Philosophy of Nursing: Reflection

Philosophy of Nursing: Reflection A philosophy is a statement of belief about something. Humans, their health, and the environment in which they live and function are phenomena of particular interest to nursing. Learning to reflect critically on ones practice requires considerable effort. It is also essential to being an excellent practitioner. Being able to think about and to explain your beliefs about the basic concepts of your practice provides the framework for your practice. Do remember that what you write today is not written in stone. As you learn new information and expand your professional practice your thoughts and beliefs about these phenomena may very well change. View this assignment as an opportunity to articulate your thoughts about these four concepts. My Belief is Good pain control and community health services help rebuild a person after surgery You need to include the following items: 1. An introduction to the paper that includes a brief overview of the paradigm. 2. A statement and explanation of your beliefs in relation to each of the four concepts included in the paradigm of nursing (humans, health, nursing, environment). While there is no minimum requirement for the length of each `statement and explanation,` many fall into the range of three (3) to five (5) paragraphs for each component of the paradigm. Some questions you may want to ask and answer for yourself are: What is the essence of human? What is health? Illness? Wellness? How are they related? What is the reason for nursings existence? How do I facilitate a clients movement toward health? These are just suggestions. You are NOT required to respond to the questions listed in this paragraph. As you consider your explanation of how you have reached this belief, i.e. `This I believe about . . . because. . .`, you may want to review some of the information from previous NRSE 300 modules. The Paradigm Online Writing Assistant has guidelines about writing a Thesis/Support Essay. This can help you in the construction of the paper. You need to document your explanation with material from the textbook, from the videos, from your practice, and from at least two sources that are not listed in your class materials. 3. Choose one of the nurse theorists you viewed. Compare your beliefs to those expressed or implied by the Jean Watson. How similar are your beliefs? What differences exist? 4. The final section of the paper is to be a statement of your philosophy of nursing. It may help to go to the Ohio School of Nursing website and read the Philosophy of the School of Nursing. It will give you a sense of one style of writing a philosophy. The philosophy is a distillation of the thinking you did to write your beliefs and explanations. It usually takes the form of one to three sentences about each of the components with linking comments about how they relate to each other to form your personal philosophy of nursing. 5. Paper will be typed. Double-space the body of the paper. Use APA format for headings and references. Make sure that your name is on each page of the paper. Use the running head style as explained in the APA Manual. Proofread the paper. Do NOT rely solely on spell check. It will not tell you when you wrote `of` when you intended to write `or.` There is no specified length for this paper. They usually run between 3 and 6 pages of double-space Introduction Nursing refers to a contact or a bond that exists between two or more persons in which one of the two persons provide professional care to the other in addition to providing advice with an aim of improving the health of the other individual an preventing illness. Philosophy of nursing may refer to beliefs that different individuals have towards nursing. Humans refer to the primates in the family of hominids. They have a brain which is highly expanded enabling them to solve problems through reasoning, control of emotions, use of language and introspection. Humans are always craving to understand the world around them and influence the natural occurrences. Health refers to a state of well being where there is no sickness and reflects the social, physical, spiritual and mental fitness of an individual. Good health may be brought about by a balanced diet, exercise and rest. Nursing refers to a science in which the person involved aims at ensuring a good health for individuals, families and communities. In general, the science of nursing aims at upholding the quality of life. Environment is defined as the extensive information on issues, programs and policies affecting our surrounding. It refers to anything internal or external that may create some impact in the life of an individual including all the living and non living organisms that exist on the earth. Humans A good pain control after surgery when accompanied by appropriate community health services enables an individual to rebuild him or herself. It is however the responsibility of every person to ensure that the nurse or the doctor knows about him or herself before the pain control is administered on him or her. This the patient could do by enabling the doctor to know about his or her drug addiction either the past or present. Surgery of the stomach is a very painful one and the drug history of a person may affect the persons tolerance to the pain or response to the pain relievers. The pain control in patients also depends on the age of the patient as well the conditions of health of the individual before the surgery. Controlling pain after surgery is a very essential step in the life of a patient as it helps the individual to gain the best results on functionality. This is appropriate because the pain after surgery increases the functionality of the patient. Patients who before the surgery were on pain medication do require an administration of extended pain medication. Otherwise the patient may require shorter acting pain medications for the control of pain. Nursing The belief that good pain control and community health services help rebuild a person after surgery relates to nursing in the sense that nurses have been found to be mediums through which terminal care at home can be improved. Pain control is one of the components of quality terminal care in the community. Patients who have undergone surgery should be given enough advice by the nurses on where to get help if necessary. In addition to this they should be given appropriate analgesics to carry home which should be accompanied by sufficient instructions on their usage. Nevertheless, patients should be given both verbal and written information about pain so that and how pain can be reduced. The nursing staff should always be there for patients to advice them and to discuss with them their choice of a pain relieving techniques. The pain that is experienced by patients after surgery is usually very great that it should not be underestimated. This is because the pain does different implications on both the patients and the community health services. A proper pain control after surgery therefore requires the intervention of the nurse which will give way for community health services thus helping the patient to gain his or her health back. Nurses facilitates the process of pain control and ensures that it well managed to speed the process of recovering of a patient. Health The health of a person enables that person to function mentally, spiritually, physically and socially in full ability. The belief that a good pain control and community health service helps an individual to rebuild after a surgery relates to health in the sense that an individual will only have a good health when he or she is not in pain. A person is considered to fully healthy if he or she is not feeling any pain. Surgery involves a lot of pain therefore after a surgery an individual requires pain relief which is achieved through proper pain control by the nurses to enable him or her to function properly both physically, mentally, spiritually and socially. When a person is in pain, he or she will not perform any physical activity in addition the person will not be able to socialize freely with other people. The person will also not think properly thus lacking both mental and spiritual thinking. This is because pain makes a person uncomfortable creating a feeling that something is wrong in the body. The pain in the body i.e. physical pain sends a signal to the brain through the spinal cords that something is wrong thus stopping the mind from working properly. It is therefore essential that after surgery a patient should receive a good pain control and community health service to enable him or her to rebuild his health. Effective pain management is therefore considered by nurses as part of recovery because it when it is well controlled it speeds up the process of healing and reduce complications that a person may experience as a result of surgery. Environment The surroundings in which individuals live do affect the activities performed in that particular environment. Nurses do require an enabling environment to enable them to