Greasy Lake essays

Greasy Lake essays Like the lake, the main characters are so adumbrated that you cannot see their true selves. In the story Greasy Lake, T.C. Boyle uses diction, imagery, details, language, and syntax to express the narrators facetious tone. The characters change their behaviors and appearances to convey a primal badness because they are embarrassed to be in the upper class. First of all, the higher level vocabulary the narrator uses for these kids is much higher than one would initially imagine. This expresses the diction applied in this piece of literature. Boyle uses words like decadence and susurrus to help describe the nature and setting of Greasy Lake. He mostly uses words that one would not usually use on a normal day-to-day basis; words like snuff, fetid, and feculent. This brilliant vocabulary clashes with the words and phrases the narrator uses to try to sound tough. For instance, pumping his girlfriend and my bowels turned to ice. He is very intellectual, but he doesnt want to admit it because hes trying so hard to be rebellious. Secondly, Boyle illustrates imagery in this selection. As I read through this passage, I noticed the narrator mention frogs on page 261 and twice on page 265. At the first glance, I ignored it until I eventually realized the frogs were used to represent the characters. The characters were being so vociferous and all of a sudden they fell silent and had no idea what to do next. The imagery also helps us to paint a picture of the setting and the scenery that is pounded in our heads using similes such as the air soft as a hand on your cheek and so stripped of vegetation it looked as if the air force had strafed it. Boyle makes it clear to us on the very first page that the waters are murky and not clear. This reference to the water is telling the read...

Frances Dana Gage - Feminist and Abolitionist Lecturer

Frances Dana Gage - Feminist and Abolitionist Lecturer Known for: lecturer and writer for women’s rights, abolition, rights and welfare of former slaves Dates: October 12, 1808 – November 10, 1884 Frances Dana Gage Biography Frances Gage grew up in an Ohio farm family. Her father had been one of the original settlers of Marietta, Ohio. Her mother was from a Massachusetts family, and her mother had also moved nearby.   Frances, her mother and maternal grandmother all actively helped escaping slaves. Frances in her later years wrote of going in a canoe with food for those in hiding.   She also developed an impatience and longing for women’s equal treatment in her childhood. In 1929, at twenty, she married James Gage, and they raised 8 children.   James Gage, a Universalist in religion and abolitionist as well, supported Frances in her many ventures during their marriage. Frances read while at home raising the children, educating herself far beyond the rudimentary education she’d had at home, and began to write as well.   She developed strong interest in three issues which attracted many of the women reformers of her day: women’s rights, temperance, and abolition.   She wrote letters about these issues to newspapers. She also began to write poetry and submit it for publication. By the time she was in her early 40s, she was writing for the Ladies’ Repository. She began a column in the Ladies Department of a farm newspaper, in the form of letters from â€Å"Aunt Fanny† on many topics, both practical and public. Womens Rights By 1849, she was lecturing on women’s rights, abolition, and temperance. In 1850, when the first Ohio women’s rights convention was held, she wanted to attend, but could only send a letter of support. In May 1850, she began a petition to the Ohio legislature advocating that the new state constitution omit the words male and white. When the second Ohio women’s rights convention was held in Akron in 1851, Gage was asked to be the presider. When a minister denounced women’s rights, and Sojourner Truth got up to respond, Gage ignored the protests from the audience and allowed Truth to speak.   She later (in 1881) recorded her memory of the speech, usually remembered with the title â€Å"Ain’t I a Woman?† in a dialect form. Gage was asked to speak more and more often for women’s rights. She presided at the 1853 national women’s rights convention when it was held in Cleveland, Ohio. Missouri From 1853 to 1860, the Gage family lived in St. Louis, Missouri.   There, Frances Dana Gage didn’t find a warm reception from the newspapers for her letters.   She instead wrote for national women’s rights publications, including Amelia Bloomer’s Lily. She corresponded with other women in America interested in the same issues she was attracted to, and even corresponded with the English feminist Harriet Martineau. She was supported not only by women in the woman suffrage movement, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, Antoinette Brown Blackwell, and Amelia Bloomer, but also by abolitionist male leaders including William Lloyd Garrison, Horace Greeley, and Frederick Douglass. She later wrote, From 1849 to 1855 I lectured on [woman’s rights] in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York†¦.† The family found themselves ostracized in St. Louis for their radical views. After three fires, and James Gage’s failing health and failing business venture, the family returned to Ohio. Civil War The Gages moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 1850, and Frances Dana Gage became the associate editor of an Ohio newspaper and a farm journal. Her husband was now ill, so she traveled only in Ohio, speaking on women’s rights. When the Civil War began, the newspaper’s circulation dropped, and the newspaper died. Frances Dana Gage focused on volunteer work to support the Union effort. Her four sons served in the Union forces.   Frances and her daughter Mary sailed in 1862 for the Sea Islands, captured territory held by the Union. She was put in charge of relief efforts on Parris Island where 500 formerly enslaved people lived.   The next year, she briefly returned to Columbus to care for her husband, then returned to her work in the Sea Islands. In late 1863 Frances Dana Gage began a lecture tour to support relief efforts for soldiers’ aid and for relief for those newly freed.   She worked without salary for the Western Sanitary Commission. She had to end her tour in September of 1864 when she was injured in a carriage accident on her tour, and was disabled for a year. Later Life After she recovered, Gage returned to lecturing. In 1866 she appeared at the New York chapter of the Equal Rights Association, advocating rights for both women and for African American women and men. As â€Å"Aunt Fanny† she published stories for children. She published a book of poetry and several novels, before being limited from lecturing by a stroke. She continued to write until her death in 1884 in Greenwich, Connecticut. Also known as: Fanny Gage, Frances Dana Barker Gage, Aunt Fanny Family: Parents: Joseph Barker and Elizabeth Dana Barker, farmers in Ohio Husband: James L. Gage, lawyer Children: four sons and four daughters

