The Perspective And The Purpose Of History :: Expository Essays Research Papers

The Perspective And The Purpose Of HistoryHistory is a story told everywhere time. It is a way of recreating the past so it can be studied in the present and re-interpreted for future generations. Since humans are the sole beneficiaries of history, it is important for us to know what the purpose of history is and how historians include their own perspective concerning historical events. The purpose and perspective of history is vital in order for individuals to realise how it would be almost impossible for us to live out our lives effectively if we had no knowledge of the past. Also, in order to gain a sound knowledge of the past, we flummox to understand the political, social and cultural aspects of the times we are studying. In What is History, Alan Bullock believes that history is an attempt to explain the sequence and connections of events. He believes that History is to explain why...it is non to explain why they had to follow, but why they did in fact follow. It is believed by Bullock that history is taken apart and is put together by an historian, so that it may yield new evidence, that will teach us a lesson from the past in order to become more aware of the future. This connective bet helps us get inside the skin of this man or group of men. Russel B. Nye also shares similarities with McPhee in History, Meaning and Method, saying that History is a response to the gross(a) desire of human beings to know about themselves. Nye believes that history is concerned with societies and the individuals who live in these societies. He emphasises the importance of people, their individual choices, the values they hold and the angles of vision by which they have looked at themselves and the world. It is important to look at history if one is to understand how and why men and women have acted together in society. Nye also shares the very(prenominal) view as Bullock in suggesting that History has the special obligation to recall, reassess and re-interpret the p ast, bringing it to bear on the present and translating it into a form each new generation can use. Nye believes that history is a social science which requires hypotheses and observations. If we are to make proper use of history, historians have to arrange it in a way that makes it easy for us to identify the facts.

A College Student’s Approach to Courtly Love Essay -- Relationships Li

A College Students Approach to Courtly fareThe term courtly love is a highly ambiguous one. As it applies to works of literature, it spans over hundreds of years and over a half dozen countries. because finding its specific literary and allegorical definition and impact on literature is difficult. It is important to understand the roots of courtly love. To do so nub that one gains a greater understanding of the most foundational element of any society- the relationship between men and women. If a student of literature holds only a vague understanding of courtly love, then he or she holds only a vague understanding of medieval culture. In turn when this student moves on to various other periods of British literature, they bequeath train a nearly impossible time determining in what ways the dynamics of romantic relationships and espousals have changed. In this paper I will work to find a concise yet comprehensive definition for courtly love that whitethorn be useful to students o f literature. Additionally I will explore the impact of courtly love on the literature in which it makes appearances. Finally I will examine the contemporary understanding of this term and how it is relevant to contemporary times.Gaston Paris first coined the term amour courteious in 1883. In this, it is clear that the French have had a tremendous impact on the spread of this phenomenon in literature (as with the French troubadours). Courtly love certainly functions on two levels. We mustiness let out these two uses of the word- to describe experience and to denote a genre. In the first it is a lay out of codes that regulates the interaction between two lovers. There are set rules that were often unspoken at the time. In this sense it is not so much a term ... ...e if we have no starting point? Women scrutinizing for liberation from social customs and restrictions cannot find it without empathizing with those who came before them. Inner conflicts between human nature and social well being that men experience must be dealt with in some way. If he knows the attempts proposed before him, he can save time and effort in reserving from investing in these. For any ref of any time period of the courtly love tradition, these questions and should remain in mind. The answers may give us a new direction to move in as we reread the classics and write our own.Works Cited Ford, Boris. Medieval Literature. Part Two The Eurpean Inheritance. New York, 1983.ODonogue, Bernard. The Courtly Love Tradition. New Jersey, 1982.Stevens, J.E. Medieval Romance. London, 1973.Zumthor, Paul. Speaking of the warmness Ages. Lincoln, 1986.

Jarassic Park: The Dinosaurs Were Not To Blame For The Destruction of Jurassic Park :: essays research papers

Jarassic Park The Dinosaurs Were Not To Blame For The Destruction of JurassicParkNature wont be stop .......or blamed for what happens(Ian Malcolm ,Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton). Jurassic Park mystifies its critique evenas it makes it or rather, to be more precise, it offers us contradictorymessages approximately whom to blame for what goes wrong. Science finally takes theblame. Near the end of the book, while the humans argon fighting off thevelociraptors, Malcolm (the mathematician) delivers a long and didactic speech intimately how science is to blame for messing up the world because it has nomorality science tells us how to do things, not what things are worth doing andwhy. Malcolm talks about how the inventions of science, exchangeable Jurassic Park, arefated to exceed our control, just as his chaos theory predicts. According toMalcolm, chaos theory was developed in response to problems give care predicting theweather, and the theory says it simply cant be predicted bey ond the space of afew days, because the forces involved are too complex and unstable. Ifeverything in a popular taradiddle like Jurassic Park really means something else,then so too does chaos theory.The basic plot of Jurassic Park is fairly simple. A Palo Altocorporation called International Genetics Technologies, Inc. (InGen) has becomeable -- through an entrepreneurial combination of audacity, technology, humaningenuity, and fantastic outlays of capital (mostly funded by Japanese investors,who are the only ones willing to wait years for uncertain results) -- to clonedinosaurs from the bits of their DNA recovered from dinosaur blood inside thebodies of insects that once bit the now-extinct animals and were then trappedand continue in amber for millions of years. (This is, by the way,theoretically possible.) The project is the dream of John Hammond, a billionairecapitalist with a passionate interest in dinosaurs, who comes across in thenovel as a bizarre combination of Ross Perot and Ronald Reagan -- partauthoritarian martinet, part dissociated and childish old man. With theresources of his wealth and power, Hammond buys a rugged island a cardinal or somiles off the coast of Costa Rica and turns it into Jurassic Park, the mostadvanced amusement park in the world, with attractions so astonishing theywould capture the imagination of the unblemished world a population of living,breathing actual dinosaurs.With the park just a year away from opening to the public (those richenough to pay, that is), the nervous investors maintain on sending a team to theisland to determine whether or not the park is as safe and under control as

Biography of Andrew Carnegie Essay -- Andrew Carnegie Management Wealt

Biography of Andrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie was born into a poor working class family live in the t declare of Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1835. His father operated a small hand looming business located in the family home. The Carnegies was literate, well read, and active in the politics of the day. It was a time of repression of the Scottish worker by the Government, the employers, and the culture. ungovernable in thought as well as actively participating in protests was part of the Carnegie family sprightliness style. He was exposed to all of Scotlands dramatic portrayal of Scottish Heroes. He learned the poetry and songs that were filled with the heroics of the underdog and their fight for equating. Andrew Carnegies mother was the dependable parent in the family. She protected her two sons from associating with all corrupting values. Andrew said, Yes, mother would have taken her two boys, one under each arm, and perished with them then they should integrate with low company i n their extreme youth. thither was not a prouder family in the land. Anything low, mean, deceitful, shifty, course, underhand, or gossipy was foreign to the heroic soul mother. Andrew idealized his mother, his state and its heritage, and the struggle for fair treatment of the worker. The Carnegie family left Scotland when Andrew was 13, and came to Pittsburgh, dada at the urging of his two aunts. His mother was the behind the move and she continued to be a motivator, supporter, and control of Andrew and his individualized interests for the rest of her life. Carnegie arrived in America in 1848, and found the state of official social equality he had been searching for. Although the worker had not gained equality in living and working conditions, at least(prenominal) the laws of this government promoted its attainment. He had been filled with the idealism of a radical reformer in Scotland, but in America he quickly became involved with his own climb to success. His greatest charact eristic was his ability to take advantage of any prospect that was offered to him. His first opportunity to advance was his promotion from a factory spool boy to writing entries into his employers accounts. At 15, he grabbed at the chance to leave the factory for a job as a telegraph messenger. Andrew make it his concern to learn the name of every business owner in the city. Recognizing these men on the bridle-path shortened... ... . . . the ultimate source of Carnegies consuming pipe dream remains elusive. Ultimately human behavior results from the way in which an individual accommodates himself to the contradictions and ambiguities with in himself and his society.. . . . Andrew Carnegie had a personal set of paradoxes. The best his biographers can do is to destine the pressures and document the response . . . . In himself Carnegie knew kindness and cruelty, vanity and shame, generosity and greed, doubt and confidence (Baker 27).Carnegie cannot be dumb even with reading all o f his writings. He came from a very poor childhood, worked in sweat factories, and yet in his later life, these memories were obliterated by his regent(postnominal) drive for power and wealth.Swetnam believes that, Carnegie developed a school of thought of his own. It was made up of his early religious and political training, rugged individualism, desire for mastery and achievement, greed, generosity, and a time that the world-and especially those close to him-needed his ideas and guidance. No small instalment was his struggle of conscience over having indulged in what in 1868 he had alluded to as the worship of the golden calf ( 67). Biography of Andrew Carnegie Essay -- Andrew Carnegie Management WealtBiography of Andrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie was born into a poor working class family living in the town of Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1835. His father operated a small hand looming business located in the family home. The Carnegies was literate, well read, and ac tive in the politics of the day. It was a time of repression of the Scottish worker by the Government, the employers, and the culture. Rebellious in thought as well as actively participating in protests was part of the Carnegie family life style. He was exposed to all of Scotlands dramatic portrayal of Scottish Heroes. He learned the poetry and songs that were filled with the heroics of the underdog and their fight for equality. Andrew Carnegies mother was the strong parent in the family. She protected her two sons from associating with any corrupting values. Andrew said, Yes, mother would have taken her two boys, one under each arm, and perished with them then they should mingle with low company in their extreme youth. There was not a prouder family in the land. Anything low, mean, deceitful, shifty, course, underhand, or gossipy was foreign to the heroic soul mother. Andrew idealized his mother, his country and its heritage, and the struggle for fair treatment of the worker. The C arnegie family left Scotland when Andrew was 13, and came to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the urging of his two aunts. His mother was the behind the move and she continued to be a motivator, supporter, and controller of Andrew and his personal interests for the rest of her life. Carnegie arrived in America in 1848, and found the state of official social equality he had been searching for. Although the worker had not gained equality in living and working conditions, at least the laws of this government promoted its attainment. He had been filled with the idealism of a radical reformer in Scotland, but in America he quickly became involved with his own climb to success. His greatest characteristic was his ability to take advantage of any opportunity that was offered to him. His first opportunity to advance was his promotion from a factory bobbin boy to writing entries into his employers accounts. At 15, he grabbed at the chance to leave the factory for a job as a telegraph messenger. A ndrew made it his concern to learn the name of every business owner in the city. Recognizing these men on the street shortened... ... . . . the ultimate source of Carnegies consuming ambition remains elusive. Ultimately human behavior results from the way in which an individual accommodates himself to the contradictions and ambiguities with in himself and his society.. . . . Andrew Carnegie had a personal set of paradoxes. The best his biographers can do is to designate the pressures and document the response . . . . In himself Carnegie knew kindness and cruelty, vanity and shame, generosity and greed, doubt and confidence (Baker 27).Carnegie cannot be understood even with reading all of his writings. He came from a very poor childhood, worked in sweat factories, and yet in his later life, these memories were obliterated by his powerful drive for power and wealth.Swetnam believes that, Carnegie developed a philosophy of his own. It was made up of his early religious and political t raining, rugged individualism, desire for mastery and achievement, greed, generosity, and a conviction that the world-and especially those close to him-needed his ideas and guidance. No small element was his struggle of conscience over having indulged in what in 1868 he had alluded to as the worship of the golden calf ( 67).

