Innovation - apple Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Innovation - apple - Assignment Example Smooth and quick flow of information, rapid advancement of technology and highly customer centric behaviour of Apple makes it one of the most successful business organizations in the industry. Recently Apple has launched its new product, iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S. The company had to overcome their traditional box of ideas so as to come up with new developments. However, Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, currently emphasises on the development of its existing products, instead of creating a whole new generation of ideas for innovating new products. In this paper, the context of creativity and innovation by Apple would be studied in detail to understand the factors that affect the level of market performance by the company. 2.0 Literature review Creativity and innovation are the most important buzz words in the current business world. Companies are trying to become more creative and improve their innovative ideas in order to maintain their competitive position in the market. However, these t wo concepts are not identical. They refer to different aspects of organizational development. Creativity refers to the capability of individuals to create new ideas or hypothesize new facts. This is the change in people’s â€Å"perception of reality† (Iny and Brabandere, 2013). Innovation, on the other hand, is the â€Å"change in reality† (Iny and Brabandere , 2013). In case of innovation, new ideas that have been created are taken up and worked upon to turn it into reality. For example, the idea of development of the idea of a new kind phone led to the creation of the first concept of iPhone. With this new idea, the iPhone has been created. Once the new iPhone is created, Apple could make various changes in the original product. The company has made different iterations of the iPhone by altering their own understanding of the product possibilities thereby changing the understanding of the customers regarding the facilities that can be offered by a mobile phone . Although this fundamental difference exists between creativity and innovation, these two concepts represent two very important facets of any organization. Creative thinking leads to an innovative product. Hence, it is not possible for any firm to move ahead by making innovative activities, if they lack creative talent amongst their employees. 2.1 Creativity and innovation Innovation is one of the key drivers of growth for any organization in the 21st century business world. Innovation allows the companies to invent new methods in which they might be able to grow in future. Innovation is not a skill that a company can develop within a short period of time through training. It has to have the knack, creative mind set of employees and risk taking attitude to invent new products, or strategies to serve its customer better. This in turn improves the company performance and its market share. This implies that, creativity and innovation is present within the organizational culture and is a part of its fundamental view towards growth. For an organization to be creative and innovative, it

Victorian childhood Essay Example for Free

Victorian childhood Essay Childhood has changed dramatically in the last 200 years. Life was hard and rough for working people in Britain at the end of the 19th century. From a very early age, children were expected to do all they could to help their parents, this was necessary in order for the family to survive. Life was quite different in a wealthy home- there was plenty of space, good food and clothes, and no duties to do as a child. However all children were expected to be seen and not heard, and to respect their elders. Be grateful, boy, to them which brought you up by hand Mr. Pumblechook, page 26  In the novel Great Expectations, there are three children who grow up throughout the story, Pip the main character, Estella, and Herbert Pocket. Society was firmly divided into three parts in the Victorian era, there were upper class, middle class, and working class people. Pip is an orphan, he lives with his sister and her husband Joe Gargery. Pips family are working class as Joe does hard, manual work. Wife of Joe Gargery, the blacksmith Pip, page 7Upper class people had a very superior attitude to anyone below them. Estella was born into poverty as her parents were criminals, but she was adopted by Miss Havisham so was brought up as upper-class. Miss Havisham invites Pip to her estate and wants Estella to play with him.  With this boy! Why, he is a common labouring-boy! Estella, page 57  Later it becomes apparent that Miss Havisham cultivated her to become a man hater like herself after she was stood-up on her wedding day. Charles Dickens himself, born in 1812 had a childhood like many of those portrayed in his novels, not a particularly happy one. Due to his fathers imprisonment he was sent to work in a blacking warehouse, memories of this time haunted him for the rest of his life.  Oliver Twist another well-known character created by Dickens portrays a slightly more typical poor Victorian childhood; being driven into crime at such an early age in order to survive in Victorian London.  Working class children were sent out of the house early in the morning, and not allowed to return until dusk, and children of wealthy parents were brought up by nannies and governess and sometimes only saw their parents for a few minutes a day. Pips sister, Mrs Joe Gargery is very proud of the fact that she has raised Pip herself, or by hand as she is constantly reminding him. If it warnt for me youd have been to the churchyard long ago who brought you up by hand? Mrs Joe Gargery, page  Ã‚  Mrs Joe Gargery has established a great reputation with herself and the neighbours because she has brought Pip up by hand. But in this case, by hand means to be brought up using violence. Mrs Joe used Tickler to beat Pip.  Tickler was a wax-ended piece of cane, worn smooth by collision with my tickled frame Pip, page This certainly worked to beat fear in to him as shown on page 15; Pip and Joe are trying to communicate without speaking so that Mrs Joe doesnt get angry.  Using violence to teach children to behave was not uncommon in the Victorian era, particularly in schools. In fact, if the child had been naughty at home the parents would often tell the headmaster so that he would be punished in school.

