A comparison of Hebrew Flood Story, Babylonian and Summarian Flood Research Paper

A comparison of Hebrew Flood Story, Babylonian and Summarian Flood Story - Research Paper Example Only one man and his family were saved in each case. The Hebrew flood story, which is sometimes called the Genesis flood story, tells of a man called Noah, who was the only righteous man in his time. Noah was commanded by God to build an ark and gather a pair of all species of life; a male and a female, into it. These animals joined Noah and his family in the ark when the floods came. In a sense, Noah was the second Adam. He was destined to be the new progenitor of the human race. Those of his generation were destroyed because of their evil ways. The Babylon flood story was the first one to be discovered, and talks of Utnapishtim who is like the Biblical Noah who was used by the gods, to build a ship and save mankind. The Summarian flood story is a myth that talks of a Summarian hero called Gilgamesh who transverse the world to deceive death that is; he wanted to be immortal, and he came across an old man Utnapishtim who told him of the past incidents of the flood in Babylon that mad e him immortal. The flood story is copied from Babylonian Gilgamesh era, and it is one of the versions of Babylonian flood stories. Although it is not clear if Hebrew flood story was derived from an earlier Babylonian flood story, or the Summarian flood story was the one copied from an earlier Hebrew flood story, or that both of them were imitation of the same source that gives an earlier date for both of them. Similarities between the Hebrew flood story, Babylonian and Summarian flood story The stories shows how mankind had become intolerable to God and the gods and were guilty of sin thus were punished. In Hebrews story, mankind had become so immoral and evil; and in Babylonian story, they had become too many and raucous to god. The Summarian man kind was too noisy for the gods. The floods marked the turning point in the relationship between gods and man kind and he decided to use the floods to punish them for their sins. The Hebrew Flood story talks of Noah’s duty to safeg uard mankind after God had punished them. In all the stories, there was a relationship between gods and the hero’s, this shows the cultural and moral perspective of the stories as floods are also used in each story, to show the common origin (Boadt 189). The stories show that there exists a Supreme Being that saw the human beings in the world as wicked and thus they should be punished and hence he destroyed the world by flood. The gods used one person in all cases to build an ark that will withstand the flood when he destroys the world. It is the same person that the gods use to create a new generation. In Hebrew flood story, he used Noah, one man who was his favorite to save his family and the representatives of all living creatures. In Babylonia flood story Ea the god of wisdom used Utnapishtim who was his favourite righteous man and he is the one who was warned and informed of the destruction through a dream. The meanings of the names although differ as Noah means â€Å"r est† while Utnapishtim means â€Å"finder of life†. None of the people used was faultless but, the gods considered them righteous compared to the people around them. In Summarian flood story, Gilgamesh was a domineering ruler to his subjects and they in turn, called upon the gods, to send him nemesis. It is the same persons that the gods ordered to build arks, which were to have many compartments, and it is the same boats that would eventually escape the floods. The human kind was to escape the floods by boarding the ark. At the same time, the people at that time did not have the technological know how to build such things as vehicles, or airplanes thus the ark was constructed. The gods further used these same individuals to warn the rest of the coming

Coca-Cola Marketing Plan Essay Example for Free

Coca-Cola Marketing Plan Essay A. Introduction The Coca-Cola Company is the worlds largest beverage company, operating in over 200 countries with a product line that includes over 2,800 diverse items. The companys primary responsibility is to develop concentrates, beverage bases and syrups, which are sold to bottling companies that comprise the worlds largest beverage distribution system. In addition to product development, the Coca-Cola Company is responsible for product marketing. Their mission is to refresh the world, inspire moments of optimism, and to create value and make a difference. B. External Environment Socio-Cultural Factors Coca-Cola is recognized as the worlds most valuable brand. The company has been extremely successful in global marketing, and experts indicate that this success is largely based on product variation and adaptation (Lamb, Hair McDaniels, p. 114). Since the Coca-Cola Company extends to over 200 countries (with headquarters located in Atlanta, Georgia), they have an immense need to diversify their products and create a marketing plan that meets the socio-cultural interests of all their customers (vendors) and consumers (drinkers) around the world. The Coca-Cola trademark is recognized worldwide, no matter what language is printed on the bottle. However, the Coca-Cola Company must continue to tailor their marketing plan and product development to respect each consumers unique values, beliefs and cultures. An example of the Coca-Cola Company adapting to the external socio-cultural environment is in 2007, the Coca-Cola Company received a silver award at the Iberoamerican Advertising Festival for their Levate la Mano (Raise Your