Qualites of an Effective Helper

QUALITES OF AN EFFECTIVE HELPER I believe that ill be an effective helper because I am caring trustful honest and open minded. I also know What its like self , family problems I also know the feelings of being unwanted and unloved is so Powerful that its hard to over come. I am motivated by desire to help all types of people work thought their problems no matter how big or little they are. The qualities that I have that will make me an effective helper are that I am a good listener, I am open- minded about all most everything even if I don’t really understand.I am honest and I don’t mind telling the truth to someone even if it hurts their feelings sometimes people need to hear the truth it helps them see it through someone’s else’s eyes, but I also know when to be respectful to other people needs, beliefs and values. I have had some personal problems that I think other people may have, I don’t mind sharing them with a client to show them that I have been down that road in life and with sharing I would hope that it will help our relationship.I don’t like to judge people because at some point in life everyone has had some kinds of problems and I have no right to judge we are all human we all live and learn. I have an happy go lucky presonallalliti so smiling and showing that I care comes easy for me, I have no problem putting myself on the spot to break the ice with a client. I am a patience person, I know that time is the key to help out with the relationship,, I know that it is hard to open up to someone that you think will judge you. I believe that helping a client find forgiveness it the key to most problems and that forgiving ourselves is one of the hardest things to do.I believe that everyone should have respect for all and be understanding, I try to understand everyone’s views, values and beliefs but when it comes to someone that has sexual abuse or killed a child would be really hard for me because I see ch ildren as the best gift in life, I don’t understand how any one would want to hurt them in any way. I know that they may have had it done to them . If I had to work with that has done one of those thing I would try really hard to put my feelings aside as best as I could. Nicki Prudhomme