Exploring whether are Criminals Born or Made

Exploring whether are Criminals Born or Made A criminal can be defined as a person who has committed a crime. It does not matter whether one has committed a crime once or numerous times. Offences that may make one qualify to be called a criminal may include, robbery with violence, murder and so on. One may wonder why is it that some people have the habit of continually committing such crimes while others dont? Is it a matter of inheriting some genes from the family or is it ones on desire to do so? These questions and many more are some reasons that have brought about a fiery argument from the subject of criminology in the expedition to find the source of criminal behaviour in our society today and also ways of dealing with such kind of behaviour in our society. This essay will bring out factors that may lead to answering some of these questions looking at both approaches whether one is born a criminal or is forced to become a criminal because of some other factors like environment. Nevertheless, the essay will take a position and argue that these criminals are made and that no one is born a criminal. This is a behaviour some people obtain due to either by their own choice or factors from their environment. Psychologists have come up with many assumptions and intentions as to why individuals commit crimes. The two main clarifications lie in genetic and environmental factors, which conveys to the nature and nurture debate. Some argue that criminals are born, these are philosophers and scientists who believe that the genetics play a role in a persons behaviour and thus criminals are as a result of the same; these are twin and adoption studies. On the other hand there are also studies that have been conducted to prove that criminals are made by society, these are scientist and philosophers who consider that it is the environment, such as a persons interaction with the society that models behaviour of the individual. Some psychologists and medical researchers have come to the theory that criminal behaviour is hereditary just as other medical conditions, such as heart disease and high cholesterol. This gives a conclusion that criminals have a tendency to commit crime and are indeed born (Wasserman D (2004). On the other hand, an individual who is not genetically inclined to criminal behaviour can be forced by the environment to get involved in to the same. Peer pressure is one of best illustration in such cases. Most of the criminals today are from big cities where living conditions are somehow hostile. One of the major factors that drive such individuals to criminal behaviour is poverty, which in this case lies in the nature side of the debate. That is to say, poverty, which is an environmental factor, also plays a huge role in producing criminal behaviour (Baatz, Darrow, 2009).. A study on identical twins in a University in Florida carried out in 2007 shows that the relationship of criminal behaviour of identical and fraternal twins were evaluated with each other in these studies; it was concluded that rates of participation in criminal acts to be more alike for pairs of identical twins compared to fraternal. However, critics dispute that reasons other than that of hereditary could be the cause for the result. Contrasting to other family members identical twins normally spend more time collectively, frequently having the similar instructors and associates, thus sharing allot of experiences. Identical twins are more often than not closely emotionally involved to each other because of the aforesaid factors, making them similar in approach and behaviour including, involvement in criminal activity. A question may be raised in relation to genetic factors leading to criminal behaviour, that why should one be penalized if it is genetically inherited? The answer to such a question rely in part on whether one believes that factors reducing but not getting rid of ones ability for willpower ought to reduce moral accountability for ones behaviour. Moral philosophers differ on this subject, with some requiring an impairment of normal deliberative processes or at least a denial of the desires that the person finds so hard to manage before they would accept an argument for improvement. However, poverty is not the only environmental factor that may lead an individual to crime. One may notice that though poverty is a factor in criminal behavior, not all people leaving in poverty indulge in crime (Raine, 1993). This is to say that criminal behavior can be controlled by the environmental factors like what lessons one is taught. Still, not all criminals come from modest background or from big cities, some also come from well-off families living in outer edge. These are mostly peer influence, naturally human beings are sensible, and they freely make decisions even though they understand the outcome of their own choices. Thus criminals are not born but made. The old proverb says that wicked group damage decent principles. Relating with criminals can make an individual to end up as a criminal. This may be the major motive why children from well-off families obtain criminal behaviour. Petty crimes committed by children may appear to be a tale to friends who may also be involved the same for pleasurable. Over duration of time, this behaviour may prove to become a permanent thing. Peer pressure is mainly clear in the slums where houses close to one another. Among other factors, this explains why crime rate is on the higher on average in poor vicinity. According to study, families in inner cities are facing many challenges. There is extremely huge number of single parent families where mostly the father is missing. A family where father is missing lacks that unity that a father brings in a family. Boys need a father figure in the family to help them grow and learn how to control their manhood. In