Sci/241 Supplements

Dietary Supplements Ashley Kaiser SCI/241 October 14, 2012 Diane Peffer Dietary Supplements Just like anything there are good things and bad things that can come along with it. Our bodies need certain things such as nutrients, water and even certain minerals to survive and be healthy. Although many times we lack getting the correct amounts so there are things that are made to help make sure we get the amount needed. One of these things that are made for us to help in our daily diet is dietary supplements.Many people think of dietary supplements as containing just one type of thing such as minerals, but in reality there are different dietary supplements that are meant for different things. A dietary supplement has a basic definition of dietary supplements are vitamins, minerals, herbs and other substances that are meant to better someone’s diet. A dietary supplement can come in many different shapes and sizes such as pills, powders, capsules and even liquids.Many of these dieta ry supplements can help a person’s health out greatly, such as a pregnant woman taking folic acid while help prevent some birth defects for their baby (MedlinePlus, 2012). When it comes to taking dietary supplements there are positive benefits for taking them. It is proven that if a person eats a well-balanced diet they should be able to get enough of the vitamins, minerals and such that they need, but If a person’s body is lacking taking a dietary supplement can make up for that. Dietary supplements are also used as a therapeutic measure toward certain health conditions or risk factors.One of the main supplements that are used to treat something is Iron; this is used to keep a person from getting anemia which is an iron deficiency (Perry, 2011). There are also risks that occur with using dietary supplements that range from different levels and even things. In the United States dietary supplements are not watched and regulated as strictly as drugs are. Although it is s tated that they may not sell unsafe products there are many product out there being sold as dietary supplements and they are not.Some of these products are weight loss products, muscle building products, and even sexual enhancers. It can also be dangerous if a person is taking too much of a supplement, such as vitamin B6 which can cause nerve damage if taken in big doses for a long time. A person should also always check with their doctors before taking any dietary supplements because it can react to medication a person is on or some should be avoided before surgery’s (Perry, 2011). Although there are many different regulations out there for medications there are only certain ones for dietary supplements.Dietary supplements are not watched very closely and are not made to register with the FDA. They are still required to tell the FDA what adverse effects occur with dietary supplements such as injuries and illnesses, and they are also made to make sure that the labels are not misleading and the product is safe. The best way to know if a dietary supplement is safe is by purchasing it under something called the good manufactured practices program. This program has strict and detailed guidelines for making products meant for any consumption by a person (Marks, 2011).There are many different dietary supplements out there on the market meant to aid in certain ailments. One supplement is called Nature’s own travel well ginger, which is meant to help manage motion sickness. Many travelers or people period get motion sickness from different things such as driving to even seasickness. However, this medication does not help with nausea and vomiting it also helps with digestion, abdominal or intestinal cramping, and even maintaining healthy digestive function.The dosages for this supplement is to take one pill a half hour before traveling and every two hours after as needed, but do not exceed more than three per day. It states that there are nothing showing of negatives to treat this ailment but if the issue persists that the person should contact their doctor (My Health Warehouse, 2012). As it has been proven there are plenty of positives about dietary supplements but one still needs to be wary about them.It may be something that will or can help you to lose weight but remember that dietary supplements do not need to be watched over by the FDA. In the past people did not have any of these dietary supplements to aid in anything. Exercise and a good and healthy diet can make a big difference in a person (Marks, 2011).References Marks, S. (2011). Government Regulations for Dietary Supplements. Retrieved from http://www. livestrong. com/article/469833-government-regulations-for-dietary-supplements/ MedlinePlus. 2012). Dietary Supplements. Retrieved from http://www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/dietarysupplements. html My Health Warehouse. (2012). Nature’s Own Travel Well Ginger 1000 30 Tablets. Retrieved from http://myhealthwarehouse. com. au/health-condition/health-condition-general-wellbeing/nature-s-own-travel-well-ginger1000. html Perry, M. (2011). Dietary Supplements 101: Definition, Benefits, Risks, and Regulations. Retrieved from http://www. builtlean. com/2011/11/10/dietary-supplements/

Explain how work practises in the commercial kitchen

Explain how work practices in the commercial kitchen are Important In prevention of food poisoning Prevention of food poisoning In a commercial kitchen Is extremely Important as you risk your business reputation and worst of all you may cause death. There are many ways food poisoning Is enameled through: Food Laws, Correct personal hygiene and correct environmental hygiene. Food Laws are extremely Important way to minimize food poisoning, as they are laws put Into place to ensure food Is fit for human consumption and that the business serving food apply hygiene and correct safety procedures.The food laws set In place for NEWS are Food Act 2003, NEWS food authorities and Food Regulations 2010. The National food laws are Food Safety Standard Code and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand. Not Complying with the laws can result in death/in]our of customers, fines, closure of business and name on the shame file. The laws are easily found on the internet, or at local councils. Complyin g with food is an important way to prevent food poising Correct personal hygiene is an important way to minimize and stop food poisoning; it is the maintenance of your own personal level of cleanliness.An employer of a food business should always talk to their employees about correct personal hygiene and what do if they notice another employee not using correct personal hygiene. There is many ways to obtain good personal hygiene and they include: Clean uniform, Hair contained, no jewelry, no nail polish/fake nails and washed hands and showered before arrival. Also washing hands correctly is an important prevention tool, you should always, rinse with hot water, use anti-bacterial soap, scrub finger nails, around and under fingers, rinse with hot water and dry with paper tool or blow dry. E of correct personal hygiene is an important way to prevent food poisoning. Correct environmental hygiene is an important way to minimize and stop food poisoning; it is the level of cleanliness in y our own work area, including equipment. Bad environmental hygiene can lead to food poisoning through: Unsafe garbage dispose, incorrect food handling, incorrect assigning/cleaning, presence of pest and vermin and incorrect storage of food.Food that are hot should always stay hot and cold foods should always stay cold, also make sure foods that are at high risk foods are cooked thoroughly. The use of color coded chopping boards Is a necessity to stop cross-contamination. Use of correct environmental hygiene In an Important way to prevent food poisoning. Prevention of food polling In a commercial kitchen Is an Important way to stop and enamels food poisoning.There are many ways food polling Is minimized through: Food laws, Correct personal hygiene and correct environmental hygiene. Explain how work practices in the commercial kitchen are important in prevention of food poisoning By illegitimately Explain how work practices in the commercial kitchen are important in prevention of DOD p oisoning Prevention of food poisoning in a commercial kitchen is extremely important as you risk your business reputation and worst of all you may cause death.

Analysis of Beyoncé’s Formation Video (Black Lives Matter)