The Condition of Women During the French Revolution :: Essays Papers

The Condition of Women During the French Revolution In Women and the Limits of Citizenship in the French Revolution, Olwen H. Hufton expresses her intention to utter that womens responses to their various situations during the revolution transformed and modified the entire history of the period 1789-1815.(1) In order to demonstrate her point, Hufton evaluates the genus Paris engendered crowd and their interest in frequent sovereignty, the gender complexities of the revolutionary reform policies, and the guerilla warfare of women in the provinces.(2) The complexity of womens roles in the French Revolution, she notes, did involve bread rioters, members of political clubs, and defenders of religious traditions, but she resists the wide-eyed evolutionary view of a revolutionary woman, much(prenominal) as the politically incompatible woman whose involvement became a serial disaster (3) or the fanatic woman of political clubs and religion.(4) In 1789, bread rioters marched to Versaill es, dried their rain-soaked clothing in the assembly hall, disrupted the proceedings with rowdy behavior, invaded the queens bedroom, and pressured the king into a humiliating tour to Paris, where the chief baker could be coerced into providing bread.(5) A crowd of women in 1789 removed the king from the Versailles court where he could be influenced by his wifes foreign family and established Paris as the center of French politics. However, Hufton concludes that the most persistent ghost of the French Revolution, the spectre that would haunt future politicians and deprive women of the right to participate in elections, was the rabble-rousing woman of 1795-96. (6)I will show how Hufton develops her theme of women in specific situations that impact the condition of women during the French Revolution, especially the 1795-96 counter-revolutionary woman that other historians of the French Revolution, such as Suzanne Desan, recognize to be significant in the changing trends in the condi tion of women during the French Revolution. Joan Wallach Scott and Susan Dalton contribute insights into the roles of Olympe de Gouges and Madame Roland, Darline Gay Levy and Harriet B. Applewhite develop the subtheme of militant women in Paris, and Joan B. Landes discusses women in the public subject field, while Suzanne Desan explains how women created a public sphere through religious activism. Despite the legal prohibition of participation of women in the public sphere after 1793, some women succeeded in influencing French policies regarding religion through clever, courageous activist efforts. Women did not succeed in acquiring the right to participate in elections until 1945, but they took advantage of other informal, or even illegal means, to influence French society.

The Condition of Women During the French Revolution :: Essays Papers

The Condition of Women During the French Revolution In Women and the Limits of Citizenship in the French Revolution, Olwen H. Hufton expresses her intention to march that womens responses to their various situations during the revolution transformed and modified the entire history of the period 1789-1815.(1) In order to demonstrate her point, Hufton evaluates the capital of France engendered crowd and their interest in favorite sovereignty, the gender complexities of the revolutionary reform policies, and the guerilla warfare of women in the provinces.(2) The complexity of womens roles in the French Revolution, she notes, did involve bread rioters, members of political clubs, and defenders of religious traditions, but she resists the simple(a) evolutionary view of a revolutionary woman, such(prenominal) as the politically incompatible woman whose involvement became a serial disaster (3) or the overzealous woman of political clubs and religion.(4) In 1789, bread rioters marched t o Versailles, dried their rain-soaked clothing in the assembly hall, disrupted the proceedings with rowdy behavior, invaded the queens bedroom, and pressured the king into a humiliating move around to Paris, where the chief baker could be coerced into providing bread.(5) A crowd of women in 1789 removed the king from the Versailles court where he could be influenced by his wifes foreign family and established Paris as the center of French politics. However, Hufton concludes that the most persistent ghost of the French Revolution, the spectre that would haunt future politicians and deprive women of the right to participate in elections, was the rabble-rousing woman of 1795-96. (6)I will show how Hufton develops her theme of women in specific situations that impact the condition of women during the French Revolution, especially the 1795-96 counter-revolutionary woman that other historians of the French Revolution, such as Suzanne Desan, recognize to be significant in the changing tr ends in the condition of women during the French Revolution. Joan Wallach Scott and Susan Dalton contribute insights into the roles of Olympe de Gouges and Madame Roland, Darline Gay Levy and Harriet B. Applewhite develop the subtheme of militant women in Paris, and Joan B. Landes discusses women in the public playing field, while Suzanne Desan explains how women created a public sphere through religious activism. Despite the legal prohibition of participation of women in the public sphere after 1793, some women succeeded in influencing French policies regarding religion through clever, courageous activist efforts. Women did not succeed in acquiring the right to participate in elections until 1945, but they took advantage of other informal, or even illegal means, to influence French society.

The Benefits Of Fitness In The Workplace

Tit wish well costs over the past decade from 2002 to 2008, the return was $2. 71 for every dollar sped NT. A corporate health programme is an employer-sponsored program designed to jut out employees as they adopt and sustain behaviors that reduce health risks, improve quality of life, and enhance personal effectiveness. A key divisor of the wellness program is sponsoring a fitness total in or near the workplace. Studies show that a regular regime of coiffe for the employee will decline health care costs, absenteeism, and workplace stress.Productivity increases as the worker roll in the hay operate much efficiently. Happy and tidy employees are more focused, dedicated, and productive go at work. While providing employees with nutrition education, employer s can take a preventative approach to the health of their staff. This preventative practice o f health care benefits the employer as well as the employee by preventing continuing diseases through proper diet and exercis e. This increases the employees physical and mental health, make Eng a more productive employee. The more productive the employee, the more successful lull the business.In Duran 2 order for this approach to succeed, businesses would require employees to p eradicate in at least one remains of exercise provided by the company. The company would need to establish a fitness center ideal for increasing heart rates and challenging muscles. The difficulty of staying salutary in todays society has become overwhelming t o the fulfillment worker. Many jobs require long periods of sitting or standing, thereby creating weak and agonistic muscles. Work takes up a majority of the day, preventing people from squeezing in a full work Out.Having a fitness center at or near the workplace allows employ yes to conveniently improve their mental and physical health without the stress of a overloaded schedule. A companys wellness center should support a wide range of exercise sees for a diverse group o f employees with different fitness goals. Cardiovascular exercise is pr oven to improve the condition of the heart, while lifting cargos builds muscles to support a strong err body and promotes joint function. Rotating exercises each day, business could organize runs, walks, and bike rides during work hours for their staff.Yoga classes offered before work help open and awaken the employees, giving them better focus and concentration. To count err the midday slump any jobholders experience after a hard morning at work, employers could r fresh their employees with an afternoon session of strength training to work the muscles that have been cramped from sitting or standing for long periods of time. An hour hold woo old be enough time to improve the productiveness of an employee if utilized correctly. An effective BRB cake from work would include a cardiovascular exercise with moderate resistance to challenge e and increase the heart rate.Another benefit of corporate wellness is a st ronger relationship between cow errors. The time pass in the gym and outside running or biking with employees allows the m to bond, Duran 3 creating trust and understanding. The more an employee can trust and relate to his or her coworker, the better they can work together. Living a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise is a desirable benefit offered b company. Joanne McFadden, an American City Business journal writer, stated, (1 benefits of exercise are welkin and irrefutable, and an onsite fitness center is an at attractive benefit for employees. The health of the American workforce has been declining, reducing productive TTY and company earnings. An ingrowing employee costs more to cover than a health y employee. However, the need for health care is greater than ever. (2) More than 133 mill ion Americans, have at least one chronic condition. Providing healthcare to more than 1 33 mi Lion American requires a large kernel of money. ( 3)According to the Centers for Disease C display (CDC), chronic disease requires 75% of the health care spending budget. 5)Premium s for multiprocessors health insurance have risen from $5,791 in 1999 to $13,3 75 in 2009 (a 131 % increase), with the amount paid by workers rising by 128%. Employers c loud have a significant impact on the health care system on the button now by improving the health of the IR employees. (4) fleshiness is one of the root causes of chronic disease, accounting for nearly 1 0% of the amount that the U. S. Spends annually on healthcare. Obesity is preventable as well as reversible. Living a healthy lifestyle includes working in an environment that encourages physical wellness.Reducing stress and increasing productivity encourage healthier weight man segment. The benefits are not only for the employee but also for the employer. The financial I benefits a company receives from a healthy employee include reduced cost in health car e spending. The employee will cost less to cover if the worker is ma intaining or improving his or her overall Duran 4 condition. (6)A recent study shows that if individuals adhere to healthy lifestyle e practices such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating well, exercising regularly, and avoiding to sins, chronic disease could be reduced by as much as 80%.The price of an unhealthy ample eye takes a toll on the financial success of a company as well as the overall health care system. Businesses are beginning to provide employees with tools they need to lay away eve a healthier lifestyle. (7) Two years ago, Trust Company of Illinois started a well as program. The companys thirty employees underwent biometric screening-?tests of r blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol. Workplace wellness helps curb health care costs, term 01 levels and other important measures. It was really an eye-opening exercise, says Debbie Greg rash, SCOFF at the Downers Aggravated company. It turned on the lightly for people. The company went a step further last year. Workpl ace wellness consultant C thy Leman, who runs Glen Lambasted Nutrient Inc. , was hired to conduct a seminal r on walking. Workers got pedometers for a walking contest. Other wellness events were added this year, including seminars and healthy c joking demonstrations, and more sessions are scheduled for 2013. We are still in the e infancy stages of our program, notes Ms. Gregorian, who cant define the savings yet. Overall, the cost benefits of worker wellness are becoming apparent.A 201 0 study in the journal Health Affairs showed that every dollar washed-out on wellness program ms reduced corporate medical costs by $3. 27 and cut absenteeism costs by $2. 73. An Jug just survey by the National Business Group on Health found that 61 % of firms found wellness in titivates to be one f the three most effective tools to keep down healthcare costs. A 201 0 study in the American Duran 5 Journal of Health progress showed that workers highly engaged in a wellness s program have fewer hosp ital admissions, shorter hospital stays and lower overall costs. The interdict aspect of providing an in office wellness center is the budget. The e cost of a wellness center in an office will vary depending on the equipment however, c costly machines are not necessarily the most effective method of working out. Free weights are an inexpensive way to perform a variety of exercises in any environment. Jumping rope and ruin Eng the stairs are common and effective cardiovascular exercises. The amount of body weight e exercises that can be done in a variety Of places is more than enough to fill an hour long workout t.Providing an affordable fitness center for the employees is achievable by using the surround ding space, going outside, and including free weights as well as using body)weight to work out. Many employees seeking weight loss as a wellness goal will have more of an I incentive to go to work if exercising is included in the workplace. By creating a more desire able work space , equines see a decrease in absences and late arrivals. Providing employees WI the motivation to go to work increases attention and performance.Educating unhealthy employ sees and giving them the opportunities to improve their physical condition in the workplace is a des arable benefit that all businesses should offer. By providing employees with a wellness center, the employer will create a MO re efficient worker. The stressful tasks of a workday can be approached with more energy y and productivity through a healthy diet and exercise routine provided by the company. The me player benefits ancillary, while the employee benefits both mentally and physically from exe rising in the workplace.

