GDP Growth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

GDP Growth - Essay Example In addition, empirically, studying crises is exigent as small samples and partial data is the only available inference. This exploration is going to look into the crises that hit the world and focus on the assessment of the effects on mortgage, credit, derivatives and insurance markets the crises had on national economies. Moreover, the study will scrutinize the stabilization policies nations used to address the destabilization of the markets. With reference to, the experiences of two countries had in the period the crises hit the nations the study will contrast the events comprehensively. Lastly, the paper will look into the precautions and role the central bank played to stabilize the business cycle (Anand et al, 2013). . The crisis Several asset price bubbles like the real estate and the credit bubble, which led to a bloated advantage in banking, caused the crises. As at know the globe has accepted the situation. The crisis had contribution to the euro area where the bubble was as prominent as it was in the United States of America. The rise of house prices and the increase on credit to sustain the lives of the citizens was evident in both Europe and USA but the Euro was hard hit as compared to the USA. For instance, the financial and corporate sectors give a higher inference as compared to the USA. ... The towering savings ratio in China for instance assisted financing a growing present account deficit in the US with no accumulation in interest rate charges. Globalization plus productivity increase, in particular the information technology, declined inflation strain, which in blend with an expansionary fiscal strategy predestined that interest rates go very low. The low interest rates plus an ample liquidity instigated the credit boom in the fiscal markets. A disregard of risk bloated the growth of the monetary sector and fashioned an unbalanced fiscal system. This underrating was due to a number of aspects. New financial improvements and overall system risks were ill understood. Evaluation authorities failed to evaluate the hazards linked with for instance, structured finance. Pro-cyclical bookkeeping values also encouraged the credit explosion in the equivalent trend. In addition, several particular policies such as the US plan to boost home tenure amplified the sub-prime mortgag e market, which resulted to a reduced credit regulation in the country. Governments and central banks have the liability of maintenance of the economic stability through appropriate administration and parameter of the monetary markets. Still, the decision-making structure in many areas was disjointed extending to a deficiency of accountability for the system-wide risks (Anand et al, 2013). . The Effect that Destabilized Credit, Mortgage, and Insurance Markets have had on National Economies The effect that destabilized credit, mortgage, and insurance market is that the crisis had on the markets was different in diverse countries. This was due to the instigators in the countries. Effect on credit The effect on credit disturbed the consumer behavior in the country. The

Purchasing And Supply Chain Management Case Study

Purchasing And Supply Chain Management - Case Study Example The first level is the need/problem recognition or identification level. This is the primary stage where an individual buyer recognizes the need or problem. After an individual realizes a need or problem then only he/she starts searching for the solution/product. The second stage is to determine alternatives or to gather information about the product or solution. Thus, after completion of searching the alternatives, next comes the assessment stage. In this step, the various alternatives are assessed carefully in order to reduce risk and maximize profitability. Subsequently, the decision making part takes place which means whether to purchase a particular product or not. This can occur only when the individual is evidently convinced about the benefits of the product. Finally, appears the post-purchase evaluation stage. This is the last stage which deals with the satisfaction level of the customer after purchasing the product. Moreover, the process of purchasing also includes certain o ther facts into consideration. The requirement of the total cost is one of the essential components which need to be accessed before purchasing. Furthermore, the selection of a supplier is also evident, prior to buying as well as to search for other alternatives in order to acquire the product at a reduced cost (Weele, 2009). Conclusively, it can be stated that the decision of purchasing a product needs a cautious review of various aspects associated with it. According to the case study, it can be stated that Dr. Spiller is surely escaping normal purchasing procedures. As he is the head of the radiology department, so he tries to circumvent the general procedure of asking the purchasing manager before finalizing the deal for purchase.

Existentialism in Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis and The Hunger Artist

Existentialism in The Metamorphosis and The Hunger Artist       Existentialism is a philosophy dealing with man's aloneness in the universe. Either there is no God or else God stands apart from man, leaving him free will to make his own choices. From this basic idea of man being alone in an uncertain and purposeless world, many related ideas have developed. One great worry of existentialist writers is that life is becoming too complicated and too impersonal. People become more and more involved with their work, which is taking them away from their friends, family, and culture. However, these provide the only "meaning" that life could possibly have. One author prominently known for his work with existential ideas was Franz Kafka. Kafka, who wrote from the mid-1910's until the early 1920's, took the ideas of existentialism and interwove them so well into his novels and short stories that they became a trademark of his writing. Two of his stories are good examples of this philosophy: The Metamorphosis and "The Hunger Artist."    In The Metamorphosis, Gregor, the protagonist, works as a salesman. He doesn't like his job but works very hard, making his job his life. When he wakes up one morning having turned into a dung beetle (or perhaps a cockroach?) during the night, he thinks only about how he is going to get to work, not how it happened or what he can do about it. The hunger artist is also completely dedicated to his job, which is fasting. To him it is an art, one which he works at day and night. All of his thoughts focus on how he can improve himself. At the end of forty days (which was the fasting limit set by his manager), he always asks himself, "Why stop now when [I am] in [my] best fasting for... ...    In both stories, Kafka deals with existentialist ideas. He touches on the view that society is becoming too complicated, too impersonal, and suggests that in our compulsion for work we are getting out of touch with each other. When we start treating humans as inanimate objects instead of people, the results are disastrous. Although Kafka makes these dismal observations, he also provides for a brighter future. Although humans as a group are becoming less and less personal, he seems to say, an optimistic future is possible if individuals will only stop and examine themselves and their relationships with other people.    WORKS CITED Kafka, Franz. "The Hunger Artist." In The Collected Short Stories of Franz Kafka. Ed. Nahum Glatzer. London: Penguin, 1983. ---. The Metamorphosis. Trans. Stanley Corngold. New York: Bantam, 1972.      

