Succubus on Top CHAPTER 9

â€Å"Nice glow,† Bastien told me when he answered the door the following afternoon. â€Å"Yeah. Tell me about it.† I traipsed into his house wearing the Tabitha body, and pulled up a stool at his kitchen counter. He handed me a Mountain Dew from the refrigerator. â€Å"Why so glum? Couldn't have been all that bad.† â€Å"It was okay. In that sleazy, backroom sort of way. Seth came over afterward and couldn't stop telling me how pretty I was.† â€Å"Of course he did.† Bastien was sporting a glow of his own today. â€Å"How could he help it? He's a weak mortal, just like they all are.† I ignored the jibe and took down half the can in one gulp. â€Å"On the topic of ‘weak mortals,' how'd your football game go?† â€Å"Ridiculously boring. Bill must have fantastic speech writers because his conversation is on the same level as that cupboard's over there. But, on the bright side, I did talk to Dana several times, and I think I repaired the damage you did.† â€Å"Ye gods, will you get over this? I didn't do anything. You have no one to blame for that but yourself.† â€Å"Hey, I didn't fall down the stairs. Anyway, I took your advice and played sympathetic brother. She really seemed to go for it. Except†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Except what?† He frowned, blue eyes perplexed. â€Å"She seems to like me well enough. She asks about my job, she asks about you. But something's weird. I just don't feel like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Like she's going to throw herself at you any time soon? Huh. I never would have guessed.† His expression hardened, doubts banished. â€Å"It's just a matter of time, that's all. Like that convent in Brussels. Remember how well that turned out?† I grinned. â€Å"Just a matter of time. Sure. So what are your plans today?† â€Å"Nothing. I'll probably go out later, but now I'm just sort of hanging around. Mitch is supposed to be at work, after all.† â€Å"Well, let's sneak you out and go see a movie or something.† Frankly, I was eager to do something semi-fun. I had finally made it to my day off, and it hadn't come a moment too soon. The only thing that bothered me was not knowing what had happened at the bookstore when – or rather if – Doug came in this morning. If Warren or Paige had been around, they might have banned him for a while. But I certainly didn't have that power, and I hated to lose the coverage anyway. I'd finally resorted to calling Janice, telling her to ring my cell immediately if there were any repeat problems. I hadn't heard anything so far. Bastien allowed himself grudging interest in a movie. â€Å"Anything good playing?† The doorbell rang before we could check. â€Å"Geez, Bas. It's like Grand Central Station whenever I'm here.† â€Å"Probably a Jehovah's Witness,† he decided, checking out the door invisibly. â€Å"Huh. It's Jody. Wonder what she wants.† I supposed Dana visiting would have been more serendipitous, but I found Jody's presence a relief. â€Å"Well, let her go. You're supposed to be at work.† He nudged me. â€Å"You answer.† â€Å"Me?† â€Å"Sure. Make up some reason to be here. She's chummy with Dana. You can do some reconnaissance.† â€Å"Oh, for goodness – â€Å" The doorbell rang again, and Bastien looked at me pleadingly. I had a good opinion of Jody, but I didn't like him mixing me up in his affairs. Grumbling, I went to the door. Maybe she was just dropping off more baked goods or something, I thought. Her face burst into a grin upon seeing me. â€Å"I was hoping it was you! I thought I recognized the Passat.† I smiled back at her. â€Å"Good memory. Did you need Mitch? He's at work.† â€Å"No, not really. I just saw the car and wanted to say hi. Are you hanging out here?† â€Å"Uh, yeah. It's my day off, and I promised him I'd†¦do some yard work.† Bastien, hovering invisibly nearby, got a kick out of that. â€Å"It's a great day for it,† she agreed. I supposed it was, in that crisply sunny sort of way that sometimes shows up in winter. At least we had no rain today. â€Å"What were you going to do? It looks like the lawn service took care of most of the leaves.† That it had. I tried to think of something superfluous that suburbanites wouldn't have already underpaid someone else to do. â€Å"I was going to plant some flowers.† â€Å"Oh!† She clasped her hands together, brown eyes alight. â€Å"That's a great idea. Do you want some help?† â€Å"Uh†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Beside me, Bastien nearly had a seizure. He nodded his head vigorously and mouthed the word reconnaissance. Yard work was the last thing I wanted to do on my day off, but now I'd gone and boxed myself in. â€Å"Sure. I don't really know what to do anyway.† That had to be the understatement of the year. â€Å"Let me grab my coat, and we'll go to my favorite nursery,† she squealed. â€Å"This is going to be fun.† She dashed back to her house, and I glared at Bastien. â€Å"I hate you.† â€Å"Don't I know it.† He clapped me on the back. â€Å"I'm sure you have a green thumb somewhere, Fleur . If not, you can shape-shift one.† â€Å"You owe me. Big time.† Jody drove us to some gardening place that looked like a maze of greenery to me. Actually, greenery wasn't quite the right word. Many of the trees and plants had lost leaves, turning brown and yellow as winter deepened. A maze of vegetation, I guess. â€Å"They're still alive,† she told me, assessing plants with an expert eye. â€Å"Although, this isn't exactly the best time to do plantings. Still, we should be able to manage something since the ground isn't too hard yet.† I grimaced. â€Å"Sounds dirty.† She laughed. â€Å"How'd you get slated for this?† â€Å"My brother doesn't†¦always think things through. And he's pretty persuasive when he wants to be.† And annoying. And pushy. â€Å"I can see that. He's pretty cute too. Bet he gets women to do anything he wants.† â€Å"You have no idea.† This made her smile again. â€Å"Well, hang in there. Once you get started with this kind of stuff, you get into it. And it's not that dirty. You want dirty, I'll tell you about Guatemala someday.† â€Å"When were you in Guatemala?† Whoa. Somehow I managed her circle picking places like Malibu and Paris for vacations. â€Å"When I was in the Peace Corps.† â€Å"You were in the Peace Corps?† â€Å"Yup. When I was younger.† I stared after her as she continued checking out the selection. Jody had been in the Peace Corps and worked as an art teacher. She was clearly talented creatively. She was smart and had a good personality. How the hell had she gotten mixed up with Dana? We ended up buying several plants she called Christmas Roses, plus some bulbs she warned might or might not come up in the spring. Once back at Bastien's, we bundled up in coats and gloves and set to digging in his front yard. I saw him peek out the window and wave at me at one point; I stuck my tongue out at him when Jody wasn't looking. Jody was only too happy to tell me about her past. I'd ask the occasional clarifying question, and she'd then go on for a while more. I listened, commenting occasionally, and – as much as I hated to admit it – found the afternoon passing pleasantly. She had been right: garden work wasn't so bad once you started. Inevitably, her chatter turned to the CPFV, and she both surprised and relieved me by admitting some discontent. â€Å"I mean,† she was saying, â€Å"I stand by them. Absolutely. It's just sometimes, I wish we were doing things in different ways. â€Å" I looked up, happy to take a break from hacking at the hard ground. â€Å"What kinds of things?† She pursed her cute lips together. â€Å"I guess†¦like†¦we spend a lot of time telling people what to do and what not to do, you know? Like we're trying to help them lead better lives, and I think that's good. After all, Dana says an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.† Ugh. Clich? ¦ anyone? â€Å"But I also wish we were doing something for those that need help now. Do you know how many families in this area don't have enough to eat? It'd be great if we could work with local food banks to do something about that – especially with the holidays coming up. Or like†¦we do a lot to help teens make smart choices, but I visited some shelters for girls that are already in trouble. They've run away. They're pregnant. Dana says they're lost causes, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You don't think so?† I asked gently. She had stopped digging too and stared absentmindedly at the bulb she held. â€Å"I don't think anyone's beyond help. But Dana†¦I mean, she's so smart. She knows more than me about this stuff. I trust what she says.† â€Å"Nothing wrong with questioning.† â€Å"Yeah, I suppose. It's just, well, she's been a good friend to me.† Her eyes focused on something not here, something far away and long ago. â€Å"A couple years ago, Jack and I had some, you know, problems. I mean, it happens right? No relationship's perfect.† â€Å"No,† I agreed grimly. â€Å"Anyway, she helped me work through that. I feel sort of†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Obligated?† Jody fumbled. â€Å"I-I don't know. I guess so. Sometimes, she's hard to know†¦like she can surprise you with things you never saw coming. Other times†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She shook her head and gave a nervous laugh. â€Å"I don't know what I'm saying. She's wonderful. The most amazing person I've ever met. She does so much good.† She changed the subject abruptly after that, and I let her. We moved on to happier topics, and I found myself laughing along with her and enjoying her company. At one point, I ran into Bastien's kitchen and made us hot chocolate. We drank it outside as we finished the last of our plants, finally sitting back and admiring our handiwork. Despite my initial misgivings, I kind of liked accomplishing something so tangible. â€Å"Look,† said Jody. â€Å"Dana just came home.† Sure enough, Dana's Explorer pulled in next door, and a moment later, the woman herself strolled over. She graced us with one of those ice-bitch smiles. â€Å"This looks cozy.† Jody's earlier bubbly nature seemed somewhat diminished. â€Å"Tabitha needed some gardening help, so I came over.† â€Å"Wasn't that nice of you.† Dana gave the other woman a look I couldn't interpret, save that disapproval and possibly anger underscored it. Although I had been arguing to the contrary with Bastien, I got the feeling I might truly have pissed off Dana more than I'd suspected, creating the bad impression he kept accusing me of. It looked like Dana may even have voiced her opinions of me to Jody. I watched Jody's face pass through a range of emotions. I felt pretty confident there was more iron in there than her surface showed, and for a half a second she looked as though she might lash out in defiance. Then, after a moment's eye contact, she looked away, backing down. Perhaps I should have simpered just then and tried to weasel into Dana's good graces, but mostly I felt angry at what I perceived as her chastisement. She had no right to do that Jody. â€Å"It was incredibly nice,† I said sharply. â€Å"Jody's one of those rare, honestly good people in the world. Not just one who pretends to be. But of course you already know that.† Jody blushed furiously, and the edges of Dana's smile twitched a little. â€Å"Yes. Yes, she is. How's your ankle doing?† â€Å"Good as new.† â€Å"Glad to hear it.† We all waited in awkward silence. I decided I would wait out Dana this time, no matter how scary that stare. She, of course, was a master of waiting, so it wasn't a surprise when Jody was the one who cracked. Honestly, I couldn't blame her. â€Å"Well. Jack should be home soon. I should get going.† I stood up with her and helped her gather the tools. We all exchanged a few more stiff remarks, then parted ways. â€Å"What happened? What happened?† exclaimed Bastien when I came back inside. â€Å"I saw Dana out there.† â€Å"Nothing new. Jody's a saint; Dana's a bitch. I hope you hurry up and get this done with.† â€Å"Damn it, I'm trying! I don't suppose you found out anything useful?† â€Å"Not really†¦although, I think Jody knows something about Dana. Something juicy enough even for you. She wouldn't tell me exactly what.† The incubus clung to this piece of information like a dog with a bone. â€Å"You've got to find out what! Call her up tomorrow. Take her to lunch.† â€Å"Jesus, Bastien. I like her, but I'm not doing your work for you. This is your show, remember? Besides, I do have a life, you know. â€Å" He scowled. â€Å"That's up for debate.† â€Å"Why are you so worked up about this Dana thing anyway? I mean, I'd love to see her fall, but the way you're acting†¦I don't know. It's totally pushing you over the edge.† â€Å"Why shouldn't I be worked up? Just because you don't play the soul game anymore doesn't mean the rest of us don't have an eye on our careers.† I knew Bastien too well not to suspect there was some other reason we were fighting all the time. â€Å"And that's all it is, huh? Just good old-fashioned American work ethic?† â€Å"Yes,† he said stiffly. â€Å"There's nothing wrong with that.† We locked matching Hunter gazes, and I tried to let him know with my eyes that I knew there was more than he was telling me. He stared stonily back, refusing to open up. At last, I shook my head, not wanting to be drawn into any more fighting. â€Å"Mind if I use your hot tub?† I asked instead. He gestured toward the back patio. â€Å"Sure. Have the run of the house. Use me and go.† â€Å"You're being childish.† Not answering, he went off to watch TV. I let myself out through the patio and flipped open the hot tub's lid. Hot steam poured out, and I sighed with pleasure. It felt downright decadent after being out in the cold all day. Glancing around, I took in the vine-covered privacy trellises. There were three of them with a person-sized gap between each one. Dusk was rapidly giving way to darkness, and I felt pretty obscured from the neighbors. I stripped off my clothes and tentatively put a foot in the tub. Hot. Very hot. I yanked it out, then waited a minute before trying again. Slowly, I eased the rest of me in, bit by bit. When I was finally submerged from the neck down, I exhaled happily and leaned my head back against the edge. Fantastic. I kicked on the bubbles and closed my eyes. Suddenly, I found myself able to forget it all. Doug. The guy from the club. Dana. Seth. Well, maybe not Seth entirely. But I could forget the bad things, at least. When my hair had curled from the steam and sweat was rolling down my forehead, I stood up and sat on the tub's edge, letting the air dry me off. A lot of people don't understand outdoor hot tubs, but I preferred them to indoor ones. Nothing can match that temperature change. Once cooled, I sat back in the water, ready to repeat the process. I could have done this all night and been perfectly happy. I'd only been back in the water a few minutes when I heard a twig snap from somewhere nearby. It was like a bad-horror-movie clich? ¦, butterrifying nonetheless. I shot out of the water, splashing everywhere, scrambling over the side as I heard a rustle of leaves and brush. â€Å"Bastien!