About Lois Lowrys Controversial Book, The Giver

About Lois Lowry's Controversial Book, The Giver Imagine living in a society of sameness where you find no color, no family connections, and no memory- a society where life is governed by rigid rules that resist change and resent questioning. Welcome to the world of Lois Lowrys 1994 Newbery award-winning book The Giver, a powerful and controversial book about a utopian community and young boy’s dawning realizations about oppression, choices and human connections. The Storyline of The Giver Twelve-year-old Jonas is looking forward to the Ceremony of Twelves and getting his new assignment. He will miss his friends and their games, but at 12 he is required to set aside his child-like activities. With excitement and fear, Jonas and the rest of the new Twelves are bid a formal â€Å"thank you for your childhood† by the head elder as they move into the next phase of community work. In The Giver’s utopian community, rules govern every aspect of life from speaking in precise language to sharing dreams and feelings at daily family councils. In this perfect world, climate is controlled, births are regulated and everyone is given an assignment based on ability. Couples are matched and applications for children are reviewed and assessed. The elderly are honored and  apologize, and the acceptance of apologies, are mandatory. In addition, anyone who refuses to follow rules or who exhibits weaknesses is â€Å"released† (a gentle euphemism for killed). If twins are born, the one weighing the least is scheduled for release while the other is taken to a nurturing facility. Daily pills to suppress desires and â€Å"stirrings† are taken by citizens beginning at age twelve. There is no choice, no disruption, and no human connections. This is the world Jonas knows until he is assigned to train under the Receiver and become his successor. The Receiver holds all the memories of the community and it’s his job to pass on this heavy burden to Jonas. As the old Receiver begins to give Jonas the memories of ages past, Jonas starts to see colors and experience new feelings. He learns there are words to label the emotions that are erupting inside him: pain, joy, sorrow, and love. The passing of memories from aged man to boy deepens their relationship and Jonas experiences a powerful need to share his newfound awareness. Jonas wants others to experience the world as he sees it, but the Receiver explains that letting loose these memories all at once into the community would be unbearable and painful. Jonas is weighed down by this new knowledge and awareness and finds solace in discussing his feelings of frustration and amazement with his mentor. Behind a closed door with the speaker device turned to OFF, Jonas and the Receiver discuss the forbidden topics of choice, fairness, and individuality. Early in their relationship, Jonas begins to see the old Receiver as a Giver because of the memories and knowledge he is giving to him. Jonas quickly finds his world shifting. He sees his community with new eyes and when he understands the real meaning of â€Å"release† and learns a sad truth about the Giver, he begins to make plans for change. However, when Jonas finds out that a young child he’s grown fond of is being prepared for release, both he and the Giver quickly alter their plans and prepare for a daring escape full of risk, danger, and death for all involved. Author Lois Lowry Lois Lowry wrote her first book, A Summer to Die, in 1977 at the age of 40. Since then she’s written more than 30 books for children and teens, often tackling serious topics such as debilitating illnesses, the Holocaust, and repressive governments. The winner of two Newbery Medals and other accolades, Lowry continues to write the types of stories she feels represents her views about humanity. Lowry explains, â€Å"My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. Born in Hawaii, Lowry, the second of three children, moved all over the world with her Army dentist father. Awards Over the years, Lois Lowry has accumulated multiple awards for her books, but the most prestigious are her two Newbery Medals for Number the Stars (1990) and The Giver (1994). In 2007, the American Library Association honored Lowry with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Contribution to Young Adult Literature. Controversy, Challenges, and Censorship Despite the many accolades The Giver has garnered, it has met with enough opposition to put it on the American Library Association’s most frequently challenged and banned books list for the years 1990-1999 and 2000-2009. Controversy over the book focuses on two topics: suicide and euthanasia. When a minor character determines she can no longer endure her life, she asks to be â€Å"released† or killed. According to an article in USA Today, opponents of the book argue that Lowry fails to â€Å"explain that suicide is not a solution to life’s problems.† In addition to the concern about suicide, opponents of the book criticize Lowry’s handling of euthanasia. Supporters of the book counter these criticisms by arguing that children are being exposed to social issues that will make them think more analytically about governments, personal choice, and relationships. When asked for her opinion on book banning Lowry responded: I think banning books is a very, very dangerous thing. It takes away an important freedom. Any time there is an attempt to ban a book, you should fight it as hard as you can. Its okay for a parent to say, I dont want my child to read this book. But it is not okay for anyone to try to make that decision for other people. The world portrayed in The Giver is a world where choice has been taken away. It is a frightening world. Lets work hard to keep it from truly happening. The Giver Quartet and the Movie While The Giver can be read as a standalone book, Lowry has written companion books to further explore the meaning of community. Gathering Blue (published in 2000) introduces readers to Kira, a crippled orphan girl with a gift for needlework. Messenger, published in 2004, is the story of Mattie who is first introduced in Gathering Blue as Kira’s friend. In fall 2012 Lowrys Son was published. Son represents the grand finale in Lois Lowrys Giver books.

