Juran’s Triology

Juran's Trilogy Prepared By : Kareem Ahmed Daabees Under management of : Dr. Mahmmoud Mohammad EL-Damaty Managing for quality comprises of three fundamental quality-situated procedures: quality arranging, quality control, and quality improvement. The job of value arranging is to structure a procedure that will have the option to meet set up objectives under working conditions. The job of value control is to work and when essential right the procedure so it performs with ideal effectiveness.The job of value improvement is to devise approaches to take the procedure to phenomenal degrees of execution. 1. Quality Planning Quality arranging originates from a solidarity of direction that traverses all elements of an association. The subject of arranging can be anything †a building procedure for planning new items, a creation procedure for making products, or a help procedure for reacting to client demands. Quality Planning includes: * Identifying clients, both inside and outside * Det ermining their necessities Specifying the item includes that fulfill those requirements at least expense. * Designing the procedures that can dependably deliver those highlights. * Proving that the procedure can accomplish its objectives under working conditions. 2. Quality Control The way toward overseeing tasks to meet quality objectives. The procedure of Quality Control includes: * Choosing control subjects * Choosing units of estimation * Establishing an estimation methodology * Measuring * Interpreting contrasts among estimation and objective. * Taking activity to address critical contrasts 3.Quality Improvement Assuming the procedure is leveled out, any waste that happens must be intrinsic in the structure of the procedure. The object of value improvement is to lessen ceaseless waste to a much lower level. The means in Quality Improvement: * Prove the requirement for development * Identify explicit activities for development * Organize to direct the tasks * Organize for findin g †revelation of causes * Diagnose the causes * Provide cures * Prove that the cures are viable under working conditions * Provide for control to keep up the increases.

Anthony Burns Essay

Envision being a slave during the hour of the criminal slave act. OK flee or would you remain and keep being a slave? In the event that you fled and you rushed to Massachusetts and your lord discovered you would you run from him? The man in this story listened, as I reveal to you the miserable story of Anthony Burns. Anthony consumes was an informed slave that had a white dad. His mom was a raiser which implied she had a child consistently. Anthony’s first ace treated him like a sun promptly toward the beginning of the day and gives him a pony ride. Anthony was exceptionally savvy. One day his lord tossed him of his pony in mid air Tony did a somersault and arrived on his hand and he flipped over. At nineteen years old, Anthony Burns got away from subjection in Richmond, making a trip by boat to Boston in 1853. In Boston he worked for â€Å"Coffin Pitts, dress vendor, no. 36 Brattle Street. † On May 24, 1854 he was found â€Å"while strolling in Court Street† and captured. As a center point of opposition toward the â€Å"slave power† of the South, numerous Bostonians responded by endeavoring to free Burns. President Franklin Pierce made a case of the case to show he was happy to unequivocally authorize the Fugitive Slave Act. The demonstration of power turned numerous New Englanders against subjection who had latently acknowledged its reality previously. On May 26, under the watchful eye of Burns’ legal dispute, a horde of abolitionists of the two races, including Thomas Wentworth Higginson and different Bostonians shocked at Burns’ capture, raged the town hall to free the man. In the scuffle, Deputy U. S. Marshal James Batchelder was lethally wounded, turning into the subsequent Marshal to be slaughtered in the line of obligation. The police kept control of Burns, yet the hordes of adversaries, including such African-American abolitionists as Thomas James developed enormous. While the central government sent US troops in help, various abolitionist servitude activists showed up in Boston to join the dissent and proceed the faceoff. It has been assessed the government’s cost of catching and directing Burns through the preliminary was upwards of $40,000. He was in the end reclaimed to Virginia where he went to a slave jail for a year. Subsequently he was sold in North Carolina. Where his companion got him and sent him to Canada where he experienced the remainder of his short life. He turned into a minister and lectured and lived calmly.

How Long Does Dilaudid Stay in Your System

How Long Does Dilaudid Stay in Your System Addiction Drug Use Opioids Print How Long Dilaudid (Hydromorphone) Stays in Your System Dilaudid is detected in blood and urine tests for days after use By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on December 14, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on December 26, 2018 More in Addiction Drug Use Opioids Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Dilaudid (hydromorphone) is a prescription pain medication that begins to act within minutes, has a diminished effect within a few hours, and stays in your system for several days.?? It is prescribed for pain relief, especially after surgery. Dilaudid is  an opiate  analgesic, and it works by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain.?? It can cause dangerous physical consequences if you overdose, as well as withdrawal symptoms and addiction. Dilaudid is a Schedule II controlled substance with a potency two to eight times higher than morphine. Dilaudids Effects on Your System The way in which Dilaudid affects your system depends on the route of administration. It can be taken as a pill, a liquid, injected intravenously (IV), intramuscularly (IM) or inserted rectally. The onset of the effects depends on the method it was administered.?? Oral Administration When Dilaudid is taken orally in pill or liquid form, it begins to work quickly, often in about 15 minutes, and usually reaches its peak effect in 30 minutes to an hour. The elimination half-life of oral Dilaudid is about four hours. This means that about half of the drug is eliminated from the body in four hours, although some of the drug is expected to remain in your body for two to three days. Intravenous (IV) Injection IV injections of Dilaudid begin to take effect in about five minutes, and the half-life is about two hours, but it can remain in the body for about two to three days.?? Intramuscular (IM) Injection IM injections of Dilaudid begin to work in about 15 minutes, with about a three-hour half-life, and it can remain in the body for several days. Rectal Administration Administration of Dilaudid rectally, which may be used in cases of severe nausea or when you cant have an injection, should take effect in about 30 minutes, with a half-life of about four to five hours, and the drug is evident in the body for several days. Dilaudid can make you drowsy, so until you know how it affects you, it is safer to not drive or operate heavy machinery for two days after taking it. Dilaudid can cause serious or life-threatening breathing problems, especially during the first two days of taking it. You should be carefully monitored when you start taking this medication. Interactions with Medications and Alcohol Several medications can change the way Dilaudid affects your body by increasing, decreasing, or prolonging the effects. It is very important to discuss all other prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbs with your doctor or pharmacist so they can advise you and adjust your prescriptions properly for safety. You must not drink alcohol while using Dilaudid. Specific medications that interact with Dilaudid include MAO inhibitors, blood pressure medicine, diuretics (water pills), antidepressants, phenothiazine, and anything that makes you sleepy. It can also have interactions with St. Johns wort and tryptophan.?? Overdose An overdose of Dilaudid can cause serious injury and may be fatal. If you take too much Dilaudid or take it with other medications, you may suffer from an overdose. Some of the symptoms of a  Dilaudid  overdose include:?? Difficulty breathingSlowed or stopped breathingExcessive sleepinessDizzinessFaintingLimp or weak musclesNarrowing or widening of the pupilsCold, clammy skinSlow or stopped heartbeatBlue coloration of skin, fingernails, lipsLoss of consciousness or coma If someone is having symptoms of a Dilaudid overdose, you should call 9-1-1 immediately. If contacted quickly enough, first-responders may use medications such as  Narcan to revive the victim. Medication Errors That Cause Dilaudid Overdose One of the errors that can lead to an overdose is crushing the capsule, which causes too much medication to be released all at once. If you miss your Dilaudid dose, do not try to make up for the missed dose. It can be dangerous to take two doses of Dilaudid too close together.?? Withdrawal It is critical to continue to take Dilaudid on the schedule provided by your doctor. If you suddenly stop taking it after you have been taking it for several days, you are likely to go through withdrawal, which can be dangerous. Only reduce your Dilaudid when advised to do so by your doctor and follow the schedule provided. Symptoms of Dilaudid withdrawal include:?? Severe cravings for DilaudidSweatingFever or chillsHeadachesGeneral aches and painsNauseaVomitingDiarrheaRapid breathingRapid heartbeatHigh blood pressureTremors and muscle spasmsAnxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughtsRestlessness, agitation, or trouble sleepingDecreased appetite Individuals are more likely to relapse and make poor decisions when withdrawal symptoms are at their peak. Physical symptoms can lead to many cognitive issues as well, such as attention deficit problems, issues with problem-solving and memory function. Drug Screening Tests Dilaudid is detected in urine drug screens.?? If you have been prescribed Dilaudid and need to take a urine drug test for employment or other purposes, tell the testing lab that you have been prescribed the drug and taking Dilaudid so that they are able to interpret the test appropriately. The drug is detected in the blood for about 24 hours, in the urine for two to three days, in the saliva for two to three days, and in the hair for about six months.