Hsbc Case Essay

HSBC is known as the Worlds local anaesthetic anaesthetic bank. Originally called the HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, HSBC was established in 1865 to finance the growing betray between China and the United Kingdom. HSBC is now the second largest bank in the world, serving 100 million customers through 9,500 branches in 79 countries. The company is nonionized by business line (personal pecuniary services customer finance commercial banking corporate investment banking and markets private banking), as well as by goegraphic segment (Asia-Pacific, U. K. /Eurozone, North America/NAFTA, South America, Middle East).Despite operating in 79 different countries, the bank works hard to maintain a local feel and local knowledge in each area. HSBCs fundamental operating strategy is to remain snug to its customers. As HSBC chairman Sir buns Bond said in November 2003, Our position as the worlds local bank enables us to approach each country uniquely, blending local knowle dge with a widely distributed operating platform. For example, consider HSBCs local marketing efforts in New York City. To prove to jaded New Yorkers that the London-based financial behemoth was the worlds local bank. HSBC held a New York Citys Most knowledgeable Cabbie contest. The winning cabbie gets paid to drive full-time for HSBC for the stratum, and HSBC customers win, too. both customer showing an HSBC bankcard, checkbook, or bank statement can get a free ride in the HSBC-branded Bankcab. The campaign demonstrates HSBCs local knowledge. In order to make New Yorkers believe youre local, you have to act local, said Renegade Marketing Groups CEO Drew Neisser. across the world in Hong Kong, HSBC undertook a different campaign.In the region hit hard by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, HSBC launched a program to regenerate the local economy. HSBC plowed back interest payments to customers who worked in industries most affected by SARS (cinemas, hotels, re staurants, and travel agencies). The program eased its customers financial burden. The bank to a fault promoted Hong Kongs commercial sector by offering discounts and rebates for customers who use an HSBC credit card when shopping and dining out, to help businesses affected by the downturn. More than 1,500 local merchants participated in the promotion.In addition to local marketing, HSBC does niche marketing. For example, it found a little-known product area that was growing at 125 percent a year pet insurance. In December 2003 it announced that it will distribute nationwide per insurance through its HSBC Insurance agency, making the insurance available to its depositors. HSBC also segments demographically. In the United states, the Bank will target the immigrant population, particularly Hispanics, now that it has acquired Bital in Mexico, where many migrants to the United States deposit money.Overall, the bank has been consciously pulling together its worldwide business under a si ngle global brand with the Worlds local bank slogan. The aim is to link its international size with close relationships in each of the countries in which it operates. The company spends $600 million annually on global marketing and will likely consolidate and use fewer ad agencies. HSBC will decide who gets the account by giving each agency a brand-strategy exercise. Agencies will be vying for the account by improving on HSBCs number 37 global brand ranking

Early Marriage Rate Essay

trades union (also called matrimony or wedlock) is a socially or ritually recognized union or legal contract surrounded by spouses that establishes rights and obligations between them, between them and their children, and between them and their in-laws. The definition of marriage varies according to different cultures, but it is principally an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually sexual, are acknowledged. In some cultures, marriage is recommended or considered to be compulsory before pursuing any sexual activity. When defined broadly, marriage is considered a cultural universal. An early marriage, is an hack where argued by many now a days. Some people are advocated for early marriage because it is healthy. Until the late 20th century, teen marriage was very greens and instrumental in securing a family, continuing a blood lineage and producing offspring for labour.Many factors contribute to teen marriage such as teen maternal quality, religion, security, fam ily and peer pressure, arranged marriage, economic and political reasons, social advancement, and cultural reasons. Studies have shown that teenage married couples are often less advantageous, may come from at sea homes, may have little education and work low status jobs in comparison to those that marry after adolescence. Early marriage arise from minute of causes like lack of education, gender bios, pressure from family or friends, and lack of knowledge about the implications of early marriage. Early marriage also has several negative effects. It seat lead to psychological and emotional stress not only to both parties but also to their children. It can also lead to health problem to girls because as their body is too young to conceive.ConclusionIn conclusion, early marriage rate increased during the year of 2011 2014, all parents out there must be aware of this problem, as time goes by the case of early marriage will increased every year. The lack of formal education, financia l problems and early pregnancy are all the effects of early marriage and not only will it affect the parents but also chains the children in unhealthy customs. Marriage is a great responsibility, and everyone should consider the effects of early marriage. And also, the Government must consider this as a major problem. Teenager must have learn in order to control this early marriage problem, they are too young to enter the big responsibility of having their own family.Graphical Aid go through 1 Early marriage rate ranges 2 million up to 4 million. The Government must be aware of this problem.Figure 2 From 2 million up to 4 million. At this point the rate increases simultaneously. This is very alarming the Government must control this problem.Figure 3 2 million up to 4 million is the rate of Early Marriage. The rate increases simultaneously.

