Monday, January 20, 2020
Essay --
We as young adults, deal with many social and emotional issues, which can be seen through depression. Depression, is a state of having low moods and can be described as feeling ââ¬Å"blueâ⬠or unhappy. Depressed people may feel so sad at times that they withdraw and lose interest in activities that they once loved to do. In worst cases, some people even commit suicide. Generally, depression does not result from a single event but from a combination of multiple events in life and other personal factors. The number of factors that may cause depression varies from person to person. There could be abuse that happened in the past, conflict from family disputes and personal factors. It could also be from a death or loss and the person cannot get over their grief. Some depression just comes from having an illness. The normal ups and downs in life means that everyone feels sad or "blue" from time to time, but if emptiness and absence of hope have taken place and will not go away, there may be depression in life. When depression is in someone's life they can get very hopeless and not even enjoy thin...
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Succubus Revealed Chapter 9
It wasn't until I landed in Seattle on Sunday evening that the full surreal nature of my weekend in Las Vegas hit me. Being there had felt so . . . natural. I suppose part of that was just having old friends like Bastien and Luis around. Yet I'd been pleasantly surprised at how easily I got along with my newer acquaintances, like Phoebe and Matthias. I'd even grown to like Jamie, though I never did see him after that night. Despite my efforts to find him and ask him about Milton, the imp had remained elusive for the rest of my trip. And the show . . . how had that happened? I couldn't even get a solid job here in my current hometown, yet hours after walking off the plane in a strange city, I'd landed what was, in many ways, my dream job. By the time we'd finished our second practice, Matthias was already talking about a special part he planned on creating for me, and several of the other dancers were so disappointed at me leaving for a month, you'd think we'd known each other for years. It had, in spite of my misgivings, been a fantastic weekend. Reality set in when I walked into my condo. Roman was out, with only a note reading Bowling practice tomorrow night to mark his passage. Naturally, the cats were as happy to see me as always. Scratching their heads in turn, I began to think about the logistics of moving both of them with me across state lines. I'd be taking them away from Roman, whom they loved, but there was nothing to be done for that. He couldn't come with us. As a nephilim, he was in constant danger of being hunted down by other immortals, and it was only Jerome's protection that allowed him to have a seminormal life in Seattle. Roman certainly wasn't going to give that up, and besides, Las Vegas was probably the worst place in the world for him to attempt to hide out. A vase of pink-tipped white roses sat on the kitchen table, filling the air with sweetness. I opened up the card and read Seth's scrawled writing: Welcome home. I've been counting the minutes. ââ¬â S I texted him that I was back and received an answer urging me to come over to Terry and Andrea's for dinner. After leaving a note for Roman assuring him I'd be at practice, I headed out, my mind still spinning with more of the consequences of moving. The condo. I'd have to sell it. Unless I wanted to rent it to Roman? Hell would likely compensate any moving costs, but it'd be up to me to start making the actual arrangements now for things like movers and whatnot. I was good at making plans and organizing things, but all of my skills were useless against the one thing I wanted to bring with me to Las Vegas the most: Seth. I still had no solution for what to do with him. I was met with the usual outpouring of love from his nieces when I arrived, just in time for a chaotic family dinner. With the additional family members, they'd given up any pretense of eating at the kitchen table and had simply taken their paper plates and homemade pizza off to the living room. The casualties of food and furniture were ones Terry and Andrea were long since used to, but Margaret couldn't focus on her dinner for fear of constantly watching the girls and what she perceived as imminent tomato-stained disaster. I was happy to see Andrea out with the family, which wasn't something that happened very often lately. She looked tired but was in good spirits, and from the way the girls vied for position next to her, it was clear they were delighted to have her up and around too. ââ¬Å"Seth says you were out of town,â⬠she told me. ââ¬Å"Anywhere fun?â⬠ââ¬Å"Las Vegas,â⬠I replied. ââ¬Å"Visiting friends.â⬠ââ¬Å"Man,â⬠said Ian. ââ¬Å"I wish I had friends in Las Vegas.â⬠ââ¬Å"I figured it'd be too commercial for you,â⬠said Seth, deadpan. Ian swallowed a bite of his pizza ââ¬â it apparently wasn't a vegan day ââ¬â before responding. ââ¬Å"Only if you stay on the Strip and their overpriced luxury hotels. If you poke around in some of the out-of-the-way places, you could find some really cool and obscure dives.â⬠It took nine-year-old Kendall to say what the rest of us were thinking. ââ¬Å"I'd rather stay in luxury. Why would you want to stay in a dive, Uncle Ian?â⬠ââ¬Å"Because it's nonmainstream,â⬠he told her. ââ¬Å"Everyone stays at the nice places.â⬠ââ¬Å"But I like nice things,â⬠she argued. ââ¬Å"Don't you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, yes,â⬠he said, frowning. ââ¬Å"But that's not the point ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Then why would you want to stay at bad places?â⬠she pressed. ââ¬Å"You're too young to understand,â⬠he said. Seth chuckled. ââ¬Å"Actually, I think she understands perfectly.â⬠Andrea decided to rest shortly after that, but not before extracting a promise that someone deliver her dessert later on. After doing dishes (which was pretty easy with paper plates), our group dispersed into separate activities. Kendall, Brandy, Margaret, and Terry started up a game of Monopoly while Kayla and the twins settled down to watch The Little Mermaid. Ian joined them, excited for the chance to show how the movie was an example of capitalism destroying America. Seth and I curled up on a nearby loveseat, ostensibly to watch the movie, but instead used the time to catch up. ââ¬Å"How was it, really?â⬠he asked me in a low voice. ââ¬Å"I've been worried about you. Was it as bad as you thought?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I said, leaning my head against his chest. ââ¬Å"It was actually . . . pretty good. Would you believe I have a job already ? Like . . . one that's not on Hell's payroll.â⬠ââ¬Å"You can't even get one of those here,â⬠remarked Seth. ââ¬Å"Yeah, the irony's not lost on me. I'm going to be a Vegas showgirl, complete with sequins.â⬠Seth trailed his fingers through my hair. ââ¬Å"That's actually kind of awesome. And hot. If you want to practice, I'd be more than happy to give you some constructive criticism.â⬠I smiled. ââ¬Å"We'll see.â⬠There was a long pause. ââ¬Å"So . . . it's real. This whole thing.