The Indigo Spell Chapter Nineteen

SOMEHOW, I STILL LOST. If Adrian were capable of on-the-fly calculations, I'd swear he was using his powers to affect the way the dice rolled. Most likely, he either had some innate and inexplicable Monopoly skills I just couldn't understand – or he was very, very lucky. But through it all, I had fun, and losing to him was a lot better than having Veronica haunt me in my sleep. He continued the dream visits for the next few days, and although I never felt completely safe from her, I at least didn't have her occupying the forefront of my mind at all times. That honor was saved for my weekend trip to St. Louis, which came around more quickly than I expected. Once I was on the plane, the reality of what I was about to attempt hit me. This was it, the point of no return. In the safety of Palm Springs, I'd been able to maintain a somewhat cool and collected attitude. St. Louis had seemed far away back then. Now the tasks ahead of me seemed daunting and kind of crazy. And dangerous. There was no part of this that wouldn't get me into serious trouble. Lying to Stanton. Breaking into top secret servers. Even charming information out of Ian could have repercussions. And really who was I to think I would have any ability to lure secrets from him? I wasn't like Rose or Julia. They had men fawning all over them. But me? I was socially awkward and pretty inept when it came to romance. Maybe Ian liked me, but that didn't mean I'd have some magical power over him. Of course, if that part of the plan with him failed, then I'd be free of my other tasks. Every single part of this was overwhelming, and as I stared out the plane's window, watching St. Louis grow closer and closer, my feelings of dread grew. My palms were too sweaty to hold a book, and when I refused food, it was because of the queasiness in my stomach, not some obsession with calories. I'd gone back and forth on whether to get a hotel room or stay at the facility itself, which provided guest housing for visiting Alchemists like me. In the end, I opted for the former. The less time I spent under the watchful eyes of my masters, the better. It also meant I didn't have to worry about my outfit attracting attention. I hadn't exactly followed all of Adrian's suggestions, but the dress I'd purchased for this trip was a bit racier than my normal business casual wardrobe. Okay, a lot racier. It would have been completely out of place among the modest and neutral-colored attire Alchemists usually wore. But when Ian met me in the hotel's lobby for dinner, I knew I'd made the right choice. â€Å"Wow,† he said, eyes widening. â€Å"You look amazing.† Apparently, his Alchemists sensibilities weren't offended by my outfit. It was a form-fitting minidress that went about to my mid-thigh, with an open back and a disconcertingly low V-neck that gave me cleavage I hadn't even known was possible. Any demureness the dress's long sleeves might have offered was undone by the fabric combination: a beige underdress covered in black and maroon lace. It gave the illusion that I was wearing lace with nothing underneath. The saleswoman had assured me that every part of the dress was supposed to fit that snugly (for once in my life, I'd actually suggested a larger size) and that I needed at least four-inch black heels to make it all work. With the help of a lot of hairpins, I'd even managed to pull my hair up into a bun, which wasn't easy with my layered haircut. I felt conspicuous walking through the lobby, but no one gave me any shocked looks. The few I did get were admiring ones. The hotel was pretty posh, and I was just one of a number of women dressed in holiday cocktail dresses. Nothing scandalous or out of the ordinary. You can do this, Sydney. And wearing a revealing dress wasn't nearly as difficult as breaking into a server, right? Right? I smiled as I approached Ian and gave him a quick hug, which was weird both because it was with Ian and because I felt naked in the dress. This femme fatale thing was harder than I'd thought it'd be. â€Å"I'm glad I got to see you again,† I said. â€Å"I know what an inconvenience this must be, with no notice.† Ian shook his head so adamantly that I almost expected to hear rattling. â€Å"N-no. No trouble at all.† Satisfied he'd gotten a look, I slipped on my coat, a mid-length black trench, and gestured toward the exit. â€Å"Time to brave the elements?† He hurried ahead of me to open the door. A scattering of snowflakes drifted down, resting on my coat and hair. My breath made a frosty cloud in the air, and I had a momentary flashback to traipsing across that field with Adrian. Little had I known that search for Marcus would lead to me running errands for him in a tight dress. Ian had parked in the hotel's front circle drive. He drove a Toyota Corolla, which was made even more boring by the fact that he'd chosen it in white. A little air freshener shaped like a tree hung from the rearview mirror, but rather than the usual pine scent, a small label declared it to be â€Å"New Car Scent.† Mostly it smelled like plastic. I put on a brave face. Marcus really owed me one. â€Å"I made us a reservation at this really great seafood place,† he told me. â€Å"It's close to the facility, so we can head on over to the service right away.† â€Å"Sounds great,† I said. I never ate seafood in any landlocked state. The restaurant was called Fresh Cache, which didn't improve my opinion of it. Still, I had to give it credit for attempts at a romantic atmosphere. Most of the lighting came from candles, and a pianist in the corner played covers of easy-listening songs. More well-dressed people filled the tables, laughing and chatting over wine and shrimp cocktails. The host showed us to a corner table, covered with burgundy linen and decorated with a scattering of green orchids. I'd never seen any up close and was actually quite taken with how exotic and sensual they were. If only I was here with anyone but Ian. I was hesitant to take my coat off. It made me feel exposed, and I had to remind myself of the consequences of Alchemists and Warriors working together. As soon as the dress was unleashed again, I had the satisfaction of seeing Ian melt once more. I remembered Adrian's advice about confidence and put on a smug smile, hoping I gave the impression that I was doing Ian a great favor by allowing him to be in my presence. And, to my complete and utter amazement, it seemed to work. I even allowed myself to indulge in a dangerous thought: maybe it wasn't the dress wielding such power here. Maybe it was me. Opening the menu, I began skimming for a beef or poultry option. â€Å"What do you recommend?† â€Å"The mahi mahi is great here,† he said. â€Å"So is the swordfish.† The waiter stopped by, and I ordered a chicken Caesar salad. I figured they couldn't really mess up the anchovies in the dressing. We were left alone to wait, with nothing to do now but move on to small talk. Ian picked up the ball. â€Å"I suppose you still can't tell me much about where you're at, huh?† â€Å"Afraid not. You know how it is.† I buttered a sourdough roll with what I was pretty sure was exactly half a tablespoon. I didn't want to go too crazy, but I could allow myself a little indulgence since I ordered a salad. â€Å"I can tell you I'm in the field. I just can't say much else.† Ian's attention shifted off my neckline as he stared into the candle's flame. â€Å"I miss that, you know. Being in the field.† â€Å"You used to be, right? What happened?† I hadn't thought much about it lately, but when Ian had accompanied Stanton and me to the Moroi court, he had been pulled from his post to make the trip. He'd been assigned somewhere in the south, Florida or Georgia, I thought. â€Å"Those Moroi holding us prisoner is what happened.† He shifted his gaze back to me, and I was startled at the fierceness I saw. â€Å"I didn't handle it very well.† â€Å"Well, none of us did.† He shook his head. â€Å"No, no. I really didn't handle it well. I kind of freaked out. They sent me to anger management training afterward.† I nearly dropped the roll. I had in no way expected that. If someone had asked me to name the top ten people who needed anger management, Ian wouldn't have even made the bottom of the list. My father, however, would have been near the top. â€Å"How – how long were you there?† I stammered. â€Å"Two weeks, and then I was good to go.† Admittedly, I didn't know the extent of the rage that had landed him in anger management, but I found it interesting that two weeks was good enough to deem him ready to work again. Meanwhile, Keith's scheme to use Moroi to make money had earned him at least two months in re-education – maybe more, since I hadn't heard any updates in a while. â€Å"But they wouldn't let me work in the field,† Ian added. â€Å"Figure I shouldn't be around Moroi for a while. So that's why I'm stuck here.† â€Å"In the archives.† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Doesn't sound so bad,† I told him. I wasn't entirely lying. â€Å"Lots of books.† â€Å"Don't fool yourself, Sydney.† He began tearing a pumpernickel roll into pieces. â€Å"I'm a glorified librarian.† Maybe so, but that wasn't my concern. What was my concern was Wade telling me that the archives were on a secure level, one floor up from the surveillance room that held security footage. He'd drawn me a map of each floor, making sure I memorized the layout and the best ways to get in and out. â€Å"I'd still love to see them,† I said. â€Å"I mean, the history they contain is amazing.† Again, not entirely a lie. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table, and had the satisfaction of seeing his eyes drop to my plunging neckline again. This wasn't that difficult! Really, I didn't know why I hadn't been using my â€Å"womanly charms† a long time ago. Actually, I never really knew I had any, until now. â€Å"Could you get me in for a tour? Of the archives specifically. You seem like the kind of guy who could get access to . . . a lot of places.† Ian choked on his roll. After a bout of coughing, he glanced up at my face, then my cleavage (again), and then back to my face. â€Å"I'd, um, love to, but it's not really open to the public – I mean, even the Alchemist public. Only those with special scholar access are allowed in. We could look at the general access parts of the building, though.† â€Å"Oh. I see.† I looked down at my plate, pouting slightly, but didn't say anything else. As the waiter arrived with our food, I hoped my silence was making him reconsider what he could be missing out on. Eventually, Ian couldn't take it anymore. He cleared his throat, maybe because there was still bread stuck in it. â€Å"Well, I might be able to . . . you see, the problem is just getting you down to the secure levels. Once you're through that checkpoint, it's not hard to get you into the archives – especially if I'm working.† â€Å"But you can't do anything about the main checkpoint?† I coaxed, as if all real men should be able to do that. â€Å"No, I mean . . . maybe. I've got a friend who works there. I don't know if he's got a shift tomorrow, but he still might be able to help. He owes me some money, so I can use this as a trade. I hope.† â€Å"Oh, Ian.† I flashed him a smile that I hoped rivaled one of Marcus's. â€Å"That's amazing.† I remembered what Adrian had said. â€Å"I'd be so, so grateful if you could pull it off.† My reaction clearly delighted Ian, and I wondered if Adrian had been right about how â€Å"so, so grateful† was translated. â€Å"I'll call him tonight after the service,† Ian said. He looked determined now. â€Å"Hopefully we can make it happen before your flight tomorrow.† I rewarded him by hanging on his every word for the rest of dinner, as though I'd never heard anything quite so fascinating. All the while, my heart raced with the knowledge that I was now one step closer to fulfilling Marcus's task, one step closer to potentially proving a connection to a bunch of gun-toting zealots and the organization I'd served my whole life. The salad was tiny, so I agreed to see the dessert menu after dinner. Ian suggested we share, but that was a little too intimate for me, not to mention unhygienic. So, I ate an entire lemon tart by myself, confident in the knowledge that I was still a long ways from the five-pound mark. When Adrian had told me I'd look healthier if I gained a little weight, he'd added that it would improve my bra size. I couldn't even imagine what that would do for this dress. The Alchemist center in St. Louis was contained inside a giant, industrial building that went undercover as a manufacturing plant. Moroi facilities – the court and their schools – usually posed as universities. How ironic that â€Å"creatures of the night† would live among beautifully landscaped gardens while â€Å"servants of the light† like us skulked in ugly buildings with no windows. Inside, however, everything was pristine, bright, and well-organized. A receptionist checked us in when we arrived at the main desk and buzzed us through, along with many others who arrived for the service. There were golden lilies everywhere. For many, this was a fun-filled family event, and lots of children trailed their Alchemist parents. It made me feel strange as I watched them, these kids who had been born into our profession. I wondered how they'd feel ten years from now. Would they be excited to step up to the plate? Or would they start questioning? The center had three floors aboveground and five underneath. People off the street could hardly just come wandering in, but we still took precautions by keeping the more benign offices on the main floor. As we all walked down the corridor to the auditorium, we passed Payroll, Travel, and Maintenance. All the offices had clear windows looking into them from the hall, maintaining the Alchemist ideal that we had nothing to hide. The secure offices belowground weren't quite so open, however. I'd been in this facility once before for a training seminar, and it had actually taken place in the auditorium we entered for the service. Despite the spiritual theme of tonight's event, the room bore little resemblance to a church. Someone had gone to the effort of decorating the walls with red-bowed evergreen garlands and setting pots of poinsettias on the stage. The room had a state-of-the-art audio-visual system, including a giant screen that gave a larger-than-life look at whatever was happening onstage. The auditorium's seating was so efficient that even those in the farthest corners had a pretty clear view, so I think the screen was just for emphasis. Ian and I found two seats near the middle of the auditorium. â€Å"Aren't you going to take off your coat?