Hills Like White Elephants Analysis

Sand Slides Like Lambs Have you ever looked at the West Elk mountains and seen the lamb in the side of Mt. Lamborn? The reason it is called that is because of the sandy slide that resembles a sheep much like the Cantabrian mountains of Spain resemble white elephants. â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† (1927), written by Ernest Hemingway, is about a young, unmarried couple, the American and Jig, who are sitting at a train station in Spain, apprehensively discussing an abortion for Jig. The story starts with Jig looking at the surrounding hills and talking about different types of alcohol.There is a following conversation between the two where they talk about their relationship post-abortion. There is not a definite conclusion to their discussion, and it is left up to the reader to infer. In â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† Hemingway utilizes symbolization, characterization, and conflict to create a tense story between a young man and lady and give a clue as to whether or not the couple proceeds to get the abortion or not. Hemingway uses dialogue to develop conflict to show that even without a lot of clues, the couple is still arguing about something.The first example is when the woman suggests that the hills look like white elephants but the man says he’s never seen one. In response she remarks, â€Å"No, you wouldn’t have,† in a way that makes it sound as if she didn’t intend for her comment to be nice. Then, further into the story, the conversation dies down and the woman says, â€Å"They don’t really look like white elephants. I just meant the colouring of their skin through the trees. † By saying this the woman is almost scared of being wrong in the eyes of the man, so she submissively changes her own opinion to conform with his.The woman creates a lot of the conflict but an example of the man doing this is when he keeps insisting on things until the girl is finally fed up and asks him, â€Å"Will you please †¦ stop talking? † This line is important because it shows the attitude and brashness of the man which is characterization, as I’ll talk about in my next paragraph. Characterization plays a prominent role in the story because the reader never gets to hear the thoughts of the characters, only their conversation and actions.For instance, upon arriving in the train station, the woman instantly begins to look at her surroundings, looking off at the line of hills, and commenting on them. When she does this it is like Hemingway wants readers to see Jig as a person who is more aware of new ideas and possibilities . He makes the American the opposite, however. Whenever the girl begins to look off at at something, she is quickly brought back to reality because the American wants to talk about what he thinks is important. The American is also less tactful when talking about the abortion.He constantly refers to it as an operation, â€Å"just to let the air in,† whereas Jig never even mentions it. With Jig never mentioning the operation because it is taboo and saying things like, â€Å"And if I do it you’ll be happy and things will be like they were and you’ll love me,† makes her seem inferior and dependent on the American (WriteWork Contributors). She sounds childish and thinks that the only way to be happy is to please the American man. Hemingway’s characterization creates two conflicting personalities that raises the tension and gives the reader a sense of actually sitting at a table near them, eavesdropping.The most important element in â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† is symbolization because there are a lot of ideas and words that don’t have the same impact as they do when there is a concrete object resembling it. One of the most important symbols in this story was the bead curtain that hangs and separates the kitchen from the dining area. The meaning behind the curtain is to separate one thi ng from another, like the American and Jig’s opinion on keeping the baby. Painted on the curtain is â€Å"Anis del Toro† which is booze of the bull (Shmoop Editorial Team). This alludes to how meaningful alcohol is in the story.When Jig says, â€Å"That’s all we do, isn’t it – look at things and try new drinks,† it seems that they are frequent party-goers, and that may be how she got pregnant in the first place. Then they try the Anis del Toro and Jig comments, â€Å"Everything tastes of liquorice. Especially all the things you’ve waited so long for. † Maybe after a few years of hard partying she realizes that it isn’t all that great and tastes of vile licorice. These two lines together make her think that settling down and making a family may be what she actually wants. Furthermore the very landscape that the story is set in is a symbol.The narrator mentions, â€Å"On this side there was no shade and no trees and the s tation was between two lines of rails in the sun,† implying that the current situation was very barren and dry. But then later in the story, â€Å"The girl stood up and walked to the end of the station. Across, on the other side, were fields of grain and trees along the banks of the Ebro,† which portrays a very green, fertile landscape. Hemingway uses these two descriptions to symbolize and contrast Jig’s decision of whether or not she will carry out the abortion. Hemingway’s usage of symbols helps enrich the story. Hills Like White Elephants† had several important techniques such as conflict, characterization, and symbolization to make a dramatic story about a man and woman and their differences. After finishing the story, many readers are able to infer that they did not keep the baby. This is because the last line is Jig pleasing the man and denying that she is feeling anything but â€Å"fine. † Geography can be simple landmarks, or it can b e complex symbols for taboo topics. Works Cited Edwards, Fred. â€Å"Critical Analysis. † House of Desmond. Web. 14 Feb. 2013. . Hemingway, Ernest . â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants. † Anchorage School District.Web. 15 Feb. 2013. . â€Å"Katy's American Literature Blog: Symbolism in â€Å"Hills like White Elephants†. † Katy's American Literature Blog. 29 Jan. 2009. Web. 16 Feb. 2013.. Shmoop Editorial Team. â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants Drugs and Alcohol Quotes Page 1† Shmoop. com. Shmoop University, Inc. , 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 16 Feb. 2013. Shmoop Editorial Team. â€Å"The Bamboo Bead Curtain in Hills Like White Elephants† Shmoop. com. Shmoop University, Inc. , 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 16 Feb. 2013. WriteWork contributors. â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants: Jig Character Analysis† WriteWork. com. 19 February, 2009. Web. 16 Feb. 2013.

Ap European History Reading Questions-Chapter 15

1. The upmost important reason for economic and social problems that troubled Europe from 1560 to 1650 was an incredible inflation among other things. The Spanish empire brought tons of gold back to Europe and caused the value of gold to plummet. Since this was a situation that Europe had never experienced, they didn't understand it. More gold was supposed to be good, right? Suddenly prices started to rise for no reason. Also in Spain, unlike gold, there was very little silver being produced at the time and therefore pirate attacks began to take place.Other problems facing Europe during this time include, population decline, plague, economic warfare, and famine. As a result of all these problems, social tension was greatly increased, all involved with a â€Å"crisis† at hand. 2. Although initially caused by religious issues, by the mid 1630s the Thirty Years War had become a dynastic conflict between two Catholic powers; France and the Hapsburgs. As the Battle of the Boyne and the Jacobite risings the '15 and the '45 in Scotland were directly linked to religious ideas that the TYW was the last religious war in Europe are therefore mistaken.Really, a more accurate name for the Thirty Years’ War would be, ‘The first modern war' would be more accurate. New tactics, deployments, equipment and methods were introduced in European armies which were widely adopted within a decade by almost all armies and all further developed over the next few decades. 3. The Military Revolution refers to a radical change in military strategy and tactics with resulting major changes in government. The concept was introduced by Michael Roberts in the 1950s as he focused on Sweden 1560–1660 searching for major changes in the European way of war caused by introduction of portable firearms.Roberts linked military technology with larger historical consequences, arguing that innovations in tactics, drill and doctrine by the Dutch and Swedes 1560–1660, which maximized the utility of firearms, led to a need for more trained troops and thus for permanent forces. These changes in turn had major political consequences in the level of administrative support and the supply of money, men and provisions, producing new financial demands and the creation of new governmental institutions. Thus, argued Roberts, the modern art of war made possible — and necessary — the creation of the modern state. † 4. Women were viewed as being spiritually weaker than men, and more susceptible to demonic influence, and this meant that women tended to be suspected of being witches much more often than men. However, this was not a consistent pattern found throughout Europe. In some regions, there were more men convicted of witchcraft than women, in the Lorraine region of France for example, and in Iceland, where the overwhelming majority of convictions were of men.Overall though, about 75% of those executed for witchcraft were women. So ultimatel y what this suggests about women in the 16th and 17th centuries is that women were not nearly as important as men in society during this time. 5. Absolutism pertains to an absolutist state, where all power, or sovereignty is made in the ruler. These rulers claimed to have divine right, meaning they ruled by the grace of God and were responsible only to God. However, these absolute monarchs respected the basic laws of the land.They controlled interest groups within their territories and created bureaucracies as well, in which the offices held public/state positions, directing the economy to the benefit of the king. Absolute monarchs also kept permanent standing armies and created new methods of compulsion. Louis XIV of France was an aggressive expansionist. He followed in the footsteps of Cardinal Richelieu in that aspect. His foreign policies were mainly against the Habsburg dynasty's power and the ownership of French-speaking territories by nations other than France.Hence, his fore ign policies included many wars. He took over the Spanish Netherlands and some of the United Provinces of Holland, and Franche-Comte. However, his aggressive advances caused alliances to be formed against him which included the Habsburg domains of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire, England, and Holland in all of their incarnations. Eventually, Louis XIV could not defeat the alliances, and some acquired territories were lost again in treaties, even French colonies. 6.The reign of Peter the Great marked the emergence of a decisive Russian influence in European affairs, an influence that would last into the twenty-first century. It was Peter who inaugurated modern Russia's vigorous and aggressive foreign policy against its three neighboring states, Sweden, Poland, and the Ottoman Empire. Through the Great Northern War (1700-1721), he decisively broke Sweden's supremacy in the Baltic, while his wars against the Ottoman Turks and his interference in the internal affairs of Poland set prece dents that later Russian rulers would follow in subsequent decades.These great strides made by Russia in Eastern Europe were to a considerable extent the result of Peter's extensive program of reforms, which touched all facets of Russian life. 7. Although it may sound strange, it was Napoleon who was majorly responsible for the transformation of Brandenburg-Prussia. Napoleon invaded half of Europe and also the most German states. Only East Prussia remained free and became the leader in the â€Å"Befreiungskrieg† (Freedom war) against France. It was this war against Napoleon 1812-1815 that created a common German national feeling.This transformation is still evident in modern society of Germany today. 8. In the later fifteenth century- the period of the ‘refoundation of the Crown’, in Sir John’s Fortescue’s phrase- there was a marked change in the structure of politics and hence in the nature and role of faction also; a politics of many centres becam e a politics of one. To begin with, in the feebly strange grasp of Henry IV the monarchy had descended into being one noble faction among many- and not necessarily the strongest.The fact became manifest from 1456 when the King abandoned the government of the kingdom: the court withdrew from London to Coventry in the heart of the Lancastrian lands, and the national revenues were diverted from the Exchequer and used directly- like the income of any other lord- to pay for the royal household and the royal retainers. Henry was now only effectively Duke of Lancaster and he was soon to loose that. 9. The main issue was a disagreement between the king and Parliament about who had ultimate political power.King Charles believed in Divine Right, the idea that he was king because God wanted him to be. Further, as the king's power was God given, no earthly power or person could justly remove it from him. Parliament saw themselves as the elected representatives of the People and therefore believ ed they should have ultimate political authority, even over the king. Thus, when Charles needed money, Parliament would refuse to cooperate unless Charles addressed alleged abuses of his power first. This always led to political deadlock, and eventually to civil war.Puritans took control of Parliament's war effort during the First English Civil War, and by 1646 and the end of the war extreme Puritans known as Independents had taken control of the military, The NMA. Using the NMA as his power base, Oliver Cromwell was able to intimidate Parliament into the execution of Charles I, The abolition of the Monarchy, and the establishment of the Commonwealth. The main change was that, on the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, Parliament ensured that the King had a guaranteed annual income that was enough both to live off his own, and pay for the ordinary expenses of state and expenses. 10.The Dutch Republic, officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces, was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and ultimately the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands. Alternative names include the United Provinces Federated Dutch Provinces and Dutch Federation. 11. Art reflected the political and social life of the second half of the seventeenth century primarily through mannerism, which reflected environment attempt to break down renaissance principles.Baroque however, reflected search for power and just the will to control all people during that time. Then, literature reflected political and social life during this time through writing research on a new type of stage, known as the â€Å"golden stage of literature. † Literature was a major component of this time period also in that in was an era of many great dramas and playwrights such as the still-praised today, William Shakespeare. 12. Form s of monarchy differ widely based on the level of legal autonomy the monarch holds in governance, the method of selection of the monarch, and any predetermined limits on the length of their tenure.When the monarch has no or few legal restraints in state and political matters, it is called an absolute monarchy and is a form of autocracy. Cases in which the monarch's discretion is formally limited (most common today) are called constitutional monarchies. In hereditary monarchies, the office is passed through inheritance within a family group, whereas elective monarchies are selected by some system of voting. Historically these systems are most commonly combined, either formally or informally, in some manner. For instance, in some elected monarchies only those of certain pedigrees are considered eligible, whereas many hereditary monarchies have legal requirements regarding the religion, age, gender, mental capacity, and other factors that act both as de facto elections and to create si tuations of rival claimants whose legitimacy is subject to effective election. ) Finally, there are situations in which the expiration of a monarch’s reign is set based either on the calendar or on the achievement of certain goals (repulse of invasion, for instance. )

