Relationship of US with China during Cold War Research Paper

Relationship of US with China during Cold War - Research Paper Example However, there were regional wars and civil wars in some parts of the world including China, Vietnam, Korea and even Afghanistan (Sinha 8-11). The entire Cold War period was therefore plainly dominated by international affairs. The history of US relations with China can be traced back to the time during the Second World War and after the Second World War. During the Second World War, the U.S government helped China win a war against Japan in 1937 when Japan first invaded the Chinese territories bordering the coast. This was the beginning of a relationship between the two states. Japan invasions on China did not stop even after the war of 1937; Japan still continued to attack the Chinese territories along the Coast. The American president at the time-Roosevelt further pitied China and what its citizens were being subjected to by the Japanese and decide to offer more military aid (Jonathan 412). Something that really annoyed the Japanese and provoked them to launch an attack first on a British vessel ferrying American citizens and later on Pearl Harbor- United Sates Territory of Hawaii on December 7th 1941. This forced America to retaliate with full force and signified the entry of America in the Second Worl d War. Despite the financial support and military aid to China during and after the World War Two, the Chinese leader of the time-Chiang never liked the Americans. In fact he remained quite suspicious of their motives and interests in his country (Jonathan 413). At this time, even though the Chinese leaders had allowed Americans in China, the two nations differed significantly on ideological grounds. With American continued spread of democracy in different parts Asia, China advocated for nationalism, Chiang himself openly claimed that the ideology of democracy was practically impossible in China and went on to even introduce a ban on democracy in China (Jonathan 415). In a different

Global Paper and Paper Products Industry Porter's Six Forces Analysis Research

Global and Products Industry Porter's Six Forces Analysis - Research Paper Example Porter’s six forces analysis of the global paper industry would involve certain factors such as threat of new entrants, rivalry among existing firms, threat of substitute products or services, bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers and relative power of other stakeholders. The explanations of the factors are given below: Threat of New Entrants Economies of scale The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the global paper industry has increased simultaneously with the growing usage of the paper by its consumers. In certain cases, the usage of papers remains intact where the GDP growth is witnessed to be almost stagnant. The global paper industry produces paper products of $750 billion each year comprising small enterprises globally (Scheihing, 2005). Product Differentiation Product differentiation is one of the most challenging measures of expanding or intensifying a business or industry. With the intense use of internet, the usage of paper is however decreasing day by day and as a result the global paper industry is trying to diversify or differentiate their products and trying to expand their product lines, especially based on the quality aspect (Scheihing, 2005). Capital Requirement A new entrant to the paper industry initially requires around $4.5 Million capital which may be recognized as a demanding level to position themselves in the industry (Scheihing, 2005). Switching Cost The switching cost for the paper industry is low. Therefore, the scope of new entrants is high, as new entrants can any time switch over to another industry if they do not feel competitive in the paper industry incurring minimum cost (Uronen, 2010). ... Capital Requirement A new entrant to the paper industry initially requires around $4.5 Million capital which may be recognized as a demanding level to position themselves in the industry (Scheihing, 2005). Switching Cost The switching cost for the paper industry is low. Therefore, the scope of new entrants is high, as new entrants can any time switch over to another industry if they do not feel competitive in the paper industry incurring minimum cost (Uronen, 2010). Accesses to Distribution Channels The distribution channel of the paper industry comprises of various, dealers, shareholders, retailors, and consumers to serve the ultimate customers in the corporate and educational sectors. Notably, these better facilities to an industry encourage the new entrants to enter the existing market (Uronen, 2010). Cost Disadvantages Independent of Size Due to the high installation cost, and high maintenance cost, the probability of new entrants reduces. However, due to the independence of dete rmining the size of the firms the scope of new entrants rises depicting a moderate level of threat to new entrants (Uronen, 2010). Government In relation to the global paper industry, the government has implemented certain rules and norms, laws, and regulations. In addition, there are many associations who are protesting against paper industry due to the usage of forest products and deforestations (Uronen, 2010). Rivalry among Existing Firms Number of Competitors There are too many paper mills or companies existing within the global paper industry, but the top five existing competitors are Paper Associates PTY.LTD, International Paper Company, Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, Georgia-Pacific LLC and Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA among others (SKC, 2012). Rate of Industry Growth

