Racism in the African-American Community Essay Example for Free

Racism in the African-American Community Essay Abstract Racism is today perceived as a social and baseless evil that tries to undermine certain individuals based on their skin color. It is entirely evident that the U. S. still suffers from some traces of racism, but surprisingly, a big majority of these cases come from the African-American communities. While many people hold the opinion that the African-Americans are the ones that are always on the receiving end, new polls reveal that they are the ones who show more racist behavior than the whites. This paper addresses some of the reasons that lead to racism among the African-American communities and also outlines how this transition slowly came into place after the advent of the 20th century. Additionally, this paper covers the consequences of this menace and its impact on the kind of peace that is present in today’s free states. Ultimately, this text tries to draw a line on the distinctive barrier between what African-Americans call racism and how Americans perceive the same social evil. It also explains why racism by itself is baseless and bears no meaning to the parties involved. RACISM 3 Racism in the African-American Community. Racism is a social evil that came as a result of slavery that began in the United States immediately after English colonists inhabited Virginia and remained there until the Thirteenth Amendment to the constitution of the U. S. was passed in 1865. During the 90’s more African-Americans underwent oppression from the Americans as the peak of racism was evident during these years more than ever. However, recent polls from Rasmussen reveal an entirely different perspective of the current racism situation in America. The report by Rasmussen indicated that many Americans believe that blacks are indeed more racist than Caucasians. Additionally, the report stated that a huge percent of African-Americans believe that more blacks are indeed racist than whites, and this is backed up by Norton (2011). This report, however, ended up being skewered and mocked by some people as they saw it to be untrue. This calls for a serious assessment into what is the main cause of this drift into racism in the African-American community and how this will impact people’s relationship. Also, it pushes for the need to better understand how racism itself managed to stay alive through the years despite the fact that such practices were long left behind in the recent years. Reasons for Racism Clearly, the deep trail of racism in African-Americans can be coined from the fact that blacks first faced oppression from the whites and this is what led to the ill-bred feeling among African-Americans. However, there are up to three more reasons why African-Americans are turning out to be more racist than Caucasians. These happen to be the most flagrant and thus top the list when it comes to the factors that result into racism. RACISM 4 First, racism in the African-American community may merely be as a result of different stereotypes. The media is also responsible for fueling this kind of attitude towards. African-Americans since it is through televisions, radios, and the internet that most people discover the underlying menace. Ornelas et al. (2009) maintain that whenever young African-Americans are exposed to certain stereotypes, they tend to mimic most of these traits and in turn become negative towards people from other races. In fact, most of these stereotypes are surprisingly among the influential African Americans in the country. During the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Junior’s historic speech, black activists displayed exactly this kind of behavior. This was evident through Martin Luther King III who used this opportunity to stir up racial hatred instead of honoring the work of his father. Another reason for the prevalence of racism amongst the African-American community is the unfamiliarity that is present among newborns and how they are treated in the real world. This is probably the main reason why African-Americans are slowly displaying racist behavior (Okazaki, 2009). However, this doesn’t always happen, but only after the innocent party has been brainwashed by negative stereotypes. A workaround for this is to ensure that children are exposed to people from different races at a young age so that they could get used to being around people who they deem different. This additionally helps in counterbalancing any negative and untrue stereotypes that may present themselves in the future. Selfishness, coupled with pain and anger, is also another valid reason why racism is on the rise among African-Americans (Lambert, 2009). Selfishness may have depicted itself among white people in the past, however, the case is different today. The sad truth is that this selfishness led to the creation of negative stereotypes that ultimately led to a new line of different-minded persons (Martin, 2011). Also, selfishness comes in when an African-American would feel more RACISM 5 compelled to spend more time around people of the same skin color because they he/she may have been exposed only to African-Americans during childhood age. Selfishness coupled with rage for the people who inflicted pain on their forefathers leads to hatred that is directed to white people. Why Racism among African-Americans Will Not End Soon Recently, renowned television icon Oprah Winfrey stepped up to state that racism will only end when old racists perish (Newsbusters. org, 2014). While this sounds logical from one perspective, it fails to address the fact that these stereotypes will never cease to exist any time soon. In most cases, racists will always give birth to racists and the cycle is perpetual. Therefore, despite attempts to curb racism in the African-American community, this menace is still too far from being over as new racists will always come back to replace their mothers and fathers. It is also worth noting that this doesn’t only happen among the African-Americans, but also among the whites as well. Another reason why racism among the African-Americans is far from being over is because they are seen to put so much emphasis on themselves whenever the word â€Å"racism† is mentioned. During the same interview that was conducted by BBC Friday, Winfrey’s comment â€Å"Are there places where people still get terrorized just because of the color of their black skin color? † further showed how most people only view racism in the eyes of how blacks are treated. Looking at the problem this narrowly makes it more difficult to end the menace as the racism chain won’t end if everyone simply defended their skin colors (Bonilla-Silva, 2010). In sum, it can be seen that racism in the African-American community can only be contained but certainly not dealt away with within a year. RACISM 6. How Racism Can Be Contained The fact that racism is not ending in the near future doesn’t necessarily mean that nothing can be done about it. It will certainly take years for the world to heal from this habit, but there are small but significant ways of ensuring that racism slowly fades away in the African-American communities. The first is by educating young African-Americans to reject any form of history of America that has elements of slavery in it (Shelby, 2009). By reminding the blacks about slavery may induce a feeling of resentment towards white people despite the fact that slavery ended decades ago. African Americans also bear the responsibility of desisting from using derisive words such as â€Å"nigger† or any variations associated to it (Cone, 2010). This is because when blacks utter these words, they also tend to inflict the same kind of attitude in people from other races. Additionally, African-Americans should cease supporting black-only institutions or media houses such as BET and Ebony magazine. Generally, anything that depicts the word â€Å"black† should be avoided since it strikes a line between how different Caucasians are from African-Americans, something that is not true (Boykin, 2012). Finally, African-Americans should learn to appreciate the art of decent dressing and totally avoid the use of Ebonics, an African-American slang that is widely used among black individuals. While this may seem far-fetched, it is one step away from ending racism since it shows that even African Americans are trying to fit in with the whites and simply not creating a larger barrier. Collaboration with law enforcement agencies will also be a huge step because this additionally shows that they too are concerned about the well-being of their neighbors and their security as well. RACISM 7 Consequences of Racism. Should African-American racism persist, there are a number of things that could happen. Hatred between African-Americans and whites would cause a drift between them, and this could easily spread to people from other races as well. The levels of cooperation would plummet and at the end of the day, nothing would get done (Pieterse, 2010). Other than stirred levels of cooperation, it is likely that some people might get displaced from their homes especially when lands start being claimed by the