† he asked hopefully. No way was I going to unleash the dress in this den of taupe and high collars. Besides, if I kept the coat on, it would just give him something to keep looking forward to. Adrian would be proud of my ability to manipulate the opposite sex . . . and I couldn't help but wonder just how well Adrian would be able to stand up to this dress. Clearly, I was getting overly confident with this new power. â€Å"I'm cold,† I said, pulling the coat tighter. It was kind of ridiculous since the lights from the stage and high number of bodies had already made the room stifling, but I figured since it was so cold outside, I could get away with it. For someone who always seems to be so cold, you sure can warm up pretty fast. â€Å"Sydney? Is that you?† I froze, not from the shock of hearing my name, but from the voice that had said it. I'd know that voice anywhere. Slowly, I turned away from Ian and looked up into my father's face. He was standing in the aisle, wearing a heavy wool suit, with melted snowflakes in his graying dark blond hair. â€Å"Hi, Dad,† I said. Then I saw who was standing beside him. â€Å"Zoe?† It was all I could do not to jump up and hug her. I hadn't seen or spoken to my younger sister since that night I'd been pulled out of bed and sent on my Palm Springs mission. That was the mission she believed I'd stolen from her, no matter my protests. It was the mission that had driven her away from me. I eyed her now, trying to assess where we stood. She didn't wear the blatant hatred she had at our last meeting, which was a good sign. Unfortunately, she didn't look all that warm and friendly either. She was cautious, studying me carefully – almost warily. She did not, I noticed, have a golden lily on her cheek yet. â€Å"I'm surprised to see you here,† said my father. His parting words to me had been â€Å"Don't embarrass me,† so I wasn't really astonished by his low expectations. â€Å"It's the holidays,† I said. Forcing a smile now was far more difficult than it had been with Ian. â€Å"It's important to be here with the group. Do you know Ian Jansen?† Ian, wide-eyed, jumped up and shook my father's hand. Clearly, he hadn't expected a parental meeting so soon. â€Å"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.† My father nodded gravely and looked back and forth between the two of us. Whatever surprise he'd had at seeing me here had just been trumped by me being here with a date. Glancing at Ian, I tried to guess how he'd appear to someone like my dad. Clean cut, respectful, an Alchemist. The fact that Ian tended to bore me was irrelevant. I doubted my father had ever thought much about me dating, but if so, he probably hadn't thought I'd get a catch like this. â€Å"Would you like to join us, sir?† asked Ian. I had to give him credit; he'd overcome his initial shock and was now in proper suitor mode. â€Å"It would be an honor.† At first, I thought Ian was just laying it on thick. Then I realized meeting my father might actually very well be an honor. Jared Sage wasn't a rock star, but he did have a reputation among the Alchemists that, by their standards, was outstanding. My father seemed to like the flattery and agreed. He took a seat beside Ian. â€Å"Sit by your sister,† he told Zoe, nodding in my direction. Zoe obeyed and stared straight ahead. She was nervous too, I realized. Looking her over, I felt an ache from how much I'd missed her. We'd inherited the same brown eyes from our father, but she'd gotten Mom's brown hair, which made me a little jealous. Zoe also looked a lot more put together than the last time I'd seen her. She wore a pretty dark brown cashmere dress and didn't have a single hair out of place. Something about her appearance bothered me, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it at first. It soon hit me. She looked older. She looked like a young lady, like my peer. I supposed it was silly of me to feel sad, since she was fifteen, but I kind of wished she could stay a little kid forever. â€Å"Zoe.† I kept my voice low, not that I needed to worry about the men overhearing. My dad was interrogating Ian. â€Å"I've been wanting to talk to you for so long.† She nodded. â€Å"I know. Mom tells me each time you call.† But there was no apology for dodging my calls. â€Å"I'm sorry about the way we left things. I never meant to hurt you or one-up you. I thought I was doing you a favor, saving you from getting involved.† Her mouth tightened, and something hard flashed in her eyes. â€Å"I don't mind being involved. I want to be involved, you know. And it would've been great! Being in the field at fifteen. I could have a stellar career. Dad would be so proud.† I chose my next words very carefully so that she wouldn't take offense. â€Å"Yeah, but another year with Dad will really be, um, stellar. He's got so much experience – and you want to get as much as you can, believe me. Even if you have to wait for an assignment at sixteen, you'll still be ahead of the rest of us.† Each word out of my mouth made me feel sick, but Zoe seemed to buy it. I wasn't bothered by her wanting to be part of the cause – but it killed me that she was clearly doing it to impress our dad. â€Å"I suppose. And I am learning a lot. I wish I could at least get some field experience – even if it's not my own post. It's all theory with Dad. I've never even seen a Moroi.† â€Å"I'm sure he'll fix that.† I didn't like encouraging this, but at least she was speaking to me. The lights dimmed, ending our conversation. Organ music filled the room, and the scent of frankincense drifted around us. Incense and resin were common components in magic, and my mind was instantly starting to make associations from the spell books I'd painstakingly copied. Frankincense is used to heal burns. It can also be used when casting divining or purifying spells – I immediately stopped that train of thought. Even if I was keeping it to myself, thinking about magic in the middle of an Alchemist church service was pretty sacrilegious. I shifted uncomfortably, wondering what all these people would think if they knew the truth about me: that I practiced magic and had kissed a vampire. . . . Alchemist priests were called hierophants. They performed blessings and offered moral advice, when needed. In day-to-day affairs, they wore suits, but for this occasion, the lead hierophant wore robes that reminded me uncomfortably of the robes some of the Warriors had donned. It was yet another reminder of our shared history – and maybe our shared future. Marcus had been right. This was a mystery I had to solve, regardless of where I stood on breaking the tattoo. I'd attended services like this off and on throughout my life and knew the Latin prayers by heart. I chanted along with the rest of the congregation and listened avidly as the hierophant reaffirmed our goals, his voice echoing through the sound system. Even though the Alchemists' religion had loose connections to Christianity there was very little mention of God or Jesus or even Christmas. Most of his sermon was about how we had to help protect humanity from the temptation of following Strigoi who offered unholy immortality. That warning, at least, wasn't exaggerated. I'd heard stories and even seen for myself what happened when humans decided to serve Strigoi. Those Strigoi promised to turn their servants as a reward. Those humans helped Strigoi spread their evil and became monsters themselves, no turning needed. Keeping those dark vampires hidden was for the good of weak humans who couldn't protect themselves. I paid especially close attention when the hierophant mentioned the Moroi offhandedly in his sermon, as a means to an end in defeating the Strigoi. He didn't exactly inspire warm and fuzzy feelings about them, but at least he wasn't calling for Moroi and dhampir destruction either. I agreed with a good part of the message, but it no longer filled me with the fire it once had. And when the hierophant started droning on and on about duty, obedience, and what was â€Å"natural,† I really began feeling disconnected. I almost wished there was more talk of the divine, like you'd find at a normal church service. With everything going on in my life, I wouldn't have minded a connection to a higher power. Sometimes, when I listened to the hierophant, I wondered if everything he was saying had just been made up by a bunch of people sitting around in the Middle Ages. No holy mandate required. I felt like a traitor when the service ended. Maybe Adrian's joke had been right: I didn't even need Marcus to break my tattoo and connection to the group. Glancing at my companions – and even the other Alchemists in the room – it was clear I was alone. All of them looked captivated by the sermon, devoted to the cause. I was again eerily reminded of the Warriors and their fanatical devotion. No, no, whatever else the Alchemists are guilty of, we have nothing to do with that kind of unhinged behavior. And yet . . . it was more complicated than that, I realized. The Alchemists didn't shoot first and ask questions later or make our members battle each other. We were civilized and logical, but we did have a tendency to just do what we were told. That was the similarity, one that could be dangerous. Zoe and my father walked out with Ian and me. â€Å"Isn't it amazing?† she asked. â€Å"Hearing that . . . well, it just makes me so glad Dad decided to raise another Alchemist in the family. It's good to boost our numbers.† Had that truly been his motivation? Or was it because he didn't trust me after I'd helped Rose? It was infuriating that the only conversation I could have with Zoe centered around Alchemist rhetoric, but I'd take it over the silence of the last few months. In my heart, I longed to talk the way we used to. I wanted it back. Even though she'd warmed up a little, that old familiarity that had once existed between us was gone. â€Å"I wish we had more time,† I told her once our groups were ready to part in the parking lot. â€Å"There's so much I want to talk to you about.† She smiled, and there was a genuineness in it that warmed me. Maybe the distance between us wasn't irreparable. â€Å"Me too. I'm sorry about . . . well, the way things were. I hope we get some time together soon. I . . . I've missed you.† That nearly broke me down, as did her hug. â€Å"We'll be together soon, I promise.† Ian – whom my father now seemed to regard as a future son-in-law – drove me back to my hotel and couldn't stop gushing about how awesome it had been to meet Jared Sage. As for me, I could still feel where Zoe had hugged me. Ian promised he'd get in touch with me in the morning about a tour of the archives. Then, weirdly, he closed his eyes and leaned forward. It took me a moment to realize that he expected a good-night kiss. Seriously? That was how he went about it? Had he ever even kissed anyone before? Even Brayden had displayed a little more passion. And, of course, neither guy measured up to Adrian. When I did nothing, Ian finally opened his eyes. I gave him another hug – with the coat on – and told him how happy I was that he'd met my dad. That seemed to satisfy him. Adrian made his nightly check-in with me once I was asleep later on. Naturally, he wanted to know about my dress. He also kept trying to find out how exactly I'd won Ian over and seemed amused at the few details I decided to give him. But mostly I couldn't stop talking about Zoe. Adrian soon gave up on the other topics and simply listened to me gush. â€Å"She spoke to me, Adrian!† I paced around the reception hall, clasping my hands in excitement. â€Å"And she wasn't mad. By the end, she was happy to see me. Do you know what that's like? I mean, I know you don't have any brothers or sisters, but to have someone you haven't seen in a while welcome you back?† â€Å"I don't know what it's like,† he said quietly. â€Å"But I can imagine.† I was too caught up in my own joy at the time, but later, I wondered if he was talking about his incarcerated mother. â€Å"It's nice to see you so happy,† he added. â€Å"Not that you've been miserable lately, but you've had a lot to worry about.† I couldn't help but laugh at that and came to a halt. â€Å"Are you saying evil witches and espionage are stressful?† â€Å"Nah.† He walked over to me. â€Å"All in a day's work for us. But I'm going to make my way to bed now. You seem like you can get by without me tonight.† He'd visited me every night since Veronica's dream. Most of the trips were short now, but I still knew it was a lot of effort and spirit for him. â€Å"Thank you. I feel like I can't say that to you enough.† â€Å"You don't have to say it at all, Sage. Good luck tomorrow.† Right. Stealing top secret info from a highly secure facility. â€Å"Thanks,† I said again. A little of my mood dimmed, but not all of it. â€Å"No matter what happens, though, patching things up with Zoe makes me feel like this mission is already a success.† â€Å"That's because you haven't been caught.† He cupped my face in his hands and leaned close. â€Å"See that you aren't. I don't want to have to dream visit you in prison . . . or wherever it is bad Alchemists go.† â€Å"Hey, at least I'd have you for company, right?† He gave me a rueful headshake, and the dream vanished around me.

