American Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

American Government - Essay Example The Supreme Court is the tribunal in the country for all case and controversies that may arise regarding the constitution and the laws of the state. The court promises the American people of equal justice under the law. The court performs the role of an interpreter and as the guardian of the constitution. The state’s position to get involved in matters of central decision-making, this position has been revoked by Jurists who argue that the court should not play umpire between federal and state governments, Congress does not threaten any state power; however, it helps in protecting the state. The Senate serves as an environment for the states to protect and express their interests. The American people are tired of a system, which seems ever constant with conflicts between the republicans and democrats. People say that the system is broken, and Washington does not represent the interest of the common American. These sentiments have left many citizens exasperated. They desire a system that does not force them to select between two fixed options, which do not represent their individual beliefs as citizens. The multiparty system is favored because it allows the participation of minor parties. The Electoral College has been in existence for 200 years. There are individuals who are critics, and they are opposed the Electoral College system. The critics have tried to propose reforms that will eliminate the college system. There are also other supporters who are less vocal when compared to the critics, but they offer powerful arguments in its favor.

Incident A Matter of Priorities Essay Example for Free

Incident A Matter of Priorities Essay Thompson, production manager of Thompson Manufacturing, has the final authority when hiring any new supervisors. Sheila is currently looking to fill a position and having her Human Resources manager, Pete Peterson, do preliminary interviews to do the initial screening of applicants before being sent to her for final approval. Preliminary interviews are being conducted at the same time Sheila is having a very busy day. Pete Peterson has found a possible suitable young applicant by the name of Allen Guthrie that he would like Sheila to immediately see since Mr Guthrie is already on the premises. Current Situation Sheila Thompson is already having a hectic day at her office. While a search for a suitable candidate out of the applicant pool to fill a supervising position is being conducted by the Human Resources manager, Pete Peterson, Ms. Thompson is busy at work taking multiple phone calls and handling business affairs for Thompson Manufacturing. Pete Peterson has contacted Sheila about a possible candidate he finds will make an excellent supervisor that she has been looking for. Although Sheila is too busy to have in interview she agrees to see Mr. Guthrie immediately. During their interview Ms. Thompson has to take multiple phone calls and halt their interview progress. The duties she must attend to have come before the interview and Mr Guthrie, her applicant, many times. After another interruption Mr Guthrie has to leave in order to pick up his wife from work. The interview has not been completely, but Sheila has instructed Allen Guthrie to call her at another time. Answering the Questions Sheila Thompson has been tasked with having the final approval of hired applicants when looking to fill a supervisor position. The applicants go through the normal procedure in order to make it through into a structured interview. A structured interview has the ability to â€Å" increase reliability and accuracy by reducing the subjectivity and inconsistency of unstructured interviews†(Mondy 153). Her applicant who made it through the screening, Allen Guthrie, was advised he would be able to have an interview with Ms.Thompson immediately after his screening. Sheila notably has been far too busy already to take on this take, being impromptu, but decided she would see the applicant in leu of her busy schedule. Sheila, being the production manager that she is should have realized it was not the time to conduct a structured interview with any applicant at that time. She simply could have instructed her Human Resources manager, Pete Peterson, that it would have been improper for the applicant and her current work situations. Sheila should have made the executive decision to either commit herself to the interview, or schedule it for another day where she can put the invested time needed when conducting an interview for a possible supervisor. There were too many interruptions understand the applicant fully and give the interview the time it deserved to make an executive decision. Also, when a her attention, when able to be given, was on her applicant there were more pressing work concerns at hand at that time. Interviews should happen on a time when there would be a low impact on office hours and business. For the future, a scheduled interview will cause a less of an business impact and she would be able to focus her attention on her applicant in order to make an executive decision if he is the right fit for the position. Sheila Thompson, being the production manager, makes the final approval for all her intended supervisors. Her Human Resources manager, Pete, makes the selection process and forwards them to Sheila for final approval. Pete may have an idea of what Sheila is looking for, but he can only try to find a right fit based on experience and record. Since Sheila has the final approval she may be looking for something that Pete does not look for or screen for. Having Pete screen possible applicants will cut down on time spent for the production manager, who is obviously busy, but should be handled for employees not in the pool for a supervising position. If Sheila is the only manager able to make the final approval for supervisors, she should be the one running the selection process as well. If what Sheila is searching for, does not match what Pete screens for there it can waste precious company time and resources. The selection process of choosing from a group of applicants the individual best suited for a particular position and the organization†(Mondy 138). Pete may very well reject an employee he may not find suitable for the position, while Sheila may have found the applicant perfect. In order for time and company efficiency it is in Sheila’s, and Thompson Manufacturing, that she do the selection process if she wishes to have the final approval as well. Conclusion Sheila Thompson never should agreed to conduct an impromptu interview in the manner that she had. An interview is meant to find the perfect candidate suitable for the position in question and the company as a whole. With the interview performed how it was she was not able to perform her duties as a production manager or hiring manager for supervisors. If she had been in charge of the selection process for supervisor positions she could have allocated proper time to find the pool of candidates that fit her needs for the position as well as set up a proper time where she could conduct the interview without office distractions.

Sport Utility Vehicles Use for Other Purposes :: Argumentative Persuasive Papers

Sport Utility Vehicles Use for Other Purposes Sport Utility Vehicles have grown very quickly in popularity in recent years. Originally, they were coveted for their ability to go off-road by hunters and boaters. Now, they are used as alternatives to minivans or station wagons by soccer moms and businessmen. Unfortunately, these vehicles are not appropriate for everyday use, and most of the drivers are ill equipped to handle them properly. SUVs need to be taken out of general use and put in a category where only people who really need the utility can drive them. With all the controversy that these vehicles have caused recently, it is difficult to believe that they existed in relative obscurity for over sixty years. The Chevrolet Suburban, which is still around today, was introduced in 1935. It was mainly used as a work vehicle, however. Jeeps were the first SUVs to break into the personal vehicle market. In a move that nobody understood, Jeep began marketing their vehicles to people in affluent, urban areas in the 70s. High gas prices kept the sales low, however. In 1981 gas prices plummeted and the public’s appetite for large cars returned. Jeep Cherokee was introduced in 1984 and was gobbled up. The origin of the SUV’s problems comes out of the lack of regulations. Today, as it has always been, cars face very stiff regulations on things such as safety and the environment. Lawmakers control everything about cars, from bumper height to fuel efficiency. These regulations are the reason that cars have seatbelts, safety glass, and catalytic converters. Because of a convergence of historical oversights, trucks are curiously exempt from many of these strict car standards. The first thing that happened was that the automakers lobbied to have SUVs classified as light trucks so that they could take advantage of these lighter standards. At the time, nobody really raised much of a fuss because there was not much to make a fuss over. Trucks made up less than 1/5 of the vehicles on the road. There were simply not enough of them to do much damage if they were left out of the regulations. Plus, most of the people who owned these trucks, and eventually SUVs, used them for the ir businesses.

God’s kingdom Essay

John Ortberg’s The Life You’ve Always Wanted book talks of how one can be transformed and live with Jesus inside their life. One should lead a deep spiritual life wherever they are and in all aspects of their life. A proper relationship with one’s God can transform one so that they lead a spiritual life which is very important to a Christian. When one lives with Jesus in their hearts, there are fruits of Holy spirit that they can acquire which include peace, kindness, and joy. When one leads a spiritual life, they cannot have disappointments in their life because disappointments come when they ignore to live the way God wants them to live. One should thus not disappoint the God who created them and Who guides them in everything they do every day. One should understand that they were created by God. Rather, man was made by God to subdue the earth and fill it and also to have dominion on other creatures on the earth. There is a need to know that death is not the end of our lives but that there is another life which will be eternal in heaven. One should understand that the gospel is true and is not like any other tales which are being told here in the world. Consequently, God’s kingdom is open to anyone who can accept Jesus to be their savior and lead his life as the Jesus did by not following and fulfilling earthly needs. One should understand that Jesus came in the world and died for our sins in order to have eternal or everlasting splendor. One should understand that God can transform them at any time regardless of their age. This happened to Moses at a time that he was thinking he had become a person who had been forgotten. God however transformed him and made him the person who rescued the Israelites from the powerful Pharaoh. One should also understand that God hears prayers and answers them as He did to the Israelites in the hands of pharaoh. God heard their groans and sent Moses to bring them out of Pharaoh’s slavery. One should also understand that the desire to be transformed lies in everyone’s heart. Moreover, once they are transformed, they acquire hope in their life and are assured of eternal life in the next world. One needs to understand that Christians should not conform to the world around them. Paul advocated for transformation by renewal of minds. People should also understand that we are on a morphing time and that any ordinary person can receive power anytime and have extraordinary changes. Above everything, one should not forget that Jesus died for mankind’s sins and that Christ brought joy to humanity and that we should follow His teachings. One should have patience and endurance whenever they are suffering, be attending prayer fellowships, and have solitude and meditation on the Scriptures (Ortberg, 2002). I remember one day asking myself many questions after my expectations had failed to come true. I had finished my secondary level education. Moreover, since I thought that I had done my examinations well, I was thus sure that I had excelled and that I will be able to join a higher learning institution to do my bachelors degree. When the results were announced and after hearing that in our school, around five students had passed to join university level, I knew I must have passed because I used to be number one in our class since I was in form one. When I went to pick my results, I was surprised to find that my name did not appear among the first top ten students. I was shocked to an extent that I could not even talk to anybody whom I came across as I was going home. I went home and I did not even talk to any of my family members. I could not even participate in doing any household chores no matter how easy it was. I could not even talk to my friends who used to come visiting me. I stayed indoors for more than two weeks enduring a lot of stress asking myself why God had done that for me. I used to ask myself whether it was because I was not attending morning prayers and church devotions that God had decided to discipline me. My parents, having seen how I was depressed, organized that I go to another school where I would redo my exams. When the results were out, I had passed very well. What surprises me in Ortberg’s book is how and why one gets disappointed with themselves. Another question I would like to ask is what made Moses to ask God who He (God) was as Moses was being sent to pharaoh. Further, is human transformation genuinely possible? Another question which I may ask is how people understand or view this issue of transforming or morphing? Is it that people turn to God or remember the Lord when they are faced with problems? Do people understand that there is life after this one we are living in and that Jesus died so that we can have eternal majesty? Moreover, Ortberg should have asked the old woman how she knew Jesus and how her life was in Jesus. He could also have asked her how she knew about Jesus Christ; was it because she was blind and old or did she know Him when she was still young. What steps can one take to make sure that he or she has transformed as many people as possible? Can Ortberg – the author of this book, be associated with any influence in transforming the faith of many pagan people and bring them to Christianity? At what age or state can one be transformed and accept Jesus as their personal savior? From Ortberg’ book, I have learnt that transforming people is a very important thing since one can change the life of a person completely from a bad one to a good one. I have also learnt that mankind’s wish is not the wish of God. I have also known that when one leads a spiritual life, they can always much happiness and be joyous. Another lesson I have learnt is that material things are not important for they are earthly things. Rather, what is important is God’s kingdom since in it, there is eternal splendor. I have also learnt that the life one wants to live is not always easy to live because God has plans for everyone and that we are not the determinants of our lives. Instead, God created humanity and has the plans for everybody. Another lesson I have learnt from this book is that God is the giver of life and can change one’s lifestyle at any stage or at any age. I have also learnt that God hears the prayers and cries of His children and answers them. Time is not significant in this case since God has explicit plans for everyone. References Ortberg, John. (2002). The life you’ve always wanted. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.

