Beowulf vs Ulysses Essays

Beowulf vs Ulysses Essays Beowulf vs Ulysses Essay Beowulf vs Ulysses Essay Contrast: Ulysses and Beowulf When an individual envisions epic poetry, you cant help but think of dragons, heroes and huge battles. In the two epic poems Ulysses by Lord Tennyson and Beowulf translated by Burton Raffle, you find the two major heroes who are very intelligent above all other heroic attributes. Throughout each epic, you find the hero using the combination of strength, intelligence and unbreakable courage. The heroes are natural born leaders, that others around them cannot help but be mesmerisms by. A major connected between the two epics was the definition of dervish is evident. Through the Journeys of the main characters, Beowulf and Ulysses are each portrayed as heroes in the poems as they lead their men on great adventures. While both display many characteristics of heroes and leaders, Beowulf first act of leadership in the poem is when he offers to fight Greened unarmed. This is an example of leadership because he is standing up above everyone else, when all the other men are scared to. While all the other men are fearful and worried about Greened attacking, Beowulf is able to stay fearlessly as he awaited the arrival of Greened. From Ulysses poem it is evident he was a true leader, captaining ships and winning many battles in the Trojan War. Beowulf was also a very prideful individual, for example in his fight against Grenade. He was trying to seem heroic fighting without a weapon. You can also see this as an example of Beowulf enormous about of pride; he wants the glory from killing Grenade and that glory would be given if he killed him without a weapon. But Beowulf only longed for fame leaped back Lento battle. He tossed his sword aside, Angry; the steel-edged blade lay where Theyd dropped it. If weapons were useless hed use Shes hands, the strength in is fingers. So fame comes to the men who mean to win it and care about nothing else! (Line 605-608) In the quote it is so present that Beowulf only seeks fame, and glory of defeating Greened.

Pond Water Essays

Pond Water Essays Pond Water Essay Pond Water Essay Pond Water TITLE: By: Jacob O’Connor November 21, 2011 Jennifer Mertz BIO 101 SEC 3A Mid Michigan Community College HYPOTHESIS: If the pond water is not treated and is good quality water then there will be new organisms and plant life in the pond water ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to observe and understand what occurs in a sample of pond water over the course of six weeks. Over the six weeks there were qualitative and quantitative data found and recorded. The qualitative data recorded entailed: Water color and smell as well as suspended solids ranging from clear, opaque, and turbid. The quantitative data that was recorded regarded: Temperature, pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, Chlorine, as well as, Nitrate, and Nitrite. There were also two views of microscope observations. This report will explain and go into detail regarding the results of the observation of the pond water. INTRODUCTION: MATERIALS: 1. Water 9. Slide covers 2. Soil/Grass 10. Plant grow lights 3. Jar 11. Lab Manuel Books 4. Microscope 12. Nail 5. Thermometer 13. Hammer 6. Water quality test strips 14. Tape 7. Pipette 15. Nitrate/Nitrite strips 8. Slides 16. Lab Manual METHODS: Located in a 16 oz clear glass or plastic jar. Took the lid of the jar off and punctured holes in it metal lids are usually est, because you can use a hammer and a larger nail to puncture holes; where as a plastic lid tends to crack with a hammer and nail. Found a pond that contained water year round. Filled the jar 3/4 full with pond water. Added a 1/2 inch of sediment from the bottom of the pond. Also, added a small amount of dead grass or leaves to the jar. Prevented spillage while traveling, by placing a paper towel or plastic wrap between the top of the jar and then gently screwed the lid on over the plastic. Once in the lab, label the pond water using a stick on label with your name, instructor’s name, class section, and the date of when the pond water was collected which was on 10/05/11. Then each week for 6 weeks this data was recorded, the water color, the smell, suspended solids such as clear opaque, and turbid, the temperature was recorded each week using Celsius, the pH level, total alkalinity, total hardness, total chlorine, and free chlorine.

