Final Reflection

The most important lesson I feel I have learned from this course was in Week 1, when we discussed the value of keeping an open mind and viewing all aspects of a problem or situation from multiple perspectives versus limiting myself to my own perspective. Being able to apply what I have learned about creating strong arguments will make me more confident in writing research and persuasive papers for college.It will also undoubtedly assist me in any future career. I will be more able to confidently defend or argue my points of views and opinions in an unbiased way. This will, in turn, make me an overall better communicator. From the beginning of this course I have applied what I learned to the way I approached life in general and it has allowed me to better understand other people.Since Week 1, I have tried to implement what I learned from the â€Å"This Is Water† video ND I am happy to say it has already started to change my life for the better. Although I have always known it w as best to view life In this way, PHI 103 has pushed me to be more aware of my thought processes. There Is a huge different between knowing or understanding something and putting it to practice. My goals are to keep increasing my awareness of other perspectives and to continue being objective upon approaching any argument.

Athenian democracy similar to American democracy Essay

Our country was called a democracy when we still had millions of slaves. Our nation today is called a democracy when millions of citizens never exercise their right to vote, a few hundred party leaders select our national political candidates, and only those who have million-dollar treasuries can run for political office with a reasonable chance of winning. Latin American military dictatorships are called democracies. South Vietnam with a single candidate for president during the Vietnam War was called a democracy. The word democracy comes from two Greek words: a noun, demos which means †people† and a verb, kratein, which means †to rule,† Its basic meaning is †government by the people† or â€Å"rule by the ruled.† Ideas were expressed directly through the Assembly, which consisted of all male citizens over 18 years of age and who were willing to attend the sessions held about every 10 days. There was no system of representation calling for long campaigns and expensive elections. If you lived in the country you had to get up at the crack of dawn in order to get to the meeting place of the Assembly, a rocky hillside within the city gates. The police chased all the loafers off the Angora, a kind of public park, in order to encourage good attendance. Anyone who had powerful enough lungs to make himself heard by 6000 or more voters could speak to the Assembly. Of course, if you were a well-known and respected leader your chances of being listened to were greater. Whatever this Assembly decided by vote was the law of the land. Athens, both the city and its surrounding countryside was divided into 10 electoral districts called †tribes.† These districts were further divided into precincts or †demes† which had some limited self-government in the rural areas. Each precinct named candidates over 30 years of age for the Council of 500. From these candidates 50 were chosen by lot for each tribe to serve as members of the Council of 500 for a year’ The final choice by lot was one of the most democratic devices imaginable and reduced the danger of political skullduggery. There was no danger that the Council could turn into a private preserve for the wealthy or influential as modern government bodies have a tendency to do, because members served only one year: no man  could be a member two years in a row; and no one could serve more than twice in his lifetime. Just imagine what our legislatures and Congress would be like if we had rules like that.

Critical Response Paper to Mike Rose’s I Just Wanna Be Average Essay

In his essay â€Å"I Just Wanna Be Average,† Mike Rose details his school life in South L. A. Now a professor of Education and Information Studies at UCLA, Rose moves through secondary school at Our Lady of Mercy on the Voc. Ed. Track, revealing why the standardized versions of this â€Å"educational system† betray the core values behind liberal, humanistic education as we understand it. As Rose wants to stress the value of all individuals, the discrepancies between their actual intellectual capacities and how the system classified and treated them, he paints his fellow students in Vocational Education in great detail. His title comes from Ken Harvey, who, among the many colorful characters and lively Americans Rose met, dropped the defining one-liner of his entire Voc. Ed. Experience: We were talking about the parable of the talents, about achievement, working hard, doing the best you can do, blah-blah-blah, when the teacher called on the restive Ken Harvey for an opinion. Ken thought about it, but just for a second, and said (with studied, minimal affect), â€Å"I just wanna be average. † That woke me up. Average? Who wants to be average? At the time, I thought Ken’s assertion was stupid, and I wrote him off. But his sentence has stayed with me all these years, and I think I am finally coming to understand it (Rereading America, 186). Rose goes on to attempt to clarify his understanding of this one-liner and how it fits in America’s education system. He reveals how Ken Harvey was trying to protect himself, â€Å"by taking on with a vengeance the identity implied in the vocational track† (187). Rose himself was lucky, switching to College Prep and meeting a belated beatnik intellectual-turned-educator named Jack MacFarland, and a hard-nosed science teacher named Brother Clint. These characters brought a college preparatory curriculum to a place and students who had never seen it before. And Rose reveals how classism and racism most often prevent that from happening, wasting entire American populations in entire communities deliberately, all while demanding higher â€Å"standards† and â€Å"accountability,† when the real efforts are never made, save in name and sprinkled across the land as media headlines. Rose’s essay reveals the multitude of challenges that students face, from struggles with family at ages that leave them ill-prepared to handle the emotional fall-out, to struggles with the emergence into a broader American world, to engaging in their own developing sexuality and its uncertain role in the context of their lives: work, and dreams, and the sense of possibilities of what life can or cannot be. I think Rose does a great job bringing this school in South Los Angeles to life. I can hear Ken Harvey, and see Jack MacFarland. When we hear him diagnose Ken’s problem, and his response to it, he’s very believable. He describes how kids get assigned to Voc. Ed. , being defined as â€Å"slow. † And he reveals the results: â€Å"You’ll have to shut down, have to reject intellectual stimuli or diffuse them with sarcasm, have to cultivate stupidity. † I wonder though, what he thinks the answers are. Is it smaller classes, or teachers that care? Obviously, Brother Clint and Jack MacFarland are teachers that care, and work hard to connect with every student. But not all teachers are like that, right?

International Business Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International Business Law - Assignment Example There are also the developing and developed countries with different interests and perspectives to global trade liberalization. There are various factors that are covered in the international business law. Such factors will be critically explored through examining Parts Ltd and its business transactions internationally. This paper will thus give an assessment of the contrasting perspectives and interests of Parts Ltd with respect to global trade liberalization. Various Ways Parts Ltd Could Transfer its Business into the Brazilian Market With reference to business regulations, there are various factors, which are put into consideration when it comes to transferring business from one point to the other. As a rule, such ways of transferring business internationally usually goes hand in hand with international business laws (Matthew, 2004, P. 18). That is been the case such ways forms a benchmark from where operating the business in the new environment is enhanced accordingly. Parts Ltd could enter into the Brazilian market through various ways. In that case, the firm can enter the Brazilian market through a joint enterprise with a host nation firm, and through exporting and licensing or permitting hosting country firms. What is more, the firm could enter into the Brazilian market through an entirely owned subordinate in the host nation to serve that market (Brooks, 2010, P. 36). Despite this different ways through which the firm can enter into the Brazilian market, it is worth to note that the disadvantages and advantages of each mode of entry is determined by various aspects accordingly. Such costs take account of the firm strategy, economic and political risks, trade barriers and transport costs. Explore the Various Trade Barriers, If Any, Which Could Affect Parts Ltd’s entry into the Brazilian Market From a description perception, trade barriers denotes to government-placed limitations on trade between countries. The most widespread forms of trade barrie rs take account of things such as tariffs, subsidies, quotas, embargoes, and duties. Such things will be critically analyzed in relation to how they are predicted to affect Parts Ltd, and conducting its business (Bernard & Schott, 2007, P. 106). The expression free trade denotes to the hypothetical removal of all trade barriers, permitting for entirely free and unregulated trade. If truth be told, however, no country completely embraces trade which is free. This is because countries utilize some variety of trade barriers for their own advantage. In any international business, trade barriers are always expected and so appropriate measures must be employed in order to combat their occurrences. From the history of the world, there has ever been the need of having the entire globe engaged in forms of trade which have the ability of increasing their performance and operations thus improving their development in terms of economy (Charles, 2009, P. 5). This had been suggested in form of a free and fair trade which was aimed at ensuring that all nations would engage in useful business and trade operations. However, there have been divergent views with the issue as majority of the people do argue that the present ‘free and fair trade’ operations have never in the least been fair. This is an implication that trade barriers are prone to happen whenever doing international business. Evidently through studies, tariffs, like nearly all trade barrier

Weeks v. united states Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Weeks v. united states - Coursework Example In the case of Weeks v. United States, Weeks’ property was searched by the state agents without a lawful warrant and some papers and other possessions were seized by the agents which led to the conclusion that the defendant was an illegal gambler. However, this constituted a violation of the Fourth Amendment because otherwise the evidence that was collected in this unlawful manner should not have been used in the federal criminal prosecution. By the 20th century however, the Court came to recognize the fact that the Fourth Amendment was of no use if this kind of a search and seizure practice was carried on without any warrant. This Amendment carries a certain amount of protection that is to be given to citizens and states that evidence produced in such an unlawful manner cannot be held against the defendant. Thus, the Court had finally decided the case to be in favour of Weeks and classifies a certain right of privacy to be provided to other citizens under the same category in order to abide by the guidelines set in the Fourth