Ethnography Essay

The deeply shadow diner is one of the umpteen staples of urban areas they act as beacons to entirely those with no slip intermit to be. Whether the bar has long since closed, or staying home just isnt an option any more, 24 magazine of day eateries are the show to be when all in all else fails. I recently made an educational trip to a 24 hour IHOP for some optic of the night hash-browns and ethnographic field nones. I was escorted to one of the largest tables in the room by a tired looking moreover albeit enthusiastic young man, and was surprised by how many people were actually there.It was three in the morning, so Id half expected to not see a soul, but there were always at least four tables existence served. Among the clientele was a couple a conclave of hoodlums whom I could only guess had been band geeks in another life and, my personal favorite, a group of middle aged intoxicateden sushi connoisseurs. Being seated closest to the sushi lovers, I got to eavesdrop on their conversations and creepily bond with them, unbeknownst to them. Unsurprisingly, almost eachone in the room was vary shades of inebriated.The conversation was fairly educational in the mind that they were all very proud of their sexual endeavors and had decided to meticulously compare notes. They were surprisingly satisfactory with themselves, as well as those within ear shot. It was sort of a contagious comfortable-ness there was almost a community in the grungy itsy-bitsy IHOP. Every one there had probably been kicked out of somewhere else because of closing time, or discontentment all of us came together not only for diner eggs and pancakes, but for a place to be.Closing time had become the great equalizer, bringing people from all walks of life from star crossed lovers to clamorous sushi lovers into their local IHOP, more for a place to be than anything else. Many forces were at work in that IHOP. The waiters were trying to make as much as they could dispatc h of tips, iHop stayed open late to facilitate all those who just werent ready to go home yet during the witching hour, and the establishments patrons were filling many societal expectations.All of these worked together to create a very different aesthetic than one would see in the daylight. People were more unrestrained because of the late hour and whatever theyd been a part of earlier, yet certain societal standards and ideals were being held up while others, such as quietness, were generally thrown and twisted to the wind. Meanwhile, my incredibly exhausted waiter worked to be as professional as possible while exerting the least amount of work possible granted, that isnt needfully that different from the daytime.This reflected the corporate values of IHOP that were at contribute. It caters to a very specific demographic the less wealthy, and very hungry. IHOP is also one of the only places in its suburban zip code that offers 24-hour service. Which, I admittedly found surpri sing I would throw assumed there would be more places to go in the middle of the night, but realized very early into my pre-dawn adventure that there wasnt much for one to do past midnight.This proves not only that nothing solid happens after 2am, but also that nothing interesting will happen either. IHOP was the only place with its doors open after last call, after the kitchens had closed, and after the kids let off couldnt head home but had to something anyways. Its interesting how so few places were there for the people who werent ready to head home for the night and how many people stubbornly refused to go home.All the factors played together to set the scene for a bad Romantic Comedy (which undoubtedly could have been playing itself out in the corner booth, where the very young and very passionate couple were paying more attention to themselves than to their pancakes. All of the behaviors in the eating house came together to form a cultural idea of the late night scene th at one might get from the movies. People were far more uninhibited whether from lack of sleep, or intoxication, but they all still played their roles in the scene. on that point was a delicate balance between outlandish behavior and the rules of interaction between wait-staff and customers at play. Multiple expectations came together to form a very unique dynamic. It is worth saying that people were in the IHOP at that ungodly hour to be seen. They at least subconsciously knew that they were performers in very large scale production, and decided to stay out because of their role in social norms. They chose not to hide away in their homes until dawn, because someone needed to uphold the night owl character.Mumford argues in What is a City? That the city requires and creates drama, unlike the suburbs which is interesting in regards to the very slim options one has in the suburbs past midnight beyond just going home. The percent of the population who want drama and tension (which in this sense are played out through late night excursions) is far lower in the suburbs, not because of the difference between structures in the city and the suburbs but because of the difference in mindset between these dickens areas (which also yielded the different structures).The characters in the story at hand are therefore outliers, in a sense. They seek out an experience that one generally only sees though is not exclusively- in the city, and have a more unique experience because of it. There was a surprising amount of diversity in the demographics that night (really, no matter what tax bracket youre in, youre not going to pose a place open in Aurora at 3am beyond Wal-Mart and the very occasional late night eatery), which created even more forces at play in the room.With every now demographic came a new set of ideas that were being prescribed to and upheld. Many sponsors played into the behavior of the performers. Societies concept of morality is a very large factor here. Many of the patrons had ducked in to iHop as a way to pass the time while sobering up and moving on with their life which was caused by societys laws and idea of moral behavior. While having a night out, they also were influenced not only by their preconceived look of behavior that one is to have in the night, but also by the behavior that is not acceptable in society generally.Being overly drunk in public is generally frowned upon, as well as driving under the influence, which explains why many people ducked in to the restaurant it was the best place to go so their night out wouldnt have to end, but so they could also start to sober up. A variety of laws are in place that work to discourage public intoxication and bad behavior that might happen during intoxication, but there are at the same time a plethora of ideas at play constructed by the media about youth and the role of alcohol and late nights into the youth culture.It all plays into an equilibrium between two different sets of expectations and guidelines for behavior. The economic system is also a sponsor of the performance. It is in the economys best interest that every performer takes on the role of the consumer, and consumerism is marketed from every angle possible so that every person will feel the need to participate. The need to stay out and continue the adventure is an idea part concocted by the economy and media to influence people to connect the idea of leading an interesting life with products and experiences that can be profited off of.By staying open all night, IHOP offers an experience to a select group of customers, who for whatever reason need to stay up late and have eggs and coffee. Performers, for a variety of reasons, all take part in consumerism as a means to the experience of staying out late, or getting away from something. The late night patronage of IHOP is indicative of much larger forces and ideas that influence society as a whole. Customers from all walks of life participate in a late night performance that reveals influences from the economy and society as a whole.Each performer has a different reason for being there but plays into the greater whole of societal norms and expectations. A suburban 24 hour restaurant seems at first like an unlikely place for big ideas to be at play especially when the place is sort of dead, and the customers look worn-out and inebriated, but every component of the large whole has meaning in its own way and is essential for the bigger realize to exist.

Personal Responsibilty

Everyone necessitate to be willing to accept the state for their own actions and held account equal to(p) them. First, if a student wants to be successful in college, by him showing up to class on clipping every week, and paying close at hug drugtion to the lectures is the first step to gain success. If he lays towards the front of the class, and sit up straight. These are most of the best ways to stay alert and follow along with the instructor, receive the information they are giving. Second, reading the course curriculum and the weekly assignments is another great way to obtain the information you will be learning.If you are a student that is easily distracted, wherefore finding a quiet place to read is a good way to retain the information your learning. The student might need to be well rested onwards picking up their textbook. Oftentimes, students may fall asleep once they start reading. If they have difficulty retaining information, they may want to read aloud, reread th e statement, or look themselves in the situation. It is a good way to understand what it is they are reading. Finally, good time management and discipline is essential to being a successful college student.For some students, having a to-do list, calendar, or planner. Sitting down with an agenda will considerably decrease study time. It gives the student a visual on what needs to be completed and manages time better. You can focus on what you are going to get accomplish instead of thinking about the other ten assignments that must be completed. In conclusion, it is the students individual(prenominal) function to attend class, pay attention, and study. These are some of the key fundamentals of becoming a successful student. These hardly a(prenominal) basic fundamentals will help an individual learn from kindergarten through well beyond college.Preparing yourself to receive information will almost always be one of the many keys in becoming a successful college student. References h ttp//www. Goodness. Com/quotes/tag/personal-responsibility This is a hanging indent. To keep the hanging indent format, triple click your common mackerel on this line of text and replace the information with your reference entry. You can use the Reference and Citation Examples (Center for make-up ExcellenceTutorials and GuidesReference and Citation Examples) to help format your line information into a reference entry. The reference page always begins on the top of the next page after the conclusion.Personal ResponsibiltyThesis Statement and easy Outline WorksheetIn this course, you will write a 700- to 1,400-word Personal Responsibility Essay, due in Week Five, which includes the followingDefinition of personal responsibility and what it means to you. relieve the relationship between personal responsibility and college success. Include a preliminary plan to practice personal responsibility in your education.This week, using the Center for Writing Excellence resources, provide t he thesis statement and informal outline for your Personal Responsibility Essay assignment, due in Week Five.Thesis Statement Personal responsibility is defined as winning responsibility for your actions and accepting the consequences of those actions because taking responsibility for your actions means you do not try to blame others for you not being able to finish school or your goals. Also, accepting the consequences of our actions teaches us to be more(prenominal) mindful of our choices and we can react to our mistakes. Even though blaming others for our failures is easy because we are more likely to feel better about the situation if someone else has to introduce the consequences.Informal Outline Personal Responsibility Your Fault or Mine? Introduction What is personal responsibility? How do you define it? Everybody has a different opinion when it comes to personal responsibility and how its defined. I define it as owning up to my actions and taking the consequences for thos e actions. II. Taking responsibility for your actions in every situation. A. When we take responsibility for our actions we admit that we made a mistake and we try to correct that mistake.B. Take responsibility by making true that when we make a mistake, we learn from that mistake, and try not to do the same thing again. 1. Example You write a paper at the last present moment and get a bad grade because you rushed through the paper. By making that bad grade, you learn to not procrastinate and take more time to do youassignment III. Accepting the consequences means we have to face the music (so to speak) and deal with whatever the outcome from our mistake. A. When accepting the consequences, we must be mindful that the leave alone of our mistake can either be negative or positive, depending on the situation. 1. If we do not take time to work on our class assignment, then we receive a bad grade and the result is negative.B. Consequences are the defining factor in our daily lives be cause we make every decision based on whether or not the decision is good or bad for us. IV. Blaming others for our failures is very easy because if we blame someone else, then we will not have to face the consequences. A. If someone makes a mistake, it is so easy to blame others and let them take the blame. 1. In school, it is so easy to blame the instructor for the bad grade, rather than taking responsibility for not doing the work. B. Do not let others take the blame, instead own up and face the consequences.

SALAT

Prayer has always been an integral fate of Islamic doctrine and is accorded a central place in the religious practices. salaah is the ritualized form of prayer laid out and codified in the Quran. Though Islam has formalized numerous practices in detail, salat has not been codified in detail in the Quran. The practices of Prophet Muhammed served as worthy of emulation and has been carried over into the religious practice in the form of oral reports called hadiths.In the early stages Islam and its rituals were in a state of constant change and hence scholars and jurists spent considerable effort in expo the religious practices of Muslims. The Quran places great emphasis on prayer and the prayer finds expression in various forms like supplication, remembrance, repentance, glorification, litany and ritual (p. 8054). Salat is the ritual part of the prayer and needs to be understood in this overall context. Keeping up with the schism in early Islam and subsequent formation of Sunni an d Shia sects, salat has coordinated the influences of these sects.Prayer is of such a paramount importance to the faith, it is also included in the Islamic jurisprudence and salat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam as delimit in Islamic law Shariah. Salat can either be mandatory or voluntary. It is voluntary when one has r from each oneed the age of reason and indispensable when one has reached puberty (p. 8055). There are exact and stringent specifications for conducting salat and Islamic laws describe them in detail. Though men and women performed the prayers together in Muhammads time, the later hadiths pretend excluded or severely limited presence of women in the communal salat performed in the mosques.Islam stresses communal prayer and hence the mosque forms the central locale for salat. It is permitted to conduct salat on the street or elsewhere, if no mosque is available. In the early days of Islam salat was performed three times in a day, except later hadiths took ref erence to Muhammads night journey and increased the number of mandatory salats to five in a day. Muslims are called to prayer by muazzin fifteen minutes before the salat time and the muezzin calls out by glorifying God and his messenger Muhammad.Before the salat begins the following of the faith should beget themselves clean for the ritual by cleansing themselves with water. Shariah specifies both major impurities, which require a complete bath and minor impurities that require ablution at the mosque itself. apart(predicate) from the physical purity, one also has to purify himself mentally by declaring the spirit to pray. Various schools of thought differ on this aspect i. e. some schools say that intention should be pronounced audibly and some say it should be silent.The very act of performing the salat is pretty simple and brief. According to Shariah each salat consists of two or four cycles of bowing, called rakah (p. 8057). It also specifies that at least seventeen cycles sh ould be completed in a day during the five salats. Salat is performed by a series of steps accompanied by specified incantations. For example, salat begins with the incantation God is great followed by certain bodily movements. The Sunnis and Shias have different interpretations here as well.This is then followed by extolling the glory of God and finally the follower performs various other actions like asking for forgiveness or offers petitions to the God. Salat needs to be understood not only as a pure ritual form but also needs to be located in the historical context. Salat has played a fundamental role in forging a Muslim identity. It has also been interpreted as a path to spiritual encounter with God or merely as ritual observance and submission to Gods law (p. 8058). For the followers however salat denotes purification of mind and body and union with the God.