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠I said in a small voice. ââ¬Å"It's real.â⬠I felt him tense and sensed the worry radiating off of him. ââ¬Å"It's okay. We'll figure this out. It's still a month away.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know we will,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"You and I have overcome crazier things than this, right?â⬠ââ¬Å"Crazier doesn't always mean harder,â⬠I pointed out. ââ¬Å"I mean, when Peter tried to make a ââ¬Ëretro candle sconce' out of a Pringles can last month, that was pretty crazy ââ¬â but it was also pretty easy to deal with once we found his fire extinguisher.â⬠ââ¬Å"You see?â⬠said Seth. ââ¬Å"This is what I love about you. I don't even consider that crazy. I consider that ordinary life with you, Georgina. You change all the definitions.â⬠He pressed a kiss to my forehead. We fell silent and watched the movie, though I suspected Seth was paying as little attention as I was. We were both lost in our own thoughts, and I didn't really snap out of it until I heard Ian telling Morgan, ââ¬Å"I like the original fairy tale better. It's pretty alternative, so you've probably never heard of it.â⬠I glanced at the clock and sat up. ââ¬Å"I'm going to go check on Andrea and see if she wants her dessert.â⬠Both Margaret and Terry were quick to offer to do it instead, but I waved them off, assuring them I was fine and that they should return to their game. Andrea was awake, propped up on pillows and reading a book when I came in with the pie. ââ¬Å"You didn't have to do that,â⬠she told me. ââ¬Å"You should've asked Terry.â⬠ââ¬Å"He's busy buying and selling property,â⬠I told her, helping her settle the plate on her lap. ââ¬Å"I couldn't ask him to interrupt that. Besides, he does plenty.â⬠ââ¬Å"He does,â⬠she agreed, smiling wistfully. ââ¬Å"They all do. Even you. It's so strange, having others take care of me. I'm too used to looking after everyone else.â⬠I settled down on a chair near her bed, wondering how often it must be filled lately. Andrea always had someone watching over her. ââ¬Å"It's just for a little while longer,â⬠I said. That got me another smile as she chewed a bite of pie. ââ¬Å"You're very optimistic.â⬠ââ¬Å"Hey, why shouldn't I be? You look great today.â⬠ââ¬Å"Great ââ¬Ëironically,' as Ian would say.â⬠She ran a hand through her limp blond hair. ââ¬Å"But I do feel better than I have for a while. I don't know. It's deceptive, Georgina. There are days I feel confident I've beat every cancer cell in my body and others when I can't believe I'm still managing to walk this earth.â⬠ââ¬Å"Andrea ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"No, no, it's true.â⬠She paused for more pie, but her eyes took on a vast, knowing look that reminded me eerily of Carter. ââ¬Å"I've accepted it, come to terms with the fact that there's still a good chance I'll die. No one else has. No one else will talk about it. I'm okay with that. If that's what God wills for me, then so be it.â⬠I felt a knot clench in my stomach. I couldn't say much about God, but I'd seen enough of Heaven and Hell to get angry when I heard humans accept their fate as part of some higher purpose. Half the time, it seemed to me the divine powers were making up this game as they went along. ââ¬Å"I'm not worried about me,â⬠Andrea continued. ââ¬Å"But I am worried about them.â⬠That serenity faded, replaced by very real human concern, a mother's fear for her children. ââ¬Å"Terry's strong. So wonderfully strong. But this is hard on him. He can't do it alone, which is why I'm so glad Seth's here. I don't know what we would have done without him. He's the rock supporting us all right now.â⬠The anxiety inside me eased for a few moments, replaced by a spreading warmth as I thought about Seth. ââ¬Å"He's wonderful.â⬠Andrea set down the fork, finished, and extended her hand to me. ââ¬Å"So are you. I'm glad you're part of our family, Georgina. If something happens to me ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Stop ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"No, listen. I mean it. If something happens to me, I'll rest easy knowing the girls have you in their lives. Seth and Terry are great, but the girls still need a strong woman role model. Someone to help them through growing up.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'm not that good of a role model,â⬠I said, not meeting her eyes. I was a creature of Hell, someone full of weakness and fear. What could I possibly have to offer such bright, promise-filled creatures like the Mortensen girls? ââ¬Å"You are,â⬠said Andrea adamantly, squeezing my hand. ââ¬Å"They love you and admire you so much. I know they're in good hands.â⬠I swallowed back tears that were threatening to overwhelm me. ââ¬Å"Well,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"They're in even better hands with you, since we all know you're going to get well soon.â⬠Andrea nodded, giving me an indulgent smile that I suspected she'd perfected after weeks of listening to others insist she was on the verge of recovery. A yawn soon betrayed her, and I carefully took the plate away and asked if she needed anything else. She assured me she didn't. I crept back downstairs and returned the plate to the kitchen, where I found Brandy and Margaret eating pie of their own. I did a double take back toward the living room. ââ¬Å"What happened to Monopoly?â⬠ââ¬Å"Kendall bought us out,â⬠said Margaret. ââ¬Å"Man, I hate playing with her,â⬠grumbled Brandy. ââ¬Å"No one her age should be that good.â⬠ââ¬Å"Don't knock it,â⬠said Seth, strolling in. ââ¬Å"She's going to be supporting us all in fifteen years.â⬠He rested a hand on Brandy's shoulder. ââ¬Å"Did you ask Georgina?â⬠Brandy looked at her feet. ââ¬Å"No.â⬠ââ¬Å"Ask me what?â⬠ââ¬Å"It's nothing,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Clearly it's something,â⬠I replied, exchanging looks with Seth. ââ¬Å"What's up?â⬠ââ¬Å"Is this the Christmas dance you were talking about before ?â⬠asked Margaret. Brandy flushed. ââ¬Å"A holiday dance. It's nothing.â⬠ââ¬Å"No way,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"I'm a big fan of dances. But isn't school out?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, but this is at church. It's a formal they have every year.â⬠She was using a It's no big deal tone, but her expression betrayed how interested she was. The church part surprised me, since last I knew, the Mortensens didn't attend one. But obviously that had changed. Maybe Andrea's illness had played a role. Whatever it was, I could see faith wasn't on the line here, so much as a teenage girl's simple desire to participate in something fun with other people her age. It was a normal rite of passage, one I was guessing she didn't feel worthy of, in light of everything else going on right now with her family. No wonder she was hesitant to mention it. I wondered if maybe there was a boy involved too but certainly wasn't going to ask. She looked mortified enough to be having this discussion in front of her uncle and grandmother. ââ¬Å"You need to shop for a dress?â⬠I guessed. People always called me for shopping. I used to be bothered by that but then figured I should accept what I'm good at. Brandy nodded, still looking embarrassed. ââ¬Å"When is it?