Cost Analysis

Table of content Introduction: Financing decisions and investment decisions are considered to be two of the most vital decisions that corporations have to take. Cost analysis is one of the factors that should be taken into consideration while evaluating financial and investment decisions. This paper reviews the concept of cost analysis, how it is used in decision making, and how firms usually involve cost analysis in evaluating different projects. Furthermore, the paper discusses some of the main concepts that are derived from cost analysis such as cost allocation, cost-effectiveness analysis, and cost-benefit analysis. In addition, some of the advantages and disadvantages of cost analysis will be discussed. Moreover, the concept of intangible cost analysis will be introduced. Then, the results and findings of the research paper will be illustrated. Finally, few recommendations that are based on the results and findings will be made. Literature Review: Due to its high importance in the decision making process, cost analysis has been discussed in many books by several authors who illustrated different aspects of cost analysis. In his book â€Å"cost-benefit analysis,† E. J. Mishan discussed in depth the concept of cost-benefit analysis, which is a form of cost analysis. Professor Mishan focused on some of the key concepts that are related to cost-benefit analysis. The author started his book with few examples of cost analysis in order to illustrate to the reader the meaning of cost-benefit analysis. Then, Mr. Mishan illustrated the economical aspect of cost-benefit analysis and showed how opportunity cost could be related to cost-benefit analysis. Furthermore, Mr. Mishan tried to show how cost-benefit analysis is limited and can be used partially in the decision making process. A notable section of Mr. Mishan’s book is certainty equivalence. In this section, the author developed an assumption that â€Å"enables us formally to rank a number of alternative uncertain benefits without first reducing each to a certainty equivalent. In his article â€Å"Ways to Deliver More for Less,† Harry E. Roberts, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Boscov’s Department Stores, discussed how cost analysis can be used to reduce IT spending. Mr. Roberts discussed how the IT budgeting has changed over time. The author suggested ways to enable Information Technology, which is a cost center rather than a profit center, to â€Å"deliver more than what is expected and at a lower cost than what was budgeted. † Then, Mr. Roberts suggested that a revision for different costs, such as variable costs, fixed costs, and payroll costs, should be made. The author concluded his research by emphasizing on the fact that â€Å"every dollar invested on a cost item must deliver as much value to the business as its highest-margin product or service. † Cost Analysis: Definition According to The U. S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, cost analysis can be defined as â€Å"the process of obtaining cost breakdowns, verifying cost data, evaluating specific elements of costs and examining data to determine necessity, reasonableness, and appropriateness of the costs. Both financing and investment decisions are highly affected by cost analysis as corporations usually pay a great deal of attention to the different types of costs that are involved in the different projects that will be taken into consideration either to raise funds or to invest surplus funds that a corporation has. Sometimes cost analysis is perceived as a tool that is used only to reduce costs. In contrast to this point of view, cost analysis is believe d to be a tool that helps management to choose the best possible solution or project among many different alternatives. In their article â€Å"â€Å"Using Cost Analysis In Evaluation,† Meg Sewell and Mary Marczak believe that cost analysis methods and uses are â€Å"complex, require very sophisticated technical skills and training in methodology and in principles of economics, and should not be taken lightly. † Three Types of Cost Analysis: Three of the main concepts that are derived from cost analysis are cost allocation, cost-effectiveness analysis, and cost-benefit analysis. These three methods are usually used simultaneously in order for corporations to evaluate different decisions or projects. Some of these methods might seem simple and easy to use; however, they should never be ignored or taken slightly as they can be of great benefit in determining the right decisions. Cost Allocation: Cost allocation is the simplest among the three concepts that were mentioned earlier. Sewell and Marczak stated that cost allocation refers to â€Å"setting up budgeting and accounting systems in a way that allows program managers to determine a unit cost or cost per unit of service. Furthermore, Sewell and Marczak illustrated that in many corporations, cost allocation is used to provide â€Å"some of the basic information needed to conduct more ambitious cost analyses such as cost-benefit analysis or cost-effectiveness analysis. † Therefore, it can be concluded that cost allocation is a prerequisite to both cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis. Example: The following table shows the monthly cost allocation for 3 different projects It is important to note that firm s usually allocate their costs based on previous experience and estimation. However, firms should expect costs to change, which can be due to financial crises, inflation, or other factors, and try to adapt their cost allocation systems in such a way that it will handle the new changes. Based on the costing method that the company uses, such as activity-based costing, a more detailed cost allocation system can be structured in order to determine the unit cost as precisely as possible Once costs have been identified and allocated, more advanced cost analysis methods, such as cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-benefit analysis, are used. Cost-effectiveness Analysis: According to Sewell and Marczak, the concept of cost-effectiveness analysis holds that â€Å"a certain benefit or outcome is desired, and that there are several alternative ways to achieve it. † However, cost-effectiveness analysis should not be used separately during the process of evaluating projects or decisions as it will favor the cheapest option. Instead, cost-effectiveness analysis should be used along with cost allocation and cost-benefit analysis in order to provide more precise and more informative outcomes. It is important to mention that cost-effectiveness is a comparative tool that compares the cost of separate projects and favors the least expensive one. If we only used cost-effectiveness to decide which machine to buy, machine 1 will be favored by cost-effectiveness since it will generate products cheaper than machine 2. However, this is not necessarily the correct decision since cost-effectiveness analysis fails to take into consideration certain criteria such as the time each machine requires to generate the product and the quality of the generated products. Cost-benefit Analysis: According to smbtn. com, cost-benefit analysis can be best described as â€Å"An analysis tool that measures the results or benefits of a decision compared with the required costs. † Cost-benefit analysis is perceived as a powerful tool that management usually use whenever a â€Å"buy-or-build† decision needs to be taken. Buy-or-build decisions are usually taken when a firm faces a situation where it has two options: (1) To buy or outsource a certain part of its business (2) To internally manufacture or perform a certain part of its business. Cost-benefit analysis can assist in taking buy-or-build decisions as it will illustrate the benefits and costs that are expected if buy decision or build decision is taken. Cost-benefit analysis consists of several tools, such as benefit-to-costs ratio, that are used to analyze and compare benefits and costs that are involved in a certain project. According to Sewell and Marczak, benefit-to-costs ratio is â€Å"the total monetary cost of the benefits or outcomes divided by the total monetary costs of obtaining them. Despite the fact the cost-benefit seems to be the most powerful tool to analyze costs and taking cost related decisions, it should be used along with other tools such as cost-effectiveness analysis and cost allocation. Using cost-benefit analysis separately from other tools can result in misleading decisions that can cost management dearly. If the benefits-to-costs ratio is greater than 1, then the project should be analyzed further, compared to other projects and taken into consideration as a potential project that the firm can invest in or use to raise funds. Advantages of Cost Analysis: Cost analysis can be of great help for management as it can be used as a tool in the decision making process. Some of the most important advantages of cost analysis are: Cost analysis can clarify all costs that are involved in a certain project. Cost analysis will draw attention to costs that may not be obvious at first. Consequently, allowing managers to take more precise financing or investment decisions. Cost analysis can help management prioritize tasks and processes when budgets are limited. It is believed that managers can distribute budgets more effectively when all costs are identified; therefore, it will be possible to get the most out of available resources. Disadvantages of cost analysis: On the other hand, cost analysis is not always sufficient by its own for management to make decisions. Some of the facts that cost analysis cannot provide information about are: _As Sewell and Marczak mentioned, cost analysis cannot always tell â€Å"whether the least expensive alternative is always the best alternative. _† Cost analysis by its own is not always enough to determine the best alternative. Usually, other criteria that cannot be determined by cost analysis, such as time, have an effect on the decision making process. Cost analysis is very complex and requires great deal of skills and expertise. Cost analysis requires not only background in finance and accounting, but also economic and decision making skills. It is common nowadays for organizations to outsource cost analysis if it cannot be done effectively in-house. According to _Sewell and Marczak, â€Å"sometimes costs and monetary values are considered less important than other, more intangible values or program outcomes. † Intangible cost analysis: Despite the fact that corporations frequently use cost analysis in evaluating the different decisions that have to be made, intangible cost analysis is not always taken into consideration. In his book â€Å"Intangible Management: Tools for Solving the Accounting and Management Crisis,† Ken Stanfield described intangible cost analysis as set of processes that â€Å"[allow] executives to identify, measure, and reduce costs that the organization has always been aware of, but has not been able to previously measure and control. Intangible cost analysis allows corporations to increase efficiency and productivity as well as decrease costs. According to Stanfield, in contrast to old cost analysis methods where tangible costs were the most important selection criteria, modern cost analysis methods favors alternatives, decisions, or projects â€Å"with the lowest total real cost (tangible costs + intangible costs). † Some of the intangible costs that should be taken into consideration are knowledge costs, time costs, and relationship management costs. Many organizations started to take intangible costs more seriously and established departments that are dedicated to deal with such costs such as knowledge management department. Intangible cost analysis is more complex than tangible cost analysis due to the fact that it depends on estimation skills and past experience. Therefore, possessing intangible cost analysis skills can be considered as a competitive advantage as it will result in better cost management and lower incurred costs. Results and Findings: Cost analysis is one of the most sophisticated concepts in business, and many economists wrote several books about it. The following points illustrate the results and findings of the research paper: Cost analysis consists of multiple tools and techniques that are usually used simultaneously to reach the best decision possible. Cost analysis not only allows firms to find ways to reduce costs, but it also suggests methods that can be applied to turn a cost center into profit center. It is vital for decision makers to be aware that cost analysis consists of tools that can estimate costs, which might differ from costs that will be incurred in reality. Intangible cost analysis should not be taken slightly as it has a great affect on the business of any company, especially on the long run. Cost analysis fails to take into consideration some factors such as time and quality Cost analysis needs advanced skills and is considered to be a competitive advantage for firms that have employees specialized in it. Recommendations and Conclusion: Using multiple cost analysis tools, which is due to the fact that the use of only one or few tools will result in misleading decisions Pay great attention to intangible cost analysis as it can make the difference between success and failure. Take into consideration factors that cannot be quantified and analyzed such as time and quality. Due to the fact that cost analysis has become a vital part of the decision making process, firms have to ensure that they possess the required cost analysis skills or outsource to specialized cost analysis firms. In conclusion, it is vital to emphasize on the fact that cost analysis is just one tool that can be used in the decision making process. Financing decisions and investments decisions are so critical that many tools and selection criteria have to be used while analyzing and evaluating these decisions. Nowadays, the world is facing a financial crisis that is affecting all companies; consequently, firms are starting to analyze costs to determine how best to protect themselves. Bibliography Mishan, E. J. Cost Benefit Analysis: An Informal Introduction, 1982. Ramji, Al-Noor, Linda Reino, Harry E. Roberts, eds. , Inside The Minds: Ways To Reduce It Spending : Leading Executives On Managing Costs, Negotiating Pricing & Reducing Overall Technology Expenditures. United States of America: Aspatore, 2004. Sewell, Meg and Mary Marczak. Using Cost Analysis In Evaluation. The University of Arizona; available from http://ag. arizona. edu/fcs/cyfernet/cyfar/Costben2. htm; Internet; accessed 1 November 2008. Stanfield, Ken. Intangible Management: Tools for Solving the Accounting and Management Crisis. Academic Press; 1st edition (July 1, 2002). The U. S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement: Federal Assistance Manual. Washington, D. C. , 1998; available from http://www. osmre. gov/fam/defin. htm; Internet; accessed 16 November 2008.

