Market Analysis of Coca Cola as a Global Brand Assignment

Market Analysis of Coca Cola as a Global Brand - Assignment Example The discussion seeks to answer the question: Why in the world, among the different categories and sectors of the global market, Coca Cola has happened to successfully penetrate and retain its market internationally and become the most valuable brand at the global scale level? The Coca Cola as a brand is not limited only to its Coca Cola soft drinks. As mentioned earlier, it encompasses a wide array of categories of beverages like soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, water, ready – to – drink juices, teas, as well as coffees. Moreover, Coca Cola has managed to venture their products into new opportunities through different product variants in these different categories of beverages. The Coca Cola products are not without issues. In point of fact, a worldwide hate campaign, Killer Coke, is formed against The Coca Cola Company and is calling to boycott its products. Primarily, its products are criticised for their adverse possible negative effects on health among its consumer as a carbonated and sweetened drink. It produces nothing but products detrimental to health which can lead to death. Since Coca Cola products are high in sugar and calorie content, they fuel the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the whole world. Some of chemical components and food dyes used in these products are identified to cause cancer. Caffeine, a substance causing physical dependence, is also present in these products. Nonetheless, in the soft drink category, Pepsi, RC Cola, and other local competitor brands are just behind Coca Cola. Despite the issues faced by Coca Cola, its consumers across the globe remain loyal to the brand and the brand has managed to be on top among the other sectors of beverages. Each of the Coca Cola products is positioned to target specific market. For example, the original version of Coke is not only serving as refreshment for an individual but is seen as a special part of the modern times. It functions as means of bonding to family as well, especially when having the traditional dining. While on the one hand, Diet Coke and Coke Zero target those who are health conscious and do not want to gain additional weight due to drinking soft drinks. Coke Zero is positioned as a no sugar and no calorie version of Coke. For those who do not want to ingest caffeine, there is also Caffeine – Free Coca Cola. For those who still want a fruity taste of soda, Coca Cola has its cherry, lime, citra, light sango and orange soda variants. For those who are not into soft drinks, Coca Cola also has ventured in RTD juices like Minute Maid which is positioned as a product with real pulps of fruits like orange. Because of the pulps in Minute Maid, it is considered by the consumers as a healthy citrus drink in the beverage sector. The Coca Cola Company has a

Solar and Wind Energy to Ashton Island Essay Example for Free

Solar and Wind Energy to Ashton Island Essay This is so the southwest winds can blow the windmills. The windmills would spin and they would turn a generator, which would produce electricity. After the electricity would have been generated, it would be supplied with cables down to the laboratory and the cooling equipment. However you would not be able to place a lot of the windmills on the hill. Therefore the next ideal position would be on the coast which would contain the strong southwest breezes. This can also be done seeing as the coast is not far away from the laboratory. This would supply electricity through wires in rubber pipes to the laboratory and further on to the refrigerators where the cooling equipment would be placed. In order to make sure that the supply of energy was continuous we could ensure that whilst the energy was being generated some of it would pass into a battery which would supply the cooling equipment with electricity when the wind is not blowing. The electricity would have to be split roughly half ways so when the wind is blowing 50% would pass into the cooling equipment while 50% went onto the battery. The material on the island that would have to be carefully monitored is the wood in the forms of trees within the forest. This is because if all the other sources of energy run out, this is the only other form of material, which will provide a quick source of energy. None of the other forms of energy are constant; the sun does not always shine, the wind does not always blow, the sea is not always rough and rivers do not always flow. However wood will always be there to provide quick energy. If the team only had a limited amount of money then they would have to try and harness the resources using the cheapest ways. The types of energy to harness would be different to choose from; in the sense that we would have to choose the cheapest resources available and also the most efficient. The cheapest resource available would be the natural biomass in the form of wood in the forests. However this would eventually run out because there are only a limited number of trees within the forest. Therefore we would have to resort to the burning of rubbish and rotting matter. We could use rotting matter to produce energy by leaving the rotting matter in a closed tank then through anaerobic digestion the gas methane would be produced. This gas could be used for heating, cooking and lighting. This is a very cheap method and it would produce energy at a very good rate aswell. By far the most expensive source if energy extraction would be solar panels and the windmills. These would cost a lot to make and they may not be as efficient as the geothermal and natural biomass. However if there were costs to be considered throughout the whole thing then we would have to resort to the extraction of geothermal energy and burning biomass. Another aspect of the limited money would be the fact that they may not be able to purchase the vast amounts of machinery needed to generate electricity like the turbines and the generators and therefore we would not be able to have such a vast amount and variety of different methods of harnessing electricity. Another aspect which would have to be considered on a limited budget would be the purchase of the equipment in order to extract the energy and the network through which it would have to run in order to be successfully linked up to all the equipment and finally the workforce which would be needed to construct the equipment and set it all up could be very timely and costly. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Electricity and Magnetism section.

Antigone Essay example -- essays research papers

Family is supposed to be the ultimate support, everlasting, and always ready to forgive. In Antigone by Sophocles, Creon is immersed in a â€Å"power trip† that alienates and even kills his family. He caused his son, Haemon’s death, his wife, Eurydice’s death and Antigone’s death. Creon views himself as the perfect leader, believes he is always correct, and in turn has to live with the guilt of three deaths that were his fault.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Antigone goes alone to bury Polynices and deliberately disobeys Creon’s law. Antigone not only lost her two brothers, but she will lose her respect for her family and the gods if she does not bury Polynices. When Creon finds out that Antigone has disobeyed him and only wants to die, he tries to argue with her, but she remains strong to her...

GM Tries to Sharpen Its Car Images Essay -- BTEC Business Marketing GC

GM Tries to Sharpen Its Car Images Executive Summary General Motors, the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer took the industry leadership from Ford Motors Company in 1931. With its customer oriented objective and significant marketing programs, GM protected its position since then. Starting from 1990, GM became industry’s biggest money loser in the U.S. market by tracking out of the road it always had been and forgetting how it became and protected its leadership for over 60 years. Top management moved slowly by taking important decisions, lost control over the divisions and did not stop the production of the dogs on time. GM also lost touch with its customers and dealerships, so, the well-respected brand name became a dog itself in consumers’ minds. After assigning a new CEO and top management team, GM tried to recover as soon as possible. To mend the broken brand, a new marketing manager, a brand guy himself was needed. Ron Zarella was transferred from Bausch & Lomb to change the image of GM products. Zarella took long and short-term decisions successfully and ended the arguments inside of the company. He changed marketing structure by creating brand manager positions to work with the services such as design team, public relations, customer satisfaction, sales, service and distribution. Five-Phase Vehicle Development Process was created, engineers and marketing groups from different brands combined to work with each other. As results of these innovations, GM was able to design new cars shorter; although still not shorter than its competitors, market its products more successfully and gained consumer confidence back again. Situation Analysis A. Environment Fast technological changes and increasing affordability changed consumer expectations in 90’s. Big, heavy cars had still market share but the cars which are smaller and have low gas mileage were stars for the Generation Y. Power doors, power windows, power steering and air conditioning became standards for all consumers which were found in luxury cars or offered as an extra in 70’s and 80’s. Starting from 1990; especially following the Gulf War, The U.S. economy started recovering after recessing in 80’s. The federal budget deficit was getting smaller, long-term interest rates were lower and U.S. businesses had equal cost of capital compared to their foreign competitors. Oil ... ...ing should work together as one body and help each other as possible as they can and the time for designing products should be shortened. For brand management positions, not only insiders but also outsiders should be installed to get new and fresh ideas. The teams containing brand managers and engineers from different divisions should be made up to share ideas and experience to solve the quality, production and distribution problems of every division. Consumer confidence can be gained back by changing products’ characteristics, smart pricing strategies by concentrating cost administration or cost management, training salespeople and dealerships in consumer friendly way, offering flexible financing solutions with promotions and, teach the consumer the benefits of the product. Summary and Conclusion GM can be successful in its profit-maximization and â€Å"A car for every purpose, a car for every pocketbook† objective by using these solutions. The company will have better operation, production design will be faster, employee participation and motivation will be high, customer oriented approach will be applied and protect its industry leader position against its competitors.

How does Gaskell use setting and location to reveal the character of her heroine, Margaret Hale?

