Family and Child Law: Negotiation

Family and Child Law: Negotiation Introduction Addressing the position of the parties on these facts, their views as to desired outcome are completely opposed in respect of where the children should be live. It is interesting to note however, that whilst Isabelle wants to relocate to Canada,[1] she suggests that she may remain in England if the children cannot move with her. In other words, she may be open to staying to have a better relationship with the children. The importance of this is that Isabelle is not completely inflexible. Initial Discussions with Isabelle Two important initial points must be made clear to Isabelle. The first, is that the Court will only make an order in respect of children if it believes that it is necessary for the childrens best interests.[2] Secondly, it is the childrens wellbeing that is paramount in all considerations for these issues.[3] Even though previously the Courts may have suggested that the effect on a parent not being able to relocate should be given great weight,[4] this approach is now considered wrong and the impact on the parent is only one of several factors taken into account when assessing the effect on the childs welfare.[5] In this respect, the welfare-checklist factors[6] are relevant considerations.[7] To this end, Isabelle must, prior to commencing negotiations, be made aware that she should approach the matter by considering what approach the Court might take. The CAFCASS report, whilst not making any specific recommendations, suggest that an order may be necessary in this circumstance and therefore, whilst the Court is not obliged to make an order of the type sought by the parties,[8] is likely to do so. This means that Isabelle should be made aware that if she does not reach a negotiated settlement, the Court may make orders of the type sought by Russell. It may not do, of course, but it would be wrong for Isabelle to enter negotiations believing that the Court will favour her position in any way. This approach may assist Isabelle in being more open to compromise. Furthermore, Isabelle, in her email, demonstrated a degree of anger towards Russell in respect of her assertions regarding to affairs and drug use. Isabelle also shows a great deal of animosity towards Destiny. She should be made aware that this kind of approach will not assist in terms of engendering co-operation from Russell, and may ultimately be damaging should the matter proceed to Court.[9] In this respect, the authority on these matters will consider the true reason for the wish to relocate,[10] and may consider that Isabelles real reason for wishing to take the children is to limit their contact with Russell, rather than her suggested intention that the move would give them a new start and a better standard of living.[11] Isabelle would also be extremely ill advised to mention Russells alleged drug use, given that she freely admits that she has used drugs recreationally. Negotiation Options Contact, is a fundamental right for children[12] and parents.[13] It seems clear that Isabelle will not convince Russell that the children should be allowed to leave with her unless she is able to provide a robust solution in respect of contact.[14] To this end, she must offer contact for all or most of the childrens school-holidays,[15] and must be open to indirect-contact(Skype)[16] in Canada at other times. It also seems sensible that she should consider addressing the issue of how daily contact can be affected given the time difference. Although the children are perhaps a little young, offering to provide them with some way of contacting their father whenever they want may assist. It seems that she may also have to accept that the children will have contact with Destiny and that they enjoy the contact they have. Whilst this approach may assist Isabelle, it seems that the CAFCASS report is moderately in favour of retaining the status-quo[17] and, because this is something that the Courts consider very important in respect of welfare,[18] (this approach is reflected throughout the welfare-checklist comments made by CAFCASS) it is possible that Isabelle may need to make concessions beyond simply allowing extensive contact. It is, at this stage, that Isabelle may be faced with a difficult decision and it may be appropriate to expressly ask her prior to negotiations whether moving to Canada, promotion and Pierre are more important than regular contact with the children.[19] This may shock her, but will clarify the position in her mind. If Isabelle decided to move to Canada alone, it seems reasonable for her to be able to assert that similar robust contact arrangements are put in place. It also seems that, based on the CAFCASSs view that the children enjoy contact with their maternal grandparents that such an approach may be acceptable to the Court and ought to be accepted by Russell. If Isabelle decides to remain in England, the position becomes less complicated, in that the current residence and contact provisions can be maintained. It seems reasonable that if Isabelle can show that she can alter her work patterns accordingly, she could seek to extend this contact, but since she asserts that the children spend 50% of their time with her already, she may have difficulty in justifying further contact. It is important to stress to Isabelle that the fact that she does not like Destiny is irrelevant because, according to CAFCASSS, the children like her and she can take care of them.