Marketing Strategy of Coffee Making Equipment Manufacturers in China Assignment

Marketing Strategy of Coffee Making Equipment Manufacturers in China - Assignment Example â€Å"In the 1990s, the main consumers of roasted coffee in China were expatriates. Germans wanted one kind of roast, Italians wanted it another way and so on, making it hard for a roaster to find one blend to please all†.  The above-mentioned statement bears testimony to the fact that the market in China has braced itself for the coffee boom. But to fully know the market thereof such equipment, there is a need to conduct proper market research there as well.This research should be conducted using both primary and secondary sources. The data needs to be collected and collated so that we could gauge the market for such research.The following primary sources could be used: questionnaires, interviews, consumer panels, stock counting, observation.All of these aforementioned types of primary sources have their own advantages and disadvantages. The main advantages are:- They elicit direct responses.- They provide accurate data. - They give the researchers a chance to have direct i nteraction with the target market.The main disadvantages are:- They might be biased.- Costly to conduct.- Difficult in terms of accessibility.- They might give one a one-sided picture of things.The secondary sources that are also called the ‘desk research’ methods include the following: newspapers and magazines, government reports, official statistics, specialist journals.The main advantages of such a method are fewer costs involved, fewer hassles, information is authenticated, easy accessibility. The main drawbacks are:- Data might be biased.- It could be out-dated.

Discussion Questions Essay Example for Free

Discussion Questions Essay †¢ In the video this week, Bill Goodykoontz discusses watching movies as a group in a theater versus watching alone, on computers, or in your home. Explain how the availability of movies has evolved over the last century. Which experience do you prefer and why? You can rent and own movies almost anywhere now, from your phone, computer and TV. I remember when going to the theater was the only way to see a movie, now you can get it right off your computer. We enjoy watching movies directly off from our Netflix account on playstation, its beats paying late fees going to blockbusters and they’re unlimited for a nice fee. †¢ In the Week Two Learnscape, you craft an introductory paragraph for Sen. Johnson for a speech he is giving on the impact of the Internet on politics. After scanning the sites you’ve been given, how comfortable are you with the credibility of the information you found on the Internet? What, if anything, makes you uncomfortable about the credibility of these sources? If you think the information is credible, explain why. Im not comfortable with credibility of the information found on the internet since I don’t know what I’m really suppose to be looking for. †¢ In this week’s video, Bill Goodykoontz discusses the value of critics in popular culture. Do you find value in criticism or do you prefer to experience movies, music, etc., without outside feedback? Explain your answers. Personally, experience movies, music, etc without outside feedback is what I prefer. It makes it harder to view someone else art when you read other criticism because than you expect that predicition †¢ In this week’s video, Bill Goodykoontz discusses having to stay true to your own reactions and experiences when evaluating art. Why is this so difficult to do? What do you think influences us most? Do you try to shape others’ opinions when sharing your thoughts about music and movies? It’s so difficult to stay true to your own reactions about art since there’s so many media and critics in the world. There’s other that try to point out the negative in everything which gets you to start thinking about it. Media has a great impact on what we believe in this world, and shape what we think of certain things. I’ll give my own opinion about music and movies, but I let them view it themselves before really giving my thoughts. †¢ Over the last century, do you think music has changed from being about artistic expression to being more about money and business? Is it even possible for a band or artist to make topical or political commentary in a song today while focusing on turning a profit? Yes, music this century hasn’t been artistic and seem more about the money. Music these days seem more alike with the same rhythm, beat, lyrics and etc. Though you can find a few music artist who have their own taste and don’t care about the money and business. I’ve heard that some artist and bands put political commentary in a song, but I hadn’t been able to capture them. †¢ Feedback Question: How are your time management strategies working for you? Which strategies have been most effective? What time management challenges remain? What may be done about those? Time management is still a tiny struggle, but I’m getting the hang of juggling work, school and my family. It’s just getting back in the schedule of doing work and getting the strength to get it finish. †¢ Feedback Question: How are your reading strategies working for you? Is reading the content of this course same or different from reading content in other courses? Is it easier or harder? Any suggestions for how to make reading this sort of content more effective for yourself? Reading strategies for this class has been a little difficult than my other classes. Their more material to absorb, therefore I need to make more time for it which I plan on doing. Also, I plan on taking notes as I go than review that same day, that way the material will be able to sink in a little more.

Revelation Essay -- essays research papers

Revelation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Revelation† starts off at a small town doctor’s office in the waiting room. Mrs. Turpin and several other characters are making small talk as they wait to see the doctor. Mrs. Turpin’s words quickly reveal the fact that she is a prejudiced snob. She is very quick to judge everyone in the room. Mary Grace is an ugly girl who is setting in the room listening to all of Mrs. Turpin’s judgments. Mary Grace gets very upset with Mrs. Turpin for being so judgmental. Instead of saying something to make her stop, Mary Grace throws her book at Mrs. Turpin. She then continues to hit and strangle Mrs. Turpin. During the struggle, Mary Grace calls Mrs. Turpin and â€Å"old warthog from hell†. Mrs. Turpin goes on with her day very angry. She could not understand what she had in common with a warthog since she was better than everyone else. While Mrs. Turpin was taking care of her family’s pigs she had a revelation. She was talking to God and she realized that she was wrong for making judgments so quickly and thinking that she was better than others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are two conflicts in â€Å"Revelation†. The first is the physical conflict between Mary Grace and Mrs. Turpin. The conflict is man versus man because there are two people physically battling. Mary Grace begins by throwing her book at Mrs. Turpin and then hits her and puts her hands around Mrs. Turpin’s neck as if to strangle her. The conflict is ...

Hiring and Firing Essay

This essay will identify and discuss the different recruitment and selection practices of organizations in the UK and these practices will be compared to the counterparts in the rest of European Countries. The essay will also comment on the pitfalls in the UK organizations which have led to tied hands of the managers in these corporations. The terminating practices in the organizations of UK will also be discussed and the pitfalls will be compared to the companies based in the European Countries. This is the reason why fewer students are choosing IT related fields in their graduate degrees as there are no jobs available for the locals in these companies. This is a pitfall that has been dug by these IT companies themselves as they will not receive any talent from the local market if there is a restriction of off-shoring in the future (MarketWatch 2006). Poor Recruitment Practice in UK A people assessment company, Talent Q that helps employers in managing and recruiting talent, has found many companies and managers to be taking poor decisions routinely when hiring employees. There are many bad consequences of this poor hiring practice as the fall in productivity is equal to GBP 2,400 per annum for each worker who finds himself misplaced in a job which he does not want to do or is not capable of performing. Effectively, the aggregate amount goes up to GBP 5million per annum for the economy of UK (M2PressWIRE 2007). According to an official survey of Talent Q, 24 percent of the employees who were recruited were not asked to give an aptitude test and another 44 percent of the personnel who were hired were not short-listed using any personality test. Based on 25 years of academic research across many companies of large scale, these findings were processed through a model which is universally accepted. This model demonstrates the cast iron effectiveness of the assessment. The true extent of the issues for the employers became clear when these results were combined with salary data from Office for National Statistics. The CEO of Talent Q commented that the organizations often fail to employ people on the basis of aptitude test and personality test. However, employing people on the basis of gut feeling is by far the worst employment technique known, whereas many studies have shown that when employers use assessment techniques to find out the personaliy and aptitude of a person, they get much better results (M2PressWIRE 2007). Word of Mouth Recruiting The applicants who apply through word-of-mouth are found to be more suitable than the recruits obtained by advertising and are more likely to stay longer in the job. However, it is not always the case that the best candidate for a job is selected through word-of-mouth applications. This practice for recruitment is being practiced in the UK at higher rates among the senior levels and is known as headhunting. The objective of these seniors is to fill the higher paying jobs with the people whom they know or are there relatives (HRM Guide Network 2007). Promise of Bonuses The promise of bonuses while recruiting the employees has been the worst pitfall of the recruitment practices in the UK. Mercer Consulting has found through research that the overall pay of CEOs in the UK from bonuses has grown from 13 percent to 19 percent in 2004 (Mercer Human Resource Consulting 2004). There has been a major effect on the earnings growth rates in the UK because of the large number of bonuses that were paid in the recent years (Freeman 2002). This practice of attracting talent through offering bonuses does not guarantee a motivated employee. This ensures only that decisions are made by the employees that get him the bonuses and these decisions may harm the company in the long-run. The companies in the UK are also using bonuses as a tool for employee retention and this practice is becoming quite common in the UK economy. However, the new plan to attract new talent and to lay off the existing employees is not in the hands of the managers at middle or lower level. The senior management is most of the companies makes such decisions (Nisar 2007). Off-shoring in the UK Many companies in the UK, especially those related to IT and innovation, are hiring skilled but relatively cheap labor from overseas. This hiring has been allowed by the government because of which work permits and visas have also been allotted to thousands of workers from abroad. Although these cost effective options cannot be ignored by the managers but they find their hands tied when they find cheap labor which can help the company reduce cost (MarketWatch 2006). The Responsibility of the Managers The managers and personal secretaries are getting increasingly responsible for the recruitment of unfilled vacancies. However, these managers cannot be so sure about hiring the right person or deciding a testing system for the vacancy. Where these managers are asked to cut costs, they are also asked to hire the best person. However, tests such as aptitude test, personality test, skill test or psychometric tests can be very expensive. This is in contradiction to cheap hiring and many managers find themselves in a position of hiring a person not fit for job because of fixed or limited budget allocated for hiring (Renshaw 2003). According to the head of a psychometric company, most of the employees are hired within the first five minutes of an interview which is done with the help of instincts. Although in these five minutes, the conversation does not go beyond smiles and introductions but many think that this is the best practice. Hiring through taking tests has been proved to be the best technique which many managers in the UK do not follow. Those employees who are hired without these tests, they are more likely to immerse the company in losses (Renshaw 2003). Lowering Hiring Requirements The companies with vacancies in the Europe mostly respond with lowering the hiring requirements so as to lower the cost associated with hiring. These chances although increase the chances of filling the vacancy but it also results in a match that resists or terminates when he is hit by a requirement that he cannot address to because of lower level of skills or experience. When searching costs are high, the European employers are more likely to hire under qualified employees for temporary positions. One of the consequences of hiring an under qualified person is high firing costs if the employee is able to get a permanent contract (Brencic 2009). Temporary Employment Practices in the Europe Many countries in Europe ban or restrict the use of temporary workers. However, there has been a growing acceptance for the temporary employment in the region. Many companies which do not want to rush in hiring and then make a wrong choice are hiring temporary employees. The UK, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Denmark are the countries among those which have temporary labor markets, but the countries like Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany and Portugal still have stringent policies over temporary hiring (Messmer 1994). Firing Practices in Europe The economies of Europe have been awfully trailing US and other developed countries because of forests of red tape, vast welfare, overregulation and restrictive hiring and firing practices. Firing Limitations in UK Due to the implementation of several equal employment opportunity acts and laws in the United Kingdom, the employers are restricted to fire or layoff employees. This literally throws a manager at his seat with his hands tied as he cannot fire any employee who is not performing. According to the laws, based on the personal status of the worker, an employer may not establish hiring or recruiting criteria. Employers are not allowed to retaliate against, lay-off or fire their employees citing reasons based on the personal status outlined in the federal legislation of anti-discrimination. The labor is protected with the act of penalties and recourse which says that if an employee is discriminated in the areas of firing and hiring, he may collect all the monetary damages that are done by the employer (Pearson 2010). Firing Practices in Germany In December 2000, the Vauxhall Motors Luton announced the closure of a facility with firing of approximately 2000 people. No details were announced publicly about the firing of employees and what benefits would they get. The employees being affected were not told about the decision that the management was about to take about the closure of a facility. The employees were not even told why the facility was closed or why were they being fired (Butler, Sweeney and Crundwell 2009). This shows that the firing practices in Germany are very different as compared to UK, where a company has very limited power to fire permanent employees. In Germany, however, the companies have power to lay-off the employees whenever they want without presenting any reason. Similarities of Firing Practices in UK and other European Countries In this time of economic downturn, when many large corporations are engaging in downsizing practices, the countries like UK, Italy, France and Germany are targeting the older employees for lay-offs. The reason behind is quite logical as the employees grow older, they become less productive and the company find more talented young people to replace them (Cattaneo et al.  2010). The organizations in most of the economies of Europe view older employees as more disposable and give little value to them (Barth et al. , 1993; Eastman, 1993; Loretto and White, 2006). Conclusion There are certain similarities in the UK and Europe companies when it comes to laying-off or recruitment of the employees. However, the differences are more as the UK companies are bound by laws and strict regulations for firing employees which literally ties the hands of the managers when it comes to firing and hiring of the employees.

