Armed Conflict

War is often said to be rooted in multiple sources located at various levels of analysis (individual, state, or global) and compare the contributions that theories at each level have made to our understanding of the causes of war.Oxford Dictionary defines war as â€Å"any active hostility or struggle between living beings; a conflict between opposing forces or principles† (qtd. in â€Å"Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy† para. 8). Since the etiology of war is grasped from many sub-disciplines, it is but wise to learn about it based on three groupings namely: those who seek war's causation in man's biology (individual), those that seek it in his culture (global), and those who seek it in his faculty of reason.These determinants of war could give a better understanding as why it happens despite the detrimental effects it does to mankind particularly in terms of individual and global analysis.Individually, â€Å"Some claim war to be a product of man's inherited biology, with disagreements raging on the ensuing determinist implications† (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy para. 18). According to the â€Å"International Encyclopedia of Philosophy,†Example theories include those that claim man to be naturally aggressive or naturally territorial, more complex analyses incorporate game theory and genetic evolution to explain the occurrence of violence and war (cf. Richard Dawkins for interesting comments on this area).Within this broad school of thought, some accept that man's belligerent drives can be channeled into more peaceful pursuits (William James), some worry about man's lack of inherited inhibitions to fight with increasingly dangerous weapons (Konrad Lorenz), and others claim the natural process of evolution will sustain peaceful modes of behavior over violent (Richard Dawkins) (para. 18).Rejecting biological determinism, culturalists seek to explain war's causation in terms of particular cultural institutions (Internet Encyclop edia of Philosophy para.

