Criminal law: Treating a child as an adult

Criminal law: Treating a child as an adult A 15 year old commits a crime, depending on the seriousness of the crime, that child should be treated as an adult. Children in the past have been given many but not all of the due process protection that is recognized in adult criminal courts, so why cant children be treated as adults if they get certain advantages that adults get. Juvenile courts have many of the same rights as adults such as the right to a hearing. Juvenile offenders are typically treated as a special group. The courts soon realized that children could commit serious offenses therefore the juvenile courts created a procedure to transfer the case to the adult criminal courts. Nearly all states have provisions where if a juvenile who commits a serious felony can be prosecuted as an adult. This provision is called â€Å"concurrent jurisdiction† where the prosecutor can decide if the case will be moved to the adult courts. Statutory exclusion means that the legislature can require that certain serious crimes that involve juveniles can be tried in the adult court system instead of leaving it up to the prosecutor or the judge to decide how the case will be taken care of. In 1994 at least 13 states required that certain juvenile cases should be handled by the criminal courts. The case of the sniper shootings in the Washington D. C. area involved Lee Boyd Malvo who was 17 at the time of the shootings. Malvo was tried as an adult for capital murder and was sentenced to life without parole. One percent of juvenile cases are waved to the adult criminal court each year. Juvenile crimes lead to more serious crimes. Therefore the juveniles need to be stopped by being treated as adults and getting worse punishments than they would if treated as a juvenile. Both Bill Clinton and Robert Dole urged that juveniles charged with violent crimes be tried as adults, removing them from the protective confines of juvenile court proceedings. Courts are going back and looking at court cases that involved juveniles getting sentenced to life without parole. In 2009 the Supreme Court looked at two crimes (Graham and Sullivan) involving juveniles that committed crimes that should not have sentenced them to life without parole. They will be deciding whether life without parole sentences for juveniles is unconstitutionally harsh. Florida is one of six states to charge juveniles for non-homicide crimes. â€Å"An estimated 2,570 juvenile defendants in the United States are serving life without parole sentences, nearly all are homicide related. Of the 111 juvenile defendants who committed lesser offences such as Graham and Sullivan, 77 of them are in Florida p risons† (USA Today, Nov. 10, 2009). The Supreme Court ruled that sentencing a juvenile to life without parole for a non- homicide crime is unconstitutional. There was a 5-4 decision on this ruling. Justice Kennedy states in his majority opinion â€Å"Gives all juvenile non-homicide offenders a chance to demonstrate maturity and reform. The juvenile should not be deprived of the opportunity to achieve maturity of judgment and self-recognition of human worth and potential† (EJI). In 2010, a state judge in Michigan sentenced life without parole to Dakotah Eliason who was convicted of murdering his step grandfather. Dakotah was 14 at the time of the murder. The defense said this sentence was cruel and unusual punishment and violated the 8th Amendment. â€Å"Long-standing and unchallenged precedent establishes that when a juvenile is convicted of killing another human being, a life-without-parole sentence does not violate the Eighth Amendment,† says Judge Scott Schofi eld who was the judge in the Eliason case (WBST.com, October 25, 2010). An article dated May 1995 states that the public is alarmed by the increasing number of juvenile violence. Between 1982 and 1992 arrest for juvenile violence doubled. If people were afraid of the increase in juvenile violence in 1982 and 1992 then what does that have to say for the violence now. Juvenile violence may not be as high as it was in the late 1900s, thats most likely because in the late 1900s security wasnt as serious as it is now. Juveniles in the late 1900s had a better chance of getting something that they should not have in their possession than in 2011. In 1987-1993 politicians started using the phrase â€Å"adult crime, adult time.† A May 2010 article mentions that juveniles cannot be sentenced to life in prison without committing non- homicide crimes. Attorneys explain that juveniles cannot be convicted of a crime that they cannot control because their frontal lobe has not fully developed. The frontal lobe is responsible for reasoning, impulse control, and planning. A study was done at the New York University School of Medicine that shows that the frontal lobe is one of the last areas to reach maturity. It matures around age 20 or beyond. The 26th Amendment changed the voting age from 21 to 18, therefore most states lowered the age of adulthood to 18. Juvenile courts were designed to save children from the damage that could be caused by holding them with adult offenders. Studies show that transferring juveniles to adult courts is not an effective deterrent of further criminal activity. In 2005, the Supreme Court banned use of the death penalty against minors in all cases. In 2009 the Just Kids Partnership found that the adult court system teaches teens to become violent criminals, subject them to sexual and physical abuse and waste taxpayers money. Problems at home could have contributed to the child committing the crime therefore the courts should look into the juveniles family background. Studies show that juveniles who are tried as adults are more likely to commit another crime than those tried in the juvenile court system. This means that it is more effective to prosecute all juveniles in the juvenile court system. The government should treat children as adults depending on how serious the crime is. Example: if a 14 year old murdered someone and it was not self defense then yes the child should be treated as an adult. Lock up only the most serious and most violent offenders. Kids that commit crimes such as murder or terrorism should be tried as adults not kids that are property or drug offenders. If children want to try to be grown up or are trying to grow up to fast then they should be treated like an adult if they want to act like an adult, like the phrase says â€Å"adult crime, adult time†. The only reason why a child should not be treated as an adult is if the crime is not serious enough or if the child has family or school problems or psychological problems then the courts would have to take a whole other approach. If people are concerned that teens being sent to jail with adults is critical to their health then the Government could build a building for teens that get tried as an a dult and sentenced to jail time. Even though this will use tax money, it is better than putting kids into a jail that may not suit them. Also the kids will get more attention and learn to make better decisions if they ever get out of jail. This building will serve the purpose of the juvenile courts for those juveniles that committed serious crimes which is to rehabilitate, not only punish which is what the adult courts are used for. Since courts are now going back and looking at court cases where juveniles were sentenced to life without parole this means they will be letting some convicts out on good behavior or put them in the right facilities. These convicts that the courts are letting out are not murders but they still committed a crime. That is just like letting a 45 year old out for good behavior when he assaulted someone when he was 34. America is suppose to be a safe place, but if we have murders getting let out of jail and roaming the street who knows if they will strike aga in even if they were convicted when they were a juvenile. If the frontal lobe does not mature until into young adult hood than the Government should raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction till the age of when the frontal lobe is scientifically proven to be fully developed. So then courts can be sure that the convicted persons brain was fully developed and they were fully aware of what was happening and what the consequences should be. The Government should also construct a document that says that you will still be considered a juvenile if you are under the age of 18, but if you commit certain serious crimes while under the age of 18 you will be treated as an adult. Most criminal activity happens after school hours and on weekends in the evening. Schools could help with the crime rate by offering more school activities that do not cost money to be in or are offered for a low cost. Then students would be less likely to commit a crime especially if they are an officer of a club or on a team that they represent in and outside of school. There are pros and cons to whether or not a child should be treated as an adult but if we do not stop the crime rate in children than the crime rate in adults is going to rise because once those children get older their crimes will most likely develop into more serious crimes. Juveniles are â€Å"different† than adults. Juveniles are not as mature as adults both physically and mentally but that does not mean they should not suffer the same consequences as adults. People always say children are the future but if we do not welcome them to the real world and make them realize that the decisions and actions they make have consequences than they will have no future and will not be able to make it through life.

William Randolph Hearst Essay -- History, War

A. Plan of Investigation How greatly was William Randolph Hearst's propaganda concerning the Cuban insurrection involved in the decision of the United States to declare war on Spain in 1898? This question will be addressed in this investigation in an attempt to find the degree of influence that the publisher William Randolph Hearst had on a brief period of American foreign policy (and Cuban domestic policy) by his manipulation of the press, the emerging medium of the screen, and the lobbying of Congress. This will be done by reviewing the two opposing theories regarding Hearst's involvement; one claiming that he was one of the leading catalysts of the conflict, the other arguing that he simply manipulated the existing public opinion to make money. This paper will also analyze the historical evidence that may or may not point to Hearst's early steps towards the war, such as journalist George Creelman's account of the controversial Remington-Hearst telegrams, as well as W. Joseph Campbell's study of the factu ality of Creelman's narrative. The period of time being examined is from Hearst's papers' first calls for intervention in Cuba in 1893 to their coverage of the sinking of the USS Maine on 15 February 1898. It will not discuss anything that Hearst published in this time period advocating intervention in or covering the crises in the Phillipines and Puerto Rico. B. Summary of Evidence On the evening of 15 February 1898, the USS Maine, an American battleship stationed in Cuba's Havana Harbor, spontaneously exploded, killing more than 250 of its passengers. Two days later, despite the warnings of the Maine's commander Captain Charles Sigsbee that "public opinion (about the cause of the explosion) should be suspended until f... ... for description" (New York Journal 17 Aug. 1897). The paper detailed the story of her bold resistance to the advances of a Spanish officer, her imprisonment in a jail reserved for prostitutes and her eventual rescue by Journal correspondent Karl Decker (Thomas 179-184), who, according to fellow Journal writer Willis Abbot, actually bribed the prison guards to stage the rescue (Abbott 215-216). From 12 January to 20 January 1898, the Journal ran a series of cartoons ridiculing House Speaker Thomas Brackett Reed for openly opposing American intervention. On 25 January, the Maine arrived in Havana harbor, the first American boat to arrive. "Our Flag at Havana at Last," declared the Journal. Then, for almost a month the paper was quiet, finally interrupted by the mysterious explosion of the Maine. By that time, Hearst was riding a wave of papers and power to war.