Malcolm X a Homemade Education

Elizabeth Terry Biology 101-06 MWF at 3:00 November 14, 2011 Research paper DOWN SYNDROME Down syndrome is the most common cause of mental retardationDown syndrome is the most common cause of mental retardation. It is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome. Chromosomes contain sequences of DNA called genes that represent the genetic information that exists within a cell. Twenty-three distinctive pairs of chromosomes which is 46 in total. They are located within the nucleus (a region of the cell that is bounded by a specialized membrane, and which houses the genetic material).When a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell, the newly created zygote normally receives 23 chromosomes from each parent. The contribution of genetic information from each parent is what makes each baby a distinctive blend of both characteristics. In Down syndrome a mistake during division of the sperm or egg cell produces a cell with an extra chromosome 21. This event occurs during cell division and is referr ed to as nondisjunction, or the failure of all chromosomes to separately properly resulting in retention of one of the chromosomes in one of the two new daughter cells.This is also called trisomy 21 and is accounted for 95% of all Down syndrome patients. A rare number of Down syndrome cases the original egg and sperm cells begins with the correct number of chromosomes but shortly after fertilization during the phase where cells are dividing rapidly a single cell can divide abnormally creating a line of cells with an extra chromosome 21. It’s called a cell line mosaicism. The individual with this type of down syndrome has two types of cells: some 46 chromosomes which is the normal number and some with 47.Individuals who are mosaic for trisomy 21 typically have less sever sign and symptoms of the disorder. Another are location that can cause down syndrome is called a chromosome translocation. This is an even that unlike the numerical abnormally causing trisomy 21, there is a st ructural abnormality. Exchange of material from two different chromosomes during the production of sex cells can take place such that there is a whole chromosome 21 attached to another chromosome but the chromosome number is normal. [1]These types of translocation involving chromosome 21, occur in about 3-4% of cases of Down syndrome.Ancient cultures, such as those in Greece, Rome, and Egypt, put disabled infants to death. Compassion toward the disabled was awakened by the early Christian church, but its charitable influence waned during the middle ages. Down syndrome also affected this people due to no one really caring about what was going on with the ill children. Down syndrome has a lot of causes and this is normally what some parents want to know is why their child is born with this syndrome. Most times this is why they tell you while you are carrying your child you need to watch very closely and look for all signs of genetic disorders with pregnant.Down syndrome is a chromosom al disorder as I said before. A baby is usually identified at birth through observation of a set of common physical characteristics. Babies with Down syndrome tend to be overly quiet. When I say that I mean less responsive with weak floppy muscles. With that being said a number of physical signs might be present. This includes a flat bridge of the nose which is smaller than normal. It’s a low set nose. They will tend to have a small mouth with a protruding tongue, upward slanting eyes and also extra folds of skin located at the corner of each eye, near the nose.They will have small outwardly rotated ears and small hands as well. Usually they have an unusual deep crease across the center of the palm and a malformed fifth finger. They will have a wide space between the big and the second toes and unusual creases on the soles of the feet. They also experience shorter than normal height later on in their childhood. Before genetic testing became available, Down syndrome was diagno sed based on certain typical physical characteristics. Not all people with Down syndrome have all these characteristics though.This can vary from certain people and are caused by the extra chromosomes. Individuals with Down syndrome also have joints that are looser than normal. Their skulls are short and broad. Newborns usually have extra skin on the back of their neck, and as the child gets older the neck often appears short and wider than usual. [2]Facial shape is round in the newborn and also during infancy. When the child gets older their face shape becomes oval like. This is due to the underdevelopment they go through. Their cheeks are round and the teeth develop late and in an unusual order.Although Down syndrome is not curable and there will be no cure for it, parents, researchers, and also the Down syndrome individuals try to make the best out of life and try dealing with it. Advances in medical treatment over the past 40 to 50 years for conditions such as heart defects and respiratory disease have led to dramatic increases in the life expectancy of those with Down syndrome. [3] Half of the children born with Down syndrome during the late 1960s survived to age 5. Bronchopneumonia, a respiratory illness and heart defects were the most common causes of death.Now about 80% of those born with it survive to age 10, and about 50% of them survive to age 50 or beyond. The recent statistics from various study places show that the place of incidence of Down syndrome anywhere from 1 in 600 to 1 in 1,000 live births. An analysis published by various people. Bray and colleagues in 1998 of combined data from nine different studies found that the incidence varies from 1 in 1,445 live birth mothers at age 10 to 1 in 25 live births to mothers at age 45. Down syndrome really is a hard disorder to live with but at the same time it has its advantages.Down syndrome has no treatment options but they have a lot of programs to help cope with this syndrome. The development of a child is a joyous thing. It involves amazing ohhs and ahhhs that would shock you every day your child does something new. All kids from the time their able to sit up by them and walks are learning new things everyday. Even as adults we learn new things everyday but still with Down syndrome, everything that they accomplish is outstanding. All kids learn to develop their fine motor skills but there are different aspects when it comes to Down syndrome children.The development of motor skills is very hard. The first thing you have to do is have a laid out foundation of how you plan on teaching that child. This is very dependent on stability. [4]Stability is being able to push open a heavy door. It’s being able to put on your shoes without falling. It is carrying a tray full of drinks. Its really a list that goes on but with this syndrome most things aren’t accomplished because down syndrome babies lack stability. Most of the people diagnosed wit this syndrome also tends to walk a little strange. They walk from side to side and always have their head twisted.Now as kids get older and reach their age past ten, then your not exactly ok, but you can breathe a little. Most researchers are still concerned about the older ones but its really the babies that most are worried about. They tend to go through a lot as newborns and unto there early infants stages. [5] Babies with Down syndrome suffer a lot. They have a lot they feel and go through, but being an infant and not being able to talk doesn’t help at all. Being born with Down syndrome you experience how it is from that point on and for the rest of your life.Children with this syndrome almost always have some degree of intellectual disability. That is why they learn slower and have difficulty with complex reasoning and judgment. The degree of intellectual impairment various tremendously. These kids do learn and what they do learn they will not forget. Down syndrome can not be prevented but it is People with Down syndrome, whatever their age, are people first. They are people with abilities, strengths and weaknesses like everyone else. They may have additional needs but first they have the same needs as everyone else of their age group.The quality of health care, education and community support provided to children and adults with Down syndrome makes a real difference to their progress throughout life. This module provides an introduction to all the issues that need to be addressed to enable individuals with Down syndrome, and their families, to enjoy full and happy lives within their communities. It offers an overview of the development of individuals with Down syndrome from infancy to adult life. It also provides a summary of the causes of Down syndrome, the incidence and prevalence of the condition, life expectancy and associated education and health care needs.Children with down syndrome experience problems with their digestive tract at a rate that is much higher than t hat of other children. [6] some of these problems such as blockage of the digestice tract can be life threatening and can require emergency surgery. Blockage or atresia of the esophagus or the duodenum can cause starvation if not corrected. Atresia occurs when the anal opening does not develop. This condition prevents solid waste from being eliminated from the intestinal tract and must be corrected surgically. Anal stenosis will allow waste products to pass, but will cause constipation.Gastroesophageal feflux is also more common in individuals with down syndrome. During this stage food reenters the esophagus from the stomach. This can cause vomiting and irritation of the esophagus. You can also have vision problem s with down syndrome to. Theses problems are common with those suffering with down syndrome. Strabismus in which one or both euyes either truns in or out. Occurs in 43% of theses chuldren. It is caused by abnormal or incomplete development of the cneters in the brain that control the coordination of eye movements. This condition may require an eye patch, special glasses or even surgery.Vision therapy may also be benificial and should be considered before surgery. Hearing problems also come with syndrome. [7] anatomical differences that result from trisomy 21 contribute to the larger percentage of hearing difficulties founf in individuals with down syndrome. Appromately 53% in children with down syndrome have hearing problems. This makes it more difficult to examine the ars for wax buildup and infection. The middle ear is smaller than normal, as well. This contributes to the presence of chronic ear infections in 40% to 60% of children with downs syndrome.The shallow nasal bridge founfd in 61% of individuals with down syndrome also contributed. Collapse or blockage of the eustachian tube, which leads from the ear to the throat, causes fluid to build up in the middle ear and increases the risk of middle ear infection. [8]In children with down syndrome t he eustachian tubes are often smaller tha normal and have lowered muscle tone. Problems with fluid build up in the middle ear occur in 60% of indiviuals with down syndrome this fluid buildup interferes with hearing and can cause permanent hearing loss if it remains for a long peopif of time.Estimates of hearing loss in people with down syndrome range from 60% to 80%. Hearing loss in children can contribute to language and speech difficulies as well as auditory attention. Monitoring for fluid buildup and infections of the middle ear should begin before the age of six months and should continue into adulthood. Hearin aids may be a choice as well. Another problem that occurs in down syndrome individuals is problems with thyroid gland. Weighing less than one ounce the thyroid is actually one of the largest endocrine glands. Thyroid hormones help regualte the synthesis of growth factore and many hormones.Thyroid hormones are crucial for proper brain development during pregnancy. They are also important in normal growth. Because they are composed of the amino acid tyrosine, to which iodine molecules have been atattched adequate iodine in the diet is esstenial for their production. Another hormone produced by the thyroid gland is calcitonin which regulates the levels and metabolism of calcium. The hormones tri-iodothyonine and tetraiodothyonine are produced by the thyroid gland in a ratio of 1;14. t4 is secreted by the thyroid gland in responses to TSH. The active form, T3 is formed in the kidney, liver, and pleen by removal of one iodine molecule from T4. individuals with down syndrome also are 10 to 30 times more likely to develop Leukemia. [9] This is a type of cancer caused by the production of abnormal qhite blood cells by the bone marrow. These abnormal cells eventually crowd out normal white and red blood cells. There are two main types of leukemia. Acute and chronic. Acute leukemias develop slowly and the patienst condition worsens slowly. Chronic leukemia de velops rapidly and the patients syptoms worsen quickly. About 10% of babies born with down syndrome develop a transient leukemia that usually goes away by 3 months of age.About 20% to 30% of those with this transient condtion go on to develop acute leukemia. Babies who do not have down syndrome rarely have the transient form of leukemia. This higher risk of leukemia is in contrast to the risk of other types of cancer in individuals with down syndrome. The incidence of most types of solid tumors is muh smaller than in the general population. Down syndromes rates has also increased. From 1979 to 2003, the prevalence (total number of cases of a disease in a population at a specific time) of Down syndrome (DS) at birth increased by 31 percent, from 9 to 12 per 10,000 live births in 10 US regions.Within the 10 regions, birth prevalence of DS ranged from a low of 9. 