The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Thirty-Five

Initiation night for the newest members of the Vitale Society had arrived at last. The cavernous room was lit only by golden candlelight from long tapers placed around the space and by the fire of high-flaming torches against the wal s. In the flickering light, the animals carved in the wood of the pil ars and arches almost seemed to be moving. Matt, dressed in a dark hooded robe like the other initiates, gazed around proudly. They'd worked hard, and the room looked amazing. At the front of the room, beneath the highest arch, a long table had been placed, draped in a heavy red satin cloth and looking like some kind of altar. In the center of the table sat a huge deep stone bowl, almost like a baptismal font, and around it roses and orchids were set. More flowers had been scattered on the floor, and the scent of the crushed blossoms underfoot was so strong that it was dizzying. The pledges were lined up, evenly spaced, before the altar. As if she'd picked up on his pride at how everything had turned out, Chloe pushed her dark hood back a bit and leaned toward him to mutter, â€Å"Pretty fabulous, huh?† Matt smiled at her. So what if she was dating someone else? He stil liked her. He wanted to stay friends, even if that was al there could be between them. He tugged at his robe self-consciously; the fabric was heavy, and he didn't like the way it blocked his peripheral vision. The current masked members of the Vitale Society wove silently among the pledges, handing out goblets ful of some kind of liquid. Matt sniffed his and smel ed ginger and chamomile as Wellas less familiar scents: so this was where the herbs had been used. He smiled at the girl who gave it to him, but got no response. Her eyes behind the mask slid over him neutral y, and she moved on. Once he was a ful member of the Vitale Society, he would know who these current members were, would see them without their masks. He sipped from his goblet and grimaced: it tasted strange and bitter. The soft rustlings of cloaked figures moving across the floor were silenced as the last of the goblets was handed out and the masked Vitales quietly retreated under the arch behind the altar to watch. Ethan stepped forward, up to the altar, and pushed back his hood. â€Å"Welcome,† he said, holding out his hands to the assembled pledges. â€Å"Welcome to true power at last.† The candlelight flickered over his face, twisting it into something unfamiliar and almost sinister. Matt twitched nervously and took another swal ow of the bitter herbal mixture. â€Å"A toast!† Ethan cal ed. He raised his own goblet, and before him, the pledges raised theirs. He hesitated for a moment, then said, â€Å"To moving beyond the veil and discovering the truth.† Matt raised his goblet and drained it with the other pledges. The mixture left a gritty feeling on his tongue, and he scraped it absently against his teeth. Ethan looked around at the pledges and smiled, locking gazes with one after another. â€Å"You've al worked so hard,† he said affectionately. â€Å"Each of you has reached his or her personal peak of intel igence, strength, and leadership ability now. Together, you are a force to be reckoned with. You have been perfected.† Matt managed to politely restrain himself from rol ing his eyes. It was nice to be praised, of course, but sometimes Ethan was a little too over the top: perfected? Matt doubted it was even possible. It seemed to him that you could always strive to be a little more, or a little less, something. You could always wish to be better. But even if he could, after al , be perfected, he suspected that it would take more than a few obstacle courses and group problem-solving exercises to do it. â€Å"And now it is time to at last discover your purpose,† Ethan continued. â€Å"Time to complete the final stage in your transformation from ordinary students into true avatars of power.† He took a clean and shining silver cup from the altar and dipped it into the deep stone bowl in front of him. â€Å"With every step forward in evolution, there must be some sacrifice. I regret any pain this wil cause you. Be comforted by the knowledge that al suffering is temporary. Anna, step forward.† There was a slight uneasy stirring among the pledges. This talk of suffering and sacrifice was different than Ethan's usual emphasis on honor and power. Matt frowned. Something was wrong here. But Anna, looking tiny in her long robe, walked without hesitation up to the altar and pushed back her hood. â€Å"Drink of me,† Ethan said, handing her the silver cup. Anna blinked uncertainly and then, her eyes on Ethan, tipped back her head and drained the cup. As she handed it back to Ethan, she licked her lips automatical y, and Matt tried to peer more closely at her. In the flickering candlelight, her lips looked unnatural y red and slick. Then Ethan led her around the side of the altar and into his arms. He smiled, and his face twisted, his eyes dilating and his lips pul ing back in a snarl. His teeth looked so long, so sharp. Matt tried to shout a warning but realized with horror that he couldn't move his lips, couldn't draw the breath to cal out. He knew, suddenly, that he had been a fool. Ethan sank his fangs deep into Anna's neck. Matt strained, trying to run toward them, to attack Ethan and throw him away from Anna. But he couldn't move at al . He must be under some kind of compulsion. Or perhaps something in the drink, some magic ingredient, had made them al docile and stil . He watched helplessly as Anna struggled for a few moments, then went limp, her eyes rol ing back in her head. Unceremoniously, Ethan let her body drop to the ground. â€Å"Don't be afraid,† he said kindly, gazing around at the horrified, frozen pledges. â€Å"Al of us† – he gestured toward the silent, masked Vitale behind him – â€Å"went through this initiation recently. You must brace yourself to suffer what is only a smal , temporary death, and then you wil be one of us, a true Vitale. Never growing old, never dying. Powerful forever.† Sharp white teeth and golden eyes shining in the candlelight, Ethan reached out toward the next pledge as Matt struggled again to shout, to fight. Ethan continued, â€Å"Stuart, step forward.† Elena smel ed so good, rich and sweet like an exotic ripe fruit. Damon wanted to simply bury his head in the soft skin at the crook of her neck and just inhale her for a decade or two. Snaking his arm through hers, he pul ed her closer. â€Å"You can't come in with me,† she told him for the second time. â€Å"I might be able to get James to talk to me because it's a question about my parents, but I don't think he'l tel me anything if someone else is there. Whatever the truth is about the Vitale Society and my parents, I think he's embarrassed about it. Or afraid, or †¦ something.† Without paying attention to what she was doing, Elena shifted her grip and held on to Damon's arm more firmly. â€Å"Fine,† Damon said stubbornly. â€Å"I'l wait outside. I won't let him see me. But you're not to walk across campus at night by yourself. It's not safe.† â€Å"Yes, Damon,† Elena said in a convincing imitation of meekness, and rested her head on his shoulder. The lemony scent of her shampoo mixed with the more essential Elena smel of her. Damon sighed with contentment. She cared for him, he knew that, and Stefan had taken himself out of the picture. She was stil young, his princess, and a human heart could heal. Maybe, with Stefan gone, she would final y see how much closer she was, mind and soul, to Damon, how perfectly they fit together. In any case, she was his for now. He lifted his free hand and stroked her head, her silky hair pliant beneath his fingers, and smiled. The professor's house was barely off campus, just across the street from the gilded entrance gates. They'd almost reached the edge of campus when a familiar presence that had been lurking nearby at last came very close. Damon wheeled to scan the shadows, pul ing Elena with him. â€Å"What is it?† Elena said, alarmed. Come out, Damon thought with exasperation, sending his silent message toward the thickest shadows at the base of a crowd of oak trees. You know you can't hide from me. One dark shadow detached itself from the rest, stepping forward on the path. Stefan simply gazed at the ground, shoulders slumped, his hands loose and open by his sides. Elena gasped, a smal hurt sound. Stefan looked terrible, Damon thought, not without sympathy. His face seemed hol ow and strained, his cheekbones more prominent than usual, and Damon would have bet that he wasn't feeding properly. Damon felt a twinge of disquiet. He didn't take pleasure in causing his brother pain. Not anymore. â€Å"Well?† Damon said, raising his eyebrows. Stefan glanced up at him. I don't want to fight with you, Damon, he said silently. So don't, Damon shot back at him, and Stefan's mouth twitched in a half smile of acknowledgment. â€Å"Stefan,† Elena said suddenly, sounding like the word had been jerked out of her. â€Å"Please, Stefan.† Stefan stared down at the path under his feet, not meeting her eyes. â€Å"I sensed you were nearby, Elena, and I felt your anxiety,† he said wearily. â€Å"I thought you might have been in trouble. I'm sorry, I was mistaken. I shouldn't have come.† Elena stiffened, and her long dark lashes fel over her eyes, hiding, Damon was almost sure, the beginnings of tears. A long silence stretched between them. Final y, irritated by the tension, Damon made an effort to ease it. â€Å"So,† he said casual y, â€Å"we broke into the campus security office last night.† Stefan looked up with a flicker of interest. â€Å"Oh? Did you find anything useful?† â€Å"Crime scene photos, but they weren't very helpful,† Damon said, shrugging. â€Å"The folders were marked with black Vs, so we're trying to figure out what that means. Elena's going to talk to her professor about the Vitale Society, see if it could have anything to do with them.† â€Å"The†¦ Vitale Society?† Stefan said hesitantly. Damon waved a hand dismissively. â€Å"A secret society from back in the day when Elena's parents were here,† he said. â€Å"Who knows? It may be nothing.† Drawing a hand across his face, Stefan seemed to be thinking hard. â€Å"Oh, no,† he muttered. Then, looking at Elena for the first time, he asked, â€Å"Where's Matt?† â€Å"Matt?† Elena echoed, startled out of her wistful contemplation of Stefan. â€Å"Um, I think he had some kind of meeting tonight. Footbal stuff, maybe?† â€Å"I have to go,† Stefan said tightly, and was immediately gone. With his enhanced abilities, Damon could hear Stefan's light footsteps racing away. But to Elena, he knew, Stefan had been nothing but a silently vanishing blur. Elena turned to Damon, her face crumpling in what he recognized as a prelude to more tears. â€Å"Why would he fol ow me if he doesn't want to talk to me?† she said, her voice hoarse with sorrow. Damon gritted his teeth. He was trying hard to be patient, to wait for Elena to give him her heart, but she kept thinking of Stefan. â€Å"He told you,† he said, keeping his voice even. â€Å"He wants to make sure you're safe, but he doesn't want to be with you. But I do.† Firmly recapturing her arm with his, he tugged her lightly forward. â€Å"Shal we?†

