Production and Supply of Exotic Vegetables Essay

Greenhouse cultivation started on commercial basis 20 years ago in India. At present more than 25000 greenhouses exists in India cultivating roses, gerbera, carnation, Anthurium, orchids, and vegetables like Capsicum, tomatoes, cucumber and exotic vegetables. India contributes only 1% to the total area under greenhouse in the world. At present Gujarat has around 450 operational greenhouses and will have more than 800 operational greenhouses in 2013. Hence, it’s the time now to promote greenhouse farming to have sustainable agriculture with quality produce in the hands of the consumers. Greenhouse technology has been promoted by the central government and state government on large scale. The farmers are not utilising it in an efficient way mainly because of cultivating the crops as same as they are cultivating in the open field. Hence, the core concept of greenhouse gets vanished away. The research paper is with reference to the research conducted on Controlled environment cultivation in Gujarat. It includes the various aspects of production, operation, supply chain and marketing, subsidies given by various horticulture departments at Central and State level. There is a lot of opportunities and improvements needs to be done at farmer’s level. It includes grabbing the right market at right time which can be achieved only when they transplant at right time keeping in mind the nearby market. Also, the farmers have to change their mind set about the overdose of fertilizers and pesticides which is not beneficial to crops but in turn invites more of pests and disease and deteriorate our soil micro flora and fauna. Since, cultivation in greenhouse in itself is an advantage, increasing the cost of cultivation takes them away from gaining the real advantage. For which it is necessary that they should follow the package of practise as given by the horticulturists of the state government department. Maintenance is another aspect which should be kept in mind like time and schedule of irrigation, weeding, earthing up, right time for tieing the plant, stage of picking the fruits etc. Also, if there is any attack of pest or disease they should consult entomologists or pathologists rather than blindly applying the chemicals as given by the retail stores to sale and promote their brand.

