Development of a Code of Ethics: IT Challenges Essay

Societal changes caused by information technology and the resulting ethical usage  The information technology advancements continue to impact the workplace, societies and cultures. In today’s world, information technology is almost part of every business, educational institute, and even personal activity (Brooks, 2010). Computer and internet access have found their way to households, schools, libraries, people’s cell phones, banks, hospitals, governments, coffee shops, and other public places. As the industry evolves, so do the needs and special niches of society from mainframe systems, to micro systems, to PC-based LAN and WAN systems, to virtual systems and the internet. Advanced technology means unlimited prospects for the society. In the same token, new technologies mean increased exposure to engage in unethical behaviors. The growing concerns have given rise to efforts in developing code of ethics to prevent violations and address ethical dilemmas. When policies are ambiguous, ethical decisions can vary depending to the personal judgment or interpretation of the manager. There are instances where the lines are blurry that it becomes difficult to draw the line between ethical and unethical behavior (Brooks, 2010). This is the reason why it is important for education systems and businesses to address the ethical concerns of information technology usage and to develop a code of ethics to prevent ethical dilemmas and violations. New capabilities of computers give rise to new choices for action. This results in situations where either there is no conduct for guidance or there is inadequate policy to address the situation. James H. Moor, a Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy at Dartmouth College published an article â€Å"What is Computer Ethics?† where he identified this situation as policy vacuum (Moor, 1985). History of the development of Code of Ethics in computing In the 1950 era, a new technology in the form of TAB machines was introduced  by accountants. Very few understood the capabilities of these machines and even fewer had the skills to operate them. The machine accountants were faced with challenges in the usage of the TAB machines and did not have any guidance to follow. The National Machine Accountants Association (NMAA) was founded in 1960 to address the growing issues of this new technology. The changing nature of processing information brought about by the introduction of computers in the early 1960’s gave rise to another challenge. The industry was changing and the widespread interest on computers required a change in the mission and goals of NMAA. The association’s name was changed to Data Processing Management Association (DPMA) to be more reflective of the new objectives that promoted continuing education and professional certification of its members. As the computing industry evolved, business leaders, accountants, and educators recognized the need to advance Information Technology (IT) professional development, support IT education, and formulate IT policies that will guide the usage of IT in many facets of society. The association adopted yet another name in 1996 which is now the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP). Development of Code of Ethics There are at least two basic factors that influence the development of Code of Ethics for IT. One is from sources outside of the corporate structure, and the other is from the corporation’s governance. AITP as an outside source. The accounting environment established the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to oversee, regulate, and discipline accounting firms that do not conform to accountability and transparency standards. In the information technology world, similar professional agencies were formed to provide guiding principles in the usage of information technology to ward off undesirable and unethical behavior. A prominent professional association that lends oversight to the guiding principles of information technology is the AITP. AITP is an association composed of a premier network of IT business professionals focused on providing a community of knowledge, education and resources to its members bound by the association’s guiding principles on Guiding Principles reflect AITP’s beliefs about your role as a member and the impact we want AITP to  have in the IT profession. The association extends opportunities to its member to become better leaders that excel through honesty demanding ethical behavior and fiscal responsibility. The association’s webpage shares news, IT developments and events with chapter members, IT professionals, faculty advisors, student members, and various community groups. Today, there are over 1,000 U.S. regional chapters with members that are linked in who make continuous network connections around the country and across the globe. Corporate governance as an inside source. Prudent governance of an organization’s IT functions is viewed as an integral part of corporate strategy in facilitating information-based competitive advantage in promoting organizational growth and progress. Enterprise leaders like the board members, executive management and chief information officers are entrusted with the responsibility of raising awareness and understanding to ensure IT meets and exceeds expectations, its risks mitigated, and standards followed (IT Governance Institute, 2003). These officers are uniquely positioned to fulfill their role in harmonizing the organizational strategy with the accounting, auditing, operational and IT controls that is central in adhering to corporate ethical behavior. It is important for top management to lead in promoting awareness of ethical compliance within their organization as it sends messages to employees that inevitably shape the culture of their organizations. Enforcement issues related to a code of ethics for information technology The expansion of Internet brings together different cultures and societies where norms of ethical and acceptable behavior, and the role of computing and communication networks within the society vary a lot. In protecting globally distributed systems that employ open public networks, there is a great demand to specify what individuals’ rights and responsibilities are in regard to these networks. The distributed global nature of networks makes this a significantly difficult task. The lack of centralized authority and differences in moral codes between different groups, such as original developers of networks, business users, private users and governmental  organizations lead to significant consistencies. These situations can easily trigger enforcement issues that can result in ethical dilemmas. Differences of organizational culture can also become problematic when dealing with how operational policies and methods are enforced. Various groups within the company may have significantly different objectives and requirements for the use of networks, and balancing different needs and wishes may be a difficult task. The task of adopting or designing a common communication network to adapt to the various departmental needs becomes complex. The issue becomes even more complicated when considering the non-technical issues. For instance, it becomes difficult to establish a common ethics guideline that can provide comprehensive protection and security for all aspects of the organizational structure. There is also an enforcement issue on banning people from downloading data like music off the internet. This is a clear violation of the Copyright laws but protecting the authors is difficult to enforce considering that the internet is open to anyone who has access to a computer. The downloading of music does not cause actual harm to anyone, but it is unethical. A hacker can argue that a crime is not committed since there is no theft, vandalism or breach of confidentiality. In an Examiner article published by Scot Trodik on â€Å"Ethical Issues on Hacking† (Trodik, 2011), the Hacker Manifesto states that the only crime committed is the crime of curiosity and since the information is free, hacking is therefore justified. Conversely, the Computer Fraud and Abuse act of 1986 recently expanded in March 2013 made it illegal to tap into a computer without authorization and access private government, financial or credit card information. However, this act was flawed because of its broad scope and vague wordings that would criminalize many everyday activities allowing outlandishly severe penalties. Establishing a code of ethics in an online educational environment Technology has enormously changed the teaching world from the traditional classroom to online learning. Distance learning allows a student to choose  courses to enroll in and enables a student to develop a personalized schedule. Higher education institutions that offer online learning should not lose sight in stressing the importance of ethical character development of both the faculty and the learner in the pursuit of a personal, academic and professional excellence. This educational revolution can pose an ethical challenge because the interaction between the faculty and the learner becomes less personal in comparison to a face-to-face classroom instruction. It is for this reason that it is crucial to establish and adopt a code of conduct that gives guidance to the maintenance of effective and responsible distance learning programs. Institutions should provide policy guidelines for faculty and learners to follow and incorporate technology ethics in the curriculum. An Academic Conduct Committee should be established to enforce academic rules and promote an atmosphere of learning. Penalties for violators of the code should be weighed with fairness keeping in mind the intent to preserve the integrity of distance learning educational process. A student handbook on the rules of academic integrity should be a required reading material so that students know what the instances that violate academic integrity. Examples of these violations include plagiarism, fabricating citation, use of unauthorized assistance, and falsifying or altering results of research work. Among these violations, Plagiarism is one of the most common academic misconduct in a distance learning setting. Many factors lead students to commit plagiarism. Some of these reasons may be because of new rules to learn, academic pressures, poor time management or poor research skills. Notwithstanding these, students should have the responsibility to educate themselves honestly. References Al-Rjoub, H., Zabian, A. & Qawasmeh, S. (2008). Electronic Monitoring: The Employees Pointof View. Journal of Social Sciences , 4(3), 189-195. Brooks, R. (2010). The Development of a Code of Ethics: An Online Classroom Approach to Making Connections between Ethical Foundations and the Challenges Presented by Information Technology. American Journal of  Business Education. October 2010. 3(10), 1-13. Collack. V. (2007). What is computer ethics? Article analysis. Retrieved August 21, 2013 from http://www.collak.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id Cone, E. (2008, September 10). Social Responsibility: Doing the Right Thing. CIOInsight Retrieved from http://www.cioinsight.com/c/a/Research/Doing-the-Right-Thing Harbert, T. (2007, October 29). Ethics in IT; Dark Secrets, Ugly Truths. And Little Guidance. Computerworld , 41(44), 34-36.Jennings, M. (2009). Business Ethics: Case Studies and Selected Readings(6th Ed.). Mason, OH:South-Western Cengage Learning.Kuzu, A. (2009). Problems Related to Computer Ethics: Origins of the Problems and Suggested Solutions. Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology,8(2), 91-110. Mingers, J. & Walsham, G. (2010). Toward ethical information systems: The contribution of discourse ethics. MIS Quarterly. Vol. 34 No. 4. December 2010. 833-854. Moor, J. H. (1985). What is Computer Ethics? Darmouth College. Moor, J. H. (2001). The Future of Computer Ethics: You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet! Ethics and Information Technology,3, 38-91. Moor, J. H. (2005). Why We Need Better Ethics for Emerging Technologies. Ethics and Information Technology, 7, 111-119. doi:10.1007/s10676-006-0008-0 Association of Information Technology Professionals. http://www.aitp.org/?page=Ethics. Accessed August 20, 2013. Board briefing on IT governance. IT Governance Institute. http://www.itgi.org/Template_ITGIc9a4.html?Section. Accessed August 22, 2013. Trodik, S. (2011). Ethical issues on hacking. The Hacker’s Manifesto. http://www.examiner.com/article/ethical-issues-hacking. Accessed August 23, 2013.