F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby :: essays research papers

Jay Gatsby: Pure Corruption Embodied   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, takes place in the 1920's. It is the story of a man named Jay Gatsby who is on what he sees as a quest to recapture his former love Daisy Fay. Gatsby is a poor man who feels that he can win her back, if he acquires enough material wealth. He sees getting Daisy back as part of finally getting his American Dream. His whole life he has been chasing his American Dream of being happy. He was a corrupt man who saw only corrupt means to make his dream come true. Gatsby is not tricked by anyone into becoming corrupt, on the contrary, he willfully lets himself become corrupt all to achieve what he sees as the American Dream and finally become happy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gatsby, as a young man, believes that he can make his dreams come true and become great. The average American believes that you can achieve anything through hard work, Gatsby believes that he does not need to work hard, but only use people. Gatsby is born James Gatz to poor parents. He always thinks that he should have been born rich and 'his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents'; (104). He wants to be rich or famous; he wants to be a somebody, and not the poor farm boy that he merle is. He feels that he can reinvent himself into the person he thought he should be. He renames himself Jay Gatsby and leaves home. He feels that if other people think that he is the person he wants to be, then he will really become that person. He lies about where he comes from to anyone that may ask. He knows from a young age how to deceive people and he does not think twice of it. After young Gatsby leaves home, he does not work like a man driven to achieve great ness, he works ', half fierce, half lazy'; (104). He was better at using young woman rather than manual labor. 'Since they spoiled him he became contemptuous of young virgins because they were ignorant, of the others'; (104). From a young age Gatsby is already corrupt, but only on a small scale. He has no real driving force to motivate him, he is happy with just taking advantage of young women. It will take his obsession of getting back his lost love Daisy to take his corruptness into a whole new arena. F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby :: essays research papers Jay Gatsby: Pure Corruption Embodied   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, takes place in the 1920's. It is the story of a man named Jay Gatsby who is on what he sees as a quest to recapture his former love Daisy Fay. Gatsby is a poor man who feels that he can win her back, if he acquires enough material wealth. He sees getting Daisy back as part of finally getting his American Dream. His whole life he has been chasing his American Dream of being happy. He was a corrupt man who saw only corrupt means to make his dream come true. Gatsby is not tricked by anyone into becoming corrupt, on the contrary, he willfully lets himself become corrupt all to achieve what he sees as the American Dream and finally become happy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gatsby, as a young man, believes that he can make his dreams come true and become great. The average American believes that you can achieve anything through hard work, Gatsby believes that he does not need to work hard, but only use people. Gatsby is born James Gatz to poor parents. He always thinks that he should have been born rich and 'his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents'; (104). He wants to be rich or famous; he wants to be a somebody, and not the poor farm boy that he merle is. He feels that he can reinvent himself into the person he thought he should be. He renames himself Jay Gatsby and leaves home. He feels that if other people think that he is the person he wants to be, then he will really become that person. He lies about where he comes from to anyone that may ask. He knows from a young age how to deceive people and he does not think twice of it. After young Gatsby leaves home, he does not work like a man driven to achieve great ness, he works ', half fierce, half lazy'; (104). He was better at using young woman rather than manual labor. 'Since they spoiled him he became contemptuous of young virgins because they were ignorant, of the others'; (104). From a young age Gatsby is already corrupt, but only on a small scale. He has no real driving force to motivate him, he is happy with just taking advantage of young women. It will take his obsession of getting back his lost love Daisy to take his corruptness into a whole new arena.

Case Study of Bg Group

A. METHODOLOGIES: 1. The Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) Approach: This method offers a wide range of advantages. For instance, the Capital Assets Pricing Model (CAPM) is employed in the calculation of the Cost of Equity. Thus, the discounted rate of 7. 58 percent used in figure 1. 12 Appendix is likely to be precise. The total value of the firm is $4. 73 billion. Nonetheless, in view of the probabilities of forecasting errors in the estimation of cash flows, the degree of precision does not guarantee an accurate result.Another drawback of the approach would be the failure to allow for the impacts of real options available to management on future cash flows. Hence, this method is considered as an alternative for crosschecking. The assumptions are the dividends grow constantly in perpetuity at 3 percent and the debt ratio is also constant at 28. 1 percent. For further analysis, please refer to item 2a and 3c in the Appraisal. 2. The EBIT Multiples Approach: Under this methodol ogy, the debt-equity ratio was not required. Thus, the value of the firm is approximately $4. 3 billion after liquidity discount was taken into account. This yields an insignificantly different result compared to the result under the WACC method. However, since the average EBIT multiples strongly depend on the comparable companies in the industry, reliable information is less likely to be available in practice. Therefore, another approach is employed. 3. Adjusted Present Value (APV) Approach: The APV method is more complicated than two methods mentioned earlier inasmuch as it takes account of unlevered value of the firm and the interest tax shield.Recent complexity of the method notwithstanding, APV provides management with an explicit valuation of interest tax shield and an assumption of constant debt-equity ratio is unnecessary. According to figure 1. 10, the total value of the firm before synergies is $5. 02 billion. Nonetheless, this method ignores the costs of financial distres s, which might lead to an overvaluation of the firm with a significantly high debt ratio. 4. Conclusion: Under different methods employed above, the range of difference appears to be immaterial.Thus, the value of the firm before synergies is expected to be approximately $4. 89 billion on average. For the purpose of consistency, APV method is selected for further analysis of the value of the firm both before and after synergies. B. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS: 1. Free Cash Flows (FCFs) Valuation: The present value of the cash flows is calculated based on the WACC rate and it is estimated at $1. 28 billion. The rate is used by reason of the assumption of different components, for instance cost of equity and cost of debt. For further information of the assumption, please refer to the Appraisal. . Terminal Values and Long-term Growth: The terminal value before synergies is $3. 45 billion whereas this amount after synergies is $8. 36 billion. In details, the synergies revenues and the backhaul sy nergies savings are the major contributors to the significant difference. Additionally, the terminal value represents the market value of free cash flows from AirThread Connections at all future dates. This, thereby, lends the analyst the plausibility to believe that the discounted rate is equal to the WACC rate of 7. 58 percent.Lastly, to be conservative, that is, in the worst scenario, the figure of growth rate obtained in the Appraisal is around 3. 0 percent. 3. Non-operating Investment in Equity Affiliates: This amount of $1. 72 billion is equal to Equity in Earnings of Affiliates times the historic P/E multiple for the industry at 19. 1. These investments are valued under the market multiple approach because a thorough due diligence is not possible to be conducted. 4. Value of Operating Assets: This value is equivalent to the present value of the target company on a going concern basis.It is estimated at $5. 02 billion before the synergies and at $10. 38 billion after the syner gies. However, since the value of non-operating assets is not taken into account, the total value of the target company is not fully reflected. 5. Enterprise Value: The Enterprise value is equal to the sum of the value of operating assets and the value of nonoperating assets. i. Before Synergies: In this case, the synergies related business revenues and the backhaul synergies savings are not considered. The FCFs ppear to be more immaterial accordingly. It, therefore, leads to a lower Intermediate Term Value of $1. 57 billion and a lower Enterprise Value of $6. 74 billion. ii. After Synergies: With the effect of synergies, the FCFs and, thus, the Enterprise Value of $12. 1 billion appear to be more material. Importantly, the significant difference is contributed by the cost-saving efficiency in backhaul costs and the network utilization. Thus, more advantages would occur. Firstly, administrative expenses such as auditing fees are reduced.Secondly, the market share will, in essence, i ncrease and monopoly gains due to large regional client bases from the target company could be expected. The company will be able to set a higher price and to increase a sheer volume of sales. Also, the company will gain more reputation and the cost of capital will be lower accordingly. Lastly, due to its new size, the company will have more bargain power and the relationships with banking entities will be better. Consequently, the cost of borrowing tends to decrease. Case Study of Bg Group A. METHODOLOGIES: 1. The Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) Approach: This method offers a wide range of advantages. For instance, the Capital Assets Pricing Model (CAPM) is employed in the calculation of the Cost of Equity. Thus, the discounted rate of 7. 58 percent used in figure 1. 12 Appendix is likely to be precise. The total value of the firm is $4. 73 billion. Nonetheless, in view of the probabilities of forecasting errors in the estimation of cash flows, the degree of precision does not guarantee an accurate result.Another drawback of the approach would be the failure to allow for the impacts of real options available to management on future cash flows. Hence, this method is considered as an alternative for crosschecking. The assumptions are the dividends grow constantly in perpetuity at 3 percent and the debt ratio is also constant at 28. 