Finance executives recognize the benefits of method's green Assignment

Finance executives recognize the benefits of method's green efficiencies - Assignment Example The funds may be used to invest in other areas for example in research or advertising. Once the carbon acquires the greener products that do not release carbon in the atmosphere, it can enjoy the benefit of carbon offsetting. This implies that its tax liability would be reduced, thus making the total liabilities to reduce resulting to higher profits. Companies in various industries have embarked on investing in greener brands in a short run even though it is expensive. The collaboration between finance and operations departments at Method may result to the Method pursuing greener activities that are costly in the short run. It is vital to note that businesses should have long terms perspectives such as increased customers, going global and product diversification among others. Such perspectives can be attained by looking at the current situation. For example, Method can introduce greener household brand that is expensive. Once it starts to advertise the brand and the government as well as customers notice that such product does not cause harm to the environment, it may be highly demanded in the international market in the next few years. This will definitely increase the company sales and improve its image in the global market where competition is very stiff. The same way, a greener car may be expensive for example if Method dec ides to acquire around 10 cars. However, the government may after some time offset the company corporate tax with the Method’s carbon footprint (Gillenwater 16). This will result to low liability and high profit for Method. The increased demand for household products has resulted to stiff competition among the firms in the industry. The companies have come up with different strategies in addition reducing prices. I think also other household companies just like Method are beginning to realize how green products can improve their financial conditions. For example, some companies have introduced initiatives

Educational psychology Essay Example for Free

Educational psychology Essay Choose a topic (objective) from one of the strand units in the Primary Science Curriculum (DES, 1999) and describe how you would assess it in a way that ensures that the assessment is integrated seamlessly in teaching and learning science. Indicate what the focus of the assessment is in terms of the science concept AND skill(s). The topic chosen must not be a task included in Hands-on Science. Indicate what the focus for the assessment is in terms of science concept and skills. In your answer refer to a) common prior conceptions (‘misconceptions’) children might  hold within this strand unit and b) how this assessment approach could facilitate constructivist approaches to the teaching of science. Please refer to at least three prescribed readings from both your assessment and curriculum science courses in your response (at least six references in all). Strand: Energy and Forces Strand Unit: Magnetism and Electricity Class: Second Class Learning Intention: The child will be enabled to purposefully play with magnets of different shapes and sizes and explore their effects on different materials (DES,1999). The Teacher Guidelines in conjunction with the Primary Curriculum for Science promotes the use of a constructivist approach to the teaching and learning of science, (DES, 1999). A constructivist approach involves the construction of our own understandings based on the world in which we live in (Brooks, 1993) and our prior knowledge in a variety of areas. This essay will be based on a constructivist approach to teaching magnets in the primary science curriculum, aimed to eliminate any common misconceptions of the child and incorporate self- assessment as the method for assessment for the lesson. The constructivist approach to teaching and learning allows children to take responsibility of their learning which can then make way for self-assessment. Lessons which incorporate self-assessment will see pupils ‘looking at their own work in a reflective way, and identify aspects of it that are good and that could be improved, and then set personal learning targets for themselves’ according to the NCCA’s (2007) Assessment in the Primary School Curriculum. This lesson will incorporate prediction, investigation, interpretation and communication as the children develop the uses of magnets of different shapes and sizes  through ‘purposeful play’ (DES, 1999). The learning intentions for this lesson will be shared using WALT and WILF in the introduction to the lesson. Children will be given their learning intentions to give them a goal or target to work towards in the course of the lesson. The children will develop their own concept maps, which will be based on any existing 1 Saoirse Geraghty Part B-Assessment 13270851 knowledge or misconceptions they may have with regard to magnets, eliciting prior knowledge from the children will give them the opportunity to focus themselves on the topic. Concept maps will be used as interpreted by Mc Cloughlin’s (2000) ‘Conceptual Mapping Frameworks in Science Education: a reader for students of Science education’. The maps will portray each of the children’s knowledge based on the topic, magnets, to be revisited in the development of the lesson and in order for children to interpret their findings and learning outcomes from course of the lesson. The development of the lesson will see the investigation of common misconceptions and experimenting with some of the children’s prior knowledge based on their concept maps they have drawn up. The children will be aware of their learning intentions from the introduction to the lesson and will need little direction which will lead to more focused learning. They will record on their concept maps any new findings they have made, and any prior misconceptions they may have had, and have come to the conclusion of can be recorded. The conclusion of the lesson will include a share session in a whole-class discussion to identify any misconceptions that may still exist and can be addressed, and also to allow children to peer-assess one another based on their findings on an informal basis. To conclude the lesson I will use ‘Traffic Lights’, which will allow me to establish after the lesson how comfortable children are with the use of magnets of different shapes and sizes and the misconceptions involved with them. To begin the lesson I will use a range of formative methods of assessment (AfL) to elicit any existing knowledge children may have with regard to magnets. As mentioned above the children will develop their own concept maps or ‘cluster maps’ (McCloughlin, 2000) to illustrate their existing knowledge, regarding their own interpretation of the physical  appearance of a magnet, uses of magnets, household items which may be magnets etc. When the children have completed their maps, I will share learning intentions with the children using the WALT and WILF methods. I will place the learning intentions on the WALT board, in child friendly language, so children can refer back to them in the development of the lesson to ensure they are still on task to achieve the success criteria. Clark (2005) promotes the sharing of learning intentions with the children that allows them to know the ‘desired outcome’ and success criteria of the task. In Barbara Collins and Michael O’Leary’s (2010)  work on Integrating Assessment with Teaching and Learning in the Visual Arts: A Study in One Classroom seen sharing learning intentions lead to lower frustration levels among children who perceive themselves as not being strong’ in a particular curricular area. In my own experience and as also stated in the Collins and O’Leary (2010) study, children declared 2 Saoirse Geraghty Part B-Assessment 13270851 that knowledge of the success criteria on a particular topic helped them to get started quicker and also led to them having less questions based on the procedures they were to undertake in  the task. For the development of the lesson, I will explore the following three common misconceptions with second class students: ? All metals are attracted to magnets ?All silver coloured items are attracted to magnets ?The larger the magnet, the stronger it is (MathScience Innovation Centre, 2007) In this section, I will organise the children into small groups and provide them with a range of household objects (paperclips, cutlery, keys, coins etc. ) and magnets of different shapes and sizes to investigate and explore these misconceptions with them. I will ask the children in  their groups to predict possible outcomes of their explorations into the misconceptions, will all of these items stick to the magnets? Will all of the magnets pick up the bunch of keys? Etc. It is expected that children will make the prediction that all of these misconceptions are true, therefore predicting before investigating allows children to use their prior knowledge to predict and they can then explore their outcomes in ‘purposeful play’ throughout the development of this lesson and then discuss their findings with their peers in the conclusion of the lesson. When they have made some predictions will write some of them on the board to be revisited after the children have worked with the objects and magnets. The children will be given sufficient time to investigate the common misconceptions and strength of the magnets using different sized magnets across the variety of objects for experimentation. I will then ensue a metacognitive approach and have the children record on their concept maps anything new they have discovered or uncovered in their investigations. By recording their findings the children are documenting what they have learned by means of self-assessment. Looking at what they knew from the outset, and recording what more they have learned, or what misconceptions they may have had have they cleared up. To conclude the lesson, I will ask the class to come together and undergo a whole class discussion based on their findings in this investigation of misconceptions of magnets. I will use AfL strategies of questioning in this discussion with the children to indicate where their new knowledge may be of use to them outside of the class, ie. Where would you use a magnet outside of class? , can you get any bigger magnets than the ones we have in class  3 Saoirse Geraghty Part B-Assessment 13270851 today? Etc. The NCCA assessment guidelines (2007) invite children to probe and prompt children in their open ended questioning, ie. ‘’I wonder if everyone in this class has the same things on their maps’’, ‘’I wonder is there anything we could learn from listening to one each other’s findings’’. Preceding this, the children will discuss with their class mates any misconceptions they may still have, that they may be able to clear up, or perhaps something they did not uncover in their findings. This form of peer-assessment allows for informal  learning, and shows children that they can assist one another, and they do not always have to come to the same conclusions in their topics to have the correct answer. When children have been given fair time to discuss and analyse their findings with their peers I will close the lesson by asking them to give me some feedback to ‘help me to teach them’ by using the traffic light method of assessment. This will be used to get an idea of any misunderstandings or confusion that may still exist among the children, and therefore can be addressed before the end of the lesson.  In the ‘Traffic Light’ method of summative assessment: ?G (green light –I understand), ?A (amber light – A little unsure), ?R (red light I dont understand). Methods of both formative (AfL) and summative (AoL) assessment have been used strategically in the Primary Science Curriculum. These methods were introduced harmoniously with the lesson on magnetism, the methods of self-assessment allowed the teacher to be the facilitator of resources and learning, but the children undertook the task independently, the development of constructivism in the classroom would see that ‘the locus  of teaching and learning does not lie in the teacher but rather the student’ (Mc Cloughlin, 2010). This was explored in this lesson, and I would use these methods of assessment in the classroom, and I think they would have a positive effect on the children’s learning. References 4 Saoirse Geraghty Part B-Assessment 13270851 Clarke, Shirley,(2005). Targeting assessment in the primary classroom: Strategies for planning, assessment, pupil feedback and target settin. , London. Collins, B. O’Leary, M. (2010). Integrating assessment with teaching and  learning in the visual arts: A study in one classroom. Oideas 52, pp. 53-61. Department of Education and Skills, (1999). Primary School Science Curriculum. Dublin: NCCA Department of Education and Skills (1999). Primary School Science Curriculum: Teacher Guidelines. Dublin: NCCA MathScience Innovation Centre, (2007). Floating above the Rest. Mc Cloughlin, Thomas, (2000). Conceptual mapping frameworks in Science education: A reader for students of Science Education. Dublin. NCCA (2007). Assessment in the Primary School Curriculum. Guidelines for Schools. Dublin: NCCA.