The final title of her novel ‘North and South', suggests the important role setting and location play in Gaskell's story of Margaret Hale and her relationship with Milton mill-owner John Thornton. During the course of the novel, we see Margaret settled in three locations; Harley Street, Helstone and Milton. Each of these settings represents a different social stratum and we see Margaret develop in her perception and attitude towards each of them. They all contribute, in some way, to making Margaret the girl that she is at the end of the novel. The book opens in Harley Street, where we are presented with the character of Edith. Edith's role in the novel is to act as a contrast to Margaret or ‘control sample'. Through her, we can see what Margaret's life would have been like had she accepted Lennox. Edith is the model Victorian woman and she fits in perfectly with her Harley Street surroundings, but Margaret is far more independent, strong-minded and unconventional. When having her lover describe her future life in Corfu, â€Å"the very parts which made Margaret glow as she listened, Edith pretended to shiver and shudder at†¦ because anything of a gipsy or make-shift life was really distasteful to her. Margaret, on the other hand appears to be ill at ease with the superficial attitudes and concerns of those around her. As she tells her mother; â€Å"I think what you call the makeshift contrivances at dear Helstone were a charming part of the life there†. Margaret has no pretensions and this dislike of the superficial relationships is particularly evident in her description of her aunt's view of her â€Å"neighbours whom Mrs Shaw called friends, because she happened to dine with them more frequently than with any other people, and because if she or Edith wanted anything from them, or they from her, they did not scruple to make a call at each other's houses before luncheon†. This relationship contrasts with her experiences in Milton were the term ‘neighbours' is applied to people such as Higgins and his daughters; a far more personal and sincere relationship. The opening scenes also provide the reader with an explanation of Margaret's position in Aunt Shaw's house. It is shown to be a warm and affectionate household with her â€Å"gentle aunt and dear cousin†, but Margaret's position within it was that of ‘poor cousin' and companion to Edith. Margaret's proud character and regard for social stature is clear from her eager â€Å"delight of filling the important post of only daughter in Helstone parsonage†. This perception of class and positions in society is one that shapes many of her dislikes of Milton and its inhabitants and is one that she must eventually overcome. The title of chapter two, â€Å"Roses and Thorns† has significance in that is shows the contrast between the life Margaret expects at Helstone, surrounded by roses and the outdoors, and the â€Å"thorns† in her life that she hadn't expected. It shows how beneath the idyll of her memories of Helstone, lie problems waiting to cause pain. Margaret feels that she belongs in Helstone where â€Å"its people were her people†. As an example of this, she â€Å"learned and delighted in using their particular words†. However, she is later to acquire the language of the people in Milton, showing her adaptability and also how she ‘belongs' in Milton to the same extent as she does in Helstone. Margaret is aware that â€Å"one had need to learn a different language and measure by a different standard up here in Milton†. The embracing of the local dialect by a middle-class girl is highly unusual in novels, showing the unconventional, clever and independent mind that Margaret possesses. Her return to Helstone and her â€Å"keen enjoyment of every sensuous pleasure† shows how Margaret is a sensuous woman, greatly appreciative of the outdoors. The loss of the countryside and the geographical differences between Milton and Helstone are perceived greatly by Margaret. In Helstone, Margaret walks â€Å"out on the broad commons into the warm scented light, seeing multitudes of wild, free, living creatures, revelling in the sunshine, and the herbs and flowers it called forth† whereas â€Å"at Milton the chimneys smoked, the ceaseless roar and mighty beat, and dizzying whirl of machinery, struggled and strove perpetually. Senseless and purposeless were wood and iron and steam in their endless labours†. The difference in the environments is emphasised through Gaskell's use of language and tools such as alliteration. Margaret shows her attitude to social class on her first arriving at Helstone, to have been shaped by her childhood in the fashionable Harley Street. She conforms to the conventional perception that a man's status as a gentleman is reliant on birth, property and an appropriate (or no) occupation. This topic is one that is discussed at length with Mr Thornton and we see that Milton, and her acquaintance with Thornton, changes Margaret's opinion on this. Thornton believes that â€Å"†gentleman† is a term that only describes a person in his relation to others†, whereas the term â€Å"a man† comprehends more, a person not merely considered â€Å"with regard to his fellow-me, but in relation to himself†. It is one of the many prejudices concerning class relations that Margaret must overcome before she can be happily united with Thornton. Although she declares that â€Å"I am not standing up for [the cotton spinners] any more than for any other trades-people†, she is later to stand up for both the masters through Thornton and the workers through Higgins. The change in Margaret is forced upon her through her change in situation and circumstance. The frailties and failings in Mr Hale's character can be seen in his being unable to tell his wife of his change of conscience and their subsequent more to Milton-Northern. This means that greater responsibility is placed on Margaret's shoulders, but her strength of character shines through because although she â€Å"did dislike it, did shrink from it more than from anything she had ever had to do in her life before† she then manages to â€Å"conquer herself†. This is something that Mr Hale is unable to do. The area the Hales move into in Milton is cleverly named, Crampton. Like Dickens in ‘Hard Times', Gaskell uses the names of places to suggest their nature. Edith's letters from Corfu provide not only the reader, but Margaret also, with a constant reminder as to what her life could have been like. The first letter from Edith tells of her arrival and is received on the day of Margaret's own arrival in Milton. The lively and gay description of their happy days in Corfu provides a stark contrast between the dark, chaotic and cramped life in Milton. The lives of the two young cousins have diverged completely. At this point in the novel, Margaret would have preferred Edith's life, but later on we see that she would not have been content with such a life. Margaret's humanitarian interest is awakened in her through her life in Milton. She provides a counter-argument to that of J. S. Mill and those of the utilitarian movement such as Gradgrind in ‘Hard Times'. She sees a smaller section of Milton society and was â€Å"thrown in with one or two of those who, in all measures affecting masses of people, must be acute sufferers for the good of many†. She, like Dickens' Sissy Jupe sees the cost in terms of human suffering, her concern is for the individual. Margaret is interested in people and it is through her acquaintance with Higgins and his family that Milton â€Å"became a brighter place†¦ in it she had found a human interest†. She does not like to hear the mill workers referred to as â€Å"Hands†. This is an issue discussed also in ‘Hard Times' but it reflects on her interests in the individual in society. Referring to a whole class of people by the same generic term, removes the personal contact and identity of the workers. They no longer have â€Å"independence of character†. As we hear of Frederick and his story, we see how and why Margaret looks up to him. Her creed in life is that; â€Å"Loyalty and obedience to wisdom and justice are fine; but it is still finer to defy arbitrary power, unjustly and cruelly used – not on behalf of ourselves, but on behalf of others more helpless†. This is what Frederick did. She sees his crime as elevated through his motives to a â€Å"heroic protection of the weak†. This concords with her great interest in humanity. When she saves Thornton from the mob at the mill, â€Å"she did it because it was right, and simple, and true to save where she could save†. Margaret, coming fresh to the industrial troubles in Milton, provides a new outlook on the problems. Although she is biased in that she considers the south a lot less hostile and full of suffering, she can see â€Å"two classes dependant on each other in every possible way, yet each evidently regarding the interests of the other as opposed to their own†. She correctly identifies communication as being the root of a lot of their problems and endeavours to improve this. Margaret's relationship with Dixon shows her capacity to love fiercely. It also highlights her perception of her position in the household and her willingness to take on all the responsibilities of nursing her mother. Mrs Hale's fatal illness brings Dixon and Margaret together in sympathy and support for one another. Through Mrs Thornton's scathing opinion of Margaret and her condescending attitude to her surroundings, we see others' perception of Margaret's breeding and social awareness. Although her opinions as regards her surroundings change gradually during her time in Milton, Mrs Thornton never credits her with this. Bessy too is surprised that Margaret is associating with the â€Å"first folk in Milton†. More particularly because it is unusual that someone of Margaret's middle class breeding visits both the masters and the men, thus straddling the two very distinct classes in the industrial town. Margaret finds this hard to come to terms with when she is invited to dine at the Thornton's, where she is expected to â€Å"dress up in my finery, and go off and away to smart parties, after the sorrow I have seen today†. Margaret, with all the sorrow and hardship she has to bear, has all the propensity to become a martyr. Many a self-sacrificing heroine has had her true character poorly developed throughout the history of the novel. Despite this, Margaret is not a martyr, she is a much more three-dimensional character. While she bears the responsibility and pain of her life and family troubles, â€Å"her whole life just now was a strain upon her fortitude†. She doesn't deny the hardship and must struggle against complaining. This makes her a much more ‘real' and enjoyable character. In her darkest times in Milton, she still looks back to Helstone as the â€Å"sunny times of old†, showing that her character has not yet completed its journey. In the wake of her mother's death, we see Margaret beginning to redress her prejudices regarding trades people; â€Å"her cheeks burnt as she recollected how proudly she had implied an objection to trade (in the early days of their acquaintance)† This is also a sign of her growing feelings for Thornton, which she is yet to admit to herself. When Higgins visits, he is asked upstairs; something which astonishes Dixon, as â€Å"folk at Helstone were never brought higher than the kitchen†. During their time in Milton, class distinctions as perceived by the Hales have weakened. The change in Margaret is also shown through her beginning to address the poor in the south with a more objective attitude. Margaret's view of trades people goes full circle when her brother goes into trade in Spain and she reflects on her â€Å"old tirades against trade†. Not only does her perception of trade go full circle, but also in her returning to London, her lifestyle does likewise. Her London life no longer satisfies her and she fears becoming â€Å"sleepily deadened into forgetfulness†. The pace of life in London is very different from the bustle of Milton and she finds that it is the commotion and excitement of the industrial town that she prefers. Leaving it has left a â€Å"strange unsatisfied vacuum in Margaret's heart†. She also longs for contact with other classes such as she experienced while in Milton. On returning to Helstone, Margaret comes with the view that she was returning ‘home', but she finds that little things have changed and moved on and Helstone will never be the place it once was. It is this realisation of the changes that â€Å"carry us on imperceptibly from childhood to youth and thence through manhood to age, whence we drop†¦ into the quiet mother earth† that allows Margaret to make a break with Helstone and all the memories attached to it. She is able to come to terms with it as her past and remember it solely as such. Mr Lennox comments that Margaret returns at the end of the novel to the â€Å"Margaret Hale of Helstone†, but he is wrong; she is quite a different woman to the now. Thornton too fails to see that it was her time in Milton that made Margaret the independent woman she is at the end of the novel, describing Helstone as â€Å"the place where Margaret grew to be what she is†. Margaret's character is shaped not only by her young childhood in Harley Street, her summers in Helstone, but also her young womanhood in Milton. It is probably the latter that had the most substantial impact on her, causing her to see both Harley Street and Helstone through different eyes on her return. Ultimately, she chooses the life and spirit and vigour of Milton over the laziness of London, through her choice of Thornton over Mr Lennox as a husband. The vast differences in the scenery and setting over the course of the novel reflect Margaret's attitude and her changing opinions regarding herself and those around her. The changes she undergoes in Milton are highlighted by her return to the familiar scenes of Helstone and Harley Street, her new attitude to them and the people connected with them.