Addition to this domestic hostility that is ra mpant in families and the circumstances that become apparent is an rising number of youth brought up in such homes. Another good example is the high rate of criminal activity associated with African Americans as compared to the whites. This can only be explained by the peer influence acquired from one another in these neighbourhoods. A family mingles an individual to the exterior world. It introduces the prospects of society on each individual. When the individual is brought up in a family set upwhere there is respect for authority and personal possessions, there is affection, and hard work is appreciated; this individual assumes the similar principles. A father figure in the family symbolizes authority. Children brought up in single parented families where they were battered may utter their antagonism on the public and become criminals (Ferri, 2008). The importance of rearing children in normal families cannot be contradicted. Thus most single parented families play a major role to crime in that they do not instil the best of the children they bring up by bringing out the mandatory morals. This evidently illustrates why a family is the heart of every society, and everything that takes place in it will eventually resound transversely in the whole society (Miller, Gaines, 2008). The same relates to schools. A sch ool not only implant helpful morals, but also authorize children to lead straightforward lives. Failure to this, its graduates may be prone to crime. From the above-mentioned situations, the environment also plays are the crucial task in initialling criminals. Therefore, criminals are made. This is to say, criminals realize this behaviour from their neighbourhood or they are forced by living conditions. Similarly psychologists frequently say things like Families with inadequate communication and poor family attachment have been shown to have a connection with a childs development of hostile/criminal behavior.   Or children are at a bigger risk of involving in crimes, if they were abandoned or neglected (Caspi A. (2002). There is sharp turn of events in out societal principles concerning earning a living currently. We are instructed that in order to be wealthy, you dont need to work hard, but rather work smart.. The meaning of the term work smart is vague. In the real sense, an individual a little less hard but earning significantly extra than generally individuals would be termed to be working smart. Reasonably speaking, there are careers where people receive plenty of money for working fewer hours; compared to r the majority plenty of cash is a result of tolerance and hard work. Since chances for working smart are scarce or rather imaginary, some people end up devious and other deceitful activities that border on crime to get money (Baatz, Darrow, 2009). In societies where people like this obtain and hold on to their corrupted wealth, who would be willing to stick to usual ways of earning a living. Everyone will be on the look for a shortcut to develop living standards. This habitually means turni ng to corruption. When such circumstances exist in any society it will eventually crumple, particularly if the leaders are implicated. To conclude therefore, it can be argued that, though studies have found that both genes and environment play a role in the criminality of the individual, the environment plays a key role in stemming or spreading such behaviors. Criminals are therefore made and not necessarily born

wake up (argument ) :: essays research papers

Wake-up   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I grew up on the corner of Ocean Ave. and Dorchester Ave., where all the older kids sat by the stoop that provide a gust of breeze during the summer. As the little ones on the block cool off form the open fire hydrant. Brooklyn, New York, Flatbush to be specific is the topic of the composition. Flatbush is a place where people pray to God so long that they soon become an Atheist. It’s a place where you can be with your friend one day and tomorrow he is dead. And the A-Team comes by, excuse me the cops, we call them that because they come out of vans and begin shooting with no regard. They may seem odd to many, but to me this is a typical and natural condition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Death is so normal, young men think about writing wills at eight-teen. In my apartment building, I walk through broken glass in the hallway and bloodstained floors. When I come from the corner store neighbors, look at every bag you bring through your doors. Once I come through my door I lock the top lock, my mother would love have cuffed me to the radiator so I wouldn’t go out. Just imagine and try to envision these sentences as the depict various scenarios that go on as you read this essay. These events probably won’t make it to your evening news, but stories as such affect people in a lesser or same magnitude that the victims of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and crashed airplane accidents.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  So it’s most likely my responsibility and duty to inform the less-informed about the tragedies that occur on a everyday cycle. Tragedies that touches thousands but the media feels it really isn’t that important. Let me clarify that this doesn’t only go on Flatbush, Brooklyn, N.Y., rather this goes on practically everywhere in our great nation. From the hot and humid streets of Miami to the cold hostile settings in Chicago, the same cycles reenacts itself in different regions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It’s not important to broadcast every single â€Å"bad† occurrence, but it is imperative to realize such events are going on and not just be blind about it. If a tall and towering tree falls down and no one is there, does the tree make a loud and terrible noise.

