How to Read More Than One Book at a Time Critical Linking, September 10

How to Read More Than One Book at a Time Critical Linking, September 10 Sponsored by Penguin Random House Its the bookworm dream: being able to cruise through multiple books at the same time. I mean, not literally at the same time. But to be like Rory Gilmore, with a bus book and a lunch book and a book of poems when youre in a poetry kind of mood and a memoir for when youre in an introspective space. Just think of how neat and tidy your TBR (to be read) pile would look. But for many of us, the impulse to read more than one book at once is often tempered by the logistics of the whole undertaking. Where do you read your different books? And what? And when? Heres how to become a multi-book reader, according to Reddit. Are you into it? Joyce Maynard, who was wooed as a teenager by the late JD Salinger, has spoken out about how the literary world condemned her as “a predator”. Maynard was 18 when an essay of hers was published in the New York Times, along with a photograph. The piece led the then 53-year-old Salinger to contact her and, as Maynard writes in the New York Times, urged her to “to leave college, come live with him (have babies, collaborate on plays we would perform together in London’s West End) and be (I truly believed this) his partner forever”. Joyce Maynard recalls being labeled a predator, and being criticized for speaking out about her experiences with Salinger. In 1874, Tolstoy’s long-suffering wife, Countess Sophia Andreevna Tolstaya, received a gift from her brother: it was a joke recipe book of all the dishes Tolstaya had developed over the years to satisfy the gastronomic whims of her husband. In the book you can find everything from snippets of conversation at family meals to recipes for turnip porridge â€" there’s even instructions for macaroni cheese à la Tolstoy. Almost 150 years later, the cookbook has finally been translated and republished. It promptly went on my Kindle app and I set about getting an idea of what a 190th birthday party chez Tolstoy would have looked (and tasted) like. Celebrate Tolstoy with a glass of kvass and a slice of Ankovsky pie. Sign up to Today In Books to receive  daily news and miscellany from the world of books. Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.

Different Types Of Contracts And Contracts - 937 Words

There are many different types of contracts and many different parts to a contract. Contracts are formal agreements between people or businesses. There are seven elements to a contract. The first is the offer which is the purposed deal. Next is the acceptance of the offer than consideration or bargaining of the offer. Legality is the next which means is the contract for a lawful purpose. Next is capacity are the parties adults of sound mind then consent of the contract. Lastly, writing some types of contracts must be in writing to be enforceable. There are two contract rules for governing the sales of goods and the sale of services. The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) is the code used for the sales of goods. The sales of services uses common law to govern these contracts. UCC was first published in 1952, the drafters of this code wanted to facilitate the easy information and enforcement of contracts in a fast- paced world. There are nine articles to the uniform commercial co des. Article one deals with the law of contracts and article nine deals with payment in security interest agreements. The most important article is article two which deals with the sale of goods. Goods are anything movable, except for money, securities and certain legal rights. Article two also states the rules for contract formation such as the firm offers, shipments of goods and modification of terms. Article two states the rule for contract repudiation and breach listing severalShow MoreRelatedEvaluating Different Types of Contracts1326 Words   |  5 PagesEvaluating Contracts There are different types of contracts which are used by the Federal Government. The choice for a particular type of contract is guided by a number of factors which have to be put into a consideration before a decision is reached on the best or the most appropriate method of contracting to apply. Depending on the nature of the activity a contractor is being contracted for, the choice of a contracting method has a financial impact for the government and has to be budgeted forRead MoreDifferent Types Of Government Contracts2207 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction There are several types of government contracts, and the differences between them are not trivial. Each requires a unique approach to bidding and a unique approach to performing the work. Understanding the distinct challenges and opportunities of each contract is vital if your business is to