Misunderstood Minds - 686 Words

One in five American students has a learning disability this is according to the documentary â€Å"Misunderstood Minds’’ produced by WGBH. Children with learning disabilities are more likely to become outcasts in school and in society. The documentary follows five families dealing with a differently abled child; Nathan V, Lauren, Sarah Lee, Adam, and Nathan S. The film focuses on difficulties the families go through, professionalism or lack of it by school officials and demystification. Every parent wants the best for their child, after all a child is a person’s most precious possession. For this very reason having a child with a learning disability becomes extremely stressful. Nathan V’s was a very outgoing child verbally articulate and a†¦show more content†¦Nathan S’s face light up instantly finally understood that he was not broken just different. Learning disabilities are a life long struggle but if caught at a young age and early int ervention takes place. The stress on the child and family is greatly reduced. Learning disabilities spread to every part of a child’s life affecting them socially. Teachers must remain professional and refrain from calling students lazy as in Adams case. A good teacher or specialist can demystify a learning disability and help a child’sShow MoreRelatedMisunderstood Minds: ADHAD in College Students1434 Words   |  6 Pagesbehavior, make impulsive choices, and battle with another psychological disorder. The most common diagnosis paired with ADHD is depression, but more research needs to be done to confirm the correlation. As a society, it is important to keep an open mind and acknowledge that this is a disorder. These individuals cannot control the glitch in their brain, but they can only learn to live with it. ADHD is most often associated with school and learning situations. The average diagnosis is done when kidsRead MoreBeing Betrayed, Misunderstood, And Forgotten Had Never Crossed My Mind846 Words   |  4 PagesWhile trusting someone, the thought of being betrayed, misunderstood, and forgotten had never crossed my mind. For example, I have a really had habit of putting my trust into people who are unworthy of it. I hate that I ever put my trust in those people with such personal things in my life. As bad habit of trusting people, it resulted in regretful decisions. One bad habit of regretfully trusting that ended in a regretful decision was trusting Leonard because he took my friendship for granted andRead MoreBless Me Ultima By Rudolfo Anaya1463 Words   |  6 Pagesfundamental structure of the beliefs that were instilled in him at a young age, attempting to reconcile the Catholic teaching, you shall love your God with all your mind, body and soul, with the reality he is prematurely presented to, one experience at a time. Consequentially bringing forth the death to his innocence and the birth a conscience mind, eager yet fearful to make sense of the world on his own terms. The power of a single thought has the potential to become a catalyst for change in the way weRead MoreEdgar Allen Poes The Murders In The Rue Morgue : Literary Analysis1446 Words   |  6 Pagesyour hands in your hands. It’s human psyche, the mind, and its ability is what gives a person with a positive quality and negative quality. Someone who has an analytical mind or a creative mind aren’t adaptable or inferior to someone who has both a logical thinking, but is able to think outside the box. A textbook example of this can be found in Edgar Allen Poe’s The Murders in The Rue Morgue, a short detective story. The narrator’s analytical mind is also creative and can solve a criminal case whereRead MoreThe Simplicity of Solipsism Essay856 Words   |  4 Pagesinclude nihilism, existentialism, and monism. However, there’s one theory that’s particularly interesting: solipsism. Solipsism is the belief that nothing exists, or can be proven to exist, except one’s own mind and the creations of it (Glossary). Solipsism is a very old, and often misunderstood, theory. Although it’s used in literature, in books such as Grendel by John Gardner, solipsism also occurs in everyday life. However, it’s not always easy to find. If we wish to do so, we must to take timeRead MoreWhat Can We Do to Stop Bullying? Essay531 Words   |  3 Pagesindividuals? There shouldn’t and they mean nothing. To regain, this is not only the teachers fault. To witness this there has to be bully, that could possibly be the individual who is sitting next to you. What is misunderstood is the thought that goes through the mind that could convince ones mind into bullying another of there peers. Many individuals do not understand what it would be like to be on the other end of the stick. Instead of being the bully, you are being the one bullied. Many know that beingRead MoreAnalysis Of Ralph Waldo Emerson s Self Reliance921 Words   |  4 PagesRalph Waldo Emerson, a loyal follower of transcendentalism and writer of several debatable essays, supports the idea of one following his or her own conscience instead of the restrictions of society’s mind. Transcendentalism, an American philosophical movement, takes place in the Nineteenth Century in which transcendentalists break free from the chains bounding them to the repetition of thought and action. In his essay, â€Å"Self-Reliance,â⠂¬  he asserts the importance of independent thinking, gives clearRead MoreAnalysis : Bless And Me Ultima 1456 Words   |  6 Pagesmoment in life will cease to continue. We ponder upon multiple questions due to this one event, main question being why? As that one question is asked by millions of people at least once in their lives it always ends up challenging our inner state of mind and way of thinking therefore leading to the change of what how we use to trust and our way of perceiving of what’s wrong or right and what we thought was real. Which can be seen through the story that Rudolfo Anaya developed in Bless Me Ultima. DeathRead MoreThe Nature Of Happiness By Daniel Gilbert1501 Words   |  7 Pagesillusions that alter our perception of happiness. Gilbert focuses on why happiness is so difficult to measure and why many people have bias views regarding happiness. After reading this book, I feel as if I have a more insightful view about the human mind and how it works. Personally, I think the following quote by Gilbert sums up his book: Our desire to control is so powerful, and the feeling of being in control so rewarding, that people often act as though they can control the uncontrollable. Read MoreI Was A Music Major Is For Me855 Words   |  4 Pagessomething your whole life, then get to college and not be half as good as you thought you were, or maybe not good at all. Just plain BAD! Ok, I’m exaggerating. I’m being really dramatic, but that’s how I feel at least once a month for at least†¦ never mind. In high school, it wasn’t hard for me to stand out. There was one girl that played the snare drum, one person that played classical piano, one person who competed in pageants and gave out signature cards, and one person that said the morning announcements

Essay on Napoleon - 591 Words

Napoleon `I wished to found a European system, a European Code of Laws, a European judiciary: there would be but one people in Europe, Napoleon himself has many critics some call him a wicked dictator and others just remember him for the battle of Waterloo, against the British Admiral Nelson. Nevertheless, Napoleon was a very clever man and was the first to come up with the idea of a united Europe, an idea that we are still trying to live by today. Napoleon had this idea over 200 years before Europe finally became the European Union. Napoleons idea for Europe was that the French, Spanish, Italians, and Germans would live together in peace and share laws and trade. But why did Napoleon want to unite Europe, and was this†¦show more content†¦They were a possession which was passed from father to husband. Women could not vote, but could divorce as this was now allowed, although not easily and could lead to imprisonment. Any wealth that the wife had brought with her into the marriage was under the control of her husband. Napoleon had made members of his family into the kings of other countries, so that he could have a greater influence over that country. In 1808, Napoleon wrote to the kings of many neighbouring countries and urged them to adopt the code in their countries. This is a quote from a letter that Napoleon wrote to his brother Jerome, the king of Westphalia, in Germany. `In Germany, as in France, Italy and Spain, people long for equality and liberalism. The benefits of the Code Napoleon, legal procedure in open court, the jury, these are the points by which your monarchy must be distinguished.... Your people must enjoy a liberty, an equality unknown in the rest of Germany. In a slightly less idealistic and more practically minded communication to his brother Joseph, the king of Naples, Napoleon wrote that with the Code there will no longer be any great estates apart from those you create yourself. This is the motive, which has led me to recommend a civil code and establish it everywhere In many areas of Europe where the Code was introduced, it was welcomed. In addition, many of the countries that wereShow MoreRelatedThe Napoleon Complex2927 Words   |  12 Pagesmention Napoleon is the idea of a short, angry, and bossy little man who is aggressive to compensate for being little, in other words having a Napoleon Complex. Ironically the idea that Napoleon was a short man is false as he was average height for his size at the time. A more useful way to look at a Napoleon complex would be to describe it as, a person who is driven by a perceived handicap to overcompensate in other aspects, in their lives. With this definition, we get what Napoleons mentalityRead MoreThe book Napoleon by Paul Johnson is a monograph on the life of Napoleon. Napoleon was born on600 Words   |  3 Pages The book Napoleon by Paul Johnson is a monograph on the life of Napoleon. Napoleon was born on August 15,1769 on an island called Corsica which was a French island south of the mainland. Ironically his future enemy Duke of Wellington was also born in 1769. Napoleon was born in the lower nobility class, and gifted with mathematics. He admired the Royal Navy and wanted to join as a midshipman. At the age of ten, Napoleon left Corsica for a military school in Brienne, France. On completion of his studiesRead MoreNapoleon Bonaparte2242 Words   |  9 PagesNapoleon Bonaparte was a ruthless killer who hungered for power alone. He sacrificed much in order to contribute a great deal to the world by winning battles and discovering things such as the Rosetta Stone in Egypt. His thirst for control and power cost him everything he worked so hard for consequently leading to exile. The notorious Napoleon Bonaparte was born August 15, 1769, the second of eight children, on the little island of Corsica. The industrial revolution in Britain had already begunRead MoreEssay Napoleon Bonaparte1268 Words   |  6 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Napoleon was born on August 15th, 1769 in Ajaccio (Capital of Corsica) which is an island 70 miles west of Italy. His parents were Carlo Bonaparte and Letizia Ramolino. They got married when Carlo was 18 and Letizia was 14, this was in 1764. Letizia was the one who was always putting food on the table, Carlo was way to lazy. His father was interested in politics. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Napoleon got sent to military school (Brienne Military Academy) in 1778Read More napoleon Essay729 Words   |  3 Pagesnapoleon Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769 in Ajaccio, Corsica. His parents, Letiza and Carlo were very strict. He was one of seven children of his prominent lawyer father and strong willed beautiful mother. His education was a very prominent one, he entered a school in the nearby town of Brienne-le chateau, and was known to excel in mathematics. He immediately showed his interest in the armed forces by enrolling in the prominent Paris military school Eode Military. ImmediatelyRead MoreEssay Napoleon2888 Words   |  12 Pages Guidance to Freedom or Just Another Tyrant? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;When most people think of Napoleon Bonaparte they think of either a tyrant emperor or a brilliant war strategist. Maybe both are right but in whatever conclusion any person comes to, they will know he was a small man who accomplished many great things. Napoleon conquered countries and developed a mass empire, which led to his celebrity like fame. He was a man that respected cultures and every religion and even cried whenRead MoreA Brief Biography of Napoleon2011 Words   |  8 Pages Louis Napoleon was a French military and political leader, who rose during the end stages of the French Revolution. He started and was raised in exile and through determination, hard work, and passion he became the President and then Emperor of France. He accomplished to regain the throne for his family’s name, and was an inspirational, influential, and powerful leader. Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was born on April 20, 1808 in Paris, France. He is very often referred to as Napoleon III, whichRead More Who was Napoleon Essay1166 Words   |  5 Pages Napoleon was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, on 15 August 1769, the second of Carlo and Letizia Bonapartes eight children. In 1778, Napoleon began his education at Autun and later attended school in Brienne, excelling in mathematics and science. Following a years study at the Ecole Militaire in Paris, he was commissioned in the artillery in 1785. The year 1789 saw the outbreak of the French revolution, which created an atmosphere of opportunity that would not have existed under the Bourbons, and NapoleonRead MoreNapoleon the Leader736 Words   |  3 PagesEagle Success Napoleon The Leader I chose Napoleon Bonaparte for my report for being an outstanding emperor and officer for the French. Even though he was very short, at the height of only 5 3, he showed that size doesnt matter and had his wide range of accomplishments support his thought. One of his more famous achievements was him developing The Napoleonic Code or Civil Code. The Napoleonic Code or Code Civil still forms the basis of French civil law. Another one of his amazing was escapingRead MoreNapoleon and the Enlightenment Essay2143 Words   |  9 PagesNapoleon and the Enlightenment Napoleon and the enlightment Napoleon was one of the most influential people in the history of the world. He has affected people throughout the globe in many ways. He rose through the confusion of the French revolution to become Emperor of the French. His goal was to conquer all of Europe. Through out his lifetime he nearly succeeded in his goal. Napoleon was probably one of the greatest military leaders that ever lived. Napoleon Bonaparte, who is also known

