Viper's Den v. Jim Morriston Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Viper's Den v. Jim Morriston - Essay Example Unfortunately, the coffee was not wiped out on time because Flash attended to a phone call before cleaning it up. Jim Morriston was just through with his lunch and had taken two beers with it when he saw Flash and ran over to greet him. Jim Morriston did not see the coffee spill on the floor and neither did he see the bright yellow caution sign that warned of the slippery floor. As he was running towards Flash, he slipped and fell very heavily on the floor as a result of the coffee that had spilled on the floor. As he fell on the floor, he tried to support himself with his hands and ended up fracturing his arm in two places. As a result of this incident, Jim Morriston had to undergo surgery and he ended up spending two days in hospital so that he would be treated of the injuries he sustained from the fall. When Jim Morriston returned to Wyoming, he decided to sue Flash for negligence that led to the fall. A statement of the issues to be decided The major issues that need to be decide d include whether or not Flash has to litigate the case in Wyoming. Another major issue is whether Jim Morriston has a legitimate case of negligence over Flash and the Viper’s Den. In the first issue, Jim Morriston has sued Flash in Wyoming for neglect that led to his fall. He has gone to court right after he returned to his area of residence in Wyoming and has claimed the Flash neglected cleaning wiping off the coffee from the floor which resulted to the injuries and distress that he has today. Since the case is already in court in Wyoming, Flash needs to decide whether he has to litigate the case in Wyoming or not. Flash is of the idea that the state courts in Wyoming are not the proper jurisdiction for this particular type of case. He therefore has to decide whether he will proceed to litigate the case in Wyoming or he will challenge that decision made by Jim Morriston to take the case to the state courts at Wyoming. Another issue that needs to be decided is whether Jim Mo rriston has a legitimate case of negligence over Flash and the Viper’s Den. It has to be decided whether Jim Morriston was the one on the wrong for having taken two beers at lunch. It has to be decided whether the beers that Jim Morriston had taken impaired his sight, reasoning and actions to such an extent that he was not able to see the big bright yellow sign. The coffee spill should have been dealt with immediately so as to avoid any unnecessary accidents from occurring. However, had Jim Morriston been in his right state of mind, there would be higher chances that he would have seen the bright yellow sign and take caution to prevent him from falling. These major issues in this case therefore need to be decided in an attempt to resolve the case and come up with viable and legal solutions to the case at hand (Mallor, Barnes, Bowers & Langvardt, p. 340). Legal arguments that Flash can make against the case being litigated at Wyoming Flash can legally argue that if the reporte d incident took place in Bozeman, then Jim Morriston should have sued him in a court in Bozeman and not in Wyoming. Flash can argue that he does not do any business in Wyoming and the case would therefore lack objectivity if it was to be heard there. The state courts at Wyoming are not the proper jurisdiction for this type of case. The incident that is being reported tool place in a completely different

Painting in the United Kingdom Essay Example for Free

Painting in the United Kingdom Essay To study painting is to study how to make the world beautiful with a variety of colours in different shades and hues. Painting has a relaxing effect that it tends to make all things drawn with a painter’s brush look alive with colours. It has been my fondest dream to be a painter someday, and my name be remembered, in some ways, with the likes of Raphael or Michelangelo, or Victor Hugo in the contemporary time. This interest pushed me to study the art of painting and to discover the world of colours; hence I enrolled and took a course majoring in painting. But not long after, I imagined that to excel in the art of painting one has to study and practice his skill within the world of painting itself. I found this world in Europe, specifically the United Kingdom. At the heart of Europe and on other places within it hang at its walls different masterpieces and works of art by master painters. The majority of these paintings can be found nowhere in the world but here. To study in the United Kingdom, one would feel as if the masters themselves are the ones teaching you due to the proximity of the country to the concentration of world-renowned paintings. One can surmise that painting schools here have an edge over other schools in the United States because of the fact that the former are already established and are years ahead than the latter, hence have acquired the experience needed to provide world-class painting lessons. Although great contemporary paintings can be found in the United States, there is a brush of mystery bordering on beauty that can be attributed to the paintings found in Europe that invites me to go there. This one adds up to my reasons why I like to study painting in the United Kingdom.

