Anatomy Of A Psychopath Essays - English-language Films, Films

Anatomy Of A Psychopath In every man's heart there is a secret nerve that answers to the vibrations of beauty. --Christopher Morley Almost every person has a preconception of the darkest form of humanity: evil. One German film exemplifies this classic struggle of right and wrong, while addressing deeper emotional messages. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari was made in 1919 and directed by Robert Weine. The film features a character named Francis, the protagonist, who seeks revenge against Dr. Caligari and his somnambulist, Cesar?, whom he believes murdered his friend. In one specific scene, Cesar? attempts to kill a beautiful woman named Jane, Francis's fianc?e coincidentally, at Caligari's request. Judging by Cesar?'s previously witnessed brutal and robotic nature, it is assumed that as he creeps up to her gentle sleeping body that her time has expired. Magically, he cannot commit the deed. Overcome with affection, he instead lovingly reaches to cradle her head. She awakens, screams, and struggles. Cesar? snaps out of his funk and overtakes her, eventually escaping with her on his back. This intense scene conveys the message that even the darkest forms of evil are not completely devoid of humanity, giving the audience the faintest glimmer of hope that good can always shine through malevolence. Cesar? has no mind of his own; rather he is the puppet of the sinister Dr. Caligari. This is strikingly obvious just before the attack on Jane. As Cesar? slinks down the corridor to the bedchamber his movements are awkward and unnatural, similar to puppet's movements. At one point he even pauses, as if to mentally rethink the plan for murder Caligari has laid down. This attention to said murder agenda points that normal people can be highly susceptible to perform evil deeds. In essence, Cesar? is not an evil person, but one who has been mentally dominated by the evil Caligari. One could play a contemporary television therapist and venture to state that Cesar? is the victim in all of this. In fact, Cesar? the sleepwalking killer never existed before Caligari came into place. One can therefore also determine that evil spawns more evil. Kindness and humanity always find a way to shine through the depths of rage and hate. Poised in a striking position, primed to kill, something inside Cesar? snaps. He is rendered momentarily immobile, unable to perform the deed he has been commanded. Love (or at least pity) has finally surfaced! As they say, music soothes the savage beast. It appears as if beauty soothes the savage killer as well. Perhaps the human in Cesar? has finally awoken after years of slumber, for he is incapable of killing the helpless Jane. This breakdown of evil is evident in other sources, most notably Fritz Lang's M. Peter Lorre's character, a murderer, has yet another victim well in his clutches. However, a change of heart beckons his decision to let the girl free. As in Caligari, these movies help to quell one of humanity's greatest fears, at least temporarily: the fact that evil is absolute and unquestionably brutal by nature. If only the corporate world would practice the sparse compassion of these vi llains, perhaps the public opinion of big business would not be so bleak. Unfortunately, the reprise of feeling does not last long. Overcome by tenderness, yet thriving to expedite more death, Cesar? cannot keep from his dark deeds. After cradling her head softly, one of the few displays of outward affection in the entire film, the moment abruptly shatters as Jane awakes. It is debatable whether or not he would have left her unharmed had she not awakened, but the fact that she wakes destroys any hope of escape. At this sign of struggle, the moment of tenderness is but a memory, and Cesar? is once again the slave of Dr. Caligari. At this point the film footage itself ends, and it is time to attempt to piece together what is not explicitly stated on screen. The scene abounds with commentary pertinent to both the film and society. First of all, the fact that evil can be conditioned is a scary thought indeed. It was this line of thinking that led to the red scare of the 1950s in the United States. We were afraid that

The relationship between money supply and inflation

The relationship between money supply and inflation Introduction The current globalisation rate has led to many changes and effects on the value of most resources and especially the financial resources. The world’s population is increasing at a fast rate while on the other hand resources are being depleted without being replenished thus causing scarcity.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The relationship between money supply and inflation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As a result, economic crisis have occurred which have as well affected the living standards of a better part of the world’s population (Hardwick, 2002, p.176). Among the common effects are the high inflation and the amount of money supplied. Economists have however established the rate of Inflation and the money supply of a nation are correlated with one leading to another. This paper is therefore an analysis of the relationship between the inflation rate and money supply. Inflation Inflat ion is said to be the increase in the prices of commodities and services in a given economy. This makes the people buy less since their purchasing power goes down as a result of the lower value of the currency. Inflation rates of most countries keep fluctuating but their central banks try to keep the rates at a range of about two to three percent. The consumer price index is what is used to measure the inflation rates of an economy. It has been theoretically argued that inflation is caused by an increase in money supply in the economy (Hall and Taylor, 1997, p.637). Money Supply Money supply is an economic term which refers to the amount of money circulating in an economy. The central bank is bestowed with controlling the money supply of a country through regulation of the circulation (Williams, 2008, p.1). Money supply can be measured by looking at the value of currency, bills, credit, loans as well as other liquid instruments in an economy. The Relationship between money supply an d inflation Economists have suggested that there is a high degree of correlation between the inflation rate and money supply in an economy. To begin with is the fact that when the money supply is high the demand for money goes down.