The Physics Of Science And Morality - 1271 Words

On the topic of science and morality, both have varying definitions that bring into question of how they relate to one another. Although some seem to pit the two against each other as opposing arguments, many versions of these definitions allow one to draw lines between the two, ultimately allowing for the conclusion that they have a connection. Science and morality resemble each other because both collect and organize data, derive from observation of the direct world, and make use of data to draw conclusions. The two share highly similar ways of processing and analyzing data. They help to develop a better understanding of unknown things in the world, as well as of known things that remain unjudged in daily life. Through these processes, the two ideas have similar goals and allow for the advancement of mankind in multiple ways. First and foremost, both science and morality associate with one another in that they collect and organize data. Throughout history, as taught in not only soc ial science classes, but in all others as well, everything considerably has a cause and an effect. Constantly, one analyzes these occurrences based on their point-of-view. Depending on their standpoint, the way they collect and organize the data of topic defines itself as either scientifically and/or morally. In any instance, the same process of collecting and organizing data conveys itself through that analysis. Science itself has a well-known â€Å"method† when it comes to experimentation, one ofShow MoreRelatedCan Religion and Science be Compatible?1326 Words   |  5 PagesCan Religion and Science be Compatible? Accepting the compatibility between science and religion is a tactic used by those who instinctively fear that a manifest conflict between the two areas would endanger the future of science. They are worried about the possibility that scientists would not receive any financial support or that science classes in schools might be replaced with hours of religion. A huge number of atheist scientists are aware of the negative role, that they have irrational ideasRead MoreWhat I Want With My Life781 Words   |  4 Pagesthan to our aspirations for the future. In order to achieve what I want with my life I know that I must not dwell on the past but focus on the future. It is human nature to question our reality in an attempt to better understand our surroundings. Science, for me, is the devotion to better understand the world we live in, rooted in the natural and inevitable questions that all humans ask themselves. I believe that by answering the most fundamental questions, the potential technological advancementsRead MoreThe Humanness of Hume and Kants Moral Theories Essay1071 Words   |  5 Pagesempirical nature of science has allowed for its success in solving great human problems and in understanding the world around us. Real life data and observations lead to such findings, which only then can be translated into theory. A theory without data is merely a hypothesis waiting to be shown true through observation. If you start with a theory and then try to prove it, you are taking a biased position and setting out to complete an impossible task. Nothing can be proven in science, only accepted untilRead MoreEssay on Philosophy vs. Science1181 Word s   |  5 Pagesof research formed mainly into the studies we know today as science and philosophy. Many intellectuals answer the siren call of one or the other, and with reason, as these different patrons of truth vary from and bear semblance to each other in manifold ways that may appeal to certain people. Of these ways, philosophy and science differ in their history, intrinsic nature, and method. To begin with, the history of philosophy and science are their most similar aspects, both having emerged in theRead MoreIs There A Place For Ethics?1075 Words   |  5 PagesIs there a place for ethics in science? Does one as a physicist have the moral right to work on the practical exploitation of atomic energy? Regardless of whether the outcome of such a diabolic weapon is morally defensible, the burning question remains if it is ethical to use theoretical knowledge of physics to destroy great masses of people, civilians to be more specific. As brought to light in the thought-provoking drama Copenhagen, the debate regarding usage of nuclear bombs continues to beRead MoreAlternative Fuel, Global Climate Change, and the Categorical Imperative745 Words   |  3 PagesAlternative Fuel, Global Climate Change and the Categorical Imperative While environmental questions are frequently channeled through practical and economic prisms, it is also appropriate to consider our econolgy as a function of morality. The ethical dilemmas which contribute to our policies and our behaviors regarding the use of fossil fuels and our attention to global climate change are frequently overshadowed by more immediate concerns of survival or mere comfort. However, German philosopherRead MoreThe Mortality Rate Of Humans1575 Words   |  7 Pages in fact, close to 100 percent, in non-Western cultures.† (D Souza p.06). So, is there life after death? Some may say that science is the best, if not the only, means of getting reliable knowledge on the afterlife. Therefore, religious claims remain based on faith, but scientific claims remain based on reason. Due to no apparent evidence of an afterlife, religion, physics, and near death experiences leads people to believe consciousness may continue as a soul. Life after death may be a reality.Read MoreScience Fiction, And, Star Wars And The Time Machine1487 Words   |  6 PagesScience fiction, a genre which has elapsed over decades in the industry, has gained many followers in its several forms of media. Science fiction, in the same sense, has also been analyzed for its value and has received many â€Å"Authorities† in the sense that these individuals allow for a more comprehens ive look at this type of genre. Different types of subgenres have emerged due to the enhancement of â€Å"New Trains of Thought† produced by these â€Å"Authorities† and have taken this genre into a new perspectiveRead More Freedom and Reason In Kant Essay1560 Words   |  7 PagesFreedom and Reason in Kant Morality, Kant says, cannot be regarded as a set of rules which prescribe the means necessary to the achievement of a given end; its rules must be obeyed without consideration of the consequences that will follow from doing so or not. A principle that presupposes a desired object as the determinant of the will cannot give rise to a moral law; that is, the morality of an act of will cannot be determined by the matter or content of the will for when the will is Read MoreFantasy, Horror, And Science Fiction In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein1180 Words   |  5 Pagescentury: fantasy, horror, and science fiction. The mixed nature of the â€Å"Gothic† defined in its genre were tales of many types – sword-and-sandal epics about fearless barbarian heroes, chilling tales of unearthly New England monsters, and haunted houses filled with unseen supernatural occurrences. Out of these stories in the â€Å"Gothic tradition†, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one of the most influential novels in history. It is considered by many to be one of the first science fiction novels. Often these

Animal Testing - Necessary or Barbaric and Wrong -...

Animal testing has for a long time been a much debated moral issue. For many, this kind of testing has been the only kind of hope for developing new medicines and treatments for illness. For others, it is an unacceptable and unnecessary cruel way of exploiting animals for our own purposes. Treatments for illnesses such as tuberculosis, diabetes, kidney failure and asthma have all been discovered, and vaccinations against polio, diphtheria, tetanus and measles for example have all been found. There are strict laws in place for using animals for testing and research purposes, so as to minimise any pain and distress the animals may encounter. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 ensures that the usage of animals must be kept to a†¦show more content†¦He explains why this is the case. An anti-rheumatic drug killed 76 people in Britain, and 3500 others were left seriously ill. This particular medication had been researched using animals for seven years, which is a clear example of how humans and animals do not always react in the same ways. Also, thousands of people with heart conditions suffered having taken another medicine which had been tested on animals. In fact, the same drug (Eraldin) has, so far, not acted on any other species of animal in the same way that it acted on humans. The development of new anti-HIV drugs has also been a key issue regarding the inconsistencies of animal testing. In 1989 a major pharmaceutical company was working what seemed to be a potentially very successful drug. However, in trials on dogs and rats, all the animals died. Research immediately stopped as the company presumed it would have the same fatal effect on humans. It is clear though in the examples of the anti-rheumatic drug and Eraldin that humans and animals will not necessarily be affected in the same way. Because of the death of the dogs and rats, trials of a new HIV treatment did not start again until 1993. These 4 years lost could have saved many lives, had the researchers carried on testing of the new drug. Also, HIV is a disease which only affects humans, so the results of the animal tests may not have beenShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesPHILADELPHIA Temple University Press 1601 North Broad Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122 www.temple.edu/tempress Copyright  © 2010 by Temple University All rights reserved Published 2010 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Essays on twentieth century history / edited by Michael Peter Adas for the American Historical Association. p. cm.—(Critical perspectives on the past) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-1-4399-0269-1 (cloth : alk. paper)—ISBN 978-1-4399-0270-7