Criminal Law 5.3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Criminal Law 5.3 - Essay Example er; the determination includes the twin issues of obscenity and pornography which are two different matters altogether although there is a very fine line distinguishing these two concepts. Moreover, it is also natural for a culture to change over time and this includes ideas on what are obscene and pornographic. In particular, the concept of what is obscene can change over time, depending on the values that prevail at a particular period in time; certain books were thought to be obscene but today are now classics. This paper briefly examines and discusses the many issues surrounding the two ideas. The concept of obscenity has evolved over time and literary works of famous authors like Henry Miller, James Joyce, and D. H. Lawrence were once banned for being obscene and yet today are considered as literary classics (Wallace & Roberson, 2012, p. 247). However, there is a difference of material that is considered obscene as it is not protected by First Amendment while pornography is allowed and protected within certain limits under the First Amendment. It is of little comfort that some materials can be allowed while some are not allowed and illegal. In earlier times, pornography was not bad as it was part of erotica or the highly artistic and refined reproduction or depiction of human sexuality in acceptable works of art (Lynn, 1996. p. 13). a. The statute against obscenity applies to computer-generated materials like some of the new manga (Japanese comics) series which depict obscene acts and likewise applies to computer transmissions of the same materials in the same way that the MPC (Model Penal Code) applies to undeveloped photographs, molds, printing plates, etc. (Wallace & Roberson, 2012, p. 249). But these computer-related materials must still be subject to and pass the so-called Miller Test. b. Ordinary jury members are usually aware of â€Å"community standards† based on what are the prevailing views on morality and public decency so they would be able to

Marketing of Service- R Cubed Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing of Service- R Cubed Case Study - Essay Example Through internal marketing R Cubed has made promises with its service providers and encouraged them to offer best services to the clients. Human resource strategies provide the best way to the company to show concerns of the company towards employees. Theoretical human resource strategies which increase service quality by people include hiring the right people, developing the people, providing people needed support systems and retaining the best people. The underline belief based on which recruitment strategy of R Cubed was defined was to recruit people who knew what they were doing and had experience to achieve personal and company goals. Senior consultants from the market were hired and to reduce authoritative culture no ‘junior’ positions were defined. Moreover, the people who R Cubed hired to deal with the customers were not the researchers but they were the experienced managers who could better guide the customers by providing them excellent information. Various human resource strategies were introduced at R Cubed to keep the people motivated and to enhance their continuous development. The four months planning cycle was introduced in which all employees used to go off-site for review planning and discussion. Another aim of this strategy was to enhance employee participation and training them. R Cubed also conducted Ops meetings on weekly basis so that all employees could understand the operations of various departments Actually it was the belief of R Cubed’s owners that learning environment and organization structure allow individuals to flexibly set their own pace. Education budget for each employee from support staff to director level equivalent to 10 percent of their gross salary was set. At the same time to achieve company objectives, the education budget was given on â€Å"use it or lose it† basis. Moreover, with the exception of sales staff,

The End of Reading's Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The End of Reading's Analysis - Essay Example Trend states that, his daughter (Emily) is normal in every aspect but she is not good in reading and all this can be attributed to television programs and video games. She may catch up with her peers in terms of reading though it may take her quite a while as it is stated in the book. Trend has worked in various places that have given him exposure to research material on analysis of reading and visual studies. He worked for Journal of Media Arts and Cultural Criticism from 1980 to 1995, which deals in publishing of essays and articles through film studies, photographs and media theory. From the book it is apparent that there is a new type of illiteracy in America and people have resorted to blaming schools, the media too hasn’t been left behind in this blame game. From the book, End of Reading: Gutenberg to Grand Theft Auto, I am going to focus on the writer’s idea on The New American literacy, Blaming Schools, The media made me do it and Child development & human evolu tion so as to clearly show the importance of reading and how it has been affected over the passage of time. Analysis Right from the start the writer states about his daughter’s reluctance and inability to read well and that many other children are affected by the same problem, it is evident that there is some form of illiteracy. Furthermore statistics in the book state that one out of seven adults in America is incapable of reading a newspaper. It is clear that there is a new American illiteracy, where people do not know much as far as reading is concerned but prefer other mediums of learning. The Verbal SAT scores of the children in American schools have continued to dwindle over the decades that have passed. A researcher, Shieda White, states that most people have a difficulty in reading connected sentences or paragraphs. Many children would rather play video games and watch television than read a book. Reading has become torturous to many children in America since many att ribute it with difficulty. The amount of illiteracy is increasing in America, this problem is far from over since most of the people and organizations that can actually change it have resorted to blaming one another. Schools have turned into the main targets of those in search for someone to blame about the persisting problem. These learning institutions have been tirelessly trying to educate the children and make them more connected to the reading culture but the advancement in technology has failed them. Children no longer find books interesting as they would rather use computers, play video games and watch television. In the 90s some writer wrote books on the effects of computers, this when they were starting to crop up and whilst their popularity steadily increased, Marshall McLuhan and Raymond Williams are among the few who addressed the issue of technology in schools. Virtual community (1993) and Manual Castells’ The Information City (1989) are books that were written r ight after computers were introduced for personal use, they address how the computers were going to have effects on the society. If at all schools want to make learning effective then it is important that they use visual arts and introduce film studies. Some individual may not have what it takes to be good writers so they have to seek other means of expression. Leonardo Di Vinci is one person that can

McDonalds Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

McDonalds - Essay Example Subsequent initiatives included a breakfast menu available nationwide, with the introduction of the Egg McMuffin in 1973. Ronald McDonald was first seen in a television appearance in 1963, and has since become the ubiquitous company representative and also ambassador of charity involvement in the form of Ronald McDonald House, which was established in 1974 as a key element of the company's philanthropic community involvement. The Happy Meal was introduced in 1979, which pioneered the promotional concept of marketing to children by giving away toys and games with meal purchases. This concept has since been adopted by all major burger chains, and has evolved into a significant promotional and tie-in tool for partnerships with major entertainment companies and events. Having created the promotional toy tool with the introduction of Happy Meals in 1976, McDonald's is the leader in toy-based promotions in both foodservice and across all industries. (www.datamonitor.com) McDonald's suffered from a series of strategic blunders and a deteriorating public image in the mid-1990s. These slips included the launch of the low-fat McLean Deluxe sandwich, which was very poorly received, and the launch of the adult-targeted Arch Deluxe sandwich, which did not win consumer acceptance, whilst operating margins were negatively impacted by heavy couponing; The Campaign 55 promotion, a US$0.55 sandwich offer subject to a variety of confusing conditions, proved too difficult and was pulled. In an attempt to find growth opportunities outside of the saturated burgers segment, McDonald's took a step towards diversification in 1998, when it purchased Latin American fast food chain Chipotle, and then in 1999 with the acquisition of Ohio-based pizza chain Donato's Pizza. In the same year, the company announced its intention to purchase the bankrupt Boston Market chain of restaurants that specialized in meal replacement and limited FSR. The sale was approved in 2000, and constituted McDonald's first major acquisition outside of its QSR stronghold. In response to continuing criticism regarding its foods' nutritional content and to broaden its appeal to health conscious consumers, McDonald's has added a variety of healthier meal options, including premium salads and fresh fruit. The company discontinued its "supersize" menu items in 2004, and in 2006, McDonald's was the first fast food restaurant to post nutritional information on the packaging of each of its food items. The new packaging will use bar charts and icons to detail five basic nutritional elements - calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates and sodium. Competitive Positioning McDonald's is by far the leading fast food burger chain in the US, with nearly a 45% market share in foodservice. The company does, however, face strong competition, like other foodservice operators, but its ever growing market penetration, new product innovation and strong advertising backing helped the company see a consecutive value share increase between 2000 and 2005. The reach of the McDonald's brand has posed growth challenges in recent years, as saturation presents limits to opportunities for unit growth in the US, the company's main market. The company initially turned to a strategy of diversification, evident in its acquisitions of Chipotle

Healtg Across the Life Wellness Project Guide Sheet Essay

Healtg Across the Life Wellness Project Guide Sheet - Essay Example I want to start the whole process by writing down at least five reasons why I should quit this habit with the most important reason being the harm it makes on my health. I will have the list of these reasons wherever I go so that I will always be reminded of how important they are. Secondly, I will set the quitting day to be my birthday that will appear in three months from now. Thirdly, I will inform all my friends and family members of this decision that I will be undertaking to make a change in my life. I will also ask all of them for their support in the whole process as well as identify one friend who is equally thinking of quitting smoking as I do. I will also make sure that all the cigarettes and tobacco products found in my home and everywhere I spend most of my time are removed before the quitting day. After the quitting day, I will keep myself busy at all times to avoid the craving. I will find something to keep my fingers busy as well as drink a lot of water and sugary drinks such as juices that will help increase my sugar levels. I will also stay close to my quit mate whom we shall always encourage each other to stay strong in the process. Cutter, D., Lhrar, J. S., Robinson, L., Smith, M. (August 2011). How to quit smoking: A guide to quitting and kicking the habit for food. Retrieved from