â⬠ââ¬Å"Tuesday.â⬠ââ¬Å"Tuesday . . .â⬠I frowned, thinking of my schedule. Tomorrow, Monday, was taken up with work and bowling practice. That didn't leave a lot of time. ââ¬Å"We might be cutting it close.â⬠ââ¬Å"If you don't have time, it's fine,â⬠Brandy assured me. ââ¬Å"Really.â⬠ââ¬Å"No way,â⬠I told her. ââ¬Å"We can do it Tuesday morning.â⬠Brandy looked down again. ââ¬Å"My dad can pay you backâ⬠¦. I'll ask him how much we can spend.â⬠ââ¬Å"Forget it,â⬠said Seth, rustling her hair. She squirmed out of his reach. ââ¬Å"Send the bill to me. You know where I live.â⬠Brandy protested this, but Seth was firm in his offer ââ¬â as well as his urging that Brandy not mention it to her father. But once Brandy and Seth were in the other room, Margaret caught hold of my sleeve and pulled me back into the kitchen before I could follow. Our interactions hadn't exactly been antagonistic (aside from our initial meeting with the baseball bat), but they hadn't always been pleasant either. I braced myself for some admonishment about dressing Brandy like a whore. ââ¬Å"Here,â⬠said Margaret, shoving some cash into my hands. I looked down and found two fifty-dollar bills. ââ¬Å"Seth's not the only with income around here. He can't keep funding the whole family. Is that enough for what she needs?â⬠ââ¬Å"Er, yes,â⬠I said, trying to hand it back. I'd actually planned on cutting Seth out as well and carrying the bill myself. ââ¬Å"Definitely. You don't have to do this.â⬠Margaret's response was to give me another bill. ââ¬Å"Get her shoes too.â⬠She closed my hand around the cash. ââ¬Å"I don't know what girls her age need when it comes to clothes, but I know you do. The money I can provide. The rest I rely on you for.â⬠That sentiment ââ¬â that faith in me ââ¬â was too much, too fast on the heels of the conversation I'd just had with Andrea. ââ¬Å"It's not enough,â⬠I blurted out. ââ¬Å"What I'm doing, compared to everyone else. They're all giving so much. What's a shopping trip next to that?â⬠Margaret fixed me with a piercing gaze that bore no resemblance to the conservative, sweatshirt-wearing matron I'd categorized her as. ââ¬Å"For a girl growing up too fast, whose life is crumbling around her? Everything.â⬠ââ¬Å"I hate this,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"I hate that this is happening to them.â⬠ââ¬Å"God only gives us what we have the strength to endure,â⬠she said. I'd always hated that saying, largely because it too seemed to go along with the idea of a universe having a plan for everyone, something I'd seen no evidence of. ââ¬Å"They have the strength to get through this. And they have our strength to help them.â⬠I smiled at that. ââ¬Å"You're a remarkable woman, Margaret. They're lucky you're here.â⬠I meant it. She and I might have different philosophies about premarital sex, but her love for them was undiminished. I wasn't the only role model in the girls' lives. She shrugged, looking both flattered and embarrassed by my praise. ââ¬Å"Like you, I'm just trying to do enough ââ¬â without wearing out my welcome at Seth's.â⬠ââ¬Å"He loves having you,â⬠I said promptly. She rolled her eyes. ââ¬Å"I'm not stupid. I want to keep helping, but I know I can't stay with him forever. He's a grown man, no matter how much I'd like to pretend otherwise.â⬠That made me smile even more. ââ¬Å"Don't worry. I won't tell him you said so.â⬠Nonetheless, I went home with a heavy heart that night. Seth expected to be up late and hadn't wanted me waiting around for him. We were both conscious of how little time we'd had together recently, though, so he told me he'd join me for tomorrow night's bowling practice. As a general rule, he tried to avoid immortal goings-on, but I think he had a morbid fascination with the idea of bowling for Hellish honor. ââ¬Å"Thank God,â⬠said Roman, when I walked in the door. ââ¬Å"I thought you were going to stay at Seth's. There's soup on the stove.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, thanks,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"I already ate.â⬠ââ¬Å"Your loss,â⬠he said. Judging from the way the cats were circling him for handouts as he settled down on the couch with a bowl, I guess they agreed with him. ââ¬Å"How was it?â⬠My mind was still on the Mortensens, and for a moment, I thought that's what he meant. Then I remembered his single-minded focus and knew he was referring to Las Vegas. ââ¬Å"Surprisingly good,â⬠I told him, sitting down in an armchair. His eyebrows rose. He hadn't expected that answer. ââ¬Å"Oh? Tell me about it.â⬠I did, and he listened attentively while eating his soup. When I'd finished the weekend's recap, he grilled me on nearly everyone I'd met there, immortal and mortal alike. In two days, I didn't have that much life history to report but gave him what I could. ââ¬Å"Well,â⬠he said, ââ¬Å"isn't that lovely.â⬠He made no effort to hide his sarcasm. I sighed. ââ¬Å"You still think this was part of some greater conspiracy ?â⬠ââ¬Å"I think it's terribly convenient that this seemingly routine transfer is fulfilling every possible wish you might have.â⬠I scoffed. ââ¬Å"Aside from the fact that I'm being transferred in the first place. That's hardly something I wanted.â⬠Roman straightened up, and the cats ran for his abandoned bowl. He ticked off points on his right hand. ââ¬Å"Well, let's do a tally, shall we? When I first met you, I asked what your dream job would be. What did you say? A Vegas dancer. And wow! Look what conveniently falls into your lap. And who put it there? In a city full of conniving, backstabbing succubi, you were fortunate to find one as levelheaded as you, complete with the same sense of humor and interests. Funny thing . . . did you even run into any other succubi that entire weekend? In a city packed with them?â⬠ââ¬Å"Roman ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"No, no, wait. There's more. How'd you meet this wonder succubus anyway? Through your closest immortal friend, who just happened to have been coincidentally transferred to Las Vegas, hired on by your favorite boss of all time. Are you following this fantasy so far?â⬠ââ¬Å"But why would ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"And,â⬠he continued, ââ¬Å"lest you grow homesick for the wacky idiosyncrasies of your friends back here, Vegas is ready to supply you with new ones. A zany drunken imp. Seth 2.0. If you'd stayed longer, they probably would have unearthed an angel and a couple of vampires for you. And let's not discount the fact that you're going to Las Vegas in the first place! The single easiest place for a succubus to get by.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay, I get what you're saying.â⬠I threw up my hands in exasperation. ââ¬Å"It is perfect. Maybe too perfect. But you're missing one fundamental point. Supposing this is true, that someone has set up the most perfect scenario for me ever, a situation designed to keep me happy, why would they do it at all when the thing that would make me the most happy is to stay in Seattle? Why bother with this alternative? Why not leave me as I am?