Welcome to Reedsy

Welcome to Reedsy Welcome to Reedsy Hi! Welcome to Reedsy.At the London Book Fair this past April, I heard a bit of wisdom worth passing along: The bigger the ship, the more difficult it is to change its course. It’s easy to see the truth of that when you consider that of the 600,000 to 1 million books published last year in the US, more than half were self-published. And the authors of those books actually earned more than those whose books were released by big-ship traditional publishers.As you might have guessed, I’m a big fan of little ships. Especially those setting sail in this vast ocean we call â€Å"the self-publishing industry†. You don’t have to study the waters for long to see that most companies are taking the â€Å"self† out of self-publishing- they are optimizing services for speed and profit, rather than focusing on developing authors and their books.At Reedsy, we focus on authors. The whole idea behind self-publishing is to bring power and freedom back to authors, so it only makes sense to make authors our focus. But the more I spoke to authors- traditionally published, self-published, not-yet-published- the more I realized that authors don’t churn out books in a vacuum. They have help. Sometimes, lots of it.The authors I interviewed couldn’t stop talking about their fabulous editors, creative cover designers, layout artists- one writer even told me about his â€Å"book shepherd†. Taking all of this into consideration, combined with countless hours of research about what authors need, where they struggle, and what they have to do in order to be successful, led to Reedsy. And Reedsy led to this blog.Here, I’ll focus on topics like how to write, self-publish, and market books. What services to get, where, and how much to pay. In short, I’m here to offer impartial advice if you’re new to self-publishing.So what is Reedsy? Well, it’s a publishing marketplace with a carefully curated pool of freelancer s. We’re not just another freelancer free-for-all focused on high-volume projects and outsourced bids; in fact, we’re the complete opposite of that. Reedsy is populated by professionals focused on authors and their books, ready to take you from shore to shore- from the germ of an idea to a published book.There is no big secret in self-publishing, no method that will turn a lousy manuscript into a best-seller- or even a great manuscript into a best-seller. It’s all about tips, little things to know, lots of common sense and, more importantly, having the right people to help you. The crew you’ll need varies from author to author, genre to genre. But that’s the power of Reedsy: we’ve found the best people out there, and they’re all waiting to hear from you.I’d just like to say thanks for stopping by the Reedsy blog. I’m here to help you navigate the vast waters of self-publishing aboard the SS Reedsy. I guess the only quest ion now is, where do you want to go?RicardoFollow our Facebook page for daily updates and tips on self-publishing!We’re also on Twitter!   Follow Ricardo, Emmanuel, and ReedsyClick on these links  to learn more about editing, design or publicity  on Reedsy!

Automated data reconciliation of the clinical and safety databases Thesis

Automated data reconciliation of the clinical and safety databases - Thesis Example It saves time, and more importantly, gets rid of possible discrepancies between databases. Whenever discrepancies are possible, it necessitates extra quality assurance steps for resolving mismatches (Zhengwu Lu, & Lu, Zhengwu, 2009). Serious Adverse Event, SAE, and Adverse Event, AE, reconciliation compares specific data between two databases; a clinical database and a safety database. A clinical database defined as s closed system while a safety database as an open system. A clinical database can review data for only a short time period that is lasting of the trial, hence defined as closed. A safety database on the other hand, is an open system due to its continuous reception of new SAEs or updates of SAEs that already exist concerning any clinical trials even when they are locked (Van et al 2012). Data management performs the task of SAE and AE reconciliation. Two departments are normally involved, the pharmacovigilance and drug safety, and clinical data science. During the data reconciliation, SAE is collected in the safety database and in the clinical database. Data cleaning takes place according to the specifications of data validation (Dwivedi & IGI Global, 2009). SAE reconciliation is performed continually between first patient first visit, FPFV, and last patient last visit, LPLV. The reason for such timely performances provides data that is reliable and trustworthy, that is of greatly useful in decision-making processes on a drug’s safety profile and successive trial design. It also ensures consistency in reporting to health authorities regarding individual Safety reports, New Drug Application, and the annual Investigational New Drug Update (Trasi, 1994). The skill set accessible in the data management section, many additional things can be done. The interior talents of the section are not fully utilized. It is not fulfilling for persons and the organization. The prospects and the demands are there.