Paper on The Collapse of the Soviet Union and Its Impact on Eurasia Essay

Paper on The Collapse of the Soviet Union and Its Impact on Eurasia - Essay Example The states themselves had also to grapple with the realities of being on their own, and stitching new alliances with their neighbors and the rest of the world. Many of them saw internal revolutions, while others were content to let the status quo continue for sometime. Today, many of them have vibrant democracies and thriving economies, but this cannot be said of them all. The Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics, or the USSR, was the world’s largest socialist state. When it was created in 1922, it comprised of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, as well as Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. By 1956, it comprised of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Russia was the most powerful of these, and the one that controlled the union. Before the union was dissolved in 1991, it extended from the Arctic ocean to the Afghan border with a population of roughly 293 million. The Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics or the USSR comprised of fifteen republics that were made up of people of varied ethnicities and divergent nationalities. On the 25th. December 1991, the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics was formally dissolved and the fifteen states that comprised the USSR became independent. This also marked the end of the cold war. Alth ough on the face of it, the downfall of the Soviet Union looked sudden, inexplicable and startling, some long term factors provided a slow and gradual decline in its power, while other short term factors provided the trigger that precipitated its collapse. By the 1980s the communist ideology was on the decline, and the idea of the state being "the leading and guiding force of Soviet life the nucleus of its political system, of all state organs and public organs," (Lewin, 1991) was being questioned. Vladimir Lenin’s revolutionary vision of a system

Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism on Shanghai Research Paper

Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism on Shanghai - Research Paper Example Shanghai is the most industrialized metropolis in China and is counted as one of the major metropolitan cities of the world. Shanghai has more than 5,800 square kilometers. Most tourists visiting Shanghai are usually advised to travel with maps in order not to get lost. The metropolis is not only identified as a financial, economic, and trade center, but is also admired for its cultural as well as historical heritage. The capital city, Beijing, is approximately 1460 km away from Shanghai. Most tourists in China, who wish to visit Shanghai, usually take the two hour flight from the capital to Shanghai, or take a 17 hour train journey that allows them to enjoy the scenery. Shanghai tourist attractions are easy to get to from its main center. Some of these include the Yuyuan Gardens, the Bund, which is the embodiment of Shanghai's history in prominent architectural structures, the lake Dianshan Hu, and the Four Cornered Pagoda, which is locally referred to as the Fang Ta. Shanghai, which is China's business and financial headquarters, has in the recent past benefitted from a double-digit growth. The city got over 80 million foreign and domestic tourists in 2001, alone. No town in China has fully embraced modernity and technology in the same way as Shanghai has. When in Shanghai, a tourist may get the illusion that he or she is in Europe or America and not Communist China. Shanghai radiates a cosmopolitan quality that is characterized by the contemporary lifestyles of its citizens, busy industrial and financial districts, skyscrapers, one of the busiest harbors in the area and ultra-chic business centers like museums, hotels, and shopping malls. While Be ijing is recognized as the center of the political government of China, which sponsors the Chinese academic institutions, Shanghai is known worldwide as China’s economic center and an incredibly enterprising city. Once a tiny and sleepy fishing rural community in the 1800s, Shanghai has been turned into a most enchanting, decadent and refined Chinese city. According to (Moscardo 3), â€Å"Shanghai has been dubbed as the "Paris of the East." International tourism takes place when citizens from different nations travel across intercontinental borders outside their normal homes as well as places of work, and stay for more than 24 hours in their places of visitation. The motivations for such trips are diverse, but usually recognized as being largely influenced by health, recreation, friendship and family visits, education, business, sports, and religion. As one of the most significant sources of foreign exchange revenue, and an investment catalyst, knowledge disseminator, and em ployment generator, international tourism has grown to be one of Shanghai’s most significant industries. Tourism has developed swiftly in Shanghai. At present, China is investing a lot of capital in promoting tourism and revising laws that govern its tourist industry. In the coming years, China expects to experience even more growth in this area, with the lion share of this development taking place in Shanghai. China’s tourism industry was somewhat affected by SARS scare but recovered swiftly. China is projected to be the world’s most fashionable tourist destination in the next decade. According to (Pike and Ryan 333), â€Å"tourism in Shanghai is a colossal labor intensive business that

Cardiovascular control in exercise, the contribution of central command and muscle afferents