Young Biz :: Free Essay Writer

Young Biz Youre young and ambitious, with a great idea for a new software program, downtown music zine, or a better-than-Snapple beverage--but how do you turn your dream concept into a thriving business?Forget the ultra-conservative suits who scoffed when you brought your hot idea to their door! As Fortune magazines Ron Lieber shows, you can actually turn your youth, inexperience, and lack of money to your advantage and capitalize on your assets to trump the corporate system, be your own boss, and turn your entrepreneurial vision into a reality.Based on interviews with more than thirty young, independent entrepreneurs who have developed some of todays hottest--even revolutionary--companies and products, Upstart Start-Ups! provides essential tips and information that will enable you to get your own Nantucket Nectars or Magnetic Poetry off the ground. Check out:The myths and realities you need to know about starting a business when you're under 30How to generate your first "brainstorm" and how t o act on a good ideaHow to overcome the stigmas of youth and inexperience and make your age work to your advantageHow to develop a realistic business planWhere and how to get the financial backing you needHow to establish credibility for your business or product with consumersModels that have proved successful, and how to apply them to your own visionTwenty-six-year-old Ron Lieber writes for Fortune magazine and is the coauthor of the New York Times business bestseller Taking Time Off. He appears regularly on national television and radio to discuss career issues, corporate management, and his recent columns. Publishers Weekly: Fortune writer Lieber (who's 26) gears this chatty guide to people under age 35 who don't have rich parents to help them get started. He distills the hard-won insights of 34 young entrepreneurs who launched successful start-ups an online personal-finance forum, an art gallery, a wine distributorship, a funky Mexican restaurant, a chain of airport-based music stores, among others and kept them going. Their firsthand experience is the core of the book, which follows the approach of Lieber's Taking Time Off, which advised college students by example in how to carefully tune in and temporarily drop out. While this is not a comprehensive, detailed handbook, the savvy tips of Lieber's interviewees acquaint tyros conceptually with a variety of standard business practices. They offer such basics as "Do What You Know," as one acne-prone woman now runs a thriving skin-care spa notes, to do-it-yourself market research, like that of a swimwear designer who apprenticed in retail to find out what women really wanted. Young Biz :: Free Essay Writer Young Biz Youre young and ambitious, with a great idea for a new software program, downtown music zine, or a better-than-Snapple beverage--but how do you turn your dream concept into a thriving business?Forget the ultra-conservative suits who scoffed when you brought your hot idea to their door! As Fortune magazines Ron Lieber shows, you can actually turn your youth, inexperience, and lack of money to your advantage and capitalize on your assets to trump the corporate system, be your own boss, and turn your entrepreneurial vision into a reality.Based on interviews with more than thirty young, independent entrepreneurs who have developed some of todays hottest--even revolutionary--companies and products, Upstart Start-Ups! provides essential tips and information that will enable you to get your own Nantucket Nectars or Magnetic Poetry off the ground. Check out:The myths and realities you need to know about starting a business when you're under 30How to generate your first "brainstorm" and how t o act on a good ideaHow to overcome the stigmas of youth and inexperience and make your age work to your advantageHow to develop a realistic business planWhere and how to get the financial backing you needHow to establish credibility for your business or product with consumersModels that have proved successful, and how to apply them to your own visionTwenty-six-year-old Ron Lieber writes for Fortune magazine and is the coauthor of the New York Times business bestseller Taking Time Off. He appears regularly on national television and radio to discuss career issues, corporate management, and his recent columns. Publishers Weekly: Fortune writer Lieber (who's 26) gears this chatty guide to people under age 35 who don't have rich parents to help them get started. He distills the hard-won insights of 34 young entrepreneurs who launched successful start-ups an online personal-finance forum, an art gallery, a wine distributorship, a funky Mexican restaurant, a chain of airport-based music stores, among others and kept them going. Their firsthand experience is the core of the book, which follows the approach of Lieber's Taking Time Off, which advised college students by example in how to carefully tune in and temporarily drop out. While this is not a comprehensive, detailed handbook, the savvy tips of Lieber's interviewees acquaint tyros conceptually with a variety of standard business practices. They offer such basics as "Do What You Know," as one acne-prone woman now runs a thriving skin-care spa notes, to do-it-yourself market research, like that of a swimwear designer who apprenticed in retail to find out what women really wanted.

