Steve Jobs A Engineer Of The Highest Calibre - 1602 Words

â€Å"I actually think there s actually very little distinction between an artist and a scientist or engineer of the highest calibre† (Smithsonian). This was spoken by somebody who created a well-known company and invented many revolutionary products that many people use. Who was this person? That person was Steve Jobs, the famous inventor and co-founder of Apple. He was born in San Francisco, California on February 24, 1955 and died on October 5, 2011. Most people know Steve Jobs for his work at Apple and his â€Å"Stevenotes,† which were his keynote speeches where he introduced new products and technologies. Throughout his life, he accomplished many admirable things. Steve Jobs is admirable because of his help in starting Apple Computer, his work†¦show more content†¦After the computers were built, Steve Jobs decided that the Byte Store should sell the Apple I for $666.66 (Isaacson 69). In 1976, the Apple I personal computer began to be sold and it was a succ ess. Steve Jobs played a huge role in the development and sale of the Apple I. First, Steve Jobs designed the Apple I. Second, he was able to get it sold in a computer store. And third, he provided his house as a place so the computers the Byte Shop ordered could be built. It is impossible to say that Steve Jobs did not play a large part in the creation of the Apple I computer and Apple itself. Without the Apple I being successful, Apple would not be the company it is today. Steve Jobs should be admired for his work on the Apple I, the device that started Apple Computer. In addition, Steve Jobs is admirable because besides founding Apple, he also saved it from it having to go out of business. In the 1990s, Apple was not doing well financially. Steve Jobs said in an interview that â€Å"making great computers for people to use† is what allowed Apple to exist (Smithsonian). Steve Jobs then says: They didn t care about that anymore. They didn t have a clue about how to do it and they didn t take any time to find out because that s not what they cared about. They cared about making a lot of money so they had this wonderful thing that a lot of brilliant people made called the Macintosh and they got very greedy and

The Themes Of Totalitarianism In George Orwells 1984

The purpose of government is to promote order while still maintaining personal freedoms. In todays United States, the government implements laws to promote order while still protecting the freedoms of individuals. Americans are not allowed to drive whenever and however they please because there are restrictions on our actions. With these laws, people are still trusted and given the privacy for private acts. Furthermore, George Orwell models a government who consistently abuse their power in society. The theme of totalitarianism is consistent throughout 1984, and creates a society filled with fear and discipline. Big Brother is seen as a Leviathan throughout Oceania’s community, and this all-powerful being determines the lives and well†¦show more content†¦No bond of love is as powerful as the love of Big Brother. By the end of the book is is made obvious that the Party aims to proves that no bond is stronger than the government, so they torture Winston and julia into breaking their bond and confessing to the Party. The Party is dominant over all, and has created organizations to support their control. There is a strong anti-sex league whose purpose is to take away from the pleasure of sex, and push woman to swear to celibacy. With celibacy, the Party asserts the idea that sex is antiquated, and merely a perfunctory act. â€Å"The only recognized purpose of marriage was to beget children for the service of the Party† (). Part of marriage is sex, and having kids through the want and love for them. The Party is taking all personal feeling out of reproduction and children. They have made it into something that people feel they have to do for the Party, not something because of emotional desire. They have completely taken love out of marriage and preemptively stopped the bond of love from forming between individuals. The simple act of buying a book is seen as a major defiance of the Thought Police and Big Brother because of its symbolization of the free mind, the making of individuals histories. Winston is making his own history as he writes his diary. Though the act isn’t illegal, the act of writing and buying a book is an act of rebellion because it is theShow MoreRelatedAnimal Farm And George Orwell By George Orwell1034 Words   |  5 Pagespseudonym of George Orwell, composed many novels in his lifetime that were considered both politically rebellious and socially incorrect. Working on the dream since childhood, Orwell would finally gain notoriety as an author with his 1945 novel Animal Farm, which drew on personal experiences and deeply rooted fear to satirically critique Russian communism during its expansion. Noticing the impact he made, he next took to writing the novel 1984, which similarly criticized totalitarianism by depictingRead More1984 Metropolis Essay1293 Words   |  6 Pagespower† is heavily supported by George Orwell’s 1949 novel ‘1984’ and Fritz Lang’s 1927 film ‘Metropolis’ through their intertextual connections and shared perspectives. Both texts were composed around the context of pre and post World War 2 which is clearly evident through their settings, characterisation, themes and ideas. Through Orwell’s and Fritz’s use of dystopic societies, empowerment of women and detrimental dictatorship rule it is blatant that George Orwell’s quote â€Å"The object of power isRead MoreGeorge Orwells 19841168 Words   |  5 PagesGeorge Orwell author of 1984 recently made it on Amazon’s list of â€Å"100 books to read before you die† for his widely read novel with thought provoking subjects like: the dangers of totalitarianism, physical control, psychological manipulation, manipulation of information and history, and technology. Through the themes in 1984, George Orwell demonstrates that a dystopian society created by totalitarian rule can infiltrate the minds of its citizens through various med iums. The famous novel falls intoRead MoreGovernment Surveillance And Totalitarianism In George Orwells 19841593 Words   |  7 PagesThe Correlation of Government Surveillance and Totalitarianism in 1984 During the production of 1984, author George Orwell never envisioned a tangible reality housing the society he constructed. He wrote the novel as a warning, a cautious exposà © showing those what could happen if society lost its sense of humanity; housed in a painfully relevant satire of totalitarian barbarism. In his novel 1984, George Orwell addresses the issue of government surveillance through his strategic use of point of viewRead MoreLiterary Context Of Dystopian Literature1746 Words   |  7 PagesZamyatin’s We, published in 1920 or even Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, published in 1932. However, it is in George Orwell’s 1984 that a truly horrific dystopian world is portrayed. Full of torture, misery, fear and repression, Orwell manages to manipulate and distort the idea of utopia and instead creates a place in which humans have no control over their own lives. The part of 1984, which is so compelling and interesting, is the fact that the people are living in a dystopian world without evenRead MoreTotalitarianism in Orwells Mind Essay1053 Words   |  5 PagesIngsoc are embodiments of everything that author George Orwell hates in government. 1984, a book written by Orwell, depicts a society called Oceania, in which unwary citizens are obedient to the Party, a totalitarian regime. Totalitarianism is defined as a political system in which a centralized government does not tolerate any form of political dissent and seeks to control many, if not all, aspects of public and private life. Another one of George Orwell’s books, Animal Farm, is an allegory about theRead MoreAnalysis Of 1984 s 1984 1317 Words   |  6 PagesLiterature and Composition Summer Project 1984 Ms. Shaw 1. 1984 The title 1984 is significant to the some of the themes throughout the novel which are developing technology, propaganda, and the ability to manipulate the truth. Developing technology is shown throughout the novel when telescreens and bombs become commonly used within society; these are examples of the technology modernizing throughout this time period. A second theme significant to the novel 1984 is propaganda led by using an exampleRead MoreTotalitarianism In George Orwells 19841028 Words   |  5 PagesTotalitarianism Used in 1984 A dystopia is a society which is characterized by misery, oppression, and unhappiness. Likewise, a totalitarian government neither allow parties to have different opinions nor freedom with a centralized government, therefore totalitarianism and dystopian societies are similar. In 1984, written by George Orwell, Big Brother is a dictator who gives the Oceanian population no personal freedoms and strictly dominates all of the country for their own selfish ways. Unlike OceaniaRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Dangers Of Power Through A Totalitarian Government1186 Words   |  5 Pages When an author writes a novel, the theme is the recurring lesson or message that is either symbolically hidden or boldly stated throughout the story. While writing 1984, George Orwell strongly displayed the theme of the dangers of power through a totalitarian government. Not only were Orwell’s ideas of corruption in an all-powerful government portrayed in his novel, 1984, but comparisons can be made with the story’s points of a spying authority, keeping the lower class ignorant, and an unscrupulousRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s 1984 1045 Words   |  5 PagesAndrea Keefe Honors English 11, Period 3 VanCuran 3/27/2017 1984 Foreword The time period in which 1984 was set was in the year 1984. It was very different from what our â€Å"1984† was like. Even though this book was not based on actual historical events, it does compare to things that happen in our society today. George Orwell also known as Eric Blair was born in 1903 in Motihari, Bengal. Orwell died on January 21st, 1950 in London, United

Analysis of Guo-Ming Chen’s “The Impact of New Media on Intercultural Communication in Global Context free essay sample