Lord of the Flies – Reflection of Society

In society, people have the ability to become violent no matter the personality of the individual. Brutality is in all animal species. The only difference between humans and the animals is the ability of the human mind to control one's thoughts and actions, however, even this ability can be lost if presented with a situation that becomes so stressful or so outrageous that the mind is no longer in control. This is exactly what happens in the book Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Within this book people will find exactly how brutal a human being can become when the boys are trapped on an island with no other adults with them. This book proves without a doubt that all individuals have the natural capacity for brutality. Jack was already a destructive person before the boys ever became stranded on the island, however, he somehow is driven to kill. Jack was considered a likeable guy that was admired and feared by many. Jack could easily be described as a popular football star or a popular person in today's world. Jack, after not getting his way, decides he will form his own group of boys to be against the other group. This begins the destructive course of society much like it happens today. He takes a group and tries to overthrow the other by force and deception. Roger is just pure evil. A person can only wonder how such a boy could have been on a plane and not in a mental institute. Roger seems to be the one feared mostly for his insanity. The best example of his capacity for brutality occurs when he decides to kill Piggy with a falling boulder. In the beginning of the book, he only tossed rocks at people but never hit them. Now, as time has past, he has lost all control of his mind and now seems only to act on instinct, survival being one of the instincts he follows the most. Piggy and Ralph seem to be the only level headed people on the entire island so it might be hard to conceive them causing harm to anyone or letting their instincts of survival take control of them. However, this is exactly what happened. Ralph's group was so scared that Jack's group may attack them, when Simon came to give them some information, Ralph's group killed him. They only killed Simon because they believed he was from Jack's group or the beast coming to get them. It was not until after they killed Simon that they noticed what had happened. The strangest thing about this is that Ralph and Piggy, the most level headed of the group, participated in killing Simon. Ralph and Piggy, despite their rational behavior, became irrational when they fear the worse. Fear is definitely one of the biggest factors that cause people to take action rather than thinking about the consequences. The only character that can be considered non brutal would have to be Simon. Simon played a very important role in this book because was the one that could see what others could not see. The most ironic twist in the story was when he was killed. Before he met his fate, he was talking with the cut off head of a pig that Jack's group gave to the beast as a sort of â€Å"sacrifice. † The pig told him that the anger within them, the boys on the island, would end up destroying them. As Simon comes back to tell them what he had been told, he was killed by his own group in fear that he was the beast or part of Jack's group. The killing of Simon seemed to symbolize the end of innocence and humanity. The one person that could have saved them all was killed out of instinct and fear. William Golding probably had Simon killed because no one listens. Take a look at today's society. Why would anyone believe in a person that talks to a pig's head for advice? Also, most people today does not or will not stop and listen to those who are trying to help. Once people reach that point of no return, nothing, not even a friend could help them. This seems to be the belief of Golding. Golding has brought out much or his views on life in this book. Lord of the Flies gives a good view on today's society and how society might react in such a situation. The book also gives insight into human nature and what humans are capable of when there is nothing left but fear and survival. With Golding being part of a great war he definitely understands more than most what people will do from the battlefield. All the rules change while on the battlefield just as when the boys were stranded on the island. Golding seems to be leaving a message for all of mankind to see and perhaps a warning of things to come.

Barbecue Technology essays

Barbecue Technology essays The article Grilling and Smoking the New-Fashioned Way in On Magazine was about a guy looking to find a better way to barbecue. The man was Robb Walsh and he traveled far and wide to find the best technology in the modern day to make better barbecue. He found new ways to grill and compared them to the old fashion way of grilling. During Walshs research he found the new generation of water smokers. They are tall cylinders with the fire on the bottom, a grill on the top and a pan of water in the middle, which diffuses the heat, catches drips and adds moisture. Water smokers were fueled by charcoal, but now you can get gas and electric ones too. In the electric version, you put wood chips directly on an electric coil. In the gas version, you put the chips on heated lava rocks. This cuts down on any actual participation by the griller, but the food stills tastes pretty good. Walsh also found a Maverick Remote Check, which has two temperature-sensing probes on heatproof wire, that lead into the meat. It allows you to close the lid and plug the wires into a transmitter that sits on the outside of the barbecue and beams the internal temperature to a remote that you can wear on your belt and keep by your side. It tells you the temperature of your meat so you dont have to check on the meat every two minutes. He found out that the best buy for a top of the line gas grill is a model 36D ARN-E. It comes with an electronic ignition system that runs on 110 volts and tree 25,000 BTU burners across the grill area, firing propane or hooked up to your homes natural gas line. A built in true flame 15,000 BTU burner on the top heats radiant ceramic elements for the rotisserie, and a separate 5,000 BTU heater is devoted to the drawer that keeps wood chops smoldering. A grease management system diverts juices into U-shaped grill elements that channel the liquid into a removable drawer. ...

Mexico and United States Foreign Policy Relations

Mexico and United States Foreign Policy Relations Mexico was originally the site of various Amerindian civilizations such as the Mayas and the Aztecs. The country was later invaded by Spain in 1519 which led to a prolonged colonial period that would last until the 19th century when the country finally gained its independence at the end of the war of independence. Mexican-American War The conflict was sparked when the U.S. annexed Texas and the Mexican government refused to recognize the secession of Texas which was the precursor to the annexation. The war, which began in 1846 and lasted for 2 years, was settled via the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which led to Mexico giving up even more of its land to the US, including California. Mexico further transferred some of its territories (southern Arizona and New Mexico) to the U.S. via the Gadsden Purchase in 1854. 1910 Revolution Lasting for 7 years, the 1910 revolution ended the rule of the dictator president Porfirio Diaz. The war was sparked when the U.S.-supported Diaz was proclaimed the winner of the 1910 elections despite mass popular support for his rival in the election Francisco Madero. After the war, the various groups that made up the revolutionary forces splintered as they lost the unifying goal of unseating Diaz - leading to a civil war. The U.S. intervened in the conflict including the involvement of the U.S. ambassador in the plotting of the 1913 coup dà ©tat which overthrew Madero. Immigration A major issue of contention between both countries is that of immigration from Mexico to the U.S. The September 11th attacks increased the fear of terrorists crossing over from Mexico leading to a tightening of immigration restrictions including a U.S. Senate bill, heavily criticized in Mexico, supporting the construction of a fence along the Mexican-American border. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) NAFTA led to the elimination of tariffs and other trade barriers between Mexico and the U.S. and serves as a multilateral platform for cooperation between both countries. The agreement increased trade volume and cooperation in both countries. NAFTA has come under attack from Mexican and American farmers and the political left claiming that it hurts the interest of local small farmers in both the U.S. and Mexico. Balance In Latin American politics, Mexico has acted as a counterweight to the policies of the new populist left characterized by Venezuela and Bolivia. This led to charges from some in Latin America that Mexico is blindly following U.S. commands. The biggest disagreements between the left and current Mexican leadership is whether to enlarge American-led trade regimes, which has been Mexicos traditional approach, versus a more regional approach favoring Latin American cooperation and empowerment.