7 in Arkansas to a high of 13. 7 in Utah during 1997-2003. The number of infants born with DS was almost 5 times higher amon g births to older mothers (38. 6 per 10,000) than among births to younger mothers (7. 8 per 10,000). In 2002, DS was found to be present in about 1 of every 1,000 children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 living in 10 chosen regions of the United States, which means that approximately 83,000 children and adolescents with DS were living in the United States during that year. Prevalence of DS by age group was the highest in 0-3 year olds at 11. , declining to 10. 3 among 4-7 year olds, 9. 8 among 8-11 year olds, 8. 3 among 12-15 year olds, and 6. 0 among 16-19 year olds. A screening test will help identify the possibility of Down syndrome. Screening tests do not provide conclusive answers, but rather, they provide an indication of the likelihood of the baby having Down syndrome. An abnormal test result does not mean that your baby has Down syndrome. The goal with a screening test is to estimate the risk of t baby having Down syndrome. If the screening test is positive and a risk for Down syndrome exists, further testing may be recommended.Diagnostic tests can identify Down syndrome before the baby is born. January issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released guidelines recommending screening for Down syndrome to all pregnant women during their first trimester. Agnostic tests tend to be more expensive and have a degree of risk; screening tests are quick and easy to do. However, screening tests have a greater chance of being wrong; there are â€Å"false-positive† (test indicates the baby has the condition when the baby really does not) and â€Å"false-negatives† (baby has the condition but the test indicates they do not).As far as those individual kids with Down syndrome there is a lot that they can do, just as the regular ones. Kids with Down syndrome tend to have a sense of humor. Those with this disorder have slurred words and stutter but what you can understand they have pretty good conversation. Also in about 4 percent of all down syndrome cases the individual possesses not an entire third copy of chromosome 21 material, which has been incorporated via a translocation into a no homologous chromosome. In translocation pieces are swapped between two non-related chromosomes forming hybrid chromosomes.The most common translocation associated with Down syndrome is that between the long arm (down gene area) of chromosome 21 and an end of chromosome 14. [10] The individual in whom the translocation has occurred shows no evidence of the aberration since the normal complement of genetic material is still present only a different chromosomes location. The difficulty arises when this individual forms gametes. A mother who possesses the 21/14 translocation, for example has one normal 21 one normal 14 and the hybrid chromosomes.She is a genetic carrier for the disorder because she can pass it on to her offspring even though she is clinically normal. The mother can produce three types of viable gametes: one containing the normal 14 and 21. the presence of an extra copy of the long arm of chromosome 21 causes defects in many tissues and organs. One major effect of Down syndrome is mental retardation. The intelligence quotients of affected individuals are typically in the range of 40-50. The IQ varies with age but being higher in childhood than in adolescence or adult life.The disorder is often accompanied by physical traits. Trisomy 21 is one of the most common chromosomal aberrations occurring in about 0. 5 percent of all conceptions and in one out of every seven hundred to eight hundred live births. About 15 percent of the patients institutionalized for mental deficiency suffer from Down syndrome. Before the chromosomal basis for the disorder was determined the frequency of Down syndrome births was correlated with increased maternal age. For mothers at age twenty the incidence of down syndrome is about 0. 5 percent which increases to 0. 9 percent by the age thirty -five and 3 percent at age forty-five. Comparing the chromosomes of the affected offspring with those of both parents have shown that the nondisjunction event is maternal about 75 percent the time. The maternal age effect is thought to result from the different manner in which the male and female gametes are produced. Gamete production in the male event in females. Formation of the female’s gametes begins early in embryonic life, somewhere but between the eight and twentieth weeks.During this time, cells in the developing ovary divide rapidly by mitosis forming cells called primary oocytes. These cells then begin meiosis by pairing up the homologues. The process is interrupted now and the cells are held in a state of suspended animation until needed in reproduction, when they are triggered to complete their division. Most individuals with Down syndrome have intellectual disability in the mild (IQ 50–70) to moderate (IQ 35–50) range, with individuals having Mosai c Down syndrome typically 10–30 points higher. Dr.Weihs notes the mental qualities of people with Down syndrome to be â€Å"unisexual,† â€Å"playful,† â€Å"affectionate,† â€Å"mischievous† and â€Å"imitative†. [21]Language skills show a difference between understanding speech and expressing speech, and commonly individuals with Down syndrome have a speech delay. Fine motor skills are delayed and often lag behind gross motor skills and can interfere with cognitive development. Effects of the condition on the development of gross motor skills are quite variable. Some children will begin walking at around 2 years of age, while others will not walk until age 4.Physical therapy, and/or participation in a program of adapted physical education (APE), may promote enhanced development of gross motor skills in Down syndrome children. A 2002 literature review of elective abortion rates found that 91–93% of pregnancies in the United Kingdom a nd Europe with a diagnosis of Down syndrome were terminated. [54] Data from the National Down Syndrome Cytogenetic Register in the United Kingdom indicates that from 1989 to 2006 the proportion of women choosing to terminate a pregnancy following prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome has remained constant at around 92%.In the United States a number of studies have examined the abortion rate of fetuses with Down syndrome. Three studies estimated the termination rates at 95%, 98%, and 87% respectively. Medical ethicist Ronald Green argues that parents have an obligation to avoid ‘genetic harm' to their offspring, and Claire Rayner, then a patron of the Down's Syndrome Association, defended testing and abortion saying â€Å"The hard facts are that it is costly in terms of human effort, compassion, energy, and finite resources such as money, to care for individuals with handicaps†¦People who are not yet parents should ask themselves if they have the right to inflict such burde ns on others, however willing they are themselves to take their share of the burden in the beginning some physicians and ethicists are concerned about the ethical ramifications of the high abortion rate for this condition. [59] Conservative commentator George Will called it â€Å"eugenics by abortion†. 60] British peer Lord Rix stated that â€Å"alas, the birth of a child with Down's syndrome is still considered by many to be an utter tragedy† and that the â€Å"ghost of the biologist Sir Francis Galton, who founded the eugenics movement in 1885, still stalks the corridors of many a hospital†. Doctor David Mortimer has argued in Ethics & Medicine that â€Å"Down's syndrome infants have long been disparaged by some doctors and government bean counters. Some members of the disability rights movement â€Å"believe that public support for prenatal diagnosis and abortion based on disability contravenes the movement's basic philosophy and goals.Peter Singer argued t hat â€Å"neither hemophilia nor Down's syndrome is so crippling as to make life not worth living from the inner perspective of the person with the condition. To abort a fetus with one of these disabilities, intending to have another child who will not be disabled, is to treat fetuses as interchangeable or replaceable. If the mother has previously decided to have a certain number of children, say two, then what she is doing, in effect, is rejecting one potential child in favor of another.She could, in defence of her actions, say: the loss of life of the aborted fetus is outweighed by the gain of a better life for the normal child who will be conceived only if the disabled one dies. Individuals with Down syndrome have a higher risk for many conditions. The medical consequences of the extra genetic material in Down syndrome are highly variable and may affect the function of any organ system or bodily process. Some problems are present at birth, such as certain heart malformations. Ot hers become apparent over time, such as pilepsy. Other things Down syndrome patients go through are very emotional. For people with Down syndrome it is very hard to cope with the everyday activities. It is also hard on the family, especially the parents. It can be very frustrating for the parents to cope with having a child with Down. People born with Down syndrome require so much more extra attention than that of a normal child. Suggestions from some psychologists are for the parents to go to some kind of group sessions to talk to other parents who have children with Down.Therefore, someone else can understand the frustrations that they go through in raising their child. People with Down syndrome have a lot of different emotions running through their mind and body. People with Down syndrome, whatever their age, are people first. They are people with abilities, strengths and weaknesses like everyone else. They may have additional needs but first they have the same needs as everyone else of their age group. The quality of health care, education and community support provided to children and adults with Down syndrome makes a real difference to their progress throughout life.This module provides an introduction to all the issues that need to be addressed to enable individuals with Down syndrome, and their families, to enjoy full and happy lives within their communities. It offers an overview of the development of individuals with Down syndrome from infancy to adult life. It also provides a summary of the causes of Down syndrome, the incidence and prevalence of the condition, life expectancy and associated education and health care needs. Further modules in this series address each of these issues in detail.Down syndrome patients also have another way to look at things. The most of the time feel different and out of place. Most would like to know who Down syndrome affects. For instance what race and what are the ratios of living past a teenager Children and adults with Down syndrome have a wide range of abilities. A person with Down syndrome may be very healthy or may have unusual and demanding medical and social problems at virtually every stage of life. It’s important to remember that every person with Down syndrome is a unique individual. Each child will develop at his or her own pace.It may take children with Down syndrome longer than other children to reach develop Down syndrome cannot be cured. However, early treatment can help many people with Down syndrome to live productive lives well into adulthood. Children with Down syndrome can often benefit from speech therapy, occupational therapy, and exercises to help improve their motor skills. They might also be helped by special education and attention at school. Some of the medical problems common in people with Down syndrome, like cataracts, hearing problems, thyroid problems, and seizure disorders, can be also treated or corrected.It has been suggested that children with Down sy ndrome might benefit from medical treatment that includes amino acid supplements and a drug known as Piracetam. Piracetam is a drug that some people believe may improve the ability of the brain to learn and understand. However, there have been no controlled clinical studies with Piracetam to date in the U. S. or elsewhere that show its safety and efficacy. The life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has increased substantially. In 1929, the average life span of a person with Down syndrome was nine years. Today, it is common for a person with Down syndrome to live to age 50 and beyond.In addition to living longer, people with Down syndrome are now living fuller, richer lives than ever before as family members and contributors to their community. Many people with Down syndrome form meaningful relationships and eventually marry. Now that people with Down syndrome are living longer, the needs of adults with Down syndrome are receiving greater attention. With assistance from family and caretakers, many adults with Down syndrome have developed the skills required to hold jobs and to live semi-independently mental milestones, but many of these milestones will eventually be met.Therefore, parents should not compare the progress of a child with Down syndrome to the progress of other siblings or even to other children. [pic][pic] [pic] ———————– [1] Down syndrome K. Le Lerner Pg. 1377. Paragraph 1. [2] Genes and Disorders. By Fay Evans-martin. Pg. 14 paragraph 2. [3] Fay Evans-martin Pg. 17 Paragraph 3. [4] [5] [6] Genes & Disease By: Fay Evans Pg. 67 [7] Genes and Disorders Br Fay Evans Pg. 71 [8] Genes And Diseases By Fay Evans Pg. 71 [9] Pg. 75 Genes And Disorders By Fay Evans [10] Down syndrome medical guide. Pg. 749

