Biochemistry involves Essay Example for Free

Biochemistry involves Essay Biochemistry involves the study of biological processes and chemical analysis which include living organism’s reactions, chemical compounds and elements. Historically, biochemistry gained prominence in the early 20th century when research on origin of living organisms began, various forms of scientific methods where used toward the success the makeup, several questions raised where; how biochemists seek to know how the brain works, the effectiveness of molecular compounds on the immune system. Furthermore, they are interested in cellular replication, differentiation and the interconnecting relationship between cells and organs. They deal with the chemical explanation of inheritance (traits, character, etc. ) and disease. Apart from this, biochemist also determines how certain molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, vitamins and hormones function and their involvement in metabolic processes. Mostly on regulation of chemical reactions in living cells because this shows the complex chemical reactions that occur in a wide variety of life forms. It provides the basis for advancement of medicine practically such as veterinary medicine, agriculture science and biotechnology and exciting new fields such as molecular genetics, bioengineering etc. The developed knowledge and methods are applied to in all fields of medicine, agriculture, chemical and health related industries. Biochemistry also provides a unique research on protein structures and functions, genetic engineering and the two basic components of the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology. Being the vastest of all biological sciences, biochemistry has many fields namely neurochemistry, bio-organic chemistry, immunochemistry, physical biochemistry, molecular genetics, biochemical pharmacology and clinical biochemistry. Recent progress in these areas have developed a relationship between technology, chemical engineering, computer engineering. Reference: †¢ Biochemistry. (2008). ISCID Encyclopedia of Science and Philosophy. Retrieved April 07, 2008 from http://www. iscid. org/encyclopedia/Biochemistry †¢ Mendoza, H. M. , Shen, L. N. , Botting, C. , Lewis, A. , Chen, J. , Ink, B. , et al. (2003). NEDP1, a highly conserved cysteine protease that deNEDDylates Cullins. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 278, 25637-25643.

The Issue Of Elder Abuse And Neglect Social Work Essay

The Issue Of Elder Abuse And Neglect Social Work Essay Elder abuse and neglect is a critical health care issue that must be brought to the attention of health care providers and older adults family members. Adults older than 65 who live at home or in long-term care facilities may be at risk for abuse. Nurses should be aware of the causes, screening questions, symptoms of abuse, and resources in the community. Armed with information and a better understanding about the issue, nurses can minimize the devastating effects of abuse on older adults and their families. Every man, woman, and child deserves to be treated with respect and caring. Individuals of all ages deserve to be protected from harm by caregivers (American Psychological Association, 2006). Significant policy developments during the past 20 years have focused on eliminating abuse. However, a deficit in health care providers knowledge and clinical skill application remains. The purpose of this article is to define and describe the kinds of abuse, their potential clinical presentations, and theoretical explanations for abuse to enhance nurses knowledge and understanding of their role in its assessment and management in older adults. BACKGROUND Abuse is defined as the infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment, with resulting physical harm, pain, or mental anguish (Table 1). It can also be the willful deprivation by a caregiver of goods or services that are necessary to maintain physical or mental health (American Psychological Association, 2006). Elder abuse and neglect has plagued society for centuries but only recently has the issue come to the attention of health care providers, law enforcement agencies, and protective services. Fewer research studies exist about the maltreatment of older adults than about other forms of family violence, including child abuse, rape, and intimate partner violence. The earliest reports of elder abuse and neglect in the United Kingdom in the 1970s dramatized case reports of the phenomenon, termed Granny battering. The health care community and the public were shocked and appalled. A decade later, studies confirmed that the problem was common in the United S tates as well. In the late 1970s, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging issued a series of reports on abuse and neglect occurring in nursing homes. In 1981, the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Aging conducted hearings in which victimized older adults gave firsthand testimony of their experiences with abuse. In 1986, the Institute of Medicine published recommendations for preventing the maltreatment of older adults in institutions, and several years later, the Elder Abuse Task Force was created by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The task force developed an action plan for the identification and prevention of maltreatment of older adults in their own homes, health care facilities, and communities. The action plan included data collection, research, technical assistance, training, and public education. The National Center on Elder Abuse was established as part of the Administration on Agings Elder Care Campaign. Adult Protective Services progra ms now exist in every state to serve vulnerable adults, particularly older adults, who may be at risk for abuse and neglect. Many law enforcement agencies and Offices of the District Attorney have investigative staff specifically trained to address abuse of older adults and other vulnerable populations, in collaboration with health care and protective service professionals. Such actions have led to increased public and health care provider awareness about elder abuse and neglect. Researchers have also sought to grasp the full scope and causes of maltreatment among older adults. Laws that require health care providers to report suspected cases have been instituted in nearly every state. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (2006) standards for emergency departments and ambulatory care centers call for improved identification and management of elder abuse, in addition to intimate partner violence and child abuse. As the U.S. population ages, demands placed on health care systems to care for older adults are increasing. More than 36 million people who live in the United States are older than age 65, and 600,000 older adults will require assisted living (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging, 2006). Currently, there are approximately 17,000 nursing homes in the United States, with 1.6 million residents (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging, 2004). Unfortunately, older adults are becoming victims of intentional abuse and neglect within their own homes, as well as in assisted living and long-term care facilities. Each year in the United States, 1 to 2 million adults older than age 65 are injured, exploited, or mistreated by their caregivers (National Research Council Panel to Review Risk and Prevalence of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 2003). One community-based, cross-sectional survey reported that 32 of every 1,000 older adults reported that they had experienced some form of maltreatment at least once since reaching age 65 (Pillemer Finkelhor, 1988). Underreporting is typical with all kinds of abuse, and it is estimated that only 1 in 14 elder maltreatment cases are reported. Health care providers can expect to see a steady increase in the number of cases of elder maltreatment as the older adult population rapidly increases. THEORIES OF ELDER ABUSE Elder abuse is a complex problem with multiple risks and causes. Dysfunctional family lives, cultural issues, and caregiver inadequacies have been implicated as contributing factors. Awareness of such factors may help nurses understand and anticipate situations where maltreatment may be preventable. Several theories attempt to explain the existence and increasing occurrence of elder abuse. The transgenerational, or social learning, theory asserts that violence is a learned behavior. Individuals who have witnessed or been victims of family violence are more likely to try to resolve challenging and difficult life situations with violent tactics they learned in their formative growth. Although 90% of perpetrators of elder abuse are reported to be family members, this cannot account for all cases (Fulmer, Guadagno, Bitondo, Dyer, Connolly, 2004). Situational theory supports the idea that the greater the burden on caregivers, the more likely caregivers are to abuse. Exchange theory addresses the dependence of older adults on their caregivers as a risk of abuse, along with inadequate methods of problem solving as an established pattern of family behavior. Political economic theory addresses the changing roles of older adults. Their loss of independence and income may cause them to look to others for care and support (Fulmer et al., 2004). Psychopathology of the caregiver theory studies caregivers with severe emotional or mental health problems or addictions that put the older adults for whom they care at risk of being abused. For example, a caregiver with a mental health problem who cares for a frail older adult with cognitive impairment is a dangerous combination and may lead to resistant behavior and maltreatment. Although theoretical frameworks cannot explain all cases of elder maltreatment, they can provide a foundation for nurses to begin to understand the combination of factors responsible for the occurrence of elder abuse and initiate a holistic plan of care. NURSING ASSESSMENT INTERVENTIONS Nurses are in an ideal position to play a significant role in the detection, management, and prevention of elder maltreatment and may be the only individuals outside of the family who have regular contact with an older adult. Nurses are uniquely qualified to perform physical and psychological assessments, order confirmatory diagnostic tests (e.g., blood tests, x-rays), and collaborate with physicians and protective services. They may authorize services, such as home health care, or recommend hospital admission as they initiate further investigation by the appropriate local agencies. Opportunities for abuse detection and intervention occur daily in health care settings. In institutional settings, nurses may monitor patient health and perform health history interviews and physical, psychological, sexual, and financial abuse assessments that may be crucial to elicit reports, expose or prevent abuse, and intervene for patients safety (Wieland, 2000). Nurses and other health care providers are part of an interprofessional team collaborating to ensure appropriate, sensitive, and safe outcomes for older adult patients. Institutional maltreatment occurs in long-term care facilities, board-and-care homes, and other assisted-living facilities. Institutional medical directors, private practitioners, nurses, and all health care workers in daily contact with older adults have a responsibility to identify, treat, and prevent abuse. Abuse may be perpetrated by a staff member, another patient, an intruder or a visitor, or a family caregiver. Abuse may include failure to implement a plan of care or provide treatment, unauthorized use of physical or chemical restraints, and use of medication or isolation for punishment or staff convenience. Nurses must be aware of patient diagnoses, medical orders for care, and medications and their side effects to recognize what is suspicious and needs further evaluation or warrants a report to supervisors. However, most elder maltreatment does not occur in institutions but in the home at the hands of a caregiver, often a family member. Unless nurses are educated about abuse and how to observe suspicious injuries, elder abuse may be difficult to