Night World Soulmate Chapter 13 Free Essays

string(29) " find a safe place to sleep\." Don’t fight,† he panted into her face. â€Å"It’ll be easier if you just relax.† Hannah was frightened-and furious. We will write a custom essay sample on Night World : Soulmate Chapter 13 or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"In your dreams!† she gasped and slammed a knee into his groin. She hadn’t survived Maya and come thousands of miles to be killed by some weasel of a vampire. She could feel him trying to do something to her mind-it reminded her of the way Maya had captured Ha-nahkt’s eyes. Some kind of hypnosis, she supposed. But she’d had enough of hypnosis in the last week. She fought it. And she fought with her body, unskillfully maybe, but with utter conviction. She head-butted him on the nose when he tried to get close to her neck. â€Å"Ow!† The Artful Dodger jerked back. Then he got a better grip on her arm. He pulled the wrist toward him and Hannah suddenly realized what he was doing. There were nice accessible veins there. He was going to draw blood from her wrist. â€Å"No, you don’t,† she gasped. She had no idea what would happen if she lost any more blood to a vampire. Thierry had said she wasn’t in danger as long as she kept away from them for the next week, so she presumed that if she didn’t stay away, she was in danger. And she was already noticing little changes in herself: her ability to see better in the dark, for instance. She tried to wrench her arm out of the boy’s grip- and then she heard a gasp. Suddenly she realized that he wasn’t holding her as tightly, and he wasn’t trying to pull her wrist to him. Instead he was just staring at her hand. At her ring. The expression on his face might have been funny if Hannah hadn’t been shaking with adrenaline. He looked shocked, dismayed, scared, disbelieving, and embarrassed all at once. â€Å"Who-who-who are you?† he spluttered. Hannah looked at the ring, and then at him. Of course. How could she have been so stupid? She should have mentioned Thierry right away. If he was a Lord of the Night World, maybe everybody knew him. Maybe she could skip the witches altogether. â€Å"I told you I was looking for somebody. His name is Thierry Descouedres. He gave me this ring.† The Artful Dodger gave a kind of moan. Then he looked up at her from under his spiky bangs. â€Å"I didn’t hurt you, did I?† he said. It wasn’t a question, it was a demand for agreement. â€Å"I didn’t do anything to you.† â€Å"You didn’t get the chance,† Hannah said. But she was afraid the boy might just take off running, so she added, â€Å"I don’t want to get you in trouble. I just want to find Thierry. Can you help me?† â€Å"I †¦ help you. Yeah, yeah. I can be a big help.-† He hesitated, then said, â€Å"It’s kind of a long walk.† A walk? Thierry was here? Hannah’s heart leaped so high that her whole body felt light. â€Å"I’m not tired,† she said, and it was true. â€Å"I can walk anywhere.† The house was enormous. Magnificent. Palatial, even. Awe-inspiring. The Artful Dodger abandoned Hannah at the beginning of the long palm-tree-lined drive, blurting, â€Å"That’s it,† and then scampering off into the darkness. Hannah looked after him for a moment, then grimly started up the drive, sincerely hoping that it was it. She was so tired that she was weaving and her feet felt as if they’d been pounded with stones. As she walked up to the front door, though, her doubts disappeared. There were black roses everywhere. There was an arch-shaped stained-glass window above the double doors, showing a black rose that had the same intricately knotted stem as the one on Hannah’s ring. The same design had been worked into the crowns over the windows. It was used like a family crest or seal. Just seeing all those roses made Hannah’s heart beat faster. Okay, then. Ring the doorbell, she told herself. And stop feeling like some Cinderella who’s come to see what’s keeping the prince. She pushed the doorbell button, then held her breath as chimes echoed distantly. Please. Please answer†¦. She heard footsteps approaching and her heart really started to pound. I can’t believe it’s all been this easy†¦. But when the door opened, it wasn’t Thierry. It was a college-age guy with a suit, brown hair pulled back into a short ponytail, and dark glasses. He looked vaguely like a young CIA agent, Hannah thought wildly. He and Hannah stared at each other. â€Å"Uh, I’m here to †¦ I’m looking for Thierry Des-couedres,† Hannah said finally, trying to sound confident. The CIA guy didn’t change expression. When he spoke, it wasn’t unkindly, but Hannah’s heart plummeted. â€Å"He’s not here. Try again in a few days. And it’s better to call one of his secretaries before showing up.† He started to shut the door. A wave of desperation broke over Hannah. â€Å"Wait!† she said, and she actually stuck her foot in the doorway. She was amazed at herself. The CIA guy looked down at her foot, then up at her face. â€Å"Yes?† Oh, God, he thinks I’m a nuisance visitor. Hannah suddenly had a vision of swarms of petitioners lined up at Thierry’s house, all wanting him to do something for them. Like supplicants waiting for an audience with the king. And I must look like riffraff, she thought. She was wearing Levis and a shirt that was sweaty and wrinkled after tramping around the Strip all day. Her boots were dusty. Her hair was limp and disheveled, straggling over her face. â€Å"Yes?† the CIA guy said again, politely urgent. . â€Å"I †¦ nothing.