All About Pirates and Their Treasure

We’ve all seen the movies where one-eyed, peg-leg pirates make off with great wooden chests full of gold, silver, and jewels. But this image isnt really accurate. Pirates only rarely got their hands on treasure like this, but they did still take plunder from their victims. Pirates and their Victims During the so-called Golden Age of piracy, which lasted roughly from 1700 to 1725, hundreds of pirate ships plagued the waters of the world. These pirates, while generally associated with the Caribbean, did not limit their activities to that region. They also struck off the coast of Africa and even made forays into the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They would attack and rob any non-Navy ship that crossed their paths: mostly merchant and slave vessels plying the Atlantic. The plunder the pirates took from these ships mainly were trade goods profitable at the time. Food and Drink Pirates often plundered food and drink from their victims: Alcoholic drinks, in particular, were rarely if ever allowed to continue on their way. Casks of rice and other foodstuffs were taken on board as needed, although the less cruel pirates would leave enough food for their victims to survive. Fishing ships were often robbed when merchants were scarce, and in addition to the fish, pirates would sometimes take tackle and nets. Ship Materials Pirates rarely had access to ports or shipyards where they could repair their vessels. Their ships were often put to hard use, meaning that they were in constant need of new sails, ropes, rigging tackle, anchors, and other things necessary for the day-to-day maintenance of a wooden sailing vessel. They stole candles, thimbles, frying pans, thread, soap, kettles, and other mundane items and would often also plunder wood, masts, or parts of the ship if they needed them. Of course, if their own ship were in really bad shape, the pirates would sometimes simply swap ships with their victims! Trade Goods Most of the loot gained by pirates was trade goods being shipped by merchants. Pirates never knew what they would find on the ships they robbed. Popular trade goods at the time included bolts of cloth, tanned animal skins, spices, sugar, dyes, cocoa, tobacco, cotton, wood, and more. Pirates had to be choosy about what to take, as some items were easier to sell than others. Many pirates had clandestine contacts with merchants willing to purchase such stolen goods for a fraction of their true worth and then resell them for a profit. Pirate-friendly towns such as Port Royal, Jamaica, or Nassau, Bahamas, had many unscrupulous merchants willing to make such deals. Slaves Buying and selling slaves was a very profitable business during the Golden Age of piracy, and slave ships often were raided by pirates. Pirates might keep the slaves to work on the ship or sell them themselves. Often, the pirates would loot the slave ships of food, weapons, rigging, or other valuables and let the merchants keep the slaves, who were not always easy to sell and had to be fed and cared for. Weapons, Tools, and Medicine Weapons were very valuable. They were the tools of the trade for pirates. A pirate ship without cannons and a crew without pistols and swords were ineffective, so it was the rare pirate victim that got away with his weapon stores unplundered. Cannons were moved to the pirate ship and the holds cleared of gunpowder, small arms, and bullets. Tools were as good as gold, whether they be carpenters tools, surgeons knives, or navigational gear (such as maps and astrolabes). Likewise, medicines were often looted: Pirates were often injured or ill, and medicines were hard to come by. When Blackbeard held Charleston, North Carolina, hostage in 1718, he demanded—and received—a chest of medicines in exchange for lifting his blockade. Gold, Silver, and Jewels Of course, just because most of their victims didnt have any gold doesnt mean that the pirates never got any at all. Most ships had a little gold, silver, jewels, or some coins aboard, and the crew and captains were often tortured to get them to reveal the location of any such stash. Sometimes, pirates got lucky: In 1694, Henry Avery and his crew sacked the Ganj-i-Sawai, the treasure ship of the Grand Moghul of India. They captured chests of gold, silver, jewels, and other precious cargo worth a fortune. Pirates with gold or silver tended to spend it quickly when in port. Buried Treasure? Thanks to the popularity of Treasure Island, the most famous novel about pirates, most people think that the bandits went around burying treasure on remote islands. In fact, pirates rarely buried treasure. Captain William Kidd buried his loot, but hes one of the few known to have done so. Considering that most of the pirate treasure to be had was delicate, such as food, sugar, wood, ropes, or cloth, its not surprising that idea is mostly a myth. Sources Cordingly, David. New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 1996 Defoe, Daniel. A General History of the Pyrates. Dover Maritime, 60742nd edition, Dover Publications, January 26, 1999. Konstam, Angus. The World Atlas of Pirates. Guilford: The Lyons Press, 2009 Konstam, Angus. The Pirate Ship 1660-1730. New York: Osprey, 2003

On A Prospers Day Of Christmas Eve By John C Lester

On a prospers day of Christmas eve, John C Lester, James R, Crowe, John B, Kennedy, Frank O. McCord, Richard R. Reed and Calvin E. Jones, all gather around trying to find some amusement to try to get their minds off their problems. As they filled up the room with laughter and unimportant conversations amongst themselves Lester spoke up about having an idea. He said to the guys that they should start something new to try and cheer up their families and the people around them. He then said â€Å"let’s start a club of some kind† (Page eleven). To the others Lester’s idea was brilliant and they talked more and decided that it should be a secret society, they all thought of it like a college fraternity. All the guys who spoke about making the society weren’t thinking about being serious in any kind. The sic of them just spoke casually about starting their new society. Before they left back home they all decided to meet up again to discuss further details. As th ey came back to the next meeting they discusses on to what the name of the club should be. Kennedy and Richard Reed proposed that the name should include the word Kukloi, which is derived from the Greek word Kuklos. The root English word is circle. They are cheered of approval because it all pointed out to having some sort of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Lester then proposed to add the word â€Å"Klan†. After more discussion they all decided that two to proposed words should be added to get a new name. Later on they came about the name KuShow MoreRelatedDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesManagement—-Study and teaching. 2. Management—Problems, exercises, etc. Kim S. II. Title. HD30.4.W46 2011 658.40071 173—dc22 I. Cameron, 2009040522 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 ISBN 10: 0-13-612100-4 ISBN 13: 978-0-13-612100-8 B R I E F TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S Preface xvii Introduction 1 PART I 1 2 3 PERSONAL SKILLS 44 Developing Self-Awareness 45 Managing Personal Stress 105 Solving Problems Analytically and Creatively 167 PART II 4 5 6 7 INTERPERSONAL SKILLS 232 233