The Impact of Restaurant Reviews on Customer Decisions

The Impact of Restaurant Reviews on Customer Decisions Table of contents 1. |LITERATURE REVIEW †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. |3| |1. 1. |Restaurant Review Systems Context †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. |3| |1. 2. |Overview of Themes †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. |4| |1. 3. |Peer Vs. Expert Reviews Constraints †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ |4| |1. 4. Impact on Customer Behaviour †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢ € ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ |5| |1. 5. |Consumer Information Utilization†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ |6| 2. |CONCLUSION †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ |9| 3. |REFERENCE LIST †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ |10| Page | 2 1. LITERATURE REVIEW 1. 1. Restaurant Review Systems Context As of January 2013 Yelp recorded 100 million visits on Yelp. om not including the 9. 4 million unique users of its mobil e application, ranking Yelp the 34th most trafficked website in the US. (Wilhelm, 2013). In addition, The Zagat New York guide sold 500,000 copies last year and it now includes 2,050 restaurants from all five boroughs in its 2013 edition. (Talmadge, 2008 ) Ultimately, The Guide Rouge sells around 1. 2 million copies per year in eight countries, and it impressively sold out 120,000 copies in no more than three days, on its first Tokyo 2008 edition (Michelin, 2011).Davis (2009) synthesizes â€Å"Restaurant reviews which, in addition to recording eating experiences, educate and inform us about how to culturally contextualize, judge, and compare eating experiences in both explicit and implicit ways, how to expand our vocabulary and fill up the bank, reviews are an important locus of meaning in the realm of food. † Coherently, gourmets argue that with the absence of writing, food is merely confined to its biological purpose and economic standing. Recording the dining experiences, avoids the quotidian encapsulation and impulses food discourse into the realm of intellectual pursuit. (Davis, 2009 , pp. 13-16)Food, being a vital necessity of human nature, has developed in the last centuries as not only a survival instinct, but a desire that can drive customers to a satisfactory and rewarding emotional experience. (Berridge, 2001 , pp. 234-242) Hence, the advancing phenomenon of eating out and the fast growing pace of the Gastronomic industry, has gained uncountable followers. (Upadhyay, Singh, & Thomas, 2007) The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of restaurant reviews upon consumer selecting criteria. Examine the information quality, and source credibility of restaurant review systems and their influence on consumer’s utilization.Page | 3 1. 2. Overview of the themes Technological advances have brought the ease of accessibility to immeasurable information. Restaurant reviews systems are widely spread, due to the fact that consumers are wil ling to refer to either expert or peer created reviews before a culinary venture, to avoid potential risk or uncertainty over food/service quality. (Choi & Ok). In contrast, Bouton and Kirchsteiger (2001), elaborate on the theory that the existence of favourable rankings might affect consumers by increasing the market power of firms, leading to inflating flexible prices and therefore lowering customers’ solvency power. Bouton & Kirchsteiger, 2011) 1. 3 Peer vs. Expert Opinion Constraints Luca (2011) discusses the criticisms on the reliability of the information obtained from both expert and en masse review systems. Constraints such as the hedonic value of palatability, as a result of the diverse interpretations of quality perception in conjunction with the possibility of stakeholders altering submissions, that will cause biased results. Equally important, the subjectivity of information on peer reviewed evaluations, which normally reflect a non representative sample of custom ers. (Luca, 2011)Concerns in the case of expert reviews, for example the Michelin Guide, include the propensity to cover small segments of a market and the companies’ obligation to comply with mandatory disclosure laws. (Luca, 2011) Furthermore, Geraud et al. (2012) considerate that even expert reviews might be somehow biased; bolstering French cuisine. Notwithstanding, Johnson et al. (2005) attributed the hegemony Francoise, to the long tradition and paramount magnitude of haute cuisine culture in France. Existing literature demonstrates the significance of experts? opinion and social learning, to model consumer criteria.However the Michelin star system, especially in Europe, is to some extent overwhelmingly pondered as the most recognized and respected system for haute cuisine. (Johnson, Surlemont, Nicod, & Revaz, 2005) Page | 4 Generally, three etoile restaurants are led by highly creative and skilled chefs, emphasize on hiring high quality personnel, employ first quality ingredients and secure an exclusive wine list. Nonetheless, the absence of standardized requirements suggest an unaccountably vagueness on the rigorously selected and qualified inspectors’ accreditation criteria. (Johnson, Surlemont, Nicod, & Revaz, 2005)Comparatively, peer reviews also face system imperfections. Anderson and Magruder (2001) encounter that there is a 49% increase on restaurant customer flow as result of a ? star increase on a Yelp rating, yet this ratings are rounded to the nearest half star which might convey an imperfect signal of quality. 1. 4. Impact on Customer Behaviour Bickart and Schindler (2001) highlight the effect that online reviews originate upon customer decision-making process, as they play an influential role providing an interactive venue to share quality perception of a product or service.Conversely, Banerjee (1922) and Bikhchandani (1988) et al. (as cited in Geraud et al. 2012) Localized conformity, fashion and heard behaviour sequence caus es the purchase decision to be purely influenced by prejudice. Following preceding peers actions without contributing an own judgment leads to an information disequilibrium. (Gergaud, Storchmann, & Verardi, 2012) In accordance with Andersson and Mossberg (2004) who suggest that dining experience engrosses much more than good fooD. Gunasekeran (1992) (as cited in Upadhyay et al. 007) concurs â€Å"A restaurant takes the basic drive – the simplest act of eating – and transforms it into a civilized ritual involving hospitality, imagination, satisfaction, graciousness and warmth† (Upadhyay, Singh, & Thomas, 2007) The dining experience is sorted and evaluated in components proposed by empirical qualitative data from first round interviews (Kivela et al,1999). Primary factors empowering diners’ visit intention are the food and service quality, atmosphere, and relevant convenience factors.Restaurant reviews focus and delineate their appraisals in these determini ng attributes to assist customers’ selection criteria process. (Kivela, Reece, & Inbakaran, 1999) Page | 5 Empirical evidence has also proven the assumption of the impact that social learning, thanks to technological diversification, or professional assessment evaluations indeed contain relevant information. (Luca, 2011) Subsequently, growing literature papers link the relation between restaurant revenue boost as the result of favourable reviews. For instance, Geraud et al. 2012) finding on the comparison between the continuity on pricing level from 2004 to 2007 in NYC, considering a priori and posteriori scenarios of the inclusion of the Michelin Guide (2005) in the city, proved a substantial marginal price increase of approximately 37%. Furthermore, Luca (2011) concluded that a one – star increase in Yelp rating leads to a 5 – 9 % increase in revenue. Nonetheless, consumers’ quality perception scope through pricing signalling quality is diminishing as c onsumers’ knowledge widens. (Gergaud, Storchmann, & Verardi, 2012) . 5. Consumer Information Utilization Yet, it is unclear that the consumers’ responsiveness and utilization of the available information which is reliant on the accessibility, simplicity and trustworthiness of the actual valuable content. This hypothesis portrays the Bayesian inference which customers act upon (Luca, 2011). â€Å"Bayesian inference is a method of statistical inference that uses prior probability over some hypothesis to determine the likelihood of that hypothesis be true based on observed evidence† (Mans, 2010 , p. 1) Cai et al. 2008) conducted a randomized natural field experiment proving that assessing consumer options on menu items by providing a forged list of the top 5 selling dishes, reported an increase on demand of 13% to 20%. On the other hand, Kivela et al. (1999) explore the consumer behaviour model under the disconfirmation theory, which construes that customers compar e their own dining experience with some basis gained by direct or indirect previous experiences. This might be obtained from either social or expert assessments, and the assumption that a customer will weight various restaurant attributes based on expectancy theory.Furthermore, they studied customers’ perceptions of restaurant attributes based on demographic characteristics which shape selection criteria. (Kivela, Reece, & Inbakaran, 1999) Page | 6 Upadhyay et al. (2007) research analysis differs from the scheme that Keevela et al. (1999) suggest, since demographic variables have an insignificant impact on consumers’ preference and visit intentions. Conclusion analysis elaborates on the deciding attributes for restaurant selection, quality of food per se being the most imprescindible component.Secondly, service quality which plays a major role in customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction and return patronage accordingly. Location, ambience and other facilities are inclu ded on the deciding factors, but disregard Keevela’s et al. (1999) finding of ambience being the fundamental factor. (Upadhyay, Singh, & Thomas, 2007) Page | 7 Page | 8 3. Works Cited Anderson, M. , & Magruder, J. (2011). Learning from the Crowd: Regression Disconinuity Estimates of the Effects of an Online Review Database. The Economic Journal , 2 . Berridge, K. C. (2001 ). The Phsycology of Learning .In Reward Learning (pp. 234-242 ). Academic Press. Bouton, L. , & Kirchsteiger, G. (2011). Good Rankings are Bad – Why Reliable Rankings Can Hurt Consumers. Centre for Economic Policy Research, 1. Cai, H. , Chen, Y. , & Fang, H. (2008). Observational Learning: Evidence from a Randomized Natural. Yale University. Choi, J. W. , & Ok, C. (n. d. ). The Effect of Online Restaurant Reviews on Diners' Visit Intentions. Kansas State University . Davis, M. (2009 ). A Taste For New York; Restaurant Reviews, Food Discourse, and The Field of Gastronomy in America. New York Universit y , 4.Gergaud, O. , Storchmann, K. , & Verardi, V. (2012). Expert Opinion and Quality Perception of Consumers. Johnson, C. , Surlemont, B. , Nicod, P. , & Revaz, F. (2005). Behind the Stars . Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly , 170. Kim, S. , & Jae-Eun, C. (2010 ). Restaurant Selection Criteria: Understading the Roles of Restaurant Type and Customers' Sociodemographic Characteristics. Ohio State University . Kivela, J. , Reece, J. , & Inbakaran, R. (1999). Consumer Research in the Restaurant Enviornment: Part 2 Research design and analytical methods.International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management , 269 – 281. Luca, M. (2011). Reviews, Reputation and Revenue: The Case of Yelp. com. Harvard Business School. Mans, Y. (2010 ). Bayesian Inference. Machine Learninf Foundation , 1 . Michelin. (2011, November 29). Retrieved from www. michelin. com Talmadge, E. (2008 , August 29). USA Today. Retrieved from Tokyo Michelin Dispute: http://usatoday30. usa today. com Upadhyay, Y. , Singh, S. K. , & Thomas, G. (2007). Do People Differ in

Affects of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Hypertension risk factors include obesity, drinking too much alcohol, smoking, and family history. What is high blood pressure? High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the most common cardiovascular disease. Blood pressure refers to the force of blood pushing against artery walls as it courses through the body. Like air in a tire or water in a hose, blood fills arteries to a certain capacity. Just as too much air pressure can damage a tire, high blood pressure can threaten healthy arteries and lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and a major cause of heart attack. In the U.S. alone, more than 30% of American adults have high blood pressure.Symptoms of high blood pressure? One of the most dangerous aspects of High blood pressure is that you may not know that you have it. In fact, nearly one-third of people who have high blo od pressure don't know it. The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is through regular checkups. This is especially important if you have a close relative who has high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is extremely high, there may be certain symptoms to look out for, including headaches, fatigue or confusion, vision problems, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and irregular breathing.Hypertensive crisis is a term for hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency. These two conditions occur when blood pressure becomes very high, possibly causing organ damage. Hypertensive urgency occurs when blood pressure spikes blood pressure readings are 180/110 or higher, but there is no damage to the body's organs. Hypertensive emergency means blood pressure is so high that organ damage can occur. Blood pressure must be reduced immediately to prevent organ damage. This is done in an intensive care unit  of a hospital.High blood pressure is often called a â€Å"silent diseaseà ¢â‚¬  because you usually don't know you have it; there may be no outward symptoms or signs, so monitoring your blood pressure is really important. The only way to tell whether you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure measured with a blood pressure cuff. High blood pressure can cause a variety of medical problems from heart disease to stroke. It can also affect all systems of the body, including the digestive system.Some ways to control high blood pressure are to lose extra pounds and watch your waistline, exercise regularly, eat a healty diet, reduce sodium in your diet, limit the amount of alcohol you drink, avoid tobacco products, cut back on caffeine, reduce your stress, and to monitor your blood pressure at home and make regular doctor’s appointments.

Levels and Scales of Measurement in Statistics

Levels and Scales of Measurement in Statistics Level of measurement refers to the particular way that a variable is measured within scientific research, and  scale of measurement refers to the particular tool that a researcher uses to sort the data in an organized way, depending on the level of measurement that they have selected. Choosing the level and scale of measurement are  important parts of the research design process  because they are necessary for systematized measuring and categorizing of data, and thus for analyzing it and drawing conclusions from it as well that are considered valid. Within science, there are four commonly used levels and scales of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. These were developed by  psychologist Stanley Smith Stevens, who wrote about them in a 1946 article in  Science, titled On the Theory of Scales of Measurement. Each level of measurement and its corresponding scale is able to measure one or more of the four properties of measurement, which include identity, magnitude, equal intervals, and a minimum value of zero. There is a hierarchy of these different levels of measurement. With the lower levels of measurement (nominal, ordinal), assumptions are typically less restrictive and data analyses are less sensitive. At each level of the hierarchy, the current level includes all the qualities of the one below it in addition to something new. In general, it is desirable to have higher levels of measurement (interval or ratio) rather than a lower one. Let’s examine each level of measurement and its corresponding scale in order from lowest to highest in the hierarchy. The Nominal Level and Scale A nominal scale is used to name the categories within the variables you use in your research. This kind of scale provides no ranking or ordering of values; it simply provides a name for each category within a variable so that you can track them among your data. Which is to say, it satisfies the measurement of identity, and identity alone. Common examples within sociology include the nominal tracking of  sex (male or female),  race  (white, Black, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, etc.),  and class  (poor, working class, middle class, upper class). Of course, there are many other variables one can measure on a nominal scale. The nominal level of measurement is also known as a categorical measure  and is considered qualitative in nature. When doing statistical research and using this level of measurement, one would use the mode, or the most commonly occurring value, as a  measure of central tendency. The Ordinal Level and Scale Ordinal scales are used when a researcher wants to measure something that is not easily quantified, like feelings or opinions. Within such a scale the different values for a variable are progressively ordered, which is what makes the scale useful and informative. It satisfies both the properties of identity and of magnitude. However, it is important to note that as such a scale is not quantifiable- the precise differences between the variable categories are unknowable. Within sociology, ordinal scales are commonly used to measure peoples views and opinions on social issues,  like racism  and sexism, or how important certain issues are to them in the context of a political election. For example, if a researcher wants to measure the extent to which a population believes that racism is a problem, they could ask a question like How big a problem is racism in our society today? and provide the following response options: its a big problem, it is somewhat a problem, it is a small problem, and racism is not a problem. When using this level and scale of measurement, it is the median which denotes central tendency. The Interval Level and Scale Unlike nominal and ordinal scales, an interval scale is a numeric one that allows for ordering of variables  and provides a precise, quantifiable understanding of the differences between them (the intervals between them). This means that it satisfies the three properties of identity, magnitude,  and  equal intervals. Age is a common variable that sociologists track using an interval scale, like 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. One can also turn non-interval, ordered variable categories into an interval scale to aid  statistical analysis. For example,  it is common to measure income as a range, like $0-$9,999; $10,000-$19,999; $20,000-$29,000, and so on. These ranges can be turned into intervals that reflect the increasing level of income, by using 1 to signal the lowest category, 2 the next, then 3, etc. Interval scales are especially useful because they not only allow for measuring the frequency and percentage of variable categories within our data, they also allow us to calculate the  mean, in addition to the median, mode. Importantly, with the interval level of measurement, one can also calculate  the standard deviation. The Ratio Level and Scale The ratio scale of measurement is nearly the same as the interval scale, however, it differs in that it has an absolute value of zero, and so it is the only scale that satisfies all four properties of measurement. A sociologist would use a ratio scale to measure actual earned income in a given year, not divided into categorical ranges, but ranging from $0 upward. Anything that can be measured from absolute zero can be measured with a ratio scale, like for example the number of children a person has, the  number of elections a person has voted in, or the  number of friends who are of a race different from the respondent. One can run all the statistical operations as can be done with the interval scale, and even more with the ratio scale. In fact, it is so called because one can create ratios and fractions from the data when one uses a ratio level of measurement and scale. Updated  by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.