[20] Conclusions If Isabelle is intransigent regarding relocation, the only concession she can make is to offer extended contact. On balance, the Courts may favour the status-quo and prevent the children leaving for Canada. Presuming that Russell is properly advised and aware of this, it seems likely that he will retain his current position. In this circumstance, Isabelle must attempt to secure her regular contact with the children. This will be the case regardless of whether she chooses to remain in England or leave for Canada without the children. It seems likely that the Court would support contact. 1000 Words Bibliography Primary Sources Table of Cases K v K (Relocation: Shared Care Arrangement) [2011] EWCA Civ 793 K v K [1992] 2 FLR 98 M v F [2016] EWHC 3914 (Fam) Payne v Payne [2001] EWCA Civ 166 Re AR [2010] EWHC 1346 Re B (RO: Status Quo) [1998] 1 FLR 368 Re F (International Relocation Cases) [2015] EWCA Civ 882 Re H (Children) (Residence Order) [2007] 2 FCR 621 Re L (A Child) [2016] EWCA CIV 821 Re W [2005] EWCA Civ 1614 Table of Legislation: UK Children Act 1989 Table of Legislation: EU European Convention on Human Rights 1950 The United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 Secondary Sources Table of textbooks Gilmore S and Glennon L, Hayes and Williams Family Law (5th edn, OUP 2016) Herring J, Family Law (Longman Law Series) (7th edn, Pearson 2015) Lowe N and Douglas G, Bromleys Family Law (11th edn, OUP 2015) [1] Children Act 1989, s 8(1). [2] Children Act 1989, s 1(5). [3] Children Act 1989, s 1(1). [4] Payne v Payne [2001] EWCA Civ 166. [5] Re F (International Relocation Cases) [2015] EWCA Civ 882 [49]. [6] Children Act 1989, s 1(3). [7] Re F (International Relocation Cases) [2015] EWCA Civ 882. [8] Children Act 1989, s 1(3)(g). [9] K v K [1992] 2 FLR 98. [10] Payne v Payne [2001] EWCA Civ 166 [40] (LJ Thorpe). [11] K v K (Relocation: Shared Care Arrangement) [2011] EWCA Civ 793. [12] United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, Art9(1). [13] European Convention of Human Rights 1950, Art8. [14] Re AR [2010] EWHC 1346. [15] Re L (A Child) [2016] EWCA CIV 821. [16] M v F [2016] EWHC 3914 (Fam). [17] Re B (RO: Status Quo) [1998] 1 FLR 368. [18] Re H (Children) (Residence Order) [2007] 2 FCR 621. [19] Re W [2005] EWCA Civ 1614. [20] Children Act 1989, s 1(3)(f).

A Dirty Job Chapter 11

11 THE GIRLS CAN GET A LITTLE DARK AT TIMES The Great Big Book of Death, as it turned out, wasn't that big, and certainly wasn't that comprehensive. Charlie read through it a dozen times, took notes, made copies, ran searches trying to find some reference to any of the stuff covered, but all of the material in the twenty-eight lavishly illustrated pages boiled down to this: 1. Congratulations, you have been chosen to act as Death. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. It is your duty to retrieve soul vessels from the dead and dying and see them on to their next body. If you fail, Darkness will cover the world and Chaos will reign. 2. Some time ago, the Luminatus, or the Great Death, who kept balance between light and darkness, ceased to be. Since then, Forces of Darkness have been trying to rise from below. You are all that stands between them and destruction of the collective soul of humanity. 3. In order to hold off the Forces of Darkness, you will need a number two pencil and a calendar, preferably one without pictures of kitties on it. 4. Names and numbers will come to you. The number is how many days you have to retrieve the soul vessel. You will know the vessels by their crimson glow. 5. Don't tell anyone what you do, or dark forces, etc. etc. etc. 6. People may not see you when you are performing your Death duties, so be careful crossing the street. You are not immortal. 7. Do not seek others. Do not waver in your duties or the Forces of Darkness will destroy all that you care about. 8. You do not cause death, you do not prevent death, you are a servant of Destiny, not its agent. Get over yourself. 9. Do not, under any circumstances, let a soul vessel fall into the hands of those from below – because that would be bad. A few months passed before Charlie worked the shop again alone with Lily. She asked him, â€Å"Well, did you get a number two pencil?† â€Å"No, I got a number one pencil.† â€Å"You rogue! Asher, hello, Forces of Darkness – â€Å" â€Å"If the world without this Luminatus is so precariously balanced that my buying a pencil with one-grade-harder lead is going to cast us all into the abyss, then maybe it's time.† â€Å"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,† Lily chanted like she was trying to bring a spooked horse under control. â€Å"It's one thing for me to be all nihilistic and stuff, for me it's a fashion statement, I have the outfits for it. You can't be all horny for the grave wearing your stupid Savile Row suits.† Charlie was proud of her for recognizing that he was wearing one of his expensive secondhand Savile Rows. She was learning the trade in spite of herself. â€Å"I'm tired of being afraid,† he said. â€Å"I've dealt with the Forces of Darkness or whatever, Lily, and you know what, we're one and one.