1 percent. For further analysis, please refer to item 2a and 3c in the Appraisal. 2. The EBIT Multiples Approach: Under this methodol ogy, the debt-equity ratio was not required. Thus, the value of the firm is approximately $4. 3 billion after liquidity discount was taken into account. This yields an insignificantly different result compared to the result under the WACC method. However, since the average EBIT multiples strongly depend on the comparable companies in the industry, reliable information is less likely to be available in practice. Therefore, another approach is employed. 3. Adjusted Present Value (APV) Approach: The APV method is more complicated than two methods mentioned earlier inasmuch as it takes account of unlevered value of the firm and the interest tax shield.Recent complexity of the method notwithstanding, APV provides management with an explicit valuation of interest tax shield and an assumption of constant debt-equity ratio is unnecessary. According to figure 1. 10, the total value of the firm before synergies is $5. 02 billion. Nonetheless, this method ignores the costs of financial distres s, which might lead to an overvaluation of the firm with a significantly high debt ratio. 4. Conclusion: Under different methods employed above, the range of difference appears to be immaterial.Thus, the value of the firm before synergies is expected to be approximately $4. 89 billion on average. For the purpose of consistency, APV method is selected for further analysis of the value of the firm both before and after synergies. B. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS: 1. Free Cash Flows (FCFs) Valuation: The present value of the cash flows is calculated based on the WACC rate and it is estimated at $1. 28 billion. The rate is used by reason of the assumption of different components, for instance cost of equity and cost of debt. For further information of the assumption, please refer to the Appraisal. . Terminal Values and Long-term Growth: The terminal value before synergies is $3. 45 billion whereas this amount after synergies is $8. 36 billion. In details, the synergies revenues and the backhaul sy nergies savings are the major contributors to the significant difference. Additionally, the terminal value represents the market value of free cash flows from AirThread Connections at all future dates. This, thereby, lends the analyst the plausibility to believe that the discounted rate is equal to the WACC rate of 7. 58 percent.Lastly, to be conservative, that is, in the worst scenario, the figure of growth rate obtained in the Appraisal is around 3. 0 percent. 3. Non-operating Investment in Equity Affiliates: This amount of $1. 72 billion is equal to Equity in Earnings of Affiliates times the historic P/E multiple for the industry at 19. 1. These investments are valued under the market multiple approach because a thorough due diligence is not possible to be conducted. 4. Value of Operating Assets: This value is equivalent to the present value of the target company on a going concern basis.It is estimated at $5. 02 billion before the synergies and at $10. 38 billion after the syner gies. However, since the value of non-operating assets is not taken into account, the total value of the target company is not fully reflected. 5. Enterprise Value: The Enterprise value is equal to the sum of the value of operating assets and the value of nonoperating assets. i. Before Synergies: In this case, the synergies related business revenues and the backhaul synergies savings are not considered. The FCFs ppear to be more immaterial accordingly. It, therefore, leads to a lower Intermediate Term Value of $1. 57 billion and a lower Enterprise Value of $6. 74 billion. ii. After Synergies: With the effect of synergies, the FCFs and, thus, the Enterprise Value of $12. 1 billion appear to be more material. Importantly, the significant difference is contributed by the cost-saving efficiency in backhaul costs and the network utilization. Thus, more advantages would occur. Firstly, administrative expenses such as auditing fees are reduced.Secondly, the market share will, in essence, i ncrease and monopoly gains due to large regional client bases from the target company could be expected. The company will be able to set a higher price and to increase a sheer volume of sales. Also, the company will gain more reputation and the cost of capital will be lower accordingly. Lastly, due to its new size, the company will have more bargain power and the relationships with banking entities will be better. Consequently, the cost of borrowing tends to decrease.

Ethical Dilemma Essay

The article Ethical Dilemma presents the formidable role and functions of a nurse and other healthcare providers as it tries to preserve and uphold the dignity of life until its last breath. The authors Cynthia Kellam Stinson, MSN, RNC, CMS; Jennie Godkin, MSN, RN; and Rutchie Robinson,RN, MSN, all respected and reputable professionals in their field, have illustrated a real life situation coupled with an analysis that will hopefully give a well-grounded judgment and management to everybody working to perfect their roles in the care of patients most especially those stricken with debilitating diseases. Ethical Dilemma showcased a case where an ill-stricken patient’s supposed request was granted, however, the decision to grant was eventually found lacking and wanting. The patient named Mr. Antonio had been a vibrant 60-year-old Associate Professor in the Music Department of a university before he developed a type of Parkinson’s disease. The disease advanced and had its toll on the well-being of the patient and brought tremendous concern on his family which eventually led to seeking the aid of a long-term care facility to ensure that the patient is perfectly cared for. During his confinement in the long-term care facility, the patient went through personal bouts of self pity and despondency. All these feelings were manifested in his disposition and appetite. It was not clear if he clearly expressed that he no longer wants to eat and drink but it was stated in the article that for several times he would not swallow the food once it entered his mouth and will instead spit it out. The question if it was a qualified case of VSED or voluntarily stopping eating and drinking then surfaced. The concern if the patient made an informed and competent decision came out; and if the family and the healthcare providers made a well discerned decision when the caring steps taken were based on the later behavior of the patient was also asked. To further define the case, the authors used relevant legal and social issues that arose from similar situations in the past. Another enlightening presentation of the article is the possible physiological issues of the Ethical Dilemma 2 patient’s situation. The authors’ analysis of the case came into full circle when it reconciled the realizations and resolutions to the practice of nursing care and the indispensable role of a multidisciplinary group comprised of the family, the healthcare experts such as physicians, nurses, dietitians, psychiatrist, and should be joined too by lawyers, social workers, and a spiritual advisor to ensure a better health care for patients. This case surely taught important lessons to concerned healthcare practitioners although it took one life as an example. The article says that the patient’s autonomy must be respected and healthcare providers must avoid inflicting more harm on the patient in the process of caring for him, however, additional harm befell the patient in the article when the healthcare providers failed to thoroughly and adequately discuss the benefits and risks of VSED and even the pros and cons of inserting a percutaneous endocopie gastrostomy (PEG) tube into the patient’s stomach and even allowing the patient to be fed with exclusive soda. The American College of Physicians and the American Society of Internal Medicine’s Position Paper provided guidelines for VSED. It clearly stated that VSED was appropriate for a terminally ill patient provided the patient was competent to make decisions after a comprehensive psychological assessment of the patient to rule out depression, spiritual suffering, and assessment of motives. These conditions were not observed in the case of Mr. Antonio. In the second to the last paragraph of the article, it was mentioned that in the last 21 days of the patient, there were instances that he stared at the nurses with pleading eyes. Could this mean a contradiction of how matters in his situation were interpreted? It is possible that there was a point that the patient wanted to stop eating and drinking because of depression, but a good facilitation to make him further understand his situation and realize what can still be done, the patient might just decide to fight his battle. It is a fact that Parkinson’s disease, and any of its’ type, is a progressive, debilitating illness and all measures of treatment and Ethical Dilemma 3 dealings should have evolved on this reality with complete consideration of how the patient will respond to the situation. Nurses aren’t just around to merely nurse and purely attend to ailing patients, their skills and most importantly their presence can help patients bear the pain of their illnesses. It is right to call them advocates and it may be an overwhelming job but there’s so much fulfillment involved when they listen to the patients’ plight, help patients find the truth and share that faith and courage to face their situations. Nursing as a profession entails many things thus the mention of countless points to consider in carrying out the job. Mastery of each point most especially the ethical theories will make a better nurse and will increase the chances of saving more lives. Insights learned, realizations, and resolutions should be lived. The article made a very good point when it enumerated a list of possible improvements such as enhance quality care in the ICU through educational preparation of staff, patient, and family; emotional preparation of practitioners, family, and patient; flexible staffing; provision of privacy for patient and family; maximum communication between family and staff; spiritual support to the family; ongoing evaluation of patient; and stress debriefing program for the staff. All of these measures should be implemented for a better health care system. It should not wait for another patient to experience the same situation. Health care providers should be proactive and must always be prepared should another patient will need their expertise and attention.