† Hannah felt tears spring to her eyes and was furious with herself. She hid them by bending down to pick up her duffel bag, which by now felt as if it were loaded with rocks. She had never been so tired. Her mouth was dry and cottony and her muscles were starting to cramp. She had no idea where to find a safe place to sleep. You read "Night World : Soulmate Chapter 13" in category "Essay examples" But it wasn’t the CIA guy’s problem. â€Å"Thank you,† Hannah said. She took a deep breath and started to turn away. It was the deep breath that did it. Someone was crossing the grand entrance hall behind the CIA guy and the breath delayed Hannah long enough that they saw each other. â€Å"Nilsson, wait!† the someone yelled and came bounding over to the door. It was a girl, thin and tanned, with odd silvery-brown hair and dark amber eyes. She had several yellowing bruises on her face. But it was her expression that startled Hannah. Her amber eyes were wide and sparkling in what looked like recognition, her mouth was open in astonishment and excitement. She was waving her arms. â€Å"That’s her!† she yelled at the CIA guy, pointing to Hannah. â€Å"It’s her! It’s her.† When he stared at her, she hit him in the shoulder. â€Å"Her!† They both turned to stare at Hannah. The CIA guy had an expression now. He looked stunned. Hannah stared back at them, bewildered. Then, seeming dazed, the CIA guy very slowly opened the door. â€Å"My name is Nilsson, miss,† he said. â€Å"Please come inside.† Stupid me, Hannah thought. Almost as an afterthought, she pushed straggling hair off her left cheek, away from her birthmark. I should have told them who I was. But how could I know they would understand? Nilsson was talking again as he gently took her bag. â€Å"I’m very sorry, miss-I didn’t realize †¦ I hope you won’t hold this-â€Å" â€Å"Nobody knew you were coming,† the girl broke in with refreshing bluntness. â€Å"And the worst thing is that Thierry’s gone off somewhere. I don’t think anybody knows where or when he’ll be back. But meanwhile you’d better stay put. I don’t want to think about what he’d do to us if we lost you.† She smiled at Hannah and added, â€Å"I’m Lupe Acevedo.† â€Å"Hannah Snow.† â€Å"I know.† The girl winked. â€Å"We met before, but I couldn’t exactly introduce myself. Don’t you remember?† Hannah started to shake her head-and then she blinked. Blinked again. That silvery-brown coloring†¦ those amber eyes†¦ â€Å"Yeah,† Lupe said, looking hugely delighted. â€Å"That was me. That’s how I got these bruises. The other wolf got it worse, though. I ripped him a new-â€Å" â€Å"Would you like something to drink?† Nilsson interrupted hastily. â€Å"Or to eat? Why don’t you come in and sit down?† Hannah’s mind was reeling. That girl is a werewolf, she thought. A werewolf. The last time I saw her she had big ears and a bushy tail. Werewolves are real. And this one protected me. She said dizzily, â€Å"I †¦ thank you. I mean, you saved my life, didn’t you?† Lupe shrugged. â€Å"Part of the job. Want a Coke?† Hannah blinked, then laughed. â€Å"I’d kill for one.† â€Å"I’ll take care of it,† Nilsson said. â€Å"I’ll take care of everything. Lupe, why don’t you show her upstairs?† He hurried off and opened a cellular phone. A moment later several other guys dressed like him came running. The strange thing was that they were all very young-all in their late teens. Hannah caught snatches of frantic-sounding conversation. â€Å"Well, try that number-â€Å" â€Å"What about leaving a message with-â€Å" â€Å"Come on,† Lupe said, interrupting Hannah’s eavesdropping. With that same cheerful bluntness she added, â€Å"You look like you could use a bath.† She led Hannah past a giant white sculpture toward a wide curving staircase. Hannah glimpsed other rooms opening off the hallway. A living room that looked as big as a football field, decorated with white couches, geometric furniture, and abstract paintings. A dining room with a mile-long table. An alcove with a grand piano. Hannah felt more like Cinderella than ever. Nobody in Medicine Rock had a grand piano. I didn’t know he was so rich. I don’t know if I can deal with this. But when she was installed in a sort of Moorish fantasy bathroom, surrounded by jungly green plants and exotic tiles and brass globe lights with cut-out star shapes, she decided that she could probably adjust to living this way. If forced. It was heaven just to relax in the Jacuzzi tub, drinking a Coke and breathing in the delicious scent of bath salts. And it was even better to sit up in bed afterward, eating finger sandwiches sent up by â€Å"Chef† and telling Lupe how she came to be in Las Vegas. When she was done, Lupe said, â€Å"Nilsson and everybody are trying to find Thierry. It may take a little while, though. See, he just stopped off for a few minutes on Saturday, and then he disappeared again. But meanwhile, this house is pretty well protected. And all of us will fight for you-I mean, fight to the death, if we have to. So it’s safer than most other places.† Hannah felt a roiling in her stomach. She didn’t understand. Lupe made it sound as if they were in some castle getting ready for a siege. â€Å"Safe from†¦ ?† Lupe looked surprised. â€Å"From her-Maya,† she said, as if it should be obvious. Hannah had a sinking feeling. I should have known, she thought. But all she said was, â€Å"So you think I’m still in danger from her.† Lupe’s eyebrows shot up. She said mildly, â€Å"Well, sure. She’s going to try to kill you. And she’s awfully good at killing.