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is because people are able to afford even the high priced commodities and services that they could not have initially afforded (Mishkin, 1995, p.89). It can thus be depicted that an upward supply of money in the economy results to inflation according to the graph shown below. (McMahon, 2009, p.1) A look at the graph at first glance does not show any instances of correlation however after the introduction of a time lag in which the two occur a situation of relationship is then established. This time lag is the difference in time between changes in the money supply and the changes in the inflation rat es. Thus, the relationship occurs after a period of time as it can be depicted on the graph in the years 1990, 1996, 2000 and 2001 among others. This can be practically explained in a situation whereby the people of a given small town are given the opportunity to raise a higher income than they would have before in a month. They would thus shift from using gasoline to gas as their source of fuel which costs higher. This is because in real sense, the gas will cost proportionally lower than the price they were paying for gasoline before the increase in income. As a result, the market will bear high prices for commodities and services leading to inflation which has come about due to increased money supply (Williams, 2008, p.1). The relationship between inflation rates and money supply can be differently explained using different economic theories. The Monetary theory explains that money supply is the most significant factor that leads to incidences of inflation in an economy.Advertisin g We will write a custom essay sample on The relationship between money supply and inflation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Quoting the words of a renowned monetarist by the name Milton Friedman, he said, â€Å"Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon† (Williams, 2008, p.1). Thus according to empirical studies conducted by most historical monetarists, it can be asserted that inflation is a monetary phenomenon. This is in accordance to the equation; MV= PQ Where; M is the nominal value of money (money supply) V is the money velocity P is the price level Q is the real value index (Transactions) From the above equation, monetarists argue that the money velocity is not affected by changes in the money supply in the long-run (Mankiw, 2002, p.153). Therefore the output is highly dependent on the productivity of the economy.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Working with these assumptions it can be said that changes in price are dependent on the changes in the quantity of money in the economy thus the money supply. The chart below derived from the above equation shows the differences in inflation reflected by CPI and the money supply reflected as M2. Fig. A chart showing the relationship between inflation and money supply (Burda and Wyplosz, 1997, p. 267) According to the Keynesian theory, there still exists a relationship between money supply and inflation. However, they argue that money supply is not the only big factor that causes inflation as there are also other contributing factors. The Keynesians emphasize that aggregate demand is the main reason behind inflation and thus regulating the aggregate demands in periods of recessions and economic expansions helps stabilize the inflation rates as well. Nevertheless, the relationship comes about as aggregate demand is effectively controlled using economic instruments such as monetary p olicy and fiscal policy (Burda and Wyplosz, 1997, p. 275) Conclusion From the above discussion, it can be concluded that there is indeed a great correlation between money supply and inflation rates of an economy. It is evidenced that changing the money supply through the central banks leads to a control of the inflationary situations in the same economy. For instance, a country with high inflation rates and willing to lower them, they will do this through the operations of the central bank whereby the lending rates and the interest rates will be increased to reduce the amount f money leaving the bank (Baumol and Blinder, 2006, p.109). As a matter of fact, people will rush to deposit the cash they have so that it can earn as much interest as possible. This will in turn reduce the amount of money circulating in the region hence reducing the inflation rates as well. In a situation of deflation the vice versa will be applied where the central bank will reduce the lending rates and inter est rates so as to enable flow of money into the economy (Baumol and Blinder, 2006, p.109). The control between money supply and inflation rates is thus operated using the federal banking system of the central bank of the region. Reference List Baumol, W. and Blinder, A. (2006). Macroeconomics: Principles and Policy, Tenth edition. Thomson South-Western. Burda, M. and Wyplosz, C. (1997). Macroeconomics: a European text. Oxford [Oxfordshire]: Oxford University Press. Hall, R. and Taylor, J. (1993). Macroeconomics. New York: W.W. Norton. Hardwick, P. (2002). Introduction to modern economics, prentice hall publishers, New York. Mankiw, N. (2002). Macroeconomics (5th Ed.). Worth. McMahon, T. (2009). Money Supply and Inflation. Available from https://inflationdata.com/inflation/Inflation/Money_Supply_and_Inflation.asp . Mishkin, F. (1995). The Economics of Money, Banking, and Financial Markets, New York, Harper Collins. Williams, J. (2008). Money Supply Special Report. Available from   shadowstats.com/article/money-supply .

