Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Left Brain Right Brain and Its Effect on Study Habits
Left Brain Right Brain and Its Effect on Study Habits What does it mean to be left-brain dominant or right-brain dominant? Scientists have explored theories about the two hemispheres of the brain and the ways that they differ in function and control of the body. According to recent research, people who are right-brain dominant and those who are left-brain dominant process information and respond in different ways. Most theories suggest that right-brain dominant people are guided by the more emotional, intuitive right hemisphere, while left-brain people respond in sequential, logical ways, guided by the left hemisphere. To a great degree, your personality is shaped by your brain type. Your dominant brain type has a very significant effect on your study skills, homework habits, and grades. For instance, some students may struggle with specific assignment types or test questions, based on their specific brain types. By understanding your dominant brain type, you may be able to adjust your study methods, and perhaps shape your schedule and coursework, to suit your own personality type. What's Your Brain Game? Do you watch the clock constantly, or does the bell surprise you at the end of class? Have you ever been accused of being too analytical or do people say youre dreamy? These characteristics can be attributed to brain types. Typically, dominant left-brain students will be more organized, theyll watch the clock, and theyll analyze information and process it sequentially. They are often cautious, and they follow rules and schedules. Left-brain students are strong in math and science, and can answer questions quickly. Left-brain students would make great Jeopardy contestants. On the other hand, right-brain students are the dreamers. They can be very intelligent and very deep thinkers- so much so that they can get lost in their own little worlds. They make great students of the social sciences and the arts. They are more spontaneous than the cautious left-brainers, and they are likely to follow their own gut feelings. Right-brainers are very intuitive and have great skill when it comes to seeing through lies or tricks. They would make great Survivor contestants. What about people who are right in the middle? Everyone is different, and everyone has characteristics from both types. Some people are equal when it comes to characteristics. Those students are middle-brain oriented, and they might do well on The Apprentice.Ã Students who are middle-brain oriented can have strong qualities from either hemisphere. Those students can benefit from logic from the left and intuition from the right. That sounds like a great recipe for success in business, doesnt it?
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Watergate scam. Usa Vs Nixon Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Watergate scam. Usa Vs Nixon - Term Paper Example The mentioned scandal came to surface during the year 1972 when the electioneering campaign between Mr. George McGovern and Mr. Richard Nixon was on the boom. Well before winning the Presidential election, five people inclusive of white house staff and political workers made their unauthorized entry into the Democratic Headquarters located at Watergate complex in Washington D.C (Kutler 510). In order to investigate the matter of doors broken opened of Democratic Headquarters by the staff and political workers of Nixonââ¬â¢s Party who run the electioneering campaign aims at to steal material information and important files that relates to election strategy. Upon disclosure of the committed crime, initially Mr. Nixon assigned the task to Mr. Cox to investigate the matter. Later on he dismissed him for non-co-operation. The forced departure of Mr. Cox, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Ruckelshaus considered in the American history as ââ¬Å"Saturday Night Massacreâ⬠(Trachtman 131). With the dismissal of said gentleman, mounting public pressures compelled Mr. Nixon to appoint another investigator. Hence, Mr. Jaworski appointed to probe the matter. To accomplish the task he got subpoena order that enables him to have an access to relevant tapes and documents which were in the possession of Mr. Nixon. The conversations that contains in the tapes led to the involvement of indicted persons in the scam (Trachtman 131). On the disclosure of his involvement in the Watergate scam, Nixonââ¬â¢s counsel requested the competent court of law to quash president from accountability since he is as powerful as Louis XIV for a term of four years; therefore he is not answerable to any court of law except the impeachment court. The competent court of law turned down the plea and ordered the president to hand over the investigative material to the investigator (Kutler 510). On the order of the subordinate court, the attorney of Mr. Nixon referred the matter to the Supreme Court and t he court hardly taken three weeks time to decide the case. In that case the apex court focused on two issues a) indictment of president b) president prerogative of immunity. Firstly the court found involvement of Mr. President in conversation with the staff of white house concerning Watergate scam. Secondly the court rejected the plea of absolute power of the president. The president was of the view that being a president he has the absolute right and privilege of immunity. Further, the court held that only