† Especially me, Hannah thought. But she was too tired to be much afraid. Trusting to Lupe and Nilsson and the rest of Thierry’s household, she fell asleep â€Å"that night as soon as her head touched the pillow. She woke up to see sunshine. It was reflecting off the bedroom walls, which were painted a softly burnished gold. Weird but beautiful, Hannah thought, looking dreamily around at ebony furniture and decorative tribal masks. Then she remembered where she was and jumped out of bed. She found clean clothes-her size-lying on an elaborately carved chest. She had just finished pulling them on when Lupe knocked on the door. â€Å"Lupe, have they-â€Å" Lupe shook her silvery-brown head. â€Å"They haven’t found him yet.† Hannah sighed, then smiled, trying not to look too disappointed. Lupe made a sympathetic face. â€Å"I know. While you wait, though, you might like to meet some people.† She grinned. â€Å"They’re sort of special people, and it’s a secret that they’re even here. But I talked to them last night, and they all decided that it would be okay. They all want to meet you.† Hannah was curious. â€Å"Special people? Are they humans or†¦ uh†¦ ?† Lupe grinned even more widely. â€Å"They’re both. That’s why they’re special.† As she talked, she was leading Hannah downstairs and through miles of hallway. â€Å"They did something for me,† she said, not smiling now, but serious. â€Å"They saved my life and my mom’s life. See, I’m not a purebred werewolf. My dad was human.† Hannah looked at her, startled. â€Å"Yeah. And that’s against the laws of the Night World. You can’t fall in love with a human, much less marry them. The other werewolves came one night and killed my dad. They would have killed my mom and me, too, but Thierry got us out of the city and hid us. That’s why I’d do anything for him. I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for him†¦ and Circle Daybreak.† She had paused by the door of a room located toward the back of the house. Now, she opened the door, gave Hannah a funny little nod and a wink, and said, â€Å"You go meet them. I think you’ll like each other. You’re their type.† Hannah wasn’t sure what this meant. She felt shy as she stepped over the threshold and looked around the room. It was a den, smaller than the front living room, and more cozy, with furniture in warm ochers and burnt siennas. A breakfast buffet was set out on a long sideboard made of golden pine. It smelled good, but Hannah didn’t have time to look at it. As soon as she came in the room, every head turned and she found a dozen people staring at her. Young people. All around her age. Normal-type teenagers, except that a surprising number of them were extremely good-looking. Behind her, the door closed firmly. Hannah felt more and more as if she’d just walked out on stage and forgotten her lines. Then one of the girls sitting on an ottoman jumped up and ran to her. â€Å"You’re Hana, aren’t you?† she said warmly. â€Å"Hannah. Yes.† â€Å"I can’t believe I’m really meeting you! This is so exciting. Thierry’s told us all about you.† She put a gentle hand on Hannah’s arm. â€Å"Hannah, this is Circle Daybreak. And my name is Thea Harman.† She was almost as tall as Hannah was, and the yellow hair spilling over her shoulders was a few shades darker than Hannah’s. Her eyes were brown and soft and somehow wise. â€Å"Hi, Thea.† Somehow Hannah felt instinctively at ease with this girl. â€Å"Lupe was telling me about Circle Daybreak, but I didn’t exactly understand.† â€Å"It started as a sort of witch organization,† Thea said. â€Å"A witch circle. But it’s not just for witches. It’s for humans and vampires and werewolves and shapeshifters†¦ and, well, anybody who wants to help Night People and humans get along. Come and meet the others and we’ll try to explain.† A few minutes later, Hannah was sitting on a couch with a plate of eggs Benedict, being introduced. â€Å"This is James and Poppy,† Thea said. â€Å"James is a Redfern on his mother’s side-which makes him a descendant of Maya’s.† She glanced at James with gentle mischief. â€Å"I didn’t pick my parents. Believe me, I didn’t,† James said to Hannah. He had light brown hair and thoughtful gray eyes. When he smiled it was impossible not to smile back. â€Å"Nobody would have picked your parents, Jamie,† Poppy said, elbowing him. She was very small, but there was a kind of impish wisdom in her face. Her head was a tangle of copper curls and her eyes were as green as emeralds. Hannah found her elfin beauty just a little scary†¦ just a little inhuman. â€Å"They’re both vampires,† Thea said, answering Hannah’s unspoken question. â€Å"I didn’t used to be,† Poppy said. â€Å"James changed me because I was dying.† â€Å"What’s a soulmate for?† James said, and Poppy poked him again and then grinned at him. They were obviously in love. â€Å"You’re-soulmates?† Hannah spoke softly, wistfully. It was Thea who answered. â€Å"That’s the thing, you see-something is causing Night People to find human soulmates. We witches think that it’s some Power that’s waking up again, making it happen. Some Power that’s been asleep for a long time- maybe since the time when Thierry was born.† Now Hannah understood why Lupe had said she was Circle Daybreak’s type of people. She was part of this. â€Å"But-that’s wonderful,† she said, speaking slowly and trying to gather her thoughts. â€Å"I mean†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She couldn’t exactly explain why it was so wonderful, but she had a sense of some immense turning point being reached in the world, of some cycle that was about to end. Thea was smiling at her. â€Å"I know what you mean. We think so, too.