The Great Gatasby essays

The Great Gatasby essays All humans commit sin, all humans are flawed; once this is accepted by society, it would shows true signs of a progressive world. The concept of accepting the fact that all humans are guilty of sin and are flawed would seem simple, but through the years not much has changed. There is still hatred and judgment being passed every day in society. Nathaniel Hawthorne, known for his short stories written to reveal a not-so-hidden moral theme, often commenting about his views on religion and reformed religious thinking, this all came at a time of great religious reform in America. Hawthorne published two stories that seemed to follow the same pattern: The Birthmark, followed by Rappaccinis Daughter. Though the stories had many aspects of originality they both share a common central theme, that all humans sin. In the story The Birthmark, Hawthorne makes the point that all the characters demonstrate some element of sin. The main character Aylmer, a science type, passes clear judgment upon his wife; by making the following comment, "Ah, upon another face, perhaps it might," replied her husband. "But never on yours! No, dearest Georgiana, you came so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature, that this slightest possible defect- which we hesitate whether to term a defect or a beauty- shocks me, as being the visible mark of earthly imperfection." This is Aylmer telling his wife that the birthmark, she once thought was a beauty mark, is a defect. By passing judgment on his wife, Aylmer has sinned for only God as a Supreme Being is entitled to pass judgment upon another. Georgiana is also a sinner. Later in the story Georgiana is guilty of becoming very vain to the point where she tells her husband that she would like to try to manipulate face and remove her birthmark, even at the cost of great risk to her health and well-being, by trying to remove the birthmark Georgiana is ...

Mans Brutality Towards Man essays

Mans Brutality Towards Man essays Mans brutality to man comes from within. It shows how selfish and how inhibited a person can be. Mans inhumanit towards man can be cause by need of power , jealousy, and Greed. All of these reasons come from within. Examples of Mans inhumanity to man that is caused by need of power are World War One when Hitler wanted to take over the world and be the leader of the world and have the power to do anything he chose to. Another example is World War Two when Hitler wanted to take over the world again , but this time he had stronger powers on his side, but still he could not prevail. Another example caused by the need of power is the Holocaust when Hitler wanted to clear Germany of non pure Aryan Germans and Jews. Examples of mans unhumanity to man that is caused by Jealousy are the terrible insidents that happen at Columbine High School back in 1999. When two students who were jealous of their class mates chose to murder and kill in cold blood. Another example of mans unhumanity to man that is caused by Jealousy is Terrorism. That was shown to us on September 11th, 2001 when 2 Boeing 747 jets were hijacked and flown in to the twin World Trade Center Buildings. Both buildings collapsed and it is believed that approximately 5,000 lives were lost. Another example of mans unhumanity to man that is caused by Jealousy is the Ku Klux Klan. The Ku Klux Klan is jealous of other races because they are the working force of America. And the Population of Whites are falling in Major American cities such as Los Angeles , New York and Detroit. ...

Major General Benjamin Grierson in the Civil War

Major General Benjamin Grierson in the Civil War Benjamin Grierson - Early Life Career: Born July 8, 1826 in Pittsburgh, PA, Benjamin Grierson was the youngest child of Robert and Mary Grierson. Moving to Youngstown, OH at a young age, Grierson was educated locally. At the age of eight, he was badly injured when he was kicked by a horse. This incident scarred the young boy and left him afraid of riding. A gifted musician, Grierson began leading a local band at age thirteen and later pursued a career as a music teacher. Traveling west, he found employment as a teacher and band leader in Jacksonville, IL during the early 1850s. Making a home for himself, he married Alice Kirk on September 24, 1854. The following year, Grierson became a partner in a mercantile business in nearby Meredosia and later became involved in Republican politics. Benjamin Grierson - The Civil War Begins: By 1861, Griersons business was failing as the nation descended into the Civil War. With the outbreak of hostilities, he joined the Union Army as an aide to Brigadier General Benjamin Prentiss. Promoted to major on October 24, 1861, Grierson overcame his fear of horses and joined the 6th Illinois Cavalry. Serving with the regiment through the winter and into 1862, he was promoted to colonel on April 13. Part of the Union advance into Tennessee, Grierson led his regiment on numerous raids against Confederate railroads and military facilities while also scouting for the army. Displaying skill in the field, he was elevated to command a cavalry brigade in Major General Ulysses S. Grants Army of the Tennessee in November. Moving into Mississippi, Grant sought to capture the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg. Seizing the town was a vital step towards securing the Mississippi River for the Union and cutting the Confederacy in two. In November and December, Grant began advancing along the Mississippi Central Railroad toward Vicksburg. This effort was cut short when Confederate cavalry under Major General Earl Van Dorn attacked his main supply depot at Holly Springs, MS. As the Confederate cavalry withdrew, Griersons brigade was among the forces that mounted an unsuccessful pursuit. In the spring of 1863, Grant began planning a new campaign which would see his forces move down the river and cross below Vicksburg in conjunction with efforts by Rear Admiral David D. Porters gunboats. Benjamin Grierson - Griersons Raid: To support this effort, Grant ordered Grierson to take a force of 1,700 men and raid through central Mississippi. The goal of the raid was to tie down enemy forces while also hampering the Confederates ability to reinforce Vicksburg by destroying railroads and bridges. Departing La Grange, TN on April 17, Griersons command included the 6th and 7th Illinois as wells as 2nd Iowa Cavalry regiments. Crossing the Tallahatchie River the next day, the Union troops enduring heavy rains but met little resistance. Eager to maintain a fast pace, Grierson sent 175 of his slowest, least effective men back to La Grange on April 20. Learning of the Union raiders, the commander at Vicksburg, Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, ordered local cavalry forces to intercept them and directed part of his command to guard the railroads. Over the next several days, Grierson used a variety of ruses to throw off his pursuers as his men began disrupting the railroads of central Mississippi. Attacking Confederate installations and burning bridges and rolling stock, Griersons men created havoc and kept the enemy off balance. Repeatedly skirmishing with the enemy, Grierson led his men south towards Baton Rouge, LA. Arriving on May 2, his raid had been a stunning success and saw his command only lose three killed, seven wounded, and nine missing. More importantly, Griersons efforts effectively distracted Pembertons attention while Grant moved down the west bank of the Mississippi. Crossing the river on April 29-30, he embarked on a campaign that led to Vicksburgs capture on July 4. Benjamin Grierson - Later War: After recovering from the raid, Grierson was promoted to brigadier general and ordered to join Major General Nathaniel Banks XIX Corps at the Siege of Port Hudson. Given command of the corps cavalry, he repeatedly skirmished with Confederate forces led by Colonel John Logan. The city finally fell to Banks on July 9. Returning to action the following spring, Grierson led a cavalry division during Major General William T. Shermans abortive Meridian Campaign. That June, his division was part of Brigadier General Samuel Sturgis command when it was routed by Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest at the Battle of Brices Crossroads. Following the defeat, Grierson was directed to take command of Union cavalry in the District of West Tennessee. In this role, he took part in the Battle of Tupelo with Major General Andrew J. Smiths XVI Corps. Engaging Forrest on July 14-15, Union troops inflicted a defeat on the daring Confederate commander. On December 21, Grierson led a raiding force of two cavalry brigades out against the Mobile Ohio Railroad. Attacking a dismounted part of Forrests command at Verona, MS on December 25, he succeeded in taking a large number of prisoners. Three days later, Grierson captured another 500 men when he attacked a train near Egypt Station, MS. Returning on January 5, 1865, Grierson received a brevet promotion to major general. Later that spring, Grierson joined Major General Edward Canby for the campaign against Mobile, AL which fell on April 12. Benjamin Grierson - Later Career: With the end of the Civil War, Grierson elected to remain in the US Army. Though penalized for not being a West Point graduate, he was accepted into the regular service with the rank of colonel in recognition for his wartime achievements. In 1866, Grierson organized the new 10th Cavalry Regiment. Composed of African-American soldiers with white officers, the 10th was one of the original Buffalo Soldier regiments. A firm believer in his mens fighting ability, Grierson was ostracized by many other officers who doubted the African Americans skills as soldiers. After commanding Forts Riley and Gibson between 1867 and 1869, he selected the site for Fort Sill. Overseeing the new posts construction, Grierson led the garrison from 1869 to 1872. During his tenure at Fort Sill, Griersons support of the peace policy on the Kiowa-Comanche Reservation angered many settlers on the frontier. Over the next several years, he oversaw various posts along the western frontier and repeatedly skirmished with raiding Native Americans. During the 1880s, Grierson commanded the Departments of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. As in the past, he was relatively sympathetic to the plight of Native Americans living on the reservations. On April 5, 1890, Grierson was promoted to brigadier general. Retiring that July, he split his time between Jacksonville, IL and a ranch near Fort Concho, TX. Suffering a severe stroke in 1907, Grierson clung to life until finally dying at Omena, MI on August 31, 1911. His remains were later buried in Jacksonville. Selected Sources HistoryNet: The Grierson RaidTSHA: Benjamin H. Grierson Hard Party: Benjamin Grierson

Reflection and Evaluation of Technologies Such As XML and Flash Lab Report

Reflection and Evaluation of Technologies Such As XML and Flash - Lab Report Example The text is always divided into a couple of noninteracting sets: markup, which are all the tags, comments, processing instructions, entity references, character references, CDATA section delimiters, XML declarations, text declarations, document type declarations, and white space outside the root element; and, character data which is consisted by the rest of elements in the XML document. (Harold 2003, p. xxi) Fundamentally, XML offers an excellent framework in structuring data, based on hierarchical representations and is capable to represent the structured, unstructured and semi structured data. (Shen 2006, p. 112) Today, it is the standard used by W3C for document exchange over the Internet. In terms of explaining XML as an application, it is important to underscore that, fundamentally, the language was developed as some standard for information interchange on the Internet that is why it is essentially an application in itself. An interesting fact, however, was that XML is valued mo re as an element in another application or rather its derivatives such as Atom, Rich Site Summary (RSS), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), ebXML and XHTML, among others, can be integrated as an added value to an application. RSS is an excellent example. RSS can enhance a website’s functionality by enabling the owner or site administrator to announce whatever changes made on the site as well as other information that may constitute marketing, promotions, public service announcements, and so forth. All in all, XML-based applications are platforms for easy documents management and data integration. As such, it allows publishers to tailor and structure documents in a simple way. It is also very popular owing to the fact that it is an industry standard as well as to the fact that the tools and resources for it are large, including numerous XML parsers, browsers and editors. The language is being used across the globe, working well with the Internet and most of its applications . However, XML is weak on automated processing libraries as well as its ability in terms of verbosity, wherein documents are mainly in plain text and could include an overwhelming number of markup tags. In addition, the language can be difficult to learn as well. There is also no guarantee that XML can be the universal solution for data integration as well as in unifying formats because the language has its limitations as well. In evaluating XML-based applications, it is important to return to the language’s objectives – it was designed for simple, fast and structured data integration and management. Therefore, these factors should be the main criteria in assessing its efficacy. Whether in measuring XML-based applications or XML-derivatives used as elements in other applications, evaluation must focus on performance: How a particular application retrieves, evaluates, modify data as well as how it conforms to industry standards, particularly in terms of structural aspec ts of XML documents. Flash As the Internet and computing technology become more sophisticated day after day, their users’ experience becomes more enhanced, intuitive, sophisticated and simple. It is like information technology developers are in constant quest to develop rich content that are delivered in fast and simple ways. When in the

