Introduction to Law

Wherever people have lived together, they have found it necessary to develop rules of conduct. They need rules for the settlement of disputes. They also need rules for the organization of their governments. Law is the set of rules that the government enforces through its police, its courts, and its other agencies. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates the importance of law in our communities, especially criminal law. Law makes it possible for men to live together peaceably in a community. If there were no law, every man could do just as he pleased, with law, the people in a community know that the government will enforce rules that will make it possible for them to live together without conflict. The philosophy or science of law is called jurisprudence. There are two main kinds of laws. Civil or public law helps settle disputes between people or companies. Criminal law deals with crimes, or actions that cause serious harm to an individual or group. Public law is the body of rules in which the government is directly involved. Public law regulates the relationships between individuals and the government. One group of rules in public law defines and limits the powers of the government. The part of public law most familiar to many persons is criminal law, which is the body of rules that we are commanded to obey. The government may fine those who do not obey, send them to jail, or even execute them. A number of smaller groups of rules also come under the general heading of public law. International law is concerned with agreements among nations, problems of boundaries, and other questions arising from the relationships of one country with another. Constitutional law deals with the problems that have arisen about various clauses in the United States Constitution. Problems in constitutional law include the organization of the government and the guarantees of our liberties. Administrative law is the body of rules made by administrative or executive agencies of government. The Interstate Commerce Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission are all examples of such an agency. Civil law includes the rules that regulate the relationships among people. Private law includes many smaller groups of rules. Some examples are the rules relating to contracts, personal injuries, and real estate. Most people think of only criminal law when they hear the word law. However, most lawyers and courts spend most of their time dealing with problems of private law. These private law problems includes taxation, business affairs, the transfer of property, and the collection of money for people injured through the fault of others. Cases or proceedings in civil courts are often called lawsuits. Social conditions continually change, and so the law must also change or become outdated. Every nation changes its laws in the manner that its political system prescribes. In a dictatorship, only the top government leaders can change the law. Democracies, however, have developed four main methods of changing the law. Democratic laws change by court decision, by legislation, by administrative action, and by the direct action of the people. Every independent country has its own legal system. The systems vary according to each country's social traditions and form of government. However, most systems can be classed as either a common-law system or a civil-law system. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other English-speaking countries have a common-law system. Most other countries have a civil-law system. Many countries combine features of both systems. Law enforcement is one of the most important ways a government has of protecting its citizens. It usually refers to the action of police and the courts in catching and punishing criminals. However, a broad use of the term also includes the administration of justice in all law cases by the courts. Law enforcement is necessary to maintain order in a community, state, or country. Private citizens have more to do with law enforcement than simply obeying the laws. They should report to the authorities whenever they see a law being broken. Every citizen has the right to arrest a person he sees committing a crime. In conclusion, law is one of the most basic social institutions and one of the most necessary. No society could exist if all people did just as they pleased, without regard for the rights of others, nor could a society exist if its members did not recognize that they also have certain obligations toward one another. The law thus establishes the rules that define a person's rights and obligations. The law also sets penalties for people who violate these rules and states how government shall enforce the rules and penalties.

Latino Conflict Management

It cannot be argued that the Latinos/Hispanics are now making their presence felt in most facets of American society more specifically in the urban communities and the workplace. This group of people is of Latin American descent with inherent unique ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Due to this difference it is possible that conflicts may arise in their interaction with Americans and other races. In resolving conflicts with Latinos/Hispanics it is important to at first understand situations or behaviors that easily lead to conflicts with them and to know their attitude or personal concept regarding conflicts. In this way effective approaches or strategies   Ã‚  Ã‚  for the resolution of conflict may be undertaken. According to Gabrielidis and et al, â€Å"Some of the most severe problems in intercultural relations arise as a consequence of interpersonal conflicts† (1197, p. 661). The greatest difference in the attitudes between the Latinos/Hispanics with the Americans is that Latinos are   a people who give prime importance to family relationships before other   goals or ideas , obligation to in-groups( family, relatives or people of the same race or cultural and ethnic background)   and the surrendering of   personal interests and needs in favor for the   good of the group or community while the Americans ,on the other hand, adopted a culture of   individualism in which the interests, activities and goals of the individual are top priority. I do not infer here that the Americans do not value family relationships or disregard the interest of others but that it seems that the Latinos placed these issues in higher degree. In the Latino context the innate goodness or uniqueness of a person sometimes do not show itself in their actions or achievements so they emphasized the respect and protection of dignity of a person irregardless of social class while the Americans on the other hand believed that a person can be judged by his actions and achievements. Also while both groups had similar definitions of close friendship, Americans emphasized freedom in the expression of their ideas in the company of a friend and may incline give up the friendship if it stands in the way of   self-expression and the attainment of personal goals while the Latinos emphasized support and expression of feelings and make necessary adjustments in goals to keep the friendship. Understanding this difference will help me put the conflict in proper perspective. Through this I can analyze whether the source of conflict was that if I made a Latino feel that his family or race was unimportant or that I perceived him as a person of lower dignity or status when I attempted to judged him base on what he had accomplished in life or that I made him feel as if it was his fault that he had a low economic status.. Based on what I had researched and observed the Latinos mostly wants to connect with people and as much as possible maintain harmonious relationships with others. In most cases they tend to avoid conflict to the extent that they are non-confrontational. They worry more on â€Å"saving the face â€Å"of family and others so that most of the times they do not say directly what they mean, as a respeto (a Spanish term which means respect to the dignity of the person).This   attitude is very opposite to the frankness of   Americans   in their interaction with others. An example is this, instead of saying that the clothes I wore do not look good on me  Ã‚   they will say that my clothes was not exactly nice but that I still look good wearing it. In resolving conflicts with them it is necessary to adopt this kind of indirect communication or else I may aggravate the situation. For example when I differ with opinions with the Latinos and he seemed to insist that he is right, instead of saying that â€Å"I was not happy at all with his attitude† I may say instead that â€Å"I understand why he acted the way he did and that he meant well but that it is better to listen also to the opinion of others†. In the positive aspect, the idea that Latinos wants to maintain harmonious relationships with others means that they are less likely to initiate conflict and may be open for reconciliation whenever conflict arise. However, it must be remembered that Latino conflict resolution should be appropriate to the setting and must be able to maintain individual pride and honor (Markus & Lin, 1999). Also extra attention must be given to the tone of voice and proper eye contact. In resolving Latino/Hispanic conflicts, there are different styles to be use depending on the ethnic and cultural identity salience of the Latino.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Ethnic identity† means that he give more importance to his ethnic origin while â€Å"cultural identity†   means â€Å" that he give more importance to the larger culture in whom he is   interacting with which in this   case is   the American culture.   Those with strong American cultural identity prefers integrating (high concern for self and high concern for other; also called â€Å"collaborating†) and   compromising (moderate concern for self and moderate concern for other)   and uses emotionally expressive styles more   Ã‚  as compared to those   with weak cultural identity. Also those with a strong ethnic identity use integrating and accommodating (low concern for self and high concern for other; also called â€Å"obliging) more and third party less than those with weak ethnic identity in conflict styles (Cai & Fink, 2002).   Latinos, on the other hand, with weak cultural identity used avoiding (low concern for self and low concern for other; also called â€Å"withdrawing†) more than other ethnic groups   irregardless of cultural orientation   perhaps due to the Latino value of respeto and wanting to maintain respect, dignity and harmony   in social situations (Ting-Toomey et al., 2000). Armed with all this knowledge, I am hoping that I will be better equip in handling Latino conflict in the future. REFERENCE Cai, D.A., & Fink, E.L. (2002) Gabrielidis, C., Stephan, W.G., Ybarra, O., Dos Santos Pearson, V.M., & Villareal, L. (1997). Preferred styles of conflict resolution: Mexico and the United States. Journal of Cross- Cultural Psychology,28, 661. Markus, H.R., & Lin, L.R. (1999). Conflict ways: Cultural Diversity in the Meanings and Practicesof Conflict. In D.A. Prentice & D.T. Miller (Eds.), Cultural divides: Understanding and overcoming group conflict (pp. 302-333). New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation. Ting-Toomey, S., Yee-Jung, K.K., Shapiro, R.B., Garcia, W., Wright, T.J., & Oetzel, J.G. (2000) Ethnic/cultural identity salience and conflict styles in four U.S. ethnic groups. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 24, 47-81.            