To what extent does states can to cooperates from realists perspective Essay

To what extent does states can to cooperates from realists perspective - Essay Example In the modern world, a bunch of subjects compete for attention as a result of the proliferation of issues that every international relations theory seeks to acknowledge (Jan, 2008, p 473; Brown, 1998, p 26). There are three prominent theories that endeavor to explain international relations and cooperation. These are the realism theory, constructivism theory and the liberal theory. This discussion seeks to explore the extent in which countries can cooperate from a realist’s perspective. Cooperation of most states arises in a realist manner where countries unite at the face of adversity. When countries perceive an increasing threat that may interfere with their interests, they collaborate momentarily. For instance, some of the Gulf States joined hands with Saudi Arabia at the looming threat of conflict between Iraq and Iran. As a GCC member state, Saudi Arabia was concerned that some small states may collaborate with either Iran or Iraq, both of which are its adversaries. Saudi Arabia reached for the smaller Gulf States to unite momentary to counter the regional hegemony wars involving Iraq and Iran. Further, cooperation between member states happens when the six states making up the GCC perceive a common interest in the cooperation. Cooperation of the member states happens mostly on economic basis. It is for that reason that there exists fluid cooperation on other aspects affecting individual states. Cooperation in a realist world happens when states have great interest in two principal areas; security and economics. What is realism? Realism theory of international relations views world politics as being advanced by competing self interests. Proponents of realism theory observe that the tensions and relations between countries is a battle of supremacy in which every country wants to preserve and enhance its military security and economic welfare at the expense of other nations. Unlike the liberal theory, that views international relations as a win-win si tuation, realist theory perceives international relations as a zero-sum game. This implies that gains in one nation come at the cost of others (Gismondi, 2008). Conventional realism stemmed from the failure to maintain peace after world war one. Realist theory is linked with terms such as realpolitik, geopolitics and balance of power. Realism theory presents grim view of global relations as being in a unending state of conflict and war. Power, economic and material possessions, capabilities and security motivate and guide state more than humanity and altruism values. Modern realism Modern realism started as a reaction to the breakdown of the international order of the post world war one in 1930s. The collapse of great power cooperation after the Second World War helped form realism as the dominant approach to the premise and application of global politics in the United States. During the cold war, endeavors to replace realism from its prevailing position were continuously disillusio ned by the unending salience of the soviet-America antagonism. The cold war antagonism, however, ended in early 1990s after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, leaving United States as the key superpower. However, china is emerging as a superpower, countering the United States unipolar moment. Basic tenets of realism theo

Arthur Miller creates dramatic tension Essay Example for Free

Arthur Miller creates dramatic tension Essay The Crucible is set in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. It starts when Parris, the local- and rather unpopular- reverend in Salem discovers his daughter Betty, niece Abigail and many other young women from the village dancing and chanting in the forest, led by his slave Tituba. Tituba is from the West Indies, so has a set of traditions and beliefs which seem very alien to the Puritan citizens of Salem. When Betty and another girl involved in the dancing dont wake up the next day, and just lie in a trance-like state, there are rumours of witchcraft afoot. With the arrival of Hale, an open- minded but overly righteous witch- hunter, Abby and Tituba claim to have been possessed by the spirits of witches in Salem. Abby, along with some other girls, start accusing many people. Those who confess to devil worship are saved; those who do not are charged to be hanged. In court, the girls faint, and claim to have terrible pains and see horrific visions, all induced by the witch on trial. Their tactics are powerful, so those conducting the proceedings do not really consider they may be faking. Also, no one dares express sympathy for those charged, for fear of being accused themselves. As Abby and the other girls become court officials, people are wary of crossing them. Abby is a very overpowering character. She is seventeen and ravishingly beautiful. Whilst working as a maid for Elizabeth Proctor, she had an affair with her husband John. Abby still has feelings for him, and consequently despises his wife Goody Proctor. In the forest, she cast a spell to try and kill her. The affair has created a lot of tension between the married couple, and it seems John has never quite won back his wifes trust. When the couples maid, Mary Warren, reveals that Elizabeths name has been mentioned in court when witchcraft was being discussed, Goody Proctor is desperate for John to appeal to the court before she is formally charged. This is because Abby revealed to Proctor there was no witchcraft involved in Bettys trance-like state, claiming, She just took fright, is all. Proctor is a highly passionate man, who can be hot-headed. He has to live with the terrible guilt of his affair, which he greatly regrets. He still has feelings for Abby, but he is too ashamed of his weakness in character to do anything about them, seeing what the initial affair did to his relationship with his wife. He still loves Elizabeth, but succumbed to the beautiful girl who had been a temptation to him whilst his wife was ill. When Hale arrives at their house to question the couple, Proctor questions Hale to see whether he has considered the fact the girls might be lying, and reveals what Abby told him. This appears to send Hale into turmoil. Before Proctor has a chance to make an official complaint, Cheever arrives with an arrest warrant for Elizabeth. She is one of sixteen arrested, along with other respected women like the godly Rebecca Nurse. Giles Coreys wife, Martha, is arrested because he informed Hale he found it difficult to pray when she was reading. Proctors servant Mary knows Abby is making false accusations, so he forces her to tell the court officials of this the next day. Act Three takes place in a courtroom. It is the site where many have been condemned to die and many horrific accusations have been made, so there is already an ominous atmosphere. It is then that we are introduced to Danforth, a court judge with a very rigid view. Proctor, Corey and Frances Nurse, husband of the condemned Rebecca, are all anxious to prove their wives innocence. Mary Warren has come to admit she was faking, but she is petrified about speaking out against Abby and the possible consequences. When it is revealed Elizabeth is pregnant, and therefore will not be hanged for around a year at least, Proctor is given the option of accepting this and doing no more. However, he feels he has to save the others who have been charged as well. To Danforth, this seems to suggest Proctor is just trying to undermine the court rather than just save his wife, as he initially claimed. To us, it is evidence of Proctors bravery and conscience. Hale, who has in the past acted quite righteously and tried to root out witches, finally sees that Abby may be lying. He decides to support Proctor, which might put pressure on Danforth to accept that some of the condemnations were untrue. If Danforth admits this, however, he will be publicly disgraced, as he will be seen as responsible for the deaths of many innocent citizens, based on juvenile, callous accusation. The climax of the scene is brought about by Abbys quick- thinking. She is relieved when Elizabeth lies about the affair, and sees the moment as her chance to turn the situation to her favour. She, and subsequently the other girls, claim to see a yellow bird, possessed by the spirit of Mary Warren. Abby does this to pressurise Mary into lying again, to avoid being condemned as a witch. The scene becomes highly charged as Proctor and the others struggle to convince Danforth the girls are faking, Abby becomes more hysterical and Mary is in a dilemma about whether she should listen to her conscience and risk being condemned or lie to save herself. There is conflict between Mary Warren and Abby. Before all the witchcraft incidents, Abby was very dominant in her relationship with Mary, possibly resenting the fact Mary took her job when Elizabeth discovered the relationship between Abby and John. As Mary is used to be treated like an inferior, she is scared to speak out against Abby. Abby seems to be the more intelligent and powerful of the two, and Mary is afraid that if her claim against Abby is deemed a lie, then Abby will find a way to get back at her. Tension is created as Mary is under pressure from Proctor to admit she and the other girls lied and contributed to the execution of innocent villagers. In contrast, Abby is desperate for Mary to keep lying to avoid being exposed. As the audience, we are tense to see if Mary will overcome or succumb to the peer pressure. When Abby claims to see a yellow bird, this forces Mary into a decision to support her rather than Proctor. She is close to being tried as a witch and has to find a way to shift the blame, which is basically the foundation of all the trials. There is also a sense that her will is simply overpowered by Abbys will. The characters in this scene are all very important, and all contribute to the tense atmosphere. There is lots of conflict between them, causing a feeling of suppressed emotions that are being forced out. In particular, there is conflict between Proctor and Abby, and this is complicated by the fact that we know that Proctor is both physically attracted to and yet hates Abby. When Proctor admits to the affair he has so strenuously kept secret before, it shows the depth of the battle between him and Abby. Miller uses dramatic irony in this scene. We, as the audience, know that Proctor, Corey and Nurse are telling the truth and so we see through Abbys act and want the truth to prevail. However, characters such as Hale and Danforth have no evidence either way, but are perhaps pre-disposed to believe Abby as they have executed people on her word (and would lose face if it became known she was lying). Miller plays with us, and builds up the tension, by alternately giving us cause to hope that the truth will be revealed and to fear that it will not. For example, there are times when we are led to hope that Danforth will give credit to what he is told by Mary, as, contrary to what Parris advises, he does hear her out, and, in response to Parris immediate denunciation, states, it strike hard upon me that she will dare to come here with such a tale. Similarly, there are times when Hales response gives hope. He admits to always having had doubts about Abby. However, we lose hope when Danforth orders that those who signed Giles petitions must all be arrested, when Abby convincingly protests her innocence, and when the girls claim to be affected by witchcraft. Proctors dramatic revelation of his adultery with Abby looks at one point as if it may sway Danforth, but our hopes are dashed when Elizabeth denies he is a lecher, believing she is doing so in his best interests. When Mary is won over by Abby, we see that Abby has decisively triumphed. After the drama of the girls hysteria, we are left feeling deflated. To conclude, Miller uses a variety of tactics to create tension. He uses theatre techniques like dramatic irony to do so. The conflicting characters are also a major contributor. The scene is a battle between good and evil, and the constantly changing winning side makes us tense. There are moments where everything looks hopeful but then the evidence is turned around to go against what it proves.