Final discussion

For that season, I would have become a phantom thief in order for my children and myself to live an easier life. In addition, having unlimited money, could have been more active in my kid's life by not having to work two jobs that made me so tired. Miserably, when I did see them I still was barely there, and we were still broke. As a result, sometimes did not even get to put my kids to bed, or wake them up in the morning, as I was either already gone to work or not home yet. Nevertheless, with the super power of the ring I could have given them everything they needed or wanted (within reason).For instance, I could eve afforded to buy all my children's school pictures, along with, not having to say no to things such as, field trips, birthday parties, or even new shoes. This analogy is an example of psychological egoism because of my inspiration of self-regard (Mackinac, 2012). What I mean is our life was hard but we would have made it without the ring but my maternal thinking would ha ve wanted a better life for my kids and myself. Consider that the normative theory, ethics of care, comes into play in this situation because it was my duty to provide us with a better life.However, if had the same opportunity today, loud not take the ring. Now know it is against my personal ethics of what is right and what is wrong due to my firm beliefs of my religion. Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians :9-11, n. D. ) The word of God is the theory I live by, and it makes me happy to know my moral reasoning will result in eternal peace. As Kant believes, a key point is the expansion of positive predispositions to act in a particular manner will empower us to ensure a virtue without difficulty (Mackinac, 2012). In this way, the rules commanded to us in the Bible are the laws ought to govern my life by because they are good. Plain and simple. For this reason, there is no chance that I would take the ring, as I would be in fear of it leading me to do things I normally would not do.Moreover, I do not want to eel the shame associated with, not being just. As a final point, in the video, Ethics Ill #3 Ring of Edges, it is said that Glaucoma clams that no one is just willingly. He also believes doing wrong is naturally good and will ultimately make you happy. Accordingly, he also accepts as truth that a person is also doing their self an injustice if they are against doing wrong because nothing good will come of being fair. As well as for Socrates, I disagree with Glaucoma, and do trust that acting just is good. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. (n. D. ). â€Å"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall†¦Retrieved from http://view. Bellybuttons. Mom/ Ethics Ill #3 Ring of Edges. [Video]. Retrieved from http://WV. Youth. Com/ watch? V=jimmying Mackinac, B. (2012). Ethics: Theory and contemporary issues (concise 2nd deed. ). Boston, MA: Coinage Learning Melody Piquantly Email Author RE: Discussion – week 2 – Thread I Collapse Top of Form Parent Post Week 2 Discussion The Ring of Edges Walden University Melody Piquantly would like to think that I as a person who helps people that I would be an Ethical egoism, ‘What we ought to do, how we ought to act†(Mackinac 2012).Not an Individual ethical egoism in this version â€Å"l ought to look out for only yeses ‘(Macaroon 2012). Would also like to think that morally would do the right thing if I had all that power, that my moral virtues (depose us to act well) are in tact that temptation would not take over and I become unjust We all would like to think th at we would do the right thing help the needy, homeless and the people less fortunate than ourselves. I know that's what I would love to do. But self interest may or could get in the way of that.Then there is also greed, the more you get the more you want and hell way I would love it if I never had to work again. But morally I would never hurt someone to et there. In reading The Ring of Edges by Plato, Edges was a very unjust person and I hope that by me being a just person that all that power would not turn me unjust and throw all my morals and virtues out the window. Christopher French Email Author NEE: Discussion – Week 2 – Thread 1 think most people would honestly say that they would be compelled to use the ring.From a feminist care ethic perspective (Mackinac, 201 2), would attempt to use the ring for good. I would want to use it to protect the innocent and those who cannot protect themselves. I would feel had a responsibility to protect society from evil. I would also carry the responsibility of ensuring the ring does not fall into the wrong hands. I would like to say that would be prudent to resist the temptation to use the ring for the wrong reasons. It is human nature for us to be tempted and to make the wrong choices. Could have good intentions, yet make all the wrong decisions.When we stop and think about from a legalistic point of view, even Robin Hood, who stole from the rich to give to the poor, had a moral dilemma. Even though Robin Hood had good intentions and gave the money he stole to the poor, he was still stealing and that is morally wrong (Mackinac, 2012). loud like to think I am a virtuous person, but I am only human and human are not without sin. We can relate the power and temptation of the ring to Adam and Eve and their fall into sin. Adam and Eve were virtuous and without sin. Then they were tempted by the knowledge of good and evil.They knew that the knowledge was forbidden, yet they fell into temptation anyways. I am s ure they had good intentions, but with that knowledge and power comes responsibility and consequences (Mackinac, 2012; Genesis 3:1-8:14 (King James Version)). References Mackinac, B. (2012). Ethics: Theory and contemporary issues (Concise 2nd d. deed. ). Boston, MA: Coinage Learning. Hi Christopher. Nice Post. I certainly appreciated your correlation of the ring in the last paragraph. It is a pity that the devil tempted Adam and Eve. If they had not, we could have been forever free of sin and always joyful.Indeed, the world is paying for their consequences. However, we know the blood of Jesus Christ is a filter that can enable us to live someday in the presence of our Almighty Lord, along with only peace, love and happiness. In your first paragraph, you compare your morality to that of feminine care ethics. I too feel that it is important and my duty, to defend the innocent and feeble. Think it is admirable that you wrote from this viewpoint. As we read in our book, the psychologist Carol Gilligan led discussions that showed that both men and women depict their ethical views differently.It also defined that no man in the study focused on the dilemma of caring. This caring philosophy considers the virtues of compassion and kindness in the context of personal relatedness and how their affiliation will be inclined to a particular action. (Mackinac, 2012). On the other hand, this survey also showed not all women followed this morality. In this interview, think if participated I would have been one of these women. Although I agree with these some of these caring principles, tend to think more in terms of universal ethics, as do men. In this way, â€Å"men are more inclined to talk in terms of fairness and justice and rights. (p 68) Also, I sense that if all nations were charted by unbiased laws that put all people on equal grounds, we could live in a more productive and serene society. (Mackinac, 2012). My question to you is, do you primarily associate yourself wi th the understandings of caring ethics or do you also relate to other principles like me? deed. deed. ). Boston, MA: Coinage Learning I would have to say that I primarily associate myself with the caring ethic. Since childhood, have always care about and for others. During high school, was involved in several social justice projects.I also spent several hours a week babysitting, which is not that common for males to do. After high school, decided enjoyed working with children. Began studying early childhood education. Also took additional course work in human development. I am currently a child development major here at Walden University with a concentration in psychology. I plan on doing graduate work in either school psychology or school counseling and eventually work with elementary and middle school children. I am currently training to be a first responder (Emergency Medical Responder) and am also planning on getting C.E. R. T. Certified as well (Citizen Emergency Response Team) . Even though I am currently not a teacher in a public school system, I love working with children and teaching them. Yesterday, drove about 30 miles to a friend's house to spend the afternoon and evening with their children teaching them science. I have also worked with a few home school families teaching various subjects to children grades K-8. I worked in a child care center caring for children from infancy through school age. Unfortunately, I found it to be a very hostile environment to work in. As the only male teacher amongst about 50 women. The executive director did not think men had any business working with children. From the first day I worked in that center the executive director did everything in her power to get rid of me. Finally about two years later, the board members of the center voted to fire me simply because they got tired of listening to the executive director complain about me. Christopher, you write very well! My mother was an MET in the early ass's. N fact, she became the first paid women paramedic in Prince William County Virginia, a suburb of Washington DC.Then she worked as a paid paramedic in the District of Columbia, where she was retired because she broke her back on the job. Remember how much she loved her job, helping people, it hurt her to have to stop working. Good luck with your training! Also, commend your love of children, too bad there are not more people like you having so much interest in wanting to nurture our children. What an encouragement you are. Alt sounds like those people who brought you done, lost a good thing! Joana Wilkins Email Author I grew up taught to be respectful, not to lie, or steal.Like many of you this is how we were taught by our parents or by the person(s) who was in our lives as we grew up. This is our ethical egoism, what we ought to do, how we ought to act (Mackinac, 201 3, p. 25). I grew up also looking up to my Mom. She went back to school as an adult with kids. She became a nurse, someone w ho helps another person during an illness/sickness. She always put others a head of her. I admired this and want to be this. As a nurse I do put others in front of me. I love to help and heal others. I work in emergency medicine for his reason. The front line of the hospital.I love to get the sickest people in and to be able to stabilize them and get them to the floor feeling better and on the right road to healing. As a Catholic, I do believe in Karma. What goes around, comes around. So with that being said, would not use the ring. I don't think could knowing this. I would love to be able to be debt free, know what others know, but what is all that worth? Is it worth having the knowledge you did wrong? You may think it is k because you can get away with it, but it is not. To steal, lie to get what you want is never k. I know there are people UT there that do this but do they have the respect they deserve?I don't think so. The question regarding can you use the ring for good? I don ‘t think that you can use it as a â€Å"Robin Hood† type story. You are still stealing and possibly lying to get things for others. â€Å"If you could imagine any one obtaining this power of becoming invisible, and never doing any wrong or touching what was another's, he would be thought by the lookers-on to be a most wretched idiot, although they would praise him to one another's faces, and keep up appearances with one another from a fear that they too might suffer injustice† (Plato, n. ). Reference Mackinac, B. 2013). Ethics: Theory and contemporary issues (2nd deed Boston, MA: Coinage Learning. Plato. (n. D. ). The republic. Retrieved January 20, 2015 from: HTTPS://class. Walden. Du/backwards/institution/ USES C/artifacts/ USES _Phil_2001 Bottom of Form Gleeson English Email Author RE: Discussion – Week 2 – Thread 1 In the article, â€Å"The Ring of Edges† (Plato. The republic, 2012), it presented the idea of using a magical ring to become invisible. If I were given something like this to do something without being caught I would honestly say I would not steal or do anything mean or crazy.In fact I probably would be that person to do nice things without anyone knowing. I am no one who likes to be in the spot light and like people to know what I have I done. I believe my rewards come from someone much higher and that's the reward I want not someone knowing that something was done for them so they can keep talking about it. There are many times in life where I may have had a situation to do something bad or not get caught doing it but I didn't choose those paths, they would lead to nothing but darkness.There are many celebrities who have done crazy things and must have thought they would get away with it or even et wrote off just because they were a celebrity but they were caught and brought to justice like anyone else. Dear Kimberly and ALL: Care Ethics and gender differences in ethical perspectives Kimberly: This is a powerful personal testimony of spiritual growth. It reminded me of an enthralling book by V. Hog, Less Miserable. Perhaps you read it or watched the Hollywood musical with the same title. It was released in 2012.Its heroic and noble protagonist, Jean Vallejo, became a prisoner after stealing a loaf of bread to help his family. This act cost him not only the loss of reputation, but also moral and physical sufferings. On one occasion, he stole again from a priest who gave him shelter. The priest, knowing the real cause of his crime, testified on Jean Baleen's behalf. This act of kindness became a turning point in Jean Baleen's story, leading him on the path of a noble life. Do you think that the female and male ethical perspectives on â€Å"The Ring of Edges† will be similar?Would Care Ethics, on the contrary, advocate their significant differences? Hi Dry. Workman, Funny you asked this question. I did a little survey on Tuesday of men and women, from church and my neighbors. I told them of the story of The Ring of Edges then I asked if they assessed the ring would they steal money, and if they did, what would they do with it. There was a total of ten people, six women and four men. Firstly, three of the six women agreed that they would not take the ring to steal, but would take it and do good deeds similar to helping others in need, without anyone knowing.Suitably, these women showed characteristics of care. Similarly, one woman said she would have no problem stealing because no one would know, and her family could use the money. Aptly, this dilemma shows her caring morals. Also, two of the women whom I talked to at Church aid if they acquired the ring, they would destroy it because they ought to not let the ring tempt them to steal because it is wrong. Showing, they had deontological morals as the Bible tells them stealing is bad. Now for the men.One out of the four men said they would not do it for the same reason as the three women. Then, two said t hey would take the ring and steal as much as they could for themselves, and use it live it up with their friends. They pretty much said to hell with everyone else, as they would not know, selfishly showing signs of self-egoism. Next, One man said he would use the money to aka care of his ailing mother, and then take care of others, such as the Church and other family members. This premise shows his caring morals.So to answer your first question, I am predicting yes they could have comparable perceptions, depending on that person's particular reasoning or aspects of human character, rather than assumed male or female qualities. (Mackinac, 2012). To answer your second question, if the norms were the same as say 50 years or more ago would say that yes Care Ethics would show significant differences between male and female. Appropriately, it is said that elatedness is the framework that forms female decisions. Mainly due to the fact they were nurtured and sheltered closely by their mothe r.