Cardiovascular control in exercise, the contribution of central command and muscle afferents Cardiovascular Control in Exercise, the contribution of Central Command and Muscle Afferents The human body has the ability to easily adapt when exercise begins with many of these adaptations occurring in the cardiovascular system. It is well documented that at the onset of exercise heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and muscle sympathetic nerve activity progressively increase to higher levels (Lind et al, 1964). These cardiovascular adaptations are controlled by either central (Central Command) or peripheral (exercise pressor reflex) mechanisms (McCloskey Mitchell, 1972). Central Command (CC) is thought to be a feed-forward process controlling both HR and respiration, both of which are known to increase in the anticipation of exercise (Secher, 2007). CC originates from higher areas of the brain (motor cortex and subcortical areas) and works in parallel with both the locomotor and cardiorespiratory systems during exercise (Green et al, 2007). The feed-forward efferent input converges on the cardiovascular centres of the brainstem along with feedback returning from afferents located in the active skeletal muscle providing the changes seen at the onset of exercise (Fisher et al, 2005). The changes within the cardiovascular system during exercise are helped via peripheral mechanisms as well as CC. CC inhibits the parasympathetic nervous system by decreasing vagal tone allowing HR to rise, the sympathetic nervous system eventually takes over to allow further increases. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system is produced via feedback from muscle afferents, mainly mechanoreceptors (Murata and Matsukawa, 2001), and forms the sensory arm of the exercise pressor reflex. Muscle afferents are split into two separate classes, group III and group IV. Group III afferents, classified as mechanoreceptors, are stimulated via muscle stretch, contraction or pressure (Kaufman et al, 1983) whereas group IV afferents, classified as metaboreceptors, are chemically sensitive (Gladwell and Coote, 2002). Afferents are also said to be polymodal and can respond to both mechanical and chemical stimuli (Mense and Meyer, 1985). The exercise pressor reflex is evoked when afferents become sensitised allowing feedback to the cardiovascular centres within the brain. This then allows adequate perfusion of the muscles by increasing cardiac output and constricting the vascular beds (OLeary, 1993). A number of studies aim to distinguish between the role of CC and muscle afferent feedback in humans during exercise. When the blood supply to an exercising muscle is occluded CC is not present, this process known as post exercise circulatory occlusion (PECO) activates metaboreceptors (Gandevia and Hobbs, 1990). Electrically evoked exercise also bypasses CC so when this method is used CC is redundant (Kaufman and Rybicki, 1987). These two methods allow the elimination of CC showing muscle afferents provide all feedback which could evoke a cardiovascular response. CC is activated in proportion to the intensity of the exercise; results from a study by Williamson et al (2002) have shown this through hypnosis. Originally an individuals perceived exertion during exercise was thought to be independent of any force being produced, allowing the magnitude of CC to be seen (Gandevia et al, 1993). Williamson et al (2002) obtained results related to this idea; they found that the level of CC activated was related to an individuals sense of effort independently of any force being produced. Increases in HR were found during hypnosis despite no exercise being performed and increases were therefore independent of feedback from afferents within the active limb. Passively stretching muscles allows cardiovascular responses to be evoked within humans; two studies by Gladwell and Coote (2002) and Fisher et al (2005) have proposed opposing ideas. Gladwell and Coote (2002) activated mechanoreceptors in the triceps surea to measure the effects on HR and BP. Voluntary isometric contraction of the plantar flexor followed by a sustained stretch of the triceps surea by dorsiflexion were performed. Fisher et al (2005) used a similar protocol but blood supply was occluded throughout and different percentages of maximal voluntary contraction were used. They aimed to see whether cardiovascular response to sustained muscle stretch was altered by varying metabolites within the muscle. Gladwell and Coote (2002) found HR increased soon after the onset of muscle contraction with part of the HR response being mediated via mechanoreceptors since stimulation of receptors via stretch decreased parasympathetic activity. Fisher et al (2005) found that HR and BP were unaffected by levels of metabolite accumulation, therefore stretch was seen to activate mechanically sensitive afferents which are unaffected by the metabolic condition. This studys use of occlusion shows that the response to stretch is purely from muscle afferents as it is known that CC is not present in these conditions. Gladwell and Coote (2002) did not use occlusion and though cardiac vagal tone activity was measured throughout stretch there is no way to ascertain whether CC was present. The conclusion drawn by Fisher et al (2005) is more reliable as the cardiovascular response seen is entirely down to mechanoreceptors, it must be certain that CC has been eliminated in Gladwell and Cootes (2002) study befo re the results can be taken into consideration. The use of stimulated and voluntary exercises is an easy way to directly compare the