Softdrinks History free essay sample

Agri-Food Trade Service Softdrinks Industry: Another Side of a Filipinos Beverage Life1 2009 Ditas R. Macabasco Agribusiness Specialist Center for Food and Agri Business University of Asia and the Pacific Softdrinks, also known as carbonated drinks, cola, soda or pop, is one of the most consumed beverages in the country. Prior to the introduction of bottled water, ready-to-drink teas, ready-to-drink fruit juices, and other functional drinks, it was the usual choice of Filipino consumers in many parts of the country. Industry Definition A pending bill in Congress (House Bill 5039) defined carbonated drinks as â€Å"aerated potable water, whether or not it contains added sugar or other flavor sweeteners, and non-alcoholic beverages which are charged under pressure with carbon dioxide gas and are sold in bottles and other air-tight containers. † Just like other beverages, softdrinks are a popular thirst quencher in the country. Market Total household spending on non-alcoholic beverages reached P33. 3 billion in 2006 based on the latest Family Income and Expenditure Survey of the National Statistics Office. We will write a custom essay sample on Softdrinks History or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The figure was higher by 2. 9% per year from P30. 6 billion in 2003. In inflation-adjusted terms, expenditure grew by 7. 4% per annum during the period. The bulk of the spending may be attributed to softdrinks. Meanwhile, the total size of the softdrinks market in the country was estimated at 8,591 million liters in 2007, with projected growth of 7. 6% in 2008 to 9,241 million liters (www. euromonitor. com). The Players The softdrinks industry in the country consists of a handful of players. The market leader is Coca Cola, followed by Pepsi. The other smaller players include Virgin Cola, Zesto, and RC Cola. Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc. (CCBPI) is now 100%-owned by The Coca Cola Company. The latter bought the entire 65% stake of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) in CCBPI in 2007 for US$590 million. The acquisition includes low-end softdrinks manufacturer Cosmos Bottling Corporation (CBC), which was acquired by SMC back in 2002, as well as Philippine Beverage Partners, Inc. , the company which distributes the products. Today, the companys carbonated brands in the market include Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Sprite Light, and Royal, and CBC brands Pop Cola, Sarsi, Cheers, Lift, Jaz Cola, and Sparkle. Another player is Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) which is 32. 9% owned by PepsiCo. PCPPIs brands in the market include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Light, Pepsi Max, 7Up, Diet 7Up, Mountain Dew, Jazz, Mirinda, and Mug. The company went public early this year, the proceeds from which are intended mainly for expansion of its carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. Also in the softdrinks business is Interbev Corporation, a subsidiary of beer company Asia Brewery Inc. , which managed to secure a licensing agreement for Virgin Cola, a popular British brand, in 2004. Virgin Cola comes in four variants: regular, diet, lemon and lime. It competes with lower-priced brands in the market like Pop Cola, RC Cola and Jazz. Juice company Zesto Corporation has also entered the softdrinks market via Zesto Cola in 1994. Its product â€Å"challenged the market leaders in terms of taste, refreshing qualities and price. Zesto has since diversified its carbonated drinks line to include Zesto Cola Zero Cal, Rootbeer, Rootbeer Light, Twist, Squiz Orange, Squiz Grape, Dalandan Fruit Soda, Calamansi Fruit Soda, and Pomelo Fruit Soda. Yet another player is Asiawide Refreshments Corporation, which is the Philippines licensed bottling manufacturer and distributor of US brand RC Cola. The product is among the relatively low-priced brands in the local market. |Table 1. SOFTDRINKS: Key Industry Players | |Company |Brands |Coca Cola |Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Sprite Light, Royal, Pop, Sarsi, Diet Sarsi, Lift, Cheers, | | |Jaz Cola, Sparkle | |Pepsi Cola |Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Light, Pepsi Max, 7Up, Diet 7Up, Mountain Dew, Jazz, Mirinda, Mug | |Interbev Corporation |Virgin Cola | |Zesto Corporation |Zesto Cola, Zesto Cola Zero Cal, Rootbeer, Rootbeer Light, Twist, Squiz Orange, Squiz Grape, | | |Dalandan Fruit Soda, Calamansi Fruit Soda, Pomelo Fruit Soda | |Asiawide Refreshments |RC Cola | |Corporation | | According to an industry report, CCBPI controls about 50% of the market for carbonated softdrinks in the country, followed by CBC with 23%, PCPPI with 17%, and the remaining 10% is shared by the other small players. Figure 1. Market shares of key players [pic] Source: AC Nielsen as cited by 2TradeAsia, January 2008 Distribution, Packaging and Pricing The softdrinks industry enjoys extensive distribution. The companies have manufacturing plants, warehouses, and sales offices located in various parts of the country. The distribution outlets include sari-sari stores, grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, hotels, resorts, canteens, movie theaters, amusement parks, and vending machines, among others. The products are sold in three types of packaging: returnable glass bottles, lift ring aluminum can, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. In the past, most softdrinks are packaged in glass bottles. Today, however, more and more companies are using PET bottles. The usual packaging sizes are 2 liters (li), 1. 5 li, 1 li, and 500 milliliters (ml) for PET; 8 ounces (237 ml), 12 ounces (355 ml), and 1 li for glass bottles; and 330 ml for aluminum cans. The usual packaging available in supermarkets, groceries and convenience stores are PET and aluminum cans. Those in glass bottles are usually sold in sari-sari stores. There are also institutional packs and dispensers for the food service industry. Prices vary depending on the brand, the variant, the type of packaging, the size, the type of outlet, the location, among others. In some supermarkets and sari-sari stores, retail prices ranged from P36. 00 – 49. 50 for a 2 li PET bottles, P29. 00 – 39. 50 for 1. 