming increasingly internationalised and, for businesses to achieve sustainable growth in such markets, it is critical that they gain an understanding of the complex and diverse nature of international markets and of associated international marketing strategy (Doole and Lowe, 2008, pp. 5-6). International marketing strategy involves marketing mix decisions being made across both national and cultural borders. The coordination and management of effective and efficient marketing mix strategies globally for a multi-national organisation is fundamental to its business success (Wall et al., 2009, pp. 338-349). The term globalisation is first believed to have been used in a paper published by the late Theodore Levitt in the Harvard Business Review (1983). Since that time, the term globalisation has evolved to embrace more than just its original economic dimension. This has happened despite the fact that most academics and theorists are not able to agree on a common definition for globalisation (Healy, 2001). This dilemma was summed up by the sociologist, Anthony Giddens (1996), when he said thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ There are few terms that we use so frequently but which are in fact as poorly conceptualized as globalization. However, in spite of this lack of agreement on a definition, there is general agreement that the globalisation of world markets has been a major factor in the internationalisation of business (Wood and Robertson, 2000). The internationalisation of business has also been largely responsible for the so called homogenisation of consumer products and services worldwide, a phenome non sometimes know as the McDonaldization effect (Ritzer 2004, pp. 2-3). However, the counter argument to this position on globalisation is that there are very few brands that can truly be said to be global with most of the examples, such as McDonalds itself, Coca-Cola, and Nike, being based in the USA (de Mooij, 2010, pp. 31-32). Despite the relentless onward march of globalisation, the creation and implementation of a successful marketing communications strategy in a developing country, such as India, requires a significantly different approach to that required in a developed country, such as the United Kingdom. For example, language is a significant issue in the execution of marketing communications. The UK is more ethnically and culturally diverse than it was previously, but its first language remains as English. In India, however, there are a large number of ethnic groups and more than twenty official languages (Usunier and Lee, 2009, p. 7). Whilst originally a British colony, independent India has evolved its own political and legal systems which now have significant differences when compared to those in the UK. Any misreading of the political and legal environment in a particular country, by a multinational brand, can cause significant problems in marketing communications terms. In India, for example, t he UK based chocolate manufacturer, Cadbury, created intense anger amongst the population at large in 2002 when it completely underestimated sensitivity by politicians and the public at large to the enduring dispute between India and Pakistan over the territory of Kashmir. Cadbury promoted in together with the tagline Im good. Im tempting. Im too good to share. What am I? Cadburys Temptations or Kashmir? Cadbury compounded its insensitivity by launching the campaign on Indian Independence Day when nationalist feelings were running particularly high (Doole and Lowe, 2008, p. 17; Dodd, 2002). In addition, consumer attitudes and behaviour towards brands and products can be influenced by other factors such as the social environment. For example, marketers of innovative products, such as personal computers and other electronic gadgets, need to be aware that there are fewer so called early adopters in developing countries than there are in developed countries (de Mooij, 2005, p. 129). According to theory of the Diffusion of Innovations, early adopters are more likely to purchase a new and technically innovative product than are other consumer types (Rogers 1995, pp. 252-280). Consequently, in marketing communications terms, brand owners of such products will need to focus on the tried and tested nature of their technology rather than innovation when communicating their products to consumers in developing countries. Whilst issues such as legal and political systems and social environments are not necessarily directly related to culture, is perhaps culture itself that is the biggest single, differentiator in terms of global consumer behaviour (Blackwell et al, 2001, pp. 313-354). Culture should be regarded as a process rather than a distinctive dimension of consumer behaviour. At an individual level, culture comprises a number of different elements that all work together coherently including values, beliefs and knowledge. At a group level culture consists of the arts, morals, protocols, and legal systems present in any particular country or region. However, culture is principally characterised by language, institutions, and material and symbolic productions (Usunier and Lee, 2005, p. 4). The popular view is that that the worlds trade, financial systems technology, and media, are becoming increasingly globalised, a process frequently referred to as globalisation (Usunier and Lee, 2005, p. 66). Som e theorists such as Kenichi Ohmae go even further suggesting that the world will be a nationless state marked by the convergence of customer needs that transcends political and cultural boundaries (Pieterse, 2009, pp.10-11). Conversely, however, many academics believe that consumer behaviour will never become truly globalised as cultural influences refuse to follow the globalisation path remaining, as they do obstinately regionalised and, in some cases, localised (de Mooij, 2010, p. 2). According to Hall and Hall (1990, p. 6) there are two distinctive types of culture namely Low Context and High Context. The culture in the UK is regarded as Low Context/ Individualistic, and in India as High Context/ Collectivistic. Cultural attributes, such as communication and language, which are critical dimensions of marketing communications, demonstrate considerable variance between the two types of culture. In the Low Context/ Individualistic cultures, such as that in the UK, communication tends to be explicit and direct whereas in Low Context /Individualistic culture, such as that in India, it is usually implicit and indirect see Appendix I. It is important that these language and communication differences, brought about by differing cultures, are reflected in the language and communication styles that are deployed in the marketing communications activities targeted at particular markets. Power distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful accept and expect that power is distributed unequally (Hofstede, 2001, p. xix). The Power Distance Index (PDI) is a tool used for the measurement of the degree of equality, or inequality that exits amongst the population in any particular country. A country with high PDI score would indicate that it high