† I yelled, running back into the house. He tore into the room, face pale and alarmed. â€Å"What's the matter?† I backed away from the patio, pointing. â€Å"There's someone out there. â€Å" Nothing could really hurt me, of course, but being immortal does not relieve a person of instinctual fear and caution. There'd be time to feel embarrassed about girly behavior later. His eyes cut to the patio, and he moved outdoors without any hesitation to look around. My knight. I waited in the kitchen, dripping water onto the wood floor, my heart still thumping. He returned a few minutes later and shook his head. â€Å"There's nothing out there. You imagined it.† â€Å"No. It was there. I heard it.† â€Å"Then it was an animal.† He suddenly smirked. â€Å"Or maybe Reese getting a thrill.† When I didn't laugh at the joke, he approached and pulled me to him, unconcerned about getting his clothes wet. My body trembled against his. â€Å"It's all right,† he murmured. â€Å"You're okay. You're safe.† He pulled off his blazer and wrapped it around me. It was too big, but it felt wonderful. I huddled against him, still too fazed to shape-shift some more substantial clothing on. â€Å"Come on, Fleur .You know I'm here. You know I won't let anything happen to you.† The animosity we'd built from our fight went away, and suddenly we were back to normal again. He took me upstairs to his bedroom, still keeping his arm around me. I shape-shifted dry as we walked and turned back into my Georgina self. Changing into his usual shape as well, he pulled me down to the bed with him so my head rested on his chest. A lot of immortals don't understand the way incubi and succubi relate to each other. We tend to touch a lot, in ways that are small but still intimate by most standards. I'd been accused many times of being sexually involved with Bastien – or someone else – over the years. Yet the truth was that in all of our time together, he and I had never actually had anything romantic happen. We were close, physically and emotionally, but that came from friendship, nothing more. Because honestly, when you spent most of your existence giving complete strangers access to your body, it seemed stupid not to enjoy physical bonding with those you actually cared about. And again, by physical bonding, I just meant small things, not even those that resulted in orgasm or a PG rating. Petting. Stroking. Massaging. Kissing here and there. They were all signs of closeness. We needed them, I think, to keep ourselves sane with the way we lived. And there was a certain comfort to knowing that in doing this, the other person got exactly the same thing in return. I could not have had such an equitable emotional relationship if I'd sought a similar physical exchange with, say, Hugh or the vampires. It would have meant something different to them. Which was why I could lay there in Bastien's bed, half naked, with my body twisted around his. We laughed under the blankets, reminiscing about past times when we had to sleep in similar – but less comfortable – ways. Ship cabins. Narrow boardinghouse beds. Campsites along country roads. Then too, we'd huddled together for warmth and security. I ended up spending the whole night with him. He held me the entire time in as gentlemanly a way as Seth might have. But with Bastien, I didn't toss and turn with worry all night over what damage one careless touch might do. It was the best night of sleep I'd had in weeks. When I returned home the next day, I called Seth and asked him if he'd been at the bookstore yesterday. He verified that he had and that Doug had behaved himself. â€Å"He was kind of goofy and chipper but nothing like that day.† â€Å"Good. I hope that's the end of it.† There was an awkward pause, and then Seth asked, too casually: â€Å"Were you out again last night? I called you pretty late and didn't get an answer. â€Å" â€Å"Oh, yeah. I stayed at Bastien's all night.† â€Å"Oh.† Silence. â€Å"It's not what you think,† I hastily assured him. â€Å"We just slept. Perfectly platonic. Just like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You and me?† Silence. â€Å"Nothing happened. He's like a brother to me. Honest. He's the last person you should be jealous of.† â€Å"I'm not jealous. Not exactly. But if you say it's nothing, then it's nothing. I didn't mean to sound like I was accusing you of lying. I know you wouldn't do that.† I thought about oral sex at the dance club and my bare skin pressed against Bastien's. I might not lie, but I didn't always tell Seth the whole truth either. A few days later, Seth and I went to another Nocturnal Admission concert. Doug and I had worked together all week in a civil manner, if not exactly a friendly one. Seth picked me up at my place and again could only stare in wonder at my appearance. I'd gone out hunting with Bastien last night – against my better judgment – and had taken another victim. The glamour hadn't quite diminished yet, and I would have looked hot even in a burlap bag. So, I suppose wearing the kind of dress I did was just outright mean. It was a little slip of a dress in gray cotton jersey, with a ribbon threaded around it that tied just under my breasts. The thin-strapped, V-necked top showed lots of cleavage; the skirt hung soft and drapey to just above my knee. It was like a winter sundress. Seth put his arms around me and nuzzled my neck. â€Å"You never fail to surprise me. I always think I know what to expect with you. Then I actually see you, and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He couldn't finish, but his eyes did it for him. They slid up and down my body, making my insides melt. Throw me on the bed and take me, I begged silently. Out loud I said, â€Å"We should get going.† At the concert, Nocturnal Admission performed as spectacularly as last time. Their following had increased, and people packed every square inch of the place. I had trouble seeing the stage but could hear every golden note. Fortunately, I got to see plenty of Doug later. The venue had let him use the place for another wild, post-concert party. Adoring women – and several men – clung flirtatiously to him and the other band members. Doug hugged me when he saw me, arranged for someone to make me a decent drink, and acted as though nothing had happened between us. I guessed I was glad to set aside the hard feelings, but now that I knew what to blame his behavior on, his bright and wild demeanor unnerved me. Casey showed up at one point, still looking a bit gaunt, but obviously on the mend. From across the room, I watched her tentatively approach Alec. He'd been talking to Wyatt the guitar player and turned to give her an obviously forced and fake smile. I couldn't hear the conversation, but the message came through loud and clear. She wanted to talk to him, to get his attention in some way, and he was blatantly snubbing her. I could see him shaking his head as she spoke, an almost desperate look on her face. Finally, he simply walked away, leaving her staring and upset. â€Å"I want to go over there and punch him,† I told Seth. â€Å"No, you don't. It's their business, not yours.† I turned on him. â€Å"Damn it, Seth! How can you always be so placid and nonconfrontational? Don't you stand up for anything?† He regarded me coolly. If he was surprised or offended by my outburst, he didn't show it. â€Å"I stand up for plenty of things. I just know when to pick my battles, that's all. So should you.† â€Å"You realize he slept with her and then turned around and dropped her cold. He may have even used sinister ways to do it.† â€Å"Believe me, I'm not condoning that, but Casey's got to be the one to say something. Otherwise, it's just you making accusations and starting a scene.† I scowled, half agreeing with him but still wishing I could help. Looking around, I couldn't see her anymore, which was probably just as well. With any luck, she'd gone home and would swear off the company of men for a while. Seth left for the bathroom, and almost the moment he was gone, Alec sidled up. â€Å"Hey, Georgina. You look hot.† â€Å"Thanks,† I said. I angled my body away, hoping he'd get the signal I wasn't interested. He was lucky I didn't just turn around and deck him. â€Å"You're, like, the best-looking woman in here tonight.† Whether that was actually true or not, I knew the life-force surplus made me the most attractive. There was a difference. Eyeing Alec, I suddenly toyed with the idea of returning his flirtation and sleeping with him. I rather liked the idea of seeing him sprawled out unconscious and sick somewhere. Nah. On second thought, considering he was such a sleazebag, I probably wouldn't steal enough energy to do much more than wind him. â€Å"You drinking those vodka gambits again?† he asked, still pushing the act. â€Å"Gimlets,† I corrected. â€Å"Well, the bar can make anything if you want something different. And there's weed everywhere. I think I saw Corey with acid too.† This guy just couldn't stop trying to fuck women over. He didn't care how he did it. Seth showed up just then, and I turned to him with a dazzling smile. â€Å"Nice talking to you Alec,† I said breezily, taking Seth's arm. â€Å"See you around.† â€Å"What was that about?† asked Seth, once we were out of earshot. â€Å"That asshole was trying to pick me up again. Right after turning away Casey. God, I hate him. He was trying the usual stuff too. Trying to push more drinks on me. Telling me how hot I was.† Seth leaned his face toward mine. â€Å"You are hot.† â€Å"Stop that. You're giving me funny ideas.† He continued holding me close. I really needed to wait two days before seeing him after a fix. â€Å"Ever wonder how far I could kiss you on the lips?† he asked. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"Well, I can somewhat substantially kiss your cheek and neck, right? Your lips though†¦well, those have to be quick, brushing kind of kisses. Too much intensity and tongue with your mouth is right out. So, I figure there must be a middle ground.† â€Å"Have you been drinking?† â€Å"Just thinking, that's all.† The rapture from my glow was reflected in his face. Forgetting about anyone we knew seeing us, I let him lean his mouth toward my own. Ever so gently, his lips touched mine. Not a family-type slip of a kiss, nor a saliva-exchanging deep kiss either. It was like a caress. His lips slowly stroked my lips, his tongue just barely tracing the contours of my mouth. Electricity ran from my head to my toes and tried to run back up again, but it got delayed between my legs. Seth stepped away. â€Å"Anything bad happen?† â€Å"No,† I breathed. â€Å"But I think we need to conduct several repeat experiments, just to make sure.† Suddenly, from across the room, we heard whoops and cheers, followed by a terrific crashing sound and gasps of alarm. Without conscious communication, Seth and I moved as one to see what had happened. Doug lay in a heap on the floor in front of the stage, laughing hysterically. â€Å"What's going on?† I asked Corey. His eyes were heavily dilated, and I remembered Alec saying the bass player had acid. â€Å"It's a new Olympic sport. Stage-table High Jumps.† Following his gaze, I saw a table set up on the stage. About fifteen feet away, on the floor by Doug, was an overturned table. I looked back and forth. â€Å"Did he try to jump from that table to that one?† Corey cackled. â€Å"Sure did. Shit. He almost made it. Caught the edge on his way down.† â€Å"He could have broken his leg,† muttered Seth in disgust. â€Å"Or worse.† Doug seemed to be okay. Some solicitous women in tight shirts were helping him stand. He caught my eye and laughed harder. â€Å"Don't look so panicked, Kincaid. I'm fine†¦but if you want to make sure, you can come kiss me too and make it all better.† He winked at Seth, and others laughed with him, without knowing why. I was soon forgotten as more adoring people swarmed in. Seth and I retreated. â€Å"What was he thinking?† I fretted. â€Å"I mean, he's always doing crazy acrobatic stuff on stage, but he had to have known he couldn't make that.† â€Å"If he's not thinking straight, there's no telling what he believes. Drugs,ll do that. Give you a sense of invincibility.† I reminded myself to look up those drug names Cody had suggested. I didn't know if it'd do any good, but it'd at least make me think I was doing something. â€Å"Hey,† I exclaimed, pulling Seth to an abrupt stop. â€Å"It's him again.† â€Å"Who?† â€Å"That guy talking to Alec. The weird gothic, male-model-type guy.† Seth followed my gesture. Way on the other side of the place, near the bar, Alec and the man I'd seen at the earlier concert were having a heated argument. The GQ-poet guy looked stern and cold tonight, dampening his otherwise suave and polished looks. Alec had a pleading look. The drummer gesticulated frantically, his face desperate and frightened. The other man shook his head sternly, face unyielding. He waved a hand toward the crowd and then said something to Alec. Alec's face paled, and he once more turned into a pitiful supplicant. The other man shook his head yet again, then strode off. He didn't approach us exactly, but he had to move in our direction to reach the exit. He was still a good fifty feet away and separated by walls of people when an odd, prickly feeling touched my skin. It was strange and discordant, yet sleek at the same time. It was almost like what I'd felt around Doug and the band, except that had been unidentifiable. This was clearly a person's signature. It was linked to that man, pulsing with sentience. I choked out a strangled sound and quickly stepped back out of range. Pulling Seth with me, I threw my arms around him and kissed his neck. As I did, I watched out of the corner of my eye as the strange man froze and jerked his head around, looking out over the crowd. He had felt me too. His eyes passed over us several times, but we drew no especial focus. We were just another couple getting hot and heavy. I tensed, waiting for him to come closer and try to sense me again. Without knowing why, I didn't want him to find me. He scanned a bit longer before giving up and continuing his retreat. When he had left, I relaxed and leaned into Seth. â€Å"What†¦?† â€Å"That man that was talking to Alec,† I said, still in shock. â€Å"He's an immortal.† Seth's eyebrows rose. â€Å"Really? What kind? Angel? Demon?† â€Å"None of the above. He's not one of mine.† â€Å"What do you mean not one of yours?† â€Å"Not all immortals are part of the heaven and hell system. There are a lot of other creatures walking the world: nymphs, orisha, oni†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You do realize you've just thrust me into a theological quandary likely to keep me awake at night for years,† he joked. When I didn't answer, he turned serious. â€Å"Okay. So what kind was he?† I shook my head. â€Å"That's the thing. I don't know. I don't know what he was exactly.†