Apple Is Expanding Its Distribution Channels

Apple is Expanding its Distribution Channels Cliff Edwards of Business Week harped on conflicts with existing retailers such as CompUSA and Sears, quoting CompUSA’s Lawrence N. Mondry, who declared, â€Å"When you choose to compete with your retailers, clearly that’s not a comfortable situation. † Mondry could have been describing the experience Mac buyers had when they stepped into most CompUSA stores. It was even worse at Sears. Realizing that they were being held over a barrel by big retailers that were used to calling the shots with computer OEMs and frequently provided a horrible purchasing environment for Apple products, the company did what it had to and took control of distribution. Apple retail stores would give the company the opportunity to â€Å"leapfrog† past dependence on other retailers. Daniel T. Niles of Lehman Brothers also saw the possibilities, telling MacWorld, â€Å"Apple has the ability to start attracting new customers with the launch of their higher-end retail store strategy. You can’t mention the surge in Mac sales without touching on the â€Å"Halo Effect† of the iPod. Apple made the iTunes/iPod combination available for Windows users. That move created several new distribution opportunities for Apple. First, it gave Windows users the opportunity to try Apple products without having to take the frightening plunge into the world of Macintosh. Apple finally had ac cess to a vast pool of Windows users it had previously been unable to touch. Second, it opened up a secondary market for iPod accessories and tie-ins. Had the iPod only been available for Macintosh users, a secondary market would have developed, but it would have been much, much smaller. Apple would never have been able to strike deals with auto manufacturers, for example. The connector on the bottom of every iPod (except the shuffle) became the point of entry to an incredible array of third-party products, and as that market grew, the iPod rapidly became the de facto standard portable multimedia device. Third, it gave the iTunes Store a tremendous head start. While a digital music store is handy in itself, none of the previously-existing stores had made much of a dent in consumer behavior. They didn’t operate particularly well with Windows-based MP3 players, and they didn’t offer broad enough music libraries. Apple struck deals with all the major labels and created a store that provided an easy, addictingly-convenient interface and seamless integration with the iPod. As the universe of purchased iPods grew, so did the market for the iTunes Store. The integration of iPod and iTunes also created a gestalt effect as Apple moved beyond music. Just as the Apple retail stores bypassed middlemen, the iTunes/iPod combination created a direct link between Apple and its customers. As Apple adds more capabilities to the iTunes Store, and does the same with the iPod, the two should continue to energize each other, provided Apple rolls out the right kinds of features. In 2001 Apple Computer has been taken a decision to open a series of retail stores that would display their entire line of Apple computer products, software and peripherals. Part of the decision, Apple's declining share of the computer market. Now the company has opened over 130 stores, including in Japan, Canada and the UK. It's latest annual report states that they will continue capital expenditures for retail operations, indicating that they have a long-term strategy for opening more stores. Apple Computer Store Products Hardware: It includes, iMac, Mac Mini, iBook, Mac Book, Mac Book Pro, iPod, Apple Cinema Displays, Airport Cards, iSight, Apple accessories etc. These are purchased from the Apple Store Online or by the phone. Apple Software: It includes iLife, iWork application bundles, Mac OS X, DVD Studio Pro, FinalCut Pro, and other miscellaneous Apple software titles. Third Party Software: It is made for Mac OS X, such as productivity software, design software, utilities, games much everything new that has been released for Mac OS X. Select Third Party Accessories: In this Apple ranges starts from Apple notebooks and iPod sleeves to speakers, printers, scanners, memory upgrades, and digital cameras. In Apple Store there are two types, those are: Retail store Online store The Apple Store, Regent Street, London, UK, is part of a chain of retail stores owned and operated by Apple Inc. , dealing in computers and consumer electronics. As of April 2008, Apple has opened 209 stores, including 181 in 37 US states, 15 in the UK (14 in England, 1 in Scotland), seven in Japan, and 4 in Canada. Recently, Apple opened its first store in continental Europe, in Rome in Italy. In 2008, Apple will be opening 3 Australian stores, 1 located in Melbourne and 2 in Sydney. This store is the first Apple Store in Europe. It opened in autumn 2004 Will Apple's stainless steel architecture have to take a background to the historic buildings of other countries? In Japan, Apple uses English almost exclusively. But other countries may not embrace English, preferring to see their own language used in store signage. Apple will have to balance the cost of constructing a store, recruiting a suitable staff, and operating the store against the potential revenues, which in turns depends upon the registered Macintosh community, median income, currency trends and general retailing environment–just like at home! Apple’s centralized and extremely consumer oriented approach to mobile software distribution is revolutionary My argument is that it’s revolutionary in the same way the iPod and iTunes were revolutionary. Basically, the formula is similar to why Apple succeeded w/ the iPod and iTunes despite competition from manufacturers like Sony, ancient models for music distribution, and technology inept publishers Apple’s Solution: take the carriers out of the picture and give the developers a low cost or zero cost distribution channel Jobs began Apple's turnaround with the 2001 introduction of the iPod, which defined and then dominated the portable-music-player market—and which became central to the resuscitation of Apple's computer line. The Mac, once derided as a toy, today is the best personal computer on the planet, period. And the iPhone is the best smart phone. Nothing else comes close. As of the third quarter of 2008, Apple's iPhone was outselling the Research in MotionBlackBerry, even though the iPhone had been in the market for only 15 months. When measured by revenues, Apple has become the world's third-largest mobile-phone maker, behind Nokia and Samsung. All this is happening just as mobile devices are poised to become the most important computing platform. same or similar products. Strategic management, horizontal integration is a theory of ownership and control. It is a strategy used by a business or corporation that seeks to sell one type of product in numerous markets. To get this market coverage, several small subsidiary companies are created. Each markets the product to a different market segment or to a different geographical area. This is sometimes referred to as the horizontal integration of marketing. The horizontal integration of production is where a firm has plants in several locations producing similar products. Apple is leader on the MP3 player market. Dynamic approach: history of a firm can explain its leader position. In my example, Apple innovates with its couple iPod+iTunes and keeps the leadership since Some points of its strategy are astonishing because they look similar as Apple strategy for PC. Apple doesn't want to licence its own DRM, so if you want buy a song on internet for your iPod you have to go to the iTunesMuciStore and to listen this song directly on a MP3 player you must have an iPod (some consumers lodge a complaint against Apple). So, Apple does the same thing for its MP3 player than the computers about twenty years ago. Short term Apple wins but the market increases and we can't know how this leadership will progress and if Apple would change its strategy. The theory of games can help us to understand this choice and the risks. Installed firms are Stackelberg leader on the market, the potential entrance adapt its quantity. (Bain, J. (1968) Apple Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries design, manufacture, and market personal computers, portable digital music players, and mobile communication devices, and sell various related software, services, peripherals, and networking solutions. The company sells its products worldwide through its online stores, its retail stores, its direct sales force, and third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value-added resellers. In addition, it sells various third-party Macintosh, iPod, and iPhone compatible products, including application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, and various other accessories and peripherals through its online and retail stores, and digital content through the iTunes Store. The company sells its products to consumer, small and mid-sized business, education, enterprise, government, and creative customers. As of December 27, 2008, it had 251 retail stores. Apple Inc. , formerly known as Apple Computer, Inc. , was founded in 1976. The company is headquartered in Cupertino, California Company Background Apple Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively â€Å"Apple† or the â€Å"Company†) design, manufacture, and market personal computers, portable digital music players, and mobile communication devices and sell a variety f related software, services, peripherals, and networking solutions. The Company sells its products worldwide through its online stores, its retail stores, its direct sales force, and third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value-added resellers. In addition, the Company sells a variety of third-party Macintosh ® (â€Å"Mac†), iPod ® and iPhoneâ„ ¢ compatible products, including application software, pri nters, storage devices, speakers, headphones, and various other accessories and peripherals through its online and retail stores, and digital content through the iTunes Store ®. The Company sells to consumer, small and mid-sized business (â€Å"SMB†), education, enterprise, government, and creative customers. The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period that ends on the last Saturday of September. Unless otherwise stated, all information presented in this Form 10-K is based on the Company’s fiscal calendar. Business Strategy The Company is committed to bringing the best personal computing, portable digital music and mobile communication experience to consumers, students, educators, businesses, and government agencies through its innovative hardware, software, peripherals, services, and Internet offerings. The Company’s business strategy leverages its unique ability to design and develop its own operating system, hardware, application software, and services to provide its customers new products and solutions with superior ease-of-use, seamless integration, and innovative industrial design. The Company believes continual investment in research and development is critical to the development and enhancement of innovative products and technologies. In addition to evolving its personal computers and related solutions, the Company continues to capitalize on the convergence of the personal computer, digital consumer electronics and mobile communications by creating and refining innovations, such as the iPod, iPhone, iTunes Store, and Apple TV ®. The Company desires to support a community for the development of third-party products that complement the Company’s offerings through its developer programs. The Company offers various third-party software applications and hardware accessories for Mac ® computers, iPods and iPhones through its retail and online stores, as well as software applications for the iPhone platform through its iTunes ® App Store. The Company’s strategy also includes expanding its distribution network to effectively reach more of its targeted customers and provide them with a high-quality sales and post-sales support experience. Consumer and Small and Mid-Sized Business The Company believes a high-quality buying experience with knowledgeable salespersons who can convey the value of the Company’s products and services greatly enhances its ability to attract and retain customers. The Company sells many of its products and resells certain third-party products in most of its major markets directly to consumers and businesses through its retail and online stores. The Company has also invested in programs to enhance reseller sales, including the Apple Sales Consultant Program, which places Apple employees and contractors at selected third-party reseller locations. The Company believes providing direct contact with its targeted customers is an efficient way to demonstrate the advantages of its Mac computers and other products over those of its competitors. At the end of fiscal 2008, the Company had opened a total of 247 retail stores, including 205 stores in the U. S. and a total of 42 stores internationally. The Company has typically located its stores at high-traffic locations in quality shopping malls and urban shopping districts. A goal of the Company’s retail business is to expand its installed base through sales to customers who currently do not already own the Company’s products. By operating its own stores and locating them in desirable high-traffic locations, the Company is better positioned to control the customer buying experience and attract new customers. The stores are designed to simplify and enhance the presentation and marketing of the Company’s products and related solutions. To that end, retail store configurations have evolved into various sizes in order to accommodate market-specific demands. The stores employ experienced and knowledgeable personnel who provide product advice, service, and training. The stores offer a wide selection of third-party hardware, software, and various other accessory products and peripherals selected to complement the Company’s own products. Business Organization The Company manages its business primarily on a geographic basis. The Company’s reportable operating segments consist of the Americas, Europe, Japan, and Retail. The Americas, Europe, and Japan reportable segments do not include activities related to the Retail segment. The Americas segment includes both North and South America. The Europe segment includes European countries as well as the Middle East and Africa. The Retail segment operates Apple-owned retail stores in the U. S. and in international markets. Each reportable geographic operating segment and the Retail operating segment provide similar hardware and software products and similar services. Further information regarding the Company’s operating segments may be found in Part II, The Company has signed multi-year agreements with various cellular network carriers authorizing them to distribute and provide cellular network services for iPhone 3G in over 70 countries. These agreements are generally not exclusive with a specific carrier, except in the U. S. , U. K. , France, Germany, Spain, Ireland, and certain other countries. The Company expects to ship iPhone 3G in over 70 countries by the end of calendar year 2008. Markets and Distribution The Company’s customers are primarily in the consumer, SMB, education, enterprise, government, and creative markets. The Company distributes its products through wholesalers, resellers, national and regional retailers, and cataloguers. No individual customer accounted for more than 10% of net sales in 2008, 2007, or 2006. The Company also sells many of its products and resells certain third-party products in most of its major markets directly to customers through its own sales force and retail and online stores. Significant portions of the Company’s Mac computers, iPods, iPhones, logic boards, and other assembled products are manufactured by outsourcing partners, primarily in various parts of Asia. A significant concentration of this outsourced manufacturing is currently performed by only a few of the Company’s outsourcing partners, often in single locations. Certain of these outsourcing partners are the sole-sourced suppliers of components and manufacturing outsourcing for many of the Company’s key products, including but not limited to final assembly of substantially all of the Company’s portable Mac computers, iPods, iPhones and most of the Company’s iMacs. Although the Company works closely with its outsourcing partners on manufacturing schedules, the Company’s operating results could be adversely affected if its outsourcing partners were unable to meet their production commitments. The Company’s purchase commitments typically cover its requirements for periods ranging from 30 to 150 days. Foreign and Domestic Operations and Geographic Data The U. S. represents the Company’s largest geographic marketplace. Approximately 57% of the Company’s net sales in 2008 came from sales to customers inside the U. S. Final assembly of the Company’s products is currently performed in the Company’s manufacturing facility in Ireland, and by external vendors in California, the Republic of Korea (â€Å"Korea†), the People’s Republic of China (â€Å"China†) and the Czech Republic. Currently, the supply and manufacture of many critical components is performed by sole-sourced third-party vendors in the U. S. , China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Singapore. Sole-sourced third-party vendors in China perform final assembly of substantially all of the Company’s portable products, including MacBook Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air, iPods, iPhone, and most of the Company’s iMacs. Margins on sales of the Company’s products in foreign countries, and on sales of products that include components obtained from foreign suppliers, can be adversely affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and by international trade regulations, including tariffs and antidumping penalties. The Company’s operations and performance depend significantly on worldwide economic conditions Global markets for personal computers, digital music devices, mobile communication devices, and related peripherals and services are highly competitive and subject to rapid technological change. If the Company is unable to compete effectively in these markets, its financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected. The Company competes in global markets that are highly competitive and characterized by aggressive price cutting, with its resulting downward pressure on gross margins, frequent introduction of new products, short product life cycles, evolving industry standards, continual improvement in product price/performance characteristics, rapid adoption of technological and product advancements by competitors, and price sensitivity on the part of consumers. The Company’s ability to compete successfully depends heavily on its ability to ensure a continuing and timely introduction of new innovative products and technologies to the marketplace. The Company believes it is unique in that it designs and develops nearly the entire solution for its personal computers, consumer electronics, and mobile communication devices, including the hardware, operating system, several software applications, and related services. As a result, the Company must make significant investments in research and development and as such, the Company currently holds a significant number of patents and copyrights and has registered and/or has applied to register numerous patents, trademarks and service marks. By contrast, many of the Company’s competitors seek to compete primarily through aggressive pricing and very low cost structures. If the Company is unable to continue to develop and sell innovative new products with attractive margins or if other companies To remain competitive and stimulate customer demand, the Company must successfully manage frequent product introductions and transitions. Due to the highly volatile and competitive nature of the personal computer, consumer electronics and mobile communication industries, the Company must continually introduce new products and technologies, enhance existing products, and effectively stimulate customer demand for new and upgraded products. The success of new product introductions depends on a number of factors, including timely and successful product development, market acceptance, the Company’s ability to manage the risks associated with new products and production ramp issues, the availability of application software for new products, the effective management of purchase commitments and inventory levels in line with anticipated product demand, the availability of products in appropriate quantities and costs to meet anticipated demand, and the risk that new products may have quality or other defects in the early stages of introduction. Accordingly, the Company cannot determine in advance the ultimate effect of new product introductions and transitions on its financial condition and operating results. The Company’s success depends largely on its ability to attract and retain key personnel. Much of the Company’s future success depends on the continued service and availability of skilled personnel, including its CEO, its executive team and key employees in technical, marketing and staff positions. Experienced personnel in the technology industry are in high demand and competition for their talents is intense, especially in the Silicon Valley, where most of the Company’s key employees are located. The Company has relied on equity awards as one means for recruiting and retaining this highly skilled talent. Accounting regulations requiring the expensing of stock options have resulted in increased stock-based compensation expense, which has caused the Company to reduce the number of stock-based awards issued to employees and could negatively impact the Company’s ability to attract and retain key personnel. Additionally, significant adverse volatility in the Company’s stock price could result in a stock option’s exercise price exceeding the underlying stock’s market value or a significant deterioration in the value of restricted stock units (â€Å"RSUs†) granted, thus lessening the The Company’s business is subject to the risks of international operations. The Company derives a large and growing portion of its revenue and earnings from its international operations. As a result, its financial condition and operating results could be significantly affected by risks associated with international activities, including economic and labor conditions, political instability, tax laws (including U. S. taxes on foreign subsidiaries), and changes in the value of the U. S. dollar versus local currencies. Margins on sales of the Company’s products in foreign countries, and on sales of products that include components obtained from foreign suppliers, could be materially adversely affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and by international trade regulations, including tariffs and antidumping penalties. The Company’s primary exposure to movements in foreign currency exchange rates relate to non-U. S. dollar denominated sales in Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, and certain parts of Asia, as well as non-U. S. dollar denominated operating expenses incurred throughout the world. Weakening of foreign currencies relative to the U. S. dollar will adversely affect the U. S. dollar value of the Company’s foreign currency-denominated sales and earnings, and generally will lead the Company to raise international pricing, potentially reducing demand for the Company’s products. In some circumstances, due to competition or other reasons, the Company may decide not to raise local prices to the full extent of the dollar’s strengthening, or at all, which would adversely affect the U. S. dollar value of the Company’s foreign currency denominated sales and earnings. Conversely, a strengthening of foreign currencies, while generally beneficial to the Company’s foreign currency-denominated sales and earnings, could cause the Company to reduce international pricing, thereby limiting the benefit. As strengthening of foreign currencies may also increase the Company’s cost of product components denominated in those currencies. The Company has used derivative instruments, such as foreign exchange forward and option positions, to hedge certain exposures to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The use of such hedging activities may not offset any or more than a portion of the adverse financial effects of unfavorable movements in foreign exchange rates over the limited time the hedges are in place. The Company’s retail business has required and will continue to require a substantial investment and commitment of resources and is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Through September 27, 2008, the Company had opened 247 retail stores. The Company’s retail stores have required substantial fixed investment in equipment and leasehold improvements, information systems, inventory, and personnel. The Company also has entered into substantial operating lease commitments for retail space with terms ranging from 5 to 20 years, the majority of which are for 10 years. Certain stores have been designed and built to serve as high-profile venues to promote brand awareness and serve as vehicles for corporate sales and marketing activities. Because of their unique design elements, locations and size, these stores require substantially more investment than the Company’s more typical retail stores. Due to the high fixed cost structure associated with the Retail segment, a decline in sales or the closure or poor performance of individual or multiple stores could result in significant lease termination costs, write-offs of equipment and leasehold improvements, and severance costs that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results. The Company’s headquarters are located in Cupertino, California. The Company has a manufacturing facility in Cork, Ireland. As of September 27, 2008, the Company leased approximately 4. 2 million square feet of space, primarily in the U. S. and to a lesser extent, in Europe, Japan, Canada, and the Asia Pacific region. The major facility leases are generally for terms of 3 to 20 years and generally provide renewal options for terms of 1 to 5 additional years. Leased space includes approximately 1. 8 million square feet of retail space, a majority of which is in the U. S. Lease terms for reta il space range from 5 to 20 years, the majority of which are for 10 years, and often contain multi-year renewal options. As of September 27, 2008, the Company owned a 367,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Cork, Ireland that also housed a customer support call center. The Company also owned 805,000 square feet of facilities in Sacramento, California that include warehousing and distribution operations, as well as a customer support call center. In addition, the Company owned approximately 2. 3 million square feet of facilities for research and development and corporate functions in Cupertino, California, including approximately 1. 0 million square feet purchased in 2007 and 2006 for the future development of the Company’s second corporate campus in Cupertino, California, and approximately 107,000 square feet for a data center in Newark, California. Outside the U. S. , the Company owned additional facilities totaling approximately 129,000 square feet as of September 27, 2008. The Company believes its existing facilities and equipment are well maintained and in good operating condition. The Company has invested in internal capacity and strategic relationships with outside manufacturing vendors, and therefore believes it has adequate manufacturing capacity for the foreseeable future. The Company continues to make investments in capital equipment as needed to meet anticipated demand for its products. Globalization, Technology, and E-business are all major factors influencing today's business world. They influence many of our business related decisions on a daily basis. Some of these decisions could be deciding to use a computer to order a new desk from Singapore or using your cell phone to make a conference call in India. Even Apple's management functions are not immune to these critical factors. Apple began selling personal computers produced in the garage of one of the founders in 1976. They were incorporated in 1977. Apple's first important product, the Apple II, personal computer was released in 1977 and by 1982 sales had increased to over $750 million. (Kimmel, 1998). It was clear that globalization played a big part in this success. Globalization is becoming a must have for large organizations to excel above their competition. With that being said globalization has been influential to Apple's revenue. According to Apple, their â€Å"international sales accounted for 43 percent of the quarter's revenue† (Dowling, 2005), this is continuing to rise. The rise in revenue is a result of excellent management and planning. Because of the need to go international, Apple created a strategic plan to go forward in the direction of globalization. This type of globalization will involve countries with different needs and different markets. For instance, planning a marketing scheme must involve the different variables that apply for each market. When planning globally, company structure must be taken into consideration. With that being said organization and control go hand in hand Steve Jobs came back once again as the CEO of Apple in 1997. This time he had a new game plan, and Apple started to focus on the digital lifestyle of consumers. This proved to be Apple’s most successful business strategy to date because a once ineffective company now had ruled the computer world. In 2005, Apple announced that it would start using Intel-based chips to run Macintosh computers. In April 2006, Apple announced Boot Camp, which allows users of Intel-based Macs to boot either Mac or Windows OS. This functionality allows users who may need both OSs to own just one machine to run both, albeit not simultaneously

Little Miss Sunshine Movie Essay

Little Miss Sunshine In the film, â€Å"Little Miss Sunshine† an extraordinary family explores many obstacles that troubles their way to their journey to Olive's (daughter) beauty pageant. Along the way the family learns to love, care and support each other. Little Miss Sunshine illustrated that love can be expressed through different forms. Firstly, the movie illustrated how the value of family is very important. The family uses everyone's strengths to support each other. During the movie, many challenges such as the unreliable VW bus and sneaking grandpa out of the hospital required the whole family to work together to accomplish a common goal.The Hoover family valued the family as a whole and would not leave anyone behind. An example is when they left Olive at the gas station and then came back to pick her up. Even though, Sheryl and Richard may have had some arguments,sometimes arguments can be used to strengthen a relationship. In Little Miss Sunshine, grandpa may seem fo ul-mouthed ,grouchy and rude but he still exhibits a caring side. When his son Richard is at the point of bankruptcy, grandpa goes to the front of the van to give Richard his support. Grandpa says a few words of encouragement and sincerely looks him in the eye.I believe that even though every family may encounter many problems, we grow stronger because of the bonds we make. I believe that the Hoover family valued their family by providing unconditional love and support, not leaving anyone behind and when Richard chose to trust Olive, when she said she'll win the pageant. Secondly, in Little Miss Sunshine the family provides many functions for one another. One of the functions they provide for one another is support. An example is, when Olive was about to perform her dance.When she was just about to go on stage both Dwain and Richard tried to stop Olive because they were afraid she was not good enough against the other girls. However, Sheryl( mother) argued that if Olive wanted to pe rform on stage,it was up to her and was ultimately her decision whether to perform or not. In the end, Olive decided to perform and made a fool out of herself, However her whole family came up on stage to support her. At that moment, the family did not care about anything else, except for Olive's happiness. Thirdly, in the movie the family provided love as another function for one another.An example is when Dwain realized that he might be colorblind when Olive tested his color vision. Dwain was mad, frustrated and out of control because his dream of becoming a fighter pilot was not possible now. In order to become a fighter pilot, Dwain needed good vision, including color vision. Dwain started kicking the van and soon the whole family gave Dwain some time to settle down. After a few minutes, Olive came over to offer her support (hugs) Dwain. He soon calms down and apologized for his actions and rude comments about the family. The family then resumed their journey to Olive's pageant. This scene demonstrated love because everyone in the family cared about Dwain's dream of becoming a fighter pilot, they knew exactly how he felt and how it must have hurt knowing that his dream was crushed, just like that. In the movie, a simple hug from Olive showed how love never fails. Lastly, I believe that a family doesn't need to be normal to function. It takes love , affection and support in order for a family to function. In the movie, love was present but expressed differently. An example would be when grandpa passed away, Sheryl told the family that no matter what happens she will still love each and everyone in the family.The father on the other hand, who is obsessed with the â€Å"9 steps to winning† program still loves Olive for who she is, even though in the end she didn't win the pageant. Support strengthens the family bond, love never fails and affection provides a lovable environment. Little Miss Sunshine illustrated how there are different families in societ y, but it doesn't necessarily take a normal family to function properly. Throughout this journey, the Hoover family learned to trust each other, to persevere through the difficult times and to always hope for the best.

How to diagnose cervical cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

How to diagnose cervical cancer - Essay Example Its symptoms, diagnosis, and ways in which it can be treated are also discussed (Dunleavey 38). Thus, this text will be very effective especially to those who have little or no insight on issues related to cervical cancer. For those already suffering from cervical cancer or those charged with taking care of cervical cancer patients, the article is aimed at educating them on the disease. What is Cervical Cancer? According to Dunvealey, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer affecting women of different ages (38). Despite the fact that it is not a sexually transmitted disease, its occurrence is linked to a human virus known as the papilloma virus, which is sexually transmitted. When the diagnosis of cervical cancer is conducted early, there are very high chances of survival of the victim and if not, death is inevitable. For example, in the United Kingdom, the national screening has reduced the deaths of the victims of this disease (Dunvealey 38). The most common symptom of cer vical cancer is abnormal bleeding, especially between periods, after having intercourse, or during postmenopause. It is also accompanied by non-appealing vaginal discharge, which is bloody, watery, may be very heavy, and in most cases, has a foul smell. Other signs include lower back pains, dysuria, hematuria, and rectal bleeding (Moini 362). How to Diagnose Cervical Cancer Every cancer has its own methods of diagnosis and treatment. For example, cervical cancer screening is totally different from the screening that happens in cases of breast cancer. The following are different methods used to diagnose cervical cancer: Cervical smear: It is usually performed in order to detect cellular changes. In this method, cells are gathered from the transformation zone using a spatula together with an endocervical brush. A slide acts as the surface on which samples are smeared onto and then sent for lab analysis. Though this method has the advantage of being simple and cheap, it has been found to possess some imperfections (Dunvealey 38). The most common abnormalities observed after cervical smears are high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSC), low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSC), and abnormal squamous cells of uncertain significance (ASC-US). The last one is the most common Pap smear finding (Dunvealey 39). Liquid-based Cytology: This method is preferred because of the short comings that come with the cervical smear method. The collection of the sample is done in a way similar to sample collection in the cervical smear method. However, in this method, the spatula’s head is cut and preservative liquid is used to rinse it. This is then transported to the lab and processed to remove the irrelevant materials, and the resultant cellular suspension is transferred to a slide and stained (Dunvealey 38-39). Though this method is also advanced, it is also not very complicated; it is very practical and quite inexpensive in diagnosing cervical cancer. As seen earlier, the papilloma virus is a major cause of cervical cancer; it brings about the HSC, LSC and ASC-US. It is thought to infect basal cells within the cervix and gain access via minor trauma or at the squamocolumnar junction. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, which is a grading system, is used to grade biopsies in

