Financial Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financial Analysis - Essay Example The current ratio shows the ability of a company to pay off its short term debt. It is calculated dividing current assets divided by current liabilities. Agnico Eagle had a current ratio in 2012 of 3.26. This ratio is very good because it is better than the industry average of 1.50. The quick ratio is another liquidity ratio that measures short term liquidity. The difference between the quick ratio and the current ratio is that inventory is subtracted from the numerator of the formula making the quick ratio a more strict liquidity ratio. The company had a quick ratio in 2012 of 2.02 which is better than the industry average of 0.70. The debt ratio of the firm in 2012 was 0.35. This ratio shows that the company is not too highly leveraged. In the future, the company could use additional debt to finance its growth. The debt to equity ratio of the firm was 0.54. This ratio measures a number of assets being provided by creditors for each dollar of assets being provided by stockholders. T he earnings per share (EPS) of the firm was $1.81. A good EPS result tends to have a positive effect on the market price per share. The dividend per share of the company was $1.02. The dividend payout ratio of the firm was 56.35% which implies that more than half its earnings were distributed to common shareholders. The net margin shows the absolute profitability of a firm. Agnico Eagle had a net margin in 2012 of 16.21%. Its net margin was extremely good considering that the industry average net margin that year was -25.60%.

Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods Essay Example for Free

Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods Essay Our ancestors first cultivated plants some ten thousand years ago. They domesticated animals later and then selectively bred both plants and animals to meet various requirements for human food. Humans discovered natural biological processes such as fermentation of fruits and grains to make wine and beer, and yeast for baking bread. Manipulation of foods is not a new story, therefore. The latest agricultural discovery uses genetic engineering technology to modify foods. Farmers and plant breeders have been changing crop plants to improve characteristics such as size, resistance to disease and taste. Plants which grow well, have a higher yield or taste better are selected and bred from. This is still the most widely used technique for developing new varieties of a crop, and is limited by natural barriers which stop different species of organisms from breeding with each other. Genetic modification is very different to these traditional plant breeding techniques. Genetic modification is the insertion of DNA from one organism to another, usually by molecular technologies. Genetically Modified Foods (GMF) are animals or plants that have had genetic modification. This changes the characteristics of the organism, or the way it grows and develops. Jim Maryanski from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration, had the following to say in an interview published on the FDAs website. ?There are hundreds of new plant varieties introduced every year in the United States, and all have been genetically modified through traditional plant breeding techniquessuch as cross-fertilization of selected plantsto produce desired traits.? (Robin)Current and future GM products include:a)Food that can deliver vaccines bananas that produce hepatitis B vaccineb)More nutritious foods rice with increased iron and vitaminsc)Faster growing fish, fruit and nut treesd)Plants producing new plasticsIn so many respects, genetic modification is perfect for todays society. It would help agriculturalists overcome all headaches associated with growing large crops, and basically tailor the food growth industry to mass consumption by the general population. The famous frost-resistant tomato example is perfect in illustrating this point. With a tomato that resists frost, the season for growing them would be longer and therefore a farmer would be able to produce more tomatoes in one year than they were able to do in the past. Gene technology not only gives us the potential to select the exact characteristics we want in an organism, but it also enables us to cross species barriers. For example, we can take an insecticide-producing gene from a bacterium and insert it into a plant, making the plant resistant to insect attack. This new-found ability to cross species barriers is what makes gene technology such a powerful tool. Producing enough food for the worlds population without using up all the available land is an enormous challenge. One solution is to develop crops that yield more with fewer inputs; that are more resistant to diseases; that spoil less during storage and transport; that contain more useful nutrients; and that can grow in agricultural land that has been degraded. Gene technology gives us the potential to do this. Genetically modified foods have been available since the 1990s. The principal ingredients of GM foods currently available are derived from genetically modified soybean, maize and canola. The first commercially grown genetically modified food crop was a tomato created by Calgene called the FlavrSavr. Calgene submitted it to the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for assessment in 1992; following the FDAs determination that the FlavrSavr was, in fact, a tomato, did not constitute a health hazard, and did not need to be labeled to indicate it was genetically modified, Calgene released it into the market in 1994, where it met with little public comment. Considered to have a poor flavor, it never sold well and was off the market by 1997. However, it had improved solids contents which made it an attractive new variety for canned tomatoes. Transgenic crops are grown commercially or in field trials in over 40 countries and on 6 continents. In 2000, about 109. 2 million acres (442,000 km? ) were planted with transgenic crops, the principal ones being herbicide- and insecticide-resistant soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola. Other crops grown commercially or field-tested are a sweet potato resistant to a US strain of a virus that affects one out of the more than 89 different varieties of sweet potato grown in Africa, rice with increased iron and vitamins such as golden rice, and a variety of plants able to survive extreme weather. Between 1996 and 2001, the total surface area of land cultivated with GMOs had increased by a factor of 30, from 17,000 km? (4. 2 million acres) to 520,000 km? (128 million acres). The value for 2002 was 145 million acres (587,000 km? ) and for 2003 was 167 million acres (676,000 km? ). Soybean crop represented 63% of total surface in 2001, maize 19%, cotton 13% and canola 5%. In 2004, the value was about 200 million acres (809,000 km? ) of which 2/3 were in the United States. In particular, Bt corn is widely grown, as are soybeans genetically designed to tolerate glyphosate herbicides. Future applications of GMOs include bananas that produce human vaccines against infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B, fish that mature more quickly, fruit and nut trees that yield years earlier, and plants that produce new plastics with unique properties. The next decade will see exponential progress in GM product development as researchers gain increasing and unprecedented access to genomic resources that are applicable to organisms beyond the scope of individual projects. Biologist Stephen Nottingham explains the risks of GMF:? Experimental trials with transgenic organisms are usually conducted strict regulations to minimize the potential spread of genetic material? Even given these regulations, however, no field trial can be said to be 100% secure. This was illustrated when flooding struck the American Midwest in July 1993 and an entire field of experimental insect-resistant maize was swept away in Iowa. ?once released accidentally into the environment, plant material may prove difficult to recover. (Bragi)Unique ecological risks have been associated with virus-resistant transgenic crop plants?leaving crops more vulnerable to virus attack and risking the spread of virus susceptibility to other plants. Genetically modified foods are unlikely to present direct risks to human health. There are two main areas of concern:a)The possibility of allergic reactions to genetically modified foods, andb) The possibility that bacteria living in the human gut may acquire resistance to antibiotics from marker genes present in transgenic plants. Proponents claim that a genetically-modified potato is as safe as one modified the old-fashioned way, through generations of selective breeding; biotechnology just gets the job done more quickly. Critics are concerned that mixing together genetic material from different species might produce unexpected allergic reactions in the person who eats or drinks it. For instance, if an individual consumer who is allergic to broccoli eats a banana that just happens to have a little broccoli DNA under the peel, that person might get sick. Some studies on animals indicate that consuming genetically-modified foods may cause allergic responses, compromise immune systems and inhibit organ growth, although no proven cases of widespread reactions have been definitively documented. Opponents of biotech foods want other questions answered, as well. Will re-engineering a plant or animal to serve a specific end, such as improving taste, decrease its nutritional value? Will consuming genetically-modified food products make a person more resistant to antibiotics, which are widely used to treat bacterial infections? Does consuming milk or meat from livestock that has been injected with growth hormones (a form of biotechnology that is different from genetic modification) subject consumers to early puberty, cancer, and other ailments? Since neither side has been able to provide definitive answers, the jury is still out on food safety; after all, genetic technology itself is barely decades old. So one can condense the issue into a single question: should we move forward with new technologies that might help provide higher crop yields, new and interesting types of food products, and more profits for the companies that own the technology; or play it safe and wait until we better understand the health and environmental consequences of manipulating life forms that took generations to develop? Multinational Corporations benefit because GMF can be very profitable. GMF have taken hold quickly because multinational corporations with the resources to make large financial investments in research and development can profit directly. Multinational companies can spread out the benefit and profit to many branches of their businesses. Many such corporations combine the following: an agrochemical company, a seed company, a pharmaceutical company, a food processing company and sometimes businesses involved with veterinary products. Developments in one part of the corporation can be used to sell products in another branch. Farmers benefit in the short term because they can grow and sell more crops with fewer problems due to weeds, pests, fungi or frost. The genetically modified seed is designed to resist these traditional enemies. Food processing companies benefit from a ready supply of raw food ingredients designed for specific processing needs. Genetically modified tomatoes and potatoes, for instance, have higher solid contents and yield more sauces and French fries. These foods take longer to ripen and rot. Thus less food is spoiled and more gets processed. Supermarkets benefit for the same reasons. The fresh produce lasts longer on the shelves and is more profitable. Consumers, to date, havent benefited. GMF have been developed for the convenience of the producer and processor. Yet they cost more to produce and the costs get passed along to the consumer. Eventually there will be some kind of designer novelty foods for shoppers to try. Nottingham adds that there are many other concerns including ethical questions involving animal welfare, whether DNA is actual life, and intellectual property rights and genetic resources from the Third World. (Bragi)The worlds poorest nations account for around 95. 7% of the worlds genetic resources. Traditional farming practices involve farmers retaining seeds, from the harvest of one years crop, for planting in the following year. This practice saves money on buying seed and in itself represents a continuous selection for yield and resistance to pests and diseases. However, with genetically modified seed, royalties are payable to the companies holding the patent for the seed. Under world trade agreement rulings, farmers have to make substantial royalty payments to multinational companies if they keep seed for replanting, even if the crop happens to be native to their particular country. Genetic engineering is a valuable new technology that can develop more plentiful and nutritious foods, with great potential benefits for humanity and the environment, and this new scientific discovery needs to be implemented as quickly as possible for humanitarian reasons. As with every new scientific technology, harmful side effects of genetic engineering are inevitable and great care should be taken in its implementation, including carefully controlled long-term tests on human health and environmental impacts. All genetically engineered foods have been thoroughly tested and demonstrated to be safe before they are released into the marketplace. However, this testing is typically conducted only on rats and other animals, by the companies involved. Very little of this research has been reviewed by independent scientists and then published in scientific journals. Genetically engineered foods are usually substantially equivalent to other foods, with no increased risk to human health, and no need for the lengthy and expensive human testing demanded of, for example, new food additives. However, the unpredictable disruptions in normal DNA functioning caused by genetic engineering can produce unanticipated and unknown side effects for human health, including unknown and unpredictable toxins and allergens, and these possibilities can only be definitively assessed through human testing. Genetic engineering is a scientific and technological process, and its evaluation and governmental regulation should be based on purely scientific and objective criteria. To have a purely scientific evaluation of genetically engineered foods, we need more science, especially human studies and environmental studies. Moreover, purely scientific assessment of genetic engineering ignores the fact that, for many people, food has cultural, ethical and religious dimensions that must also be considered. Alan McHughen, author of Pandoras Picnic Basket: The Potential and Hazards of Genetically Modified Foods, in the introduction he states:Make no mistake: I am in favor of an orderly and appropriately regulated introduction of some GMOs into the environment and marketplace, and I adamantly oppose others. There are good reasons to ban certain products of genetic technology, and good reasons to allow, with management, certain others; some may require no extraordinary regulation at all. If your opinion differs from mine after reading this book, I hope you will be able to justify, if only to yourself, why we disagree. My philosophy is to be skeptical, be critical, even cynical of claims by business interests, government agencies, and activist groups. But also keep an open mind and then decide for yourself. (Internet 7)There? s no doubt that the GM food supply should be closely monitored and regulated, but that doesn? t mean it should all be banned. I believe that genetic engineering of plants, animals, and humans has much to offer as long as we are aware of potential benefits and side effects. And that? s true even for more traditional methods of farming, animal husbandry, and medicine. Work Sited:1. Cummings, Michael R. , and Williams S. Klug. Concepts of Genetics. New Delhi: Pearson Education, 2004. 2. Dubey, R. C. A Textbook of Biotechnology. New Delhi: S. Chand, 20063. Kumar, H. D. Modern Concepts of Biotechnology. New Delhi: Vikash Publishing House, 20034. Purohit, S. Agricultural Biotechnology. India: Agrobios, 20055. Purohit, S. Biotechnology: Fundamental and Applications. India: Agrobios, 2004Internet. Reference:1. Bragi, David. ?Food Savior Or Frankenfood? The Debate Over Genetically Modified Foods?. http://www. sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article. cgi? f=/gate/archive/2001/06/25/healthwatch. DTL2. Robbin, Adria. ?What Are We Eating http://serendip. brynmawr. edu/biology/b103/f00/web1/robbin. html3. Schultz, Norman. http://www. beyondintractability. org/essay/fact_finding_limits/. 4. Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia. http://www. wikipedia. org/wiki/genetic_engineering5. Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia. http://www. wikipedia. org/wiki/genetically_modified_food6.? Genetic Engineering: The Controversy?. http://www. genetic-id. com/prosncons/index. htm7. http://www. foodmuseum. com/issues. html.