Business Change Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Business Change Management - Essay Example Perhaps the space between the new organization design and implementing it into actuality is the whole coverage of organization change and development. People are adaptive to change. However, certain skills must be present from the initiators of change so as to successfully implement their project. Thus, managers need to have the necessary abilities not only in detecting what needs to be changed but also how to introduce the change effectively. According to Moran and Avergun (1997) "Change consists of a series of closer and closer approximation of increasingly ambiguous goals which are embraced by more and more members of the organization. For this reason, change often seems endless and confusing. Often those involved in the change process feel overwhelmed and powerless." This paper provides discussion of how change can be managed in order to avoid people from feeling overwhelmed and powerless. Arguments that claim differing statements regarding this notion of change management are likewise presented through the use of management concepts and theories that are relevant to the discussion. As such, the paper provides the (a) definition and importance of change management, (b) strategic implementation of change management, and (c) means and ways of coping and adapting effectively to changes in the management within the organization. Finally, a conclusion summarizing the highlights of the discussion and the reflexive analysis of the author is presented. Change Management Definition and importance. Change management is basically defined as the formulation and assimilation of change in a methodical process. The major objective of change management is the introduction of innovative means and systems in the work organization. Businesses must normally undergo change in order to evolve to a higher level of for instance, stability, management or production. Appointing a new head officer, for example, can greatly enhance his subordinates based on his management principles and personality. Adding a new member in the organization or reconstructing an old company program are called smaller versions of change and are significantly different from that of change management. The scope of organizational change is much wider as compared to minor company changes. This may include changing the company's mission, reforming business operations, application of new technologies, major group efforts, or adoption of new programs. Usually, the organization is encouraged on settling on change management due to external influences, usually termed as the environment (Nickols, 2004). Thus, change management can alternately be defined as the response of different business to changes brought about by environmental influences in which organizations have minimal or absolutely no control over. Organizational change is part of and a result of struggles between contradictory forces, also change management practice is related with endeavoring to manage their competing demands. To understand why and how to change organizations, it is first necessary to understand their structures, management and behaviour. According to Burnes (1996) these systems of ideas are crucial to change managemen

International human resource management assignment Essay

International human resource management assignment - Essay Example Human Resource Management or HRM is defined in different ways by different people because of the complex parameters associated with it. Generally, it can be defined as the process of employing people, developing their capacities, utilizing, maintaining and compensating their services in tune with the job and organizational requirement. The overall effectiveness of an organization depends on how well the HRM department in that organization succeeded in putting the right people at the right place at the right time. It is the responsibility of the HRM department to identify the talents or hiring of people; developing their talents through training and utilizing those talents by placing them in appropriate places. HRM acts as a bridge between the organization and its employees. It is the duty of the HRM department to meet the objectives of the organization without causing any damages to the needs of the employees. â€Å"In several countries as part of HRM strategies, employers are adopt ing schemes to elicit higher degrees of employee commitment† (Bamber, et al, 2010, p.308) Globalization has brought many changes in the business world. International business or cross cultural business is growing every day because of increased cooperation between countries. It is difficult for a country to develop properly using the internal resources alone. Globalization succeeded in revealing the importance of foreign investments and private capital in economic development of countries. Many of the big organizations in the world were facing saturation in their domestic countries and they were struggling to find enough space for expansion. Globalization opened many door of opportunities to these countries in other countries and they accepted it with both hands. The growth of international business brought many challenges to the human resources departments of international companies. Domestic business and international business are entirely different and it is difficult to use the human resource management strategies used in the