The Effects Of Technology On Childhood Obesity - 983 Words

The effects technology has on childhood obesity Twenty five percent of children in the US are overweight and a shocking eleven percent of them are obese (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh and Merchant). Child hood obesity is a forerunner to one of the United States greatest public health crisis. The growth of technology has had a major impact on childhood obesity. Obesity is a widespread epidemic and is getting incredibly worse as technology increases. The use of technology relates directly with childhood obesity because it has been proven that technology has made children live more sedentary lifestyles versus active lifestyles. Also, television commercials influence children to increase their food intake as well as advertise foods extremely high in sugar and fat. Childhood obesity is mainly caused because of personal lifestyle choices and environmental factors, such as where the child is living. (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh and Merchant). In this paper I will address why technology has a direct cor relation with the soaring childhood obesity rate in our society. In the fast past sedentary lifestyles we live today make technology such an efficient way to get things done. Although technology has it perks and has made a remarkable contribution to our society, it is often overlooked that it is negatively affecting our health. For parents, it seems easiest to just give your child a phone or computer to play on to keep them occupied. What parents aren’t realizing by doing so is that that is aShow MoreRelatedWhy has Childhood Obesity Become a Paramount Problem in the United States?1609 Words   |  7 Pages According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, â€Å"Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years,† (â€Å"Childhood Obesity Facts†). The monumental question that researchers seem to be asking is why the increase now? Childhood obesity has become a paramount problem in the United States in recent years due to various social, biological and technological factors that ultimately requires immediate assistance in order to promote a healthierRead MoreChildhood Obesity : An Epidemic1036 Words   |  5 PagesRainsu Kumbhani All About Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is an epidemic in U.S. In the year of 2012, about â€Å"one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.† Also, percentages of childhood obesity have increased by over ten percent in the last thirty years in children and adolescents (Childhood Obesity Facts 2015). These statistics are shocking, and many people are concerned for the health of their children. This medical condition, as defined by Mayo Clinic, leads to seriousRead MoreObesity The Problem Of Children!. Are You Aware Of1662 Words   |  7 Pages Obesity the problem of children! Are you aware of that over million American children are struggling with obesity? Obesity is a serious medical and psychological condition that affects children, adult, and elderly people. According to WHO, People who are above the normal weight for their age and height are called obese. Being overweight an early age has been global problematic. As Cause, high number of obesity results from an abnormal intake of unhealthy food and drink and also unable toRead MoreCauses of Childhood Obesity630 Words   |  3 Pageshowever, can be a problem to many children. This is referred to as obesity, when it occurs among children between ages 2 and 8 it is called childhood referred. Childhood obesity has been on the rise for the past few decades and it is making the lives of children shorter. Childhood obesity can be the outcome of many influences. Economic factors, an unmonitored environment, and lack of activity, are some effects of childhood obesity. To start with, the first and major reason causing children to beRead MoreChildhood Obesity : A Epidemic Of Today s Youth1108 Words   |  5 PagesChildhood Obesity Have you ever been told to clean your plate because there are starving kids in Africa? This is a phrase you probably heard from your mother during childhood. With the difference ,in portion control, on the go meals, and lack of exercise in today,s youth, this question can cause a child to be a statistic of childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is one of the United States most leading medical epidemic of today’s youth. According to the Center for Disease Control, seventeen percentRead MoreVideo Mediums and Childhood Obesity971 Words   |  4 PagesVideo Mediums and Childhood Obesity Childhood Obesity has now reached a critical level. The main reason for the growing number of obese children is inactivity. With obesity in children being related to many health issues, it is important that we not only stop the rise in childhood obesity, but reverse it. With their health at risk, it is imperative that we assure our children are in good physical shape and at healthy weight levels. The stakes are quite high, according to the U.S. DepartmentRead MoreTechnology Is Making The Citizens Of The World1336 Words   |  6 PagesObesity has dramatically increased due to the progression of technology in the form of currency, entertainment, and the prosperity of our country causing humans to gain weight. As one goes through his or her life they constantly see people with their faces lodged into the screen of the technology they are using. They seem to be lost and oblivious to the outside world. The technology created seems to have a positive effect upon the lives of peo ple around the world, however these false visions overlookRead MoreMedia Influences on Childhood Obesity 1272 Words   |  6 Pagesbest pieces of technology in our world. Since then my brother’s free time outside running around has decreased drastically. His eyes and hands are glued to his IPhone 4s. Finding him playing basketball or throwing a football around in my yard when I go home on the weekends has become less and less. This is just one of thousands of children whose physical activity has suffered due to technology. Today our society has created the perception to children that without the latest technology they are notRead MoreThe Path to Success in Childhood Obesity Essay example679 Words   |  3 PagesThe current success of fad diets is most likely overestimated (Bombak, 2014). Most weight loss is attributed to the compound effects of both diet and exercise, but once the pattern is ceased most actually regains the weight that was lost. It is also determined that extreme weight loss is actually harmful. This rapid loss in weight causes the body to increase stress hormones, releases organic pollutants, and increases one risk of osteoporosis due to excess consumption of calcium from the bonesRead MoreThe Effects Of Advertising On Childhood Obesity Essay1042 Words   |  5 Pagesgrowing technology, has moved on to things such as radio, television and the internet. In this day and age, advertisement techniques can be considered almost predatory in nature targeting people who are interested in new forms of technology, gaming, clothing and even food. It has become easier for a products influence to make its way into people s homes. Even though television advertisements can be incredibly powerful tools, they cannot be held entirely accountable for childhood obesity because

Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 23 Free Essays

I couldn’t stay in my bedroom after that, not after seeing two angels die – one physically and one spiritually. I had to get out of there, out of the apartment. None of the others seemed to notice or care that I fled. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 23 or any similar topic only for you Order Now With Nyx captured, there were bigger things to worry about in the universe than one distraught succubus. I’d been driving in the car for about ten minutes before I realized where I was going. Dante’s. Vincent’s talk about the evil charm suddenly seemed unimportant. What I needed right now was to talk to someone about what I’d seen. Seth wouldn’t entirely understand, and besides, matters still weren’t fixed between us. Discussing serious things with the vampires was hard for me sometimes. I was still mad at Hugh. I wouldn’t bother Erik since he was still recovering. Dante was all I had left. He opened the door to his store after I banged on it for about five minutes. The messy hair and wrinkled clothing showed me that I’d woken him again. He looked annoyed, as usual, when I walked inside. â€Å"Didn’t it work? I told you – † He took a closer look at me. â€Å"What happened?† I staggered to one of the chairs and collapsed into it, hands resting on the side of my forehead. I could have been a mirror of Yasmine. I opened my mouth to speak, to explain what had happened†¦but no words came out. He knelt beside me. â€Å"Succubus. You’re freaking me out here. What happened?† I stared blankly at him for several seconds before finally focusing on his concerned face. â€Å"She fell.† â€Å"Huh? Nyx?† â€Å"No†¦Yasmine.† â€Å"Who?† My eyes went unfocused again as I remembered that black flame. The horrible sound. Blinking, I tried to shake it off and turn my attention to Dante. â€Å"She’s an angel. Was an angel. Maybe she still is. I don’t know. Fuck, I don’t know. I don’t know what she is.† He reached out and gripped my arms, shaking me slightly to get my attention again. â€Å"Look, you’re losing me. I don’t know how an angel falling ties into Nyx. If it ties into Nyx. You’ve gotta calm down and start from the beginning. Take a deep breath.† I did. â€Å"Now another.† I did. â€Å"Now talk.† I did. It was hard at first, and I had a few false starts. Finally, however, I was able to back up and explain the cast of angels to Dante. The story slowly spilled from my lips, and I told him all about what had happened: Nyx’s capture, Joel’s death, and Yasmine’s fall. He kept his hands on my arms when I finished, and I later realized it was to steady me. I was shaking. Several quiet minutes passed as we sat there. He exhaled at last and shook his head. â€Å"Fuck, succubus. That’s a lot for one night. Even for you.† He touched my chin with his hand and tilted my face up. â€Å"But you know angels fall. You know they still fall. All the time.† â€Å"But I’ve never seen it,† I whispered. â€Å"In all this time†¦ I’ve never known anyone who was an angel and then became a demon. All the demons I know†¦well, they’ve always been demons. I never saw them when they were angels.† â€Å"First time for everything.† I met his eyes. â€Å"But I liked her.† I expected some comment like, â€Å"Bad things happen to good people.† Instead, he just shook his head. â€Å"I’m sorry.† I swallowed back tears – I’d already cried enough tonight – and leaned forward, resting my head against his chest, just as I had the other night. He ran a hand down my hair and rocked me. â€Å"What hope is there?† I asked. â€Å"If even angels fall, what hope is there for the rest of us?† â€Å"There isn’t,† he said. â€Å"We’re on our own. And we have to make the choices we think are best for our own survival. If your angel friend had been thinking like that, she wouldn’t have fallen.† â€Å"But that’s the thing†¦angels don’t think about themselves, right? They’re selfless.† â€Å"Maybe,† he said doubtfully. â€Å"She let things get that far with the nephilim†¦that wasn’t really selfless. Now they’re both fucked, and we’ve got another member in the club.† â€Å"What club?† â€Å"The club. Our club. The one for people who make one mistake and are punished forever because of it.† He paused. â€Å"It’s a pretty big club.† I gently pulled out of the embrace. â€Å"What did you do?† â€Å"Hmm?† â€Å"Your one mistake. Vincent found the charm†¦he said it was horrible. Black magic. He said you had to have done something really bad to make it.† Dante’s eyes were sad as he regarded me. â€Å"You really want to know?† I nodded. â€Å"No. You don’t. Right now, for the first time, you’re talking to me like maybe I’m not the biggest asshole on earth. I tell you the truth†¦and you’ll lose all respect for me.† â€Å"I won’t. I’ll respect you more.† He rolled his eyes. â€Å"People always say noble things in hypothetical situations. ‘I’d never cheat on my spouse.’ ‘I’d return the million dollars that I found on the street.’ It’s bullshit.† â€Å"It’s not,† I argued. â€Å"I respect the truth.† â€Å"But you won’t like it. Why do you think I didn’t kiss you that day outside Erik’s? I joke about wanting to sleep with you – hell, I do want to sleep with you – but if we’d done it, you’d have felt how little energy I really have.† â€Å"I buy the low energy thing, but I still want to know the story behind it.† His eyes narrowed in frustration. â€Å"Look, succubus. I don’t even think I could tell the story if I wanted to. It’s too hard.† His comment about kissing suddenly inspired me. â€Å"Can you show me?† â€Å"What?† I moved toward him. â€Å"Kiss me. I can hardly get any energy from you, but if you open yourself to the memory, I should be able to feel pieces of it.† I hoped that was true, at least. While my lovers’ thoughts and feelings came through to me during sex, it wasn’t exactly a system we could control. I couldn’t summon up specific things. Usually what I felt was whatever the guy was thinking about just then. More often than not, it was amazement or perhaps a guilty conscience over the lover he was cheating on. But maybe†¦maybe if Dante was specifically thinking of whatever he had done, it would come through. It was worth a shot. I leaned closer to him. He didn’t move, so I went in all the way and kissed him. Initially, it was just a kiss – all physical. Gradually, I started to get a bit of his life force – but it was just like he’d said. His soul was too dark. The life energy that flowed into me was barely a trickle. It was only a few drops, like a leaking faucet. Then†¦once I’d assessed the energy, I felt something else. I felt his soul – felt why it was so black, so devoid of the shining life most humans had. That blackness began pouring into me, that sickening and oozing evil†¦and there, behind it, was despair and anger and hopelessness and frustration. It was nauseating. Blackness and blood. I wanted to pull away, but I had to see what he was hiding. The memory came through to me in disjointed images, but I was able to piece them together and form a narrative. I saw a sister. Older than him by ten years. She’d taken care of him throughout his childhood – both in a motherly way and as an instructor. She was a psychic too. She’d taught him how to harness his power, to tap the magic of the world that was unseen to most humans. She had been powerful, but he was even stronger. It hadn’t been enough, though. He’d wanted more than to simply control his power – he’d wanted to enhance it. But as Hugh and Vincent had told me, few humans were born with the magnitude of power that he’d craved. So, he’d taken it. Ripped it out. From her. I saw his face when he killed her, felt his pain as the dagger touched her throat. She was half-mother and half-sister to him, but he stole her life anyway. And with that act, his power had grown by magnitudes – both because he’d gained hers and because of the spell involved. The blood of the innocent always brings power, and the black magic intertwined in this death brought it in spades. It had left him feeling like a god. And wishing he were dead. He’d damned himself. He still loved the power, still loved wielding it†¦but after killing his sister, he’d hated himself. He’d withdrawn from the world, trying to bury his memories in drugs and alcohol, only occasionally using his powers for small, nickel-and-dime con jobs. I broke the kiss, not wanting to see or feel anymore. If we went further, I’d probably see what he had to do to make the charm. It wouldn’t be as bad as what he’d done to his sister, but I was through with all this. Wide-eyed, I scooted away from him on the floor. â€Å"She was Erik’s lover,† I said softly. I’d had a brief glimpse of Tanya – that was her name – and Erik together. â€Å"She was the woman in the picture. That’s why he hates you.† Dante nodded. â€Å"The three of us†¦we were going to do great things. We were all so fucking talented, you know?† He rested a hand on his head, eyes full of grief. â€Å"Unsurprisingly, Erik chose to end our friendship after this. He wanted to kill me†¦he should have. He really should have. But, well. He’s not that kind of guy.† â€Å"No,† I agreed, voice cold. â€Å"He’s not.† I stood up and backed away from Dante, who was still sitting on the floor. He looked up and realized what I was doing. The miserable face turned angry. â€Å"Leaving so soon?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Well. Thanks for stopping by. And thanks for proving me right.† â€Å"About†¦?† He threw his hands in the air. â€Å"This. I told you you’d hate me.† â€Å"I don’t – † I stopped. I did hate him. I couldn’t help it, not after seeing how much he and his sister had loved each other. Not after realizing how much this must have hurt Erik. â€Å"Dante†¦what you did†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Was a mistake. One I would take back if I could. One mistake to damn me forever. Just like your angel friend. Just like you.† â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"It’s not the same. Yasmine fell because of love.† â€Å"She fell because of selfishness,† he argued. â€Å"But I won’t challenge that point. Tell me about you. Did you fall because of love?† I didn’t say anything. I’d fallen because of lust. I’d cheated on my husband because I was hurt and lonely and bored and†¦well, because I could. Dante regarded me sharply. â€Å"You see? I get it. You fucked up too. I understand you – you’re not going to find too many people who do. I bet your boyfriend doesn’t.† â€Å"He accepts me.† â€Å"But does he understand? Have you ever told him in painstaking detail what you did?† â€Å"No, but it doesn’t matter.† Dante stood up and approached me. â€Å"It does matter! Being with him is a joke. It can’t work. I’m not saying you have some great romantic future with me either, but at the very least, you should stick with people who know where you’ve come from.† â€Å"Right. Hanging out with you means I’d just drink and hate life.† â€Å"Your point?† â€Å"Seth makes me hope for better things. Makes me want to be better.† â€Å"But there’s no point!† exclaimed Dante. â€Å"Why don’t you get that? Things can’t change for you. Even your own fucking palms say so.† â€Å"No†¦Nyx said†¦Nyx said the dream could come true. The man in the dream – â€Å" † – was her scamming you. You would have fallen for it, too, if your angel hadn’t fallen first.† I clenched my teeth. â€Å"Her dreams are true. Seth and I – â€Å" † – are going to get married? Run off into the sunset? Have babies? Succubus! Wake up!† Dante was shouting, his face inches from mine. â€Å"It can’t happen. Not for you. Maybe it can for him – but not with you. Every day you spend with him just ensures his life is going to be as empty and meaningless as yours.† â€Å"That’s not true!† I screamed. â€Å"We’re happy. We’re going to be happy together, and I don’t care if you don’t believe me. I’m never going to see or speak to you again. I know why Erik hates you, and I hate you too.† I kicked the door open. â€Å"You deserve to burn in Hell.† I left him, but I still couldn’t make myself go home. With nothing else to do, I simply found a twenty-four-hour diner and drank coffee, pointedly ignoring anyone who talked to me. I watched the sun come up over the Olympic Mountains and finally went to work when the bookstore opened. I helped out with the last-minute Christmas rush, doing mindless and mechanical tasks. We were closing early that day, and everyone was finishing up their shopping. It was hectic and crazy, but it gave my zombie-like body something to do. When we closed, it was nearly time for me to take Maddie to the airport. She needed a few more Christmas purchases herself and asked if I’d swing downtown with her. After witnessing the death of an angel, shopping seemed like the most trivial thing in the world. Still†¦I had nothing else to do, so I agreed. I probably would have agreed to anything. Downtown Seattle was decked out in its Christmas finery, with lights and wreaths strung along the shopping nexus that centered around Fourth Avenue. At four in the afternoon, it was already dark outside. Rain pounded down on the pavement, the kind of torrential downpour most people believed we had year-round. Really, it only rained in the winter, and that was usually a drizzly type. This heavy stuff was a rare event, as though perhaps the heavens mourned Joel’s passing. Through a window, I watched the rain and pedestrians fighting with umbrellas while Maddie searched in Banana Republic for something for her sister. I’d half-heartedly looked for a present for Seth, but my motivation eventually faded, and anyway, there was no way to compete with the ring. I still wore it around my neck. It felt heavy today. Along with my grief over what had happened to Yasmine, I still kept thinking about Nyx. In particular, I kept thinking about what she’d said to me. The man in the dream. Who was the man in the dream? The question consumed me, as futile as it was. I kept repeating Dante’s words, trying to tell myself it didn’t matter – that the whole thing had been a hoax. But that dark silhouette still haunted my mind’s eye, and some part of me believed that if I knew his identity, then maybe it could all be real. â€Å"Georgina?