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 7. UNEXPECTED

The line of black advanced on me through the shroud-like mist. I could see their dark ruby eyes glinting with desire, lusting for the kill. Their lips pulled back over their sharp, wet teeth – some to snarl, some to smile. I heard the child behind me whimper, but I couldn't turn to look at him. Though I was desperate to be sure that he was safe, I could not afford any lapse in focus now. They ghosted closer, their black robes billowing slightly with the movement. I saw their hands curl into bone-colored claws. They started to drift apart, angling to come at us from all sides. We were surrounded. We were going to die. And then, like a burst of light from a flash, the whole scene was different. Yet nothing changed – the Volturi still stalked toward us, poised to kill. All that really changed was how the picture looked to me. Suddenly, I was hungry for it. I tvanfec/them to charge. The panic changed to bloodlust as I crouched forward, a smile on my face, and a growl ripped through my bared teeth. I jolted upright, shocked out of the dream. The room was black. It was also steamy hot. Sweat matted my hair at the temples and rolled down my throat. I groped the warm sheets and found them empty. â€Å"Edward?† Just then, my fingers encountered something smooth and flat and stiff. One sheet of paper, folded in half. I took the note with me and felt my way across the room to the light switch. The outside of the note was addressed to Mrs. Cullen. I'm hoping you won't wake and notice my absence, but, if you should, I'll be back very soon. I've just gone to the mainland to hunt Go back to sleep and I'll be here when you wake again. I love you. I sighed. We'd been here about two weeks now, so I should have been expecting that he would have to leave, but I hadn't been thinking about time. We seemed to exist outside of time here, just drifting along in a perfect state. I wiped the sweat off my forehead. I felt absolutely wide awake, though the clock on the dresser said it was after one. I knew i would never be able to sleep as hot and sticky as I felt. Not to mention the fact that if I shut off the light and closed my eyes, I was sure to see those prowling black figures in my head. I got up and wandered aimlessly through the dark house, flipping on lights. It felt so big and empty without Edward there. Different. I ended up in the kitchen and decided that maybe comfort food was what I needed. I poked around in the fridge until I found all the ingredients for fried chicken. The popping and sizzling of the chicken in the pan was a nice, homey sound; I felt less nervous while it filled the silence. It smelled so good that I started eating it right out of the pan, burning my tongue in the process. By the fifth or sixth bite, though, it had cooled enough for me to taste it. My chewing slowed. Was there something off about the flavor? I checked the meat, and it was white all the way through, but I wondered if it was completely done. I took another experimental bite; I chewed twice. Ugh – definitely bad. I jumped up to spit it into the sink. Suddenly, the chicken-and-oil smell was revolting. I took the whole plate and shook it into the garbage, then opened the windows to chase away the scent. A coolish breeze had picked up outside. It felt good on my skin. I was abruptly exhausted, but i didn't want to go back to the hot room. So I opened more windows in the TV room and lay on the couch right beneath them. I turned on the same movie we'd watched the other day and quickly fell asleep to the bright opening song. When I opened my eyes again, the sun was halfway up the sky, but it was not the light that woke me. Cool arms were around me, pulling me against him. At the same time, a sudden pain twisted in my stomach, almost like the aftershock of catching a punch in the gut. Tm sorry,† Edward was murmuring as he wiped a wintry hand across my clammy forehead. â€Å"So much for thoroughness. I didn't think about how hot you would be with me gone. I'll have an air conditioner installed before I leave again.† I couldn't concentrate on what he was saying. â€Å"Excuse me!† I gasped, struggling to get free of his arms. He dropped his hold automatically. â€Å"Bella?† I streaked for the bathroom with my hand clamped over my mouth. I felt so horrible that I didn't even care – at first – that he was with me while I crouched over the toilet and was violently sick. â€Å"Bella? What's wrong?† I couldn't answer yet. He held me anxiously, keeping my hair out of my face, waiting till I could breathe again. â€Å"Damn rancid chicken,† I moaned. â€Å"Are you all right?† His voice was strained. â€Å"Fine,† I panted. â€Å"It's just food poisoning. You don't need to see this. Go away.† â€Å"Not likely,Bella.† â€Å"Go away,† I moaned again, struggling to get up so I could rinse my mouth out. He helped me gently, ignoring the weak shoves I aimed at him. After my mouth was clean, he carried me to the bed and sat me down carefully, supporting me with his arms. â€Å"Food poisoning?† â€Å"Yeah,† I croaked. â€Å"I made some chicken last night. It tasted off, so I threw it out. But I ate a few bites first.† He put a cold hand on my forehead. It felt nice. â€Å"How do you feel now?† I thought about that for a moment. The nausea had passed as suddenly as it had come, and I felt like I did any other morning. â€Å"Pretty normal. A little hungry, actually.† He made me wait an hour and keep down a big glass of water before he fried me some eggs. I felt perfectly normal, just a little tired from being up in the middle of the night. He put onCNN – we'd been so out of touch, world war three could have broken out and we wouldn't have known – and I lounged drowsily across his lap. I got bored with the news and twisted around to kiss him. Just like this morning, a sharp pain hit my stomach when I moved. I lurched away from him, my hand tight over my mouth. I knew I'd never make it to the bathroom this time, so I ran to the kitchen sink. He held my hair again. â€Å"Maybe we should go back to Rio, see a doctor,† he suggested anxiously when I was rinsing my mouth afterward. I shook my head and edged toward the hallway. Doctors meant needles. â€Å"I'll be fine right after I brush my teeth.† When my mouth tasted better, I searched through my suitcase for the little first-aid kit Alice had packed for me, full of human things like bandages and painkillers and – my object now – Pepto-Bismol. Maybe I could settle my stomach and calm Edward down. But before I found the Pepto, I happened across something else that Alice had packed for me. I picked up the small blue box and stared at it in my hand for a long moment, forgetting everything else. Then I started counting in my head. Once. Twice. Again. Theknock startled me; the little box fell back into the suitcase. â€Å"Are you well?† Edward asked through the door. â€Å"Did you get sick again?† â€Å"Yes and no,† I said, but my voice sounded strangled. â€Å"Bella? Can I please come in?† Worriedly now. â€Å"O†¦ kay?† He came in and appraised my position, sitting cross-legged on the floor by the suitcase, and my expression, blank and staring. He sat next to me, his hand going to my forehead at once. â€Å"What's wrong?† â€Å"How many days has it been since the wedding?† I whispered. â€Å"Seventeen,† he answered automatically. â€Å"Bella, what is it?† I was counting again. I held up a finger, cautioning him to wait, and mouthed the numbers to myself. I'd been wrong about the days before. We'd been here longer than I'd thought. I started over again. â€Å"Bella!† he whispered urgently. â€Å"I'm losing my mind over here.† I tried to swallow. It didn't work. So I reached into the suitcase and fumbled around until I found the little blue box of tampons again. I held them up silently. He stared at me in confusion. â€Å"What? Are you trying to pass this illness off as PMS?† â€Å"No,† I managed to choke out. â€Å"No, Edward. I'm trying to tell you that my period is five days late.† His facial expression didn't change. It was like I hadn't spoken. â€Å"I don't think I have food poisoning,† I added. He didn't respond. He had turned into a sculpture. â€Å"The dreams,† I mumbled to myself in a flat voice. â€Å"Sleeping so much. The crying. All that food. Oh. Oh. Oh† Edward's stare seemed glassy, as if he couldn't see me anymore. Reflexively, almost involuntarily, my hand dropped to my stomach. â€Å"Oh!† I squeaked again. I lurched to my feet, slipping out of Edward's unmoving hands. I'd never changed out of the little silk shorts and camisole I'd worn to bed. I yanked the blue fabric out of the way and stared at my stomach. â€Å"Impossible,† I whispered. I had absolutely no experience with pregnancy or babies or any part of that world, but I wasn't an idiot. I'd seen enough movies and TV shows to know that this wasn't how it worked. I was only five days late. If I was pregnant, my body wouldn't even have registered that fact. I would not have morning sickness. I would not have changed my eating or sleeping habits. And I most definitely would not have a small but defined bump sticking out between my hips. I twisted my torso back and forth, examining it from every angle, as if it would disappear in exactly the right light. I ran my fingers over the subtle bulge, surprised by how rock hard it felt under my skin. â€Å"Impossible,† I said again, because, bulge or no bulge, period or no period (and there was definitely no period, though I'd never been late a day in my life), there was no way I could be pregnant The only person I'd ever had sex with was a vampire, for crying out loud. A vampire who was still frozen on the floor with no sign of ever moving again. So there had to be some other explanation, then. Something wrong with me. A strange South American disease with all the signs of pregnancy, only accelerated†¦ And then I remembered something – a morning of internet research that seemed a lifetime ago now. Sitting at the old desk in my room at Charlie's house with gray light glowing dully through the window, staring at my ancient, wheezing computer, reading avidly through a web-site called â€Å"Vampires A-Z.† It had been less than twenty-four hours since Jacob Black, trying to entertain me with the Quileute legends he didn't believe in yet, had told me that Edward was a vampire. I'd scanned anxiously through the first entries on the site, which was dedicated to vampire myths around the world. The Filipino Danag, the Hebrew Estrie, the Romanian Varacolaci, the Italian Stregoni benefici (a legend actually based on my new father-in-law's early exploits with the Volturi, not that I'd known anything about that at the time)†¦ I'd paid less and less attention as the stories had grown more and more implausible. I only remembered vague bits of the later entries. They mostly seemed like excuses dreamed up to explain things like infant mortality rates – and infidelity. No, honey, I'm not having an affair! That sexy woman you saw sneaking out of the house was an evil succubus. I'm lucky I escaped with my life! (Of course, with what I knew now about Tanya and her sisters, I suspected that some of those excuses had been nothing but fact.) There had been one for the ladies, too. How can you accuse me of cheating on you – just because you've come home from a two-year sea voyage and I'm pregnant? It was the incubus. He hypnotized me with his myst ical vampire powers†¦. That had been part of the definition of the incubus – the ability to father children with his hapless prey. I shook my head, dazed. But†¦ I thought of Esme and especially Rosalie. Vampires couldn't have children. If it were possible, Rosalie would have found a way by now. The incubus myth was nothing but a fable. Except that†¦ well, there was a difference. Of course Rosalie could not conceive a child, because she was frozen in the state in which she passed from human to inhuman. Totally unchanging. And human women's bodies had to change to bear children. The constant change of a monthly cycle for one thing, and then the bigger changes needed to accommodate a growing child. Rosalie's body couldn't change. But mine could. Mine did. I touched the bump on my stomach that had not been there yesterday. And human men – well, they pretty much stayed the same from puberty to death. I remembered a random bit of trivia, gleaned from who knows where: Charlie Chaplin was in his seventies when he fathered his youngest child. Men had no such thing as child-bearing years or cycles of fertility. Of course, how would anyone know if vampire men could father children, when their partners were not able? What vampire on earth would have the restraint necessary to test the theory with a human woman? Or the inclination? I could think of only one. Part of my head was sorting through fact and memory and speculation, while the other half – the part that controlled the ability to move even the smallest muscles – was stunned beyond the capacity for normal operations. I couldn't move my lips to speak, though I wanted to ask Edward to please explain to me what was going on. I needed to go back to where he sat, to touch him, but my body wouldn't follow instructions. I could only stare at my shocked eyes in the mirror, my fingers gingerly pressed against the swelling on my torso. And then, like in my vivid nightmare last night, the scene abruptly transformed. Everything I saw in the mirror looked completely different, though nothing actually was different. What happened to change everything was that a soft little nudge bumped my hand – from inside my body. In the same moment, Edward's phone rang, shrill and demanding. Neither of us moved. It rang again and again. I tried to tune it out while I pressed my fingers to my stomach, waiting. In the mirror my expression was no longer bewildered – it was wondering now. I barely noticed when the strange, silent tears started streaming down my cheeks. The phone kept ringing. I wished Edward would answer it – I was having a moment. Possibly the biggest of my life. Ring! Ring! Ring! Finally, the annoyance broke through everything else. I got down on my knees next to Edward – I found myself moving more carefully, a thousand times more aware of the way each motion felt – and patted his pockets until I found the phone. I half-expected him to thaw out and answer it himself, but he was perfectly still. I recognized the number, and I could easily guess why she was calling. â€Å"Hi, Alice,† I said. My voice wasn't much better than before. I cleared my throat. â€Å"Bella? Bella, areyou okay?† â€Å"Yeah. Urn. Is Carlisle there?† â€Å"He is. What's the problem?† â€Å"I'm not†¦ one hundred percent†¦ sure___† â€Å"Is Edward all right?† she asked warily. She called Carlisle's name away from the phone and then demanded, â€Å"Why didn't he pick up the phone?† before I could answer her first question. â€Å"I'm not sure.