Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Alcoholics Anonymous free essay sample

I attended two different meetings in my area that addressed alcoholism and compulsive gambling. Initially, it was easy to see the similarities. The overall culture was similar. People introduced themselves as either alcoholics or compulsive gamblers. There was no cross talk. Certain literature was used to guide the meeting and help it flow. It seemed as if Gamblers Anonymous was simply an offshoot of Alcoholics Anonymous or any other 12-step program. I have learned in the past that each group has its own culture as a result of the personalities and differences of its members. I began to learn this as a young adult when I entered the rooms of Al-anon and Nar-anon. Certain groups just felt more comfortable than others. I attended an AA group with a friend of mine who considered this group to be her home group. It was a closed group but I had permission to come to one of their Big Book meetings. We will write a custom essay sample on Alcoholics Anonymous or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There were introductions at the beginning of the meeting where people stated their names and some people made mention of a significant anniversary. Many congratulations were given for milestones. The room was filled with almost twenty people and they ranged in age from early twenties to sixties. After reading a chapter from the Big Book, the meeting was opened up for sharing. There was no cross talk and I did not hear any gruesome war stories of what happened when people hit rock bottom. Instead, I heard stories of how grateful people were to have the rooms and meetings in their lives. They realized that their lives had become unmanageable and AA had saved them. The Big Book was used as a source of inspiration and guidance and is not meant to shame anyone. There was a break in the middle of the meeting and my friend’s sponsor was sitting in a nearby seat. There were many hugs shared in that part of the room. Many of the people in the room had been coming for several years. A few were there for the first time. The veterans of the group welcomed the new people with compassion and support. The Big Book was used as the primary tool for this particular meeting. My friend explained that some meetings were step meetings where the primary focus was one of the 12 steps and other meetings were just sharing meetings. She said each meeting and each place did things differently and that is why many people go to several meetings at different locations each week. That resonated with me and my experiences with Nar-anon. It took me awhile to find a group that felt â€Å"right. † Gamblers Anonymous was very similar in some ways, but different in others. We did not go around the room in the beginning and announce our names and our addictive affliction. It was interesting to find out during the course of the meeting that many people at GA attended AA on a regular basis. Though gambling is a behavior and alcohol is a substance; some people deal with both addictions. We also did not start the meeting with the serenity prayer. It was printed on a pamphlet that was passed out but was not said as a group. At the AA meeting, everyone held hands and said it together. We read about the history of GA and the definition of GA. Just as in AA the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling whereas in AA the requirement is to stop drinking. The 12-steps are very similar to AA’s 12 steps. They also subscribe to the Unity Program. The pamphlet included a definition of gambling that may seem simplistic but is necessary so that the definition cannot be twisted to serve individual needs. GA defines gambling for the compulsive gambler as: Any betting or wagering, for self or others, whether for money or not, no matter how slight or insignificant, where the outcome is uncertain or depends on â€Å"skill† constitutes gambling. The meeting was based on the Twenty Questions at the back of the pamphlet. They were questions that asked in many ways how gambling as effected one’s life. Question 15, â€Å"Have you ever gambled to escape worry, trouble, or loneliness? † and question 20, â€Å"Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result or your gambling? surprisingly caught the attention of many of the members who ranged in age from the thirties to their seventies. As we went around the room, people would state their names, the date they first entered the rooms, and the last time they gambled. If they had anything to say, they would say it with no cross talk. I heard lots of war stories and stories of extreme distress. Other people shar ed stories of triumph and years free of gambling. Some people had gone to extremes to maintain their secret life of compulsive gambling and had committed crimes to keep up with the costs. Alcoholism and gambling both wreak havoc on a person’s personal life and the lives of those around them. A therapist once told me that addiction is addiction is addiction. In many ways, she is right. But the GA members seemed to have less relapses and more â€Å"clean time† than those who were in AA. The rock bottoms of both groups were just as severe but climbing out of the hole seemed easier for some of the GA members. I have to keep into consideration that there were more new members at the AA meeting and many of the GA meetings had been coming to that meeting for years. When people are active in their addictions, they usually are not attending meetings. The GA meeting was much more organized with phone numbers and lists of resources of interventions for members between meetings. People encouraged me to come back and offered me their numbers. They told me about other meetings in the area to hold me over until the next week. They seemed more proactive in keeping new members active in the rooms to prevent relapse. It is not to say that AA was not, but the AA group also knew I was a â€Å"visitor. The differences in dealing with a substance addiction and a behavioral addiction are addressed much the same way in AA and GA. The people who attend these meetings on a regular basis feel they owe their lives to the rooms and the meetings. They don’ work for everyone and longitudinal studies are hard to come by due to the anonymity aspect of the groups. But I can understand and appreciate the power of group and mutual support. AA and GA offer that to t hose who enter the rooms. It works for millions of people whether it can be scientifically proven or not.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

102 Egocentric Thinking and Intro to Rhetoric Professor Ramos Blog

102 Egocentric Thinking and Intro to Rhetoric Intro to Rhetoric Quick Write What would someone have to say to convince you to change your mind? Write for two minutes. Vocabulary Egocentric thinking means that we think through our own perspectives. We only have our perspective. Egocentric having or regarding the self or the individual as the center of all things having little or no regard for interests, beliefs, or attitudes other than ones own; self-centered Intellectual Empathy means being able to think through other peoples perspectives. Seeing an issue through more perspectives than your own. This is very important for critical thinking since we want to consider an issue from as many perspectives as possible to better see and understand an issue. We only have our perspective and experience informing how we perceive issues. Critical thinking requires that we get as many perspectives in order to become more informed. We need to place ourselves in others perspectives in order to see if our perspective if fair, just, or biased. Photo by Todd Robertson, courtesy of the Southern Poverty Law Center Our perspective might be biased, racist, prejudiced, incorrect, or ignorant of facts. Intro to Rhetoric Language is an art form. Here is the  Wikipedia definition of Rhetoric. Rhetoric  is the art of discourse, wherein a writer or speaker strives to inform, persuade or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. Aristotle’s  definition  of rhetoric â€Å"The faculty of observing, in any given case, the  available means of persuasionâ€Å" Ethos: Appeals to Ethics, Credibility or Character. Ethics, ethical, trustworthiness or reputation, style/tone. The credibility of the speaker persuades. Pathos: Appeals to Emotion. Emotional or imaginative impact, stories, values. Uses emotional response to persuade an audience. Logos: Appeals to logic. Persuade by reason and evidence.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Uranium Mining in Western United States and its Effects Research Paper