Self Reflection Analysis In The Social Work Sector Social Work Essay

Self Reflection Analysis In The Social Work Sector Social Work Essay Social work practice can be seen as a very complex process as it seeks to promote social change, social justice, equality, anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practices and also social inclusion. It is therefore significant that as social workers, we reflect and evaluate our practice in order that the values we stand for are promoted and adhered to. Reflective practice is therefore a way of making social work professionals more accountable through an ongoing scrutiny of the principles upon which the profession is based (Fook, 2002). However, Ixer (1999) criticizes that reflective practice has simply become uncritical and orthodox mainly because it can be applied in many ways and across many professions. None the less, Donald Schà ¶n (1983) a key theorist of reflective practice, saw reflective practice as a way forward for professionals to bridge the gap between the theoretical and practical aspect of their work by unearthing the actual theory which is embedded in what they do, r ather than what they say they do. He made it clear that by being reflect practitioner, one is aware of the theories or assumptions underlining your practice and what actions to take in improving your practice or providing better services for the service user. To me reflective practice is therefore like a looking glass or mirror where you as a practitioner have the opportunity to correct or redirect your course of action. For the purpose of this assignment, I am going to use a case study from my previous practice placement to illustrate my reflection and evaluation of my own practice, how the use of self, my beliefs and values might have influenced my actions, how I have developed new meaning and understanding through peer supervision/feedback and the unit lectures and how theories underpinning reflective practice may help in improving my practice as a social worker. Case study I e-mailed the learning mentor at N. Middle School concerning a boy named J (for confidentiality purposes). A 12-year old, of White- British background, who was referred to my previous placement agency for having behavioural problems (such as fighting with his peers, being disruptive during lessons, disrespecting his teacher and general misconduct) at school. J from an early age of about 6 had witnessed Domestic Violence in his family. My concern was that J had revealed very confidential information to me regarding his mum and her ex-boyfriend (his mums ex-boyfriend was violent toward his mum and he witness it as well). J was worried that this might happen again since his mums ex-boyfriend was back into his mums life and sleeps over sometimes at the family home. I informed the school about this revelation since it was a school referral and also because J had mentioned that any time his mums ex sleeps over it affects him and his behaviour at school becomes disruptive due to the worrie s he has. When I passed this information to the school authorities, the school also informed Js mum about it which I felt was not appropriate due to the fact that Js mum had been very wary as to what information or issues J would reveal to professionals. In my email I also pointed out the fact that the trust and confidence J had towards me could be undermined since his mum got informed about this although it was suppose to be confidential among professionals. Reflection and Evaluation of my practice In this case study, I felt that the school authorities should have acted more professionally. They should have contacted me first before informing Js mum but this was not the case. I only got to know that they had informed Js mum when she asked me questions or tried to clarify the issues that J had revealed to me. Although, this situation didnt mar my professional relationship with the school authorities at the time, it has made me wary of how much information I can share with other professionals and how that particular information should be treated (if very confidential). I felt that I had eroded the trust and confidence between J and I because his mum got to know about what J had revealed to me although he did not want her knowing. Order to maintain the trust and confidence we had, I should have sought Js consent first. Also the school should have contacted me first before informing Js mum so that my trust and confidence in the school could be maintained as well. I also felt that this broken trust and confidence might extend to other professions who might be working with J in future. This experience could therefore distance J from other professionals (including myself). He might view all professionals as untrustworthy and as enemies rather helpers. This therefore meant that I did uphold public trust and confidence in social care services as enshrined in the code of practice for social workers (TOPPS, 2004) I felt that J was very opened and honest to me. He had trust and confidence in me as well. I listened to him as a friend in a professional capacity which I feel he needed. However, I felt I let him down in this situation because he was not made aware that his mum would be informed (issue of consent). This issue of confidentiality posed as a big ethical dilemma for me, in that I questioned myself whether it was right for the school to have informed Js mum about his revelation? Have I broken Js trust and confidence by informing the school about this? And am I right to question the school authorities why they shared the information with Js mum even though the referral was made by the school. These were ethical dilemmas I was faced with before emailing the Learning mentor. I was therefore aware of these ethical dilemmas and conflict of interest and the implication to my practice (social work value A). However, not sharing the information could also mean that I would be held responsible for my actions if something went wrong. Furthermore, I felt this could have been an issue of potential discrimination, in that the school had overlooked the effect on J, and also the relationship between mother and son, this could have potentially estranged Js relationship with his mum, the school and even me. If this happened, he would be reluctant in dealing with professionals and this may pose as a barrier to him accessing the needed support he may require. Theories used in case study In this case study, the gathering and use of information was the main focus. Establishing service user confidentiality is as important as providing the need/service for him/her. However, though the issue of confidentiality is usually negotiated and established during the agreement meeting with the service user, there are lots of ethical dilemmas surrounding this (as to whom you can share the information with and how much of that information can be shared. Seden (2005) mentioned clearly that in working with Children services it is particularly difficult to have total confidentiality because a child may reveal something or an issue in confidence which may be a child protection issue. And as a professional you would have to share this information with others so that prompt action can be taken. It highlights the fact that in child protection issues, safeguarding and promoting the childs welfare is paramount (Children Act 1989) rather than confidentiality. Yet the Data protection Act 1998 and my previous placement agencys policy on confidentiality also informed me of my practice. In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, it entreats all agencies that have access to peoples personal information to keep it safe and must only use the information solely for the purpose for which the information was sought. It also means that if personal information about people fall into the wrong hands it can be used maliciously and our right to private and family life (Human Rights Act 1998) could be contravened. Personal data can further be use to enforce discriminatory and oppressive practice by using it to categorise people in terms of service delivery. Another important theory in this case study was multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working. The Working together document (DOH, 2006) highlights the importance of multidisciplinary and inter agency working in children work force. This document was put together by Department Of Health, Department for Education and Employment and the Home Office. It serves as a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children as well. In my first placement setting, it was good practice to liaise with the lead professional/organisation that carried out the assessment and referred the case to my agency. All relevant information and process of the intervention were shared with the other agencies involved. In this way I was working according to my agency policy of liaising with other agencies, following the legal requirement of the working together document and meeting unit 17 of the National Occupational Standards (TOPPS 2004). In doing so I was able to communicate effective ly with other professionals and this also facilitated information sharing between professionals. Theories of Reflection Using the case study as a reference point, I realised that most of the reflection I did took place after the event. This is what Schà ¶n (1998) referred to as reflection-on-action. According to Schà ¶n (1998), reflection-on-action therefore means that as a professional, I only sit back after I have undertaken the intervention to think about what I did, how I did and whether there were any ethical considerations I took for granted. In doing so I am able to analyse and critical evaluate my actions and practice and improve on my shortcoming. For example, in the case study scenario, I realised that the trust and confidence J had in me was eroded once his mum was informed about his revelation to me. Had I reflected before the event or during my meeting with J (reflection-in-action), I would have made him aware that his mum would hear about it and hence J and I could have come to an amicable agreement as to how to inform his mum. This might have provided a more positive outcome rather th an the presented outcome in the case study. This same model of reflection-on-action can be related to Gibbs model of reflection. In Gibbs (1988) model, he identified six key stages of reflection; Stage 1: Description of the event A detailed description of the event you are reflecting on. Stage 2: Feelings and Thoughts (Self awareness) Recalling and exploring those things that were going on inside your head. Stage 3: Evaluation- making a judgment about what has happened. Consider what was good about the experience and what was bad about the experience or what did or didnt go so well Stage 4: Analysis- Breaking the event down into its component parts so they can be explored separately. Stage 5: Conclusion (Synthesis) -Here you have explored the issue from different angles and have a lot of information to base your judgement. It is here that you are likely to develop insight into you own and other peoples behaviour in terms of how they contributed to the outcome of the event. The purpose of reflection at this stage is to learn from the experience. Stage 6: Action Plan-During this stage you should think forward into encountering the event again and to plan what you would do would you act differently or would you likely to do the same? These six stages of Gibbs model serve as aiding tools to help professionals critically reflect on their experiences. For instance, through detail description in my case study I am able reflect on my feelings and thoughts towards the school authorities and how my actions may have affected the welfare of J. I have also been able to identify that I did not promote the social work code of practice (upholding public trust and confidence in social services). When faced with a similar situation like this in future or in practice, I believe I would think critically and reflect critically before passing information to other professionals with the view that the information will be used solely for the intended purpose. However, another reflective model is that developed by David Kolb (1984) on experiential learning. Kolb (1984) created his famous model out of four elements: concrete experience, observation and reflection, the formation of abstract concepts and testing in new situations. These entire four elements are connected in a circular way. Kolb (1984) argued that the experiential learning cycle can begin at any one of the four points and that it should really be consider as a continuous and unending process. Meaning, the learning process often begins with a person carrying out a particular action and then seeing the effect of the action in the given event or intervention. Following this, the second stage is reached in which the professional/learner understands these effects in the event or intervention so that if the same action was taken in the same circumstances it would be possible to anticipate what would follow from the action. With this understanding, the third stage is to understand th e general principle under which the particular instance happens. Generalising may involve actions over a range of situations/events for the professional or learner to gain experience beyond the particular instance and suggest the general principle. Understanding the general principle does not imply, in this sequence, an ability to express the principle in a symbolic medium but rather implies only the ability to see a connection between the actions and effects over a range of circumstances. When the general principle is understood, the last stage is the application through action in a new circumstance within the range of generalisations. Thus the action is taking place in a different set of circumstances and the learner is now able to anticipate the possible effects of the action. Two aspects can be seen as especially noteworthy: the use of concrete, here-and-now experience to test ideas; and use of feedback to change practices and theories (Kolb 1984: 21-22). Relating Kolb model to my case study, I felt that by emailing my concerns to the school mentor about how the information was treated seemed a more professional way of dealing with the issue. As the school authorities later apologised to me about their actions. I do believe that if I am faced with a similar situation with other professionals I would elegantly challenge their actions in a similar manner as I have done before and if it works I might generalise that this approach works well. This would therefore give me new meaning and a new perspective as to how to work with other professional collaborative in achieving the desired outcomes for service users. Feedback from my peers. During the learning sets meetings, I presented his case study to my peers and one the learning points from them was that I had assumed that the school authorities would not inform Js mum about the revelation and because of that I hadnt insisted on them keeping the information as confidential as possible until such a time when consent had been sought from J. I in my view this is what Brookfield (1988) called assumption analysis in critical reflection. To him, Assumption analysis describes the activity adults engage in to bring to awareness beliefs, values, cultural practices, and social structures regulating behaviour and to assess their impact on our dad to day activities. Assumptions may therefore be paradigmatic, prescriptive, or causal (Brookfield 1995). He stresses that assumptions structure our way of seeing reality, govern our behavior, and describe how relationships should be ordered. Assumption analysis as a first step in the critical reflection process makes explicit our tak enà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœforà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœgranted notions of reality. Members of the learning set also raised my awareness to the fact that the underlying assumption I had about the case could possibly being derived from my own beliefs, value base, cultural and social background, agency policies, my gender and race. Brookfield (1995) highlighted this by noting that a contextual awareness is achieved when adult learners come to realise that their assumptions are socially and personally created in a specific historical and cultural context. I should therefore have been self aware of the influences my personal, cultural and social (Thompson, 2006) may have had in the given case study. Also, the learning sets helped me to unearthing or understand more about the power imbalances that exist between service users and professionals. One of my group members made it clear that possibly the school authorities acted the way they did because they had the power to do so and as a way of proving to his mum that the boys problem was generated from home rather at school because the mum blames the school authorities constantly for her sons behaviour. According to Mandell (2008), power affects the experience and behaviour of both the practitioner and service user and so the practitioner needs to ask, or be asked, where does power lie in his/her relationship, how does it operate and who is defining the character and direction of whats taking place. Therefore, to be a critical reflective practitioner I need to acknowledge the power imbalances in my practice before making decisions or embarking on a course of action. Its also important for me to consider all the angles and checks out all the details before taking the plunge (Payne, 2002, p124) so that a more opened, honest, fair, just, anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice can be achieved in my service delivery. The case study analysis with my peers provided me yet with another very important learning point. Thus, in sharing the information with the school authorities, I was focusing more on the theory (the Every Child Matters and working together agenda) for off the peg solution (Thompson, 2005, p146) or what Schà ¶n (1998) calls technical rationality, the belief that well developed theory can provide solutions for professionals. Rather, I should have used both my theoretical background and past experiences to help inform me of my practice. This would have had a more balancing effect or less impact on J. With this now, I am confident that my decisions and actions in future placements would be drawn from my theoretical or formal knowledge and that of my past experiences or informal knowledge. Conclusion Summing up, I feel that this unit has provided me with greater insight about how my actions or decisions are influenced by my belief system, culture, values, gender, religion, assumptions, political and social orientation. It have also learnt that drawing from the views of others, I would be able to see the issue or problem from a different perspective and this might help me develop a new meaning of the event. Mezirow (2000) called the process of developing this new meaning of the event as perspective transformation. I now also understand that as a social worker, t would have draw on knowledge from all sources (theoretical and non-theoretical) in order to address the messy complexities of real-life situations and to consider each individual situation or event unique (Yelloly Henkel, 1995). Therefore, the way forward for me as a social worker is to critical reflect on the use of self, the awareness of power imbalances (deconstruction) and the development of new meaning/ perspective( re-construction) illustrated by Howe (2008).