Strategy and key discourses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Strategy and key discourses - Essay Example A well-deciphered strategic initiative can facilitate an organisation in ascertaining its supremacy and gaining significant competitive advantage in the marketplace. The overall direction of a business entity is largely dependent on the decisions and strategies taken by the company. Strategies are also crucial in responding successfully to the uncertainties, complexities and competitiveness prevailing in the business market scenario. Different companies have their own set of rules and methods to create strategies for their business. Moreover, the formation of strategic initiatives significantly depends on the core competencies of an organisation (John et al., 1996). The paper aims at constructing an essay plan based on the key discourses concerning the illustration in detail the different horizons for making strategies. It would also provide an elaborative explanation of the different levels of strategy. Discourse Analysis Discourse analysis is a research method. It is a mode of appr oaching and making an assessment of a particular problem. This method is neither a qualitative nor a quantitative move to research but is a conduct of questioning the basic hypothesis of quantitative as well as qualitative approaches in the research process (The University of Texas at Austin, n.d.). Three Horizons for Strategy Different companies all over the world now-a-days are very much focused on enhancing their profitability of their business operations. Owing to this reason, they aim to develop various distinctive strategies. The process of developing a strategy involves a particular framework, i.e. the ‘three horizons for strategy’. The significance of a long-term-based viewpoint upon the formulated strategies is emphasised by the three horizons framework. The three horizon framework suggests that each and every organisation should visualise itself as comprising three different kinds of business or activity (Johnson & et. al., 2010). The three horizons framework is exemplified below: Horizon 1 This horizon involves â€Å"Short Jump† initiative that would strengthen and expand a company’s position in the existing market. In this step, the company essentially focuses on adding new products to its existing product line. This step also engages the expansion of the company in terms of geographical area and reaching fresh marketplaces where it is yet to have its presence. In this approach, the company can capture a significant portion of the market share of its competitors. The main objective of this horizon is to capitalise largely on its growth potential in the present business market (Thompson et al., 2006). Horizon 2 This step of the horizon is called the medium jump. In this step, the company acquires strategic proposals to influence the present resources and potentials by entering into a new business with a considerable prospective of growth. The companies in the modern-day context need to always be aware of emerging opportuni ties in the market. Whenever there is a prospect where there is an assurance for rapid growth with the incorporation of enormous prevailing experience and rational capital influx and technological knowledge that could be helpful for rapid market access, the company should jump in to leverage that prospect with full strength. When the second demarcated horizon takes a restrain, the first horizon takes the initiative as long as there is enough unexploited growth present in the company’s business perspective (Thompson et al., 2006). Horizon 3 This step is called long jump. In this horizon, the company takes strategic decisions to

Risk management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Risk management - Essay Example The systemic risk governance requires unity between the countries and enclosure within the process of industry, government, academia and the civil society. Governance is defined as the processes, traditions, actions and institutions by which the authority exercises and takes decision which is then implemented (Aven & Vinnem, 2007). Risk Governance The term risk governance can be defined as the assessment, identification, management and communication of the risks in a board framework. It comprise of â€Å"actors, rules, conventions, processes and mechanisms and is concerned with how relevant risk information is collected, analyzed and communicated, and how management decisions are taken†. It uses the main beliefs of the good governance that includes effectiveness, transparency, efficiency, strategic focus, accountability, equity, sustainability and fairness. It deals with the rule of law and also need to chose the solution which will be legally and politically feasible along wi th publicly and ethically acceptable. Risk is always accompanied by changes. It is an important and permanent part of every life. The urge and the capacity to accept the challenge of the risk is very crucial for the achievement of the economic development and the introduction of the new technologies. Sometimes risk is accompanied by potential opportunities and benefits in the emerging technological sector (Graham & Rogers, 2002). Good risk governance aims at minimizing the following: 1) The unfair distribution of benefits and risk between the countries, social groups and the organisations. 2) By modifying the approaches for assessment and management of the same risk. 3) By emphasising extensive focus on the high profile risks it can be eliminated but the lower profile risk are also looked upon. 4) By managing the risk tradeoffs. 5) Failure in understanding the secondary effects and the linkages between the issues 6) The cost is reduced in case of inefficient regulations. 7) The deci sions that are taken for inappropriate account of the public perception. 8) Decisions are taken for not losing the trust of the public. Risk oversight function The main challenge of managing the risk lies in the benefit that the society will receive from change and by minimising the ill consequences of the risk which is associated with the change. (Confusing sentence, reframe) The main aim of the Board of Risk Governance of every company is to oversight the risk that the company is going to face or faced already confronted with. The main risk oversight functions are the following: 1) The boards are worried regarding the strategic long term risk: Over sighting risk is an important duty of the boards. The boards pay serious attention to many facets of the issues that includes a wide range of risks that the companies confront and the various enterprise risk management (ERM) systems. But the members underline the fact that it is crucial for the boards to concentrate on the risks which a ffects the strategy of the company, leveraging talent of the directors. It is also needed to help the senior management for identifying, analyzing and responding to those risks. The challenges that are posed to the very existence of a company are the big risk of the disruptive technologies and the new business models. The new business models which emerge suddenly pose threat to the existence of the

Public vs Private Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Public vs Private - Research Paper Example (IFA, 2010) As a public sector manager, establishing solutions to the company should be based on the element of identifying and solving individual problems; not using a solution to solve multiple problems. Each problem cannot be viewed as identical, and as a result each problem will have its own unique solution. In the public sector, the government will seek to find a unitary solution for a multitude of problems and thus is the reason as to why the problems may only be solved in the short term or even not solved at all. It is for that reason the public sector manager must seek to solve problems on an individual analysis. This will aid in the manager providing a long-term solution to the problems that may ail the company (Infor, 2011.). The essential factor is the efficiency of the company and a SWOT analysis of the company will be essential to avoid catalyzing the collapse of the company. Making sure that the each and every problem of the firm is looked into will facilitate the improvement in the function of the company. Another factor that the manager will require to integrate into the company is innovation. In many public sector companies, operations are carried out in an archaic manner as the government puts little or no emphasis on the improvement of a company’s operations. This is something that is evident in the methodologies and functions of several government owned firms, and it is something that benefits the private sector, whose constant search for improvement on their operations and products has resulted in the increased demand for products and services from the private sector. (Infor, 2011). As a public sector manager innovation is always essential in any business circle, and therefore it is important to constantly seek ways and means of improving the fortunes of the corporation; be it in terms of business model, structure, product development or even the product or service in production. Again this will be essential, but to

Does the Internet strengthens Social Connections Research Paper

Does the Internet strengthens Social Connections - Research Paper Example Alongside its benefits are its shortcomings. It is widely believed that the internet has alienated people from their surroundings. It has led many people to stay home and chat with their friends online rather than going out with them in person. Other than that the internet has been exploited by the sex industry. Free pornographic images are put up online which corrupt people’s mind and children often become the main target of such an action. On an overall basis, the internet has given us a lot to gain from it and social networking without any doubt has bridged distances between people and brought them together. There aren’t many people who wouldn’t know about Facebook. It has been the most famous social networking site of all time as it allows almost 600 million people across the globe to be socially connected to each other. Famous social networking forums on the internet do not only allow people to talk to each other, rather it enables them to share a lot of vit al and important information. The creation of organization wide pages on Facebook allows workers to socially reach with each other – something that they don’t really get much time for while they’re at work. Facebook has gained so much popularity that many people think that Facebook is like a new worldwide telephone network; only difference being it carries personal connections and profiles instead of voice (Feenberg, pp. 222-240). Another famous social connection tool is Skype. This software allows its user to make free Skype to Skype audio as well as video calls. Internet technology has no doubt reached great extremes as soft wares like Skype allow two people from across the globe to be socially connected to each other by making calls without even paying a single penny. This software has also enabled businessmen to schedule important business meetings online and thereby save on important time and costs. With technologies like Skype, parents worry less before se nding their kids to study abroad knowing they can see them and talk to them whenever they want (Stadler, pp. 29-42). Social connectivity has without doubt reached great extremes with the advent of internet related software. There aren’t many people who say they know they know all about social networking and don’t know about MSN Messenger. Not only does this software provide a common platform to chat with relatives and mates throughout the world, but it also comes with a lot of other exciting options for entertainment. It allows its users to play games with each other, do voice and video chat and set common backgrounds. In this fast paced world, the internet has done a lot to keep people close to each other and software like MSN, Facebook and Skype have defined what we call the twenty first century social connectivity. Had it not been for the internet, it would take the current world company CEO and presidents ages till they get to meet their family, given the fact that they’re always engrosses with tons and tons of workload. The critics of internet as a means of social networking come up with many arguments. One study available regarding the negative effects of internet on teenagers states, (Web) â€Å"The proliferation of pornographic materials is undeniably one of the alarming things that has brought about by the Internet. It does not only corrupt the minds of the young people that are exposed to them but also it paves the way for the degradation of human dignity. It also strains the moral make up of society. The Internet