An Insight into Michael Collin’s Life

In 1916 during the Easter Rising his role was relatively low key, but y 1922 he ultimately gave his life in the Civil War for what he believed in. Michael Collins took part in the Easter Rising in Dublin. He fought alongside others in the General Post Office, and he was singled out as the most active and efficient officer in the place' by Despond Fitzgerald, who had been put in charge of the General Post Office canteen. L This would suggest that Collins always had leadership qualities and a passion for Ireland's Freedom, which would play such an important part in later events such as the treaty negotiations of 1922.It would also imply that he had an important part In the Rising. However, Collins only played a relatively low key part, which was shown because he wasn't one of the people who were court-martingale. This factual evidence contradicts the source, which shows even though this source is from a witness of the Rising and would have seen first-hand Collins' part, it automaticall y has a low weight of argument because it's provenance. The source is from one of his close associates who were on the same side as Collins in the Rising and therefore it will be in Collins favor towards his significance in the Rising.Also, Despond Fitzgerald isn't the right person to edge his part in the rising because he was in charge of the Canteen, so only really saw Collins during meal times, which isn't when he would be making decisions or under pressure from the British forces closing in. Despond Ryan, however, fought alongside Collins in the General post Office, paints the image of Collins very different to Fitzgerald. He said that Collins ‘sat in a corner, a look of horror in his eyes, a pallor spreading across his face†¦ Straining his control to breaking point'2 this suggests that he wasn't efficient or significant and broke under the pressure of the Rising.Therefore, this indicates the Rising could have happened without Michael Collins. Both these sources were dated to 1 916 which makes the source reliable because it's gives a good indication of the feelings towards Michael Collins at the time of the General Post Office takeover. However, Despond Ryan was Parse's literary executor, and as Pears was executed after the rising for being one of its leaders, Ryan resented Collins for receiving limelight from the Rising, and not being executed like his close associate. Consequently, he is likely to describe Collins in a critical and negative light.The aftermath of the Rising resulted in Collins being sent to Foregone and whilst there he was one of the organizers of a program of protest and non- cooperation with authorities. He saw it as an opportunity to improve his guerrilla tactics and spread revolutionary gospel until it was emptied in December 1916. During his time in Foregone Collins made sure that the other refugees did NT give information about themselves up, as he knew that it was possible to beat them by wearing them down. He wrote to a friend ‘For a time they'll raise war – in the end they'll despair† 3.Collins knew the British would ire of trying to get information, and he saw it as an opportunity for networking with physical-force republicans from all over the country and improving his guerrilla tactics. The provenance of this source is from a letter. Collins wrote to a friend while in Foregone, so it gives a clear insight into his intentions which makes this source accurate. However, because it is from himself he may think he is making more of an impact than he actually is. Yet, this is unlikely because they all got released quickly from the camp which would back up this letter and give it a good weight of argument.The canteen staff in Foregone described Collins as ‘highly respected' and when they took problems to him he ‘always listened logically. This helps us understand Michael Collins' short term significance because he learnt from the military blunders made; such as the sei zure of indefensible and very vulnerable positions like SST Stephens Greene and filled the vacuum made by the executions of the leaders of the Rising. Likewise, Foregone would have been different without Collins as the internees wouldn't have been able to hold out and the Irish wouldn't have developed such a fighting force.It's a useful source because they were employed to work in the Foregone canteens so they are indifferent to Collins, which gives this source a high weight of argument which can be generalized to how others must have seen him who weren't closely involved with him. Then again, as it is written so long after, it can be doubted On the contrary, the source was wrote over half a century later, so it's questionable how far someone can precisely remember what the canteen staff thought about Collins. Michael Collins had many responsibilities after leaving Foregone.He was appointed Finance Minister and is described as ‘the unlikely Finance Minister who proved himself an administrator par excellence. ‘6 Collins produced a Finance Ministry that was able to organize a large bond issue in the form of a â€Å"National