detect. Definitions of the kinds of abuse and their signs and symptoms should be included in the training and education of family members and health care workers who care for older adults. Older adults experiencing abuse may be unable to communicate clearly, their bruises may be attributed to the aging process, or they may be fearful and hesitant to report abuse (Wieland, 2000). Indications of physical abuse should signal health care providers to evaluate for other kinds of abuse, such as sexual abuse. In addition to inadequate information, training, and the caregivers experience of caring for older adults, older adults are at risk for maltreatment due to other vulnerabilities. Older adult residents in institutions are typically dependent and chronically ill and may have cognitive, visual, and auditory impairments. They are usually more frail than are younger patients and may not have regular visitors who monitor their mental status, physical condition, or health care. In older adults, each vulnerability increases their mortality risk (Fulmer et al., 2004). Co-existing conditions and medical diagnoses may lead to worse outcomes for older adults who are abused. They may have a decreased ability to heal after injury and may experience greater trauma from physical injuries than do younger people. Their bones are more brittle and tissue more easily bruised, abraded, and lacerated with minimal trauma. Injured older adults differ from the younger population in terms of cause of injury, physical and psychological responses to abuse and injury, and outcomes. Dementia is common in 50% of residents of long-term care facilities (National Center for Health Statistics, 1985), and cognitive impairments often cause older adults to behave in a more resistant manner toward caregivers. Impaired cognition, along with insufficient resources, staff shortages, high staff turnover, and inadequate supervision and training, may increase the risk of elder maltreatment. In addition, societal ignorance about required standards for quality care and victimized older adults acceptance of abusive or neglectful behavior can lead to exacerbation of elder abuse in institutions. Routine questions related to elder abuse and neglect can be incorporated into daily nursing practice. Diminished cognitive capacity does not necessarily negate older adults ability to describe maltreatment. It is always reasonable for nurses to ask about abuse or neglect. A brief mental status examination can be helpful in evaluating patients cognitive status. Assessment for elder abuse should include caregiver, as well as victim, evaluation. Nurses should conduct interviews and examinations with the patient first, in a private setting separate from the caregiver. Clinical settings should have a protocol for the detection and assessment of elder maltreatment. Protocols should consist of a narrative, checklist, or standardized forms that enable rapid screening for elder abuse and provide guidelines for sound documentation that may help disclose patterns of abuse over time and will withstand scrutiny in court. Basic demographic questions should be included and should allow the interviewer to determine the family composition and socioeconomic status. Interviews should proceed from general questions that assess the patients sense of well-being to those focusing on specific kinds of abuse. Common signs and symptoms of maltreatment should be evaluated (Table 2). Elder abuse screening instruments are summarized by Fulmer et al. (2004). Questions recommended by Wieland (2000) for general abuse screening and assessment include: * Do you feel safe where you are living? * Who is responsible for your care? * Do you often disagree with your caregiver(s)? If so, what happens? * Does anyone scold or shout at you, slap or hit you, or leave you alone and make you wait for care or food? After general screening questions, more specific questions about kinds of abuse may follow: * Has anyone ever touched you without your consent? * Has anyone ever made you do things you did not want to do? * Has anyone ever taken something that was yours without asking? * Have you ever signed any documents that you did not understand? Health care providers do not have to prove that elder maltreatment has occurred. They need to screen and document suspicious verbal and physical findings, which may be as simple as stating that the patient seems to have health or personal problems and needs assistance. Sound documentation may include drawings of injuries on body diagrams or photographs to support written reports. Suspicious claims for abuse and neglect may be difficult to quantify. Diagnosis of elder maltreatment depends on education about abuse and application of that knowledge by the multidisciplinary team of health care providers, law enforcement agencies, advocates, and patients. Protocols for elder abuse screening, assessment of risk factors, and documentation should be posted in all health care facilities. ABUSE AND THE LAW National standards for care in nursing homes are based on the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987. The law is part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, often referred to as OBRA 87. The intent of the law is to promote high-quality care and prevent substandard care. The law also seeks to ensure that the rights of nursing home residents are respected. These include: * The right of protection against Medicaid discrimination. * The right to participate in health care decisions and to give or withhold informed consent for particular interventions. * The right to safeguards to reduce inappropriate use of physical and chemical restraints. * The right for provisions to ensure proper transfers or discharges. * The right to full access to a personal physician, long-term care ombudsman, and other advocates. * The right to be free from verbal, sexual, physical, or mental abuse, corporal punishment, and involuntary seclusion. * The right to be free from physical restraints or psychoactive drugs administered for the purpose of discipline or convenience. Nearly all states have mandatory