Interest Rates Essays - Mathematical Finance, Financial Markets

Interest rate essay Causes of interest rates can be explained as -deferred consumption. When money is loaned the lender delays spending the money on consumption goods. Since according to time preference theory people prefer goods now to goods later, in a free market there will be a positive interest rate. Inflationary expectations. Most economies generally exhibit inflation, meaning a given amount of money buys fewer goods in the future than it will now. The borrower needs to compensate the lender for this. Alternative investments. The lender has a choice between using his money in different investments. If he chooses one, he forgoes the returns from all the others. Different investments effectively compete for funds. Risks of investment. There is always a risk that the borrower will default on the loan. This means that a lender generally charges a risk premium to ensure that, across his investments, he is compensated for those that fail. Liquidity preference. People prefer to have their resources ava ilable in a form that can immediately be exchanged, rather than a form that takes time or money to realize. Taxes. Because some of the gains from interest may be subject to taxes, the lender may insist on a higher rate to make up for this loss. The nominal interest rate is the amount, in money terms, of interest payable. The real interest rate, which measures the purchasing power of interest receipts, is calculated by adjusting the nominal rate charged to take inflation into account. There is a market for investments which ultimately includes the money market, bond market, and stock market and currency market as well as retail financial institutions. The CAPM returns the asset-appropriate required return or discount rate - i.e. the rate at which future cash flows produced by the asset should be discounted given that asset's relative riskiness. Betas exceeding one signify more than average "riskiness"; betas below one indicate lower than average. Thus a more risky stock will have a higher beta and will be discounted at a higher rate; less sensitive stocks will have lower betas and be discounted at a lower rate. The CAPM is consistent with intuition - investors (should) require a higher return for holding a more risky asset. Since beta reflects asset-specific sensitivity to non-diversifiable, i.e. market risk, the market as a whole, by definition, has a beta of one. Stock market indices are frequently used as local proxies for the market - and in that case (by definition) have a beta of one. An investor in a large, diversified portfolio (such as a mutual fund) therefore expects performance in line with the market. The risk of a portfolio is comprised of systematic risk and specific risk. Systematic risk refers to the risk common to all securities - i.e. market risk. Specific risk is the risk associated with individual assets. Specific risk can be diversified away (specific risks "average out"); systematic risk (within one market) cannot. Depending on the market, a portfolio of approximately 15 (or more) well selected shares might be sufficiently diversified to leave the portfolio exposed to systematic risk only. A rational investor should not take on any diversifiable risk, as only non-diversifiable risks are rewarded. Therefore, the required return on an asset, that is, the return that compensates for risk taken, must be linked to its riskiness in a portfolio context - i.e. its contribution to overall portfolio riskiness - as opposed to its "stand alone riskiness." In the CAPM context, portfolio risk is represented by higher variance i.e. less predictability. Exactly how these markets function is a complex question. However, economists generally agree that the interest rates yielded by any investment take into account: ?The risk-free cost of capital ?Inflationary expectations ?The level of risk in the investment ?The costs of the transaction The risk-free cost of capital is the real interest on a risk-free loan. While no loan is ever entirely risk-free, bills issued by major nations like the United States are generally regarded as risk-free benchmarks. This rate incorporates the deferred consumption and alternative investments elements of interest. The CAPM says that the expected return of a security or a portfolio equals the rate on a risk-free security plus a risk premium. If this expected

Natron and its Use in Preserving Egyptian Mummies

Natron and its Use in Preserving Egyptian Mummies Natron is a chemical salt (Na2CO3), which was used by the ancient Bronze Age societies in the eastern Mediterranean for a wide range of purposes, most importantly as an ingredient in making glass, and as a preservative used in making mummies.   Natron can be created out of ash from plants that grow in salt marshes (called halophytic plants) or mined from  natural deposits. The main source for Egyptian mummy-making was at Wadi Natrun, northwest of Cairo. Another important natural deposit used primarily for glass-making was at Chalastra, in the Macedonian region of Greece.   Oh, mummy! Ahmose-Nefertari still looks good today. G. Elliot Smith (1871-1937)/Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons Mummy Preservation Beginning as long ago as 3500 BCE, the ancient Egyptians mummified their wealthy dead in various ways. During the New Kingdom (ca. 1550-1099 BCE), the process included the removal and preservation of internal organs. Certain organs such as the lungs and intestines were placed into decorated Canopic jars that symbolized protection by the Gods.  The body was then preserved with natron while the heart was typically left untouched and inside of the body. The brain was often physically discarded.   Natrons salt properties worked to preserve the mummy in three ways: Dried the moisture in the flesh thereby inhibiting the growth of bacteriaDegreased the body fats by removing moisture-filled fat cellsServed as a microbial disinfectant. Natron  was stripped from the bodys skin after 40 days  and the cavities were filled with items such as linen, herbs, sand, and sawdust.  The skin was coated with resin, then the body was wrapped in resin-coated linen bandages. This entire process took about two and a half months for those that could afford to embalm. Earliest Use   Natron is a salt, and salts and brines have been used in all cultures for a number of uses. Natron was used in Egyptian glass-making at least as long ago as the Badarian period of early 4th millennium BCE, and likely in mummy-making about the same time. By 1000 BCE, glass makers throughout the Mediterranean used natron as the flux elements.   Knossos Palace on Crete was built with large blocks of gypsum, a mineral related to natron; the Romans used NaCl as money or salarium, which is how English got the word salary. The Greek writer Herodotus reported natrons use in mummy-making the 6th century BCE.   Making or Mining Natron Natron can be made by collecting plants from salt marshes, burning them until they are at the ash stage and then mixing it with soda lime. In addition, natron is found in natural deposits in Africa in places such as Lake Magadi, Kenya, and Lake Natron in Tanzania, and in Greece at Lake Pikrolimni. The mineral is typically found alongside  gypsum and calcite, both also important to Mediterranean Bronze Age societies. Natron Glass - Unguent Bottle - New Kingdom 18th or 19th Dynasty. Claire H Characteristics and Use Natural natron varies in color with the deposit. It can be pure white, or darker grey or yellow. It has a soapy texture when mixed with water, and was used anciently as a soap and mouthwash, and as a disinfectant for cuts and other wounds.   Natron was an important component for making ceramics, paints- it is an important element in the recipe for the paint known as Egyptian blue- glassmaking, and metals. Natron was also used to make faience, the high-tech substitute for precious gems in Egyptian society.   Today, natron is not used as readily in modern-day society, having been replaced with commercial detergent items along with soda ash, which made up for its use as a soap, glass-maker and household items. Natron has decreased dramatically in use since its popularity in the 1800s. Egyptian Etymology The name natron comes from the term Nitron, which derives from Egypt as a synonym for sodium bicarbonate. Natron was from the 1680s French word which was derived directly from Arabics natrun. The latter was from Greeks nitron. It is also known as the chemical sodium which is symbolized as Na. Sources Bertman, Stephen. The Genesis of Science: The Story of Greek Imagination. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books, 2010. Print. Dotsika, E., et al. A Natron Source at Pikrolimni Lake in Greece? Geochemical Evidence. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 103.2-3 (2009): 133-43. Print. Noble, Joseph Veach. The Technique of Egyptian Faience. American Journal of Archaeology 73.4 (1969): 435–39. Print. Tite, M.S., et al. The Composition of the Soda-Rich and Mixed Alkali Plant Ashes Used in the Production of Glass. Journal of Archaeological Science 33 (2006): 1284-92. Print.

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 6

Globalization - Essay Example Only on the first issue can one reasonably argue that the purported center of economic representations - mainstream academic economics - plays a leading role in the debate. And, even then, the free trade, pro-globalisation orthodoxy that, with few exceptions, has predominated within mainstream economics for generations has been contested in all three areas: within the discipline of economics, in other academic disciplines, and outside the academy. Another important question is how abrupt the future changes will be. Abrupt climate change generally refers to a large shift of climate that takes place so rapidly and unexpectedly that human and/or natural ecosystems have difficulty to adapt. Globalisation has increased migration, which resulted in deforestation and global warming. Since 1850 A.D. the climate is dominated by a clear steady warming trend, which has become known as global warming. This warming is particularly noteworthy because the rate of temperature increase is enormously high. In addition, the recent 50-100 years have been the time of unprecedented growth of human activities, accompanied by industrialisation, massive deforestation, and other human interferences with the nature with a thoughtful (harmful) effect on the environment. The natural agents, exerting their influence upon climate has been thus recruiting with a new powerful mean to produce sizeable changes in the climate. One of the essential problems of the present days is to answer the question to what degree the mankind may be responsible for the present-day climate warming. Is the observed global warming just of natural origin, or does it have certain anthropogenic component Is the fact that the climate is getting warmer the result of human insensitive approach to its habitat Is this warming to continue in the future and how serious are the potential environmental consequences If so, the problem of the worldwide increasing air temperature comes to an end as the strictly scientific discipline, but became the uneasy task for everybody on this planet. For about the last decade, there has been an ongoing debate on the contribution of human activities to the global warming of the past century and especially on how anthropogenic activity will contribute to further warming that may occur during the twenty-first century. What is the physical basis for the fear of human-induced changes Similarly to other living organisms in all epochs, the mankind has influenced surrounding environment. However, an impact of human activities has drastically increased after the Industrial Revolution that began in the mid-eighteenth century in the UK and at the present time embraces the continental and/or global scales. The industrial revolution began with the invention of the steam engine. The most important human activities at present that may have an impact on both regional and global climate are connected with: 1. the combustion of fossil fuels and the biomass burning that produce GHG, 2. the

