People who want to have children should take a...

A north Florida mother was recently accused of shaking her infant baby to death for interrupting her FarmVille game on Facebook. The 22-year-old mother, Alexandra Tobias, pled guilty to the charges and told investigators that â€Å"she became angry after the baby cried while she was playing the computer farm simulation game, and she shook him.† (CBS News, 2010) After that, she stated that she smoked a cigarette to compose herself, then proceeded to shake the baby again, possibly killing her child through traumatic head injury. Incidences like this are relatively common. According to 1998 statistics from the Public Health Agency of Canada, â€Å"there were an estimated 21.52 investigations of child maltreatment per 1,000 children in Canada.†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦Improved coping and organizational skills, as well as a heightened perception of the benefits of care, may enhance the ability of these mothers to prioritize preventative health care and actively seek it for their infants.† The findings demonstrate that outreach intervention or child-rearing program can often improve the coping and organizational skills of inexperienced mothers with limited resources, improving the healthy growth potential of infants and mitigating harm to their child. It might be prudent to take note that not all people require the same level of outreach intervention. Although everyone can benefit from a child-rearing course, it has been shown that certain demographics may require more extensive education and support in order to successfully raise a child. Socioeconomic status (SES), a term often used interchangeably with demographics, has been shown to be a reliable predictor of parenting and the resulting path of child development. SES is a complex variable based on income and education that determines many of the components of development, such as neighbourhood, health care, nutrition, and parenting styles. According to research by Berger and Brooks-Gunn at the University of Chicago (2005), â€Å"SES and parentingShow MoreRelatedEvolution of Gender Roles1706 Words   |  7 PagesGender roles have changed immensely in the United States throughout the last century, especially within society. Men and women were viewed differently back in the 1900s as two separate genders and having two separate roles to live by as compared to men and women in the 21st century. Women in the early 1900s were expected to stay home to cater for her husband’s needs while they went to work, or in most homes, were away to serve at war. Men had all the privileges women could not have or do. WomenRead MoreEssay On Why I DonT Have Children1373 Words   |  6 Pagescouldnt count the times that various people have asked me if I have children. I answer no and I either get a look of pity or amazement. Depends on the person. Some have no reaction. At that juncture in the conversation, I feel the need to explain why I dont have kids. My reaction is thus so because of their question why? or for some reason I have a guilty feeling about my statement. Why the guilt feelings...? In my opinion, society expects all women to have a child (or several) in order to meet aRead MoreI Am A Second Generation Mexican American And The Last Of Seven Children1399 Words   |  6 Pagesgeneration Mexican-American and the last of seven children. My siblings and I were born and raised here in the United States with a mix of Mexican and American values. Our parents migrated to the U.S. at an early age in search of the American dream. Both my mother and father left their families in Mexico to start a better life for themselves and their future children. Our home was like most Latin homes with respeto and familismo as being important child-rearing values. My father and mother instilled uponRead MoreGay Adoption Should Be Legal1355 Words   |  6 Pagesunwanted children just unfound families† (National Adoption Center.). Families together are one not anything different from every other family. No matter race, color, or the type of family. Adoption is just a way for anybody who wants to create a family would be able to have the access to have a family of their own. Even to the families who are not able to have a child or does not have a partner to have a child. The National Adoption Center allows the families in need to adopt a child in need ofRead MoreMultiple Norms Of The Reproductive Systems Essay1312 Words   |  6 PagesVarious medical conditions that do not fit the binary norms of the reproductive systems are considered as intersex. Intersex individuals may have pronounced male or female reproductive anatomy but are mism atched internally. They may also have anatomies that phenotypically differ than the normal. Some consider patients whose injured genitals were reconstructed and reared following the newly-assigned genitalia as intersex (Diamond and Beh, 2008). A conservative count of about 1 in 1,500 to 1 in 2,000Read MoreThe Least Worst Choice : Why Mothers Opt Out Of The Work Place1388 Words   |  6 Pagestheir high end jobs to stay at home with their children. Judith Stadtman Tucker expresses her option that it is nearly impossible to work 40 hours a week, be available on your off hours as well as raise children. I fully agree with Judith Stadtman Tucker’s point of view that it is absurd to have to be at the mercy of your employer even in your off hours, nor less if you are attempting to create an emotional connection and successfully raise a child. It is no question that even in today’s modern societyRead MoreBroken Homes and Juvenile Delinquency Essay2929 Words   |  12 Pages to be mischievous, almost expected to be in trouble. Realizing and understand what is too far is a major factor. Any action has consequences, but the measure of recidivism is what determines a delinquent from simple mischief. Broken homes seem to have hardship written all over it. The link between a broken home and delinquency are strongly believed. Much controversy resides in what is thought to be a broken home and what defines a family. Many different definitions fit these words. It just seemsRead MoreThe Benefits of Helicopter Parenting1383 Words   |  6 Pageshelicopter parenting is an expression used in the media to express contempt or disapproval of parents. Helicopter parents simply watch over, or hover over their children and lead them from a better view to give advice. Helicopter