Public vs Private Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Public vs Private - Research Paper Example (IFA, 2010) As a public sector manager, establishing solutions to the company should be based on the element of identifying and solving individual problems; not using a solution to solve multiple problems. Each problem cannot be viewed as identical, and as a result each problem will have its own unique solution. In the public sector, the government will seek to find a unitary solution for a multitude of problems and thus is the reason as to why the problems may only be solved in the short term or even not solved at all. It is for that reason the public sector manager must seek to solve problems on an individual analysis. This will aid in the manager providing a long-term solution to the problems that may ail the company (Infor, 2011.). The essential factor is the efficiency of the company and a SWOT analysis of the company will be essential to avoid catalyzing the collapse of the company. Making sure that the each and every problem of the firm is looked into will facilitate the improvement in the function of the company. Another factor that the manager will require to integrate into the company is innovation. In many public sector companies, operations are carried out in an archaic manner as the government puts little or no emphasis on the improvement of a company’s operations. This is something that is evident in the methodologies and functions of several government owned firms, and it is something that benefits the private sector, whose constant search for improvement on their operations and products has resulted in the increased demand for products and services from the private sector. (Infor, 2011). As a public sector manager innovation is always essential in any business circle, and therefore it is important to constantly seek ways and means of improving the fortunes of the corporation; be it in terms of business model, structure, product development or even the product or service in production. Again this will be essential, but to

Business Law and ethics Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Law and ethics - Case Study Example Child labour in developing countries The case study was largely centered on child labour in the developing countries and pertaining to this issue, Isecke stated that multinational companies through their strategy of outsourcing some of their business processes have indirectly participated in the use of child labour (43-45). This is because they mainly outsource some of their business processes to developing countries where labour is cheap since less trained workers provide it and even at times, the labour services are provided by child labourers. It is important to note that child labour was abolished worldwide through the enactment of various laws that prohibit using children below the statutory age limit of either 16 or 18 years old as labourers. According to Isecke, among the key international laws that prohibit against the child labour, include the United Nations' convention on the Rights of the Child, and the International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Princip les and Rights at Work (United Nations 1989) (89-93). The other thoughts of the workers Besides thinking about the notion of being paid to be educated, the Vietnamese children also thought about how their employer was socially responsible. The Vietnamese children linked their employer to a socially responsible company because of the fact that company had an option of laying them off from their respective duties so that they can go back to school as required by the law but instead the company opted to retain them in the payroll as they enroll for a full time program. This was despite the fact that the twelve children used forged documents in order to gain employment in the company. The Vietnamese children’s notion that their employer was socially responsible could have been because of the fact that scholars such as Kotler and Lee argued that companies that are socially responsible normally have a strong commitment to behaving ethically and they participate in economic developm ent whilst improving the livings standards of their workers as well as the surrounding community (23-25). It is correct to assert that the action by the Vietnamese employer was part of corporate social responsibilities since it was aligned towards an ethical practice of not using children below the statutory age limit as labourers. Additionally, the act was also aimed at improving the quality of life for the twelve children who were sponsored with a full-time educational program. This will improve their living quality of life because upon finishing their studies, the children would be entitled to promotions to higher positions and even an increase in their wage rate since they would be having additional qualifications. The other thought that the workers had other than they were being paid to be educated was that the company was creating a shared value, which was described by Kotler and Lee, as a business concept that is built on the premise that competitiveness and the health of the workforce as well as the surrounding community are dependent (67-68). In this regard, the twelve children had the notion that the company was investing in their education with an objective that they would also benefit from their sharpened skills once they finish the two-year education program. This assertion is substantiated by the fact that company, which was sponsoring the twelve childre

Some advantages and disadvantages of a questionnaire Essay Example for Free

Some advantages and disadvantages of a questionnaire Essay All lecturers come in contact with questionnaires whether it is the standard end of year course questionnaire or one that is used in research. These questionnaires come in many different forms from: factual to opinion based, from tick boxes to free text responses. Whatever their form, questionnaires are often viewed as quick and easy to do. This is not always the case. To get useful responses, in a cost-effective way, it is important to be clear about the aim of the questionnaire and how the responses will help you improve the learning technology or its implementation. Think also about the analysis of results. It can be sobering to consider the amount of data you will generate and the time it will take to analyse. Some advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires follow. Notes on how to deal with some of the disadvantages are also provided, as are some references to more comprehensive information on questionnaires. Some disadvantages of questionnaires: Questionnaires, like many evaluation methods occur after the event, so participants may forget important issues. Questionnaires are standardised so it is not possible to explain any points in the questions that participants might misinterpret. This could be partially solved by piloting the questions on a small group of students or at least friends and colleagues. It is advisable to do this anyway. Open-ended questions can generate large amounts of data that can take a long time to process and analyse. One way of limiting this would be to limit the space available to students so their responses are concise or to sample the students and survey only a portion of them. Respondents may answer superficially especially if the questionnaire takes a long time to complete. The common mistake of asking too many questions should be avoided. Students may not be willing to answer the questions. They might not wish to reveal the information or they might think that they will not benefit from responding perhaps even be penalised by giving their real opinion. Students should be told why the information is being collected and how the results will be beneficial. They should be asked to reply honestly and told that if their response is negative this is just as useful as a more positive opinion. If possible the questionnaire should be anonymous. Some advantages of questionnaires: The responses are gathered in a standardised way, so questionnaires are more objective, certainly more so than interviews. Generally it is relatively quick to collect information using a questionnaire. However in some situations they can take a long time not only to design but also to apply and analyse (see disadvantages for more information). Potentially information can be collected from a large portion of a group. This potential is not often realised, as returns from questionnaires are usually low. However return rates can be dramatically improved if the questionnaire is delivered and responded to in class time.

What Is Realist Criminology Criminology Essay

What Is Realist Criminology Criminology Essay Realist criminology is a phenomenon which has appeared, under different names, in Britain and the USA during the 1980s. 230 The criminologist had been making many various claims that crime is something when the poor getting their own back; that rising crime figures are only a result of different counting techniques; and that society should not forget the importance of business crime. However, the victims in deprived inner-city areas were facing a different reality every day, with their lives blighted by muggings, sexual assaults and burglaries. 230 The genesis of realism lies essentially in the perception that crime rates have tended to rise remorselessly in advanced societies, and that established policies for dealing with crime have failed to stem this increase. 402 The previous theories and policies indicated that they cannot fully explain the rising crime rates, therefore the two new theories were introduced: right and left realism. Realism of both types was introduced as an acceptance of a fact that a crime is a real problem; a recognition that it has destructive effects on communities; that there is a need to discover realistic policies to counter the crime problem; and recognition that no miraculous solutions will ever be found.404 Both approaches recognise the need to monitor the success of interventions so as to guarantee their cost-effectiveness and are critical of the present approach of the police. James Q. Wilson is one of the most significant proponents of the right realism. The right realists do not challenge the criminal law of the State and their goal is to attack street crime excluding all the others offences. 404 The aim of the right realism is to reduce the problem via pragmatic intervention, accepting that this can be of only limited benefit, but stressing that it is feasible and ought to work.405 Wilson suggested that the role of the police should be the one which creates an atmosphere within the society in which the crime is unable to prosper. 233 The most effectively the police could be used not as law enforcers but as a body which keeps order within society.405 The police should be allowed to deal with potentially disruptive behaviour giving cause for concern, which perhaps has not been regarded as criminal in a strict sense. 233 The right realism states that the areas which are beyond saving should be left away in order to devote the money and resources to the are as which are not completely broken down, but appears in danger of doing so. Wilson and Herrenstein considered that an interaction between constitutional factors and social conditioning can affect the way in which certain people balance on the one hand, the attraction of rewards and, on the other hand, the pull of their conditioned conscience. Furthermore, they were disapproving of single parent families. 232 They believed that police should be concentrated on the first time drug users rather than on drug dealers or hopeless drug addicts. The right realism theory was criticized for being too limited in the street crime. They exclude any considerations of corporate or white collar offences as well as all others powerful offenders. 407 Wilson was more interested in more visible crimes. The analysis of Right Realists ignores virtually all socio economic influences on the way people live and, in particular, the high levels of inequality found in most industrial societies. Furthermore, issues of power, class, gender and race are overlooked. 234 Wilson and Kelling admit that there a particular areas where crime is thriving therefore the areas became hopeless, they propose to move the offending into those areas and away from the areas where the situation is under control but at risk.. 407Thus, the worst areas and people living in those areas are left aside, marginalised and disadvantaged. Finally, the central part of the solution is based in the policing not crime. The most worrying thing about this it, is that police are allowed on such a loose mandate to control all manner of activities it is very difficult to make them accountable, to control them and insure they act with integrity.408 These policies might reduce crime and fear of crime in some areas, but in other areas might end up in chaos. In the abandoned areas constraints towards being law abiding are reduced still further and the inhabitants, even if law abiding, will be subjected to ever increasing levels of crime and victimisation. 408 Left realism is mostly associated with British criminologists such as Jock Young, John Lea, Richard Kinsey and Roger Matthews. Left realism considers crime as it would be perceived by many, either through their own experiences or through those of family and friends and through media images. It then tests these feelings about criminality and tries to include them in its explanations. Young claimed that the central tenet of left realism is to reflect the reality of crime, that is in its origins, its nature and it impact 80. The left realism accepts that crime exists and it is a huge problem which must be taken seriously, and that there is a rational core to peoples fears of it. Left realism recognizes four main elements which must be examined: victims; offenders; formal control (the police and other agencies of social control); and informal control (the public). The essence is to study the interrelationship between them: the approach is sometimes characterised as the square of the crime.409 Left realists believed that the fundamental cause of crime is feeling of relative deprivation (where people feel themselves to be deprived in relation to others with whom they compare themselves). Left realist also state that relative deprivation can explain non-economic crime, as it can lead to violence by people of all social classes. Generally, it happens, where people believe that recourses have been distributed unfairly, and take action to go against the perceived injustice.237 Left realists are particularly concerned with conveying the impact of crime and stresses the importance to predicate this on peoples experiences. Left realists argue that steps should be taken to establish why the crime has a tendency to be committed against women, the poor and ethnic minorities living in certain inner city areas. Such people have difficulties (usually financial) to deal with their loss or harm. Left realism has been criticised for its uncritical and conventional definition of crime, which is said merely reflect media, political and public concepts, and leads to a focus on street crime. The theory was also criticized for failing to explain the causes of street crime. Left realists spend most of their time focusing on asking people if they were victims of street crime, but forgot to ask the offenders why they actually committed the crime in the first place. The theory regurgitates subcultural theory that generated its own criticisms in the first place. The whole notion that society has a set of shared values can be questioned. White-collar crime cannot be understood in terms of this approach, especially not corporate crime. It focuses too much on street crime and ignores the fact the police can be selective in the areas they police. Another problem with left realism is that their theories are largely based on small-scale victim surveys conducted in inner city areas. Mugford a nd OMalley (1991) stated: Arguably, the advocacy of inner-city victims, and an ill concealed contempt shown for suburban souls, constitutes a narrow platform for a socialist strategy dealing with crime 241 Left realism significantly contributed to criminology. Left realists demonstrated that there are real problems of crime in working class communities, which hitherto had not been revealed by traditional forms of measurement. Left realism has been applauded for reviving key concepts such as relative deprivation and for highlighting the problem of street crime that can affect the weaker members of society. Right realist criminology has received little academic support in Britain, where the greater attention has been paid to Left Realism. Realist criminology represents a shift from ideology to a pragmatic concern for dealing with the problem of crime. What can be defined as the problem depends on political views. For Right realist such as Wilson, it is the breakdown of public order on the streets. For left realists such as Young, the problem is also found in poor inner city areas. This time the focus switches to the poor as victims.244