reporting laws that require health care professionals and paraprofessionals to report suspected elder abuse and neglect to a designated authority. Some state laws specify that after authorities have been alerted to suspected elder abuse or neglect, an agent of the state must make an onsite investigation in an attempt to corroborate the report. Uniform reporting systems are established, and cases are assigned and investigated by protective services in a timely fashion. Cases are assigned and investigated by protective services in a timely fashion. Nurses may play an important role in preventing and identifying elder abuse, as well as in the subsequent investigation. CONCLUSION Elder abuse is a significant problem in the United States and often goes unreported and unrecognized. Elder abuse may be physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, or financial. Immediate care, overnight housing, and care in a safe location, in addition to long-term care and home-delivered food, may be necessary. Elder abuse may be a minor issue that can be easily resolved or it can result in severe and life-threatening debilitation. The more knowledge health care providers have, the more likely they are to institute strategies for abuse prevention and management. No matter how minor or severe the abuse, nurses have a duty to assess elderly patients according to recommended protocols and report suspected abuse to designated authorities. The multidisciplinary team then works together to help resolve the issue. The application of knowledge about elder abuse includes screening, assessment, and sound documentation in an attempt to enhance the quality of life and maximize the functional ability of older adults. [Sidebar]

Comparing Allegory in Masque (Mask) of the Red Death and Dr Heideggers Experiment :: comparison compare contrast essays

Allegory in Masque of the Red Death and Dr Heidegger's Experiment Edgar Allan Poe's writing style is based on the supernatural and the unknown. In The Masque of the Red Death, Prince Prospero invites the revelers to come to the castle to party until the danger of pestilence is gone. The party was interrupted by an intruder who was dressed in all black (like the Grim Reaper) and was associated with the plague of the "red death." The reaper killed everyone one by one in the end. The Masque of the Red Death is an allegory. An allegory is symbols that are presented in the story that have two levels of meaning. An example can be the clock in the story. The clock told time and represented the time they had left before they died. There were seven chambers that were different colors, and the last chamber was black, which was the last chamber that represented death. I think the seven rooms symbolized the days until you die and the clock symbolized the time until you died. Dr. Heidegger brings over four of his friends to try an experiment on them in the story, Dr Heidegger's Experiment. There were three men and one woman named Widow Wycherly. They were all solemn people who had been unfortunate in life. In the past, the three men used to fight over the widow to the point of almost killing each other. Dr. Heidegger had a mysterious folio volume which was said to be magical (supernatural). He pulls out an old rose from it and turns it back to life by putting it in water called the Fountain of Youth. His friends couldn't believe that a rose was brought back to life and passed it off as a hoax. So, Dr. Heidegger gave them all a glass of the Fountain of Youth to make them believe its powers. After all of them took a gulp they were turned young again. The old people became so happy and cheerful and so full of life again like they once were in their prime. They were all happy and dancing and soon it turned into a riot where they started fighting o ver Widow Wycherly again, causing them to spill the Fountain of Youth all over the floor.

The Seven Spiritual Weapons :: essays research papers

When people give their lives to Christ Jesus their hearts are changed and their soul becomes alive with the Holy Spirit. Once a life is saved, is life relaxed and easy for it is saved from the pit of hell? Of course not, Christians are faced with temptations from Satan and his demons. Temptations are brought upon us for us to make the choice of whether or not to fall into temptation or not. In the book The Seven Spiritual Weapons, Catherine of Bologna lists seven spiritual weapons to conquer enemies of God. These seven tools are to enhance our personal walk with Jesus Christ. Catherine wrote this work in fear of divine condemnation. She felt if she was silent about the delights of others she would be condemned. She felt it was her spiritual duty to do God's will and to encourage her fellow sisters of the monastery to fight the enemies of God. The first spiritual weapon Catherine describes is Zeal, that is solicitude in doing good. God condemns those that are lukewarm and negligent in the way of God. Enemies will see people doing good and will try to corrupt them by persuading them to do too much. Catherine reveals that there is as much danger in too much as in too little. People may try to do good deeds and wind up performing them in excess of what is good for the glory of God. 'So exercise all the virtues in proper measure that the weapon of true and diligent discretion may be exercised by us for our salvation and for the praise of Christ.'; Catherine portrays that it is very important for people to practice all virtues with discretion, for as to not over do it. The Holy Spirit inspires good inspirations in people, and then leaves the choice for each person to make and act upon. We must not let the time the Holy Spirit has given us pass by without the choice being made to follow Christ Jesus. Catherine's second spiritual weapon is Mistrust of Self. She describes this as believing that no one can do anything good by oneself, without the help of Christ Jesus. Do not trust in yourself for you shall surely fall to the enemy. It is in a person's nature to try to do things by his or herself, but the Lord says, 'Without me you can do nothing'; (Jo 15:5).