effects of CC and muscle afferent feedback on the cardiovascular system. An early study by Krogh and Lindhard (1917) showed through electrical stimulation that an increase in pulse rate was reflexly induced (by muscle afferent) whereas increases in voluntary exercise originated from cerebral impulses (CC). Alam and Smirk (1937) took this further and looked into the changes in BP during muscular work when circulatory occlusion was applied. A cuff placed around the thigh occluded flow whilst knee raises were performed at repeated intervals using only the calf muscle. BP rose as a result of the exercise and dropped when the exercise stopped, however it remained at an elevated level compared to rest. BP did not return to resting level until PECO was ceased. Mental efforts which are associated with muscular work are not the main reason for the rise in BP; when no cuff was placed around the leg increases in BP were less or abolished. Therefore the small fall in BP whilst PECO is still in place is due to the cessation of mental activity concerned with muscular exercise and muscle afferents must be causing the cardiovascular response thereafter. The studies indicated previously provided the basis for the concept that CC and muscle afferents affect cardiovascular response in separate ways. More recent studies by Coote et al (1971) and Bull et al (1989) have looked further into the effects of voluntary and stimulated exercise. Bull et al (1989) compared the pressor reflex during and following voluntary and involuntary contraction of the triceps surea whilst under occlusion. When voluntary contraction ended but PECO was maintained BP rapidly fell to a lower though still elevated level compared with rest. It was thought that the initial drop was attributed to the removal of CC, matching the results of Alam and Smirk (1937). The immediate drop in HR back to resting level seen post exercise whilst still under PECO suggests that it cannot be the metabolites which cause the increase in HR, if this were the case HR would stay elevated in PECO. The study concludes that the elevated BP following both types of contractions (electrical and voluntary) were due to circulatory arrest caused by trapped metabolites within the muscle. This suggests that the cardiovascular responses of HR and BP must be controlled by two separate mechanisms, CC and peripheral feedback respectively. Coote et al (1971) looked at the pressor reflex response to muscular exercise in cats. The cats were anaesthetised and contraction of the hindlimb was elicited by electrical stimulation of the ventral root, CC was not activated as electrical stimulation bypasses the brain. An increase in BP was still seen without CC being present therefore the conclusion was drawn that cardiovascular response arises from within the contracting muscles themselves, either mechanically or chemically, rather than from CC. Evidence for a chemical stimulus within humans has come from Alam and Smirk (1937) which can provide the link that results drawn from cats can be similar to those that occur in humans. It was also found that the pressor reflex was proportional to the tension developed by the contraction and so the stronger the contractions the large the pressor reflex is likely to be. Distinguishing between CC and muscle afferent feedback can also be undertaken through neuromuscular blockade (NMB) and anaesthesia. Two studies employing this technique are by Gandevia and Hobbs (1990) and Iwamoto et al (1987) both looked at cardiovascular response in man, McCloskey and Mitchell (1972) also employed this technique but investigated cats. The latter study sought to provide evidence that NMB would abolish the cardiovascular response in exercise. Cats triceps surea were electrically stimulated via the ventral root with two nerve blocking techniques being used: anodal blockage was used to eliminate large myelinated nerve fibres and anaesthesia was used to eliminate small and unmyelinated nerve fibres. Anodal block did not change the pressor reflex from the control condition; this is due to only the large fibres being blocked which are predominantly muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs. However under anaesthetic the cardiovascular responses were abolished. This is due to small and unmylinated fibres being blocked which are predominantly mechano- and metaboreceptors. The fact that only anaesthesia affects the cardiovascular response shows that the response is entirely due to the pressor reflex as no CC could be present. Iwamoto et al (1987) did a similar study but experimented on both cats and humans. The cat procedure was the same as McCloskey and Mitchell (1972) whilst humans performed voluntary and evoked knee extensions before and after NMB (tubocurarine). In cats blockade eliminated all cardiovascular responses compared with the control condition. In human voluntary contraction HR increased and strength was large, NMB reduced strength but allowed further increases in HR. Stimulated contraction reduced strength but HR was as large as in voluntary exercise though increased from the second R-R interval, NMB reduced strength further but HR still increased from second heart beat. BP increased in both types of exercise but to a lesser extent in stimulated exercise, NMB further reduced BP. As HR was unaffected by NMB it is suggested that it is governed by processes outside the muscle (CC) this is in line with Sechers (1985) findings. However BP was affected suggesting that muscle afferent feedback pl ays a role in the control of BP within the cardiovascular response, this matches the McCloskey and Mitchells (1972) conclusion drawn from