Insurance Is Not Always Beneficial to Emplyees Essay

Insurance Is Not Always Beneficial to Emplyees - Essay Example In the United States, for example, many employees get Insurance policy through their employers where the employers help pay the Insurance policy. When the employer insures one, it is usually through a managed care plan that are health insurance plans that provide health care facilities to members at reduced costs by laying down contracts with medical facilities and health care providers. Employer based Insurance is often much cheaper as compared to buying individual Insurance, hence many people rather have their insurance bill cut from their salaries. The United States unlike other industrialized countries has a different case in that it does not have a national Insurance System. It is important to be insured because one cannot always tell when they are going to need the medical attention. There are vast advantages of getting employee-based health insurance. In the essay, I will look at health insurance in group verses individualized context, explore the advantages of employer based health insurance plan and discuss that insurance is not always beneficial. Group verses Individualized Insurance Employment based Insurance is an example of group based Insurance. ... e of group insurance policy is that it is much easier to obtain in that there are little procedures to be followed, which would in turn delay or even terminate the whole application process like inquiring about the health history of individual members. Group insurance policy is definitely the cheapest form of insurance available. However, as compared to group insurance, there are numerous advantages of individualized insurance plans. Firstly, one is able to customize the provisions they may want included or neglected in their package. They may also choose to regulate on the deductible amount of payment that the insurance company does. It also enables individual to choose the doctor that would be conducting their services. Here the price range may be elevated as compared to group insurers, but the services are better. It may also be exceptionally costly particularly when one runs a high risk being ill or has high health risk qualities. Advantages of Employment Based Health Insurance P lans A health plan would gain more if groups of individuals with low health risks were enrolled in it as compared to unhealthy list of individuals. In the United States where the employee health insurance benefit scheme is purely voluntary, there is a great chance that a group of highly unhealthy individuals are registered in the plan. Insurers would often prefer to enroll a group of individual as compared to the specific individual. Employment based insurance groups are one of the individual groups that are always considered to be formed for the sole purpose to offer their employees health insurance. It does not discriminate and whether the individual in the group posses a high health risk than the other, they will automatically qualify for the system. Not only are employers capable of

Describe at least 5 scenes of the movie Rossie the Riveter Review - 1

Describe at least 5 scenes of the Rossie the Riveter - Movie Review Example Howard Miller. The Rockwell image seems to have a great deal more depth than the image created by Miller. It was proposed that this is not the tidy image that most people have in their mind when they think of Rosie. This ‘Rosie’ is quite dirty, with big strong arms, a leather bracelet, she wears overalls which are not common on women at this time, she carries a big riveting gun, se is wearing both welding goggles and a welding mask, she is defiantly standing on a copy of ‘Mein Kampf’ and she is hauling a metal lunchbox (Popular with men). However what is interesting is that this image that is considered masculine can also be considered quite feminine, because she is wearing makeup (Rouge, finger nail polish, lipstick etc.) and she is carrying her makeup and a handkerchief in her pocket, this ‘Rosie’ has her hair neatly pulled back, she is wearing women’s shoes, and she is eating a sandwich in a delicate manner. But what is most important from this image is that she is a worker, evidenced by her many badges (Security badge, blood donor badge etc.) Indicating that she really is an important part of the war effort. The next scene that will be discussed is in relation to determining who the ‘real’ Rosie the Riveters are. Many people have noted that there are indeed many actual World War II women that were real female defense workers named ‘Rosie’. The big changes that brought them into war work occurred in 1942 when more American men began to get drafted and many industries switched to war production. It was at this time that many companies started to recruit women as it was not possible for them to be drafted. What comes next is a description of the three main groups of women that were recruited to work in factories. The first were women already working who switched to higher paying defense jobs (Leaving traditional jobs to the point that more than six hundred laundries were closed). The

Complan Foods Essay Example for Free

Complan Foods Essay Complan Foods is a British company that makes powdered milk energy drinks. It was acquired by Danone in 2011. In India the Complan brand is owned by the H. J. Heinz Company. Complan was launched by Glaxo in 1954. As part of Glaxos Farley Health Products subsidiary, the Complan UK brand was sold to Boots in 1988. In India, Complan remained with Glaxo until 1994, when it was acquired by Heinz, who also acquired the UK brand in the same year.[2][3] In 2002 a majority stake in the UK business (Complan Foods) was sold to the Saatchi brothers Saatchinvest BRIEF HISTORY The H.J. Heinz Company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the most global of all U.S.-based food companies. Famous for their iconic brands on five continents, Heinz provides delicious, nutritious and convenient foods for families in 200 countries around the world. In more than 50 of those countries, we enjoy the number-one or number-two market position. To learn more visit www.heinz.com. Heinz came to India in 1994 by taking over the Family Products Division of Glaxo. GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) is a British multinational pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the worlds fourth-largest pharmaceutical company measured by 2009 prescription drug sales .It was established in 2000 by the merger of Glaxo Wellcome plc and SmithKline Beecham plc. with powerful brands such as Complan, Glucon-D, Nycil and Sampriti. Heinz India is fully integrated into the global Heinz operations employing high standards in quality at manufacturing facility at Aligarh in the State of Uttar Pradesh. This manufacturing facility is HACCP certified and follows GFMP (Good Food Manufacturing Practices) to deliver safe food products Heinz in India provides taste and nutrition through globally trusted products like Heinz Tomato Ketchup and strong local products like Complan energy drink, Nycil the most effective prickly heat powder and Sampriti Ghee. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES: http://www.heinz.co.in/about_heinz/history.aspx

Statistical Analysis Paper Essay Example for Free

Statistical Analysis Paper Essay The article was a cross- sectional, non- experimental case study of social worker’s perceptions of bullies at the workplace and the social worker’s ability to create coping responses to workplace bullying. To collect quantitative information a mail questionnaire was gathered, and individuals’ semi-structured interviews were assessed. The qualitative sample included 111 male and female social worker’s from Washington D.C. the final outcome result were three to five social worker’s reported that he or she were recipients of rude, unpleasant, and unfavorable workplace environmental interactions within a year. The bullies’ targets generally worked in military and mental health outpatient organizations or government agencies. About 35% of the targets held a discreet service role, and 29% held a management or administration role. The results outcome from the study provided evidence that in the social working profession the agencies and organizations need guidelines or tools to help discover, confront, and stop bullying behaviors in the workplace ( Whitaker, T., 2012). See more: how to write an analysis of a research paper Statistical Analysis in the Article The article incorporates tables, descriptive statistics that helps with the understanding of the data, it also provides five tables of illustrations. Table one is about the demographic characteristics of the targets of the workplace bullies, it displays the characteristics of social workers ranging by age, gender, and demographics (Whitaker, T., 2012). Table two is about organizational settings and roles of target, it displayed supervisors, colleagues, subordinates, and clients were all identified as bullies. It showed that women were more than twice as likely (65%) to be identified as bullies as were men 33% (Whitaker, T., 2012). Table three is about the most troubling bullying behaviors, showing that verbally, and covertly hostile  actions were the most troubling bullying behaviors in the workplace. In addition, being treated with disrespect and having work de-valued as the hardest aspects of being bullied at the workplace. Table four was the summary characteristics of bullies, the study showed characteristics were either passive or assertive by the coping scale. The passive behavior ranging score of 24 and assertive score of 60. The median and mean scores were 42.5, and a multiple modal score. The last table, which was five was the classification of Reponses to the coping scale as passive or assertive coded in the same direction the table explained coping strategies and responses (Whitaker, T., 2012). Descriptive Statistics and Inferential Statistics In the article several questions were asked in a questionnaire. The more passive the response, the lower the value assigned to it, the more assertive the response, the higher the value was assigned to it. The targets had a range of coping strategies, the biggest response strategy was talking about the bullying with someone he or she trusted, 93% used this strategy more than once, 66% used the strategy of confronting the person more than once. However, only 17% used formal complaint (Whitaker, T., 2012). The data supported the research problem of workplace bullying. It was noteworthy and explained that three out of five social workers were recipients of rude, unpleasant, and unfavorable workplace environmental interactions. However, the article did not provide inferential statistics. The data was collected through questionnaire and based on actual results to determine the statistics (Whitaker, T., 2012). Conclusion In conclusion, this article explored the issues of workplace bullying of social workers and the coping responses, it included a number of concerned issues for the social working profession. Among these issues included the characteristics of workplace bullies, and coping Reponses. The article suggests that workplace bullying is a serious issue for social workers and needs to create guidelines and tools to help stop bullying behaviors (Whitaker, T., 2012). References Whitaker, T. (2012). Social workers and workplace bullying: Perceptions, responses and implications. Work, 42(1), 115-123.