Critical Record of a Shipmaster’s Duties Free Essays

string(147) " condition prior sailing from the port and this could result the shipper to argue that the ship was unseaworthy at the commencement of the voyage\." Introduction As per the scenario, I am the master of a 30,000 tonne general cargo ship under the voyage charter sailing from UK, bound for Korea after loading a cargo of steel pipes of high grade. After a visual inspection found that some of the steel pipes appeared rusty, also no shore side surveyors were appointed by the parties concerned. During the voyage my vessel collides with a fully loaded container ship which is under a time carter bound for Antwerp. We will write a custom essay sample on Critical Record of a Shipmaster’s Duties or any similar topic only for you Order Now The container ship suffered minor hull damage forward part and consequently several containers were lost overboard. Also the container ship had to jettison some of the containers in order to maintain stability after water ingress. Due to collision own vessel suffered severe damage to no. 1 port hold which resulted partial flooding. After the collision for emergency dry dock repairs both the vessels were towed to the port of refuge. The container ship organises a daily hire agreement and the own vessel was towed under Lloyds open form due to the fact that vessel taking in water. Own vessel had sailed with a faulty radar equipment and this was found out in a later investigation carried out by hull and machinery surveyors. The records shows that the container ship was seaworthy and a day before the collision the second officer was medically evacuated due to a severe injury and other deck officers were working shorthanded. The master has the responsibility to do whatever is necessary to preserve his vessel and cargo from any loss or damage. In order to consider a vessel seaworthy the vessel must have all statutory certificates valid, cargo should be properly stowed and secured, Radio and navigational equipment in good working order. There should be sufficient fuel and stores on board. Appropriate number of officers and crew as per manning certificate with properly qualified officers and crew. Ensuring that fully corrected and latest edition of navigation charts and publication available onboard at all time. Vessels sailing in a seaworthy condition will only be covered by the insurance. It is always the duty of the owner of the vessl to ensure the seaworthiness of ship and if ships sail in a seaworthy condition she will be under insurance cover. â€Å"The obligation of the owner to exercise due diligence to ensure that the ship is seaworthy before the commencement of voyage.(ie taking all precaution to ensure that the vessel is fit for the voyage)† As per the hague-visby rule the liability and the responsibility of the carrier will be bound at the beginning of the voyage and also prior beginning of the voyage to exercise due diligence to prepare the vessel seaworthy and properly manned and equipped and supply the ship. To make the cargo spaces and other parts of the ship where goods are carried fit for the reception and carriage of cargo and preservation. â€Å"Article IV of rules states that neither the carrier nor the ship is liable for any loss or damage which arise or result from un-seaworthiness unless caused by want of due diligence on the part of the carrier to make the vessel seaworthy in all respect mentioned above conforming with the conditions given in the article three of the rule† â€Å"If any damage or loss resulted due to the un-seaworthiness of the vessel the responsibility of proving the exercise of due diligence will be on the carrier or other person claiming under this article† As per the scenario the carrier has failed to make the vessel seaworthy and failed in carrier’s responsibility and liability and hence there was a breach contractual terms and therefore the vessel will be responsible for the damage of cargo under the hagevisby rule. In the scenario the master accepts a letter of indemnity and signed a clean bill of lading. The BOL without any endorsement made by the ship master is called a clean BOL which describes the goods and states cargo quantity and their condition. The issuing and accepting a clean BOL states that the cargo has believed to be loaded correct quantity and in good condition. The vessel cargo found rusty and ship sailed in a unseaworthy condition. Also there was no surveyors were appointed and also the master accepted letter of indemnity and signed a BOL without any remarks on it. The letter of indemnity which is offered by the shipper in an inducement towards signing a clean BOL, which officially can absolve from blame or relieve the master from the obligation of liability for signing the BOL and the master should not have accepted letter of indemnity without consultation or clear instruction from the owners and should have made his own bill and presented to the shipper. Now with the clear BO L the shipper can pursue a claim against the ship owner for the cargo damage as the shipper has BOL as an evidence that the cargo stowed and loaded in good condition. The master should have immediately informed the owners about cargo condition and his negligence will result restrictions to the owners in protesting against the claims. The master should also have requested the owners for appointing an independent surveyor and surveyed the vessel and this would have saved the owners from any legal claims and any delays caused. The master should also have mentioned the surveyors finding in the BOL as the steel cargo was rusted and for evidence he should have taken some photographs/video etc. And it is also very important of collecting/keeping all evidences such as long book entries and witness statements which will help the owners to claim protection the carriage of good act. The vessel sailed from UK with a defective radar equipment and this was very well known to the master and the ship owner. This is the violation as per the rules HRV, the owner is liable to provide his ship in a seaworthy condition prior sailing from the port and this could result the shipper to argue that the ship was unseaworthy at the commencement of the voyage. You read "Critical Record of a Shipmaster’s Duties" in category "Essay examples" The decision of the owners and the master to sail without a working radar may have resulted in collision with the container ship. The unseaworthy ship prevents the owner of the general average contribution from the cargo owners. And the expenses incurred during salvage operation will also be settled by the owners as they cannot claim for salvage coverage due to unseaworthy ship. For the general average claims there will be an intentional/sacrificial act and the loss and damage of goods will be claimed from the cargo insurers. The loss or damage of cargo due to collision will be covered under particular average and not in General average. The hull damage caused due to collision between vessel will be under the HM cover and it is not an intentional act and so will come under particular average. The master of the vessel should ensure safety of his ship and take all precautions necessary which will surely mitigate the losses caused to any ship owners. The Maters duty to send a distress signal – if the vessel or person is in imminent danger Master sends distress signal requesting immediate assistance. This distress signal will be revoked as soon as the master is satisfied that assistance is no longer required. On receipt of distress signal, the masters need to proceed with full speed for the assistance of the vessel in distress. On failure to comply with this will attract penalties. Due to the collision between two ships, it will be the duty of the masters of each ship without endangering to his own ship and crew to render assistance to the other ships master and crew to save them from the danger caused by the collision. Also need to stay by the other ship until they need no further assistance. The master gives to the other ship, the name of his own ship and also the names of last port and next port. If master fails without reasonable excuse to comply with will result penalties. 2) Salvage â€Å"The Salvage operation means that any act or activities undertaken in order to assist a vessel or any other property in danger in navigable waters or in any other waters thus entitling a reward to the provide† The master of the ship has authority and power to accept the salvage offered consulting with the owner. There are two basis on which the salver agrees on the terms and conditions to save the ship or property according to circumstances. 1) daily or time contract – fixed hire rate. 2) Lloyd’s Open Form/LOF – no cure no pay basis† and the settlement will be done on the basis of the value of property saved. â€Å"The advantage of having LOF is that, it is a no cure – no pay agreement and not likely disputed if any disputes which will be referred to arbitration of English law will apply to claims. There is no need to have a copy onboard and the agreement will be done over radio or other telecom methods and the form does not require signature until the salvage operations have been successfully completed. The salver will get an interim award and any excessive claims by salvers are avoided and the disadvantages of LOF is costly† General Average â€Å"There is a general average act when and only when any extra ordinary sacrifice or expenditure is intentionally and reasonably made or incurred for the common safety for the purpose of preserving from peril the property involved in a common maritime adventure† Number of maritime countries laid down York Antwerp rules in order to get an uniform approach towards the settlement of general average claims. These rules are internationally recognised and are not incorporated into the national law. In the given scenario the damage caused to hull will come under particular average and which will be covered by the Hull Machinery insurance. The container ship had sailed in a seaworthy condition and later the second officer was medically evacuated and hence the vessel became unseaworthy. Now the container ship does not comply with SLOAS requirement and the other deck officers were short handed and the collision may have occurred due to fatigue caused. If the own ship has exercised due diligence then the payment for the loss will be borne by the shippers cargo insurers. The container ship had jettisoned some of the containers for safety reasons or to prevent water ingress and this sacrifice was to protect the property hence eligible for general averag e. For general average act, the shipowner appoints an average adjuster and usually declares general average HM Insurance PI Insurance There are three types of marine insurance ie Hull and Machinery, Cargo Liability – PI â€Å"HM Insurance covers hull and machinery of the insured ship against certain perils which includes peril of the sea, fire and explosion, jettison of cargo, piracy, contact with land conveyance/dock or harbour equip, accident during loading loading/discharging/shifting fuel or cargo, Earthquake, boiler bursting, breakage of drive shaft, defects of machinery barratry of master, officer and crew Etc† â€Å"P I club are those clubs which is a joint venture between shipping companies. It offers the ship owners the coverage against the risks which are not covered by hull and machinery insurance Hull insurance is actually the protection against the loss and damage to the vessel arising out of marine peril together with protection against the attendant liabilities of 3/4RDC, salvage and general average† â€Å"Protection and indemnity insurance is insurance protection against third party, death, injury and property claims caused by the ship together with the ? collision liability not covered in the RDC clause in the hull policy† Own ship was towed to port of refuge under LOF and it is the right decision which would have saved time and money. If the salvage operation has delayed further then the condition would have worsened as the vessel is taking in water and eventually the vessel will sink resulting loss of life, property and damage to the marine environment and in situations like this there would not be time for negotiations. In the case of container ship, she suffered only minor hull damage and was not in imminent danger and thereby she will have time for negotiation among them before deciding any agreement and decision of having a daily hire agreement was good, which is cheaper and beneficial too. The owner can choose cheaper salvage operations but cases involving loss of cargo, loss of life and risk of sinking there would not much time for negotiation between various parties offering salvage operations. So the decision has to be taken at the right time. Now both vessels have been towed to port of refuge, essential formalities for an unscheduled arrival clearance should be followed. Which includes an appointment of an agent and advise him of ships ETA and requirement on arrival, request for free pratigue, inform PI club, keep all required documentations ready and the agent will do the other required formalities for inward clearance. Also all the evidence collected should be kept ready and make the vessel ready for PSC and classification society inspection. After the repairs have been completed, need to arrange class and other surveys and after the survey an interim certificate will be issued. Bibliography: 1) College Notes 2)Business and law for the shipmasters (F.N.Hopkins) 3) Shipping Law (Chlorey Giles) How to cite Critical Record of a Shipmaster’s Duties, Essay examples

Health and Safety Policy for an Outdoor Concert †Free Sample

Question: Explain the role that the health and safety co-ordinator plays on the day of an event? Answer: Introduction This report aims at analysing the role of health and safety policy for an outdoor concert. It also analyses the process for carrying out a risk assessment at a variety of venues. Towards the end of report, it analyses the role that the health and safety co-ordinator plays on the day of an event. Health and safety policy is a crucial component of every event, no matter, outdoor or indoor. It sets out a general approach together with the arrangement that coordinator has made to manage health and safety for the day of event (World Health Organization, 2006). In common terms, health and safety policy is a document which mentions about the roles of the personnel, timings and how health and safety guidelines to be implemented. Health and safety policy is structured in three important parts; Statement of Intent, Organisational details and Arrangements. Statement of Intent describes the commitment of the staff and personnel towards their work. Organisational details describe the names of the staff and their responsibilities for the event related to ensuring health and safety. Arrangements describe the ways that have been determined in order to cope up with main hazards that have been identified in the risk assessment. Health and safety policy for an outdoor concert The health and safety policy is an integrated part of every event. The event being organised is a music concert where the event organiser has the prime responsibility of protecting the health, safety and welfare of the guests and participants. This health and safety policy will bring together information by coordinators and needs of others related to the event including local authority and emergency services. For an outdoor concert such as a music event, managing the health and safety of the people involved is critical. Experts believe that planning of a health and safety policy should start at the time when the planning for the event starts (Callahan, 1973). The key elements of a health and safety policy for an outdoor concert are: Developing a health and safety policy: First element is developing a health and safety policy. As discussed above, it comprises of three sections; Statement of Intent, Organisational details and Arrangements. Planning to implement health and safety policy effectively: Second element is to put the health and safety policy into practice. Many times, health policy is not effective to be practically implemented. Organise the arrangements as per requirements of health and safety policy: Third element is the organisation of the arrangement as per the need of health and safety policy. This includes setting up a medical camp or calling health practitioners (Callahan, 1973). Monitoring and evaluating health and safety policys performance: Fourth element is the monitoring and evaluating the performance of health and safety policy. It is crucial to monitor its performance so that any backlogs can be cleared side by side. Reviewing and auditing the performance of personnel: Fifth element is the reviewing and auditing the performance of staff involved in the implementing health and safety policy (Buonocore, 2009). These are key elements of developing a health and safety policy of an outdoor concert. Process for carrying out a risk assessment at a variety of venues Risk assessment is one of the critical challenges of a health and safety policy. By definition, risk assessment refers to the systematic process of evaluating the potential risks that are involved in any projected activity (Taylor, 2008). Risk assessment process helps to create awareness of hazards and risks, determine who may be at risk such as participants and public, determine if existing control measures are appropriate etc. The process of carrying out a risk assessment at a variety of venues includes: 1. Identify hazard: First step is to determine various hazards that can be expected at the concert venue. 2. Evaluating the likelihood of any injury or illness: Second step is to evaluate the likelihood of the injury and illness to guests, public and participants. 3. Evaluating the normal situations such as power outages in music concert: Third step is to evaluate normal situations that can arise such as power outages, shutdowns, emergencies etc. 4. Reviewing important information about the hazard related health and safety: Fourth step is to review the information related to the health and safety. 5. Determine actions to resolve risk: Fifth step is to figure out methods that can be used to resolve the expected risks. 6. Monitor and cross-check if risk is controlled: Sixth step is to monitor if the risk is controlled and confirm it. 7. Preparing documentation: Documentation is required for risk-assessments so that it could be used in future events also. This is the process of risk assessment at a variety of venues. A typical example of a risk assessment is: Example of Risk Assessment Task Hazard Risk Priority Control Delivering product to customers Drivers work alone May be unable to call for help if needed Drivers have to occasionally work long hours Fatigue, short rest time between shifts Drivers are often in very congested traffic Increased chance of collision Longer working hours Drivers have to lift boxes when delivering product Injury to back from lifting, reaching, carrying, etc. Table 1: Example of Risk Assessment Source: Belling, 2013 Health and safety requirements for a large and small scale event The health and safety requirements for a large and small scale event are different. Below table shows the health and safety requirements for a large and small scale event. Requirement Large Event Small Event Developing an emergency plan At large events, emergency plan is developed for large gatherings. At small events, emergency plan is developed for small gatherings (50-70 people). Determining emergency procedures Crowd management, raising alarm, traffic management etc. Raising alarms, providing medical assistance, informing coordinator. First aid medical workers Contacting hospital staff and skilled health practitioners. Contacting skilled health practitioners Organisation Location of exits, emergency equipment etc. Doesnt require organisation. All issues addressed in emergency plan. Evacuation planning Proper evacuation plan required No need of evacuation plan. Guests, participants can be alerted about emergency exits. Testing and Validation Required since event is conducted at large scale. It is required. Table 2: Health and safety needs of large and small scale event Source: Belling, 2013 Role of co-ordinator in health and safety policy Co-ordinator plays an important role in developing and implementing health and safety policy. Health and safety coordinator is responsible to work with executives, managers and employees to create an environment at events which is safe and healthy (BBC News, 2010). The first responsibility of the health and safety coordinator is to outline safety policy which mentions about the job roles of supervisors, managers and employees in regard to implementing the policy. Second duty of a health and safety coordinator is to conduct investigations in case any accident has taken place. The investigation includes examining the reason which might have been led to the accident, safety measures to be taken to cope up with the damage and future recommendations. Third duty of a health and safety coordinator is to provide training to employees, managers and supervisors about various health and safety topics. He/she can also conduct post-training tests and assessments to check the knowledge level of th e participants (World Health Organization, 2013). Fourth duty of a health and safety coordinator is to conduct audits and safety inspections to determine if any employee is using unauthorised health and safety practices. Fifth duty of a health and safety coordinator is to fill the reports related to health and safety of the event (Lalonde, 1974). These reports can be referred for future events. References World Health Organization. (2006). Constitution of the World Health Organization Basic Documents, Forty-fifth edition, Supplement, October 2006. Callahan D. (1973). "The WHO definition of 'health'". The Hastings Center Studies 1 (3): 7787. Taylor. S. (2008). "How should health be defined?". BMJ 337. Buonocore G. (2009). "Pleasing desires or pleasing wishes? A new approach to pain definition". Ethics Med 25 (1). Belling, G. (2013). Sport, Disability and an Original Definition of Health. Zenit.org. Accessed on 23 Feb, 2013. "BBC News How stressed are you?". Bbc.co.uk. Accessed on 23 Feb, 2013. World Health Organization, (2013) . The determinants of health. Geneva. Accessed Accessed on 23 Feb, 2013. Lalonde, M. (1974). "A New Perspective on the Health of Canadians." Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services.