Links

What is our government’s stance on the genetic engineering of humans? According to the links consulted, the government of the United States is cautiously allowing some genetic engineering research to proceed, such as gene transfer research seeking to correct or treat disease.There does not appear to be a coherent policy on permitting trait selection for reproduction purposes though ethical questions of this nature are starting to be asked.   President Bush, has said â€Å"Our children are gifts to be loved and protected, not products to be designed and manufactured â€Å", which is certainly a more definitive stance than is present in regulation or law presently, and so appears opposed to genetic engineering for the purpose of selecting traits of offspring.http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/04/20020410-4.htmlSummary of Regulatory environment.What is our government’s stance on cloning?At present, there isn’t any specific law banning Human cloning per se.   However, due to the extreme public response and with President Bush’s ban on federal funding for such research, it could be said that the government is hostile toward human cloning.This stance is based on the ethical consideration of Human Life,   and was summed up by President Bush:I believe all human cloning is wrong, and both forms of cloning ought to be banned, for the following reasons. First, anything other than a total ban on human cloning would be unethical. Research cloning would contradict the most fundamental principle of medical ethics, that no human life should be exploited or extinguished for the benefit of another. (Applause.)Yet a law permitting research cloning, while forbidding the birth of a cloned child, would require the destruction of nascent human life. Secondly, anything other than a total ban on human cloning would be virtually impossible to enforce. Cloned human embryos created for research would be widely available in laboratories and emb ryo farms. Once cloned embryos were available, implantation would take place. Even the tightest regulations and strict policing would not prevent or detect the birth of cloned babies.Third, the benefits of research cloning are highly speculative. Advocates of research cloning argue that stem cells obtained from cloned embryos would be injected into a genetically identical individual without risk of tissue rejection. But there is evidence, based on animal studies, that cells derived from cloned embryos may indeed be rejected.Yet even if research cloning were medically effective, every person who wanted to benefit would need an embryonic clone of his or her own, to provide the designer tissues. This would create a massive national market for eggs and egg donors, and exploitation of women's bodies that we cannot and must not allow.I stand firm in my opposition to human cloning. And at the same time, we will pursue other promising and ethical ways to relieve suffering through biotechnol ogy. This year for the first time, federal dollars will go towards supporting human embryonic stem cell research consistent with the ethical guidelines I announced †¦..President’s Bioethics Council report on CloningWhat are some possible new genetic modifications we are likely to see soon?  We are likely to see an explosion of gm crops and animal food products and even ‘biopharm’ ( Animals designed so they produce drugs or other chemicals) breeds of certain species.   For example, according to the FDA, â€Å"new versions of familiar foods–ones that are custom â€Å"built† to improve quality or remove unwanted traits. Insect-resistant apples, long-lasting raspberries, and potatoes that absorb less fat are among the more than 50 plant products under study now that are likely to reside soon on grocers' shelves.†According to press reports, genetic researchers studying the limited gene pools of   isolated communities such as the Amish a nd Mennonites are accumulating valuable insight into the genetic markers of a number of diseases including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.   This research may bring about numerous genetic treatments for these diseases.Genetic research in limited Gene pool populations is yielding tremendous research benefits. From the Associated Press.University of Virginia discusses future uses of BiotechnologyWhat are some laws that may be introduced to handle the legal issues of genetic engineering? Look at both Human and agriculture laws.Laws or regulations on labeling, bio-containment and review processes for genetically modified (transgenic) animals and plants are likely in the near future.   In Canada herbicide-resistant canola is becoming a â€Å"super-weed† in prairie areas.   Stricter farming regulations and requirements the GM crop must meet are likely to result.The US Senate moved in a near unanimous manner to begin the process of preventing the world portrayed in the film Gatt ica from becoming a reality by passing S306 â€Å"Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2005†Ã‚   Which would prevent discrimination in employment or insurance on genetic basis.   Something of this magnitude probably needs to be approached as an amendment though. Legislation can be repealed.   Currently this measure is waiting on action in the House of Representatives.   The bill is supported by the NIH and by the whitehouse.Other laws designed to prohibit the traffic and trade of human beings or organisms based on human genetic code, as well as attempts to create human/animal hybrids are probably to be expected, and are on the Policy agenda of the President’s advisory Committee for Bioethics.Director of National Human Genome Research Institute comment on Senate Bill.Contains the targeted legislative goals of the Presidential Administration’s Council on BioEthics.JOURNALStopping cloning or genetic engineering would be nearly impossible now.   The ‘idea’ is already established, and it has been shown that â€Å"it can be done.†Ã‚   Suppression of this technology would require a worldwide coalition more effective than the current anti-proliferation mechanisms set up for nuclear technology.   After World War II and the power of Nuclear weapons began to be understood, the United States attempted to suppress the information to prevent other nations from developing their own programs.   One after another of the allies developed their own weapons following the Soviet Union’s Development.Suppression has been mostly successful only with nations volunteering to remain non-nuclear or accepting large economic rewards for remaining so.   However three (possibly five) nations have developed weapons programs (Pakistan, India, North Korea) in the last 6 years; additionally,   Israel is suspected of having undeclared weapons for some time, and Iran has announced the intent to develop a peaceful nuclear progr am for power production, which some suspect would be a cover for a weapons program.   Research into this area by 3rd world countries is made easier for knowing that the result is attainable.The difficulties in monitoring become apparent when one considers that the world was taken by surprise when both Pakistan and India announced their new capabilities within months of each other.   The United States admitted to being flatfooted and having no intelligence at all about the developments.   Recent experience in Iraq in attempting to track and account for Sadaam’s mobile chemical laboratories and work centers show that similar facilities used for genetic research could be very difficult to find and shut down.The frightening thing about technology is that humanity typically utilizes it in conflict before turning it to more peaceful purposes; this has been true of all our history, but is especially characteristic of modern technology.   Interchangable parts, making mass pro duction possible, was first used to produce thousands of rifles.   Rockets were first used to deliver explosives, long before they were used for exploration.   Computers were first used for calculating artillery ballistics, and then for assisting in simulations of various weapons effects (and still are used for this).Aircraft, though initially a curiosity, were quickly developed from little more than kites to devices that have come to dominate modern warfare in a space of two decades   and continue to become more sophisticated in both military and civilian applications.   Genetic Engineering, has so far been pacific in its uses in the 21st century but the closely related eugenics sciences, especially in Nazi Germany, have ominous implications for the mis-use of genetic science.   Having direct access to genetic materials of humanity and other organisms, some may attempt to tailor disease organisms to attack certain genotypes in an effort to eliminate an ethnic enemy or â⠂¬Å"inferior.†Ã‚   Doubly troubling is the emergence of useful nanotechnology; together nanotechnology and genetic engineering could create complementary and wonderful   advances or equally horrible and devastating weapons that can wreak havoc not only on human life but the entire biosphere and the current balance of species in the environment.Indeed, genetic engineering may be a difficult test of humanity’s maturity.   Even peaceful uses require the utmost scrutiny. Because we don’t know all the rules in this field yet, unintended consequences are certain to occur.   This field will require the best from our scientists, researchers, and regulatory agents to ensure that the promise of the technology is realized while minimizing or eliminating its dangers.

How to Choose the Right Extracurriculars for You

When it comes to your high school experience, academics and standardized testing are usually clearly mapped out for you. There are paths leading through course loads of varying difficulty; there are required standardized tests and well-known study tools to prepare for them; and your GPA is a clear indication of your success in your academic work. The academic side of things might be pretty clear, but the same can’t be said for extracurriculars. It’s hard to know exactly what role extracurricular activities should play in your high school experience, let alone on your college applications. Extracurriculars are a broad category to begin with — they seem to encompass everything from starting your own dog-walking business to participating in groundbreaking scientific research projects. So you might be wondering, what’s the deal? Are some extracurriculars more important than others? Which will be most heavily weighted on your college application? And how do you know which are worth pursuing? In this post, we’ll give an outline of how to choose extracurriculars that not only are personally fulfilling but also augment your profile as a college applicant. Read on for the five standards you should keep in mind when selecting an extracurricular activity. A little bit of insight can go a long way. Here at , we have a team of experts who have been in your shoes. Read through this guide on high school extracurriculars, and then check out our Near Peer Mentorship Program . You’ll have access to the insights of peer mentors who have been through this process and are ready to share with you all the ins and outs of choosing the right extracurricular activities. There is no simple answer to how important extracurriculars are on your college applications. There are definitely some schools to which you may apply that will admit you based off of your academic record and your essays and recommendations alone. Your extracurriculars might get little to no weight. More selective schools, though, tend to place a heavier weight on extracurriculars. Most of the students who apply to the most selective schools will be academically qualified. These students will have strong GPAs and great test scores. So what will set apart the elite 5-10% who ultimately get accepted to these schools? Many times extracurriculars mark the difference between a successful and unsuccessful application, so it’s worth knowing that they can play a big role in college admissions in some cases. The line between activities that you have participated in and activities that you can consider extracurriculars is somewhat blurry. In general, though, an extracurricular activity is one that you participate in regularly outside of your required academic work.

How personality affect organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

How personality affect organization - Essay Example The examination of the influence of personality on the organizational behaviour has led to the assumption that the interaction between the firm and the employee is intensive and constant. Moreover, it has been found that the diversity as a phenomenon does not occur only in the lower organizational levels but can equally appear in the managerial department. On the other hand, the existence of differences among a firm’s employees cannot be considered as disadvantage but should be viewed instead as a challenging experience for every organization. In this context, it has been proved that the existence of diversity is not connected with the negative phenomena that can be often observed in an organizational environment, like the fraud or the sabotage which are more individual – related. However, because the existence of diversity may create problems to the daily organizational operations – particularly when there are not the mechanisms for the successful operation of s uch a business strategy, it has to be noticed that in order for an organization to apply a diversity schema to its employment sector, the relevant measures have to be taken in advance. It should be noticed here that any relevant measure has to be tested in advance not only as of its financial cost to the company involved but mainly as of its effects to the firm’s employees.