Advocates of the American Constitution Essay Example for Free

Advocates of the American Constitution Essay ? Obtained a strategic advantage over those who opposed it by taking up the name Federalist for themselves and by identifying the adversaries Anti-Federalists. Federalists supported state rule and disagreed with a central national government. By holding the title Federalist, Hamilton and other authors got an additional advantage for their position and got around an extreme conflict over the issue of state versus national power. They emerged as advocates of states’ rights and this idea was clearly explained in The Federalist Papers, yet they were also evidently advocating for a strong national government. The essays were signed â€Å"Publius† after Publius Valerius who was the state builder and who rebuild the Roman republic following the removing from power Rome’s last king called Tarquin. Plutarch measured Publius favorably against Solon who was Greece’s law giver. And at that instant a modern Publius would have helped erect the new American republic. By opting for a name like Publius, the authors of the Federalist were following a practice which was common among the eighteenth-century writers. The writers used to publish a combined work under a fictitious name instead of a byline. If Hamilton, Madison, and Jay had revealed their identity in The Federalist Papers then they would have been known as advocates of specific positions instead of being recognized by their arguments, and also this would have become a part of the argument over the Constitution. Further more; choosing secrecy was also because of the enmity between Hamilton and George Clinton the New York Governor. Interestingly Hamilton was the single New York ambassador who signed the Constitution. On the contrary, Clinton was an Anti-Federalist who was heading a state where people opposing the new Constitution were in majority. Therefore, opting for Publius was somewhat an effort to shift the discussion away from the personal bitterness between Hamilton and Clinton. As the need of unification has been signified, and the Articles of Confederation had arrears, it was explained by the Publius that a strong republican government was shaped by the Constitution, yet checks and balances controlled it. This type of government, which was strong and had checks, would maintain freedom and assets, and bring back respect for America overseas. Although an un-amended Constitution was opposed by two thirds of the nominated representatives at the New York conventions, the provision of other political writers was done by the Publius. At the same time as replying to explicit Anti-federalist arguments, The Federalist presented an integrated theory of the philosophies upon which the new Constitution was based. History, experience, and reason were the bases of this philosophical foundation, and the long existence of the republican government was verified by this foundation in relation with the examples of failed governments in the past, which were unable to survive. Countering the belief, which is often ascribed to Montesquieu, that republics could stay alive only in small areas taken by identical inhabitants, Madison in The Federalist no. 10 argued that republics could flourish best in large areas where different groups constantly competed with each other. During the constant struggles of these groups the independence of both majorities and minorities would be preserved. This republic would provide better leadership by expanding the group of qualified persons from which delegates would be selected. The Federalist no. 10 by Madison, as mentioned before, was very influential in U. S. political history and philosophy. The separation of the three branches of the federal government had to be done, as the role of a check upon the other was played by each branch in the government Although these three branches were not completely separate the practicality of each division was assured by assigning it enough power to protect itself against the actions of the other division. Furthermore, if any branch exceeded its role as defined in the Constitution then the other branches could proceed by checking on the misuse of power. Moreover, it was also stated by the Publius that freedom was protected by the new Constitution by the provision of power to the central, as well as, state governments. Specific areas of power and simultaneous powers were determined by this new federalism. It was mentioned by the Publius that a central government with restricted powers was created by the Constitution. In this regard, identification of the Congress’s, as well as, President’s powers was also done. The people and the states were left with all the remaining powers completely. If the legislative body dishonored their power and authority bestowed on them then the people could substitute them during the regular elections ensured by the Constitution. On the other hand, if the President or the judiciary breached the confidence of the people, Congress could prosecute them and if convicted Congress could remove them from their designation and from their office. The debate that was going on was based on vocabulary that is circling around the gist of the thoughts constitutive of republican dialogue. They are liberty, tyranny, virtue, corruption, representation, and even republic. It has been said before, along with rationalizations, that the new created American republic was the combined efforts of Federalists and Anti-federalists. A new political system was created not by ordains of a single lawmaker but instead was fought to bring it to life and was constructed jointly by having a powerful discussion between supporters of different political affiliations and theoretical standpoints. â€Å"The ratification debate produced an enormous outpouring of newspaper articles, pamphlets, sermons, and tracts, both for and against the new design. Of the former The Federalist is by far the most famous and certainly the most widely read in our day. The Anti-federalist case against the Constitution, by contrast, is today rarely read or even remembered. Once described (and dismissed) as mere nay-Sayers and men of little faith, the Anti-federalists are now more often regarded as the other founders. † Advocates of the American Constitution. (2017, May 24).

Astronomy assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Astronomy assignment - Essay Example These observations were more strong evidence that Earth is not the center of all things and that at least one planet orbited the Sun. The weight will change by 21 kg since the mass remain constant because the center of gravity is constant. The gravitational force between you and earth is divided into two components. One is the centripetal force required to keep you moving in a circle, and the rest is your weight. So if the radius increases so does the centripetal force. Thus, the weight goes down. The weight will change just proportional to the earth radius changes i.e. by one third of its current measure. There is gravity near the earth orbit keeping in mind that Earths gravity affects everything at or near the planets surface. We feel the force of gravity on Earth through our mass, and that force also translates into a downward pull of 9.8 meters per second squared However, in deep space, thousands of light years from any object, there is no gravity since the higher you go, the weaker and no gravitational force exists (Chaplin,

Original need for the Commerce Clause Research Paper

Original need for the Commerce Clause - Research Paper Example The original concrete programs that were targeted by the clause by giving Congress the authority to regulate commerce were, giving protection or subsidy to favored domestic merchants, restrictions on international trade and punishing foreign producers or imports. The cause was therefore adapted because of the need to nationalize tariffs on imports or state imposts (Gould, 1980). From this, it is evident that neither interstate commerce and trade with Indians was a significant issue in the clause’s original intend/debate. The often claims regarding the purpose of the clause is that it was meant to avert protectionist economic policies among all the US States and to launch common market characterized by free trade across the borders of all states. However, barriers on interstate commerce were not an issue in the original debates. As Johnson (2004) explains, the constitution was put down before Adam Smith with its meaning originating from the mercantilist tradition that existed then but free trade and laissez fair came to dominate the dominate economic thinking later on. Looking at the current description of the clause, it is clear that the Commerce Clause are not the proper descriptions of the original meaning and need of the

Starbucks External and Internal Environment Essay

Starbucks External and Internal Environment - Essay Example Business of Starbucks is complemented by three operating segments such as International division, United States division and Global Consumer Products division. The study has selected UK in order to analyze critical success factor and resource capability of Starbucks. Impact of external environment on business policy of Starbucks will be measured by using PESTLE and Porter’s Five Force analysis. SWOT, value chain analysis and VRIO framework will be used to understand internal strength of Starbucks. Critical success factor (CSF) analysis will be important part of the study. Starbucks Corporation was established by Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker and Zev Siegl in the year 1971. In the initial years Starbucks operated business with single store located in Pike Place Market of Seattle. The company is headquartered at Seattle, Washington, U.S. Distribution network of the company is complemented by 6700 owned stores and 4080 licensed stores in USA. Starbucks has established their presence in more than sixty countries with the help of 20,000 stores. The company offers hot drinks, food items, various coffee drinks and other retail merchandise. As of 2011, market capitalization of the company is US$37.84 billion while sales revenue was more than US$ 13 billion. The company is facing competitions from various big players such as Dunkin' Brands, Nestle, McDonalds, and Wendy's International, Inc. Strategic Group map for Coffee industry can be explained in the following manner: (Source: Brown, 2011) Task A (1) Analysis of Starbucks External Environment Macro Environme nt Analysis PESTLE will be used to analyze macro environment condition of UK. Political UK is one of the most influential countries in the world and plays crucial role on deciding business policy in North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Government in the country has taken stern steps such as 24% budget cut for department of media, sports and culture in order to reduce overall financial deficit in the country. Government in the country has planned to reduce corporate tax by 22% within next two years and raise income tax bar ?8,200 to ?9,205. Economic Economic recession has contracted GDP growth by 0.2% while industry growth rate of the country has slumped to 0.8% last year. Economists forecasted unemployment of UK will touch 8.4% by the end of 2012 and more than 2.5 million people will get unemployed within next one year Social Budget deficit of Government has created challenge for people of the country to maintain standard living style while "managed migration" police government has f urther deteriorated the situation. Working age population in the country is growing at a rate of 7.7% for last two years. Technology Retailers are using latest technologies such as RFID, ERP and

Swot and Pestel analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Swot and Pestel analysis - Essay Example In this era of globalisation, the wine industry is experiencing a nascent stage of growth in Germany. As a result, it has emerged as one of the promising sectors offering high influence over the GDP of the economy of Germany (Koch & et. al., n.d.). SWOT Analysis Strength: Strong Brand Image Operating for Nine generations Development of FitzSecco passion fruit High quality of white wines Location of Fitz-Ritter Smaller Wine Bottles Champagne Production Sparkling Wines Weakness: Medium Size High price Opportunities: Small Museum Bacchus Boutique Sponsoring Of Charity Events, Concerts Threats: Varied New Vinters Globalisation Source: (Koch & et. al., n.d.). Fitz-Ritter is one of the renowned and leading wine estates of Germany operating efficiently since nine generations. Moreover, it also includes champagne production along with wine in order to extend its portfolio in the market among other competitors. Fitz-Ritter always attempted to offer more concentration over introducing new prod ucts namely ‘FitzSecco passion fruit’ for the young citizens in order to enhance customer dependency and loyalty, resulting in augmentation of its total sales. Furthermore, another significant factor, which enhanced its equity, has been regarded as the high quality of white wines being strongly preferred by the customers of German market (Koch & et. al., n.d.). ... However, Fitz-Ritter also possesses certain weaknesses such as the medium size and high price of its products, which may not be affordable for lower income groups (Koch & et. al., n.d.). The introduction of a small museum along with a gift shop named Bacchus boutique also facilitated Fitz-Ritter to augment its brand image and uniqueness in this era of competitiveness. In addition, sponsoring of varied charity events, concerts on wine estates and art galleries also provided the opportunity of enhancing the awareness of its target customers resulting in amplification of the demand of FitzSecco passion fruit along with its brand. Due to globalisation and industrialisation, wine industry became highly competitive, resulting in attraction of varied new young aged vinters. It declined the productivity as well as the prosperity of Fitz-Ritter leading to reduction of its position and attributes in the market imposing threats to the company (Koch & et. al., n.d.). PESTEL Analysis In order to eliminate the custom duties over export operations of wine products, Johann Firtz also led the protest campaign named Hambacher Fest by young vintners which significantly affected the business operations of Fitz-Ritter. It declined the brand image, revenues and value proposition of Fitz-Ritter in the market of Germany. Consequently, the movement was not preferred by the citizens of Germany and France and so the entire business operations, shifted into the market of United States. Besides, the restricted laws of the government of United States also acted in a negative way resulting in reduction of the total productivity of Fitz-Ritter. Moreover, health consciousness of the citizens also declined the profit margin and fidelity of Fitz-Ritter

Ethics in Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethics in Strategic Management - Essay Example Contemporary development in services dealing with finance has prompted stakeholders to question corporations’ moral obligation. These obligations together with business ethics provide important and integral part in the process of strategic management. Early management proponents showed the needs of CEOs to be morally responsible (Barnand, 1938). Executives should be ethical to their customers. Organizations endure the ethical breadth via which their governing is based. Moral responsibility is attached to executives to the people they serve. Likewise, they are responsible for the inspiration via leadership and creation of trust through understanding and common purpose. Those who pioneered strategic thinking advocated for ethics in decision making. Corporate strategy is defined as an organizational process that cannot be separated from behavior, culture and structure of a firm. This provides enterprise strategy basis by definition of context in which those firms operate in both economic and human terms. In the last ten years, there has been the development of ethics and strategic management. Strategic management originated recently and has been accepted in planning and business policy fields. Nevertheless, ethics is a different field that is still evolving, and up to date it has not troubled strategic management academics. Stakeholder's interests have internal worth despite it advancing shareholders interest. From this point of view, an organization’s success should not be viewed as an end but also as a means for advancing stakeholders interest. Ethical analysis is the only way for resolving conflicts in goals and values; it is important in strategic management.... In the 1970s, the technique of strategizing thrived in business schools. Corporate strategy if defined as decisions pattern of a company that reveals and determine its goals, objective or purposes, produces policies and make plans on achievement of the objectives, and defines type of business a company is likely to pursue. While there are similarities between ethics and strategy, there are misunderstandings between the two. Recent thinking in management developments have converged the two. The notion on ethics and strategy are distinct, and separate fields do not hold of recent. Unless it acknowledged that the two should be closely integrated, more problems might be experienced and failures in business. Ethical issues Moral and Morality Problems Morality deals with beliefs, values and norms embedded in a process which define wrong and right for a particular society. The manager is characterized as a moral individual in accordance to the traits. With the moral values, a manager should convey ethical messages, which others can notice. Problems related to morality are associated to harm caused by others. Harming others do not bring any good but prevention of it promotes good. It can be debated that moral issues related to strategic management are complicated because harms caused to other individuals are predictably related to benefits of others. For instance, transformation of an economy to an economy of low wage harms workers who have been displaced but benefits the newly recruited employees and existing stakeholders. Ethical Analysis The policy behind the analysis of ethics can be linked to point of view which claims that principles of ethics are not measures of subjection which vary with economic and cultural conditions. In the real sense, they are first