the attorney general void the prosecution commission which he refused to do so, therefore, the executive branch and other two branches are bound to implement it. The president had no choice but to enforce the decision in its true spirit (Kutler 511). The fear of impeachment and prosecution in the Senate which led to the removal of President forced him to resign from his office in August 1974. So far he was the only president in the history of United States of America who resigned from his office. This has further established the authority of Supreme Court as judicial branch to monitor the activities of executive branch if any of its action is ultra virus to the constitution and the law of the land in vogue (Trachtman 133). Chief Justice Warren Burger of the Supreme Court of America in his land mark decision held that "However, neither the doctrine of separation of powers nor the need for confidentiality of high level communication without more can sustain an absolute, unqualified Presidential privilege of immunity from judicial process under all circumstancesâ⬠(Lively and Weaver 3). The apex court while acknowledging the right of
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse as Rivals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse as Rivals - Essay Example The essay "Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse as Rivals" highlights the rivalry of two of the twentieth centuryââ¬â¢s renowned artists Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Matisse Picasso is the first exhibition that was dedicated to the enduring dialogue of the two artists. They were impressed by the artistic prowess of each other from the time they met in 1906. Matisse Picasso tells a story of two artists who were driven to great accomplishments despite their personal differences. Matisse and Picassoââ¬â¢s subject stories captured nursing as a significant topic in their artworks. A model for Matisse, one of the most intriguing stories on Matisse follows the story of a nun called Jacques-Marie. She was hired as a nurse for Matisse in 1941 when he was sick. While attending to his medical needs, she became close to him, a model, spiritual guide and an inspiration for Matisseââ¬â¢s art. Jacques-Marie also known as Monique Bourgeois responded to an advertisement placed by Henri Matiss e. He was in search of a young, beautiful night nurse. As their friendship got stronger Matisseââ¬â¢s work also got better. He created a work that he considered as his greatest life achievement. He called it The Chapel of the Rosary in Venice. Matisse referred to Marie as The True Initiator of the Chapel. When Matisse asked Marie about his work, she told Matisse that she likes the colors but not the drawings. This made Matisse repeat his works to the desired perfection. This was after he discovered that Marie was an amateur artist. (Matisse, Cowling and Picasso 13). Picasso, on the other hand, did a painting that depicted a mother nursing an infant. He dated a young woman called Eva who died shortly after. He moved on to date and later marry Olga, a Russian woman. They had a boy child together before their relationship deteriorated. Picasso had an affair with a nurse called Marie-Therese Walter. These events influenced his later works including his painting of a mother breastfeed ing an infant (Matisse, Cowling and Picasso 34). In the artistic exchange of the two artists, Matisse wanted to articulate an assenting vision of the world. Picasso, on the other hand, wanted everything. Matisse was generous in his artwork and expressions. Picasso had a panache for the new, the unanticipated issues in his work. He created new pieces of work. Matisse strengthened the interaction of color in his pieces of work, while Picassoââ¬â¢s work emphasized on the structure and form. The polarity that existed between them was strong. Thus, they needed each otherââ¬â¢s comparison and contrast to keep their artistic work at their best. The works of these two artists can be likened to the nursing profession (Matisse, Cowling and Picasso 263). Nurses are professionals who must always attend to their patients with care. They must always be closer to their patients, know what they need and understand their entire medical concerns. They need to be gentle and respectful. They work with other professionals in their places of work based on work interests, as opposed to friendship. Picasso and Matisse present narrative subjects that can be applied to the nursing profession. They two artists had a relationship such as that shared by a nurse and a doctor. Nurses and doctors are not brought together by friendship but need. A doctor needs a nurse to help in delivering his work. The nurse must help the doctor perform minor responsibilities at the place of work. However, their needs force them to work together for the benefit of the two. Picasso and Matisseââ¬â¢s relationship was based on their needs rather than friendship. Picasso worked with a certain form of eruptive and emotional need while Matisse worked with function