The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity Essay -- essay

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Christianity is becoming extinct. In order for it to continue on it must modernize its beliefs. The average Christian is white, middle class and is from Europe or America. The religion of Islam is expanding quickly and will soon dominate Christianity. These are all common claims made about Christianity that many people believe, yet Philip Jenkins claims and proves them untrue in his book, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity. According to his book, Christianity is moving out of the global north and into the global south. In fact, Christianity is growing rapidly in countries such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He also writes about how Africa and Brazil will, within the next fifty years, replace Europe as the center of Christianity. Both of these countries have been heavily missionized within that past hundred years, and the number of Christians in each has raised millions. The expansion growth in these countries is due primarily to their high reproduction rates and their hunger for the Christian beliefs that the missionaries brought with them. Jenkins says in this book that the missionaries faced no problems trying to explain about a higher deity or other â€Å"bafflingly alien world views† to the Africans, because it followed closely with many of their own tribal beliefs. Many of the tribes worshiped one higher power already and also found that many of the Christian beliefs fell in sync with t heir own heritage and customs. They did though, encounter one problem: the beliefs fell so in sync with their tribal traditions, that eventually the African culture started to incorporate their customs such as exorcism, dream visions, prophesy, healing, and mysticism into their Christian churches, creating an entire sub group of Christianity. These sub groups are closely related to the more Pentecostal churches, but are far from the ritualistic practices of the Anglicans and Catholics that primarily missionized them. Pentecostal churches, because of the resurgence in countries such as Africa and Brazil will soon be the dominant Christian sects. They strongly emphasize views about personal relationships with God, biblical literism, speaking in tongues, visions and prophesy just as the African churches do. The Pentecostal church tends to mainly attract the poor or lower class of society, which also happens to be what Bra... ...nto the thought that religious wars may occur, be he completely left out the ideas that the Islamic nation, being known for terrorism and other such acts of violence, could potentially eliminate Christianity from any form of mainstream. This is a serious topic to think about considering what they have done to other religions, and to Christian sects residing in the Middle East. I think Jenkins should have presented this as more of an issue and an actual threat then claiming that it might cause slight conflict. The book unquestionably had some strengths and some weaknesses. I believe the information that Jenkins provided was extremely well established and proven. This is exactly the type of information that people need to know, because the truth is being denied. I think for the book to be effective, it needs to be laid out better. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone besides a theological scholar due to the manner that it flows, even though it has very good reviews and is on best seller lists for Christian books. I commend Jenkins for going against the flow and writing against the average beliefs, but admonish him for writing the information in such an incomprehensible manner.

Legalization

There are several problems in our society, most of which concerns illegal transactions and prohibited actions. What consist the community’s primary legal problems are drugs, same-sex marriages, abortion and those issues which questions or consists of scientific progress such as issues about cloning, stem-cell research and in-vitro fertilization. However, there were several controversies regarding this matter, as to whether the community â€Å"illicit problems† are really illegal or not. In able for us to distinguish whether something is meant to be legalized or whether an action should be prohibited, a closer look about legalization is a bit crucial. Legalization is actually a process in which something is removed from being a crime. It will then be an act that is permissible and not to be considered as an offense anymore. Those crimes that are to be legalized are controversial crimes, since it doesn’t really have a victim or it does not endanger anyone aside from the person him/herself. The focus of this paper would be the legalization of a drug popularly known as marijuana or scientifically called as cannabis. According to http://www.legalizationofmarijuana.com/, an online site whose aim is to present arguments in favor and against the use of marijuana in able to inform the citizens, reports that nearly about 5.9 million Americans are arrested due to simply the use and possession of marijuana. Moreover they state that on the year 2000, about 88% of the total number of the arrested marijuana related violations are charge with possession while the remaining 12% includes violations for â€Å"sale/manufacture† of the plant itself. They insist that, the number of the people arrested from marijuana outnumbered those who are arrested from robbery, murder, rape and assault which are more violent crimes. Most of the supporters of the law to ban the use of marijuana are under the consideration that marijuana is a stepping stone drug, which it may further lead to addiction and may promote the use of harder kinds of drugs. Others are concerned about its immediate effects which results to short-term memory loss and accidents. Conservatives believe that legalization of marijuana would actually make it accessible to many people and might also be used by children, since regulation of the drug is hard. Those who are against the law believe on the proposition that were actually against or in opposition of the stand of the supporters. For one, there are medical studies that were made that actually prove that with moderation, smoking marijuana is far safer than drinking alcohol and smoking cigarette. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that the annual Americans deaths caused by marijuana or hashish are zero compare to some 100,000 to 400, 000 caused by tobacco and alcohol users respectively; those who have died due to the use of other drugs counts 10,000 to 20, 000, approximately, obviously higher than the use of marijuana. (legalizationofmarijuana.com) They also argued that it would help the government especially the police force to focus themselves to more violent crimes that would require more attention. The legalization of marijuana would also be a threat to most of the drug dealers because if it would be readily be affordable and accessible for the public, then it would be sold in lower price, crippling their financial gains. Aside from all this, marijuana doesn’t impair the immune system; it does not kill brain cells unlike using tobacco, cigarettes and alcohol.   Actually there had never been any records that would relate marijuana and death. (Messerli, 2006) Drinking alcohol has resulted to so many accidents, had it been ban for being so? No. It is he same with smoking tobacco which have taken so many lives and who have also been caused of diseases and deaths of even those people who are not using or smoking it. How come that these two were not being banned in the same sense as marijuana are being so? I think this is more of a business related event rather than something political. If one would look more closely, it is obvious that marijuana is something that is far safer than alcohol and tobacco, but the government acts against marijuana under the assumption that it is an opiate drug and most of opiate drugs are dangerous, thus marijuana is also dangerous. Obviously this assumption is false, and actually if the government is really that concerned about the citizens they might as well as prohibit drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco. Doing so would probably make the use of this substance expensive, less people would want to use it or even try it. There would be fewer deaths related to these substances, fewer accidents and people would be able to spend their incomes and resources for more useful things. Generally, it would make more people happy, it would result to a more peaceful community, and problems would be faced in a more rational way. If these substances would not be prohibited, then what is the reason for prohibiting marijuana? Marijuana are said to have so many beneficial effects and has no proven bad effects. It cannot even cause death. Legalizing the use of it would be very beneficial for the implementation of more laws and would save the government time, effort and resources. Indeed marijuana can caused changes in the cognition of a man, including some short term memory lost; however, it would only last for just a few minutes or an hour or two, in heavy doses. As to any type of smoking, smoking marijuana would probably results to acute bronchitis and other pulmonary problems. However as what the findings of Janet E. Joy and her colleagues at the Institute of Medicine, these health problems would only persist upon long-term use of marijuana in heavy doses. Also, chewing marijuana could actually heal some of the complications that arouse from it. Thus, marijuana should really be legalized. It would be more beneficial for the government, it would pose less health risk and it can lead to greater innovations and research regarding the issues that concerns it. Also, it is legal in other countries, most notably in Jamaica, why should it not be legalized in our country? It is important that legislators would address the actual concerns of the citizens and look at the rationale behind their decisions, not some illogical assumptions. Works Cited: Joy, J. E.   Benson, J. A.   Watson, S. J.   (1999). Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. National Academy Press. Legalizationofmarijuana.com. (2007). US Policy on Marijuana. Retrieved on August 16, 2007. Retrieved from the World Wide Web: http://www.legalizationofmarijuana.com/index.html Messerli,   Joe (2006) Should Marijuana be Legalized under any Circumstances? Retrieved on August 16, 2007. Retrieved from the World Wide Web: http://www.balancedpolitics.org/marijuana_legalization.htm   