Optimization of Solvent Extractions

Optimization of Solvent Extractions CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY 3.1  Introduction In this study, the leaves of A. Malanccensis, formulated gaharu tea bags from Gaharu Tea Valley, Gopeng and Kebun Rimau, Tawau were extracted by using solvent extraction method. The optimization of solvent extractions were determined in this study as well. Chemical composition of the crude extracts were analyzed by using GC-MS and HPLC. Besides, the obtained crude extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant property. 3.2  Chemicals and Apparatus Throughout this study, several of chemical and apparatus were used as listed in table 3.1 and table 3.2. Table 3.1 Chemical and reagent used Chemical and reagents Brand Manufacturer 1,1-diphenyl-2-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) Sigma USA 2,4,6-tripyridyl-striazine Sigma USA Sodium acetate Acetic acid MB Germany Aluminum chloride hexahydrate Ascorbic acid Systerm Malaysia Ethanol Systerm Malaysia Folin-Ciocalteu’s reagent Sigma USA Gallic acid Hydrochloric acid Iron (II) sulphate Sigma USA Iron (III) Chloride Systerm Malaysia Methanol Merck Germany Potassium bromide Quercetin Sodium carbonate Sodium carbonate anhydrous Sodium hydroxide Merck Germany Sodium nitrate Helium gas Novaland Malaysia Nitrogen gas Novaland Malaysia Table 3.2 Apparatus used Apparatus Brand Manufacturer Aluminium foil Diamond brand Malaysia Analytical balance Mettler-Toledo Switerland Beaker 100 mL Schoot Duran Germany Beaker 250 mL Schoot Duran Germany Beaker 500 mL Iwaki Japan Conical flask 250 mL Isolab Germany Filter funnel Frontier Transform Infra-red spectrometer Perkin Elmer Germany Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometer Perkin-Elmer Germany Measuring cylinder Iwaki Japan Micropipette Eppendrof England Oven Memmet USA Parafilm â€Å"M† Pechiney USA Rotatory evaporator Buchi Labortechinc Switzerland Round bottle flask 250 mL Favorit Malaysia Test tube 15 mL UV-Vis spectrometer Perkin Elmer Germany Volumetric flask Exelo Malaysia Water bath Cifton NE 5-289 England Whatman No. 1 Filter paper Buchi Reiii Switzerland Grinder Kika Germany 3.3 Extraction of the Gaharu Leaves and Formulated Gaharu Tea 3.3.1 Raw Material The samples of gaharu leaves and formulated gaharu tea bag were used in this research were obtained from the Kebun Rimau Sdn Bhd, Tawau and Gaharu Tea Valley, Gopeng. Gaharu leaves were dried in the shade for 7 days at roomtemperature (28  ±2 °C). After drying, leaves were cut into small pieces. The pieces of dried gaharu leaves and the formulated gaharu tea bag are used for the aqueous extraction and ethanolic extraction. 3.3.2Aqueous Extraction of Gaharu Leaves and Formulated Gaharu Tea 50g of dried leaves powder and contents of formulated gaharu tea bag were weighed and put into 500mL beaker, respectively. 250 mL of distilled water was added into both beaker and boil for 30 minutes. Beakers were wrapped with aluminium foil (Diamond brand) to prevent spilling of mixture and light exposure.The pooled extracts were filtered by using Whatman No. 1 filterpaper (Buchi Reiii) with 0.45 µm membrane. The remains were re-extracted under same condition and filtered. The obtained crude extracts were concentrated at 50 °C using a rotary evaporator under low pressure. The concentrated crude extracts from gaharu leaves and formulated gaharu tea bag were collected in air-tight containers and covered by the aluminum foil to prevent the active components in the extracts from decomposing by light. They were stored in refrigerator at 4  °C to prevent fungal attacking. All the extractions were carried out in replicates. 3.3.3 Ethanolic Extraction of the Gaharu Leaves and FormulatedGaharu Tea 10g of dried leaves powder and 6g of the formulated gaharu tea bag were weighed and put into 100 mL beaker, respectively. 50mL ethanol was poured into both beaker. Beakers were sealed with parafilm (Pechiney) and wrapped with aluminum foil (Diamond brand) to prevent spilling of mixture and light exposure, respectively. The pooled extracts were filtered by using Whatman No. 1 filter paper (Whatman International, England). The remains were re-extracted under same condition and filtered. The obtained crude extracts were concentrated at 40 °C using a rotary evaporator under low pressure. The concentrated crude extracts from gaharu leaves and formulated gaharu tea bag were collected in air-tight containers and covered by the aluminum foil to prevent the light decomposition of bioactive components in the crude extracts. They were stored in refrigerator at 4  °C to avoid fungal attacking. All the extractions were carried out in replicates. 3.4 Optimization of the Gaharu Leaves and Formulated Gaharu Tea Extraction 3.4.1Ethanol Concentration With the constants 180 minutes and temperature 25OC, samples were extracted with six different concentrations of ethanol starting from 0% to 100% (v/v). The extraction procedures were described in section 3.2.3. The best ethanol concentration which related to the values of total phenolic contain (TPC) (mg gallic acid equivalent, GAE/g dry weight, DW) and total flavonoid contain (TFC) (mg quercetin equivalent, QE/g DW) were selected. 3.4.2Extraction time The samples were extracted with the optimal ethanol concentration which was determined in the section 3.3.1 for 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 minutes by fixing the extraction temperature constant at 25oC. The best extraction time which related to the values of total phenolic contain (TPC) (mg gallic acid equivalent, GAE/g dry weight, DW) and total flavonoid contain (TFC) (mg quercetin equivalent, QE/g DW) eres selected. 3.4.3Temperature The samples were extracted at different temperatures, which were 25, 35, 45, 55, and 65oC with the optimal temperature and extraction time as determined in section 3.3.1 and section 3.3.2. The best extraction temperature which related to the values of total phenolic contain (TPC) (mg gallic acid equivalent, GAE/g dry weight, DW) and total flavonoid contain (TFC) (mg quercetin equivalent, QE/g DW) weres selected. 3.5Chemical Characterization of Gaharu Leaves and Formulated Gaharu Tea 3.5.1Characterization using FT-IR 3.5.1.1 Sample Preparation The method of FT-IR analysis by Khalil et al. (2013) was used with minor modifications (Khalil et al., 2013). The formation of transparent pellet (Thin disc) was done by mixing 2mg of crude extract powder with 40mg of potassium bromide (1:20), a mold was used to compress the mixture under a pressure of 7 tons. The analysis was carried out with the wavelength starting from 4000 to 400 cm-1. About 3 minutes were taken by the spectrum recording. FT-IR software Spectrum version 6.35 (Perkin Elmer) was used to perform the acquisition of the spectra and peak assignment. 3.5.2Characterization Using Gas Liquid Chromatography- Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) 3.5.2.1 Sample Preparation The method of GC-MS analysis by Khalil et al. (2013) and Soetardjo et al., (2007) were used with the modification of experimental conditions. The crude extract powder was dissolved in 60% (v/v) methanol solution and filtered by using membrane filter with 0.45  µm pore size. The 0.5  µL of samples were injected into a gas chromatograph equipped with Perkin Elmer Clarus 500 mass spectrometer and Elite-5MS column [30m (length) x 0.25 mm (diameter), film thickness 0.25  µm]. The column temperature was programmed to 50oC for 6 min, with 5oC increase per min to 250oC. The temperature of detector and injector were both maintained at 250 oC. Hellium was used as the carrier gas with a linear velocity of 1 ml/min and the splitting ratio was 10:1. The mass spectrometer was operated in the electron impact ionization (EI) mode at 70 eV. The constituents of gaharu crude extract powder were identified by comparing their mass spectra with those of NIST02 library data of the GC-MS system. The c ondition of GC-MS are summarized in Table 3.4. Table 3.4 Condition used for GC-MS analysis. Parameters Conditions Gas chromatography Perkin Elmer Clarus 500 gas chromatography Mass selective detector Perkin Elmer Clarus 500 mass spectrometer Capillary columns Elite-5MS (30 m (length) x 0.25 mm (diameter) ; film thickness 0.25  µm) Injection volume 0.5  µL Carrier gas Helium Initial oven temperature 50 oC Final oven temperature 260-300 oC Inlet temperature 250 oC Injection Split Injector pressure 8.00-9.43 psi Injector temperature 80 oC Flow rate 1 mL min -1 Electron energy 70 eV Source temperature 180 oC Solvent delay 2 minutes Data library NIST 02 3.5.2.2 Kovats Retention Index Kovats retention index is an idea used in the gas chromatography to convert retention times into system-independent constant. The collected data of GC-MS were processed by using the Kovats retention index (Equation 3.1). The calculated Kovats index was compared with the retention time of n-alkane which were given by the GC-MS manufacture company (Perkin Elmer) based on the same type of column with higher ramp temperature (10oC instead of 5 oC, Appendix A). (Equation 3.1) Where, I = Kovats retention index, n = the number of carbon atoms in the smaller n-alkane, N = the number of carbon atoms in the larger n-alkane, tr = the retention time. 3.6Determination of Total Phenolic Compounds and Total Flavonoid Compounds in Crude Extracts 3.6.1Evaluation of Total Phenolic Compounds in Gaharu Leaves and Formulated Tea Crude Extracts Total phenolic content (TPC) of concentrated rude extract of three samples with the different extraction condition were determined by using the Folin-Ciocalten (F-C) assay according to the method described by Tay et al. with a modification (Tay et al., 2014). Concentrated crude extractwas diluted 30 times before use. 15 mL test tube was wrapped with aluminum foil and 1 mL of diluted sample was placed into it. Then, 5 mL of Folin-Ciocalten reagent was added into the test tube. After 5 minutes, 4 mL of 7.5% (w/v) sodium carbonate was added. The test tube was shaken to mix the diluted sample and reagents for 5 seconds. Thus, the test tube was allowed to stand in the dark room at room temperature for 30 minutes. The blank solution was prepared by replacing 1 mL of samples with 1 mL of deionized water. Absorbance was measured against the blank at 765 nm by using UV-Vis spectrometer (Perkin Elmer).Besides, 1 mM gallic acid stock solution was prepared. 17.012 mg of gallic acid was weighed a d transferred into 100 mL conical flask. Thus, deionized water was added in until the volume of 100 mL was achieved. The 1 mM gallic acid stock solution was further diluted into 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mM gallic acid standard solutions. Total phenolic content was determined and calculated based on gallic acid calibration curve and expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAEs) in milligram per g dry weight (mg GAE/ g DW). The TPC test was repeated with the concentrated crude extract with different solvent extraction conditions. 3.6.2Evaluation of Total Flavonoid Compounds in Gaharu Leaves and Formulated Tea Crude Extracts The total flavonoid content (TFC) of the concentrated crude extract of three samples with different extraction conditions were determined according to the procedures described by Thoo et al. with slight modifications (Thoo et al., 2010). Concentrated crude extract was diluted for 15 times. Thus, 1 mL of diluted crude extract was mixed with 5 mL of deionized water and 0.3 mL 5% sodium nitrite in a 15 mL aluminum foil-wrapped test tube. After 12 minutes, 0.6 mL 10% aluminum chloride hexahydrate was added into the test tube. In the next 10 minutes, 2 mL of 1M sodium hydroxide solution and 1.1 mL were added to the mixture. Thus, test tube was shaken to mix the diluted sample with the reagents for 10 seconds. A blank was prepared by replacing diluted crude extract with 1 mL of deionized water. The absorbance was measured immediately at 510 nm by using UV-Vis light spectrometer (Perkin Elmer). Besides, the 1 mM quercetin stock solution was prepared as well. 30.22 mg of quercetin was accura tely weighed and transferred into 100 mL conical flask. Thus, the deionized water was added into the conical flask until the volume of 100 mL was reached. The 1 mM quercetin stock solution was further diluted to 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mM quercetin standard solutions. The total flavonoid content of diluted crude extract was determined and calculated based on quercetin calibration curve and expressed as quecertin equivalents (QEs) in milligram per g dry weight (mg QE/ g DW).). The TFC test was repeated with the concentrated crude extract with different solvent extraction conditions. 3.7  Determination of Antioxidant Activity 3.7.12,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) Free RadicalScavenging Assay The antioxidant capacity of crude extracts were measured by the DPPH assay based on the method which were carried out by Asadujjamanet al. and Tay et al. with slight modification (Asadujjamanet al., 2013; Tay et al., 2014). The 0.1 mL concentrated crude extract was added with 3.9 mL 0.004% ethanolic DPPH solution in an aluminium-wrapped test tube. A parafilm was immediately used to cover the opening of test tube. Thus, the test tube was allowed to stand in dark room at room temperature for 30 minutes. The absorbance of DPPH solution was determined against a deionized water blank a 517 nm by using the UV-Vis spectrometer (Perkin Elmer Lambda 25). 0.1 mL of the crude extract was replaced by extract solvent in the preparing of negative control. Absorbance measurements of the crude extracts and negative control was carried out in triplicate. The result was expressed as a percentage of DPPH radical scavenging activity.The following formula (Equation 3.2) was used to calculate the DPPH rad ical scavenging activity of crude extract. 1 − Ãâ€" 100%= DPPH radical scavenging activityEquation 3.2 Where, As= absorbance of crude extract Ac = Absorbance of control 3.7.2Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) Assay The FRAP assay was carried out according to procedures described by Kamonwannasitet al. with slight modification (Kamonwannasitet al., 2013).The FRAP reagent was made of 0.01 M TPTZ (2,4,6-tripyridyl-striazine) in 0.04 M HCl, 0.02 M FeCl3, and 0.03M acetate buffer (pH 3.6) in a ratio of 1:1:10(v/v/v). 0.03M acetate buffer (pH3.6) was prepared by mixing 46.3 mL of 0.2M acetic acid and 3.7 mL 0.2 M sodium acetate 0.5 mL together. Thus, the deionized water was added into mixture to make up the volume to 100mL. Then, 0.5g of the sample was added to 15 ml of FRAP reagent which was prepared in situ and warmed until 37 °C before it was being used. The absorbance was measured at 593 nm by using an UV-Vis spectrophotometer (Perkin Elmer) after the solution was incubated for 5 minutes. Besides, 1 mM FeSO4stock solution was prepared as well. 0.278g of FeSO4 were dissolved into 1 L of deionized water. Thus, 1 mM FeSO4stock solution was diluted into 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mM FeSO4 standard sol ution. A standard calibration curve was constructed by using different concentration of FeSO4 solution. The results were expressed as ÃŽ ¼mol Fe2+/mg dry weight of plant material. All measurements were carried out in triplicate and the mean values were calculated. 3.8  Statistical analysis The experimental results in this study were calculated and analyzed by using the IBM software (SPSS Statistics version 21). All values were expressed as the mean  ± standard deviation (SD) of triplicate measurements of replicate extraction. Simple correlation was used to determine the relationship between total amount of flavonoids in the crude extracts and their antioxidant capacities.