String Quintet

String Quintet I. A Proposed Analysis of the String Quintet in F If the only thing Bruckner had ever written for string instruments had been the slow movement to his string quintet, his reputation would have been secured for all time. The entire work is so admirable that it is hard to believe that its creator had little familiarity with string chamber music. Though true, it is hard to credit that Bruckner did not know Beethovens late string quartets at the time he wrote this work. Its harmonies are quite unique and characteristic of Bruckners love of harmonic seconds and half tones. As a result, the intonation is at times quite difficult to get right but even amateurs need to overcome these so as to make the acquaintance of this magnificent work. The first movement, Gemà ¤ÃƒÅ¸ig, entirely avoids the usual Allegro mood one expects to find in a first movement. The plastic main theme is full of yearning and developed at great length until the entrance of the lyrical second theme, which conveys almost unimaginable bliss. The second movement, Scherzo, is highly syncopated though here, as opposed to its appearance in his symphonies, it is gentler and has a melancholy, contemplative mood to it. The trio section is closely related to the old-style minuet though it is full of feeling. The aforementioned slow movement, Adagio, takes one directly to heaven. This is music of affirmation and there is no sense of resignation to an inevitable and unwished for fate. The tonal color is quite unique, especially when the cello falls silent. The main theme of the finale, Lebhaft bewegt, has a staccato motif over an organ-like underpinning. The slower delightful second theme is a real piece of Austrian folk music and the variations on it are very pleasing.[1] Above is a useful aesthetic and dimensional introduction to the String Quintet in F, as expressed by the prominent German musicologist Wilhelm Altmann, who lived between 1862 and 1951. A facsimile of the 1926 Universal Edition miniature score of the quintet is included as an appendix, and it is suggested that one experiences both the score and its realisation before engaging with the content of this thesis. It is not the purpose here to provide a rigorous analytical discussion, however, what follows is a proposed structural overview of the four movements of the work, which will be followed by a detailed examination of the Adagio. Moderato (F minor) 1 98 Exposition 1 72 Primary Subject Group 73 98 Primary Subject Group 99 170 Development 171 273 Recapitulation and Coda Scherzo (D minor) 1 62 Vivace 63 82 Pià ¹ lento 83 119 Vivace Trio Pià ¹ lento 120-159 Da Capo 1 119 Vivace- Pià ¹ lento -Vivace Adagio (G flat minor) 1 18 Primary Subject Group 18 34 Transition I 35 56 Secondary Subject Group 57 66 Transition II 67 82 Simultaneous Recapitulation/Elaboration of Primary Subject Group 83 138 Simultaneous Recapitulation/Elaboration of Secondary Subject Group 139 167 Simultaneous Recapitulation/Elaboration of Primary Subject Group 167 173 Coda: Tonic (G flat minor) consolidation by restatements and dominant implications Finale (D flat minor à   F major) 1 16 Primary ‘Quartet Theme (Vivace) 17 32 Contrapuntal Quintet Theme (Im Tempo etwas nachgebend) 33 70 Cantabile Theme (Langsamer) 71 108 Agitato imitative theme 109 114 Simultaneous Recapitulation/Elaboration of Cantabile Theme 115 158 Synthesis and Elaboration of all themes 159 195 Recapitulation of Primary ‘Quartet Theme and concluding fff cadential flourish ~ According to Leopold Nowak, the third movement of the String Quintet in F, the Adagio, was composed between 10 and 31 March 1879.[2] Initially, I will establish how the Adagio functions by means of interaction between the five solo instruments, through a detailed examination of Bruckners treatment of structure, thematic material and harmony throughout the movement, in addition to his exploitation of the quintet idiom. In the following chapter, ‘III. Historical Reception and Criticism, I will engage with a spectrum of critical assessments of this particular movement, considering value judgements based on symphonic or chamber expectations, or indeed both. Timothy L. Jackson has documented how throughout his career ‘Bruckner considered sonata form to comprise of essentially two (rather than three) large spatial units, whereby the exposition is one element and the development and recapitulation together form the other.[3] Bruckner, according to Jackson, referred to the development and recapitulation of the opening movement of Symphony No. 9 in D minor (1894) as ‘the second part, or ‘2. Abtheilung.[4] Table 1, overleaf, displays how the Adagio convincingly functions as a two-part movement. In harmonic terms, Bruckner creates a divide between the respective sections by travelling further from the tonic and its mediant, which form the basis of the first section, to keys such as D minor and E flat in the second section. The thematic treatment in the respective sections further supports the notion of two-part division in the Adagio, with thematic material being presented in an original context between bars 1 and 66,[5] but with the juxtaposition of recapitulation with regeneration, or development, throughout bars 67 to 173. Table 1 Analysis Diagram Bar Reference Structural Position Structural Function Tonal Function Thematic Function 1 18 Section 1 Primary Subject Group Tonic (G flat minor) established (bar 13) Exposition of themes A (violin I, bb. 1-9) + B (violin I, bb. 10-12) 18 34 Transition 1 G flat minor à   B flat minor Link subject groups + consolidate B 35 56 Secondary Subject Group B flat minor consolidated (bars 56-57) Exposition of themes C (viola I, bb. 37-41), D (cello, bb. 51-4) + E (cello, bb. 55-7) 57 66 Transition 2 Tonic preparation (implied V7c at bar 66) Links Sections 1 + 2 and consolidates A 67 82 Section 2 Recapitulation/Elaboration of primary subject group Tonic (G flat minor) à   G flat major) Recapitulation and imitative treatment of A 83 114 Elaboration of Secondary Subject Group and Climax 1 at bar 107. Durchfà ¼hrung style modulatory passage. Concluding with D minor preparation (bar 114) Elaboration of Secondary Subject Group themes 115 138 Recapitulation/Elaboration of Secondary Subject Group and Climax 2 at bar 135 D minor initially, before Durchfà ¼hrung style modulatory passage at bar 138: E flat minor cadence Recapitulation combination, and contrapuntal treatment of themes 139 167 Recapitulation/Elaboration of Primary Subject Group and Climax 3 at bar 141 Tonic (G flat minor) Contrapuntal and sequential treatment of A and B 167 173 Coda Tonic (G flat minor) consolidated by tonic re-statements and repeated dominant implications (second violin) Derived from theme and accompaniment C. Diminished seventh leap and accompaniment reinstatements decrease William Caplin has argued that composers typically condense and adopt a lesser degree of formal and motivic complexity within slow movements, in order to limit duration. Thus they are ‘inherently simpler than other string quintet movements.[6] Although constructed in a binary fashion, Bruckners Adagio, in opposition to Caplins argument, includes the exposition (e.g. bars 1-18), elaboration (e.g. bars 83-114) and recapitulation (e.g. bars 139-167) of thematic material, revealing a full compliance with the fundamental procedures of sonata form as propounded by Arnold Schoenberg.[7] Thematic material from Bruckners exposition areas ( 1, bar 1, and 2,[8] bars 37-8) is presented in different tonal areas, in sequence ( 3,[9] bars 61-2), in inverted imitation ( 4, bars 99-101), and in progressive diminution ( 5, bars 169-73. Here the rising major sixth of 2 is progressively compressed in the second violin). Bruckners juxtaposition of thematic elaboration and recapitulation in the second section of the Adagio stands in parallel with the earlier quintets of Mozart, allegedly ‘the first to exploit fully the †¦ possibilities of the medium†¦ successfully and consistently.[10] For example, in the Adagio ma non troppo of the String Quintet in G minor, K. 516, Mozart excludes an independent developmental section, choosing instead to progress directly from the exposition (bars 1 37) to the recapitulation (bars 38 82). However, prefiguring the Brucknerian approach, Mozarts recapitulation features both the reinstatement and regeneration of material from both the primary and secondary subject groups, and thus manifests the integration of two elements of the sonata principle, elaboration and recapitulation. Hans Hubert Schà ¶nzeler has argued that Bruckner considered the traditional architecture and procedures of sonata form ‘a mere starting point, which he filled out, moulded and fashioned to suit his own particular requirements.[11] Schà ¶nzelers viewpoint can be confirmed by an examination of Bruckners formal construction in the Adagio. Table 1 refers to a sequence of three points of climax, at bars 107, 135 and 141 respectively. At bar 107 the inversion of a secondary theme (originally presented at bar 55) is presented strongly in the bass, whilst the remaining four voices have the same dynamic marking of fff. On the second quaver of the bar, when all five instruments are being played, the pitch range extends two octaves and a perfect fifth, which represents the greatest range thus far in the movement. At bar 135, whilst the pitch range (maximum of two octaves and a major third) and dynamic markings (ff) are less than before, the use of homophony to present the secondary theme maintains the climactic strength ( 6 bar 135, below). Finally, at bar 141 Bruckner recapitulates bars 14-34 climactically by means of an ff unison trill in the violins, whilst the lower strings play in dense homophony ( 7). The first beat of bar 141 contains the greatest pitch range in the entire movement, at two octaves and a major sixth. Bruckners use of a climactic sequence in the latter stages of the movement creates a sense of teleological progression. The thematic organicism central to sonata form is utilised to create a dramatic, linear gradient throughout the movement until the respective points of climax. In contrast to the resolution of tension associated with the traditional tonic recapitulation, Bruckners procedure creates an alternative region of arrival within the ‘Adagio. The reiteration (through a three-point succession) of climax, before the gradual dissipation of texture, dynamics and thematic significance throughout the final passage (bar 150 onwards), reflects Bruckners use of a climactic sequence in the latter stages of the movement to create a sense of apogee, as opposed to the traditional resolution. The adoption of teleological and motivically interactive compositional processes in the nineteenth century, with roots in works such as Beethovens fifth and ninth symphonies, was common. Ernest Newman has documented how the climactic region of the Prelude to Wagners Tristan und Isolde the two maximum points of dynamic, ff, which occur between bars 74 84 features motivic material directly derived from earlier in the movement.[12] In a similar fashion, Beethovens Allegretto ma non troppo from the Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101 reaches a teleological elaboration of the syncopated chord progression of the exposition codetta (see s 8 and 9).[13] By the time Bruckner was composing his string quintet, the positioning of musical climaxes became imperative to the progression of a movement. Notably, the climaxes of the Beethoven and Wagner examples above are positioned in close proximity at 83% and 76% through the Allegretto ma non troppo and the Prelude respectively.[14] Newman argues that ‘Wagner unconsciously obeys that natural law of structure that brings in the climax at a point about two-thirds of the time-distance between the beginning and the end.[15] In the Adagio of the String Quintet in F Bruckner positions the three points of climax at 62%, 78% and 82%, respectively. Interestingly, the first point of climax (bar 107) occurs at the ‘Golden Section, the Greek numerical constant of 0.6180 (4 d. p.).[16] This proportion, which has been widely cultivated by architects, artists and musicians, is manifest in works such as the De Divina Proportione (1509) of Luca Pacioli and Leonardo da Vinci, or reflected in the structural proportions of Debussys La Mer (1905),[17] and is believed to produce ‘harmonious proportions and maximise aesthetic experience.[18] The composition of three individual points of climax results in the creation of an extended climactic region, lasting almost a quarter of the Adagio, revealing the presence of a Schubertian ‘heavenly length, a musical device which allegedly interested and influenced Bruckner.[19] Simultaneously, Bruckner cleverly initiates his climactic passage at the point governed by Newmans ‘natural law of structure, but incorporates teleological prolongation by the sustaining positioning of the remaining two climaxes. Harmonic Analysis Similarly to Bruckners manipulation of the traditional thematic functions of classical form, harmonic relationships are exploited in order to enhance the linear progression. A detailed harmonic analysis of the first section reveals how Bruckner exploits the availability of a wide range of keys, such as E flat minor and B flat major (transition 1). Harmonic freedom is also signified by the use of a fluctuating B flat centre during the secondary subject group, through the Schubertian procedures of modal switches and tertiary relationships, and the more adventurous use of harmonic colouring found in the work of Wagner. Theme C, introduced by the first viola at bar 37, is emphatically diatonic and outlines an essentially triadic progression, accentuating the tension between the flattened and raised third degree. A simple presentation of the key areas explored in the secondary subject group and the second transition displays the remote key relationships employed by Bruckner. The implicati on of chromatic or Neapolitan relationships (e.g. the chord of Db major originating as the Neapolitan chord of C major) results in an expanded palette of key relations: bar 34 Bmajor/minor bar 51 C major bar 53 D major bar 57 B major/minor bar 61 Transition, preparing G major By employing distant and frequently fluctuating key relationships during the Adagio, Bruckner produces tonal instability, a tension-building device used by predecessors such as Schubert, and also Beethoven, in the Bagatelle, WoO 60 (1818) and Symphony No. 5 in C minor (1808), with the ambiguous (C minor/E flat major) tonal identity of its opening motivic gesture. Freed from the conventional assembly of harmony and thematic material, Bruckners formal approach to the Adagio can be comprehended through Dahlhauss definition of a schematic form one ‘sustained exclusively by the quality of the initial idea, the individual character of which compensated for the conventionality of the overall outline.[20] In the case of the Adagio, the ‘initial idea is the gradual, yet continuous, gradient of tension leading to the climactic sequence. [1] Handbuch fà ¼r Streichquartettspieler (Berlin, 1931) [2] L. Nowak, op. cit. [3] P. Hawkshaw and T. L. Jackson, op. cit. [4] Ibid. [5] With the exception of the two transitional passages (bb. 18-34 and bb. 57-66), in which thematic material is recycled to link subject groups and reinforce the primary subject group. James Webster (‘Sonata form, in L. Macy [ed.] Grove Music Online [accessed 01-12-08]) documents the traditional reuse of central thematic material in both codas and transitions. [6] W. Caplin, Classical Form (1998), 209. [7] A. Schoenberg, Fundamentals of Musical Composition (1967). [8] The conventional clef distribution, as in 1, will be assumed unless otherwise stated. [9] The clef distribution for this example is violin 1 and violin 2 (treble) and viola 1 (alto). [10] Cliff Eisen, ‘String quintet, in L. Macy (ed.), Grove Music Online (Accessed 01-12-09) [11] H. H. Schà ¶nzeler, Bruckner (1970), 75. [12] E. Newman, ‘The Prelude, in R. Bailey (ed.), Prelude and Transfiguration from ‘Tristan und Isolde (1985), 153 161. [13] Both s 8 and 9 are presented as piano reductions, with the conventional treble (upper line) and bass (lower line) distribution. [14] Percentages have been calculated in relation to the total number of bars per movement. For example, the Allegretto ma non troppo contains 102 bars. The region of climax is initiated with the crescendo mid-way through bar 84. Bar ‘84.5 as a percentage approximates to 83%. [15] E. Newman, op. cit., 153 161. [16] R. Tatlow, ‘Golden number [golden section], in L. Macy (ed.), Grove Music Online (accessed 01-12-09). [17] R. Howat, Debussy in Proportion: A Musical Analysis (1983). [18] R. Tatlow, op. cit. [19] G. E. Arnold and E. Agate, ‘The Different Versions of the Bruckner Symphonies, The Musical Times, 78/11 (1937), 17 20. [20] C. Dahlhaus, ‘Issues in Composition, in C. Dahlhaus (ed.), Between Romanticism and Modernism: Four Studies in the Music of the Later Nineteenth Century, trans. Mary Whittall (Berkley and Los Angeles, 1980), 44.