Theory of Endosymbiosis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Theory of Endosymbiosis - Essay Example As they became more interdependent an obligatory symbiosis evolved." (Margulis, Live Chat, n.p.) The Theory of Endosymbiosis also states that eukaryotic undulipodia originated from spirochete bacteria. The term "undulipodia" is used to describe the eukaryotic motility organelles, flagella and cilia. Undulipodia are composed of microtubules in a specific configuration. Microtubules are comprised of several closely related proteins called tubulins. These structures are far larger and more complex than bacterial flagella, which are made of flagellin proteins. The Endosymbiosis Theory postulates that undulipodia may be derived from bacteria through motility symbioses. This idea is referred to as the exogenous hypothesis. The series of explanations that lead up to the detailed elaboration of the endobiotic origins of the flagellum and cilia point to several lines of circumstantial evidence. The argument emphasizes the biology of the organelles themselves, their distribution, and the occurrence of related and analogous structures. The Theory of Endosymbiosis significantly stimulated a variety of analytic approaches to the problem of organelle origins. Support for the endobiotic origin of mitochondria and chloroplast is very strong. Margulis included in her theory the proposition that the eukaryotic flagellum evolved from an endosymbiotic spirochete like prokaryote that became part of its eukaryotic protistan host. The major line of information in this regard has come from her studies of an unusual group of spirochetes that live on and in protists. These spiral bacteria depend for their locomotion on bundles of typical bacterial flagella, but some also have microtubules, which are not found in other prokaryotes but are ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells.(Avers, 124) There is a substantial amount of evidence within the theory itself to suggest that such a postulation of evolution of the eukaryotic cell is correct, with regard to the origins of mitochondria and chloroplasts. Much of this evidence is based on the differing features of the two types of cells, and similarities between mitochondria and chloroplasts and present day prokaryotes, the bacteria. The considerable substantiations, as elaborated above seem to indicate that the theory of serial endosymbiosis is correct. One such fact is that previously non-existing mitochondria or chloroplasts, if required to be freshly produced, cannot be synthesized in the body without the presence of an original organelle. The reason for this is that the nucleus inside the cell, which contains the genetic code for the rest of the cell, encoded onto DNA molecules, does not contain sufficient coding to account for all of the proteins present in the organelles. There are some proteins present in the organelles which are missing altogether in the DNA code of the nucleus and there are some which differ slightly from those present inside the nucleus. The "missing" DNA is accounted for by the loop of DNA present inside the organelle. This DNA is of the same form as is present in all prokaryotic cells. That is, the DNA is circular, and it lies free in the "cytoplasm" of the

Ancient Art Unit 2 DB Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ancient Art Unit 2 DB - Research Paper Example This statue was originally sculpted and cast to illustrate a treatise (now lost) written by Polykleitos called the Kanon. A piece of Roman art that is also quite impactive is the Colosseum (Knapp & Lehmberg, 2000). Set in ancient Rome, this art was a symbol of Roman dominance and rule. The two art pieces are quite similar in some various aspects. The similarity is found in context, blend and style, and is what makes them some unique pieces (Leonardo & Otinno, 1969). They are however also different in form. One is abstract while the other is representational. The Doryphoros is a two dimensional work of art that achieves a balance of straight and bent, tense and relaxed form that marks it as an ideal example of contrapposto piece (Ritcher, 1970). The Colosseum however is a three dimensional work of art, falls under the representational category and cannot be labeled as a contrapposto piece. In conclusion, the Doryphoros is symbolic to the Greek culture and represents proportionality and completeness in structure and design. The Colosseum was a symbol of Roman power and rule. Both pieces have historical significance as they signify an important period of time in both

The Value of ACH Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Value of ACH - Essay Example ACH allows analysts to disapprove a hypothesis rather than jumping into mere conclusions.1 ACH is an essential tool to all analysts. It is so because of the various strengths that it displays. Audit trial and overcoming cognitive biases are among the strengths of this tool. In audit trial, by listing of the evidence, weighing its importance and relevance illustrates the importance of ACH. Also by applying it to the available hypothesis in the matrix clearly illustrates the ACH analytic process and this creates a clear and apparent evidence trial. This helps us to explain all our findings to the decision makers and conduct some after- action reviews of our analysis to discover what went wrong or right. In overcoming the cognitive biases, ACH helps us face the alternative hypothesis in a more systematic way. Disapproving hypothesis offers more effective ways of avoiding the established roadblocks and showing how dependent analysts may be on a single piece of available evidence which may eventually lead to ongbad and weak decision making.2 However, it has some unavoidable weaknesses and limitations. ACH tends to be solely dependent on the validity of the evidence available and also it is sometimes time-consuming. On its dependence on the evidence validity, ACH analytic process is only as good as the type of evidence that is incorporated into the process. The most thoughtful process execution can sometimes be undermined in cases of disinformation and unreliable evidence. While this is an issue with all systematic strategies and is, subsequently, a feeble feedback of the strategy, it frequently calls into inquiry the apparently "investigative" after-effects of the ACH technique. Performing ACH manually tends to be arduous and long especially in cases of several hypothesis or a broad source of evidence. Analysts tend to argue that they lack enough time to

Behavioural Perspective of leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Behavioural Perspective of leadership - Essay Example A majority of such leadership theories have focused on the study of characteristics of the leaders and the manner in which they behave. The impact of leadership behavior on organizational performance has been studied extensively since the past four decades, by practitioners and academics alike (Cannella and Rowe, 1995; Giambatista, 2004). This is mainly because of the widespread belief, that the leadership behavior displayed by the leaders in organizations is regarded, by some researchers as crucial to achievement of organizational goals and in motivating the employees to enhance productivity (Berson et al., 2001; Zacharatos et al., 2000). The behavioral leadership theory evolved during the Second World War, focuses mainly on the human relationships along with, organizational performance and productivity. This theory proposed that the behavior of the leaders has a significant influence on organizational performance and the effectiveness of the workers. Two most important studies with regard to leadership behavior include the study conducted at Ohio State University and the University of Michigan during the 1940s and 1950s. These studies highlighted two distinct categories of leadership behavior based on their individual leadership styles namely: the people-oriented leadership behavior and the task-oriented leadership behavior (Leadership in Organizational Settings, Pp. 287). The former category / cluster focuses on the employee tasks and the methods used to achieve the same, while the latter, focuses on the personal needs and requirements of the employees / workers, and the need for enhancing their interpersonal relationships. The people centered leadership style emphasizes on the people by listening to the suggestions of the employees, grant them personal favors, support them whenever needed and treat them with equality while the task oriented

Leadership Position.Cross Cultural Decision Making Assignment

Leadership Position.Cross Cultural Decision Making - Assignment Example International business ethics is of high value, especially when team members originate from other countries. It is a spicy mixture, if team members originate from UK, Brazil, Egypt and Colombia.   A mixture of Eastern and Western culture is an effective conglomerate, but it may take time and effort to make this unity successful. A diverse world requires numerous opportunities and gives many chances for goals realization either by individuals or by the company. A leader is a mediator of relations between employees and organization. From his apt communication of goals depends future performance of the organization. A current task is challenged by international nature not only of its team members, but also by location of plants. The first plant is based in Ireland and the second plant is located in Honduras.   Raw materials come from different international companies. Manufacturing plants are located in different countries and it is very much important that cultural differences in c ommunication among employees of the plants should be properly considered by a leader. For example, lingual and cultural barriers can exist. To overcome them a wise leader should set correct goals and inspire team members of high performance by means of rewards. ... That is why it is very important for employee the way he is perceived by the leader and other members of his team. Therefore, to motivate employees from different countries, it is possible to take the following steps: to choose between need-based models of motivation and process-based models of motivation. In accordance with Hofstede (2003), the first type of model is based on social orientation, power orientation, uncertainty orientation, and goal orientation. This approach is relevant to representatives of uncertainty-avoiding cultures, when employees are focused on job stability and a personal security. It is better to implement reinforcement, which leads to positive outcomes and avoid punishment, which leads to negative outcomes (Trompenaars, 2004). To avoid misunderstanding, it is better for managers to develop his practices in compliance with a formal code of ethics of the organization. Ethical dilemmas can be dealt in interactive way, when members of organization have an oppor tunity of trainings visiting, which are mainly focused on ethical aspects of business (Alanazi & Rodrigues, 2003). Social responsibility is another integrative element of a successful international leadership. Basic human needs of employees, their rewards, promotion and support should be of high importance for the modern leaders. A modern process of decision making should be regulated by a leader with respect to the following facts: â€Å"a set of social relations  which includes consumption patterns, market regulations, ownership and control structures, labor conditions, government decision making, and the motivations and aspirations of the actors involved† (Thompson 1994, p. 4). Especially in the international context these factors play even

Personality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 8

Personality - Essay Example Analyzing individual’s personality necessitates evaluation of cognitive and behavioral aspects and entails collaboration of various disciplines such as psychodynamics, biology and humanities, evolution and sociology just to mention a few. The information from these fields are then analyzed in an empirical dimensional approach principled on various multivariate statistics and evaluation based on sociologically or psychologically modified framework such as factor analysis, theory development and other evaluation platforms (Furr, 13). Myers- Briggs framework also known as Myer- Briggs Type Indicator [MBTI] is an assessment questionnaire that seeks to understand the psychological preferences in how people make decisions, react to other non-decisive phenomenon and how they generally perceive their surroundings. The framework involves psychometric analysis with focus on human behavior and personality with emphasis on extraversion and introversion; inborn or acquired traits that influence individual’s experience and perceptions in terms of sensation, feeling, intuition and thinking aspects. These aspects are further grouped into conceptual approaches of rationality and irrationality with typing based on either extraversion for sensing, thinking and judgment or introversion for intuition, feeling and perception. The evaluation is based on four dichotomies of introversion and extraversion; sensing and intuition, thinking and feeling, judging and perception, in a bid to indicate one’s reference over the ot her. Psychologically, individuals are born with and/ or develop certain preferred ways of deciding and perceiving the environment or phenomenon in the society and with guidance of MBTI framework this paper will analyze the personality of Warren Buffet and evaluate how his personality has impacted on his daily activities and as a leader in the business arena. Warren Buffet can be described as a business mogul with vast interests in