SAT Subject Test Dates 2019 When Should You Take Them

SAT Subject Test Dates 2019 When Should You Take Them SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips When are you planning to take the SAT Subject Tests? If you answered, "I don't know," you're not alone! It's hard to know when the best time is to fit in the Subject Tests with the general SAT, your schoolwork, and everything else you've got going on. Let's take a look at when the SAT Subject Tests are offered in 2019 and when the best dates are for you to take them. As long as you have a plan, you'll be able to balance these tests with all the other things you're up to in your busy life. When Are the SAT SubjectTests Offered? SAT Subject Tests are offered six times a year in the following months: August October November December May June These are the same dates as the general SAT, except for one date in March when SAT Subject Tests are not offered but the general SAT is. The Literature, Science, US History, and Math SAT Subject Tests are offered on all test dates. The language tests and World History test, however, are only offered on some of the dates. This chart breaks down the SAT Subject Test schedule for 2019: May 4th June 1st Aug 24th Oct 5th Nov 2nd Dec 7th Literature âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” Biology E/M âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” Chemistry âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” Physics âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” US History âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” World History âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” Math Level 1 âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” Math Level 2 âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” French âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” German âÅ"” Spanish âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” âÅ"” Modern Hebrew âÅ"” Italian âÅ"” Latin âÅ"” âÅ"” French with Listening âÅ"” German with Listening âÅ"” Spanish with Listening âÅ"” Chinese with Listening âÅ"” Japanese with Listening âÅ"” Korean with Listening âÅ"” Source: The College Board Since there are several subject tests offered on one date, can you take more than one at the same time? Here are the basic rules and conditions: You can take up to three subject tests on the same date.But there are two caveats: You can only take one Listening test per date. Listening tests are always given in the first hour. You can only take one Biology (E or M) test per date; you can't take both on the same date. You may change the test you are taking on test day, unless it's a Listening test. You cannot take a Subject Test on the same date that you take the general SAT. Keeping these conditions in mind, let's talk about popular dates for test takers. When Should You Take SAT Subject Tests? 4 Factors You need to integrate SAT Subject Test Dates with your SAT/ACT, AP exams, and extracurriculars. So what are the best test dates for you to take one? Here are four key factors to consider: #1: Popular Test Dates May and June are popular times to take the SAT Subject Tests. Since each Subject Test requires knowledge of a particular subject, the best time to take one is usually at the end of the school year so that you've alreadystudied that subject. If you're focusing extra attention on that subject for final exams or AP tests, all the better! Your studying can kill two birds with one stone as you prepare for both tests. #2: Content Readiness The SAT Subject Tests are your chance to show subject mastery, whether it's a subject you've taken in school or one that you've learned a lot about on your own. Since these tests align with a subject rather than a grade level, you don't have to wait until your junior year to take one. Instead, you should take them when the content is still fresh and ready in your mind. You might be able to get an excellent score on the Biology Subject Test, for example, after your 9th grade biology class. By familiarizing yourself with the content that's covered on each test, you'll have a sense of when you'll be best prepared to take it. The language tests require a lot of knowledge- at least two or three years of intensive study. Since many fluent or native speakers take the language tests, you should only opt for these if you feel extremely ready. Note thatit is more difficult to score in a high percentile on these tests. #3: Time for Prep As mentioned above, a lot of students benefit from taking the SAT Subject Test as close as possible to a final exam or AP test in the same subject. With all your studying, you'll be fully immersed in the subject matter. Plus, you can join forces with other students in your class. Study groups can be a powerful way to share knowledge,stay motivated, and make sure you're asking the right questions. #4: Balance With Other Tests If you're taking the SAT or ACT in addition to one or more Subject Tests, you have to consider how to balance these tests and the studying you'll put toward them.Since you'll likely want to take the SAT/ACT more than once, be sure to leave available dates for a second or third attempt. One possible testing schedule could look like this: Sample Testing Schedule Junior Year October: Take the PSATMarch: Take the SAT for the first timeMay: Take the SAT Subject Tests and AP Exams, as well as school finalsJune: Take the SAT for the second time Senior Year October or November: Take the SAT for the third time.As you saw in the chart above, some of the Language tests are usually only offered in November,so keep this in mind if you're taking one of those. If you're taking the ACT, you could take it in February, April, June, and/or July of your junior year, and again in September or October of your senior year. Remember, you don't have to wait until junior year to take the SAT Subject Tests, but it's usually best totake them in May or June so that they coincide with the end of an academic course in whatever subject is relevant to your test. You can also take the Subject Tests again in the fall of your senior year.While these dates might be too late for early action deadlines, they should be in time for regular decision deadlines. The only downside with waiting until the fall of your senior year is that you won't know your SAT Subject Test scores until your college list has already been mostly finalized. Key Takeaways: When to Take SAT Subject Tests Figuring out a schedule and getting your SAT Subject Tests finished in advance of college deadlines is beneficial for your applications and personal stress levels. By knowing your deadlines and creating a flexible study schedule, you'll be able to figure out the best time you can take the test as well as when you'll get your score from it. Your Subject Test dates shouldn't be a random decision; rather, they should be made deliberately, based on your content readiness, the time you need to prep, and how much balance you'll need as you also study for the general SAT/ACT. What's Next? Now that you know all the upcoming SAT Subject Test dates, it's time to learn more about all the subjects you can test in. When are you planning to take the SAT or ACT? Learn about the best test dates for taking these important tests. Did you know that some colleges have test-flexible policies that allow you to send SAT Subject Test scores in place of the general SAT? Check out the full list of test-optional and test-flexible colleges here. Need a little extra help prepping for your Subject Tests? We have the industry's leading SAT Subject Test prep programs (for all non-language Subject Tests). Built by Harvard grads and SAT Subject Test full or 99th %ile scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible. Learn more about our Subject Test products below:

Can foreign policy be both 'ethical' and Realist or Discuss the Essay

Can foreign policy be both 'ethical' and Realist or Discuss the similarities and differences between the League of Nation - Essay Example 19). The United Nations Charter was approved in 1945. The League of Nations was formed in 1919 following the world I. It was discredited because of its failure to prevent future wars and conflicts after the lessons from the World War I. The league had failed to prevent the Second World War that realised massive casualty of soldiers and civilians (Jansson, 2012, p. 20). The United Nations The United Nations is an integrated network of international agreements, conventions and organisations that were formulated by United Nations. The UN was shaped in 1945 following the World War II. The UN system comprises of five organs, â€Å"the UN Security Council, The UN General Assembly, the UN economic and social council, the trusteeship council, the International court of Justice and the UN secretariat† (Jansson, 2012, p. 17). The five permanent members in the council include USA, China, Britain, France and the Soviet Union (Jansson, 2012, p. 17). The League of Nations (LoN) The League o f Nations was formed in 1919. It comprises of three organs that include the Assembly, the Council and the secretariat. Its goal was to oversee world peace by preventing the occurrence of wars (Jansson, 2012, p. 17). Similarities According to Gareau (2002, p. 44), the UN and the League had been founded after appalling world wars. They were both peace structures that aimed at realising permanent solutions for wars. The UN and the LoN were structured around large assemblies and small councils. The council members were mandated to use their collective effort to avert aggression. The councils averted the underlying differences between nations through dialogue and rationality (Gareau, 2002, p. 46). Pierce (2007, p. 12) contends that both UN and LoN promoted rational avenues such as courts, reconciliation and arbitration to thwart the likelihood of war between nations. Both international organs had permanent secretariats that were served by international civil servants. The civil servants did not answer to their national governments. Therefore, averting conflicts was the major goals of LoN and the UN because they were charged with the responsibility of maintaining overall international peace and security. Both organisations have historically relied on peaceful strategies for solutions to international disputes and have requested for punitive measures such as sanctions to the aggressor nations (Pierce, 2007, p. 22). In the LoN, the big powers exercised their influence in shaping its policies. Similarly, in the UN, the big powers of USA, Russia, Britain, China and France played a crucial role of directing the calendar activities (Daniel, 2008, p.30). Similarly, both are deliberate associations of sovereign states established to enhance cooperation among the members on specific political, fiscal and social arenas (Conforti, 2005, p. 34) They are both endowed with similar organisational appendages that include an assembly, council, fiscal and social bodies, trustee commi ttees, court and secretariat. In most instances, these organs were authorised to recommend rather than command (Page & Sonnenburg, 2003, p. 39). Both organisations relied on an assembly with universal membership where members enjoy equality of voting rights. They also instituted a council consisting of major super powers as members and a secretariat that is permanent and international in character. A secretary-general heads

Recollection of the Routine of Food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Recollection of the Routine of Food - Essay Example In my household, food was never a focal part of the family structure that involved a collaborative dining session much like those often illustrated from typical 1950’s-variety family structures. Therefore, the quality and dimensions, especially those delivered psychologically, were never strongly reinforced through the process of cooking together and ultimately consuming together. The food selections in my household during my youth were rather generic, consisting of basic varieties of beef, chicken, and common household snacks. Because of this, eating often became a routine activity simply to satisfy hunger. Consumption was more of a ritualistic situation rather than the satisfaction of a psychological need that some people experience in the process of dining and preparing together as a family unit. It is because of this limited symbolism associated with food that I have developed my current dietary habits and this directly impacts how I have, in the past, viewed food as a lifestyle and cultural significance. However, this course has changed my view on eating, especially when considering the different cultural symbolism that food represents for many in and out of the United States. I have recently begun to realize that I have missed out on many of the important sociological dimensions that food and consumption can provide, along with the camaraderie that is often developed by discussing the importance of food. Rituals are often symbolic activities that reveal cultural values associated with a specific community of people and often produce social predictability as well as the creation of individual social identity (Leeds-Hurwitz, 61). I find myself disappointed, especially after learning about the different elements of food as having much cultural consequence, that I had not previously considered the social value that food can bring to enhancing lifestyle. Being part of the middle class social structure, the quality of high-dollar foods has usually been limited to visualization, through television cooking shows and other gourmet chef programs. Because of this, depth in terms of taste and experimentation has never been given much personal thought. Much, I believe now, is missing from daily lifestyle by not exploring the different dimensions of food. This can be attributed, with a minor sense of blame, to the family structure and their limited emotional diversity associated with consumption and food variety. Gender and race as associated with a non-diverse worldview on food are not generally applicable to my own values associated with food since it has only been recently that I have begun to reassess the quality and cultural togetherness that food consumption and discussion can bring in a social or family setting. Some companies trying to sell their food products attempt to get consumers interesting in powdered sauces and cake mixtures by introducing a degree of nostalgia into advertising. Slogans such as just like mom used to make are often used to gain more interest and bring forth a psychological response from buyers (Bugge, 22). Though these advertising efforts have never had any meaning for me in previous years, I now recognize that many people are attracted to the process of enjoying home cooking in a friendly and unified family atmosphere. I find a certain sense of remorse after considering the value of the home-cooked quality meal that people seem to prefer and wish that it had been a broader part of my childhood. Because of this new type of thinking associated with food, I find myself wanting to explore an entirely new dimension in relation to food, socialization with consumption, and also the preparation process. I have always measured my personal identity based on goal-attainment and

Financial Controls of Logistics Performance Assignment

Financial Controls of Logistics Performance - Assignment Example 8. Why is it difficult to obtain logistics cost data in many firms? Logistics costs are essential factors that influence the market competitiveness of firms and countries. Reducing logistic costs is bound to reduce the total costs of both goods and services. However, the attainment of logistics cost data is relatively difficult for most companies. This is primarily as a consequence of the lack of sufficient logistics cost information as a result of poor logistics management activities. Firstly, there is no unified definition of logistics cost (Bokor, 2012). The lack of uniformity with regards to defining logistics costs, as well as methods used in the calculation of logistics cost affects the acquisition of logistics data. Since the definition of logistics cost is incoherent, it is, therefore, tricky to compare the findings of logistics costs. In addition, it is difficult to acquire logistics data because the cost component is mostly not standardized. The limited standardization of c ost measurement deters the standardized acceptability of logistics data. In addition, difficulties emerge due to the hardships encountered in the collection of transparent information. On a micro level, a vast majority of firms publish cost data to serve their accounting needs, as well as external requirements such as government taxation (Pohlen, Klammer & Cokins, 2009). These produce an inhibitor to cost transparency throughout the data collection process. The accounting needs of firms often inhibit cost transparency, resulting in deficient information, disparities in the allocation of costs such as overhead costs and a narrow outlook of the concept of cost management. 9. Explain the four methods that can be used for controlling logistics activities. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? 1. Standard Cost Standards are utilized as an integral part of flexible budgeting processes. One of the greatest advantages of standard cost is the provision of the most effective mana gement controls. Standard costs are typically ascertained from industrial engineering studies in which logisticians assess work activities and operations in order to realize effective and practical operating rates for different tasks. Another major advantage of standard costs is that they can be created for diverse logistics functions, including warehousing and transportation, as well as other logistical components and levels such as individual work activities and logistics sub-functions (Voortman, 2004). However, standard costs have the disadvantage of inapplicability in case of increased costs of doing business, for instance, increased transportation. 2. Budgets Budgets are quite effective in terms of monitoring, as well as controlling costs. In some instances, the utilization of standards is not needed. This is particularly the case for tasks, which are repeated infrequently. Another advantage is that budgets control business processes and costs in a highly effective manner. Nota bly, the effectiveness of a budget is based on the anticipation of cost patterns. Budgets are also advantageous since they are adjustable to reflect shifts in operating conditions, consequently, companies utilize budgets to control costs in most areas (Bokor, 2012). However, budgets can also deter effective implementation of innovative business ideas that entail more costs than those placed in the budget. 3. Productivity Standards Productivity standards are highly applicable when standard costs are unavailable