5 li PET bottles, P17. 50 – 21. 00 for 500 ml PET bottles, and P15. 95 – 22. 50 for 330 ml aluminum cans. |Table 2. Indicative Prices of Selected Softdrink Products, September 2008 | |Company |Brand |Packaging / Retail Price (P) | | | |2 li PET |1. li PET |500 ml PET |330 ml can | |Coca Cola |Coke | |34. 00 |21. 00 | | | |Coke Light |49. 50 |36. 75 | |20. 00 | | |Coke Zero |44. 95 |33. 50 | |22. 50 | | |Sprite | |35. 25 | |18. 50 | | |Sprite Ice | | | |18. 0 | | |Sprite Light | | | |21. 00 | | |Royal | |34. 50 |21. 00 |18. 50 | |CBC |Sarsi | |36. 00 | |21. 00 | | |Sarsi Light | |39. 50 | | | | |Sarsi Rootbeer Light | | |21. 0 | | |PCPPI |Pepsi | |34. 00 | |17. 50 | | |Pepsi Light | |34. 00 | | | | |Pepsi Max |36. 00 |29. 00 | |17. 50 | | |7Up | |33. 25 |20. 00 |17. 50 | | |Mountain Dew | |33. 25 |20. 0 |17. 50 | | |Mirinda | |33. 25 |20. 00 |17. 50 | | |Mug Rootbeer | |33. 50 | |17. 50 | |Zesto Corp. |Cola | |31. 00 |18. 50 | | | |Cola Zero | | | |14. 50 | | |Dalandan Soda | |30. 75 |17. 00 |17. 0 | | |Calamansi Soda |30. 75 |18. 25 | | | | |Diet | | | |17. 00 | | |Squiz | |29. 25 |17. 50 |14. 50 | | |Rootbeer | |31. 00 |17. 50 |15. 95 | |Asiawide Refreshments Corp. |RC Cola |   |31. 50 |   |15. 95 | Source: Selected supermarkets in Metro Manila SWOT Analysis The success of the softdrinks industry in the country hinges on several strengths (S). For one, many of the brands are well-established and have been in the market for several decades now. The local licensees also enjoy strong support from their mother companies abroad. The brands have also developed a loyal customer base. The companies have established manufacturing facilities and extensive distribution network all over the country. Further, the companies spend heavily on marketing and multi-media advertising. They also continuously pursue product innovations to cater to changing demands and lifestyles of the market. The products are also priced reasonably and there is a wide array of choices for the consumers. In terms of weaknesses (W), sales have been declining in recent years due to the growing health and wellness concerns among consumers, which lead them to shy away from sugar-loaded softdrinks. In addition, rising costs of ingredients, packaging materials and energy exert pressure on the companies bottomlines. Meanwhile, an opportunity (O) for growth is the development of new variants of carbonated drinks to take advantage of the growing trend on health consciousness. These could include low calorie, low sugar, no sugar and fruit-flavored variants. In addition, the increasing incidence of eating out among Filipino families also presents an opportunity as it may translate to more orders of carbonated drinks. There are also threats (T) brought about by intensifying competition in the market, not only within the industry itself but also coming from other non-carbonated beverages such as bottled water, ready-to-drink teas, fruit juices, fitness waters, sports drinks, among others. The shift in consumer preferences towards beverages tied to health and wellness also pose a threat. Scarcity and quality of water, which is a vital input in the manufacturing process, are also key concerns to watch out for. Rising consumer prices is also a threat in that it could lead consumers to cut back on â€Å"unnecessary† expenses. |Table 3. SWOT Analysis of the Philippine Softdrinks Industry | |Strengths |Weaknesses | |Established brands |Declining sales | |Strong relationship with mother companies abroad |Rising costs of ingredients and packaging materials | |Highly loyal consumers |Increasing energy costs | |Established manufacturing platform | | |Extensive distribution network | | |Heavy marketing and advertising expenditure | | |Continuous product nnovations | | |Affordable | | |Wide variety of products | | |Opportunities |Threats | |Introduction of new variants (low calorie, low sugar, zero|Intense competition within the industry itself and from other | |sugar) |non-carbonated beverages | |Increasing incidence of eating-out |Shift in consumer preferences towards beverages tied to health and | |   |wellness | | |Scarcity and quality of water (a key ingredient in manufacturing) | | |Rising consumer prices | Prospects The softdrinks industry is faced with challenging times. According to industry reports, sales have not been as brisk as in the past as consumers shift to healthier (less sugar-laden) alternatives like bottled water, fruit juices and teas. Rising food and fuel prices have also weakened consumer demand. Recently, a bill was filed in Congress for the imposition of a 20% excise tax on soft drinks, energy drinks and non-carbonated beverages. House Bill 5039 actually seeks to amend Section 150 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 by expanding the coverage of goods levied with a 20% excise tax to include the said beverages. It seeks to curb the excessive intake of such beverages, and at the same time, generate about P5 billion a year in added revenues for the government. If this bill is passed, it will be another setback for the industry which is still grappling with difficult market conditions. Inspite of these, the outlook for the industry remains optimistic. Softdrinks have managed to survive tougher times in the past. And they will continue to be a popular segment of the beverage industry since they have become a part of the diet of many Filipinos. Nonetheless, to enhance consumer demand, players are actively pursuing promotional activities such as tie-ups with value meals of popular fastfood chains, restaurants as well as pizza chains, sponsorship of events, setting up of booths in schools/club fairs, conduct of contests, provision of free softdrinks in some events, among others. They are also conducting massive multi-media advertising campaigns and price cuts, as well as continuous research and development, and product introductions. Their aggressive efforts in reviving interest in the product are slowly paying off. According to reports, while sales of the regular softdrink products have been broadly flat, the demand for the new variants (e. g. sugar free, low sugar, zero sugar, fruit-flavored) have been posting good growth. And it is likely that these new variants will continue to drive growth in the coming years.