Uranium Mining in Western United States and its Effects - Research Paper Example The element, uranium, occurred in ores mined for extraction of other minerals, especially carnonite. After the First World War and during the second war, uranium received a lot interest as an element. This write up follows the development of uranium mining as a by-product, to the exhaustive processing of uranium containing ores in search of uranium in later years. Uranium received such great interest because of its properties. Uranium decays with the release of energy and other particles; this makes it useful in nuclear weaponry and in production of electricity. Uranium was pursued for both reasons to a varied degree. This research paper investigates the circumstances that led to the uranium rush. The mining of uranium has numerous effects to both human beings and the environment. The writer of this paper reviews the chronological but enduring effects of uranium mining in the western United States. It investigates the ecological, social-cultural and health effects of uranium mining i n the western states. The importance of uranium and the role it has played in the development of the US cannot be belittled. Nevertheless, the lack of due care in the mining and processing of uranium ore resulted to varied adverse effects. Some of these effects have been around for several decades and are not yet over. Due to the long half-life of uranium, thorium and radon, their deposits take millions of years to reduce to safe levels. Additionally, the presence of a water-soluble uranium isotope made it easy for the spread of radionuclides from the mining districts to other states. Geography of western United States Western US covers the greater half of the country. It is divided into pacific states, west coast, mountain states, western Texas, and the mid west. The first group includes Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington while the west coast refers to California, Oregon, and Washington. The mountain states include Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. T he Midwest includes Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota among others. (Energy-net) The western region features a wealthy but intricate tectonic history. This includes volcanoes, extension and compression. The Colorado flat terrain is at the centre of this region. The deformed Rocky Mountains (north), southern Rocky Mountains (northeast), Rio Grande rift (east), and the basin and range (south and west) surround the plateau. The plateau consists of gently tilted blocks of monoclines (Fagbola 2007, p. 1-8). The Colorado plateau extends to about 130,000 square miles. It is in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. Precambrian and metamorphic rocks form the basement of the plateau. Colorado’s basic topography can be demarcated threefold. The eastern part consisting of plains, the

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Issues of International Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Issues of International Marketing - Assignment Example As of January 2014, IKEA owns 349 retailing outlets across 43 countries. The gross revenue was â‚ ¬28.506 billion in 2013 and its operating profit share was worth â‚ ¬4.011 billion (IKEA Group, 2013). IKEA is a privately owned business organization and its founder was Ingvar Kamprad. The current CEO and chairman of the company are Peter Agnefjà ¤ll. The company manufactures more than 12000 variations of products and conducts business in all major economies of Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania (Chu, Girdhar & Sood, 2013). Due to extensive business internationalization, the scope and scale of IKEA’s business are wide. The company utilizes 1% of the global supply of wood. IKEA has expanded its internationalization process by following different types of market entry approaches (Dickson & Giglierano, 2000). In China, IKEA expanded business through joint venture entry approach. A joint venture is a special business agreement whereby two or more business entities merge as a completely new organization or to generate new assets to the equity holding of both the companies (Campbell & Netzer, 2009). IKEA entered the Chinese market through a joint venture agreement. The company opened its retailing outlets in prominent locations in China under this venture agreement. IKEA had entered the Chinese market in 1998 (Harapiak, 2013). The company had selected the joint venture method for lowering the political risks associated and gaining core competencies within the dynamic furniture industry. Moreover, according to the Chinese regulations during IKEA’s entry, a foreign organization could enter only through a venture business with any native Chinese company. By forming a joint venture with a local furniture company of China, IKEA made strategic alliances with the Chinese suppliers and appropriately evaluated the market features therein (IKEA Group, 2013).

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Ethics Paper Essay Example for Free

Ethics Paper Essay Economist Milton Friedman said that â€Å"the only entities who can have responsibilities are individuals. A business cannot have responsibilities. So the question is, do corporate executives, provided they stay within the law, have responsibilities in their business activities other than to make as much money for their stockholders as possible? And my answer to that is no, they do not.[2]† Nowadays, this debate falls into the CSR, or also know as the â€Å"Corporate Social Responsibility† talk points. In [7] Cheers questions: â€Å"What is the business of business†? Should business attempt to solve social issues or should business merely exist to maximize shareholder wealth? My opinion is that corporations and public companies should focus on maximizing stockholder and shareholder wealth, while simultaneously relying on ethical principles. Further reading about Friedman’s conservative stance on business’ business, one can point out that Friedman is quite positive that the social responsibility of a business and the primary focus of those who run the business is to make profit [6]. In business there is a multitude of different scenarios. These scenarios are hardly similar and each of them requires different point of view, perspectives and methods of approach. Is this the right approach? From the other point of view, ethical issues should not be overlooked. As we move towards a more connected world, with social media slowly replacing mainstream news channels, where â€Å"green† is the word and technology of choice, where political correctness is more important than the essence of an issue, ethical mishaps can turn into a publicity nightmare for corporations. While, in my opinion, a lot of ethical and moral issues are overly inflated there are some that must be taken into account, since they directly relate to the business’ business: profits! In the world we live in I think it is fair to say that corporations can still pursue successful paths while pursuing several methods of social responsibilities. I want to focus on three methods.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Catalytic Power And Specificity Of Enzymes Biology Essay

Catalytic Power And Specificity Of Enzymes Biology Essay Enzymes are mainly proteins, that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process are called substrates, and the enzyme converts them into different molecules, called the products. Almost all processes in a biological cell need enzymes to occur at significant rates. Catalytic power and specificity are the two characteristics of enzymes which require explanation. The structure of the enzymes active site will provide us with the beginnings of an explanation. Since a catalyst must come in contact with the substrate to initiate any reaction, there must be a fit between the substrate and the active site. Right away, some substrate molecules will fit and others will not, so some substrates will react and others will not. The fit can come about either because the molecule fits easily into the enzymes active site (lock-and-key model) or because the enzymes structure adjusts to the substrates entry (induced fit model). Inhibition of enzymes results in a decrease in or elimination of the effect an enzyme has on the rate of a reaction. There are two main types of inhibitors reversible inhibitors and irreversible inhibitors. Reversible inhibitors do not completely stop the enzyme from catalyzing a reaction, and if the concentration of the inhibitor is lowered the enzymatic activity returns to its normal level. The reaction can still proceed but at a much slower rate, depending on the amount of inhibitor and substrate present. If concentrations of the inhibitor are lowered they tend to dissociate from the enzyme. There are three mechanisms for reversible inhibition: Competitive inhibition where the inhibitor resembles the substrate and binds to the same point on the enzyme that the substrate would, Non-competitive inhibition where the inhibitor does not bind to the same point as the substrate but slows down the reaction regardless. Uncompetitive inhibition where the inhibitor binds to the enzyme when the substrate is already