Friday, August 21, 2020

Watchmen

The Mysterious Building My preferred short story was the â€Å"Sonata for Harp and Bicycle† composed by Josh Alike. The story was occurring during Halloween In London and about this person Jason that needs to know why everybody needs to go home by 5 o'clock consistently. Just certain individuals know why. MISS Golden (Bernice), a companion of Jason, realizes why yet can't tell anybody. One night, Jason went inside the structure utilizing the emergency exit to perceive what goes on in the structure after dim. Jason experienced entryways and heard a ringer that was ringing discreetly and afterward was quieted. At that point Jason heard this individual murmuring â€Å"Daisy, Daisy† (Ms.Bell). Jason said that he wasn't Daisy and the voice said he was on private property and he shouldn't be here. This individual was pushing Jason to the emergency exit. Jason ran down the emergency exit as quick as possible. The following day Miss Golden saw Season's hair and it was a texture d silver shading. Miss Golden inquired as to whether he went into the structure the previous evening after everybody left. Jason said â€Å"Tell me the genuine story. † This person William Heron, the crying gatekeepers, really liked Ms. Chime. Ms. Ringer would every individuals the harp, and at eleven dock every night they have an outing supper.One night, the guardian would propose to her however she never appeared. Ms. Ringer was utilizing a graham chime to wake herself up at ten to meet him and that night the ringer fizzled and she missed gathering William. So MISS Golden and Jason figured they can get the guardians and Ms. Chime back together in such a case that you see the guardians you have five days to live. One night they went into the structure to get them back together. They woke up Ms. Chime to go meet the guardians. The gatekeepers and Ms. Ringer got together finally. Miss Golden and Jason Jumped out of the emergency exit together. Sonata for Harp and Bicycle† is my preferred short story due to tension, the setting and imagery of Ms. Ringer and the guardians. Tension is one of the scholarly components that helped makes this story somewhat startling. It was dramatic when everybody needed to leave the structure by 5 clock pm. I considered what Jason Is going to discover in the structure when he went in there nightfall. Is Jason going to live for five days after he left the structure? An intense second Is when â€Å"Jason opened an entryway at arbitrary; at that point another, workplaces lay wherever about him, unfilled and forbidding† (50).Jason figures he shouldn't be in there. Everything appeared individuals simply left yet he could in any case feel a nearness of somebody there. The setting is another part that is my preferred scholarly component that helped make this story become animated. The setting was in London during Halloween around evening time. Jason and Miss Golden went down the emergency exit ten minutes before 12 PM. At that point Jason said â€Å"We don't need our night to be ruined by the idea of a revile hanging over us† (56). Jason needs to ensure the revile won't come true.Jason and Miss brilliant Jumped out of the structure so they don't need to manage the revile If It ever works out as expected. In conclusion, imagery Is one of the artistic components that helped make this story extraordinary. The blossoms mean love. The harp implies Ms. Ringer Is around playing/showing her harp. The bike implies the guardians is around some place. The guardians dinner consistently at eleven† (52). They had a solid relationship. Whoever you will be, you are constantly one of a kind. Anticipation, setting and imagery of Ms. Chime and the guards made â€Å"Sonata for Harp and Bicycle my preferred short story.This story was somewhat unnerving yet in addition a romantic tale. Anticipation, setting and imagery all fit in this story since they all have their significant parts. I think Miss Golden and Jason ought to have lived as opposed to going down the emergency exit. I enjoyed how the gatekeepers and Ms. Chime had various abilities. I additionally feel that the book ought to have went on and said what the gatekeepers and Ms. Chime did after the guards propose to her. This is my preferred short story since I think it had many parts when anticipation came in so you need to continue perusing.