Free

Freedom of the Press Essay The opinion of Americans about speech freedom is ambiguous. Ask any American, Kurtli writes, about disengagement of speech and media in the US, and you will hear a loud resentment from the irresponsibility of the media, who, without hesitation, climb into the privacy of the stars, politicians and ordinary citizens, reveal state secrets, thereby raising the ratings of TV programs and newspaper runs. Freedom Forum carried out a research on this topic. A survey carried out in 2002 showed that, in the opinion of 42% of the respondents, too much disengagement was provided to the media. The accuracy of this assessment is subjective. There is no doubt that the US legislation provides for perhaps the most extensive measures in the world to protect the rights of the media, as a result of which the guarantees of intellectual freedom in the United States are truly impressive. Freedom Forum carried out a research on this topic. A survey carried out in 2002 showed that, in the opinion of 42% of the respondents, too much disengagement was provided to the media. The accuracy of this assessment is subjective. There is no doubt that the US legislation provides for perhaps the most extensive measures in the world to protect the rights of the media, as a result of which the guarantees of intellectual freedom in the United States are truly impressive. Americans value their disengagement of speech and media. This is due to the fact that it creates an intellectual market of ideas. The US media has a wide field for expressing opinions and stand guard, which allows the people to directly monitor government decisions and take part in them, and allows a wide variety of ideas to be tested in the market of symbolic designs. Such laws are based on the main rectification to the main law. This, in turn, means that the American defense of intellectual expression is based on the norms of English common law, in accordance with the nature and principles of which the laws are subject to exegetics by the judges. Such exegetics is carried out in the form of decisions on specific court cases instituted on the basis of claims by private individuals or the state represented by its public representatives. The prime adjudicator is the US Supreme Court. Before the victory in the War, the British colonies respected many laws of the Parliament governing the basic rules and setting the total volume of freedom of expression. Media was obliged to be licensed. Legally appointed officials were responsible for the conformity of future publications unacceptable in the society of that time and qualified as the dissemination of slanderous fabrications for subversive purposes. It is not surprising that by the end of the 18th century, the inhabitants of the North American colonies began to suffer from these restrictions. Then disengagement of speech became a sign of good governance. As Franklin himself wrote, freedom of the media is the disengagement, for which every pensioner should be ready to fight and die. The opinion of Franklin was shared by the largest theorists of American constitutionalism, Jefferson, and Madison. Jefferson believed that the political consciousness of the people depends directly on the freedom of the press. A free media is the only real guarantee of security for all. In turn, Madison argued that public administration without free circulation of information is a real prolog to farce and tragedy. As for the legal precedents of defending free-thinking, we can refer to the case when, on November 17, 1734, the newspaper publisher from New York was accused of disseminating slanderous fabrications for subversive purposes for publishing anonymous criticism in the New York Weekly Journal to the British governor-general Cosby. Thanks to a lawyer, the publisher was acquitted by a jury. The lawyer managed to convince the jury that no one can be sentenced to criminal punishment for public criticism of the authorities, especially when such criticism corresponds to the real state of affairs. Thus, the legal mechanism for protecting media and delivering a true date to people in America deserves attention and is an example to follow for many countries. References Freedom of the press, William L.Chenery Greenwood Press 1977 Freedom of the press, Merrill F.Hartshorn National Education Association of the United States 1980 Freedom of the press: rights and liberties under the law, Nancy C.Cornwell ABC-CLIO 2004

Toyota: SWOT Analysis, BCG Matrix and Porters Five

Toyota: SWOT Analysis, BCG Matrix and Porters Five Toyota is a Japan based company which was established in 1937 by Sakichi Toyoda and is the world biggest automobile manufacturers, Toyota has achieved a record sale of 9 million cars in five continents. Toyota is also ranked in the top ten 500 ² companies. Toyota is one the worlds most renowned auto manufacturers and they are proud of this accomplishment and they believe it is only because that their customers are satisfied by them. http://www.toyota.com.cy/experience/the_company/index.aspx Strategy of Toyota Different strategies of Toyota are explained as under Growth Strategy In order to achieve an outstanding growth strategy, company must find, evaluate and select a strategy to enter and to capture a market. Toyota entered in American market in 1967 along with a range of cars and after that Toyota launched other brands such as lexus and scion. Toyota became a successful car manufacturer company mainly because of an effective and diverse marketing process which has enabled them to attract customers and enlarge its product range to other market segments. One of the other main reason why Toyota managed to do very well in America is because of 1973 oil crisis. When Toyota entered in American market it was not considered a threat because everyone use to say that Toyota cars do not appeal American people. But due to the oil crisis people realized that Toyota cars are highly fuel efficient and much more reliable. Marketing Strategy of Toyota Toyota is a global brand and the economic crisis which started in 2009 has hit Toyota. Therefore, Toyota is now marketing and making fuel efficient cars such as the new Auris hybrid and others. On top of that Toyota is very heavily marketing there 1 litre cars such as Toyota iq and aygo and this happened due to the the economic crunch that now people dont have much spending power. http://ayushveda.com/blogs/business/toyotas-marketing-strategy/ Environmental strategy In modern era, all the developed and under developed countries are more concern with the environment and are trying their best to promote cars which are more environment friendly and throw less co2 emission out. As a global car manufacturer Toyota is playing its role in minimising the co2 effect on the environment of the world. This is the reason Toyota has launched hybrid cars, the ultimate eco car, electric vehicles, plug in hybrid, fuel cell vehicle cars which consume less fuel and also discharge less co2 emission. So basically, Toyota is making cars which are user friendly and also environment friendly.www.toyota.com To critically evaluate the strategy of Toyota, some analysis of internal and external analysis required to be done and they are explained as under. SWOT analysis This analysis is a great tool for doing an audit of an organisation and its environment. It is the first step for marketers to take to focus on key issues. Swot stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Strengths and weaknesses examine the internal factors of a company whereas the opportunities and threats are the analysis of external factors. SWOT analysis of Toyota Strengths of Toyota Toyota is global organisation, which enjoys great repute among its customers and possesses a very strong international position in 170 countries. Financial side of this company is extremely strong in 1997 company managed a sales turnover of  £131,511 million and growth of the company was 29.3%. Due to its high quality, an environment friendly product Toyota has a very strong brand recognition. Toyota has managed successfully penetrate into the main markets of the world which includes USA, China and Middle east countries. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_swot_analysis_of_Toyota Weakness of Toyota The production plants of Toyota are located in US and Japan due to which they are not in a very favourable position to take advantage from global efficiency gains. The company has suffered a lot of criticism due to the re-call made in 2005 and 2010. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_swot_analysis_of_Toyota Opportunities for Toyota Toyota was the first company to develop a hybrid car (hybrid- vehicle runs on gas and electric) which was the Prius model. At that time oil prices were at their extreme so at that time Toyota has given something to the market. Toyota is looking forward to expand belligerently into new segments of existing markets for example by the launch of Toyota Aygo the company is targeting the youth of the world. Another opportunity for Toyota is to produce small city cars which will be more fuel efficient and also easy to drive plus will produce less c02 emission because now a day governments of all under developed and developed countries are showing great concern about the environment. Toyota enjoys good market share in Europe, UK and America the company should target developing countries such as Pakistan, India and Srilanka where demand is very high for great fuel efficient cars. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_swot_analysis_of_Toyota Threats to Toyota Toyota faces very high competition by Honda and by other German car manufacturers. Especially in todays global market the trend of intense marketing campaign is increasing which will simply increase pressure on Toyota. The position of US dollar is very consistent so the exchange rates are playing a major role in the profit and loss of the company. The recession that has hit the world almost a couple of years ago have caused major issues for Toyota because car sales have declined rapidly ever since the recession started. Market trend is changing for example the trend of large families coming to an end and with it the need of large cars. Consistent increase in fuel prices has also bought a significant decline the car sales of Toyota Company. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_swot_analysis_of_Toyota BCG Matrix The Boston consultancy group matrix is a chat which was created by Peter Henderson in 1970. The purpose of this design is to help companies with the manufacturing units and product lines. The base of this tool in the product life cycle theory and it helps companies to decide on which areas they should prioritize. BCG Matrix for Toyota Prius This tool can also be used to analyze the launch of a product in the market. In this matrix two factors determine the success of a product. Market share and market growth are explained individually in the diagram. With the help of this tool an outstanding marketing strategy can easily be determined. Market Growth of Prius The Toyota prius was launched in Japan in 1997 and it was made available to the world in 2001. By the end of 2003, a new model of the car was launched and due to its modern hybrid technology it was sold 160,000 times throughout the world. It was mainly because at that time the prius was the only hybrid car and Toyota made maximum profit out of that. Up till now Toyota has managed to sell around 1 million hybrid cars and most of them are prius. To analyze the market growth of this product, given below is the monthly sales figure of U.S from 2000 to 2007. From the table above, we can clearly see that prius sales have increased dramatically over thye years. In 2000 number of cars sold was just 5,562 whereas the cars sold in 2007 excluding the month of December were 167,010 which is almost 30 times more the number of cars sold in 2000. The table given above, we can clearly view that Toyota prius was the best selling car in US with a great margin. Toyota has just 5.3% more sales than September 2007 but it has overall 50.7% more sales then the last year October. We can also see an outstanding growth in the market of hybrid cars which is almost 30% which means that it is a very fast growing market. Market Share of Toyota Prius If we look at the market share of Prius, it comes on top of the hybrid car market share. The prius has a massive 53.7% market share and this is because Toyota has sold three times more cars than the runner up. This is the reason why prius was the market leader in 2007. The prius has sold approximately 190,000 cars which comes up to a market share of 57% and this is a clear proof that prius is a market leader even on yearly basis. Conclusion After this detailed bcg analysis it is concluded that prius is a star product. It has a booming market share in the high demand market of hybrid cars. All this makes prius a star product and a product which has a lot of potential in the future years. In the BCG matrix chart the prius have its position in the top left because it has an outstanding market share in a dynamic and fast growing market. Therefore, prius is a star product. This information can be used by Toyota to set up a plan for business and thus the investment the company make in the product can also turn into a cash cow. Porters five forces analysis This is the most successful tool in analyzing the strategy of an industry. According to wiki this is a framework for the industry analysis and business strategy development developed by Michael E Porter of Harvard business school in 1979.it uses concepts developing industrial organisations economics to derive five forces that determine the competitive intensity and therefore attractiveness of a market. http://www.themarketers.in/?p=446 Porters five forces analysis includes critical analysis of five aspects which are as follows Threat of new entrants. Bargaining power of customers/ buyers. Threat of substitute products. Bargaining power of suppliers. The amount of rivalry between competitors. Five forces analysis on Toyota Detailed analysis of porters five forces. Threat of new entrants In auto industry all the big companies face threat of new entrants who enter into market to take their place. Toyota also faces same problems and the recent launch of TATA nano is a big threat for Toyota and for other auto companies. Because TATA nano is the cheapest car in the world which will definitely dominate in the under developed countries of the world and also TATA nanao and Peugeot has worked together to make that car so Toyota needs to come up with a strategy which will help them target the medium to lower medium class of the world. (Jhonson,s scholes and wittington.2008) Bargaining power of customers Bargaining power of customers vary from place to place. In European countries customers have outstanding bargaining power which is mainly due to the competition and because of their purchasing power. On the other hand in countries like Pakistan people dont have much choice and manufacturers charge reasonably high prices. (Jhonson,s scholes and wittington.2008) Threat of Substitute product In developed countries such as America or other European countries this threat is high for Toyota because there are a lot of other car manufacturers in these countries who sell their products with different deals such as now a day Citroen is selling most of their cars with 0 deposit and on no interest basis for up to three years which is a big threat for Toyota in UK. Because due to the economic crisis the world is facing people are more interested in saving money. (Jhonson,s scholes and wittington.2008) Bargaining power of suppliers Because Toyota is a strong brand therefore, this threat is comparatively low to them in comparison with other manufacturers because brand confirms suppliers a higher value to their product. (Jhonson,s scholes and wittington.2008) Rivalry among competitors This element also varies for area to area. As mentioned earlier in European countries there are a lot of manufacturers available so the rivalry among competitors is very high. For example in Pakistan Toyota has one main rival which is Honda but in UK Toyota has Honda, Peugeot, Nissan, ford, rover and also other companies which makes rivalry extremely intense. (Jhonson,s scholes and wittington.2008) Problems with Toyota Even though Toyota is one of the best car manufacturer company in the world but they have faced many problems over the years in different parts of the world. Some of them are related with products and some are even with the brand itself. A few of these problems are summarised in detail Toyota brand problem Toyota is a major brand and its sub-brands are Lexus and Scion but Toyota sells and manufacture most of its cars under the name of Toyota which is not a very healthy marketing strategy. For example, the problem Audi had in 1990 with its 5000 range (problem was acceleration which resulted in fatal acceleration accidents) which resulted a significant decline not just in the sale figure of Audi 5000 but due to that problem sales figure of Audi 4000 and Quattro were also declined to a great extent just because these too vehicles were manufactured by the same company. Despite of all the promotional and marketing activities held by Audi in between 1990-2000 the company has still not fully recovered and has not find its proper place in the market. Unfortunately, Toyota has not learned anything from this mistake and they keep on launching all cars under the same brand without paying much attention to sub-brands. Due to the recent problem of rapid acceleration in Toyota cars customers are beginning to show less interest in the brand and now it is believed that nest decade will be very tough for Toyota. So, Toyota really needs to promote its sub brands and to pump marketing investments in them. Toyotas Brand Problems Begin At Its Core Brake problems in Toyota Prius In 2010, braking problems were reported with Toyota prius in America by manay customers, four of them were involved in crash. The problem was that customers were finding it difficult to brake on un even surface. Which resulted in major accidents and as a result Toyota had to do a major recall in America which resulted in a significant decline in sale and due to which Toyota has launched its market share throughout the world. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8497471.stm Rapid acceleration problem of Toyota Toyota had to do a major recall in 2004 which was basically companies biggest in which company had to recall 3.8 million vehicles. In the beginning Toyota said that the problem is with the floor matt but after few crashes the company actually decided to go for the recall decision. http://www.leftlanenews.com/a-closer-look-at-toyotas-sudden-acceleration-problem.html Acceleration stuck In the last decade Toyota has given us quality products such as Camry, corolla and Tercel. But then in 2010 a problem came in Toyota a vehicle which was reported as the acceleration gets stuck which is causing difficulty in stopping the vehicle and could result in major accidents. As a result, Toyota has not just recall the selected models on a national model but also stopped production for these vehicles. This decision of Toyota is really admired by Dr. Edward Deming who is called the undisputed father of quality management and he said that quality is better than quantity and by doing a recall national level Toyota has proved that they care about their customers and are willing to give them something extra. Some say that this incident will hurt Toyota and result in a decline of sales Toyota over the years but some say that this will benefit Toyota in coming years because once the problem is rectified than people will be more eager in buying Toyota vehicles especially over American c ars because they know that they will be getting quality. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2656835/toyota_is_facing_a_major_problem.html?cat=27 Recommendations By looking at the problems Toyota had over the years it is concluded that Toyota should take its business more seriously as they are the market leaders. The company should properly test every product several times before launching it in the market. Invest in sub brands Toyota should now invest heavily in its sub brands. This will bring stability in the sales of Toyota as if anything goes wrong with Toyota car customers will not stop buying the sub brands products and this will result in keeping the market share stable. Make hybrid technology cheaper Toyota is investing in hybrid vehicles which cause less co2 emission and also environment friendly but these vehicles are extremely expensive and not in the range of majority of people. The future main threat for auto mobile manufacturer is TATA nano which is the worlds cheapest car so if Toyota does not want to lose its market share than Toyota really needs to look ahead and come up with something which is a lot better than quality than TATA nano and the best way to beat nano is to come up with cheap and small hybrid car. Identify market trends and target markets The market trend is changing very quickly, now people dont travel in groups everyone prefer to keep their own cars so Toyota needs to make more small cars. At the moment there are just three small cars from Toyota which are Toyota aygo, iq and yaris which is a pretty small number from the worlds biggest auto manufacturer. On top of that these cars are not fun to drive they dont offer good road grip and comfort and on top of that they are pretty expensive. So, if Toyota wants to do well in future they really need to re think their strategy and they should make hybrid cars much cheaper and make small cars more reliable and fun to drive. Toyota is very well located it has plants in Japan, Europe and America so they can manage to produce cheap quality cars. From Japan, they can target asian countries which include Pakistan, India and Sri lanka because these countries are showing rapid growth and people has high purchasing power. From European production plant, Toyota can target European countries which are a very big market and Toyota enjoys great market share in these countries. American production plant can be used to target America and Canada and other small countries in that region. In this way Toyota can easily produce cheap quality cars and supply them to these countries as they are very well located.