Peter Principle in Human Resources Management

Peter Principle in Human Resources Management Peter Principle can be defined in these words such as; Peter Principle is a well-known principle in Human Resources Management according to that in a hierarchy people tend to rise to their level of incompetence (citation). Accordingly when employee is promoted to higher rank, he or she inclines to become less competent because competence of an employee in one rank does not ensure his or her competence in another higher one. This principle was presented by the professor Dr. Laurence J. Peter and also named after him, who formulated this observation in his book The Peter Principle. Overview In a Hierarchy, Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence (citation) is the main core of the Peter Principle that was popularized by Dr. Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull in their book, which is actually seems an amusing piece of writing. In their book they also introduced one more concept of salutary science of Hierarchiology, unintentionally established by Peter. This concept illustrates that in a hierarchy, members are promoted so long as they work competently. Sooner or later they are promoted to a position at which they are no longer competent (their level of incompetence), and there they remain, being unable to earn further promotions (citation). The concept of Hierarchiology is theoretically authentic. According to this concept Peter explains that every rank in a Hierarchy is inclined to be occupied by an incompetent employee who is not capable to effectively perform his duties, he also said, the work is done by those people who have not yet touched the height of their incompetence. What does incompetence mean is a question to be identified? To describe incompetence it is considered that an incompetent is an individual who is delineated by his oversight. This description requires explanation, though every person can commit occasional mistakes or wrong decision or fail in assessment but this is not incompetence. It turns into incompetence when failure becomes the habit and the person is attributed by this habit whether it would be the sub-standard performance in dozens of projects, or ones individual catastrophe that demolish ones popularity. Each instance, when others start attributing one with these characteristics, he would be regarded an incompetent person. Moreover, if people start defining someone by his mistakes, then he would be definitely an incompetent one. According to the one research conducted by a professor and psychologist Justin Kruger, Nobody is incompetent in everything. This defines that no one can rise to the standard of competence without being adapt at any number of basic skills as the most of people are not incompetent at a huge number of things. Contrary to this as no one is incompetent at everything likely no one is apt at everything and consequently according to the Peter Principle majority of the people will finish up in ranks for which we are not congenitally proficient. . As HR consultant Bill Catlette comments, All of us, at some things, at some point in our lives, are incompetent maybe at work, maybe at home (citation). It does not matter if this characterization is based upon peoples observation to define him actually an incompetent person, thus incompetence is defined as the inability of ones to do the job. This is not necessary that the exposed incompetence of an employee would be a result of the high ranking job promotion that would be more demanding. Despite that job is not the same as the previous one; the higher rank would demand the higher work skills which may not be possessed by the employee. For instance, an employee of the factory is competent and excellent in his job and it can cause promotion to the rank of manager, but at this point the skills and excellence that caused his promotion would not be applied to this new rank. A question arises here that are the incompetent employees aware of their incompetence? Certainly this incompetence is not only due to the modern workplace. However, the principle provides that in the hierarchy, promotions change proficient employees into incompetent superiors. Furthermore, incompetence begets incompetence (citation), Superiors who have poor judgment skill hand give assignments in the wrong hands, entrust sensitive objectives to them who can not effectively achieve those targets. Regardless of the growing popularity of the personality evaluation at workplace as mentioned above organizations keep hiring the incapable people in jobs. Consider all the cases about interacting with bosses who were not humane, at any stage, promoted to some higher rank as some individuals are not good material for being good managers, no concern how much they are qualified and conducting daylong seminars. The Peter Principle is a humoristic treatise which describes the drawbacks of the hierarchic administration. According to the actual statement of the principle in an administration hierarchically systemized, people tend to be promoted up to their level of incompetence. The Peter Principle provides with the observation that in an organization new employees are usually hired in the lower jobs but gradually when they prove themselves to be competent in the job in which they are primarily hired, they get elevated to a higher job. This system of ascending to the height of hierarchy can persistently continue till the time employee gets the rank where the employee is no longer competent (citation). At one point this process naturally ends, since the established principles of the organization make it difficult to reduce someone in rank, even though that person be adapt and much comfortable in previous lower rank. Consequently, it is apparent that most of the elevated ranks of the hierarchical structure are appointed by incompetent employees, on the basis of their previous work because they were quite better in doing different jobs than the one they are appointed. The generalization of the Peter Principle in not much distrustful in its insinuation, since evolution does not have the hierarchical inertia that promotes and sustains people in an inappropriate rank. But there will certainly remain the systems, which would be confronted