Work Stress and Its Effects on Individuals

Lord of the Flies Essay Example

Lord of the Flies Essay Example Lord of the Flies Paper Lord of the Flies Paper Essay Topic: Literature Lord of the Flies was written in the 50s, a decade or so after the war. The war demonstrated the savagery of the human race most famously so with the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The book is a reflection of Goldings pessimism of human nature. The island becomes a microcosm of the wider world where fallen human nature leads to a huge war. When all the boys meet together in chapter 2, there is initially some conflict between Ralph and Jack, but this is just a struggle of egos and not necessarily showing any kind of savagery. There is at first an agreement to order the island with a democratic system, and this is first represented by the conch, which is in effect the symbol for democracy on the island. Ill give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when hes speaking. Originally we see the boys as mildly presentable, most noticeably the choir who are introduced to us in a formation all in identical black clothing Each boy wore a square black cap with a silver badge in it. Their bodies from throat to ankle, were hidden with black cloaks. But soon all the boys except Piggy become far more scruffy and disorganised and eventually develop animalistic behaviour. These traits are most prominent in Jack. Here are some quotes showing his less civilised appearance Tattered shorts, hair is considerably longer, His bare back was a mass of dark freckles and peeling sunburn. He is described as dog like, flared nostrils hiss of indrawn breath, eyes are bolting and nearly mad. He speaks more aggressively now aswell as being offensive suddenly Jack shouted in rage Are you accusing? He and his now group of hunters which in itself is a descent into savagery turning a group of choir boys to hunters now discover bloodlust and have somewhat of an obsession with hunting. With Ralph being the leader, and Piggy by his side, the conch shell serves as an equivalent to the executive branch of government. He who holds the shell is superior, at that time. When savagery begins to take control of the boys as the novel progresses, the conch shell begins to lose power. After innocent Ralph is involved with the murdering of Simon, he holds onto the conch tightly, remembering the sense of graciousness that he once had. The conch shell ends up getting smashed during the scene of Piggy’s death, when Roger kills him with ‘the rock,’ another symbol in the book. Another symbol presented in Lord of the Flies is the beast. The beast, representing horror, is the most intricate of all the symbols. It is unique because it is not an actual object, but instead it is the imagination of the boys. It shows the inclination toward evil that all human beings are faced with in a time of great disaster. Simon, a character of human goodness rather than savage, comes up with the conclusion that the beast was not actually an object or figure, but instead it was the boys themselves. â€Å"Maybe it’s only us. † (Golding 89). After Simon speaks of this, the boys erupt in anger. Jack and the rest of his savage boys fall into chaos. Jack promises that there is a beast and they will find and kill it. The boys’ strong will to kill shows their fear of the beast and it disables the connection that they once had with civilization. As the savagery of the boys continues, the beast becomes looked upon as a leader, and they begin to make sacrifices. The erratic behavior expressed by the boys is what brings the beast out of their imaginations and portrays it as something that actually exists. The more devilish the boys become, the more the beast seems to be real. Along with the conch, the next symbol, the signal fire, was also present at the beginning of the novel. This symbol, representing life, was one of the only chances the boys had for reconnecting with society. Two signal fires were made on the island. One was built on the mountain in hope that a plane would see it, and the other was built on the beach, in hope that a ship would see it. In the first few chapters, the boys strived hard to keep the fire going, except for Jack. Instead of focusing on the fire, Jack was more excited about hunting for pigs. â€Å"There was a ship. Out there. You said you’d keep the fire going and you let it out! † (Golding 70). This shows how much the fire meant. Knowing that the boys may only have one chance at being saved, Ralph was furious at Jack when he found out that he let the fire burn out. The fire was so important to the boys on the island because it represented the small amount of civilization still left inside of them. When the fire burnt out and the ship did not see them, the boys ultimately gave up. They recognized the fact that they weren’t going to be saved and they would have to live lives of savages. Oddly enough however, at the end of the story the boys are saved because a ship sees a fire on the island; not the signal fire, but a fire made from the destruction caused by the savage boys. Another symbol is presented through the disability of one of the characters, Piggy, whose vision is much below average. He has glasses and these glasses play an important role throughout the book. Piggy is the smartest and most intellectual out of all the boys. From the very beginning of the novel Piggy’s intellect is shown when he uses his glasses to start the first ignal fire. He uses the lenses to reflect the sun’s light on a piece of wood. Piggy’s glasses play a key role in keeping the boys’ minds focused on being rescued. As long as they had a signal fire lit, the chances of being rescued were still probable. The boys’ chances of being returned to society vanish after an altercation between Ralph and Jack, where Jack steals Piggy’s glasses from his face. Ralph and Piggy are now left abandoned after Jack, now with the glasses, moves to the other side of the island with a few of the other boys. Piggy, without his glasses, cannot see. This represents the change from civilization to savagery. At the start of the novel, when Piggy first has his glasses, the boys on the island remain civilized, making attempts to keep the signal fire strong. As the novel progresses, and Piggy looses his glasses, the decline of civilization toward savagery is present. The collapse of the boys is also revealed through the symbolic masks that the boys design. These masks, which are used by Jacks followers called ‘the hunters,’ are made of clay paint. The evilness of the boys is clearly shown when they wear the masks. It is almost as if an infectious disease is spread upon them; they lose all sense of civilization. After Jack paints the mask on his face for the first time, it is clear what it does to him. â€Å"He began to dance and his laughter became a blood thirsty snarling. â€Å"He capered toward Bill, and the mask was a thing of its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness. † (Golding 64). This not only shows the cruelty of the mask, but it also shows how it opens Jack into the world of being a savage. Also, Golding mentions the colors of Jack’s first mask as being Red, White, and Black. These colors symbolize â€Å"violence, terror, and evil. † (Golding). The darkest and most violent symbol on the island is the rock. Roger, one of the savage boys, uses the rock to kill Piggy. Comparable to the mask, the rock is red representing violence. â€Å"High overhead, Roger with a sense of delirium abandonment, leaned all of his weight on the lever. † (Golding 180). This describes the scene when Roger, standing on a cliff, pushes the rock down on Piggy. The scene in the story when Roger kills Piggy represents more than just the death of one of the protagonists. Not only does the rock smash Piggy, but it also shatters the conch. The conch and Piggy were a few of the only figures of civilization left on the island. At this point, almost all the boys become savages and feel no sympathy towards the death of Piggy. In Lord of the Flies, the main characters are used to signify important thoughts and concepts. Piggy represents â€Å"prudence, logic, science, and the process on thought, which he uses throughout the story to remain civilized. † (Taylor). Piggy is the thinker behind Ralph, the leader, who comes up with ideas such as starting the fire with his glasses. His intellect represents the world of civilization that the boys once lived in. Simon has been given the characteristic of a mystic, or someone that is supernatural. He signifies â€Å"the Christ-figure. † (Spitz). In an Interview, William Golding even refers to Simon as â€Å"a saint. † (Kermode 219). He is shy and incomplete, yet he uses the intellect that he has to help others. Ralph, who has been the leader from early in the novel, is the most important representation of civilization on the island. Even though he loses his best friend Piggy, his friend Simon, and the conch, he still remains civilized. Like Simon, he learns that savagery is present among all humans. Jack, being the first of two main antagonists, is the number one exemplary of savagery on the island. His lust for power and his rampant terror among the boys sets him far apart from the civilized. This is present at the very beginning of the novel when Jack becomes upset about loosing the top leadership position to Ralph. The second antagonist is Roger. Roger shows the cruelty and bloodthirstiness of the savages at their climax. Roger, being one of Jack’s main followers, ends up murdering Piggy with the rock. The most significant and most apparent symbol in the story is the Lord of the Flies. The Lord of the Flies, which gives the book its title, is a slaughtered pig’s head that is placed onto a spear. The head, seen by Simon, is described as gruesome and terrifying. When Simon stumbles upon it in the Jungle, it seems to talk to him, telling him about the evil that lies within all humans. The dead pig’s head also tells Simon that he is going to have some â€Å"fun† with him, which foreshadows Simon’s death. The Lord of the Flies is ultimately a symbol of terror, but more importantly a symbol of the devil. The evil shown through the pig’s head is the same evil that has been causing the civility of the boys to decline. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses different objects to symbolize the difference between civilization and savagery. From the beginning of the novel to the end, the decline of civilization toward savagery is present among the boys. At the start, the boys tried hard to remain civilized by using objects such as the signal fire and Piggy’s glasses. As the novel progressed, the turn from civilization to savagery began to take place after Jack lets his lust for savagery get the best of him when he steals Piggy’s glasses. Lastly, at the end of the novel, the domination of savagery is present with the masks, the Lord of the Flies, and the rock. Once all hope of returning to civilization is lost, the boys accept their lives as savages. The symbolism that Golding employs in Lord of the Flies shows the difference between the civilization that the boys’ once knew and the savagery that fell upon them. Cox, C. B. A review of ‘Lord of the Flies. ’ † Critical Quarterly 2. 2 (Summer 1960): 112-17. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Roger Matuz. Vol. 58. Detroit: Gale, 1990. 170-72. Dunn, Daisy, â€Å"Book Blog| The Spectator. † Spectator Magazine| World Politics Current Events, News, and Discussion. The Spectator. 17 Nov. 2011. Web. 25 Nov. 2011. Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Peng uin, 2006. Print. Golding, William. â€Å"Lord of the Flies Themes| Gradesaver. † Study Guides Essay Editing| Gradesaver. Gradesaver LLC, 1999. Web. 9. Nov. 2011. Kermode, Frank. â€Å"The Meaning of It All. † Lord of the Flies: Casebook Edition. Ed. James R. Baker Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr. New York: Penguin Group, 1988. Spitz, David. â€Å"Power And Authority: An Interpretation of Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies. ’ † The Antioch Review 30. 1 (Spring 1970): 21-33. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Sharon R. Gunton. Vol. 17. Detroit: Gale, 1981. 172-73. Taylor H. Harry. Rev. of The Case Against William Golding’s Simon-Piggy. (2004): 65-67. Bloom, Harold. â€Å"Bloom’s Guides: Comprehensive Research Study Guides. † Print.