† â€Å"Should you be telling me this? I mean, the book said – â€Å" â€Å"I think I'm different than what the book says, Lily. The book says that I don't cause death, but there have been two now that have died more or less because of my actions.† â€Å"And I repeat, should you be telling me this? As you have pointed out many times, I am a kid, and wildly irresponsible. It's wildly irresponsible, right? I'm never listening that closely.† â€Å"You're the only one who knows,† Charlie said. â€Å"And you're seventeen now, not a kid, you're a young woman now.† â€Å"Don't fuck with me, Asher. If you keep talking like that I'll get another piercing, take X until I'm dehydrated like a mummy, talk on my cell phone until the battery is dead, then find some skinny, pale guy and suck him until he cries.† â€Å"So, it will be like a Friday?† Charlie said. â€Å"What I do with my weekends is my own business.† â€Å"I know!† â€Å"Well, then shut up!† â€Å"I'm tired of being afraid, Lily!† â€Å"Well, then stop being afraid, Charlie!† They both looked away, embarrassed. Lily pretended to shuffle through the day's receipts while Charlie pretended to be looking for something in what he called his walking satchel and Jane called his man purse. â€Å"Sorry,† Lily said, without looking up from the receipts. â€Å"S'okay,† Charlie said. â€Å"Me, too.† Still not looking up, Lily said, â€Å"But really, should you be telling me any of this?† â€Å"Probably not,† Charlie said. â€Å"It's sort of a big burden to carry. Sort of – â€Å" â€Å"A dirty job?† Lily looked up now and grinned. â€Å"Yeah,† Charlie smiled, relieved. â€Å"I won't bring it up again.† â€Å"That's okay. It's kind of cool.† â€Å"Really?† Charlie couldn't remember anyone ever referring to him as cool. He was touched. â€Å"Not you. The whole Death thing.† â€Å"Yeah, right,† Charlie said. Yes! Still batting a thousand on the zero-cool quotient. â€Å"But you're right, it's not safe. No more talk about my, uh, avocation.† â€Å"And I'll never call you Charlie again,† Lily said. â€Å"Ever.† â€Å"That would be fine,† Charlie said. â€Å"We'll act like this never happened. Excellent. Good talk. Resume your thinly veiled contempt.† â€Å"Fuck off, Asher.† â€Å"Atta girl.† They were waiting for him the next morning when he took his walk. He expected it, and he wasn't disappointed. He'd stopped in the shop to pick up an Italian suit he'd just taken in, as well as a cigar lighter that had languished in a curio case in the back for two years, which he stuffed in his satchel with the glowing porcelain bear that was the soul vessel of someone who had passed long ago. Then he stepped outside and stood just above the opening of the storm drain – waved at the tourists on the cable car as it clanked by. â€Å"Good morning,† he said cheerily. Anyone watching him might have thought he was greeting the day, since there was no one around. â€Å"We'll peck out her eyes like ripe plums,† hissed a female voice out of the drain. â€Å"Bring us up, Meat. Bring us up so we can lap your blood from the gaping wound we tear in your chest.† â€Å"And crunch your bones in our jaws like candy,† added a different voice, also female. â€Å"Yeah,† agreed the first voice, â€Å"like candy.† â€Å"Yeah,† said a third. Charlie felt his entire body go to gooseflesh, but he shook it off and tried to keep his voice steady. â€Å"Well, today would be a good day for it,† Charlie said. â€Å"I'm well rested from sleeping in my comfy bed with the down comforter. Not like I spent the night in a sewer or anything.† â€Å"Bastard!† A hissing female chorus. â€Å"Well, talk to you on the next block.† Strolled up the block into Chinatown, pacing out the sidewalk jauntily with his sword-cane, the suit inside a light garment bag thrown over his shoulder. He tried whistling, but thought that might be a little too clich. They were already under the next corner when he got there. â€Å"I'm going to suck the baby's soul out through her soft spot while you watch, Meat.† â€Å"Oh, nice!† Charlie said, gritting his teeth and trying not to sound as horrified as he was. â€Å"She's starting to crawl around pretty well now, so don't miss breakfast that day, because if she has her little rubber spoon, she'll probably kick your ass.† There was a screech of anger from the sewers and a harsh, hissing chatter. â€Å"He can't say that? Can he say that? Does he know who we are?† â€Å"Taking a left at the next block. See you there.† There was a young Chinese man dressed in hip-hop wear who looked at Charlie and took a quick step to the side so as not to catch whatever kind of crazy this well-dressed Lo pak[1] was carrying. Charlie tapped his ear and said, â€Å"Sorry, wireless headset.† The hip-hop guy nodded curtly, like he knew that, and despite appearances to the contrary, he had not been trippin', but had, in fact, been chillin' like a mo-fuckin' villain, so step the fuck off, wigga. He crossed against the light, limping slightly under the weight of the subtext. Charlie entered Golden Dragon Cleaners and the man at the counter, Mr. Hu, whom Charlie had known since he was eight, greeted him with an expansive and warm twitch of the left eyebrow, which was his usual greeting, and a good indicator to Charlie that the old man was still alive. A cigarette streamed at the end of a long black holder clinched in Hu's dentures. â€Å"Good morning, Mr. Hu,† Charlie said. â€Å"Beautiful day, isn't it?