original inhabitants of a place. Discrimination also leads to poor mental health. In 2009, a Cornwell News Study conducted a study on the effects of racism and results showed that poor mental health is possible and it comes as a result of chronic exposure to discrimination (Brondolo, 2009). Ultimately, there would be total havoc if racism were to have its way for there would be zero tolerance for someone with a different skin color regardless of that person’s character. Wars could easily erupt between black individuals and white individuals, and a drift will end up crippling collaboration between people and thus resulting to a sluggish economy. In summary, there is no place for racism today. It has proved to be a social evil that discriminates individuals based on their color rather than character. Racism, however is seen to come from three main factors which include: unfamiliarity among people of different outlooks, selfishness among people of different colors who only wish for their people to benefit, and the presence of certain stereotypes that are transfixed to the racial practice. It is also mandatory to acknowledge the fact that racism is not an evil that could possibly end overnight because certain individuals have inclined it to a specific group of people and not everyone in general. As such, there will always be complaints regarding racist behavior since most individuals are readily RACISM 8 prepared to cry out for their rights without considering that other people may be facing bigger challenges than them. One way of containing racism would be to ensure that the racist stereotype is dealt away with completely or segregated from children who could easily pick up the negative racist behavior from their elders. Additionally, African-Americans also have a big role to play in ending this discrimination since they seem to be creating a drift between black individuals and white individuals when they only support their brands such as the BET channel and the popular Ebony magazine. The consequences of racism in the African-American community are also grave as they can result to a much bigger drift between whites and blacks in which it would be easy for some people to be displaced from their homes and even be denied jobs. Possibilities of wars are also very high since there would be zero tolerance to a person who doesn’t respect another person just because of their skin color. RACISM 9 Annotated Bibliography Bonilla-Silva, E. (2010). Racism Without Racists: Color-blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in the United States;[new Chapter on the Obama Phenomenon]. Rowman Littlefield. In this book, Bonilla-Silva, E outlines how racism can persist without the presence or racists themselves. It shows the reality of racism in today’s world and explains the roots of racism and racial inequality in the United States with a lot of emphasis on U. S. president Barrack Obama and the challenges that are faced at the presidential level. Boykin, K. (2012). ONE MORE RIVER TO CROSS (BLACK AND GAY IN AMERICA). Boykin, K explains the different challenges that blacks have to face when seeking their true identity in the U.S. and what life means for them in the U. S. The book goes further to explain how gay African-Americans find it challenging to fit in a world that already has more than enough hurdles to cross and enough reasons to make the weak quit. Brondolo, E. , ver Halen, N. B. , Pencille, M. , Beatty, D. , Contrada, R. J. (2009). Coping with racism: A selective review of the literature and a theoretical and methodological critique. Journal of behavioral medicine, 32(1), 64-88. This book gives an overview on the way that African Americans try to cope with the kind of racism that they are subjected to in the U.S. It greatly focuses on the impact of this kind of discrimination on the African Americans and what this means for them. Brondolo, E also highlights key factors that cause this racism. Cone, J. H. (2010). A black theology of liberation. Orbis Books. Cone’s A black theology of liberation highlights the Christian-based perspective of oppressed blacks but mainly looks at the Cone’s own reflections on black theology. The book goes ahead to explain how racism can be ridded and it also looks at some of the roots of racism itself. Cone also relives the liberation process that led to the freedom of the blacks, but the book also highlights the hidden traces of racism that are still evident today. Lambert, S. F. , Herman, K. C. , Bynum, M. S. , Ialongo, N. S. (2009). Perceptions of racism and depressive symptoms in African American adolescents: The role of perceived academic and social control. Journal of youth and adolescence, 38(4), 519-531. This book reviews some of the underlying factors that lead to depression in African American adolescents as a result of heavy subjection to discrimination from racism. The book also briefly touches on some of the causes of racism and explains how racism develops in young people and its impact as they become older. Martin, M. J. , McCarthy, B. , Conger, R. D. , Gibbons, F. X. , Simons, R. L. , Cutrona, C. E. , Brody, G. H. (2011). The enduring significance of racism: Discrimination and delinquency among black American youth. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21(3), 662-676. Martin, M. J. and other writers analyze the impacts of racism in the African American community and explains its significance in cultivating the kind of peace that is evident in today’s time. His main focus, however, lies in the discrimination of black American RACISM 10 youth by the whites and what this causes in the long run. He establishes how the negative stereotypes are formed as a result of the discrimination that the youths face. Newsbusters. org. (2014). Oprah: racists have to die for racism to end | newsbusters. org [online] Retrieved from: http://newsbusters. org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2013/11/15/oprah-racists-have-die-racism-end [Accessed: 8 Feb 2014]. This article outlines a transcript from an interview between Oprah Winfrey and BBC Friday regarding racism. In the article, Oprah is asked about her views on racism and various ways in which she thinks would put an end to the perpetual menace that has crippled our world today. The article also outlines an important factor that shows why racism won’t end soon, and how the African Americans are fueling the perpetuating racism act. Norton, M. I. , Sommers, S. R. (2011). Whites see racism as a zero-sum game that they are now losing. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6(3), 215-218. Norton, M. I. , Sommers, S. R. reveal the truth behind what whites really perceive as racism today and the effects of racism in a world that has moved way ahead of racism. The two authors go further to explain why racism among the whites is baseless and bears no real truth or inner meaning other than the fact that it is a social evil that once existed in the past. Okazaki, S. (2009). Impact of racism on ethnic minority mental health. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4(1), 103-107. Okazaki explains the effects of racism on the mental health of the minority in the state. He also outlines some of the other non-health related mishaps that come as a result of social oppression. In his book, he states what would eventually happen if racism were to go on without showing any signs of ending soon. He however focuses on the effect this would have on the ethnic minority. Ornelas, I. J. , Amell, J. , Tran, A. N. , Royster, M. , Armstrong-Brown, J. , Eng, E. (2009). Understanding African American mens perceptions of racism, male gender socialization, and social capital through photovoice. Qualitative health research, 19(4), 552-565. This book tries to understand African American men’s perceptions of racism and the new trend of some African Americans feeling more racially discriminated than people of other races. It also highlights some of the reasons that lead to the prevalence of this notion among African Americans. Ornelas also explains why racism is a social evil that cannot be expelled overnight. Pieterse, A. L. , Carter, R. T. (2010). The role of racial identity in perceived racism and psychological stress among Black American adults: Exploring traditional and alternative approaches. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 40(5), 1028-1053. Pieterse, along with Carter seek to understand how racism is perceived by African American individuals aged over 21 years. Their book also strives to find the deeper meaning as to why racism is a bigger matter than we thought of it. It also explains reasons why getting rid of racism would be a great feat. RACISM 11 Shelby, T. (2009). We who are dark: The philosophical foundations of black solidarity. Harvard University Press. We who are dark tries to relive the African American history in an attempt to unite blacks. It emphasizes on the importance of dealing away with racism and living in unity as one big family. Shelby’s book also highlights the key differences between the perceptions of both whites and blacks with regard to racism. It also shows us how history has helped in cultivating black solidarity.