Malcom X and Martin Luther King essays

Malcom X and Martin Luther King essays During the twentieth century Black people faced a lot of discrimination from the whites and found it very difficult to achieve civil rights. Black people were at one point denied of voting. In order for blacks to achieve civil rights they needed a leader to follow. Many black leaders did rise for the fight for civil rights, some had some ways of thinking some had others. Two of the most powerful and influential leaders of the twentieth century had to Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. These two leaders had different approaches, and different views towards white people, but fought for the same thing. Malcolm X was Born Malcolm Little in 1925 in Omaha, Malcolm was six years old, when his father was murdered by the Black Legion, a group of white racists belonging to the KKK. He changed his name to Malcolm X while in prison. He was serving ten years because of a robbery. Also while in prison he became a follower of Elijah Muhammad. Muhammad was the leader of an group called the Nation of Islam. During the 1950's, Malcolm became the spokesman for the Nation. Malcolm became a powerful speaker in the movement. As King captured the spirit of the Southern Black, Malcolm became the messiah of the ghettos of Harlem, Chicago, Detroit, and Los Angeles. Originally a small group, the Nation grew rapidly under Malcolm's leadership. He not only spoke the words of the Koran and his spiritual adviser, Elijah Muhammad, but he also lived it to its fullest. As the crowds grew to hear him speak, so did the disapproval to his rising popularity. Malcolm taught a message of self help and personal responsibility. This is the message from the Nation of Islam. Like the Nation, he also spoke of a separate nation for Blacks only, which was also the view of Marcus Garvey, a leader that Malcolm followed, and also the view that Black is beautiful. .The beginning of Malcolm's problems with the Nation of Islam was whether or not to participate in the civil rights march on...

The Easy Trick to Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit

The Easy Trick to Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In every science class, you must know how to use and interpret the Celsius temperature scale. But this can be difficult for students who are used to using Fahrenheit instead. How do you convert Celsius to Fahrenheit? What about Fahrenheit to Celsius? We answer these questions below, giving you the mathematical formulas for converting between these two temperature units, a handy conversion chart, and a quick conversion trick you can use without having to grab a calculator. Celsius vs Fahrenheit: Key Differences Before we explain how to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (and Fahrenheit to Celsius), let’s review the main differences between the two temperature scales. Celsius (written as  °C and also called Centigrade) is the most common temperature scale in the world, used by all but five countries. It’s part of the International System of Units (SI), or what you might know as the metric system, which is typically used in science classes (think centimeters, meters, kilograms, milliliters, etc.) and in science as a whole. By contrast, Fahrenheit (written as  °F) is only used officially by five countries in the world: United States Belize Cayman Islands Palau Bahamas Fahrenheit is not part of the metric system; rather, it’s part of the Imperial system, which includes forms of measurements such as inches, feet, pounds, gallons, etc. Moreover, unlike Celsius, it is not typically used in science. Celsius to Fahrenheit Formula Unfortunately, converting from Celsius to Fahrenheit isn’t easy to do quickly or in your head. Here are the formulas used to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit and Fahrenheit to Celsius. These formulas will give you the exact conversion from one unit of temperature to the other: Celsius to Fahrenheit Formula: ( °C * 1.8) + 32 =  °F Fahrenheit to Celsius Formula: ( °F - 32) / 1.8 =  °C For example, say the temperature outside is 18  °C and you want to know what this would equal in Fahrenheit. Here’s how your equation would look once you plug in 18 for  °C: (18 * 1.8) + 32(32.4) + 32=64.4  °F Here’s another example if you want to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius: say you’re feeling ill and your body temperature is 101.3  °F. To find out what this equals in Celsius, simply plug 101.3 into the  °F part in the second equation written above: (101.3 - 32) / 1.8 (69.3) / 1.8=38.5  °C As you can see, these conversions aren’t particularly hard to carry out, but they do take some time and aren’t the easiest to do without a calculator on hand. Luckily, there’s a shortcut. By memorizing some of the most common temperatures that come up in daily life, you should have no problem being able to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit and vice versa. We’ll take a look at how to do this next. It's gettin' hot in here. Celsius to Fahrenheit Conversion Chart Below is a conversion chart listing some of the most commonly used temperatures in everyday life when converting from Celsius to Fahrenheit. Memorize these and you’re sure to have an easier time converting from Celsius to Fahrenheit (and vice versa) fast. Note: I’ve bolded all temperatures that don’t apply to weather but are still important to know, especially for science class. Temperature in Celsius ( °C) Temperature in Fahrenheit ( °F) Boiling Point of Water 100 212 Extremely Hot Day 40 104 Body Temperature 37 98.6 Hot Day 30 86 Room Temperature 20 68 Chilly Day 10 50 Freezing Point of Water 0 32 Very Cold Day -10 14 Extremely Cold Day -20 -4 Parity* -40 -40 Source: NIST.gov *The point at which the two temperature units are equivalent (-40  °C = -40  °F). As you can see from this chart, Fahrenheit temperatures are typically a lot higher than their equivalent Celsius temperatures are. Also, notice how the difference between Celsius and Fahrenheit starts to get smaller the lower you go in temperature- until, that is, they're the exact same! As the chart indicates, -40  °C is the same temperature as -40  °F. This point is called parity, meaning the two scales use the same value to represent the same temperature. Unfortunately (or fortunately, since this is pretty cold!), you likely won’t come across this temperature in your daily life. Note that parity only happens at -40 °. The lower you go after parity (i.e., the further you go into the negatives), the bigger the difference starts to become again between Celsius and Fahrenheit. How to Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit: Quick Trick If you find yourself needing to quickly convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, here is a simple trick you can use: multiply the temperature in degrees Celsius by 2, and then add 30 to get the (estimated) temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. This rule of thumb is really useful and also pretty accurate for most weather-related temperatures. For example, if the temperature outside is 15  °C, this would come out to around 60  °F: (15 * 2) + 30(30) + 30= 60  °F (In reality, 15  °C is equivalent to 59  °F- that’s pretty close!) Of course, expect the actual temperature to be a few degrees off, but for the most part, this is a reliable and easy way to convert temperatures in your head fast. If you want to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, do the opposite: subtract 30 from the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, and then divide by 2 to get the temperature in degrees Celsius. For example, if the temperature outside is 84  °F, this would be roughly equal to 27  °C: (84 - 30) / 254 / 2= 27  °C (In reality, 84  °F is equivalent to 28.89  °C- again, that’s a pretty close estimate!). What’s Next? Are you studying clouds in your science class? Get help identifying the different types of clouds with our expert guide. Now that you know how to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, the next question to answer is what kinds of spiders live in what sorts of climates? Learn more with our articles about camel spider myths and reasons not to fear the garden spider. Want even more practice with conversions? (Who wouldn't?) Learn how many cups 4 quarts is here. Working on a research paper but aren't sure where to start? Then check out our guide, where we've collected tons of high-quality research topics you can use for free. Need help with English class- specifically with identifying literary devices in texts you read? Then you'll definitely want to take a look at our comprehensive explanation of the most important literary devices and how they're used. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Nursing and the Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nursing and the Media - Essay Example The media can either positively or negatively influence the public image of nursing depending on the stories, news, or advertisements on nursing broadcasted to the public. The media can positively impact on the public image of nursing through broadcasting shows/films of nurses working to save victims of natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes and news stories relating to nurses importance to a safer public positively affected nursing and aided in augmenting respect for nurses (Donelan et al., 2008). However, news. Films, or advertisements on nurse’s strikes and nurses not taking their duty well in terms of caring for the patients and participating in unethical behavior endangering the lives of the patient's results in a negative public image of nurses. News relating to nurse shortage and the general outlook on nursing as a career does not positively or negatively impact on the public image of nurses (Donelan et al., 2008). Avenues of educating the general public include nurses writing articles in newspapers aimed at informing the public regarding nursing roles and scope and changing health care system. Other avenues include posting and circulation of nursing accomplishments, making announcements in dailies, nurses speaking to civic and community groups on nursing roles and responsibilities. Other avenues are posting online in blogs and on social media sites and contacting media outlets and program developers on the need to portray nursing in a positive manner and in the true light of nursing roles and scope.