parenting is not what it is depicted as; it is a style of parenting that creates a bond between parent and child that in most cases is beneficial in economic, social, and academic aspect s of the child’s life. In this day and age, the media labels overbearing parents as helicopterRead MoreThe Number Of Juveniles Committing Crimes1745 Words   |  7 Pagesnumbers are still high and police force can’t seem to figure out what the problem is. Though no one answer can tell people why numbers are going up, researchers are determine to figure out what may be the root of the issue. It has been stated by many studies that the environment a child comes from can determine whether they will become a criminal. There are 3 main categories that have been discussed that researchers believe may affect the way a juvenile acts. These categories are family disruptionsRead MoreA World Of Babies By Alma Gottlieb And Judy S. Deloache Essay1371 Words   |  6 PagesCoast West Africa, the people of Bali, the Muslim Turks, the Warlpiri from Australia, the Fulani in West Africa, and the Ifaluk from Micronesia and how each have different attitudes when it comes to breastfeeding, where the baby should slee p, what woman should or should not eat while pregnant, how to carry the baby, their religion and more . The book also shows the many parents’ ideas about their children and childcare compared to others across the globe. By looking at children around the world we

The Prayer Of Jesus And The Deaf Man Who Had A Speech Problem

Introduction to Mass: Good morning everyone! I’m very pleased that I can celebrate this Eucharist with you. We know that every Mass is a beautiful time of encounter with Jesus when we want to open our ears and eyes and listen to his voice. In today’s Gospel Mark will tell us the story of Jesus healing the deaf man who had a speech problem. And we would like to ask the Lord to help us to have eyes that see His gifts, ears that hear His Words, and love to respond. Let us confess our sins†¦ Homily Every miracle that Jesus performed was unique. I think that in today’s Gospel we can hear one of the most interesting miracles that Jesus performed. Mark tells us the story of Jesus healing the deaf man who had a speech problem. Jesus’ compassion is so great that when the man approaches him, He takes the man aside and heals him. And this is the first thing that can be very surprising and unique. But why does Jesus take the deaf man off by himself away from the crowd? It seems that it would be more effective to cure somebody in the presence of others. In this case everyone would be able to see and believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, that He is one who is sent from God, that He has divine power. But we see that Jesus thinks in very different way. For him it’s not so important human effectiveness but true and dense encounter with a person. The Lord wants to be alone with him, away from the noise and activity of the crowd. He wants to be able to communicate with him inShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Demonic Possession And Psychological Illness1461 Words   |  6 Pagesbecause of superficial similarities. If they are related, however, we need to understand the nature of the connection between them. Thus, we may be faced with a differential diagnostic problem. Either we need to distinguish which of these two entities we are dealing with, or else we need to identify which is the primary problem which led to the other as a secondary ‘complication.’ The goal of this paper is to thoroughly analyze the history of demonic in comparison to the psychological illness, schizophreniaRead MorePeriod of Enlightenment8482 Words   |  34 Pagesspirit transformed itself into one of nationalism and the Filipinos demanded changes in the government and in the church. A.The Propaganda Movement The Propaganda Movement was a literary and cultural organization formed in 1872 by Filipino à ©migrà ©s who had settled in Europe. Composed of Filipino liberals exiled in 1872 and students attending Europes universities, the organization aimed to increase Spanish awareness of the needs of its colony, the Philippines, and to propagate a closer relationshipRead Morewisdom,humor and faith19596 Words   |  79 Pagesobituary on him (January 19, 2007) that mentioned his â€Å"wit and wisdom† in its title, available at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article1294342.ece. 24 Humor, Wisdom, and Faith 25 Critics of Religious Dogmatism 26 Four Believers Who Stressed Humor: Kierkegaard, Chesterton, Niebuhr, and Auden 27 Conclusion 34 Copyright  © 2011 by Walter G. Moss WISDOM, HUMOR, AND FAITH: A HISTORICAL VIEW â€Å"And frame your mind to mirth and merriment, / Which bars a thousand harms and lengthensRead MoreA Picatrix Miscellany52019 Words   |  209 Pagescopy (British Library, Sloane manuscript 3679) passed down from Simon Forman (d. 1611) to Richard Napier (d. 1634) to Elias Ashmole (d. 1692) to William Lilly (d. 1681). E.M. Butler wrongly associates it with Gio. Peccatrix, (no doubt a pseudonym) who edited an Italian version of the Key of Solomon (British Library, Sloane manuscript 1307). Misled by some comments by Mathers and others, Dr. Butler incorrectly concluded that the Picatrix was â€Å"an Italian edition of the Clavicle, strongly impregnatedRead MoreEssay on Fall of Asclepius95354 Words   |  382 PagesWhere should I begin? The apocalypse happened so fast. In less than a month, monsters infested every part of this world. People panicked, people died. They clawed at each other just to get out of all the infested areas around the world. There was problem about fleeing fr om infested areas. Everywhere was infested. There was no where anyone could go without encountering the walking plague. You know that phrase War is Hell? Well... its dead wrong. War at least has some organization to it. WhatRead MoreIgbo Dictionary129408 Words   |  518 Pages.......................................................................... 14 6. Grammatical sketch .................................................................................................................................. 15 6.1 Parts of speech ..................................................................................................................................... 15 6.2 Verbs....................................................................................................