Materials science Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Materials science - Assignment Example The development of bullet proof glass remains considered as an achievement of material science in the hope of offering a solution to the concern of safety in its usage. Achieving a product that would allow the transparent qualities of glass and still offer protection from lethal products such as bullets was a milestone achievement. Such is observed as an infusion of the bullet being a technology perceived under the same field of material science (Hsieh & U.S. Army Research Laboratory, 2004). Ballistic glass involves the infusion of two sets of materials that do not include the renown Kevlar used in the generation of bullet proof vest. The technology combines thermoplastics with the soft glass to allow a thick layer of ballistic panels. The aforementioned incorporation of different approaches ensures that the glass panes are ballistic and durable. The ballistic glass has found critical applications in banking and transit sectors. The glass is used in developing the teller stations in banking halls. It is, also used in developing armored vehicles, which aim to protect the users while driving in volatile locations. Additionally, the glass is used for protection of the VIP dais during the engagement of public events (Johnson, 2006). Hsieh, A. J., & U.S. Army Research Laboratory. (2004). The effects of PMMA on ballistic impact performance of hybrid hard/ductile all-plastic- and glass-plastic-based composites. Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD: Army Research Laboratory. Johnson, G. R., Hertel, E. S. J., Grady, D. E., Holmquist, T. J., Lopatin, C. M. Sandia National Laboratories., United States. (2006). High strain rate properties and constitutive modeling of glass. Washington, D.C: United States. Dept. of

Case study on British Broadcasting Company (BBC) Essay

Case study on British Broadcasting Company (BBC) - Essay Example The BBC or the British Broadcasting Company is the leading broadcasting association in the world. It is a community service broadcaster recognized by a Royal Charter and funded by the households who pay the license fees. The proceeds from the license fees are used by the BBC to provide services that include eight national television channels along with other regional channels, ten radio stations at the national level, forty radio stations at the local level and a wide-ranging website. Services are broadcasted by the BBC through the radio, the television, and also online, providing news and information to its customers on 32 different languages. These are funded by grants provided by the government and not from the fees obtained from licenses. BBC worldwide is the commercial arm of the BBC. The profits earned from the BBC worldwide are returned to the BBC which in turn gets invested in new programs and services (BBC, 2011). The study of this case includes a research and analysis on on e of the largest media company in the world. For this purpose the British Broadcasting Company has been chosen as the organization for study. The report would look into the aims, objectives and strategies of the company, the history and the organizational structure of the company, the company’s media activities related to the wider media framework, its funding and accounting details, employees and their different roles played in the organization as well as the career prospects, the public relations maintained by the company, a SWOT analysis of the organization thus analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats represented by the company, and the future planning and prospect of the organization in the media industry. Aims and Objectives of the Organization: Mission of the company: The mission of the company is to â€Å"enrich people's lives with programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain† (BBC, 2011). Vision of the company: The vision of the company is to â€Å"be the most creative organization in the world† (BBC, 2011). Values of the company: (BBC, 2011) The company believes that trust is the basic foundation of the company. The members of this organization believe to be autonomous, unprejudiced and truthful. The main focus of the company remains on its audience whose satisfaction counts the most for the success of the organization. Quality and delivery are given utmost value as the company takes pride in the value that it provides. The most important feature of the

Marxist Theory on Fake News and Media Propaganda

Marxist Theory on Fake News and Media Propaganda Fake News, Propaganda and Media Bias: An illusion of the truth? The internet has revolutionised the way information is presented and consumed. The traditional newspaper, for example, is no longer the main medium of news coverage. This therefore, has meant that mass media, in general, has had to find new ways of creating money. As a result, one could argue, that the ‘news’ is not objective but rather socially manufactured through a selective process. Events happen, but this doesn’t automatically mean that they will make the headlines or the news coverage at all. As a result, one could argue that the media is biased and is altered to represent certain views and ideologies. The concept of fake news and the deliberate misleading and deceptive information presented in the media could take the form of propaganda. As a society we have become more media saturated but are these agencies of communication, we refer to as mass media, transmitting an illusion of the truth? One could argue that the ‘news’ is socially constructed and as McQuail noted, it is not objective or impartial (McQuail, 1998). The reality is that the ‘news’ is socially manufactured as a result of a selective process carried out by gatekeepers : the editors, journalists and proprietors. This leaves room for media bias as the news is essentially influenced by a group or individuals own opinions and judgements. The news is not just simply a collection of facts but rather a collection of knowledge made up of information which is ‘loaded’ reflecting an interpretation. The process of selection, one could argue, is influenced by organizational constraints, values of media outlets and ideology. This links directly to the Marxist theory: that the news is fabricated and is an ideological apparatus which helps maintain power. Media outlets shape the ‘news’ and as a result we get injected, like the hypodermic syringe model suggests, with ideas that may be an illusion of the truth. As Miliband noted the media shapes how we think about the world we live in (Miliband, 1976) therefore if media bias is influencing the news, important issues like poverty, which show weakness in the capitalist system, are likely to be concealed. In contrast, media outlets are constantly providing us with information regarding political, financial and industrial states, for example recently: the benefits of Brexit, which reinforces corporate values. For example, during the EU referendum, media outlets helped broadcast the idea that the  £350 million sent to the EU weekly would be used to help the NHS instead, if voters opted to vote Brexit. However, after the referendum, the Brexit leaders decided to abandon the pledge (The Guardian, 2017). This case clearly demonstrates exploitation through misleading the public, as the NHS was a topic that they felt strongly about. This was a major political change, Marx would argue that the media transmitted the conservative ideology here in the interests of the elite. This could also be classified as a case of propaganda. As Herman and Chomsky noted the media participating in propaganda campaigns is nothing new (Herman and Chomsky, 1988). Taking this into account, one could argue that the media purposefully selected facts â€Å"designed to deceive us† (Brennen, 2017) and encourage Brexit. The media is dependent on the government and businesses as sources of information. These overlapping interests mean there is a certain degree of solidarity between them, as Highfield notes the personal and political are highly interlinked (Highfield, 2016), which means the effect was inevitable. Furthermore, analysing the headlines and news coverage, there seems to be a pattern where certain events are reported more than others, which reinforces the idea that media outlets choose what makes the ‘news’. For example, recently we got continuous reports and headlines which revolved around Hurricane Harvey which had a death toll of eighty-two (Moravec and Moravec, 2017). On the other hand, the floods near Sierra Leones capital, Freetown, Africa were hardly reported, even though the death toll was over three hundred (BBC News, 2017). The ethics can undoubtedly be questioned here, the two events occurred at similar times so why was one reported more than the other? This relates to Spencer-Thomas’s (Owen Spencer-Thomas, 2017) idea of â€Å"news values† where the guidelines for what is considered ‘newsworthy’ come into play. The Freetown floods it could be debated were not as significant as Hurricane Harvey, and consequently didn’t make the headlines. Alternatively, it could be argued that the media is not biased but rather like every other cooperation in society, works within the hierarchal structure conforming to the requirements which bring reward (Curran and Seaton, 2010). Media outlets are businesses essentially thus need people to invest to generate revenue. Therefore, rather than being biased and promoting fake news, it could be argued that media outlets actually focus and tailor the content based on their audiences. For example, Five News is characterized by short, snappy bulletins aimed at a young audience. In contrast, The Guardian has detailed articles which are aimed at more qualified professionals. Furthermore, to succeed, media outlets have now had to intensify media strategies to compete with cybermedia organisations (Williams and Tapscott, 2014). Considering this, it could be argued that media outlets choose the most important stories as a way of fulfilling users’ needs and their own profit interests(Fuchs, 2014), online. This links with the concept of ‘clickbaiting’ which is used by media outlets to attract audiences to ideas which appeal to them.   Postmodernists, would argue that media outlets are a channel to promote consumption rather than propaganda. They tailor and direct certain information towards certain people in the hopes of increasing revenue through advertisements. The increasing diversity of choice, globalisation and social media has resulted in a variety of influences shaping our identities. One could argue, that users are not exploited, as Fuchs notes, users voluntarily choose to use platforms (Fuchs, 2014). Marx’s theory can be criticised for presenting users as passive rather than active participants. The idea that there has been a â€Å"cultural shift away from the self-conscious user towards the subject as docile† (Lovink, 2016) can be debated. The revolution of the internet has meant that people can actively challenge the media, social media has become a â€Å"weapon of mass collaboration† (Williams and Tapscott, 2014). Therefore, it could be argued that fake news is a thing of the past, with social media flooding with different perspectives there has been, as Mason notes, an increase in individual freedom and human consciousness. The evidence lies in the streams of social media comments which critically challenge a piece of ‘news’.   From one perspective, it could be stated that social media has helped a digital revolution to occur where the masses have finally gained a voice and power. Moreover, it could be claimed that people choose which news stories to believe thus fake news can only exist if people allow it to be. Audiences receive and interpret the ‘news’ and as a result, not everyone will be affected in the same way. Consequently, if media outlets are promoting propaganda there is a very small chance that everyone will be misled. People tend to read and seek out information that interests them and confirms their existing views (Festinger, 1962). Taking this into account, one could argue that the media is just a scapegoat for media bias and fake news. The reality could be in fact that media bias and fake news is affected and created depending on a range of psychological and social factors, it may not be bias but rather unconscious nature. Without question, the media plays a major role in society today, whether it be influential or informative. Media technologies may not be the â€Å"contemporary opiates of the people† as Maxwell and Miller (Maxwell and Miller, 2012) suggest but the validity and objectivity of media outlets can undeniably be questioned. The ‘news’ is affected by a range of factors and it is impossible for it to be completely objective. This may not necessarily make it propaganda but rather a certain opinion. Media outlets need to generate revenue and therefore, media bias may be a method of tailoring articles towards audiences rather than intentionally ignoring incidents because of capitalist control and deliberate misinformation. On the other hand, the ‘news’ is essentially a root of information, consequently we should receive an equal coverage of incidents, like Hurricane Harvey and the Sierra Leone floods, so that one incident is not seen as more significant. It could also be argued that media outlets should stay neutral in political campaigns like the EU referendum, as it is very easy to misinform and mislead readers. However, the effect of misinformation can be oversimplified, as seen in the Marxist theory. People are not passive and critically challenge the ‘news’ and even play an active role in providing the ‘news’, as social media has given everyone the freedom to transmit information. The different perspectives, as a result, diminish the effect of fake news and allow us to assemble narratives and interpretations for ourselves. Consequently, there can only be an ‘illusion of truth’ if we allow there to be.    References BBC News. (2017).  Sierra Leone mudslides kill hundreds. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-40926187 [Accessed 6 Nov. 2017]. Brennen, B. (2017). Making Sense of Lies, Deceptive Propaganda, and Fake News.  Journal of Media Ethics, 32(3), pp.179-181. Curran, J. and Seaton, J. (2010).  Power without responsibility. London: Routledge. Festinger, L. (1962).  A theory of cognitive dissonance. California: Stanford University Press. Fuchs, C. (2014).  Digital labour and Karl Marx. 1st ed. New York: Routledge, pp.254, 257, 280. Herman, E. and Chomsky, N. (1988).  Manufacturing Consent. New York: Pantheon Books. Highfield, T. (2016).  Social media and everyday politics. [S.l.]: Polity Press, p.3. Lovink, G. (2016).  Social media abyss. Cambridge, UK: Polity, p.5. Maxwell, R. and Miller, T. (2012).  Greening the media. New York: Oxford University Press. McQuail, D. (1998).  Mass communication theory. London: Sage. Miliband, R. (1976).  The state in capitalist society. London: Quartet Books. Moravec, E. and Moravec, E. (2017).  Texas officials: Hurricane Harvey death toll at 82, ‘mass casualties have absolutely not happened’. [online] Washington Post. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/texas-officials-hurricane-harvey-death-toll-at-82-mass-casualties-have-absolutely-not-happened/2017/09/14/bff3ffea-9975-11e7-87fc-c3f7ee4035c9_story.html?utm_term=.5439927dfcdc [Accessed 6 Nov. 2017]. Owen Spencer-Thomas. (2017).  News values Owen Spencer-Thomas. [online] Available at: http://www.owenspencer-thomas.com/journalism/newsvalues/ [Accessed 6 Nov. 2017]. The Guardian. (2017).  Brexit camp abandons  £350m-a-week NHS funding pledge. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/sep/10/brexit-camp-abandons-350-million-pound-nhs-pledge [Accessed 10 Sep. 2016]. Williams, A. and Tapscott, D. (2014).  Wikinomics. New York: Portfolio, p.3.