How to quit smoking Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

How to quit smoking - Research Paper Example It also lays a great impact on people who do not smoke but are exposed to second hand smoke and they also become susceptible to the development of disease. Smoking affects the major systems of the human body which include the cardiovascular system as well as the respiratory system and is associated with major pathological conditions affecting the heart and can also result in cancer of the lung. Smoking also increases the economic burden of the country owing to the large amounts of money that need to be spent on the medical expenditures of the smokers. A survey in year 2004 revealed the fact that $96 billion had to be spent on the health care costs of the smokers owing to the pathologies resulting directly due to smoking. Hence the severity of the issue makes it important that strategies should be formulated to assist individuals in overcoming these problems of smoking and to quit smoking as this can be beneficial for the individuals as well as for the state (Centers for Disease Contr ol and Prevention 2010). Strategies employed by the state can serve to be very useful in reducing the number of smokers. This was proved by the statistics for the state of California where the percentage of smokers reduced from 22.7 percent to 13.3 percent from the year 1988 to 2006. The policies used by the state included the elevation in the cost of the cigarettes accompanied by other important techniques which included reduction in advertisements and promotions of cigarettes. This led not only in reduction of the number of smokers but it was also associated with decrease in the number of pathological conditions in the state associated with smoking (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2010). The goal of quitting smoking is not very easy and it requires extreme will power and determination. Many people do not choose to quit smoking owing to the fact that when they stop smoking, it leads to increase in their weight. This is because leaving smoking is linked to increased cravi ng for sweet foods and this leads to increased consumption of calories. To tackle this issue different methods have been prescribed to overcome the problem of smoking as well as the gain of weight that may follow. It is advised that the smokers should start eating a healthy and balances diet. This should be accompanied by regular exercises and work outs. This is because exercise and healthy eating habits are associated with burning of calories and at the same time it leads to reducing the stress that a person may experience due to leaving smoking. This is also very helpful because it can lead to the improvement of cardiovascular system boost the physical health of the individual (Marcus et al 2004). The initiative should be taken by the government for promoting individuals from quitting smoking. This includes awareness programs along with the constellation of other techniques which include the utilization of media to promote the benefits of quitting smoking. The awareness programs s hould be started from schools so that the youths are trained against adapting to these habits. The prices of cigarettes should be raised along with the taxes to make the people think regarding their choice of smoking. The methods that are available for helping individuals who smoke should also be explained to these people. These strategies will assist people in setting their goals to work towards quitting smoking (Ranney et

Writing Conclusion and summary for the Report Essay

Writing Conclusion and summary for the Report - Essay Example The importance of constructing new storage ponds has increased in importance due to heightened concerns regarding droughts. The District has Conditional Rights to build these four ponds, which together could have water rights to hold up to 13 acre feet. The purpose of our involvement was to perform a technical analysis, water capacity estimate, feasibility study, design, cost estimate, and draft application for building up to four additional water augmentation ponds within the Districts territory. The following deliverables were requested: 4. Design for each of the four detention ponds including the proposed construction sequence, pond liners, water input sources, pond water capacity, outlet works including water flow back into the watershed, flood protection, erosion control, landscaping, and costs. As part of our investigation, we performed a site visit on January 29 and also met with Mr. Laves to obtain the background on the FHMD storage ponds. We also MoreInformationHere. This report contains our findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Pond areas lacking sufficient amount of clay are highly susceptible to excessive seepage. Pond areas can be sealed by clay blankets to prevent seepage. The clay blankets are placed on pond areas where â€Å"Water is to be impounded as well as the upstream slope of the embankment†. (USDA Ponds 63) Minimum clay blanket requires 20 percent clay and to reduce cost, clay can be obtained from borrow areas close to the ponds. â€Å"The minimum compacted thickness is 12 inches for all depths of water under 10 feet. Increase this thickness by 2 inches for each foot of water over 10 feet and above.† (USDA Ponds 63) Clay blankets are constructed similar to earth embankments and are spread uniformly over pond areas in layers of 6 to 8 inches and each layer should be compacted completely, â€Å"under optimum moisture conditions†. The clay blankets