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Environmental Sciences Essay

In 1990 the Congress nominated the 9515 kmA? Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary ( FKNMS ) as portion of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ‘s ( NOAA ) National Marine Sanctuary Program. The chief end for this appellation was to protect the coral reefs, sea grasses, Rhizophora mangles, and other marine resources of the Florida Keys ( Suman et al, 1999 ) . NOAA was ordered by the Legislation ( P.L. 101-605, A7 ( a ) ( 2 ) ) to develop a temporal and spacial districting scheme as portion of the Sanctuary Management Plan to guarantee resource protection ( Suman, 1997 ) . NOAA coordinated the Draft Management Plan that was focused on be aftering attempts on action programs. The Zoning Action Plan proposed five distinguishable types of zones: Refilling Militias, Sanctuary Preservation Areas ( SPAs ) , Wildlife Management Areas, Special-use Areas, and Existing Management Areas ( NOAA, 1995 ; Bohnsack, 1997 ; Suman et al, 1999 ) . The Replenishment Reserves ( Key Largo, Sambos and Dry Tortugas ) and the SPAs were to be no-take countries, with consumptive utilizations restricted. The SPAs have the end to â€Å" avoid concentrations of utilizations that could ensue in important diminutions in species populations or home ground or to cut down struggles between utilizations † ( NOAA, 1995 ) . Special-Use Areas were besides proposed and were designated for research merely. The Wildlife Management Areas were designated to restrain human entree to bird nesting and feeding countries, every bit good as polo-neck nesting sites ( Suman et al, 1999 ) . In 1996 the concluding Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary ( FKNMS ) Final Management Plan was released, with some changes from the old Draft Plan. The change in the Zoning Action Plan, included merely one little no return modesty ( Western Sambos ) of the three that it originally had proposed ( NOAA, 1996 ) and the postponed of the constitution of the big Dry Tortugas Replenishment Reserve. The name Replenishment Reserve was changed to Ecological Reserve to â€Å" reflect public concerns over the intent of these countries † ( NOAA, 1996 ) . In 2001 the Tortugas Ecological Reserve was implemented ( Figure 1 ) .Figure 1: Florida Keys National Marine SanctuaryWhen the NOAA ‘s bill of exchange direction program was developed, Suman et Al ( 1999 ) and Shivlani & A ; Suman ( 2000 ) did a survey to frogmans ‘s perceptual experiences and attitudes of the direction schemes and ordinances of this program.The Tourism in the Florida KeysIn 1995-96, the tourer trip sum exce eded 3 million and an estimated 31.3 % of the visitants participated in diving or snorkel diving activities. Many of the 80,000 lasting occupants participated in the same activities as the tourers did ( Leeworthy & A ; Wiley 1996 ) . Particular activities, such as the mini-season spiny lobster attract over 30,000 frogmans within a individual hebdomad to the Keys ( Hunt, 1994 ) . The Florida Keys continue to develop its urbanisation due to the demand of people that live, but largely, to the tourers that visit the islands. The roads ( US 1 ) and the Bridgess associating the islands permitted the influx of people to the islands to about 80,000 lasting people ( Smith & A ; Nogle, 2001 ) in add-on to a 2,5 million visitants and seasonal tourers. Tourism – with 76.8 million visitants in 2004 ( a record figure ) , Florida is the top travel finish in the universe. The touristry industry has an economic impact of $ 57 billion on Florida ‘s economic system. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx? tabid=95Historic Economic ImpactEntire Tourism Spending ( Tourism/Recreation Taxable Gross saless ) 1999-2004: 1999 – $ 44.6 billion 2000 – $ 48.5 billion 2001 – $ 48.6 billion 2002 – $ 49.5 billion 2003 – $ 51.5 billion 2004 – $ 57.1 billion 2005 – $ 62.0 billion Entire State Gross saless Tax Grosss from Tourism 1999-2004: 1999 – $ 2.7 billion 2000 – $ 2.9 billion 2001 – $ 2.9 billion 2002 – $ 3.0 billion 2003 – $ 3.0 billion 2004 – $ 3.4 billion 2005 – $ 3.7 billion Number of Persons Directly Employed by Tourism Industry 1999-2004: 1999 – 826,200 2000 – 842,900 2001 – 864,500 2002 – 862,900 2003 – 874,700 2004 – 920,700 2005 – 948,700 hypertext transfer protocol: //media.visitflorida.org/about/research/ 2.5 million tourers yearly – 13.3 million visitor-days yearly – spend US $ 1.2 billion yearly ; – coastal and Marine Waterss support 28.3 million occupations ; and – United States coastal countries are the finish for 180 million yearly. ( Causey, 1998 ) Those 2,5 million visitants cause a large impact in the Keys as it needs Goodall and Stabler ( 1997 ) affirm that touristry induced bounds of acceptable alteration to local environmental conditions can be understood at different degrees. For Collins ( 1999 ) , there are different readings of sustainable touristry that make even harder to find local environmental transporting capacity bounds for touristry activity. Stakeholders values impacts in a different manner ( Van der Duim and Caalders, 2002 ) , so when a program or a extenuation are being done to seek to minimise the impacts that tourists activities may hold and go to to a sustainable development, all the local users have to take part on it. It is besides deserving to look for the tourer ‘s position, because they will be the 1s that will be coming back, divulgating the topographic point and bring forthing capital to it. When we talk about touristry activities ‘ impacts, most of the surveies discuss about their impact in the environment, such as: when frogmans are treading in coral reefs ( Fig. 11a ) , touching the animate beings ( doing them more susceptible to diseases ) , interrupting corals ( i.e. : killing a settlement ) , suspending deposits ( smothering corals and filters animate beings ) or slapping corals with fives during scuba diving or snorkel diving ( Fig. 11b ) ( Hawkins & A ; Roberts, 1992, 1993, 1997 ; Davis & A ; Tisdell, 1995 ; Rouphael & A ; Inglis, 1995 ; Hawkins et al. , 1999 ; Walters & A ; Samways, 2001 ; Krob, 2002 ; Tonioli et al. , 2004 ) ; when people paddle into the reefs while kayaking ( interrupting the corals and touching animate beings ) ; when people feed fish during boating activities ( disequilibrium in nutrient ironss in the ecosystem ) ( Krob, 2002 ; Tonioli, 2003 ) ( Fig. 11c ) ; when the boats anchor on reefs ( aching or killing corals ) ( Fig.11d ) and th row oil and wastewaters ( besides solid rubbish ) ( pollution and lessening in H2O quality ) into the H2O ; and cruise ships environmental impacts such as resuspension of deposits, turbidness, wastewaters, among others ( Lester and Weeden, 2004 ; Murray & A ; Associates, 2005 ) ; among many others environmental impacts.Figure 11: ( a ) Diver treading on coral reefs ; ( B ) A five hitting a coral reef ; ( degree Celsius ) Diver feeding the fish ; ( degree Celsius ) Anchoring on coral reefs.The nature-based touristry in the Keys is wholly depended on the coral reef ‘s quality, as the touristry industry attracts 1000s of recreational leghorns, frogmans, snorkelers, and glass-bottom boat users to the part ( Bhat, 2003 ) . Consequently the Marine militias established there are expected to better the reef environment, peculiarly coral and fish copiousness and diverseness ( Bhat, op. cit ) . In South Florida, tourists spend more $ 1.2 billion, which has a potency of bring forthing $ 2.94 billion in entire end product and $ 1.69 billion in income throughout the regional economic system ( Bhat, op cit ) . As a consequence of increasing demands for entree to the coral reef for recreational and commercial utilizations, this Marine ecosystem has shown marks of unsustainability in the last old ages ( Bhat, op cit ) . If Restoration attempts are non shortly done to diminish the existent rate of debasement, the Florida coral reef is expected to vanish in less than 10-25 old ages ( The New York Times, 1994 ) . This unsustainability is acquiring every clip more seeable and tourers are detecting the environmental debasements and effects causes for quality of life. Subsequently, the touristry rankings ushers began to worsen, mentioning stretches of commercial ocular pollution along stretches of US 1 ( Klinger, 1999 ) . In the face of the dependance of the local economic system on touristry, some local occupants are already oppugning the perceptual experience of promoting touristry growing ( Lynch, 1999d ) . Besides that, the Florida Keys still leads the State in cost of life indices, particularly lodging indices, being Key West the 4th most expensive land and lodging market in the U.S. ( Clark, 2002 ) . This leads to a hard adversity for service sector employees ( Lynch et al. , 1999 ) and to a commercial shifting endeavor from locally owned stores and eating houses to national ironss ( Deford, 1999 ) . Park et Al ( 2002 ) put out that scientists and ecologists should stress the importance to set up nonmarket values of coral reefs which can be used as inputs in measuring the overall cost effectivity of coral reef direction and extenuation plans. The debasement of such