Frankenstein: The Impact of God-like Sciences Stemming from Modern Tech

Frankenstein: The Impact of God-like Sciences Stemming from Modern Technology In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein’s life story is the heart of the tale. As a young Swiss boy, he grew up in Geneva reading the works of the ancient and outdated alchemists, a background that serves him ill when he attends university at Ingolstadt. There he learns about modern science and, within a few years, masters all that his professors have to teach him. He becomes fascinated with the â€Å"secret of life,† discovers it, and brings a hideous monster into the world. The monster proceeds to kill Victor’s youngest brother, best friend, and wife; he also indirectly causes the deaths of two other innocents, including Victor’s father. Though torn by remorse, shame, and guilt, Victor refuses to admit to anyone the horror of what he has created, even as he sees the ramifications of his experiment spiraling out of control. This paper focuses on the God-like sciences that are portrayed in the novel. â€Å"Learn from me. . . at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow† (Shelley 101). Victor’s attempt to play God and Creator is most plainly seen through the perceptions and actions of his creation. The creature is born into the world as if it is a baby, knowing nothing of life. This creature's first experience as a living existence is being shunned by its own creator. I beheld the wretch---the miserable monster whom I had created. He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me†¦ He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped and rushed downstairs (Shelley 43). The monster is reaching out to the only thing he knows thus far, his creator, and is met with disgust. Victor, being merely human, cannot offer this creature the unconditional love and guidance that God bestows on His creatures. This, in turn, leads to the imminent immoral actions of the creature. As technology advances, civilization grows farther from religious beliefs, attempting to become ‘God-like’. Instead of living off what is here, humans build their own habitats. Instead of accepting disease and death, hum... ...saac. "The Scientist as Villian." Asimov on Science Fiction. New York: Granada, 1983. 65-68. Brooks, Peter. "Godlike Science/ Unhallowed Arts: Language and Monstrosity in Frankenstein." New Literary History (Spring 1978) 591-605. Fellman, Gordon. "The Truths of Frankenstein: Technologism and Images of Destruction." Psychohistory Review 19 (1991): 177231. Gilbert, Sandra M., and Gubar, Susan. "Horror's Twin: Mary Shelley's Monstrous Eve." The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1984. 213-247. http://encarta.msn.com- "Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft," Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2005. http://encarta.msn.com  © 1997-2005 Microsoft Corporation. Joseph, M.K. Introduction. Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus, by Mary Shelley. Ed. M.K. Joseph. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1969. i-xx. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus. Ed. M.K. Joseph. Oxford: Oxford Up, 1969. Spector, Robert Donald. Introduction. Seven Masterpieces of Gothic Horror. New York: Bantam, 1963. 1-12. Tillyard, E.M.W. Myth and the English Mind. New York: Collier Books, 1961.

Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 18

My dream-self sprinted out of the kitchen and toward the sound of the crying. Aubrey and the mystery cat jerked their heads up, surprised at my sudden movement. On the other side of the living room, the little girl sat on the floor beside an end table with sharp corners, a small hand pressed to her forehead. Tears streamed down her checks as she wailed. In a flash, my dream-self was on her knees and had wrapped the little girl up in a tight embrace. I could feel what the other Georgina felt, and I nearly wept as well over the feel of that soft, warm body in my arms. My dream-self rocked the girl, murmuring soothing, nonsensical words as she brushed her lips against the silken hair. Eventually, the girl's sobs stopped, and she rested her head against my dream-self's chest, content to simply be loved and rocked. I opened my eyes and stared at Seth's plain white ceiling. He lay beside me, curled up near my body and still smelling like the massage oil. Even awake, the dream's images were still strong and so real. I knew exactly how my daughter's hair had felt, the way she smelled, the rhythm of her heart. My own heart pined so much for her that I could almost ignore the fact that last night's energy was now gone. This was turning into a real problem. I sat up, gently pushing Seth off of me. But as I tried to figure out what to do about this latest dream, a strange thought kept pressing into the back of my head. Erik. I couldn't stop thinking about Erik. It was nothing in particular, either. No specific problem. But, whenever I tried to think about something else – my job, the energy loss, Seth – it was Erik's face that appeared in my head. I didn't understand it, but it worried me. Seth's arms reached for me as I slipped out of bed, but I skillfully avoided them. Grabbing my cell phone out of my purse, I headed off toward the living room. No one answered when I dialed Arcana, Ltd. It was almost ten†¦usually he was open by then. I called information in search of Erik's home number, but it appeared to be unlisted. A sense of dread was building in me. Desperate, I dialed Dante's store. â€Å"Dante, I think something's happened to Erik, but I don't have his home number and – â€Å" â€Å"Whoa, whoa, succubus. Slow down. Start from the beginning.