Australia Study(Issues for Australias presentation) Essay

Australia Study(Issues for Australias presentation) - Essay Example Others believe that parents and schools should be responsible for inculcating moral values and shaping behaviour of children. In this paper we will discuss who should be responsible for teaching ethics to Australian children. A brief background of the country and culture will be presented in this paper. The role of parents, teacher, and social institutions in providing education of ethics to children will be discussed. Australia is placed in the Southern Hemisphere and constitutes most part of the Australian continent. The country is fairly developed economically and militarily. It is the thirteen largest economy of the world. The country is also placed second on the Human Development Index. Australia is also a highly urbanized country meaning most of the population resides in the urban centres. The country is member of all the notable world organizations and enjoys a dominant position in the world due to its financial position. The quality of life and life style standards in Australia are very high, and corruption level is extremely low (World Audit Organization, 2001). This has included Australia in the list of developed worlds. Financial markets of the country are very developed and this has made the country integrated with the world. Australian culture is individualistic in nature. People follow westernized trends and this is evident in cinemas and theatres of the country (Teo & White, 2003). American pop culture is famous in the country and the society is independent. People live their lives in an independent way without family pressures typical in the eastern societies. Individualist culture is prevalent and people see themselves as individuals rather than as collective units. Australian culture is also influenced by the immigrants who constitute a significant minority. Immigrants are also growing at a fast pace because the population of the country is not growing rapidly. Immigrants have now become

To what extent are there significant differences in the nature of the Essay

To what extent are there significant differences in the nature of the financial systems in France, Italy and the UK - Essay Example The parties can be brought directly or indirectly. In the first case of direct finance, the parties with excess financial resources directly finance those with financial needs. The financial system consists of institutional units and markets that interact in a complex manner for the purpose of mobilizing funds for investment and providing facilities including payment system for the financing of commercial activity. The financial system starts with people and their business endeavour so that it can examine their finance needs and their demand for financial services and it can also identify the way in which needs are satisfied and demand is met. A financial system of is a complex one. At the top of the structure is the central government. The monetary and fiscal policies and regulations of the government directly influence the working of the financial system (tax rate, exchange rate etc). This is implemented through the central bank of the country. Other players in the system include t he individuals or households, non financial organizations both public and private, the stock and currency market, and financial institutions like banks and insurance companies etc. The value of financial transactions taking place is measured by the currency of the country. â€Å"A financial system raises finds from lenders or investors, making them available to borrowers or other users.† (Neave p.12). The central bank of France is called Banque de France. The currency used in France is the Euro, which replaced the French Franc in January 2002. Along with France, Italy and ten other European countries have all replaced their own currencies with the Euro and they are collectively referred to as the Euro zone. The system in France is well managed and regulated. The number of banks present has saturated the market to a certain extent. There is