Hand) commercial that was aired in Latin America (2007 Annual Report: Marketing Highlights). Coca-Cola has also created a unique formulation for Sprite sold in Japan to meet the cultural preferences (p. 114). Social factors have been carefully considered in the companys marketing plan. The Coca-Cola Company has successfully developed products to please the 21st centurys health-conscious consumer with brands like Coca-Cola Zero (their best selling brand in over 25 years), sports drinks, and bottled water. Coca-Cola must continue to adapt to the external environmental threat of the healthy lifestyle movement through product development and marketing of healthy options available in the product line. Economic Factors  The United States is currently experiencing an economic recession. This period of negative growth includes higher unemployment, inflation, and cost of living expenses while consumers are experiencing lower disposable income and purchasing power (p. 641). The Coca-Cola Company contracts with numerous bottling companies around the world to create and distribute their beverages. The weakened economy could have a negative impact on any of the bottling companies, which would threaten the stability of the Coca-Cola Company due to the dependent relationship. The Coca-Cola Company must be profitable in order to sustain their investment in communities around the world. Furthermore, small communities depend on large businesses like the Coca-Cola Company to strengthen their own economy and help create social and environmental programs. The Coca-Cola Company has been very successful in helping other nations grow and become economically stable by investing millions of dollars back into the countries in which they are operating. Legal Factors Legal factors that could pose an environmental threat to the Coca-Cola Company include new legislation or regulation of food and beverage products. Activists are trying to push for more government involvement in product advertising and labeling. While many laws have already been passed in this regard, expanded or new laws could threaten the company by creating more overhead expenses and decreasing the profit margin. Technological Factors In todays marketplace, technology is a key player in helping a business stay profitable. Large businesses, like the Coca-Cola Company, must invest in technological research to find ways to become more efficient, and ultimately better competitors. The Coca-Cola Company should address external technological threats by investing directly in applied research to improve recording and monitoring of the sales, production and delivery process between the Coca-Cola Company and the bottling companies (p. 90). Competitive Factors Consumer tastes and needs are ever changing. With the new focus on health and nutrition and concerns with obesity, many consumers are changing their behaviors and products choices. Tea products, bottled water and energy drinks have become favored as opposed to the typical soft drink. This is an external threat to the Coca-Cola Company, as these changes in preferences have increased the number of competitors in the industry. The Coca-Cola Company is not only in competition with soft drink companies, like PepsiCo, Inc., but with other unassuming companies like Unilever, Kraft Foods, and Nestle. The Coca-Cola Company must continue aggressive efforts in responsible marketing, community investment and product development to hold the No. 1 place in sales of juice, ready-to-drink coffees, and teas. Surprisingly, Coca-Cola is ranked No. 3 in soft drinks, but their No. 1 ranking in juices, teas and coffee products indicate that they are in touch with their consumers interests, and that they understand that soft drinks cannot be their sole products in order to sustain business. C. Target Market The primary target market of the Coca-Cola Company is all consumers of all nations that have a thirst for a high-quality beverage from a reputable brand that cares about small communities and saving the environment. The Coca-Cola Company is well known for advertising to persons of all ages, genders, incomes, ethnicity and lifestyles. Nevertheless, more specifically, over the last decade the Coca-Cola Company has focused on a secondary target market, based on specific psycho-graphic characteristics, of consumers that are health conscious and interested in buying products to support their overall wellness. The Coca-Cola Company has reached this market through many product lines, and has customized their website to provide healthy resources and marketing of products that are considered smart choices. D. Product Coca-Cola is the number one selling sparkling beverage in North America. Coca-Cola is primarily a business product. As a business product, Coke is sold to grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, vending companies and restaurants. Coke could also be considered a convenience product as it is a relatively inexpensive item that merits little shopping (Lamb, Hair, McDaniel, pg. 308). It is can found almost everywhere, from schools, hotel, theme parks, airports, places of business and even rest stops on the highways. Coca-cola was packaged solely as soda fountain drink when it was introduced in 1886. In 1894, a candy storeowner started placing the drink in bottles and approached the owner of the Coca-Cola Company, Asa Griggs Candler, about bottling the drink. Candler declined. Then in 1899, Candler sold the rights to bottle the drink and over the next 10 years, 400 bottling plants would be born. The packaging of red and white Coca-Cola products is a world recognized.