Impact of the Cold War on the World Economies Essay -- Russia vs Ameri

Abstract from Paper World War II created many issues on a world wide scale, two different forms a government were fighting for influence. This created a divide between communist countries and democratic counties which set up the Cold War. This divided world created a globalized economy unlike ever before, one with communist countries and one with democratic. All the countries of the world, of each government type, were interconnected and dependent on each other. The countries of the opposite group were not traded with, all the trading was done within a countries own group. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Keeping a nation’s economy going is a very difficult balancing act. Things the country itself does, like pass new laws, can effect a countries economy greatly. Situations were economies are hurt by new laws are completely in the hands of the countries government. In some situations it’s not in their control at all. This is like the situation with Scotland and its trade with Russia. The actions Russia has taken with the Ukraine have caused the European Union to put sanctions on Russia. This intern has hurt Scotland’s economy greatly. The country usually exports 45 million GPD of food and drink to Russia but 22 million GPD was stopped by the sanctions. That is a huge loss in revenue and has far reaching affects, the normal trade of these countries can be seen in the image bellow. Also it not only affects that sector of the economy but ripples through the whole economy (Maddox). However, this situation is not a new one and its causes can be traced back to the Cold W ar. World War II created many issues on a world wide scale, two different forms a government were fighting for influence.... ...illars in the modern globalized democratic economy, alongside the U.S., causing many issues and creating a worldwide economic rift even to this day. WORKS CITED â€Å"Hoffman Reports Gain in ‘Cold War'† New York Times, December 8,1949. Maddox, David. â€Å"Nato tells Putin: ‘We stand with Ukraine’ The Scotsman, September 5, 2014. McWilliams, Wayne C., and Harry Piotrowski. The World since 1945: A History of International Relations. 7th ed. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2009. Our Own Correspondent, et al. â€Å"Occupation Powers And European Economy.† Times [London, England] 11 Apr. 1950: 6. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 16 Apr. 2015. Painter, David. The Cold War An International History. New York: Routledge, 1999. Simensen, Jarle. â€Å"Democracy and Globalization; Nineteen Eighty-nine and the â€Å"Third Wave† Journal of World History 10.2 (1999) 391-411.