perform their duties properly. After surgery it will for the well being of the patient to have a conducive environment in which physical, mental, spiritual and social healing is possible. The nature of the environment in which pain control is conducted is very essential and should be set to fit the requirements of different patients. Pain control will enable an individual to feel comfortable as he or she heals, get well faster and avoid some problems associated with surgery. The nurse theorist viewed was Margaret Newman who also came up with a nursing theory of health as an expanding consciousness which requires every person to find the meaning of life and find connections with other people in the rest of the world. According to Margaret, health means increasing awareness. She put forward that the role of a nurse is to identify the lifestyle of an individual so that the nurse can work within that lifestyle to help the individual achieve the goals of his or her life. Newmans theory includes the health of every individual irrespective of the condition of illness i.e. whether sick or well. Jean on the other hand developed a caring theory which involves the caring actions taken by nurses in their interaction with the patients. The caring theory involves the deep respect offered to patients by the nurses for the mysteries of life and the ability of the patients to change their lifestyles. Watsons caring theory also requires a nurse to help the patients to acquire self control, knowledge and healing not regarding their health conditions. The difference that exists between my beliefs on Newmans theory and Watsons caring theory is that Newmans theory was focused on helping every person whether in the absence or presence of sickness to understand his or her status. It focused on the adjustments that a nurse should put to ensure that a person meets his or her requirements. Watson on the other hand focused on caring for the patients, respecting them and helping them to understand themselves by acquiring self control, knowledge and healing. The similarity between the two theories is that both the two believe that it is the role of a nurse to ensure appropriate lifestyles for different persons whether sick or not. They both believe that a nurse should be able to identify or recognize and accurately detect the health status of a person and be able to help that person accordingly. They believe that a nurse must come together and engage in an interaction so that the nurse can understand the unique lifestyle of the person and provide care in a manner that fits that lifestyle. Finally both the beliefs involve human and nursing in the science of nursing in order to provide desired care to persons. The statement of my philosophy of nursing is the belief that Good pain control and community health services help rebuild a person after surgery. Conclusion Surgery is a very painful exercise which usually requires an immediate pain control to stop the patient from suffering. Pain management especially after surgery is therefore very essential for the well being of the patient and nurses should ensure that it is provided to enable the patient to rebuild his or her health. Reference Newman, M. A. (1972). Nursings theoretical evolution. Nursing Outlook, 20(5), 449-453. Newman, M.A. (1979). Theory development in nursing. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis. Newman, M. A. (1982). Time as an index of expanding consciousness with age. Nursing Research, 31(5), 290-293. Newman, M.A. (1983). Newmans health theory. In I. Clements F. Roberts (Eds.), Family health: A theoretical approach to nursing care (pp. 161-175). New York: John Wiley. Engle, V. F. (1984). Newmans conceptual framework and the measurement of older adults health. Advances in Nursing Science, 7(1), 24-36. Newman, M. A. (1984). Nursing diagnosis: Looking at the whole. American Journal of Nursing, 84(12), 1496-1499. Newman, M.A. (1986). Health as Expanding Consciousness. St. Louis: Mosby. Newman, M. A. (1987). Aging as increasing complexity. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 13(9), 16-18. Newman, M.A. (1990). Newmans theory of health as praxis. Nursing Science Quarterly, 3(1), 37-41 Gustafson, W. (1990). Application of Newmans theory of health: Pattern recognition as nursing practice. In M. E. Parker (Ed.), Nursing theories in practice (pp. 141-161). New York: National League for Nursing. Kalb, K. A. (1990). The gift: Applying Newmans theory of health in nursing practice. In M. Parker (Ed.), Nursing theories in practice (pp. 163-186). New York: National League for Nursing. Newman, M. A. (1990). Shifting to higher consciousness. In M. E. Parker (Ed.), Nursing theories in practice (pp. 129-139). New York: National League for Nursing. Newman, M. A. (1990). Toward an integrative model of professional practice. Journal of Professional Nursing, 6(3), 167-173. Newman, M. A., Lamb, G. S., Michaels, C. (1991). Nurse case management: The coming together of theory and practice. Nursing Health Care, 12(8), 404-408. Newman, M. A., Sime, A. M., Corcoran-Perry, S. A. (1991). The focus of the discipline of nursing. Advances in Nursing Science, 14(1), 1-6. Newman, M. A. (1992). Prevailing paradigms in nursing. Nursing Outlook, 40(1), 10-14. Marchione, J. (1993). Margaret Newman: Health as expanding consciousness. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. Newman, M. A. (1994). Health expanding consciousness (2nd ed.). New York: National League for Nursing. Newman, M.A. (1994). Theory for nursing practice. Nursing Science Quarterly, 7(4), 153-157. Newman, M. A. (1995). A developing discipline: Selected works of Margaret Newman. New York: National League for Nursing. Marchione, J. (1995). Margaret Newman: Health as expanding consciousness. In C. M. McQuiston A. A. Webb ( Eds.), Foundations of nursing theory: Contributions of 12 key theorists (pp. 261-316). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Engle, V. F. (1996). Newmans theory of health. In J. J. Fitzpatrick A. L. Whall (Eds.), Conceptual models of nursing: Analysis and application (3rd ed., pp. 275-288). Stamford, CT: Appleton Lange. Newman, M.A. (1996). Theory of the nurse-client partnership. In E. Cohen (Ed.), Nurse case management in the 21st Century (pp. 119-123). St. Louis: Mosby Year-book. Newman, M. A. (1997). Experiencing the whole. Advances in Nursing Science, 20(1), 34-39. Newman, M. A. (1997). Evolution of the theory of health as expanding consciousness. Nursing Science Quarterly, 10(1), 22-25. Yamashita, M., Jensen, E., Tall, F. (1998). Therapeutic touch: Applying Newmans theoretic approach. Nursing Science Quarterly, 11(2) 49-50. Desai, S., Keffer, M. J., Hensley, D. Kilgore-Keever, K. A., Langfitt, J. V. Peterson, L. (1998). Margaret A. Newman: Model of Health. In A. M. Tomey M. R. Alligood (Eds.), Nursing theorists and their work (4th ed., pp. 496-515). St. Louis: Mosby. Newman, M. A. (1999). The rhythm of relating in a paradigm of wholeness. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 31(3), 227-230. Pharris, M. D. (2001). Margaret A. Newman: Health as expanding consciousness. In Parker, M. (Ed.), Nursing theories and nursing practice (pp. 263-274). Philadelphia: Davis. Newman, M. A. (2002). Caring in the human health experience. International Journal for Human Caring. 6(2), 8-12. Newman, M. A. (2002). The pattern that connects. Advances in Nursing Science, 24(3), 1-7. Witucki, J. M. (2002). Newmans theory of health as expanding consciousness in nursing practice. In M. R. Alligood A. M. Tomey (Eds.), Nursing theory utilization application (2nd ed., pp. 429-449). St. Louis: Mosby. Newman, M. A. (2003). A world of no boundaries. Advances in Nursing Science, 26(4), 240-245. Endo, E. (2004). Nursing praxis with Margaret Newmans theory of health expanding consciousness. Nursing Science Quarterly, 17(2), 110-115. Health as Expanding Consciousness A website by Margaret Newman. ASSUMPTIONS deal with human life, nursing science, and the process of nursing. Watsons conception of human life is tied to notions that ones soul possesses a body that is not confined by objective space and time. The lived world of the experiencing person is not distinguished by external and internal notions of time and space, but shapes its own time and space, which is unconstrained by linearity. Nursing is a human science of persons and human health-illness experiences that are mediated by professional, personal, scientific, esthetic, and ethical human care transactions. The process of nursing is human care. THE THEORY OF HUMAN CARING The main concept of the theory is TRANSPERSONAL HUMAN CARING, which is best understood within the concepts of three ancillary concepts: LIFE, ILLNESS, and HEALTH. HUMAN LIFE is defined as spiritual-mental-physical being-in-the-world, which is continuous in time and space. ILLNESS is not necessarily disease. Illness is subjective turmoil or disharmony with a persons inner self or soul at some level or disharmony within the spheres of the person, either consciously or unconsciously. HEALTH refers to unity and harmony within the mind, body, and soul. TRANSPERSONAL HUMAN CARING and caring transactions are those scientific, professional, ethical, yet esthetic, creative and personalized giving-receiving behaviors and responses between nurse and patient that allow for contact between the subjective world of the experiencing persons through physical, mental, or spiritual routes or some combination thereof. THE GOAL OF NURSING is to help persons gain a higher degree of harmony within the mind, body, and soul which generates self-knowledge, self-reverence, self-healing, and self-care processes while increasing diversity. Nursing interventions or CARATIVE FACTORS are: Humanistic-altruistic system of values Faith-hope Sensitivity to self and others Helping-trusting, human care relationship Expressing positive and negative feelings Creative problem-solving caring process Transpersonal teaching-learning Supportive, protective, and/or corrective mental, physical, societal, and spiritual environment Human needs assistance Existential-phenomenological-spiritual forces Return to Top This page was last modified on 6/1/02