â⬠Roman's eyes gleamed. ââ¬Å"Because that's the one thing they don't want you to have. They want you out of Seattle, Georgina. They want you out, and they don't want you to complain or look back.â⬠ââ¬Å"But why?â⬠I protested. ââ¬Å"That's what I can't figure out.â⬠ââ¬Å"Give me something else to work with,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Hell's not that good. Even the most picture perfect setup has to have a flaw. Was there anything, anything at all this weekend, that felt disingenuous? That smacked of a lie?â⬠I gave him a wry look. ââ¬Å"I was in Las Vegas, hanging out with servants of Hell. Everything was disingenuous.â⬠ââ¬Å"Georgina, think! Anything that seemed legitimately odd. Any contradiction.â⬠I started to deny it but then paused. ââ¬Å"The timeline.â⬠He leaned forward even more. ââ¬Å"Yes? What about it?â⬠I thought back to my first hours in Las Vegas. ââ¬Å"Luis and Bastien both went out of their way to act as though my transfer and Bastien's had been in the works for a while ââ¬â like Jerome said. But once, Bastien slipped. He sounded like he hadn't been there for very long at all ââ¬â not nearly as long as they'd said before.â⬠ââ¬Å"Like that maybe he was suddenly pulled in on a moment's notice ââ¬â to coincide with your transfer?â⬠ââ¬Å"I don't know,â⬠I said, not liking the thought of Bastien being part of some potential conspiracy centered around me. ââ¬Å"He corrected himself, said he misspoke.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'm sure he would say that.â⬠Roman leaned back now, letting all of this sink in. ââ¬Å"Bastien wouldn't lie to me,â⬠I snapped. ââ¬Å"He's my friend. I trust him. He cares about me.â⬠ââ¬Å"I believe you,â⬠said Roman. ââ¬Å"And I believe that he wouldn't lie to you about something that he thought might harm you. But if his higher-ups asked him to tell a white lie ââ¬â fudge a few days here and there ââ¬â don't you think he would?â⬠I nearly denied it ââ¬â but then had to wonder. Bastien had been in trouble off and on with our superiors, his Seattle venture last year a desperate attempt to restore status. If he were pressured enough ââ¬â threatened, even ââ¬â to tell me he'd been transferred longer than he actually had, would he? Especially if he thought it was harmless and knew of no nefarious reason behind it? ââ¬Å"But what nefarious reason would be behind all this?â⬠I muttered, not realizing I'd spoken my thoughts aloud until Roman straightened up again. ââ¬Å"That's what we have to figure out. We have to figure out what's happened to you that would've gotten someone's attention ââ¬â and that happened recently, to spur such a fast response. We know about your slacker record. And we know about Erik looking into your contract.â⬠I blinked. ââ¬Å"Milton.â⬠I quickly told Roman about Hugh's information, about Milton's secret assassin status and trip to Seattle lining up with Erik's death. I also told him about briefly mentioning Milton to Jamie. Roman leaped to his feet. ââ¬Å"Jesus Christ! Why didn't you tell me about this sooner? I could've investigated Milton while you were gone. Shit. Now I'm trapped here under bowling duty.â⬠Nephilim had the same travel limitations as lesser immortals. They had to physically travel to places. No teleportation like greater immortals. ââ¬Å"I'm sorry,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"I wasn't thinking. I didn't connect it. And I didn't get a chance to ask Jamie more about Milton. He wasn't around the rest of the time I was in town.â⬠Roman was nodding along with me as he paced. ââ¬Å"Of course he wasn't. I'm sure they made certain he was unavailable before he could tell you any more. And explain again why your initial conversation with him didn't go that far?â⬠I shrugged. ââ¬Å"He was drunk. He got distracted by a debate over gin with Luis.â⬠ââ¬Å"One that Luis initiated, no doubt.â⬠ââ¬Å"I ââ¬â â⬠I thought about it. ââ¬Å"Yeah. I guess he did. But you're not saying . . . I mean, that's idiotic. Using gin as a distraction to cover up some plot?â⬠Roman's sea green eyes were gazing off in the distance, thoughtful. ââ¬Å"It's not the most ridiculous distraction I've known a demon to use. He could've brought up bowling.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not that again.â⬠Roman snapped his attention back to me, frustration all over his face. ââ¬Å"Georgina, how can you be in denial about this? How can you refuse to believe that Hell is playing some larger game here? After all you've seen and been a part of?â⬠I shot up, angry at the insinuation that had been creeping along here, that I was too oblivious to see what was going on. ââ¬Å"I know! I know they're capable of it. I know they can use means both ingenuous and simple ââ¬â like gin and bowling ââ¬â to get what they want. I'm not denying that, Roman. What I just can't grasp yet is the why. Show me that, and I'll get on board with any crazy scheme you want. I need to know why.â⬠Roman came to stand in front of me, resting his hands on my shoulders as he leaned close. ââ¬Å"That is exactly what I intend to find out. And when we do, I have a feeling we'll have blown the lid off of the biggest conspiracy Hell's had in centuries.ââ¬
Saturday, January 4, 2020
How Reliable Is Your Memory - 899 Words
The Ted talking that I watched was ââ¬Å"How reliable is your memory?â⬠presented by Elizabeth Lofuts. By listening to her talk, we could easily identified her argument. She disagree with the saying that memory is reliable. In this video, Elizabeth introduced an idea of false memory at first, and then let us realize that our memory was not that trustworthy. In order to convincing us, she used the case of Titus, many experiments that she have done or other people have done, and some statistical datas. In the case of Titus, he was accused as the rapist because of the false memory of the victim. Although he was free finally, he lost his job, and his fiancà ©e, and he died at 36 years old. The most critical thing leading to Titusââ¬â¢ tragedy was the false memory of the victim. Then, she also talked about experiments that she have done about false memory. By asking leading questions, or using some forms of psychotherapy, experimenters could lead the subjects believed they have experienced something that they actually did not experience. In addition, through the analyze, there are three quoter of 300 innocent defendants who were convicted due to false memory of eyewitness. Furthermore, there were still many experiments that she mentioned proved that people had false memory, and scientists even could plant false memory into someoneââ¬â¢s memory. Through her talking, we could see that she did use a lot of evidences to prove her argument. It included case study, experiment, and observations, andShow MoreRelatedMemory Of Memory And Memory966 Words à |à 4 PagesOne of the common issues today is if people can rely on their memories. It is not mutual knowledge for people to know how memories are formed or where they are stored. A prodigious example of how memories are constructed is in the article ââ¬Å"Distinguishing the Neutral Correlates of Episodic Memory Encoding and Semantic Memory Retrievalâ⬠Steven Prince and the other authors report, ââ¬Å"T he way a memory is formed is by neurons in oneââ¬â¢s brain retaining information from a certain event and delivering it toRead MoreBiographies And Biographies Of Books Essay1231 Words à |à 5 PagesMemoirs and biographies are usually counted on the more reliable side. Thus, there exist a number of sub-genre that fall under the title of ââ¬Å"nonfictionâ⬠. However, take a look past the surface, a number of problems with this stance arise. In all truth, the brains of human beings are the only source behind the facts of biographies and memoirs. As it turns out, this is the source is far from credible. Memoirs and biographies are not reliable sources of nonfiction due to the differences between brainsRead MoreA Brief Note On The Twisted Pair Cables1158 Words à |à 5 PagesTwisted Pair). 