† She turned and held out a hand to a very tall boy with a sweet face, sandy hair, and hazel eyes. â€Å"And this is my soulmate, Eric. He’s human.† â€Å"Just barely,† a boy from the other side of the room said. Eric ignored him and smiled at Hannah. â€Å"And this is Gillian and David,† Thea said, moving around the circle. â€Å"Gillian’s a distant cousin of mine, a witch, and David’s human. Soulmates, again.† Gillian was tiny, with white-blond hair that fit her head like a silky cap and deep violet eyes. David had dark hair, brown eyes, and a lean tanned face. They both smiled at Hannah. Thea was moving on. â€Å"And next comes Rashel and Quinn. Rashel is human-she used to be a vampire hunter.† â€Å"I still am. But now I just hunt bad vampires,† Rashel said coolly. Hannah had an instinctive feeling of respect for her. She was tall and seemed to have perfect control of her body. Her hair was black and her eyes were a fierce and blazing green. â€Å"And Quinn’s a vampire,† Thea said. Quinn was the boy who’d made the barely-human remark. He was very good-looking, with clean features that were strongly chiseled but almost delicate. His hair was as black as Rashel’s, and his eyes were black, too. He flashed Hannah a smile that, while beautiful, was slightly unnerving. â€Å"Quinn’s the only one here who can compete with you as far as the past goes,† Thea added. â€Å"He was made into a vampire back in the sixteen hundreds, by Hunter Redfern.† Quinn flashed another smile. â€Å"Did you have a life in colonial America? Maybe we’ve met.† Hannah smiled in return, but she was also studying him with interest. He didn’t look older than eighteen. â€Å"Is that why everybody here looks so young?† she asked. â€Å"All the staff, I mean-Nilsson and the other guys in suits. Are they all vampires?† Thea nodded. â€Å"All made vampires. Lamia, like James, can grow up if they want. But once you make a human into a vampire they stop aging-and you can’t make somebody over nineteen into a vampire. Their bodies can’t make the change. They just burn out.† Hannah felt an odd chill, almost of premonition. But before she could say anything, a new voice interrupted. â€Å"Speaking of the lamia, isn’t anybody going to introduce me?† Thea turned toward the window. â€Å"Sorry, Ash-but if you’re going to sleep over there, you can’t blame us for forgetting you.† She looked at Hannah. â€Å"This is another Redfern, a cousin of James’s. His name is Ash.† Ash was gorgeous, lanky and elegant, with ash-blond hair. But what startled Hannah as he got up and unhurriedly walked to meet her was his eyes. They were like Maya’s eyes, shifting color from moment to moment. The resemblance was so striking that it was a moment before Hannah could take his hand. He’s got Maya’s genes, Hannah thought. He smiled at her, then sprawled on the loveseat. â€Å"We’re not all of Circle Daybreak, of course,† Thea said. â€Å"In fact, we’re some of the newest members. And we’re from all over the country-North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, everywhere. But Thierry called us together specially, to talk about the soulmate principle and the old Powers awakening.† â€Å"That was last week, before he found out about you,† copper-haired Poppy said. â€Å"And before he ran off. But we’ve been talking without him, trying to figure out what to do next.† Hannah said, â€Å"Whatever it is, I’d like to help you.† They all looked pleased. But Thea said, â€Å"You should think about it first. We’re dangerous people to know.† â€Å"We’re on everybody’s hit list,† Rashel, the black-haired vampire hunter, said dryly. â€Å"We’ve got the whole Night World against us,† Ash said, rolling his ever-changing eyes. â€Å"Against us. You just said ‘us.’ † James turned on his cousin triumphantly, as if he’d just won a point in an argument. â€Å"You admit you’re a part of us.† â€Å"I don’t have any Ash looked at the ceiling, choice.† â€Å"But you do, Hannah,† Thea interrupted. She smiled at Hannah, but her soft brown eyes were serious. â€Å"You don’t have to be in any more danger than you are now.† â€Å"I think-† Hannah began. But before she could finish, there was an explosion of noise from somewhere outside. How to cite Night World : Soulmate Chapter 13, Essay examples

There should have been a NO vote on Proposition 21 Essay Example For Students

There should have been a NO vote on Proposition 21 Essay 5!Marijuana is NOT a medicine!There currently exists controversy concerning smoking marijuana as a medicine. Manyleaders and members of the public have been misled, by the well financed and organized pro-druglegalization lobby, into believing there is merit to their argument that smoking marijuana is a safeand effective medicine. A review of the scientific research, expert medical testimony andgovernment agency findings shows this to be false. There is no justification for using marijuana asmedicine. The California Narcotics Officers Association consists of over 7,000 criminal justiceprofessionals who are dedicated to protecting the public from the devastating effects of substanceabuse, whether cocaine, methamphetamine or marijuana. They have seen firsthand the hurting andoften tragic results, both psychologically and physically, for those who chose intoxication as partof their lifestyles. They have studied the medicinal use of marijuana issue, compiling informationfrom medical experts to present to those we are sworn to protect. It is their firm belief that anymovement that liberalizes or legalizes substance abuse laws would set us back to the days of the70s, when we experienced this countrys worst drug problem and the