Public Interest in Theories of Regulation Essay

Public Interest in Theories of Regulation - Essay Example Theories of regulation help us to find solutions so that investors do not get exploited. Public Interest in theories of regulation pertains to allocation of resources in a regulated manner to safeguard the best interests of public. These distributions may be haphazard or aimed towards satisfying fewer people’s interests, if not regulated. This failure of markets may occur due to several reasons such as: Absence of competition Monopolies try and create barriers of entry to other interested firms Asymmetry of information Products of public goods are produced The scarce resources get deployed towards their purposes with little resources remaining for other requirements. So, to avoid such discrepancies public interest of regulation has to be undertaken by the Government. (Hertog J.D., 1999) The Government will also intervene due to its own personal interests of: Gaining votes To act before any demand from public interested groups arises Acting as neutral arbiters before the issue becomes a problem However, there are cases where Governments also have failed as regulators as they are captured by self-interest of individuals who formed groups. The accounting professionals who have not confirmed themselves to self-regulation and legitimacy have thought of a way out of their irresponsibility. They started capturing the regulator and dictating it through manipulation of accounts. This is possible because accountants argue whether to release relevant or reliable information to the investor. In the guise of these terms, they undertake accounting standards which serve their interest and avoid regulation. Situation: The Act of Sarbanes-Oxley of 2002 is a classic example in this scenario. Public interest has made it mandatory that financial reporting has to adhere to the principles of corporate responsibility. Out of some eleven sections, 6 are construed to be very important as far as compliance matters. The gist of these sections is that financial reporting authoritie s have to prove their credibility very early by establishing detailed policy of financial security. They cannot relax till the end and try to capture public interests. They are required to report according to the IFRS mandates to the investors. (Anon. 2006). As per this mandate, Accounting Standards should also take into account social and economic consequences so that relevant and reliable information is pronounced to the investors. Private Interest Theory: This theory is based on the assumption that Government is not a neutral arbiter as supposed in public interest theory. It is in fact self-interested rationally due to various reasons such as: To avoid dispute with people of financial power during re-election To transfer their power readily if people who can help them in re-election so require. If they are in power, they would like to increase their wealth by doing so. If not in power, they want to attain power and so listen to these private individuals. There are many examples o f private interest. The Oil Spill in Deep Waters in 2010 would help us in understanding the process of domination of private

Resolving Performance Problems with the Network Essay

Resolving Performance Problems with the Network - Essay Example In addition, the paper will make necessary assumptions, draw the appropriate printer topology, and propose the best network connection in the company. With all honesty, most printers with low-performance rates print files slowly. Sometimes, windows may send requests to the wrong printer. Such issues commonly occur in companies that work in large stores such as XYZ Inc. Moreover, some manufacturers happen to supply very spotty and light printers with horizontal lines. Other printer devices may send false messages considering the level of ink in their cartridges. Most likely, XYZ Inc could not have provided an interface to enable customers print their files from their mobile devices to the company’s printers. Other assumptions may include expenses involved in printing files, lousy output files, production of paper jams, and the breakdown of multifunction printer (MFP). According to Hoffman (2013), there exist several ways of solving common printer problems. For instance, administrators should ensure proper connection of all printers to the servers. The administrators need to install the printer driver and software on the printer that a client needs to use. In the case of a low-ink warning, a technical representative should not rush to replace the cartridge because some printers send false signals. Instead, the person in control should continue running the printer until the output degrades. Besides, administrators should install Wi-Fi printers to enable by using third-party apps that provide a wide range of printing options. The topology of a printer network depends on the volume of data or allowable bandwidth transferred across a given network. On the other hand, the topology influences the speed and efficiency of data transfer across the network. XYZ Inc should implement the Bus Topology for its printer network. To illustrate, clients can send request messages to one terminal on the entire network. Therefore, none of the terminals gets affected should

Public Interest in Theories of Regulation Essay

Public Interest in Theories of Regulation - Essay Example Theories of regulation help us to find solutions so that investors do not get exploited. Public Interest in theories of regulation pertains to allocation of resources in a regulated manner to safeguard the best interests of public. These distributions may be haphazard or aimed towards satisfying fewer people’s interests, if not regulated. This failure of markets may occur due to several reasons such as: Absence of competition Monopolies try and create barriers of entry to other interested firms Asymmetry of information Products of public goods are produced The scarce resources get deployed towards their purposes with little resources remaining for other requirements. So, to avoid such discrepancies public interest of regulation has to be undertaken by the Government. (Hertog J.D., 1999) The Government will also intervene due to its own personal interests of: Gaining votes To act before any demand from public interested groups arises Acting as neutral arbiters before the issue becomes a problem However, there are cases where Governments also have failed as regulators as they are captured by self-interest of individuals who formed groups. The accounting professionals who have not confirmed themselves to self-regulation and legitimacy have thought of a way out of their irresponsibility. They started capturing the regulator and dictating it through manipulation of accounts. This is possible because accountants argue whether to release relevant or reliable information to the investor. In the guise of these terms, they undertake accounting standards which serve their interest and avoid regulation. Situation: The Act of Sarbanes-Oxley of 2002 is a classic example in this scenario. Public interest has made it mandatory that financial reporting has to adhere to the principles of corporate responsibility. Out of some eleven sections, 6 are construed to be very important as far as compliance matters. The gist of these sections is that financial reporting authoritie s have to prove their credibility very early by establishing detailed policy of financial security. They cannot relax till the end and try to capture public interests. They are required to report according to the IFRS mandates to the investors. (Anon. 2006). As per this mandate, Accounting Standards should also take into account social and economic consequences so that relevant and reliable information is pronounced to the investors. Private Interest Theory: This theory is based on the assumption that Government is not a neutral arbiter as supposed in public interest theory. It is in fact self-interested rationally due to various reasons such as: To avoid dispute with people of financial power during re-election To transfer their power readily if people who can help them in re-election so require. If they are in power, they would like to increase their wealth by doing so. If not in power, they want to attain power and so listen to these private individuals. There are many examples o f private interest. The Oil Spill in Deep Waters in 2010 would help us in understanding the process of domination of private

Analyzing MacDonalds and Aircel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Analyzing MacDonalds and Aircel - Essay Example The first case is about the establishment and expansion strategies of McDonald’s in France. The company’s first restaurant was established in the nation in the year 1979 in Strasbourg. Since then the company has been continuing to expand its operations steadily through the provision of the best quality of services and value to the customers. For the company which is based in the US, France has demonstrated the highest market growth with the establishment of 1161 numbers of restaurants in 2009. This was possible despite the numerous cultural differences existing between the two nations. The US entry into the French market was perceived as an invasion of American culture into the country which was itself known for its huge cultural heritage and traditions (ICMR, 2011). The theories which would be focused at for discussing the strategies of the company are Geert Hoftsede’s cultural dimensions. The next case would discuss the details of Aircel’s promotional st rategy. This strategy was launched in the year 1999 by the India based mobile operator Aircel. Aircel made entry into the highly competitive Indian market in the year 1999. Innovation formed the key component of its branding strategy. It communicated and connected with its customers using the simplest and the most thoughtful advertising campaigns. The case tries to discuss the various marketing strategies that were undertaken by the company for its late entry into the Indian market and for increasing and expanding its subscriber base. It was one of first telecom operators to be advertising on Face book. The various promotional strategies undertaken by the company would be discussed in the project. The promotional services using the television media, print media and the internet would be discussed in details in the project. Critical discussion of theories Recent research has demonstrated the effects of cultural differences on consumer behaviour. Many studies have emphasized on highli ghting the need for examining the validity of application of inferences which were developed in America for the designing and development of marketing strategies in other nations. A number of US based multinational companies like IBM, Coca-Cola; McDonald’s have been successfully earning significant revenue from their international operations across the globe. Thus the development of the different marketing strategies which remain sensitive towards the cultural differences across nations are considered to be of paramount importance for organizations have cross border operations and for their international success (Canli & Maheswaran, 2000, p.309). Previous research has thrown light on the fact that products and services from nations having favourable perceptions have been provided with positive evaluations. However, despite the above fact a survey which was conducted by Bozell-Gallup, (1996), showed that substantial differences in perceptions prevailed among the different nati ons. For example, according to the perception of Europe, Germany was chosen as the leader of quality. On the other hand for the Asian countries, Japan is considered to be a leader in quality. Despite the existence of substantial literature about nations of origin effects, an examination based on theoretical framework for the understanding of the effects of origin of countries across is still lacking. The collectivism/individualism framework has provided an important way of measuring and comparing the differences in cultures across nations. Collectivists and individualists have shown considerable

Junk Food Essay Example for Free

Junk Food Essay Junk food is considered an unhealthy food which only contains a small amount of nutrients, or provides much more energy than body needs. Examples of junk food include frozen desserts, hamburgers, pizzas, carbonated beverages, fried chickens. Nowadays, a great many individuals buy junk food frequently. At the same time, people are overweight from day to day. This essay will analyse why junk food is particularly popular. To some extent, junk food has negative effect on health and eating less junk food might be better. Firstly, junk food is harmful to people’s health. It is not only non-nutritious but also including a large sum of oils, sugars, fats, salts, calories and antiseptics. Some serious problem will be generated with eating numerous junk foods for a long time, such as obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and heart disease. My experience is a convincing example. When I was a freshman in the university, my course schedule was extremely busy. I ate Junk Food for lunch everyday. Fresh food was replaced by junk food and my weight rose sharply. At the beginning, I did not realize that it really made me overweight until the semester finished. I found junk food can increase people’s excess weight. It can be seen that junk food has many disadvantages as previous study. However, why do people buy it frequently? On the one hand, an increasing number of fast paced life makes people have to choose the junk food as their daily diet. It is obvious that eating junk food is a time-saving and money-saving way to resolve their problem perfectly, when they working and studying very busily, which makes people ignore the fact that junk food is frequently harmful. The awareness of individuals need to be improved on behalf of people’s health. On the other hand, why do individuals buy junk Food is the result of excellent marketing strategy. Firstly, people are usually misleaded by overwhelming advertisings. For instance, the advertisement of vitamin water from the Coca-Cola always repeats that it just contains vitamin and nothing  about sugar. In fact, the main component of the vitamin water is the fructose which is the major cause of obesity and drinking a bottle of vitamin water is equal to drinking a can of coke almost. It is witness that the advertisings make up the misleading to consumers. In addition, some brand of junk food, like KFC, McDonald’s, push out a meal with toys for children. There is a straightforward purpose to attract children’s attentions. Thirdly, some junk food restaurants have a playpark which supplies several small slides and plentiful plastic balls for children. Parents prefer to choose a table near by the playpark to take care of their children in the McDonalds’ or KFC. Apart from above examples, there are a variety of marketing methods or skills, which influences individuals imperceptibly. Despite the fact that junk food is not only non-nutritious but also destructive, individuals often choose to eat it, due to a series of extraordinary marketing strategies which is hard to resist and fast paced life makes people just have limited choices. Therefore, trying to eat less junk food as far as possible is beneficial to people’s health.