Psychology textbook Essay

I didn’t know that psychology actually had a goal until I read the introduction to Psychology textbook. I am learning a lot of new things on this subject. For instance science of psychology has four main goals and they are as listed, described, predict, understand, and mental process and influence behavior. In my own words here they are. Describing: collecting information from the population by certain targeted people. The prediction goal is self explanatory it’s mostly meant for making assumption or predictions of what will become of your study before you actually know what will happen. The third goal of psychology is Understand, in this area you never really know when the information that you learn will change the next day or even within the next year. Psychology is a continuously growing field and the information that is gathered is only considered as theories and always changes, sometimes without knowledge or notice. Lets move on to influences which in my opinion one of the most used in everyday life . for instance a toddler is encourage to learn how to walk and talk. And a teenager can be pressured into doing things and making choices that they wouldn’t originally have made without the influence from their peers. Influencing people can be good too. For instance you can be influenced by coworkers and supervisors to take an open position that they feel you would get with no problem. Another example is to get the influence to do better than you are currently doing whether it be work, school, or making a better relationship with you family. The Biology and behavior was hard for me to decide what section to write about because there were so many to choose from. I didn’t want to be wrong about this section so I decided to pick the part that stood out the most to me. I am going talk about the Nervous System. It’s a really important part of the body because it helps you maintain consciousness and your behavior. The nervous system has billions of neurons. They are too, a very important part in the body because they do things such as sending messages from one end to the other end of the neuron. They are also called wires. To show why the nervous system is a really important part of the body, I will use the wires in a radio for an example. The wires in the radio are the main connection for it to provide power to send to the wires that go throughout the radio in order to hear the sound and in for it to recognize what needs to be done when certain buttons are pressed. Without the power cord the radio would really have no use. When the power cord is plugged into a power outlet the power cord provides the ability for the radio to produce sound from the speakers. It enables the buttons to work properly so that you can press the play button on the radio and hear the tracks on a CD. The wires also give you the ability to actually hear the music that comes out of the speakers. The next topics I will mention are sensation and perception. First I will mention what sensation is, it allows your brain to connect with the outer part of your body and transfer it to the inside of your body to your brain. For example, touching things with different temperature let’s say you touch or hold ice. If you hold it the ice long enough you may begin to feel a numbing sensation and you may start getting cold or experiencing the chills or goose bumps. Another example would be touching something hot. Due to the high degrees in the object you may experience pain or even have burn marks on your skin. Now lets move on to Perception which n my words mean, getting information and making images of them. There are a few different types of perception for instance â€Å"constancy† this also has different types. But for now we will use size constancy. When you look at the very same object from different angles and distances, it may appear smaller or bigger than it really is. Picture looking at a large building out of a window on an airplane before it takes off of the ground and try watching it until you get in the sky. It will appear to be much smaller than it did when you were viewing it at a closer distance but you know the actual building didn’t get smaller, it was the distance that you were viewing it at that made it look a different size. We all must know that perception is just about the same in everyone and that’s the reason we are able to communicate with each other.

Brief History of the Declaration of Independence

Brief History of the Declaration of Independence Since April 1775, loosely organized groups of American colonists had been fighting British soldiers in an attempt to secure their rights as loyal British subjects. By the summer of 1776, however, a majority of Americans were pushing – and fighting for full independence from Britain. In reality, the Revolutionary War had already begun with the Battles of Lexington and Concord  and the Siege of Boston  in 1775.  The American Continental Congress turned a five-man committee including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin to pen a formal statement of the colonists’ expectation and demands to be sent to King George III. In Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The Declaration of Independence. The following is a brief chronicle of events leading up to the official adoption of the Declaration of Independence. May 1775 The Second Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia. A petition for redress of grievances, sent to King George III of England by the First Continental Congress in 1774, remains unanswered. June - July 1775 Congress establishes the Continental Army, a first national monetary currency and a post office to serve the United Colonies. August 1775 King George declares his American subjects to be engaged in open and avowed rebellion against the Crown. The English Parliament passes the American Prohibitory Act, declaring all American sea-going vessels and their cargo the property of England. January 1776 Colonists by the thousands buy copies of Thomas Paines Common Sense, stating the cause of American independence. March 1776 Congress passes the Privateering (piracy) Resolution, allowing colonists to arm vessels in order to cruize [sic] on the enemies of these United Colonies. April 6, 1776 American seaports were opened to trade and cargo from other nations for the first time. May 1776 Germany, through a treaty negotiated with King George, agrees to hire mercenary soldiers to help put down any potential uprising by American colonists. May 10, 1776 Congress passes the Resolution for the Formation of Local Governments, allowing colonists to establish their own local governments. Eight colonies agreed to support American independence. May 15, 1776 The Virginia Convention passes a resolution that the delegates appointed to represent this colony in General Congress be instructed to propose to that respectable body to declare the United Colonies free and independent states. June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee, Virginias delegate to the Continental Congress, presents the Lee Resolution reading in part: Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. June 11, 1776 Congress postpones consideration of the Lee Resolution and appoints the Committee of Five to draft a final statement declaring the case for Americas independence. The Committee of Five is composed of: John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. July 2, 1776 By the votes of 12 of the 13 colonies, with New York not voting, Congress adopts the Lee Resolutions and begins consideration of the Declaration of Independence, written by the Committee of Five. July 4, 1776 Late in the afternoon, church bells ring out over Philadelphia heralding the final adoption of the Declaration of Independence. August 2, 1776 The delegates of the Continental Congress sign the clearly printed or engrossed version of the Declaration. Today Faded but still legible, the Declaration of Independence, along with the Constitution and Bill of Rights, is enshrined for public display in the rotunda of the National Archives and Records Building in Washington, D.C. The priceless documents are stored in an underground vault at night and are constantly monitored for any degradation in their condition.

How to Write All the Important Parts of Your Dissertation Introduction

How to Write All the Important Parts of Your Dissertation Introduction The introduction is the first section and starting point of your dissertation where you explain a specific topic, formulate a strong thesis statement, and give an overview of further paragraphs. What is its main purpose? The key goal of any dissertation introduction is to do the following: Grab readers’ interest (include clear examples or use other hooks); Introduce your subject area and purpose of your study; Demonstrate the practical and scientific relevance of your work. What to write in a dissertation introduction? What to write in a dissertation introduction? It’s one of the common questions that students ask when they start completing this important academic assignment to ensure that they’re doing everything correctly. A dissertation introduction is often a difficult chapter to write. That’s because your focus may shift when you continue brainstorming other sections as you analyze, interpret, and connect related research findings to existing knowledge. As you review available literature, your assumptions may change. An introduction should be the last structural part of dissertations to complete because it requires many edits to be powerful. To get an answer to the above-mentioned question, ensure that it contains these crucial elements: The main focus of your research; The value of your study; Preliminary background information to put your paper in context; Specific objectives and aims that it will achieve. Feel free to combine these basic parts to suit your needs. There are other interesting features that you can add to impress every reader, including a concrete research framework or methods. When it comes to the right length of your introduction for a dissertation, there’s no set rule about how long it must be, but you should try to write it on one page. Your dissertation introduction should include subheadings. Don’t forget about key references that you’ll use in your study. ORDER YOUR DISSERTATION NOW The background section Its basic purpose is to ease other people who read your complex and lengthy paper into a given topic. It’s inappropriate to simply state the focus or context of your research and reasoning that forced you to pursue this idea. Readers want to know that your study is really valuable. You can achieve this goal by defining gaps in research. Many students make one common mistake in a dissertation introduction by justifying their work and stating that the chosen subject is interesting to them. Although it’s a significant element of any academic project, you need to go beyond that and state why there’s a particular need for your study. How to outline the background section of your dissertation introduction? Try to identify the main elements of your chosen topic that the targeted audience should know from the very beginning. Make a list of a few powerful authors or readings. Write short notes to explain why they’re very influential and how they fit each other in relation to your overall subject. Consider key terminology to let readers understand your written discussion. You may have a list of abbreviations, but you need to write the background section in your dissertation introduction to highlight essential terms. Determine your research focus fast and provide only basic information. Your research focus A research focus does two important things in your dissertation introduction: Provides more data on your key purpose; Identifies the rationale of your paper. Clarify the areas you’re planning to research. Explain the importance of your study in the first place. The main point is that your research focus should link to the background data in the introduction of your dissertation. These elements should have a continuous flow. Use suitable transitional phrases or words to let readers know how you link ideas and facts to each other. A research focus leads into the aims, value, and objectives of your work, so it serves as a tie in your dissertation introduction. Ease the audience into your subject. Introduce your major point, explain the significance of your materials, and highlight the overall importance of your chosen field. This step will set you up to presenting objectives and aims. Your research value The value of your research deserves to be a separate element in your dissertation introduction because it matters to people who will judge the merit of your paper. It demonstrates that you consider how it can add any value. Not including this part is a big mistake. Devote a few short paragraphs to stating the worth of your contributions to a given discipline (it may not be a significant advancement). There are different ways to address the value of your academic work: Looking at your subject from a different angle; Suggesting that it lacks a critical investigation; Explaining why your research is a bit urgent. State its added value or significance in your dissertation introduction. YOUR DISSERTATION STARTS HERE Objectives and aims Keep in mind that objectives and aims are different things and you need to treat them accordingly. Students usually create them for the ethical clearance of their project or at the proposal stage, and putting them in the introduction of your dissertation is a matter of its clarity and organization. Any academic project has its overall goal. State your main purpose in a direct way. Objectives term from your overall goal and explain to the targeted audience how you will achieve it in your project. Organize them as bullet points or numerically. Objectives are identifiable and clear statements. There are some basic things that you should remember when including them in your dissertation introduction: Distinctness (every objective must assist in achieving the overall aim of your project); Appropriateness (it relates to what you study); Being achievable (your objectives are realistic and you can achieve them within a reasonable period of time); Clarity (avoid ambiguity). In creating your research objectives, take into account these simple steps: Start them with a certain keyword; Find a perfect numerical balance; Begin with simple objectives to set the right scene in your dissertation introduction, They’ll help you demonstrate a logical and clear position. Address them both in the main body and introduction of your dissertation because you can’t simply forget about them. Reference this basic part in your discussion and findings. Final words This helpful guide offers the key parts of any winning dissertation introduction, but you can add extra pieces to make it stronger. An outline of your project can be a good example of additional information that you can include in this paragraph. Ensure that it’s clear and logical to succeed. What if you keep struggling with your dissertation introduction? To solve your academic problems and make this task easier, turn to our qualified writing experts and get professional assistance online. Order our high-quality services and save time for other important activities, such as your studies, hobbies, friends, and job.