Radioiodine Therapy for Hyperthyroidism

Radioiodine Therapy for Hyperthyroidism RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Radioiodine therapy is now a day increasingly used for treatment for hyperthyroidism. The response to this treatment is unpredictable and the factors postulated to predict outcome have not generally proven clinically useful or is not widely accepted in clinical practice. So this retrospective study was carried out to determine whether the demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics at presentation had any influence on the recurrence and the success of the radioiodine therapy. This study was carried out in the Nuclear Medicine Department of Kovai Medical Center And Hospital during the inclusive period of Jan 2014 to July 2014. At the beginning of the study 70 patients were included, but only 62 completed follow up. In this study, the records of 70 hyperthyroid patients were reviewed. Among those 70 patients, 23 (32.9%) males and 47 (67.1%) females were enrolled. The female to male ratio was 2.1:1, showing a higher incidence of hyperthyroidism in females than in males. Even though females are more prone to hyperthyroidism, this had no influence on the outcome of therapy (p=0.2330). Similar studies conducted by Antony Lewis et al also could not find any association between gender and outcome of therapy. (Table: 1 Graph: 1) As hyperthyroidism is relatively more common in adult population, for convenient analysis patients were categorized based on the age limit into 2 groups i.e. less than 35 years and above 35 years . The mean age of study patients was found to be 42.56Â ±13.44 years (range 15 to 72 years). 21 patients came under the category of less than 35 years with females and males with mean age of 27.42Â ±5.81 and 26.57Â ±7.45 years respectively. The remaining 49 patients comes under the age limit of above 35 years, the mean age of male patients was 49.06Â ±9.05 and 49.21Â ±10.21 years in females. This indicated a higher incidence of hyperthyroid conditions in subjects above 35 years. According to this study, there was no significant tendency for proportion cured to change with age (p=0.899). Studies done by Robert A.Nordyke et al also could not find any association with age and cure rate and also the mean age of the study population was also similar.(Table:2,3 Graph 2,3) The patients in this study received a fixed dose of 10 mCi for Graves’ disease and relatively higher doses for toxic multinodular goiters based on the size of thyroid gland determined by physical examination and thyroid uptake scan. Of the total of 70 patients who received radioactive iodine 52 (74.3%) patients were treated with an average dose of 5 mCi, range (0-10 mCi) and 18 patients received an average dose of 15 mCi, range (11-20 mCi) of radioactive iodine. The optimal method for determining the appropriate iodine-131 treatment dose remains controversial. Techniques vary from fixed dose to more elaborate calculations based on the gland size and iodine uptake. In calculated dose method, a dose of RAI is administered which is proportional to the size of the gland, this theoretically increases the chances of cure. But studies done by satzal-Mazer et al and Y.Khalid et al have failed to demonstrate any improvement in cure rate with calculated dose compared to fixed dose regim en. In this study ,a good result was seen in 90.9% of patient who received a dose of RAI in the range of 0-10 mCi and 83.3% of patients receiving a dose of 11-20 mCi, but this correlation was not significant.(p=0.403)(Table :4 Figure:4) Studies done by Funda Utsun et al revealed that majority of the patients was treated for Graves’ disease followed by toxic multinodular goiter. In this study also among the patients who received radioactive iodine, the largest group was diagnosed with Graves’ disease (54 patients, 77.2%), followed by toxic multinodular goiter (11 patients, 15.7%). The relatively smaller groups include those with thyrotoxicosis (4 patients, 5.7%) and solitary thyroid nodule (1patient, 1.4%). (Table: 5 Figure: 5) Clinical Graves’ ophthalmopathy was noted in 8 patients (11.4%) in which except one all others were female. 62 patients (88.6%) were free from ophthalmopathy. Of the 8 patients who had ophthalmopathy, 5 patients was treated successfully and hence there was no significant correlation between ophthalmopathy and outcome of the treatment in this study (p=1.00). Studies done by Wisam.K.Ghadban et al found out that there was no significant worsening or new development of ophthalmopathy post RAI treatment. In contrast, a systematic review done by Shamasunder H.Acharya et al concluded that radioiodine therapy is associated with increased risk of progression of ophthalmopathy compared with antithyroid drugs and hence pretreatment with steroids is necessary.(Table:6 Figure: 6) Presence of goiter was assessed clinically by endocrinologists and was documented as either present or absent at the time of radioiodine administration. About 58 patients (82.9%) showed the presence of goiter and in 12 patients (17.1%) the signs of goiter were not present. No significant association was seen in this study on goiter and treatment success. (p=0.326). In contrast, previous studies done by Anthony Lewis et al revealed that patients with small or no goiter were more likely to be successfully treated by a single dose.(Table: 7 Figure: 7) Prior use of antithyroid medication occurred in 63 patients (90%). Of these, 68.57% (48 patients) received treatment for more than one year whereas 21.43% (15) of patients received for a period of less than one year.10% (7) of patients had no pre-treatment with antithyroid medication before RAI administration. Previous studies done by Joyce S Y Yau et al demonstrated that there was no significant association between anti-thyroid medication and radioiodine treatment within one year. (Table: 8 Figure: 8) Among the study subjects who received pre-treatment, majority of the patients were treated with carbimazole (40%, 28 patients), followed by neomercazole (19 patients, 27.2%) and methimazole (15 patients, 21.4%). Only 1 patient among the 63 patients was treated with propylthiouracil (1.4%). All were advised to stop the drugs 7 days before radioiodine administration. A significant correlation was not observed between pretreatment with antithyroid drugs and treatment success (1.00). In a prior study done by Edward Prinat et al ,treatment success was obtained in patients with no pre-treatment and those who have stopped ATD seven days before 131I admnistration, while in the group of patients who received MMI until 131I application,success was significantly lower.(Table: 9 Figure:9) The primary objective of radioactive iodine therapy is to eliminate hyperthyroidism, but what is important to patients is the quickness of therapeutic effect. Graph 10 shows change in mean concentrations of TSH and T4 before and after I131 administration. The result revealed an increase in TSH concentration after the RAI treatment whereas the T4 levels showed a decrease in the concentration which indicates that therapeutic effect is achieved in the hyperthyroid patients. Piotr Szumowski et al came up with a study which showed similar results. (Table: 10 Graph: 10). Thyroid hormone concentrations before and after administration of radioiodine was analysed. A significant difference was found in the concentration of TSH and T4 before and after radioiodine therapy in patients who are on thyoxine replacement therapy after RAI administration (p=0.000 p=0.003 resp.). Whereas on comparing the concentration of TSH and T4 prior and post therapy on who were not on drugs, there was no significant difference (p=0.533 0.057) (Table: 14). As the time after radioiodine administration elapses,the percentage of hypothyroid patients increases. The incidence of hypothyroidism was 38.5 %( 27) in first trimester, 12.8 %( 9) in second trimester and 2.8 %( 2) in the third trimester. A prior study done by Ajith S Shinto et al also similar incidence of hypothyroidism after therapy. (Table: 12 Graph: 12) The assessment of overall efficacy of treatment at one year after I131 administration showed that a euthyroid status was achieved in 24.3% (17) of patients, hypothyroidism was observed in 54.3% (38 patients), while persistence or recurrence of hyperthyroidism was seen in 10% of patients , which revealed that a second dose of radioiodine is required in these patients. This outcome meant that 75.7% of patients require further treatment. In that 38 patients requires further hormone replacement therapy and 7 patients requires a second dose of radioactive iodine. The achievement of euthyroid and hypothyroid status is considered as good result. Studies done by Mosako Tsuruta et al and Sirianong Namwongprom et al also showed similar results.(Table:11 Graph 11)

Russian Reform And Economics: The Last Quarter Of The 20th Century :: essays research papers fc

Russian Reform and Economics: The Last Quarter of the 20th Century Outline Thesis: As the reformation of the USSR was becoming a reality, Russia's economy was crumbling beneath it. Russia began its economic challenge of perestroika in the 1980's. The Russian people wanted economic security and freedom, while the government was trying to obtain democracy. The previous management styles needed to be changed along with the way that most businesses in Russia operated. I. Reformation of USSR A. The change from communism to democracy. B. The change in government has had a great effect on the Russian people and workers. C. The reformation left the Russian economy upside down. II. Post-Reform economy versus Pre-Reform economy. A. There were many steps in the reformation of the economy. B. What are some of the effects of a reforming economy? C. There are many changes that are still needed in order for the Russian economy to grow. III. What will be the future of Russia's Economy? Main Body As the reformation of the USSR was becoming a reality, Russia's economy was crumbling beneath it. Russia began its economic challenge of perestroika in the 1980's. The Russian people wanted economic security and freedom, while the government was trying to obtain democracy. The previous management styles needed to be changed along with the way that most businesses in Russia operated. The Russian Federation consists of 17,075,400 square km, which is roughly 76.2 percent of the former USSR, and covers about 12 percent of the earth's land surface. The Russian Federation's population in 1991 was 147.3 million (Smith, A., 7). During the 1980's the Russian government started a reformation process called "perestroika," meaning restructuring (Aganbegyan, 1). Perestroika signifies qualitative changes and transformation in the government and in the economy. The four stages of perestroika are the "Preliminary stage (March 1985- February 1986)," the "Stabilizing stage (March 1986 - January 1987)," the "Expansive stage (January - November 1987)," and the "Regrouping stage (November 1987 onwards)" (Hill & Dellenbrant, 140). The government also identified two other processes. "Glasnost," which means openness, supported the strong economic reform (Aganbegyan, 1; Hill & Dellenbrant, 54). The acceleration of economic reform was called "uskorenie" (Aganbegyan, 1). Many changes took place during the years contained in each of the stages of perestroika. This changes ranged from government policies and structure to industrial production procedures to economic policies. The major change came in 1991 with the breakup of USSR. This freed the individual states and allowed them to become independent countries. All of these new countries went through radical government changes. Many of them, including Russia, chose to implement democracy. This change from a central military based structure into democracy

William Wordsworth :: essays research papers

One of the most famous poets in literary history is that of William Wordsworth. He lived between the years of 1770-1850. He was a very strong poet and many of his works have some degree of a pessimistic view to them. They could be understood after the hard life he led. He saw the French Revolution at its height and wrote several poems about it. He had an illegitimate daughter with a woman in France. When he returned back to England he married Mary Hutchinson, who gave him two sons and another daughter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Till this day we can read the famous poems and ballads of Wordsworth. One poem that caught my attention was that of Scorn not the sonnet. The poem is rather interesting and brings up other poets before his time. It also talks about the form and the meaning of a sonnet. He talks of the sonnet as a delicate work of art. Wordsworth describes each part of the sonnet by talking of another poet. He describes how one of the other poets helped shape the form of sonnet writing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the first two lines of the poem he is writing of a critic. Wordsworth writes â€Å"Scorn not the sonnet; Critic, you have frowned, mindless of its just honors;† These two lines state the critic or the audience is not able to understand what is being written in the sonnet. Wordsworth from the beginning says that the sonnets hold honor in their form of literary writing. This style of writing was very popular among the sixteen hundreds and most well known writers are known because of their sonnets. The sonnets gave the writers honor as the sonnet took honor of its own.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Next he goes on to say, â€Å"with this key Shakespeare unlocked his heart;† Without going into great detail Shakespeare is none for his incredible sonnets as well as hi plays. Wordsworth here begins to show how each poet contributed to this writing still. He begins off with Shakespeare. Wordsworth explains that through these sonnets Shakespeare’s heart was opened so therefore he was able to write such meaning full sonnets with love and passion. By the honor that was bestowed by the sonnets Shakespeare was able to be more expressive and gain his own honor.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Petrarch, who was one of the early sonnet writers is also one of the great Italian poets. His sonnets dealt with his unrequited love for a woman by the name of Laura.