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Self harm and suicide Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Self harm and suicide - Coursework Example One of the most common myths is that by asking a person on what their suicide thoughts are they are prompted to actually commit suicide. This myth can be handled through knowing the fact that when an individual is asked about their suicidal thoughts their sense of isolation is lowered and they feel cared for and that there is available help. Another common myth is that suicide and self-harm happen without warning. The nurses being aware that most individuals before committing suicide they are verbal about their distress and pain can handle this myth. In addition, the myth that suicide only happens to specific people is common. The nurses bearing in mind that anybody is capable of committing suicide can handle the myth. Finally, the myth that people who talk about suicide are just attention seekers is common. Nurses need to know that in most cases patients will try to communicate before they actually commit suicide (Krysinska,
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Adam Smiths Contribution to Classical Political Economy
Adam Smiths Contribution to Classical Political Economy Assess the contribution of Adam Smith to the tradition of Classical Political Economy Important Assignment Related Notices Penalties: University policy requires that a penalty be deducted from the actual mark achieved for each working day the assignment is late until 0 is reached. There is a strict deadline of 11:59pm on day of submission. One grade step will be deducted for very 11:59pm deadline that is missed. Any written assessment that exceeds the stated word limit by more than 10% will receive a one grade step mark deduction. Extensions Plagiarism Information: For more information about extensions and plagiarism please refer to your One Stop Shop course. An Originality Report (OR) is generated by Turnitin every time a piece of work is submitted. The OR shows where matches have been found between the submitted document and other existing sources in the Turnitin database. Please note that all assignments will achieve a OR score due to the use of standard coversheets. C. Canvas Assignment Discussions Canvas provides a Discussion Area for each assignment. Both staff and students can leave messages in this area. Please ensure that all communication is undertaken in a professional and polite manner. Remember that: Electronic discussions do not have the benefit of the nonverbal and vocal cues that normally convey meaning in a traditional face-to-face conversation. Satire, sarcasm and ââ¬Å"heat of the momentâ⬠feelings can come across as rudeness. Please check your tone before you post a Comment. Instant delivery of a message does not mean an instant reply. Please make an appointment within advertised office hours in the first instance to discuss any matter of assignment feedback and grading. It is College policy that staff will not be actively engaging in debate over matters of feedback and grades with individual students via Canvasââ¬â¢ online Speed Grader system. Assignment Grade: 100 98 93 88 85 83 78 75 73 68 65 63 58 55 53 48 45 43 38 33 28 23 18 13 8 3 0 Admin Note: Marker please a) highlight or box the grade from the above Grade Mark Steps that this assignment has achieved and b) insert the same % into the grade box in the right hand column of Canvas Speedgrader. Feedback Overview of submission (Definition of question, integration of theoretical and empirical material where appropriate, engagement with relevant themes and issues, engagement with relevant academic literature) Quality of research and analysis (Clarity and depth of argument, scope of argument, originality of approach, range of sources used, critical use of sources) Evidence of key skills (Structure, clarity of expression, proper referencing and accompanying bibliography, formatting, evidence of sustained research) Potential areas for improvement (How could a future submission be enhanced?) Assess the contribution of Adam Smith to the tradition of Classical Political Economy Introduction Adam Smithââ¬â¢s contribution to the tradition of classical political economy was hugely influential. This essay will discuss two of his major theories outlined in the Wealth of Nations; the division of labour and then the invisible hand, whilst briefly touching upon Smithââ¬â¢s view on the role of the state and the free-market. Smith was a moral philosopher from the late 18th Century and wrote; ââ¬Å"An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nationsâ⬠in 1776, to critique the political-economic system of the time; mercantilism. This was an economic theory and practice that encouraged imperialism and state intervention into the allocation of scarce resources. Smith was writing at the outset of the Industrial Revolution when the world was changing. In the Wealth of Nations, Smith proposed many revolutionary economic theories including; the division of labour, the labour theory of value, the role of the state in an economy and the invisible hand among others, which he thought would build a nationsââ¬â¢ wealth. Classical political economy is a group of theories that developed in the 17th ââ¬â 19th Century to try and understand society on the basis of its economic foundation. Smith viewed political economy as a branch of science of statesmen, aimed at providing its citizens with plentiful revenue or subsistence and sufficient revenue for state for public service. It proposed to enrich both the people and the sovereign. (Smith, 2008, p. 275; Burnham, P., 2014, A). Smith believed that society should be market-based, which he believed were characterised by the three factors of production; land, labour and capital. These factors of production produce three classes within society: landowners, capital owners and labour. Each clas s receives revenue, and