Orthodox Christianity Essay

For centuries, the two major Christian sects of Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholicism have been a center of comparison because of the resemblance in both religions’ beliefs and practices. But in my recent visit to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Miami, I have discovered the stark contrasts to what popular notions hold. Particularly, what befell upon me was a revelation that Orthodox Catholicism differs from Roman Catholicism and other conventional Christian churches as far as relevant doctrines, laws, standards for morality, organizational leadership, church services, and religious ceremonies are concerned. While Orthodox Christianity is generally being compared as similar to Roman Catholicism, its basic and complex theologies both concur to and diverge from that of the Roman Catholic faith. Orthodox Christians generally regard their religious system as a direct continuance of Christ’s ministry; they believe that their very sect is part of a long continuing tradition, otherwise called the Holy Tradition, which started during the first century and remained pure and intact despite the drastic changes that occurred across the world over the centuries (Ware 7-8). Orthodox Christian belief likewise holds that the Bible is the life giving tome of the church because it contains and uncovers the will of God, reveals the relationship between God and the early Israelites, narrates the events that happened during the ministry of Jesus, as well as Christ’s foundation of the first church (Ware 194-196). Apart from the sacred readable contents of the Bible, Christian Orthodoxy also considers it as the sole living witness to the centuries old tradition the sect continues to practice. And with blessing from the early church leaders with guidance from the Holy Spirit, the books of the Bible were expressed as the apostles’ way of handing down the tradition from one generation to another. Christian Orthodoxy merits the Nicene Creed with the highest of regard and considers it as a basis of its beliefs (Ware 202). As such, in its belief in the nature of God, Orthodox Christianity employs a Trinitarian concept or one God with three different personas: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. The Orthodox doctrine furthers that God is an omnipotent being that constitutes no physical form, and is therefore a transcendent being (Ware 210-211). A Distinct Orthodox Catholic belief is in the concept that man is an image and likeness of God. This belief is stressed in extreme senses that Orthodox Christianity’s adherents consider humankind’s resemblance to God as a means of carrying the icon of God within the self (Benz 18). Because of the central idea that man is the image and likeness of God, Orthodox Catholicism’s notion of the original sin differs from most Christian traditions in such a way that the sin committed by Adam and Eve is not morally and spiritually inherited by humans. Instead, original sin is the separation from God’s grace and acquisition of physical and spiritual mortality (Benz 19). And humankind’s separation from God is an action out of free will, particularly when Adam and Eve chose to listen to the serpent’s word and their give in to their urge. Furthermore, Christian Orthodox belief suggests that the fall of man stained all of God’s creation with sin, and corruption while implying that Adam and Eve’s eviction from paradise is God’s way of avoiding man’s sin, wickedness, and corruption from lasting endlessly (Ware 218-219). The Orthodox Christians’ general concept of sin and corruption meanwhile is milder than any other Christian sect or any other religious system for that matter. Sin, as Orthodox Christian doctrine holds, encompasses a contamination, deformation, and infliction of damage on God’s image. However despite sin’s vile nature and humanity’s vulnerability to it, man remains as noble beings because of the simple fact that humans are created in the image of God (Benz 19). As much as the beliefs and practices have renewed my perspective of Orthodox Catholicism, the church service I became part of was a very overwhelming experience. I thought my religion was already rich in traditions and customs, but what I saw and experienced in the ceremony brought my knowledge of Orthodox Christianity to new heights as I have seen and distinguished the difference of the ceremony from conventional Christian sects. Before going to the church, I thought to myself that it is simply going to be a typical service in a Christian place of worship similar to the ones documented in Christian television networks. However, set my eyes on the church, the distinctive style of the structure surprised me as I have observed a slight difference in the church’s architecture. I expected the church to have a dome-shaped top which is a recognizable design of most Christian churches. Except for the cross on the tip of the church’s roof, the external appearance of the church resembles a mosque. The color scheme, the golden plates on the roof all appear to me as elements of Islamic design. As I entered the church, I have received a warm welcome from the church’s senior warden Gary Popovich. He mentioned that every part of the cathedral was a sanctuary for everyone, even to non-orthodox Christians. As Mr. Popovich gave me a mini tour of the church, the interiors further made me notice the distinction of Orthodox Church structures from that of most Roman Catholic structures. While both churches are known to have long, wide aisles leading to the altar, Cathedral of Christ the Savior’s hallway leading to the altar was a little compact despite the conventionality of its length. However, the lobby area of the church, or the narthex as it is properly called, was similar to lobbies of other churches in such a way that it has a board which posts announcements of the church’s activities for the week. Mr. Popovich however added that apart from the usual acknowledging of guests, the narthex is also significant in that tables are set up there during Easter to bless food that would be taken home by adherents after days of fasting and abstinence in the Lenten season. And in days of divine service and obligation, candles and offerings are sold in the narthex. As I was to be part of the Eastern Orthodox Communion for a day, Mr. Popovich toured me to the inner areas of the church. We then proceeded to the main area of the church, which, Mr. Popovich regarded as the nave. This area is where the people stay during divine services, and is thus considered sacred ground. Along the walls and the ceiling of the nave of the cathedral, I noticed numerous portraits of individuals considered holy by Orthodox Catholics including a large portrait of Christ in the ceiling. Mr. Popovich was about to give me a guided tour of what he calls an iconostasis or the room where all of the religious figures and paintings were placed, when he told me to be prepared because the service was about to start. So I proceeded to the nave to participate in the upcoming service. Although I did not clarify if there was any appropriate attire for adherents, I wore the conventional clothing reserved for church attendance. As the service started, everyone gathered in the nave of the cathedral. I first noticed that no one among the people in attendance was wearing casual clothing. The people around me had conservative clothing; the males wore formal attire with collared shirts and sleeves with cuffs. The females were all wearing mid-length and long skirts as well as blouses with sleeves. In addition, most of the women, though not all of them, sported head scarves during the service. Furthermore, apart from the clothing, I also noticed the cathedral’s segregation scheme. All the males were on the right hand side of the nave, while the females were on the right wing of the nave. While I was fascinated by the formality of the people in the church, I never asked them the relevance of wearing such clothing. I simply thought that the sanctity of their church together with the value they uphold for their tradition includes dressing well during services. Mr. Popovich informed me prior to the service that what I am going to be part of was the evening services otherwise the Vespers. I recall senior warden Popovich previously discussed that the Vespers begins at 9 in the evening, an hour which was actually based on the exact time of Christ’s death: 3:00 pm or the 9th hour in antiquated time. The service starts with the priest’s ceremonial blessing and continued with the usual beginnings, which, is basically a sequence of prayers that include the trisagion or the common hymn in almost every Orthodox liturgical service (Perry & Melling 190). The service then proceeded with the recital of the Lord’s Prayer before the actual scripture reading of psalms took place. The reader read about three psalms before reciting another short hymn called the troparion (Perry & Melling 37). Another hymn called the theotokion followed the troparion, the hymn was sung in honor of the mother of God. Particularly, the hymn honors the virgin mother of God for the incarnation of Christ through her. The singing of the hymn also coincided with the entrance of the clergy; the clergy coming from the Holy Doors signified that the creation of the world also marks man’s selection to live in paradise (Perry & Melling 295). As the service was progressing, I took a small window of time to look around and observe what was happening around me. In doing so, I noticed that most people get distracted at what they do knowing that an unfamiliar person is present to witness what they do, but I felt their utmost dedication to their obligations to God because my very presence did not even cause them to be distracted at what they do. Similarly, as much as it was a rare occasion for me to be part of their usual service, they must have felt that it was also a rare occasion to have an outsider among them, yet their dedication remained pure and untainted. A series of readings soon followed, after the clergy’s entrance, another series of hymns, the Phos Hilaron and the Prokeimenon marked a transition of the service to epistle reading. During the epistle reading, the adherents hear the words of God for enlightenment. For the first part, the reader read a passage from the Bible’s Old Testament. At the time, the reading was taken from the book of Elijah which announced what message God’s promised messiah would bring. After the reading of the scriptures, the Vespers was concluded by the Litany of Fervent Supplication and the final blessing of the presiding clergy. During the Litany of Fervent Supplication, the adherents pray that God may grant all Christians mercy. The litany is a responsorial prayer wherein the reader asks for mercy in every aspect and the people respond with the words â€Å"Grant it, O Lord. † After the final blessing has been given, the crowds of people are dismissed accordingly. Based on what I have seen in the liturgical service I attended, Orthodox Catholicism is a religion filled with tradition, symbolisms and customary ceremonies. But true service to God is not really measured by the traditions, the customs, and other rituals of sacrifice and praise; the true essence of serving God lies in a person’s obedient and relentless faith. Ultimately, the sacrifices and the customs do not matter if a person has little or weak faith. Works Cited Benz, Ernst. â€Å"The Eastern Orthodox Church: Its Thought and Life† New Jersey: Aldine Transaction, 2008 Parry, Ken & David Melling. â€Å"The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity† Malden, MA. : Blackwell Publishing, 1999. Ware, Timothy. â€Å"The Orthodox Church: New Edition†. New York: Penguin Books, 1997

Venture screening process Essays

Venture screening process Essays Venture screening process Essay Venture screening process Essay The new venture is an enterprise of a business nature in which there is considerable risk of loss as well as chance of gain (Oxford English Dictionary, 1989, Vol. XIX, p. 520). The word venture literally means a risky undertaking, which makes venture capitalists risk-takers. However, like all other types of investors, venture capitalists will only invest if perceived returns are greater than perceived risk. The saying, greater the risk, greater the return holds for venture capital financing provided it is not a speculative deal. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and quantify the probability of risk. The study by MacMillan, Siegel, and Narasimha have been undertaken to determine which criteria are important for evaluate new venture proposals. Some criteria have been point out by the Journal as the common criteria. This article is going to have a review on those criteria provide by MacMillan, Siegel, and Narasimaha and have a critical analysis whether those criteria provided could make the venture proposals successful. Summaries of the journal According to the study, the most important criteria is the quality of the entrepreneur that ultimately determines the funding decision. In the first part of the study, 24 criteria were scaled under 5 catalogs and use a survey method to examine the importance of them. The results of the study have found out that personality and experience, product and market characteristics and financial consideration are the most important criteria for venture capitalists to qualify the proposals. For personality and experience, the most important personality characteristics are evidence of staying power and an ability to handle risk. For product and market characteristics, the most important characteristic appears to be some proprietary protection. Finally for the financial considerations, the key concerns are with high upside potential and high investment liquidity. Then the study has identified 5 out of 10 most commonly rated criteria as essential have to do with the entrepreneurs themselves. By and large venture capitalists will not back ventures unless the entrepreneur is capable of sustained effort, has demonstrated leadership in the past, evaluates and reacts to risk well, has a track record relevant to the venture, and is capable of articulating the venture well. The study has also point out the characteristics of critically flawed proposals is a is important for venture capitalists to qualify the projects. That is , proposals that would be rejected by a significant majority of venture capitalists if they had only two flaws of the previous mentioned five most important criteria. Finally, with a factor analysis, the study allocates the venture capitalists into 3 broad types the Purposeful Risk Managers, the Determined Eclectics and the Parachutists. The Purposeful Risk Managers seeks the entrepreneurs with demonstrated leadership skills and a product and market with characteristics that clearly reduce the risk to manageable levels. The Determined Eclectics appear to deliberately impose an absolute minimum number of restrictions. And the Parachutists willing to support most ventures as long as they feel that they have a high liquidity parachute. The study by MacMillan, Siegel and Narasimha did provide us some common criteria for evaluating new proposals, but there are still some critics on those criteria listed by the author. Critiques of the journal According to the conclusion of the journal, the most important thing to consider for evaluation a new proposal is the quality of the entrepreneur. But in the real world venture capital practices there are some cases which quite match the criteria provide by MacMillan, Siegel and Narasimha and still failed. For example, according to the information provided by the study of MacMillan, Siegel and Subbanarasimha 1987, the investment on a highly familiar with the targeted market and had a well-established relevant track record team could just failed because the lack in capacity for sustained and intense effort. And also, according to the flawed ventures studies in this journal, it was said that if the proposals cannot match at least two of those indicator criteria the venture capitals would give up it. But there do are some example that represents a venture team lacking in terms of all the desirable criteria but only have high product protection and become successful. Finally, we should mention that Research by social judgment theorists suggests that espoused decision-making processes (that this present arguing study fallen in) may be a less than accurate reflection of in use decision-making processes (Shepherd, 1999, p.76). Conclusion The study that carried out by MacMillan, Siegel and Narasimha provide us some common criteria for evaluating new venture proposals. Those criteria are useful tools to indicate the successful of certain venture. Some of those criteria are key finds that still influence the venture capitalists in nowadays. But we should also notice there are numbers of criteria for judging a new proposal and some of those criteria have been marked as important criteria. But in real world practice proposals might be failed just because the lacking of the least important criteria even if they have all the other important criteria. And also, some venture cases may well successful with only one less important criteria (product protection) even they do not have any other desirable criteria mentioned by the study. As venture capital present a risk taking action, it is better to have a careful view on those criteria and chose the most appropriate one to reduce the risk to the lowest point. REFERENCES MacMillan, Zemann, Subbanarasimha, P. N 1987, Journal of Business Venturing Criteria distinguishing successful from unsuccessful ventures in the venture screening process Fred Pries 2001, Distinguishing successful from unsuccessful venture capital investments in technology-based new ventures: How investment decision criteria relate to deal performance, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Brealey Myers, Principles of corporate finance, McGraw-Hill 2003

Unveiling the Unknown This essay is a persuasive essay for English class concerning space exploration and reasons in which to do so.