Profiling and Police/Community Relations Essay -- Profiling and Police

Scientific Methods Scientifically, profiling and police-community relations are comprised of a two-fold focus. The first focal point concentrates on attitudes members of a community have about profiling in accordance to actions conducted by police officers upon them in the course of their duties. The second focal point concentrates on the profiling of police officers, as completed by early intervention systems, in an effort to reduce complaints from members of the community. The literature on the attitudes which community members have about profiling states that race, personal experience, and media framing influence the public’s perception (Graziano, Schuck, & Martin, 2010; Weitzer & Tuch, 2002). The literature on early intervention systems is demonstrative of how such systems can become critical management tools, tailor-made for addressing behavioral and management issues, within both the individual officer and in the locations where they work, to reduce complaints by residents of the community (Macintyre et al., 2008). A review of the literature establishes multiple components of each focal point. Hypothesis Profiling of community residents by law enforcement officials and profiling of police officers by early intervention systems impacts police-community relations. The research will be best conducive employing a time-series, quasi-experimental design. The researcher is choosing to conduct an exploratory research experiment utilizing an interrupted time-series, quasi-experimental design. Data will be collected from a comparison group through pretests and posttests, from surveys, interviews, and statistical analysis. There will be a fixed time frame in order to calculate and analyze the findings. Pro... ...., Prenzler, T., & Chapman, J. (2008). Early intervention to reduce complaints: An Australian Victoria Police initiative. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 10(2), 238-250. doi: 10.1350/ijps.2008.10.2.77 Murphy, K. (2009). Public satisfaction with police: The importance of procedural justice and police performance in police-citizen encounters. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 42(2), 159-178. doi: 10.1375/acri.42.2.159 Tyler, T. R., & Wakslak, C. J. (2004). Profiling and police legitimacy: Procedural justice, attributions of motive, and acceptance of police authority [Abstract]. Criminology, 42(2), 253-282. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-9125.2004.tb00520.x Weitzer, R., & Tuch, S. A. (2002). Perceptions of racial profiling: Race, class, and personal experience [Abstract]. Criminology, 40(2), 435-456. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-9125.2002.tb00962.x

The Vulnerability of Man Essay example -- essays research papers

The Vulnerability of Man   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nature dwarfs us. The jungle absorbs us. Struggling to survive in the middle of an enticing jungle, one truly challenges his own restraints to the temptation of the jungle – of the horror of an abyss which lies so closely beneath us. All of our days and ways are a fragile structure balanced agitatedly atop the hungry jaws of nature that will effortless devour us. A happy life is a daily amnesty from this knowledge. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now share a common theme where the feeble human cannot restrain the domination of the jungle. Those who live in a fool’s paradise will die in a fool’s paradise, and those who discover the horrors of life will die in the jungle. Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now and Captain Kurtz in Heart of Darkness have both been lured into a â€Å"God-like† life in the jungle. Willard and Marlow both travel a long way down a river to attempt to rescue Kurtz, or kill him. The Kurtz in both stories have lost restraint to the wilderness, while Willard and Marlow fight hard to keep theirs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The opening scene in the movie captures a distraught Willard having just returned from the Vietnam War. Willard is pouncing around in his hotel room as though a savage. Only later it is revealed that he is resisting the temptation of returning to the jungle. â€Å"When I was here, I wanted to be there; when I was there all I could think about was getting back in the jungle† (Captain Willard). This scene suggests Willard’s strength to resist temptation. Having already escaped from Vietnam once, he will do it again. The matter is however, the difficulty of withstanding the jungle is like pulling two burly magnets in opposite directions. Willard himself deals with a desire to escape into the jungle. He is uncertain of his reasons, but his physicality and mentality demands it. In Apocalypse Now, the Vietnam War only plays a surface role, a parallel for the jungle, in which both display the effects of corruption and destruction on man. The true significan ce of the story lays beneath the surface, as the horror of existence, the horror of strength, and the horror of an ability to kill without feeling.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning of the novel, Marlow and four other Englishmen are stranded close to the mouth of the Thames Riv... ...ad put his restraint to test eventually swallowed him whole. As does in Apocalypse Now, both Kurtz’ die saying â€Å"The horror. The horror.† While the definition of this â€Å"horror† is clearly defined in Apocalypse Now, it is left unclear in The Heart of Darkness. These words might have no larger meaning at all. Though there is a constituent of madness to Kurtz, he's remained coherent enough for the audience to wonder whether in casting off all restraints in the jungle, he has discovered some dark truth about the world, a truth that horrifies him. His words might be a pronouncement on the universe we all inhabit, as in Apocalypse Now, Colonel Kurtz’s discovery of how fragile men live their lives is easily tempted by the wilderness, and most will fall into this trap.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now, the stories contain symbolic imagery of the all-too-powerful nature against the defenseless man. Both stories contain a horror of which one has been given a definition, and the other left for the audience to define. The stories examine a man’s capacity for evil and madness, and the level of self-control necessary to survive the manipulation of nature.