bound. Irreversible inhibitors bind strongly to the enzyme usually via covalent bonds and do not dissociate when concentrations are lowered: thus their name. Bonding can occur at the active site or elsewhere on the enzyme, but the overall effect is to inactivate the enzyme. Myocardial infarction Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is defined as death or necrosis of myocardial cells. It is a diagnosis at the end of the spectrum of myocardial ischemia or acute coronary syndromes. Myocardial infarction occurs when myocardial ischemia exceeds a critical threshold and overwhelms myocardial cellular repair mechanisms designed to maintain normal operating function and hemostasis. This is most commonly due to occlusion (blockage) of a coronary artery following the rupture of a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, which is an unstable collection of lipids (fatty acids) and white blood cells (especially macrophages) in the wall of an artery. symptoms of acute myocardial infarction include sudden chest pain (typically radiating to the left arm or left side of the neck), shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, sweating, and anxiety (often described as a sense of impending doom). Women may experience fewer typical symptoms than men, most commonly shortness of breath, weakness, a feeling of indigestion, and fatigue. Approximately one quarter of all myocardial infarctions is silent, without chest pain or other symptoms. Treatment of myocardial infarction  · Thrombolytic therapy has been shown to improve survival rates in patients with acute myocardial infarction if administered in a timely fashion in the appropriate group of patients. If percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) capability is not available or will cause a delay greater than 90 minutes, then the optimal approach is to administer thrombolytics within 12 hours of onset of symptoms in patients with ST-segment elevation greater than 0.1 mV in 2 or more contiguous ECG leads, new left bundle-branch block (LBBB), or anterior ST depression consistent with posterior infarction. Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is superior to streptokinase in achieving a higher rate of coronary artery patency; however, the key to efficacy lies in the speed of the delivery of therapy.  · Aspirin and/or antiplatelet therapy o Aspirin has been shown to decrease mortality and re-infarction rates after myocardial infarction. Administer aspirin immediately, which the patient should chew if possible upon presentation. Continue aspirin indefinitely unless an obvious contraindication, such as a bleeding tendency or an allergy, is present. Clopidogrel may be used as an alternative in cases of a resistance or allergy to aspirin. Recent data from the CLARITY trial (CLopidogrel as Adjunctive ReperfusIon Therapy Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] 28) suggest that adding clopidogrel to this regimen is safe and effective. The clopidogrel dose used was 300 mg. Further studies suggest that a higher dose of clopidogrel may have added benefit. o Administer a platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa-receptor antagonist, in addition to acetylsalicylic acid and unfractionated heparin (UFH), to patients with continuing ischemia or with other high-risk features and to patients in whom a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is planned. Eptifibatide and tirofiban are approved for this use. Abciximab also can be used for 12-24 hours in patients with unstable angina or NSTEMI in whom a PCI is planned within the next 24 hours.  · Heparin (and other anticoagulant agents) has an established role as an adjunctive agent in patients receiving t-PA, but not in patients receiving streptokinase. Heparin is also indicated in patients undergoing primary angioplasty. Few data exist with regard to efficacy in patients not receiving thrombolytic therapy in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. Low molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) have been shown to be superior to UFHs in patients with unstable angina or NSTEMI. Bivalirudin (a direct thrombin inhibitor)  has shown some promise in the setting of STEMI if combined with high-dose clopidogrel load and may be an appropriate alternative strategy.  · Nitrates have no apparent impact on mortality rate in patients with ischemic syndromes. Their utility is in symptomatic relief and preload reduction. Administer to all patients with acute myocardial infarction within the first 48 hours of presentation, unless contraindicated (ie, in RV infarction).  · ACE inhibitors reduce mortality rates after myocardial infarction. Administer ACE inhibitors as soon as possible as long as the patient has no contraindications and remains in stable condition. ACE inhibitors have the greatest benefit in patients with ventricular dysfunction. Continue ACE inhibitors indefinitely after myocardial infarction. Angiotensin-receptor blockers may be used as an alternative in patients who develop adverse effects, such as a persistent cough, although initial trials need to be confirmed.  · Beta-blockers may reduce the rates of reinfarction and recurrent ischemia. Administer to patients with myocardial infarction unless a contraindication is present. However,  a  large chinese trial  showed no benefit to beta-blockade. This has created some doubt as to the benefit  and may lead to a change in the guidelines. Enzyme pattern in myocardial infarction 1. Troponin Normal: Values and units vary from lab to lab Abnormal: Blood levels of troponin I typically rise within 4 to 6 hours after a heart attack reach peak concentrations within 10 to 24 hours, and fall to normal levels within 10 to 15 days. Elevated troponin levels may indicate heart muscle injury Troponin Values 12 hrs after onset of pain: Test Lower limit Upper limit Unit Comments Troponin-T 0.02 ng/mL or ÃŽÂ ¼g/L Upper limit of normal Troponin-I 0.2 ng/mL or ÃŽÂ ¼g/L Upper limit of normal Troponin-T 0.02 0.10 ng/mL or ÃŽÂ ¼g/L Acute Coronary Syndrome Troponin-I 0.2 1.00 ng/mL or ÃŽÂ ¼g/L Acute Coronary Syndrome Troponin-T 0.10 n/a ng/mL or ÃŽÂ ¼g/L Myocardial Infarction likely Troponin-I 1.00 n/a ng/mL or ÃŽÂ ¼g/L Myocardial Infarction likely 2. Creatine kinase  · Myocardial muscle creatine kinase (CK-MB) is found mainly in the heart.  · CK-MB levels increase within 3-12 hours of onset of chest pain, reach peak values within 24 hours, and return to baseline after 48-72 hours.  · Sensitivity and specificity are not as high as for troponin levels.  · Function of Creatine Kinase: A chemical reaction where creatine is converted into phosphocreatine is catalyzed by creatine kinase. This conversion takes place when it applies itself to the utilization of ATP or adenosine triphosphate. Adenosine diphosphate is a basic energy source for brain, skeletal muscle and smooth muscle. Phoshocreatine is an energy reservoir for adenosine diphosphates regeneration. In clinical terms, this enzyme is used as a marker for myocardial infarction which is heart attack and in muscle breakdown by assaying it in blood tests.  · Normal Values for CK, CPK Men 5-100 IU/L Women 10-70 IU/L Pregnancy 5-40 IU/L 3. Lactate dehydrogenase  · Lactate dehydrogenase: (LDH) An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of lactate to pyruvate. This is an important step in energy production in cells. Many different types of cells in the body contain this enzyme. Some of the organs relatively rich in LDH are the heart, kidney, liver, and muscle.  · Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LAD) level rises above the reference range within 24 hours of a myocardial infarction, reaches a peak within 3-6 days, and returns to the baseline within 8-12 days.  · Normal ranges Test Lower limit Upper limit Unit Comments Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 50 150 U/L 0.4 1.7 ÃŽÂ ¼mol/L LDH (enzyme activity) 1.8 3.4  µkat/L 4. Myoglobin  · Myoglobin is found in cardiac and skeletal muscle.  · Myoglobin is a protein in heart and skeletal muscles. When you exercise, your muscles use up any available oxygen. Myoglobin has oxygen attached to it, which provides extra oxygen for the muscle to maintain a high level of activity for a longer period of time.  · When muscle is damaged, myoglobin is released into the bloodstream. Ultimately, it is removed in the urine.  · It is released more rapidly from infarcted myocardium than troponin and CK-MB and may be detected as early as 2 hours after an acute myocardial infarction.  · Myoglobin has high sensitivity but poor specificity. It may be useful for the early detection of myocardial infarction.  · The normal (negative) range is 0 to 85 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Greater-than-normal levels (a positive result) may indicate:  · Skeletal muscle ischemia (blood deficiency)  · Skeletal muscle trauma  · Skeletal muscle inflammation (myositis)  · Heart attack  · Muscular dystrophy  · Rhabdomyolysis  · Malignant hyperthermia (very rare) 5. Natriuretic peptides Studies in several types of acute coronary syndromes have shown that elevated levels of natriuretic peptides. One of the peptides that causes natriuresis, the excretion of an excessively large amount of sodium in the urine. The natriuretic peptides are produced by the heart and vasculature:  · A-type natriuretic peptide is secreted largely by the atrial myocardium in response to dilatation.  · B-type natriuretic peptide is manufactured mainly by the ventricular myocardium.  · C-type natriuretic peptide is produced by endothelial cells that line the blood vessels. B-type natriuretic peptide is useful in the diagnosis of heart failure. The finding of a low level of B-type natriuretic peptide tends to exclude heart failure. 5.a B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) A 32-amino-acid polypeptide secreted by the ventricles of the heart in response to excessive stretching of myocytes (heart muscles cells) in the ventricles. The levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are elevated in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. BNP levels correlate with both the severity of symptoms and the prognosis in congestive heart failure. BNP levels are higher in patients with dyspnea (shortness of breath) due to heart failure than in patients with dyspnea from other causes. Rapid measurement of BNP in the emergency department therefore helps in the evaluation and treatment of patients with acute dyspnea and reduces the time to discharge and the cost of their treatment. BNP appears to be a useful marker of cardiovascular risk, even in people with no clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease. The levels of BNP predict the risk of heart failure, first cardiovascular events, atrial fibrillation, and stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 26

I cannot say how long I ran. The night was clear and cold, and my heart felt as though it were pounding in my neck, in my brain, in my feet. I occasionally pressed my hand to the wound on my neck, which was still bleeding. The area was warm to the touch, and I felt dizzy whenever I put my hand on it. With each footstep, a new image appeared in my head: Katherine, bloodstained foam collecting at the corner of her mouth; Father, standing above her with a stake. Memories blurred, so I wasn't sure whether the red-eyed, shrieking monster who was on the floor was the same person who'd lunged at me with her teeth, who'd caressed me in the pond, who haunted my dreams and my waking hours. I shivered uncontrollably and lost my footing, tripping over a felled branch. I landed on the dirt, on my hands and knees, and retched repeatedly, until the iron-like taste in my mouth disappeared. Katherine was about to die. Father hated me. I didn't know who I was, or what I should be doing. The entire world was turned upside down, and I felt dizzy and weak, sure that no matter what I did, I would cause destruction. This was all my fault. All of it. If I hadn't lied to Father and kept Katherine's secret †¦ I forced myself to catch my breath, then stood up and began running again. As I ran, the scent of the vervain in my pocket filled my nostrils. Its sweet, earthy fragrance wafted through my body, seeming to clear my head and imbue my limbs with a wakeful energy. I turned left on the dirt path, surprised at the course I was choosing, but for the first time in weeks, I felt certain about my actions. I burst into the sheriff's office, where Sheriff Forbes sat with his feet up on the desk, asleep. In the one holding cell, the town drunk, Jeremiah Black, was snoring loudly, obviously sleeping off a bad night at the saloon. Noah, a young officer, was also nodding off on a wooden chair outside the cell. â€Å"Vampires! There are vampires at Veritas!† I yelled, causing Sheriff Forbes and Jeremiah to simultaneously snap to attention. â€Å"Let's go. Follow me,† Sheriff Forbes said, grabbing a club and a musket. â€Å"Noah!† he yelled. â€Å"Get the wagon and follow behind with Stefan.† â€Å"Y sir,† Noah said, jumping to his feet. He es, pulled a club from a hook on the wall and passed it to me. Just then, I heard a piercing noise, and I realized that Sheriff Forbes was ringing the alarm outside the sheriff's office. The bell clanged over and over again. â€Å"I can help. Please?† Jeremiah slurred, both hands on the bars. Noah shook his head and hurriedly ran through the building, his boots echoing against the wooden floor beams. I followed him, stopping to watch as he hastily hitched two horses to a long iron wagon. â€Å"Come on!† Noah called impatiently, holding his whip. I jumped up onto the seat next to Noah and watched as he cracked the whip, causing the horses to gallop at breakneck speed down the hill and into town. People were standing outside their houses in nightclothes and rubbing their eyes, some hitching horses to wagons and coaches. â€Å"Attack at the Salvatore estate!† Noah called, over and over again, until his voice almost broke. I knew I should help. But I couldn't. Instead, I felt fear grip my heart as the wind whipped my face. I heard the clip-clopping of horses in the distance, and saw doors being flung open and more townspeople in their nightclothes hastily grabbing rifles, bayonets, and any other weapon they could find. As we galloped through town, I noticed the apothecary was closed tightly. Could Anna and Pearl be at home? If so, I needed to give them a warning. No. The word came so strongly, it was as if my father had whispered it in my ear himself. I needed to make things right for me, for the Salvatore name. The only people I cared about were Father and Damon, and if anything happened to them †¦ â€Å"Attack at the Salvatore estate!† I yelled, my voice breaking. â€Å"Attack at the Salvatore estate!† Noah repeated, his words sounding like a chant. I looked up at the sky. The moon was a tiny sliver, and clouds obscured any hint of starlight. But suddenly, as we rode up the hill, I saw Veritas lit up like morning, with a mob of what looked like a hundred people brandishing torches and standing on the steps of the porch, yelling. Pastor Collins stood on the porch swing, calling out prayers, as several people watched him, kneeling on the ground and praying. Next to him was Honoria Fells, yelling to anyone who would listen about demons and repentance. Old Man Robinson was brandishing his torch and threatening to burn down the entire estate. â€Å"Stefan!† Honoria called as I jumped off the wagon before it stopped. â€Å"For your protection,† she said, proffering a branch of vervain. â€Å"Excuse me,† I called hoarsely, as I pushed through the horde, using my elbows, and ran to the carriage house and up the stairs. I heard angry voices from the chambers. â€Å"I will take her! We'll leave, and you won't see either of us again!† Damon's voice, as low and ominous as incoming thunder. â€Å"Ungrateful!† Father roared, and I heard a sickening crack. I bounded up the stairs and saw Damon, slumped against the doorway, a trickle of blood oozing from his temple. The door had cracked from the impact of Damon's body. â€Å"Damon!† I called, falling onto my knees next to my brother. Damon tried to struggle to his feet. I winced as I saw the blood flooding from his temple. When he turned toward me, his eyes blazed with anger. Father stood, stake in hand. â€Å"Thank you for getting the sheriff, Stefan. Y did the right thing. ou Unlike your brother.† Father reached out toward him, and I gasped, sure he would hit him again. But instead he stretched out his hand. â€Å"Stand up, Damon.† Damon slapped away Father's hand. He stood on his own, wiping the blood from his head with the back of his hand. â€Å"Damon. Listen to me,† Father continued, ignoring the look of pure hatred on Damon's face. â€Å"Y were bewitched by the demon †¦ by that ou Katherine. But now she will disappear and you must side with what's right. I showed you mercy, but these people †¦Ã¢â‚¬  He gestured toward the window and the angry mob beyond it. â€Å"Then let me be killed,† Damon hissed, as he stormed out the door. He brushed past me, hitting me hard with his shoulder as he ran down the stairs. From inside the room, an agonizing shriek emerged. â€Å"Sheriff?† Father called, swinging open the door to Katherine's chambers. I gasped. There was Katherine, a leather muzzle over her face, her white arms and legs bound together. â€Å"She's ready,† Sheriff said grimly. â€Å"We'll take her to the wagon and add her to the list. Gilbert's got the compass and is rounding up the vampires in town. By daybreak, we will have rid the town of this scourge.† Katherine stared at me, a desperate, pleading expression in her eyes. But what could I do? She was lost to me now. I turned down the stairs and ran.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

The Lost Squatron Short Story