Thorn Queen Chapter Fifteen Free Essays

string(21) " downed it one gulp\." I stood there for several long seconds, staring at Shaya but not really seeing her. â€Å"Thank you,† I said at last, my voice unnaturally flat even to me. She hesitated, eyes worried. We will write a custom essay sample on Thorn Queen Chapter Fifteen or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"Is there†¦is there anything I can get for you?† More wine, I thought. But I shook my head. Wine suddenly didn’t seem strong enough. I wanted to go home just then and raid my liquor cabinet, seeking solace in my own home and its bed, not this godforsaken Dark Ages fortress. The wine was going to make transitioning between the worlds harder, though. It wasn’t impossible but would hardly be as smooth as usual. No, it seemed I might be stuck here for a while. â€Å"I need to see Volusian,† I said. She stepped aside for me, and though I didn’t ask for it, she followed me solicitously as I headed downstairs, down to the keep’s dungeon. It seemed darker and drearier than it had last time, but maybe that was the wine. Jasmine’s cell was easy to spot because four guards stood in the hall outside it. I reached it, and through the bars, I saw Volusian standing in one corner, perfectly still, with his arms crossed over his chest. Jasmine sat as absolutely far from him as she could, her face equal parts fear and sullenness. â€Å"What do you want now?† she snapped. I didn’t even look at her. â€Å"Volusian,† I said. â€Å"I have an errand for you. I’ll watch Jasmine while you’re gone.† Volusian walked forward, passing through the bars and coming to stand in front of me. â€Å"No doubt my mistress has a more urgent task.† â€Å"Moderately. I want you to go back to Tucson and bring me the bottle of tequila I keep in my liquor cabinet. And don’t scare Tim.† Volusian remained motionless in that way of his. â€Å"My mistress grows increasingly creative in her ways to torment me.† â€Å"I thought you’d appreciate it.† â€Å"Only in so much as it inspires me to equally creative means to rip you apart when I am able to break free of these bonds and finally destroy you.† â€Å"You see? There’s a silver lining to everything. Now hurry up.† Volusian vanished. With him gone, Jasmine grew bolder. She hurried to the front of the cell, holding the bronze bars as best she could with her bound hands. â€Å"When are you going to let me go?† I sat down against the hall’s wall, opposite her. I wondered if she’d try any of her stunted magic with me around. â€Å"When are you going to stop asking?† â€Å"You’re a real bitch, you know that?† â€Å"Look, little girl,† I growled. â€Å"You do not want to mess with me tonight. I’m not in a good mood.† Jasmine was undeterred. â€Å"I can’t believe you’re keeping me in here with that†¦that thing! That’s just cruel and sadistic.† â€Å"Wow, sadistic’s kind of a big word. I didn’t think you’d stayed in school long enough to learn that kind of vocabulary.† Her glower darkened. â€Å"When I get out, I’m going to kill you.† â€Å"Then you and ‘that thing’ should get along beautifully, seeing as he spends all his time plotting my grisly death too.† She nodded down to her bound hands. â€Å"I can barely feed myself, you know.† â€Å"Barely isn’t the same as can’t.† But I did feel a little bad about that. Was I really going to keep her in cuffs forever? Yet, how could I not? Maybe I should investigate that potion Rurik had told me about. No†¦that wasn’t right either. I sighed, and spent the next half-hour listening to her alternate between insults and whining. It was better than thinking about Kiyo, though. All the while, I was sobering up, so when Volusian finally appeared and handed me over a full bottle of Jose Cuervo, I gave silent thanks that I’d purchased an extra-large bottle. â€Å"Thanks,† I said, rising to my feet. I pointed to Jasmine’s cell. â€Å"Now-back to guard duty.† I turned around without a second glance, Jasmine’s cries of outrage echoing behind me. Shaya, who had waited silently the whole time, fell in step with me as I walked back upstairs. â€Å"Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do for you?† I eyed the bottle. â€Å"See if you can find some little glasses about this big.† I held my fingers out to the size of a shot glass. â€Å"And bring enough for†¦I don’t know. You, Rurik†¦hell, anyone who wants to get drunk with me. Even Ysabel.† I was feeling magnanimous tonight. Or, well, at least in a misery-loves-company mood. Shaya’s face looked more troubled than ever, but I paid it little concern as I walked outside to a small circular courtyard in the castle’s center. This seemed to be a fixture in most gentry holdings. Dorian had a couple. I’d been told that this one had been green in Aeson’s time, filled with lilies and lilacs. Now, it was sandy and gravelly, lined with cacti, mesquite, and even some of the thorn trees that had given the land its name. At least the mesquite scented the air, and I decided one perk of the Otherworld was that those trees always seemed to be in bloom. I sat down cross-legged in the middle of the courtyard, noticing that someone had started to set stone tiles into it to create a kind of patio area. It hadn’t been there last time, and I wondered if it was Shaya’s doing, just like the patches of grass she kept trying to grow around here. Not waiting for shot glasses, I uncapped the tequila and took a long swig, the strong liquor burning my throat. Shaya returned shortly, Rurik following. His face was uncharacteristically serious. After a brief moment of exchanged looks, they joined me on the tiled ground. Shaya set down some tiny cups made of engraved silver. Not quite shot glasses, but they would do. I took the bottle and filled three of them up. â€Å"To the Willow Queen and her child,† I said, holding my cup in the air. I downed it one gulp. You read "Thorn Queen Chapter Fifteen" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"Damn. Wish I had some salt and lime.