WSJ Analysis Number 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

WSJ Analysis Number 3 - Essay Example Yamahas position is that of saying that the other side would, â€Å"have seized on safety and product enhancements that Yamaha has made to the Rhino to allege baseless claims about the stability of the vehicles,† (Conkey & Trottman, 11/04/08). Like other vehicles of the sort, the Rhino, according to Yamaha, was designed to go in the areas in which are considered to be all terrain and handle such things as what can be hazardous environmental conditions. Yamaha further maintains its claim that it has done everything within its power to maintain a complete level of maintenance on its products. Legislation as of August 2008 would make it possible for those standards that would have been voluntary beforehand, to be more required as a result. Further stating that they cannot respond to claims that have not been brought forth with any proof as of yet, Yamaha insists upon the standard business claim of truly caring about each and every customer. As for relevance to the marketing issue, any form of discrepancy as it comes to the safety of a product or service that a company may provide, can result in a great deal of problems for the companys economic future and the image which they bode with both their customer base as well as federal regulators. This sort of concern in regards to the issues of product safety can prove to be very fatal to the overall stability of the company itself. With the current economic status of the nation being tenuous at best, any sort of doubt in corporate integrity and that which they produce for the public, can only prove to be more disconcerting to a market already stressed from economic uncertainty of the present day. As has been in the case in other circumstances, it is often times very common for a company to fight off such allegations made in the hopes of saving the reputation that they have. In some cases to settle when

Muscular System Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Muscular System - Research Paper Example There are some manifestations in the body systems of multi-system disorders when MD occurred such as in the heart, brain, eyes, skin, endocrine glands, are nervous systems. It also affects psychological component of a person, resulting with obscurity in learning and even mood swings. Muscular dystrophy is commonly occurred in males of all ages. The disease had become prominent during 1860s with numerous records of case in medical journals. Guillaume Duchenne, a French neurologist, had conducted a study among 13 boys with similar diseases in various degrees. Later on, his discovery of the disease had named after him, which is called Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In his study as well, experts had discovered that there are many forms of muscular dystrophy. The earliest notable symptoms of Muscular dystrophy are difficulty in climbing the stairs; younger age prefers to walk on the toes, loss of function, wobble and trip, difficulty to get up from a sitting position and find it complicated to do things that require pushing. The worse case of the MD patients is difficulty in walking, recurrent falls, calf pain, Scoliosis, drooping eyelids, and inability to walk. Pathophysiology Process. To be able to explain further the relationship of pathophysiology process of Muscular dystrophy, understanding the dystrophin-deficient muscle is needed.

How organizational behavior tools help managers to solve practical Essay

How organizational behavior tools help managers to solve practical problems - Essay Example OB lays emphasis on the application of diverse insights to create better understanding of the employee behaviour in the organizations (Colquitt, LePine and Wesson 07). Some of the important features of OB are as follows: Applied Focus: The main objective of OB is to ensure that the employees achieve the targets and objectives of the organization in unification and in systematic method. Contingency approach: This approach helps the managers in understanding the gravity of the situation and then proposing solutions accordingly. Understanding the situation helps the managers to understand the way the employees should be managed effectively and appropriately. For example identifying the cultural differences in an organization would help the managers to develop strategies that help in enhancing the productivity of the employees (French 10). Easy Accessibility: It is highly accessible and is relevant to all of the employees in their personal and professional life. OB is not regarded as a s tatic discipline but a continuous process which helps managers seeking various solutions improvement the effectiveness of the organization. ... This would be done to achieve organizational effectiveness and organizational commitment. A systematic analysis of the organizational structure and culture is identified by the managers to conduct systematic grouping. Systematic grouping will enable the managers to promote teamwork and coordination of activities among the various departmental units. The good managerial traits are similar to transformational leadership which encompasses charismatic, achievement oriented and task oriented leadership. A good manager needs to communicate effectively with his subordinates for the systematic and effective flow of instructions. A proper and effective communication model paves the path of success for an organization. Communication of ideas and knowledge sharing enables the employees of an organization to be creative and think independently which can promote innovation in an organization (Groves 579). Managerial Abilities or Leadership Skills There is a significant and positive relationship b etween the leadership and organizational effectiveness which arises out of managerial traits (Erkutlu 708). Transformational leadership is a significant contributor to organizational commitment and job satisfaction. Leadership and effective managerial traits are often interrelated to each other because both of them are regarded as a continual social influence process. Manager try to utilize different leadership approaches which helps in accomplishment of organizational objectives and encouraging efficient employee behaviour and maintaining the group culture of the organization. Managerial behaviour has a direct influence on the employee outcome and organizational

Quiet Plant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Quiet Plant - Essay Example Apparently, such rare earth minerals such as cerium and neodymium. However, the process of producing them has severe implications on the environments besides risking the lives of the employees who work in such plants. Countries like China take the risk and permit their companies to operate without regarding the environmental implications of such companies a feature that influences the rarity of the minerals and their high costs. The two minerals are important and lucrative products in the modern economy owing to their significance in the manufacture of smartphones and their accessories. The sale of rare earth minerals is a profitable venture with China enjoying a lion’s share of the global market. However, the companies engage in some unethical operations as they strive to influence the prices of the minerals. Most of the companies induce shortages for the minerals by stopping production. The resulting shortage causes the prices of the minerals to soar thereby safeguarding the profitability for the companies that process the minerals. The large multinational corporations that operate in the processing and sale of the minerals often collude to influence the supply of the market. As the demand grows, they resume production with the minerals enjoying higher prices. Besides engaging in the price manipulation games, the companies engage in unfair labor relations with their employees as they expose their employees to the dangerous working environment as their interactions with hazardous chemicals.

Article response paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Response paper - Article Example The author goes ahead to present a solution that people can use to adjust to new social environments while keeping their own original identity. He introduces the concept of switching cultural codes to acceptable levels that keep everybody happy. The author also gives examples of his students who used his program to integrate to new social contexts successfully. Personal observations/comments concerning how the article relates to previously knowledge. I have always been of the opinion that one cannot depict two sets of culture at the same time. Until I read this article, I believed that if an individual found himself or herself in an environment where cultural norms are in conflict with his or her own, then he or she would either have to stick to his or her culture, or acquire the new one, not keep a balance between the two. From the article, the author has shown how one can nature two conflicting cultures can be natured to exist as one. People can give and acquire new cultural states that do not offend their conscience, or those of the people they interact with by ceding negligible cultural norms. The author talks about Jorg’s situation with small talk, a situation that I can identify with. I have learnt that it is not what others will think about us, but rather what we think others will think of us that makes people reserved. It is up to individuals to make up their minds and decide how to interact with people. The fear of breaking the status quo also works against many people in society, especially when a person is in the minority. Despite her strong academic record in Vietnam, Thao did not have the nerves to speak out her mind because her society made her believe it was wrong. She had rather not â€Å"upset† her colleagues in class with her ideas. She, therefore, could not speak up her mind for fear of causing chaos. This brings out the idea of ‘pleasing’ other people at one’s own expense. The article stresses the importance of being able to express oneself while keeping other people’s ideas in mind, rather than keeping quiet in situations where your contribution could be of considerable help. Excerpts ...they need to do more than learn simple differences in cultural etiquette... This excerpt illustrates the point that just learning about other people’s cultures is not enough if we are to have any meaningful interaction with them. It is important to practice the culture to guarantee healthy relationships. ...some situations pose greater culturally driven psychological and emotional challenges for many students... The excerpt above stresses the diverse effects of cultural differences; not all cultural discrepancies have the same effects on students. Some are extreme, while others are mild. This depends on the individual as well as the environment where the cultural clash occurs. ...so that students can learn from these intense interactions without becoming overwhelmed, I establish a safe c lassroom environment where they can share their experience with their peers... This statement confirms that people get uncomfortable when faced with situations that are in conflict with their cultural norms and beliefs. It is vital for an individual to learn to create personal environments that make him or her to express himself or herself without fear of retribution. Questions 1. What is the most effective way of resolving cultural differen

Small and Medium Enterprises Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

Small and Medium Enterprises - Coursework Example It has been found that over the past several years throughout the industrialized countries the extra growth that has been achieved is due to the large growth in SMEs (Barakat, 2001). SMEs constitute the dominant form of business organization, accounting for over 95% and up to 99% of enterprises depending on the country. They are responsible for between 60-70% net job creation in OECD countries. Small businesses are particularly important for bringing innovative products or techniques to the market (OECD, 2006). SMEs in any country can grow by partnerships between the private and the public sector by provision of high quality business support that includes training for the development and improvement of the managerial skills for potential and currently operating SMEs. Furthermore, government can assess SMEs in selling their products and services domestically as well as on international front. But most important factor is the financial support. Availability of capital and credit is considered as a major stimulant for the development of the SMEs in many industrialized nations and specially the developing world. Besides government larger and bigger businesses and corporations operating in an economy can help SMEs become more viable business partners by providing training in basic skills such as management, bookkeeping, business planning, marketing, distribution, and quality control. They can assist through technology transfers, direct investment in infrastructure, and the sharing of knowledge. This will make SMEs more competitive and facilitates access to credit. SMEs as their start up financing and also operations and working capital needs require greater access to financial services and investment capital. Unlike SMEs big businesses have little difficulty in securing sizeable bank loans and private investments. At the same time, microfinance, consisting of very small loans, tends to benefit individual entrepreneurs. SMEs fall in between and often struggle to obtain credit and loans. Some 90% of entrepreneurs in Latin America are obliged to source much of their financing from personal savings according to Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) estimates, a picture true throughout much of the developing world (World Business Council for sustainable development). Many financial institutions in the developed and the developing world are reluctant to fund SMEs because of perceived risk and high transaction costs.16 SMEs in the developing world are considered high-risk, as their managers are perceived as lacking managerial expertise, credit history, and/or tangible assets to secure loans. Thus loans to SMEs, when they are able to obtain them, tend to carry higher interest rates and shorter pay-back times. Definition of an SME There is not a single characteristic that is used to define an SME; and thus there is no single definition of SME that can be used as a standard for businesses to qualify as and SME or a large business. Some economists, governments and analysts define SMEs in terms of their revenue generation capabilities, others see how many people have been employed, more criteria consider the land that is occupied for business operations. European Union's indication for a small business is one with a headcount of less than 50 and a microenterprise as one with a maximum of 10 employees; whereas