Tropical Rainforests Are Natures Medicine Cabinet

Tropical Rainforests Are Nature's Medicine Cabinet Tropical rainforests, which account for only seven percent of the world’s total land mass, harbor as much as half of all known varieties of plants. Experts say that just a four-square-mile area of rainforest may contain as many as 1,500 different types of flowering plants and 750 species of trees, all which have evolved specialized survival mechanisms over the millennia that mankind is just starting to learn how to appropriate for its own purposes. Rainforests Are a Rich Source of Medicines Scattered pockets of native peoples around the world have known about the healing properties of rainforest plants for centuries and perhaps longer. But only since World War II has the modern world begun to take notice, and scores of drug companies today work in tandem with conservationists, native groups, and various governments to find and catalog rainforest plants for their medicinal value, and synthesize their bio-active compounds. Rainforest Plants Produce Life-Saving Medicines Some 120 prescription drugs sold worldwide today are derived directly from rainforest plants. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, more than twos abound. Ingredients obtained and synthesized from a now-extinct periwinkle plant found only in Madagascar (until deforestation wiped it out) have increased the chances of survival for children with leukemia from 20 percent to 80 percent. Some of the compounds in rainforest plants are also used to treat malaria, heart disease, bronchitis, hypertension, rheumatism, diabetes, muscle tension, arthritis, glaucoma, dysentery, and tuberculosis, among other health problems. Many commercially available anesthetics, enzymes, hormones, laxatives, cough mixtures, antibiotics, and antiseptics are also derived from rainforest plants and herbs. Stumbling Blocks Despite these success stories, less than one percent of the plants in the world’s tropical rainforests have even been tested for their medicinal properties. Environmentalists and health care advocates alike are keen to protect the world’s remaining rainforests as storehouses for the medicines of the future. Fueled by this urgency, pharmaceutical companies have entered agreements with tropical countries promising protection against exclusive bioprospection rights. Unfortunately, these agreements didnt last, and enthusiasm waned.  In some countries, bureaucracy, permits, and access became prohibitively expensive. In addition, new technologies allowed to use powerful combinatorial chemistry techniques to find active molecules without having to slog through the mud in some faraway jungle. As a result, the exploratory search for pharmaceuticals in rainforests dwindled for a while. But the technological advancements which favored synthetic, lab-developed meds are now helping botanical prospectors once again, and a few daring pharmaceutical companies are back in the jungles looking for the next big drug.   The Challenge of Preserving Valuable Rainforests But saving tropical rainforests is no easy task, as poverty-stricken native people try to eke out a living off the lands and many governments throughout the world’s equatorial regions, out of economic desperation as well as greed, allow destructive cattle ranching, farming, and logging. As rainforest turns to farm, ranch and clear-cut, some 137 rainforest-dwelling species- plants and animals alike- go extinct every single day, according to noted Harvard biologist Edward O. Wilson. Conservationists worry that as rainforest species disappear, so will many possible cures for life-threatening diseases. How You Can Help Save Rainforests You can do your part to help save rainforests around the world by following and supporting the work of such organizations as Rainforest Alliance, Rainforest Action Network, Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy. EarthTalk is a regular feature of E/The Environmental Magazine. Selected EarthTalk columns are reprinted on About Environmental Issues by permission of the editors of E. Edited by Frederic Beaudry.

Cuba As An Example Of Sustainable Living Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Cuba As An Example Of Sustainable Living - Essay Example The country has relied on aid for several years in the past years, but due to its political inclination, it benefited a great deal from the collapsed Soviet Union. The Soviet Union used the country to propagate their ideology especially as a way of countering the American capitalism dominance. Since the attainment of independence in 1902, the republic of Cuba has passed through economic stormy periods characterized by its radical politics and social strife. The period of dictatorship characterized by the leadership of Fulgencio Batista before 1952 almost brought the country on its economic toes. The ousting of the dictatorial regime saw the full fledge of communism under Fidel Castro who gave more focus on military strength and less concern over the people. However, several economic developments were experienced during his tenure; some of the ideologies developed favoured the entire population at the expense of individuals. The Cuban population today relies mainly on food from Venezu ela after the collapse of the Soviet Union that provided him some good support. Cuba does not provide the best example of sustainable living because a century after independence the country still relies on foreign food aid coupled with a huge foreign debt and several other challenges. Cuba’s dark past was evident with the inability of the governments to enact concrete and sustainable economic policies to help the country get to an economic destiny. Fulgencio Batista turned the economy of Cuba upside down through his dictatorial regime. In 1959, he was overthrown by the July 26 Movement that was under the leadership of Castro (Coltman 1). They took over the country and imposed a purely communist regime. He received massive support from the Cuban peasants and workers because of the humiliation that they had faced under the ousted regime. The revolution brought up many changes, by 1960 Castro’s regime had expropriated up to 37% of the entire nation’s land and later on decided to nationalize the land, which stood at up to 80%, this was a landmark achievement because there has never been another country in the world to successfully implement such a policy. Most of the big companies and well established businesses were all nationalized resulting into suspicion by foreign countries especially the United States whose companies had been nationalized. It was reported that approximately sixty-one American sugar mills were victims of the new development. Largely, the nationalization policy did not find a solution to the predicaments of the poor workers but instead extended the exploitation (Uriarte 3). State apparatus were established that had control over the population’s social, economic and political life, a factor that not only attempted to make all people equal but also ruined the labour compensations turning them even more exploitative. The state apparatus created a lot of bureaucracy, Castro and his brother, Raul together with the July 2 6 Movement members were the dominant figures in dictating the policies of the country. The state owned all property that was being worked on by the members of the public who received poor wages, they had no option since the land and firms were purely owned by the state. The oppressive state apparatus were advanced by the establishment of the Ministry Of Industry in 1961that looked into policy

Organisation and behaviour Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Organisation and behaviour - Assignment Example It further seeks to investigate the approaches of these organizations to their management. Style of Leadership The success of Berkshire and its founder, Warren Buffett starts with leadership. Buffett’s leadership has the capability of adapting to changing world. The success of Buffett’s leadership style is reflected in the performance of his company. The annual report 2010 of Berkshire stated that they tend to let their subsidiary companies operate in their own. They do not monitor or supervise them to any extent. Many managers utilize the liberty in a magnificent manner and preserve an owner-oriented behavior. Warren Buffett’s employs the laissez-faire style of management, which increased the stock of the company by 19.8%. Laissez-faire style of management thrives at Berkshire because every organization has its own culture. Berkshire does not enforce the conventional human resource. If it had done it, then laissez-faire would not have worked at Berkshire. Buffet t believes that enforcing autonomy creates pressure on CEOs. He encourages his leaders by convincing them that they can do more than they believe they can and it will take three people to replace each of them. A contrasting organization to Berkshire is Trump Organization, where the founder Donald Trump runs the organization in an autocratic style. He has centralized all the decision-making power to himself and to a group of few selected people. This type of leadership style limits the inputs of rest of the employees. Trump exhibits an eccentric style of leadership. This is shown in every piece of real estate that he owns. Every building, gold course, or casino has his name on it. Trump is considered as the positive example of autocratic leadership. According to his employees, though he keeps gentleness out of spotlight, but in essence, he is more generous than anyone would believe due to this reputation. It is not about which style is being implemented. It entirely depends on how it is being implemented. If leaders are confident, capable, and motivated, it can work well. Modern Management Theories When it comes to Donald Trump, it is quite evident that Henri Fayol’s 14 principles are applied to greater extent. Trump’s style of management clearly integrates elements mentioned by Henry Fayol. Unity of Command, Centralization, Discipline, Authority of Work, Division of Work, Scalar Chain, and Order are named as few. The common element among all these principles is autocracy and autonomy, which is decently reflected in the workplace and organizational culture of Trump Organization. The span of control and attention is limited to one person only, who has all the decision making power. It is staff’s responsibility to show initiative within the limits of discipline and authority. Uniform goals and similar direction is constructed for all the employees of the entire organization. In contrast to that, the style of Warren Buffet contradicts with con temporary capitalism. Warren Buffet understands the Systems Theory. Buffett is aware of how different systems affect the workers and how the system is affected by workers. A system constitutes of variety of different parts that work together in order to achieve a goal. Systems theory allows leader to evaluate events and patterns in the workplace. Warren buffet is aware of what inputs need to be inserted into the system in order to achie