cats. Gandevia and Hobbs (1990) looked at changes in HR and BP to graded contraction in man with the use of anaesthesia. Handgrip contractions were performed with a period of 3min PECO, arm muscles were then acutely paralysed via anaesthesia and the exercise performed again. HR and BP increased in line with the preceding contraction with PECO showing the degree to which the metaboreflex was activated. BP increased in direct relation to the preceding contraction but HR did not. In paralysis graded increases in HR were seen but not in BP, suggesting CC controls HR response. These results are consistent with in Iwamoto (1987) who found NMB to reduce BP response but which had little effect on HR response to voluntary contraction. Both studies show that cardiovascular response must be due to a combination of CC and chemoreflex. Gandevia and Hobbs (1990) showed that during anaesthesia HR was controlled by CC as muscle afferent would have been blocked, as BP did not increase with anaesthesia it could be concluded that muscle afferents control the modulation of BP. Conclusions can be drawn from all the relevant literature that CC and muscle afferent feedback have overlapping tendencies and that the different aspects of the cardiovascular response, though controlled via both mechanisms, lean towards one aspect more than the other. Therefore HR could be controlled to a greater extent by CC (Gandevia and Hobbs, 1990; Iwamoto et al, 1987 and Bull et al, 1989) whereas muscle afferent feedback could control BP response (Alam and Smirk, 1937 and Coote et al, 1971).

Family Planning Essay

†¢ It means the spacing of children and that parents are completely free to choose the number of children they want. †¢ People in almost all parts of the world are agreed that family planning is necessary in every country which desires to raise the living standard of its people. †¢ Family planning has also been referred to as the totality of human efforts to achieve human dignity, economic stability, health and happiness and welfare through: o Birth regulation and spacing of children by the use of accepted scientific methods Rhythm †¢ Only method that the Catholic church approves of †¢ â€Å"Periodic abstention† †¢ A plan of avoiding sexual intercourse during the fertile period just before and after an egg has been produced in her body †¢ Most women release an egg cell about once a month usually 14 days before the menstruation †¢ May vary from month to month and it is necessary to determine whether accurately as possible when an egg will be produced †¢ Can be reliable if the menstrual cycle is regular †¢ The doctor may help you determine when your fertile period is Sterilization †¢ Vasectomy(male); Tubal ligation(female) †¢ An operation whereby a tube, vas deferens, where the sperm cells pass is being removed †¢ In tubal ligation, the one removed is the tube where the egg cells pass †¢ Those who use this method are those with three to four children †¢ It is for couples whose families are complete †¢ The procedure much simpler for the male †¢ There no side effects and the cost of operation is cheaper Douching †¢ Flushing out the vagina with a medicated solution immediately after intercourse to remove or destroy sperm Abstinence †¢ Refraining from sexual intercourse †¢ 100% effective To have all this methods of family planning, one must be full of fire and enthusiasm about it yourself in persuading people to do such. If people are convinced of the possibility of family planning, the result will not only help the couples either rich or poor, to have a sound and healthy family but also make the nation a powerful and strong one. The world is not after the quantity but the quality of the people. Any couple who desires to use a family planning method should visit a family planning clinic so that they can learn the important details concerning the particular method they may choose and assure pregnancy protection. General Principles Governing the Choice of Contraceptive method 1. A contraceptive method is not for an unmarried individual but for a married couple. Although only one mate may be involved in its use, it affects the interpersonal as well as sexual relationship of husband and wife. 2. The effectiveness and the acceptability of any method are in direct proportion to the experience of the physician in suiting the method to the couple’s particular needs and the degree of motivation of the couple in using the method consistently. 3. The physician, being human, has his own preference and emotional reactions thereto. It is only in listening with respect to the patient’s reaction that the couple’s emotional need will be met. Catholic Church’s Position on Family planning On July 31, 1975, Julio R. Cardinal Rosales, pres. Of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, made the following classifications on the stand of the Church in the Philippine Population Program: 1. The Church is in accord with the Government on the need for family planning. The church has always advocated responsible parenthood. 2. The church respects the Government responsibility in making available to the citizens such means of family planning that would not violate their conscience of those employed by the Government in its program. 3. The church advocated the family life program which upholds human dignity, healthful marital love and family relationship, and which teaches that the means for family planning is the natural method, with the exclusion of artificial contraceptives, sterilization and abortion. 4. The church maintains that the individual conscience is the ultimate arbiter in the choice of the means for family planning.