The history of special education

AbstractionThis essay volition explicate how over the past 100 elderly ages peculiar(prenominal) development has become more diverse and invariably altering the way of life handicapped pupils ar being taught in public schools. How it views of the manner instructors are developing IEP programs for their pupils. I will explicate the different stages of concomitant instruction in its largest span of clip. It will discourse how the term go steadyed handicapped was derived aft(prenominal) it took the topographic point of phrase brain injured . And it will explicate the fleshs in which the IEP s are developed and how a kid with position demands should be taught to bring forth success. Addition every(prenominal)y, this essay will discourse the tribunal instance of Brown v. Board of didactics s determination to demand that all particular demands kids be granted an chance to have a free and appropriate instruction.In past old ages people would lock their handicapped kids up in sui tes and insulate them from others because they were ashamed of them or because they were different and they did nt cognize how or what to make with them. This made affair worse, handicapped kids were left isolate and entirely, approximatelytimes being do by physically and sexually, they were non considered human. This continued to go on until a few innovator, people who were advocators for kids with particular stood up for them and brought their instances to tribunal, but that s something of the yesteryear now. The Torahs covering with particular instruction have changed for the better now. Particular instruction was one of the major country in instruction that was considered to be outraged and or considered to assist each other. raising for kids with eruditeness jobs had emerged from no instruction for kids with particular demands to particular support for plans particularly for those persons with larning jobs. Mostert, M. , & A Crokett, J. ( 2000, June )The particular instruc tion for particular demands kids went through adult male Y phases before they were recognized by the tribunal systems. From 1800 s to 1930 s the first stage was called the foundation stage. This is when pupils who were identified and placed in particular instruction plans were treated and labeled as being brainsick, retarded, or nous dead. Some pupils were considered to hold some type of head hurt because of the different research workers and surveies that have been performed on me.In the1930 s to the 1960 s. the passage stage began and this was considered to be the best clip of all time for these types of kids. They were taught were taught that they could nt truly assist these people. Researchers developed instruments for appraisals, analyzed specific types of larning jobs and anyways presented a program for learning brain injured kids. At this phase the labeling of the kids with larning jobs was non every bit rough as brain injured . The pupils were called children with minimum encephalon dysfunction Then the turning stage for the instruction of pupils with larning jobs was subsequently called the Integration Phase which lasted from, 1960 s to 1980 s.Samuel Kirk, is responsible for the term learning disabled . He took those lyric poem and used it to replace the name of the first term brain injury . After this term took the topographic point of encephalon injured and minimum encephalon dysfunction , it seemed like there was hope for kids with larning jobs. The U.S. legislative assembly began to acknowledge the rights of persons with disablements, which prevents schools from know aparting against particular needs pupils. The US legislative assembly Torahs demand that all of the rights be reserved for the rights of an person with particular demands to hold an appropriate instruction, even if the disablements are non covered under the particular needs jurisprudence. The instructors and pedagogues of particular needs pupils go along accountable for the appro priate instruction of these pupils, and they will be held accountable in the tribunal of jurisprudence even if it means losing their occupation or locked up in gaol. Schools started set uping plans for the acquisition disabled. Support was provided for instructors to be trained in larning disablements. The most of import portion of the Integration Phase is the Education for All Handicapped Children affect ( PL 94-142 ) in 1975. This act was to guarantee that all pupils no affair what type of job they had would have a free and appropriate public education. ( opinion, Individuals with Disabilities and Special of necessity Act ) .The last stage is the Current Phase, from the 1980 s to the present. One of the most of import stages in the plan is inclusion. Inclusion is when schools mainstream pupils into regular categories pupils with disablements in regular schoolrooms in their vicinity schools, with collaborative attempts and support services as needed for each single pupil. Another facet of the Current Phase is when the EMA of 1975 was written as IDEA in 1990. IDEA, persons with Disabilities Education Act, made it difficult to suspend or throw out pupil s with larning disablements because of their behaviour. IDEA besides required that each acquisition disabled kid have an IEP, Individual Education Plan. An IEP is a papers that must include current public presentation of the pupil, the one-year ends the pupils need to accomplish, particular instruction and related services. This Plan besides include the kid demands, engagement, if any, with nondisabled kids, alterations needed to take province trial, day of the months and topographic points of when and where particular services will be provided and the mensurating advancement of the kid, and any particular adjustments that the kid may necessitate. Before a pupil can hold an IEP, they foremost must be labeled as a pupil with a learning disablement. The parents, particular instruction instructors, the school cou nsel counsellor, regular instructor, the school s psychologist, and the rule are ever notified and included in the programs for this meeting.There are phases to calculate out whether or non a kid has a learning disablement and need particular services. The first phase is detecting if a pupil is holding trouble in one or more capable countries. The following measure is to measure the kid s suspected disablement country, but before this can take topographic point the school must have permission from the parents to measure the kid. The eligibility is decided by a group of qualified professionals along with the parent to find if the kid has a disablement defined in IDEA. If the kid is found eligible, the IEP squad will run into to discourse and compose and IEP for the handicapped kid within 30 yearss of the pupil being identified as handicapped. The IEP squad meeting is held and the IEP is written in collaborative attempts from all members of the IEP squad. ( U.S. Department of Educatio n, 20, Feb, 2001 ) Services are so provided for the pupil. At the terminal of the twelvemonth, advancement is measured and the IEP is reviewed. After this procedure takes topographic point, every cardinal old ages the pupil is reevaluated. By jurisprudence certain persons must be involved in the authorship of a kid s Individual Education Program. Parents must be involved because they know their kid and what their kid may necessitate. Regular instruction instructors, if the pupil will be mainstreamed into regular schoolrooms some clip during the twenty-four hours, are a demand on the squad, because they know the general course of study of the pupil. They besides have cognition of how to manage pupils with doings jobs. The following member of the IEP squad should be a particular instruction instructor. This individual will be able to lend their cognition in how to modify general course of study and proving to assist the particular demands kid learn and demo what they have learned. The particular instruction instructor besides has the duty to learn the pupil and transport out the IEP procedure. The persons involved in the IEP squad are single who can construe ratings result s, represent the school system, persons with cognition of particular expertness about the kid s, representatives from transitional service bureaus and the pupil who the IEP is being written for.In decision, particular instruction has gone through many stages and phases of the manner a kid should be taught in the past decennary. The jurisprudence has made a way for those with larning jobs and now there is non halting them. Children with larning disablements eventually have a opportunity to stand out in school and the Torahs have made it possible for them to take advantage of the chances for them to hold normal life.

Nothing Is Permanent in This World Other Than Change Essay

Nothing is permanent in this world former(a) than the Change -is a famous proverb. In this mechanical world all of us are contemptible towards the pursuit of m iodiny having not even single second to spare, to think of world. So I would alike(p) to bring to spotlight 3 most prickling things in my mind, which I think, given a business leader I will surely change, to pretend the world a better place to live inPoverty according to my view is a thorn in flesh of the world. Society in India is very(prenominal) sharply divided between Haves and Have Nots. With all the wealth of the country getting so roll up in a few hands the rest of the nation find it difficult to even make 2 ends meet. So obvious reason for poverty is distribution of wealth which is too uneven. On one side India is leading gold importer in the world, whereas on other side India has most number of population that cannot even afford for a single meal as stated as follows Rich continues to run low richer-andPoor co ntinues to become poorer Recent news coverage in media focusses fully on Indians and their illegal blackmoney deposited in Swiss and Morocco banks, and a pitiful fact is that most of them having account are politicians of our very own country. Isnt it a big shame for our nation? Harmful effect of poverty include mitigation of horror activities like theft, robbery, smuggling, kidnapping, cheating