Shakespeare - Authorship Essay Example for Free

Shakespeare Authorship Essay In 1564, a man was born by the name of William Shakespeare. He was born to a poor family, was given little education, and had no interaction with sophisticated society. Thirty-eight plays and over 150 sonnets are not attributed to this ignorant man. Those who believe that Shakespeare was the author have no definitive proof but instead point to Hamlets declaration: The plays the thing(Satchell 71). The true author, however, lies hidden behind he name of Shakespeare. Edward de Vere the premier Earl of Oxford is not only considered a great poet in history, but he may also be the great playwright who concocted the sonnets and plays which are now attributed to William Shakespeare of Stratford, England. Edward de Vere was the Lord Great Chamberlain and the seventeenth Earl of Oxford. He was raised as a Royal Ward and from a very young age was educated in the sports and arts of nobility. Although disgraceful for a nobleman to waste time writing frivolous plays, Oxford as a young man wrote and staged the entertainment for the court. As an adult, he became engrossed in theatrical performances and frittered away his fortunes in support of several writers and actors (Friedman 13). During this time, De Vere also began writing several poems and plays. Much like Samuel Clemens, who wrote under the name of Mark Twain, Oxford adopted the pseudonym Shakespeare. Soon after plays appeared under the name of Shakespeare, poems by de Vere ceased (Russell 5). Coincidently, the coat of arms of Lord Bulbeck, a third title of Edward de Vere, is a lion shaking a spear (Ogburn 10). De Vere was also known by the people as the spear-shaker because of excellence at the tilts and at jousting (Russell 5). Many believe this pen name was for protection. Many of the plays said to have been written by Shakespeare explicitly describe the corruption in court politics and contain thinly veiled satires and parodies of politicians and courtiers. In addition, public theatres such as the Globe were laced with prostitutes, drunkards and criminals and because of the scoundrel audiences, playwrights were held in low esteem. Moreover, many scholars believe de Veres reasons for his pseudonym may be linked to the homoerotic threads in many of the Shakespearean sonnets and de Veres possible homosexual affair with his son-in-law. Using his identity would have been a dangerous game when such affairs were a high crime (Satchell 71). There are many allusions in Shakespeares plays which de Vere would have been particularly familiar with. As a child, de Vere was tutored by Arthur Golding, the translator of Metamorphoses. This literary work was alluded to several times in Shakespearean plays. De Vere also studied law and traveled across the continent, spending a great deal of time in Italy (Tweedale 12). Many references to Italian art and architecture are also alluded to in Shakespeares plays. William Shakespeare of Stratford, however, never left England (Friedman 10). The author of the Shakespearean plays had to possess a rare knowledge in several disciplines including physical sciences, medicine, he law, astronomy, and the Bible. Shakes of Stratford received no formal education with the exception of grammar school through the equivalent of third grade. De Vere, however, was taught by only the best tutors (Satchell 71). The Shakespearean plays were also written by one who has had interaction with the aristocracy and understood the workings of royalty from the inside out (Friedman 10). Although there is no evidence that Shakespeare moved freely about this society, de Vere was regarded as a brilliant ornament of Elizabeths court (Sachmartino 13) and as such would have understood what it as like to live in the aristocracy. De Veres very life is in many ways represented in the plays attributed to Shakespeare of Stratford. For example, in the play Hamlet, de Vere describes many of the details of his life. Like the main character Hamlet, de Vere is virtually a prince and also of Danish decent. De Veres cousins, Horance and Francis are strikingly similar in name and action to Hamlets two friends, Horatio and Francisco. The anguish Hamlet felt due to his mothers hasty remarriage after the murder of her husband was also similar to the distress De Vere felt over his mothers swift remarriage after the murder of his father. One of the greatest scenes in Hamlet is when Hamlet stabbed Polonius through the arras and killed him. This is again remarkably comparable to de Vere, who in a fit of rage stabbed an undercook through a curtain for spying on the young nobleman (Ogburn 173) Hamlet is not the only literary work in which de Vere describes his life. De Veres love affair with Anne de Vavasour is portrayed in Measure for Measure, and his own childhood is directly correspondent with Macbeth and Orthelo (Ogburn 11). Oxford died in 1604. This year is also the same year that William Shakespeare retired from writing his alleged plays. It has been said, The mouthpiece had to withdraw when the voice was gone (Friedman 11). In other word, after de Vere died, his writing stopped, and therefore William Shakespeares career was complete and he thereupon retired. There are also many verbal parallels in the works accredited to Shakespeare and the poetry of Edward de Vere. Contemporary authors will obviously have some phrases and images in common. When hundreds of these similarities are present, however, it tends to show that the authors either corroborated with each other, or that the authors are one in the same. This is precisely the case with Edward de Vere and William Shakespeare. Because we have only a small number of Oxfords acknowledged poetry, it is impossible to trace each metaphor or image of Shakespeares works to de Veres poetry. According to Joseph Sobran, an author for the Oxford Society, forty or so comparisons would be considered a coincidence. Much more, which is present in the comparisons of Shakespeare and Oxfords works, is far beyond the possibility of coincidence (Sobran 1). In both Shakespeare and de Veres poetry, there are similar images and phrases. For example, fertility, harvest, and the lazy drones robbing honey were used by both authors. To capture pity, images such as weeping lovers or floods of tears were also used (Sobran 2). Similar phrases can also be found in the poetry of Oxford and the sonnets of Shakespeare. In Love They Choice, Oxford writes, Who taught thee first to sigh alas my heart, Who filled your eyes with tears of bitter smart, and Colours pale they face. These three phrases were also used in Shakespeares plays and sonnets. For example, Who taught thee how to make me love thee more? is found in sonnet 150 written under the alias of Shakespeare. Also written under the alias of Shakespeare is Titus Andronicus and The Rape of Lucrece which states, And for these bitter tears, which no you see? and The colours of thy face, that even for anger, makes the lily pale respectively (Sobran 3). Common allusions used by both authors include Caesar, Hannibal and Pompey, Venus beauty, blind Cupid with his bow, and countless more from Greek mythology, wish cupid often being referred to as blind boy or wanton (Sobran 1). Certain factors for comparison are also used often in the writings of both Shakespeare and de Vere. For instance, the use of sweet versus sour, joy versus woe, ebb versus flow, flowers versus weeds, and heaven versus hell are all commonly found in the works of both authors. As Oxford writes He pulls a flower, he plucks but weeds, in Labour and its Rewards, Shakespeare echoes this metaphor and similarly writes, They bid thee crop a week, thou pluckst a flower (Sobran 3). What is more revealing is that both authors have similar rhythm and sentence structure (Sobran 2). In a couplet, Oxford writes: Evn as the wax both melt, or dew consume away Before the sun, I behold, careful thoughts decay. Shakespeare also uses the same image with comparable sentence structure and rhythm. The mornings silver melding do as soon as done And decayed, against the golden splendor of the sun (Sobran 3). The similar syntax, images, and comparisons of the writings of these two authors show that de Vere not only was a great writer in history, but he was also the author of the works attributed to William Shakespeare. Perhaps the greatest evidence for the true authorship of the Shakespearean sonnets and plays is the ciphered messages which can be found in the text of the sonnets and plays. Ciphers are codes of uniform length which bear a uniform relationship to the units of the plain text (Friedman, 15). In several of Shakespeares sonnets, de Veres signature can be found. For instance: The order of the dumme shewes E D And Musickes before every Acte E V E R E These signatures can be found various places in the sonnets and plays attributed to William Shakespeare of Stratford. There are also several signatures of the object of his love affair, Mary Pembroke, and also one I love you Mary Pembroke (Huston 132) There are also several examples of acoustic patterns found in Shakespeares sonnets. For example, in the sonnets 37 through 42, there are twenty-one signatures spelling out de Vere. These signatures are arranged to form six letters: O X F O R D, in consecutive order (Huston 161). Considering each sonnet is fourteen lines long, and there are six sonnets, and assuming there are 43 characters per line, the probability that these signatures would spell Oxford is nearly 55,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 to one (Huston 162). In Sonnets 25 through 46, de Vere also spelled out in 22 letter patterns W SHAKESPEARE-OXFORD-VERE (Huston 170). The odds of this happening are even greater than that of the aforementioned probability. Using poetic license, de Vere of Oxford utilized codes and ciphers to spell out his name and other such messages. Edward de Vere of Oxford lived from 1550 to 1604. In the duration of that time, he was a young nobleman, a poet, and a lover of the theatre, but was also probably a great playwright who has yet to receive full credit for the plays he composed. De Vere witnessed first hand the inner workings of nobility. He traveled throughout Europe, completed his education at Cambridge University, studied the law at Grays Inn, and had abundant knowledge of historical occurrences and literary works (Russell 4). These are not only elements in the works attributed to William Shakespeare, but also are things which William Shakespeare of Stratford England knew nothing of. Who wrote the Shakespearean sonnets and plays? There is only one answer to this pivotal question ? Edward de Vere of Oxford England.