As technology has rapidly advanced, the ways in which humans communicate with each other have been dramatically altered. These technological advances have given birth to a variety of new forms of media, which include a multiplicity a communicatory devices including everything from mass media and social media, to digitization and data sharing. Within the journal China Media Research, (Volume 8.2, pg. 1-12, 2012) Professor Guo-Ming Chen of the University of Rhode Island authored, â€Å"The Impact of New Media on Intercultural Communication in a Global Context†. Within this piece, Chen illustrates the powerful influence that new media possesses within intercultural relationships, which in turn, have created new communities that challenge traditional norms. Chen presents her argument in a clear and concise manner, beginning with a brief history of communication studies, paralleled with how new media has been a dominant cause of globalization. This introduction establishes an outline from which she thoroughly expand her thesis (which I have previously noted) surrounding the theme of intercultural communication. This particular article aids the reader to further understand, and fully comprehend the difficulties that exist within technology’s effect on intercultural communication. Chen’s ideas relate to many of the course themes of CMNS 110, but specifically in Unit 2’s subsection titled the â€Å"Cultural Model vs. Transmission Model† of communication, which will further be elaborated within this paper. Throughout the entirety of her article, Chen aims to answer the overarching question: in what ways do sources of new media (ie. social media, data sharing, etc..) affect cross-cultural communication? She first begins to answer this daunting question by drawing on examples of the globalized world stating that â€Å"new media is the main force of accelerating the trend of globalization in human society†(1). At first one might not see the relationship between globalization, intercultural communication and new media, but Chen is able to illustrate how new media has been a driving cause in the trend of globalization. As a result, this weakens borders and boundaries between communities, fostering further communication between various cultures (2). She further explains that this shift in new media has â€Å"brought human interaction and society to a highly interconnected and  complex level†(2). This demonstrates that Chen clearly acknowledges that advances in technology and media have allowed people throughout the globe to be connected in ways they have never before. Initially, communicatory relationships were quite simple, but gradually becoming more complex. Different forms of communication have evolved from elements such as gestures and sounds, to complicated oral communication, to written word, to these forms of â€Å"new media†, demonstrating the complexity of current communication. International boundaries that have been lowered due to new media have made it far easier for humans to connect on a personal and interpersonal level, arguably creating new boundaries within communities and nations that juxtapose traditional norms (3). Immediately following her introduction of communication studies and globalization, Guo-Ming Chen continues by explaining how new cultures are being derived from the enhanced cross-cultural communication that is a product of the so-called â€Å"new media†. New forms of media have started so-called â€Å"virtual communities† which operate in both public and private realms in the forms of blogs, social media website, and various other online communities. With these innovative, high-speed and efficient forms of communication, not only individuals are affected, but entire cultures, value sets and social norms(5). Although people tend to see world communication interconnectivity as a positive element, Chen explains that it can also â€Å"create a continuity gap between traditions and innovations within a culture†(4). Immediately one can see that there are various implications that could arise from these newly-born virtual cultures. One major (potential) implication in which Chen draws on is the element of cultural identity. New media and new forms of communication that become dominant within many cultures have been said to challenge the traditional form and meaning of social identity(5). Since social and cultural identity is known to give individuals the feeling of a â€Å"sense of belonging†, cultural tensions can easily arise due to a disconnect within a physical community due to these alternate forms of communication (5,6). One could infer that this may be especially so for cultures with stronger collectivistic values, whom cherish a sense of community to a high degree. It is important to note that although some cultural identity is lost, new identities are being born, which will be further explained later. This is only one implication that Chen describes which is associated with the impact of new media on intercultural communication. An additional problem that can arise due to these new â€Å"virtual communities† being established is the threat of intercultural conflict that can develop as a result new, efficient forms of communication. G. Chen explains that not all cross-cultural communication results in positive relationships proclaiming, â€Å"different forms of media representation tend to reflect the asymmetry of intercultural communication and inevitably lead to the problem of intercultural confrontation or conflict in interpersonal, group and national levels†(7). This is a very critical point to raise, as new technologies creating more efficient forms of communication can actually be used as new tools to deceive, harm and negatively confront others. Before the technological era, humans had no other option but to confront their issues on a personal level, which naturally takes more time and resources to accomplish than with various forms of media and technology. Different opinions and values that are communicated through various forms of media set the stage to spark personal or international conflict as information is communicated with the metaphorical â€Å"push of a button†. However, Chen continues her article by acknowledging various positives with new media and new communicative vehicles. Chen concludes her argument by outlining the concepts of â€Å"communication competence† and â€Å"intercultural adaptation†, which can be viewed as positive facets of international communication as a whole. Intercultural adaptation in a communicatory sense refers to people from other cultures easing in to new surroundings by using forms of new media(6). Immigrants are able to establish new relationships and continue existing relationships by using various forms of technologically-based, interactive communication. As previously mentioned, although this weakens one’s sense of traditional cultural identity, an entire new hybrid identity is formed, one in which may be viewed as a more inclusive identity. In addition to cultural adaptation, international communication and new media helps encourage one’s communication competence. Chen explains that the more vehicles in which we use as communication device, the more competent we be come as animals of communication(7). Once again, this can be seen in a very positive light, as knowledge and competence are key values recognized worldwide, and in particular educational institutions. As students of communication, we are encouraged to apply various concepts that we discover to those we have learned in our studies. In the case of CMNS 110, we can apply Chen’s concepts to many of the Units that we have covered in the first three weeks of class. In particular, Unit 2 focused on various models of communication. In Chen’s article, we can immediately see similarities between her ideas and the cultural model itself. Unit 2 explains that the cultural model views â€Å"communication as the construction of a shared space or map of meaning within which people coexist†(Cultural Model par. 1). Immediately one can see that this runs parallel to Chen’s ideas surrounding intercultural communication, as well as the new â€Å"virtual communities† and cultural identities that are being created due to technological advances. As Unit 2 explains, the cultural model is more about communities that are developed due to communication, which directly supports Chen’s thesis (Cultural Model par. 3). One may argue that the transmission model is more related to Chen’s argument (as it deals with new media and technology), but since her focus was on the relationships and constructs (good or bad) that have been created by these forms of communication, I believe the cultural model is most fitting. After all, the cultural model strictly focuses on the concept of community, while the transitional model does not. Throughout â€Å"The Impact of Media on Intercultural Communication on a World Basis†, Guo-Ming Chen focuses on what she refers to as â€Å"new media† and how it has affected the way in which communities communicate between themselves, and throughout the world. She proclaims that due to phenomena such as technological advances and in turn, globalization, the human race is developing alternate definitions of communities that are consistent with these constantly developing forms of technology. Naturally, this concept carries both positive and negative attributes that greatly influence the way people live their lives on an interpersonal, group and governmental level. These constantly growing forms of communication have lead to progressions in intercultural adaptation and have strengthened intercultural relationships. Alternatively, new media and the communicative properties that are imbedded have created intercultural conflict and diminished cultural identity to a certain degree. By applying these concepts to the reading we have completed in class, Chen successfully furthered my understanding of the cultural model of communication, reinforcing the fact that this particular model revolves around the construct that communication is meant to form community and relationships of shared space. By making comparisons such as these, our understanding of the world of communication is further developed, strengthening our overall knowledge and competence.

Shamanism

Who are shamans? Shamans are personal beings who are involved in the practice of treating the spirits in a world beyond human understanding. Shamans are able to do this as they have the capacity to take a journey into the world of spirits. They enter the world of spirits where they are able to master the myths behind these spirits. Shamans are extremely vital in the communities where they are found as they help these communities in various ways.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Shamanism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, they guide their communities during difficult times, for instance, in times of sicknesses, death, pain or when people are faced with difficult choices concerning their lives (Moss, 2010). Shamans can be said to be people with specialist knowledge in a given religious system. The shaman has a great knowledge on the spiritual world, as well as human soul through ecstasy. Thus, t hey have the power of an unaltered state of mind. This is what enables the shamans to connect with the spiritual world. By so doing, the shamans bring numerous benefits to the community (Moss, 2010). Where are they? Currently, shamans can be found in Eurasia in countries like Siberia, Inner Asia and Mongolia. This is mainly due to the fact that their religious beliefs are closely linked to hunting and gathering activities in society. Shamanism has developed as a result of human beings desiring to exert their control, as well as influence to the natural world and traditional cultures and religions are said to be the oldest forms of healing (Moss, 2010). Consequently, some people estimate that shamanism originated a long time ago and has been part of many religions practiced world wide. For instance, shamanism has been practiced in parts like the Oceania region, Tibet, South America, Korea, as well as China (Moss, 2010). What are their practices for healing? A shaman plays several rol es that are clearly defined. As a revered and essential community member, a shaman acts as a dream interpreter, a link between the physical and world of spirits, physician, spiritual minister and a psychiatrist. On the other hand, outsiders perceive a shaman as being a primitive medical doctor. However, to believers in shamanism, the healing rituals undertaken by the shaman offers an avenue for existence with a moral interpretation (Moss, 2010).Advertising Looking for research paper on alternative medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Healing is one of the major activities undertaken by shamans. There is a difference that exists between shamanistic healing and the conventional healing done in the traditional biomedicine. The difference is in the health implications of a symbolic reality in the two practices (Moss, 2010). This is in terms of mediating that which separates the biophysical and psychocultural aspects of medici ne and science. Shamanism healing entails performance of rituals and the ritual activity performed both at the symbolic and social levels has effects on human functioning. A ritual performed by the shamans does have health implications. However, in most cases, healing activities in shamanism involve critical rituals performed as a response to crises in society (Moss, 2010). More so, there are rituals for social transition which in most cases, act as rites of passage. Shamanism healing also includes calendrical rituals normally held on specified days annually. These calendrical rituals enhance solidarity and integration in the society as a whole. As such, they are vital in recognition of a stage of development in one’s life (Moss, 2010). Some Shamanic ritual that appeal to me The rituals which appeal to me are those performed by the Lebu healers in Senegal. In their healing rituals, the shaman healers of the Lebu dress like hyenas. These healers are then confronted and scared off by a noble lion, normally more powerful than the hyena. In this ritual, the hyena and lion do have a symbolic meaning where immorality and human weaknesses in society are represented by the hyena. Essentially, these shamans use the hyena to depict all the negative things happening in society while the lion is used to symbolize morality. Evil spirits have to be scared off to maitain morality (Moss, 2010). One major practice of shamanism is having the power animals. These power animals are what acts as people’s guide in their daily lives. Normally, these animals are seen as the guardian spirits. Thus, these guardian spirits are what represent the power, character quality, as well as the strengths of given people who believe in them. Additionally, in shamanism, these power animals keep changing from time to time. More so, the animals are viewed as having different strengths and they are responsible for infusing people with personal power (Weor, 2010).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Shamanism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This research paper on Shamanism was written and submitted by user S1lverSable to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Classical and Behavioural Approaches