Letter from Birmingham, Martin Luther King Jr.

Just Arguments in the Battle against Segregation â€Å"If I have said anything in this letter that overstates the truth and indicates an unreasonable impatience, I beg you to forgive me. If I have said anything that understates the truth and indicates my having patience, I beg God to forgive me† (King 301). Martin Luther King Jr. writes an argumentative letter defending demonstrations against segregation. While serving eight days in prison for participating in protests in Birmingham, King writes his famous â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† (293).King is effective at arguing his case because he provides counter arguments, gives many examples of real life situations, and reflects on statements made. King begins by providing background and explaining the true purpose of non-violent direct-action demonstrations. In the letter, King refutes the arguments made by clergy, which were untimely action, breaking laws, direct-actions precipitate violence, extremist, and commended police. King explains that he traveled to Birmingham to participate in non-violent protest against segregation, stating â€Å"injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere† (289).King responds to the clergy by saying, â€Å"your statement†¦ fails to express a similar concern for the conditions that brought about the demonstrations† (289). King continues by explaining the four basic steps of non-violent direct-action, which are: â€Å"collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct-action† (290). While providing great detail on the situation and steps taken, King continues to build his argument against the statements made by the clergy. The first statement was that the action taken in Birmingham was untimely.In the letter, King provides great details about the planning and execution of the demonstration, which shows that much thought was placed on the timing of the protest and explained that it was, in fact, not untimely. King uses a very effective method to evoke personal feelings by writing a long list of heart-throbbing experiences of Negro people during segregation (289-292). Next, King refutes the second statement that demonstrators break laws. King explains that â€Å"there are two types of laws: just and unjust† (293). King’s reflecting help the reader understand his arguments (293-294).The third statement from the clergy says the direct-actions precipitate violence. King states he does not advocate breaking the law. However, â€Å"[King] submit[s] that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law† (294). The fourth statement is condemning the actions in Birmingham as extreme. King counters by providing examples where extreme measures were taking to right an injustice, such as with Abe Lincoln and freeing the slaves (296-297).Finally, King addresses how the clergy commended the police force for keeping order. King responds with examples during the demonstrations in which the police acted inhumane (300-301). By providing considered and well formulated arguments, King is effective at arguing his case against segregation. King addresses any possible counter arguments on his stance and does so in great detail. By reflecting on statements made, King allows the reader to fully understand his arguments and point of view. The â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† is an excellently structured argumentative letter against segregation.

Rights Affecting the Restaurant and House Essay

Rights Affecting the Restaurant and House - Essay Example The tenants are in fact the ones who have been enjoying possession of the property. J has then to note that J's continued failure to take possession of the property may prevent him from claiming ownership of it now. What he ought to establish is whether there is any current dispute between J and his former tenants. 1 (2) Right to enforce the covenants- The neighbour N has the right over the covenants that he had agreed between himself and J, the property owner. The covenant was that the whole premises were never to be used for the sale of food and drinks. But now, J together with her husband, it has converted the shop into an Italian restaurant, whose purpose it to sell foods and drinks. The general rule of covenants is that, they run with property i.e. each person in possession of the property at different time is entitled to enforce the covenant as that one before him. The covenant does not cease to exist with the exit of one tenant of A enters into covenant with B and B later sells the property to C, C has a right to enforce the covenants with A even though he was not privy to the contract that gave rise to the covenant. In this respect therefore it is important for J to recognize and respect N's rights over the covenant. He cannot lawfully carry out the business of running a hotel/ restaurant. 2 (3) Ri(3) Right to non-conveyance of a registered owner: - Any person who has registered his title over his property needs not to prove conveyance. Conveyance is the act of transferring title/ interest of property from one person to another. However, for this to happen he must claim title by adverse possession and also satisfy the chief land registrar. Technical difficulties can be overlooked by the Land Boss. P then ought to know that it is possible for J to have innocently possessed the households fraudulently because of these simple procedures through registration. If this would however be realized at a later stage, difficulties would be experienced in case the property is to be re - transferred. But if in case P incurs losses in the transaction he is entitled to be indemnified by the Land Registry. However, for him to succeed he must have acted in good faith i.e. without knowledge of the defects in title If title to both restaurant premises and the house had remained unregistered, restrictive covenants can be enforced in equity against J. they will still bind P. But conveyance might not be automatic to P because J may be perceived not to be having a better title of the freehold property - The principle of nemo dat quod non habet i.e. "You cannot sell what you don't have". But before the equity principles came into play, purchases of such property could not enjoy such rights as the right to enforce restrictive covenants. (4) Restrictive covenant on leased property: - There is a restrictive covenant between J and T that T that T should lease the above for 5 years. By letting P expand the restaurant onto the first floor of the property, J would be going against her earlier agreements with T. P cannot therefore legally succeed in evicting T as the covenant/ agreement between J and T binds him as well. For variation of the terms of a lease to be effective, a notice must be given which should be forwarded to the chief Land Registrar. And until such a step is taken by J, the variation of terms and

Explain how the company's global strategy operates Research Paper

Explain how the company's global strategy operates - Research Paper Example People visit Starbucks owing to its reputation and the status symbol it has built for itself. The business model of Starbucks is a well-repudiated and successful one worldwide. The report throws light on the success of the international strategies that are undertaken by the company and also examines the position of the company in the global market. The coffee giant has also encountered with a lot of challenges in the international as well as the national market. The last section of the report regards certain recommendations to overcome the challenges that are faced by the company in the international market (Speiser, 2003). Starbucks Corporation Starbucks Corporation is a global coffee giant and coffee house chain which is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It is the largest coffee company in world that owns around 20,891 coffee stores in sixty-three countries worldwide. In United States (US), it has 13,279 stores and target to channelize their services to every corner of the worl d with coffee and merchandise. The Starbucks coffee shops offers cold and hot beverages, bean coffee, full leaf teas, pastries and snacks. Apart from these, Starbucks also provides with entertainment products such as books, film and music CDs. The ice cream brand of Starbucks is also offered at the grocery stores (Peng, 2009). Every day billions of people worldwide sip into the coffee mugs at Starbucks at any time of the day just to enjoy the taste of the coffee with their friends, families and loved ones. There has been an increase in demand in coffee industry and with it the competition has increased. The main competition in the coffee industry started in 2007 after the sales of coffee rose up to 50% (Burritt, 2007). Thus, Starbucks have faced certain challenges from their competitors. Global Strategy of Starbucks Corporation The global strategies that are developed by the company can be explained through the expansion plans and more which are explained in this section. Competitiv e Strategy Starbucks concentrates on serving a niche segment of consumers which the rivals are incapable of doing. Starbucks attracts coffee lovers and even non-lovers of coffee by providing brewed coffee and delicious snacks and ice creams which are unbeatable in their standards. The gossip over the coffee and snacks are much enjoyed when it is in Starbucks as the environment is very comfortable. Thus, the company concentrates more on comfort of the customers so that they feel at home and visit the shops often (Virginia’s community colleges, 2013). Four Fold Strategy The Starbucks chain has inserted the booming coffee culture in the American urban society easily with the four fold strategy which is as follows: a. Market segmentation: The Company has planned for market segmentation plan after making a rigorous market research. The market research included the tastes and preferences of the people. The company has always maintained its high position in the coffee market. It com petes with its rivals on the grounds of comfort and not in terms of convenience. The closest competitors are Dunkin Donuts and McDonald (Ghemawat, 2007). b. A superb leadership: The founder of the company, Howard Schultz has worked hard for innovating products which will attract

