Wednesday, December 25, 2019

10 Easy Ways of Helping Turtles Survive

Sea turtles have lived on Earth for about 110 million years. However, due to human activity, 6 of the 7 sea turtle species—green, Kemp’s ridley, olive ridley, flatback, hawksbill, and leatherback—are now classified as endangered. The seventh species, the loggerhead, is classified as threatened (likely to become an endangered species in the near future). Organizations Dedicated to Helping Sea Turtles Contact the following organizations to donate, volunteer, and learn more about ways to help the sea turtles:Sea Turtle ConservancySEE TurtlesTurtle Island Restoration NetworkThe Ocean FoundationOceanic Society How to Help Sea Turtles Survive According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund, sea turtles face threats from overharvesting and poaching, global warming, ocean pollution, and the encroachment of human activity on their nesting sites. Although targeting these problems may seem like an overwhelming task, there are specific actions you can take to ensure the survival of sea turtles. Baby hawksbill turtle after being rescued. Jereme Thaxton/Getty Images Source Your Seafood Responsibly Sea turtles often become the bycatch of irresponsible fishing methods. Educate yourself on how your seafood was caught and support organizations that advocate for the sustainable catching of seafood. The Monterey Bay Aquariums Seafood Watch website and app allow you to look up specific types of seafood and determine if they were responsibly sourced. In addition, organizations like Too Rare to Wear also have information on products that have been made from turtle shells, like jewelry and souvenirs, which are often sold to tourists in tropical regions. Get Rid of Pollution Sailors from the USS Thorn use bolt cutters and knives to free the only surviving sea turtle in a group of four found tangled in some long-ago discarded netting, July 10, 2001 in the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Navy / Getty Images Help make beaches safe for turtles and other marine animals by participating in cleanups to help remove trash from the beach. Doing so will also stop more trash from entering the oceans, reducing the chances that a turtle may become trapped or eat it. Many local groups organize such cleanups year-round, or you can organize a beach clean-up day with some friends. Cleaning up the beach may also help make that locations habitable for turtles again. After a 2-year beach cleanup in Miami that removed over 11 million pounds of trash from the environment, olive ridley turtle hatchlings were spotted making their way from the nest to the ocean, which had not occurred in decades. Previously, the turtles had been able to lay eggs on the beach but could not maneuver in the trash. Replace Disposable Plastic With Reusable Items Plastic bag at sea. These can be dangerous to sea turtles who mistake them for food, such as jellyfish. _548901005677/Moment Open/Getty Images You can help prevent trash from ever entering the ocean in the first place by recycling and reducing the amount of trash that you create. For some items, consider using their reusable counterparts, like shopping bags and water bottles to reduce your chances of polluting the beach. Plastic bags are especially troublesome, as sea turtles can mistake them for their favorite snack: jellyfish. You can also avoid other single-use items, like balloons during a birthday beach bash, which will likely end up in the ocean where they will be eaten by turtles and other wildlife. Keep Beaches Dark at Night WWF volunteers coax released baby green turtles that were found at a nest site the day before, to the waters edge with lights at Acyatan Beach on August 23, 2018 in Adana, Turkey. Chris McGrath / Getty Images Nesting turtles and hatchlings use the moons natural lighting as a guide. Instinctively, they follow the brightest direction to find their way to the water, but if they are disoriented by artificial lighting, they may wander inland and die of dehydration or predation. Avoid all forms of artificial light while at the beach at night, including flashlights, flash photography, video cameras, and fires on nesting beaches. If you do need lighting, try to avoid directly illuminating the beach, using a shade to minimize the amount of light shining in the area. If staying at a beachfront property, be sure to turn off all lights at night. If you do see disoriented baby turtles at night, do not take it upon yourself to move the turtles. Contact a nature conservancy organization or local authorities. Be Careful When Boating and Fishing A moving boat can seriously injure or kill a turtle, so stay alert if you are boating in the ocean. If you spot sea turtles in the water, stay at least 50 yards away. If they are close to your boat, put your engine on neutral or turn it off until the turtles swim away. Change your fishing location if you spot sea turtles nearby or they show interest in your bait. And remember to collect all of your fishing gear and supplies once youre done, especially fishing line, hooks, and nets. Don’t Disturb the Turtles An NPS volunteer helps Kemps ridley sea turtle hatchlings reach the water at South Padre Island National Seashore. Who knew volunteering could be so adorable?.  © qnr via Flickr Never pick up a hatchling. Though it may be tempting, doing so may frighten or disorient them. If you do want to watch one, attend a sea turtle watch hosted by an organization, which would allow you to observe the sea turtles without disturbing them. Do not catch a baby turtle in an aquarium or bucket of water. This will use up the energy they need to swim to the ocean after they emerge from their nest. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Global warming can skew the gender ratios of sea turtles, as well as the distribution of predators and prey. Although climate change might seem like too big an issue to tackle, there are many steps you can personally take to reduce global warming. Adopt a Sea Turtle Support sea turtle conservation efforts by â€Å"adopting a sea turtle† or making a donation to a wildlife conservation program that monitors and helps satellite-tracked turtles. You can also â€Å"adopt a nest† during nesting season. Avoid Beach Activities at Night Try to avoid walking on the beach at night during the summer, as this may frighten nesting turtles back into the sea. To help make it easier for turtles to navigate the beach, you can also remove beach furniture and other equipment from the beach before the nighttime, as turtles may become caught in them or become disoriented. Help Spread Awareness There are many ways you can help make a positive change for sea turtles. One main way is through education. You can help educate your local neighborhood or school by giving presentations, and tell people about the cause during conversations. Sources â€Å"Adoption Programs.† Seaturtle.org, Seaturtle.org, www.seaturtle.org/adopt/.â€Å"Endangered Ocean: Sea Turtles.† Ocean Today, National Ocean Service, oceantoday.noaa.gov/endoceanseaturtles/.â€Å"Information About Sea Turtles, Their Habitats and Threats to Their Survival.† Conserveturtles.org, Sea Turtle Conservancy, conserveturtles.org/information-about-sea-turtles-their-habitats-and-threats-to-their-survival/.â€Å"Ways to Help.† Ways to Help the Sea Turtles, Nova Southeastern University, cnso.nova.edu/seaturtles/ways-to-help.html.â€Å"What Can You Do to Save Sea Turtles?† NOAA Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 6 June 2016, www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/what-can-you-do-save-sea-turtles.â€Å"What Is the Difference Between Endangered and Threatened?† Wolf - Western Great Lakes, U.S. Fish Wildlife Service, Mar. 2003, www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/esastatus/e-vs-t.htm.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Restaurant Review Essay - 584 Words