Monday, July 13, 2020

SSRI Withdrawal Symptoms and Prevention

SSRI Withdrawal Symptoms and Prevention Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Print SSRI Withdrawal Symptoms Understanding SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome By Paula Connell Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on July 14, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD on July 14, 2019 More in Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Symptoms Diagnosis Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of drug commonly used to treat depression. The drugs help normalize brain function in people with certain mood disorders by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain. While beneficial, one of their downsides is that some people may experience a form of withdrawal called SSRI discontinuation syndrome when treatment is stopped.?? This most commonly occurs when treatment is stopped abruptly and can manifest with symptoms that seem very much like the depression and anxiety SSRIs were being taken to treat. People experiencing SSRI discontinuation syndrome often believe that they are having a relapse and request to be placed back on SSRIs. Illustration by Emily Roberts, Verywell   Why It Occurs Serotonin is a type of chemical, called a neurotransmitter, whose purpose is to deliver messages to and from brain cells. By doing so, the chemistry in the brain can be regulated in a way that typically improves depression or anxiety. The assorted SSRI drugs used to treat mood disorders have similar mechanisms of action, but varying degrees of drug half-life. Drug half-life is a term to describe how long an active drug molecule stays in the bloodstream before being expelled from the body. If a drug has a short half-life, it will require frequent dosing to maintain the ideal concentration in the blood (and, therefore, the desired effect). If it has a long half-life, it will remain in a steady state for longer and be less prone to ups and downs. Common SSRI medication used to treat depression include: Prozac (fluoxetine)Zoloft (sertraline)Paxil (paroxetine)Celexa (citalopram)Lexapro (escitalopram) Of these, Prozac has a very long half-life and, when stopped, will gradually clear from the bloodstream.?? The others, by contrast, have a short half-life and, when stopped, will drop off abruptly. When this happens, the person taking them may experience disconcerting or even profound symptoms of withdrawal. Changes in the Brain Drug half-life is only part of the reason for SSRI discontinuation syndrome symptoms. When used over a period of time, SSRIs can effect changes in the brain that result in alterations in serotonin receptors.?? When this happens, the brain will down-regulate the number of receptors in response to the increased volume of serotonin. Its a physiological balancing act meant to prevent the overstimulation of brain cells. When treatment is eventually stopped, there will be fewer receptors than before and a short-term deficiency of serotonin activity. The body will typically correct this, but, until it does, a person may have to go through a period of adjustment until the system normalizes. What People Experience The most common symptoms of SSRI discontinuation syndrome are described as either being flu-like or feeling like a sudden return of anxiety or depression.?? They include: DizzinessVertigoLightheadednessDifficulty walkingNausea/vomitingFatigueIrritabilityHeadachesInsomniaDiarrheaChillsShock-like sensationsParesthesia (burning, prickly, or skin-crawling sensations)Visual disturbancesImpaired concentrationVivid dreamsDepersonalization (a detached, out-of-body experience)Suicidal thoughtsPsychosisCatatonia (a state of unresponsiveness)Muscle pain (rare) While these symptoms can be uncomfortable, they are rarely severe. Most people only experience mild to moderate forms of SSRI discontinuation syndrome. Prevention Around 20 percent of people on Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, or Lexapro will experience some degree of withdrawal following termination of treatment, lasting anywhere from one to three weeks.?? For those who have been on SSRIs for many years, the symptoms may persist for longer. To lower the risk of SSRI discontinuation syndrome, speak with your doctor of about weaning you off your drug gradually. Typically, if treatment has lasted less than eight weeks, tapering off over one to two weeks would be reasonable. After six to eight months of treatment, you may need to taper off over the course of six to eight weeks. Dont try to make up your own course of action or stop taking your recommended treatment without your doctors knowledge. Work with her to do so, as she will better understand the limitations and potential hazards of any drugs you are taking, and help guide you accordingly.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

No Religion or School Prayer in Public Schools Essay