Frazer Group and Caribou Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Frazer Group and Caribou - Essay Example Its pronouncements have been applied in reporting of minority interests (Morgan et al 2009). What auditing standards are used by the external auditors? The independent auditors have applied guidelines forwarded by the Auditing Standards Board (ASB) which issues pronouncements on auditing practice (Dauber, 2009;Rittenberg et al 2011). Analyze and comment on the differences in the annual statements found on the companies' websites. Provide a few specific differences in content and format. The major differences in the two companies’ financial records are evident in the Balance Sheet and Consolidated cash flow statements. To start with the balance sheets, Frazer Group Items are represented under three main classes; Current assets, Current liabilities and Equity. This is different from Caribou’s Balance sheet which has clear entries for, Assets (both current and non-current), Liabilities, Equity, and Minority Interests (Whittington et al 2011). In regard to consolidated cash flow statement, Caribou’s has clear entries for, Cash Flow for Operating Activities, Cash Flow from Investing Activities, from Financing Activities, and Net increase/decrease in cash and cash equivalents. This is quite different from Frazer Group’s which clear entries for, operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities appearing less complex (Whittington et al 2012). Which one of the two companies is the most profitable? Financial records reported in "000,000" CARIBOU COFFEE FAZER GROUP 2010 2009 2008 2010 2009 2008 Tangible assets 101.725 93.727 89.572 378.1 389.6 369.4 Shareholders’ Equity 62.466 50.776 44.008 126.5 120.4 118.8 Stocks 25.931 13.278 10.724 57.2 51.5 46.8 Retained Earnings 12 7 0 310.5 300.9 275.4 Turnover 242.293 283.997 262.539 1513.6 1441.1 1159.7 Personnel costs 105.993 101.169 99.865 508.7 480.9 477.6 Operating profit 15.193 10.107 5.541 58.5 44.5 135 Profit before taxes 14.926 9.721 5.306 58.4 32.9 31.9 Net profit 9. 797 5.138 4.825 58.4 32.9 24.6 Operating profit before WC 7.517 15.594 10.264 148 112.3 102.7 Dividends received 1.1 1.2 1.1 Cash from operating activities 23.092 23.578 22.462 117.7 118 116.5 Fazer Group is by a large extent the most profitable company. Looking at the net profit generated in the three years, 2008-2010, Fazer Group had an increasing profit ranging between $24.6 million to $58.4. The financial year, 2009-2010, was the Group’s most profitable year (Fazer Group 2010). This is unlike Caribou Coffee which in the three years under examination recorded a net profit ranging, $4 million to $9.7 million (Caribou Coffee Financial Records 2005-2011). Financial year 2009-2010, was the company’s most profitable recording a net profit of $9.7 million. Looking at the figures recorded, based on net profit which is a reasonable pointer of a company’s profitability it is clear that there is a marginal difference in profitability in favor of Fazer Group (Weirich et al 2012). Compare growth of revenues versus income over time and between the two companies. In this case, the basis of the revenue growth is sales. Starting with a look at Fazer Group which is by far the bigger of the two entities we realize an irregular growth in revenue in the three years under observation. In 2008, the company’s sales were $369.4 million, in 2009, the sales increased to $389.6 million, later in 2010, the sales declined to $378.1 million. This represents a growth of 5.5% in sales for the year, 2009-2010, and a growth of -2.95% for the year

Nutrition and Performance Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Nutrition and Performance Final - Essay Example Combined with the intake of Vitamin D, the two minerals enhance the development of the bone marrow. The bone marrow forms the basic and primary ‘factory’ of bones. Sufficient intake of the above minerals and vitamins prevent, and, in most instances delay, such bone-related diseases like osteoporosis (Insel 635). Nutritionists and dieticians always drive home the point of practicing proper nutrient intake in young children. The development of the brain counts on the proper intake and balancing of fatty acids, more so the omega type (Nordqvist, blog). As such, the potential of the brain to take part in activities acquires a solid foundation. Further, the later capabilities of the brain get enhanced with the daily intake of the above fatty acids. Nutrition based on low intake of both cholesterol and low fats every day reduces the chances of attacks by heart diseases. It occurs as common knowledge that the high intake of fats fosters the development of heart-related diseases. What has remained in the background involves the tedious procedure the body undergoes in fat digestion and absorption. Therefore, the understanding of the effects of fats and cholesterol early in life, and the implementation of low-fat nutrition reduces heart-related diseases later in life. The make-up of carbohydrates consists of atoms of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen in specific quantities (Insel 146). The major classifications of carbohydrates include monosaccharaides, polysaccharides and disaccharides. The nutritional importance of a given saccharide depends on its complexity, which determines time taken for digestion and absorption. The required intake of carbohydrates per gram of food ingested lies at about four kilocalories. Carbohydrates break down to release energy for body use (Insel 147). They can also spike the level of blood sugar. The chemical combination of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen

The Life of a Couch Potato Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Life of a Couch Potato - Essay Example Couch potatoes are so much better than office workers because of the amount of exercise that they have to do. If they feel a sudden urge to get something to eat, it’s a dash there and back to the kitchen faster than Usain Bolt! The calories that literally fall of the body of a couch potato cannot be underestimated. Couch potatoes don’t miss their favorite shows for anything in the world, but if they have to leave, then they will do so as fast as they can. I can understand that because I myself am like that sometimes, especially if something really good is on TV. Everything else just goes out the window! As a result, this means that there really is no need for couch potatoes to go on a fitness plan because they literally have one already. Compare this to the average office worker who sits in his office all day typing away. Occasionally he may have to go to another floor in the building! But what does he do? Does he take the stairs? No. He takes the elevator of course! Th is burns very few calories at all and is a complete sign of laziness. If the office worker would take after the couch potato, he could become a much fitter person. I could almost use couch potatoes as my inspiration when I am down at the gym! Couch potatoes also must make huge sacrifices when time demands it. I mean, can you imagine missing out on episode #463 of The Simpsons just to go to your kid’s music recital? The couch potato can’t even be sure that the DVD recorder won’t malfunction. This shows that, contrary to belief, couch potatoes can actually give up something that they value most when required. If only I was able to give up something that meant so much to me like this is for couch potatoes. Compare this to the average office worker who might ask for time of work to go to the same function. Lame! All he does is miss out on work that was there today and will be there tomorrow. He will still get his paycheck, so he really isn’t giving anything u p to be there. It is a natural human reaction to not want to give up anything, so I guess that office workers are just normal, while couch potatoes are that rare breed that always put others before themselves. Another reason why couch potatoes are so much better than office workers is because of the amount of commitment that the job requires. Couch potatoes are so engrossed in what they are doing that they wouldn’t notice an earthquake if it hit them! That takes guts, and couch potatoes sure have plenty of that. Some shows only come on once, so if you miss it the first time, there is no chance of ever watching that show again. Couch potatoes have a little alarm clock in their brains that tells them when their next favorite show is on. You can be sure that they will definitely be there at that time with the remote in hand and a bowl of ice cream in the other! I don’t know if I could be that committed for anything. It really is a special skill to block everything else ou t and focus and what you truly love to do. Compare this to office workers who only go to work for the money. As soon as they get a better job offer, you can be sure that they will be out of there faster than you can say â€Å"raise.† They have literally no commitment at all to their place of work, and would probably not be there if they weren’t getting paid for it. No one pays couch potatoes to sit and watch TV all day! Now,

Business decision making Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business decision making - Assignment Example Decision making process is a very significant function to any company that must attain success in the market. It stipulates the areas that the company can easily penetrate in the market without enormous incurrence on costs and any impending risks. Data collection is the approach that wills open doors for such a company to make an adequate decision from the analysis they arrive at as per the data segments (Carroll, 2008). In this paper is stipulated that data analysis is a significant faction which every company ought to adopt. The report revolves around a fashion industry selling fashion clothes, shoes, jeans and other related fashion components whose main target is the youth generation. It possesses a challenge since the youths are dynamics in their desires, this call for constant review of its products to meet the demand of its market segment. A group comprising of 20 youths is sampled from Coventry region who are interviewed on a major market trends about fashion and their take on how fashion impacts the development of new products in the market. Their involvement in the changes is the key factor that is considered (Bazerman& Moore, 2013). Decisions amount to the most significant components to business in the market regardless of its current position. For a business to start it must involve decision making processes and growing business must always apply different decisions for its growth purposes, otherwise growth and start-up will never be met. An agglomeration of factors must be taken into consideration on the particular field of the company. A company ought to ask such questions like what is my market size. What is the market trend? Who are my consumers? What is the market perception? Among other critical questions which will drive the company to undertake proper steps. Quality, quantity, location, size and other structural characteristics are influenced by the decisions made by management in a company (Teale,

Assignment Budget and Policy Paper Essay Example for Free

Assignment Budget and Policy Paper Essay  · DUI task forces  · Plea bargaining  · Offender reentry/integration  · Victim assistance  · Immigration  · War on drugs  · War on terrorism Prepare a 1,400-1,750-word paper in which you summarize the goals in the criminal justice system that your selected policy attempts to achieve. Additionally, analyze the effective and ineffective initiatives associated with your selected policy, as well as any historical significance that may have impact. When you enter college, one of the first things that you should do is get a part time job. There are going to be a lot of hours that are available during the day, as this can help you increase your income. A job will pay its dividends and will reduce your worries when you are out having fun. This paperwork contains CJA 464 Week 4 Learning Team Assignment Budget and Policy Paper Law General Law Select a policy issue from the following list:  · DUI task forces  · Plea bargaining  · Offender reentry/integration  · Victim assistance  · Immigration  · War on drugs  · War on terrorism Prepare a 1,400-1,750-word paper in which you summarize the goals in the criminal justice system that your selected policy attempts to achieve. Additionally, analyze the effective and ineffective initiatives associated with your selected policy, as well as any historical significance that may have impact. When you enter college, one of the first things that you should do is get a part time job. There are going to be a lot of hours that are available during the day, as this can help you increase your income. A job will pay its dividends and will reduce your worries when you ar For downloading more tutorials visit https://bitly.com/12BpF7H When you enter college, one of the first things that you should do is get a part time job. There are going to be a lot of hours that are available during the day, as this can help you increase your income. A job will pay its dividends and will reduce your worries when you are out having fun. Law General Law Select a policy issue from the following list:  · DUI task forces  · Plea bargaining  · Offender reentry/integration  · Victim assistance  · Immigration  · War on drugs  · War on terrorism Prepare a 1,400-1,750-word paper in which you summarize the goals in the criminal justice system that your selected policy attempts to achieve. Additionally, analyze the effective and ineffective initiatives associated with your selected policy, as well as any historical significance that may have impact.