Buyer Supplier Relationship in JIT Environment

Buyer Supplier Relationship in JIT Environment Executive Summary The main purpose of this proposal is to outline the research methodology that will be adopted to structure a dissertation on the Buyer supplier relationship in a JIT environment. The research will be mainly made upon a case study of mining company called Vale Inco. The area of focus will be on its UK refinery, based on the outskirts of London. The aim of this dissertation is to establish how lean or JIT manufacturing impacts the buyer supplier relationship in the organisation of focus and how they are evaluated and measured. A framework will be established for buyer supplier relationship model under JIT finally. The research project will follow three objectives to achieve the aim: The various factors involved in the development of buyer supplier relationship will be looked into and analysed. The external situations, the uncertainties surrounding JIT adaptation will be investigated. Furthermore, the conceptual and analytical relationship between JIT, supplier involvement and cooperation, and supply chain integration will be established and examined. The initial literature review has been conducted relating to buyer suppler relationship and JIT purchasing. Although the literature review is not extensive, this will be a continuous process throughout the period of research of this project. An outline of the research methodology that will be adopted is stated at the end. A case study based approach will be the main method of research. The final analysis will be by means of a triangulation method. Finally, a contingency plan is outlined in case of some unforeseen circumstances during the course of research. Introduction The purpose of this proposal is to define the methodology that will be used to structure a dissertation about the Buyer Supplier relationship in a JIT environment and the various factors affecting the supply chain. The research develops around the case study of a Brazilian mining company, Vale Inco, which transforms mineral resources into the essential ingredients of peoples everyday lives. The focus of this dissertation will be on the Acton Refinery based in UK. After presenting the business environment where the company operates, a literature review and a discussion on the chosen methodology will follow. Background Vale  Inco  is a  wholly owned subsidiary  of the  Brazilian  mining company  Vale. It is Vales nickel  mining  and  metals  division and is headquartered in  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada. It produces nickel,  copper,  cobalt,platinum,  rhodium,  ruthenium,  iridium,  gold, and  silver. Prior to being purchased by CVRD (now Vale) in 2006,  Inco  was the worlds second largest producer of  nickel, and the third largest mining company outside  South Africa  and  Russia  of platinum-group  metals. They have gross operating revenue of US$23.9 billion with net income of US$5.3 billion. The focus of this paper will be on Acton Refinery based in the outskirts of London. The Acton Refinery originally recovered precious metals from the residue obtained from the nickel refinery at Clydach, Wales. However, over its lifetime, Acton has become one of the worlds major refiners of platinum-group metals (PGMs) platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and iridium, as well as gold and silver. It also processes primary mining concentrates and secondary materials such as recycled spent catalysts and electronic scrap. The plant has approximately 120 employees. Recently, Vale has started implementing Lean manufacturing in order to improve efficiency. The objective of lean is to create a system that is efficient and well organised and devoted to continuous improvement and the elimination of all forms of waste. Just In Time (JIT) is the backbone of the lean manufacturing system. Our focus will be on JIT purchasing and the buyer- supplier relationship in a JIT purchasing environment. Aims and objectives The aim of this dissertation is to establish how lean or JIT manufacturing impacts the buyer supplier relationship in the organisation of focus and how they are evaluated and measured. A framework will be established for buyer supplier relationship model under JIT finally. The research project will follow three objectives to achieve the aim: The various factors involved in the development of buyer supplier relationship will be looked into and analysed. The external situations, the uncertainties surrounding JIT adaptation will be investigated. Furthermore, the conceptual and analytical relationship between JIT, supplier involvement and cooperation, and supply chain integration will be established and examined. Literature Review A  literature review  is a body of text that aims to review the critical points of current knowledge and or  methodological  approaches on a particular topic .A review of prior, relevant literature is an essential feature of any academic project. An effective review creates a firm foundation for advancing knowledge. It facilitates theory development, closes areas where a plethora of research exists, and uncovers areas where research is needed. (Webster and Watson 2002). This section will summarize previous research literature on Lean and JIT adaptation, the impact on the firms performance, supplier evaluation and the buyer supplier relationship and related issues. Specifically, the fundamental activities in JIT purchasing, the impact of JIT on the buyer supplier relationship and the supply chain integration will be discussed and reviewed. Lean JIT Manufacturing Heightened challenges from global competitors during the past 2 decades have prompted many manufacturing firms to adopt new manufacturing approaches (Hall  and  Meredith). Particularly salient among these is the concept of lean production (  Womack and Jones, 1996;  Womack et al., 1990). Lean production is a multi-dimensional approach that encompasses a wide variety of management practices, including just-in-time, quality systems, work teams, cellular manufacturing, supplier management, etc. in an integrated system. The core thrust of lean production is that these practices can work synergistically to create a streamlined, high quality system that produces finished products at the pace of customer demand with little or no waste. As mentioned earlier JIT is the backbone of Lean manufacturing. William J. Stevenson, in Production/Operations Management , defines the term just-in-time manufacturing as a repetitive production system in which processing and movem ent of material and goods occurs just as they are needed, usually in small batches (Stevenson, 1996). However, just-in-time (JIT) is more than an inventory system. JIT manufacturing is a philosophy by which an organization seeks continually to improve its products and processes by eliminating waste (Ptak, 1997). Since one purpose of JIT manufacturing is to reduce any waste and inefficiencies that do not add value to a product, it should come as no surprise that the JIT approach was developed in Japan a country with scarce resources and space limitations. Organizations wanting to use the JIT approach to manufacturing must have several building blocks in place. These building blocks were first established in the early 1950s by T. Ohno, former Executive Vice President of Toyota Motor Company (Ansari and Modarress, 1990). The building blocks include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ company-wide commitment; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ proper materials at the right time; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ supplier relationships; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ quality; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ personnel. The JIT manufacturing approach can give organizations the necessary benefits required to survive, and perhaps even prosper, in an economy with increasingly scarce resources. The JIT manufacturing process eliminates wasted space and tied-up capital that can be allocated to alternative uses to improve the overall success of the organization (Ptak, 1997). In addition to ordering smaller batches of materials at the proper time, successful JIT organizations should keep the following requirements in mind: Just-in-time manufacturing Overall requirements for proper materials at the right time an acceptable level of quality; on-time delivery schedule; reasonable cost (Galhenage, 1997). According to Ballou (1992,pp.528) the entire supply channel is synchronized to respond to the requirements of operations or customers. The basic concept of JIT is that the material reaches the assembly or production line exactly at the right time and the right quantity. It works on the pull system rather than the conventional push system. In order for this to work the supplier plays a key role in a JIT environment. Buyer Supplier Relationship A competitive advantage exists for companies that are engaged in successful long-term buyer-seller relationships (Anderson and Narus, 1990; Badaracco, 1991; Dwyer, Schurr, and Oh, 1987; Jap and Ganesan, 2000; Ganesan, 1994; Noordewier, John, and Nevin, 1990).This makes it important for companies to understand what factors influence their relationships with other firms. An identification of the relative influence of these factors can be used to focus a companys efforts on the areas that are most important, improving the sustainable competitive advantage derived from that relationship (Takala and Uusitalo, 1996). The factors that influence relationships are reputation, performance satisfaction, trust, social bonds and comparison level of the trust, mutual goals, power/interdependence, cooperation and commitment Trust Trust is a fundamental relationship model building block and as such is included in most relationship models. Most definitions of trust involve a belief that one relationship partner will act in the best interests of the other partner. Below are four of the most often cited definitions of trust: 1. A willingness to rely on an exchange partner, in whom one has confidence (Moorman, Zaltman and Deshpande, 1992) 2. One party believes that its needs will be fulfilled in the future by actions taken by the other party. (Anderson and Weitz, 1990) 3. A partys expectation that another party desires coordination will fulfil obligations and will pull its weight in the relationship. (Dwyer, Schurr and Oh, 1987) 4. The belief that a partys word or promise is reliable and a party will fulfil his/her obligations in an exchange relationship. (Schurr and Ozanne, 1985) An integral element to achieve the reported benefits from more collaborative supplier relationships is the establishment of trust (Smith, Carroll and Ashford 1995). An interesting perspective on trust is that long term relationships may not require trust; rather the relationship may be based on the necessity of having a supplier or distributor (Kumar, 2005) In a JIT system trust becomes paramount as delivery schedules and quality of incoming material holds the key for the success of the system. Mutual Goals Mutual goal is defined as the degree to which partners share goals that can only be accomplished through joint action and the maintenance of the relationship. These mutual goals provide a strong reason for relationship continuance. Soni and OKeeffe (1994) suggest that mutual goals influence performance satisfaction which, in turn, influences the level of commitment to the relationship. Shared values are similar but broader concept. Morgan and Hunt (1994) define shared values as, the extent to which partners have beliefs in common about what behaviours, goals and policies are important, unimportant, appropriate or inappropriate, and right or wrong. Most likely mutual goals encourage mutuality of interest and it then becomes possible for both parties to achieve those goals. Goals can be better measured as compared to values and norms. Interdependence and Power This is one of the key issues that lead to breakdown in relationships between the buyer and the supplier. Interdependence and power imbalance are important relationship variables. The power of a buyer or supplier is closely related to its interrelationship with each other and its partners. Anderson and Weitz (1990) defined power imbalance as the ability of one partner to get the other partner to do something they would not normally do. Han, Wilson and Dant (1993) found that both buyers and sellers saw the need to increase interdependence on the other. The level of interdependence can be measured with its percentage of purchase or sales according to the framework provided by Hill Hill (2009). Figure1: Customer/supplier dependence. % of a customers purchases that come from one supplier Supplier is dominant Customer and supplier are mutually dependent Customer and supplier are independent of one another Customer is dominant % of a suppliers sales that go to one customer Source: adapted from Hill Hill (2009), p.279 Another school of thought is that the effect of buyer-supplier power on relationships between the two parties is one of both facilitation and constraint (Cox  et al., 2003). If the buyer, for example, is in a dominant position over the supplier (and there is a degree of stability to that dominance) then that dominance will facilitate considerable discretion over the conduct and commercial outcome of the relationship. However, if the buyer is in a dependent position vis-à  -vis the supplier, then that dependence will act as a constraint on its ambitions. For example, the desire by the buyer to initiate collaboration may not be reciprocated by the supplier. Even where it is reciprocated, the supplier may try to take a disproportionate share of the gains of any collaboration. Fig 2 : Buyer Supplier Relationship Style The model that informs this paper is based upon the above principles. There are two main elements to the model (Figure 2). First, there is the identification of the dimensions of buyer-supplier relationships. The model posits that buyer-supplier relationships consist of two main dimensions. On one hand, the way in which the two parties interact the extremes here being arms-length and collaborative. On the other, the manner in which the surplus value from the relationship is shared between the two parties the three generic possibilities being the buyer taking the majority share, the supplier taking the majority share or the surplus value being shared equally. If the ideal-typical scenarios for both dimensions are combined, it can be seen that there are six generic relationship types that can exist between the buyers and suppliers (Cox  et al., 2003). Cooperation Anderson and Narus (1990) describe cooperation as coordinated actions taken by firms in interdependent relationships to achieve mutual goals, and in this manner, both parties cooperate in order to benefit from the relationship. Cooperation requires input from both sides and both sides working to achieve the best solution with coordinated efforts producing outcomes better than one firm will achieve alone (Anderson and Narus, 1990) Cooperation implies an ongoing relationship where the structure or boundaries of that relationship have already been established and where this cooperation must take place in order for that relationship to continue. Commitment Lawler and Yoon (1993) describe commitment as an emotional attachment to a group in which members will tend to remain in the relationship and do things not necessary to maintain the relational exchange Relationship commitment exists when each partner believes that an ongoing relationship is so important as to warrant maximum efforts to maintain it to ensure it endures indefinitely (Morgan and Hunt, 1994) Commitment to the relationship exists as an enduring desire to maintain a valued relationship (Moorman et al., 1992) Methodology Choice of methodology The research strategy will be interpretative and based on the case study of the international enterprise. An inductive approach will be deployed and primary data will be collected through interviews of the organisations employees and senior management; therefore gathered information will be both qualitative (mainly) and quantitative. The methodology of the project has been decided in accordance with the onion scheme provided by Saunders (2009). Adapted from Saunders et al. (2009, p.138) Quantitative and Qualitative study There are two kinds of research methods, as mentioned earlier quantitative and qualitative. It is imperative to choose the appropriate kind of method for the given circumstance. Qualitative methods produce information only on the particular cases studied, and any more general conclusions are only hypotheses. Quantitative methods can be used to verify, which of such hypotheses are true. Quantitative research is generally made using  scientific methods, which can include: The generation of models, theories and hypotheses The development of instruments and methods for measurement Experimental control and manipulation of  variables Collection of empirical data Modeling and analysis of data Evaluation of results   The qualitative method investigates the  why  and  how  of  decision making, not just  what, where,  when. Hence, smaller but focused  samples  are more often needed, rather than large  samples. Qualitative methods produce information only on the particular cases studied, and any more general conclusions are only hypotheses (informative guesses).  Quantitative methods  can be used to verify which of such hypotheses are true. Usually a mix of both methods is used in order to get good results from the research. In qualitative method new theories and structures are built upon existing theories and collected data. While on the other hand quantitative method builds up a hypothesis based on the existing theories and data and then tests its credibility. Data Collection Methods Preliminary Literature review has already been conducted as mentioned earlier. However, further review of the existing literature will be done throughout the period of research until the submission of the draft project. Due to limited time frame review of the research till date and secondary research needs to be conducted within the course of the stipulated time frame. A continuous review process will ensure any new literature will be incorporated to the project and factored into the analysis of the project. Two kinds of data can be collected during a research: primary information and secondary information. Primary information is data collected for the first time by the researcher himself and it is fundamental to make the study be as close as possible to reality. The problem of this kind of data is that the observers influence on an information source, misunderstandings of purposes and inaccurate measurements can affect them. Secondary information is data already gathered and collected in books, newspapers, databases, etc. However it might not be comparable with a new study because of different purposes or conditions it was collected for. Primary information can be gathered in three different ways: interviews, observations and experiments. Case study Yin (2009) defined a case study as an empirical inquiry which investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context, without necessarily separating phenomenon itself and context. A case study based approached will be adopted for this particular research with the focus on Vale Inco. After briefly defining the working of the company and its purchase team an interview with its purchase manager and senior buyers will be conducted from where primary data will be collected. This data will be then analysed by means of a triangulation method. Triangulation Method: Triangulation is broadly defined by Denzin (1 978: 291) as the combination of methodologies in the study of the same phenomenon. Given basic principles of geometry, multiple viewpoints allow for greater accuracy. Similarly, organizational researchers can improve the accuracy of their judgments by collecting different kinds of data bearing on the same phenomenon. Thus, the convergence or agreement between more than one method enhances our belief that the results are valid and not a methodological artefact (Bouchard, 1976: 268). . Research Limitations The selected combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches is aimed at reducing the limitation of research. However, the case study based approach gives a one dimensional view of the issue at hand and does not give a general idea of the overall scenario. Also, the interviews with the employees of the considered company gives a one sided perspective of the relationship. Also with the question of supplier co operation comes into picture, as the amount of co operation the suppliers might extend towards this research is unknown at this moment of time. Also in case the company concerned withdraws its interest in the research project or a during the course of the research a road block is encountered, a contingency plan is essential. In such a scenario the focus of attention will be shifted to another company which in most likelihood will be Transweigh Ind Ltd (Indian manufacturing company).