Davinci Apps Free Essays

string(50) " try to control their desires \(Hofstede, 2011\)\." Abstract The transfer from Davinci Apps to Rome, Italy requires substantial information in order to be informed. This report provides a well-balanced format consisting of critical elements that may be needed during the process. With many similarities as well as distinct differences, this report illustrates many of the needed considerations. We will write a custom essay sample on Davinci Apps or any similar topic only for you Order Now 1 Introduction This report aims to relay critical elements of the operations of Davinci Apps located in Rome, Italy. Beginning with a brief overview detailing the macro-level factors related to the region, this report will turn to a value description utilizing the Hofstede theory. Following these segments will be an analysis of the management and business culture in Italy with reference to the Japan as a comparison. A combination of the components of this report will allow for a comprehensive conclusion alongside three base recommendations for success. This report will evaluate the Roman market in comparison with Japans operation in order to generate applicable operations advice for the new management for Davinci Apps in Rome. 1.2 Macro level Elements The city of Rome, Italy serves as the nation’s capital with a moderate sea side climate (Gfmag.com, 2014). With historical, environmental and cultural tourism draws, there is a dynamic and diverse migrant population (Istat.it, 2014). With a bicameral system of government the two houses, Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic, headed by the Prime Minister dictate law and policy in the nation (Istat.it, 2014). Predominately, the spoken language is Italian, with German and French spoken by a minority of northern regions. With a ninety per cent Roman Catholic population, there is a large Christian cultural expectation (Gfmag.com, 2014). Currently there is an estimated population of 60.9 million and rising with an expectation of near 62 million by 2017 with a median age of 43 (Grmag.com, 2014). Economic factors including composition by GDP factor: agriculture 1%, Industry: 25.2% and services at 72.9 % as of the 2011 estimate (Grmag.com, 2014:1). 2012 saw an increasing unemployment rate of 9.5 followed by a decrease over the 2013 fiscal year (Istat.it, 2014). Standards and Poor’s currently ranks Italy a BBB+ with Moody’s a Baa2 alongside a negative outlook (Grmag.com, 2014:2). 2010 witnessed Italy with an estimated world share of GDP of 2.41 %; however, the 2015 estimate indicates a decrease to 1.98% (Grmag.com, 2014:1). This fact supports the Real GDP numbers that indicate a continual decrease in economic strength for the nation as a whole (Istat.it, 2014:1). However, recent trends suggest that a positive turnaround is possible increasing economic viability (Istat.it, 2014:1). 1.3 Hofstede Value Italy compared to Japan Hofstede’s model is a valued method of assessing cultural differences in order to gain fuller understanding (Signorini, Wiesemes and Murphy, 2009). 1.3.1 Power distance Power distance is commonly identified as â€Å"the extent the less powerful entities within a country expect power to be distributed equally† (Hofstede, 2011:45). Northern Italy scores a 50 which speaks to the preference for equality and decentralisation of power and decision-making (Geert-hofstede.com, 2014:1). However, in Southern Italy the PDI are high and nearly the very opposite of Northern Italy. The related score of 54 illustrates that Japan is similar in this context, speaking to the recognition of value in equality by both cultures (Geert-hofstede.com, 2014). 1.3.2 Individualism This segment has to do with whether people?s self-image plays a cultural role (Hofstede, 2011). .With a score of 76, Italy is rated as an Individualistic culture, which in turn creates a â€Å"me† centred society (Geert-hofstede.com, 2014:1). This effect is felt most in the North where people feel alone in the middle of a big crowd. Southern Italy exhibits less individualistic behaviour which is present in the family network as well as the group each one belongs (Geert-hofstede.com, 2014). In this culture, events including weddings or Sunday lunches cannot be missed. Standing in contrast to the Italian score is the collective score of 46 for Japan, indicating an area of substantial cultural difference (Geert-hofstede.com, 2014). Individualism is often frowned upon by the Eastern approach 1.3.3 Masculinity A high score (masculine) on this segment is indicative of a society driven by competition, success and achievement. Conversely, a lower score (feminine) indicates societal values including caring for others and an increased quality of life (Hofstede, 2011). At 70 Italy is a masculine society – meaning it is very highly success oriented (Geert-hostede.com, 2014:1). As an example that this society holds, their offspring are taught at an early age that competition is beneficial. It is common for the Italian culture to illustrate success by status symbols such as cars, houses, yachts and vacations to exotic countries. This factor adds to the factor that competition among colleagues for making a career can be very strong (Geert-hofstede.com, 2014). Much like Italy Japan ranks as a very masculine society with a rating of 95 (Geert-hofstede.com, 2014). 1.3.4 Uncertainty avoidance This component addresses members of a culture feel that may threaten by ambiguous or events and has created institutions in order to avoid these circumstances (Hofstede, 2011). At 75, Italy scores high on uncertainty avoidance (Geert-hofestede.com, 2014). This is an indication that Italians are not comfortable in uncertain situations. Formality in Italian society is a critical element of day to day activities with this fact represented by the strict Italian penal and civil code (Geert-hofstede.com, 2014). It is common for emotion to play a role in society and culture with individuals that cannot keep them inside and must express them. At a score of 92, Japan is considered one of the most uncertainty avoiding nations in the world (Geert-hofstede.com, 2014). This is an area that is mirrored closely is both cultures, making integration easier. 1.3.5 Pragmatism This element focuses on how people in the past as well as today deal with the fact that so much that happens cannot be truly explained (Hofstede, 2011). In this category Italy’s high score of 61 illustrates that the Italian culture is relatively pragmatic. The people believe that truth depends on the situation, time and context. Boasting a score of 88 Japan is one of the most pragmatic societies (Geert-hofstede.com, 2014). 1.3.6 Indulgence This element is the extent to which people try to control their desires (Hofstede, 2011). You read "Davinci Apps" in category "Essay examples" Weak control is â€Å"indulgence† and strong control is â€Å"restraint†. With the score of 42, Japan is deemed to be a culture of restraint.30 demonstrates that the Italian culture is one of restraint (Geert-hofstede.com, 2014). 2 Business and management culture in Italy 2.1 Values and Globalization As the Geer-hofstede.com (2014) results indicate the Italian culture heavily prefers an equal centre of power. The individualistic nature of the Italian value system will require substantial adjustment on the part of a collective culture Japanese transfer. Erikson (2007) argues that the migrants into the Italian culture often fare well as there are several beneficial transnational entrepreneurship assets. There is a very high Italian cultural value placed on the family, and social functions, which can in turn lead to social acceptance (Society, 2014). The topics of family, food, women, weather and love top the list of common discussions in Rome. This societal value system reaches back to the base difference between the Confucian, or Oriental method of collective thinking that recognizes that each element is related as opposed to the Aristotelian method of treating each component on an individual basis (Noble, Sander and Obenshain, 2013). There is a distinct separation of value as regards the areas of self-expression and autonomy with the individualistic Italian culture, illustrating a lasting commitment to a more outspoken nature (Noble et al, 2013). As a whole, Rome is considered an individualistic culture when compared to the interdependent society of Japan (Tierney, 2014). The Geocentric approach illustrated by the population of Rome recognizes the potential for gain in the emerging markets, making integration popular in the region (Cicione, 2014). 2.2 Decision making With a distinct separation from the Japanese cultural tradition of holism, the Italian culture focuses on analytical decision making utilizing a methodical approach for each individual element (Tierney, 2014). In addition to the highly competitive environment, the shift from the Japanese method of Collectivism to the Italian Individualism will require substantial adjustment for new transfers (Nobel et al, 2014). 2.3 Negotiation Communication Societal differences can have a direct impact on the method of communication and negotiation (Solomon and Schell, 2009). A person living in an individualistic society, such as Italy, will commonly make self-centred decisions (Tierney, 2014). This is opposed to the collective tendency shown in the Japanese culture. Further, the individualistic culture does not place the value on age and experience that the Japanese collective culture does, making each interaction with Italian citizens more complex (Nobel et al, 2013). 2.4 Leadership Cultural Intelligence It is necessary to understand a culture in order to become an effective leader (Nobel et al, 2014). As there is a highly independent nature among the Italians, each of their decisions will be based on what is best for that person, as opposed to the group mentality found in Japanese society. There is a high tendency of the Italian society to want a transactional form of leadership that remains open and prefers teamwork (Euwema, Wendt and Van Emmerik, 2007). Too much oversight in the workplace is construed as a reflection of the individual work tendencies. This stands in sharp contrast to the collective leadership tendencies most firms exhibit in Japan (Nobel et al, 2014). There is a strong need for the Italian culture to possess personal views and objectives, making each one an individualistic effort (Tierney, 2014). However, this element is tempered with the high value on family and collective infrastructure, which is similar in Japan (Nobel et al, 2014). The autocratic strain of lea dership is the found in Italy in contrast to the more Confucian, or male leader approach found in Japan (Nobel et al, 2014). With a much wider acceptance of the female in the role of leadership, there is a reduced amount of social bias associated with the genders, making the Italian culture easy to integrate into (Tierney, 2014). Further, this perception of bias in the workplace is reduced making potential success realistic in the workplace. 3 Conclusion This report has highlighted several elements that should be considered during the coming move. With a clear difference between the Japanese and Italian/Roman cultures, there are many pitfalls to avoid. Yet, the similarities inherent in each culture provide a sound beginning point from which to progress. Three points of advice have been developed as a consequence of this analysis: 1) The Hofstede model as well as the corresponding literature has illustrated the individualistic tendencies of the Roman culture, yet, there is a very strong undercurrent of social associations becoming beneficial. In order to more easily assimilate, both in the work place and socially, find a social expression that actively involves the person with the Italian culture. In this case that could be religion, sports or hobbies that take place in the company of others. 2) In the process of leadership, recognize the individual needs of each person. The Italian society operates in a manner that is based on competition and personal accomplishment rather than the larger collective organisation. In order to foster the best possible work environment there will be a need to amend the workplace expectations. 3) As reflected in the both the Italian and Japanese culture, there is a high value placed on the capacity for a person to have personal restraint and integrity. The best possible method of accruing respect in the work place is to have a plan in place that is both balanced and well considered, and in the presence of controversy present a calm exterior. This will translate into a perception of calm competency, which is highly prized in Roman culture. In the end, this report has illustrated that there are many similar elements between the cultures of Japan and Italy, yet, substantial differences. Will careful consideration alongside informed action, the transfer from the Japan office of Davinci Apps has every expectation of being a well throughout enterprise that will be of great value to each person involved. References Cicione, M. 2014. Culture Traditions in Rome, Italy. [online] Available at: http://traveltips.usatoday.com/culture-traditions-rome-italy-11465.html [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014]. Eriksen, T. H. 2007. Globalization. Oxford: Berg. Euwema, M. C., Wendt, H. and Van Emmerik, H. 2007. Leadership styles and group organizational citizenship behavior across cultures. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 28 (8), pp. 1035–1057. Geert-hofstede.com. 2014. Italy – Geert Hofstede. [online] Available at: http://geert-hofstede.com/italy.html [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014]. Gelf, Erez, M. and Aycan, Z. 2007. Cross-cultural organizational behavior. Annu. Rev. Psychol., 58 pp. 479–514. Gfmag.com. 2014. Italy GDP Data Country Report | Global Finance. [online] Available at: http://www.gfmag.com/gdp-data-country-reports/249-italy-gdp-country-report.html#axzz2w6DeKZCE [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014]. Hofstede, G. 2011. Dimensionalizing cultures: The Hofstede model in context. Online readings in psychology and culture, 2 (1), p. 8. Istat.it. 2014. Istat.it. [online] Available at: http://www.istat.it/en [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014]. Kaltenbrunner, A., Arag’On, P., Laniado, D. and Volkovich, Y. 2013. Not all paths lead to Rome: Analysing the network of sister cities. arXiv preprint arXiv:1301.6900. Nobel, D., Sander, J. and Obenshain, C. 2013. Using microworlds to understand cultural influences on distributed collaborative decision making in C2 settings. Shi, X. and Wang, J. 2011. Interpreting Hofstede Model and GLOBE Model: Which Way to Go for Cross-Cultural Research?. International Journal of Business Management, 6 (5). Signorini, P., Wiesemes, R. and Murphy, R. 2009. Developing alternative frameworks for exploring intercultural learning: a critique of Hofstede’s cultural difference model. Teaching in Higher Education, 14 (3), pp. 253–264. Society, N. 2014. Rome Cultural Tips — National Geographic’s Ultimate City Guides. [online] Available at: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/rome-cultural-tips/ [Accessed: 17 Mar 2014]. Solomon, C. and Schell, M. S. 2009. Managing across cultures: The 7 keys to doing business with a global mindset. McGraw-Hill, Inc.. Tierney, W. G. 2008. The impact of culture on organizational decision-making. Sterling, Va.: Stylus Pub. How to cite Davinci Apps, Essay examples