† Shaya and Rurik exchanged glances once more-did they honestly think I didn’t notice each time?-and then followed my lead with the tequila. Rurik took his down stoically, but Shaya choked on hers. â€Å"What†¦what is this?† she asked, once she was able to speak. â€Å"God’s favorite liquor. I should have had Volusian run to the grocery store and get some margarita mix while he was out.† I paused, laughing at the thought. I poured another shot. â€Å"It’s made from a kind of cactus, you know.† Shaya eyed the bottle askance. â€Å"Truly?† â€Å"Yup. Huh. I wonder if we could manufacture this stuff. I’ve seen agave around. I bet we could set up some serious trade with it.† â€Å"I’m not so certain,† she said. Rurik was pouring another glass. â€Å"I don’t know. It might appeal to some.† â€Å"Ah, Rurik. I knew we were kindred spirits.† I held up my empty shot glass, studying the way the half-moon’s light shone on it. My head was regaining its pleasant buzz again. â€Å"Do you think Maiwenn’s going to have a boy or a girl?† â€Å"I don’t know,† said Shaya after several moments of silence. â€Å"There are those who can magically determine such things. But I haven’t heard of the Willow Queen doing that.† â€Å"Probably not.† Kiyo would have told me. Or would he have? Maybe he would have held on to that news, keeping it as a special secret between him and Maiwenn. I poured another shot but didn’t drink it yet. Shitfaced was one thing; sick was another. â€Å"Back in my world, they would have known its gender a long time ago. They also would have been able to tell all sorts of things-its size, if it had any diseases, even if it was twins or triplets. There’s this machine we’ve got. You run a paddle over the mother’s stomach, and then you can see the baby up on this screen. Or, sometimes, even earlier, they can take a needle and suck up amniotic fluid to find out the same things.† Rurik and Shaya were staring at me wide-eyed. It was a common expression amongst Otherworldly denizens whenever I began talking about human technology. â€Å"I wonder sometimes if there’s any mystery or wonder left in your world at all.† I glanced over and saw Ysabel’s form silhouetted in the doorway to the castle. â€Å"Oh, sure. Plenty of it.† I gestured her over. â€Å"Come have a drink. I’m pretty sure I’m too drunk to kill anyone tonight.† Ysabel hesitated a few seconds and then slowly walked over, sitting near Rurik and Shaya, as far from me as she could respectfully go. She grimaced slightly at the tiles as she tucked her flowing silk skirts underneath her. No doubt being on the ground went against her fastidious nature. Rurik cheerfully handed her a tequila shot. She sniffed it, and her scowl returned. My mind was still on babies. â€Å"Seems like ultrasounds would be useful to you guys. I mean, what with the trouble you have having kids.† There was a good chance, I knew, that Maiwenn might not even survive the delivery. Or that her child wouldn’t. It was common among the gentry, sort of the cost for their long and healthy lives. I didn’t know how I felt about that. I didn’t wish death on either of them†¦and yet, how much simpler would things be if there was no Maiwenn and no baby? Even now, I could picture Kiyo by her side, holding her hand. His handsome face would be lined with worry as he spoke words of encouragement. Surely, with his human blood, their baby would be healthy and strong. And Maiwenn was a healer†¦. would that be useful to herself? Maybe. Everything would go well, I was certain, and they’d undoubtedly have a beautiful baby, one that would create a bond between them forever, a bond I could never be a part of†¦. I drank my next shot and noticed that Ysabel had manfully downed hers. â€Å"Nice work,† I said. â€Å"You want another?† She shook her head. â€Å"I don’t consider it ladylike to drown oneself in excess, losing hold of inhibitions and all sense of decorum.† â€Å"Of course you don’t,† I said. â€Å"I believe,† she added primly, â€Å"that the Willow Queen shares my views.† I smiled, spinning my cup on the ground, watching in fascination as it turned in smaller and smaller circles before coming to a stop. With Maiwenn’s baby consuming my thoughts, Ysabel’s baiting seemed insignificant tonight. We continued on for a while, Rurik keeping up with me in shots, with Shaya only occasionally indulging. Ysabel seemed to have lost her fear of me and continued her running commentary of barbed remarks. I think knowing I was in a fragile state over Maiwenn’s labor had emboldened her. In fact, she was in the middle of some anecdote about how Kiyo and Maiwenn had first gotten involved when her words came to a halt, and her features lit up with surprise. â€Å"My lord!† she cried, springing up just as one of my servants began announcing, â€Å"His royal majesty, King Dorian, of the House of Arkady, caller of earth-â€Å" Dorian strode forward into the courtyard without waiting for his titles to finish. Ysabel fell to her knees before him, face radiant. â€Å"My lord!† He gave her a brief nod of acknowledgment and then swept on past her toward me. I don’t think anyone except me saw the devastation that filled her face over the slight. Shaya and Rurik began to rise out of courtesy, but Dorian quickly motioned them down. Unfastening his cloak-it appeared to be navy in the moonlight-he spread it on the ground and sat beside me. â€Å"Well, well, a party, and no one invited me.† â€Å"It was kind of impromptu,† I said, reaching over to pour him a shot. My hand trembled as I held the bottle. Dorian took it from me and finished pouring. He eyed me carefully. â€Å"And yet, it appears to have been going on for some time.