Unveiling the Unknown This essay is a persuasive essay for English class concerning space exploration and reasons in which to do so. Some of Life's greatest questions have always been "Who are we?" "Why are we here?" and "Where are we going?" In a lifetime, most of us will probably never discover the answers to these questions. Many people use God as an outlet for answers to the questions they cannot explain themselves. Whether you believe in God or not, you are never going to truly know if he exists until death. That's why re-focusing our efforts on space exploration is the key to understanding everything going on around us. Space is out there waiting for us to reveal its mysterious secrets. Earth's future depends on space exploration. Life on Earth is beginning to wear away, and if we want to do something about it we must find new solutions.Perhaps the most important reason why human beings should focus on space exploration is because of the lack of natural resources on Earth.English: Artist's rendering of a Mars Exploration ...Someday we will run out of resources and it will be too late to find other solutions to our problems. That's why we have to study different ways of creating resources, so in the future we will have numerous ways of solving our problems. Asteroids have many minerals that aren't found on Earth. If we found out a way to drill asteroids and bring the minerals back to Earth's surface, we could make up for whatever we ran out of. Another possibility to drilling is we may find new minerals that can be used in the industrial field. Hematite, magnetite, and taconite are all minerals that can be found on Mars and the moon. When Earth's minerals become scarce we can use minerals other planets have to offer. These minerals can be useful for making steel, automobiles, and other types of transportation.Another reason why space...

Conjugation of Past or Preterite Tense Verbs in Spanish

Conjugation of Past or Preterite Tense Verbs in Spanish As one of Spanishs two simple past tenses, the preterite  has a conjugation that is essential to learn. It is the verb form used most often to tell of events that have already happened and that are seen as completed. The other simple past tense, the imperfect, is used for past actions that are not completed, meaning the past action did not have a definite beginning or a definite end. How to Conjugate the Preterite Tense In Spanish, verbs are the words that change the most often and depend on different tenses, moods, gender, and agreement in person according to what needs to be conveyed in the sentence. A verb ending can indicate when the action occurs, and also give the listener a better idea of who or what is performing the action. As is the case with standard Spanish conjugation rules, the preterite verb forms are made by removing the infinitive ending of the verb, such as -ar, -er or -ir, and replacing it with an ending that indicates who is performing the action of the verb. Verbs agree in person and number. For example, the infinitive or base form of the verb that means to speak is hablar. Its infinitive ending is -ar, and the verb stem is habl-. To say I spoke, remove the -ar, add -à © to the stem, forming hablà ©. Yo hablà © is I spoke. To say you spoke, singular you in an informal way, remove the -ar, add -aste to the stem, forming hablaste:  Tu hablaste is You spoke. Other forms exist for other personal pronouns. The endings are slightly different for verbs that end in -er and -ir, but the principle is the same. Remove the infinitive ending, then add the appropriate ending to the remaining stem. Conjugation of Regular -AR Verbs in the Preterite Tense Person -Ar Ending Infinitive: Hablar Translation: To Speak yo - habl I spoke t -aste hablaste you (informal) spoke l, ella, usted - habl he/she spoke, you (formal) spoke nosotros, nosotras -amos hablamos we spoke vosotros, vosotras -asteis hablasteis you spoke (informal) ellos, ellas, ustedes -aron hablaron they spoke, you (formal) spoke Conjugation of Regular -ER Verbs in the Preterite Tense Person -Er Ending Infinitive: Aprender Translation: To Learn yo - aprend I learned t -iste aprendiste you (informal) learned l, ella, usted -i aprendi he/she learned, you (formal) learned nosotros, nosotras -imos aprendimos we learned vosotros, vosotras -isteis aprendisteis you learned (informal) ellos, ellas, ustedes -ieron aprendieron they learned, you (formal) learned Conjugation of Regular -IR Verbs in the Preterite Tense Person -Ir Ending Infinitive: Escribir Translation: To Write yo - escrib I wrote t -iste escribiste you (informal) wrote l, ella, usted -i escribi he/she wrote, you (formal) wrote nosotros, nosotras -imos escribimos we wrote vosotros, vosotras -isteis escribisteis you wrote (informal) ellos, ellas, ustedes -ieron escribieron they wrote, you (formal) wrote In the preterite tense, regular -er and -ir verbs use the same pattern of endings. Additionally, the first-person plural, the we form of nosotros and nosotras, has the same conjugation for both the present indicative tense and the preterite past tense for -ar and -ir verbs. The word hablamos can mean either we speak or we spoke, and escribimos can mean either we write or we wrote. In most cases, the context of the sentence makes clear which tense is intended. Conjugations of Common Irregular Verbs Below are the preterite-tense for the irregular verbs you are most likely to use. Irregular forms are shown in boldface; the forms given follow the same order as in the charts above, beginning with the first-person singular and continuing to the third-person plural. dar (to give): di, diste, dio, dimos, disteis, dieron. decir (to say, to tell): dije, dijiste, dijo, dijimos, dijisteis, dijeron. estar (to be): estuve, estuviste, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvisteis, estuvieron. haber (to have as an auxiliary verb): hube, hubiste, hubo, hubimos, hubisteis, hubieron. hacer (to make, to do): hice, hiciste, hizo, hizimos, hicisteis, hicieron. ir (to be): fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron. (Note that the preterite conjugations of ir and ser are identical.) llegar (to arrive): lleguà ©, llegaste, llegà ³, llegamos, llegasteis, llegaron. poder (to be able, can): pude, pudiste, pudo, pudimos, pudisteis, pudieron. poner (to put): puse, pusiste, puso, pusimos, puisisteis, pusieron. querer (to be): quise, quisiste, quiso, quisimos, quisisteis, quisieron. saber (to know): supe, supiste, supo, supimos, supisteis, supieron. ser (to be): fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron. tener (to have or possess): tuve, tuviste, tuvo, tuvimos, tuvisteis, tuvieron. ver (to see): vi, viste, vio, vimos, visteis, vieron.

Spicy Cola Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Spicy Cola - Case Study Example Last Chance with the plan to expand its product line wants to enter into the soft drink beverage market. With the new product Spicy Cola the company wants to grab the market with its difference in the product feature. The company primarily targets the Australian supermarkets in Class A category and is not expected to be in direct competition with the similar player of the market like Pepsi and Coca Cola.The new product from Last Chance is mainly targeted towards the young generation for its trendy, cool and active nature and taste of the drinks. This product differentiation from the company is expected to have huge potential in the market for its unique taste. This research is mainly concerned with the development of the branding plan for the product. For finding the drawbacks of the product qualitative research survey was conducted amongst sample customer to understand the need of the product and its packaging for a proper implementation of the strategy in accordance to the mood, ta ste and color of the soft drink. The branding plan describes each and every aspects of the launch process from brand name, logo, target market, positioning strategy, pricing strategy, promotion and advertisement and packaging design for Spicy Cola to brand equity management system for the evaluation of the product success after the launch in the market. Rationale for brand name & brand mantra Building a brand name and brand mantra are one of the essential dimensions of product development process. Building a powerful brand name can even name the whole category of products like Xerox refers to photocopy category (Marconi & American Marketing Association, 2000, p. 4). Last Chance needs to develop a strong brand name for its Soft drinks in the market so that customers are more familiar to the product and can recognize the difference from its name. On the other hand brand mantra depicts the features of the product with a short phrase. The phrase gives the idea to the customer the positi on in the market and the target market which can influence the group to be more attracted towards the product (Keller, 2008, p. 144). The new soft drink from Last Chance was named as ‘Spicy Cola’ which clearly depicts its difference from the other players with its ‘SPICY’ flavor and also gives the impression in the mind of the people about its trendy, cool taste from the name which was mainly targeted towards the young generation. Brand elements and attributes Brand element is the nature of the product offered by the company and general information about the product with its characteristics and features (Keller, 2008, p. 163). It is the product features which make them different from others in the competitive market. With more relevance with the market need and the character of the product the more successful a brand can be in the market. Spicy Cola with its trendy, cool style refers to the friendly, free nature of the young generation. The black color and candy smell of the drink was perceived to be for both the genders and for all the age group of 12 to 30 and for all the cities. The sparkling cinnamon taste can be consumed at any point of time by the people. The design which was selected after the research survey also suits the identity of the product features which has a great potential to grab the market share in the cold drink beverage industry. Target Market Identifying the target audience can help the company to launch its product in a more successful manner. The primary and the secondary target market are needed to be identified by Last Chance in accordance to the product features and properly implement its strategy to the market to increase sales