The role and function of violence in the novel `The World According to Garp`

John Irving's notoriety as a novelist rests at least partially upon his admirable ability to fuse the comic and tragic in fiction, often within the same â€Å"sketch† or scene. His persistent vision of the absurd and sublime as conjoined twins alludes to a more profound and probing set of themes in his published fiction.In his novel, â€Å"The World According to Garp† the apparent domesticity of the story's characters and settings prove little protection against the forces of fate or circumstance which collide repeatedly with the domestic surface of the novel, many times in irruptions of violence, with much of that violence seeming to be random or bizarre. The function and role of violence in â€Å"The World According to Garp† is manifold; however, one of the primary functions of Irving's continuous depiction of violence is to portray the chaos and random dangers of the universe.The point of violence in â€Å"The World According to Garp† is not only to ins truct readers about possible sociological and ethical breeches in contemporary society, but to remind readers of the primal, seemingly random violence which fills the universe itself. One way of depicting violence in the novel is to show a darkly comic, almost slapstick vision of violence, as in the infamous Michael Milton â€Å"castration† scene where one of the novel's darkest and most tragic moments is simultaneously offset by the â€Å"humor† of the situation: his penis being bitten off in a car while engaging in an extramarital affair.There is simultaneously a notion of poetic justice in this scene, but also of devastating almost unimaginable tragedy which shatters the surface of the domestic scene. This juxtapositioning of violence with comic-tragic experience is continuous throughout the novel. â€Å"The existence of bizarre violence and the associated vein of black humor, even in the first section of the book, contributes to irony. The novel opens to the backd rop of a war, and Jenny Fields's brusque categorizing of the wounded The Role and Function of Violence in `The World According to Garp` page -2-into classes of Externals, Vital Organs, Absentees, and Goners certainly contains an element of the blackly humorous. † (Wilson, 1992, p. 55) In one way or another, each of the characters in â€Å"The World According to Garp† is seen to be either a victim of violence, usually chaotic violence, living in the aftermath of their experience, or as a victim (unknowingly) headed for a violent encounter, or both. The sense of violence as ubiquitous, but ultimately unpredictable and unaccountable, reinforces the cosmic or universal scope of the primal element of violence discussed previously.This primal— ineffable — power, the power of random violent tragedy is symbolized by Walt's mis-hearing of the word â€Å"undertow† which he mistakenly calls â€Å"Under Toad. † The â€Å"Under Toad† becomes a near -archetypal vision of cosmic disorder and brutality. â€Å"Walt's malapropism becomes a catchphrase that the Garp family uses to refer to imminent danger, violence, and death. The randomness and suddenness of death are brought to our attention at the very beginning of the novel when Garp's father, the ball-turret gunner, becomes a â€Å"Goner.† Although violence and death abound in Irving first novel, Setting Free the Bears, in Garp there is one disaster after another. (Campbell, 1998, p. 81) The universal presence of violence and disorder becomes associated, through its immersion into the â€Å"every day† settings and characters, with a primitive, natural force, something which impacts humanity and flows through them but issues, perhaps, from a more cosmically primitive level. One way the natural primitivism of violence is expressed in â€Å"The World According to Garp† is through the association of violence with sex.â€Å"Whatever the The Role and Function o f Violence in `The World According to Garp` page -3-connection, sex and violence are related throughout the novel, and Garp finds himself confronting them at nearly every turn. â€Å"(Campbell, 1998, p. 83) This association allows Irving to demonstrate that primal, chaotic violence exists as an intrinsic part of the universal paradigm and finds oblique, often absurd and even humorous expression through human events. In this way, violence, like death and birth, love and sex, is viewed as an endemic force of nature.As a symbol for Irving's cosmic paradigm, the wrestling room at Steering college offers a complex and complete statement, symbolically, for Irving's cosmic vision. Here, in a place created for violent confrontation, all of the major events of a life, Garp's life, emanate. â€Å"It is not only where Garp learns how to wrestle and feels at home, but also where he proposes to Helen Holm. It is, further, the space that Pooh Percy enters, in a nurse's uniform (like his mother' s), and kills Garp. † (Campbell, 1998, p.75)The wrestling room becomes a microcosm, a stage whereupon the great, often absurd, dramas of a life are enacted, but it is a place of competition, of struggle, and ultimately of death. The cycle which links sex and violence, death and birth, continues in Garp's stream of consciousness even as he lays dying, showing how individuality is subsumed under the larger, cosmic processes. Garp thinks: â€Å"Even if there is only death after death (after death), be grateful for small favors— sometimes there is birth after sex, for example.And if you are very fortunate, sometimes there is sex after birth! † (Irving, 576). Irving's use of violence in â€Å"The World According to Garp† is extensive, varied, and intense. The modes of violence in the novel range from the comic to the harrowingly tragic and often involve two or modes simultaneously. Irving's purpose in depicting violence in this way is to establish violence and chaos as an integral part of the universe inhabited by humanity, whose insular and myopic visions partake of, but are incapable of fully comprehending the universal forces which shape their lives.

Quality Management Tools & Techniques Assignment - 3

Quality Management Tools & Techniques - Assignment Example Three design specifications are to be maintained in development of the process. The first two design specifications are measurement of distance between two parts of the process while the third specification is power in form of current. Measurement of the distance is in millimeters, where the first one, A, must be 11.5 +/- 1.0mm while the second one, B, must be 8.5 +/- 2.0mm. Finally, current, C must not exceed a maximum threshold of 2.5 amps. In order to appraise the processes technical capabilities, a histogram for the three variables will be plotted and resultant patterns used in selecting optimal set of conditions. Process testing is an essential step in development of manufacturing processes. Engineers and process owners cannot commission manufacturing processes before validating their level of compatibility with pre-determined standards. In this regard, one reason for carrying out process testing involves the need to detect errors. New processes may have technical errors which may lead to increased cost of operation. For example, the process in subject may need current exceeding the technical limit of 2.5 amps. However, optimal operation of the hard drive production process needs a maximum current of 2.5 amps, above that threshold compromise on the power efficiency of the entire production setup. In this case, testing facilitate early detection of errors which would hinder optimal performance later. Apart from errors, testing is also necessary as a means of appraising safety standards. Douglas (2008) mentioned that employees involved in operating the disk drive machine must be certain of the ir safety aspects. Conventionally, every industrial process must conform to some specified safety standards. Therefore, testing will facilitate quantification of the process’ integrity. Detection of any deviation from conformance limits warrants use of appropriate corrective measures. Normally, most processes fail to undergo thorough testing because of

A Speechs Form and Content Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Speechs Form and Content - Research Paper Example King’s purpose was to educate, to inspire, and to inform: basically, to bring weight to the issue of civil rights. Therefore, he had to accomplish an emotional appeal and a logical appeal at the same time, and to galvanize his supporters and to convince his detractors. Following his prepared text, which consisted mainly of reasoned arguments appealing to logic, Dr. King progressed into a more emotional, partly improvised description of his dream of a racially indifferent country. Barack Obama’s victory speech after being elected President of the United States came in a different context in a Chicago park in 2008. The message of his speech is more general than one tied down by any specific movement or thought in America. Like King’s, Obama’s speech inspires a vision of the future; however, this vision pertains more to equality across many different spectrums. For instance, he says, â€Å"It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled† (Obama). Like any President would do, Obama generalizes the struggle for equality to many different socially-constructed distinctions between people in American society. And, instead of maintaining some of these political distinctions, Obama erases them, saying, â€Å"We are, and always will be, the United States of America† (Obama). A common feature of both speeches, making them indications of shared purpose, is the inspiration of a unified vision. In King, he makes use of the collective pronoun â€Å"we† to make every audience member feel as though he has an equal stake in this issue as anyone else. He says, â€Å"We cannot walk alone†¦ We cannot turn back† (King).