Iron Crowned Chapter 3

I might have come to accept being queen of the Thorn Land, and it was hard not to grow attached to a place you had a spiritual connection to. Nonetheless, nothing the Otherworld offered would ever take the place of my home in Tucson. It was a small house, but in a nice neighborhood, near the Catalina Mountains north of the city. Gateways between the worlds existed all over, facilitating travel, but I had an â€Å"anchor† in my home, meaning once I shifted out of the Thorn Land's gate, I was able to materialize directly in my bedroom. An anchor could be any object tied to your essence. My roommate Tim, who hadn't seen me in a few days, was understandably shocked when I came strolling into the kitchen. â€Å"Jesus Christ, Eug!† he exclaimed. He'd been flipping pancakes at the stove. â€Å"We've got to put a bell around your neck or something.† I grinned and had an inexplicable urge to hug him – though I knew that would freak him out even more. After all the craziness in the Otherworld, his normality was a welcome sight. Well, â€Å"normality† might have been an exaggeration. Tim – with his tall, dark, and handsome looks – had taken to impersonating Native Americans (badly) in order to score chicks and make money selling his awful poetry. He rotated through various tribes, and last I knew, he'd been passing himself off as Tlingit, seeing as the locals got a little less pissed off by him donning the clothes of a tribe living hundreds of miles away. He lived in my house rent-free in exchange for cooking and housework, and I was glad to see him dressed in an ordinary jeans and T-shirt ensemble today. â€Å"Are you making enough for two?† I asked, heading straight for the full coffeepot. â€Å"I always make enough for two. But most of it goes to waste.† That last part came out as a grumble. He'd once complained about being my â€Å"slave† but missed my being around now. â€Å"Messages?† â€Å"Usual place.† When in the Otherworld, I left my cell phone with Tim. It forced him to play secretary, something he resented since I actually already employed one. Indeed, most of the messages he'd scrawled on the refrigerator's white board were from her. Tue. – 11 AM – Lara: two job offersTue. – 2:30 PM – Lara: one possible client needs ASAP helpTue. – 5:15 PM – Lara: still wants to talk to youTue. – 5:20 PM – Lara: needs you to finish tax paperworkTue. – 10:30 PM – Lara: won't stop callingWed. – 8 AM – Lara: who calls this early?Wed. – 11:15 AM – BitchWed. – 11:30 AM – Sam's Home Improvement: interested in vinyl siding? I admired his detailed message taking – frustration with Lara aside – but my heart sank when I saw who was conspicuously missing. Every time I came home, I secretly hoped I'd see their names up there. Sometimes, on the sly, my mom would check on me. But my stepdad, Roland? He never called anymore, not after finding out about my allegiance to the Otherworld. Tim, preoccupied with his cooking, didn't see my face. â€Å"I don't get why she keeps calling. She knows you can't get any of her messages. Why does she need more than one? It's not like a billion of them are magically going to get through to you.† â€Å"It's just her way,† I said. â€Å"She's efficient.† â€Å"That's not efficient,† he declared. â€Å"It's borderline neurotic.† I sighed, wondering not for the first time if I should just let messages go to voice mail. Despite having never met, Tim and Lara were mortal phone enemies. Hearing them bitch about each other was wearying. Nonetheless, staring at her string of calls already made me feel tired. I'd once had a brisk trade as a freelance shaman, kicking out ghosts and other annoying supernatural creatures who harassed humans. Now that I moonlighted as a fairy queen, I'd had to become much more selective with clientele. I could no longer keep up with the demand around here and felt bad about that. I suspected Roland was picking up my slack but didn't know for sure. I waited until after breakfast before dealing with Lara. Pancakes, sausage, and coffee gave me the strength to deal with this latest batch of requests. Undoubtedly seeing my number on her caller ID, Lara didn't bother with formalities when I finally called. â€Å"About time,† she exclaimed. â€Å"Has he been giving you my messages?† â€Å"He just did. I've been gone for three days. You know you don't need to keep bugging him about it.† â€Å"I want to make sure he tells you I called.† â€Å"He writes them down, every one. Besides, my phone's log also tells me you've called †¦ a lot.† â€Å"Hmphf.† She let it go. â€Å"Well, you're getting a lot of requests lately. I've thinned them out, but you've still got to choose.† It was almost February. We weren't near any major sabbats, when paranormal activity always increased. Sometimes, though, it happened for no reason. It figured now would be one of those times – right while I was in the middle of a war. Or, I realized, it might be happening because of that. My identities as queen and shaman were both well known among many creatures. Maybe they hoped they could get away with more while I was distracted. Half seemed to show up for selfish purposes in our world; the other half hoped to forcibly father Storm King's heir on me. â€Å"Okay,† I said. â€Å"Let's hear the priorities.† â€Å"We need to finish your taxes.† â€Å"That's not a priority. Keep going.† â€Å"Single woman, stalked by a fetch.† â€Å"That's serious. I'll have to get on that one.† â€Å"Tree elemental. In your neighborhood.† â€Å"Yeah, that one's here for me. He won't hurt anyone else.† â€Å"Phantom-infested subdivision.† â€Å"On a graveyard?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"Schedule it, and make sure the builder's charged double. Their own stupid fault.† â€Å"Will do. Then you've got the usual weirdness. Lights in the sky. Possible UFO.† â€Å"Was that Wil again?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Damn it! Did you tell him it's just the military?† â€Å"Yes. He also said there's been some Bigfoot sightings – â€Å" I froze. â€Å"Bigfoot? Where?† â€Å"I didn't get the details. I thought it was his usual craziness. And didn't you say they don't live in Arizona?† â€Å"They don't. Has there been anything weird in the news? Deaths?† There was a pause, and I heard the rustling of papers. â€Å"Two hikers died over in Coronado, near the Rappel Rock trail. The report stated that they fell. Took a couple days to find their bodies. Nasty stuff. Some animals got to them.† I was up and out of my chair in a flash, making the dishes on the kitchen table rattle. Tim, leafing through a magazine, looked up in alarm. â€Å"Call Wil,† I told her, trying to tug on one of my boots while balancing the phone. â€Å"Find out where he heard about these Bigfoot sightings. If it's not Coronado, give me a call back. If it is, no need to call.