Digital Fortress Chapter 127-128

Chapter 127 There was a sudden and reverent silence among the group on the podium. It was as if they were watching an eclipse or volcanic eruption-an incredible chain of events over which they had no control. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. â€Å"We're losing it!† a technician cried. â€Å"Tie-ins! All lines!† On the far-left screen, David and Agents Smith and Coliander stared blankly into their camera. On the VR, the final fire wall was only a sliver. A mass of blackness surrounded it, hundreds of lines waiting to tie in. To the right of that was Tankado. The stilted clips of his final moments ran by in an endless loop. The look of desperation-fingers stretched outward, the ring glistening in the sun. Susan watched the clip as it went in and out of focus. She stared at Tankado's eyes-they seemed filled with regret. He never wanted it to go this far, she told herself. He wanted to save us. And yet, over and over, Tankado held his fingers outward, forcing the ring in front of people's eyes. He was trying to speak but could not. He just kept thrusting his fingers forward. In Seville, Becker's mind still turned it over and over. He mumbled to himself, â€Å"What did they say those two isotopes were? U238 and U†¦?† He sighed heavily-it didn't matter. He was a language teacher, not a physicist. â€Å"Incoming lines preparing to authenticate!† â€Å"Jesus!† Jabba bellowed in frustration. â€Å"How do the damn isotopes differ? Nobody knows how the hell they're different?!† There was no response. The room full of technicians stood helplessly watching the VR. Jabba spun back to the monitor and threw up his arms. â€Å"Where's a nuclear fucking physicist when you need one!† Susan stared up at the QuickTime clip on the wall screen and knew it was over. In slow motion, she watched Tankado dying over and over. He was trying to speak, choking on his words, holding out his deformed hand†¦ trying to communicate something. He was trying to save the databank, Susan told herself. But we'll never know how. â€Å"Company at the door!† Jabba stared at the screen. â€Å"Here we go!† Sweat poured down his face. On the center screen, the final wisp of the last firewall had all but disappeared. The black mass of lines surrounding the core was opaque and pulsating. Midge turned away. Fontaine stood rigid, eyes front. Brinkerhoff looked like he was about to get sick. â€Å"Ten seconds!† Susan's eyes never left Tankado's image. The desperation. The regret. His hand reached out, over and over, ring glistening, deformed fingers arched crookedly in stranger's faces. He's telling them something. What is it? On the screen overhead, David looked deep in thought. â€Å"Difference,† he kept muttering to himself. â€Å"Difference between U238 and U235. It's got to be something simple.† A technician began the countdown. â€Å"Five! Four! Three!† The word made it to Spain in just under a tenth of a second. Three†¦ three. It was as if David Becker had been hit by the stun gun all over again. His world slowed to stop. Three†¦ three†¦ three. 238 minus 235! The difference is three! In slow motion, he reached for the microphone†¦ At that very instant, Susan was staring at Tankado's outstretched hand. Suddenly, she saw past the ring†¦ past the engraved gold to the flesh beneath†¦ to his fingers. Three fingers. It was not the ring at all. It was the flesh. Tankado was not telling them, he was showing them. He was telling his secret, revealing the kill-code-begging someone to understand†¦ praying his secret would find its way to the NSA in time. â€Å"Three,† Susan whispered, stunned. â€Å"Three!† Becker yelled from Spain. But in the chaos, no one seemed to hear. â€Å"We're down!† a technician yelled. The VR began flashing wildly as the core succumbed to a deluge. Sirens erupted overhead. â€Å"Outbound data!† â€Å"High-speed tie-ins in all sectors!† Susan moved as if through a dream. She spun toward Jabba's keyboard. As she turned, her gaze fixed on her fiance, David Becker. Again his voice exploded overhead. â€Å"Three! The difference between 235 and 238 is three!† Everyone in the room looked up. â€Å"Three!† Susan shouted over the deafening cacophony of sirens and technicians. She pointed to the screen. All eyes followed, to Tankado's hand, outstretched, three fingers waving desperately in the Sevillian sun. Jabba went rigid. â€Å"Oh my God!† He suddenly realized the crippled genius had been giving them the answer all the time. â€Å"Three's prime!† Soshi blurted. â€Å"Three's a prime number!† Fontaine looked dazed. â€Å"Can it be that simple?† â€Å"Outbound data!† a technician cried. â€Å"It's going fast!† Everyone on the podium dove for the terminal at the same instant-a mass of outstretched hands. But through the crowd, Susan, like a shortstop stabbing a line drive, connected with her target. She typed the number 3. Everyone wheeled to the wall screen. Above the chaos, it simply read. ENTER PASS-KEY? 3 â€Å"Yes!† Fontaine commanded. â€Å"Do it now!† Susan held her breath and lowered her finger on the ENTER key. The computer beeped once. Nobody moved. Three agonizing seconds later, nothing had happened. The sirens kept going. Five seconds. Six seconds. â€Å"Outbound data!† â€Å"No change!