On Tuesday morning, December 5, 2006, Lieutenant Jimmy McGrath, a fresh faced 22 year old, Naval academy graduate, maneuvered his fighter jet across the tarmac at the US Naval Air Station Florida to the designated runway. Behind him, awaiting their tower clearance orders were the four other members of Jimmy's squadron. The men, boys really, some with peach fuzz beards, were training for assignment in Dubai, where they could fly sorties over Afghanistan and Iraq. All five pilots had been training here in Florida for several weeks, their high stress air combat training punctuated by wild Florida nights of heavy drinking and non-stop womanizing. The locals were used to it, having hosted these flyboys since Lauderdale nearly burst at the seams with newly drafted airmen, training in T-6s, and SNJ fighter trainers during World War 2. McGrath readied his jet at the flight line and after a final instrument check, increased throttle towards rotation speed, rumbling down the runway and easing back on the stick until the two ton plane defied gravity and began a steady ascent into the clouds hanging over the azure blue ocean. McGrath banked the plane right and felt momentary g-force pressure as he rolled away from the take off flight path to allow the next jet to leave the Earth.†Hee-haw† shrieked through Jimmy's mic, as his wingman, Bobby-Joe Nicholson followed McGrath into the heavens. Nicholson grew up in tobacco rich North Carolina back country, and his accent and redneck colloquialisms made training a lot easier for everybody. Nicholson was followed by Andy Grayson, from Wichita, then Angel Fernandez of the Bronx, and finally Ron Fontaine, a graduate of the Donnelly Housing Projects in Detroit. Fontaine was voted by his peers the last person anyone wanted to meet in a back alley for a fight. He was also the most accomplished â€Å"stick man† among them. Despite his â€Å"officer and gentleman status, Fontaine's 6 foot 2 inch muscular frame and tattooed biceps gave off a menacing appearance respected and feared by the other young pilots. The five jets screamed through the blue sky, each plane's engine creating enormous jet trails flowing behind, until they maneuvered into formation. The planes floated in the air next to each other as if dangling on elastic strings, their high-powered engines, flying in unison, making it appear as if they were not even moving. â€Å"OK guys,† McGrath bellowed,† lets head south over the ocean and then take a bearing of 26 degrees, 3 minutes north, then 80 degrees, 7 minutes west toward Hen and Chickens Shoals.† Although he did not mention it, the day's flight path would eventually take them into them into heart of the Devils Triangle. The Devils Triangle, or Bermuda Triangle as it was sometimes called, was a triangular patch of ocean in the Atlantic stretching from the Florida Keys south towards the Bermuda Islands. As every school kid knows, the Triangle's legend of mystery encompasses numerous claims of disappearing ships and aircraft. None of the men gave any serious thought to the Triangle legend, not many people did anymore since the quasi-pulp fiction exposes published in the 1970s tried to give pseudo-scientific credence to alleged supernatural happenings in that part of the Atlantic Ocean. However, they all knew about it. â€Å"Where to skip,?† crackled over the airwaves from Ron Fontaine's cockpit. â€Å"We're headed to the old junked freighter for some bombing and strafing practice,† responded Lieutenant McGrath. â€Å"And Ron,† said the flight leader, â€Å"this time wait for my signal before you starting locking in on the target.† â€Å"Shiiiit,† Fontaine screeched into his headset, and the other pilots chuckled at the exchange between the two men. â€Å"Hey Lieutenant, this time can we go in youngest pilot first,?† said Fernandez. â€Å"What is it with you guys from New Yawk,† drawled Nicholson, â€Å"y'all think you're born to tell the rest of us what to do.† â€Å"Hey, Tobacco boy,† I saw a guy like you once in the Bronx Zoo, behind bars,† Fernandex replied with a laugh. â€Å"Aw can it, you two,† shouted McGrath, â€Å"and tighten up the formation. Fernandez and Grayson pick it up back there.† â€Å"Aye, aye sir,† came the reply, in unison. The old freighter had been towed to this classified location in 1945, near the war's end, and for 60 years had, along with several other decommissioned vessels, been used to train young hot-shot pilots in the art of air war. â€Å"All right, in about 60 second we'll come up on the shoals bomb site, Nicholson and Fontaine, break right and take the first pass. Remember, nose guns first, then use one Sidewinder missile each the second time around,† McGrath ordered. The silver jets streaked through the cloud-filled blue sky like sharp knives slicing through warm biscuits. The two pilots took the lead and banked towards the abandoned and anchored old ship and locked onto the target with their computerized weapons guidance system. With today's technology they could hit a small object from a distance of a mile or more, but their state side training still required close target approaches. The planes would come within 500 yards of the target on the first pass. The three other pilots kept a distance to watch the show and wait their turn, as determined by their flight leader, Lieutenant McGrath. Nicholson and Fontaine took turns firing their 30 Millimeter, seven barrel nose guns at the old tub, blasting holes in the rusting hull at apace of 3900 rounds a minute, which exploded with a fury of sparks, smoke and flying debris as they roared past â€Å"Nice work guys,† McGrath said. â€Å"Commander Taylor, my fuel is low, and my instruments are still acting up, maybe we should be heading West† crackled across his headphones in response. â€Å"Come back,† McGrath replied. Is that you Fernandez. Stop the bullshit, will ya.† â€Å"Not me, Lieutenant,† Fernandez replied, â€Å"Don't expect me to give you a promotion,† he laughed. â€Å"Cut it out,† McGrath said, as he scanned the skies around him, â€Å"are one of you guys having instrument problems?† â€Å"Everyone check in,† he commanded. â€Å"Nicholson here, I'm fine Lieutenant.† â€Å"This is Fontaine, Jimmy, no problems with my bird.† â€Å"This is Grayson, sir, it wasn't me.† â€Å"Well who the hell is playing around.† McGrath shouted. â€Å"I can't see any land, sir† came the voice again. This time someone else responded. â€Å"Boys, this is Taylor, don't worry, we left the Georgia swamp area 30 miles back, and we should be coming up on the Keys shortly,† â€Å"Who's on this frequency, identify yourselves, † Lt. McGrath said into his helmet mic. He scanned his instrument radar panel and again looked outside his cockpit canopy but did not see any other planes in the bright, clear, mid-day sky. Without answering McGrath, the unknown chatter continued. â€Å"Hey Brownie, if we ever find our way back, I'm gonna propose to that nurse I met last week at the USO Holiday dance.† â€Å"Yeah, yeah sure, the one whose feet you kept stepping on during the Glen Miller piece?† â€Å"Shiiit, Glenn Miller, what the fuck is that all about,† Fontaine said. â€Å"Hey, one of you guys playing some sort of trick on our boy Jimmy,† Fernandez laughed. â€Å"Yeah, one of those old radio shows, or some shit like that,† Fontaine replied. â€Å"I don't know about you but it's freaking me out,† said Grayson. â€Å"Anyway, whoever it is mentioned Lauderdale, so it's probably some old Navy guys out for a joyride. I see those guys come out on Sunday's sometimes and fly around in those old radial engine trainers.† â€Å"Yeah, but it ain't Sunday, and what they all doin' on our radio frequency,† drawled Nicholson. â€Å"All right, all right, forget about it. It's probably just somebody playing around,† bellowed McGrath, â€Å"lets get ready for the second run. One missile this time.† Fontaine and Grayson broke away from the formation again and headed toward the target This time they programmed their guidance system to fire one AIM-9 Sidewinder missile each at a distance of a half mile. Within seconds each jet shimmied slightly as their missiles dislodged from under their wings and moved off in an arc of white smoke toward the old half-sunken freighter. The missile warheads were loaded with only small amounts of explosives so that they would create damage but not completely obliterate the boat, leaving it sufficiently intact for further training runs. The two missiles struck, on forward one aft, almost simultaneously, and a column of smoke, debris, and sea water rose high into the air. As the mix fell back again, the pilots who were all observing the action noticed small black objects off in the distance, beyond the target area, moving slowly toward them. â€Å"What the fuck is that,† sad Fernandez into his mic. Grayson and Fontaine, who had pulled up and over the target, getting a birds-eye view of the damage they caused, rolled across the sky, unknowingly hurtling their jets directly in the path of the shadowy, black objects. Some three miles away, the rest of the squadron watched as Fontaine and Grayson blew past the objects and then banked and ascended up and to the left. As they had flown by, in the seconds they were adjacent to the objects, both pilots had seen something that had startled them. Grayson and Fontaine had peered into the cockpits of a squadron of World War 2 naval fighters, â€Å"Avengers†, each operated by a two or three man crew, a pilot facing forward, sometimes with a co-pilot, and a gunner operating a ball turret weapon aft. â€Å"Shiiit,† Fontaine yelled into his helmet mic, â€Å"did you see that Grayson.