The Analysis of Crisis Communication Strategies Essay Example for Free

The Analysis of Crisis Communication Strategies Essay By definition crisis is a situation that has reached a critical phase (Crisis definition). Crisis is characterized by its lack of stability, unpredictability and short decision-making time. According to Fearn-Banks (1996) crisis is â€Å"a major occurrence with a potentially negative outcome affecting an organization, company, or industry, as well as its publics, products, or good name†. The negative consequences of a crisis are not limited; crisis can be, but not necessarily, a very serious threat to organization’s functioning and stability. Some scholars argue that an organization can benefit from a crisis situation if such is handled properly (Ulmer, Sellnow, 2000). Communication scholars have been conducting multiple researches, seeking to formulate some generalized and applicable theories of crisis communication and crisis management. Since crisis is a crucial period in lifetime of an organization that can affect its future, understanding crises and knowing how to manage these difficult situations effectively are essential skills that corporate managers should posses. This paper will explore the crisis of Redux Beverages which was caused by controversy surrounding the launch of the new product. On September 25, 2006, a new Las Vegas based brewing company – Redux Beverages launched a new energy drink called Cocaine. Since the first days on the market the drink has become very controversial. The public didn’t have a problem with the content of the new beverage, which is very similar to Red Bull or Monster. It was its’ name that people didn’t really feel quite right about. Redux Beverages’ CEO and inventor of Cocaine, Jamey Kirby thought that naming an energy drink after a dangerous narcotic was â€Å"a fun name†, the public, however, did not agree (â€Å"Cocaine drink claims† 2006). The negative publicity that Redux Beverages received as a result of the launch of new product led to the eruption of a reputational crisis. The public accused Redux Beverages of promoting and glamorizing drug usage among teens and young adults, who are the major target and consumer of energy drinks. Just about a month after the introduction of Cocaine a convenient store giant 7-Eleven decided to pull Cocaine from the shelves (Mooney, 2006). The controversy related to Cocaine energy drink continued throughout the fall and winter. People started questioning not only the name of the drink, but also the marketing strategy used by Redux to promote their product. On April 4, 2007 the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter notifying the firm that their product was marketed illegally as an alternative to an illicit drug and a dietary supplement. The letter from FDA claimed that â€Å"street drug alternatives, i.e. , products that claim to mimic the effects of recreational drugs, are not intended to supplement the diet and, as a result, cannot lawfully be marketed as dietary supplements† (Douaud, 2007). Moreover Redux Beverages was accused of having identified some of the drink’s ingredients incorrectly as dietary supplements that could lower blood cholesterol, protect nerve fibers, or help patients with anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorders. The FDA threatened that the failure to respond to these violations would result in legal actions (Other, 2008). On May 5, 2007 Redux Beverages announced that the company decided to temporarily cease the distribution of Cocaine. In the same announcement the beverage’s makers notified consumers that the drink will be still available for purchase under a different name – Censored. Redux Beverages crisis isn’t an example of a severe, dramatic case. Unlike some crises, Cocaine crisis wasn’t unexpected. The makers chose a scandalous name because they knew it would be controversial and as Jamey Kirby said â€Å"controversy sells† (Nizza, 2007). The controversy was expected and somewhat desired. Redux Beverages knew that breaking into the energy drink market was a very challenging task and that they had to come up with a marketing strategy that would win them new customers. It was quite obvious that naming an energy drink after an A-class narcotic would result in negative opinions and outrage, what was not predictable was the extent of that outrage. Redux Beverages could not have predicted that the product will be eventually pulled from the shelves and that the controversy surrounding the product would initiate a battle with the Food and Drug Administration. This situation could be explained with chaotic systems theory – the uncertainty of how people will react to the launch of a controversial product resulted in inaccurate prediction of long-term outcomes (Sellnow, Seeger, 2001). Due to the controversy surrounding the launch of Cocaine energy drink Redux Beverages’ public image has suffered. The firm was accused of promoting and glamorizing drug use among teenagers and young adults. The marketing strategies used to promote the drink were perceived negatively and were widely criticized. In response to such accusations Redux Beverages used some of the theorized by Benoit known as Image Restoration Theory. According to Benoit (1997) image repair strategies can be applied if an individual or an organization is perceived as responsible for an offensive act. Moreover Benoit (1997) claims that it is not important whether the act was truly offensive; important is what people’s perceptions are and if the public believes that an organization committed a heinous action then its reputation and stability is at risk. In case of Redux Beverages one could argue that the act was not extremely offensive and people’s reaction might have been exaggerated, still the percentage of negative responses from the audience was that high that Redux had to react and address the arisen issues. At first Redux Beverages’ representatives appeared to be quite difficult to reach. Numerous news reporters covering the story stated that they had been unable to reach anyone who could represent the firm and make some comments regarding Cocaine controversy. Throughout the duration of the crisis Jamey Kirby, the CEO and inventor of Cocaine had been the most active spokesperson for the firm. Kirby denied the accusations of promoting and advocating drug use to young people. Kirby focused mainly on reduction of offensiveness of the committed act; he used image restoration strategies such as: bolstering, minimization, differentiation, transcendence and attack accuser (Benoit, Czerwinski, 1997). In the first few interviews Jamey Kirby responded to some of the questions regarding the controversy surrounding his product Cocaine. In efforts to defend the drink Kirby highlighted some positive aspects of Cocaine (bolstering) – in an interview for CNBC Street Signs Kirby said that Cocaine is the energy drink that has â€Å"by far the best quality†; according to Kirby Cocaine doesn’t give the consumer a â€Å"crash from the sugar and the jitters from the caffeine† (Burnett, 2007). But even with that having been said the public remained outraged and kept accusing the drink makers of promoting illegal drugs, especially to teenagers and young adults. The public was concerned that the marketing of the controversial drink was mainly focused on media channels such as MySpace and YouTube that are known from being widely used by young, impressionable people. Kirby uses minimization claiming that â€Å"people know the difference; I don’t think people will look at our drink and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to buy some real cocaine’†(William Pres, 2008). This was definitely not the best response. Teenagers are definitely a very impressionable group and ignoring the risk of selling a product that could potentially cause some to reach for an illegal substance is pretty irresponsible. Some outraged people raised voices that not only is Cocaine advocating drug use, but also putting at risk the health of its consumers due to a very high content of caffeine. According to the product’s label an 8. 4 ounce can contains 280 milligrams of caffeine, 750 milligrams of taurine, guarana, B vitamins and sugar (Redux Beverages, LLC). All these ingredients are supposed to give the drinker the energy high. Some people were concerned whether such high doses of caffeine will not harm young drinkers. In response to these concerns Kirby used differentiation and compared the content of a can of Cocaine to other energy boosting beverages such as Starbucks coffee. In the interview for CNN News Room Kirby says â€Å"if you look at the other beverages on the market a Starbucks 20 oz. Grande Coffee has 500 milligrams of caffeine we are just slightly over half that, so we don’t have any pathological levels of caffeine in our drink†(Nguyen, 2007). Kirby’s comment may seem to be a bit irrelevant, especially if to look at the fact that he compared 500 milligrams of caffeine in a 20 oz.size cup. If to pour Cocaine drink into a 20 oz. cup one would drink an equivalent of almost 670 milligrams of caffeine, nearly 1786 milligrams of taurine and even more energy boosting ingredients. As a result of the controversy and negative public response to the new energy drink the Food and Drug Administration decided to step in and take a closer look at Cocaine drink and its marketing. In April of 2007 the FDA issued a warning letter in which Redux Beverages was accused of marketing Cocaine drink illegally as an â€Å"alternative to an illicit street drug† (Other, 2008). Moreover, the Food and Drug Administration disliked the fact that Cocaine was marketed as a dietary supplement â€Å"intended to prevent, treat, or cure disease conditions† (Cruse, 2007). According to the product’s label one of the ingredients, more specifically inositol â€Å"reduces cholesterol in the blood; helps preventing hardening of the arteries, and may protect nerve fibers from excess glucose damage†(Cruse, 2007). Redux Beverages was given 15 days to correct the violations, otherwise the company would have faced legal responsibility (Other, 2008). In response to this occurrence Jamey Kirby said: â€Å"We are correcting the violations that the FDA believes we have†. As a result Redux Beverages initially made some changes to the marketing strategy and removed slogans such as: â€Å"liquid cocaine† and â€Å"speed in a can†. The webpage was also corrected and instead of calling the drink a dietary supplement Cocaine had become an energy supplement (Other, 2008). In the beginning of May 2007 the official webpage of Cocaine energy drink announced that the beverage’s distribution had been temporarily ceased. Following the decision Clegg Ivey, one of Redux Beverages partners revealed that the company was planning to keep selling the drink under a different name which would be released soon. In addition Ivey made a quite ridiculous comment advocating the product: â€Å"Of course, we intended for Cocaine energy drink to be a legal alternative the same way that celibacy is an alternative to premarital sex†. Ivey also revealed that Redux decided to cease the distribution of the product because the FDA had threaded with punishment by imprisonment (Serrano, 2007). Few days later Redux resumed the sale of Cocaine under a new name – Censored. The official website of Cocaine drink featured multiple slogans and notifications marking the end of Cocaine. The new slogan for Censored energy drink was â€Å"Censored by the Man† which clearly referred to FDA’s decision to ban Cocaine name. On July 17th of 2007 Redux Beverages decided to change the name of the former Cocaine once again. The new name would actually be nameless. Redux Beverage’s new marketing strategy was to sell the drink in a can that looked almost like a red former Cocaine can; the difference was that the logo was missing. The drink makers decided to design a can which would feature a blank box in which consumers could write whatever name they wanted. Since then the controversy surrounding Cocaine energy drink had started to die down. That was until early 2008 when the energy drink was re-released under its original name. Redux Beverages had addressed and corrected the violations highlighted by the FDA and resumed sales of Cocaine. The marketing strategy had been modified. Cocaine was available in three versions: original (with the throat-numbing effect), cut (mild version) and free (sugar-free). Following the re-release the Food and Drug Administration issued another warning letter. On July 9, 2008 Redux Beverages received another warning in which the FDA expressed concerns regarding fonts used by Redux on the drink cans. Cocaine was distributed in red, 8. 