Application of Discounted Cash Flow

As per the ratio analysis determined from the financial statements of TNO Limited, it can be said that the net profit ratio of the company declined in the current unaudited period compared to that of the previous year by around 9%. Similarly, return on assets of the company also declined by around 10%, which indicates that the capacity to generate revenue from the assets is not sufficient. Working capital ratio of the company reflected 1.91, which was higher in the previous audited financial year indicating that the value of assets has been declined in the current year to meet the current liabilities. According to the financial statements of the company, it can be said that the net income reflected declining trend in the current financial year. It has been observed that the revenue of the company also reflected 58% decline compared to that of the previous year 2009 indicating reduction in the overall expected rate of return. During the current financial year, it has been noticed that the solvency ratio of the company declined in the current year, which was 0.50 in the previous audited period that may lower the return on investment and increase the cost of capital structure (Knechel & Salterio, 2016). On the contrary, liquidity ratio of the company reflected increased value in the current financial year, which reflects the ability of the company to convert resources in cash within short- term period (Lu, Wu & Yu, 2017). Considering the non- current assets of the company, it can be said that the value of investments has been increased in the current year. Increase in value of investments has been measured through properties, which was valued by directors as per the basis of financial year 2010 (Kou, Peng & Wang, 2014). Accordingly, it can be said that the investment valuation of the company reflected risk of decline in market value that may affect the true and fair view of the assets value. In addition, the account of intangible asset valuation reflects significant risk of correct valuation, appropriate amortization charges and value as per the current and fair market rates (Uechi et al., 2015). While planning and performing analytical procedures, it is essential to measure the significant risk present in the financial statements to assess the materiality and relevance of the financial performance of the company. In the present case, the areas that have been considered for significant risks are investments and intangible assets other than overall income statement and balance sheet. The investment account has been identified for significant risk since it covers a significant area of company’s asset and overall financial position. It is essential for a company to measure the appropriate and correct value of investments in accordance with the fair market value (Delen, Kuzey & Uyar, 2013). In case of TNO Limited, investment of surplus funds and property market is principal business activities therefore it is essential to conduct appropriate audit test on the value of investments. It is important to conduct detailed valuation of the investment together with the current mar ket value as well as interest rates along with the verification of accounting records of investment. On the other hand, valuation of intangible assets has been considered since it involves a significant area in the company’s overall asset resources. Since, TNO limited has been involved in research and development of technologies, it is essential to consider appropriate value of intangible assets as per the current market structure. Delen, D., Kuzey, C., & Uyar, A. (2013). Measuring firm performance using financial ratios: A decision tree approach.  Expert Systems with Applications,  40(10), 3970-3983. Dudzi?ska-Bary?a, R., & Michalska, E. (2015). Visualisations of the risk investment valuation and the level of inventory control using the GeoGebra software.  Studia Ekonomiczne,  247, 7-19. Knechel, W. R., & Salterio, S. E. (2016).  Auditing: assurance and risk. Routledge. Kou, G., Peng, Y., & Wang, G. (2014). Evaluation of clustering algorithms for financial risk analysis using MCDM methods.  Information Sciences,  275, 1-12. Lu, L. Y., Wu, H., & Yu, Y. (2017). Investment-related Pressure and Audit Risk.  Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory. Mohammed, M. I., Omirin, M. M., Singhry, I. M., & Auwal, U. (2016). Application of discounted cash-flow (DCF) models in the valuation of investment properties in Nigeria.  International Journal of the Built Environment and Asset Management,  2(1), 25-36. Uechi, L., Akutsu, T., Stanley, H. E., Marcus, A. J., & Kenett, D. Y. (2015). Sector dominance ratio analysis of financial markets.  Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications,  421, 488-509.

The odd sea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The odd sea - Essay Example It transforms much like the characters in the novel. It gives off a sense of how lives can be altered through art, both for the reader and for the characters within the story. The narrative is told through the eyes of Philip Shumway, whose years-long quest to find his brother led him to the craft of writing. People deal with grief differently, some wallow in despair, others dedicate themselves to work, there are those who wish to continue remnants of the lost ones and then there are others who content themselves in letting out through writing. It becomes the outlet which enables some people to face the reality of desolation. This was the case of Philip and the people that surrounds him. With the lost of his brother, he was able to find the healing therapy that writing can bring. Then there is their father who dedicates his time to the perfection of the seemingly simple craft of carpentry to forget his sorrows. The way he oversees his art of timber framing is flawless. At one point, Philip recognizes his father’s talent as an artist among all of the members of the family. And then there is Ethan’s girlfriend Melissa, who takes up painting with much intensity to disregard the pain of losing young love. All of them found in art the capacity to go on living though with a whole that can never be filled. The rift that the tragedy, at the very least, be given brief moments to be unnoticed the broken ties that could never be completely mended but. This is art in its highest form. More than anything, it should be able to transport us and change us as it lets us experience its transformative facility. It presents a polarity of the effects that the event brought to Philip. His lost was manifested through a personal alteration of his life as well as a creative materialization of experiences. On the process he was able to discover his self and his purpose. Through his writing he eventually came to terms

Asian American immigrants and Small Scale Businesses Essay

Asian American immigrants and Small Scale Businesses - Essay Example Many sociologists argue that one of the most important characteristics of Asian American immigrants is the high rate of small business participation. â€Å"The number of minority-owned businesses rose from less than 750,000 in 1982 to more than 1.2 million in 1987, nearly one-tenth of all of the nation's businesses† (Minority Owned Business). However, the growth of small scale industries caused some problems also to the Americans. This paper tries to answer the questions; why do so many Asian immigrants open small businesses and what are the social advantages and social costs of this type of economic activities among Asian Americans. Most of the Asians immigrating to America do not have the necessary educational qualifications to obtain white collar jobs in America. Even educated immigrants may not get a white collar job in America without proper American education. America has certain standards and norms for getting certain jobs and the immigrants need to meet all those norms before applying for professional works. For example, a nurse immigrating to America, need to pass some difficult tests before applying for a nursing profession in America. On the other hand, starting a business is an easy task in America than getting a white collar job. Thus, many of the Asian Americans started to establish small scale business units in America.