subsequent consequences. In the 80s, through the combined and concerted efforts of law enforcement and prevention andtreatment professionals, illegal drug use was reduced by 50 percent. Teenagers graduating fromthe class of 1992 had a 50 percent lesser chance of using drugs than did those who graduated inthe class of 1979. Substance abuse rises whenever public attitude is more tolerant towards drugs(i.e., they are safe and harmless.) Other factors that contribute to a rise in use include increasedavailability, reduced risk with using or selling and lower prices. In 1993, for the first time in 12years of steady decline, illegal drug use rose and continues to climb. A major contributing factor isa message that drugs arent so bad. To counter this just say yes campaign, all of us should feelcompelled to provide the facts on the use of marijuana as medicine. These documented facts willprove beyond a doubt that MARIJUANA IS NOT MEDICINE. FACT: The movement to legitimize marijuana as medicine is not encouraged by t hepharmaceutical companies, Federal Food and Drug Administration, health and medicalassociations of medical experts; but instead by groups such as the National Organization for theReform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and the Drug Policy Foundation (DPF). Theseorganizations have little medical expertise and favor various forms of legalizing illegal drugs. FACT: The majority of the marijuana advocates evidence comes from unscientific,non-examined or analyzed illustrative statements from people with a variety of illnesses. It isunknown whether these individuals used marijuana prior to their illnesses or are using marijuanain combination with other medicines. It is also unknown if they had a recent thorough medicalexam or are justifying there use of marijuana, experiencing a remedy effect or experiencing theintoxicating effect of smoking marijuana. FACT: The psychoactive ingredient in marijuana (THC) is already available inpharmaceutical capsule form by prescription from medical doctors. Th is drug, Marinol, is lessoften prescribed because of the potential adverse effects and there are effective new medicinescurrently available. FACT: The manufacturers of Marinol, Roxane Laboratories inc., do not agree with thepro-marijuana advocates that THC is safe and harmless. In the Physicians Desk Reference, a goodportion of the description of Marinol includes warnings about the adverse effects. FACT: Common sense dictates that it is not good medical practice to allow a substance tobe used as medicine if that product is 1) not FDA approved, 2) ingested by smoking, 3) made upof hundreds of different chemicals, 4) not subject to product liability, 5) exempt from qualitycontrol standards, 6) not governed by daily dose criteria, 7) offered in unknown strengths (THC)from 1 to 10 percent, 8) self prescribed and self administered by the patient. FACT: Since the pro marijuana lobby has been unsuccessful in dealing with the federalgovernment before, they targeted state and local governments to legitimize smoking marijuana asa medicine. A careful examination of their legislative and/or ballot proposals reveals they arewritten to effectively neutralize enforcing most marijuana laws. Crude, intoxicating marijuana,under their proposals, would be easier to obtain and use than even the most harmless, low levelprescription drug. .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57 , .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57 .postImageUrl , .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57 , .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57:hover , .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57:visited , .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57:active { border:0!important; } .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57:active , .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57 .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u80b55254083891b84e10c31348ed5d57:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Diabetes Mellitus EssayFACT: Major medical and health organizations, as well as the vast majority of nationallyrecognized expert medical doctors, scientists and researchers, have concluded that smokingmarijuana is not safe and effective medicine. These organizations include: the American MedicalAssociation, the American Cancer Society, National Sclerosis Association, the AmericanGlaucoma Association, American Academy of Ophthalmology, National Institute for NeurologicalDisorders and Stroke, National Institute of Dental Research and the National Institute on Allergyand Infectious Diseases. FACT: There are over 10,000 studies available documenting the harmful physical effect sand psychological effects of smoking marijuana. The harmful consequences include, but are notlimited to, premature cancer; addiction; coordination and perception impairment; and a number ofmental disorders, including depression, hostility, increased aggressiveness, general apathy,memory loss, reproductive disabilities, impairment to the immune system, numerous airwayinjuries and other general problems associated with intoxication. FACT: The medicinal marijuana movement and its media campaign have helped contributeto the changing attitude among our youth that marijuana is harmless, contributing to the increaseof marijuana use among our young people after twelve years of steady decline. What we dontneed in this society is more intoxicated people on our highways, in workplaces, in schools, incollege or in our homes.