Classical and Behavioural Approaches Outline This is an essay which compares the classical approach to the management and behavioral approach to the management. The paper is designed in such a way that first, there is an introduction followed by the body of the paper. The body of the paper discusses the two approaches in brief along with stating their criticism. Then a conclusion is made from the said discussion.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Classical and Behavioural Approaches specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Introduction The concept of management of people as an organized group must have existed ever since human beings started living in organized societies. History shows us that there have been many great empires and civilizations that have developed, grown, and decayed over a period of time. For an organized activity to be successful there should exist, elements of leadership and management. It can be said that some form of management might have e xisted over the years. But it is only during the later half of the nineteenth century that established principles and theories of management began to emerge. The early theories of management, often referred to as scientific were based on increasing productivity in a competitive economy fuelled by the industrial revolution. This approach in most cases treated people as machines without consideration of their feelings or not taking into account the fact that humans are complex beings. But ever since the shortcomings of a scientific approach became apparent a more human centric outlook developed. This viewpoint is referred to as the behavioral approaches, began to take into account that employees are motivated by factors other than money. Due to the importance of management with regard to an organization’s growth and success, it is important to understand the history of management theories. Growing levels of communication, travel, globalization, and free trade have made the mark et highly competitive and mangers should be aware of the complexities of management. They should be able to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the two approaches mentioned above. This paper is an attempt at explaining the two approaches followed by a comparative analysis of the same. The first section will discuss scientific management theories followed by behavioral approaches. A comparative analysis will be done next before concluding the paper. Classical approach to management Management principles as they exist today have been evolved over a period of time. Its emergence is not a phenomenon of the twentieth century only. Management, in one form, or other existed in the other social, political and economic life of mankind throughout the ages. It has grown along with other social, political and economic institutions.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In olden days it existed in the form of personal leadership. When trade developed, with increasing out put of artisans, management of some type developed. However, the problems of management in those days were simple and capable of easy solution. Henry Fayol, F.W. Taylor and Max Weber contributed much classical approach of management. The classical period 1890- 1930 is considered as the classical period. This period is called as scientific management period because only during this period the contributions of F.W. Taylor and Henry Fayol furthered the causes of scientific management. Till then management was concerned only in terms of privileges, authority and obligations of ownership. However this period witnessed a great advance in the management practice and also the introduction of better and faster methods of production. The salient features of this period can be outlined as follows. Various methods were devised for utilizing human effort intelligently with a view to maximize the output with minimum waste. Work was planned and controlled. The organizational structure was thoroughly overhauled. Wage payment systems were made incentive-oriented so as to provide maximum motivation to workers. Contribution by different theorists The classical approach of management is enriched with the contribution by different theorists on different aspects of classical approach. They are explained below. F.W. Taylor, Frank and Lillian Gilbreth F.W. Taylor was considered as one of the greatest classical theorists of management and he is the father of scientific management movement. Taylor was one of the first theorists to introduce scientific management principles in management. According to Taylor, scientific management is the discovery of best method of performing a particular work under the existing conditions of knowledge and organizing ability. He also tried to develop the best and fruitful method of productivity in a given situation. The implementation of scientific man agement can increase the productivity as it uses the standardized tools and methods. The scientific management approaches focuses on the group efforts rather than individual efforts. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth also contributed much scientific management approach of classical theories of management. They helped Taylor in the development of scientific management principles. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth contributed much in designing the principles related to time study and motion study (Historical perspective on productivity improvement, 2008).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Classical and Behavioural Approaches specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Henri Fayol and Mary Parker Follet Henry Fayol developed certain principles which could be used in all management situations. The main contribution by Fayol includes he introduced the concept of division of industrial activities. He also contributed some essential qualities of an effective manager. He is the management expert who classified the management process in to different functions like planning, organizing†¦etc. He was the developer of 14 principles of managenet (What are the 14 Principles of Management, 2009). Mary Parker Follet attempted to interpret classical management principles in terms of human factors. She gave solution for managing the conflicts in the organizations. She also suggested that the managers should be ready to recognize the importance of group work and the manager should be a good co-coordinator. Max Weber – Bureaucracy Max Weber is another expert in classical approach of management. Weber was of the opinion that well established principles and practices were the best option for growth and productivity. Once the best practices are indentified they should be implemented and practiced without fail. He was also in favor of a high hierarchical structure with clear cut directions which should be followed to the letter. Cri ticism However in the development of management, scientific management stressed the application of methodology of science rather than individual wisdom and ability in the running of an industry. Critics of scientific management state that those who follow the scientific management viewed the business organization from extremely mechanical view and treated the worker as a rational profit maximizing element of the system. Thus scientific management, which is considered as the greatest among the classical approach is suffering from this kinds of criticism. Behavioral approach to management The industrial revolution and the growth of job opportunities resulted in a mass migration of rural population to the cities. The appalling working conditions brought about by scientific management and the general changes and liberalization in societies resulted in an approach that is more attuned toward the needs of workers other than their salaries and wages. â€Å"Several prominent theorists bega n to direct their attention to the human element in the workplace. Elton Mayo, Mary Parker Follett, Douglas McGregor, Chris Argyris, and Abraham Maslow were writers who addressed this issue by contending that increased worker satisfaction would lead to better performance† (Behavioral management theory, n.d.). The above list is not comprehensive and only illustrative of the change in approach. This section will focus on theories that had a strong impact in shift of approaches from a scientific one to a more humanistic approach.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Studies by Roethlisberger Dickson It could be said that the above two theorists were one of the earliest ones to view employees as humans rather than as workers. Their work is primarily a detailed chronicle of an earlier study, now known as the famous Hawthorne experiment. Their work does not have an individuality of their own, but is based on other studies including the one mentioned above. But what stands out is their identification of a factor they term as sentiments. The Hawthorne studies identified the concept of informal organizations to which the concept of ‘sentiment’ was added by the two theorists. According to Organ et al, sentiment is actually the attitude of the employee and if the sentiments are looked after well, productivity will increase. It can be said that â€Å"sentiments are the underlying dimensions of attitudes, values, and feelings that shape the informal organization† Organ, Podsakoff Bradley, p. 48). This study is not original in that s ense, but is a contribution to the humanistic approach present in behavioral theories. Elton Mayo and the Western Electric Hawthorne Works It is interesting to note that this study was done primarily to understand the effect of lighting (in the workplace) on productivity and not for non-financial motivation. The surprising result was that â€Å"those experiments showed no clear connection between productivity and the amount of illumination but researchers began to wonder what kind of changes would influence output† (Elton Mayo’s Hawthorne experiments, 2008). The validity of the study cannot be questioned because it was done over a period of five years starting in 1927. Six employees of the company were selected to participate in the experiment and they were provided with different working conditions that included better/poorer lighting, rest, lesser working hours and practically no supervision. The person in charge (supervisor) acted mainly as an observer rather than a taskmaster. Different combinations were tried out and most resulted in increased productivity. The surprising result was that productivity increased even after the girls were sent back to their normal working conditions. It became obvious that lighting was not a major factor in improving productivity. Mayo and his team at Harvard came to the conclusion that freedom (lack of coercion) and a sense of participation or belonging were the primary factors responsible for the state of affairs. Moreover, the girls had developed their own style of working rather than being forced to follow one as seen in the scientific approaches. The end result was that the world of management began to appreciate the human side of management as better when compared to a coercive approach. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Abraham Maslow observed that workers are motivated by needs that are hierarchical in nature. He developed a standard set of needs where one fulfilled need will then lead to the next one. The hierarchy of needs are physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization needs. Once the basic needs like food, shelter, and source of livelihood are obtained, the employee will seek job security and safety. Then comes social needs like companionship, sense of belonging, and a feeling to be needed in the organization. any aspect that enhances the ego like recognition and praise comes next (esteem needs). Once all these are achieved, the employee will look at the higher values like truth and meaning of life and existence. He will also be looking for contributing more towards society more than receiving from it. McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y â€Å"Douglas McGregor’s Theory X/ Theory Y (first espoused in the early 1960s) is based to a great extent of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory from the mid 1950s† (Leonard, 2002, p.192). McGregor theorized two distinct worker attitudes that determine productivity namely X and Y. In the former scena rio, work is seen as a bother and hence the employee needs strict supervision and clear cut directions. They also tend to avoid responsibility, but are attracted towards the concept of job security. Observations about Theory Y are based on modern management principles. They welcome responsibility, do not like to be coerced, and are more attuned towards self-directed work. The concept of job satisfaction is also important. McGregor’s preferred model was Theory Y, but felt that it is more practical in small scale operations. Large scale operations (for example assembly lines) would be much better off using Theory X. Criticism Even behavioral approaches are not faultless. For example, they appear to be too rigid and cannot fully explain the complexity of human behavior. All the factors are pre-determined and it is assumed that all human emotions and needs fall within these parameters. Comparative study It can be seen that the behavioral approach is more advantageous and even pra ctical when the human element is involved. The scientific approach is fine when dealing with machines, but where employees are concerned, it is important to take into consideration factors distinct from compensation and income. Today’s managers need to understand both these concepts because elements from the two are present in management practices. For example, McDonald’s have a highly standardized set of work practices aimed at mass and efficient production. But they also have policies where worker motivation and job satisfaction is given importance. Moreover, concepts like lean manufacturing and just-in-time have their basis in scientific management principles. The concept of Kaizen or continuous improvement is an offshoot of the principles found in the scientific approach (Best, 2001, p. 113). Conclusion It can be seen that both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages. The principles of lean production, continuous improvement, and just-in-time have their roots in the scientific approach. The importance of human resources management and department in organizations illustrate the importance of the behavioral or humanistic approach to management. It is essential that the diverse needs that motivate employees and bring about job satisfaction need to be considered in today’s management scenario. But workers also need to be controlled and an element of standardization be present in many processes. It can be concluded that elements of both approaches need to be present in today’s management practices. The factor that should be given more importance is the behavioral or humanistic approach to management. References Behavioral management theory. (n.d.). ArticlesGratuits.com. Web. Best, M. H. (2001). The new competitive advantage (p. 113). Oxford University Press. Elton Mayo’s Hawthorne experiments. (2008). Accel team development. Web. Historical perspective on productivity improvement. (2008). Accel team development. Web . Leonard, D. C. (2002). Learning theories, A to Z (p. 192). Greenwood Publishing Group. Organ, D. W., Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B. (2006). Organizational citizenship behavior (p. 48). SAGE. What are the 14 Principles of Management. (2009). 12Manage – The executive fast track. Web.