† â€Å"Suit?† said Mr. Hu, looking at the suit Charlie had slung over his shoulder. â€Å"Yes, just the one today,† Charlie said. Charlie brought all of his finer merchandise to Golden Dragon to be cleaned, and he'd been giving them a lot of business the last few months, with all the estate clothes he'd been taking in. He also had them do his alterations, and Mr. Hu was considered to be the best three-fingered tailor on the West Coast, and perhaps, the world. Three Fingered Hu, he was known as in Chinatown, although to be fair, he was actually possessed of eight fingers, and was only missing the two smaller fingers from his right hand. â€Å"Tailor?† Hu asked. â€Å"No, thank you,† Charlie said. â€Å"This one's for resale, not for me.† Hu snatched the suit out of Charlie's hand, tagged it, then called, â€Å"One suit for the White Devil!† in Mandarin, and one of his granddaughters came speeding out of the back, grabbed the suit, and was gone through the curtain before Charlie could see her face. â€Å"One suit for the White Devil,† she repeated for someone in the back. â€Å"Wednesday,† said Three Fingered Hu. He handed Charlie the ticket. â€Å"There's something else,† Charlie said. â€Å"Okay, Tuesday,† said Hu, â€Å"but no discount.† â€Å"No, Mr. Hu, I know it's been a long time since I needed it, but I wonder if you still have your other business?† Mr. Hu closed one eye and looked at Charlie for a full minute before he replied. When he did, he said, â€Å"Come,† then disappeared behind the curtain leaving a cloud of cigarette smoke. Charlie followed him into the back, through a noisy, steaming hell of cleaning fluids, mangle irons, and a dozen scurrying employees to a tiny plywood-walled office in the back, where Hu closed the door and locked them in as they did their business, something they'd first done over twenty years ago. The first time Three Fingered Hu had led Charlie Asher through the stygian back room of Golden Dragon Cleaners, the ten-year-old Beta Male was sure that he was going to be kidnapped and sold into dry-cleaning slavery, butchered and turned into dim sum, or forced to smoke opium and fight fifty kung fu fighters at once while still in his pj's (Charlie had a very tenuous grasp of his neighbors' culture at age ten), but despite his fear, he was driven by a passion that had been embedded in his very genes millions of years ago: a quest for fire. Yes, it was a crafty Beta Male who first discovered fire, and true, it was almost immediately taken away from him by an Alpha Male. (Alphas missed out on the discovery of fire, but because they did not understand about grabbing the hot, orangey end of the stick, they are credited with inventing the third-degree burn.) Still, the original spark burns bright in every Beta's veins. When Alpha boys have long since moved on to girls and sports, Betas w ill still be pursuing pyrotechnics well into adolescence and sometimes beyond. Alpha Males may lead the armies of the world, but it's the Betas who actually get the shit blowed up. And what better testimonial for a purveyor of fireworks than to be missing critical digits? Three Fingered Hu. When Hu opened his thick, trifold case across the desk, revealing his wares, young Charlie felt he had passed through the fires of hell to arrive, at last, in paradise, and he gladly handed over his wad of crumpled, sweaty dollar bills. And even as long silver ashes from Hu's cigarette fell over the fuses like deadly snow, Charlie picked his pleasure. He was so excited he nearly peed himself. The death-dealing Charlie who walked out of Golden Dragon Cleaners that morning with a compact paper parcel tucked under his arm felt a similar excitement, for as much as it was against his nature, he was rushing, once again, into the breech. He headed to the storm sewer grate and, waving the glowing porcelain bear from his satchel at the street, shouted, â€Å"I'm going over one block and up four, bitches. Join me?† â€Å"The White Devil has finally gone around the bend,† said Three Fingered Hu's eleventh grandchild, Cindy Lou Hu, who stood at the counter next to her venerated and digitally challenged ancestor. â€Å"His money not crazy,† said Three. Charlie had noticed the alley on one of his walks to the financial district. It lay between Montgomery and Kearney Streets and had all the things a good alley should have: fire escapes, Dumpsters, various steel doors tagged with graffiti, a rat, two seagulls, assorted filth, a guy passed out under some cardboard, and a half-dozen â€Å"No Parking† signs, three with bullet holes. It was the Platonic ideal of an alley, but what distinguished it from other alleys in the area was that it had two openings into the storm-drain system, spaced not fifty yards apart, one on the street end and one in the middle, concealed between two Dumpsters. Having recently developed an eye for storm drains, Charlie couldn't help but notice. He chose the drain that was hidden from the street, crouched down about four feet away, and opened the parcel from Three Fingered Hu. He removed eight M-80s and trimmed the two-inch-long waterproof fuses to about a half inch with a pair of nail clippers he kept on his key chain. (An M-80 is a very large firecracker, purported to have the explosive power of a quarter of a stick of dynamite. Rural children use them to blow up mailboxes or school plumbing, but in the city they have largely been replaced by the 9 mm Glock pistol as the preferred instrument of mischievous fun.) â€Å"Kids!