The separation of the church and the state has been debated since the birth of this nation. In 1789 when the Constitution was adopted, the separation of church and state issue focused on preventing a government mandated religion (Davis 245). The framers of the Constitution knew first hand the harmful consequences of a government that has complete control over religion. Protecting the religious freedoms of the various religions seeking refuge in America also raised great concern. Each religion s hould be given the same rights when practicing their beliefs. For these reasons, the First Amendment of hte Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. This amendment denies the government any involvement with religion and allows†¦show more content†¦The First Amendment clearly establishes that there exists a wall of separation between the church and state (Leinwand 296A). A loose interpretation that would permit cracks in this wall cannot be tolerated. Any attempt of t he government to either favor or discourage a religion should be found unconstitutional by the court system. Over the years the Supreme Court has contributed a long list of precedents for cases dealing with religion in the public school system. These decisions have more clearly defined religions limitations within the boundaries of the school. One of t he earliest cases which effectively maintained the separation of church and state was Everson v. Board of Education in 1947. The case questioned the right of the state of New Jersey to use tax funds to bus children to both public schools and priv ate religious schools (Gay 27). The ruling found any involvement of the government with religiously oriented activities or institutions in direct violation of the First Amendment. In his majority ruling, Justice Hugo Black emphasized that the First Amen dment prohibited the government from passing laws that would promote or support with tax funds any or all religions (Gaddy 182). In this case, the court system clearly saw the threat to religious freedom that could arise if the government is capable of f inancially supporting or avidly promoting anyShow MoreRelated Religion and School Prayer in Public Schools Essays1853 Words   |  8 Pagespractice the same religion, Americas first legislators made certain that government intervention in religious matters was prohibited. Therefore, religious freedom was ensured in the First Amendment to the Constitution, as it states, Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . . (Whitehead, Rights 49). This statement allowed Americans to f reely express and practice or chose not to practice a religion. The two distinct partsRead More Religion and Prayer in Public Schools Essay1469 Words   |  6 PagesReligion in Public Schools    The practice of religion has been a major factor in American culture for centuries. The religion clause of the First Amendment, which states Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, was developed to preserve the freedom of religion (Haynes 2). The religion clause was designed to protect religion from the control of the government, but, consequently, it restricts the expression of religionRead More Religion and Prayer Must Not be Permitted in Public School Essay1823 Words   |  8 Pagesthe inability to practice a desired religion or not to practice one at all. Since the newly formed country was made up of people from more than one religious background, the government had to come up with a way to accommodate all of its citizens. Understanding the countrys diversity, the writers of the Constitution of the United States of America included in the First Amendment the words, Congress shall make no law respect ing the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise therofRead MoreThe Constitutionality of Prayer in Public Schools Essay698 Words   |  3 PagesMany people agree against prayer in public schools, while others think that people should be able to express their religion in their own ways. In public schools, they are not allowed to hold prayers at all during the school day due to the mixed religion students that are attending the school. Over the past few years, this has become an extremely controversial issue in our nation. Many people find it proper to pray in school but many people also agree that it is extremely wrong and that if thereRead MoreEssay on Prayer Should Be Allowed in Public Schools1727 Words   |  7 PagesPrayer Should Be Allowed in Public Schools School prayer is a very controversial issue in today’s society. The issue of school prayer is about whether the public school systems should let the students pray, at the start of the school day, as a class. The issue of school prayer began in the late sixteenth century when people in England did not approve of the way one religion was forced upon them, so the Puritans, known as the Pilgrims decided to come to the colonies. Even in the colonies theRead MorePrayer in Public Schools Essay1440 Words   |  6 Pages The United States has continued to be a country where religion plays a major role in the lives of American citizens. Depending on the type of school students attend, organized prayer is mandatory, allowed, or banned. In the United States, organized prayer in public schools is prohibited because it goes against the Constitution’s separation of church and state (Jinkins 123). The United States promises religious freedom, but is yet to define the degree and li mitation of that liberty. However, AmericanRead More Prevent Coercive Prayer In Public Schools Essay1392 Words   |  6 Pages Prevent Coercive Prayer in Public Schools The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America reads: quot;Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.quot; This amendment, commonly called the Establishment Clause, forms the foundation of the right of every American to practice their chosen religion freely and without the interference of the government. In 1947, the Supreme Court issued a statement emphasizingRead MorePublic Schools Should Not Be The Place For Religious Practices1601 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the many foundations of the United States as a nation was religion. When people fled their homes in search of a new place, one of the many reasons was due to religious freedom. Almost immediately conflicts arose between religions, and their belief systems. No problems seem to arise with teaching religion to children in school until the 1900 s. That is when the courts decided religious instructions in public schools would be deemed unconstitutional. Court