Public Examination Should Not Be Abolished Essay Example for Free

Public Examination Should Not Be Abolished Essay While several states are implementing some form of standards-based reform, there is very little empirical evidence to prove that standards, assessment, and high-stakes accountability programs are effective in improving public schools. In many states, such as California, attempts to implement standards-based reform are inconsistently or carelessly aligned with quality research. The following are some of the shortcomings of standards-based reform. 1. Recent reports on the standards-based reform movement in New York suggest that in many schools the careless implementation of standards and assessment may have negative consequences for students. Vague and unclear standards in several subject areas in several states complicate matters and do not serve as concrete standards defining what students should know and be able to do. 3. Top-down standards imposed by the federal or state government are also problematic. They impose content specifications without taking into account the different needs, opportunities to learn, and skills that may be appropriate for specific districts or regions. Table 1: Advantages of SBA compared with external examinations Point Characteristics of SBA Characteristics of Exams Scope Extends the range and diversity of assessment collection opportunities, task types and assessors Much narrower range of assessment opportunities: less diverse assessment; one exam per year Authenticity Assessment done by students own teacher; less possibility of cheating as teacher knows student capabilities; assessments more likely to be realistic Removes assessment entirely from teaching and learning; stressful conditions may lead to students not demonstrating real capacities Validity Improves validity through assessing factors that cannot be included in public exam settings Limits validity by limiting scope of assessment, e. g. difficult to assess interaction skills in exam environment Reliability Improves reliability by having more than one assessment by a teacher who is familiar with the student; allows for multiple opportunities for assessor reflection/standardisation Even with double marking, examiners judgments can be affected by various factors (task difficulty, topic, interest level, tiredness, etc); little opportunity for assessor reflection / review Fairness Fairness is achieved by following commonly-agreed processes, outcomes and standards; teacher assumptions about students and their oral language levels is made explicit through collaborative sharing and discussion with other teachers Fairness can only be achieved by treating everyone the same, i. e. setting the same task at the same time for all students. Feedback Students can receive constructive feedback immediately after the assessment has finished, hence improving learning The only feedback is usually a grade at the end of the course; no opportunities for interaction with assessor; no chance to ask how to improve Positive washback (beneficial influence on teaching and learning) Ongoing assessment encourages students to work consistently; provides important data for evaluation of teaching and assessment practices in general Examination is purely summative, and does not serve any teaching-related purpose; effects on teaching and learning may even be negative; may encourage teaching to the test and a focus on exam technique, rather than outcomes. Teacher and student empowerment Teachers and students become part of the assessment process; collaboration and sharing of expertise take place within and across schools Teachers play little to no role in assessment of their students and have no opportunity to share their expertise or knowledge of their students; students treated as numbers Professional development Builds teacher assessment skills, which can be transferred to other areas of the curriculum Teachers have no opportunity to build their assessment skills; get little or no feedback on how to improve as teachers