Authentic Leadership on Employee Trust †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Authentic Leadership on Employee Trust. Answer: Introduction: Trait theories defer from behavioral theories mainly in terms of the qualities of a leader (Derue et al. 2011: 12). Trait theories of leadership list some specific personality traits that a leader possesses. These traits distinguish leaders and non-leaders. The theories stress that leaders are not made but are born. In other words, the theories maintain that leadership in innate (the personality traits are inborn) and cannot be achieved through learning (Landis, Hill Harvey, 2014: 97). Behavioral theories of leadership, on the other hand, focus on the leader's specific and observable behaviors. Therefore, behavioral theorists pay their attention to the conduct or behaviors of leaders. The primary assumption of these theories is that leaders are made but not born and that the success of leadership is deeply rooted in the learnable and definable behaviors (Penney, Kelloway O'Keefe, 2015: 19) Different organizations have their strategies of selecting and developing effective leaders. However, some of the factors that determine the selection and development include assessment of core competencies and skills and clarification of roles and objectives (Zaccaro Klimoski, 2002: 17). The two primary leadership competencies are skills and behaviors. Skills, in this case, include interpersonal skills, technical and conceptual skills. An effective leader has the responsibly of assigning roles and defining objectives to the workers (Zaccaro Klimoski, 2002: 17). For instance, the role of a human resource manager in an organization would include assigning tasks, formulating action plans for completing tasks or projects and setting goals of performance. Employees' motivation is key to the growth and sustainability of any business. The UK and Europe to ranking companies which have also been cited as the best working places share some common factors that they employ to motivate staff. One of the factors includes employee engagement in the business's operations. Maximum engagement of employees gives them opportunities to not only grow but also shine (Malik, Butt Choi, 2015: 56). They are given opportunities to explore their strengths, grow in their roles as well as learn more. The respective companies and workplaces empower their employees thereby encouraging understanding and encouragement. As a result, the companies record high productivity and profits. Another form of motivation is awarded in terms of awards and other benefits. Other than the basic salary, employees working in these top and/or best companies receive other benefits such as allowances, sick leave, educational leaves, retirement benefits and promotions (Wang Hsieh, 2013: 616). Additionally, employees enjoy a high sense of empowerment. Employees are therefore given opportunities to make decisions that influence the respective companies. It is thus evident that these companies and workplaces encourage decision-making strategy that involves all the stakeholders. Such an approach according to Wang and Hsieh (2013: 616) ensures that the employees are satisfied hence work towards improving the companies' productivity while maximizing profits and meeting competitive advantage. One of the recent films I have watched is Jamie Uys' The Gods Must be Crazy. It is an African based film depicting the ancient life before the emergence of technology in the region. In my perspective, the film is a depiction of what Auguste Comte contended. That is, societies evolve from one stage to the other. The three stages are the theological stage, metaphysical stage, and the scientific stage. The film shows a sophisticated culture which is later disintegrated by conflict and the emergence of technology. The society in question has strict beliefs and values and knows nothing about education. They believe in supernatural powers. Generally, I found the movie interesting and all-involving. Conversely, a friend who watched the same film said that the movie was unattractive. According to her, the actions, events, culture, and characters show how human beings can be barbaric at times. She also contended that the film could be fictional because she could not understand how rational hu man beings could lead a normal life in a desert. Essentially, our perceptions about the film were very different. While I perceived that the unfolding events in the film were salient in any society with no experience of technology and exposure, my friend maintained that such kind of life is abnormal and the film events are just mere makings and imaginations. If I were Samantha, I would ensure the following factors before delegating any project or part of the project to any member of the staff. I would first consider whether I have suitable personnel who can handle the task effectively. The right person to handle the project must possess all the necessary abilities to handle the requirements of the project. In order to ensure that the workers do not feel that Samantha's oversight and authority are too much or she is over controlling, it is necessary to delegate projects while incorporating discussion and participation. She should invite questions and also allow suggestions. The approach is effective in understanding how the workers perceive the task, how they accept it and even become committed. Executives do not require controlling all the projects as a way of maintaining authority. Other than controlling all the projects, executives can alternatively express authority through ensuring that there is trust between them and the employees (Binns, Smith, Tushman, 2011: 72). Again, they can also do so through employees' motivation. Additionally, executives have all rights to have control over projects because it is one of their core responsibilities. However, their manner of control is influenced by the decisions made. They have to be made aware of the decisions made. Some of the tasks that a top executive cannot delegate include; core responsibilities, talent nurturing and team building, crisis management, and achievement of the mission, vision and the company culture. According to Hackman, a successful teamwork should be small in size with consistent membership (Hackman, 2009: 98). It should have skilled, highly motivated and committed members. Also, a successful teamwork should have defined roles and responsibilities. The team leaders should be courageous, assertive and capable of imposing authority. These qualities are important in ensuring effective group performance. Other essential conditions improve the efficiency of teams. Firstly, effective teams focus on cooperation among the team members (Hackman, 2009: 100). In this case, there is the need for the team members to work together to achieve certain goals. Effective teams should also exhibit flexibility. That is, teams should be able to deal with any changes. Dealing with changes calls for the team members to consider different views from every member and can even choose to compromise. One of the things I would do to ensure that the new team is effective is to lay down the ground work. Secondly, I would assess the skills and expertise of every team member. This would help in classifying the members with complementary skills. It would be necessary to divide the overall goal into smaller tasks. The breakdown promotes individual performance and responsibility thereby enhancing accountability towards achieving the overall goal. References Binns, A., Smith, W. K., Tushman, M. L. (2011). The ambidextrous CEO. Harvard Business Review, 89(6), 74-80. Derue, D. S., Nahrgang, J. D., Wellman, N. E. D., Humphrey, S. E. (2011). Trait and behavioral theories of leadership: An integration and meta?analytic test of their relative validity. Personnel psychology, 64(1), 7-52. Hackman, J. R. (2009). Why teams don't work. Interview by Diane Coutu. Harvard Business Review, 87(5), 98-105. Landis, E. A., Hill, D., Harvey, M. R. (2014). A synthesis of leadership theories and styles. Journal of Management Policy and Practice, 15(2), 97. Malik, M. A. R., Butt, A. N., Choi, J. N. (2015). Rewards and employee creative performance: Moderating effects of creative self?efficacy, reward importance, and locus of control. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36(1), 59-74. Penney, S. A., Kelloway, E. K., OKeefe, D. (2015). Trait theories of leadership. Leadership in Sport, 19. Wang, D. S., Hsieh, C. C. (2013). The effect of authentic leadership on employee trust and employee engagement. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, 41(4), 613-624. Zaccaro, S. J., Klimoski, R. J. (Eds.). (2002). The nature of organizational leadership: Understanding the performance imperatives confronting today's leaders (Vol. 12). John Wiley Sons.

Cross-cultural management in organisations - Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss about the Cross-cultural management in organisations. Answer: A manager can be referred as an individual who is provided the responsibility of handling a project as well as a team or certain operations of the organization. They are mainly assigned with the duty of getting the jobs done and at the same time motivate employees to accomplish the goals set by the employers (Goetsch Davis, 2014). This assignment will mainly provide an overview about the work done by the managers the procedures and the theories they follow fro effective management and how they help employees and organization to reach the peak of success. Managers are usually provided with a set of objectives which they need to meet for organizational success. This responsibility now starts with forming suitable teams and managing them properly so that the objective can be met. One of the skills that every managers need to possess is decision making skills (Cameron Green, 2015). The managers need to correctly develop critical thinking ability and thereby assign works to team members according to their capabilities so that there is no rise of conflicts and all the tasks are completed smoothly. The decisions which are made often become stressful for the managers as they have to fire someone or to lay-off a whole team. Therefore the managers need to be always ready to make choices which are good for the ultimate goals. While developing teams, manager can follow Tuckmans theory so that he can correctly form effective teams. The first stage he can follow is the forming stage where the team members gradually gets acquainted with the team working styles and accept the power or authority offered by their leaders. In the second stage called the storming, individual team members reveal their personalities which sometimes result in emerging of conflict and disagreement affecting unity in the meeting of goals (AlAriss et al. 2014). The third stage is called the norming stage where conflicts are mainly resolved by the managers and team harmony and unity is gained back. The fourth stage is called the performing stage where the managers mainly guide the team members on problem solving and thereby accomplishing the tasks. The last stage is called the adjourning stage where the team has a limited task to perform which is then disbanded upon task completion (Pemsel Wiewwiora 2013). Therefore, managers through th is process can successfully develop and manage teams and thereby help in meeting the goals. Another important aspect which should be followed by different managers to maintain an effective workplace is proper communication skills. Effective communication is the only process by which managers can not only overcome various types of conflicts among the employees but can also help in solving different problems and make the working environment smoother and informal. Researchers are of the opinion that proper communication skills include the managers to be an active listener (Ou et al., 2014). He should give the scope to the employees to speak out their concern or problems making them feel that they have a guide who cares for them. Effectively developing the trust of the employees by properly socializing with them, make the managers help in developing an informal environment in the workplace. This reduces stress of the employees and can thereby produce higher productivity. Moreover, another effective aspect of communication is feedback giving and receiving skills. Managers do not only have the duties to make sure that the objectives are met but would also make sure that employees are happy within the working environment. For this, managers should take effective feedbacks from the employees making them feel integrated in the system (French, 2015). On the other hand, the managers should also provide feedback to the employees with a positive and encouraging tone, so that the employees can rectify their mistake and also at the same time do not develop negative feelings for them. This would help the managers to ensure that the team is well aligned with the team. Managing the team is not only the main function of the managers. They also have to be following the five competencies which are valuable for maintaining the flow of work in the organization. The first competency mainly helps in dealing with the proper organization of the information flows. It is one of the most important tasks for the manager to manage, utilize and distribute information effectively so that the miscommunication and losses do not occur. The second competency that the managers need to develop is to multitask and manage different types of works and functions at the same time so that he can take care of all the responsibilities imposed on him. He has to overcome different challenges like intercultural issues and thereby help in building unity and setting higher standards of team performance (Jin et al., 2014). The third competency is mainly including several initiatives for properly planning and coordinating projects so that all the stakeholders are aware of the status o f the ongoing work. The fourth competency would mainly be his evaluation skills where he should be properly measuring and monitoring the performance of the team members and denoting them about their qualities. He would be mainly helping in evaluating the outcomes that the organization wants to make. The fifth and last competency would be to encourage team members and also maintain his activities by properly aligning with the rules and regulations of the organizations and also help them maintain the legal and regulatory requirements for the organizations. Other than this, the managers should make sure that they possess skills such as proper time management, proper interpersonal and relationship building skills, delegation, forward planning and strategy as well as problem solving (Quinn et al., 2014). They should also have proper emotional intelligence, administrative and financial skills and proper leadership skills which would ensure successful outcomes for the organization. From the entire discussion, it is seen that managers play an important role in the organizations. In order to complete their assigned tasks responsibly, it is seen that they have to possess proper team development skills, team management skills and evaluation skills. Not only that their communication skills are also important to maintain an informal trustworthy relationships among the employees which ensure higher productivity. Moreover they have to multitask properly, maintain unity, and possess problem solving skills, decision making ability and others. All these would ensure that organizational goals are successfully met and employees can exhibit their skills with full potential. References: Al Ariss, A., Cascio, W. F., Paauwe, J. (2014). Talent management: Current theories and future research directions.Journal of World Business,49(2), 173-179. Cameron, E., Green, M. (2015).Making sense of change management: A complete guide to the models, tools and techniques of organizational change. Kogan Page Publishers. French, R. (2015).Cross-cultural management in work organisations. Kogan Page Publishers. Goetsch, D. L., Davis, S. B. (2014).Quality management for organizational excellence. Upper Saddle River, NJ: pearson. Jin, Y., Liu, B. F., Austin, L. L. (2014). Examining the role of social media in effective crisis management: The effects of crisis origin, information form, and source on publics crisis responses.Communication research,41(1), 74-94. Ou, A. Y., Tsui, A. S., Kinicki, A. J., Waldman, D. A., Xiao, Z., Song, L. J. (2014). Humble chief executive officers connections to top management team integration and middle managers responses.Administrative Science Quarterly,59(1), 34-72. Pemsel, S., Wiewiora, A. (2013). Project management office a knowledge broker in project-based organisations.International Journal of Project Management,31(1), 31-42. Quinn, R. E., Bright, D., Faerman, S. R., Thompson, M. P., McGrath, M. R. (2014).Becoming a master manager: A competing values approach. John Wiley Sons.