† Wil was Jasmine's half brother, and I avoided speaking to him when I could. One reason was that he always asked me about her. The other was that he was a crazy, paranoid conspiracy theorist. This time, he might be on to something. Lara was understandably startled. â€Å"But you said Bigfoot – â€Å" â€Å"It's not Bigfoot.† â€Å"Don't forget your other job tonight!† â€Å"I won't.† I disconnected and managed to get on the other boot. Tim regarded me warily. â€Å"I don't like it when you get that look.† â€Å"That makes two of us.† He watched as I went to our hallway closet and produced a little-worn leather coat. â€Å"You're going to Coronado?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"High?† â€Å"Yup.† He sighed and gestured to where we hung our keys near the door. â€Å"Take my car. It'll handle better if you run into snow.† I slung my satchel over my shoulder and flashed him a grateful smile. He warned me to be careful, but I was already out the door with the keys, heading for his Subaru. My eyes barely saw the road as I drove toward Coronado State Park. Bigfoot. No, you wouldn't find Bigfoot out here, not even in the Catalinas. Now, tell me there'd been a sighting in the Pacific Northwest? Or anywhere in Canada? Yeah, it'd be Bigfoot hunting time. But it wouldn't be a priority. They were generally harmless. Here? When you got a Bigfoot sighting in Tucson, it was a demon bear. Yeah – I know. It was a ridiculous name, but it got the point across – and really, there was nothing funny about them. They came from the Underworld and were utterly lethal. With their tall and furry appearance, it was easy to understand why the untrained eye would mistake them for popular images of Bigfoot. Demon bears didn't fuck around either. If only two people were dead, then this one hadn't been in the area long. We were lucky – even if the hikers weren't. No rodents or foxes had fed on those bodies. In Tucson proper, we were enjoying our typically mild winter weather – mid-seventies today, if I had to guess. As I drove higher into the mountains, the temperature dropped rapidly. I soon saw snow on the ground and signs for Mt. Lemmon's ski resorts. Other signs directed me toward popular hiking and climbing areas – including Rappel Rock. In and of itself, it was a popular area for outdoorsmen. With its proximity to the ski areas, the demon bear's presence was doubly dangerous this time of year. I finally reached the trailhead and parked in a gravel lot. Only a couple other cars were there, which was a small blessing. I stepped out of the Subaru, shocked by the blast of cold air that hit me. I was not used to these temperatures. I hadn't been bred for them. Give me monsters and ghosts? No problem. But cold weather? That was a weakness. I could've used magic to adjust the air but needed to conserve my power. Instead, as I stuffed my arsenal into my belt – not comfortable but ready for easy access – I used my magic for a summoning. I spoke the ritual words, and a few moments later, a small implike creature appeared before me. He had pointed ears, smooth night-black skin, and red slits for eyes. â€Å"My mistress calls,† he said in a flat voice, â€Å"and I answer, no doubt for some mundane task.† â€Å"We're going after a demon bear,† I said, moving briskly toward the trail and trying my best to ignore the cold. My jacket wasn't suited for this weather at all, but it was the best I had. â€Å"A more challenging task than most,† he observed. I ignored his condescension as I stopped before the sign indicating the various routes and levels of difficulty for these climbs and hikes. Volusian was a cursed spirit I'd subdued and enslaved. His power made him a useful asset – and a risky one. He hated me and spent a good deal of his time planning how to kill me, should I ever lose the control needed to bind him. I closed my eyes, attempting to become one with the air rather than its victim. The world was silent here, save for the rustling of wind in the pines and chatter of birds and small animals. I spread my senses out, seeking something out of place. My abilities weren't perfect, but I could often sense a presence not from our world. â€Å"There.† I opened my eyes abruptly and pointed near a trail marked â€Å"moderately difficult.† â€Å"Do you feel anything?† Volusian studied the area, using his senses as well. â€Å"Yes. But more there.† He pointed not at the trail itself but more toward its left, off into the woods. I grimaced but knew his senses were slightly better than mine. â€Å"Off-roading. Lovely.† We set out in that direction. Volusian shifted to a more ghostly form that floated along with me, rather than treading through the underbrush like I had to. It wasn't anything I couldn't handle, but it made for slow going. Yet, as I traveled farther and farther, that magical feel increased. â€Å"It will sense you too, mistress,† said Volusian, in a rare show of unsolicited commentary. I didn't doubt it. â€Å"Will it come after me? Or will it run?† â€Å"Run? No. Hide? Perhaps.† There was a calculated pause. â€Å"It won't try to force itself sexually on you, however. The blood of the shining ones is too alluring. It will simply try to eat you.† â€Å"How reassuring,† I muttered. â€Å"I'll do the banishing. You distract it.† Soon, I needed no special senses to know we'd reached our goal. The forest had grown deadly silent. No more birds or other signs of life. A strong sense of †¦ wrongness filled the air. The worlds were stacked: human, Otherworld, Underworld. With our proximity, Otherworldly creatures could sometimes move throughout this world without me feeling anything. Something from the Underworld was too foreign. It stuck out. â€Å"We're close,† I murmured. â€Å"We're practically – oomphf!† A massive arm swung out from a cluster of trees and hit me in the stomach, knocking me painfully backward. There was nothing I could do to prevent my fall onto the forest floor of sharp sticks and rocks, but I did manage to grab hold of my wand as I went down. A giant form loomed in front of me, almost eight feet tall. Long-limbed, with clawed feet and hands, its muscled body could easily be mistaken for that of a Bigfoot. Its ears – while definitely bearlike – were flattened against its head, adding to the humanoid appearance. It roared, showing a mouthful of sharp teeth. Black eyes, filled with nothing but mindless rage, peered down at me. Volusian, compelled by my orders, threw himself against the bear. The power radiating around Volusian's body had the substantiality of a ton of bricks. The creature staggered backward, eyes shifting angrily to my minion. The fact that Volusian hadn't knocked it to the ground was concerning. They were either well matched, or the demon was even more powerful than Volusian. The latter would be problematic, seeing as