† Charlie called into the drain. â€Å"You with me? Sorry I didn't get your names.† He drew the sword from his cane, set it by his knee, then dug the porcelain bear out of his satchel and sat it by his other knee. â€Å"There you go,† he called. There was a vicious hiss from the drain, and even as he thought it was completely dark, it got even darker. He could see silver disk shapes moving in the blackness, like coins tumbling through a dark ocean, but these were paired up – eyes. â€Å"Give it, Meat. Give it,† whispered a female voice. â€Å"Come and get it,† Charlie said, trying to fight down the greatest case of the willies he'd ever felt. It was like dry ice was being applied to his spine and it was all he could do not to shiver. The shadow in the drain started to leak out across the pavement, just an inch or so, but he could see it, like the light had changed. But it hadn't. The shadow took the shape of a female hand and moved another six inches toward the glowing bear. That's when Charlie grabbed the sword and snapped it down on the shadow. It didn't hit pavement, but connected with something softer, and there was a deafening screech. â€Å"You piece of shit!† screamed the voice – now in anger, not pain. â€Å"You worthless little – you – â€Å" â€Å"Quick and the dead, ladies,† Charlie said. â€Å"Quick and the dead. C'mon, give it another shot.† A second hand-shaped shadow snaked out of the drain on the left, then another on the right. Charlie pushed the bear away from the drain as he pulled the cigar lighter from his pocket. He lit the short fuses of four of the M-80s and tossed them into the drain, even as the shadows were reaching out. â€Å"What was that?† â€Å"What did he throw?† â€Å"Move, I can't – â€Å" Charlie put his fingers in his ears. The M-80s exploded and Charlie grinned. He sheathed the sword in the cane, gathered up his stuff, and sprinted for the other drain. Inside an enclosed space the noise would be punishing, brutal even. He kept grinning. He could hear a chorus of screaming and cursing, in half a dozen dead languages, some of them running over others, like someone was spinning the dial on a shortwave radio that spanned both time and space. He dropped to his knees and listened at the drain, careful to stay an arm's length away. He could hear them coming, tracking him under the street. He hoped he was right that they couldn't come out, but even if they did, he had the sword, and the sunlight was his turf. He lit four more M-80s, these with longer fuses, and tossed them one by one into the drain. â€Å"Who's New Meat now?† he said. â€Å"What? What did he say?† said a sewer voice. â€Å"I can't hear shit.† Charlie waved the porcelain bear in front of the drain. â€Å"You want this?† He tossed in another M-80. â€Å"You like that, do you?† Charlie shouted, throwing in the third firecracker. â€Å"That'll teach you to use your beak on my arm, you fucking harpies!† â€Å"Mr. Asher,† came a voice from behind him. Charlie looked around to see Alphonse Rivera, the police inspector, standing over him. â€Å"Oh, hi,† Charlie said, then realizing that he was holding a lit M-80, he said, â€Å"Excuse me a second.† He tossed the firecracker in the drain. At that moment they all started going off. Rivera had retreated a few steps and had his hand in his jacket, presumably on his gun. Charlie put the porcelain bear in his satchel and climbed to his feet. He could hear the voices shrieking at him, cursing. â€Å"You fucking loser,† screeched one of the dark ones. â€Å"I'll weave a basket of your guts and carry your severed head in it.† â€Å"Yeah,† said another voice. â€Å"A basket.† â€Å"I think you threatened that already,† said a third. â€Å"I did not,† said the first. â€Å"Shut the fuck up!† Charlie yelled at the drain, then he looked at Rivera, who had drawn his weapon and was holding it at his side. â€Å"So,† Rivera said, â€Å"problems with, uh, someone in the drain?† Charlie grinned. â€Å"You can't hear that, can you?† The cursing was ongoing, but now in some language that sounded as if it required a lot of mucus to speak properly, Gaelic or German or something. â€Å"I can hear a distinct ringing in my ears, Mr. Asher, from the report of your distinctly illegal fireworks, but beyond that, nothing, no.† â€Å"Rats,† Charlie said, unconsciously raising an eyebrow in a so are you gonna buy that load of horseshit? way. â€Å"Hate the rats.† â€Å"Uh-huh,† Rivera said flatly. â€Å"The rats, they used their beak on your arm and evidently you feel that they have a secret desire for cheap animal curios?† â€Å"So that you heard?† Charlie asked. â€Å"Yep.† â€Å"That's gotta make you wonder, then, huh?† â€Å"Yep,† said the cop. â€Å"Nice suit, though. Armani?† â€Å"Canali, actually,† Charlie said. â€Å"But thanks.† â€Å"Not what I'd pick for bombing storm drains, but to each his own.† Rivera hadn't moved. He was standing just off the curb, about ten feet away from Charlie, his weapon still at his side. A jogger ran by them and used the opportunity to quicken his pace. Charlie and Rivera both nodded politely as he passed. â€Å"So,† Charlie said, â€Å"you're a professional, where would you go with this?† Rivera shrugged. â€Å"Not on any prescriptions you might have taken too many of, are you?