Definition and Examples of Prescriptivism

Definition and Examples of Prescriptivism Prescriptivism is the attitude or belief that one variety of a language is superior to others and should be promoted as such. Also known as  linguistic prescriptivism and purism.  An ardent promoter of prescriptivism is called a prescriptivist or, informally, a  stickler. A key aspect of traditional grammar, prescriptivism is generally  characterized by a concern for good, proper, or correct usage. Contrast with descriptivism. In a paper published in Historical Linguistics 1995, Sharon Millar defined prescriptivism as the conscious attempt by language users to control or regulate the language use of others for the purpose of enforcing perceived norms or of promoting innovations (Language Prescription: Success in Failures Clothing).Common examples of prescriptive texts include many (though  not all)  style and usage guides, dictionaries, writing handbooks, and the like.   Observations [Prescriptivism is the] policy of describing languages as we would like them to be, rather than as we find them. Typical examples of prescriptivist attitudes are the condemnation of preposition stranding and of the split infinitive and a demand for Its I in place of the normal Its me.  (R.L. Trask, Dictionary of English Grammar. Penguin, 2000)A prescriptive grammar is essentially a manual that focuses on constructions where usage is divided and lays down rules governing the socially correct use of language. These grammars were a formative influence on language attitudes in Europe and America during the 18th and 19th centuries. Their influence lives on in the handbooks of usage widely found today, such as A Dictionary of Modern English Usage (1926) by Henry Watson Fowler (1858-1933), though such books include recommendations about the use of pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary as well as grammar.  (David Crystal, How Language Works. Overlook Press, 2005)I think sensible prescr iptivism  ought to be part of any education.(Noam Chomsky, Language, Politics, and Composition, 1991.  Chomsky on Democracy and Education, ed. by  Carlos Peregrà ­n Otero. RoutledgeFalmer, 2003) Verbal Hygiene [T]he overt anti-prescriptive stance of linguists is in some respects not unlike the prescriptivism they criticize. The point is that both prescriptivism and anti-prescriptivism invoke certain norms and circulate particular notions about how language ought to work. Of course, the norms are different (and in the case of linguistics they are often covert). But both sets feed into the  more general arguments that influence everyday ideas about language. On that level, description and prescription turn out to be aspects of a single (and normative) activity: a struggle to control language by defining its nature.  My use of the term verbal hygiene is intended to capture this idea, whereas to use the term prescriptivism would just recycle the opposition I am trying to deconstruct.  (Deborah Cameron, Verbal Hygiene. Routledge, 1995) Language Wars The history of prescriptions about Englishof grammar texts, manuals of style and O tempora o mores-type laments- is in part a history of bogus rules, superstitions, half-baked logic, groaningly unhelpful lists, baffling abstract statements, false classifications, contemptuous insiderism, and educational malfeasance. But it is also a history of attempts to make sense of the world and its bazaar of competing ideas and interests. Instinctively, we find the arbitrariness of existence hard to accept. Our desire to impose order on the world, which means inventing the forms of language rather than discovering them, is a creative act. Furthermore, the quarrel between descriptivists and prescriptivists ... is a sort of mad confederacy: each party thrives on lambasting the other.   Ã¢â‚¬â€¹(Henry Hitchings, The Language Wars. John Murray, 2011) The Problem WIth Prescriptivists [G]eneral ignorance of grammar allows prescriptivists to impose nonsensical mandates and allows test-makers and test-takers to focus primarily on superficial error in language use.​(Martha Kolln and Craig Hancock, The Story of English Grammar in United States Schools. English Teaching: Practice and Critique, December 2005) Pronunciation: pree-SKRIP-ti-viz-em

Texas State Laws on Flag Burning, Desecration

Texas State Laws on Flag Burning, Desecration In Texas, it is a misdemeanor if someone intentionally or knowingly damages, defaces, mutilates, or burns the flag of the United States or the State of Texas. A flag includes any emblem, banner, or other standard or a copy of an emblem, standard, or banner that is an official or commonly recognized depiction of the flag of the United States or of this state and is capable of being flown from a staff of any character or size but does not include a representation of a flag on a written or printed document. Source: 42.11 Analysis of the Law Texas was the source of the infamous Texas v. Johnson Supreme Court decision which upheld peoples right to burn American flags. At the time, the law made it a misdemeanor for someone to knowingly desecrate a state or national flag, where desecrate was defined as deface, damage, or otherwise physically mistreat in a way that the actor knows will seriously offend one or more persons likely to observe or discover his action. There isnt much difference between the law that was held unconstitutional in 1989 and the law which currently sits on the books in Texas. Now, as then, the crime is located not so much in the act as it is in causing negative reactions in others. You arent guilty of flag desecration in Texas if you burn a a flag and no one is offended; you only become a criminal when others take offense.

Social Media Policies, Concerted Activity and HR Management Research Paper

Social Media Policies, Concerted Activity and HR Management - Research Paper Example As the use of social media in workplaces continue to be entrenched in the normal work routines of employees, employers are finding a way to spy and eavesdrop on the discussions and opinions that employees have, concerning the organization. This has escalated to the extent where employees are using social media to punish or banish employees who make negative or disparaging remarks about the company. This paper discusses the ethical issues involved in the use of social media among employees and employers. In one case before NLRB, BMW fired one employee for posting on Facebook about the company serving hot dogs during a sales event instead of serving more upscale foods. The company management determined the comment to amount to disparaging remarks and fired the employee for ridiculing the company. The NLRB determined that the employee was unfairly dismissed because the issue of serving hot dogs to customers was of concern to other employees and that the company also stood to lose customers because of serving them with hot dogs. The board argued that the employee only engaged in protected concerted activity that the company stood to benefit if it changed the kind of foods it served its customers (Tanick, 2012). I agree with the decision by the NLRB in the case above because the company would be the final beneficiary as a result of serving upscale foods. In addition, the company failed to show that it had engaged the opinion of the employees on the kind of foods they were serving their customers. The above case would lead to better employee relations at BMW if the company management would have decided to assemble the views of the employees on the kind of foods they were serving their customers and give them an opportunity to suggest the foods they thought would attract more customers to the company dealership.