Marijuana Exploratory

Jamal Mujaddidi English 205 Professor Jay 8 April 2010 Exploratory Essay Legalization: Good or Bad? As part of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, Marijuana for all purposes was outlawed nationwide. Prior to this Act, over 30 states had prohibition laws towards Marijuana because farmers who employed mainly Hispanic workers complained that this drug would cause people to become â€Å"slow† or â€Å"lazy† and would also cause the users to become addicted. Besides the popularity among this crowd, marijuana was used as an intoxicant during the 1850’s through the 1930’s and was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia. The active ingredient in marijuana is THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, but this is only one of the 400 other chemicals that are in the plant (TheWELL). It was prescribed for conditions such as labor pain, nausea, arthritis, and rheumatism (DeLisle). It was only after individuals began committing crimes while under the influence of Marijuana that the U. S. Federal Bureau of Narcotics gave marijuana the image of a powerful, addicting, substance that would lead users into a more serious addiction. In the 1960s, it was mainly used by college students and â€Å"hippies,† and subsequently became a symbol of rebellion against authority. Marijuana use became a commonplace issue in congress which led to The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 which classified marijuana along with LSD and heroin as S1 drugs, otherwise known as substances which have the highest relative abuse potential and no form of medical use (DEA). Widespread eradication of marijuana and marijuana products began. The current opponents of marijuana legalization claim that marijuana does have addictive qualities and is an epidemic on America’s youth. This crowd presents that marijuana is a â€Å"silent-killer† due to a fungus and mold which can easily grow on the part which is smoked by users (PRNewswire). This fungus can cause lung cancer and they have deemed marijuana as bio-hazardous. The opposition also goes to say that marijuana can have adverse effects on the brain and can cause brain-cells to die. Some research suggests that use of marijuana during pregnancy can result in premature birth and low birth weights and can even cause temporary loss of fertility. Along with adverse effects on the reproductive system, the opposition claims that marijuana use during adolescence can be harmful to physical and sexual development. This side pushes for further prohibition of marijuana and stricter punishments due to their beliefs that the negatives outweigh the benefits. In the middle of this debate, stand the moderate marijuana use supporters. This side views marijuana use as a potential alternative to painkillers which are detrimental to vital organs. This crowd is mainly made up of physicians and health-care professionals, as wells as patients of chronic illnesses and pain. Doctors and nurses say that cannabis is a less toxic and less expensive medicine for diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, migraines, cancers, and many other disorders which cause chronic symptoms and pain. This side also states that marijuana’s versatile nature allows patients to gain the pain relieving effects through ingestion, canceling out the negative effects of smoking. Besides all these benefits, this crowd pushes for a safe, reliable and quality-controlled source of marijuana which can only be achieved through legalization. It is believed that after this source is created, many adverse effects of â€Å"bad† marijuana will disperse. Another camp of this debate is the supporters of full legalization of marijuana use and growth for medicinal and recreational use. These supporters claim that marijuana should be allowed to be used in the way alcohol and cigarettes are used recreationally. They state these comparisons have worse long-term effects than THC and yet they are taxed and regulated. Another point they make is that marijuana would inject millions of dollars into the economy once government grown marijuana is taxed. Besides the smoking and ingesting of the drug, the plant can be used for its naturally produced fiber known as hemp. This can be cultivated from the stem of the plant and used commercially and industrially for paper, textiles, biodegradable products and medical purposes. Overall, they believe the claimed dangers of marijuana are exaggerated and not enough medical trials have been done to verify these claims. As a college level youth and the Legalization of marijuana use in California is on the ballot, I am interested in learning about this issue before I cast my vote. I have seen the benefits of medicinal marijuana in my family and can attest to the pain relieving effects. As for the recreational use, I believe that alcohol is a much more dangerous substance that can be detrimental to mental and physical health and cause irrational decisions while under the influence. Prohibition has shown to not be a viable solution in the past and I don’t think it can ever solve anything. Regulation on the other hand can prove to be effective because substances will not be bought and traded illegally. I think the legalization of marijuana will improve lives, decrease crimes, and slightly improve the economy. Works Cited DeLisle, Judi. _Medical Marijuana Research Guide. Valencia West Campus Library_. Web. 20 Mar. 2007. 7 Apr. 2010. â€Å"DEA, Controlled Substances Act. † Welcome to the United States Department of Justice. Web. 08 Apr. 2010. â€Å"The Marijuana Initiative Is a Silent Killed and It Should be Defeated – Los Angeles, March 25/PRNewswire/. †_PR Newswire: Press Release Distribution, Targeting, Monitoring and Marketing. _Web. 08 Apr. 2010. â€Å"Fact Sheet – Marijuana. † The WELL – The Birthplace of the Online Community Movement. Web. 08 Apr. 2010.