succeed as a government contractor (Deltek, 2012). The first step in exploring and understanding the different types of federal contract is to understand what a contract is. Contract means a mutually bindingRead MoreWhy Do We Use Different Types Of Contracts On Projects?1045 Words   |  5 Pages 2.1 CONTRACT ESTABLISHMENT Why do we use different types of contracts on projects? â€Æ' 2.2 LEARNING OBJECTIVES At the end of this section you will be able to: †¢ Describe the typical contract types †¢ Explain key elements that govern contract type selection †¢ Explain the key principles of agreement between Reliance and the contractor â€Æ' 2.3 CONTRACTS TYPES †¢ Lump Sum – Contractor is required to provide upfront for all risks and costs for performing to contract defined requirements;Read MoreEssay on nature of construction contracts1528 Words   |  7 PagesConstruction Contracts Introduction For this assignment the writer is going to discuss the nature and types of construction contracts and will explain the legal responsibilities of the various parties involved in the design and the construction process. Using different types of sources an explanation to the basic principles of contract law and how they apply. From doing this there will then be an explanation to what extent standard forms of contract are special types of contract. Contract that hasRead MoreRelationship Between Client And Contractor Essay855 Words   |  4 Pagesis initiated, the progression of the endeavor is influenced by the type of contract that will be secured between the client and contractor. A project manager must be cognizant of the agreement and the terms in which the client would like the project completed and the trade-off constraints in case issues arise. The trade-off constraints, along with the terms of the contract, will determine the overall approach of the project, types of risks the contractor will be exposed to, and the benefits the contractorRead MoreHybrid Contracts for Small Business927 Words   |  4 PagesHybrid Contracts for Small Business Introduction There are many different forms of contracts in which the CEO of a small local business could use to try to acquire business from the local Navy base. Most traditional contracts are composed of either fixed price contracts or cost reimbursement type contractual arrangements. However, a new type of contract has emerged that offers small businesses alternatives to the traditional bidding structures. The new alternatives to traditional contracts offerRead MoreThe Complexity in Construction Projects1284 Words   |  5 PagesConstruction Projects are intrinsically complex in nature. It varies in different aspects such as size, nature, Contract Value etc. It involves different parties including the Client, Designer, Engineer, and the Contractor, whose interests vary from each other. Under these complex circumstances, the success of any project is dependent on the type of contract opted for the contract, along with several other factors such as the most appropriate design, askillful execu tion team, a good working relationshipRead MoreMy Knowledge Of The Contract Documentation Relevant1207 Words   |  5 PagesI have developed my knowledge of the contract documentation relevant to our industry through my graduate training, reading on the subject and by learning about the types of contracts used on the project I work on. A contract is an agreement between two or more parties which can be enforced in court. It must include offer, acceptance, consideration and the intention to create a legal relationship. It defines the rights and obligations of all parties, such as the scope of works and payments. As structuralRead MoreContract Pricing Essay762 Words   |  4 PagesFixed-Price Contract or Cost-Reimbursement Contract Willie Glover BUS 501 February 20, 2011 Dr. Nick Nayak Abstract Fixed-price contracts and cost-reimbursements are two different forms of contracts used by the federal government while determining contract pricing. Contracting officers may use either when contracting however there are several types of fixed-price contracts. Fixed-price type of contracts provide for a firm price or an adjustable price. Fixed-price contracts consist of firm-fixed-priceRead MoreConstruction Contracts Essay1036 Words   |  5 PagesConstruction Contracts 1. Name and briefly describe each of the two basic types of competitively bid construction contracts. Which type would be most likely used for building the piers to support a large suspension bridge. Why? Two basic types of competitively bid construction contracts are lump-sum and the unit-price contract. The lump-sum contract is when the contractor agrees to complete all work for a pre-determined price including profit and the contract. The unit-price contract is when the

The Effects Of Ocean Pollution On The Sea Turtles And The...