Important Symbols of Taoism

Throughout history, Taoism has been one of the most influential religions in the Eastern culture. It is one of the most unique of all religions. In fact, many Taoists do not even consider it as a religion, and in many ways it is not. They make no claim that Tao exists. Although very different from others, Taoism also has very important unique symbols. Yin yang diagram, the most important symbol of Taoist represents the movement of heaven or the Tao. The small dots represent the fact that there is good in the evil, as there is evil in the good. Another important symbol of Taoism is the eight trigrams or pakua.Last but not least the dragon is one of the yang symbols, which represents the power, sage and saint. The Yin Yang sign is an old symbol for the universe that has been combined. It shows the two opposing dimensions that give the world its dynamics. It’s used to describe how seemingly contrary forces are joined and dependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to e ach other in turn. Opposites thus only exist in relation to one another. Male and female, light and dark, hot and cold, are thought as demonstration of Yin Yang. The outer circle represents the universe to which all exists.There is a belief that Yin Yang link to good and evil. Taoism believes that even in the most innocent nice people there is evil within them, and even the devil has good inside of him. The eight trigrams of pakua is a group of symbols that hold profound meaning in Chinese philosophy. These symbols represent movement and change. Each of the trigrams is associated with a season, family member, animal, personality, etc. They are ordered into two different arrangements. Primary heaven and future heaven. The arrangements represent the four basic and four minor directions on the compass. South is first at the top.Whichever symbol is at the top represents South. The primary heaven arrangement is organized based on opposite forces. The primary Heaven arrangement is organiz ed on the cyclic nature of the world. The eight trigrams are Heaven-Sky-Air, Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Thunder, Lake Valley, and Mountain. Lastly, the Yin Yang dragons combine really powerful ideas. The yang dragons radiate a bright, positive charge. This energy is really physical, and often, brave, and outgoing. The Yin dragon’s energy is totally the opposite. Influenced by the planet Venus, Yin dragons release a negative energy.This darker type of energy is usually in a female nature. No matter what the religion is, symbols play a big role. There is profound meaning into such insignificant objects. The Yin Yang diagram, the most important symbol of Taoism, the eight trigrams of pakua that represent movement and change, and the powerful Yin Yang dragons. Citations: . Center of Traditional Taos. . Cdot. org. 26 Nov. 2010. Zhou GuoXin. . Important Symbols of Taoism Throughout history, Taoism has been one of the most influential religions in the Eastern culture. It is one of the most unique of all religions. In fact, many Taoists do not even consider it as a religion, and in many ways it is not. They make no claim that Tao exists. Although very different from others, Taoism also has very important unique symbols. Yin yang diagram, the most important symbol of Taoist represents the movement of heaven or the Tao. The small dots represent the fact that there is good in the evil, as there is evil in the good. Another important symbol of Taoism is the eight trigrams or pakua.Last but not least the dragon is one of the yang symbols, which represents the power, sage and saint. The Yin Yang sign is an old symbol for the universe that has been combined. It shows the two opposing dimensions that give the world its dynamics. It’s used to describe how seemingly contrary forces are joined and dependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to e ach other in turn. Opposites thus only exist in relation to one another. Male and female, light and dark, hot and cold, are thought as demonstration of Yin Yang. The outer circle represents the universe to which all exists.There is a belief that Yin Yang link to good and evil. Taoism believes that even in the most innocent nice people there is evil within them, and even the devil has good inside of him. The eight trigrams of pakua is a group of symbols that hold profound meaning in Chinese philosophy. These symbols represent movement and change. Each of the trigrams is associated with a season, family member, animal, personality, etc. They are ordered into two different arrangements. Primary heaven and future heaven. The arrangements represent the four basic and four minor directions on the compass. South is first at the top.Whichever symbol is at the top represents South. The primary heaven arrangement is organized based on opposite forces. The primary Heaven arrangement is organiz ed on the cyclic nature of the world. The eight trigrams are Heaven-Sky-Air, Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Thunder, Lake Valley, and Mountain. Lastly, the Yin Yang dragons combine really powerful ideas. The yang dragons radiate a bright, positive charge. This energy is really physical, and often, brave, and outgoing. The Yin dragon’s energy is totally the opposite. Influenced by the planet Venus, Yin dragons release a negative energy.This darker type of energy is usually in a female nature. No matter what the religion is, symbols play a big role. There is profound meaning into such insignificant objects. The Yin Yang diagram, the most important symbol of Taoism, the eight trigrams of pakua that represent movement and change, and the powerful Yin Yang dragons. Citations: . Center of Traditional Taos. . Cdot. org. 26 Nov. 2010. Zhou GuoXin. .

Dr. Victor Frankenstein †The True Monster Essay

The worst kind of monster there is in this world is the kind that totally dismisses the power of love and does everything to destroy believe in this great and wonderful virtue. In Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ where Dr. Victor Frankenstein creates a creature from the parts of various corpses and gives it live, the matter of love becomes a central element and this love is what clearly distinguishes the human from the true monster. Mary Shelley’s â€Å"Frankenstein† explores the two levels of love and these two levels are what set apart Dr.Victor Frankenstein as the true monster from the creature that he created because albeit the monstrous external appearance of Frankenstein’s creation, the creature proves more capable of love than its creator. The novel begins with a letter written by Robert Walton to his sister where he describes witnessing a huge creature in the arctic pursued by Dr. Victor Frankenstein. â€Å"Walton records Frankenstein’s narrative, while Frankenstein in turn relays the monster’s narrative, so that there are layers of reality expressed through different characters’ points of view. † (Johnson) From this initial glimpse of the ‘so-called’ monster, the novel unfolds to eventually show that the true monster in the novel is in fact the doctor and not his creation. Apart from the expectations of readers, the creature of Dr. Victor Frankenstein eventually evolves into an individual who can think logically, prove to be more articulate, and more importantly, more capable of love compared to its creator. This alone is evidence that between the two characters who drive the novel, the creature is in fact the one that is presented as the symbol of intrinsic emotions apart from the superficiality that Dr. Frankenstein portrays. In exploring the personality of Dr. Frankenstein in the novel, his monstrosity inevitably emerges. For instance, in the lines, â€Å"Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. † (Shelley, Ch. 4) the doctor proves to possess a distorted perception of the world at large. Here, he looks at the world as a place of darkness which needs his scientific prowess as it moves into the light. Aside from the fact that this puts too much weight on his shoulders, this quote also shows his conceit and bloated ego. These lines validate the doctor’s obsession with life and death and how he has the power to control it; only a few levels short of wanting to rule the world as is common with all villains. These lines also express the intentions of the doctor when he creates his ‘so-called’ monster. In this context, the doctor seeks to penetrate natural laws not in the interest of the evolution of science or the welfare of the public but because he would simply want to exercise his assumed power over natural laws. This, in effect, presents the doctor as a mad scientist who is guided by values that are way beyond the values of someone sincerely concerned with the plight of humanity. This initial presentation of Victor sets the tone for the audience and gives them a glimpse of what is to come. With the intentions and personality of this doctor exposed in the way he is characterized, one can easily see that the novel will definitely take a twist that would have the monster gaining the upper hand in terms of sanity and morality. This is validated by another quote from the doctor that states, â€Å"A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. † (Shelley, Ch. 4) where the doctor very clearly expresses his dark intentions which is to want to have other natures ‘owe their being’ to his work. Here, one sees that the doctor seems to be suffering from a God-complex which to most is the delusion of being someone who can create life and hence, derive power from this ability. Victor, therefore, becomes an individual of thwarted beliefs and one who does not respect the established laws of the universe; of course, the consequences of this are later expressed in the way his monster turns out to be. In comparison to the doctor, the monster as it has already been created presents or manifests critical thought and a deeper and more logical perception of things as opposed to how its master perceives it. This initially sets the stage for a diametrical opposition between the personalities of these two characters. The monster first begins to question his existence, hence, the line, â€Å"â€Å"God in pity made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours†¦. † (Shelley, p. 154) Here, the monster demonstrates an understanding of natural laws in recognition of God as the creator of man and the circumstance by which man was created as being ‘after his own image’. In looking at his image, the monster concludes that his is a ‘filthy type’ of the image of his creator, Victor Frankenstein. In effect, the monster is now question how a creation can be a substandard