Disagreement case study Essay

Disagreement between practitioner, child and a young person Sometimes children can be rebellious if there passing thru difficult time in their life or some stage, however we must not go into any argument with any child. Some times it’s good to give child and ourselves a little extra time alone to think again. Settings behaviour policy must be followed so the child or a young person will not be confused and they will know every consequence of their actions. We could call a another person to be with us at the time of talk to prevent any accusations, we must inform the manager just in case parent needs to be involved and also to allow communication between colleagues in setting to be up to date. Being informative and reasoning may allow child to understand further our point of view and in some case that may help issue to resolve. We must be sensitive, show them with our body language, that we are listening their point of view without interrupting their talk. Show child a respect and treat them like the adults, ask for mediator if you thin k that will be better for both side. Disagreement between Practitioner and adults In any work we all will have disagreement some point in our work life. Most of these disagreements are results of miss communication. To resolve this disagreement and prevent it to escalate we need to talk about them as soon as possible, the longer we leave the problem lye, becomes more difficult to get it resolve. It’s important to follow settings policies to make sure everyone behaves in an appropriate manner. Sometimes clash personalities, or our other qualities can make other side hard to cooperate with, in that case it’s good to arrange a mediator who can be voice of the both side and can mediate to resolve the issue. It will beneficial to be informative all the time, so other side can understand fully about the issue and the outcome of any actions. Other person can have their own personal problems so it’s good to show some sensitivity to their needs and questions may prevent lot of disagreements. Always we need to report our manager what happened and we nee d to keep manager up to date, so we will have the support we need if the thinks gets out of hand or escalates.

Analysis of a standardized test of ESL Assignment

Analysis of a standardized test of ESL - Assignment Example The ILETS has been designed to test the users of English language in three paramount areas that include listening, reading and writing. For a person to claim to have mastered the art of fluently using the English language, he or she should learn to listen to it effectively, be able to read it and even write. Most people who claim to use the language are found short in either of the three features, hence limiting their communication (Charge & Lynda 34). Using the English language requires one to be able to communicate well, both in written and spoken language. This hence implies that they should be able to listen and understand when another person is talking and able to respond appropriately, whether it is through writing or speaking. Considering the sample test provided, we realize that emphasize has been put on distinct vowels that will help learners know how to listen to it. The first part is a test that helps learners understand some of the vowels used in speaking the language and how to identify them in spoken speech.The listening partThe importance of the listening test is in its ability to help learners pay attention to how words are pronounced and able to respond. Contrary to assumptions that emphasize more on the written rather than the spoken, the test reveals how important it is for a person to learn the basic pronunciation of words. Most people who speak English have pronunciation difficulties that are influenced by their local dialects. Having the ability to listen to the spoken language.

Social and behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Social and behavior - Essay Example Ted Kramer, the main character, lands a job as an advertising executive and has no time for his family; Joanna Kramer and Billy Kramer as wife and son respectively. On the other hand, Joanna Kramer decides to walk out of the relationship in an effort to realize the person she left behind when she decided to get married. Parental duties lead to Ted’s retrenchment from the agency. He and Billy begin a new journey; with the help of Margret Phelps; another single parent. Joanna comes back to claim custody of Billy fifteen months after walking out. She is awarded custody of her son. Joanna Kramer displays the role of women in the family unit. Joanna is torn between staying with her husband and child and walking out to ‘rediscover’ herself. Her decision to walk out develops the plot whereby Ted and Billy spend time together learning how to make the right decisions. She comes back to claim her son’s custody, and this brings out a significant decision from the court. The court holds that the mother best takes care of a child. Joanna would have loved a situation whereby her husband was dedicated to the family, regardless of his job position. That way, she would not have made the decision to walk away, which can be considered rather selfish by the viewer. As a happy family, Joanna would have improved the way the two behaved in an attempt to raise their child upholding moral values. Good decisions influence behavior; hence, less selfish motives

Consumers' Unethical Belief and Attitude toward Counterfeiting Essay

Consumers' Unethical Belief and Attitude toward Counterfeiting - Essay Example The main issue is the consumer has the benefit of choice. A product may be counterfeit. But it may be as good as or better than the original. The customer is in no position to ascertain the true value of the product unless he buys it. However, his unethical belief may be product-specific. He may or may not be willing to test counterfeits of each and every product. For instance, clothes. The fashion business is highly fluid in the matter of originals and counterfeits (Ha, Sejin & Lennon, Sharron, 2006). Depending on the government's strength and the rule of law prevalent in the region, the consumer's reliance on counterfeits may be rewarding or counterproductive and the question of ethics does not bother the consumer because he has paid for the goods even if it is counterfeit (Tatnall, Professor Arthur, 2008). Consumer's belief and attitude rotates around the single, dominant factor that he is paying for the product and hence it does not matter if the product is counterfeit. If the counterfeit provides him with as much or better services than the original, his purchase of such goods does not bother him at all on the matter of ethics. It is true that an informed society is more tolerant of unethical belief. It also has a higher anti-business attitude because there is greater awareness of what is going on in big business houses. Big business houses have problems with ethics (Friedman, Hershey H et al, 2008, p38). They make choices between the greater evil and the lesser evil in the regular course of their business. This does not get reflected in their balance sheets or profit and loss account. They have to gloss them over. With globalization and use of the information technology, large (and even small) business houses make no bones about dubious business practices. The original manufacture too deigns to resort to counterfeiting to realize cost and other benefits. The practice is too ingrained and enmeshed between the original and the counterfeit to separate one from another. Nothing is lost in the process except consumer's cynicism and respect for the original (Decker, Melissa A, 2004, p6). In the ultimate analysis, it is difficult to hold on to ethics and do business at the same time. By our view of ethics, we even blame the Almighty for committing many blunders. Also, the different shades of ethics do not have the same order of value in the eyes of different individuals. The world highly differs in ethical standards between individuals. Business must serve its own interests, setting the best examples in the process. Sometimes, their choice may not appear morally correct. Technically, however, business may not have committed any offence. Nonetheless, if the consumer is unhappy with a company's stance, it will result in anti-big business attitude (Sender, Katherine, 2002). Consumers with more tolerant of unethical belief will have lower social cost of counterfeit attitude If the consumer takes social cost into account, he will not be able to make use of his freedom of choice. The

Strategic PR Planning Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Strategic PR Planning - Research Paper Example Additionally, Noah’s Ark aim at attaining a significant growth in the work force as well as in the services it offers. In its effort to create a strong positive relationship with public, the organization has established an effective public relations headed by Louise Baring. This entails introduction of a feedback system through which public can make their contributions on affairs of the organization. As the demand for its activities increase, Noah’s Ark has the opportunity of using social media to create a stronger PR plan. This paper covers the strategic PR plan that covers use of Friends of Noah’s as a face group account that will ensure better communication between the organization and the public. Despite the forces such high costs and disruption that would offer resistance to the plan, Noah’s Ark new PR plan will be implemented. The PR targets parents with disabled children as well as providers of care to the children requiring special needs. The PR pl an will be undertaken within a period of 26 months starting from November 2013 to December 2015. PR estimated budget is $2,080,000. To ensure that the Noah’s Ark PR plan attains its goals, the management will undertake interim and annual evaluations through the use of content analysis, emulate surveys, focus groups, ethnographic studies and feedback analysis. Introduction Noah’s Ark is an organization that is based in Australia with an aim of providing sustainable support for children who are disabled as well as those who require additional needs. Having been established in 1976, the organization provides quality professional services to the care providers and parents in order for them to acquire best options that ensure their children attain full potential. As the organization’s client base expands, Noah’s Ark has expanded its programs to include special training, regular workshops, Early Childhood Intervention Programs (ECIS), Inclusion and Professional Support Program (IPSP) and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This implies that to maintain its target market that includes parents with disabled children, carers of disabled children and LACs power holders in NDIS, the organization must maintain effective public relations. Noah’s Ark values include provision of professional services, provision of expertise and extensive knowledge, maintenance of ethics and integrity, innovation and timely response to the changing needs of the society. It is in this regard that the organization has established a communication department under the leadership of Louise Baring. Holding a Bachelor of Communication in public relations, Louise has a wide experience that acts as a key strength for the organization. To meet the needs of its target market, there is need to reposition the organization as a major aspect of improving its PR. This paper will identify the public relations strategy that Noah’s Ark will emulate in order to attain its objectives and attain a competitive edge in the hospitality industry. Background Noah’s Ark should emulate a strategic PR planning in order to ensure that it builds its own capacity as well as standing up for the rights of children with disability.