† â€Å"Bella,what's going on? I just saw – â€Å" â€Å"What did you see?† There was a silence. â€Å"Here's Carlisle,† she finally said. It felt like ice water had been injected in my veins. If Alice had seen a vision of me with a green-eyed, angel-faced child in my arms, she would have answered me, wouldn't she? While I waited through the split second it took for Carlisle to speak, the vision I'd imagined for Alice danced behind my lids. A tiny, beautiful little baby, even more beautiful than the boy in my dream – a tiny Edward in my arms. Warmth shot through my veins, chasing the ice away. â€Å"Bella, it's Carlisle. What's going on?† â€Å"I – † I wasn't sure how to answer. Would he laugh at my conclusions, tell me I was crazy? Was I just having another colorful dream? â€Å"I'm a little worried about Edward†¦. Can vampires go into shock?† â€Å"Has he been harmed?† Carlisle's voice was suddenly urgent. â€Å"No, no,† I assured him. â€Å"Just†¦ taken by surprise.† â€Å"I don't understand, Bella.† â€Å"I think†¦ well, I think that†¦ maybe†¦ I might be †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I took a deep breath. â€Å"Pregnant.† As if to back me up, there was another tiny nudge in my abdomen. My hand flew to my stomach. After a long pause, Carlisle's medical training kicked in. â€Å"When was the first day of your last menstrual cycle?† â€Å"Sixteen days before the wedding.† I'd done the mental math thoroughly enough just before to be able to answer with certainty. â€Å"How do you feel?† â€Å"Weird,† I told him, and my voice broke. Another trickle of tears dribbled down my cheeks. â€Å"This is going to sound crazy – look, I know it's way too early for any of this. Maybe I am crazy. But I'm having bizarre dreams and eating all the time and crying and throwing up and†¦ and†¦ I swear something moved inside me just now.† Edward's head snapped up. I sighed in relief. Edward held his hand out for the phone, his face white and hard. â€Å"Urn, I think Edward wants to talk to you.† â€Å"Put him on,† Carlisle said in a strained voice. Not entirely sure that Edward could talk, I put the phone in his outstretched hand. He pressed it to his ear. â€Å"Is it possible?† he whispered. He listened for a long time, staring blankly at nothing. â€Å"And Bella?† he asked. His arm wrapped around me as he spoke, pulling me close into his side. He listened for what seemed like a long time and then said, â€Å"Yes. Yes, I will.† He pulled the phone away from his ear and pressed the â€Å"end† button. Right away, he dialed a new number. â€Å"What did Carlisle say?† I asked impatiently. Edward answered in a lifeless voice. â€Å"He thinks you're pregnant.† The words sent a warm shiver down my spine. The little nudger fluttered inside me. â€Å"Who are you calling now?† I asked as he put the phone back to his ear. â€Å"The airport. We're going home.† Edward was on the phone for more than an hour without a break. I guessed that he was arranging our flight home, but I couldn't be sure because he wasn't speaking English. It sounded like he was arguing; he spoke through his teeth a lot. While he argued, he packed. He whirled around the room like an angry tornado, leaving order rather than destruction in his path. He threw a set of my clothes on the bed without looking at them, so I assumed it was time for me to get dressed. He continued with his argument while I changed, gesturing with sudden, agitated movements. When I could no longer bear the violent energy radiating out of him, I quietly left the room. His manic concentration made me sick to my stomach – not like the morning sickness, just uncomfortable. I would wait somewhere else for his mood to pass. I couldn't talk to this icy, focused Edward who honestly frightened me a little. Once again, I ended up in the kitchen. There was a bag of pretzels in the cupboard. I started chewing on them absently, staring out the window at the sand and rocks and trees and ocean, everything glittering in the sun. Someone nudged me. â€Å"I know,† I said. â€Å"I don't want to go, either.† I stared out the window for a moment, but the nudger didn't respond. â€Å"I don't understand,† i whispered. â€Å"What is wrong here?† Surprising, absolutely. Astonishing, even. But wrong? No. So why was Edward so furious? He was the one who had actually wished out loud for a shotgun wedding. I tried to reason through it. Maybe it wasn't so confusing that Edward wanted us to go home right away. He'd want Carlisle to check me out, make sure my assumption was right – though there was absolutely no doubt in my head at this point. Probably they'd want to figure out why I was already so pregnant, with the bump and the nudging and all of that. That wasn't normal. Once I thought of this, I was sure I had it. He must be so worried about the baby. I hadn't gotten around to freaking out yet. My brain worked slower than his – it was still stuck marveling over the picture it had conjured up before: the tiny child with Edward's eyes – green, as his had been when he was human – lying fair and beautiful in my arms. I hoped he would have Edward's face exactly, with no interference from mine. It was funny how abruptly and entirely necessary this vision had become. From that first little touch, the whole world had shifted. Where before there was just one thing i could not live without, now there were two. There was no division – my love was not split between them now; it wasn't like that. It was more like my heart had grown, swollen up to twice its size in that moment. All that extra space, already filled. The increase was almost dizzying. I'd never really understood Rosalie's pain and resentment before. I'd never imagined myself a mother, never wanted that. It had been a piece of cake to promise Edward that I didn't care about giving up children for him, because I truly didn't. Children, in the abstract, had never appealed to me. They seemed to be loud creatures, often dripping some form of goo. I'd never had much to do with them. When I'd dreamed of Renee providing me with a brother, I'd always imagined an older brother. Someone to take care of me, rather than the other way around. This child, Edward's child, was a whole different story. I wanted him like I wanted air to breathe. Not a choice – a necessity. Maybe I just had a really bad imagination. Maybe that was why I'd been unable to imagine that I would like being married until after I already was – unable to see that I would want a baby until after one was already coming†¦. As I put my hand on my stomach, waiting for the next nudge, tears streaked down my cheeks again. â€Å"Bella?† I turned, made wary by the tone of his voice. It was too cold, too careful. His face matched his voice, empty and hard. And then he saw that I was crying. â€Å"Bella!† Hecrossed the room in a flash and put his hands on my face. â€Å"Are you in pain?† â€Å"No, no – â€Å" He pulled me against his chest. â€Å"Don't be afraid. We'll be home in sixteen hours. You'll be fine. Carlisle will be ready when we get there. We'll take care of this, and you'll be fine, you'll be fine.† â€Å"Take care of this? What do you mean?† He leaned away and looked me in the eye. â€Å"We're going to get that thing out before it can hurt any part of you. Don't be scared. I wont let it hurt you.† â€Å"That thing?† Igasped. He looked sharply away from me, toward the front door. â€Å"Dammit! I forgot Gustavo was due today. HI get rid of him and be right back.† He darted out of the room. I clutched the counter for support. My knees were wobbly. Edward had just called my little nudger a thing. He said Carlisle would get it out. â€Å"No,† I whispered. I'd gotten it wrong before. He didn't care about the baby atall. He wanted to hurt him. The beautiful picture in my head shifted abruptly, changed into something dark. My pretty baby crying, my weak arms not enough to protect him†¦. What could I do? Would I be able to reason with them? What if I couldn't? Did this explain Alice's strange silence on the phone? Is that what she'd seen? Edward and Carlisle killing that pale, perfect child before he could live? â€Å"No,† I whispered again, my voice stronger. That could not be. I would not allow it. I heard Edward speaking Portuguese again. Arguing again. His voice got closer, and I heard him grunt in exasperation. Then I heard another voice, low and timid. A woman's voice. He came into the kitchen ahead of her and went straight to me. He wiped the tears from my cheeks and murmured in my ear through the thin, hard line of his lips. â€Å"She's insisting on leaving the food she brought – she made us dinner.† If he had been less tense, less furious, I knew he would have rolled his eyes. â€Å"It's an excuse – she wants to make sure I haven't killed you yet.† His voice went ice cold at the end. Kaure edged nervously around the corner with a covered dish in her hands. I wished I could speak Portuguese, or that my Spanish was less rudimentary, so that I could try to thank this woman who had dared to anger a vampire just to check on me. Her eyes flickered between the two of us. I saw her measuring thecolor in my face, the moisture in my eyes. Mumbling something I didn't understand, she put the dish on the counter. Edward snapped something at her; I'd never heard him be so impolite before. She turned to go, and the whirling motion of her long skirt wafted the smell of the food into my face. It was strong – onions and fish. I gagged and whirled for the sink. I felt Edward's hands on my forehead and heard his soothing murmur through the roaring in my ears. His hands disappeared for a second, and I heard the refrigerator slam shut. Mercifully, the smell disappeared with the sound, and Edward's hands were cooling my clammy face again. It was over quickly. I rinsed my mouth in the tap while he caressed the side of my face. There was a tentative little nudge in my womb. It's okay. We're okay,I thought toward the bump. Edward turned me around, pulling me into his arms. I rested my head on his shoulder. My hands, instinctively, folded over my stomach. I heard a little gasp and I looked up. The woman was still there, hesitating in the doorway with her hands half-outstretched as if she had been looking for some way to help. Her eyes were locked on my hands, popping wide with shock. Her mouth hung open. Then Edward gasped, too, and he suddenly turned to face the woman, pushing me slightly behind his body. His arm wrapped across my torso, like he was holding me back. Suddenly, Kaure was shouting at him – loudly, furiously, her unintelligible words flying across the room like knives. She raised her tiny fist in the air and took two steps forward, shaking it at him. Despite her ferocity, it was easy to see the terror in her eyes. Edward stepped toward her, too, and I clutched at his arm, frightened for the woman. But when he interrupted her tirade, his voice took me by surprise, especially considering how sharp he'd been with her when she wasn't screeching at him. It was low now; it was pleading. Not only that, but the sound was different, more guttural, the cadence off. I didn't think he was speaking Portuguese anymore. For a moment, the woman stared at him in wonder, and then her eyes narrowed as she barked out a long question in the same alien tongue. I watched as his face grew sad and serious, and he nodded once. She took a quick step back and crossed herself. He reached out to her, gesturing toward me and then resting his hand against my cheek. She replied angrily again, waving her hands accusingly toward him, and then gestured to him. When she finished, he pleaded again with the same low, urgent voice. Her expression changed – she stared at him with doubt plain on her face as he spoke, her eyes repeatedly flashing to my confused face. He stopped speaking, and she seemed to be deliberating something. She looked back and forth between the two of us, and then, unconsciously it seemed, took a step forward. She made a motion with her hands, miming a shape like a balloon jutting out from her stomach. I started – did her legends of the predatory blood-drinker include this? Could she possibly know something about what was growing inside me? She walked a few steps forward deliberately this time and asked a few brief questions, which he responded to tensely. Then he became the questioner – one quick query. She hesitated and then slowly shook her head. When he spoke again, his voice was so agonized that I looked up at him in shock. His face was drawn with pain. In answer, she walked slowly forward until she was close enough to lay her small hand on top of mine, over my stomach. She spoke one word in Portuguese. â€Å"Morte,†she sighed quietly. Then she turned, her shoulders bent as if the conversation had aged her, and left the room. I knew enough Spanish for that one. Edward was frozen again, staring after her with the tortured expression fixed on his face. A few moments later, I heard a boat's engine putter to life and then fade into the distance. Edward did not move until I started for the bathroom. Then his hand caught my shoulder. â€Å"Where are you going?† His voice was a whisper of pain. â€Å"To brush my teeth again.† â€Å"Don't worry about what she said. It's nothing but legends, old lies for the sake of entertainment.† â€Å"I didn't understand anything,† I told him, though it wasn't entirely true. As if I could discount something because it was a legend. My life was circled by legend on every side. They were all true. â€Å"I packed your toothbrush. I'll get it for you.† He walked ahead of me to the bedroom. â€Å"Are we leaving soon?† I called after him. â€Å"As soon as you're done.† He waited for my toothbrush to repack it, pacing silently around the bedroom. I handed it to him when I was finished. â€Å"I'll get the bags into the boat.† â€Å"Edward – â€Å" He turned back. â€Å"Yes?† I hesitated, trying to think of some way to get a few seconds alone. â€Å"Could you†¦ pack some of the food? You know, in case I get hungry again.† â€Å"Of course,† he said, his eyes suddenly soft. â€Å"Don't worry about anything. We'll get to Carlisle in just a few hours, really. This will all be over soon.† I nodded, not trusting my voice. He turned and left the room, one big suitcase in each hand. I whirled and scooped up the phone he'd left on the counter. It was very unlike him to forget things – to forget that Gustavo was coming, to leave his phone lying here. He was so stressed he was barely himself. I flipped it open and scrolled through the preprogrammed numbers. I was glad he had the sound turned off, afraid that he would catch me. Would he be at the boat now? Or back already? Would he hear me from the kitchen if I whispered? I found the number I wanted, one I had never called before in my life. I pressed the â€Å"send† button and crossed my fingers. â€Å"Hello?† the voice like golden wind chimes answered. â€Å"Rosalie?† I whispered. â€Å"It's Bella. Please. You have to help me.†