The Biology of Wetlands

The term â€Å"wetlands† is often associated with the image of the coastal marsh – a muddy area that is teeming with a variety of animal life and emergent vegetation such as mangroves, rush and cord-grass. But wetlands are actually areas that are characterized by the formation of hydric soils and the existence of flora and fauna due to the presence of standing water during all or part of the year (Spray and McGlothlin, xiii). Some wetlands cover hundreds or thousands of square kilometers and are therefore homes to a wide variety of plant and animal life.General Biology Ii Study Guide (Online Class) Examples of wetlands include the Florida Everglades, the Hudson Bay Lowlands, the Mekong Delta and the Danube Delta (Van der Walk, 1). At present, there is no universal classification scheme for wetlands. However, wetlands are usually categorized according to their hydrologic flow regimes, vegetation types and hydrogeomorphology. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for instance, classifies wetlands according to four major types – marshes, swamps, bogs and fens. This basic but simplified scheme was intended to â€Å"(promote) understanding (of) the diversity of wetland ecosystems† (Spray and McGlothlin, xiv). Marshes are regions whose soil is either periodically or continually inundated with water. Mashes are classified into two types – tidal and non-tidal. Tidal marshes are found in areas that have erratic soil moisture due to ocean tides but do not experience heavy wave action. Tidal marshes can be freshwater, brackish or saline. Non-tidal marshes, on the other hand, are freshwater or brackish marshes that undergo episodes of drought (Spray and McGlothlin, xiv). Swamps are wetlands that are characterized by saturated soils during the growing season and standing water at other times of the year. Consequently, swamps are home to many species of plants and animals. The Great Dismal Swamp, a 109-acre forested wetland situated between northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, is dominated by bald cypress, tupelo, red maple and black gum. It is likewise the habitat of animals like the white-tailed deer, river otter, bats, raccoons, mink, black bear, bobcat, snakes, turtles and at least 200 bird species (Spray and McGlothlin, xv). Unlike marshes and swamps, bogs are wetlands that possess various types of soil and vegetation. Some of the substances found in bogs are peat deposits, acidic water and sphagnum moss. Furthermore, bogs derive their hydration mostly from precipitation instead of from groundwater, streams or runoff – they are therefore sometimes referred to as precipitation-dominated wetlands. Examples of bogs include pocosins (evergreen-shrub bogs located in the southeastern United States) and northern bogs (found in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions of the United States) (Spray and McGlothlin, xv). Akin to bogs, fens are wetlands known for their peat deposits. What differentiates fens from bogs, however, is that the former receive their water supply from groundwater inputs instead of from precipitation. Furthermore, fens have less acidic water and higher nutrient levels than bogs (Spray and McGlothlin, xv). Wetlands play many important roles in preserving the Earth’s ecosystem. Scientists refer to wetlands as the â€Å"kidneys of the Earth† – they filter the water that moves through them of pollutants such as toxins and organic and inorganic nutrients. Wetlands therefore have high levels of sediment-water exchange and mineral uptake, which, in turn, render it suitable for plant and animal life. Wetlands likewise acquire sediments and particles by decreasing the flow velocity of the running water which enters them (Spray and McGlothlin, xvi). Other functions of wetlands include providing flood control, preventing coastal erosion and serving as a critically important habitat for plants and many endangered species. As of 2000, wetlands made up about 3. 5% of the land area of the United States and were the primary habitat of around 50% of the 209 animal species that were listed as endangered 1986. Scientists and environmentalists thus argue that the preservation of wetlands is crucial for environmental health – wetland ecosystems are neither artificially created nor easily regenerated (Spray and McGlothlin, xvi). Wetlands are home to many species of plants – the former are sometimes classified according to the types of hydrophytes present in them. There are three kinds of hydrophytes – submersed, emergent and obligate. Submersed refers to plant species that are completely submerged. Emergent (also known as terrestrial) is identified with plants whose stems and roots are found underwater, but reaches to or above the surface. Obligate (also known as facultative) pertains to plants that thrive both in wetlands and in certain upland habitats (Dennison and Berry, 57). Wetland plants play a key role in the survival of wetland ecosystems. Most wetland animals, as well as many non-wetland ones, depend on wetland plants as their primary food source. Wetland plants also assist in the thermoregulation of many wetland animals and provide cover from predators. When wetland plants undergo decomposition by fungi and bacteria, they immediately become a source of nutrients for animals and other wetland plants (Dennison and Berry, 59). Wetland plants, specifically seed-producing ones, are very important in the regeneration of wetlands after periods of drawdown and drying. Read also Lab 2 Biology Other groups of organisms that inhabit wetlands, such as algae, fungi and bacteria, are also crucial for the survival of wetland ecosystems. Apart from making nutrients available to other organisms by decomposing dead plant and animal material, they likewise enable wetlands to survive certain weather and climatic conditions. The blue-green algae, for instance, may form a â€Å"periphyton† mat which has the capacity to withstand prolonged periods of drought. Consequently, the presence of a periphyton layer is considered as a possible sign that an area is a wetland (Dennison and Berry, 60). During the winter, many wetlands are transformed into valuable wildlife habitats. Evergreen forested wetlands (cedar swamps), for example, are the winter homes of deer and moose. Black ducks live in northeastern coastal marshes during the winter, while other waterfowl consider bottomland hardwood swamps as their winter refuge. In the Upper Midwest, migratory waterfowl start arriving in pothole wetlands even before winter starts. Male red-winged blackbirds are among the first migratory birds that return to freshwater marshes in the Northeast for the winter (Tiner, 28). In the winter and early spring, floodplain forested wetlands become important fish habitats. During these seasons, various fish species use the flooded wetlands either as spawning areas or nursery grounds. Some amphibians, however, start breeding in vernal pool wetlands in the northeastern United States even before winter begins. At the start of the year, the Jefferson salamander is the first amphibian to breed in vernal pools. According to animal experts, it â€Å"migrates over the snow on rainy nights in late winter to slip into the pond (vernal pool) through cracks in the ice† (Tiner, 28). But there is likewise significant breeding activity even before the start of winter. Marbled salamanders, for instance, migrate to dry vernal pools in the Northeast from late August to October. Males leave sperm sacks at the bottom of the pools for the females to fertilize their eggs with when they later arrive. The fertilized eggs are then left beneath leaf litter or rocks in the pool. The eggs hatch in the fall, with the larvae feeding on aquatic invertebrates (Tiner, 28). The pitcher-plant bog crayfish is another animal species which share the same type of life history requirement. They are active from late fall to late spring – periods when Mississippi’s pitcher-plant bogs are flooded. Pitcher-plant bog crayfishes begin to mate in the late spring, with the females retaining the fertilized eggs before depositing them in the flooded bogs in the winter (Tiner, 28). Apart from the suitability of breeding sites, other factors that control the distribution of animals within wetlands include the level of protection from predators, the speed of travel within a certain area and the availability of particular food sources (Galatowitsch and Van der Valk, 19). Some wetland animals thrive in most wetland habitants. Examples of these are the tiger salamanders, American toads, painted turtles and snapping turtles. This flexibility is required in order to meet changing requirements over their life cycles (Galatowitsch and Van der Valk, 20). Some animals, however, require very specific environments for feeding or nesting. Wet prairies, for instance, have tall and dense grass vegetation. In addition, they thaw and dry up earlier than deeper wetlands. Consequently, wet prairies are characterized by an abundant food supply and a grass cover that provides excellent protection against predators. Birds that live in wet prairies include ground-nesting birds like the northern harrier, short-eared owl, savannah sparrow, swamp sparrow and the common yellowthroat. The short-tailed shrew and the Franklin’s ground squirrel, meanwhile, are some examples of the mammals that live in wet prairies (Galatowitsch and Van der Valk, 20). Sedge meadows thaw early and remain moist even in summer, turning it into another early source of food and protection. Large sedges and grasses provide a close canopy but an open understory, allowing animals to move about more freely while keeping them protected from predatory birds (Galatowitsch and Van der Valk, 20). The aforementioned wet prairie birds can also nest in sedge meadows, along with other birds such as American bittern, common snipe, sedge wren, marsh wren and LeConte’s sparrow (Galatowitsch and Van der Valk, 21). Other mammals are likewise drawn to sedge meadows because of the latter’s reliable invertebrate populations. The masked shrews and the pygmy shrews, for instance, feed on plants and seeds that inhabit sedge meadows. Meadow voles, on the other hand, can be found on the moist parts of the meadow due to their diet of rushes, sedges, grasses, insect larvae and fungi. Meadow jumping mice have a diet that adapts to seasonal changes – invertebrates in the spring and seeds, fruits and fungi during the summer. Although chorus frogs thrive in different wetland habitats, they breed only in those with a lush growth of lushes, sedges and grasses – the vegetation effectively conceals their mating call against predators (Galatowitsch and Van der Valk, 21). Shallow emergent marshes are characterized by dense vegetation and prolonged standing water. As a result, they provide effective concealment and reliable source of food. Shallow emergent marshes are inhabited mostly by birds that build nests that are either floating on water or are anchored on emergent vegetation. The horned grebe, eared grebe, least bittern, Virginia rail and American coot are some examples of birds that inhabit shallow emergent marshes (Galatowitsch and Van der Valk, 21). It is often said that everything in this planet is interconnected. A seemingly â€Å"useless† insect may actually turn out to be an important cross-pollinator. A huge, leafy but fruitless tree might be the only source of food for animals in the forest during the summer season. A bacterium living in the ocean could have the capacity to filter the latter of pollutants. Thus, it is very important that wetlands be preserved. Although they may appear to be large mud puddles with lush vegetation, wetlands are in truth home to various organisms that depend on each other to sustain life on this planet. The extinction of wetlands, therefore, will spell the end of many plants and animals on which humans are dependent on for survival.