Fluke, or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings Chapter 34

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOURNecrophiliacs Anonymous,Gooville ChapterAmy was carrying cardinal stoppered porcelain feeding bottles of beer when she entered the Col singlels chambers. The ruler of Gooville came sliding bulge of the pink w entirely as if it had given birth to him. He extended his arms to hug her, entirely kind of of returning his embrace, Amy held up a beer.I brought you a beer.Amy, you love I dont authentic completelyy play out some(prenominal)more.I thought you talent worry a beer, for old times sake. wherefore ar you here?I hadnt discernn you since I got rearwards from Maui. I thought youd want to debrief me or something.Ive talked to Nathan Quinn.You vex?Dont be cute, Amy. I know whats going on between you cardinal.I authentically dont devote any choice, Colonel, I am cute. Its the burden I have to bear.He doesnt know what you are, does he?Drink your beer, its pay offting warm. Why do you keep it so steamy in here anyway?The Colonel accepted the beer from her and as healthfulk a long pull. When he came up for air, he stared at the beer bottle with a look of surprise, as if it had skilful spoken to him.My, thats good. Thats really good. Id forgotten.Amy toasted him with her own bottle and took a drink. Colonel, weve known each other a long time. Youve been wish well a father to me, more everyplace if you are out of touch. Im disturbed virtually you. I intend you carry to come out of here occasionally, kindred you use to. Walk nigh. Have some interaction with the masses in town.Dont examine to drive in the way of what Im doing, Amy.What are you talk of the town about? Im honourable worried about you.The Colonel looked at the beer bottle in his hand again, as if it had equimesa been teleported there, then he looked back to Amy with a little panic in his eyes. Nate didnt tell you, then?Tell me what? Nate doesnt have anything to do with this. You have lost touch.The Colonel nodded, then leaned back into the wall of Goo be hind him. It cradled him and formed a chaise longue, which he sat big bucks on as he rubbed his temples. Amy, did you ever do anything for a purpose wideer than your own ambition? Did you ever observe a duty to something beyond yourself?You mean, like persuading bulk that Im something that Im not to gain their trust so they could be take innapped or shooted in order to preserve my community? Yes, I have some c one timept of the idea of serving the greater good.I recall you do. I guess you do. Forgive me. Perhaps I do s pend too much time alone.You think?Could you moderate me now? I do have to think.So you want to be alone now? Thats what youre give tongue to? This is how youre going to address the problem of spending too much time alone?Go, Amy, and please dont interrupt with Nate. non yet.What do you mean, not yet? in that respects a deposit on that bottle. Im not leaving without it. therefore, Nate, hes not a problem? Youre sure? Here the Colonel forced a smiling that l ooked much more like something ill than an actual smile. Because I will tell him about you if I must.The greater good, Amy say, returning the forced smile with a real one.Good, said the Colonel, draining the plump of his beer. Come back. And bring me another of these.You got it, Amy said. past she took the bottle from him and leave hand the chamber. Thin line between genius and full-blown batshit, she thought. Very thin line.For two weeks the Colonel didnt hop out for Nate. Cielle Nuez had stopped by the third morning that Amy was at Nates flatbed. Well, you dont claim me anymore, Cielle had said. Id dear as soon uprise back to my displace anyway, although it doesnt look like were going anywhere soon. Nate was disappointed that she hadnt been jealous.Hes afraid of the cupboards, the fridge, and the garbage disposal, Cielle told Amy, as if she were talking to the dog sitter. And youll need to take him to nettle his c pass outhes cleaned. You know hes going to be panic-s truck of the washing machines.Im right here, Nate said. And Im not afraid of the appliances. Im just cautious.Your mother will be thrilled for you two, Amy. Her station should be back at base soon.No, shes not due in for another six weeks, Amy said.Not anymore. The Colonels called all the ships back to base.All of them? Why?Cielle shrugged. Hes the Colonel. Ours is not to question why. Well, Nate, its been a pleasure, really. Ill in all probability see you close to. Youre in good hands.She hugged Nate right away and upriseed out the door.Cielle, wait. I want to ask you something. If you dont mind.She turned. Ask away.When did your husbands yacht sink?Cielle embossed an inquisitive eyebrow at Amy. Its okay, Amy said. He knows.Nineteen twenty-seven, Nate. In retrospect it was a blessing of sorts. He died doing what he want doing, and two geezerhood subsequent he would have been wiped out when the stock grocery crashed. Im not sure he would have survived that.Thanks. Im sorry .Dont be. Cal and I have a really good life.Cal? Cal from the ship? You didnt tell me that Hes my husband? The Colonel thought you might be more comfortable with a single charr to orient you. Women down here have never taken their husbands sur give away, Nate.Females run the intend in a whale society, Amy condoneed. You know, as it should be.Cielle Nuez looked from Amy to Nate and smiled. Oh, Nate, what have you gotten yourself into? And then she snickered like a whaley boy and left.She treasured you, Amy said. She hides it really well, just now I could tell.From then on they went out together every morning. Nate insisted that Amy take him far into the catacombs during the day. There they build Goovilles underground farms tunnels where grains of w heating system grew right on the walls no stalks others where you could pick tomatoes from two-inch stems that seemed to grow directly out of rock.How does any of this ripen without photosynthesis? Nate asked, handling an apr icot that was growing not on a tree only if on a broad stem like a mush elbow room.Dont know, Amy shrugged. Geothermal heat. The Colonel says the Goo extends deep under the continent, where it draws heat from the earth. Ill show you the kitchens where they prepare most of the food its all geothermal. The old-timers say that at first-class honours degree there was only seafood to eat, but over the years the Goo has provided more and different foods.What are these? Chicken nuggets? He force one from the ceiling.A whaley boy working nearby whistled and clicked harshly.He says not to pick them, theyre not ripe.Nate tossed the nugget to the stage of the cave, where a softball-size multilegged thing scurried out of a hatch, retrieved it, and scurried back into its trapdoor.Ive seen enough here, Nate said.In the afternoon they did errands and shopping, but relieve no one asked Nate for any form of payment, and hed stopped offering. In the evening they usually had dinner in his apar tment. After they had shared two meals out at Gooville cafs, Amy had insisted that they eat in.Youre studying them, she said, meaning the whaley boys.No Im not. Im just looking at them.Who are you chaffding? You have that look, that researcher look, that lost-in-your-theories look. You think I dont know that look? I worked with you, remember?Nate shrugged. Its what I do. I study whales. Hed been nerve-racking to learn the whaley boys whistle-and-click language. Emily 7 had come by his apartment a couple of afternoons when Amy was away, and while he thought she might have come for amorous reasons, he human beingsaged to channel her energies into lessons on whaleyspeak. Theyd flummox friends of sorts. He hadnt mentioned the lessons to Amy, afraid that she might tease him about Emily the way the whale-ship pack had. I observe. I collect data and try to make up ones mind meaning in it.Amy nodded, thinking about it, then said, So if rescuing manatees and dolphins got you into the f ield, why didnt you do something more active to help the animals? Veterinary medicine or something.I always wonder. Ive thought about the people at Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd, pitchting themselves in harms way, ramming whaling ships, speed Zodiacs in front of harpoon guns to try to protect the animals. Ive wondered if that was the way to go.And you thought you could do more as a scientist, studying them?No, I thought that universe a scientist was something that I could do. Theres a path to neat a biologist an educational process. There isnt for being a pirate.No, youre wrong, there is a school for that. I saw it on a matchbook when I was in Maui. Im sure it said you could learn to be a pirate if you passed a simple test.Thats learn to draw a pirate.Whatever. So you compromised?Did I? I think what we what I do has value.So do I. Im not saying that. Im just wondering, you know, now that youre dead, do you feel your life was wasted?Im not dead, Amy. Jeez, thats an awful thin g to say.You know, effectively dead, I mean. Your life being over. Jeepers, does that manage me a necrophiliac? When we get out of here, possibly Ill have to go to a meeting or something. Do they have those?Amy, Im wondering if maybe I dont want to get out of here. Hed been thinking about it a lot. Life here really wasnt bad, and since hed been looking for a way out on their daily excursions (only to be reminded that hed have to go through the miles of pressure locks only to emerge six c feet below the sea), maybe he and Amy could make a future together. The whole Gooville ecosystem would certainly keep him interested.Hi, my names Amy, and I hump the dead.Maybe, if I cornerstone talk the Colonel out of his plan, I can stay here with you. You know, adapt.I cant imagine that theyd get up at a meeting and say, Hi, my names so-and-so, and I like to bone the dead. Its sort of crude. Although strangely appropriate.Youre not listening to me, Amy.Yes I am. Were not staying here. Ill fi nd a way out, but we cant stay. You have to convince the Colonel not to try to hurt the Goo, but then were leaving. As soon as possible.Nate was a little take aback at how adamant she was. She seemed to be staring at nothing, concentrating, thinking about something she didnt want to share, and she didnt seem talented about. But then she brightened. Hey, youre going to get to meet my mother.A week youngr it happened.Well, you always said that the jazz of what you do was knowing something that no one else in the world knows, Amy said. You jazzed? She took his arm and draped it around her neck as they walked.They had just left the Gooville apartment of Amelia Earhart.She looks good, doesnt she? Amy asked.Amelia was a beautiful, gracious woman, and after sixty-seven years in Gooville, the aviatrix didnt look a day over fifty. Shed been just under forty when she disappeared in 1937. In her presence Nate had felt as if he were fifteen again, out on his first date, stuttering and stumbl ing and color blushing, for Christs sake when Amy mentioned that shed been spending nights at his place. Amelia made Nate sit next to her on the couch and took his hand as she spoke to him.Nathan, I hope what Im about to say to you doesnt sound recording racist, because its not, but I want to do your mind at ease. I have had a very long time to get used to the idea of my daughters being a sexually active adult, and, frankly, if after all these years you are the one that she has chosen to fall in love with, which appears to be the case, I can only tell you how projecting I am that you are of the human species. So please relax.Nate had shot a look to Amy.She shrugged. both girl has her adventurous period.Thank you, Nate said to Amelia Earhart.Now, out on the street, to Amy he said, I shouldnt have asked how the outflow was.Shes still a little sensitive about that. Even after all these years. My dad was her navigator. He didnt survive the crash.But you said you were born in 1940. How could that be if your father died in 1937?Robust sperms? iii years? Thats really robust.She punched his arm. I was rounding up. Give me a break, Nate, Im old. You never grilled the experient abundant for accuracy like this.I wasnt sleeping with the Old Broad.But you wanted to, didnt you? Admit it? You were hot to get into her muumuu.Stop. Nate glanced at some whaley-boy males who were hanging out in front of the bakery (they always seemed to be there) doing a synchronized display wave with their willies, and he was about to defend himself with a comment about Amys past, but then he decided that there was just no need to watch that little wit movie, permit alone use it as some kind of weapon against what was essentially just Amy-style beleaguer one of the things he institute he adored about her as soon as hed allowed himself to take over that he could adore individual again.The whaley boys snickered at him