Loan† to fund the new Irish Republic which was placed in bank accounts of the trustees. This proves how exceptionally significant he was and what a great asset to Ireland he was. The British declared the finances Collins acquired as illegal but Collins carried the money through successfully even though he held down four major positions.The other three being Adjutant- General, Director Of Intelligence and the Director Of Organization. ) FINANCE MINSTER SOURCE He also organized jail breaks because ‘he would obtain information from a wide variety of people' (Lick O'Connor). Lick O'Connor was he is a well- known intellectual figure in contemporary Irish affairs who was born after the death of Michael Collins which makes him a secondary source, his great- grandfather was Matt Harris, Land Leaguer, Fabian, and Irish Parliam entary party Member of Parliament, which means he grew up being surrounded by animal views to Michael Collins and be more likely to support him.Also without Collins, the finance effort would have been a lot weaker and there would have been less information known by Ireland to aid themselves in jail breaks ACT. Collins was a man of ‘charismatic nature' and his ‘reputation for decisiveness' made people want to seek his assistance and advice, which meant he was significant in the sense that he had leadership qualities which helped the Sin Feint, for example in elections.This was said by Winston Churchill which gives it a high weight of argument because he was an enemy f Collins so if he was complimenting Collins then it is more valid as information as he is likely to oppose him. In the Anglo- Irish war, Michael Collins played the most important role in this struggle. As director of intelligence of the AIR he crippled the British intelligence system in Ireland and replaced i t with an effective Irish network. At the same time he performed his other responsibilities.He was significant because he maximized efficiency of and minimized losses which made Ireland able to withstand the larger British forces. For example ‘ the British made desirously high estimates of their enemy' because of Collins tactics they thought that Ireland had a lot more man power than they really had, also, republican victories had widespread support from the Irish, including every level of society, and reaching deep into the British administration in Ireland.Without Collins the Irish Revolution would have been less effective without his skill in guerrilla warfare. The British government perceived him as a murdering criminal mastermind and thought about placing ‘E 10,000' on his head if he was ‘dead or alive. This was discussed with Winston Churchill but ejected making Collins both Britain's most wanted man and a Hero to Ireland. It seemed to be futile because he wa s anonymous to the British authorities and Collins used this to his advantage to unease his enemies, which would suggest why the price would have been so high.Mark Sutures wrote ‘l wonder how it is that the archbishop sees Collins apparently without difficulty and our intelligence fails' These sources all give a good insight into how exasperated the British became with the notorious Michael Collins, and even though they desperately tried to capture him, they just couldn't. These al are primary sources with a high weight of argument because they were on the opposing side Of the Anglo- Irish war so they wouldn't want to outline their failures to capture him, and/or compliment him in the process.ANALYSIS When the war ended Collins was sent to go to the treaty negotiations. He went out of loyalty to De Valier, even though he was opposed to being sent to London as part of the Treaty delegation. ‘To me the task is a loathsome one. ‘8 This source gives a good insight into how Collins felt at the time. Also Collins negotiation skills and political knowledge was small compared to De Baler's ND it meant giving up his shrouded identity.Nevertheless, David Lloyd George said that Collins ‘did not have De Baler's slippery political cunning' but he didn't doubt he was ‘the head and front of the movement;9 this source is important and has a high weight of argument because someone opposing him recognized his significance. Lloyd George was very unfavorable of Collins at this time as he was the British prime minister. But then again, why would the British want to negotiate with Collins? They thought he was a murderer, so they must have realized he would be more impartial than De Valier in negotiations.When, Collins signed the treaty saying ‘I may have signed my own death warrant' because he knew that many people wouldn't agree with it but he did it for the long run good of Ireland. Britain wasn't willing to give a better deal than that and he signed it under treat of ‘immediate and terrible war' if it wasn't signed. This shows the British had the dominant position at the time of the signing, which suggests it could have been forced. However, he had still achieved a lot because Ireland got half of her freedom back with is half more than she already had, and he was repaper to sacrifice himself for it.