The Trip: Journey To The Center Of Terence Mckennas Inner Self. :: essays research papers

The Trip: Journey to The Center of Terence McKenna's Inner Self. Terence McKenna has become one of the most (in)famous figures in the exploration of psychedelia and its impact on society and technology. Here McKenna espouses his theories on psychedelic mushrooms, virtual reality, shamanism and evolution. This is definitely one of the strangest and most interesting articles I have ever read. At first it seems almost totally incomprehensible and inconceivable, but after reading it over a couple of times with a good dictionary and thesaurus it begins to make sense. In this article McKenna explains one of his trips on magic mushrooms. He describes this trip as â€Å"a virtual reality tour of God's cerebral cortex, hosted by the Lucky Charms leprechaun†. He then goes on to tell how this trip affected his life and how it was such a complete shock that it caused the literal turning inside-out of his intellectual universe. He was knocked off his feet and set himself the goal of understanding this. His quest led him all over the world, exploring traditions of magic-religious drug usage. In the years since his fateful encounter with the self-transforming machine elves of hyperspace, McKenna has fashioned his mental Merzbau on the New Age lecture circuit, where he has earned the benediction of the psychedelic High Priest himself, who dubbed him â€Å"the Timothy Leary of the 90's†. McKenna has written several books as well as having rave bands set his ruminations to billowing techno-trance music. The main focus of this article is on McKenna's theory, which is concocted from psychedelic Darwinism, fringe linguistics, and New Age eschatology. This theory is based on the notion that â€Å"Hallucinogenic plants may have been the catalysts