I wasn't strong enough to banish Volusian. Well, that is, I wasn't strong enough to banish him and fight him. If someone else subdued him, I could have sent Volusian on. If this demon bear had the means to defeat Volusian, then I'd be cake. Hopefully, the demon bear couldn't obliterate Volusian while distracted by something else – me. I scrambled to my feet, holding my wand out as I prepared to open a door to the Underworld. Volusian and the demon battled it out, neither capable of killing each other. I gathered my will, channeling the power of my soul to spread past this world and the Otherworld, on to the Underworld. On my arm, a tattoo of a black and white butterfly sacred to Persephone began to burn as I touched her domain. The air near the demon dematerialized, forming an opening to the Underworld. Grabbing my silver athame with my free hand, I approached the battle, cautious of both the combatants and the forming gate. Volusian hovered over the demon, keeping its eyes directed high. I sneaked up unnoticed. With well-practiced speed, I snaked out with the athame, drawing an arcane symbol on the demon's chest. Usually, banishing a demon back to its domain kept it from returning. A binding mark like this ensured it. I didn't want to take any chances. The demon's roar of rage echoed through the woods, and it turned toward me. I'd anticipated this and had already scrambled away, keeping out of its reach. Really, I'd been lucky the first time it hit me. It had the strength to kill me with one blow. Volusian came forward again to pull the demon's attention back – only, it didn't work. The demon recognized the threat I was and could feel the opening of the gate. Volusian, attacking and attacking, was a nuisance – a painful one – but one the demon could apparently ignore as it came toward me. â€Å"Shit,† I said. I backed farther and farther away, but the demon was quickly closing the distance. Its massive feet could trample the underbrush that slowed me so much. I worked hard to ignore just how dire my situation had become and instead concentrated on the gateway. That door grew more substantial, and soon, its power began calling to its own – sucking the demon back. The creature paused in its attack. The problem was, the gate wanted to pull Volusian too. Orders or not, he moved out of range for self-preservation, which I didn't exactly blame him for. Only, without my minion to beat on the demon, it now had just enough strength to fight the gate and keep coming toward me. It had to know that if it could take me out, the gate would go away too. Suddenly, I heard something approaching us, sticks and leaves crackling under strong feet – or, to be more precise, paws. A red fox – much larger than a normal one – sprang out onto the demon's back, sinking its teeth into the furry brown hide. This brought another shriek from the demon – and gave me a moment's respite. I threw all my power into the gate and jerked the demon toward it. The demon flailed, unable to fight being sent back to its own world. The fox had the sense to get out of the way, its services no longer needed. The demon gave one last mournful cry and then faded from our sight. I stretched the wand toward where the demon had disappeared, sending my energy through the wand's gems to banish the gate as well and reseal this world. Silence followed, except for my own rapid breathing. Slowly, birds began to sing again, and the forest's natural state returned. I leaned against a tall, leafless oak in relief. The banishing hadn't been as easy as I expected, but it certainly could have ended worse – like, with my death. â€Å"We didn't need your help,† I said. â€Å"We were doing just fine.† The fox was no longer there, as I'd already known. It had transformed into a tall, muscled man, with deep, golden-brown skin and black hair that barely touched his shoulders. He was a kitsune, a shape-shifting Japanese fox from the Otherworld. Actually, he was half-kitsune. His mother had been the kitsune; his father a mortal from Arizona. Power-wise, it made little difference. â€Å"Yeah,† said Kiyo, crossing his arms over his chest. He needed no coat and simply wore a burgundy T-shirt. â€Å"You seemed to have it all under control.† â€Å"We were about to,† I retorted. â€Å"Actually, mistress,† said Volusian, deadpan, â€Å"your death was probably imminent.† â€Å"Oh shut up,† I snapped. â€Å"You're dismissed. Go back to the Otherworld.† Volusian vanished. I turned back to Kiyo. â€Å"What are you doing out here anyway?† He shrugged, and I worked hard to ignore the effect his physical appearance always had on me. â€Å"Same thing as you. I'm on Wil's mailing list. When I heard about the Bigfoot sightings †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I sighed and turned back the way we'd come. â€Å"I don't need your help.† â€Å"I wasn't coming to help you.† He caught up with me easily. â€Å"I was coming to kill a demon bear. You just happened to be here first.† Considering the trouble Volusian and I had had, I doubted Kiyo could have taken out the demon through brute force. Kiyo was strong, yeah, but hardly all-powerful. Unfortunately, he was all-bravery. He rushed into impossible situations, ready to defend others – even at cost to himself. He'd always been reckless that way – except for once. And that was the core of our problems. Kiyo and I used to date, wrapped in a deeply romantic and physical relationship. His continual disapproval of my Otherworldly relations had begun to fracture things between us. The final break had occurred after Leith had raped me. Kiyo had come to rescue me but had refused to punish Leith. Kiyo had advised a tamer course of action: letting Otherworldly justice take its course. Dorian, however, had opted for on-the-spot justice: he'd run Leith through with a sword. Kiyo and I had broken up shortly after that. â€Å"You were outclassed,† I told Kiyo. â€Å"There are a billion other creatures running loose right now. If you want to help, go after them.† â€Å"Ah, yes. I forgot,† he said. â€Å"Tucson's former caretaker is too busy playing queen.† I came to a halt and glared. â€Å"I'm not playing at anything! Controlling the Thorn Land wasn't my choice, and you know it.† â€Å"That's true. It was Dorian's choice – one he tricked you into. Yet, somehow that doesn't matter, and now it's okay for you to shack up with him and wage war.† I started moving again, marching through the woods in a haze of anger. When we'd broken up, Kiyo had been sad and withdrawn. Over time, he'd gotten his spunk back and now – whenever we ran into each other – didn't hesitate to express his opinion of Dorian, the war, or anything else Otherworldly I was involved in. â€Å"The war wasn't my choice either,† I said at last, after refusing to respond for several minutes. â€Å"Stopping it wasn't exactly out of your control either.