Hanoi: History and Culture

Hanoi: History and Culture HANOI A, Introduction about Hanoi Chapter 1: History 1, Modern History As it had under Chinese rule, Vietnamese nationalism simmered quietly throughout the country, waiting for an opportunity. Young Nguyen Tat Thanh, better known by his alias Ho Chi Minh, thought that the end of WWI was a good opening, so he tried to present a plan for an independent Vietnam to US president Woodrow Wilson at the 1919 Versailles Peace Conference. Evidently, self-determination was for Europeans alone. When France fell to Nazi Germany in 1940, the Vichy government allowed the Japanese to put troops in Vietnam. The United States knew enough not to count on any French resistance, instead opting to pump arms and funding into the communist-dominated Viet Minh forces. Our leader, Ho Chi Minh, graciously accepted and began harassing the Japanese mercilessly. After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Uncle Ho called for a general uprising known as the August Revolution, and on September 2, 1945, Ho Chi Minh and his National Liberation Committee (with US officials at his side) declared the Democratic Republic of Vietnam independent at a rally in Ba Dinh Square. The French were not pleased, and fought the Viet Minh tooth and nail for eight years, despite a massive military aid package from the USA and formal recognition by both China and the USSR. On May 7, 1954, the French threw in the towel and surrendered North Vietnam to the Viet Minh. Fiercely anti-communist leader Ngo Dinh Diem was elected (more or less; a lot of dead people voted in that election) president of South Vietnam. Soon afterward, the USA closed its consulate in Hanoi. In 1959, Southern cadres asked that the North Vietnamese join them in armed struggle against the Diem regime. Hanoi responded by agreeing to help the National Liberation Front (NLF), also known as the Viet Cong, who were mainly communist South Vietnamese resisters with little training. Without French troops, however, the South Vietnamese army was incredibly weak, and the Western world looked on nervously as Diem began losing control of the situation. The USA sent 2000 military advisers to South Vietnam in 1961, the number swelling to 23,000 by 1964. By then, Hanoi was no longer helping the NLF out with guns and training; they were sending trained North Vietnamese troops across the border. Despite small victories, Hanois war didnt seem winnable until the 1968 Tet Offensive, when Hanoi gained the upper hand. The USA continued to throw warm bodies to the tune of 3.14 million men and women at the increasingly bloody conflict until the 1973 cease-fire. The USA evacuated almost all troops out of Vietnam in return for Hanois commitment to keep communism above the 17th parallel. They also cut off most financial and other aid to South Vietnam. By 1975, the southern half of the country was r unning on fumes. North Vietnam launched a massive attack on the South on January 1975; Saigon surrendered in April. No one, least of all the leadership in Hanoi, was prepared for reunification. At least two million Vietnamese had died in the conflict and scars ran deep; the environment and economy were shambles. The violence wasnt over, either: In 1979, answering for Vietnams 1978 invasion of Cambodia, China attacked Hanoi. The Chinese were repelled within 17 brutal days. The 1980s witnessed a devastating famine that left Hanoi with rice shortages and strict rations, a continuing guerrilla war with the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and the opening of European communism. Surprisingly, Vietnam finished the decade in much better shape than it started. In February 1990, the government called for more openness and criticism, but was unprepared for the seething discontent behind the floodgates. Hanoi backtracked, but began allowing more economic openness while keeping government structure (and media access) in a lockbox. In 1992 Vietnam signed a peace treaty with Cambodia, and in 1994, the USA lifted economic sanctions on the country. The two former enemies now maintain diplomatic relations. 2, Recent History As the economy continues to open to foreign investment and private ownership, Hanois leadership remains in the hands of hard-line communists. The economys command structure insulated Vietnam from the worst of the Asian economic crisis (though its currency was devalued twice); the crisis actually increased confidence in the Communist Party. The growing private business sector in the city makes it obvious; however, that capitalism is making sturdy inroads into Vietnam. While the government is eyeing Most Favored Nation status with the US and, eventually, membership of the WTO, its human rights record is bound to be a stumbling block. 3, Pre 20th Century History Human habitation of Northern Vietnam goes back about 500,000 years according to archaeological evidence. The site of present-day Hanoi has been populated for at least 10,000 years. These first inhabitants formed a feudally organized society that first relied on hunting, fishing and gathering, later developing animal husbandry and agriculture. These tribes developed in relative isolation until about 2000 years ago. The Han Chinese set up a military garrison near present-day Hanoi in 214 BC, using it as a base of operations that would eventually control most of modern Vietnam. The next 1000 years of Chinese rule introduced important technological innovations to the Vietnamese, including ploughs and irrigation systems. But rebellion simmered in every town, and the millennium was punctuated by revolution and resistance. This tradition of rebellion shaped Vietnams national character. Vietnamese rebels saw their chance when Chinas Tang dynasty collapsed. In 938, revolutionary leader Ngo Quyen gave the Chinese a sound whipping and established an independent Vietnamese state, but after his death the region fell into anarchy. In 980, Vietnam became a semi-independent client state of China, stabilizing the situation all for the cost of a biannual tribute. For the next 400 years, the site of present-day Hanoi served as the administrative seat for all of Vietnam. The Grand Royal enclosure, now the citys Old Quarter, was constructed and the nations first university, the Temple of Literature, was founded during the first century of home rule. Attacks by the Khmers, Chinese and even Kublai Khan were repelled by national forces. All this was done with little Chinese interference. The Chinese never forgot their plum province, however, and in 1400 they captured Hanoi again. National hero Le Lois guerrilla tactics and peasant support eventually reclaimed Vietnamese independenc e. A period of nationalism and renewed interest in Confucianism followed a reaction to increased discontent with Europeans, their values and their missionaries. The missionaries didnt take the hint, however, and in 1858 several were killed. The French had an excuse to invade, and by 1867 South Vietnam was a French colony. Hanoi was captured in 1874. The impotent imperial court was allowed to remain, indulging itself in various coups and capers, but the French controlled the nation. Chapter 2: Geography and climate Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam. It is located at 20Â °25 latitude North and 105Â °30 longitude East in the plains of North Vietnam. There are many rivers flowing eastwards to the sea. This is a convenient transport cluster for all the Northern provinces. The climate is tropical and affected by monsoons. There are four seasons in Hanoi, there are: Spring; it starts from February to April; average temperature is from 15Â ° to 20Â °C (59Â ° -68Â ° F), drizzle is frequent with wet weather. This is the season of the Lunar New Year holiday and many folk festivals. Summer; it starts from May to August; average temperature is from 30Â ° to 36Â ° C (86Â ° -97Â ° F). There is much rain and sunshine. Autumn; it starts from September to November; average temperature is 25Â ° to 36Â ° C (75Â ° 97Â °F). It is cool, clear and dry. This is the best season in Hanoi, but it is short, lasting no more than 50-60 days. Winter; it starts from December to January; the lowest temperature is from 10Â ° to 15Â °C (48Â ° -59 Â °F). The weather is cloudy and wet. The monsoons c ause many phases of cold. The annual average rainfall in Hanoi is 1800 mm. In the past, many rivers flowed through Hanoi, but they changed their currents from time to time, therefore the ground is mainly deposited by alluvium and there are many lakes. These rivers and lakes give Hanoi a natural beauty. In the flood season, the water level of the largest rivers flowing through Hanoi (the Red River, the Duong, Nhue, Day Rivers) rises very high. During ancient times, the Vietnamese people have built thousands of kilometers of dykes by the river banks. Nowadays, in the city, some sections of the ancient dykes have become traffic roads Chapter 3: Administrative zones At the present time, Hanoi comprises 7 inner districts and 5 suburban districts. Nevertheless, districts may be increased in number as the capital is developing fast together with the country. The 7 inner districts of Hanoi are: Hoan Kiem district: This is a trade, cultural and administrative centre. The Municipal Peoples Committee, the Central Bank and important state offices are located in this district. It also includes theatres, railway stations, markets and busy commercial streets. There are two bridges link Hoan Kiem district with the other side of the Red River. Hoan Kiem Lake in the centre of the district is considered as the heart of the capital. Its ancient streets still keep deep imprints of Hanois millenary history; therefore they should be protected as historical relics. The Hoan Kiem lake description will be explain further in next chapter. Ba Dinh district: Ba Dinh district is located at South of West Lake, a zone where many highest state bodies and diplomatic office s are located. The Mausoleum and Museum of Ho Chi Minh and the Hanoi old citadel are also located in this district. The Western part of this district is being reconstructed through large projects. Hai Ba Trung district is situated of Hoan Kiem Lake including trade and administrative zones. It is developing southwards, covering some industrial and population localities between the National Road 1 A and the Red river. Dong Da district. This is a Southwest expanded part of the city including many common living quarters, colleges, hospitals and factories built in the 1960s and 1970s. Large transport routes and multi-storey buildings are now under construction in this district in the Southern part of Dong Da lake. Recently, the districts of Tay Ho, Thanh Xuan and Cau Giay have been formed on the territory of the old districts and precincts to satisfy the development demands of the city. In these new districts, the construction tempo has increased on the basis of the better planning. The suburban districts of Tu Liem and Thanh Tri are located in the South of the city; Dong Anh and Soc Son districts are in the North; and Gia Lam districts are in the East. Formerly, these districts were agricultural areas, providing the capital with food and vegetables. At present, new factories, industrial and export processing zones are being established in this district. http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/learn_about_vietnam/geography/ha_noi/ Chapter 4: Hanois people There was a long period in the northern part of the country of relative isolation from the west. Thus Vietnamese in Hanoi and its surrounding areas tend to be quite curious about westerners. Travelers should expect to be watched and commented on, and to be asked questions considered somewhat intrusive by western standards (how old are you, are you married, how much money do you make, why do you have those children, etc.). None of this is meant to cause offense; it is just a simple curiosity. Vietnamese live much more out in their neighborhoods than do typical westerners, who live and work in closed-up buildings and travel everywhere by car, and are avid observers of (and commentators on) life around them. Hanoians are overwhelmingly honest and good-natured people. There is no animosity toward Americans left over from the war. People tend to be forward-looking and prefer not to dwell on the past; they are pragmatic, down-to-earth, and extremely hard-working, particularly women. Adults almost universally dote on children. Travelers can expect to have their babies taken away to be held, and their children of all ages entertained in shops, restaurants, and hotels. Merchants and peddlers do see western travelers as great sources of income and relatively easy marks. They bargain aggressively and overcharge without mercy (but will scrupulously count change when the bargain is struck). Small children selling postcards and shoe shining services can be quite ruthless. People asking for hand-outs are very persistent and at times unpleasant. Travelers who walk purposefully, say no firmly to unwanted offers, and make minimal eye contact are fare best. * * * B. Special features in Hanoi Chapter 1: Hanoi 36 streets 1, History of Hanois Old quarter As the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam, Hanois Old Quarter has a history that spans 2,000 years and represents the eternal soul of the city. Located between the Lake of the Restored Sword, the Long Bien Bridge, a former city rampart, and a citadel wall, the Old Quarter started as a snake and alligator-infested swamp. It later evolved into a cluster of villages made up of houses on stilts, and was unified by Chinese administrators who built ramparts around their headquarters. The area was named Dominated Annam or Protected South by the Chinese. The Old Quarter began to acquire its reputation as a crafts area when the Vietnamese attained independence in the 11th century and King Ly Thai To built his palace there. In the early 13th century, the collection of tiny workshop villages which clustered around the palace walls evolved into craft cooperatives, or guilds. Skilled craftsmen migrated to the Quarter, and artisan guilds were formed by craftsmen originating from the same village and performing similar services. Members of the guilds worked and lived together, creating a cooperative system for transporting merchandise to the designated streets in the business quarter. Because inhabitants of each street came from the same village, streets developed a homogeneous look. Commoners homes evolved out of market stalls, before streets were formed. Because storekeepers were taxed according to the width of their storefront, storage and living space moved to the rear of the buildings. Consequently, the long and narrow buildings were called tube houses. Typical measurements for such houses are 3 meters wide by 60 meters long. The Old Quarter has a rich religious heritage. When the craftsmen moved from outlying villages into the capital, they brought with them their religious practices. They transferred their temples, pagodas and communal houses to their new location. Each guild has one or two religious structures and honors its own patron saint or founder. Therefore, on each street in the Old Quarter there is at least one temple. Now, many of the old temples in the Old Quarter have been transformed into shops and living quarters, but some of the old buildings religious roots can still be recognized by the architecture of their roofs. Although the old section of Hanoi is often called the 36 Old Streets, there are more than 36 actual streets. Some researchers believe that the number 36 came from the 15th century when there might have been 36 guild locations, which were workshop areas, not streets. When streets were later developed, the guild names were applied to the streets. Others attribute the 