Restaurant Review nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;It was rainy, crowded and loud at the entrance, the smell of cigarette and rum filled the air of the lobby area. It was Saturday night at the T.G.I.F in San Francisco, the Giant’s were playing so the place was packed and fans were being loud. The restaurant is located on a corner nearby Pier 39 and it almost has an Aspen look to it. The building itself is made of bricks with big colorful windows and huge cherry finished wooden doors with brass handles. Inside, the walls are cherry wood and covered with big mirrors and stuffed dear heads. The tables and chairs are all dark wood with a very rich red color. The atmosphere inside almost had an Irish pub feel to it, people were†¦show more content†¦For an appetizer I ordered a broccoli cheddar soup. The soup was brought out in less than 10 minutes with saltine crackers. It was hot and smelled great, it went with great with the ugly and cold weather outside. The soup was really good thick and creamy and it made me happy and content while waiting for my food. For my main course I ordered the Jack Daniel tower, it consisted of ribs, golden beer battered shrimp sesame chicken and onion rings. I didn’t understand why it was called a tower until they brought it out. The food was arranged in 4 plates from biggest to smallest on this black iron tower. Feeling hungry I went straight for the ribs, they were very tender and meaty along with the sauce made with Jack Daniels whiskey and barbeque sauce. The shrimp were jumbo and good along with the good marinara sauce and squeezed lemon. The sesame chicken was good, it was a mix of sweet and spicy which complemented everything else. The onion rings of course were deep fried and big enough to wear bracelets. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;We were all hungry and had just come out of a really good service from our singles with a cause convention. So the place was perfect because we were able to sit and share the great things God did and also have a good time socializing and getting to know other people from other churches. I don’t recommend the restaurant for a date with your boyfriend or girlShow MoreRelatedOnline Restaurant Reviews And Selecting Restaurant Via Online Reviews1414 Words   |  6 PagesLiterature Review The online restaurant reviews have changed the style of consumers purchasing among the restaurant industry. For this reason, many scholars study the implication of online reviews in the restaurant industry (Schindler Bickart, 2012). When their expectations are met, consumers only have indirect information about the quality of a service or product until they have been purchased, and so they look for mediators to reveal this information (Parikh, Behnke, Vorvoreanu, Almanza, NelsonRead MoreRestaurant Review Essay783 Words   |  4 PagesCheese Italian Restaurant Review Charlotte Perkins Professor Alexandra Alessandri English 1101 11 October 2011 Charlotte Perkins Professor Alexandra Alessandri ENC 1101 6 November 2011 The Big Cheese Italian Restaurant Review The sweet smell of garlic, tickles your nose as you park your car. Its sweet aroma guides your taste buds to the unassuming establishments were the Italian flavor lingers in the air. First Impression: The Big Cheese Italian Restaurant lives up to itsRead MoreEssay on Yamashiro Restaurant Review1661 Words   |  7 PagesYamashiro Restaurant Dave Thomas an American restaurateur and a philanthropist once said, â€Å"It all comes back to the basic. Serve customers the best-tasting food at a good value in a clean, comfortable restaurant, and theyll keep coming back.† (thomas). Everyone can agree on Dave Thomas, but I have a couple more criteria to add to his idea of a great successful restaurant. If I go out to eat I might as well pick a place that, though may be expensive, has scrumptious food because why bother goingRead MoreReview Of Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant Essay1230 Words   |  5 Pages Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Anne Tyler The lasting effects of how a dysfunctional marriage plays a role in the adult lives of the children that were affected by it, specifically isolating Cody Tull. Corey Weber November 6, 2016 In Anne Tyler’s Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, one of the traits we see is the recurring idea of a dysfunctional marriage. This very idea is continually presented throughout the book, showing how multiple characters are affected by the same situationRead MoreRestaurant Review: The Red Arrow Diner813 Words   |  3 Pagesany small business. The diner theme is not particularly evident. The images include photographs and custom graphics. The images are consistent in that they are all brightly colored. From that aspect, the images consistently convey the image of a restaurant that is busy, fun, and family-friendly, with hearty, budget-minded fare. The imagery contains appropriate alt tags, including tags for embedded video. The pages are consistent from one to the next, using the same colors and fonts. The design isRead MoreEat At My Restaurant Cash Flow Review926 Words   |  4 PagesEat at My Restaurant Cash Flow Review Remaining profitable in the restaurant industry is a requirement conceivably not considered as difficult for common chains like Taco Bell, Panera and Starbucks. Many factors impact the sustainability of cash flow for the restaurant industry when looking at changes in market trends for a product, menu pricing, and inventory management. Consistent to each of the parent companies for these restaurants however, is the need to ensure adequate and positive cash flowRead MoreRestaurant Review: Red Arrow Diner in Milford809 Words   |  3 Pagesallow your evaluation to come alive for the reader. Your introduction should be 4-5 sentences (not 3 or 6) with your thesis as the last sentence. Your thesis must follow the BLANK, BLANK and BLANK format. For example: Bella Verona is my favorite restaurant because of the delicious Southern Italian style food, romantic ambience, and quiet and efficient service. Your thesis will always need a main point and three subpoints to support it. Post it on the DB so I can check it. Email it to me if you wantRead MoreThe Importance of Food Guides1013 Words   |  4 Pagesexample, getting to know all the restaurants that are being reviewed so that one can make a fair and impartial assessment. Secondly it is important to obtain opinions from others, so that more than one voice is heard, and lastly, one must obtain plenty of information, such as prices, ambiance, and service, from the restaurants being reviewed. A food guide is a small book, almost the size of a travel guide. It consists of a list of menus and names of different restaurants, as well as location, pricingRead MoreOriental Pearl Restaurant Business Plan Essay962 Words   |  4 PagesOriental Pearl Restaurant Business Plan â…  Executive Summary Oriental Pearl Restaurant is a proposed dumpling restaurant located at Pasadena, CA. It offers a variety of special dumplings and other complementary foods. China has been perfecting the art of dumpling making since the Sung dynasty. Chinese dumplings may be round or crescent-shaped, boiled or pan-fried. The filling may be sweet or savory; vegetarian or filled with meat and vegetables. Dumpling is relatively low in calories and high inRead MoreA Brief Note On Third Party Delivery Services Essay974 Words   |  4 PagesThird-Party Delivery Services Third-party services are increasing nationally, regionally and locally to provide restaurateurs with an array of delivery options. Managing the delivery logistics is often challenging for restaurants that would prefer concentrating on food preparation. The good news is that you don t have to buy a delivery vehicle, train drivers and deal with delivery issues if you outsource your deliveries. The major players nationally are currently in a major expansion phase, and

Monday, December 9, 2019

The Human Brain vs. the Computer Essay Example For Students

The Human Brain vs. the Computer Essay Over the millennia, Man has come up with countless inventions, each moreingenious than the last. However, only now, as the computer arises thatmankinds sentience itself is threatened. Ridiculous, some may cry, but I saylook about you! The computer has already begun to hold sway over so many of thevital functions that man has prided himself upon before. Our lives are nowdependent upon the computer and what it tells you. Even now, I type this essayupon a computer, fully trusting that it will produce a result far superior towhat I can manage with my own to hands and little else. It has been commonly said that the computer can never replace the humanbrain, for it is humans that created them. Is this a good reason why thecomputer must be inferior to humans? Is it always true that the object cannotsurpass its creator? How can this be true? Even if we just focus on a singlecreation of man, say the subject of this essay, the computer, there are manyways in which the computer has the edge over man. Let us start with basiccalculation. The computer has the capability to evaluate problems that man canhardly even imagine, let alone approach. Even if a man can calculate the sameproblems as a computer, the computer can do it far faster than he can possiblyachieve. Let us go one step further. Say this man can calculate as fast as acomputer, can he, as the computer can, achieve a 100% rate of accuracy in hiscalculation? Why do we now go over the human data entry into a computer when amistake is noticed instead of checking the computer? It is because computersnow possess t he ability to hold no error in its operation, where mankind has notadvanced in this area in any noticeable margin. Why do you think the wordshuman error and to err is human have become so popular in recent years? Itis because the failings of the human race are becoming more and more exposed asthe computer advances and becomes more and more omnipotent. Perhaps the computer is not truly a competitor with the human brain butrather its ideal. After all, the computer is far superior to the human brain inthose aspects where the brain is weakest. It is perhaps the attempt of thehuman brain to attain perfection after realising its own weaknesses. If youthink about it carefully, do those who use the computer not use it supplementtheir own creative input? Maybe it is the subconscious attempt by us atreaching the next stage of evolution by our minds, creating a machine to do allthe dirty work for us while we sit back and allow our brains to focus oncreating, or destroying, as the case may be. This machine is the compensationfor the human brains weaknesses. The human brain has flaws in abundance, yet it also has many an edgeover the computer. It has the capacity to create, unlike the computer, and itcan work without full input, making logical assumptions about problems. Aperson can work with a wide variety of methods, seeing new, more efficient waysof handling problems. It can come up with infinite ways of getting aroundproblems encountered in day to day life, whilst a computer has a limitedrepertoire of new tricks it can come up with, limited by its programming. Should improved programming be introduced, it is the human brain that figuresout the programming that will allow leeway for any improvements as vaguelyconceived by the human brain. It is the human brain that conceptualises theformulae and methods by which the computer goes about its work. The human brain,given the time, can learn to understand anything, it can grasp the centralconcept of any concept, whilst the computer tends to take all things in theirentirety, which makes some problems near impossible to solve. Emotions too arean asset. Emotions allow the human brain to have evolved beyond a problem-solving machine. In truth, one characteristic of sentience, as we know it, isemotional maturity! Even a one-year-old baby knows infinitely more aboutemotions than the most sophisticated computers. Emotions open the mind to vast,new realms of possibilities. The reason why computers cannot create is becauseof the lack of emotions. Anger allows the imagination to roam, inventingconcepts of new, ever more powerful weapons of destruction. Discontent inducesthe mind to conceive of new methods of fulfilment that could be expanded intosomething more. Puzzlement causes the mind to think of solutions. Curiosityleads to attempts to satisfy it, producing new discoveries and revelations. .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb , .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb .postImageUrl , .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb , .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb:hover , .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb:visited , .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb:active { border:0!important; } .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb:active , .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue41c820f2fbcf740a0888cc9697ed1fb:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Serial Killer Observation EssayThe computer, on the other hand, though lacking in many aspects, isclearly the superior in many other aspects. In sheer speed of computation andretrieval of data, the computer is obviously by far the stronger. It has thecapacity to handle things on a far grander scale than the human brain could everconceive. The capacity to organise is massively improved as compared to thehuman brain. Measurements, results, applications can all be done down to thetiniest details, far beyond the human brains capabilities. Calculations can bedone with an accuracy nearly impossible to achieve manually. A certainuniformity can be achieved in its functions, someth ing a human can hardly hopeto achieve. The human brain has many flaws just as it has advantages. The randommindset of the human brain gives allowance for many mistakes to be made. Thoughtechnically the potential is there, this potential is never realised. I referto the potential to compute and store memory as efficiently or even more so thana computer. If potential cannot be realised, it is useless and the truecapability of the object is its present capability. The human brain can neverperform tasks as efficiently or as tirelessly than the computer. This isbecause the human brain can get bored quite easily and tends to stray from thetask at hand. The computer does not get tired or bored, it just sits there andworks, no problems. The human brain is a constant. The ability of it has notchanged any time in recorded history, only the knowledge of man has changed, andthis knowledge is invested in the computer anyway. The computer has altereddrastically for the better in such a short period of time that it is incredible. The computer has had improvements added to it almost non-stop, from a simplecalculation device into a marvel of modern science, whilst the human braincannot do anything but just stays there, not changing, not improving. Emotionscan, too, be a liability as well as an asset. Emotions make the minddangerously unstable, performance subject to moods and emotional disruption. The computer suffers no such problems. The human brain is easily stressed outby events and loses effectiveness when tired. Emotions blur the human brainscapacity to make clear, logical decisions, even when they are thrown before itseyes, and impair problem-solving capabilities. Age also has a devastatingeffect on the function of the human brain. Once senility sets in, the brain isof little use to anyone, and the person becomes a liability. Computers are far from perfect themselves. Computers have only alimited capacity for learning and even this usually is not entirely accurate,for the computer lacks the common sense of the human brain, thus it cannotaccurately realise its own mistake, if any. For example, a computer may send a$10 million tax bill to a person earning $30000 a year and not blink an eye, forif there is a bug in the program, it cannot go in by itself and change it. Itwould not even realise that it was making a mistake until a human spots it andcorrects it. Also, a computer cannot create, for creation requires a curiosityand the capacity for independent thought, which is something the computer willnot have, at least in the near future. Lacking the ability to create, it cannottruly pose a threat to mankind, but once it does acquire this ability, it willthen be set to take over from the human brain. The human brain is as incredible as it is flawed, whilst the computer isa fantastic machine, but seriously lacking in many aspects. While neither isperfect on its own, together they complement each other so perfectly that it isa heck of a potent combination. (1436 words) Category: Science