Criminology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Criminology - Essay Example They include shop lifting and disorderly conduct. Some offenses called wobbler can be classified as felonies or misdemeanor depending on circumstance. Petty offenses or infractions are insignificant crimes involving very minor misconducts classified as violations of public welfare, an example is traffic violations. They are not punishable by incarceration but through monetary fines or community service (Fletcher 31). The basis for proving criminal liability the accused is that, the defendant is proved to have committed a guilty act with a guilty state of mind. The physical elements of such a case are called actus reus while the corresponding mental state is called mens rea. It is the prosecutions duty to prove those elements of the offense to the contentment of the jury beyond reasonable doubt, otherwise the defendant is acquitted. Criminal law formulates that individuals should be punished based on the retribution they deserve as such, they are culpable if they demonstrate insufficient concern for others by choosing to cause risk or harm to others for insufficient reason and does it voluntarily (Fletcher 46). Actus reus is the physical action one takes in order to be culpable of a criminal offense, though it is possible for one to commit a crime by omission rather than an affirmative act. For example, voluntary failure to perform the legally required act of filing and paying tax. To be responsible for a crime, one must perform the legally required act for that crime. For example, the actus reus for burglary is that one must break into a roofed structure or vehicle. The voluntary action provision in actus reus recognizes that people are not responsible for actions over, which they have no control. For example, an epileptic person may have a seizure at a mall causing damage to property. Such a person is not criminally responsible (Norrie 111). Conversely, if such an individual is

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 11

Assignment Example Applying the above theory to this coursework discourse, we can also assert that students have an expectation of what studying in the UK institutions should offer them. On the issue of studying in the United Kingdom, this present coursework mainly intends to investigate the extent to which students have become aware of financial issues that are faced with students who are joining universities. Therefore, the coursework will give information and advice on what first year undergraduate should expect to spend their money on when they arrive at the university and a rough estimate of these costs. Additionally, the coursework will highlight on the sources of finance that are available to students. Students’ expenditure budget According to Davey (2008), students learning at UK institutions are faced with a budget as they are supposed to cater for their needs and cover their own expenses, this more in particular for students are boarding at their learning institutions. Therefore, for f irst year undergraduate students the first thing that they should learn is financial management and proper budgeting in order to go through the entire term without financial hurdles and be able to fully concentrate on their studies. Among the common expenditure that students are faced with, include rent, food, communication (mobile/ internet), student supplies, council tax, transport, utilities, and banking charges such as opening a UK account. Estimate of a student budget For first year students who are going to undertake a course that runs for three years, the common budget estimates are presented in the table below. A 3 years course Amount in GBP Annual fees 2500 The living costs Books 62 Clothes 178 Concerts/ cinema 50 Travel home 50 Monthly expenditure Rent 340 Bar/restaurant bills 77 Food 130 Mobile phone 36 Transport 12 Shopping 69 Households bills 65 Other miscellaneous 20 Total Amount 37, 524 Based on this total amount that students will spend for their entire 3 years cours e, the annual amount that students will be required to have is 12508, on per term basis the required amount is 4168.33 while on monthly basis it is 1042.33. Evans (2011) stated that for students studying in the UK, there are various sources of finance that they can exploit in order to cover for their expenses and this excluded funds that can be provided for by their parents or guardians. Among the available sources, include student loans, grants that are offered annually, earning from part-time work, and holiday jobs. The estimate amounts that students could generate from these sources are as follows; Students’ possible income Student loan plus grant per year 6000 Part-time work 60 Holiday jobs 2500 Total 8560 The annual expenditure budget for students as it was noted was 12,508 and the rough estimates for students’ possible income per year is 8560 in total. Therefore, it means that on annual basis students will have a shortfall of 3948. This shortfall could either be covered by a funds received from parents or income earned from additional part time jobs and holidays jobs. However, it is of essence to note that for students to engage too much in jobs is highly likely to interfere with their education and they may end up have dwindling performances. The other key expense that was not included on the budget is healthcare costs for the students. This was intentionally excluded because of the fact that healthcare cost for students is also charged as part of the total school fees,

Finance coursework Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Finance coursework - Research Paper Example According to Gustav Cassel, the purchasing power parity is the appropriate level at which the foreign exchange rate should be set. The rate is measured by calculating the relative departures or deviations of price levels from a chosen base period in which the balance of payments of the concerned countries had been in equilibrium. If countries X and Y were in reasonable adjustment in time period 0, then these countries should choose an exchange rate in time period 1 (R1) which reflects the changes in their prices between time period 0 and time period 1. So, the formula is: The inflation rate has risen by 5% in US from 1993 to 1995, while it has risen by 12% in Zeal during the same period. Taking these rates into account and calculating at the old exchange rates of GP20 for $1, we calculate the new rate of exchange at GP33.6 for $1. The peso is not likely to fall any further. It has overadjusted. The rate would finally be set near the above calculated level. 2. The peso float could have been forecast due to a number of reasons. First, the exchange rate that was set and maintained by the Zeal authorities was clearly overvalued. The purchasing parity theory of exchange rates predicted a rate of GP33.6 for $1, while it was being pegged at the rate of GP20 for $1. Second, the balance of payments was running in deficit for a number of years as can be seen in Table1. The current account deficit was constantly increasing over the years and it was being funded by capital flows from abroad, putting pressure on the currency to depreciate. Thirdly, Inflation was consistently rising and was at 12% in 1995. The money supply was rising at a greater rate than the price level, again placing peso under pressure. Fourth, Zeal central bank was continuously losing international reserves in an attempt to hold the exchange rate. Fifth, the country had to borrow capital to fill the gap in balance of payments. And lastly, a sustainability of a particular level of current account deficit depends on how the capital flows are used and if the country has the appropriate debt servicing capability. A large and persistent current account deficit in the balance of payments of Zeal shows the employment of unsustainable macroeconomic policies. The exchange rate would have finally fallen victim to those policies. So, from the above reasons we can say that the peso float could have been anticipated. (Beenhakker, 2000) 3. Many wealthy individuals of the country have shifted their money out of the country through the dollarization of their assets. This is indicated from the unilateral transfers shown in Table1. The table indicates that the trade balance deficit has been increasing since 1973 and currently it stands at a very high $400,000,000.00. The current account deficit has similarly been increasing constantly over the years to reach $387 million. The international reserves have also been depleting as the current account deficit is increasing. There are still positive figures in unilateral transfers. The transfers have increased from a very minuscule $1 million in 1973 to reach $13 million in 1995. From 1973 to 1993 there was any increase of $6 million in unilateral transfers overall. But in the two years from 1993 to 1995 the country has seen an increase in unilateral tra

History Document Analysis on ETA and the Basque Country Essay

History Document Analysis on ETA and the Basque Country - Essay Example 498). In its campaigns thus far, the ETA has committed over 900 killings and dozens of kidnappings. While the ETA did declare a unilateral cease-fire on March 22, 2006, on September 23, 2006, the organization announced that it would resume hostilities until the achievement of Basque independence (ETA). To understand the sentiments at work in all three of these documents – particularly the harsh dichotomies of the Arana piece – it is good to have an understanding of the dynamics at work within the ETA. To people outside of the Basque region, and, in particular, outside of Spain, the mission of the ETA sounds just like one of many small revolutionary groups, agitating for its own few square miles of self-determination, if only to avoid the larger taxing entities in the country around it (Funes, p. 499). Each of these little splinter groups has its own manifesto that spouts idealistic words and phrases, its own shrill anthem that sounds to the modern person listening from abroad much like, quite frankly, the declarations that leapt from the American colonies to the government of Great Britain in the later days of the eighteenth century. The modern chapter of the Basque story begins during the reign of Francisco Franco, and his attempts to drive the Basque nation off the very face of the planet. Because there had been Basque sympathizers with the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War, Franco decided to eliminate any signs of Basque culture from the public consciousness. The Basque flag could not be displayed; Basque holidays could not be publicly celebrated; teaching the Basque language, or even speaking it in public, were forbidden; baptizing children who did not have Spanish surnames was proscribed (Sullivan, p. 88). This crackdown against non-Spanish cultures was not carried out throughout the country, however. While Guipuscoa and Biscay were also singled out for this attempted annihilation of local culture, because of their

Finance coursework Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Finance coursework - Research Paper Example According to Gustav Cassel, the purchasing power parity is the appropriate level at which the foreign exchange rate should be set. The rate is measured by calculating the relative departures or deviations of price levels from a chosen base period in which the balance of payments of the concerned countries had been in equilibrium. If countries X and Y were in reasonable adjustment in time period 0, then these countries should choose an exchange rate in time period 1 (R1) which reflects the changes in their prices between time period 0 and time period 1. So, the formula is: The inflation rate has risen by 5% in US from 1993 to 1995, while it has risen by 12% in Zeal during the same period. Taking these rates into account and calculating at the old exchange rates of GP20 for $1, we calculate the new rate of exchange at GP33.6 for $1. The peso is not likely to fall any further. It has overadjusted. The rate would finally be set near the above calculated level. 2. The peso float could have been forecast due to a number of reasons. First, the exchange rate that was set and maintained by the Zeal authorities was clearly overvalued. The purchasing parity theory of exchange rates predicted a rate of GP33.6 for $1, while it was being pegged at the rate of GP20 for $1. Second, the balance of payments was running in deficit for a number of years as can be seen in Table1. The current account deficit was constantly increasing over the years and it was being funded by capital flows from abroad, putting pressure on the currency to depreciate. Thirdly, Inflation was consistently rising and was at 12% in 1995. The money supply was rising at a greater rate than the price level, again placing peso under pressure. Fourth, Zeal central bank was continuously losing international reserves in an attempt to hold the exchange rate. Fifth, the country had to borrow capital to fill the gap in balance of payments. And lastly, a sustainability of a particular level of current account deficit depends on how the capital flows are used and if the country has the appropriate debt servicing capability. A large and persistent current account deficit in the balance of payments of Zeal shows the employment of unsustainable macroeconomic policies. The exchange rate would have finally fallen victim to those policies. So, from the above reasons we can say that the peso float could have been anticipated. (Beenhakker, 2000) 3. Many wealthy individuals of the country have shifted their money out of the country through the dollarization of their assets. This is indicated from the unilateral transfers shown in Table1. The table indicates that the trade balance deficit has been increasing since 1973 and currently it stands at a very high $400,000,000.00. The current account deficit has similarly been increasing constantly over the years to reach $387 million. The international reserves have also been depleting as the current account deficit is increasing. There are still positive figures in unilateral transfers. The transfers have increased from a very minuscule $1 million in 1973 to reach $13 million in 1995. From 1973 to 1993 there was any increase of $6 million in unilateral transfers overall. But in the two years from 1993 to 1995 the country has seen an increase in unilateral tra