global warming1 essays

global warming1 essays Greenhouse gases (chlorofluorocarbons, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, etc.)let heat in but stop it from going back out - like a windshield in a parked car. At our current rate of creating these gases by industry, cars and burning fossil fuels, scientists predict a temperature increase of 4 to 9 degrees F by 2050. (9 degrees F separates today's average temperatures from the last ice age.) The United Nations Panel on Climate Change recommends that we immediately cut our use of fossil fuels by at least half. To prevent the current rate from increasing, we would have to cut by 60%. This same panel projects that by 2050 over a million more people dying each year from malaria because of higher mosquito populations due to global warming. Already yellow and dengue fever bearing mosquitoes are found over 3000' higher than their normal range in South America. Other predicted results of global warming include expanding deserts, forest fires, heat waves, crop failure, erosion, mud slides, mass extinction of plants and animals, sea level increases causing flooding and damage to coastal aquifers. The US with c. 5% of the world's population creates 25% of the 7 billion tons of carbon dioxide that causes 50% of the global warming trend. Five tons per capita per year! US oil consumption is now the highest since 1979. Since 1988, insurance companies paid 17 multi billion dollar weather-related claims. There had never been one even as high as $1 billion before 1988. Before 1900, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was stable at 280 parts per million. The concentration now is over 360 and the increase rate has doubled since 1958. 1995 was globally the hottest year in over 100 years and the driest in the UK for over 300 years. The green house effect gas and the global warming It is said, "if the carbon dioxide increases, the Earth becomes hot." By what mechanism does this happen? The gas which absorbs the infra-red lay...

Nutrition Essay Essay Example

Nutrition Essay Essay Example Nutrition Essay Essay Nutrition Essay Essay Shakton Andrews March 27, 2012 4. 07 Movie Matinee Shakton Carbohydrate was chatting happily with a jar of paprika in the pantry when someone started calling her name. The voice got closer and soon, two hands appeared on the shelf. Whose head popped up above them but that of Norman Nutrition! â€Å"There you are, Shakton! † he said with a smile. â€Å"Hi there, Norman! † Shakton replied. â€Å"Listen, Shakton, we have a big problem- the Jones family isn’t eating right. They’re only eating donuts, candy, chips, and sodas. We have to do something! I’m calling on all the food groups to help me out. We’re going to show them how to eat healthy again. † â€Å"Of course I’ll help. We need to teach the Jones to eat properly or else they’ll be sick and overweight,† Shakton answered. â€Å"Good! Remember, meet me at the dining room table at supper time with three friends,† Norman said. Then he waved and jumped off the shelf to tell the other food groups about the Jones’ problem. â€Å"Bye, Paprika! Duty calls! † Shakton said, waving to his friend before jumping off the shelf like Norman. As Shakton floated down to the floor, he thought about who he should bring to the dining room with him. The Jones kids are fun and like to play. I should bring some friends that are fun! † And with that, Shakton headed to the kitchen. â€Å"Corn has lots of carbs; my friend Corn on the Cob would be perfect for the Jones kids! † Shakton decided, and made his way to the refrigerator. Opening the door was a challenge too big for little S hakton, so he had the family dog, Oscar, help her. With his teeth, he pulled on the towel Mrs. Jones kept tied to the refrigerator door handle. The towel stretched for a second, and then the door opened with a whoosh of cool air. How to open the drawer where Corn on the Cob lived was a harder problem to solve. Eventually, though, Oscar and Shakton figured it out. Oscar held Shakton carefully in his mouth while he grabbed hold of the drawer handle. Then, he pulled and the drawer slid open with a squeak. â€Å"Thanks, Oscar,† Shakton called as the dog trotted off. â€Å"Hey, Shakton, is that you? † Corn on the Cob asked from where she sat at the back of the drawer. â€Å"Yep, that’s me! † Shakton answered, jumping down into the drawer. Corn on the Cob ran over and gave her a hug. â€Å"I need your help,† Shakton began, returning his friend’s hug. Of