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Performance apprisal in the army free essay sample

Appraisals are where you get together with your team leader and agree what an outstanding member of the team you are, how much your contribution has been valued, what massive potential you have and, in recognition of all this, would you mind having your salary halved. â€Å" Guy Browning PREFACE I wish to thank all those who have helped me in completing the study paper. I have had informal discussions with serving and retired senior officers, colleagues as also with the concerned branches of the Armed Forces and their inputs have been invaluable for completing this study paper. We will write a custom essay sample on Performance apprisal in the army or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I also acknowledge the contributions of various writers and peoples who have expressed their views in various websites on the internet, which have been accessed and used by me. I thank my guide Professor for his valuable guidance and assistance without which I would not have been able to complete this study paper. I also thank all the staff and Faculty of Bharatiya Vidhya Bhawan who extended their whole hearted support to me in the process of writing this study paper. INTRODUCTION Definition 1. A performance appraisal (PA), performance review, performance evaluation, (career) development discussion, or employee appraisal is a method by which the job performance of an employee is evaluated. Performance appraisals are a part of career development and consist of regular reviews of employee performance within organizations. ‘Mansa K. Reddy, N. (2009). Role of Training in Improving Performance. The IUP Journal of Soft Skills’’ 2. Performance Appraisal is the formal and structured system of measuring and evaluating an employee’s job related behaviours and outcome to determine how and why the employee is performing on the job and how the employee can perform more effectively in the future to the benefit of the employee, the organization and the society. 3. It is evident from the above that performance appraisal is a measure of both current performance as well as the potential for future employability. It provides information upon which promotion and salary decisions are made. It also provides an opportunity for the employer and the employee to review the work related behaviour of the employee. This in turn allows them to develop plans for correcting any deficiencies noticed during the performance appraisal and reinforce the strengths of the employee. Finally the performance appraisal is central to the career planning process as it provides a platform to review the career plans of the employee in light of his exhibited strengths and weaknesses. 4. Almost all organizations practice performance appraisal in some form to achieve certain objectives. These objectives may vary from organization to organization or even within the same organisation from time to time. There are two primary objectives of performance appraisal – as an evaluation system and as a feedback system. The aim of the evaluation system is to identify the performance gap that is to determine the gap between the actual performance of the employee and the requirement or desired performance by the organization. The aim of the feedback system is to inform the employee about the quality of his work. This is an interactive process where the employee can discuss his work related problems with his manager. Historical Perspective 5. The history of performance appraisal is quite brief. Its roots in the early 20th century can be traced to Taylors pioneering Time and Motion Studies. But this is not very helpful, for the same may be said about almost everything in the field of modern human resources management. 6. As a distinct and formal management procedure used in the evaluation of work performance, appraisal really dates from the time of the Second World War not more than 60 years ago. 7. Yet in a broader sense, the practice of appraisal is a very ancient art. In the scale of things historical, it might well lay claim to being the worlds second oldest profession! 8. There is, says Dulewicz (1989), a basic human tendency to make judgements about those one is working with, as well as about oneself. Appraisal, it seems, is both inevitable and universal. In the absence of a carefully structured system of appraisal, people will tend to judge the work performance of others, including subordinates, naturally, informally and arbitrarily. 9. The human inclination to judge can create serious motivational, ethical and legal problems in the workplace. Without a structured appraisal system, there is little chance of ensuring that the judgements made will be lawful, fair, defensible and accurate. 10. Performance appraisal systems began as simple methods of income justification. That is, appraisal was used to decide whether or not the salary or wage of an individual employee was justified. 11. The process was firmly linked to material outcomes. If an employees performance was found to be less than ideal, a cut in pay would follow. On the other hand, if their performance was better than the supervisor expected, a pay rise was in order. 12. Little consideration, if any, was given to the developmental possibilities of appraisal. If was felt that a cut in pay, or a rise, should provide the only required impetus for an employee to either improve or continue to perform well. 13. Sometimes this basic system succeeded in getting the results that were intended; but more often than not, it failed. 14. For example, early motivational researchers were aware that different people with roughly equal work abilities could be paid the same amount of money and yet have quite different levels of motivation and performance. 15. These observations were confirmed in empirical studies. Pay rates were important, yes; but they were not the only element that had an impact on employee performance. It was found that other issues, such as morale and self-esteem, could also have a major influence. 16. As a result, the traditional emphasis on reward outcomes was progressively rejected. In the 1950s in the United States, the potential usefulness of appraisal as tool for motivation and development was gradually recognized. The general model of performance appraisal, as it is known today, began from that time. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 17. Performance Management is the essence of managing and the primary â€Å"Vehicle† for getting the desired results from the employees at all levels in the organization. The performance management process provides an opportunity for the employee and the performance manager to discuss the development goals and to jointly create a plan to achieve them. The plans for the employee should also contribute towards the organizational goals and the growth of the employee. 18. In the absence of a performance management system the staff members are unclear as to the expectations of the employers regarding their performance objectives and standards / targets leading to low productivity, costly mistakes, stress, demotivation and conflict. A sound performance management system subscribes to the crucial principle â€Å"What gets measured, gets done†. The days of having a â€Å"One set of measure fits all† performance management system is inherently flawed and are gone. Performance objectives and measures need to be specific to job categories and individual roles. 19. Performance management is the systematic process by which the organization involves its employees, as individuals and members of the group, in improving organizational effectiveness in the accomplishment mission and goals. Performance management is a holistic process bringing together many activities which collectively contribute to the effective management of individuals and teams in order to achieve high levels of organizational performance. Performance management is strategic in that it is about broader issues and long term goals and integrated as it links various aspects of the business, people management, individual and teams. It strengthens both, individual effectiveness and organizational effectiveness. It is essential that individuals are suitably empowered; however authority and accountability should be commensurate with each other. Such checks and balances would improve the effectiveness of the performance management system. Pre-requisites for Implementing an Effective Performance Management System 20. Certain pre-requisites govern the effectiveness of the performance management system. These are :- (a) Strong commitment from the top management (b) High level of participation of all concerned. (c) Clear definitions of what constitutes performance in a given role/job. This emanates from the objectives of the organization and the department. This should also reflect in the linkages of role with others. (d) Identification of performance parameters and definition of Key Performance Indicators. What comprises the performance has to be communicated to the individual, so that he has an idea about the work expectation from his superior’s (e) Consistency of application. (f) Adequate organizational training to be provided to the individuals to achieve a better performance. (g) Strong commitment to recognize good performance. Introducing a Performance Management System 21. In implementing a Performance Management System, it must be emphasised that the Performance Management System has been designed within the overall strategic framework appropriate for the organization / department. It is also necessary to link individual contributions to the strategic objectives of the organization. It will therefore be necessary for the performance management system to be customised for each organization / department. (a) Strategic Intent. The strategic intent of an organization should cascade into strategic and operational objectives at the departmental level. (b) Individual Assessment. This is the process of self-evaluation and structured discussion aimed at personal, professional and individual development. This process is not intended to be merely judgmental but one that is also developmental. It is intended that the process will provide a regular, open and systematic discussion of how an individual may enhance his role. The process should be seen as providing a means by which an individual contributions are recognised, feedback on individual performances is given, assistance provided to help developing the potential and overcoming problems in an agreed manner. Part of the role of the reviewer is to assist the individual being reviewed in assessing his own performance and development regularly and fairly. The role also extends to assisting the individual in setting objectives and measuring the extent to which these objectives are achieved. Where objectives are not achieved, this can be discussed between the reviewer and the person being reviewed and necessary remedial measure taken. (c) Development of the Individual. One of the main objectives of the performance management system is to provide a systematic means not only of reviewing the past performance, but also to consider future development of the individual. At the departmental level the system can help identify, agree upon and plan the staff development activities that can in turn lead to improved departmental planning and performance. It can also facilitate a better understanding of how all staff members contribute to a department’s activities. Such an engagement can also improve communications between staff members. All staff members regardless of grade or category have the ability to develop their potential in their area of work. The performance management system provides a mechanism for clarifying what is expected of them in their job. It can also help bring about an improved understanding of organisation / departmental objectives and priorities and how individuals’ work and responsibilities relate to these. There will always be strengths and weaknesses at all levels. The process allows these to be identified and the means of overcoming these can be devised. (d) Enhancing Quality. The development of the individual and the delivery of superior quality outcomes is the joint responsibility of individual staff, supervisors and the organization as a whole. The process enables all to agree to relevant goals which are clearly linked to the strategic plans and objectives of the organization. In so far as individual staff is concerned, the process will help them to identify their contributions and how it can be improved upon. (e) Process Review. These should normally be conducted at least twice a year. Procedures for all should be similar in their core contents but may vary as necessary to account for different responsibilities and management structures. A one-to-one discussion and feedback between the reviewer and the person being reviewed should be the norm for review. (f) Self-Monitoring. The formal review meeting would take place once in a review period. It is therefore important that the person being reviewed should monitor his own progress in achieving the objectives on a regular basis. In addition, if the person being reviewed feels there are issues or constrains which are preventing him from achieving the objectives, he should be able to discuss these with his reviewer or if necessary the departmental head Performance Management Of Government Employees 22. Traditionally governance structures in India are characterized by rule based approaches. The focus of the civil services in India is on process regulation that is compliance with centrally prescribed standards and rules; in other words, how things should be done and how inputs should be aligned. Compliance with rules is not sufficient for achieving outcomes and obviously, the objective must be to shift the focus away from traditional concerns such as expenditure and activity levels towards a framework that would manage for results by developing robust indicators to assess performance in terms of results. 23. As performance of an organization / agency is dependent on the performance of individual civil servants, over a period, an elaborate mechanism to evaluate the performance of individual government servants has evolved. These individual performance appraisal systems can be categorized as follows: (a) Conventional Closed System Of Annual Confidential Report (ACR). This is the traditional system, where at the end of a pre-set period (usually a calendar year); achievements of the officer are recorded and graded, absolutely or relatively. The significant feature of this method is the complete secrecy of the exercise, both in process and results, unless the rules specifically mention otherwise. Adverse remarks are communicated to the officer reported upon. (b) Performance Appraisal With Openness . This system is an improvement of the above, with the added feature of transparency and involvement of the officer at different levels. It involves setting goals at the start of the assessment period, reviews during the period and final assessment against achievement of goals. Finally, performance excellence is decided by a number (grades of 1-10) to be assigned by the reporting officer. 