Sweet Memories free essay sample

It was raining outside, shattering relentlessly on my window panes. I snuggled into my thick, warm sheets, pulling them tightly around me. I rather enjoyed rainy nights, the rain seemed to drown out my thoughts, leaving a peaceful calm feeling, no pressure of time nor space. A loud rumbling growl of thunder bellowed, making me jump. Unconsciously, my fingers reached out for my blanky, my faithful companion for the past few years, my source of comfort throughout stormy days. I buried my nose into the silky blue quilt; the familiar smell somehow brought a nostalgic feeling to my soul. Blanky always reminded me of grandma. Memories locked deep in my heart that I tried ever so hard to forget flooded my mind once again; I hurriedly blinked away the tears that was brimming on the edge of my lashes†¦ I remember the days, when grandmother was still around. She wasn’t the typical stereotype grandmother who sits in old, wooden rocking chairs, knitting endlessly to pass their old days. We will write a custom essay sample on Sweet Memories or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page My grandmother was special. Short, black-grey curls bounced around her wrinkled sun burnt face. Dark mischievous eyes twinkled from under bushy eyebrows. My grandmother was really energetic. She was always running around, cracking jokes, and bringing me out for picnics. I spent a lot of time with grandma, when my parents went for vacations. I enjoyed my days with grandma though. Grandma lived alone somewhere in the country. It was a small house surrounded with a big meadow and green pastures. I loved my Grandma’s little secret garden. It was a beautiful garden, surrounded by a great wall of tall trees, bringing mysterious, peaceful feelings. Sometimes we would just sit on the back porch swing; I would lie my head on her knee, and she would stroke my head as she told me a story. At nights, Grandma would bring me out to watch the stars. She promised that she would always be there for me, just as the stars were. For my fifth birthday, my grandma decided to sew a blanket for me. It was made of traditional Chinese silk. It was old fashioned and not very pretty, but I loved it very much, regarding it as my most prized possession. The sweet memories, however, did not last long. Grandma contracted a deadly disease, and passed away one Spring day. When I got the news, I was devastated. It was impossible to think of a woman so strong, now left without a trace of life in her body. For months I would not speak to a soul about the sweet memories once shared. The memories were forever locked under key inside the depths of my heart†¦ The rain had cleared, and stars that were hidden by dark clouds a few moments ago were once again seen twinkling in the sky. I pressed my face to the window and whispered, â€Å"You are always there for me, even when I cannot see you. † I held the blanky tight to my heart, my last memory of grandma shall always be treasured. I learnt from this painful experience to cherish each moment of life, because time is precious. I shall not cry because its over, but I shall smile because it happened.

Australian Consumer Law free essay sample

It also provides safety and information standarts, establishes liabilities of manufactures and products. The law is continuously developing in order to protect customers against unfair practices of manufactures. In the past the remedies for dissatisfied customers were stated only in the common law, which was unable to provide sufficient protection. However, on 1 January, 2011 The Australian Consumer Law commenced , which was a big movement towards the provision of adequate protection of customers. It is elaborate law and it is applicable nationally, in all states and territories and also to Australian businesses. The Australia Consumer Law now includes: * a new, national unfair contract terms law covering standard form contracts; * a new, national law guaranteeing consumer rights when buying goods and services, which replaces existing laws on conditions and warranties; * a new, national product safety law and enforcement system; * a new, national law for unsolicited consumer agreements, which replaces existing State and Territory laws on door-to-door sales and other direct marketing; * simple national rules for lay-by agreements; and new penalties, enforcement powers and consumer redress options, which currently apply nationally. We will write a custom essay sample on Australian Consumer Law or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page www. consumerlaw. gov. au) A contract is an agreement which is made between two or more parties and it must be enforced legally. A contruct is concluded when an offer is made by one party to another one and the other party accepts it. There is no particular definition for a ‘standard form contract’, however, standard form contract is usually made by one party and is not the subject of discussion between two parties. They are normally used for supply of goods and services to consumers in various industries. The contract is considered to be unfair if its terms are treated as if they have never existed. Under the Competition and Consumer Act(2010), a ‘consumer contract’ is a contract for: gt;the supply of goods or services or gt; the sale or grant of an interest in land to an individual who acquires it wholly or predominantly for personal, domestic or household use or consumption. Under Sch 2, s. 24(1) of the Act and s. 12BG of the ASIC Act, states that a term of a consumer contract is unfair if it: gt;would cause a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations arising under the contract and gt; is not reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the party who would be advantaged by the term and gt;would cause detriment (whether financial or otherwise) to a party if it were to be applied or relied on. All three limbs of the unfairness test must be proven, on the balance of probabilities, to exist for a court to decide that a term is unfair. The unfair contract terms laws for consumer goods and services are enforced by both Commonweal th and state and territory consumer protection agencies. The courts determine whether the term of a contract is unfair and make decisions about the redress of loss or damage suffered by consumers. Sometimes tribunals can perform the same functions. In division 1 of Part 3-2 of the Australian Consumer Law can be found the rights of the consumer to guarantees, which are provided by manufactures and supplies about their goods and services. All goods must be of an acceptable quality which means that they are fit for a particular purpose for which they are supposed to be used, their appearance is good, they are without any defects and also safe and durable. The suppliers must fix the problems in goods if they do not meet a consumer guarantee even in case when there is no extended warranty or if the warranty has expired. Suppliers are also responsible for all promises made to consumers. â€Å"Express warranties† are often given by suppliers or manufactures, which means that they make additional promises about quality, characteristics, state and condition of their goods. For example, a supplier may tell the customer that the chair will last for 5 years, and that will mean that he/she guarantees that this good will satisfy this warranty. If this chair fails to meet consumers guarantee, then the consumer will have the right for a remedy. There exists another warranty which is called â€Å"warranty against defects†, which means that suppliers and manufactures guarantee that any defects in the product they provide will not appear during a particular period of time, otherwise they will be responsible for either its repair or replacement. A warranty against defects must be done in a written form. Also consumers can get any compensation, which will cover their loss. The explanation and codification of a more