cases started around the country withRead MoreThe Prayer On Public Schools1240 Words   |  5 PagesCentury and into the 21st, school prayer has been the focal point of an ongoing debate about the position of religion in American civilization. The question of the legality of prayer in public schools brings together a number of important notions in American gover nment and legal philosophy. Opponents and proponents of school prayer set forth their arguments in such major constitutional issues as the separation of church and state, the right to free exercise of religion, and the respective powersRead MorePrayer in School Essay example1375 Words   |  6 Pagesthough public schools today are without school prayer, most schools have replaced prayer, with a Silent moment of reflection. Also, the assumption if there is a God or not is a big question as well. I think prayer should be re-instated into schools, because children should be able to express religion freely. I also feel that lack of discipline; youth pregnancy, dropouts, and violence in schools are other issues that can be more controllable if there were religious classes and school prayer. Public

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Law Of Desire Temporary Marriage - 1584 Words

The Law of Desire: Temporary Marriage in Shi’i Iran The Law of Desire: Temporary Marriage in Shi’i Iran is an anthropological study of temporary marriage (mut a) in the Shi i Muslim religion. According to Shahla Haeri s original first-hand study, mut a is an institution in which marriage, sexuality, morality, religious laws, cultural practices, and the relationships between the sexes converge. Haeri takes it upon herself to explain how permanent marriage and modern forms of adultery differ from this system of temporary marriage, or mut’a. Before the author examines the life stories of some women and men involved in mut’a, Haeri explains the legal interpretation of this functional tradition. The Law of Desire is arranged in three major parts that all relate to the institutional practice of mut’a. Part One, â€Å"Law as Imposed,† is split into three chapters. The first chapter, Marriage As Contract, makes the readers understand the importance o f the marriage contract between sexes in Iranian society. The second chapter in â€Å"Law as Imposed† is titled Permanent Marriage: Nikah. In this chapter Haeri emphasizes that to equate temporary marriage with permanent marriage, as the Shi i Muslim religion does, is to misrepresent temporary marriage, causing countless women who practice this action into false hope of marital relationships and responsibilities. The third chapter in â€Å"Law as Imposed† is titled Temporary Marriage: Mut’a. Haeri explains that the differences between permanentShow MoreRelated Islamic Versus Christian Marriage Essay1500 Words   |  6 Pagesthe topic of religion in marriage. Specifically it will discuss whether Islamic marriage is better or worse for women than Christian marriage. After study of these two religions, it becomes quite clear Islamic marriage is much worse for women than Christian marriage. 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The Host Chapter 27 Undecided Free Essays

string(57) " sound of my breath whispered back from the black walls\." I felt my way back to my prison hole. It had been weeks and weeks since I’d been down this particular corridor; I hadn’t been back since the morning after Jared had left and Jeb had set me free. It seemed to me that while I lived and Jared was in the caves, this must be where I belonged. We will write a custom essay sample on The Host Chapter 27: Undecided or any similar topic only for you Order Now There was no dim light to greet me now. I was fairly sure I was in the last leg-the turns and twists were still vaguely familiar. I let my left hand drag against the wall as low as I could reach, feeling for the opening as I crept forward. I wasn’t decided on crawling back inside the cramped hole, but at least it would give me a reference point, letting me know that I was where I meant to be. As it happened, I didn’t have the option of inhabiting my cell again. In the same moment that my fingers brushed the rough edge at the top of the hole, my foot hit an obstacle and I stumbled, falling to my knees. I threw my hands out to catch myself, and they landed with a crunch and a crackle, breaking through something that wasn’t rock and didn’t belong here. The sound startled me; the unexpected object frightened me. Perhaps I’d made a wrong turn and wasn’t anywhere near my hole. Perhaps I was in someone’s living space. I ran through the memory of my recent journey in my head, wondering how I could have gotten so turned about. Meanwhile, I listened for some reaction to my crashing fall, holding absolutely still in the darkness. There was nothing-no reaction, no sound. It was only dark and stuffy and humid, as it always was, and so silent that I knew I must be alone. Carefully, trying to make as little noise as possible, I took stock of my surroundings. My hands were stuck in something. I pulled them free, tracing the contours of what felt like a cardboard box-a cardboard box with a sheet of thin, crackly plastic on top that my hands had fallen through. I felt around inside the box and found a layer of more crackly plastic-small rectangles that made a lot of noise when I handled them. I retreated quickly, afraid of drawing attention to myself. I remembered that I’d thought I’d found the top of the hole. I searched to my left and found more stacks of cardboard squares on that side. I tried to find the top of the stack and had to stand in order to do so-it was as high as my head. I searched until I found the wall, and then the hole, exactly where I’d thought