Current issues in management Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Current issues in management - Term Paper Example Planning consists of the preparatory evaluations of strategic intentions that determine how best to structure the organization and its internal processes to meet a particular strategic goal. Planning allows the manager to observe the entire internal and external environment, look for strengths and weaknesses of human capital and tangible capital availability, and then develop an appropriate operational plan or strategic plan that will bring the business closer to achieving the long-term goals for increased market share among competition. Why is planning one of the most critical management roles? Many organizations that provide products and services rely on innovations to ensure adequate revenue production. If an organization wishes to be a first-mover to launch a product, thereby outperforming competitive ingenuities, the manager must determine how to coordinate internal tangible and human-based resources to achieve first-to-market success. This requires synchronizing activities betw een research and development teams, production systems, support and technology systems, the marketing division, and procurement (Nickels, et al., 2008). At the same time, one of the fundamental differentiation tactics used by businesses to maintain competitive advantage is to establish a positive brand reputation and brand personality to gain market demand and build long-term loyalty toward the product or service brand. Without the inter-dependencies and knowledge transfer between expert systems and tacit knowledge holders in all of these divisions, first-to-market objectives and brand-building cannot occur effectively. Planning is a critical dimension in establishing a positive and respected brand that is considered relevant and vital to many consumer target markets. Consumers maintain many diverse lifestyle characteristics, attitudes, beliefs and principles that will determine how they connect with a product or service brand and ultimately make their purchasing decisions against t hese criteria. A company can coordinate internal activities to sustain first-mover advantage, however if the product or brand is not promoted properly or provides the proper incentive for purchasing it will have a limited life cycle on the market before reaching the decline stage, one where inventory control, cash management, and obsolescence costs skyrocket (Dooley, 2005). Thus, it becomes an imperative that proper planning is conducted regarding external consumer preferences and characteristics so that the internal dynamics of the organization can be coordinated to provide an effective branded offering. Without this planning occurring, there will be little fundamental knowledge of what is driving purchasing behavior of target consumers and thus the product innovation will be a marketing and sales failure (Boone & Kurtz, 2007). Managers must be proactive in planning to assess the internal and external market in order to create a valuable brand reputation. It is the most important e lement of management design since it establishes the foundation of knowledge that can be transformed into relevant product offerings in the business marketplace. Statement of Principles Kalyanaram & Gurumurthy (2008) reinforce that the majority of consumers are risk averse. They will often embrace the product or se

Personal failure that had an impact on your life and what you learned Statement

Failure that had an impact on your life and what you learned from it - Personal Statement Example In addition to that native language plays a big role in facilitating the learning process and my failure stands just there. To get the thought to roll at your tongue one needs to "Know Thyself" and express it in the common language. The outcome of the course results in filling a position for International Diplomat, International Trade professional, Politician or running your own business where ones national language is of highest priority to get the message across. It was my personal failure to learn the Russian language which formed the base for all communications. Understanding the penetrations of any form of knowledge in a country and its effective usage can only be made possible through the use of national language. The intricacy of Russian language in my study was extremely important as the course dealt in international relations which by itself meant knowing the language better; mastering it is a process, to enable swift communication for better business and value to any individual or an organization. Not taking an initiative to learn Russian was a neat failure to understand the crucial demands of the moment and to envelope the very opportunity to grasp the cultural dimensions of a language for benefit and goodwill. The unique profile of basic aptitudes, learning styles, personality preferences and attitudes of a being is a blend for success in any profession and learning a native language serves as a catalyst to further the interests. The blend serves as a strong ingredient to get the things right at the first time and native language gets you just that in the long run. My personal failure to identify the learning opportunities of Russian language for my course was a personal failure which would strike back strong in the long term. Being open minded to learn new things is innovativeness in itself and proving in the long run how imperative impressionist one could be which greatly influences ones personality elements for effective communication and public relations. Language is native to the turn of phrase of culture. Serving as means for propagating values, beliefs and customs, it has a chief social function which forges friendships, cultural ties, feeling of group identity, economic relationships and solidarity. It is the resource by which culture, its traditions and shared values may be put across and potted. Being international relations as my major I have convinced with the fact that learning Russian, which happens to be the native language, would have served me with greater strength and focus for furthering my interests largely.

Base Erosion and profit Shifting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Base Erosion and profit Shifting - Essay Example With the view of the OECD, the BEPS is not the main problem created by the companies in the respective countries instead, it is the rules in the taxation that is the problem. The OECD openly blames the countries for having the wrong rules for the business making the business to have difficulties. The OECD is majorly against the harmful taxation in the competition in the field of business. The BEPS has got a number of results in the business mostly in the combination of its strategies both at home and at the host countries hence this will make the domestic tax to be levied. This will also affect the domestic tax systems whereby the income will be taxed by more than one jurisdiction in the domestic level hence creating double taxation. As stated early, gaps will also be introduced by the BEPS making the income not to be taxed. In the process, there will be winners and losers whereby the developing countries will also face challenges in regard to the BEPS because of their poor national legal and business platforms concerning taxation. They will need supporting groups like the Global Fora on the treaties of tax to help them in developing the countries. With the BEPS action plan, there will be an improvement of the tax standards internationally in the principles of Coherence, Transparency, and Substance. We as citizens will benefit from the digital economy which will be improved by the BEPS. This will also lead to innovation in the developing countries making them to drastically improve with the help of the action plan.

Joseph Wellington Presentation about Management Fraud Assignment

Joseph Wellington Presentation about Management Fraud - Assignment Example Staff education on the effects of fraud will help reduce or lower fraud. It’s imperative that an organization puts in place fraud auditing measures that should be reviewed regularly and also implement fraud prevention technologies with regard to information systems management and computer systems. Introduction Fraud is a pervasive act that involves but is not limited to unauthorized access to sensitive data and information, using deception and lies to outrightly misuse or fraudulently acquire organizations’ resources and assets or use company information for unintended purposes. The effects on the organization, the individuals involved and customers can range from negative to disastrous. This paper will evaluate the adverse effects of fraud on an organization; individuals and consumers make recommendations and give a conclusion on the effects of fraud. Literature review I. Effects to the consumer a) Fraud in business affects the consumer negatively; the customer is the reason why businesses exist and fraud actually impacts negatively on them. Consumers broadly refer to anyone involved in the dynamics of a business from people that buy from the organization to shareholders. b) Consumers are affected by fraud in business because they do not get their money’s worth; for instance, in a Ponzi scheme, consumers actually end up losing money eventually. A more common type of fraud is when organizations’ lie about the origins and quality of a product; they could, for instance, sell leather items as being handmade in Italy from buffalo hide when in reality the leather jackets are actually made in Vietnam by machines using cheap cowhide. c) Customers also suffer psychologically from a feeling of being cheated or swindled and thus lose faith in business. This tends to hurt expenditure on non-essential commodities like holidays which reduces the quality of life for these customers. d) Suppliers to a business that is shut down lose a customer; whi le customers also miss a product line. If there were some customers that depended on a product and the supplier is closed down due to fraud, these customers are greatly inconvenienced as they have to look for equivalent alternatives. II. Fraud affects a business and its stakeholders (Mongie, 2009) a) Fraud affects a business in that it can be shut down, suffer irreparable legal consequences that greatly erode its assets b) Businesses also lose credibility and suffer a great damage to their image. This causes stigmatization from former associates like suppliers. The blacklisting of a business will lead to its shut down (Mongie, 2009). c) Fraud strains businesses bottom-line by reducing its profits and revenue. It is estimated globally that fraud constitutes seven percent of an organizations’ revenue and this loss could be the difference between a firm making a loss or a profit d) The identities, wealth, assets, and private information of a firm’s employees especially ma nagers are put at risk due to internal fraud threats. Fraud leads to legal consequences that result in loss of career, family assets, and personal liberties in the event of one being jailed. III Fraud affects an economy overall a) Fraud means losses that can cause a business to shut down leading to job losses and for instance contributing to the unemployment rate figures, which give a poor indicator of the state of an economy (Shahabadi, 2007).  