4 oz. cans with a logo spelled out in a white, powdery font. The letters resembled letter-shaped lines of drug cocaine. In addition, the FDA had objection to the use of word â€Å"cut† as to an additional logo tagging a milder version of the drink. Jamey Kirby responded to these accusations with transcendence: â€Å"In the last year or so, the US has experienced life-threatening problems with our domestic supply of tomatoes, spinach, peanut butter, imported seafood and even pet food. Worse, many experts predict that the next terrorist attack could focus on our food supply. So, why is the FDA wasting its precious resources complaining about what fonts Redux is using to advertise our product? † (just-drinks. com editorial team, 2008). In this situation using a strategy such as transcendence cannot result in anything positive. Kirby accused the FDA of bothering him with some ridiculous claims while more important work should be in progress. Then the company attacks the FDA and makes fun of the agency saying: â€Å"School teachers everywhere should now be on notice that things written in chalk will be scrutinized more closely by the federal government and could subject the chalk-bearer to civil and criminal liability. No word from the government on whether a chalk ban is next, but school districts across the nation would be well-advised to consider a shift to dry-erase boards. But please, for goodness sake, do NOT sniff those markers! † (just-drinks. com editorial team, 2008). Eventually Redux Beverages decided to use yet another image repair strategy – corrective action – and announced that the firm is working to address the FDA’s concerns and correct the violations that the agency had identified. The case of Redux Beverages from the Image restoration Theory could serve as a great case study presenting a script for image abolition. Redux Beverages has not done anything to lift up the company’s public image after the onset of crisis. The majority of press releases made by Redux during Cocaine controversy didn’t help to persuade the public that their concerns are unnecessary and groundless, but rather reassured them that Redux doesn’t care about anything else than sales and profit. Since public opinion about the company and its product are very important in Cocaine crisis, the case could be also analyzed from the perspective of Group Opinion Formation Process. Many people express concerns about impressionable groups such as teenagers or young adults who may be easily influenced by mass media or peers that can result in some reckless decisions. Many adults react with outrage when they see that their children may be exposed to things such as cigarettes, alcohol, sex or drugs. According to Struges (1994) theory of Group Opinion Formation these concerns could be classified as the first step of group opinion formation (1)â€Å"latent issue†. Redux Beverages’ launch of Cocaine energy drink would be the second step representing the (2) triggering event. Then the controversy and people’s debate would represent the next two steps of the process – (3) formation of pros and cons and (4) debate initiation. Then the onset of crisis would represent (5) the time lapses which leads to (6) formation of public’s opinion. In case of Cocaine crisis the public’s opinion about the company was mainly negative – Redux Beverages has received countless words of criticism and contempt. The last two steps involve formation of (7) social action and (8) social norm (Struges, 1994). Generating and maintaining a positive public opinion is vital for organizations, thus if the initial opinion about a company is positive, then the chances of keeping this perception during crisis are significantly higher. Redux Beverages has generated a negative public opinion during the onset of Cocaine crisis, if to suppose that the company will face another crisis in the future it will be much more difficult to gain the support of the public and generate a positive public image. The theory purposed by Struges (1994) is somewhat related to Coombs (2007) theory of Situational Crisis Communication. The SCCT recognizes reputation as â€Å"a valuable, intangible asset† which â€Å"can attract customers, generate investment interest, improve financial performance, attract top-employee talent, increase the return on assets, create competitive advantage and garner positive comments from financial analysts† (Coombs, 2007). Organizations with better reputation before crisis will still have better reputation than organizations which pre-crisis reputation was poor (Coombs, 2007). In case of Redux Beverages the crisis which had occurred between 2006 and 2008 was not too serious. The company had encountered some financial losses due to the temporary cease of distribution and several rebranding actions. Still, the crisis dealt mainly with the firm’s public image and reputation loss. According to Situational Crisis Communication Model if Redux Beverages is to face a more serious crisis in the future the company is very likely to suffer much more than in the aftermath of Cocaine controversy. The two components linked to the previous crisis – crisis history and prior relationship reputation will negatively affect the attribution of crisis responsibility. Knowing what strategies Redux Beverages used to deal with the previous crisis it is very likely that the potential crisis response strategies will also increase the attribution of crisis responsibility. Redux Beverages poor reputation and high attribution of crisis responsibility will result in public’s negative reaction to an organization. In case of another crisis, Redux Beverages is much more likely to be held fully accountable for the offensive act. Redux Beverages have not done any work to prepare for any potential crisis. The firm does not follow any of the ten best practices for risk and crisis communication purposed by Venette (which include: 1. Process approaches and policy approaches there has been no data released about any policies formulated by Redux Beverages. 2. Pre-event planning – Redux Beverages was not prepared for the crisis caused by controversy surround sales of Cocaine and continues its operations without any pre-crisis planning. No data has been released that would state otherwise. 3. Partnership with the public – Redux beverages seems to care about the sales, and thus about their buyers. Still Redux doesn’t seem to be concerned about their consumer’s health and disregards any doubts about the safety of their highly caffeinated product. 4. Listen to the public’s concerns and understand the audience – Redux Beverages failed to address the public’s concerns regarding the risk of selling a product that is being marketed as a street drug alternative. 5. Honesty, candor and openness – Redux Beverages repeatedly denied comments and interviews with proves that the honestly and openness are not the company’s priorities. 6. Collaborate and coordinate with credible sources – the conflict with the Food and Drug Administration indicates that the organization doesn’t collaborate and is not coordinated with credible sources. 7. Meet the needs of the media and remain accessible 8. Communicate with compassion, concern, and empathy – Redux Beverages fails to communicate in this manner. 9. Accept uncertainty and ambiguity 10. Messages of self-efficacy. The way in which Redux Beverages decided to manage the crisis caused by the controversy surrounding the launch of a new energy drink was not very effective. The crises communication strategies chosen by the organization didn’t really help its reputation and basically created a solid base for even worse crisis in the future. The lost reputation of the company will cause that any little mistake on their behalf will never be perceived as an accident or misfortune, but rather as their own fault. Redux Beverages has not gained any support in the eye of the public, nor governing and legal agencies. The only success of Redux Beverages is that the company gained the rights to re-release and resume the sales of the energy drink with a controversial name – Cocaine. References Benoit, W. L. (1997). Image repair discourse and crisis communication. Public Relations Review, 23(2), 177-186. Benoit, W. L. , Czerwinski, A. . (1997). A critical analysis of USAir’s image repair discourse. Business Communication Quarterly, 60(3), 38-57. Burnett, E. (Speaker). (2007). Cocaine energy drink [Television series episode]. In CNBC Street Signs. New York. Cocaine drink claims to be real thing. (2006, September 21). Mail Online, Retrieved from http://www. dailymail. co. uk/news/article-406304/Cocaine-drink-claims-real-thing. html Coombs, T. W. (2007). Protecting organization reputations during a crisis: The development and application of situational crisis communication theory. Corporate Reputation Review. 10(3), 163-176 Crisis definition. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/crisis Cruse, A. E. . Public Health Service Food and Drug Administration , Los Angeles District . (2007). Warning letter (W/L 10-07). Irvine, CA: U. S. Department of Health Human Services. Retrieved from http://www. fda. gov/ICECI/Enforcement Actions/WarningLetters/2007ucm076349. htm Douaud, C.. (2007, June 19). Cocaine goes no-name. Nutraingredients USA, Retrieved from http://www. nutringredients-usa. com/Industry/Cocaine-goes-no-name Fearn-Banks, K. (1996). Crisis communications: A casebook approach. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaumn Just-drinks. com editorial team. . (2008, July 11). US: Redux accelerates cocaine rebranding on fda pressure. Retrieved from http://www. just-drinks. com/news/redux-accelerates- cocaine-rebranding-on-fda-pressure_id94412. aspx Mooney, P. N. . (2006, October 27). Cocaine energy drink pulled from 7-eleven shelves [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/78750/cocaine_energy_drink_pulled_from_7el even. html? cat=71 Nguyen, B. (Speaker). (2007). In CNN News Room. New York: CNN. Nizza, M. (2007, May 7). The end of cocaine the beverage [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://thelede. blogs. nytimes. com/2007/05/07the-end-of-cocaine-the-beverage/ Other, . (2008, February 6). Cocaine energy drink back on the shelves. Convenience Store News, Retrieved from http://www. csw. com/top-story- cocaine_energy_drink_back_on_the_shelves-43048.html Redux Beverages, LLC, . (n. d. ). Cocaine Energy. Retrieved from http://www. drinkcocaine. com Sellnow, T. L. , Seeger, M. . (2001). Exploring the boundaries of crisis communication: the case of the 1997 Red River Valley flood. Communication Studies, 52(2), 152-167. Serrano, A. . (2007, May 7). â€Å"Cocaine† pulled from shelves nationwide. CBS News, Retrieved from http://www. cbsnews. com/stories/2007/05/07/health/main277254. shtml Struges, D. L. (1994). Communicating through crisis: A strategy for organizational survival. Management Communication Quarterly. 7(3), 297-318. Ulmer, R. R. , Sellnow, T. L. (2000). Consistent questions of ambiguity in organizational crisis communication: Jack in the Box as a case study. Journal of Business Ethics, 25(2), 143- 155. Venette, S. J. (2006). Special section introduction: Best practices in risk and crisis communication. Journal of Applied Communication Research. 34(3), 229-231. William Pres, . (2008). Cocaine – the new energy drink. Retrieved from http://hubpages. com/hub/Cocaine_-_The_NEW_energy_drink.