by evolutionary problems, will rapidly fix the easy one, but incline to get stuck in serious problems. The more adaptive, fit, competent system is that, the more rapidly it will fix all the easy issues instead finally get stuck in all the complex issues. However, getting stuck in complex issues does not mean being unfit, it only describes that it has just touched the heights of its competence, and had great problem in advancing further. This also explains man, being most adaptive and complicated creatures, is still struggling for survival in its niches as much vigorously as is the most primitive organism, like bacteria. If any creature would have the ability to resolve its evolutionary problems in a whole then the Re d Queen Principle would ensure that new and comparatively harder problems would arise, therefore a creature would keep on struggle to balance on the edges of its sphere of incompetence. In a nutshell, it can be concluded, the generalization of Peter Principle presents that in evolution systems tend to reach the point of their adaptive competence. This concept is quite disturbing as according to the Peter Principle since every one tends to rise to his level of incompetence. This concept is usually overlooked by most senior managers since to confess it is to confess that they may also be at their own level of incompetence. Consequently the end result is that static organizations are most probable to have incompetent employees at many different levels in the organizational structure. Whereas in growing organization, new positions and employees are added fast enough that the consequences of the Peter Principle, which are expected unavoidable, are behind as long as the organization is continuously growing. Probably it requires some explanation regarding this concept such as if an organization imply this concept then how does an organization survive? What is observable is the work in this organization is being done by people who have not reached the level of their incompetence. Doctor Peter provides its explanation in the words that in time, every post tends to be occupied by an employee who is incompetent to carry out its duties (citation). In organizations when someone is perceived as incompetent one, he is promoted up, or to make vacancy for a competent employee. The new person replacing the incompetent one would not be at his level of incompetence and would be able to serve better as he is expected to do. The implication of this Principle, in my opinion, is not right. It is considerable that mentorship would discontinue the Peter Principle such as more training in new enhanced positions could bring positive results. According to the Peter Principle, appointing a new employee who can perform well would increase total productivity of the organization. This can be true but what should be done with the all people who reached the level of their incompetence? I find it morally and financially more appropriate to utilize the existing resources. Through providing enhanced relevant training and mentors utilization of the existing resources can be achieved well. In Peter Principle, Dr. Peter points out that people do not intend to be incompetent, but they are provided higher ranks that put them into their level of incompetence (citation). It is unexpected that a person knows that incompetence would happen ahead of time. Nevertheless, an offer is made to that employee because the management knows that this employee can execute this job better but such managers too are at their level of incompetence therefore they are making such poor decisions.

Mongols Essay example -- History, The Indian Ocean Trade

Introduction Between 1200 AD to present, there have been many changes in the world economy. The most important change is how integrated the world economy has become. When countries have a demand for something the first question is where is that supply going to come from. In the end, the way that all nations and places were able to meet their demands was by going internationally and getting it that way. The whole world found a way by sea and land to get the items that they needed and, in the process, connected the whole world through trade. First Question The first types of societies were agricultural and pastoral. Pastoral societies has less productive economies because they were nomadic and needed large grazing areas and supported smaller populations. They usually organized themselves by family and common ancestry (Strayer 334). The main pastoral group was the Mongols as they conquered from the Pacific coast of Asia to Eastern Europe (Strayer 342). Part of their large success was their vast network of trade. In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, a large and interconnect trading system was put in place. (Marks 33) The Mongols did not so much participate in the trade as they did tax it. They provided a secure route for merchants to take the long journey across Central Asia between Europe and China (Strayer 354). This trade route relied on mostly on middlemen, as it was a series of circuits that were all connected. An item can make it from Asia to Europe and cross through many hands with the price increasing each time. This trade gave way to the Indian Ocean Trade as well as the Silk Roads in the fifteenth century. The Silk Roads connected China, Siberia, Central Asia, India, The Middle East, and The Mediterranean B... ...ations. The French and the English created slave-based sugar plantations on the Caribbean Islands (Marks 83). The slaves also became a central part of the economies in colonial America as it kept plantation agriculture going (Class Notes 12/6/10). The Mongols were the first pastoral group to basically become an empire. Then when China and Europe started to build themselves back up and start voyaging out into the sea, Trade became a worldwide idea. China started to use silver as their currency, which meant that they needed the bulk of the world’s silver in Asia. The rest of the world benefited from trading their silver into Asia. Silver was the first thing that really connected the whole world and specifically incorporated the Americas into their trading network. Then there was the fur and slave trade, which further brought together the world economy as a whole.