† â€Å"What the hell are those old warbirds doing way out here, the air museum operates outta Pensacola,† Grayson replied. â€Å"Hell if I know,† Fontaine said, â€Å"but they were sure as shittin surprised by us.† â€Å"Damn lucky we didn't clip their wings.† â€Å"Hey skip,† Fontaine said, calling out to Lieutenant McGrath, † you won't believe what's headed your way.† â€Å"I see 'em, Fontaine, we're gonna give those old buckets some room so we don't blow their tails off with our engines,† McGrath replied. The remaining jets elevated their flight path to avoid the oncoming relics of the past, shooting with Mach speed into the lower stratosphere. â€Å"Commander, did you see that?,† said one of the warbird pilots. â€Å"I sure did, Tex,† replied Taylor, I don't know what the hell it was but I saw a red, white and blue star on it's side so it must be ours.† â€Å"Hell yes,† Tex's gunner cried, â€Å"we must be close to the Shoals now. I see the target ship they towed out this way a few weeks ago.† â€Å"I bet that was some experimental jet the Nazis were using, I saw a few being worked on at the base. Just come over from Germany last week for testing,† said one of the Avenger pilots. OK, men, settle down† Commander Taylor ordered, â€Å"set a course for the direction of the target vessels and let's get these tired birds home.† â€Å"Hey, my instruments are working again, Commander,† said one of the pilots. â€Å"Mine too, Chuck,† cried another. â€Å"Looks like we'll make it back after all,† the Avenger flight leader said, â€Å"and not a moment too soon with these near empty gas gauges. Keep a tight formation as we head in boys. Follow my lead. Last one on the deck has to kiss Charlie McCarthy's bald head.† The jet pilots listened, without a word, to the entire conversation going on below them. Fontaine and Grayson had rejoined the group and they were all now headed due East at 400 miles an hour at an elevation of 25,000 feet. Finally, Fernandez spoke up. â€Å"You catch that, Lieutenant.† â€Å"†Probably some re-enactors,† Lt. McGrath replied, although his voice had lost its usual firm, confident tone. â€Å"What the hell they doin' out here, Jimmy,† said Nicholson, â€Å"don't make no sense at all.† McGrath had to agree. This area was restricted to Naval air traffic. He thought he better contact the base and let them know what was going on. â€Å"Flight leader Bravo calling Lauderdale, come in Lauderdale.† The air was quiet. â€Å"Flight leader Bravo calling Lauderdale, come in Lauderdale† Nothing. â€Å"Hey Jimmy,† Fontaine said, â€Å"my computer just went down.† â€Å"Hey me too,† Nicholson shouted. The five jets flew in tight formation through the clouds as chaos erupted in their cockpits. â€Å"Flight leader Chuck Taylor calling Lauderdale, come in Lauderdale.† â€Å"This is Lauderdale, where the heck you guys been?† came the reply. The Base Commander's been going crazy. They even called the War Department.† â€Å"You guys can tell the patrols to come back, we're a little late but we're home, † replied Commander Taylor. On the stormy evening of December 5, 1945, five TBM Avengers, their heavy radial engines roaring across the Florida sky, approached US Naval Air Station in tight formation. One by one the gleaming blue fighter planes lowered their flaps, cut off their throttles and eased their tired metal frames onto the tarmac. As they rolled off the runway, they passed rows of B-17 bombers, fresh from the battle over Europe, being serviced and refit for duty in the Pacific against the Japanese. Worried ground crews raced in gray jeeps toward each plane, dropping heavy wooden blocks under the wheels, and climbing up on the wings to draw back the heavy canopies to release the human cargo. The fourteen crew members scrambled to the airfield grounds and embraced one another, removing their yellow Mae West vests and crush caps, giving thanks that what was lost was once again found. Meanwhile, miles away, five jet fighters crossed the sky into an ethereal graveyard. They hurtled at supersonic speed into an endless vortex of space and time without up or down, without time or space, without any connection to the world they left behind. At NORAD, desperate computer messages flooded the communications room alerting the men and women who worked there of a crisis in the making. An Admiral rushed into the room in time to confront a telecommunications staffer who was the most recent recipient of the tragic news. â€Å"Sir,† the young ensign said to the astonished man,† Flight 19 is missing.† â€Å"Get me Rumsfeld,† the Admiral replied. Two wars, 6 decades apart. Two tragedies, dance partners in a macabre story with ironic parallels. The past and the future, melded together, and separated, one mystery solved, another one just beginning.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Early 19th century London essays

Early 19th century London essays Throughout the 1800s, London grew at an incredibly fast rate. People from all over the world flocked to this magnificent city of wealth and opportunity. By the mid- 1800s, London had become the single largest city in the world, with an astonishing population of 2,362,000 people. Lascar and Chinese communities began to appear near shipping ports and docks, and the Irish population continued to grow reaching hundreds of thousands. By 1841, less than two thirds of the cities inhabitants had actually been born there, and as the vast city became more and more populated, London developed some of the worst slums ever known. In St. Giles and Seven Dials, on Jacobs Island and in the Rookeries, enormous numbers of the poor were left to die. As the nineteenth century progressed, the gap between classes became increasingly more evident. Through the eyes of the rich, the poor were seen nothing more than animals. However, when Charles Dickens wrote Oliver Twist, a world of literature unknown to most Londoners became available. As both the upper and lower classes began reading this book, the enormous chasm between the rich and the poor started to close. Soon after, seeing the world in a new light, the diverse classes began to refine themselves, and finally began respecting each other. Looking back over a long life, fellow writer Francis Place was amazed at the transformation of manners among Londons population. London was greatly affected by its continual flow of immigrants. What drew immigrants to London was the possibility of employment, and thanks to Charles Dickens inspiring and enlightening novels, what they found was a world of science, art, and opportunity. ...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

17 Gorgeous Box Braids Styles and How to Care For Them

17 Gorgeous Box Braids Styles and How to Care For Them SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In the '90s, box braids were everywhere. They were the coolest hairstyle, and our favorite movie and tv characters were wearing them, from Dionne in Clueless to Moesha. As is often the case, what was once cool is cool again. Box braids are back! If you're too young to remember the heyday of box braids or if you've never worn this hairstyle, it's time to up your box braid knowledge. In this article, I'll enlighten you on all things box braids. I'll thoroughly detail what they are, how they're made, how they can be styled, and how to maintain them. So buckle up as I break it down for you in this box braid bible. What Are Box Braids? Box braids are a hairstyle associated with African and African-American hair. To make box braids, the entire head of hair is parted into boxes and each section is braided from the box all the way down. Often, box braids will be mistaken for corn rows and vice versa. Don't make this rookie mistake. The difference between box braids and cornrows is that cornrows are braided directly from the scalp, and the braids in box braids start from the boxes of hair on the scalp. For black people, and black women especially, braids and twists (in which the hair is twisted instead of braided) are known as protective hairstyles because they protect natural hair from the elements and don’t require daily maintenance. Here are some pictures of specific protective hairstyles so you can see how they look and how they differ. First, check out cornrows. In this hairstyle, the hair is braided directly from the scalp: A photo posted by Stasha Harris (@magicfingers84) on Aug 1, 2016 at 7:01pm PDT Next, here's a type of twist