† â€Å"I wish,† Charlie said. â€Å"Up all night drinking, thrown out by the wife, out of your mind with remorse?† â€Å"My wife passed away.† â€Å"I'm sorry. How long?† â€Å"Going on a year now.† â€Å"Well, that's not going to work,† said Rivera. â€Å"Do you have any history of mental illness?† â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"Well, you do now. Congratulations, Mr. Asher. You can use that next time.† â€Å"Do I have to do the perp walk?† Charlie asked, thinking about how he'd explain this to child services. Poor Sophie, her dad an ex con and Death, school was going to be tough. â€Å"This jacket is tailored, I don't think I can get it over my head for the perp walk. Am I going to jail?† â€Å"Not with me, you're not. You think this would be any easier for me to explain? I'm an inspector, I don't arrest guys for throwing firecrackers and yelling into storm drains.† â€Å"Then why do you have your weapon drawn?† â€Å"Makes me feel more secure.† â€Å"I can see that,† Charlie said. â€Å"I probably appeared a little unstable.† â€Å"Ya think?† â€Å"So where's that leave us?† â€Å"That the rest of your stash?† Rivera nodded toward the paper bag of firecrackers under Charlie's arm. Charlie nodded. â€Å"How about you toss that down the storm drain and we'll call it a day.† â€Å"No way. I have no idea what they'll do if they get their hands on fireworks.† Now it was Rivera's turn to raise an eyebrow. â€Å"The rats?† Charlie threw the bag in the storm sewer. He could hear whispering from below, but tried not to show Rivera that he was listening. Rivera holstered his weapon and shot his lapels. â€Å"So, do you take suits like that into your shop very often?† he asked. â€Å"More now than I used to. I've been doing a lot of estate work,† Charlie said. â€Å"You still have my card, give me a call if you get a forty long, anything Italian, medium-to lightweight wool, oh, or raw silk, too.† â€Å"Yeah, silk's perfect for our weather. Sure, I'll be happy to save you something. By the way, Inspector, how did you happen to be in a back alley, off a side street, in the middle of a Tuesday morning?† â€Å"I don't have to tell you that,† said Rivera with a smile. â€Å"You don't?† â€Å"No. You have a nice day, Mr. Asher.† â€Å"You, too,† said Charlie. So now he was being followed both above and below the street? Why else would a homicide detective be here? Neither the Great Big Book nor Minty Fresh had said a word about the cops. How were you supposed to keep this whole death-dealing thing a secret when a cop was watching you? His elation at having taken the battle to the enemy, something that was deeply against his nature, evaporated. He wasn't sure why, but something was telling him that he had just fucked up. Below the street the Morrigan looked at one another in amazement. â€Å"He doesn't know,† said Macha, examining her claws, which shone like brushed stainless steel in the dim light coming from above. Her body was beginning to show the gunmetal-blue relief of feathers, and her eyes were no longer just silver disks, but now had the full awareness of a predatory bird's. She had once flown over the battlefields of the North, landing on those soldiers who were dying of their wounds, pecking out their souls in her bird form of a hooded crow. The Celts had called the severed heads of their enemies Macha's Acorn Crop, but they had no idea that she cared nothing for their tributes or their tribes, only for their blood and their souls. It had been a thousand years since she had seen her woman claws like this. â€Å"I still can't hear,† said her sister Nemain, who groomed the blue-black feather shapes on her own body, hissing with the pleasure as she ran the dagger points over her breasts. She was showing fangs as well, which dented her delicate jet lips. It had been her lot to drip venom on those she would mark for death. There was no fiercer warrior than one who had been touched by the venom of Nemain, for with nothing to lose, he took the field without fear, in a frenzy that gave him the strength of ten, and dragged others to their doom with him. Babd raked her rediscovered claws across the side of the culvert, cutting deep gouges into the concrete. â€Å"I love these. I forgot I even had these. I'll bet we can go Above. Want to go Above? I feel like I could go Above. Tonight we can go Above. We could tear his legs off and watch him drag himself around in his own blood, that would be fun.† Babd was the screamer – her shriek on the battlefield said to send armies into retreat – ranks of soldiers a hundred deep would die of fright. She was all that was fierce, furious, and not particularly bright. â€Å"The Meat doesn't know,† repeated Macha. â€Å"Why would we give away our advantage in an early attack.† â€Å"Because it would be fun,† said Babd. â€Å"Above? Fun? I know, instead of a basket, you can weave a hat from his entrails.† Nemain slung some venom off her claws and it hissed in a steaming line across the concrete. â€Å"We should tell Orcus. He'll have a plan.† â€Å"About the hat?† asked Babd. â€Å"You have to tell him it was my idea. He loves hats.† â€Å"We have to tell him that New Meat doesn't know.† The three moved like smoke down the pipes toward the great ship, to share the news that their newest enemy, among other things, did not know what he was, or what he had wrought on the world.