Bag of Bones CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

I reached for Ki with the part of my mind that had for the last few weeks known what she was wearing, what room of the trailer she was in, and what she was doing there. There was nothing, of course that link was also dissolved. I called for Jo I think I did but Jo was gone, too. I was on my own. God help me. God help us both. I could feel panic trying to descend and fought it off. I had to keep my mind clear. If I couldn't think, any chance Ki might still have would be lost. I walked rapidly back down the hall to the foyer, trying not to hear the sick voice in the back of my head, the one saying that Ki was lost already, dead already. I knew no such thing, couldn't know it now that the connection between us was broken. I looked down at the heap of books, then up at the door. The new tracks had come in this way and gone out this way, too. Lightning stroked the sky and thunder cracked. The wind was rising again. I went to the door, reached for the knob, then paused. Something was caught in the crack between the door and the jamb, something as fine and floaty as a strand of spider's silk. A single white hair. I looked at it with a sick lack of surprise. I should have known, of course, and if not for the strain I'd been under and the successive shocks of this terrible day, I would have known. It was all on the tape John had played for me that morning . . . a time that already seemed part of another man's life. For one thing, there was the time-check marking the point where John had hung up on her. Nine-forty A.M., Eastern Daylight, the robot voice had said, which meant that Rogette had been calling at six-forty in the morning . . . if, that was, she'd really been calling from Palm Springs. That was at least possible; had the oddity occurred to me while we were driving from the airport to Mattie's trailer, I would have told myself that there were no doubt insomniacs all over California who finished their East Coast business before the sun had hauled itself fully over the horizon, and good for them. But there was something else that couldn't be explained away so easily. At one point John had ejected the tape. He did it because, he said, I'd gone as white as a sheet instead of looking amused. I had told him to go on and play the rest; it had just surprised me to hear her again. The quality of her voice. Christ, the reproduction is good. Except it was really the boys in the basement who had reacted to John's tape; my subconscious co-conspirators. And it hadn't been her voice that had scared them badly enough to turn my face white. The underhum had done that. The characteristic underhum you always got on TR calls, both those you made and those you received. Rogette Whitmore had never left TR-90 at all. If my failing to realize that this morning cost Ki Devore her life this afternoon, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I told God that over and over as I went plunging down the railroad-tie steps again, running into the face of a revitalized storm. It's a blue-eyed wonder I didn't go flying right off the embankment. Half my swimming float had grounded there, and perhaps I could have impaled myself on its splintered boards and died like a vampire writhing on a stake. What a pleasant thought that was. Running isn't good for people near panic; it's like scratching poison ivy. By the time I had thrown my arm around one of the pines at the foot of the steps to check my progress, I was on the edge of losing all coherent thought. Ki's name was beating in my head again, so loudly there wasn't room for much else. Then a stroke of lightning leaped out of the sky to my right and knocked the last three feet of trunk out from beneath a huge old spruce which had probably been here when Sara and Kito were still alive. If I'd been looking directly at it I would have been blinded; even with my head turned three-quarters away, the stroke left a huge blue swatch like the aftermath of a gigantic camera flash floating in front of my eyes. There was a grinding, juddering sound as two hundred feet of blue spruce toppled into the lake, sending up a long curtain of spray, which seemed to hang between the gray sky and gray water. The stump was on fire in the rain, burning like a witch's hat. It had the effect of a slap, clearing my head and giving me one final chance to use my brain. I took a breath and forced myself to do just that. Why had I come down here in the first place? Why did I think Rogette had brought Kyra toward the lake, where I had just been, instead of carrying her away from me, up the driveway to Lane Forty-two? Don't be stupid. She came down here because The Street's the way back to Warrington's, and Warrington's is where she's been, all by herself, ever since she sent the boss's body back to California in his private jet. She had sneaked into the house while I was under Jo's studio, finding the tin box in the belly of the owl and studying that scrap of genealogy. She would have taken Ki then if I'd given her the chance, but I didn't. I came hurrying back, afraid something was wrong, afraid someone might be trying to get hold of the kid Had Rogette awakened her? Had Ki seen her and tried to warn me before drifting off again? Was that what had brought me in such a hurry? Maybe. I'd still been in the zone then, we'd still been linked then. Rogette had certainly been in the house when I came back. She might even have been in the north-bedroom closet and peering at me through the crack. Part of me had known it, too. Part of me had felt her, felt something that was not-Sara. Then I'd left again. Grabbed the carry-bag from Slips ‘n Greens and come down here. Turned right, turned north. Toward the birch, the rock, the bag of bones. I'd done what I had to do, and while I was doing it, Rogette carried Kyra down the railroad-tie steps behind me and turned left on The Street. Turned south toward Warrington's. With a sinking feeling deep in my belly, I realized I had probably heard Ki . . . might even have seen her. That bird peeking timidly out from cover during the lull had been no bird. Ki was awake by then, Ki had seen me perhaps had seen Jo, as well and tried to call out. She had managed just that one little peep before Rogette had covered her mouth. How long ago had that been? It seemed like forever, but I had an idea it hadn't been long at all less than five minutes, maybe. But it doesn't take long to drown a child. The image of Kito's bare arm sticking straight out of the water tried to come back the hand at the end of it opening and closing, opening and closing, as if it were trying to breathe for the lungs that couldn't and I pushed it away. I also suppressed the urge to simply sprint in the direction of Warrington's. Panic would take me for sure if I did that. In all the years since her death I had never longed for Jo with the bitter intensity I felt then. But she was gone; there wasn't even a whisper of her. With no one to depend on but myself, I started south along the tree-littered Street, skirting the blowdowns where I could, crawling under them if they blocked my way entirely, taking the noisy branch-breaking course over the top only as a last resort. As I went I issued what I imagine are all the standard prayers in such a situation, but none of them seemed to get past the image of Rogette Whitmore's face rising in my mind. Her screaming, merciless face. I remember thinking This is the outdoor version of the Ghost House. Certainly the woods seemed haunted to me as I struggled along: trees only loosened in the first grand blow were falling by the score in this follow-up cap of wind and rain. The noise was like great crunching footfalls, and I didn't need to worry about the noise my own feet were making. When I passed the Batchelders' camp, a circular prefab construction sitting on an outcrop of rock like a hat on a footstool, I saw that the entire roof had been bashed flat by a hemlock. Half a mile south of Sara I saw one of Ki's white hair ribbons lying in the path. I picked it up, thinking how much that red edging looked like blood. Then I stuffed it into my pocket and went on. Five minutes later I came to an old moss-caked pine that had fallen across the path; it was still connected to its stump by a stretched and bent network of splinters, and squalled like a line of rusty hinges as the surging water lifted and dropped what had been its upper twenty or thirty feet, now floating in the lake. There was space to crawl under, and when I dropped to my knees I saw other knee-tracks, just beginning to fill with water. I saw something else: the second hair ribbon. I tucked it into my pocket with the first. I was halfway under the pine when I heard another tree go over, this one much closer. The sound was followed by a scream not pain or fear but surprised anger. Then, even over the hiss of the rain and the wind, I could hear Rogette's voice: ‘Come back! Don't go out there, it's dangerous!' I squirmed the rest of the way under the tree, barely feeling the stump of a branch which tore a groove in my lower back, got to my feet, and sprinted along the path. If the fallen trees I came to were small, I hurdled them without slowing down. If they were bigger, I scrabbled over with no thought to where they might claw or dig in. Thunder whacked. There was a brilliant stroke of lightning, and in its glare I saw gray barnboard through the trees. On the day I'd first seen Rogette I'd only been able to catch glimpses of Warrington's lodge, but now the forest had been torn open like an old garment this area would be years recovering. The lodge's rear half had been pretty well demolished by a pair of huge trees that seemed to have fallen together. They had crossed like a knife and fork on a diner's plate and lay on the ruins in a shaggy X. Ki's voice, rising over the storm only because it was shrill with terror: ‘Go away! I don't want you, white nana! Go away!' It was horrible to hear the terror in her voice, but wonderful to hear her voice at all. About forty feet from where Rogette's shout had frozen me in place, one more tree lay across the path. Rogette herself stood on the far side of it, holding a hand out to Ki. The hand was dripping blood, but I hardly noticed. It was Kyra I noticed. The dock running between The Street and The Sunset Bar was a long one seventy feet at least, perhaps a hundred. Long enough so that on a pretty summer evening you could stroll it hand-in-hand with your date or your lover and make a memory. The storm hadn't torn it away not yet but the wind had twisted it like a ribbon. I remember newsreel footage at some childhood Saturday matinee, film of a suspension bridge dancing in a hurricane, and that was what the dock between Warring-ton's and The Sunset Bar looked like. It jounced up and down in the surging water, groaning in all its slatted joints like a wooden accordion. There had been a rail presumably to guide those who'd made a heavy night of it safely back to shore but it was gone now. K yra was halfway out along this swaying, dipping length of wood. I could see at least three rectangles of blackness between the shore and where she stood, places where boards had snapped off. From beneath the dock came the disturbed clung-clung-clung of the empty steel drums that were holding it up. Several of these drums had come unanchored and were floating away. Ki had her arms stretched out for balance like a tightrope walker in the circus. The black Harley-Davidson tee-shirt flapped around her knees and sunburned shoulders. ‘Come back!' Rogette cried. Her lank hair flew around her head; the shiny black raincoat she was wearing rippled. She was holding both hands out now, one bloody and one not. I had an idea Ki might have bitten her. ‘No, white nana!' Ki shook her head in wild negation and I wanted to tell her don't do that, Ki-bird, don't shake your head like that, very bad idea. She tottered, one arm pointed up at the sky and one down at the water so she looked for a moment like an airplane in a steep bank. If the dock had picked that moment to take a hard buck beneath her, Ki would have spilled off the side. She regained some precarious balance instead, although I thought I saw her bare feet slide a little on the slick boards. ‘Go away, white nana, I don't want you! Go . . . go take a nap, you look tired!' Ki didn't see me; all her attention was fixed on the white nana. The white nana didn't see me, either. I dropped to my belly and squirmed under the tree, pulling myself along with my clawed hands. Thunder rolled across the lake like a big mahogany ball, the sound echoing off the mountains. When I got to my knees again, I saw that Rogette was advancing slowly toward the shore end of the dock. For every step she took forward, Kyra took a shaky, dangerous step backward. Rogette was holding her good hand out, though for a moment I thought this one had begun to bleed as well. The stuff running through her bunchy fingers was too dark for blood, however, and when she began to talk, speaking in a hideous coaxing voice that made my skin crawl, I realized it was melting chocolate. ‘Let's play the game, Ki-bird,' Rogette cooed. ‘Do you want to start?' She took a step. Ki took a compensatory step backward, tottered, caught her balance. My heart stopped, then resumed racing. I closed the distance between myself and the woman as rapidly as I could, but I didn't run; I didn't want her to know a thing until she woke up. If she woke up. I didn't care if she did or not. Hell, if I could fracture the back of George Footman's skull with a hammer, I could certainly put a hurt on this horror. As I walked, I laced my hands together into one large fist. ‘No? Don't want to start? Too shy?' Rogette spoke in a sugary Romper Room voice that made me want to grind my teeth together. ‘All right, I'll start. Happy! What rhymes with happy, Ki-bird? Pappy . . . and nappy . . . you were taking a nappy, weren't you, when I came and woke you up. And lappy . . . would you want to come and sit on my lappy, Ki-bird? We'll feed each other chocolate, just like we used to . . . I'll tell you a new knock-knock joke . . . ‘ Another step. She had come to the edge of the dock. If she'd thought of it, she could simply have thrown rocks at Kyra as she had at me, thrown until she connected with one and knocked Ki into the lake. But I don't think she got even close to such a notion. Once crazy goes past a certain point, you're on a turnpike with no exit ramps. Rogette had other plans for Kyra. ‘Come on, Ki-Ki, play the game with white nana.' She held out the chocolate again, gooey Hershey's Kisses dripping through crumpled foil. Kyra's eyes shifted, and at last she saw me. I shook my head, trying to tell her to be quiet, but it was no good an expression of joyous relief crossed her face. She cried out my name, and I saw Rogette's shoulders go up in surprise. I ran the last dozen feet, raising my joined hands like a club, but I slipped a little on the wet ground at the crucial moment and Rogette made a kind of ducking cringe. Instead of striking her at the back of the neck as I'd meant to, my joined hands only glanced off her shoulder. She staggered, went to one knee, and was up again almost at once. Her eyes were like little blue arc-lamps, spitting rage instead of electricity. ‘You!' she said, hissing the word over the top of her tongue, turning it into the sound of some ancient curse: Heeyuuuu! Behind us Kyra screamed my name, stagger-dancing on the wet wood and waving her arms in an effort to keep from falling in the lake. Water slopped onto the deck and ran over her small bare