All About Video Recording :: Video Camera Recorder

All About Video Recording Over the past 30 years the advancements in technology have been tremendous, everything from the 80’s camcorder, which was approximately the size of a cat, to the ones presently, which are approximately the size of your hand. To the creation of digital cameras ,DVD’s and CD-R’s, as well as so much more. When Purchasing a Video Recorder, there are many aspects of the piece that should be examined, in order to pick out the best quality product for the amount of money you are prepared to spend. Picking between the different types of products is the first step. In the world of digital recording , there are three basic types. The first being Hard Disc Recorders which are also known as Personal Television Recorders, these record all the action without the need for video tapes. With on screen program guides, recording in digital is a simple one-button operation. The next is DVD RAMwhich is the official DVD Recordable format backed by the DVD Forum, DVDRAM records onto a DVD recordable disc that can then be played on most modern DVD players. Lastly, there is DVD+RW which was developed by Philips and Sony, DVD+RW discs can be edited to cut out commercial breaks. They can also be played on most modern DVD players. The quality of the recording is always an important statistic tobe aware of, in video recording, there are four basic levels of quality. The first level is referred to as 2 Heads and is usually used for standard quality mono recording and playback, next there is 4 Heads , which has an improved picture and sound quality and freeze frames. Next, there is 6 Heads which has all the benefits of a 4 head video recorder plus 2 extra heads for greater sound quality. Lastly, there is Super-VHS which provides up to 400 lines of resolution, instead of the usual 240 lines, S-VHS delivers superior picture quality. The next aspect to focus on when purchasing a Video recorder would be the sound quality. In this department there are two basic options Depending on the kind of TV you have and the type of programs you record, you need to consider the type of sound playback you want. The first option would be Mono which is usually for standard recording and playback. Mono video recorders represent great value and are suitable for connection to portable TV’s. The second option would be Nicamstereowhich is a high quality stereo for improved sound reproduction.