Outsourcing ICT In The Tesco Company

Outsourcing ICT In The Tesco Company This is a report about Tescos company ICT outsourcing, knowledge management and knowledge management systems. In the following paragraphs two questions are going to be answered and analyzed according to the information existing in Tescos case. Outsourcing ICT is quite commonly used by organizations as an approach to strategic management. Access the advantages and disadvantages that outsourcing can bring in developing effective uses of information systems in an organization such as Tesco. The great competition and the global economic crisis that organizations have to face nowadays, made Information Communications Technology outsourcing a really attractive management tool in order to cut expenses in non-core activities, specific in overheads of Information Technology departments. By deciding to outsource, there would be a lot of benefits but also a number of risks associated with it. It is important for a decision maker to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of ICT outsourcing, before making the decision to outsource. Outsourcing ICT has to do with the whole existing information in the business field. It is about networks, web design, programming, online shops etc. Network services is the most common ICT services activity outsourced and outsourcers who do not comply with contract will badly influence the organizations process in a very risky way. The Technology of information and communication is growing fast and the vendor business has to be updated and synchronized with the era of 2010. So it would be far easier for them to sell their products and serving their customers in every possible way. Big organizations that have to deal with so many products from soap to bread it would be more difficult to take the risk and create their own Information and communication department from scratch and keep it upgraded while their whole process is running. The result of this difficulty in Tescos case is to outsource ICT specific functions to Trilogy Company. The advantages of outsourcing ICT in an organization such as Tesco. ICT is vital to Tesco. Every aspect of their operation is controlled or monitored by ICT stock, distribution, payroll, communication methods, and so on. ICT is essential to the running of a modern store. It is used for planning, monitoring, auditing and communicating between store operations. For example, when an item has its barcode read at the checkout, the system not only logs the price onto the till, but also logs the financial transaction between Tesco and the customer and the fact that the stock has been reduced by one item. This shows the integration of departments by using ICT. All stores are connected to the mainframe at Head Office via the Tesco Network. Another advantage of Outsourcing ICT from a business perspective is that organizations are realizing that owning and operating their own IT infrastructure no longer makes sense. The cost of that is much bigger and the results are never guaranteed. This coupled with the common resource lack make outsourcing a viable alternative. It is very important for organizations to adopt the right approach of outsourcing ICT in order to have benefits. The outsourced ICT selected company they are going to cooperate with, must follow certain organizations demands. First they have to manage well specific ICT functions in stages, to work with responsibility over review performance, to make adjustments and to support technically with experienced system engineers. The gained confidence and in-house acceptance by the organization as well a very good relationship and cooperation will give the best benefits in the organizations performance. With the right approach and the suitable outsourcing of ICT the organizations will manage to stay high at the competitive edge in the market. Serving the customers in the best way and surprising with new ways of purchasing their products (for ex. via online-shops), their loyalty will be kept and the margins will be increased. A big company like Tesco has many sub-stores, some in the same country and some abroad. The communication between them and the line the company sets everywhere should be well established. ICT helps in this area and it is the primary reason that chain branches use ICT. In summary outsourcing ICT for a company such as Tesco is important for increasing the ability to reach the goals of the company, reduce human risks, saving time, helping the company to stay competitive and minimize the operating costs. The Disadvantages of Outsourcing ICT in an organization such as Tesco. As it was already mentioned above, the outsourcing ICT has also disadvantages that raise the risk the company has to take. For example, at times, it is more cost-effective to conduct a particular business process, rather than outsourcing it, not that much in IT but maybe the companys upgrade wants are small and opposed to the ICT Companys big fees. When you begin to outsource your business processes, you might find it difficult to manage the offshore provider when compared to managing processes within your organization. In case, your outsource ICT service provider becomes bankrupt or goes out of business, your organization will have to transfer immediately the business processes in-house or find another outsourcing provider The employees in your organization might not like the idea of outsourcing your processes and they might express lack of interest or lack of quality at work. Also outsourcing can create potential redundancies for your organization because a lot of employees may lose their jobs. Your outsourcing provider might not be the right who is providing services for your organization. Also the quality of the service isnt always guaranteed, especially in low-price agreements. Since your provider might be catering the needs of several companies, there might be not be complete devotion to you and your company something that shouldnt happen if you own the ICT department. In outsourcing, you may lose control over the process that is outsourced and dont be able to fix something in time because you are not in charge of this field. Outsourcing, though cost-effective, might have hidden costs, such as the legal costs incurred while signing a contract between companies and you might also have to spend a lot of time and effort in getting the contract signed. There can be several disadvantages in outsourcing, such as, renewing contracts, misunderstanding of the contract, lack of communication, poor quality and delayed services amongst others. The disadvantages of outsourcing give to organizations an opportunity to think about what they are stepping into. However if you find a reliable outsourcing partner you probably wont face any of these disadvantages of outsourcing. Question 2 What do you understand by Knowledge management and knowledge management systems? Analyze how useful such a system could be to Tesco and why it is often difficult to persuade employees to use such systems. Knowledge Management refers to the process of collecting the gathered experience of a company or organization, whether it is in databases or documents, or even in the minds of executives of the company or organization and then share it and use it at those parts of the business that will provide the maximum contributory benefit. KM has been growing rapidly in the last years as a business model. More and more businesses and organizations have developed stores of knowledge related to customer service, product development, human resource management, etc. This fact also created new jobs related to knowledge management and made a necessity for the existence of knowledge management in a modern business and the need for trained managers to be responsible for the process. Nowadays fields like media, information, computer science, public policy and public health have started contributing to Knowledge Management research. Also non-profit organizations and huge