exact guarantee of â€Å"acceptable quality† as well as the provision of remedies for consumers are two of the most important changes that were introduced into the Australian Consumer Law and they make consumers guarantees more clear. As it was mentioned before, the Australian Law is moving to over protect consumers but until 1974 it was very difficult for a consumer to have remedy against anyone but the immediate supplier of defective goods. There was no remedy available to the consumer against third parties under contract law because no contractual relationship existed between them and the consumer (Gibson, Fraser, 2011). However, nowadays if consumer suffered any damage because of defective goods, the manufactures are strictly liable. If the manufacturer or the supplier fails to fulfill the guarantees as laid in the law then there can be civil penalties to the tune of $50,000 for the company and $10,000 in case of individual (Clark, 2011). The consumer may elect to sue either their immediate supplier or the manufacturer directly (Gibson, Fraser, 2011). The remedies which consumers can be provided by law can be found in Part 4-5 of the Australian Consumer Law where the remedy is dependent on the gravity of a breach. The manufacturer of defective goods that cause personal injury or damage may be liable to compensate an individual who is injured (section 138), an injured third party, such as bystander (section 139), a person for damage to personal, domestic or household goods( section 140) and a person for damage to land, buildings or fixtures( section 141) (Gibson, Fraser, 2011). There is a section 18 in the Australian Consumer Law, which prohibits conduct by a corporation that is misleading or deceptive. The law can be broken if the company affects consumers thoughts and prevents him/her from making reasonable decisions by providing untruthful information about the price, quality or value of goods and services in advertisement, statement, quotation, representation or promotion of the company. In this case the conduct of the business will be considered misleading and deceptive even if it was unintentional. For example, if a real estate agent wants to sell the property and tells the potential customer that his/her flat will be overlooking the park with a school nearby but in reality there is neither park, nor school. Consumer who suffered loss because of breach of section 18 can bring a civil action. Section 18 is a catch-all provision and does not require the conduct be deliberate, so there are no criminal penalties (Gibson, Fraser, 2011). There is also a number of other unfair practices that are prohibited by the Australian Consumer Law such as offering gifts or prizes (section 32), misleading conduct as to the nature or manufacturing process of goods (section 33), misleading conduct regarding services (section 34), bait advertising (section 35), referral selling (section 49), accepting payment without intending to supply (section 36), coercion or harassment at place of residence (section 50), pyramid selling (sections 44-46), unsolicited credit cards (section 39), unsolicited goods and services (sections 40-41). These sections carry criminal penalties and civil remedies, therefore it must be established that the conduct was deliberate. The Australian Consumer Law introduces a national law on product safety. All goods have prescribed standard and it is prohibited to supply goods if they do not comply with this standard. The standards of product safety are related to such things as products performance, design, contents, its testing during and after manufacture process and also to the presence of necessary warnings and instructions, which help consumers to avoid risk of being injured. In the sections 195-204 offences related to supply of products that do not comply with a prescribed standard. Fines may be up to $1,1 million for a corporation and $220,000 for an individual, or civil pecuniary penalties up to similiar maximums. The Australian Consumer Law is improving and a number of changes were made related to the rights and remedies of consumers in order to provide them better protection. One of the reasons for the extension of consumer protection provisions is probably the aim to motivate companies to act fairly in their business. !!? But for this law to work it is also necessary that consumers are aware of their rights and that will prevent them from being misleaded by suppliers. References Australian Consumer Law, Commonwealth of Australia, 2010, viewed on 23d August, 2012. http://www. consumerlaw. gov. au/content/Content. aspx? doc=the_acl. htm Clarke J. 2011, Australian contract and Consumer Law, viewed on 23d August, 2012. http://www. australiancontractlaw. com Gibson A. , Fraser D. , Business Law, Pearson Australia, 2011, pp. 549-633.

Chemical Engineer Job Profile and Career Information

Chemical Engineer Job Profile and Career Information Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemical engineering to identify and solve technical problems. Chemical engineers work mainly within the chemical and petrochemical industries. What Is a Chemical Engineer? Chemical engineers use math, physics, and economics to solve practical problems. The difference between chemical engineers and other types of engineers is that they apply a knowledge of chemistry in addition to other engineering disciplines. Chemical engineers may be called universal engineers because their scientific and technical mastery is so extensive. What Do Chemical Engineers Do? Some chemical engineers make designs and invent new processes, some construct instruments and facilities, and some plan and operate facilities. Chemical engineers have helped develop atomic science, polymers, paper, dyes, drugs, plastics, fertilizers, foods, textiles, and chemicals. They devise ways to make products from raw materials and ways to convert one material into another useful form. Chemical engineers can make processes more cost effective, more environmentally friendly, or more efficient. A chemical engineer can find a niche in any scientific or engineering field. Chemical Engineer Employment and Salaries As of 2014, the US Department of Labor estimated there were 34,300 chemical engineers in the United States. At the time of the survey, the average hourly wage for a chemical engineer was $46.81 per hour. The median annual salary for a chemical engineer was $97,360 as of 2015.   In 2014, the Institution of Chemical Engineers Salary Survey reported the average salary for a chemical engineer in the UK was  £55,500, with a starting salary for a graduate averaging  £30,000. College graduates with a chemical engineering degree typically gain high salaries for even first employment. Educational Requirements for Chemical Engineers An entry-level chemical engineering job typically requires a college bachelors degree in engineering. Sometimes a bachelors degree in chemistry, math, or another type of engineering will suffice. A masters degree is helpful. Additional Requirements for Engineers In the US, engineers who offer their services directly to the public need to be licensed. Licensing requirements vary, but in general an engineer must have a degree from a program that is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), four years of relevant work experience, and must pass a state examination. Job Outlook for Chemical Engineers Employment of chemical engineers (as well other types of engineers and chemists) is expected to grow at the rate of 2 percent between 2014 and 2024, slower than the average for all occupations.   Career Advancement in Chemical Engineering Entry level chemical engineers advance as they assume more independence and responsibility. As they gain experience, solve problems, and develop designs they may move into supervisory positions or may become technical specialists. Some engineers start their own companies, some move into sales, and others become team leaders and managers.