† Suddenly Midge began pointing wildly to the screen above. â€Å"Look!† On it, a message had materialized. KILL CODE CONFIRMED. â€Å"Upload the firewalls!† Jabba ordered. But Soshi was a step ahead of him. She had already sent the command. â€Å"Outbound interrupt!† a technician yelled. â€Å"Tie-ins severed!† On the VR overhead, the first of the five firewalls began reappearing. The black lines attacking the core were instantly severed. â€Å"Reinstating!† Jabba cried. â€Å"The damn thing's reinstating!† There was a moment of tentative disbelief, as if at any instant, everything would fall apart. But then the second firewall began reappearing†¦ and then the third. Moments later the entire series of filters reappeared. The databank was secure. The room erupted. Pandemonium. Technicians hugged, tossing computer printouts in the air in celebration. Sirens wound down. Brinkerhoff grabbed Midge and held on. Soshi burst into tears. â€Å"Jabba,† Fontaine demanded. â€Å"How much did they get?† â€Å"Very little,† Jabba said, studying his monitor. â€Å"Very little. And nothing complete.† Fontaine nodded slowly, a wry smile forming in the corner of his mouth. He looked around for Susan Fletcher, but she was already walking toward the front of the room. On the wall before her, David Becker's face filled the screen. â€Å"David?† â€Å"Hey, gorgeous.† He smiled. â€Å"Come home,† she said. â€Å"Come home, right now.† â€Å"Meet you at Stone Manor?† he asked. She nodded, the tears welling. â€Å"Deal.† â€Å"Agent Smith?† Fontaine called. Smith appeared onscreen behind Becker. â€Å"Yes, sir?† â€Å"It appears Mr. Becker has a date. Could you see that he gets home immediately?† Smith nodded. â€Å"Our jet's in Malaga.† He patted Becker on the back. â€Å"You're in for a treat, Professor. Ever flown in a Learjet 60?† Becker chuckled. â€Å"Not since yesterday.† Chapter 128 When Susan awoke, the sun was shining. the soft rays sifted through the curtains and filtered across her goosedown feather bed. She reached for David. Am I dreaming? Her body remained motionless, spent, still dizzy from the night before. â€Å"David?† She moaned. There was no reply. She opened her eyes, her skin still tingling. The mattress on the other side of the bed was cold. David was gone. I'm dreaming, Susan thought. She sat up. The room was Victorian, all lace and antiques-Stone Manor's finest suite. Her overnight bag was in the middle of the hardwood floor†¦ her lingerie on a Queen Anne chair beside the bed. Had David really arrived? She had memories-his body against hers, his waking her with soft kisses. Had she dreamed it all? She turned to the bedside table. There was an empty bottle of champagne, two glasses†¦ and a note. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Susan drew the comforter around her naked body and read the message. Dearest Susan, I love you. Without wax, David. She beamed and pulled the note to her chest. It was David, all right. Without wax†¦ it was the one code she had yet to break. Something stirred in the corner, and Susan looked up. On a plush divan, basking in the morning sun, wrapped in thick bathrobe, David Becker sat quietly watching her. She reached out, beckoning him to come to her. â€Å"Without wax?† she cooed, taking him in her arms. â€Å"Without wax.† He smiled. She kissed him deeply. â€Å"Tell me what it means.† â€Å"No chance.† He laughed. â€Å"A couple needs secrets-it keeps things interesting.† Susan smiled coyly. â€Å"Any more interesting than last night and I'll never walk again.† David took her in his arms. He felt weightless. He had almost died yesterday, and yet here he was, as alive as he had ever felt in his life. Susan lay with her head on his chest, listening to the beat of his heart. She couldn't believe that she had thought he was gone forever. â€Å"David.† She sighed, eyeing the note beside the table. â€Å"Tell me about ‘without wax.' You know I hate codes I can't break.† David was silent. â€Å"Tell me.† Susan pouted. â€Å"Or you'll never have me again.† â€Å"Liar.† Susan hit him with a pillow. â€Å"Tell me! Now!† But David knew he would never tell. The secret behind â€Å"without wax† was too sweet. Its origins were ancient. During the Renaissance, Spanish sculptors who made mistakes while carving expensive marble often patched their flaws with cera-â€Å"wax.† A statue that had no flaws and required no patching was hailed as a â€Å"sculpture sincera† or a â€Å"sculpture without wax.† The phrase eventually came to mean anything honest or true. The English word â€Å"sincere† evolved from the Spanish sincera-â€Å"without wax.† David's secret code was no great mystery-he was simply signing his letters â€Å"Sincerely.† Somehow he suspected Susan would not be amused. â€Å"You'll be pleased to know,† David said, attempting to change the subject, â€Å"that during the flight home, I called the president of the university.† Susan looked up, hopeful. â€Å"Tell me you resigned as department chair.† David nodded. â€Å"I'll be back in the classroom next semester.† She sighed in relief. â€Å"Right where you belonged in the first place.† David smiled softly. â€Å"Yeah, I guess Spain reminded me what's important.† â€Å"Back to breaking coeds' hearts?† Susan kissed his cheek. â€Å"Well, at least you'll have time to help me edit my manuscript.