Bite Me: A Love Story Chapter 17

17. Wide Awake in Sucker-Free Okata scraped the last few drops of blood from the container into the burned-up white girl's mouth. He'd managed to save two of the eight quart containers, but it wasn't going to be enough, he could tell, and after the fight at the butcher shop and his escape, he knew he wasn't strong enough to give her any more of his own blood. She'd need more, and he was going to have to start thinking of her as something besides the â€Å"burned-up white girl.† She was starting to resemble a real person now, more than a person-shaped cinder. A very old, very scary dead person, to be sure, but a person nonetheless. Her red hair nearly covered the pillow now, and she'd moved, if only a little, closing her mouth after the last drops of blood went in. No ash had flaked away with the movement. Okata was glad. Her exposed fangs made him a little uneasy, but now she had lips, sort of. He picked up his sketch pad from the floor, moved to the end of the futon to get a different angle, and began drawing her, as he'd been doing every hour or so since he'd returned from the butcher. He was still covered with the blood that had splashed on him during the fight, but it had long since dried and except for washing his hands so he could work, he'd forgotten it. He finished the sketch, then moved to his workbench, where he transferred a refined version of the drawing to a piece of rice paper so thin it was nearly transparent. He would replicate this drawing four more times, then each would be glued to a woodblock and carved away to make the plate for a different line or color. He looked over his shoulder at her, and felt a tremor of shame. Yes, she looked like a person now, an old, desiccated grandmother, but he shouldn't leave her like that. He took a bowl from the shelf above his little kitchen sink, filled it with warm water, and then knelt by the side of the futon and gently sponged the last patina of ash from her body, revealing the blue-white skin underneath. The skin was smooth, like polished rice paper, but pores and hair follicles were forming as he wiped the ash away. â€Å"Sorry,† he said in English. Then in Japanese he said, â€Å"I have not been mindful, my burned-up gaijin girl. I will do better.† He went to the cabinet under his workbench and removed a cedar box that looked like it might have been fashioned to hold a set of silverware. He opened the lid and removed the square of white silk, then stood and let the garment fall open to its full length. Yuriko's wedding kimono. It smelled of cedar, and perhaps of a bit of incense, but mercifully, it didn't smell of her. He laid the kimono out next to the burned-up girl, and ever so slowly, he moved it under her, gently worked her skeletal arms into the sleeves, then closed the robe and tied it loosely with the white obi. He arranged her arms at her sides so they looked comfortable, then picked up a small flake of dried blood that had fallen from his face onto her breast. She looked better now. Still wraithlike and monstrous, but better. â€Å"There you go. Yuriko would be pleased that her kimono helped cover one who had nothing.† He returned to his workbench and began the drawing for the block that would carry the yellow ink for the futon, when he heard movement behind him and wheeled around. â€Å"Well, don't you look yummy,† Jody said. TOMMY Tommy spent the early evening in the library, reading The Economist and Scientific American. He felt as if all the words were bringing him back from the animal realm to being a human being, and there were plenty of words in those magazines. He wanted his full powers of speech and human thought before he confronted Jody. He also hoped that his memory of what had happened would come back with his words, but that didn't seem to be working. He remembered a red blur of hunger in his head, being thrown through a window and landing on the street, but between that and the time when his words returned in the basement, with the Emperor, he could remember very little. It was as if those experiences-hunting, finding shelter of darkness, snaking his way through the City in a cloud of predators gone to mist-were filed in a part of his mind that locked as soon as the ability to put words to senses returned. He suspected that he may have helped Chet kill people, but if that was the case, why h ad he saved the Emperor? Fortunately, he hadn't lost the ability to turn to mist, which was how he'd obtained the outfit he was wearing now. The whole ensemble-khaki slacks, blue Oxford-cloth shirt, leather jacket, and leather boating moccasins-had been on display in a window at a men's store on Union Square, suspended by monofilament fishing line into the shape of a casual cotton ghost that was haunting other, equally stylish but substanceless marionettes around some deck chairs and artificial sand. Just after the dinner hour, when the store was at its busiest, Tommy streamed in under the door, into the outfit and became solid. With a quick crouch, he snapped all the monofilament line and walked out of the store fully dressed, bits of fishing line curling in his wake. It would, he thought, have been the smoothest, most audaciously cool thing he had ever done, if it hadn't been for the straight pins that had fastened the shirt to the slacks. But after a minor fit on the sidewalk as he yanked the pins out of his back, hips, and abdomen, while rhythmically chanting, â€Å"Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch,† he returned to the calm and casual cotton-clad vampire aspect he'd been going for. He waited until he was at the library, in the stacks, before he pulled the piece of cardboard out of his collar and yanked off various tags and threads. Fortunately, there had been no anti-theft tags on the display outfit. Now he was ready, or as ready as he was going to get. He had to go to Jody now, hold her, tell her he loved her, kiss her, shag her until all the furniture was broken and the neighbors complained (undead predator or not, he was still nineteen and horny), then figure out what they were going to do about their future. As he walked back through the Tenderloin, dressed in his â€Å"please rob me† white boy outfit, a jittery crackhead in a hoody that had once been green, but now was so dirty it was shiny, tried to rob him with a screwdriver. â€Å"Give me your money, bitch.† â€Å"That's a screwdriver,† Tommy said. â€Å"Yeah. Give me your money or I'll stab you with it.† Tommy could hear the tweaker's heart fluttering, smell the acrid stench of rotting teeth, body odor, and urine on him, and could see an unhealthy, dark gray aura around him. His predator mind flashed the word â€Å"prey.† Tommy shrugged. â€Å"I'm wearing a leather jacket. You'll never get a screwdriver through it.† â€Å"You don't know that. I'll get a running start. Give me your money.† â€Å"I don't have any money. You're sick. You should go to the hospital.† â€Å"That's it, bitch!† The crackhead thrust the screwdriver at Tommy's stomach. Tommy stepped aside. The tweaker's movements seemed almost comically slow. As the screwdriver went by, Tommy decided it might be best if he took it, and he snatched it away. The robber lost his balance and tumbled forward into the street and lay there. With the flick of his wrist, Tommy threw the screwdriver onto the roof of a four-story building across the street. Two guys who had been standing in an alley a few feet away, thinking about taking the robbery over from the crackhead, or at least robbing him if he was successful, decided they would rather go see what was happening on the next block. Tommy was a half a block away when he heard the uneven, limping footsteps of the crackhead coming up behind him. He turned and the crackhead stopped. â€Å"Give me your money,† said the tweaker. â€Å"Stop robbing me,† said Tommy. â€Å"You don't have a weapon and I don't have any money. It's totally not working for you.† â€Å"Okay, give me a dollar,† said the crackhead. â€Å"Still don't have any money,† Tommy said, turning his pants pockets inside out. A note from inspector 18 fluttered to the sidewalk. He heard movement above-claws on stone-and cringed. â€Å"Uh-oh.† â€Å"Fifty cents,† said the crackhead. He put his hand in the pouch pocket of his hoody and pointed his finger like it was a gun. â€Å"I'll shoot.† â€Å"You have got to be the worst armed robber ever.† The crackhead paused for a second and pulled his gun-posed hand out of his pocket. â€Å"I have my G.E.D.† Tommy shook his head. He thought he'd left the cats behind, but the felines either still had some connection to him, or there were so many of them now that there was nowhere in the City you could go where they wouldn't be hunting. He didn't relish trying to explain the whole phenomenon to Jody. â€Å"What's your name?† he said to the crackhead. â€Å"I'm not telling you. You could turn me in.† â€Å"Okay,† Tommy said. â€Å"I'll call you Bob. Bob, have you ever seen a cat do that?† Tommy pointed up. The crackhead looked up the side of the building to see a dozen cats coming down the bricks, face-down, toward him. â€Å"No. Okay, I'm not robbing you anymore,† said the tweaker, his attention taken by the clutter of vampire cats descending on him. â€Å"Have a nice evening.† â€Å"Sorry,† said Tommy, meaning it. He turned and jogged up the street to put some distance between himself and the screaming, which only lasted a few seconds. He looked back to see the crackhead gone. Well, not really gone, but reduced to a pile of gray powder amidst his empty clothing. â€Å"It's how he would have wanted to go,† Tommy said to himself. He would have thought the cats would go for the two in the alley, but now they were taking the people right out on the open street. He was going to have to get Jody and talk her into leaving the City, like they should have in the first place. He jogged the twelve blocks to the loft, careful not to run so fast that he might be noticed. He tried to look like a guy who was just late getting home to his girlfriend, which, in a way, he was. He waited outside the door for a moment before pushing the buzzer. What was he going to say? What if she didn't want to see him? He didn't have any experience to draw on. She'd been the first girl he'd had sex with while sober. She was the first girl he'd ever lived with. She was the first to take a shower with him, to drink his blood, to turn him into a vampire, and to throw him broken and naked through a second-story window. She was his first love, really. What if she sent him away? He listened, looked at the plywood still over the windows, sniffed the air. He could hear people inside, at least two, but they weren't talking. There were machines running, lights buzzing, the smell of blood and rat whiz wafting under the door. It really would have felt better if there were romance in the air, but, well, okay. He ran his fingers through his hair, snatched away the last strands of fishing line trailing from his clothes like errant crystal pubes, and pushed the button. FOO Foo had just placed the vials of Abby's blood in the centrifuge when the buzzer on the intercom went off. He flipped the switch, then looked over at Abby, lying on the bed. She looked so peaceful, undead and drugged and not talking. Almost happy, despite having a tail. But the police wouldn't understand. He ran into the living room and shook Jared out of the game-induced trance he had entered on his game console. Foo could hear the death-metal sound track coming from Jared's headphones, tinny screeching and tiny chainsaw rhythms, like angry chipmunks humping a kazoo inside a sealed mayonnaise jar. â€Å"Whaaa?