companies have resources specific to internal Knowledge Management efforts, usually as a part of their business strategy, human resource management and information technology departments. There are many consulting companies that advice and provide strategy regarding KM to the organizations. For the better use of Knowledge Management the companies needed to use Knowledge Management Systems   mostly IT based systems that manage the knowledge in companies , gather it, storage it and sharing it as information. Such systems as Software tools, databases, networks, Internet access, worldwide communication etc. A KM system is needed to enable employees to have quick access to the organizations databases, sources of information, and solutions, this is mainly helping to encourage innovation and improve efficiency. When employees have the knowledge or information and are able to use it at the right time, relationships with customers, suppliers and dealers improve. These workers are able to make better decisions by using the information that their company gives them access to. How useful such a system could be to Tesco and why it is often difficult to persuade employees to use such systems. A Company like Tesco today has to gather the wisdom and knowledge as fast as they can. Share the results across the rest of their branches and at the same time continue to develop and share new knowledge. Tescos leaders know how serious is to let the knowledge flow within the organization. Tesco is consist of 220,000 human beings, which means that is necessary to make an environment that would help their staff feel motivated and valued with return the better service to their customers. Loyalty is basically driven by personal relationships and the employees are the face of the company when a customer enters a Tesco branch. From the results of the projects that have been taking place they realized that there were customers who were not experiencing warm and friendly service from Tesco and that internal levels of staff morale were suffering in reaction to increasingly ambitious cost and efficiency targets in stores. Trilogy (WhatIf, InterAction and Bridge consulting companies) was hired by Tesco to help transform the quality of its customer service and raise it to the market-leading standard. To reach the needs of Tescos millions of customers Trilogy developed the Living Service Programme. The main idea of this concept was to change for the best. It was also clear that its aim was the change of process and not the change of the people but by, with and for Tesco people. In many ways the Living Service Programme is Tescos recognition, through committed investment of time and money. Among the projects significant intangible benefits is the widely noted enhancement in the quality of dialogue and communication within stores. Staffs report that the them and us culture is practically a thing of the past, with deep effects on the work climate and employee attitudes to the company. The programme was designed to improve commitment bottom-up as well top-down in the organization and this needed to be clear to avoid the misunderstandings. It was undertaken by 660 stores in 26 weeks, in this period the staff trained to provide excellent service and cooperation with the other employees and also using the knowledge/information when needed. The usefulness of LSProgramme was obvious to the head managers of Tesco and the Trilogy Company but from the employees there was skepticism. People often feel vulnerable to the importation of techniques that may appear to criticize their behavior, values, and styles of interaction. Also Initiatives with really innovative attributes may be treated with suspicion if they come from the organizations leadership because their apparent oddity can be interpreted as a failure to understand the day to day reality of the business. One of the key enemies of change is the perception that change is being imposed by one group upon another. Tesco managed to redirect the evolution of its culture in a way that keyed into its employees beliefs and motivations while focusing faithfully on the needs of its customers. This was a project in which the personal became the practical: a case of cultural change carried out at the human scale, person by person, and action by action.

The Wicked Character Medea in Euripides Medea Essay -- Euripides Mede

The Wicked Character Medea in Euripides' Medea The character Medea is disliked by many that read Euripides' Medea. She is not really given much of a chance. It is difficult to read the tragedy without having negative feelings towards the main character. Some readers are content to just hate Medea, while others want to know what would compel a mother to come to be able to commit these crimes. Sara Warner writes, "Transgression must be built into any system in order for it to survive. For example, patriarchy, for lack of a better word, could not and would not exist if it simply operated on the brutal oppression and domination of the female sex" (Warner p. 159). Transgression is defined as an act, process, or instance of transgressing: as an infringement or violation of a law, command, or duty by Merriam-Webster. Roget's II The New Thesaurus says transgression is a wicked act. Medea's transgressions were all wicked acts. From tricking Pelias' daughters to murder their own father to killing her own children, Medea committed many crim es. Of course there are many other offenses in thi... The Wicked Character Medea in Euripides' Medea Essay -- Euripides Mede The Wicked Character Medea in Euripides' Medea The character Medea is disliked by many that read Euripides' Medea. She is not really given much of a chance. It is difficult to read the tragedy without having negative feelings towards the main character. Some readers are content to just hate Medea, while others want to know what would compel a mother to come to be able to commit these crimes. Sara Warner writes, "Transgression must be built into any system in order for it to survive. For example, patriarchy, for lack of a better word, could not and would not exist if it simply operated on the brutal oppression and domination of the female sex" (Warner p. 159). Transgression is defined as an act, process, or instance of transgressing: as an infringement or violation of a law, command, or duty by Merriam-Webster. Roget's II The New Thesaurus says transgression is a wicked act. Medea's transgressions were all wicked acts. From tricking Pelias' daughters to murder their own father to killing her own children, Medea committed many crim es. Of course there are many other offenses in thi...

The Fight That Will Never End Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Fight That Will Never End Abstract   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this paper I will be exploring and explaining the act of abortion. I will discuss the historical and analytical background by explaining pre Row versus Wade, and post Row versus Wade. I will be explaining this issue on a National level, and discuss how women’s role in society has changed dramatically since the famous trial. Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Abortion is the act of ending a pregnancy, either through surgery or by taking medication, with the intention not to have an infant born alive. Because many people believe that abortion should be legal under certain circumstances, it has been a topic of great debate and controversy throughout the nation. The most historic case to ever argue the issue was Roe versus Wade; the trial that legalized abortion in the United States of America. It was this very decision made by the Supreme Court that opened the door to the greater feminist movement, giving women more freedom and control of their bodies, in the workplace, and in their own households. In this paper, I will explain the famous case, the courts decision, and the impact it had, and still holds over society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Historical Background Geographically speaking, abortion is a huge issue not only in the United States of America, but also all over the world. It is vastly different however, because several countries allow abortion without it being a national issue. America has had many court cases and appeals to obtain the law it has today. I am explaining abortion internationally with a Maco level of analysis, giving a broad overview of different countries policies. I have decided to tighten my focus, and explain abortion Nationally with a Micro level of analysis because abortion in America is an issue of huge controversy. It has been such an issue in the past, as well as now, that it took the Supreme Court to make a decision that everyone must abide by, without restricting women of their rights (Schoen 2000).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Abortion in the United States is a subject of public debate. Opinion polls show that most people think abortion should be legal. Thes... ... the matter, this fight will never end.