Translating Names of Minerals to Gemstones and Back

Translating Names of Minerals to Gemstones and Back When certain minerals compress under specific conditions, most often below the surface of the earth, a process occurs which forms a new compound known as a gemstone. Gemstones can be made of one or more minerals, and as a result, some minerals refer to more than one gemstone name. In order to better understand the interaction between the two, reference the two charts below - the first details each gemstone and the minerals that combined to form it and the second lists each mineral and the gemstones it can produce. For instance, Quartz can form Amethyst, Ametrine, Citrine, and Morion (and a few more) gemstones depending on which other minerals and elements compress together and at what depth in the earths crust and temperature the compression occurs at. How Gemstones Are Formed Most gemstones are formed in either the crust or the very top layer of the earths mantle in the molten magma bubbling in the depths of the world, but only peridot and diamonds are formed deep in the mantle. All gems, however, are mined in the crust where they can cool to solidify in the crust, which is made up of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock. Like the minerals that make up gemstones, some are associated with one kind of rock in particular while others have several types of rock that go into the creation of that stone. Igneous gemstones are formed when magma solidifies in the crust and crystallizes to form minerals then an increase in pressure starts a series of chemical exchanges which eventually cause the mineral to compress into a gemstone. Igneous rock gemstones include amethyst, citrine, ametrine, emeralds, morganite, and aquamarine as well as garnet, moonstone, apatite, and even diamond and zircon. Gemstones to Minerals The following chart serves as a translation guide between gemstones and minerals with each link going to photos of the gems and minerals: Gemstone Name Mineral Name Achroite Tourmaline Agate Chalcedony Alexandrite Chrysoberyl Amazonite Microcline Feldspar Amber Amber Amethyst Quartz Ametrine Quartz Andalusite Andalusite Apatite Apatite Aquamarine Beryl Aventurine Chalcedony Benitoite Benitoite Beryl Beryl Bixbite Beryl Bloodstone Chalcedony Brazilianite Brazilianite Cairngorm Quartz Carnelian Chalcedony Chrome Diopside Diopside Chrysoberyl Chrysoberyl Chrysolite Olivine Chrysoprase Chalcedony Citrine Quartz Cordierite Cordierite Demantoid Garnet Andradite Diamond Diamond Dichroite Cordierite Dravite Tourmaline Emerald Beryl Garnet Pyrope, Almandine, Andradite, Spessartine, Grossularite, Uvarovite Goshenite Beryl Heliodor Beryl Heliotrope Chalcedony Hessonite Grossularite Hiddenite Spodumene Indigolite/Indicolite Tourmaline Iolite Cordierite Jade Nephrite or Jadeite Jasper Chalcedony Kunzite Spodumene Labradorite Plagioclase Feldspar Lapis Lazuli Lazurite Malachite Malachite Mandarin Garnet Spessartine Moonstone Orthoclase, Plagioclase, Albite, Microcline Feldspars Morganite Beryl Morion Quartz Onyx Chalcedony Opal Opal Peridot Olivine Pleonast Spinel Quartz Quartz Rhodochrosite Rhodochrosite Rhodolite Almandine-Pyrope Garnet Rubellite Tourmaline Rubicelle Spinel Ruby Corundum Sapphire Corundum Sard Chalcedony Scapolite Scapolite Schorl Tourmaline Sinhalite Sinhalite Sodalite Sodalite Spinel Spinel Sugilite Sugilite Sunstone Oligoclase Feldspar Taaffeite Taaffeite Tanzanite Zoisite Titanite Titanite (Sphene) Topaz Topaz Tourmaline Tourmaline Tsavorite Garnet Grossularite Turquoise Turquoise Uvarovite Uvarovite Verdelite Tourmaline Violan Diopside Zircon Zircon Minerals to Gemstones In the following chart, the minerals in the column on the left translate to the gemstone name on the right, with links contained therein forwarding to more information and additional of the minerals and gemstones associated. Mineral Name Gemstone Name Albite Moonstone Almandine Garnet Almandine-Pyrope Garnet Rhodolite Amber Amber Andalusite Andalusite Andradite Demantoid Garnet Apatite Apatite Benitoite Benitoite Beryl Aquamarine, Beryl, Bixbite, Emerald, Goshenite, Heliodore, Morganite Brazilianite Brazilianite Chalcedony Agate, Aventurine, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Chrysoprase, Heliotrope, Jasper, Onyx, Sard Chrysoberyl Alexandrite, Chrysoberyl Cordierite Cordierite, Dichroite, Iolite Corundum Ruby, Sapphire Diamond Diamond Diopside Chrome Diopside, Violan Grossular/Grossularite Hessonite, Tsavorite Garnet Jadeite Jade Lazurite Lapis Lazuli Malachite Malachite Microcline Feldspar Amazonite, Moonstone Nephrite Jade Oligoclase Feldspar Sunstone Olivine Chrysolite, Peridot Opal Opal Orthoclase Feldspar Moonstone Plagioclase Feldspar Moonstone, Labradorite Pyrope Garnet Quartz Amethyst, Ametrine, Cairngorm, Citrine, Morion, Quartz Rhodochrosite Rhodochrosite Scapolite Scapolite Sinhalite Sinhalite Sodalite Sodalite Spessartine Mandarin Garnet Sphene (Titanite) Titanite Spinel Pleonast, Rubicelle Spodumene Hiddenite, Kunzite Sugilite Sugilite Taaffeite Taaffeite Topaz Topaz Tourmaline Achroite, Dravite, Indigolite/Indicolite, Rubellite, Schorl, Verdelite Turquoise Turquoise Uvarovite Garnet, Uvarovite Zircon Zircon Zoisite Tanzanite

Rational Analysis of Oral Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Rational Analysis of Oral Communication - Essay Example Unlike oral interaction which requires immediate processing of information to turn them into comprehensible messages, writing can evaluate and process information in a longer period of time (Rosenberg, 1987, p. 125). Thus, the impenetrability of orality to certain language processes can be processed by writing. Scholars Marlene Scardamalia and Carl Bereiter also supported the existence of Goody-Havelock-McLuhan-Ong theory. They demonstrated that knowledge can more easily be transformed in writing composition than in oral communication, thus giving way for man’s cultivation of knowledge. Scardamalia and Bereiter constructed a knowledge-telling model in writing. The first element is the mental representation of assignment followed by several knowledge-telling processes towards perfection of the composition. These include locating topic and genre identifiers, constructing memory clues, retrieving content from memory and run tests of appropriateness. (Rosenberg, 1987, p. 144). Such processes are rarely executed in oral communication because of immediacy orality requires. Therefore, writing as the driving force of man’s civilization is beyond doubt, considering its several knowledge-cultivating processes.

Vessel electrical Distribution system Assignment

Vessel electrical Distribution system - Assignment Example These are vessels that apply complicated operational systems as extra precaution against accidents and that also needs effective management system, even employing well-tested computer software for electricity distribution and communication. Great example of modern large vessels are cruise ships, commercial and industrial ships and tankers, military ships, pipe layers, and drill, which have complicated electrical distribution systems with multiple generators, distribution boards, and significant essential services located throughout the vessel. The type of distribution system needs a power management system which is responsible for the automatic start/stop control of the generators, loads, and all interconnections inside the distribution ring. A ring-main configuration provides at least two power sources for each essential component. Electrical distribution and control systems become problematic sometimes due to the growing number of consumers and distribution units. In this scenario, we must be able to provide detailed attention on the complex distribution and control systems and a focus on the special operation and reliability. Working on these systems requires a collaborative effort as this is a real challenge for engineers and technicians. The crew who will operate need proper training. The worldwide shortage of qualified technical personnel affects the marine industry and superimposes the human factor on the operation issues. Engineering activities during the design of large distribution systems include the use of new modern tools, software packages, and often dynamic simulation analysis, all of which can lead to an increasing number of errors. One particular problematic area is the application of converters, which are related with so-called harmonic distortion. Converters need filtering equipment, which are quite expensive. Multiple installation or

The Titanic Disaster Essay Example for Free

The Titanic Disaster Essay John Eaton, one of the co-authors of Titanic: Triumph and Tragedy said that in the summer of 1907, J. Bruce Ismay and Lord James Pirrie, a partner in Harland and Wolff, met to discuss plans to build two ocean liners that will surpass anything built to date. This simple meeting set off a chain of events that led to the death of over 1500 people less than five years later. The two ocean liners were to be called the Olympic and the Titanic. A third ship was added to the plans later. The Titanics hull plate was laid in 1909 and a little over two years later, Titanics 26,000 ton hull is launched at Harland and Wolffs shipyard. The ship reached a speed of twelve knots when it slid into the water before six anchor chains and two piles of cable drag chains weighing 80 tons each brought her to a halt. The White Star Line never christened their ships. Many people still consider this to be a bad omen (Eaton 87-90). On April 2, 1912, the Titanic set sail from Belfast and completed her sea trials. A small fire started in boiler room 6 that would smolder for weeks in the coal dust of the starboard bunker due to a spark from one of the boilers. Just eight days later, passengers began to board the ship to take the maiden voyage of the huge ocean liner. Shortly after noon on April 10, the Titanics mooring ropes were cleared and tug boats began to tow her from the dock. According to Colonel Archibald Gracie, a survivor of the wreck and author of the article Out of the Wreck, the movement of Titanics huge mass in the harbor causes all 6 mooring ropes of the ocean liner New York to snap. The New York began to swing towards the Titanics hull, but the tug boat, the Vulcan, managed to catch the New Yorks bow and heads off the collision. After some delay, Titanic is towed from the harbor and begins the 24 mile crossing of the English Channel. By Friday, Titanic is well on her way out to the North Atlantic, running at 21 knots (Eaton 105-109). During Captain Smiths inspection of the engine room on Saturday morning, Chief Engineer Bell reports the fire in boiler room 6 is finally extinguished, however the bulkhead part of the bunker shows signs of heat  damage (Eaton 105-10). Ton Kuntz, editor of the book Titanic Disaster Hearings: The Official Transcripts of the 1912 Senate Investigation, wrote that one survivor told investigators that Smith and Ismay talked at lunch about making New York a day early and grabbing headlines The Titanic began to receive ice warnings from other ships in the area. There were reports of large quantities of field ice 250 miles ahead of Titanic. Captain Smith took this message from the radio operators and later showed it to Bruce Ismay. There was another message was received from the ocean liner America that warned the Titanic of icebergs in its path, but this message was not forwarded to Captain Smith. The Californian later sent a third message warning of ice 50 miles ahead of Titanic. After meeting with Second Officer Lightoller and discussing the unusually calm seas and clear air, Captain Smith retires to his room. Officer Lightoller then cautions lookouts to be careful of ice until morning. The Titanics speed at this time is 22 knots (Kuntz 270-274). A heavy ice pack and iceberg warning is received from the Masaba. Wireless Officers Phillips and Bride ignored the message and proceed with sending personal messages from the passengers. Later, Lightoller passed the watch off to First Officer Murdock. Just a few hours later, Lookout Frederick Fleet rang the bridge by telephone yelling Iceberg right ahead! and rang the crows nest bell 3 times. Sixth Officer Moody acknowledges and relayed the message to Murdock, who orders the ships wheel turned hard-a-starboard and telegraphs the engine room to bring the ship to a full stop followed by the order full a-stern which would cause the propellers to turn backwards and slow the ship. The Titanic began to turn slowly to port but struck an underwater piece of the iceberg on the starboard side 12 feet back from the bow. The side of the ship was scrapped for 300 feet along Titanics side below the waterline,  tearing a hole in five compartments of the ship. First Officer Murdock ordered the wheel turned full to port, trying to corner Titanic around the remainder of the iceberg. He also threw the electric switch closing the water-tight compartment doors. Passengers on the upper decks saw the iceberg as Titanic passed by. Captain Smith arrived on the bridge and ordered Thomas Andrews, Chief Wilde, and Officer Boxhall to go below and inspect the damage (Eaton195-96). The post office on G deck was flooded, trapping and drowning several workers. Thomas Andrews reported that 5 compartments are flooded to the waterline and advised Captain Smith that Titanic can float with 4 compartments filled, but not 5. Less than 3 hours later, the lights flickered once and then went out as the electric generators fail. Titanics hull split from the deck to the keel between the 3rd and 4th funnels. The stern section falls back to the water and then rose up again as the bow broke off and began its decent to the ocean floor. The stern section floods and went down, 2 hours and 30 minutes after the collision. (Gracie 895-97). Over 1500 remaining passengers plunge into the icy water. There are several fields of thought as to what caused the disaster. Many believe that the ship was jinxed from the beginning because it wasnt christened and because of the bad luck of a near collision at beginning of its maiden voyage. According to Logan Morgan the sinking of the Titanic was mainly caused by unusual weather and human error. To begin with, the Titanic was on the southern most of the routes that were used by ocean liners. It was highly unusual for that much ice to be found that far south in April. Also the water and wind were very calm, no chance of spotting a breaker against an iceberg which would have made them much easier to spot. Finally there was no moonlight shining on the water; which made the night very dark. There are also many human errors that were made during that voyage. The  lookouts binoculars had been removed from the crows nest and locked in a cabinet in the second officers cabin and no one aboard had a key. The ship received numerous wireless messages alerting them to ice lying right in their path. Some of these were tacked up on the bridge and forgotten, one wound up in Bruce Ismays pocket and others never made it out of the wireless room (Kuntz. 301-03) Bruce Ismay wanted to make a good impression with his new ship and urged Captain Smith to test the speed of the huge ocean liner. So the Titanic was traveling at a much faster speed than it should have been (Eaton 303). Finally there were too few lifeboats for all the passengers on board and the ship was thought to be unsinkable so many passengers refused to leave the ship for the tiny lifeboats. In conclusion, many bad things happened during the Titanics short maiden voyage from the weather to actions of the crew. Each of these could have been disastrous alone, but a combination of all these factors contributed to a disaster causing the loss of over 1500 lives.