Succubus Heat CHAPTER 14

Instinct made me drive back to Queen Anne. I operated on autopilot, my mind blank. It was only when I'd parked and gotten out of the car that my senses slowly began to return to me. Still, I tried my best to stay numb, to not think about anything right away. My stomach was growling, so I decided to focus on basic needs. I walked over to a Thai restaurant between my apartment and the bookstore, seeking the comfort of a corner table and green curry. Once I was settled, there was no avoiding it. What had happened back there? Part of me could still feel Greg's hands on me, still feel the sickening sensation of being utterly and completely helpless. But the rest of me was slowly starting to analyze the stove exploding. I'd noticed the gas stove upon my initial inspection, but I'd noticed no smell until right before it caught on fire. With gas leaks, didn't a place usually fill up over time? This had been sudden. An out-of-the-blue surge of gas, and BAM! No warning, no anything. I supposed it could have been coincidence. Lucky timing. But in my world, coincidences didn't happen. They were usually guided by a stronger power. The question was: who or what was responsible? I had too much to worry about now without some unseen arsonist on the scene. â€Å"Why so pensive, Daughter of Lilith?† I looked up from my half-eaten food. â€Å"Carter!† I was pretty sure I'd never been so happy to see the angel in my life, except for maybe when he'd rescued me from Helena the crazy nephilim last fall. He wore the same clothes he'd had on in Vancouver. They appeared to stay in a perpetually consistent state of dishevelment-never getting worse, never getting better. He slid into the chair opposite me. â€Å"You gonna finish that?† he asked, pointing at my plate. I shook my head and slid the curry over to him. He immediately dug in, practically inhaling it. â€Å"What's going on?† he asked between mouthfuls of rice. â€Å"You know what's going on. Seattle's gone to hell. Literally.† â€Å"Yeah, I've noticed. How's it feel to be footloose and fancy free?† â€Å"It sucks. For some reason, my hair's always frizzy. I used to style it myself before this happened, and it never did that.† Carter grinned. â€Å"I doubt you were doing it all yourself. You may have still done all the labor, but some subconscious part of you was probably tweaking it just a little bit to keep it perfect.† I pulled a face. â€Å"Well, even if that's true, I've got a few bigger problems.† I gave him a brief recap of my adventures this morning and what had happened with Greg. Even speaking about it still sent a chill down my spine. I expected Carter to laugh and make some quip at my expense, but his face stayed serious. â€Å"You need to be careful,† he said gravely. â€Å"Everything's different now. It'll only be for a short time, true, but even if you can't die, you're still locked in a dangerous game.† â€Å"We have to find Jerome. Do you know where he's at?† Carter shook his head. â€Å"Nope. He disappeared off our radars too. I don't know anything more than you do.† â€Å"You probably know more about demon summoning than I do,† I pointed out. â€Å"Depends,† he said. â€Å"What do you know?† â€Å"Pretty much what I already told you. Dante didn't have much more to offer than who he thought could do it. And those other losers didn't give up anything at all-except attitude.† Carter flagged down a waitress and ordered a plate of panang curry and Thai iced coffee. Afterward, he tapped the table lightly with his finger, face drawn and thoughtful. â€Å"I can tell you how it's done,† he said at last. â€Å"But I can't do much more. This is your side's business, not ours. We're not supposed to interfere.† â€Å"Dispensing information isn't the same as interfering,† I said. He smiled. â€Å"Depends on your definitions. And your people are great at finding loopholes and technicalities.† â€Å"Yeah, but†¦Carter†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I sighed. â€Å"I don't really have anyone else.† Even if I'd had full succubus charisma going, I don't think it would have worked on him. But I still had some sort of Georgina charisma that he was susceptible to. He liked me and was concerned about my life, even if he had a funny way of showing it sometimes. The Thai iced coffee appeared, and he paused to take a drink. â€Å"Okay. Here's how it works. Basically, a demon gets summoned into an object, and with enough magic, the demon becomes bound to that and is trapped. You've heard stories about genies, right? Well, they're kind of variations on this principle. Humans who summon demons into objects can then occasionally release the demon and make them run errands.† â€Å"But this one's keeping Jerome locked up.† â€Å"Right. Which makes it harder. What makes it harder still is that if this human has any sense at all, they've got the object hidden in a place of power.