The Global Soft Drink Market Situation

The Global Soft Drink Market Situation Executive summary The purpose of this business report is to provide insight on the market trends facing the soft drink industry and a detail strategy for the launch of a new carbonated soft drink Ice-cola in Pakistan. The idea of launching a carbonated soft drink in Pakistan is to change consumer tastes, a growing emphasis on product safety, and enhancing the market shares and profit percentage. Soft drinks are non-alcoholic (carbonated) as well as non-carbonated beverages which can be classified in number of categories. Soft drinks are in high demand and are preferred by almost every category of society in the world. More specifically, the demand for the carbonated soft drinks in Pakistan is highly influenced by certain characteristics like spiky taste, culture and social trends in parties and religious attributes. The strategy of new soft drink Ice-cola (which is going to be launched in Pakistan) will have to face competitive market in terms of other carbonated soft drinks particularly giants Pepsi and Coca -Cola because these soft drinks have already well maintained its positions in Pakistani market for a long time. However the strategy of new soft drink Ice- Cola has also competitive advantages in terms of changing consumer taste and refreshing sparking element that will ensure profitability and quality acceptance in Pakistani society. Introduction Soft drink industry Soft drinks are common preferences among all the individuals in almost every region of the world. The name soft drink especially separates alcohol element from this category and the term drink which includes a number of soft drinks like colas, sparkling water, iced tea, lemonade, squash, and fruit juices are among the most common types of soft drinks. Soft drinks are gradually overtaking hot drinks and other beverages as the major drink sector in the world. However the US remains the biggest market at present and Asia seems to be the main driver of sales growth in the future. Now-a-days soft drink is more favourite refreshment drink than tea, coffee and other hard drinks. Murray (2006) has explained the soft drink industry by stating, For years the story in the nonalcoholic sector centered on the power struggle between Coke and Pepsi. But as the pop fight has topped out, the industrys giants have begun relying on new product flavors and looking to other carbonated beverages for growth. Global Soft drink Market Situation Soft drink industry has a powerful impact on the lives of its consumers from throughout the world. The consumption of the soft drinks continued to increase year by year because of link between healthy diet and soft drinks. King (2010) states that in 2009 Eastern Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia are fastest growing regions as compare to developed markets. In soft drinks category, bottled water, carbonated, non- carbonated and other fruit juices are available in the market. Bottled watered drinks have achieved sound sales growth due to distinctive attributes of the product which is refreshing element in hot weather and sugar free flavored water. On the other hand, a number of functional drinks had been also a part of consumers interest. Each soft drink has certain attributes which attracts its consumers. It is reality that some soft drinks remain very popular in the market for certain reasons such as brand image, quality and price. The market size of the soft drink industry has bee n changing with the time being. This industry has 46.8% market shares within non-alcoholic industry. The global soft drinks market was valued at $479bn in 2009 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.1% to reach $556bn in 2014. According to financial forecast period to 2014, soft drinks sales are expected to increase 39.8% to PKR19.5 billion ($233 million). (Euromonitor Passport GMID) Pakistani soft drink market situation The soft drink market in Pakistan enjoys a dynamic growth in context of volume and value sectors because of Pakistan Government have reduced excise taxes to encourage soft drinks manufactures and importers. The Government of Pakistan has also decided to tax the soft drink industry on the production capacity rather than on actual production. Pakistani market situation about soft drinks achieved a slightly smooth and positive growth during the years. CAGR 4.2 % represent satisfactory line for soft drinks stability in Pakistan. Simultaneously there have been some inflationary pressures on soft drink industry. However still this industry remains stable successfully to keep the strength of market shares (Euro monitors Passport GMID). The cause for the positive market growth for soft drinks and particularly in carbonated drinks is because of the hot climate, peoples preferences and various life trends. Soft drink industry in Pakistan may expect increase of sale growth 30.5%. The price and consumption of soft drinks stand almost in an equal rate among various regions of Pakistan. In rural areas prices of soft drinks are slightly reduced than posh areas (Euro monitors Internationals soft drinks in Pakistan). Carbonated drinks Within the soft drink market, carbonated soft drinks continue to dominate the market, because of the traditional flavoured beverages, sugar- and caffeine-free drinks. Mostly Carbonated drinks are dominated by artificial flavours based on cola, sweetened with sugars or with non-caloric sweeteners. On consumption level, there are some factors which influence the consumers to buy carbonated drinks for certain reasons like, status symbol, taste, variety, brand ambassador and advertising campaign especially in Pakistan. The demand for the carbonated soft drinks is mainly influenced by the taste of the customers, age groups and the demographic conditions. For example the demand for carbonated drinks escalates to high number in Pakistan especially during the summer period and slightly drops in winter. The main target segment for carbonated drinks is the youth. The carbonated cola drinks are high in demand in Pakistan because of a number of reasons for example; all cola carbonated drinks are served in restaurants, hotels and parties within meals and customers enjoy a spiky and refreshing flavour of carbonated drinks which is not possible by other soft drinks (fruit juice etc). Moreover Alcohol is not consumed due to religion restrictions in Pakistan. However on the whole carbonated based drinks like Coca- cola, Pepsi (low caloric cola drinks) have been remained at the top demand in Global soft drinks industry. There could be more significant volume opportunities in future by carbonate taking its enough shares, with carbonates likely to pick up most of the volume growth as previous % shows like 23.8 % and 24.0 % in 2008 and 2009 respectively. (Euro monitors Passport GMID) Soft drinks Chart by Volume Percentage Source: Official statistics, trade associations, trade press, company research, store checks, trade interviews, Euro monitor international estimate, Euro monitor GMID passport. From the above graph, it could be analysed easily from 2003 to 2009 the volume % of cola carbonates as compare to other soft drinks has achieved higher %. It clearly indicates that cola carbonates (soft drinks) are consumed and produced more than other drinks in the market due to the demand and higher consumption level. Competitors In the present market of soft drinks in Pakistan there are some giant and minor competitors for Ice- Cola in the market. The following classification of soft carbonated drinks in Pakistan in terms of competition can draw a clearer picture. Classification in terms of competition First Preference Pepsi Second Preference Coca-Cola Followers Preferences 7-up, Mountain Dew, Sprite, Marinda, etc The others Amrat -cola etc. Pepsi and Coca-cola Pakistani carbonated soft drink market is dominated by Pepsi. Today Pepsi brand is part of global portfolio of beverages brands which includes carbonated soft drinks, juice drinks, coffee etc. Pepsi is a carbonated beverage that is produced and manufactured by Pepsi Co. Now there are a number of Pepsi variants available in the market such as (Diet Pepsi, crystal Pepsi, Pepsi twist, Pepsi max and Pepsi Gold etc) and Pepsi is recognized as No 1 Pakistan National drink. Major competitor of Pepsi is Coca- Cola. Pepsi is bit sweeter than Coca- cola and is liked by all (Pepsico.co). Coca- cola is next to Pepsis competitor and international recognized brand. Coca- Colas basic strength is its brand name. With this brand name the sales growth is increasing ever year and under this trade mark Coca cola,- zero, Diet Cock and Coca- cola Zero has developed its own competitive market. Coca- Cola volume growth is very aggressive in different markets in the world, particularly in three markets Viet nam, India and Pakistan. The volume growth is 27%, 25% and 18% respectively. While Pepsi with its diversification in drinks, packaging and broad market sector is more successful than Coca-cola to maintain its successful position in the Pakistani market. Pepsi and Coca-cola brands have various % in terms of market analysis in different markets of the world. According to Beverage digest report 2009 in the U.S market PepsiCo 30.8 % market share while Coke have 42.67 % market shares. This shows cokes positive strength as compare to Pepsi in U.S market. (Coca-cola .com). (Research proposal for soft drinks) Pepsi and Coca-Cola market scenario in Pakistan Pakistani beverage industry is dominated by Pepsi and Coca-cola brands. These are two major brands in carbonated soft drink industry in Pakistan. Pepsi-co faced initial problems while settling in Pakistan in 1959. However it came again in 1963 with dominant strategies. It used franchised entry mode to develop its market in Pakistan. One of the major reason of its success as compare to Coca-cola in Pakistan is this, it cater a huge segment and due to the diversification of their product line and particularly franchising entry for them to take quick decisions. The taxes that Pepsi saves because of using franchising entry mode enables it to focus more on advertisements and promotions of their products increase sales profit. Availability and meeting the consumer demand is one key factor that contributes to Pepsi success in Pakistan. At first, Coca-cola operated its business in Pakistan in 1950 as a franchise and became the leader of the soft drink industry because there was no competition at that time but in 1960 it has to face competition in the shape of Pepsi. In 1966 coca-cola operated its business in Pakistan as a multinational company and took over all the franchises business at that time. Since that time it became very hard for Coca-cola to maintain its markets shares as previously. Being a multination company it has to pay huge amount (3 times higher than Pepsi) of tax to Government. (PepsiCo, Inc.) SWOT Analysis of Pepsi and Coca-cola Strengths Pepsi Coco-cola Establish name and sound reputation of company International brand image The demand of Pepsi is more high than its competitors Coca-cola bottle image and use of it brand image on various objects International competitive position and more market shares than competitors Broad advertising and promotion opportunities in business world Weakness Pepsi Coca-Cola Pepsi does not offer any discount to its retailers High prices Target consumers are only young people Rare availability in remote areas of Coca -cola in Pakistan Pepsi tins are not available in far remote areas of Pakistan Taste differentiation is not successful and great, almost similar to Pepsi Opportunities Pepsi Coca-Cola Company is thinking to enter rural areas Successful brand image may enhance the opportunity to advertise less popular products Sponsoring many cultural shows and sports give an opportunity to enhance sales growth of Pepsi Increasing opportunities of internet offers Training and service opportunities Company is trying to Threats Pepsi Coca-cola Major competitor is coca-cola, at international level cock brand is more strongly advertised rather than Pepsi Dominant threat to this industry is changing consumers drinking habits in terms of health Imitators of Pepsi brand in Pakistan and customers complaint about the non-availability of original drink Major competitor (Pepsi) has a strong position in the market. Non carbonated drinks such as juices and tea have maintained good position in the market External threats of labor strikes in Pakistan (Pepsi. Com, Coca-cola.com) Performance analysis of Pepsi and coca-cola Make a graph or pie chart here to show Pepsi and Coca-cola Scenario, collect data by your self Sales analysis Market share analysis Expense analysis Financial analysis Analysis in own words Reasons of launching Ice-Cola in Pakistan To increase sales growth, revenue and market shares To maintain good reputation in the market among competitors To introduce a new brand in to soft drink industry Brand Philosophy of Ice-cola Ice- cola would be a new soft drink for the people of Pakistan and for all the other people of the world. Carbonated cola drinks are usually for eradicating thirst and for have a feeling of refreshment. Same is the production philosophy with Ice-cola. It will introduce an innovative and refreshing taste in the soft drink market and enhance the number of carbonated drinks in the industry. Mission Statement Ice-Cola mission is to be the first priority of consumers in soft drinks market and it will provide best and different taste to consumers. Therefore, they can enjoy a fun and refresh feeling after having it. This brand believes in strives for honesty, fairness and integrity in the whole process of launching. Industry analysis of Ice Cola According to Aaker (2009) Market analysis builds on customer and competitor analyses to make some strategic judgments about a market (and sub market) and its dynamics. Ice cola is pure Pakistani product because it will produce domestically and Ice cola will have competitive advantage against the other imported soft drinks like low cost etc. As earlier mentioned it is pure Pakistani drink so the company can take the advantage of be Pakistani and buy Pakistani also. Ice cola can be customized according to the various needs and demand of the Pakistani culture, which may take place from time to time. During the development of the idea of this product the technological changes are kept in mind. Initially during the production of ice cola existing technology will be used. Later on with the passage of the time if there is change in technology then new technology will be introduced for long run after appropriate pre- testing. Currently there are no as such legal concerns about this business. Being a food item there is no as such restriction imposed by the government because as this product is domestically produced and all the ingredients used is HALAL. As there are many soft drinks are available in the local market but Ice-cola focus will focus on the health of the consumer. This product is healthy and it will produce locally so more consumer will replace there other carbonated drinks and energy drinks by some locally produced healthier carbonated drink. Company is forming its own market with the unique taste with cola flavour and original taste without the effect of any harmful chemicals. Over the couple of years the sale of soft drinks in the Pakistan has doubled and the demand of the soft drinks especially locally produced increased within the last three years so the growth rate of the industry would be sound. Over the last three years no new firm has entered in the Pakistani soft drink business and no new product has been launched by the competitors so since last three years. Distribution channels of ice cola. Theory Existing distribution channels can be described by how direct they are to the customer. Trends and emerging channels, new channels can offer the opportunity to develop a competitive advantage Channel power structure for example in case of a product having little brand equity, retailers has negotiating power over manufacturers and can capture more margins. Market segmentation of Ice-Cola According to Ferrell and Hartline (2008) to enter into a new market, any product strategy would follow the criteria of segmentation according to the chosen market scenario. They illustrate that there could be different approaches to segment the market. Various approaches do work in different circumstances. Most of the time it depends that where (chosen market) the product is going to be launched. However it should follow certain characteristics like substantial, accessible and measureable. So it can generate profit. Ice cola will be use different methods of segmentation of product in Pakistan on the basis of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Geographic Segmentation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Demographic Segmentation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Psychographic Segmentation Geographic Segmentation a) Geographic Region Ice cola first of all will target it product in major cities of Pakistan like Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Karachi and then it started targeting its products into different other cities. Then it will target whole country and afterwards will operate in other countries of Europe and East globally. So its geographic segmentation will be large. b) Density Ice cola first operated in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi. Then it will start targeting urban, rural and sub-urban areas of Pakistan. c) Climate This is also fact that climate has great effect in targeting different market segments. Ice cola will mostly target in the hot weather countries like Dubai, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia. Demographic Segmentation Target Market of Ice cola Teenagers Adults Sport persons And also late 50s Total population of Pakistan is 165 million (GDP 2008). Ice cola targeted all genders including males, females especially youngsters. The focus target of Ice cola would be age group between 15-32. Age The focus target age would be 15-32 because it represents the larger portion of the Pakistani population. As it has been estimated from the above figures that target consumers are between 15-32. Therefore highest 39.20 % of total population will consume Ice-cola at the most. The higher the consumption level, the higher the profit would be in the long run. Religion As Ice cola is operating in Islamic country. Therefore it will make its products with HALAL MATERIAL. Because it targets Islamic countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia. As, alcohol and different other materials that are prohibited in Islam, so Ice cola will not use any kind of material in its product. Therefore internationally it will target Muslim Countries first and later it will operate at global level. Psychographic Segmentation This will be the most important segment which Ice cola will use in its product. It will tell us what customer thinks about our product. It describes point of view of customer about the product. It is the science of using psychology and demographics to better understand customers. So when Ice cola will realize the needs of customers. Then it will start working on different products according to customers need and demand. Pakistans climate is usually warm and humid which causes dehydration and increase in thirst. In Pakistan soft drinks are not only considered a liquid intake but considered as a status symbol among friends, colleagues and family affairs. Holidays and particular religious events for example; Eid and fasting month (Ramadan) the sale of soft drinks increase. Moreover in the other seasons (winter) soft drinks sales do not affect highly but keeps a steady progress. For the next coming years (2010-2014) it can be estimated a steady growth overall. Increase in sales growth is expected due to the young Generation favorable approach and sparking fun towards carbonated cola drinks in Pakistan. Market entry strategy and market development Operation plan Operation plan of the product includes inventory, shipping, storage, and inventory control procedure and customer service. Kent (2003) states that inventory are a significant element of any businesss operation plan which gives hold to the structure of business. Inventory is the raw material or stock goods held by any business. Effective inventory management (control) in operation plan can lead the business to generate huge profit and poor monitoring might be in result of disaster of the business. In case of Ice cola just in time inventory will be used in case of product. It will reduce the storing cost which will give us competitive edge against target customers. All manufacturing operations will take place in Ice cola factory. Aaker (2009) illustrates that distribution system include three type of sections. For example; Alternative distribution channels, new emerging channels and powerful channels. He emphasis on this issue that do not consider only existing channels but also think for new potential ones through which product could be more easily available for its consumers and business users. For Ice-cola production outward suppliers will pay the shipping charges for the finished goods. In case of bulk purchase of the goods company will pay only 30% charges, purchase of 50,000 units in a month is the limit for the propose. Trained workers and machine operators will be hired from the other factories as a part time employee at 900Rs. a day and they will train our permanent workers. Finished product of the Ice cola drink will be stored in company retained building which has capacity to store 150,000 units in it. Rent of the building is Rs. 35,000 per month. Ice-cola will maintain the finished goods inventory of 60,000 units at any time including the factory. Kent and Omar (2003) specify the importance of maintenance and customer service particularly in term of new product launching. A new business can take two way benefits. At first, it can make loyal relationship with its consumers by providing guidance and support after a sale. Secondly, it could prove additional positive source of revenue in the form of life time customers. By keeping in touch with customers and providing quality assurance after sale is a key point to generate profit through product. A detail survey could be conducted after six month period of launching the product to find out the market trends, response and consumer demand. Later on product can be changed according to needs. Marsen (2007) narrates certain points in term of facilities in operational strategy to run the business successfully. It is very important to note that how target customers are going to get the product. Key suppliers and transportation facilities might be close to the operation centres according to the nature of the business. These facilities should be positioned adequately to make the profitable way of business. Marketing Plan Product Wilson (2006) illustrates about product and product dimensions that for a number of customers product is only a tangible and physical entity which is placed in the market for buying and selling. However product is main priority of any business organization because through this firm plans to achieve its objectives. Moreover, Wilson (2006) narrates the relationship between customer and product. Product should be designed according to the core market requirement. Price Ferrell and Hartline (2008) strongly advocate the significant value of pricing strategy because this is the only element of marketing mix that leads to revenue or profit and price has a direct connection with customer demand. Therefore, price of a product could be charged in a number of ways such as value, optional, psychological, geographical etc. In case of Ice-cola, the firm will fallow its motto BE PAKISTANI BUY PAKISTANI as a result company will offer a high quality product at a low price. It will allow firm to position as a one of the best quality and price wise best brand. This provides companys partners an opportunity to sell a high quality product, while increasing their margins and selling a high quality product to the resellers. Purchase price of retailer of one can would be Rs 25. Discount Offers In the competition with the other soft drinks available in the market Ice- cola will offer at special reduce prices to gain the market shares in special events like Ramadan, Eid, Basant and other events. Price setting statistical data Promotion Aaker (2009) states that modern marketing has replaced ancient meaning of promotion with the concept of MC (marketing communication) or the coordination of all promotional activities such as ( media advertising, direct mail, personal selling, sales promotion, public relations, packaging, store display, website design, personnel) to produce a unified, customer-focused message. Any way of promotional medium could be adapted according to the product development. Ice -cola will be promoted by different communication channels in the Pakistani market. Communication channels TV campaigns (Through cable) Bill board Local news paper Advertising campaign Placement Place deals with the distribution channels and various options for the consumers to access the product. Baines (2008) describes that according to the type of the product placement or distribution channels are positioned. Sometimes middleman may involve in the distribution and placement of the product. This is all about mainly satisfying the consumers and makes convenient approach for consumers to access the product in time. Ice-cola would focus on the big and high growth market cities of Pakistan like Lahore Islamabad, Karachi, Faisalabad and Multan and then Ice cola will also focus on the small cities and rural areas of Pakistan. Therefore Ice cola will available every single grocery store in Pakistan. In future Ice -cola could be launched internationally in Middle Eastern and European countries. People Write it for ice-cola According to Baines and Fill (2008) (people) customer service staff of any firm play significant part in term of product presentation, convince their consumers to take competive advantages of it. They create a corporate image and maintain that image in the minds of consumers which could be the most effective marketing tool to have potentail customers in the long run for market decelopment.   Five ps image should be here like this Positioning Porters value chain model It determines where value is added and for isolating the costs. The cost structure is also helpful for formulating strategies to develop a competitive advantage Use this model according to ice-cola Organisational Plan Ice cola will be partner firm. The partnership will be lie between the founders of the company. Partnership will be according to their share of capital invested in the firm. Profit will be distributed between them as per their percentage share in the firm. The every decision will be taken with the consensus and majority of votes will be required to take the decision. On every important document the signature of at least three members should be there. This will also be implying on the financial matters of the firm. Partners and their contribution to capital are as follows. Name of the partners Contribution Saba Imtaiz 19 % Suhail Ahmed 15 % Asma Zubair 16 % Yasir Ali 19 % Isha Saghir 18 % Wahab Munir 13 % Hierarchal Structure The hierarchal structure of the Ice cola company would be as follows: Board of directors Partners of firms Chief executive officer Asma Zubair Chief financial official Talha Shahid Marketing manager - Nimrha Basheer HR Manager Abdul Hanan Production manager Sidra Zaheer Operational manager Nadia Afzal Organisational Chart Board of Directors CEO Finance Marketing Human Resource Manager Manager Manager Finance Finance Marketing Marketing HR HR Officer Officer Officer Officer Officer Officer Forecast Financial Plan Project financial statement of company (Ice-cola) is given below Performa Income Statement (PKR 000s) Pest analysis Profitable strategy Key success factors These factors help to achieve marketing objectives Access to essential unique resources Ability to achieve economies of scale Access to distribution channels Technological progress These factors could change over time as the product progresses through its life cycle. Critical reflection on the assignment process Conclusion