Idina Menzel †“I Stand” free essay sample

Idina Menzel is an actress/ singer/songwriter who is probably best known for her Tony Award-winning performance as Elphaba in the Broadway musical â€Å"Wicked,† and as Maureen in â€Å"Rent,† for which she earned a Tony nomination. She released her first CD, â€Å"Still I Cant Be Still,† in 1998 and â€Å"Here† in 2004. Neither album took off right away but both sold in good numbers. Now, Menzel has come out with her third and most successful CD yet, â€Å"I Stand.† The album has 10 songs, nine of which Menzel co-wrote. It has a soft rock yet modern feel that you might hear on any  ­music network. The album, produced by Glen Ballard, was  ­released to rave reviews and placed 58th on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The first two singles, â€Å"Brave† and â€Å"I Stand,† are rock ballads that document Menzels coming into her own and breaking out in the world.  ­Other tracks include â€Å"Gorgeous,† which was first released as a single on iTunes last fall, and â€Å"Where Do I Begin,† a ballad she wrote for her husband, actor Taye Diggs. We will write a custom essay sample on Idina Menzel – â€Å"I Stand† or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The songs cover themes of struggle, strife, and love, and are all made unique with fantastic riffs, wrapped in Menzels flawless rock-and-roll voice. Her  ­other two  ­albums pale in comparison, and her fans will agree that this one best showcases her talent as a songwriter. All in all, I give â€Å"I Stand† two thumbs up. It shows that a true performer can break her Broadway shell and still come out successful.

Rhythmic Gymnastics Essays - Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Hoop

Rhythmic Gymnastics Essays - Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Hoop Rhythmic Gymnastics Rhythmic Gymnastics Rhythmic gymnastics is a really genuine and flexible sport. The sport dates way back into the 1800s. The founding of rhythmic gymnastics cannot be directed to one person or movement, but to many great thinkers and control of the body. It wasnt until in the twentieth century that people started to know what rhythmic gymnastics was. A lady by the name of Francis Delsarte (1811-1871) who created a system of gymnastics that dealt with flexibility, strength and coordination. The Delsarte system of gymnastics was never meant to be anything big: but the method, and the healthy philosophies caught the attention of the dance world. As it got known to the world, it became more and more competitive and more gymnastics and props were added. But it wasnt until 1984 that they made rhythmic an individual competitive event in the Olympics. The 1996 Olympics was the first to include group competition. World championships have been held biannually, in succession of host cities, since 1963. It is a modern type of gymnastics with the performance of systematic physical exercise with the aid of such hand apparatuses such as ropes, hoops, balls, clubs, and ribbons. The elements include jumps, leaps, pivots, balances, and flexibility movements. Element routines are performed utilizing various pieces. Rhythmic gymnastics is a combination of gymnastic techniques and fluid dance-like movements, choreography, balance and agility with the hand items. Coordination and control are the two main essentials as the gymnast performs in harmony to the selected music beat. The ropes are used for the elegant and graceful way you move. The gymnast may leap or jump through the open or folded rope. Rope movements include swings, circles, wraps, figure-eights, and tosses and catches. The rope may be hemp or synthetic rope. The way they would average the size of rope that was needed was by the height of the gymnast. It should never sag to the ground during routines and must be in constant movement. The rope also has to be knotted at both ends or therefore you get counted off. The hoops are the most largest apparatus in rhythmic gymnastics. The most impressive things about the hoops are the high tosses and complex catches in various fashions. Other common movements include swings, rolls, spins, passes through and rotations around the hand and other body parts. The hoop is a wood or plastic, eighty to ninety centimeter diameter, 300 grams minimum weight. The hoop as well is usually wrapped with metallic tape to make it look more interesting, but at the same time, to give the hoop more support. One of the hardest apparatus to master is the ball. Because of its shape which is hard to grip, it makes it the hardest one to get down. Every movement you make it should be very slow and smooth, in order to get the full effect of the rhythm. Movements, include circles, tosses and catches, rolling along on different parts of the body. And bouncing the ball without it touching the ground for longer than a 2 second repeat. The ball is made of rubber, eighteen twenty centimeter diameter and only weighs minimum of 400 grams weight. Clubs are an interesting apparatus, which is immensely difficult to control because there are two clubs to handle throughout the whole routine. Routine use of the clubs include swings, circles, mills, tosses and catches, and rhythmical tapping. The clubs are made of wood or synthetic material. They are about forty to fifty centimeters long, and weigh about hundred and fifty grams each. They look like something mexican maracca. The one apparatus that is most associated with the rhythmic gymnastics because of its length and color is the ribbon. The ribbon measures up to 6 meters in length. It must be in constant movement throughout the whole routine. It is very easy to get the long satin feeling piece knotted up. This apparatus consists of the stick and the satin ribbon itself. The ribbon is only four to six centimeters in width and is only about six meters in length. Some of the elements that the you could do with the ribbon are snakes, spirals, circles, tosses and catches. While writing this paper, I have found out that

Nutrition for Health and Social Care (DISCUSSION) Assignment - 1

Nutrition for Health and Social Care (DISCUSSION) - Assignment Example The sugars that compose carbohydrates are called monosaccharide, and can combine to form very complex carbohydrates. The structure of a simple monosaccharaides is shown below. Digestion of carbohydrates initiates right from the mouth. The food is mixed with salivary amylase which breaks down the polysaccharides in the food. The saliva also assists in moistening of the food to allow it go down the stomach easily. From here the food is moved down to the stomach and is referred to as a chime. Here the stomach produces acids that kills bacteria in the food and stops the action of salivary amylase. In the pancreas and the small intestine, in the duodenum the pancreatic juice/amylase is added to the chime so as to break the polysaccharide to a disaccharide. In the small intestine, lactose, sucrose and maltose are produced to further break the food into a monosaccharide. These can therefore be absorbed into the lower parts of the small intestine by the villi into the blood system. In the colon, other carbohydrates that were not digested are partly digested by intestinal bacteria n\and the rest excreted as feces (DUGGAN, WATKINS & WALKER, 2008). Carbohydrates are essential since they provide energy for the body. They are therefore essential for the functioning of the central nervous system, circulatory system and other essential systems of the body. Fats and lipids are a wide group of compounds that are soluble in organic solvents and others in the water. Although there is no definite structure of fats, most of them belong to the triglyceride class, which assumes a three fatty acid glycerol backbone bond. The image of their structure is as shown below. The major issue to be considered in the digestion of fats is solubility. The digestion of fats is aided through emulsification. Their digestion begins in the stomach where hydrochloric acids, mucus and gastric enzymes are combined to form gastric juice.

Physics assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Physics - Assignment Example There are certain standards set as to assert the safety standard of any nuclear power plant. The organization that regulates the policies around the globe is known as IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). This organization has set a certain benchmark; which are actually, major concerns of a nuclear reactor in any country of the world. Some on the concerns are: 1. Testing of emergency situations, if and when they happen. 2. Equipment and actions to adhere the consequences of such an emergency. 3. Probability calculations of units failing and their back-ups. 4. Examining the worst possible scenario and creating an emergency plan accordingly. 5. Actions taken, in the event of radiation emissions form the plant. 6. Proper training of the men working in these facilities. 7. Anti-earth quake and anti-flood systems, which have to be, installed (Hugh, 2011). Question 2 There are three types of radiation particles namely alpha, beta and gamma particle radiations. Alpha radiations have be en defined as helium nuclei, comprising of two protons and two neutrons. It is considered to be very stable. Beta radiations have been defined as fast moving electrons formed by nuclear decay, whereas gamma radiations are known to be high frequency, short wavelength electromagnetic radiation (Cheng et al, 2000). All three of these radiations have certain benefits and disadvantages. The disadvantage of alpha particle is that when it in inhaled, can cause damage to lungs and the respiratory system. Beta rays cause disorder in the molecular structure of humans, whereas gamma rays can directly damage the human tissue, since they are very high energy rays. Along with these disadvantages, there are some benefits as well. Alpha particles are used to detect smoke for engaging a fire alarm or water sprinkler. Beta particles are used to find thickness of aluminum foil, its variables and capable of treating cancer patients as well. Gamma radiations are used to locate flaws in pipes, other stee l products for leaks and the integrity of welds in them (Cheng et al, 2000). Medical benefits of radiations can be seen in the use of x-rays and treatment of cancer, whereas non-medical use of radiation can be seen in industries, for detection of leaks and welding faults in different metal mediums. Also for non-medical use, the rays are used for inspection on the production line to check emptiness or the thickness of materials like aluminum. (Cheng et al, 2000). Question 3 Apart from nuclear power, there are other ways to produce energy like hydroelectric, fossil fuel burning, solar and wind power. All these methods have a lot of advantages and disadvantages. Some of them will be depicted here. Hydroelectric power is free of cost, as water flow is easily available all around the world but the drawback is the amount of expenditure involved to build dams and huge water turbines. Furthermore, the environmental hazard for hydroelectric power generation is the disturbance of the ecologic al habitat of the aquatic life in the region. Fossil fuel is the best form of energy as it provides predictable and a constant power source but the major drawback falters this form of energy. It is the fossil fuel that is not a reusable or renewable source and is becoming scarce from the world at a very rapid rate. Solar and wind power both have almost the same kind of advantage and disadvantage. The setup for both is very expensive and is unpredictable in nature but the best advantage of these sources of power is

LEARY ENG 105 PAPER 2 RITUAL ASSIGNMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