Discipleship Counseling and Helping Others Find Healing Through Christ

This was a paper for the Christian Counseling course I took earlier this year. Abstract This paper identifies what some causes of thinking errors are, how they develop and affect an individual on a day to day basis. It will also review how some defense mechanisms are used to survive a traumatic event and ways that these can be overcome. Ultimately, it will examine the importance of a relationship with and learning trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and how this integrates into the healing process.It will review how individuals may learn to form a bond with God and thereby overcome the negative situations and experiences they have had in life. Additionally it will clarify how neglecting to forgive offenses can hold an individual back from a true and fulfilling relationship with God, self, and others. The intent is to create a clear overview of the healing process from a walled-up state to an individual on the road to recovery, thereby identifying and learning healthy coping skills and so und thinking processes while building new core beliefs of self-worth and value.Discipleship Counseling and Helping Others Find Healing Through Christ The way a child is raised will determine their disposition towards positive or negative habits, thoughts and behaviors (Anderson, 2003 p. 330). They will treat others, including their own children, as their parents taught them. In time, they may come to see the errors in the behaviors, or at minimum feel that something is not quite right and wish to change but are unsure where to go or what those changes should be. There are many factors which lead a person to seek help or guidance from a counselor, therapist, or clergy.A life-changing event may have occurred, such as a death in the family, or an upcoming marriage. For many it is that they have come to the end of their rope and just cannot handle the stressors anymore (Myers, 2002 p. 520). They are looking for hope, help, and a way to resolve the hidden skeletons in the closet (Anderso n, 2003). Faulty Thinking and Thinking Errors Everyone has thoughts, or a progression of thoughts, which may or may not follow a healthy or typical pattern. Thoughts are the basis of all decision making.How a person chooses to act or react to any situation is indicative of the underlying thought. Actions are a result of the attitude and perception of the environment, or world that surrounds them. These actions have the potential to change when the thought which supports the attitude is changed (Myers, 2002 p. 139). A person needs to be guided to understand that their choices are not merely an act but also an â€Å"attitude that reflects a belief† (Anderson, 2003 p. 291). Three major areas of concern in counseling are: a dysfunctional family background, personal problems, and spiritual problems (Anderson, 2003).After a traumatizing experience, an individual is prone to develop thinking errors or â€Å"faulty thinking† (Anderson, 2003). The trauma could be something as s imple as a child losing a favorite toy or even a helium balloon, as severe as what a soldier experiences in the throes of war, or a battered woman or man experiences over the course of years in a problematic or abusive relationship. According to Wheeler (2007) trauma is a natural part of the human or physical experience (p. 132-141) and it is important to note that it affects all aspects of the individual.Sometimes a thinking error is all a matter of perspective, and reality checks can help provide a change of perspective. It can be challenging to step back from the situation to identify that there is more than one solution to a problem. Thinking errors can also come from a lie that someone has been told multiple times, from someone they respect or look to as an authority figure, which they believe as a real truth. These false concepts will lead the individual to form a wall of defense using various methods (Anderson, 2003).Cognitive distortions are identifiable errors in thinking a nd include: â€Å"all-or-nothing thinking; overgeneralization; mental filter; discounting the positive; jumping to conclusions; magnification; emotional reasoning; should statements; labeling; and personalization and blame† (Yurica & DiTomasso, 2005). The counselee needs to be made aware of the cognitive distortions they are using, so they can change their way of thinking. By so doing, they will be able to cease using thinking errors and in time develop a healthier set of thought processes.The end goal of treatment is to successfully help the counselee understand cognitively and emotionally that they no longer need to listen to the committee in their mind (Anderson, 2003 p. 308). Coping Mechanisms and Dissociation Coping mechanisms can help an individual survive trauma, but in general the individual needs to be trained away from using them during the healing process. The mind has in place a defense mechanism when the original trauma occurred; in some cases it leaves a lapse i n the individual’s memory (Anderson, 2003).The body remembers what has been blocked temporarily from the mind and as situations occur in life, the individual will recall the associated emotion, situation or actual physical pain (Copeland & Harris, 2000, p. 115). For some this occurs as they dissociate from where they are at the present, and are essentially in a split-level of conscious (Myers, 2002). In a sense, this means that the person is physically in one place while their mind is disconnected and seemingly elsewhere. When they reconnect, they have no recollection of what happened in their physical state.As a victim justifies the actions of their abuser, they are minimizing the abuse which has occurred (Anderson, 2003 p. 273). If they make it seem less, then in their mind, it does not feel as bad as it actually was. By doing this, they are using codependency to cope with their current circumstance, and have written their life script to take on the role of caretaker (Ander son, 2003 p. 280 & Jones, 1997). They live each day with the hope that the person they are codependent with will finally change and they themselves will be accepted, and of value and worth. These people will ever find true happiness until they are lead to understand their true value and worth as individuals, through their divine nature as children of God. It is important to note that the defense mechanisms and coping skills which are used to survive trauma and its after effects are not instantly changed. The individual cannot even begin the process of healing until they have identified what coping/defense mechanisms they are using. While it is possible to educate someone about the tools they have used, it will take time as they heal and rediscover who they are in Christ, before they can fully let the behaviors (Anderson, 2003 p. 18). Any crisis a person experiences can lead them to unify or divide, to progress or regress, and bring them closer to or farther away from God. Every pers on needs to be helped to the point that they are able to cope with the experiences of life without reverting to using their damaging coping mechanisms or codependency (Dockery, 2000 p. 41). Guiding them to let go of the crutch of the coping skills can be done by helping them to learn to forgive offenses, whether real or perceived. Forgiving Perceived OffensesWhen someone does something which is hurtful, or perceived as hurtful, it is in the best interest of the person hurt to forgive the offense. The connection between forgiveness and moral anger is essentially solid and cannot be broken (Griswold, 2007 p. 67). There are two levels of forgiving: Cognitive and Emotional. A cognitive decision to forgive is a choice made in one’s mind, whether coerced or not. In many cases, as an individual forgives because they feel compelled to forgive, they retain the negative feelings and complete only a cognitive or decisional forgiveness.Unfortunately, this leaves the emotional hurt within the injured person. As long as the offense goes unresolved, the feelings associated with it, will â€Å"eat at the person who does not reduce those negative emotions in some way† (Clinton, Hart & Ohschlager, 2005 p. 122). The scriptures clearly instruct mankind to forgive others until seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22) and to take a Christ-like approach by forgiving as Christ has forgiven (Colossians 3:13). Forgiveness not only means letting go of the offense, but to also overcome any negative emotions associated with it.This includes feelings (including resentment) such as contempt and scorn as they are also forms of â€Å"moral hatred† (Griswold, 2007 p. 69). While it is relatively easy to discuss forgiveness, it is another thing altogether to accomplish it. The injured party may feel that the wrong-doing needs more recompense than was achieved. As they learn to empathize with the offender, some of the negative emotions may be released over time (Clinton et al, 200 5 p. 127). Forgiveness is not a habit that can be formed in a day; it takes practice and a will to achieve it.Some suggestions for improving one’s ability to forgive are: meditate on forgiveness-specific scriptures daily, start a journal and record thoughts each day on forgiveness, and find a good book about forgiveness and use it for morning and evening devotions (Clinton et al, 2005 p. 133). Often forgotten is the need of the injured to forgive themselves for past failures. This is something which they will need to apply to their lives moving forward, keeping in mind that only God can forgive their sins (Anderson, 2003 p. 259).As they practice forgiving their own failures and shortcomings, they will more readily forgive the failures of others which they may have perceived as an offense. It is best put by Anderson,( 2003) â€Å"Forgiving ourselves is actually receiving forgiveness from God† (p. 260). One thing the injured individual needs to come to better understand is that Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice for the sins and transgressions of all mankind. This act made it His option to forgive, and a requirement for all mankind as it says in D&C 64:10 â€Å"I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. Forgiving others is a choice that is made individually, and by choosing to forgive completely, one is choosing to live with joy. God is on the journey with us, through the grief and pain and He supplies the joy and hope during struggles, and laughter in times of pain (Dockery, 2000 p. 202). Core Needs/Beliefs (biblical view/self-worth) An individual’s core belief of self-worth can and will affect how they choose to respond to offenses they receive, whether intentional or inadvertent.If they are of a Christian persuasion, they will more readily accept that Christ is their Redeemer and has already suffered for the sins which they are required to forgive of others. With this background, the inju red party can be guided to acknowledge their divine nature as a child of God. Satan was allowed into the individual’s life through openings he was given, either by them or as a result of circumstances (Anderson, 2003). As it says in Myers, 2002, â€Å"Character, it is said, is reflected in what we do when we think no one is looking† (p. 43). This is a spiritual battle for the mind, as the Prince of Darkness also has a hold on the individual. They will likely have thoughts that they are of no worth, do not deserve the Savior’s sacrifice, and that God does not love them (Anderson, 2003). They need to be reminded that these thoughts are lies, as God would never stop loving His children. This is reiterated in the scriptures Isaiah 49:15 as God will remember and have compassion on His children much like a woman who cannot forget her sucking child.Accepting the truth, and choosing to have faith, because it is a choice, may be challenging at first as the counselee has believed a lie for so long. â€Å"Satan hates the truth and deplores the light, and unfortunately, so do people who have something to hide† (Anderson, 2003 p. 358). This is also reiterated in 1 Nephi 16:2 â€Å"The guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center† as well as in John 3:20 â€Å"For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. †By believing a lie and allowing it to perpetuate itself in their mind, they have effectively abandoned themselves. They need to be reminded that God is there, cares for and expects them to cooperate by caring for themselves (Beattie, 1992 p. 108). The individual will need to identify the false thoughts, and renounce them, to cast aside the devil. It is crucial they understand that to have true faith means they must let go of the lie, as it says in Luke 16:13, â€Å"Ye cannot serve God and Mammon†. It is not possible to â€Å"beli eve the truth and the lie at the same time and still experience your freedom in Christ† (Anderson, 2003 p. 21). As the believer chooses to exercise God’s authority by obeying His commands, they will come to see that they are able to utilize the authority of Christ to keep the devil at bay. By so doing they are taking their place with Christ and standing for the right (Anderson, 2003 p. 224). They also need to come to the understanding that they can (and need) to take accountability for their thoughts. If they choose to banish the negative and doubting thoughts, their minds can become a safe haven for them and for God.This was the purpose of the atonement of Christ (Anderson, 2003 p. 230). The individual can take control of their thoughts by stating â€Å"I am a child of God† and commanding the bad spirits, by the authority of Christ, to leave them (Anderson, 2003). The more they practice this, the greater their belief will become, and in the long run will make it possible to maintain freedom from the negative thoughts. Only through acknowledging that they are truly loved and of worth by their Heavenly Father can they obtain a real sense of self-worth (Anderson, 2003 p. 299). DiscussionWhile the ways that people choose to address and cope with their life experiences differ, the process towards resolution is essentially the same. When a person experiences trauma or crisis, they tend to find a way of coping with things as best they can. They need to address the problem, identify how they are coping, and completely turn it over to God. The cognitive distortions which people use to handle the early stressors can lead them to continue the same patterns as occurred during the initial crisis because this feels familiar. These can lead to the use of thinking errors as well as coping mechanisms.While both of these seem helpful while they are in crisis, the trauma event must eventually be worked through. As they come to recognize the coping mechanisms for what they are, they will eventually, come to see the damage it is causing in their lives. They will desire a change, which change of heart can only come through forgiveness and true repentance (from the Greek word â€Å"metanoeo† which means â€Å"change your mind†) through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Part of the process of working through that event is learning to truly forgive and turn things over to Christ.As they learn to let things go, and release the emotional bindings, they will gain a stronger sense of self-worth. They will also come to truly see and acknowledge their value in the sight of God. They will accept their divine nature and desire to maintain and ever improve that bond. References Anderson, N. T. (2003). Discipleship Counseling: The Complete Guide to Helping Others Walk in Freedom and Grow in Christ. Ventura, CA: Regal Books. Beattie, M. (1992). Codependent No More. Center City, MN: Hazelden . Clinton, T. E. , Hart, A. D. , & Ohschlager, G .W. (2005). Caring for people God's way: Personal and Emotional Issues, Addictions, Grief, and Trauma . Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.. Copeland, M. E. , ; Harris, M. (2000). Healing the Trauma of Abuse: A women's Workbook. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.. Dockery, K. (2000). When A Hug Won't Fix The Hurt. Birmingham, AL: New Hope. Griswold, C. L. (2007). Forgiveness: a philosophical exploration. Cambridge, GBR: Cambridge University Press. Jones, J. J. (1997). Let's Fix The Kids! A Parenting Resource Manual. (6th ed. ).Westminster, CA: J. J. Jones. Myers, D. G. (2002). Exploring Psychology. (5th ed. ). USA: Worth Publishers. Yurica, C. L. , & DiTomasso, R. A. (2005). Cognitive Distortions. In Encyclopedia of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. (Part 3, pp. 117-122). Wheeler, K. (2007), Psychotherapeutic Strategies for Healing Trauma. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 43: 132–141. doi: 10. 1111/j. 1744-6163. 2007. 00122. x Scriptures are from the Holy Bible King Jame s Version as well as from the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants as published by the LDS Church.