The Impact of Internet Pornography on American Society Essay -- Intern

Pornography is nothing new to American society, so why would there be a problem with the merging of the internet and pornographic material? Why would it make a difference if the material is online or in a magazine? In this paper, the issue of internet porn will be discussed in terms of its relation to the addiction of online porn, desensitization to sexual violence and rape, encouragement of sexual violence, objectification of women, sexual compulsiveness, and the reshaping of expectations regarding sex and body images. Internet porn has become increasingly popular, and one reason for this is because it is easily accessible and can be kept relatively private. There is no need to order any materials or go to a store to buy the magazines. With internet porn, viewers can access a multitude of materials right on the internet. The variety is endless and the gratification is instant. According to The US News & World Report, 17.5 million surfers visited porn sites from their home computers in January of 2004, which is a 40% increase from 4 months earlier (Dew, 2004). The easy access and variety of materials has been known to cause addiction in online viewers, as pointed out by The BBC Website, â€Å"Internet porn is available in much larger quantities than traditional porn and at a cheaper cost†¦this may be a good case of having ‘too much of a good thing’†(Kadu, 2004). The current numbers of people who are addicted to porn are unclear, but the estimate according to the Minnesota Family Institute (2004) runs as high as 5 million. As with other forms of addiction, this creates the opportunity for problems in other areas of the addict’s life. Viewers tend to treat people as â€Å"†¦mere objects of... ...rences Anderson, Kerby. (2004). The Pornography Plague. Probe Ministries [Online]. Available: http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/pornplag.html Dew, Diane. (2004). Social & Psychological Effects of Porn [Online]. Pornography & the Bible. Available: http://dianedew.com/porn.htm [2004, February 17]. Kadu, Flyer. (2004). Internet Pornography-The Issues. BBC [Online]. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A523504 [2004, February 15]. Minnesota Family Institute. (2004). Pornography: Don’t Protect It, Reject It. Backgrounder-Analyzing Current Issues. [Online]. Available: http://www.mfc.org/resources/backgrounders/pornography.htm (2004, Winter).Public Libraries, Pornography, and the Damage Done: A Case Study.Library Administration & Management, v18no1. 8-13. (2004, January 19). The Porn Factor. Time v163no3. 99-101.

Business Analysis of Black and Decker Essay -- Black and Decker Busine

Business Analysis of Black and Decker 1. FINDINGS Black and Decker's DeWalt line has been so successful in the USA that it is now the standard for both the Professional-Industrial and the Professional-Tradesman market segments. Nolan Archibald, Chairman, President and CEO of Black and Decker (B&D) saw the potential in 1994 to increase the companies market share through worldwide sales of B&D products. While the company had a definite presence in the European Consumer Power Tools market segment, it lacked penetration in the Professional Power Tools segment. On the other hand, in Japan, where there was a huge market for professional power tools, B&D's market penetration was negligible compared to its competitors. B&D's vision for DeWalt is to be the global "Value Power Tool" provider of choice for every Professional Tradesperson and all worldwide Industrial markets. Based on the facts, the product managers of the DeWalt line have developed a global strategy based on the following conclusions: Â · DeWalt is a highly succe ssful product in the US market. B&D must leverage its brand identity and marketing strategies employed in the US and also capitalize on their established quality and pricing. Â · B&D must explore the formation of strategic alliances with local distributors. Multiple and/or hybrid channels must be used to reach customers quickly and as effectively as possible. Â · Through a global strategy, B&D can appeal to consumer homogeneity by offering lower product costs while maintaining high product quality. The lower product costs derived from the economies of scale will maximize customer value exchange. Â · B&D must aggressively employ a hybrid push-pull communication strategy to be successful in the two markets. This will enable B&D to get the DeWalt name out to more customers in a diverse geography. Â · While Elu has performed better than B&D Professional and B&D Proline product lines in the European market, its lack-luster revenues compel B&D to replace the Elu product line with the DeWalt line. Â · There exists cultural differences between the US market and the European and Japanese markets. While the European market is similar to that of the US, the Japanese market warrants a thorough study of local conditions before entering it. The global strategy must consider factors such as brand loyalty, product recognition, brand image and channel intermediaries.... ...se "transit advertising". Following is a tabulated set of recommendations and associated timeframes: Recommendations Implementation Plan/Responsible Party Timeframe 1 Combine Professional Product Lines in Europe Market DeWalt as the Professional Product/ Marketing & Sales task force Immediately 2 Maximize Market Potential Offer competitive prices, value, variety of products/ Product Manager/Sales task force Immediately 3 Maximize Market Potential Provide Sales and Customer service support to distribution channels/ Sales task force & manufacturing Immediately 4 Use Distribution Channels to their potential Use existing assembly plants Europe to centralize manufacturing and assist in implementing JIT delivery systems / Manufacturing & Product Manager Immediately 5 Employ hybrid push pull communication strategy Advertise, provide informational seminars, demonstrations / Sales & Marketing Task force Immediately 6 Compile data and interpret Japanese market Form a task force that consis ts of a representative from manufacturing, marketing, sales, and product management to study and interpret the data. Immediately /Ongoing study DeWalt in Europe and Japan Marketing and Product Management

Middle Passage :: History

Middle Passage European slavers altered the way that different African people viewed one another and themselves. The book by Miguel Barnet, Biography of a Runaway Slave is a strong account that can be used to explore how Africans changed their perception of each other, and how this change influenced the lives of Africans in the Americas. First of all it is important to examine how many African slaves were brought to the New World. The Middle Passage is infamous route of the ships that carried slaves to the Americas. After the arrival to the New World, the slaves were sold or exchanged for the valuable goods. The term Middle Passage might sound somewhat romantic, but in reality it stands as a one of the most terrible events in history. The Middle Passage is the passage of bonded slaves from West Africa to the Americas. In the beginning, there was a trade between Europeans and African leaders who sold their enemies and disabled people in exchange for unique gifts such as guns, tobacco, iron bars and etc. But at the later stages of slavery, Europeans often kidnapped Africans at the costal area of Western Africa and then sent to ships that sailed them to the New World where this new free work force was needed to help stabilize the new nation. The Middle Passage took about ninety days. However, there where times when few months were need to transport Africans. During the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, Africans were treated terribly. On the ship, African slaves were crammed like sardines and chained together. In addition, Africans had to endure the terrible heat, there was little or no food provided. They were subjected to diseases that quickly spread among slaves, and many died due to unsanitary conditions. Most of the time, the sick were thrown overboard to avoid infecting others. One writer describes the terrible conditions that African slaves had to endure, â€Å"In the voyage, one of every three Africans died from dysentery, smallpox, or suffocation and was thrown overboard to the sharks, who reportedly followed the slave ships from the coast of Africa all the way to the New World.† Also, the ship’s crew often treated the Africans badly; they often whipped them because many of the people resisted and tried to escape from the cargo ship. On the cargo ships, there were people from various African tribes. According to Afro-Louisiana History and Genealogy, there were many different ethnic groups among them, the Congo, the Edo and the Yoruba/Nago, just to name few. Middle Passage :: History Middle Passage European slavers altered the way that different African people viewed one another and themselves. The book by Miguel Barnet, Biography of a Runaway Slave is a strong account that can be used to explore how Africans changed their perception of each other, and how this change influenced the lives of Africans in the Americas. First of all it is important to examine how many African slaves were brought to the New World. The Middle Passage is infamous route of the ships that carried slaves to the Americas. After the arrival to the New World, the slaves were sold or exchanged for the valuable goods. The term Middle Passage might sound somewhat romantic, but in reality it stands as a one of the most terrible events in history. The Middle Passage is the passage of bonded slaves from West Africa to the Americas. In the beginning, there was a trade between Europeans and African leaders who sold their enemies and disabled people in exchange for unique gifts such as guns, tobacco, iron bars and etc. But at the later stages of slavery, Europeans often kidnapped Africans at the costal area of Western Africa and then sent to ships that sailed them to the New World where this new free work force was needed to help stabilize the new nation. The Middle Passage took about ninety days. However, there where times when few months were need to transport Africans. During the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, Africans were treated terribly. On the ship, African slaves were crammed like sardines and chained together. In addition, Africans had to endure the terrible heat, there was little or no food provided. They were subjected to diseases that quickly spread among slaves, and many died due to unsanitary conditions. Most of the time, the sick were thrown overboard to avoid infecting others. One writer describes the terrible conditions that African slaves had to endure, â€Å"In the voyage, one of every three Africans died from dysentery, smallpox, or suffocation and was thrown overboard to the sharks, who reportedly followed the slave ships from the coast of Africa all the way to the New World.† Also, the ship’s crew often treated the Africans badly; they often whipped them because many of the people resisted and tried to escape from the cargo ship. On the cargo ships, there were people from various African tribes. According to Afro-Louisiana History and Genealogy, there were many different ethnic groups among them, the Congo, the Edo and the Yoruba/Nago, just to name few.