LEARY ENG 105 PAPER 2 RITUAL ASSIGNMENT - Essay Example Even to those without a slight idea of the lyrics to the song, but having the tune with them, singing to the song becomes fun, interesting, and captivating. Equipped with adjustable light, the heart broken singer could opt to sing for the moment in a dimly lit room, or bright room. Over time, the meaning of the light has changed, where dimly lit or darkness signifies the intentions of ending the relationship. A brightly lit room, despite the singer singing his lout to the lost relationship, signifies a hopeful rejoinder. Thus, as the boys sing, they express their wishes about their sour relationship. Typically, a normal Chinese teenage relationship involves fantasies, dreams, and ambitions. Some of the very serious relationships ironically have even marriage proposals, with the partners expressing deep desires of settling down. However, few, if any survive through the teenage period, characterized by adventures and numerous crushes. Without adequacy in the definition of periods when the modern Chinese boys and girls can date, many boys find themselves in this booth. Whenever a relationship hits the rocks, the affected boy, unifying with his closest friends, takes to the booth to sing for his gone love. The music, meant to heal the wound, takes the form of sad love songs, ones that commemorate the day. Some however opt for the songs they used to sing to their girlfriends when in the relationship, honoring the person and the chance they had to love them. Although this ritual convey a sense of femininity, it actually offer a space for boys to ignore strict gender code and emotional abreact their anger and fragility. To the young men, singing sad songs in KTV is representative of their softy selves, a different form of masculinity in these men. The use of the Karaoke TV to the Chinese boys liberates them from the traditional concept of recovery, involving silence, subsequently redefining

Climate Change Impact On Marine Ecosystems Environmental Sciences Essay

Climate Change Impact On Marine Ecosystems Environmental Sciences Essay INTRODUCTION:- Extended periods of summers or winters, unusual rains, extreme droughts or floods and many more natural calamities that human started experiencing is depicting one phenomenon: Climate Change. Climate of any region refers to averaged weather over a period of 30 years or more and climate change refers to a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns, over a period ranging from decades to million. According to IPCC, climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer, this could be naturally or can be caused by the anthropogenic agents. However United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) considers only those changes which are in addition to the natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods and are attributed directly or indirectly to human activi ty that alters the composition of the global atmosphere. Within the past 100 years global temperature has increased approximately 0.6  °C, and is projected to rise by 2 to 4  °C by the end of this century (IPCC 2007). This increase in earth surface temperature cause glaciers shrinkage, melting of ice, sea level rise, changes of large ocean currents, shifts in the rainfall, evaporation and runoff pattern and thus affecting regional weather system and considerably influencing human and other life forms. Carbon dioxide is considered to be the main causative force attributing to climate change along with other greenhouse gases like methane, nitrogen oxide etc., which induces the warming of earth surface. Climate change is the biggest global challenge before mankind and fisheries is one of the sector which seems to be under imminent threat as alteration in water flow, fluctuation in water temperature and alteration in water quality influences the metabolic rate which regulates the important activities like feeding, digestion, growth rate, maturation, breeding and survival of fish. According to Natural Resource Defence Council (NRDC) global warming lead to disappearance of Salmon and Trout as much as 18 to 38 per cent of their habitat by the year 2090. And India having a vast coast line (8129 kms) is highly vulnerable to effects brought about by climate change and the rise in sea level can cause an ecological disaster (UNEP, 1989). This articles deal with enlisting some of the major impacts climate change will have on marine fisheries. Impact on physical environments As the temperature is increasing, the oceans are warming, but with geographical differences and some decadal variability. Global average sea level has been rising since 1961, but the rate has been accelerated since 1993. Higher frequency and intensity climate processes, such as El Nià ±o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and decadal-scale regime shifts, are expected to continue, with possible increases in their intensity or/and frequency in coming decades. Warming is more intense in surface waters but is not exclusive to these, with the Atlantic showing particularly clear signs of deep warming. Changes in ocean salinity have been observed, with increasing in salinity in near-surface waters in the more evaporative regions near to equator, and high latitudes showing decreasing salinity due to greater precipitation, higher runoff, melting ice and advection. The oceans are also becoming more acidic, with likely negative consequences to many coral reef and calcium-bearing organisms. Although there are no clearly discernible net changes in ocean upwelling patterns, there are indications that their seasonality may be affected. It is very likely that over the short term (within a few years), there will be negative impacts on the physiology of fish in localities where temperature increases, through limiting oxygen transport. Impact on biological functions and fish stocks Although large regional differences exist, especially at regional scales, most models predict a slight decrease in primary production in the seas and oceans and many models predict composition shifts to smaller phytoplankton which are likely to lead to changes in food webs in general. Changes in fish distributions in response to climate variations have been observed, generally consisting of pole ward expansions of warmer-water species and pole ward contractions of colder-water species. Changes are likely to affect pelagic species more rapidly than other species groups. Some examples of responses to climate change by different marine species are discernible in the Indian seas. (1) Until 1985, almost the entire catch of Oil sardine and Indian mackerel was from the Malabar upwelling zone and the catch was either very low or there was no catch from latitudes north of 14  °N. In the last two decades, however, the catches from latitude 14  °N to 20  °N are increasing which shows an e xtension of distributional boundary and a positive correlation was found between the catches and sea surface temperature (SST). (2) During 1970-2007, the catches of Catfish from southwest and southeast coasts decreased. On the other hand, the catches from the northwest and northeast coasts increased during the same period. It shows the strong negative correlation between catfish catch and SST along the two southern coasts and positive correlation between catch and SST along the northern coasts and hence a good example of shift in latitudinal distribution and abundance (3) During 1985-1989, only 2% of mackerel catch was from bottom trawlers, and the rest of the catch was contributed by pelagic gear such as drift gillnet where as in 2003-2010, 15% of mackerel catch is contributed by bottom trawlers along the Indian coast which shows a shift in the depth of occurrence of mackerels. The Indian trawlers operate at a depth ranging from 20m to 80m by employing high opening trawlers. As the surface waters are also warming up, it appears that the mackerel, being a tropical fish, has extended its vertical boundary to deeper waters. (4) data on the number of female spawners of threadfin breams Nemipterus japonicus and N. mesoprion collected every month off Chennai (south-east coast of India) from 1981 to 2010 indicated a trend in the shifting of spawning season from warmer (April September) to cooler months (October March) was discernible. Impact on fishers and fishermen communities Other than the direct impact of climate change on the present day human life, there are a lot of indirect impacts which adversely affects the fisher which are as varied as the climate change themselves. Impacts would be felt through changes in capture, production and marketing costs, changes in sales prices, and possible increase in risks of damage or loss of infrastructure, fishing tools and housing. Fishery-dependent communities may also face increased vulnerability in terms of less stable livelihoods, decreases in availability or quality of fish for food, and safety risks due to fishing in harsher weather conditions and further from their landing sites. Within communities and households, existing gender issues related to differentiated access to resources and occupational change in markets, distribution and processing, where women currently play a significant role, may be heightened under conditions of stress and increased competition for resources and jobs stemming from climate c hange. Communities located in deltas, coral atolls and ice dominated coasts will also be particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and associated risks of flooding, saline intrusion and coastal erosion. Coastal communities and small island states without proper extreme weather adaptation programmes, in terms of infrastructure design, early warning systems and knowledge of appropriate behaviour, will also be at high risk. Salination of the agricultural fields due to seawater intrusion is negatively impacting the agriculture field, however this leads to taking aquaculture as major adaptive measure and thus adaptive role as an alternative livelihood, compensating for income and some aspects of food supply. Impact on Coral reef ecosystems Risks to coral reefs are not distributed equally. Three different time scales can be identified for climate change-related impacts to coral reef systems: years: increased temperature effects on coral bleaching; decades: increasing acidification and dissolution of carbonate structures of reefs; multidecades: weakening of structural integrity of reefs and increasing susceptibility to storms and erosion events. Increasing acidity (decreasing pH) is a significant and pervasive longer-term threat to coral reefs. Potential for coral reef systems to adapt to these environmental stresses is uncertain: symbiotic zooxanthellae may adapt to be more tolerant of high temperature whereas migration of corals to higher latitudes is unlikely. These declines in corals will have negative impacts on reef fish biodiversity along with the putting pressure on the integrity of the eco-system. Positive Impacts of climate change Some of the positive impacts includes Increased food conversion efficiencies growth rates due to warmer waters; Increased primary production would provide more food for filter-feeding invertebrates; Increased length of the growing season range expansions to pole wards due to decrease in ice; Sea level rise also has the potential to flood coastal land areas, mangrove and sea grass regions which may supply seed stock for aquaculture species. Shortened duration of larval cycles can also help in the availability of seeds. Potential adaptation measures in fisheries A wide range of adaptations is possible, either carried out in anticipation of future effects or in response to impacts once they have occurred. In general, responses to direct impacts of extreme events on fisheries infrastructure and communities are likely to be more effective if they are anticipatory, as part of long-term integrated management planning. However, preparation should be commensurate with risk, as excessive protective measures could themselves have negative social and economic impacts. Examples of potential adaptation measures in fisheries Impact of climate change on fisheries Potential adaptation measures Reduced yield Access higher value markets/ shifting targeted species. Increase effort or fishing power. Reduce costs to increase efficiency. Diversify livelihoods. Exit the fishery. Increased variability of yield Diversify livelihood. Design insurance schemes. Change in distribution of fisheries Migration of fishing effort/strategies and processing/distribution facilities. Reduced profitability Exit the fishery. Vulnerability of infrastructure and communities to flooding, sea level and surges Add new or improved physical defences. Managed retreat/accommodation. Rehabilitate infrastructure, design disaster response. Integrated coastal management. Set up early warning systems. Education. Increased dangers of fishing Set up weather warning system. Invest in improved vessel stability/safety/ communications. Influx of new fishers Support existing local management institutions, diversify livelihoods. Potential adaptation measures in post-harvest, distribution and markets Both capture fisheries and aquaculture feed into diverse and spatially extensive networks of supply and trade that connect production with consumers, adding significant value and generating important levels of employment. To some extent, this system can be used to provide an important mediation and buffering function to increasing variability in supply and source location, but direct impacts will also affect its ability to do so. A range of issues and adaptation measures can be considered. Table: Climate change-related impacts potential adaptation in post-harvest/distribution Impact on post harvest, distribution/markets Potential adaptation measures Reduced or more variable yields, supply timing Source products more widely, change species, add value, reduce losses Develop more flexible location strategies to access materials Improve communications and distribution systems Reduce costs to increase efficiency Diversify livelihoods Temperature, precipitation, other effects on post- harvest processes Change or improve processes and technologies Improve forecasting, information Vulnerability of infrastructure and communities to extreme events Add new or improved physical defences, accommodation to change Rehabilitate infrastructure, design disaster response Set up early warning systems, education Trade and market shocks Diversify markets and products Provide information services for anticipation of price or market shocks Management and institutional adaptations Ecosystem approaches to fisheries (EAF) and to aquaculture (EAA) that embed precautionary approach applications within integrated management (IM) across all sectors have the potential to increase ecosystem and community resilience and provide valuable frameworks for dealing with climate change. This would create flexible management systems and support decision-making under uncertainty. Where aquaculture could be used for adaptation in other sectors, planning would be required at appropriate system and management scales, such as watersheds, and estuaries. These approaches would serve to provide guidance in understanding and minimizing perverse incentives that lead to overcapacity, overfishing, excessive environmental impact and other harmful practices while, at the same time, defining positive incentives to meet sustainable development goals. Well defined sectoral performance criteria need to be set out to bring climate change threats, risks and potential adaptations within normal management practice. Public and private sector linkages and partnerships will be essential in developing efficient and effective responses. Market demands will be key mechanisms in supporting adaptation, and their impacts on equity among suppliers, intermediaries and consumers will need to be recognized and applied. Thus certification systems, including sustainability, organic, fair-trade and other criteria will need to be addressed more carefully in the context of climate change, and consider the potential for more vulnerable groups to take advantage of economic opportunity. Adaptation will need to contain strong mechanisms for equity, as increased competition may reduce access for poorer people and other vulnerable groups to production, employment and consumption. For the global issue of the climate change we can contribute through some of the goals which are given below: raising awareness of the impacts of climate change, to ensure that the special risks to the fishery sector are understood and used to plan national climate change responses, including setting of mitigation targets through mechanisms such as the Kyoto Protocol; reducing fuel subsidies granted to fishing fleets, to encourage energy efficiency and assist towards reducing overcapitalization in fisheries; supporting the use of static-gear pots, traps, longlines and gillnets, which uses less fuel than active gear such as trawls and seines and therefore emits less CO2; restoring mangroves and protecting coral reefs, which will contribute to CO2 absorption, coastal protection, fisheries and livelihoods; managing aquaculture to optimize carbon retention, reduce energy use and minimize impacts on mangroves and other important habitats; and Raising awareness through seafood campaigns, reducing food miles, and promoting corporate social responsibility in the commercial sector. promoting research on short- and medium-term climate change impacts to support the identification of vulnerability hot spots and the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies, including financing and risk reduction mechanisms aimed at enabling integrated and broader national planning; addressing other issues contributing to vulnerability of the sectors communities, such as access to markets and services, political representation and improved governance; and Engaging in long-term adaptation planning, including promotion of fisheries- and aquaculture related climate issues in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers and National Adaptation Programs of Action, to address longer-term trends or potential large-scale shifts in resources or ecosystems.