TheLife and Influence of Kate Chopin Research Paper

TheLife and Influence of Kate Chopin - Research Paper Example The Life of Kate Chopin Kate Chopin was born in February of 1851. Her Father was a noble business man who was successful at his work. Unfortunately, he died when Chopin was only 4 years old, leaving her in the care of her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. It can be assumed that being raised by these three powerful women in the absence of a man had a great impact on Chopin’s perceptions about life. To her, life was not only in the hands of a man to command, but women had power too. While watching her mother and grandmothers work and successfully maintain surely a strong sense of feminism developed in the young Chopin. As a child, Chopin loved to read. Her family mostly kept encyclopedias and Bibles in the home library, but Chopin did not limit herself to these. She came to have many favorite authors and regularly read the works of scientific authors like Darwin in order to train her own rational thinking. The author that had the most impact on Chopin’s writing was Guy de Maupassant, a French writer whom she admired for his â€Å"nonjudgmental and unsentimental appreciation of reality† (Skredisrig 1975; p. 90). ... Following the example of her mother, Chopin continued to manage her husband’s business alone. Eventually, she returned to St. Luis, the city that she had called home since birth. Chopin wrote in order to provide for her family. During her writing career, Chopin produced a few works that have earned some notoriety, including At Fault (1890), Bayou Folk (1894), The Story of an Hour (1894), A Night in Acadie (1897), and The Awakening (1899). However, Chopin wrote constantly and is responsible for many other works. She has written 100 short stories, a play, some poetry, various essays, sketches, literary reviews, journals, letters, translations, and some nonfiction material (Skredsrig 1975; p. 89). Of her written works it was said that the reflected the needs, despairs and desires of the people in her society that she was able to observe (Ostman 2008; p.10). The Influence of Chopin Even though her book, The Awakening, had been criticized for lack of morals and open sexuality by ma ny, there was some who found appreciation for it. Her other works were not as harshly scrutinized. She was a popular enough writer in her day to be able to support her large family with the money that she made writing. The Awakening was the last piece that Chopin ever published. She died a few years after the work. While many think that Chopin had ceased to write because of the harsh judgments that she faced because of this last work, the truth is that there are other short stories written by Chopin after this time that were never published. Possibly, if she had not died, there would have been other works from her that were published. It took about five more decades before The Awakening could lose its bad reputation and be better appreciated. In the 1950’s with the activism that

Victorian society Essay Example for Free

Victorian society Essay The Importance of Being Earnest, subtitled, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a comedy of manners whereby Oscar Wilde rebukes the Victorian aristocracy for their social issues that seemingly prioritise the most trivial of things such as style and appearance above those of true significance such as. Wilde further achieves this by incorporating elements such as farce and melodrama in order to highlight their senseless main concerns. Wilde portrays the act of â€Å"Being Earnest† as being in opposing to its definition as having features of dishonesty and false morality, with one of the main characters Algernon stating that â€Å"The truth is rarely pure and never simple†. Wilde’s first satirical attack in the play is marriage. Algernon is shown to perceive marriage to be a business deal as opposed to the projected illusion of it as described in the play as being based on mutual feelings of love (evidence – Ceclily or Gwendolen). This is evidenced by Algernon’s sharply comical and paradoxical epigrams in response to his best friend Jack Worthing’s admittance of wanting to propose to Algernon’s own ward Gwendolen he states: â€Å"I thought you had come up for pleasure? I call that business. † Wilde is seemingly satirising concept of marriage presenting it to be a legal contract between consenting families of similar social class and fortunes; Baxley comments â€Å"Wilde shows us how the upper class does not marry for love or happiness but for convenience and social standing†. )Algernon views marriage in an unorthodox way, unlike the expectations of modern day now. He views it as a disease, one that to be bearable needs an escape: â€Å"Nothing will induce me to part with Bunbury, and if you ever get married†¦ you will be very glad to know Bunbury. A man who marries without knowing Bunbury has a very tedious time of it. † ‘Bunbury’ (who is he) is a direct metaphor for Algernon’s deceit and escape from social expectation. He is a fictitious person; one that Algernon suggests is needed in general life but indeed emphasises that this is the case most particularly when one is married. Algernon disregards Jack’s confidence that once he finds love he will no longer needs a ‘Bunbury’[a]. On one level the exchange merely is a continuation of the long running marriage gag of the Victorian notion of â€Å"marriage bliss† in an era where the English aristocracy was dominant and superior, and far removed even from the British middle class. This would in turn amplify the humorous situation through Wilde’s blatant social criticism-through the ‘Bunbury’ double entendre to the middle class audience in particular. Nevertheless, it also brings to light a darker subtext, one were Algernon insinuates that all husbands in Victorian society have and need a ‘Bunbury’ thus satirising the moral values by highlighting the fact that aristocratic meaning as long as they kept within the appearance of propriety, they could lead a double life and avoid responsibility but still keep upmost respect from society. Consequently, Oscar Wilde satirises duty and respectability simultaneously with the notion of marriage in Victorian society by demeaning their importance. Wilde could be said to be suggesting that their ‘duty’ is a pun (with reference to the title of the play) and in fact the aristocracy duty is more so simply a title that entails a need for pity as opposed to awe. Perhaps this is purposely done as such a suggestion to a Victorian audience would have been deemed an outrageous concept even to the extent of offence but is accepted due to the comedic light-heartedness and infantile manner in which it is presented; through Algernon’s unrealistic approach to life and love. His ignorance and foolishness, contributes to the satirical nature of the play but yet in keeping with the comedy genre due to the melodramatic and foolish aspects of his character for example: â€Å"She will place me next Mary Farquhar, who always flirts with her husband across the dinner-table. That is not very pleasant The amount of women in London who flirt with their own husbands is perfectly scandalous. It looks so bad. It is simply washing one’s clean linen in public†. This statement highlights the fact that Algernon recoils at the very thing that society values. His offence that the women he will be seated with flirt only with their husband and no one else evidences this. The importance of marriage instead is subverted and can be seen as simply a stipulation and social expectation that comes with the responsibilities of being in the upper class a view, which is seen as trivial and unimportant as the characters mainly view marriage as a social tool.