Human resource performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human resource performance - Essay Example As coaching managers, they have to pay attention to the behaviors, values and skills that are linked to the desired outcomes by the organization. As the senior manager, I will emphasize on the need for listening as this aspect is counter-intuitive. For instance, I would ask the managers to meet with the employees or even the supervisors and managers so as they discuss the difficulties they encounter. Through sharing their points of view, these parties develop rapport; thus, accommodate each others point of view. Additionally, I will plan to focus on the behaviors that need to be changed. I will highlight these change areas in meetings. For instance, I will clearly highlight that use of unwanted language is unacceptable in the office, with specific examples that some employees or even supervisors used. Through explaining this out rightly to the employees will reduce chances of reoccurrence of the same as the particular individuals with these behaviors will know that have been identified from the crowd (Bacal 162). As the senior manager, I will focus on the need to explain the importance of interpersonal relationships in the workplace. As argued by Bacal, performance can only be attained in an organization only if another people’s interests are identified and respected (155). In this case, chances of verbal abuse will be minimal as the managers will instill the feeling of co-working in the entire workplace. None of the employees or supervisor will, therefore, take up a perfectionist role; thus, reduction of hostility and an increase in the employee relations (Weintraub & Hunt 112). In terms of increased turnover, I will train managers on the need to be more patient while hiring and not do it out of mere desperation. Gathering adequate information on an applicant is vital for the long term success of the company as the manager will hire the best person from the list of

Corporate finace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Corporate finace - Essay Example Online Travel Portal Limited used to be the former name of Opodo Limited prior to July 2001. It is a subsidiary of Amadeus IT Holding, South Africa. However, it is based in London, UK and was incorporated in the year 2000. The Financial Times reported that Permira Advisers Ltd. and AXA Private Equity seem to join hands together for the purpose of buying Opodo Limited from Amadeus IT Holding SA at the cost of â‚ ¬500 million that is equal to USD 682.5 million. The prime objective of the planned buyout is to develop the best online booking services provider through merging the Opodo Limited with the eFreame and Go Voyages SA. Also, the American Carlyle Group has shown some intend to buy Opodo limited due to which the bids for Opodo exceeded â‚ ¬400 million since any bid would probably be challenged by Carlyle Group. Some sources reported that the Permira would bid through Vacaciones eDreams, S.L. where as the Axa would be bidding through Go Voyages SA. The process of this sale wi ll be handled by the JPMorgan Chase. Permira and Axa have been bidding against each other for the acquisition of medium sized European web based travel agencies prior to joining together so as to acquire Opodo Limited. In the last year, Permira defeated Axa so as to acquire eDreams-Spanish online agency where as the Axa won against Permira for the acquisition of Go Voyages. After which they together planned to develop a giant European agency through merging the Opodo Limited, after its acquisition if their bid for it is successful, with the previously acquired eDreams and Go Voyages. At present, the Amadeus IT Holding owns the Opodo Limited and this business venture involves only 4 % of their entire business turnover. Financial Performance Indicators Financial performance indicators for the three companies are provided below. Chart 1: Annual Sales Permira Advisers Ltd for the Last 5 Years in Million USD. The chart 1 given above provides interesting information about the annual sales of the Permira Advisers Ltd that enables us to apprehend the performance of the company before the acquisition of OPODO Limited. Chart 2: Annual Sales AXA Private Equity for the Last 5 Years in Million USD. The chart 2 given above provides interesting information about the annual sales of the AXA Private Equity that enables us to apprehend the performance of the company before the acquisition of OPODO Limited. Chart 3: Annual Sales OPODO Limited for the Last 5 Years in Million USD. The chart provides interesting information about the annual sales of the OPODO Limited that enables us to apprehend the performance of the company before its acquisition. Due to the above performance of Opodo, other companies are interested towards its acquisition. Why Are Mergers & Acquisitions Interesting? The most important factor for the mergers and acquisitions is the existence of "synergies" that enables the two companies to operate more efficiently together in comparison to be working individually . Nevertheless in some cases, organization may obtain tax benefits from a merger or acquisition. 'Horizontal' mergers that take place between companies functioning in the same industry at the same production level may also be instigated through the wish for greater market power, as in the current case of OPODO acquisition by the Permira and AXA (being merged together). Also,

Childhood Obesity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Childhood Obesity - Research Paper Example It should also be noted that children are becoming obese at a younger age and as Ebbeling et al (2002) put it, this can be highly attributed to the sedentary life lived for most part of the day at school. Arguing from Ebbeling claim, it is evident that many obese children take little or no time to engage in physical activities. Research indicates that children age 6-11 are vulnerable to obesity because of the nature of life they lead. For example, a child goes to school by bus, takes most of his time in class seated, and goes home by bus. This child may have no time to engage in an exercise that would result into sweating. Healthy living guides demand that children should engage in physical exercise in order to make them active. Many parents are not aware of the danger involved when a child does not take any exercises. Method of data collection For this research, questionnaires will be used as the method of data collection. The questionnaires will be designed in such a way that it wi ll allow the obese children, parents and teachers or social workers to respond. This will ensure that adequate information is collected relating to the child’s eating habits and level of activity both at home and school. Data collection will take place at home and school with the consent of the teachers and parents. Another method of data collection would be research information obtained from libraries. This information would help to identify aspects that promote obesity among children. Preliminary findings Results obtained so far indicate that many children in the US are becoming obese at a younger age and at the same time; there is a rise in the number of pre-schools in center-based programs (Peiser et al, 2005). According to the findings obesity cases in... The paper tells that main cause of child obesity is physical inactivity is important because childhood obesity is steadily affecting low income and middle-income countries. This means that childhood obesity is not just about eating in excess or getting a lot of calorie-rich drinks and foods. It should also be noted that children are becoming obese at a younger age and as Ebbeling et al put it, this can be highly attributed to the sedentary life lived for most part of the day at school. Research indicates that children age 6-11 are vulnerable to obesity because of the nature of life they lead. For example, a child goes to school by bus, takes most of his time in class seated, and goes home by bus. This child may have no time to engage in an exercise that would result into sweating. Healthy living guides demand that children should engage in physical exercise in order to make them active. Many parents are not aware of the danger involved when a child does not take any exercises. The re port recommends increase in time allocated for physical exercise among children in school. Another recommendation of the report is to limit time taken by children playing non-physical games. This will lead children to active participation. In conclusion, obesity is a disease that results from accumulation of too much fat in the body. Obesity leads to low self-esteem, social stagnation and health complexities. Research findings indicate that physical inactiveness of a child promotes obesity among the children. Largely, accumulation of fats in the body results from eating without spending the same amount of energy.

Trend report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Trend report - Essay Example This narrowed the gap from the peak by 14 percent (Kenneth, 2012). Table 1 below summarized the trend. Based on Thomas’ report, 39 years had elapsed and yet the real wage was still below the reported peak wage of 1972. In the real sense, by 2011, it was still 14 percent below the peak wage (Thomas, 2012). Despite the dwindling wage levels for workers in the country, the Federal Reserve Bank claimed that the country’s productivity was at a steady increase during this period. The study by Lawrence, Jared and Heidi (2009) showed that wage trends fueled the inequalities in income growth in the United States. In the real sense, wage comprise of three quarter of the family’s total income. However, for the broad middle class group, salaries and wages consist of more than three quarters of the families’ income. It was estimated that between 1973 and the year 2011, real hourly wage attributed to a median worker only reported a 10.7 percent increase. This was mostly witnessed in the late1990s. On the contrary, real wage again registered a stagnated growth between 2002 and 2003. This is why the last decade is referred to as lost decades in terms of wage growth. Another prediction based on the study is that in cases unemployment problem persists, there is high likelihood that the country will have another lost decade in the near future. This section will provide the trends in the employees wage for the last two and half decades. Wage trend is known to have played a critical role in the families and households income trends, particularly, with the growing wage inequality being reported in the United States (Lawrence, Jared and Heidi, 2012). Basically, wage stagnation led affected income growth in the year 2000. It also contributed to high unemployment rates and recession of 2007 and 2011. The reason for the stagnation includes weak recovery phases between 2002 and 2007 and loss of income during the

The usage of derivative instruments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The usage of derivative instruments - Essay Example The paper tells that in the present day context, the degree of competition was observed to be witnessing a significant rise along with the environment of business undergoing a constant alteration. The constant alterations have been giving rise to unforeseen situations that calls for effectual management with respect to the companies as well as banks. Therefore, it can be inferred that in relation to the mentioned context, it becomes important for the business enterprises to effectually manage the unforeseen risks from beforehand. It was identified in this regard that the most widely used financing strategies to overcome the challenges raised by business risks are the use of financial derivatives. Examples of financial derivatives used in the current risk management strategies are options and futures, and forward contracts. Options are defined as â€Å"the right and not the obligation to buy or sell something on a specified date at a specified price†. On the similar context, fu tures and forward contracts are also considered as significant risk management tools that are based on the value of fundamental assets. However, these techniques are subject to various factors such as credit rates, interest rates, currency fluctuations and other financial aspects which should be taken into consideration prior to the execution of this strategy. A derivative has been defined as an agreement that is found to take place among a buyer as well as a seller and gets initiated on the current date with regard to a particular transaction that is expected to be realised on a future date or time. For example, the tr