Analysis of Beyoncà ©s Formation Video (Black Lives Matter) Beyoncà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Formation Video (Black Lives Matter) A Literary Analysis Research Paper Abstract Beyoncà © is one of the singers most recognized in the world and United States of America. She assumed a political role since some events aroused against Afro-American People, related with racism and police brutality. She created the musical video â€Å"Formation† to transmit a message to the people in favor of black lives matter. Keywords: Beyoncà ©, Video, Black Lives Matter, Illuminati, Creole, Alabama, Louisiana, Black Culture, Rapper Beyoncà © launched in 2016 her album â€Å"Lemonade†, including one controversial song, the number twelve in the list whose name is â€Å"Formation†. This unique song is accompanied with an award winning, well-produced and elaborated video, released on purpose, next to the birthday anniversary of Trayvon Martin and Sandra Bland, whose deaths are well remembered by Afro-American people as victims of brutal law enfor cement and racism. Beyoncà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s â€Å"Formation† messages are about many more things than simple racism and police brutality. This song delivers messages about feminism, Creole culture, Beyoncà © pride, Black pride, Black power, sexism, LGBT, Hurricane Katrina remembering’s, and Beyoncà © intention to dispel the rumor that she is an Illuminati. This video masterfully reveals to faces of Beyoncà © at the same time, as an Entertainer and an Activist. (Caramanica & Wortham, 2016). All â€Å"Formation† messages could be classified in major and minor messages. This writing only deals only with major messages, and minor will be ignored. The major messages are one of this two possibilities: direct and explicit messages, or in the other hand are ambiguous, subliminal or hidden messages. This visual and musical work apparently deliver inconsistent sentences with multiple meanings, but that aspect is irrelevant to the first time viewer, because the video is very rich on visuals and plays sticky rhythms that distracts him from the powerful hidden and subliminal messages. This video is holistically great, verified by its numerous well written articles and awards received. Under a rigorous and serious analysis, many messages emerge with multiple meanings. Specially two types of messages could be identified: first, direct or non-ambiguous messages, and second, ambiguous messages with multiple or hidden meanings. Any person, not necessarily an expert will be able to recognize that the lyrics and visuals of this video were semantically engineered by a linguist or carefully designed by an expert on semiotics. Some messages are direct and non-ambiguous like: The Hurricane Katrina aftermath, the Police signs, Beyoncà © pride, Black pride, Black power, Creole Culture, and the effort to dispel the rumor that Beyoncà © are an Illuminati. On the other hand, there are ambiguous messages delivered with multiple or hidden meanings about sexism and LGBT. Those messages appear to the viewer to have multiple interpretations, but the final meaning decision is left free to the particular audience, their will, their virginal minds or the predominant psyche of the individual. Every sentence has two interpretations: the vulgar and the non-vulgar, the formal and the non-formal, the explicit and the implicit message. One of the first message delivered is about the Hurricane Katrina, when the video starts with a living phrase of a killed rapper, whose name was Messy Mya. The voice of the rapper expresses: â€Å"What happened at the New Wil’ins?† (beyonceVEVO, 2016), then the video shows up many scenes related with New Orleans Katrina flooding’s. Along the video are Police signs delivered with an apparent neutral connotation, but at the end they suggests indirectly a judgement to the collectively subconscious mind, who has been extensively influenced by the media with the events on police brutality. Beyoncà © is laying at the top of a New Orleans white and blue car, with the word â€Å"police†, partially submerged in the flooding water, sitting squatting, while the back scene displays a neighborhood with flooded houses. Some police departments may considered that scene disrespectful. In other scene, after a sequence of images of New Orleans daily living, the observer can see the word â€Å"police† at the back of a man that resembles a guard. Once again, the video attracts the mind of the viewer to the word â€Å"police†. It is unforgettable the scene when the young boy is dancing with a New Orleans Style, in front of an anti-riot line of policemen and they rise their hands, after that the camera shows a graffiti in the wall with the legend â€Å"Stop Shooting Us† (beyonceVEVO, 2016), this could be interpreted in many ways, but one of them, is the triumph of the weak using non-violent methods, over those that represent the governmental power By the end of the video, the police car got totally submerged under the water, with Beyoncà © lying at the top, drowning, giving the impression that the police problem is a lose-to-lose situation. This is confirmed by some critic’s affirmations that Beyoncà © is not trying to defame the police. (Logan, 2016). Black power is depicted when Beyoncà © shows up in an elegant long black dress with a big black hat, agitating his hand with a piece of his long hair in circles surrounded by Afro-American guys, also dressed in etiquette black clothes, at the door of an antebellum house, the image evoked in the mind of the viewer is about the power and the way that wealthy and powerful black people lives. The Black power is also depicted in the scene that shows a lonely black cowboy with a golden necklace. An explicit message occurs when Beyoncà © try to defeat the rumors affirming that she is an illuminati, using a unique phrase: â€Å"Y’all haters corny with that Illumi nati mess† (beyonceVEVO, 2016). The video exhibits some dual interpretations with sentences like this: â€Å"Paparazzi, catch my fly and my cocky fresh† (beyonceVEVO, 2016). This message could be interpreted as a sexual reference or a pride reference. Also there are some explicit sexual references, like: â€Å"When he fuck me good, I take his ass to Red Lobster, cause I slay† (beyonceVEVO, 2016), and there are ambiguous, hidden or second meaning sexual references, when she said: â€Å"I got hot sauce in my bag, swag† (beyonceVEVO, 2016), this sentence has two simultaneous interpretations: first as a reference to Creole culture in which women carries hot sauce in their purses, or a female sexual reference. The controversial word â€Å"swag† may be used in this video as a synonym of promotional items, stylish confidence, or with a sexual orientation reference, also this word correspond to a very well-known LGBT word that means â€Å"secretly we a re gay†. But the most incredible fact is that the word â€Å"slay† is mentioned 49 times along the video, probably, with the meaning of â€Å"extraordinary† or â€Å"killer performance†, but let’s consider that is also a well-known urban sexual reference. Beyoncà © pride is evident when she expresses â€Å"I’m so reckless when I rock my Givenchy dress† (beyonceVEVO, 2016), or â€Å"I’m so possessive so I rock his Roc necklaces† (beyonceVEVO, 2016), or â€Å"Earned all this money, but they never take the country out me† (beyonceVEVO, 2016). It is unavoidable that The Black and Creole culture message earned a strong reference in this video, with direct and explicit sentences like this: â€Å"My daddy Alabama, momma Louisiana† (beyonceVEVO, 2016), â€Å"You mix that Negro with that Creole, make a Texas bama† (beyonceVEVO, 2016), â€Å"I like my baby hair with baby hair and afros† (beyonceVE VO, 2016), â€Å"I like my Negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils† (beyonceVEVO, 2016). There is a direct reference to feminism and women leadership when she says: â€Å"Okay, ladies, now let’s get in formation† (beyonceVEVO, 2016). In the second middle of the video there is a black man holding in his hand a newspaper named â€Å"The Truth†, whose cover story displays the phrase â€Å"More than a Dreamer† with the photo of Martin Luther King, suggesting that his Leadership was bigger than his famous discourse â€Å"I have a Dream†. The final conclusion is evident. Beyoncà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s â€Å"Formation† video direct and indirect messages are multiple and not only about simple racism and police brutality, but also was produced with the intention to reveal some paradoxical aspects of the southern living in the United States. This well acclaimed by the critics video was produced by professionals with the same intention as the â€Å"Bl ack Lives Matter† movement, probably become his Anthem. WORKS CITED [beyonceVEVO]. (2016, December 9). Beyoncà © – Formation. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDZJPJV__bQ. Caramanica, J. , Morris, J. and Wortham, J. (2016). Beyoncà © in ‘Formation’: Entertainer, Activist, Both?. New York Times, Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/arts/music/beyonce-formation-super-bowl-video.html?_r=0 This is a critical review of Beyoncà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Formation Video is made by three recognized critics, in the form of a dialog. They suggest that Beyoncà © is an activist and at the same time she is an entertainer. This source is reliable because it’s Currency (2016), Relevance (Critical review), Authority (New York Times, Best Recognized journalists), Accuracy (Content reliable and credible), and Purpose (the point of view appear objective and impartial). Logan, B. (2016). No, Beyoncà © is not bashing the police: H ere’s what her new song ‘Formation’ is really saying. Business Insider. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/the-messages-in-beyonces-formation-2016-2. This article corresponds to a review of Beyoncà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Formation Video and clears out to the audience that Beyoncà © is not ridiculing the police. In the opposite side this video is a call for peace and an altruist apology to the black culture in America. This source is reliable because it’s Currency (2016), Relevance (Critical review), Authority (Business Insider, Recognized journalists), Accuracy (Content reliable and credible), and Purpose (the point of view appear objective and impartial). Macpherson, A. (2016). Beyoncà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Formation review – a rallying cry that couldn’t be more timely, The Guardian, Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/feb/08/beyonce-formation-review-super-bowl-rallying-cry-black-consciousness This article correspond s to a review of Beyoncà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Formation Video that states that the world tour is timely deliveries. This source is reliable because it’s Currency (2016), Relevance (Critical review), Authority (The Guardian, Best Recognized journalists), Accuracy (Content reliable and credible), and Purpose (the point of view appear objective and impartial). Hoby, H. (2016) Beyoncà ©: Formation tour review – defiant, victorious and glorious, The Guardian, Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/28/beyonce-formation-tour-review-defiant-victorious-and-glorious. This article corresponds to a review of Beyoncà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Formation Video that states that this is the event of the year, masterfully produced. This source is reliable because it’s Currency (2016), Relevance (Critical review), Authority (The Guardian, Recognized journalists), Accuracy (Content reliable and credible

Recommendation Report on Water Provision Methods at St. Osyth Essay

Recommendation Report on Water Provision Methods at St. Osyth - Essay Example Alternative ways of providing water t-o people living in this area is necessary so as to eliminate problems associated with water scarcity such as starvation and dehydration. This report is a recommendation of the best ways to provide water in these arid areas for the people around there (Funamizu et al, 2008; p. 15). The participants in this investigation were drawn from different t sectors in order to understand how the geographical limits would be combated in order to deliver effective provision of water. Background information St. Osyth in the coastal strip of East Anglia in Britain was identified as one of the areas that require recommendations of efficient water supply. Off0icially, it is the driest area in Britain with an annual rainfall of 20.20 in (513mm). As such, two ways of water provisions were selected for analysis and comparison in order to identify if whether both can be alternatively applied or if only one can be adopted for success of solving water shortage and cris is that often characterized these regions. These investigation and its consequent recommendations follow a long list of studies that have been done in identifying the problems associated with water supply and sanitation and that also face the OECD countries. However, several problems have been identified with regard to water supply and sanitation in general. The major problem has always been the balance of cost and sustainability with regard to water supply infrastructure.... Water provision typology Decentralized versus Centralized infrastructure Decentralized water provision infrastructure describes a local source of water and is also treated locally. At St. Osyth, wells can be dug in large scale in order to provide water at the local levels for use. The area administration should take it upon itself to commission a couple of large wells that have the potentials of producing enough water that can sustain the demand. The harvest of grey water which describes the recycling of non-industrial waste water, majorly a product of the domestic usage can be put into good use. The water is harvest treated and stored to feed the demand when the levels of water in the wells go down. According to USEPA, this non-industrial water is undrinkable but can fit efficiently in flushing of toilets, farm irrigation and other necessary purposes apart from drinking. Decentralized water infrastructure also includes the reclamation of water. Reclaimed water refers to originally w aste water but which been subjected to different levels of treatment in order to remove certain water impurities and solid waste. This water can be used for fire suppression, dust control and most importantly irrigation. When highly advanced treatment methods are applied, the reclaimed water can be used for more potable use such discharging the water into another water body before being utilized in other potable systems (Dolnicar and Schafer, 2009; p. 83). Centralized Fresh water Rain and storm water, reclaimed and grey water may be described under decentralized infrastructure but can also be identified as a singly different way of providing water at St.Osyth. However, in this case the most

The Impact of Globalization on Strategic Management Term Paper

The Impact of Globalization on Strategic Management - Term Paper Example Since suppliers may not be relatively reliable in other areas where the producing firm is not available, there comes a time when globalization is the only option. Due to growth of both local and international markets, analysts sought to address and bring about strategic management and globalization of firms in view of attaining maximum customer satisfaction. Business Globalization Globalization of businesses is growing rapidly, leading to emergence of a new field of study called global strategic management. Whereas revolution of events over the past few years has a clear picture showing the impacts of global strategic management that includes the collapse of communism, the evolution of information, and Europe unification, the challenge of reaching the goals of complete realization of goals of global strategic management remains. Challenges remain due to slow adaptation of some business in different societies. However, as globalization of businesses stretches to different corners of t he world, many companies with great strategic management are living witnesses of the many benefits globalization can bring. Due to strategic management, globalized countries have been able to encounter and integrate business in a different culture with different local problems as well values that erupt in a different part of the world (Ramamurti & Hashai, 2011). Managers have come together and sought the different series of moves to use in different environment in order to win maximum clientele participation in the promotion of the company’s products. Importance of Globalization Globalization has brought about new insights of emerging systems of strategic management in diverse parts of the globe. This is witnessing the creation of force that characterizes integration of markets across the globe. Global strategic management has led to dissemination of advanced technology that is unifying the globe despite fear and relentlessness of modern technology. The need to have a great m ode of information technology across the globe is the driving force behind dissemination of technology that has brought the current global transition (Hitt, 2010). The world owes theses concerted efforts to managers who came with this great idea of diversifying business through information and technology. Due to globalization of strategic management, it is possible to diffuse information technology. As a result, a government is able to foster joint research and project development in other countries, corporations are able to sell sophisticated products in other nations, and individuals are able to exchange ideas and knowhow necessary for globalization (Hitt, 2010). With the help of strategic management, developed countries are uniting with the less developed nations across the globe to integrate or fuse technology towards modernization and advancements. Since technology requires strategized plans, globalization is making it possible for strategy managers to introduce technology in d ifferent and, subsequently, remote corners of the globe and making sure people use it accordingly. Globalization is acting as a foundation for construction of companies around the globe because of technology that is turning the world to a coherent business community (Ramamurti & Hashai, 2011). Therefore, globalization of technology is resulting in an enormous need for strategic management. Through globalization, strategic managers are now able to

Governor Rod Blagojevich Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Governor Rod Blagojevich - Case Study Example Illinois has a sordid history of corruption in politics, but the public has become more sensitive to the issues of illegal campaign contributions, inappropriate lobbying, and self-enrichment. Governor Blagojevich should have saved the legislature's time, the taxpayers' money, and the dignity of the office by resigning before he was impeached. In the face of escalating unemployment and an economic crisis, the Illinois legislature should have been working to resolve these important issues, rather than debating the issue of impeachment. Blagojevich owed it to the public to step down and allow the state government to attend to more important matters than his alleged bribery. The final vote of 59-0 came after four days of valuable government time, and indicates that there was never a possibility for the Governor to fight these charges in the legislature (Long and Pearson). The public would have been better served if the Governor would have accepted the inevitable outcome and resigned at an earlier date. The pending impeachment stagnated state government, while the public debt continued to escalate. The Illinois state debt is in excess of $114 billion and continues to go up every day (Surviving Illinois' Debt).