all are independent of each other. Smithââ¬â¢s main point in the Wealth of Nations was that all classes could gain from an increase in the scope of the market; anything that impedes the free-market is a problem (Burnham, P., 2014, B). Discussion One of Smithââ¬â¢s key theories, proposed in the Wealth of Nations, was that of the division of labour. This refers to the separation of different parts of the production process according to the workerââ¬â¢s ability and/or the workerââ¬â¢s equipment. Smith believed that the benefits were clear; it enhanced the production process leading to a more efficient use of scarce resources as well as lowering the cost of production (Smith, 2008, Book I, ch.1). Furthermore, Smith strongly believed that the division of labour greatly increased the quantity a worker and/or firm could produce. The results of dividing labour are; the increase in the skill of the worker; reduced time loss upon switching production process, and the invention of machines which aids workers and enables one man to do the work of many. By reducing the workerââ¬â¢s part of the production process to one, simpler operation performed solely by the worker, this increases the workerââ¬â¢s skill and performance. As no worker needs to change task, more time can be dedicated to the production process. The specialisation of workers would enable firms to employ machinery, thus producing more goods more efficiently compared to human capital, reducing the number of workers required to make a certain quantity of goods, and therefore reducing the cost of production (Smith, 2008, pp.15-17). In the 18th Century when The Wealth of Nations was published, factory owners adopted his principle of people specialising in particular jobs as shown in his example of the pin-maker. This principle of specialisation has continued to modern industrial occupations, such as car manufacturing. However, Smith believed that the division of labour was limited by the extent of the market. For example, if the market is so small that a worker cannot sell their produce of labour efficiently, the worker will make losses, and so, on this basis, may work in an industry for which they are not skilled in. Smith argued that division of labour will only take place when the population is large, that will create enough demand for specialised services (Smith, 2008, Book I, ch. 3). Karl Marx disagreed with Smithââ¬â¢s theory, as he believed that specialisation would lead to the alienation of workers as the work becomes repetitive and reduces the value of the worker from a human being to that of a machine (Marx, 1988, p.72). In addition when work becomes more specialised, less training is required for each job, and so, the individual workers become less skilled than if one worker performed the whole task (Marx, 1999, p.119). Smith also critiques the division of labour; he believed that if a worker devoted their life to performing one or a few simple operations of which the effects are similar or the same, the worker has no occasion to discover methods for removing difficulties that never occur. Smith argues that because of this, the worker would generally become as stupid and ignorant as is possible for a human to be (Smith, 2008, pp. 429 430). Another one of Smithââ¬â¢s most prominent ideas was the concept of the ââ¬ËInvisible Handââ¬â¢ and the idea of a free-market (Smith, 2008, Book IV, ch. 2). What Smith actually meant by ââ¬ËInvisible Handââ¬â¢ is still a contested idea between economists, but it is widely believed that it is a metaphor to describe the guide of the allocation of scarce resources in a free-market. A free-market is a market free from government intervention and so the market price of goods are determined by the interaction between supply and demand. Smith stated that all actors, buyers and sellers, act in their own self-interest (Burnham, P., 2014, B). Smith claimed that, due to the absence of government intervention, buyers are free to choose where to buy goods from and seller are free to choose which goods they want to supply and at what price and quantity. Smith believed that this method would benefit society as buyers, acting in their own self-interest, would buy goods from the cheapest sellers. This would mean that firms would compete against each other, trying to gain as many customers as possible to maximise their own self-interest; profit. This would lead to firms cutting their prices in order to gain buyers. In turn, the inefficient firms with higher costs and whose use of resources are inefficient, will not be able to cut their prices, so are forced out of the market. An obvious example of this is budget airlines competing against each other, Laker Airways became bankrupt in 1982 trying to compete. This inevitably leads to a more efficient use of resources, with buyers getting their goods at a cheaper price and/or higher quality; improving their utility whilst the efficient firms reap the benefits of increased profits. Smith believed that because of this, the free-market is the best way to allocate scarce resources and that indi viduals trying to maximise their utility would in turn increase the utility of society (Smith, 2006, p.316). The most obvious example of the free-market theory in practice today is America ââ¬â whether or not it is successful in allocating resources efficiently or lowering prices is debatable. A common misconception is that Smith wanted no state intervention whatsoever. However, although he wanted