International Student Issues and Law of Higher Education Research Paper

International Student Issues and Law of Higher Education - Research Paper Example This research highlights that most of the educational institutes have taken special steps to recruit international students by offering them new trips, more staff support and new academic programs. The above mentioned initiatives and steps in the education sector may improve the attendance of the international students, but these steps may not enhance retention of all the international students in colleges or universities.From this paper it is clear that there are several legal issues that international students have been facing in the world. Most of the international students experience problems with the understandings of college rules and regulations initially. New students arriving from different countries need to know essential information after they reach their institutions. The English language requirements, on and off campus employment, immigration policies regarding part time and full time coursework, college terminologies such as assignments, grade, credit etc. Several stude nts are even not aware about the pre-requisite coursework and the procedure for transfer of documents. It has been observed the students belonging from the Asian countries and Middle East suffers due to lack of language proficiency. Since Asian universities and colleges assess students based on examinations wherein they are graded on percentage against their submission instead of letter grade or GPA, students face difficulties in understanding their results.

Consumer Psychology and Buying Behaviour Assignment

Consumer Psychology and Buying Behaviour - Assignment Example The market must be dominated by the element of value for products and services. Most potential consumers tend to buy products or services sold at low prices. Loyalty denotes the likeliness of some consumers to stick to the same products. This serves as the key effect and determinism in the market. Psychology entails how and in what ways aspects of the actual products and /or services in the market influences people to make their choices, by possibly buying a product that is different from the previous one. Sociology entails the manner in which one person‘s buying is influenced by that of others. In essence, there is the tendency of people willing to buy the same brands as others leading to a lock in one product that dominates the market without even considering the fact that the competitors have more or less identical ‘qualities’ that may include price. Marketing is the selling of products and services to potential clients in a given environment at a given time. It basically entails the potential clients that are available and how to handle them.  The market must be dominated by the element of value for products and services. Most potential consumers tend to buy products or services sold at low prices. The recent study on the consumers’ behavior on respond can help companies determine the best prices to set for their products. The notion that cheap products are of low quality is one of the factors in which companies can set prices for their products.  

Bolsa Chica Wetlands Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Bolsa Chica Wetlands - Essay Example It is assumed that the wetlands of Bolsa Chica provide shelter to a number of endangered species of flora and fauna. Recently the nature reserve of Bolsa China is also being used as a tourist-spot for nature-lovers. Since it is an important stop on the Pacific flyway of migratory birds, outbound travelers often grab the opportunity to come into the close contact of natural sceneries of the marshlands of Bolsa Chica. Apart from Bolsa Chica’s ecological importance, it has become a popular tourist spot, which provides the nature-lovers with a significant number of recreation activities such surf fishing for â€Å"perch, corbina, croaker, cabezon and sand shark†, bare-handed fishing for â€Å"California grunion, a species that only spawns on sandy southern California beaches†, bird-watching, etc. To the north and the South of Bolsa Chica Nature Reserve, there are the Warner Avenue and Seapoint Avenue, whereas there are residential areas on along border. Moreover, one can enjoy both the natural sceneries of Bolsa Chica and the oceanic beauty along the Pacific Coast Highway on the western border of Bolsa Chica. Though docent-led tour is available on the first, the second and the third Saturdays of each month, one can take a tour personal tour in these areas at any time of the year. The tours on the first Saturday and the third Saturday of each month are arranged by the â€Å"Amigos de Bolsa Chica† and the â€Å"Bolsa Chica Land Trust† from the South parking lots. Inbound nature-lovers can get a substantial knowledge about the areas’ weather, climate and geography from the Interpretive Center at Warner Ave. Bolsa Chica is endowed with some unique geographical features because of its more or less direct connection to the sea along its southern border. When we visited the area, the weather was somewhat cloudy. Though we guessed that it might rain, it did not happened finally. Before we reached there, we researched the weather st atus of Bolsa Chica by consulting the Bolsa Weather pages online. We learnt that the Bolsa Chica area has a typical weather which is applicable to any coastal area along the Tropic of Cancer. â€Å"A warm, dry Mediterranean climate,†, as it is said in Bolsa Chica page on Weather.com, â€Å"prevails over Southern California - inland it is hot in the summer, mild in the winter† (â€Å"Profile for Bolsa† pars. 3). August in Huntington is the warmest month, when the average temperature fluctuates between 900 F and 1050 F. In December, which is the coolest month, the average temperature oscillates from 200 F to 300 F. During the summer, frequent fogs prevail over the region and â€Å"most of the precipitation comes as rain† during the winter in December (â€Å"Profile for Bolsa† pars. 5). Since we visited Bolsa Chica at the end of July, the weather on our visiting day was neither foggy and nor rainy. Since Bolsa Chica stands very close to the coast of t he Pacific, the local climate remains almost moderate without much demarcation between the summer and the winters. Such moderate weather makes Bolsa Chica’s weather and climate different from the overall climatic pattern of California. Bolsa Chica, having all the characteristics of a wetland, is a rich habitat of a wide range of flora and fauna. A wetland is, indeed, a natural home of different species of birds, animals and plants. The â€Å"

Shortfalls and Benefits of Vegetarian Diet Essay - 1

Shortfalls and Benefits of Vegetarian Diet - Essay Example In this light, differences are bound to occur, thus, the need for this paper to compare and analyze the differences between the movie and the book. In the book, Bruno’s father is portrayed as a man with a strong personality and character with little to compromise in order to fulfill Nazi ambition. This is seen with his promotion to the position of a commandant, which prompted that he and his family migrate to Auschwitz for work purposes. In this place, he is a senior officer in the Nazi movement who is in charge of the detention camp where the Jews, enemies of the Germans based on the German conception, were tortured and exterminated by burning. However, the film portrays Bruno’s father as a different character altogether in light of his concerns and attitudes towards the paper. This is bearing in mind that the film focuses on a number of aspects aimed at bringing him out as a better man than the book does. In this case, Bruno’s father is featured as a family man and parent whose values are well laid when he is opposed to the concept of raising his two children close to the detention center. This is portrayed with the constant arguments that arise between him and his wife where he argues the reason that the children have to grow is because; he is there for work purposes. ... This is also shown in her arguments with her husband on how to raise their children in such an environment near the detention camp. This is especially considering how naive, impressionable, and perceptive the two youngsters are, and for this reason, she suggests that they move back to Berlin for the sake of raising their two children. On the other hand, the movie portrays her as being the emotional parent, who shares in the concerns for her children and those of the Jews in the concentration camps. This is seen with the sympathy she shows towards the Jews in the concentration camps and conditions, and the plight that they have to face. This is as opposed to her role in the book where the concern lies only in children and not the Jews. For this reason, the film differs from the book in that the film draws the emotion and reaction of the audience, in relation to the ethics of that which the Germans do to the Jews in the concentration camps. These appeals to the audience by making it ap pear as a disgusting deed and the level of wrongdoing questioning the moral and social thinking of the Germans. The other difference featured between the books and the film is in the details behind the facts found in the book and those found in the film. In relation to this, the book portrays the age of the two children, Shmuel and Bruno, as being aged nine years, while, the film differs. The film labels the two youngsters as being at the eight years, which is a difference of one year, which is uncalled for or whose role cannot be perceived to influence the two entities. The only difference might only be in the portrayal may be in the concept of naivety and innocence, which is more pronounced in the film than the book. This is shown by the fact that they cannot discern

Bolsa Chica Wetlands Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Bolsa Chica Wetlands - Essay Example It is assumed that the wetlands of Bolsa Chica provide shelter to a number of endangered species of flora and fauna. Recently the nature reserve of Bolsa China is also being used as a tourist-spot for nature-lovers. Since it is an important stop on the Pacific flyway of migratory birds, outbound travelers often grab the opportunity to come into the close contact of natural sceneries of the marshlands of Bolsa Chica. Apart from Bolsa Chica’s ecological importance, it has become a popular tourist spot, which provides the nature-lovers with a significant number of recreation activities such surf fishing for â€Å"perch, corbina, croaker, cabezon and sand shark†, bare-handed fishing for â€Å"California grunion, a species that only spawns on sandy southern California beaches†, bird-watching, etc. To the north and the South of Bolsa Chica Nature Reserve, there are the Warner Avenue and Seapoint Avenue, whereas there are residential areas on along border. Moreover, one can enjoy both the natural sceneries of Bolsa Chica and the oceanic beauty along the Pacific Coast Highway on the western border of Bolsa Chica. Though docent-led tour is available on the first, the second and the third Saturdays of each month, one can take a tour personal tour in these areas at any time of the year. The tours on the first Saturday and the third Saturday of each month are arranged by the â€Å"Amigos de Bolsa Chica† and the â€Å"Bolsa Chica Land Trust† from the South parking lots. Inbound nature-lovers can get a substantial knowledge about the areas’ weather, climate and geography from the Interpretive Center at Warner Ave. Bolsa Chica is endowed with some unique geographical features because of its more or less direct connection to the sea along its southern border. When we visited the area, the weather was somewhat cloudy. Though we guessed that it might rain, it did not happened finally. Before we reached there, we researched the weather st atus of Bolsa Chica by consulting the Bolsa Weather pages online. We learnt that the Bolsa Chica area has a typical weather which is applicable to any coastal area along the Tropic of Cancer. â€Å"A warm, dry Mediterranean climate,†, as it is said in Bolsa Chica page on Weather.com, â€Å"prevails over Southern California - inland it is hot in the summer, mild in the winter† (â€Å"Profile for Bolsa† pars. 3). August in Huntington is the warmest month, when the average temperature fluctuates between 900 F and 1050 F. In December, which is the coolest month, the average temperature oscillates from 200 F to 300 F. During the summer, frequent fogs prevail over the region and â€Å"most of the precipitation comes as rain† during the winter in December (â€Å"Profile for Bolsa† pars. 5). Since we visited Bolsa Chica at the end of July, the weather on our visiting day was neither foggy and nor rainy. Since Bolsa Chica stands very close to the coast of t he Pacific, the local climate remains almost moderate without much demarcation between the summer and the winters. Such moderate weather makes Bolsa Chica’s weather and climate different from the overall climatic pattern of California. Bolsa Chica, having all the characteristics of a wetland, is a rich habitat of a wide range of flora and fauna. A wetland is, indeed, a natural home of different species of birds, animals and plants. The â€Å"