Analysis of West Side Story Essay -- Film West Side Story Movie Essays

Analysis of West Side Story West Side Story came out in 1961 as a melodramatic musical that took place in New York. It takes the same theme as Shakespeare's, Romeo and Juliet, in that it is about two lovers whose relationship is not accepted by others because of conflicting backgrounds. The artistic intensions of this film are implicitly stated everywhere throughout the film. All of the dancing, singing, acting and pretend fighting was done thoroughly and very well, although the miking and mixing during the pretend fighting did not seem realistic. Specific actors, dancers, and singers were trained and taught how to perform in order to get the message across to the audience that this West Side Story is not just a film, but a theatrical, musical, choreographed, work of art. Specific messages are portrayed in different art forms such as the way the Puerto Rican women dressed compared to the American women. The Puerto Ricans had fluffier, more brightly colored dresses than did the Americans and the Puerto Rican women made their own clothes. I lived in Mexico last summer and in my opinion, their authentic style of clothing still has those same characteristics. The exception was Maria, who was also not allowed to wear a brightly colored dress with a low cut neck because she was too young, and although she claimed to be an American girl now which would make her eligible for being more free and independent, or shall we say sexy, she still had to wear a conservatively cut white dress. A characterization was pointed out about American women being able do more and be less conservative than Puerto Rican women. The musical selections and songs that were sung told a story and narrated the almost the entire film, as is expected in... ...remember hearing Bernardo telling Maria that when she is an old lady with five children then she could boss him around. That statement in itself also holds true to the stereotype these people usually have a lot of children and this was brought up again in the song, America, when Anita asks how she will get all of her cousins into a car. I would say the target audience for this film would be people who enjoy musicals, no matter their age. The time lag would only have much of an effect for younger generations who do not remember the 1960's and the discrimination and the political actions that were being taken during that time period. The film is still a classic I would say because of all of the wonderful costumes, dancing, singing, acting, and clever story telling through songs. I can definitely see why this film was a popular success then as it still is today.

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay -- CSR Essays

In recent years, companies are becoming socially responsible and now stakeholders almost expect a company to have CSR policies. Therefore, in twentieth century, corporate social responsibility (CSR) became an important development in public life (Barnett, ND).Corporate social responsibility is defined as â€Å"the ways in which an organisation exceeds the minimum obligations to stakeholders specified through regulation and corporate governance† (Johnson, Schools and Whittington, N.D cited in March, 2012). Stakeholders can be defined as â€Å"those individuals or groups who depend on the organisation to fulfil their own goals and on whom, in turn, the organisation depends† (Johnson, Schools and Whittington, N.D cited in March, 2012). There are many purposes for this essay, the first purpose is to descried the key principles of corporate social responsibility and explain their importance for stakeholders. Secondly, is to show how far this company follows those principles in order to be accountable to at least three of its stakeholders. In this essay, three stakeholders, environment, customers and employees will be evaluated respectively and the key principles of the stakeholders will be examined. There is a link between corporate social responsibility and the key principles of the stakeholders, which a company should follow to be responsible to its stakeholders. The first stakeholder is environment and the key principle used for it is not damage the environment for example, recycling, dealing correctly with their wastes and emissions. The second stakeholder is the employees. The key principle for the employees is companies providing safe and health working conditions for their staff. Moreover, the employees earn an appropriate salary for ... ...012] - Starbucks. 2011: Recycling & Reducing Waste Available from: http://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/environment/recycling [Accessed on 11th of March 2012] - Starbucks Newsroom. 2010: Starbucks struggles with reducing environmental impacts. Available from: http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=472 [Accessed on 11th of March 2012] - Starbucks Newsroom. 2010: Starbucks to Provide Additional Lower Calorie Options this January. Available from: http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=313 [Accessed on 11th of March 2012] - The recycle times. 2011: Starbucks steps up to the plate: addresses pollution allegations by setting up a recycle process. Available from: http://therecycletimes.com/2011/04/starbucks-steps-up-to-the-plate-addresses-pollution-allegations-by-setting-up-a-recycle-process/ [Accessed on 11th of March 2012]