a small state, he saw four main roles for the state to play: to uphold the rule of law, to protect society from people who are against the market, to maintain public infrastructure, and to foster ââ¬Å"justiceâ⬠(Burnham, P. 2014 B). Not everyone agrees with Smithââ¬â¢s theory of the invisible hand and that the free-market benefits society. The free-market does not work efficiently when externalities exist. An externality is an action of an individual that has an impact on others, which the individual does not pay for/the other individual is not compensated for, so therefore, the market price does not reflect the true cost to society (Mankiw Taylor, 2014 p. 189). Marx argued that the capital class, that is those who own the modes of production, do not work and therefore exploit the workers. He also believes that capitalists would eventually accumulate more and more capital, further exploiting the working class (Marx, 1999, Vol. 7). More recently, Joseph Stiglitz identifies that markets are too short-term driven, and are unlikely to invest in research and development, which historically has been done by the government. As well as this, Stiglitz believes that due to asymmetric information and individuals pursui ng their own personal interest, the free-market will inevitably lead to those with the information to benefit at the expense of others, therefore, markets will not be efficient (Stiglitz, 2004). This can be seen in George Akerlofââ¬â¢s example of a used car salesman, who has more information than the customer, and so can gain at the expense of the customer (Akerlof, 1970). Conclusion Adam Smith was immensely influential and made a huge contribution to the tradition of classical political economy. He produced the building blocks for basic liberal economics that of the free-market ââ¬â and many of his theories are still used in some way today. Smithââ¬â¢s works influenced many prominent economically liberal academics of the 20th Century, including Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek. Smithââ¬â¢s theories have been adopted by governments, most notably Margaret Thatcherââ¬â¢s and Ronald Reeganââ¬â¢s, and have been adapted to suit the different situation of modern society. With hindsight, and through criticisms from prominent academics, such as Karl Marx, we now know that there are faults with some of Smithââ¬â¢s key theories, such as asymmetric information and externalities in a market. However, in the 18th Century, Smithââ¬â¢s theories were revolutionary and helped change the political-economic system of Britain from that of mercantilism to cl assical political economy. Smithââ¬â¢s theories also helped to kick-start Britainââ¬â¢s Industrial Revolution in the 18th Century, which aided Britainââ¬â¢s ascension to be the most powerful and wealthy country in the world (Hudson, 2011). Therefore, it could be argued that his contribution was immense and nearly two hundred and fifty years later, he continues to influence political and economic thinking. Bibliography Smith, A. (2008)An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations: A Selected Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, USA Burnham, P. (A) (2014) What is political economy-2.ppt, 08 20891 Political Economy. [online via internal VLE] University of Birmingham available at: https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/7985/files/845717?module_item_id=147603 Burnham, P. (B) (2014) Economic liberalism.pptx, 08 20891 Political Economy. [online via internal VLE] University of Birmingham available at: https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/7985/files/845717?module_item_id=147603 Marx, K. (1988)Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 and the Communist Manifesto (Great Books in Philosophy). Prometheus Books Marx, K. (1999)Das Kapital: A Critique of Political Economy. Regnery Publishing, Inc., An Eagle Publishing Company Smith, A. (2006)The Theory of Moral Sentiments. 7 vols. United States: Waking Lion Press Mankiw, G. and Taylor, M. (2014)Economics. 3rd ed. Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Cengage Learning Stiglitz, J. (2004)The Roaring Nineties: A New History of the Worldââ¬â¢s Most Prosperous Decade. Norton, W. W. Company, Inc. Akerlof, G. (1970) The Market for ââ¬Å"Lemonsâ⬠: Quality Uncertainty and the Market Mechanism.The Quarterly Journal of Economics[online], 84 (3). Available from: http://socsci2.ucsd.edu/~aronatas/project/academic/Akerlof%20on%20Lemons.pdf Hudson, P. (2011) The Workshop of the World. BBC [online], 29 March. Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/workshop_of_the_world_01.shtml [Accessed 4 December 2014]
Friday, October 25, 2019
The Degradation of Music for Mass Consumption Essay -- Argumentative P