3. Backing Storage 3.1 Types 3.1.1 Disks You can back up your storage on a separate Hard Disk and on other forms of Disks such as a Floppy Disk. Using another Hard Disk to back-up your storage is useful because it means that you can back-up everything that is stored on the Hard Disk you want to back-up. However it all depends on the size of Hard Disk you get. If itââ¬â¢s much smaller than your current Disk, then you will only be able to back-up the more important stuff that isRead MoreEssay on Tips of Science of Memory865 Words à |à 4 PagesYumeng Ma Psyc-101 Writing Assignment 1 From the reading of chapter 6 ââ¬Å"Tips from the Science of Memoryââ¬âfor Studying and for Lifeâ⬠, I learned the science of memory and how to make my memory more effective. The main idea in this section is about how to memorize scientifically. No matter what model of memory we use, we can sharpen your memory by thinking deeply about the ââ¬Å"materialâ⬠of life and connecting the information to other things we know. Perhaps the one most well connected node or mostRead MoreOperating Systems Is A Key Component Of The Whole Computer Machine Operating System1544 Words à |à 7 Pagescrucial part on computer thatââ¬â¢s because it enables your computer to have a desktop and also it enables it to run other pieces of software what are called programs so basically it manages your computers hardware and software operating system manages software by telling hardware what to do and what no to so basically without this no user would be able to communicate or interact with software programs so basically when you click on a program on your computer or browse something it automatically findsRead MoreEssay about Philosophy Study Questions912 Words à |à 4 P agesPHI 101C HW6 10/18/2012 Qiansongzi Chen 1. How might the constructive nature of your perceptions play a role in what you experience while youââ¬â¢re walking at night through a graveyard said to be visited by spirits of the dead? Constructive perception is in part something that our minds manufacture. Thus what we perceive is determined, not only by what our eyes and ears and other senses detect, but also by what we know, what we expect, what we believe, and what our physiological state is. JustRead MoreHuman s Personality And Preferences May Change Over Time972 Words à |à 4 Pagesalways sought the answers to how people have the impression that they are the same person. At first, philosophers presumed that people need to have the same body to be the same person. However, Locke proposed that consciousness, which is in this case memory is the key to determine identity. In this paper, I would discuss how memory as the mental states grounds the notion of psychological continuity. Raising the problem of circularity in the memory theory, I will explain how to amend the psychologicalRead MoreExample a Level Psychology Experiment1227 Words à |à 5 PagesAim ââ¬â to see if there is a positive relationship bet ween having a good memory and being rich in the future Hypothesis ââ¬â there will be a significant positive relationship between the scores on a memory test and scored on a test to predict your chance of being a millionaire Null Hypothesis ââ¬â there will be no significant relationship between scores on a memory test and scores on a test measuring the chances of becoming a millionaire and any relationship is due to chance Method: Design ââ¬â theRead MoreEssay on The Extended Mind Hypothesis1044 Words à |à 5 Pagescould be analogised to a defibrillator and pacemaker. By this reasoning (a) and (b) must also be the similar. With this notion, Clark and Chalmers try to establish an interactive cognitive link between humans and external entities, thus showing how it is the system between the two makes up the mind - both the internal and external components are vital parts of the mind. In this essay, I shall oppose this view by revealing firstly, a fallacy and Clark and Chalmers response to it, and counter argumentRead MoreInternalism Theory of Knowledge1183 Words à |à 5 Pagesconsiders justification as an internal matter of several mental states and their relative to knowledge. Internal matter involves of memories, perceptions, reflections, and so onâ⬠¦ all of which can give rise to justification regardless of how they relate to the external world. Thus, if you know a premise (p) then you must also know that you know (p), which is the justification of your belief. Internalism is sustained by the related principles of evidentialism, the conclusive justification theory, virtue epistemology
Friday, December 27, 2019
Role of Financial Institutions and the Central Bank in Kenya
Question 1: Briefly explain role of the following Financial Institutions in the economic development of Kenya: a) Kenya Industrial Estates: Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) Limited was established in 1967 as a subsidiary of Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC) with a major role of promoting indigenous entrepreneurship by financing and developing small scale and micro enterprises. KIE Limited was established to facilitate development and incubation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) countrywide by establishing industrial parks, providing credit and business development services (BDS) in a sustainable manner. The services offered by KIE include; * Development of Industrial Estates and Provision of MSMIâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Business SME solution centreââ¬â¢s are facilities that are set up to offer platforms from which entrepreneurs can develop business ideas into profitable business ventures run and owned by individuals. It also provides breeding grounds for existing business for growth and take-off. b) Industrial amp; Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC):ICDC is the pioneer Development Finance Institution (DFI) established in 1954, to facilitate economic development of Kenya through provision of medium and long-term financial solutions. * It provides equity solutions to entrepreneurs through Joint ventures and Strategic partnershi ps to promote and encourage private sector investment and entrepreneurship for job and wealth creation. * ICDC also seeks to grow existing businesses and promote establishment of new ones through provision of corporate and wholesale loans at competitive rates and also through asset financing. * ICDC also provides Management and Advisory Services to corporate institutions. The Services offered include: * Corporate