domestic circuit successfully in international circuits. No two countries are similar either politically, socially, economically, culturally, legally, or environmentally. While formulating strategies for human resource management in an international context, the HRM departments should account for all the above differences between countries. In short, HRM, especially IHRM should vary in accordance with the cultural and institutional environment in which it is conducted. This paper analyses the International Human Resource Management strategies assuming that an American firm is trying to establish business in China. IHRM: Internal Contexts America and China are two countries which have more differences than similarities. The HRM strategies popular in American context may not be useful in China because of the enormous differences. Communication is one of the major aspects of human resource management. It is the bread and butter of a n organization. Without proper communication, no organization can develop properly. Communication in domestic circle is not a big problem for organizations; however communication is a big problem for companies in international context. Victor (2009) has identified seven parameters; Language, Environment, Social organizations, Contexting, Authority, Nonverbal behaviours and Time concepts in order to improve the communicational means in IHRM (Victor, 2009) The importance of Language cannot be underestimated especially in cross cultural communication. Historically, Chinese people are very weak in English and the Americans are weak in any languages

A Review of Of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

A Review of Of Mice and Men Essay Of Mice and Men was written by John Steinbeck in 1939, during the Great American Depression. It tells the story of two men striving to understand their own unique place in the world. Traveling in search of work, George and his simple-minded friend Lennie have nothing in the world except each other and the dream they share: to one day settle down in a farm of their own and count out their days. Eventually they find work on a ranch, their hopes are doomed as Lennie becomes a victim of his own strength leaving their dream to be crushed. Much of Of Mice and Men is based upon Steinbecks life and experiences. He highlights many social issues which he experienced first hand. For example, the climatic changes in the West of America resulting in destruction of fertile land, this had supported the homesteaders represented in the novel by the promised joy dreamt of by the workers in the story. Another problem shown in the novel is the great financial collapse of 1929 which heralded the Depression that increased unemployment and poverty through the United States. Because of these problems intinerant American workers were exploited by farm owners on low pay and appalling conditions. They were only in demand for short periods of time causing them to have to save enough from seasonal work to support for the rest of the year and their extreme mobile lifestyles. Most of the characters in the book face many of these problems or are suffering from them especially the main characters, George and Lennie. George is a small, intelligent man. He is very strong-minded but also like most of the characters in the book very dreamy. He is very keen to change the monotomy of his present situation. Lennie, is a huge, lumbering, kind but child-like man. Although he has a terror of violence he is a man of great physical strength, something he is quite unaware of causing him to be clumsy. Lennie has an obsession with petting small animals that occurs throughout the book. He is very passive it is for this reason, in my opnion that George and Lennie are the incomplete halves of one whole person. George keeps Lennie by his side partly for comfort and friendship, but mainly as he is very strong and can work on a farm better than most people. Lennie is both an advantage and hindrance to George. George also supports Lennie, helps him and puts ideas in his head, wh ich keep him motivated but mainly acts as a fatherly figure. On arrival at the ranch one of the first characters George and Lennie meet is Candy, the oldest ranch worker who is coming to the end of his life. Candy is a very warm character in my opnion. He shares the dream that George and Lennie do, and therefore they become attractive friends to him. He is a gossip and tells the newcomers of the ranch workers and owners. He tells George and Lennie about Curley and his newly wed wife. Curley is a small man, because of his height disadvantage he dislikes tall men. He is continually agressive and always trying to show his masculanity. He is humilated by his wifes disastifaction and needs to boost his confidence. Curleys wifes name is never mentioned in the book it is for this reason she comes across as Curleys possession. She is portrayed in the book as a tarty, flirtatious woman, who is friendly to the men who work on the ranch. She claims not being understood in the book. Curleys wife has often been caught by other members of the ranch giving S lim and Carlson the eye. Slim is a friendly and gentle character compared to the others. He is a dignified master craftsman. Slim in my opnion is descibed by Steinbeck as an idealised character, however, his words and actions are quite realistic. Carlson is the more agressive character, we do not know that much about him but he usually appears in violent