A Brief Discussion of Genetic Diseases Essay -- Biology Genetic Disease

Since the discovery in 1928 via the Griffith experiment (an experiment dealing with bacterial transformation) that DNA carried genetic information, many important discoveries have been made regarding the human genome and its extent in the determination of phenotypic traits. Not least of these is the discovery and study of genetic disorders, or diseases caused by abnormalities within the genes. Disorders of this nature can be caused by a variety of factors. Some diseases such as Huntington's disease must be inherited, while others, such as some cancers, can be the result of environmental factors slowly mutating the genome over time. Still others can result from random errors in normal DNA replication. Typically, genetic disorders tend to be rare due to the ability of DNA to repair itself and also because of the tendency for damaged cells to undergo programmed cell death to preserve the overall health of the organism. However, when genetic disorders do appear, they represent a considerable problem for the afflicted, because although some are treatable and possibly manageable, very few, if any, are ever curable. DNA of a living individual cannot be altered by any existing technology. Nevertheless, research is continually improving our ability to treat these diseases, particularly with diseases such as cancer, trisomy, and Huntington's disease. Of particular interest in modern medicine is the study of the various forms of cancer and the genes involved in causing it. Cancer is a disease in which cells of the body mutate to the point where they lose the ability to regulate their division and DNA replication, causing uncontrollable growth to the extent of interfering with the function of normal, healthy cells... ...gton's Research. 26 August 2007. 1 December 2010 . National Cancer Institute. Common Cancer Types. 15 July 2010. 1 December 2010 . Reiness, Gary. Cancer Part II-Mutations and Cancer. 13 April 2000. 30 November 2010 . Starr, Barry. DNA Mutations Cause Cancer. 8 February 2008. 30 November 2010 . Woollams, Chris. Using Viruses To Treat Cancer. 2010. 1 December 2010 link.aspx?n=1106&Title=Using%20Viruses%20To%20Treat%20Cancer>. WordIQ.com. Experimental Cancer Treatment - Definition. 2010. 1 December 2010 .