Tanning Beds Should Be Banned Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Tanning Beds Should Be Banned - Essay Example The tanning beds again are accessible as their popularity also enabled the growth of salons. Tanning bed salons are found in almost every area. The tanning service done indoors allows for a cosmetic tan in moderation and control of the skin form and a regulator that minimizes the danger of overexposure and sunburn. The affirmative psychological benefits of tanning can also be as a result of other factors saves for endorphins. The advantage alleged by the tanning industry with regards to the tanning indoors different from the outside tanning is the quantity of control the tanner bears. An often alleged advantage of non natural tanning is the increased production of Vitamin D. The utilization of Vitamin D offers a supplementary reliable, fair and clearly protected way to acquiring the desired Vitamin D (www.time.com, 1) Indoor tanning beds may perhaps or might not be valuable for the treatment of SAD. It is plausible that the advantage that numerous SAD patients experience is more as a result of tanning leaving a sense of good feeling in general, instead of treating the SAD itself because the tanning beds do not generate wavelength of light required for an efficient treatment of SAD. WHO on Tanning Beds and Cancer This article tackles the effects of tannin g bed as researched by The World Health Organization’s Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The article reports that tanning beds have hard harmful effects on populations as well cause cancer. WHO has declared tanning bed usage, a vital cancer danger. It reports that the organization ranked UV tanning beds to its highest cancer risk grouping, â€Å"carcinogenic to individuals." According to the article, the faction had previously categorized sun lamp and tanning bed application as potential â€Å"carcinogenic to humans.† It offers information connecting the indoor tanning to the lethal skin cancer melanoma which is ample and undeniable. A remarkable increase in melanoma, mostly among the youthfu l women, has been observed in recent years. Studies done imply that the past decade offers enough evidence to ascertain that, tanning bed use, has had a significant role, jointly with exposure to direct sun. A tan which excites many people who view it a sign of health are unaware of its dangers to the skin (Boyles, 1). The IARC faction met and reviewed the research on tanning beds as well as part played by ultraviolet light contact in skin cancer. They concluded that ultraviolet A (UVA), B (UVB) and ultraviolet C (UVC) radiations, all contribute in causing cancer, in animal forms. This is critical because as it contradicts the claims of the indoor tanning industry, which advocated that tanning beds were secure since the bulbs possessed more UVA radiation as compared to UVB. It is reported in the article that melanoma cases in the US have doubled between the periods of mid 1990s to 2004. The research argued that this rapid rise could not be elaborated by screening and prior detection of cancer. It was also reported that tanning before one reaches 30 years linked with an astounding 75% rise in melanoma hazard. It was also discovered that according to the article that young women suffering from cancer between 1973 and 2004 indicated tripling cases on melanoma (Boyles, 1). Reasons against tanning beds and their harm Although

IKEA Internationalization Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

IKEA Internationalization Strategy - Essay Example Ikea was not always an internationally recognized retailer even though in 1973 they become one of the best and major furnishing house in Scandinavia however, the founding members aimed to make the business grow globally. Since the foundation of the company in 1943, the founders have incorporated foolproof strategies to help in the growth of the business. IKEA’s founders were well aware of the fact that the implementation of business strategies have to be relevant to the consumer demands and might vary depending on the country they are launching the store in. The idea was not only to expand the business but also make sure that the companies come across as the iconic furnishing house that is highly consumer friendly. The makers were already sure about the quality of the products which was definitely world class, the major manufacturer of the products was done in Poland which proved to be 50% cheaper than it would have cost otherwise and taken full advantage of this, this extrava gant furniture company develop a very strong and fruitful strategy to expand the business. ... e expansion of the business was extremely fast-paced, IKEA came up with other consumer-friendly offers such as a lounge for food and wine within the store itself, this definitely helps the company to generate revenue faster internationally. However, it was in 1990 that IKEA realized that there is an immense requirement for some fruitful and modern business strategies since over the years many other furnishing business owners had stepped up the market giving IKEA a very tough competition. In order to make sure the company expansion took place rapidly the makes had almost forgotten to pay attention towards the products itself. They were selling most European styles furniture which seemed to be less preferred by American and Canadian. The furniture was simply not functional for them which was one of the biggest drawbacks. It was high time for IKEA to take some decisive action to help maintain the expansion of the company. IKEA decided to shift the tactics by redesigning the products acc ording to the demands of American consumers, pretty soon the company was able to regain its position in the marketplace by becoming the second largest furnishing house in the United States in 2008. IKEA International Business Strategy IKEA being a well established Sweden furnishing house aimed to grow the business internationally and it appears to be that IKEA took the biggest business risk by implementing the Global standardization strategy. Most business owners might not think of this strategy worthy of prior consideration but IKEA took a chance on it, their vital goal was not only to expand the business globally but make sure they earn the loyalty of the customers.  

Dissertation again Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7000 words

Dissertation again - Essay Example This study includes a content analysis based on the literature reviewed, and concludes that the global media in general and the American media in particular portrayed the Muslim world and Islam negatively; displaying a heightened fear, hatred, and hostility toward the said community. The terrorist attacks on the twin towers on September 11, 2001 changed, perhaps forever, the manner in which the world in general, and the Western world in particular perceived Islam and Muslims. As the media carried news about the terror attacks and the men behind it, the majority of whom were identified as Arabs from the Middle East, the perception of Muslims changed drastically. The sheer scale of the attack and extent of damage caused due to the attacks that deliberately targeted one of Americas greatest symbols of capitalism, power and world supremacy brought a relatively obscure facet of Islam to the forefront and in international spotlight. It now began to be perceived as highly violent, intolerant, and hostile to the western world. The cover story on News Week titled Muslim Rage, is a case in point. Islam has been depicted as a united group of people who share no similarities with the western world, and are intimidating, aggressive, intolerant and hostile to it. This image of Islam is drastically different to that of the educated, liberal, and secular West. The difference was apparent after the 9/11 attacks and the conflict inevitable. The events of September 11, only further highlighted it and resulted in differentiating the two and led to the battle of ‘them’ versus ‘us’ (Gunduz, 2007). The American Media increasingly began portraying Islam as intimidating and something to be feared, giving rise to Islamophobia. According to Seib (2004) news coverage of events especially those with political underpinnings thrives on events and

Analysis of Language, Rhetoric, and Politics in George Orwell’s 1984 Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Language, Rhetoric, and Politics in George Orwell’s 1984 Essay This statement coming from the novel entitled Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell contains different meanings depending on its context and rationality. The phrase â€Å"war is peace† can be define as a prediction or conclusion that peace is always a result of war. When there is war, there would be peace, which is not always true depends on the situation. The phrase â€Å"freedom is slavery† can be said that even if you are free, there are influences, consequences, and contributors that would continue the act of slavery and people would still suffer from these cases. Because when we say freedom, there would be a form of governance and democracy but as long as authority exists, slavery would still become part of freedom. The phrase â€Å"ignorance is strength† can be true sometimes. If you are ignorant, you are more capable of acting without losing anything because you do not know something. Ignorance can be said as an escape to do everything without knowing anything – just to be free. However, why do these phrases were stated if they could actually say what is true and correct without any vague, ambiguous, and doublespeak words or languages. Use of languages can be vague and ambiguous depending on the person who used it, on the context he is relating with, the people he is talking to and the meaning of those words itself. Most often, we use words that are light but critical in order to make our audience or the person we are talking with will be less burdened by the whole situation. We use fuzzy, confusing and light words to exemplify the meaning of what we need to say in accordance to their feelings. One of the practical or simplest examples is the words or languages in business. A corporation needs to reduce its employees due to company problems, but rather than using honest words – they utilized technical words in order to make their employees understand the situations (not the real reason) with no hard feelings or at least minimal objection coming from the employees. One company denied it was laying off 500 people. We dont characterize it as a layoff, said the corporate spin doctor. Were managing our staff resources. Sometimes you manage them up, and sometimes you manage them down. Firing workers is such big business that there are companies whose business is helping other companies fire workers by providing termination and outplacement consulting for corporations involved in reduction activities. But dont worry, if youre managed down, the Outplacement Consultant will help you with re-employment engineering. (Lutz, 1996) Because of these scenarios, people became clueless rather than being educated that are actually needed in every aspect of human life. In order to become productive, we need to be sophisticated by the fact that we need to understand things that are connected to our jobs, sociological interaction, or even personal maters. However, there are instances when these aspects of understanding and education could not be obtained because people behind those conflicts and problems are apprehended by their actions. Therefore, it is a form of stealing – stealing our learning, knowledge, and privilege to recognize sensitive matters. That is why people having these issues are playing-safe to acquire less refusal or conflicts in the future but the consequences will be more problematic. Then, a question will rise towards these issues as it become more active during these times. The question will be what are the grounds of these people to state ambiguous, vague, and doublespeak that are more conflicting rather than honest thoughts? I guess, the reason why these things happened is that people are inherently liar in different forms and grounds as also based on the article of Stephanie Ericsson entitled, The Ways We Lie. Why do they need to do these? It is because they need to compel people that there is no problem or everything is all right to extent of lying just to make things better. We lie. We all do. We minimize, we avoid confrontation, we spare people’s feelings, we conveniently forget, we keep secrets, we justify lying to the big- guy situations. (Ericsson, 1992) This statement shows that we all lie in different situations especially when it is needed or sometimes we used words that are less offensive to minimize the reaction of our audience or who we are talking with. In this case, as connected to the phrases above, use of doublespeak, vague, or ambiguous words are already part of our sociological interaction. We are doing this in order to make the people less objective to the whole situation. However, we cannot deny the fact that it will soon emerged into a conflicting issues that needs to be done in accordance to the law. Coming from the novel Nineteen Eighty-four by Orwell the statement â€Å"robbing its citizens of their capacity for critical thought and reasonable, authentic self-expression† is true not only from the past but also in the present and will still exists in the future. It is a fear we too, in our modern society, must share, or argue that his fear is exaggerated or even unfounded. Because of the cases that were explained above, people could not be able to express themselves because hey are becoming ignorant to what is true and right. I can say that it is better to recognize the truth despite of the failure that it may cause rather than doing some actions and hoping that there would be a brighter future but actually, there would be no solution to the problem is more miserable. Our political, social, economic, and even personal aspects of living are full of doublespeak words and languages. This is because we are not always open to reality and truth for we do not want to be rejected, obligated, and failure. Most often, we keep on hiding from our blankets to escape from the certainty of everything. That is why, in order to minimize these cases, people are already doing lesser projections to reduce absurd feelings that may cause tension and despair. However, does political aspect needs these cases to magnify the burdens of the future. Logically, we know that political cases and aspects should be honest when it comes to its decision, preferences, and problems because its citizens are the primary affected from all of it. Nevertheless, this is not the situation today. There are some situations or maybe almost problematic situations that are hidden from the knowledge of the people for it will bring terrible conflict to the country. If the government could not control the situation and people knew about it, the president or the leader will explain but it will use doublespeak words or languages to make the people more comfortable and to lessen their fright, but up to what extent? Things like these happened after the September 11, 2001 attack in New York. The president claim that the country is already safe from terror attacks but he did not state any problem after the terror attack. He used doublespeak words to make its people less frightened from the whole situation but he did not say anything about the defenseless cases and problem within the white house that the terrorists already warned them but they did not pay attention to it. In this case, they did not want to be blamed so they made some segues and focused on the future having no further justifications of the past and the present. In our time, it is broadly true that political writing is bad writing. Where it is not true, it will generally be found that the writer is some kind of rebel, expressing his private opinions and not a party line. Orthodoxy, of whatever color, seems to demand a lifeless, imitative style. The political dialects to be found in pamphlets, leading articles, manifestoes, White papers and the speeches of undersecretaries do, of course, vary from party to party, but they are all alike in that one almost never finds in them a fresh, vivid, homemade turn of speech. As a whole, Orwell’s novel is a revelation of the past situations that still exists today. Language is not a problem but the people who used the language based on their intentions and desire. If they choose not to be obligated and responsible to the problem, they will use doublespeak words, but if we think of it, who will be responsible for all of those problems if no one is honest about everything? Is it the future generation, or our ancestors?