† I turned from the rainy street and saw Vincent standing in front of me. Beyond him, a preoccupied Maddie flipped through a rack of cardigans. I’d thought he looked grief-stricken in my apartment, but that was nothing compared to what I saw now. His face was pinched and pale. His eyes were glassy and red, but whether from crying or lack of sleep, I couldn’t say. Probably both. He handed me my apartment key. â€Å"Just wanted to give this back.† I took it. â€Å"You didn’t need to find me for that. You could have left it.† â€Å"Yeah.† He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground. â€Å"I guess I just†¦wanted to talk to someone.† â€Å"Have you, um, seen Yasmine?† He shook his head. â€Å"Nope. I don’t know what happened to her. I mean, I know†¦she’s off somewhere in Hell. Maybe they have orientation or something. I don’t know. Whatever it is, it must be awful. And it’s my fault.† â€Å"It’s not,† I said automatically. â€Å"It was her choice.† â€Å"She did it for me, though.† â€Å"It doesn’t matter why. The point is that she did it willingly. It isn’t your place to question the decisions she makes.† As the words left my mouth, I had a total holy shit moment. I was saying exactly what everyone had been telling me about Seth. I was saying exactly what Seth himself had been telling me for so long. â€Å"I guess. I don’t know.† He sighed. â€Å"It’s so fucking stupid too. All these years, we’ve been so cautious to stay at arm’s length, so she wouldn’t fall. We were so good – holding back from what we wanted. And then, we get the same results from a stupid moment of confusion and passion. It just happened so fast, you know? I acted to protect her, she acted to protect me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He trailed off and looked as though he might weep. I kind of felt like that myself. It’s a pretty big club, Dante had said. â€Å"But†¦if she’s already fallen†¦well. Maybe you guys can be together now.† Vincent shook his head and gave me a small smile that made him look sadder than when he hadn’t been smiling. â€Å"I don’t know. I don’t even know if she’ll meet with me now. Something tells me she won’t want me to see her like that.† â€Å"And how do you feel?† â€Å"I love her unconditionally†¦or, well, at least†¦I loved Yasmine the angel unconditionally. She’s not that woman anymore. I mean, she may hate what’s happened†¦she may be miserable. But eventually, she’ll settle in. They always do. And then she’ll be one of them. She won’t be the same Yasmine, and I don’t know if I can love her or if she can love me. Part of what made her such a great person was that she resisted that temptation†¦and I think she felt the same about me.† I forgot Vincent for a moment as my attention turned inward, toward my own situation. Again, it was like Seth and me, I realized. The continual tension in our arrangement was a pain, yet the morals it was based on were part of what attracted us. He might have said he was okay with us not having sex, but I think some part of him loved me because of my continual refusal to give in to that. Likewise, I loved his stead-fastness – not only in abstaining from me but from other lovers as well. It was part of what had made the fight so shocking. I didn’t expect him to be weak. And yet†¦even if we admired each other for our principles, was it worth it? And had that really been weakness on his part? Vincent and Yasmine had been together much longer than Seth and I had, torturing themselves in the same way. In the end, it had done them no good. Things had unfolded as they had. â€Å"Star-crossed love isn’t as glamorous as it seems,† Vincent said, perhaps guessing my thoughts. â€Å"I never believed it was.† â€Å"Sometimes I think†¦well, maybe it would have been better if she and I had never been together at all. These years have been wonderful†¦but well, she’d still be the woman I loved if I’d never gotten involved.† I didn’t know about that. Surely, brief moments of joy were worth the pain that might follow? Wasn’t that why I was with Seth, despite knowing he’d eventually die? Maybe Seth had been right about taking chances. Life was short. Maybe you needed to seize what good you could. It was all so confusing, and all of a sudden, I wanted to talk to Seth about all of this – about living life and taking risks, about what made us love one another, and about what made our relationship worth fighting for. I didn’t want to make the mistakes Yasmine and Vincent had. Seth and I needed to sit down with open minds and make this thing with us work. â€Å"What are you going to do now?† I asked Vincent. I didn’t think now was the best time to argue relationship philosophy with him. He gestured vaguely behind him. â€Å"Leave town. Even being masked, I know they’re looking for me. I need to hide out somewhere.† I nodded. I was sad to see him go, but I knew what the other angels and demons would do if they found him. So, I wished him well and shared a brief hug before he departed. As I watched him leave, I again pondered the cautionary tale he represented. Growing anxious, I hoped this airport trip would go quickly so that I could call Seth. Wandering to the other side of the store, I found Maddie paying for her purchases. â€Å"Who was that guy?† she asked me, handing over her credit card. â€Å"He was cute. Bedraggled†¦but cute.† â€Å"He’s had a long day,† I told her. And a long eternity to go. â€Å"He’s just a friend.† â€Å"Is he single?† I thought about it. â€Å"Yeah, I guess he is.† While I waited for her, I looked over at a nearby mirror. Maddie was still going strong with her new cute and stylish self. She’d gotten a haircut too, the layering of which made her face appear delicate and lovely. The slacks and sweater, though simple, looked sleek and elegant on her. By contrast, I looked kind of like the ugly stepsister. Oh, I still had the nice figure and pretty face born of shape-shifting, but I’d thrown on jeans and an old coat, not really concerned with high fashion today. I also hadn’t bothered to shape-shift my hair. I’d simply brushed it into a high ponytail. Most telling of all was my face. I wore as much grief as Vincent. There was a hollowness to my eyes that startled me. It counteracted all the other beauty of my features. Glancing back at Maddie, I realized she was the hot one today. When we finally hit the road to the airport, traffic was as horrible as I’d expected. I-5 was at a standstill, and with my luck lately, there was probably an accident up ahead to compound the rush hour and holiday mess. Sighing, I settled back into my seat. â€Å"Okay,† I told Maddie, desperately needing distraction. â€Å"What’s the report? What adventurous things have you done? I’m pretty sure you’ve more than met your quota.† â€Å"Well,† she began. â€Å"There’s the new clothes, of course. You’ve seen a lot of them, and I own more lingerie than I ever have in my life. I was always kind of afraid of it, but there’s so much cute stuff out there, you know?† â€Å"Yup. I sure do.† â€Å"I got a bunch of high heels too. I’m still kind of learning to walk in them, but I’m doing okay, I think.† She groaned and looked like the snarky feminist writer she was. â€Å"I feel like†¦well, like a girl.† I smiled and looked at the cars ahead of me. All the variables were in place for an accident, so I had to be careful. In this kind of stop and go, people tended to cease paying attention and fall into a lull. That was how cars got rear-ended. It was also an oddity that Seattle drivers had trouble driving in the rain. â€Å"You seemed fine in the heels to me. What else have you done? Other than shopping?† â€Å"I signed up for a judo class.† â€Å"You did not.† â€Å"I so did,† she said, laughing. â€Å"It was the craziest class I could think of. Besides, I can finally get back at Doug after all those years he used to pull my hair.† â€Å"Well-deserved,† I said. I moved over to the farthest lane, with the futile hope that it might move a fraction faster. â€Å"Anything else?† â€Å"Mmm†¦well. I started looking for my own place.† â€Å"That’s a good idea.† â€Å"And checking out flights to some places I’ve always wanted to see.† â€Å"Another good idea.† â€Å"And I slept with Seth.† I nearly drove into the median. â€Å"What?† I said, jerking the wheel back to my own lane. Maddie had her hands stretched out protectively. â€Å"Did you say Seth?† â€Å"Yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Seth Mortensen?† She sounded incredulous. â€Å"Of course. Who else?† It was one of those things that was so ludicrous, I couldn’t even fully react. It was like saying, â€Å"Hey, did you notice the earth just exploded?† It wasn’t real because all the rest of the data in your known world said it was impossible. My brain wasn’t going to bother processing it yet. Wasted cells. â€Å"How†¦I mean, what†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I shook my head. â€Å"Explain.† I could see by her face that she was dying to. This was what had been bursting in her in my office yesterday. â€Å"Well, two nights ago, I ran back to the bookstore after closing because I’d left something. I saw Seth out in the parking lot. He’d been out somewhere and was coming back to get his car.† â€Å"Somewhere† was my apartment. That had been the night of the fight. â€Å"Anyway,† she continued. â€Å"He looked kind of down, and I remembered what you’d said about taking risks. Plus, he still owed me the date, right? So, I asked him out for a drink, and he said sure.† I tried not to drive into the median again. â€Å"He didn’t drink, did he?† â€Å"No, not alcohol. But we stayed out really late, and we had a great time. You can’t even imagine how great he is to talk to. He comes across as shy, but once you get to know him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She sighed happily. â€Å"He thinks like I do too†¦wants to do all sorts of things, go places†¦Anyway, the place finally closed, and he asked if I wanted to go hang out at his place for a while.† I couldn’t even look at her now. â€Å"Seth†¦asked you back to his place?† â€Å"Well, if we went back to mine, we’d have to hang out with Doug, and we just wanted to talk more. And we did†¦except, well, after a while†¦we stopped talking. And one thing kind of led to another.† She exhaled, like she still couldn’t believe it herself. â€Å"I never do things like that. Not so soon. But, well, he’s a nice guy, you know? And I wanted to do something adventurous†¦Ã¢â‚¬  No, no, no. This really wasn’t happening. This was a dream. This was Nyx getting back at me for not helping her. She was sending me a nightmare, one I hoped I’d wake up from soon. I didn’t realize how long I’d been quiet until Maddie hesitantly asked, â€Å"Georgina? You still with me? You don’t think†¦you don’t think I was too easy, do you?† There was fear in her voice, fear of my disappointment and disapproval. â€Å"Huh? No†¦no†¦of course not.† I took a deep breath. â€Å"So, um, it was good?† â€Å"Oh, yeah!† She gave a nervous giggle. â€Å"I can’t believe I’m even talking about this. But, yeah, Seth’s a great lover. He’s really attentive.† â€Å"Yeah, I imagine he would be.† â€Å"God, I can’t believe this happened.† That made two of us. â€Å"What’s going to happen now? Was it†¦a fling?† After all, what else could it be? Seth was with me, right? I had no reason to be upset. I’d given him the go-ahead to get sex elsewhere. In fact†¦I had told him to that night. If he wanted to sleep with her, that was fine. But obviously, it meant nothing. It had to be a fling, right? Right? â€Å"I don’t know,† she admitted. â€Å"I hope not. I really like him†¦and it was so great. I feel like we really connected†¦like the auction hadn’t just been because he felt sorry for me. He said he would call and we’d go out again sometime.† Once more, she turned timid and unsure. â€Å"You don’t think†¦you don’t think he’s the kind of guy who’d just say something like that and not mean it, do you?† She was the Maddie I’d known before, the one who looked up to me and wanted my guidance. The one who didn’t trust men. I stared ahead and decided maybe the heavens were weeping for me now. After several moments, I finally said, â€Å"No, Maddie. If he says he wants to go out, he means it. That’s the kind of guy he is.† How to cite Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 23, Essay examples