Anorexia and Bulimia Essay -- Causes of Bulimia, Eating Disorders

Each year millions of people in the United States are affected by serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorders. The vast majorities are adolescents and young adult women. Approximately one percent of adolescent girls develops anorexia nervosa, a dangerous condition in which they can literally starve themselves to death. Another two to three percent develop bulimia nervosa, a destructive pattern of excessive overeating followed by vomiting or other " purging " behaviors to control their weight. These eating disorders also occur in men and older women, but much less frequently. The consequences of eating disorders can be severe. For example, one in ten anorexia nervosa leads to death from starvation, cardiac arrest, or suicide. Fortunately, increasing awareness of the dangers of eating disorders, sparked by medical studies and extensive media coverage, has led many people to seek help. Nevertheless, some people with eating disorders refuse to admit that they have a problem and do not get treatment. Family and friends can help recognize the problem and encourage the person to seek treatment. Anorexia nervosa is a disorder where people intentionally starve themselves. It usually starts around the time of puberty and involves extreme weight loss. Sometimes they must be hospitalized to prevent starvation because food and weight become obsessions. For some, the compulsiveness shows up in strange eating rituals, some even collect recipes and prepare gourmet feasts for family and friends. Loss of monthly menstrual periods is typical in women with this disorder and men with this disorder usually become impotent. People with bulimia nervosa consume large amounts of food and then rid their bodies of the excess calories by vomiting, abusing laxatives or exercising obsessively. Some use a combination of all these forms of purging. Many individuals with bulimia " binge and purge " in secret and maintain normal or above normal body weight, they can often successfully hide their problem from others for years. As with anorexia, bulimia typically begins during adolescence. The condition occurs most often in women but is also found in men. Many individuals with bulimia, do not seek help until they reach their thirties or forties. By then, their eating behavior is deeply ingrained and more difficult to change. Medical complications can frequentl... ... again. Family members and friends can call local hospitals or university medical centers to find out about eating disorder clinics and clinicians experienced in treating the illnesses, for the college students, treatment programs may be available in school counseling centers. Family and friends should read as mush as possible about eating disorders, so they can help the person with the illness understand his or her problem. Many local mental health organizations and the self help groups provide free literature on eating disorders. Some of these groups also provide treatment program referrals and information on local self-help groups. Once the person gets help, he or she will continue to needs lots of understanding and encouragement to stay in treatment. NIMH continues its search for new and better treatments for eating disorders. Congress has designated the 1990's as the " Decade of the Brain, " making the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of all brain and mental disorders a national research priority. This research promises to yield even more hope for patients and their families by providing a greater understanding of the causes and complexities of eating disorders.

The Books :: essays research papers

The Book   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Fahrenheit 451 books are burned on sight without exceptions. If I had the choice to save three books and â€Å"become† one, the first would be The Black Road which represents what greed and power can do to any kind of man. The second is A Spell For A Chameleon; it shows how if you’re different in any way from society you will be exiled out of the â€Å"group†. The Far Side Experience should be saved because it shows satire in the world around us.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the world around us we see good men and women corrupted by positions of power and or money. In The Black Road, Kabraxis the demon corrupts a Priest of the Zakurumm church by offering him unlimited power and wealth. The way the demon corrupts other people is â€Å"the way of Dreams† which cures the person of whatever is wrong with them and sometimes making them wealthy. This is the book that I would â€Å"become† because I think it has the most meaning out of them all. That is why this book should be saved.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A Spell For A Chameleon should be saved because it shows how if you’re different then society then they will exile you from it. In Xanth (the land in which the story takes place) everyone has a unique magical power and if yours isn’t discovered by the time your 18 you are exile from Xanth into Mundane (normal realm). There is a powerful magician that can tell you if you have a power and he tells Bink (the main character) that his power is not only there but is very strong magic. Unfortunately this is how some societies today really are. The reason this book should be saved is it shows how you should not act towards somebody that is different from the majority.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Far Side Experience should be kept because it shows satire in the world around us. Satire is a form of written that pokes fun at human weaknesses in hope to fix them. An example in this book is that it shows a kid at his birthday party and a liver truck is part of his party, he obviously doesn’t like liver but smiles anyway. This represents satire in that even though somebody doesn’t like something they will smile and lie that they like it. This can be wrong because people lie so others feelings aren’t hurt and some just because they cant tell the truth.

Theme of Death in White Noise Essay examples -- White Noise Don DeLill

White Noise Death is probably the most feared word in the English language. Its undesired uncertainty threatens society’s desire to believe that life never ends. Don DeLillo’s novel White Noise tells the bizarre story of how Jack Gladney and his family illustrate the postmodern ideas of religion, death, and popular culture. The theme of death’s influence over the character mentality, consumer lifestyle, and media manipulation is used often throughout DeLillo’s story.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Perhaps, the character most responsive to death is Jack Gladney. In fact, he is so consumed by his fear of death that his ordinary thought processes are often interrupted by the question: â€Å"Who will die first† (DeLillo 15)? In Jack’s mind: â€Å"This question comes up from time to time, like where are the car keys† (DeLillo 15). Jack finds the aura of death to be very noticeable and real, and he relies on his consumer lifestyle as an escape from his fear of death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jack uses the supermarket as his base for his consumer lifestyle and a place to escape, which is validated by the interpretation of his friend and colleague Murray Siskind. Murray views the supermarket as almost a holy place, an atmosphere with rays and â€Å"white noise† everywhere. It’s full of psychic data†¦.Everything is concealed in symbolism, hidden by veils of mystery and layers of cultural material†¦The large doors slide open, they close unbidden†¦.All the letters and numbers are here, all the colors of the spectrum, all the voices and sounds, all the code words and ceremonial phrases. It is just a question of deciphering, rearranging, peeling off the layers of unspeakability†¦. We don’t have to cling to life artificially, or to death for that matter. We simply walk toward the sliding doors. Waves and radiation. Look how well-lighted the place is. The place is sealed off, self-contained†¦. It is timeless†¦. Here we don’t die, we shop. But the difference is less marked than you think (DeLillo 37-38).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John N. Duvall, author of â€Å"The (Super)Marketplace of Images: Television as Unmediated Mediation in DeLillo’s White Noise,† believes that â€Å"Murray’s interpretations become Jack’s convictions; Murray’s speculations, Jack’s experiences† (143). Drawing on Murray’s speculation‘s, Jack embraces Murray’s analysis as a truth and uses the supermarket as security, a place where colors and names always in the same place, a place where ... ... profoundly important questions about death, the afterlife, God, worlds and space, yet they exist in an almost Pop Art atmosphere(268).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By treating these false tracts of literature as some sort of god, consumers can escape the reality of death since the content is not in day to day, ordinary life. Death is a fear that has attacked the minds of man since the beginning. For years people have treated death as a unspeakable occurrence, and White Noise shows those desperate attempts through postmodern imagery. According to Don DeLillo, death is an assailant that creeps its way into the subconscious of society but is prevented from tainting the gratification of life by way of the postmodern army- technology. Works Cited Conroy, Mark. â€Å"From Tombstone to Tabloid: Authority Figured in White Noise.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Critique 35.2 (1994): 97-110. DeLillo, Don. White Noise. New York: Penguin Books 1999. Duvall, John N. â€Å"The (Super)Marketplace of Images: Television as Unmediated   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mediation in DeLillo’s White Noise.† Arizona Quarterly 50.3 (1994):   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  127-153. Maltby, Paul. â€Å"The Romantic Metaphysics of Don DeLillo.† Contemporary   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Literature 37.2 (1996): 258-277.