24. System in India. The performance of every Government servant is assessed annually through his / her Confidential Report, which is an important document providing the basic and vital inputs for assessing the performance of the Government servant and his / her suitability for further advancement in his / her career on occasions like confirmation, promotion, crossing of EB, selection for deputation, selection for foreign assignment etc. Performance appraisal through confidential reports is a tool for human resource development in order to enable a Government servant to realize his / her true potential. It is not a fault finding process, but a development one. The Reporting Officer, at the beginning of the year, has to set quantitative / physical targets in consultation with each of the Government servants, whose reports he / she is required to write. Performance appraisal is meant to be a joint exercise between the Government servant reported upon and the Reporting Officer. While fixing the targets, priority should be assigned item wise, taking into consideration the nature and the area of work. The Confidential Report is initiated by the Government servant to be reported upon, who gives a brief description of his / her duties, specifies the targets set for him wherever applicable, achievements against each target, shortfalls, if any, constraints encountered and areas where the achievements have been greater. In accordance with the recommendations of the Committee constituted under the Chairmanship of Lt Gen. (Retd. ) Surinder Nath in 2002, the Performance Appraisal System for All India Service Officers has been modified and the salient features include setting of goals in consultation with the appraised officer, a numerical grading system (scale of 1 to 10), introduction of a pen picture of the person being reviewed, sharing the entire PAR with the person being reviewed officer, etc. At present, the performance appraisal system in Government of India, as described above, falls largely in the first category but for the newly introduced system for All India Services officers. Methodology 25. The Annual Confidential Report is, in substance, an assessment in depth of the character and performance of each government employee at three tiers, namely, the Recording Authority, the Reviewing Authority, the Accepting Authority. These Annual Confidential Reports form the basis for the Government to decide on the ability or otherwise of each Government employee. Therefore, considerable importance is too be attached to this work by all concerned. The three authorities mentioned should make a sincere and serious attempt with a view to rendering the assessment of each employee as correctly as possible. Personal likes or dislikes of a subjective nature should not influence any of the authorities in any manner whosever nor should the authorities be swayed by a particular incident and extraneous consideration while recording the report, defects of any nature and achievement in any form should be properly highlighted. 26. The system of writing confidential reports has two objectives. First and foremost is to improve performance of the subordinates in their present job. The second is to assess their potential and to prepare them for the jobs suitable to their personality and potential. The columns of ACR’s are, therefore, to be filled up by the Reporting, Reviewing and Accepting authorities in an objective and impartial manner. 27. The three levels of authorities entrusted with the responsibility for the recording, reviewing and accepting the Annual Confidential Report shall routed in such a manner so that the Recording Authority should be the officer who is immediately superior to the officer reported upon, the Reviewing Authority should be the officer who is immediately superior to the Reviewing Authority and the Accepting Officer should be the immediate superior of the Reviewing Officer. 28. The general system and practice in the matter of communication of adverse remarks recorded in the Confidential Reports and the existing practice that no Confidential Reports should be written on any government employees unless the Recoding Authority had seen the performance of that employee for at least three months. When a member of the service has worked under more than one authority, during the period under report, the assessment report shall be written by all such authorities. The reporting officer may use the same form i. e one Reporting Authority writing the report first and the second Reporting Authority writing later (if need by making use of additional sheets of the C. R Forms) or the second Reporting authority may initiate a separate report. When there is more than one Reviewing Authority, the same practice shall be followed. 29. All the authorities at the recording as well as the reviewing levels are expected to exercise their mind independently while writing or reviewing the assessment report and should be free from being influenced or prejudiced by the assessment made or remarks by the former authorities. In cases where there is difference of opinion at the initiating or reviewing levels, the accepting authority can play a very significant role. When there are more than one Reviewing Authority in respect of assessment report recorded by any of the Reporting Authorised, one Reviewing Authority may review first, confining his personal views of finding in pursuance to the general assessment recorded there in of the work and performance of the officer reported upon for the department under him, and the other Reviewing Authority shall likewise review later exercising his mind independently taking in view the general reported assessment relating to the department under him. In such cases, if need be, additional sheet of confidential report form specifically for the purpose of remarks by the next respective Reviewing Authority(ties) as well as the Accepting Authority shall be utilised deleting the particular items meant for the purpose by the Recording Authority. The Reviewing Authority (ties) and the Accepting Authority (ties) are expected to generally know the quality of work and merit of the officer reported upon whose work and performance they are reviewing and / or accepting. With this point of view, they are also expected to exercise their mind independently while contributing their remarks and should be free from being influenced or prejudiced by the assessment of remarks of the former authorities. Performance Appraisal In The Australian Army 30. THE new ADF Performance Appraisal Report (PAR) for officers up to the rank of Lt to Col was introduced effective January 1, 2002, and replaced the Evaluation and Development Report – Officers (EDRO). 31. The purpose of the PAR is to provide a tri-service appraisal system for full and part-time, permanent /regular and active reserve officers. The PAR covers similar reporting dimensions as the EDRO, but no longer has the overall recommendation nor allows for justifications against extreme ratings on each performance dimension. The formal appraisal of officers seeks to provide feedback, identify strengths and weaknesses and record performance. It also seeks to identify an individual’s suitability for promotion and courses and to aid career management. Preliminary Review 32. The PAR is supported by the use of the Preliminary Review of Performance (PRP). The purpose of the PRP is to discuss and record goals for the member to achieve throughout the reporting period as well as support mid-term counselling against these agreed goals and the PAR performance dimensions. Supplementary Reports 32. ADF Performance Appraisal Supplementary Report is used where the member has undertaken a detachment or substantial secondary duties. This report is forwarded to the main assessor for consideration in drafting the PAR. Where the period of detachment is less than six weeks it may be done on either the supplementary report or a PRP. 33. Where the detachment is between six weeks and four months a PRP is recommended and over four months a separate PAR is raised. The performance appraisal cycle begins when an officer is first posted to a unit or at the start of a new reporting period. The assessor and senior assessor are designated at this time. At the start of the reporting period, or within 30 days of the effective date of the posting, the assessor is to meet with the member to discuss and record the goals for the member to achieve throughout the reporting period. This is recorded on the PRP. Midway through the reporting period, or after a minimum of six weeks observation the assessor and member get back together to review progress. The assessor also provides feedback on the member’s performance by rating the member’s performance against the individual performance dimensions. Again this is recorded on the PRP. At the end of the reporting period the PAR is compiled. 33. In order to complete this report the minimum period of observation is four months for full-time and 14 days for part-time members. The report is raised by the assessor, who then counsels the member. The member must sign the report, which then goes to the senior assessor and then back to the member for a second signature. The member may initiate a representation if the they feel that the report is unjustified. Performance Appraisal Systems In The Armed Forces An Overview 34. Performance appraisal systems in the Armed Forces are elaborate and rigorous because they are the main criteria for the very limited promotions that are made to higher positions in these services. For example, in the Army, only 3% of officers make it to the grade of Brigadier and above. The highlights of their system are as follows:- (a) Officers are evaluated on a scale of 1:9 on different attributes. This evaluation is done separately by the reporting officer and the next two higher levels. (b) For the purpose of promotions, the Army generally follows two types of systems the ‘closed’ system and the ‘open’ system. In the ‘closed’ system, the Promotion Board is not privy to the names of the officers being considered for promotion. Also officers of the same rank are permitted to attend deliberations of the promotion board as â€Å"observers† though they cannot participate in the discussions. In the ‘open’ system (for ranks of Major General and above); the identity of the officers being considered is also known to the Promotion Board. (c) There is a system of rating the reporting officers wherein the reporting officers are classified as ‘liberal’, ‘strict’ and ‘rating tendency not known’. (d) The prescribed trainings and examinations have to be cleared by the officers before they are considered fit for promotion. (e) The entire performance appraisal record of the officer is compiled in the form of a matrix with the numerical points assigned to each attribute and other details of appointment and achievements, the type of rating given, details of reporting officers battle honours etc. (f) Promotions in the Army are limited to the number of vacancies available making use of the three-year moving average of vacancies likely to be available. (g) In case an officer is not promoted for the first time, his case is reviewed two more times and thereafter, if he is still not considered fit for promotion and ultimately after obtaining the benefit of time scale, he retires at the relevant prescribed age 52 years in the case of a Colonel, 54 years for a Brigadier etc. 35. There are some variations in the performance appraisal and promotions in the other two Services. For example, in the Navy, a system of peer review exists in the form of a feedback from batch-mates of the officer being considered for promotion. They are informed of the number of vacancies and are asked to list the batch-mates whom they consider most suitable for being promoted to these posts. This peer review is not shared with the Promotion Board but is used by the Headquarters to validate the recommendations of the Promotion Board. Also in the Navy, there is a four-tier system of appraisal because being a comparatively smaller service the accepting authority for all officers is the Chief of Naval Staff. In the Air Force as in the Navy, the Promotion Board is an open one and in the Air Force, dossiers of the officers carry their photos. Unlike the Army which uses a three year moving average to determine the number of slots available for promotion, in the Navy and the Air Force, annual vacancies are taken into account. In the Air Force, a part of the Performance Appraisal form is filled up after discussions between the appraise and the reporting officer and both sign that portion of the appraisal report. Performance Appraisal in the Army : Detailed Analysis 36. Aim of Performance Appraisal. The aim of Annual Confidential Report (ACR) is to have an objective assessment of an officer’s competence, employability and potential as observed during the period covered by report, primarily for organisational requirements. All reporting officer must, thereof, be fair, impartial and objective in their assessment 37. Type of ACR. The Annual Confidential Report (ACR) in the army is based both upon the length of the service and the rank held by the ratee. Also the arm or the service to which the rate belongs also affects the type of the ACR. 38 Chain of Reporting. The Army follows three tiers of reporting. The ACR is initiated by the Initiating Officer (IO) who in turns forwards it to the Reviewing Officer (RO). The Reviewing Officer after reviewing the ACR forwards the same to the Senior Reviewing Officer (SRO) who after his endorsements forwards the ACR to the Army HQ (Military Secretary’s Branch) for filing and further disposal. 39. In the case of officers who are from the technical arms (for example EME, Signals, Engineers etc) there is another separate channel which reports upon the technical competence of the officer. These are the Frist Technical Officer and Higher Technical Officer) 40. The hierarchy of reporting is so designed that the IO is the immediate superior of the Ratee, the RO is the IO f or the IO and the SRO is the IO for the RO. The similar hierarchy is followed for the technical reporting also. 41. Components of the ACR. The ACR has the following components :- (a)Personal Qualities(PQ). These are qualities in the personal character of the rate officer such as Physical Attributes, Drive, Determination and Decivisiviness*, Dependability*, Moral Courage*, Integrity*, Loyalty*, Ingenuity and Imitative, Maturity and finally communication Skills. The qualities marked with the astrix sign are certain key qualities which are often referred to as the astrix qualities and any adverse grading in these qualities may seriously jeopardise the career prospects of the officer. (b)Performance Variable (PQ). These are the qualities reflect on the professional competence of the officer being reported upon. The PQ include, qualities like (i)Knowledge of own arm and service and its practical application. (ii)Knowledge of other arms and services (iii)Effectiveness in the training of his command. (iv)Ability to motivate his command. (v)Effectiveness in carrying out the administration of his command (vi)Dedication to the organization and the service. (c) Qualities to Asses Potential (QAP). Qualities to Assess Potential or the QAP are the qualities in the character of the ratee officer which indicate his capabilities and potential for the assumption of higher appointments and rank. These qualities are :- (i)Foresight and Planning (ii)Delegation (iii)Vision and Conceptual Ability (iv)Tolerance to Ambiguity (v)Professional competence to Handle Higher Appointment. (d)Box Grading. This is the overall grading given by the IO and the RO to the ratee. (e) Recommendations. These are the recommendations of the IO, the RO and the SRO for the promotion of the rate to the next higher rank, his suitability for various staff and instructional appointment’s etc. 42. Use of Various Appraisal Tools. The format of the ACR used in the Army makes use of various tools of appraisal. It has figurative assessments which are used in filling up the PQ, DVP and the QAP and the box grading. It has descriptive assessment wherein the various reviewing authorities write down the pen picture of the rate and it also has columns wherein the various reviewing 43. Transparency. The ACR in the Army is semi-transparent. About two third portion of the Appraisal written by the IO is shown to the ratee. The appraisal of the IO on the PQ, the DVP, the pen picture and the box grading are shown to the ratee by the IO and his initials obtained. However the recommendations of the IO about the promotion and future appointments is not shown to the ratee. The complete assessment made by the RO and the SRO are also not shown to the ratee. Only in case of an adverse entry in the ACR is the rate informed and his signatures obtained. 44. Role of IO, RO and the SRO. The role of the IO is to initiate the ACR for the ratee officer. The RO reviews the ACR and also comments weather the report initiated by the IO is â€Å"just, liberal or strict†. Similarly the SRO plays a role of balancer between the IO and the RO and also records his observations upon the report of the RO as being â€Å"Just, Liberal or Strict†. Action at the Military Secretary’s Branch MS Branch). 45. Internal Assessment. Once the ACR reaches the MS Branch the first step is to carry out a technical check of the ACR to see that it is technically correct. During th