Genetically And Genetically Modified Organisms - 2188 Words

Within twenty years, the world’s population will need fifty percent more food that it can produce today. To address the growing demand for food sources, farmers across the world are choosing to grow GMOs on their land. The production of GMOs is an example of biotechnology, a study of cellular processes to develop technologies that improve human life and world health. GMOs and biotechnology can help meet the growing demand for food. Though consumers often worry about the production and consumption of GMOs, they are safe for all organisms including consumers and the environment. GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are plants that are developed through a process in which genes or genetic materials are copied from one plant or organism to another. Genetically modified seeds grow in the ground like any other seed, but GMO seeds have desirable traits that sets them apart from other seeds. These seeds grow into plants that may use water more efficiently, require less are land, o r withstand pest such as bugs or weeds (â€Å"GMOs†). Farmers will most likely choose genetically modified crops instead of any other type of crop. The genetically modified seed helps farmers with the challenges that they might face throughout out the growing season. For example, severe drought, pest, and weeds are factors on what make a yield successful or not. Farmers have to grow enough food for the entire world, and that is not an easy task to do. GMO’s make it easier for farmers to produce a highShow MoreRelatedGenetically Organisms : Genetically Modified Organism1528 Words   |  7 PagesA GMO is a genetically modified organism. It is a process of taking â€Å"genes from one species and inserting them into another in an attempt to obtain a desired trait or characteristic, and this is why they are also called transgenic organism† (About GMO). This process is categorized under two names even though they are one in the same, Genetic Engineering and Genetic M odification. In order for a scientist to introduce new DNA into an organism, they must go through a series of steps or methods like:Read MoreGenetically And Genetically Modified Organisms1188 Words   |  5 Pages Genetically engineered crops or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are plants in agriculture and the DNA that has been modified using genetic engineering techniques. The goal of this type of bioengineering is to add new traits to a plant which doesn’t occur naturally in the species. Farmers have adopted the technology. The first genetically made crop was manufactured in 1982 which was an antibiotic-resistant tobacco plant. In 1986, the first free trials were in Europe and the USA and were madeRead MoreGenetically And Genetically Modified Organisms2311 Words   |  10 PagesGenetically Modified Organisms are organisms whose genetic make-up have been changed by mutating, inserting, or deleting genes, by using genetic engineering techniques or biotechnology (Klein, Wolf, Wu Sanford, 1987). The topic of genetically modified organisms became very controversial in today’s world. GMO have been used not only in producing vegetable, but also in medical and biological researches, drug production, and medical treatments. However, the food field generates the biggest controversyRead MoreGenetically : Genetically Modified Organisms1386 Words   |  6 PagesLessliee Echevarria Hollis 6th Senior Project 18 March 2015 Genetically Modified Organisms According to a census done by the United Nations, as of October 31, 2011 the world’s population has reached seven billion people. The earth’s population is estimated to reach between 8.3 and 10.9 billion by 2050. Will the earth be able to sustain and feed that many mouths? The planet’s current population is already two to three times higher than the sustainableRead MoreGenetically And Genetically Modified Organism998 Words   |  4 PagesGMO or genetically modified organism. Is an organism which has had its genetic makeup altered by removing part of its genetic makeup and inserting a modified gene from another organism or the mutation or deletion of the biome. The biological complexity of life is narrowed down to a single gene and shoot at with foreign substances that change a genetic trait of an animal or plant. The history of altering genetics goes back to a family who had a monopoly on petroleum in the 19th century and becameRead MoreGenetically And Genetica lly Modified Organisms2218 Words   |  9 Pagesown pesticides has achieved world recognition. Although this innovation, known as a GMO (genetically modified organism), has become extremely influential in the produce industry, the unfamiliarity of the potential dangers continues to be overlooked. The use of GMOs within food has provoked a major controversy among people worldwide. There are many cases supporting and opposing the use of GM (genetically modified) foods, however, a well-debated aspect of this dispute is whether a product containingRead MoreGenetically And Genetically Modified Organisms998 Words   |  4 PagesGMO’s, or genetically modified organisms, were first brought to my attention in the ninth grade. I did not know that anything such as GMO’s had existed before that, but in my ninth grade biology class we had to watch Food, Inc. and take a health class. I remember being so upset by the poor animal conditions and the lack of labels on foods with genetic modifications. To play my own part in the issue, I started to eat more organic foods and looked for labels that were non-GMO. I also became aRead MoreGenetically And Genetically Modified Organisms1794 Words   |  8 PagesA Genetically Modified Culture Genetically modified organisms are crops that have a