Moment of Truth Essay

The crowd was deafening. A few drunken chants, a boo here and there was all I could make out over my asthma-like pants. I didn’t blame them though. For two rounds I’ve been dodging, shifting, and shoving myself around the ring. I didn’t stand still, I couldn’t stand still. I wasn’t going to win this one. He was too big, too bulky, too mean looking. â€Å"There’s no way he’s 76 kg, there must have been some sort of mistake† I kept telling myself. I was a half expecting the referee to stop us saying â€Å"Sorry gentlemen, there was a mistake in the matching, and I’m gonna call a ‘No Contest’†. But I knew that wasn’t the case, just a bit of wishful thinking to ease the pain. He came at me again, this time more aggressively. It was probably the frustration, or maybe he wanted the knockout. Either way, I was losing and I knew it. For a second, I thought of taking the fall just to give the crowd something to talk about. He tried his best to trap me, but I kept backing up and prolonging this dance of ours. â€Å"Two minutes! Do something† I thought I heard my corner shout. I dashed back one more time, that’s when I saw the slight buckle in his knees. He was tired, exhausted, spent, almost expired. His mass advantage worked against him when it came to endurance. Now is my shot, it was either hit or miss. But I wasn’t going to waste it on an offensive strike. It had to be a counter, or he would expect it. I planted myself, and like a fish to the bait he came for the trap and swung. I flung out my jab to deflect his and countered with a right straight while my eyes were closed. I felt the contact, opened my eyes, he wasn’t there. The referee pushed me to the opposite corner as he continued the count. Everytime he yelled a number, the crowd would repeat it more frantically. Yal Wahsh! † I heard my roommate call from the corner. By the seven count, the referee realized all hope for the staggering beast were lost and declared me the winner. I was overwhelmed, I had one my first prize-fighting match and it felt like it should. â€Å"I hate these things! They’re ridiculous† I complained to myself as I unwrapped my knuckle wrappings. The locker room was smaller than i was used to and it had this wet dog stench about it but my face still wore a smile. â€Å"Hey! How are you? ok? † I was startled by a deep voice echoing behind me. I turned to see a small figure of a man. An old man. He wore an unbuttoned shirt with a wife-beater underneath. An earring on the left ear, and a mountainous gut. â€Å"Yeah I’m good, thanks. † I answered resuming what I was doing. â€Å"That’s a good win out there, you know I used to be a boxer? † He questioned rhetorically. â€Å"Oh really? , What happened? † I replied with a smug smirk on my face knowing the sarcasm went unnoticed. â€Å"You’re funny kid? eh? † he replied with after a light chuckle. â€Å"Everyone will grow old one day, this will never change. † †True† I nodded, extracting his ideas from his broken English. This is for you,† he said while extending a hand lighting clutching a bulky envelope. â€Å"Oh, aren’t I supposed to stop by the manager’s office to pick up my check? † I asked bluntly. It was received with a laugh, â€Å"This isn’t part of your prize, it’s just something extra from me. You made good money. Thirteen to one against you, I liked that and I won. So here, a tip eh? † I blindly grabbed the envelope from him and thanked him, not knowing what I had started. A card slid out of the envelope and onto the ground. â€Å"Anothony G. DeBatista – White Arrow Bar† was what I realized it said after picking it up. I recognized the place, I walked by it on my way to university every day, I just never really noticed it. Day after day, I found myself more drawn to the shady local bar. Everyday I didn’t go, I felt more inclined to do so the next day. It was as if I owed him something and I was putting it off. â€Å"The least I could do is drop by, right? † I convinced myself one time after class. I walked in, startled by the simultaneous bell but quickly realized what it was. There weren’t many people occupying the seats, I could see a group, much younger than I, sipping away at their ill-gotten delights and rambling on about how tough life was. In almost every sense of the word, it was shady, if not just plain out creepy. â€Å"Come around, to the back† I heard a familiar deep voice bark at me from behind the bar. So I squeezed under the counter and entered the make-shift kitchen Tony was sitting in. We started a conversation of senseless formalities, almost as if he was checking up on me. I was curious about what he really wanted to talk about. I was also intrigued by the question of why a simple bar owner carried a business card. But all these speculations were put to rest when I eventually realized all he wanted to do was talk. Nearly every day after class, I would stop by at Tony’s just for a casual chat. We would talk about sports, politics, anything that caught our mutual interest; we would find a way to discuss it, constantly reinforcing the age gap with our conflicting views on the same matters. Sometimes we’d play chess, sometimes he would send me out on errands he couldn’t find the time to do himself. I had to admit, I enjoyed that old man’s company. I felt that I could learn a lot from such wisdom. It wasn’t until I was approached by a fellow classmate that I disrupted this pattern. He had seen me constantly wandering off into the bar, and asked me who it belonged to. So i replied, â€Å"It’s Tony’s Bar† thinking it to be an inquisitive question. My classmate filled me in on everything I didn’t want to know about Tony. I didn’t want to know about how he owned 32 apartment complexes around Malta, had a significant amount of shares in the casino business, and was known to be a contact to the Sicilian crime family. I dismissed it all at first, thinking it too ridiculous to be true. â€Å"Believe it or not man, it is what it is. † he added when he saw my disbelief. Most people would cut ties after hearing something like that, â€Å"nip it in the bud† as they say. Not me though, I was still in a state of awe. To be honest, it was more of a state of intrigue than disbelief. There was something about that scenario that appealed to me. I had always loved mobster movies, everything from â€Å"The Godfather† to â€Å"The Departed†. I kept going to Tony’s bar, despite knowing who or what he was. Every time I walked through that door, I walked out a little more confident, a little more powerful, a little more corrupted. I was protected, and I acted like it. I really wish you luck, Omar, I’ve got quite a number on you. † Tony exclaimed before i entered the locker room. â€Å"Money in the bank. † I replied with a smug smile. I spoke too confidently, I couldn’t lose this. I bumped fists with my opponent and with the bell began my downfall. Punch after punch, I couldn’t see them coming anymore. He was faster than I thought. Every time that bell rang, I sat in the corner preaching myself new strategies, although I knew I’ve already lost. I had to win this though, Tony was counting on me. What if he loses a fortune on this? What if I fall from grace? Would it upset him? Would he do something about it? My mind went into a spiral of pessimism and panic. It had just dawned on me how dire my situation had become. â€Å"No worries,† I told myself, â€Å"I still have a round left, it’s not too late. I just have to take him down. † The bell rang and I dashed for the offensive. I had gone in too fast, and extended my jab too early. Mere target practice for him, I was caught with a straight and a left hook to follow. Its a funny feeling, being knocked out. Your mind makes you believe you’re still awake while your body completely fails you. You end up staggering fully conscious in mind, telling the referee you’re still alright to fight while your knees are giving in. The referee called the match, I knew I had lost. â€Å"God damn these wraps! † I found myself saying again. The locker room was once again abandoned except for my sad self. The door was knocked and my heart along with it. I knew it was Tony. I just didn’t know what to expect. â€Å"Come in† I answered hesitantly. â€Å"Hey kid, quite a fight eh? † he said not really expecting an answer. â€Å"I’m sorry, Tony, I don’t know what happened† I shot back almost instantly. Sorry? I didn’t get hit, you’re the one who got hit† he replied jokingly, †Why are you sorry? †. â€Å"Aren’t you pissed about the money? † I asked half-heatedly. He burst out in a chuckle â€Å"Malla, money is always coming and going my friend, you’ll do better next time, just train alright? † With that, he walked out, leaving me to my own devices. I couldn’t believe how stupid I had been. Stupid enough to assume that fantasy role I had taken, a gangster, in all sense of the word. I was no gangster, and I certainly didn’t have the heart for it. I was a nine-teen year old kid with his whole life ahead of him, but that was a role I never wanted to be. It’s almost poetic, when reality sets in and your eyes open up for the first time since birth. That’s when I became fully aware of my surroundings, truly appreciative of the things I was, and the things I wasn’t, and couldn’t be. I proclaimed this my rebirth, and it didn’t take a spiritual awakening or holy revelation to acquire it. All it took was one situation, one experience, and one hell of a scare to bring me back to reality. I never really saw Tony that much after that. Every time I passed that bar, I’d just leave it to sulk in its own gloomy haze. I’d remember how I sold out the memories, the laughter, the debates, the chess games, and the friendship to prejudge on reputation. Tony was a bad man, probably. In a way, though, Tony was a good man, at least to me. A friend when I needed him to be, a mentor at other times. No matter what the man had done in his past, I couldn’t deny him his wisdom. Eventually, I read in the paper that Tony was apprehended after a drug smuggling sting and sentenced to six years. He was out in three months. Like I was told, he’s connected.