Project Feasibility Study

BREAKFAST: Brunch Egg Breakfast Recipe Ingredients: 6 eggs, beaten 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled 2 cups unseasoned croutons 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese 2 1/2 cups milk 1/2 teaspoon mustard 1/8 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 dash pepper Directions: 1. Place croutons and cheese in the bottom of a greased 9Ãâ€"13 pan. 2. Combine eggs, milk and seasonings; pour into baking dish. 3. Sprinkle with bacon. 4. Bake at 325 until set (55-65 min). Serve immediately. BEEF TAPA AND LONGGANISA Ingredients: Skinless Longanisa/ Longanisa Nuggets 350g ground pork tbsp soy sauce 1/2 tsp salt 5 cloves garlic, smashed and minced 1 tbsp vinegar 1 tbsp Mirin (sweet rice wine) (optional, or Worshteshire sauce) 1 tsp ground pepper 2 tbsp sugar Procedure: 1. Mix all ingredients 2. Scoop a mixture using a tbsp, put it into the wax paper/cling wrap and roll the wrap and shape it like a sausage, mini sausage. The wrap will serve as a the longanisa cover and to separate one from the other, and it should be removed before frying. OR if you want to eat it immediately, scoop a mixture, shaped it like a sausage or any shape you want, then fry them. . Store longanisa in the freezer (2 to 3 days), when you want to eat them, boil a little water (4 tbsp) and put your longanisa (unwrapped) , cover it for 5 mins, remove longanisa and fry them. serve with garlic-chili-vinegar. A little burnt on the outside won't hurt, it's more yummy.. LUNCH: CHICKEN DRUMMETS Ingredients: 10 pieces chicken drumsticks 1/2 cup garlic ranch dressing 1 1/4 cups breadcrumbs 1 (8-gram) pack Maggi Magic Sarap All-in-One Seasoning Procedure: 1 Toss and coat drumsticks with garlic ranch dressing. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, mix together breadcrumbs with Maggi Magic Sarap All-in-One Seasoning. Roll each drumstick in breadcrumb-seasoning mixture until well-coated. 3 Deep-fry drumsticks in hot oil until golden and cooked through. Coco nutty Shrimps Ingredients: 1/4 kilo large shrimps (about 2 dozens) 1/2 cup dessicated coconut 3/4 cup garlic peanuts 1/3 cup flour 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon lime juice salt and pepper to taste lime wedges for squeezing Procedure: 1 Devein and peel shrimps leaving tail intact. 2 Pat dry shrimps using a napkin. Transfer to a plate. Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Using a food processor, process together coconut and peanuts until finely chopped. 4 Place flour in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. In another bowl, combine egg and lime juice. In a third bowl, place processed coconut and peanuts. 5 Dip shrimps one at a time first in flour mixture, second in egg and lime mixture, then in coconut-peanut mixture. 6 Deep-fry in hot oil until golden; about 3 minutes. Serve with lime wedges. DINNER: Ingredients: 3 lb whole chicken legs; drumsticks and thighs 3/4 cup distilled white vinegar 2 garlic cloves; crushed 1 bay leaf 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 6 tablespoons soy sauceProcedure: In a large kettle combi ne the chicken, the vinegar, the garlic, the bay leaf, the pepper and 1/2 cup water. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer it, covered, for 20 minutes. Add the soy sauce and simmer the mixture, covered, for 20 minutes. Transfer the chicken with tongs to an oven-proof platter and discard the outer skin. Place platter in oven and grill both sides for about 15 minutes until browned. Strain the broth through a sieve, return it to the kettle and boil for 10 minutes or until it is reduced to about 1/2 cup Remove chicken from the oven, pour the sauce over it and serve with rice.Bistek Filipino Style Beef Steak Ingredients________________________________________ †¢400grams of beef fillet, thinly sliced †¢75ml light soy sauce †¢75ml dark soy saucet †¢250ml water †¢juice of 1 lemon †¢2 tablespoons of vegetable oil †¢1 large onion, sliced in rings How to make it ________________________________________ †¢In a pan add the beef, along with the soy sauces, water and lemon juice. Bring to the boil and let it simmer for about 10-15 mins until the beef is tender. Taste the sauce. If it's too sour, add more soy sauce or if too salty, add more lemon juice.It should be a balance of sourness and saltiness. †¢Once tender, remove the liquid to a bowl and leave aside. Let any remaining liquid in the pan evaporate off then add the oil. Gently fry the beef for a couple of minutes then add the onions. Cook till the onions are translucent and still have a little crunch. Add back the liquid and let simmer for another 2 minutes. †¢Serve with steam rice. DESSERT Creme Brulee You can prepare and eat this as is, or make it a touch more interesting with fruits and chopped chocolates. Makes 6 to 8 cups Prep and Cooking Time 45 minutes 2 cups cream vanilla bean, split lengthwise 6 egg yolks 1/4 cup white sugar 1/4 cup confectioners' or powdered sugar 1 Preheat oven to 160? C. 2 In a heavy saucepan, bring the cream to a boil together with the van illa bean. 3 In a large bowl, beat together egg yolks and sugar until pale yellow in color. 4 Set aside vanilla bean and pour the boiling cream to the yolk-sugar mixture. Mix well. 5 With the tip of a paring knife, scrape the insides of the vanilla bean. Add scrapings to the cream and discard the pod. 6 At this point, you can add fruits or chopped chocolate to each ramekin or oven-proof cup as desired.Fill the mold with the custard mixture until half a centimeter from the rim. 7 Line the bottom of a shallow baking tray (about 2 inches high) with a dishcloth. Place ramekins on the tray and fill the tray halfway with water. 8 Bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool, then chill in the refrigerator. 9 Before serving, dust the top with a thin layer of icing sugar. Caramelize the sugar using a gas torch or an oven broiler until you achieve a crisp, dark brown coat. BAKED RECIPES Shrimp-Stuffed Zucchini Flowers (Fiori Di Zucca Ripieni Con Gamberi) Ingredients ounces (226 g) large s hrimp, preferably wild, peeled and deveined 12 grape tomatoes, finely chopped 1 teaspoon chopped thyme 2 tablespoons (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 12 zucchini flowers, washed, and trimmed Bottom of Form Directions Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C). Finely chop the shrimp and then transfer to a medium bowl. Add the tomatoes, thyme, 1 tablespoon of the oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper; mix well. Fill the zucchini flowers with 1 heaping tablespoon of the shrimp filling.Arrange on a small baking dish and then drizzle with the remaining oil and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Bake in the oven until the flowers are lightly golden, and the shrimp is cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven. Rich Chocolate Cake with Salty Dulce de Leche & Hazelnut Brittle o o1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee o1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder o3/4 cup packed light brown sugar o1/2 cup plain whole-mi lk yogurt o2 teaspoons vanilla extract o8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature o1 1/4 cups granulated sugar o1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon baking soda o1 teaspoon table salt o2 eggs oTOPPING: o1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt o1/2 cup dulce de leche oHAZELNUT BRITTLE (makes about 2 cups): o6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter o1/2 cup sugar o1 tablespoon light corn syrup o1/8 teaspoon baking soda o1/8 teaspoon table salt o1/2 cup whole unsalted hazelnuts, skins removed Directions Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Prepare a 10-inch round cake pan by greasing it with cooking spray and then lining the bottom with parchment paper. To make the cake, pour the hot coffee into a medium bowl and stir in the cocoa powder until it dissolves.Stir in the brown sugar, followed by the yogurt and the vanilla. Stir thoroughly to ensure that all of the ingredients are incorporated. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and gra nulated sugar on medium speed until light-yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the eggs and mix for 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer running on low speed, mix in a third of the flour mixture and half of the coffee mixture.Scrape down the bowl. Add another third of the flour mixture and all the remaining coffee mixture. Remove the bowl from the mixer and, using a rubber spatula, fold in the remaining flour mixture until all of the ingredients are fully incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 25 minutes. Rotate the pan in the oven and bake for 20 more minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and let the cake cool in the pan for 20 minutes.Then turn the cake out onto a clean plate, remove the parchment, and turn the cake back over onto a wire rack. Let the ca ke cool completely. In a food processor, pulse the brittle pieces 3 to 4 times until the brittle is powdery. Put the cooled cake on a serving dish. In a microwave-safe dish, heat the dulce de leche on high power for 30 seconds, or until it is just liquid. Spoon the dulce de leche over the cake, and then sprinkle the kosher salt over the dulce de leche. Sprinkle about ? cup of the ground brittle around the outer edge of the cake as a delicious decoration.

Gender Differences in Fundamental Movement Patterns Essay

Raudsepp and Paasuke (1995) tested 60 8-year olds (33 boys and 27 girls), finding that there are no sex differences in the kinematics of running. However, they found that boys perform better in overhand throwing and in tasks evaluating motor performances and muscle strength. Girls outperformed the boys in two tasks: sit and reach and balance (p. 294). This study merits discussion on several fronts. First, the researchers hypothesize that factors other than biological account for the gender differences in motor skills that they found in their tests (p. 301). Second, the researchers note that biological variables had been considered in previous studies (p. 294), and they made this point a significant aspect of their own investigation. Third, the children were given classes before the testing sessions (p. 295). In trying to account for the results of their study, the authors hypothesize that factors other than biological could account for the gender differences. Biological factors include age, height, weight, and body fatness (p. 294). A factor that could explain these differences is experience. Indeed, the authors note that, in the case of overhand throwing, girls do not have the same amount of experience as boys, and that boys have more memories of practicing overhand throwing (p. 295). In trying to eliminate biological factors from the results of their study, Raudsepp and Pausuke standardized the age factor, as they chose only 8-year olds for their study. They also measured the height, weight, and BMI of their subjects, finding that there were no significant sex differences in height and BMI. However, the boys were heavier than the girls (p. 297). In their choice of subjects, the researchers have chosen groups that differ only in the biological factor of weight. This is a significant point for their study, however, there are other biological factors that could have been considered and that possibly might account for some of the differences the authors observed. For instance, could joint length (in proportion to height) account for the difference in stride lengths in the running kinematics test? Also, if the boys and girls are similar in height and BMI, what aspects of the body composition of boys accounts for their heavier weight? An intriguing aspect of this study is that the researchers gave the children classes before the testing sessions. In these classes, children were taught the proper techniques of running and throwing (p. 295). As these classes likely impacted the children’s performance in the tests, additional information should have been provided to the reader. Who taught these classes? Were the instructors male or female? Were the children separated by gender in the classes, or were boys and girls taught together? An additional component that could make an ideal subject for future investigation would be to test the children both before and after the training sessions. In this way, the elements of experience and technique could be weighed against performance, particularly in the task of overhand throwing. In summary, this study largely confirmed findings from previous studies. The authors, in their attempts to standardize biological factors, bring up important questions to consider in future studies. In the area of biological factors: What accounts for the boys’ heavier weight? Does limb length account for differences in stride length? Is there a difference in body composition or limb length that accounts for girls’ increased flexibility and balance? In respect to environmental factors: How did the technique classes affect the children’s performance?