Strategic Marketing Plan Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Strategic Marketing Plan - Term Paper Example Budget is tight for the first year and as such, management shall be more than careful in its decision making for the business. Employees shall carefully be chosen and the owner shall make sure that each personnel are oriented towards achieving its corporate goal which is to start gaining profit by the end of the first year. Competition would be very stiff with the presence of various coffee shops that have already established their presence in various parts of Dubai and the rest of the United Arab Emirates. Aviano Coffee is also confident in being able to make gains through its Internet channel. Its Marketing efforts shall be intensified to ensure that the corporate message is brought across the target market. To cap this off, Aviano Coffee Shop wants to achieve two things with the business: to share excellent coffee experience through its quality products and to gain profits to ensure presence in the market for a long period of time. II. BACKGROUND Coffee remains to be one of the mo st preferred beverages anywhere in the world. In the US, it is estimated that 50% of the total population or approximately 150 Million Americans drink coffee in any form, be it espresso, cappuccino, latte or cold coffee. Moreover, among these coffee aficionados, the average consumption is 3.1 cups per day (Coffee Business Statistics Report 2010). As such, it is expected that more and more Coffee shops open and thrive serving the tastes of these coffee lovers. Despite the presence of numerous Coffee shops in the country, there is yet room for more entrepreneurs who want to serve the needs of the Coffee lovers. While some may opt to go traditional, others diversify to create concept shops that do not only serve ordinary coffee, but also the fast growing industry of specialty coffee. It is with these premises that the author proposes to bring into local franchise the Colorado based brand Aviano Coffee. Aviano Coffee is popularly known in Colorado, with its market reach extending to oth er cities in Denver. Its product line highlights Latte Art, where baristas manually extract espresso. The key to competition is the manner by which specialty coffee drink is done, focusing on aesthetics of the coffee products and the ambience within the coffee shop, which focuses on the 18th and 19th century. Management wants to bring its clients into the specialty coffee experience capturing olden moments through appropriate interior design and shop structure. The thrust is to bring into the shop people who intend to have a good coffee experience (Aviano Coffee 2011). Bringing the concept store in Dubai will prove to be a challenging but exciting experience for the owners. Promoting the business within a unique culture, there will be little tweaks into the concept to ensure that the target market will feel most welcome when entering the concept store. This business plan discusses the strategies by which the concept is introduced to the target market in Dubai, and hopefully to other cities in the United Arab Emirates. III. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS The United Arab Emirates is considered to be one of the most liberal Middle East Countries in the world, according to the State of World Liberty Index It is also considered to be the 5th highest in the whole world basing on GDP per capita, and is the fastest growing economy globally (Top 5 Most Liberal Muslim Countries 2011). The presence of bars, clubs, movie theatres and commercial

MGMT 4350 Leading Organizational Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MGMT 4350 Leading Organizational Change - Essay Example leader should possess certain qualities including the ability to understand the change barriers that they are bound to encounter; this will help avert disasters before they happen. A change leader should also be able to lead the organization through the change and enhance unity while at it. Providing resources and being an advocate for the people initiating change tends to be a crucial quality. A great change leader should also be able to create a reasonable timeline for the change which will be realized, and the whole organization will follow ( National Institutes of Health, 2015). A change manager too has qualities that he/she needs to possess. One of the key qualities is that a change manager should be able to mobilize the entire institution through the change process. Also, he/she should be able to hard-wire the changes into the organization. He/she should be able to structure a learning program to ensure that the change is sustained. Being able to communicate strategically and consistently will also be a key feature of a great change manager. National Institutes of Health. (2015, May 29). Office of Human Resources at the National Institute of Health. Retrieved from Hr.od. nih.gov: http://hr.od.nih.gov/workingatnih/competencies/leadership/changeleadership.htm Kotter, J. (2011, December 7). Change Management vs. Change Leadership -- Whats the Difference? Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com:

DB 8 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

DB 8 - Research Paper Example Slight improvements were realized from the year ended 2008 to the year ended 2009 as compared to the percentage improvements in values from the year ended 2009 to the year ended 2010 that were greater. Net sales and cost of sales increased by one percent from the year ended 2008 and by five percent and six percent respectively from the year ended 2009 to the year ended 2010. The change in gross profit from 2008 to 2009 was therefore a result of increased number of sold units because the changes in sales and cost of the sales were the same. Cost of sales however increased by a larger margin than change in net sales, in the following period, and this was a setback to trend in gross profit. It could be attributed to production inefficiencies and other sales factors (Delaney and Whittington, 2010). Even though operating income had an increasing trend over the three-year period, the pattern was slightly different from the trend in net sales and cost of sales. ... The trend in operating income was however symmetrical to the trend in net income to indicate a constant trend in non-operational expenses (Rich, Jones, Mowen and Haansen, 2009). The trend analysis of RadioShack Corporation from the year 2008 to the year 2010 therefore identifies increased operations that translate to increased profitability level. Average operational costs also increased in the period and was more significant in the year ended 2010, having increased at a higher rate than rate of increment in gross profit. The Corporation should therefore take care to balance its sales objectives with the involved costs of achieving the objectives in order to avoid higher sales levels that lead to losses. The company’s net income however maintained a growth trend by the year 2010 and positive prospects can be predicted (Harrison, Horngren, 2008). Updated trend analysis up to the year 2012 The corporation’s data was updated for net sales, cost of sales, gross profit, oper ating income and net income up to the year 2012 and trend analysis conducted. The following table shows the generated indices for the items from the year ended 2008 to the year ended 2012. Trend analysis: 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 Net sales 100.80% 103.60% 106% 101% 100% Cost of sales 117.10% 111.50% 107% 101% 100% Gross profit (Net sales – Cost of sales) 81.20% 94.20% 104.58% 102.08% 100% Gross profit rate _ _ 105% 102% 100% Operating income -18.90% 48.10% 116% 115% 100% Net income (net loss) -73.60% 38.10% 109% 108% 100% Trend in RadioShack Corporation’s performance assumed a decreasing pattern from the year 2010 apart from cost of sales that continued to rise. Trend in net sales fell from the year ended 2010, was almost equivalent to the net sales value in the year ended 2008 and

Federal Express Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Federal Express - Case Study Example The complaint letter by an office manager portrays FedEx as a company with no value for its customer’s fulfillment. This is seen in the way they do not bother replying the stressed out customer. Anita has shown the strength of FedEx by stating the delivery of her cargo at last although it was too late. FedEx has shown strength by being ready to cut off shipping fees. They deliver goodies and chocolate as a make up gift to an unsatisfied customer. Background FedEx is a Memphis based Leading Corporation that handles the shipping of cargo by air to several destinations in the world. FedEx’s viewpoint is to place people first, provide them with the best service and take profits later (McDougall & Dorken, 147). FedEx is the first company to offer a money back policy to customers with complaints, and it is the only corporation that uses technology to trail its vans and cargoes. This study surveys the dealings of FedEx in relation to client fulfillment. Problem Statement Altho ugh FedEx is a leading cargo transporter, it does not fully provide client satisfaction as seen in exhibit 1. Anita Kilgour an office manager at desktop innovations has three complaints about the services offered to her company by FedEx express (McDougall & Dorken, 144). ... ards for being; â€Å"the leader in the use of technology, rigorous international standards for quality management and assurance, and the Malcolm Balridge National Quality Award† (McDougall & Dorken, 148). Situation Analysis A SWOT analysis on FedEx can be used to analyze the situation that occurred between desktop innovations and Federal Express. The strength of the company is stated in the manner in which FedEx recovered and delivered desktop innovation’s cargo. Weakness in the company is brought about by the problem of massive daily consignment leading to temporary losses. The company ships 2.9 million packages nightly, and serves 212 countries (McDougall & Dorken, 148). Opportunity for FedEx Company can be utilized through, using Anita’s complaint as an opportunity to upgrade its services. FedEx can add more staff, upgrade its tracking machines and offer satisfying compensations to unsatisfied clients. Threat for the company comes in the loss of reputation fo r the leading company. This negative advertisement can lead to FedEx facing stiff competition from rival companies. Alternatives FedEx as a leading company has to find alternatives to curb the customer dissatisfaction like the complaint lodged by Anita of desktop innovations. The first substitute that FedEx could use is to ship fewer cargoes instead of the 2.9 million cargoes shipped daily. This will lead to easier tracking of every cargo they ship, thus avoidance of loss or delays of cargoes. The subsequent alternative that could be useful to FedEx is on the phone department. Instead of FedEx putting up the 250 customer representatives in Canada only, the corporation could split them to other countries. After the split, the corporation could additionally divide them into complaints department and

Inquiry 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Inquiry 2 - Essay Example Although the main story for the MGM film adaptation of the book remained the same, some parts were altered for example the wicked witch of the east’s shoes (Rudolph, n.pag.). The film provided a graphical demonstration of the characters and the story which is why few years later, an article written by Henry Littlefield made it an allegory on populism (Littlefield, 47). The book and the film provide a rich cultural text to be analyzed for the presence of the economical and political parable many claim it to have. Littlefield was the first person to have interpreted The Wizard of Oz as having an economic parable after which many others also claimed the book and film to be riddled with political symbolism. Later Rockoff also made an effort to reveal the connections between the Populist movement, Baum’s views and the book as interpreted as an economic parable (1). Russel B. Nye and Martin Gardner also wrote a book in which they provided an appreciation for Baum’s wri ting (Winterich, 42) and uncovered how Baum incorporated hidden meanings to reflect the environment of the time. By effectively using symbolism, Baum represented Dorothy as the common American people (Taylor, 5) and the Witch of the East represented the monetary interest of the industrialist who were supported by their gold standard allies (Taylor, 6). Many other characters symbolize the various players and stakeholders involved in the Populist movement. Between 1897 and 1902, Baum had settled in South Dakota where he also started a journal called Saturday Pioneer (McGroarty, n.pag.). According to Littlefield, Baum noticed the hardships of the Western farmers who were now raising their voice against the hardships they were going through (48). As a result, Baum’s writing was influenced by the Populist movement that was started to protect the interests of the farmers. The Peoples Party or the Populist Party as it was more commonly known as was started by a group of farmers. The n in the 1930s America experienced the Great Depression which was the most severe and prolonged period of recession that damaged the economy. Followed by the great depression, World War II was approaching which meant that the government had to make an effort to improve the economy (Perseverance and Responsiveness: The Depression and War Years", 36). According to Littlefield’s interpretation, The Wizard of Oz has provided the younger generation with a benign analysis of the Populist movement (57). Hansen presents an argumentation in his article pointing out that the interpretations that link The Wizard of Oz and populism are flawed. The first reason he provides for his argument is the lack of an autonomous discovery of the allegorical interpretation of the book (Hansen, 257). The authors who have interpreted the story as an economical parable have not carried out any independent study. They have merely followed the lead of Henry Littlefield who first came up with the idea of t he allegorical interpretation. Also, those who support the interpretation mention that Baum was a democrat. Often his support for women’s suffrage has been linked with his populist-democrat affinity. However, Hansen points out that Baum was a Republican who regarded his paper the Saturday Pioneer as a Republican paper. He also presents another interpretation of the book as all the characters were monarchists and not democrats. Hansen interprets the film as representing symbolism through its use of colors and hues (262). While the