Accounting Essay Example for Free

Accounting Essay Merchandise inventory is generally valued at the price for which the goods can be sold. reported under the classification of Property, Plant, and Equipment on the balance sheet. reported as a current asset on the balance sheet. often reported as a miscellaneous expense on the income statement. Items waiting to be used in production are considered to be finished goods. merchandise inventory. raw materials. work in progress. In a manufacturing business, inventory that is ready for sale is called store supplies inventory. finished goods inventory. aw materials inventory. work in process inventory. Inventory items on an assembly line in various stages of production are classified as Finished goods. Work in process. Merchandise inventory. Raw materials. Rudolf Diesel Companys inventory records show the following data: Units Unit Cost Inventory, January 1 5,000 $9. 00 Purchases: June 18 4,500 8. 00 November 8 3,000 7. 00 A physical inventory on December 31 shows 3,000 units on hand. Under the FIFO method, the December 31 inventory is $21,750. $21,000. $27,000. $24,000. Rudolf Diesel Companys inventory records show the following data: Units Unit Cost Inventory, January 1 5,000 $9. 00 Purchases: June 18 4,500 8. 00 November 8 3,000 7. 00 A physical inventory on December 31 shows 3,000 units on hand. Under the FIFO method, the December 31 inventory is $21,750. $21,000. $27,000. $24,000. In a period of rising prices, FIFO will have lower cost of goods sold than LIFO. lower net income than LIFO. lower net purchases than LIFO. lower income tax expense than LIFO. The inventory turnover ratio is computed by dividing cost of goods sold by 365 days. verage inventory. beginning inventory. ending inventory. Quigley Companys records indicate the following information for the year: Merchandise inventory, 1/1 $550,000 Purchases 2,250,000 Net Sales 3,000,000 On December 31, a physical inventory determined that ending inventory of $600,000 was in the warehouse. Quigleys gross profit on sales has remained constant at 30%. Quigley suspects some of the inventory may have been taken by some new employees. At December 31, what is the estimated cost of missing inventory? 700,000 $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 Quigley Companys records indicate the following information for the year: Merchandise inventory, 1/1 $550,000 Purchases 2,250,000 Net Sales 3,000,000 On December 31, a physical inventory determined that ending inventory of $600,000 was in the warehouse. Quigleys gross profit on sales has remained constant at 30%. Quigley suspects some of the inventory may have been taken by some new employees. At December 31, what is the estimated cost of missing inventory? $700,000 $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 Cash from sales of merchandise will be recorded in the sales journal. ash receipts journal. purchases journal. general journal. Posting a sales journal to the accounts in the general ledger requires a debit to Cash and a credit to Sales. debit to Accounts Receivable and a credit to Inventory. debit to Sales and a credit to Inventory. debit to Accounts Receivable and a credit to Sales. The process of totaling the columns of a journal is termed footing. ruling. columnizing. sizing. Cross-footing a cash receipts journal means all necessary postings have been completed. each line of the journal has a horizontal total. the columns of the journal have been cross-referenced. he equality of debits and credits in the journal have been proved. Entries in the purchases journal are made without supporting documentation. from purchase invoices. from sales invoices. from the general journal. Principles of an efficient and effective accounting information system include all of the following except cost effectiveness. flexibility. useful output. All of these options are principles. Which of the following is not an advantage of a subsidiary ledger? Puts greater detail in the general ledger. Makes possible a division of labor. Shows transactions affecting one customer or one creditor in a single account. Helps locate errors in individual accounts. Cash equivalents include each of the following except U. S. Treasury bills. bank certificates of deposit. money market funds. petty cash. An example of poor internal control is one person should be responsible for handling related transactions. the accountant should not have physical custody of the asset nor access to it. a salesperson makes the sale, and a different person ships the goods. the custodian of an asset should not maintain or have access to the accounting records. Having different individuals receive cash, record cash receipts, and hold the cash is an example of documentation procedures. establishment of responsibility. segregation of duties. independent internal verification. Storing cash in a company safe is an application of which internal control principle? Establishment of responsibility Segregation of duties Documentation procedures Physical controls Using prenumbered checks and having an approved invoice for each check is an example of segregation of duties. documentation procedures. independent internal verification. establishment of responsibility. An application of good internal control over cash disbursements is check signers should record the cash disbursements. blank checks should be stored in the treasurers desk. each check should be compared with the approved invoice after the check is issued. following payment, the approved invoice should be stamped PAID. Journal entries are required by the depositor for all of the following except bank service charges. an NSF check. collection of a note receivable. bank errors. Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that can be converted into a specific amount of cash with maturities of 6 months or less when purchased. year or less when purchased. 1 month or less when purchased. 3 months or less when purchased. The financial statements of Gentry Manufacturing Company report net sales of $400,000 and accounts receivable of $80,000 and $40,000 at the beginning and end of the year, respectively. What is the average collection period for accounts receivable in days? 50 times 40 times 80 times 54. 7 times Writing off an uncollectible account under the allowance method requires a debit to Bad Debts Expense. Uncollectible Accounts Expense. Accounts Receivable. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. The direct write-off method estimates bad debt losses. is acceptable for financial reporting purposes. shows only actual losses from uncollectible accounts receivable. debits Allowance for Doubtful Accounts to record write-offs of accounts. Putnam Companys account balances at December 31 for Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts were $2,100,000 and $105,000 (Cr. ), respectively. An aging of accounts receivable indicated that $192,000 are expected to become uncollectible. The amount of the adjusting entry for bad debts at December 31 is $87,000. 297,000. $105,000. $192,000. The interest rate specified on any note is for a day. week. month. year. On February 1, Platt Company received a $9,000, 10%, four-month note receivable. The cash to be received by Platt Company when the note becomes due is $9,300. $300. $9,000. $9,900. The accounts receivable turnover ratio is computed by dividing total sales by ending net accounts receivable. total sales by average net accounts receivable. net credit sales by average net accounts receivable. net credit sales by ending net accounts receivable.

Burger King: Business Communication Processes

Burger King: Business Communication Processes The Burger King is international Fast Food chain was founded in 1953 in Jacksonville Florida. At that time the name is insta-burger. The original founders and owners, Kieth J. Kramer and his wifes uncle Matthew Burns, opened their first stores around a piece of equipment known as the Insta-Broiler. After the original company began to falter in 1959, it was purchased by the Miami, Florida franchisees James McLamore and David R. Edgerton who renamed the company Burger King. After independent for eight years, the company expanding around 250 locations in the United States, when they sold it to the Pillsbury Company in 1967. According to my knowledge the Burger King in New Zealand the previous owner was Dennis Jones and Mark Backhaus and they sold out Burger King to Anchorage Capital Partners Australian Company. Anchorage partner Mark Bayliss become chairman of the New Zealand Burger King operation. My objective in this report is discussing communication process in Sylvia park Burger King. The reason behind this to choose this business because I was working in this company for nearly one year and I was watching day by day communication process ,how it is effective and how it is important for business. Business demographics: Business Communication: business communication is the communication between the people in the organization for the purpose of carrying out business activities. It may be oral, verbal, written etc. In Burger King there is different stages where the communication process takes place ,in internally the communication is MEMOS,BUSINESSLETTERS,E-MAILS, MANUALS ,METTINGS, NEWSLETTERS and these communication are very important in business to met main objective. The communication process in management levels are. That means how communication is occurs in different level of management levels that are following. Top level management CEO and other top level management. Top level manager (area manager) and restaurant managers. Restaurant manager and lower level manager. Restaurant manager Assistant manager Salary manager Hourly manager Team leader Crew The communication process in different station in Burger King: Front counter and order making: in this process, the front counter person take the order of customer and after that trough screen the order maker got message to make a customer order. Drive thru person and customer: when a car comes to drive thru the order taker and customer communicate each other via headphone and speaker and mice. Order making (boat) to the fry station: the cooked product is delivering FRY STATION to the boat PHU (PRODUCT HOLDING UNIT) according to the order requirement by verbal communication. For example if there is order of five BK chicken then the boat person told fry station person please down five chicken if other person says yes then boat person says thanks that is compiled communication process. In our Burger King (Sylvia Park) there is screens in each station for example front counter order, drive thru order, boat station, fry station and boiler station. That means how message is passes from one station to other station. Drive thru and order making: in this process, drive thru person take the order of customer and after that trough screen the order maker got message to make a customer order. Burger King menu board is good example of nonverbal communication process because if customer come to place order first see what he/she want after looking menu board he/she decide what is good meal deal. I have one good example to explain the whole communication process in steps Step 1: Front counter person taking order (verbal communication) between the customer and front counter person. Step 2: Enter order in the system .that is encoding electronic machine that message to front counter to the kitchen screen (decode message in read able form), that is non verbal communication. Step 3: Boat person prepare order and send ordered burger on the level. Step 4: After getting burger the packing person packs the order and gives to customer. So for complete communication process there is various steps and how these steps are important in business communication. Burger King goals: Burger King want to individualize each customers order and provide the fastest service possible that the fast food restaurant aim and provide good customer service. Burger Kings policy is to give the customer many choices and to accurately and quickly provide whatever the customer chooses for example our restaurant menu board provide customers graphical communication. Burger Kings procedures are also consistent with their goals. In order to individualize each order they provide customers with many options when ordering. Some options include fries or onion rings, cheese, bacon, mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onion. The customer can pick any combination of these options that they desire, such as different meals of beef burger, chicken burger and salad burgers. One employee takes the customers order, the customer then moves down the line where another employee is preparing the order. Meanwhile, the original employee is taking another customers order. Customers also get their own drinks while they are waiting for their meal. This makes service much faster in that employees do not have to prepare drinks or provide refills. The climate at Burger King was very pleasant and customer can enjoy their meals by watching television at dining room. The restaurant was very clean and there were no loud noises from the service area. They also provided relaxing music for customers to listen to while dining. Burger King possessed more than adequate communication and leadership. Employees gave the customers feedback on their orders. Each customer received a receipt, which enabled them to double-check their order. The employees also read the order back to the customer before handing them the order. In terms of leadership, a manager does visit to every station and he is taking order and coaching staff in proper way. FOR EXAMPE he is do supervision every station and communicate every team member so everything goes in proper manner. Burger Kings culture and ethics: Burger King culture means how improving ethics in organisation that means moral rights and wrong of any decisions in Burger King. How people behave in organisation for example in our Burger King company had made some rules and regulation so all the staff should follow those rules, and how all the staff behaves with each other and how they behave with customers. By providing staff proper training to maintain company values so that all member of the organisation should learn proper way of work. For example in the Burger King the company setting standard of all food and safety like temperature , holding time of all products, and the culture of Burger King includes standards ,language ,way of behaving, way of communicating, way of dressing . Standards: setting standard of products temperature, holding time and the entire staff member follow these standards. Language: we have different staff form different culture and ethics values but at work place all the staffs speaks only English language. Dressing: company having dress of all staff so that dress communicates any one is working in Burger King. Way of behave: every staff behaves politely and friendly. Management of knowledge resources: According to that concept knowledge management how the knowledge put in practically and how it is good for any organisation. So for this first decide what organisation objective is. For our Burger King the main objective is providing good quality of fast food and good customer service to achieve this objective there are some steps. Manager should have good knowledge of food. Good quality of food Good cooking equipment. Trained all staff in proper way All staff should follow rules in fast food organisation Provide latest technology equipment and sharing that knowledge with staff and how effective it is. To trained staff how to sale more product by suggesting customer, if customer want only whopper burger then suggest him buy meal its cheaper. To share knowledge of new equipment to all staff. Group dynamics: Is the study of groups, and also a general term for group processes. Relevant to the fields of  psychology,  sociology, and  communication studies, a  group  is two or more individuals who are connected to each other by social relationships.  Because they interact and influence each other, groups develop a number of dynamic processes that separate them from a random collection of individuals. These processes include norms, roles, relations, development, need to belong, social influence, and effects on behaviour. There is some barrier Risking: when taking in group how much a person can take risk in communication. Expectations: that means in group what the other people expect from you and how to control your expectations. Avoidance: that means behaviour of a person to do use to avoid, may be that is habit or people can change their behaviour to make more relation with their group. Probing: that means how you explain in group according to the requirement of other member of group. Control: when any one taking in group and other member control you in his way how you feel in that communication. Silence: sometimes it better way to keep silence in group according to the situation. Meeting management: In any business meeting is very important part of communication, and to make meeting run effectively are following points. An effective meeting serves a useful purpose. This means that in it, you achieve a desired outcome. For a meeting to meet this outcome, or objective, you have to be clear about what it is the purpose of meeting. Mostly manager in any organisation call a meeting to discuss something important discussion. Use time wisely: time is a precious resource, and no one wants their time wasted. With the amount of time we all spend in meetings, you owe it to yourself and your team to streamline the meeting as much as possible. So in meeting make agenda, the agenda is what you will refer to in order to keep the meeting running on target and on time. For making agenda some points should be consider. Priorities-what main topic is discuss in meeting. Results-what decisions will be taken. Participants-who are attending the meeting. Sequence-order of discussed topic. Timing-discussion time of topic. Date and Time-when will the meeting take place. Place-where will the meeting take place. Satisfied participants that a sensible process has been followed: Once you have an agenda prepared, you need to circulate it to the participants and get their feedback and input. Once in the meeting, to ensure maximum satisfaction for everyone, there are several things you should keep in mind: If certain people are doing conversation, make a point of asking others for their ideas. At the end of each agenda item, quickly summarize what was said, and ask people to confirm that thats a fair summary. Then make notes regarding follow-up. Note items that require further discussion. Watch body language and make adjustments as necessary. Maybe you need a break, or you need to stop someone from speaking too much. Ensure the meeting stays on topic. List all tasks that are generated at the meeting. Make a note of who is assigned to do what, and by when. At the close of the meeting, quickly summarize next steps and inform everyone that you will be sending out a meeting summary. Stakeholder: The Burger King manages to communicate with all stake holders with who are directly and indirectly linked with the organisation. Management and employees: they also communicate with Burger King their jobs, pay and working hours etc Customers: customers are also communicating with organisation when they buy any product. Supplier: different supplier can communicate with organisation such as bakery supplier, beef and chicken patty supplier, salad suppliers, equipment suppliers all are communicate according to their requirement. Banks: company communicate with banks, directly transfer money to company account by using eftpos (electronic device). Financial organisation: provide finance to an organisation. Government: the government tax policies especially Inland Revenue communicate with organisation to pay tax according to sales of organisation. Trade unions: these unions are communicating with worker of organisation to provide laws and rights of worker. City council: communicate with organisation that business runs according to government standards and providing good quality product. Networks: In our Burger King there various methods of communications such as telephone, fax, internet, E- mail, etc. There are two types of networks LOCAL AREA NETWORKS (LANs): where all the electronic machines are connected with each other and close to each other. WIDE AREA NETWORKS (WANs): where computer communicate with each other via telephone lines or wireless transmission. Some examples of networks in Burger King are: Minder: Thats electronic device which connected with PHU (PRODUCT UNIT HOLDER) calculated which product is expires after a certain limit so the screen of minder communicate with staff which chicken patty is expired. Drive thru system: that electronic device which can communicate between Burger King staff and customers. Internet: communicate managers with head office via emails. Telephone: this is also good source of communication in business. Electronic device to help taking order on front counter and drive thru and that system connecting with main computer in the office. Conclusion: To conclude that the communication process takes place in different level in Burger King, like as verbal, and non-verbal and different sources are used to complete this process step by step and how it is effective in the organisation. In our organisation how people communicate with staff, manager communicates with staff, networks used in organisation.