Citizen Kane Breakfast Scene Analysis Film Studies Essay

Citizen Kane Breakfast Scene Analysis Film Studies Essay Through what is alleged to be one of the best films, a series of anecdotes reveal the story behind Charles Foster Kane. The story, along with the revolutionary cinematography, made it a movie years ahead of its time where Orson Welles, Charlie Kane, takes several controversial steps on his road to greatness. However, Citizen Kane makes it very clear that wealth cannot necessarily buy happiness. This is demonstrated in Charles and Emilys breakfast scene through masterful use of symbolism, perspective, costuming, the soundtrack, and even through dialogue. In the beginning of the scene, Emily and Charles come in from a long night of partying and having a great time together. They sit very close to one another showing their initial infatuation for one another as they converse about what the servants would think of their behavior. Right off the bat, Emily fires off her opposition about Charlies dedication to his place of work, the Inquirer. The next scene fades in soon after, and the two are now far enough apart that cuts are required to show both Emily and Charles. Flowers sit in the middle of the table and remain in the lower corners of the screen, representing a friendly obstacle in between the couple, while tensions are apparent, but still low. As the scenes progress, the mood changes, and the centerpieces gradually become colder and more lifeless, much like their relationship. As time progresses they distance themselves from one another at breakfast, the only time they apparently get to spend together, to the point where they silent ly sit at opposite ends of a very large dinner table. The second tool Orson Welles used to his advantage was that of perspective. From the very beginning of the movie, the audience has seen events unfold from a third person view, where Welles rarely made scene cuts, unless he intended to. In the breakfast scene, Welles changed the game up by using what was considered the norm of his time, scene cutting from person to person. He used this type of filming, at the time, to show what he wanted his audience to see and nothing else. He wanted the audience to see what Charlies job was doing to both him and Emily, be it physically or emotionally. The lighting on the set also gave light to Welles use of Chiaroscuro, or the use of shadows, as he made sure the shadows on their faces showed how the marriage had slowly but surely worn at their bodies and emotions. Welles clearly understood that panning the shot out to include both Emily and Kane in the same shot would not have given justice to the emotions shown on their faces, but on their bodies a s well. Initially, Emily is wearing a rather revealing dress that represents her and Charles youthful night of partying, as well as their infatuation for one another. However, as the scenes progress and as the moods of the couple changes, so do the wardrobes. Charles changes between comfortable, playboy like clothes to a much more professional getup to signify his constant plans of getting ready for work. Emily, on the other hand, maintains her queen-like apparel, only she covers herself little by little as her mood becomes more and more harsh. Both Emily and Charles wear clothes that give a type of royalty to their personas, where in reality, behind the overpriced garments, there is just another troubled relationship, that sacrifices love for money. All of the aforementioned tools used not only in this particular scene, but throughout the entire movie are very conscious dependant. Rarely does it go unnoticed when the main character goes from one wardrobe to another, but it is rarely considered how the soundtrack plays on the audiences emotions as well. Welles did not demand that the soundtrack be some sappy, overpowering, force-feeding garbage that most movies of his time were, but instead thought highly enough of his audience to let the music subtly inform its listeners as to how they should feel. Anyone can tune in to a SOAP-like television show and immediately tell what is going on simply by listening to the music for a few seconds. Here in this scene, a cheerful and rather upbeat score plays lightly in the background to signify that all is well and good, that is until the spin around fast-forward through time moment takes place. Now, as the mood slips slowly into darkness the music accompanies it, as if guiding the audience subconsciously into the same realm of feeling and sadness. Most importantly is Welles use of dialogue throughout this scene. At first, it appeared that Emily and Charles were living out their newly conjoined lives in happiness, with not a care in the world. They converse with nothing but love and affection in their voice as they jokingly talk about the time of day, and what the servants will think of their frivolous behavior. Soon thereafter, Emily makes a remark about her disdain for Charlies demanding work schedule, where Charlie simply brushes it off and replies with the witty remark of You never should have married a newspaperman. Theyre worse than sailors. This makes a rather awkward moment between the two, but Charlie comes in with the save by saying I absolutely adore you. She simply must have her way, and Charles complies by delaying his appointments until noon. Magical-twirling-fast-forward-moment and some short time later, Kane now sports a moustache and Emily continues to once again complain about Charlies obsessive work schedule. Charlie has the nerve to reply that her only correspondent is the Inquirer. As the scenes progress, more and more hostility is shown towards one another, due to differing ideas, where Kane is obviously not used to such harsh criticism, especially so close to home. The last scene shows the couple, now several years into the marriage, sitting silently in a formal dining room at opposite ends of a very large table, with Emily in total defiance by her actions of reading the competitive Chronicle. In conclusion, Citizen Kane makes it very clear that wealth cannot necessarily buy happiness. This is demonstrated in Charles and Emilys breakfast scene through masterful use of symbolism, perspective, costuming, the soundtrack, and even through dialogue. Orson Welles was not only an amazing actor, but he was also a brilliant man to have come up with so many revolutionary filming techniques. Who would ever think to dig a hole in the middle of a studio to get a few seconds of film during the 1940s. His innovation has made him an idol to anyone who is serious about making a piece of film, and has made his movie, Citizen Kane, a must see to any one who has respect for great film.