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Sweet Quotes About Love by Famous People

Sweet Quotes About Love by Famous People Coo honeyed words of love in your sweethearts ears. Whisper sweet nothings, and watch a smile play on her lips. What is sweet love? Is it infatuation? Or is sweet love an affliction of the heart? Romantic authors and poets have crafted love phrases that make lovers go weak in the knees. These words speak of promise, hope, and beautiful dreams. They echo in the hearts of besotted lovers, reverberating with every heartbeat. Romantic Verses From Famous Writers Read love quotes from Shakespeare. Each romantic quote oozes nectar, and love transcends to a higher form of spirituality. William Wordsworth, Edgar Allan Poe, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and John Keats are some of the famous romantic poets who wove their words with silken strings of love. They enriched our language with romantic sayings, love proverbs, and passionate rhetoric. Even today, lovers use love quotes from classics to woo their sweetheart. Love in the Age of Instant Communication In the age of text messaging and Internet messengers,  love messages have to be bite-sized. Flowing poetry with flowery words is passà ©. Speed overrides melodrama. Your lover is just one-click away from you. So dont waste your time writing paeans of love. Make an impact with short love quotes. Instead of drumming up a climax, come straight to the point without much fanfare. Older Couples and Love Many people associate  cute love with the young generation. They believe that as you grow older, you feel less romantic. However, a large number of older couples have claimed that they often speak romantic gibberish to their partner. Older couples also enjoy cute words of love. During wedding anniversaries and birthdays, many old couples indulge in cute-talk, reminiscing their golden youth. The magic of a sweet love quote captures the heart of the young and the old alike. You are never too old, too mature, too classy, or too busy to say I love you. With every word, you weave an intricate web of happiness and create memories of togetherness. These memories help seal the deal. It is easy to unwittingly blurt out a harsh word. However, it is much easier to serenade your dearest with passionate and sweet words. Dr. Seuss You know you are in love when you cant fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams. Rosemonde Gerard For, you see, each day I love you more, Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow. Heraclitus Couples are wholes and not wholes, what agrees disagrees, the concordant is discordant. From all things one and from one all things. Jean RostandA married couple are well suited when both partners usually feel the need for a quarrel at the same time. Alexander Smith Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition. Keanu Reeves Falling in love and having a relationship are two different things. Barbara Johnson Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Amy Grant Every good relationship, especially marriage, is based on respect. If its not based on respect, nothing that appears to be good will last very long. Joseph Barth Marriage is our last, best chance to grow up. John Fischer The success of marriage comes not in finding the â€Å"right† person, but in the ability of both partners to adjust to the real person they inevitably realize they married. George Eliot What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life – to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each other in silent, unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting. Earl Wilson This would be a much better world if more married couples were as deeply in love as they are in debt. Stephen Levine If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? Melissa Bean Married couples who work together to build and maintain a business assume broad responsibilities. Not only is their work important to our local and national economies, but their success is central to the well-being of their families. Robert Brault For lack of an occasional expression of love, a relationship strong at the seams can wear thin in the middle. Nicholas Sparks, At First Sight Every couple has ups and downs, every couple argues, and that’s the thing you’re a couple, and couples can’t function without trust. Lenny Bruce Guys are like dogs. They keep comin back. Ladies are like cats. Yell at a cat one time, theyre gone. Joseph F. Newton People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges. Julie Marie Love is the best medicine, and there is more than enough to go around once you open your heart. Elizabeth Bowen When you love someone, all your saved-up wishes start coming out. Never close your lips to those whom you have opened your heart. William Shakespeare Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but not for love. W. H. Auden Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh. Alfred, Lord Tennyson Sweet is true love that is given in vain, and sweet is death that takes away pain. Ryan Gosling, The Notebook So it’s not gonna be easy. It’s gonna be really hard. We’re gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day. Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind No, I don’t think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That’s what’s wrong with you. You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how. Hugh Grant, Sense and Sensibility My heart is, and always will be, yours. Tom Hanks, Sleepless In Seattle It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together†¦ and I knew it. Julia Roberts, Notting Hill Don’t forget I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her. Jennifer Gray, Dirty Dancing ï » ¿I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How Bugs Find Their Way Into Your Food