Cause and effect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Cause and effect - Essay Example When other nations present a better outlook expectation, advanced earnings and a sparkling way of life, it draws many populaces. Other people tent to move in search of means for survival and to be able to support their families back home (Lujà ¡n 78). Many developed states have many advancements taking place daily in their places. The numerous expansions attract people mainly from the least urbanized nations to shift there to earn good incomes. Education: majority of citizens tend to progress to other countries with the anticipation of securing good quality schooling. Other states are appareled with a huge range of learning prospects. Many of them have numerous and classy professional establishments, colleges, universities as well as high schools that are better that those established back at home. The superiority and the prestige that comes in line with being associates with such a teaching drive many to shift other lands. Others have a preference to attend institutions that are well known globally in order for them to be famous (Sharma 196). Many students particularly those from wealthy backgrounds travel to countries of their picking to get PhD and Masters Credentials. Through scholarship students also get an option to move to their preferred sates to learn. Lofty Standards of living: numerous parents over and over again tent to propel their kinds overseas for them to attain the best existence. Manly they do this with an objective covering up on the life they were denied or did not achieve. Parents believe that once their children have travelled overseas they will get a plentiful and fruitful life there. With this major concern of a lofty living, much populaces do all they can to shift abroad. Other populaces go to any extend that they abandon their occupations in their motherlands just try their fortune in other states. Others even choose to revolutionize their

Practice and Principles of Nursing Essay Example for Free

Practice and Principles of Nursing Essay Principles and Practices of Nursing We will describe collaborating with other health care professionals in the management of health care, and what should be done according to this regulation. (Oklahoma Board of Nursing, 2011). We will describe confidentiality and discuss how it affects the Nurses professional decision making in this Case study. We will discuss the ethical implications of placing this patient on the ventilator. We will discuss things the Patients brother Mr.Y should consider before agreeing to allow Dr. K to place the Patient Mr. E on the ventilator, and facts that affect the Patients Advance Directive. We will discuss violations of HIPAA seen in this Case Study. We will discuss the conduct of the Nurses in this case study. We will discuss the steps the professional Nurse should take based on the ANA code of ethics. Collaboration is not just cooperation, it is the combined efforts of a team to provide the best care possible (Nursing World, 2010). The Physician and nurse should be working together to achieve the best care for this Patient. The Nurse and Physician should discuss the Patients condition and wishes and the wishes of the family if the Patient is incapable of making decisions for himself (Nursing World, 2010). The nurse and Physician should make certain the patients brother knows about the advance directive, so he will be able to make an informed decision about his brothers care. Confidentiality is very important in the medical field. Confidentiality represents a relationship between Patient and care giver of trust and respect for his privacy (Nursing World, 2010). If a Patient is unsure of privacy then the communication will be adversely affected. The Nurse in this scenario should never discuss patients in the dining area, the waiting room, or anywhere else that privacy can not be guaranteed (Nursing World, 2010). The nurse should never discuss the patients condition with family members if they do not have medical power of attorney or been given permission by the medical power of attorney to do so (Nursing World, 2010). The nurse should not discuss patient with other staff members unless they are directly responsible for giving care and have a need to know (Nursing World, 2010). This Patient has signed an Advance Directive and has named his brother as Power of Attorney (Nursing World, 2010 ). This fact was never discussed with the brother before this Patient was put on the Ventilator. The patients brother was not the one who gave permission for the procedure to put patient on the ventilator(Nursing World, 2010). The brother needs to tconsider these facts before giving Dr. K permission to place the patient on the ventilator. The patient has a low oxygen level of 88%. He has a low grade temp of 101 degree F. His mental capacity may not be adequate to make this decision without assistance (Nursing World, 2010). The brother needs to consider the fact that the patient had the Advance Directive before he became ill, and consider his ability to make decisions at the time he signed the advance directive (Nursing World, 2010). There were several HIPAA violations noted in this scenario. The physician spoke to the niece about the condition of the patient without consent of the power of attorney or the patient (Sheahan, 2011). The nurse spoke to other staff who were not directly responsible for the care of this patient (Sheahan, 2011). The nurse also discussed patient information in a very public place where anyone could overhear the conversation (Sheahan, 2011). The nurse who was directly responsible for this patient did not advocate for this patients rights. The nurse had information that she never gave to anyone in a position to make decisions for this patient (Nursing World, 2010 ). The nurses used derogatory language when speaking of this patient (Nursing World, 2010). The nurses had no consideration for the patients privacy or dignity in this scenerio. None of the nurses offered to help educate the nurse who admitted she knew nothing of HIPAA. The Nurse needs to protect the Patients privacy at all times. The nurse should Advocate for the Patients rights to refuse treatment or have his Power of Attorney make this decision for him (Nursing World, 2010). The nurse needs to insist the Physician or she herself speak with the brother again to clarify that the niece could give permission to place Patient on Ventilator before the procedure is performed. The nurse should never have gone to lunch before she had obtained permission from the power of attorney to allow the procedure to be performed. The Nurse should also give her fellow employees in the cafateria a copy of the Nurse Practice acts of Oklahoma, the Nurses Code of Ethics and HIPAA. She needs to be certain that all of the nurses involved including herself understands all three of these papers. The nurse should request that they not speak in a derogatory fashion of any patient, and make certain they understand that they are in violation of the nursing code of ethics and HIPAA (Nursing World, 2010). We have discussed the nursing regulation collaborating with other health professionals in the management of health care, it’s importance, and what the health care team should do in this situation (Nursing World, 2010 ). We have discussed confidentiality, and the professional Nurses role in maintaining confidentiality. We have discussed the ethical implications of putting this Patient on the ventilator. We have discussed things his Brother needs to know and consider before making this decision for the patient and things that could interfere with the Advance Directive. We found several HIPAA violationa.  We have discussed the conduct of the nurses in this scenerio. We have discussed the things the professional nursw should do.

International Business Essay -- International Business Management

International Business Question No 1: Describe the four basic levels of international business activity.Do you think any organization will achieve the fourth level?Why or why not. Question No 2: For each of the four globalization strategies, describe the risks associated with that strategy and the potential returns from that strategy. __________________________________ Answer for question No 1: The four general levels of international buisness activity are: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Domestic business 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  International business 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Multinational business 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Global business. Domestic Business: Is the one that acquires all of its resources and sells all of its products ot services within a single country.(8/143) Interational business: Is the one that is based primarily in a single country but acquires some meaningful share of its resources or revenues (ot both) from othe countries. (8/143) Multinational business: The one that has a worldwide marketplace from which it buys raw mateials, borrows money, and manufactures its products and to which it subsequently sells its prducts.(8/143) Global business: Is the business that transcends national boundaries and is not committed to a single home country.(8/143) In my opinion there is no opportunity for a business to achieve this level of Iinternationalization.The reason is that all business in all over the world are controled by the government which are committed.There is no way for a business ...

Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank Essay

What I am about to write is a summary of The Diary of a Young Girl, written by Anne Frank. This book starts from when Anne gets her diary on her thirteenth birthday. The book is about when Anne and her family have to live in the â€Å"Secret Annex.† On her thirteenth birthday, Anne’s parents give her a diary. She’s excited because she wants something in which to confide all of her secret thoughts. Even though she has a social life, she feels misunderstood by everyone she knows. Anne starts writing about daily events, her thoughts, school grades, boys, all that. But, within a month, her entire life changes. As Jews in German-occupied Holland, the Frank family fears for their lives. When Anne’s sister, Margot, is called to appear before the authorities, which would almost surely mean she was being sent to a concentration camp, Anne and her family go into hiding. They move into a little section of Anne’s father’s office building that is walled off and hidden behind a swinging bookcase. For two years, the Frank family lives in this Secret Annex. Mr. and Mrs. van Daan and their son Peter are also in hiding with the Franks. Later, Mr. Dussel, a dentist moves in, and Anne has to share her bedroom with him. Anne is hidden from the outside world. She’s cooped up in tiny rooms, tiptoeing around during the day and becoming shocked from the sounds of bombs and gunfire at night. Luckily, the Franks have tons of reading material and a radio. Anne grows in her knowledge of politics and literature, and she puts tons of energy into studying and writing. At the same time, she grows further and further away from the other members of the Annex. There is a change in Anne when she begins hanging out in the attic with Peter van Daan. Around this time she starts having dreams about a boy she was in love with, another Peter, Peter Schiff. She sometimes even gets the two Peters confused in her head. She comes to see Peter as much more than she first thought. She finds him sensitive and caring, and they talk about everything. Eventually their relationship changes. Anne and Peter’s passion turns into a friendship and a source of comfort for them both. Another big change for Anne happens when the war seems to be ending. She hears that personal accounts such as her diary will be in demand after the war ends. We see a return to her earlier enthusiasm as she begins editing her diary with excitement. Unfortunately, this does not last. Even as Anne becomes more and more sensitive to the suffering going on in the world, her own suffering becomes unbearable. She feels completely alone. She thinks everyone hates her. She feels constantly criticized. And there is no escape. At one point, she thinks it might have been better if she and her family had all died instead of hiding in the Annex. As Anne becomes harder on those around her, she also becomes harder on herself, berating herself for being mean to the other members of the Annex. There her diary ends. Two short months after Anne’s fifteenth birthday, and two days after he last diary entry, the Secret Annex is raided. We don’t know Anne’s thoughts or feelings at that point or any time after, but we know things got worse. Afterwards Anne and the other members of the Annex were sent to various concentration cmps. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, was the sole survivor. I would recommend this book to others who like to know what happened throughout history, though I personally wouldnt read it again. I say this because I didnt really enjoy reading about her life, and I am not all that into history, except Greek mythology, but thats just me personally.