Farming land Essay

In the late 1800s, many farmers were trapped in a vicious economic cycle. Crops prices began falling and farmers were often forced into mortgaging their farms so they could buy more land and produce more crops to break even. Good farming land was becoming rare and the banks took over the mortgages of farmers who couldn’t make payments on their loans. The railroads, on the other end, took advantage of farmers by charging them extreme prices for shipping and storage. Both equally frustrating the farmer, who pretty much resembled a larger economic problem because if he wasn’t doing well then the whole nation can’t do well either. Banks controlled the farmer, they watched the farmer’s and had input on everything they did. The Banks relentlessly took over the mortgages of farmers who couldn’t make payments on their loans (doc d). Generally, the average farmer struggled during the late 1800’s due to the huge increase of agriculture worldwide. Because of many technological improvements, which boosted competition, now farmers faced foreign competition, and are now forced to adjust the prices of their crops to stay competitive. An increase of production repaid the farmer’s losses only temporarily. However, farmers soon realized the limitations of farming land. Also they realized that their own surplus of crops just lower the cost so in the end they don’t make as big of a profit. (doc e). The troubles of a farmer were part of a larger economic problem that was affecting the entire nation. Deflation followed the Civil War, which made the amount of money in circulation decreased therefore the value increased. This was bad for the farmer because products took up a lower value. Loans that needed to be repaid with dollars are now worth more than what the farmers had originally borrowed, so many farmers lost money. The farmers saw a solution. It was the use of â€Å"cheap money† to reverse the effects of deflation. Farmers demanded the increase of greenbacks with the addition of unlimited coinage of silver (doc b). With the passage of the Bland-Allison Act in 1878, around 2 to 4 million was added to the silver supply. Yet that only eased it, and didn’t solve the main problem (doc). To make things even worse, railroad companies added more load on the  farmer’s by taking advantage with prices to transport grain. A lack of competition among the railroads enabled them to put high costs, sometimes making a shipment of grain nearly unprofitable (doc h). Also, railroads gained control over grain storage prices, enabling their influence over the market of price of crops. Justifying the transport prices became unchallengeable due to the lack of competition (doc g). There’s not much farmers can do than hope for some reforms since they’re stuck in a cycle of credit that meant longer hours and more debt with every year. Good farming land quickly became rare and the banks took over the mortgages of farmers who couldn’t keep up with payments on their loans. The railroads took advantage of farmers by charging them excessive prices for shipping and storage. As a solution the Bland-Allison Act in 1878 was pasted. The issue of the farmer’s debt stuck around. There validity of the farmer complaints is totally acceptable due to all the struggles and hardships they went through.

My Personal Philosophy of Early Childhood Education

Belief Statement The home and the early childhood education center happen to be the most important places for the socialization of the child.   As a matter fact, both the home and the early childhood education center are responsible for developing the child – a complete individual.   The child represents the future of my nation and the world at large.   What I want children to be is therefore identical to my vision of an ideal society.   As an early childhood educator, I want to provide the best possible education for my students so they would create the ideal society we all have collectively envisioned. Philosophical Statement All students are capable of learning.   Even so, every child is an individual with learning needs that differ from the needs of his or her peers.   As an early childhood educator it is important to me to teach children with respect to their developmental stage.   At the same time, however, I do not overlook the fact that some of my students could be slower than the rest, while a few may even be gifted.   Nonetheless I would like all my students to get to love learning as much as I do.   For this reason I believe that educators must continue to conduct research on the art and science of teaching, and develop themselves so as to help their students learn as effectively as possible. I further believe that hands-on learning in early childhood education centers is crucial to the development of children.   Human beings learn by doing.   All the same, certain children seem to need more time to reflect on the activities that are assigned in the classroom.   I do not discourage individuality in the classroom, even as I realize that hands-on activities help most students with their social and linguistic skills. In my classroom there are 28 students and the room is not big enough to accommodate center areas.   However, we have made adjustments.   Centers are done at their tables.   Every day, each table does a new center.   (I create 5 per week).   I also have other activities for my students, such as white boards, phonics puzzles, ABC's on cookie sheets, and activities that are exclusively available in dishpans that we refer to as buckets.   When students are done with assigned activities, they get a bucket and find a spot on the floor.   It seems to be working well, as they are learning. I additionally trust the fact that young students need to learn by watching.   I model for my students before we can practice together, after which they complete the activities on their own.   It amazes me how quickly most children are able to learn by watching.   Moreover, it empowers me as an early childhood educator seeing as I am able to influence their thinking in profound ways.   This is the very reason why ethics play a vital role in early childhood education.   Indeed, the early childhood educator must be careful to teach the young only that which he or she would like to experience in the outside world. Raw minds of little children must be nurtured with great gentleness and care.   I consider this a significant issue to discuss with the parents of my students.   After all, early childhood education cannot be complete without the environment that the child is exposed to outside the classroom.   Thus, I am confident that the advice and support of parents helps to make early childhood education more effective.               