Information Systems Management Pepsico Inc

Information Systems Management Pepsico Inc There are hardly a few people in the world who are unfamiliar with the word Pepsi. Words such as cola or soda have almost become synonymous with it. Pepsi is arguably the most famous soft-drink consumed by billions all over the world. And the company responsible behind this success is one of the world market giants; PEPSICO, Inc. According to Andreas Penzkofer (2007), the company came into existence in 1965, when the Pepsi-cola company acquired the snack food company called Frito-Lay. The company has started to expand itself overseas since the nineties. Pepsico Incorporated is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation. Its headquarters are based in Purchase, New York. It is a company which has marketing and manufacturing interests in a wide variety of products ranging from carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, salty, sweet and cereal based snacks, juices etcetera. Some of the major brands owned by the company are   Quaker Oats,  Gatorade,  Frito-Lay,  Tropicana,  Copella,  Mountain Dew, and  7 Up. According to Lawrence Dietz (1973), the perspective of the company is to increase the value of the share-holders investment. The company plans to do this by achieving growth in sales, controlling the costs and intelligent investment of resources. The company believes that their commercial success is dependent upon offering good quality and value to their consumers and customers, making available products that are safe, wholesome, and economically efficient while providing fair returns on investments to their investors by maintaining high levels of integrity. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND CULTURE Pepsico operates in all the six major continents of the world namely Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, South America and Europe. Their operations are further broken down amongst countries in these continents. The inter-organisation structure of the company has many sub-divisions. Their products are produced and bottled at the manufacturing plant, delivered to the suppliers by the distributors, the suppliers sell it to the retailers and finally to the consumers. These supply-chains in different countries are controlled by one main headquarter. According to Andreas Penzkofer (2007), the aim of the company is to manage supply ingredients and maintain purified water supply to ensure quality and availability to produce the products. Ensure availability of the best technology and quick storage and inventory processes to maintain freshness and quality. Determine the demand by past sales and future marketing. Also ensure proper packaging, maintain quick local distribution and meet any new demands or competition with products and consumer needs. Andreas Penzkofer (2007), also states that the companys mission is to become the worlds best consumer products company. Its aim is to improve on the financial returns to the investors as it provides opportunities of growth and development to its employees. It is also concerned about preserving the environment and has designed a separate set of goals especially in its favour. This can be observed from the replacement of can holders with plastic ring connectors which snap when the cans are removed; thereby reducing the risk of entanglement for wildlife. Pepsico also aims at diversifying its workforce so as to have a better understanding of different cultures. This has led the company to win many awards as well as being ranked at the 9th position by the fortune magazine as being the best company for minorities. MARKET SHARE According to Lawrence Dietz (1973), Pepsico, Inc. is one of the leading consumer product companies in the world having many of the worlds most important and valuable trademarks. It is the second largest soft-drink business having a 21 percent share of the carbonated soft-drink market in the world and 29 percent in the United States. Three of its major soft-drink brands Pepsi-cola, Mountain Dew and Diet Pepsi are amongst the top-ten soft-drinks in the U.S. market. The company has also spread itself substantially in the world snacks market by introducing a company division known as Frito-Lay. It has a 40 percent world market share in salty snacks and 56 percent in the United States. It is nine times the size of its closest competitor in the U.S. and sells nine of the top-ten snack chip brands in the supermarket channel some of which include lays, Doritos, ruffles and Chee-tos. Frito-Lay is responsible for generating more than 60 percent of Pepsicos net-sales and more than two-thirds of the parent companys operating profits. The company also has a third division called Tropicana Products, Inc., which is the world leader in juice sales and occupies a strong 41 percent of the U.S. chilled orange juice market. On a global scale, Pepsico owns 16 brands that generate more than 500 million dollars in sales each year, ten of which are responsible for generating more than 1 billion dollars annually. Pepsico acquires around 35 percent of its retail sales outside the United States, with Pepsi-cola brands marketed in about 160 countries, Frito-Lay brands marketed in more than 40 and Tropicana brands in around 50 countries. BUSINESS MODEL According to Richard Goodman (2009), Pepsico has managed to device a successful business model which stresses importance on three key factors. Structural and operational advantages, successfully pilot the company through uncertain times and making strategic investments for future growth. Pepsico aims at meeting challenges and investing for the future by providing value to customers and consumers, having an excellent market strategy, investing in research and development and innovation. By achieving these factors, the company will be able to retain customers. The company also aims at effectively managing price gaps, bringing in global advances in beverage pack sizes, activating the consumer by holding contests, working out capital benefits for the customers as well as the consumers, control prices of products around the world market, appealing to local tastes, adapting to local customs thereby achieving healthy and consistent performance. GLOBAL VISIBILITY The global visibility of Pepsico can be observed from the sheer number of countries its products are consumed in. From the market share section above, it can be seen that Pepsi-cola brands are marketed in 160 countries, Frito-Lay brands marketed in more than 40 and Tropicana brands in around 50 countries. Although Pepsico is an American Multinational corporation, India and Europe are of two of its biggest markets outside of the United States. BUSINESS ALLIANCES Pepsico has formed partnerships with many products it does not own but in order to distribute and market them with its own products. Some of these products include, Starbucks iced coffee, Lipton original iced tea, Ben and Jerrys milkshake etcetera. Also some of Pepsicos business alliances include Pepsico Quaker Chewy teaming up with Afterschool Alliance and Miranda Cosgrove to Call Attention to the Importance of Afterschool Programs, Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages and Ocean Spray Strategic Alliance to Include Additional Juice and Juice Drinks, Oxford Health  Alliance  and PepsiCo Foundation implemented Community Interventions etcetera. (Source: www.pepsico.com, date taken: 08/08/2010) COMPETITIOR ANALYSIS DIRECT COMPETITIORS The Coca-Cola Company As we all know, Coca-cola or Coke as it is popularly known, and Pepsi have been competing with each other since the longest possible times. Even as kids, we used to have advertisements on television showing us to choose one over the other. As the years pass by and as the companies seem to expand themselves more and more, their rivalry to attain market dominance seems to grow further more. According to Pat Watters (1978), the Coca-Cola Company is basically a non-alcoholic beverage producing company. It is also responsible for manufacturing, marketing and distributing concentrates and syrups which are used to produce these beverages. The Coca-Cola Company has their beverages sold in more than 200 countries worldwide. Their headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia. The company owns more than 500 brands of non-alcoholic beverages which primarily include sparkling beverages. But they also manufacture still beverages like enhanced waters, juices and juice drinks, ready-to-drink teas and coffees, and energy and sports drinks. Royal Crown Company, Inc The Royal-Crown Company, Inc is a 50 billion dollar company which manufactures and sells concentrates that are used in the production of soft-drinks. These soft-drinks are then sold locally and internationally to independent licensed bottlers. RC cola is the companys leading brand and is ranked as the third largest cola brands after Pepsi and Coke. Some of the other brands which the company owns are Diet RC Cola, Diet Rite Cola, Lockjaw, Upper 10 and kick. (Source: www.rccola.com, Date accessed: 09/08/2010) COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS GRID SWOT Analysis for PepsiCo: SWOT Analysis signifies the evaluation of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats possessed and faced by a particular company, organization or institution. According to Pahl, Richter (2009), SWOT Analysis is beneficial and a crucial tool for decision-making and figuring dependencies between a company and its environment since subjective opinions are replaced by proactive and constructive thinking. The SWOT Analysis for PepsiCo is as follows: 3.1. Strengths: PepsiCo has a strong brand reputation in the global market due to its presence of over 120 years. It has had a significantly increasing market share over the years due to the launch of new products like Pepsi Max and other ideas. (Bachmeier, 2009) Its place has been determined and positioned strongly with regard to profits, sales and customer loyalty due to its creativity and effectiveness. PepsiCo boasts of a strong product line with a variety and diverse range of products. It faces no cash deficit and hence has huge advertising budgets to strengthen its market position. 3.2. Weaknesses: PepsiCo depends largely on the US market for its revenues. According to Plunkett (2009), around 29% of PepsiCos total net revenue is derived only from PepsiCo Beverages North America and its total market revenue dependent on US alone exceeds 50%. This may prove to be detrimental in the constantly changing economic conditions. Some of the PepsiCo products lack uniformity in their brand names. Experts have cited health hazards in the consumption of PepsiCo products due to high fat and sugar contents. The image of PepsiCo has been at stake due to incidents like the exploding of Pepsi cans in 2007 followed by salmonella contamination in Pepsicos product Aunt Jemima pancake and waffle mix. (Clark, 2008) 3.3. Opportunities: PepsiCo has been working to broaden its product base substantially. In 2005, it bought General Mills stake of the largest European snack food firm Snack Ventures Europe. In addition, PepsiCo acquired the German juice maker Punica Getraenke. (Penzkofer, 2007) PepsiCo operates through its four subsidiaries PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA), PepsiCo International (PI), Quaker Foods North America (QFNA) and Frito-Lay North America (FLNA) in almost 200 countries. (Penzkofer, 2007) With 153,000 employees, the company had total net revenue of $ 29,261 million in 2005 and was ranked at place 62 of the Fortune 500 Ranking of the largest companies in the United States. (Norton, Porter, 2010) PepsiCo has gradually been developing noncarbonated drinks and healthy products, attracting more customers. 3.4. Threats: PepsiCo faces considerable threats due to strong competitors like The Coca-Cola Company, Nestle, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group etcetera. Incidents like those of contaminations and pesticide residues found in PepsiCo products have caused substantial brand damage to the company, especially in large emerging markets like India. PepsiCo has been in a vulnerable position in the recent past due to labour problems. To illustrate, there was a month long strike at Frito-Lay India, a part of PepsiCo India Holdings Limited, beginning in August 2008 due to a dispute between the workers union and the company management. (Source: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/strike-at-pepsis-channo-plant-ends/363190/ , Date accessed: 12.08.2010) Stagnancy acts as a threat for the company since the food and beverages industry has reached its maturity and there are hardly any avenues that remain unexplored. PROPOSED BUSINESS, INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES FOR THE FUTURE Business Strategy For future growth opportunities and profits, PepsiCo should try to carry out their business by introducing healthier products in the market. The company can achieve this by Reducing the calories in the food products so that the consumption can be a healthy one. The company can manipulate the market to control what people are eating and drinking. Healthy options should be made available to all The company should undergo a change from inside and transform their reputation as a manufacturer of healthy products which essentially gives nutritional value. In the years to come, the company should engage its business in providing fruits, vegetables and grains. The company as a whole should respond to the changing consumer needs. Using the latest science and encouraging positive nutrition is the need of the hour as the masses become health conscious day by day. The company needs to be reformulating itself and become innovative by making use of the next generation technology. The company can further merge itself with healthier brands of products. (Source: www.Pepsico.com, Date accessed: 10/08/2010) Information Systems and Information Technology Strategy Buckingham et al. (1987), defines an information system to be a system that can assemble, store, process and deliver information relevant to an organisation. This is done in a way that the information is available and useful to anyone who wants to use it, including managers, staff, clients and citizens. An information system is a human activity system which may or may not involve the use of computer systems. A good information system strategy according to Guy Fitzgerald (2002), for a huge consumer food products and beverages company like PepsiCo to carry out its business for future growth and profits would be: To precisely document the requirements necessary for a good information system: Here, the users should be able to specify their system requirements or the system developers should be able to investigate and analyse user requirements so that the information system will meet the needs of the users. Efficiently monitor the progress by providing an orderly method of development: For a huge company like PepsiCo, controlling its large-scale projects is not easy. If the projects fail to meet the deadline, they can have serious cost and other repercussions for the company. Providing check-points and specific stages should make sure that the project planning procedures are applied effectively. Provision for the companys information system should have a suitable time limit and an acceptable cost. The documentation of the system should be properly preserved and also the system should be easy to maintain: This is extremely important as in a company like Pepsico, modifications to the information systems is inevitable due to the amount of changes taking place in the company and its environment. The system should be able to make the best use of the techniques and tools that are already available. The system should be liked by the people who are affected with the system such as the company stakeholders. The stake holders of the company may include clients, managers, auditors and users. If the system is liked by them, it is most likely to be used and bring success to the company. A successful information system should also make effective use of information technology by using the available tools and techniques. An effective use of information technology would involve: All staff having standard desktop tools. They should have access to email, Internet and Intranet. IT infrastructure should be continuously upgraded as allowed by the companys resources and budget. Systems and networks at the companys head-quarters and in the field should be standardised and centrally managed. A centralised team should provide IT assistance to staff and a wide range of IT training. The company should make use ERP systems at the head-quarters. For information and knowledge management, the company should implement document management system. Making use of such business, information system and information technology strategies would help the company stay competitive in the market in the future. CONCLUSION