Employment Relations 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Employment Relations 2 - Essay Example Ever since the need for the department has become prominent, it has made great strides and has evolved completely, the functions that we see any human resources department performing today are very different from the functions that it performed 2 or 3 decades ago, this is ample evidence to judge the importance of the role that human resources departments now perform in any given company. Employment relations means the relationship that exists between the employer and the employees and the factors that affect this bond are some institutional factors which would be discussed in detail later on in the paper, these factors are basically the economic, political and the cultural factors and how they affect the relationship of the employer and the employee and the role of the human resources department in tackling the various issues that may arise due to the impact of these factors is looked into in detail. The employment relation also looks into the rights that the employees have over the employer and the rights that the employer have over the employee, it also defines what needs to be done in different situations when a breach has been made by either party. Economic factors can also have an effect on the employment relation of the firm, for example in the micro economic context if the demand for the firms products goes down rapidly due to substitutes being now available at a cheaper market price then the firm would have to react to this negative factor in the environment and reply by having either lower prices or higher quality goods, but if the price has to be decreased some of the labor might have to be laid off and that can really hurt the relationship between the firm and its employees. If a labor union is involved then it would definitely protest against laying off for this reason and might threaten to halt all labor activities if the decision of the firm is not taken back. These are some decisions that the firm has to make very carefully and take the union into full confidence before announcing any such decision. On the other hand macroeconomic factors can also have a bearing on the firm and its relationship with the employees or trade unions, if the inflation level is extremely high and the company finds that it needs to cut down on costs or close a wing down then the same problems would ensue as those that have been mentioned above, but with measures such as negotiations and direct dialogue between the company and the trade unions such barriers can be overcome but there might be times when the issue would have to be resolved by putting the foot down, in that case the firm might have to pay a hefty price in the short term but in the long run it would be beneficial for the firm (Ed. 2008). Employees of any company have the right to join a labor union and that labor union has the right to represent that employee. Demand factors may reduce the facilities that are given to employees by the employer as this would translate into lower costs for the employee, this might be an alternative solution for laying off people and there have been examples where labor unions have accepted or brokered such deals where the w hole labor force would accept a lower wage when economic conditions are bad so that no one from the organization is laid off. Another factor is the political scenario or the political situation of the country that the firm is

Athenian Artistic Performances Were They a Form of Propaganda Essay Example for Free

Athenian Artistic Performances Were They a Form of Propaganda Essay The â€Å"glory that was Greece† reached its height in 5th century BCE in Athens, under the leadership of Pericles. He opened Athenian democracy to the ordinary citizen, was responsible for the construction of magnificent temples and statues on the Acropolis and he, in effect created the Athenian empire. The definition of propaganda is â€Å"the planned use of any form of public or mass-produced communication designed to affect the minds of a given group for a specific purpose, whether military, economic or political† (Linearger, p. 39, 1954). This has connotations of dishonesty and while people assume it is a modern phenomenon, its roots go back much further. The question is however, was propaganda rife in 5th century BCE Athens and if so, was it the driving force whether explicitly or not behind many of the public displays? A funeral oration or epitaphios logos is an official speech delivered at a funeral. The epitaphios is regarded as a virtually unique Athenian concept, although early elements of such speeches exist in the Epic poetry of Homer and in Lyric poetry of Pindar; in addition modern parallels have been drawn between Lincoln’s Gettysburg address and Pericles. When Pericles gave the epitaphios for Athenian soldiers who had been killed in the first year of the Peloponnesian War. He took the opportunity to not only praise the deceased, but Athens itself, in an oration which has been both praised as enshrining the archetypal democratic system and condemned as barefaced propaganda. In Thucydides’ book History of the Peloponnesian War, Pericles’ Funeral Oration is a powerful rhetorical piece. In addition it is important evidence for the study of the Athenian sense of identity and the way they represented themselves and others. It eloquently discusses the ancient democratic model and the picture it portrays serves as a prototype for democratic states today (Abbott, 1970). Thucydides specified a man would be chosen to make an ‘appropriate speech’ i. e. it matched formulaic prescriptions of the epitaphios, which according to Edinger, â€Å"consisted of a number of recognised topics: praise of the dead, praise of the ancestors, praise of the city, consolation of the families of the dead.