Arthropod pests Essay Example for Free

Arthropod pests Essay The concern that human society will be inevitably obsessed with death is a valid one. Although there may be people today who escape depressing thoughts of death, all will be distraught after reading only a few lines of the Lament for Ignacio Sanchez Mejias. This essay will analyze parts of the work by Federico Lorca and provide some basic interpretations and thoughts on the subject. Beginning with the first line of the lament, the reader is struck with an overwhelming sense of time—five in the afternoon. It fills the mind as the words continue. â€Å"It was exactly five in the afternoon. † Ignacio has obviously died. The time of day is noted, and the question arises immediately: why repeat the time â€Å"five in the afternoon† after every line (up to five times)! I think the point of repeating the time excessively is to pound a feeling of monotony that accompanies utter grief into the mind of the reader. Also, it provides a broad scope to help the reader understand how many hopelessly depressing things are going on at once. A possible answer, then, is that the lament needs synchronization in order to deliver the correct emotions that Lorca felt. For example, leaving out the repeated time, the first stanza becomes, â€Å"A boy brought the white sheet, A frail of lime ready prepared, The rest was death, and death alone. † In this version, the reader feels like three mundane, somewhat depressing things are happening in sequence as opposed to feeling a horrifying realization of the simultaneous events surrounding the loss of a close friend. Without the repetition it may still seem sad, but nowhere near as powerful as the original. Adding the repetition back in, one feels as though time has been stopped during a metaphorical symphony of pain from grief. As the horrible moment continues, Lorca adds additional imagery: â€Å"Groups of silence in the corners†¦ A coffin on wheels is his bed†¦ The room was iridescent with agony†¦ In the distance the gangrene now comes†¦ The wounds were burning like suns†¦ at five in the afternoon. At five in the afternoon. Ah, that fatal five in the afternoon! It was five by all the clocks! It was five in the shade of the afternoon! † It is no accident that we read of the time of day five times at the end of this section. Also, both of the first two stanzas contain five references to the time as well, almost suffocating us with the existence of the terrible hour. Lorca perfectly displays the effect of death on the human mind. Cluttered with the details most ignored in regular life, our brains (perhaps as a self-defense to keep us alive) go through an almost physical withdrawal when those near to us die. In conclusion, It is obvious that our lives revolve around death whether we like it or not. Death is the nemesis of survival, and survival is our primary goal in life as humans. Reproduction, social reform, religion, or anything else we live for (even hedonism) must manifest itself through survival of ourselves or others. Thus, as long as we survive, humans will always be obsessed with death.

Organic vs. industrial food Essay Example for Free

Organic vs. industrial food Essay Organic foods, although stereotypically known for having a bland taste or having no taste have been shown to improve ones quality of life be decreasing some health risk such as cancer or heart disease. If you haven’t realized it, organic fruits and vegetables taste better, and the flavor is crispier. The health consequences of genetically modified food, when examined closely, will convince you to change your eating habits. The shelf life of food depends on four main factors: formulation, processing, packaging and storage. Change any one of these conditions and you can change the shelf life for better or worse. Shelf life has many attributes: bacterial control, color stability, yeast and mold inhibition, flavor stability, textural stability and aroma stability. The appearance of shelf-life problems can be wide, as well, including oxidative browning, oxidation of flavor compounds, or liquescence. To increase the shelf life of more unstable foods, such as low-sugar jam, low-salt condiments, low-oil salad dressings, prepared fresh produce and deli meats, food companies may take steps to reduce bacterial load from ingredients before they process the final food. To grow, thrive and survive, microbes need a friendly environment; this usually includes moisture. Lowering moisture creates a hostile environment for bacteria by decreasing the available medium for them to grow in. There are a number of new ingredients to help regulate water activity in foods with a reduced fat phase. â€Å" Generally, the water activity of a minimally processed food needs to be about 0. 07 or lower, water has an a W rating of 1. 00, and most products preserved with sugar, measure about 0. 07, with the excess water bound so that bacteria are under osmotic pressure too great to survive(Katz, February 4, 2006). † Whenever you buy food, you have decision to make: Healthy or cheap, organic or industrial. If organic food was not so expensive, that decision would be easy, everybody would buy organic food, for a healthier body. Unfortunately not everybody can afford it, making it look like healthy food is becoming a luxury good. In the rush to produce more and more food for the people on this planet, chemicals came into play. Farmers begin by trying to sell the highest percentage of their crop and therefore often use pesticides, gen-manipulated corn, chemicals etc. The farmers investment in pesticides, hormones, and chemicals tends to pays off, earning more, their fruits look better and costumers are happy with huge pest fee fruits and vegetables. When a farmer says no to chemicals, he runs the risk of losing a harvest because of pests. The only way to compensate the cost is a higher price for organic food. You cant ask everybody to pay higher prices, and a lot of people would starve to death without the use of chemicals which protect harvests against pests. Every time you eat something, you consume pesticides, these substances are added in order to produce and sell more efficient. Fortunately there are strict rules for the use of chemicals. Organic foods are produced following practices described in the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), a marketing program with a certification process throughout the production and manufacturing chain. The NOP describes the practices that are required for labeling a product â€Å"organic,† but it does not address nutritional benefits or food safety issues. Even when you buy organic food, you are consuming these substances, but the bar is set at a different height and you are consuming less harmful substances that could be particularly hazards for high-risk groups such as pregnant women, infants, young children and farm worker households. Since organic food is not prepared using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, it does not contain any traces of these strong chemicals and might not affect the human body. People strongly believe that organic food tastes better than non-organic food. The prominent reason for this belief is that it is produced using organic means of production. Further organic food is often sold locally resulting in availability of fresh produce in the market. So how bad is industrial food? Let’s take a look; there are maximum residue limits on all pesticides and chemicals. The department of health determines how much of each substance is ok. Eating organic food lowers the risk of getting hit by a similar scenario, but its not a 100% guarantee (Are Organic Foods Better for You. 2010). However, getting seriously sick from cheap food is not that high of a risk as long as you read food labels you can eat cheap and healthy at the same time? If you are eating organic food only, you are still eating unhealthy foods. Almost everyone is aware that foods grown according to organic principles are free from over exposure to harmful pesticides, but that is only one small aspect. A larger part of organic agriculture is the health of the soil and the ecosystem in which crops are raised. Organic farmers know that healthy, live soils significantly benefit crops. Synthetic chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, and/or fast acting inorganic fertilizers applied to or around crops interrupt or destroy the micro biotic activity in the soil. Organic farming reduces groundwater pollutants, decreases pesticides that can end up in your drinking glass; in some cities, pesticides in tap water have been measured at unsafe levels. The Farmer’s Market is a growers’ market, meaning everything in the market is homegrown, but Richard Bowie, an experienced organic grower is not convinced that all the food being sold is homegrown. â€Å"The market’s slogan ‘100% Homegrown makes us different’ is used as a gimmick, said Bowie† (Shreve, October 3, 2011). Vendors have been seen carrying produce and selling it to other vendors at the market bringing the term organically grown in to question and without certification, and but by law they cannot say they are a certified organically grown vendor. Most vendors cannot afford the certification process and want consumers to look past the term organic there for focus on the soil used or nutrients used. Almost everyone is aware that foods grown according to organic principles are free from over exposure to harmful pesticides, but that is only one small aspect. A larger part of organic agriculture is the health of the soil and the ecosystem in which crops are raised. Organic farmers know that healthy, live soils significantly benefit crops. Synthetic chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, and/or fast acting inorganic fertilizers applied to or around crops interrupt or destroy the micro biotic activity in the soil. Organic farming reduces groundwater pollutants, decreases pesticides that can end up in your drinking glass; in some cities, pesticides in tap water have been measured at unsafe levels. We should choose farming methods that truly address our real concerns safety and sustainability, not simply methods that satisfy an arbitrary marketing label. To whatever extent these practices include methods that are permitted under organic rules. But theres never a case when a safe, more efficient, and sustainable modern technology that feeds more people worldwide should be disallowed for no logical reason. Eating â€Å"organic† alone doesn’t guarantee 100 percent healthy . The truth is that most Americans eat so badly that we get most of our calories from soft drinks, more than we do from vegetables; the top food group by caloric intake is â€Å"sweets†; and one-third of nation’s adults are now obese. It’s not unimportant, but it’s not the primary issue in the way Americans eat. To eat well, says means avoiding â€Å"edible food-like substances† and sticking to real ingredients, increasingly from the plant kingdom. There’s plenty of evidence that both a person’s health as well as the environment’s will improve with a simple shift in eating habits away from animal products and highly processed foods to plant products and what might be called â€Å"real food. † From these changes, Americans would reduce the amount of land, water and chemicals used to produce the food we eat, as well as the incidence of lifestyle diseases linked to unhealthy diets and greenhouse gases from industrial meat production. And the food would not necessarily have to be organic, all it takes is paying attention to what you eat and read your labels more closely. Participation on our part to be more aware of what we buy and to raise our voices, if need be. We can let our opinions be known even in the simplest ways. A good example is when we shop, if there is no substitute for the product we need, let the store owners know, they will surely change their products. Organic food is better as it uses natural farming techniques. It is similar to preferring natural remedies when suffering from a disease as compared to eating chemical antibiotics. So, the question of organic foods vs non organic foods; which is better, is clearly answered. Organic food surpasses the conventionally produced foods. References Katz, F. (Febuary 4, 2006). Formulating for increased shelf life. Retrieved November 22, 2011, from http://www. foodprocessing. com/articles/2006/039. html Are Organic Foods Better For You?. Retrieved November 19, 2011, from http://preventdisease. com/home/tips61. shtml Shreve, S. (October 3, 2011). Does organically grown produce really matter?. Retrieved November 21, 2011, from.