Personal finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal finance - Essay Example My concerns over the job market, the economy, and my student loan debt have led me to consider going to school for an additional year and earning a B.Ed. with teaching certificate so that I have a backup employment plan for the future. 1. Financial goals for the next 2 years (or until graduation with the 4 year degree). Monthly budget (show typical month to include a monthly pro-rate as needed (for each year). To some extent you have already done this. You can use spreadsheet following the basic outline of the budgets from worksheet #1 in the workbook. In a footnote add an explanation of any extraordinary items not contained in a monthly budget. After graduating, I have a two year grace period on my student loans to get settled, find a job, and begin building my career. It would make sense to start saving to build a cushion for emergencies and a base of savings to help cover bill payments. I will owe around $20,000 in student loans upon graduation, which I expect to pay off in 8 to 10 years. I have around $4000 in credit card debt from books, clothes, and other living expenses in school that I will need to manage. After graduation, I would like to travel for three months to Mexico and Latin America, and will budget around $4,000 to $5,000 in travel expenses for the trip. I expect to fund half of that through my own work and half through family gifts at graduation. In my first 2 years after college, I hope to receive a job paying in the $40,000 to $50,000 per year working for the company with which I did my internship last year. To date, I have applied but not heard back on my resume. With a budget of $40,000, I will receive around $2800 per mnoth after taxes for my budget: 2. Financial Goals for the next 8-10 years. Specific strategies to achieve them like income, major expenditures, saving amounts, and investment rate of return of targeted investments. Complete from information in worksheets and display on a spreadsheet for each year.

Palm oil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Palm oil - Essay Example The UK is the wealthy nation which dominates the poor nation of Indonesia which has an abundance of cheap labour and land on which palm oil can be grown successfully. Instead of development, the production of palm oil in Indonesia takes place at a cost to the indigenous people and to the environment. The benefits derived from the production of palm oil also accrue mainly to the developed country at the expense of the relatively undeveloped Indonesia where land which should be preserved for the protection of the environment and biodiversity is being burnt in order to supply palm oil cheaply to Tesda’s supermarket chain and other company’s. Instead of development Indonesia is faced with displacement of its people and depletion of its resources. The soot from burning has affected the operations of the airline industry and will therefore have a negative effect on the economic development of the country. The preservation of the environment is important in the development of any country. The burning of the forests will have dire environmental consequences for the people of Indonesia. With the increasing and negative effects of climate change countries around the world are taking the necessary steps to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere while this is taken place in Indonesia. These events indicate that Tesda has not adopted a model for corporate social responsibility with all the negative events including corruption, lack of dialogue between groups affected by the production of palm oil and poor labour standards employed. These along with the death of persons who speak for their rights are unacceptable. The stakeholders that have legitimate claims on Tesda are the indigenous people of Indonesia whose lives have been negatively affected by plantations in which Tesda has a stake, the people who work on these plantations, suppliers to its processing plant in the Netherlands and

Aneurysms Nursing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Aneurysms Nursing - Case Study Example Not all aneurysms are live threatening but when the vessel is over enlarged it may burst causing massive internal bleeding (â€Å"Aneurysms and dissection†, 2011).In normal situations, arteries are capable of withstanding normal blood pressure due to their thick walls. Dissection occurs when a split occurs in either one or more layers of the walls of artery. This splitting causes bleeding along and into layers of the artery wall (â€Å"What is aneurysm†, n.d). Incidence, mortality and morbidity Aneurysms affect 1 in every 20 people in most societies and are therefore a global health problem. It is approximated that about 30,000 people suffer from aneurysms in each year in USA (Khurana, and Spetzler, 2006) with abdominal aortic causing about 9000 deaths yearly. Most of abdominal aneurysms occur in 5th, 6th and 7th decades of life (Debakey, Crawford, Garrett, Beall, and Howell, 1965 ; Mastracci and Eagleton, 2011) .The 9000 deaths are inclusive of 1400-2800 deaths which o ccurs due to elective operation in an effort to prevent bursting (Lederle et al., 2002). Aneurysms rupture causes approximated mortalities of 80-90% and most of the patients die before they are hospitalised.These deaths are inclusive of pre, intra and post operative cases (Russo, 2006).For aortic aneurysms, it has been estimated that 13,000 Americans die annually and most of these deaths occur due to dissections or bursting of arteries (â€Å"What is aneurysm†, n.d).On the other hand, abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are the 14th leading killer in USA (Russo, 2006). Risk factors and causes of aneurysms Any condition which leads to weakening of arteries walls predisposes a person to aneurysm. Other risk factors are smoking ,inborn abnormalities of connective tissue such as Ehler Donlos syndromes, congenital bicuspid valve abnormalities (Montgomery, Henderson, Ostrowsky, Karimmi and Hennein, 2010), high blood pressure, atherosclerosis which is characterized by building up of fa tty plagues in the arteries, deep wounds, injuries, infections occurring in blood vessels, inherited diseases such as Malfan syndrome (a health condition which affects body’s connective tissue) which causes people to have very flexible joints and long bones (â€Å"Aneurysms and dissections†, 2011).Pregnancy has also been linked with the formation and bursting of aneurysms of the splenic artery which leads to the spleen (Reed et al, 1992). Aneurysms can also occur due to defective genes which play a critical role in maintaining the integrity of arterial wall which offers strength and elasticity to arteries. It has been thought that disruption of extracellar matrix of arterial wall plays a critical role in pathogenesis of aneurysms such as intracranial aneurysms (Kuivaniemi,Troup and Prockop, 1991).For those patients with intracranial aneurysms it has been observed that they have decreased level of arterial structural proteins (Kuivaniemi et al, 1991). People with defect ive genes have been shown to have abnormal aortic matrix proteins, insufficient inhibition of proteolysis or overactive proteolysis, lack of elastin and abnormal production of type 111collagen which is a structural component of aorta wall (Reed et al, 1992). Patients who have autosomal dominant polystic kidney disease (ADPKD) have also been shown to have risks of developing aneurysms. In addition to this, infective endocarditis and Aspergillosis, syphilis infection, trauma and cocaine use has also been

The Coca-Cola Company Struggles with Ethical Crises Research Paper

The Coca-Cola Company Struggles with Ethical Crises - Research Paper Example All these contamination issues were further aggravated by the slow response from the beverage manufacturer and failure to recognize the severity of the situation. In Belgium, the country’s strict antitrust laws upheld a halt on market strategy seen as illegal strategy to strengthen Coca-Cola’s market share. The reputation of the company was thus deteriorating at an increasing rate. While considering mergers and acquisition, the company’s marketing tactics came under scrutiny due to the strict antitrust laws in the European countries. The French government refused to approve the company’s bid to acquire Origina and Schweppes, other French beverage companies. But still, the company dominates foreign markets throughout the world. Further, claims of racial discrimination came up in the spring of 1999. It is claimed that the top management had knowledge of this since 1995 and had done nothing to neutralize this situation. Discrimination was alleged to take plac e among former and current black employees. Over two thousands of them are said to have been discriminated in terms of promotions, pay and performance evaluations. A mid-level executive accused the Coca-Cola Company of doctoring a study it had done on behalf of Burger King in 2002. The fast food outlet had to take the research on its own to establish the reality of the claims. Coca-Cola was found guilty and had to compensate Burger Kings, the whistle-blower as well as pay millions in pre-tax write offs. It further lost public image among its customers, stakeholders as criminal investigations were instituted. Channel stuffing – shipping additional stock at above board rates to retailers and wholesalers are allegations came up. This was aimed at manipulating the numbers just before the end of a quarter to create a strong demand picture. This makes the financial statement earning impressive to the investors. From 1997 through 1999, the company was accused of this in the Japanese market. Coca-Cola is facing a shareholder suit regarding this kind of actions also in the Europe, North America and South Africa markets. Other supplies of the company such as PowerAde – a sports drink- came under scrutiny. Its delivery to Wal-Mart beyond Texas test area was looked into as bottlers alleged the contracts engaged in did not permit such. Initially the company was using direct store delivery, bottlers dropped off products to all stores, stock shelves and building merchandising displays. Bottlers did claim diminishing of their businesses due to this new change of delivery tactic and also a violation of antitrust laws. The media reported this wrangle negatively hence costing the company its reputation as well as the reputation of firms within its supply chain. The integrity the company had across its shareholders and partners was eroded. Internal wars with unions were up around the same time in Colombia. The death of eight Coca-Cola workers, hiding of further fort y eight and sixty five receiving death threats was attributed to Coca-Cola and its local bottler by the union though it was a coincidence. The union sought reparations to families of slain workers as well as the displaced. The companies denied all these claims and attribute them to the Colombia’s four decade long civil war. There was an arrest of an administrative secretary and two accomplices in 2006. Fraud charges were brought against them as well as stealing and trading