The Human Heart Essays - Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Physiology

The Human Heart Essays - Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Physiology The Human Heart Biology - Histology The Human Heart. Abstract: Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary defines the heart as "the viscus of cardiac muscle that maintains the circulation of the blood". It is divided into four cavities; two atria and two ventricles. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs. From there the blood passes to the left ventricle, which forces it via the aorta, through the arteries to supply the tissues of the body. The right atrium receives the blood after it has passed through the tissues and has given up much of its oxygen. The blood then passes through the right ventricle into the lungs where it gets oxygenated. There are four major valves in the heart; the left atrioventricular valve (also known as the mitral or bicuspid valve), the right atrioventricular valve (tricuspid), aortic valve, and the pulmonary valve. The heart tissue itself is nourished by the blood in the coronary arteries.2 Position of the Heart Within the Body: The heart is placed obliquely in the chest. The two atria are directed upwards and backwards to the right and are at the level of the fifth through the eight dorsal vertebrae. The apex of the heart points downwards and forwards to the left and corresponds to the interspace between the fifth and sixth ribs, two inches below the left nipple. Its atrial border corresponds to a line drawn across the sternum on a level with the upper border of the third costal cartilage. Its lower border (apex) corresponds to a line drawn across the lower end of the same bone, near the xiphoid process. Its upper surface is rounded and convex, directed upwards and forwards, and formed mainly by the right ventricle and part of the left ventricle. The posterior surface of the heart is flattened and rests upon the diaphragm muscle. Of its two borders, the right is the longest and thinnest, the left is shorter but thicker and round. Size: In an adult, the heart measures about five inches in length, three and a half inches in the broadest part of its transverse diameter, and two and a half inches in its antero-posterior. The average weight in the male varies from ten to twelve ounces. In the female, the average weight is eight to ten ounces. The heart will continue to grow in size up to an advanced period of life. This growth is more obvious in men than in women.3 Circulation of Blood in an Adult: The heart is subdivided by a longitudinal muscular septum into two lateral halves which are named right and left according to their position. A transverse muscle divides each half into two cavities. The upper cavity on each side is called the atria/auricle, and the lower side is called the ventricle. The right atrium and ventricle form the venous side of the heart. Dark venous blood is pumped into the right atrium from the entire body by the superior (SVC) and inferior vena cava (SVC), and the coronary sinus. From the right atrium, the blood passes into the right ventricle and from the right ventricle, through the pulmonary artery into the lungs.3 Once the blood becomes oxygenated/arterialized by its passage through the lungs, it is returned to the left side of the heart by the pulmonary veins which open into the left atrium. From the left atrium, the blood passes into the left ventricle where it is distributed by the aorta and its subdivisions through the entire body. Morphology of Each Heart Chamber: The right atrium is a little longer than the left. Its walls are also somewhat thinner than the left. The right atrium is capable of containing about two ounces of fluid. It consists of two parts, a principle cavity/sinus, and an appendix auriculae. The sinus is a large quadrilateral-shaped cavity located between the IVC and the SVC. Its walls are extremely thin and are connected on the lower surface with the right ventricle and internally with the left atrium. The rest of the right atrium is free and unattached. The appendix auricle is a small conical muscular pouch. It projects from the sinus forwards and to the left side, where it overlaps the root of the pulmonary artery.6 There are four main openings into

5 Major Donts for Your First Day of Work

5 Major Donts for Your First Day of Work We talk a lot around here about how to land that dream job, but maybe we need to spend more time on what to do (or, more specifically, what not to do)  when you get there! Here are 5 major donts for your first day of work.1. Don’t Hunker Down At Your DeskYou’ll probably get a cursory tour after the HR presentation or corporate orientation. If you’re lucky, it’ll be from a colleague you can ask honest questions of; if not, it’ll be a busy receptionist trying to get back to her desk and hoping you’ll find your way back to yours on your own. Whether you get the scenic version with lots of introductions or have to take a deep breath and introduce yourself to the row of cube denizens across from you, make sure to actually make a first impression- ideally one that comes with a firm handshake and a clear statement of your role.2. Don’t Begin with an AttitudeAt my last office job, a couple of our new hires were bright and chatty in their int erviews, but as soon as the daily grind set in, they developed sulky attitudes that were almost adolescent in nature. Even if elements of the office or the colleagues irritate you, make sure that is not apparent to everyone from day one! Focus on gratitude, opportunities for the future, your eventual paycheck, and networking opportunities- not the real estate, the latest gossip, or whatever you’re finding unappealing.3. Don’t Immediately Request Time OffDepending on your office, you may have to accrue leave before you can take any. If you had already planned a family trip six months before you even interviewed, it’s often okay to request a starting day that accommodates your plans when you accept the job. But once you start, you need to stick around! Modify your personal schedule whenever you can, don’t make those â€Å"I finally have insurance!† doctor’s appointments until after your first 90 days.4. Dont Violate Workplace ProtocolsThis can refer to both the official social media guidelines and break policies or the unofficial status quo of the office. Unless you were hired to shake things up, take a little time to learn how they handle projects and assignments before you propose a different way of doing it (even if you think it’s faster or more efficient).And then there’s the no brainers like wearing a strong scent, bringing an odiferous lunch, spending the day on your phone, or engaging in any kind of inappropriate banter with colleagues you’ve just met.5. Dont Ignore Your Boss or SuperiorsThis is one problem I’ve never had- my first few days, I err on the side of needy, if anything (this is also not good really; figure out who your immediate supervisor is and check in with them instead of your actual â€Å"boss† for small questions). Make sure you greet everyone you’re introduced to with a friendly smile, ask polite versions of â€Å"What do you do here?† like  "Will we be working together?† or â€Å"I’m sure we’ll cross paths† if you’re not sure.

Farming and Agriculture Vocabulary for ESL Students

Farming and Agriculture Vocabulary for ESL Students Here is a list of farming and agriculture vocabulary  for the industry. Its not a complete list of all the words youll need to work in this industry, but its a good place to start. The part of speech is listed for each word. Each word is followed by an example sentence to provide context. Do you know the word? If not, use a dictionary to look the word up. Next, follow the tips to practice the new vocabulary. Ability - (noun)  Our ability to produce hay has tripled over the past three years.Academic - (adjective)  Its important to have an academic background when breeding crops.Activities - (noun)  Our fall activities include a hayride and corn maze.Affect - (verb)  The past winters rains will affect the harvest.Agricultural - (adjective)  The agricultural landscape has changed greatly over the past fifty years.Agriculture - (noun)  Agriculture used to play a much larger role in the economy.American - (adjective)  American farmers produce wheat which is sold abroad.Animal - (noun)  Its important not to feed these animals any corn.Aquaculture - (noun)  Aquaculture is an expanding business opportunity.Aspect - (noun)  One aspect of our business focuses on grain production.Background  - (noun)  Our family has an excellent background in agriculture.Bails  - (noun)  Pick up those bails of hay and take them to the barn.Bitten  - (adjective)  If youve been bitten by a snake, see the doctor!Breed  - (noun)  We breed horses on our ranch. Breeding  Ã‚  - (noun)  Breeding dogs is a popular business in the countryside.Business  Ã‚  - (noun)  Our business focuses on hemp import.Care  - (noun)  We should provide better care for our livestock.Cattle  - (noun)  The cattle are in the south field.Certification  - (noun)  We need to apply for certification once every three years.Chemicals  - (noun plural)  We promise not to use chemicals in our fertilizer.Clean  - (adjective)  Youll find the barn is clean and ready for the livestock.Climate  - (noun)  The climate is changing rapidly and we need to respond.Cold  - (adjective)  Last year we lost a few crops to the cold.Common  - (adjective)  Its a common method to fight insect infestation.  Communication  - (noun)  The communication between farmer and market is essential.Computer  - (noun)  Use that computer to do the bookkeeping.Conditions  Ã‚  - (noun)  Well harvest next week if weather conditions are good.Constantly - (adv erb)  We strive to constantly improve our products.Continue  Ã‚  - (verb)  Lets continue watering this field until five. Contract  Ã‚  - (noun)  We signed a contract to deliver 200 head of cattle.Contrast  - (noun/verb)  We contrast our products to others by organically farming.Cooperative  - (noun)  The farmers cooperative sells vegetables at very reasonable prices.Corporation  - (noun)  Unfortunately, corporations are replacing family farms.Cow  - (noun)  The cow was ill and was slaughtered.Credit  - (noun)  Its risky business taking out credit to seed a new field.Crop  - (noun)  This years corn crop was outstanding.Customer  Ã‚  - (noun)  The customer is always king.Dairy  - (adjective)  Our dairy products are sold throughout Washington.Decade- (noun)  Weve been in the business for more than a decade.Decline  - (noun/verb)  Unfortunately, weve seen a decline in sales recently.Deliver  - (verb)  We deliver sod to your home.Demands  - (noun)  The demands of farming gets me up early every morning.Disease  - (noun)  Make sure that there is no disease in that crop.Drivers  - (adjective)  Get a drivers license and we can put you to work. Duties  - (noun)  Your duties include gathering eggs every morning.Egg  - (noun)  We gather more than 1,000 eggs each day.Environment  - (noun)  The environment is fragile.  Equipment  - (noun)  The equipment is located in the barn.Exposure- (noun)  The eastern field has more exposure to the sun.Facilities  - (noun)  Our facilities include three hundred acres of pasture land.Farm  - (noun)  The farm is located in Vermont.Farmer  - (noun)  The farmer purchased seed for his livestock.Feed  - (noun)  Take the feed out to the barn.Fertilizer  - (noun)  We use the best fertilizer possible on our crops.Fiber  - (noun)  You need more fiber in your diet.Fish  - (noun)  Fish can be farmed for profit.Flower  - (noun)  We grow and sell flowers from all over the world.Fruit  - (noun)  The fruit is ripe.Grazing  - (noun)  Our horses are out grazing.Greenhouse  - (noun)  We grow tomatoes in the greenhouse.Grown  - (adjective)  We sell grown shrubs.Handle  - (noun/verb)  Grab that handle and lets lift this up onto the truck.Harvest  - (noun/verb)  Last years harvest was excellent. Hay  - (noun)  Load the hay into the back of the truck.Hazardous  - (adjective)  Be careful of the hazardous chemicals in some fertilizers.Health  - (noun)  Take care of your health.Horse  - (noun)  The horse needs to be shoed.  Horticulture  - (noun)  Horticulture should be taught in our local high school.Indoors  - (noun)  We grow the plants indoors in a controlled setting.Knowledge  - (noun)  He has a lot of knowledge about local plants.Laborer  Ã‚  - (noun)  We need to hire some laborers to help with the harvest.Land  - (noun)  You should invest in some new land for grazing.Landowner  Ã‚  - (noun)  The landowner rented out the land to a local business.Landscaping  - (noun)  Landscaping involves taking care of gardens and lawns.Leading  - (adjective)  The leading agricultural experts say to play in June.Lease  - (noun)  Our lease on this land is up at the end of January.License  - (noun)  Do you have a cultivation license?L ivestock  - (noun)  The livestock are grazing in the fields.Location  - (noun)  Were looking for a new location for our farm. Machinery  - (noun)  Machinery costs keep rising.Machine  Ã‚  - (noun)  That machine needs to be repaired.Maintain  - (verb)  We maintain our own machinery.Maintenance  - (noun)  The maintenance is scheduled for next week.Meat  - (noun)  We have the freshest meat in the state.Method  Ã‚  - (noun)  We use traditional methods for our produce.Nursery  - (noun)  The nursery grows bushy plants and fruit trees.Nut  Ã‚  - (noun)  The hazelnut is common in Oregon.Offer  - (noun/verb)  Wed like to offer you a discount on our products.Operate  - (verb)  We operate in Lincoln County.Organic  - (adjective)  All of our food is organic.Oversee  - (verb)  Peter oversees our wheat sales.Pack  - (noun/verb)  Lets pack up these tools and go home.Pen  Ã‚  - (noun)  Use that pen to sign here.Pesticide  Ã‚  - (noun)  Pesticides are very dangerous and should be used with caution.Physical  - (adjective)  Farming is a very physical activity.Pla nt  - (noun)  That plant is new to our farm.Poultry  - (noun)  Chickens and turkeys are also known as poultry.Process  - (noun)  The curing process takes three weeks. Produce  - (noun/verb)  Our produce is sold throughout the state.Raise  - (verb)  We raise chicken and rabbits on our farm.Ranch  - (noun/verb)  The ranch is located in California.Rancher  - (noun)  The rancher spent the day herding the cattle.Reflecting  - (adjective)  This reflecting tape marks the spot.Regulation  Ã‚  - (noun)  There are many regulations that we need to follow.Repair  - (noun/verb)  Do you think you can repair the tractor?Responsibilities  - (noun)  My responsibilities include caring for livestock.Risk  - (noun/verb)  Bad weather is one of the greatest risks in farming.Rural  - (adjective)  Our rural location is ideal for farming activities.Safety  - (noun)  Safety is our first priority.Scale  - (noun)  Use that scale to weigh the fruit.  Schedule  - (noun/verb)  Our schedule includes three trips to the farm.Season  - (noun)  Its not harvest season yet.Seasonal  - (adjective)  We sell seasonal fruit at the fruit stand.Seed  - (noun)  Plant the seed here.Sheep  - (noun)  Those black sheep have excellent wool. Shrub  Ã‚  - (noun)  Those shrubs need to be trimmed.Supervise  - (verb)  Could you supervise the harvest this year?Training- (noun)  We should provide safety training for all of our employees.Tree  Ã‚  - (noun)  I planted that tree twenty years ago.Vegetable  Ã‚  - (noun)  We grow vegetables and fruit on our farm. Improving Your Vocabulary Tips Use each word in a sentence. First,  practice speaking. Next, write the sentences. Using the word when both speaking and writing will help you remember new words.  After writing a few words  in sentences try to write a paragraph using the same words.  Learn synonyms and antonyms by using an online thesaurus to further extend your farming and agriculture vocabulary.  Use a visual dictionary which will help you learn the names of specific equipment used in the industry.  Listen to co-workers and note how they use these words. Check your understanding when they use words in different ways.  Ask co-workers questions about how new words are used at work.