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Works Cited 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Carlton, Casey and Eileen S. Coleman. 2000. â€Å"College Students’ Attitude Toward Abortion and Commitment to Abortion.† The social Science Journal v.37(4): 619-25. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Schoen, Johanna. 2000. â€Å"Reconceiving Abortion: Medical Practice,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Women’s Access, and Feminist Policies Before and After Roe v.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wade.† Feminist Studies, summer 2000, pp 349-376. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2000. â€Å"The Enduring Battle Over Choice.† New York Times, October   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  11, 2000, pp. A34. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2001. â€Å"Free Speech Can Be Ugly.† San Francisco Chronicle, March   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  30, 2001, pp. A24. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Retrieved November 21, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.gargaro.com/abortion.html 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Retrieved November 29, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.prochoice.com/ The Fight That Will Never End Essay -- essays research papers fc The Fight That Will Never End Abstract   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this paper I will be exploring and explaining the act of abortion. I will discuss the historical and analytical background by explaining pre Row versus Wade, and post Row versus Wade. I will be explaining this issue on a National level, and discuss how women’s role in society has changed dramatically since the famous trial. Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Abortion is the act of ending a pregnancy, either through surgery or by taking medication, with the intention not to have an infant born alive. Because many people believe that abortion should be legal under certain circumstances, it has been a topic of great debate and controversy throughout the nation. The most historic case to ever argue the issue was Roe versus Wade; the trial that legalized abortion in the United States of America. It was this very decision made by the Supreme Court that opened the door to the greater feminist movement, giving women more freedom and control of their bodies, in the workplace, and in their own households. In this paper, I will explain the famous case, the courts decision, and the impact it had, and still holds over society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Historical Background Geographically speaking, abortion is a huge issue not only in the United States of America, but also all over the world. It is vastly different however, because several countries allow abortion without it being a national issue. America has had many court cases and appeals to obtain the law it has today. I am explaining abortion internationally with a Maco level of analysis, giving a broad overview of different countries policies. I have decided to tighten my focus, and explain abortion Nationally with a Micro level of analysis because abortion in America is an issue of huge controversy. It has been such an issue in the past, as well as now, that it took the Supreme Court to make a decision that everyone must abide by, without restricting women of their rights (Schoen 2000).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Abortion in the United States is a subject of public debate. Opinion polls show that most people think abortion should be legal. Thes... ... the matter, this fight will never end.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Works Cited 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Carlton, Casey and Eileen S. Coleman. 2000. â€Å"College Students’ Attitude Toward Abortion and Commitment to Abortion.† The social Science Journal v.37(4): 619-25. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Schoen, Johanna. 2000. â€Å"Reconceiving Abortion: Medical Practice,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Women’s Access, and Feminist Policies Before and After Roe v.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wade.† Feminist Studies, summer 2000, pp 349-376. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2000. â€Å"The Enduring Battle Over Choice.† New York Times, October   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  11, 2000, pp. A34. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2001. â€Å"Free Speech Can Be Ugly.† San Francisco Chronicle, March   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  30, 2001, pp. A24. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Retrieved November 21, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.gargaro.com/abortion.html 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Retrieved November 29, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.prochoice.com/

Beware of the Long Load Time Problem when You Buy a Website Essays

Buying a Website? Beware of the Long Load Time Problem Numerous studies have show that, while most web designers use fast internet connections, the majority of their audience still use comparatively slower connections. Because of this, many designers create web pages that may load quickly enough on their own computers, but take excessively long to load on their audiences' computers. Many web designers have not dealt with this issue on their websites, resulting in the loss of a valuable audience, even though numerous ways of dealing with the long load time problem exist. The largest cause of long page load times is the graphical content of the webpage. While text generally does not take too long to load over most connections, images can adversely affect even the fastest connection speeds when used incorrectly. Because websites use images more than almost any other media, this problem affects web designing decisions for practically every website created. Many web designers use large, full-quality graphics on their websites, which often take up much of the page. These images, while very attractive, do not justify the long time they require to load. In addition, many designers use full screen graphical interfaces for their sites. Even when text is the main component of these pages, the graphical interface slows the load time to a crawl. This forces viewers interested only in the text to wait unjustifiably long for the graphical interface to load first. For websites created for image viewing, there are often numerous, large, high-quality images placed on a single page in a giant column. Even if a viewer wants to observe just one of these images, they must wait for the other unwanted images to load as well. All of these problems caus... ...o a different page. Many thumbnails can be placed on a single page, and their small size and high compression do not lengthen load times significantly. A thumbnail also gives viewers a preview of what the larger, full-quality image will look like if they click on a thumbnail, allowing them to decide beforehand if it is worth their time. In summary, too many webpage designers are misusing images in ways that cause websites to load far too slowly. They should instead take advantage the many solutions available for solving this problem when designing and implementing their sites. By not doing so, designers frustrate viewers and lose a valuable audience. Utilizing techniques for decreasing webpage load time will help web designers to expand their audiences and viewers to enjoy websites more fully, proving beneficial to those on both sides of the long load time problem.

Milton’s Satan in Paradise Lost

Critics abroad have argued about who the hero is of John Milton’s â€Å"Paradise Lost:† Satan, Adam or Christ, the Son? Since Milton’s overall theme stated in the opening lines of Book I is to relate ‘Man’s first disobedience’ and to ‘justify the ways of God to men’, Adam must be regarded as the main hero. John M. Steadman supports this view in an essay on â€Å"Paradise Lost:† â€Å"It is Adam’s action which constitutes the argument of the epic. Steadman continues: The Son and Satan embody heroic archetypes and that, through the interplay of the infernal and celestial strategies, Milton represents Satan’s plot against man and Christ’s resolution to save him as heroic enterprises. Christ and Satan are therefore epic machines. (268-272) Although Satan may be an epic machine, he is best portrayed as the tragic anti-hero of â€Å"Paradise Lost† or, at the very least, a main character who possesses the stature and attributes which enable him to achieve tragic status. In the Greek tradition, the essential components of tragedy are admiration, fear and pity for the ‘hero’, who has to display a tragic weakness or flaw in his character, which will lead to his downfall. It might be argued that the flaws in Satan’s character are such that we should feel no admiration, fear or pity for him, yet he can be seen to inspire these emotions. Satan’s tragic flaws are pointed out in Book I. They are envy, pride, and ambition towards