it was. I tried to climb in to ascertain if it really was the same place-one second on that bowed floor and I would know it for certain-but I could not get any farther than the opening. It, too, was crammed full of boxes. Stymied, I explored with my hands, moving back out into the hall. I found I could go no deeper down the passageway; it was entirely filled with the mysterious cardboard squares. As I hunted along the floor, trying to understand, I found something different from the crowd of boxes. It was rough fabric, like burlap, a sack full of something heavy that shifted with a quiet hissing sound when I nudged it. I kneaded the sack with my hands, less alarmed by the low hiss than by the plastic crackle-it seemed unlikely that this sound would alert anyone to my presence. Suddenly, it all came clear. It was the smell that did it. As I played with the sand-like material inside the bag, I got an unexpected whiff of a familiar scent. It took me back to my bare kitchen in San Diego, to the low cupboard on the left side of the sink. In my head I could see so clearly the bag of uncooked rice, the plastic measuring cup I used to dole it out, the rows of canned food behind it†¦ Once I realized that I was touching a bag of rice, I understood. I was in the right place after all. Hadn’t Jeb said they used this place for storage? And hadn’t Jared just returned from a long raid? Now everything the raiders had stolen in the weeks they’d been gone was dumped in this out-of-the-way place until it could be used. Many thoughts ran through my head at once. First, I realized that I was surrounded by food. Not just rough bread and weak onion soup, but food. Somewhere in this stack, there could be peanut butter. Chocolate chip cookies. Potato chips. Cheetos. Even as I imagined finding these things, tasting them again, being full for the first time since I’d left civilization, I felt guilty for thinking of it. Jared hadn’t risked his life and spent weeks hiding and stealing to feed me. This food was for others. I also worried that perhaps this wasn’t the entire haul. What if they had more boxes to stow? Would Jared and Kyle be the ones to bring them? It didn’t take any imagination at all to picture the scene that would result if they found me here. But wasn’t that why I was here? Wasn’t that exactly what I’d needed to be alone to think about? I slouched against the wall. The rice bag made a decent pillow. I closed my eyes-unnecessary in the inky darkness-and settled in for a consultation. Okay, Mel. What now? I was glad to find that she was still awake and alert. Opposition brought out her strength. It was only when things were going well that she drifted away. Priorities, she decided. What’s most important to us? Staying alive? Or Jamie? She knew the answer. Jamie, I affirmed, sighing out loud. The sound of my breath whispered back from the black walls. You read "The Host Chapter 27: Undecided" in category "Essay examples" Agreed. We could probably last awhile if we let Jeb and Ian protect us. Will that help him? Maybe. Would he be more hurt if we just gave up? Or if we let this drag on, only to have it end badly, which seems inevitable? She didn’t like that. I could feel her scrambling around, searching for alternatives. Try to escape? I suggested. Unlikely, she decided. Besides, what would we do out there? What would we tell them? We imagined it together-how would I explain my months of absence? I could lie, make up some alternative story, or say I didn’t remember. But I thought of the Seeker’s skeptical face, her bulging eyes bright with suspicion, and knew my inept attempts at subterfuge would fail. They’d think I took over, Melanie agreed. Then they’d take you out and put her in. I squirmed, as if a new position on the rock floor would take me further away from the idea, and shuddered. Then I followed the thought to its conclusion. She’d tell them about this place, and the Seekers would come. The horror washed through us. Right, I continued. So escape is out. Right, she whispered, emotion making her thought unstable. So the decision is†¦ quick or slow. Which hurts him less? It seemed that as long as I focused on practicalities I could keep at least my side of the discussion numbly businesslike. Melanie tried to mimic my effort. I’m not sure. On the one hand, logically, the longer the three of us are together, the harder our†¦ separation would be for him. Then again, if we didn’t fight, if we just gave up†¦ he wouldn’t like that. He’d feel betrayed by us. I looked at both sides she’d presented, trying to be rational about it. So†¦ quick, but we have to do our best not to die? Go down fighting, she affirmed grimly. Fighting. Fabulous. I tried to imagine that-meeting violence with violence. Raising my hand to strike someone. I could form the words but not the mental picture. You can do it, she encouraged. I’ll help you. Thanks, but no thanks. There has to be some other way. I don’t get you, Wanda. You’ve given up on your species entirely, you’re ready to die for my brother, you’re in love with the man I love who is going to kill us, and yet you won’t let go of customs that are entirely impractical here. I am who I am, Mel. I can’t change that, though everything else may change. You hold on to yourself; allow me to do the same. But if we’re going to – She would have continued to argue with me, but we were interrupted. A scuffing sound, shoe against rock, echoed from somewhere back down the corridor. I froze-every function of my body arrested but my heart, and even that faltered jaggedly-and listened. I didn’t have long to hope that I’d just imagined the sound. Within seconds, I could hear more quiet footsteps coming this way. Melanie kept her cool, whereas I was lost to panic. Get on your feet, she ordered. Why? You won’t fight, but you can run. You have to try something-for Jamie. I started breathing again, keeping it quiet and shallow. Slowly, I rolled forward till I was on the balls of my feet. Adrenaline coursed through my muscles, making them tingle and flex. I would be faster than most who would try to catch me, but where would I run to? â€Å"Wanda?