Do you have any idea what a McDonald’s straw can do to a baby sea turtle? Pollution can have serious impacts on both sea turtles and the food they eat. For example, new research suggests that a disease that has been killing sea turtles can be linked to pollution in the ocean and in fresh water sources close to the ocean. When pollution contaminates and kills aquatic plant and animal life, it also destroys feeding habitats for sea turtles. Oil spills and urban runoff of chemicals and fertilizers all contribute to water pollution. About thirty six percent of all marine pollution comes from oil that flows through drains into rivers from cities. There was a baby sea turtle found with a straw lodged in its nose and the pain was so extreme that it passed out. The turtle would not have survived in the wild if it was not found. The overall effects of ocean pollution are an increasing problem that could lead to diminishing populations in marine animal and plant species. Ocean pollution is a rising problem that is starting to cause serious health problems for marine organisms. By definition pollution is the human alteration of chemical or physical characteristics of the environment to a degree that is harmful to living organisms. There are a couple forms of pollution that destroy wildlife by killing or impairing the organisms that live in the oceans health. The main forms of pollution that are most destructive are synthetic chemicals, oil, toxic metals, and acid rain are included inShow MoreRelatedMarine Biology Module 3 Review Essay1262 Words   |  6 PagesSea Turtles (Lessons 3.02, 3.04, 3.05) 1. †¢       What types are typically found in Florida? o          Green sea turtle o          Hawksbill turtle o          Leatherback turtle o          Kemp’s ridley turtle o          Loggerhead turtle 2. †¢       What types are not typically found in Florida? o          Olive ridley turtle o          Flatback turtle 3. †¢       What are the 2 main parts (upper and lower) of a sea turtle shell called? o          Upper – carapace o          Lower – plastron 4. †¢       CanRead MoreSea Turtles Are Not Only Affected By Pollution1030 Words   |  5 PagesSea turtles are not only affected by pollution, but they are also affected by tourist attraction. On September 5 in Costa Rica, a large group of tourists prevented sea turtles from nesting along the coastline. Due to the high volume of tourists on that day, the Ostional Wildlife Refuge was unable to prevent the disturbance from happening. The Tico Times described what happened. â€Å"Some tourists touched the turtles, others stood on top of the nests, and parents placed their children on top of the turtlesRead MorePlastic Pollution And Its Effects On The Environment1129 Words   |  5 Pages Plastic Pollution is a man made disaster, but it is rapidly growing every day. It is causing harm to oceans, sea life, and even human life, as we know it. It is important to prevent plastics from ever touching the ocean and we need to do something about it soon. Plastic pollution is something that is dramatically impacting the environment and taking action is something we have to do before it affects more of our planet. The plastic pollution in the water is affecting our own well-being. There areRead MoreOur Oceans Are The Earth s Biggest Life Support Systems Essay2000 Words   |  8 Pagesextremely important resource is the Ocean. The oceans are the â€Å"lifeblood of planet Earth and humankind†. In all, the oceans are the Earth s biggest life support systems. Our society depends on much from the oceans and because they are so important it is necessary to explore all they provide. They contribute to the air we breathe, the water we drink, food we eat, and also provide recreation. Specifically, the oceans provide a sixth of the animal protein people eat and also absorbs the carbon dioxideRead MorePlastic Pollution And Its Effects On Marine Life914 Words   |  4 PagesPlastic Pollution Our waste such as plastic and contaminated water makes its way to the ocean. There, it has a devastating effect on marine life. â€Å"5.25 trillion plastic particles weighing some 269,000 tons are floating on the surface of the sea† (Seltenrich). In Seltenrich’s article, â€Å"The World Bank estimates that 1.4 billion tons of trash are generated globally each year, 10% of it plastic.† â€Å"Plastics that reach the ocean will gradually break down into ever-smaller pieces due to sunlight exposureRead MorePollution And Its Effects On The Environment1802 Words   |  8 Pagesbeing destroyed from pollution. One of which is marine life. The oceans are heating up because of pollution, and many of these ecosystems such as the Great Barrier Reef are temperature sensitive. Just a slight change in temperature could have a major effect on the marine organisms. Even though the ocean is vast and full of life, pollution needs to stop because it is harming marine life, affects the food chain by killing organisms that another marine creature might rely on for food, and it is a disruptionRead MoreThe Solution Of Ocean Pollution1400 Words   |  6 PagesOceans around the world are becoming more deadly as people fill them with nearly every type of man-made pollutant. They are turning into bathtubs; being filled with whatever the kids decide to toss in. Many refer to this issue as marine pollution or even ocean pollution. Ocean pollution is, â€Å"... the spreading of harmful substances such as oil, plastic, industrial and agricultural waste and chemical particles into the ocean† (qtd. from Rinkesh â€Å"Causes and Effects..