Scientific misconduct Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Scientific misconduct - Essay Example on the other hand, refers to manipulating research equipment, materials, or processes or omitting (changing) results or data such that the study is not correctly represented in the records. Plagiarism is the stealing of another individual’s processes, ideas, words or results without giving proper credit. Scientific misconduct has dire consequences (Broad & Wade, 1982). It can ruin careers of researchers who knowingly write publications based on false research. If this is done by clinical researchers, some patients may suffer due to the wrong information on different types of treatment. A proper example is an article on fraud by Lancet published in Wakefield et al. (1999) (Koocher & Keith 2010). It linked a vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella to autism. This caused a massive drop in vaccinations that could have resulted in several deaths, in children who were not protected. Falsification also does delay scientific progress especially when researchers misuse research funds, as well as waste time, following false research. A case in point is false claims by physicist Jan Hendrik Schon that he had built high performance plastic transistors, plus the world’s organic laser. This resulted in several laboratories wasting resources and years trying to duplicate his findings (Koocher & Keith 2010). Scientific misconduct ruins the image of the field in which the falsified research is carried out. It diminishes faith in science. Unfortunately, concrete information on the escalating cases of fabrication or falsifying of research in science is not available. The only estimate of the rise in research misconduct is a survey by Koocher & Keith (2010). According to the findings, approximately 1.5% of all research done annually is false. Out of the 155,000 researchers supplied by the National Institution of Health (NIH) funding, there were 2,335 incidents of poss ible misconduct yearly, sixty percent of them involving falsification or fabrication of data. It is worth

The Wonderful World of Disney Essay Example for Free

The Wonderful World of Disney Essay There are many great places to go on vacation, but Disneyworld is one of the greatest places and vacation spots there will ever be. At first, vacationers fly into Orlando. Orlando is one of the busiest tourist locations in Florida, perhaps even busier than the infamous Miami beaches. This is because Orlando hosts many locations that cater to all kinds of people, whether they are children, men, women, adults, senior citizens, or tourists. Orlando has many theme parks, but Disneyworld has four parks in it. It has Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. And this is the reason why Disneyworld is the best place for vacation. Although, many people tend to think that Disneyworld is a place for children, this cannot be further from the truth. Even though Disneyworld is designed for children and families, many adults can have a fun time in there. Disneyworld is one of the largest and most frequently visited amusement parks in the world. The Disneyworld in Orlando is a Magical Kingdom, and this is the perfect name for the place. Once tourists enter Disneyworld, they enter into a magic kingdom. It is of no surprise that many people have found Disneyworld to be extremely entertaining. The Magic Kingdom is divided into many areas, and one of the most prominent, the area where visitors enter as soon as they arrive is the Main Street, USA at Magic Kingdom. This street is made up of various architectural styles. The buildings on Main Street are built in such a way that they seem to be bigger than they actually are; the second story is smaller than the first, and the third smaller than the second is, giving the buildings a larger-than-life image. At the end of the Main Street is Cinderellas Castle, which is the trademark of the Magic Kingdom. The castles main tiles are made of real gold, and there is over one million pieces of glass in over 500 colors. Tourists really have to see it to appreciate its magical realm. The rest of the area is divided into various lands, such as the Adventure Land, and Frontier Land. Adventure Land is a paradise for children and a treat for the adults. A make-belief Caribbean town square has also been built into this area to give a tropical feel to the area. This area hosts rides such as the Pirates of the Caribbean, Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, and the Jungle Cruise. Frontierland has been built in reminiscent of the Wild West and the Rivers of America. This place has the looks of Rocky Mountains and railroads as it hosts rides such as the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, and Tom Sawyer Island. These are only a few of the wonders of the Magic Kingdom. Then there is the Epcot theme park at Disneyworld. In this part of Disneyworld there are restaurants that represent the culture and cuisine of eleven countries. They have Soarin’, and Test Track which are some of the best rides at Epcot. The one big thing that makes the Epcot center so amazing is the Spaceship Earth, looking like a giant golf ball rising high above the horizon. It welcomes tourists as they walk through the Parks main entrance. The Spaceship Earth ride focuses on the future world and takes vacationers from the dawn of time up to the 21st century cyber age. Once you are done at Spaceship Earth, then tourists can go ride Soarin†. The Soarin’ ride is a virtual ride that takes vacationers on a scenic trip across California. Vacationers sit in a row of chairs that simulate hang gliding. It starts out by fling over the Golden Gate Bridge, LA, Malibu and many more places. Then there is the Test Track roller coaster. This roller coaster simulates the process of a real car being built and the process of it being tested. First, the car is tested for turning and braking, and it takes very sharp turns. Then it goes to the weather test to see if the car can withstand heat and cold. The ride goes through a tunnel which is cold, then goes through a tunnel of high temperature. The last part is when the car goes out on track to do a lap at 60 mph. Finally, there is the World Showcase part of the park where tour ists can see many different cultures in one place. There are many different tents where they have samples of foods, shops and live performers. As tourists walk around the lake the will pass 11 tents and pavilions in which tourists smell food from all over the world. Also each at each place tourists can get replica souvenirs for each country. The atmosphere of the area makes vacationers feel like they are really there, from Canada all the way to China In this park; it is where ideas become reality. The Animal Kingdom is split up in to seven different parts of the park. All these parts of the park have to do with different animals and where the animal’s live. One of the best rides at the Animal Kingdom is the Kilimanjaro Safari Expedition. It is where they have over twenty different animals in their natural habitat. They have animals from antelopes to flamingos to zebras. There is a big open bus that travels around the area that allows people to get a closer look at the animals. Sometimes people get lucky, and the animals will c ome up to the bus. Another great ride in the park is Expedition Everest. It is a roller coaster that goes through the track forwards. Then a yeti pops, out and the roller coaster does the whole track again but backwards to get away from the yeti. It is a lot of fun but is also scary at the same time. Another part of the Animal kingdom is the tree of life. It is a massive 150 feet tall and fifty feet wide. On this tree they have carved over 325 animals. Which is really cool is they hid a carving of Mickey Mouse somewhere on the tree. The inner part of the tree is where they have the Bugs life show. This park helps lead the way for animal care, education and research. Not everything at Disneyworld is fun and games. The next park at Disneyworld is Hollywood studios. This park offers behind-the-scenes glimpses of Hollywood-style action with live shows, thrilling attractions, backstage tours and special events that only happen in this Disney Park dedicated to entertainment. There are many rides and great attractions at this park. One of the two most popular rides is the Rock â€Å"n† Roller coaster. The ride is synced up with a song by Aerosmith made specifically for this ride. Also the â€Å"limo† vacationers ride in has over 100 speakers and twenty subwoofers in it to create the atmosphere of being at one of their shows. The start of the ride goes from 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds and takes tourists on a ride through LA to get to a show. The other great ride at Hollywood studios is Toy Story Mania. It is a midway-style game that is virtual reality. The participant’s starts out by throwing darts at balloons. Then it goes to ring toss around the little green aliens from Toy Story. After that the participants start throwing eggs at targets, and finally they end up with throwing baseballs at plates. While doing all these fun things, some of the characters will meet up with the participants and help throughout the game. Another fun ride at H ollywood studios is the Tower of Terror. The ride is based on the 1939 disappearance of five people at the Hollywood Hotel while they were riding the elevator. In this ride, the elevator up and down as a drop ride, as if the elevator was malfunctioning. The lights start to flash and make weird noises to make it sound like the riders crossed over into the twilight zone. Riders will never know if when they will cross over into the Twilight Zone. Out of all the great places to go on vacation, these are 4 reasons why Disneyworld is the best place to go. At the Magic Kingdom they have rides for every one of all ages. In Epcot, the park focuses on more technological aspects of Disneyworld. On the other hand, the Animal Kingdom Park teaches people about the wilderness and the environment. Finally, Hollywood Studios park shows tourists a behind the scenes of how Disney movies are made. Now tourists know all about Disneyworld, and why they should go there.