Identify two texts dealing with contemporary art practices related to Coursework

Identify two texts dealing with contemporary art practices related to Italy - Coursework Example The paper "Identify two texts dealing with contemporary art practices related to Italy" concerns the two texts dealing with contemporary art practices related to Italy. This group ÃŽ ¿f powerful families wanted to show the world that their learning, piety and taste made them worthy ÃŽ ¿f their high standing in society. Among the greatest patrons were members ÃŽ ¿f the powerful Medici family, who spent money on constructing churches and encouraging art. The works date from the time ÃŽ ¿f Lorenzo de Medici whom Machiavelli called "the greatest patron ÃŽ ¿f art and literature that any prince has ever been. The Florentine government also transferred the responsibility for artistic projects to individual guilds. The guilds formed the basis ÃŽ ¿f the city's political system. For example, during the fourteenth century, the Duomo and Baptistery were allocated to the Wool and Cloth Merchants respectively. The government also established "...guild rivalry as a powerful competitive spur to publ ic patronage in Florence. Females were also energetic artistic patrons and commissioned art in their roles as religious, royalty and noble women. Time and again, agreements with artists were arranged for females by a male family member, a monk, or a priest. Religious women and their communities (holy orders, individual nuns and abbesses) ordered decorations for their convent cells, refectories, and church altarpieces. The Christian church dominated the lives ÃŽ ¿f Europeans and thus embodied both the government and the patron

A View from the Bridge Essay Example for Free

A View from the Bridge Essay A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller is a play describing the affairs of the Brooklyn dockworkers of post war America. The play is as colourful as the lives of those it depicts: it contains aspects of love, hatred, passion, suffering, pain and despair (to name but a few) but what of tragedy? In order for a play to be a tragedy it follows that it must have tragic elements to its plot but what are these elements? Why are they considered tragic? And most importantly of all: In what from are they present in A View from the Bridge? Answering this question requires that we obtain a sound definition of tragedy in the classic sense, and for this task I refer throughout to Aristotles Poetics. Over the next few pages I will be examining the main events and aspects of the play, showing how explicitly they follow the principles outlined by Aristotle, therefore earning the tragic title. Foremost in a tragedy is the protagonist; he is the hub around which the events of the play rotate, without whom all would soon crumble. In classic tragedy the protagonist is usually distinguished early in the play: the protagonist in A View from the Bridge is established from the outset. An early stage direction sees Eddie pitching coins with the men and is highlighted among them this and Eddies prominence in the following family scene firmly establish his role as the lead character. Once this entity has been confirmed we must then examine his character. In the first family scene Eddie is shown to command the love and respect of both his wife and niece: Beatrice claims that he is an Angel! and that Godll bless him and Catherine greets him enthusiastically Hi, Eddie! This show of love has the effect of portraying Eddie Carbone in a favourable light and raising the audiences opinion of him. This was a deliberate effort on Millers part to satisfy one of Aristotles necessities for tragedy, that the lead role should embody nobility and virtue as part of his/her innate character. Initial nobility and virtue serve to accentuate the eventual demise of the character and heighten the sense of loss felt by the audience. The family love of the opening scene, while serving a purpose, is notably ordinary and not at all unusual. At first glance Eddie Carbone seems a surprisingly normal figure He is forty- a husky, slightly overweight longshoreman. This normality however serves a very important purpose, it allows the audience to identify with the character, a necessity for the tragic hero since he has to command sympathy, pity, and later invoke fear. Another tragic requirement is that the lead character must have a certain flaw, or imperfection, known as hamartia which serves to trigger the characters demise. This is present in A View from the Bridge and is subtly exposed in the first scene when Eddie is pleased and therefore shy about it when Catherine lovingly greets him. The first family scene can therefore be described as tragic because it complies with tragic ideals, and establishes both the character of the protagonist and his fatal flaw: two essentials of tragedy. Following this scene I was aware of the potential for catastrophe (in Eddies incestuous love, and over protectiveness) but was at a loss as to how this potential was to be realised. This invoked in me as the reader or as a member of the audience a sense of or intense anticipation and anxiety: anticipation because the catastrophic ending was foretold in Alfieris warnings and anxiety because I did not know what form this catastrophe would take. My anxiety was relieved upon the arrival of the immigrants, when I realised the means by which the potential was to be realised. As the scene progresses Catherines attraction to Rodolpho is made apparent. Catherine wondrously asks Rodolpho about his hair, and is enthralled by his singing; she asks if he is married and references to sugar you like sugar? -Sugar? Yes! I like sugar very much! imply that they are sweet on each other. This affection unnerves Eddie, who, upon hearing Rodolphos rendition of Paper Doll interrupts as soon as flirtation is mentioned and then those flirty, flirty guysWill have to flirt with dollies that are real. This scene, while not satisfying any tragic ideas wholly in itself, helps with the progression of the tragedy since it develops the fatal flaw, Eddies love for Catherine. It also informs the audience of the course the play is to take, accentuating the sense of fate or inevitable progression.