† Backing up, I explained how I'd dreamed again and woken up obsessed with Erik. â€Å"Maybe it's nothing, but after the drowning thing†¦I don't know. Do you have his home number?† â€Å"Yeah,† Dante said after several moments. â€Å"I do. I'll†¦I'll check on him for you and give you a call back.† â€Å"Thanks, Dante. I mean it.† I disconnected as a sleepy Seth stepped out of the bedroom. â€Å"Who's Dante? Was that a collect call to the Inferno?† â€Å"They won't accept the charges,† I murmured, still troubled. Seth's face turned serious. â€Å"What's wrong?† I hesitated, not because I was afraid to tell him about Dante but because I didn't know if I wanted him caught up in all of this. â€Å"It involves immortal intrigue,† I warned. â€Å"And the higher workings of the universe.† â€Å"I live for those things,† he said wryly, settling into an armchair. â€Å"Tell me.† So, I did. He knew about my first energy loss but not the rest. I didn't tell him about the content of the dreams, merely that they drained me of energy. I also explained about the self-fulfilling prophecies and how I'd woken up damp one morning and thinking about Erik today. When I finished, I stared at the cell phone accusingly. â€Å"Damn it. Why isn't he calling?† â€Å"Why do you always tell me this at the last minute?† asked Seth. â€Å"It's been giving you trouble for a while. I thought it had been a one-time thing.† â€Å"I didn't want to bother you. And I know how funny you are about immortal stuff.† â€Å"Things that affect you – that may be harming you – don't bother me. I mean, well, they do, but that's not the point. This all goes back to commun – â€Å" The phone rang. â€Å"Dante?† I asked eagerly. I hadn't even bothered to check the number. But it was him. His voice sounded grim. â€Å"You need to come over here. To Erik's.† â€Å"The store?† â€Å"No, his house. It's close to my place here.† â€Å"What's going on?† â€Å"Just come over.† Dante rattled off an address and directions. With quick shape-shifting, I was dressed and ready to bolt out the door in an instant. Seth told me to wait, and in less than a minute – not as good as me, though still good – he was ready too. I'd never thought much about Erik having a home of his own. To me, he just always sort of existed in his store. The address was about a mile from Dante's, in an old, yet well-maintained neighborhood. Erik's house was one of the small bungalow types so common in Seattle neighborhoods, and the front yard was filled with roses gone dormant for the winter. As we walked up the steps, I entertained a brief vision of Erik out there tending the flowers in the summer. Dante opened the door before I could knock. I wondered if he'd sensed me or had simply seen us through the window. He displayed no particular reaction to Seth's presence and ushered us in toward the house's one bedroom. The house's interior looked like it hadn't been updated in a while. In fact, a lot of the furniture reminded me of mid-twentieth-century styles. A plaid sofa with rough fabric. A worn velvet armchair in seventies gold. A TV that dubiously looked capable of color. None of that triggered any sort of reaction in me, though. What startled me was one framed picture sitting on a bookshelf. It showed a much younger Erik – maybe in his forties – with fewer wrinkles in his dark skin and no gray in his black hair. He had his arm around a thirty-something brunette with big gray eyes and a smile as large as his. Dante nudged me when I stopped, an odd look on his face. â€Å"Come on.† Erik lay in bed. To my relief, he was alive. I didn't realize until that moment just how worried I'd been. My subconscious had feared the worst, even though I'd refused to let it surface. But alive or not, he really didn't look so great. He was sweating and shaking, eyes wide and face pallid. His breathing was shallow. When he saw me, he flinched, and for half a second, I saw terror in his eyes. Then, the fear faded, and he attempted a weak smile. â€Å"Miss Kincaid. Forgive me for not being able to receive you properly.† â€Å"Jesus,† I gasped, sitting on the bed's edge. â€Å"What happened? Are you okay?† â€Å"I will be.† I studied him, trying to piece together what had taken place. â€Å"Were you attacked?† His gaze flicked over to Dante. Dante shrugged. â€Å"In a manner of speaking,† Erik said at last. â€Å"But not in the way you're thinking.† Dante leaned against the wall, appearing a little less grave than he had earlier. â€Å"Don't waste her time with riddles, old man. Spill it.† Erik's eyes narrowed, a bit of fire flaring in their depths. Then, he turned back to me. â€Å"I was attacked†¦mentally, not physically. A woman came to me tonight†¦wraithlike, inhuman†¦wreathed in energy. The kind of beauteous, enthralling energy I see you glow with sometimes.† It was a sweet way to describe my post-sex glamour. â€Å"Was she bat-winged and flame-eyed?† I asked, recalling Dante's long-ago joke about the mythological description of succubi. â€Å"Not a succubus, I'm afraid. That might be easier. No, this†¦I believe†¦was Nyx.† â€Å"Did†¦did you say Nyx?