† â€Å"Yes. We’re toasting the birth of the next king or queen of the Willow Land.† â€Å"So I’ve heard, which is why I came to see how the news was received here.† Dorian tossed back the tequila. His eyebrows rose in surprise at the taste, but it didn’t stop him from pouring another. â€Å"And don’t presume her child will inherit. It all depends on strength and power.† His words reminded me distantly of Leith’s own inheritance problems, which then reminded me of Leith’s declaration of love. Ugh. I’d probably killed our one chance at engineering help. Well, that was a concern for another day. â€Å"How’d you get here so fast?† I asked Dorian. â€Å"Not that fast. I heard hours ago.† Hours ago. Dorian had found out before I had. Probably everyone had. Who was I, after all? Certainly no one who was connected to this birth. I was just another monarch who’d be expected to send jewels or tapestries when the baby was born. I poured another shot, but Shaya reached for it. â€Å"May I have another?† She wasn’t a fan of this stuff, but I had a feeling she wanted to stop me from drinking any more. Oh, well. There appeared to be about one more shot in the bottle-though Dorian beat me to that one too. â€Å"You’ll make yourself sick,† I warned, reaching for the bottle. Only a few drops poured into my cup. â€Å"I’ll take my chances. This is a fascinating substance.† â€Å"It comes from cacti,† I said helpfully, hoping it might deter him from that last shot. It didn’t. â€Å"Intriguing,† he said after downing it. â€Å"You should try producing it here. I’m certain a number of people would trade for it.† I couldn’t be certain in the near-darkness, but it looked like Shaya rolled her eyes. Part of me resented Dorian’s presence, though I had to admit that he did a good job in keeping the subject away from Maiwenn and Kiyo. That didn’t stop me from thinking about them, of course, but I couldn’t help but smile as he entertained the others. Whether it was part of being a king or just something inherently Dorian, he had a powerful charisma about him that could make everyone laugh and stay captivated. With my social reticence, his were skills I admired-and occasionally envied. As the night wore on, though, I could feel the tequila’s effects lessening a little. That wasn’t to say I still wasn’t drunk as hell; I’d taken down half that bottle myself. But, I wanted to go to bed while I was still in that delirious haze. It didn’t stop me from feeling down over Kiyo, but I had to imagine being sober would be worse. Everyone stood up when I did, and I felt my legs struggle for balance. â€Å"Let me assist you,† said Shaya, reaching toward me. Dorian intervened before she could help. â€Å"No, no. Allow me to guide the Thorn Queen to her room. I’d like a few words.† Ysabel’s face darkened at this, and he gave her a chastising look. â€Å"Oh, stop it. I’ll come to you shortly-provided Eugenie will allow me to stay overnight in her castle.† â€Å"Sure, sure,† I said. â€Å"Come on over. Make yourself at home. Pick out curtains.† He extended his arm to me, and I decided the indignity of letting Dorian guide me was less than that of me falling over in front of my servants. Ysabel’s eyes followed us furiously, and I couldn’t blame her. If my boyfriend were taking a drunk woman to her bedroom, I’d be pissed too. â€Å"It was very high-handed of you to think I needed your moral support,† I told him once we were out of earshot of the others. â€Å"Right. You only need the moral support of a bottle,† he teased. â€Å"Be honest, Eugenie. Your lover’s at the side of a former lover, eagerly awaiting the birth of their child. I’d be distressed as well.† â€Å"Nothing distresses you,† I grumbled. We reached my room, and he followed me in without invitation. â€Å"Plenty of things do,† he said. He frowned, ever so slightly, and it occurred to me he was none too sober himself. I let go of his arm and walked over to the full-length mirror that stood on one side of the room, edged in gold. I’d pinned up my hair earlier and let it down now, wondering if I wanted to bother with sending Nia for a nightgown or if I’d just sleep in my clothes. Standing there, I stared at my body, thinking again of my mother’s claims that I was too skinny. I always argued it was an athletic build. Running my hands over the sides of my stomach and down to my hips, I studied my figure. Whatever you wanted to call it, it was slim. â€Å"I can never do that for him,† I said in a small voice. â€Å"I can never give him a baby like she can.† Dorian strolled over and stood behind me, meeting my eyes in the mirror. â€Å"Do you want to?† â€Å"I don’t know. Kids were never on my radar†¦it was always a ‘maybe someday’ kind of thing. But now†¦knowing I can’t†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My hips and stomach suddenly seemed as unhealthily skinny as my mother had always said. They would remain untouched and infertile, never filling out with the kind of life Maiwenn’s had. I would never share that with Kiyo. I flinched as Dorian reached from behind and placed his hands on the narrowest part of my waist. He rested his head on my shoulder, and I was too weary to shoo him away. â€Å"You speak like someone who’s been condemned with infertility or like you’ve passed your prime.† â€Å"I might as well be.† â€Å"That’s not true. You’re young. You radiate health and fertility. You could have a dozen children.† I shook my head slowly. â€Å"I can’t,† I said sadly. â€Å"I won’t. You know I won’t, no matter how much you and every other Otherworldly creature want me to.† â€Å"Maybe you’d have a daughter.† â€Å"I can’t take the risk.† I knew I’d never be confiding in him sober. â€Å"And what if Kiyo decides he doesn’t want that-to be with someone who’s always going to be childless? What if he wants more kids? Maybe this baby†¦Maybe he’ll go back to Maiwenn. Maybe†¦maybe he’ll leave me†¦.