Secretarial * Share Registration * Internal audit c) The Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC): AFC is a wholly owned Government Development Finance Institution (DFI), established in 1963 initially as a subsidiary of the Land and Agricultural Bank. In 1969, it was incorporated as a full ââ¬â fledged financial institution under the Agricultural Finance Corporation Act, Cap 323 of the laws of Kenya. ItShow MoreRelatedCommercial Banking in Kenya4222 Words à |à 17 PagesCOURSE: BCOM 330; Financial Institutions and markets TASK: TERM PAPER TITLE: COMMERCIAL BANKING IN KENYA PRESENTED TO: MRS. BOSIRE MARY PRESENTED ON: 19TH October 2011 ABSTRACT: This term paper analyses the commercial banking system in Kenya. In particular it focuses on the history of commercial banks from a general perspective then narrows down to Kenyaââ¬â¢s context. It looks at the importance of commercial banks in Kenya, the roles/functions of commercial banks. It then focusesRead MoreFunctions of Central Bank1440 Words à |à 6 PagesINSURANCE CENTRAL BANK A central Bank is a public institution that usually issues the currency, regulates the money supply, and controls the interest rates in a country. The central bank often also oversees the commercial Banking system within its country. A central Bank is distinguished from a normal commercial bank because it has a monopoly and creating the currency of that nation, which is usually that Nations legal tender. Central Bank of Kenya is the highest Banking institution in the countryRead MoreFinancing of University Education in Kenya1703 Words à |à 7 PagesQN) With close reference to university education in Kenya, discuss the various means of financing education and evaluate the equity implications. To answer this claim, we start by defining critical terms so as to clearly get the full meaning of this assertion. Education is the process act or process of impacting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgement, and generally of preparing oneself or othersRead MoreEffects Of Internal Audit Practices On Financial Performance Of Commercial Banks1689 Words à |à 7 Pages EFFECTS OF INTERNAL AUDIT PRACTICES ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN KENYA (A CASE STUDY OF KENYA COMMERCIAL BANK) GIDALI MUHINDI FRANKLINE A Research Proposal in Partial Fulfillment for the Bachelor of Business Administration of the Technical University of Mombasa 2016 DECLARATION I declare that this research proposal is my original work and has not been presented for a degree award in any other university. Signatureâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ Dateâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Read MoreCredit Risk Management and Profitability of Commercial Banks in Kenya14066 Words à |à 57 PagesCREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT AND PROFITABILITY OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN KENYA BY ANGELA M. KITHINJI SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI, NAIROBI ââ¬â KENYA. akithinji@yahoo.com or akithinji@uonbi.ac.ke OCTOBER, 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................Read MoreConceptual, Legal And Regulatory Framework Governing Cross Border Mobile Transactions Essay1723 Words à |à 7 Pagesgoverning cross border mobile transaction taking into consideration all the players and stakeholders involved in the transfer. It further expresses the role of the Bank of Tanzania and Central Bank of Kenya in regulating National payment systems as well as the role played by Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority and Communication Authority of Kenya in regulating mobile Number Operators. 2.2 Cross Border Mobile Transfer and Stakeholders Involved Cross border mobile enviroment has a number of stakeholderRead MoreIntroduction And Background Of Mobile Money Essay1538 Words à |à 7 Pagestransfer or payment instructions, while corresponding cash value is safely in a bank. The balance on the value account can be accessed via the mobile phone, which is also used to transmit instant transfer or payment instructions. M-Pesa is a mobile phone-based money transfer, financing and microfinancing service, launched in 2007 and 2008 by Vodafone for Safaricom and Vodacom, the largest mobile network operators in Kenya and Tanzania respectively. M-Pesa allows users to deposit, withdraw, transferRead MoreA Brief Note On Financial Development And Inequality Essay1414 Words à |à 6 PagesFinancial Development and Inequality in sub-Saharan Africa The relationship between how developed a countriesââ¬â¢ industry is and how much financial inequality persists within that country are not linear across the world. Many countries within Africa have developed numerous industries with only a small percentage of countries showing modest gains in levels of inequality. Through the analysis of 10 research papers and articles this hypothesis is supported with empirical examples. The result also confirmsRead MoreFormal and Informal Institutions21073 Words à |à 85 PagesFormal and informal institutionsââ¬â¢ lending policies and access to credit by small-scale enterprises in Kenya: An empirical assessment By Rosemary Atieno University of Nairobi AERC Research Paper 111 African Economic Research Consortium, Nairobi November 2001 à © 2001, African Economic Research Consortium. Published by: The African Economic Research Consortium P.O. Box 62882 Nairobi, Kenya Printed by: The Regal Press Kenya, Ltd. P.O. Box 46116 Nairobi, Kenya ISBN 9966-944-52-4 Read MorePunjab National Bank : An Indian Financial Services Company1728 Words à |à 7 PagesPunjab National Bank is an Indian financial services company based in New Delhi, India. Founded in 1894, the bank has over 6,300 branches and over 7,900 ATMs across 764 cities. It serves over 80 million customers Punjab National Bank is one of the Big Four banks of India, along with State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and Bank of Baroda It is the third largest bank in India in terms of asset size (billion by the end of FY 2012-13). The bank has been ranked 248th biggest bank in the world by the Bankers
Thursday, December 19, 2019
A Report On A Government - 854 Words