Stock Market and New York Stock free essay sample

Today youre going to imagine that you invested $1,000 in a company one year ago and see how well your invest would be doing today. To begin, choose a company that youre familiar with and that seems like it might be a good investment † that is, a company that you think will have rising stock prices. Think about companies that you use or know are popular. Remember, not all companies are public companies. Youll need to check the New York Stock Exchange to find out if you can actually buy shares n this company. Once youve settled on a company, find its stock price from one year ago and for today. Write a Journal entry about your imagined investment. Answer the following questions as you write. 1 . Why did you think buying this stock would be a good idea? I bought stock in apple I thought it would be a good idea because of all the media and technology apple releases yearly they are now the top cell phone providers in all of the U. We will write a custom essay sample on Stock Market and New York Stock or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page S. also because of its increase in the future. 2. How much would you have made or lost on an investment of $1,000? Hint: First find out how many shares you couldVe bought one year ago by dividing $1,000 by the price of the stock one year ago today. You may have to estimate the stock price from the graph. Round the number of shares to the nearest whole number. Then find out the current value of your shares by multiplying the number of shares you bought by the price of the stock today. Compare that to your initial investment of $1 ,OOO. 3. Could you have made more money by selling sooner?

The Period Between 1880 And 1900 Was A Boom Time For American Essays

The period between 1880 and 1900 was a boom time for American politics. The country was for once free of the threat of war, and many of its citizens were living comfortably. However, as these two decades went by, the American farmer found it harder and harder to live comfortably. Crops such as cotton and wheat, once the bulwark of agriculture, were selling at prices so low that it was nearly impossible for farmers to make a profit off them. Furthermore, improvement in transportation allowed foreign competition to materialize, making it harder for American farmers to dispose of surplus crop. Finally, years of drought in the midwest and the downward spiral of business in the 1890's devastated many of the nation's farmers. As a result of the agricultural depression, many farm groups, most notably the Populist Party, arose to fight what farmers saw as the reasons for the decline in agriculture. During the last twenty years of the nineteenth century, many farmers in the United States saw monopolies and trusts, railroads, and money shortages and the demonetization of silver as threats to their way of life, though in many cases their complaints were not valid. The growth of the railroad was one of the most significant elements in American economic growth. However, in many ways, the railroads hurt small shippers and farmers. Extreme competition between rail companies necessitated some way to win business. To do this, many railroads offered rebates and drawbacks to larger shippers who used their rails. However, this practice hurt smaller shippers, including farmers, for often times railroad companies would charge more to ship products short distances than they would for long trips. The rail companies justified this practice by asserting that if they did not rebate, they would not make enough profit to stay in business. In his testimony to the Senate Cullom Committee, George W. Parker stated, "...the operating expense of this road...requires a certain volume of business to meet these fixed expenses....in some seasons of the year, the local business of the road...is not sufficient to make the earnings...when we make up a train of ten of fifteen cars of local freight...we can attach fifteen or twenty cars...of strictly through business. We can take the latter at a very low rate than go without it." Later, when asked the consequences of charging local traffic the same rate as through freight, Mr. Parker responded, "Bankruptcy, inevitably and speedy...". While the railroads felt that they must use this practice to make a profit, the farmers were justified in complaining, for they were seriously injured by it. A perfect example of this fact can be found in The Octopus by Frank Norris. A farmer named Dyke discovers that the railroad has increased their freight charges from two to five cents a pound. This new rate, "...ate up every cent of his gains. He stood there ruined." (Doc. H). The railroads regularly used rebates and drawbacks to help win the business of large shippers, and made up this loss in profit by increasing the cost to smaller shippers such as farmers. As a result, many farmers, already hurt by the downslide in agriculture, were ruined. Thus, the farmers of the late nineteenth century had a valid complaint against railroad shippers, for these farmers were hurt by the unfair practices of the railroads. Near the end of the nineteenth century, business began to centralize, leading to the rise of monopolies and trusts. Falling prices, along with the need for better efficiency in industry, led to the rise of such companies as Carnegie Steel and Standard Oil, which controlled a majority of the nation's supply of raw steel and oil respectively. The rise of these monopolies and trusts concerned many farmers, for they felt that the disappearance of competition would lead to erratic and unreasonable price rises that would hurt consumers. James B. Weaver, the Populist party's presidential candidate in the 1892 election, summed up the feelings of many Americans of the period in his work, A Call to Action: An Interpretation of the Great Uprising. He wrote, "It is clear that trusts are...in conflict with the Common law. They are monopolies organized to destroy competition and restrain trade.... Once they secure control of a given line, they are master of the situation... They can limit the price of the raw material so as to impoverish the producer, drive him to a single market, reduce the price of every class of labor connected with the trade, throw out of employment large numbers persons...and finally...they increase the price to the consumer.... The main weapons of the trust are threats, intimidation, bribery, fraud, wreck,

Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM) for Teaching

Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM) for Teaching The foreign language teaching methodology known as Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM) uses gestures, music, dance, and theater to help students learn a foreign language. The method is most frequently used with children and has been met with a lot of success.The basic premise of AIM is that students learn and remember better when they do something that goes along with the words they are saying. For example, when the students say regard (in French meaning to look), they hold their hands in front of their eyes in the shape of binoculars. This gesture approach includes defined gestures for hundreds of essential French words, known as pared down language. The gestures are then combined with theater, storytelling, dance, and music to help students remember and use the language.Teachers have found great success with this integrative approach to language learning; in fact, some students achieve results comparable to those programs that use full immersion teaching methods, even when the AIM -educated students only study the language for a few hours a week. Many classrooms have found that children often feel comfortable expressing themselves in the new language from the first lesson. By participating in many different kinds of activities in the target language, students learn to think and write creatively. Students are also encouraged and given the opportunity to practice oral communication in the language theyre learning.   AIM is particularly well-suited for children, but it could be adapted for older students.Accelerative Integrated Method was developed by French teacher Wendy Maxwell. In 1999, she won the Canadian Prime Ministers Award for Teaching Excellence and, in 2004, won The H.H. Stern award from the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers. Both of these prestigious awards are given to educators who show great innovation in the classroom.