Climate Change and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Essay -- greenhouse gases, clim

Climate change or colloquially known as global warming, now pose a new threat to civilization as the levels of greenhouse gases (GHG) are soaring to new levels. The most significant contributor to greenhouse gasses would be Carbon Dioxide (Co2). The levels of Carbon Dioxide (Co2) gas have risen to levels civilization has not seen before. As such, the effects of these levels are not known to civilization as data gathered from the ice cores drilled in the Antarctica only shows data up to 650,000 years ago. However we can conclude that present CO2 concentrations are higher compared to any time in the last 650,000 years (IPCC 2007). Current carbon dioxide concentrations are hovering around 389 parts per million (ppm) as of September 2011, compared to the pre-industrialized times (1000- 1750) of 280 ppm (Co2Now). The rate of increase of the levels of carbon dioxide is about 1.9ppm a year (IPCC 2007) .The increase in carbon dioxide levels since the industrial revolution is mainly due to CO 2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil. Therefore if no action is to be taken, the levels of carbon dioxide would soar up higher and the effects to civilization could be devastating. To see what extend Australia is in, the following mentions Australia’s position in carbon emissions. Australia, which is a developed nation and a member of the OECD, currently holds the record for being the nation with the highest carbon dioxide emissions per capita among other developed nations (Garnaut 2011). According to Garnaut , Australia emits 26.7 tonnes of greenhouse gasses per-person per year compared to other developing nations such as Luxembourg, United states, Canada and Ireland which emits 26.1, 23.1, 20.6 and 16.5 tonnes respe... ...DP. So in reality, we can see a total net increase in GDP after the implementation of the carbon tax. It is said that the plan will raise around $27.3 billion over the first four years and will cost $31.6 billion (Oliver 2011). This in addition to the over compensated benefit payments to lower income families would stimulate the economy and this is why we see no reason to change our GDP growth forecasts at this stage compared to pre-carbon tax introduction. In conclusion, it is economically viable and necessary for the carbon tax to be implemented, which would reduce carbon emissions in Australia. The Australian public would not be greatly affected by the rising cost. Over time, with a price being put on carbon, investment in clean energy and growth in cleaner industries will likely offset reduced investment and slower growth in dirty energy and sectors. â€Æ'

Fossil Fuels: Are they Worth the Cost? :: Environmental Issues Energy Resources Essays

Fossil Fuels: Are they Worth the Cost? Fossil fuels are a very important part of our society today. Natural gas, Coal, and oil are the world’s primary and most important source of energy. â€Å"90% of the energy we use in this country [USA] comes from fossil fuels.† (Source 3) Unfortunately, there are costs of using these fossil fuels to run our society. Some costs are obvious such as the cost of labor, equipment and supplies needed to extract, refine and transport the fossil fuels. These costs are taken care of in electricity bills, in the price of gasoline for automobiles and other governmental and company funding. There are many other costs that are less obvious. These costs are the effects fossil fuels have on our environment and on human health. Air pollution caused by the burning of coal and oil as well as dust in mines is causing problems for human health. The environment is suffering from acid rain, global warming and water and air pollution. Many times, the costs go unpaid for a nd unnoticed. It is imperative that we as a society take responsibility and strive to reduce the negative effects of fossil fuels on our environment. The global warming is a major environmental issue that is caused by the use of fossil fuels. When fossil fuels are burned, carbon dioxide is emitted. It captures heat in the earth’s atmosphere. What is happening is that the more carbon dioxide emitted the warmer the earth’s climate is getting. I know some may be thinking that warm weather is great! Keep the global warming and the carbon dioxide coming! Global warming, however, is seriously dangerous for our society, economy, and our environment. Global warming can cause coastal cities to go under water due to a rise in sea level because of melting glaciers. Agriculture will be greatly affected as well. If temperatures keep rising, farmers will have to go through more extreme droughts. Global warming is caused by the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and has many adverse effects on the environment, our societies, and our economies. Another cost of fossil fuels is air pollution.

Shakespeares World Essay -- essays research papers

Shakespeare's World Almost every nation on earth reads, studies and performs the works of William Shakespeare. No writer of any country, nor any age, has ever enjoyed such universal popularity. Neither has any writer been so praised. As William Hazlitt observed, "The most striking peculiarity of Shakespeare's mind was it's generic quality, its power of communication with all other minds." It is perhaps this quality that has earned Shakespeare the supreme accolade, that of lending his name to an era. Other than a monarch or an emperor, few can boast that a time or place is so exclusively theirs. As we talk about Napoleonic Europe or Victorian England, so we speak of Shakespearean London or the Age of Shakespeare. No other artist, let alone writer, has had their name inscribed on such a towering edifice. "Thou in our wonder and astonishment, hast built thyself a long-live monument," wrote Milton, in praise of Shakespeare. Shakespeare is by far and without doubt the most popular and successful writer of all time. But what of the man himself? Who was William Shakespeare? The life of William Shakespeare is shrouded in mystery. There is no record of him receiving an education, buying a book or writing a single letter, and no original manuscript of a Shakespeare play survives. There is no direct record of his conversations, and no one in his home town seems to have known that he was a successful playwright while he was alive. There is not even a contemporary portrait to reveal his true appearance. Although a number of mentions of William Shakespeare the poet-dramatist appear on record during the 1590's and early 1600's, they comment only briefly on his writings, telling us nothing about the man. Less is known about Shakespeare than almost any other playwright of his time. The orthodox version of William Shakespeare's life is probably the most widely accepted Shakespeare legend of them all. According to it, he was born on 23 April 1564, in an upstairs room of a Stratford house in Warwickshire. He was born to John and Mary Shakespeare, and was baptized Gulielmus filius Johannes Shakspere (William, son of John Shakespeare) three days later. His father ran a successful glove making business on Henley Street. In 1565, his father ... ...ow position could hope to rise to a high position while someone in a high position could expect to fall to a low position. All these would be brought about by a change in fate or fortune. Some people believed that the people rose to a higher position during the spring and the summer, while they sank to a lower position during the autumn and the winter. However, it was later noticed that such beliefs were very unpredictable. Like the belief in the zodiac, the Wheel of Fortune opposed the theory that fate was controlled by man. Instead, fate was believed to be controlled by the stars. This is why in the opening chorus of Romeo and Juliet, both of them are described as "†¦ star crossed lovers†¦" This suggests that the stars had already destined them to love and then to die. Shakespeare is arguably the best writer of all time, yet it is interesting to know that so little is known about him. Perhaps no-one will ever know who the real William Shakespeare was. Only one thing is certain: Shakespeare may be dead, but his great works never cease to astound us and it makes us wonder if any person will ever come to rival the maestro of English Literature.