Introduction of Tea Essay

Chapter 1 THE PROBLEM AND REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Introduction Tea, however has been a beverage in China as early as 10th century BC. Many nations throughout history have savored it and some of them are China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Greece, India, Iran and Turkey. Also, aside from being considered as a run of the mill drink, tea presents supposed health benefits. Some authorities say that drinking tea allegedly helps in preventing cancer. Of course, there are detractors who say that drinking tea can also cause coronary disease. Some even say that the consumption of various forms of tea results in acute liver damage. Considering all of these, tea, therefore can be divisive. There is, however, another way that people uniformly view tea: it can ba a viable product or business. In fact, almost all restaurants in the country offer Ices Tea. Nestle makes money out of Nestea. Tea indeed is a profitable business venture. Nowadays, there is a new tea craze sweeping the metropolis. People line up to savor this new incarnation of tea. Some even spend more than 30 minutes just to drink this new fad. It is milk tea. ——— What’s your comfort indulgence? A warm cup of coffee at the start of the day?Or maybe a mug of hot chocolate after a stressful week? For those of you who have a taste for unique, rich flavors and are craving something new yet familiar, there’s a cozy little cafe that offers just the thing you need. Nowadays, beverages are one of the most popular hangouts among adults and young adults or those whom we call â€Å"yuppies† or young urban professionals. This is the place where they can have the opportunity to relax, unwind after an exhausting week of work. The emergence of new beverage establishments is also evident these days. As a result, tight competition arises among beverage establishment. Competition  among beverages should not be the only focus of attention of beverage managers. They also have to consider the effects of the continuing economical crisis that we are experiencing today and how they will be able to handle difficult situations up with it so that their business will continue it’s operation and not be affected. The uses of promotional strategies are very famous among beverage establishments. This helps them attract more potential customers. It is also a business strategy that they can use to be able to context the tight competition, face the continuous worsening of our economy and at the same time be able to give their customer’s satisfaction in the products and services they are availing. This study is focus on promotional strategies employed by the selected Happy Lemon branches. The establishment was chosen because of the interest of the researcher which is a field of study of the researcher. Similarly the topic promotional strategies are one of the practices, most popular and common among beverages establishments to attract their customers, which the researcher should be familiar with as future entrepreneurs. Review of Related Literature A. Milk Tea in The Philippines In the past year, tea shops are increasing all over the metro, effectively cementing its place as the biggest food/beverage trend of 2011. According to Bianca Consunji and RonnaCapili, Milk Tea is more affordable than cold designer coffee. B. Milk Tea As a Business Originally from Hong Kong, Happy Lemon was brought to the country by a group of Chinese-Filipino businessmen who have been friends since grade school and college: Kelvin Gaisano, Kristine Gaisano, Smart Gilas player/TV host Chris Tiu, Andy See, Wesley Pardilla, and Edward Go. The young entrepreneurs share a common love for milk tea. Since there are only a few restaurants which serve good quality milk tea in the Philippines, they went abroad in search for the best cup of milk tea. Then, Kelvin got an idea.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Why don’t we put up a milk tea business?† he suggested. All agreed. But finding the perfect brand to bring to the Philippines was the challenge. Chris Tiu related: â€Å"Filipinos, to some extent, have already been introduced to milk tea, but we want them to develop a deeper appreciation for it by offering quality beverages that boast of unique and delicious flavors, made from the freshest ingredients from around the world.† Kelvin Gaisano added: â€Å"We know there are risks involved. But we also believe that there is an under-served market for milk tea.† In their quest to find the best milk tea, the seven young businessmen went everywhere and tried different milk tea brands. One day, they chanced upon Happy Lemon, a Hong Kong-based milk tea business that has been in the market since 2006. As they waltzed inside the store and started looking at the menu, they knew they had found â€Å"The One.† They agreed to bring the brand home to the Philippines. However, it wasn’t an easy task. Tiu shared that they had to wait long before the franchise was finally granted to them. â€Å"It was a long process of courtship,† he said. â€Å"For one, we didn’t know who to contact for the franchising. Two, only one of us, Andy See, knows how to speak straight Mandarin.† They sent letter after letter. They followed up each letter with calls, but they received no reply at all until September 2009 when someone from the Happy Lemon headquarters in Hong Kong informed them that they were open to the idea of establishing Happy Lemon in the Philippines. In November 2010, Happy Lemon opened its door to Filipino milk tea lovers, including those who are curious about the brand. A quick look at the beverage menu is enough to pique one’s curiosity. Using the good quality tea leaves imported from China which are freshly brewed every day, Happy Lemon has several milk tea variants such as the Lemon Series, recommended for those who feel thirsty; the Rock Salt Cheese, their best-seller; the plain Milk Tea series; Mousse Spin, which is more popular among the younger ones; Cocoa & Coffee, which is more chocolate and coffee based with several toppings; and the exotic Specialty Drinks and Fresh Tea drinks, which are less sugary and specially made for health conscious individuals. For former King Eagle and current television host Chris Tiu, it was a love for bubble tea that led to joining the Gaisano family and their partners in bringing Hong Kong’s Happy Lemon brand to local shores.