The Existence Of God Essay -- Religion Theology Essays Papers

The Existence of God Works Cited Not Included For centuries, the idea of God has been a part of man's history. Past and present, there has always been a different integration consisting of the believers and the non-believers of God. The group of those who have "faith" in God tend to be related to one religion or another. On the other hand, the skeptics find the existence of God somewhat puzzling and try to seek the answers through scientific methods. Even as of today with all the modern technologies and the development of sciences, we still do not have a definitive answer to the question "does God exist?" Among many philosophers and scholars who have tried to answer this question, we shall look upon Rene Descartes' theory on the existence of God. In terms of believers and non-believers, Descartes would be one of the believers. Before we go any further, we must ponder upon several questions. What is God? Does God exist? If such God does exist, then where does this being come from? Why do believers and non-believers hold on to their beliefs as they do? What significance does the existence of God have upon mankind? These are only the tip of the iceberg amongst the vast array of unanswered questions related to God. Though there are so many uncertainties as we have just mentioned, the existence of all other uncertainties in our world may explain why the existence of God is so real to many people. For the believers, God provides a convenient answer to all these questions except for the answers regarding God itself. The following are some of the general arguments for the existence of God. The first argument comes from the theory of design; there are orders in the universe which can't be occurring by mere chance. Secondly, the existence of God explains the arguments regarding the efficient causality; as the world exhibits orderly causal sequences, something had to start it all up. Thirdly but not the least, God provides an answer to the question of the origin of life and its destination after death. ( For the sake of convenience, we shall borrow some theological ideas from Christianity, the Christian God, to exemplify our comparisons.) As an example, God is the creator of all, and there is a place in heaven, a kingdom of God, for those who have faith in God. This helps believers understand their identity and alleviate the fear of ... ...inite faculties of knowledge hold the potential of having mistakes. In the above discussion, I was trying neither to prove nor disprove the existence of God; I was, however, trying to offer some skepticism upon statements which many people have claimed about the existence of God. Although Descartes embraces quite a grand statement on the issues of God, I felt that his beliefs were biased towards his own perception and lacked evidence in proving that God exists to the point beyond reasonable doubt. I believe that neither Descartes nor modern science have been able to successfully prove whether God exists or not. What's really important, no matter whether such a being exists or not, is that the ideology of God has certainly existed throughout the history of man. Moreover, the power of this ideology of God has proven to be overwhelming among the believers who have faith in its religion. Even for the non-believers or so called atheists, the ideology of God has an effect and/or an influence on them in one way or another. On a larger scale, it is not an exaggeration to say that our society is built on the ideology of God. What is your opinion? "In God we trust?"

A View From the Bridge - Arthur Miller - Catherines diary :: English Literature

A view from the bridge- Arthur miller Catherine's diary September 18th 1937 Y' know I was sitting down today and Eddie comes in from work, looked really tired. I had just dressed in my new dress that I bought for my new job and I had done my hair in a different style, it looked really good. I asked him what he thought of it, and do you know what he said? He said the skirt was too short and the heels were too attention drawing. He even told me I'm walking wavy and that he doesn't like the way I have been attracting looks from the people in the shops, I told him they look at every girl that way but this only seemed to infuriate him more. What's up with him these days, he doesn't let me do anything. When's he going to realize that I'm not a little kid anymore? I just want him to approve of me and it makes me so upset when he doesn't, why cant he be like my friends' fathers and let me have more freedom? I'm not saying I don't appreciate him and how hard he's worked and that he took me in and all but sometimes he's just makes me so annoyed. Anyway, he told me that Beatrice's cousins should be arriving today, I'm so excited, and I can't wait. I wonder what they're going to be like. Marco and Rodolfo are their names but that's all I know about them apart from that Marco has kids. You'll never guess what Eddie and Beatrice were arguing about today just after Eddie told Beatrice about her cousins. They argued about where the Beatrice's cousins were going to sleep. I mean can't B just stop moaning at Eddie, he's a good man and she just doesn't appreciate him but they settled it and they made up. I told Eddie about the job, he was so not pleased. He wants me to finish the stenography class. I want to work, I'll be getting paid $50 per week, think of what I could do with that money. It's such a privilege to be chosen out of the whole class, they said I was the best that they saw there so I could still get my certificate at the end of the year, plus there's nothing better than putting what I've learnt into practice. I want Eddie to be happy for me, can't he see that it's impossible to turn the job down, I just can't, for goodness sakes . It's not like I'm going to be working in a bad company, it's

What The Human Genome Revolution Could Mean For Me And The Rio Grande V

What The Human Genome Revolution Could Mean For Me And The Rio Grande Valley The human genome revolution will have as big an impact on the average person as it does on the scientist researching it. Millions of people throughout the world will benefit from this experimentation. Understanding genetic material and the ability to pinpoint errors in genes, may lead to the prevention of many genetic diseases. The ultimate goal is to use research to develop new ways to treat, care, or even prevent the thousands of diseases that afflict humankind. Although the scientific community delivers many contributions to this scientific accomplishment, the road to a new age of disease free human life is long and rocky with struggles and disbelief. Whether inherited or resulting from the body’s response to environmental stresses, all diseases have a genetic component. The advances in this field hold an excellent future for treating and curing genetic diseases. Scientists can do this by using normal genes to supplement defective genes and to bolster immunity t o disease. In the Rio Grande Valley, an area dominated by Hispanic ancestry, many genetic diseases, such as diabetes, are common illnesses suffered by many people. According to the Mendelian Laws of Heredity, diabetes is an inherited disease, resulting from a recessive trait and affecting millions of people throughout the United States, especially people of Hispanic origins. When the body cannot make full use of some foods we eat, mainly carbohydrates of sugars and starches, a large gland under the stomach called the pancreas does not make available enough insulin to burn these foods as energy or sto... ...ent of most, if not all, human diseases.† The human genome revolution affects the Rio Grande Valley and myself because it will help to treat and prevent genetic diseases that others and I may be afflicted by. This research is important, especially to couples, because every baby born deserves a chance in life in a disease free world. The research is also significant to those who suffer from diabetes; they too deserve a life free of physical illnesses and constant medical care. In my life, I personally know and love many people that have been affected by these genetic diseases and helping them receive treatment will be the greatest gift of love I could ever offer. I know there are also many people that feel the same, because everyone has a special person in their life, a family member, friend, peer or acquaintance that will benefit from this remarkable research.

Essay Writing for Ipad and Computer Contrast

The rivalry between Ipad and PC users is well-documented and increasingly complicated. Each time a new gadget enters the marketplace, consumers have more decisions to make about how they want to check email, watch movies, download music, and surf the web. But outside the typical debate, what should an end user consider when deciding between an iPad and a laptop PC? At one time, the laptop was the height of portability, offering a slim, lightweight device that could be slipped into a bag or carrying case. The iPad, however, is only a little more than one and a half pounds, and is easily transported regardless of what you decide to carry it in.Furthermore, the iPad is easier to operate in awkward positions, such as on the subway or in the car. The downside is the smaller screen size, which might be an issue when editing photos or playing games. It is important to realize that the iPad and the laptop PC were designed for separate functions. While some of the applications overlap, this i s usually the deciding point for consumers. If you are interested primarily in social media, ebooks, and other content consumption, an iPad is more than adequate. However, those who spend a lot of time typing or designing might prefer a laptop PC.The applications available for the laptop are far more comprehensive. You can buy a mouse and keyboard for use with the iPad, but that costs extra money and reduces the portability benefit. One of the biggest benefits of the iPad is the intuitive, user-friendly. The screen has more pixels and is generally more beautiful to look at than any of the laptop PCs on the market. This can be a huge benefit for consumers and professionals who want to enjoy working on their chosen device. Laptop PCs are notorious for battery life, requiring a charge every three to four hours.An iPad 3, on the other hand, can last up to 10 hours on a charge, which means you won't have to go looking for an outlet as quickly when you're on the go. Most serious gamers st ick with a desktop computer for graphics-intensive games. Lighter fare will operate on a laptop PC, which might be a selling point. Of course, there are thousands of games applications made specifically for the iPad, so it depends on your preferences. Check out the games that most interest you to determine how you might be able to play them on each device.