Analysis Oraganization Structure And Nature Of Business - Free Sample

Question-Choose any one of the CHINESE MNCs and analyse its organizational structure and nature of business operation. Are there any lessons to be learned from Chinese MNC business experience? INTRODUCTION China continues to be the worlds most emerging top most multinationals that seek to set up the existence and expand their footstep in the 2nd largest economy of the world (aicpa.org 2008). The Chinese multinationals play a key role. In any case China has advanced rapidly, as have Chinese homegrown businesses. It is an aggressive environment and Chinese household players are currently raising the stakes, with worldwide yearnings for their own particular brands. Since China opened its ways to the West 30years back, there has been a sensational change in China's financial fortune. The advancement of Chinese organizations from shut entryway seclusion to internationalization, and even worldwide mix for a few, has been emotional and quick. As these firms developed, there have been real shifts in talent management, human resources, technology management and also corporate strategy which are giving a competitive edge to the Chinese firms. European and American have started to fear and notice the shifts that the Chinese MNCs are taking (kpmg.com 2013). Does The Intricacy of The Topic Intimidate You? Tame Your Fear with Unmatched Assignment Help Services from Professional Writers. This essay will examine the key success factors of the Lenovo, the Chinas leading computer technology organization. The essay focuses on discussing the strategies that had made Lenovo successfully globalized. The essay describes the evolution of the company, the structure of the organization and also the drivers that has lead the organization to head towards the success. OVERVIEW OF LENOVO Lenovo is one of the biggest well known PC creators on the planet. Today, Lenovo strives to be the worldwide piece of the overall industry pioneer in each of the business they serve. On September 24, in 2004, Lenovo obtained the individual machine business and the brand "Thinkpad" popular machine IBM in the IT business everywhere throughout the world. This historic point transaction is taken as its most paramount phase of the worldwide procedure in the machine business (lenovo.com 2012). This marks the trinity Lenovo's internationalization system has climbed to another stage, which shows that Lenovo officially in the United States built a brand-name picture confinement. Presently, the Lenovo has turned into the worldwide application organization (deals) that have their bundle plants in additional than 7 nations and collaboration plants in numerous nations and make the neighborhood ventures business permit and circulation contract. Lenovo is likewise one of the major worldwide organiz ations (deals), and it has it generation plants in 7 nations, its items are showcasing in about 160 nations (China Hands 2014). ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE Headquarter of Lenovo is located in Hong Kong. It has around 66 branches with sales and distribution in around 50 different countries. The organization has research centers in Japan, China, Yamato, Beijing and Shanghai. Lenovo operates assembly and manufacturing facilities in Mexico, India, US and China. The founder of the organization is Liu Chuanzhi who has transformed the overall organization. Under his leadership, the organization had set up an incentive mechanism and option plan that has helped many people go aboard in their initial position of leadership itself. Presently the organization is run under the leadership of Yang Yuanqing who is the present CEO of the organization. Under his leadership the organization continues to have a robust business impetus, profitability in their earnings and also delivering trace revenue. To maintain this momentum, there are other leadership positions like CFO, CTO, COO and other positions based on the different functions of the organization w ho support the CEO to make Lenovo more profitable and the global player in the computer technology market (Lenovo.com 2014). STRATEGIES TO SUSTAIN IN COMPETITIVENESS To sustain in this competitive world, the organization has developed four different business groups in the year 2014; Cloud and Ecosystem Services that is led by George He, who is the CTO of the organization his main responsibility is to build up an ecosystem that drives the strategy for expanding the ecosystem and also for monetization. Next is the Enterprise that is led by Gerry Smith. The main aim is to forcefully fabricate another, quickly developing benefit motor in big business, where we as of now have a strong establishment. Another one is the Mobile Business Group led by Liu Jun. This business group is centered on making Lenovo a productive worldwide player in the quickly developing cell phone and tablet and creating our brilliant TV business. Lastly is the PC Business Group led by Gianfranco Lanci. This business group will guarantee that the organization keep on innovating, drive benefits and stretch our lead in our center PC business around the world (News.lenovo.com 2014). Lenovo has three different products in the international market that occupies the first three positions in the industry of computers. The main aim of the organization is to become the first manufacturer of personal computer in the world in the upcoming future. The PC shipment of Lenovo rose by 21%. In China the organization accounts for 46% in its overall revenue (Luk 2014). Lenovo has turned into a ""wonder"" in the Chinese data engineering (IT) industry today due to its interesting managerial methodology and individuals first system. Lenovo Group consumes ''making room to create representatives, updating their quality, and enhancing their working and living quality'' as its mission; thusly workers subordinate their individual interest to Lenovo's long haul improvement. Today, Lenovo is China's biggest and the world's fourth-biggest PC maker, after Acer of Taiwan, Dell of the U.S. and HewlettPackard Co. Lenovo has centered its degree, and as of now produces desktop and note pad PCs, workstations, servers, stockpiling drives, IT administrations and IT administration programming (Fletcher 2014). BUSINESS PROCESS OF LENOVO The business operation of Lenovo, mainly focuses on the developing an efficient marketing activities that help the organization to have a competitive edge in this competitive environment. Lenovo focuses on three factors before choosing their target market: Created rustic market, those customers have solid brand mindfulness. This swarm has structured piece of buying power, Moreover, Lenovo early did the demonstration of the "free movies for countryside" to create the provincial market, the exercises have brought the brand affect, so picking this some piece of the swarm as the target customer bunch, obviously can rapidly enter the country market; Urban communities customers who have the abnormal state of training, higher on affirmation, and are matured underneath 45. Lenovo called this swarm high-end crowd, the swarm is helpful for high-end items deals; Solid brand mindfulness, city customers who have progressed ideas. In the PC market, the effect of Lenovo brand is near preference, so picking such target customers can indulge the needs of such customers (Chu). Expanding upon its past triumphs and concentrating on conveying productive development, Lenovo is re-verbalized its responsibility to five vital pillars; Pursuing excellence in their operations, enhancing the intimacy of the customers, wining in the core businesses, gaining profitability and then building a strong brand(lenovo.com 2008). OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE Lenovo drives its operational efficiency by emphasizing on the main keys areas that help the organization to add efficiency to their process. First is to complete the footstep of global manufacturing expansion and then operates its expertise according to the customer base in different regions. Second Lenovo follows the Lean Six Sigma application in their supply chain process that helps them forecast their accuracy, the process of material management, transition process of the product and also the logistic networks (Ladd 2013). This makes sure that the business management is in place and helps every business process to invest in their core capabilities and also drives the organizational growth. CUSTOMER INTIMACY Lenovo delivers unique customer experience by offering innovative and distinct feature products. This deepens the loyalty of the customer. They also delight the customers experience by designing the high quality PCs and also backing up with the best quality service. In China, Lenovo is additionally well-known for its quality administrations also has won eight recompenses from CCID Consulting for customer fulfillment in the administration and backing nature. To measure and enhance customer fulfillment, Lenovo started the Lenovo Customer Support Review in the 2007/08 financial year as the metric in its administration framework. Lenovo has additionally outlined and actualized a set of markers that empower it to concentrate on customer particular execution and other more extensive zones to enhance general customer experience (lenovo.com 2007). WINNING PRIORITY Apart from delivering the best service, Lenovo also puts their effort in research and development which ensures that the organization understands the pain points of the customers and also makes sure that the product quality is retained as per the need of the customers. The customer service process of the business focuses on the ISO 9001 standard that helps the organization to retain the high quality of the products. Lenovo also has the best designing team that mainly focuses on designing and developing world-class products for the consumers in the market like ThinkPad X300, IdeaPad U110 etc. Thus the main priority of Lenovo to run the business is to augment and maintain the designing capability and also have an edge over its competitors(lenovo.com 2008) According to the business trend or the demand of the market, the organization has developed various strategies that have identified the demand of PC, servers and workstations. Other than further extending its authority position in PC market of China, Lenovo additionally recorded great development in its buyer business in ASEAN nations and India with viable showcasing strategies. In the meantime, Lenovo was in full quality to kick off its worldwide buyer business upon the creation of the purchaser specialty unit. In January 2008, Lenovo declared its official section into the worldwide shopper market with the dispatch of another line of buyer situated and IdeaCentre desktops and IdeaPad notebooks. Lenovo's demonstrated plan of action will empower it to catch the opportunities in the rising nations on the whole topographies. The take off of the transaction plan of action outside China has laid imperative preparation for Lenovo to further expansion in Mexico, India, Russia, Turkey, Brazi l and Middle East(lenovo.com 2008). PROFITABILITY Lenovo had shown a drastic growth every year. This they have done by strengthening their local market that is market position of China, product leadership, and also by accelerating their margin. Lenovo's China PC business and overall substantial undertaking business still speak to a vast parcel of its business and will keep on being basic in its future achievement, even as the Group makes headway with new market opportunities. In the 2008/09 monetary year, Lenovo arrangements to reinforce its position by concentrating on the fast growing record book showcase in China and drive market request by leveraging its remarkable showcasing open door at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Emulating smooth moves of worldwide deals backing and item brand name; Lenovo has assumed full liability of its huge undertaking business. It will expand on its qualities in different sections, for example, the open part, mid-market for development and in the meantime quicken client procurement. BUILDING BRAND A key vital activity for Lenovo is building a worldwide brand. In the 2007/08 monetary year, Lenovo had various victories in its showcasing and marking deliberations. The Bunch's sponsorships of the Olympic Games, the ATT Williams Formula One dashing group and the National B-ball Association (NBA), and also air terminal and train station publicizing, fabricated brand mindfulness and picture. Two significant item affirmations were additionally instrumental in building the Lenovo brand; the presentation of the ultra-slim Thinkpad X300 was emphasized on the spread of Business Week and the Ideapad U110 won three significant grants at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show. As an aftereffect of these deliberations, Lenovo's brand mindfulness has climbed 28, thought rate has gone up 15% and Lenovo's picture expanded 13% throughout the last 16 months (Calkins 2013). Lenovo's present key center is on developing markets, development in shopper markets, and extending its record book business, alongside preceded with advancement of peripherals and administrations. By 2007, Lenovo had rebuilt its worldwide production network and accomplished its objective of outpacing industry development around the world. Business was good to the point that the organization quit utilizing the IBM brand, to which it still held the rights, and started advertising just Lenovo machines. The strategy of Lenovo mainly focuses on two things one is the distribution channel and the other is manufacturing base. The PC strategy of Lenovo mainly emphasizes on localizing its products based on the needs of the consumers. There are various firms that brought customization in the PC processes but Lenovo focused on bringing in localized solutions to their potential end users related to internet connectivity and local software (Holstein 2014). CURRENT STRATEGY The present strategy of Lenovo mainly focused on strengthening the corporate business which helped the organization to gain and stabilize the brand recognition in the market of America. The organization faced loss in the year 2008-09 but it had not applied any new strategies to improve its condition instead it emphasized on strengthening its success areas. In the year 2011-2012, the organization had adopted attack/protect strategy to for expanding its business of PC in China and also increases its share with the workstations and servers. This strategy helped the organization to expand using the retail or SMB channels. Using this strategy the organization grew the presence of its mobile globally and drove the convergence with attractive apps, cloud services and also emerged in the emerging markets by 10% share through emphasis on consumers or SMB. In the year 2012-13, the organization decided to operate its business using the same strategy and supplementing the strategy with PC+ strat egy which means to expand its business focus from its key business areas to different technology areas like digital home and mobile internet(csis.org 2013). COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES The organization is performing very well in the market with continuous rise in the sales growth even though it has faced loss in the year 2008-09. International acquisition has become one of the most growing trends in the MNCs of China. This process is supported positively by the government of China. However this process sometimes creates cultural issues that end in business failure. Due to such disadvantages Lenovo emphasized on following conservative and cautious approach while absorbing the PC business of IBM. Other advantages like building a strong market base in China, its capability to enter the emerging market, cost-innovation strategy and its strong process in the mature markets and cost-innovative business strategy. There is negligible role of Government in the competitiveness of strategy of Lenovo. However the organization still enjoys positive treatment from the government of China due to their success stories in Chinese Market. Other advantage that the organization faced in the competitive market is their cost-innovative strategy. As per the opinion of Zeng and Williamson, the cost-innovation is referred to selling products with high technology at low-cost (Zeng and Williamson 2003). Lenovo emphasizes on RD and Low-cost design and manufacturing utilizing their contract and own manufacturers and also low-cost administration and engineering. The proximity and cost-innovation of Lenovo in manufacturing allowed the organization to emphasize on adaptive and incremental innovation. Adaptive and customization innovation goes well with the organization. When other organizations emphasized on developing the international market, Lenovo focused on their RD process on China (Biedeger 2005). This helped the organization to come up with new innovation according to the preferences of Chinese consumers. Another main advantage is the labor cost in China which includes both the designers and the RD engineers. As per the opinion of Yang Yuanqing, CEO of Lenovo, the labor cost is 2-3% of the overall business cot and the components of computer is 60-70% (Xing 2010). In the year 2010, the organization came up with new plans of building inland factors due to the rising labor costs in west China. The operation center of Lenovo in the Hi-tech zone of Chengdu developed jobs for around 1000 people in the South and Central Asia, Western China and also Europe (prg.asia 2010). LEARNINGS FROM CHINESE ORGANIZATION The production modularization has extraordinarily profited Chinese organizations. Being arranged in the heart of the worldwide processing plant permits the Chinese organizations to get to and produce parts at to a great degree high volumes furthermore takes into account customization at scale. For different organizations that likewise have predominant piece of the overall industry in China the consolidation of economies of scale in assembling and solid local deals brings about the establishment of the firm for assaulting the worldwide business (kpmg.com 2012). An acceptable procedure that adjusts conveying solid transient results with arriving at long haul targets: The Chinese MNCs keep on ensuring that their core business markets in China and worldwide business deals, while assaulting to receive better share in the developing markets, purchaser deals also portable web gadget deals. Surprisingly, Lenovo attacks business like developing markets, mobile and consumers markets conveyed about 50% of their aggregate income and these organizations likewise conveyed enhanced benefit in just about every section. This acceptable method drove solid execution around the world. Their dedication and interest in innovating different products: Lenovo's interests in advancements kept on paying off, both in PCs and in products of PC+. These advancements lead to separation that is grasped by clients. For illustration, Lenovo was the agreeable pioneer in characterizing the new "convertible" PC space. Items like Yoga showcased advancement in consolidating the best of PC what's more tablet structure variables to benefit from the dispatch of Windows 8. They likewise made another classification with their Horizon table PC. This not just caught consideration and numerous prestigious awards, however it exhibits the capacity to drive noteworthy advancement in PCs and make new markets where they can create development and make an authority position. A diverse and strong worldwide team that outfits the top abilities at both a global level and in key markets helps the Chinese MNCs guarantee that they have an agreeable, profound comprehension of the industry they are in and their clients. For Example, the worldwide local team of Lenovo group is united by the Lenovo Path towards their duty and proprietorship. This imparted set of qualities helps the organization to work with much more prominent velocity, making a reasonable preference. The productive, end-to-end model of Business: Lenovo has an exceptional, double plan of action, one that serves worldwide, extensive undertaking clients through our relationship model and little to-medium organizations and purchasers through our transaction model. This shows that the Chinese Organization are able to meet the needs of customers accentuating customization and premium quality in relationship, while conveying velocity, focused estimating and an offset of development and productivity in transactional business process. From the case of Lenovo described above showed had the it has bolstered it capabilities and credibility by acquisitions, it can also be stated that developing effective distribution strategies help the international vendors with low-cost assembly/manufacturing, sales and also have access to updated technologies that can meet the needs of the customers. With innovative international strategy using the localization process proved that the Chinese MNCs are can even develop strong brand recognition in the mature market. An alternate lesson that can be learnt is that the association can be inventive without leap forward advances; Lenovo does not rely on upon achievement innovations but instead on affectability to the right advances for the business sector. In spite of the fact that the Chinese organizations are frequently censured for being versatile instead of imaginative, this course has functioned admirably for the Lenovo. Versatile and Incremental advancement implies that Lenovo has not made the essential erroneous conclusion that development needs to mean expanded complexity. CONCLUSION In conclusion, it can said that the business environment of the Chinese companies have changed a lot. The use of local-knowledge for developing international strategies is helping the organizations to build up better brand awareness and also increase the loyalty base of the customers. The strong focus on the R D of the local market to meet the needs of the local people also makes the MNCs of Chine more creative and competitive. The support of government and also the tax authorities have given the organization to invest and develop their own technologies and also conduct better RD to preserve intangible assets and also line up with the needs of the Chinese customers. The report has analyzed the organization structure and business process of Lenovo to understand the Chinese MNCs strategies in the competitive market. It is observed that use of innovative and adaptive strategies makes the Chinese MNCs more competitive. Even the support from the government creates the companies stronger. It is found that Lenovo's constant exertions to improve scope of SMB also purchaser sections empowered it to further grow its lead in China. Through better utilization of its business administration framework for relationship business, the Group enhanced client account advancement and had the capacity extend its impart of the extensive undertaking section. REFERENCES aicpa.org,. 2008. 'Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World'. Biedeger, Jerry. 2005. 'Strategic Action At Lenovo'. Organizational Dynamics 34 (1): 93. Calkins, Jonathan. 2013. 'The Switch: Lenovo's Strategy For The PC-Plus Era'. CKGSB Knowledge. China Hands,. 2014. 'DonT Say YouRe A Chinese Company: How Lenovo Grew As A Global Brand'. Chu, Ying Chien. 'The Strategic Marketing Management Analysis Of Lenovo Group'. csis.org,. 2013. 'China's Competitiveness: Lenovo'. Fletcher, Owen. 2014. 'Lenovo: Lepad Tablet To Launch In U.S. Next Year'. WSJ. Holstein, William. 2014. 'Lenovo Goes Global'. Strategy+Business. kpmg.com,. 2012. 'The Future For Mncs In China A KPMG Study'. kpmg.com,. 2013. 'The Emergence Of Chinese Multinational Corporations (Mncs): Local And Global Implications'. Ladd, Brittain Cliff. 2013. 'Supply Chain Management And Lean Six Sigma In A Retail Environment'. lenovo.com,. 2012. 'Sustainability Report'. lenovo.com,. 2008. 'IDEAS EVERYWHERE Lenovo Group Limited Annual Report 2007/08'. lenovo.com,. 2007. 'Lenovo Sustainability Report 2007/08'. Lenovo.com,. 2014. 'About Lenovo - Philippines | Management'. Luk, Lorraine. 2014. 'Lenovo's Profit Rises 44%'. WSJ. News.lenovo.com,. 2014. 'Lenovo Newsroom | Lenovo Statement On January 2014 Reorganization'. prg.asia,. 2010. 'SEEKING TO BETTER SATISFY GROWING GLOBAL DEMAND, LENOVO TO OPEN OPERATIONS CENTER IN CHENGDU'. Xing, Wang. 2010. 'Labor Costs No Sweat For Lenovo'. Usa.Chinadaily.Com.Cn. Zeng, Ming, and Peter J Williamson. 2003. 'The Hidden Dragons'. Harvard Business Review 81 (10): 92--103.