Stereotyping a Stereotype Essay Example for Free

Stereotyping a Stereotype Essay Junot Diaz’s â€Å"How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie† seems to play into and highlight the racial stereotypes that affect the way Americans see each other; however, Diaz is in fact working to show that even people who believe they understand the full extent of stereotypes, especially men, find themselves subordinate to the ones they are stereotyping. In this story, Diaz shows how female stereotypes actually control the actions of a males seeking intimacy. The man will revert to basic instinct and base his decisions on a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person. The short story focuses its instruction on the ultimate goal of reaching physical intimacy with a girl, but illustrates the definitely different courses of action necessary to take depending on what ethnicity the target girl is. This is where Diaz proves that even by mastering the â€Å"predicted† behavior of females through racial stereotypes, the male while appearing to have control of the situation is actually lower than the female. The text has an almost aggressive tone is used to show that the author clearly knows what he is talking about in terms of girls. This tone adds serious credibility to the author and makes the instruction all the more believable. Instead of using phrases such as â€Å"I would recommend,† â€Å"I think,† or â€Å"I believe,† Diaz uses the imperative and says â€Å"Clear the government cheese from the refrigerator,† â€Å"Leave yourself a reminder to get it out,† and, â€Å"Hide the pictures of yourself with an Afro† (Diaz 143). This forceful use of language is more believable and it creates a sense of power, superiority, and confidence in the reader because he is apparently taking instruction from an expert. After all, the reader using these instructions is looking to maximize his chances of getting anything from a â€Å"Kiss,† to a â€Å"Girl just [giving] it up right then† (Diaz 147). Diaz first points out that the reader should be aware of his own social class and ethnicity. The last thing the reader wants to do is foil his chances of achieving intimacy with his date by ignoring potentially embarrassing pictures or icons of a lower social class that would not impress the girl. Such things as the notorious â€Å"Government cheese† or the â€Å"basket with all the crapped-on toilet paper† definitely want to be hidden away (Diaz 143, 144). By doing these small things, the reader is putting himself at an advantage by leaving no room for the date to find weakness in him. If the date cannot find anything embarrassing, the reader is in control of the situation. According to Casey S. Torstenson in her article â€Å"You Don’t Know Me,† she says â€Å"To follow the advice of this story will, in all likelihood, get the [reader] closer to some form of physical intimacy, but this intimacy will be the result of a carefully manipulated†¦ impression he creates for his date, rather than the more inherent and objective truths of who he truly is† (Torstenson). This statement means that by hiding anything potentially incriminating, the male has a better shot at getting intimate with the girl, but that he is defying the age old saying that every set of parents say to their kids, â€Å"Just be yourself. † Diaz proves my argument in this section because the reader, although seemingly in control of the situation, is forced to manipulate it in a way that is pleasing to the girl, not to him. Diaz does not suggest anywhere in the text that the reader should do what he might find appealing, instead, the only positive thing in the text for the reader is the ultimate possibility of a hook-up. If the reader manipulates a situation based on stereotypes (ie where to take the girl to dinner depends on what the color of her skin is) he is subordinate to the girl because he has to play his cards just right in order to get what he wants. The date is in complete control because every decision the reader makes is based on what the girl will do, not what the reader wants. In doing so â€Å"Diaz emphasizes the way in which the social forces of race and class undercut both individuality and objectivity† and make the reader subordinate to his date (Torstenson). After the reader establishes his own security, it is then his responsibility to prepare for the evening. Diaz establishes that the first thing to do, no matter the race of the girl is to say hello to the mother. Once again, the author instructs the reader to inadvertently give up control. The entire purpose of saying hello to the mother is to impress her and to come across as a gentleman. Saying hello does not benefit the reader at all nor does it make his chances of getting with the girl any better. He merely says hello to come across as somebody he is not, boosting his facade, tearing down his true character, and once again putting the date in power. After the introduction is over, the reader must take the girl to dinner. This part of the story is intriguing because depending on what race the girl is determines where there is to go. The local girls (Hispanic and black) can be taken to El Cibao, only so that the reader can impress them with his Spanish or give them the chance to correct his Spanish. For some reason, the black girl and the brown girl are entitled to eat at a nicer dining establishment than the white girls who are suppsoed to be taken to Wendy’s. Diaz claims that the black girl will be impressed by his ability to speak Spanish, or the brown girl will have the opportunity to correct his â€Å"busted-up Spanish† (Diaz 145). In the case of the black girl, she, although being taken to dinner, is in control of the situation because the only reason the reader takes her to dinner at a nicer place is in hopes that he can impress her. The reader let’s the stereotype that she does not speak Spanish control his decision making insomuch as that he is not at the restaurant to enjoy a meal, but only to get one step closer to intimacy. In the case of the brown girl, he hopes that she will correct him to make her feel important and smart. In this case, the reader is supposed to make himself come across as unintelligent to make the girl happy. Once again, the reader is subordinate to the girl because he is not being himself and is forced to act in certain ways that are uncharacteristic of him. However, suppose the girl does not speak Spanish. What is the reader supposed to do then? He is not being himself and following instructions, so if the instructions are not correct, the reader will be unknowing of his next move. The reader becomes dependent on these stereotypes and completely relies on them to work. The reader is at the will of the stereotypes. If they turn out to be false, then the reader will be lost with no direction and all of his expectations will be shattered leaving him in less control than he already is. In the case of the white girl, he expects that the white girl will put out much sooner than the girls of color and will not require the type of attention and time that the colored girls apparently deserve. What if the stereotype is false again? The white girl will be unimpressed by eating at a greasy fast food restaurant, and the reader will not get what he wants. As in every other instance, the reader relies on the validity of the stereotype. If it is true, then everything works out according to plan, but the only way for the stereotype to be true is if the white girl does absolutely everything according to Diaz’s chronology of events. Diaz leaves no room for spontaneity. Everything is scripted. However, the script is only as long as the girl wants it to be. She is fully capable of doing what she wants. The girl is in complete control of the very stereotype that the reader relies so heavily upon. Thus, the reader is subordinate to his date. Flattery is his next tool. Once the dinner is over, Diaz tells the reader to act interested in the girl and touch her gently; almost in a suggestive manner. He tells the readers to say things like â€Å"I like you,† and â€Å"[I] love [your] hair† (Diaz 147, 148). The basic assumption here is that girls will appreciate being complimented and be more willing to act more intimate with their charmer. However, even still, the girl is in complete control of her actions. Although the reader is wooing her, in the end it will be her decision whether or not she decides to put out. No stereotype can predict that event. They can offer a glimpse into a surface personality, but a sequence of events over the course of a couple of hours cannot physically be predicted exactly. Even so, the male will rely on a shallow concept that offers a glimpse into the future if he feels that it has the possibility of yielding pleasurable results. With this thought, it is clear that the stereotypes used in the story are geared towards pointing out how the potential for intimacy will make men revert to relying upon stereotypes and that they are not actually in control, but the stereotype that is controlled by the woman is in charge. â€Å"How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie† was most certainly written with the intent of showing how the male race relies on stereotypes to court women and how these stereotypes give the man a sense of security, control, and confidence. â€Å"Diaz consciously [provides] stereotypical male figures for dramatic effect† in order to illustrate how, â€Å"boys discuss members of the opposite sex as creatures to be used as devices for sexual gratification† (Alford). However, the underlying message in the text is that men rely on these stereotypes so much, that they in fact lose control of the situation because it is not the man in control but the stereotype. While Diaz points out the presence of stereotypes amongst women of different races, he clearly wants to point out the truth that men stereotyping is a stereotype. Works Cited Alford, William R. â€Å"Sex, Race and Power. † 2000. http://the-big-pic. org/drowntext. html. Diaz, Junot. Drown. â€Å"How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie. † New York: Riverhead Books, 1996. Torstenson, Casey S. â€Å"You Don’t Know Me. † Florida: Switchback, 2006. http://www. swback. com/issues/004/You_Dont_Know_Me. shtml.