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 15

A dozen snappy comebacks rose to my lips, but the intense looks on both their faces made me think better of it. Instead, I opted for the obvious next question. â€Å"What do you mean?† The edge of Carter's lips turned into a half-grin. â€Å"My goodness. I thought you'd be up on your lore. Greek mythology especially.† â€Å"Well, ambrosia†¦is called the Food of the Gods,† I offered slowly. I had grown up in a Greco-Roman society, but that didn't mean I was an expert on all the stories. I'd only been exposed to some in my youth. It wasn't until later scholars started compiling tales from all over the Greek world that I learned just how vast the mythology was. â€Å"Yes,† said Carter, nodding at me as one would a child reciting a lesson. Jerome remained tight-lipped, a stormy expression on his face. â€Å"What else do you know?† â€Å"Ambrosia was what gave the gods their immortality,† I continued. â€Å"Although I always thought it was some kind of drink†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I stopped myself. The crystals weren't liquid at the moment, but they were meant to be consumed that way. A further alarming thought hit me. â€Å"Are you saying this Greek stuff will make Doug and the others immortal?† I'm downright unstoppable now. A god, babe. â€Å"Not exactly,† said Carter. â€Å"And I suppose I should point out that ambrosia isn't just found in the Greek stories. It appears in almost every culture's legends in one form or another. In King Arthur's world, it was said to have filled the Holy Grail. It gave new perceptions and enlightenment to its drinkers, and promised to heal the land. Some have also suggested the flames that appeared over the apostles' heads at the feast of Pentecost were not flames at all, but rather visions they saw after drinking ambrosia. It made the apostles vivid and charismatic and let them communicate with people of all cultures and languages.† â€Å"I know a number of devout Christians – my good friend Dana included – who would find that offensive.† Jerome couldn't stay silent anymore, despite how disgruntled this topic appeared to make him. â€Å"Imagine her reaction if she knew that some people have speculated the Eucharist has little to do with the blood of Christ and more to do with a lost ambrosia ceremony. Said people argue those who participate today are only mimicking the ancient experience, equating the Holy Spirit with the high from ambrosia.† â€Å"That would upset a lot of people,† I agreed. All three of us knew that many of the rites and beliefs that had been passed down to today were bastardizations of the originals. Some, not all. Carter continued on pleasantly, like he was in an auditorium giving a lecture. â€Å"Ancient Hindu culture called ambrosia soma and even personified it as a god of the same name. His presence was as intoxicating as the drink itself and muddled the senses of those around him. â€Å" â€Å"Soma was also the feel-good drug in Brave New World,† I recalled. â€Å"I didn't realize how widespread this was.† He nodded. â€Å"And these stories are only the tip of the iceberg. A lot more where they came from.† I enjoyed the information. Getting any sort of meaningful explanation from these two was usually like driving through downtown Seattle in rush hour: slow, painful, and fraught with collisions. And yet, forthcoming or not, they weren't exactly giving me what I needed. â€Å"Yeah, but you guys are real careful to say things like ‘some people believe' or ‘they say.' Which is it? What's really going on? Are any of those stories true?† Carter's gray eyes twinkled. â€Å"Ah, I can't spoil the mysteries. Humans spend their lives trying to discern the truth of divinity. Even a succubus can't be in on all the secrets.† I gave him an exasperated look. This was more like their typical behavior. â€Å"Okay, forget the myths. Can you tell me what's up with this stuff, then? Does it make people immortal?† Angel and demon looked at each other. â€Å"No,† they both said in unison. â€Å"But it makes you feel like you are,† said Carter. I thought about Doug's reckless behavior, his overwhelming confidence about everything from performing his music to stage-diving. He had no fear, no concern that anything might be less than perfect. â€Å"So it's like a stimulant or any other mood-altering drug, then,† I said. â€Å"It makes you feel good.† The angel shook his head. â€Å"No. It's a lot more than that. Ambrosia works by†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He grasped for the words. â€Å"I guess the best way to put it is that it amplifies your best abilities. It draws out what you're good at, what shines in you. And then it cranks up the volume on that to, well, godly levels, I guess.† â€Å"Yes, of course,† I breathed. That was why the band had suddenly shot off so successfully and rapidly. They were talented already. The ambrosia hadn't given them anything new; they'd just had their natural abilities increased tenfold. A hundredfold. And Casey†¦mathematically talented Casey had been able to do calculations in seconds that would have required a pen and paper for most people. Even Doug's Tetriss kills showed signs of ambrosia enhancement. Ican't wait to see how you react to them, Alec had said. Indeed, how would I react? What good abilities in me would get amplified? What abilities did I have? The obvious joke was that I'd be able to really rock some guy's world in bed. I didn't like that answer, however, partially because I believed I already could rock a guy's world pretty hard-core without the help of creepy crystals, thank you very much. Plus, I hated to think that's all I was. There had to be more to me than just sexual prowess. â€Å"Everyone who was on it crashed,† I reminded Carter. â€Å"Doug, Casey. And when they crashed†¦they really crashed.† â€Å"It does that,† he agreed. â€Å"One might argue that the withdrawal brings out your worst traits†¦or possibly turns your good ones bad. More often than not, it just makes a person depressed†¦and lacking. It's hard to go back to being ordinary. â€Å" That would explain Doug's bleak outlook the other day. I realized too he'd been having a withdrawal reaction on the day I kicked him out of the store. The lack of ambrosia had turned his normally sarcastic tongue and playful behavior into something dark and twisted. And yet†¦ â€Å"It must be nice to feel like a god. I guess I can understand wanting that. â€Å" â€Å"Well,† said Jerome, speaking up at last, â€Å"as we all know, you can't get something for nothing.† Carter nodded. â€Å"At a basic level, it's an addictive substance, and everything addictive has a cost – mainly that it enslaves you and makes you feel horrible when you don't have it. But, the other truth is that humans are not meant to be perfect. That's what humanity is: a series of successes and failures, a testing of one's own nature and aptitude. Neither the body nor the soul can sustain such a state. Eventually it consumes a person.† I pointed at the crystals. â€Å"What would have happened if I'd taken them?† â€Å"Isn't it obvious?