A government should always be open to criticism, be held accountable for their actions, and be honest when notifying the public of any events. This creates government transparency and allows its citizens to hold their leaders accountable for their actions. In order to create this transparency in todayââ¬â¢s society, a technical system must be set in place. This technical system needs to contain government documents which are easily accessible to the public. But, not all documents should be housed in this accessible database. Some government knowledge should be kept secret and inaccessible, because it could fall into the wrong hands. Documents containing economic information, such as budgets and spending should be readily available on a database for the public to access. Without a transparent government, citizens can become unruly and no longer trust their government due to the high volume of secrets or hidden documentation. Solution I My first solution to this issue is to open a cloud database which would house any documents containing government budgets, spending, and/or salaries. This database would be accessible to everyone with the means to access a cloud database. The database could be accessed via an application downloaded onto a computer or mobile phone. There is already an app with these specifications available for Montgomery County in Maryland. The app was built by Socrata, a Seattle-based cloud software company, in order to encourage citizen engagement within theirShow MoreRelatedA Report On Nigerian Government1250 Words à |à 5 PagesDue to Nigeriaââ¬â¢s corrupt government, their citizens are deprived of the steadly revenue that the country makes thru the oil companies operating in their country. Most profits are taken from the public and are kept held with Nigerian officials. People in the Nigeria are currently living in extreme poverty. Government officials are taking all of the profi ts made from the sales of oil leads to a horrible infrastructure. Nigerian citizens are unable to have access to electricity and water. On anotherRead MoreA Report On A Government System5403 Words à |à 22 Pages WILFRID OUNBOUKE KOMACLO 6852487 MGMT 8420 - 15S - SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Professor: ALISON CRERAR JUNE,18, 2015 PART 1 A responsible government is the one that is open to its people and that accounts for its actions to the people or its representatives. It takes into account the constitution and situation his country to take decisions necessary for wellbeing of the population. Failure to observe this deontology is an obstacle to democracy and leads to aRead MoreA Report On The Tunisian Government1194 Words à |à 5 Pagesto improve the living standards and the resorption of unemployment. The perfect Solution at that time was a Readjustment Program which requires guidance of the economy for activities with high technology and intensive skills: ICTs. The Tunisian government has positioned these technologies in solid of its development plan. Information and communication technologies are considered as a tool enabling for economic diversification and for the creation of new activities in all sectors. Tunisia was amongRead MoreFins Report Government of Tropicalia3776 Words à |à 16 PagesUniversity Department of Business studies Management of International Business FINS Report Government of Tropicalia Team-Members: Christian Blum Dominik Hungen Table of contents: 1. Introduction 2. Foreign Market Entry Modes and their consequences for the negotiations during FINS 3. (Inter-)Organizational Learning and Knowledge Transfer supported by a government 4. Trust and opportunism in strategic alliances * Theory Read MoreA Report On The Consumer, Insurance Providers, And Government946 Words à |à 4 Pagespropaganda; the real issues seem nonexistent. The population, affected by the mandates or policies, knows the truth. We do not have their story. The most recent recommendations to fix this collaboration between the consumer, insurance providers, and government was provided in 2015; this article at least makes better sense than the most recent recommendations---not worth mentioning. First, allow employees an access to better markets and plans; allow employers a flexibility to offer or deny health insuranceRead MoreThe Government And Its Effects On The Minority Report By Philip K. Dick1399 Words à |à 6 Pages The government plays a major role in dystopic stories and novels, and as these stories start to unfold, one can see the flaws in which how government works and how if effects the rest of society. In the Minority Report, written by Philip K. Dick, the mechanisms of the governmentââ¬â¢s systems begins to show different flaws when surveillance is use to determine the pre-crime of major crimes, and what happens to their citizens once a verdict is reached. Any type of Government surveillance can do moreRead MoreThe United States Government Covers Up Files And Reports1124 Words à |à 5 Pages There s something in the sky! This Paper will prove that the United States Government covers up files and reports; and most of the files, and evidence are locked away at area 5e1. For decades area 51 and cover up stories have captured the eye of people, TV, and the internet. The government has covered up numerous accounts, stories, and reports. People often ask many questions about Area 51 such as, where is it, what is it, what is kept there, how big is it, and many more questions of that natureRead MoreLocal Government Report : The Bakersfield City Council Meeting918 Words à |à 4 PagesFor my local government report, I watched the Bakersfield City Council meeting that was held on June 7, 2017 online. The public officials that were in attendance were Mayor Karen Goh, Vice Mayor Bob Smith, and council members Willie Rivera, Andrae Gonzales, and Chris Parlier. This meeting was about the traffic incidents that have occurred and how public officials need to do everything possible to help. Even though it is up to the citizens to be safe, the public officials need to do everything possibleRead MoreResearch Report On The Glasgow City Council And The Scottish Government3404 Words à |à 14 Pageshelp the planning professionals to understand and mitigate the environmental impacts of the developments which they design and build. MODE OF DATA COLLECTION As earlier stated in chapter three, the Glasgow city council and the Scottish Government has a detailed report of the steps that has been taken to improve the standard of Glasgow city. The data collected assessed will be viewed on how the efforts put in place to regenerate the city has been positively and negatively impacted on the economic, socialRead MoreShould Government Report Their Capital Projects And Debt Services Activities?904 Words à |à 4 Pagesaccountant believe in that and how should government report their capital projects and debt services activities in the government-wide statement. Some Accountantââ¬â¢s Belief in the Year-end Inventory Balance The materials and supplies and prepaid items are not strictly expandable available financial resources, in that they will neither be transformed into cash nor can be used to satisfy governmental fund obligation (Granof Khumawala, 2013). Government can maintain inventories of office supplies
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
The Demolition Market-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignmenthelp
Question: Describe the salient features of part I and Part II of the BIMCO Standard Contract for the sale of vessels for demolition and recycling: and highlight at least five common clauses nromally found in this demolishcon 2001 (2004) contract; and stating why the demilition market is more favourable in less developed contries. Answer: Demolishcon is the revised version of previous salescrap 87 contract used for negotiation while selling a vessel for the purpose of recycling and demolition. The clauses of this document were grouped in two parts(Grube, 2006). The features of these are discussed below in brief: Part I This part of the document mainly covers the details regarding the ship to be sold for recycling. It contains the name and address of the owner of the ship, IMO number, IMO registered owner identification number, IMO company identification number, Ship gross tonnage, port of registry, distinctive letters or number of ship and date of construction, etc. In other words, it contains all the physical details of the ship, the place where it is sold, buyers and sellers information, selling details, etc. Part II This part starts with a preamble of undertakings of both the parties i.e. seller and buyers to comply in accordance to the industry code of practise for selling recycling in a safe and environmentally sound manner. This explains the procedure to be followed for selling of the vessel and provides an outline and the way by which the contractual parties can best act. This contact has to be as per the national and international stated in accordance with clause 17. The 5 clauses which more or less are common which are as follows: Clause 2 (Purchase price) and Clause 4 (Payment): These two clauses are common as both is related to the price of the contact(Puthucherril, 2010). Clause 2 is about the price of the ship set out by the contractual parties while is about the release of same payment which was decided after the timely delivery of consignment. Clause 6 (Advance Notice of Arrival), clause 7(Notice of Readiness of Delivery) and clause 8(Delivery): All these 3 clauses are related to the delivery of the vessel. Clause 6 states the prior notice to the buyers about the vessel position and estimated arrival time of the vessel. Clause 7 states the notices of readiness of the physical delivery of the vessel while clause 8 sets out the conditions in which the vessel must be delivered. As all 3 states the delivery terms and conditions, it could have been explained under one clause. The demolition market is more favourable in less developed or developing countries due to the lax environmental regime. These includes mainly the Asian countries like China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan where the labour cost is very low in comparison to the western countries. Despite these countries are under Basel convention, they do not follow any safety environmental precaution due to high internal corruption. The other factors being the demand of steel in the domestic market, good value of machinery and other reusable items in the second-hand market and the difference in exchange rate i.e. US dollar against the local currency promotes created bigger market in these less developed countries. China, India and Bangladesh are the 3-major player in this market. China is the leading followed by India and Bangladesh. Bibliography Grube, P. (2006). BIMCO. Retrieved from https://archive.basel.int/ships/docs/11e.pdf Puthucherril, T. G. (2010). Legal Aspects of Sustainable Developments. Boston: Martinus NIJHOFF.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
The Mafia Is Name For A Loose Association Of Criminal Groups, Sometime
The Mafia is name for a loose association of criminal groups, sometimes bound by a blood oath and sworn to secrecy. The Mafia first developed in Sicily in feudal times to protect the estates of the landlords. By the 19th century the Mafia had become a network of criminal bands that controlled the Sicilian countryside. The members were bound by Omerta, a rigid code of conduct that included avoiding all contact and cooperation with the authorities. The Mafia had neither a centralized organization nor a real leader; it consisted of many small groups, each secret within its own district. By employing terroristic methods against the government figures, the Mafia attained political office in several communities, thus getting influence with the police and obtaining legal access to weapons. Benito Mussolini's Fascist government succeeded for a time in suppressing the Mafia, but the organization emerged again after World War II ended in 1945. Over the next 30 years the Mafia became a power not only in Sicily but all over Italy as well. The Italian government began an anti-Mafia campaign in the early 1980s, leading not only to a number of arrests and sensational trials, but also to the assassination of several key law-enforcement officials in getting revenge. Public outrage was tempered by the arrest in 1993 of the reputed Mafia leader, Salvatore Riina. Beginning in the late 19th century, some members of the Mafia immigrated to the United States. They soon became involved in American organized crime, especially in the 1920s during Prohibition. After the ending of Prohibition in 1933 so did most bootlegging, the Mafia moved into other areas, such as gambling, labor racketeering, prostitution, and, in recent years, narcotics. Links with the Italian Mafia were also maintained. As in Italy, prosecution of reputed Mafia leaders in the United States increased in the 1980s and 1990s. Responsible groups of Americans have, at times, waged campaigns in the media to obliterate any assumption that crime in the United States is dominated by people of Italian descent, claiming that the existence of an American Mafia had not been fully established. It has not been until later times that the realization that the mafia still exists has taken place. There were many famous figures in the mafia who had come to power. Al Capone has become one of the most famous to have gained such publicity. Al Capone was an Italian-American gangster of the Prohibition era, also known as Scarface because of a knife cut to his cheek. He was born and given the name Alphonse Capone in Naples, Italy, and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He left school at an early age and spent nearly ten years with gangs in Brooklyn. In the 1920s he took over a Chicago organization dealing in illegal liquor, gambling, and prostitution from the gangster Johnny Torrio. In the following years he eliminated his competitors in a series of gang wars, culminating in the Saint Valentine's Day massacre of 1929, that won him control of Chicago's underworld. Convicted of income tax evasion in 1931 and sentenced to 11 years in prison, he was released on parole in 1939. Crippled by syphilis, he spent the rest of his life in his Miami Beach, Florida, mansion. Some of the most brutal attacks from the mafia came in their native land in Italy. The Red Brigades, a mafia sect, launched a big wave of assaults on politicians, police, journalists, and business executives. The attacks ended with the 1978 kidnapping and murder of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro. The Red Brigades subsequently disintegrated as police arrested and imprisoned members and supporters of the gang. In the late 1980s and early 1990s the Sicilian Mafia lead a series of terrorist attacks in reaction to the Italian government's prosecution of leading Mafia figures. The Uffizi Gallery in Florence was among the targets of a series of terrorist bombings in 1993 alleged to be the work of the Mafia. Vendettas were used by mafia families that were in personal wars with each other. A Vendetta was a practice of a family taking vengeance on the person who shed the blood of one of its relatives. Vengeance is taken in kind, that is, an eye for an eye, and may also
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