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 18

Case study - Essay Example The second category is active sport tourism. This category includes activity holidays and active events. The third category is event sport tourism. This includes the active and passive participation in sporting events (Gibson, 1998). Gibson (1998,p.49), further conceptualizes sport tourism to be in three distinct areas; traveling to take part in a sporting event; traveling to watch a sport; or travelling to celebrate, worship, or venerate a sport. More recent definitions of sport tourism argue that it is more than a two dimensional synergetic phenomenon. In a more intricate definition, sport tourism is a social, economic and cultural phenomenon that arises from the unique interaction of activity, people, and place (Weed & Bull, 2004, p. 37). Weymouth and Portland are located on the south coast of England. This area provides some of the best sailing waters in the UK. In addition to this, the area has facilities on land to complement the sailing activities that take place. Before the 2012 Olympic games, the area already had world class facilities but some few enhancements were necessary to ensure that the facilities were suitable enough to host the sailing competition during the main Olympics and the Paralympics (london2012.com). Considering that sailing is both a competitive and leisure sporting event, there were several types of sport tourist expected to be in the area during the Olympic period. Gibson conceptualizes sport tourism to be in three distinct areas; travelling to take part; travelling to watch; or travelling to celebrate, worship or venerate a sport. From his conceptualization, the types of tourists that can and were attracted to visit Weymouth and Portland

Strategies for encouraging reading for leisure-a plan for middle years Assignment

Strategies for encouraging reading for leisure-a plan for middle years of schooling age group - Assignment Example It shall also explain how each strategy will be implemented to the age group. The inclusion of each guideline or strategy shall be justified through evidence cited from course readings, professional lectures, and research. There are different factors affecting reading for leisure among middle-school age groups. These factors have to be considered before any plans can be formulated to engage students in reading for leisure. First and foremost, â€Å"an individual must possess the necessary reading skills and resources to comprehend the printed word† (University of Queensland, 2009). These basic reading skills will arm the student with knowledge in grammar and vocabulary in order to facilitate comprehension. Mental images can be easily drawn through printed words. The motivation to read will eventually contribute to each student’s engagement in the reading experience. Some students get easily engaged and can easily draw mental images of the things they read; however other students find it hard to imagine and picture images from what they read. They often prefer comic books or reading materials with illustrations where they do not need to imagine the events unfolding (University of Queensla nd, 2009). Another factor affecting reading for leisure among middle-school age groups is the fact that many of these students are already involved in other activities like sports, socialization, and school work. Many of them opine that they do not have to think when they watch television and therefore would rather watch TV rather than read for leisure. However, it is indeed undeniable how reading for leisure has benefitted those who apply it to their lives. They attest that they have gained more knowledge by reading, that they are more informed about the world and about the explanations behind concepts and natural events. Some authors bravely emphasize that

Malcolm X and the United States' Civil Right Movement Term Paper

Malcolm X and the United States' Civil Right Movement - Term Paper Example Malcolm is considered as of the greatest and most influential black American in the history of America. At the age of twenty, Malcolm X was imprisoned where he joined Nation of Islam. After his parole in the year 1952, Malcolm rose to be one of the leaders of the Nation Muslims. Several years afterwards, he became a controversial figure in the public domain. However, disillusionment with Nation of Muslims in the year 1964 made him leave the nation match the same year. Later in 1964, he founded the African American unity organization and the Muslim Mosque, Inc. Malcolm believed that one day America would change in the way the whites treated the blacks. During his leadership tenure in the Nation Islam, Malcolm as the organization’s spokesperson, preached or taught black American supremacy and advocated for separation between the white and the black Americans. However, in his teachings, Malcolm contrasted the principles of civil right movement that emphasized on integration among Americans. Since 1952 when he joined the Nation of Islam until 1964 when he left the organization, Malcolm promoted the teachings of the Nation Islam (Walsh7). In his teachings, he emphasized that blacks were the original people of the entire world, and the white race belonged to the devils. In almost all of his speeches, he emphasized that the blacks or the white people were inferior to the black people, and the demise of the white people was imminent(Levy 98). Malcolm X immensely advocated for a complete separation of the African American from the white Americans, despite The Civil Right Movement’s fight against racial segregation. Malcolm had proposed separation of the black Americans to their own country. He considered the move as an interim measure that should be taken against the white until they could return to Africa (Cone 1). In addition, he rejected the nonviolence strategy that has put in play by the civil right movement. Instead, he advocated for self-defense amo ng the African Americans, and asked, them to use any necessary means and measures that were within their reach (Levy 99). His speeches were highly influential especially among the African American audients who lived in the western and northern cities. Notably, these groups were tired of the empty promises. They were ever being told to wait for justice, respect, freedom, and equality (Walsh 9). Therefore, the majority of African Americans felt that Malcolm was articulating their complaints and grievances in a better way than the strategies and moves that were being taken by civil right movement. Many of the white Americans among other blacks were perplexed with Malcolm’s ideals as well as the things he was saying. The Nation of Islam and Malcolm were later described as black supremacists, hatemongers, violence seekers and they were as well considered a threat to race relation improvement. The Civil rights organization afterwards dismissed the Nation of Islam and Malcolm becaus e of being irresponsible extremists where were not concerned with the welfare of the African Americans. Furthermore, Malcolm was accused of anti-Semitism (Cone 1). On the other hand, Malcolm equally criticized the civil right movement and described its leadership as a â€Å"stooge† that has been established by the whites. He as well described Martin Luther King, Jr. as being a â€Å"chump†. Additionally, he was opposed with the march that took place in 1963 and termed it "the farce on Washington". Malcolm claimed that he did not know why the black America

Fly Away Peter Analysis

Fly Away Peter Analysis In Fly Away Peter, David Malouf carefully and subtley indicates humans ability to transcend the immediate and create an alternate perception of their own life. Malouf does an exceedingly good job at expressing his opinion on the importance of the continuity of life, and the human mind set against the meaning of life. The three main characters, Jim Saddler, Imogen Harcourt, and Ashley Crowther are all employed in different contrasting ways to add meaning to the main concepts in the book. Malouf implies throughout the book that fate is beyond the control of any individual person, and that the only way to counter this is through the imagination of man. Its the human mind, the imagination that makes us special is a prime example of Maloufs intention. This is just one example of how David Maloufs intention was to express the idea of fate in the book. Malouf also intends to imply that individual life is extremely important, using symbolism to represent lifes perpetual continuity. An outstanding example of this is his detailed descriptions of migrational patterns of birds in the novel. As birds have no concept of time, the book quotes The time span for them was more or less infinite. Maloufs use of Jim and the sandpiper was very well done, as when Jim is amazed at how the sandpiper can find its way across the world and abck, it becomes apparent that the many references to bird migration are intentionally there to symbolize the continuity of life Yet another example of Maloufs intention to imply that time is ceaseless, therefore meaning that life can have little meaning is when they discover the mammoth fossil in France. Malouf writes looking at them made time seem meaningless. This line also gives substance to the argument that Malouf is trying to say that as time is never ending, life is insignificant and that it is the ability to create your own world which gives life meaning. Maloufs final message towards continuity of life and time comes to a climax with the death of Jim. With Jims death, his mind is transported to a forest where he and his lost friend Clancy Parkett dig earth together, along with many others. Clancy then brings up another message of time, saying Theres all the time in the world mate. No trouble about time. The three main characters all provide excellent examples of individual life, in contrast to the significance of masses of life lost in the war. Jim Saddlers offers insight to this, posting himself a question What does it mean the likes of us? This question, although essentially unanswered goes to suggest that life may not have meaning as a whole, but the significance lies within the individual. Jim realises this towards the end of the book, stating that Nothing counted. For Jims life he had been intent on naming things, this compulsion of recording birds shows Jims human nature for something to be permanent. Imogen Harcourt in some ways brings permanency to things; however Imogen did this through means of photography. Imogens personality, photography, views, and attitudes all reinforce the notion that life is brief and needs to be savored. Her love for photography indicates that her love of life is expressed through the permanency of photography, as that moment is captured forever. This provides a nice contrast to Maloufs intention to portray the insignificance of life, and how people find their own ways to find permanency and enjoyment in their lives. During the final chapter of the book, Imogens grief that is expressed towards the loss of Jims life brings things into perspective. That is what life meant, a unique presenceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. A life wasnt for anything. It simply was. David Malouf intended to cement this idea of life being brief compared the endless nature of time with the symbolism of waves crashing against the beach in the final chapter of the book. The waves, metaphor is quoted as they rose, gathered themselves, stood poised a moment holding the sun at their crests, then toppled. There was a rhythm to it . The notion that this brief moment should be savored, rather than a bleak outlook on the big picture. Having momentary beauty and significance is an important contrast that David Malouf intends to weave throughout the book. David Malouf presents important life messages in a unique and uninteresting way. Significance of individuality, mans ability to transcend the immediate, and the meaning of life are all touched upon in a symbolic matter. Malouf has carefully constructed his three main characters to portray a contrast in individuality and to emphasise his main themes. A prime example of this is summarized David Maloufs intention to touch upon a wide range of themes has worked well in Fly Away Peter, themes such as the significance of the individual as opposed to the meaning of life, mans ability to transcend the immediate, and the continuity of life. Malouf crafts his three main characters to portray and develop the essence of his main themes. David Maloufs intention to express these themes in a subtle and interesting manner was well designed and worked effectively throughout the book.