Gender Roles in Beowulf and The Decameron Essay

The Anglo- Saxon epic Beowulf and Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron tell very different stories, but nevertheless can be said to share one common literary element: the representation of gender. Both Beowulf and many of the stories in the Decameron represent women as being the subject to men in all respects. Beowulf is a masculine epic altogether, in which women are absent, silent or otherwise merely a tool that serves the world of men. In The Decameron on the other hand, although women are present in all the stories, Boccaccio makes them the victims of his irony most of the times, picturing them either as adulteresses or as very simple beings that completely lack cleverness, like the woman who lets herself be persuaded by her lover that he is the angel Gabriel himself. However, in both Boccaccio’s tales and in Beowulf the role of the women is even more interesting to notice when the authors intend to give a positive representation of them, in the form of ideal women. The ideal women for the two texts, Griselda in Boccaccio’s hundred story and Wealhtheow in Beowulf offer indeed a good insight into the way in which women were represented: they are intended to be positive figures, but they are ideal only insomuch as they are perfect tools that serve in the men’s world. Thus, Beowulf is as Gillian Overing notes, an absolutely masculine epic, which focuses only on heroism. The world of men is accurately constructed: it is entirely composed of men’s wishes, men’s actions and so on: â€Å"Beowulf is an overwhelmingly masculine poem; it could be seen as a chronicle of male desire, a tale of men dying†¦There is no place for women in the masculine economy of Beowulf. â€Å"(Overing, 69) Beowulf is the hero and later the king, who saves the Danish people of the powerful monster Grendel and of his mother. The very few women who appear in the story are mostly mentioned directly as instruments in the world of men, as â€Å"peace-weavers† more exactly, like Hrothgar’s daughter for example, who is mentioned directly as a â€Å"promise† to a certain man, as a means to bring peace to the kingdom: â€Å"Oft to the heroes Hrothgar’s daughter,/ to earls in turn, the ale-cup tendered, –/she whom I heard these hall-companions/ Freawaru name, when fretted gold/ she proffered the warriors. Promised is she,/ gold-decked/ maid, to the glad son of Froda. / Sage this seems to the Scylding’s-friend,/ kingdom’s-keeper: he counts it wise/ the woman to wed so and ward off feud,/ store of slaughter. But seldom ever/when men are slain, does the murder-spear sink/ but briefest while, though the bride be fair! † It is quite clear that this woman will probably fail even in her modest role, as a peace maker, according to the prediction of the anonymous author. Wealhtheow, queen to Hrothgar is the only woman who is given a voice in the poem at all. Her two speeches, one addressed to her king and the other to Beowulf mark very important moments in the poem, and she almost seems to have a certain power. She advises her king not to adopt Beowulf as a son, since he already has two sons of his owns, and pledges him to his word by offering a cup. She then goes to Beowulf and offers another symbolic object, a neck-ring as a reward for his feats of heroism and urges him to fight again and confront death: â€Å"Enjoy this neck-ring with safety, Beowulf, beloved youth, and make use of this corselet, of our people’s treasure; prosper well, declare yourself with strength, and be kind of counsel to these youths. I shall remember to reward you for that. You have brought it about that men shall praise you from far and near for a long time to come†¦. Here every nobleman is true to the other, mild of heart, loyal to his lord; the thanes are united, the people willing; the wine-drinking warriors do as I bid. † (â€Å"Beowulf†, 1216-1231) In both these instances, the Danish queen seems to hold some power over the events and the world of men, since she performs such symbolic acts and since she herself declares that the warriors obey her. However, it is quite obvious that she also is an instrument just like the other women mentioned in the text. She does not perform her own will, but only acts as an ideal tool for men that takes the cup from one of them and gives it to another. It can be said that Wealhtheow is merely a mediator and a peace bringer in the poem, just like the other women represented. As Gillian Overing remarks, in Beowulf women serve only as mediators for the alliances between men, either through marriage or through symbolic, minor acts: â€Å"While we have no way of guessing at Beowulf’s sexuality, or at the poet’s or the hero’s personal views on marriage, we cannot ignore the strength of expressed masculine desire in the poem. Intensity and passion are located in the bonds of loyalty and friendship forged between men, and marriage is valued as an extension of this larger emotional context. †(Overing, 72) Thus, Wealhtheow is an ideal woman in Beowulf insomuch as she serves the purposes in men’s world, her will simply coinciding with the desires of men. In the last story of The Decameron, one of the very few that actually have a â€Å"happy† ending, Griselda the modest daughter of a shepherd is married to the Marquis of Saluzzo. Her role in the story is strikingly similar to that of Wealhtheow in Beowulf, even if the context is very different. In the story Gualtieri is a typical man, who as shown from the start, is preoccupied only with men’s business, such as hunting, and despises the idea of marriage: â€Å"†¦having neither wife nor child, [he] passed his time in naught else but in hawking and hunting, and of taking a wife and begetting children had no thought; wherein he should have been accounted very wise†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Boccaccio, 837) As the author declares, the idea of taking a wife would be completely unwise, suggesting that women are merely troublesome acquisitions for men. However, Gualtieri is married at last, but chooses the daughter of a shepherd, so as to make sure she will be more likely to obey him in everything: â€Å"He then asked her, whether, if he took her to wife, she would study to comply with his wishes, and be not wroth, no matter what he might say or do, and be obedient†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Boccaccio, 840) After a few happy years, he starts to deliberately torment his wife, through cruel acts, such as taking her children away and making her believe they are dead or humiliating her for her base condition in front of everyone. All this is done of course to try the wife’s patience and her limits in her total obedience to her husband. In the end, he makes her believe he is going to marry again, but instead brings her daughter, and the story ends well. The moral is quite evident: Boccaccio attempted to portray his idea of the perfect woman, that is the woman is nothing else but an instrument of man’s will. Griselda is so modest as to consider herself unworthy of any kind of regard, and so patient as to bear in silence her husband cruelty: â€Å"My lord, do with me as thou mayst deem best for thine own honour and comfort, for well I wot that I am of less account than they, and unworthy of this honourable estate †¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Boccaccio, 842) Her similarity to Wealhtheow is now apparent: both the queen in Beowulf and Griselda are ideal women only because they serve men properly, as instruments, that do not have any will of their own. Thus, the heroines of the two texts, although they appear in very different contexts, are obviously represented in the same way, that is, as instruments that are in harmony with men’s affairs and desires. Their perfection comes precisely from their nullity as characters, as persons of their own will. Both of them are wives first of all, and are defined only through this role. Although their authors intended a positive representation of women through them, they are in fact just useful devices for men, with no real consistence of their own. Works Cited: Risden, Edward L. tr. Beowulf. Troy: Whitston Publishing, 1994. Boccaccio, Giovanni. The Decameron. New York: Signet Classics, 2003 Overing, Gillian R. Language, Sign and Gender in ‘Beowulf. ’ Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1990.

