Statistical analysis by michael cummins Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Statistical analysis by michael cummins - Essay Example ested whether there are significant differences among the overall job satisfaction of three departments, namely, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Administration. The results demonstrate that there is no significant difference among the three categories (F=1.74, p>.05). This means that they have more or less equal levels of overall job satisfaction. When tested by position, the results indicate that there is a significant difference between the two groups of full-timers and part-timers, with part-timers yielding a higher overall satisfaction level (t=2.34, p.05). This means that the three groups have more or less equal levels of overall job satisfaction. Gender. The results for gender that indicate no significant difference between the two gender groups are not supported by literature. The review of literature suggests that men are more satisfied at the workplace than women, mainly because of unequal treatment in the workplace. However, with work conditions being equal, women tend to be more satisfied at work than their male colleagues (www.coe.iup.edu). Age. A review of the relevant literature shows that most of the age-job satisfaction studies have concluded that there is some association between employee age and job satisfaction. Gibson and Klein (1970) have demonstrated an increase in satisfaction with age over all tenure levels in their sample. They discussed the age-satisfaction relationship in terms of changing needs, a mellowing process, and dynamic cognitive structures related to age. Siassi et al. (1975) presented higher levels of job satisfaction in workers over 40 than in those under 40, regardless of the

Business plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business plan - Essay Example Quality performance in the organization is also aimed at improving the overall performance of the company. If it is performing well, this entails that its productivity also increases. This will help the organization to operate viably in the long run. This will also help the company to attract more customers which can positively increase its market share. Performance management Performance management is defined as â€Å"an approach to managing employees which is concerned with planning employee performance, facilitating the achievement of work related goals and reviewing performance and these are seen as methods of motivating the workers in order to achieve their full potential in line with the organisation’s objectives.† (Spangenberg, 1994 as cited in Swanepoel, 1998). At Disney Restaurant, performance management will be an ongoing process which will involve planning, managing, reviewing, rewarding and development of performance of the employees. The aim of this particu lar strategy is to establish the level of performance of the employees. This will also help the management to implement measures that are designed to improve the performance of the employees. ... ewards and incentives can be used to motivate the employees to put optimum effort in their performance so that they can positively contribute to the productivity of the organization. At Disney Restaurant, this will be achieved through the use o a performance appraisal system. Basically, performance appraisal is a formal and systematic method that is used to investigate the job relevant strengths and weaknesses of the employees and it is also used to develop the performance of the workers (Swanepoel, 1998). The major aim of performance appraisal is to improve the performance of the employees and this method will be used to gather information about the employees who can be considered for rewards and incentives. This strategy of offering rewards and incentives is very effective in as far as performance improvement of the employees is concerned. If the employees are aware that they will get rewards from their outstanding performance, it can be seen that they will also put optimum effort in their work. This will also motivate other employees to work hard in their assigned tasks since they will also be anticipating to get rewards from their handsome work in the company. Daily management In order to effectively manage the employees as well as their activities at Disney Restaurant, the management will try to interact with the workers on a daily basis. An open communication channel will be implemented in the organization where the employees and their managers will constantly interact on a daily basis. One important aspect that ought to be taken into consideration by the management is to give feedback to the employees so that they know if they are performing within the expected standards in the organization. The managers should give the employees certain tasks and they will

Development of Controlled Drug Delivery Systems (CDDS)