Leukopenia And Leukemia Risk Factors Biology Essay

Leukopenia And Leukemia Risk Factors Biology Essay A clinical condition, known as leukopenia occasionally occurs in which the bone marrow produces very few white blood cells, leaving the body unprotected against many bacteria and other agents that might invade the tissues. Normally, the human body lives in symbiosis with many bacteria, because all the mucous membranes of the body are constantly exposed to large numbers of bacteria. The mouth almost always contains various spirochetal, pneumococcal, and streptococcal bacteria, and these same bacteria are present to a lesser extent in the entire respiratory tract. The distal gastrointestinal tract is especially loaded with colon bacilli. Furthermore, one can always find bacteria on the surfaces of the eyes, urethra, and vagina. Any decrease in the number of white blood cells immediately allows invasion of adjacent tissues by bacteria that are already present. Within 2 days after the bone marrow stops producing white blood cells, ulcers may appear in the mouth and colon, or the person might develop some form of severe respiratory infection. Bacteria from the ulcers rapidly invade surrounding tissues and the blood. Without treatment, death often ensues in less than a week after acute total leukopenia begins. Irradiation of the body by x-rays or gamma rays, or exposure to drugs and chemicals that contain benzene or anthracene nuclei, is likely to cause aplasia of the bone marrow. Indeed, some common drugs, such as chloramphenicol (an antibiotic), thiouracil (used to treat thyrotoxicosis), and even various barbiturate hypnotics, on very rare occasions cause leukopenia, thus setting off the entire infectious sequence of this malady. After moderate irradiation injury to the bone marrow, some stem cells, myeloblasts, and hemocytoblasts may remain undestroyed in the marrow and are capable of regenerating the bone marrow, provided sufficient time is available. A patient properly treated with transfusions, plus antibiotics and other drugs to ward off infection, usually develops enough new bone marrow within weeks to months for blood cell concentrations to return to normal. Leukemia Leukemia is a cancer of one class of white blood cells in the bone marrow, which results in the proliferation of that cell type to the exclusion of other types. Leukemia appears to be a clonal disorder, meaning one abnormal cancerous cell proliferates without control, producing an abnormal group of daughter cells. These cells prevent other blood cells in the bone marrow from developing normally, causing them to accumulate in the marrow. Because of these factors, leukemia is called an accumulation and a clonal disorder. Eventually, leukemic cells take over the bone marrow. This reduces blood levels of all nonleukemic cells, causing the many generalized symptoms of leukemia. Types of Leukemia Leukemia is described as acute or chronic, depending on the suddenness of appearance and how well differentiated the cancerous cells are. The cells of acute leukemia are poorly differentiated, whereas those of chronic leukemia are usually well differentiated. Leukemia is also described based on the proliferating cell type. For instance, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common childhood leukemia, describes a cancer of a primitive lymphocyte cell line. Granulocytic leukemias are leukemias of the eosinophils, neutrophils, or basophils. Leukemia in adults is usually chronic lymphocytic or acute myeloblastic. Long-term survival rates for leukemia depend on the involved cell type, but range to more than 75% for childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia, which is a remarkable statistic for what was once a nearly always fatal disease. Risk Factors for Developing Leukemia Risk factors for leukemia include a genetic predisposition coupled with a known or unknown initiator (mutating) event. Siblings of children with leukemia are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop the disease than other children. Certain abnormal chromosomes are seen in a high percentage of patients with leukemia. Likewise, individuals with certain chromosomal abnormalities, including Down syndrome, have an increased risk of developing leukemia. Exposures to radiation, some drugs that depress the bone marrow, and various chemotherapeutic agents have been suggested to increase the risk of leukemia. Environmental agents such as pesticides and certain viral infections also have been implicated. Previous illness with a variety of diseases associated with hematopoiesis (blood cell production) has been shown to increase the risk of leukemia. These diseases include Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, polycythemia vera, sideroblastic anemia, and myelodysplastic syndromes. Chronic leukemia may sometimes transform into acute leukemia. Clinical Manifestations Acute leukemia has marked clinical manifestations. Chronic leukemia progresses slowly and may have few symptoms until advanced. Pallor and fatigue from anemia. Frequent infections caused by a decrease in white blood cells. Bleeding and bruising caused by thrombocytopenia and coagulation disorders. Bone pain caused by accumulation of cells in the marrow, which leads to increased pressure and cell death. Unlike growing pains, bone pain related to leukemia is usually progressive. Weight loss caused by poor appetite and increased caloric consumption by neoplastic cells. Lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly caused by leukemic cell infiltration of these lymphoid organs may develop. Central nervous system symptoms may occur. Diagnostic Tools Laboratory findings include alterations in specific blood cell counts, with overall elevation or deficiency in white blood cell count variable, depending on the type of cell affected. Bone marrow tests demonstrate clonal proliferation and blood cell accumulation. Cerebral spinal fluid is examined to rule out central nervous system involvement. Complications Children who survive leukemia have an increased risk of developing a new malignancy later on in life when compared to children who have never had leukemia, most likely related to the aggressiveness of chemotherapeutic (or radiological) regimens. Treatment regimens, including bone marrow transplant, are associated with temporary bone marrow depression, and increase the risk of developing a severe infection that could lead to death. Even with successful treatment and remission, leukemic cells may still persist, suggesting residual disease. Implications for prognosis and cure are unclear. Treatment Multiple drug chemotherapy. Antibiotics to prevent infection. Transfusions of red blood cells and platelets to reverse anemia and prevent bleeding. Bone marrow transplant may successfully treat the disease. Blood products and broad spectrum antibiotics are provided during bone marrow transplant procedures to fight and prevent infection. Immunotherapy, including interferons and other cytokines, is used to improve outcome. Therapy may be more conservative for chronic leukemia. The treatments described earlier may contribute to the symptoms by causing further bone marrow depression, nausea, and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting may be controlled or reduced by pharmacologic and behavioral intervention. Anthocyanins (chemicals with known antioxidant and liver protecting properties) isolated from the plant Hibiscus sabdariffa are being studied as chemopreventive agents in that they cause cancer cell apoptosis (death) in human promyelocytic leukemia cells. Anemia Anemia is a condition in which there is a reduced number of red blood cells or decreased concentration of hemoglobin in those cells or both. Anemia is often a manifestation of some disease process or abnormality within the body. Although there are many causes of anemia, the actual mechanism by which the anemia results is generally due to (1) excess loss or destruction of red blood cells and (2) reduced or defective production of red blood cells. Anemias may be classified according to cause or effect on red cell morphology Size changes Normocytic anemia RBC size is unchanged Example: Blood loss anemia Macrocytic anemia RBC size is increased Example: B12/folic acid deficiency anemia Microcytic anemia RBC size is reduced Example: Iron deficiency anemia Color changes (due to altered hemoglobin content) Normochromic Normal hemoglobin concentration Hypochromic Reduced hemoglobin concentration Example: Iron deficiency anemia may be classified as a microcytic, hypochromic anemia as both red blood cell size and hemoglobin content are reduced General manifestations of anemia A major feature of anemia is a reduced capacity for the transport of oxygen to tissues. This reduced oxygen delivery can result in the following: Ischemia Fatigability Breathlessness upon exertion Exercise intolerance Pallor Increased susceptibility to infection Types of anemia Hemolytic anemia Anemia that results from excess destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis). Factors that may cause hemolysis include the following: Autoimmune destruction of red blood cells Certain drugs (example: quinine) or toxins Cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia Rheumatoid arthritis Certain viral infections (parvovirus) Parasitic infections (malaria) Blood loss anemia Anemia that results from acute blood loss. With acute loss of large amounts of blood, shock is the major concern. With chronic loss of smaller amounts of blood, iron deficiency is a chief concern. Causes of acute and chronic blood loss may include the following: Trauma and hemorrhage Malignancy Peptic ulcers Iron-deficiency anemia Iron-deficiency anemia is a major cause of anemia worldwide. It can occur as a result of iron-deficient diets. Vegetarians are at particular risk for iron deficiency as are menstruating or pregnant women due to increased requirement for iron. Iron-deficiency anemia may also result from poor absorption of iron from the intestine or persistent blood loss (e.g., ulcers, neoplasia). Because iron is the functional component of hemoglobin, lack of available iron will result in a decreased hemoglobin synthesis and subsequent impairment of red blood cell oxygen-carrying capacity. Cobalamin-deficiency or folate-deficiency anemia Cobalamin (vitamin B 12) and folic acid are essential nutrients required for DNA synthesis and red cell maturation, respectively. Deficiency of these nutrients will lead to the formation of red blood cells that are of abnormal shape with shortened life spans due to weakened cell membranes. One important cause of vitamin B 12 deficiency is pernicious anemia that results from a lack of intrinsic factor production by the gastric mucosa. Intrinsic factor is required for normal absorption of vitamin B 12 from the intestine. Any intestinal abnormalities (e.g., neoplasia, inflammation) that interfere with the production of intrinsic factor can lead to vitamin B 12 deficiency. Folic acid deficiency most commonly results from poor diet, malnutrition or intestinal malabsorption. Inherited anemia Anemia may also result from genetic defects in red blood cell structure or function. Two common genetic disorders of erythrocytes are sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. Both of these disorders result from abnormal or absent genes for the production of hemoglobin. Sickle cell disease Sickle cell disease is a group of autosomal recessive disorders characterized by abnormal hemoglobin production. In the United States the highest prevalence of sickle cell disease is in blacks with a reported incidence of approximately 1 in 500 births. Sickle cell disease has several patterns of inheritance that determine the severity of the disease in afflicted individuals. In the homozygous form of the disease, most of the hemoglobin formed is defective and the clinical presentation is most severe. With the heterozygous form of the disease, less than half of the red cell hemoglobin is affected and the presentation is significantly milder. Individuals may also inherit the sickle cell trait and be carriers of the defective hemoglobin gene without significant clinical manifestations. Manifestations of sickle cell disease: The abnormal hemoglobin formed in sickle cell disease results from a substitution mutation of a single amino acid. This mutation causes the deoxygenated hemoglobin to clump and become abnormally rigid. The rigidity of the defective hemoglobin deforms the pliable red blood cell membrane and causes erythrocytes to take on sickled or half-moon appearance. The degree of sickling that occurs is determined by the amount of abnormal hemoglobin within the red blood cell and only occurs when the abnormal hemoglobin is deoxygenated. As a result of their elongated shape and rigidity, affected blood cells do not pass easily through narrow blood vessels. Hemolysis of sickled red blood cells is also common. The spleen is a major site of red cell hemolysis since the blood vessels found within this organ are narrow and convoluted. As a result of the sluggish blood flow, many tissues and organs of the body are eventually affected by this disorder. Specific manifestations may include the following: Impaired oxygen-carrying capacity resulting in fatigue, pallor Occlusion of blood vessels leading to ischemia, hypoxia, pain Organ damage Splenomegaly due to increased destruction of red blood cells in this organ Jaundice as a result of increased amounts of hemoglobin released into circulation Increased risk of infection and possible septicemia due to stagnation of blood Thalassemia Thalassemia is a genetic disorder characterized by absent or defective production of hemoglobin ÃŽÂ ± or ÃŽÂ ² chains. As with sickle cell anemia, afflicted individuals may be heterozygous for the trait and have a milder presentation of the disease or homozygous and have a more severe form of the disorder. The ÃŽÂ ² form of thalassemia (defective formation of ÃŽÂ ² hemoglobin chains) is most common in individuals from Mediterranean populations, whereas the ÃŽÂ ± form of thalassemia (defective formation of ÃŽÂ ± hemoglobin chains) occurs mostly in Asians. Both the ÃŽÂ ± and ÃŽÂ ² forms of thalassemia are common in blacks. Manifestations of thalassemia In heterozygous individuals enough normal hemoglobin is usually synthesized to prevent significant anemia. In these individuals symptoms of anemia may appear only with exercise or physiologic stress. Homozygous individuals are often dependent on frequent transfusions to treat the resulting severe anemia. Children affected with the homozygous form may suffer severe growth retardation. The widespread hypoxia that can result from impaired oxygen-carrying capacity leads to erythropoietin-induced increases in hematopoiesis that can eventually affect the structure of the long bones. Severe anemia may also lead to congestive heart failure and marked hepatosplenomegaly. Excessive hemolysis of red blood cells may occur in severe forms of the disease due to overproduction of the normal hemoglobin subunit. Iron deposits from increased absorption and frequent transfusions may injure the liver