The success of starbuck

The success of starbuck Terms Of Reference This report was commissioned to examine the use of the marketing mix and the contribution of the design function in the success of Starbuck. This report is presented to Dr. Daniel Wade Clarke and the due date is 22nd February 2010. Recommendations are provided in the end. Procedure Organisations own literature has been used in this report. Online textbook and newspapers has been followed to complete this project report.   Nature Of The Organisation Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 15,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim wherever there is a demand for great coffee. In 1970 the first Starbucks was open. The name comes from Herman Melvilles Moby Dick, a classic American novel about the 19th century whaling industry. The seafaring name seems appropriate for a store that imports the worlds finest coffees to the cold, thirsty people of Seattle. In May 1998, Starbucks successfully entered the European market through its acquisition of 65 Seattle Coffee Company stores in the UK. The two companies shared a common culture, focussing on a great commitment to customised coffee, similar company values and a mutual respect for people and the environment. (Source www.starbucks.co.uk ) Marketing Mix And NPDs Relation To Starbucks? The marketing mix concept is one of the core concepts of marketing theory. According to Rafiq and Ahmed (1995, p.4) that in recent years, the popular version of this concept McCarthys (1964) 4Ps (product, price, promotion and place) has increasingly come under attack in different marketing contexts. Because 4Ps do not take sufficient account of people, process and physical evidence in service marketing. In particular Booms and Biters (1981) extension of the 4Ps framework to include process, physical evidence and participants, has gained widespread acceptance in the services marketing literature. Furthermore Jobber (2004, p.21) adds to this â€Å" In services ,people often are the service itself; the process or how the service is delivered to the customer is usually a key part of the service, and the physical evidence should be considered as a separate element in the services marketing mix†. Nevertheless, there is no absolute reason why these extensions cannot be incorporated w ithin the 4Ps framework. The elements of the marketing mix are the followings; (1) Product (2) Price (3) Place (4) Promotion (5) People (6) Processes (7) Physical Evidence Product The Product decision involves deciding what goods or services should be offered to a group of customers. Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.25) state that â€Å"it is about not only what to make, but when to make it, how to make it, and how to ensure that it has a long and profitable life†. Clearly product is the important element any company will needs to consider product features/ benefits, branding, packing and after-sales service after its development. Coffee is at the heart of Starbucks history. Starbucks sample coffees from around the world more than 150,000 cups a year. Coffee is the core product of Starbucks as defined by Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.268) â€Å"core product represents the heart of the product, the main reason for its existence and purchase†. It is coffee which provides the functional or psychological definition of Starbucks towards its customers. Below is the diagram of Strategic thrust model, which is effective in marketing planning. Starbucks is using two marketing strategies towards their products.   First one is Product development and second is Market development. According to Jobber (2004, p.47) that product development involves improving current products or developing new products for current markets. As we know Starbucks offer convenience and non durable products in the form of coffee, when it comes to product development they are continuously differentiating their product (coffee) in the form of mild, smooth and bold categories, which increases their product line although their core product is the same. Starbucks also offer merchandise and gifts and fresh food just to increase their product range or product mix for the competitive market. This type of newness can be called new to the company, a significant innovation for the market. Furthermore Jobber (2004, p.47) also explains market development when current products are sold in new markets. This may involve moving into new geographical markets, as Starbucks has done moving into European market segments. But sometimes thes e strategies can be costly for example they have divided their coffee into three categories and they are getting their product from different regions which can be more costly then the product itself. Guardian (18th February 2009) reported that in the second half of 2008 Britain and the US fell into recession because of the credit crunch, but that so many other countries tumbled in even quicker. Germanys economy contracted by 2.1% in the fourth quarter of year 2008, Italys by 1.8%, Britains by 1.5% and Frances by 1.2%. All are significant, the worst for decades and worse than the USs 0.9% fall in the same period. Starbucks seems heavily exposed in countries such as Britain and the US, where consumer confidence and spending have shrivelled. But it also has plenty of stores across mainland Europe so no doubt they have experienced a cooling off in demand as cash-strapped consumers opts for cheaper drinks. Price Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.392) explains price in a more interesting way according to them â€Å"price might seem to be the least complicated and perhaps the least interesting element of the marketing mix, not having the tangibility of the product, the glamour of advertising of the atmosphere of retailing†. Price however, play a very important role in the lives of both marketers and customers, and deserves as much strategic consideration as any other marketing tool because of it company receives some units for the actual product or service which is being marketed.   Starbucks main competitors are Costa coffee and Caffe Nero to compete with them Starbucks applies competition based pricing strategy. According to Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.452) its very dangerous setting prices without knowing what is happening in the market, particularly with respect to ones competitors. There are two aspect of competition that influence an organisations pricing. The first is the structure of the market and the second is products perceived value in the market. When a product is more differentiated then its competitors product the more autonomy the organisation has in pricing it. Hence Starbucks has a range of different product they have slight advantage over their competitors and for that reason buyers come to value its unique benefits. However sometimes setting a high price then your competitors is not a good tactics. According to Times (24th July 2008) Starbucks is peddling the worst coffee at the highest prices according to a survey of the big three coffee houses on Britains high streets. The Which? Magazine survey that choosing the worlds largest coffee chain (Starbucks) instead of an independent shop for your cappuccino three mornings a week will cost you  £126 a year. Coffee Prices Starbucks Medium cappuccino  £2.29; single espresso  £1.40 Costa Coffee Medium cappuccino  £2.27; single espresso  £1.33 Caffe Nero Medium cappuccino  £1.80; single espresso  £1.25 Clearly setting high prices will not only effect Starbucks position in the market but also it will result a down turn in the demand curve. In another example The Observer (18th October 2009) reveals that at Starbucks, a slice of chocolate cake costs  £2.30 and a small English breakfast tea is  £1.40. But a pack of four cupcakes costs  £2.99 from Marks Spencer and a box of 80 Fairtrade Extra Strong tea bags is  £1.89. So clearly it is not only the core product which is expensive but also the other product range as well. Place According to Jobber (2004, p.634) â€Å"product need to e available in adequate quantities, in convenient locations and at times when customers want to buy them†. Producing products that customers want, pricing them correctly and after that made them available, is necessary for any business. But for that accurate channel strategy is very important for any business. Starbucks has their own of distribution channel. A channel of distribution is very important element. All products whether they are consumer, industrial goods or services require a channel of distribution. Starbucks apply consumer channel strategy in which producers have a direct contact to consumer. According to Jobber (2004, p.637) producer use this strategy to cut out the distribution profit margin. The consumer and manufacturer deal directly with each other. Direct selling is more effective then involvement of a distributor. The following present direct supply channel or producer direct to consumer. Starbucks has more than 15,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. Starbucks has coffee stores in every part of the UK. Guardian (21st January 2010) reveals that Starbucks UK management reckons that the chain will end the year 2010 back above 700 stores compare to its current 661 stores. However intensive distribution of the product (Starbucks stores) is not a good strategy because Starbucks has to compete in all sorts of markets in the same time, which is very costly in the current economic climate. The second most important thing, which is Starbuck lacking, is the franchisees. According to Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.473) â€Å"A franchisee holds a contract to supply and market a product or service to the design or blueprint of the franchisor (the owner or originator of the product or service)†. Starbucks want to expand their business in the whole word a franchisee will be best available solution for them. McDon alds is an indication of the level of detail covered by a franchise agreement then why Starbucks are not following the same path as their other companies are following. National or regional advertising in addition to any undertaken by the franchisee can play an important role in building a stronger system brand identity. Promotion According to Jobber (2004, p.18) promotional mix involve advertising, personal selling, sales promotions, public relations, direct marketing, and internet and online promotion. By which we can easily made aware the target audience of the existence of a product or service, and the benefits it confers to the customers. Marketing communication is a very important element; no organisation can afford either the financial or reputational damage caused by poorly planned or implemented communication campaigns. Starbucks use all of the promotional mix ingredients to target their audience they made good use of internet and online promotion. They target their audience through social networking website such as FaceBook and Twitter. They also use YouTube for their promotion and other social campaigns. Starbucks is also using social and cultural aspect of the environment for their sale promotions and public relations. Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.587) explains that â€Å"Social and cultural a spects of the environment will mostly have an impact on the message element of communication†. According to Guardian (2nd September 2009) Starbucks has launched a multimillion-pound ad campaign promoting its ethical values as it makes the vast majority of its UK coffee Fairtrade. Clearly they are using a social issue to make public relation with their target audience, and also Shared Planet (Guardian 2008) the Starbucks initiative launched in year 2008. Its a collection of goals, by 2015 they promise to have all their coffee ethically sourced and all their cups recyclable. Starbucks is using these issues to defend their selves against the environmental campaigners. According to Guardian (2nd September 2009) at Starbucks millions of litres of water are wasted in its coffee shops every day, contradicting its much-boasted green credentials. An investigation by the Sun revealed that over 23.4m litres of water are poured down the drains of 10,000 outlets worldwide due to a policy of keeping a tap running non-stop; Which is totally unfair because on oneside Starbucks run its campaign to save the earth and on the other side they are doing things which are against their campaign. People Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.28) describes that services often depends on people to perform them, creating and delivering the product as the customer waits.   It is dependent upon people and interaction between people. Rafiq and Ahmed (1995, p.7) adds that â€Å"Marketing managers therefore need to manage not only the service provider-customer interface but also the actions of other customers†. For example, the number, type and behaviour of people will partly determine the enjoyment of a meal at a Starbucks coffee store. Therefore observation of everything in the surrounding of stores environment is very important for any organisations. Especially it is more important for Starbucks because they are their own producer and retailer so anything lacking in the consumer attraction can easily put a bad image on Starbucks brand name. If there is any need for training it will be the best solution for getting service delivery from employees. Processes Processes are all the administrative and bureaucratic functions of the organisation. In the process mechanisms there are flows of activities by which services are acquired. Marketers, therefore, have to ensure that customers understand the process of acquiring a service (Rafiq and Ahmed, 1995, p.7). Performance of the product can be separated from the customer but on the other hand, the customer cannot be separated from an experience good. Therefore his degree of involvement in the process of interaction is always high towards the final product (Moorthi, 2002, p.266). Adding to this by Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.28) marketer also has to think carefully about how the service is delivered, and what quality controls can be built in so that the customer can be confident that they know what to expect each time they consume the service product. In Starbucks there are number of process mechanisms, which involve customer serving, telephonic customer services, online shopping, and Starbucks reward card. Well designed processes are needed as the service is delivered to ensure that the customer gets through with minimum fuss and delay and that all elements of the services are properly delivered. Process is all about quality improvement of any service which Starbucks provide. Physical Evidence   Physical evidence in the Booms and Bitner framework refers to the environment in which the service is delivered and any tangible goods that facilitate the performance and communication of the service. Physical evidence is important because customers use tangible clues to assess the quality of service provided (Rafiq and Ahmed, 1995, p.7). The physical environment itself is instrumental in customers assessment of the quality and level of service they can expect, for example in Starbucks stores. In fact, the physical environment is part of the product itself. The need for offering physical evidence is high. In the case of Starbucks the intangible (Service delivery) comes first and the tangible (final product coffee) later. Newness of the environment (Starbucks Stores) can also have a positive effect on customers purchase decision. Starbucks announcement to redesign its stores in UK will put a positive effect on their brand name as well as their customer involvement (Guardian October 20 09). Conclusion Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 15,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim wherever there is a demand for great coffee. Starbucks exclusively divided their product in to three categories, which increases their product line, Starbucks also offer merchandise and gifts and fresh food just to increase their product range or product mix for the competitive market. This type of newness can be called new to the company, a significant innovation for the market. Starbucks is also involved into new geographical markets, as Starbucks has done in Europe moving into new market segments. But sometimes these strategies can be costly. Starbucks apply competition based pricing strategy. Hence Starbucks has a range of different product they have slight advantage over their competitors and for that reason buyers come to value its unique benefits. Starbucks is peddling the worst coffee at the highest prices according to a survey of the big three coffee houses on Britains high streets. Starbucks has their own of distribution channel. However intensive distribution of the product (Starbucks stores) is not a good strategy because Starbucks has to compete in all sorts of markets in the same time, which is very costly in the current economic climate. National or regional advertising in addition to any undertaken by the franchisee can play an important role in building a stronger system brand identity. Starbucks use all of the promotional mix ingredients to target their audience they made good use of internet and online promotion. Starbucks is also using social and cultural aspect of the environment for their sale promotions and public relations. Starbucks is using these issues to defend their selves against the environmental campaigners. Starbucks needs to focus on their because they are their own producer and retailer so anything lacking in the consumer attraction can easily put a bad image on Starbucks brand name. If there is any need for training it will be the best solution for getting service delivery from employees. Starbucks needs continuous improvement of their processes mechanism. Physical evidence is important because customers use tangible clues to assess the quality of service provided. Starbucks announcement to redesign its stores in UK is good strategy which will put a positive effect on their brand name as well as their customer involvement. References Booms, B.H. and Bitner, M.J. (1981), â€Å"Marketing strategies and organization structures for service firms†, in Donnelly, J.H. and George, W.R. (Eds), Marketing of Services, American Marketing Association, Chicago, IL, pp. 47-51 [Accessed: 20/02/2010] Brassington, F. and Pettitt, S. (2003) Principles and Practice of Marketing: 3rd Edition: Pearson Education Limited [Accessed: 17/02/2010] Jobber, D. (2004) Principles and Practice of Marketing: 4th Edition: McGraw-Hill International (UK) Limited [Accessed: 17/02/2010] Kotler, P. (2003) Marketing Management 11th Edition: Pearson Education Limited [Accessed: 17/02/2010] Moorthi, Y.L.R. (2002), â€Å"An approach to branding services†, Journal of Services Marketing, Vol.16 (3), pp.259-274 [Accessed: 21/02/2010] Rafiq, M. and Ahmed, P.K. (1995), â€Å"Using the 7Ps as a generic marketing mix: an exploratory survey of UK and European marketing academics†, Marketing Intelligence Planning, Vol. 13 (9), pp. 4-15 [Accessed: 17/02/2010] The Story of Starbucks [online] http://starbucks.co.uk/en-GB/_About+Starbucks/ [Accessed: 15/02/10] Times Online, (24th January 2008) Best coffee on high street? Not Starbucks by Nico Hines [on-line] http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3245914.ece [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (6th October 2008) Starbucks wastes millions of litres of water a day by Angela Balakrishnan [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/oct/06/water.drought [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (5th October 2008) Starbucks to redesign shops [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2009/sep/18/starbucks-rebrand-branding-coffee [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (November 2008) Regular or decaf ? America decides [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2008/nov/04/foodanddrink1 [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (18th February 2009) Starbucks row: Its off the boil almost everywhere by Ashley Seager [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/feb/18/starbucks-britain-failing-economy [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (2nd September 2009) Starbucks ads trumpet Fairtrade move by Mark Sweney [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/sep/02/starbucks-fairtrade-advertising [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Observer, (18th October 2009) Dinner party too costly ? Let them eat cake by Huma Qureshi [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/oct/19/dinner-party-costly-eat-cake [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (21st January 2010) Starbucks legend delivers recovery by thinking smaller by David Teather [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jan/21/starbucks-howard-schultz [Accessed: 18/02/2010]