Biometric Passport With Rfid Information Technology Essay

Biometric Passport With Rfid Information Technology Essay Radio-frequency identification is the use of an object typically referred to as an RFID tag applied to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification and tracking using radio waves. Some tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the line of sight of the reader. Radio-frequency identification comprises interrogators (also known as readers), and tags (also known as labels). The RFID device serves the same purpose as a bar code or a magnetic strip on the back of a credit card or ATM card; it provides a unique identifier for that object. And, just as a bar code or magnetic strip must be scanned to get the information, the RFID device must be scanned to retrieve the identifying information. RFID Works Better Than Barcodes: A significant advantage of RFID devices over the others mentioned above is that the RFID device does not need to be positioned precisely relative to the scanner. Were all familiar with the difficulty that store checkout clerks sometimes have in making sure that a barcode can be read. And obviously, credit cards and ATM cards must be swiped through a special reader. In contrast, RFID devices will work within a few feet (up to 20 feet for high-frequency devices) of the scanner. For example, you could just put all of your groceries or purchases in a bag, and set the bag on the scanner. It would be able to query all of the RFID devices and total your purchase immediately. RFID technology has been available for more than fifty years. It has only been recently that the ability to manufacture the RFID devices has fallen to the point where they can be used as a throwaway inventory or control device. Alien Technologies recently sold 500 million RFID tags to Gillette at a cost of about ten cents per tag. One reason that it has taken so long for RFID to come into common use is the lack of standards in the industry. Most companies invested in RFID technology only use the tags to track items within their control; many of the benefits of RFID come when items are tracked from company to company or from country to country. Figure 2: Types of RFID tags Figure 3: RFID scanners History and technology background: Mario Cardullos U.S. Patent 3,713,148 in 1973 was the first true ancestor of modern RFID; a passive radio transponder with memory. The initial device was passive, powered by the interrogating signal, and was demonstrated in 1971 to the New York Port Authority and other potential users and consisted of a transponder with 16 bit memory for use as a toll device. The basic Cardullo patent covers the use of RF, sound and light as transmission media. The original business plan presented to investors in 1969 showed uses in transportation (automotive vehicle identification, automatic toll system, electronic license plate, electronic manifest, vehicle routing, vehicle performance monitoring), banking (electronic check book, electronic credit card), security (personnel identification, automatic gates, surveillance) and medical (identification, patient history). An early demonstration of reflected power (modulated backscatter) RFID tags, both passive and semi-passive, was performed by Steven Depp, Alfred Koelle, and Robert Freyman at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1973. The portable system operated at 915Â  MHz and used 12-bit tags. This technique is used by the majority of todays UHFID and microwave RFID tags. The first patent to be associated with the abbreviation RFID was granted to Charles Walton in 1983. Miniaturization: RFIDs are easy to conceal or incorporate in other items. For example, in 2009 researchers at Bristol University successfully glued RFID micro transponders to live ants in order to study their behavior. This trend towards increasingly miniaturized RFIDs is likely to continue as technology advances. However, the ability to read at distance is limited by the inverse-square law. Hitachi holds the record for the smallest RFID chip, at 0.05mm x 0.05mm. The Mu chip tags are 64 times smaller than the new RFID tags. Manufacture is enabled by using the Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) process. These dust sized chips can store 38-digit numbers using 128-bit Read Only Memory (ROM). A major challenge is the attachment of the antennas, thus limiting read range to only millimeters. Potential alternatives to the radio frequencies (0.125-0.1342, 0.140-0.1485, 13.56, and 840-960Â  MHz) used are seen in optical RFID (or OPID) at 333 THz (900Â  nm), 380 THz (788Â  nm), 750 THz (400Â  nm). The awkward antennas of RFID can be replaced with photovoltaic components and IR-LEDs on the ICs. Figure 4: Miniature RFID tag Modular Decomposition Our system requirements are very clearly and not expect to change frequently. So, we will use in our system Waterfall model. And because the requirements are well understood. Project Activities Task# Duration (week) Description T1 2 -Feasibility study of the system T2 2 -Requirement analysis -Requirement specification T3 6 -System design -Code programming -Interface design T4 2 -System testing -Feedback on system testing -validation of system Risks Management Risk type Possible risks Technology Not all system familiar with RFID hardwares and softwares. People -Key staff is ill and unavailable at critical times (Only one employee work in this system). Requirements -Customers fail to understand the impact of Requirements changes. Estimation -The time required to develop the software is underestimated. -The rate of defect repair is underestimated. -The size of the software is underestimated. Risks Analysis Risk Probability Effects Technology Low Serious People Low Catastrophic Requirements High Serious Estimation Moderate Serious Risk Management Strategies Risk type Strategy Technology Will choose the software hardware Carefully. People -Gave every task over-days, and some days will Have overtime of work. Requirements -After every task there is a feedback, The costumer will see it. -Investigate buying-in components. Estimation -Replace potentially defective components With bought-in components of known reliability. RFID Tools: Most RFID tags contain at least two parts. One is an integrated circuit for storing and processing information, modulating and demodulating a radio-frequency (RF) signal, and other specialized functions. The second is an antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal. There are generally two types of RFID tags: 1. Active RFID tags An RFID tag is an active tag when it is equipped with a battery that can be used as a partial or complete source of power for the tags circuitry and antenna. Some active tags contain replaceable batteries for years of use; others are sealed units. (Note that it is also possible to connect the tag to an external power source.) Advantages of an active rfid tag: 1- It can be read at distances of one hundred feet or more, greatly improving the utility of the device 2- It may have other sensors that can use electricity for power. 3- Longest communication range of any tag. 4- The capability to perform independent monitoring and control 5- The capability of initiating communications 6- The capability of performing diagnostics 7- The highest data bandwidth 8- Active rfid tags may even be equipped with autonomous networking; the tags autonomously determine the best communication path. Disadvantages of an active RFID tag: 1- The tag cannot function without battery power, which limits the lifetime of the tag. 2- The tag is typically more expensive, often costing $20 or more each. 3- The tag is physically larger, which may limit applications. 4- The long-term maintenance costs for an active RFID tag can be greater than those of a passive tag if the batteries are replaced. 5- Battery outages in an active tag can result in expensive misreads. 2. Passive RFID tags: A passive tag is an RFID tag that does not contain a battery; the power is supplied by the reader. When radio waves from the reader are encountered by a passive RFID tag, the coiled antenna within the tag forms a magnetic field. The tag draws power from it, energizing the circuits in the tag. The tag then sends the information encoded in the tags memory. Advantages of a passive tag: 1- The tag functions without a battery; these tags have a useful life of twenty years or more. 2- The tag is typically much less expensive to manufacture. 3- The tag is much smaller (some tags are the size of a grain of rice). These tags have almost unlimited applications in consumer goods and other areas. Disadvantages of a passive rfid tag: 1- The tag can be read only at very short distances, typically a few feet at most. This greatly limits the device for certain applications. 2- It may not be possible to include sensors that can use electricity for power. 3- The tag remains readable for a very long time, even after the product to which the tag is attached has been sold and is no longer being. Figure 5: Active and Passive RFID tag Current uses of RFID: 1- Biometric passport: A biometric passport, also known as an e-passport or ePassport, is a combined paper and electronic passport (hence the e-, as in e-mail) that contains biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. It uses contactless smart card technology, including a microprocessor chip (computer chip) and antenna (for both power to the chip and communication) embedded in the front or back cover, or center page, of the passport. Document and chip characteristics are documented in the International Civil Aviation Organisations (ICAO) Doc 9303. The passports critical information is both printed on the data page of the passport and stored in the chip. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is used to authenticate the data stored electronically in the passport chip making it virtually impossible to forge when all security mechanisms are fully and correctly implemented. Note that the USA Passport card is not a biometric passport. The passport card does not follow the ICAOs Doc 9303, can only be used in a limited number of countries and uses a simple RFID chip instead of the contactless smart card technology that is used for biometric passports. Contactless smart card technology includes a microprocessor, data access control, communications security and other functionality as programmed. 2- Microchip implant (human): A human microchip implant is an integrated circuit device or RFID transponder encased in silicate glass and implanted into a humans body. A subdermal implant typically contains a unique ID number that can be linked to information contained in an external database, such as personal identification, medical history, medications, allergies, and contact information. Hobbyists: The first reported experiment with an RFID implant was carried out in 1998 by the British scientist Kevin Warwick. As a test, his implant was used to open doors, switch on lights, and cause verbal output within a building. The implant has since been held in the Science Museum (London). Since that time, at least two additional hobbyists have placed RFID microchips implants into their hands or had them placed there by others. Amal Graafstra, author of the book RFID Toys, asked doctors to place implants in his hands. A cosmetic surgeon used a scalpel to place a microchip in his left hand, and his family doctor injected a chip into his right hand using a veterinary Avid injector kit. Graafstra uses the implants to open his home and car doors and to log on to his computer. Neither implant was the VeriChip brand. Medical records use: The PositiveID Corporation (previously known as The VeriChip Corporation; Applied Digital Solutions, Inc.; and The Digital Angel Corporation) distribute the implantable chip known as the VeriChip. The company suggests that the implant could be used to retrieve medical information in the event of an emergency, as follows: Each VeriChip implant contains a 16-digit ID number. This number is transmitted when a hand-held VeriChip scanner is passed within a few inches of the implant. Participating hospitals and emergency workers can enter this number into a secure page on the VeriChip Corporations website to access medical information that the patient has previously stored on file with the company. Building access and security: The VeriChip Corporation has also suggested that the implant could be used to restrict access to secure facilities such as power plants. Microchip scanners could be installed at entrances so locks would only work for persons with appropriately programmed chips. The downside is the relative ease with which the 16-digit ID number contained in a chip implant can be obtained and cloned using a hand-held device, a problem that has been demonstrated publicly by security researcher Jonathan Westhues and documented in the May 2006 issue of Wired magazine, among other places. A nightclub in Barcelona offered a chip implant for identifying VIP guests. Figure 6: Biometric passport with RFID tag Figure 7: Microchip human implant Technical problems with RFID: Problems with RFID Standards: RFID has been implemented in different ways by different manufacturers; global standards are still being worked on. It should be noted that some RFID devices are never meant to leave their network (as in the case of RFID tags used for inventory control within a company). This can cause problems for companies. Consumers may also have problems with RFID standards. For example, ExxonMobils SpeedPass system is a proprietary RFID system; if another company wanted to use the convenient SpeedPass (say, at the drive-in window of your favorite fast food restaurant) they would have to pay to access it an unlikely scenario. On the other hand, if every company had their own SpeedPass system, a consumer would need to carry many different devices with them. RFID systems can be easily disrupted: Since RFID systems make use of the electromagnetic spectrum (like WiFi networks or cellphones), they are relatively easy to jam using energy at the right frequency. Although this would only be an inconvenience for consumers in stores (longer waits at the checkout), it could be disastrous in other environments where RFID is increasingly used, like hospitals or in the military in the field. Also, active RFID tags (those that use a battery to increase the range of the system) can be repeatedly interrogated to wear the battery down, disrupting the system. RFID Reader Collision: Reader collision occurs when the signals from two or more readers overlap. The tag is unable to respond to simultaneous queries. Systems must be carefully set up to avoid this problem; many systems use an anti-collision protocol (also called a singulation protocol. Anti-collision protocols enable the tags to take turns in transmitting to a reader. RFID Tag Collision: Tag collision occurs when many tags are present in a small area; but since the read time is very fast, it is easier for vendors to develop systems that ensure that tags respond one at a time. Security, privacy and ethics problems with RFID: The following problems with RFID tags and readers have been reported: The contents of an RFID tag can be read after the item leaves the supply chain: An RFID tag cannot tell the difference between one reader and another. RFID scanners are very portable; RFID tags can be read from a distance, from a few inches to a few yards. This allows anyone to see the contents of your purse or pocket as you walk down the street. Some tags can be turned off when the item has left the supply chain. Zombie RFID Tags: One of the main concerns with RFID tags is that their contents can be read by anyone with an appropriately equipped scanner even after you take it out of the store. One technology that has been suggested is a zombie RFID tag, a tag that can be temporarily deactivated when it leaves the store. The process would work like this: you bring your purchase up to the register, the RFID scanner reads the item, you pay for it and as you leave the store, you pass a special device that sends a signal to the RFID tag to die. That is, it is no longer readable. The zombie element comes in when you bring an item back to the store. A special device especially made for that kind of tag re-animates the RFID tag, allowing the item to reenter the supply chain. RFID tags are difficult to remove: RFID tags are difficult to for consumers to remove; some are very small (less than a half-millimeter square and as thin as a sheet of paper) others may be hidden or embedded inside a product where consumers cannot see them. New technologies allow RFID tags to be printed right on a product and may not be removable at all. RFID tags can be read without your knowledge: Since the tags can be read without being swiped or obviously scanned (as is the case with magnetic strips or barcodes), anyone with an RFID tag reader can read the tags embedded in your clothes and other consumer products without your knowledge. For example, you could be scanned before you enter the store, just to see what you are carrying. You might then be approached by a clerk who knows what you have in your backpack or purse, and can suggest accessories or other items. RFID tags can be read at greater distances with a high-gain antenna: For various reasons, RFID reader/tag systems are designed so that distance between the tag and the reader is kept to a minimum. However, a high-gain antenna can be used to read the tags from much further away, leading to privacy problems. RFID tags with unique serial numbers could be linked to an individual credit card number: At present, the Universal Product Code (UPC) implemented with barcodes allows each product sold in a store to have a unique number that identifies that product. Work is proceeding on a global system of product identification that would allow each individual item to have its own number. When the item is scanned for purchase and is paid for, the RFID tag number for a particular item can be associated with a credit card number. Goals of the project: Many students skip more than 20% of their lectures, and using an embed RFID tags in their student card will help to keep track of attendance. It can be a reference to the doctor in keeping records of attendance. It can also be used to provide any extra information to the doctor or the department without the need to type in the student number. It can be upgraded to include money amounts to be used around the university campus. Provides better management for the doctor in his lecture. Reduce the use of paper to keep track of the students. User Requirements: Any user can use the system. Students are able to see their attendance online and almost in real time. Ordinary student cards can be implanted with an RFID tag. DATA Flow Diagram: Figure 8 Scenario Diagram : The first step , the user scans his card The user opens the website. { For example Just website } The user chooses if he will log-in like member or visitor. Figure 9 If he clicks sign in Button, the system asks him to insert his ID and the Password, and then the system checks the validity of the inserted information and then asks him to rescan his card to match it with that ID. Figure 10 If the password valid and is a match with the card, the system redirect him to the member page. Figure 11 If a doctor has logged in , the system ask him if he would like to open the attendance list of his lectures , or opens the student list of a certain lecture to have the students check for attendance . If a student has logged in, the students will be able to view a list of his lecture absence or check for a certain lecture attendance By rescanning the card, the member signs out of the system. If he clicks the Visitor button, He can view a guide on how to obtain an RFID tagged card. Figure 12 Information sources: RFID tags are a new technology and few companies support it, one of these companies that provide support to RFID tags is TOUCHATAG. So we tried to collect as many information from the touchatag website about it and about the RFID hardware before we start using it and these resources are: 1- Touchatag webpage: we entered Touchatag webpage to read about how to use touchatag device, tags. 2- Taking the website tour: we took a tour about touchatag DIY. 3- Reading books and tutorials: we read many tutorials and online books about RFID tags and hardware. Software Requirements: To do this project we needed some hardware to help us in the building: 1- Touchatag RFID scanner: we must have touchatag rfid scanner to do this project, so we obtained it. 2- RFID tags from Touchatag Company: these tags are used with the scanner to have a working RFID environment. 3- A programming software: Programming software is required to implement the project, then uploading it to the touchatag website and attach it with the account associated with the RFID scanner. System Requirements: As Touchatag application is a software attached to the touchatag server, client must satisfy these requirements to run the application, here we are using this application under Windows (requirements vary depend on OS machine): Windows Minimum requirement Recommended Internet Connection: Cable or DSL Cable or DSL Operating System: 2000, XP, or Vista XP or Vista Computer Processor: 800 MHz Pentium III or Athlon, or better 1.5 GHz (XP), 2-GHz (Vista) 32-bit (x86) or better Screen Resolution: 1024768 pixels 1024768 pixels or higher Graphics Card for XP/2000 NVIDIA GeForce 2, GeForce 4 MX or better NVIDIA Graphics cards GeForce Go Series: 7600, 7800, 7900 ATI Graphics Cards X2600, X2900 X3650, X3850 Graphics Card for Vista (requires latest drivers) NVIDIA GeForce 6600 or better OR ATI Radeon 9500 or better OR Intel 945 chipset NVIDIA Graphics cards GeForce Go Series: 7600, 7800, 7900 ATI Graphics Cards X2600, X2900 X3650, X3850 Implementation: For the implementation part, and due to the lack of possibility to develop my application directly on the Touchatag device, I took the approach of developing two things and link them together, first Ive created the website and the data base using ASP.net and C#, stored the data and performed the operation that Ill explain later on, and the second part was creating a visual basic script, that is attached to each tag and performs the task needed when it is called by the tag. ASP.net : Ive started the project with programming on ASP.net using C#, to accomplish the following tasks: Create a Doctor ID for login. Create a Doctor Password for login. Save the Doctor ID and Password in the database. Login as a Doctor and open the Student attendance system page. Check lectures where this function do the following : Upon clicking the button the system checks the time on the system and then scan the database for any lectures that is in this time and then return the tables ID which matches the time of the system and then store it in a hidden label, then the program checks the hidden label for the ID of the lecture and goes to the database to retrieve the students who are attached with that ID, along with two fields for the Time in and Time out. Upon clicking one of the four buttons which are labeled {Open Sign in, Close Sign in. Open Sign out, Close Sign Out} the values of a hidden label are changed to specific values. When the student types in his Student ID and Student Password , then press the login button , the system checks the student ID and the password if they are stored in the data base , once he found the data it checks which button of the four was clicked by the doctor first by checking a hidden label that stored the values of the button that was clicked , then based on that value it stores the time when the Login button was clicked, and by doing so it also updates the Database at the same Time. Visual Basic Script : The visual basic script is what links the ASP.net website to the Touchatag card; it is implemented through statements that do the following: Each Tag is assigned to a script of its own. The Tag when scanned activates the script that is assigned to it. The script is constructed with few simple statements that opens the web page, writes the user ID and Password in the cross ponding field, and the press the login button. Touchatag reader and Tags : The Touchatag reader is connected to the Touchatag server which does the specific task you have assigned it already on the Touchatag Server, and by scanning each tag the specific Tag ID goes to the Server and retrieves the function that is assigned to that specific Tag. Screen Shots: Asp.net Doctor Login Page : Figure 13: ASP.net Student Login Page , with Check Lectures and other Prompts: Figure 14: ASP.net Visual Basic Script: Figure 15: Visual Basic Touchatag: Figure 16: Touchatag Figure 17 Figure 18 : Touchatag Figure 19: Touchatag Testing Security: Rfid ID tags provided by touchatag have several security measures which include: 1- Accounts password: Every user has a password to access his account in the webpage and the server. This password is created when the user signs up. 2- IPs: touchatag server changes its IP from time to time to avoid hacking. 3- Report Abuse: This feature allows any user to report any object or person if they abused them. 4- Unique tags ID: each tag has a unique tag provided by the tag itself. Copyrights: The touchatag RFID tags are copyright protected and cant be used without a reference from touchatag. Performance Testing: Each tag is scanned effortlessly without any problems, the website might crash sometimes but it is restored without any problems. Unit Testing: Ive tested the tags, they work fine even after being placed in a wallet for more than 6 months and the wear and tear process is slow, and the tags are durable. Conclusion This project is the first step towards building Jordan University of Science Technology fully automated attendance system; JUST administration can take this step further, build on it to reach a better-enhanced project and can add more features and services to staff, officers, and students. Furthermore, the administration can also use this new technology to improve students attendance services and activities. I faced many problems during this project. The first problem is when I have to work in this system alone. Really, this problem gave me a big challenge to complete the project, but with the help of Dr. Qutaiba Al Thebyan, Dr. Qusai Abu Ein, Mrs. Alaa Mestarihi and the department, I could complete it. Finally, RFID tags is the future and every day services now a day require more interaction , but with those tags , many services and jobs can be done effortlessly without the ever getting your hand out of your pocket.