† said Jared, yanking out his earbuds. â€Å"Someone's at the door,† whispered Foo. â€Å"Hide Abby.† â€Å"Hide her? Where? The closet is full of medical crap.† â€Å"Between the mattress and the box springs. She's skinny. You can mash her in there.† â€Å"How will she breathe?† â€Å"She doesn't need to breathe.† â€Å"Sweet.† Jared went for the bedroom, Foo for the intercom. â€Å"Who is it?† he said, keying the button. He really should have installed a camera. They were easy to wire and he got a discount at Stereo World. Stupid. â€Å"Let me in, Steve. It's Tommy.† Foo thought for a second he might pee a little. He hadn't finished building the high-intensity UV laser, and Abby hadn't worn her sun jacket. He was defenseless. â€Å"I can see why you might be mad,† said Foo, â€Å"but it was Abby's idea. I wanted to turn you back to human, like you wanted.† Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck. Tommy was going to kill him. It would be humiliating. The guy didn't even have an undergrad degree. He was going to be murdered by an undead Anglo liberal-arts tard who quoted poetry. The buzzer went off again. Foo jumped and keyed the intercom. â€Å"I didn't want to do it. I told her it was cruel to put you guys in there.† â€Å"I'm not mad, Steve. I need to see Jody.† â€Å"She's not here.† â€Å"I don't believe you. Let me in.† â€Å"I can't, I have things to do. Scientific things that you wouldn't understand. You have to go away.† Okay, now he was a tard. â€Å"I can come in, Steve, under the door or through the cracks around the windows, but when I go back to solid, I'll be naked. Nobody wants that.† â€Å"You don't know how to do that.† â€Å"I learned.† â€Å"Oh, that's cool,† said Foo. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. Could he get the door shut and duct taped before Tommy could ooze in. The great room was already taped up to contain the rat fog. â€Å"Buzz me in, Foo. I have to see Jody and I have to feed. You still have some of those blood pouches, right?† â€Å"Nope. Sorry, we're all out. And Jody's not here. And we've installed sunlamps all over the loft, Tommy. You'd be toast.† He did have some blood bags. In fact, he still had some of the ones with the sedative in it that he'd used to knock Abby out. â€Å"Steve, please, I'm hungry and hurt and I've been living in a basement with a bunch of vampire cats and if I turn to mist my new outfit is going to get stolen while I'm up there snapping your neck with my junk hanging out.† Foo was trying to think of a better bluff when a dark sleeve shot by him and he heard the door lock buzz downstairs. He looked up at Jared. â€Å"What the fuck have you done?† â€Å"Hi,† Tommy said in Foo's ear. â€Å"He sounded so sad,† Jared said. THE OLD ONES At sundown the three awoke inside a titanium vault under the main cabin and checked the monitors that were wired like a nervous system to every extremity of the black ship. â€Å"Clear,† said the male. He was tall and blond and he'd been lean in life, so he remained so, would remain so, forever. He wore a black silk kimono. The two females cranked open the hatch and climbed out into what appeared to be a walk-in refrigerator. The male closed the hatch, pushed a button concealed behind a shelf, and a stainless-steel panel slid across the hatch. They walked out of the fridge, into the empty galley. â€Å"I hate this,† said the African female. She had been Ethiopian in life, descended from royalty, with a high forehead and wide eyes that slanted like a cat's. â€Å"It was to this face that Solomon lost his heart,† Elijah had told her, holding her face in his hands as she died. And so he called her Makeda, after the legendary Queen of Sheba. She didn't remember her real name, for she had worn it for only eighteen years, and she had been Makeda for seven centuries. â€Å"It's different,† said the other female, a dark-haired beauty who had been born on the island of Corsica a hundred years before Napoleon. Her name had been Isabella. Elijah had always called her Belladonna. She answered to Bella. â€Å"It's not that different,† said Makeda, leading the way up a flight of steps to the cockpit. â€Å"It seems like we just did this. We just did this-when?† â€Å"A hundred and fifty years ago. Macao,† said the male. His name was Rolf, and he was the middle child, the peace-maker, turned by Elijah in the time of Martin Luther. â€Å"See what I mean,† said Makeda. â€Å"All we do is sail around cleaning up his messes. If he does this again I'm going to have the boy drag him out onto the deck during the day and video it while he burns. I'll watch it every night on the big screen in the dining room and laugh. Ha!† Although the oldest, Makeda was the brat. â€Å"And what if we die with the sire?† asked Rolf. â€Å"What if you wake up in the vault on fire?† He palmed a black glass console and a panel whooshed open in the bulkhead. The cockpit, big enough to host a party for thirty, was lined in curving mahogany, stainless steel, and black glass. The stern half was open to the night sky. But for the ship's wheel, it looked like an enormous Art Deco casket designed for space travel. â€Å"I've died before,† said Makeda. â€Å"It's not that bad.† â€Å"You don't remember,† said Bella. â€Å"Maybe not. But I don't like this. I hate cats. Shouldn't we have people for this?† â€Å"We had people,† said Rolf. â€Å"You ate them.† â€Å"Fine,† said Makeda. â€Å"Give me my suit.† Rolf touched the glass console again and a bulkhead opened to reveal a cabinet filled with tactical gear. Makeda pulled three black bodysuits from the cabinet and handed one each to Rolf and Bella. Then she slid out of her red silk gown and stretched, naked, her arms wide like Winged Victory, her head back, fangs pointed at the skylight. â€Å"Speaking of people,† said Bella. â€Å"Where's the boy? I'm hungry.† â€Å"He was feeding Elijah when we awoke,† said Rolf. â€Å"He'll be along.† Elijah was kept below in a vault similar to their own, except the prime vampire's vault was airtight, locked from the outside, and was fitted with an airlock system so the boy could feed him. â€Å"Irie, me undead dreadies,† said the pseudo-Hawaiian as he came up the steps, barefoot and shirtless, carrying a tray of crystal balloon goblets. â€Å"Cap'n Kona bringin' ya the jammin' grinds, yeah?† The vampires each spoke a dozen languages but none of them had the slightest idea what the fuck Kona was talking about. When he saw Makeda stretching, the blond Rastafarian stopped and nearly dumped the goblets off the tray. â€Å"Oh, Jah's sweet love sistah, dat smoky biscuit givin' me da rippin' stiffy like dis fellah need to poke squid with that silver sistah on de Rolls-Royce, don't you know?† Makeda fell out of her â€Å"Nike† posture and looked at Rolf. â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"I think he said he would enjoy violating you like a hood ornament,† said Rolf, taking a snifter from the tray and swirling dark liquid under his nose. â€Å"Tuna?† â€Å"Just caught, bruddah,† said Kona, having trouble now balancing the tray while trying to hunch to conceal the erection tenting his baggies. Bella took her snifter from the tray and grinned as she turned to look out the windscreen at the City. The Transamerica Pyramid was lit up in front of them, Coit Tower just to the right, jutting from Telegraph Hill like a great concrete phallus. Makeda took a slinky step toward Kona, â€Å"Should I let him rub oil on me, Rolf? Do I look ashy?† â€Å"Just don't eat him,† Rolf said. He sat in one of the captain's chairs, loosened the belt of his black kimono, and began working the Kevlar bodysuit over his feet. â€Å"Quaint,† said Makeda. She took another step toward Kona, held her bodysuit before her, then dropped it. In an instant she had gone to mist and streamed into the suit, which filled as if a girl-shaped emergency raft had been deployed inside. She snatched the last goblet out of the air as Kona flinched and dumped the tray. â€Å"Will you oil me up later, Kona?† Makeda said, standing over the surfer now as he cowered. â€Å"Nah need, matey, you shinin' plenny fine. But dat other ting bein' a rascal fo' sure.† He held his hand to his chest and ventured a glance up at her. â€Å"Please.† â€Å"It's your turn,† said Bella with a smile, her lips rouged with tuna blood. â€Å"Oh, all right,† said Makeda. â€Å"But use a glass.† Kona reached into the pocket of his baggies and came out with a shot glass, which he held with both hands before his head like a Buddhist monk receiving alms. She pushed her thumb against one of her fangs, then let the blood drip into Kona's shot glass. Ten drops in, she pulled her thumb away and licked it. â€Å"That's all you get.† â€Å"Oh, mahalo, sistah. Jah's love on ya.† He drained the blood then licked the shot glass clean, as Makeda watched and sipped her tuna blood. After a full minute, with the ersatz Hawaiian still lapping away at the glass, his breath heaving like he was hoisting the anchor by hand, she took the shot glass and held it away from him. â€Å"You're done.† â€Å"Bug eater,† Bella said, disgusted. Now she was in her own bodysuit and had drained her goblet of blood. â€Å"Oh, I think he's cute,† said Makeda. â€Å"I may let him oil me up yet.† She ruffled Kona's dreadlocks. He was staring blankly into space, his mouth open, drooling. â€Å"Just don't eat him,† Rolf said. â€Å"Stop saying that. I won't eat him,† said Makeda. â€Å"He's a licensed captain. We need him.† â€Å"All right. I'm not going to eat him.† Bella walked over, yanked a dreadlock from Kona's head, and used it to tie back her own, waist-length black hair. The surfer didn't flinch. â€Å"Bug eater,† she repeated. Rolf was back at the cabinet, snapping together various bits of weaponry. â€Å"We should go. Grab a hood, gloves to go with the sunglasses. Elijah said they had some sort of sunlight weapons.† â€Å"This is different,† said Bella, gathering all the high-tech kit from the weapons cabinet, as well as a long overcoat to cover it all. â€Å"We didn't have all this in Macao.† â€Å"As long as you're not bored, darling,† said Rolf. â€Å"I hate cats,† said Makeda as she pulled on her gloves.