How Bugs Find Their Way Into Your Food Entomophagy, the practice of eating insects, has been getting a lot of media attention in recent years. Conservationists promote it as a solution to feeding an exploding global population. Insects, after all, are a high protein food source and dont impact the planet in ways that animals higher up the food chain do. Of course, news stories about insects as food tend to focus on the ick factor. While grubs and caterpillars are diet staples in many parts of the world, U.S. audiences tend to get squeamish at the thought of eating bugs. Well, heres some  news for you. You eat bugs. Every day. Even if youre vegetarian, you cant avoid consuming insects if you eat anything that has been processed, packaged, canned, or prepared. You are, without a doubt, getting a bit of bug protein in your diet. In some cases, the bug bits are intentional ingredients, and in some cases, theyre just by-products of the way we harvest and package our food. Red Food Coloring When the FDA changed food-labeling requirements in 2009, many consumers were startled to learn that manufacturers put crushed bugs in their food products for color. Outrageous! Cochineal extract, which comes from a scale insect, has been used as a red dye or coloring for centuries. Cochineal bugs (Dactylopius coccus) are true bugs belonging to the order Hemiptera. These tiny insects make a living by sucking the sap from cactus. To defend themselves, cochineal bugs produce carminic acid, a foul-tasting, bright red substance that makes predators think twice about eating them. The Aztecs used crushed cochineal bugs to dye fabrics a brilliant crimson. Today, cochineal extract is used as a natural coloring in many foods and drinks. Farmers in Peru and the Canary Islands produce most of the worlds supply, and its an important industry that supports workers in otherwise impoverished areas. And there are certainly worse things that manufacturers could use to color their products. To find out if a product contains cochineal bugs, look for any of the following ingredients on the label: cochineal extract, cochineal, carmine, carminic acid, or Natural Red No. 4. Confectioners Glaze If youre a vegetarian with a sweet tooth, you might be shocked to learn that many candy and chocolate products are made with bugs, too. Everything from jelly beans to milk duds is coated in something called confectioners glaze.   And confectioners glaze comes from bugs. The Lac bug, Laccifer lacca, inhabits tropical and subtropical regions. Like the cochineal bug, the Lac bug is a scale insect (order Hemiptera). It lives as a parasite on plants, particularly banyan trees. The Lac bug uses special glands to excrete a waxy, waterproof coating for protection. Unfortunately for the Lac bug, people figured out long ago that these waxy secretions are also useful for waterproofing other things, like furniture. Ever heard of shellac? Lac bugs are big business in India and Thailand, where they are cultivated for their waxy coatings. Workers scrape the Lac bugs glandular secretions from the host plants, and in the process, some of the Lac bugs get scraped off, too. The waxy bits are typically exported in flake form, called sticklac or gum lac, or sometimes just shellac flakes. Gum lac is used in all kinds of products: waxes, adhesives, paints, cosmetics, varnishes, fertilizers, and more. Lac bug secretions also make their way into medicines, usually as a coating that makes pills easy to swallow. Food manufacturers seem to know that putting shellac on an ingredient list might alarm some consumers, so they often use other, less industrial-sounding names to identify it on food labels. Look for any of the following ingredients on labels to find the hidden Lac bugs in your food: candy glaze, resin glaze, natural food glaze, confectioners glaze, confectioners resin, Lac resin, Lacca, or gum lac. Fig Wasps And then, of course, there are the fig wasps. If youve ever eaten Fig Newtons, or dried figs, or anything containing dried figs, youve no doubt eaten a fig wasp or two as well. Figs require pollination by a tiny female fig wasp. The fig wasp sometimes becomes entrapped within the fig fruit (which is technically not a fruit, its an inflorescence called the syconia), and becomes part of your meal. Insect Parts Honestly, theres no way to pick, package, or produce food without getting a few bugs in the mix. Insects are everywhere. The Food and Drug Administration recognized this reality, and issued regulations concerning how many bug bits are allowable in food items before they become a health concern. Known as the Food Defect Action Levels, these guidelines determine how many insect eggs, body parts, or whole insect bodies can get by the inspectors before being flagged in a given product. So, truth be told, even the most squeamish among us eats bugs, like it or not. Sources: The Truth About Red Food Dye Made From Bugs, LiveScience, April 27, 2012. Accessed online November 26, 2013.Scientists Make Red Food Dye from Potatoes, Not Bugs, National Geographic, September 19, 2013. Accessed online November 26, 2013.Calimyrna Figs in California, Wayne P. Armstrong, Palomar College. Accessed online November 26, 2013.Humans as Fig Eaters, FigWeb, Iziko Museums of South Africa. Accessed online November 26, 2013.Laccifer Lacca, Gwen Pearson (Bug Girls Blog), February 14, 2011. Accessed online November 26, 2013.Q A on Shellac, the Vegetarian Resource Group blog, November 30, 2010. Accessed online November 26, 2013.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Civilisation and the arts in london Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Civilisation and the arts in london - Essay Example They export music and celebrities in every part of the world. People of London copy the hairstyle and dresses of their favourite celebrities. Music occupies important place in London’s fashion culture. People show great interest in listening music on television, internet and on audio media. Media, television, audio media and sports all influenced the fashion in the life of youth and children specially. Music and dance parties are the main feature of nightclubs of London. Same trend of parties is also prevailing in fashion weeks (Foreman, 2005). Independent group caused the emergence of British pop art in London. Painter Richard Hamilton, Curator and art critique Lawrence Alloway and sculptor Eduardo got together in the London school of contemporary arts to promote popular culture in London. They first met in 1952 in London where Eduardo presented his celebrated college entitled â€Å"I was a rich man’s play thing†. All the emphasis during the discussion was laid on artistic values and interrelation of popular mass culture. In 1955, another member of the group Hamilton produced his college â€Å"just what is it that makes home so appealing†. This was recognized as the pioneer example of British pop art in London. Afterwards, number of people joined pop art and did reasonable work in expansion of pop art in London. ... Youth still follow this Beatles fashion in London. Jurgen Vollmer was a schoolchild in 50s, who left his hairs hanging down on his forehead. This style was copied by the young boys of that time. But main reason of fame was rock music. Beatle mania is spreading very fast and youth love the Beatle’s music in London (Foreman, 2005). Artistic contributions of great English artists have influenced the life of Londoners. Artists attracted people to make people understand the depth of architectural work. Architectural work of English people in visible in the form of, castles, churches and government buildings in and around London. This architectural work is counted masterpiece work in the architectural era of England. (White, 2001) Variety and quality of foodstuff available in London is matchless with rest of the England. London is considered as the main hub of English food culture. Rising of London as one of the best cities of the world encouraged Londoners to promote English food c ulture in the city. Unlike other parts of the country, London has seen increase in number of casinos. All types of English dishes are available in London restaurants and hotels. Celebrated chefs also love to show their cooking potentials in London. This very culture of London influences the fashion and entertainment. (White, 2001) London is the centre of fashion activities in the world. London fashion weeks are symbol of quality dress designing in the world. Number of celebrities show up for advertising the work of English fashion designers. Catwalk fashion of London fashion shows greatly influences the popular consumer culture. Fashion designers tend to promote their work by following the lifestyle of famous sports and music figures

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Irish History A Brief Historiography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Irish History A Brief Historiography - Essay Example The first Normans landed in Ireland or at least the descendants of the Normans who had conquered England from 1066 onwards. Little did Diarmuid McMorrough (King of Leinster) know that his action of involving outsiders in sorting out a local political dispute with rival clans would have such a profound effect on the history of Ireland for centuries to come. Up to that point, Ireland was largely an independent entity and mainly Christian in character. Ireland had played its part in illuminating the â€Å"Dark Ages† in the 4th Century when she had brought the Christian faith to all parts of Europe through the exploits of the adventurous monks like St. Colmcille where he and his like founded monasteries not only in England and Scotland but also in the furthest ends of Europe. This era was known as â€Å"Ireland of the saints and scholars†. Prior to the Normans, or more accurately the descendants of the Normans who had settled largely in Wales, the Vikings had plundered and traded with the native Irish and had assimilated into Irish society blending their own unique culture with that of the locals. Many of Ireland’s great cities and towns such as Dublin, Waterford, and Wexford developed and prospered on Viking trade. What was different about the Norman invasion from other intrusions was their sheer military strength, their administration and their ability to apply law and order to the lands they had conquered. Their administration was far in advance of anything in existence in Ireland on their arrival.... Ireland had played its part in illuminating the "Dark Ages" in the 4th Century when she had brought the Christian faith to all parts of Europe through the exploits of the adventurous monks like St. Colmcille (Columba) where he and his like founded monasteries not only in England and Scotland but also in the furthest ends of Europe. This era was known as "Ireland of the saints and scholars". Prior to the Normans, or more accurately the descendants of the Normans who had settled largely in Wales, the Vikings had plundered and traded with the native Irish and had assimilated into Irish society blending their own unique culture with that of the locals. Many of Ireland's great cities and towns such as Dublin, Waterford and Wexford developed and prospered on Viking trade. What was different about the Norman invasion from other intrusions was their sheer military strength, their administration and their ability to apply law and order to the lands they had conquered. Their administration was far in advance of anything in existence in Ireland on their arrival. To the native Irish it must have seemed that their entire world as they knew it was completely turned on its head. How could they fight or compete with such a powerful force To a great extent the early settlers were more like adventurers, advancing their own self interest, - a point not wasted on Henry II who was quick to see the security implications for his own kingdom. It was imperative that he gain some measure of control and this is what he did. Up to Tudor times the Norman conquest of Ireland was limited to certain areas of the country, mostly to strongholds in the province of Leinster and particularly around Dublin. This area was known as "the Pale"1 which was roughly a forty mile radius

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The term illumination Essay Example for Free