† asked Jerome, his tone suggesting the same sexual possibilities I'd wondered about earlier. Carter gave me a straight answer. â€Å"Similar superficial effects. Enhance your good qualities. Immortals wouldn't fall prey to the addictiveness so quickly; they can sustain it for quite a while since in some ways, they already feel like gods. But in the long run, the consequences are still the same. You can't function at such high levels. Now, the ambrosia couldn't destroy your body, of course, but it'd still cause other serious problems if you took it for a long time.† â€Å"It'd probably just make you go insane,† explained Jerome helpfully. â€Å"Until the end of time.† â€Å"That's horrible,† I said. â€Å"Don't worry, Georgie. If it happens to you, we'll put you down first.† Ignoring him, I looked over at the crystals, suddenly feeling more repulsed by them than I had before. This time, my reaction had nothing to do with the creepy aura. â€Å"The real question, of course,† said the archdemon more seriously, â€Å"is where the hell did you get these?† â€Å"I told you. From Alec.† The two higher immortals exchanged glances once more. â€Å"Tell us about this guy again,† ordered Jerome. â€Å"Everything you know.† I did. When I finished, they looked at each other once more, having a mental conversation I was not privy to. God, they were annoying. â€Å"Alec's not the one,† said Carter finally. â€Å"The one who†¦?† â€Å"The one who this is coming from,† explained Jerome. â€Å"Well, I got it from him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Doesn't matter, Georgie. Some twenty-year-old blue-haired punk is not the source here. He's getting it from someone else. He's a peon in the chain. Besides, you never felt anything off him, did you? Something like the crystals but not quite like them?† â€Å"No, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But I had felt something from another person. Someone who spent time with Alec. The last card in my head flipped over. â€Å"I know who it is. It's him. That guy.† â€Å"Of course,† said Carter dryly. â€Å"I knew it was that guy. It's always that guy.† â€Å"Hold on, and I'll explain.† I turned to Jerome. â€Å"Remember that funny immortal I told you about? The really romantically dressed good-looking one? He's got to be the one. Alec's supplier. I've seen them talking together and even saw Alec sort of having a breakdown with him. † I added a little more background for Carter's benefit, explaining how GQ Poet Guy and I had sensed each other. Jerome and Carter considered this in silence. At last, the demon said, â€Å"Yes, that sounds like him.† Nobody said anything for a while after that. I was dying to ask who â€Å"he† was exactly, but recognized that angel and demon would take their own time on this. â€Å"So what are we going to do?† Carter asked a few minutes later. Jerome cut him a narrow-eyed glance. â€Å"Why do we have to do anything?† â€Å"Because it's the right thing to do.† â€Å"I don't know where you've been since the beginning of the universe, but the ‘right thing' isn't really on my list of priorities.† â€Å"He's poisoning mortals.† Jerome crossed his arms over his chest. â€Å"I don't care.† â€Å"He's doing it in your territory. Right under your nose.† â€Å"Stop trying to bait me. He's not involved with us. He can do whatever the fuck he wants to mortals.† Once again, I was dying to jump in but restrained myself. Listening to Carter and Jerome argue always unsettled me. Mostly, it just didn't happen that much. Usually they stood together in an exasperating wall of solidarity, good and evil notwithstanding. And, of course, watching them argue always made you wonder if something terrible might happen if tempers got out of control. Tables tipping over. Glasses exploding. The Four Horsemen showing up. Nonetheless, I felt confident Carter wouldn't let this matter go unattended. He would win. As I had noted earlier, I didn't know if I could trust him, but I did respect him – and his powers of persuasion. â€Å"It's a power play,† warned Carter. â€Å"He shouldn't even be trying it. His time is past; we're the ones who control the game now. Doing this insults us – especially you, since you guys are the ones who actually draw territorial lines. It's an unannounced challenge.† This, I saw, had an effect on the demon. He recognized Carter's attempts to draw him in, but it was working nonetheless. Pride wasn't one of the Seven Deadly Sins for nothing. Jerome, as a faithful servant of hell, couldn't help but be susceptible. I'd seen his pride come into play before; he didn't like others messing with his reputation. And while the demon naturally had many weaknesses, I'd say it was this more than anything else that would make him take action. â€Å"We can't intervene,† he said flatly. â€Å"You know that. Even if we are in control, we'd start an outright war. I for one don't want to deal with the repercussions of that.† â€Å"Agreed,† murmured the angel, lapsing into silence again. I looked back and forth between their faces, waiting for one of them to offer a brilliant plan. A brilliant plan which involved the angel and demon fighting in awesome, smiting glory to destroy Alec and his bastardly supplier friend. â€Å"Georgina could do it,† said Carter suddenly. â€Å"What?† I squeaked. That wasn't how the fantasy went. They turned their eyes on me. Dark outrage flashed in Jerome's eyes, then it faded as quickly as it had arrived. â€Å"Hmm. Perhaps.† â€Å"What are you guys talking about? I'm not doing any smiting.† â€Å"It wouldn't exactly be smiting,† said Carter, face promptly sobering. â€Å"But it could be dangerous if not done the right way. â€Å" â€Å"Why do I have to do it?† â€Å"Because you, Georgie, are a lesser power than we are. You are less subject to scrutiny and ramifications than us. It's the difference between a country declaring war and a small rebel faction striking out.† â€Å"Great,† I said, sinking back in my chair. â€Å"I'm a faction.† Carter was smiling again. â€Å"Don't you want to help Doug?† A moment passed. â€Å"You know I do.† â€Å"I meant it when I said it'd be dangerous, but if we're careful, you'll come out okay.† I thought about Doug's black despair and reckless behavior. The thought of this ambrosia â€Å"destroying† him clinched it for me. â€Å"Yeah, okay. I'll do it. Whatever it is. Dangerous or not.† I paused. â€Å"Um, what is it?† Neither answered. â€Å"Oh come on! You can't expect me to do this and not know what it is.† â€Å"It'll take some prep work,† Carter told me, apparently enjoying my consternation. But there was another expression on his face too†¦pride, I thought. The good kind of pride, like when you thought someone was doing the right thing. Not the bad kind of pride that made you do rash things. â€Å"As soon as it's in place, we'll let you know. I'll come find you.† I made a face. â€Å"You'll understand if I don't really find that a satisfying answer. † â€Å"And you'll understand,† retorted Jerome, â€Å"that it's the best one you're going to get.† Carter was a bit nicer. â€Å"What you can do in the meantime, however, is try to get access to the supplier. He's the one you'll ultimately have to deal with. Keep schmoozing with Alec. Do what you've got to do.