scenes. He is not a very sensative man. One of my favourite characters is Crooks. Crooks is a literate black cripple who tends horses. He interests me because his natural personality has been taken away from him by years of racism which I am very against. He is a very lonely character and has been automatically rejected in the novel by the other characters. My other favourite character is Lennie because of his unusual personality and need for a father figure despite being a fully grown man. In my opnion one cannot help but to feel sorry for Lennie. Within the story their are many themes, important ideas that run through the book. One of my favourites is dreams, each character has their own dream which is used throughout the book. The majority involve the American Dream, to be able to live off the fatta the lan. Curleys wifes dream revolves around Hollywood and being a moviestar but her dream she believes was ruined by her mother. She is also lonely just like many of the other characters, this is another theme in the book. Each of the workers is an induvidual and works for themselves. They all seek comfort in different things such as Candy in his dog. However, quite early on in the book Candys dog is killed, this is the first mention of violence. Throughout the book the world of the men is filled with unneccesary violence. The killing of the dog is quite similar to that of Lennie at the end of the book. Alot of authority is shown within the book aswell such as the condition of the workers living area and the Bosss clothes, black and severe. However I feel the book is centred on the idea of mutual dependence. Each of the main two characters depends on each other hugely. But this relationship, at the end of the book, is breached and George takes advantage of Lennie who trusts him, and kills him, so that his dream is secured. The book is written in an easy to read form, it is not in the country language they would of spoken, but in proper English the majority of the book. The story is out of date of course, but the actual language and style used in the book is quite modern. I really like the way that Steinbeck at the beginning of each chapter gives you a vivid description of the surrondings. It is for this reason that although there have been many films made of this book nothing can compare to the pictures the pages of this book generates inside your minds eye and as you turn the final page these pictures stay with you. At first glance the story was not very enthralling but as I got deeper into the plot I started to really enjoy it. As I got more into the book I started to think more about the themes and characters of the book which drew me in to it even more. It is the kind of book that is not only a story but also holds an interesting background behind it and applies to the history of America and the Great Depression. It is for this reason I feel it deserves its title as a classic and I would recommend it to any reader.

In this essay I will be discussing the playwrights ideas of :: English Literature

In this essay I will be discussing the playwright's ideas of Manliness, Hostility and Aggression in A View from the Bridge. 'A View from the Bridge' is a play set in Brooklyn in the 1940s. The protagonist is Eddie, an Italian immigrant and longshoreman living in Brooklyn. Eddie lives with his wife and niece, and the play starts with them waiting for the arrival of Beatrice's two cousins, Marco and Rodolpho. They are illegal immigrants looking for work in order to fund their families at home in Italy. Rodolpho and Catherine seem to like each other, which upsets Eddie, as he seems to love Catherine for more than just a daughter or niece. This ultimately leads to the downfall of Eddie. The ideas of manliness, hostility and aggression create conflict in the play as Eddie and Marco are both battling to be the man of the house. These ideas also create conflict between Eddie and Rodolpho because, in Eddie's eyes, Rodolpho does not live up to the expectations of what a man should be. Eddie is also jealous of him, because of Rodolpho's relationship with Catherine. "A view from the Bridge" deals with the 'American Dream'; this is that immigrants came from countries, such as Italy, in order to make a better life for themselves. Arthur Miller was concerned with this living through the Depression, which bankrupted his father, and he saw the effects on the ordinary people. The play can be described as a Greek tragedy set in America. The play is set in the 1940's and so reflects the attitudes and feelings of the time, this is why it may be a little difficult for a modern day audience to relate to. America was seen as the land of opportunity for many people, to start a new life, escape their past or just for a change .People believed America held the key. However, this was not the case, as immigrants often lived in the most run down parts of town and found themselves out of work and with little money to live on or send to their families at home. The qualities that Eddie considers to be manly are the stereotypical, traditional views of manly qualities. One of these qualities is to be strong. Eddie tries to intimidate Rodolpho by getting him to box with him. Eddie is a good boxer and has had many years practise, however Rodolpho has never boxed. He is reluctant to box with Eddie 'I don't want to hit you, Eddie'. Another quality that Eddie considers to be 'manly' is for a man to provide for his family.