The Wrong Side of Attraction

â€Å"Love Can Be Deceiving†, most people would say, but Tommy Shooter did not believe so. A General in the United States Marines in his mid-30’s, Tommy was muscular, quick-tempered, highly trained sniper. One day Tommy led his troops to Afghanistan in search of terrorists when they were ambushed. Tommy was shot in the leg during this and, the medics quickly carried him and his other injured soldiers to the chopper where they were air lifted to the military hospital in Paris, France. Upon arriving at the hospital, the doctors took Tommy to a room for emergency surgery. Dr. Scholl’s Ph. D. , calls for his top nurse to come and assist him. Walking into the room with her candy stripe nurses uniform, was a mid-20s Italian brunette woman with hazel green eyes and a smile to brighten any man’s day. Smitten with love at first sight, Tommy tried repeatedly to gain Blair’s attention. Blair growing up in a wealthy family was very independent and did not want to have to live on her family’s fortune. Blair wanted to work and make her own money. Her dream was to become a Certified Nurse in a big city. She found her dream job in Paris miles away from her family back in Italy. Blair saw Tommy as a cocky general, who always tried to sweet talk her. Every morning when Blair entered his room, the first thing she dreaded to hear from Tommy was â€Å"Hello Nurse†!!!!!! Tommy wore the biggest smile after yelling this to her. After a while, she began to enjoy hearing him say that to her. â€Å"At least I know he has great taste†, Blair would always say. Tommy was held in the hospital for a month before being released, but every morning he would come to Blair with his â€Å"Hello Nurse† and twelve dozen roses, before leaving he always told Blair that she would be his wife. Blair found his persistence very attractive, so she decided to give him a chance; they were married under the Eiffel Tower, and they settled in and off base fancy townhouse flat near every tourist attraction and venue in the heart of Paris, France. They love their new home, marriage, and romantic Paris atmosphere. One day Blair opens her mailbox to find a â€Å"FREE Two Person Admission† to The Number One Magic Show in Paris, France. The night of June Fourteenth two-thousand seven, Tommy received a call that would change everything for Blair and him. He was to be deployed back to Afghanistan. Tommy was not surprised, but he did not know how to tell Blair, since it was the night before their one year anniversary. Upon departure, Tommy says to Blair that he is in love with her and that he would love for her to enjoy herself at the show even though he will not be there, but he will come back home to her soon. After Tommy’s departure, Blair decides to pick up her tears and to enjoy the Paris scenery. Leaving her townhouse flat, Blair sits to an outside restaurant and helps herself to a meal. As the night falls, Blair decides to attend the magic show. â€Å"I will write Tommy as soon as I get home to tell him about my day†. Blair says sipping her martini. â€Å"Hello my name is Johnny Chan and this is my friend Natasha McBain. There before her stood a good-looking low-musculared Asian man. â€Å"Hi my name is Blair Shooter, I am a LPN at the Paris Military Hospital, what about you guys†, Blair says with a smile. â€Å"I have recently opened a Computer Technician’s Store and if you need your computer or laptop fixed, don’t hesitate to let me know. FREE of Charge first visit,† Johnny says sipping his beer. â€Å"Hello my name is Natasha McBain she wore dark-blonde hair as if painted by an artist, curvaceous , and in her early thirties. I’m a supermodel in every top magazine, and it’s so nice to meet you. † Blair did not really like Natasha but enjoyed her and Johnny’s company. Suddenly, the lights dims, â€Å"Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Michael Dunn and I am your magician for tonight prepare to be amazed!!!! † Blair was very amazed not at the show, but with her love of magic and mystery Blair saw most of the tricks. The disappearing act, cutting the box in half, and the pulling the rabbit out of the hat trick, but Blair’s attention was on Michael himself. This white debonair magician, â€Å"Looks like he’s in his mid-twenties†, Blair says to herself. â€Å"And for my last trick