Summary of William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet :: Romeo and Juliet Essays

Summary of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Paris asks Capulet for his daughter Juliet's hand in marriage. Capulet replies that she is still too young to be married, but nevertheless invites Paris to try to woo her at a banquet he is holding that night. He gives a servant a list of guests and tells him to take an invitation to each of them. The servant is illiterate, and so goes about trying to find someone to read the list for him. He runs into Romeo and Benvolio, who are still discussing Romeo's unrequited love. The servant gets Romeo to read the guest list for him, and then tells him about the banquet. Benvolio convinces Romeo to go along with him to the banquet to compare the other beautiful women there with the one he is pining for: Rosaline, a niece of Capulet. Act I, Scene iii Lady Capulet, Juliet, and the Nurse talk about the possibility of Juliet being married to Paris. Lady Capulet encourages Juliet to consider him as a potential husband when she sees him at the banquet. The Nurse is completely taken with the idea, but Juliet is not especially enthusiastic. Commentary These two scenes introduce Paris as Capulet's pick for Juliet's husband and, more broadly, establish the theme of parental influence over a child's happiness. In the last scene, it was shown how the hatred Capulet and Montague bear for each other flows down to affect the rest of their households and results in violent conflict, but here the influence is more subtle and mundane. Paris is a nobleman and a worthy choice to be Juliet's husband; there is no reason why she should not want to marry him. Capulet himself defers to her ability to choose for herself ("My will to her consent is but a part"), but his power to force her into a marriage if he feels it necessary is implicitly present. It is significant that Paris speaks to Juliet's father before he ever shows her any indication of his feelings, and apparently before he even gets to know her particularly well. Lady Capulet, for her part, offers her entire support to her husband's plan for their daughter, and begins to put pressure on Juliet to think about Paris as a husband before Juliet begins to think about marriage at all on her own. Juliet even says to Lady Capulet in scene 3 how important her influence is to her in this matter: "I'll look to like, looking liking move; / But no more deep will I endart mine eye / Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.

Sonance at a Turning Point

CASE SONANCE AT A TURNING POINT I. Introduction: Problem / General Issue Sonance is a company at a crossroads, long established as the leader in high-end home theatre speakers, it is at an inflection point where it needs to decide whether it wants to be a high-end speaker producer served through customized dealer channels, or a mass market audio systems maker. The past decade has seen the rise of a new competitive threat, the demise of its dealer channel and the emergence of a highly informed and selective customer base which have all served to hurt the company’s prospects.In the early 2000s, when price competition prompted Sonance to increase customer variability through retail channels Sonance sacrificed its brand identity. Having no experience in selling its products directly to end customers, Sonance suffered from its own inexperience of appealing to the new market while at the same alienating its established market. While the company made significant investments in R&D, t hese efforts were never backed by a well-thought analysis of distribution strategy or an understanding of the value of each customer channel.What follows is an analysis of Sonance’s current situation and the articulation of a strategy, that if implemented, is designed to re-establish Sonance position as the leader in the in-wall, home theatre speaker market. II. Situation Analysis In trying to capture the opportunities of the growing consumer electronics market, Sonance’s attempt at expanding into retail ultimately backfired with a decline in revenue from $53mm in 2003 to $47mm in 2004 (almost back to the level of 1999).This situation has brought the company to the edge: with limited funds available, Sonance needs to clearly define its product development and distribution strategy. By entering the mass retail market channel in 2000, Sonance eviscerated its historical base of dealer customers, losing roughly 50% of its dealers in a 5 year period. While overall revenues declined by only 19% during this period, the composition of Sonance’s revenue stream has changed from a +90% concentration in Dealers to less than a 50% concentration in Dealers, with the balance spread between Retail and Production Housing.Due to this shift, Sonance is not only perilously exposed to the cyclical flows of retailing, but also is much more sensitive to the overall performance of each customer, as the loss of the Lowe’s account in 2004 resulted in a 37% decline in mass market revenue. Ultimately, the move to retail puts Sonance in a precarious long-term position as its customers have significant buying power as high volume purchasers.In the future it is likely that mass-market retailers will be able to use their purchasing power to drive down the margins Sonance is able to extract on its sales, and ultimately serve to diminish the dealer channel. The decline of the dealer channel increases Sonance’s long-term risk by locking it out of the market fo r luxury home theatre systems. While the move to retail offset $10 million of the $17 million of revenue lost through normal dealer installations between 1999 and 2004, it is unlikely that any of the $6 million of highend home theater system revenue could be recouped through mass market retail.As luxury customers are less price sensitive and look to dealers to customize their entire installation, Sonance’s move towards the retail model at the expense of the dealers will eventually find it locked out of the lucrative and sticky luxury market altogether. Furthermore, Sonance’s dealer base faces further erosion as its main competitor, SpeakerSoft, has taken advantage of Sonance’s wounded dealer channel by undercutting roughly 25% on price and further incenting custom dealers to choose SpeakerCraft speakers over Sonance Original Series speakers in customer projects.This, combined with the alienation from competing with Sonance’s retail offerings serves to fur ther erode Sonance’s dealer channel as dealers choose lower priced competitor offerings. Paradoxically, as Sonance has developed a mass retail channel at the expense of its dealer network, it is deciding whether to push forward with the development of the Architectural Series of speakers. It would be the first and only truly flush-mount trimless speaker, a true niche product appealing to the less cost sensitive high end, luxury market.This product line, with a manufacturing cost 400% higher than the original series and a complex installation process, requires a viable luxury dealer network in order to succeed in the market. Sonance is also exploring the potential of converting the current Sonance-only iPort device into a universal, detachable dock tailored for all home theatre systems. Moving forward on this plan would be a reaffirmation of the retail play the company began in the early 2000s.With an optimistic price tag of $335, Sonance’s strategy of introducing the p roduct via Target, a discount retailer, appears misguided as the device is more expensive than its competition and even an iPod itself. Furthermore, by entering the market of retail iPod accessories, Sonance is looking to go head to head with many other discount brands. The competition and dynamics of this market are unlike that of the custom home theatre market, and it is expected that Sonance will have challenges adapting and efficiently executing within it. III.Evaluate Available Options / Alternatives The primary choice that Sonance has to make is which product to launch at the coming CEDIA EXPO, either the Architectural Series or the detachable iPort, and as a result, which customer base should they focus their attention on. We evaluated the customer lifetime value (CLV) of Sonance’s different customers as of 2004 based on the information provided in the case and our own assumptions (see Exhibit 1 in the Appendix). Our primary assumptions for this analysis are below:  · Original Series Dealers Price per pair of $140 o Retention Rate of 75%, conservative estimate based on change in number of dealers from 2003 to 2004 (600 to 500) o Growth rate of 5%, below growth in consumer spending due to Dealers’ unhappiness with Sonance o Sales per Customer of 300, assuming 15 projects per dealer per year, with an average of 20 speaker pairs per project  · Original Series Production Builders o Price per pair of $90 o Retention Rate of 50%, below Dealers because of competitive bidding structure for larger scale projects vs. ndividual homes through Dealers o Growth rate of 10%, in-line with new home sales growth o Sales per Customer of 960, assuming 80 projects per Production Builder per year, with an average of 12 speaker pairs per project  · Original Series Mass Retail Market o Price per pair of $120 o Retention Rate of 20%, shares shelf space with all competitors’ products, smaller size projects o Growth rate of 10%, in-line with consumer sp ending o Sales per Customer of 83,333, divided BestBuy 2004 sales ($10 million) by average price per pair  · iPort Dealers Price per iPort of $300 o Retention Rate of 75%, equal to Dealers’ Retention Rate of Original Series speakers o Growth rate of 15%, below iPod growth due to high price, but higher growth than other Sonance products o Sales per Customer of 7, assumes 1 / 3 of Dealers’ annual projects will generate a sale Based on this analysis, we chose launching the Architectural Series and refocusing Sonance on the Dealer channel as our first alternative to evaluate. The CLV’s for this alternative are shown in Exhibit 2.We assume the Architectural Series will be a leading product in the market and will earn a high retention rate among ultra high-end dealers of 90%. Sonance would also be able to initially attract 50% of these niche dealers they had in 1999 (75 vs. 150 previously). Sonance would have the choice in this scenario to price the Architectural Se ries at either $875 per pair, based on the advice of their focus group, or $305, based on the internal marketing group’s recommendation.Our assumptions regarding customer mix for this scenario is that Sonance would drop the mass retail market customer to signal they are focused only on the custom and semi-custom installation markets. In addition, Sonance would consider reducing the price of their Original Series Speakers to the Dealers to $90 from $140. This would improve the Dealers’ gross margin to 75%, equal to SpeakerCraft’s, although the margin net of installation costs would still be lower (see Exhibit 2). These assumptions would lead to an increased Retention Rate through the Dealers sales of Original Series Speakers of 85% and a higher growth rate of 10% vs. %. Sonance would also increase their Retention Rate with Dealers for the existing iPort product to 85% in this scenario. The second alternative we evaluated was to launch the Detachable iPort instead of the Architectural Series and to continue to focus on the Mass Market Retail. The CLV’s for this alternative are shown in Exhibit 3. For the Detachable iPort, we assumed a very low Retention Rate of 5% since Sonance would be entering an already crowded market with a product that is priced at a premium to most of the competition.Sales of the iPort would grow at 40%, lower the growth rate of iPod sales since the Detachable iPort would be priced at the high-end of iPod accessories. We the assumed iPort would penetrate 0. 5% of the iPod sales in 2004 of 22. 5 million. The Dealers would likely be unhappy with Sonance in this scenario so we assumed the Retention Rate at the current price of $140 per pair would decline to 65%. If Sonance were to help mend the relationship by reducing the price to $90 per pair, we assumed a Retention Rate of 75%, with no additional growth.The Retention Rate for the existing iPort product sold through the Dealers would be reduced to 65% since the l aunch of the Detachable iPort would be viewed as undermining their efforts and a lack of commitment to custom installation products. In both scenarios, we assumed no change in our assumptions for Production Builders as this is a market based largely on price and the actions of Sonance in other markets will have little effect on their decisions. Recommendation and Implementation PlanBased on our calculations of customer lifetime value (see figure Exhibit 1), it is clear that dealers and production builders are crucial to our sales of the Original Series product and therefore we should continue to sell through these channels. However, the mass retail market is a less appealing channel through which to sell this product; firstly, the CLV of these customers is much lower than the other two, and more importantly, by selling to these customers we are losing the business of dealers, who are far more important clients.Our recommendation is to eliminate the mass retail channel, and to reduce the price of the Original Series speakers to $90 in order to rebuild the dealer channel. Lastly, we recommend launching the Architectural Series speakers at a price point of (or near) $875 to dealers, rather than focusing efforts on bringing the iPort to the mass market. The Architectural Series speakers are unique and innovative, thus we expect that both dealers and their customers will have a higher willingness to pay for this product as compared to competitor’s existing in-wall speakers.Using this price and estimated sales, we expect to break even in 1 year by selling only 23% of projected annual sales (as compared to 66% under marketing’s suggested price of $305 to dealers – see figure Exhibit 5). Although the 65% margin to dealers is smaller than they could make off competing offers, dealers would be earning far more in absolute terms ($1,425 as compared to $245 under the $305 price – see figure Exhibit 4).The choice to launch the Architectural Seri es is strategically wise from both a quantitative and a qualitative standpoint. First, adapting the iPort to the mass market requires more than double the R&D and Marketing expenses than launching the Architectural Series (see figure Exhibit 5). Although the new iPort model would have a lower cost, the sales required to break even in one year are only slightly higher for the Architectural Series (23% vs. 17%).In addition, the iPort model, even as a detached unit, is only comparable to our competitor’s existing products which are sold for less. The Architectural Series, on the other hand, is truly innovative, and can be successfully sold at a much higher price. It would also position the company as an innovator and boost brand perception. By shifting the focus back to dealers through the Architectural Series and away from the mass market, we can appease these important clients and increase sales of other products (for example, the Original Series speakers).