gene from one organism inserted into the DNA sequence of another organism in order to gain beneficial traits (McWilliams 351). Beneficial traits that may result from the genetic modification of crops include herbicide resistance, insect resistance, or drought tolerance (McWilliams 351). The concept of genetically modifying food is a concept that makes many people skeptical about what is being done to the food thatRead MoreGenetically And Genetically Modified Organisms1447 Words   |  6 Pages or Genetically Modified Organisms. Since its first use in 1973, genetic modification has been applied to almost every crop imaginable. Countless fields of beans, rice, and corn have become subject to genetic modification as more and more farmers begin to realize the benefits of growing â€Å"super† plants. With so little drawbacks and so many advantages, it is easy to see why GMOs are as widespread as they are in today’s societ y. The concept of selecting the most desirable traits in an organism has beenRead MoreGenetically And Genetically Modified Organisms2188 Words   |  9 Pagessurrounding the use of Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs. There will be explanations of the negative aspects of Genetically Modified Organisms with the described studies to go along with them. The positive Genetically Modified Organisms facts will be mentioned and described to counter weigh the negatives. There will also be a look into the use of hormones in farm animals and the negative outcomes from them and how the use of the hormones usually gets tied in with the Genetically Modified substances. The

2019-20 Common Application Essay One Tips Your Story

The first essay option on the Common Application  asks you to share your story. The prompt was modified slightly several years ago to include the words interest and talent, and the prompt remains unchanged for the 2019-20 admissions cycle: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it.  If this sounds like you, then please share your story. How to Tell Your Story This popular option appeals to a broad spectrum of applicants. After all, we all have a story to tell. Weve all had events, circumstances, or passions that have been central to the development of our identities. Also, so many parts of the application seem far removed from the actual features that make us the unique individuals that we are. If you choose this option, spend some time thinking about what the prompt is really asking. On a certain level, the prompt is giving you permission to write about anything. The words background, identity, interest, and talent are broad and vague, so you have a lot of freedom to approach this question however you want. That said, dont make the mistake of thinking that anything goes with option #1. The story you tell needs to be so meaningful that your application would be incomplete without it. If you focus on something that isnt central to what it is that makes you uniquely you, then you havent yet found the right focus for this essay option. Tips for  Approaching the Essay As you explore possible ways to approach this first essay option, keep these points in mind: Think hard about what it is that makes you, you. If you end up telling a story that hundreds of other applicants could also tell, then you havent fully succeeded in tackling the question of identity that stands at the heart of this prompt.Your story most likely isnt a single event. Being voted prom queen and scoring that winning goal may be impressive accomplishments, but by themselves, they are not stories about the formation of your identity.Your story can take a variety of forms. Did you grow up in a difficult domestic situation? Did you live in an unusual place that had a significant impact on your childhood? Did you or someone in your family have significant challenges to overcome? Were you surrounded by people who had a major influence on your development? Did you move frequently? Did you have to hold a job from a young age? Do you have a particular obsession or passion that has been a driving force in your life for years?  Make sure your essay is adding a rich dimension to y our application. You have 650 words to present yourself as an interesting and passionate individual who will be a positive addition to the campus community. If your essay is repeating information that can be found elsewhere in your application, then youre wasting this opportunity.If you dont think you have a story to tell, you are wrong. You dont need to have grown up in a yurt in the Himalayas to have a background that is worth narrating. A Connecticut suburb produces its own meaningful stories. Sample Essays for Option #1 Handiwork by VanessaMy Dads by CharlieGive Goth a Chance by Carrie The Essays Purpose No matter which essay option you choose, keep in mind the purpose of the essay. The college to which you are applying uses the Common Application which means the school has holistic admissions. The college wants to get to know you as a person, not just as a list of SAT scores and grades. Make sure your essay captures you. The admissions folks should finish reading your essay with a much clearer sense of who you are and what it is that interests and motivates you. Also, make sure your essay paints a positive portrait. The admissions folks are considering inviting you to join their community. They will not want to extend an invitation to someone who comes across as insensitive, self-centered, boastful, narrow-minded, unimaginative or indifferent. Last of all, pay attention to style, tone, and mechanics. The essay is largely about you, but it is also about your writing ability. A brilliantly conceived essay will fail to impress if it is riddled with grammatical and stylistic errors.