† â€Å"So what are you saying? That I should just stop now and surrender?† â€Å"No.† His calmness was annoying. â€Å"But there must be a peaceful way to end it. To negotiate something.† â€Å"Don't you think we've tried?† I exclaimed. â€Å"How bloodthirsty do you think I am? Every diplomat we send is either given unreasonable demands or met with death threats.† â€Å"I like the use of ‘we.' I wonder how seriously Dorian is taking the peace process.† I could see the parking lot through the trees ahead. Good. I needed to be away from Kiyo. His presence was stifling. It stirred up too many feelings, too many feelings I didn't want to deal with. â€Å"Dorian isn't running this by himself. We're in it together, and we have tried to settle with Katrice.† â€Å"And as that's failed, you're now going to march in with your allies and take her land with overwhelming force, expanding your empire.† We reached the gravel lot, and I turned on Kiyo in full anger, hands on my hips. â€Å"We don't have any allies. And I don't want another kingdom! I sure as hell don't want an empire!† He shrugged. â€Å"Say whatever you want, but everyone knows you're looking for people to join up with you.† â€Å"And Katrice is doing the same,† I said smoothly. â€Å"I hear she's visited the Willow Land quite a bit.† Ah, that broke him. Kiyo's smug, cool faà §ade faltered. â€Å"Nothing's decided,† he said stiffly. â€Å"But your girlfriend's no fan of Dorian and me. She's afraid of us. How long, Kiyo? How long until she – and you – fight against us?† I was gaining ground; he was on the defensive. He and Maiwenn the Willow Queen had once been lovers; they'd even had a daughter together. I'd never believed their â€Å"just friends† claims since our breakup. Kiyo took a step forward, leaning toward me and fixing me with that dark, dark gaze. â€Å"She's not my girlfriend. And we're staying neutral.† I gave a shrug as masterfully casual as the one he'd given me earlier. â€Å"If you say so. And I like your use of ‘we.' Except, you don't really have an equal share in it, do you? You just run along and follow her orders.† â€Å"Damn it, Eugenie!† He clenched his fists. â€Å"Why do you have to be so – â€Å" He couldn't finish, and as we stood there, so close, I became aware once more of his body and the memories of our time together. I remembered what that body could do in bed. I remembered the way we'd laughed, how easily we'd connected. The Otherworld consumed so much of my time lately, but I was still half human. The human part of me called to other humans. And as he looked down at me, the anger softening a little, I had a feeling he was thinking the same thing. If he had any lingering attraction, the animal attributes in him would make this doubly awkward. My physical appearance would trigger sexual attraction that much more quickly. Even my scent could arouse him. He looked away. â€Å"Well. None of that matters. You should go home. You're freezing.† â€Å"I'm fine,† I said automatically, like I wasn't shivering and covered in goose bumps. â€Å"Of course you are.† He glanced back at me, a small, wry smile on his face. â€Å"Be careful, Eugenie.† â€Å"With what exactly?† I asked. â€Å"Everything.† With that, he shape-shifted back into a fox – a smaller, normal one – and scampered off through the trees. Naturally, he was too hard-core to have driven up here. Suddenly feeling drained, I got out Tim's keys and turned toward the car. I'd done what I needed to, that was what counted. I didn't want to think about Kiyo or war or anything like that. I wanted to go home and rest before the next job. A tingling along my spine made me drop the keys as I felt an Otherworldly presence appear behind me. I spun around, pulling my wand back out as I did. There, before me, was a ghost. It was female, looking like she'd died in her midthirties. Her translucent form washed out any color, but her hair was curly and shoulder-length, her clothing casual. Seeing a ghost outdoors was rare; they tended to be attracted to material things. Still, location didn't matter. They were dangerous. I pointed my wand at her, banishing words upon my lips. â€Å"Wait, don't!† she cried, holding up her hands. Pleading ghosts weren't uncommon. â€Å"Sorry. This isn't your world. You need to move on. It's for the best.† â€Å"Please. Not yet. I need to talk to you, Eugenie Markham.† I frowned, wand still poised and ready. â€Å"How do you know my name?† â€Å"Because I've come to ask for your help. I need you to find out who killed me.†

Summary The Night - 1499 Words

Morgana takes her foot off the gas pedal and presses down on the brake stopping the car outside 2106 Mayday road. As I was thanking whatever deity let me survive such a traumatic experience the seat belt unbuckles itself. The passenger door swings open, and I jump out of the car planning to say hello the ground by kissing it then realize the sidewalk isn t very clean so I don t. Morgana and I walk up to a house that looks like all the others on this street who could possibly know that one of the most important people in the entire world lives there. Morgana knocks on the door since there isn t a doorbell, and a man with thick square glasses dressed in a stripped shirt and bland colored pants opens the door. The man has a foolish smile†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Here you go Mr. Lawson.† â€Å"Please call me Theodore.† â€Å"Would you two like to come inside I m sure my wife and children would absolutely love to meet you?† â€Å"We would love to.† T heodore lead us into his home I could only hope that his children and wife weren t as boring as he is. His wife was in the kitchen filling the cupboards with porcelain cups, bowls, and plates. Theodore s thirteen year old son was laying on the living room floor reading a book titled Tales of Camelot. His sixteen year old daughter was sitting on the brown leather couch her thumbs moving open and down as she texted someone. Theodore introduces us to his entire family his wife s name is Ashley, his daughter s name is Taylor, and his son s name is Matthew. Morgana sits down at the kitchen counter to see if she can learn anything of importance from Theodore and Ashley while I get to know Taylor and Matthew. Taylor doesn t even look at me when I sit down on the brown leather chair across from her I doubt she will even talk to me. Matthew on the other hand immediately closes his book and looks right at me. â€Å"Do you know anything about King Arthur?† â€Å"I know more than most p eople do, but if you don t believe me you could always give me a quiz to test my knowledge.† â€Å"What is Arthur s last name?† â€Å"Pendragon.† â€Å"Name two of Gawain s brothers.† â€Å"Agravain and Gareth.† â€Å"What are the names of Morgana La Fay s sisters?