version of its creator’s when natural law dictates that the creature has to be ‘beautiful and alluring’ like its creator. There is a deep philosophical insight in this statement by the monster which challenges the humanity of the doctor himself. The mere fact that the monster perceives itself as a ‘filthy’ version of the creator implies that the creator may in fact be human on the outside but a monster on the inside because if the matter of the likeness of God is applied to this supposition, man is created not in the physical likeness of God but in His spiritual likeness. The monster therefore, is an external reflection of the internal nature of the doctor. However, despite this superficial image, the monster develops its own volition and evolves into a thinking-feeling individual who is not restrained or enslaved by the distorted values of its creator. So, the monster begins to recognize this fact and is initially bound to its creator, hence, the lines, â€Å"â€Å"I learned from your papers that you were my father, my creator, and to whom could I apply with more fitness than to him who had given me life? † (Shelley, p. 165) The monster, in these lines expresses two values – the first, being his recognition of the importance of the acquisition of life as a basis for respect, and second, the recognition of the worth of the person who had given it life. For a monster, these realizations are quite distant, but in the case of Frankenstein’s monster, such realizations seemed to come naturally which all the more validates the clear and discriminating thought process of the creature. Another insight that could be derived from these lines is the presence of a deeper emotion than respect – love. The monster, upon referring to the doctor as its ‘father’ gives a deeper dimension to this statement because the word ‘father’ is different from creator; the word ‘father’ is not just a recognition of creation or pro-creation for that matter, but also a recognition of the nurturing nature of the individual. The monster, therefore, by referring to the doctor as ‘father’, is aware of the fact that whoever created it also had the task of nurturing it whether physically or emotionally. In another instance, one sees how the monster acquires its savage nature only as a reflection of the savage nature of the creator. This is seen in the lines, â€Å"â€Å"I am malicious because I am miserable†¦. You, my creator, would tear me to pieces, and triumph; remember that, and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me? † (Shelley, p. 173) Here one sees that the reason why the monster had developed a hatred for man was because the creator had exercised a certain degree of hostility toward the monster. While in natural circumstances this may simply be construed as cruelty, in this particular instance, the monster is able to perceive the reasons for the hostility and manifest it in its own existence. Therefore, the monster is not savage; instead, it had become savage in response to the hostility of its creator. It will also be recalled from the novel that in the desperation of the monster for social acceptance it implored the doctor to create for it a wife, hence, the lines â€Å"â€Å"I am alone, and miserable; man will not associate with me, but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. † (Shelley, p. 171) Now, in connection to this particular incident, the doctor did create another monster out of scrap female body parts and introduced it to the first monster as its wife, however, the more horrible thing in this particular instance is the fact that the doctor destroys the female monster and angers the male. In the earlier lines, one can easily glean that the male monster had perceived its appearance to be the reason for its isolation and hence, demonstrated it’s human nature which is in fact beyond the human nature of the doctor who is consumed by his own power and takes away from the male monster the only opportunity at acceptance and love. The incident where the monster kills the wife of Victor on the night of their wedding therefore becomes immaterial to whether the monster has human qualities or not, in fact, it validates its humanness as it demonstrates a significant response to the feeling of remorse and hatred for the inhumanity that was committed upon it by the doctor; and so, this particular incident changes the monsters point of view completely, but it should not be denied that this change of perception is not because of the volition of the monster but as a result of the savage and insensitive actions of Victor, its creator. So, the monster then states, â€Å"â€Å"[T]he human senses are insurmountable barriers to our union†¦. [I]f I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear†¦. † (Shelley, p. 173) Now, if one was to peruse this line as it is without considering the underlying circumstances, it would seem that the monster had become irrational and wild, but with the perusal of underlying circumstance, the monster becomes very logical in its responses. â€Å"It is therefore, plausibly suggested, that the Monster can be seen as a metaphor for the destructive power of unleashed passion. â€Å" (Pearce) This basically shows that the creature is not really the monster in the novel as demonstrated by its insights and responses, and the real monster is the doctor, who, apart from being obsessed with the power of being able to create life, relegates his creation as a monstrosity and totally dismisses the possibility that this creation also has the same degree of emotions and logical thought that he has as its creator. â€Å"Dr. Frankenstein continually underestimates the being’s malice and power. † (Thripp) This is the deadening mistake of Victor and this is what makes the distinction clear between him and his creation. Both seek love, as is shown in Victor’s desire for his wife and the monster’s need for a partner, but it is the way these two men act on the love that had been acquire that sets each other apart. Victor takes this love as if it is natural and ordinary, while the monster perceives it as something that is of great value because of his physical inadequacies; Victor, therefore, becomes more savage than the monster in this aspect, hence, â€Å"the secret is not that he created a monster; the secret is that he is the monster. This intensifies his guilt and seclusion, adds weight to his terrible illness and remorse,† (Thripp) It will be seen towards the end of the story that Victor grows insane and pursues the monster until they finally meet in the arctic. Here, the doctor dies and the creature mourns the loss of its master. This, again, is an expression of humanity, because the monster, despite being victim to the hostility and insensitivity of its creator still felt a certain degree of indebtedness and love for Victor, whom the monster fully recognized and respected to be its sole source of life. The monster, in these final scenes in the novel, validates its humanity over the humanity of the doctor by ignoring all past evils of its master and transcending hostile emotions to recognize the supremacy of love and compassion. In validation of this compassion of the monster, he says, ‘†I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other. † (Shelley) Here one sees that when said by a physically horrible creature these words might seem to be a threat but if the humanity of the creature is superimposed against the reasons for the creature’s existence, then a perfect and complete humanity emerges. â€Å"All the references to monstrousness are metaphors for Victor’s black heart, and that Shelley has created a work of art that is truly Romantic; the entire novel miserable and revolutionary, a battle of light versus dark, good versus evil, all wrapped up in one self-contradictory character. † (Thripp) In conclusion, it is not really the ability of the doctor to create life that is the meat and the matter in this novel; instead it is the conflict of morality that arises from his creation of life. While some argue that this novel alludes to the duality of the personality of Dr. Frankenstein, analyzing the novel deeper would tell one that over and above the dramatic circumstances in the tale, the author offers deep and surprising insights into the nature of humanity. The monster as a symbol of unbounded humanity succeeds in the author’s intention of relegating the real human, Dr. Frankenstein into a domain where readers might question his integrity as a human and as a sane individual. The saner element therefore becomes the monster and the doctor becomes a representation of the dark and savage nature of man which is only expressed in exaggeration in the monster only to highlight or reflect the evil and savageness that dwells in the heart of the true monster, Dr. Frankenstein. Finally, one has the line, â€Å"I may die; but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery. Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful. † (Shelley, Ch. 20) which seals the fate of the monster as one who is more human than its creator. This line expresses one other aspect of humanity that determines how one survives and that is the absence of fear. Victor Frankenstein, in the way he is portrayed in the novel did not fear dabbling with the laws of nature, but upon setting eyes on his creation began to fear what he saw. In effect, the doctor had developed not a fear for the unknown and what should be feared but a fear for his own reflection as portrayed in the monster. He feared the horrors that he saw of himself in the monster. The monster was a mirror of the darkness that pervaded his soul and the misplaced feat that manifested itself in his desire to create life despite traditional values that tell him to do otherwise. So, based on the textual evidence presented in the novel it is quite clear that while numerous philosophical implications can be attached to the text, Victor Frankenstein actually emerges as the monster over and above the superficial monstrosity of his creation. The monster therefore, proves to be more human than its creator in more aspects than one and proves its humanity in the end by showing a sincere and exceptionally deep sense of compassion and logical emotion. ? Works Cited Johnson, Diane. â€Å"Mary Wolstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein . † Greenman Review. N. p. , 2008. Web. 15 Aug. 2010. . Pearce, Joseph. â€Å"The Misunderstood Monster. † Ignatius Critical Editions. N. p. , 2008. Web. 15 Aug. 2010. . Shelley, Mary W. â€Å"Frankenstein. † N. p. , n. d. Web. 15 Aug. 2010. . Thripp, Richard. â€Å"Victor Frankenstein: Trodden Hero or Veiled Villain?. † Scholarly Essays. N. p. , 2008. Web. 15 Aug. 2010.