Food Safety System

Food Safety Information Freezing and Food Safety oods in the freezer — are they safe? Every year, thousands of callers to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline have questions about the safety of items stored in their home freezers. The confusion seems to be based on the fact that few people understand how freezing protects food. Here is some information on how to freeze food safely and how long to keep it. F What Can You Freeze? You can freeze almost any food. Some exceptions are canned food or eggs in shells. However, once the food (such as a ham) is out of the can, you may freeze it.Being able to freeze food and being pleased with the quality after thawing are two different things. Some foods simply don’t freeze well. Examples are mayonnaise, cream sauce, and lettuce. Raw meat and poultry maintain their quality longer than their cooked counterparts because moisture is lost during cooking. Is Frozen Food Safe? Food stored constantly at 0  °F or below will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage. Freezing keeps food safe by slowing the movement of molecules, causing microbes to enter a dormant stage.Freezing preserves food for extended periods because it prevents the growth of microorganisms that cause both food spoilage and foodborne illness. Freezing to 0  °F or below inactivates any microbes — bacteria, yeasts, and molds — present in food. Once thawed, however, these microbes can again become active, multiplying under the right conditions to levels that can lead to foodborne illness. Since they will then grow at about the same rate as microorganisms on fresh food, you must handle thawed items as you would any perishable food. Trichina and other parasites can be destroyed by sub-zero freezing temperatures.However, very strict government-supervised conditions must be met. Home freezing cannot be relied upon to destroy trichina. Thorough cooking, however, will destroy all parasites. Does Freezing Destroy Bacteria and Parasites? Freshness and Quality Freshness and quality at the time of freezing affect the condition of frozen foods. If frozen at peak quality, thawed foods emerge tasting better than foods frozen near the end of their useful life. So freeze items you won’t use quickly sooner rather than later. Store all foods at 0  °F or below to retain vitamin content, color, flavor, and texture.The freezing process itself does not destroy nutrients. In meat and poultry products, there is little change in nutrient value during freezer storage. Nutrient Retention The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health agency in the U. S. Department of Agriculture responsible for ensuring that the nation’s commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) USDA Photo PhotoDisc Food Safety Whileand InspectionCamping & Boating Food Safety Hikin g, ServiceUnited States Department of Agriculture Freezing and Food Safety Enzymes Enzyme activity can lead to the deterioration of food quality. Enzymes present in animals, vegetables, and fruit promote chemical reactions before and after harvest, such as ripening. Freezing only slows the enzyme activity that takes place in foods. It does not halt them. Enzyme activity does not harm frozen meats or fish and is neutralized by the acids in frozen fruits. But most vegetables that freeze well are low acid and require brief, partial cooking to prevent deterioration. This is called â€Å"blanching. For successful freezing, blanch or partially cook vegetables in boiling water or in a microwave oven. Then rapidly chill the vegetables prior to freezing and storage. Consult a cookbook for timing. Packaging Proper packaging helps maintain quality and prevent freezer burn. It is safe to freeze meat or poultry directly in its original packaging, however this type of wrap is permeable to air an d quality may diminish over time. For prolonged storage, overwrap these packages as you would any food for long-term storage. It is not necessary to rinse meat and poultry.Freeze unopened vacuum packages as is. If you notice that a package has accidentally been torn or has opened while food is in the freezer, the food is still safe to use; merely overwrap or rewrap it. Freezer burn does not make food unsafe; merely dry in spots. It appears as grayish-brown, leathery spots and is caused by air coming in contact with the surface of the food. Cut freezer-burned portions away either before or after cooking the food. Heavily freezer-burned foods may have to be discarded for quality reasons. Color changes can occur in frozen foods.The bright red color of meat as purchased usually turns dark or pale brown depending on its variety. This may be due to lack of oxygen, freezer burn, or abnormally long storage. Freezing doesn’t usually cause color changes in poultry. However, the bones a nd the meat near them can become