Effects of Excessive Sugar Intake in the Human Body

Effects of Excessive Sugar Intake in the Human Body HeeSung Kim Sugar Alert: The Friendly Assassinator â€Å"Sweet!† People use the word as a replacement for awesome as much as they love sweet things. Indeed, sweetness is the first taste a newborn baby recognizes, and it is crucial for living; it gives energy and is important as the sole energy source of the brain (Sigelman Rider 184). While people have heard that sugar can be dangerous, it seems they do not much care about it. In fact, it is not widely known how bad it is or the consequences, yet people can access sugar products very easily. In a cultural context, sweet things are usually used as a reward or a gift; there are even candy holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Easter and Halloween. But most of all, America is surrounded by processed and fast foods that contain enormous quantities of sugar. People may claim that they are fine because they do not have a sweet tooth. But the truth is that there are so many hidden sources of sugar that people cannot be free from it. The excessive sugar intake that causes physical , mental, and social problems is underestimated and people should be aware of its hidden danger. Physical problems from excessive sugar involve a wide range of symptoms from tooth decay or nutritional imbalance to serious diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular related diseases, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, inflammation, suppressing immune system, Alzheimer’s, and cancer, etc (Syed and Davidson; Quillin). In fact, three undesirable things are happening once sugar is inside the body: it is broken down abnormally fast, produces potential harmful substances, and depletes body nutritional resources. In its natural state, sugar exists as a part of whole organism like sugar cane, and it is digested and nurtures the body in a normal way, like other foods. But refined sugar is nothing but a crystallized chemical of glucose and fructose molecules. Once it loses its components, it cannot follow the normal pathway of digestion and nutrition. Normally, fibers help to regulate digestion speed and let body systems work on their own timing. But once sugar, which has no fibers or other nutritional factors but empty calories, rushes in, the body gets high workloads and becomes tired or begins malfunctioning. For example, the pancreas is tired due to too much secretion of insulin to regulate high blood sugar, and eventually loses its endocrine function, which leads to diabetes. Also excessive sugar is turned into excessive fat, which causes many problems in the body. The liver converts the excessive fructose into fat after using up the needed amount of carbohydrates from sugar and the excessive fat is stored in liver, body cells, and pushed out into the blood, which causes a fatty or dysfunctional liver, obesity and related diseases, and high blood pressure along with cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke (Cohen; Goldwert). Generally, dietary fat has been believed to be the culprit for causing obesity. In the 1980s, scientists blamed dietary fat in food as the major reason for obesity and cardiovascular disease (Syed Davidson). So food companies started to eliminate fats from food and to compensate for its cardboard-like taste, they started to put in more sugar, mostly in form of cheap High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), which became the food industry’s savior. But for 30 years with less fat, cases of obesity and diabetes have only in creased in number. These two graphs show the relationship between a) fat vs. obesity (Willett 557s) and b) sugar vs. diabetes and obesity (Taubes Couzens 1). The first one shows dietary fat and obesity with little correlation, while the second one shows that obesity and diabetes have strong direct proportional relationship with sugar consumption. It is not just because people eat more sugar through processed/fast foods, but also HFCS convolutes the body signal system by never informing brain to stop eating. It suppresses the hormone Leptin, which sends a signal to the brain â€Å"full,† so people eat more than they need and it results in prevalent abnormal obesity (Bray). Even more sad news from nephrologist Richard Johnson is, sugar rush depletes body energy and makes it harder for people to move, holding true to the term, couch potato (Cohen). Regarding cardiovascular disease, high sugared blood hurts the blood vessels and it makes it easy for the dangerous LDL cholesterol to invade and cause plaque that leads to heart attacks or strokes (Lund University). Also, a recent finding from the University of California-Davis reports that LDL cholesterol, the byproduct of excessive fat storage, can be elevated significantly in just two weeks of drinking four sugary beverages in a day, which is a likely average known range for consumption level (Stanhope, et al.). A rarely known factor of breaking down refined sugar molecules is that sugar steals the body’s calcium, vitamins and minerals, and this leads to osteoporosis and mineral deficiency related disease (Gaby 1). Normally food needs digestion supporters like vitamins and minerals to accomplish its digestion and usually the whole food brings its own supporters, but sugar is already refined and nothing but a chemical, which steals body resources to break itself down. Consequently, insufficient minerals and vitamins hinder the normal body function and cause inflammation and acidify body fluids. Moreover, it leads to immune system inactivity. Depleted vitamin C by sugar intake makes white blood cells sluggish and it results in weak immune control (Poulton). One study found that two tablespoons of sugar makes the immune system slow down 92% for up to five hours (Walker). The following pictures are captured from a video that examines the normal blood cells vs. after eating normal breakfas t including banana, soda, Pop-Tarts and yogurt so forth. Normal blood looks clear and active, but 10 minutes after eating, the blood stream becomes gooey, sedentary and makes â€Å"Spicules† structure which is a mutation of platelet caused by sugar (â€Å"How Sugar†). Also, one study found that sugar deteriorates the pathogen engulfing capability of white blood cells significantly for at least five hours (Sanchez). Unlike people’s general degree of awareness on the physical downside of sugar, mental problems of sugar are seldom known. Sugar weakens blood sugar levels due to its roller-coaster effect that is caused by high blood sugar compensation by insulin, and it affects the brain directly, which causes emotional imbalance, depression, moods and mental problems because of the stress hormone (McGonigal; Mayo). By disturbing neurological patterns, sugar leads to mental illness or violent behavior. It lowers BDNE, a brain hormone that helps to maintain healthy neurons, memory, and stimulates new nerve growth. Low BDNE levels result in depression, schizophrenia, and brain damage. Often, eliminating sugar is the first step to cure psychological problems (Ilardi). Also sugar can also cause violence due to the drastic fluctuation in blood sugar levels which cause â€Å"nervousness and irritability and provoke ‘a full-blown aggressive outburst’† (Holden). But the trickiest part of the sugar controversy is its addictiveness, and the dependence on sugar is highly related to other kinds of addictions. Some say that after quitting smoking, people look for a replacement habit, to distract and pacify their instinct for smoking, and often turn to sweet things. Why does this happen? In the brain, there are neural receptors for Dopamine, the â€Å"pleasure hormone† (Cohen). They react to sugar the same way they react to morphine, heroin, cocaine, and nicotine (Pikul). And Dopamine down-regulates its own receptors that build up tolerance levels, making people want more sugar the next time, leading to sugar addiction (Lustig, â€Å"The Sugar-Addiction†). Furthermore, sugar addiction also serves as a â€Å"gateway drug† that leads to other addictive substances including alcohol, nicotine, and cocaine (Avena, Rada Hoebel). Sugar’s serious physical and mental problems eventually lead to social problems. Today people pursue more and more instant, quick response and easy ways to solve problems. They say, â€Å"right now!† As a matter of fact, a chocolate bar can be an instant hunger solver. Seeking short satisfactions and even more sensations the next time, people’s behavior patterns resemble how sugar acts in the body, and this invaded culture and society now seeks more sensual and superficial stimulants. But there is a more serious problem here. Endocrinologist Robert H. Lustig from the University of California at San Francisco, notes that sugar-related diseases are costing America around $150 billion a year and 75% of US healthcare money is spent on treating those diseases (â€Å"Public Health† 28). It makes sense that sugar related diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and white blood disease are considerably placed as America’s leading causes of death (â€Å"Leading Causes†). Despite these life-threatening outcomes of sugar, most people still underestimate its danger because of poor social awareness of the danger of sugar, along with its addictive nature or its slow/indirect consequences. In fact, the danger of sugar is not as widely known as the danger of dietary fat. This is the problem of all problems. It is especially dangerous for poor people living in blind areas of information, and easy access to cheap foods, which mostly contain lots of sugar. And because of its strong addictive nature, people are more likely to choose sugar than fat (Lustig, â€Å"The Sugar-Addiction†). People would rather choose sweet stuff right now, than be aware and cautious for their future health. Also its downsides show up slowly or sneakily, it makes it hard to blame sugar directly and people are easily misled. Food companies spend a lot of money on lobbying to keep the facts under wraps (Syed Davidson). Moreover, they make food packages deceptive ; Sugar can be d isguised by more than 50 different names: HFCS, molasses, corn syrup, dextrose†¦(Pikul) or by word play, like Sugar-free or No-added-sugar beverage does not necessarily mean not sweet at all rather it means that it either used artificial sweeteners or already contains enough sugar, like fruit juices. Even something considered to be healthy has a lot of sugar in it such as yogurt, green tea, whole-grain crackers, and energy bars. One Yoplait yogurt has 31g of sugar, which is 8 teaspoons, and a serving of SoBe green tea has 12.5 teaspoons of sugar in it. Also processed food such as pasta sauce has 12g of sugar per half-cup (â€Å"Best Pasta†). Yes, it is almost impossible to escape sugar; 77% of packaged foods contain sugar (Lustig, â€Å"The Sugar-Addiction†). But people do not know the facts well. Americans’ average sugar consumption is 22 teaspoons per day, while The American Heart Association suggests only 6 teaspoons for women and 9 for men (â€Å"Suga r 101†). Sugar seems like a pleasure trap that is hidden everywhere and some people willingly seek it, but because of its slow and accumulating effect and its omni-existence, people do not know or ignore the fact that that trap will lead them to many problems. Can anybody eat 16 sugar cubes at once? Yes, they can if they drink a bottle of soda at once. They may be pleased for now, but might face a sweet death as a result of being a sugar lover. People are living with a secret killer, which endangers them physically, mentally and socially because of its lovely first approach and addictive nature. But most of all, people do not know much about what sugar really does. Sugar intake should be carefully watched and we need to take control of it because sugar seems to be far from â€Å"wellness,† but close to â€Å"illness† (Lustig, â€Å"The Sugar-Addiction†). As people have changed the history of fat consumption, now sugar is the next turn. Numerous studies prove that people have been misled and more information about the harm caused by sugar should be more widely known. Awareness and being cautious with overeating sugar will make a change to the food industry, government and society. Rather than being a sheep, f just follo wing what is given without thinking further, we need be a smart and proactive eater to be saved from the friendliest toxin. The more people get educated on this threat, the better chance America has to be free from these serious problems from sugar. Works Cited Avena, Nicole M., Pedro Rada, and Bartley G. Hoebel. Evidence for sugar addiction:  Behavioral and neurochemical effects of intermittent, excessive sugar intake.National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 May 2007. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235907/>. Cohen, Rich. Sugar. National Geographic. National Geographic Society, Aug. 2013. Web. 21 Mar. 2014. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/08/sugar/cohen-text>. Best Pasta Sauces.Consumer Reports Magazine. Consumer Reports, Aug. 2012. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/08/best-pasta-sauces/index.htm>. Bray, George A., Samara Joy Nielsen, and Barry M. Popkin. Consumption of High-fructose Corn Syrup in Beverages May Play a Role in the Epidemic of Obesity.† The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. American Society for Nutrition, Apr. 2004. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/79/4/537.full>. Gaby, Alan R. Osteoporosis: What You Eat Affects Your Bones.Nutritional Medicine. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. http://www.healthy.net/Health/Article/Osteoporosis_What_You_Eat_Affects_Your_Bones/1240>. Goldwert, Lindsay. Sugar is as addictive as cocaine, and causes obesity, diabetes, cancer  and heart disease: Researchers. NY Daily News. NYDailyNews.comN.p., 02 Apr. 2012n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2014. http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/researcher-sugar-addictive-cocaine-obesity-diabetes-cancer-heart-disease-article-1.1054419>. Holden, Constance. Sugar: Gateway Drug to Violence?Science/AAAS. American  Association for the Advancement of Science, 1 Oct. 2009. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2009/10/sugar-gateway-drug-violence>. â€Å"How Sugar Affects Your Blood Live Blood Analysis. Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 11 Mar. 2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xXTKZOrOHs>. Ilardi, Stephen. â€Å"Dietary Sugar and Mental Illness: A Surprising Link.† PsychologyToday. Sussex Publishers, LLC, Sep.2009. Web. 21 Mar. 2014. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-depression-cure/200907/dietary-sugar-and-mental-illness-surprising-link>. Leading Causes of Death.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease  Control and Prevention, 30 Dec. 2013. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm>. Lund University. Hyperglycemia: New Mechanism Underlying Cardiovascular Disease  Described. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, LLC, 12 December 2009. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091207150438.htm>. Lustig, Robert H. The Sugar-Addiction Taboo.The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 02 Jan. 2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/01/the-sugar-addiction-taboo/282699/>. Lustig, Robert H., Laura A. Schmidt, and Claire D. Brindis. Public Health: The Toxic Truth  about Sugar.Nature482.7383 (2012): 27-29. Print. Mayo Clinic Staff. Chronic Stress Puts Your Health at Risk.† MayoClinic. Mayo  Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 11 July 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037>. McGonigal, Kelly. Stress, Sugar, and Self-Control.† PsychologyToday. Sussex  Publishers, LLC, 21 Nov. 2011. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-science-willpower/201111/stress-sugar-and-self-control>. Pikul, Corrie. Give Up Sugar: The One Crazy Thing All Nutritionists Agree Is a Good  Idea. The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc, 29 Jan. 2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/29/give-up-sugar_n_4673992.html>. Poulton, Claire. Refined Sugar Destroys Health. Nutrition2Success. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2014. http://nutrition2success.com/sugar.php>. Quillin, Patrick. Cancers Sweet Tooth. Mercola. N.p., Apr. 2000. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. http://www.mercola.com/article/sugar/sugar_cancer.htm>. Sanchez, Albert, et al. Role of Sugars in Human Neutrophilic Phagocytosis.† The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc, Nov. 1973. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/26/11/1180.abstract>. Sigelman, Carol K., and Elizabeth A. Rider.Human Development Across the Life-span. Belmont Calif.: Wadsworth, 2011. Print. Stanhope, Kimber L., et al. Consumption of Fructose and High Fructose Corn Syrup Increase Postprandial Triglycerides, LDL-Cholesterol, and Apolipoprotein-B in Young Men and Women. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism Vol 96, No 10. Endocrine Press. Web. 01 Oct. 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2014. http://press.endocrine.org/doi/abs/10.1210/jc.2011-1251>. Sugar 101.Sugar 101. American Heart Association, 24 Feb. 2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyEating/Sugar-101_UCM_306024_Article.jsp>. Syed, Ronna, and Allya Davidson. The Secrets of Sugar the Fifth Estate CBC News. Online posting.CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 10 Apr. 2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/episodes/2013-2014/the-secrets-of-sugar>. Taubes, Gary and Cristin Kearns Couzens. Big Sugars Sweet Little Lies. Mother Jones.  Mother Jones and the Foundation for National Progress, Nov-Dec, 2012. Web. 21 Mar. 2014. http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2012/10/sugar-industry-lies-campaign>. Walker, Steven C.S.T. Sugar Research Heath Science. Sugar Research Heath Science. N.p.,  n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2014. http://www.heathscience.org/sugar-research>. Willett, W. C. Is Dietary Fat a Major Determinant of Body Fat?The American Society for  Clinical Nutrition67.3 (1998): 556s-62s. Print. Corporate Author. â€Å"Nutrition Label of name of product.† City, State of Manufacture. Year.  For example:  Kraftfoods. â€Å"Nutrition Label of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.† Banbury, UK.

Defining Good Advice :: Definition Essays

Defining "Good Advice" Perhaps â€Å"good advice† is best defined as advice that fits into our lives, and produces desirable results. Luke reacted to this statement with the following, â€Å"I don’t know that I agree with this [the previous sentence]...good advice can be received and disregarded just as easily as it can be used, and then we may never know the results.† If and when I disregard advice, I must not find it to be that good. How well any advice fits into our lives and if we like the results is a harder thing to accomplish than one may think. If Kate had told me to â€Å"put my chin up and smile,† sure, Kate would be trying to help, but I was looking for something more specific that fit directly into my situation. Good advice can come from absolutely anyone. In narratives from our class, advice came from friends, relatives, colleges, experts, and enemies. However, all the advice we consider good advice was given to the advisee as an option, not a command. â€Å"Good advice should not be pushed on a person,† said Jeff Stotko. Not many people were willing to accept advice from someone who was telling them what to do. Instead, good advice was the stuff we are told and then we have to decide what to do with it. Good advice has a tendency to take us away from our own point of view and explore more options to the situation. Had Jackie’s contractor flat out told her without explanation that she couldn’t put in the window, she probably wouldn’t have listened to him. Her daughter’s room would now be in the living room, literally. When he told her about the problem and gave her the time to figure out what she wanted to do on her own, the advice became good advice. It d oes this because it makes Jackie decide for herself. We want to live our own lives, right? We don’t want others to live them for us; we just want their input sometimes. When the class looked at the three sections on contractions, it was pointed out that section A seemed to condemn contractions. We were all very wary to accept the paragraph which just stated without explanation that contractions are bad. The same goes for advice. I wouldn’t listen to someone who just says what I am doing is WRONG.