† I could feel tears forming in my eyes and hated myself for the weakness. Dorian tightened his grip on my waist. â€Å"He’d be a fool. And you’d be a fool to mourn him if he did. You’re more than a childbearing vessel.† â€Å"Not the way everyone talks. Not the way you talk.† To my shock, Dorian spun me around. Still gripping me, he pressed his forehead to mine so that only an inch was between us. I could smell the tequila on his breath, no doubt mirroring my own. â€Å"Eugenie, you’re a woman without equal, and no matter how much you annoy the hell out of me and no matter how much I try to get you out of my head-and believe me, both occur regularly-I can’t stay away from you. Even if you were barren, I’d take you as my consort in an instant and spend the rest of my life with you-childless, so long as it meant you’d be by my side. I would gladly bring you to my bed with no other thoughts than taking joy from your body. It would be enough.† I swallowed. â€Å"But you’re with†¦I mean, what about†¦what about Ysabel? She can have kids†¦.† â€Å"Ysabel,† he said dismissively, â€Å"is nothing. A pale imitation of you-and not even a good one at that.† That was harsh of him, but it filled me with something warm and loved and special. I realized then that no matter the bantering, sexual tension, and many schemes, Dorian really was my friend. I also realized that I wanted so badly then for him to kiss me, to crush his body against mine and run his hands along my bare skin. I wanted to have sex with him against the wall, on the bed, on the floor†¦it honestly didn’t matter, so long as our bodies were joined, and I could feel him in me†¦. Whoa. I jerked away, my heart racing, barely stopping myself from doing something I’d regret. Deciding he was my friend was one thing; jumping into bed was another. I knew it was the tequila and my worry over Kiyo causing this. I didn’t want to be with Dorian again; I couldn’t be. Even if he claimed it would be for love and pleasure, I knew it could never be that simple. There would always be politics and schemes†¦. And so, I did the most unsexy thing I could. I summoned Volusian. The icy, dark presence of my minion caught even Dorian by surprise, and he took a step back. It was the Otherworldly equivalent of a cold shower. Volusian’s eyes flicked to him and then turned back to me. â€Å"My mistress requires more intoxication,† he said. â€Å"No.† My magical hold on him trembled ever so slightly. It was nowhere near enough for me to lose control, but the alcohol messed with my power a bit. â€Å"I wanted you to go to the Willow Land and see if there’s any news.† â€Å"More romantic errands.† â€Å"Just go,† I snapped, trying to sound as harsh and commanding as I could. As soon as Volusian was gone, Dorian strode angrily to me, all traces of sensuality gone. â€Å"That was stupid, Eugenie. You shouldn’t have summoned him after drinking so much.† I turned away from him. â€Å"I need to find out what’s going on.† â€Å"You need to banish him. You’re going to regret keeping him someday.† â€Å"He’s useful,† I protested. â€Å"I don’t need any lectures. You should go to Ysabel now. I don’t need any more declarations of love today.† â€Å"Oh?† His light tone returned. â€Å"Had a few of those today?† â€Å"Leith,† I admitted. â€Å"He came by tonight to profess his undying devotion and see if he had a chance with me.† Dorian’s green eyes watched me carefully. â€Å"And?† â€Å"And, of course not. I had to tell him no a few times before he finally got it.† Dorian didn’t bother hiding his satisfaction. â€Å"You’ve broken the poor boy’s heart. And his mother’s, no doubt. There’ll be no ball now. Would you like me to throw one instead?† â€Å"No.† My sadness was turning into irritability. â€Å"I want you to leave. Go to Ysabel and paint her or tie her up or whatever it is you do together. I’m tired and want to go to bed. Alone.† To my surprise, Dorian didn’t protest. Much. â€Å"As you wish. If you need me, you know where I’ll be.† â€Å"It would take a lot for me to interrupt you,† I said dryly. Dorian gave me one of his knowing, sly smiles and then left without another word. The thought of him going to Ysabel’s bed troubled me more than I would have liked. He’d barely been gone a few minutes when Volusian returned. â€Å"Well?† I asked. My stomach was queasy. I didn’t know what I wanted to hear. If it was in Volusian’s nature to smile, I swear, he would have. â€Å"The servants of the Willow Land report joyfully that their queen has given birth to a daughter. All are healthy and well.† My body went perfect still, and for a moment, I saw nothing in the room except those glowing red eyes. Finally, I snapped back to myself. â€Å"Thank you, Volusian.† â€Å"Does my mistress require me to learn anything else about this joyous occasion?† There was a sneer in his voice. â€Å"No. Go back to Jasmine. Now.† He obeyed, leaving me alone. I sat on the bed for several minutes, thinking of everything and nothing. I felt numb. I felt every emotion in the world. And when I suddenly ripped the air from the room and used it to smash a vase against the wall, I couldn’t say if it was because of Dorian or Kiyo. How to cite Thorn Queen Chapter Fifteen, Essay examples

Merck Case Study free essay sample