Do Creationism and Intelligent Design Have a Place in the Classroom? Es

Surveys show that fifty percent of adults in Turkey, forty percent in the USA and fifteen percent in the UK reject the theory of evolution and believe that life on Earth came into existence as described in the religious texts (Jones and Reiss, 2007; Miller; Scott and Okamoto, 2006; Lawes, 2009). President G. W. Bush commented as follow: Both sides ought to be taught properly...so people can understand what the debate is about....Part of education is to expose people to different schools of thoughts....You’re asking me whether or not people ought to be exposed to different ideas, and the answer is yes (Baker and Slevin, 2005). However other views have been reported in the literature. Pennock (2007: 72) summarizes his position as follows: What should be educators’ and citizens’ response when IDC’s lobby in Kansas and elsewhere to ‘teach the controversy’? We should respond with a slogan of our own: Teach only real science in science classes, not creationist pseudoscience. Jackson in his essay â€Å"The Personal and the Professional in the Teaching of Evolution† shares similar opinions (2007). In 2006, The Times published an article by Halpin reporting the inclusion of creationism in a new biology syllabus produced by the OCR exam board. James Williams, science course leader at Sussex University's School of Education, told the Times Educational Supplement: "This opens a legitimate gate for the inclusion of creationism or intelligent design in science classes as if they were legitimate theories on a par with evolution fact and theory.† The OCR exam board argued that the aim of the syllabus was to make students aware of scientific controversy in accordance to the QCA guidelines (QCA, 2007: 37): Students should be taught how scientif... ...theory and the notion of an old Earth/universe are supported by a mass and evidence and fully accepted by the scientific community (DCSF, 2007). It seems unreasonable to say that creationist explanations and beliefs lie outside the science classroom and will not be addressed without any further discussion (Anderson, 2007; Smith, Siegel and McInerney, 1995). Addressing the validity of evolution or issues about creationism and intelligent design in science lessons could be valuable when illustrating the aspects of how science works such as how scientific knowledge and scientific ideas evolve and how the scientific community invalidates those changes. The role of effective teaching is surely to help students learn about the theory of evolution and appreciate the ways of science, its limitations and how scientific knowledge might differ from other forms of knowledge.

Future Trends of Human Resource Essay

1. Introduction What does the human resource information system look like in the future? It is hard to find an accurate answer for me. Every year, thousands of HRIS specialists trying to predict the future trends of HRIS and, of course, their prediction differ. However, despite of what prediction they had made, I think social media will play an important role in next few years. In this paper, I will try to discuss what social media means to human resource and discuss three major players in the field—Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. 2. Social Network Site vs. HR According to the 2011 Kelly Services Global employees Index research, published by the famous human resource service organization Kelly Services, social network site is becoming the â€Å"edge tool† in the future workplace. According to the research, social network site (SNS) is changing the way of life and work. It expanded its function from only entertaining to boosting working efficiency and enhancing the success rate of job applying. The research shows that over 80% of workforce is using SNS every day, while over 60% of workforce considers it as a work booster. According to the research, a lot of employees think they can develop an instant synchronized â€Å"expert tank†, from which they can acquire relative knowledge, skill and experience, so that they will be support by experts wherever, whenever. They also regard SNS as a pipe cleaner of the networking. By using SNS, they can manage their networking just within few clicks. It is a cost efficiency and personalized way. In addition, they also use SNS to relieve work pressure. According to the research, SNS is now penetrating to the area of traditional recruiting. The advantage of it includes no limits of time and space, cost efficiency and high reliability. The research indicated that over 90% active job seekers are now using SNS at least once per week. It also indicated that job seekers who age below 25 are more willing to use SNS as a tool to find job, while who age over 35 are more possible to find a job by using it. The research suggests that company should pay attention to what SNS may change the future workplace. According to the research, the most common worries toward SNS are affecting productivity, occupying internet and threating the information security. It also report that there are a lot of companies are now start using SNS to recruit, manage market, promote public relation and guide career development by setting new policies and using latest antivirus technics. 3. Facebook Facebook is a SNS launched in February 2004, owned and operated by Facebook, Inc. By the time of October 2012, Facebook has over one billion active users, more than half of them using Facebook on a mobile device. According to the research, 23% of Facebook users check their account 5 times or more per day. By the time of May 2012, Facebook received more than 1.6 billion visits per week. There are over 1,000,000 links shared on Facebook every 20 minutes. If you regard Facebook merely as an entertaining SNS, you will be absolutely wrong. In the era of internet, Facebook is now developing different social platforms. It transforms its function from just connecting and entertaining people to job bank and social synergy. By Facebook recently launched job applying app â€Å"Jobvite†, people can find, refer, and match jobs to friends with Jobvite’s proprietary matching technology, providing better access to opportunities for job seekers and more quality hires for employers. Users can connect and apply to jobs completely within Facebook; and they can see their status in the hiring process at any time, creating a positive, transparent relationship for companies and candidates. By using another job applying app â€Å"jobandtalent†, users can discover and leverage their existing Facebook network to find job opportunities and stand out to top companies. Jobandtalent claimed that they are working with world top companies like Goldman Sachs, Deloitte and Google. The fact is that the data stored on Facebook not only including job relate area, but also including other areas, such as daily life. Employer can acquire 360-degree background information of candidates via Facebook. â€Å"It is easy to track record of candidates on Facebook. These records may imply personal interests, personality and other attributes† Said an HR specialist, â€Å"Traditional resumes are monotonous, like masks, but these records are alive and we can totally tell a difference.† It is not surprisingly true. Tell me if I wrong, if the records of a candidate show that he use the â€Å"f† word all the time, dare you or dare you not hire him? Job applicants like him will lose his opportunity from the beginning. Facebook is now challenging LinkedIn by this advantage. According to the survey conducted by Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost half of companies are now using Facebook in their recruitment process, such as Boeing and Dell. They use Facebook not only for job posting, but also for background investigation. However, research shows that there are different between social media behavior and real life behavior. It is to be studied whether it is reliable to investigate candidates via SNS. 4. LinkedIn LinkedIn is a SNS for professional people. Launched on May 5th, 2003, it is mainly used for professional networking. By the time of June 2012, LinkedIn reports more than 175,000,000 users in more than 200 countries. Monster is one of three largest job posting web site, however, its financial report showed a significant decline in business revenue. According to the market analyst, because of the blooming of LinkedIn, companies like Monster are losing market share in a large scale. Just like Facebook, LinkedIn founded upon the theory of Six Degrees of Separation. Also it was not designed for recruiting; LinkedIn became the major way to recruit in the U.S. by the time of 2006 and achieve profitability. LinkedIn is known as its high accurate matching rate. It can even â€Å"push† eligible candidates to employers by preset standard. According to the co-founder Reid Hoffman, it is more and more important for people to utilize their networking in the future. If you want to change you r job every two or three years, you have to maintain your networking to find new opportunities. SNS is the easiest way to do it. You don’t have to make call after call and desperate to find topic to cottoning up, you don’t have to visit people with gifts door after door. The only thing you have to do is just within few clicks, and you can make connection with people you want to. In his opinion, the value of LinkedIn is â€Å"concentrate in the value moment†. Also Facebook has more user base and more stickiness; it is not safe to say that LinkedIn is losing the game. The orientation of these two web-sites is different. The business scope of Facebook is wide and the â€Å"killer app† of it is social game and â€Å"Share†, while LinkedIn concentrate in professional occupations. In a way, the overlap of these two web-sites is small. People regard Facebook as â€Å"individual† and LinkedIn as â€Å"professional†. Compare to strong interaction of Facebook, LinkedIn is not that strong. However, this weak interaction as â€Å"professional community† is where it value lies. For the user of LinkedIn, log in every day and post threats is meaningless and way far from the identity of professional, it will only imply that you are not in the working status. In other word, user stickiness makes little sense for LinkedIn. In addition, compared to Facebook, LinkedIn is a real-name, high quality user concentrated SNS. In other word, the user group is rich and high-educated middle-aged professions. This user group is known as high business value. According to the statistics from Quantcast, in the United States, the proportion of user over 35 is over 70%, the proportion of user with bachelor or above education is over 75% and the proportion of user with over $100,000 incomes is over 39%, compared to Facebook with only 32%, 53% and 32% (Chart 1). Chart1 Demographic Analysis of Facebook and LinkedIn What’s more, in business related area, LinkedIn is highly recognized than Facebook. According to a research conducted by Jobvite, in job applicants who are now using or will use SNS to find jobs, more than 95% indicate that they will choose LinkedIn. Only 59% chose Facebook and 42% chose Twitter. In people who already find a job by using SNS, 89% of them used LinkedIn, 28% used Facebook. To sum up, although Facebook is now challenging LinkedIn in professional SNS area, LinkedIn is still No.1 in the field. 5. Twitter Twitter is an online social networking service and micro blogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based messages of up to 140 characters, known as â€Å"tweets†. Launched in July, 2006, the service rapidly gained worldwide popularity. By the time of 2012, over 500,000,000 active users generating over 340,000,000 tweets per day and handling over 1,600,000,000 search queries per day. Twitter has been described as â€Å"the SMS of the Internet† Unlike Facebook and LinkedIn, Twitter has its own characteristics. Firstly, there is a limit of characters for each tweet. You can only send up to 140 characters in one tweet. This limit made information fragmented. This kind of fragmented information eliminated the time of reading, and by this elimination user can spread their thought more accurately and more efficiency. Secondly, you don’t have to get â€Å"approval† to follow somebody. This character makes Twitter more like a broadcasting station. Users could follow the Twitter of their favorite celebrity, brand and company to acquire latest trend. Likewise, the later will use Twitter to improve public relation to the target user group. Thirdly, most of user write and read tweets by using mobile devices. That means you will get first hand news via Twitter. An interesting statistic shows that within Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, Twitter has second largest influence of commercial both in B2B and B2C. Facebook has the largest influence of B2C commercial while LinkedIn has the largest influence of B2B commercial (Chart 2). Chart 2 Influences in Commercial For human resource, Twitter has two major functions. The first function is to use Twitter to improve company image. More and more companies now hiring Twitter specialist to manage company Twitter. The other is to recruit. Compare to Facebook and LinkedIn, Twitter is more cost saving, speedy and simple. According to William Fisher, the founder of job searching web site TwitJobSearch, there are more than 340,000 jobs posting in Twitter per month. TwitJobSearch release two apps—Job-Deck and TweetDeck. Users can sort and find job posting related tweets by using these two apps. 6. Cites http://recruiting.jobvite.com/company/press-releases/2011/jobvite-launches-social-job-app-on-facebook-to-power-referral-hiring/ http://callcenterinfo.tmcnet.com/news/2011/10/03/5822750.htm