The Degradation of Music for Mass Consumption From the very first time that someone decided to experiment with a musical tradition, the cry has gone out that "true," "pure," and "good" music is dead to society, and that music itself is on a perpetual slide to oblivion. All apostrophe aside, this is a serious matter to consider. Music inhabits a significant place in all cultures. Musical style is very much a function of the Zeitgeist, reflecting the prevalent tone of the dynamics and pulse of a specific time. As an artistic medium, music has as much to do with the shaping of society, or as a shaped response to society, as do television, literature, language, or art. The fact that we find music pervading so many of our endeavors bears this out. There is nothing like music. A musical composition is a singular, tangible, emotional and intellectual outlet for our expression, so it should be no surprise that the direction of music resonates importance with so many people. Which brings us to the topic: Is the popular music of today of any value, and what does it bode for future music? In the introduction, I have suggested that the style of popular music of a particular period reflects that period. The particular style that is chosen is the artist's response to the agony and ecstasy, or something in between, of the time. The great thing about music, though, is that it can express anything. The Zeitgeist serves as a filter for the form of the music. In this way, the artist can make his point in a medium that is both accessible and acceptable to the listener. Not unlike language, the artist wants to communicate with his audience, and in order to do that, must speak the audience's language. Of course, music, essentially, has only on... ...40 radio, one can easily hear a drum sampling or melody from one popular song sampled directly onto another, an horrific development. Here is music offered to the public, involving virtually no effort by the artist, with massive monetary reimbursement not just expected, but demanded, by today's arrogant performers. The public sucks up image over ability, style over substance. This abominable trend will not right itself until a desire is expressed by the public for some real music, on a large scale. As with any business, the most effective method is purchasing power. Especially in today's market, music production is expensive, and a panhandling amateur will not survive long without financial backing. By identifying and understanding objective values in music and associating them with one's own subjective values, we may yet find an egress from our musical morass.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Faunia Farley – The Human Stain
Besides Coleman Silk, the major character of The Human Stain. By my own opinion, the most interesting charatcer too. She started off as a rich privileged kid who, at the age of 14, had been struck by the worst thing that can happen to a girl at the very edge of her puberty ââ¬â having a spoiled mother who cared more about the money than for her own daughetr, Faunia had to face an abusing stepfather who found her chilish innocence and beauty too powerful sexual bate to endure. Running away at such early and immature years of her life and staying completely alone and protected only by clear sky and an empty wallet, she had been forced to put up with the worst kind of jobs and worst kind of men that could possibly be found. In her case, these jobs and men seemed to find her more quickly than she found anything else herself. Waitressing in Florida, a 17-year old Faunia is even thinking about becoming a prostitute ââ¬â à «for a skinny blonde with big tits, a tall, good-looking kid like her with hustle and ambition and guts, got up in miniskirt, a halter, and boots, a thousand bucks a night would be nothingà » (p. 160). After a series of not-nice boyfriend who beat her up until she screamed for her life, she finnaly cought up with a neatlyââ¬âlooking guy, this Lester Farley, who seemed to be a guy in his place. She even dared to think her miseries were over and dream about a peaceful life with her husband and a farm on which they could build a life toghether. She was wrong. Les Farley had turned out to be the next worst thing that happened ââ¬â a Vietnam vet with PTSD and a drinking problem, used her as his punching bag whenever he got drunk and mistakenly thought he was back in Nam and that she was one of the à «gooksà » from the jungle. Too often was she awakened by his cold hands firmly gripping her throat (p. 53). But she didn't hate him, she wasn't even too scared of him, she felt sorry for him more than anything. In one of his hard alchohol episodes, she managed to get him to rehab, took their two children, Rawley and Les Junior, and more for theirs sake than her own's, she escaped him. But the problems didn't stop. Getting out of the rehab, Les started to stock her. One night, while she had been with another man in a car, the house where kids slepti was caught in fire and both of them died. Even though there was no evidence of it, she knew it was Les who did it. But it didn't matter. Children's death haunted her and she blamed herself so harshly that she even wanted Les to à «kill her once and for allà » (p. 246. ). But à «amazing how nobody's done it yet to the dead children's motherà » ââ¬â she thinks and decides to do something about it herself. She drank Valiu and gin and suffered a clinical death for several minutes, but some fortune, or misfortune, wouldn't let her go (p. 245). Disappointed in everything about herself and determined to end her miseries, she buys carbon-monoxide powder and attepmpts a suicide once again. And once again, her luck slapped her in the face and kept her alive (p. 246. . à «OK, if this is how you wanna play, that's how we're gonna playà », Faunia says to some force greater and stronger than human will that played tricks on her her entire life. Accepting everything that had happened and everything that was yet to come, she continues her life with a special kind of wisdom ââ¬â à «narrow, antisocial, savage and negative, but a wisdom of somebody who expects nothingà » (p. 28). Starting to work on a milk farm, in a post office and as a janitor