† para. 1). No doubt, clean oceansRead MorePlastics Have Hazardous Influence on Human Health733 Words   |  3 Pagesobesity, diabetes, and hyperactivity (Adverse Health Effects of Plastics, n.d.). Research has shown that BPA enters human body through exposure to plastics, such as plastic bottles. Moreover, risks of these b ottles increase even more if they expose to high temperatures, because the plastic will secrete its harmful chemicals into drinks (Lights, 2012). Plastics harm animals and consequence the death of them. Thousands of wild animals and sea animals are dying because of the plastic pollutant. InRead MoreThe Danger in the Sea: Negative Human Impacts on Marine turtles1532 Words   |  7 PagesTurtles have been around for about 230 million years (Dobbs 1). In that time, they have seen the rise and fall of the dinosaurs and the rise of mankind. Marine turtles have been around for about 65 million years (Dobbs 1). This family has withstood the test of time and is being threatened by human’s impact on the sea. All six of the marine turtles occurring on the shores of America are at least threatened. Marine turtles are very important to the ecosystem but humans are endangering this family directlyRead MoreSample Resume : Beach Cleanup1243 Words   |  5 Pagesof the vast ocean. They’re beneficial for the state’s tourism, part of our summer vacation memories and give us a glimpse into the healthy marine ecosystems. H owever, how can we keep these assumptions alive when tourism decreases, our loved ones are affected by harmful pathogens found on our shores and the marine life is affected due to our inability to maintain a clean beach? These images of our beaches are slowly dying out due to the growing problem of beach pollution. Beach pollution is mainly caused

K-19 Disaster Free Essays

Leadership is the process in which an individual influences the group of individuals to attain a common goal. Good leadership ensures that the goal is attained by mutual cooperation and cohesive behavior. An effective leader infuses a sense of positivist and efficiently directs others to reach the specified goal. We will write a custom essay sample on K-19 Disaster or any similar topic only for you Order Now The captain in the movie placed too much emphasis on power. A captain who attempts to control circumstances with power most often becomes authoritarian in his expression which can lead to dissent among subordinates. On the other hand, a captain who communicates effectively and collaborates with all team members is often respected and becomes more successful. In K- 10, the co-captain was an antithesis to the actual captain. The stark contrast between the two men’s leadership styles conveyed a message about the relative effectiveness of each one. The crew embers were more loyal to the co-captain because he worked as a team to reach a goal Instead of ordering his subordinates around. When disaster struck the crew was more apt to follow orders from the authority figure who worked with them as a team because they trusted him to care for their well-being. The only way to efficiently govern a large number of people is to instill a sense of trust. Those who abuse their power will not be trusted and thus will not become effective leaders. During war time people tend to experience and strong sense of nationalism. A citizen of Russia n the movie would feel patriotism for his own country starting at a very early age. It’s a socio-cultural phenomenon that has been examined for ages. Many social psychologists believe that the patriotism is derived from the innate human desire to belong. Therefore, when Russian begins to experience military tensions during the onset of WWW, many citizens felt the need to defend and protect not only the country’s honor, but their own as well. This explains why it was so hard for the captain to abandon the mission that his government had assigned him to. He felt that it was only right to risk his life defending his country and his own reputation, When technology advances rapidly, there is often a discrepancy between the capabilities of technology and the capabilities of the people in charge of said technology. Examples of such discrepancies can be found throughout all time periods. During the industrial revolution, for example, the technology allowed for mass production of goods, but the society of the time did not have regulations in place to successfully prepare workers for the hazardous conditions. As a result many lives were tragically lost. During WWW, Germany was beginning to use planes In the war. However, the first airplane had been flown Just over a decade earlier and the technology was still in its Infancy. Consequently, the average life span of a fighter pilot In WWW was only two weeks. When watching K-19 it is quite easy to understand why such a disaster could occur. The government at the time was desperate to have the