36 to a more abstract concept. The number nine in Asia represents the concept of plenty. Nine times the four directions makes 36, which simply means many. There are now more than 70 streets in the area. Some streets have achieved fame by their inclusion in popular guidebooks. Han Gai Street offers silk clothing ready-made and tailored, embroidery, and silver products. Hang Quat, the street that formerly sold silk and feather fans, now stuns the visitor by its brilliantly colored funeral and festival flags and religious objects and clothing. To Thinh Street connects the above two and is still the wood turners street. Hang Ma glimmers with shiny paper products, such as gift wrappings, wedding decorations and miniature paper objects to burn for the dead. Lan Ong Street is a sensual delight of textures and smells emanating from the sacks of herbal medicinal products: leaves, roots, barks, and powders In the early 13th century, the collection of tiny workshop villages which clustered around the palace walls evolved into craft cooperatives, or guilds. The Old Quarterbegan to acquire its reputation as a crafts area when the Vietnamese attained independence in the 11th century and King Ly Thai To built his palace there. In the early 13th century, the collection of tiny workshop villages which clustered around the palace walls evolved into craft cooperatives, or guilds. Skilled craftsmen migrated to the Quarter, and artisan guilds were formed by craftsmen originating from the same village and performing similar services. Members of the guilds worked and lived together, creating a cooperative system for transporting merchandise to the designated streets in the business quarter. Because inhabitants of each street came from the same village, streets developed a homogeneous look. Commoners homes evolved out of market stalls, before streets were formed. Because storekeepers were taxed according to the width of their storefront, storage and living space moved to the rear of the buildings. Consequently, the long and narrow buildings were called tube houses. Typical measurements for such houses are 3 meters wide by 60 meters long. The Old Quarter has a rich religious heritage. When the craftsmen moved from outlying villages into the capital, they brought with them their religious practices. They transferred their temples, pagodas and communal houses to their new location. Each guild has one or two religious structures and honors its own patron saint or founder. Therefore, on each street in the Old Quarter there is at least one temple. Now, many of the old temples in the Old Quarter have been transformed into shops and living quarters, but some of the old buildings religious roots can still be recognized by the architecture of their roofs. Although the old section of Hanoi is often called the 36 Old Streets, there are more than 36 actual streets. Some researchers believe that the number 36 came from the 15th century when there might have been 36 guild locations, which were workshop areas, not streets. When streets were later developed, the guild names were applied to the streets. Others attribute the 36 to a more abstract concept. The number nine in Asia represents the concept of plenty. Nine times the four directions makes 36, which simply means many. There are now more than 70 streets in the area. Some streets have achieved fame by their inclusion in popular guidebooks. Han Gai Street offers silk clothing ready-made and tailored, embroidery, and silver products. Hang Quat, the street that formerly sold silk and feather fans, now stuns the visitor by its brilliantly colored funeral and festival flags and religious objects and clothing. To Thinh Street connects the above two and is still the wood turners street. Hang Ma glimmers with shiny paper products, such as gift wrappings, wedding decorations and miniature paper objects to burn for the dead. Lan Ong Street is a sensual delight of textures and smells emanating from the sacks of herbal medicinal products: leaves, roots, barks, and powders. 2, Some streets in Old Quarter -Hang Bac Street A majority of the street names in the Old Quarter start with the word hang. Hang means merchandise or shop. The guild streets were named for their product, service or location. Hang Bac, one of the oldest streets in Vietnam, dates from at least the 13th century. Bac means silver, and appropriately, this street started as a silver ingot factory under the reign of Le Thanh Tong (1469-1497). Village people, called the Trau Khe silver casters, were brought into the capital to cast silver bars and coins. After a ceremony to transfer their craft from their village of Trau Khe to Hanoi, they set up two temples to honor the founders of their craft. At one communal house, the silver was molten and poured into molds. At the other communal house, the molds were further processed for delivery to the Prime Minister. The crafters went to great lengths to keep their methods secret to avoid counterfeit products. At the turn of the 18th century, the street took on more varied functions. In addition to the casting of silver ingots, the street attracted more jewelry makers and money exchangers. Money exchangers thrived, since in the old days, paper money was not used. Instead, currency consisted of bronze and zinc coins and silver ingots. When merchants needed a large amount of money for business transactions, they would exchange the heavy metal bars on Hang Bac. During the French time it was called Exchange Street. Although paper currency was later used, the word for it included the word bac. Hang Bac also has jewelers of different types: engravers, smelters, polishers, and gold-leaf makers. The first jewelry makers were the Dong Cac guild, which settled during the Le dynasty (1428-1788). They founded a temple dedicated to three brothers who learned their art in China in the 6th century, and who are considered the patron saints of the Vietnamese jewelry making profession. There are several famous buildings on this street. In the communal house on Hang Bac, there is a stone stele, built in 1783, telling about a Mandarin who forcibly took over the communal house. The locals took him to court and won back their building. The Dung Tho Temple is dedicated to Chu Bi, a Taoist deity. At the end of the French colonial period, this temple had been named Truong Ca, after a person who watched over the temple and served the best noodle soup. One building on this street is the pride of contemporary history-the Chuong Vang (Golden Bell) Theater, which still hosts traditional Vietnamese theater performances. The former traditional-venue theater, the To Nhu (Quang Lac) Theater built in the 1920s, also is on this street but has been transformed into apartments. -Hang Be Street In the mid-19th century, the guild of bamboo raft makers was located on this street outside the My Loc gate, one of the many sturdy gates to the city. The cai mang raft consisted of 12 to 15 large bamboo poles lashed together by strips of green bamboo bark. Their anterior was slightly raised by heating the wood, and the aft was rigged with three quadrangular sails made of coarse linen dyed with extracts of sweet potato skins. Bamboo rafts were sensible for Hanois shallow rivers, lakes and swamps, which can not provide solid anchorage or natural shelter from storms. The flat design better weathered the seasonal typhoons that lash the northern part of Vietnam, and is better adapted to coastal and river fishing. The bamboo poles from which the rafts were constructed were sold one block east on Hang Tre Street. -Cau Go Street Meaning Wooden Bridge, Cau Go Street is located one block north of the Lake of the Restored Sword, and was in fact the location of a wooden bridge. About 150 years ago, the bridge crossed a thin stream of water connecting the Thai Cuc Lake with the Lake of the Restored Sword. Dyers from the neighboring Silk Street set out their silk to dry or bleached their fabric beside the bridge. Under the French occupation, the lake and stream were filled as health measures and to increase buildable land. The little wooden bridge became a regular street. On the edge of the lake, women in wide brimmed hats once sold armfuls of flowers to the French for a few coins. Today a flower market exists where the Cau Go alley intersects with the main street. Other historical sites on Cau Go are the secret headquarters and hiding place of the 1930-45 Love the Country resistance movement. Cau Gotoday is a commercial street specializing in womens accessories. -Hang Dao Street This street is one of Vietnams oldest streets. It serves as a main axis running from north to south, cutting the Old Quarter in half. In the French Colonial time, Hang Dao Street was a center for the trading of silk products. On the first and sixth days of the lunar month, there were fairs for the sale of silk items. Shops also sold other types of fabric such as gauze, brocade, crepe, and muslin. Almost all the non-silk products were white. In the beginning of the 15th century, this street was the location of the silk dyer guild from the Hai Hung Province, which specialized in a deep pink dye. Dao, the name of the street, refers to the pink of apricot blossoms, which are symbolic of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The demand for this special color was so high that the fabric had to be dyed at other locations as well. Hang Thiec is the street of tinsmiths. The craftsmen originally produced small tin cone-shaped tips which were used to preserve the shape of the traditional conical hats By the 18th century, the dye colors diversified. In the 18th-century work Notes About the Capital, the author wrote that Hang Dao guild does dying work. It dyes red as the color of blood, black as Chinese ink, and other beautiful colors. In the 19th century, Hang Dao was lined by about 100 houses, of which only 10 or so were constructed of bricks. The rest were of thatch. On the side of the street alongside the now filled-in Hang Dao Lake, the foundations of the houses have visibly sunk lower than the road. By the turn of this century, Indian textile merchants opened shops for trading silk and wool products imported from the West. This street now specializes in ready-made clothing. -Dong Xuan Street/ Market Street This street originally belonged to two villages-the even numbered houses were occupied by the Nhiem Trung village, and the odd numbered houses were occupied by the Hau Tuc village. The Dong Xuan market, Vietnams oldest and largest market, occupies half of the street. River networks formed the economic hub of Hanoi by providing a system of waterways which fed the city and markets. Located at the confluence of the To Lich and Red Rivers, the Dong Xuan market was once one of the busiest urban areas in Southeast Asia. The French required merchants to bring their goods inside the fenced perimeter of the market in order to facilitate tax collections. When the number of merchants swelled, the market was enlarged. In 1889, a structure was built over it, and five gates were built leading to it. Each of the five market gates was used only for specified goods. In 1992, the market was renovated and a new facade erected. -Hang Mam Street Hang Mamis the union of two old streets: an eastern offshoot called Hang Trung and the original Hang Mam. The name is derived from the various kinds of mam, or fish sauces, that are produced and sold here, as well as other sea products. The street was originally on the riverside, close to the days catch. Nuoc mam, or fish sauce, is made from fish that are too small to be sold individually which are placed in clay vats with water and salt. Boiled water is poured over the fish and weights are placed on top of the mixture to compress it. The concoction distills for days, and the result is a clear amber juice that is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. With aging, the fierce ammoniac odors of the fish become mellow, and like brandy, the flavor improves. The first pressing, which is the clearest and purest, is called nuoc mam nhi, or prime. The sauce was stored in barrels made on adjacent Hang Thung Street. In the 1940s, new specialties appeared on the street. A small ceramics industry appeared along with those of memorial stone etching, coffin, and tombstone manufacturers. -Ma May Street This street also is a union of two old streets. Hang May sold rattan products, and Hang Ma sold sacred joss (paper replicas of money, clothing, even stereo sets) to burn for the dead. Ma is burned in front of the altar of ancestors accompanied by prayers. Around the turn of the century, the streets became one: Ma May. On the edge of the lake, women in wide brimmed hats once sold armfuls of flowers to the French for a few coins. In the French time, this street was called Black Flag Street because the soldier Luu Vinh Phuc had his headquarters here. Luu was the leader of the Black Flags, a bandit unit operating around Hanoi in the late 19th century. They were essentially pirates who made a living robbing villagers and merchants. In the 1880s, the Black Flags cooperated with the Vietnamese Imperial Forces to resist the French who were attempting to gain military control of Hanoi. In the middle of the street is the Huong Tuong temple, established in 1450, which honors Nguyen Trung Ngan (1289-1370), a governor of Thang Long, the former name of Hanoi. -Hang Thiec Street Hang Thiecis the street of tinsmiths. The craftsmen originally produced small tin cone-shaped tips which were used to preserve the shape of the traditional conical hats. A neighboring street, Hang Non, made the hats, and both streets comprised the Yen No hamlet. Hang Thiec Street also produced oil lamps, candle sticks, and opium boxes. Tin shops sold mirrors, which they still do today, along with sheet metal, zinc, and glass. The street echoes busily with the clanging of hammers against the sheet metal. Workers spread out on the sidewalk shaping metal storage boxes and other objects to custom order. -Hang Thung Street In the old days, on this block inside the Dong Yen gate, barrels were manufactured. The barrels were used for storing and carrying water and fish sauce. The communal house and the temple of the barrel makers guild is located at 22 Hang Thung, but is hidden behind newer buildings. The street is shaded by the leaves of the xoan tree which has a fluffy cream colored cluster flower and bright red berries. The tree has various English names: Margosa, Bead, or China Berry tree. In May, the tiny flowers fall to the ground like yellow confetti. The furrowed bark is often scraped off by local residents, who dry and boil it to make a medicinal infusion as a vermifuge. The Old Quarter is a precious legacy of Hanois ancient past, but the area is challenged by rapid changes. Today, handicraft production is increasingly replaced by restaurants, repair shops, and mini hotels. Historic buildings have become mass living spaces and schools as the population increases. Craft workers now constitute nine percent of the neighborhood. Traders make up 40 percent.With the new economic policies, a dramatic building boom has begun, threatening the charm of the district. Local, national, and international agencies are now formulating plans to preserve the historic ambiance of the Old Quarter. Meaning of the 36 streets (just old name but in fact more than there) Street Name: Description: Bat Dan Wooden Bowls Bat Su China Bowls Cha Ca Roasted Fish Chan Cam String Instruments Cho Gao Rice Market Gia Ngu Fishermen Hai Tuong Sandals Hang Bac Silversmiths Hang Be Rafts Hang Bo Basket Hang Bong Cotton Hang Buom Sails Hang But Brushes Hang Ca Fish Hang Can Scales Hang Chai Bottles Hang Chi Threads Hang Chieu Mats Hang Chinh Jars Hang Cot Bamboo Lattices Hang Da Leather Hang Dao (Silk) Dyer Hang Dau Bean