course, anything! † And so Shakton explained the Jones’ problem. When he finished Corn on the Cob gasped in horror. â€Å"Oh, Shakton, that’s awful! What do you need me to do? † she asked. â€Å"I need you to come with me to the dining room table to show that it can be fun to eat good foods. We ha ve to be there by supper time, and I still have to pick up to other friends. † â€Å"Let’s go, then! What are we waiting for? † Corn on the Cob exclaimed. As Shakton and Corn on the Cob climbed out of the drawer, Shakton asked his friend who else they should bring along to the dining room. Corn on the Cob paused on the edge of the drawer, thinking, before jumping down onto the floor where Shakton waited. â€Å"Mr. and Mrs. Jones might not be interested in fun foods like me at their age†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Corn on the Cob said sadly. â€Å"What about BlueBerry? He’s a bit more suited to their fruity pallet,† Shakton suggested. â€Å"Good idea,† Corn on the Cob agreed. Shakton and Corn on the Cob had to ask some of the other inhabitants of the fridge where BlueBerry lived, but eventually they found out where he usually stayed. It was a small drawer on the very top shelf on the Pantry Door. From where they stood on the bottom shelf, Shakton and Corn on the Cob looked way, way up to see where he lived. â€Å"How are we ever going to get up there? † Corn on the Cob fretted. â€Å"We’ll figure out a way. After all, I’m not in charge of the Protein food group for nothing! † Shakton encouraged. â€Å"Let’s think for a minute and see if we come up with anything,† Corn on the Cob suggested. Shakton agreed, and together they sat with legs crossed, chins resting on one hand, thinking hard. â€Å"I know! † Corn on the Cob suddenly yelled. â€Å"Let’s ask Spaghetti for help! â€Å"What a good idea,† Shakton said, and so they went over to the drawer where Mrs. Jones kept all the leftovers. The Leftover Drawer was a dark and scary place. Meatloaf and Lima Beans were not always the very nicest sort of foods, and it was hard to find your way around this drawer. Some foods got lost here, and never saw the light of day agai n until Mrs. Jones did her once-every-2-months-cleaning-of-the-refrigerator. However, Spaghetti was a new arrival to this drawer, having only been served for the first time 2 days ago. Luckily for Shakton and Corn on the Cob, that meant she lived near the front of the drawer. After several minutes, they found her. She was sleeping soundly in a large, noodle-y mass under a blanket of tomato sauce with her pet meatballs at her side. Shakton had a terrible time trying to wake Spaghetti up. He and Corn on the Cob tried poking Spaghetti, shouting, clapping their hands, and loudly singing in squeaky, off-key voices. Finally, their efforts were rewarded and Spaghetti woke up. Then Shakton and Corn on the Cob had to sit and catch their breath for minute before asking for help. â€Å"We need your help, Spaghetti,† Shakton began. â€Å"Yeah, we’re trying to get to the top of the Door to visit BlueBerry. But it’s too high up for us and there’s no way to climb up by ourselves,† Corn on the Cob continued. â€Å"Can you help us get up to the Top Shelf so we can climb across to the drawer on the door where BlueBerry lives? † Shakton finished. Spaghetti thought for a moment before answering, â€Å"Sure, I’ll help, but I never do something for nothing. While you’re up there in the Door, will you give a message to my friend Grated Parmesan for me? † â€Å"Yes, if you’ll just help us up there! † Shakton agreed. â€Å"All right, it’s a deal,† Spaghetti said. â€Å"Tell Parmesan hat she and I are supposed to be served for dinner tonight, so she had better not make any plans and be out partying in the very back of the refrigerator like last time! † The three of them made their way out of the creepy, shadowy leftover-drawer and Spaghetti began making a plan: â€Å"I’ll reach up to the next shelf and youâ⠂¬â„¢ll climb up along my arm,† she said. Her noodle arms were very, very long, and she would have no problem reaching way up to the next shelf. Shakton and Corn on the Cob nodded and Spaghetti continued, â€Å"Then I’ll pull myself up and we’ll do the same thing over again. I’m not entirely sure how you’ll get over onto the door, but I can at least take you as far as the Top Shelf. † â€Å"Thank you for helping us at least that much! † Shakton said gratefully. He really meant what he said. The three carried out their plan without a single thing going