† He took another sip and waited for me to process this. I knew what he was talking about. The earth was covered in places of power-sacred sites, ley lines, magic-infused spots. Anyone sifting through mythology would come across countless references to them and the roles they'd played in human history. There was just one problem with it. â€Å"There are dozens of those in Seattle,† I said slowly. Carter nodded. â€Å"Yup. And even if you find the right one, the power in that place is going to help mask the power coming from the bound demon. For you? Gonna be nearly impossible without your usual senses. You need another immortal to help, the stronger the better. Or possibly a human psychic.† I groaned. â€Å"But you can't help, and none of the demons will.† The panang curry arrived, and Carter devoured it with enthusiasm. â€Å"Putting that aside, let's suppose I find this object, whatever it is. Then what?† â€Å"Mmm, that's hard too,† he said. â€Å"A greater immortal could just break it open.† â€Å"But not me.† I was beginning to see how this worked, and it wasn't encouraging. â€Å"No, not even if you were in your normal state. The summoner probably put a lock on it-a seal. That'll keep a lesser immortal out. The seal's used in the binding, then it's broken into two pieces that are kept separated for safekeeping. The practitioner most certainly keeps one. If he or she had a demon's help, I'm guessing the demon has the other. Or else the practitioner would hide it.† â€Å"Do you think another demon was involved?† He swallowed. â€Å"Most definitely. If you can recover the pieces of the seal, though, then you could unlock the object and set Jerome free.† When I'd first seen Carter standing over my table, I'd been filled with hope, convinced this miserable situation was going to resolve soon and we'd get Jerome back. Now? I was more pessimistic than before. â€Å"So, let me get this straight. All I have to do is find this mystical object that Jerome's locked in, an object I have no way of even sensing. Once I have it, I then simply have to force the pieces of the lock away from the summoner and a demon .† â€Å"Yup,† said Carter, licking his fork. â€Å"That pretty much sums it up.† â€Å"Fuck.† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"Well, the info's good, but I can't do anything. I have no leads on any part of this, nowhere to start.† His gray eyes twinkled. â€Å"The seal has to be made of quartz.† â€Å"Okay†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Hand-carved by human hands.† I raised an eyebrow, curious as to where this was going. â€Å"By someone familiar with magic and runes.† He looked at me expectantly. â€Å"So?† â€Å"How many people do you think that describes in the Seattle area?† He didn't wait for me to finish. â€Å"Not many.† Carter and his riddles. â€Å"You're saying I should find who made the seal, in the hopes they can tell me who commissioned it.† â€Å"Right. And they can also tell you what the seal's specifics are. It's almost always a disc about this big.† He used the fingers of one hand to make a circle about the size of a quarter. â€Å"But the color and designs will be different and provide clues as to what kind of place it's been hidden in.† â€Å"God, this is complicated.† â€Å"You're trying to find a demon that's been captured and bound as part of a larger political power play, Georgina,† Carter said. â€Å"What do you expect?† â€Å"Fair point,† I murmured. â€Å"I have one more question, though. It has nothing to do with the seal, though.† â€Å"Shoot.† â€Å"Why'd the stove at Greg's blow up?† â€Å"Because of a gas leak.† â€Å"One that came on out of nowhere?† He shrugged. â€Å"Compared to what we see every day? A lot stranger things happen.† I eyed him for a moment, wondering if I should press him with my real question. He'd said he couldn't directly interfere in this, but Carter had saved my life once before. His showing up here now was awfully coincidental†¦Was it possible he'd been following me all day? Had he helped expedite the stove's incineration to save me? One might argue that touching Greg would have been direct interference†¦but harming the stove wouldn't be, if you wanted to use demon-worthy technicalities. And, in a typically angelic way, Carter hadn't actually denied his involvement. I decided to let the matter go. If Carter was keeping his help a secret, there was a good reason. With a sigh, I glanced at the clock to my right. â€Å"Well, I'm still technically on leave, so I should probably take advantage of that and hunt down this seal maker.† â€Å"Good luck,† said Carter. â€Å"But joking aside, I meant what I said earlier. You've got to be careful. At the very least, don't do this stuff alone.† â€Å"You sure you can't break the rules and come with me, then?† I asked a bit wistfully. â€Å"Nope, but why do you need me when there are plenty of other candidates?