and heart as well. Treatment of sickle cell anemia and thalassemia Individuals with inherited anemia should avoid physiologic stresses that might exacerbate hypoxia. Infections should be avoided and promptly treated if they occur to prevent a possible hypoxic crisis. Proper immunizations and vaccinations should be administered to lessen the chance of infection. Frequent transfusions of normal erythrocytes are commonly used in individuals with severe forms of inherited anemia during periods of crisis. These individuals are at risk for iron accumulation as well as contracting blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis and HIV from improperly screened blood. Bone marrow transplant may be utilized effectively to cure patients with genetic anemias; however, the procedure carries considerable risk of its own. Aplastic anemia Aplastic anemia results from a lack of red blood cell production by the bone marrow. If erythrocyte stem cell precursors are lacking or destroyed, the process of erythropoiesis will be severely impaired. Aplastic anemia may result from a congenital defect in stem cell production or can be caused by exposure to agents that damage the bone marrow such as Chemicals (organic solvents, heavy metals), radiation, toxins, HIV infection, chemotherapeutic drugs and certain antibiotics (Chloramphenicol). Drug-induced aplastic anemia is usually a dose-dependent phenomenon. The clinical manifestations of aplastic anemia will depend on the extent to which hematopoiesis is impaired. General symptoms of anemia such as pallor, fatigue and lethargy can occur initially. Bleeding in the skin and from the nose, mouth and body orifices may also occur from a lack of platelet production by the abnormal bone marrow. Increased susceptibility to infection is also seen as a result of diminished white blood cell production. The underlying cause of the aplastic anemia needs to be identified and further exposure prevented. Treatment should also include avoidance of physiologic stresses and infection. Transfusions are effective for temporarily improving oxygen-carrying capacity. In severe cases, bone marrow transplant may offer a cure. Polycythemia Polycythemia is a disorder in which the number of red blood cells in circulation is greatly increased. There are two categories of polycythemia: relative and primary. Relative polycythemia results from an increase in the concentration of red blood cells due to a loss of plasma volume. In contrast, primary polycythemia (polycythemia vera) is caused by excessive proliferation of bone marrow stem cells. Polycythemia vera is a rare neoplastic disorder that occurs in men between the ages of 40 and 60. A secondary form of polycythemia may occur from excess erythropoietin production as a physiologic response to hypoxia. Secondary polycythemia may be seen in individuals living at high altitudes, in chronic smokers or in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Manifestations Increased blood volume and viscosity Increased risk of thrombus Occlusion of small blood vessels Hepatosplenomegaly from pooling of blood Impaired blood flow to tissues (ischemia) Treatment Increasing fluid volume in relative polycythemia Periodic removal of blood to reduce viscosity and volume in primary polycythemia Chemotherapy or radiation to suppress activity of bone marrow stem cells in polycythemia vera Thrombocytopenia (Purpura) Thrombocytopenia represents a decrease in the number of circulating platelets (usually less than 100,000/mm3). It can result from decreased platelet production by the bone marrow, increased pooling of platelets in the spleen, or decreased platelet survival caused by immune or nonimmune mechanisms. Dilutional thrombocytopenia can result from massive transfusions because blood stored for more that 24 hours has virtually no platelets. Decreased platelet production can result from suppression or failure of bone marrow function, such as occurs in aplastic anemia, or from replacement of bone marrow by malignant cells, such as occurs in leukemia. Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) suppresses the production of megakaryocytes. Radiation therapy and drugs such as those used in the treatment of cancer may suppress bone marrow function and reduce platelet production. There may be normal production of platelets but excessive pooling of platelets in the spleen. The spleen normally sequesters approximately 30% to 40% of the platelets. However, as much as 80% of the platelets can be sequestered when the spleen is enlarged (splenomegaly). Splenomegaly occurs in cirrhosis with portal hypertension and in lymphomas. Decreased platelet survival is an important cause of thrombocytopenia. In many cases, premature destruction of platelets is caused by antiplatelet antibodies or immune complexes. The antibodies can be directed against self-antigens (autoimmunity) or against nonself platelet antigens (from blood transfusions). Autoimmune thrombocytopenias include idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and HIV-associated thrombocytopenias. Decreased platelet survival may also occur as the result of mechanical injury associated with prosthetic heart valves. Drug-Induced Thrombocytopenia Some drugs, such as quinine, quinidine, and certain sulfa-containing antibiotics, may induce thrombocytopenia. These drugs act as a hapten and induce antigen-antibody response and formation of immune complexes that cause platelet destruction by complement-mediated lysis. In persons with drug-associated thrombocytopenia, there is a rapid fall in platelet count within 2 to 3 days of resuming use of a drug or 7 or more days (i.e., the time needed to mount an immune response) after starting use of a drug for the first time. The platelet count rises rapidly after the drug use is discontinued. The anticoagulant drug heparin has been increasingly implicated in thrombocytopenia and, paradoxically, in thrombosis. The complications typically occur 5 days after the start of therapy and result from production of heparin-dependent antiplatelet antibodies that cause aggregation of platelets and their removal from the circulation. The antibodies often bind to vessel walls, causing injury and thrombosis. The newer, low-molecular-weight heparin has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of heparin-induced complications compared with the older, high-molecular-weight form of the drug. Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, an autoimmune disorder, results in platelet antibody formation and excess destruction of platelets. The IgG antibody binds to two identified membrane glycoproteins while in the circulation. The platelets, which are made more susceptible to phagocytosis because of the antibody, are destroyed in the spleen. Acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is more common in children and usually follows a viral infection. It is characterized by sudden onset of petechiae and purpura and is a self-limited disorder with no treatment. In contrast, the chronic form is usually seen in adults and seldom follows an infection. It is a disease of young people, with a peak incidence between the ages of 20 and 50 years, and is seen twice as often in women as in men. It may be associated with other immune disorders such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or systemic lupus erythematosus. The condition occasionally presents precipitously with signs of bleeding, often into the skin (i.e., purpura and petechiae) or oral mucosa. There is commonly a history of bruising, bleeding from gums, epistaxis (i.e., nosebleeds), and abnormal menstrual bleeding. Because the spleen is the site of platelet destruction, splenic enlargement may occur. Diagnosis usually is based on severe thrombocytopenia (platelet counts Treatment includes the initial use of corticosteroid drugs, often followed by splenectomy and the use of immunosuppressive agents. Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TPP) is a combination of thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, signs of vascular occlusion, fever, and neurologic abnormalities. The onset is abrupt, and the outcome may be fatal. Widespread vascular occlusions consist of thrombi in arterioles and capillaries of many organs, including the heart, brain, and kidneys. Erythrocytes become fragmented as they circulate through the partly occluded vessels and cause the hemolytic anemia. The clinical manifestations include purpura and petechiae and neurologic symptoms ranging from headache to seizures and altered consciousness. Although TTP may have diverse causes, the initiating event seems to be widespread endothelial damage and activation of intravascular thrombosis. Toxins produced by certain strains of Escherichia coli (e.g., E. coli O157:H7) are a trigger for endothelial damage and an associated condition called the hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Treatment for TTP includes plasmapheresis, a procedure that involves removal of plasma from withdrawn blood and replacement with fresh-frozen plasma. The treatment is continued until remission occurs. With plasmapheresis treatment, there is a complete recovery in 80% to 90% of cases. Fibrinogen Deficiency Factor I (or fibrinogen) deficiency is a very rare inherited disorder with complications that vary with the severity of the disorder. It is not well known, even among health professionals. Discovery Factor I deficiency was described for the first time in 1920 by Fritz Rabe and Eugene Salomon. These two German physicians are credited with discovering the disorder. They studied the case of a 9-year-old boy who presented unexplained bleeding problems from birth. Blood tests finally demonstrated the absence of fibrinogen in the childs blood. His parents were first cousins, but they showed no bleeding problems. The two researchers established that it was an inherited disorder often found in subjects whose parents were blood relatives. Since then, knowledge about the condition has advanced considerably. What is Fibrinogen? Fibrinogen, also called Factor I, is a blood plasma protein produced by the liver that plays an important role in blood coagulation. Blood coagulation is a process in which several components of the blood form a clot. When blood escapes from a rupture in a blood vessel, coagulation is triggered. Several proteins, called coagulation factors, go into action to produce thrombin. The thrombin then converts fibrinogen to fibrin. Fibrin produced from fibrinogen is the main protein in a blood clot. It surrounds the cells in the blood and plasma and helps form the clot. The resulting clot, which is stabilized by Factor XIII, remains intact from 10 to 14 days, the time required for healing to take place. When there is a problem with fibrinogen, i.e., either it is missing or it does not function properly, the clot has difficulty forming. This can result in hemorrhaging or thrombosis. The normal volume of fibrinogen in the blood is from 2 to 4 g/l (grams/litre). The amount of fibrinogen in blood can be measured from a blood sample. The following diagram was devised by a Toronto laboratory technician. It shows the stages in clot formation in a way that makes it easier to understand the theoretical notions explained above. Types of Fibrinogen Deficiency There are three types of deficiency: Afibrinogenemia: (absence of fibrinogen) In this type of factor I deficiency, there is a complete absence of fibrinogen. The fibrinogen level is Hypofibrinogenemia (lower than normal level) Dysfibrinogenemia (improper functioning) Transmission of Fibrinogen Deficiency Fibrinogen deficiency is a very rare inherited bleeding disorder. It is transmitted from parent to child at conception. The disorder is caused by an abnormal gene. It affects both men and women, as well as people of all races and ethnic origins. Every cell of the body contains chromosomes. A chromosome is a long chain of a substance called DNA. DNA is organized in 30,000 units: these are called genes. The genes determine physical characteristics, such as eye colour. In the case of fibrinogen deficiency, one of the genes involved is defective. The defective gene in fibrinogen deficiency is located on a chromosome that is not responsible for the childs sex (autosomal). As a result, both girls and boys can be affected equally. Afibrinogenemia (absence of fibrinogen) This is a recessive disorder, which means that both parents must be carriers. In order for a person to inherit fibrinogen deficiency, he must receive two defective genes, one from the mother and the other from the father. A carrier is a person who has only one of the two defective genes, but is not affected by the disorder: the second gene enables just enough fibrinogen to be made for good coagulation. The fibrinogen level will be lower than normal, but there will be no symptoms of the disorder. Hypofibrinogenemia and dysfibrinogenemia These are inherited disorders that can be either dominant or recessive. Dominant means that a single parent can transmit the disorder if he or she is a carrier. Recessive means that both parents must be carriers of the disorder in order to transmit it. Symptoms Afibrinogenemia (absence of fibrinogen) In congenital afibrinogenemia (fibrinogen level Other types of bleeding have been described: bruises bleeding from the gums epistaxis (nosebleeds) gastrointestinal hemorrhage genito-urinary hemorrhage intra-cranial hemorrhage rupture of the spleen and hemorrhage in the spleen About 20% of those suffering from afibrinogenemia present hemarthroses (bleeding in the joints). Because of this particular feature, the disorder may be confused with hemophilia A or B. Hypofibrinogenemia (lower than normal level) Bleeding in hypofibrinogenemia is much like what is seen in afibrinogenemia. It can be more or less serious, depending on fibrinogen levels, which can vary from 0.2 to 0.8 g/L of plasma. The higher the fibrinogen level, the less bleeding. The lower the fibrinogen level, the more bleeding. Dysfibrinogenemia (improper functioning) In dysfibrinogenemia, the quantity of fibrinogen is normal, which means between 2 and 4 g/L. Bleeding can vary depending on how the fibrinogen is functioning. Bleeding may: be absent (no symptoms) show a tendency toward hemorrhage (as described in afibrinogenemia) show a tendency toward thrombosis How to Recognize Bleeding It is strongly recommended that people who suffer from afibrinogenemia or severe hypofibrinogenemia learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of bleeding that could threaten their lives or the integrity of a limb, so they can react adequately and in a reasonable time. The information below describes the main types of bleeding that may occur in someone with a coagulation disorder. Bleeding that affects the head, neck, thorax (chest) or abdomen can be life-threatening and may require immediate medical attention. Bear in mind that this kind of bleeding can occur either following an injury or spontaneously (without injury). Head The brain, which is protected by the skull, controls all bodily functions that are essential to life. Bleeding in the brain is very serious. Signs and symptoms: Heada