† someone whispered quietly. â€Å"Wanda? Are you here? It’s me.† His voice broke, and I knew him. â€Å"Jamie!† I rasped. â€Å"What are you doing? I told you I needed to be alone.† Relief was plain in his voice, which he now raised from the whisper. â€Å"Everybody is looking for you. Well, you know, Trudy and Lily and Wes-that everybody. Only we’re not supposed to let anyone know that’s what we’re doing. No one is supposed to guess that you’re missing. Jeb’s got his gun again. Ian’s with Doc. When Doc’s free, he’ll talk to Jared and Kyle. Everybody listens to Doc. So you don’t have to hide. Everybody’s busy, and you’re probably tired†¦Ã¢â‚¬  As Jamie explained, he continued forward until his fingers found my arm, and then my hand. â€Å"I’m not really hiding, Jamie. I told you I had to think.† â€Å"You could think with Jeb there, right?† â€Å"Where do you want me to go? Back to Jared’s room? This is where I’m supposed to be.† â€Å"Not anymore.† The familiar stubborn edge entered his voice. â€Å"Why is everyone so busy?† I asked to distract him. â€Å"What’s Doc doing?† My attempt was unsuccessful; he didn’t answer. After a minute of silence, I touched his cheek. â€Å"Look, you should be with Jeb. Tell the others to stop looking for me. I’ll just hang out here for a while.† â€Å"You can’t sleep here.† â€Å"I have before.† I felt his head shake in my hand. â€Å"I’ll go get mats and pillows, at least.† â€Å"I don’t need more than one.† â€Å"I’m not staying with Jared while he’s being such a jerk.† I groaned internally. â€Å"Then you stay with Jeb and his snores. You belong with them, not with me.† â€Å"I belong wherever I want to be.† The threat of Kyle finding me here was heavy on my mind. But that argument would only make Jamie feel responsible for protecting me. â€Å"Fine, but you have to get Jeb’s permission.† â€Å"Later. I’m not going to bug Jeb tonight.† â€Å"What is Jeb doing?† Jamie didn’t answer. It was only at that point I realized he had deliberately not answered my question the first time. There was something he didn’t want to tell me. Maybe the others were busy trying to find me, too. Maybe Jared’s homecoming had returned them to their original opinion about me. It had seemed that way in the kitchen, when they’d hung their heads and eyed me with furtive guilt. â€Å"What’s going on, Jamie?† I pressed. â€Å"I’m not supposed to tell you,† he muttered. â€Å"And I’m not going to.† His arms wrapped tightly around my waist, and his face pressed against my shoulder. â€Å"Everything is going to be all right,† he promised me, his voice thick. I patted his back and ran my fingers through his tangled mane. â€Å"Okay,† I said, agreeing to accept his silence. After all, I had my secrets, too, didn’t I? â€Å"Don’t be upset, Jamie. Whatever it is, it will all work out for the best. You’re going to be fine.† As I said the words, I willed them to be true. â€Å"I don’t know what to hope for,† he whispered. As I stared into the dark at nothing in particular, trying to understand what he wouldn’t say, a faint glow caught my eye at the far end of the hallway-dim but conspicuous in the black cave. â€Å"Shhh,† I breathed. â€Å"Someone is coming. Quick, hide behind the boxes.† Jamie’s head snapped up, toward the yellow light that was getting brighter by the second. I listened for the accompanying footsteps but heard nothing. â€Å"I’m not going to hide,† he breathed. â€Å"Get behind me, Wanda.† â€Å"No!† â€Å"Jamie!† Jared shouted. â€Å"I know you’re back here!† My legs felt hollow, numb. Did it have to be Jared? It would be so much easier for Jamie if Kyle were the one to kill me. â€Å"Go away!† Jamie shouted back. The yellow light sped up and turned into a circle on the far wall. Jared stalked around the corner, the flashlight in his hand sweeping back and forth across the rock floor. He was clean again, wearing a faded red shirt I recognized-it had hung in the room where I’d lived for weeks and so was a familiar sight. His face was also familiar-it wore exactly the same expression it had since the first moment I’d shown up here. The beam of the flashlight hit my face and blinded me; I knew the light reflected brilliantly off the silver behind my eyes, because I felt Jamie jump-just a little start, and then he set himself more firmly than before. â€Å"Get away from it!† Jared roared. â€Å"Shut up!† Jamie yelled back. â€Å"You don’t know her! Leave her alone!† He clung to me while I tried to unlock his hands. Jared came on like a charging bull. He grabbed the back of Jamie’s shirt with one hand and yanked him away from me. He held on to his handful of fabric, shaking the boy while he yelled. â€Å"You’re being an idiot! Can’t you see how it’s using you?† Instinctively, I shoved myself into the tight space between them. As I’d intended, my advance made him drop Jamie. I didn’t want or need what else happened-the way his familiar smell assaulted my senses, the way the contours of his chest felt under my hands. â€Å"Leave Jamie alone,† I said, wishing for once that I could be more like Melanie wanted me to be-that my hands could be hard now, that my voice could be strong. He snatched my wrists in one hand and used this leverage to hurl me away from him, into the wall. The impact caught me by surprise, knocked the breath out of me. I rebounded off the stone wall to the floor, landing in the boxes again, making another crinkly crash as I shredded through more cellophane. The pulse thudded in my head as I lay awkwardly bent over the boxes, and for a moment, I saw strange lights pass in front of my eyes. â€Å"Coward!