hairstyle known as Senegalese or rope twists. The hair is twisted instead of braided to create this look. #senegalesetwists A photo posted by Marie Hair braiding (@marie_bundu) on Jun 25, 2016 at 1:46pm PDT Finally, this is a woman with box braids. Notice how the braids start from sections of hair instead of directly from the scalp. A photo posted by Victoria Knight (@victoria_knight_) on Aug 2, 2016 at 10:07am PDT The Process of Getting Box Braids Getting box braids is a lengthy and labor-intensive process. Depending on the size of your braids and your stylist’s skill, the process can take anywhere from 2-12 hours. Preparation Before getting a box braid hairstyle, you have to prep your hair. Here are the things you need to make sure to do to your hair before getting box braids: Shampoo Detangle Deep-condition Blow dry Going through these steps will ensure your hair is as healthy and clean as possible. While your hair is braided, you won’t be able to get rid of all the dirt and bacteria from your hair and scalp, so your hair should be super clean before it gets braided. If your hair is long enough, box braids can be done with just your natural hair. However, if you want some additional length, hair pieces can be woven in. Keep in mind if you use extensions, that will add to the cost. Cost The cost for box braids varies depending on the length of your hair, the thickness of your braids, how much artificial hair is used, and where you get your braids done. Without extensions, you can get them at a salon for about $100-$300. Extensions with synthetic hair will normally add about $20-$50 to the cost, depending on the type of synthetic hair and how many packs you use. If you use human hair for your extensions, that will significantly increase the cost, and human hair is not recommended for larger braids. You can try to braid your own hair or have a friend do them to lower your cost, but most often, you'll get the best results if you have your braids done by a professional. The Basic Box Braid Steps First, all the hair must be parted into individual boxes one at a time. When you grab a section of hair, the hair on your scalp should look somewhat like a little square or rectangle. The size of the boxes can vary, depending on how big you want the braids to be. After the boxes have been created, the section of hair in each box is further divided into three even subsections and braided down to the ends. At the end of the process, the entire head of hair should be in individual braids. Then, you should moisturize your hair and scalp. Here you can watch an almost 20 minute video of a woman getting box braids with extensions. She takes you through the entire process, from getting her hair washed, to parting the hair, to braiding in the extensions: 5 Types of Box Braids There are multiple box braid styles. Depending on your style preference and your hair type, here are some box braid types you can choose from: Poetic Justice Braids Sometimes people will refer to box braids as Poetic Justice braids, but specifically, Poetic Justice braids are thick, long box braids, like the ones Janet Jackson wore in the movie Poetic Justice. Typically, thick box braids work best on women with thicker hair. Janet Jackson with her Poetic Justice braids Micro Braids The thinnest of the box braids are known as micro braids. They’re a great option if you have fine hair. Check out some micro braid examples: A photo posted by zencià ¶rgà ¼sà ¼ cornrows box braid (@zenci_orgusu_afro) on Jul 29, 2016 at 2:49am PDT A photo posted by CoilyHairedBeauty (@_coilyhairedbeauty_) on Jul 27, 2016 at 9:52pm PDT Ombre Braids Many women will opt for ombre braids if they’re getting extensions. Ombre just means that the hair is darker at the root and gradually becomes lighter. You can get your braids in a ton of colors, including red, green, gold, silver, brown, and purple. Use colored braids to add some pop to your hairstyle. However, depending on the colors you choose, this look may not be seen as â€Å"professional,† so make sure the colors will work for your lifestyle. A photo posted by H'ADAS Hair💎 (@hadashair) on Aug 1, 2016 at 9:am PDT Short Box Braids Your box braids don’t have to be long, even though most women choose to go long with their braids. You can do a box braid bob and look totally awesome. Typically, the shorter dos work better with thicker braids. A photo posted by Kersti Pitre (@kersti.pitre) on Sep 30, 2015 at 9:32pm PDT A photo posted by hi felicia! (@feeeenicole) on Jul 2, 2015 at 5:58pm PDT Shaved Sides You can rock long box braids and shave the sides and back of your hair. This undercut look provides some glam and edge. A photo posted by @boxbraidsbeauties on Mar 7, 2015 at 9:28am PST A photo posted by Cynthia (@hairbyclarity) on Feb 26, 2015 at 12:31pm PST 12 Box Braid Hairstyles After you get your box braids, there are a ton of ways you can style them. One of the biggest advantages of the box braid hairstyle is that it’s very versatile. Here are some of the most popular box braid hairstyles, complete with descriptions and pics. General Hairstyles for Box Braids For the most part, any hairstyle you can do with long hair, you can do with box braids. For example, here are some classic hairstyles you can do withbox braids. Additionally, you can use any combination of these looks. Buns Depending on the length and thickness of your braids, you can wear a variety of buns. You can sport your bun in the back of your head or near the front. Furthermore, you can put all your hair in a bun, or you can put some of your hair in a bun and wear the rest of your braids down. A photo posted by 👑🠍 ­Ã¢Å¡â€"MelanieSheree ðŸÅ' ºÃ°Å¸â€˜â€˜Ã°Å¸ ¦â€ž (@melaniewashere) on Jul 31, 2016 at 7:37pm PDT A photo posted by Sue's Belle Coiffure (@sue_s_belle_coiffure) on Dec 14, 2015 at 8:34am PST Ponytails It’s pretty easy to put box braids into ponytails. Again, there are a ton of ponytails you can use on box braids. You can do a side ponytail, pigtails, a high ponytail, half ponytail, or just a simple traditional ponytail. A photo posted by yarimejia (@yarimejia) on Apr 19, 2016 at 7:18pm PDT Braids You can braid your box braids. It’s like a braid within abraid. I call them inception braids. Check it out: A photo posted by Jalisa Joy (@ling_stylez) on Jun 19, 2015 at 10:53am PDT Specific Styles for Box Braids In addition to the general looks that are possible, here are some more specific box braid hairstyles. Again, you can use any of these looks or combine looks to create a style all your own. The Beyonce Bun This hairstyle was popularized by Beyoncà ©. She rocked this look after she gave birth to Blue Ivy, and in typical Beyoncà © fashion, she started a trend. Here’s Beyoncà © sporting the Beyoncà © bun: A photo posted by Lina Kewas (@pitaluh) on Apr 8, 2016 at 9:43pm PDT And check out this girl looking fabulous with her Beyoncà © bun: A photo posted by Hannah Israel (@braidsbyhannah) on Jan 14, 2015 at 8:42am PST Twisted Bun The twisted bun is basically a bun that has twisted or braided hair. You can create this look by twisting your braids and putting them in a bun. Typically, this look works better with thicker braids. The bun can be at the top of the head or closer to the neck. Here are a couple of examples of twisted buns with box braids. A photo posted by Meka (@mekajoi_stylez) on Jul 7, 2016 at 12:02pm PDT A photo posted by TwistedFingersbyFayme (@twistedfingersbyfayme) on May 16, 2016 at 10:04am PDT Super High Bun This is a bun or twisted bun that is closer to the front of your head. It gives a sophisticated look, and it can be a worn at work or for a night out. A photo posted by fatumahasha (@fatumahasha) on Dec 29, 2015 at 2:44am PST Side Part The side part is extremely simple to create. All you have to do is flip your braids to one side to sport this fierce look: A photo posted by IronyOfAshi | Agatha 🇠³Ã°Å¸â€¡ ¬ (@ironyofashi) on Aug 27, 2015 at :38am PDT Thick Braid You can braid your box braids into one thick braid in the back for a comfortable, fashionable look. While buns can add extra weight on your head and possibly hurt your neck, you won’t run into any of those issues with the braid. A photo posted by Baby Kincy (@myeyesruphere) on Jun 2, 2014 at 5:25pm PDT Ear Buns I’m kinda feeling this look. This do consists of two buns at the sides of your head while wearing the rest of your hair down. It’s sporty and cute. A photo posted by Box Braids (@bestboxbraids) on Sep 22, 2015 at 5:pm PDT A photo posted by Box Braids (@bestboxbraids) on Jul 16, 2016 at 5:47pm PDT Crown of Braids You can make a bun-like crown of braids by bringing your hair from the back and working along your hairline. This is a lovely, regal do. A photo posted by Kersti Pitre (@kersti.pitre) on Sep 25, 2015 at 9:39pm PDT The High Half Ponytail You can bring your braids from the side to the top of your head to make a high half ponytail. This is a good style for going out or if you just want to add