environment and the menaces to the H2O quality in the Keys has been a menace to the economic system of the topographic point ( Kruczynski and McManus, 2002 ) . All Keys ‘ stakeholders ( commercial and recreational users of resources, conservationists, scientists, resource directors, occupants and visitants ) agree that the diminution in H2O quality is endangering of import resources. Causey ( 2002 ) believes that the grounds of that diminution could be: the deficiency of fresh H2O come ining the Florida Bay ; foods from domestic effluent via shallow-well ; stormwater overflow incorporating heavy metals, fertilisers, insect powders, and other contaminations ; pollution from marinas and live-aboard vass ; hapless flushing of canals and embayments ; accretion of dead seagrasses and algae along the shoreline ; deposit ; and environmental alterations associated with planetary clime alteration and lifting sea-level. Bing the most obvious causes of decline non-point-source discharges and habitat debasement, the development and overexploitation, and alterations in reef fish populations because of over-fishing ( Keller and Causey, 2005 ) . The touristry activities call for a direction due to the impacts caused by it, with schemes that consider disproportional usage to efficaciously protect the part ‘s environmental resources, sing limited-entry system for honkytonk operators ( Shivlani & A ; Suman, 2000 ) and other users. The direction every bit good should hold the engagement of all stakeholders. There are a batch of struggles between stakeholders, as the Plan for the FKMNS create zones, which in some of them piscaries are non allowed but plunging and snorkeling are, when those last two can besides be impacting to the environmental if the frogmans are non cognizant of saving of the coral reefs, if their boats slop oil and throw rubbish into the ocean. It is a conflicting state of affairs, as there is zones merely for scuba diving and snorkeling with berthing buoys ( forestalling grounding on the reefs ) , but those zones do non hold a bound figure of frogmans that could be in it neither a environmental instructi on with frogmans to do them cognizant of the impacts they may do ( touching the corals, interrupting it, resuspending deposits, etc ) and enforcement to see if the Scuba Diving Operators and Boating activities are esteeming it. In relation to those zones, the major struggles are among fishers and scuba dive operation, as fishers felt extremely alienated from the procedure of zone appellation and displayed a sense of impotence with regard to what they considered to be an effort to except their group from the crop refugia ( Suman et al, 1999 ) . The piscaries in the Keys are divided into commercial, recreational and charter fishing. Most of the commercial piscaries ‘catch is harvest outside the boundaries of the FKNMS ( Milon et al, 1997 ) .GoalThe chief end of this paper is to compare frogmans ‘ perceptual experiences of direction schemes and ordinances in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary presents with their perceptual experiences when the FKNMS was implemented ( comparing the consequences obtained here with the consequences obtained by Suman & A ; Shivlani ( 1998 ) that had interviewed the Diving Operations when the Sanctuary was foremost implemented ) . And besides, through the interv iews, detect how the FKNMS does socioeconomic impact the diving industry in the Florida Keys.MethodologyA graded random sample of the Dive and Snorkel Operators was selected from a list of all known operators/owner in the Florida Keys. After that, a missive was sent to each Dive and Snorkel Operator selected in the sample, informing them about the research that would be realized, and the types of information that would be collected. The missive explained that a research worker would be acquiring in contact with them to set up clip and topographic point for an interview. The interview was based on a study that would inquire societal economic inquiries and besides, information about their cognition, attitudes and perceptual experiences of direction schemes and ordinances in the FKNMS ( The study ‘s inquiries analyzed on this paper are attached in Appendix 1 ) . From all the Dive and Snorkel Operators interviewed until now, there are 60 Operators interviewed, being 32 Operator from the Upper Keys, 9 from the Middle Keys and 19 from the Lower Keys. The end of the survey is to make 70 studies. The present paper will analyse the honkytonk operators ‘ cognition, attitudes and perceptual experiences of direction schemes and ordinances in the FKNMS and its impacts on their economic system. All the inquiries analyzed in this paper about the FKNMS Management have five types of reply: 1 -Strongly agree ; 2 – Reasonably agree ; 3 – Neutral ; 4 – Reasonably disagree ; and 5 – Strongly disagree. And all the societal inquiries about the frogmans profile have options to do the study easier and faster, and besides to ease the information analyzes. The information obtained through the interviews ( studies ) was statistically analyzed through the Excell and the StatMost plan.ConsequencesEconomic InformationAnalyzing the information obtained, it was possible to observe thatTable 1: Divers ‘ Operators Economic Information2004 Average costSuman & A ; Shivlani ( 1998 ) norm cost2004 Sum costSuman & A ; Shivlani ( 1998 ) sum costVessel value35.2431,03 167.792,00 20.441.000,00 11.655.000,00Dive cogwheel value55.675,44 16.885,00 3.173.500,00 1.981.800,00Compressor value31.808,82 1.081.500,00Docking fees15.845,88 6.918,00 538.760,00 283.222,00Interest payments on vas8.916,67 107.000,00Insurance9.582,54 527.040,00Vessel care2.3162,26 12.372,00 1.227.600,00 581.500,00Equipament care3.891,89 2.365,00 144.000,00 176.000,00Rent/costs25.313,04 582.200,00Ad10.363,04 476.700,00Table 2: Trip Expenses from the Divers ‘ OperatorsUpper KeysMiddle KeysLower KeysTrip ExpensesAverage Entire Average Entire Average EntireGas51,8 1451 52,9 528,9 83,8 1424Supplies16,8 420,5 14,1 113 37,9 607Crew98 1470 202,9 1420 161,4 1775Entire $ $ Upper3341,5Entire $ $ Middle2061,9Entire $ $ Lower3806Entire $ $ all Keys = 9209,4Table 3: Number of trips and norm of frogman and snorkeler per trip.Upper KeysMiddle KeysLower KeysNumber of trips Divers/ trip Snorkel./ trip Number of trips Divers/ trip Snorkel./ trip Number of trips Divers/ trip Snorkel./ trip Average 423.6 10.5 8.3 304.4 6.7 8.1 339.8 11.2 9.5Entire13139565437Figure 2: Honkytonk Operators ‘ household income derived from the diving industry.FKNMS Management InformationAll inquiries have options of replies and most of them have the option 1-5, discussed above. However the analyzes were done based on the amount of the inquiries which mean an understanding ( reply 1 plus answer 2 ) or a dissension ( reply 4 plus 5 ) with the inquiry. As good were analyzed replies in which the fishermen were impersonal to the inquiry ( answer 3 ) and besides replies which the fishermen would state â€Å" I do non cognize † for the inquiries made.Figure 3: Honkytonk Operators ‘ replies about FKNMS regulations and ordinances.Figure 4: Honkytonk Operators ‘ replies about FKNMS.Figure 5: Honkytonk Operators ‘ replies about FKNMS.Figure 6: Honkytonk Operators ‘ replies about resources quality.Figure 7: Is the FKNMS responsible for the resources quality?Figure 8: Honkytonk Operators ‘ replies about the c hief intent of the FKNMS zones.Figure 9: Who is the most benefited group from the FKNMS zones?Discussion and DecisionComparing the consequences obtained in this survey with the survey developed by Milon et Al ( 1197 ) , it was possible to observe that even 10 old ages after the execution of the Sanctuary, the fishers still feel the same manner they did ten old ages ago. It is notably the struggles between commercial fishers with recreational fishers and leghorns. And besides, the struggles between recreational and commercial frogmans with the commercial fishers. The SPAs ( Sanctuary Preservation Areas ) that had as chief end the decrease of user struggles have failed to accomplish that. Actually, the struggle seems to hold even increased, as the commercial fishers feel that the regulations and ordinances for the Sanctuary developed by NOAA, were unjust to them. Even though the chief end of the zones is non to increase piscaries, the surveies done by Cox & A ; Gregory ( hypertext transfer protocol: //monroe.ifas.ufl.edu/lobster_conference.htm ) showed that some of the zones are excessively little to wholly protect lobsters from crop. So, with the present size that the zones have, even though the chief end is of the Sanctuary may non be increasing the stocks, how worth is it to maintain them with that size, if it will non be efficient to refill the stocks and has lead to so much users struggles? I am non proposing that those countries should be re-open or neither stating that they should be increased ( to be able to back up the refilling of some species ) , because this would increase even more the users struggles. However, I do believe that if they are to protect and conserve the reefs and its habitant species, nil besides research should be allowed in at that place. If fishers can non travel