The term illumination Essay In metaphysics refers to an ineffable state of knowledge or communion with a godhood or an absolute ideal. Because the state of illumination is, by nature, a deeply subjective experience, the quantification or definition of the state is difficult to execute through traditional expository methods or scientific investigation. Illumination is a desired state for mystic who maintain the practice of putting oneself into, and remaining in, direct relation with God, the Absolute, or any unifying principle of life. Mysticism is inseparably linked with religion. Because of the nature of mysticism, firsthand objective studies of it are virtually impossible. (Mysticism, 2004) Rather, what can be known, second-hand, about the illuminative state is gleaned through the expression of mystics,artists, poets, and writers who express their subjective apprehensions through various means, often utilizing complex and mythologically driven symbolic systems of reference. The language of mysticism is always difficult and usually symbolic. This is readily seen in the Song of Songs in the Old Testament, in the book of Revelation in the New Testament, and in the writings of William Blake. Mystics, especially those of the Roman Catholic and the Islamic traditions, have made use of a terminology borrowed from ordinary human love. (Mysticism, 2004) In many cases, illumination is closely affiliated with established mystical traditions (as in Zen Buddhism) and also with established religious traditions (such as Roman Catholicism). In all cases, illumination is regarded as a step on the road to union with God or the ideal, but not a conclusion or attainment of the goal in and of itself. In this regard, illumination stands closely in hand with another mystical state known as purgation where the soul undergoes a painful cleansing of its impurities in order to enter into union with God or the ideal. Illumination can be Illumination page -2- regarded, metaphorically, as the light which shines through the cleaned window of the soul, as it has been cleared through the purgative state. The two states are seen as continuing and sometimes overlapping. (Mysticism, 2004) The basic pattern for the path to mystical union with God or the ideal can be generically rendered, although the specific differ widely throughout geographic and culturally specific traditions and beliefs. At the core of the mystical journey, involving periods of illumination, several key archetypal aspects can be cited: The soul undergoes a purification (the purgative way), which leads to a feeling of illumination and greater love of God[ ] after a period the soul may be said to enter into mystical union with God[ ] an ecstatic state to a final perfect state of union with God. (Mysticism, 2004) The process above is quite generally envisioned and the above description is probably as close to anything like an objective account of what mystical experience is and what its goals are; the illuminative feeling indicates that the mystic has successfully enjoined the path to union with God or the ideal. However, it is not the final union with God or the ideal and its ecstacy are not particularly connotative of what mystics have imagined the final union with God or the ideal to be, once actually attained. Rather, illumination is a state of awareness and knowledge that blossoms from mystical communion with God or the ideal. It is not a linear knowledge:We have illumination which is no mere deduction from previous knowledge; but the illumination is at the same time like a leap of recognition. This may throw some light on the problem we noticed earlier the relation between faith described in terms of the energizing of the Holy Spirit, and mans efforts of reason. (Emmet, 1945, p. 133). Illumination page -3- The distinction between ordinary rationality and mystical illumination is an important one, for knowledge that is derived by linear reason is often interpreted by humanity as an achievement of humanity alone, whereas illuminative knowledge gleaned from communion with God or the ideal often comes like a bolt out of the blue and transcends not only individual ego, but racial, national, and cultural biases as well: Thus the community whose way is defined by Torah looks to the moment when Moses stood on Sinai; the Christian Church sees its life as continuing Gods act of reconciliation Prophet as the community of the faithful, committed to God in submission to the stark majesty of His Transcendence; Buddhists look to the moment of illumination under the Bo tree, when Buddha saw the way of release from the restlessness of finite existence. (Emmet, 1945, p. 156). Just as scientific or other types of linear knowledge may cast world-changing ideas or technologies into the flow of history, the mystical tradition reminds humanity that we are all united in the truths of the highest ideals, in the love of God. Illumination often transports the mystic not only to euphoric feelings of ecstacy, but important realizations about the nature of human existence and how human tragedy and pain can be minimized and sometimes overcome. From important illuminations come new ways of living in relation to the transcendent, which have given form to new ways of feeling and of thought. These were not reached by general reflections on the general character of experience but born out of the devotion of individual seekers who looked inward to find the illuminative power and phenomena which every mystic believes emanates directly from God or the ideal. (Emmet, 1945, p.156). The verifiable impact of religious and philosophical movements and doctrines that began in the subjective state if illumination are evidence that illumination represents a process of human reason and knowledge which is as important as linear modes. References Mysticism. (2004). In The Columbia Encyclopedia (6th ed. ). New York: Columbia University Press. Emmet, D. M. (1945). The Nature of Metaphysical Thinking. London: Macmillan Co. Ltd.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Transplantation: Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Essay -- Health Medi

Transplantation: Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a slowly-progressive disease which ultimately robs its victims of voluntary motor control. The disease manifests itself as a series of symptoms which include "bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and impairment of postural reflexes (Fitzgerald, 1992:215)". It is a result of a loss of neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Chemotherapy, in the form of drugs such as levodopa and carbidopa, has been effective in alleviating many of the symptoms in the early stages of PD; however, with increasing losses in the number of cells in SNpc, such therapy becomes more and more ineffective. New therapies, using selegiline (deprenyl) and antioxidants (tocopherol or Vitamin E) focus on halting the progression of the disease by potentially salvaging surviving SNpc cells (Ahlskog, 1990). A more aggressive approach in the treatment of PD has surfaced in recent years. Researchers are experimenting with the prospects of transplanting tissue directly into the afflicted areas of the central nervous system (CNS) of PD patients. In both animal models of PD and humans, marginally successful transplants have been performed using adrenal chromaffin cells and fetal neurons. Genetically-altered, dopamine-producing tissues are currently being proposed as an alternative in transplant therapy of PD. As techniques become more refined, such "brain-grafting" may be the panacea for not only PD, but also for other debilitating diseases such as Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. According to Fitzgerald (1992:215), the "cardinal pathological feature [of PD] is loss of neurons from the substantia nigra". Most of this loss occurs in the SNpc, of which approxima... ...zgerald, M. J. T. Neuroanatomy: Basic and Clinical. London: Bailliere Tindall, 1992. Freed, C. R. et.al. 1992. Improved drug responsiveness following fetal tissue implant for Parkinson’s disease. Neurochemistry International, 20: 321S-327S. Freed, C. R. et.al. 1990. Transplantation of human fetal dopamine cells for Parkinson’s disease. Fetal Human Transplant, 47:505-12. Freed, W. J. et.al. 1991. Brain grafts and Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 45:261-7. Hurtig, H. et.al. 1989. Postmortem analysis of adrenal-medulla-to caudate autograft in a patient with Parkinson’s disease. Annals of Neurology, 25(6):607-13. Kordower, J. H. et.al. 1991. Putative chromaffin cell survival and enhanced host-derived TH-fiber innervation following a functional adrenal medulla autograft for Parkinson’s disease. Annals of Neurology, 29(4):405-12.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

My Experience in Jaffna

My experience in Jaffna. – Sandarangi Perera. For three long decades Sri Lanka was torn apart by a malicious war between the country’s majority and minority. This war made the northern part of the country inaccessible to most of us; its citizens. I myself thought that the people, culture and beauty of Jaffna and its surrounding areas would forever remain a mystery to me. However once the war ended the north opened its doors for the rest of the island to come witness all it has to offer.Even with this great opportunity at my grasp, yet I was not capable of visiting northern Sri Lanka as I simply never had the chance to. Luckily this chance was given to my fellow college mates and me by our college, the chance to see and experience the post war north. After much planning, excitement and enthusiasm we set off to Jaffna hoping to gain new experiences, to learn new lessons and to make memories as young individuals aspiring to be future journalists. Our purpose of going to Ja ffna was to collect information that was needed to write the stories that each of us were assigned.The general topic assigned to the particular group that I belonged to was â€Å"agriculture†, and we were given the full freedom to choose a story we preferred under that wide topic. The task was to choose a story which has a news value. I instantly decided on writing my story about the grape cultivation in Jaffna, considering my love for the fruit and my curiosity about the process of its cultivation. On my first day in Jaffna I arranged an interview with a few government officers at the Ministry of Agriculture Northern Province. The interview was rather successful and proved to be both knowledgeable and interesting.I learned much about the history of grape cultivation in Jaffna, its plight during the war, its status after the war, the different typed of grape fruit grown in Jaffna, the problems and threats faced by the farmers and last but not least the future plans and goals set for the growth of the grape farming industry in Jaffna. Day two and three were spent visiting grape farms and interviewing the farmers to gain a much more practical knowledge about the cultivation of grapes. I must say that the grape farms we visited were by far one of the most beautiful things that I have ever witnessed.Entering each grape farm felt like walking into a land that simply was far away from Jaffna. Greenery was rare in the North. The long stretched roads often had nothing but brown, open and empty lands on either side that often felt quite dead. These farms were the absolute opposite. Every inch of the mesh above our heads was covered with light green grape vines that blocked away the scorching sun that we could not flee from the rest of the time. What looked lovelier than the grape vines themselves were the grape fruit hanging from them.Standing under those vines I couldn’t help but feel happy and refreshed. One grape farmer that I spoke to expressed to me how growing grapes was very much similar to bringing up a child. He spoke of the dedication, caring and nurturing it took to maintaining a grape farm. There were many traditions and rules entwined with this trade, there was a specific way in which every move was to be made and this made it seem to me that grape cultivation was more of an art than a business and the farmers also went on to say that sadly it is an art that is slowly dying.Our third day in Jaffna was spent visiting onion farms and Palmyra plantations and other industries related to the Palmyra plant such as handicrafts and food and drink items made out of it. Out of the places visited on that day one place in particular that I found to be interesting was a small-scale workshop where Palmyra handicrafts were made. There were about five to six women there who were weaving pretty and colourful baskets and bags and on display were the most delicate little ornaments made from various parts of the Palmyra tree.These women ma de weaving look rather easy as they sat there, smoothly and artistically moving their fingers creating beautiful patterns. Being a crafter myself I wanted to sit with them and try weaving, and so I did. An elderly woman offered to show me how it was done and I tried to grasp as much as I could by watching her fast moving fingers and yet when I tried to weave I failed miserably. I discovered that it wasn’t nearly as easy as they made it seem to be, yet it was quite the enjoyable experience to try anyway.Along with our busy schedules, tweeting, blogging and all the other work assigned to us we still found time to experience the beauty of Jaffna while at work. Many of the places we visited, such as the Jaffna library and religious sites had a certain calmness and beauty about them that I had not experienced prior to that. I found this experience to be one that educated me much about the practical aspects of being a journalist; making contacts, setting appointments and interviews , researching into stories and their details, checking and crosschecking, finding reliable sources, team work and so on.These lessons could not have been taught to any of us in a better way, therefore I believe I speak for all of my college mates when I say our field trip to Jaffna was a priceless experience in more ways than one. The open blue skies, the beaches, the breeze, the late nights and early mornings, the joyous moments shared with friends, the delicious food, the traditions and culture of the north and more than anything the kind people of the north have been etched into my memory never to be forgotten; and this was my experience in Jaffna.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

A Comparative Analysis of Lacatan Banana

Background of the Study We chose this study because we realized how much trees are chopped down to make paper and we realized that we should save more trees.To save more trees, we can use fruit peelings Like the peelings of Lactate and Saba to make handmade paper and If we use fruit peelings we do not Just save trees but we also help reduce wastes. Statement of the Problem This study will compare Lactate Banana (MUSM communicate) and Saba (MUSM geminate x MUSM balancing) as a Component of Handmade Paper. 1. Which is much banana is much better to use as a component of handmade paper? 2.Will this study help and benefit the community? Objectives This study mainly aims to use food wastes, specifically kinds of banana peelings as a component of handmade paper and to save more trees and to help reduce Hypothesis If this study proves that Lactate or Saba banana peelings can be components of handmade paper then they can be alternative for paper. Significance of the Study To make paper, we ch op down trees and we use harmful chemicals.Now this study can produce paper without using harmful chemicals which will be a big help to Mother Nature because we reduce wastes and lessen the trees being chopped down. Definition of Terms Lactate banana (MUSM communicate) : most popular dessert banana In the Philippines; has a higher vitamin content, compared to the Aleutian (white with thinner skin) and Saba varieties (used for abundance).