A Historical Look at Punishment

A Historical Look at Punishment Free Online Research Papers Imagine for a moment being Robert-Francois Damiens, who in 1757 was executed for the attempted murder of King Louis XV. Mostly likely one would expect to be put to death by a quick beheading through the use of a gelatin or by the swing of an executioner’s sword. However, this was not the case. His sentencing required flesh from his body to be torn off by flamed pincers, having those wounds filled with molten sulfur, and to be quartered by four horses which involved the horses pulling in opposite directions until the body’s limbs were ripped off. In today’s American society one would find this sentencing to be under the Cruel and Unusual Punishment Act which does not allow for such a horrific torture to take place. We would, on the other hand, expect the punishment to be severe for such an elevated offense, but the punishment for an attempted murder of an official would more likely involve life in prison, with a possible chance of parole or less. This quick description of punishment in different eras shows a little bit of where we were with the treatment of criminals in the past, and where we are today. To fully understand how we have made such accomplishments and changes in controlling deviancy we must look to the very earliest of civilizations and through time to realize why the changes were made and what they were. The Ancient Times were loaded with diverse punishment for criminals, and ways of deterring criminal acts to take place. Greece, for instance, heavily practiced execution, banishment, and exile. Execution consisted of crucifixion, stoning to death, and throwing from high cliffs. Many of the executed were left in public view while their body’s rotted away to deter others from committing the same crime. Israel followed the codes of the Bible, punishing criminals through exposure to wild animals, lashings, cursing, crucifixion, and casting down. The punishment was to revenge what laws of the Bible they broke and to be equal to what they have done. Early Rome had The Twelve Tables, which were the earliest written laws and punishment were burning to equal the offense of arson, throwing from a cliff for perjury, clubbing to death for mocking a fellow citizen, hanging for stealing crops or other property, and a few other vicious punishments for higher offenses. As society entered into the Middle Ages physical punishment followed in a similar fashion to ancient times through European countries and American colonies. The punishment involved five degrees of severity and were all held out in a public arena. The first degree was flogging and whipping, which was used mainly for control over prisoners. Used heavily throughout American colonies until the 20th century, the whipping allowed officials to forcefully control subjects and to deter others by the fear of harsh rules that follow imprisonment. The second level consisted of the burning of skin and flesh. As discussed in the case of Damiens, burning of the flesh was carried out as a deterrent and as a means of revenge. A third degree offense would have involved mutilation or an act that would have left the body permanently disfigured. These punishments were dealt to offenders as a deterrent to others and were designed to match the offense accordingly. For example, a thief would have the ir hands cut off, a liar would have their tongue ripped out, and a sexual offender would have their genitals removed. A fourth degree offense ended in instant death. Reserved mainly for royalty and nobles, the death was quick and virtually painless. Decapitation in this manner was seen as an honorable death through the Middle Ages. Finally, the fifth and last level of severity led to a very torturous, painful, and agenizing death. This is exactly what Damiens would have been sentenced to for his murder attempt on the king. It consisted of all the other punishment levels and a multitude of acts. Torture was used in the sentencing to gain confession of the criminal’s wrong doing and in efforts to free their souls from the evils which they committed. Also some societies practiced exile and transportation. The punishment sent criminals to foreign land or to newly discovered land as a way to remove them from society. Greek offenders were forced to Rome, who also practiced exiling any criminals to other countries. Amazingly, America was one of the newly discovered lands that Europe used as a transportation and exile area. The big change in punishment came about in the 16th and 17th centuries throughout Europe and began to spread elsewhere. What began as workhouses for social deviants and minor criminals would eventually span out to become long term, up to two years, holding cells for all criminals and even those who actually haven’t broke any written laws, such as mentally ill. The motivation behind this switch was a change in attitude towards punishment and its physicality. Thought began to emerge of taking away personal freedom and to make the person’s soul and spirit suffer more harshly then the body. Another main factor that led to more modern day prison versions was the passing of laws to keep non-criminals out of prison. This meant that there would no longer be holdings of mentally ill, children, women, and a very large number of debtors who were originally placed together. Reformers such as William Penn, John Howard, and Jeremy Bentham began studying prison systems to better the development and the purpose of prisons as institutions of rehabilitation. Penn shifted punishment by setting only one capitol punishment, being premeditated murder, and abolishing all former English capitol punishments. This became known as the â€Å"Great Act† of 1682. Howard and Bentham stayed busy by writing books on reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners, and by developing new versions of prison architecture. Along with other reformers, these men were able to help swing society’s view of punishment and set up new deviance control methods that were more centered on criminals and teaching them ways to correct their criminal ways. Obviously the harsh punishment in Ancient Times and through the Middle Ages wasn’t the most efficient manner to deter criminal acts because crime rates did not drop nor did criminals stop committing the same crimes. One of the problems revolved around the fact that many being punished were not offenders of serious crimes. Many were forced to thievery because of their social status and it was the only way for survival, while others were punished because they were in debt to a noble. The shift towards prison sentences established a well defined written law and also set punishment levels more accordingly to their offenses. Today’s prison, parole, and probation system allows use to hold prisoners in appropriate places. Our society has minimum to high security prison that have the ability to separate the serious and violent offenders from those who committed lesser acts. This keeps morale high for those who now the will be returned to society after a short sentence bec ause they understand that the situation could be worse. Probation and parole allows the offender to slowly adjust to normal society through certain regulations, routine drug checks, and probation or parole meetings to affirm success or to catch another criminal act by the offender. This operates as a deterrent and as a guide to the offender, while at the same time creates a system of checks and balances that officials can follow to assure they are releasing a reformed person who is no longer a deviant of society. However punishment is dealt, we will always have deviants in society, and it would be impossible to eliminate all criminal acts. I think we have come a long way in controlling deviancy and where we are at today has led to crime rate drops and will only continue to create new techniques in criminal deterrence, reformation and rehabilitation, and better programs to reintroduce criminals into society. Research Papers on A Historical Look at PunishmentCapital PunishmentComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseThe Fifth HorsemanBringing Democracy to Africa19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided Era