Why Did He Do It? :: essays research papers fc

What would you do, or how would you feel, if a man of middle-eastern descent came up to you telling you that he had been a victim of a hate crime where he was attacked from behind, beaten and pelted with eggs while his assailants uttered racial epithets, but later was notified that it was all a lie, a hoax? Well, there was a person that had to deal with this dilemma. Arizona State University junior Ahmad Sadd Nasim performed this gruesome act, and now the Maricopa Attorney's Office, and the ASU disciplinary department, must decide whether or not to press charges on this act of pusillanimity. It is believed by many that Nasim should face charges in order to allow true victims of hate crimes to come forward without shame, prevent a rise in hate crimes, and also prevent further acts of this nature. In order to allow the victims of true hate crimes to identify themselves without fear of not being heard, or believed, Ahmad Saad Nasim should be prosecuted. If he is not prosecuted, the victims of future hate crimes may not choose to come forward. Furthermore, these victims would find it nothing more than a waste of their time if they tried to report the perpetrators. Senior Vikesh Desai said," the lie hurts victims of genuine hate crimes." He continues, "It's like the boy who cried wolf. Now if another person is attacked in a hate crime, more people are going to question it. People are going to be afraid to speak up because they'll think that people won't believe them." (Chiu 1). However, if Nasim is prosecuted, and convicted, this type of situation would not be a problem. Consequently, the number of hate crimes committed will decline. The chance of an increase in the number of hate crimes committed relies partially on whether or not the Maricopa County Attorney's Office decides to press charges on Nasim. The number of performed hate crimes could rise if Nasim is not prosecuted for his wrong-doings. People that are prejudiced against Middle-Eastern immigrants, especially in light of previous events (WTC & Pentagon attacks), might find this as "open season" on committing hate crimes. Figuring that if the victims went to authorities they would not be believed anyway, they would be fearless. "... people weren't taking hate crimes seriously..." said Desai (Chiu 2). Therefore, the chances of them being caught are slim to none.