† â€Å"Morgause andShow MoreRelatedSummary : The Night 1109 Words   |  5 Pagesthose dark, serious eyes. They scanned me from head to toe; and then he backed up and barked Okay marines, it is time for the drill. Follow me in single order! He led us to an obstacle course he and the other higher ranking officers had set up the night before. It consisted of the standard tire jumping, some pull-up bars, as well as ropes, and more. Doing all these drills in the sand was difficult and he had been ramping up the difficulty of each drill slightly the past few weeks; putting us to theRead MoreSummary Of The Night 1309 Words   |  6 Pagesfilled with gibberish that had nothing to do with him or the barbeque. Anasazi had definitely ruined my day. Why did she have to point it out to me that even though I appeared white, I was a Negress. I had already been wondering about our wedding night too. Wondering if it was going to be bad, or if he was an experienced enough lover to make it enjoyable, as Angelique said it could be with the right one. I was still not exactly sure of what to expect, although I did know that making love meant takingRead MoreSummary : The Night 876 Words   |  4 Pagesbreakfast. They were going to see if their friends Ryan and Justin just next door wanted to go with them to the park that was just down the street from their house. They walked through the front yard, the grass was all dewy and wet from the rain the night before. The girls walked up the steep brick steps to Ryan s front door, ding, dong went the loud door bell. They waited on the red brick porch until Ryan answered the door, when answers the door he was still in his blue pajamas. Hey RyanRead MoreSummary Of The Night 1371 Words   |  6 PagesThe day was really dreary the day Lorraine’s parents died. When she got the call from her older brother, she was told that their parents died in a fire at a bakery. After they were done with the funeral, Lorraine went home with Grandma Anna. Lorraine packed her stuff and went to live in Grandma Anna’s hotel. Kai, Lorraine’s older brother texted Lorraine that he was going to marry his fiance next month. When Lorraine goes to meet Kai and his fiancee, her neighbors gives her some food and some necessaryRead MoreSummary : The Night 1443 Words   |  6 PagesJournal 18 Opening his eyes, the man discovered that his fellow companion had already woken up and was patiently was patiently waiting for its master to rise from his deep slumber. Every single day was the same for him, whether it be in the morning, afternoon, or evening; however, he did not mind that his life was comprised of repetitions involving the most monotonous tasks. One of his tasks involved ringing a bell, of which he neither had no clue as to why he was doing it nor when he started doingRead MoreSummary Of The Night Essay1439 Words   |  6 Pagestimes in the past two months and tonight will be number four. He likes his victims to be young, helpless females who he can easily lure into his home and strangle them. In that moment, I decide that no matter what, I will kill this guy before the night is though. Although I try to catch his attention by winking at him and smiling cutely, I cannot seem to get him to even look at me. I mean why wouldn’t he look at me, I am the most cute and helpless looking girl in this bar with my long ash blondeRead MoreSummary : The Night 825 Words   |  4 PagesPROLOGUE Everyday goes by in high school all the same, monday to friday from 7:45-2:25. The jocs are in the gym, the cheerleaders are well cheering for them, the stoners are outside by the side of the gym doing a deal, the geeks are in the library reading and trading comic books, the nerds are in the science room talking about how much they hate the populars and how they are going take over the world one day, the couples are in the bathroom stalls, and then there is me, Teagan Powers and of courseRead MoreSummary Of The Night 850 Words   |  4 PagesHe drifted in and out of sleep throughout the night. His mind plagued with what-ifs. There had to be a way to compromise, as he had with the druids. However, there was so much fear instilled prejudice against magic users that even the peaceful nomads still faced persecution within various parts of his kingdom. He recalled the old woman whom he and Merlin had saved from the pyre in her village. The one who had given him the Horn of Cathbhadh. He knew nothing about her or what she had been accusedRead MoreSummary Of The Night 1693 Words   |  7 Pageskiss and an absolutely-positively fake smile. It honestly pissed Dipper off they were trying to keep him in the dark. He knew that they were in financial trouble, but he wasn t sure why. And his parents never seemed to discuss why during their late-night arguments. They just yelled, swore, and slammed a lot of stuff. Ben, what are we going to do?! His mom angrily asked his dad. There s no way we can go on like this. We re going to have to start making some sacrifices. And that includes you, tooRead MoreSummary Of The Night 1357 Words   |  6 Pages Chapter One: He was sleeping, anyway with a gun inside his boots next to the bed. Silence, it was everything. In the middle of the night, he heard a breath. It was not his breath. He realized that wasn’t alone, so he tried to stretch his arm to get the boots, but they weren’t there. In that moment he sat on the bed prepared to fight. Lights on. It was someone pointing to his head with a gun, he didn’t know who it was because that person had a mask. - Are you Luck? – The man asked, but the boy didn’t

Lead Like Jesus By Ken Blanchard - 1209 Words

Lead Like Jesus Authors Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges are two great friends who had a hope of getting others to experience Jesus in a whole new way, growing and trusting Him as the one to ultimately seek as the perfect one to lead others. I believe the two said it best when they defined leadership as â€Å"a process of influence. Anytime you seek to influence the thinking, behavior, or development of people in their person or professional lives, you are taking on the role of a leader.