dark. Bone darkening results when pigment seeps through the porous bones of young poultry into the surrounding tissues when the poultry meat is frozen and thawed. The dulling of color in frozen vegetables and cooked foods is usually the result of excessive drying due to improper packaging or overlengthy storage.Freezer Burn Color Changes Freeze Rapidly Freeze food as fast as possible to maintain its quality. Rapid freezing prevents undesirable large ice crystals from forming throughout the product because the molecules don’t have time to form into the characteristic six-sided snowflake. Slow freezing creates large, disruptive ice crystals. During thawing, they damage the cells and dissolve emulsions. This causes meat to â€Å"drip† and lose juiciness. Emulsions such as mayonnaise or cream will separate and appear curdled. Ideally, a food 2-inches thick should freeze completely in about 2 hours.If your home freezer has a â€Å"quick-fre eze† shelf, use it. Never stack packages to be frozen. Instead, spread them out in one layer on various shelves, stacking them only after frozen solid. Freezer – Refrigerator Temperatures If a refrigerator freezing compartment can’t maintain 0  °F or below or if the door is opened frequently, use it for short-term food storage. Eat those foods as soon as possible for best quality. Use a free-standing freezer set at 0  °F or below for long-term storage of frozen foods. Keep an appliance thermometer in your freezing compartment or freezer to check the temperature.This is important if you experience a power outage or mechanical problems. The temperature in the refrigerator should be set at 40  °F or below. Check the refrigerator temperature with an appliance thermometer. Food Safety Information 2 Freezing and Food Safety Freezer Storage Times Because freezing keeps food safe indefinitely, recommended storage times are for quality only. Refer to the freezer sto rage chart at the end of this document, which lists optimum freezing times for best quality. If a food is not listed on the chart, you may determine its quality after thawing. First check the odor.Some foods will develop a rancid or off odor when frozen too long and should be discarded. Some may not look picture perfect or be of high enough quality to serve alone, but may be edible and can be used to make soups or stews. Safe Thawing Never thaw foods in a garage, basement, car, dishwasher, or plastic garbage bag, out on the kitchen counter, outdoors, or on the porch. These methods can leave your foods unsafe to eat. There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. The last two methods may be the fastest, however, the food must be cooked immediately after thawing. . It’s best to plan ahead for slow, safe thawing in the refrigerator. Small items may defrost overnight; most food requires a day or two to completely defrost. Large it ems like turkeys may take longer, approximately 1 day for each 5 pounds of weight. 2. For faster thawing, place food in a leak proof plastic bag and immerse it in cold water. (If the bag leaks, bacteria from the air or surrounding environment could be introduced into the food. Food may absorb water like a sponge, resulting in a watery product. ) Change the water every 30 minutes. After thawing, cook immediately. 3.When microwave-defrosting food, plan to cook it immediately after thawing because some areas of the food may become warm and begin to cook during microwaving. Refreezing Food thawed in the refrigerator is safe to refreeze without cooking, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. After cooking, foods that were previously frozen are safe to refreeze. If previously cooked foods are thawed in the refrigerator, you may refreeze the unused portion. Freeze leftovers within 3-4 days. Do not refreeze any foods left outside the refrigerator l onger than 2 hours; 1 hour in temperatures above 90  °F.If you purchase previously frozen meat, poultry, or fish at a retail store, you can refreeze if it has been handled safely. Cooking Frozen Foods Raw or cooked meat, poultry, or casseroles can be cooked or reheated from the frozen state. However, it will take approximately one and a half times as long to cook. Remember to discard any wrapping or absorbent paper from meat or poultry. When cooking whole frozen poultry, remove the giblet pack from the cavity as soon as you can loosen it. Cook the giblets separately. Read the label on USDA-inspected frozen meat and poultry products.Some items, such as pre-stuffed whole birds, MUST be cooked from the frozen state to ensure a safely cooked product. LOOK FOR THE USDA OR STATE MARK OF INSPECTION The inspection mark on the packaging tells you the product was prepared in a USDA or State-inspected plant under controlled conditions. Follow the package directions for thawing, reheating, an d storing. Food Safety Information 3 