levels if of inequalities in its society whereas of power and wealth whereas a low PDI score would be an indicator of more social equality (Hofstede, 2001, p. 50). The PDI for India is 77 whilst that of the UK is 35 (Hofstede, 2003, p. 87). This would indicate that there is more inequality in India than there is in the UK. This finding is substantiated by the fact that India has a very hierarchical society based on social status by birth whereas the UK has a non hierarchical culture with status based on wealth and income, (Hollensen, 2011, pp. 237-244). In addition, gender plays an important role in consumer behaviour in developed and developing countries. In India paternal authority means that marketing communications for many product areas has to be targeted at males who are also the head of their household whereas in societies where there is equality of the sexes, such as in the UK, marketing can effectively be targeted at either sex depending on the nature of the product and its positioning (Usunier and Lee, 2009, p. 71). Furthermore, the central role of the family in Indian culture means has had implications for global brands such as McDonalds which, although using standardised store formats worldwide has positioned and promoted its outlets as family restaurants whereas in the UK, and other developed countries, it has positioned itself as fast food restaurant and a venue for childrens parties (de Mooij, 2010. p. 15). The need to consider whether or not a marketing communications strategy for a brand that is effective in a developed country, such as the UK, should be adapted for a developing country, such as India, is fundamental to that brands international success (Kotler and Armstrong, 2010, p. 259). There are two high-level, strategic options that such multi-national brands can adopt. Firstly, such a brand can think and act globally by deciding to use the same marketing communications strategies across all of its international markets or, secondly, it can think globally but act locally by developing and customising strategies to meet the needs of consumers in particular local markets across the world (de Mooij, 2010, p.2). Organisations with a standardised approach to marketing communications are striving for their customers to perceive a consistent brand image in all of their operational markets (Hafez and Ling, 2005). However, despite this approach many brands may still find that their consu mer perception varies in different cultures (de Mooij, 2010, p. 37). For example, global consumers of Coca-Cola in different cultural markets worldwide will undoubtedly be aware of the Americaness of the brand however, they will still evaluate the global brand values of the drink based on their own particular cultural knowledge, values, and beliefs (de Mooij, 2010, pp. 31-32). A major benefit of a standardised marketing communications strategy is that the associated costs will usually be lower the activities will be easier to manage and control than would be the case with adapted strategies. In addition, if marketing communications strategies have to be adapted for particular markets then there is potential for the strength of the brand to be diluted (Hafez and Ling, 2005). Truly global brands, such as Coca-Cola, are largely able to standardise their marketing communications activities globally because of the worldwide recognition that the brand enjoys. The Coca-Cola brand communicates certain values, such as fun and happiness, that are able to appeal to global consumers regardless of their country of origin or local culture. This can be clearly demonstrated in the brands global advertising campaign the Happiness Factory, which was launched in 2009 see Appendix II. However, even Coca-Cola can not always justify the total standardisation of its marketing c ommunications and has, historically, had to produce adapted television commercials for some countries, including the UK, such as in the UK. However, Coca-Cola has since reiterated its desire to produce only globalised marketing communications campaigns (Eleftheriou-Smith, 2011). However, there are very few truly global brands that have the power of Coca-Cola and, consequently, most brands will have to adapt their marketing communications strategy to take account of local markets. According to Vignola (2001), brand names and the attributes and characteristics of products are the easiest elements of the marketing mix to standardise in global markets. By definition, therefore, marketing communication is more difficult to standardise. This view is supported by Hafez and Ling (2005) who suggest that a premise of basic marketing practice is that organisations operating globally have to determine how best to adapt their marketing communications strategies to the local markets in which they sell their products or services. Unlike with a standardised approach, brands that use an adapted approach to marketing communications consciously permit their consumers to perceive differing brand images according to their culture. This enables the brand to establish higher levels of brand equity in individual market s than would be possible with a standardised approach (Hafez and Ling, 2005). The culture of consumers in developing countries tends to include higher levels of risk aversion that does the culture of consumers in developed countries (Hollensen, 2011, p. 237-244). In terms of adapting marketing communications activity for a global brand, then research has shown the strategies that are especially effective are those that reassure consumers in developing markets, such as India, that the brand they are choosing is free of risk (Erdem et al, 2006). It can be seen that there are a number of differences that exist between developed and developing countries in relation to the creation and implementation of marketing strategies. These differences are particularly significant in marketing communications terms and are largely, although not exclusively, related to culture. These differences are at odds with the basic and inherent desire on the part of many multi-national brands to standardise their marketing communications for both cost and ease of control reasons. However, it has been shown that this approach is not necessarily always appropriate as local cultures can be stubborn in their resistance to receiving standardised messages about brands and products. Consequently, a strong case can usually be made in favour of locally adapted marketing communications strategies, rather than those that are standardised globally, for most brands and products. It is really only those true global brands, such as Coca-Cola for example, that enjo y a consistent and powerful image, together with high levels of brand equity, across cultures that can be fully justified in adopting a globally standardised approach to marketing communications. In conclusion, therefore, the global and local dimensions of marketing communications should always be reflective of a brands recognition, power, and acquired equity in each individual, operational marketplace and its likelihood of generating different cultural responses at a regional or local level.