The Forcing of Young People into Community or Government Service Essay

The Forcing of Young People into Community or Government Service Some people suggest that everyone between the ages of 18 and 21 should be required to perform one year of community or government service. Such service might include the Peace Corps, Environmental Conservancy Corps, a hospital, the military, a rural or inner-city school, or other community outreach projects. I believe forcing the service of any group of people is a bad idea. In this case, three reasons come to mind as to what makes this idea bad. First, I see this as a form of indentured servitude, even though the folks may earn a paycheck. Second, I feel that this idea takes away from the idea of the United States being a free place to live. And third, much like the idea of the federal government considering funding for 'faith-based' programs, who determines which programs would qualify? These three reasons as enough for me to think the requirement of community service is a bad idea. The forcing of young people into community or government service could be seen as a form of indentured servitude. People working in those capacities would certainly receive a paycheck at the end of the day, and could go home to their families, but until their year of service is up, they have no other options to do what they will with their lives. I do think that community service is a wonderful idea. Volunteers at local hospitals, the Peace Corps and military provide an invaluable service to the community and to the country....

Gangs and Violence :: Gangs Violence Psychology Essays

Gangs and Violence Gangs are a violent reality that people have to deal with in today's cities. What has made these groups come about? Why do kids feel that being in a gang is both an acceptable and prestigious way to live? The long range answer to these questions can only be speculated upon, but in the short term the answers are much easier to find. On the surface, gangs are a direct result of human beings' personal wants and peer pressure. To determine how to effectively end gang violence we must find the way that these morals are given to the individual. Unfortunately, these can only be hypothesized. However, by looking at the way humans are influenced in society, I believe there is good evidence to point the blame at several institutions. These include the forces of the media, the government, theatre, drugs and our economic system.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the surface, gangs are caused by peer pressure and greed. Many teens in gangs will pressure peers into becoming part of a gang by making it all sound glamorous. Money is also an crucial factor. A kid (a 6-10 year old, who is not yet a member) is shown that s/he could make $200 to $400 for small part time gang jobs. Although these are important factors they are not strong enough to make kids do things that are strongly against their morals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the ways that kids morals are bent so that gang violence becomes more acceptable is the influence of television and movies. The average child spends more time at a TV than she/he spends in a classroom. Since nobody can completely turn off their minds, kids must be learning something while watching the TV. Very few hours of television watched by children are educational, so other ideas are being absorbed during this period of time. Many shows on television today are extremely violent and are often shown this from a gang's perspective. A normal adult can see that this is showing how foully that gangs are living. However, to a child this portrays a violent gang existance as acceptable. 'The Ends Justifies the Means' mentality is also taught through many shows where the "goody guy" captures the "bad guy" through violence and is then being commended. A young child sees this a perfectly acceptable because he knows that the "bad guy" was wrong but has no idea of what acceptable apprehension techniques are.

Definition Of Modernism In Fiction Essay -- essays research papers

Definition of Modernism in Fiction Modernism, in literature, can be seen as a shift in focus to the unassociated introspective reflection of characters in such texts as Go Tell It On The Mountain, by James Baldwin, Miss Lonelyhearts, by Nathanael West and The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger. This is a revision from the previous focal point of exterior events and places in correlation with the character’s reflections. Emphasis is placed on review upon feelings and thoughts, and even conversations with oneself, as opposed to the more directly event-driven reflections in texts of the pre-modernist era. This is not to say that texts of the modernist era have no events, or that their characters sit at home all day long thinking. Many activities take place in these texts, but the characters tend to spend time reflecting upon basically uncorrelated ideas, and to ponder what they mean for him. For example, in Go Tell it On the Mountain, when his aunt, Florence, comes to church for the first time, John knows, "it was the hand of the Lord that had led her to this place, and his heart grew cold. The Lord was riding on the wind tonight. What might that wind have spoken before the morning came?"(61). John's pondering of the Lord "riding on the wind" seems somewhat unrelated to his aunt coming to church. His premonition that something would happen tonight has nothing to do with the current events. It can be seen, in the broader definition of modernism provi...

History of Musical Films Essay

By 1928, Hollywood was invaded by sound theater. Silent films made an honorable exit. Vaudeville was also being wiped out. It signaled a phenomenon Tinseltown was not quite prepared for. It was the time of sound facilities and infrastructures. Later on Broadway composers were hired to write screen musicals (â€Å"History of Musical Film†, 2004). The first picture to make a transition from silent film to sound was Warner Bros. ’ 1927 The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson who mostly did the singing in the movie (â€Å"Musical Film†, 2006). One MGM musical hit opened the doors to the musical film genre. This was the 1929 Broadway Melody with a score by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed. The story was about two sisters fighting over their love of a song and dance man. It cost $379,000. 00 and grossed for $1. 6 million in its first release. Its title tune is â€Å"You Were Meant for Me. † It was the first sound film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. MGM’s production chief Irving Thalberg was credited for bringing in a string of musical hits since Broadway Melody. (â€Å"History of Musical Film 1927-1930 Part II†, 2004). Love Parade from Paramount followed on the same year by silent screen director Ernst Lubitch. It is a lighthearted operetta inspired by Broadway to fit the screen starring soprano Jean Macdonald as a young royalty and Maurice Chevalier as the French playboy diplomat. (â€Å"History of Musical Film 1927-1930 Part II†, 2004). The 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s were considered the golden age of musical films. Following are some of the popular musical films: Hollywood Revue of 1929 with Joan Crawford from MGM, Cecil B. Demille’s Madam Satan (1930). 932 mid-Depression saw the making of Love Me Tonight, a collaboration of Richard Rogers, Lorenz Hart, and director Rouben Mamoulian. Rogers and Hart continued with Hallelujah, I’m a Bum (1933) with Al Jolson. (â€Å"History of Musical Film 1930s: Part I†, 2003). Forty Second Street by dance Broadway director Busby Berkeley choreographed the dance sequences while composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dublin created the score. It was a million dollar hit for a $400,000 production. It was followed by Footlight Parade (1933), The Gold Diggers (1933) and Hollywood Hotel (1937). â€Å"History of Musical Film 1930s Part II† 2004). Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers entered the musical scene in 1933 through Flying Down to Rio, The Gay Divorcee (1934), Top Hat (1935) with a score by Irving Berlin. It was also the time of Shirley Temple in movies such as Stand Up and Cheer (1934), The Little Colonel (1935), among others. Disney produced Fantasia (1940). MGM revived its musical genre with the release of The Merry Widow (1934) (â€Å"History of Musical Film 1930s Part IV† 2004). The 1940s saw Warner Brothers’ Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) with James Cagney in his Oscar-winning performance. Then independent producer Samuel Goldwyn found Danny Kaye and made Up in Arms (1944, Wonder Man (1945), among others. It was also the time of Bing Crosby (Road Series, Going My Way, Holiday Inn) and Bob Hope (â€Å"History of Musical Film Screen 1940s: Part I† 2003). Judy Garland starred in Little Nellie Kelly (1940), Ziegfeld Girl (1941), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) directed by Vincente Minneli, her future husband. She appeared in sixteen MGM musicals. Gene Kelley also was a big MGM star in musical movies like For Me and My Gal (1942), On the Town (1949), among others (â€Å"History of Musical Film 1940s Part III† 2004). The 1950s was the decline of the musical film genre and the emergence of television. Some of the musicals produced from 20th Century Fox were Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II’s. Oklahoma (1955), Carousel (1956), King and I (1956). South Pacific (1958). Warner Brothers released some Doris Day films, Love Me or Leave Me (1955), The Pajama Game (1957). Paramount produced What Christmas (1954) while Walt Disney released musical animations such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty. MGM released Kiss Me Kate (1953) and High Society (1956) (â€Å"History of Musical Film Screen 1950s†, 2003).