† â€Å"Manuscript?† â€Å"Yes. I've decided to publish.† â€Å"Publish?† David looked doubtful. â€Å"Publish what?† â€Å"Some ideas I have on variant filter protocols and quadratic residues.† He groaned. â€Å"Sounds like a real best-seller.† She laughed. â€Å"You'd be surprised.† David fished inside the pocket of his bathrobe and pulled out a small object. â€Å"Close your eyes. I have something for you.† Susan closed her eyes. â€Å"Let me guess-a gaudy gold ring with Latin all over it?† â€Å"No.† David chuckled. â€Å"I had Fontaine return that to Ensei Tankado's estate.† He took Susan's hand and slipped something onto her finger. â€Å"Liar.† Susan laughed, opening her eyes. â€Å"I knew-â€Å" But Susan stopped short. The ring on her finger was not Tankado's at all. It was a platinum setting that held a glittering diamond solitaire. Susan gasped. David looked her in the eye. â€Å"Will you marry me?† Susan's breath caught in her throat. She looked at him and then back to the ring. Her eyes suddenly welled up. â€Å"Oh, David†¦ I don't know what to say.† â€Å"Say yes.† Susan turned away and didn't say a word. David waited. â€Å"Susan Fletcher, I love you. Marry me.† Susan lifted her head. Her eyes were filled with tears. â€Å"I'm sorry, David,† she whispered. â€Å"I†¦ I can't.† David stared in shock. He searched her eyes for the playful glimmer he'd come to expect from her. It wasn't there. â€Å"S-Susan,† he stammered. â€Å"I-I don't understand.† â€Å"I can't,† she repeated. â€Å"I can't marry you.† She turned away. Her shoulders started trembling. She covered her face with her hands. David was bewildered. â€Å"But, Susan†¦ I thought†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He held her trembling shoulders and turned her body toward him. It was then that he understood. Susan Fletcher was not crying at all; she was in hysterics. â€Å"I won't marry you!† She laughed, attacking again with the pillow. â€Å"Not until you explain ‘without wax'! You're driving me crazy!†

Comparing Political Systems of two countries

Comparing Political Systems of two countries How could the political systems of two developed countries in the western world have so very diversified features? The two countries in question are Japan and the United Arab Emirates. There are very significant differences in the political systems of these two countries though they do not lack various areas with very close similarities.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Comparing Political Systems of two countries specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Though both countries separate religion and the state in their ruling systems as well as their political arena, it is important to mention that whereas UAE is dominated by Muslims, most of the people in Japan do not profess or identify themselves with any kind of religion. Religion in one way or another influences the political system either directly or indirectly. The influence of the mass media in both countries again differs significantly since in the UAE, it is m ainly controlled by the regime in power whereas Japan mass media is independent. The mass media in the United Arab Emirates like in other Arab countries have very little freedom since they are mainly influenced by the regime in power (Rugh 60). We may refer to the kind of press in this country as a royalist press since, though privately owned, they are very loyal and supportive to the regime in power. Their most common kind of mass media is the daily newspaper whose emergence in the country dates back to 1930’s when such papers as al-Bilad and al-Madina started flourishing. This has really affected the influence of mass media in the country, bearing in mind that this is the most convenient channel that the public airs their views against the leaders thus enabling them to rectify. The features of mass media in Japan have been quite different. It is mainly owned by private investors and independent from the ruling power. It is the most accessible tool for both the powerful and the weaker groups in the region, which gives them an opportunity to air their views. This has contributed a lot to its influence on the political arena in Japan ensuring that they rectify the areas pinpointed by the mass media. A survey carried out on the system revealed that it has introduced the ideas and principles of the most ignored interest groups in the society and has by remaining an outsider influenced the polical system towards being more pluralistic (Willnat Aw 62).Advertising Looking for research paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The level of decentralization is another very critical area to be considered in these two nations. Both of these nations practice a decentralized structure of governing system though at different levels. Until 1990, Japan had centralized its political and administrative system whereby its powers had been concentrated in the capital cities. This system changed recently in the 1990’s whereby the nation initiated its own policies on decentralization and regionalization which was mainly targeting and responding to domestic concerns which were prevalent since the 1970’s. Before decentralization took place in Japan, there was gradual rise in excessive centralization in