H1N1 Disease (Swine Flu): Causes and Treatments

H1N1 Disease (Swine Flu): Causes and Treatments H1N1 disease is also referred to as the swine flu. It is a new kind of influenza which has been causing illness in the society and was first detected in the year 2009 in the United States. It spreads from one individual to another just the way the regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. It is referred to as the swine flu because laboratory tests indicated that the genetic constitution of the virus was similar to the influenza viruses that are normally found in pigs (swine). The general symptoms of this disease include fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, chills, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and runny or stuffy nose. The specific symptoms found in the children includes troubles when breathing, bluish skin color, insufficient intake of fluids, lack of socialization, irritation on the body skin and fever which is accompanied by rashes. The agent cause of the H1N1 is the influenza A virus. This is a negative sense, single-stranded RNA which belongs to the orthomyxoviridae family. According to health officials, swine flu is contagious and its spread in the same way as the seasonal flu (coughing or sneezing). This is because every time a person infected with the swine flu coughs or sneezes, some tiny droplets containing this kind of virus are released into the air. Any person who comes into contact with these droplets is likely to get infected with this disease. Some of the risk factors associated with H1N1 are age and medical conditions. This is because certain age groups and those with prevailing medical conditions are likely to have complications if they are infected with this disease. For example children aged below 5 years and especially those who are below two years are likely to develop flu related complications. People aged 65years and above are also at higher risks of experiencing severe complications from this illnesses compared to the young people. This is because of the fact that human defenses become weaker as a person ages. Another vulnerable group to this H1N1 flu related complication s is the pregnant women. This is because this disease is both dangerous for the mother and the unborn child for its severity can be fatal. The medical conditions which can be complicated by H1N1 influenza infection include people with asthma, neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, chronic lung disease, heart diseases (congestive heart fa ilure, congenital, coronary artery disease), blood disorders (sick cell anemia), endocrine disorders (diabetes mellitus), kidney disorders, liver disorders, metabolic disorders (mitochondrial and metabolic). Other medical conditions will include the people with a weakened immune system as a result of medication or diseases such as cancer, chronic steroids HIV and AIDS (Cdc.gov 2010). People who experience severe or mild of the earlier mentioned characteristics should visit the public or private health facilities for treatment. There are several drugs which can be used in alleviating the H1N1 flu in people with severe illnesses or risk factors. This includes the antiviral drugs such as the Tami flu and Relenza. There are also monovalent H1N1 virus vaccines which were approved by the FDA in September 2009 (umm.edu 2009). During May last year this disease was viewed as a pandemic by many countries and also by WHO. It is highly respected my many countries because of the effects which it can bring to a countrys population. Many governments perceive this disease as a threat because it is still increasing at an alarming rate as many new countries get infected too. Governments are however fighting the threat of this disease by testing the sample of ill persons and also by shifting the surveillance efforts to reporting and monitoring of trends. H1N1 is a very dangerous disease which spreads very fast because its method of transmissions is very simple. I believe that its the duty of each individual to monitor the mentioned symptoms and then report to the health facilities so as to reduce the opportunistic infections which come with the disease. People should also go for vaccination so that they can reduce the effects of the disease. People who have the risk factors should also visit the health facilities so as to avoid the flu related complications. Countries should step up measures to curbing this surging numbers of cases resulting from the disease. References Cdc.gov. (2010). 2009 H1N1 Flu. Retrieved on 13th February 2010, from http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm Umm.edu. (2009). H1N1 flu (swine flu) information. Retrieved on 13th February 2010, from http://www.umm.edu/news/swine_flu_qa.htm#9 What is a mortgage? What is a mortgage? Real Estate in Barcelona How to get a Mortgage What is a Mortgage? A mortgage is a loan or lien for a property/house which has to be paid within a specified period of time. It is usually a loan of money. A mortgage is a security for the loan that the lender makes to the borrower. Mortgage has many different shapes and sizes each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Types of Mortgages Fixed rate Mortgage This is suitable for those who prefer to know exactly what their monthly outgoings will be. Discounted Mortgage This type of loan is cheaper in the beginning and allows you to take advantage of any interest rate cuts. But if interest rate rises then your monthly payments will go up. Capped rate Mortgage This mortgage is a combination of fixed and discounted mortgages. Cashback Mortgage This is great for first-time buyers or those on a tight budget or has taken out a loan to use as a deposit for the mortgage. Once if the deal is done, your lender will reimburse a certain proportion of your mortgage loan. This could be as much as a couple of thousand pounds, depending on the lender and the size of the mortgage. Tracker Mortgage This normally follows movements in the base rate set by the Bank of England. Flexible Mortgage This is useful for couples starting a family or for those who are taking time out to study. You have to agree payment holidays with your lender. Taking time off could either increase your repayments later on or prolong your loan period. Tips to get a Mortgage Save a deposit Before getting a mortgage, first thing is to save enough money for a deposit. Financial Advice Think about how you want to repay your mortgage. Most people choose repayment loans also called capital and interest loans where part is paid back every month. By this, the whole loan is repaid at the end of its term. Find a lender Once if you have chosen the type of mortgage and the repayment method, you need to find a lender. How much can you borrow? The lender or mortgage broker will be able to tell you how much you can borrow. This is based on the following three factors Your income Your existing debt The size of your deposit Applying for a Foreign Mortgage in Spain When applying for a mortgage in Spain you need to make sure you have the following things Valid Passport, residence permit or Spanish ID card (NIE) New Building Resale Properties Three last salary slips of yours Three last bank statements of yours Spanish tax declaration for the last financial year (P60 form in UK) or if you are self-employed you need to provide tax slip for the last two years. International Banks with Spanish Mortgages The most straightforward option for a foreign buyer is to look to international banks, many of which have begun to offer special Spanish mortgages due to the large demand from internationals looking to buy in Spain. These are specifically catered to the Spanish housing market and deals with every aspect of translation, lawyers and insurance. Mortgage checklist Save a deposit Think about how much you can afford to pay each month on your mortgage Go through the different types of mortgages available Be prepared to get as much paperwork as possible in advance Always read the small print both on your mortgage and any insurance you intend to buy. It could save you a lot of money in the long run