Letters and Correspondence in Austens Emma Essay -- Jane Austen

Letters and Correspondence in Austen's Emma Emma as the next step in the epistolary novel Jane Austen’s novel Emma was written at a time when the epistolary novel had just passed its peak (Cousineau, 32). Not only do letters and correspondence feature heavily in the novel, but according to April Alliston, â€Å"elements†¦ characteristic of novels of women’s correspondence recur in Austen† (221). Some examples of these elements that Alliston provides are the existence of young marriageable heroines; deceased mothers, or threatening ones which, in Austen’s novels, have become merely negligent; and substitute mothers who pass advice on to the daughter (221). As epistolary novels were comprised entirely of letters, early novelists could assert the pretended truth of their work rather than label it as fiction (Cousineau, 28). However, one disadvantage to this practice is that artefacts such as letters are â€Å"inscribed in doubleness and contradiction" (Cousineau, 14). Letters serve as a medium between the letter-writers and the reader, a medium which has the potential to warp the truth according to the private and unknown whims of the writers. By adopting an omniscient narration of her characters’ thoughts instead, Austen â€Å"[focussed] the reader’s â€Å"gaze† on the private space from which the heroine gazes out, thus fixing her more squarely in its exemplary frame than letter fiction ever could† (Alliston, 234). Although this method of narration â€Å"sacrifices the â€Å"documentary status†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ that eighteenth century fiction strove to achieve† (Alliston, 236), Austen’s novels al low us to see directly into a character’s thoughts. This both promises a more reliable version of "truth" by enabling the reader to learn a character’s genuine motivation, an... ...aults: Correspondences in Eighteenth-Century British and French Women’s Fiction. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1996. 219-241. Austen, Jane. Emma. New York: Oxford University Press Inc., 2003. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Editions, 1997. Cousineau, Diane. â€Å"Letters and the Post Office: Epistolary Exchange in Jane Austen’s Emma.† Letters and Labyrinths. Cranbury, NJ: Associated University Press, 1997. 13-51. Knoepflmacher, U. C. 2. The Importance of Being Frank: Character and Letter-Writing in Emma. Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, 1967. JSTOR 7 April 2007. Wheeler, David. The British Postal Service, Privacy, and Jane Austen’s â€Å"Emma†. South Atlantic Review, 1998. JSTOR. 7 April 2007.