Agri Sba: Cabbage Production Essay

Cabbage grows best in cool weather, but certain cultivars are also adapted for the warmer months. In the cooler areas of the country, where frost usually occurs early or late in the season, Glory of Enkhuizen, Kiaps Spits, Green Coronet and Gloria can be planted from January to March, and Green Star and Bonanza, from August to January. In the warmer areas of the country, where little to no frost occurs, Glory of Enkhuizen, Kiaps Spits, Green Coronet and Gloria can be planted from March to May, and Green Star and Bonanza, from January to December. Cabbage grows best when plantlets are grown and then planted out. You can grow your own plants or buy them from a nursery. Remember that cabbage plantlets cannot be planted out before the age of five to six weeks. If you want to plant out at the beginning of February, for instance, you must already sow the seed in the middle of December. Cabbage will grow well on most well drained soil types. That means that water must not lay on the ground surface too long after the plants have been watered. Where this is the case, compost must be dug into the soil. Shallow soils on a hard rocky, clayey or lime layer, must be avoided. Cabbage takes up many plant nutrients from the soil. We put plant nutrients into the soil by digging compost and fertiliser into it. A great deal of organic plant food such as compost and manure is necessary for the plant. When the bed is dug over, 4 kg of compost or manure per square meter (m2) of ground can be dug into the soil. By the way, 1 m2 equals the size of a square meter, the sides of which consist of spades. Compost and manure do not, however, provide the cabbage plant with enough plant nutrients. It also requires nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). It is most important first to analyses the soil to determine its nutrient content. Remember: an excessive amount of nutrients will burn the plants and a too small amount will result in poor growth. If a soil analysis has not yet been done, the following quantities of fertiliser may be applied: At planting: 75 g of 2:3:2 (30) per m2. These plant nutrients are a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. This means that three plant nutrients are given to the plant simultaneously. These nutrients must be dug into the soil well, before planting. Four weeks after planting: 25 g of ammonium sulphate per m2, or 20 g of limestone ammonium nitrate (LAN) per m2. As soon as the plants begin to form heads, the following can be applied: 25 g of ammonium sulphate per m2, or 20 g of limestone ammonium nitrate (LAN) per m2. Take care not to let the plant nutrients touch the plants as this can burn the stems. Water the plants as soon as possible after having fertilized them, so that the nutrients can dissolve and be washed into the soil. Before the plantlets are planted, the soil must be dug over, clods, stones and weeds must be removed, and the soil must be leveled. The cabbage plantlets are planted in rows. In-row spacing must be approximately 40 cm and between-row spacing must be 60 cm. The soil in which the plants were grown must be moist when the plants are taken out to be replanted. They must be lifted carefully out of the ground so that the roots are not damaged. Choose short, sturdy, healthy plants to plant out. After they have been taken out, they must be covered with a moist cloth or hessian until they are planted. They must preferably be planted on cool, cloudy days or late in the afternoon. The plantlets must be planted in moist soil which is then firmly pressed down around the plant. After the plantlets have been planted, they must be watered as soon as possible. A mulch of grass clippings, dry leaves or straw between the plants prevents evaporation of soil moisture and also suppresses weed growth. If the soil is allowed to become too dry, and it is then watered, it may happen that the cabbage heads burst open. In cool weather, cabbage can be watered once a week; in very hot weather, two to three times a week. Cabbage can be harvested as soon as well-developed hard heads have formed. There are at least four kinds of insects that damage cabbages during the growing season. They are: * the American bollworm, * aphids, * the diamondback moth, and * The barged bug. The American bollworm and the diamondback moth eat holes in the cabbage leaves. Aphids suck out the sap of the plant and the leaves turn yellow and become misshapen. The barged bug also eats the leaves and causes great damage. Land preparation Prior to planting, the soil needs to be prepared, usually by some form of tillage or chemical â€Å"burn-down† to kill the weeds in the seedbed that would crowd out the crop or compete with it for water and nutrients. Tillage methods can be divided into three major categories, depending on the amount of crop residue they leave on the surface. Residue slows the flow of run off that can displace and carry away soil particles. * Conventional tillage – Until the last decade or so the standard tillage practice for corn was use of the moldboard plow for primary tillage followed by several secondary tillage’s and mechanical cultivation after the crop was up. * Reduced tillage is usually done with a chisel plow and leaves 15% to 30% residue coverage on the soil. * Conservation tillage leaves at least 30% residue coverage on the soil. Conservation tillage methods include no-till, where no tillage is done at all and seeds are placed directly into the previous seasonâ€℠¢s crop residue; strip-till, in which only the narrow strip of land needed for the crop row is tilled; ridge till; and mulch till. Soils — Cabbage grows well on a wide variety of soils, but a well-drained sandy loam with high organic matter content is preferred. Avoid soils that dry rapidly. Herbicides are used in all these methods to kill weeds. A common myth is that more herbicide is used with conservation tillage methods, but in fact farmers rely on herbicides for weed control under all tillage systems, and the amount used is more or less independent of tillage method. Impacts of soil erosion Soil erosion has both on-farm impacts (reduction in yield and farm income) and off-farm impacts (contaminated water due to the sediment and associated contamination from nutrients and pesticides carried on the soil particle). On-farm impacts due to the loss of soil and nutrients include: * lower fertility levels * development of rills and gullies in the field * poorer crop yields * less water infiltration into the soil When fertile topsoil is lost, nutrients and organic matter needed by crops often are removed along with it. Erosion tends to remove the less dense soil constituents such as organic matter, clays, and silts, which are often the most fertile part of the soil. Soil preparation All brassica crops grow best in partial shade, in firm, fertile, free-draining soil. * Start digging over your soil in autumn, removing any stones you find and working in plenty of well-rotted manure or compost. * Tread on the soil to remove any air pockets and make the surface very firm. * Brassicas will fail if the soil is too acidic so add lime to the soil if necessary, aiming for a pH of 6.5-7.5. Irrigation Due to their large leaf area, cabbage requires at least a 25 cm (1 inch) of water per week to sustain good growth. Excessive watering late in the season can cause head-splitting. Uneven soil moisture can cause fluctuations in the uptake of nutrients and lead to tip burn or head-splitting. Soil should be kept at 60 to 70 percent field capacity to ensure good yields and head quality. The fact that cabbage is a cool season crop indicates that it responds favorably to lower temperatures with adequate amounts of rainfall. Cabbage also requires well-drained soil. Soil that is not well-drained should either have drainage tiles installed or have some organic matter added to it to improve soil aeration. Seeding Direct-seeded cabbage is usually planted in early to mid-May. Direct-seeded cabbages are planted 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 inches) apart (1.1 kg/ha or 1 lbs. /ac) and thinned later. The following are seeding rates for transplanted cabbage: Early: * in-row spacing – 25 to 46 cm apart (10 to 18 inches) apart * between-row spacing – 0.76 m (2.5 feet) apart Mid-season: * in-row spacing – 30 to 46 cm (12 to 18 inches) apart * between-row spacing – 0.7 to 0.9 m (2  ½ to 3 feet) apart Late-season: * in-row spacing – 46 to 61 cm (18 to 24 inches) apart * between-row spacing – 0.7 to 0.9 m (2  ½ to 3 feet) apart Row spacing will be dependent on your tillage, planting and harvesting equipment. Many cabbage growers in Saskatchewan use transplants to reduce seed costs, accelerate crop development, increase yields, overcome problems with cruciferous flea beetles destroying emerging seedlings, eliminate costs associated with thinning the direct-seeded crop and avoid soil crusting problems in clay soils. In warm, dry springs flea beetle populations are high enough that flea beetles are already present on the crop as it emerges. Damage at emergence injures the growing tip, causing bolting, misshapen heads or death. Growers who transplant have the option of planting and then following behind with an insecticide treatment to kill the flea beetles before any damage can occur. The same can and is done for direct-seeded cabbage, but the grower must be more vigilant and closely watch for seedling emergence. They can then make a pass with an insecticide. A seed row treatment, such as Di-Syston 15 G, can be applied during planting to control cruciferous flea beetles. Seed Treatment Seed costs for cabbage have increased over the last 10 years, primarily because of the shift to hybrid types. Due to the seed’s higher value, it is best to treat it with a fungicide, such as Thiram 75WP, to prevent seedling blight, damping off and seed decay. Hot water treatment of the seed is effective against alter aria, black rot and blackleg. This treatment can be specially done by your seed company, but must be done prior to seed coating. How to sow seeds Nearly all brassicas should be planted in a seedbed or in modules under glass and then transferred. Seeds should be sown thinly, as this reduces the amount of future thinning necessary and potential risk from pests. * Sow seeds 1.25cm (1/2in) deep and rows should be spaced 15cm (6in) apart. * Once the seeds have germinated, thin the seedlings to 7.5cm (3in) between each plant. * Cabbage and broccoli seedlings are ready for transplanting when they’re between 6 and 8cm high (2.5-3in). Brussels sprouts and kale should be 15cm (6in).Water the day before moving, and keep well watered until established. * Space the plants according to the instructions on the seed packet. It can vary from 30cm for small