El Salvador :: essays research papers

I woke up on a Friday morning to catch my plane back to Los Angeles. I was coming back from a 3 week vacation from El Salvador. I was really sick the morning I arose to eat a delicious breakfast. But it wasn’t a fever or a cold. It was more of a confusing and stressful hangover. The night before, I was out doing some ridiculous things that I should have never done. There came times that I wish I would have never been there or did some of the things that I did that night. For this reasons I could never go back to El Salvador until I'm eighteen. On Thursday morning, my uncle Gerber, A.K.A "baby food", woke me up to help him jump start a car. He was going to sell the car, but he needed help to start up the car and send it in for repair. Even though I was on vacation, to my uncle, there is never time for a vacation. I had to help him change two tires and give the car a tune-up. But like most uncles, he rewards our hard work. He took me to a liquor store near by and bought me a big tequila bottle. It was around 12:00 p.m when we came across my uncle's friends. A sixteen year old-girl named Ocity and her uncle Jose. They were around the same age and we took them to our house. Ocity invited her friend over to come visit for a bit. But, what I didn't notice was that my uncle took Ocity upstairs while I kept company to Jose and her friend " La Gorda." As you can see the name says it all. she was 5'9" and weigh in around 250 lbs, or so she said. Jose was not a drinker but La Gorda was. She challenged me to a drinking competition. She got a cup from the kitchen and poured the alcohol in the cup. She filled it half way and told me to take a "shot." I told her "Estas jugando con migo verdad?" She responded "No, asi tomamos el tequila aca en este pais." I was surprised, but I wouldn’t let a girl take me out like that. I took the cup and drank it all. She took a shot. It went on back and forth till it was my turn for like the tenth time.

Oedipus Essay -- English Literature Essays

Oedipus The play Oedipus The King begins with the king and queen of Thebes, Laius and Jocasta. Laius was warned by an oracle that his own son would kill him and that he would marry his mother, Jocasta. Determined to reverse their fate, Laius pierced and bound his newborn sons feet and sent a servant away with him with strict instructions to leave the child to die on the mountain of Cithaeron. However, the servant felt badly for the infant and gave him to a shepherd who then gave the child to Polybus, king of Corinth, a neighboring realm. Polybus then named the child Oedipus (swollen foot) and raised him as his own son. Oedipus was never told that he was adopted, and when an oracle told him that he would murder his father and marry his mother he fled the city believing that the king and queen of Corinth were his parents. In the course of his travels, he met and killed Laius, thinking that the king and his servants were a band of robbers, and thus unwittingly fulfilled the prophecy. Oedipus then continued his traveling, and arrived at the kingdom of Thebes, which was plagued by a horrible beast, they called the Sphinx. The frightful creature frequented the roads to the city, asking travelers her riddle then eating them when they could not answer correctly. Oedipus answered the riddle the Sphinx presented him with correctly, saving the city and becoming a hero. Believing that robbers had killed Laius, and grateful to Oedipus for ridding them of the dreadful Sphinx, the Thebans rewarded Oedipus by making him their king and graciously giving Queen Jocasta as his new wife. The kingdom of Thebes was exultant, and the kingdom prospered under their new ruler, but again a grievous plague fell upon the city. The oracle was consulted to give an answer on how to rid themselves of the plague. The oracle proclaimed that Laius’s murderer must be punished in order to rid the city of the dreadful plague. Teiresias, a blind prophet was summoned to help the kingdom with their terrible calamity. He revealed that Oedipus was the murderer and that he was sleeping with his own mother. Oedipus did not believe Teiresias at first but slowly began to realize that it was true. In grief and despair of their incestuous life, Jocasta killed herself, and Oedipus, after learning of her death then blinded himself and was banished from Thebes forever, leaving Creon, his brothe... ...en back inside, Oedipus reared his ugly head. â€Å" Do not take them from me.† In which Creon answers, â€Å"Wish not to govern all, for what you ruled will not follow you throughout life† (Sophocles, 120). Throughout the play Oedipus displayed conflicting feelings as to whether he was more concerned for his people, who were going through a terrible time, or concern for his own past and future. In the prologue, when Oedipus first entered the scene he noticed his people were gathered around the alters and spoke to them with concern about what was going on. He acknowledged that the plague had taken its toll on his people and he assured them that he was taking action to remedy the situation. But then he turned it all around that he was bearing most of the burden, not his people, therefore asking for pity and being selfish. In my opinion, I do not believe that Oedipus was as concerned for his people in the end. He was too caught up in finding the truth about himself and then denying what was told to him. I thou roughly enjoyed this selection. Sophocles was indeed a wonderful playwright. He was able to create a story that will touch everyone in the way that Greek tragedies were supposed to.

Meaning of Life and Poem Essay

`Tis he who always tears our books, Who leaves the door ajar, He pulls the buttons from our shirts, And scatters pine afar; That squeaking door will always squeak, For, prithee, don’t you see, We leave the oiling to be done By Mr. Nobody He puts damp wood upon the fire, That kettles cannot boil; His are the feet that bring in mud, And all the carpets soiled. The papers always are mislaid, Who had them last but he? There’s no one tosses them about But Mr. Nobody. The finger marked upon the door By none of us are made; We never leave the blind unclosed, To let the curtains fade. The ink we never spill; the boots That lying round you. See Are not our boots they all belong To Mr. Nobody. SYNOPSIS: The poem is about a person,Mr. Nobody, who does notexist, but who is created bythe persona to take theblame for all kinds of mistakes and irresponsiblebehaviour that happens inthe persona’s house. The persona is probably introuble for doing thingswrong and is blaming Mr. Nobody so that he or she willnot be scolded or punished. MEANING OF THE POEM STANZA 1 :- The funny little man mentioned in the poem is a little boy, perhaps three to five years old. This is because; a child within that age usually does not talk much rather than making things that require them to learn. However, they often create trouble to people around them. Like in this stanza, there are cracked plates but people tend not to scold them because they are in the learning process though people know they do it. STANZA 2 :- The same thing happen mentioned in this stanza, the child creates another trouble in the house. Some of the troubles are the books have been torn, the buttons have been pulled out from the shirts and the pins are scattered. However, seeing that the little boy needs to learn, they leave the squeaking door to be oiled by the boy for him to learn. STANZA 3 :- Within this age also, the child may be doing something that may annoy some other people. The examples are given in this stanza such as Mr. Nobody puts damp woods upon the fire which causes the kettle cannot be boiled, bringing the mud into the house and make the carpet soiled, and papers are mislaid. People know that no one could do such things except for Mr. Nobody. STANZA 4 :- However, though people like Mr. Nobody is quite troubling, they need to be directed and to be taught the meaning of life. Not to forget they become like that because they are in the process of learning. Therefore, we as adult or people that are older and already matured must show a good talent for them to follow the right role model. For example in this stanza, Mr. Nobody does not know the meaning of privacy which he lets the door and the curtain open, leaving the boots not in the right place and spilling inks. THEMES: Family life. Taking things for granted. Responsibility. Honesty. MORAL VALUES: We must always tell the truth. We must be responsible members of a family. We should not blame others for our mistakes. We must admit our mistakes. We must appreciate everyone within our family. PERSONA: The persona could be a parent or grandparents who wants to admonish (menegur) the children foralways running away from responsibility and forblaming others for the mischief that they have done. Type of Poem : A poem on life Title : A suitable title because the purpose is to blame nobody. Nobody is a non-person so he is the best person to push the blame to. 1. Write a personal response to a selected poem Why you will choose this poem ? What u think / feel after you read this poem ? What is the theme of the poem ? why ? Theme : 1. Nature 2. Love 3. Friendship 4. Childhood What you learn from this poem ? other†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Not more than 350 words 2. Write reflection on the task you have complete. Your reflection will be assessed on the following data : Maturity of your thought in reflection Language The reflection must be including At first, what you think/ feel when you received this assignment? ( stress ? anxiety ? or ? how you solve this problem?) Thanks for the lecturer Mdm. Syamsina Zahurin Shamsuddin for guide to do this assignment†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Thanks my friend to listening my presentation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Thanks my groups member Lee Shun Fong ( coorperation ) Where you search the material of this poem (Internet and book)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ What you feel when you processing this assignment†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Facing what problem when you processing this assignment maybe hard to find material or something like that †¦ Finally †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Guidelines for implementation of project 1. Using the APA format 2. Work should be type written with 1. 5 spacing and font Arial size 12.