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"In Vancouver, Canada, the tea places are really packed. Here, it’s always been about coffee, so we think that there’s room for Filipinos to learn to appreciate tea,† he shares. ——- Happy Lemon is a Hong Kong-based drink shop brought to the Philippines by a group of friends from Ateneo, who have discovered it during their travels and grown to love it. Happy Lemon has over 100 branches worldwide, with the first local branch having opened at the Promenade in Green hills only last November. Due to its immense popularity, new branches are already being planned for Eastwood and Power plant Mall. But, what makes Happy Lemon different from all the other beverage hubs cropping up lately? Athlete and TV host Chris Tiu, head of Happy Lemon’s Marketing and Business Development, says, â€Å"First of all, everything is fresh. The products, they’re all made from freshly brewed tea, so the flavor is more distinct. Plus, the products are very unique. The company spends a lot in and research and development, so they’re really [high] quality. It’s not like other brands that are mostly powdered lang.† He explained that while most fast drink providers are for to-go orders only, the group wanted Happy Lemon to be more of a homey place with a warm, welcoming ambiance. â€Å"We want to make it a destination where people can go and hang out with their friends,† says Chris. â€Å"Instead of going out on gimmicks at night or drinking alcohol, go here na lang. Wholesome tayo, ‘di ba? Healthy pa!† CJ de los Santos, Cosmo.ph Staff Writer May 23, 2011 —— Occasion Based Marketing is an approach to connect when and why consumers use the product with how they shop for the product. Companies need to realize that their customers are not only different from each other, but are also different from themselves at different times. People have different needs when they are at work and when they are at home or socializing. The results of this study would mean that the consumer durable companies and  retailers are adapting various promotional strategies to attract deal prone, promotion liking customers. Consumers are bombarded with messages pitched through a growing number of channels: broadcast and narrow cast television, radio, on-line computer networks, the internet, telephone services such as fax and telemarketing, and niche magazines and other print media. In developing the product strategy, marketers strive for the right mix of promotional elements to make sure that their product is well received. One of the primary goals of a customer promotion is to entice the customer to take the final step and make a purchase; Advertising creates the interest and excitement that brings the consumer into the store. Marketers then use other tactics in conjunction with advertising programs. In addition to leading to the final decision to buy an item, consumer promotions programs can be highly effective in bringing traffic into a store and generating brand loyalty. (Stanley George June 30, 2012) Many marketers believe that behavioral variables – occasions, benefits, user status, usage rate, loyalty status, buyer readiness stage, and attitude- are the best starting points for constructing market segments (Philip Kotler, Keller, Koshy and Jha, 2007). Buyers can be distinguished according to the occasions they develop a need, purchase a product or use a product (Philip Kotler, 2002). Marketing managers and advertising agencies have realized that to make their communication programs effective, they have to rely on sales promotions, public relations, personal selling, and direct marketing, in addition to conventional advertising campaigns. In today’s markets it is no longer a choice between advertising or promotion; rather, it is a combination of advertising and promotion (Roberto and Roberto, 2005). Research has shown that advertising is most effective when used along with sales promotion, and sales promotions are more effective when communicated well through advertising so as to increase awareness of the promotional offers (Joseph and Sivakumaran, 2008) Statement of the Problem The study intended to determine the Effectiveness of the Promotional Strategies employed by the selected branches of Happy Lemon. Specifically, the study aims to answer the following sub problem. 1. What is the profile of the customers?  2. What are the reasons for customers patronage in response to the promotional strategies? 3. How do the customers perceive the Effectiveness of the strategies as promotional tool? 4. What are the common problems the customers encounter? 5. What are the comments and suggestions to improve their promotional strategies? Significance of the Study Industry Partners of SPUQC. The study enables the Industry Partners of SPUQC to know the preferred non-alcoholic beverages of students of SPUQC for them to manufacture more of those and to accrue more profit. Entreprenuers. The study enables the entrepreneurs to be aware of what are the popular non-alcoholic beverages in the present and for them to innovate and manufacture to accrue more profits. Students of St. Paul University Quezon City. This study enables the students to be satisfied with their preferred non-alcoholic beverages and for them to know the positive and negative effects of it. Future Researchers. The study enables the future researchers to make this research as their starting point and for them to have a reference to base on what are the preferences of students on non-alcoholic beverages. Scope and Limitation This study will deal with the Effectiveness of the Promotional Strategies of Selected Happy Lemon Branches As Perceived by the Customers The variables are non-alcoholic beverages which are soft drinks, juices, tea, coffee, milk, energy drinks, chocolate drinks. This study will only include random college students of all the courses in St. Paul University Quezon City and random customers of Happy Lemon.