cabbages to 75cm for Brussels sprouts. Aftercare * Brassicas are affected by a wide range of pests and diseases, especially the fungal disease, club root. The roots become stubby and swollen and can develop wet rot, while leaves become yellow and wilt, causing severe stunting of growth. Remove any infected plants from the ground and destroy. * Make sure the soil is adequately limed and well drained, and do not plant cabbages in the same place the following year. * Rotate your crops annually to avoid disease. Don’t grow brassicas on the same plot more often than one year in three, as moving the crop helps avoid the buildup of soil pests and diseases. * Brassicas are a particular favorite of birds so use a deterrent to stop them picking off seedlings. CDs on string can be effective. They’re also susceptible to attack by the caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly. Try covering crops with a crop protection mesh. It keeps the butterflies out, so they can’t lay their eggs on the plants. Pest Problems Diseases * Club root – (Plasmodiophora brassicae) is a soil borne disease that is more active in soils that are slightly acidic. Saskatchewan’s alkaline soils are a deterrent to this pest. Wart-like growths or knots form on the base of the plant, restricting water and nutrient uptake. Control measures include using clean transplants, maintaining soil pH above 7.3, disinfecting all tillage equipment, increasing years between cruciferous crops and keeping cruciferous weeds under control. The field can be fumigated; however this is costly. * Blackleg – (Phoma lingam) this fungal disease is active at low temperatures. Symptoms include seedling death, or bluish growth on the stems of older plants near the base. Upon germination, infected seedlings are covered by lesions that can be spread to adjacent plants by rainfall or irrigation. Blackleg can be controlled with the hot water treatment (see Black rot). Eradicate cruciferous weeds and have at least a three-year crop rotation with other cruciferous crops. * Downy Mildew – (Peronospora parasitica) is a fungus that over-winters in perennial plants and infected plant debris. Symptoms include a tan paper-like appearance that continues to develop into larger, sunken areas on the head. Control measures include a three-year crop rotation with non-cruciferous crops and preventative applications of Bravo 500, Clean Crop Copper 53W or Zinc b 80W. Insects * Cruciferous flea beetle – (Phyllotreta cruciferae) is the most serious insect pest facing Saskatchewan cabbage producers. These small black beetles attack cabbages throughout the growing season. They are especially dangerous in the spring when seedlings are emerging. The large acreage of canola in Saskatchewan ensures that there will always be a sizeable population of flea beetles in the province. Flea beetles feeding on emerging cabbage crops cause seedling death, uneven growth and maturity. Flea beetles have one generation per year, but the adults appear twice, once early in the spring and again later in the fall. * Control measures include crop rotations of more than three years with non-cruciferous crops, eliminating cruciferous weeds and not planting near fields that have cruciferous crops. Flea beetles can be controlled chemically by using foliar applied Ambush, Di-Syston, Endosulfan, Matador, Pounce, Ripcord, Sevin, Thiodan or Thionex. Cabbage maggot larva * Cabbage Maggot- (Delia radicum) is an underground pest that feeds on the roots of the host plants. The survival rate of the eggs is highest when the weather is cool and moist, much like spring conditions. Cabbage maggots can severely stunt growth or kill seedlings, and can lower quality and reduce yields of more mature plants. The maggot is the larval stage of the cabbage maggot fly, which looks much like a common housefly. The lifecycle has two generations per season. Control measures include a crop rotation of three or more years away from cruciferous crops and eradication of cruciferous weeds. The main chemical control for cabbage maggots is an insecticide drench placed near the seed at planting. Control products include foliar applied Lorsban, Pyrinex, or Sniper. Imported Cabbage worm larvae * Imported Cabbage Worm and Cabbage Looper – (Pieris rapae) and (Tricoplusia Ni) are also referred to as the cabbage butterfly. Imported cabbage worm larvae, which are light green in the larval stage, are incredibly destructive. They chew large holes in the leaves and head of cabbages. Their waste products also contaminate the head. Control measures include a crop rotation of three or more years away from cruciferous crops and eradication of cruciferous weeds. The main chemical control is repeated foliar applications of the one of the following products: Ambush, Cymbush, Decis, Diazinon, Dibrom, Dylox, Endosulfan, Guthion, Lannate, Malathion, Matador, Methoxychlor, Monitor, Orthene, Pounce, Ripcord, Sevin, Sniper, Thiodan, or Thionex. Dipel, (Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. Kurstaki) is a biological insecticide that also controls cabbage worms. * Diamondback Moth – (Plutella xylostella) does not over-winter in Canada but rather the adult moths fly or blow up each year from the United States. Larvae chew irregular patterns into the lower leaves. The larvae may also tunnel into the head of the cabbage, hurting its market potential. Control measures include monitoring the crop for arrival of adults and eradicating any cruciferous plants, including weeds and the refuse left over from early harvests of cruciferous crops. Chemical controls include the following products: Ambush, Cymbush, Decis, Diazinon, Dibrom, Dipel, Dylox, Endosulfan, Guthion, Lannate, Matador, Monitor, Orthene, Pounce, Ripcord, Sevin, Sniper, Thiodan, or Thionex Weeds Competition from weeds early in the season will slow both emergence and early growth. Weeds can be controlled with shallow tillage to destroy any weed seedlings. Weeds can be controlled chemically with Devrinol, Venture, Poast and Treflan. Check label recommendations for application rates, timing and weeds controlled. Tip burn on a Chinese cabbage head Other Problems * Head splitting – is caused by excessively rapid growth. This problem can be managed by ensuring there is adequate organic matter to hold soil moisture, providing consistent even watering, avoiding over-fertilizing with nitrogen, and spacing close and evenly to discourage excess and rapid root growth. Heads that are cracked should be culled, as they become an entry point for secondary infections such as soft rot. * Tipburn – is caused by inadequate amounts of calcium in the youngest region of the plant. Usually, this is due to rapid growth. Tipburn occurs when the translocation of calcium to the growing tip is slowed. There are no initial outer symptoms on the cabbage head, but the inner leaves turn brown. Tipburn can only be controlled by discouraging rapid growth (see head splitting). Adding calcium to the soil does not fix this problem. Tipburn is very cultivar specific. Weeding Weed control is the botanical component of pest control, using physical and chemical methods to stop weeds from reaching a mature stage of growth when they could be harmful to domesticated plants and livestock. In order to reduce weed growth, many â€Å"weed control† strategies have been developed in order to contain the growth and spread of weeds. The most basic is ploughing which cuts the roots of annual weeds. Today, chemical weed killers known as herbicides are widely used. Effects on other plants Weeds can compete with productive crops or pasture, or convert productive land into unusable scrub. Weeds are also often poisonous, distasteful, produce burrs, thorns or other damaging body parts or otherwise interfere with the use and management of desirable plants by contaminating harvests or excluding livestock. Weeds tend to thrive at the expense of the more refined edible or ornamental crops. They provide competition for space, nutrients, water and light, although how seriously they will affect a crop depends on a number of factors. Some crops have greater resistance than others- smaller, slower growing seedlings are more likely to be overwhelmed than those that are larger and more vigorous. Onions are one of the crops most susceptible to competition, for they are slow to germinate and produce slender, upright stems. Quick growing, broad leafed weeds therefore have a distinct advantage, and if not removed, the crop is likely to be lost. Broad beans however produce large seedlings, and will suffer far less profound effects of weed competition other than during periods of water shortage at the crucial time when the pods are filling out. Transplanted crops raised in sterile seed or potting compost will have a head start over germinating weed seeds. Methods: â€Å"Stale seed bed† technique, Use of herbicides, Organic methods, Thermal methods. DIGGING OF HOLES Transplanting Individual containers with more than one seedling must be thinned to one plant. Pinch out or cut off the extra seedlings while the first leaves are still small. Seedlings germinated in trays must be transplanted to individual containers while still small. Lift and separate seedlings and replant them into individual containers such as peat pots, plastic kalpaks (saved from previously purchased transplants; be sure to wash them), peat pellets, or other small containers. Use a commercial soilless potting mix or prepare your own. Be sure the plants harden off; that is, gradually get used to unsheltered life outdoors. During their last week indoors, withhold fertilizer and water less often. 7 to 10 days before transplanting, set the seedlings outdoors in dappled shade that is protected from winds for a few hours each day, gradually increasing their exposure to full sun and windy conditions. Keep the soil moist at all times during the hardening-off period. Dry air and spring breezes can result in rapid transpiration. If possible, transplant on overcast days or in the early morning. Set transplants into loose, well-aerated soil that will capture and retain moisture, drain well, and allow easy penetration by seedling roots. See when soil is ready for planting. Soak the soil around new seedlings immediately after transplanting. Spread mulch to reduce soil-moisture loss. To ensure that phosphorus—which promotes strong root development—is available in the root zone of new transplants, mix two tablespoons of a 15-30-15 starter fertilizer into a gallon of water (one tablespoon for vining crops such as melons and cucumbers), and give each seedling a cup of the solution after transplanting. Anything that raises soil temperature will help plants adjust to the shock of cold ground. Try raised planting beds and plastic mulch to boost soil temperature.