the nation which was characterized by dominance of castle cities and Lords over their hinterlands and town people respectively (Chen 125). On the other hand, decentralization and political accommodation in the United Arab Emirates are embedded in the structure and ethic of the state. The process took root recently in this considering that it has developed far much later in the twentieth century compared to the developed countries which embraced decentralization over 500 years ago. It has been a challenging procedure to adopt but it has resulted to benefits. Effective service delivery has triggered the gradual process in UAE (Ahmad Brosio 14) Bureaucracy has been a nother common area between these two countries. In both cases, the powerful and the elite have commonly been in control of most areas in the nations than the elected officials (USA 1). In Japan the country’s strong central bureaucracy have come up with thousands of rules and regulations that the ordinary citizens have to abide by bearing in mind that these are not the elected officials in the nation (Pierre 118). The Japanese bureaucracy mainly composed of the brightest and the best, mostly the products of the country’s prestigious universities, control over the country’s 334, 000 administrative positions. They mostly identify with important politicians and executives (Hays 3). In the United Arab Emirates, people have always asked whether bureaucracy is really alive. However, surveys, studies and research work have shown that bureaucracy is far from being dead though some bureaucratic characteristics have been in decline and the process has been going through ch anges. In the modern society, there is a degree of bureaucracy since most large scale organizations apply the system to carry out most of their activities (Remenyi 114). How could the political systems of two developed countries in the western world have so very diversified features? In conclusion, it is very clear that the political systems in Japan and the United Arab Emirates have their own similarities and differences. Most similarities are evident from decentralization and bureaucracy while differences have been portrayed in religion and mass media.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Comparing Political Systems of two countries specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ahmad, Ehtisham Brosio, Giorgio. Handbook of Fiscal Federalism. Massachusetts Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2006. Print. Chen, Xiangming. As borders bend: transnational spaces on the Pacific Rim. New York: Lanham, Rowman Littlefield, 2005 . Print. Hay, Jeffrey. Bureaucracy in Japan. Facts and Details, 2009. Web. Pierre, John. Bureaucracy in the modern state: an introduction to comparative public. Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 1995. Print. Remenyi, D. European Conference on IS Management, Leadership and Governance, University of Reading, UK, 7-8 July 2005. UK, Academic Conferences Limited, 2005. Print. Rugh, William. Arab mass media: newspapers, radio, and television in Arab politics. Westport, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2004. Print. USA. Doing Business and Investing in United Arab Emirates Guide. International Business Publications, 2007. Washington: Intl Business Publications. Print.Advertising Looking for research paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Willnat, Lars Aw, Annette. Political Communication in Asia. New York, Taylor Francis, 2009. Print.

Profile of Serial Rapist and Killer Richard Ramirez, The Night Stalker

Profile of Serial Rapist and Killer Richard Ramirez, The Night Stalker Richard Ramirez, also known as Ricardo Leyva Muà ±oz Ramà ­rez, was a serial rapist and killer who operated in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas from 1984 until his capture in August 1985. Dubbed the Night Stalker by the news media, Ramirez was one of the most vicious killers in U.S. history. Early Life of Richard Ramirez Ricardo Leyva, also known as Richard Ramirez, was born in El Paso, Texas, on February 28, 1960, to Julian and Mercedes Ramirez. Richard was the youngest child of six, epileptic, and described by his father as being a good boy, until his involvement with drugs. Ramirez admired his father, but at the age of 12, he found a new hero, his cousin Mike, a Vietnam veteran and ex-Green Beret. Mike, home from Vietnam, shared gruesome pictures of rape and human torture with Ramirez, who became fascinated with the pictorial brutality. The two spent a lot of time together, smoking pot and talking about war. On one such day, Mikes wife began to complain about her husbands laziness. Mikes reaction was to kill her by shooting her in the face, in front of Richard. He was sentenced to seven years for the murder Drugs, Candy and Satanism: By the age of 18, Richard was a habitual drug user and chronic candy eater, resulting in tooth decay and extreme halitosis. He also became involved in Satan worshipping and his general poor appearance enhanced his satanic persona. Already arrested on numerous drug and theft charges, Ramirez decided to move to southern California. There he advanced from simple theft to burglarizing homes. He became very proficient at it and