Prohibition is Destroying America Essay -- Drugs

The war on drugs began with good intentions, but it is becoming clear that this battle is a failure. Not only do drug laws violate American’s freedoms, but they further complicate the lives of drug users. These laws have inadvertently been responsible for the deaths of thousands through bad drug deals and dirty drugs, which leads one to ask the question, â€Å"Is this a war on drugs or a war on drug users?† Body bags and HIV are becoming the most widely known side effects of drug prohibition. Contrary to what many may think, drug use will never be eliminated. Only through legalization and strict state-controlled regulations will the violent and deadly consequences of drug laws be controlled. By making these substances available, the drugs themselves will be safer and cheaper, government spending and prison population will decrease, and most importantly, Americans will be freer. In 1920, the federal government outlawed a substance they felt was destroying America, alcohol. Millions of Americans would shutter at the idea of not attending mid-week â€Å"happy hour† after a long day of work. But, the right to drink alcohol was stripped away from Americans by the federal government under the Volstead Act of 1920 (Behr). Over the next thirteen years, over $733 million, of today’s money, was spent putting Americans behind bars for minimal delinquencies, such as having a martini at a local speakeasy (Barbour). Since alcohol was no longer manufactured by trusted companies like Anheuser-Busch, it was now in the hands of black market racketeers, like Al Capone (Behr). Due to the diminishing availability of alcohol, more potent forms, like moonshine, became wildly popular and in New York in 1926, â€Å"bad liquor† claimed the lives of 750 people (Behr). ... ...on. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 2000. Print. Barnett, Randy E. â€Å"The Harmful Side Effects of Drug Prohibition.† Utah Law Review 2009.1 (2009): 11-34. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. Behr, Edward. Prohibition: Thirteen Years That Changed America. New York: Arcade Publishing, 1996. Print. Gerdes, Louise I., ed. At Issue: Legalizing Drugs. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 2001. Print. Miron, Jeffrey A. and Katherine Waldock. â€Å"The Budgetary Impact of Ending Drug Prohibition†. CATO Institute. CATO Institute, 27 Sept. 2010. Web. 22 Mar 2012. Rogers, Douglas. â€Å"The Fiasco of Prohibition.† Freeman: Ideas on Liberty 61.1 (2011): 25. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. United States. Dept. of Justice. Office of Justice. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Drug and Crime Facts. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Dept. of Justice, Mar. 2012. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. Prohibition is Destroying America Essay -- Drugs The war on drugs began with good intentions, but it is becoming clear that this battle is a failure. Not only do drug laws violate American’s freedoms, but they further complicate the lives of drug users. These laws have inadvertently been responsible for the deaths of thousands through bad drug deals and dirty drugs, which leads one to ask the question, â€Å"Is this a war on drugs or a war on drug users?† Body bags and HIV are becoming the most widely known side effects of drug prohibition. Contrary to what many may think, drug use will never be eliminated. Only through legalization and strict state-controlled regulations will the violent and deadly consequences of drug laws be controlled. By making these substances available, the drugs themselves will be safer and cheaper, government spending and prison population will decrease, and most importantly, Americans will be freer. In 1920, the federal government outlawed a substance they felt was destroying America, alcohol. Millions of Americans would shutter at the idea of not attending mid-week â€Å"happy hour† after a long day of work. But, the right to drink alcohol was stripped away from Americans by the federal government under the Volstead Act of 1920 (Behr). Over the next thirteen years, over $733 million, of today’s money, was spent putting Americans behind bars for minimal delinquencies, such as having a martini at a local speakeasy (Barbour). Since alcohol was no longer manufactured by trusted companies like Anheuser-Busch, it was now in the hands of black market racketeers, like Al Capone (Behr). Due to the diminishing availability of alcohol, more potent forms, like moonshine, became wildly popular and in New York in 1926, â€Å"bad liquor† claimed the lives of 750 people (Behr). ... ...on. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 2000. Print. Barnett, Randy E. â€Å"The Harmful Side Effects of Drug Prohibition.† Utah Law Review 2009.1 (2009): 11-34. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. Behr, Edward. Prohibition: Thirteen Years That Changed America. New York: Arcade Publishing, 1996. Print. Gerdes, Louise I., ed. At Issue: Legalizing Drugs. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 2001. Print. Miron, Jeffrey A. and Katherine Waldock. â€Å"The Budgetary Impact of Ending Drug Prohibition†. CATO Institute. CATO Institute, 27 Sept. 2010. Web. 22 Mar 2012. Rogers, Douglas. â€Å"The Fiasco of Prohibition.† Freeman: Ideas on Liberty 61.1 (2011): 25. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. United States. Dept. of Justice. Office of Justice. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Drug and Crime Facts. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Dept. of Justice, Mar. 2012. Web. 22 Mar. 2012.

Because I could not stop for Death, by Emily Dickinson Essay -- Emily D

‘Because I could not stop for Death—,’ A Poem of Both Marriage and Death When thinking of both marriage and death, the word â€Å"eternity† comes to mind. Marriage is looked at as a symbol of eternal love, and death is looked at as a state of eternal rest. Also, Christians consider life after death as an eternal state. In â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death—,† Emily Dickinson portrays death by describing an eternal marriage. On the literal level, the speaker remembers a time where she was carried off and eloped with a man called Death and his partner in crime, Immortality. Not realizing that going with Death meant that she would have to leave this world and live with him in his house forever, she shows herself as being immature at that time. As she leaves to go with Death the speaker states, â€Å"We slowly drove—He knew no haste/And I had put away/My labor and my leisure too, /For his Civility--†. In these lines, she shows how she must leave her household to work for her new husband. On the way to Death’s house they â€Å"passed the school, where Children strove/At Recess—in the Ring—â€Å". The fact that she mentions the kids fighting and playing at recess also shows how she must leave her life of leisure for a life of work. She must go work for her husband Death at his household. The next quatrain is when the speaker finally realizes that she is leaving this world to join Death in his world. She states, â€Å"We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain—/We passed the Setting Sun—/Or rather—He passed Us—â€Å". The next lines also show how she is leaving her world into another, colder environment. The speaker says â€Å"The Dews drew quivering and chill—/For only Gossamer, my Gown—/My Tippet—only Tulle—â€Å". The gown and scarf that she had worn f... ...hyme scheme follows an ABCB pattern. By that I mean that the second and last lines of every quatrain rhyme. This makes the poem flow well but not as fast as a poem with an ABAB rhyme scheme. Another technique I noticed was that Dickinson capitalizes the first letter of some important words in the lines to make the reader emphasize them as he or she reads. For example in the line â€Å"We passed the school, where Children strove/At Recess—in the Ring—/We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain—/We passed the Setting Sun—/Or rather—He passed Us—,† the reader must emphasize the words that are capitalized to get the effect of a slower poem. This poem was a good example of what marrying Death would feel like. Since no one has really died and came back to tell us how it feels, Dickinson does a good job of showing death from the perspective of a dead person or immortal soul.

Argument Analysis Essay

Arguments are an integral part of human society, and structuring these arguments properly is important to emphasize a point. In the documentary I Can Change Your Mind About Climate, many legitimate and illegitimate arguments are put forward to the viewer. Some of these arguments are structurally wrong, and in some of them the premises are not relevant to the conclusion. The purpose of the documentary was for the two main protagonists, Anna Rose and Nick Minchin to try and change each others minds about climate change. The documentary follows Anna and Nick around as they bring each other to people that they think will change the other persons mind, or help to. The first argument I will be analyzing will be an argument from Marc Morano, a notorious climate denier and blogger who runs the website climatedepot. com. His argument, as put into standard form, is as follows: P1: The sea level is dropping, P2: The population of polar bears is rising, P3: Global temperatures are decreasing, C: Therefor climate change is not happening. While at first glance this argument looks like a solid deductive argument, the premises are lacking. The lack of actual numbers, along with the debatable follow on to the conclusion, make this argument worth looking further into. The structure of this argument is a deductive empirical argument. The structure is sound and valid, being a deductive argument, where the premises entail the conclusion. As a deductive argument, the premises must not only support the conclusion, they must directly lead on to the conclusion. Mr.  Morano has appeared to have done this, however we must first look further into the premises and the structure to determine weather the argument is conclusive or not. Premise one states ‘The sea level is dropping’. Mr. Morano has given no evidence to support this premise, losing conclusivity. This is much the same for the other premises, no supporting evidence is shown, and so the truth of the premises is always in question. Morano had put these forward as empirical pieces of evidence, but empirical implies that they must be 100 percent, universally accepted to be true facts. As such, Mr. Morano has put forward a very inconclusive argument, which would not hold up well in an argument. No evidence was shown in the documentary to support these premises, and it is clear that Morano is bending the facts a little, considering the overwhelming evidence shown to us by Anna Rose about temperature increases, sea level rises and increased carbon in our atmosphere. Anna seems to be aware of this, and refutes him afterward, in the argument which we will now look at. Anna Rose is a young climate change activist who was appearing in the program alongside Nick Minchin. Her argument is against Mr. Morano’s credibility, and in standard form is as follows: P1: If I engage in a debate with you, then you will make facts up. P2: You will make facts up. C: Therefor I will not engage in a debate with you. This is a clear example of a modus ponens deductive argument. I have added premise 2 as an implicit premise to show the flow of logic. This deductive modus ponens argument is valid, it has a valid form and the principle of charitable interpretation has not been applied. Premise 1 is an assumption. Anna is assuming that because Morano is known for making things up, he will make facts up to support his argument if she engages in a debate with him. No evidence is shown in the documentary of Morano making facts up, however after a small amount of research I have found that Morano is indeed not very credible – he received just a 1 out of 5 star credibility rating at an online site. This leads me to believe that Anna is correct in thinking that he will make facts up to refute real arguments put forward by climate change activists. This argument is sound and is very effective in the documentary, it shows the viewer that they can not trust the credibility of Mr. Morano, and therefor to mot listen to his arguments. TO be fair, the analysis of arguments is a very thought provoking and interesting topic. While Mark. Morano has in the past made good arguments against climate chage, Anna Rose definantly has a better grasp of the ideas of argumentative science.