self-glorification. Satan’s pride, in particular, is stressed throughout Paradise Lost. In accordance with epic convention, Satan is frequently qualified by Milton’s use of the word ‘proud’. Virgil used the same device in his epic the Aeneid, in which the name of Aeneas rarely appears without being preceded by ‘pious’. The most striking visual example of Satan’s main weaknesses appears in Book IV (89-90) during Raphael’s narrative to Adam regarding the battles in Heaven, Raphael refers to Satan as ‘the proud/Aspirer’. Proud’ at the end of one line and ‘Aspirer’ at the beginning of the next gives equal emphasis and impact to Satan’s pride and ambition and it is implied that, in Satan, the two characters are inseparable and of equal importance. Milton, in fact, defended his use of blank verse as a suitable vehicle for epic poetry, as opposed to the frequently favored heroic couplet. How then, does Satan inspire t he feelings of admiration, fear and pity necessary to a tragic figure? Milton was, undoubtedly, conscious that he was in danger of portraying Satan as too much of a heroic figure and made efforts to belittle im through the use of unflattering imagery, and by highlighting his less complimentary characteristics. Nonetheless, our emotions are still fired. Our first encounter with Satan and his rebel hosts occurs in Book I when they are recovering from the shock of having been expelled from heaven by the Son after three days of fighting the angels of God. Despite the defeat he has suffered, Satan gains our admiration by displaying resilience in quickly coming to terms with the change in his circumstances, in remustering his forces and organizing the building of his palace, Pandemonium. At the same time he demonstrates his determination not to be defeated and shows true qualities of leadership, persuasively arguing that there is still hope for battle and victory. Satan is convincing in his first speech to Beelzebub, his chief partner in crime, as he declares: What though the field be lost? All is not lost; the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield: And what is else not to be overcome? That glory never shall his wrath or might Extort from me. (I. 105-111) The language here is particularly powerful and the lines are extremely weighted, underlining Satan’s resolution. He similarly instills renewed resolve in his followers to challenge God and hope of regaining their former state, claiming that they are now better placed to contend because there is not fear of division in their own ranks (II. 11-42). He then gives his supporters the opportunity to speak their minds as to whether to engage in open warfare or in guile to achieve their end; although ultimately they agree the course of action he has pre-planned – that is, to introduce evil on Earth. Through Satan’s speech at the beginning of Book I, Milton emphasizes Satan’s self-glorification. Satan has no dread of being challenged in hell because he sees himself in the most dangerous position and the one to be most severely reprimanded by God. Satan is daring, which is best demonstrated when the resolve to send someone to investigate Earth has been taken and Satan offers to undertake the task. Milton diminishes Satan’s courage by points out that Satan stands forward with bravado and purely to gain personal glory for any success he might win. Yet, Satan does not volunteer immediately but is only undertaking what his followers are afraid to attempt. Milton’s suggestion is, however, supported by Satan’s speech itself, in which he states that he will go to Earth alone and defies any of his followers to accompany him in case they detract any of the hoped for acclaim from him. Satan’s courage is restored during Milton’s description of Satan’s journey through Chaos to Earth – in fact, the poet dedicates over 400 lines to such – (II. 629-1055) – and Satan’s exaggerated claims to his peers of the danger and difficulty of his enterprise when he returns to Hell in Book X after the seduction of Adam and Eve are not without some justification (X. 460-80). In Book IV (917-23) when the angels guarding Paradise confront Satan, Gabriel also belittles Satan by accusing him of being less valiant than his peers and less able to endure the pain of hell. There appears to be some inconsistency during this confrontation between Satan and the angels towards the end of Book IV. Having become even more steadfast in his determination to seduce Adam and Eve against God’s will and now directing his hatred against man also as a result of his envy of their happy state (IV. 502-35), it seems inconsistent that the next time he speaks, he is so sensitive to the taunts uttered by Zephon, Ithuriel and Gabriel. Although Satan’s scorn for the angels is still apparent, he stands ‘abashed’ and provides Gabriel with the means by which to insult him (IV. 888-90): â€Å"Lives there who loves his pain? Who would not, finding way, break loose from hell, Though thither doomed? † It is important that we believe in the Satan as portrayed in Books I and II: Milton’s argument depends upon that belief. Satan must be seen as being of sufficient stature to attempt God’s overthrow. If Satan is considered too weak, he can pose no threat to God or to Man and there would be no reason for Milton to ‘justify the ways of God to men’. Therefore, while making allowances for Satan’s arrogance in the opening Books of Paradise Lost, he does give the impression that he is ruling hell and it is not expedient to deliberate to what extent it is possible for Satan to succeed in his quest to corrupt God’s good works with evil. The very structure of Paradise Lost assists in creating the illusion of Satan’s power, since we first learn of the expulsion of Satan and his followers through the rebels themselves and it is not until much later when Raphael tells Adam of the wars in heaven in Books V and VI that we hear the ‘official’ version in which Satan emerges in a less favorable light. Stanley Fish in his essay, ‘The Harassed Reader in Paradise Lost,† argues that Satan possesses a form of heroism which is easy to admire because it is visible and flamboyant and that, on that basis, Satan’s attractiveness is only initial (Fish 189-190). B Rajan, on the other hand, writes: The heroic qualities which Satan brings to his mission, the fortitude, the steadfast hate, the implacable resolution, which is founded on despair, are qualities not to be imitated or admired. They are defiled by the evil to which they are consecrated’ (Rajan 190). Nonetheless, it is often Satan’s despair, which comes through more potently than his evil intentions. Satan’s bravado is most clearly evident in Books I and II when he is able to flaunt before his followers; by Book IV, his feeling of confidence and resolution shows signs of cracking, with Satan talking to himself he is revealing much about his inner torment and self-doubts. As his steadfastness wavers, some of his initial charisma also diminishes, as we become more aware of his ability to fall. This argument is reinforced by Milton’s physical description of Satan. In Books I and II, Satan appears an impressive figure, â€Å"In bulk as huge/As whom the fables name of monstrous size† (I. 196-7). He is conspicuous amongst his followers because of his size and his lustre, which, although faded, outshines that of his peers (I. 589-604). On closer examination, however, it emerges that, even in Book I, Milton has been careful to downgrade Satan. Milton states that Satan â€Å"stood like a tow’r’ and that his lustre was like the sun’s through mist. The first simile is bare and unqualified and, in essence, tells us nothing about Satan’s dimensions or his stance. A tower may be any size and of too wide a variety of constructions for the simile to be of any significance. The reference to Satan’s reduced brightness is a symbol of his fall from glory and failing strength; and is mentioned by Ithuriel and Zephon in Book IV when while maki ng fun of they suggest to Satan that his lack of lustre has made him almost unrecognizable. Our fear and pity for Satan can be considered together since they stem from the same cause. On one level, Satan can be regarded as pitiful as much as pitiable. Although it is undoubtedly not Milton’s intention, it is almost possible to view Satan throughout in the light of sympathetic pity, especially if we accept that Satan cannot be something other than what he is no matter how much he wrestles with hons constantly shifting and mounting in intensity, the dramatic individual grows, expands, developes to the point where, at the end of the drama, he looms upon the mind as a titanic personality infinitely richer that at the beginning. This dramatic personality in its manifold stages of actuation in as artistic creation. In essence Macbeth, like all other men, is inevitably bound to his humanity; the reason of order, as we have seen, determines his inescapable relationship to the natural and eternal law, compels inclination toward his proper act and end but provides him with a will capable of free choice, and obliges his discernment of good and evil.