5 Most Important Things You Can Do for the Environment

5 Most Important Things You Can Do for the Environment If you feel you’re not doing enough for the environment by replacing your incandescent light bulbs with LED lights and composting your kitchen scraps, maybe you’re ready to make a deeper commitment to environmental stewardship. Some of these strategies may seem a little radical, but they are among the most valuable actions you can take to protect and preserve Earth’s environment. Have Fewer Children- Or None Overpopulation is arguably the world’s most serious environmental problem because it exacerbates all of the others. The global population grew from 3 billion in 1959 to 6 billion in 1999, an increase of 100 percent in just 40 years. According to current projections, the world population will expand to 9 billion by 2040. This represents a slower growth rate than that of the last half of the 20th century, but it will nevertheless leave us with many more people to accommodate. Planet Earth is a closed system with limited resources- only so much fresh water and clean air and only so many acres of land for growing food. As the world population grows, our finite resources must stretch to serve more and more people. At some point, that will no longer be possible. Some scientists believe we have already passed that point. Ultimately, we need to reverse this growth trend by gradually bringing the human population of our planet back down to a more manageable size. This means more people must decide to have fewer children. This may sound pretty simple on the surface, but the drive to reproduce is fundamental in all species. The decision to limit or forgo the experience is a difficult one for many people because of emotional, cultural, and religious traditions and pressures. In many developing countries, large families can be a matter of survival. Parents often have as many children as possible to ensure that some will live to help with farming or other work and to care for the parents when they are old. For people in cultures like these, lower birth rates will only come after other serious issues such as poverty, hunger, poor sanitation, and freedom from disease have been adequately addressed. In addition to keeping your own family small, consider supporting programs that fight hunger and poverty, improve sanitation and hygiene, or promote education, family planning, and reproductive health in developing nations. Use Less Water- And Keep It Clean Fresh, clean water is essential to life- no one can live long without it- yet it is one of the scarcest and most endangered resources in our increasingly fragile biosphere. Water covers more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, but most of that is salt water. Freshwater supplies are much more limited and today a third of the world’s people lack access to clean drinking water. According to the United Nations, 95 percent of the cities worldwide still dump raw sewage into their water supplies. Not surprisingly, 80 percent of all illnesses in developing countries can be linked to unsanitary water. Especially if you live in a dry climate, you should use only as much water as you need, avoid wasting the water used, and strive to protect  water supplies. Eat Responsibly Eating locally grown food supports local farmers and merchants in your own community as well as reducing the amount of fuel, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions required to move the food you eat from the farm to your table. Eating organic meat and produce keeps pesticides and chemical fertilizers off your plate and out of rivers and streams. Eating responsibly also means eating less meat and fewer animal products such as eggs and dairy products, or perhaps none at all. Eating less meat is a matter of good stewardship of our finite resources. Farm animals emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, and raising animals for food requires many times more land and water than growing food crops. Livestock now uses 30 percent of the planet’s land surface, including 33 percent of farmland worldwide, which is used to produce animal feed. Every time you sit down to a plant-based meal instead of an animal-based meal, you save about 280 gallons of water and protect anywhere from 12 to 50 square feet of land from deforestation, overgrazing, and pesticide and fertilizer pollution. Conserve Energy- And Switch to Renewable Energy Walk, bike, and use public transportation more. Drive less. Not only will you be healthier and help to preserve precious energy resources, but you’ll also save money. According to a study by the American Public Transportation Association, families that use public transportation can reduce their household expenses by $6,200 annually, more than the average U.S. household spends on food every year. There are dozens of other ways you can conserve energy. You can turn off lights and unplug appliances when they are not in use and substitute cold water for hot whenever practical. Other small steps you can take include weather stripping your doors and windows and not overheating or overcooling your home and office. One way to start is to get a free energy audit from your local utility. Whenever possible, choose renewable energy over fossil fuels. For example, many municipal utilities now offer green energy alternatives so that you can get some or all of your electricity from wind, solar, or other renewable energy sources. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Many human activities- from using coal-fired power plants to generate electricity to driving gasoline-powered vehicles- cause greenhouse gas emissions that heat the atmosphere and contribute to climate change. Scientists are already seeing significant climate changes that point to the likelihood of serious consequences. Some scenarios foresee increasing drought that could further reduce food and water supplies and, at the same time, rising sea levels that will submerge islands and coastal regions and create millions of environmental refugees. Online calculators can help you measure and reduce your personal carbon footprint, but climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions and, so far, the world’s nations have been slow to find common ground on this issue. In addition to lowering your own carbon footprint, let your government officials know that you expect them to take action on this issue- and keep the pressure on until they do. Edited by Frederic Beaudry