Discuss the Use of Imagery of Light and Dark in of Mice and Men

In Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, the imagery of light and dark is used to deepen the themes of the normal. Sometimes darkness or â€Å"light lifting† can mean more than one thing. In this essay I would explore this subject. â€Å"Although there was evening brightness showing through the windows of the bunkhouse, inside it was dust†. This shows that the light tries to get in but never manages to penetrate the darkness. This is important to the themes of the story because workers' hope for a future farm is just like the light while the cruel reality is like the darkness. Their efforts to realize this plan is just like the light trying to penetrate the darkness, but their dream shatters at last, just like the dust inside. â€Å"lay deep in his head, and because of their depth seemed to glitter with intensity†. This is a portrayal of Crooks' eyes. The combination of darkness and light here implies the loneliness and inner heat of Crooks. Crooks is a black and is separated by the whites so he is very lonely. The depth of his eyes suggests that he is sad, tired and lonely, but the eyes â€Å"glitter with intensity†, which suggests that in his deep heart, he is longing for accompaniment and he has depressed passion inside. In the stable bunk's room a small electric globe threw a meagre yellow light†. The light in Crooks' room is â€Å"meagre†, this suggests that Crooks' social position is like the meagre light—-unimportant and easy to be neglected. When Curley's wife first appears in the bunkhouse, both Lennie and George notice that the rectangle of sunshine in the doorway is cut off. This suggests that to those workers, Curley's wife is like darkness. She is a â€Å"tart†, a â€Å"tramp†, she is dangerous and brings only trouble to them because when she appears, their â€Å"sunshine† is cut off. Here the sunshine may represent bright things such as a better future or hope. Curley's wife cut off their sunshine which means she may take away their happiness, just like darkness. Just before Curley's wife dies â€Å"the sun streaks climb up the wall†. This suggests that the climax is coming. It also shows that another new day is on its way which means all those belong to yesterday will become the past. The dream, the hope, the trouble, everything needs an end and it is time to give that end. After Curley's wife has died â€Å"the sun streaks were high on the wall by now, and the light was growing soft in the barn. † The barn is growing soft implies that Curley's wife fades away. Her life is end just like the light in the barn. Also the change of light shows the change of time which can help readers better understand the timeline of what happened. The outside sunshine is bright, the death of Curley's wife is dark, these two compose a direct contrast which makes the setting full of sorrow. As Lennie's captors advance on him â€Å"Already the sun had left the valley to go climbing up the slopes of the Gabilan Mountains, and the hill tops were rosy in the sun†. The fact that the hill tops are rosy after he has dies suggests that he is better off dead and will be happier in heaven. And the sun leaves the valley suggests that everything is over, the climax, the story, the bubble dream, the darkness, everything, good or bad, is over. A new day , a totally â€Å"new† day but not another â€Å"old† day, is smiling to the world. So though the story is about shattering dream, in the end it shows a light of hope, which contributes more charm to this book. Imagery plays an important role in setting the mood for the whole story. This figurative language appears many times in the novel with different meanings. Imagery contributes to the depth of the book as well as its immortality.

Exploratory Research Assignment Essay

Canadian’s first choice for an alcoholic beverage? Beer. Not only is beer a refreshing beverage on a hot, sunny day, it plays a big part in the Canadian heritage. The overall beer consumption over the years has been steady, however with increased competition, it is becoming harder for Canadian breweries to keep up with market trends. Hence, all the major Canadian breweries have been merged with or acquired by the international giants. The competition is rising not only between beer brands, but also within beverage types. Wine consumption in Canada has been increasing substantially. Consumers are always looking for something new and exciting, but at the same time, something they can relate to. â€Å"A key point for success is to bring differentiation while still retaining a recognizable and familiar aspect†(t). Another obstacle the brewing industry is facing is the wrong perception consumers have about beer and its effect on weight and overall health. â€Å"Beer belly†, for example is just a myth. It is vital for companies to educate consumers about the true nutritional value of beer to avoid wrong perceptions and lose consumers to other beverages that seem more calories cautious. Research Objective This report outlines current trends as well as opportunities and threats to the Canadian Brewing Industry. The results were interpreted based on the research conducted on the three major brewing companies: Heineken N. V. , Sleeman Brewery Ltd. , and Molson Coors Brewing Co. We identified and compared these breweries in terms of the background, consumer’s opinions and strategic issues the companies are currently facing. Finally, the recommendations provided outline the possibilities for improvement and growth of the industry if the appropriate changes are undertaken. Research Method This research was conducted based on North American population through trend analysis. The articles were chosen based on relevancy and the date of publication, 2008 and above. The main areas of research were: history of the company, social media impact, strategic issues and opportunities. The focus was on the most recent news and events that affected the company as well as the entire industry. Company Information Heineken N. V. was founded in 1873 in Netherlands and has become the world’s most international brewer (Heineken, 2013). It operates in Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East, The Americas, and Asia Pacific. The company is keen on contributing to a sustainable future. Their strategy is based on the four focus areas: conserving water, decreasing CO2 emissions, responsible agriculture, and responsible consumption. Heineken also believes that innovation is key to future success. The Heineken Ignite beer bottle is their new invention. It is replete with LEDs and motion sensors, â€Å"which let it light up with various effects when drinkers knock bottles to say cheers with someone or take a sip†. The LEDs could also be synchronized with music and activated by light sources. (d) Founded in Guelph, Ontario in 1834, Sleeman Breweries Ltd. became a leading brewer and distributor of premium beer in Canada. (b) Their success came from â€Å"turn-of-the-century† beer recipes and the passion that continues to drive the company to this day. Sleeman’s trademark is their unique clear bottle. In the recent lawsuit against Dead Frog Brewery that uses a similar clear bottle design, John Sleeman, CEO, said: â€Å"Sleeman will always vigorously defend its trademarks, especially where my family’s heritage is concerned. (c) Sleeman Breweries Ltd. was bought out by Sapporo in 2006, however the Japanese firm kept the Sleeman name and business intact because of the intrinsic value that it holds. (e) Molson Inc. is the oldest brewery in North America, established in 1786(a). In 1978, the company bought into sports and entertainment industry, purchasing â€Å"a share in the M ontreal Canadiens and the Montreal Forum, as well as hosting Molson Hockey Night in Canada†(a). Their advertising campaign has always been based on the â€Å"beer-sports† connection, trying to establish that beer and hockey are two defining elements of the Canadian identity. (f) After merging with Coors, Molson Coors Brewing Co. became 5th largest brewer in the world. Below is a comparison table of the three above-mentioned companies, in terms of 2012 sales, place of origin, current position in the market, types of beer offered in Canada, sports associations, and company slogans. Heineken is the most known international beer brand, â€Å"when in doubt, order a Heineken†. But the recent feedback from the consumers shows that Heineken is over-rated. It’s characteristic skunky taste is the result of the green bottles it’s served in. The UV rays break down the hop compounds, which is why the beer tastes different when served from the bottle compared to tap. Heineken however is not ready to let go of their notorious green bottles since that would make it harder to identify the beer, which in turn will hurt the company’s bottom line. Sleeman is known for its flavorful body and clean taste (no skunkiness). Some find it too sweet, others enjoy it. The benefit that Sleeman has over its competitors is that is offers different types of craft beer that other breweries don’t. From fruity India Pale Ale to chocolaty Fine Porter, Sleeman wants to create a long lasting relationship with those, who have an appreciation for beer. However, Sleeman is not as active in the Social Media world as Heineken and Molson are with their catchy commercials and Facebook pages. Molson Canadian was voted #2 in AskMen, men’s online magazine. Be it a hockey game, a backyard bbq or a camping trip, Molson Canadian is what the young generation automatically reaches for, due to Molson’s heavy advertising that incorporates those themes. â€Å"Camping essentials. Lots of firewood and Molson Canadian†- was posted on Twitter along with a picture of a truck loaded with firewood and cases of Molson Canadian. Key trends, opportunities and threats Although beer continues to dominate the market of alcoholic beverages, (c)†beer consumption is declining in the U. S. and Europe, the source of two-thirds of Heineken’s profits, because of tougher drunk-driving laws and a growing appreciation for wine†. The fact is that beer is not seen as a â€Å"fancy drink† that you indulge in, it is time to change that. Companies must start educating consumers about the differences between various types of beer, beer and food pairings, in order to create a better appreciation for the beverage. Another obstacle the brewing industry has to overcome is the â€Å"beer belly† myth. Consumers are becoming more health cautious and many believe that beer is detrimental to weight loss and health in general. The fact is, beer is fat-free, cholesterol-free and low in carbohydrates. Beer is made from hops, barley and wheat, so the beverage contains many nutrients such are: vitamins A, C B6, folate, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, zinc, iron, and calcium. Beer also contains antioxidants and is high in fiber. Those who choose lighter beers in hopes of reducing their caloric intake, are also missing out on all the nutrients the beer holds. Drinking beer in moderation also reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, bone fractures and osteoporosis, kidney stones, digestive ailments, gallstones, and physical ailments affecting the elderly. Beer can be part of a balanced diet and a healthy, active lifestyle. The key is moderation. (brewers association One of the big trends for summer 2013 is light and flavored beer with the hope to appeal more to women, and Molson Canadian is on top of it. Their new line of beer, Molson Wheat, is made with all-natural ingredients; â€Å"the unfiltered wheat lager delivers a hint of malt, balanced by the fruity character of just-ripened bananas†. Molson is also going to introduce Molson Canadian Cider made from 100% Canadian apples and champagne yeast. On the other spectrum, craft beer is also the category that will experience growth, thus Sleeman should undergo a positive turnaround in the near future. The current debate over wider retail distribution of alcoholic beverages is becoming more evident, and more changes and pilot programs are being tested to potentially expand product availability beyond liquor stores. â€Å"In 2013, the province of Ontario – the largest alcoholic drinks market in Canada will become LCBO or Liquor Control Board of Ontario Express stores-within-stores at 10 grocery supermarkets. The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission has also been testing the Liquor Mart Express store within a Canada Safeway supermarket in Winnipeg as of 2012† (Euromonitor International, 2013). Wider retail distribution will definitely create more opportunities for product marketing and retailer distribution, potentially giving more opportunities for smaller local wineries, breweries and distilleries to bring their products to the market (Euromonitor International, 2013) Study Implications and Recommendations There are four main concepts derived from this research: * Perception of beer * Health implications * Competition * Innovation In order to stay competitive, the above 4 concepts must be exercised interchangeably. The brewing industry has a lot of room for improvement and growth. The improvement must begin from changing the consumers’ perspective about beer in order to create a lasting relationship. An ongoing education about beer and beer consumption is also something that can change consumers’ perceptions and preferences. In order to stay competitive, one must â€Å"bring differentiation while still retaining a recognizable and familiar aspect†(t). Social Media is a powerful tool that must be utilized in order to reach consumers as well as to learn about consumer behavior and generate feedback. Study Limitations and Directions for Future Research I found the most credible sources were the company’s websites, Business and Company Resoucre Centre and Global Market Information Database (GMID). The least credible was Wikipedia (was not included in this research paper) since some of the information was not accurate and up do date. Canadian Business and Current Affairs, I found to be the least up to date and least helpful. There is much more research that could be conducted in regards to this topic- alcohol regulation, exporting tariffs, cross marketing strategies, etc. The above research should be used as a foundation for the in depth analysis of the brewing industry of Canada.