What would be the impact of a world dominated by female political Essay

What would be the impact of a world dominated by female political leaders - Essay Example More importantly, the discipline of the political science, the study of the female leaders in such setting as in political grounds can adequately shade light not solely on gender or even leadership but also on the elites within politics in general. In a general sense, it can easily be understood how power is attained in particular contexts, which could even lead to more generalizable theories within the leadership setting in the world (Kassem, 2013). For instance, when the political experts evaluate and examine the factors that generally affect the male leaders they definitely discover that it is indeed quite difficult to isolate the impacts of the single variables or even in distinguishing a single factor from another one. In a few respects, the feminist analysis clearly enhances the understanding of the political leadership. The feminist perspectives generally paint an alternative view of women as the national leaders although it as well points to the larger lessons from the general study of leadership. In the recent past, the status of the women in the field of politics has captured the advanced imagination of the spectators around the world. From research, a little is known on the women politicians because much of it tends to focus mostly on the women in the legislative and not in the executive offices. A reason for that is directly related to greater success that the female leaders globally have been keen on obtaining the legislative slots as opposed to the executive (Krook, 2010). Nearly, over the last half century the women have significantly made advances in the labor force participation, education, and in the political activism throughout the world. The gender gaps however still are experienced in the low-income nations although they are quite smaller than in the previous decades. In the high and the middle-income countries, many of the gaps have consistently been reversed. Women have been found overtaking men in most areas of

Run the appropriate ANOVA, you must copy and paste the relevant tables Assignment