A critique of Gustav Klimts Death and Life Painting Personal Statement

A critique of Gustav Klimts Death and Life Painting - Personal Statement Example Art has always been about more than just an artist, tools and a canvas.It is an expression of emotion, imagination and factors pulled from life as well as the unreal.Art not only affects the artist, but the audience too who interpret the expression in his or her own way. A single message, or multiple messages for that matter strikes a statement in the mind of receiver, thus creating a fundamentally vital connection. Without it, the art would fail to be appreciated and digested in the manner it is intended. Gustav Klimt’s â€Å"Death and Life† contains many specific elements and principles that the audience is anticipated to understand in order to relate to the piece. Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) began his education in art in 1976 under Ferdinand Laufberger at the Vienna school for Applied Arts (Gustav, par. 1). He won awards for his ceiling paintings for venues such as Sturny’s palace, the city theatre and a spa and hotel (Gustav, par. 1). He becomes president of the Vienna Secession group until 1905, and is well known for his â€Å"sensualist artificial religion† (Gustav, par. 2). When he dies in 1918, Gustav is revered as an important representation of Wiener Jucendstil (Gustav, par. 2). Art appreciation is defined as the ability to view art, or look at works and form your own opinion (Art Appreciation). This definition stands as a reminder that not all art should or will be liked by everyone. Viewing artwork can be a sensuous experience, which entails affecting all five senses, but that does not always happen because a person may not enjoy a piece they encounter. What is important is that the person viewing the work acknowledges their ability to like or dislike it, but appreciates the message that is presented. Klimt’s â€Å"Death and Life† painting is visually split down the center by a mixture of green, blue and black color. The left side displays a skull with expression. It faces the figures on the opposing side, clut ching a brown club, or bat in its hands. The appearance of its face is sinister; teeth bared, eyes narrowed. Beneath its head and hands is a shapeless expanse filled with symbols of the cross, and peace signs. The absent space around the crosses are colored in an array of purple, green, blue, pink, white, and grey while the crosses themselves are solid black. The right half of the painting is an illustration of multiple different people immersed in a colorfully patterned blanket, or quilt. There are several women of various ages. A young girl and young woman embrace a baby boy behind an elderly woman who has her head bowed. She hovers over a large man doubled over a woman, and both of their visages are hidden from view. To the left of them, partly exposed from beneath the quilt, is a toddler. Above him a woman lies with her eyes open. She is the only one out of the group who is actively looking out as if she can see the person viewing the painting. The two parts represent life and d eath with a distinctive, wide voice separating the components. The elements of design come in a range of options that can be applied to artwork. This includes, but is not limited to: line, shape, direction, size, texture, color, and value (Art Elements). In relation to Klimt’s painting, every element can be validated to its structure and content. The linear marks, created by a brush, are shared by two figures. For instance, the bodies of the figures on the â€Å"life† side are married to the same line that portrays the side of the quilt. In one aspect, it’s the edge of the quilt; in another it is the curve of a woman’s hip. The separation can be seen by the distinctly different colors, which is another design element. Color plays a discrete role in setting boundaries, moods and texture in a piece of artwork. Even the value of art, i.e. lightness and darkness, help express meaning (Art Elements). The value of color on Death’s cloak, or figure, is si gnificantly darker than that on the side of life to display

Sociology Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sociology Report - Essay Example erm solution. The cause for separation and divorce is now not only marital discord which may be the initial spark, but it is also fuelled by many other factors in a society riven with exclusive commercialism, cut-throat competition, demanding lifestyles, insecure job situations, infidelity, declining moral standards, and so forth. The basic reason could be as frivolous as intolerance towards the way one eats an apple or snores while asleep, or serious ones such as physical abuse. Whatever the reason, there is no denying the fact that it leaves a trail of sadness, insecurity, and lifelong scars. Traditionally, divorce was considered taboo and was almost unheard of. If it did occur, it was talked about in hushed tones, equivalent to any disaster of very high portentous proportion. One would be willing to go to any length to achieve its prevention. Nowadays, divorce is considered even at the drop of a hat! It has become so fashionable! Globalization, business priorities, long separations in view of offshore employments, infidelity, same sex marriage, irreverence to time proven, healthy traditional values, disregard for moral and religious precepts, total subjugation to temporal, materialistic gains, have heavily eroded the sanctity and strength the family unit once observed and nourished as a rule. The discord between the couple is an excuse which allows these monstrous social and economic factors to hit the final nails into the coffin. The unceremonious example of the Prince of Wales and his glamorous wife, the late Princess Diana, and the prince's blended marriage with Camilla, is a mere reflection of the delusions and dilemmas prevalent in society today as a result of the stormy winds of unprecedented social and economic changes that have ascended like the tsunami, taking a heavy toll of family ties and values. The stigma of separation and divorce on the whole does not stop with the immediate couple involved, but it goes on to influence the whole society with the unhealthy trend serving as a case study or trend setter to others considering divorce instead of allowing a chance for an edifying shot at patching up. Also significant are cases of couples who live together before marriage. Evidence exist that show couples who live together before marriage do not understand the importance and usefulness of a planned marriage, and are more likely to get divorced before long. And even if married, the chances of their cheating on their spouses are considerably high, given their casual approach to the subject of marriage. Furthermore, the consequence begins to impact and influence their children at an early age. In real, the prevalence of sexually transmitted

South Africas Native Population Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

South Africas Native Population - Essay Example Eventually, South Africa's native population took over and the dominant group is no longer the white minority in that country. A dominant group is defined by who holds economic, political, social, or coercive power over the minority. b. A minority group is defined as the group that is dominated by the dominant group. Again, in South Africa, the minority groups were 90% of the population while the dominant group was only 10% of the overall population. The dominant group has the power over the minority group despite the numbers of either group. In South Africa, 10% of the population held the power over 90% of the population. C. Racial categories are considered social because they are a division of people based upon appearance only. Before genetics race was considered proof that there was a significant difference between peoples. Genetics proved that despite outward differences in appearance all people were part of one genetic race. Differences in appearance are the outward adaptation to climate or region. Racial categories are still used to divide peoples and those who hold prejudices against others base their prejudices upon the assumption that one racial make up is inferior to another. Again, genetics does not support this belief. Another reason race is a social issue is because it is easy to point to someone and point out their differences. Most often race is an issue for the dominant group and is defined by the dominant group. d. The main difference between race and ethnicity is that race is defined by the dominant group whereas ethnicity is self defined. Ethnicity can be defined by language, cultural activities, and religion. Sometimes ethnicity is defined by physical characteristics such as clothing or modesty. Ethnic groups located in the United States include Hispanics, American Indians, Jews, African Americans, and white Americans. Ethnicity can be identified by how people celebrate (Christmas for example.) and how people mourn their dead. Many African Americans share a common desire for foods that have been passed down from one generation to another. These include fried chicken and collard greens. Many Mexican Americans still prefer Mexican fare such as tortillas and refried beans. And, as more and more cultures assimilate in the United States the identification as American can include foods considered 'American' such as hot dogs and apple pie. Question 2 Three social paradigms exist. Each paradigm describes human behavior and society. Social scientists use social paradigms to explain their viewpoints about what is happening in society and why. Paradigms describe only and cannot be enacted or made to happen. Figure 1 (Fox Valley Technical College 2000) a. The Conflict Paradigm The social conflict paradigm is characterized by conflict and inequality. It is a paradigm that seeks to answer such questions as what are the social inequalities, where does the conflict exist, and are their winners or losers The conflict paradigm asserts that society is made up of everyday interactions. The best way to think of it is as a society of 'haves' and 'have-nots'. For example, when driving along the highway you can almost bet on what the income level or socioeconomic class a person is in by looking at the car they drive.  

Participation Exercise #5 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Participation Exercise #5 - Assignment Example Calculation of a breakeven also aids the business owner in learning the different costs both fixed and variable to easily determine the much they need as capital and that aside to propel the business to profitability. These provide the advantages of calculating the breakeven point before starting a business. The point that aids the business owners realizes the returns from their efforts. The point that defines their real profits the business earns (Rodriguez). During the calculations if the resulting breakeven point indicates a performance below the needed breakeven point, a number of options may aid improve the position. The increase in the selling prices may allow the company to improve the position and increase in volumes of sales provides another option. The circumstances surrounding the business environment determine the action to take with the option to increase the selling price much determined by the competitor’s prices among other factors. An increase in volumes sold will provide a more viable option to improving the position on the breakeven point. Rodriguez, George. Is Your Business successful? 3 Indicators of Success. Powerhomebiz. Viewed on May 1, 2015 from

IT functions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

IT functions - Research Paper Example Firstly, outsourcing controls operating costs such as management oversight, health insurance, retirement plans and employment taxes costs that the company would incur if were to employ IT experts and other workers for IT department. Secondly, outsourcing enables the company to focus its competencies of on the core business activities; apparently, information technology is not a core activity for most organizations. An organization may also outsource due to lack to of competent human resources that can manage its information technology needs. The need to outsource may also be triggered by the organization’s need to free internal human resources for other purposes for which they are experts instead of engaging them in IT functions where their competencies may be low. An organization may also outsource information technology services in order to gain exceptional capabilities from IT specialists. Finally, the company will choose to outsource in order to retain capital funds for capital investment projects. On the other hand, the organization will consider not outsourcing information technology services due to factors such as internal availability of human resources that are skilled to manage IT services. Further, if the company has surplus funds such that all viable investment projects have been adequately financed, the excess funds may be directed to IT development. Outsourcing poses a number of risks that firms should consider when deciding whether outsourcing the IT function is the best decision. Outsourcing creates dependence of the organization on the Information technology services provider. The outsourcing organization might experience adjusting problems when the outsourcing contract ends. In addition, the organization may not have the capacity to develop its own IT infrastructure as soon as the outsourcing contract ends and the results of this inability may be adverse to its operating activities. By outsourcing, the firm loses control over several

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

Development - Essay Example Therefore, private sector has become important in sparking development. However, the task is so overwhelming that it cannot be taken up by a single sector. Therefore, NGOs and charity groups have become very significant in ensuring that development is achieved. Different countries are willing to initiate development in various parts of the world. However, the private sector cannot be entrusted with monitoring how the funds are being utilized. As a result, non-governmental organizations have been given this mandate because they have specialized in ensuring that the development funds reach the right people. However, private sector cannot be left behind in development matters (De & Yehoue 2013). It has been instrumental in identifying areas that need more attention in order to achieve any form of development. In addition, it has been in the forefront in ensuring grants given to the government to start development projects are utilized effectively for the benefits of all people. Private sector partnership with charity groups and NGOs would enhance efficiency. All these parties have a single agenda of initiating development in the society. Therefore, once they bring their ideas and resources together, they would be able to achieve prosperity (Hodge, Greve, & Boardman 2010). This is through closing the gaps that existed which were being used by the elite group and politicians to embezzle funds that were meant for development. Content knowledge in topics such as climate change, financial access and last mile delivery provides non-governmental organizations with an advantage in assessing the needs of the community, policy implications, and customized solutions for specialized contexts (Desai & Potter 2002). Moreover, decades of experience by the non-governmental organizations which have been working with communities is significant in integrating cultural awareness, trusted relationship, and

How to Maintain Your Personal Computer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How to Maintain Your Personal Computer - Essay Example A well maintained computer provides high speed regardless of hardware setup and configurations. Otherwise it can be easily corrupted and viruses can make important files inaccessible forever. A personal computer can only stay in good shape and out of harm, if necessary steps are taken for its maintenance. First step is to clean out all the junk of browsing on regular basis, by using disk clean up tool present in your system tools in accessories icon. By using this, computer will promptly discard all the unnecessary files piling up in your computer and eating your disk space and if the disk is not cleaned up, soon you will receive a low disk memory notification popping up with the warning. Second step would be to make a user account locked by your own ID and password. To make an administrator account allows you to install software from the internet but using it all the time can be dangerous because viruses or Trojan horses run from the administrator account can causes a greater harm to your computer so use personal user account on regular basis. This will save you the trouble of any intruders getting into your personal documents plus you would be the only one handling your computer or managing any addition or removal so it will be great for the maintenance. Delete any guest’s accounts that are present as they can provide information to hackers and risk your security.(Miller,2007)

Aloha Case Essay Example for Free

Aloha Case Essay 1. What should be Alohas competitive strategy? Low cost? It is difficult for Aloha to compete with the industry giants like Nestle, PG and Phillips Morris on low cost. The reason is simple volume. These industry giants have much higher volume than Aloha and enjoy a tremendous advantage in economies of scale. It is probably suicidal for Aloha to try to adopt a low cost strategy. It will probably be crushed like an ant, unless the giants play â€Å"oligopolists† and charge high prices to maximize profits. Differentiation; i.e., selling gourmet coffee a la. Starbuck? It is probably easier for Aloha to position itself as a gourmet coffee maker, catering to the yuppie type and charging a premium price for a coffee experience different from that offered by â€Å"regular† brands. Differentiation seems to be the choice strategy for small companies in that its success does not rely on size or volume; anyone with little resources but a great idea can be the David that slays the industry Goliaths. Examples abound: Ben Jerry in ice cream and Paul Newman in spaghetti source. In fact, while the case tells us little in this regard, I suspect that Aloha has been able to survive in this competitive industry for all these years and seems to be thriving entirely because it started out occupying a special market niche and positioning its coffee as a gourmet brand. 2. How should the roasting plants, and marketing and purchasing departments be evaluated? Roasting Plants Given the differentiation strategy, the roasting plants should be treated as a profit center, as it is already now. That is because the differentiation strategy can be successfully implemented only if the quality of the coffee lives up to its image as a gourmet brand, and evaluating plant managers on profit, rather on cost alone, motivates the managers to constantly improve the quality of the coffee and maintain it at high levels. In contrast with plant managers evaluated on cost alone, plant managers evaluated on profit are penalized if they sacrifice quality on the altar of cost minimization; when quality declines, so will revenue and profit. On the other hand, if Aloha pursues a low cost strategy, then the plant managers should be evaluated on cost control alone. For a firm adopting a low cost strategy, volume is the king in order to achieve economies of scale and the customers targeted are less conscious of the quality of the coffee brands they drink. Thus, keeping cost down would be the primary objective for the plant managers. Marketing Department Since Aloha positions itself as a gourmet coffee maker, the objective for the marketing department is to keep both the price and gross margins high. Volume would not be very important as the firm knows that it only appeals to a limited group of coffee connoisseurs. Thus, the marketing department should be treated as a revenue center and annual evaluation of its performance should be based on a comparison of actual prices with target prices. Alternatively, marketing could be treated as a â€Å"pseudo† profit center with its â€Å"profit† defined as sales minus standard cost of coffee sold. If a low cost strategy is pursued, then the marketing department should be treated as a revenue center as well. But the focus now is on volume, or more precisely, volume growth. Thus, the marketing manager and his lieutenants should be constantly reminded of the importance of sales growth over time and be rewarded for good sales growth. Purchasing Department The purchasing department currently purchases coffee on both the spot and forwards markets. The policy is to make purchase commitments (forward contracts) based on maximum potential plant requirements and sell the rest on the spot market. That sounds like speculation. One may argue Aloha should meet its need for coffee beans only on the spot market and refrain from the speculation business, which is distracting attention from is main business grinding and selling gourmet coffee. A counter argument is that good coffee traders probably can spot market trends others cannot and are able to reduce the cost of coffee beans by purchasing forward contracts. I question that argument because it is doubtful that any market participants can â€Å"beat the market† and consistently purchase coffee beans on the forwards market at a lower cost than on the spot market. One drawback of the policy of buying forward contracts is it allows the purchasing department to transfer the most costly coffee beans to the plants and make the plants shoulder losses from their trading mistakes. Buying on the spot markets means that the purchased amount is equal to the need of the plants for coffee beans, and thus the purchasing department would not be able to burden the plants with high-cost beans and keep low-cost beans for themselves to boost trading profit. If the purchasing department is forbidden to play the forwards market, performance evaluation for the department is easy. It would be treated as a cost center, and the cost it incurs for coffee bean purchases will be compared with market price averages in the periods that the purchases take place.

The development and evolution of Gregorian chant

The development and evolution of Gregorian chant For centuries, Gregorian chant was considered the official music of the Catholic Church. Naturally, this degree of importance placed on the genre gives it considerable significance, both religious and cultural. Its exact beginnings, however, are not absolutely known. Also, chant has changed over time due to it being based on practices of the Church, which have also changed over time due to decrees by various popes, agendas of monastic orders, and the influences of and intermingling of cultures, such as the Franks, Romans, and Byzantines. Although the name of Gregorian chant is derived from Pope Gregory I â€Å"The Great†, it has its roots much earlier in history, predating Christianity. In fact, Christian chant is believed to have been originally derived from Judaism, as there was a considerable amount of common ground between Jewish and early Christian liturgies (Werner 20). This is seen through writings of the early church which show that the early Christian church was heavily influenced by Hebrew worship (Barton). However, there is little information available from chants of early centuries compared to Gregorian chant and other chants of later centuries (Hiley 478). One reason for this is that musical notation for chants of this time did not exist, for at this time chants were an entirely oral rather than written tradition. Also contributing to this lack of information is that early Christians were persecuted, forcing private worship until the Edict of Milan of 313, which gave Christians the right of freed om of worship in Rome (484). Due to this freedom, Christianity could afford to become more formalized and organized, its music included. There is further ambiguity surrounding the specific origins of Gregorian chant in considering Pope Gregory himself. What Gregorys influence was on Gregorian chant is debatable, as there is limited evidence supporting that he either had a great deal of influence on the genre, such as directly composing chants, or virtually none (513). However, two pieces of evidence support a common theory of his involvement in the creation of Gregorian chant that was known throughout the Middle Ages, which are two books written by Pope Gregory. These two books, entitled Antiphonarium and Graduale Romanum, are compilations of already existing chants that Pope Gregory designated for specific parts of Catholic mass which supports the theory that his involvement was limited to such compilations (D‘Silva). An example of Gregorys ordering to use specific music in liturgy is him mandating that the Allelulia be used during mass for an entire year (Apel 41). Despite the lack of specific information concerning the beginnings of chant that would later evolve to become Gregorian chant, the origins of Gregorian chant as it was known throughout the Middle Ages are more clear, as music books, although they still were not musically notated, of the genre were created by the Franks at around the 9th century, making the genre easier to trace through history to that point (Hiley 514). Note that it was not until the 10th century that sources were created containing musical notation, namely being musically annotated Graduals and Antiphonals from the Codex 359 (Apel 52). Also, it was not until the 11th century that music was annotated in a way so that tunes could be read (53). In addition to these musical books, various manuscripts were written that outlined liturgical proceedings, allowing for further clarification of the specifics of Gregorian chant (53). The peoples who ruled the area that is roughly present-day France played a large role in forming Gregorian chant to what it is, from the Franks to the Carolingians (Hiley 512). This started under the rule of the Frank king Pepin, who lead the Franks to control much of Europe through military conquest, spreading the culture of chant to the Franks, and also causing reforms to Gregorian chant by the Franks and their successors (513). In addition to causing chant to be more widespread, the intervention of the Franks also caused Gregorian chant to evolve from further influences (513). Not only did the influence of the Franks allow the beginnings of Gregorian chant to be seen more easily, as was described previously, but their musical texts also show the original motives behind its development, the main motive being to help control how the liturgy was run by assigning specific chants to certain parts of the liturgy, as was done by Pope Gregory (515). In the case of the Franks (namely Pepin and also Charlemagne), the reasoning behind trying to control the specifics of the liturgy was so that it would become standardized since many members of the church were influenced by their own local traditions in structuring the liturgy, which Frank leadership was trying to suppress (Barbon). Of course, due to the amount of time between Pope Gregorys writings and the adoption of chant by the Frankish church (300 years), it can be safely assumed that the liturgical assignments of the Franks were different than those of Pope Gregory. More changes were made as well in Gregorian chant, including the style of singing, such as the combining of both Roman and Frankish singers, although eventually a return to a more Roman styled liturgy and type of singing occurred among the Franks (Hiley 517). Since writing texts for the chants was still not common practice and musical notation for them did not yet exist, it follows that the Franks had to learn Roman liturgy and chants by memory when this shift back to strictly Roman liturgy occurred. This also denotes that the number of chants that were used and popular were not too numerous at this point in time, as they could still be all memorized. Despite the shift back to a Roman style liturgy, over the years and into the 9th century to the start of the rule of the Carolingians, who succeeded the Franks, Gregorian chant continued to evolve as new musical elements were added to the genre by the Franks and more compositions were created (Hiley 517). Some of these changes were brought on by outside influences on Gregorian chant, such as by the Byzantines, who developed the eight mode system (529). The fact that the amount of compositions of Gregorian chant were increasing can be tied in with the development of written musical texts around this time period, causing Gregorian chant to shift away from a strictly oral tradition, for it would no longer be possible to memorize all of the chants necessary as their numbers grew. As the popularity of Gregorian chant grew, it underwent several more reforms and evolutions, mostly during the 12th and 13th centuries (Hiley 608). An example of such a reform was more specific notation being used in writing chant, which included specifying pitch, among other specific musical elements (608). Another reform was the tendency to drift away from previous melodies of the Middle Ages, creating a type of chant called â€Å"Neo-Gallican† chant (609). Many of these changes made to Gregorian chant were initiated by various orders, two major ones being the Cistercians, who believed in performing the liturgy as it was done originally, and the Dominicans, whose reforms, like the efforts of many before it, were aimed at standardizing the liturgy (612). Gregorian chant did not enjoy constant growth and popularity, however. After the 12th century, the popularity and growth of Gregorian chant started to wane, presumably due to a period of reduced popularity of the Catholic Church (DSilva). Also, around the 16th century the Catholic Church was threatened by Protestantism, which also played a part in decreasing the popularity of the church, thus affecting the popularity of traditional monastic liturgies and music (Hiley 615). Another such period of decadence for the church and for Gregorian chant was during the age of Enlightenment, as less emphasis was placed on the church and God and instead more on the individual and reason. As a result of this new ideology, the power and influence of the church began to decline. In addition to the general ideology of the time, another reason for the decline of the Church was the political struggle caused by the French Revolution, which caused a reform in the French church so that it no longer observed previous monastic traditions (Bergeron xii). Due to Gregorian chants close association with the church, its popularity began to decline as well (Barton). This causes yet another obstacle in acquiring information about Gregorian chant and thus makes it more difficult to interpret today as the knowledge of how to interpret various medieval musical notations was lost (Barton). A large factor of why Gregorian chant did not die out completely is the involvement of monks at the French monastery at Solesmes, and other such monasteries, who during the 19th century were commissioned by Pope St. Pius X to modernize Gregorian chant (DSilva). They achieved this by removing the strict association that Gregorian chant had with the church, secularizing it and adding a meditative, â€Å"trancelike appeal† (DSilva). In the end, Gregorian chant was changed to be more akin to classical Roman chant than the Gregorian chant of the Middle Ages. As a result, the chant that is known today as Gregorian chant is more similar to early plainchant rather than what was originally dubbed as â€Å"Gregorian chant† (DSilva). As a result of this change of the style of Gregorian chant, along with the declining power of the Catholic Church and thus the popularity of Gregorian chant, it is difficult to know what Gregorian chant of the Middle Ages exactly sounded like (Barton). Another factor that contributes to this is the lack of musical notation with text in the Middle Ages, and that some of the notation that does exist from the time period cannot be interpreted due to these periods of decrease in popularity. Overall, the fact that chant was originally a purely oral tradition that consisted of few enough chants that could be memorized, along with Gregorian chants affiliation with a religion that was originally persecuted and later declining in popularity, contributes to the murkiness of the origins of Gregorian chant. Also, the fact that Christianity underwent significant changes from the time of its conception to modern times results in equally significant changes occurring in the style of music that was so closely affiliated with its prominent church, even causing Gregorian chant to nearly die out on several occasions in history. However, despite the several bouts of decrease in popularity that Gregorian chant experienced, it is currently one of the oldest forms of music that is actively listened to today (DSilva). Also, the many changes that Gregorian chant underwent throughout history makes it very unique, as it cannot be entirely attributed to any specific event, person, or even nation or empire. Instead, as David Hiley states, â€Å"†¦Gregorian chant is neither of one specific time, nor wholly Roman, nor wholly anything else† (Hiley 513).

Effect of Video Games on Brain Functions

Effect of Video Games on Brain Functions The Immersion of the Human Mind  In Video Games Stefan Nikolov Contents (Jump to) Abstract Literature Review Current Perceptions Abstract This research paper was created with the intention of taking the reader on a guided journey towards understanding how the human mind functions within the virtual world of video games. It explores the interaction between the senses of the nervous system and the game’s artificial reality and attempts to establish a connection between an individual’s brain capabilities and the demanding requirements of a game’s level environment and attempt to find a balanced relationship between the two. The paper is based around a research, conducted in order to come up with approximate statistics about how the game’s world triggers brain sensors and how and how much the human consciousness responds according to the information input it receives. A racing track, named the â€Å"Blackstone International Circuit† was created as a supporting piece of level design work. With the help of an external controller, a steering wheel with resistance and force feedback, fellow students, who took part in the research, were required to compete three laps around the circuit. The track was also released on several online websites and that made possible the involvement of other anonymous individuals. After they had their turn, they were asked to complete a track questionnaire with questions related to their experience. The data of the questionnaire was later collected and analysed in order to establish a statistics database of how the separate senses take part when the human mind is engaged. The results revealed that the brain’s involvement was maximised and participants felt fully immersed within the game environment. That allowed the collection of subconscious activity that was categorised to determine the type of game presence they had – tactical, strategic or narrative. Findings also helped support the claim that a person with a strong co-ordination and reflex abilities, which are the main part of having a tactical game presence, would be called a â€Å"good gamer†. The majority of participants in the survey belonged to the group of players that have tactical presence and had a very similar approach. Throughout this paper, objective analysis and criticism, as well as self-assessment and reliable sources were the foundation for building a valid and evident piece of academic writing. The paper concludes with suggested criteria for analysing the mind’s activity when playing a video game and getting clearly distinguished results about the type of people that play video games in today’s world. Literature Review At the beginning of each life experience, there is the perception of it. It is the initial start of the human mind’s interaction with the surrounding environment and ultimately serves as the foundation, on which events occur and build up. In the Oxford dictionary, the definition for the word â€Å"perception† is â€Å"the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses.† The environment of reality is consisted of an infinite number of information flows, which inevitably and constantly interact with the mind. If the â€Å"filter† of perception did not exist, there would be an extreme mental overload, as the amount of streaming actions would be too big to comprehend. Blake and Sekuler (2006) state that â€Å"what is crucial is that perception provide us with a useful view of the world†, rather than detailed and accurate one; â€Å"where useful means being able to interact safely and effectively within our environment.† Perception acts like an information distributer to the mind, allowing only relevant data to reach the brain, while the unnecessary parts of the occurring event may even not make their way through. The two authors also explain that â€Å"stimulation comes in various forms of physical energy: thermal, mechanical, chemical, acoustic and electromagnetic.† As a consequence, the human brain’s ability to accept and process information is applied through the five senses – sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. Working together, they create a complete image of the surrounding environment, enabling us to co-ordinate and interact with at a level of full immersion. The word â€Å"immersion† originally meant â€Å"to submerge someone or something in a liquid.†, however, since the invention of video games and entertainment media in general, the meaning has evolved significantly, as far as it affects the human mind. According to Wikipedia, â€Å"immersion†, in relation to a video game, can also mean â€Å"a perception of being physically present in a non-physical world.† The immersion in the video game world can be split into three different types – tactical, strategic and narrative (Adams, 2005). The first two are easy to achieve, as they require problem solving; tactical is the type that requires skill and repetition of actions on the way to success; Strategic immersion involves calculation and prediction to overcome obstacles. However, narrative immersion is hard to accomplish, as a lot of elements must work together – story, characters, setting, acting, presentation, to compile everything together in a successful emotional state. Rigby and Ryan (2010, p.84) explain how Authenticity is a key factor to the believability of an experience. It is what provides ground for the extra step towards immersion, as people usually choose to keep their distance from things that they consider fake. Authenticity makes a product trustworthy and reliable, and helps the individual achieve the desired blending of the real (factual) and the imaginary (mental) world. According to the authors, each person has an individual set of requirements, called â€Å"schema†, which is applied to every experience in order to compare it to previous ones and determine if it can be classified as â€Å"authentic†. According to Madigan (2010), it is spatial presence that comes closest to what game players perceive as immersion. It is considered to exist when the elements of a game world are accepted as â€Å"real†, allowing one to submerge fully into a product of the imagination and feel like they are as much present in the scene, as they would be in reality. The process takes place over two defined stages. At the First stage, a player is accepting the surrounding world, composed of a variety of objects, sounds and events, which help create a saturated mental model of the game’s virtual universe. The Second stage is engaging the mind on a subconscious level, where it feels part of a flawless reality and is fully immersed within the experience. It has the imagination filling in the imperfections of a certain part of a game level, for example, which were imposed by the limitations of the machine or the level of object detail. Daphne Bavelier, a cognitive research scientist, in a keynote presentation (2012) about the relationship between the human brain and playing fast-paced computer games, suggested that doing so actually improved the brain’s capabilities. According to her team’s research, people who often play action games tend to solve problems faster, perform better in multitasking and recognise and react to the surrounding environment more accurately and with greater precision than people who do not. That is due to the fact, that, when fully immersed inside the game world, the brain would have to process often times a lot more information than in a lot of real-life situations, which would essentially serve as training process and help the individual improve on problem solving. The results of that research were valid even months after it was conducted. A very important, if not crucial factor for achieving a full immersive experience, when playing a game, is Realism. McMahan (2003) splits Realism of video games into two sub-divisional types – Social and Perpetual. The first type suggests the comparison between social interactions within a game’s environment compared to the real world, but the Perpetual Realism is the level of visual resemblance of the objects in that environment to the ones in reality. Most fast-paced games in today’s world offer the possibility of complete interaction of the mind and game world, due to the fact that computer graphics and processing of game data is becoming rapidly faster with each year that passes. Game genres like any modern First-Person Shooter (FPS) game, such as Call of Duty or Battlefield, require almost the same skill set for a proper playing experience. According to Gamer Institute (2014), the top skills of a professional player are Love of the Game, Unwavering dedication, Manual dexterity, Twitch reflexes, Strong multi-tasking, Analytical ability and Emotional Control. One of the most realistic genres of games in today’s world is the Simulator. It considers factors, such as physics, lighting, shadows, shapes or events to create a world, which resembles reality as close as possible. Depending on the type of simulator, reality’s properties can be used for a variety of purposes. Some games, such as Moon Tycoon (2001) tend to focus on events that cannot occur in the current state of the world we live in. Others, such as SimCity (2013), use reality to propose a virtual representation of events in a real-time game universe. A Racing Simulator is the type of game that would make a significant difference in how the mind can deal with reality. According to SAE (2014), the delay between events in the racing simulator can even cause motion sickness in drivers; that is why it is unacceptable, as â€Å"it can reduce effectiveness of driver-in-the-loop (DIL) systems used for studying vehicle dynamics†. A game called rFactor Pro (2008) was developed to ensure the maximum of the virtual reality is extracted and a life-like experience is delivered to the drivers in order to get them fully engaged and prepared for a race. SAE also writes that, as of 22 Jan 2014, the game is currently the dominant software in the simulator market, used in F1 and NASCAR teams to mentally prepare drivers. RFactor Pro is an upgraded version of rFactor, a racing simulator game, developed by Image Space Incorporated (ISI) and released in 2005. RFactor has a very large community and a rich and diverse database of game extensions, called otherwise â€Å"Mods† – tracks, cars, menu interface images, sounds and miscellaneous add-ons, developed almost entirely by third-party source, such as myself. The game itself has a very realistic physics engine that enables accurate simulation of life-like racing experiences – tire and engine wear, fuel consumption, wind resistance, tire grip, etc. It engages the players in a believable environment (roads and racing tracks) to get them concentrated on the objective of racing against other cars or beating a time record. According to Angel Ever (2014), safety is the biggest benefit of racing simulation. In virtual reality, there is no possibility for the risk of real-life damage and danger. This removes the â€Å"hazard† factor, while preserving all other fun factors that driving a fast car can provide. A player is not required to wear safety equipment, or have their car inspected at all times, in contrast to a racing driver. Moreover, real racing is a lot more expensive, compared to virtual one, as the cars’ integrity is reset at the beginning of each playing session. There is also the freedom to drive, regardless of the rules of the real world and experience pure fun when doing so. On the other side, a research, conducted by Continental Tyre UK (2011), suggested that people who often play driving games tend to be poorer drivers in real life. According to results, gamers are likely to take more risks, speed and be susceptible to reckless driving more often than non-gamers. Around 16% of all the participants agreed that driving games would make someone perform better in real conditions, while 40% said that virtual experiences contribute to dangerous behavior on the real roads. Current Perceptions The process of investigation is iterative and information is collected in a database for later evaluation. Since the method used in it does not change over time, that means that as the quantity of participants grows, the results’ accuracy grows as well. At the beginning of the project I already had a personal understanding of how a player interacts within the game world, based on my gaming experiences in the past. I wanted to examine the brain’s activity and how important it was for a player to have a complete image of the surrounding environment in order to extract the maximum of their performance. Several categories of interest were defined in order to achieve a guideline

Children and Nurture Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Children and Nurture I grew up in an environment that allowed me to accept almost everything that was told to me without any questions. My parents and teachers never told me anything that didn’t feel right, so I was under the impression that anyone with authority would always tell me the truth and that was that. My bubble burst about a year ago. That was the first time that I came across something that the â€Å"experts† had to say, that did not jive with my feelings on a matter; and I was not willing to just accept what they had to say. I came across then and continue to come across articles that say in essence, that it doesn’t matter if children are cared for by their mothers or day-care and in fact that sometimes day-care is better for the child. Some go on to say that parents don’t matter at all. This could not be, after-all, doesn’t the proclamation say that, â€Å"mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.†? The proclamation refers to this as a sacred responsibility. If it is a sacred responsibility for mothers to nurture their children, then that must be what is best for the child, right? Some research tends to indicate that mothers are the best nurturers for their children. I set out to find some of this research. Baydar and Brooks-Gunn (1991), found in a study of maternal employment and its effects on children that those children who were left in the care of someone other than their mother for many hours each day had lower cognitive scores as well as more behavioral problems. In another study by Baydar and Brooks-Gunn (1991), they found that the effects of a mother working out-side of the home and leaving their baby boy in someone else’s care was especially de... ... Speech given at the world congress of families II. Ezra Taft Benson (1987). To the mothers in Zion. An address given at a fireside for parents. Gordon B. Hinckley (1997). Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book. Gordon B. Hinckley (1996, November) Ensign (p69). Hawkins, A.J., Spangler D.L., Hudson, V., Dollahite D.C., Klien S. R., Rugh, S. S., Fronk C. A., Draper R. D., Sorensen A. D. Wardle L. D., & Hill E. J. (2000). Equal partnership and the sacred responsibilities of mothers and fathers. In Dollahite D.C.(Eds.), Strengthening our families: An in-depth look at the proclamation on the family (pp.63-82). Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft. Top, B.L. & Chadwick, B.A. (1998). Raising righteous children in a wicked world. Brigham Young Magazine. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University.

How to safely ride :: essays research papers

How To Safely Ride A Dirt Motorcycle 1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Racing, hill climbing, jumping, and performing dangerous tricks on a dirt bike sounds like fun, however it can get   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  very dangerous. A. I will inform you how to be a safe dirt biker. B. I have experience in this field from dealing with many aspects on this sport, negative and positive. I have   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  realized that safety is the most important factor. C.When dirt bike riding, it is very important to be in touch with your personal gear, familiar with bike trails, and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  biking behaviors. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Being correctly suited in your personal gear is the first important factor of dirt bike riding.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. The helmet and goggles protect your eyes and head. Boots,shin guards, gloves, pants, jersey, knee pads,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  elbow pads, chest protector, and the kidney belt should all be put on to protect you from unexpected accidents. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When riding on a bike trail always beware of your surroundings. A. Certain trails are designated for certain off road vehicles. Always travel on designated trails, pay attention to   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   all signs that tell whether a trail is open or closed to OHV use.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   B. Signs indicating trail ratings and one-way trails are posted at each trailhead.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   C. Always ride within your skill level. From easiest to most difficult, a green circle, blue square, and black   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   diamond are signals representing the difficulty of a trail. These signals indicate the expertise needed to ride that   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   trail under normal condition. Use these signs as a reminder of which trails are suitable for you. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Always use good judgment when involved with dirt biking activities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Know your vehicle, read the owners manual, and use common sense.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B.Don’t ride alone, ride with experienced riders. If for some reason you are planning to ride alone, always tell a   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  responsible person where you are traveling and when you will return. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Being ready, and equipped for an emergency is a must when dirt biking because you will never know when you   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  will be stranded or in a life or death situation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A.. Most importantly, make sure to carry drinking water, a first-aid kit, map and compass, warm clothes, water-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  proof matches, emergency lights, and repair tools.

Accounting As A Career Essay

As the decision of where I will attend college next year quickly approached, I decided to investigate the major I have chosen, Accounting. Because my goal is to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), I would like to know more of what it entails. Dealing with numbers, and recording and projecting the earnings of a company, accountants are placed with the responsibility of keeping track of the moneys of a business. God has blessed me with skills in the areas of mathematics and organization, which caused me to look for an occupation that utilizes both. Accounting seemed a logical choice since they largely work with numbers and organize their clients’ money. In order to become a CPA, one must receive a bachelor’s degree and work for a prescribed number of hours for a top accounting firm. Covering a wide spectrum of business related specialization, accountants and those who act as auditors must be able to determine whether or not a company is using their resources effic iently and if they are correctly recording the moneys they come in contact with. I am aware that accountants work with money and the documenting of it but would like to ascertain exactly what else the job of a CPA consists of. Since the recent downturn of the American economy and job market, I began to ponder how easy it would be to attain a job as an accountant. According to Steve French, an accountant for the Calvary Satellite Network, it is easy to find an accounting job, regardless of the state of the economy, because every company needs an accountant. Also, in the opinion of Richard Schweppe, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of CorVel Corporation, the best thing about accounting is the option of working for any type of company an individual may find interesting. Because every business needs an accountant and many people use them for tax preparation, those with a degree in accounting can easily find a job after college. Furthermore, â€Å"with fewer students earning accounting degrees, organizations are devoting greater resources to attracting these candidates.† Having thus determined the ease and likelihood that I will be able to find an accounting job upon graduation from college, I decided to lo ok into exactly what an accountant does, how they attain the title of CPA, and how much money they make. While researching the job description of accountants, I discovered multiple  types of accountants, performing jobs ranging from banking to auditing. First of all, one can become a public accountant and work for a public accounting firm. â€Å"They perform a broad range of accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting activities for their clients, who may be corporations, governments, nonprofit organizations, or individuals.† The majority of public accountants, however, work on taxes. With the constantly changing tax laws, many people hire accountants to prepare and file their income taxes. They execute tasks â€Å"such as preparing individual income tax returns and advising companies of the tax advantages and disadvantages of certain business decisions.† Tax accountants must be aware of the new tax laws and must be constantly learning and understanding all of the changes. Also, they have to face extremely hectic work schedules during the tax season. Debra Schill, who owns a Triple Check business, explained, â€Å"During tax season (January through April), I work seven days a week, from 6 to 18 hours per day†¦[and] evenings and weekends are dedicated to filling out [clients’] tax returns, getting them processed and out the door.† In addition to accurately filling out tax returns, tax accountants must be familiar with the types of businesses they are working for. â€Å"A thorough understanding of the clients’ business, investment, and personal objectives is required, as well as a thorough understanding of the tax laws and their applications.† Besides taxes, public accountants likewise perform audits. First of all, an audit can be defined as â€Å"examining a client’s financial statements and reporting to investors and authorities that they have been prepared and reported correctly.† â€Å"According to Barron’s Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms, an audit is ‘prof essional examination and verification of a company’s accounting documents and supporting data for the purpose of rendering an opinion as to their fairness, consistency, and conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.'† Although only about 15 percent of accountants actually perform them, auditing is the most widely known and the most important job of a CPA. Auditors must follow certain rules and report the facts without bias or other influences. Performing this necessary task is essential â€Å"because it ensures the integrity of the financial information on which our economic system depends.† As well as auditing, public accountants consult and offer advice to companies. â€Å"Consulting services provided by CPAs may range from brief discussions with clients in  the form of consultations or may involve larger initiatives such as implementation, transaction, or support services.† Consulting allows accountants to move from company to company, giving them a wide array of knowledge regarding the running of different companies and how to handle certain situations. Public accountants can choose to specialize in taxes, auditing, consulting, or a plethora of other opportunities. Another type of accounting that interested me was management accounting. Often referred to as industrial or private accountants, â€Å"management accountants analyze and interpret the financial information corporate executives need to make sound business decisions.† Although there are many different types of management accountants, the one that intrigued me the most was the internal auditor. â€Å"The internal auditor conducts an independent appraisal from within the organization by analyzing, criticizing, and recommending improvements to internal financial practices.† Allowed to work for a specific company, he still performs audits as he would if working for a public accounting firm. Being the company’s in-house â€Å"authority,† the internal auditor may â€Å"assist outside CPAs in their examination and evaluation of the company’s financial statements.† An internal auditor can help a company ensure that they are successfully and correctly utilizing, recording, and reporting their financial state before they are officially audited. As another alternative, an accountant can choose to work for the government. The largest employer of CPAs in the United States is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). â€Å"IRS agents examine and audit the accounting books and records of individuals, partnerships, fiduciaries, and corporations to determine their court federal tax liability.† Working for the government would prove to be an exciting job if one becomes an investigative accountant. For me personally, I am not particularly interested in working for the government. When I am looking for a job in accounting, the skills I possess will determine my eligibility and appeal. Many abilities and skills are necessary in order to work in the accounting field. For example, I have found that  accounting is not just about number crunching, but is also about helping a company run efficiently. Personal soft skills are needed in order to effectively work with others. As a recommendation, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) states that accounting professionals should â€Å"be able to work with others to accomplish objectives†¦[and] demonstrate an ability to work productively with individuals in a diversity of roles and with varying interests.† Because of the many sides of accounting, meetings are continuously attended relating to the different aspects of the business instrumental in the running of the company. Speech and communication skills are important to effectively inform, and â€Å"firms seek strong communicators who can explain complex financial information clearly and concisely to a diverse audience.† In addition, individuals must be able to deliver presentations and express information concisely and clearly, both in speech and writing. As a result of continuously changing technology, accountants, and all business employees, must be able to advance with these many changes. Accountants will always be learning as technology and laws change. Furthermore, â€Å"given the fiduciary nature of the work [they] perform, people will rely on the information [they] provide. Honesty and integrity are qualities which are highly valued.† Because they work with money and are trusted to report the truth about a company and its financial state, I believe accountants should have a high degree of moral integrity. In addition, business sense and an awareness of events transpiring in the world are key assets when working for any company that may be affected by any shifts in the global economy. According to the Robert Half and Accountemps 2002 Salary Guide, â€Å"Companies seek professionals who can manage a broad range of accounting responsibilities, including general ledger, cost control and financial reporting†¦Individuals proficient with spreadsheet applications and who possess excellent customer service skills are highly sought after.† A personable attitude and knowledge of technology can enhance one’s resume, as well as their odds for getting a job. When Robert Half International asked CFOs â€Å"Which of the following interpersonal skills is most valued in accounting candidates today,† they responded according to the chart below. An endless amount of skills and abilities are highly recommended for accountants. After learning what an accountant does and what skills are needed, I decided to research exactly how one becomes a CPA. Most of the requirements and information on becoming a CPA was provided on the website of the California Board of Accountancy provided me with. First of all, â€Å"a CPA is a certified public accountant and is licensed by the state. In California, to earn the prestige associated with the CPA license, individuals are required to demonstrate their knowledge and competence by passing an exam, meeting high educational standards and completing a specified amount of general accounting experience.† Becoming a CPA involves an approximately six year journey, including attending a college or university. Two pathways that may take to obtain the title of CPA have been created by the California Board of Accountancy. Pathway 1 is designed for those who will practice only in California. The education requirement is a bachelor’s degree, including  twenty-four semest er units in accounting-related subjects and twenty-four semester units in business related subjects. In addition to meeting the education requirements, one must pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Given over a two-day period twice a year, this exam consists of four parts: Business Law and Professional Responsibilities; Auditing; Accounting and Reporting-Taxation, Managerial, and Governmental and Not-for-Profit Organizations; and Financial Accounting and Reporting-Business Enterprises. â€Å"If all four parts are not passed on the first attempt, applicants may establish conditional credit by passing two sections with a grade of 75 or higher during a single sitting. Once conditional credit is established, [one] may take [their] remaining unpassed exam sections individually.† Next, one must have two years of general accounting experience supervised by a licensed CPA. During this period, it is expected that one â€Å"[has] participated in planning audits†¦[;] has written comments, observations and conclusions resulting from the work performed†¦[; and] has participated in the preparation of, and reporting on, full disclosure financial statements.† I see the two years of supervised experience as a benefit to those aspiring to become CPAs. Certainly, all people who are in the process of becoming a CPA should take full advantage of this aid by learning all they can through real job experience. Pathway 2 is similar to Pathway 1 and is recommended for those who may want to practice in another state. Differences include the requirement of only one year of general accounting experience supervised by a licensed CPA in addition to 150 semester units of education. Also, conditional credit on the CPA exam is only awarded to those who pass two or more sections with a grade of 75 percent or higher and earn a minimum grade of 50 percent on the remaining unpassed sections, and is valid for three years. Although it takes a long period of time to officially become a CPA, I anticipate the challenge. This information has verified my desire to become a CPA. Consequently, I researched the salary of an accountant to see whether it provides a good income. According to the 1998-1999 Graduate Status Report of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, the median salary of the graduates was $3083 per month and ranged from $1833 to $4333. Of the 69 students who responded to the questionnaire, 67 were employed full-time  within a year after their graduation. The Robert Half and Accountemps 2002 Salary Guide reports that novice general, audit, tax and cost accountants working in a large company ($250 million+ in sales) can earn $33,000 to $40,750, those working in a medium company ($25 to $250 million in sales) can earn $31,250 to $37,500, and those working in a small company (up to $25 million in sales) can earn $29,500 to $35.250 a year. These are only the starting salaries for those working up to one year, but those who become managers can earn anywhere from $47,500 t o $79,000 a year. Bookkeeping, an area of accounting that was of some interest to me, has relatively low salaries. Depending on the title and experience, one can earn from $24,000 to $48,500 per year. I discovered that the title that earns the most money is that of CFO or Treasurer, which can rise to $360,250. An accurate summary of the occupation of an accountant is that he â€Å"has the task of accumulating and dispensing needed financial information. Since his activities touch upon nearly every phase of business operation and financial information is communicated in accounting terms, accounting is said to be the ‘language of business.’ Anyone intending to engage in any type of business activity is well advised to learn this language.† After researching what accountants actually do, I discovered that they do much more than just crunch numbers all day. The variety and diversity of jobs available caused me to contemplate about what I would like to specialize in and what type of company I would like to work for. Moreover, interpersonal skills are important and accountants have interaction with a number of associates and clients frequently. Previously, I had thought that accountants were mostly bookkeepers, but have discovered that only a small percentage of them are and that they make the least amount of money out of the various specializations. While there are accountants who are not CPAs, becoming one will help ensure a higher income and the prestige associated with becoming a CPA. The road to becoming a CPA is longer than I had expected, but I believe it is worth the training and experience required. Since tremendous amounts of time and effort are necessary, a strong desire to become a CPA must be present in all who seek to become one. Unquestionably, the wide base of business knowledge that one studying accounting amasses allows them to work anywhere in the business environment. Accounting is a great foundation for  all business and is a great choice for anyone interested in numbers and working with people. Works Cited â€Å"Accounting: 1998-1999 Graduate Status Report.† Cal Poly Career Services. 4 April 2002 . â€Å"AICPA Career Paths.† 25 March 2002 . â€Å"AICPA Personal Competencies.† 24 March 2002 . Camenson, Blythe. Careers for Perfectionists and Other Meticulous Types. VGM Careers For You Series. Chicago: NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group, Inc., 1999. Carson, A. B., Arthur E. Carlson, and Mary E. Burnet. Accounting Essentials for Career Secretaries. 3rd ed. Cincinnati: South-Western Publishing Co., 1972. French, Steve. Personal Interview. 10 April 2002. Goldberg, Jan. Great Jobs for Accounting Majors. Chicago: NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group, Inc., 1998. â€Å"Licensing – Experience Requirements.† The California Board of Accountancy. 28 February 2002 . Messmer, Max. Next Generation Accountant. Robert Half International Inc. . – – -. Robert Half and Accountemps 2002 Salary Guide. N.p.: n.p., 2001. Schweppe, Richard. Personal Interview. 24 April 2002. Weinstein, Grace W. The Bottom Line: Inside Accounting Today. New York: New American Library: 1987. â€Å"What It Takes: a Guide to Becoming a CPA.† CalCPA Online. 15 April 2002 .