Top 3 Awesome Resources for Administrative Assistants

Top 3 Awesome Resources for Administrative Assistants Being an administrative assistant can be a tough job. It’s often considered an entry-level position, but it’s a role that requires a large number of skills to perform effectively and support your manager. So how do you gain those skills? And once you’re in the assistant role, what kind of support is there for the supporter?These three online resources are great places to help admin assistants expand and improve skills.1. The American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP)ASAP is an organization created specifically to support professionals like you. Here, you can find career development opportunities like online training courses and webinars, articles on industry trends and business skill development, and a certificate program (Professional Administrative Certificate of Excellence, or PACE) if you  want to be certified as an administrative professional. Access to these benefits is part of a free membership, and with 50,000 members nationwide, you get th e support of an entire field- you’re not alone!2. LinkedInLinkedIn is a great resource for job hunters- but did you know that it can be a useful tool once you’ve been hired, too? Groups like the Administrative Assistant Office Professional Network (149,000+ members) and Administrative Assistant Office Professionals (All Levels) (189,000+ members) offer discussion and networking opportunities for all sorts of admin assistants and professionals. You can also find specialized groups relevant to your role or industry: for example, medical assistants, executive assistants, receptionists, etc. Want to connect with other assistants in your area? You can search for groups specific to your city or region, as well.3. Lynda.comThere aren’t many sites out there that can teach you everything from basic software use to advanced coding- and that’s what makes Lynda.com so special. This site offers online video tutorials for professionals in all industries and at all leve ls and features some great seminars for administrative assistants- whether it’s application training (Excel, Office, Word) or general business skills (marketing, leadership, project management).This site can also be excellent for bumping your skills to the next level, or helping you adapt to different office environments. For example, if you’ve always used a PC but your new office is all Mac, Lynda can give you tips on how to perform your daily tasks in iOS. It’s like having an expert mentor in your pocket at all times.If you’d like to build skills or just find others who can relate to the realities of being an administrative assistant, these resources can be a big help.

The Blue Bird Essays - Eve, Gwen Stefani, Free Essays, Term Papers

The Blue Bird Essays - Eve, Gwen Stefani, Free Essays, Term Papers The Blue Bird ICED MOCHA Man does it get boring sitting around in your room for hours. Theres just nothing to do at this town thats not a crime. Compton isnt the best place to live but you get used to it after you have lived there your whole life. I miss my dog bubbles, its been only 5 months since bubbles died. Bubbles was a good dog but not the brightest of all dogs. My family and I were just sitting in the living room when all of a sudden Bubbles ran and jumped out of the window and fell 5 stories to his death. I was going through a lot of suffering for that dog. This went on for a long time, then after five minutes I didnt care anymore so I watched some T.V. Well enough of that I wonder what my Mom is doing? Mom, Im bored. Jack you need to find something to do, go out and play with your friends or something. Mom, all the kids my age that live around here are gang members or doing something illegal, I want another pet. Right after I said pet my father Pa Pa Chulo turned around and looked at me. Damn boy you asking for another pet. Heres a thought how about you go out and get some friends. You didnt take good care of your other pet your mother had to do everything for that dumb dog. Pa Pa Chulo Bubbles was not dumb. Then what do you call a dog that jumps out of a window boy. I could see I was not getting anywhere by arguing with my Dad so I thought maybe I Should make a deal with my folks. Mom, Dad let me get a pet and if I not taking good enough care of I have to give it away, Ok? Thats fine with me Jack. Thanks Mom at least someone here is resonible. Pa Pa Chulo turned bright red and just started shacking. This is not good I should probably get out of here before he explodes. I jolted out of the apartment down the five flight of stairs and stopped when I was in the parking lot. I was very tired from this whole ordeal It felt like someone was pushing on my chest. See Im on the chubby side so you cant expect me to run down 5 flights of stairs and be alive. Yes lets go to the Pet Store and see what they have. While I was walking down the street many ideas of animals went through my head. How about a cat, no I had a cat before and they were boring and slept a lot. When we had an earthquake you could tell the cat didnt take it that well, he only slept 22 hours that day. Well how about a dog, I dont think so, I havent had the best of luck with dogs. Here I was at the Compton Pet Store, but when I looked inside there was only cats and dogs. Hey Mister Pet Store guy do you have any animals that are not cats or dogs? Well actually we just got a monkey. Wow a monkey, that sounds like a cool pet but I dont know if that will go by that good with Pa Pa Chulo. It doesnt matter. Sure Ill take him. The man went into the back room and came out with this monkey that didnt even go up to my knees, and was light brown. Hey I think Ill call him Ice Mocha. Mocha come on lets go shopping for you I dont want a naked monkey. Mocha just stared at me and let out a high pitch scream that had my ears ringing. Damn Mocha you crazy, you better stop this screaming stuff now if you want to be able to stay with me. My Dad would make me get rid of you in a second. Ice mocha jumped up on my shoulder and we left the store. Right across the street was a Nike Outlet store for Monkeys. Man Mocha how lucky are we. We bought him some air jordans and a red and black warmup. Man Mocha your looking mad fresh but one thing is missing, hmm, oh yeah

Global marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Global marketing - Essay Example Free trade members lack common external tariff unlike in customs union meaning they have different customs and quotas. Free trade area is aimed at reducing barriers to easy exchange so that there is development of trade as a result of division of labour and specialization. Custom Union are normally characterized by generally imposing a common external-tariff on imports from countries who are not members (Sharan). Another characteristic of custom union is that there is no free movement labor among members as well as capital. Custom Union is mutual agreement among the participating neighboring countries to reduce or eliminate customs duty and remove trade barriers on mutual trade. Participants in Custom Union come up with a common external trade policy. In economic integration, Custom union is the third stage and is normally established through trade pacts. Common Market is a formed by countries in the same geographical area to enhance capital among it members and duty free labor movement. It is aimed at bringing economic integration and a common market to the involved member countries. Custom market is characterized by imposing common external tariff on imports from non-members. In Political Union, there is a consolidated and a larger group of countries that share an internationally acknowledged joint government. Political union can be established in a various ways such as; mixed unions incorporating union, and federative annexation. It is characterized by having a common currency and no trade barriers for the member countries. The key provisions of NAFTA which would challenge inclusion of Brazil and Chile is Prohibition of standards as free trade barrier, this is because some product from brazil and chile may not meet U.S. standards may be denied access to market. Another reason is that including Brazil and Chile may lead to changing standards to accommodate their needs whereas NAFTA does not require the United States to change

Proposal Assignment ( University Safety System ) Essay

Proposal Assignment ( University Safety System ) - Essay Example Even though keeping student and occupants of Texas Wesleyan University require the effort of the whole community in general, the university is an important piece of the undertaking to keep staff and the students safe. Safe institutions are purposeful and orderly places in which staff and students are free to teach and learn without the threat of psychological and physical harm. The safety systems in Texas Wesleyan University are weak thus Weak safety systems in this institution interfere with learning process. Strengthening safety system supports a proper learning environment that enables achievement of learning goals. Moreover, Weak safety systems reduce effective learning hours of every student. This has an impact on the grades and general life development. Improving safety systems will enhance their quality of education and life. It is therefore important to create a safety system for camps and the other utilities in Texas Wesleyan University Analysis of Texas Wesleyan University safety system shows certain safety loopholes that require an action plan. As Blake (2 May 2014) states through an interview, Texas Wesleyan University do not have a perimeter wall to enhance physical safety, no surveillance cameras within the older dormitories and the students do not use access cards at the gates and the classes to gain access. Other problems he stated are drunk driving and the few call boxes which are necessary to enhance emergency action system. Increasing student population increases demand for safety systems. Unsafe learning environments will affect learning process. Old technology cannot beat with faster changing demands and different student needs. People play a vital role in any safety program. This is because they provide guidelines with respect to safety policies, staffing, training and procedures. Texas Wesleyan University must come up with a clear safety policy. University safety policy is the

Evaluation of disciplinary interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evaluation of disciplinary interview - Essay Example So I had to discard my initial strategy of being passive and straight away adopt assertive manner to explain my reasons. The most important factor that favoured me was that the interviewer was ready to listen to my reasons with open mind. It was for these reasons that I was able to satisfactorily explain my erratic timekeeping. The open disposition of the interviewer greatly helped to ease my tension. The manager’s understanding of human behaviour greatly facilitated my strategy to come to the desired outcome. All through the interview, I never felt threatened. But the mild rebuke from the manager about my not being open with him regarding my personal problems and timely communication of the same was justifiable. Though, he was quite sympathetic about my child’s health problem, he informed me gently that he too is a father but at the same time, being a manager, he is also accountable for his workers performance as well as for their welfare. Had I discussed my problems with him, I would have better managed my office and personal life. Indeed, I was let off with warning that any future late hours would be treated as such and no leverage would be given. The feedback was an important proceeding that comprised of open class discussion of my role play video. The peer observation was the highlight of the interview. I was informed that the first assumption of the manager about my late coming had really taken me by surprise and I had no alternative but to become assertive to maintain my credibility. I had also maintained respect for my manager that had shown through my facial expression and non verbal behaviour. My manager was very open minded and empathetic that had helped me to be frank and discuss my personal problems. The attitude and behaviour of the manager inspired trust which became the major element of facilitating satisfactory outcome of the interview. The manager’s assertion that effective communication helps to solve problem