Freezing and Food Safety Power Outage in Freezers If there is a power outage, the freezer fails, or if the freezer door has been left ajar by mistake, the food may still be safe to use if ice crystals remain.If the freezer has failed and a repairman is on the way, or it appears the power will be on soon, don’t open the freezer door. If the freezer door was left ajar and the freezer continued to keep the food cold, the food should stay safe. A freezer full of food will usually keep about 2 days if the door is kept shut; a half-full freezer will last about a day. The freezing compartment in a refrigerator may not keep foods frozen as long. If the freezer is not full, quickly group packages together so they will retain the cold more effectively. Separate meat and poultry items from ther foods so if they begin to thaw, their juices won’t drip onto other foods. When the power is off, you may want to put dry ice, block ice, or bags of ice in the freezer or transfer foods to a friend’s freezer until power is restored. Use an appliance thermometer to monitor the temperature. To determine the safety of foods when the power goes on, check their condition and temperature. If food is partly frozen, still has ice crystals, or is as cold as if it were in a refrigerator (40  °F or below), it is safe to refreeze or use. It’s not necessary to cook raw foods before refreezing.Discard foods that have been warmer than 40  °F for more than 2 hours. Discard any foods that have been contaminated by raw meat juices. Dispose of soft or melted ice cream for quality’s sake. When it is freezing outside and there is snow on the ground, the outdoors seems like a good place to keep food until the power comes on. However, frozen food can thaw if it is exposed to the sun’s rays even when the temperature is very cold. The outside temperature could vary hour by hour and the temperature outside will not protect re frigerated and frozen food. Food may become too warm and foodborne bacteria could grow.Additionally, perishable items could be exposed to unsanitary conditions or to animals. Animals may harbor bacteria or disease; never consume food that has come in contact with an animal. Frozen Cans Cans frozen accidentally, such as those left in a car or basement in subzero temperatures, can present health problems. If the cans are merely swollen — and you are sure the swelling was caused by freezing — the cans may still be usable. Let the can thaw in the refrigerator before opening. If the product doesn’t look and/or smell normal, throw it out. DO NOT TASTE IT!If the seams have rusted or burst, throw the cans out immediately. Wrap the burst can in plastic and dispose of the food where no one, including animals, can get it. Shell eggs should not be frozen. If an egg accidentally freezes and the shell cracked during freezing, discard the egg. Keep any uncracked eggs frozen un til needed; then thaw in the refrigerator. These can be hard cooked successfully, but other uses may be limited. That’s because freezing causes the yolk to become thick and syrupy, so it will not flow like an unfrozen yolk or blend very well with the egg white or other ingredients. Frozen EggsFood Safety Information 4 Freezing and Food Safety FREEZER STORAGE CHART (0  °F or below) Note: Freezer storage times are for quality only. Frozen foods remain safe indefinitely. Item Bacon and Sausage Casseroles Egg whites or egg substitutes Frozen Dinners and Entrees Gravy, meat, or poultry Ham, Hot dogs, and Luncheon Meats Meat, uncooked roasts Meat, uncooked steaks or chops Months 1 to 2 2 to 3 Unopened 12 3 to 4 2 to 3 1 to 2 Item Meat, uncooked ground Meat, cooked Poultry, uncooked whole Poultry, uncooked parts Poultry, uncooked giblets Poultry, cooked Months 3 to 4 2 to 3 12 9 3 to 4 4 2 to 3 to 12 4 to 12 Soups and Stews Wild game, uncooked 8 to 12 Food Safety Questions? Call t he USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline If you have a question about meat, poultry or egg products, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline toll free at 1-888-MPHotline or 1-888-674-6854, TTY: 1-800-256-7072. The hotline is open year-round Monday through Friday from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. EST (English or Spanish). Listen to timely recorded food safety messages at the same number 24 hours a day. Check out the FSIS Web site at www. sis. usda. gov. Ask Karen! FSIS’ automated response system can provide food safety information 24/7 and a live chat during Hotline hours. Send e-mail questions to MPHotline. [email  protected] gov FSIS encourages the reprint and distribution of this publication for food safety education purposes. However, USDA symbols or logos may not be used separately to imply endorsement of a commercial product or service. AskKaren. gov The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Revised May 2010