Run the appropriate ANOVA, you must copy and paste the relevant tables from the SPSS output file - Assignment Example Experience assigns participants to those with experience and those without experience. A participants cannot be in both groups. Piercing skills is the dependent variable. Dependent variable is that variable whose value is influenced by one or more other variables and piercing skill is expected to vary with experience and consumption of four bottles of tequila. Transform the variable ‘experience’ into a new variable ‘expgroups’ with low experience being a score of 40-69 and high experience being a score of 70-100. Give ‘expgroups’ the value labels ‘1 = low’ and ‘2 = high’. (4 points) The means for the high group are 22.08 before taking tequila and 31.25 after taking tequila and the standard deviations are 14.37 before taking the amount of tequila and 11.185 after taking the tequila. Room color is the independent variable. Independent variable is a variable whose value is fixed at particular point to dictate the value of another variable. In the study, room color meets the definition of an independent variable because its value is fixed at three different colors to determine participants’ moods. This is a repeated measures ANOVA and treatment of the participants demonstrate this. Repeated measures towards repeated measures ANOVA exists if all of the research participants are exposed to all conditions in a study and the exposure occurs in turns. This is the case as the participants are each exposed to the room colors before their mood is

M3A1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

M3A1 - Essay Example Emotional intelligence, therefore, offers a way in which managers working in different cultural settings than their own can adapt and achieve success in their new setting. For example, Deirdre who works as a broadcast director for a London-based company was tasked to ensure all units adopt a single negotiating strategy. Instead of fighting it out with the managers who resisted this change, she had one-on-one meetings to find out their reasons for resisting. Later, she shared ideas with them and revised her negotiating methods to incorporate the approaches the managers had found successful. The managers chose to co-operate other than resist. An effective leader exhibits five components of emotional intelligence. These are self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social skills and motivation (Hofstede, 1985). He further explains that emotional intelligence is necessary for building trust, solving problems with others, participating productively in a group and creating a sense of identity and efficacy. Emotional intelligence, however, has its weaknesses as shown by Earley & Mosakowski (2004). They give an example of an American expatriate engineer working with two German counterparts. After some time of the Germans shooting down other people’s ideas, the American mistakenly equated the action of the two as that of all Germans. With emotional intelligence alone, the manager is unable to show how much of the behavior of the engineers had been idiosyncratic and how much was culturally determined. He did not know how to influence their actions (Earley & Mosakowski, 2004). Earley and Mosakowski state that human actions, speech and gestures that a person encounters in a foreign setting are subject to wide interpretations that may make misunderstandings likely and cooperation impossible (Earley&Mosakowski, 2004). Hofstede states

Financial part of the new project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial part of the new project - Essay Example An individual can retail companies like Wal-Mart or a financial organization. Wal-Mart is the leading retailing company. It has been rated as no.1 retailing company in United States. An individual or a firm planning to setup a store can acquire the services of Wal-Mart for the products offered by the Wal-Mart to exhibit the popular brands that comes under Wal-Mart. Instead of approaching the financial institutions like banks for funding loans the dependent can approach Wal-Mart. It can sponsor the person or firm to open store. Storeowner can get commission from Wal-Mart after the selling of the products that were displayed in the store. The commission varies depending on the store. In the current market scenario the sales of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and computer hardware and software sales touch saturate point. Unlike stores established for artifacts whose sales move at snails pace than the products like FMCG. In addition, capital required for establishing events that are outdated in the market like antiques and art related is unassumingly high. Moreover the cash involved in such a store will be at stake for a longer period and fetch very less margin or commission from Wal-Mart. The fixed assets required in establishing a store should be on par with the status of the Wal-Mart.

Ethics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ethics - Assignment Example Phil covered up his ill intentions by saying that the tidy sum would enhance a complete system overhaul. Fraud is a common unethical issue among firms that aim to make money through unscrupulous activities (Richardson p 18). Kevin’s intentions were not for the good of the company, but for his personal satisfaction. Fraud affects a company’s financial statements. It is much more expensive to cover-up fraud when the financial statements are undergoing audit procedures. 2. Fraudulent activities in Empress Luxury Lines have a material impact on various stakeholders. Kevin Pfeiffer, the computer technician is likely to get fired for two reasons; first, he declined Phil’s order to dig up nearly all the underground wires and cables. Phil is Kevin’s supervisor who has the authority to dismiss him on grounds of declining to perform duties (which is also a fraudulent activity by Phil). Secondly, Kevin was still a new hire under probation. He was well aware that failure to heed to Phil’s orders would have dire consequences on his career. His job was at stake as it is evident from what he told Antonio that his integrity did not matter. The orders he declined were performed by Matt, who would also benefit from the abhorrent actions. The insurance company would also have suffered from fraud. The insurance company was defrauded sums thirty times more of what would have been the real amount. Antonio claimed that he had heard rumours that the company successfully defrauded insurance companies before he arrived. Phil’s fraudulent activities brought truth to those allegations. The fraudulent activities had adverse effects on the company’s shareholders and financiers; the main source of capital for the company. The financial statements they received did not reflect a truthful and fair financial operation of the business. In fact, the parties involved in the fraudulent activities

E Daily adult needs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

E Daily adult needs - Essay Example Charles Darwin explains that all living things compete for survival. In addition, individuals who appear strong have higher chances of survival in the modern world. However, strength is not defined by financial power or authority. Adults who develop the three needs in their lives gain strength that propels them to their social, economic, and political strength. Based on the concepts of survival of the fittest and struggle for existence, the three needs are important to every adult. Unlike children who depend on their parents, adults are independent. They rely upon themselves to ensure that the world is a better place for them and others. Independence, in this case, means that adults are autonomous. They are responsible for their destiny. In addition, adults should realize that every action has an opposite and equal reaction known as â€Å"consequences.† Adults ought to understand that good deeds bring forth good fruits, whereas bad deeds are detrimental to self-worth. It is prudent that adults strive to become the best at what they do; by understanding the concept of autonomy. According to the concept of survival for the fittest, adults should aim to reap the best from every activity they undertake. By doing so, they become competent in the highly competitive world. Based on the belief that no man or woman is an island, autonomy and competence develop the manner in which adults interact in the social, political, and economic spheres. Psychologists explain that extrinsic motivation is a significant component for individual success. Such motivation includes praise from the individuals who notice personal achievements. If motivation can be related to the adult needs, it would give rise to the third adult need of relatedness. Adults need to maintain healthy relationships with others by being able to relate to the achievements of the people around them. Adults achieve success by setting targets, implementing objectives, and employing the necessary

President Barack Obama as a speaker, discussing his content and Essay

President Barack Obama as a speaker, discussing his content and delivery style - Essay Example Ageism is a set of beliefs that enable people to justify prejudices based on age, its use being either casual or systematic. This form of discrimination is increasingly becoming common especially against elderly people. There is an increasing belief that the older people, or the elderly, are past their prime and that they cannot function well in society. In fact, it is said that these people have become useless to society and should therefore, not be shown any form of respect by the younger generation. President Obama has in his speech and in support of universal healthcare indirectly come in support of the elderly. In essence, his belief in universal healthcare has shown that he does not believe in ageism and, in fact, values all the people in society. Racism is the belief that Man is divided into various groups known as races and that such groups bear certain characteristics, which make them either superior or inferior. Racism is one of the most predominant forms of discrimination today, and it is experienced by people in all occupations. President Obama, in many of his speeches on racism, the most notable being the one to the NAACP, states that America has come a long way in fighting against racial discrimination. However, he also states that the fight against it in American society is not over and that it is likely to go on well into the future (Thompson and Thompson). Religious discrimination is the treatment of certain people in a different way because of their spiritual beliefs. This is usually done most especially against those people who belong to either a different religion, or a different denomination. Those who adhere to different religions are usually discriminated against in such cases as legal proceedings, or when attempting to get employment. One of the people who tend to face religious discrimination in the Western world is