Analysis of Linear DNA Genomes Separation in Gel Electrophoresis

Agarose gel electrophoresis has been widely used as a form of separating DNA genomes in varying sizes from 100 kp upto 25 kb. Isolation of Agarose gel is obtained from the genera Gelidium and Gracilaria.in the gelato process, the polymers of agarose often form an association of none covalent which form networks of pore sizes which determine the molecular ability of sieving properties. Use of gel electrophoresis is beneficial in separation of DNA genomes. Electrophoresis process is key in separating the different nucleic acids using various sizes and charges depending on the contents of the solution. In this experiment, lab analysis of gel was used to put gel solutions in charged nucleic acids for separation purposes. At this point the larger DNA and RNA have a hard time in separating thus allowing time for separation of the genomes based on the sizes. The rate of separation of the DNA molecule in the experiment was determined by the rate at which the sizes of the DNA, the concentration of the gel, DNA Conformation present, voltage degree applied, ehidium bromide solution introduced, type of agarose and the buffer being utilized in electrophoresis. After the process of separation, DNA molecules will be able to be visualized in the UV light using staining process to identify the different genomes. Thus in essence DAN electrophoresis defines the process by which the DNA migrates in the supporting medium. Most of electrophoresis is carried in agarose gels in narrow polymers of gels using pores of different sizes, this sieving provides a means by which the pores gives an opportunity for the DNA molecules to go through the pores at different sizes thus being separated using molecular weights. Thus this laboratory report uses agarose Gels while staining with ethidium bromide   to assess the separation process of the different DNA genomes. Thus it seeks to investigate the DNA genome separation to assess the different nucleic acids by their respective sizes. Refer to the Lab Manual 5 for in-depth methodology and procedure. Diagrammatic presentation of gel DNA Table 1; Showing gel electrophoresis picture Table 2; Showing curve presentation of the base pairs against distance travelled Table 3; Showing table figure for the curve Table 4; Showing how to calculate base pairs Example suppose we have a base pair having travelled 0.3 cm, then draw a line as illustrated above and take the readings on the corresponding logbp and take the anti log, which you get the base pair size. Table 5; Showing the sizes of pUC19 and their insert sizes Agarose gel electrophoresis has been utilised as a common method for separation of proteins, (Kryndushkin et al., 2003). The basic forms of nucleic acids can be separated through the aid of electrification process whereby charged molecules move to the anode side. This migration as depicted in the experiment ensures that molecules which have lower molecular weight are able to move faster, (Sambrook & Russel 2001). The process of electrophoresis is a crucial step in ensuring purification process of the desired DNA bands. In this experiment the usage of ethidium bromide is essential in visualizing the staining of the transcend DNA molecules. In this task, the Agarose gel electrophoresis plays a key role in ensuring the characteristics of DNA are obtained without any alterations. This experiment has yielded results which have enabled determination of DNA fragments sizes through digestion by restriction enzymes. The visualization has been effected with the use of ethidium bromide which is a common agent in nucleic acid purification process. The Agarose gel concentration on this task entailed the separation of the gel using agarose gel concentration of 0.2%w/v having bands from 0.1-1 kb. The distance travelled by DNA molecules in electrophoresis is directly proportional to the size of the DNA itself. The agarose gel is beneficial in ensuring that there are movements based on their sizes. With the various differences between the various rates of the DNA molecules in the gel solution, they are separated based on the size of the bases. The relationship built between the varied sizes of the DNA genome. The sieving of DNA is done through the size which it bears, (Southern, 1975). The length of DNA strands often vary from 50 base pairs to upto million s base pairs which agarose gel electrophoresis can be effective in separating them , the migration and distance travelled is linked on the concentration of the agarose used to prepare the gel. Concentrations having lower concentration are able to travel faster in the distance travelled and vice versa. In this study agarose gel of 2% has been used which was effective in separating the DNA at range of 0.1-1 kb, the low percentile gels often signify gels which are weak. Double stranded DNA moves faster as the molecules travels; its speed is inversely proportional to the logarithm of base pairs. This linked and established relationships depends on the strength of the of gel composition. The distance travelled by the digested genome signifies that there is action of restriction enzymes which shows that there restrictions which have taken place, thus distinguishing the variability linked to genetics and enzyme cost. The digested fragments were this separated using the agarose gel electrophoresis which showed continuous smear on the gel surface with the distribution of the difference fragment sizes being established. Digested pUC19 is a plasmid and able to transform itself on the transformation process where it can be able to multiply itself and express. Undigested pUC19 originate from E coli and contain high number of base pairs. The transformation efficiently portrayed shows that smaller pUC19 plasmid sin E choli can be manipulated and be transformed from the ampicilin forms. This shows that the DNA is in contact form with plasmid DNA being intact and with presence of viral chromosomes which can be transformed into high efficiencies. This transformation is through the resulting effect of digestion of peri plasmids. The undigested Puc19 shows presence base pairs which have the ability to perform recombination and be incorporated into cells, (Goto, Kenta & Yukio, 2013). The lanes which have recombination factor is able to facilitate the cloning of DNA in host cells.   This signifies recombination of various fragments of gel solution. The lanes that have been generated originated from digestion of particular DNA, which gives it equimolar amounts. Based on the lanes, there is variation on the number of non molar amounts, thus signifying that there is difference in band lengths. Others have shown to represent circular forms of the plasmids which is dependent on the age and quality of the plasmids. The existence of three forms of DNA formation which exists include linear formation, open circular formation and supercoiled forms. Plasmid DNA have been prevalently been studied in laboratory studies. After its preparation they exists in the three forms above. With good plasmid preparation, DNA often form plasmid which exist in any one strands of the DNA, this break causes the release of the phosphordiester backbones of the DNA to be released out. The visualising process of the agarose gel using the standard control tool is key to assess whether the bands have created a generation or not. Closer bands are well compressed than far away bands as indicated in the gel view. The standard marker used in this experiment was essential in ensuring that the standards sizes are generated using base pairs. This result signifies that electrophoresis is an effective way of separating nucleic acids. High gel agarose gives room for handling of low percentage gel separation. Due to the size of the base pair present in this experiment, has utilised field gel electrophoresis. This is   comparable to studies done (Lee et al, 2012), which have shown that sizes of DNA can be separated effectively through plotting on the log of molecular weight and different bands of DNA against the distance moved, this portray how different forms of gel can be able to move at different speeds. Super coiled plasmid DNA have sown to move faster, while those in linear formation travel averagely while open circular travel slowly. Goto, K., & Nagano, Y. (2013). Ultra-low background DNA cloning system. PloS one, 8(2), e56530. Kryndushkin DS, Alexandrov IM, Ter-Avanesyan MD & Kushnirov VV (2003). Yeast [PSI+]   prion aggregates are formed by small Sup35 polymers fragmented by Hsp10. Journal of Biological Chemistry.278 (49): 49636. Lee, P. Y., Costumbrado, J., Hsu, C. Y., & Kim, Y. H. (2012). Agarose gel electrophoresis for the separation of DNA fragments. Journal of visualized experiments: JoVE, (62). Sambrook J&Russel DW(2001). Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual 3rd Ed. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Cold Spring Harbor, NY. Southern, E. M. (1975). Detection of specific sequences among DNA fragments separated by gel electrophoresis. J mol biol, 98(3), 503-517.

The Teaching of Foreign Languages Research Proposal

The Teaching of Foreign Languages - Research Proposal Example In the result, one can observe impact of globalization on almost every aspect of different societies around the world, such as immigration, e-commerce, learning and most importantly, language learning. In particular, English has become an international language, and millions of individuals are endeavoring to learn foreign languages to equip themselves with the tools of surviving and competing in this modern global village. In this regard, institutions and organizations (Kirkman, 2010) are putting efforts to ensure effective learning of foreign languages by students and professionals around the world. In such an attempt, huge advancements in the field of information and technology have been playing a pivotal role in enhancing the language learning globally. Moreover, educational institutions are in midst of endeavors to identify the most effective methodology of teaching foreign languages. At the same time, it is an observation that technological tools are currently the most effective and interactive way of ensuring efficient teaching methodology when it comes to teaching of foreign languages. ... Research Statement In this regard, the proposed research will focus on the following research statement: â€Å"To identify and analyze the impact of teaching methodology on the performances of students and teachers toward technological language learning in EFL context† Literature Review In order to carry out research to analyze the impact, it is very imperative to acquire a foundational understanding of teaching methodologies that exist in the area of language learning. In this regard, brief review of the literature (Kirkman, 2010) has facilitated in identification of ‘computer assisted language learning’ that indicates very effective outcomes in terms of efficient teaching of foreign language. In the result, a huge number of organizations and institutions (Johnson, 2008) are in midst of implementing CALL technology for teaching different languages around the globe. In addition, due to effectiveness of CALL, statistics have indicated that due to advancements in th e field of information technology, a higher number of institutions are transferring their teaching environment into a CALL atmosphere that is an effective way of learning foreign languages. Although a huge number of experts (Ruffin, 2000) have carried out researches on the effectiveness of CALL technology; however, it is an observation that a very few has focused on its impact on students’ performance in the subject, and thus, there exists a need of new researches in this area. In this regard, to understand its impact, it is imperative to have an understanding of its different forms. In specifically, CALL technology has come to the present era while passing through different stages where it existed as ‘Structural CALL,