There Are Many Perceptions As To How People View Slavery. When People

There are many perceptions as to how people view slavery. When people talk about slavery, the first thing that comes to their mind will be African American Slaves in the United States. They will also think of how they were brought to the United States against their own will and unequally exploited. However, according to Stephen F. Austin, during the eighteen-twenty's and thirty's Mexicans also had slaves. He compares American Slaves and Cruz Arocha as a Mexican Slave. Although there are many differences between Cruz Arocha and the American slaves, especially in the ways they are treated. First of all Americans brought their slaves to the United States chained up and against their own will. They would fit over one hundred of them in small rooms in ships for a trip across the Atlantic Ocean, with out giving them an adequate supply of food and water to live off of. According to the book, Out of Many second edition, they were stowed so close that they were not allowed one foot and a half in each breadth. Although most of the slaves died on the trip and were thrown over board, those that did survive were the best equipped for the harsh conditions awaiting them. The trip itself got rid of all the slaves that would not last long in harsh conditions. Those that survived were what the Americans needed. Upon arrival in the United States the slaves would se either sold or traded for goods, land or other slaves. They were always chained up when they were not working and when they were, there was always someone watching over them with a gun and a whip. Slaves who did not obey the ir masters were whipped. According to the book even the most broad-minded plantation owners of the eighteenth century thought nothing about floggings of fifty or seventy slashes. Mexicans viewed slavery as having people mistreated and never treated as equals. Not showing any type of moral value towards a real person. Mexicans on the other hand had what Stephen F. Austin called slaves helping them out in anything needed. Even though these so-called slaves were not chained up and whipped like American slaves, they were still slaves to Austin. This was because they were not paid for the job that they did and had no say so in family decisions. These so-called slaves were given, in return for their services good food and shelter. They could go mostly anywhere they wanted without someone always looking at what they were doing and threatening to whip or kill them. These so-called slaves were not brought to do what they did against their own will; it came to be because of some family problem. In most cases their families died out so they had no where else to go. So they went to another family who would help them out, and in return they would help that family with anything needed to be done around the place where they lived. So, when Stephen F. Austin saw how Cruz Arocha did everything around the hacienda for Juan Seguien he thought Arocha was a slave. So, Austin's and the American view of slavery and slaves were that anybody who was not paid for work and had no say so in family matters was slave. Stephen F. Austin is wrong in comparing Cruz Arocha to the American slaves. The only similarity the American slaves and Arocha is that they work for someone and they do not get paid for it. Arocha is never chained up and held against his own will like the American slaves. He is never treated like property and sold or traded to other people for goods like the American slaves were. He is not there because he is being forced to stay there but because it is necessity that keeps him there. Arocha does not hate Juan Seguien and his families like the American slaves hate the people that own them. Americans do not keep their morality and see slaves as animals and not as humans. They vied them as means as getting power, land and money. Mexicans never lost their morality and always treated their so-called slaves like people who actually had feelings. Slavery is