Rise and Fall of Napoleon Bonaparte Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Rise and Fall of Napoleon Bonaparte - Essay Example Probably, it led to overestimation of his abilities and eventually led to his defeat. Napoleon – Early Years Napoleon Bonaparte was born in a wealthy family in Ajaccio, on the Mediterranean Island of Corsica on 15th August 1769. His father, Carol Bonaparte, was a lawyer and a political opportunist. At that time, Corsica had just been sold to France by Genoa. So, Napoleon was not of French origin. According to Marsh, there were both luck and personal factors which favored Napoleon in his rise to power (5). As his father climbed the political ladder and as his mother had connections with Corsica’s French military governor, Napoleon had the chance to enter the military academy at Brienne in the year 1779. As Landau points out, it was this entry into military that acted as the very basis of his rise to power. With extraordinary talent in areas like mathematics, the workaholic genius graduated as a second lieutenant in the artillery in the year 1785 (18). Though Napoleon was posted on the French mainland, he was able to engage actively in the Corsican politics. Though he supported Corsican rebel Pasquale Paoli in the beginning, there were differences in opinion later on, and the Bonaparte had to flee to France. The French Revolution during the latter half of the 18th century was a fertile soil for individuals with talent to come to the fore. Fremont-Barnes reflects that the people agitated throughout France in a protest against the atrocities committed by the wealthy and the church (58). Soon, King Louis was imprisoned and executed. Following this, the revolutionary government declared France a republic. However, there was total chaos as the nation was ruled by various fractions; and most notable of them was the Jacobin group led by Maximilien Robespierre. This revolutionary government in France shocked monarchies throughout Europe. Empires like Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain wanted to suppress the revolution and bring monarchy back to pow er in France. Soon, in 1972, the empires declared war on France. However, France was not fit to face them as the revolution had eliminated its military officers. Many of them had been killed and many had already fled the place. The Toulon Siege and the Path Ahead Thus, in the year 1793, Napoleon was commissioned as a captain in the artillery and was assigned to the units which were engaged in the task of eliminating British Garrison from the southern port of Toulon as it was found to be helping Royalist uprising. There, sheer luck came into play as he was made the commander of the siege on 16th September 1793. He was offered the position because the existing commander of the artillery was wounded (â€Å"Napoleon Bonaparte†). In the new position, Napoleon exhibited skill and mastery by capturing two important forts and eliminating the British fleet from the port. Though it was not a major victory, he managed to present it as a great achievement. As the entire French army was m arred by untrained people and lack of leadership, his performance, though minor, was noticed by a number of powerful men in Paris. This was followed by his ascend to the rank of Brigadier General. After this, Napoleon joined the campaign in Italy as the commandant of the artillery. However, by this time, the political atmosphere in Paris was rather bad as people were feeling highly insecure under the Directory, and, as a result, Robespierre was executed and

The Political Role of Veterans Healthcare Term Paper

The Political Role of Veterans Healthcare - Term Paper Example From this research it is clear that the Health Care Industry of the United States of America is generally composed of different legal entities. The facilities that make up the said industry are largely owned and operate by the members of the private sector whereas health care insurance have always been provided by the government. The efficiency of the American health care system, however, has always been doubted. Various calls for health care reforms have been made in view of the allegations that the health care industry is nothing but a money making scam where large insurance firms and health institutions participate in. The following problems are usually apparent with respect to the health care industry of the United States: (1) medical bankruptcy, (2) premature deaths among those who are un- and under-insured, and lastly, (3) the wasteful flows of funds that maximize the profits of insurance companies. Longman, the author of the book entitled â€Å"Best care anywhere: why VA heal th care is better than yours† cited the reforms taken in the Veterans Health Care Industry. Longman argues that the reforms in the entire American Health Care Industry must emulate the model in the Veterans Health Care Administration in view of the capacity of the latter to significantly improve and properly cater to the medical needs of the veterans. Aside from Longman, there are other scholars who have also focused on the comparison between Veterans Health Administration and other systems of care in the country. In sum, all of these studies have pointed out that the Veterans Health Administration delivers health care more efficiently as compared with the other health care systems in the United States of America (Kerr, et al., 2003; Petersen, et al., 2003; Rosenthal, et al., 2003). In this sense, these authors have highlighted the need for the health care policy makers in the United States of America to reform the other systems of health care in the country by focusing on the improvements to the Veterans Health Administration as a Model. On the other hand, however, this study focuses on the current issues that affect the Veterans Health Care Industry. Arguably, the policies concerning the Veterans Health Administration have likewise been significantly affected by the political processes concerning them. In this sense, this paper focuses on the following issues: (1) the role of political process on health care delivery, (2) the role of the demanders and suppliers of health policies, (3) how the political process affect cost of health care, human resources and various health care facilities, (4) the involvement of various levels of government in the political process and its effects on health care delivery, (5) involvement of interests groups and organizations in addressing the issues to sway modifications to policy/formation of policy, (6) strategies and recommendations and lastly, (7) the future of initiatives in health care delivery. The Role of the Po litical Process on Health Care Delivery Before going through the analysis of the different issues that currently affect the Veterans Health Administration, this section first focuses on the role of the different political processes on health care delivery. As a general rule, it was claimed that investments in health care are often employed for various political reasons rather than focusing on its benefits for the citizens. Evidently, health reform in various parts of the world, whether in developed or developing countries, is a highly political process (Benoit, 2003). In fact, other researchers even highlight the tendency for politicians to put healthcare reform at the center of their campaigns during electoral seasons. Apparently, health care reforms, as essential part of the political processes most especially with respect to campaigns focus on the following (1) the efforts as regards building better health care facil

PERFORM COMPARISON CONTRAST BETWEEN WORKS BY DFFERENT WRITERS BASED ON Essay

PERFORM COMPARISON CONTRAST BETWEEN WORKS BY DFFERENT WRITERS BASED ON STYLE, SUBJECT MATTER OR THEME - Essay Example The gruesome picture of racism, social discrimination and many other contemporary issues has been depicted by Afro-American authors. Harriet Jacobs, a writer, reformer and abolitionist, was a 19th century Afro-American literary figure (Yale University, 2009) who was also known as the ‘fugitive slave author’ of the American slave narrative Incidents in the Life of A Slave Girl, Written by Herself. Her active involvement in reform movements before, during and after the Civil War, and her own experience of slavery for 29 years helped her sketch her characters poignantly and realistically. Modern day readers and scholars would have been in the darkness about the life and works of Harriet Jacobs unless the revolutionary work of Professor Jean Fagan Yellin who, by dint of extensive research and studies, authored her biography: Harriet Jacobs: A Life. This book received the 2004 Frederick Douglass Book Prize for its immaculate detailing about how Jacob’s literature was s haped by her turbulent life. (Yale University, 2009) Audre Lorde, born in New York City in 1934, is renowned for her poems, essays and novels. She was brought up in Manhattan and was sent to Catholic school where her first poem was published in ‘Seventeen’ magazine. Lorde got her B. A. from Hunter College and Masters in Library Sciences from Columbia University. Her professional career, which began as a librarian in New York public schools, saw many turn of events as she later on got an employment as a writer-in-residence at Tougaloo College in Mississippi. It was here when she discovered an inclination for pedagogy, and at the end of her tenure here in 1968, her first volume of poems ‘The First Cities’ was brought out. She also met her long-term partner Frances Clayton in Tougaloo. (Poets.org, 1997-2009) Born in 1912 to parents one of which was a strict disciplinarian and another