Case Study Diversity at Pepsi Co

MGT 3302 Case #1-Diversity at PepsiCo 1. If I were just appointed the HR manager at PepsiCo, I would implement several mandatory training sessions for the employees and board members. In order for a company to integrate a diversified culture into their organization, every single member of the company has to be involved. Several key components that would be introduced would be legal awareness, cultural awareness, and sensitivity training. Legal awareness would be a very important training component due to the overall impact it would have for the organization.This particular component deals with the legal aspect of discriminating; also what you should and should not do when it comes to dealing with people of different backgrounds. If the legal awareness training is successful, this could save the company a lot of hardship and money by preventing discrimination lawsuits. Cultural awareness would be another training component that I would implement since learning about the different cust oms is essential to understand that culture.Foreign and unknown circumstances can sometimes become awkward; this training would help the organization create a comfortable work environment. Sensitivity training would probably go hand in hand with cultural awareness, according to Mathis and Jackson (2011), â€Å"the aim here is to â€Å"sensitize† people to the differences among them and how their words and behaviors are seen by others† (p. 101). The purpose of the training would be to build empathy amongst the members of the organization towards one another. . The â€Å"diversity management approach† that PepsiCo currently utilizes is â€Å"Solve Diversity Issues and Create an Inclusive Culture†. According to Mathis and Jackson (2011), â€Å"PepsiCo also has regular diversity celebrations†¦ this inclusion of diversity issues throughout the company contributes to PepsiCo’s success with employees, managers, and customers† (p. 110). I belie ve that diversity has played a major role in PepsiCo’s financial success, the numbers are concrete evidence of it. 3.The challenges and opportunities that the new CEO will face given her gender and ethnicity would be many 4. The term â€Å"internalize† diversity refers to analyzing diversity approach beyond the financial part or the organizations. When an executive talks about the benefits of integrating diversity into their organization they should also include non-financial benefits. As the case points out, Steve Reinemund did not know how to respond when asked, how would the diversity approach be viewed if it didn’t prove to be beneficial for business.After analyzing the question and consulting it with other people , he said â€Å"and it finally occurred to me that I had spent three years talking about the business case for diversity -â€Å"the head-while never speaking about ‘the heart’† ( Thomas and Creary,2009, p. 8 ). Internalizing di versity is very important to the company’s integrity since customers will be able to see the true values and intentions of the company. Customers will be able to see that they truly want to diversify their organization for reasons beyond the financial gain.

Comparison of the Ethical Theories of Kant, Bentham and Mill

This paper intends to look into the theory of ethics of Immanuel Kant, Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill and compare them from one another. In addition to that, it also aims to mention the uncertainty which have arisen as I tackled these theories.Immanuel Kant’s Theory of Ethics: FormalismAccording to Immanuel Kant’s Theory of Ethics, a deed is right if the acts involved in the progression are also right (Thomson Gale, 2008, n.p.). Simply put, â€Å"the end is only just if the means are as well† (Thomson Gale, 2008, n.p.).Jeremy Bentham’s Theory of Ethics: Ethical UniversalismAccording to Jeremy Bentham, his theory of ethics otherwise known as â€Å"ethical or moral universalism† is instituted upon â€Å"utility† which he categorically defines as â€Å"that property in any object, whereby it ends to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness or to prevent the happening of mischief, pain, evil, or unhappiness to the party whose i nterest is considered† (Bentham, 1948, p. 126). In turn, the aforesaid concept of â€Å"universalism† is established by looking into the following hypotheses/assertions/principles:1)Jeremy Bentham asserts that the following terminologies: â€Å"a) pleasure; b) happiness; c) goodness; d) benefit; e) advantage; 5) etcetera† are of the same value so to speak (Germino, 1972, pp. 235 – 236);2)Jeremy Bentham reiterates that the following terminologies: â€Å"a) pleasure; b) happiness; c) goodness; d) benefit; e) advantage; 5) etcetera† are actually gauged, thus, calculable and irrefutable as well (Germino, 1972, pp. 235 – 236);3)Jeremy Bentham argues that an individual’s act, as well as, the actions of the government ought to be founded or rooted upon the imperative which actually takes complete advantage of gratification and dwindles pain (Germino, 1972, pp. 235 – 236); and that4)Finally, â€Å"it is the greatest happiness of the gr eatest number that is the measure of right and wrong of human action in every situation, and in particular when governmental action is called for† (Germino, 1972, pp. 235 – 236).John Stuart Mill’s Theory of Ethics: Utilitarianismâ€Å"Utilitarianism†, according to John Stuart Mill, is where morals/ethics/good deeds are based/founded/instituted upon (Ebenstein & Ebenstein, 1991, p. 580). The reason behind this claim is that, deeds are only correct or proper if and only if the at the end of it happiness is achieved/felt and wrong or improper if and only if at the closing stage of the deed wretchedness   is reached (Ebenstein & Ebenstein, 1991, p. 580).That being said, happiness for John Stuart Mill is equivalent to the absence of unhappiness or any kind of negative emotion (Germino, 1972, p. 240). While, wretchedness for him, is when the occurrence of pain/ache/hurt is present at the finish of a certain deed (Germino 1972, p. 240).ComparisonImmanuel Kantâ €™s theory of ethics is known as formalism, while that of Jeremy Bentham’s is known as ethical universalism, and that of John Stuart Mill is that of Utilitarianism which differ from each other a little since Kant reiterates that an act is good only if the process utilized to reach that is ethical as well; while Bentham is based on the number of people going to benefit happiness from; on the other hand, Mill states that an act is right if one ends up being happy (Germino, 1972, p. 240).Confusion/Uncertainty which have ArisenThere is a certain concept that is a little confusing, for instance, why is it that the number of population achieving happiness is important to Bentham when it should be enough that an individual becomes happy due to an ethical act being carried out (Germino, 1972, p. 240)? It gets confusing because instead of focusing on the quality of happiness, the ethical theories were focused on the quantity (Germino, 1972, p. 240).ReferencesEbenstein, W. and Eben stein, A. (1991). Great Political Thinkers: Plato to the President.Forth Worth: Harcourt BraceGermino, D. (1972). Machiavelli to Marx: Modern Western Political Thought. Chicago:University of Chicago Press:

Assess the Importance of Ideology in the Formulation of Nazi Foreign Policy to 1939

From Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor on January 30 1933 to the beginning of WWII on Sept 3 1939, the Nazi state pursued an aggressive foreign policy that contributed largely to the outbreak of war. This foreign policy was largely reflective of the goals Hitler had set out in his 1924 autobiography â€Å"Mein Kampf†, particularly Germany’s easterly moving aggressions. However, although Nazi ideology played a dominant role in structuring foreign policy to 1939, it was also greatly influenced by the response of the Allies to aggressions and therefore Hitler’s perception of which foreign policies could be most successful.Hence, whilst Nazi ideology surmises the ultimate goals of Nazi foreign policy to 1939, the role of events from 1933-1939 played a significant detail in determining Germany’s actions. Hitler’s understanding of politics and race can be summed up in â€Å"Weltanschauung† (world view), as described in Mein Kampf. Written i n 1924 after Hitler had been arrested for an attempted coup, the autobiography deals with the issues plaguing Germany at the time, including the instability of the Weimar Republic and the problem of WWI reparation payments as set out in the 1919 Treaty of Versailles.Hitler, as a member of nationalist Nazi party, despised democracy, and believed that it undermined Germany’s success. Further, Hitler gave validity to the â€Å"stabbing in the back† myth, claiming that WWI’s loss had been unnecessary, and had been caused as a result of the â€Å"scheming† Jewish population. Using these understandings, Hitler believed that should Germany be expanded into a grossdeutschland by creating Lebensraum (living room) in the resource-rich East, wherein the superior Aryan race could reside.All other races, particularly Slavs & Jews, were denoted as racially inferior, and were intended by Hitler to be used as slaves. Throughout Mein Kampf, Hitler euphorically and openly describes his war intentions for Germany, in quotes such as â€Å"Any alliance whose purpose is not the intention to wage war is useless†. However, when Hitler came to power in 1933, Germany was unfit to pursue Hitler’s aims, and required a great deal of restructuring in order to increase output and production.Therefore, despite Hitler’s ultimately war goals, he was forced to delay aggressions until the German military could be rebuilt. This began in 1935, when Hitler announced open plans for rearmament and introduced conscription, in order to strengthen and prepare the Wehrmacht. This was a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles, however the Allies chose not to act. At this stage, Hitler’s popularity as a leader was large, seen by the success of the Saar plebiscite in January 1935 in which the Saarland’s population chose to rejoin Germany, as before the Treaty.Even by the end of 1935, it was clear that Nazi Germany was expanding, and intende d to continue. On March 7th 1936, Hitler ordered the invasion of the Rhineland. This foreign policy was incredibly aggressive, and showed even greater disregard for the terms of treaty. The Rhineland had been established by the Treaty as buffer between France and Germany, in order to ensure France’s safety after the German invasion of WWI. By invading it, Hitler directly threatened France, and demonstrated his serious intent to expand Germany, as outlined in Mein Kampf.However, although this invasion coheres to the ideologies outlined in Mein Kampf, namely the reversal of the Treaty of Versailles, the invasion was largely experimental, and based on the previous non-action of the Allies to Hitler’s defiance of the treaty. A mere 22,000 German troops entered the Rhineland, and could have easily been suppressed by Allied forces, Hitler himself admitting that had the French resisted, Germany would be forced to retreat immediately. Despite this, the Allies chose not to resp ond yet again.This was a critical point in structuring future Nazi foreign policy, as it demonstrated the Allies unwillingness to participate in conflict, and preference to appease. Had the Allies stopped the occupation of the Rhineland, it is unlikely that Hitler’s aggressive foreign policies would have been so actively pursued, as they risked increased resistance and further embarrassment. In October 1936, the Rome-Berlin axis was created, a political alliance linking the fascist forces of Italy under Mussolini with Nazi Germany.At this time, Italy too was pursuing an aggressive foreign policy in order to create a racially perfect Italy, goals similar to those of Hitler. Hence, the signing of this agreement indicates Hitler’s intention to keep to his racial ideologies, and to link with necessary powers in order to achieve lebensraum for the Aryan race. Further, the Hossbach memorandum of 1937 clearly demonstrates Hitler’s plans to expand Europe in order to str engthen Europe, and his intentions to formulate foreign policy based on these aims.In March 1938, Hitler demanded Anschluss with Germany-a union that had been forbidden by the Treaty. This demand was met with opposition by Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg, who insisted on a plebiscite. However, after a large amount of pressure, the Anschluss was agreed to, and shortly after, German troops entered Austria. German and Austrian union had been forbidden specifically after their strong alliance in WWI, and the threat they posed as a combined force. By 1938, Hitler had defied the Treaty of Versailles several times, and had yet to meet resistance by the Allies.Particularly in the case of Austria, the Allies chose to not intervene because of a belief that Germany was simply â€Å"marching into its backyard†. On top of this, by 1938 Germany was experiencing high living standards as a result of Hitler’s volksgemeinschaft and was a formidable power, thus the Allies recognised Germ an desire for expansion into a previously had region. It also evident that Hitler understood this detail in the timing of the Anschluss-when in 1936 Hitler had made similar demands, the Allies stood opposed, and the Wehrmacht was ill-equipped to defy Allied wishes.In 1938 Hitler understood Germany’s military capacity, and used its position to pursue the foreign policies based on the ideologies in Mein Kampf. By 1938, Hitler had acquired all desired territories with relative ease, as a result of their size and insignificance to the balance of power on the European continent. It was this confidence that allowed Hitler to pursue his most aggressive foreign policy yet-the demand for the Sudetenland. The Sudetenland was part of Czechoslovakia, which had been created post WWI.Previously German territory, it still contained 3 million German speakers. Hitler’s demand was based on the reasoning that its German population should be united with the rest of Germany, in spite of Cz echoslovakia’s sovereignty. In this demand, Hitler demonstrated his willingness to defy the right of independent states in order to achieve his own ends. President Banes refused not only out of principal, but also because of the region’s massive industrial production and abundance of resources. Hitler stood adamant and threatened that invasion was imminent.British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, in recognition of the situation, flew to meet with Hitler in his Wilhelmshaven residence on September 15, in order to reason with him. Hitler stood firm, justifying his demand by claiming that a Czech-Soviet pact was a threat to European security. Chamberlain, a conservative politician, believed that Hitler could be appeased, and thus suggested that perhaps Germany’s takeover of the Sudetenland could be achieved through non-aggressive means, a suggestion far surpassing his authority. On Sept 26, German, British, French and Italian delegates met in Munich to discuss t he details of the takeover.Czech and Soviet delegates were not invited to this meeting, despite their large role in the outcomes. Once the terms had been agreed to, and delegates, particularly Chamberlain, were satisfied, Germany annexed the Sudetenland. Yet again, Hitler had been appeased and had accomplished his expansionary goals, managing to attain another territory prohibited by the Treaty. The movement of Germany’s aggressions were those aimed for in Mein Kampf-hence suggesting that ideology had played an integral role in formulating Nazi foreign policy to that success.This idea is further reinforced by the extension of Hitler’s grasp on Czechoslovakia, when in 1939 Hitler ordered that the rest of the state be handed over to Germany, which was quickly agreed to. Hitler’s accomplishments had all been aimed for in 1924-however, without the non-response of the Allies, and Chamberlain’s continuing belief that appeasement would succeed in limiting Hitler ’s aggressions, Nazi foreign policy would not have been as ambitious, and it is unlikely that aggressions would have succeeded, thus further aggressions, such as with the demand for the Sudetenland, would have been unlikely.This suggests that although foreign policy was based on ideological principles, its formulation was responsive to the European powers. The responsive nature of Nazi foreign policy is highlighted by the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact of 1939. In Hitler’s understanding of race, Slavs were considered racially inferior, and Hitler’s own political directly opposed Stalin’s communism. In fact, Hitler’s ultimate intentions in Mein Kampf included obtaining Eastern Europe, by crushing the Slavs.Thus, this non-aggression pact completely contradicted what seemed to be the intention of Nazi foreign policy to 1939, and what Hitler had been adamant about in Mein Kampf. However, the pact was of strategic brilliance for Germany, for several re asons. With serious intentions to invade Poland, Hitler was faced with the possibility of a two-front war from Russia, which he understood would be crippling to the Wehrmacht. Further, whilst the German military was capable of fighting Allied resistance, should the Russians have made an alliance with the Allies, the struggle would intensify.Therefore, when German and Russian foreign minister Ribbentropp and Molotov, respectively, signed the pact on August 23 1939, it guaranteed temporary security for both powers, and allowed for rapid capture of Poland beginning on September 1 1939. This pact demonstrated Hitler’s flexibility in achieving his aims, sacrificing one of his fundamental ideological principles in order to create an effective Nazi foreign policy. In analysing the weightings of ideology and circumstances in the formulation of Nazi foreign policy, there exists two main schools of thought: intentionalist and structuralist.Intentionalist historians believe that Nazi fo reign policy was based entirely on the principles clearly outlined in Mein Kampf, whilst structuralists, such as AJP Taylor, believe Hitler’s foreign policy was created by opportunities presented to him between 1933-1939, and that documents such as the Hossbach memorandum do not demonstrate clear intentions based on ideological principles but simply aggressive intentions, as per many European powers at the time.In reality, neither arguement encompasses the scope of considerations taken in the formulation of Nazi foreign policy, however to disregard Mein Kampf and the ideological pursuits described in it which Hitler’s foreign policies to 1939 directly reflected is unacceptable in understanding the aims of Nazi foreign policy.Therefore it can been seen that whilst the racial and political ideologies of Hitler, as outlined in 1924, played a significant role in Nazi foreign policy to 1939, several other factors, including the response of the Allies to Hitler’s aggr essions and Germany military’s capacity, greatly affected Nazi foreign policy, and were pivotal in both its timing and creation.