Should Wells Fargo lose the latest DOJ lawsuit, Were they ethical in Research Paper

Should Wells Fargo lose the latest DOJ lawsuit, Were they ethical in there practices with the Mortgages - Research Paper Example Recently, the company has been facing a lawsuit that requires them to pay for damages, because of acting unethically toward offering substandard mortgage loans, which might have powered the financial crisis in the region (Raindi & Timiraos, 2012). This paper will examine the lawsuit, and if the company is justified in claiming they acted within their financial ethical boundaries. In October 2012, the Department of Justice was at the forefront in trying to prove that Wells Fargo & Co. acted unethically by providing shoddy mortgage deals to insurance programs in the U.S., hence; creating a loss of millions of dollars. An Act enacted in 1989 allows the government to sue any financial institution if the affected party is insured by the federal government. The Department of Housing and Urban Development in US is accusing Wells Fargo & Co. of offering shoddy loans to first-time buyers (Raindi & Timiraos, 2012). According to the Department of Housing, this was done with complete disregard a s to whether the parties being given loans had the ability to pay or not. The probability of Wells Fargo losing the lawsuit There is a likelihood that Wells Fargo & Co. might lose the lawsuit. This is because under the various laws that govern the operations and functions of financial institutions, the company may have gone against the law in their undertakings. The law of restrictions under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA), is still a factor to consider, where the company is still liable for prosecution by the state even after the period that has elapsed. The company can also be prosecuted under the federal False Claims Act. The refusal of the banking institution to report the defective loans has played a vital role in the escalation of the financial crisis (Raindi & Timiraos, 2012), which still rocks the U.S. and countless other regions to this day. The company claims that since it was the only institution affected by its actions, there is n o possible reason why it should be prosecuted for unethical practices within the organization. This claim was thrown out of court as the judge presiding over the case indicated that even if the only party affected by such actions was the one under prosecution, it still had to face the charges leveled against it. It is the belief of countless individuals that the simple act of choosing not to report these defective loans meant that the company knew about the issues they faced, but did not bring them to the HUD’s attention. This is tantamount to fraud, according to the court, and that is probably why the company may lose the suit by the U.S. Department of Justice. It is unethical for any financial institution to hold out on information (Jennings, 2011), which may be done to save money and disregard the integrity of the organization they serve. The ethical nature of the company’s lending practices There were some unethical undertakings by the company during the lending of loans to people. It is the task and duty of a financial institution to properly vet the people it is meant to serve, especially when dealing with loans. This is so as to see the chances of the loans being paid by the parties offered loans. In the company’s case, they were sure that any failure by the parties to pay would be bailed out by the Federal Housing Administration, which often bailed out first time buyers (Raindi & Timira

Conflict between the Management and the Employees of Riverside Hotel Case Study - 7

Conflict between the Management and the Employees of Riverside Hotel - Case Study Example However, on off-peak days if the hotel receives only 20 guests, the employees will not be performing work on the value level required. This means that the fixed cost incurred through paying wages is a loss for the hotel. The reduced meal cost for the employees also reduces the profit margin. As such, an opportunity cost presents itself in the form of making the cost of wages variable. This means using the size of the reservation to determine the number of customers who will available and create a roster that will see a rotation of extra employees staying at home on days with low volumes of business. Â  The source of conflict between the management and the employees of Riverside Hotel is the costs the employees incur as a result of their taking dinner at the hotel on the late shift (Jiambalvo Case study 1). The hotel’s labor agreements allow the employees to have free meals during their shifts, provided the meal did not exceed $12. This means that any cost in addition to the $12 would be deducted from their wages. The conflict arose when those taking the late shift found that they had been deducted $10 from their wages for every meal. This meant that the meal cost $22 (Jiambalvo Case study 1). To the employees, the management is just ripping them off because they know the price of the supplies and according to them it should not cost them such a figure for one meal. For example, a prime rib dinner includes supplies of a $7 piece of meat and a $1 salad. This adds up to $8 hence the basis for the employee arguments that the meal should not cost even $12. Â  However, the argument of the employees is both right and wrong. It is right because charging them $22 for a meal that they have helped to put together from $8 supplies does not augur well with any business management practice.