Get your financial life in order before the new year

Get your financial life in order  before the new year Are you finally ready to get your financial health in better shape? If so, then you’re thinking wisely, because it’s never too soon to start taking your relationship with money more seriously and plan for your future- like it or not, it’s going to come eventually, and those who prepare for it in advance will be ready to face it responsibly and with as little anxiety as possible. For most of us, the future can be an uncertain entity- what our professional and personal lives will look like as the months, years, and decades roll forward can be difficult to predict, and unexpected twists and turns along the way can derail our plans and force us to revise our goals along the way. This uncertainly can cause a great deal of stress, so it makes sense to have as much under our control and working in our favor as possible. Having a financial safety net of sorts to help see us through is obviously beneficial.Have we convinced you that it’s a good idea to start gettin g your financial life in order? If so, then keep reading, and consider using the following strategies to get you started on the right path.Get seriousOne of the most important aspects of getting yourself in good financial shape is to get in the proper mindset for doing so. Like most endeavors in life that require a change in behavior and extended displays of discipline, being in the right mental space at the onset, during the critical first steps, is an essential ingredient for success.So, in order to get started with the right attitude and mindset, try making a list of goals for getting your life in financial order. Both short- and long-term goals are fair game here. Do you want to pay back a loan or reduce your debt? Do you want to make a significant purchase sometime in the future that you want to be in better financial shape for, like a car or home? Are you preparing for a major life change, like a move or starting a family? Having a set of tangible (and achievable!) goals on yo ur radar can help you get in the right mindset for making smart financial decisions- both now and over the long haul. The truth is, sometimes it takes having a destination in your sights to make it through a long journey.Start smallFor most of us, we can’t simply buy our way to financial freedom- it’s more of a long, hard road than a quick sprint, and it’s a journey that often never has a definitive end. So, think of your initial move to get your financial life in order as a series of small steps in the right direction. Even if they don’t completely change your life in an instant, they’ll get you moving in the right direction and will help you develop fiscally responsible behaviors, build on your positive inertia, and bolster your mindset and discipline.Think of some small ways you can get started- perhaps save a little bit of money each week from each paycheck or find a few ways you can earn some extra money (a part-time job or selling some of you r unwanted stuff are great ideas). You can also try eliminating some unnecessary expenses in your life. Don’t look back- like any great journey, getting on the road to financial order begins with a single step.Get helpOne of the really nice things about getting your financial life in order these days is that there are more tools than ever before to help you stay on track. An army of app developers have devoted their efforts to creating financial planning, organizing, and saving tools that can help you get your finances in order and hit all of your money milestones along your path to financial freedom. A little Internet research to discover the latest and greatest apps that best meet your needs is time well spent. Many available apps are free or low cost, so testing some out and discovering the ones that work well for you through trial and error won’t be a monumental investment.You can also turn to friends and family for help- the truth is, having the important people i n our lives helping to keep us motivated can mean the difference between success and failure in a challenging situation. So, let your friends and family know about your financial plans, fill them in on how they can help, and use their support to achieve your goals.Getting your life in financial order may not be easy, and you may stumble and restart at times along the way, but it’s a journey worth taking, and one that’s best to start early. Use the advice and strategies presented here to help get you moving in the right direction when it comes to your money and finances.

The Collapse of Gupta India

The Collapse of Gupta India The Gupta Empire may have lasted only about 230 years, but it was characterized by a sophisticated culture with innovative advances in literature, arts, and sciences. Its influence continues to be felt in art, dance, mathematics, and many other fields today, not just in India but across Asia and around the world. Called Indias Golden Age by most scholars, the Gupta Empire was likely founded by a member of a lower Hindu caste called Sri Gupta. He came from the Vaishya or farmer caste and founded the new dynasty in reaction to abuses by previous princely rulers. The Gupta were ardent Vaishnavas, devotees of Vishnu and they ruled as traditional Hindu monarchs. Advances of the Golden Age of Classical India During this Golden Age, India was part of an international trade network which also included other great classical empires of the day, the Han Dynasty in China to the east and the Roman Empire to the west. The famed Chinese pilgrim to India, Fa Hsien (Faxien) noted that Gupta law was exceptionally generous; crimes were punished only with fines. The rulers sponsored advances in science, painting, textiles, architecture, and literature. Gupta artists created marvelous sculptures and paintings, perhaps including the Ajanta caves. The surviving architecture includes palaces and purpose-built temples for both Hindu and Buddhist religions, such as the Parvati Temple at Nachana Kuthara and the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh in Madhya Pradesh. New forms of music and dance, some of which are still performed today, flourished under Gupta patronage. The emperors also founded free hospitals for their citizens, as well as monasteries and universities. The classical Sanskrit language reached its apogee during this period as well, with poets such as Kalidasa and Dandi. The ancient texts of the Mahabharata and Ramayana were converted into sacred texts and the Vau and Matsya Puranas were composed. Scientific and mathematical advances include the invention of the number zero, Aryabhatas astonishingly accurate calculation of pi as 3.1416, and his equally amazing calculation that the solar year is 365.358 days long. Establishing the Gupta Dynasty In about 320 CE, the chief of a small kingdom called Magadha in southeastern India set out to conquer the neighboring kingdoms of Prayaga and Saketa. He used a combination of military might and marriage alliances to expand his kingdom into an empire. His name was Chandragupta I and through his conquests he formed the Gupta Empire. Many scholars believe that Chandraguptas family was from the Vaishya caste, which was the third tier out of four in the traditional Hindu caste system. If so, this was a major departure from Hindu tradition, in which the Brahmin priestly caste and the Kshatriya warrior/princely class generally held religious and secular power over the lower castes. In any case, Chandragupta rose from relative obscurity to reunite much of the Indian subcontinent, which had fragmented five centuries earlier after the fall of the Mauryan Empire in 185 BCE. Rulers of the Gupta Dynasty Chandraguptas son, Samudragupta (ruled 335–380 CE), was a brilliant warrior and statesman, sometimes called the Napoleon of India. Samudragupta, however, never faced a Waterloo, and was able to pass on a greatly expanded Gupta Empire to his sons. He extended the empire to the Deccan Plateau in the south, Punjab in the north, and Assam in the east. Samudragupta also was a talented poet and musician. His successor was Ramagupta, an ineffectual ruler, who was soon deposed and assassinated by his brother, Chandragupta II. Chandragupta II (r. 380–415 CE) expanded the empire still further, to its greatest extent. He conquered much of Gujarat in western India. Like his grandfather, Chandragupta II also used marriage alliances to expand the empire, marrying into control of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, and adding the rich provinces of Punjab, Malwa, Rajputana, Saurashtra, and Gujarat. The city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh became a second capital for the Gupta Empire, which was based at Pataliputra in the north. Kumaragupta I succeeded his father in 415 and ruled for 40 years. His son, Skandagupta (r. 455–467 CE), is considered the last of the great Gupta rulers. During his reign, the Gupta Empire first faced incursions by the Huns, who would eventually bring down the empire. After him, lesser emperors, including Narasimha Gupta, Kumaragupta II, Buddhagupta, and Vishnugupta, ruled over the decline of the Gupta Empire. Although the late Gupta ruler Narasimhagupta managed to drive the Huns out of northern India in 528 CE, the effort and expense doomed the dynasty. The last recognized emperor of the Gupta Empire was Vishnugupta, who ruled from about 540 until the empire collapsed around 550 CE. Decline and Fall of the Gupta Empire As with the collapses of other classical political systems, the Gupta Empire crumbled under both internal and external pressures. Internally, the Gupta Dynasty grew weak from a number of succession disputes. As the emperors lost power, regional lords gained increasing autonomy. In a sprawling empire with weak leadership, it was easy for rebellions in Gujarat or Bengal to break out, and difficult for the Gupta emperors to put such uprisings down. By 500 CE, many regional princes were declaring their independence and refusing to pay taxes to the central Gupta state. These included the Maukhari Dynasty, who ruled over Uttar Pradesh and Magadha. By the later Gupta era, the government was having trouble collecting enough taxes to fund both its hugely complex bureaucracy and constant wars against foreign invaders like the Pushyamitras and the Huns. In part, this was due to the common peoples dislike of the meddlesome and unwieldy bureaucracy. Even those who felt a personal loyalty to the Gupta Emperor generally disliked his government and were happy to avoid paying for it if they could. Another factor, of course, was the near-constant rebellions among different provinces of the empire. Invasions In addition to internal disputes, the Gupta Empire faced constant threats of invasion from the north. The cost of fighting off these invasions drained the Gupta treasury, and the government had difficulty refilling the coffers. Among the most troublesome of the invaders were the White Huns (or Hunas), who conquered much of the northwestern section of Gupta territory by 500 CE. The Huns initial raids into India were led by a man who is called Toramana or Toraraya in Gupta records; these documents show that his troops began to pick off feudatory states from the Gupta domains around the year 500. In 510 CE, Toramana swooped down into central India and inflicted a decisive defeat at Eran on the Ganges river. The End of the Dynasty The records indicate that Toramanas reputation was strong enough that some princes voluntarily submitted to his rule. However, the records do not specify why the princes submitted: whether it was because he had a reputation as a great military strategist, was a blood-thirsty tyrant, was a better ruler than the Gupta alternatives, or something else. Eventually, this branch of the Huns adopted Hinduism and was assimilated into Indian society. Although none of the invading groups managed to completely overrun the Gupta Empire, the financial hardship of the battles helped hasten the end of the dynasty. Almost unbelievably, the Huns, or their direct ancestors the Xiongnu, had the same effect on two of the other great classical civilizations in earlier centuries: Han China, which collapsed in 221 CE and the Roman Empire, which fell in 476 CE. Sources Agrawal, Ashvini. Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 1989. Chaurasia, Radhey Sham. History of Ancient India. Atlantic Publishers, 2002.Dwivedi, Gautam N. The Western Limits of the Gupta Empire. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 34, 1973, pp. 76-79.Goyal, Shankar. Historiography of the Imperial Guptas: Old and New. Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute 77.1/4, 1996, pp. 1–33.Mookerji, Radhakumud. The Gupta Empire. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 1989.Prakash, Budha. Last Days of the Gupta Empire. Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute 27.1/2, 1946, pp. 124-41. Vajpeyi, Raghavendra. A Critique of the Huna Invasion Theory. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 39, 1978, pp. 62-66.