in it, frogmans should non be allowed. Besides, i f there are zones that merely the frogmans can travel, there should be zones that merely fishermen could travel. That manner it could be scientific compared which countries would be more wedged and every bit good, those could be â€Å" sacrificed † countries. NOAA could besides make rotary motion through the zones through the old ages, still go forthing some closed zones for everyone. When NOAA developed the regulations and ordinances for the Sanctuary they were unjust to the fishers because they closed the countries for their usage, but left it unfastened to the frogmans. If the SCUBA diving activity does non work with environmental instruction, intending non merely verbal instruction, but besides practical instruction ( teachers and dive Masterss plunging with the frogmans, commanding their floatability and learning them to non step on the corals ( treading ) or touching anything ) the activity can be really wedged to the environment, chiefly in countries sensitive such as coral reefs. In the Sanctuary, this â€Å" practical † environmental instruction does non go on and the frogmans can make whatever they want under wateraˆÂ ¦ This is an issue that NOAA shall develop in the Sanctuary. The touristry industry has besides be a job to the fishers, due to the addition of the monetary values in the Keys. It is much more expensive to populate in Keys today than it used to be ten old ages ago. When I talked to some fishers that left the piscaries in the Keys, most of them seemed to hold left it because of the extremely cost of life in the Keys combined with their economic loss in the piscaries ( with the last hurricanes a batch of them lost a batch of traps an could non return to the piscaries or had to get down fishing for person else ) . Some of the fishers would besides correlate the touristry growing with the lessening in H2O quality. Even tough most of them feel that the Sanctuary was non the most responsible for the existent conditions of the resources ; they would besides notice that NOAA should be more concern and turn to the issue of H2O quality. The other issue, besides addressed by the commercial fishermen is the deficiency of enforcement to the recreational fishers and leghorns. Most of those users, harmonizing to the fishers, transgress the regulations most of the clip and stop up non being caught by the governments. Harmonizing to the interviewed fishers, a batch of them truly do non cognize about the regulations and ordinances, and some of them merely pretend that they do non cognize. In both instances, when it happens that they are caught, they are most of clip non penalized as the authorization believes that they did cognize about the regulations and ordinances. This being truth or non, once more, NOAA has the duty to turn to that issue, informing the recreational users about the Torahs, for illustration, giving them explicative booklets about the zones, and so, if they are in the countries where they should non be or if they are transgressing any piscary ordinance, they should be punished. The commercial fishers besides feel that there is a deficiency of information about the regulations and ordinances for themselves every bit good. They said that it is invariably altering and if they are non informed and they do something incorrect, they are punished anyhow. In that instance, NOAA could direct enlightening newssheets updating them about the piscaries regulations and ordinances and this newssheet should be written in English and Spanish, as a high per centum of the Hispanic fishermen do non talk in English. With all this regulations and ordinances that have been input through those old ages, I believe that has been a loss in the societal cultural individuality of the fishermen. The civilization of the Keys Fishermen, the individuality of being a Fisherman is acquiring lost. Now there is all those divisions ( because of certifications ) which they have to option what sort of fishermen will they beaˆÂ ¦ They need to make up one's mind whether they want to catch grouper and center or lobsters or rock pediculosis pubis or pelagic and so onaˆÂ ¦ This may non look to be a job for some directors but merely a consequence of piscaries direction. In my sentiment it is an of import issue, because in somehow they are fring their individualities as fishermen, but it is a job that it is really difficult to turn to, if attempts should every clip more be decreased. As a decision of the present research developed, it was noted that most of the commercial lobster fishers interviewed seemed to be excluded from the determinations ( in any procedure of the Sanctuary ) and experience powerless against the system. That is a large issue as in the dimension that the Keys are right now it is difficult to propose a direction based more on the local community or a co-management based. However, in some manner, the fishermen need to be more participative on the procedure to develop regulations and ordinance. My chief suggestion still would be the closing of the bing zones for everyone and the resettlement of some to specific diving activities, others for commercial piscary and other for recreational piscaries.

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 15

Sometimes you wake up from a dream. And sometimes, every once in a while, you wake up in a dream. That's what happened to me. I opened my eyes, head throbbing, vaguely aware of something warm and fuzzy in my arms. Bright sunlight made me squint at first, but when I could finally focus, I realized I was looking straight into the faces of Cady and O'Neill. I shot upright, a motion my head did not approve of at all. Surely I was mistaken. Surely, no†¦ there they were. Before me, next to the bed I sat in, was a large oak desk surrounded by bulletin boards and white boards. Pinned to the bulletin boards were magazine cutouts, faces and faces of people who reflected every nuance of the characters described in Seth's books. One section was even labeled NINAcady, displaying at least twenty different cutouts of slim blondes with cropped, curly hair, while another section – marked BRYANT O'NEILL – displayed brooding, thirty-something men with dark hair. Some of the cutouts were from major ads I recognized, though I'd never before connected the resemblance to Seth's characters. Other minor characters from the books also had places on the display, though less noticeably so than the leads. Scrawls of notes and words filled the white boards, most done in a bizarre shorthand type of flow chart that made no sense to me. Working Title: Azure Hopes – fix later; Add Jonah Chap. 7; Clean up 3-5; C&O in Tampa or Naples? Check stats; Don Markosin 8†¦On and on the scrawls went. I stared and stared at them, realizing I was seeing the skeleton foundation of Seth's next novel. Part of me whispered I should look away, that I was ruining something, but the rest of me was too fascinated at glimpsing the way a novel and its world came to life. Finally, the smell of frying bacon made me turn from Seth's desk, forcing me to piece together how I'd arrived here. I cringed, recalling what an idiot I'd been around Doug, Roman, and even Seth, but my hunger won out in temporarily allaying my remorse. It seemed odd that I should feel hungry after what I'd put my stomach through last night, but like Hugh's beating, I could bounce back quickly. Disentangling myself from the covers and the teddy bear I'd unknowingly been holding, I made my way to the bathroom to rinse my mouth and study my appearance: wild-haired and downright adolescent looking in the T-shirt. I didn't want to waste the energy to shape-shift, however, and trotted out of the bathroom, following the sounds of sizzling against a background of â€Å"Radar Love† by Golden Earring. Seth stood in a modern, well-lit kitchen, tending a skillet on a stove. The color scheme was bright and cheery, maple wood cupboards and beams accented with cornflower blue paint on the walls. Seeing me, he turned down the music and gave me a solicitous look. His shirt today displayed Tom and Jerry. â€Å"Good morning. How are you feeling?† â€Å"Surprisingly well.† I made my way to a small, two-person table and sat down, tugging the shirt to cover my thighs. â€Å"My head seems to be the only casualty thus far.† â€Å"You want something for it?† â€Å"No. It'll clear up.† I hesitated, detecting something through the smell of salty, greasy meat. â€Å"Is that†¦ coffee?† â€Å"Yup. Want some?† â€Å"Regular?† â€Å"Yup.† He walked over to a pot, poured a mug of steaming coffee, and brought it to me, along with a cute sugar and creamer set. â€Å"I thought you didn't drink this stuff.† â€Å"I don't. I just keep it on hand in case caffeine-crazed women wake up in my bed.† â€Å"That happen a lot?† Seth smiled mysteriously and returned to the stove. â€Å"Are you hungry?† â€Å"Famished.† â€Å"How do you like your eggs?† â€Å"Over hard.† â€Å"Nice choice. You want bacon too? You're not a vegetarian or anything?† â€Å"I'm an honest carnivore. I want the works†¦ if that's not asking too much.