at Athena colledge, she puts a mask over her face and continues to get involved with wrong men in wrong kinds of relationships based mainly on sex. And exactly sex is her power over men. This 34-year-old thin and tall illiterate woman with graying blond hair, firm limbs and breasts, had a look of someone for whom both sex and betrayal are as basic as breadà » (p. 50. ). In bed she is à «powerful, coherent, unified being whose pleasure is in overstepping the boundaries. In bed she is a deep phenomenonà » (p. 31). After being a part of Smoky Hollenback's sexual triangle, she starts an affair with a 71-year-old Coleman Silk, ex-dean of Athena colledge. He is different from all the other guys that she ever had a bad luck to know, but nonetheless all she wants of him is à «a non-pressure bang, once a week, on the sly, with a man who's been through it all and is nicely cooled out. à » (p. 40). She plays her role, she satisfies him like no other woman ever before, sho doesn't want anything else from him, no expectations, no feelings, no true relationship, she's becoming his Voluptas. And when à «she knows it's happening: that thing, that connectionà » between them, when she dances for him and à «making him fall in love with herà » she says to him: à «We've got all we need. We don't need love. Don't diminish yourself ââ¬â don't reveal yourself as a sentimental sap. You're dying to do it, but don't. Let's not lose this. à » (p. 231). She knows she's driving him nuts, she knows that her rejection of his feelings makes him want to attach to her sentimentaly even more. She dances for him and teaches him what life really is. She ââ¬â a 34-year-old illiterate janitor, teaches him ââ¬â colledge proffessor, ex-dean, a member of highest rank of society class, what life is all about. He's never seen her dance like this, he's never heard her talking like this. Been so long since she talked like this, she'd have thought she'd forgotten how. So very long in hiding. Nobody heard her talking like this. This is not the usual way she entertained men (p. 231. /232). Women who fuck like she does aren't supposed to talk like this ââ¬â at least that's what the men who don't fuck women like her like to think. That's what the women who don't fuck like her like to think. à «That's what everyone likes to think ââ¬â stupid Faunia, she says. Well, let 'em. My pleasure. Yes, stupid Faunia has been paying attention. How else does stupid Faunia get through? Being stupid Faunia ââ¬â that's my achievement, that's me at my most sensible best. à » (p. 233. ) Two of them being so similar and yet so different at the same time. Faunia, who never had anything only hers except bad luck and still never complaining about anything, never shed a single tear over the wreck of her life she is still in a way forced to live and Coleman who à «really thinks his suffering is so life-shattering. It's a lot of assholes not liking him ââ¬â it's not a big deal. Two kids suffocating and dying, that's a big deal. Having your stepfather put his fingers up your cunt, that's a big deal. Losing your job as you're about to retire isn't a big deal. That's what she hates about him ââ¬â the privilegedness of his suffering. à » (p. 234. ). But even as she knows all she hates, she knows what she likes. His generosity. So rare for her to be anywhere near anyone's generosity. And the strenght that comes frome being a man who doesn't swing a pipe at her head. She even admitted him she was smart. He listened to her and she was smart. He listens to her and he's loyal to her. He doesn't reproach her for anything. He doesn't plot against her in any way. He takes her seriously. That's sincere. (p. 237. ). This is maybe the only time in all her life she felt good about something, about someone. Felt protected. Felt considered. Maybe even felt loved. Maybe even she felt love towards him. And are these the things you can run away from? A total accident ââ¬â her last and only lucky accident, and why does she run away? Does she really want to go back to what it was before him? (p. 237. ). No, she doesn't. So she doesn't do that. She's with him till the very end. Death came in a moment when she never wanted it less. In all her life, filled mostly with thoughts about leaving the world, the human race, and all the mseries behid, she never wanted death less. So who is this strong and determined woman? This woman who despiesed human race so much that her best companion for conversation had been a crow and she could be true only to it? This character so complex in all her simplicity? This woman who fooled the world and played the trick on everyone like no one else in such an unexpected way ââ¬â so simple that it's almost unbelievable? Who chose to wear a mask of illiteracy and promiscuicity becouse she felt she couldn't stand a chance any other way? She's à «the kid whose existence became a hallucination at 7 and a catastrophe at 14 and a disaster after that. The kid who mistrust everyone, sees the con in everyone, and yet is protected against nothing, whose capacity to hold on, unintimidated, is enormous and yet whose purchase on life is minute, misfortune's favourite embattled child, the kid to whom everything loathsome that can happen has happened and whose luck shows no sign of changing. à » (p. 164. ). She's à «the woman who doesn't want to own everything. The woman who doesn't want to own anything. Helen of Nowhere. Helen of Nothing. à »
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