Of Marriage and Single Life, by Francis Bacon

Of Marriage and Single Life, by Francis Bacon The first master of the essay form in English, Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was confident that of all his works in The Essayes or Counsels, Civill and Morall (1625) would last as long as books last. One of the best-known essays from that enduring collection is Of Marriage and Single Life. In his analysis of the essay, contemporary rhetorician Richard Lanham describes Bacons style as clipped, curt, compressed, and pointed: No climax at the end; no sign the whole chain of reasoning had been thought out beforehand; somewhat abrupt transitions (Some there are, Nay, there are, Nay, more), several antithetical contrasts, the whole built on a single, pointed and condensed moral reflection. It is from this last characteristic that the name pointed style comes. The point is the condensed, pithy, often proverbial and always memorable statement of a general truth.​​(Analyzing Prose, 2nd ed. Continuum, 2003) You may find it worthwhile to compare Bacons aphoristic observations with the lengthier reflections in Joseph Addisons Defence and Happiness of Married Life. Of Marriage and Single Life   by Francis Bacon He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune, for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief. Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried or childless men, which both in affection and means have married and endowed the public. Yet it were great reason that those that have children should have greatest care of future times, unto which they know they must transmit their dearest pledges. Some there are who, though they lead a single life, yet their thoughts do end with themselves, and account future times impertinences. Nay, there are some others that account wife and children but as bills of charges. Nay more, there are some foolish, rich, covetous men, that take a pride in having no children, because they may be thought so much the richer. For perhaps they have heard some talk, Such an one is a great rich man; and another except to it, Yea, but he hath a great charge of children, as if it were an abatement to his riches. But the most ordinary cause of a single life is liberty, especially in certain self-pleasing and humorous minds, which are so sensible of every restraint as they will go near to think their girdles and garters to be bonds and shackles. Unmarried men are best friends, best masters, best servants, but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away, and almost all fugitives are of that condition. A single life doth well with churchmen, for charity will hardly water the ground where it must first fill a pool. It is indifferent for judges and magistrates, for if they be facile and corrupt, you shall have a servant five times worse than a wife. For soldiers, I find the generals commonly in their hortatives put men in mind of their wives and children; and I think the despising of marriage amongst the Turks maketh the vulgar soldier more base. Certainly wife and children are a kind of discipline of humanity; and single men, though they may be many times more charitable, because th eir means are less exhaust, yet on the other side they are more cruel and hard-hearted (good to make severe inquisitors), because their tenderness is not so often called upon. Grave natures, led by custom, and therefore constant, are commonly loving husbands; as was said of Ulysses, Vetulam suam praetulit immortalitati.* Chaste women are often proud and forward, as presuming upon the merit of their chastity. It is one of the best bonds both of chastity and obedience in the wife if she think her husband wise, which she will never do if she find him jealous. Wives are young mens mistresses, companions for middle age, and old mens nurses; so as a man may have a quarrel to marry when he will. But yet he was reputed one of the wise men that made answer to the question, when a man should marry: A young man not yet, an elder man not at all. It is often seen that bad husbands have very good wives, whether it be that it raiseth the price of their hushands kindness when it comes, or that the wives take a pride in their patience. But this never fails if the bad husbands were of their own choosing, against their friends consent, for then they will be sure to make goo d their own folly. * He preferred his old woman to immortality.

How to Create the Ideal Study Space

How to Create the Ideal Study Space Your study space is critical to your ability to study effectively. This doesnt necessarily imply that you have to find a place thats completely silent and set it up as your study area, but it does mean you should find a place to study that fits your specific personality and learning style. Identifying Your Ideal Study Space Everyone has different study preferences. Some of us need a completely quiet room free from any audible distractions. Others actually study better listening to quiet music in the background or taking several breaks. You will study most effectively if you make your study time special, like a ceremony. Assign yourself a specific place and regular time. Some students even give a name to their study space.It might sound crazy, but it works. By naming your study space, you generate more respect for your own space. It might just keep your little brother away from your things too! Creating Your Study Space Evaluate your personality and preferences. Discover whether or not you are vulnerable to noise and other distractions. Also determine if you work better by sitting quietly for a long period of time or if you need to take short breaks once in awhile and then return to your work.Identify the space and claim it. Your bedroom may be the best place to study, or it may not be. Some students associate their bedrooms with rest and simply cant concentrate there.A bedroom can also be problematic  if you share a room with a sibling. If you need a quiet place without distraction, it might be better for you to set up a place in the attic, basement, or garage, completely away from others.Make sure your study area is comfortable. It is very important to set up your computer and chair in a way that wont harm your hands, wrists and neck. Make sure you chair and monitor are the right height and lend themselves to a proper ergonomic position for hours of comfortable studying. Take care to avoid repet itive stress injury as this can lead to lifelong difficulties. Next, stock your study space with all the tools and supplies you’ll need, and make sure the space is comfortable in temperature. Establish study rules. Avoid unnecessary arguments and misunderstandings with your parents by establishing when and how you study.If you know that you are able to study effectively by taking breaks, just say so. You may want to create a homework contract. Communicate with your parents and explain the ways in which you study best and why its important for your to take breaks, listen to music, grab a snack, or make use of whatever method best enables effective studying.

Does modern music negatively influence children Research Paper

Does modern music negatively influence children - Research Paper Example 77 percent of rap music that was studied referred to alcohol and drug abuse, moreover, girls aged between 14 and 18 that watched these music videos were one and half times more likely to drink and use drugs2. Rap music also makes frequent references to guns and shootings, robbery and violence and revenge gang attacks against rival gangs that tend to influence and promote violent behavior. â€Å"Music also affects children’s sexual development, those who listened to music with lyrics that objectified and limited characterizations of sexuality reported a faster progression in their own sexual behavior†3. This is as opposed to children who are taught to listen to classical music by the likes of Mozart and Mendelssohn, which tend to be more successful and college prepared than those that have not been trained to listen to such kind of music4. The argument about whether or not music negatively affects children is inconclusive because, while some findings suggest music, for example, rap advocate violent behavior some findings suggest that music can be used as an anti-violent tool where rap was used for an anti- violence function in South Bronx, New York neighborhoods in the late 1970s5. Music is also considered a stress and anxiety reliever, it is used to destruct the mind from pain and hence calms the listener reliving them from pain stress (Bel Marra Health)6. Hence, an extensive research should be done to conclude concretely whether music has a negative or positive impact on

The Design of Health and Safety Control Systems Assignment - 2

The Design of Health and Safety Control Systems - Assignment Example The cattle which graze on the field that houses the subterranean chamber. Any passersby on the main road which is lesser than mile away from the location. HAZARDS Toxic sealant paint highly inflammable and heavier than air (not easy to get disposed off). Thus being hazardous in the following manner: The breaking out of a fire is possible if remnants of the sealant remain within the subterranean chamber. Since the sealant sprayed is toxic its remnants may harm the grass and other crops in the farmer’s field. The health of the cattle and the farmer is at risk. Risk of intoxication of the personnel assigned to spray the sealant. Pedestrian passersby on the main road may get intoxicated. WHAT THE LAW SAYS: The following regulations cover different aspects of the operation 1 discussed above. The regulations are stated below: Safe working in confined spaces According to the confined spaces regulation 1997, regulation 1(1) a sewer is considered as â€Å"confined space†. Accord ing to the confined spaces regulation 1997 regulation 1(9) flammable substances, toxic gas and flammable substances are declared to as HAZARDS. Regulation 3 is about duties under the regulations. ACOP 22(a) Risk assessment must be done. Regulation 4 is regarding working in confined spaces. ... ACOP Communications (39) An adequate communication system will be needed and should enable communication: (a) between those inside the confined space; (b) between those inside the confined space and those outside; and (c) to summon help in case of emergency ACOP (47) Gas purging through inert gas to for flammable or toxic gases. ACOP (51) Mechanical Ventilation for flammable or toxic gases Regulation 1997 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Regulation 3 Risk assessment Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of – (a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work; and (b) the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking, for the purpose of identifying the measures he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed upon him by or under the relevant statutory provisi ons Management Regulation 3 ACOP 22(a) Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 11 The Act places a duty on all employers and the self-employed to take reasonably practicable steps to ensure the health and safety of people who are not in their employment, such as members of the public. 12 The Act also places a duty on employees to co-operate with their employer on health and safety matters and not to do anything which puts others at risk. OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS The operational recommendations are as follows: Risk assessment of the sewer should be done in compliance with the Health, Safety and Security standards. The farmer should be informed well in time before the

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Example for Free

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay In the novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, readers encounter a White boy named Huckleberry Finn, whom is raised in a society where there is prejudice towards African-Americans that are mostly slaves. Over the course of the novel, Huckleberry slowly detaches himself from society through his actions and his lies, such as helping Jim become a â€Å"free nigger† (Twain 27). As Huckleberry’s journey with helping Jim become a free man goes on, he gradually separates himself from society. In the beginning of the novel, Huckleberry is treated as an outcast as he attains it from his father. For example, â€Å"They call that govment! A man can’t get his rights in a govment like this. Sometimes I’ve a mighty notion to just leave the country for good and all† (Twain 26). In the selection, Huckleberry’s ‘pap’ is basically complaining about the atrocious society they are living and how it is a society that is corrupt. This is important because Mark Twain uses ‘pap’ as a symbol of negative influence towards Huckleberry and this leads the runaway boy into becoming more self-reliant. By assisting Jim in becoming a sole individual, Huckleberry begins to understand that society is unjust by its views and is being unfair about African-Americans. This is shown later on in the novel when Huckleberry says, â€Å"I didn’t answer prompt. I tried to, but the words wouldn’t come†¦ ‘I wish you would,’ says I, ‘because it’s pap that’s there, and maybe you’d help me tow the raft ashore where the light is. † At this point in the novel, Huckleberry meets two men on a â€Å"skiff† that are searching for â€Å"runaway niggers†, however he is reluctant to give Jim up and then faces an internal conflict whether or not to trust his own instincts or follow up on what society believes is ‘right’ (Twain 90). As a result, Huckleberry chooses to lie to the two men and breaks off from society’s morals and values. By his own decisions and lies, Huckleberry chooses to follow his own moral values and instincts. Towards the end of the novel, Huckleberry states, â€Å"‘All right, then, I’ll go to hell’ –and tore it up. It was awful thoughts, and awful words, but they was said. And I let them stay said; and never thought no more about reforming†¦ I would go to work and steal Jim out of slavery again† (Twain 215). Towards the end of the novel, Jim is captured on the Phelp’s farm and Huckleberry decides to write a letter to Miss Watson, his old caretaker; however, he reminisce the journey he has been through with Jim, and resolves to free Jim. Therefore by doing so, Huckleberry sets himself free from society’s moral views. There are many occurrences in the novel where Huckleberry breaks off with society’s views, whether if it is by his choices made or by his lies. One major point that shows Huckleberry does not follow society’s standards is when he helps Jim become a free individual. His choice to not give up Jim reveals that Huckleberry has developed his own self-reliance from society’s perspective. Work Cited Twain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1887. Print.