Characters Contribute to the Dramatic Effect of Alan Bennetts Talking Heads :: essays research papers

"Talking heads" by Alan Bennett is a collection of monologues in which the audience are showed into the life of a character and given an insight into the character's personality and situation. People's lives are portrayed in comic ways leaving the audience feeling sympathy and guilt for the character in laughing at their misfortune. In the play a Chip in the Sugar Alan Bennett shows us a life of a very unconfident man who still lives with his mum. Graham is a middle-aged man with a history of mild mental health problems, living with his mother in Leeds. He is an absolutely stereotypical Guardian reader he wears flares, avoids deodorant, is environmentally conscious, likes date and walnut bread, and is very anti-Thatcher. It is also hinted that he is a closet homosexual. His life is dramatically disrupted when his mother, who he is effectively "married" to, meets her old flame Frank Turnbull after 52 years. Turnbull is bigoted, right-wing, and racist the opposite of Graham but he is also well-dressed and well off. Graham's father presumably died in hospital Graham refers to doctors "wheeling him into the theatre". Graham becomes increasingly jealous as Mr Turnbull takes an ever-growing hold on Mrs Whittaker's life, to the extent he proposes marriage simultaneously suggesting Graham moves out of the house to a ho stel. But Mr Turnbull is hiding a secret, and when Graham finds out he gets the courage to confronts his mother with the information, restoring the status quo and his comfortable life but destroying her hopes of happiness in the process. It seems like Graham has been seriously traumatized as he will not leave his mothers sight which is very unhealthy for a 52 year old to be doing. This play is not only based on graham and his relationship with his mother but it is also based on the different emotions shown within the monologue such as fear which Graham shows a lot of as he is constantly scared for his mother so this causes him to treat her like a child. There is also much anger shown towards the man that his mother is in a relationship with not only because he doesn?t trust him ,but because he wants to be the only man in his mothers life as he has been sic kingly close with his mother since a being a young child and she is always saying to Graham ? Characters Contribute to the Dramatic Effect of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads :: essays research papers "Talking heads" by Alan Bennett is a collection of monologues in which the audience are showed into the life of a character and given an insight into the character's personality and situation. People's lives are portrayed in comic ways leaving the audience feeling sympathy and guilt for the character in laughing at their misfortune. In the play a Chip in the Sugar Alan Bennett shows us a life of a very unconfident man who still lives with his mum. Graham is a middle-aged man with a history of mild mental health problems, living with his mother in Leeds. He is an absolutely stereotypical Guardian reader he wears flares, avoids deodorant, is environmentally conscious, likes date and walnut bread, and is very anti-Thatcher. It is also hinted that he is a closet homosexual. His life is dramatically disrupted when his mother, who he is effectively "married" to, meets her old flame Frank Turnbull after 52 years. Turnbull is bigoted, right-wing, and racist the opposite of Graham but he is also well-dressed and well off. Graham's father presumably died in hospital Graham refers to doctors "wheeling him into the theatre". Graham becomes increasingly jealous as Mr Turnbull takes an ever-growing hold on Mrs Whittaker's life, to the extent he proposes marriage simultaneously suggesting Graham moves out of the house to a ho stel. But Mr Turnbull is hiding a secret, and when Graham finds out he gets the courage to confronts his mother with the information, restoring the status quo and his comfortable life but destroying her hopes of happiness in the process. It seems like Graham has been seriously traumatized as he will not leave his mothers sight which is very unhealthy for a 52 year old to be doing. This play is not only based on graham and his relationship with his mother but it is also based on the different emotions shown within the monologue such as fear which Graham shows a lot of as he is constantly scared for his mother so this causes him to treat her like a child. There is also much anger shown towards the man that his mother is in a relationship with not only because he doesn?t trust him ,but because he wants to be the only man in his mothers life as he has been sic kingly close with his mother since a being a young child and she is always saying to Graham ?