Competition in the coffee industry

Competition in the coffee industry INTRODUCTION Today we stand witness to a new coffee era, one made up of Caffe Lattes, Espresso Macchiatos, Cappuccinos and Frappuccinos. Specialty Coffee is here to stay and no one will be more eager to tell you that than Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, the worlds largest specialty coffee bar. The study of Starbucks Corporation leads one on a multifaceted journey through an organizations insinuation into a culture, its dominance of a market and its creation of a brand synonymous with loyalty, integrity and longevity. Ever since it first spread through the Moslem world in the sixteenth century, coffee has played a pivotal role in society by providing meeting places for intellectuals from all sides of life to converge. As coffee was slowly introduced to the European world it was recognized for both its sociability and its taste. Soon Coffee houses were prevalent throughout Europe and were the natural locations for political, literary and societal debate. It crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the mid-seventeenth century and replaced beer as New York Citys favorite morning drink. Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington, United States. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 16,635 stores in 49 countries, including 11,068 (6,764 Company Owned, 4,304 Franchised) in the United States, followed by nearly 1,000 in Canada and more than 800 in Japan. Starbucks sells drip brewed coffee, espresso-based hot drinks, other hot and cold drinks, snacks, and items such as mugs and coffee beans. Through the Starbucks Entertainment division and Hear Music brand, the company also markets books, music, and film. Many of the companys products are seasonal or specific to the locality of the store. Starbucks-brand ice cream and coffee are also offered at grocery stores. Michael E. Porter provided a framework that models an industry as being influenced by five forces. The strategic business manager seeking to develop an edge over rival firms can use this model to better understand the industry context in which the firm operates. Porters Five Forces of Competitive Position: Industry Rivalry The dynamics of the industry rivalry within the specialty coffee industry has changed dramatically since 1987. Unlike the early days of the specialty coffee industry when Starbucks competed primarily against other small-scale specialty coffee retailers they now compete against companies of varying sizes and different exposures to specialty coffee. Starbucks competes with a variety of smaller scale specialty coffee shops, mostly concentrated in different regions of the country. All of these specialty coffee chains are differentiated from Starbucks in one way or another. Coffee Bean competes with Starbucks. They are similar to Starbucks in their attempt to create a third-place but distinguish themselves by creating an entirely different atmosphere. Where Starbucks strives to create an upscale European atmosphere, Coffee Bean tries to implement a more American feel to their coffee houses. Often they will use knotty pine cabinetry, numerous fireplaces and soft seating. Also they offer a barrage of magazines and newspapers as well as the guarantee of speedy service and free refills. In addition, they offer free WiFi, drive through accessibility and meeting rooms for rent. Through their subsidiary VKI technologies, they have become the world leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of coffee making equipment and related products. In addition to these smaller scale specialty coffee companies, Starbucks must now compete against two of the largest companies in the fast food industry who have recently entered the specialty coffee segment. The first of these competitors is Dunkin Donuts, who claims to be the worlds largest coffee and baked goods chain. Currently, Dunkin Donuts operates about 5,500 franchises around the United States, 80 stores in Canada and 1,850 throughout the rest of the world. In the past couple years the franchise has put enormous emphasis on their coffee beverages. They serve coffee beverages in an assortment of types and styles including espresso, cappuccino and latte. They also serve their coffee in an assortment of flavors including French Vanilla, hazelnut, cinnamon and numerous others. The largest industry rival currently facing Starbucks is the McDonalds restaurant fast food chain. McDonalds originated from a single San Bernardino, California hamburger stand, which opened in 1948, and has turned into what is now the worlds largest restaurant chain with over 14,000 restaurants in the United States alone. The key to McDonalds success has been the consistent quality standards they achieve for their food, coupled with their quick service and low prices. 10 years ago Starbucks and McDonalds were at complete opposite ends of the spectrum in the restaurant industry. However, McDonalds, encouraged by the success of its upgraded drip coffee, began testing numerous drinks sold under the name McCafe. Starbucks meanwhile, with its rapid expansion, was adding drive-through windows and numerous breakfast sandwiches, similar to the Egg McMuffins served at McDonalds, to their stores. These measures have drawn the two companies closer together as competitors due to an encroachment into the demographic consumer base made by each company. In summary, the current impact of the industry rivalry force created by the competition between specialty coffee retailers is very high, especially as contrasted to what it was at the time of Starbucks rapid expansion twenty years ago. The growth of the industry has slowed while the number of competitors within the industry has increased. Both of these factors, in addition to Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds high strategic stakes in the specialty coffee industry, have caused this change from weak to strong industry rivalry. Potential for New Entrants Another of the five forces in Porters model, which has changed significantly since the late 80s when we analyze the current environment in which Starbucks competes, is the potential for new entrants. As stated earlier, the primary deterrents to entry in the specialty coffee industry are the various barriers to entry. The economies of scale within the specialty coffee industry have increased as the size of the top players has increased. Companies such as Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds have national distribution channels through which they can transport their specialty coffee at a relatively low cost compared to potential new entrants who have no such developed distribution systems. These larger companies are also able to economize on their accounting operations and marketing budgets by facilitating their specialty coffee operations from the same department as for all segments of their businesses. Finally, these larger corporations are also able to reap economies of scale through their purchasing by negotiating long term contracts with coffee farmers and purchasing coffee beans in bulk quantities at discount prices. There is numerous cost disadvantages imposed on new entrants that are independent of the economies of scale considerations. As the industry matures, the ability to access distribution channels and select from the highest quality coffee beans has becoming increasingly difficult. Most of the favorable store locations within the larger metropolitan areas have already been occupied by current competitors within the specialty coffee industry. Additionally, many companies now have proprietary product technology involved in the production of their specialty coffee as well as lower per unit costs due to an experience curve. Product differentiation within the specialty coffee industry has moved away from the purely objective and defined traits such as the taste of the coffee, convenience of the stores and prices charged. The industry has progressed toward more subjective traits such as the ambience of the store, the social responsibility of the company and brand identification. Many companies have gained very loyal customer bases stemming from their past advertisements, customer service, objective product differentiations and early entry into the industry. All of this makes it more difficult for new entrants to gain a solid customer base. From the analysis above, it can be ascertained that the barriers to entry in the specialty coffee industry have increased substantially. As a consequence, the potential threat of new entrants has gone down. Since, the industry does not have large capital requirements, smaller specialty coffee shops are still prevalent throughout the United States and the potential for more of them to enter the industry is still present. However, these new entrants can be disregarded given the unlikely nature of their concerted expansion and the inconsequential effects they have singly on the overall demand in the consumer market. Substitute Products The force created by substitute products in the specialty coffee industry has decreased. Many companies that presented the specialty coffee industry with a threat in the form of substitute products have actually entered the industry and now compete directly by offering their own premium coffee selections. The primary substitute products still posing a threat to the specialty coffee industry are the caffeinated soft drinks offered by Pepsi and Coca-Cola. However, even these substitute products pose little threat to the premium coffee industry. In the past five years, studies done on the percentage of meals or snacks that included a carbonated soft drink as opposed to coffee have shown a reversal in consumer preference. Coffee has gradually gained preference over carbonated soft drinks. This is mostly attributed to the health concerns associated with carbonated soft drinks and the new evidence showing coffee as a relatively healthy alternative. Supplier Bargaining Power With the extensive growth in the specialty coffee industry, supplier bargaining power has changed in numerous ways. In 1987, when the first Starbucks was conceived, the farmers from whom Starbucks purchased its premium coffee beans were numerous, small and unconnected to one another. Currently, many of the farmers who sell to Starbucks and other premium coffee chains are united by an initiative known as fair trade certified coffee, which was organized by TransFair USA. Under this initiative, companies such as Starbucks are given the opportunity to advertise their coffee as being fair trade certified if they purchase from coffee suppliers that are democratically owned cooperatives. This initiative was designed to ensure that the coffee farmers would be compensated fairly for their crops. Their increased unity under this initiative worked as a positive externality by increasing their ability to exert bargaining power over their buyers. The fair trade coffee certification is looked at by consumers in their decision of where to purchase their premium coffee. Thus, although the farmers are still numerous and small they are now connected through the initiative launched by TransFair USA and act in some respects like one large entity. Although the farmers of premium Arabica beans are still in constant competition with the substitute Robusta coffee bean growers, their bargaining power is not significantly diminished by this threat due to the unlikelihood of a big premium coffee retailer adopting the substitution. When Starbucks first began purchasing premium Arabica coffee beans in the late 1980s, they executed purchases incrementally throughout the year. Currently, they lock their coffee suppliers into long-term contracts to dilute potential price volatility. These contracts have stipulations within them which place a financial burden on the coffee suppliers if they choose to supply a different company. By creating these switching costs for the premium coffee suppliers, Starbucks has diminished their ability to play one buyer against another, which decreases their bargaining power. A last component to the analysis of supplier bargaining power within the current specialty coffee industry environment is the threat of forward integration. Technically, the farmers can forward integrate by setting up smaller coffee shops and brewing their own batches. This is, however, extremely unlikely and has yet to occur. When comparing the bargaining power of suppliers today in the specialty coffee industry to the bargaining power of suppliers during the late 1980s, it is apparent that suppliers are more powerful today. The increased unity among the coffee farmers, decreased significance of specialty coffee retailers purchases as a proportion of premium coffee bean sales and increased importance placed on high quality coffee beans by the purchasers have all acted to increase the bargaining power of the supplier group. Although Starbucks has locked some of the coffee suppliers into long-term contracts not all suppliers are affected; thus, the supplier bargaining power is only ma rginally diminished by that tactic. Bargaining Power of Buyers The last component of Michael Porters five forces analysis to be applied to the modern specialty coffee industry is the force created by the bargaining power of buyers. The primary buyers in the specialty coffee industry remain individual consumers, who neither engage in concerted behavior nor individually purchase in large volumes relative to the total sales of a corporation such as Starbucks. Unlike the late 1980s, however, there are a few buyers who purchase in large volumes. These large buyers are typically other multinational corporations who choose to serve Starbucks brewed coffee in their offices. However, the effects of losing one of these buyers to a competitor would not be detrimental to a company with a large sales volume such as Starbucks. Neither the individual consumers nor the multinational corporations who purchase specialty coffee commit a significant fraction of their resources to these purchases. This makes the buyers less sensitive to price fluctuations and gives the players within the specialty coffee industry more control over pricing. This acts to decrease the bargaining power of both the buyer groups. The expansion of the specialty coffee industry created a wider array of competitors who offered high quality specialty coffee. This made it much harder for the players in the specialty coffee industry to differentiate themselves through quality and turned quality into the industry standard. In addition to the increasing quality standardization which specialty coffee has undergone, the buyers face no switching costs and have an enormous selection of retailers from whom they can buy. The buyers of specialty coffee do pose a credible threat of backward integration. This threat can be carried out if a buyer chooses to start a mom and pop specialty coffee store in close proximity to an established specialty coffee store. Same-store sales are roughly 20% lower in Starbucks stores located within a two block vicinity of mom-and-pop specialty coffee stores. The ability of buyers to backward integrate is enhanced by the availability of all information regarding the demand, market pricing, and supplier costs in the specialty coffee industry through sources such as the World Wide Web. With full information, the buyer is in a better position to ensure that they pay a favorable price and receive an appropriate level of quality from the product. The amount of bargaining power that can be exerted by the buyers within the specialty coffee industry has increased as a result of the availability of information regarding market variables. This along with the other previously discussed changes to the dynamics of buyer bargaining power has increased its overall magnitude from the level it was at in the late 1980s. Limitations of Porters Five Force Model Porters model is a effective tool used to identify whether new products, services or businesses have the potential to be profitable. However it can also be very illuminating when used to understand the balance of power in other situations. Porter argues that five forces determine the profitability of an industry. At the heart of industry are rivals and their competitive strategies linked to, for example, pricing or advertising; but, he contends, it is important to look beyond ones immediate competitors as there are other determines of profitability. Specifically, there might be competition from substitutes products or services. These alternatives may be perceived as substitutes by buyers even though they are part of a different industry. An example would be plastic bottles, cans and glass bottle for packaging coffee for Starbucks. There may also be potential threat of new entrants, although some competitors will see this as an opportunity to strengthen their position in the market by ensuring, as far as they can, customer loyalty. Finally, it is important to appreciate that Starbucks purchase from suppliers and sell to buyers. If they are powerful they are in a position to bargain profits away through reduced margins, by forcing either cost increases or price decreases. This relates to the strategic option of vertical integration, when Starbucks acquires, or mergers with, a supplier or customer and thereby gains greater control over the chain of activities which leads from basic materials through to final consumption. It is important to be aware that this model has further limitations in todays market environment; as it assumes relatively static market structures. Based originally on the economic situation in the eighties with its strong competition and relatively stable market structures, it is not able to take into account new business models and the dynamism of the industries, such as technological innovations and dynamic market entrants from start-ups that will completely change business models within short times. For instance, coffee and soft drinks is often considered as being highly competitive. The industry structure is constantly being revolutionized by innovation that indicates Five Forces model being of limited value since it represents no more than snapshots of a moving picture. Therefore, it is not advisable to develop a strategy solely on the basis of Porters models Haberberg and Rieple, but to examine it in addition to other strategic frameworks of SWOT and PEST analysis. Nevertheless, that does not mean that Porters theories became invalid. What needs to be done is to adopt the model with the knowledge of their limitations and to use them as a part of a larger framework of management tools, techniques and theories. This approach, however, is advisable for the application of every business model. CONCLUSION Any company must seek to understand the nature of its competitive environment if it is to be successful in achieving its objectives and in establishing appropriate strategies. If a company fully understands the nature of the Porters five forces, and particularly appreciates which one is the most important, it will be in a stronger position to defend itself against any threats and to influence the forces with its strategy. The situation is fluid, and the nature and relative power of the forces will change. Consequently, the need to monitor and stay aware is continuous. Some issues during the implementation of these Five Forces are crucially important for organizations to build long-term business strategy and sustaining competitive advantages rather than simply list the forces. Successful use of the Porter Model Analysis includes identifying the sources of competition, the strength and likelihood of that competition existing, and strategic recommendations for the action a company should take to in order to develop barriers to competition. Having applied Michael Porters five forces model to the specialty coffee environment which confronted Starbucks in 2007, a conclusion can be logically derived regarding how the proportional effects of each force on the competition within the specialty coffee industry has changed since 1987. Specifically, the force created by industry rivalry has gone from one grounded in strategies of differentiation and focus while discouraging price wars to an extremely competitive environment where differentiation is increasingly difficult and price wars are looming. The strength of the force imposed by the potential for new entrants has decreased as a result of more formidable barriers to entry. The bargaining power of both suppliers and buyers has increased as a result of increased unity among the suppliers and the accessibility of information to the buyers. The threat of substitutes is still insignificant given the continued declining sales of carbonated soft drinks compared to coffee and speci fically specialty coffee.