Essay on the Vengeful and the Virtuous in William Shakespeare :: Biography Biographies Essays

The Vengeful and the Virtuous in Shakespeare Whether you hate your King, your Christian rival or a neighboring foe, if you're in a Shakespeare play then you will be punished.   In the first act of each play Shakespeare shows a conflict between two groups of people, one is vengeful the other virtuous.   After the conflict is introduced, the malignant characters have important parts of their lives taken away and in the end the ultimate penalties of each are inflicted.   All of the antagonists are left desolate in the end of the plays by either lost fortunes or their lives.   Shakespeare takes good care to give the protagonists of the plays much reward for being on the right side of the spectrum.   As the characters hate increases throughout the play they begin to loose what is precious to them, first in small amounts, but in the end, they are stripped of all they love and value.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The basis for the hate is introduced to the audience very early on in all three plays.   The Capulets and the Montagues were neighboring feuding families.   Shakespeare never states the reason for the dispute between the two but he does clearly show the hatred from the beginning.   "Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean" (I i 1-4).   These first few lines of the play clearly describe the hatred between the two families and at the same time foreshadow an unpleasant end.   In "The Merchant of Venice", Shylock more boldly states, "I hate him for he is a Christian" (I iii 39).   This cry of hate is also early on in the play, which clearly helps show the reader that he is the antagonist of the play.   In "Henry IV" it is revealed in the first scene that a young Hotspur has kept prisoners of war away from th e King.   He calls the King Bolingbroke behind his back out of disrespect.   "All studies here I solemnly defy, save how to gall and pinch this Bolingbroke.   And that same sword and buckler Prince of Wales (I iii 227-229).   In Shakespearean plays, a character who hates or plots against the King is automatically the villain of the play.   The first act in all three plays revealed the characters for the audience to root against throughout the play.