Thorn Queen Chapter Thirteen

Ysabel couldn't be coaxed out of her room, no matter how hard I tried. I even sent Shaya to do it, seeing as she tended to be a bit more personable than I was. No luck. Ysabel remained firmly entrenched and would only ramble over and over about how she was going to tell her lord about me and escape this accursed place. Evening wore on, and I couldn't drag myself back to Tucson. My feelings were in turmoil. I'd never expected to feel guilty about anything pertaining to Ysabel, but there it was. And as more time passed, I didn't just feel bad about inadvertently suffocating her. As soon as I'd realized what I had done, I knew I had to cease practicing this kind of magic immediately. Storm King had used it to kill his enemies in horrible ways. Kiyo had warned that delving further and further into my powers would put me on a path I might not be able to turn away from. And yet†¦that was the problem. I knew I had to stop†¦but I didn't want to. Sure, I didn't want to learn air magic to kill. But after touching that power†¦I couldn't stop thinking about it. I found my mind spinning, analyzing the air around me and how easy it would be to manipulate it. What had started as a seemingly small lesson from Ysabel was quickly moving into larger and larger implications as I grasped more of air's patterns and how it worked. It was like I didn't even need a teacher. My own nature and pull toward magic was running away and creating its own lessons. My conflicted ruminations were interrupted when a letter arrived via the Otherworld's equivalent of the Pony Express. It was from Leith. As I'd suspected, he'd devoured the engineering books. What I hadn't expected was that he'd already developed a plan for how to implement some of the irrigation systems and was going to accompany some workers out to Westoria in the morning to get started-unless I had any objections, of course. If I didn't, then he would be honored if I would come out to meet them. He also added in his letter that he had investigated the towns near the Yellow River crossroads. None of them had any reports of missing girls. It figured, I thought. I either had enough bad luck to be the only monarch with runaway girls-or I possibly had an enemy specifically targeting me. Considering the number of gentry who resented my rule, the latter wouldn't have surprised me. Regardless, I decided I had to go out to see Leith tomorrow. Even if it was just an elaborate attempt to woo me, he was still going to an awful lot of trouble with this. Plus, I hoped that if I spent the night here, Ysabel might finally emerge. So, I stayed over, giving me the opportunity to meditate with the land. While I noticed no ostensible difference in the morning, there was a strange, intangible feel to it†¦. It seemed healthier. Like always, I couldn't exactly articulate why. Perhaps most disturbing of all, I found that staying over wasn't quite the agonizing ordeal it used to be. I was preparing to head out to see Leith when a guard announced that a rider was approaching. I wondered if it was a messenger-or possibly Leith himself. Instead, it was someone quite unexpected. Dorian. The castle servants fell all over themselves to welcome the Oak King, and he swept inside as though perfectly entitled to it. Which, I guessed, he was. Nonetheless, I had no time for his antics today and greeted him with hands on my hips. â€Å"Not today, Dorian. I have things to do.† â€Å"As do I,† he said. He had that typically laconic tone to his voice, but there was an oddly serious-and impatient-look in his eyes. It was not an expression I'd seen very often. â€Å"I've come to see my subject. I knew you wouldn't welcome her with open arms, but honestly, my dear, your attempts at murder shock even me-no small feat.† My jaw nearly dropped to the floor, both because of his assumption and the fact that she'd somehow gotten a message out to him. â€Å"Wha-? Dorian, it's not true! It was an accident. I didn't realize what I was doing.† â€Å"May I see her?† he asked, not acknowledging my plea. I could hardly deny him that, and he hurried off to her room without another word. She admitted him-no surprise there-and I found myself pacing the entire time they were together. It had been bad enough that Ysabel had thought me capable of assault. But somehow†¦the idea of Dorian thinking badly of me? Well, it struck me harder. I shouldn't have cared what he thought-God knew I was mad at him more often than not. Yet, I realized that deep inside I wanted his good opinion. I felt sick to my stomach that I might have lost it. When he emerged, his face was still serious. â€Å"I believe I have convinced her that your intentions weren't murderous.† I sagged in relief-more, I think, because he appeared to believe me. â€Å"Thank you.† â€Å"The question now is: do you want her to stay?† â€Å"Will she?† I asked, startled. â€Å"She obeys me,† he said simply. â€Å"She'll stay and continue to teach if I tell her to.† â€Å"I don't want anyone here against their will†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I've assured her of her safety. She won't live in-much-fear of you. So, that's no longer the issue. The issue instead is if you want to continue with her teachings.† â€Å"I can't-not after†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I stopped, realizing I was unsure of the words leaving my lips. I didn't want to be like Storm King. I didn't want a natural affinity for learning ways to kill people. And yet†¦I couldn't stop thinking about the way I'd felt wielding that kind of power. Controlling water had given me a rush; air had doubled it. Dorian's gold-green eyes were watching me very carefully. â€Å"I see,† he said. â€Å"Then I'll tell her she'll be staying a little longer.† I started to protest but couldn't. He returned to her, stayed a few more minutes, and then joined me in my parlor where I had resumed pacing. â€Å"Well, then,† he said briskly, â€Å"that is that.† The grim set to his face was gone, and I found myself grateful to see the return of his usual mien. â€Å"I noticed you were about to leave. Off to free humans from your subjects?† â€Å"Off to free my subjects from me.† I explained my task, and his features lit up with interest. â€Å"How convenient that I'll be traveling in the same direction. Unless you'd like me to wait here until you return?† No, the last thing I wanted was to encourage Dorian to make himself at home in my castle. So, I grudgingly conceded that he could go with me, partly because I still felt guilty and grateful over his intervention in the Ysabel incident. One bright side to him being with me was that Rurik decided I didn't need an entire retinue for the trip. He alone accompanied us, and I wondered idly how Dorian managed to go wherever he wanted without an entourage. I didn't like to think he was a more authoritative ruler than me. â€Å"Don't give me a hard time about this air thing,† I warned. â€Å"I don't want any spiels about how I'm embracing my heritage and approaching my destiny.† Dorian smiled, eyes on the road ahead of us. â€Å"I don't need to tell you things you already know.† â€Å"Of course†¦I suppose if I did get a better grip on my magic, I might be able to get rid of those fucking fire demons.† â€Å"You see? I told you I don't need to say anything. You're finding ways to rationalize your use of magic all on your own.† â€Å"Hey, this is a serious threat. You can't tell me you'd be all casual if you had demons running loose in your kingdom.† I frowned. â€Å"Or would you? I got the impression a lot of rulers don't bother themselves with that kind of thing.† Dorian's eyes took on that serious glint again, despite the small smile on his face. â€Å"Aeson didn't bother. Don't generalize to all of us. You know better. If I had demons in my land, I'd lead a group out myself to obliterate them.† I wondered if Dorian could. My potential power might be greater than his, but at the moment, his control and skill made him a more dangerous force than me. A ruler in the Otherworld had to be powerful, or else the land wouldn't accept them. It was a wonder I'd been found worthy. â€Å"Do you want me to help you?† he asked when I remained silent. â€Å"I'll go with you the next time you strike.† â€Å"What would that cost me?† I asked with an eye roll. â€Å"Why do you assume everything I do has an ulterior motive? Isn't it enough I'd want to help you?† â€Å"I don't know,† I said, not liking how his words made me feel bad. Was I attributing more insidious motives to him than he deserved? â€Å"I don't trust anyone around here.† Westoria was looming in the distance. â€Å"I don't even trust Leith's engineering generosity. He's not doing this for the sake of trade.† Dorian's eyes lifted to the approaching village. â€Å"That,† he said, â€Å"we can both agree on. No matter how much you beat yourself up over those demons, you have more than enough strength to bind the land to you.† I hated his uncanny ability to guess my thoughts. â€Å"When Katrice dies, the Rowan Land will either pass in entirety to someone with the power to control it, or it will divide itself and be subsumed into other kingdoms.† â€Å"Shaya said the same thing-and that Leith thinks being hooked up with me would help keep it in the family.† I shook my head. â€Å"One land's bad enough. I don't have the power to control two.† â€Å"You'd be surprised,† he said ominously. Our arrival was greeted with the same wonder and awe I'd had before the demon incident. Apparently, yesterday's food shipments and Leith's presence today had reestablished my awesome reputation. Dorian seemed to have an effect as well. As we dismounted and walked through the village, the residents' eyes followed both of us, filled with admiration and wonder. Glancing at Dorian, I could understand their feelings. He strode through the dusty town just as he had my castle, confident and majestic, even after a hot and wearying ride. He looked like, well, a king, and even I couldn't help but admire his good looks. Beside him, I felt frumpy and insignificant. Then, I tried to pull back out of my glum thoughts and imagine what we must look like to these people, both of us tall and red-haired. We looked good together, I knew. I was in jeans, but I'd cleaned up this morning, and my hair was down. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see where the sun lit it up, giving the red a golden hue that complemented Dorian's truer red. My tank top was blue, a good color for me, and I had on my usual gemstone jewelry. Perhaps most importantly, we carried our titles as king and queen, and to these people, I realized we were probably the equivalent of a Hollywood couple on the red carpet. â€Å"Your majesty! I'm so glad you could-† Leith had come running up to us and came to a total standstill when he saw Dorian. After a few stunned moments, he made a polite bow to the Oak King. â€Å"Your majesty. Also a pleasure.† I could tell Dorian was delighted to have ruined Leith's plans for a romantic interlude. â€Å"Well, I hated to part from Eugenie this morning, so I thought I'd come along and see what's new.† I had to restrain myself from elbowing him. His wording implied that we'd woken up together. Our former relationship was no secret, and Dorian had pitched his words loudly, so that some of the gathered villagers would hear. No doubt this would be all over the Otherworld by tonight. Leith looked even more dismayed than before, and I tried to smooth things over. â€Å"Why don't you show us the project?† I asked him. â€Å"I don't think I can thank you enough for what you've done.† Leith brightened and eagerly led us forward. As we walked, Dorian murmured in my ear, â€Å"Believe me, he's more than sure you could thank him enough.† â€Å"How come you can allegedly do things for me without ulterior motives but no one else can?† I hissed back. Dorian only grinned as Leith headed toward the village's edge and showed us his handiwork. There was little to see of his irrigation system at this point. Mostly people were digging and laying out the foundation. Leith did his best to explain what it would develop into and even showed us blueprints-quaintly written on parchment. I followed them a little but could tell they were gibberish to Dorian, despite his polite and confident smile. Zealous or not, a prince of the Rowan Land was not about to do manual labor, and once the tour was done, he sat down with Dorian and me at the mayor's house. Davros seemed only too happy to keep offering his home as my hangout and eagerly served us wine before leaving his esteemed guests to discuss whatever it was royalty talked about. â€Å"This is only the beginning of what we can do,† Leith said, positioning himself so that Dorian wasn't in his line of sight. â€Å"I'd love to come visit and discuss more ways to work through this. I've got some ideas on how to construct buildings that will reflect light better. Have you ever considered redesigning your castle?† â€Å"Yikes,† I said. â€Å"No. That'd be a big feat.† â€Å"Not as big as you think. Not with the right help.† I shook my head with a smile. â€Å"Let's just focus on the people first.† Leith smiled back. â€Å"Sure. But I will come by some day to show you some palace ideas-just in case you change your mind. Or, better yet, you should come visit us. Mother would love to show you the hospitality of the Rowan Land.