Working Women and Family Lifestyles Essay -- Papers Feminism Females W

Working Women and Family Lifestyles The issues and concerns of this course are ones with which I am able to identify. Having been married for eight years, a working women and mother qualifies me to give much insight to each of the components listed in this course. My essay will address the following: ï‚ · Past and present status of women in the work place ï‚ · Balancing career and family ï‚ · Career Choices ï‚ · The future of the family In addition, I will expand on the implications of single parenthood and how it affects women?s careers and raising a family. PAST AND PRESENT STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE WORK PLACE Every day in some office, bank, store, school, or wherever women work, someone announces an engagement or a wedding. But unlike past generations, the announcement doesn?t automatically mean the employee is leaving. She is just adding a new dimension to herself-marriage. Unlike her predecessor, she will work for a much longer period because she can decide when to begin her family. If she decides to have a family, her leave of absence is apt to be less than five years, because she is a member of the new breed of women who attempt to combine the roles of career woman, mother, and wife into a workable package. Wives have been working for a much longer period than most people think. Before the Industrial Revolution, even wealthy women worked long hours supervising the needs of large families, household servants, and slaves. Most American families engaged in farming then. Often husband and wife worked together in order to make a profit. During the time of the Revolutionary, women worked in the fields plowing and harvesting, because all males were away fighting the war. By the ... ...y and to achieve what they want regardless if it is deemed a man?s job or woman?s job. In fact, my children see me do both. I mow the lawn, wash the cars, take out the garbage and do dishes, laundry and clean bathrooms. I also work, go to school but love to have fun water-skiing, snow-skiing and coaching and playing softball. My new husband does the same except he is indeed the bread-winner of the family. That to me is a fairly well-rounded parental example. I hope my children surpass me, at parallel age levels, in all ways. Theories and principles related to the past and present status and role of women in work, behavioral, and socialization patterns affecting career choices and leadership abilities. Dual career couples, child-raising issues, and the future of the family. Special problems of re-entry women and current legislation affecting women at work.

Elderly Abuse: Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Essays -- Nursing Homes,

I. INTRODUCTION Of nursing home staff interviewed in 2004, nearly 40% admitted to committing at least one psychologically abusive act toward a resident and 10% admitted to physically abusing a resident in the preceding year.[1] Not only are nursing home residents at risk of being abused by their caretakers but they are also at risk of being restrained, which may lead to a form of abuse. With five percent of the elderly population, or one to two million instances of elder abuse occurring yearly there is no doubt that elder abuse deserves serious consideration.[2] Upon growing older there are many decisions to be made. Among one of the most difficult and perhaps most important decisions is where the elder person will live and how long-term care needs will be met when he/she is no longer capable of doing so independently due to the incapacity that accompanies many with old age. Nursing homes seem to be the popular choice for people no matter the race, gender, or socioeconomic status with 1.5 million Americans being admitted to them yearly.[3] Because nursing homes are in such a high demand and are not cheap, $77.9 billion was spent for nursing home care in the United States in 2010 alone, they are under criticism of many professions including the legal profession, which is in the process of establishing elder law as a defense to issues with in the elder community. Nursing homes have a duty to provide many things to the elderly including medical, social, pharmaceutical, and dietary services so that the individual may maintain the highest wel l-being possible.[4] Stated another way 'a nursing facility must care for its residents in such a manner and in such an environment as will promote maintenance or enhancement of the q... ...dling abuse- does the person know this procedure and is the policy well accessible? 9) Talking to other resident or families of residents- are they happy? What do they think of they facility and employees? 10) Ask for a list of activities, including community activities, the residents are able to participate in- are they on grounds or off grounds? Will they accommodate the residents? ability? Though this checklist is not all encompassing it provides simple guidelines a person can easily look to in order to put his/her mind more at ease and feel secure in placing a loved one in a nursing home facility. Because there is no guarantee against elder abuse occurring in nursing homes it is important that the resident, where possible, and the family of the resident remain involved on a daily basis and demand the quality of care the elder person deserves. Elderly Abuse: Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Essays -- Nursing Homes, I. INTRODUCTION Of nursing home staff interviewed in 2004, nearly 40% admitted to committing at least one psychologically abusive act toward a resident and 10% admitted to physically abusing a resident in the preceding year.[1] Not only are nursing home residents at risk of being abused by their caretakers but they are also at risk of being restrained, which may lead to a form of abuse. With five percent of the elderly population, or one to two million instances of elder abuse occurring yearly there is no doubt that elder abuse deserves serious consideration.[2] Upon growing older there are many decisions to be made. Among one of the most difficult and perhaps most important decisions is where the elder person will live and how long-term care needs will be met when he/she is no longer capable of doing so independently due to the incapacity that accompanies many with old age. Nursing homes seem to be the popular choice for people no matter the race, gender, or socioeconomic status with 1.5 million Americans being admitted to them yearly.[3] Because nursing homes are in such a high demand and are not cheap, $77.9 billion was spent for nursing home care in the United States in 2010 alone, they are under criticism of many professions including the legal profession, which is in the process of establishing elder law as a defense to issues with in the elder community. Nursing homes have a duty to provide many things to the elderly including medical, social, pharmaceutical, and dietary services so that the individual may maintain the highest wel l-being possible.[4] Stated another way 'a nursing facility must care for its residents in such a manner and in such an environment as will promote maintenance or enhancement of the q... ...dling abuse- does the person know this procedure and is the policy well accessible? 9) Talking to other resident or families of residents- are they happy? What do they think of they facility and employees? 10) Ask for a list of activities, including community activities, the residents are able to participate in- are they on grounds or off grounds? Will they accommodate the residents? ability? Though this checklist is not all encompassing it provides simple guidelines a person can easily look to in order to put his/her mind more at ease and feel secure in placing a loved one in a nursing home facility. Because there is no guarantee against elder abuse occurring in nursing homes it is important that the resident, where possible, and the family of the resident remain involved on a daily basis and demand the quality of care the elder person deserves.