Vacant Chapter 16 Emily

This has to be perfect. Ethan is the most amazing man, and I don't want to disappoint him. So everything has to be flawless. Margie has been a huge help, though, and I don't think I could have – or would have – done this without her. Sometimes I'm so out of my element with this whole love and relationship thing. I know Ethan has more experience, but still†¦ I want him to know how much he means to me. Margie had me over for a girl's night where we watched what she called â€Å"chick licks.† She insisted that the surest way to be able to pull off the perfect anniversary was to see examples of perfect love on the big screen, or a forty-two inch, anyway. We started brainstorming and came up with a plan; a pretty good one if I do say so myself. Now I just have to make sure I don't mess it up. So here I am, standing in the middle of our living room in a new black and pink lace lingerie set and enough lit candles that I may, in fact, set off a smoke alarm. Of course, Ethan has seen me in much less that bra and panties, but these seem†¦dirty somehow. Because of the purpose for which they are intended, the pink and black lace seems obscene. I hadn't wanted to get the â€Å"tonga† cut, but Margie insisted it was the look needed for the occasion. I'm more of a cotton brief kind of girl. All the panties we looked through were so small†¦ and in bright lacy colors, nor did they seem practical. I really hope Ethan doesn't expect fancy panties all the time because I cannot see the practicality of wearing this style on a daily basis. Particularly if one has to frequently bend or stoop I glance at the clock on the wall, which was purchased at Hobby Lobby, thank you very much, and know that Ethan will walk through the front door at any moment. I shouldn't be this nervous, but we have grown so much together in the last year, both in heart and mind. I know without a doubt I will be with this man forever, and I want to experience every last thing imaginable with him. When I hear the key in the door, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Within seconds of the door opening and closing, I hear a loud gasp followed by, â€Å"Holy shhiiittt.† Ethan is in front of me, hands exploring my backside after only a few seconds. I wonder if he sprinted, even though the distance from the door is only a few steps. It makes me relax, realizing he appreciates my gift a great deal. â€Å"Baby, you smell so good,† he whispers. His lips– then teeth skim my neck and shoulder. The contrast in sensation takes my breath away. â€Å"Fuck. What did I do to deserve all this? And you?† I'm frozen for a second because I think he's forgotten what today is. He thinks this is just a random tryst. And while we are extraordinarily honest with each other, I can't bring myself to tell him what this is really about. A pang shoots from my heart down into my stomach. â€Å"Whoa, whoa†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Ethan pulls away and looks at me. I try to smile, but it's wholly unsuccessful. It makes my throat tighten more, and I need an escape to the bathroom to shed unwanted tears. This isn't how it's supposed to go! He's supposed to see me, sweep me off my feet, pledge undying devotion, and make love to me for hours. Damn you, Hollywood! You're a liar. â€Å"Emily, what's wrong? What did I say?† He turns away from me at the moment my lips quivers. He's fisting his hair, mumbling to himself. Even though I still have on a bra, panties, and stupid black heels Margie insisted made the look perfect, I've never felt more exposed. I want to sink into the carpet, wishing the last half hour hadn't ever happened. Stupid, Emily†¦why do you always have to do something different or fancy? Why not just make fried chicken for dinner and get him a nice card, I argue with myself. â€Å"Shit! Why did I have to say something stupid on our anniversary? I try, Emily. I want to be good for you, I do. I just can't get it right, ya know? God, please say something.† †¦stupid on our anniversary†¦ â€Å"You know it's our anniversary?† I could have heard incorrectly. â€Å"Well, yeah. How could I forget our anniversary? I can't forget a thing about you, Emily.† He starts to walk toward the couch and grabs my hand, pulling me behind him. He flops down then pulls me into his lap. His thumb graces the outer edges of my smile. He didn't forget. â€Å"I remember that you hate high heels.† His hand ghosts down my leg and then draws my leg up. He grasps my spiked heel and slips it off my foot. He tosses the shoe to the floor before he begins to rub my toes. After a few moments, his hand slides up my arm to my neck, landing on my earlobe. â€Å"I remember that you only wear stud earrings because you're afraid of getting them caught on something.† His tongue snakes out a lightly traces the tip of my ear. â€Å"I also remember that you don't wear necklaces†¦.† His hand floats to cup my neck and then draws a finger down my breastbone and into my enhanced cleavage. Ethan shifts on the sofa and pulls something from his pocket. He hands me a small black box with a red bow. â€Å"But I'm hoping to change that.† Ethan finishes. I open the box and see the most delicate, yet beautiful necklace. A small silver disc holds the date we pledged our love for each other. One year ago, today. I find that I can't resist this thoughtful man. Not only has he not forgotten our anniversary, but he has also purchased the perfect gift. I seductively maneuver myself so that I'm facing Ethan. I straddle his lap and then kiss him like my life depends on it. â€Å"It's perfect. You're perfect,† I mumble in between kisses. I always get this feeling when Ethan and I are about to do it. It's still a million tiny butterflies bouncing in my stomach trying to break free. Honestly, it's the best feeling. The greatest part, though, is that each time is better than the last. I'm not sure if Ethan has been swapping stories in the stock room – although I doubt it, it's not his style – or reading up on the internet, but things have really†¦exploded for us in the bedroom department. There was a Get-to-know-you period, which was followed by the Awkward-movements period. Then there was the This-works-so-let's-do-it-this-way-all-the-time period. Lately, we'd found the â€Å"Life is like a box of chocolates†¦Ã¢â‚¬  period. And let me tell you, I may not know what I'm â€Å"gonna get,† but that shit is good. â€Å"Chocolate† is never a bad thing. â€Å"And I remember,† Ethan pauses, breathing me in. â€Å"You love it when I kiss you here,† he finishes and then sucks my nipple into his mouth. The contrast in sensation of his soft, wet mouth and the lace fabric has me beyond aroused. â€Å"New rule: all panties must be like this.† His hands rub across the exposed flesh of my butt, grabbing a handful of cheek to accentuate his point. Ethan's kiss is now languid, his tongue reaching out and teasing my body. As he moves upward, our eyes connecting once again, he beckons my mouth to open and allow him inside. I'm totally lost to this man and would submit to anything he wanted but after a few moments, I remember I have a plan. â€Å"Let's move to the bedroom,† I say in my most seductive voice. â€Å"I have more surprises for you.† Before I even have a chance to stand, Ethan grabs me and stands, coaxing me to wrap my legs around him. He doesn't carry me like this often, but when he does, there is no safer feeling in this world. He is totally supporting me, exerting his masculinity. I feel small pressed against him – a protector and his charge. â€Å"I love you,† I whisper and rest my head on his shoulder. The journey down the hall to the bedroom is too short. I could stay wrapped up in Ethan this way forever, but I have a massage to render, so I regrettably pull myself from the security of his arms. â€Å"Clothes off and lie down,† I command. Ethan raises a brow at me, showing he's a little shocked by my demand. His smile, however, tells me he likes it. He quickly sheds his clothes and lies face down on the bed. â€Å"No peeking,† I say while removing my bra and panties. I grab the oil from the nightstand and pour a liberal amount in my palm then rub my hands together. I slide my hands over his back and down over his backside, eliciting a moan from Ethan before I move myself into position. I shift and sit on top of his butt, cautious about fully putting my weight on him. â€Å"Is this okay? I'm not too heavy, am I?† His barely intelligible grunt of no helps me relax a little more fully on top of him. Per Hollywood protocol, I've trimmed myself so that I'm mostly exposed. I can't help but grind against him, my bare skin seeking friction with his. â€Å"Emily, that feels so good, but I can't stand it. I gotta turn over and see you.† I rise up to allow Ethan to turn. His hands immediately glide up my legs, his thumbs moving inward. They brush against the smooth skin that hides my clit. â€Å"Say it for me.† I know what he wants, as it has been Ethan's new fascination. I turn red because no matter how many times I say it, I know it will embarrass me. â€Å"Come on, say pussy for me. Tell me how you want my tongue on your pussy, then your mouth on my cock.† I respond with a small yet nervous laugh. â€Å"Come on, my sweet baby girl,† Ethan coaxes. Anything for this man†¦ â€Å"First, Ethan,† I begin with a little attitude. I can do this, and possibly without giggling. â€Å"I want my mouth on your cock.† I make sure to punctuate the word cock. â€Å"Then I want your mouth on my†¦ pussy. And after I've screamed your name†¦I want your cock in my pussy,† I say wanting to add a little naughtiness. That should do it. â€Å"Holy – † Ethan doesn't finish his thought as his words are replaced with vowel sounds when my mouth takes him in. It took me a few tries to get used to the idea of his†¦cock†¦in my mouth, but now there are times I crave it. Ethan says the same thing about going down on me. â€Å"Bring that pussy up here. I need you in my mouth. God, Emily, I – â€Å" I know what he means, even though he doesn't finish saying it. It's always like this, and I hope it always will be. Sometimes, I think I could just come without him touching me; just thinking about his hands and mouth on me is enough. I feel like this level of obsession can't be healthy, though and I shouldn't want someone so much, so often. â€Å"Oh fuck†¦.fuck, fuck. Emily, stop.† Ethan lifts me off of him and lays me on my stomach. He licks down my spine and softly bites my ass. His hands grab at my flesh, separating my cheeks. â€Å"Push your ass up a little, baby. Let me see that perfect little pussy.† Unnnfff†¦ As soon as I comply, his tongue is back on me, tasting me. He's a master at this now. His thumbs rub at my clit while his tongue lavishes attention to my pussy. It only takes a minute before I'm panting and trying to grind my pelvis into the bed. â€Å"Nuh uhh. Keep those hips up,† Ethan reminds me. As much as I enjoy this, I really want the main event. â€Å"Ethan,† I moan. I hope my needy groan tells him I can't wait anymore. â€Å"Don't beg. Never beg, sweetheart.† Ethan pushes me forward, and my chest is now pressed into the mattress. He holds his cock and strokes me a few times before drawing back and sliding inside me. The description of fullness seems so trite, but it's the most accurate description. When Ethan enters me, we are connected, one in mind, body, and soul. â€Å"I wish you could see this, Emily; how my cock glides in and out of you†¦seeing your wetness on my dick.† Ethan stops and runs his hand down through my lips, gathering moisture. â€Å"Turn over.† He grasps his cock and begins to stroke himself. Within seconds, his lips are back on my breast, tugging at my nipple with his teeth. After a few more moments, he leans back, hooks my thighs with his forearms, and pulls me forward. He wastes no time in aligning himself and sliding home again. With my legs pushed back, he can get so much deeper and I feel him in my belly. His thrusts become aggressive and I know that he's close. â€Å"Do you want me to take you this way, or do you want to ride me, so I can see your tits bounce?† Ethan quickly adjusts himself so that he's sitting up. He pulls me into his lap. â€Å"Or maybe like this, so I can see your perfect face and the glisten of sweat that forms on your nose as you come?† All of Ethan's dirty talk is driving me crazy, and quite frankly, I don't care how we get the job done because I'm ready to burst. He lies back, pulling me with him. His hands knead the flesh of my breasts as I moan and writhe on top of him. â€Å"I want to come inside you, baby,† he pleads. I'll never deny him. As soon as we are connected again, we grasp hands, me using him for leverage. The first few times we did it this way, I felt self-conscious, but now I love the feeling of control and power I have to bring him to his end, to coax his lust and love from his body as it spills into mine. I meet my climax first, but Ethan soon follows. We collapse together, me still on top of him. I hug him like a child hugs her favorite teddy bear, and feel safe, warm, and satisfied. We lay together for a while, just caressing and kissing. It is always like this – the tenderness afterward. We'd never†¦ deep breath†¦ fucked. I adored our lovemaking, but also wanted to know what it felt like to be taken in the dressing room of Victoria Secret or the bathroom stall at a nightclub. But we had time, time to experience all of those things. This was the end of one year in a long line of many. Margie says that's love and I just need to go with it. She explained there is a natural progression and I won't always ache for him. She explained that– eventually, he'll just be a small pain in my ass. â€Å"I love you, Ethan.† â€Å"I love you, Emily. Happy anniversary.†

tories, fairytales and myths

Stories, fairytales and myths that were created thousand years ago are relevant today. These folklores have provided the basis for some cultures and in some cultures is a way of life. Stories and fairytales are relevant today, because they often have hidden meanings, which are often times used as examples in everyday life.Take for instance the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, this story shows that being big and strong does not help you to win, but using your wits and your brain is what helps you to overcome certain things. It also teaches us today, that slow and steady won the race and it never pays to be in a hurry and brag about how good you are.The story of Cinderella is relevant to today’s society as, you still have a lot of Cinderalla’s around. Especially the part about the wicked stepmother and how her siblings treated her. This story of Cinderella is all too real within our present day society, and it is up to us to rescue the Cinderalla’s of our time.G reek mythologies are very important and relevant to today’s society. From the story of Pandora we have the concept of beautiful evil, which is still prevalent in our society. Pandora was the image of a perfect, beautiful woman, she was created to please the eye and deceive mankind.This idea of a ‘beautiful evil' is still present in today's society. In the mass media viewers are constantly bombarded with images of beautiful women in sexual roles and evil roles.Women are often portrayed as gifts to men and then become detrimental to them. This ‘good girl gone bad' image has its roots in Pandora's myth. Pandora was a perfect, beautiful woman when Epimetheus took her as his wife. But Pandora was a little too curious. Her weakness and inferior mind led her to open the container and release all of the evils onto mankind.Stories today form the basis of many cultures, as stories in some cultures are handed down from generation to generation, to teach life lessons and illu strate the folly of mankind. Often time’s stories are used as references and examples, when disciplining a troublesome child or are used as a way to inform a person of the consequences of their actions. An example of this is the story of the Boy Who Cried Wolf. This little boy cried wolf so many times that he was not believed when the wolf actually came and took the sheep.This serves as a lesson to would be liars, children and even adults who like to play pranks. The moral of the story is that, sometimes when you lie or make things up a lot, it is very hard for anyone to believe you. In the end the young boy learned his lesson.Some people argue that stories, fairytales and myths are rubbish and have no relevance in today’s society, but in my opinion, they do give relevance to the meaning of life, and what it is to love and live. You can live and not be happy. Fairytales especially, the ones like Cinderella make you believe in happy endings. Happy endings still exist to day, regardless of what people think.The story of Hansel and Gretel has a moral to it, that appearances are deceiving. This is very true in today’s society. Appearances among people are very deceiving and often times, you get trapped by the very person that seems to want to help you, only to destroy or try to destroy you in the end.To me the fairytale of Hansel and Gretel speak of caution and cautions people to beware of who they are around. I also think that Hansel and Gretel is a great story for teaching children not to trust strangers and to be aware of the people they are around. In conclusion, stories, fairytales, and myths are just as relevant a today as they were thousands of years ago.Works CitedTyree, R. (1998). Pandora. Retrieved April 15, 2008, from http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/imageswomen/papers/tyreepandora/pandora.html