† (pg.18) Leadership is an entire process of influence. It was easy to start reading this book with presuppositions that it would be another Sunday school lesson about Jesus being the one we need to ask for directions and how we are called to live like Him daily. What I was not expecting when I started this book was that I would self-evaluate myself in everyday situations and reflect on how I could better myself as a leader and lead others to the Lord through my daily conversations and eventually my future career. This book serves as a text to inform you on leadership qualities in the business world, personal relationships and in having a more personal relationship with God. At the beginning of the book, Blanchard and Hodges encourage you to do seven things before reading; â€Å"begin in prayer, skim through the entire book, read each chapter and underline key thoughts, take time to pause and reflect, summarize you ideas and reflections, share with others what you have learned and periodically reviewShow MoreRelatedBook Review - Lead Like Jesus1376 Words   |  6 PagesIn their book Lead Like Jesus Ken Blanchard Phil Hodges encourage readers to ask themselves three key questions: 1) Am I a leader? (pg. 4) 2) Am I willing to follow Jesus as my leadership role model? (pg. 11) 3) How do I lead like Jesus? (pg. 19) The authors try to define who is a leader. They say â€Å"Leadership is a process of influence. Anytime you seek to influence the thinking, behaviour, or development of people in their personal or professional lives, you are taking on the role of a leaderRead MoreEssay about Book Review - Lead Like Jesus1348 Words   |  6 PagesIn their book Lead Like Jesus Ken Blanchard Phil Hodges encourage readers to ask themselves three key questions: 1) Am I a leader? (pg. 4) 2) Am I willing to follow Jesus as my leadership role model? (pg. 11) 3) How do I lead like Jesus? (pg. 19) The authors try to define who is a leader. They say â€Å"Leadership is a process of influence. Anytime you seek to influence the thinking, behaviour, or development of people in their personal or professional lives, you are taking on the role of a leaderRead MoreBook Review - Lead Like Jesus1386 Words   |  6 PagesIn their book Lead Like Jesus Ken Blanchard Phil Hodges encourage readers to ask themselves three key questions: 1) Am I a leader? (pg. 4) 2) Am I willing to follow Jesus as my leadership role model? (pg. 11) 3) How do I lead like Jesus? (pg. 19) The authors try to define who is a leader. They say â€Å"Leadership is a process of influence. Anytime you seek to influence the thinking, behaviour, or development of people in their personal or professional lives, you are taking on the role of a leaderRead MoreBook Review : Lead Like Jesus Lessons From The Greatest Leadership Role Model Of All Time 1918 Words   |  8 Pagesand reviewing is entitled â€Å"Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time,† by Dr. Ken Blanchard. Dr. Blanchard is the co-founder and Chief Spiritual Officer of the Ken Blanchard Companies. The mission of the Ken Blanchard Companies is â€Å"To make a difference in people’s lives, to drive human work and effectiveness in the workplace and to help each organization they work with become the provider, employer and investment of choice. Dr. Blanchard is the author of over 60 booksRead MoreEssay on Communicating Leadership1922 Words   |  8 PagesWhat should a leader look like? Important leaders, such as presidents and prime ministers, work hard communicate an impression of confidence and power. A leader, they assume, should look like a leader, and many of them hire an image specialist to learn how. Wherever they go, press agents, bodyguards, loyal assistants, and throngs of eager admirers follow in their wake. In the Bible, Matthew depicts Jesus as a true leader, a king in fact, however one who broke stereotypes. Jesus had undeniable power andRead More Effective Leadership Essay1579 Words   |  7 Pagesdecision- making skills. They believe a timely and smart decision will help their company to succeed. They forget that implementation of those decisions are as important as making those decision. Without a proper implementation , there will be no results. Like there is a saying that, it’s easier to said than done. Similarly, making a decision will change nothing, its how to get things done in a timely and an effective way will help an organization to accomplish their goals. Leadership is crucial in implementingRead MoreBiblical Philosophy Of Team Building And Managing Conflict2502 Words   |  11 Pagesstates â€Å"Then God said, â€Å"Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.† From God’s own nature we can see that unity and teamwork is something that He has created, modeled and blessed. Scripture continues to point us to the strength of teams. We see that Jesus’ earliest actions in beginning his public ministry started with building a team of disciples (see Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11 and John 1:35-42). Jesus pulled together individuals who would begin to work together with aRead MoreLeaders Are Born Not Made1902 Words   |  8 Pagesthink of great political leaders: George Washington, Nelson Mandela, and Abraham Lincoln. We may think of the leaders of social movements: Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. We may think of spiritual leaders: Jesus Christ, Muhammad and Mother Teresa. We may think of management leaders like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Richard Branson. We also include in our definition some of the infamous leaders such as Adolf Hitler, Idi amin, or Saddam Hussein. Obviously, leadership is not always or automaticallyRead MoreLeadership Is Made Not Born1862 Words   |  8 Pagesthink of great political leaders: George Washingt on, Nelson Mandela, and Abraham Lincoln. We may think of the leaders of social movements: Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. We may think of spiritual leaders: Jesus Christ, Muhammad and Mother Teresa. We may think of management leaders like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Richard Branson. We also include in our definition some of the infamous leaders such as Adolf Hitler, Idi amin, or Saddam Hussein. Obviously, leadership is not always or automatically

A Separate Peace Essay - 753 Words

A Separate Peace Dealing with enemies has been a problem since the beginning of time. â€Å"I never killed anybody,† Gene had commented later in his life, â€Å"And I never developed an intense level of hatred for the enemy. Because my war ended before I ever put on a uniform, I was on active duty all my time at Devon; I killed my enemy there.† In A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, the value of dealing with enemies is shown by Gene, who was dealing with few human enemies, but his emotions created far greater rivals than any human could ever posses. One of the enemies that Gene created for himself was jealousy. Gene was jealous of everything about Finny. The openness which Finny possessed was one of these things which Gene envied. One incident of†¦show more content†¦The real war, however, started when he got the idea that because Finny had low grades, he wanted to lower Gene’s grades as well, so he could remain â€Å"better than† Gene. Gene believed that Finny was trying to wreck his studies with games and going to the beach, and their Secret Suicide Society. Another time Gene’s anger shows is when Finny wanted Gene to come jump off the tree into the river with him, as they had been doing, and he claimed that Leper would be jumping too. Gene burst out angrily at the idea because he was studying, and he thought Finny was trying to wreck his grades, so he said no. Finny responded with no offense taken. Gene not being able to say â€Å"no† to Finny changed his mind and went to the tree anyway. Gene was now enraged on the inside because he realized that Finny was not trying to wreck his studies, and really was â€Å"perfect.