ladies and gentlemen, I will need one volunteer, How about you miss†, Michael says smiling at Blair. â€Å"Why not, I love magic† Blair says. â€Å"Great I am going to hypnotize you with your consent or course†, Michael says. â€Å"Of course,† Blair says before falling asleep. The crowd clasp and Blair becomes awakened, blinded by the spotlight Blair smiles confusingly and sits back in her seat. She’s was puzzled without any recollection of the trick or anything. After the show, Blair could only think of Michael, he approached her before she went out of the theatre. â€Å"I know you feel this connection between us†, Blair looked into Michael’s eyes. â€Å"Yes† she says. That night, Blair slepted in Michael’s arms, as if she was with her true love. â€Å" Be Careful Who You Fall For† â€Å"It has been two years, and I am ready to see my wife. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) will not hold me down, my wife’s love can heal me†, Tommy says to himself. Departing the plane he notices that Blair is not there to greet him, puzzled he catches a cab to his townhouse flat. â€Å"Honey, I’m here!!! Tommy yells to find her not there. â€Å"I wonder where she could be Tommy thought to himself. Two months pass and Blair finally enters their townhouse flat. â€Å"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!!!? † Tommy yells. Nonchalantly Blair says â€Å"Oh with friends, and when did you get here umm Tommy, yeah that’s right, as if forgetting his name. â€Å"Friends for two months!!! Tommy snarled â€Å"Yes† Blair smiled. â€Å"I am not going to argue with you umm Tommy I’m going out we will talk later† Blair says slamming the door behind her. Suspicious Tommy follows his wife to a Magic Theatre, walking closer Tommy hears his wife involved with another man. Love can be deceiving,†Tommy says leaving the theatre he gets into his car and grabs his pistol thinking to himself. â€Å"I am confused, broken-hearted and in rage†¦I will kill him, and her† â€Å"NO!!.. † â€Å"I need a drink†, Tommy says getting back into his car he drives to the bar near his home. At the bar, drowning in liquior, Tommy is approached by this gorgeous, dark blonde-haired, blue eyes, curvaceous woman. â€Å"Hi do you need a friend my name is Natasha McBain, I noticed that you seem in need of someone to talk to as well as I do†. â€Å"That’s fine†, Michael says gathering his attention back to his drink. Tommy and Natasha confide in one another over the night, Natasha tells Tommy of her on again off again friend/lover Johnny Chan, and Tommy confides to Natasha by telling her of his wife’s betrayal, his marriage, and uncertain future. â€Å"I will fight for my marriage!! †, Tommy says in a drunken bluster. As the time passes they comforted each other physically and emotionally, and the next morning Natasha was gone. Without any sign from Blair, Tommy grabs his rifle and sets out to her lovers place. Seven o’ clock that morning, Tommy wakes to hear Blair’s laughter. Posted above the roof-top across the street from Blair and her lovers place, Tommy quickly wiped his eyes and perched himself across the ledge with his rifle assembled and aimed. As Tommy looks in the scope to pull the trigger on Michael, Blair jumps into the shot hugging and kissing Michael. Tommy heart drops â€Å"this was a waste of my time, maybe I should just let her be with him†, Tommy says packing up his gun. â€Å"NONSENSE† a voice in the shadows says. â€Å"Who is that? Who is there†, Tommy says frightened. â€Å"Pardon me sir, I would love to offer you a deal in your dilemma,† says the stranger. That man you tried killing. I can give you all of the power you can ever imagine, all you have to do is succeed in eliminating him. He’s cheating with your wife and that’s not right, I will give you a more powerful life.. a better life†¦his life†, says the stranger . â€Å" Who are you and how do you know what I am going through? † Tommy yells. â€Å"My apologies†, the stranger says, my name is Steven Clay appearing from the shadows there stood a very big intimidating, white male with long straight black hair, and piercing wicked green eyes, which made Tommy’s hair stand on the back of his neck and he begin to sweat. That man you tried to kill, his name is Michael Dunn, he is an imposter, he is not a true sorcerer†, says Steven. That night at his little Magic