Country study comparison Indian vs. Brazilian women :: essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the United States, equality between a husband and a wife continues to progress, globally, especially in third world countries the oppressed position of women in the household continues to be a prevalent problem.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In both India and Brazil, women are not equal to their male counter parts within the household. Factors that cause this inequality to manifest and continue can be attributed to, male dominant and patriarchal histories of the countries, employment opportunities, legal issues, especially the rights of women to control reproduction, educational opportunities for girls, marriage customs and vulnerability of women within the family due to fears of violence, domestic abuse and rape.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The colonization of Brazil occurred primarily by men of Portuguese decent. In creating this society, they instilled the values of machismo, which is highly prevalent in most Latin American countries. This concept provides men with both authority and strength while women are placed in a position of sub-ordinance and identified as weak (Aboim, 2004). The tradition of machismo as well as the patriarchy of the Catholic Church places men in dominance (Aboim, 2004). With this â€Å"superiority† comes the sexual double standard. Men are expected to demonstrate their masculinity and virility through premarital and extramarital sexual experiences. Women on the other hand are expected to remain virginal until marriage and to be faithful to their husbands throughout the union (Lewis, 1997). These values are difficult to put into practice at times because of poverty, isolation and unequal ratios of men and women. As a result, illegitimacy and prostitution are common. Although this paradox exists, the traditional view is the most widely accepted (ibid). Women have, despite their oppression, been allowed open access to schools and employment, and in 1933 were granted suffrage on a national level. With this equality they were still not recognized as equal with men in matters of the home. Men were automatically considered the heads of h ousehold and women were legally subordinate to their husbands. Under a Civil Code reform put into place in 1962 women were considered to be in the same legal category as minors (Aboim, 2004). Women of middle and upper classes could not legally represent their family or administer the families’ assets. Nor were they able to work outside of the house without the consent of the male head of household (Alvim, 2000). Before the creation of the new Brazilian Constitution of 1988 which granted men and women equality under the law, the father or husband of a woman had the right to control any employment contract she entered into.

Autism Involvement in Society Essay

My cousin is my age, he is a freshman in high school to be exact. He loves to plays video games, He hates homework. He is a great student, gets all A’s in his classes and hangs out with friends. He is very good at playing the bass (stringed instrument), although he cant keep his concentration very long. You see my cousin has autism. He shows great courage in the face of adversity. Vijay Barona was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old. And he hasn’t haven’t had the easiest time with it. Autism is known as a complex developmental disability. Experts believe that Autism presents itself during the first three years of a person’s life. The condition is the result of a neurological disorder that has an effect on normal brain function, affecting development of the person’s communication and social interaction skills. â€Å"I had great trouble in school’ says Vijay ‘ concentration was the hardest part† He talked about how school work became harder to do as he got older. My parents did help me through it. They got a teacher to come to my house when I was little for some extra help in coping with autism. Vijay had lived in Atlanta, Georgia till he was 9, the moved up into Indianapolis, Indiana. What made this even more challenging? â€Å"Moving up north made this adversity more challenging for me.† Being a new kid at a different school is hard for anyone to go through. â€Å"I always knew something was wrong with me, I was different from the other kids and they never really liked me either† says Vijay. Being as I am now has made me realize how much I had gone through to get where I am now. I was bullied in school. Just because I had autism, and just because I was different. I didn’t act like the other kids or think in the same way as they did. That’s when I knew that I didn’t fit in. Did you ever feel like giving up? â€Å"Yes I always wanted to move back to Georgia,† said Vijay. â€Å"No one really knew about it except my sister. I never talked to anybody about what was going on in my life.† Did this ever stop? He did have a girl in the same grade a while back stick up for him. She really helped him get through bulling. â€Å"It gained me confidence to actually do something about it, Eventually its stopped.†

Case Study – Bowel Cancer

Bowel Cancer The bowel is a long tube that is made up of the small bowel, colon and rectum. The bowel absorbs nutrients from food and also processes waste products into faeces to be removed from the body. Bowel Cancer is cancer of the rectum or colon. Bowel cancer develops from small raised growths called polyps which are found in the inner lining of the bowel. These polyps can either be non cancerous and harmless (benign) or they can be cancerous (malignant).All polyps should be removed to reduce the risk of these polyps becoming cancerous or spreading the disease further. Most polyps can be removed without surgery with a procedure called a colonoscopy. If these polyps are not removed, they can grow deeper into the bowel and spread into areas close to the area and later can spread to the liver or lungs. Causes Bowel cancer can be hereditary passed down from a before generation but mainly age and lifestyle factors also contribute to the development of bowel cancer.According to the Be tter Health Channel (BHC)(2011), There is some evidence that having a diet that consists of red meat and drinking alcohol can lead to the cause of bowel cancer. Bowel cancer is more common in people aged 50 years or older. In relation to â€Å"Lou† who is 75, eats red meat from the cattle from his farm and also drinks alcohol, his risk factors for bowel cancer was high. This inability to pass bowel movements showed that he had a very high chance of having bowel cancer. Symptoms * Blood or mucus in the faeces Weakness and paleness * Diarrhoea * Constipation * Finding your faeces are narrower than usual * Feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely Prevalence rates According to Bowel Cancer Australia (BCA)(2010), Bowel cancer is the responsible for the second biggest cancer related deaths after lung cancer with 14,234 people being diagnosed with bowel cancer each year and 4047 deaths occurring due to bowel cancer. The older you become the greater the risk of develop ing bowel cancer becomes with Cancer Council Australia CCA)(2011), quoting that 1 in 12 Australians develop bowel cancer before the age of 85. Bowel cancer is the most curable cancer and if detected and removed early, the cure rate is 90%, however in most cases; bowel cancer is detected in its later stage and therefore has a 60% cure rate. Table: Age vs Number of cases. Obtained from Australian Institute of Health and Wellfare (2006). Socio-Ecological Model Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) is a framework that recognises the relationship that is present between an individual and its surrounding environment.This model looks at not only at an individual reducing risk and improving health but also looks at the outer environment. These include the public policy, the community, organisations, interpersonal and the individual themselves. People who are diagnosed with bowel cancer can suffer from psychological problems due to the trauma of going through the procedures when diagnosing the cancer (such as colonoscopy) or from during the procedure where the doctor has to perform surgery on the patient.Mainly psychological affects will come from the fear of death and can lead them to withdraw themselves from friends and family leading to the sufferer not being socially active and not having that connection that is needed to get through the mental trauma that can be associated when dealing with bowel cancer. In this case the SEM can be implemented as for a patient that is suffering from psychological problems as they would need good interpersonal relationships (friends and family) and organisational involvement (social institutions) to be there to help the patient deal with their illness as best as possible.As in the case of â€Å"Lou† from the case study, he is moving 50 km away from his home, friends and family and therefore could lead him to feel that he can’t connect with anyone and lead to emotional and social consequences which include depression. Social Se rvices and Programs There are many support groups and services that are available to help a cancer patient when needed. If these are utilised, it can be beneficial in dealing with the emotional and social impacts that come with the disease.These include: * Homecare: This I when a social worker or nurse provides a cancer patient with their basic needs e. g. running errands, preparing meals, medication delivery and can have regular visits from physical therapists. This is a good asset as patients often feel more comfortable in their own home where they can be close to friends and family. This puts a great demand on other people like social workers, nurses and physical therapists to play a major role for home care to be achieved. This is also applied from the (SEM). Social workers: Can either be seen at home from home care or cancer patients can go see social workers. Social workers can offer counselling, counselling for the future, access to support groups and referrals to specialists . This Is good as it can help a cancer patient during and after they have cancer. * Cancer rehabilitation programs: The Cancer Nutrition Rehabilitation Program gives cancer patients information about diet, physical activity, treatment and other needs to successfully become rehabilitated.The social worker helps the patient obtain the needs necessary and give them general direction on how to become and maintain a healthy state after cancer. Conclusion Bowel cancer can be successfully treated and cured if early detection is made. This early detection will heighten the chances of survival then if it is found at a later stage. Regular checkups for people over 50 years of age are necessary to ensure that this early detection occurs. While an individual is responsible to obtain a healthy lifestyle, other factors need to be taken into account as outlined from the SEM.If individuals and the surrounding environment are linked together as one then becoming and staying healthy can be achieved. Reference List. 1. Polglase A (2010) Let's beat bowel cancer. Australian Pharmacist. Vol 29, issue 5, 414-416. Available from, http://ea3se7mz8x. search. serialssolutions. com/? ctx_ver=Z39. 88-2004;ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8;rfr_id=info:sid/summon. serialssolutions. com;rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal;rft. genre=article;rft. atitle=Let%27s+Beat+Bowel+Cancer;rft. jtitle=Australian+P