Academic Honesty Essay Example for Free

Academic Honesty Essay Academic misconduct and dishonesty is prevalent in institutions of higher learning, especially with online students (Staats, Happ Hagley, 2008). The lack of academic honesty affects the integrity of the institutions, of degree programs, and the character of current and future students (Staats, Happ Hagley, 2008). Studies have shown that a student who strives to be academically honest completes work that is morally and ethically sound. They ensure that all of their work is their own or that they have given credit to the original source (Academic Ethics, 2014). Academically honest students exhibit characteristics such as empathy, courage, and honesty more often than do less honest students. The high prevalence of these characteristics is a good predictor of a lower occurrence of academic dishonesty (Staats, Happ Hagley, 2008). â€Å"Honesty and Heroes: A Positive Psychology View of Heroism and Academic Honest,† a study published in the Journal of Psychology in 2008, was performed to show how heroism is related to academic honesty in online students. The study showed that fifty percent of students involved in the study admitted to lacking academic honesty in their schoolwork (Staats, Happ Hagley, 2008). The first experiment involved 200 students from the Mid-west with an average age of 22. 3 years. Three measures were used to test potential academic honesty, including courage, honesty, and empathy. Results showed that these measures were inter-correlated and lead to the potential for cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty (Staats, Happ Hagley, 2008). The second experiment involved 69 undergraduates from the same Mid-western institution with an average age of 20. 03 years. Results showed that most students reported cheating on exams or lying in their own interest (Staats, Happ Hagley, 2008). The authors found that those students who decided not to cheat had a high degree of academic virtue which they defined as heroism (Staats, Happ Hagley, 2008). ACADEMIC HONESTY AND THE ONLINE STUDENT DOUET 3 Prior to reading this article, I hadn’t put together that empathy, courage, and honesty are some of the characteristics found in an academically honest student. I was surprised about the amount of people who admit to academic dishonesty. Scriptures tell us in Proverbs 12:22 that â€Å"lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. † In order to please the Lord a student needs to work with integrity throughout their degree program and ensure that all of their work is theirs or is supported by those to whom the work is originally credited. I will apply the characteristics of heroism such as courage, empathy, and honesty in all of my coursework. I will ensure that all of the work that I submit will be my own and if I borrow any ideas from others, I will credit them for the work. The amount of academic dishonesty involved with college students is astounding, and needs to be corrected using the Christian worldview which states that we should live and work with integrity. In Proverbs 10:9, Jesus tells us that â€Å"whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. † The more concern students have for others, and the more noble-minded students and more morally sound they are, the less likely they are to cheat. By encouraging those virtues in the student body, the university will garner a higher degree of respect for the institution and degree programs that they offer. In conclusion, as we hear in Hebrews 13:18, â€Å"Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. † ACADEMIC HONESTY AND THE ONLINE STUDENT DOUET 4. References Academic Ethics. (2014, January 1). . Retrieved June 12, 2014, from https://www. liberty. edu/index. cfm? PID=24212this_session_key=86vE59559nh834YHx1u4OX993N94898H2t72B1ZmG8 3kfullnameErrorCode=ns=falsewebsite=year=2014term=30returnCASTicket =TGT-132907-BkExOI1gz9ZiSKCCxCaTCAaNIMyYs9JQJWGlo9lm3fmviRTkgX-cas2 prod. liberty. eduCFID=249618158CFTOKEN=24951222 Moscetelli, R. G. (2005). The Quote Manuel: Wisdom and Wit of the Ages. : Author House. Staats, S. , Happ, J. M. , Hagley, A. M. (2008). Honesty and Heroes: A Positive Psychology View of Heroism and Academic Honesty. The Journal of Psychology, 142, 357-72.