Music Lyrics Linked To Crime essays

Music Lyrics Linked To Crime essays Music lyrics have undergone dramatic changes since the introduction of rock music more than 40 years ago. This is of vital interest and concern for parents .During the past four decades; music lyrics have become increasingly explicit, particularly with reference to sex, drugs, crime and violence. Recently, heavy metal and gangsta rap music lyrics have elicited the greatest concern. Such lyrics are of special concern in todays environment, which poses unprecedented threats to the health and well-being of adolescents. Pregnancy, drug use, STDs, injuries, homicide and suicide have all become part of everyday life for many teens. We dont even blink when prominent corporate citizens sell music to our children that celebrate violence, including the murder of police, gang rape and sexual perversity, including pedophilia. (Senator J.Lieberman) These cultural indicators have very real implications. We are left with an unmoral hole in our society, in which our children learn that anything goes, and is the heart of our societys worst problems. These trendsetters exert an extremely powerful hold on our culture and our children particular, and they often exhibit little sense of responsibility for the harmful values they are portraying. (Committee on Communications) Consider a song like Slap-a-ho by the group Dove Shack, distributed by PolyGram, which touted the virtues of a machine that automatically smacks a wife or girlfriend into line; or the vile work of the death metal band Cannibal Corpse, distributed through a Sony subsidiary, which recorded one song describing the rape of a woman with a knife and another describing the act of masturbating with a dead womans head. These songs and others like contain some of the most disgusting thoughts Ive ever heard, but they are more than just offensive. When combined with all the murder and mayhem depicted by the media they are helping ...

Frozen Vegetables Spark in the Microwave

Frozen Vegetables Spark in the Microwave When I was naming things you shouldnt microwave, I didnt list frozen vegetables. However, WSCH in Portland is running a news story (complete with video) about frozen vegetables sparking when being microwaved. At least two Texas consumers have reported seeing sparks and small flames during the first few seconds of microwaving Green Giant frozen mixed vegetables. The USDA says the vegetables are perfectly safe to eat and that the sparking probably is due to the presence of naturally-occurring minerals found on the produce. Personally Id guess its similar to the plasma phenomenon seen when microwaving grapes. I have never seen flames on my veggies while nuking them, but I dont usually watch them cook, so I might be missing out on some entertainment.Ivory Soap in a Microwave | How to Microwave a CD Safely Comments Stephanie  says: The same thing happened to me when I microwaved frozen Great Value (WalMart brand) mixed vegetables. It also sparked when I microwaved Del Monte green beans. Not sure what the issue is. I even cleaned the microwave completely to be sure it wasn’t because of any build up per the recommendation of other sites. Edward  says: I just bought a new micro as the tech said mine was broke when the Sam’s Club Mixed veggies sparked. I bought a new microwave and it does the same thing. Tried different plates, etc, same thing.I wonder if there is not something in the bags to keep freshness that has some ore in it. I wish the FDA would test this instead of blowing it off. Greg  says: I am having the same thing happen, but just recently. I’ve microwaved frozen veggies for years and this never happened, so why is it all of a sudden nationwide? Elayna  says: Same thing has been happening to me. I thought it was my microwave, as it was a bit old. So, I just got a new, pretty expensive one. Same thing! Plus, what is even more strange is that I use Stop Shop’s Natures Promise organic frozen vegetables. It’s also happened with Cascadian Farm Organic Peas Green Beans. They all spark like I put metal in the microwave plus some smoke and burn. Rebecognize  says: We had peas spark, and then today sweet potatoes that were already cooked and I warmed them up and got sparks. They were fresh and never frozen. Both times for me it was from reheating cooked veggies (for baby food). Weird. Charles  says: This just happened to me with a fresh sweet potato. I steamed it in the microwave with the skin on and it was ok. Later I cut it up into small chunks and re-heated it in the microwave and the sparks flew. Eric  says: This just happened to me while heating up some green beans. I did some playing around with it and found that if I have a a few pieces in the microwave not touching each other, then there are no sparks. If I touch two of them together, then the sparks and small flame fly! Craziness! Lori  says: I just had it happen with a sweet potato that was baked yesterday, but I cut the leftovers into chunks and heated it today. It leaves little black marks where the sparks came from and you can even smell it! It also happened a few days ago with some frozen green beans that I had already cooked but was reheating. It’s never happened before†¦ what is going on Micah  says: I chop fresh serrano chilis en mass and then freeze them to keep later meal preparation more simple. Today my chilis burst into flames when I defrosted them in my microwave! I took off the offending chili the off the plate the first time it happened and tried again – same thing happened! Wild! Tiffany  says: This is really alarming. I’ve had this happen on several occasions when reheating green giant previously frozen vegetables. Vegetables should not contain enough of any ore to cause this sparking. James  says: I used to get this when microwaving Aldi’s cheapest mixed frozen veggies. (Australia).The only thing in my mind that causes this is metal. Yes, you can see the burn-holes in the pieces of carrot and beans! So I just don’t buy them! Jonathan Green  says: I’ve had this same problem, small sparks coming from food (green beans but also potatoes under plastic foil). I wonder if it’s static electricity (the microwave has a turntable inside on plastic wheels). Or simply a microwave antenna which is sending out the wrong kind of waves? Never had this problem with my old microwave (bought 14 years ago, never any problems) but the new one is really scaring me. Don’t think this can be healthy at all†¦. Are microwaves checked by any government body at all before they hit the shelves? Heather  says: I have had the sparking with many frozen veggies and canned green beans. I never have the sparking if they are covered with water. But yesterday I reheated some cooked â€Å"fresh† green beans and the sparking still happened, there was just a small amount of water in the bottom. So I guess fresh, frozen or canned it will still happen. Kelsie Rodgers  says: I think the issue is answered pretty well here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid20060911061259AALYJUE Basically, it has to do with higher mineral contents (iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium) in certain veggies and other factors related to the microwaving process itself. If you read the ingredients on the side of a frozen veggie bag, nothing is listed but the vegetables (no preservatives, etc.). People also experience the same thing with fresh vegetables. I think we are all jumping to â€Å"worse case† conclusions. Yes, it’s scary when things spark and catch on fire, but the reason can be very simple (and benign). Ben  says: I added a cup of water to properly load the microwave and it stopped sparking. Sarah G.  says: This has happened to me with fresh, organic vegetables as well! I have cooked/boiled sweet potatoes and carrots for my young son, and on several occasions afterward when I have gone to reheat them in the microwave for him, they immediately start sparking and have emitted flames! This has never happened in all the years I have used the microwave, and now 3 times in the past 6 months. Steve M  says: We were just heating up some Birds Eye Steamfresh and they sparked started smoking and my Microwave shut down. The Microwave is less than a year old and was not cheap. Anyone else have it break their Microwave? Richard  says: I am having the same issue happening with fresh green beans straight from my garden. We cooked the fresh snapped green beans earlier in the evening. Later I put some in the microwave to munch on before going to bed. They lit up and caught on fire. It is not something coming from the frozen beans or the bags, mine have never seen the freezer or a bag. Monica  says: I am also here because I thought it might be my microwave but guess not! I starting looking into this today since I had FRESH cauliflower that I cooked a few days ago, spark when I reheated it today. In the past this has happened to me with frozen-then reheated veggies and I just assumed it was due to something when they are frozen but now that it has happened with fresh veggies I am stumped. At least I now know I am not crazy and our microwave is just fine. (36)  Debbie  says: I’ve also had it happen with ham. I separated the diced pieces because thought it might be because they were touching, but it didn’t work. Interesting to think that covering them with water seems to be the best solution. Jammin  says: It happened to me with broccoli today. I am thinking that the culprit has either to do with newer microwaves or (conspiracy theory coming straight from my butt) all the increased radio waves due to cell phones and the internet. This didn’t used to happen years ago with old microwaves. The earliest report I can find of this happening is from 8 years ago. I’m stumped! Lora  says: I placed frozen chopped onion, celery, bell peppers (combo) in my microwave last night, on a microwaveable paper plate and sparks and fire and smoke started immediately. I wonder if there’s pieces of metal from the machines at their processing plant Matt  says: I’ve had a few different brands (organic and inorganic) spark and flame in the microwave in the past few months. My mom uses microwaves for everything and has never seen this until now. So, I think the many comments on here stating it is from the minerals in the food are right, but the fact that it is happening more and more and no one had reported it in the past makes me think that they have higher levels of minerals and maybe there is a limit to how high the mineral levels can be (and what types) in order to still be safe. Cooking them in pans instead does not solve the problem, you just don’t get the burning. You still have the high levels of metals that are seemingly a new phenomenon. Hate to say it, but Bill Gates is on the record for funding private geo-engineering to combat global warming, spraying nano particles of aluminum and barium into the air, all over the planet. Organic veggies or not, soil samples have shown an 800% rise in these metals. They are not ben ign in these forms.youtube.com/watch?vjf0khstYDLA James Gast  says: Just had frozen bell peppers arc/caught foam plate on fire. Years ago it was broccoli. Microwaves are now 1000,1100 watts, much more power than earlier ones. Bigger arc nowCombination of natural minerals:iron,potassium,etc in the ice and those edges of piecesbecome â€Å"jump arc gaps† like a spark plug. But sweet potatoes and chicken pieces Why? How?