Free Essays on Lonliness

Loneliness Leaves Clues This story strangely portrays a relationship between a brother and sister who are going through depressing times: â€Å"Loneliness left clues, and I would pick up his while he picked up mine, neither of us ever mentioning them†(82). The short story that I chose is from the February, 2002 edition of Harper’s Magazine. Antonya Nelson is the author of the story titled â€Å"Ball Peen†, which refers to a hammer that the narrator describes as a ball peen hammer. This title is significant because it is referred to and used figuratively throughout the story. The author doesn’t let the hammer slip your mind, relating back to it whenever there is a chance. The ball peen hammer symbolizes the narrator’s strength. Much of her strength is derived from her brother, who gives her confidence and consoles her. A young woman, placing you in her thoughts and perceptions, narrates the story. Her name is not mentioned in the story so I will acknowledge her as the narrator. She begins her story by glimpsing back on one Christmas when she is fifteen. This is the Christmas that her brother, Sonny, gives her a hammer as a gift. At first this gift meant that he had forgotten to get her a present, but later she realizes that he picked it out just for her. She comes to appreciate it and finds that it was actually very useful. She explains that she even grew fond of it: â€Å"For comfort, I often slip my hand in my purse, as if in a pocket, to cup that smooth ball peen†(77). After introducing the hammer the narrator then starts telling her story at hand. She lives in a town called Telluride where she was born and raised. She is the only one out of her family left there, babysitting her parent’s old house for them. Her brother moved away as a teenager to Colorado Springs following his girlfriend who moved there. Her parents moved there soon after when Telluride becomes famous for it’s skiing. The narrator reveals that she is ha... Free Essays on Lonliness Free Essays on Lonliness Loneliness Leaves Clues This story strangely portrays a relationship between a brother and sister who are going through depressing times: â€Å"Loneliness left clues, and I would pick up his while he picked up mine, neither of us ever mentioning them†(82). The short story that I chose is from the February, 2002 edition of Harper’s Magazine. Antonya Nelson is the author of the story titled â€Å"Ball Peen†, which refers to a hammer that the narrator describes as a ball peen hammer. This title is significant because it is referred to and used figuratively throughout the story. The author doesn’t let the hammer slip your mind, relating back to it whenever there is a chance. The ball peen hammer symbolizes the narrator’s strength. Much of her strength is derived from her brother, who gives her confidence and consoles her. A young woman, placing you in her thoughts and perceptions, narrates the story. Her name is not mentioned in the story so I will acknowledge her as the narrator. She begins her story by glimpsing back on one Christmas when she is fifteen. This is the Christmas that her brother, Sonny, gives her a hammer as a gift. At first this gift meant that he had forgotten to get her a present, but later she realizes that he picked it out just for her. She comes to appreciate it and finds that it was actually very useful. She explains that she even grew fond of it: â€Å"For comfort, I often slip my hand in my purse, as if in a pocket, to cup that smooth ball peen†(77). After introducing the hammer the narrator then starts telling her story at hand. She lives in a town called Telluride where she was born and raised. She is the only one out of her family left there, babysitting her parent’s old house for them. Her brother moved away as a teenager to Colorado Springs following his girlfriend who moved there. Her parents moved there soon after when Telluride becomes famous for it’s skiing. The narrator reveals that she is ha...

Merchants of Cool Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Merchants of Cool - Essay Example This film discovers the contemporary teenagers’ culture and their standpoints on themselves and their parents. In order to target the teenagers, companies explore the teenager’s tastes and preferences, perspectives, and their aspirations to identify what they desire. Needless to say, as according to the film â€Å"Merchants of Cool†, companies survey the symbiotic association between the present day teenagers and the media, as they depend on the other for their identity (Merchants of Cool, 2001). Marketing happens to all people at all time, and no individual is invulnerable from its influence and free from its reach (Ewen, 1976, p. 36). The absolute size and purchasing power of the contemporary teenagers creates a windfall of inexorably insistent brand messaging that is both omnipresent and goes to extraordinary lengths to hold on to the most significant canon in convincing this demographic segment. The â€Å"Merchants of Cool† notes that teenagers are the hottest demographic in United States. Marketing to the youth is a challenging task and not as easy as it sounds. Marketers have to seek ways to seem real: authentic to the lives and perspectives of teens and to be cool to themselves (Ewen, 1976, p. 1118). In essence, they seek the next trendy thing and have implemented approximately anthropological strategy to examine the youth and their every move. Ewen (1976, p. 124) notes that the creation of a fancied desire is significant to the contemporary marketer. The youths have the need to experience self-conscious perspective and a marketer should focus on this. A marketer can identify this need through examining the youths’ behavior and ways of life (Ewen, 1976, p. 128). The â€Å"Merchants of Cool† (2001) delineates a response circle in which marketers carry out comprehensive ethnographic studies of teens to identify what’s fashionable, and then augment it and nosh it back to them through media managed by fewer

What was the impact of the use of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Essay

What was the impact of the use of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the end of the Second World War and why - Essay Example eading to carry out unimaginable human destruction has clearly shaped common perceptions regarding the level of destructive consequences can be derived from any future war1. In this context, a revolution was constituted soon after the inception of nuclear weapons in the modern warfare. Comparatively, the use of nuclear weapons is deemed to impose brutal and more destructive effects in nature than any other war weaponries used throughout the centuries. Periodic historical observations have consequently set out clear reflections regarding the most controversial and consequential war decisions taken in the modern warfare, indicative to the use of atomic nuclear weapon on the two major Japanese cities - Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the year 1945. From the worldview, the nuclear weapons dropped by the American Air Force Bombers on respectively 6th and 9th August 1945 had been considered as the most destructive and consequential events in the modern warfare history2. With an in-depth understanding about the adverse and most devastative effects of nuclear weapon, the primary aim of this essay is to deliver a clear reflection on the short and long-term impacts of nuclear bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In this regard, the primary research question of this study has been formulated as - â€Å"What were the grounds that caused nuclear attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 and what were the consequences witnessed thereafter?† In order to address the aims determined for the study based on the key question, the discussion of the essay tends to comply with a set of relevant study objectives. The key objectives designed for this essay has been demonstrated as follows. To explain the arguments and give overall description whether the use of such destructive weapons have positive or negative effects after evaluating the consequences caused by the nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Deterrence of nuclear weapon has been widely witnessed by the world in context to the