Trump’s Foreign Policy Agenda on North Korea

Trump’s Foreign Policy Agenda on North Korea Which administration cabinet officer supported foreign policy on North Korea ? Secretary of Defense James Mattis has supported The president in negotiations with North Korea. Mattis has been against military action against North Korea. However, Mattis is very aware of the danger that North Korea is posing to the United States. This threat has been steadily growing and Secretary of Defense Mattis believes that â€Å"North Korea has accelerated the threat that it poses to its neighbors and the world through its illegal and unnecessary missile and nuclear weapons programs.[6]† Mattis has maintained alliances and attended meetings with leaders and representatives of nations that are allies of the US in order to provide pressure from all sides in order to deter and control North Korea’s nuclear proliferation. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has also been closely involved in the creation of foreign policy on North Korea. Tillerson’s mentality towards North Korea is very similar to that of Secretary of Defense Mattis. Tillerson believes that nego tiations towards peace â€Å"can only be achieved by denuclearizing, giving up their weapons of mass destruction.[7]† Both cabinet members have played key roles in the Trump administration on the topic of North Korean foreign policy. Was the Congress heavily involved? Congress has not been heavily involved in North Korean foreign policy. Under President Obama’s term, Congress had passed sanctions. But under President Trump’s term, Congress has not been involved with foreign policy on North Korea. It has been handled so far only by the president in the form of executive orders, along with the council of his cabinet members, mainly Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Which interest groups were involved? The two big interest groups in this situation are Russia and China. Both countries have supplied aid to North Korea in order to keep it in power, but for different reasons. China has supported North Korea for so long in order to keep a buffer zone between them and South Korea, a United States ally. China does not want the US at their border and will keep supporting North Korea as long as the trade-off of goods for this buffer zone is worth it. Russia has also been supplying North Korea with resources for many years, but the reason it is doing so is that it wants to reassert itself as a global power. Russia wants to extend its influence outside of Europe and into the Asian Pacific. Both nations seek to gain something from the survival and future growth of North Korea as a key player in the region. South Korea is the biggest interest group, with North Korea being right above them. If North Korea launched an attack, South Korea would be the first and most likely target of said attack. T hey will be the first affected by any change in North Korea, for better or worse. The United States also has interests in the region. South Korea has US military bases and is a key ally in the region. If North Korea attacked the south, it would destabilize the region and pose an immediate threat to US interests. If North Korea stopped its production of nuclear weapons and stopped performing tests, it would lower tensions and allow the US to comfortably remain in the region in order to ensure democratic control of the region. The History of North Korean policy The United States policy on North Korea begins with the Korean war. This war began in June 1950 and came to an end in July 1953. This war came to fruition when North Korean leader Kim il-Sung successfully convinced Soviet leader Joseph Stalin that the time had come to launch an invasion of South Korea. On June 25, 1950, the north had begun an attack by striking across the 38th parallel into the south. In response to this attack, President Truman decided not to seek a declaration of war from Congress, believing that it would be an overreaction. Immediate action was needed and Truman decided to go directly to the United Nations. He requested sanctions against North Korea, and â€Å"Under U.S. guidance, the UN called for the invasion to halt (June 25), then for the UN member states to provide military assistance to the ROK (June 27). [1]† However, this did not stop the fighting and did not keep the North from killing those who protested against them. Once the United States began to back South Korea with troops, they managed to push them back past the 38th parallel until China began to send reinforcements. Soon, a stalemate was reached at the 38th parallel. In July 1953, an armistice was reached but the war was not declared officially over. Future sanctions against North Korea first came from the United Nations. These sanctions began after North Korea displayed its capacity for the creation of nuclear weaponry with its first nuclear test in 2006. The first sanctions came from resolution 1718, â€Å"which prevents a range of goods from entering or leaving the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and imposes an asset freeze and travel ban on persons related to the nuclear-weapon programme.[2]† The latest sanctions to come from the UN were passed on September 11, 2017, with resolution 2375. These sanctions limited North Koreas exports â€Å"including a ban on the sale of natural gas liquids to the North-East Asian nation, and on its textile expo rts — while also prohibiting Member States from providing work authorizations to its nationals.[3]† However, North Korea has continually ignored these sanctions and continued to have a nuclear weapons program. The United States has also enacted sanctions against North Korea, beginning in 2016 with President Obama. The proposed sanctions passed both the house and senate. The sanctions â€Å"Impose[d] mandatory sanctions for entities that are involved in North Korea’s mineral or metal trade, which contribute to a large component of the country’s foreign export earnings.[4]† The most recent sanctions have come from President Trump on September 25, 2017, which were enacted as executive orders. The executive order â€Å"expanded his controversial travel ban to include people from North Korea, Venezuela and Chad, citing security concerns.[5]† However, despite these actions, North Korea has not been deterred from continuing its developments of Nucle ar weapons. Evaluation of the foreign policy on North Korea The United States foreign policy on North Korea has been focused on sanctions that will put a strain on both their economy and the progression of their nuclear program. These sanctions have limited both their imports and exports so that they may not purchase resources nor make money by selling the goods that they do have, such as natural gas. These sanctions have been ineffective, no matter how restrictive they have been, due to their allies supplying them with the resources that they need to maintain power. Further sanctions will prove to be fruitless if this issue is not solved, and it may be best to find another way to limit their production of nuclear arms. However, this will not be possible if North Korea is pushed to the point where it will attack. In the past few months, the president has been threatening military action towards North Korea if they do not stop testing ICBMs. President Trump has posted a tweet on the matter, stating that â€Å"Our country has been unsuccessful ly dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didnt work![8]† The growing threat of North Korea is a result of its recent successful missile tests. This success paired with the ineffectiveness of past sanctions is pushing The United States towards considering a preemptive strike on North Korea, especially if negotiations break down further. Conclusions   Military action is not needed in order to resolve the threat that North Korea is posing on the United States and its allies. Sanctions have proved to be ineffective towards deterring them from continuing a nuclear weapons program, but perhaps a different course of action could be taken to progress these talks. It would be best to refrain from escalating the situation by remaining quiet and not speak about military action, which may be what they want because that would allow them to justify the existence of their program. A neutral party may be necessary to provide a medium for communications between the United States and North Korea. The two leaders would not be able to speak and negotiate publicly due to the ramifications of doing so. North Korea would begin to lose support from their allies, Russia and China. The United States also could not hold public negotiations due to their classification of North Korea as a sponsor of terrorism. Negotiating with North Korea may give the impression that the US will negotiate with terrorists. This part of the problem can be solved by declassifying them as a sponsor of terror. This would ease tensions slightly and may even open a small path for diplomacy. A party that is both familiar with and impartial towards the United States and North Korea would ease the progression of diplomacy. This would be the way to de-escalate the situation in North Korea and avoid military action that would lead to a second Korean war, which is what forced these tensions to be created in the first place. Works Cited Millett, Allan R. Korean War. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, inc, 17 July 2017. Accessed 2 Dec. 2017.SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS NUCLEAR TEST BY DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA, UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING RESOLUTION 1718 (2006). United Nations, United Nations, 14 Oct. 2006, www.un.org/press/en/2006/sc8853.doc.htm. Accessed 2 Dec. 2017.Security Council Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Including Bans on Natural Gas Sales, Work Authorization for Its Nationals. United Nations, United Nations, 11 Sept. 2017, www.un.org/press/en/2017/sc12983.doc.htm. Accessed 2 Dec. 2017.Fifield, Anna. Punishing North Korea: A rundown on current sanctions. The Washington Post, The Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2016. Accessed 4 Dec. 2017.US expands travel ban to include N Korea. BBC, BBC, 25 Sept. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41382585. Accessed 4 Dec. 2017Manchester, Julia. Mattis: North Korea threat has ‘accelerated’. The Hill, The Hill, 28 Oct. 2017. Accessed 5 Dec. 2017Sanger, David E. Rex Tillerson Rejects Talks With North Korea on Nuclear Program. The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 Mar. 2017. Accessed 6 Dec. 2017.Trump, Donald J. (@realDonaldTrump) â€Å"Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didnt work!† 9 Oct. 2017, 3:50 AM, Tweet

Pains :: essays research papers

While I have yet to experience the thrills of fatherhood, I would be astounded to learn that the author was not a father himself. When reading this poem, I actually felt the compassion, and love, for which the author was feeling towards his daughter. In my opinion, there are actually two stories being told within this poem. The first simply being a narrative of what the author is experiencing at a certain moment of time, and the second is that of an underlying theme of love and pride that a father feels towards his daughter. The poem begins with the father listening to his daughter typing a story on her typewriter. The authors description of her typing as, â€Å"Like a chain hauled over a gunwale†, gives the reader the feeling that she is really into her work and typing with all of her might. It is clear that the daughter takes her writing seriously. The father then comments on his young daughter’s struggle through life. He states, â€Å"Of her life is a great cargo, and some of it is heavy†. While he doesn’t give details of the hardships she has incurred, it is clear that she has had some sorrow in her life. The father’s enjoyment of listening to his daughter’s labor of love is suddenly ended, upon hearing the typing cease. He states that the stoppage was, â€Å"As if to reject my thought and its easy figure†. It’s as if his world has temporarily stopped, and he feels the pain that his daughter is feeling while looking for her next words to write. The quietness must be intense, as he states; â€Å"The whole house seems to be thinking†. And then, as quickly as the typing had stopped, it began again. At this point in the poem, the father starts to reminisce about an incident that occurred two years prior, in the very same room that his daughter is working. He tells a story of a starling, which had become trapped, inside the room. Both the father and the daughter watched as the bird struggled to find its way out of the room. The details given by the author, give an image of a beautiful bird that is fighting for its life, to get back to it’s comfort zone outdoors. He uses the lines, â€Å"Batter against the brilliance, drop like a glove To the hard floor, or the desk-top†. I see this as an analogy of his daughter battering against the keys, maybe throwing her hands to her head, and slumping over.