Unified of the American Constitution Essay Example for Free

Unified of the American Constitution Essay What was the original intent of the U.S. Constitution? Why did Alexander Hamilton want to create a more powerful centralization of federal government? What is the difference between Democratic-Republican and Federalist? Analyzing and resolving constitutional issues was an ongoing process during the eighteenth century. According to Jack Rakove â€Å"†¦ from a historical perspective this book, guidelines, approval around the constitution, form political worries about reviewing in 1780, the Constitution and the clarification of the scope that the debate on the role of the original intent of the constitutional debate should be interpreted to play. † 1 Also Rakove thinks the federal constitution must be developed to address the representatives of the executive power and the rights and constitutional concepts in a way reflecting the highest law. The federal convention or intense political debate followed. Similar to Rakove, some people believed the Constitution could give people clearer rules to tell them what they were supposed to do or not. In addition, the Constitution could also prohibit the government from what they should not do. The government needs to guarantee freedom for people, and what rights belong to people couldn’t be violated. The Constitution also remains above the government; while maintaining above the people, its like a barrier to prevent the government from expanding. The Constitution could guarantee justice and equity for what the government sometimes did, like being secretive, and corrupt, which violates and ignores the Constitution by following the money of corporations, lobbyists, and bankers that are destroying our country, freedoms, economy, and our way of life. It provides a set of hard-fast rules for the creation and perpetuation of a Legislature, an Executive, and a Judiciary Branch. According to Madison, he was the person strongly argued for the central of the government that would unify the country and he was the most important person to write and creation of the Constitution. People call him Father of the Constitution. He thought a representative government suppose governed by those smaller states. The  power should be limited by the Federal Government because those specific areas know what they wanted and had representatives their interests. So the best way to vote was elect representatives was social system, citizens because they lived in same of the territory, it would be easier for them to agree to work together to realize their ideas. The government should protect different rights because through their representative institutions pronunciation sounds more in line with the interests of human society and the decision of the people were subject to their own interests, such as the freedom of speech, religion and the press. Alexander Hamilton believed the new U.S. administration should be divided into three divisions: Congress executive, legislative and judicial powers. 2 The government divided into three sections would provide checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, and that by working together in three different branches can concentrate power in the state. He also believed that serving the life of good character, or, more precisely, would give stability to the administrative offices on the other hand, that short-term services only encourage politicians to focus on re-election, rather than the rule in this country. Hamilton also thought people should have bicameral: one is upper chamber, called the Senate, including the elite aristocracy of the country, and one is lower chamber, called the General Assembly. Would be the seat of democracy for the American people, Senator Election life’s by the House of Lords and the elected representatives of the elected term of three years. According to George Washington, â€Å"from all classes of Citizens, The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet, from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security. One says George Washington was a very passionate, very proud man. In this sense, he was seen as a quiet man. His pride came from a sense of honor. This was reflected in; he would do everything, and He showed humility, when he was appointed commander of the Continental Army s commander in chief, he said he did not think he had the ability to task, but it needed to start with all his strength. He also had a heart of gratitude and sincere attitude. He respected the views of the  Congress; he would make every effort to live up to their expectations. His believed in public service his entire life, if you sport or tooted his horn† to get the job, then you are not eligible to sow themselves. In conclusion, the differences between Jam es Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington were James Madison believed in a limited federal government, and Alexander Hamilton believed in a strong, extensive federal government. George Washington was friends with Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington was also a Federalist, so he believed in a strong central government because George Washington believed that if our nation would survive then we would need a strong government and the government needed rules to go by or they would basically rule over Americans. But they all have their different ways to seeing and saying the same ideas about the constitution in the eighteenth century. On the other hand, the similarity between James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington were having similar ideas about the constitution in eighteenth century. They all want to make the unification of the constitution of U.S. because it can protect all of our rights of its citizens. One could argue about the Federalists was more important than the Republicans because the Federalists make the country more organized and clearer rule for all the people in the U.S. This is the agreement for the most important power of the constitution because the process of drafting and ratification of the Constitution led to the victory of the Enlightenment philosophy: the full definition and addressing social and political issues of integrity and ability of the human rational nature of man and society personalities and beliefs. Indeed, the Constitution itself is perhaps best understood as an Enlightenment document, also because it reflects the target, order, freedom and justice and the general welfare of its preamble and its explicit and implicit promises, the concept of limited government, civil liberties , Church and State, military strength limitations, as well as the separation of an open society.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Physician Assisted Suicide Philosophy Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Physician Assisted Suicide Philosophy Essay Physician assisted-suicide is a personal decision which helps end a sufferings life. Physician assisted-suicide can affect a family physically and mentally. Physician-assisted suicide is the most common type of assisted suicide. Physician assisted-suicide or euthanasia describes any case in which a doctor gives a patient the means to carry out their own suicide. This  medical procedure  is most commonly carried out on people with  terminal illnesses. Physician assisted-suicide is a controversial issue worldwide. Physician assisted-suicide has both  pros and cons. When a person is suffering from aterminal illness  they are already physically suffering, and should have the right to decide how they want to die. A terminal illness is where either way the person is going to die in a certain amount of time and cant control it. However, physician assisted-suicide is illegal in 47 states, therefore there has to be some type of problem. Physician assisted-suicide should be legal for the people who are already suffering from terminal illnesses. They should not have to suffer anymore. Physician assisted-suicide is necessary in order to put human rights in place. Physician assisted-suicide has many disadvantages. Physician assisted-suicide has many disadvantages because in some states it is not legal and therefore if a physician goes through with the practice the physician will loose their license and can face getting sued. This has happened a few times and is a major problem. Washington and Oregon are currently the only states that permit physician-assisted suicide. Some physicians are not ok with aiding patients in dying, but that is normally not the problem. In source 3 by Reyes B.J, it states that Senate bill 803 prohibits  mercy killings,  lethal injections, and active euthanasia, and requires patients to receive informed consent. This explains that if a physician or doctor under any circumstances attempts to perform the suicide in states that it is not legal in, then there will be serious legal consequences. The Senate bill 803 protects the act of physician assisted- suicide. Although many people have their doubts about physician assisted-suicide there are many advantages of physician assisted-suicide. One positive thing about physician assisted-suicide is that physician assisted-suicide gives you the right to decide how you would like to die. In source 4 written by Lee M and Alexander Stingl he discusses the Right to die  debate. The Right to die Debate discusses whether or not people should have the right to die how they want. Many people could argue this because many people have different opinions on this personal issue. This is important because dying is considered a human right. Also ODDA (Oregons  Death with Dignity Act) permits physicians to assist terminally ill patients to end their own lives by writing prescriptions for  lethal doses  of medication. This means that in the United States, suicide, is no longer against the law. However Physician assisted-suicide still is not legal all throughout the United States. This is because instead of just the individual taking their own life someone else is involved, this makes the issue more complicated because there are legal actions that have to be put in place if anything happens that isnt supposed to. On the other hand physician assisted-suicide impacts some people differently. For example physician assisted-suicide is against the teachings of many religions, such as Catholicism, and some people feel as if it is unfair and unnecessary and against human morals. It is against some religions because physician assisted-suicide is not mentioned in religious readings for example the bible, and God does not believe in physician assisted-suicide. John Pearson writes about how legalizing physician assisted-suicide is unnecessary and painful, both physically and emotionally. If suicide was right then it would have been discovered throughout the ages by the great thinkers in law, ethics, and philosophy. If suicide was right it would have been mentioned in the bible and thats the reason that it is not classified as necessary and why people think it is against certain religions. The term  Euthanasia  was taken from the Greek word easy death. This is because it provides a quick and  painless death. In some scenarios physician assisted-suicide is best. One example of a scenario where physician assisted-suicide was best, was for Sandra Wiener. This 64 year old woman was lucky to die how she wanted. This particular woman prepared for her own death. Her physician described physician assisted-suicide as an unmentionable, intensely private procedure. Even though the 64 year old knew that what was being done was illegal at the time, her physician still carried out with the procedure. Doing this, she was committing a class E felony. However, it was best for Sandra Wiener, because she was terminally ill and suffering. In the eyes of the law, there have only been 3 acceptable ways involved with taking a life. Killing in self-defense, killing in war, and in the case of capital punishment. Physician assisted-suicide has never been looked upon as right. Many persons who want to legalize assisted suicide probably never looked at the risks that could happen if assisted suicide is legalized. If assisted suicide was legal fifty years ago, we wouldnt have some of the advancements that control pain, nausea, breathlessness and other terminal symptoms, today. Not only that but the money which is obtained from patients that spend a lot on medicine and hospital bills would cease to exist if physician assisted-suicide was legal Some diseases that were terminal a few years ago are cured by newly developed treatments. If we accept assisted suicide now, we might delay the discovery of effective treatments for those diseases that are now terminal. What about the already corrupt society of America? Todays citizens mi ght not be as honorable as one might wish when it comes to collecting on insurance policies and wills. With assisted suicide legalized, how would one regard the suspicious death of a terminally ill individual within the family? Physician-assisted suicide is a term often used to describe the provisions of the ODDA (Oregons Death with Dignity Act) although actions taken within the law do not constitute suicide, physician assisted-suicide, or  mercy killing  or homicide. Many groups that advocate for the rights of the disabled are against the legalization of physician assisted-suicide. This is because their objection stems largely from what they see as a history of medical discrimination against the disabled particularly the disabled poor. They support a group called Not dead yet. This group is largely against physician assisted-suicide. In the article written by Ann Jackson, she explains the positive outcomes of physician assisted-suicide. In 1997 there was a repeal effort. This repeal effort was to make the ODDA( Oregons Death with Dignity Act) effective. In 1998 the act was successfully effective. This was important because this act allowed a terminally-ill resident of the state to ask his or her doctor for a prescription of life-ending medication. This was positive because it allowed terminally ill patients to end their lives without suffering for any longer. With the technology and advancements in medicine today, who is to say that a persons illness couldnt be cured within the next few months or in the near future. Why end a persons life when you never know what could be in store for them. There is always that possibility of a cure coming out before it is too late. There is always that chance. How can someone else know if another person is really experiencing  unbearable pain and suffering? Who gets to be the one to decide or to tell another that their life isnt worth living? The fact is that nobody should be able to dictate what one shall do. People should be responsible for making their own decisions, and if they no longer feel that their decision is right, they have no one else to blame but themselves. They cant blame it on their physician if they do decide that they want to take their own life. Physician assisted- suicide is a very personal decision that should be carefully thought about. Physician-assisted suicide is not taken lightly. This is a very serious medical matter. There are many rules and regulations regarding this  medical procedure. Many wavers and  consent forms  have to be signed and notarized before undergoing this medical procedure. This medical procedure is a positive procedure for most families who feel as if their loved one is suffering, or has been suffering for to long. To ensure that the patient receives full trust within the doctor there is an oath. The  Hippocratic Oath  is an oath taken by doctors which ensures that they swear to practice medicine ethically. This ensures that the physician or doctors prescribing the patient with the lethal medicine which kills them, understands what they are doing and ensures that they are doing it correctly. This oath is like a backup consent. If the doctors or physicians are not abiding by this oath they can face serious consequences which could make them loose their  medical license  and even be sentenced to face many years in jail. In source 5 written by Andrew Walter he mentions that the Hippocratic Oath protects the patients when undergoing this medical procedure, Andrew Walter is very true when stating this because it protects the patients and the patients understand what is going to happen during a normal procedure. Overall physician assisted-suicide has both its advantages and disadvantages. Some people believe that physician assisted-suicide is morally wrong and unnecessary, but on the other hand some people think it is the best thing to do and is necessary to move on in life. Either way physician assisted-suicide is a controversial issue and has caused many issues over time. Currently  physician assisted suicide  is only legal in 3 states and Hawaii is still trying to make it legal as the fourth state.