The IMF and the Bretton Woods Agreements essays

The IMF and the Bretton Woods Agreements essays The international financial system has been radically altered since the worldwide depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s. This change is due in large part to the inception of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and its subsequent control over the international financial system. In this paper I will examine the extensive role of the Bretton Woods system of exchange rates and the gold standard. Additionally, I will examine the role that the IMF has taken on since the demise of the gold standard. To begin, we must examine the circumstances that surround the creation of the IMF, who the actors are and what each of their roles are as member countries. The IMF was created as a result of the worldwide market collapse that took place initially in October of 1929. The domino effect that took place when the first market crashed was seen to be a situation so severe that world powers felt that drastic measures needed to be taken to ensure that this was the last global financial crisis that the world would face. Its creation in 1944 was the beginning of a new era for the international financial system. The creation of the IMF occurred at Bretton Woods along with the World Bank and the system of fixed exchange rates and the gold standard for currency. Under this system, the US dollar was tied to gold by a United States government commitment to buy it at $35.00 and ounce and sell to central banks at the same price (excluding handling and other charges). Other participating countries maintained the exchange values of their currencies at prices which were almost fixed in terms of the dollar (the values fluctuate normally not more than one percent on either side of their parities), with the result that exchange rates were almost universally fixed. Other governments carried out their commitments by selling internationally acceptable liquid resources when there was an excess demand for foreign currencies in terms of their own curr...

Get a Certified Copy of Your Birth Certificate

Get a Certified Copy of Your Birth Certificate A certified copy of an original birth certificate is becoming increasingly important as a required form of identification. A certified birth certificate copy is required for getting a US passport and when applying for Social Security benefits. It is also  considered valid proof of US citizenship by federal, state and local government agencies. A birth certificate may be required when applying for some jobs and may, in the future, be required when getting or renewing a drivers license. Best to Get a 'Certified' Copy of Your Birth Certificate In most cases, a simple photocopy of your original birth certificate will not be considered as a sufficient form of identification. Instead, you will be required to have a certified copy of your birth certificate issued by the state in which your birth was recorded.   A certified copy of a birth certificate has an official state registrars raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrars signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrars office, which must be within one year of the persons date of birth. NOTE: A certified  copy of the applicant’s birth certificate is required when applying for the Transportation Safety Administration’s (TSA) popular  PreCheck  program, which allows members to pass through the security lines at more than 180 airports without needing to remove their shoes, laptops, liquids, belts, and light jackets. The importance of having a certified copy of your birth certificate should never be understated. Indeed, in the United States, it is considered the Holy Grail of proof of identity. Certified copies of birth certificates are one of the four vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce) that can be used to prove U.S. citizenship. How to Get a Certified Birth Certificate The federal government does not provide copies of birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, death certificates, or any other personal vital records. Copies of birth certificates and other personal vital records can only be obtained from the state or US possession where the documents were originally filed. Most states provide a centralized source from which birth certificates and other vital records can be ordered. Each state and US possession  will have its own set of rules and fees for ordering certified birth certificates on other vital records. Rules, ordering instructions and fees for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and all US possessions can be found on the Where to Write for Vital Records web page, helpfully maintained by the US Centers for Disease Control. Do Not Order the 'Abstract' Version When ordering, be aware that shortened (abstract) versions of birth certificates offered by some states may not be acceptable when applying for a US passport, drivers license, Social Security benefits or many other purposes. Be sure to order only the full, certified copy of the original birth certificate bearing the registrars raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrars signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrars office. If You Need to Replace Your Original Birth Certificate In some cases, you may need to replace your original birth certificate. Find the website of the vital records office in the state where you were born and follow their walk in, write in, or online application instructions. You will probably need a state-issued form of photo ID, like driver’s license. If you don’t have a state-issued photo ID, call and see what options may be available. One solution some states offer is to have your mother or father whose name is on the birth certificate submit a notarized letter with a copy of their photo ID for the request.

Unit iii assesment Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Unit iii assesment - Coursework Example Some activities can be complex for proper time estimate. Project guidelines support the breaking down of activities that take more than 10% of the project schedule. Normally, the breakdown technique reduces activities to smaller tasks making it easier for the project manager to estimate the duration of tasks performed by workers accurately (Kerzer, 2001). Expert judgment involves contracting the services of experts who have experience and reputation for knowledge of a particular field in estimating activity duration. Managers use expert judgment over internally generated estimates if it is available at a reasonable cost (Kerzer, 2001). Project managers who have knowledge about the resources of a particular activity can calculate the efforts necessary for the project and arrive at its duration. This involves adding the amount of labor time for completion of the activity to the time needed for obtaining materials. This technique is advantageous as it allows managers to track the usage of resources and make comparisons with estimates (Kerzer, 2001). Both large and small businesses use this technique in estimating the duration of projects. Managers calculate the time it takes to produce a certain amount of output and make necessary adjustments for economies of scale (Kerzer, 2001). This technique involves listing resources needed for a project and totaling the corresponding costs. This technique is mostly used for complicated projects. Resources listed may include equipment, services, and material costs (Kerzer, 2001). Cost per unit can be used to evaluate simple projects. Typical applications of this technique include building and renovation costs. Unit costs can be obtained from industry associations or from prospective suppliers (Kerzer, 2001). An empirical approach is applicable when the project is typical of the industry or other firms have done similar projects in the past. This technique involves evaluation of systems with statistical information