† I felt kind of sheepish about him waiting on me, considering everything else he'd already done. He didn't appear to mind. The works turned out to be more than I'd imagined: eggs, bacon, toast, two kinds of jam, coffee cake, and orange juice. I ate it all, thinking about how jealous Peter would be, still confined to his low- carbdiet. â€Å"I'm in a food coma,† I told Seth afterward, helping with the dishes. â€Å"I'll need to go back to bed and sleep it off. Do you eat like this every day?† â€Å"Nah. Just when aforementioned women are hanging out. It ensures they don't leave too quickly.† â€Å"Not a problem, considering this is all I have to wear.† â€Å"Not true,† he told me, pointing toward his living room. Looking up, I saw my dress – clean – hanging on a hanger. The sheer, bikini-cut panties I'd worn under it had been looped around the hanger's head. â€Å"It said dry-clean, but I took a chance on putting it on extra-gentle cycle in the wash. It came out okay. So did the, uh, other thing.† â€Å"Thanks,† I replied, unsure as to how I felt about him washing my underwear. â€Å"Thanks for everything. I really appreciate what you did for me last night – you must think I'm a total freak – â€Å" He shrugged. â€Å"It's no problem. But† – he glanced at a nearby clock – â€Å"I may need to run out on you soon. Remember that one party? It starts at noon. You can still hang out here.† I turned to the same clock. Eleven forty-seven. â€Å"Noon! Why didn't you wake me up sooner? You'll be late!† He shrugged again, infinitely unconcerned. â€Å"I figured you needed the sleep.† Setting down the towel I'd been holding, I darted to the living room and grabbed my dress. â€Å"I'll call a cab. You go. Don't worry about me.† â€Å"Seriously, it's no problem,† he argued. â€Å"I can give you a ride home even, or†¦ well, if you wanted, you could come with me.† We both froze awkwardly. I didn't really feel up to going to some strange party. What I needed to do was get home and do damage control with Roman and Doug. Yet†¦ Seth had been terribly nice to me, and he had wanted me to go to this thing before. Didn't I owe him? Surely I could do this for him. An afternoon party probably wouldn't even last that long. â€Å"Would we need to pick up anything?† I asked at last. â€Å"Wine? Brie?† He shook his head. â€Å"Probably not. It's for my eight-year-old niece.† â€Å"Oh. So no wine then?† â€Å"Yeah. And I think she's more into Gouda anyway.† I looked at the dress. â€Å"I'll be overdressed. You got anything I can put on over this?† Seven minutes later, I sat in Seth's car, driving toward Lake Forest Park. I had the georgette dress back on, along with a man's plaid flannel shirt in shades of white, gray, and navy. The shirt was open save for a couple buttons. I had French-braided my hair in lieu of shape-shifting it into place and now frantically applied cosmetics from my purse as I rode. I suspected I had a sort of Ginger-Rogers-Joins-Nirvana look going. We arrived at the suburban house I'd dropped Seth off at a few weeks ago. Pink balloons fluttered from the mailbox, and a mother in jeans and a sweatshirt waved goodbye as a small girl disappeared into the house. Said mother then returned to the massive, soccer team-carrying vehicle running in the driveway. â€Å"Whoa,† I said, taking it all in. â€Å"I've never been to anything like this before.† â€Å"You must have when you were little,† Seth amended, parking across the street. â€Å"Well, yeah,† I lied. â€Å"But it's a different experience at this age.† We approached the front door, and he entered without knocking. Immediately, four small, blond female forms slammed into him, grappling onto his limbs, nearly knocking him over. â€Å"Uncle Seth! Uncle Seth!† â€Å"Uncle Seth's here!† â€Å"Is that for me? Is that for me?† â€Å"Desist, before I have to break out the tear gas,† Seth told them mildly, unclasping one who threatened to rip his left arm off. One of them, all blond curls and giant blue eyes like the others, caught sight of me. â€Å"Hi,† she said boldly, â€Å"who are you?† Before I could answer, she tore out of the foyer, yelling, â€Å"Uncle Seth brought a girl!† Seth made a face. â€Å"That's Morgan. She's six.† He pointed to a clone of her. â€Å"This is McKenna, her twin. Over here's Kayla, four. This one† – he paused to lift up the tallest of the four, a motion that made her cackle gleefully – â€Å"is Kendall, the birthday girl. And I imagine Brandy's here somewhere, but she's too civilized to assault me like the rest.† A living room extended beyond the foyer, and another blond girl, a few years older than Kendall, watched us over the back of a couch. Other assorted children – the party guests, I presumed – ran and screamed beyond her. â€Å"I'm here, Uncle Seth.† Seth set Kendall down and tousled Brandy's hair, much to her chagrin. She wore the affronted dignity only one on the edge of adolescence could have. Morgan returned shortly thereafter with a tall, blond woman in tow. â€Å"See? See?† exclaimed the little girl. â€Å"I told you.† â€Å"Do you always create such a scene?† the woman asked, giving Seth a quick hug. She looked happy but exhausted. I could understand why. â€Å"I should be so lucky. My fans aren't half this ravenous. Andrea, this is Georgina. Georgina, Andrea.† I shook her hand as a slightly shorter, younger version of Seth entered the room. â€Å"And that's my brother, Terry.† â€Å"Welcome to our chaos, Georgina,† Terry told me after I'd been introduced. He glanced at all of the children, his own and others, running around the house. â€Å"I'm not sure I fully understand Seth's wisdom in bringing you here. You'll never come back.† â€Å"Hey,† exclaimed Kendall to me, â€Å"isn't that the shirt we got Uncle Seth for Christmas?† An awkward silence fell among us adults as we all tried to look somewhere else. Finally, Andrea cleared her throat and said, â€Å"All right, guys, let's fall into line and get some games going.† I had expected a child's birthday party to be wild, but what proceeded to pass that afternoon surpassed even my imaginings. Equally impressive was the way in which Seth's brother and sister-in-law managed to control the herd of screaming, jumping creatures that somehow seemed to be everywhere in the house at once. Terry and Andrea handled them all with efficient good nature while Seth and I did little more than watch, occasionally fielding random questions tossed our way. The entire experience stunned me as a bystander; I could hardly imagine coping with it on a regular basis. It was fascinating. At one point, catching his breath, Terry saw me alone and struck up a conversation. â€Å"I'm glad you could come,† he said. â€Å"I didn't know Seth was seeing anyone.† â€Å"We're just friends,† I clarified. â€Å"Still. It's nice to see him with someone flesh and blood. Someone he didn't make up.† â€Å"Is it true he nearly missed your wedding?† Terry grimaced by way of confirmation. â€Å"My best man, if you can believe that. Showing up two minutes before the ceremony began. We were on the verge of starting without him.† I could only laugh. He shook his head. â€Å"If you continue hanging out with him, make sure you keep him in line. My brother may be brilliant, but by God, he needs a keeper sometimes.† After party games came cake, and after cake came presents. Kendall lifted Seth's up expertly and shook it. â€Å"Books,† she declared. Brandy, older and therefore quietest of the group, glanced at me and explained, â€Å"Uncle Seth always gets us books.† This did not seem to faze Kendall any. She tore open the package and crowed delightedly over three books of pirate stories contained within. â€Å"Pirates, huh?† I asked Seth. â€Å"Is that politically correct?† His eyes danced. â€Å"She wants to be one.† As the party wound down and guests were retrieved by parents, Kendall beseeched Seth to read stories, and I followed him, the nieces, and other stragglers into the living room while the girls' parents attempted to clean up in the kitchen. Seth read in the same compelling way he had at his signing, and I curled up in an armchair, content to just listen and watch. I was therefore startled when Kayla's small form scrambled up and sat on my lap. Youngest of the girls, she could shriek with the best but tended to speak very little. She studied me with her globes of eyes, touched my French braid with interest, and then snuggled into me to listen to Seth. I wondered if she understood any of what he was saying. Regardless, she was soft and warm and smelled like little girl. Unconsciously, I ran my fingers through the fine, corn silk strands of hair and soon began weaving it into a braid similar to mine. When Seth finished a story, McKenna noticed what I was doing. â€Å"Me next.† â€Å"No, me,† ordered Kendall eagerly. â€Å"It's my birthday.