You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 29~30

Chapter Twenty-nine Don't You Hate Running into Your Ex? As soon as she unlocked the new loft's security door from the street, Jody smelled blood, burned flesh, and shampoo. A case of the willies that felt like an electric serpent slithered up her spine. She went up the stairs, light on the balls of her feet, ready. She heard every tick in the apartment, the refrigerator motor, floorboards shifting, the huge cat Chet snoring in the bedroom, and, of course, someone breathing. The lights were off. He was sitting in a canvas sling-back chair, barefoot, in a pair of Tommy's jeans and a T-shirt, drying his hair with a towel. Jody stopped by the kitchen. â€Å"Fledgling,† said the vampire. â€Å"I'm always pleasantly surprised when I am reminded of how lovely you are. Surprises are rare at my age.† â€Å"Must have surprised the fuck out of you to have that Honda toast you, then, huh?† She felt herself tightening down, the electric jangle channeling itself into an awareness, an edge. It wasn't fear anymore, it was readiness. â€Å"An unpleasant one, yes. I assume your little servant is safe for now.† â€Å"Well, you know, she was winded for a few minutes from kicking your ass, but she is just a little girl.† The vampire laughed, and Jody couldn't help but smile. She went to the windows at the front of the loft and opened them. â€Å"Smells like burned meat in here.† â€Å"She'll have to go, you know,† said the vampire, still smiling. â€Å"No, she won't,† Jody turned on her heel. Faced him. â€Å"Of course she will. All of them but you. I'm quite tired of being alone, little one. You can come away with me, just as we planned.† Jody was stunned at his density. â€Å"I was lying to you, Elijah. I never intended to go away with you. I was just pretending to find out how to be a vampire.† â€Å"What were you going to do the next night, then – if your pet hadn't bronzed us, I mean?† â€Å"I thought I'd send you away.† â€Å"No you didn't.† â€Å"I thought I'd let the Animals kill you, like they were going to anyway.† â€Å"No you didn't.† â€Å"I don't know.† The edge was slipping. â€Å"I don't know.† Maybe she was going to go with him. She had felt so alone, so lost. â€Å"Ah, so here we are again. Let's pretend like all this unpleasantness hasn't happened, and it's the next night, and here we are, just the two of us. The only ones of our kind. What will you do, Jody?† â€Å"But we aren't the only ones of our kind.† â€Å"We are the only ones you need worry about. You do know that you are the first new vampire in a hundred years?† Jody tried not to show her surprise. â€Å"How lucky for me,† she said. â€Å"Oh, you're not the only one I've turned. I've turned many. You're the only one who could weather the change with her mind intact. The others had to be, well, decommissioned.† â€Å"You killed them?† â€Å"Yes. But not you. Help me clean up and then we'll leave, together.† â€Å"Clean up?† â€Å"There are certain rules, love. Rules that I set down myself, and the first of them is make no more vampires. Yet you've let loose a storm of fledglings, and they all have to be cleaned up, including your boy pet.† â€Å"Make no more? What about me? You made me.† â€Å"I didn't expect you to survive, love. I thought you would be an amusement, a break in monotony, an interlude, but you distinguished yourself.† â€Å"And now you want me to run off with you.† â€Å"We'll live like royalty. I have resources you couldn't imagine.† â€Å"You're wearing stolen jeans, sugar daddy.† â€Å"Well, yes, I will have to make my way to one of my caches.† â€Å"I have an idea,† Jody said, and this was really the reason she had come here, by herself, knowing that he would be here. Or at least hoping. â€Å"How about I give you enough money to get you out of town and you do that, just like we promised Rivera and Cavuto? You leave me alone, you leave Tommy alone, you just leave.† Elijah stood now, tossed the towel on the chair, and moved to her so quickly that she could barely even see him move. â€Å"Art, music, literature,† said Elijah. â€Å"Desire, passion, power – the best of man and the best of beast. Together. You would say no to that?† He put his hand on her cheek and she let him. â€Å"Love?† Jody said, looking into his eyes – they reflected like drops of mercury in her night vision. â€Å"For fairy tales. We are the stuff from which nightmares are made. Make nightmares with me.† â€Å"Wow, nice offer. Can't imagine why you haven't had any takers for a hundred years.† Jody grabbed his wrist. If he wouldn't leave, she could take him. She was a vampire, too. The vampire had been smiling, but his smile changed aspect, going from pleased to predatory. â€Å"So be it, then.† His hand was at her neck in an instant, she didn't see him move or have a chance to react. Suddenly she couldn't move her arms or legs, and there was an intense pain behind her ear and under her jaw. She screamed, releasing a sound she couldn't imagine coming out of a human, more like something you'd hear from a tortured cat. He clamped his other hand over her mouth. â€Å"I didn't teach you everything in our one night together, love.† She watched helplessly as he tossed his head back and his fangs unsheathed. Troy Lee squared off against Drew at the end of the dog-food aisle, two short fighting swords in hand. â€Å"Bring it, stoner,† Troy Lee said. He spun the swords. Drew fell into a crouch by the dishwashing liquids. â€Å"I'm fast now,† Drew said. â€Å"Uh-huh,† Troy said. He whipped the swords through the air in a deadly fanning motion. He'd been training since he was a child; he wasn't afraid, especially of Drew. â€Å"Hey,† came a woman's voice from right beside him. Troy Lee looked over, lightning quick, just in time to register what looked like a full moon coming at his face. There was a loud clang and Troy was nearly flipped over backwards when the iron skillet hit him in the forehead. Blue let it drop to her side and grinned at Drew. â€Å"I've always wanted to do that.† â€Å"Housewares used to be my aisle,† Drew said. â€Å"Take him,† said Blue. â€Å"Let him drink some of your blood before he dies.† She headed toward a commotion in the can aisle. â€Å"Save some, boys. Mama's got a broken nose that needs to heal.† Jody felt her own fangs extend and her kneecaps quiver as Elijah fed on her, but otherwise she couldn't move. How could she have been so stupid? He was eight hundred years old – of course he hadn't taught her everything. Of course he was stronger than she was – she was stronger than Tommy, and she had only been a vampire a couple of months longer than he had. If she could stay conscious, maybe when he stopped feeding she could make her move. Could he reduce her to dust like a human, or would he have to do something else? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Why didn't she know all of this? Why wasn't she acting on instinct? Where was the predator mind when you needed it? Her vision started to tunnel down – she was losing consciousness. She could hear rapid footsteps outside, though. First below, then across the street, then below again. Elijah heard them, too, and he loosened his grip for an instant, but before she could twist away, his fingers dug into her neck and jaw again. Then a black blur flew through the window and she heard something thud on the floor over by the kitchen. There was another loud thud and Elijah released her and she fell to the floor. She tried to push herself up, but something was thrown over her and she heard a buzzing sound. She heard screaming and smelled burning flesh, glass breaking, then someone was lifting her, carrying her. She couldn't move or even fight anymore. She let go, let herself float away, but the last thing she heard was a girl's voice saying, â€Å"Did you feed Chet?† The Emperor sat on the dock of the St. Francis Yacht Club, watching the fog wash over the breakwater. He'd gone against the advice of the homicide detectives and had left the grocery store. It was his city, and it was his place to take the battle to its attackers. He had cowered in fear long enough. His wickedly pointed sword lay on the dock at his side. The men, Bummer and Lazarus, were sleeping in a fuzzy pile at his back. â€Å"Ah, gentle warriors, how do we engage in battle when our enemy moves with such elegant stealth? Perhaps we should return to the Safeway and help defend.† Bummer's left ear twitched, and he let out a muffled ruff in his sleep. A thick bank of fog was moving down from the opening in the breakwater and it caught the Emperor's attention because it appeared to be moving across the wind from the west. Yes, it was indeed – the cold breeze was coming straight over the breakwater from the north. The fog bank bubbled thick as it moved, tendrils reached out and then were reabsorbed like the false feet of some crawling creature. The Emperor climbed to his feet and roused the men, snatched Bummer up before the sleepy terrier could get his bearings, and headed toward the clubhouse with Lazarus at his heels. He crouched in a shadow by the entrance to the restrooms, holding the hounds as he watched. The fog bank enveloped the end of the dock, paused, then dissipated as if a fan had been turned on it, and three tall figures stood on the dock, a man and two women. They wore long coats, cashmere, the Emperor thought, but he couldn't for the life of him remember why he might know that. They moved down the dock toward him as if they were floating. The Emperor could see their outlines in the moonlight – jawlines and cheekbones that looked as if they'd been chiseled, square shoulders, and narrow hips. They might have been brother and sisters, except one of the women was of African descent, the other looked like she might be Italian or Greek. The man was a head taller than the women and looked Nordic, perhaps German, with close-cropped white hair. All were as pale as bleached bone. As they passed him the Emperor pulled the hounds closer and Bummer let out a threatening ruff. They stopped. The man turned. â€Å"How long have you been here?† he asked. â€Å"Forever, I think,† said the Emperor. The man smiled and nodded, then turned and was on his way. â€Å"I know how you feel,† he said without looking back. Gustavo and Jeff found Barry hiding in the shelves among the toilet-paper packages. When they got close, Barry burst out of the TP and made a run for the end of the aisle, pulling napkins, aluminum foil, garbage bags, and plastic silverware off the shelves as he went to slow his pursuers. Gustavo went down first, slipping on a package of plastic forks. Jeff high-stepped through the obstacles and was right on Barry's ass until he was almost to the end of the aisle and Lash stepped out holding one of Barry's spearguns. â€Å"Down!† Lash barked, and Barry hit the tile on his chest and slid. There was a pneumatic hiss and the heavy stainless spear thudded into Jeff's sternum and blew him back off his feet. â€Å"Ow, goddammit,† said the power forward, clutching at the spear and trying to pull it out of his chest. Gustavo climbed to his feet, ran to Jeff, and started yanking on the spear. Lash handed Barry a four-foot-long stick with a blunt metal tip on it and fitted another spear into the gun. â€Å"That the last one?† Barry asked. Lash nodded. â€Å"Where's Clint?† Just then the tall blond woman appeared at the far end of the aisle, dragging an unconscious Clint by his collar. A wide bloodstain ran from her chin to her crotch and they could see her fangs even from this distance. â€Å"Bad boys. Leaving your born-again lying on the floor where people can trip over him.† She dropped Clint on his face, and headed up the aisle toward them, in long, slow strides. Lash bolted, Barry right behind them, through the canvas doors into the back room, and into the walk-in dairy cooler. It was like a long hallway with plastic milk boxes stacked on one side and the glass dairy cases on the other. They pushed stacks of heavy one-gallon milk boxes in front of the door, then leaned with their backs against the back of the cooler, watching the store through the clear cooler doors in the dairy case, over the cartons of yogurt and cottage cheese. â€Å"What's that she's carrying?† Barry asked. â€Å"A frying pan,† Lash said. â€Å"Oh,† Barry said â€Å"Sorry I let her in. She was almost naked.† â€Å"How could you have known?† â€Å"Well, when she claimed she had a nooky-gram for my birthday, I should have figured something was up.† â€Å"Your birthday's like in March, isn't it?† â€Å"Yeah.† Lash slapped Barry hard once on his bare scalp, then re-aimed the speargun over the yogurts. â€Å"I deserved that,† Barry said. â€Å"Think that spear hit Jeff's heart?† â€Å"Had to. It's a foot through his sternum.† â€Å"He doesn't seem dead.† â€Å"Guess that means head shot.† Barry shook his head. â€Å"You want me to try?† â€Å"Nah, if I miss, you have the bang stick.† Lash nodded at the long stick Barry was holding at port arms. Essentially it was a twelve-gauge shotgun shell on the end of a stick, used for killing sharks. You poked them with it and the shotgun shell fired into them at point-blank range. â€Å"I'll bet she doesn't even know what it is.† â€Å"Get it right,† Lash said. â€Å"Blow her fucking brains out.† They looked at each other as they heard the refrigeration compressors and fans wind down. Then the lights went out. â€Å"We're fucked,† Lash said. â€Å"Yep,† Barry agreed. Chapter Thirty Being the Chronicles of Abby Normal: Dark and Mysterious Goddess of Forbidden Love Don't judge me. I have looked death in the face and made him my bitch! I did what I did out of love, and I don't want to sound conceited, but OMG, we are heroes! And when I say we, I mean us. Had I told you before, you would have called me â€Å"losah!† pronounced me perky and cute beyond redemption, but now that I am secure in my own nefarious love lair and whatnot, I can at last confess, that in my naive youth, my favorite literary character was not the tentacled horror Cthulu from Lovecraft as I previously stated in AP English 235, but, in fact, Pippi Longstocking. Before you condemn me for my Pippism, check it out: Pippi drank a lot of coffee. (Because, like me, she was wise.) Pippi had unnaturally red hair (as I, myself have had, upon occasion). Pippi often wore long, stripy socks (as yours truly has been known to do). Pippi had superhuman strength. (It could happen.) Pippi kicked ass. (Not unlike your humble narrator.) Pippi was a kid who lived without parents in her own house. (Go, girl!) With a monkey. (Haven't you always wanted a monkey?) What Longstockings did not have, was the coolest cyber-ninja-sex-magic boyfriend to ever save the world and whatnot. (Props to Pip, but girlfriend needed some yang to rock her yin.) Steve. My darling, my love, My heart is aflame But OMFG, Steve, I grieve, That you're name Is so fucking lame. I call him Foo Dog, because he guards the gate of my temple, if you know what I mean. I'm wearing the jacket he made me right now. I had it on when they came for me, but that's not the thing. The thing is, I didn't save myself, I saved love. So, that night, after I told the Countess how my sweet Foo Dog saved me from the vampyre, the Countess said she was going to go back to the loft to get some money and feed Chet and get the last of William's blood for Lord Flood, for their love is truly eternal. And Jared and I were like, â€Å"We'll go, too,† but the Countess sent us back to liberate the vampyre Flood from Jared's basement and his hideous family. So we were all, â€Å"Well, okay.† But when we got to Jared's house, Flood was totally gone. And then Steve – I mean Foo Dog – called me and he was all, â€Å"I'm getting off work early, I don't want to leave you out there unprotected.† So I told him where we were. Then Lord Flood comes walking out of the dark and he's all, â€Å"What? What? What?† And I'm all, â€Å"The Countess went back to the loft.† And he's all, â€Å"She is in danger. We must away.† And I was like, â€Å"Chill thee thus, for my sweet love-ninja is on the way in his fly ride.† So Flood was like, † ‘Kay.† I see now that my attraction to the vampyre Flood was nothing more than childish infatuation, never to be requited, because he had eyes only for the Countess. So it was a little awkward when Steve showed up and I had to chill the Lord Flood and make him sit in the backseat to show that my real affections were with Foo Dog, who was formerly known as Steve. And when we got to the loft, the windows were open, but there were no lights on. And Flood had us drive a block past, then we got out and he walked back. Then he runs up and he's like, â€Å"Elijah's up there. He's got her.† And I'm all, â€Å"Then go get her.† And Steve is like, â€Å"No, I'll go get her.† And he pulls this long coat out of the trunk. It's all covered with warts or something, and I'm like, â€Å"Nice coat, but you know, vampyre†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And Steve is like, â€Å"They're UV LEDs. Like the lights we burned the vampires with before.† And I'm like, â€Å"Sweet!† So Steve starts to put the coat on and Flood stops him and goes, â€Å"He'll hear you coming up the stairs. I'll go.† And Steve is all, â€Å"You can't. It will burn you, too.† And Flood is all, â€Å"No it won't.† So they are like five minutes behind the car putting together this ber-cool ensem of like an old gas mask, and a hoodie, and full-on gloves and everything, until Flood is totally covered, wearing the long coat with the glass warts all over it, looking like one of the cenobites from Hellraiser. And Steve is like, â€Å"Don't hit the switch until you know she's covered.† And he hands Flood like a black rubber tarp and a baseball bat, which totally sucked the cool right out of the ensem, but I guess was necessary. Then, just when I'm about to ask how he's going to get in without being heard, we hear the Countess scream, and Flood runs across the street and about halfway up the side of the building, then turns and runs down it, then across the street, up the side of his building, and goes through the window feet fucking first. And I'm like, â€Å"Whoa.† And Steve and Jared are like, â€Å"Whoa.† And a second later we hear a thumping, and purple light comes on in the loft windows and the old vampyre comes crashing through the windows on fucking fire, falling like a comet! And he lands on his feet in the middle of the street, hisses once and looks at us, and that's when Steve holds up one of his UV floodlights, and the vampyre fucking scrams down the alley across the street so fast that he was just a blur. Next thing, Flood is coming out of the building carrying the Countess, who is wrapped in the black rubber tarp and is totally roofied like a limp rag. And Steve's all, â€Å"Get her in the car.† And I'm like, â€Å"Did you feed Chet?† And Jared is like, â€Å"Hello, Abby, the other vampyres.† So I'm like, â€Å"Shut up. I know.† So we all piled into Steve's car and we took Flood and the Countess to a hotel off up on Van Ness, which Steve paid for with his Visa, which was generous and mature of him. It was one of those motels where you have your own entrance to the parking lot so they don't see you in the hallway, so Flood carried the Countess up to the room, and we carried some stuff that Steve had packed up in the trunk of his car. It was so sad. Flood just stroked the Countess's cheek and tried to get her to wake up, but she wouldn't. And he was all, â€Å"Abby, she needs to feed. I wouldn't ask, but he's done something to her, she's hurt.† And I would have totally done it, but Steve pulled me back, and he picks up this playmate cooler that he had us bring up, and he pulls out these pouches of blood. And he hands them to Flood and says, â€Å"I took them from the university hospital. They could kick me out of school for this.† And Flood is all, â€Å"Thanks.† And he bites a hole in one of the pouches and squeezes it on the Countess's lips and that's when I started to cry. There were like four pouches, and when he was going for the last one, Steve was like, â€Å"You need to drink that one.† And Flood was like, â€Å"No way, it's for her.† And Steve was like, â€Å"You know you do.† So Flood like nodded and drank the last one himself, and then he just sat there by her, stroking her hair. Then Steve was like, â€Å"Tommy, you know I can reverse your vampirism. I'm pretty sure the process works.† And Flood just looked at him and nodded. It was so sad. And then the Countess started to moan, and she opened her eyes and she saw the vampyre Flood and she was all, â€Å"Hey, baby.† Just like that. And I started crying again like a big wuss and Steve took Jared and me out to the car to give them some space. And Steve was like, â€Å"I made this for you from my jacket.† And he put this leather motorcycle jacket on me that was covered with those glass LED thingies. It was kinda heavy, because there were batteries built into the padding, but cool. And he was all, â€Å"This will keep you safe. The switch is in the snap on the left cuff. Just squeeze it and the lights will come on. They won't hurt you, but you should wear sunglasses to protect your retinas.† Then he put a pair of totally cyber wraparound sunglasses on me and kissed me. And I kissed him back, hard, with major tongue, and finally he pulled away, as gentle as a butterfly. So then I slapped him, so he wouldn't think I was a slut. But so he wouldn't think I was being frigid, I sort of jumped on him and wrapped my legs around him and sort of accidentally rode him to the ground and was accidentally kind of dry-humping him on the pavement when the lights on my jacket came on and people looked out their hotel windows a nd whatnot, so Jared ended our special romantic moment by hitting my light switch and dragging me off. And I was all, â€Å"You are THE MAN, Foo!† And he was all, â€Å"Huh?† Because I hadn't told him yet that his new name was Foo Dog. But then he said he actually had to get home and check in or his parents would freak out. And said to watch the masters until I got back, if I got a chance try to talk them into being converted. So we made out on the hood of the Honda for a while and he drove off into night's cold loneliness like the superhero that he is. (The effect was ruined, kind of, in that Jared caught a ride with him.) So I went back upstairs and sat at the foot of the masters' bed, keeping guard and listening to them. They were talking softly, but I could hear them. The vampyre Flood was all, â€Å"Maybe we should give it a try.† And the Countess was all, â€Å"What, the cure? Tommy, it can't work. You've seen what I can do, you know what you can do. This isn't biology, this is magic.† â€Å"Maybe it's not. Maybe it's science we don't know yet.† â€Å"It doesn't matter. We don't even know if it works.† â€Å"We should try.† â€Å"Why would we try, Tommy? You've only been immortal for a couple of weeks. Do you want to give up the power, the – I don't know – the command over your world?† â€Å"Well – yes.† â€Å"You do?† â€Å"Yeah. I don't like it, Jody. I don't like being afraid all the time. I don't like being alone. I don't like being a killer.† â€Å"That woman was torturing you, Tommy. That's never going to happen again.† â€Å"That's wasn't the problem. I'd get over her. The problem was that I liked it. I liked it.† Then the Countess was quiet for a while, and I thought it might be dawn or something, but I peeked over the edge of the bed and she was just staring into his eyes. She looked over at me. â€Å"Hey, girlie girl,† the Countess said, and she smiled at me and it felt like a gift or something. It was like, real. Then she took her watch off and threw it to me at the end of the bed. â€Å"That has an automatic almanac in it – how about you set the alarm to go off about twenty minutes before sunset, so you don't get caught out again, okay?† And I was going to tell her about the jacket that Foo made for me, but I kind of couldn't talk, so I just nodded and put the watch on and slid back down to the floor. Then I heard the Countess go, â€Å"You aren't alone. I'm here. We can go where no one knows us, no one is chasing us, and I'll always be here for you.† And he goes, â€Å"I know. I mean alone from everyone else. Separate. I want to be human, not some foul dead thing.† â€Å"I thought you wanted to be special.† â€Å"I do, but I want to be human special – because of something I did.† Then it was quiet for a while, and finally the Countess goes, â€Å"I love it, Tommy. I'm not afraid all the time like you; just the opposite. I didn't realize how afraid I used to be until I became like this. I like walking the street knowing that I'm the Alpha animal, hearing and seeing and smelling everything, being part of everything. I like it. I wanted to share that with you.† â€Å"It's okay. You couldn't have known.† â€Å"I don't want to be alone either. That's why I turned you. I love you.† Then the alarm went off on Lord Flood's watch, and he shut it off. Then he's all, â€Å"We can't go back to the way it was, before, I mean? Where I look after you?† â€Å"It's not the same world, Tommy. You know that now. We were in the same room in different worlds.† â€Å"Okay then. I love you, Jody.† â€Å"I love you, too,† goes the Countess. Then they didn't say anything for a long time, and when my new watch showed that the sun was up, I looked, and they were lying there, holding each other, and I could see the red stains on the pillow from their tears. And I was like, â€Å"Oh, hell no!†