† Of course that was what he'd said, but I'd been waiting for him to launch into a discussion of Oneroi, not their mother. Nyx made no sense. It was one thing for dream spirits to appear in your bedroom and in your dreams. It was an entirely different matter for a monstrous primordial entity of chaos who had been instrumental in creating the world as we know it to appear in your bedroom. It was like saying God had stopped by for waffles on the way to work. Maybe Erik was still delirious. â€Å"Nyx,† he confirmed, no doubt guessing my thoughts. â€Å"Chaos herself. Or, more accurately, Night herself.† From the corner, Dante laughed softly. â€Å"We're all fucked now.† â€Å"She's the mother of the Oneroi,† Erik reminded me. â€Å"And, although dreams aren't her sole domain, she too is connected to them.† â€Å"Then†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I tried to grasp the implications. â€Å"Are you saying she's been responsible for what's been happening to me?† â€Å"It almost makes sense,† said Dante. Erik apparently agreed. â€Å"She's linked to time and all the myriad potential fates that exist for the universe. Fate and time are forever moving closer to chaos – to entropy – and that's what she feeds off of. She's trying to create more of it in the world, to bring us that much nearer to ultimate disintegration. But she's a long way from bringing anything like that about, so she settles for small acts of chaos.† I wasn't following. â€Å"My dreams and energy loss are acts of chaos?† â€Å"No.† Erik glanced at Dante again. â€Å"We believe you're her instrument. Since she's connected to time as well as space, she has the ability to see pieces of the future. And there is no greater way to cause chaos in this world than by revealing the future to mortals. Such visions prove consuming, and if crafted in a certain way, they can drive a person to madness. That person will obsess on it, struggling to either stop it or bring it about in a way it's not actually meant to unfold. Both acts are futile. The future plays out as it is meant to. In trying to alter it, we only make it happen that much more quickly.† â€Å"Like the Oedipus story,† noted Seth. â€Å"His father's attempts to change the prophecy's outcome are what actually made it happen.† Erik nodded. â€Å"Exactly.† I understood now too. â€Å"Just like the cop who saw his partner getting shot. And the man who saw his family benefiting by him swimming the Sound.† â€Å"It's how Nyx operates. Everything she shows them is true†¦just not true in the way they expect. The ensuing madness and destruction brought about by showing mortals their futures – futures that they end up bringing about – feeds her.† â€Å"But where do I fit in?† I demanded. â€Å"She isn't showing me my future or making me do crazy things.† â€Å"That's where the theory ends, succubus,† Dante said. â€Å"You're part of it, absolutely. And she needs you to do all this†¦but we don't know the mechanics of it.† â€Å"This is insane,† I said blankly. â€Å"I'm the instrument of an all-powerful primordial deity's wave of chaos and destruction.† â€Å"That's kind of extreme,† said Dante jovially. â€Å"It's not like you work for Google or anything.† Seth gently touched my shoulder. â€Å"Can I ask a question here? I'm confused by†¦like, how is it possible that you're just now realizing that this†¦Nyx†¦is out there? I mean, if she's as powerful as you claim†¦I don't know. Why didn't you think of her right away? Why hasn't this happened before?† â€Å"Because she's locked up,† I said. â€Å"Or well, she's supposed to be. Heaven and Hell have their own agendas for the world; they don't want her running loose and messing it all up. If this is her, I have no idea how she got loose. She's supposed to be guarded by angels, and if there was ever a group that could – † I let out a gasp that turned into a groan. The others stared at me. â€Å"What's wrong?† asked Seth. â€Å"That's why they're here,† I said. â€Å"I'm such an idiot. There's a monstrous regiment of angels in town. I knew they were looking for something, but I didn't know what.† That would also explain Vincent's interest in local news – he was looking for Nyx-patterns that would provide them with a trail. He'd even started to pursue my knowledge of the cop story, but Seth's shooting and his outing as a nephilim had distracted us all. â€Å"Yeah, well, they're doing a bang-up job,† said Dante. I rose from Erik's bedside. â€Å"I have to tell them what we know. Maybe they'll understand what she's doing to me.† â€Å"Be careful,† Erik warned. â€Å"She's suspicious now†¦I think that's why she came after me. I was looking into this, and she didn't want me to succeed.† Something else suddenly occurred to me. â€Å"Erik†¦did she show you a vision?† He nodded. â€Å"What was it?† It must have been horrible, whatever it was. He'd clearly been in shock when Dante had found him. Erik looked at me, and for an instant, I saw a flash of the terror he'd shown when I first walked into the room. Then, it was gone. â€Å"It doesn't matter, Miss Kincaid. She wanted to scare me, to stop me from helping you†¦but it didn't work. The future will unfold as it's meant to.† Seeing my doubtful look, he smiled again and pointed toward the door. â€Å"Stop worrying about me. I will be fine. Go find your angel friends before anything worse happens.