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Current Events in Business Research Essay Example

Current Events in Business Research Essay Example Current Events in Business Research Essay Current Events in Business Research Essay Essay Topic: Current Current Events in Business Research Name: Course: Institution: Instructor: Date: Current Events on Business Research A business research process refers to the initiative of coming up with business decisions after careful analysis of the business environment such as the company, competitors, the industry, the market and strategies developed with an aim of achieving business goals. These current events on business research are key factors in effective decision making for long-term success in any business. The process involves an overview of a company’s strengths and weaknesses to determine the required efforts for further development. Current events in business research target market opportunities and revolve around the mitigation of business risk. I experienced the business research process as an employee in a company known as Pacific Computers, which sells computer hardware and offers software services. The company had extensive analytical research studies of the business progress as I witnessed when I was in the sales department. Monthly and annual meetings were held to determine the failures and successes of Pacific Computers. The scale of business performance was measured according to short-term achievements in a bid to affirm strategies of long-term achievements. The scale of business performance was deduced from the results from the business research within and without the organization. A research study in business involves data collection and analysis in a company for managers to make the best decisions that coincide with the company’s goals (Cooper Schindler, 2010). In Pacific Computers, the senior and departmental managers compiled the data results and stipulated major changes to evaluate and improve business performance. Pacific Computers needed a larger market share than it had already secured in the IT industry. Strategies could only be effective if opportunities in the business environment were explored adequately. Therefore, suggestions given by clients and employees, data on the company and IT industry’s history among others served as the data collected. Subsequently, the managers made logical decisions on improvements such as upgraded software services, re-branding the company, newly developed marketing strategies, differentiation in computer products, advertisements and promotions. The research reports of Pacific Computers included detailed historical financial statements. This enabled the managers to evaluate and assess the profit earnings by comparing the present and the past financial performance of the company in the IT market and industry. The research process was necessary in my fourth year as an employee of Pacific Computers because was opting to lay-off a part of the workforce t o cut on its costs. Fortunately, the data results prompted alternative ideas of increasing the profit margin. Alternative ideas included the introduction of new computer models with high processor speed that could be compatible with the workload of customers, as they suggested according to the data presented. The research gave the management team a new insight on the weaknesses of the major competitors in the IT market and the members deduced a competitive advantage that scooped a large share of the market and increased the company’s profit margin notably. Decisions made by the management such as outsourcing, restructuring the organization, forming a change agent committee to communicate change, differentiation of computer products, human resource strategies, promotion, community initiatives and advertisement lead to high productivity and a continued culture of high performance in IT business. The implementation of these strategies and the positive outcome in business is evidence that business research fosters strong managerial decisions in an organization or a company (Cooper Schind ler, 2010). By monitoring the current events on business research and examining the data results, Pacific Computers was able to re-establish itself and maintain its business image. Top of Form Bottom of Form

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

SAT Exact Start Time and End Time

SAT Exact Start Time and End Time SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Timing is everything, especially when it comes to the SAT. Besides managing your time on eachsection of the test, you also have to plan your day around this long exam. Since latecomers won't be admitted to the testing room, when should you plan to arrive on test day? For that matter, what time can you breathe a sigh of relief and, all finished with the exam, head back home? This guide will go over the exact start and end times of the SAT so you can plan your schedule for that special SAT-urday. What Time Do You Need to Arrive for the SAT? The SAT is given on Saturday mornings (unless you request and are approved for an alternative testing date due to religious reasons). Doors close at 8:00AM, unless otherwise specified, so students should aim to be at the test center by 7:45AM at the latest. Some test locations, including your high school, will be holding multiple exams, like the GRE for graduate school. There might be a line of people waiting, and it could take some time to find your name on a list and locate your room. To be especially safe and get ahead of any lines, you sould aim to be there even earlier, like by 7:30AM. Apart from finding your assigned room and seat, you also may have to hang up your bag and/or coat somewhere outside of the testing room. What also takes time that morning is getting checked in with your admission ticket and ID. [Side note: make sure to hold onto your admission ticket, as you'll need it to fill out some personal information on your test!] Once you find your room and assigned seat, your proctor will give instructions and pass out the tests. You'll spend some time filling out your personal details on the test. All of this settling in takes about 30 minutes to an hour, so you'll start taking the SAT between 8:30AM and 9:00AM. Again, arrive by 7:45AM at the latest. No one will be admitted once testing has started. You'll be at your testing center for 45 minutes to an hour before you start in on your first section, which will be Reading on the redesigned test. After you begin between 8:30AM and 9:00AM, what time will you be all finished with the SAT? Will you look something like this? When Will You Be Finished With the SAT? The new SATis 3 hours long, or 3 hours and 50 minutes with the optional essay. Since you can decide whether or not to take the essay section on the redesigned SAT, your choice will determine your exact end time. Given this variation, let’s consider your end time on the SAT in two scenarios: first, without the essay, and second, with the essay. SAT End Time Without the Essay If you choose not to take the essay, then you’ll be finished about an hour earlier than students who elect to include this section. The SAT has a 65-minute Reading section, a 35-minute Writing and Language section, and two Math sections: 25 minutes (without calculator) and 55 minutes (with calculator). The sections on the SAT will be given in this same order - Reading, Writing, Math (no calculator), and Math (with calculator). You should get twoshort breaks of about five minutes each, one after the Reading section and the other between the two Math sections. While your total testing time will be 3 hours, your entire test-taking experience will look more like 3 hours and 10 minutes with the breaks. If you began your test between 8:30 and 9:00, then you'd be finished between 11:40AM and 12:10PM. At this point, you’re all donewith your SAT. Other students, though, may stay longer and move onto a fourth hour of testing if they're taking the essay. SAT End Time With the Essay Students who choose to take the SAT essay will get this section last, after Reading, Writing and Language, and both Math sections. The essay is 50 minutes long, and you’ll get a short break of five to ten minutes before you start writing. That means you can add 55 minutes to an hour to your end time. If you start taking the SAT (with the essay) between 8:30AM and 9:00AM, then you can expect to be finished sometime between 12:35PM and 1:10PM. A good estimate for your end time is around 1:00PM Apart from the amount of time it takes to get everyone checked in and ready to test, are there any variations in how long the SAT takes? Does the SAT Always Take the Same Amount of Time? Except for students with accommodations for extended time, the SAT should take the same amount of time in any testing center in the U.S. or internationally. The reality is that there can be some variation in terms of break time, with some proctors being more flexible and allowing between five and ten minutes. If there were any problems, such as distracting noise or a student being dismissed for cell phone use, this could also potentially cause a delay. Some students have reported that proctors skipped their breaks entirely, which isn't helpfulfor your pacing or for fairness across the board. You have the right to two 5-minute breaks (and a third before the essay), so you should speak up if you don't get your entitled break time. One recent incident involving an issue with timing was on the June 6th 2015 administration of the current version of the SAT. There was a misprint in the test booklet, resulting in some students receiving an extra five minutes on what should have been a 20 minute section. This was a huge problem that caused a lot of controversy and complaints, as an extra five minutes is a full 25% increase in time for some students and not others. Ultimately, the College Board still provided scores for students, but omitted that particular section, claiming that it could still provide accurate scores without it. Apart from this June 6th situation, which hopefully won’t repeat itself with the simplified format of the redesigned SAT, the SAT start and end time generally remain standard at around 3 (or 4) hours in all test centers. For the most part, you can be pretty confident about what your schedule will look like on test day. You can further take control of your morning by preparing everything you’ll need the day before. Armed and ready with No. 2 pencils. Planning for SAT Test Day Pack your bag with Number 2 pencils, a calculator, snacks, and a drink, and plan to arrive at your testing center between 7:30AM and 7:45 AM. You'll spend about an hour checking in, finding your room and assigned seat, and filling out personal details on the test before you actually begin taking it between 8:30AM and 9:00AM. To sustain your focus and energy over this four-hour period of test-taking, make sure to take advantage of breaks to move around, drink water, and have a snack. Look around the room or out the window, as staring up close at a test for so long can strain your eyes. Just moving and doing something else, even if it's just for a few minutes, will help re-energize you, clear your mind, and collect yourself before the next section. You'll be all finished with the SAT between 12:30PM and 1:00PM. Congratulate yourself for preparing for and taking this intense test, and enjoy the rest of your Saturday! What's Next? What SAT score should you be aiming for?What's a good SAT score?Find out more in our detailed guide. Feelingstressed about finishing all the questions in time? Learn and try out these best strategies to stop running out of time on Critical Reading and Math. Have youregistered for the SAT yet?If not, check out our step-by-step guide to SAT registration for everything you need to know. Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: