Examination of A Performance I Was In

This term we have been working on a devised performance dealing with the theme of consequences and looking at lots the themes and issues. We have chosen the title to be ‘Consequences'. We came up with this title after the whole group had decided on what the theme would be, then once we new what the theme would be, we thought of ideas of what the title could be, and we chose ‘Consequences'. Overall the play ‘Consequences' took 4-5 weeks to put together and perform. I thought it was a worthwhile experience because this is the first time I had worked in this group as a whole class. The performance we done, took place in the main school hall because we needed the space for our traverse stage to be held in. We had the stage setting, with the audience split in half, and the performance space was in the middle so that we could be seen at all angles. To begin the topic our teacher put us into groups and then we had to think of ideas of what our play could be about. We all wrote down ideas, then read them out, and then we decided as a group to choose the best idea. The age group we wanted to aim it at is our own year 10. We chose this age group because they can relate to the issues that are being performed. They would understand about our play because they are the age we are aiming at, and could relate to what the play was. After we decided on the theme of the play we then improvised of how to get ideas and put them together, then we discussed how to script it and the structure of the play. In one drama lesson we started working on the first family scene where we were at the table scene were me and my group had to work on the family which was based on poverty. We rehearsed this so many times because we had to make this a sad family as they don't have that much money, but is was a good scene because we could make it funny as well. I played the character of a gay man, with my partner we adopted kids and we had hardly any money. My partner and I were always arguing, while the kids were around. But with my character I felt that I had to play him as a serious but emotional man, with a hard life, so to do this I had to change his tone of voice, and my body language and gesture. One moment in the scene we did was when we were sitting at the dinner table and my partner was setting there with me, and the whole family was in a bad mood, so then me and my partner started to fight, so then the kids started to fight as well, and I had to stop them. Then we all stopped and sat and at e our breakfast. While we were eating I started to tell a story about how I saw two girls stealing from the chemist. I was telling them that I hoped for them to never to do the same. But later in the play they do. We did this because we wanted to set up the next scene for us to show that are kids are so poor they are pulled into stealing. I personally feel that this scene was quite successful because we all stayed concentrated in the important time in the scene. I thought we improved the scene by keeping loud so all the audience could hear us. This made the scene more effective because it keeps up the atmosphere, and the tension of all the acting parts. One scene that was non-naturalistic was the opening scene to the play. In the opening scene we used the drama technique slow motion to a piece of music. We also used frozen images to the piece of music. The music we used was a soundtrack by ‘DMX' called ‘Slipping' the song represented everyone's downfall in the play. It complemented the action that was taking place. The stylised movement we also used was sound collage, we used the sound collage to build a atmosphere for the opening scene, by doing this we showed the audience what the play was about by revealing all the issues and gave an insight into the situation the character was in. We also used a technique called duologue so that the angel and the devil characters commented on the action. W began devising this scene by us all trying to think of strong images that could show how our family's lifestyle and the difficulties they had. The moment that was the hardest to rehearse was when we were doing the links in between each family. I thought that the audience who were watching would react to this scene by thinking that they are going to see all different consequences that happen to people when they do things. I feel that this scene did work to its full potential because when the music played, it built an atmosphere on which the audience can see, and as all the frozen images from all the families, I thought were very powerful. I feel that it worked and conveyed the desired message of community what the play was about. Overall I feel the best moment in the play was the end, because after the audience had seen all the consequences that each family had done. The ending of our play was were each main character said a few lines about what happened after all of what had been done. Some said about they wish they had never done so many things, or looked after their children better, or wished they had never put a pill in the girls drink, they were all guilty of their consequences. Each individual was to blame for his or her own downfall. As we performed this scene to the audience the characters that were being played made mistakes, but as they said their lines they knew they had done something wrong and they cant change that now, and live with it. I feel that the message we were trying to convey to the audience was ‘to think about the consequences of your action'. One moment that stood out the most and I feel conveyed the message was the end, when the audience saw the characters were saying all the things that they could of done but didn't. I feel that the message was getting across to the audience wasn't as successful because all of the audience could have been confused. I feel that it could of have been more successful if we chose an outside audience, not friends. On the scenes that we could have been improved was the scene on were we linked up to our other groups together. I felt that it would have been better if we also had more time on to set the play, and if the cast was there every day, so then we could rehearse and get every thing perfect. I feel that the work that I have been doing in my lessons this term has been quite successful because it has brought the group closer to work with each other, and it is good experience for the future. I feel that the whole experience of devising the play has been very enjoyable. I feel that it was enjoyable because this is what I like in drama GCSE. I feel as a performer I gained experience in a way that it makes me feel easier now to act in front of my friends, and now I am fully concentrated and confident in performing in front of an audience. I have learnt that for my performance next year I will be able to cope with the tension and hard work. Overall it has been a productive piece of work on what we done this term, which has been enjoyable.

Conflicts of Globalization and Restructuring of Education Essay

The September 11 terrorist attacks have generated a wealth of theoretical reflection as well as regressive political responses by the Bush administration and other governments (Kellner, 2003b). The 9/11 attacks and subsequent Bush administration military response have dramatized once again the centrality of globalization in contemporary experience and the need for adequate conceptualizations and responses to it for critical theory and pedagogy to maintain their relevance in the present age. In this article, I want to argue that critical educators need to comprehend the conflicts of globalization, terrorism, and the prospects and obstacles to democratization in order to develop pedagogies adequate to the challenges of the present age. Accordingly, I begin with some comments on how the September 11 terror attacks call attention to key aspects of globalization, and then provide a critical theory of globalization, after which I suggest some pedagogical initiatives to aid in the democratic reconstruction of education after 9/11.1 September 11 and Globalization The terrorist acts on the United States on September 11 and the subsequent Terror War throughout the world dramatically disclose the downside of globalization, and the ways that global flows of technology, goods, information, ideologies, and people can have destructive as well as productive effects.2 The disclosure of powerful anti-Western terrorist networks shows that globalization divides the world just as it unifies, that it produces enemies as it incorporates participants. The events reveal explosive contradictions and conflicts at the heart of globalization and that the technologies of information, communication, and transportation that facilitate globaliz ation can also be used to undermine and attack it, and generate instruments of destruction as well as production. The experience of September 11 points to the objective ambiguity of globalization, that positive and negative sides are interconnected, that the institutions of the open society unlock the possibilities of destruction and violence, as well as democracy, free trade, and cultural and social exchange. Once again, the interconnection and interdependency of the networked world was dramatically demonstrated as terrorists from the Middle East brought local grievances from their region to attack key symbols of US military power and the very infrastructure of Wall Street. Some see terrorism as an expression of â€Å"the dark side of globalization,† while I would conceive it as part of the objective ambiguity of globalization that simultaneously creates friends and enemies, wealth and poverty, and growing divisions between the â€Å"haves† and â€Å"have nots.† Yet, the downturn in the global economy, intensification of local and global political conflicts, repression of human rights and civil liberties, and general increase in fear and anxiety have certainly undermined the naà ¯ve optimism of globophiles who perceived globalization as a purely positive instrument of progress and well-being. The use of powerful technologies as weapons of destruction also discloses current asymmetries of power and emergent forms of terrorism and war, as the new millennium exploded into dangerous conflicts and military interventions. As technologies of mass destruction become more available and dispersed, perilous instabilities have emerged that have elicited policing measures to stem the flow of movements of people and goods across borders and internally. In particular, the U.S. â€Å"Patriot Act† has led to repressive measures that are replacing the spaces of the open and free information society with new forms of surveillance, policing, and restrictions of civil liberties, thus significantly undermining U.S. democracy (see Kellner, 2003b). Ultimately, however, the abhorrent terror acts by the bin Laden network and the violent military response by the Bush administration may be an anomalous paroxysm whereby a highly regressive premodern Islamic fundamentalism has clashed with an old-fashioned patriarchal and unilateralist Wild West militarism. It could be that such forms of terrorism, militarism, and state repression will be superseded by more rational forms of politics that globalize and criminalize terrorism, and that do not sacrifice the benefits of the open society and economy in the name of security. Yet the events of September 11 may open a new era of Terror War that will lead to the kind of apocalyptic futurist world depicted by cyberpunk fiction (see Kellner 2003b). In any case, the events of September 11 have promoted a fury of reflection, theoretical debates, and political conflicts and upheaval that put the complex dynamics of globalization at the center of contemporary theory and politics. To those skeptical of the centrality of globalization to contemporary experience, it is now clear that we are living in a global world that is highly interconnected and vulnerable to passions and crises that can cross borders and can affect anyone or any region at any time. The events of September 11 and their aftermath also provide a test case to evaluate various theories of globalization in the contemporary era. In addition, they highlight some of the contradictions of globalization and the need to develop a highly complex and dialectical model to capture its conflicts, ambiguities, and contradictory effects. Consequently, I argue that in order to properly theorize globalization one needs to conceptualize several sets of contradictions generated by globalization’s combination of technological revolution and restructuring of capital, which, in turn, generate tensions between capitalism and democracy, and â€Å"haves† and â€Å"have nots.† Within the world economy, globalization involves the proliferation of the logic of capital, but also the spread of democracy in information, finance, investing, and the diffusion of technology (see Friedman, 1999 and Hardt and Negri, 2000). Globalization is thus a contradictory amalgam of capital ism and democracy, in which the logic of capital and the market system enter ever more arenas of global life, even as democracy spreads and more political regions and spaces of everyday life are being contested by democratic demands and forces. But the overall process is contradictory. Sometimes globalizing forces promote democracy and sometimes inhibit it, thus either equating capitalism and democracy, or simply opposing them, are problematical. The processes of globalization are highly turbulent and have generated intense conflicts throughout the world. Benjamin Barber (1996) describes the strife between McWorld and Jihad, contrasting the homogenizing, commercialized, Americanized tendencies of the global economy and culture with anti-modernizing Jihadist movements that affirm traditional cultures and are resistant to aspects of neoliberal globalization. Thomas Friedman (1999) makes a more benign distinction between what he calls the â€Å"Lexus† and the â€Å"Olive Tree.† The former is a symbol of modernization, of affluence and luxury, and of Westernized consumption, contrasted with the Olive Tree that is a symbol of roots, tradition, place, and stable community. Barber (1996), however, is too negative toward McWorld and Jihad, failing to adequately describe the democratic and progressive forces within both. Although Barber recognizes a dialectic of McWorld and Jihad, he opposes both to democracy, failing to perceive how they generate their own democratic forces and tendencies, as well as opposing and undermining democratization. Within Western democracies, for instance, there is not just top-down homogenization and corporate domination, but also globalization-from-below and oppositional social movements that desire alternatives to capitalist globalization. Thus, it is not only traditionalist, non-Western forces of Jihad that oppose McWorld. Likewise, Jihad has its democratizing forces as well as the reactionary Islamic fundamentalists who are now the most demonized elements of the contemporary era, as I discuss below. Jihad, like McWorld, has its contradictions and its potential for democratization, as well as elements of domination and destruction.3 Friedman, by contrast, is too uncritical of globalization, caught up in his own Lexus highconsumption life-style, failing to perceive the depth of the oppressive features of globalization and breadth and extent of resistance and opposition to it. In particular, he fails to articulate the contradictions between capitalism and democracy, and the ways that globalization and its economic logic undermine democracy as well as encouraging it. Likewise, he does not grasp the virulence of the premodern and Jihadist tendencies that he blithely identifies with the Olive tree, and the reasons why globalization and the West are so strongly resisted in many parts of the world. Hence, it is important to present globalization as a strange amalgam of both homogenizing forces of sameness and uniformity, and heterogeneity, difference, and hybridity, as well as a contradictory mixture of democratizing and anti-democratizing tendencies. On one hand, globalization unfolds a process of standardization in which a globalized mass culture circulates the globe creating sameness and homogeneity everywhere. But globalized culture makes possible unique appropriations and developments all over the world, thus proliferating hybrids, difference, and heterogeneity.4 Every local context involves its own appropriation and reworking of global products and signifiers, thus proliferating difference, otherness, diversity, and variety (Luke and Luke, 2000 ). Grasping that globalization embodies these contradictory tendencies at once, that it can be both a force of homogenization and heterogeneity, is crucial to articulating the contradictions of globalization and avoiding one-sided and reductive conceptions. My intention is to present globalization as conflictual, contradictory and open to resistance and democratic intervention and transformation and not just as a monolithic juggernaut of progress or domination as in many other discourses. This goal is advanced by distinguishing between â€Å"globalization from below† and â€Å"globalization from above† of corporate capitalism and the capitalist state, a distinction that should help us to get a better sense of how globalization does or does not promote democratization. â€Å"Globalization from below† refers to the ways in which marginalized individuals and social movements and critical pedagogues resist globalization and/or use its institutions and instruments to further democratization and social justice. Yet, one needs to avoid binary normative articulations, since globalization from below can have highly conservative and destructive effects, as well as positive ones, while globalization from above can help produce global solutions to problems like terrorism or the environment. Moreover, on one hand, as Michael Peters argues (forthcoming), globalization itself is a kind of war and much militarism has been expansive and globalizing in many historical situations. On the other hand, antiwar and peace movements are also increasingly global, hence globalization itself is marked by tensions and contradictions. Thus, while on one level, globalization significantly increases the supremacy of big corporations and big government, it can also give power to groups and individuals that were previously left out of the democratic dialogue and terrain of political struggle. Such potentially positive effects of globalization include increased access to education for individuals excluded from sharing culture and knowledge and the possibility of oppositional individuals and groups to participate in global culture and politics through gaining access to global communication and media networks and to circulate local struggles and oppositional ideas through these media. The role of information technologies in social movements, political struggle, and everyday life forces social movements and critical theorists to reconsider their political strategies and goals and democratic theory to appraise how new technologies do and do not promote democratization (Kellner, 1995b, 1997 and 1999b; Best and Kellner 2001; Kahn and Kellner 2003). In their book Empire, Hardt and Negri (2000) present contradictions within globalization in terms of an imperializing logic of â€Å"Empire† and an assortment of struggles by the multitude, creating a contradictory and tension-full situation. As in my conception, Hardt and Negri present globalization as a complex process that involves a multidimensional mixture of expansions of the global economy and capitalist market system, information technologies and media, expanded judicial and legal modes of governance, and emergent modes of power, sovereignty, and resistance.5 Combining poststructuralism with â€Å"autonomous Marxism,† Hardt and Negri stress political openings and possibilities of struggle within Empire in an optimistic and buoyant text that envisages progressive democratization and self-valorization in the turbulent process of the restructuring of capital. Many theorists, by contrast, have argued that one of the trends of globalization is depoliticization of publics, the decline of the nation-state, and the end of traditional politics (Boggs, 2000). While I would agree that globalization is promoted by extremely powerful economic forces and that it often undermines democratic movements and decision-making, one should also note that there are openings and possibilities for a globalization from below that inflects globalization for positive and progressive ends, and that globalization can thus help promote as well as destabilize democracy.6 Globalization involves both a disorganization and reorganization of capitalism, a turbulent restructuring process, which creates openings for progressive social change and intervention as well as highly destructive transformative effects. On the positive ledger, in a more fluid and open economic and political system, oppositional forces can gain concessions, win victories, and effect progressive changes. During the 1970s, new social movements, new nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and new forms of struggle and solidarity emerged that have been expanding to the present day (Hardt and Negri, 2000; Burbach, 2001; Best and Kellner, 2001; and Foran, 2003). The anti-corporate globalization of the 1990s emerged as a form of globalization from below, but so too did Al Qaeda and various global terror networks, which intensified their attacks and helped generate an era of Terror War. This made it difficult simply to affirm globalization from below while denigrating globalization from above, as clearly terrorism was an emergent and dangerous form of globalization from below that was a threat to peace, security, and democracy. Moreover, in the face of Bush administration unilateralism and militarism, multilateral approaches to the problems of terrorism called for global responses and alliances to a wide range of global problems (see Kellner 2003b and Barber 2003), thus demanding a progressive and cosmopolitan globalization to deal with contemporary challenges. Moreover, the present conjuncture is marked by a conflict between growing centralization and organization of power and wealth in the hands of the few contrasted with opposing processes exhibiting a fragmentation of power that is more plural, multiple, and open to contestation. As the following analysis will suggest, both tendencies are observable and it is up to individuals and groups to find openings for progressive political intervention, social transformation, and the democratization of education that pursue positive values such as democracy, human rights, literacy, equality, ecological preservation and restoration, and social justice, while figh ting poverty, ignorance, terror, and injustice. Thus, rather than just denouncing globalization, or engaging in celebration and legitimation, a critical theory of globalization reproaches those aspects that are oppressive, while seizing upon opportunities to fight domination and exploitation and to promote democratization, justice, and a forward looking reconstruction of the polity, society, and culture. Against capitalist globalization from above, there has been a significant eruption of forces and subcultures of resistance that have attempted to preserve specific forms of culture and society against globalization and homogenization, and to create alternative forces of society and culture, thus exhibiting resistance and globalization from below. Most dramatically, peasant and guerrilla movements in Latin America, labor unions, students, and environmentalists throughout the world, and a variety of other groups and movements have resisted capitalist globalization and attacks on previous rights and benefits. 7 Several dozen people’s organizations from around the world have protested World Trade Organization (WTO) policies and a backlash against globalization is visible everywhere. Politicians who once championed trade agreements like GATT and NAFTA are now often quiet about these arrangements or example, at the 1996 annual Davos World Economic Forum its founder and managing director published a warning entitled: â€Å"Start Taking the Backlash Against Globalization Seriously.† Reports surfaced that major representatives of the capitalist system expressed fear that capitalism was getting too mean and predatory, that it needs a kinder and gentler state to ensure order and harmony, and that the welfare state may make a come-back (see the article in New York Times, February 7, 1996: A15).8 One should take such reports with the proverbial grain of salt, but they express fissures and openings in the system for critical discourse and intervention. Indeed, by 1999, the theme of the annual Davos conference was making globalization work for poor countries and minimizing the differences between the â€Å"haves† and â€Å"have nots.† The growing divisions between rich and poor were worrying some globalizers, as were the wave of crises in Asian, Latin American, and other â€Å"developing countries†. In James Flanigan’s report in the Los Angeles Times (Febr. 19, 1999), the â€Å"main theme† is to â€Å"spread the wealth. In a world frightened by glaring imbalances and the weakness of economies from Indonesia to Russia, the talk is no longer of a new world economy getting stronger but of ways to ‘keep the engine going.'† In particular, the globalizers were attempting to keep economies growing in the more developed countries and capital flowing to developing nations. U.S. Vice-President Al Gore called on all countries to spur economic growth, and he proposed a new U.S.-led initiative to eliminate the debt burdens of developing countries. South African President Nelson Mandela asked: â€Å"Is globalization only for the powerful? Does it offer nothing to the men, women and children who are ravaged by the violence of poverty?† As the new millennium opened, there was no clear answer to Mandela’s question. In the 2000s, there have been ritual proclamations of the need to make globalization work for the developing nations at all major meetings of global institutions like the WTO or G-8 convenings. For instance, at the September 2003 WTO meeting at Cancun, organizers claimed that its goal was to fashion a new trade agreement that would reduce poverty and boost development in poorer nations. But critics pointed out that in the past years the richer nations of the U.S., Japan, and Europe continued to enforce trade tariffs and provide subsidies for national producers of goods such as agriculture, while forcing poorer nations to open their markets to â€Å"free trade,† thus bankrupting agricultural sectors in these countries that could not compete. Significantly, the September 2003 WTO trade talks in Cancun collapsed as leaders of the developing world concurred with protestors and blocked expansion of a â€Å"free trade zone† that would mainly benefit the US and overdeveloped countries. Likewise, in Miami in November 2003 the â€Å"Free-Trade Summit† collapsed without an agreement as the police violently suppressed protestors.9 Moreover, major economists like Joseph Stiglitz (2002), as well as anti-corporate globalization protestors and critics, argued that the developing countries were not adequately benefiting under current corporate globalization policies and that divisions between the rich and poor nations were growing. Under these conditions, critics of globalization were calling for radically new policies that would help the developing countries, regulate the rich and overdeveloped countries, and provide more power to working people and local groups. The Global Movement Against Capitalist Globalization With the global economic recession and the Terror War erupting in 2001, the situation of many developing countries has worsened. As part of the backlash against globalization in recent years, a wide range of theorists have argued that the proliferation of difference and the shift to more local discourses and practices best define the contemporary scene. In this view, theory and politics should shift from the level of globalization (and its accompanying often totalizing and macro dimensions) in order to focus on the local, the specific, the particular, the heterogeneous, and the micro level of everyday experience. An array of theories associated with poststructuralism, postmodernism, feminism, and multiculturalism focus on difference, otherness, marginality, the personal, the particular, and the concrete in contrast to more general theory and politics that aim at more global or universal conditions. 10 Likewise, a broad spectrum of subcultures of resistance have focused their attention on the local level, organizing struggles around identity issues such as gender, race, sexual preference, or youth subculture (see Kahn and Kellner, 2003). It can be argued that such dichotomies as those between the global and the local express contradictions and tensions between crucial constitutive forces on the present scene. It may be a mistake to focus on one side of the global/local polarity in favor of exclusive concern with the other side (Cvetkovitch and Kellner, 1997). Hence, an important challenge for a critical theory of globalization is to think through the relationships between the global and the local by observing how global forces influence and even structure an increasing number of local situations.

Business Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Business Ethics - Essay Example Maximizing profits should not be the main focus of any business. 2. Argument for Social Responsibility There are many stakeholders in an organization. Some of the important and direct ones are; shareholders, customers, employees, vendors. The usual approach that is adapted by corporations (and advocated by Milton Friedman in the chosen article) is to increase the value for the shareholders and maximize profits as much as possible. John Mackay stated in the chosen feature that maximizing profits would not be the objective of stakeholders like employees and customers. Therefore, a business model should aim to provide value to all of their six stakeholders; customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, societies, environment. This forms the basis of social responsibility. The following are some of the benefits of an ethical approach to manage business: Increases the motivation of the employees Produces better service and products for the customers as per their requirements Earns a posi tive image for the company Attracts new employees Benefits the communities and environment ‘Capitalism’ has been made notorious due to the concept of maximizing profits at all levels. This concept can be marketed in a better manner if it is realized that all constituencies need to be catered in the management of any business.

Should Abortion Be A Woman Decision Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Should Abortion Be A Woman Decision - Essay Example Only the individual can disseminate the information and make their own decision based on what they believe to be right but everyone should know both sides on equal terms so as to make the decision that is right for them. This paper will first present the ‘right-to-life’ then follow with the ‘pro-choice’ argument. The right to choose is the foundation upon which this country was built. Those who are pro-abortion trumpet this slogan while proclaiming a woman’s ‘God given right’ to make her own choices without government interference. This simple ideology is embraced by some but the arguments are flawed when the realities of abortion are examined. Studies have shown that most women are coerced into committing this murderous act of a living human and that there is no such thing as safe abortions as many are led to believe. Pro-abortion proponents generally espouse that the rights of a non-living tissue that feels no pain are non-existent. This discussion exposes these untruths that have been reported and are widely perceived as facts. It also explains the framers’ intent for the legal and moral direction of American society when they drafted the Constitution, the document that defines the laws of the nation. There is little freedom of choice for women who are experiencing an unwanted pregnancy. The women themselves usually wish to bring their baby to full term. Other powerful influences in her life such as husbands/boyfriends, parents and friends are generally the forces that exact pressures on her to terminate the pregnancy. â€Å"Eight out of 10 women surveyed after abortion said they would have given birth if they’d had support and encouragement from family and friends† (Reardon, 2002). It’s the abortion that, in many cases, is unwanted by the woman, not the baby. Most often, the father of the child, not wishing to accept responsibility, may beg or even

Critically Eexamine the Importance of Ensuring the Race, Ethnicity, Essay

Critically Eexamine the Importance of Ensuring the Race, Ethnicity, Social Class And Gender of Pupils Are Valued And Supported Within the Education System - Essay Example This project declares that the social class of the students affects performance in terms of the quality of life. If a student has access to the basic needs, health care and social amenities then they are more likely to perform better in school. Research has shown that students who come from low-income households have slower development of academic skills that those coming from higher income households. This is because of the different environments and exposures of these two groups. For example, a child from a well to do family may be more technologically advanced that another from a low-income household. This is because this student is exposed to all the latest gadgets and other devices because the family can be able to afford them. This paper makes a conclusion that tahe one for the under privileged student has to be detailed as the assumption made is there are things that the students has not been able to access and experience because of their social standing. Families that have low income are less likely to provide the necessary materials required in the learning process. In conclusion, all the above areas have to be considered in the formulation of an educational policy to make sure that all that parties involved have adequate representation and no group is left behind in educational progression. Education is a basic human right and the least we can do is to make sure that it is accessible by all and that it is comprehensive enough for all parties involved.

Developmental Milestones Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Developmental Milestones - Essay Example Children have widely individual characteristics and develop different skills at different paces. â€Å"The interactive influences of genes and experience literally shape the architecture of the developing brain, and the active ingredient is the ‘serve and return’ nature of children’s engagement in relationships with their parents and other caregivers in their family or community† (NSCDC, 2007:1). For the most part, parents’ instincts are usually the best indicator that development is not going right. Parents should therefore trust these instincts, and not be overly stressed because babies can feel and react to stress in their caregivers. What is important is for parents to provide their babies with sufficient care and stimulation, to make sure that they eat and sleep well, and most of all, to show them that they are loved. Children bask in the love of their parents, and affection conveyed through words, touch, and â€Å"just being there† is pr obably the best stimulus for development that any young child could ever

Critical Evaluation of the 3 School of Thought on Innovation and Essay

Critical Evaluation of the 3 School of Thought on Innovation and Services - Essay Example Furthermore, the manufacturing sectors have been vital for several economists as it has been the foundation stone for the understanding of the process of innovation and its economic implications (Gallouj & Windrum, pp. 141-142, 2008). The learning and understanding of service innovation, on the other hand, have now become an opportunity for scholars where they can widen and enlarge their knowledge of an incorporated account of innovation and its entire process that applies to services as well as manufacturing. However, several prime issues and debates have been a significant part of the research for different schools of thoughts that have erupted and fumed in the literature of the service innovation over the past couple of years. According to one school of thought, the discussion and argument revolved around the subject matter that portrayed the potentials of innovation in services in contrast to the manufacturing along with its implication in the growth of the economy and employment (Gallouj & Windrum, pp. 141-142, 2008). According to the viewpoint of few scholars, the subject matter of innovation in the service sector is a concern that has gained significant importance over the period of instance. Moreover, the empirical and theoretical studies have contributed to great deal in determining the substance of innovation that plays a prominent role in the service activities in productive systems. In addition, these scholars also exhibit the piece if information that building or defining a definition of innovation on a general basis is fundamental and essential as it would create the perceptive and awareness of the concepts and dynamics of innovation in both sectors comprising service and manufacturing (Gallouj & Weinstein, pp. 537-538, 1997). The research has proved that the concept of innovation in services dates back to several centuries that have come under rematerializing few times. In fact, the arguments and discussions then focused around the alleged assimi lation, demarcation, and synthesis discussion. According to the assimilation standpoint, the service activities and manufacturing activities possess the similar functions on whole, and thus the theories and experimental or observed indicators are applicable to the services in the same way that have primarily and initially come under development for the manufacturing. According to some beliefs, it has also come under view that services in innovation are just the consequence of change that occurs due to dispersion of innovation (Gallouj & Windrum, pp. 142-143, 2008). However, the demarcation perspective is the antipode or reversal of assimilation, which states that service-specific forms of innovation exist. Furthermore, the organizational importance has been the key point of prominence with product and process innovation in services. Indeed according to the scholars who believe in this view strongly argues that various forms of innovations are service specific, therefore, it is criti cal and crucial to have exclusively new theories of innovation that must be service specific in order to have a clear understanding of the nature and motion of innovation in services (Gallouj & Windrum, pp. 143-144, 2008). Lastly, the synthesis viewpoint â€Å"seeks to take the recent insights of demarcation writers and to integrate these within insights gained in manufacturing

Evaluating international business communications situations Essay - 11

Evaluating international business communications situations - Essay Example Globalization has been known to provoke massive reactions in regards to its effects, both positive and negative, though the new opportunities it creates to people cannot be overemphasized. The creation of multinational companies all over the world is one such major opportunity that globalization creates, and this tends to encourage the interconnection of people from very diverse cultural and social backgrounds that would otherwise never have come together. As a result, globalization has produced workforce with the diverse cultural backgrounds at the same workplace and/or business encounters who have to work at an international level. These cultures are represented by individuals who come together at the workplace and have to learn how to communicate and tolerate one another with their diverse backgrounds. Intercultural communication occurs whenever a message is produced by a member of one culture for consumption by a member of another culture, a message must be understood. Because of cultural differences in these kinds of contacts, the potential for misunderstanding and disagreement is great (Pinto, ). Communication can only be said to be effective when it reaches out to the receiver in the manner in which it was intended to by the sender. As such, the idea, information or opinion being transmitted to the receiver must be carried out in a manner that ensures it is correctly understood, and that it is received on time by the receiver. This aspect emphasizes the importance of choosing the right mode of communication at both the individual as well as the organizational level for optimum communication. The various forms assumed by communication include formal vs. informal communication and verbal vs. non-verbal communication among others. Informal communication method is the one whereby the flow of information does not follow the known and established organizational channels. People make communication using unofficial lines that tend to follow

Factors Influencing Process Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Factors Influencing Process Design - Essay Example The choice of materials is one factor that affects the process design of products. In the process of choosing the right material for products, there are a number of factors that are considered in relation to material choice (Cresswell, 2002). Quantity of products to be manufactured, market costs and product use are the factors associated with material choice. The material to be used should consider what environment and the product will be used. For example, when manufacturing cups for taking tea, the material used should be able to withstand hot or cold temperatures and washing. The quantity of products to be manufacturedrelates to the amount required to be sold to the target market. For example, a large amount of cups can be manufactured if many orders are required by the client. Moreover, marketing cost refers to the final product costs. The end costs of products should not exceed the cost that product will be sold in the market so long as it can perform the function it was manufac tured for and reflects the quality (Kalakul et al, 2014).Product purpose fitness and durabilityare other factors that influence product design. This means that the product should do the function it was designed for. For example, a cup is manufactured for the purposes of taking liquids such as tea. Other factors such as weight and size should be considered when designing products.The weight and size should be reasonable in order to perform its intended purpose. Therefore, when considering product fitness, designers should establish all the important elements of the product

Flash Fiction and Prose Essay Example for Free

Flash Fiction and Prose Essay Surprise endings are tricky. They either work or they don’t; people are either captivated or dubiously disappointed. I must confess that â€Å"The School† and â€Å"Dinner Time† were both extremely strange and vaguely unenjoyable for me. â€Å"School† was quite depressing and raised quite a bit of questions: when does bad luck become just bad? How were the deaths uniform and consistent in plants, animals, and even people? Was there indeed something wrong with the school itself? Or was their a saboteur? I believe the root of the problem was too many questions and not enough answered. On top of that the ending was a walking gerbil which is just odd. The language, depth and vocabulary of the students change all of a sudden and the principal displays public affection with another teacher. As a result the story conveys an unsettling and even worrying atmosphere where children go to learn; the reader gets the sense that the children may not be entirely safe, but from what is still entirely unknown. Similarly, â€Å"Dinner Time† could conceivably be a Mad TV skit or a scene behind a schizophrenic’s eyes. I’m not sure if this bizarre husband and wife team was masochistic, psychopathic, or just plain insane. There is a great deal of anger, frustration and unnecessary pain that I quite simply did not understand. I could not comprehend how this dinner could have presented itself in Edson’s head. Truly, it is nothing but puzzling, and the ending is rather a relief – the reader can finally stop being confused. Conversely, â€Å"A Story About the Body† and â€Å"Sleeping† engages the reader by presenting a picture everyone has been in: babysitter (or babysat) and desire, or in it’s basest form, human connection. â€Å"Body† was the shortest piece we had to read and also managed to convey nearly the most information of all of them. A man desires a woman because of her expression through art, her dancer’s grace and her captivating eyes. But upon hearing of her loss, he at least is able to keep eye contact when he tells her the truth. The reader immediately experiences two different sets of emotions: pity for the woman with graceful hands of art, and a reluctant empathy with the man who changed his mind. It would’ve been an undeniably unnerving experience for him and any man, making love to a woman without what some consider is part of the essence of a woman, no matter how much in love with her he thought himself to be. But then he and the reader are presented with an ending in the form of a gift: a small blue bowl filled with water, rose petals and dead bees. I was completely ignorant of what this might mean and so did brief research on the symbolism of bees and found that the bee has most often been used to represent the soul. I do not know if that is what Hass implied or even intended but it seems to fit best here. Perhaps it is a metaphor for her own body: pretty on the outside (with clothes), damaged on the inside, but still whole – still a woman (naked). Not only was this woman sending him a message, but she was also giving him part of what attracted him to her in the first place: her art. The reader is likewise quickly intrigued in â€Å"Sleeping,† even downright curious as to why Mrs. Winter prevents the hired babysitter from ever confirming the existence of the baby. Is the baby alright? Is it breathing? Does this alleged baby even exist? Whereas â€Å"School† raised disturbing questions about the safety of mass amounts of children, â€Å"Sleeping† raises thoughts of intrigue, deception, and old fashioned mystery. And the ending is not surprising so much as it merely drives the reader to a hunger to know what exactly Mrs. Winters keeps in the â€Å"baby† room. And no Mr. Winter, we do not understand.

Effects of Technology on Modern Day Architecture and Design

Effects of Technology on Modern Day Architecture and Design Architecture has revolutionized and changed in the twenty-first century compared to the nineteen century due to technology. Even though many factors have played major roles in the changing of architecture, technology has played the most important role for architectural change. Architecture and technology will be two terms that will be used throughout this paper. According to the Webster dictionary, architecture is defined as the art or science of designing and creating buildings while technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. Technology nowadays plays an important role in our societies since most buildings especially condos and houses are way different compared to the ones that were built in the nineteen century. Today’s buildings/condos in our societies are now built mostly through the use of digital visualization technologies that are purposely planned to create certain kinds of impression and atmosphere in our soci ety. Technology and architecture goes hand in hand as both terms benefit from each other due to the fact that technology has helped architects in drawing their designs more effectively and efficiently instead of using their hands. This essay will aim to analyze how modern technologies are operating as a key part of architecture and design, whether technology is having a positive or negative impact on architecture and architectural work methods. There will also be a discussion on Computer-aided design (CAD). In relating it to the course, this paper will mostly touch on hyper change since its evident that technology is indeed changing how individuals perceive and understand objects and structures. The most important technology/software that this essay will look at is the Computer-aided design (CAD) and Geographic Information System (GIS) and how both have affected architecture and design. At the moment, technology has totally revolutionized our city we live in and our way of living. W alking around downtown Toronto and seeing buildings such as the OCAD building and the Royal Ontario museum indicates how far buildings have change due to technology. Looking at how far technology has brought architecture, it’s safe to say that technology will open new worlds by assisting in the making of new materials to construct buildings. Notes on modern architecture by Antoine Picon shows that architecture has been closely related to technology since the nineteen century and argues that modernism’s tendency towards architecture has made it possible to elevate the living settings of the masses. Scholars such as Banham have argued that technology certainly has shaped architecture throughout history. Examples such as the creation of the Flying Buttress in Europe allowed Master Builders to restore the enormous walls of Romanesque churches, the Etruscan keystone arch allowed the Roman Empire to make tough and strong bridges. The most outstanding example is the development of skyscrapers which was made possible by the invention of mass produced steel and safety elevators. In the world, the tallest skyscraper is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai while in Toronto, the highest skyscraper is the CN Tower but the tallest inhabitable is the First Canadian Place. Banham looks at how technology should be considered as an essential part of architecture but does not really discuss the effects and impacts technology is having on modern day architecture. This essay will tackle this issue and expand on the ideas Banham out forward in his book and other scholarly works by different authors. This research paper will have an introduction where major terminologies that will be used throughout the paper will be defined. The introduction will also have the thesis and the arguments supporting the thesis. The next section of this paper will solely discuss Computer-aided design (CAD), the types of CAD and the contributions that this software has made to architecture and design. The next section will look at will be the advantages and disadvantages of technology on architecture. Research shows that indeed technology has had a positive effect on architecture so these advantages will be explored further. Lastly, this paper will look at what technology can do for architecture in the future. In conclusion, this paper will summarize all the arguments and points put together and opinions of scholars will also be touched upon. Annotated Bibliography Banham, R. (1984).The architecture of the well-tempered environment(2nd ed). London: Architectural Press. In this book, the author points out that technology, human needs, and environmental concerns are all interconnected and all of them play a vital part in the development of architecture. He argues that technological and mechanical advancements in simple areas such as ventilation, heating and other 20th century designs needs more attention since architecture is not just about designs and buildings but also the mechanical systems that makes them work.. Crouch, D. P. (1985).History of architecture: Stonehenge to skyscrapers. New York: McGraw-Hill. In this book, Crouch tackles architecture from a historic point of view from the Stonehenge in England to the skyscrapers which are seen around the world mostly in developed countries. Crouch talks about basically how far architecture has come as she explores architecture in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Crouch argues that architecture is now developing into a science-based due to the progression of technology. Donald, Watson (1984). Architecture, Technology, and Environment. Journal of Architectural Education Vol. 51, No. 2 (Nov., 1997), pp. 119-126 Published by:Taylor Francis, Ltd.on behalf of theAssociation of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, Inc. URL: http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/stable/1425452 In this journal, Donald argues that a small number of architectural educators dismiss the fact that technology is part of architecture and he insists that both architecture and technology are dependent on each other. Donald also argues that technology puts greater emphasis and higher expectations on architecture due to the fact that technology in architecture is not just about simply the beautiful structures and buildings we see but it is about the knowledge and information the society as a whole gain in the making of these structures. Encarnaà §Ãƒ £o, J. L., Lindner, R., Schlechtendahl, E. G. (. G. (1990).Computer aided design: Fundamentals and system architectures(2nd ed.). Berlin; New York: Springer-Verlag. This book explains the computer aided design software in particularly how it works, its principles, ways and how it has helped in the development and revolution of architecture. Encarnaà §Ãƒ £o and his co-authors identifies the main components of CAD and they concluded by showing the steps involve in making this machine Heynen, Hilde. (1999).Architecture and modernity: A critique. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. This author suggests a remarkable outline of investigation that explains the history of modern movements and difficulty it has faced. Hilde tries to connect modern movement and cultural theory of modernity. Hilde argues that architecture and modernity relies relatively greatly on the kind of modernity being created. Hilde asks the question â€Å"what relations exist or ought to exist between architecture and modernity?† .So with this asked, she explores how architecture and modernity is connected. Karl D. Stephan. (2005). Masterworks of Technology: The Story of Creative Engineering, Architecture, and Design. Technology and Culture, Volume 46, Number 3 Retrieved from http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/tech/summary/v046/46.3stephan.html According to this journal review by Karl, technology has always been part of human society. The author talks about technological creativeness and vision throughout the years. Karl argues that science and engineering has come together and its pushing architecture to a new and different level never imagined before from the pyramids of Egypt to now skyscrapers seen around the world. Karl talks about the framework involve in skyscraper developments especially that of the Chicago’s Sears Tower as he builds on the ideas of F. R. Khan’s influence important on skyscraper design. Le Corbusier. (1952). Towards a new architecture. London: The Architectural Press. In this book, Le Corbusier book talks about architecture and the society as he wrote about new advancements that we see today in our communities today. He parallels the speed of which architecture is growing with that of the advancement in the society. Le Corbusier also addresses five principles of modern architecture, mass production and industrialization. Rivard, H. (2000). A Survey On The Impact Of Information Technology On The Canadian Architecture, Engineering And Construction Industry. Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITcon), v.5, p.37 In this survey, researches aim in determining the impact of technology on architecture, construction and engineering. This survey proved that all architects now have access to computer and only one percent of the architects that answered the questionnaire study indicated that they do not use computers to help them with their work. The survey proved that truly most when it comes to the drawing of design most architects use CAD. This survey showed technology is an essential part of architecture, construction and engineering field now and almost every individual that works in these fields rely on them to help him/her work efficiently. Stephenson, S. (2007).The integration of technology into a landscape architecture graduate program: A case study.(Order No. NR39441, University of Toronto (Canada)).ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 232. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/docview/304757618?accountid=15182 This is a case study show the ways in which technology is contributing to the landscape of architecture and the difficult process involved in it. The study mostly touches on design process and studio culture while it looks at how technology has affected this area either in a positive, neutral or negative way. Throughout this paper, it’s clear that technology has change landscape architecture especially when it comes to how materials are produced and how designers all over the world are able to contact each other in a matter of seconds due to technology. Saeideh Feizi Azarshahr, Alireza Motamadniya, Mostafa Basiri (2013). New Technologies in Modern Architecture and its Interaction with Traditional Architecture. Research Journal of Chemical and Environmental Sciences Vol 1 Issue 3: 70-80 In this article, Azarshahr et al argues that the use of technology results in the establishment of flawless and perfect buildings and technology has always been a part of architecture as Azarshahr et al describes two types of technology: traditional technology and modern technology. According to these authors, traditional technology has not been documented as much compared to modern technology and this modern technology has led to the computerization and industrialization of architecture. REFERENCES Banham, R. (1984).The architecture of the well-tempered environment(2nd ed). London: Architectural Press. Crouch, D. P. (1985).History of architecture: Stonehenge to skyscrapers. New York: McGraw-Hill. Donald, Watson (1984). Architecture, Technology, and Environment. Journal of Architectural Education Vol. 51, No. 2 (Nov., 1997), pp. 119-126 Published by:Taylor Francis, Ltd.on behalf of theAssociation of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, Inc. URL: http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/stable/1425452 Encarnaà §Ãƒ £o, J. L., Lindner, R., Schlechtendahl, E. G. (. G. (1990).Computer aided design: Fundamentals and system architectures(2nd ed.). Berlin; New York: Springer-Verlag. Heynen, Hilde. (1999).Architecture and modernity: A critique. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. Karl D. Stephan. (2005). Masterworks of Technology: The Story of Creative Engineering, Architecture, and Design. Technology and Culture, Volume 46, Number 3 Retrieved from  http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/tech/summary/v046/46.3stephan.html Le Corbusier. (1952). Towards a new architecture. London: The Architectural Press. Rivard, H. (2000). A Survey On The Impact Of Information Technology On The Canadian Architecture, Engineering And Construction Industry. Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITcon), v.5, p.37 Stephenson, S. (2007).The integration of technology into a landscape architecture graduate program: A case study.(Order No. NR39441, University of Toronto (Canada)).ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 232. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/docview/304757618?accountid=15182 Saeideh Feizi Azarshahr, Alireza Motamadniya, Mostafa Basiri (2013). New Technologies in Modern Architecture and its Interaction with Traditional Architecture. Research Journal of Chemical and Environmental Sciences Vol 1 Issue 3: 70-80

Anorexia Nervosa :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Anorexia nervosa is a serious problem that many people are dealing with in today’s society. Though this is a serious problem, the severity of the illness can easily be lessened with quick intervention from parents, friends, and other caring individuals. People who are close to the victim can notice early warning signs and symptoms, which are characteristic of this condition. Anorexia nervosa may be a life threatening illness, but can be treated if detected early on. There are many effective treatments that are currently available for patients. These different treatments will help the patient regain a healthy, normal lifestyle.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The only real answer to the question of what type of people anorexia nervosa affects is that there is no valid answer even though researchers have found that the amount of people who develop anorexia nervosa is rising drastically. Researchers have also found that many patients with anorexia nervosa typically lack self-esteem and often feel that weight loss will make them more liked or even popular.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many different symptoms that anorexics display. The symptoms can be both physical and psychological. The physical symptoms only occur after a severe amount of starvation has occurred. The symptoms often include constipation, loss of hair on the head, growth of faint body hair, low pulse rate, and the patient is unable to tolerate cold temperatures. Anorexics also experience many different endocrine problems. The psychological problems can range from social withdrawal to distortion of body image.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is no real answer as to exactly what causes anorexia nervosa. Researchers believe that environmental, psychological, and physiological factors all play a major role in the happening of this disorder. Many scientists believe that the part of the brain called the hypothalamus has a part in the development of anorexia nervosa. Other researchers think that abnormalities in particular endocrine functions may be key to discovering what may cause anorexia nervosa.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are three different ways that patients with anorexia nervosa can be treated. These treatments consist of nutritional therapy, family counseling, and psychotherapy for the patient. The foremost concern when beginning nutritional therapy is that the patient needs to gain weight. A physician can accomplish this by adding an amount of calories to a patient’s daily intake of food. Family counseling basically deals with the relationship between the patient and the members of the family. Psychotherapy is very necessary to the patient because it helps the individual realize the effects and the process anorexia nervosa undergoes.

Just Taxation :: essays research papers

Index: I.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introduction  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2 II.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introducing the problem  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2 III.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Income vs. Consumption Tax  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3 IV.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A just tax base?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5 V.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liberutopia  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  6 VI.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Conclusion  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  8 VII.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  References  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  9 Table of Figures: Figure 1: Consumption vs. income tax  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3 Figure 2: Floating money and deposit money  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  4 I.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introduction In the debate of just taxation an argument came up, which insisted that any tax that distorts individual preferences should be considered as unjust. This argument is known as the â€Å"fairness-to- savers-argument†. The intention of this essay is to explain of what the fairness to savers argument consists, how to approach it and foremost why it is wrong. At first I will therefore explain the argument on the basis of it’s most common example. The following chapter will then provide a better insight into to exact circumstances, under which the fairness to savers argument might arise. Here the functionalities of the, in the example presented, tax bases will be addressed. To approach the rejection of the argument correctly, it will be necessary to determine what exactly â€Å"just† means and this will lead us to some assumption, which need to be made to prove the argument wrong. But before that, I will present the approach Murphy and Nagel make in their book â€Å"The myth of ownership† and why they are not able to reject the argument completely. Afterwards I will introduce my approach, which basically will show, that any kind of taxation will distort individual preferences and there from I derive, that the fairness to savers argu-ment must be invalid. II.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introducing the problem The basic problem of the fairness to savers argument, is the effect of different tax bases on individual preferences. The name of the argument follows from it’s most vivid example, which I want to address at first, for a better understanding of the issue. The example is often illustrated with the comparison between two individuals preference for saving, both taxed once under an income tax and once under a consumption tax. Let’s consider two people, Steve and John, both earn in t0 100$, the rate of return is in every period constantly at 10% and they are in every aspect totally similar, despite their individual time preference, which is for Steve at 3% and for John at 9%. That means exactly, that Steve is willing to save his money as long he gets at least a net return rate of 3% and John is willing to save his money as long he gets at least a net return rate of 9%. In case their time preference is higher than the net return rate, the utility they derive from immediate co nsumption will be greater than the utility they derive from saving, thus they won’t save their money.

The Language Of Laughter :: essays research papers

Laughter is part of the universal human vocabulary. All members of the human species understand it. Unlike English, French, or Swahili, one does not have to learn to speak it. We’re born with the capacity to laugh. One of the remarkable things about laughter is that it occurs unconsciously. You don’t decide to do it. While we can consciously inhibit it, we don’t consciously produce laughter. That is why it’s very hard to laugh on command or to fake laughter. It provides powerful, uncensored insights into our unconscious. It simply bubbles up from within us in certain situations. We also know that laughter is a message that we send to other people. We know this because we rarely laugh when we are alone. Laughter is social and contagious. We laugh at the sound of laughter itself. A whole room can erupt in laughter when actually only about a third of the people may know the joke. That is the power of laughter. Most laughter is not about humor; it is about relationships between people. When we laugh, we’re often communicating playful intent. So laughter has a bonding function within individuals in a group. As Victor Borge once said, â€Å"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.† It’s often positive, but it can be negative too. There’s a difference between â€Å"laughing with† and â€Å"laughing at.† People who laugh at others may be trying to force them to conform or casting them out of the group. Laughter puts things into a new perspective. Everything that makes us laugh is typically something we relate to, but by laughing our brain is opened and sees everything in a different way. Laughter has the remarkable power of making an object come up close, of drawing it into a zone where one can finger it familiarly on all sides, turn it upside down, inside out, and break open its external shell.

Dave Barry’s Where Did My Little Girl Go: Puberty in Girls

Have you noticed the rapid physical changes they're going through? If so, you are not alone. Countless parents are experiencing this, and so is Dave Barry. He recently explained this topic In his editorial, â€Å"Where Did My Little Girl Go? ‘ and for me, I completely understand his point of view. It seems as though the duration of puberty for girls Is Instantaneous. As young girl develops, many changes go on that seems to happen all at once. First, the monthly surprise that is a huge surprise for mostly male parents.Parents begin to acknowledge the fact that their child Is no longer a child. Barry even refers to this as the â€Å"hormone bomb† Secondly, young girls begin to develop physical changes. Girls become full-figured, and begin to grab the attention of young men. That Is where parents, mainly protective fathers, start to worry. Barras novel Is titled You Can Date Boys When You're Forty, which most parents force their daughters to do, but It never really happens . Finally, the main point to this argument is that boys develop ritually slower than girls.This is how parents are more resistant to letting go of girls, especially when thinking of how many bad things there are in the world. And for parents, those bad things are boys. Barry even talked on the subject about his disagreements with his wife in letting boys in the house. As you can see, Parry's point is valid for many reasons more than one. It is a true fact that girls experience rapid physical changes faster than boys even experience chest hair. The duration of puberty for girls is instantaneous.

Fiction and Brother Leon Brought Essay

A Wife  is a story written by  Manuel Arguilla  about a man who comes home to his province to introduce his wife from the city to his family. This short story won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940. Baldo  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ younger brother of Leon, fetched Leon and Maria from the road to Nagrebcan * Leon (or Noel)  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ older brother of Baldo who studied in Manila where he met his wife * Maria  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ the beautiful and stunning wife of Leon from Manila * Labang  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ the bull whom Baldo considers as his â€Å"pet† * Norman Tabios  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Maria’s ex-boyfriend who happened to be a loro * Gagambino  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Leon’s favorite fictional character who gave him lots of guts to study in Manila * Churita  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Labang’s girlfriend/fiance Baldo and his older brother Leon were both waiting for the arrival of their visitor riding the carretela. Seeing his brother’s wife, Baldo was easily taken away by the beauty of the woman from city as he narrates their journey to Nagrebcan. The idea of meeting with Leon’s parents for the first time made Maria a bit anxious. But along their way home, Maria discovered the peculiarities of the life in Nagrebcan as opposed to their life in the city where she met and fell in love with Leon. Summary: Exposition: Maria was the first one introduced in the story – the wife of the main character Leon. She first noticed Baldo, the brother of Leon; then Labang was introduced, the family bull. Complication: On the way, Maria expressed her fear – that their father might not like her. Conflict: Leon explained to Maria that their father is the mildest-tempered, gentlest man he knew. Climax: When they got home, their father did not welcome them. He was said to be in his room; â€Å"his leg is bothering him again. † Baldo saw his mother and sister Aurelia and Maria in the kitchen who seemed like crying. His father removed the roll of tobacco in his mouth when he saw Baldo and started†¦ [continues] â€Å"How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife,† is a short story written by the highly acclaimed Filipino writer Manuel Arguilla. This award-winning story is a long-standing favorite in Philippine literature. To examine this piece, the author’s background must first be considered. Formalistic, historical, and sociological approaches can also be utilized to analyze the story further. Prominent symbols and their interpretations will also be discussed. About Manuel Arguilla Manuel Arguilla was born to Crisanto Arguilla and Margarita Estabillo in Barrio Nagrebcan in Bauang, La Union on June 17, 1911. The Arguillas were a humble, hard-working family who farmed the small piece of land they owned to make a living. In school, Manuel was a sharp student who showed promise of being a brilliant writer at an early age. He graduated as salutatorian of his high school and then left La Union to study at the University of Philippines, where he would eventually earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Around the same time, he married fellow writer, Lydia Villanueva, and moved to Ermita, Manila. After college, he worked at the Bureau of Public Welfare and taught at the University of Manila. After working at the bureau for a few years, Arguilla was selected   to be the managing editor of The Welfare Advocate, the business’ newsletter. He served at the Bureau until 1943, when he was appointed to the Board of Censors. During this time, he was working at a Japanese propaganda agency and also as an agent of the Markings’ Guerillas, an anti-Japanese rebel movement. In 1944, the Japanese discovered Arguilla’s disloyalty and arrested him.

A change Essay

The quote â€Å"Be the change you wish to see in the world† bu Mahatma Gandhi means that if you want to turn the world into a better place, you need to start by turning yourself into a better you. For me, this quotes it’s true by several reason. You need to be an example, by this I mean that if you want to see a transformation, you need to act as you wish others to act so you can start a change, no matter how big or small it is. Gandhi is telling us that a personal and a social transformation can become viral and affect other people’s lifes in a good way. So by this he suggest that a personal transformation can become something greatter. A perfect example is the wise Gandhi because he used his personality and his thoughts of nonviolence to change the world. In order to bring a positive change into the world we need to engage to the outer worl but also with ourself, we need to cultivate ove and peace in our day by day life, so that love and peace can grow and beco me contagiuose. The quote â€Å"Be the change you wish to see in the world† bu Mahatma Gandhi means that if you want to turn the world into a better place, you need to start by turning yourself into a better you. For me, this quotes it’s true by several reason. You need to be an example, by this I mean that if you want to see a transformation, you need to act as you wish others to act so you can start a change, no matter how big or small it is. Gandhi is telling us that a personal and a social transformation can become viral and affect other people’s lifes in a good way. So by this he suggest that a personal transformation can become something greatter. A perfect example is the wise Gandhi because he used his personality and his thoughts of nonviolence to change the world. In order to bring a positive change into the world we need to engage to the outer worl but also with ourself, we need to cultivate ove and peace in our day by day life, so that love and peace can grow and beco me contagiuose. The quote â€Å"Be the change you wish to see in the world† bu Mahatma Gandhi means that if you want to turn the world into a better place, you need to start by turning yourself into a better you. For me, this quotes it’s true by several reason. You need to be an example, by this I mean that if you want to see a transformation, you need  to act as you wish others to act so you can start a change, no matter how big or small it is. Gandhi is telling us that a personal and a social transformation can become viral and affect other people’s lifes in a good way. So by this he suggest that a personal transformation can become something greatter. A perfect example is the wise Gandhi because he used his personality and his thoughts of nonviolence to change the world. In order to bring a positive change into the world we need to engage to the outer worl but also with ourself, we need to cultivate ove and peace in our day by day life, so that love and peace can grow and become contagiuose. The quote â€Å"Be the change you wish to see in the world† bu Mahatma Gandhi means that if you want to turn the world into a better place, you need to start by turning yourself into a better you. For me, this quotes it’s true by several reason. You need to be an example, by this I mean that if you want to see a transformation, you need to act as you wish others to act so you can start a change, no matter how big or small it is. Gandhi is telling us that a personal and a social transformation can become viral and affect other people’s lifes in a good way. So by this he suggest that a personal transformation can become something greatter. A perfect example is the wise Gandhi because he used his personality and his thoughts of nonviolence to change the world. In order to bring a positive change into the world we need to engage to the outer worl but also with ourself, we need to cultivate ove and peace in our day by day life, so that love and peace can grow and become contagiuose. The quote â€Å"Be the change you wish to see in the world† bu Mahatma Gandhi means that if you want to turn the world into a better place, you need to start by turning yourself into a better you. For me, this quotes it’s true by several reason. You need to be an example, by this I mean that if you want to see a transformation, you need to act as you wish others to act so you can start a change, no matter how big or small it is. Gandhi is telling us that a personal and a social transformation can become viral and affect other people’s lifes in a good way. So by this he suggest that a personal transformation can become something greatter. A perfect example is the wise Gandhi because he used his personality and his thoughts of nonviolence to change the world. In order to bring a positive change into the world we need to engage to the outer worl but also with ourself, we need to cultivate ove and peace in our day by day life, so that love and peace  can grow and become contagiuose.

Lean Accounting

Essay Question 1 What are the main benefits and challenges of implementing a lean accounting system in a lean manufacturing environment? Do you anticipate interest in lean accounting will grow, the methods will change, or the concepts will fade out and be replaced with another ‘flavor of the month’? How do you perceive lean principles affecting your career? Justify your answers. I. Lean Accounting Lean accounting often refers to more simplified accounting practices that focuses on eliminating waste, reducing production lead time, and producing products on customer demand. But Lean accounting does not stand alone. It is enabled by lean thinking and lean production methods. And lean accounting not only needs lean manufacturing, it also facilitates lean manufacturing. 1 That’s why lean accounting is always related to, but not necessarily have to be associated with lean manufacturing. Here are some specific positive reasons that lean accounting is important. 1. Reduces time, cost, and waste by eliminating wasteful transactions and systems. 2. A better way to understand costs, product costs and value stream costs. 3. Provides information for better lean decision making. 4. Identifies the potential financial benefits of lean manufacturing improvements. 5. Frees up the time for finance people to work on lean improvement. 6. Focuses the business around the value-added activities created for customers. 2 II. Benefits of Implementing a Lean Accounting System in a Lean Manufacturing Environment According to the positive reasons that addressed above, companies can be benefited from implementing a lean accounting system in a lean manufacturing environment in several different ways. 1. Eliminate Waste One of the most important objectives of lean improvement is to eliminate waste from the non-value-added . Chapter 2, â€Å"Maturity Path to Lean Accounting†, Practical Lean Accounting. 2. Chapter 1, â€Å"Why Is Lean Accounting Important? †, Practical Lean Accounting. activities and processes of the company. Companies can save costs, free up capacity and improve product quality through eliminating waste. Generally, most of the reduced waste translate s into available capacity. Then, companies can make good use of the freed up capacity to generate financial benefits. If the reduced waste saves costs, companies can reinvest the saved working capital into the business and make improvements in production. 2. Better Lean Decision Making Lean accounting methods for decision-making revolve around an understanding of the flow of production through the value streams, and the effect of these decisions on the value stream profitability and contribution. Why we need to manage the business through the value streams? It was repeatedly stressed that the primary importance in lean is the focus on the flow of the product from the customer order to its final delivery. 3 We can clearly analyze the performance of the company through three parts on a box score, i. e. , operational performance, capacity usage, financial performance. Then, it’s easy, clear, and quick to make decisions upon the specific information we need. Especially, the advantages are that we can change some of the information to see how they will affect the profitability and margin, like some of the exercise we did with the outsourcing decision, and the financial information is up to date, often to the current week. 4 3. Time Freed up Employees are often categorized into different value streams so that the time of employee has been freed up by lean accounting, meaning that companies produce the same level of product or services with fewer employees. And finance people do not have to spend a lot of time preparing the financial statements, because it’s simpler and straightforward, forecasting and budgeting. Another way to conclude is employees’ work efficiency has been improved. Companies will save money if labor cost is reduced, as labor cost is usually the highest expense in the companies. The freed up time not only saves cost, but also can be devoted to lean improvements to pursue the goal of continuous improvement. In addition, companies can use the available time to cross-train employees and create them more skilled. . Chapter 7, â€Å"Managing by Value Stream†, Practical Lean Accounting. 4. SMA (2) _Lean Accounting, Decision Making, P23. III. Challenges of Implementing a Lean Accounting System in a Lean Manufacturing Environment Although there are more benefits from the implementation of lean accounting, the challenges do exist. There are always two sides to a thing. And we can’t avoid some challe nges during the implementation process. 1. Senior Management Initiative This is the most critical part when implementing lean accounting in a lean manufacturing environment. Lean implementation across the company will not be successful if senior management is not fully committed. The same situation in Who’s Counting? , the company won’t achieve anything if the executives are not fully supportive. And there will be conflicts between different departments, because they are not on the same boat. 2. Short-term Profitability Companies may find out that there is no short-term financial improvement after implementing lean. And this causes comments such as: â€Å"We see wonderful results in operations, but they don’t show up in the financial statements. If lean is so great, why doesn’t it hit the bottom line? †5 So lean accounting faces with the challenge that how to present and convince the executive team with different perspective and make sure they don’t give up transforming into lean in the very beginning formation of lean. 3. Traditional Accounting System Stand in the Way For those companies who have already on the right track, it’s harmful for companies to still use the traditional accounting methods. There is a very common example of this problem. Using the traditional accounting methods do not show the financial benefit of lean manufacturing, especially hen there is a sudden reduction in inventory level which has a negative effect on company’s profitability. IV. Future of Lean Accounting Before this course, I didn’t even hear about lean accounting. But, after learning this new concept via different channels, I personally prefer the idea of lean accounting than traditional accounting. Now, people desperately find ways to make things simpler, and easier to understand and use. So, in my opinion, the future for lean accounting is promising in that it saves time and energy, provides understandable information for all others besides the finance . Chapter 4, â€Å"Financial Benefits of Lean Manufacturing†, Practical Lean Accounting. people, and is value-added. Lean production is a model for the future—it may well become an essential element of a sustainable global strategy. As Henry Ford so aptly noted, â€Å"Customers cannot be expected to pay for waste, nor can a worker be paid very much for producing waste. †6 Lean is all about eliminating waste and creates value for both customers and the companies. But there are some problems when it comes to the time needed to completely transform into lean. Recall this issue from Who’s Counting? , it takes time to implement lean accounting and see the anticipated outcome from it. And a most critical problem is that lean accounting requires proper environment, i. e. , a lean manufacturing environment, to work out. However, everything takes time and has its disadvantages. Maybe some changes will be added to it and make it happen without these problems. In a word, the best future for lean accounting will be figured out through more and more companies joining the implementation of lean accounting and those companies wanting the change. V. Lean Principles Affect the Career The five lean principles, to be simplified, are 1) Customer value; 2) Define the value stream; 3) Create flow; 4) Create pull; 5) Continuous improvement. From my understanding, I think these principles can be concluded by a concept in lean thinking, i. e. , PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act). First of all, there should be a short-term or long-term plan for my career. And the core objective is to create value for the work and the company. Second, implement those plans instead of just thinking; find the root cause to solve problems instead of running away from them; be proactive in work, that is to say, don’t wait others to push me move forward. Third, constantly check whether I am on my way towards the ultimate goal in my career and make changes accordingly. Fourth, be strict with myself. The organization should continuously strive itself to become better and better. So do I. I have to make progress every day in order to adapt to the changing environment. Seeking perfection can be the ultimate goal both in career and in life. 6. SMA _Lean Enterprise, Conclusion, P28. Bibliography [1] Tyler Lacoma, Demand Media, Accounting Differences with Lean vs. Traditional Manufacturing [2] Dan Antony, Demand Media, Benefits of Lean Accounting in a Lean Manufacturing Company [3] Dan Woods, Lean Accounting’s Fat Problem, 07/28/2009 [4] John Cleveland, Benefits of lean in the accounting department, Feb, 2005 [5] Brain Maskell; Bruce Baggaley, Practical Lean Accounting [6] SMA _Lean Enterprise; SMA _Lean Accounting [7] Karen M. Kroll, The Lowdown on Lean Accounting—A new way of looking at the numbers, Journal of Accountancy, July 2004

Trials of conventional criminals and terrorists Essay

Trials of conventional criminals and terrorists - Essay Example ition (in all of its senses, military or paramilitary, solutions, specialist courts or tribunals.† (Renwick & Treverton, p.1) Conventional criminals mostly commit crimes in their own country and hence the trials of such criminals are easy for the court. On the other hand in most of the cases terrorist commit crime in another country and hence their trial often poses lot of headaches to the court. Four essentials of a conventional criminal trial system are: strong and independent prosecutors; efficient and properly paid defence lawyers; ready access by defence lawyers to their clients in custody; and a modern communications system. (Review of the Criminal Courts of England and Wales) Conventional trial of a criminal often conducted in a criminal or magistrate court with the help of a judge, prosecutors, criminal advocates, witnesses etc. The judge will hear the claims of both the prosecution advocate and the criminal advocate before reaching the conclusion and declaring whether the accused committed any crime or not. In order to convince the judge the advocates (prosecution and criminal) usually presents evidences and witnesses along with the first information report (FIR) by the police who investigated the crime. The advocates will cross exam the evidences and the witnesses in order to prove their arguments. Finally the judge will reach a conclusion after hearing and evaluat ing all the arguments and evidences and will declare his verdict. Trial of a terrorist usually involves lot of complicated procedures. Quiet often special courts have been put up in order to conduct a proper and fair trial for the crime conducted by the terrorists. â€Å"In deciding whether to charge suspected terrorists, and in conducting their trials, prosecutors have difficult choices to make while maintaining proper standards of conduct. The first question, however, is how and in what context terrorists should be prosecuted.† (Renwick & Treverton, p.10) â€Å"Civilian courts do not provide

Exploring my own Ethnicity Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Exploring my own Ethnicity - Term Paper Example In addition to the inclusion of all Arabized people in the world (language being the acid test), it has been exclusively used where Arab nomads once were sometimes used and the current focus shifting towards the entire settled descendants. It is also used in a colloquially similar way especially today in the American community. Townspeople previously popular as ‘sons of the Arabs’ within the case of various ethnicities or nations help in the identification of people as ‘Arabs’ to different degrees. This might not be the primary identity of an individual as it tends to remain rather compete in terms of the country, religion or sect. this is irrespective of the emphasis placed on them based on the audience at hand. Arab identity is independently defined as religious identity as it pre-dates since the rise of Islam (Maleh, 2009). This was the definition that was popularly used across medieval times like it was the case with Ibn Khaldun even though it later decr eased in relevance across time due to the fact that a better portion of the Arab ancestry continued to lose their respective links regarding their ancestors' motherland. On the other hand, Hispanic is more of denoting an extensive relationship to Spain and ancient Hispania comprising the Iberian Peninsula and the modern states of Andorra, Spain and Portugal. Other definitions also mention the inclusion of Morocco (Hispania Ulterior Tingitana) and the British Crown Dependency in Gibraltar. Currently, organizations around the United States continued using the term for purposes of referring to individuals with a thoroughly established historical and cultural relationship irrespective of Spain and Portugal and regardless of race. However, in the perception of the US Census Bureau, Latinos or Hispanics are from of any race, any country of origin, or any ancestry (Marger, 2008). The term is broadly used in referring to due culture where peoples and nations develop a strong historical link for Spain with regards to the countries that were previously colonized by Spain especially those that Latin America had sought in colonizing. Spain remained a geographic territory residence to various kingdoms (Muslim and Christian), with separate religions, governments, languages, laws, and costumes and was actually the historical Hispano-Gothic unity remnant. It was not until much later that Spain became a political entity while referring to Middle Ages which are confounded with today’s nation-state dimension (Klich & Lesser, 1997). The Spanish Empire expansion between 1492 and 1898 proceeded to bring in many Spanish migrants towards the conquering of lands establishing settlements mainly along the American lands and in other distant parts producing various multiracial populations. History of "your people" Coming to The USA Hispanic and Latino Americans essentially refer to one of the many ethno-linguistic groups cross the United States which has substantial origins in the Iberian peninsula or the countries of Latin America. Further, it includes people from the United States having self-identifies as Latino or Hispanic. Reflecting on the history of this ethnicity with special focus on the Latin American population, the Hispanics/Latino Americans are essentially racially diverse. This is because their origins were sourced from all the continents as well as many ancestries. As a result, they formed

Scope management (project management) Case Study

Scope management (project management) - Case Study Example This is because an incomplete requirement cannot be functionally expected and useful to users. A well communicating requirement is also expected to be clear. By this, it is important to do the writing in plain language that is easy for any person to read and deduce meaning from them. What is more, consistence is needed for effective communication. By consistency, reference is being made to the need to ensure that the requirements do not deviate from a course that has already been started (quote). This is because once there is no consistency, the validity of the requirement becomes suspected. It is also important to ensure that the requirement has enough control. First, proper control is gained when the requirement is well chosen with its content. What this means is that the requirements must not have what can easily be excluded included in it. It should also be possible to trace every point under the requirements if the requirement can gain the needed control as chaseable. Still unde r control, those making the requirements ought to factor the need to seek every form of certification needed. Finally, the construction of the requirement must be well factored. Here, it is expected that the project having the requirement must have such as a scope that can be considered as achievable and feasible (quote). It is when this happens that the requirement can be said to be credible. Lastly, the requirements must be clean by defining only logical structure and decisions about physical design (Coley Consulting Group). There are a number of common problems faced when writing requirements. Hooks and Kristin (1) noted that most project managers have had four major challenges or problems with their requirement. The first of this has to do with selecting what should be included so that the requirements will be seen as needful. The second problem has to do with

Watersheds Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Watersheds - Research Paper Example Mississippi river has watershed called Mississippi watershed which flows in the United States of America. The river emerges from the western part of Minnesota and flows southwards at 4,070 km/hr towards the delta of the Mississippi river. It has a number of tributaries that drains to approximately 31 states within the United States of America between the Appalachian Mountains and the rocky extending to the southern Canada region .The River Mississippi-according to the order of rivers-is positioned as the fourth longest and tenth largest river in the world (Carluer and De Marsily 87). Watersheds have since played a key role (Naiman 78) in various scientific studies on the impacts of anthropogenic and natural phenomenon on the quantity and quality of water. The effects of silviculture and agriculture have always been outlined basing on watersheds. Data to evaluate the effectiveness of various ecological regions on the basis of Watersheds have been used by researches in places such as C oweta .A number of people mind less to the safety and source of their drinking water implying little concern is put on domestic water channeled to their homes on the basis of treatment. In addition, prior awareness should be availed to people on treatment process the water they consume undergoes. Since water is life, clean water is paramount to every individual and issues concerning the degree to which water meant for consumption is cleaned should never be looked at with little respect. This view serves to limit the extent to which non-clean or un-treated water affects the livelihood/health of the parties concerned though many people have taken cleanliness of water/non-cleanliness of water at the expense of their health concerns for granted. This essay in particular will give an analysis of Mississippi watershed within Mississippi River with a goal of enlightening the society on the scientific process of water treatment and water resource forms within their reach. Carluer and De Mar sily (95) refer to a watershed as that specific area of land that drains into river, stream, lake or other types of water bodies. Watersheds can either be large or small. For instance a small stream located in neighborhood may consist of a watershed. The Mississippi watershed of the Mississippi river covers approximately 31 states which represent about two thirds of the North America (Naiman 78). Figure 1: Mississippi watershed in Mississippi river (Schertzer, 124) In this case take an example of a small stream located at the top of the mountains. The watershed of this specified stream will be constituted by few underground springs and precipitation runoffs resulting from the lands that are up above the stream. As a result the stream continually flows down the hill and drains far and wide to bigger water bodies which include larger rivers, lakes and streams before finally discharging into the oceans and seas which significantly posses watersheds that are larger. It is important Howe ver, to point out that all watersheds be it large or small have complex processes arising from the presence of chemical compounds that in a way or the other may impact on the quality of water being drawn and used by the human fraternity for various reasons and usages. Sivapalan (2266) argues that the human population does not only use water for their domestic needs i.e. cleaning, cooking and drinking but also for cleaning and draining their waste systems. To attain proper sanctity of water and good levels of hygiene, treatment plants, dams and pipes have to be put in place to safeguard the water before and after it is directed to the homes of people in the society and also to factor

Production and operations Management Assignment

Production and operations Management - Assignment Example In addition, crude oil is also used for wide varieties of other purposes. The fractional distillation of gasoline produces an output known as gasoline. Gasoline is mainly used as fuel in internal combustion engines. Gasoline is traded in regional market; whereas, crude oil is the part of global market. Generally, the price of a commodity increases as demand increases (there are some exceptions to this rule) (Oxford). Since crude oil is a non-renewable energy source, its demand will not fall regardless of its price variation. Hence, when the demand for crude oil increases, its price also increases. Crude oil prices have a direct impact on the gasoline prices as crude is the major raw material used in the production of gasoline and other petroleum products. â€Å"Crude oil accounts for 55% of the price of gasoline while distribution and taxes influence the remaining 45 %† (Mazeel, 2010, pp.106-107). To illustrate, one barrel of crude oil contains 42 gallons of oil. If the price for one barrel of crude oil is $75, raw material worth $1.78 is required to produce a gallon of gasoline. This figure does not include transportation and other process charges. In total, when the global demand for crude oil increases, there will be a proportional increase in the retail price of gasoline also. When the global crude oil production is decreased by 10%, the crude oil supply might fall and this situation would probably result in a rise in crude oil price. Under such circumstances, domestic oil retailers may be forced to raise their prices in order to avoid loss. If Marathon adopts effective business strategies, the company may keep the price at the pump the same without losing profits even in times of a decline in global crude oil production. In order to achieve this goal, the Marathon has to acquire materials at reduced rate by researching different markets because a decrease in cost of production is