† I gave him a quick hug before stepping into the other room with Seth and Dante. Once again, I paused to study the picture of Erik and the woman. Just as I'd always imagined Erik living in his store, I'd also never pictured him having any sort of personal life. Obviously, that was a foolish thought on my part. Who was this woman? Wife? Lover? Just a friend? Beside me, Dante held out his hand to Seth and introduced himself. The two men sized each other up. â€Å"I've heard so much about you,† said Dante cheerfully. â€Å"I never heard of you until this morning,† remarked Seth. My eyes were still on the picture. Near the edge of the frame, I noticed a crease in the photograph. I don't know what made me do it, but I picked the frame up and pulled the picture out. The right-hand third of the photo had been folded, obscuring another person who had been with Erik and the woman. Dante. I looked up in surprise. Dante took the picture and frame from me and reassembled them. â€Å"There's no time for this, succubus.† â€Å"But – â€Å" â€Å"We have more important things to deal with than your own curiosity right now.† I cast an uneasy look at Erik's closed bedroom door. Dante was right. â€Å"Do you think you could maybe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Dante sighed, anticipating my question. â€Å"Yes, succubus. I'll check in on him today.† For a moment, I thought I saw something in his face†¦something that wasn't just him grudgingly humoring me. Like that maybe – maybe – he cared about Erik too. It was weird, but then, they'd all looked pretty happy in the photograph. The worst enemies were often those who had been friends. This Erik-Dante puzzle just got weirder and weirder. I started to turn away, then Dante called, â€Å"Oh, hey. I can probably make your charm, now that we know what this is.† Hope surged up in me at the thought of finally having safe dreams again. â€Å"Really?† â€Å"If you still want me to,† he added warily. I presumed he was subtly referencing my skepticism – which hadn't entirely abated. Still, now that I had a name for my predator, I was more anxious than ever to take whatever protection I could get. â€Å"Definitely. If you think it'll work.† â€Å"In theory, at least. Nyx isn't exactly a run-of-the-mill spirit. I'll see what I can do.† I drove Seth back to his condo, anxious to let him off, so I could do some searching. â€Å"I have to go find the angels,† I told him. â€Å"I'll catch up to you later.† â€Å"So†¦no movie tonight?† â€Å"I – what? Oh, damn it.† I'd forgotten about the plans we'd made. He'd gotten tickets for an indie movie that was showing one night only here. â€Å"I'm sorry†¦I really am†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Well,† said Seth wryly, â€Å"considering life and death are literally on the line, I think I can forgive it this time.† â€Å"You know what you should do? You should take Maddie. You still owe her a date.† He smiled. â€Å"I have the best girlfriend in the world, always trying to push me into the arms of another woman.† â€Å"I'm serious! She's feeling unwanted. She thinks you don't like her.† â€Å"I like her a lot. The whole thing is just weird, that's all. I think I'm going to see if Terry can go to the movie. Don't give me that look,† he warned. â€Å"I'll still take her somewhere. Just not to this.† We kissed good-bye, and Seth promised to check on me later. Once he was gone, I set out to find my guardian angels.

Age Doesnt Matter

AGE DOESN’T MATTER I feel that teenage criminals should not be considered not guilty by reason of adolescence. Just because someone is under the age of 18 doesn’t give them the right to break the law. In my opinion teens should know the difference between right and wrong, therefore should be charged for their crimes just as any other person would be. Although in our adolescent years our brains aren’t fully developed and we tend to make poor and irrational decisions; teens should know if their actions are right or wrong.For example if a kid steals a shirt and get caught they should get into trouble. Since it’s a severe crime, I don’t think they should go to jail for it, but their must be some form of punishment. I feel that teen’s must be punished for the severity of the crime they committed, not by the age at which they commit it. For intense, murder. Murder is unacceptable no matter who you are or what age you are. No human has the right to take another humans life.Whether you 17 or 47 murder is murder. Sure their may be different thought processes going on in the 17 and 47 year olds brains as to why they chose to murder, but that shouldn’t matter. The main thing is that they chose to act that way, they chose to kill, and they should receive the same punishment. The punishment itself should depend on the severity of the crime not on the age of the person committing it. Say a teen kills a woman at the mall and is in court being sentenced.The jury needs to think about the crime itself and not feel sympathy for the boy just because he’s young and will have to spend the rest of his life in jail. If that old woman that got killed was someone they knew then they would have absolutely no second thought about sending the kid away for life. The problem is that the court system is too lenient on teen’s. A murderer should be sentenced as a murderer and a shoplifter a shoplifter, a teen should not get any kind of special treatment.In conclusion I completely think that a teen should not be considered not guilty by reason of adolescence. Teen’s know the difference between right and wrong and should choose to stay out of trouble. If they choose to commit a crime, then they deserve the full punishment that comes along with it. They shouldn’t receive any type of special treatment whatsoever. They are responsible for their actions and need to live with the consequences just as any other person would.