feet. ‘Hold on, Ki!' I called back. Rogette saw my attention shift and took her chance she spun and ran out onto the dock. I sprang after her, grabbed her by the hair, and it came off in my hand. All of it. I stood there at the edge of the surging lake with her mat of white hair dangling from my fist like a scalp. Rogette looked over her shoulder, snarling, an ancient bald gnome in the rain, and I thought It's him, it's Devore, he never died at all, somehow he and the woman swapped identities, she was the one who committed suicide, it was her body that went back to California on the jet Even as she turned the other way again and began to run toward Ki, I knew better. It was Rogette, all right, but she'd come by that hideous resemblance honestly. Whatever was wrong with her had done more than make her hair fall out; it had aged her as well. Seventy, I'd thought, but that had to be at least ten years beyond the actual mark. I've known a lot of folks name their kids alike, Mrs M. had told me. They think it's cute. Max Devore must have thought so, too, because he had named a son Roger and his daughter Rogette. Perhaps she'd come by the Whitmore part honestly she might have been married in her younger years but once the wig was gone, her antecedents were beyond argument. The woman tottering along the wet dock to finish the job was Kyra's aunt. Ki began to back up rapidly, making no effort to be careful and pick her footing. She was going into the drink; there was no way she could stay up. But before she could fall, a wave slapped the dock between them at a place where some of the barrels had come loose and the slatted walkway was already partly submerged. Foamy water flew up and began to twist into one of those helix shapes I had seen before. Rogette stopped ankle-deep in the water sloshing over the dock, and I stopped about twelve feet behind her. The shape solidified, and even before I could make out the face I recognized the baggy shorts with their fading swirls of color and the smock top. Only Kmart sells smock tops of such perfect shapelessness; I think it may be a federal law. It was Mattie. A grave gray Mattie, looking at Rogette with grave gray eyes. Rogette raised her hands, tottered, tried to turn. At that moment a wave surged under the dock, making it rise and then drop like an amusement-park ride. Rogette went over the side. Beyond her, beyond the water-shape in the rain, I could see Ki sprawling on the porch of The Sunset Bar. That last heave had flipped her to temporary safety like a human tiddlywink. Mattie was looking at me, her lips moving, her eyes on mine. I had been able to tell what Jo was saying, but this time I had no idea. I tried with all my might, but I couldn't make it out. ‘Mommy! Mommy!' The figure didn't so much turn as revolve; it didn't actually seem to be there below the hem of the long shorts. It moved up the dock to the bar, where Ki was now standing with her arms held out. Something grabbed at my foot. I looked down and saw a drowning apparition in the surging water. Dark eyes stared up at me from beneath the bald skull. Rogette was coughing water from between lips that were as purple as plums. Her free hand waved weakly up at me. The fingers opened . . . and closed. Opened . . . and closed. I dropped to one knee and took it. It clamped over mine like a steel claw and she yanked, trying to pull me in with her. The purple lips peeled back from yellow toothpegs like those in Sara's skull. And yes I thought that this time Rogette was the one laughing. I rocked on my haunches and yanked her up. I didn't think about it; it was pure instinct. I had her by at least a hundred pounds, and three quarters of her came out of the lake like a gigantic, freakish trout. She screamed, darted her head forward, and buried her teeth in my wrist. The pain was immediate and enormous. I jerked my arm up even higher and then brought it down, not thinking about hurting her, wanting only to rid myself of that weasel's mouth. Another wave hit the half-submerged dock as I did. Its rising, splintered edge impaled Rogette's descending face. One eye popped; a dripping yellow splinter ran up her nose like a dagger; the scant skin of her forehead split, snapping away from the bone like two suddenly released windowshades. Then the lake pulled her away. I saw the torn topography of her face a moment longer, upturned into the torrential rain, wet and as pale as the light from a fluorescent bar. Then she rolled over, her black vinyl raincoat swirling around her li ke a shroud. What I saw when I looked back toward The Sunset Bar was another glimpse under the skin of this world, but one far different from the face of Sara in the Green Lady or the snarling, half-glimpsed shape of the Outsider. Kyra stood on the wide wooden porch in front of the bar amid a litter of overturned wicker furniture. In front of her was a waterspout in which I could still see very faintly the fading shape of a woman. She was on her knees, holding her arms out. They tried to embrace. Ki's arms went through Mattie and came out dripping. ‘Mommy, I can't get you!' The woman in the water was speaking I could see her lips moving. Ki looked at her, rapt. Then, for just a moment Mattie turned to me. Our eyes met, and hers were made of the lake. They were Dark Score, which was here long before I came and will remain long after I am gone. I put my hands to my mouth, kissed my palms, and held them out to her. Shimmery hands went up, as if to catch those kisses. ‘Mommy don't go!' Kyra screamed, and flung her arms around the figure. She was immediately drenched and backed away with her eyes squinched shut, coughing. There was no longer a woman with her; there was only water running across the boards and dripping through the cracks to rejoin the lake, which comes up from deep springs far below, from the fissures in the rock which underlies the TR and all this part of our world. Moving carefully, doing my own balancing act, I made my way out along the wavering dock to The Sunset Bar. When I got there I took Kyra in my arms. She hugged me tight, shivering fiercely against me. I could hear the small dicecup rattle of her teeth and smell the lake in her hair. ‘Mattie came,' she said. ‘I know. I saw her.' ‘Mattie made the white nana go away.' ‘I saw that, too. Be very still now, Ki. We're going back to solid ground, but you can't move around a lot. If you do, we'll end up swimming.' She was good as gold. When we were on The Street again and I tried to put her down, she clung to my neck fiercely. That was okay with me. I thought of taking her into Warrington's, but didn't. There would be towels in there, probably dry clothes as well, but I had an idea there might also be a bathtub full of warm water waiting in there. Besides, the rain was slackening again and this time the sky looked lighter in the west. ‘What did Mattie tell you, hon?' I asked as we walked north along The Street. Ki would let me put her down so we could crawl under the downed trees we came to, but raised her arms to be picked up again on the far side of each. ‘To be a good girl and not be sad. But I am sad. I'm very sad.' She began to cry, and I stroked her wet hair. By the time we got to the railroad-tie steps she had cried herself out . . . and over the mountains in the west, I could see one small but very brilliant wedge of blue. ‘All the woods fell down,' Ki said, looking around. Her eyes were very wide. ‘Well . . . not all, but a lot of them, I guess.' Halfway up the steps I paused, puffing and seriously winded. I didn't ask Ki if I could put her down, though. I didn't want to put her down. I just wanted to catch my breath. ‘Mike?' ‘What, doll?' ‘Mattie told me something else.' ‘What?' ‘Can I whisper?' ‘If you want to, sure.' Ki leaned close, put her lips to my ear, and whispered. I listened. When she was done I nodded, kissed her cheek, shifted her to the other hip, and carried her the rest of the way up to the house. ‘T'wasn't the stawm of the century, chummy, and don't you go thinkin that it was. Nossir. So said the old-timers who sat in front of the big Army medics' tent that served as the Lakeview General that late summer and fall. A huge elm had toppled across Route 68 and bashed the store in like a Saltines box. Adding injury to insult, the elm had carried a bunch of spitting live lines with it. They ignited propane from a ruptured tank, and the whole thing went kaboom. The tent was a pretty good warm-weather substitute, though, and folks on the TR took to saying they was going down to the MASH for bread and beer this because you could still see a faded red cross on both sides of the tent's roof. The old-timers sat along one canvas wall in folding chairs, waving to other old-timers when they went pooting by in their rusty old-timer cars (all certified old-timers own either Fords or Chevys, so I'm well on my way in that regard), swapping their undershirts for flannels as the days began to cool toward cider season and spud-digging, watching the township start to rebuild itself around them. And as they watched they talked about the ice storm of the past winter, the one that knocked out lights and splintered a million trees between Kittery and Fort Kent; they talked about the cyclones that touched down in August of 1985; they talked about the sleet hurricane of 1927. Now there was some stawms, they said. There was some stawms, by Gorry. I'm sure they've got a point, and I don't argue with them you rarely win an argument with a genuine Yankee old-timer, never if it's about the weather but for me the storm of July 21, 1998, will always be the storm. And I know a little girl who feels the same. She may live until 2100, given all the benefits of modern medicine, but I think that for Kyra Elizabeth Devore that will always be the storm. The one where her dead mother came to her dressed in the lake. The first vehicle to come down my driveway didn't arrive until almost six o'clock. It turned out to be not a Castle County police car but a yellow bucket-loader with flashing yellow lights on top of the cab and a guy in a Central Maine Power Company slicker working the controls. The guy in the other seat was a cop, though was in fact Norris Ridgewick, the County Sheriff himself. And he came to my door with his gun drawn. The change in the weather the TV guy had promised had already arrived, clouds and storm-cells driven east by a chilly wind running just under gale force. Trees had continued to fall in the dripping woods for at least an hour after the rain stopped. Around five o'clock I made us toasted-cheese sandwiches and tomato soup . . . comfort food, Jo would have called it. Kyra ate listlessly, but she did eat, and she drank a lot of milk. I had wrapped her in another of my tee-shirts and she tied her own hair back. I offered her the white ribbons, but she shook her head decisively and opted for a rubber band instead. ‘I don't like those ribbons anymore,' she said. I decided I didn't, either, and threw them away. Ki watched me do it and offered no objection. Then I crossed the living room to the woodstove. ‘What are you doing?' She finished her second glass of milk, wriggled off her chair, and came over to me. ‘Making a fire. Maybe all those hot days thinned my blood. That's what my mom would have said, anyway.' She watched silently as I pulled sheet after sheet from the pile of paper I'd taken off the table and stacked on top of the woodstove, balled each one up, and slipped it in through the door. When I felt I'd loaded enough, I began to lay bits of kindling on top. ‘What's written on those papers?' Ki asked. ‘Nothing important.' ‘Is it a story?' ‘Not really. It was more like . . . oh, I don't know. A crossword puzzle. Or a letter.' ‘Pretty long letter,' she said, and then laid her head against my leg as if she were tired. ‘Yeah,' I said. ‘Love letters usually are, but keeping them around is a bad idea.' ‘Why?' ‘Because they . . . ‘ Can come back to haunt you was what rose to mind, but I wouldn't say it. ‘Because they can embarrass you in later life.' ‘Oh.' ‘Besides,' I said. ‘These papers are like your ribbons, in a way.' ‘You don't like them anymore.' ‘Right.' She saw the box then the tin box with JO'S NOTIONS written on the front. It was on the counter between the living room and the sink, not far from where old Krazy Kat had hung on the wall. I didn't remember bringing the box up from the studio with me, but I suppose I might not have; I was pretty freaked. I also think it could have come up . . . kind of by itself. I do believe such things now; I have reason to. Kyra's eyes lit up in a way they hadn't since she had wakened from her short nap to find out her mother was dead. She stood on tiptoe to take hold of the box, then ran her small fingers across the gilt letters. I thought about how important it was for a kid to own a tin box. You had to have one for your secret stuff the best toy, the prettiest bit of lace, the first piece of jewelry. Or a picture of your mother, perhaps. ‘This is so . . . pretty,' she said in a soft, awed voice. ‘You can have it if you don't mind it saying JO'S NOTIONS instead of ‘KI'S NOTIONS. There are some papers in it I want to read, but I could put them somewhere else.' She looked at me to make sure I wasn't kidding, saw I wasn't. ‘I'd love it,' she said in the same soft, awed voice. I took the box from her, scooped out the steno books, notes, and clippings, then handed it back to Ki. She practiced taking the lid off and then putting it back on. ‘Guess what I'll put in here,' she said. ‘Secret treasures?' ‘Yes!' she said, and actually smiled for a moment. ‘Who was Jo, Mike? Do I know her? I do, don't I? She was one of the fridgearator people.' ‘She ‘ A thought occurred. I shuffled through the yellowed clippings. Nothing. I thought I'd lost it somewhere along the way, then saw a corner of what I was looking for peeking from the middle of one of the steno notebooks. I slid it out and handed it to Ki. ‘What is it?' ‘A backwards photo. Hold it up to the light.' She did, and looked for a long time, rapt. Faint as a dream I could see my wife in her hand, my wife standing on the swimming float in her two-piece suit. ‘That's Jo,' I said. ‘She's pretty. I'm glad to have her box for my things.' ‘I am too, Ki.' I kissed the top of her head. When Sheriff Ridgewick hammered on the door, I thought it wise to answer with my hands up. He looked wired. What seemed to ease the situation was a simple, uncalculated question. ‘Where's Alan Pangborn these days, Sheriff?' ‘Over New Hampshire,' Ridgewick said, lowering his pistol a little (a minute or two later he holstered it without even seeming to be aware he had done so). ‘He and Polly are doing real well. Except for her arthritis. That's nasty, I guess, but she still has her good days. A person can go along quite awhile if they get a good day every once and again, that's what I think. Mr. Noonan, I have a lot of questions for you. You know that, don't you?' ‘Yes.' ‘First off and most important, do you have the child? Kyra Devore?' ‘Yes.' ‘Where is she?' ‘I'll be happy to show you.' We walked down the north-wing corridor and stood just outside the bedroom doorway, looking in. The duvet was pulled up to her chin and she was sleeping deeply. The stuffed dog was curled in one hand we could just see its muddy tail poking out of her fist at one end and its nose poking out at the other. We stood there for a long time, neither of us saying anything, watching her sleep in the light of a summer evening. In the woods the trees had stopped falling, but the wind still blew. Around the eaves of Sara Laughs it made a sound like ancient music.