Edenic Myth in The Great Gatsb essays

Edenic Myth in The Great Gatsb essays Picture this: You are the director of a high budget feature film. You are in the process of filming a brilliant scene in which a man and a woman have just escaped from a near-death situation and have found themselves atop a mountain in the pouring rain, but alas, safe and out of harm's way. In the midst of all the insanity, they realize that their attraction for each other is love at its finest, and as they prepare for a beautiful, passionate, Hollywood-style kiss, the treacherous storm clouds above them dissipate into a clear, star-filled sky strategically designed to intensify this glorious moment. They embrace, and they kiss. It is a long, fabulous kiss. Or, so they thought. When the kiss is complete, they stare into each other's eyes, and from the sidelines we hear, "Cut!" "What was wrong with that?" demands the leading man. "That was perfect!" "Oh, no it wasn't." you reply. "There was nothing perfect about it. The rain stopped too early, the wind was blowing too hard, and the two of you just kissed like you've never met!" "So, what do you want to do?" snaps the leading lady. "You want to do it again?" "Yes, I do." You answer. "And again, and again, and again. Until we get it right. I want this scene to be perfect!" Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could do things repeatedly until we were delighted with the results? Wouldn't it be grand to stop at a certain point, evaluate what we have done thus far, decide what was not perfect, and subsequently perfect it? In reality, most of us are aware that this is simply not an option. Knowing that we cannot change what has already happened is perhaps a large reason why many of us feel regret as we get older. When reflecting on our lives, we tend to use phrases like, "If I could do it all over again, I would never..." or "If I knew then what I know now..." It is our own way of expressing the real truth: what's done is done. One of the main characters in F. Scott...