Development of Controlled Drug Delivery Systems (CDDS) 1.1 CONTROLLED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS (CDDS) Now a day’s on the development of Novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) marked consideration has been focused. The method of drug delivery to the site of action shows a significant effect on its efficacy. It leads to the development and evolution of novel drug delivery systems that enhanced performance of potential drug molecules. Novel drug delivery systems play a key role in pharmaceutical research and development. Since when compared new chemical moiety the developmental cost and time required for introducing NDDS is relatively low. Oral route remains one of the most ‘natural’ routes of drug administration and has seen remarkable accomplishments in the last couple of decades towards optimization of oral delivery of drug molecules. Oral ingestion is one of the oldest and most extensively used routes of drug administration. They provide an effective method of obtaining systemic and local effects. Drug delivery describes a process whereby a therapeutic agent is administered to the body in a controlled manner. The product’s commercial and clinical value, product differentiation can be improved by developed drug delivery technologies. These advanced technologies serve as an advanced resource to outreach the competition. By simplifying the administration and dosing regimen drug delivery technologies make medicine more acceptable and convenient to a patient. Any drug molecule by using Novel drug delivery system (NDDS) can get a ‘new life,’ and thus improving the competitiveness, patent life and market value. Among different NDDS present in the market, the major share in the market is hold by the oral controlled release systems because of its greater benefits of patient compliance and ease of administration. The development of novel and highly versatile delivery systems and osmotic drug delivery systems are the major contribution in oral NDDS. Basically, there are three novel modes of drug delivery, i.e. Targeted delivery, Modulated release and Controlled release. Targeted delivery refers to the administration of a drug carrier systemically in order to deliver drug to the specific type of cells, tissues or organs. Modulated release implies use of a drug delivery device that releases the drug under controlled environmental conditions, bio feedback, sensor input or an external control device at a variable rate. Controlled release refers to a specific device that delivers the drug at specific release profiles or at a predetermined rate into the patient body. 1.1 CONTROLLED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS (CDDS) The nature of the controlled release dosage form is such that the release is determined by the design of the system and the physiochemical properties of the drug and is independent of the external factors or the microenvironment in which the dosage form is placed. These products typically provide significant benefits over immediate-release conventional dosage formulations. Optimum therapy with repetitive administration of conventional dosage forms (e.g. injectables, liquids or tablets) can classically be pursued by dosage scheduling. The aim of this process is to maintain drug concentration in a therapeutic range, above the minimum effective concentration and below the toxic concentration. Thus CDDS avoids the undesirable saw tooth characteristics of the plasma concentration vs time profiles of the conventional drug products. A diagrammatic illustration of controlled versus conventional dosage delivery is shown in Figure-1. Fig 1.1 Plasma Time profile of controlled drug release and conventional release The plasma concentration of the drug reaches a maximum (crest) with conventional dosage forms and then decrease (trough) at the point where repeated administrations becomes necessary to maintain the plasma drug concentration. Very often the initial concentration is above the therapeutically effective level that may increase the risk of side effects. Conventional dosage forms can thus result in a drug regimen in which the drug concentration oscillates between alternating periods of overdose and inefficiency. The delivery of drug at controlled rate over an extended period of time is represented mathematically: Rate in = Rate out = Ke x Cd x Vd Where Cd is the desired drug level, Vd is the volume of distribution and Ke rate content for drug elimination from the body. Added to this, the high cost of development of new, safe, specific and effective drug molecule is prohibitive and developing nations virtually cannot afford such integrated multi-group cost intensive drug development ventures. Therefore, many pharmaceutical industries and drug research institute oriented their efforts to develop pre-programmed unattended delivery of drug at a rate and for a period to meet and achieve the therapeutic need. These systems are coined as Controlled drug delivery systems Table 1.1 Classification of oral controlled release systems depending on mechanism of Release 3 (vyas etal,2002) 1.1.1. ADVANTAGES OF CONTROLLED RELEASE PRODUCTS 4 As controlled release dosage form are slightly expensive than conventional formulations, they cannot be justified unless they offer come clinical or practical advantages given below: Reduction in dosing frequency More uniform effect Reduced fluctuation in steady levels Increased safety margin of high potency drugs Improved patient convenience and compliance Reduced in total amount of dose administered Avoidance of night time dosing Reducing of GI irritation and other dose related side effects and Reduction in health care cost. 1.1.2.DISADVANTAGES OF CONTROLLED RELEASE PRODUCTS 4 However, controlled drug delivery systems also have some disadvantages. They include, High cost; Poor systemic availability; Unpredictable and often poor invitro-invivo correlation; Possibility of dose dumping; Dosage adjustments potential is reduced; First pass clearance potential is increased; In case of