† With a grin, he nodded at something beyond me. I glanced back and saw Seth standing at the take-out counter. I jerked my head back toward Carter. â€Å"Hey! How'd-â€Å" Carter was gone. Just then, the waitress set down the bill, which included Carter's meal. â€Å"Fucking angels,† I muttered, fumbling for my credit card. Turning back around, I studied Seth, feeling my stomach twist in that usual way. As though sensing me, he suddenly turned and made eye contact. Surprise registered on his face, and then he held up his hand in a hang on a second kind of way. A few agonizing minutes later, he walked over to my table holding a take-out bag. â€Å"Hey,† I said. â€Å"Hey.† â€Å"Is that lunch?† I was suddenly embarrassed by the fact that I had two plates in front of me. â€Å"Yeah, I'm actually heading home to work. The caf? ¦ at the store's too crowded and noisy.† â€Å"I thought you could work through anything.† He shook his head. â€Å"These days I'm more†¦distractible than usual.† His eyes studied me for a moment, and then he looked away. But in that moment, I'd felt a tingle run through my skin. Seth cleared his throat. â€Å"So†¦what about you?† He forced himself to look back at me. â€Å"You look†¦I don't know. Uneasy. Not as bad as yesterday but still troubled. More immortal intrigue?† A good portion of my present uneasiness was simply due to his proximity. â€Å"Yeah, afraid so.† â€Å"So, you haven't found Jerome yet, and you're still†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Now it was my turn to look away. â€Å"Yeah. I followed some leads on Jerome this morning, and it was kind of†¦um, well, it's not important. Let's just say it wasn't a pleasant experience, and I didn't find out anything anyway.† I glanced back in his direction, making sure I kept my eyes on his Blondie T-shirt and not his face. â€Å"I've got one more thing to check into, then I guess I can call it a day.† â€Å"Well, that's good, I guess.† He shifted uncomfortably, and that awkward tension that was so characteristic for us multiplied. I tried to think of something to say, but nothing came. â€Å"So†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he began at last. â€Å"I know what you said before†¦but I still have to ask. Is there anything†¦anything I can do?† The retort was on my lips, to tell him I didn't need him, not anymore. But an image of Greg flashed into my mind, and I hated myself for the fear it invoked. I didn't want to be a damsel in distress. I didn't want to live in fear and need a man to watch over me. Greg's weight and element of surprise had shown that self-defense wouldn't always work. Sometimes it was hard to face danger alone. Carter's words repeated in my head: Why do you need me when there are plenty of other candidates? I blurted out my question before I had time to reconsider. â€Å"Would you go with me?† It was hard to say which of us was more surprised by this. â€Å"On†¦your errand?† he asked. I nodded. â€Å"Yeah. But I mean, if you've got stuff to do†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I'll go,† he said quickly. He held up his take-out bag. â€Å"Can I eat in your car?† â€Å"You can eat right now,† I said. â€Å"Seeing as I don't know where we're going yet.† Leaving Seth to eat at the table, I stepped outside to make a couple of phone calls. The first was to Dante. He answered, fortunately, but had no clue about what I needed. â€Å"Someone who carves crystal?† he asked incredulously. â€Å"I don't do fluffy New Age stuff.† â€Å"Yeah. I found out more about demon summoning. Apparently there's some kind of seal involved that only a master artisan can make.† â€Å"I don't know anyone like that,† he said. â€Å"As much as it pains me to admit a lack of knowledge about anything.† â€Å"Well, I guess even you have limits.† â€Å"You are so in trouble for that the next time I see you, succubus.† After we hung up, I tried Erik. He too answered, and in his usual way, he never bothered to ask why I needed the information. â€Å"There is someone,† he mused. â€Å"I've acquired crystal jewelry from her before, carved into assorted sacred symbols-ankhs and crosses. I don't know if she works with the arcane or spellcraft, but she's the only one I know in the area who comes close.† I took down her name and address and went back inside. Seth had nearly finished his meal, rivaling Carter for speed. â€Å"Do we have a mission objective yet?† I nodded. â€Å"Yup. Out to the hinterlands, even.† Okay, Carnation wasn't exactly the hinterlands, but it was well outside the Seattle urban and even suburban sprawl. It was one of several small rural communities that clung to western Washington's edge before giving way to the wilderness of the Cascade Mountains and the desert on the other side. I made a Starbucks stop along the way so that I could acquire some caffeine. It seemed requisite to get through this. When Seth asked me to order him a mocha Frappuccino, I nearly crashed into the drive-thru window. â€Å"That's got caffeine in it,† I said. â€Å"I know. But they're really good. Maddie got me hooked on them.