cutting-edge technology, but did not have time to properly train those who would be working with the equipment. In today’s society our technology Is once again advancing at a 1 OFF startling rate. As social medial becomes more prominent, minors are more expos to the adult world and the dangers that accompany it. We must be careful, as a society, to guard against technology being controlled by those who don’t know how to properly utilize it. The movie was a powerful, reality based drama that causes viewers to consider the effects of nuclear power and the dangers of radiation. However, it also has underlying tones that speak to the very nature of humans. Leadership skills, nationalism, and technological innovation continue to be pressing issues in society throughout the ages. How to cite K-19 Disaster, Papers

Works Satisfaction and Psychology

Work is one of the main activities of human life. It is essential to consider the work as something interesting and satisfactory as people spend most of their time at work. I know a lot of different people who work just to earn money and this work dose not bring much satisfaction to them. This is wrong as people do not get satisfaction from money they earn (Lewis, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Work’s Satisfaction and Psychology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More After work such people are dissatisfied, they do not feel enjoyment from their work. When people work effectively, when they get satisfaction from what they do and when they get good money for their work, people are pleased. Still there are people who work just for personal satisfaction, they get symbolic money for their work and feel great. These people are the happiest ones, they do not need much from this life, they are not tied with the material things, they do not need too much from this life, they get satisfaction from what they do (Stride, Wall, Catley, 2008). I do not know many people who work just for personal satisfaction and do not get the highest financial reward. These people managed to get the work for calling. This is the greatest satisfaction as people do what they can do and what they like to do. It is essential to work in the atmosphere of positive emotions as it directly affects human condition. People are happy when they do the work and when they are absolutely satisfied with its results (Seligman, 2002). My friend works as a teacher of drawing in the kindergarten. I know what she does there and how children love her and I understand that her work is like a calling. She has the working hours, but I see how she stays with children longer, how she works with them to help them understand what they do. It is really important for her to make sure that her children understand the material. She is ready t o work for free on Sundays and Mondays, she stays longer at work and I see how she comes earlier. She does not get additional money for working longer, her salary is not too big, but she does her job with love. Looking at the work she does, I see that my friend loves children and does all possible to teach them draw, she tries to impart the feeling to beauty, she makes them understand this world. The work of this person cannot be paid as she opens this world for people and she formats the consciousness of children.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Working with them my friend puts her soul in the educational process, she does not only helps children learn to draw, she learns them the main principles of life, she teaches them to be polite, loving, etc. I want to say that these people are the happiest ones. She has managed to find the job which satisfies her greatly. In conclusion, I wan t to say that I also want to have such a job. Money is not everything in this world, money can give us much, for example, a good and luxury house with a big bad, however, money cannot give us comfort and good and calm sleep. We can buy the most expensive medicine, but we are unable to buy health. We can make many plastic operations, but we cannot return our youth. Therefore, when working, people should think about personal satisfaction and the contribution they put in personal life rather than about greater financial award. Reference List Lewis, S. (2011). Positive psychology at work: How positive leadership and appreciative inquiry create inspiring organizations. New York: John Wiley Sons. Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York: Simon and Schuster. Stride, C., Wall, T. D., Catley, N. (2008). Measures of job satisfaction, organisational commitment, mental health and job related w ell-being: A benchmarking manual. New York: John Wiley Sons. This essay on Work’s Satisfaction and Psychology was written and submitted by user Jaeden C. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Famous Birthday Quotes From the Famous