Educational Reform in a Pluralistic Society :: Teaching Education

Educational Reform in a Pluralistic Society My personal philosophy of education is that every child has the right to an education. This education should be such that every student has the equal opportunity to succeed and learn at the highest level they are capable. I believe that the purpose of education is to educate people who are well-rounded individuals. By well-rounded, I am referring to graduates who will be able to apply their education to numerous aspects of life. This includes people who are going to college and people who will be entering the work force directly from high school. Every person should have a wide base of knowledge to draw from and add to throughout their life. This type of education allows those who wish to pursue a higher education to draw upon their education in a more intellectual way, and those that choose to work can draw upon their education in a more â€Å"practical† way. Those people who do not pursue education further will still have a knowledge base that allows them to view many aspects of life with an open mind. A second reason I believe that education should be geared toward creating well-rounded individuals is that I think this will greatly improve the state of our nation. A majority of our most productive, happy citizens are those ho have had a wide variety of experiences and have a broad knowledge base. Being able to accept many differences that occur throughout the human race occurs more readily among those with a broad educational background. When deciding what level of government should be responsible for education, I believe that the primary responsibility should rest on the federal government. The role of the federal government should be to regulate the standards of education. This should include monitoring every school in the United States of America to make sure that all students are receiving comparable education. As a result, curriculum standards should be set at a national level. The federal government should keep a establish a national council to decide the standards for each subject area. Representatives from each state would be appointed to monitor their own state’s progress. At the state level, state appointed committees would oversee the progress of the national curriculum. State committees should decide which textbooks will be adopted. By letting states adopt their own textbooks, this keeps some local control. On a local level, each school district would be responsible for deciding how the federal curriculum standards should be implemented. I believe that every school should strive for both excellence and equality in public education.