Trend report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Trend report - Essay Example This narrowed the gap from the peak by 14 percent (Kenneth, 2012). Table 1 below summarized the trend. Based on Thomas’ report, 39 years had elapsed and yet the real wage was still below the reported peak wage of 1972. In the real sense, by 2011, it was still 14 percent below the peak wage (Thomas, 2012). Despite the dwindling wage levels for workers in the country, the Federal Reserve Bank claimed that the country’s productivity was at a steady increase during this period. The study by Lawrence, Jared and Heidi (2009) showed that wage trends fueled the inequalities in income growth in the United States. In the real sense, wage comprise of three quarter of the family’s total income. However, for the broad middle class group, salaries and wages consist of more than three quarters of the families’ income. It was estimated that between 1973 and the year 2011, real hourly wage attributed to a median worker only reported a 10.7 percent increase. This was mostly witnessed in the late1990s. On the contrary, real wage again registered a stagnated growth between 2002 and 2003. This is why the last decade is referred to as lost decades in terms of wage growth. Another prediction based on the study is that in cases unemployment problem persists, there is high likelihood that the country will have another lost decade in the near future. This section will provide the trends in the employees wage for the last two and half decades. Wage trend is known to have played a critical role in the families and households income trends, particularly, with the growing wage inequality being reported in the United States (Lawrence, Jared and Heidi, 2012). Basically, wage stagnation led affected income growth in the year 2000. It also contributed to high unemployment rates and recession of 2007 and 2011. The reason for the stagnation includes weak recovery phases between 2002 and 2007 and loss of income during the

Human Atrocities Essay Example for Free

Human Atrocities Essay In the age of terrorism and nuclear wars, one of the greatest challenges that the human community is facing right now is to curb human rights violations that is occurring in almost all parts of the world. Even the citizens of the most democratic of nations are not spared from a certain degree of human rights violations or atrocities. This is a fact that all citizens of the world must face and bravely address. But the bigger question is this: who is responsible to curb human atrocities? More specifically, what can the international and local community do to intervene in such atrocities? To answer these questions, I believe we must first arrive at a definition of human rights violations or atrocities. According to Wikipedia, human rights refers to the universal rights of all human beings regardless of race, color, nationality, religion gender and culture. From the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is basically based on inherent human dignity. Concurrently, human atrocities are violations of rights inherent to an individual. Normally, it is a term used when a government violates national or international law related to the protection of human rights. (Wikipedia, 2007) I am of the opinion that the international community has an inherent responsibility to stand up against any form of human rights abuse. International courts such as the International Criminal Court and international organizations such as the United Nations must be vigilant in protecting the rights of each human being. They must be the first to safeguard the interest of each person against any crime that may be done against them by either the military in their respective government or their government per se. For instance, the International Criminal Court is designed to bring into effect those peremptory norms of international law which safeguard such fundamental values as human dignity, the respect for life and limb of innocent persons, and the protection of ethnic, religious or racial groups. (Cassesse, 2007) In addition, the International Criminal Court must bring to justice any state which violates the dignity of its citizens. Doing so will uphold the most important international values, including the respect for human rights. Moreover, taking these steps will uphold and vindicate community rights. International non-governmental organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch is an indication of what the international community can do in order to help curb the rise of human atrocities in any country. They have the resources to let the international community know of any wrongdoings being done in certain areas of the world. They can mobilize other local organizations to stand up against these atrocities by mobilizing public opinion. For instance, Amnesty International has worked and is further exerting its efforts for the protection of those detained because of their non-violent opinions and is seeking that Articles 18 and 19 of the UDHR be recognized globally. On the other hand, Human Rights Watch opposes basic human rights violations like death penalty and sex discrimination. It is an advocate of freedom relating to fundamental human rights like freedom of religion and the press. Another significant player in the bid to curb human atrocities is the local community. One cannot overemphasize on the power of the locals to intervene in such problems. Setting up international organizations will not solve the problems that are festering a country. Healing must come from within. The local community must always be on the look-out for any atrocities being done and must bravely report this to the authorities. As noted in the website of the Crimes of War Project, each international institution will need the support and cooperation of other institutions and, most significantly, of States themselves and local communities for that matter. For example, local community can be a source of vital information related to the patterns and mechanisms of the problems in the community that can help solve an international crisis. (Cassesse, 2007) I also believe that the power of media can be best utilized in addressing the realities of human rights violations. Since the media can effectively capture the attention of many people, the local and international media should make it their responsibility to report any news of wrongdoings or injustice. (Cassesse, 2007) This will also help in making each community –whether local or international—to be more vigilant in such cases. It must be understood that the measures to be taken by the international community will have no significant bearing without the support of the local community. No amount of intervention will be effective if the local community will not render its support. As noted by Antonio Cassesse in an article entitled â€Å"A Big Step Forward for International Justice†, the best response to atrocities lies in a prudent and well thought-out combination of various approaches both local and international. (Cassesse, 2007) He writes, â€Å"international criminal law is a branch of law that, more than any other, is about human folly, human wickedness, and human aggressiveness. It deals with the darkest side of our nature. It also deals with the way societies organize themselves to stem violence and viciousness as much as possible. Clearly, given the magnitude of the task, no single response may suffice. Instead, a broad array of responses, each tailored to specific circumstances, is needed effectively to fight international criminality. † (Cassesse, 2007) Hence, intervention of human atrocities is both a local and international responsibility –one that must be taken seriously and diligently by all societies in the world. Cited Works Cassesse, Antonio. crimesofwar. org. â€Å"A Big Step Forward for International Justice. † 7 March 2007. http://www. crimesofwar. org/icc_magazine/icc-cassese. html Wikipedia. â€Å"Human Rights. † 7 March 2007. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Human_rights#Violations_of_human_rights

Different Approaches To Completing Tasks

Different Approaches To Completing Tasks Imagine that you work for a multinational IT company and have been transferred to Japan for five years project. You want to adjust yourself culturally to the new environment so that you do not have cross cultural problems. Which aspect of the local culture would you wish to observe and understand in order to avoid problems of cross cultural communication? INTRODUCTION Communication is the process of exchanging ideas, facts and figures from one person to another. The term cross cultural implies interaction with people of different cultural, ethnic, age and class backgrounds. Communication is interactive in nature and is greatly influenced by our relationship with others. Different words may mean different meanings to different people. In addition to this what makes cross cultural communication really difficult is the difference in language even the same word can mean different things. Cross cultural communication is a form of global communication which describes how people of different culture communicate and interact with each other in different ways among themselves. Cross cultural communication is a field of study that draws various ways that we have learned to speak and gives non-verbal messages. Thus miscommunication is likely to happen when it involves significant cultural differences among the communicators. This is what known as Cross Cultural difference. FUNDAMENTAL PATTERNS OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCES There are six different cultural patterns that tend to vary from one person to another person. These are discussed as follows: Varying communication styles The way people communicate varies widely within people of different cultures. What may mean to one person may have a different meaning to other person. This aspect of communication style is known as language usage. Some words carries different meaning across different cultures. Another aspect of the communication style is the degree of importance given to verbal and non-verbal communication. Non-verbal communication not only includes gestures and facial expressions but also involves sense of time, personal distance etc. Different approaches to completing the tasks Approaches to completing tasks vary from culture to culture. The reason behind this is different judgments of the rewards associated with the accomplishment of the task, different notions of time and access to resources available. For example Asian culture tends to give more importance to the developing relationships and emphasize more on the task completion towards the end as compared to the European-American culture. Varying attitudes towards conflicts Some cultures see conflict in positive manner while others view it as something to be avoided. In the U.S conflict is not considered to be desirable however people often are encouraged to directly face conflicts as they arise. In eastern countries conflicts are considered to be embarrassing; a written exchange might be favorable means to address the conflict instead of speaking. Different styles of decision making The role played by an individual in decision making process varies from culture to culture. For example in US decisions are frequently delegated i.e. an official assigns the responsibilities to the subordinates associated with the task while in Japan consensus is the preferred mode. Different attitudes towards disclosure In some cultures it is not considered appropriate to be open about emotions, personal feelings and information or a conflict or misunderstanding. When you are working with others or dealing with a conflict questions like what was the conflict about? Or what was your role in the conflict may seem natural to you but may seem intrusive to others. Varying approaches to knowing Differences are likely to occur among cultural groups when it comes to knowing things. For example European culture tends to consider information acquired by measuring and counting rather than the other ways of coming to knowing things. Compare that to African cultures preference for affecting ways of knowing things including rhythm and symbolic imagery. Some of the common aspects and challenges that he observed in Japanese culture are discussed as follows: Rules and etiquettes Japanese adheres closely to rules and regulations. It was clearly evident from the low crime rates. Aspects of etiquettes include vocabulary, grammar for polite conversation, Principles for exchanging gifts and greeting others. This made him aware that Japanese are very certain about their rules and regulations. Hierarchy In Japan a strong hierarchical structure still exists with respect, responsibility and authority being rewarded based on age, status and experience. When communicating with Japanese it is considered wise to pay attention towards the face. Face is closely linked with personal pride and forms the basis for an individuals status and reputation. Damaging face through over confrontation can be disastrous for business relationship in Japan. Concept of time Time is one of the major challenges while working in Japanese culture as Japanese are very strict regarding the punctuality. While working being early or on time for all appointments, meetings whether formal or informal is a show of respect and sincerity towards the task while any event of being late requires an apology. Communication styles Understanding communication style is another biggest challenge that is often faced while working in Japanese culture. Japanese have a preference for indirect and high context communication. They emphasize more on the impact of body language, developing relationship, emotions and other non-verbal communication. Harmony In Japan there is more emphasizing on collectivism rather than individualism. They place significant emphasize on loyalty towards the group. In Japanese culture it is important to understand that praising or prioritizing any one individual over others is likely to be embarrassing. Excessive hard working attitude Japanese people are highly dedicated to their work. For them, there is no day-night, hunger-thirst. When they are determined to achieve something, they achieve it any cost without thinking about any kind of comfort. For example if in India, 10 cars are manufactured in a day then in Japan, that number is 100. So, this is also a major challenge. OVERCOMING CROSS CULTURAL DIFFERENCES No matter whom you are or where you live or which culture you come from it is important to recognize that although other people may dress like you or even work for the same company they are not just like you. Some of the common aspects that Mr. A observed and decided to follows in order to overcome cross cultural differences are discussed as follows. The key to effective cross cultural communication is knowledge. It is very essential for people to understand the potential problems of cross cultural communication and to be prepared to adjust your behavior accordingly. Try to learn from generalizations about other cultures, but do not use those generalizations to oversimplify your ideas about other persons. One should practice and practice because the more effort you put in observing and learning about other culture more easily you can overcome cross cultural difference. One should not assume that his way of communicating is the only right way of communication in fact one should keep questioning about his assumptions about the right way to communicate. Try to listen actively and empathetically. By putting yourself in the other persons shoes especially when other persons perceptions and ideas are completely different from your own, you might need to operate at the edge of your own comfort zone. Another key ingredient that helps in overcoming cross cultural difference is developing awareness about an individuals culture. This is because if you dont have understanding about different cultures than how do you communicate to someone who understands and relates to the world differently to you. Reflective listening plays an important role in overcoming cross cultural differences. It is very helpful in checking out the meaning of what someone says by repeating back what you have heard which in turn helps you to confirm what has been said accurately. Another important point that one must keep in his mind at workplace is to be wise. People need to be aware how to interact with people with respect and knowledge. One must show maturity of thought and action in dealing with people. Thus working across different cultures requires a diverse skill set and a different business approach from business in general. When bridging the cultures both similar and foreign to our own certain strategies are crucial for the success of international project which are briefly described as follows. Learning about the project beforehand This helps to get a feel for the atmosphere, attitude and the angle that the business has. Observing new environment One must carefully observe how people act, dress and treat each other. This will keep a persons observation skills engaged and alert to elements that will help you to adjust in new environment easily. Allow more time Working across different culture takes more time to adjust. Communication may be slowed and logistics may be different. Give yourself more time to process information before taking any decision. Learn to tolerate uncertainty Definitive and concrete answers may not always be given especially when you working with Japanese culture with high tolerance for uncertainty.