† I ended up braiding for all four of the younger girls. Brandy shyly demurred. Not wanting four copies of me, I elected other styles for the girls, herringbones and plaits that delighted them. Seth continued to read, occasionally glancing up at me and my handiwork. By the time we were ready to leave, I felt drained physically and emotionally. Children always made me feel a little wistful; being in close contact like this made me downright sad in a way I couldn't explain. Seth said goodbye to his brother while I lingered near the door. As I did, I noticed a small bookcase beside me. Studying the titles, I picked out Burberry's New Annotated Bible: Old and New Testaments. Remembering what Roman had said about the King James Version being a bad translation, I opened this one up to Genesis 6. The wording was nearly identical, a little cleaner and more modern sounding here and there, but mostly unchanged. With one exception. In verse 4, the King James Version had read: â€Å"There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This version, however, said: â€Å"The Nephilim were on the earth in those days and also afterwards, when the sons of God went to the daughters of men†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Nephilim? A superscript number appeared by the word, and I followed it to the appropriate footnote. The word † nephilim† is sometimes translated as â€Å"giants † or â€Å"fallen ones.† Sources vary in accounts of these angelic offspring, citing them sometimes simply as neighbors to the Canaanites and other times as Titan-like creatures reminiscent of Greek heroes (Harrington, 2001). Frustrated, I looked up the Harrington reference in the book's bibliography, finding it linked to Biblical Arcanaand Myth by Robert Harrington. I memorized the title and author, slipping the Bible back into its place just as Seth turned to go. We drove in silence, the sky graying early as Seattle's winter loomed nearer. I might normally have interpreted the quiet in the car as awkward or weird, but I found it comfortable as my mind pondered the nephilim reference. I needed to get a hold of the Harrington book, I decided. â€Å"They didn't have ice cream,† Seth suddenly noted, interrupting my thoughts. â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"Terry and Andrea. They had cake with no ice cream. You want to get some ice cream?† â€Å"Not enough sugar for you already?† â€Å"They just go together, that's all.† â€Å"It's only about fifty out,† I warned as he pulled up next to an ice cream parlor. Ice cream in inclement weather seemed odd to me. â€Å"And it's windy.† â€Å"Are you kidding? In Chicago, a place like this wouldn't even be open this time of year. This is balmy.† We went inside. Seth ordered a double cone of mint chocolate chip. I ordered a more adventurous double of blueberry cheesecake and mocha almond swirl. Sitting at a table by the windows, we ate our sugary confections in more silence. Finally, he said, â€Å"You're quiet today.† I turned on him in wonder, pausing in my mental dissection of nephilim. â€Å"That's a switch.† â€Å"What is?† â€Å"Usually I think you're too quiet. I have to talk and talk to keep things going.† â€Å"I've noticed. Er, I didn't mean that like it came out. That sounded bad. You talking is a good thing. You always know what to say. Exactly the right thing at exactly the right time.† â€Å"Not last night. I said horrible things last night. To Doug and Roman both. They'll never forgive me,† I lamented. â€Å"Sure they will. Doug's a good guy. I don't really know Roman, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"But what?† Seth suddenly looked embarrassed. â€Å"I imagine you're easy to forgive.† We looked at each other for a moment, and warmth flushed my cheeks. Not blood boiling, get naked and jump someone warm, but just cozily warm. Like being wrapped in a blanket. â€Å"That looks terrible, you know.† â€Å"What does?† He pointed at my cone. â€Å"That combination.† â€Å"Hey, don't knock it until you try it. They actually go pretty well together.† He looked doubtful. I slid my chair over by him and offered him a bite. â€Å"Make sure you get both flavors.† He leaned in for the bite and managed both the blueberry cheesecake and mocha almond swirl. Unfortunately, a piece of the blueberry cheesecake scoop fell off onto his chin in the process. I instinctively reached out to stop it, sliding it back to his mouth. He just as automatically nabbed the wayward piece with his tongue, licking it off my fingers. A blast of eroticism coursed through me, and looking into his eyes, I knew he'd shared it too. â€Å"Here,† I said hastily, reaching for a napkin, ignoring the desire to return my fingers to his mouth. Seth wiped his chin with it, but for once, he didn't let his self-consciousness get the better of him. He stayed where he was, leaning close to me. â€Å"You smell amazing. Like†¦ gardenias.† â€Å"Tuberose,† I corrected automatically, dazed by how close he was to me. â€Å"Tuberose,† he repeated. â€Å"And incense, I think. I've never smelled anything like it.† He leaned a hair closer. â€Å"It's Michael by Michael Kors. You can get it at any high-end department store.† I nearly groaned as the words left my flustered lips. What an idiotic thing to say. My nervousness made me flippant. â€Å"Maybe Cady could start wearing it.† Seth was all seriousness. â€Å"No. This is you. Only you. It would never smell exactly the same on anyone else.† I shivered. I wore this perfume because it was reminiscent of what other immortals sensed in my unique signature, my aura. This is you. With just a few casual words, I felt as though Seth had uncovered some secret part of me, looked into my soul. We sat there then, chemistry burning between us like crazy, neither of us acting. I knew he would not try to kiss me as Roman had. Seth was content simply to look at me, to make love to me with his eyes. Suddenly the wind caught the door to the tiny restaurant, forcing it open as a huge gust swept in. Wisps of hair blew into my face, and I slammed my hands down on the napkins that flew up from our table. Other items in the parlor had less success as more napkins and scraps of paper drifted around, and a cup of plastic spoons fell off the counter, spilling its contents on the floor. The clerk behind the counter ran to the door, fighting against the wind to make the latch catch. When he'd finally done so, he glared at the door resentfully. With the moment – whatever it was – shattered, Seth and I picked up our things and left shortly thereafter. I asked him to drop me off at the bookstore. I hoped Doug would be there to apologize to, plus I wanted to get ahold of that Harrington book. â€Å"You want to come in and hang out? Say hi to anybody?† I somehow felt reluctant to leave Seth now, in spite of all the things I needed to do. He shook his head. â€Å"Sorry. I've got to go. I'm meeting someone.† â€Å"Oh.† I felt kind of foolish. He could have a date now for all I knew. And why shouldn't he? It wasn't like I was his only social connection, especially after my no-dating spiel. I was foolish to be reading so much into the ice cream encounter, especially since I was supposedly crazy about Roman. â€Å"Well. Thanks again for everything. I'll make it up to you.† He waved his hand dismissively. â€Å"It wasn't anything. Besides, you paid me back by going to the party.† Now I shook my head. â€Å"I didn't really do anything there.† Seth only smiled. â€Å"See you around.† I stepped out of the car and suddenly stuck my head back in. â€Å"Hey, I should have asked you this earlier. Do you have my book signed yet? The Glasgow Pact ? â€Å" â€Å"Oh†¦ man. No. I can't believe I forgot about that. It's still at my place. I'll sign it and bring it soon. I'm sorry.† He looked sincerely contrite. â€Å"Okay. It's no problem.† I should have ransacked his condo for it. We said goodbye again, and I turned into the bookstore. If I remembered my schedule right, Paige should have opened and Doug should be here now as the late manager. Sure enough, he stood at the information desk, looking on while Tammi helped a customer. â€Å"Hey,† I said, walking up to him, uneasiness filling me as I recalled my harsh words. â€Å"Can I talk to you for a minute?† â€Å"No.† Whoa. I'd expected him to be upset†¦ but this? â€Å"You need to call your friend first.† â€Å"I – what?† â€Å"That one guy,† Doug explained. â€Å"That plastic surgeon that hangs out with you and Cody.† â€Å"Hugh?† â€Å"Yeah, that's the one. He's called, like, a hundred times, leaving messages. He's been worried about you.† His expression turned both soft and wry as he took in my dress and flannel ensemble. â€Å"So have I.† I frowned, wondering at Hugh's urgency. â€Å"Okay. I'll call him now. Come talk to me later?† Doug nodded, and I started to pull out my cell phone until I remembered I'd broken it last night. Retreating to the back office instead, I sat on the desk's edge and called Hugh. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"Hugh?† â€Å"Jesus Christ, Georgina. Where the hell have you been?† â€Å"I, er, nowhere†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"We've been trying to get ahold of you all last night and today.† â€Å"I wasn't at home,† I explained. â€Å"And my cell phone broke. Why? What's going on? Tell me there hasn't been another one.† â€Å"Afraid so. Another murder this time, no more friendly beatings. When we couldn't reach you, the vampires and I thought he'd got you too, even though Jerome said he could feel that you were fine.† I swallowed. â€Å"Who†¦ who was it?† â€Å"Are you sitting down?† â€Å"Sort of.† I braced myself, ready for anything. Demon. Imp. Vampire. Succubus. â€Å"Lucinda.† I blinked. â€Å"What?† All my theories of an avenger of evil shattered. â€Å"But that's impossible. She's – she's – â€Å" † – an angel,† Hugh finished for me.