Dolores Claiborne :: essays research papers

The Eclipse   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the day of the full eclipse, Dolores Claiborne’s life changes forever. True, it had been changed by events beyond her control long before this fateful day, but she chooses this day to end her husband’s life so she and her family can go on living. Steven King masterfully weaves this tale of love, abuse, and denial in his novel, Dolores Claiborne, which was later turned into a movie directed by Taylor Hackford. Although the movie adaptation of the novel follows the story line very closely, there are a few changes made, such as the role of Dolores’ daughter, Selena, the intended audience to Dolores, and the importance of Salena being raped by her father.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although Salena plays an important role in both the book and the movie, her roles in each are different. In the book, she is dependent on her mother until the point when her father begins to sexually abuse her. She then withdraws from everyone and tries to forget about the fact that it ever happened. In the movie, however, Salena has come back from New York to defend her mother after she has been accused of killing Vera Donovan. She has developed a drug abuse problem, just like her father. Salena is the reason for many of the scenes throughout the movie, as she is remembering them and discussing what really happened with her mother.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In both the novel and the movie, the story of the eclipse and the events leading up to it are told in a flashback. The difference is that in the novel, Dolores is telling her story to the police in the form of a confession. She wants to get it all out of her conscious so that she can be cleared of killing Vera Donovan. In the movie, however, she is talking to Salena, who doesn’t remember all of what happens, or is in denial about most of what happened. Many of the present time scenes in the movie are of Dolores trying to convince Salena that this really did happen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Yet another important event in both the book and the movie is when Dolores finds out that her husband has been sexually abusing their daughter. It is at this time that she decides to kill him, after some prompting by Vera Donovan. She takes drastic measures in planning her husband’s â€Å"accident.† In the movie, however, the abuse is only acknowledged.

Tablet PCs :: Personal Computers

Tablet PCs Weighing in at 2.5 pounds the Table PC is the newest creation in the world of portable computers. Instead of having to use a mouse and keyboard this new computer uses only an electronic pen and a few keys. Without even having to hook up to a phone-line you can wirelessly connect to the Internet. While the computer may be small itself its capabilities are far from it. One model of this PC is called the Convertible. This version looks very much like the normal laptop computer we’re used to today. With the other PC’s you don’t use a keyboard but with this one you have the option. If you’d rather type you simply rotate the computer and use the keyboard. If you’d prefer to use the note-take features you turn it back and begin writing with the pen as if you normally would. A second model of the tablet is the Slate PC. This version is very lightweight and convenient to use during meetings for note-taking. This version is easily able to dock right into your regular PC for use with a full screen, mouse and keyboard. It is similar to a laptop but its thin design makes it easy to bring wherever you may need it. While all tablets are able to dock some are easier than others. For example the Windows XP Dual Monitor support system allows you to work on one thing while keeping your notes on another screen. Along with the docking is the â€Å"grab-and-go† feature which allows you to undock so quickly you don’t have to go into standby. The Tablet PC is a very convenient tool for those who are not able to work at a desk with a computer but still need the same functions. These little computers are capable of running Windows XP. A Tablet is also able to run programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You are able to customize the PC to exactly fit your needs. â€Å"Using

The Internet Increases Social Isolation Essay -- Internet Technology a

Inside the majority of American households rest the unlimited territory of the internet. The unlimited and always advancing possibilities have unlocked powerful new tools in communication and socialization. Tools such as: long distance visual communication, international circulation of personal thoughts, and massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) have all led to a closer but more distant community of people. The positive side can attribute to the fact that the younger generation seems more in tune with their international counterparts. Youth have the ability to anonymously communicate with others through various message boards, mostly governed by one policy, freedom of speech. The anonymity of the internet has created a community where social outcasts mingle freely with others; a society where jocks can converse with geeks without fear of reprisal. This community releases people from the bounds of their own flesh. Yet, technological advances have pus hed society into the next dimension of communication and socialization that seemingly override traditional and more personal vessels of communication. The internet, initially developed by researchers at MIT and UCLA, had first purposes as a communications system between participating Universities. Walt Howe, Director of Libraries at Babson College, explains that the use of the system was limited to engineers, scientists, and those with the complex knowledge of computer operating systems. Because of the complexity involved many attempted to create a more user efficient system, one that home users could adopt. The most modern and user friendly system was pioneered around 1991 at University of Minnesota as a tool to access files and information local... ...ally socializing face-to-face. The technological shield inhibits proxemics and makes it impossible for those communicating to see the involuntary body movements of their counterpart, leaving a dislocated and artificial feeling. But, increases in online networking will lead to social skill atrophy. By increasing online networking, people will become left experiencing life vicariously. Works Cited Hall, Edward T. "A System for the Notion of Proxemic Behavior." American Anthropologist: 65. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. Howe, Walt. "A Brief History of the Internet." Walt Howe's Home Page. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. . Massik, Sonia and Solomon, Jack. â€Å"You-Topian Dreams: Myspace, Yourspace, and the Semiotics of Web 2.0.† 2014. 426-7. Simpson, Joanne Cavanaugh. â€Å"Multitasking State of Mind.† 2006. Massik and Solomon. 469-71. The Internet Increases Social Isolation Essay -- Internet Technology a Inside the majority of American households rest the unlimited territory of the internet. The unlimited and always advancing possibilities have unlocked powerful new tools in communication and socialization. Tools such as: long distance visual communication, international circulation of personal thoughts, and massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) have all led to a closer but more distant community of people. The positive side can attribute to the fact that the younger generation seems more in tune with their international counterparts. Youth have the ability to anonymously communicate with others through various message boards, mostly governed by one policy, freedom of speech. The anonymity of the internet has created a community where social outcasts mingle freely with others; a society where jocks can converse with geeks without fear of reprisal. This community releases people from the bounds of their own flesh. Yet, technological advances have pus hed society into the next dimension of communication and socialization that seemingly override traditional and more personal vessels of communication. The internet, initially developed by researchers at MIT and UCLA, had first purposes as a communications system between participating Universities. Walt Howe, Director of Libraries at Babson College, explains that the use of the system was limited to engineers, scientists, and those with the complex knowledge of computer operating systems. Because of the complexity involved many attempted to create a more user efficient system, one that home users could adopt. The most modern and user friendly system was pioneered around 1991 at University of Minnesota as a tool to access files and information local... ...ally socializing face-to-face. The technological shield inhibits proxemics and makes it impossible for those communicating to see the involuntary body movements of their counterpart, leaving a dislocated and artificial feeling. But, increases in online networking will lead to social skill atrophy. By increasing online networking, people will become left experiencing life vicariously. Works Cited Hall, Edward T. "A System for the Notion of Proxemic Behavior." American Anthropologist: 65. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. Howe, Walt. "A Brief History of the Internet." Walt Howe's Home Page. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. . Massik, Sonia and Solomon, Jack. â€Å"You-Topian Dreams: Myspace, Yourspace, and the Semiotics of Web 2.0.† 2014. 426-7. Simpson, Joanne Cavanaugh. â€Å"Multitasking State of Mind.† 2006. Massik and Solomon. 469-71.