† I nodded. Schmoozing I could do in my sleep. I felt relieved to be back in familiar waters. After leaving them, I put the ambrosia assignment on hold and went over to Seth's to play Scrabble, in keeping with a prearranged date. I'd vowed I wouldn't cheat this time, but I supposed that would depend on how desperate the game became. When I arrived, however, I found Seth in no condition to play. He sat at the desk in his bedroom, brow adorably furrowed as he stared at his computer screen, apparently willing it do something for him through mental determination alone. His condo had an office, I knew, but unpacked boxes currently filled it, making this room the combination office-bedroom. All his essentials in one place. If it had had an attached bathroom, he would have probably never emerged. â€Å"Can you give me†¦like†¦another hour?† he asked absently when he realized I had walked in, not looking at me. â€Å"I've just got to finish this chapter.† It was a moot request. Even if I hadn't been willing to give him another hour, he still would have kept writing. Mountains moved more easily than Seth in the middle of a story line. Happily accommodating, I kissed his cheek and wandered off to the office to find something to read. Sifting through those boxes made it difficult, however. By the time I had several of them emptied, I decided I might as well just go the whole way and do the job right. I unpacked all of the boxes – even the ones in his living room. I didn't know how many books that left me with, but it was a lot. My bookstore instincts made me sort them into categories, and that alone was time-consuming. Looking up at one point, I realized almost three hours had passed. I stood up, stretched, and returned to the bedroom. â€Å"Hey,† I said. â€Å"We're way past your hour.† He kept typing. I slipped my foot out of its sandal, shape-shifted the toenail color to burgundy and ran it up his leg. He jumped. â€Å"Hey!† â€Å"Hey yourself. Sorry to interrupt, but you need food, or you're going to pass out on your keyboard.† â€Å"Wouldn't be the first time,† he said. His eyes strayed, threatening to return to the computer, so I poked him again with my foot. He arched an eyebrow, then grabbed my foot, nearly making me fall over as he pulled me onto his lap. â€Å"You know, your toes aren't that compelling. It's not like I want to have sex with them or anything weird like that. I just think they're pretty. So don't think you can have your way on everything now. â€Å" I wiggled out of his grasp. â€Å"Say whatever you want. I've got new leverage with you. So, look, can you tear yourself away long enough to go get food?† It turned out he couldn't, toes or not. Disappointed, I ended up ordering pizza. We ate together and talked, but both of us were in our own worlds. He was with his characters in places I couldn't follow, and I was thinking about the ambrosia. Suddenly, I started laughing. â€Å"What?† he asked, startled. I told him about the ambrosia and what it did. The news obviously astonished him, but Seth had had some time now to accept the many unseen, supernatural things occurring in the world. I ended my story by saying Carter and Jerome were going to do something about it. I did not mention I would be taking on a large and possibly dangerous role too. There I was, holding back again, but it seemed pointless to get him worried when I had no concrete details yet. â€Å"So, anyway, I was laughing because I was trying to imagine what you'd be like on ambrosia,† I told him. â€Å"Why is that funny? Maybe I could churn out a book a week.† â€Å"Yeah, but I'd never see you again. You'd never bathe or cut your hair. It'd grow down to your waist – so would your beard – and you'd be sitting here in the dark, hunched over, wasting away in your Punky Brewster T-shirt. â€Å" â€Å"That's not funny. That's how I plan to spend my retirement. Besides, if I were going to wear the same shirt for the next fifty years, it'd be my Flash Gordon one.† His features shifted to a frown as he chewed. â€Å"The entire concept of Doug's problem being ‘magically' induced†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He shook his head. â€Å"It's crazy. And scary. Will they really be able to help him?† â€Å"They will if they can. Carter especially.† â€Å"You always put a lot of faith in him. Seems ironic, given the circumstances.† I supposed it was, and again, it was kind of new for me. I guess I was just starting to realize that although I might be on Jerome's side, it was Carter who was on my side lately. I smiled for Seth. â€Å"Well. If you can't put faith in an angel, who can you put faith in?† The muse called to him after dinner, and I let him go, unable to stand against her. I wondered if it would be possible for Seth to date someone who didn't love his books. Few women would be able to handle the competition. And yeah, sometimes it was hard for me to handle the competition too. It was hard enough that Seth wasn't into the livelier things I liked to do, like dancing. But also being denied the low-key things poked at me on occasion. Knowing his neglect was for the greater good, I returned to my book sorting, which allowed half of my brain to churn over the Alec problem and how I was going to get to GQ Poet Guy. Getting a hold of Doug in the evening was never easy, but I'd see him at work tomorrow. He'd offered Alec's number to me once; hopefully he'd be as obliging this time. I finished my cataloging and shelving job around two in the morning. All the books had homes on either the office or living room shelves, and all the books were indexed by genre and author in a way Emerald City might have lauded. The office now had room for the desk. In the bedroom, Seth still typed in the dark, lit by the glow of his monitor. I kissed his cheek once more and fell asleep in his bed, exhausted. I awoke hours later to someone kissing my cheek. â€Å"Hey,† I murmured drowsily, trying to pull Seth into bed with me. â€Å"You're giving me funny ideas.† He leaned over me and planted a kiss on my nose. Morning sunlight lit up the coppery highlights in his messy hair and perpetual five o'clock shadow. He regarded me fondly, those luscious lips smiling. â€Å"You put my books away. All of them.† â€Å"I had to. Good grief. If anyone at Emerald City found out I was letting that slide, they'd fire me.† He curled up beside me and put an arm over me. â€Å"You're pretty good to me, Thetis, considering what an idiot I am sometimes.† â€Å"Stop making fun of my favorite author, or I'll have to deck you.† â€Å"I mean it. I've lost girlfriends for less than what I did last night.† â€Å"You weren't that bad. I've seen you worse.† I sat up a little. â€Å"Hey, how many girlfriends have you had anyway?† Laugh lines appeared around his eyes, making him even cuter. â€Å"It was all research for the books, I swear.† It was ironic, I realized, that I kept ending up with artistic types. A very long time ago, I'd been married to a man I swore loved his music more than me sometimes. I had loved him for that musical passion and hated it at the same time. Similar scenarios with other mortals had repeated over the centuries. Remembering my thoughts from last night, I worried that Seth might bring out the old green-eyed monster again. â€Å"How'd the chapter turn out?† I asked, mussing his hair further. â€Å"Good. Great even.† He gave me a sweet, bemused look. â€Å"I don't suppose†¦I don't suppose you'd ever want to read the manuscripts as I work on them, would you? See how the process works?