† We drove in utter silence for ten minutes after that. If not for Jerome's summoning, I would have said this was the most astonishing thing to happen to me in the last twenty-four hours. Seth was drinking caffeine. It was unheard of. He'd abstained from it for years, and despite my clear addiction and coaxing throughout our relationship, he'd never shown any interest of cracking. Yet, Maddie- Maddie! -had somehow gotten him to change? I don't know why I took such offense at that. Honestly, it was an inconsequential thing in the greater scheme of the universe. Still†¦I couldn't help feeling hurt. Well, maybe hurt wasn't the right word. Inadequate, perhaps. She'd gotten him to do something I couldn't. Why? Why her and not me? Was she more inspiring? Did he care about her more? â€Å"Is something wrong?† Seth finally asked. My silence and death grip on the steering wheel had probably tipped him off. â€Å"Nope,† I lied. â€Å"Just worried about all of this.† â€Å"You are not.† â€Å"I'm not worried about all this?† â€Å"Okay, you are. But that's not why you're upset right now. You're upset about this.† Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him wave the Frappuccino. After all this time, he still knew me. â€Å"That's stupid. Why would I care about that?† He sighed. â€Å"Because I know you. You're irritated that I did something I never said I'd do.† â€Å"Why should I care?† I replied stiffly. â€Å"I'm happy you're expanding your horizons.† The look he shot me told me he knew better. We reached the address Erik had given me without further argument, largely because we didn't talk. The house was an older rambler set on a huge yard that would have held an entire subdivision back in Seattle. Lawn ornaments-a deer and a gnome, to name a few-cluttered the grass, and wind chimes dangled on the porch. We knocked on the door, and several moments later, a woman in her late forties or early fifties answered. She had hair dyed an unnatural shade of red that put me in mind of Tawny's current hue. Her tight-fitting top pressed a lot of cleavage into her scoop neckline and was also not that far off from something Tawny might wear, albeit a little less tacky. The look the woman gave us wasn't unfriendly so much as curious. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"Hi,† I said. â€Å"Are you Mary Wilt-â€Å" † Oh my God! † she squealed. She had just done a double-take on Seth. â€Å"You're Seth Mortensen!† Seth stiffened and exchanged looks with me. â€Å"Well, yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her blue-shadowed eyes bugged as she practically drooled over him. â€Å"I can't believe it. I can't believe it! Seth Mortensen's on my porch! I recognize you from your website. I look at it every day. Every day . Oh my God. Oh my God ! I'm your biggest fan. Come in!† Seth looked like he wanted to bolt then and there, but I nudged him forward. This turn of events was a bit unexpected-and creepy-but could possibly work to our advantage. We stepped through the doorway. There was nothing particularly extraordinary about the inside of her house. The d? ¦cor was more modern than the outside suggested, all done in neutral shades. There was a bit of normal lived-in clutter and far more figurines than I found tasteful, but overall, it was a nice place. Some of the figurines were carved out of crystal, which I took as a good sign. â€Å"Come in, come in,† Mary gushed, beckoning toward the living room. â€Å"Sit, sit! Can I get you anything? Iced tea? Coffee? Tequila?† â€Å"Er, no. I'm fine,† said Seth, who was clearly becoming more and more uncomfortable with all of this. â€Å"Thank you.† He and I sat down on the couch, and Mary sat in an armchair across from us, leaning forward in a way that afforded an ample view of her breasts. â€Å"What can I do for you?† she asked. â€Å"Are you here to buy something? I'd do anything for you. Anything .† She grinned at Seth, making her â€Å"anything† intentions obvious. â€Å"You're so much cuter than I expected. Will you sign my books while you're here? I own all of them.† She gestured toward a set of shelves on the wall, and sure enough, Seth's books stood out prominently. I had been a longtime fan girl of Seth's before we started going out, and I wondered uneasily if I'd sounded this crazed and desperate way back when. She probably would have passed out if she'd known about the advanced copy Seth gave me. â€Å"Sure,† said Seth. â€Å"I'd, um, be happy to.† He elbowed me, no doubt in an effort to get me to state our business and save him. Still a little irritated from our car argument, I almost enjoyed watching him in her clutches. â€Å"We're actually not here to buy anything,† I told her. â€Å"We wanted to find out about a piece you might have recently made for someone.† Mary turned toward me, seeming to notice me for the first time. Her gleeful, ravenous expression dimmed and even turned a little suspicious. â€Å"Who are you again?† â€Å"Georgina. We're wondering if you recently made a piece for a client. A carved disc about this big with some sort of arcane symbol on it.