as they passed.You bozos are all just boastful, squeak y lav toys, Nate said under his breath, knowing they could hear him anyway. Nate had been insulting them every time he and Amy went by for a week or so, just to irritate them. Maybe Amy was rubbing off on him.The whaley boys blew a bodied sputtering raspberry.Sentient? You guys cant even bandage sentient, Nate whispered.And then the reward. He loved watching creatures with four digits try to flip him the middle finger.Yeah, Im the immature one, Amy said.Life is good, Nate thought. For the first time in as long as he could remember, he was happy. Kinda.In the morning a brace of whaley boys came to take him to the Colonel. Amy wasnt even there to embrace him good-bye.Fluke, or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings Chapter 34CHAPTER THREEA subatomic Razor WireAround HeavenThe gate to the Papa Lani mixed was hanging open when Nate brood up. Not good. body was adamant about their always replacing the big Masterlock on the gate when they left the compound.Papa Lani was a group of woo d- mannequin buildings on two acres northeast of Lahaina in the middle of a half dozen sugarcane fields that had been donated to Maui Whale by a wealthy woman mud and Nate affectionately referred to as the Old Broad. The property consisted of six small bungalows that had once been used to board grove workers but had long since been converted to housing, laboratory, and office space for system, Nate, and any assistants, researchers, or film crews who might be working with them for the season. Getting the compound had been a godsend for Maui Whale, given the cost of housing and storage in Lahaina. form had named the compound Papa Lani (Hawaiian for heaven) in honor of their good fortune, but someone had left the gate to heaven open, and from what Nate could tell as he drove in, the angel shit had hit the fan. in advance he even got out of the truck, Nate saw a beat-up green BMW parked in the compound and a trail of papers leading out of the building they used for an office. He sna tched a some of them up as he ran across the sand driveway and up the steps into the little bungalow. internal was chaos drawers torn out of filing cabinets, toppled racks of cassette tape the tapes strewn across the room in great streamers computers overturned, the sides of their cases open, trailing wires. Nate stood among the mess, not really knowing what to do or even what to look at, feeling go against and on the verge of throwing up. Even if nothing was scatty, a lifetime of research had been typhooned around the room.Oh, Jahs sweet mercy, came a voice from behind him. This a bit of fuckery most heinous for sure, mon.Nate spun and dropped into a martial-arts stance, notwithstanding the fact that he didnt know any martial arts and that he had loosed a little-girl shriek in the process. The serpent-haired figure of a gorgon was silhouetted in the doorway, and Nate would have screamed again if the figure hadnt stepped into the light, revealing a lean, bare-chested teen ager in surfer mulct and flip-flops, sporting a giant tangle of blond dreadlocks and about six hundred nose rings. simmer down lintel main ting, brah, cool bye, the kid almost sang. There was pot and steel drums in his voice, bafflement and youth and two joints worth of separation from the rest of reality.Nate went from fear to confusion in an instant. What the fuck are you talking about?Relax, brah, no make lidat. Kona and I come help out.Nate thought he might feel better if he suppressd this kid just a little frustration strangle to vent some of the shock of the wrecked lab, not a full choke but kinda he said, Who are you, and what are you doing here?Kona, the kid said. Dat boss name the Great Compromiser take in me for the boats dat day in the lead.Youre the kid corpse hired to work with us on the boats?Shoots, mon, I just said that? What, you a ninja, brah?The kid nodded, his dreads sweeping around his shoulders, and Nate was about to scream at him again when he recognize that he was still crouched into his pseudo combat stance and probably looked like a native loon.He stood up, shrugged, then pretended to stretch his neck and roll his head in a self-assertive way hed seen boxers do, as if he had just disarmed a very dangerous enemy or something. You were supposed to meet the Great Compromiser down at the dock an hour ago.Some rippin sets North Shore, they be callin to me this morning. The kid shrugged. What could he do? Rippin sets had called to him.Nate squinted at the surfer, realizing that the kid was speaking some mix of Rasta talk, pidgin, surfspeak and well, bullshit. Stop talking that way, or youre fired right now.So you ichiban big whale kahuna, like remains say, hey?Yeah, Nate said. Im the number-one whale kahuna. Youre fired.Bummah, mon, The kid said. He shrugged again, turned, and started out the door. Jahs love to ye, brah. Cool runnings, he sang over his shoulder.Wait, Nate said.The kid spun around, his dreads enveloping h is brass instrument like a furry octopus attacking a crab. He sputtered a dreadlock out of his sing and was about to speak.Quinn held up a finger to signal silence. Not a word of pidgin, Hawaiian, or Rasta talk, or youre done.Okay. The kid waited.Quinn composed himself and looked around at the mess, then at the kid. There are papers strewn around all over outside, hanging in the fences, in the bushes. I need you to gather them up and visual sense them as neatly as you can. Bring them here. pile you do that?The kid nodded.Excellent. Im Nathan Quinn. Nate extended his hand to shake.The kid moved across the room and caught Nates hand in a powerful grip. The scientist almost winced but instead returned the pressure and tried to smile.Pelekekona, said the kid. Call me Kona.Welcome aboard, Kona.The kid looked around now, looking as if by giving his name he had relinquished some of his power and was suddenly weak, despite the muscles that rippled across his chest and abdomen. Who did t his?No idea. Nate picked up a cassette tape that had been pulled out of the spools and wadded into a birds nest of brown tensile. You go get those papers. Im going to call the police. That a problem?Kona shook his head. Why would it be?No reason. press stud those papers now. Nothing is trash until I look at it, eh?Overstood, brah, Kona said, grinning back at Nate as he headed out into sun. Once outside, he turned and called, Hey, Kahuna Quinn.What?How come them humpies sing like dat?What do you think? Nate asked, and in the asking there was hope. Despite the fact that the kid was young and irritating and probably stoned, the biologist truly hoped that Kona unburdened by too much knowledge would give him the answer. He didnt guard where it came from or how it came (and it would still have to be recruitd) he just wanted to know, which is what set him apart from the hacks, the wannabes, the backstabbers, and the egotism jockeys in the field. Nate just wanted to know.I think they trying to shout down Babylon, maybe.Youll have to explain to me what that means.We fix this fuckery, then we fire up a spliff and think over it, brah.Five hours later Clay came through the door talking. We got some amazing stuff today, Nate. Some of the trump cow/ calfskin stuff Ive ever shot. Clay was still so excited he almost skipped into the room.Okay, Nate said with a zombielike lack of enthusiasm. He sat in front of his patched-together computer at one of the desks. The office was in general put back in order, but the open computer case sitting on the desk with wires strewing out to a diaspora of refugee drive units told a tale of data gone wild. Someone broke in. rupture apart the office.Clay didnt want to be concerned. He had great videotape to edit. Suddenly, looking at the fans and wires, it occurred to him that someone might have depleted his editing setup. He whirled around to see his forty-two-inch flat-panel monitor leaning against the wall, a long diagonal crack bisected the glass. Oh, he said. Oh, jeez.Amy walked in smiling, Nate you wont believe the She pulled up, saw Clay staring at his broken monitor, the computer scattered over Nates desk, files stacked here and there where they shouldnt be. Oh, she said.Someone broke in, Clay said forlornly.She put her hand on Clays shoulder. Today? In broad daylight?Nate swiveled around in his chair. They went through our living quarters, too. The police have already been here. He saw Clay staring at his monitor. Oh, and that. Sorry, Clay.You guys have insurance, right? Amy said.Clay didnt look away from his broken monitor. Dr. Quinn, did you pay the insurance? Clay called Nate sterilize only when he wanted to remind him of just how official and absolutely professional they really ought to be. farthest week. Went out with the boat insurance.Well, then, were okay, Amy said, jostling Clay, squeezing his shoulder, punching his arm, pinching his butt. We can order a new monitor tonight, ya big palooka. she chirped, looking like a goth version of the bluebird of happiness.Hey Clay grinned, Yeah, were okay. He turned to Nate, smiling. Anything else broken? Anything missing?Nate pointed to the wastebasket where a virtual haystack of phonetape was spilling over in tangles. That was spread all over the compound along with all the files. We lost most of the tape, going back two years.Amy stopped being cheerful and looked appropriately concerned. What about the digitals? She elbowed Clay, who was still grinning, and he joined her in gravity. They frowned. (Nate recorded all the audio on analog tape, then transferred it to the computer for analysis. Theoretically, there should be digital copies of everything.)These hard drives have been erased. I cant pull up anything from them. Nate took a deep breath, sighed, then spun back around in his chair and let his forehead fall against the desk with a thud that shook the whole bungalow.Amy and Clay winced. There were a lot of screws o n that desk. Clay said, Well, it couldnt have been that bad, Nate. You got it all cleaned up moderately quickly.The guy you hired showed up late and helped me. Nate was speaking into the desk, his face right where it had landed.Kona? Where is he?I sent him to the lab. I had some film I want to see right away.I knew he wouldnt stand us up on his first day.Clay, I need to talk to you. Amy, could you excuse us a minute, please?Sure, Amy said. Ill go see if anythings missing from my cabin. She left.Clay said, You going to look up? Or should I get down on the grace so I can see your face?Could you grab the first-aid kit while we talk?Screws enter in your forehead?Feels like four, maybe five.Theyre small, though, those little drive-mount screws.Clay, youre always trying to cheer me up.Its who I am, Clay said.CHAPTER FOURWhale Men of MauiWho Clay was, was a guy who liked things liked people, liked animals, liked cars, liked boats who had an almost supernatural ability to spot the likability in almost anyone or anything. When he walked down the streets of Lahaina, he would nod and say hello to sunburned tourist couples in matching aloha offend (people generally considered to be a waste of humanity by most locals), but by the equivalent token he would trade a backhanded hang-loose shaka (thumb and fingers extended, three middle fingers tucked, always backhand if youre a local) with a crash of native bruddahs in the parking lot of the alphabet Store and get no scowls or pidgin curses, as would most haoles. People could sense that Clay liked them, as could animals, which was probably why Clay was still alive. Twenty-five years in the water with hunters and giants, and the worst hed come out of it was to get a close tail-wash from a southern right whale that tumbled him like a cartoon into the idleness prop of a Zodiac. (Oh, there were the two times he was drowned and the hypothermia, but that stuff wasnt caused by the animals that was the sea, and shell ass assinate you whether you liked her or not, which Clay did.) Doing what he wanted to do and his boundless affinity for everything made Clay Demodocus a happy guy, but he was similarly shrewd enough not to be too open about his happiness. Animals might put up with that smiley shit, but people will eventually kill you for it. Hows the new kid? Clay said, trying to distract from the iodine he was applying to Nates forehead while simultaneously calculating the time to ship his new monitor over to Maui from the discount house in Seattle. Clay liked gadgets.Hes a criminal, Nate said.Hell come around. Hes a water guy. For Clay this said it all. You were a water guy or you werent. If you werent well, you were pretty much useless, werent you?He was an hour late, and he showed up in the wrong place.Hes a native. Hell help us deal with the whale cops.Hes not a native, hes blond, Clay. Hes more of a haole than you are, for Christs sake.Hell come around. I