Merck was established in 1891 to improve human and animal health through the development of innovative products. Merck currently has two reportable segments, the Pharmaceutical Segment and the Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Segment. Merck sells products through several channels including wholesalers, retailers, hospitals, clinics, government and managed health services providers. In the 1980’s the Merck was very successful in producing 10 major new drugs and had a very healthy pipeline. In later years, Merck has entered into joint ventures with many other pharmaceutical companies in order to expand its pipeline. In the last several years Merck has experienced a decline in revue do to several of their exclusive drugs going off-patent. Merck is currently the eighth largest pharmaceutical firm in the world. In 2009, Merck plans to further expand through a merger with Schering-Plough. This will make Merck the second largest pharmaceutical company in the world. Mission Statement Analysis The mission of Merck is to provide society with superior products and services by developing innovation and solutions that improve the quality of life and satisfy customer needs, and to provide employees with meaningful work and advancement opportunities, and investors with a superior rate of return. † Merck’s mission statement touches on many of the key factors that a mission statement should embody. The mission statement mentions providing society with superior products. In the pharmaceutical industry, Merck’s customers are anyone in society that may benefit from one of its products. The mission statement focuses on the people their business may affect including customers, investors and employees. Although Merck is a well known company, the mission statement does not describe the nature of the business in which they operate. As the statement mentions their business os to improve the quality of life, this could describe many businesses and products. The statement also neglects to mention the focus and market segments in which they compete. Internal Assessment Strengths Diversified Business Segments – Merck has business segments in Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines, Animal Health and Consumer Health. This allows Merck to diversify its revenue streams. The consumer health division allows Merck to compete outside the prescription drug market. Merck continually works o diversify its portfolio through internal and external ventures. In 2008, Merck focused on new Bio Ventures Division, which uses a unique technology platform for new and follow-on biologics. (Merck 2008 10K) * Strong Research and Development – Merck spent an average of $4. B on research and development over the last three years. Their research and development efforts not only work to create new products that will help better their customers’ living, but also work to find additional uses for existing drugs which will extend the patent life and preserve existing revenue streams. * Increased presence in emerging markets through the merger with Schering-Plough. As Merck is seeing a decline in domestic revenue, due to the expiration of patents, such as Flosamax in 2006, they are concentrating more on growth opportunities in emerging markets. Increased pipeline in vaccines and biologics through the merger with Schering-Plough. As two of Merck’s most profitable drugs are coming off patent in the next four years, accounting for 35% of forecasted revenue, by merging with Schering-Plough, Merck’s revenue from expiring patents is reduced to 21%. * Distribution Channels – Merck has well established distribution channels in which the company’s professional representatives communicate the effectiveness and value of their products. They market and sell though a variety of channels including drug wholesalers, hospitals, physician distributers and government entities. Weaknesses * Research and Development – although Merck spends in upward of $4B on research and development annually, the pharmaceutical business is heavily reliant on the success of a costly R amp; D department. In the last several years, Merck’s individual R amp;D department has not been able to keep pace with declining revenues from existing products. It is only through Mergers and Acquisitions that Merck has supplemented this income. Large Balance, $1. 4B in goodwill on Merck’s Balance Sheet – the goodwill on Merck’s balance sheet is primarily attributable to past acquisitions. * Almost $4B in long-term debt on the balance sheet * Patent Expiration in the next four years, the two highest sales producing pharmaceutical products will go off patent. Patents on Merck’s Cozaar and Singulair will expire in February 2010 and August 2012, respectively, exposing about $8. 2 billion worth of sales to generic competition. This equates to about 35% of Merck’s forecasted revenue in 2012 [and 29% of 2009 revenues]. Competitive Pricing – Merck is sometimes forced to lower prices of products, either ones that have gone off patent to maintain market share in the product, as well as for products that are still on patent in order to compete with rival products for the same treatment that are marketed by competitors The Internal Factor Evaluation Matrix Based on the IFE Matrix, Merck registers a score of 2. 5 which is an average score. This indicates that Merck is steady in its control of the internal factors that affect its operations. It also indicates that there is room for improvement in these areas and that a strategy should be formulated to maximize their strengths and minimize the company’s weaknesses. The factors that strongly hurt Merck’s rating are the expensive cost of research and development for the company, which is key to its success. Additionally the expiration of patents on strong revenue producing products makes it critical to replace that revenue in order to continue on pace. External Assessment Opportunities * Demographic: The aging of America can be an opportunity for Merck. As the baby boomer generation is reaching its retirement age, the population is shifting to a greater number of people in their sixties and older. Statistics show that the over 65 age group uses three times more drugs than the younger population. As Merck has had success in arthritis and cholesterol medicines already, there is going to be a