Music Through the Centuries Essay

The period between 1400 and 1600 is called the Renaissance period. Also known as the period of rebirth, this period brought out the inventions that made a great impact on the lives of people up to the present. The critical and ambitious minds of inventors allow the invention of clock, gunpowder and eyeglasses. Consequently, certain aspects of music also changed. Polyphonic and imitation among voices became rampant. The vocals, whose main purpose is to bring forth emotion and meaning in music, were greatly utilized and some pieces of church songs were intended for a capella performance. With these, the Renaissnce period acquired the name Golden Age of A Capella Music. The impact on music was so vast that families for musical instruments develop. Harmony gained significant attention to the composers who favored blending over contrasting. At the same time, texture became richer because bass was registered for the first time. Some of the famous composers in this era included Josquin Des Prez and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. If given the chance to choose a musical composition in this period, I will choose the Ave Maria by Josquin Des Prez. The song is very relaxing and soothing. It has a great combination of overlapping and alternating high and low notes. Vocals are good and an atmosphere of peace and lightness is exemplified as one listens to this music. After the Renaissance comes the Baroque period (1600-1750), which is characterized by splendid, glamorous and lavish effects on arts, science and music. The canopy of the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica was constructed and a number of natural laws were found such as the laws of pressure by Robert Boyle. Modes, which were rampant during the Renaissance and Medieval period, were replaced with major and minor tonalities. Basso continuo was greatly accepted and used, as well as the doctrine of affection, which allows the composers to express their feelings freely in music. Composers during this period realized that counterpoint, free use of dissonance, imitative polyphony and homophobic method are essential in their field of artistry. They showed emphasis on volume, texture and pace in music and frequent usage of basic triads and inversions. At the same time, the composers began to explore the inner ability of music to express human spirits and to depict natural phenomena. Opera also flourished because of the Italian’s desire to recapture the Greek drama where music played an important part. Solo vocalists and the style of homophony were utilzed to help the listeners focus on the melody of the song. Orchestra also began to take shape as string intruments such as violin became dominant. Famous composers that popularized this grandiose style of music included Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldo, and George Frideric Handel. To name one of the great muscial compositions in this era, I would prefer Cantata 80 of Bach. This song is festive-like with good transition of high notes and low notes. The song brings a warm and welcoming aura. This song expresses a high level of emotion as well as a great evidence of how good and hard it is to compose a piece of music. After the Baroque period comes the Classical period (1750-1825). During this period, the first edition of Encyclopedia Brittancia was released. The first vaccination was made and the electric battery was invented by Volta. Compared to Baroque music, Classical music has less complicated texture but has far more variety and contrast because of the use of words such as pitch, tempo, mood, and timbre. Melody is shorter than the Baroque music but with clear-cut phrases and cadences. Functional harmony was retained but tended to focus on slow rhytmic harmony. Metric pulses were present but were not emphasized. Moreover, occasional pauses and rhythmic set points were also common. On the other hand, the orchestra continued to develop with an additional section for the woodwind instruments. The same with the opera wherein piano is considered the most inportant intrument in every performance. Great importance was given on instrumental music, and sonata form was the most important design in this period. Using these styles of music, several composers became known during this period such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. The Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart is an adorable and explicitly unique music. Listening to this music, one can feel the notes freely moving across the music sheet. It has charming and rich melodies that made this music a classical favorite not only in the past but also in the present. The joyful, skipping melody made this music enjoyable and light to hear. Classical period was succeeded by the Romantic period (1825-1900), also known as the Age of Sentimentality. It is during this time that telephone, light bulb, and radio transmissions were developed. In terms of music, there was a simultaneous development of musical extremes. Although basso continuo was totally abandoned, chromaticism flourished and textures were more developed. The virtuosity of the composers were enhanced and they put emphasis on beauty, elegance, and balance in their compostitions. Music became lyrical with dramatic contrasts in dynamics and pitch. Because this was the period for freedom of design and form, music became thematical. Programme music developed and the idea of nationalism flourished because of the need to break away from the strong influence of Germany on music. Fryderyk Franciskez Chopin and Franz Schubert were some of the famous composers in this period. The song of Erlking by Schubert is a good example of romantic music. This song is great because it is very enticing and one can feel the energy flowing through the entire piece. The continuous pulsation of notes gives this song a playful genre. It can be compared to prancing horses that can give one this feeling of excitement and curiosity. With the Classical Music declining, Modern Music became the reigning music in the 1900s. Some of the events that totally changed the history of the world are World War I and II as well as the Vietnam War. This change had a great effect on how music was viewed during this period. Modern Music focused on treating variety, continuity, and mood. Noise makers such as sirens and typewriters as well as percussion instruments became a vital part in this industry (Thinkquest, 1999). The aim to build an unusual music resulted to the employment of tongue fluttering and other special techniques. Dissonance is also preferred than consonance,which resulted to a development of fantasy-like, distant, and mystifying music. To gain an impression of imbalance, polyrhythm was employed. Some of the great composers in this era were Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky. The Ancient Voices of Children by George Crumb is a great example of how modern music should sound like. This work is extraordinary and mystifying. The music itself is powerful but there is a haunting effect that provokes the listeners to seek for musical images. It stirs up the emotions of the listeners through the tensions placed on the entire musical score. The music’s great shimmering echoes and frequent echoing silence and passages made this song my personal favorite. References Thinkquest (1999) Characteristics of 20th Century Music. Retrieved from http://library. thinkquest. org/27927/20%20century_Characteristics. htm

Organizational Behavior and Communication Essay

Organizational Behavior and Communication is found in every company, organizations, and groups. Organizational behavior and communications are discussed by using Starbucks Coffee Company. The discussion will cover company’s values and mission statement. The mission statement contains the philosophy, vision, and values. Also, some background of the company will be given. There will a discussion on the communication and on what extent this is determine by the Starbucks Coffee Company Culture. Background Starbucks was start in the 1970 in the state of Washington. The name Starbucks was inspire by the novel Moby Dick. In 1987 purchased by a man name Howard Schultz. At the time of the purchase Starbucks had stores only the Pacific Northwest. After the purchase Starbucks was selling coffee in other countries such Europe. In the first vision of Schultz was to fine coffees. Organizational Culture The organizational culture of Starbucks is based on diversity. The formula that they use is Diversity=Inclusion+Equity+Accessibility. The definition is â€Å"Inclusion: human connection & engagement, Equity: fairness & justice, and Accessibility: ease of use & barrier free† (www.starbucks.com, 2013). The company has divided the organizational culture (diversity) in the following parts: 1. Partner/employees: Starbucks wants partners as different as the cities they work in. The proper word could be diverse 2. Customers: Starbuck want their customers to have an extremely nice experience. In order to achieve this Starbucks by giving the customer their preferences. 3. Communities: Starbucks does make investment in local communities as well as worldwide. Starbucks by giving economic opportunities in ways of jobs and other forms of help. 4. Suppliers: Starbucks work with many minority groups of suppliers. Also suppliers that are women. Starbucks support many organizations. Examples of these are Community Service, Youth Groups, and Create Jobs for USA, Also the American Red Cross. The espoused values of Starbucks do agree with the enacted values. Example of this is on July 3, 2012 it was announced that Starbucks will have two openings in Latin America. â€Å"Starbucks Coffee Company reaffirmed its commitment to Latin America with two major openings- its first in Costa Rica, and its firs Farmer Support Center in South America located in Colombia† (China weekly news, 2012). Latin America provides large amount of the coffee that Starbucks us. Another example is that in 2010 Starbucks refuse to raise the prices of the coffee. Most companies raise their prices due the raise of the coffee prices. Starbucks decide not raise the prices for awhile but monitor the prices. The organizational communication of Starbucks is 100% determined by the organizational culture. The communications channels are very clear and easy to use. Starbucks have communication channels that employees can use. These channels are telephone calls, online reporting, e-mail, and written reports. The communication channels for the customers are the Starbucks website. The customer could find the mission statement or locate a store. Also, if a person wants to apply for a job they can do it on the website. Role of Communication â€Å"Starbucks uses a model of communication used generally by smaller group networks, all channel communication† (yahoo.com 2008) The communication plays an extremely important role in the organizational culture of Starbucks. The organizational communication is open to the customer. The customers can talk with an employee then the employees report to the supervisors or department heads. The communication channels are always updated by Starbucks. â€Å"Partners are encouraged to report all types of issues or concerns to the program through their choice of the offered communication channels.† (www.starbucks.com, 2013) Another form of communication is the Standards of Business Conduct booklet. This helps the employees make excellent decision and also how to act with the customers. The communication has no misalignment with the espoused values or enacted values. The organization gives many communication channels for the employees. Another reason is that the company from time to time sees what needs to be change so that the organization can run smoothly. Conflict in group communication Whenever a company or an organization has a group that works together there will be a communication conflict. A solution to any conflict needs to be found before the conflict can come out. While researching Starbucks there was no conflict mention. Starbucks does have a clear image. Starbucks does show press releases on the decision that are being made As for the employees are concern Starbucks does provide communication channels to report any issues. The issue that refers to any communication conflicts in the group communications. On the same website the organization will post any communication about the company. The organization can use the conflict to put an additional person in the group to deal with the conflict and find ways to keep the conflict out of the group. Additional Information Starbucks supports the Earth watch Institute, Save the Children, Mercy Corps, and Plant Green. These are just a few of the organizations that Starbuck is working with. When the employees are making a decision they have standards to rely on. These standards are Standard of Business Conduct. Starbucks has these standards printed in the following languages English, Chinese, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, and Thai. Conclusion Starbucks is an organization that puts customers and employees first. They have high levels of values, vision, mission, and philosophy. Starbucks do indeed help the communities that have their location. In the pass Starbucks kept their coffee prices down when the prices of the coffee bean were going up. Then Starbucks is opening up business in Latin American and Costa Rica. These businesses will be working hand- in- hand with the local farmers. In addition Starbucks has used the coffee is from the Latin American and Costa Rica. The communication channels are aligning with the mission, philosophy, vision, and values statement. Also Starbucks provide the customers communication channels to report any wrong doing. Starbucks makes extremely high efforts to have a strong company. References About Us. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.starbucks.com Food Weekly News, 145. (2010).; Starbucks Coffee Company; Starbucks Responds to Surging Green Coffee Prices. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/75581576?accountid=35812 Our Mission Statement. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.starbucks.com Seazone, S. (July 18, 2008). Successful Application of Organizational Behavior: Starbucks. Retrieved from http://www.voices.yahoo.com Starbucks Coffee Company. (2013). Business Ethics and Compliance. Retrieved from http://www.starbucks.com Starbucks Coffee Company; Starbucks Broadens Presence in Latin America. (2012). China Weekly News, 192. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1022321948?accountid=35812