How to Improve Reading Comprehension

Tony Sandoval III American Military University Coll 100 Derrah Q. Cassidy How to Improve Reading Comprehension How to improve one’s reading comprehension? First, one must know what reading compression is, plain and simple it is the act of understanding what is being read. â€Å"Learning how to read is probably one of the most important skills that a child will acquire in his/her lifetime† (Pardo, 2011). Though it may sound easy, many people have difficultly remembering and understanding what they read. To become a successful reader, a child must be able to decode the individual words on the page and must be able to comprehend the text† (McNamara, 2007). To read effectively pick a subject that will be interesting, try to figure out what you and the book have in common. Then, concentrate on the material being read and develop a discipline approach to the reading. Preview the material by looking over it and determine what the most important parts of the text are. Pau se after each paragraph to reflect on what was just read so the brain can comprehend it. Next focus on the reading speed one has. Once this is done, test yourself over the material to ensure it is being comprehended. This will get your brain working to paying attention most of the time. When reading, one must be willing to push their self beyond where they are at. â€Å"Reading is an extraordinary achievement when one considers the number of levels and components that must be mastered. Consider what it takes to read a simple story. The words contain graphemes, phonemes and morphemes† (McNamara, 2007). Most people will not even understand half of what was just said or written. Even though the reading material might be hard, little by little the words will make since once they are pieced together in a way that could be understood better. Also, try to think ahead and concentrate on certain parts to get your brain working on paying attention to what is being read. While reading, highlight what might be the most important part of the text. This will help to determine what is being said in the reading. Some readers might want to ask questions while reading. This will help them when piecing parts of the main point of the article together to make more sense. While reading, stop after each paragraph to help reflect on the meaning of what was just read. â€Å"Proficient readers don't just plow ahead through text when it doesn't make sense – they stop and use â€Å"fix-up† strategies to restore their understanding. One of the most important fix-up tools is rereading, with teachers demonstrating to students a variety of ways to reread text in order to repair meaning† (Zimmerman & Keene, 2007). This will help gather thoughts about the material and shine some light on the subject. While reading concentrate on what information is being put out in the article. At times readers will have questions come to mind and the reader must find the answers. If they have sticky notes to jot down things, the reader will be able to recall the information. â€Å"A reader’s successful comprehension of text material is evidenced by the representation that, at a minimum, is coherent enough to account for all the information explicitly presented in the text† (McNamara, 2007). The reader should then sort through and prioritizes information from the sea of words that is in the text. This will help indicate that comprehension can be recalled and be understood by the reader. The reader should frequently summarize the reading. This forces the reader to reorganize the information in a way that is sensible to them. Though reading can be fun, it can also be time consuming. The success of reading comprehension depends on the factors of what information is being entered into the brain and what the brain is able to do with it. It is also important to understand what you are reading to help improve your speed. This skill is acquired through years of learning. If speed reading is not the best, do not worry because there are many tips that can help a reader. One good tip is called the hand trick. The reader should place the palm of their hand flat against the reading surface. Move the hand so that the first line of text being read is above the side of the hand. Slowly move the palm to revile the words of the text at a regular speed so the reader can see the words that are being exposed. Next, is the finger trick with this method the reader should place the index finger on the first group of words that is about to be read. Move the finger in an irregular manner from the beginning of the sentence to the end. This helps the reader to focus on reading groups of words instead of individually. Another good tip to become a better reader is the card trick. Get an index card and place it over the first sentence. Then slowly begin moving it in a downwards, covering what was just read. This helps the reader to pay attention on what was just read since they will not have the opportunity to revisit the words. After the reader has finished, determine what was learned. Give the reader a chance to share what they have read in pairs or small groups. Then have them quiz themselves on the main points of the material. Tell a friend about it. By doing this, the reader should try to recall the important information in their own words. This will help them to remember and give a deeper insight into the topic. If both people have read the same material, the friend could give good feedback to ensure that the reader comprehends what was being read. The goal of having them discuss this is to involve more people so they can all make sure they can comprehend the reading. This process will solidify the knowledge in the mind and give the reader a better recall of the information. Also include any thoughts that might have popped into your mind and discuss the information. The evidence that reading comprehension can be taught and learned is convincing. â€Å"Teachers need to make sure that children are familiar with all of the reading strategies and that they are given plenty of opportunities to use them† (Pardo, 2011). You’ll achieve the best results using the set of strategies in this paper. This will help encourage the reader to anticipate what is to come, pay close attention to whether they are understanding and frequently pause to summarize, going back to fill in gaps in the information. The reader should consider using the methods mentioned above. Reviewing these individual skills of comprehension can quickly help the reader see, that the skills require higher thinking and an ability to view the material that has been read. Bibliography McNamara, D. S. (2007). Reading Comprehension Strategies : Theories, Interventions, and Technologies. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Pardo, L. (2011). Increasing Reading Comprehension Through The Explicit Teaching Of Reading Strategies: Is There A Difference Among The Genders? Project Innovation, Inc 13. Zimmerman, S. , & Keene, E. (2007). Retrieved September 30, 2011, from Waht Are the Seven Reading Comprehension Strategies? Retrieved from http://www. choiceliteracy. com/public/144. cfm

Are People Born Generally Good Essay

I believe all people are born generally good, but are corrupted by society later on in life. When we are born we have no idea of what our lives will become. As we grow, we encounter people that affect us in good and bad ways. We then have to take it upon ourselves to decide what is right and how we handle situations based on our previous experiences. Hence these experiences make our lives and tendencies good or bad. For example, many studies have found that those who grow up in a â€Å"broken home† or dysfunctional family are more likely to develop habits of lying, being irresponsible, and hyper-sensitive of peoples opinions about them. This is a direct effect of experiences they encountered growing up, whether it be trying to avoid harsh consequences by lying, trying to please someone who never shows support (causing hyper-sensitivity), or not having an influential adult who teaches them how to complete tasks properly (becoming irresponsible). I believe everyone I have come in contact with has been good in the end, meaning everyone has some sense of good deep inside of them. Whether that is apparent to the everyday person is decided by the unique path they’ve had through life. When thinking about the success or failures of our representative democracy, I think of it in two sections, a social issues section and a financial policy section. Socially, I believe our country is extremely successful in protecting our personal liberties and freedoms. The representatives we elect have always had split opinions on controversial issues like drug legalization, abortion, and gay marriage, but have always made sure to protect our rights to assemble, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion, to name a few. Our government has always sworn and made sure to do the right thing and keep our constitutional rights intact, for the well-being of our public. We are given the right to have opposing opinions, and most people respect the right for people to do so. This is because of the general good people are born with. In these personal liberty issues our government takes the morally good stance of upholding the Constitution, even if a verdict against it may personally benefit them more. Albeit there are always the few bad apples who make the exception. Financially is where the negativity of society begins to show in our government. We are bombarded with images of the rich, powerful and famous, and told that this is the â€Å"new American Dream†. This is what we work to attain in life, but it is almost impossible to reach. So, once the few who do make it to the top (including the representatives we elect to government) they will do what it takes to keep that power and money, because that is what makes them successful in societies eyes. This can include a lot of what you hear about in the news including adding â€Å"pork† to bills, working with lobbyists, and shady campaign funding to ensure re-election. Unfortunately, this has become normal in politics. All of this is powered by negative social ideals that we are surrounded by. Thus the generally good representative, who may have started out truly wanting to help his nation, becomes corrupt.