† Still feeling angry by Finny’s â€Å"perfection,† Gene jounced the limb when they were about to jump, causing Finny to fall and break his leg. This shows that Gene’s anger, mixed with this jealousy, drove him to cause physical pain to someone who was dear to him. Another enemy of Gene’s is Finny’s modesty. Early in the story, Finny demonstrated his modesty by when asked for his height he replied â€Å"Five feet eight and a half inches.† Gene replied that he himself was â€Å"five feet nine inches.† Finny pointed out that they were the same height and that Gene shouldn’t be ashamed toShow MoreRelatedAllusion In A Separate Peace1412 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"My god, what energy. You sound like General MacArthur† (Knowles 66). The historical allusion of the novel called A Separate Peace is when Finny compared Gene with General MacArthur. General MacArthur was a Five Star General and a Chief of Staff of the US Army during the World War II. Through his hard work, he managed to receive a Congressional Medal of Honor and be known as a very dedicated leader. Finny compares Gene with General MacArthur, because he looked like there was something importantRead MoreEssay On A Separate Peace1916 Words   |  8 PagesA Separate Peace Honors English Essay By Devin E. Price From juvenility to maturity, A Separate Peace combines classic American Literature with a thoughtful plot-line that is developed to affect the readers’ mind and heart. The author, John Knowles of Fairmont, West Virginia, had one clear purpose for writing this book. This purpose was to show the disastrous mental and physical problems which arise as the result of war, specifically the repercussions they have on the home front. A goodRead MoreA Separate Peace Analysis865 Words   |  4 Pagestypically endure. The novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles focuses on the friendship between two teenage boys, Gene and Phineas, who are the exact opposite of one another. It is told from Gene’s point of view as he journeys through adolescence while attending one of the most prestigious boarding schools in America during World War II, Devon. Gene learns that when times are difficult he can move past his struggles by latching onto an idea, hope, or an essence of peace. A s he matures, it is clear thatRead MoreA Separate Peace Analysis745 Words   |  3 PagesJohn Knowles’ novel A Separate Peace is about a few boys at a boarding school in New Hampshire. The story is centered around the friendship of two boys, Gene and Finny, at a boarding school in New Hampshire. Although in the beginning of their friendship Gene did not trust Finny, by the time he dies Gene feels as if a part of him has died, showing that he still felt closely bonded to him after all they had been through. Gene’s trust towards Finny first subtly comes through after returning fromRead MoreSummary Of A Separate Peace1859 Words   |  8 PagesJoseph Post Mrs. Weber    English 9 Honors, Period 2    Oct 10, 2017 Chapter 7, A Separate Peace Summary  Ã‚  Ã‚   In chapter 7 of the novel, A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, Gene gets to know Brinker a little more, making him come out of his shell that he was in because of the absence of Phineas. He and Brinker like to joke around a lot, and one day, Gene feels like it was too serious. One day, they went down to the butt room, because they felt like a smoke, and while Brinker was fooling aroundRead MoreA Separate Peace Essay examples1290 Words   |  6 PagesBrittany Schafer September 21, 2012 Period 4 A Separate Peace Final Draft In the novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles, it relates to a complicated friendship of two young boys Gene and Phineas. Gene is jealous of Phineas’ achievements and lets his anger destroy their relationship. The boys at Devon in the summer of 1942 have to deal with the fear World War II brings. Each time the boys feel safe and peaceful, reality sets in and reminds them of the warfare around them. The boy’s mentalRead MoreA Separate Peace, by John Knowles1079 Words   |  5 Pagesaggressive nature of the people often cause it to proceed without justification. In A Separate Peace, wars such as these are seen between the characters and within the characters of Gene and Phineas. These wars can be thought of as figments of imagination, founded on irrational assumptions, fears of the unknown, and nonexistent threats. Regardless of their origin, the enemy is always daunting. John Knowles’ A Separate Peace reveals Gene’s perceived war with Phineas and Phineas ’ internal conflict with WorldRead MoreA Separate Peace: Three Symbols716 Words   |  3 PagesA Separate Peace: Three Symbols The three dichotomous symbols in A Separate Peace by John Knowles reinforce the innocence and evil of the main characters, Finny and Gene. Beside the Devon School flow two rivers on opposite sides of the school, the Naguamsett and the Devon. The Devon provides entertainment and happiness for Gene and Finny as they jump from the tree into the river and hold initiations into the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session. Finny, Gene, and their friends use theRead MoreA Separate Peace By John Knowles1078 Words   |  5 PagesStephen King once said, â€Å"Books and movies are like apples and oranges. They both are fruit, but taste completely different.† John Knowles’ novel A Separate Peace which is also a movie by Peter Yates, both have the same theme and plot, however, there are minor adaptations that are made to the movie which fail to capture the nature of the characters. A Separate Peace is set at a boys’ boarding school in New Hampshire during World War II. It is the story of Gene Forrester, and his confused feelings of admirationRead MoreA Separate Peace By John Knowles1810 Words   |  8 PagesIn John Knowles’ novel A Separate Peace, it begins with the protagonist, Gene Forrester coming back to his alma mater the Devon School in New Hampshire. Wandering through the campus, Gene makes his way to a tall tree by the river; the reason for his return. From here he takes the reader back to the year 1942 du ring World War II when he was in high school. During the summer session ofthat year, he becomes close friends with his daredevil roommate Finny who is able to convince Gene into making a dangerous