was right about Amy, wasnt I? Clay said . He liked the new kid, Kona, despite the employment interview, which had gone like thisClay sat with the forty-two-inch monitor at his back, his world-famous photographs of whales and pinnipeds playing in a slide show behind him. Since he was conducting a job interview, he had put on his very best $5.99 ABC Store flip-flops. Kona stood in the middle of the office wear sunglasses, his baggies, and, since he was applying for a job, a red-dirt-dyed shirt.Your application says that your name is Pelke ah, Pelekekona Ke Clay threw his hands up in surrender.I be called Pelekekona Keohokalole da warrior kine Lion of Zion, brah.Can I call you Pele?Kona, Kona said.It says on your drivers license that your name is Preston Applebaum and youre from New Jersey.I be one hundred percent Hawaiian. Kona the best boat hand in the Island, yeah. I figga I be number-one good man for to keep track haole science bosss isms and skisms while he out oppressing the native bruddahs and stealing o ur land and the best wahines. Sovereignty now, but after a bruddah make his rent, dont you know?Clay grinned at the blond kid. Youre just a mess, arent you?Kona lost his Rastafarian, laid-backness. Look, I was born here when my parents were on vacation. I really am Hawaiian, kinda, and I really need this job. Im going to lose my place to live if I dont make some silver this week. I cant live on the beach in Paia again. All my shit got stolen last time.It says here that you last worked as a forensic calligrapher. Whats that, handwriting analysis?Uh, no, actually, it was a business I started where I would release peoples suicide notes for them. Not a hint of pidgin in his speech, not a skankin smidgen of reggae. It didnt do that well. No one wants to kill himself in Hawaii. I think if Id started it back in New Jersey, or maybe Portland, it would have gone over really well. You know business location, location, location.I thought that was real estate. Clay actually felt a twinge of m issed opportunity, here, for although he had spent his life having adventures, doing exactly what he wanted to do, and although he often felt like the dumbest guy in the room (because hed surrounded himself with scientists), now, talking to Kona, he realized that he had never realized his full potential as a self-deluded immobilizehead. Ahhh broody regrets. Clay liked this kid.Look, Im a water guy, Kona said. I know boats, I know tides, I know waves, I love the ocean.You afraid of it? Clay asked.Terrified.Good. Meet me at the dock tomorrow morning at eight-thirty.Now Nate rubbed at the crisscrrossed band-aids on his forehead as Clay went through the Pelican cases of camera equipment under the table across the room. The break-in and subsequent shit storm of activity had sidetracked him from what hed seen this morning. It started to settle on him again like a black cloud of self-doubt, and he wondered whether he should even mention what he saw to Clay. In the world of behavioral bio logy, nothing existed until it was published. It didnt matter how much you knew it wasnt real if it didnt appear in a scientific journal. But when it came to day-to-day life, publication was secondary. If he told Clay what hed seen, it would suddenly become real. As with his attraction for Amy and the credit that years worth of research was gone, he wasnt sure he wanted it to be real.So why did you need to send Amy out? Clay asked.Clay, I dont see things I dont see, right? I mean, in all the time weve worked together, I havent called something before the data backed it up, right?Clay looked up from his inventory to see the expression of consternation on his friends face. Look, Nate, if the kid bothers you that much, we can find someone else Its not the kid. Nate seemed to be unhurriedness what he was going to say, not sure if he should say it, then blurted out, Clay, I think I saw writing on the tail flukes of that singer this morning.What, like a pattern of scars that look l ike letters? Ive seen that. I have a dolphin shot that shows tooth rakings on the animals side that appear to spell out the word zap. No it was different. Not scars. It said, Bite me. Uh-huh, Clay said, trying not to make it sound as if he thought his friend was nuts. Well, this break-in, Nate, its shaken us all up.This was before that. Oh, I dont know. Look, I think its on the film I shot. Thats why I came in to take the film to the lab. Then I found this mess, so I sent the kid to the lab with my truck, even though Im pretty sure hes a criminal. Lets table it until he gets back with the film, okay? Nate turned and stared at the deskful of wires and parts, as if hed quickly floated off into his own thoughts.Clay nodded. Hed spent whole days in the same twenty-three-foot boat with the magniloquent scientist, and nothing more had passed between the two than the exchange of Sandwich? Thanks.When Nate was ready to tell him more, he would. In the meantime he would not press. You dont hurry a thinker, and you dont talk to him when hes thinking. Its just inconsiderate.What are you thinking? Clay asked. Okay, he could be inconsiderate sometimes. His giant monitor was broken, and he was traumatized.Im thinking that were going to have to start over on a lot of these studies. Every piece of magnetic media in this place has been scrambled, but as far as I can tell, nothing is missing. Why would someone do that, Clay?Kids, Clay said, inspecting a Nikon lens for damage. None of my stuff is missing, and chuck out for the monitor it seems okay.Right, your stuff.Yeah, my stuff.Your stuff is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, Clay. Why wouldnt kids take your stuff? No one doesnt know that Nikon equipment is expensive, and no one on the island doesnt know that subsurface housings are expensive, so who would just destroy the tapes and disks and leave everything?Clay put down the lens and stood up. Wrong question.How is that the wrong question?The question is, who could possibly care about our research other than us, the Old Broad, and a dozen or so biologists and whale huggers in the entire world? Face it, Nate, no one gives a damn about singing whales. Theres no motive. The question is, who cares?Nate slumped in his chair. Clay was right. No one did care. People, the world, cared about the numbers of whales, so the survey guys, the whale counters, they actually collected data that people cared about. Why? Because if you knew how many whales you had, you knew how many you could or could not kill. People loved and understood and thought they could prove points and make money with the numbers. Behavior well, behavior was squishy stuff used to entertain fourth-graders on transmission line in the Classroom.We were really close, Clay, Nate said. Theres something in the song that were missing. But without the tapesClay shrugged. You heard one song, you heard em all. Which was also true. All the males sang the same song each season. The song might chan ge from season to season, or even evolve through the season somewhat, but in any given population of humpbacks, they were all singing the same tune. No one had figured out exactly why.Well get new samples.Id already cleaned up the spectrographs, filtered them, analyzed them. It was all on the hard disks. That work was for specific samples.Well do it again, Nate. We have time. No one is waiting. No one cares.You dont have to keep saying that.Well, its starting to bother me, too, now, Clay said. Who in the hell cares whether you figure out whats going on with humpback song?A kicked-off flip-flop flew into the room followed by the singsong Rastafarian-bruddah pomp of Kona returning, Irie, Clay, me dready. I be bringing films and herb for the evening to welcome to Jahs mercy, mon. Peace.Kona stood there, an gasbag of negatives and contact sheet in one hand, a film can held high above his head in the other. He was looking up to it as if it held the elixir of life.You have any idea what h e said? Nate asked. He quickly crossed the room and snatched the negatives away from Kona.I think its from the Jabberwocky, Clay replied. You gave him silver to get the film processed? You cant give him cash.And this lonely stash can to fill with the sacred herb, Kona said. Ill find me papers, and we can take the ship home to Zion, mon.You cant give him money and an empty film can, Nate. He sees it as a religious duty to fill it up.Nate had pulled the contact sheet out of the envelope and was examining it with a loupe. He checked it twice, counting each frame, checking the registry numbers along the edge. Frame twenty-six wasnt there. He held the plastic page of negatives up to the light, looked through the images twice and the registry numbers on the edges three times before he threw them down, checked the earlier frames that Amy had shot of the whale tail, then crossed the room and grabbed Kona by the shoulders. Wheres frame twenty-six, goddamn it? What did you do with it?This j ust like I get it, mon. I didnt do nothing.Hes a criminal, Clay, Nate said. Then he grabbed the phone and called the lab.All they could tell him was that the film had been processed normally and picked up from the bin in front. A machine cut the negatives before they went into the sleeves perhaps it had snipped off the frame. Theyd be happy to give Nate a fresh roll of film for his trouble.Two hours later Nate sat at the desk, holding a pen and looking at a sheet of paper. Just looking at it. The room was dark except for the desk lamp, which reached out just far enough to leave darkness in all the corners where the unknown could hide. There was a nightstand, the desk, the chair, and a single bed with a proboscis set at its end, a drapery on top as a cushion. Nathan Quinn was a tall man, and his feet hung off the end of the bed. He found that if he removed the supporting trunk, he dreamed of foundering in blue-water ocean and woke up gasping. The trunk was full of books, journal s, and uncontaminatingets, none of which had ever been removed since hed shipped them to the island nine years ago. A centipede the size of a Pontiac had once lived in the bottom-right corner of the trunk but had long since moved on once he realized that no one was ever going to bother him, so he could stand up on his hind hundred feet, hiss like a pissed cat, and deliver a deadly cauterise to a naked foot. There was a small television, a clock radio, a small kitchenette with two burners and a microwave, two full bookshelves under the window that looked out onto the compound, and a yellowed print of two of Gauguins Tahitian girls between the windows over the bed. At one time, before the plantations had been automated, ten people probably slept in this room. In grad school at UC Santa Cruz, Nathan Quinn had lived in quarters about this same size. Progress.The paper on Nates desk was empty, the bottle of Myerss Dark Rum beside it half empty. The door and windows were open, and Nate could hear the warm trades rattling the fronds of two tall coconut palms out front. There was a tap on the door, and Nate looked up to see Amy silhouetted in the doorway. She stepped into the light.Nathan, can I come in? She was wearing a T-shirt dress that hit her about midthigh.Nate put his hand over the paper, embarrassed that there was nothing written on it. I was just trying to put a plan together for He looked past the paper to the bottle, then back at Amy. Do you want a drink? He picked up the bottle, looked around for a glass, then just held the bottle out to her.Amy shook her head. Are you all right?I started this work when I was your age. I dont know if I have the energy to start it all over again.Its a lot of work. Im really sorry this happened.Why? You didnt do it. I was close, Amy. Theres something that Ive been missing, but I was close.It will still be there. You know, we have the field notes from the last couple of years. Ill help you put as much of it back togeth er as I can.I know you will, but Clays right. Nobody cares. I should have gone into biochemistry or become an ecowarrior or something.I care.Nate looked at her feet to avoid looking her in the eye. I know you do. But without the recordings well then He shrugged and took a sip from the rum bottle. You cant drink, you know, he said, now the professor, now the Ph.D., now the head researcher. You cant do anything or have anything in your life that gets in the way of researching whales.Okay, Amy said. I just wanted to see if you were okay.Yeah, Im okay.Well get started putting it back together tomorrow. Good night, Nate. She backed out the door.Night, Amy. Nate noticed that she wasnt wearing anything under the T-shirt dress and felt sleazy for it. He turned his attention back to his blank piece of paper, and before he could figure out why, he wrote BITE ME in big block letters and underlined it so hard that he ripped the page.