Business ethics issues in WorldCom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business ethics issues in WorldCom - Essay Example It is believed that these unethical issues were primarily not checked upon by anyone because the CEO of the company himself was involved in the fraudulent activities. These unethical issues and different management techniques recommended to improve the corporate governance of WorldCom would be outlined in this essay (Backover 2002; Crawford 2005). There were three major problems with the corporate culture and their style of working. The first one was the way they grew through aggressive acquisition of companies, second was the strategy of senior executive loans and the third and foremost was the way in which they did business which was against the code of corporate governance and had exposed them to threats related to fair and arm’s lengths transactions (Kiron et al 2004; Securities and Exchange Commission 2003) Business Ethics form an important part of the culture of the businesses. They are very important when it comes to the normal functioning of businesses in this world. The company had made almost 65 acquisitions or mergers in only 6 years. Integrating is a lengthy process, time consuming and a very challenging exercise as there may be people who may resist these changes and create problems. The second aspect is to integrate financially by the use of the generally accepted accounting principles. It is believed generally that because of these practices of integration WorldCom was successfully able to hide its practices. The unethical issues in the company arose when the company started to face problems from the decreasing demand of telecommunications. It is then believed that the senior executives of the company were involved in fraudulent activities. (Kiron et al 2004; Worldcom Website 2010; Securities and Exchange Commission 2003) The unethical activities at WorldCom were such that the difference between moral good and bad was forgotten. Leaders are important when it comes to the ethics of a company (Mendonca 2001). But here at WorldCom

Healthcare for the Elderly Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Healthcare for the Elderly - Essay Example reece, Germany and Italy, increase in taxes to fund healthcare for the older population and decline in trade and savings as these older population retire from active social participation. These challenges being witnessed today will continue to be witnessed in future unless governments come up with responsive policies to address the situation. The best theory to apply in an ethical dilemma for how best to allocate the limited healthcare resources for an aging population and end-of-life care is utilitarianism (Harris, 1987). The theory holds that the best ethically acceptable action is the one that leads to greatest overall benefits. Accordingly, the practical use of utilitarian will be though the application of Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) as a tool of assessing the total gains from heath care approaches compared to others. The ethical challenges to preparation of this healthcare provision are that utilitarian principle in resource allocation fails to offer an equitable approach of distributing resource (Lockwood, 1988). In addition, it fails to consider the variations in need for health care by focusing only on the benefits to be achieved, yet some groups may be more deserving to be allocated those resources. National Institute on Aging (2007): Why Population Aging Matters. A Global Perspective: National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health And Human Services: Retrieved from:

Methodology Chapter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Methodology Chapter - Essay Example Some researchers claim that unless human behavior can be expressed in numerical terms, it cannot be accurately measured (cited by Jones, 2004). Qualitative data covers a range of material collected from previous research, literature review, case studies and unstructured interviews. Some researchers argue that the qualitative approach is better as it provides greater depth. The relationship between research philosophy and research method is important as it allows one to take an informed decision about the research approach, decide which methods are appropriate for the research, and also determine the constraints that may affect the research (Knox, n.d.). Research philosophy highlights different schools of thought on the how to conduct research. Arguments should be evaluated in different ways because primarily arguments have different roles and purposes and people assess according to the purpose in their mind. At times arguments provide useful information depending on one’s knowledge of how the world works. In a different setting, one can take an abstract approach and ask what follows from a given set of information and then decide on the outcome. Arguments can be evaluated in two qualitatively different ways – in terms of their deductive correctness or in terms of inductive strength (Rips, 2001). Logical positivism employs the quantitative and experimental methods to test deductive generalizations (Amaratunga et al.,). This requires independence of the observer from the subject being observed. Hypotheses have to be formulated in advance for subsequent verification. The explanations in this method are reduced to the simplest possible elements in order to facilitate analysis. Positivism claims that generalizations can be made from a set of events in that past and future decisions can be taken accordingly. The quantitative approach places great stress on numbers that represent

Business ethics issues in WorldCom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business ethics issues in WorldCom - Essay Example It is believed that these unethical issues were primarily not checked upon by anyone because the CEO of the company himself was involved in the fraudulent activities. These unethical issues and different management techniques recommended to improve the corporate governance of WorldCom would be outlined in this essay (Backover 2002; Crawford 2005). There were three major problems with the corporate culture and their style of working. The first one was the way they grew through aggressive acquisition of companies, second was the strategy of senior executive loans and the third and foremost was the way in which they did business which was against the code of corporate governance and had exposed them to threats related to fair and arm’s lengths transactions (Kiron et al 2004; Securities and Exchange Commission 2003) Business Ethics form an important part of the culture of the businesses. They are very important when it comes to the normal functioning of businesses in this world. The company had made almost 65 acquisitions or mergers in only 6 years. Integrating is a lengthy process, time consuming and a very challenging exercise as there may be people who may resist these changes and create problems. The second aspect is to integrate financially by the use of the generally accepted accounting principles. It is believed generally that because of these practices of integration WorldCom was successfully able to hide its practices. The unethical issues in the company arose when the company started to face problems from the decreasing demand of telecommunications. It is then believed that the senior executives of the company were involved in fraudulent activities. (Kiron et al 2004; Worldcom Website 2010; Securities and Exchange Commission 2003) The unethical activities at WorldCom were such that the difference between moral good and bad was forgotten. Leaders are important when it comes to the ethics of a company (Mendonca 2001). But here at WorldCom

Methodology Chapter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Methodology Chapter - Essay Example Some researchers claim that unless human behavior can be expressed in numerical terms, it cannot be accurately measured (cited by Jones, 2004). Qualitative data covers a range of material collected from previous research, literature review, case studies and unstructured interviews. Some researchers argue that the qualitative approach is better as it provides greater depth. The relationship between research philosophy and research method is important as it allows one to take an informed decision about the research approach, decide which methods are appropriate for the research, and also determine the constraints that may affect the research (Knox, n.d.). Research philosophy highlights different schools of thought on the how to conduct research. Arguments should be evaluated in different ways because primarily arguments have different roles and purposes and people assess according to the purpose in their mind. At times arguments provide useful information depending on one’s knowledge of how the world works. In a different setting, one can take an abstract approach and ask what follows from a given set of information and then decide on the outcome. Arguments can be evaluated in two qualitatively different ways – in terms of their deductive correctness or in terms of inductive strength (Rips, 2001). Logical positivism employs the quantitative and experimental methods to test deductive generalizations (Amaratunga et al.,). This requires independence of the observer from the subject being observed. Hypotheses have to be formulated in advance for subsequent verification. The explanations in this method are reduced to the simplest possible elements in order to facilitate analysis. Positivism claims that generalizations can be made from a set of events in that past and future decisions can be taken accordingly. The quantitative approach places great stress on numbers that represent

Priorities and setting clearer goals Essay Example for Free

Priorities and setting clearer goals Essay In the benefit of effective style, the democratic leadership style shall be the most successful style for an organization. If every company could benefit and endure this leadership style, they are becoming more successful and flexible. Leaders could both interact with subordinates and progress good development in discussions. This gives control and influence to the leader.  Other approaches to leadership success would be the trait approaches as well. Traits are the personal factors that distinguish the leader, such as intelligence and appearance. Everyone has a unique blend of qualities, such as courage, patience, ambition honesty and others and these care qualities are the real sources of leadership success. When these qualities are well-recognised, a leader can draw upon them with greater confidence, this also leads to discovery of which qualities leader lack. With this leaders can decide what needs to developed and therefore now future performance can be improved.  Trait approaches are break down into several parts. Firstly, would be the physical characteristic where looks, appearance and dressing take place. Social characteristic plays a part in the personal factors. This can create more ability for leaders to get with others. In this characteristic, communication plays a big rate. All of work and social exchange depends upon communication. It also means for sharing ideas, feelings and resources. When communication breaks down, disagreement and misunderstanding immediately occur. Listening and speaking are the foundations of communication. They both contribute in equal measure to the development of socially skilled information exchange. Researchers highlight five essentials features of clear and effective communication and refer them as social skills. Socially skilled communications are divided into 5 categories. Firstly would be the goal-directed category. When there are clear goals for the exchange of ideas or information. It is easier to recognize when communication is complete. Discussion is far more satisfying when participants have something they wish to achieve through communication because they can then work to accomplish.  Telling a joke is an excellent of goal-directed communication. The narrator knows the communication is successfully completed when the listener starts to laugh.  Taking time to consider the purpose of sharing information influences the choice of words and contributes o a more confident presentation. The coherent category refers to behavioral which makes a single, consistent overall impression as well as to the clarity and logic of the message. For example, when presenting serious information that could alarm a listener, a socially skilled speaker controls eye contact, facial expression, tone of voice and body language so that they can blend to give a single message. Nervous smiling or a hesitating manner when information is urgent detracts from the speakers credibility and potential distorts the message. Appropriate to the situation skilled communication coordinates words, behavior and timing so that presentation of information matches the needs of the situation. While coherence refers specially to personal style when delivering a message, this additional skill requires thinking about when and how a message is best delivered. This means choosing the right method, such a telephone, handwritten note, electronic means or face-to-face speech. One example of this social skill is a leader who critics a colleague face to face in private rater than in a public place. Controlled social skilled refers to the leaders self-discipline rather than the ability to discipline others. On occasion, leaders make decisions which benefit the group rather than reflect their personal preference. An example of this kind of behavior is the leader who resists taking over a task once it has been delegated. It takes enormous control to watch a younger colleague struggle to learn a task which leader could complete in just a few minutes. The reward for this kind of self-control is a stronger team. Control in this example means choosing to be silent.  The ability to learn is a vital social skill and most communication behaviour is learned by absorption and copying rather than by conscious choice. A speakers voice, gestures and movements are the end result of a lifetime of conditioning. Leaders can improve these skills when they evaluate their own performance towards discovering new ways to express themselves. This process is aided by examining the strength of the other four social skills. When there is a gap in the ability to set a goal for discussion, to be coherent, to time the delivery of information, or to maintain self-control, then leaders need to focus attention on social skill development.  In leading, create understanding in between leaders and colleagues are important as well.  It is the leaders responsibility to open a debate, encourage colleaguescontributions and guide discussion so that a common understanding emerges within the group. This understanding enhances a groups sense of purpose and contributes to their sense of unity. When leaders are committed to creating understanding, they show this through attentive listening and setting a tone of tolerant discussion within the group. Not only do these leaders gain benefit from their colleagues ideas, they also encourage group loyalty and commitment. It has already been suggested that respect generates respect. The leader has the power to begin this positive spiral of mutual appreciation. Another step to effective leadership is decision making, Whether leaders do this alone or within a group, it is essential that they act with confidence. Further, when the discussion of a decision is complete, it is the leader who signals that it is time to take action. Decision making skill are improved by focusing what are the priorities and setting clearer goals. Frequently leaders are required to make several decisions at the same time. Because full attention cannot be given to each issue simultaneously, they need to coordinate and manage information with considerable skill. Decision makers must determine the extent of interdependence among a variety of issues even as they are estimating their degree of importance.  This requires identifying priorities and making decisions about the most pressing issues first. This takes discipline, because some decisions appear to require immediate attention and yet lack genuine urgency or importance for the long term. Alternatively, some truly vital issues may be delayed or even forgotten because they lack glamour or enough noisy advocates to press for their attention. Setting cleare goals allows leaders to focus on the urgent and important decisions first, the successful outcome of these decisions first. The successful outcome of these decisions that depends upon setting clear goals. This can seem an obvious point because the priority itself would seemingly provide the goal. However, goals at the outset of a decison making process are often too vague and general to give sufficient direction. Goals give direction to the decision making process. Even so the need to achieve a specific outcome must also be balanced with flexible attitude. Conclusion: All the above approaches are discussed well proper. In leadership, all three aspect of approaches are generally important. The four most important factors influencing leadership styles would be the democratic way of leadership style, goal directed communication skills, create understanding among colleagues and leader and decision making. All its characteristic have been well-discussed and explored above. The four influencing factors are essential for successful leadership. This factors will improve leadership performance in both major and minor roles by recognizing what needs to change and practicing the necessary skills.

The Ethical Issues Faced In Business Commerce Essay

The Ethical Issues Faced In Business Commerce Essay There are a wide range of ethical issue in business, covering many professional ethics and perticularty relating to professional like doctors, lawyers and employee rights. Its rights Include fair wage, safe working envirnment and non-discriminatory policies. Ethical issue is also exist in sales and marketing areas in business. For example, it allow anti-comprtitive practices like price fixing and break copyright laws. Ethical issue in business is also importent to remember that companies should have environmental and ecological ethics. As depending on industry its simply ensuring that energy saving practices are used daily running an office, to ensure that pollution kept minimum, and investing in invironmental and much more in business ethics. It is quite difficult to know that any business across the globe, is based on princeples of ethics, but mostly businesses, in environmental and ethical information are puting together. By demanding these kind of characteristic and showing that to consumer is care about company ethics, and diferencies for any organisation can be made less ethical. Business Ethics and Profits Many believe that business ethics and profits do not go hand in hand, i.e. if a company tries to follow busniess ethics it has to forego a portion of its profit and on the other hand if company is aiming for high profits it might has to sacrifice on busniess ethics. But i dont agree with this statement, i believe that if a company keeps in mind the concept of business ethics and social responsibility while making the overall business strategy. A company can achieve its target profits and will also be able to follow business ethics. As business ethics will be embeded in the companys overall strategy and goals for every department will be set keeping to achieve the overall strategy of the company and as the companys main strategy was to make profits while following business ethics, this way profits and business ethics can be achieved at the same time. Business ethics can be profitable Ethics in business can not only be profitable, but it successful for any business, no matter how businesses are large or small. For example integrity and responsibility for its  employees, business establishes itself as trustworthy and engenders loyalty among not only employees but also customers and potential customers. Eethics and business almost sounds like an oxymoron. If we read the headlines we can see something like CEO involveed in corruption, and some illegal activities or Corporations harms the environment. Companys have the ruthless reputation and they just mak profit. It`s true because most profitable company has it mission to return profit to is shareholder.On the other hand it is fixed idea because it does not mean that ethcis and profits can not peacefully exist together. There are many organisation, which are ethical and profitable. If business do something unethically may be they can get financial incentives for short term, but overall damage of business can effect its integrity and reputation. Businesses are depend on confidenc, trust and respect which can receive from customers. If once break this trust, company must spend a money, time and resources to solve this problem.In first place good practices in business ethics is to avoiding issue in every part of the business operation, its not leads to the high profitable and its avoids the cost of damage which is not needed for the company. The most well-non company or other hand most successfull companies understand the importance of business ethics. While some companies do engage in unethical activities to follow the profit, in the long run we can see their demise rather than their success. They might attain some quick short term profits, but this isnt going to sustain them in the long term. What some profitable companies management fail to make a decision is that establishing a good ethical foundation in any organization can gives a company to increase their profits. Profits and ethics can be suitable and even one can improve the quality to another.There are many significant advantages to integrating a philosophy of ethics in business. While profits is important consideration there is no good reason ethics cant play a part of any business. Solid reputation In the businesses ethics are regulerly prectic to attract consumers. When businesses act in ethicaly, it gives good business impression and it result, can achieve a positive impect on business. Good press and word of mouth are positive direction and if business receive the stamp of approval from customers, news and reviews than it can increase chances to be a more profitable business. www.helium.com/items/1285540-business-ethics-can-be-profitable-sustainability-competitive-advantage Honda is one of the biggest Automaker company in the world, which has provided best example that a company can be profitable while following business ethics. Business Ethics at Honda Company History Honda Motor company is a best known automaker in the world. It is third largest automaker in Japan, but company has its own roots speciale in motorcycles, and is the worlds most popular motorcycle manufacture. Its best market in USA, where its majority of sales are generated. Honda automobile products accounts are approximately 90 % comes from its sales, and its includes well-known, top saler brand like Accord, Legend, Civic, Prelude, and the luxury Acura. Accord is second most purchesed car in US, in fact Accord is a most stolen vehicles. Its also produces motorcycles such as Super Cub, Foresight, and Shadow 750. Companies power products division makes other items that improve its annual sales, like agricultural and industrial machinery, portable generators, small boat motor, and all terrain vehicles. (http://www.fundinguniverse.com) Environmental Technology overview Honda has always involved in large market to have the great impact on fuel economy and clean air. Honda work to improve its existing techonology, and at the same time they using the power of dream philosophy to develop the vehicle of the future. Honda believe the importanc of its existing advance investment of internal process in engine technology. They introduce gasoline engine for new generation all over the world, which is extremely low level emission and new engine also increased its fuel efficiency during this time they improve driving performence. In further their goal to improve energy efficiency and developed new gas-electric hybrid vehcile which is achieve ultra-high fuel economy. Environmental Vehicle When honda come to talke about enviornment, they let their products in market to speak themselves. In 1974, its introduce very simple Civic CVCC engine, which changing its fule efficiency and low emmissions, CVCC engine showing their spirit to commite enviornmentaly responsible technology. In first hybrid vehicle sold in North America which government first certified fuel-cell car. It first Honda product, to show their legacy of inovation and acting on their beliefs, from the Civic GX Natural Gas vehicle, FCX Clarity Cell vehicle, and the Civic hybrid. Natural Gas It is very importent for Honda to find its new ways to improve gasoline, and today world it is a necessary part for the company. In the history of advance technology to the internal process of engine, Honda attacks its fuel ceonomy simultaneously, that reduce it fuel consumption at the same time they minimizeing exhuast emission. These all things to maintaining real world driveability and long term reliability. These are necessary efforts to keep their precious environmental resources and reducing their dependency on oil. Honda Civic is a gasoline powered which is Ultra Low Emission vehicle. Honda Accord is first gasoline powered car sold in california, which is meet the stander of Super Ultra Low Emission vehcile in 2000. Two years later, Honda introduced a new generation of gasoline engines around the world, with extremely low emission levels and increased fuel efficiency that also helped to improve drinving performance. Hybrids Taking it a step further. Honda has made vast improvements in the efficiency and cleanliness of the internal combustion engine and in the quest for viable alternative fuels. But at Honda, they are never satisfied with the best they can do. So they have focused on perfecting hybrid technology and bringing it to the mainstream. Gasoline performs well and is convenient, with a place to fill it up on nearly every corner. The Honda FCX clarity fuel cell vehicle Honda began dreaming about a hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicle way back in 1986. Today, the fruits of their labour can be seen as the FCX Clarity is officially out on the road. For their two decades, their engineers have been dedicated to building a zero-emissions car that will help protect the natural environment for their children and future generations. Powered by an electric motor and utilizing a Honda-developed fuel-cell stack, the FCX Clarity emits no CO2, which scientists say is a major contributor to climate change. The FCX Clarity Emits only water vapour Uses clean, domestically produced hydrogen Significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions Is a certified Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Initiatives Awards Evironmental leadership of Honda are good for environments, society and for business, over three decades. They have award to prove it environmental leadership. They developed a new Home Energy Station (HES) which can produce hydrogen from natural gas that can use for fuel cell vehicle, during this time they supplying electricity and hot water for homes. New HES system that has been jointly established with strategic fuel cell partner, Plug Power is located in Reseach and development department at Honda in California, America. Is intended to demonstrat and calculate the quality production of hydrogen, storage and fuelling, which is part of coutinuing reseach into hydrogen energy source. Honda kept its view that hydrogen fuel cell power is potential for the next generation, that power plat needs to find the related problem to the development of different fuels, that can reduce gas emissions and good impect for global warming. Its ongoing reseach improv their efficiency of hydrogen fuel production process and vehicles. In each day, new (HES) system generate enough hydrogen to refill the tank of Honda FCX, and that process takes few minutes.This system consists a major processes and components that are: To improve system that remove hydrogen from natural gas. To give electric power that can utilizes to removed hydrogen. Factory facilities can be improved thats allow to remove bad substances from hydrogen. After refuelling, needs high-pressur tank unit to store hydrogen Green Factories Mostly Honda plants all over the world are fully committed the ISO standard, that covering all environmental areas, like treatment of water, waste disposal and energy. Environmental Awards for Honda Vehicles in North America This idea is nothing if they are not put into action, that makes company progress ver well. Honda founder said over philosophy is, that drivers drive their associates to make, The Power of Dream in daily rutine at Honda. Honda think it is nice to know thats many other in market they all are concerned to save the plante as honda.   Greenest Vehicle Honda is able to prove during the role as a leader of environment, in American Council of Energy Efficient Economy, they recived recognation for their four vehicles, as the greenest vehicle of 2006. In Honda, their 9th ennual Green Book The environmental Guid to Car and Trucks, they ranking their vehciles as a environmentlly responsible. Their tow models are top of the list as a Greenest Vehciles of 2006, one is Civic GX power by natural gas and second is Insight Hybrid. These both Cars are also top twelve greenest Cars of the year. In year 2007 they receive a title from the Union of Concerned Scientists as a Greenest Automaket . In the fourth following time, Honda earned a good velue. Union give this award in every tow year to the company with the production of low emission and global warming emission in its automobil fleet at US. In Honda company most of its are the greenest automaker in US. They use clean technology in across the fleet of cars and truct thats makes company to performe well as a environment friendly. Additional Awards In the list of Edmunds.com Honda is top10 most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2005. Honda Insight receive Highest Rating of EPA Fuel Economy in 2005. Honda Accord Hybrid Sedan wins best Kiplingers Fule Economy in 2006. In 2006 Honda is in third place of Edmond.com list for Most Fuel Efficient Cars In 2008 Civic GX is named for American Greenest Car. (http://corporate.honda.com) Honda Annual reports 2008 and December Monthly Sales If we analys the sales of the company which proves that a company can make profit while practicing business ethics. Uptill 2008 annual vehicle sold by Honda was1,428,765, Honda Divisions 2008 annual sales was 1,284,261. Honda Divisions December monthly sales was 75,405. Annual total car sales of 794,421 for the Honda Division increased 1.0 percent and set a record for the fourth consecutive year. Accord, the top-selling Honda model for 2008, achieved annual sales of 372,789. Civic sales totaled 339,289 for the year, up 2.1 percent. Annual Fit sales of 79,794, up 40.9 percent, set a record for the third consecutive year. American Hondas sales mirror the industrys current condition, said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. We believe Honda will be in a strong position when the market stabilizes. www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?id=4898