Tribal Living :: Government Lifestyle Social Essays

Tribal Living As post 9/11 Americans, we've spent a lot of time claiming unity and community while we waive our bloodstained flags with pride. Our sense of union is a warm fuzzy at most while we watch the evening news, but in reality is choked by the hate and fear that is instilled in us by the "Great State." It is comparable to the church, we go to be spiritual one day a week and live like hell the other six days, making the trip in vain. I want to attempt to unravel the bandages and let the scales fall from blinded eyes so we can see what true community is. The government in place can only lead to more disappointments and less comradery. I plan to expose big American bureaucracy that leaves many in a very closed off, narcissistic lifestyle, and find solutions in more concentrated forms of rule, so we can achieve unity through a more communal process. The first observation can be made from the comfort of our cars. Weà ­ve all seen the star-striped flags on the rear windows of other vehicles on the road, but try to pass and youà ­ll catch a great big finger from the front. Why is this? Why do we not sponsor the motto, "Live and let live?" Washington calls for one voice against terrorism and has used it as license to kill anyone who slightly threatens that voice. We are the biggest threat to the world, only it has become our manifest destiny to be its peace holder. We go and enforce our way of life, leaving other nations in ruins while our own homes lay in more destructive, less obvious ruin. We lack community and social obligation. Our era is often characterized by individualism (Firat and Venkatesh, 1993), which is the logical conclusion when government is impersonal, and the only way of being noticed is by taking personal action to show our own existence, our own difference (Elliot, 1997). The faà ade that is our American uni ty will not hold back the waters, and will only lead to a more detached, self-absorbed society. One of the most visible consequences of a nation turning to individualism is a lack of social interaction. With technology increasing, and products and services right behind, many are freed from tasks that would have previously required their confrontations with others. The internet has made it so that shopping, paying bills, and even conversing can be done by punching a few keys (all this weà ­ve known for years).

Odysseus :: essays research papers

Odysseus is a hero of all times thanks to Homer who wrote his story in The Odyssey. Odysseus is a hero in his on time because of all his adventures and characteristics. Homer wrote about the Trojan War, in which Odysseus took part in, in the Iliad, and about Odysseus’ long journey home in, The Odyssey. There have been theories that suggest that Homer was illiterate and could not have possibly recited poems of these lengths by memory, and that they were put together much later on and added to. However, there is evidence that a city, possible Troy, existed and was destroyed. Also there was a kingdom of Ithica which allows for a king Odysseus. Even if the King did not go to the war there was still a chance that he might have existed. In the Odyssey, Homer used a narrative structure to tell his stories. The original texts were wrote on papyrus scrolls and it is theorized that these scrolls each told a chapter in Homers plays. The modern version of The Odyssey is a combination of all these scrolls that could have existed as separate stories about Odysseus’ travels, his encounters, and how he obtained his status as a hero. Ancient Greece has always been an interest of mine. In 6th grade a teacher that I had know for my whole schooling showed a movie every week. One week we watched â€Å"Jason and the Argonaughts†. Ever since then I could never get enough Greek mythology. In freshman year of high school we read the annotated text book version of The Odyssey. Lucky for me, I transferred English classes at the semester and I was able to read The Odyssey twice. And since then Odysseus has been a hero to me. The story starts in book 9, Odysseus telling his story to the King of Phaeaica. They sacked a city then sailed away when faced with opposing force. Next, they landed on the island of the lotus-eaters. After Odysseus pried his crew away from the lotus-eaters, they landed on the island of the Cyclops. Here is where Odysseus displays all his heroic qualities. Odysseus picked twelve of the best warriors from his crew to accompany him on the visit to the Cyclops, Polyphemus, and son of the god that shakes the Earth, Poseidon. Polyphemus takes Odysseus captive and proceeds to eat his warriors for meals. Odysseus dreams up an ingenious plan.

D.H Lawrence’s “Tickets Please” Essay

In tickets there are two main characters, these are John Thomas and Annie. Annie works on the trams and girls are only chosen to work on the trams of they have a confidant nature and a certain no-nonsense approach to men. And this affects her relationship with John Thomas. There are many ways how Lawrence shows how Annie and John Thomas are attracted to each other. The first example of this is on page eighty three paragraph two. † She could tell by the movement of his mouth and eyes, when he flirted with her in the morning in the morning, that he had been walking out with this lass, or the other, the night before. A fine cock-of-the-walk he was. She could some him up pretty well.† The part where she says she could tell by the movement of his eyes and his lips show that she must have some interest in him because she must have studied his movements; this shows at the very least she is interested in him. Another example that shows that they are attracted to each other is the fact that Annie says that she keeps John Thomas at an arm length away from her but John Thomas keeps coming back to try and win her over. Just to show that John Thomas is attracted to her he goes out with another girl after she turns him down as if just to spite her. This also shows more than a passing interest in Annie. On page eighty three we see how Annie and John Thomas react to each other. In paragraph three Lawrence shows and tells us how they react to each other † In this subtle antagonism they knew each other like old friends, they were as shrewd with one another almost as man and wife.† This tells us that when they flirt with each other they are like old friends, it is almost like a routine they both know of-by-heart but carry it on none the less. An example of how John Thomas reacts to Annie is on page eighty four where Annie meets John Thomas at the fair. The example is on the fourth paragraph. â€Å"John Thomas made her stay on for the next round. And therefore she could hardly for shame repulse him when he out his arm around her and drew her a  little nearer to him, in a very warm and cuddly manner. Besides he was fairly discreet, he kept his movements as hidden as possible.† This shows us that John Thomas is reacting to Annie less in the capacity as her friend but more as her boyfriend. We can also tell how Annie reacts to John Thomas in the extract above. In the quote above Annie tells us that John Thomas puts her arm around her and she says he did it in a very cuddly manner and that he was fairly discreet. It is almost as if Annie is trying to convince herself that there is nothing wrong with what she is doing and feeling. Annie is rapidly forgetting that she has a boyfriend and is becoming ensnared in John Thomas’s ploy. In the end Annie decides to get her own back on John Thomas for rejecting her and she goes round her work place subtle suggesting to the other girls that he had dumped that it would be a good idea to get their revenge on him. In the end I think John Thomas â€Å"wins† because he is completely humiliated by been beaten up by the girls and yet when he is forced to choose which one of the girls he is going to stay with he chooses Annie. Annie seems horrified by this because the very thought revolts her due to what he is. In John Thomas’s humiliation it is almost as if the humiliation that has been inflicted upon him has been traversed to Annie as she begins to realise the full consequences of hat she has done. She has cheated on her boyfriend and she herself also feels humiliated by inflicting pain and taking her revenge too far.