Alcohol abuse Essay

Alcohol is absorbed from all parts of the gastrointestinal tract largely by simple diffusion into the blood. However the small intestine is by far the most efficient region of the gastrointestinal tract for alcohol absorption because of its very large surface area. In a fasting individual, it is generally agreed that 10% to 20% of a dose of alcohol is absorbed from the stomach (the volume of alcohol affects the absorption) and 75% to 80% is absorbed from the small intestine. Because of this peak blood alcohol concentrations are achieved in fasting people within 0. 5 to 2. 0 hours, (average 0. 75 – 1. 35 hours depending upon dose and time of last meal) while non-fasting people exhibit peak alcohol concentrations within 1. 0, and in extreme cases up to as much as 4. 0 hours (average 1. 06 – 2. 12 hours). Because it is distributed so quickly and thoroughly the alcohol can affect the central nervous system even in small concentrations. In low concentrations, alcohol reduces inhibitions. As blood alcohol concentration increases, a person’s response to stimuli decreases markedly, speech becomes slurred, and he or she becomes unsteady and has trouble walking. With very high concentrations – greater than 0. 35 grams/100 milliliters of blood (equivalent to 0. 35 grams/210 liters of breath ) – a person can become comatose and die. The American Medical Association has defined the blood alcohol concentration level of impairment for all people to be 0. 04 grams/100 milliliters of blood (equivalent to . 04 grams/210 liters of breath). The following is a generally accepted guide to the effects of alcohol. Distribution Alcohol has a high affinity for water and is therefore found in body tissues and fluids inasmuch as they contain water. Absorbed alcohol is rapidly carried throughout the body in the blood and once absorption of alcohol is complete an equilibrium occurs such that blood at all points in the system contains approximately the same concentration of alcohol. Elimination The liver is responsible for the elimination – through metabolism – of 95% of ingested alcohol from the body. The remainder of the alcohol is eliminated through excretion of alcohol in breath, urine, sweat, feces, milk and saliva. The body uses several different metabolic pathways in its oxidation of alcohol to acetaldehyde to acetic acid to carbon dioxide and water. Healthy people metabolize alcohol at a fairly consistent rate. As a rule of thumb, a person will eliminate one average drink or . 5 oz (15 ml) of alcohol per hour. Several factors influence this rate. The rate of elimination tends to be higher when the blood alcohol concentration in the body is very high. Also chronic alcoholics may (depending on liver health) metabolize alcohol at a significantly higher rate than the average. Finally, the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol quickly tend to diminish with age. Body Weight and Body Type In general, the less you weigh the more you will be affected by a given amount of alcohol. As detailed above, alcohol has a high affinity for water. Basically one’s blood alcohol concentration is a function of the total amount of alcohol in one’s system divided by total body water. So for two individuals with similar body compositions and different weights, the larger individual will achieve lower alcohol concentrations than the smaller one if ingesting the same amount of alcohol. However, for people of the same weight, a well muscled individual will be less affected than someone with a higher percentage of fat since fatty tissue does not contain very much water and will not absorb very much alcohol. Rate Of Consumption Blood alcohol concentration depends on the amount of alcohol consumed and the rate at which the user’s body metabolizes alcohol. Because the body metabolizes alcohol at a fairly constant rate (somewhat more quickly at higher and lower alcohol concentrations), ingesting alcohol at a rate higher than the rate of elimination results in a cumulative effect and an increasing blood alcohol concentration. Alcohol Content It’s not how many drinks that you have, but how much alcohol that you consume. The concentration of the drinks that one ingest can have a slight effect on the peak alcohol concentration due to the differences in absorption rate of different concentrations of alcohol. Alcohol is most rapidly absorbed when the concentration of the drink is between 10% and 30%. Below 10% the concentration gradient in the gastrointestinal tract is low and slows absorption and the added volumes of liquid involved slow gastric emptying. On the other hand concentrations higher than 30% tend to irritate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and the pyloric sphincter, causing increased secretion of mucous and delayed gastric emptying. Food Food taken along with alcohol results in a lower, delayed blood alcohol concentration peak (the point of greatest intoxication). There are two major factors involved in this phenomenon. First, because alcohol is absorbed most efficiently in the small intestine, the ingestion of food can slow down the absorption of alcohol into one’s system. The pyloric valve at the bottom of the stomach will close in order to hold food in the stomach for digestion and thus keep the alcohol from reaching the small intestine. While alcohol will be absorbed from the stomach it is a slower and less efficient transition. Second and equally important is the fact that alcohol elimination rates are inversely proportional to alcohol concentration in the blood. Therefore the suppressed levels of alcohol due to food ingestion cause the body to eliminate the alcohol that is absorbed at a faster rate. The type of food ingested (carbohydrate, fat, protein) has not been shown to have a measurable influence on this affect but the larger the meal and closer in time between eating and drinking, the greater the diminution of peak alcohol concentration. Studies have shown reductions in peak alcohol concentration (as opposed to those of a fasting individual under otherwise similar circumstances) of 9% to 23%. Medication If you are taking any medication, it could increase the effects of alcohol. You should always consult your physician or the medical information that accompanies the medication when drinking alcohol in conjunction with any medication. Fatigue Fatigue causes many of the same symptoms that are caused by alcohol intoxication. These and other symptoms will be amplified if alcohol intoxication is concurrent with fatigue. Tolerance Tolerance is the diminution of the effectiveness of a drug after a period of prolonged or heavy use of that drug or a related drug (cross-tolerance). There are at least two types of tolerance at work with alcohol. The first is metabolic tolerance in which the alcohol is metabolized at a higher rate (up to two times as quickly) in chronic users. Because of the higher metabolic rate for alcohol lower peak blood alcohol concentrations are achieved by chronic alcohol users than the average drinker when the same amount of alcohol is ingested. The second is functional tolerance in which there is an actual change in the organ or system’s sensitivity to the drug. Studies have shown that chronic alcohol users can have twice the tolerance for alcohol as an average person. It is important to note however that even in light of these tolerance factors, it has been shown conclusively that even in heavy alcohol users functional impairment is clearly measurable at the blood alcohol concentration levels that are currently used for traffic law enforcement and safety sensitive job performance. Gender Differences As outlined above in the section on Body Weight and Body Type different body types coincide with different body water percentages. In general, but by no means in all cases, women tend to have a higher percentage of body fat and thus a lower percentage of body water. Therefore, in general, if a man and a woman of the same weight ingest the same amount of alcohol the woman will tend to achieve a higher alcohol concentration. This, of course, would not be true if the woman was very fit and the man was somewhat obese, but on average, this is the case. Furthermore, total body water tends to decrease with age, so an older person will also be more affected by the same amount of alcohol. According to the table below the differences in alcohol concentration due to average body composition differences based on gender would be between 16% and 10% depending on age. ________________________________________ Average Total Body Water as a function of Sex and Age AgeMaleFemale 18 to 4061%52% over 6051%46% ________________________________________ Another gender based difference is in the elimination of alcohol. Although not explained, studies appear to show that women eliminate alcohol from their bodies at a rate 10% greater than that of men. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse Alcoholism (alcohol dependence) and alcohol abuse are two different forms of problem drinking. †¢Alcoholism is when you have signs of physical addiction to alcohol and continues to drink, despite problems with physical health, mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities. Alcohol may control your life and relationships. †¢Alcohol abuse is when your drinking leads to problems, but not physical addiction. Causes, incidence, and risk factors There is no known cause of alcohol abuse or alcoholism. Research suggests that certain genes may increase the risk of alcoholism, but which genes and how they work are not known. How much you drink can influence your chances of becoming dependent. Those at risk for developing alcoholism include: †¢Men who have 15 or more drinks a week †¢Women who have 12 or more drinks a week †¢Anyone who has five or more drinks per occasion at least once a week One drink is defined as a 12-ounce bottle of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1 1/2-ounce shot of liquor. You have an increased risk for alcohol abuse and dependence if you have a parent with alcoholism. You may also be more likely to abuse alcohol or become dependent if you: †¢Are a young adult under peer pressure †¢Have depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, or schizophrenia †¢Have easy access to alcohol †¢Have low self-esteem †¢Have problems with relationships †¢Live a stressful lifestyle †¢Live in a culture alcohol use is more common and accepted Alcohol abuse is rising. Around 1 out of 6 people in the world have a drinking problem. Symptoms People who have alcoholism or alcohol abuse often: †¢Continue to drink, even when health, work, or family are being harmed †¢Drink alone. †¢Become violent when drinking †¢Become hostile when asked about drinking †¢Are not able to control drinking — being unable to stop or reduce alcohol intake †¢Make excuses to drink †¢Miss work or school, or have a decrease in performance because of drinking †¢Stop taking part in activities because of alcohol †¢Need to use alcohol on most days to get through the day †¢Neglect to eat or eat poorly †¢Do not care about or ignore how they dress or whether they are clean †¢Try to hide alcohol use †¢Shake in the morning or after periods when they have not a drink Symptoms of alcohol dependence include: †¢Memory lapses after heavy drinking †¢Needing more and more alcohol to feel â€Å"drunk† †¢Alcohol withdrawal symptoms when you haven’t had a drink for a while †¢Alcohol-related illnesses such as alcoholic liver disease Signs and tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical and family history, including use of alcohol. The following questions are used by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to screen for alcohol abuse or dependence: †¢Do you ever drive when you have been drinking? †¢Do you have to drink more than before to get drunk or feel the desired effect? †¢Have you felt that you should cut down on your drinking? †¢Have you ever had any blackouts after drinking? †¢Have you ever missed work or lost a job because of drinking? †¢Is someone in your family worried about your drinking? Tests that may be done include: †¢Blood alcohol level (this can tell whether someone has recently been drinking alcohol, but it does not necessarily confirm alcoholism) †¢Complete blood count (CBC) †¢Liver function tests. †¢Magnesium blood test Medical Illness Associated With Chronic Alcohol Abuse DisorderIllness MetabolicAlcoholic ketoacidosis, alcoholic hypoglycemia, water and salt disorders NeurologicChronic problems with thinking such as Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s psychosis, alcoholic cerebellar degeneration, and central pontine myelinolysis leading to problems walking and other motor activities, acute and chronic dementia, alcoholic peripheral neuropathy MuscularAcute and chronic alcoholic muscle weakness. GastrointestinalFatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic cirrhosis, alcoholic pancreatitis, poor pancreatic function, gastroesophageal reflux, esophageal carcinoma, erosive gastritis, chronic diarrhea, malabsorption, esophageal varices leading to bleeding into the GI tract Metabolic-endocrineHigh cholesterol, high levels of uric acid, low testosterone levels, impotence, testicular atrophy, gynecomastia, irregular menstrual periods, reversible Cushing’s syndrome BloodAnemia due to poor production of blood cells or slow intestinal bleeding, poor white cell production, destruction of platelets, blood too thin to clot properly. CardiacDecreased cardiac function, arrhythmias, dilated cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure PulmonaryIncreased incidence of pneumonia, increased incidence of tuberculosis OtherIncreased incidence of severe intestinal infections, fetal alcohol syndrome, vitamin deficiency syndromes, trauma, sexual dysfunction, insomnia Social Problems Associated With Alcohol Abuse Accidental death and injury50% of fatal car crashes 25-fold increased risk of falls or drowning 50% of fire-related burns or deaths 20% to 30% of trauma seen in emergency rooms. CrimeFrequently involved in violent crime SuicideInvolved in up to 35% of suicides Economic cost$148 billion annually (estimated); 15% for health care and treatment OtherAssociated with increased rates of spouse or child abuse and increased spread of sexually transmitted diseases Treatment Completely stopping the use of alcohol is the ideal goal of treatment. This is called abstinence. A strong social network and family support are important in achieving this. Completely stopping and avoiding alcohol is difficult for many people with alcoholism. There will be times when it is difficult. You should aim to avoid drinking for as long as possible. Some people who abuse alcohol may be able to simply reduce the amount they drink. This is called drinking in moderation. If this method does not work, you should try to quit drinking completely. DECIDING TO QUIT Many people with alcohol problems do not recognize when their drinking gets out of hand. The ideal approach to treatment is to help the person realize how much their alcohol use is harming their life and those around them. Studies find that more people with alcohol problems opt for treatment when their family members or employers are honest with them about their concerns, and try to help them see that drinking is preventing them from reaching their goals. Withdrawal from alcohol is best done in a controlled, supervised setting. Complications from withdrawal can be life threatening. For more information, see: Alcohol withdrawal Your health care provider should order blood and urine tests to check for health problems that are common in people who abuse alcohol. LONG-TERM SUPPORT Alcohol recovery or support programs can help you stop drinking completely. These programs usually offer: †¢Counseling and therapy to discuss alcoholism and its effects and how to control your thoughts and behaviors †¢Mental health support †¢Medical care You may be treated in a special recovery center (inpatient), or you may attend a program while you live at home (outpatient). Medications are sometimes prescribed to prevent you from drinking again. †¢Acamprosate is a drug that has been shown to lower relapse rates in those who are alcohol dependent. †¢Disulfiram (Antabuse) produces very unpleasant side effects if you drink even a small amount of alcohol within 2 weeks after taking the drug. †¢Naltrexone (Vivitrol) decreases alcohol cravings. It is available in an injectable form. You cannot take these medications if you are pregnant or have certain medical conditions. The medications are often used with long-term treatment with counseling or support groups. Depression or other mood or anxiety disorders may be noticed after you stop drinking. These should be promptly treated. It is important that the patient has a living situation that supports their need to avoid alcohol. Some programs offer housing options for people with alcoholism or alcohol abuse. Support Groups Support groups are available to help people who are dealing with alcoholism. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA) Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a self-help group of recovering alcoholics that offers emotional support and specific steps for people recovering from alcohol dependence. The program is commonly called a â€Å"12-step† approach. There are local chapters throughout the United States. AA offers help 24 hours a day and teaches that it is possible to participate in social functions without drinking. AL-ANON Family members of a person with an alcohol abuse problem often need counseling. Al-Anon is a support group for partners and others who are affected by someone else’s alcoholism. Alateen provides support for teenage children of people with alcoholism. OTHER SUPPORT GROUPS Several other support groups are available. †¢SMART recovery teaches you have to change your thoughts and behaviors to help people with alcoholism recover. †¢LifeRing recovery and SOS are two nonreligious programs that offer support for people with alcohol abuse. †¢Women for Sobriety is a self-help group just for women. Moderation Management is a program for those who want to reduce how much they drink. It recommends abstinence for people who cannot do this. Expectations (prognosis) How well a person with alcoholism or alcohol abuse does depends on whether or not they can stop drinking. Alcoholism is a major social, economic, and public health problem. Problem drinking can affect every part of a person’s life. If you have an alcohol problem, abstinence can help improve your mental and physical health and possibly, your relationships. Treatment programs can help you quit. However, drinking again after treatment is common. It is important to have a good support system. Complications Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can increase your risk of many health problems, including: †¢Bleeding in the digestive tract †¢Brain cell damage †¢Brain disorder called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome †¢Cancer of the esophagus, liver, colon, and other areas †¢Changes in the menstrual cycle (period) †¢Delirium tremens (DT’s) †¢Dementia and memory loss †¢Depression and suicide †¢Erectile dysfunction †¢Heart damage †¢High blood pressure. †¢Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) †¢Liver disease, including cirrhosis †¢Nerve damage †¢Poor nutrition †¢Sleeping problems (insomnia) Alcohol use also increases your risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and violence. Drinking alcohol while you are pregnant can lead to severe birth defects in the baby. Prevention The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends: †¢Women should not drink more than 1 drink per day †¢Men should not drink more than 2 drinks per day One drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1? ounces of liquor.