Maple Lodge Farms

Studying the Relevance of Larry Greiner’s Developmental Phases to the Future Stability of Maple Lodge Farms Maple Lodge Farms, a family-owned business awarded the prestige of being one of Canada’s 50 best managed companies, has attained success by employing a number of strategic organizational practices. Since the inception of Maple Lodge Farms, the founders’ commitment to providing various Canadian households with the highest quality chicken products has allowed it to become one of Canada’s leading poultry companies.Initially, the business owners’ main priority was to launch Maple Lodge Farms as a highly recognizable brand capable of sustaining a loyal customer base. This goal was largely achieved through a variety of measures the founders implemented throughout the organization’s existence. Recently, a few of the methods used to promote Maple Lodge Farms consist of using an integrated organizational structure, ensuring the safety of the pro ducts through technological innovations and limiting the company’s environmental imprint on society.In this research paper, I intend to analyze the current transitional stage of Maple Lodge Farms in Larry Greiner’s terms, evaluate the success of the organization’s human resources strategy – relating it to Larry Greiner’s developmental phases – and offer potential suggestions to boost its future growth. For the purpose of this analysis, a discussion of Larry Greiner’s article, Evolution and Revolution as Organizations Grow: A company’s past has clues for management, is necessary to provide insight into the growth phase Maple Lodge Farms is now in.Larry Greiner, a professor at the Harvard Business School, believes the natural progression of a company from its initial stages to a more sophisticated business model is a consequence of its organizational structure. In other words, an organization’s current managerial framework influences its upcoming management decisions – hence the title of Greiner’s paper. He states that the future health of a business is dependent upon the way it is managed – i. e. its management style – in addition to how it reacts to challenges presented to the established managerial setup. Companies fail to see that many clues to their future success lie within their own organizations and their evolving states of development. Moreover, the inability of management to understand its organization development problems can result in a company becoming â€Å"frozen† in its present stage of evolution or, ultimately, in failure, regardless of market opportunities† (Greiner, 1998). Moreover, Greiner contends that a business undergoes five known developmental phases – each characterized by both an evolutionary and revolutionary stage. â€Å"1.The term evolution is used to describe prolonged periods of growth where no major upheaval occurs in o rganization practices. 2. The term revolution is used to describe those periods of substantial turmoil in organization life. As a company progresses through developmental phases, each evolutionary period creates its own revolution† (Greiner, 1998). Therefore, a specific growth period is defined by a particular management style and a management crisis which results directly from it – i. e. the evolutionary and revolutionary aspects of each transitional phase respectively.Furthermore, the age and size of the organization, in addition to the growth rate of the industry, all play roles in the construction of a progression model that accurately describes a business. Greiner’s assumptions are relevant to Maple Lodge Farms because not only do they enable an understanding of the organization’s present state of development, but they also offer implications for the future stability of the business – essentially by indicating which management style a company s hould adopt as it grows and changes.Before I investigate the effectiveness of Maple Lodge Farms’ business plan – specifically its human resources approach – and forecast its growth capabilities, I must first identify the organization’s present developmental state. According to Greiner’s descriptions of the various stages a company undergoes, the history of Maple Lodge Farms shows that it is currently in the third phase of growth – specifically, the evolutionary part known as the delegation stage. The next era of growth evolves from the successful application of a decentralized organization structure. It exhibits these primary characteristics: 1. Much greater responsibility is given to the managers of plants and market territories. 2. Management often concentrates on making new acquisitions which can be lined up beside other decentralized units. 3. Communication from the top is infrequent, usually by correspondence, telephone, or brief visits to field locations† (Greiner, 1998).The owners’ dedication to providing superior customer service has guided every facet of the way their business has been managed. In pursuit of this goal, the company has successfully implemented a decentralized management structure. â€Å"We are there every step of the way – we have established a unique integrated development team that includes senior representation from Sales, Marketing, Research and Development, Quality Assurance, and Supply Chain to ensure superior quality and customer-focused service† (â€Å"Maple lodge farms†, 2011).This structural framework reflects Greiner’s organizational aspect of the delegation stage, as it offers managers greater responsibility in supervising the operations of their plants – fundamentally affording them the freedom to manage these plants as they see fit, with limited corporate intervention. The other traits Greiner prescribes to the delegation stage †“ besides the organizational arrangement –, confirms the notion that Maple Lodge Farms is in fact in this transitional phase. The delegation stage proves useful for gaining expansion through heightened motivation at lower levels. Decentralized managers with greater authority and incentive are able to penetrate larger markets, respond faster to customers, and develop new products† (Greiner, 1998). The organization’s foray into Halal poultry – especially with the prosperous Zabiha Halal line – not only demonstrates the effectiveness of the company’s branding system, but also that Maple Lodge Farms wants to breach the substantial Muslim market and thus attract a more ethnically diverse consumer base.Moreover, the organization’s successful promotions of its newer items – such as the pre-cooked refrigerated foods, the chicken bacon and other innovative manufactured products –, suggests that Maple Lodge Farms is attempting to cater to different preferences; the firm does this to capture a larger market segment, beyond what they have attained so far. Furthermore, the company’s latest acquisition of plants in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, in addition to Ontario, is testament to their desire to infiltrate a broader market across provincial lines.This action implies that Maple Lodge Farms is not only expanding its product lines to suit differentiated customer tastes, but also enlarging the organization nationwide – a claim supported by its recent obtainment of plants in New Brunswick, as well as Ontario, and its intention of partnering with Nova Scotia and P. E. I. growers to build primary operations in Berwick, Nova Scotia (â€Å"Grand river foods,† 2011). Since the characteristics that Maple Lodge Farms possesses are outlined in Greiner’s delegation stage, it thereby affirms that the organization is currently in this part of its evolution.Although Maple Lodge Farms appears to be doing well in the delegation stage of Greiner’s model, I believe that the organization may be on the verge of entering the revolutionary component of the third growth phase – referred to as the control crisis. Essentially, this situation arises as a product of the management style introduced in the delegation stage – involving market expansion, decentralized organizational structure, delegative managerial style and so on.Moreover, the control crisis occurs when â€Å"top executives sense that they are losing control over a highly diversified field operation. Autonomous field managers prefer to run their own shows without coordinating plans, money, technology, and manpower with the rest of the organization† (Greiner, 1998). Though this scenario may not be representative of the company quite yet, Greiner insinuates that at the end of an evolutionary period, all companies must enter a revolutionary period; it is merely the path that all organizations must follow in their progression models.Therefore, it is more than likely that Maple Lodge Farms may soon be in a crisis control situation, as its lengthy evolutionary stage is poised to end. The firm should understand the pending reality of a control crisis and be willing to make changes regarding the managerial framework, so as to preserve the health of the company. In 2010, Maple Lodge Farms was given the honor of being named one of fifty organizations in Canada that earned the Best Managed Company award. The CEO of Maple Lodge Farms, Michael Burrows, attributes this success to the customer-oriented method the company whole-heartedly embraces. At Maple Lodge Farms, we speak with our customers on an ongoing basis to gain their insights and to identify the most significant opportunities that move us closer to realizing their success†¦Our sales team is actively engaged with our customers and in the marketplace as often as possible in order to remain abreast of new opportunities and challenges†Ã‚  (â€Å"Maple lodge farms,† 2011). Maple Lodge Farms has nurtured this customer service focus through the use of effective human resources management, which prioritizes the recruitment and training of individuals able to meet inflexible customer demands.Consider the organization’s venture into the untapped Halal foods market. The company’s interest in realizing potential gains from Muslim buyers compelled Maple Lodge Farms to first launch its Halal product line in the 1990s – which has since been perfected over the organization’s existence. In adherence with strict Islamic procedures, the company employs several Muslim individuals to handle the slaughter of its chickens. â€Å"We have a team of several Muslim Blessers and a dedicated Muslim Product Manager†¦under oath to perform the duties assigned to them with honesty and integrity.ISNA’s Halal auditor visits our plant on daily basis to ensure the Halal process is followed with consistency† (â€Å"Maple lodge farms†). Consequently, in order to meet the stringent requirements of the Muslim community, Maple Lodge Farms has recruited and/or trained personnel in a highly specified manner, so as to satisfy their particular consumer needs. Additionally, the human resources department of Maple Lodge Farms encourages management leaders to continuously undergo training programs in order to keep abreast of new managerial techniques.This increases the efficiency of how all the plants of the firm are run. Moreover, the company has regular employee performance appraisals in order to ensure the quality of services offered to consumers. Therefore, the organization’s emphasis on fostering an organizational culture premised upon customer satisfaction – achieved partly through human resources policies concerning recruitment and training – has allowed the company to achieve recognition for its entrepreneurial strides.The workp lace diversity amongst employees of Maple Lodge Farms – ensuing from the diversification of the firm’s product lines to accommodate Halal consumers – necessitates a form of diversity management and the implementation of employee diversity programs by the human resources department. Diversity management’s initiative is not simply to advocate tolerance; more significantly, its purpose is to combine the different perspectives of a multicultural organization’s staff and use them to improve the firm’s performance.My research indicates that while Maple Lodge Farms may have a rudimentary diversity management system in place, its human resources team should consider taking full advantage of the company’s diverse employee population. This involves: top management commitment, diversity training programs, inclusive/representative communications, activities celebrating diversity, support groups/mentor programs, diversity audits and management acc ountability.I believe establishing a comprehensive diversity management system will allow Maple Lodge Farms to become not only an inclusive firm but one that is more effective from a business standpoint. My analysis of Maple Lodge Farms shows that it has tremendous potential to grow as an organization. Firstly, the managerial team should consider altering its delegative style of management to one that involves coordination techniques. Since Maple Lodge Farms seems to be on the outset of a revolutionary period in Greiner’s growth model, a change in how the company manages itself is necessary. Those companies that move ahead find a new solution in the use of special coordination techniques† (Greiner, 1998). Establishing these modifications in the organizational structure and in the general way the firm is managed, will enable Maple Lodge Farms to progress into the coordination stage – the next phase of Greiner’s growth model – and maintain the company ’s steady evolution. â€Å"All of these new coordination systems prove useful in achieving growth through more efficient allocation of a company’s limited resources.They prompt field managers to look beyond the needs of their local units†¦they learn to justify their actions more carefully to a â€Å"watchdog† audience at headquarters† (Greiner, 1998). Furthermore, the aforementioned diversity management system is another change Maple Lodge Farms should make, as it will move the organization in a new direction – wherein the marketing strategy will be more wide-ranging and cognizant of the immense diversity in customer tastes.From a human resources perspective, Maple Lodge Farms has succeeded in aspects other companies have failed in; they have created an organizational culture that whole-heartedly advocates superior customer service policies. This is evidenced by the human resources policies emphasizing the recruitment and training of qualified individuals, who are able to meet the organization’s standards of customer service. The distinction of being one of Canada’s fifty best managed companies validates the human resources measures Maple Lodge Farms has undertaken to provide first-class products and the best customer service.If the firm were to establish a strategic plan to implement a coordination management style and a diversity management system, then Maple Lodge Farms would experience no difficulties in continuing its success as a company in the future. Works Cited 1. Grand river foods fresh poultry processing division sold to maple lodge farms. (2011, November 21). Canadian Poultry Magazine, Retrieved from http://www. canadianpoultrymag. com 2. Greiner, L.E. (1998). Evolution and revolution as organizations grow. Harvard Business Review, (Reprint 98308), 4-11. Retrieved from http://www. gertjanschop. com 3. Maple lodge farms amongst best managed companies. (2011, February 23). Brampton Guardian. Retri eved from http://www. bramptonguardian. com 4. Maple lodge farms ltd. : Zabiha halal. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. zabihahalal. com