Avon Case Study

Avon Products, Inc. (Avon) is based in New York. The firm engages in the manufacture and marketing of beauty and complimentary products primarily in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.Avon’s products are classified into three product categories: Beauty, Beauty Plus, and Beyond Beauty. The Beauty category consists of cosmetics, fragrances, skin care, and toiletries; Beauty Plus includes fashion jewelry, watches, apparel, and accessories; and Beyond Beauty comprises home products, gift and decorative products, candles, and toys.The company sells and markets its products through a combination of direct selling, marketing by independent Avon representatives, and via its consumer Web site, avon. com. Avon was one of the prominent direct sales companies in the beauty products industry.Started in the late 1800s by David McConnell, the company sold a wide variety of beauty-related products to homemakers through its direct sales agents. However, by the 1980s, the co mpany had lost its luster and performance began to falter. A failed diversification strategy made it the target of several takeover attempts.Turnaround efforts were initiated in the 1990s under then CEO James Preston and continued by his successor Charles Perrin, however, they failed to make a significant impact. Performance began to improve only after Andrea Jung became the CEO of the company in 1999. Andrea Jung became president and CEO of Avon in 1999 and has totally revamped the company. Under her leadership, the company has updated its product line, launched new advertising, and created a new image. Avon’s sales have increased by 30 %, profits 40%, and the stock price has dramatically improved.Jung’s has been able to align the firm’s core capabilities with its strategic targets which has lead to phenomenal results. It appears that Jung has been able to establish a clear vision for the firm that has been incorporated in every aspect of the firm’s oper ating system.This vision is shared by all employees and representatives of Avon priming the company for continued success. Other strategies of Jung include cost cutting by reducing number of raw material suppliers, shifting production from smaller plants to larger ones, moving manufacturing from high cost nations like Great Britain to lower cost countries such as Poland.As mentioned in the Avon case study, the e-representative initiative also has helped Avon cut costs. The direct sellers are asked to fill in the order online. Avon’s brand has definitely resonated for women through the years.During the 1980s, the company began to diversify by investing in retirement properties and healthcare products, and launching catalogs for men and children. During the initial stages of this strategy, Avon started to remove itself from its core market of selling to women. The results were downward revenue trends and slow growth throughout the 1990's which resulted in several takeover bids. Unfortunately, Sears Roebuck and JC Penny do not really resonate well with being a carrier of women’s beauty supplies. The name â€Å"Sears† have been associated with appliance and not beauty products. The move of aligning with this companies and trying to sell higher end beauty products will only push Avon in the opposite direction that it should be heading, which is to move back towards tailoring to women domestically and globally. Over the years, Avon has experienced several problems leveraging its brand in many of its product lines.As a result, positive net sales and earnings growth for the past five years have been in single digits and steadily declining year after year. Specific problem areas are stagnated sales, slow earnings growth, limited distribution capabilities and shift in personal care preferences and spending habits.Andrea Jung’s proposal to expand into certain retail markets will only perpetuate Avon’s trend of declining net sales. The pr oposed plan will indeed create an additional distribution outlet and cater to this market segment. However, the question to examine is at what expense or cost will Avon endure making this decision?Avon has faced tremendous pitfalls marketing its product lines to effectively increase brand loyalty and recognition. Examples of this include the hair care product line. Avon did not effectively develop products for ethnic hair types. Additionally, Avon did not have a hair coloring product line. As a result, Avon suffered in building brand awareness and loyalty with the younger generation as well as the older generation that also demanded this product. Avon has lost loyalty and brand recognition as a result of its decision to diversify into different industries and different product lines.This has resulted in a loss of market share drastically affecting annual profit margins. To examine the previous question of what cost will Avon endure deciding to move into the retail markets? It is cle ar and evident; the cost will be a further extension of the existing internal problems that Avon faces. Deciding to move into the retail market to create a store inside a store is not in Avon’s best interest. This move would be a further expansion of Avon’s previous decisions to diversify into markets that do not have synergy and thus will hurt the overall branding of the company.Finally, implementing Andrea Jung’s proposal to enter the retail market would be detrimental to the already fragile state of Avon’s brand awareness, recognition and loyalty. Another factor for the underperformance of Avon in the late 1990s is its failure to develop the online business. For the fear of alienating its labor force, Avon downplayed the importance of developing the e-business. A company cannot ignore the environment and expect to be successful in the long run.Due to its internal struggle with the internet strategy, Avon fell behind other less established companies in taking advantage of the explosive growth of the internet Avon’s approach should build on original direction and implementations however expanding as necessary to fit current trends and environmental assessments.The focus should be on existing internal structures to build, create and advance current product lines. Avon’s focus should also exist in the field of technology to increase online selling opportunities, update internet technology and to re-brand themselves to be a leader of online sells.To accomplish this, strategy should focus on expanding kiosks globally and domestically. The expansion will leverage Avon by appealing to the market segment requesting additional distribution channels. This strategy will allow for trained beauty consultants to offer advice, education and samples thus increasing brand awareness and loyalty.Kiosks will have minimal start up cost and lower overheads. Focusing on product lines and catering to the needs and wants of each demographic group will prevent the previous pitfalls of lack of integration and decreased brand awareness and loyalty.Keeping Avon’s product offering separate and distinct will help existing challenges of branding. Focusing on technology improvements and online sales, Avon will have an opportunity to emerge as a leader in this area, thus adding additional channels of distribution and appealing to the overwhelming need.Under Andrea Jung’s leadership, Avon has faced a number of challenges. Some of these challenges were addressed successfully and others were not. In the early part of 2000, the management team had the daunting task of choosing an appropriate strategy for the immediate and long-term future for the company.One setback was a decrease in the firm’s growth rate to single digits and stagnated earnings. Avon’s CEO, Andrea Jung, was presented with a multitude of options that ranged from distributing through other departments stores, establishing kiosks, to overh auling the firm’s e-business. Jung was right in acknowledging that Avon’s core competency is direct selling and its major strength is its brand name. By refocusing on the core competency, improving efficiencies, and adapting to the environment with new initiatives, Avon could overcome the hurdles of the past and turn the company in the new direction.This case discussed the revival of Avon under Andrea Jung.1) What is your assessment of Andrea Jung’s performance as chief strategist at Avon Products? What has she done well? What overall grade would you give Andrea Jung for the job she has done as CEO? Answer:My assessment of Andrea Jung’s performance as chief strategists at Avon products is that she has done excellent job. Her first task was to hit the streets of her neighborhood, ringing doorbells, to better understand the desires of customers and needs of sales agents. She pushed for the addition of attractive new products to Avon and its sales representa tives.Andrea listened to the customers and grew global beauty category sales by new product development, sampling and more up-to-date advertising. The company was in serious trouble with annual sale growth of less than 1.5 percent and a crashing stock price during the general economic boon in history. Jung took the role of Avon lady to better understand what customers thought about company’s product and within field of direct sales model. . Avon’s grand strategy under the leadership of Andrea Jung has its merits and is the grand strategy is properly focused and directed.Andrea Jung has clearly directed the successful transformation of Avon Products Inc. by defining its vision as the company for women. With grand strategies in-place she is revitalizing Avon’s reputation as the world’s foremost direct seller of beauty products while leading the company into exciting new lines of businesses, launching a series of bold and image enhancing initiatives, and exp anding career opportunities for people around the world. The strategic plan in place has its merits and the grand strategy is properly focused and directed. Currently, Avon is the world’s leading direct seller of beauty and related products, with $7.7 billion in annual revenues.Avon markets to women around the world through 4. 9 million independent sales representatives. The evidence shows that Jung’s grand strategies were sound. The argument that the grand strategies were not optimal and needed to be refocused was weak due to the overall improvement of company performance and increase in shareholder wealth. Andrea Jung’s charismatic communication skills and management direction has catapulted Avon as a leader in the global beauty and cosmetic market. I would like to give Andrea Jung an â€Å"A† for the job as she has done her job well as CEO.She developed great strategy for Avon that helped to increase in sales. Andrea Jung outlined new vision and strate gic plan for Avon that call for highly innovative new products, build new line of business, critical link as internet in direct selling model and update its direct sales model to better fit 21st century. At age 40 Jung become CEO and in 2001, at age 42 she listed fourth on Fortune’s ranking of the 50 most powerful Women in American Business.2) What is Andre Jung’s strategic vision for Avon? Do you approve of the company’s new strategic direction? Why was it time for Avon to fundamentally change direction? Answer:Andrea Jung’s strategic vision for Avon was for them to be the company that understands and satisfies the product, service and self fulfillment needs for woman globally. I think their new strategic direction made sense. She knew products had to be made to fill the needs of different age group and races. It was time for Avon to become more modern and up-to-date. Jung’s view of new Avon was that of a company beyond selling cosmetics as truste d product which is needed by any women. She was in customer convenient strategy in beauty and financial services.She insisted that supporting women touches not only beauty, but health, fitness, self empowerment and most important financial independence. Yes, Avon’s new strategic direction would launch an entirely new line of business, the development of innovative products, new packaging, new channels to the distribution, a new approach to supply chain management, new sales models and new approaches to image building. When Andrea Jung became Avon’s new CEO in November 1999, the company’s annual sales growth had slowed to less than 1. 5 percent and its stock price had fallen from a high of $55 to a three year low $25.The strategies initiated by Charles Perrin had resulted in some improvement in 1998 with modest sales growth, but in late 1999 Avon was in need of bold direction. When Perrin resigned because of his lack in direct sales limitation, Andrea Jung need a fundamental change in direction. Jung understood the desires of customers and needs of sales agents. She heard the customer grips over product colors, mishandled orders, unattractive packaging, lack of innovative products and confusing promotions.Ultimately she discovered the structural obstacles to achieve in success. Policies for placing orders made difficult for sales agents to increase sales volume and commissions. When Andrea Jung stepped in as CEO of Avon, she brought with her many new, fresh ideas that helped make Avon what it is today. Her strategy didn’t agree with what consultants thought, but she willingly took risks to enforce what she believed to be the best strategy for Avon. We believe that her strategy was good, solid foundation that will continue to keep Avon at the top as America’s number one selling Cosmetic and Beauty Company.3) What is your assessment to the financial and strategic objectives Jung has set for Avon? Do they contain too much stretch ? Too little stretch? Answer:Several things happened once Andrea Jung was named CEO of Avon. First, she decided to reverse the current trend of losing sales. She did this by creating a strategy that would turn the company around. Jung’s suggested strategy to partner with Sears and JC Penney department stores was an idea that would help to promote the strategy she had come up with. It would introduce a new, upscale product line, thus increasing profits, sales and nationwide exposure to the baby boomer segment. Retail selling increased with in-store customer traffic and expected growth of spending power to 16 percent within five years.Face-to-face selling comprised 79.7 percent of direct selling, preferred among senior citizens. The marketing budget would be increased to target customer traffic at Sears and JC Penney. Investment costs were limited to $15 – 20 million to launch retail products, with a bulk of expenses being absorbed by the department store. Avon’s strengths would help increase global recognition of brand name and image. Jung suggested promoting certified Beauty Advisors in department stores and increased incentives for sales representatives.In addition, having department stores sell via the Internet would increase the channels of distribution, thus increasing consumer loyalty. Reduce inventory level while improving service to representatives which increase the forecasting accuracy and order fill rate in supply chain management. Strategy provides opportunity for sales representatives to increase their income and greater career opportunities through sales leadership. Develop E- commerce opportunity for Avon and sales representatives, improving operating margins 50-100 basis points though business process redesign.Another strategy is growing global beauty category sales through in new product development, advertising and sampling. All these factors would affect Avon’s long-term goals by forcing Jung to find new, creative ways to stay fresh in the market. Jung had created a strategic plan that met the vision of Avon; she had created goals that were measurable and geared toward future company growth. The goals seemed to be obtainable in the current business market. In addition, Jung’s idea that technology may be the answer was in response to a changing business environment which included movement toward e-business.This ideal would be synergistic and build upon their present success. It is too little stretch because the objectives were not set boldly and aggressively high. These goals were not impossible targets.4) What have been the key elements of Avon’s strategy been under previous CEOs? What new and different strategy elements have been initiated by Andrea Jung? How well does Andrea Jung’s new strategy seem to match features of the global cosmetics industry and Avon’s resource strength, competitive capabilities, and culture? Answer:Key elements to Avon’s strategy under previous CEO were set to sell directly to consumers via independent sales representatives working on commission. Avon catered to mostly upper middle income females and focused almost exclusively on US cosmetic market.Andrea Jung initiated expansion into markets outside US making Avon products available online, and began selling Avon products through retail channels. She also instituted a more upscale packaging to match the look of prestige cosmetic brands. She focused on a low cost/ low price strategy and focus to sale to low and middle income families.Andrea’s new strategy was likely to improve Avon’s financial performance and help build a competitive advantage. Her approach is sensible in light of what competitors are doing and the position they hold in the market place.Avon is highly backward integrated, self-manufacturing many of the items that they sell. This causes the competitive pressures of suppliers to be weak. Avon can get supplies from many parts of t he world because they have entered foreign markets and produce products in different countries. A lot of Avon’s supplies such as packaging, may be easily substituted if a supplier raised prices.Under Andrea Jung’s direction, Avon is focusing on developing nations especially China. Many developing countries are more receptive to direct selling by women since jobs with Avon are opportunities for women who want to be independent in the male dominated cultures. Avon has also recognized that the demographics has changed and recruiting younger women to sell to the younger customer base. Competitive pressures stemming from customer buying power is moderate because switching costs are low and customers have the ability to fulfill their needs by switching brands.Buyers tend to be well informed about Avon’s product prices and costs largely due to the Internet and this put customers at a position of higher bargaining power. Customers do not pose a threat of integrating bac kwards, because it would not be easy for women to develop their own make-up, perfume or skin care products. Due to the direct selling business model, there is an extremely large number of buyers. Another Avon objective that aims to alleviate pressures coming from competing sellers includes consists of reinventing their antiquated image.Realizing this, Jung endorsed the Williams sisters. Venus and Serena Williams were popular teen icons that portrayed the image where Jung hoped to achieve for Avon; young, powerful, and ambitious.5) How well has Avon’s new strategy been implemented so far? What are Avon’s strategy successes so far? What problems or missteps do you see? How important has Susan Kropf been to Avon’s implementation efforts? Was she a good choice as chief operating officer? Why or why not? Answer:Andrea Jung’s highly successful career would not be possible without effective and insightful management.†Throughout Jung’s ambitious expa nsion, her management style was to emphasize open communication, goal orientation, and feedback from her sales force. † Avon routinely brings in the top performing sales reps from across the globe to Avon’s headquarters in New York City in order to gather first hand feedback from the employees in the field. Ms. Jung herself even attempted to sale Avon’s products as a traditional Avon lady. An attempt she acknowledges was not one of her more successful endeavors. The attempt however, showed Ms. Jung’s commitment to understanding all aspect’s of the Avon business. A common theme in Ms.Jung’s leadership speeches encourage women empowerment and promote a belief that more women will continue to hold key executive roles. Under Ms. Jung’s leadership, Avon management supports flexible work schedules and encourages employees to create a healthy balance between work and family responsibilities.There are a number of missteps that Avon has taken u nder Andrea Jung’s leadership. They include partnering with companies that image does not adequately match Avon’s and the company’s problems with launching its online business segment. Recently, Avon announced plans to partner with Sears and JC Penney’s.One of the potential negative aspects for Avon partnering with JC Penny and Sears would be the possible lowering of brand name for Avon. The company ran the risk of possible further reduction of its brand name. † Since its inception Avon has worked very hard in tailoring its niche market towards women. Ms. Kropf’s most recent responsibilities included certain global staff functions. She retained responsibility for global marketing as well as the companywide Business Process Redesign efforts that have freed up nearly $400 million in the past three years for reinvestment in consumer brand building and other growth initiatives.Yes, Susan Kropf was a good choice as a chief operating officer of Avo n Products Inc. with full profit-and-loss responsibility for all of Avon’s worldwide operations, including global marketing and supply chain. Susan has played a critical role in Avon’s success by sharing her insights on Avon’s rich history and the company’s successful strategies for sustaining brand power for over a century. Susan Kropf reconfigured the value chain thereby cutting costs of non-value adding areas.6) Has Andrea Jung been effective in evaluating the company’s performances, monitoring new developments, and initiating corrective adjustments?Does Andrea Jung appear to have Personal traits well suited to refining and fine-tuning the company’s strategy and implementation efforts? Are her strengths better suited to instituting sweeping changes and quickly moving to a new project? Answer:Andrea Jung represents a great strength to Avon Products Inc. Regardless of gender, any CEO who can take a company with a 50 percent drop in share pr ice and raise company stock by 164 percent in five short years shows insightful leadership and effective management. In addition to the financial success, Ms. Jung has also played a vital role in Avon’s public relations arena.She shows an amazing ability to connect with a variety of shareholders and the public. Her ability to communicate with all levels of an internationally diverse Avon staff and public contribute to Avon’s ability to successfully implement strategic changes in direction.Yes, Andrea Jung’s vision of what she wanted to accomplish as CEO of Avon included a strategy to; improve brand image, introduce new products, increase use of the internet as a channel of distribution, provide greater incentives and opportunities for the sales force, reduce unnecessary costs in the value chain, and continue to expand into global markets.Product innovation was a large part of Jung’s strategy for Avon. In fact, in 1999 she challenged Avon’s R&D team to develop a new product within two years. In less than one year Avon introduced Anew Retroactive, an anti-aging skin cream. It achieved record sales for Avon and led to the development of other successful lines of business.In less than one year Avon introduced Anew Retroactive, an anti-aging skin cream. It achieved record sales for Avon and led to the development of other successful lines of business. For example, Avon Wellness products exceeded sales estimates by 300%.One problem that Avon faces is the strong competition within fields they are trying to expand into. Avon is marketing a nutritional product line called Wellness, which includes vitamins, supplements, bars, etc. This market is competitively strong. Being ahead of the industry in introducing new products combined with the company’s already strong market position could further improve Avon’s brand equity and therefore revenues. In particular, Avon should continue to integrate sales representative into all aspects of sales. This is Avon’s own key success factor and what sets them apart from their competitors.With the growing popularity of the internet as an outlet of commerce, Jung was compelled to implement internet sales into her strategy, realizing that the â€Å"Avon Lady† is the distinctive core competency for Avon in new projects.7) What additional actions would you recommend Andrea Jung take to help the company to achieve its long term strategic and financial objectives? Are any changes needed in the company’s vision? Its objectives? Its strategy? Its implementation efforts? What challenges might the new strategy present to Avon’s top management team? What risks do you see? Answer:Based on demographic data, China holds 20% of the world’s population. This represents a vast market of which Avon has only begun to cover. Avon should continue to focus on the expansion of retail outlet sales in China. Also, because the only sales in China are gener ated through retail outlets, Avon should further develop their Beauty Advisors training. Europe should also be a continued focus for Avon. Industry leader, L’Oreal’s attributes 50% of their total sales to the European market. Avon had a successful growth rate in Europe but only 23% of the total 2003 sales came from Europe.There is still room to expand in this market. Based on one of the industry’s key success factors, product innovation, Avon should focus even more resources on R&D especially in the areas of anti-aging products and teen products. Because 23 million teenagers have an average weekly disposable income of $85, Avon should continue with innovative teen marketing such as the current â€Å"mark† brand but also work on products for problem teen skin. Avon Products Inc under the leadership of CEO Andrea Jung is at a point where there are opportunities for growth for the organization. However Ms.Jung appears to be indisposed towards taking steps to take advantage of Avon’s position. Also her approach is flawed. Let’s take a look at her approach and then also look at viable alternatives. Andrea advocates: partnering with Sears and JC Penny department stores so as to create a store-within-a-store, Avon products.Based on this, the board of directors felt that Jung’s original options did not provide the same amount of increased sales and revenues, attraction to increased clientele base, motivation and acceptance by current sales representatives, or increase shareholder wealth as the consultant’s options did.The consultant’s options provided a means to Avon Products, Inc. to become a household name to those whom were not attracted by limited previous distribution channels, and Jung’s choices of re-invigorating the brand, instituting beauty advisory training, expanding multilevel sales programs or partnering with department stores. Kiosks were admittedly a risk. At $6,000 per kiosk and lack of information on kiosk performance, Andrea indicated these would be too expensive.Perhaps a trial run of a low number of kiosks in the environment would settle this question. In conclusion, the Avon CEO strategy did not impress as very well thought out and it was a good thing she went to the review board first. Avon should stick with their bread and butter – the sales representatives as it is the channel where they were recognized and where they became one of the largest beauty products in the world. The website should be a complement to the services that Avon offers. Recommendations:For promoting direct-sales through consumer and the business; one is to offer incentives to its customers and second is to motivate the business to promoting its products by advertisements, establishing sales competition for employees, participating in conventions, and by endorsing franchise of its products to retail stores.Promoting Avon’s products and high chance of increasing direct-s ales is to offer incentives to its consumers. Incentives provide a positive motivational influence to encourage and excite buyers to buy the products. Such incentives, appropriate for this situation, are coupons, rebates, product samples and awards.Coupons can be attached in mail, beauty magazines, newspapers, and advertisements on mail or on the internet company’s official website. Rebates can be offered also to attract more buyers to buy the products.Rebates can be advertised also on coupons through mail or the internet. Another successful way of attracting consumers is by offering samples of Avon’s cosmetic products, which can be done door-todoor or attached on an advertisement through mail. Finally, awards through prizes, contests or sweepstakes can offer consumers the chance to win something small or big like cash or free-trips.Also, prizes can be offering a free gift whenever a consumers purchase one of Avon’s products. This last incentive option attracts more attention from consumers than the three other options. Motivate the Avon business to reach its goals of promoting its products and gaining sales through advertisements, sales competition, participating in conventions and endorsing franchise. Advertising is the key to attracting consumers and the outcome is high sales. Such advertisement is done through media (television), mail, or the internet.The more awareness from the public of the company likely to attract more buyers and the outcome is high sales. The next option is to encourage Avon’s sales representatives with awards/prizes that reached their sales goals within a period of time.Another is participating in conventions and this is more likely to increase sales through direct contact with customers. Last is to endorse franchise of Avon’s products with small and big cosmetic-related retail stores, such as Macy, JC Penny, etc. This option can be most likely increase sales and in turn profit which is any companyà ¢â‚¬â„¢s ultimate aim.