† Jamie screamed at Jared. â€Å"She wouldn’t hurt you to save her own life! Why can’t you leave her alone?† I heard the boxes shifting and felt Jamie’s hands on my arm. â€Å"Wanda? Are you okay, Wanda?† â€Å"Fine,† I huffed, ignoring the throbbing in my head. I could see his anxious face hovering over me in the glow of the flashlight, which Jared must have dropped. â€Å"You should go now, Jamie,† I whispered. â€Å"Run.† Jamie shook his head fiercely. â€Å"Stay away from it!† Jared bellowed. I watched as Jared grabbed Jamie’s shoulders and yanked the boy up from his crouch. The boxes this displaced fell on me like a small avalanche. I rolled away, covering my head with my arms. A heavy one caught me right between the shoulder blades, and I cried out in pain. â€Å"Stop hurting her!† Jamie howled. There was a sharp crack, and someone gasped. I struggled to pull myself out from under the heavy carton, rising up on my elbows dizzily. Jared had one hand over his nose, and something dark was oozing down over his lips. His eyes were wide with surprise. Jamie stood in front of him with both hands clenched into fists, a furious scowl on his face. Jamie’s scowl melted slowly while Jared stared at him in shock. Hurt took its place-hurt and a betrayal so deep that it rivaled Jared’s expression in the kitchen. â€Å"You aren’t the man I thought you were,† Jamie whispered. He looked at Jared as though Jared were very far away, as if there were a wall between them and Jamie was utterly isolated on his side. Jamie’s eyes started to swim, and he turned his head, ashamed of showing weakness in front of Jared. He walked away with quick, jerky movements. We tried, Melanie thought sadly. Her heart ached after the child, even as she longed for me to return my eyes to the man. I gave her what she wanted. Jared wasn’t looking at me. He was staring at the blackness into which Jamie had disappeared, his hand still covering his nose. â€Å"Aw, damn it!† he suddenly shouted. â€Å"Jamie! Get back here!† There was no answer. Jared threw one bleak glance in my direction-I cringed away, though his fury seemed to have faded-then scooped up the flashlight and stomped after Jamie, kicking a box out of his way. â€Å"I’m sorry, okay? Don’t cry, kid!† He called out more angry apologies as he turned the corner and left me lying in the darkness. For a long moment, it was all I could do to breathe. I concentrated on the air flowing in, then out, then in. After I felt I had that part mastered, I worked on getting up off the floor. It took a few seconds to remember how to move my legs, and even then they were shaky and threatened to collapse under me, so I sat against the wall again, sliding over till I found my rice-filled pillow. I slumped there and took stock of my condition. Nothing was broken-except maybe Jared’s nose. I shook my head slowly. Jamie and Jared should not be fighting. I was causing them so much turmoil and unhappiness. I sighed and went back to my assessment. There was a vast sore spot in the center of my back, and the side of my face felt raw and moist where it had hit the wall. It stung when I touched it and left warm fluid on my fingers. That was the worst of it, though. The other bruises and scrapes were mild. As I realized that, I was unexpectedly overwhelmed by relief. I was alive. Jared had had his chance to kill me and he had not used it. He’d gone after Jamie instead, to make things right between them. So whatever damage I was doing to their relationship, it was probably not irreparable. It had been a long day-the day had already been long even before Jared and the others had shown up, and that seemed like eons ago. I closed my eyes where I was and fell asleep on the rice. How to cite The Host Chapter 27: Undecided, Essay examples

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Pricing Strategy of Apple free essay sample

Price The initial price of the iPhone was set at: Model Price 4gb model $499 8gb model $599 Introduced in June 2007 at a top price of $599 in the United States, the iPhone was one of the most anticipated electronic devices of the decade. Despite its high price, consumers across the country stood in long lines to buy the iPhone on the first day of sales. Just two months later, Apple discontinued the less-expensive $499 model and cut the price of the premium version from $599 to $399. Target Group A study conducted by Rubicon (2008) on iPhone users indicates that 50% of the surveyed users are age 30 or younger. Most of the users described themselves as technologically sophisticated. In general, iPhone users were over represented in the occupations that are usually early adopters of technology: professional and scientific users, arts and entertainment, and the information industry. Moreover, the iPhone user base consists mainly of young early adopters: about 75% of whom are previous Apple customers. We will write a custom essay sample on Pricing Strategy of Apple or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Now, the challenge for Apple is to get their product beyond the youthful technophiles and into the hands of mainstream users in order to maintain sustained growth. While the early adopters are a great group for launching a roduct, without mainstream use, the early success would not be lasting. This is why Apple has decided to use different pricing strategies such as the skimming and versioning. Price Skimming Skimming is referred to as selling a product at a high price; basically companies sacrificing sales to gain high profits. This is employed by companies in order to reimburse their cost of investment