hypersensitivity reactions, toxicity or poisoning drug retrieval is difficult; Effect of oral dose depends on Mean Residence Time. To control or change the drug release from a dosage form there will be a number of design options. Most of the per oral controlled release dosage forms comes under the category of osmotic, matrix or reservoir systems. The polymer matrix contains embedded drug in matrix systems in which the release occurs by partitioning of drug into the release medium and polymer matrix. In case of reservoir systems a rate controlling membrane is surrounded and coated around the drug core. But, drug release from conventional controlled systems i.e., reservoir and matrix systems is affected by various factors like presence of food, pH and different physiological factors. In case of osmotic systems the drug is delivered based on the principles of osmotic pressure. The drug release from this system doesn’t depend on the pH and various physiological parameters and thus by optimizing the drug and systems properties the release characteristics can be modulated. 1.2. OSMOTIC DRUG DELLIVERY SYSTEMS – A REVIEW 1.2.1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND In 1955 Rose and Nelson utilized the principles of osmotic pressure in drug delivery for the first time. They described two systems; one that delivered 0.02 ml/day for 100 days and another that delivered 0.5 ml/day for 4 days, both for use in Pharmacological research. In the 1970s, Higuchi and Leeper proposed a series of variations of the Rose-Nelson pump5. Theeuwes further modified the Rose-Nelson pump and developed a system. Small osmotic pumps of these forms are sold under the trade name ALZET (Alza Corp., CA). The device has a volume of approximately 170Â µl, and the normal delivery rate is 1Â µl/hr. A major milestone was achieved in 1974 with the description by Theeuwes and Alza’s co-workers of a tablet design composed of a compressed tablet-core surrounded by a semi permeable membrane with a single orifice, so-called Elementary osmotic pump (EOP). This design adaptation for human use was conveniently processable using standard tabletting and coating procedures and equipment. The first two products indomethacin, Osmosin6 and phenylpropanolamine, Acutrim TM6 were launched in the 1980s. Oral osmotic drug delivery system (OODS) development continued with two new OODS designs, the controlled-porosity osmotic pumps (CPOP) and the push-pull osmotic pumps (PPOP). The first of these was the CPOP, which was designed to decrease the risk of extremely localized drug-induced irritation at the site close to the orifice. In the 2000s, a new drug product based on OODS technology was formulated to deliver methylphenidate to children (above the age of 6 years) with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These delivery systems were based on a new design, the push-stick osmotic pumps (PSOP), which combined immediate and sustained drug release phases. The drug release from this system doesn’t depend on the pH and various physiological parameters and thus by optimizing the drug and systems properties the release characteristics can be modulated. In the last few years more number of patents are granted on these oral omotic drug delivery systems. These systems has ability to improve therapeutic agents clinical profile and so they are becoming one of the most attractive technologies today. Osmotically controlled oral drug delivery system for the controlled delivery of active agents follows osmotic pressure principle. For the controlled drug delivery osmotic devices are most assured strategy based systems. Among the controlled drug delivery systems these are most reliable systems. Osmotic systems could be used in the form of implantable devices or oral drug delivery systems. Osmotic pump tablet (OPT) generally consists of a core including the drug, an osmotic agent, other excipients and semi-permeable membrane coat. 1.2.2. THEORY Osmosis can be defined as spontaneous movement of a solvent from a solution of lower solute concentration to a solution of higher solute concentration through an ideal semi permeable membrane, which is permeable only to the solvent and impermeable to solute. The pressure applied to the higher-concentration side to inhibit solvent flow is called osmotic pressure8. Osmotic pressure is a colligative property, which depends on concentration of solute that contributes to osmotic pressure. Solutions of different concentrations having the same solute and solvent system exhibit an osmotic pressure proportional to their concentrations. Thus a constant osmotic pressure, and thereby a constant influx of water can be achieved by an osmotic delivery system that results in a constant zero order release rate of drug8. PRINCIPLE OF OSMOSIS An osmotic system releases a therapeutic agent at a predetermined, zero order delivery rate based on the principle of Osmosis, which is movement of a solvent from lower concentration of solute towards higher concentration of solute across a semi-permeable membrane. When osmotic system is administered, from the one or more delivery ports the drug that contain suspension or solutions is pumped out of the core due to the hydrostatic pressure developed by the imbibition of water in to the core osmotically through the semi-permeable membrane. By the water influx through semi-permeable membrane the delivery of drug from this system can be controlled. Osmotic pressure is directly proportional to temperature and concentration and the following equation describes the relation between them: ÃŽ   = ØcRT where OP = osmotic pressure, ÃŽ   = osmotic coefficient, c = molar concentration, R = gas constant, T = Absolute temperature. OSMOTIC PUMPS Osmotic pump is a new delivery device, which delivers drugs or other active agents at a controlled rate by the principle of osmosis. Control resides in the water permeation properties of the formulations Table: 1.2 Examples of some marketed band of Osmotic drug delivery system7 DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY, SVCPPAGE 1