greater demand for drugs that make living longer possible as well as more comfortable. * Viruses and Epidemics: As Merck’s sales from vaccines and infections increases, there are opportunities for Merck to capitalize on new epidemics. The recent history of the H1N1 flu virus made the production of a new flu vaccine very profitable for some firms that had the capacity to produce it rapidly. * Advertising – the permitting of DTC (direct-to consumer) advertising is allowing pharmaceutical companies the opportunity to reach out directly to consumers and educate them on the available drugs and they may enhance their lives. Additionally it also discusses the side effects of the side effects of the drugs and how they may interact with existing drugs and conditions in one’s life. Emerging Markets Merck is focused on increasing its presence in emerging market. They have shifted their investments from mature market to emerging markets. In 2008, while their domestic sales declined 9%, foreign sales rose 10% (Merck 2008 10K). * Mergers and Acquisitions – Merck and many other big pharma companies have trended towards acquiring other competitors in order to strengthen their pipelines and diversify their product base. Merck’s merger with Schering-Plough will increases its presences in the biologics field of vaccines. Threats * Increased Government Regulation Beginning in 2009, the FDA implemented a series of reforms that include stricter monitoring of drug adverse events, more funding for the agency, stronger ability to force product recalls, more scientific expertise within the agency, more transparency. While the tightened regulations and increased transparency will eventually improve the overall quality of pharmaceutical products, companies will have to adjust to the stricter standards and stronger enforcement Lawsuits. The possibility of a lawsuit due to side-effects of the products Merck provides to consumers is a serious threat. The 2007 settlement of the Vioxx Lawsuit cost Merck $750 million in settlements to date. Additionally there are several other ongoing lawsuits which Merck is a currently undergoing. * Generic Drug Products – The threat of a less expensive substitute product is always a possibility in the pharmaceutical industry. Not only do company’s scramble to reproduce existing products once they go off patent, but other substitute generics are sometimes vailable to threat the same illnesses at a lower cost. Other consumer supply channels: the aging of the population has also given rise to an increased need for cheaper drugs. The high cost of prescription drugs in the United States, has forced customers to look elsewhere, mainly Canada. * Economic Forces – with a recession beginning in 2008 and the high unemployment rates, there is a decline in US spending and customers who have insurance. This lack of insurance can cause potential customers to forgo medical treatments or uses cheaper generic substitutes. The External Factor Evaluation Matrix The external factor evaluation matrix suggests that Merck does a slightly above average job at dealing with extern forces that impact their business. The key drivers of their external score are the changing demographics of the population which indicate a growing need for the products Merck provides. Additionally focuses on new markets and expanding globally should provide new revenue streams for Merck. In order to maintain and expand growth potential, mergers, joint ventures and collaborations with competitors are key strategies that Merck should capitalize on. The results of the Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM) reveal the Merck excels in segment/ product diversity. Its consumer products division, vaccines and pharmaceuticals division offer differentiation in products and revenue streams. The CPM also reveals that Merck needs to focus its resources and strategy on improving global expansion and its pipeline to counteract expiring patents. Competitive Analysis: Porters Five Forces Rivalry among competing firms – The Pharmaceutical business is highly competitive and the high cost of Research and Development makes it difficult to compete in the industry. Merck competes with rivals on several of their main revenue producing drugs, for example, Merck’s Zocor, used to treat high cholesterol is in direct competition with Pfizer’s Lipitor. Merck is also faces direct competition from new products that competitors may develop that treat the same diseases better or have less side-effects. Potential entry of new competitors – As the cost of producing new pharmaceutical products is high, it is difficult to enter in the business. The threat of new entrants merges from generic drug manufacturers entering into the same drug production as Merck after products are released from patent protection. Potential development of substitute products Competition for existing drugs, even those protected by patents is fierce given that the number of compounds available to treat diseases increases annually. Additionally generics are rapidly being developed to replicate existing products when they come off patent. There is also a push from many generic drug producers to argue for products to be released from patent earlier than the initial patent expiration date. This can have an adverse impact on projected revenues for Merck. Bargaining power of suppliers – Merck is subject to certain restrictions when dealing with suppliers. It needs to work only with suppliers that comply with current Good Manufacturing practices and other regulations. This restricts the available suppliers for Merck and gives their suppliers bargaining power. Bargaining power of consumers – Merck faces pressure from customers where there are alternate products or alternate channels to obtain certain drugs.