The Email Outreach Plan Ian Cleary Uses to Build Relationships + Links

The Email Outreach Plan Ian Cleary Uses to Build Relationships + Links Do you open your Inbox only to see several emails asking for the same thing? To link to someone else’s content? Instantly, you move them to the Trash folder. Email outreach can actually work and complement your inbound marketing efforts. But your emails need to not be anything like the random ones that you throw away. Today, we’re talking to Ian Cleary of RazorSocial and OutreachPlus. He is an amazing inbound marketer, who has discovered that complementing inbound tactics with outbound email outreach can help you build relationships, increase brand authority, and boost your backlink profile. To do it well, you need to think about personalized connections, providing value to them, and starting small. Everything you will learn about email outreach from Ian is pure gold. It works, and it can help you reach your goals. Definition of Email Outreach: An email outreach tool helps you reach out to subscribers, a new audience, a smaller audience, or a group of influencers Send highly personalized emails to promote content or generate leads Benefits of email outreach include building your brand, driving relevant traffic to your site, promoting your content, and growing your authority Cold email outreach works by with highly personalized, relevant, and very targeted emails Provide something of value; deliver brief, quality content Conduct research to make sure you are reaching out to the right target audience Don’t think about selling, but about starting a conversation Ways to find influencers and build relationships, develop relevancy Following Up: Send two emails and then stop; don’t be annoying or damage relationships Outreach Criteria: Look for opportunities to engage and interact with Websites with a higher authority to get valuable links Tactics that work to complement outreach efforts include getting onto social media, sharing content, and looking for opportunities to interact; when reaching out, reference conversation, interaction, or piece of content Highest converting outreach for Ian is guest posting; invite people to be a part of the blogs you’re writing When getting started with email outreach start small, build the skill, and get better at it over time to be successful Links: RazorSocial OutreachPlus How to Find Influencers with a Framework for Measuring Influence Twitonomy GroupHigh Write and send a review to receive a care package If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Ian Cleary: â€Å"Ive done a lot of outreach reaching out to people to build relationships, to build links to my content, do a lot of promotional content.† â€Å"I think nowadays, you need to do inbound and outbound–its crucial to do both. Email outreach is where youre reaching out by email.† â€Å"I say do a small number of emails, highly personalized, and very targeted. Do your research to make sure its very relevant.†

Free Speech and Its Limits Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Free Speech and Its Limits - Case Study Example The history of broadcasting in this country began when all radio stations were publicly owned by controlling the public's ownership of the airwaves. Stations were licensed to use a given frequency and were deemed to be a public service. In return for the use of the airwaves, the station had a responsibility to provide news and information that was in the public interest and promoted the public good. This gave rise to the 'Public Service Announcement' and the concept of 'equal time' for political candidates. However, with the privatization of the airwaves by big media concerns, these historical concepts have given way to entertainment and agendas. Within the framework of legality and decency there should be no limits to free speech in the media. Technology has made radio, television, and the Internet more accessible to consumers as well as content providers. This proliferation has caused our society, culture, politics, and government to become enmeshed and inseparable. If we rid our media of politics, we will not have a forum to discuss our most important social and cultural issues. Free speech was granted as a way to air our differences and find common ground. It protects us from tyranny and oppression and reduces the suppression of the minority viewpoint. The mayor of Port Arthur

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Community Profile (demography) - Brisbane City Inner - Essay Example Brisbane is the busiest commercial centre of the Queensland, which not only earns significant revenue for the entire state, but also it carries the load of unemployment, educational and health requirements of Queensland. It is therefore the people from suburb regions migrate towards the capital city for business and employment purposes. The history as well as the demographic, cultural, social, economic and religious aspects of the city have been analysed under the following headings: Historical Background: The archaeologists have defined various methodologies while detecting the historical backgrounds of different regions and cities of the world. The same is the case with Brisbane city, where the archaeologists and theorists lay stress upon estimating and analysing the nature, characteristics and features of creeks, hills, meadows and ravines, situated in Brisbane, around which this splendid city has been constructed. â€Å"To discover the early history of Brisbane, one needs to look no further than the oyster shell mounds found along the canyons and ravines of its creeks. From those mounds, archaeologists have unearthed relics of the first inhabitants of the area: the Costanoan Indians.† (Retrieved from ci.brisbane.ca.us) The Costanoan Indians lived in this coastal city for decades with peace and solidarity till the European nations started arriving towards the city and taking its hold through their military might. Though the US, French and other Europea n nations set their foot in the land, it were the British forces officials who captured the control of the country and set up their political and military establishment in Australia. Sir Thomas Brisbane is regarded as the founder person of the Brisbane city in 1825, which established the city on modern lines. The city was divided into zones and councils during the second half of twentieth century, and is still in

Uniform accounting standards produce Essay Example for Free

Uniform accounting standards produce Essay In the last decade, various countries around the globe have shifted towards a uniform accounting standards or the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The main motive behind this movement is to come up with a global language for accounting which will be comparable and understandable beyond the borders of a nation. As of today about 120 countries require IFRS for domestically listed companies, although only about 90 countries have fully conformed to IFRS . While some argue that it is necessary to have a system of accounting that is clear and transparent to global investors and companies, some others are skeptic about it being efficient. Furthermore, some feel that the costs of implementing IFRS can be too high and hence uniform accounting will not be worth the cost. Hence, critically analyzing IFRS and understanding its impact on accounting principles will help us to recognize the costs and benefits of this system. One of the main objectives of IFRS is to increase the efficiency and transparency in accounting. However, the main tension in the model rests due to the non- uniform nature of firms as well as nations. For instance, countries differ on myriad ways such as capital and labor markets, nature of government, involvement of government in the company and so forth. Similarly, firms differ from each other in various ways including size, growth, types of products, geographical location and technological advancement . Therefore, coming up with a detailed accounting system or a set of principles to fit all of these can be challenging. Thus, IFRS uses a principle based system, rather than a rule based system which wi ll allow the companies to apply IFRS according to their situation and prepare their statements. However, this flexibility can itself be seen as a big down- side of this system. This will provide a way for companies to manipulate the statements which in turn can encourage fraud. Trancy Coenen comparing the fraud under the system of GAAP and IFRS says that, As IFRS is largely based on judgment in applying principles, it only stands to reason that the risk of fraud in the financial statements will increase with the change . For example, Fair Value judgment is one of the corner stones of IFRS system of accounting. However, it is unclear as to who gets to value things and how can these figures checked for reliability. Thus, IFRS, which is created to form a uniform and transparent system of accounting can itself lead to non-uniform accounting practices with very little information about who makes the judgment behind numbers presented in  the financial statements. Furthermore, another crucial concern that rises with the implementation of IFRS is the balance between the capital alloc ation benefit of a uniform accounting standard against the social cost of forcing diverse firms to adhere to the same rigid standard says Korok Ray, a professor of Economics from George Washington University . Hence, for a small company the cost of shifting from its current accounting practice to IFRS might be too high whereas for a big company it might be small. Furthermore, the time in which all the companies will have to shift from their old system to IFRS can decrease the quality of the financial statements. Lack of experience in this new system of accounting can also increase mistakes making the system less accurate . Nevertheless, it is undeniable that in an increasingly more globalized world, a cross-border accounting system will immensely benefit firms and investors. This system will lead to investment comparisons between various countries, making investors better off. In fact, Marc Fogarty, a Certified Public Accountant says that the single set of standards will cut down the costs to which foreign companies investing in the U.S. markets will have to adhere. He also believes that, the U.S. GAAP standards along with other strict accounting regulations have long been deterrent to foreign companies trying to raise money in the U.S. capital markets . Small investors will be benefited from this change, as they will have an access to more financial information which can be easily understood. In short, implementing IFRS will lead to easy to understand, clear and efficient financial data which will be made available to the general public. Just the implementation of IFRS does not mean investors are prot ected against fraud or misrepresentation of a company’s financial statement. In addition, IFRS also has numerous short term problems that can have a huge impact on its initial adaption and implementation. However, company’s and investors can protect themselves against risks by learning IFRS which will increase their understanding of the financial statement. This will not only help them to critically analyze the numbers represented on the statement but also help them to better compare and contrast one statement from the other nationally or internationally.