Show, he hypnotized your wife and she fell in love with him. † â€Å"I will not allow him to trick anyone into falling in love with them, that is against the rules and he knows that. † â€Å"A master of the arts, my mentor, and my teacher,† says Steven, BUT when it comes to women he is a fool always that is when a true sorcerer is truly weak and vulnerable,† Steven says smiling at Tommy. What do you want me to do? † Tommy says looking at Steven. â€Å"The deal is for you to come her again in the morning and shoot him again I will give you a special bullet. When Michael Dunn is dead I will know, then and ONLY then will I make you immortal. † â€Å"BUT if you FAIL AGAIN. I will take your life, body, and soul, you see I am a shape shifter, and a soul reaper ALWAYS looking for damned souls, your life will become my and a part of me for all eternity,† â€Å"SO DO YOU AGREE? † Steven says whose eyes were turning red. Yes I agree â€Å" replies Tommy, â€Å"Great, I will know when the job is done†, Steven says before vanishing. It is 2:00 a. m. , fueled with drunken rage, Tommy has not been sleep, â€Å"I can’t sleep, today is the day that Blair’s lover dies,† Tommy says. With his bottle of Jack Daniels in hand and his rifle in his car, Tommy drives to the Magic Theatre, and falls asleep on the roof-top across the street from his wife and her lovers place. It is now 7:00 a. m. , Tom my wakes to hear Blair’s laughter, he then again props himself along the ledge with his rifle assembled and aimed. Tommy sets his scope and waits for Blair to leave, â€Å"See you later Amore†, Blair says â€Å"Okay† says Michael with a look of disgust as he walks back into the Magic Theatre. Ready to aim, Tommy fires his rifle and the bullet shoots out the barrel like lighting, â€Å"BOW†. Michael turns and blocks the bullet with his supernatural powers, when he sees’ Tommy on the roof-top across the street from his building. Michael throws the bullet back toward Tommy knocking his rifle off of the ledge and onto the sidewalk. â€Å"Fool† Michael says as he walks back into the Magic Theatre. Failing miserably, Tommy rushes home to gather his things to escapes Steven’s raft. Barreling into his townhouse flat, Tommy begins packing his things to go back to the United States. â€Å"I have to get away from the liers, cheaters, and most importantly I must keep my soul,† Tommy says laughing nervously. Suddenly Steven appears in a puff of black smoke, â€Å"YOU HAVE FAILED, I WILL SUCCEED WITHOUT YOU!!! † Without a word Steven steals Tommy’s soul, and has the power to now shape shift into Tommy and back to himself. Steven now pleased with enough power to conquer Michael, along with Tommy’s body. The next morning, Steven walks up to Michael and grabs his chest looking into Michael’s eyes, Steven says â€Å"You will NEVER Be ME† showing his true face. â€Å"STEVEN!!! † Michael says before falling dead. Gaining all of Michaels power and stealing his soul, Steven decides to continue roaming the Earth for eternity searching for new souls to take. Meanwhile, Blair reading the morning paper, see’s that her lover Michael has died, she immediately breaks down and goes mentally, physically, and emotionally insane. Her wealthy family finds her homeless in downtown Paris. We have searched all over for you†, Blair’s mother says as tears roll down her cheeks, â€Å"our daughter has become delusional,† Blair’s father says. â€Å"She’s has all these crazy fantasies of magic spells, of disappearing shape shifting men. † â€Å"And all she keeps repeating and the end of all of this nonsense is PIERCING WICKED GREEN EYES, PIE RCING WICKED GREEN EYES, PIERCING WICKED GREEN EYES†, before fainting Blair’s father adds. â€Å"We will just have to admit her, she has gone insane my daughter always believed in that magic nonsense† as he walks away. Blair’s mother kisses her good-bye and they transport her to The Paris Asylum, for the Mentally Insane. It is now Sunday morning, and Natasha McBain wakes up with hope of true love in her eyes. As she begins her day, she walks out of her penthouse suit onto the sidewalk and she says to herself, â€Å" Today will be the day that I will FINALLY tell Johnny Chan how I truly feel,† says Natasha sipping her coffee. â€Å"This time without magic or tricks,† her eyes changing from blue to red as she puts on her shades.