some extra spice to your normal look. A photo posted by L I Z Z I E L O V E S (@lizzieloves.x) on Jan , 2016 at 10:37am PST Accessorizing Box Braids On top of all the various hairstyles you can wear with box braids, you can also accessorize your hair to add a little something extra. You can put beads in your braids, and you can use scarves or headbands. The scarves and headbands can help you create different hairstyles, but the beads are just for show. A photo posted by @boxbraidsgang_ on Jun 2, 2015 at 1:39pm PDT A photo posted by Magda DziÄ™giel (@holla_jazzy) on Oct 2, 2015 at 9:48am PDT How to Style Box Braids: 3 VideoTutorials If you want to see how various box braid hairstyles are created, I've posted a few video tutorials to walk you through the process. The first shows 12 ways you can style your box braids. The next shows seven top hairstyles for box braids or Senegalese twists: Finally, you can watch this video which shows six simple and elegant box braid styles: 3 Thingsto Consider Before Getting Box Braids Here are some essential things to think about before you get your box braids. How Big Do You Want Them? Do you want thick rope-like braids or very small braids? Small box braids work better for fine hair. If you have fine hair and opt for a bigger braid, the weight could damage your hair and you probably won’t get the volume you desire. Big box braids work better for thick hair. If you have thick hair and get braids that are too small, you’ll end up with a ridiculous number of braids, the braids may be too thick to style, and they’ll have too much weight. Make Sure Your Hair Is Ready Before getting a box braid hairstyle, you have to prep your hair. Thoroughly clean your hair, and don’t put any product in your hair before you get it done. This will ensure your hair is as healthy and clean as possible. Again, while your hair is braided, you won’t be able to be able to get rid of all the dirt and bacteria from your hair and scalp, so you need to make sure your hair is super clean before it gets braided. Mentally Prepare Yourself for the Process The process of getting box braids takes hours. On average, it typically requires about 4-8 hours. Generally, the smaller your braids, the longer the process. Also, the braiding can be uncomfortable. However, even though it can be a bit unpleasant, it shouldn’t be extremely painful. Intense pain can be a symptom that you’re experiencing hair loss. If you're in agony, let your stylist know, and she can adjust the tension or take your braids out. How toMaintain Your Box Braids Like all hairstyles, box braids have to be maintained, but a huge benefit of getting box braids is that they don’t require much daily maintenance. Don’t wash your hair too much, but keep your hair and scalp clean. While you should only wash your hair about once every week or two with box braids, you can clean your scalp more often. Dampen a washcloth and dip it into warm water and witch hazel astringent. Then part your hair and rub the washcloth on your scalp. Don’t leave your braids in for too long. Again, the braids only last a maximum of about two months. If you leave them in longer than that, they’re going to start to look unkempt. Also, leaving braids or weaves in for too long can lead to alopecia, or the thinning of the hairline. Your hairline is especially susceptible if your braids are too tight around the hairline. If you’re especially worried about damaging your hairline, you can undo and rebraid the front few rows after about a month. Additionally, make sure that your hairstyle isn’t too tight. Don’t wear an extremely tight bun or ponytail. If your hair is pulled back too tight, that can damage your hairline as well. If possible, wear a satin headscarf at night. This will help keep your edges looking good and protect your scalp from drying out. Keep your scalp moist. You can prevent your scalp from drying out by spraying your scalp with water when you’re not washing your scalp or hair. Only use natural oils to keep your hair and scalp moisturized. Stylists recommend avoiding mineral oils, even though they’re popular in many braid moisturizers. Instead, use natural oils like almond oil and coconut oil. Also, you can use shea butter to soothe and moisturize your scalp.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Aquarius Advertising Agency Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Aquarius Advertising Agency - Article Example This is because the Accounts Department is a separate department which does not have direct control over the other departments. The specialists independently communicate and make their own recommendations to the clients. Aquarius' departments and the personnel working in these departments - the specialists - are not working as a team, they are competing with one another. The account executives can not impose their will upon the specialists, and are not informed of the progress and details of the business products or transactions, whether the contract is done or already terminated. With the changes in environment and mode of behavior of the clients, it is already too late of the account executive and the management to know that they have lost the contract. A. In the new organizational chart created for this paper, the Accounts Vice President portfolio is eliminated to avoid overlapping of functions. Streamlining is essential. Some departments have to go, others have to be created. The account executives will work under the Vice Presidents for Operations and Marketing, and will have direct supervision over the different departments/divisions under these two Vice Presidents. This is to ensure that department specialists working for various clients will have to report first to the account executives before they go to the clients. ... Q. What kind of departmentalization is appropriate here A. It is still functional but effective and well defined. Q. What are the present functions of the account executives with respect to the Aquarius specialists A. The account executives will now have more power than their previous positions because they will be working in the same department. Like for example, the TV/Radio Production Department, the account executive for this department will be working directly and have direct supervision over the specialists in this department. The liaison officer will be well knowledgeable of everything inside the department. Q. Why is this structure more effective than the previous one A. This is more defined and effective in the sense that the whole department may have to work as a team. Suggestions, conclusions, problems and all other recommendations will be sorted out inside before it goes to the clients. Account Executives will be working inside the department concerned. No contract will be wasted. Success is within grasp. NEW ORGANIZATIONAL CHART FOR AQUARIUS AD AGENCY References 1.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Episcopal Social Services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Episcopal Social Services - Essay Example From its humble beginnings of providing assistance to needy immigrants in New York, ESS has expanded its activities to take on several social activities, starting with children and going on to adolescents requiring support and then on to adults. At the heart of the social activities lies the theme of improving the capabilities of individuals to become productive members of society and improve the quality of their life. This paper describes Episcopal Social Services and its activities as a social service organization. This paper has been written after visiting Episcopal Social Services, 305, Seventh Avenue, New York and collecting information from Naomi Hopkins, their Communication Manager. ESS was founded in 1831 by members of the Episcopal Church, in an attempt to assist the vast number of immigrants arriving in America to overcome their difficulties. Though it had a religious background ESS from its founding days remained non-sectarian as it reached out any person that was poor, sick, homeless, hungry, or imprisoned to provide the needed service (Episcopal Social Services, 2011). Throughout its 180 years of existence ESS has maintained this mission of attempting to transform and better the lives of the disadvantaged and needy residents of New York City (Episcopal Social Services, 2011). These services cover children, families and children. As early as 1864 ESS reached to provide convalescent homes and summer camps for the infirm and the undernourished; temporary lodging; clothing, food, and emergency funding for the destitute; trade schools for developing skills in the unskilled; and social clubs and free reading rooms to help keep poor people off the rough and dang erous streets of New York (Episcopal Social Services, 2011). Expanding their activities, ESS in 1907, set up an office at Ellis Island for the purpose of providing assistance to newly arrived immigrants, who were quarantined