put into the original research of the product. This strategy is often used to target early users of a product/service because they are relatively less price sensitive than others. Early users are targeted either because heir need for the product is more than others or they understand the value of the product better than others. In any case, this strategy is employed only for a limited period of time as a way to recover most of the investment ofa product. The skimming price strategy is a high price strategy which provides a healthy margin but risks a depressed sales volume. Since high prices also attract piracy, protection costs against piracy basically eat up margins. In the case of Apple, the buyers are not attracted by pirated versions of products because of the image of the brand linked to the snobbism of the members of the Apple family. In the graph below, we compared iPod sales with the price of iPod classic from 2002 to 2006. According to the data, the iPod classic model seemed to have either reduced its price or maintained the same price from one year to the next. In 2002, iPod classic price was the highest; as a result, it was also shown as the year with the lowest sales. For example, the Apple iPod classic costs over the years include: 399$ (2002), 299$ (2003), Figure depicting the prices and sales of iPod Classic from 2002 to 2006 Foremost, while issuing new generation model of a classic iPod, the company was still selling the previous version at the reduced price. The skimming pricing strategy is presented at two levels. First, the price of the same model is diminishing with time, especially when Apple is issuing the newest version of the iPod. Second, the price of every next generation model launched on the market is less expensive than its predecessor, which is illustrated by the above graph. To gain market share, a seller cannot solemnly rely on skimming strategies but must also use other pricing tactics such as pricing discrimination, which has been the case of Apple. Versioning (Pricing discrimination) Pricing discrimination is a pricing strategy that charges customers difference prices or the same product or service. In pure price discrimination, the seller will charge each customer the maximum price that he or she is willing to pay. Most often the seller places customers in groups based on certain attributes and charges each groups a different price. Apparently, price discrimination is only feasible under certain conditions: 1) companies have short run market power; 2) consumers can be segmented either directly or indirectly, 3) arbitrage across differently priced goods is infeasible. Given the fact that these conditions are fulfilled, companies typically have an incentive to practice price discrimination. However, the form of the price discrimination may also depend on the nature of the market power. Apples price cut is an example of a strategy known as temporal price discrimination where it charges people different prices depending on the their desire or ability to pay. Companies such as Apple may practice this strategy for two reasons. First, they gain wide profit margins from those willing to pay a premium price. Second, they benefit from high volume by building a wider customer base for the product later. Its important to note that price discrimination can also be structured across eographies, seasons and by adding or eliminating features. As for the temporal price discrimination, Apple reduced $200 from the original price of the iPhone Just two months after its release. After a flood of complaints by its customers, Apple attempt to rectify complaints by offering $100 store credit to early iPhone customers. In addition to temporal price discrimination, Apple practices price discrimination via versioning where it proposes many versions of products according to the needs and prices of their customers. The wealthy clients can buy a latest version of iPod lassic, iPod nano or iPod touch while those who are less wealthy can always pay the price of a previous generation iPod (classic or nano) or an iPod Shuffle (49$). This large offer is constantly renewed which allows the company to practice the skimming and reassure the snobbish members of the Apple family. Apples Strategy: United States and Europe Apples high-tech inventions may be in direct conflict with the high end products made by Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Samsung. However, these companies will not give up that category without fghting for the end. They are used to cramming heir phones with more technology than their competitors as in the case with Nokias N series, Sonys P series, and Motorolas range of smart phones. They have high resolution cameras and video recorders, MP3 players, software and dozens of instance, the number of Symbian-based phones increased 44% to 34. 6 million in the first six months of 2007 from 24 million in IH 2006, with a quarter of those sales coming from Japan. The success of Nokia N95 and E-Series phones has also helped Symbian boost its revenues to about $172 million (Malik, 2007). The North-American market is very different from the rest of the world, with strong segments for Microsoft, Palm (Access), and RIM. In Europe (EMEA) the market is dominated by Symbian (Nokia), with a small Microsoft pocket and an even smaller RIM market share. Its also interesting to see the large Linux share in Japan and China (PRC). In Europe, Britains 02 and Germanys T-Mobile have signed exclusive deals with Apple to offer the iPhone to their domestic customers. In Britain, subscribers will have to pay between $74 and $115 per month for an 18-month contract, while in Germany, customers must fork over $72 to $130 per month for a two-year contract (Scott, 2007).