† I froze, realizing just what a precious gift he was offering me. Seth had told me once he never let anyone read the early drafts. He didn't want feedback that might influence his own creative flow. It wasn't until he had a complete manuscript and he felt the books were nigh-perfect that he finally allowed his publishing posse to take a look. That he would offer this to me both thrilled and touched me. â€Å"No,† I said softly, smiling. â€Å"But thank you. I don't want to interrupt your normal cycle. But maybe†¦maybe when you've got a fairly polished draft ready to send off, I'll take a look then.† He nodded, returning my smile. Something passed between us then that had nothing to do with manuscripts or book sorting but was fired by both of them nonetheless. â€Å"Here,† he said, standing up. Turning to a nearby chair, he picked up a tray I hadn't even noticed. â€Å"Since you fed me last night.† I looked down as he set the tray across my lap. Pancakes – with smiley faces – drowning in maple syrup. Good strong coffee. Even a little vase with two stems of purple irises. Seth had a thing for purple flowers. I touched one of the velvety soft petals. â€Å"You didn't get these from your kitchen. You must have gotten up pretty early to go out.† He shook his head, looking sheepish. â€Å"I never went to bed.† I therefore wasn't surprised when Seth lay down beside me while I ate and promptly fell asleep. I finished the exquisite breakfast, did the dishes, and left for work, leaving him a note that promised I'd call later. At the bookstore, I was getting so used to Paige and Warren's absence, it was like they didn't even work there anymore. I found Doug when he arrived, and as hoped, he did indeed give me Alec's number – though not without a few jokes at my expense. I called Alec on my lunch, unsure if he'd be home. He was there and sounded overjoyed to hear from me. Yes, yes, of course he could get more. He was so glad I'd liked it. Giving me the address of a coffee shop he'd be at, he told me to stop by right after work. I showed up there five minutes after my shift ended. The coffee shop was perfectly ordinary, nothing dark or sinister. Hardly the stereotypical rendezvous for a drug transaction. I spotted Alec sitting at a table in the back, but someone was with him. Not wanting to interrupt, I stood in line to order a mocha. Alec's companion was a young man, younger than him even. Eighteen, if I had to guess. And he was beautiful. He had swept his thick, dark-blond hair into a short ponytail at the nape of his neck, and his face was all clean, strong lines. When he smiled at some comment of Alec's, perfect white teeth showed against the tanned skin. I expected to see this guy in an Abercrombie & Fitch ad soon. Or maybe not, since he too was apparently wasting his life away. Alec reached into his pocket and gave the guy one of the telltale bags. Happiness and relief shone on the golden boy's face, making him look – if possible – even more attractive. He left. Angrily gripping my drink, I took his chair and forced a cheerful attitude. â€Å"Hey,† said Alec in greeting, clearly in a good mood. â€Å"You have no idea how glad I am to see you. You look hot, as always. â€Å" â€Å"Thanks. How's it going?† â€Å"Awesome, now.† He grinned broadly. â€Å"Fabulous day.† He leaned toward me. â€Å"So? What did you think?† I set my cup down heavily and acquired some little-girl wonder. â€Å"You were right†¦it was amazing. It was like I was†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I decided a lack of words was better than trying to describe something I hadn't experienced. He was only too happy to help fill in the blanks. â€Å"Better than ever? Who you were meant to be?† â€Å"Yes,† I said breathlessly. â€Å"You – you've got to give me more.† â€Å"Can do.† His hand reached into the magic pocket. One of the lethal bags appeared, and that ugly feeling snaked down my spine. He held the crystals teasingly out of my reach. â€Å"You know, they get better the more you do it. You up for that?† I stared at the bag longingly, then up at him. â€Å"Don't you have more than this? I mean, I want that one†¦but it's not going to be enough. I need a lot of this.† â€Å"Slow down. You don't want to take more than one bag.† â€Å"I know that, but this is good for what, a day or two?† His eyes glinted. â€Å"Big plans already, huh? Most people don't get quite so fired up this fast.† I chewed on my lower lip, not wanting to raise any alarms. Assessing my self-inventory, I tried to think of something nonsexual the ambrosia would have affected. Alec's earlier visitor gave me the answer. â€Å"It's weird. I know this guy at a modeling agency, and he always gives me the runaround. But I saw him yesterday when I took this†¦and it was like, I don't know. He couldn't get enough of me. He wants me to come back for some major shoots.† I gripped Alec's arm. â€Å"I don't get how this could be doing it†¦maybe it's coincidence. I don't know. But I want more. I think I need it to make this gig work out. You've got to help me. Or take me to wherever you get this. I'll pay. I'll do anything.† His face told me I had said exactly the right thing. â€Å"It's not coincidence,† he told me smugly. â€Å"And I'll get you more.† I exhaled with palpable relief. â€Å"Promise? Like a big supply?† â€Å"I promise. Here, take this one.† â€Å"What do I owe you?† â€Å"Nothing.† â€Å"Come on! They can't all be free.† My hold on his hand changed to something softer and more suggestive. â€Å"I told you before†¦I'm happy to pay†¦however you want†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He sighed, regarding me wistfully as he briefly ran his fingers over my hand and then pulled away. â€Å"I know. You want a big batch of it? That you'll have to pay for. I'll take you to the guy who gets it for me, and you can pay him.† â€Å"What'll it cost? How much am I going to need?† Something unreadable flashed in his eyes. â€Å"You've already got exactly what you need. Can you meet me tomorrow night?† I hesitated. Carter had said we needed some prep time before I faced the supplier, time in which I had been told to arrange the meeting with him. This was too soon. â€Å"I'm busy,† I told him, trying to put heavy regret into my words. â€Å"What about the next night?† He didn't seem happy about that, just as he hadn't liked the delay in me drinking my first batch. But where his urgency had been underscored with an eager curiosity last time, he now displayed an almost panicked anxiety. I wondered just how demanding his master was. â€Å"Sooner would be better. You aren't going to be able to go that long anyway, not if you want it this bad already. â€Å" I stayed firm. â€Å"I don't have a choice.† He agreed after a little more wheedling, and we set a time and place to meet in two days. As I stood up, he warned me, â€Å"Call me sooner if you can't hold out, okay? Here's my cell.† â€Å"Okay, thanks.† â€Å"Hey,† he called as I started to walk away. â€Å"Good luck with the shoot.† For a minute, I didn't remember what he was talking about. Then I recalled my alleged modeling gig. I smiled and thanked him, chuckling to myself as I left. In all of the lies I'd just told him, there had been a kernel of truth. I did have a photo shoot. Tonight was the night Bastien and I were going to take the pictures for Seth.