Night World : Black Dawn Chapter 12

No, we're not!† Maggie said. She kicked the heavy cover off and jumped up, grabbing Cady's arm. â€Å"Come on!† â€Å"Where?† Jeanne said. â€Å"The castle,† Maggie said. â€Å"But we've got to sticktogether.† She grabbed PJ.'s arm with her otherhand. â€Å"The castle?† Maggie pinned Jeanne with a look. â€Å"It's the onlything that makes sense. They'll be expecting us totry to find the pass, right? They'll find us if we stayhere. The only place they won't expect us to go is the castle.† â€Å"You,† Jeanne said, â€Å"are completely crazy-â€Å"†Come on!† â€Å"But you just might be right.† Jeanne grabbed Cady from the other side as Maggie started for the door. â€Å"You stay right behind us,† Maggie hissed at P.J. The landscape in front of her looked differentthan it had last night. The mist formed a silver netover the trees, and although there was no sun, the clouds had a cool pearly glow. It was beautiful. Still alien, still disquieting, butbeautiful. And in the valley below was a castle. Maggie stopped involuntarily as she caught sightof it. It rose out of the mist like an island, blackand shiny and solid. With towers at the edges. Anda wall around it with a saw-toothed top, just like the castles in pictures. It looks so real, Maggie thoughtstupidly. â€Å"Don't stand there! What are you waiting for?Jeanne snapped, dragging at Cady. Maggie tore her eyes away and made her legswork. They headed at a good pace straight for the thickest trees below the shack. â€Å"If it's dogs, we should try to find a stream orsomething, right?† she said to Jeanne. â€Å"To cut off our scent.† â€Å"I know a stream,† Jeanne said, speaking in shortbursts as they made their way through dew-wetferns and saxifrages. â€Å"I lived out here a while thefirst time I escaped. When I was looking for thepass. But they're not just dogs.† Maggie helped Cady scramble over the tentaclelike roots of a hemlock tree. â€Å"What's that supposedto mean?† â€Å"It means they're shapeshifters, like Bern andGavin. So they don't just track us by scent. They also feel our life energy.† Maggie thought about Bern turning his face this way and that, saying, â€Å"Do yousense anything?†AndGavin saying, â€Å"No. I can't feel them atall.† â€Å"Great,† Maggie muttered. She glanced back andsaw P.J. following doggedly, her face taut with concentration. It was a strange sort of chase. Maggie and hergroup were trying to keepas quietaspossible,which was made easier by the dampness of the rainforest around them. Although there were fourof them moving at once, the only sound from closeup was the soft pant of quick breathing and the occasional short gasp of direction from Jeanne. They slipped and plunged and stumbled betweenthe huge dark trunks that stood like columns in themist. Cedar boughs drooped from above, making ittwilight where Maggie was trying to pick her wayaround moss-covered logs. There was a cool greensmell like incense everywhere. But however still the world was around them,there was always the sound of the hounds baying in the distance. Always behind them, always getting closer. They crossed an icy, knee-deep stream, but Maggie didn't have much hope that it would throw the pursuit off. Cady began to lag seriously after that.She seemed dazed and only semiconscious, follow ing instructionsas if she weresleepwalking,and only answering questions with a fuzzy murmur.Maggie was worried aboutP.J., too. They were all weak with hunger and shaky with stress. But it wasn't until they were almost at the castle that the hunt caught up with them. They had somehow finished the long, demandingtrek down the mountain. Maggie was burning withpride for P.J. and Cady. And then, all at once, thebaying of the hounds came, terribly close and get ting louder fast. At the same moment, Jeanne stopped and cursed,staring ahead. â€Å"What?† Maggie was panting heavily. â€Å"You seethem?† Jeanne pointed. â€Å"I see the road.I'm an idiot.They're coming right down it, much faster than we can go through the underbrush. I didn't realize wewere headed for it.† P.J. leaned against Maggie, her slight chest heaving, her plaid baseball hat askew. â€Å"What are we going to do?† she said. â€Å"Are theygoing to catch us?† â€Å"Not† Maggie set her jaw grimly. â€Å"Well have togo back fast – 2†² At that moment, faintly but distinctly, Cady said,†The tree.† Her eyes were half shut, her head was bowed,and she still looked as if she were in a trance. Butfor some reason Maggie felt she ought to listen to her. â€Å"Hey, waitlook at this.† They were standing at the foot of a huge Douglas fir. Its lowest brancheswere much too high to climb in the regular way,but a maple had fallen against it and remainedwedged, branches interlocked with the giant, forming a steep but climbable ramp. â€Å"We can go up.† `You're crazy, â€Å"Jeanne saidagain.†We can't possibly hide here; they're going to go right by us. And besides, how does she even know there's a tree here?† Maggie looked at Arcadia. It was a good question, but Cady wasn't answering. She seemed to bein a trance again. â€Å"I don't know. But we can't just stand aroundand wait for them to come.† The truth was that herinstincts were all standing up and screaming at her,and they said to trust. â€Å"Let's try it, okay? Come on,P.J.,can you climb that tree?† Four minutes later they were all up. We're hiding in a Christmas tree, Maggie thoughtasshe lookedout between sprays of flat aromatic needles. Fromthis height she could see the road, which was justtwo wheel tracks with grass growing down the middle. Just then the hunt arrived. The dogs came first, dogsasbigasJake the Great Dane, but leaner. Maggie could see their ribsclearly defined under their short, dusty tan coats.Right behind them were people on horses. Sylvia was at the front of the group. She was wearing what looked like a gown splitfor riding, in a cool shade of glacier green. Trottingbeside her stirrup was Gavin, the blond slave traderwho'd chased Maggie and Cady yesterday and had run to tattle when Delos killed Bern with the blue fire. Yeah, they're buddy-buddy all right, Maggiethought. But she didn't have time to dwell on it.Coming up fast behind Sylvia were two other people who each gave her a jolt, and she didn't knowwhich shock was worse. One was Delos. He was riding a beautiful horse,so dark brown it was almost black, but with reddish highlights. He sat straight and easy in the saddle, looking every inch the elegant young prince. The only discordant note was the heavy brace on his left arm. Maggie stared at him, her heart numb. He was after them. It was just as Jeanne hadsaid He was hunting them down with dogs. Andhe'd probably told Sylvia that he hadn't really killedtwo of the slaves. Almost inaudibly, Jeanne breathed, â€Å"You see?†Maggie couldn't look at her. Then she saw another rider below and froze inbewilderment. It was Delos's father. He looked exactly the way he had in Delos'smemories. A tall man, with bloodred hair and acold, handsome face. Maggie couldn't see his eyes at this distance, but she knew that they were afierce and brilliant yellow. The old king. But he was deadMaggie was tooagitated to be cautious. â€Å"Who is that? The redhaired man,† she murmured urgently to Jeanne. Jeanne answered almost without a sound.†Hunter Redfern.† â€Å"It's not the king?† Jeanne shook her head minutely. Then, whenMaggie kept staring at her, she breathed. â€Å"He'sDelos's greatgrandfather. He just came. I'll tell youabout it later.† Maggie nodded. And the next instant it wasswept out of her head as P.J.'s hand clutched at her and she felt a wave of adrenaline. The party below was stopping. The hounds turned and circled first, forming ahesitant clump not twenty feet down the road. When the people pulled up their horses they werealmost directly below Maggie's tree. â€Å"What is it?