Night World : Huntress Chapter 8

I can't lose this fight. Suddenly that was the only thought in Jez's mind. She couldn't afford to be hurt or scared-or stupid. There was too much riding on it. And since Morgead had the advantages of telepathy and strength on her at the moment, she was going to have to come up with some clever way to beat him. It only took a moment to come up with a plan. And then Jez was carrying it out, every ounce of her concentration focused on tricking him. She stopped backing up and took a step sideways, deliberately putting herself in a position where she could make only a clumsy block. Then she gave him an opening, holding her stick awkwardly, its tip toward him but drooping too far down. You see-it's my elbow, she thought to him, knowing he couldn't hear her, but willing him to take the bait. My elbow hurts too much; I'm distracted; the stick is no longer an extension of me. My right side is unprotected. She was as good at it as any mother bird who pretends to have a broken wing to lure a predator away from her nest. And she could see the flash of triumph in Morgead's eyes. That's it; don't waste time injuring me anymore †¦ come in for the kill. He was doing it. He'd stopped trying to get her into a corner. With his handsome face intent, his eyes narrowed in concentration, he was maneuvering for a single decisive strike; a takedown to end the combat. But as he raised his fighting stick to make it, Jez pulled her own stick back as if she were afraid to block, afraid of the jarring contact. This was the moment. If he caught on now, if he realized why she was positioning her stick this way, he'd never make the move she wanted him to. He'd go back to disarming her. I'm too hurt to block properly; my arm's too weak to raise, she thought, letting her shoulders droop and her body sway tiredly. It wasn't hard to pretend. The pain in various parts of her body was real enough, and if she let herself feel it, it was very nearly disabling. Morgead fell for it. He made the strike she wanted; straight down. At that instant Jez slid her leading foot back, shifting just out of range. His stick whistled by her nose-missing. And then, before he could raise it again, while he was unguarded, Jez lunged. She put all the power of her body behind it, all her strength, slipping in between Morgead's arms and driving the stick to his midsection. The air in his lungs exploded out in a harsh gasp and he doubled over. Jez didn't hesitate. She had to finish him instantly, because in a second he would be fully recovered. By the time he was completely bent over she was already whipping her stick out and around to strike him behind the knee. Again, she put her whole weight behind the blow, following through to scoop him onto his back. Morgead landed with a thud. Before he could move, Jez snap-kicked hard, catching his wrist and knocking his stick away. It clattered across the floor, oak on oak. Then she held the pointed end of her own stick to his throat â€Å"Yield or die,† she said breathlessly, and smiled. Morgead glared up at her. He was even more breathless than she was, but there was nothing like surrender in those green eyes. He was mad. â€Å"You tricked me!† â€Å"All's fair.† He just looked at her balefully from under the disordered hair that fell across his forehead. He was sprawled flat, long legs stretched out, arms flung to either side, with the tip of the snakewood fighting stick resting snugly in the pale hollow of his throat. He was completely at her mercy-or at least that was how it seemed. Jez knew him better. She knew that he never gave up, and that when he wasn't too mad to think, he was as smart as she was. And as sneaky. Right now the helpless act was about as sincere as her wounded bird routine. So she was ready when he threw another blast of Power at her. She saw his pupils dilate like a cat's about to pounce, and she braced herself, shifting the stick minutely to push into his collarbone as she leaned forward. The energy smashed into her. She could almost see it now, with the sixth sense that was part of her vampire heritage. It was like the downrush of a nuclear cloud, the part that went flowing along the ground, destroying everything in its path, spreading in a circle from the point of impact. It seemed to be faintly green, the color of Morgead's eyes. And it packed quite a punch. Jez gritted her teeth and hung on to the fighting stick, keeping it in place, letting the Power wash through her. It blew her hair back to stream in a hot wind and it seemed to last forever. But finally it was over, and she was tingling with pain, with a metallic feeling in her teeth. And Morgead was still trapped. He hissed at her, an amazingly reptilian sound. â€Å"Got anything else?† Jez said, grinning down at him with narrowed eyes. Every bruise on her body hurt afresh in the aftermath of the blast-but she wasn't going to let him see that. â€Å"No? I didn't think so.† Morgead's upper lip lifted. â€Å"Drop dead, Jezebel.† Nobody was allowed to use her full name. â€Å"You first, Morgy,† she suggested, and leaned harder on the stick. The green eyes were beautifully luminous now, with sheer anger and hatred. â€Å"So kill me,† he said nastily. â€Å"Morgead-â€Å" â€Å"It's the only way you're going to win. Otherwise I'm just going to lie here and wait to recharge. And when I've got enough Power I'll hit you again.† â€Å"You never know when it's over, do you?† ‘It's never over.† Jez bit down on a rush of fury and exasperation. ‘I didn't want to have to do this,† she snarled, â€Å"but I will.† She didn't kill him. Instead, she hurt him. She grabbed his wrist and locked it, with her hand holding his and her stick on top of his wrist. She could use leverage here to cause severe pain- or to break the bone. â€Å"Give up, Morgead.† â€Å"Bite me.† â€Å"I'm going to break your wrist.† ‘Tine. I hope you enjoy it.† He kept glaring. Like a little kid threatening to play on the freeway, Jez thought, and suddenly, inexplicably she was almost overcome by laughter. She choked it back. She didn't want to break his wrist. But she knew she had to. And she had to do it soon, before he regenerated enough Power to hit her again. She couldn't take another of those blasts. â€Å"Morgead, give!† She put enough pressure on his wrist that it really hurt. He gave her the evil eye through dark lashes. â€Å"You're so stubborn!† Jez put on more pressure. She could tell it was hurting him. It was hurting her to keep the steady pressure up. Shooting stars of pain were zinging in her elbow. Jez's heart was beating hard and her muscles were beginning to tremble with fatigue. This was much more difficult for both of them than a clean break would have been. And he was a vampire- his wrist would heal in a few days. She wouldn't be injuring him permanently. I have to do it, she told herself. She tensed her muscles- And Morgead took a little quick breath, an indrawn hiss of pain. For just an instant his green eyes lost their gemlike clarity, unfocusing a bit as he winced. Jez let go of his wrist and collapsed to sit beside him, breathing hard. You are so stupid, her mind told her. She shook her hair out and shut her eyes, trying to deal with the fury. Beside her, Morgead sat up. â€Å"What are you doing?† â€Å"I don't know!† Jez snarled without opening her eyes. Being weak and idiotic, she answered herself. She didn't even know why she couldn't go through with it. She killed vampires-and less obnoxious ones than Morgead-all the time. â€Å"I didn't yield,† Morgead said. His voice was flat and dangerous. â€Å"So it's not over.† ‘Tine, blast me.† Tm going to.† â€Å"So do it.† â€Å"What, you like it so much?† Jez snapped. She grabbed her stick off the ground and turned to look at him for the first time since she'd sat down. â€Å"Yeah, I love it, Morgead! I'm crazy about pain! So do it, and then I'm going to hit you over your thick head so hard you won't wake up until next week!† She might have said more, but the look in his eyes stopped her. He was staring at her intently, not simply belligerently as she'd imagined. His green eyes were narrow and searching. â€Å"You're just crazy period,† he said, sitting back, his gaze still probing. In a different tone he said softly, â€Å"So why didn't you do it?† Jez lifted her shoulders and dropped them. There was a pit of anger and misery in her stomach. ‘I suppose because then I'd have to break every bone in your body, you jerk. You'd never give up, not with that new power you've got.† â€Å"I could teach it to you. The others aren't strong enough to learn it, but you are.† That forced a short laugh out of Jez. â€Å"Yeah, right.† She shut her eyes briefly, wondering what Morgead would say if she were to tell him why she could never learn it. He'd squash me like a bug, she thought, and laughed again. â€Å"You laugh weird, Jez.† â€Å"I have a twisted sense of humor.† She looked at him, blinking wetness out of her lashes. Where had that come from? There must be something in her eye. â€Å"So. Want to start this fight again?† He was staring at her hand gripping the snakewood stick. Jez tried to keep that hand steady, but she could feel the fine tremors in the muscles. She took a deep breath and clenched her teeth, making her gaze challenging. I can fight again. I can do it because I have to, and this time I won't let any stupid sympathy get in the way of beating him. I have to win. Everything depends on it. Morgead looked back at her face. â€Å"No,† he said abruptly. â€Å"We don't have to do it again. I yield.† Jez bunked in shock. It was the last thing she'd expected. Morgead's expression was cold and unreadable. Jez got mad. â€Å"Why?† she blazed at him. â€Å"Because I'm tired? Because you don't think I can take you?† She whipped the stick up, ready to split his stupid skull. â€Å"Because you're crazy!† Morgead yelled. â€Å"And because-† He stopped dead, looked furious. Then he said curtly, â€Å"Because you won fair the first time.† Jez stared at him. Slowly she lowered the stick. Morgead's expression was still distinctly unfriendly. But he'd just made an almost unbelievable admission. â€Å"You just don't want me to whop you anymore,† she said. He gave her a sideways look that would kill pigeons in midair. Jez let out her breath. Her heart was just beginning to settle down and relief was spreading through her. I did it I really did it. I'm not going to die today. â€Å"So it's over,† she said. â€Å"I'm back in.† â€Å"You're leader,† Morgead said sourly. â€Å"Enjoy it, because I'm going to be right behind you every step, just waiting for my chance.† â€Å"I wouldn't expect anything else,† Jez said. Then she blinked. â€Å"What are you doing?† â€Å"What do you think?† His face set, his eyes on the far wall, Morgead was tugging his shirt away from his neck, and leaning his head back. â€Å"I have no idea-† Then Jez realized. She went cold to the tips of her fingers. I didn't think. I should have remembered, but I didn't, and I didn't plan for this†¦. â€Å"Blood in, blood out,† Morgead said shortly. Why didn't I remember? Panic was stirring inside Jez. She couldn't see any way to get out of it. For human gangs â€Å"blood in, blood out† meant you got beat up when you were jumped in, and you didn't leave until you were dead. But for vampire gangs†¦ I can't bite him. The most frightening thing was that something inside her wanted to do it. Her entire skin was tingling, and it suddenly seemed as if it was only yesterday that she'd had her last blood meal. She could remember exactly how it felt, sinking her teeth into smooth skin, piercing it easily, feeling the warm flow start. And Morgead's blood would be dark and sweet and powerful. Vampire blood wasn't life-sustaining like human blood, but it was rich with the hidden promise of the Night World. And Morgead was one of the strongest vampires she'd ever met. His blood would be full of the mastery of that new attack, full of raw, vital young energy. But I don't drink blood. I'm not a vampire! Not anymore. Jez was trembling in shock. In the entire year since she'd stopped drinking blood, she'd never been so tempted. She had no idea why it had come on like this now, but it was almost out of her control. She pressed her tongue against one sharpening canine, trying to restrain it, trying to get some relief from the stress. Her upper and lower jaws were aching fiercely. I can't. It's unthinkable. If I do it once, I'll never be able to stop. I'll become-what I was back then. I'll be lost I can't-but I have to. I need to get back in the gang. Morgead was staring at her. â€Å"Now what's wrong with you?† â€Å"I. . .† Jez was dizzy with fear and longing and the sense of danger. She couldn't see any way out†¦. And then she saw it. â€Å"Here,† she said, unbuttoning the collar of her shirt. â€Å"You bite me.† â€Å"What?† ‘It satisfies the requirement. Blood has to be spilled. And it's the leader who does it† ‘You're the leader, idiot.† â€Å"Not until I'm back in the gang. And I'm not back in the gang until blood is spilled.† He was staring at her, his eyes hard and demanding and not amused at all. â€Å"Jez†¦ that's ridiculous. Why?† He was too smart. She didn't dare let him keep thinking about it. â€Å"Because I think it's the proper procedure. And because-I overfed last night. I don't want anymore.† She stared straight into his eyes, not allowing a muscle to quiver. Trying to force her version of the truth into his brain. Morgead blinked and looked away. Jez allowed herself to relax minutely. She had one advantage over Morgead; there was no way he could even imagine her real motives. She just hoped he wouldn't discern the human flavor to her blood. ‘If you won't tell me, I give up.† He shrugged. â€Å"So, fine. If that's the way you want it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It is.† â€Å"Whatever.† He turned back to her and reached for her shoulders. A new shock rocked Jez. Morgead never hesitated once he made up his mind, but this was a little unnerving. His grip was a bit too firm and authoritative; Jez felt out of control. And how am I going to shield myself? she thought wildly, clamping down on a new wave of fear. He's already a powerful telepath and sharing blood increases rapport How am I supposed to block that-? Everything was happening too fast; she didn't have time to plan or think. All she could do was try not to panic as Morgead drew her close. Jerk†¦ he's had too much experience at this, part of her thought furiously. At subduing any kind of prey. At gentling scared girls-human girls. He was holding her lightly and precisely; he was tilting her chin back. Jez shut her eyes and tried to blank her mind. And now she could feel the warmth of his face near her skin; she could feel his breath on her throat. She knew his canine teeth were extending, lengthening, thinning to needle points. She tried to control her breathing. She felt a swathe of warmth as he licked her throat once, and then a pain that made her own teeth ache. His teeth had pierced her skin, sharp as obsidian. Then the release of blood flowing. Her life, spilling out The instinctive twinge of fear Jez felt had nothing to do with him invading her mind. No vampire liked to make this kind of submission. Letting someone drink your blood meant you were weaker, it meant you were willingly making yourself prey. Everything inside Jez protested at just relaxing and letting Morgead do this. And maybe that was the answer, she thought suddenly. A wall of turmoil to cover her thoughts. Pretend to be too agitated to let him make contact. †¦ But his lips were surprisingly soft on her throat, and the pain was gone, and he was holding her more like a lover than like a predator. She could feel his mind all around her, strong, demanding. He wasn't trying to hurt her. He was trying to make it not-terrible for her. But I want it to be terrible. I don't want to feel like this†¦. It didn't matter. She felt as if she were being pulled by a swift current, dragged and tumbled into some place she had never been before. Sparkling lights danced behind her closed eyelids. Electricity crackled through her body. And then she felt his mouth moving gently on her throat, and the world fell away†¦.