Famous Birthday Quotes From the Famous When you are a kid, each birthday is a high point of the year- your own special day, with cake, ice cream, a party, and presents. And you are the absolute star for a day. As you get older, the milestones matter- ages 18, 21, 30, 40 and so on through the decades. As those numbers get bigger, some feel an intense need to ignore this most personal and important holiday, all your own, while others celebrate each one to the max. As Abraham Lincoln said, And in the end, its not the years in your life that count, its the life in your years. Make a toast to that. Excellent advice. What would it be like if Plato or Jonathan Swift wished you a happy birthday? Would it make you feel special? Here are some uplifting famous birthday quotes  from some famous people. The authors might not be around to give their wishes to you personally, but their heartfelt birthday greeting could make you feel on top of the world. Famous Birthday Quote William Butler Yeats: From our birthday, until we die, / Is but the winking of an eye.Plato: Old age: A great sense of calm and freedom. When the passions have relaxed their hold, you may have escaped, not from one master but from many.Pope John XXIII: Men are like wine. Some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.Jonathan Swift: May you live all the days of your life.No wise man ever wished to be younger.Tom Stoppard: Age is a high price to pay for maturity.  John P. Grier: You are only young once, but you can be immature for a lifetime.Titus Maccius Plautus: Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.Lucille Ball: The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.  J. P. Sears: Let us respect gray hairs, especially our own.George Burns: Nice to be here? At my age, its nice to be anywhere.Robert Browning: Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made.Mark Twain: Age is a case o f mind over matter. If you dont mind, it doesnt matter. Madeleine LEngle: The great thing about getting older is you dont lose all the other ages youve been.Decimus Magnus Ausonius: Let us never know what old age is. Let us know the happiness time brings, not count the years.William Shakespeare: With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.Lucy Larcom: Whatever with the past has gone, the best is always yet to come.  Charles Schulz: Just remember, once youre over the hill you begin to pick up speed.Brigitte Bardot: Every age can be enchanting, provided you live within it.Satchel Paige: How old would you be if you didnt know how old you are?Ethel Barrymore: You grow up the day you have the first real laugh at yourself.Bob Hope: You know you are getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.Bernard Baruch: We grow neither better nor worse as we get old, but more like ourselves.

The Penalty of Death by H.L. Mencken

The Penalty of Death by H.L. Mencken As shown in H.L. Mencken on the Writing Life, Mencken was an influential satirist as well as an editor, literary critic, and longtime journalist with The Baltimore Sun. As you read his arguments in favor of the death penalty, consider how (and why) Mencken injects humor into his discussion of a grim subject. His satirical use of the persuasive essay format uses irony and sarcasm to help make his point. It is similar in mode to Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal.  Satirical essays like Menckens and Swifts allow the authors to make serious points in humorous, entertaining ways. Teachers can use these essays to help students understand satire and persuasive essays.  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ The Penalty of Death by H.L. Mencken Of the arguments against capital punishment that issue from uplifters, two are commonly heard most often, to wit: That hanging a man (or frying him or gassing him) is a dreadful business, degrading to those who have to do it and revolting to those who have to witness it.That it is useless, for it does not deter others from the same crime. The first of these arguments, it seems to me, is plainly too weak to need serious refutation. All it says, in brief, is that the work of the hangman is unpleasant. Granted. But suppose it is? It may be quite necessary to society for all that. There are, indeed, many other jobs that are unpleasant, and yet no one thinks of abolishing them- that of the plumber, that of the soldier, that of the garbage-man, that of the priest hearing confessions, that of the sand-hog, and so on. Moreover, what evidence is there that any actual hangman complains of his work? I have heard none. On the contrary, I have known many who delighted in their ancient art, and practiced it proudly. In the second argument of the abolitionists there is rather more force, but even here, I believe, the ground under them is shaky. Their fundamental error consists in assuming that the whole aim of punishing criminals is to deter other (potential) criminalsthat we hang or electrocute A simply in order to so alarm B that he will not kill C. This, I believe, is an assumption which confuses a part with the whole. Deterrence, obviously, is one of the aims of punishment, but it is surely not the only one. On the contrary, there are at least half a dozen, and some are probably quite as important. At least one of them, practically considered, is more important. Commonly, it is described as revenge, but revenge is really not the word for it. I borrow a better term from the late Aristotle: katharsis. Katharsis, so used, means a salubrious discharge of emotions, a healthy letting off of steam. A school-boy, disliking