† the tall man said, the one Jeannehad called Hunter Redfern. And then one of the hounds changed. Maggiecaught the movement out of the corner of her eyeand looked quickly, or she would have missed it. The lean, wiry animal reared up, like a dog tryingto look over a fence. But when it reached its fullheight it didn't wobble or go back down. It steadied, and its entire dusty-tan body rippled. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in theworld, its shoulders went back and its arms thickened. Its spine straightened and it seemed to gainmore height. Its tail pulled in and disappeared. Andits hound face melted and re-formed, the ears andmuzzle shrinking, the chin growing. In maybetwenty seconds the dog had become a boy, a boy who still wore patches of tan fur here and there,but definitely human-looking. And he's got pants on, Maggie thought distractedly, even though her heart was pounding in herthroat. I wonder how they manage that? The boy turned his head toward the riders. Maggie could see the ribs in his bare chest move withhis breathing. â€Å"Something's wrong here,† he said. â€Å"I can't followtheir life force anymore.† Hunter Redfern looked around.†Are they blocking it?† Gavin spoke up from beside Sylvia's stirrup. â€Å"Bern said they were blocking it yesterday.† â€Å"Isn't that impossible?† Delos's cool voice camefrom the very back of the group, where he wasexpertly holdinghisnervous,dancinghorsein check. â€Å"If they're only humans?† Hunter didn't move or blink an eye, but Maggiesaw a glance pass between.Sylvia and Gavin. Sheherself twisted her head slightly, just enough tolook at the other girls in the tree. She wanted to see if Jeanne understood whatthey were talking about, but it was Cady whocaught her eye. Cady's eyes were shut, her headleaning against the dark furrowed trunk of the tree.Her lips were moving, although Maggie couldn'thear any sound. And Jeanne was watching her with narrowedeyes and an expression of grim suspicion. â€Å"Human vermin are full of surprises,† Hunter Redfern was saying easily down below. â€Å"It doesn't matter. We'll get them eventually.† â€Å"They may be heading for the castle,† Sylvia said.†We'd better put extra guards at the gate.† Maggie noticed how Delos stiffened at that. And so did Hunter Redfern, even though he waslooking the other way. He said calmly, â€Å"What do you think of that, Prince Delos?† Delos didn't move for an instant. Then he said,†Yes. Do it.† But he said it to a lean, bearded man beside him, who bowed his head in a quick jerk. And he did something that made Maggie's heartgo cold. He looked up at her. The other people in his party, including the hounds, were looking up and down the road, orsideways into the forest at their own level. Deloswas the only one who'd been sitting quietly, lookingstraight ahead. But now he tilted his chin andturned an expressionless face toward the cluster ofbranches where Maggie was sitting.And met her gaze directly. She saw the blaze of his yellow eyes, even at thisdistance. He was looking coolly and steadily-at her. Maggie jerked back and barely caught herselffrom falling. Her heart was pounding so hard itwas choking her. But she didn't seem to be able to do anything but cling to her branch. We're dead, she thought dizzily, pinned into immobility by those golden eyes. He's stronger thanthe rest of them; he's a Wild Power. And he couldsense us all along. Now all they have to do is surround the tree. Wecan try to fight-but we don't have weapons. They'llbeat us in no time†¦. Go away.The voice gave her a new shock. It wasclear and unemotional-and it was in Maggie'shead. Delos?she thought, staring into that burning gaze. You can-? His expression didn't change. I told you before,but you wouldn't listen. What do I have to do to make you understand? Maggie's heart picked up more speed. Delos, lis ten to me. I don't want I'm warning you,he said, and his mental voicewas like ice. Don't come to the castle. If you do, I won't protect you again. Maggie felt cold to her bones, too numb to evenform words to answer him. I mean it,he said. Stay away from the castle if you want to stay alive. Then he turned away and Maggie felt the contactbetween them broken off cleanly. Where his presence had been she could feel emptiness. â€Å"Let's go,† he said in a short, hard voice, and spurred his horse forward. And then they were all moving, heading on downthe path, leaving Maggie trying to keep hertrembling from shaking the tree. When the last horse was out of sight, P.J. let outher breath, sagging. â€Å"I thought they had us,† she whispered. Maggie swallowed. â€Å"Me, too. But Cady was right.They went on by.† She turned. â€Å"Just what was that stuff about us blocking them?† Cady was still leaning her head against the treetrunk, and her eyes were still closed. But sheseemed almost asleep now-and her lips weren'tmoving. Jeanne's eyes followed Maggie's. They were stillnarrowed, and her mouth was still tight with something like grim humor. But she didn't say anything.After a moment she quirked an eyebrow andshrugged minutely. â€Å"Who knows?† Youknow, Maggie thought. At least more thanyou're telling me. But there was something elsebothering her, so she said, â€Å"Okay, then, what aboutthat guy who looks like Delos's father? HunterRedfern.† â€Å"He's a bigwig in the Night World,† Jeanne said.†Maybe the biggest. It was his son who foundedthis place back in the fourteen hundreds.† Maggie blinked. â€Å"In the what's?† Jeanne's eyes glowed briefly, sardonically. â€Å"In thefourteen hundreds,† she said with exaggerated pa tience.†They'revampires,allright?Actually, they're lamia, which is the kind of vampire thatcan have kids, but that's not the point. The point is they're immortal, except for accidents.† â€Å"That guy has been alive more than five hundredyears,† Maggie said slowly, looking down the pathwhere Hunter Redfern had disappeared. â€Å"Yeah. And, yeah, everybody says how much helooks like the old king. Or the other way around,you know.† Delos sure thinks he looks like him, Maggiethought. She'd seen the way Hunter handled Delos,guiding him as expertly as Delos had guided hishorse. Delos was usedto obeying somebody wholooked and sounded just like Hunter Redfern. Then she frowned. â€Å"Buthow come heisn'tking?† â€Å"Oh†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Jeanne sighed and ducked under a sprayof fir needles that was tangled in her hair. She looked impatient and uneasy. â€Å"He's from the Outside, okay? He's only been here a couple of weeks. All the slaves say that he didn't even know aboutthis place before that. ‘Me didn't know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Look. This is the way I heard it from the oldslaves, okay? Hunter Redfern had a son namedChervil when he was really young. And when Cher vil was, like, our age, they had some big argumentand got estranged. And then Chervil ran off withhis friends, and that left Hunter Redfern withoutan heir. And Hunter Redfern never knew thatwhere the kid went was hem.† Jeanne gesturedaround the valley. â€Å"To start his own little kingdom of Night People. But then somehow Hunter found out, so he came to visit. And that's why he's here.† She finished and stretched her shoulders, lookingdown the tree-ramp speculatively. P.J. sat quietly, glancing from Jeanne to Maggie. Cady justbreathed. Maggie chewed her lip, not satisfied yet. â€Å"He'shere just to visit? That's all?† â€Å"I'm a slave. You think I asked him personally?†Ã¢â‚¬ I think you know.† Jeanne stared at her a moment, then glanced atP.J. Her look was almost sullen, but Maggieunderstood. â€Å"Jeanne, she's been through hell already. Whatever it is, she can take it. Right, kiddo?† P.J. twisted her plaid cap in a complete circleand settled it more firmly on her head. â€Å"Right,† shesaid flatly. â€Å"So tell us,† Maggie said. â€Å"What's Hunter Redferndoing here?†