Oracle California

Oracle California Introduction/Background On May 31, 2001, Oracle Corporation (Oracle), with the assistance of its dependent broker Logicon Inc (Logicon), sealed a six-year enterprise licensing agreement (ELA) with the state of California to provide statewide database software and maintenance support to over 270,000 state employees. On face value, the contract, worth almost $95 million, seemed beneficial to the state in not only achieving significant volume discounts by broadly licensing the software, but also reducing its overall administrative costs (Howle Hendrickson, 2002). Overall, it was argued by Oracle and Logicon’s officials that the statewide software contract would help California save up to $100 million in taxpayers’ dollars over six to 10 years (Borland, 2002; Gilbert 2002b).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Oracle California specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More But as noted in a report by the California State Auditor, this contract could have seen the state spend $6 million to $41 million more on Oracle database software and maintenance support than it would have if no contract was sealed (Howle Hendrickson, 2002). The present paper analyzes the Oracle and California case in depth, its major actors, triggering forces, consequences and long-term effects. Problem Discussion The Oracle and state of California case, it can be argued, revolves around poor contracting practices as witnessed by the loopholes and oversights inherent when the state entered into an ELA with Oracle (Howle Hendrickson, 2002). Information technology (IT) is generally considered an enabler of the state’s agility, particularly when its use results in massive cost efficiencies and productivity (Reddick, 2012). In this particular case, however, â€Å"†¦a preliminary survey by the Department of Information Technology (DOIT) of 127 state departments two months earlier strongly suggested that relatively few s tate workers might need or want any new Oracle Corporation (Oracle) products† (Howle Hendrickson, 2002, p. 1). But state officials went ahead to buy into the deal despite prior knowledge from the survey which insinuated that Oracle products were not a priority. Additionally, it is evident how Logicon, the official reseller for Oracle, quickly immersed itself in the deal and aimed for key contacts that it would need in Sacramento political circles not only to win political favoritism (Borland, 2002), but also reap handsomely in a deal that state officials admit they never took adequate time to ascertain Logicon’s data (Howle Hendrickson, 2002). While it is arguable that Oracle viewed the California case in light of victimization due to political temperatures reminiscent of an election year (Gilbert, 2002a), it is evident how the contract was grounded in political influence and smoothed by capitol relationships (Borland, 2002). But although the state legislative audit c ommittee held two months hearings with 30 witnesses and 2500 pages of documents, contradictory testimony throughout the trial proved inadequate in providing an accurate picture of how the multi-million deal was finalized or structured (Borland, 2002). Consequently, the following analysis is an attempt to provide in-depth insights into some overriding scenarios of the case.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Analysis To date, it remains difficult to outline the undercurrents of Oracle and California case, but at least we can now map out the factors that come into play to precipitate the case. In one of his recommendations to the Governor’s office, Kelso cited in Peterson (2002) advocates for â€Å"†¦a clearer assignment of roles and responsibilities for IT planning, management, procurement and project management† (p. 1). The lack of this function cou pled with a faulty contracting system, in my view, allowed Logicon the opportunity to exploit weak governance structures and push through a defective deal. While the state was loosing money, Logicon stood to make a massive $28 million from the ELA, a fact that state officials may not have been apprised of (Howle Hendrickson, 2002). Political maneuvers on the part of Logicon to ensure the contract went through complicated issues (Gilbert, 2002a), but not to the extent demonstrated by state bureaucrats, who not only failed to scrutinize the deal as much as they could have, but never questioned Oracle’s promises of cost savings and estimates for the number of business licenses that the state would need (Borland, 2002). Up until now, it is yet unclear why the above oversights and errors were committed. Although ultimately California officially canceled the sprawling six-year contract with Oracle on July 23 2002 (Borland, 2002; Gilbert, 2002b), contradictory testimony throughout the trial means that it may not be clear how and why these oversights and errors went unnoticed (Borland, 2002). To date, according to this author, â€Å"†¦it’s also unclear whether Oracle or Logicon is to blame for the convoluted contract – or whether state officials were too trusting of the promised cost savings and license estimates in the first place† (para. 13). It may not be clear why the convoluted contract involving California and Oracle went through despite shortcomings, but it is certainly clear who the major players were. From the critical evaluation of literature on the case, it cannot escape mention that both Oracle and Logicon undertook critical roles in ensuring the contract went through. The role played by the Department of Information Technology (DOIT) was equally critical in facilitating a faulty deal that investigations revealed could have led to the loss of millions of taxpayers’ money (Howle Hendrickson, 2002). In particular, th e General Services and Information Technology departments bore a heavy burden of the case (Borland, 2002)Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Oracle California specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More While reading through the various documents highlighting the case, it is clear that Logicon engaged in adaptive malpractices with the help of Ravi Mehta to win the contract for Oracle and afterwards benefit financially through contract fees and loyalties (Borland, 2002). Mehta’s greatest contribution, it seems, was to scout for ‘political connectedness’ to win the contract for Oracle through campaign money contributions. Indeed, governor Gray Davis had already received a $25,000 campaign contribution from Oracle some few days after the deal was signed (Borland, 2002), not mentioning that Mehta, acting for Logicon, solicited the assistance of Sen. Richard Polanco and Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh with an obvious intention of sealing the contract (Howle Hendrickson, 2002). Therefore, it can be argued, the salient trend reminiscent throughout the pre-contract signing era was for Logicon to act as the deal broker while Oracle provided the financial resources needed for political maneuvering. Inside the state agencies, it is evident from the case readings that the General Services limited their legal counselors in all contracts, causing vague contractual terms and missing language that went a long way to open a window of opportunity for misuse and misrepresentation (Howle Hendrickson, 2002). This particular department, in conjunction with the department of Finance, had also been accused for failing to effectively evaluate the state’s actual need for the Oracle contract. Employees from the IT department were also netted as major players as they, in conjunction with their counterparts in Finance and General Services, approved the ELA without taking the necessary steps to validate the cos ts savings projections presented by Logicon (Howle Hendrickson, 2002). Moving away from the key players, it is imperative to analyze the consequences and the aftermath of the contract, as well as the long-term effects. By far the biggest consequence of the convoluted contract was the wounding up of the state’s department of information technology (Gilbert, 2002b), an institution that had been established in 1995 to steer the state clear of IT-related system failures and challenges (Peterson 2002; California Technology Agency, 2011). An underlying consequence or aftermath of the contract was the resignation of senior state officials, including Eliaz Cortez, the then head of the state’s department of information technology (Gilbert, 2002b). Politicians who accepted campaign contributions from Ravi Mehta of Logicon as a means to woo political favors also suffered heavy political setbacks from the exposure.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Indeed, Governor Davis, who was due for re-election in November 2002, had to return the $25,000 campaign contribution facilitated by Oracle upon the signing of the contract (Borland, 2002; Howle Hendrickson, 2002; Gilbert 2002b). It is also obvious that both Logicon and Oracle suffered from dented images and public reputation, a fact that is evident from the accusations and counter-accusations both firms traded against each other during the Audit hearings. In one instance, Oracle executives said they all but ignored Mehta’s recommendations that the software giant contributes money to political campaigns (Borland, 2002), but they still went ahead to contribute $25,000 to Governor Davis’ campaign kitty (Howle Hendrickson, 2002). Such misalignment of facts caused embarrassment for Oracle and its main lobbyist in the deal – Logicon. The long-term effects of the convoluted contract are best illuminated by Kelso in his recommendations to the office of Governor. Amon g the most important, Kelso cited in Peterson (2002) underlines the need â€Å"†¦to have a clearer assignment of roles and responsibilities for IT planning management, procurement and project management† (p. 1). It is generally felt that some overlap of roles as well as confusion about which state agency or department was ultimately responsible for which type of IT project may have given a window of opportunity for the defective contract to progress, thus the need to undertake long-term measures of not only making clear assignments of roles and responsibilities, but also encouraging public input and public vetting of major IT projects to avoid such oversights and errors (Peterson, 2002). Lastly, the Oracle California case also demonstrates the need for long-term concerted efforts aimed at aligning the state’s IT governance structure with the actual structure of California state government with the view to achieve harmony among the many dispersed units (Peterson, 2 002). In the view of many commentators, the dispersed governance structure and the level of autonomy exercised by state agencies and departments could have exacerbated the situation. Conclusion Key Learning Outcomes Through an insightful analysis of available literature, the present paper has brought important angles of the Oracle and California case into the limelight. As already mentioned elsewhere, the investigators failed to unearth what was really going on due to the nature and complexity of the evidence adduced (Howle Hendrickson, 2002), but the investigation was closed with deep criticism of almost every single player involved (Borland, 2002). A major key learning for state officials is to what is right instead of what they feel is politically expedient. Another key learning revolves around avoiding political and monetary influence in undertaking state contracts. Additionally, the convoluted contract exposes the need to have effective state employees who have the capacity t o synthesize and make meaning of all contractual documents, as well as the need for effective leadership, coordination and collaboration between various state agencies and departments to seal all loopholes that could be used by self-interested contractors and individuals to achieve selfish gains (Peterson, 2002). Reference List Borland, J. (2002). Lawmaker: â€Å"Influence† drove Oracle deal. CNET News. Retrieved from https://www.cnet.com/news/lawmaker-influence-drove-oracle-deal/ California Technology Agency. (2011). History of the California Technology Agency. Retrieved from https://cdt.ca.gov/about/ Gilbert, A. (2002a). Auditors joust over Oracle contract. CNET News. Retrieved from https://www.cnet.com/news/auditors-joust-over-oracle-contract/ Gilbert, A. (2002b). California cancels Oracle contract. CNET News. Retrieved from https://www.cnet.com/news/california-cancels-oracle-contract/ Howle, E.M., Hendrickson, S.M. (2002). Enterprise Licensing Agreement: The State failed to exercise due diligence when contracting with Oracle, potentially costing tax payers millions of dollars. California State Auditor. Retrieved from bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2001-128.pdf Peterson, S. (2002). California DOIT closes up shop. Government Technology. Retrieved from https://www.govtech.com/e-government/Californias-DOIT-Closes-Up-Shop.html Reddick, C.G. (2012). Public administration and information technology. Burlington, MA: Jones Bartlett Learning.