Night World : Daughters of Darkness Chapter 6

Whydidn't we just kill her?† Kestrel asked. Rowan and Jade looked at each other. There were few things they agreed on, but one of them was definitely Kestrel. . â€Å"First of all, we agreed not to do that here. Wedon't use our powers-â€Å" â€Å"And we don't feed onhumans. Or kill them,† Kestrel finished the chant. â€Å"But you already used your powers tonight; you called Jade.† â€Å"I had to let her know what story I'd just toldabout Aunt Opal. Actually, I should have planned forthis earlier. I should have realized that people are going to come and ask where Aunt Opal is.† â€Å"She's the only one who's asking. If we killed her-â€Å" â€Å"We can't just go killing people in our new home,†Rowan said tightly. â€Å"Besides, she said she had family waiting for her. Are we going to kill all of them?† Kestrel shrugged. â€Å"We arenotgoing to start a blood feud,† Rowan said even more tightly. â€Å"But what about influencing her?† Jade said. Shewas sitting with Tiggy in her arms, kissing the velvety black top of the kitten's head. â€Å"Making her forget she's suspicious-or making her think she saw Aunt Opal?† â€Å"That would be fine-if it were just her,† Rowansaid patiently. â€Å"But it's not. Are we going to influ enceeveryone who comes to the house? What aboutpeople who call on the phone? What about teachers?You two are supposed to start school in a couple of weeks.† â€Å"Maybe we'll just have to miss that,† Kestrel said without regret. Rowan was shaking her head. â€Å"We need a permanent solution. We need to find some reasonable explanation for why Aunt Opal is gone.† â€Å"We need to move Aunt Opal,† Kestrel said flatly.†We need to get rid of her.† â€Å"No, no. We might have to produce the body,†Rowan said. â€Å"Looking likethat?† They began to argue about it. Jade rested her chin on Tiggy's head and stared out the multipaned kitchen window. She was thinking about Mark Carter, who had such a gallant heart. It gave her a pleasantly forbidden thrill just to picture him. Back home there weren't any humans wandering around free. She could never have been tempted to break NightWorld law and fall in love with one. But here †¦yes, Jade could almost imagine falling in love with Mark Carter. Just as if she were a human girl. She shivered deliriously. But just as she was tryingto picture what human girls did when they were in love, Tiggy gave a sudden heave. He twisted out of her arms and hit the kitchen floor running. The fur on his back was up. Jade looked at the window again.She couldn't see anything. But †¦she felt †¦ She turned to her sisters. â€Å"Something was out there in the garden tonight,† she said. â€Å"And Icouldn't smell it.† Rowan and Kestrel were still arguing. They didn't hear her. Mary-Lynnette opened her eyes and sneezed. She'd overslept. Sun was shining around the edges of her dark blue curtains. Get up and get to work, she told herself. But instead she lay rubbing sleep out of her eyes and tryingto wake up. She was a night person, not a morningperson. The room was large and painted twilight blue. Mary-Lynnette had stuck the glow-in-the-dark starsand planets to the ceiling herself. Taped onto the dresser mirror was a bumper sticker saying I BRAKEFOR ASTEROIDS.On the walls were a giant relief map of the moon, a poster from the Sky-Gazer's Almanac, and photographic prints of the Pleiades,theHorsehead Nebula, and the total eclipse of 1995. It was Mary-Lynnette's retreat, the place to go when people didn't understand. She always felt safeinthe night. She yawned and staggered to the bathroom, grabbing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt on the way. She was brushing her hair as she walked down the stairs when she heard voices from the living room. -252Claudine's voice †¦ and a male voice. Not Mark; weekdays he usually went to his friend Ben's house.A stranger. Mary-Lynnette peeked through the kitchen. Therewas a guy sitting on the living room couch. She could see only the back of his head, which was ash blond. Mary-Lynnette shrugged and started to open the refrigerator, when she heard her own name. â€Å"Mary-Lynnette is very good friends with her,† Claudine was saying in her quick, lightly accented voice. â€Å"I remember a few years ago she helped her fix up a goat shed.† They're talking about Mrs. B.! â€Å"Why does she keep goats? I think she told Mary-Lynnette it would help since she couldn't get out that much anymore.† â€Å"How strange,† the guy said. He had a lazy, careless-sounding voice. â€Å"I wonder what she meant bythat.† Mary-Lynnette, who was now peering intently through the kitchen while keeping absolutely still,saw Claudine give one of her slight, charming shrugs. â€Å"I suppose she meant the milk-every day she has fresh milk now. She doesn't have to go to the store. But I don't know. You'll have to ask her yourself.† She laughed. -252Not going to be easy, Mary-Lynnette thought. Now, why would some strange guy be here asking questions about Mrs. B.? Of course. He had to be police or something. FBI.But his voice made her wonder. He sounded too young to be either, unless he was planning to infiltrate Dewitt High as a narc. Mary-Lynnette edgedfarther into the kitchen, getting a better view.There-she could see him in the mirror. Disappointment coursed through her. Definitely not old enough to be FBI. And much asMary-Lynnette wanted him to be a keen-eyed, quick witted, hard-driving detective, he wasn't. He was only the handsomest boy she'd ever seen in her life. He was lanky and elegant, with long legs stretched out in front of him, ankles crossed under the coffee table. He looked like a big amiable cat. He had deancut features, slightly tilted wicked eyes, and a disarming lazy grin. Not just lazy, Mary-Lynnette decided. Fatuous. Bland. Maybe even stupid. She wasn't impressed by good looks unless they were the thin, brown, and interesting kind, like-well, like Jeremy Lovett for instance. Gorgeous guys-guys who looked like bigash-blond cats-didn't have any reason to develop their minds. They were self-absorbed and vain. With IQs barely high enough to keep a seat warm. And this guy looked as if he couldn't get awake orserious to save his life. I don't care what he's here for. Ithink I'll go upstairs. it was then that the guy on the couch lifted onehand, wiggling the fingers in the air. He half-turned. Not far enough actually to look at Mary-Lynnette,but far enough to make it dear he was talking to somebody behind him. She could now see his profilein the mirror. â€Å"Hi, there.† â€Å"Mary-Lynnette, is that you?† Claudine called. â€Å"Yes.† Mary-Lynnette opened the refrigerator doorand made banging noises. â€Å"Just getting some juice. Then I'm going out.† Her heard was beating hard-with embarrassmentand annoyance. Okay, so he must have seen her in the mirror. He probably thought she was staring at him because of the way he looked. He probably had people staring at him everywhere he went. So what, big deal, go away. â€Å"Don't go yet,† Claudine called. â€Å"Come out here and talk for a few minutes.† No. Mary-Lynnette knew it was a childish and stupid reaction, but she couldn't help it. She banged a bottle of apricot juice against a bottle of Calistoga sparkling water. â€Å"Come meet Mrs. Burdock's nephew,† Claudine called. Mary-Lynnette went still. She stood in the cold air of the refrigerator, lookingsightlessly at the temperature dial in the back. Then she put the bottle of apricot juice down. She twisted a Coke out of a six-pack without seeing it. What nephew? I don't remember hearing about any nephew. But then, she'd never heard much about Mrs. B.'s nieces either, not until they were coming out. Mrs. B. just didn't talk about her familymuch. So he's her nephew. . . that's why he's askingabout her. But does he know? Ishe in on it with those girls? Or is he after them? Or .. . Thoroughly confused, she walked into the living room. â€Å"Mary-Lynnette, this is Ash. He's here to visit withhis aunt and his sisters,† Claudine said. â€Å"Ash, this isMary-Lynnette. The one who's such good friends with your aunt.† Ash gotup, all in one lovely, lazy motion. Just like a cat, including the stretch in the middle. â€Å"Hi.† He offered a hand. Mary-Lynnette touched it withfingers damp and cold from the Coke can, glanced up at his face, and said â€Å"Hi.† Except that it didn't happen that way. If happened like this: Mary-Lynnette had her eyeson the carpet as she came in, which gave her a good view of his Nike tennis shoes and the ripped kneesof his jeans. When he stood up she looked at his T-shirt, which had an obscure design-a black floweron a white background. Probably the emblem of some rock group. And then when his hand entered her field of vision, she reached for it automatically, muttering a greeting and looking up at his face justas she touched it. And This was the part that was hard to describe. Contact. Somethinghappened. Hey, don't I know you? She didn't. That was the thing. She didn't know him-but she felt that she should. She also felt as if somebody had reached inside her and touched herspine with a live electric wire. It was extremely not enjoyable. The room turned vaguely pink. Her throat swelled and she could feel her heart beating there. Also not-enjoyable. But somehow when you put it alltogether, it made a kind of trembly dizziness like †¦ Like what she felt when she looked at the Lagoon Nebula. Or imagined galaxies gathered into dusters and superclusters, bigger and bigger, until size lost any meaning and she felt herself falling. She was falling now. She couldn't see anything except his eyes. And those eyes were strange, prismlike, changing color like a star seen throughheavy atmosphere. Now blue, now gold, now violet. Oh, take this away. Please, I don't want it. â€Å"It's so good to see a new face around here, isn'tit? We're very boring out here by ourselves,† Claudine said, in completely normal and slightly flustered tones. Mary-Lynnette was snapped out of her trance, and she reacted as if Ash had just offered her a mongoose instead of his hand. She jumped backward,looking anywhere but at him. She had the feeling of being saved from falling down a mine shaft. â€Å"O-kay,† Claudine _ said in her cute accent.†Hmm.† She was twisting a strand of curly dark hair, something she only did when she was extremely ner vous. â€Å"Maybe you guys know each other already?† There was a silence. I should say something, Mary-Lynnette thoughtdazedly, staring at the fieldstone fireplace. I'm acting crazy and humiliating Claudine. But what just happened here? Doesn't matter. Worry later. She swallowed, plastered a smile on her face, and said, â€Å"So, how long are you here for?† Her mistake was that then she looked at him. Andit all happened again. Not quite as vividly as before, maybe because she wasn't touching him. But the electric shock feeling was the same. Andhelooked like a cat who's had a shock. Bristling. Unhappy. Astonished. Well, at least he wasawake, Mary-Lynnette thought. He and Mary-Lynnettestared at each other while the room spun andturned pink. â€Å"Whoare you?† Mary-Lynnette said, abandoning any vestige of politeness. â€Å"Who areyou?† he said, in just about exactly the same tone. They both glared. Claudine was making little clicking noises with her tongue and clearing away the tomato juice. Mary Lynnette felt distantly sorry for her, but couldn'tspare her any attention. Mary-Lynnette's whole consciousness was focused on the guy in front of her; on fighting him, on blocking him out. On getting rid of this bizarre feeling that she was one of two puzzle pieces that had just been snapped together. â€Å"Now, look,† she said tensely, at the precise moment that he began brusquely, â€Å"Look-â€Å" They both stopped and glared again. Then Mary-Lynnette managed to tear her eyes away. Something was tugging at her mind†¦ . â€Å"Ash,† she said, getting hold of it.†Ash. Mrs. Burdockdid say something about you †¦ about a littleboy named Ash. I didn't know she was talking abouther nephew.† â€Å"Great-nephew,† Ash said, his voice not quite steady. â€Å"What did she say?† â€Å"She said that you were a bad little boy, and that you were probably going to grow up even worse.† â€Å"Well, she had thatright,† Ash said, and his ex pression softened a bit-as if he were on more familiar ground. Mary-Lynnette's heart was slowing. She found thatif she concentrated, she could make the strange feel ings recede. It helped if she looked away from Ash. Deep breath, she told herself. And another. Okay,now let's get things straight. Let go of what just hap pened; forget all that; think about it later. What's important now? What was important nowwas that: 1) This guy was the brother of those girls; 2) He might be in on whatever had happened to Mrs. B.; and, 3) If he wasn'tin on it, he might be able to help with some informa tion. Such as whether his aunt had left a will, and if so, who got the family jewels. She glanced at Ash from the side of her eye. He definitely looked calmer. Hackles going down. Chest lifting more slowly. They were both switching gear. â€Å"So Rowan and Kestrel and Jade are your sisters,† she said, with all the polite nonchalance she could muster. â€Å"They seem nice.† â€Å"I didn't know you knew them,† Claudine said,and Mary-Lynnette realized her stepmother was hovering in the doorway, petite shoulder against thedoorjamb, arms crossed, dishtowel in hand. â€Å"I told him you hadn't met them.† â€Å"Mark and I went over there yesterday,† MaryLynnette said. And when she said it, something flashed in Ash's face–something there and gone before she could really analyze it. But it made her feelas ifshe were standing on the edge of a cliff in a cold wind. Why? What could be wrong with mentioning she'd met the girls? â€Å"You and Mark . . .and Mark would be-yourbrother?† â€Å"That's right,† Claudine said from the doorway. â€Å"Any other brothers or sisters?† Mary-Lynnette blinked. â€Å"What, you're taking a census?† Ash did a bad imitation of his former lazy smile. â€Å"I just like to keep track of my sisters' friends.† Why?†To see if you approve or something?† â€Å"Actually, yes.† He did the smile again, with moresuccess. â€Å"We're an old-fashioned family. Very old-fashioned.† Mary-Lynnette's jaw dropped. Then, all at once,she felt happy. Now she didn't need to think about murders or pink rooms or what this guy knew. All she needed to think about was what she was goingto do to him. â€Å"So you're an old-fashioned family,† she said, moving a step forward. Ash nodded. â€Å"And you're in charge,† Mary-Lynnette said. â€Å"Well, out here. Back home, my father is.† â€Å"And you're just going to tell your sisters which friends they can have. Maybe you get to decide your aunt's friends, too?† â€Å"Actually, I was just discussing that†¦.†He waved a hand toward Claudine. Yes, you were, Mary-Lynnette realized. She took another step toward Ash, who was still smiling. â€Å"Oh, no,† Claudine said. She flapped her dishtowelonce. â€Å"Don't smile.† â€Å"I like a girl with spirit,† Ash offered, as if he'dworked hard on finding the most obnoxious thing possible to say. Then, with a sort of determined bravado, he winked, reached out, and chucked Mary-Lynnette under the chin. Fzzz! Sparks. Mary-Lynnette sprang back. So didAsh, looking at his own hand as if it had betrayed him. Mary-Lynnette had an inexplicable impulse to knock Ash flat and fall down on top of him. She'd never felt that for any boy before. She ignored the impulse and kicked him in the shin. He yelped and hopped backward. Once again the sleepy smugness was gone from his face. He looked alarmed. â€Å"I think you'd better go away now,† Mary-Lynnette said pleasantly. She was amazed at herself. She'd never been the violent type. Maybe there werethings hidden deep inside her that she'd never suspected. Claudine was gasping and shaking her head. Ashwas still hopping, but not going anywhere. MaryLynnette advanced on him again. Even though he was half a head taller, he backed up. He stared at her in something like wonder. â€Å"Hey. Hey, look, you know, you really don't knowwhat you're doing,† he said. â€Å"If you knew†¦Ã¢â‚¬  AndMary-Lynnette saw it again-something in his face that made him suddenly look not fatuous or amiable at all. Like the glitter of a knife blade in the light. Something that saiddanger†¦ . â€Å"Oh, go bother someone else, † Mary-Lynnette said. She drew back her foot for another kick. He opened his mouth, then shut it. Still holding his shin, he looked at Claudine and managed a hurt and miserable flirtatious smile. â€Å"Thanks so much for all your-â€Å" â€Å"Go!† He lost the smile. â€Å"That's what I'm doingl† He limped to the front door. She followed him. â€Å"What do they call you, anyway?† he asked from the front yard, as if he'd finally found the comebackhe'd been looking for. â€Å"Mary? Marylin? M'lin? M.L.?† â€Å"They call me Mary-Lynnette,† Mary-Lynnette said flatly, and added under her breath, â€Å"That do speak of me.† She'd read The Taming of the Shrew in honors English last year. â€Å"Oh, yeah? How about M'lin the cursed?† He was still backing away. Mary-Lynnette was startled. So maybe his class hadread it, too. But he didn't look smart enough to quote Shakespeare. â€Å"Have fun with your sisters,† she said, and shutthe door. Then she leaned against it, trying to get herbreath. Her fingers and face were prickly-numb, as if she were going to faint. If those girls had only murderedhim, I'd understand, she thought. But they're all sostrange-there's something seriously weird about that whole family. Weird in a way that scared her. If she'd believed in premonitions, she'd have been even more scared. She had a bad feeling-a feeling that things weregoing to happen†¦. Claudine was staring at her from the living room. â€Å"Very fabulous,† she said. â€Å"You've just kicked a guest. Now, what was that all about?†Ã¢â‚¬ He wouldn't leave.† â€Å"You know what I mean. Do you two know eachother?† Mary-Lynnette just shrugged vaguely. The dizziness was passing, but her mind was swimming with questions. Claudine looked at her intently, then shook herhead. â€Å"I remember my little brother-when he wasfour years old he used to push a girl flat on her face in the sandbox. He did it to show he liked her.† Mary-Lynnette ignored this. â€Å"Claude-what wasAshherefor? What did you talk about?† â€Å"About nothing,† Claudine said, exasperated â€Å"Justordinary conversation. Since you hate him so much,what difference does it make?† Then, as Mary Lynnette kept looking at her, she sighed. â€Å"He was very interested in weird facts about life in the country. All the local stories.† Mary-Lynnette snorted. â€Å"Did you tell him about Sasquatch?† â€Å"I told him about Vic and Todd.† Mary-Lynnette froze. â€Å"You're jolting Why?†Ã¢â‚¬ËœBecause that's the kind of thing he asked about! People lost in time-â€Å" ?Losing time.,? â€Å"Whatever. We were just having a nice conversation. He was a nice boy. Finis. â€Å" Mary-Lynnette's heart was beating fast. She was right. She was sure of it now. Todd and Vicwereconnected to whatever had happened with the sisters and Mrs. B. But what was the connection? I'm going to go and find out, she thought.