An Examination Of Bioplastics Technology Environmental Sciences Essay

An Examination Of Bioplastics Technology Environmental Sciences Essay Bioplastics also called organic plastics are a form of plastics produced from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable oil, corn starch, pea starch or microbiota rather than fossil-fuel plastics which are derived from petroleum. They are polymers which are also obtained from plants genetically engineered to produce them. [1] Some, but not all, bioplastics are designed to biodegrade. Bioplastics are made in order to solve the problems caused by plastics which are non-biodegardable. Bioplastics are not new, it is been there from around 1850.There are different types of bioplastics like the starch based bioplastic, the polylactic acid, PHB, bio-derived polyethylene and the genetically modified bioplastics. Bioplastics are biodegradable that is they can be broken down into simpler compounds by the microbes and thus do not remain for years in the environment. Bioplastics are used in making many items like the disposable cutlery, and for biomedical uses,etc. Its market value is a littl e less as of now but will increase in the near future. Global plastics problem Plastics are carbon-based polymers which are made mostly from petroleum.The word plastic means flexible.Plastics are used to make mostly disposable, low-value items such as food-wrap and product packaging, but theres nothing particularly disposable about most plastics. On an average, we use plastic bags for 12 minutes before getting rid of them-yet they can take fully 500 years to break down in the environment. [2] Compounds like polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene are largely used in the manufacture of plastics. [1] Excessive molecular size is the reason for the resistance of these compounds to biodegradation. Plastics are xenobiotic compounds which are recalcitrant (completely resistant) to biodegradation. [3] Getting rid of plastics is extremely difficult. Burning them can give off toxic chemicals such as dioxins, while collecting and recycling them responsibly is also difficult.With societys ever-increasing focus on protecting the environment, theres a new emphasis on des igning plastics that will disappear much more quickly. Broadly speaking, so-called environmentally friendly plastics fall into three types: bioplastics made from natural materials such as corn starch or generally plants; biodegradable plastics made from traditional petrochemicals, which are engineered to break down more quickly; and eco/recycled plastics, which are simply plastics made from recycled plastic materials rather than raw petrochemicals. History Bioplastics are not new. In the 1850s, a British chemist made plastics from cellulose, a derivative of wood pulp. Later, in the early 20th century, Henry Ford experimented soy based plastics in his automobiles, even going to the extent of unveiling a complete prototype plastic car in 1941.But by then petroleum had emerged as a source of synthetic polymers, which possesed more favourable properties than that of plant based plastics. World War II cemented the dominance of synthetic plastics. Only in the last ten years, in response to the rising cost and less supply of oil, have bioplastics re-emerged in consumer applications. In 2003, Nature Works- a joint venture of Cargill, the largest agricultural business in the United States, and Dow Chemical, the countrys biggest chemical company began producing Ingeo bioplastics, which can be extruded into containers for food packaging and into fibers for apparel, furnishings, and disposable products such as baby wipes. Ingeo is a PLA, or polyla ctic acid, derived from corn. Alternatives are also being made from castor beans, sugarcane, algae and even chicken feathers. Bioplastics are yet to meet the performance requirements of more durable goods. At the moment they are in their infancy. They are actually being used as molded products. Cell phone casings are one such example. The Japanese company NEC unveiled a phone with a corn- based plastic body. applications. Types of bioplastics: Starch linked plastics: Starch is a linear polymer (polysaccaride) made up of repeating glucose units linked by glucosidic linkages in the 1-4 carbon positions. Starch-based biodegradable plastics contain starch contents ranging from 10% to greater than 90%. Starch based polymers can be based on crops such as corn (maize), wheat or potatoes.As the starch content is increased, the polymer become more biodegradable and leave less recalcitrant residues. Often, starch-based polymers are blended with high-performance polymers (e.g. aliphatic polyesters and polyvinyl alcohols) to achieve the necessary performance properties for different applications. Biodegradation of starch based polymers is a result of enzymatic attack at the glucosidic linkages between the sugar groups leading to a reduction in chain length and the splitting off of sugar units (monosaccharides, disaccharides and oligosaccharides) that are readily utilised in biochemical pathways. At lower starch contents (less than 60%) the starch particles act as weak links in the plastic matrix and are sites for biological attack. This allows the polymer matrix to disintegrate into small fragments, but not for the entire polymer structure to actually bio-degrade. The bulk of soil bacteria are heterotrophic and utilize readily available source of organic energy from sugars, starch, cellulose and protein.[4] Microbes such as Bacillus, Clostridium, Micrococcus, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Rhizopus; etc are involved in starch hydrolysis. There are several categories of biodegradable starch-based polymers including: Thermoplastic starch products; Starch synthetic aliphatic polyester blends; Starch PBS/PBSA polyester blends; and Starch PVOH Blends. Starch based plastic constitutes about 50 percent of the bioplastics market, thermoplastic starch such as Plastarch material, currently is the most important and widely used bioplastic. Pure starch absorbs humidity and is therefore used for the production of drug capsules in the pharmaceutical industries. Biolac: Biolac is polylactic acid. Polylactic acid is an aliphatic polyester. The monomers which make up this polyester are lactic acid units. PLA is a transparent plastic produced from cane sugar, glucose or starch waste. It resembles conventional petrochemical mass plastics in its characteristics, and it can also be processed easily. Polylactic acid can be produced by chemical methods and by fermentation method using microbes.The Lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus amylophilus, L. Bavaricus,L. Casei) produce lactic acid using starch, which is then polymerised by bacteria such as A.eutrophus into polylactic acid.[5]Polylactic acid is biodegradable because it is the product formed by bacterial digestion of starch waste. The biodegradation of polylactic acid is brought about by the hydrolysis of the ester bonds by esterolytic enzymes produced by bacteria like Amycolatopsis species. PLA has become a significant commercial bioplastic. Its used in making bottles, yogurt cups, and candy wrappers. It is also used for making food service ware, lawn and food waste bags, coatings for paper and cardboard and fibers for clothing, carpets, sheets and towels and wall coverings. In biomedical applications it is used for sutures, prosthetic materials and materials for drug delivery. It also has many potential uses, for example as upholstery, disposable garments, awnings, feminine hygeine products and nappies. Microbially synthesized plastics ( Biopol) Poly -3 hydroxy butyrate ( PHB) is a polyester produced by certain bacteria like Rhodovibrio sodomensis in the presence of excess carbon like glucose or starch. It is also called as Biopol.Poly-ÃŽÂ ² hydroxy butyrate accumulates as energy reserve in many micro-organisms like Alcaligenes, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Nocardia, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium etc.It is a poly hydroxy-alkanoate ( PHA). It is a common storage material of prokaryotic cells consisting of a polymer of ÃŽÂ ²- hydroxybutyrate or another ÃŽÂ ²- alkanoic acid. Reserve polymers store excess nutrients present under favourable growth conditions for use during periods of nutrient deprivation.[6] A wide variety of Bacteria and Archaea produce PHAs. Biopol is made in industrial fermentor by bacteria that converts sugars ( refined from corn or beet) into a polymer. Genetically engineered Arabidopsis thaliana a type of cress is also used to make Biopol.[1] Its characteristics are similar to those of petroplastic polypropyle ne.It produces transparent film at a melting point higher than 130 degrees Celsius, and is biodegradable without residue. PHB is suitable for specialized areas like biomedical use and speciality coatings. A copolymer of PHB ( Poly ÃŽÂ ²- hydroxy butyrate) and PHV ( Poly ÃŽÂ ²- hydroxy valerate) are used in making shampoo bottles in Europe. PHB is easily degraded as it is an energy source of microbes. A copolymer containing approximately equal amounts of PHB and PHV has had the greatest market success thus far.[7] Bio-derived polyethylene The basic building block of polyethylene is ethylene. This is just one small chemical step from ethanol, which can be produced by fermentation of agricultural feedstocks such as sugar cane or corn. Bio-derived polyethylene is chemically and physically identical to traditional polyethylene, it does not biodegrade but can be recycled. It can also considerably reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Brazilian chemicals group Braskem claims that using its route from sugar cane ethanol to produce one tonne of polyethylene captures (removes from the environment) 2.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide while the traditional petrochemical route results in emissions of close to 3.5 tonnes. It can be used in packaging such as bottles and tubs Genetically modified bioplastics Genetically modified bioplastics are bioplastics which are produced from genetically modified plants and microbes. Normally the plants and microbes produce very small quantities of bioplastics, therefore their production on a large scale is expensive. Genetically modified plants and microbes can be used for the industrial production of bioplastics. Employing genetic-modification methods Monsanto has also developed plants (oilseed rape) that produce relatively small amounts of Biopol (5% of the total weight) in their cells. The ultimate aim is to develop plants that consist of up to 20% by weight of Biopol, thereby enabling various bioplastics to be produced for a wide variety of applications. Biodegradation of bioplastics All bio- and petroleum-based plastics are technically biodegradable, meaning they can be degraded by microbes under suitable conditions. However many degrade at such slow rates as to be considered non-biodegradable. The degree of biodegradation varies with temperature, polymer stability, and available oxygen content. Consequently, most bioplastics will only degrade in the tightly controlled conditions of commercial composting units. An internationally agreed standard, EN13432, defines how quickly and to what extent a plastic must be degraded under commercial composting conditions for it to be called biodegradable. This is published by the International Organisation for Standardization ISO and is recognised in many countries, including all of Europe, Japan and the US. However, it is designed only for the aggressive conditions of commercial composting units. There is no standard applicable to home composting conditions. Biodegradable plastics are made from traditional petrochemicals, w hich are engineered to break down more quickly. Traditional plastics such as polyethylene are degraded by ultra-violet (UV) light and oxygen. To prevent this process manufacturers add stabilising chemicals. However with the addition of a degradation initiator to the plastic, it is possible to achieve a controlled UV/oxidation disintegration process. This type of plastic may be referred to as degradable plastic or oxy-degradable plastic or photodegradable plastic because the process is not initiated by microbial action. The degraded plastic residue will be attacked by microbes. Applications Bioplastics are mainly used in making disposable items such as packaging and catering items such as crockery, cutlery, pots, bowls, straws, etc. The use of bioplastics in making shopping bags is already very common, after this initial use these bags are used for organic wastes and then they can be composted. Bioplastics are also used for making trays and containers for fruits, vegetables, eggs and meat, bottles for soft drinks and dairy products and blister foils for for fruit and vegetables. Bioplastics are used in making non-disposable items also for example mobile phone casings made by the NEC, carpet fibres by Dupont Sorona and car interiors done by the Mazda company. The French company Arkema, produces a grade of bioplastic called Rilsan, which is used in fuel line and plastic pipe. In these uses the goal is not biodegradability but to create items from sustainable resources. Drawbacks Though bioplastics are eco-friendly and are of great use, they have their own drawbacks. When some biodegradable plastics decompose in landfills, methane gas is produced, which is a very powerful greenhouse gas that adds to the problem of global warming. Biodegradable plastics and bioplastics dont always readily decompose. Some need high temperatures and in some conditions can still take many years to break down. Even then leave behind toxic residues. Bioplastics are made from plants such as corn and maize, so plants which are a food to be eaten are used to make bioplastics which is also an ethical issue. Some bioplastics are made from genetically modified plants which are harmful to the environment. Bioplastics and biodegradable plastics cannot be recycled easily. There are accelerated rates of deforestation due to the use of plants in making bioplastics. Manufacture of bioplastic materials is reliant on petroleum as a source of energy which is required to power farm machinery, irrigate growing crops, to produce fertilizers and pesticides, to transport crops and crop products to processing plants, to process raw materials and ultimately to produce bioplastics. Many bioplastics lack the performance and ease of processing of traditional materials. Polylactic acid plastic is being used by a handful of small companies for making water bottles. But the shelf life of these bottles is limited because the plastic is permeable to water the bottles lose their contents and slowly deform. Market value of bioplastics Bioplastics are rapidly catching up. Bioplastics are already unbeatable as medical implants, which dissolve in the body, as compostable mulch films for agriculture. Packaging materials constitute the most important application area for bioplastics, for example filler materials that are utilized in very large amounts. Supermarkets are increasingly using compostable shoppng bags. However the largest growth rates of the use of bioplastics are seen in electronic industries in consoles or cell phone cases. During the past eight years consumption of biodegradable plastics based on starch, sugar and cellulose has increased by around 600 percent. Starch based bioplastics are dominant in Europe. Bioplastics have the potential to reduce the petroleum consumption for plastics by 15 to 20 percent in 2025.Bioplastics have 10 to 20 percent share of the total plastics market and it will increase to 25 to 30 percent by 2020.There are over 500 bioplastics processing companies already available, more than 5000 is expected by 2020.Europe is one of the leading country in the market of bioplastics. Already bioplastics are used for variety of items, there would be more and more applications for bioplastics in the near future, especially in the automobile and electronics industries where plastics are indispensable. Toyota is one of the leading companies in research and usage of bioplastics. Bioplastic companies are relatively small plants and are in there initial stages of development. The scenario in India is a little different. The market of bioplastics is a little challenging here due to unawareness about the eco friendly nature of bioplastics and its uses. This therefore can be overcome by creating an wareness on the uses and benefits of bioplastics. The market for bioplastics in India grew at 30 percent in 2008 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 44.8 percent between 2009 and 2015.Apart from all this there is an availability of abundant feedstock in due to which it can become a hot destination for bioplastics companies.

Michelangelo :: Art, Paintings

Michelangelo Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti was born on March 6, 1475 in Caprese, Tuscany. His dad was Lodovico di Buonarrotto and his mother was Fracessca Neri. Michelangelo was also the second of five brothers. His mother was not capable of raising Michelangelo so his dad let a stonecutter’s wife raise him. Sadly, Michelangelo’s mom died when he was six (Bonner Par. 1-13). Michelangelo’s family moved to Florence, Italy a month after his birth. Although his family was not wealthy, Michelangelo went to school in 1482. When Michelangelo started to excel in the arts his dad was not happy. He wanted Michelangelo to become a government or military figure. He beat Michelangelo to steer him away from the arts. Finally, at age 13 Michelangelo’s dad gave up and let Michelangelo start an apprenticeship under Domenico Ghirlando to learn (McNeese 11-21). Michelangelo’s first sculptures were made when he was around age 16. These sculptures were the Battle of the Centaurs and Madonna of the Stairs. The Battle of the Centaurs consisted of nude Greek men fighting centaurs. Centaurs are creatures that have the top half of a man and a bottom half of horse. These sculptures are what told Giovanni de Bertoldo, Michelagelo’s second teacher, that he had a unique calling for sculpting (Bonner Par. 1). Shortly after arriving in Rome, Michelangelo was hired to make a Roman god sculpture. Michelangelo chose to sculpt the Roman god of wine, Bacchus. Michelangelo spent a year on the project. The original customer was not happy with but Jacopo Galli, a Roman banker, purchased the piece. This sculpture is what lead Michelangelo to become more famous (McNeese 34). The next sculpture that Michelangelo made was for a French cardinal, Jean Villiers de Fezencac. The cardinal wanted a sculpture of Virgin Mary and Jesus. Michelangelo signed a contract to be paid 450 ducats if he completed the sculpture in one year. Gladly, he finished the sculpture successfully. The sculpture was called the Pieta and consisted of the siting Virgin Mary with the dead body of her son Jesus across her lap (McNeese 35). In April 1508 Pope Julius II hired Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (McNeese 87). The Sistine Chapel was where major papal ceremonies took place (Summers 11). Although Julius II just wanted Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the chapel Michelangelo had bigger ideas. By 1513, Michelangelo had around 340 figures on the ceiling of the chapel.