eventually started to linger in the homes of his victims. On June 28, 1984, his burglaries turned into something far eviler. Ramirez entered through an opened window of Glassel Park resident, Jennie Vincow, age 79. According to Philip Carlos book, The Night Stalker, he became angry after not finding anything of value to steal, and began stabbing the sleeping Vincow, eventually slitting her throat. The act of killing aroused him sexually, and he had sex with the corpse before leaving. Savored Memories Fade: Ramirez remained quiet for eight months, but the memory he savored of his last killing had run dry. He needed more. On March 17, 1985, Ramirez jumped 22-year-old Angela Barrio outside her condo. He shot her, kicked her out of the way, and headed into her condo. Inside, was her  roommate, Dayle Okazaki, age 34, who Ramirez immediately shot and killed. Barrio remained alive out of pure luck. The bullet had ricocheted off the keys she held in her hands, as she lifted them to protect herself. Within an hour of killing Okazaki, Ramirez struck again in Monterey Park. He jumped 30-year-old Tsai-Lian Yu and pulled her out of her car onto the road. He shot several bullets into her and fled. A policeman found her still breathing, but she died before the ambulance arrived. Ramirezs thirst was not quenched. He then murdered an eight-year-old girl from Eagle Rock, just three days after killing Tsai-Lian Yu. Post-mortem Mutilations Become His Mark: On March 27, Ramirez shot Vincent Zazarra, age 64, and his wife Maxine, age 44. Mrs. Zazzaras body was mutilated with several stab wounds, a T-carving on her left breast, and her eyes were gouged out. The autopsy determined that the mutilations were post-mortem. Ramirez left footprints in the flower beds, which the police photographed and cast. Bullets found at the scene were matched to those found at previous attacks, and the police realized a serial killer was on the loose. Two months after killing the Zazzara couple, Ramirez attacked again. Harold Wu, age 66, was shot in the head, and his wife, Jean Wu, age 63, was punched, bound, and then violently raped. For unknown reasons, Ramirez decided to let her live. Ramirezs attacks were now in full throttle. He left behind more clues to his identity and was named, The Night Stalker, by the media. Those who survived his attacks provided the police with a description - Hispanic, long dark hair, and foul smelling. Pentagrams Found at the Crime Scene: On May 29, 1985, Ramirez attacked Malvial Keller, 83, and her invalid sister, Blanche Wolfe, 80, beating each with a hammer. Ramirez attempted to rape Keller, but failed. Using lipstick, he drew a pentagram on Kellers thigh and the wall in the bedroom. Blanche survived the attack. The next day, Ruth Wilson, 41, was bound, raped, and sodomized by Ramirez, while her 12-year old son was locked in a closet. Ramirez slashed Wilson once, and then bound her and her son together, and left. Ramirezs was like a savage animal as he continued raping and killing throughout 1985. The victims included: June 27, 1985 - Ramirez raped a 6-year-old girl in Acadia.June 28, 1985 - Patty Higgins, age 32, was beaten and her throat slit.July 2, 1985 - Mary Cannon, age 75, was beaten and her throat slit.July 5, 1985 - Deidre Palmer, age 16, survived being beaten with a tire iron.July 7, 1985 - Joyce Lucille Nelson, 61, was bludgeoned to death.July 7, 1985 - Linda Fortuna, 63, was attacked and Ramirez tried to rape her, but failed.July 20, 1985 - Maxson Kneiling, 66, and his wife Lela, also 66, were shot and their corpses, mutilated.July 20, 1985 - Chitat Assawahem, 31, was shot and his wife Sakima, 29, was beaten then forced to perform oral sex. Ramirez then collected $30,000 in valuables, but before leaving, he sodomized the couples eight-year-old son.August 6, 1985 - Ramirez shot both Christopher Petersen, 38, and his wife, Virginia, 27, in the head. Both somehow survived.August 8, 1985 - Ramirez shot Ahmed Zia, 35, and raped and sodomized his wife, Suu Kyi, 28, and forced her to perform o ral sex on him. Bill  Carns and Inez Erickson On Aug. 24, 1985, Ramirez traveled 50 miles south of Los Angeles and broke into the home of Bill Carns, 29, and his fiancà ©e, Inez Erickson, 27. Ramirez shot Carns in the head and raped Erickson. He demanded she swear her love for Satan and afterward, forced her to perform oral sex on him. He then tied her and left. Erickson struggled to the window and saw the car Ramirez was driving. A teenager wrote down the license plate number of the same car, after noticing it cruising suspiciously in the neighborhood. The information from Erickson and the young man enabled police to locate the abandoned car and get fingerprints from inside. A computer match was made of the prints, and identification of the Night Stalker became known. On August 30, 1985, the arrest warrant for Richard Ramirez was issued and his picture released to the public. Next The End of the Night Stalker - Richard Ramirez   Sources Carlo, Philip. The Night Stalker: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez. Reprint edition, Citadel, August 30, 2016. Hare, Robert D. Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us. 1 edition, The Guilford Press, January 8, 1999.