† I approximated the size Carter had shown me. Her face grew more wary and pinched. â€Å"I can't say.† I frowned. â€Å"You don't remember?† She shook her head. â€Å"I keep records of all my pieces. But that's confidential. I can't give that kind of information away.† â€Å"This is really important,† I said. â€Å"We think†¦there may be a crime involved.† â€Å"Sorry, Giselle. I can't tell you about that. Not unless you're with the police or something.† â€Å"Georgina,† I corrected. Her adherence to client confidentiality was perfectly understandable-but well, I wasn't really concerned with what was morally correct right now. Giving Seth an elbow poke of my own, I hoped he'd jump in and use his author god power. It took him a few moments, but he did. â€Å"It would help us so much, Mary. We'd- I'd -really appreciate it.† He stumbled over the words a little, but from the way her face lit up, you'd think he'd just murmured the sexiest thing in her ear. â€Å"Oh, Seth,† she sighed. â€Å"I really would do anything for you†¦but, well, I do try to respect my clients' privacy. Surely a man like you understands that.† â€Å"Well, yeah, of course I-† I elbowed him again. He shot me a quick glare and then returned his gaze to her. â€Å"That is, I do understand, but like I said, this is really important.† Indecision warred on her face, and I kind of admired her principles. She actually looked uncrackable, and I had a feeling Seth wasn't going to be too much more assertive. Glancing beyond her, I noticed a hallway leading off to another part of the house. I keep records of all my pieces . â€Å"You're right,† I said abruptly. â€Å"We can't expect her to give out that kind of information. Right, Seth?† He turned to me again, giving me a curious glance. â€Å"Right?† It was more of a question than an agreement. Mary nearly melted in relief, her eyes all over Seth. â€Å"Oh, I knew you'd understand. I could tell right away that we think just alike. Kindred spirits and all that, you know? Just from the way you write I-â€Å" â€Å"Hey, Mary?† I interrupted. She looked over at me, again seeming astonished that I was still there. â€Å"Do you have a bathroom I could use?† â€Å"Bathroom?† she repeated, like it was a crazy concept. â€Å"It was a long drive,† I explained sweetly. â€Å"Besides, that'll give you and Seth a chance to get to know each other while he signs your books.† Her face brightened again, and she turned to Seth without another glance for me. â€Å"Oh, sure! That's a great idea, Georgia. It's down the hall.† I stood up. â€Å"Thanks.† Seth and I made brief eye contact. There was a look of both panic and wariness. He didn't want to be left alone. And he also knew I wouldn't give up the fight so easily. He suspected that I was up to something. He was right. I was about to go break into Mary's records.

Fast Food Essay

Junk food is being blamed for causing many undesirable problems to children. It is referred to any food that is low nutritional value such as instant noodles, potato chips and chocolate bars. Takeaway foods, pre-packaging meals and sugary snack food are also included as junk food (Trab 2005). In response to the problem, I strongly believe that the sale of junk food should be banned. The first reason why junk food should be banned is because it causes behavioral problems in children (Caputo 2005). Most of them contain chemical additives to enhance flavor and colour and to increase shelf life. Furthermore, junk food has a lot of flavor as it is typically high in fat, salt, or sugar and commonly containing synthetic flavor enhancer (Smith 2005). These additives have been shown to cause the behavioral problems such as hyperactivity and pour concentration. Based on a research, it is proven that junk foods are often loaded with chemical additives which can trigger behavioral problems (Caputo 2005). Secondly, junk food is to be said as the major contributor to litter problems. The fast food packaging causes litter problems which is a safety and health hazard, increases cleaning costs and reflects bad image to our communities (Smith 2005). Cans, crisp packets, cartons and plastic container are among of them and are everywhere (Green 2005). By reducing the sale of junk foods, litter problem in schools can be redressed (Smith 2005) as many junk foods are sold in school canteen. As a result of the reduction, the school grounds man doesn’t have to spend so long cleaning and has more time to spend on maintenance projects that benefit the school (Green 2005). Lastly, junk foods need to be banned because they are unhealthy diet because they are lack in nutritional value (Health Foundation 2005). The nutritional value of food eaten by Australian children has been falling progressively over the past 30 years and this can be linked directly to the increased availability and consumption of junk food (Tran 2005). Examples of the junk food that is low in nutritional value are biscuits, cookies, chips.