his teacher, deposits a tack upon the pedagogical chair; the teacher jumps and the boy laughs. This is katharsis. What I contend is that one of the prime objects of all judicial punishments is to afford the same grateful relief (a) to the immediate victims of the criminal punished, and (b) to the general body of moral and timorous men. These persons, and particularly the first group, are concerned only indirectly with deterring other criminals. The thing they crave primarily is the satisfaction of seeing the criminal actually before them suffer as he made them suffer. What they want is the peace of mind that goes with the feeling that accounts are squared. Until they get that satisfaction they are in a state of emotional tension, and hence unhappy. The instant they get it they are comfortable. I do not argue that this yearning is noble; I simply argue that it is almost universal among human beings. In the face of injuries that are unimportant and can be borne without damage it may yield to higher impulses; that is to say, it may yield to what is called Christian charity. But when the injury is serious Christianity is adjourned, and even saints reach for their sidearms. It is plainly asking too much of human nature to expect it to conquer so natural an impulse. A keeps a store and has a bookkeeper, B. B steals $700, employs it in playing at dice or bingo, and is cleaned out. What is A to do? Let B go? If he does so he will be unable to sleep at night. The sense of injury, of injustice, of frustration, will haunt him like pruritus. So he turns B over to the police, and they hustle B to prison. Thereafter A can sleep. More, he has pleasant dreams. He pictures B chained to the wall of a dungeon a hundred feet underground, devoured by rats and scorpions. It is so agreeable that it makes him forget his $700. He has got his katharsis. The same thing precisely takes place on a larger scale when there is a crime which destroys a whole community’s sense of security. Every law-abiding citizen feels menaced and frustrated until the criminals have been struck downuntil the communal capacity to get even with them, and more than even has been dramatically demonstrated. Here, manifestly, the business of deterring others is no more than an afterthought. The main thing is to destroy the concrete scoundrels whose act has alarmed everyone and thus made everyone unhappy. Until they are brought to book that unhappiness continues; when the law has been executed upon them there is a sigh of relief. In other words, there is katharsis. I know of no public demand for the death penalty for ordinary crimes, even for ordinary homicides. Its infliction would shock all men of normal decency of feeling. But for crimes involving the deliberate and inexcusable taking of human life, by men openly defiant of all civilized orderfor such crimes it seems, to nine men out of ten, a just and proper punishment. Any lesser penalty leaves them feeling that the criminal has got the better of societythat he is free to add insult to injury by laughing. That feeling can be dissipated only by a recourse to katharsis, the invention of the aforesaid Aristotle. It is more effectively and economically achieved, as human nature now is, by wafting the criminal to realms of bliss. The real objection to capital punishment doesn’t lie against the actual extermination of the condemned, but against our brutal American habit of putting it off so long. After all, every one of us must die soon or late, and a murderer, it must be assumed, is one who makes that sad fact the cornerstone of his metaphysic. But it is one thing to die, and quite another thing to lie for long months and even years under the shadow of death. No sane man would choose such a finish. All of us, despite the Prayer Book, long for a swift and unexpected end. Unhappily, a murderer, under the irrational American system, is tortured for what, to him, must seem a whole series of eternities. For months on end, he sits in prison while his lawyers carry on their idiotic buffoonery with writs, injunctions, mandamuses, and appeals. In order to get his money (or that of his friends) they have to feed him with hope. Now and then, by the imbecility of a judge or some trick of juridic science, they actu ally justify it. But let us say that, his money all gone, they finally throw up their hands. Their client is now ready for the rope or the chair. But he must still wait for months before it fetches him. That wait, I believe, is horribly cruel. I have seen more than one man sitting in the death-house, and I don’t want to see any more. Worse, it is wholly useless. Why should he wait at all? Why not hang him the day after the last court dissipates his last hope? Why torture him as not even cannibals would torture their victims? The common answer is that he must have time to make his peace with God. But how long does that take? It may be accomplished, I believe, in two hours quite as comfortably as in two years. There are, indeed, no temporal limitations upon God. He could forgive a whole herd of murderers in a millionth of a second. More, it has been done. Source This version of The Penalty of Death originally appeared in Menckens Prejudices: Fifth Series (1926).