wrong, and eventually they reached the Top Shelf. â€Å"Here, I must leave you,† Spaghetti said sadly. Shakton gave her new friend a hug. â€Å"Thank you again for helping us. I don’t know how we would have made it up here without you! † â€Å"You’re welcome, Shakton. Good luck on your mission! † Spaghetti said, then began to go back down to the Leftover Drawer. A kindly tall, skinny cardboard pint of cream was more than willing to lean over and let Shakton and Corn on the Cob climb up his back to reach the Door. They had to quickly deliver Spaghetti’s message to Grated Parmesan, then they were on their way again. Finally, the two reached BlueBerry’s home. He was more than willing to come along- in fact, he was quite honored to be chosen as a representative of the Carbohydrate group. â€Å"Wait, there’s only Corn on the Cob and I†¦ doesn’t that mean you still need to get one more food? † he suddenly asked as they slid down the refrigerator door handle and onto the floor. You’re right,† Shakton realized. He looked at his friends, thinking about whom else he should bring along. He smacked her fist onto her palm, shouting, â€Å"I know! Let’s go get Ants on a Log! † Corn on the cob and BlueBerry looked at each other, puzzled. â€Å"Who’s that? † they asked at the same time. â€Å"Oh, you’ve probably never heard of him. He’s new to the Kitchen. Anyway, he’s on a plate on the counter, beside the sink. † Shakton, BlueBerry, and Corn on the Cob, scurried across the floor, very careful not to disturb the sleeping cat as they went by. They were all very glad that Mrs. Jones had been interrupted a while ago while sweeping the floors, because the broom was leaning up against the counter. It was pretty easy to climb up the broom handle and onto the counter after all that Shakton and Corn on the Cob went through to get to BlueBerry. When they had all climbed up the broom handle, they hurried over to the white plate sitting there a foot away. The Ants on a Log family were all lying around on the plate, chatting with each other. They all looked exactly alike! Shakton ran over ahead of the other two. â€Å"Hello! I’m Shakton Carbohydrate,† she said. All six of them turned and looked at her. â€Å"Hello,† they all said at once. They looked very friendly. Shakton quickly told them about the Jones’ eating problems (for the third time that day) and asked them if one of them would come with her to the dining room table at supper time. â€Å"Oh, yes. Allan will go with you! † one of them said cheerfully. â€Å"Thank you! † Shakton exclaimed gratefully. He looked quickly over her shoulder at the large clock on the wall. Oh no! It was almost 6:30! They had only five minutes to get to the dining room table. Would they make it in time? We have to hurry,† Shakton shouted. â€Å"Let’s go! † They all slid down the broom handle and ran across the kitchen. It was a very big kitchen, and they couldn’t run very fast on their short little legs. There was only two minutes left when they finally reached the dining room. They hurried over to the table, and then struggled to climb up one of its l egs. At long last, they all made it up onto the tabletop. They sat down tiredly, panting to get their breath back. â€Å"Shakton, you made it! Good job! † Norman Nutrition called from the middle of the table, where he sat beside the salt shaker. I knew I could count on you. † Shakton was very pleased when she saw many of her friends there beside Norman. Penelope Protein was there with her 3 representatives, along with Frances Fat, Phil Fiber, and Wally Water. Of course, the Jones family was there, too. They listened while Norman Nutrition explained that they were here to help them eat better so they could be healthier. Then, the leaders of each of the food groups took turns talking about their jobs. When it was Shakton’s turn he said: â€Å"My job in maintaining your bodies is to help build gain energy so you can run, jump, and play. I brought three friends with me. Corn has lots of carbs, but Corn on the Cob is more fun than other kinds, don’t you think? BlueBerry can be very fruity, and he’s all about carbs! Ants on a Log gets his carbs from the Peanut Butter he’s made with. † After everyone had gotten a turn to talk, Norman turned to the Jones. â€Å"After what you’ve learned, will you promise to eat better foods? † he asked. They all nodded. Shakton was tired that night, but very happy that the mission was a success. He knew if the Jones ate properly, they would live very happy lives.