The Indigo Spell Chapter Six

I FOLLOWED MS. TERWILLIGER'S instructions diligently. I never took the garnet off, not even when I slept or showered. When school started the next morning, I wore it under my shirt to avoid any questions. It didn't exactly scream â€Å"magical amulet,† but it was certainly conspicuous. To my surprise, Ms. Terwilliger wasn't in her first-period history class, making me wonder if she was doing some investigating of her own. â€Å"Ms. T on some secret mission?† I flinched and realized I'd been lost in my own thoughts. I turned and found Trey Juarez kneeling by my desk. Class hadn't started yet, and a confused-looking substitute teacher was trying to make sense of the chaos of Ms. Terwilliger's desk. Trey grinned at my surprise. â€Å"Wh-what?† I asked. Had he somehow found out about Veronica? I tried to keep cool. â€Å"What makes you say that?† â€Å"I was just joking,† he said. â€Å"This is the second year I've had her, and she's never missed a day.† He gave me a puzzled look. â€Å"Unless you really do know something I don't?† â€Å"No,† I said quickly. â€Å"I'm just as surprised as you are.† Trey scrutinized me a few moments. We were good friends here at Amberwood, with only one teeny-tiny problem hanging between us. His family was tied to the Warriors of Light. Last month, the Warriors had tried to kill Sonya in a barbaric execution ritual. Trey had been one of the contenders for the â€Å"honor† of killing her, though he'd thrown the match at the last minute. I'd tried to appeal to the Warriors to release Sonya, but they hadn't listened. She and I were both saved when a raiding party of dhampirs showed up and defeated the Warriors. Stanton had helped orchestrate that raid – but hadn't bothered to fill me in that I was being used as a distraction. It was part of what had fueled my distrust of her and the Alchemists. Trey had been blamed for getting me involved with the ritual, and the Warriors had ostracized his father and him. Just as I had been pressured by the Alchemists, Trey had had Warrior doctrine drilled into him his whole life. His father was so ashamed of the fallout that he would barely speak to Trey now. I knew how much Trey wanted his father's approval, so this silence was more painful to him than the Warriors' treatment. Our allegiances made things difficult. When I'd once tentatively hinted to Trey that we still had unresolved issues between us, he'd responded with a bitter laugh. â€Å"You have nothing to worry about anymore,† he'd told me. â€Å"I'm not hiding any secret plans from you – because I don't know any. They won't tell us anything. I'm not one of them, as far as they're concerned. I've been cut off forever, and it'd take a miracle for them to ever take us back.† There'd been something in his dark eyes that told me if he ever could find that miracle, he'd jump on it. I'd tried asking about that, but he wouldn't discuss it any further. â€Å"I want to be your friend, Melbourne,† he had said. â€Å"I like you. We're never going to resolve our differences. Might as well ignore them since we have to be together every day.† Amazingly, our friendship had managed to survive all that drama. The tension was always there, lurking between us, but we tried to ignore it. Although he knew about my involvement in the vampiric world, he had no idea I was taking behind-the-scenes magic lessons with our history teacher, of course. If he thought I was lying about Ms. Terwilliger's absence today, he didn't push the matter. He nodded toward the sub. â€Å"This is going to be a blow-off day.† I dragged my mind away from magical intrigue. After being homeschooled for most of my life, some parts of the â€Å"normal† school world were a mystery. â€Å"What's that mean, exactly?† â€Å"Usually teachers leave subs a lesson plan, telling them what to do. I saw the one Ms. Terwilliger left. It said, ‘Distract them.'† Trey shook his head in mock sympathy. â€Å"I hope you can handle the wasted academic time. I mean, she'll probably say something like, ‘Work on homework.' But no one will.† He was right. I wasn't sure if I could handle this. â€Å"Why wouldn't they?† This seemed to amuse him immensely. â€Å"Melbourne, sometimes you're the only reason I come to class. I saw her sub plan for your independent study, by the way. It said you didn't even have to stick around. You're free to run wild.† Eddie, sitting nearby, overheard and scoffed. â€Å"To the library?† This made both of them laugh, but my mind was already spinning with possibilities. If I really didn't have to stay for my last class, I'd be free to leave campus early. I could go into Los Angeles to look for Veronica and – no. Adrian wasn't back. For a moment, I toyed with the idea of investigation without his spirit magic, but Ms. Terwilliger's warnings echoed through my mind. The hunt would have to wait. But I could still look for Marcus Finch. Santa Barbara was two hours away. That meant I had enough time to drive up there, do some investigating of Marcus, and still comfortably make it back by the school's curfew. I hadn't intended to go look for him until this weekend but realized now that I shouldn't waste this opportunity. Ms. Terwilliger's task weighed heavily on me as well, but I couldn't do anything about it until Adrian returned tonight. Marcus Finch had been a mystery to me since the moment I'd discovered he was an ex-Alchemist. Realizing that I might actually get some answers today made my heart pound in overtime. It was one thing to suspect the Alchemists had been holding out on me. It was an entirely different matter to accept that I might be on the verge of having those suspicions confirmed. It was actually kind of terrifying. As the day progressed, I became more and more resolved to make the drive. I had to face this sooner or later, and I might as well get it over with. For all I knew, Marcus had simply been sightseeing in Santa Barbara and could be gone already. I didn't want to repeat the scrying spell if I could help it. Sure enough, when I showed up for what would normally be my independent study at the end of the day, the sub (looking extremely worn out after a day of following in Ms. Terwilliger's footsteps) told me I was free to go. I thanked her and hurried off to my dorm room, conscious of the clock that was now ticking. I didn't know exactly what I'd be facing in Santa Barbara, but I planned to be prepared for anything. I changed out of my Amberwood uniform, opting for jeans and a plain black blouse. Kneeling by my bed, I pulled out a large metal box from underneath it. At first glance, the box looked like a makeup kit. However, it had an intricate lock that required both a key and combination. Inside was my Alchemist chemistry set, a collection of chemicals that would probably get me kicked out of school if found since it looked like it was capable of manufacturing illegal drugs. And really, some of the compounds probably were pretty questionable. I selected some basics. One was a formula that was usually used to dissolve Strigoi bodies. I didn't expect to encounter any Strigoi in Santa Barbara, but the compound could also be used to disintegrate metal pretty handily. I chose a couple other mixtures – like one that could create a spy-worthy smoke screen – and carefully wrapped them all up before slipping them into my messenger bag. Then I locked the box again and slid it back under the bed. After a little consideration, I took a deep breath and produced another hidden box. This was a new one in my collection. It contained various charms and potions I'd made under Ms. Terwilliger's instruction. Staring at its contents, I felt my stomach twist. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined I'd have such a kit. When we'd first met, I'd only created charms under duress. Now I had several that I'd willingly made, and if what she'd said about her sister was true, I'd need to start making more. With great reluctance, I picked a variety of these as well and packed them up with the Alchemist chemicals. After a moment's consideration, I put a couple in my pocket for quick access. The drive to Santa Barbara was easy this time of day December had cooled off some of southern California's weather, but the sun was still out, making it seem warmer than it really was. And, as I drove up the coast, the desert gave way to more temperate conditions. Rain increased in the middle and northern parts of the state this time of year, making the landscape lush and green. I really did love Palm Springs and Amberwood, but there were times I wouldn't have minded if Jill's assignment had taken us up here. Finding the Old Mission Santa Barbara wasn't difficult. It was a well-known tourist attraction and pretty easy to spot once you were nearby. The sprawling church looked exactly as it had in my vision save that it was lit by mid-afternoon sunshine rather than twilight. I pulled off to the side of the road in a residential neighborhood and gazed up at the beautiful stucco and terra-cotta masterpiece. I wished I had the time to go on a tour, but, as they so often did, my personal desires had to take a backseat to a larger goal. Now came the more difficult part – having to figure out where the studio I'd seen might be. The neighborhood I parked in provided a view that was similar to the one I'd observed in the spell. The angles weren't exact, however, and this street only contained houses. I was almost certain the studio I'd seen had been in an apartment building. Keeping the mission in view, I drove a few more streets over and found what I'd hoped for: several blocks containing apartment complexes. One looked too nice to have what I'd seen. The studio had seemed pretty bare bones and run down. The other two buildings on the street looked like more likely candidates. I drove to each one and walked around their grounds, trying to imagine what the angle might be when viewed from a higher window. I wished I'd had a chance to actually look down to the parking lot in the vision. It would have given me a better idea of the floor. After much thought, I finally deduced the studio had been on the third or fourth floor. Since one of the buildings only had two floors, that gave me a pretty positive hit on the correct place. Stepping inside the building made me glad I'd packed hand sanitizer in my bag. The halls looked like they hadn't been swept in over a year. The walls were dirty, their paint chipped. Bits of trash sat on the floor. Cobwebs hung in some of the corners, and I prayed spiders were the only creepy-crawly inhabitants. If I saw a roach, I was probably going to bolt. The building had no front desk I could make inquiries at, so I flagged down a middle-aged woman as she was leaving. She paused, regarding me warily. â€Å"Hi,† I said, hoping I looked non-threatening. â€Å"I'm trying to find a friend of mine, but I don't know which apartment he lives in. Maybe you know him? His name is Marcus. He has a blue tattoo on his face.† Seeing her blank look, I repeated the question in Spanish. Comprehension showed in her expression, but once she'd heard my entire question, her only response was a brief headshake. I didn't even have time to show her Marcus's picture. I spent the next half hour doing the same thing whenever I saw residents going in or out. I stayed outside this time, preferring a brightly lit public area to the dingy interior. Some of the people I talked to were a little sketchy, and a couple of guys looked me over in a way I definitely didn't like. I was about to give up when a younger boy approached me. He appeared to be about ten and had been playing in the parking lot. â€Å"I know the guy you're looking for,† he told me in English. â€Å"But his name's not Marcus. It's Dave.† Considering how difficult Marcus had been to find, I wasn't entirely surprised he'd been using another name. â€Å"You're sure?† I asked the boy. I showed him the picture. â€Å"This is the guy?† He nodded eagerly. â€Å"That's the one. He's real quiet. My mom says he's probably doing bad things.† Great. Just what I needed. â€Å"Do you know where he lives?† The boy pointed upward. â€Å"At the top. 407.† I thanked him and went back inside, heading up to the fourth floor on stairs that creaked the entire way. The apartment was near the end of the hall, next to one that was blasting obnoxious music. I knocked on 407 and didn't get a response. Not sure if the occupant had heard me, I knocked more loudly and received the same result. I eyed the doorknob, considering melting it with my Alchemist chemicals. Immediately, I dismissed the thought. Even in a disreputable building like this, a neighbor might be concerned to see me breaking into an apartment. I didn't want to attract any attention. This situation was getting increasingly frustrating, and I couldn't spend all day here. I ran through my choices. Everyone said I was so smart. Surely there was some solution here that would work? Waiting around in the hall wasn't an option. There was no telling how long it could take for Marcus or â€Å"Dave† to show up. And honestly, the less time spent in the dirty hall, the better. If only there was some way to get inside that didn't involve actually destroying – That's when the solution came to me. I groaned. It wasn't one I liked, but it would get the job done. I went back outside and waved hello to the boy as he practiced jumping off the steps. â€Å"Was Dave home?† he asked. â€Å"No.† The boy nodded. â€Å"He usually isn't.† That, at least, would be helpful for this next crazy plan. I left the boy and walked around the side of the building, which was mercifully deserted. There, clinging to the outer wall, was the most rickety fire escape I'd ever seen. Considering how rigid California safety standards were, I was astonished that this hadn't been reported. Of course, if it had, it didn't seem likely this building's owner would've been quick to act, judging from the rest of the conditions I'd seen. Double checking that no one was around, I stood in the fire escape's shadow, hoping it more or less concealed me. From the messenger bag, I produced one of my charms: a necklace made of agate and crow feathers. I slipped it over my head and recited a Greek incantation. I felt the warmth of magic run through me but saw no ostensible changes. Theoretically, I should be invisible for those who didn't know to look for me. Whether that had actually happened, I couldn't say. I supposed I'd find out if someone came by and demanded to know why I was climbing into an apartment via the fire escape. Once I stepped onto it, I nearly terminated the plan. The entire fire escape squeaked and swayed. The scaffolding was so rusty, I wouldn't have been surprised if it disintegrated beneath my feet. I stood frozen where I was, trying to work up the courage to go on. I reminded myself that this could be my one chance to find Marcus. The boy in the parking lot had confirmed he lived here. I couldn't waste this opportunity. I gulped and kept going, gingerly moving from floor to floor. When I reached the fourth, I stared down in amazement, unable to believe the fire escape was still intact. Now I had a new problem. I'd figured out where Marcus's studio was, and it was one window over from the fire escape's landing. The distance wasn't that great, but on the narrow ledge between them would feel like miles. Equally daunting was the fact that I'd have to get through the window. It was shut, which made sense if he was in hiding. I had a couple magical amulets capable of melting glass, but I didn't trust myself to be able to use them on the narrow ledge – which meant I had to see just how good my aim had become in PE. Still conscious of the precarious fire escape, I took out a small pouch of powder from my messenger bag. Sizing up the distance, I threw the pouch hard toward the window, reciting a spell – and missed. The pouch hit the side of the building, throwing up a dusty cloud, and began eating away at the stucco. I winced as the wall dissolved. The spell eventually burned itself out but left a noticeable hole behind. It hadn't gone all the way through, and I supposed given the state of the building, no one would probably even notice. I had one pouch left and had to make it count. The pane was fairly big, and there was no way I could miss this time. I threw hard – and made contact. The powder smashed against the window. Immediately, a reaction spread out and began melting the glass. It dripped down like ice out in the sun. Now, watching anxiously, I wanted the reaction to go on for as long as possible. I needed a big enough hole to get through. Fortunately, when it stopped, I felt confident I could make it inside – if I could get over there. I wasn't afraid of heights, but as I crept along the ledge, I felt like I was on top of a skyscraper. My heart was in my throat, and I pondered the logistics of surviving a four-floor drop. My palms began to sweat, and I ordered them to stop. I wasn't going to come all this way just to have my hands slip at the last minute. As it turned out, it was my foot that slipped. The world spun, and I frantically flung my arms out, just barely grabbing the inside of the window. I pulled myself toward it, and with a surge of adrenaline-fueled effort managed to hook my other leg inside. I took a deep breath and tried to quiet my pounding heart. I was secure. I was going to make it. A moment later, I was able to pull myself up and swing my other leg around the ledge, tumbling into the room. I landed on the floor, my legs weak and shaky as I worked to steady my frantic breathing. That was close. If my reflexes had been a little slower, I would've found out exactly what four floors could do to the human body. While I loved science, I wasn't sure that was an experiment I needed to try. Maybe being around dhampirs so much had helped improve my physical skills. Once I'd recovered, I was able to assess my surroundings. Here I was, in the exact same studio I'd seen in my vision. Glancing behind me, I sized up the mission, verifying I had the same vantage. Yup. Exactly the same. Inside, I recognized the mattress on the floor and the same meager belongings. Across the room, the door leading out had a number of very new, very state-of-the-art locks. Dissolving the outer doorknob wouldn't have done any good. â€Å"Now what?† I muttered. I'd made it inside. I didn't have Marcus, but I theoretically had his apartment. I was unsure what I was looking for but might as well start somewhere. First, I examined the mattress, not that I expected much. It couldn't hide belongings like mine could. It could, however, hide rats and God only knew what else underneath it. I gingerly lifted a corner, knowing I must be grimacing, but there was nothing underneath – alive or otherwise. My next target was a small, disorderly pile of clothes. Going through someone's dirty laundry (because I assumed it was dirty, if it was sitting on the floor) wasn't much better than looking at the mattress. A whiff of fabric softener told me that these clothes were, in fact, recently washed. They were ordinary guy clothes, probably a young guy's clothes, which fit with Marcus's profile. Jeans. T-shirts. Boxers. As I sifted through the pile, I nearly started folding them and had to remind myself that I didn't want to leave any sign of my passing. Of course, the melted window was kind of a dead giveaway. A couple of personal items sat nearby, a toothbrush and deodorant with a scent inexplicably called as â€Å"Ocean Fiesta.† Aside from a rickety wooden chair and the ancient TV, there was only one other form of comfort and entertainment in the barren room: a battered copy of The Catcher in the Rye. â€Å"Great,† I muttered, wondering what it said about a person who owned no other personal possessions. â€Å"Marcus Finch is pretentious and self-entitled.† The studio's bathroom was claustrophobic and barely had enough space for a single shower stall, toilet, and dripping sink. Judging from the mildew on the floor, a good deal of water sprayed out when the shower was used. A large black spider scurried down the drain, and I hastily backed out. Defeated, I went to investigate a narrow closet door. After all my work, I'd found Marcus Finch but hadn't actually found him. My search had revealed nothing. I had limited time to wait for him, and honestly, if I were him and returned home to a melted window, I would promptly walk out the door and never return. If he ran, I'd have no choice but to keep scrying and – â€Å"Ahh!† Something jumped out at me as I opened the closet door – and it wasn't a rat or a roach. It was a man. The closet was tiny, so it was a miracle he had even fit inside. I had no time to process the spatial logistics, however, because his fist shot out and clipped me on the side of the face. In my life, I'd been slammed up against brick walls and bitten by a Strigoi. I'd never been punched, however, and it wasn't an experience I wanted to repeat. I stumbled backward, so surprised that I couldn't even react right away. The guy lunged after me, grabbing my upper arms and shaking me as he leaned close. â€Å"How did you guys find me?† he exclaimed. â€Å"How many more are coming?† Pain radiated through the side of my face, but somehow, I managed to gather my senses. Last month, I'd taken a self-defense class with a slightly unstable Chihuahua breeder who looked like a pirate. Despite Malachi Wolfe's unorthodox behavior, he'd actually taught us some legitimate skills, and they came back to me now. I kneed my attacker in the stomach. His blue eyes went wide with shock as he released me and fell to the ground. It didn't keep him down for long, though. He scrambled back to his feet and came after me, but by then, I'd grabbed the chair and was using it to keep him at bay the way a lion tamer would. â€Å"Back off,† I said. â€Å"I just want to – â€Å" Ignoring my threats, the guy pushed forward and grabbed one of the chair's legs, pulling it away from me. He had me backed into a corner, and despite some tricks Eddie had taught me, I wasn't confident in my own ability to throw a punch. Nonetheless, I put up a good fight when my attacker tried to grab me again. We struggled and fell to the floor. I kicked and clawed like crazy, making things as difficult as possible. It was only when he managed to pin me with his entire body that my flailing got stifled. I had enough freedom to reach a hand into my pocket, however. â€Å"Who sent you?† he demanded. â€Å"Where are the others?† I didn't answer. Instead, I pulled out a small vial and flipped the cap off with one hand. Immediately, noxious yellow vapor with the consistency of dry ice spilled out of it. I thrust it toward the guy's face. He recoiled in disgust, and tears sprang into his eyes. The substance itself was relatively harmless, but its fumes acted as a kind of pepper spray. He let go of me, and with strength I didn't even know I had, I managed to roll him over and hold him down. I drove my elbow into his wrist, and he made a small grunt of pain. With my other arm, I waved the vial with as much menace as I would a machete. This wouldn't fool him for long, but hopefully it'd buy me some time to reassess my situation. Now that he was still, I was finally able to get a good look at him and was relieved to see I'd at least achieved my goal. He had a young, handsome face with an indigo tattoo on his cheek. It was an abstract design that looked like a latticework of crescent moons. A faint silver gleam edge d some of the blue lines. â€Å"Nice to meet you, Marcus.† Then, the most astonishing thing happened. Through his watering eyes, he'd been trying to get a good look at me too. Recognition appeared on his face as he blinked me into focus. â€Å"Sydney Sage,† he gasped. â€Å"I've been looking for you.† I didn't have any time to be surprised because I suddenly heard the click of a gun, and a barrel touched the back of my head. â€Å"Get off him,† a voice demanded. â€Å"And drop the smoke bomb.†