† â€Å"Or, better yet, you should throw the Thorn Queen a party,† said Dorian, deadpan. â€Å"I'm sure she would love it.† This time, I did elbow Dorian. Leith didn't notice. Dorian knew perfectly well I dreaded Otherworldly social events-particularly when the focus was on me. â€Å"Really,† I began. â€Å"That's not-â€Å" â€Å"Of course!† said Leith. â€Å"We haven't had a grand ball in quite a while. We could invite hundreds of people†¦.† I decided then that elbowing wasn't severe enough. It was with great restraint that I didn't actually kick Dorian. He placed his own elbow on the table, resting his chin in his hand, appearing quite entertained. â€Å"You'd have to outdo Maiwenn's party, to truly show Eugenie honor,† said Dorian. â€Å"That's going to be hard to do. Of course, Maiwenn has an unfair advantage with her maternal glow, eh? Eugenie was just telling me on the way here how all this baby talk is kindling longings of her own.† I choked on my wine. â€Å"I love children too,† Leith told me. â€Å"I can't wait to have some-once I find the right woman.† I was spared more of this when one of Leith's workers came in, anxious over some mishap. Leith looked devastated at the thought of abandoning me-and also embarrassed over me witnessing a flaw in his grand plans. â€Å"I'm sorry,† he said. â€Å"I hate to leave you. I'm sure this will only take a moment.† â€Å"Actually,† I said, rising. â€Å"We should probably get going as well.† â€Å"Must you?† he asked, face falling further. â€Å"I'm sure I'll see you soon.† â€Å"Yes,† agreed Dorian. â€Å"You should get moving on that ball. Or maybe I should just throw one for her†¦.† Leith totally fell for the baiting. â€Å"No, no. I would be more than honored to.† He swept me a bow, and I let him kiss my hand. â€Å"I'll have news for you soon, I promise.† I smiled and expressed my thanks and allowed him to kiss my hand again when he insisted. As soon as he was gone, I turned on Dorian. â€Å"Are you trying to push me into his arms or away?† â€Å"Ironically, doing one causes the other.† He stretched and stifled a yawn. â€Å"Were you telling the truth? Are you ready to leave?† â€Å"Yeah, I think so-â€Å" â€Å"Your majesty?† Davros stuck his head into the room, wearing his usual apologetic look. His eyes flicked nervously from Dorian to me. â€Å"I'm so sorry to bother you†¦I know you must be busy and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"What is it?† â€Å"She's been found, your majesty. The missing girl? Her parents tracked her down last night but were afraid to tell you†¦she seemed so distraught. I only just found out myself. I told them you'd want to know-â€Å" â€Å"Of course, I do.† I was already moving toward the door, Dorian fast on my heels. â€Å"Where are they?† Still bobbing his head in obeisance, Davros hastily led us to a small home on the opposite side from Leith's construction. He beat impatiently on the door. â€Å"Open up! The queen is here.† Almost a minute passed before the door opened. The woman who had accosted me on my first visit peered out, eyes wide. â€Å"Your majesty,† she said humbly, inclining her head. She didn't seem to recognize Dorian. â€Å"We-we didn't know you were here.† â€Å"I want to see her,† I said impatiently. â€Å"Let me talk to her.† The woman hesitated, fearful of me but also fearful of something else, apparently. Davros was undeterred. â€Å"This is the Thorn Queen! Let her in.† With a gulp, the woman stepped aside. I found myself in a small but clean cottage, dimly lit thanks to all the curtains being drawn, though all the windows were open to allow a breeze. The woman's husband met us as we walked through the kitchen, his face pale and afraid. â€Å"Your majesty†¦forgive us. We were afraid to tell you. We were afraid she'd run away again.† â€Å"I'm not going to hurt her. I just want to talk to her.† It was a bit depressing, between Ysabel and this family, knowing everyone was terrified of me. Ironically, before I'd known about my gentry heritage, I'd been proud of the fear I inflicted on Otherworldly inhabitants. â€Å"Please take me to her.† I felt Dorian's hand on my shoulder and his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, â€Å"You do not need to say please.† With a quick exchange of looks, the couple led us to the back of the cottage, into a tiny bedroom. It too was darkened, and I could make out a slim girl lying on a bed. There was a washcloth on her forehead that fell off when she sat upright at our approach. She cringed against the wall. â€Å"Who is it? I told you I didn't want to see anyone†¦.† â€Å"It's all right, Moria,† said her mother. â€Å"This is the queen. She's come to talk to you. She's not going to hurt you.† The girl wilted even more, blond hair covering half of her face. â€Å"No, no†¦She's come with the others, come with her human blood to bind us and kill us and-â€Å" â€Å"Moria,† I said gently, holding my hands out as one would under a white flag. â€Å"She's right. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk to you. It won't take long.† â€Å"They all say that,† Moria said, eyes wide with tears. â€Å"They all say they won't hurt you†¦all the humans†¦you're no different†¦they all say they aren't†¦.† She lapsed into muttering too low for me to hear, her hands clinging to the covers. â€Å"I think,† Dorian murmured to me, â€Å"that her experience has left her†¦ah, a little touched. I doubt you'll get anything useful from her. There's a healer at Maiwenn's court who's particularly good with sickness of the mind. You should send for her.† I had a feeling he was right but had to make one more attempt. â€Å"I just want to know where you've been. Who took you. I want to make sure it doesn't happen again. Tell me who it is, and I'll stop them.† â€Å"No,† she breathed. â€Å"You're the same†¦the same as him†¦the Red Snake Man.† â€Å"Red Snake†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I still had demons on the brain, and an image of their red and black mottled skin came to mind. Were they snake-like? â€Å"Moria, were you taken by demons? Or some kind of†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Hell, in the Otherworld, any monster you could imagine pretty much existed, as Smokey had shown us. â€Å"†¦um, snake monster?† She shook her head frantically. â€Å"Our own kind don't hurt us. It's only yours†¦you're all the same†¦the human blood†¦all marked the same†¦.† Her eyes left my face and lowered. For a disorienting moment, I thought she was staring at my chest until I realized her gaze was on my arm. I absentmindedly touched the spot. It was where my snake tattoo coiled around my arm. Moria squeezed her eyes shut. â€Å"All the same†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I stiffened. â€Å"Did he†¦are you saying the person who took you had a tattoo like this on his arm?† â€Å"The Red Snake Man,† she whispered, still refusing to open her eyes. â€Å"Did he banish you? Did he force you to this world? Or did you come back on your own?† â€Å"Iron†¦iron everywhere†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I stared off at nothing for several seconds. â€Å"I'm done,† I said, turning to her parents. â€Å"She can rest now.† I left the house as swiftly as I'd come in, Dorian matching my pace. â€Å"What's going on? That meant something to you.† I nodded, heading toward where Rurik stood with our horses. â€Å"I think I know who took her-and maybe the others. Not bandits or a monster. It was a human.† â€Å"How do you know that?† â€Å"Because of the tattoo.† The Red Snake Man. I'd seen a red snake tattoo just the other day-on Art. He'd had that on one arm and a raven on the other. â€Å"It's another shaman, one who lives very close to where the crossroads around here opens up in my world.† He was also the shaman who had told me to my face he knew nothing about gentry girls. I came to a halt by the horses and absentmindedly stroked the side of mine. She looked back and sniffed me. â€Å"But why? Why would he take a gentry girl? Or more than one? His job is to get them out of our world. I could see him banishing them out of the human world†¦.That might traumatize her, but that doesn't sound like what happened. She disappeared from this world. She made it sound like she didn't want to be in the human world.† Dorian snorted. â€Å"Eugenie, where in your jaded existence did you pick up this naà ¯vete? If a human took one of our girls, it'd be for the same reason we'd take one of theirs. For the same reason any man would abduct a girl.† I blanched at his implications. â€Å"But more than one?† â€Å"He wouldn't be the first man to prefer-ah, how shall we say it? Variety.† I couldn't see it of Art, not the Art who happily tended his garden and offered us beer and pop. He'd known Roland for years. They'd worked together. Was Art truly a kidnapper and rapist? Or was the girl just traumatized from being banished? It could be a pretty horrific experience. I grimaced, feeling a sharp twisting in my stomach. I'd come too close to rape already in my life to treat even a hypothetical situation lightly. Was Moria a victim? Were there others like her out there? Maybe it wasn't truly Art†¦and yet, her words had dark implications. The human blood. A mark like mine. The Red Snake Man. The crossroads to Yellow River. He had to be involved; I just didn't know how. I gave the horse one last pat and then mounted. â€Å"I have to get home,† I said, turning back to Dorian and Rurik. There was some mistake here, some mix-up. Art wasn't involved in this. He couldn't be, at least not in the way Dorian had suggested. â€Å"I have to talk to someone. Immediately.† I waited for the requisite Dorian joke, but none came as he mounted his own horse. â€Å"Then we go different ways. Be careful, Eugenie.† For some reason, frankness and concern from Dorian was more disconcerting than his usual banter. â€Å"If I'm right about this, then it's a human matter. Should be a cakewalk compared to what I deal with around here.† Dorian shook his head. â€Å"I'd have to disagree. Give me demons and restless spirits any day over human deceit. But if you need help, I'm here. Just ask.† Again, there should have been a joke here. I glanced away, troubled by the way he looked at me. â€Å"Thanks. Hopefully it'll be a simple matter.† How exactly? That I didn't know. I wasn't sure that roughing Art up would really accomplish anything-if he truly was at fault here. â€Å"See you later, Dorian.† He nodded by way of a farewell. Then: â€Å"And of course, my dear, you may kill as many humans as you like, but please try not to harm any more of my subjects. If you can help it.† There it was, at last. The joke. â€Å"Noted,† I said. I attempted a glare, but there was a smile on my lips as I did. I set a hard pace back to my castle and the gateway that would bring me back to my own world. Crossing over at the Yellow River one would have been faster, but I needed to go to my home in Tucson and prepare myself before facing Art. Rurik matched my pace easily and mercifully stayed silent. He'd watched me and Dorian together the way a child watches his or her divorced parents, in the hopes that Mommy and Daddy might make amends someday. My whirling thoughts made the trip go fast-as did the land's quick route today-and we were greeted with a commotion when we reached the castle's outer borders. A group of guards came tearing toward us, and my heart seized. What now? A siege? Demons? Kiyo? Yet as they got closer, I could see that the guards almost looked†¦enthusiastic. â€Å"Your majesty! My lord! We found her.† Rurik and I drew our horses to a halt and climbed down. I felt my legs scream and knew I'd be sore later. I wasn't so practiced a rider that I could ride like that without consequences. I ignored the pain and turned to the guards. â€Å"Who?† I demanded. â€Å"We have her. The girl. The runaway girl from Westoria,† said the guard, clearly pleased at his success. Rurik and I exchanged puzzled glances. â€Å"That's impossible. We already saw her.† The guard shrugged. â€Å"We found her out near the steppes, by the Rowan Land border. She matches the description and was clearly afraid of us. She tried to run away.† â€Å"Take me to her,† I said helplessly. Had my guards found another of these kidnapped girls? It would certainly provide more information. He led us inside toward one of the little-used rooms, explaining that they hadn't wanted to put her in the dungeon-although her fear and desire to escape had required a guard. His expression turned uncomfortable. â€Å"We, um, also had to bind her in iron. She kept attempting magic. They're still not able to fully stop her.† A guard like this could never handle iron shackles without causing himself intense pain. Sometimes, though, prisoners would be bound in bronze cuffs with a tiny bit of iron affixed to them. It required delicate handling by the captors but was usually enough to stunt the prisoner's magic. We reached the room, and the men on duty stepped aside for us to enter. There, across the room, a slim young woman had her back to us. Long blond hair cascaded down her back, and I had a weird, disorienting sense for a moment as my brain grappled with the possibility that Moria had somehow made it here before us. Then, as the girl slowly turned around, the torchlight began bringing out glints of red in the golden hair that little Moria hadn't had. I realized what was happening even before I fully saw my prisoner's face. â€Å"You have got to be kidding me,† I said. It was Jasmine.