Merchant of Venice - Portia was No Feminist :: Merchant Venice Essays

Merchant of Venice: Portia was No Feminist The question has been proposed whether Portia was her own woman, and if after she married Bassanio would she still be the protector of her fortune. I researched for evidence to the theory that Portia was not her own, her fortune was not her own, and she was bound financially to her husband after marriage. There is nothing out of the ordinary about this particular arrangement, and I don't feel that the relationship should continue to be hailed as a progressive, feminist relationship. The best evidence I could find were the words which were spoken out of Portia's own mouth, One half of me is yours, the other half yours-- Mine own, I would say; but if mine, then yours, And so all yours. III.ii.16-18. There you have it. Portia is Bassanio's. This may be idle lover's talk; however, it does signify the beginning of a possessive relationship in which Bassanio is the possessor! Directly after Portia is "won" by Bassanio's correct choice in caskets she states, Happiest of all, is that her gentle spirit Commits itself to yours to be directed, As from her lord, her governor, her king. Myself, and what is mine, to you and yours Is now converted. . . . I was the lord of this fair mansion, master of my servants, Queen o'er myself; and even now, but now This house, these servants, and this same myself Are yours. . . . III.ii.163-171 I struggle to see how the relationship between Portia and Bassanio is worthy of feminist hurrahs. I believe Portia is a woman worthy of feminist scholarship, but not the relationship to her husband.

Irony :: essays research papers

The Ironies of 1984 The novel 1984, by George Orwell, has many examples of irony throughout it. The two major types of irony: verbal irony and situation irony, are demonstrated again and again in this novel. In the following essay I will discuss these types of ironies and give examples of each from the book. The first type of irony is verbal irony, in which a person says or does something one way, but the true meaning is the opposite. One of the first example of this irony is discovered when the main character, Winston Smith, uses the "Memory hole" to deposit things—one would think that this would be where things are remembered ("Memory"), but it’s actually an incinerator. The next example of irony comes when you learn about the departments of Government in Oceania. The Ministry of Truth is actually the maker of lies for the history books, the Ministry of Love discourages love, and the Ministry of Peace is actually quite violent. The final example of verbal Irony can be seen in the name of the leader of Oceania, "Big Brother." The concept of a big brother is one whom is older and wiser and helps the "littler siblings"—this not the case with 1984’s Big Brother. The Big Brother in this novel completely watches over every m ove a person makes keeping them controlled with fear. The next type of irony is Situation irony, which is when a character or a sequence of events appears to be headed one way, but it ends up as the opposite of what was thought. One example of this is Winston’s general health. From the beginning of the book, it is shown how horrible his health is and is continually getting worse and more difficult, but as Winston gets involved with Julia then he begins a metamorphosis into a more healthy person. Another major example is the betrayal of many of the people whom Winston thought were his friends, such as Mr. Charrington and even O’Brien- -who both worked for the Thought Police.

Green Tea

Leeds, describes t h sec h e m is t ray of black tea manufacture Tea is the m so two I d e I yes o NSA u m De beverage in the w o r old . The economic importance of an annual w o r I d production of tea estimated to be in the region of 1-15 million tones has resulted in considerable attention being paid to the understanding of the chemical and physical changes w h I c h take place during tea manufacture.The three main types of tea, black, green and instant tea, are made by processing the y o n g shoot or flush, comprising the terminal b u d and t w o adjacent leaves of the tea plant (Camellia genesis), s h o w n opposite. Of these types of processed tea the most important is the familiar black tea, w h I c h is a fermented product, the coloring matter arising f r o m enzymes oxidation of phenol components of the tea leaf. Green tea, o n the other hand, resembles m o r e closely the dehydrated leaf, any chemical changes being non-enzymes and its brews do not contain highly colored pro ducts.Green tea is the m so t popular of r m of tea in a number of countries including China and Japan. Instant tea may be prepared f r o m both black and green tea, the process essentially involving extraction w I t h water, concentration and dehydration. The w o r I d market for instant tea, however, is small (some 5% of w o r I d tea production), indicating perhaps that satisfactory products have not yet reached the customer. The market has been further affected by the introduction of tea bags.In view of the commercial importance of black tea and the intricacy of the mechanisms of its manufacture, this product has received by far the most attention and the purpose of the present article is to outline some findings in this field. The black tea process 1 The freshly plucked tea flush is allowed to wither in air for some 18-20 hours, or for shorter periods when heated air is circulated, when it loses water and acquires a kid-glove feel. Important chemical changes have already begun to take place 2 .For example, amino acids are formed as precursors of compounds ultimately leading to the production of flavor and non-enzymes browning, the formation of kite compounds as flavor precursors and the 2 formation of caffeine. The leaf also becomes capable of acquiring a twist, rather than breaking up, when it is subsequently rolled. Fermentation is initiated by rolling when the enzyme, normally located in the chloroplast, and the phenol substrate, found in the cell vacuoles, are mixed in the presence of oxygen, without extensive damage to the outer cell wall.A three hour fermentation results in less than 10% of unchanged substrate remaining 3 . Fermentation is arrested by firing in a stream of hot air which also dries the product to some 3% moisture content. The final stage is grading. Enzymes oxidation Phenols or polysaccharides are enzymes which mediate in the oxidation of o-depletion to o-quinine's in the presence of oxygen but most of these enzymes are also capable of oxidation monopoles to o- quinine's. The tea enzyme is a polysaccharides but, unlike the ordinary for the so called fermentation are flavor components of the tea leaf.These are based on the flan structure, figure 1 . Polyphonic components comprise some 25-35% of the tea flush on a dry weight basis, of which some 20% may be found as flavor 4 . Specific flavor structures are shown in figure 2. They may clearly be divided into two groups ? the catechist and the collocations according to whether there are two or three hydroxyl (OH) groups in the right hand phenol ring. In fact, each group of compounds may be further distinguished according to the arrangements of groups around carbon atoms 2 and 3, resulting in four possible isomers.For example, the isomers of the catechisms are: (-) catechist, (+) catechist, (-) peachiness and (+) peachiness. In addition, these compounds exist as esters with Gaelic acid, figure 3. The most abundant are the collocations and specifically (-) epistemolo gically and its gallant ester (ca. 10% dry weight). In order of abundance, this is followed by (-) peachiness and its gallant (ca. 5 by weight) 4 . It is reasonable to assume that the first stage of oxidation involves conversion of Nutrition and Food Science these substrates to o-quinine's and is followed by condensation of these quinine's to dimmers and polymers.Flavor derived products in black tea The oxidation of flavors by way of quinine leads to the formation of dimmers by meaner of bonds between adjacent molecules, such that the 2†² position on one molecule, figure 2, links to either the 6 or 8 position on another in the case of catechist (ahead to tail' dimmers), and in the case of collocations the 2†² position on one molecule becomes linked to the 2†² position on another (tail to tail' dimmers). These tail to tail dimmers have been identified in black tea and are found to be derived from (-) epistemologically and its gallant as expected 5 .During fermentation carbon dioxide is evolved and this is believed to arise from an unusual but most important reaction leading to the formation of a seven member ring. Carbon rings of this size are infrequently found in organic chemistry but the essentials of this reaction are illustrated by the oxidation of paroxysmal to form purloining, figure 4. Gaelic acid, found extensively in fermented tea, can undergo a similar reaction to form purpurogallincarboxylic acid.The thyroxin grouping of the collocations can react in a similar manner to paroxysmal and it is therefore, not surprising that compounds such as paleontologist, figure 5, are found to be present in black tea 6 . It is also found that the catechist can take the place of one molecule of reactant in the purloining reaction. Thus, catechist can react with Gaelic acid to form diphtheria acids, figure 6, but, more importantly, one molecule of catechist is capable of reacting with one molecule of collocating, again in a purloining type reaction 2 .T he product is known as deflating and the structure is shown in figure 7. Deflating and its gallant esters are very important orange-red coloring matters in black tea constituting some 2% by weight on a dry basis. However, by weight, the most important group of coloring matters in black tea is that known as therapeutics constituting more than 10% 7 . Their structure is still unknown but they may also Evaluation of tea Tea is evaluated under five headings: strength, color, briskness, aroma and quality.Strength is a measure of the total concentration of deflations and therapeutics and, since they are responsible mainly for the color of tea, with small contributions from paleontologists and products of November 1979 3 TEA continued non-enzymes browning, color and strength are related. However, the assessment of color is more a measure of the brightness of the color rather than total color and so is a measure of the balance between the deflations and therapeutics, the former contributing sensory brightness and the latter the depth 8 .The extent of popularization of tea polyphony's depends on such factors as time and temperature, more extensive popularization giving rise to reduction of solubility. The polymers combine readily with caffeine and the result on cooling is known as creaming, the compounds so formed tending to separate out. This is particularly undesirable in teas intended for making iced tea. Creaming can be assessed through the cream index which is determined by deliberate coagulation with acid.The astringency of tea is largely dependent on the amount of polyphonic compounds present, the degree of oxidation of the tea flavors and particularly by the amount of Gaelic acid groups present on the flavors and their oxidation products. Caffeine is reported to improve the briskness of tea and milk or lemon Juice may modify the taste of the polyphony's 2 . The overall quality of a tea infusion may also be related to he proportions of deflating and therapeutics present and also to the sum of their concentrations.The aroma of tea is not related to tea polyphony's but is determined by the volatile components. Some three hundred compounds have been identified in black tea and recent discoveries are listed in the latest review 2 . They comprise leaderless, stones, esters, pyridine's, paralyzes, thistles, squishiness, aromatic amines, amides and other compounds. The formation of carbonyl compounds is a result of Stretcher degradation reactions between amino acids and oxidized flavors according to: usability stresses the importance of the formation of amino acids during the withering stages of tea manufacture.Tea leaves, being photosynthetic organs, also contain a significant amount of cartooned and important black tea aroma components are probably produced as a result of the oxidative degradation of carotids. The oxidation of unsaturated fats may also contribute to flavor. Conclusion The most important stage of black tea manufacture involves e nzymes oxidation of flavor substrates. Demerit flavors and particularly deflating are important contributors to tea quality together with the higher polymers known as heartburning. It is worth noting, however, that condensation does not stop when the enzyme is inactivated during firing.