Teens Go Gaga over Vampires

Teens Go Gaga Over Vampires: Its Causes and Effects Abstract This article will identify and discuss the reasons why teenagers are obsessed with vampires and what effects does it have on them. Study shows that this obsession has a great impact on both the teenager as an individual and to the people who surround her. The researcher studied and investigated the topic by finding different articles, essays, data and surveys from different sources in the Internet, as well as reading some vampire novels herself.The survey conducted by the researcher was among teenagers aged 14 to 16 who are Filipinos. All the research done about what cause this obsession came to one particular conclusion. Teens are obsessed and are addicted with vampires because they happen to fall in love with the vampire’s characteristics, some value the vampire’s physical appearance, while others take notice of the vampire’s romantic actions. This obsession has a lot of effects to our society today, both positive and negative.Teens Go Gaga Over Vampires: Its Causes and Effects Vampire, the word itself says it all. Even though the term vampires was not made known to people before the 18th century, most people agree that vampires originated long ago during the prehistoric times in many different cultures that are related to vampires (Betonio, 2011). Many choose to believe that vampires are just myths that only exists in people’s minds and imagination.Many also believe in the existence of vampires in our world, that they are not just myths and stories, but are real. People even classified vampires according to their kind. According to Agnes Embile Jimenez (2008), there is the Danag, which is a Filipino vampire known originally as a harmless vampire who helps the humans in their livelihood until one day when the Danag sucked all the blood out from a woman whose finger was wounded.There is the Romanian Varacolaci, who is described as a powerful undead being who has the abilit y to morph into a beautiful human. There is the very fast vampire from Slovakia who is called as the Nelapsi. Last but not the least, there is the Italian vampire, the Stregonibenefici, who is said to belong to the good side and is an enemy to all other vampires who do not side with the good.Some additional kinds of vampires from Sarah Todd (2008) are the Lilith, a Hebrew demon, who drinks the blood of a baby; the African vampire, the Adze, who drinks coconut milk, palm oil and blood and who appears as a firefly but turns human-like once captured; the Impundulu or the Lightning Bird, who is a giant bird who has the ability to turn into a handsome man to lure women whose blood they will consume; the Asanboam who lives in trees and flies down whenever they see a possible prey; the Ramanga who were originally human but evolved eventually due to the nail parings they eat and the sucking of their master’s lost blood; Jiang Shi, the Chinese vampire, who is made when the soul dead c annot escape its body; and the Caribbean vampire Loogaroo, a female vampire. In literature, the first major work about vampires is the short German poem, The Vampire, which was written by Heinrich August Ossenfelde in 1748. The first example of a vampire who has no choice to be one and loathes himself is Varney from the epic book, Varney the Vampire, which was written by James Malcolm Rymer in 1845. Carmilla, written by Sheridan le Fanu in 1872, was the first book with an erotic vampire. The story was about a heroine seduced by a female vampire whose blood was later drunk by the vampire. In 1897, the famous Dracula by Bram Stoker was published.Bram Stoker mixed death, blood, and sex with medieval vampire myths and vampire stories that are present during his days. After almost half of a century, Richard Mattheson wrote the book I am Legend where the story revolves around a post-apocalyptic age where vampirism is a disease. This was often called as the first modern vampire novel. In 1 975, Salem’s Lot by Stephen King was introduced to the world. King made the 20th century Maine as the setting of the story. After a year, the most famous Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice changed the whole concept of vampires. Vampire Chronicles featured vampires who are romantic and are the opposite of how they were first introduced (Laming, n. . ). In the year 2005, Stephenie Meyer published the phenomenal Twilight, the first book to the epic series that gave birth to billions of vampire-addicted teens and tweens in the 21st century. It all started when Meyer dreamt of a scene in 2003 wherein a handsome young vampire was talking to an ordinary human girl. After having this dream, she decided to make a story out of it. After many sleepless nights and countless instances where she wanted to give up, she still continued on working. And all that work finally paid off when that dream finally became Twilight. Twilight is about a story of two individuals who fell in love with each o ther.The difference it makes from other love stories is that Twilight is a love story between a human and a vampire, specifically Edward Cullen and Bella Swan. Bella Swan was just an ordinary girl, but to Edward Cullen, she was the most exquisite thing he has ever seen in his 104 years of existence. He treated her better than how he treated anyone else, even himself. He loved her like there is nothing else to love. He made her his reason for living. All these were perfectly described in the book. As someone who was able to read about their love story, who would not fall in love with this mythical being. Edward Cullen was the reason why teenage girls are obsessed with vampires today. Edward Cullen was the cause for this century’s cult-like vampire fans.This obsession has great effects to the lives of those teenagers who are addicted to these vampires. Because vampires in novels, movies and television show nowadays tend to have better qualities than humans that attract teens, s pecifically girls, causing them to be obsessed and to be addicted to the vampires. Teenage girls say that they like these vampires because of their characteristics. Discussion Vampires is novels, movies and television are already given a brand new image by authors these days which is based on the 19th century European Vampires (Rhoads, 2007). These authors do not describe them as how vampires were originally introduced.The word vampire itself is also associated with the word vamp, which means a woman who uses her charms or wiles to seduce and exploit men as a noun, and to practice seductive wiles on as a verb (Merriam-Webster, 1999). Instead of giving them a horrifying image, they gave them an image that everyone would want for themselves. Before the year 2000, most people still refer to vampires as monsters who seduce their prey who drain their prey’s blood afterwards even though the image of vampires in literature started to change as early as the 19th century. They also de scribe vampires as creatures who are scared of any kind of light because light may hurt them and may make them vanish into nothing. This description also came to the theory that vampires only attack during night, sleep in coffins and live in very dark places.Physically, they were described as creatures who have fangs as their teeth, powder-white skin and who wears black robes, which make them look like they are black and white. It is also said that vampires are cold-skinned because they are already considered as lifeless beings who continue to live despite the fact they do not have blood flowing inside of them. In 2005, when Twilight was published, vampires were described differently altogether. In almost all books published after 2005, proceeding Twilight, vampires are described as â€Å"beautiful people†. Vampires are described as more human-like, without fangs for their teeth, and even vary in skin color. They do not die nor do they age.Though they still drink blood, becau se this is what makes them a vampire, authors like Stephenie Meyer described her main characters, the Cullens to be exact, as â€Å"vegetarian vampires† or vampires who do not drink human blood but drinks animal blood as a substitute. While Twilight features vegetarian vampires, Blue Bloods still have vampires who drink human blood, but in a different manner. Even though they drink human blood, they do not drain the humans, they just drink a bit of the human’s blood to sustain their lives; they are prohibited to drink all the blood a human has. They even have a name for this event, â€Å"Caerimonia Oscular† or more popularly known as the â€Å"sacred kiss†.The humans from whom they drink blood are called their â€Å"human familiars†, and once they drink from a human, that human will be physically attached to the vampire. In other words, that human will fall in love with the vampire who drank from them. Most of these characteristics are found in alm ost all vampires today, some are even found in novels that involve fallen angels. Some of these famous vampires are Schuyler van Alen and Jack Force from the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz, Zoey from P. C. Cast’s House of Night Series, Elena Gilbert from Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith and of course, Edward Cullen from Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga.Besides the characteristics of these vampires, they make a great impact to the people who surround them. Another factor that attracts teenagers to them is how they treat those that they love and care for, and how those they love feel about them as well. Presently, many authors continue to write love stories about vampires, even though they were thought as heartless monsters who do not have the ability to love before. In books, vampires love differently from humans, which is why humans fall in love with them. Vampires treat the one that they love like he or she is the last being in the whole world. They will do any thing for the one that they love, even though it is the hardest thing that they will ever do.They would want to die if they found out that the one that they love is now dead. They will want everything that is the best for the person they love. They will respond very quickly and would want to answer â€Å"yes† all the time. They will sacrifice anything just to keep the one they love safe from danger. Most importantly, they will never look at or be interested in someone else other than the person that they love; they will always remain faithful and would love unconditionally. Though the way that a vampire loves is incomparable, no one should belittle how a human loves the vampire who loves him or her as well. Since they are just humans, they sometimes get confused about who they really love.But even so, they will still realize that the one that they truly love is the vampire who loves them. They become obsessed about their vampire â€Å"boyfriend† or â€Å"girlfriendâ⠂¬ . They want to spend every minute with the one that they love. They become attached to these vampires. Some would even agree to let the vampire drink their blood. Of course, they would also want to die for the safety of the person that they love. Since humans in novels, books, movies and television shows are already obsessed and addicted to these vampires, teenage girls who gets a chance to read these books or watch these shows and movies also get obsessed with the vampires featured in each.They say that they like these vampires because of their supernatural abilities, their physical appearance, which they describe as â€Å"hot†, their immortality, the forbidden love that the vampire and human has, and the butterflies that these vampires send to their stomachs. The attitude that humans in novels and movies have toward these vampires is still acceptable since they exist in the same world. The unhealthy thing for these teenage girls is that they become obsessed with these v ampires even though they already know that they are just fictional characters and that they do not exist in real life. Because of everything about these vampires, teenagers become addicted to them.Some even say or admit that they have already fallen in love with these vampires. As they are addicted to these vampires, most do not even have the slightest idea of what effects this obsession has on them. Some say that it affects them positively, but they fail to admit that those positive effects cannot be compared to the negative effects it has on them. Some positive effects or benefits this obsession can cause them to love reading books. If they loved reading the first book, they will continue on reading the following books in the series; and if they already read the whole series, they will continue to read other series that have the same qualities they loved in the first series that they read.Reading these novels will help them broaden their vocabulary and enhance their skills in Engl ish. It will also develop their patience and concentration. With benefits, there will always be side effects. The negative effects that this obsession has on teens are greater than the benefits it has. Firstly, because of their addiction, they forget to prioritize. They do not set their priorities straight and tend to give importance to those things that do not really need importance then forgetting about the things that really matter. They also forget about the real issues in their lives. They get stuck up on this â€Å"vampire world† of theirs. They never think of anything else besides these vampires.There are also those who think that it is good to be obsessed with your boyfriend or girlfriend just like what Twilight tells them (McCarthy, 2009). Some also become insecure of themselves because of the way the vampires are described. They also never get contented of what they have and would wait for a better one, a perfect one, just like how the vampires are stated in books. As Wyck Godfrey (n. d. ), director of Twilight, accidentally said, â€Å"There’s a huge amount of danger in this movie [Twilight]. There’s also just the excitement of a teenager doing things that are verboten. These are things that people connect to. And not just girls; I think that guys will discover it’s dangerous, there’s action, there’s a thriller element to it, and then, ultimately, that it’s cool to be a vampire. Another negative effect this obsession has on teens is that they bite, cut and suck blood from themselves. Though this is far from being true, it really does happen. This problem was even included in an article from consumer reports entitled â€Å"10 Troubling Teen Trends† by Dr. Orly Avitzur(n. d. ). These are just some of the common effects of this addiction to the teenagers as individuals, and most of them do not even realize it. But this obsession does not only affect these teenagers, but also all the people who su rround him or her. If they do not realize what effects this obsession has on them, how more can they realize the effects it has to their society, community or family.Parents, siblings, other family members, teachers, classmates, friends and others admit that they are also affected by obsession that teenagers have on vampires. Parents say that their children who get addicted to theses vampires bring nothing but trouble to them, especially to Christian families. First, because of this obsession, teenagers waste their time reading these nonsense books and watching these nonsense movies, leaving no amount of time for them to study or do their home works or projects. Before reading these books, they would buy them, and when these books are adapted into movies, they will surely watch them, wasting a lot of money.Some parents also admit that their children tend to follow these vampires. To Christian families, it has greater effects since the Bible stated that those who drinks blood and cla ims to be vampires are committing a sin against God (Goodwyn, n. d. ). You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meat of strangles animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. Acts 15:29  (Zondervan, 1983) Siblings and friends are also influenced by this obsession. If the teenager who is obsessed with vampires is older than his or her siblings, the younger siblings would follow the older sibling and would end up addicted to vampires as well.The same principle goes with the individual’s friends; they also follow what their friend does. There are also individuals who get addicted to vampires as well because of wanting to fit in. Some individuals who do not know anything about these vampires moreover are fascinated by them, say that they are bothered by the obsession teenagers have on these supernatural beings. They say that they do not like going to malls whenever a new vampire movie comes out, like Twilight, b ecause the mall gets too crowded. Consumers, like the teenagers, take these productions positively because they do not know what they are in for. Because the consumers continuously accept these offers, producers keep on producing them.The only positive outcome of this obsession is to the producers. This obsession is the source of their income. Due to this obsession, they get huge amounts of profits in producing vampire-affiliated shows, books, films or even products that feature the pictures of these vampires. Almost all are aware of the continuing growth of the population of teenagers who are addicted or obsessed with this kind of literature. Some may benefit from it but most just suffer from it. Some say that this obsession is almost like a mental illness wherein everyone, from children to adults, rich or poor, is a candidate. The teenager’s obsession on vampires is becoming a severe case in our society today.They even have terms like OCD, which stands for Obsessive Cullen Disorder or OVD, which means Obsessive Vampire Disorder If drug addiction, alcoholism, casino addiction and cigarette smoking can be cured through therapy in rehabilitation centers, vampire obsession most certainly can be cured. It’s all in the matter of the mind. If you are obsessed with something, you can’t help but spending almost all of your time doing things related to your obsession. You should start taking small steps towards your goal. Try to do some other stuff that does not have anything to do with vampires. Think of other things or do things which will occupy your mind so that you will forget about the vampires first.Slowly do these things until you know that you are already â€Å"cured† from your disorder (Patrick, n. d. ). Parents and other people who surround the individual should also show their support. They should also be with the individual every step of the way. This will help in boosting the individual’s confidence that he or she can d o it. Parents and friends should also comfort the individual whenever he or she is having a breakdown. If it can be cured, then it surely can be prevented. If you realize or happen to observe that you are beginning to have a different view, a better one, about these vampires, you might be starting to become obsessed or addicted to them. You should stop as early as you realize this.If you continue on reading books about them or watching movies where they are portrayed, you will get addicted to them in no time. Once you become addicted, it will take a long process before you will be able to totally get rid of your addiction. Preventing this addiction will also need your concentration. You should concentrate about your goal. You should stop yourself from anything that tempts you to read those books or watch those films and shows again. Of course, just like in curing this addiction, parents should always be there for the individual and should be very supportive. Parents should say that they are proud that their child knows how to stop his or her self. The obsession teens have on these ictional vampires found in literature has a lot of different effects both to them and to the society. Even though some may benefit from this obsession, those benefits cannot be compared to the numerous negative effects it has to the individual and to his or her surroundings, especially to the individual’s parents, siblings and friends. It is encouraged that teenagers should start dealing with their obsession as it may lead to a condition which is much more worse than what they have now. People who are surrounding the individual should know how to give their support and encouragement, especially parents. References Avitzur, O. (n. d. ). 10 troubling teen trends.Retrieved August 12, 2011 from http://www. consumerreports. org/health/healthy-living/health-safety/10-troublesome-trends-to-talk-to-your-teen-about/overview/index. htm Betonio, D. (2011). 20 spectacular must read vampir e books. Retrieved July 25, 2011, from http://www. tripwiremagazine. com/2011/07/vampire-books. html Godfrey, W. (n. d. ). A christian response to vampire obsession. Retrieved July 25, 2011, from http://www. cbn. com/entertainment/screen/goodwyn-vampires-twilight-obsession. aspx Goodwyn, H. (n. d. ). A christian response to vampire obsession. Retrieved July 25, 2011, from http://www. cbn. com/entertainment/screen/goodwyn-vampires-twilight-obsession. spx Holy Bible, New International Version. (1983). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House. Jimenez, A. E. (2008). Kinds of vampires. Retrieved July 25, 2011, from http://www. empressofdrac. com/2008/09/29/kinds-of-vampires/ Laming, S. (n. d. ). A brief history of vampires in literature. Retrieved July 25, 2011, from http://www. abebooks. com/books/dracula-twilight-sookie-stackhouse/history-vampires-literature. shtml Patrick. (n. d. ). Learn more about reading addiction. Retrieved July 25, 2011, from http://www. readingaddicti on. com/20/beating-addiction/learn-more-about-reading-addiction McCarthy, C. (2009). Obsession and risk talking: What new moon