Analysis of Googling Out of Control and Work in Google Essay

Analysis of Googling Out of Control and Work in Google - Essay Example Organizational Structure is where roles and/or ranks of employees are determined. It is advanced that success may still be realized so long as the culture and values of the organization and its employees are attuned with each other thus any challenges faced by the organization may be managed or prevented. A concrete example of culture adaptation or acclimatization is that of Google. In the video, Google is commended for its fun and relaxing work atmosphere. Notwithstanding the laid back work structure, it is able to provide perks and incentives to everyone in the organization. Google is able to support its management style due to the billions of revenues and profits it is able to generate through their Online Services and advertisements. And, it is in this context that this paper will analyze the Google’s success. Discussion There are 3 forms of Organizations, the Classical, Modern and Post-Modern. In the Classical Organization Form, managers avoid risks that would put the org anizations at jeopardy while in the Modern Organization Form managers create contingency plans for possible situations that can happen in risky decisions. On the other hand, Post-Modern Organization Form managers take risks and create an action plan only when bad situations arise. Google has come a long way from the original objective of its founders. It was initially created as a graduate project in Stanford University. The website was launched in 1996 in the internal website of Stanford and two years after, Google turned into a successful commercial enterprise. From a name that is represented by 100 zeroes after a number 1, Google has been a success since its inception. The founders were able to transform a simple university project to a lucrative company valued at more than $30 billion. Google’s reach is extensive considering that it receives more transactions than the stock exchanges of New York, London, Geneva Frankfurt and Paris combined. From the video â€Å"Work in G oogle†, Fortune Magazine has named Google as the best company to work for in America in 2007. The founders of Google are able to create an environment where employees are able to have fun and enjoy being at work while creating a place where employees are able to be productive and excel in their fields. According to the video anchors, Fortune magazine chose Google as one of the best workplaces in America because of numerous reasons one of them being the food it serves in its cafeteria. It does not merely house a simple cafeteria that other organizations normally have but Google distinguished itself by providing a service comparable to eleven gourmet restaurants inside its cafeteria. The unconventional way of Google’s management style is well-appreciated by its employees—they positively respond and return the favor by working hard and being productive. Google employees declare that they are willing to do anything for the company since Google is invested towards pro viding an environment that is comfortable and conducive for work. It puts ahead the comfort of the employees by not employing a restrictive dress code—instead the employees are given the freedom and liberty to wear any type of clothes they deem comfortable. Pets are also allowed in the workplace provided that colleagues are not bothered by their presence. It is evident therefore that the lack of structure in the management system is not a factor in the success of the business.