Moby Dick Qoutes Ch.36 and 86 :: essays research papers

Quotes from Moby Dick Chapter 36 Capitalism- On Pg. 170 Ahab says â€Å"All ye mast headers have before now heard me give orders of a white whale. Look ye! D’ye see this Spanish ounce of gold? It is a sixteen dollar piece men. Whoever of ye raises me a white headed whale with a wrinkled brow and a crooked jaw, he shall have this gold ounce. This example relates to capitalism because Ahab uses money as a way to motivate his men much like money is used as a motivator in a capitalist society. Transcendentalism- On Pg.172 and 173 Ahab talks about his feelings toward moby dick. Ahabs feelings are a twisted view on reality that relate to transcadentalism because he believes that getting revenge on the whale is worth risking his life and other mens lives. All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks. But in each event . . . some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask. If man will strike, strike through the mask! How can the prisoner reach outside except by thrusting through the wall? To me, the white whale is that wall, shoved near to me. Sometimes I think there's naught beyond. But 'tis enough. He tasks me; he heaps me; I see in him outrageous strength, with an inscrutable malice sinewing it. That inscrutable thing is chiefly what I hate; and be the white whale agent, or be the white whale principal, I will wreak that hate upon him. Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the sun if it insulted me!" Ahabs feelings are a twisted view on reality that relate to transcadentalism because he believes that getting revenge on the whale is worth risking his life and other mens lives. Religion- On Pg. 172 after getting the men to agree to follow along side him in the killing of moby dick Ahab yells out to the men â€Å"God bless ye, God bless ye men† Ahab says this because his crew has agreed to follow him and he wants to thank them and he wants to try to help keep them safe for the journey because he knows that it will be a dangerous chase. Faustism- On Pg.175 Ahab fills the goblets of all of the crew and tells them: â€Å"Drink and swear, Death to Moby Dick, God hunt us all if we do not hunt moby dick to his death.

Ap Bio Work

Label the seven repertories illustrated here, and give a different example of each. Enter answer here Evolutionary Adoption Enter answer environment Response to the here Enter answer Order here Regulation Energy Processing Enter & Development Concept 1. 1 Themes connect the concepts of biology 2. What are emergent properties? Give two examples. Properties that are not present at the preceding level. Reproduction 3. Life is organized on many scales. Figure 1. 4 zooms you in from viewing Earth from space all the way to the level of molecules. As you study this figure, choose the correct label for each picture. Exosphere ecosystem ell organism organelle community tissue molecule population 4. Our study of biology will be organized around recurring themes. Make a list here of the themes that are presented, and give an example that illustrates each theme. Watch for these themes throughout your study this entire year. This will help you see the big picture and organize your thinking. (Go t o the Summary of Key Concepts at the end of the chapter for a concise look at the themes. ) Theme 1 Example Organisms Interact with other organisms and the Physical Environment The leaves of a tree, for example, absorb light from the sun, Theme 2:Life requires energy transfer and transformation Theme 3: Theme 4: A fundamental characteristic of living organisms is their use of energy to carry out life's activities. Theme 5: Theme 6: Theme 7: (Find it in 1. 2. ) Concept 1. 2 The Core Theme: Evolution accounts for the unity and diversity of life 5. Life is organized into groups. Study Figure 1. 14. Which level contains the greatest diversity of organisms? The least? 6. Taxonomy is the branch of biology that names and classifies organisms. Because of new molecular information, there have been many changes in placement of certain groups in recent years.Notice that all life is now organized in your text into 3 domains rather than the 5 kingdoms you may have learned earlier. Choose the kin gdoms mentioned in the text in the space above the proper domain names shown here. Mammalian Protests 7. What two main points were articulated in Darning's The Origin of Species? 8. What did Darwin propose as the mechanism of evolution? Summarize this mechanism. Are the two main types of scientific inquiry? Give an example of each. 10. What is the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning? Is either used by scientists? 1 1 .Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative data. Which type would be resented in a data chart and could be graphed? Which type is found in the field sketches made by Jane Goodwill? 12. In science, how do we define hypothesis? 13. A scientific hypothesis has two important qualities. The first is that it is testable. What is the second? 14. Look at Figure 1. 24. Use it to write a hypothesis using the â€Å"If .. . Then .. .† Format. 15. What is a controlled experiment? 16. The text points out a common misconception about the term â€Å"cont rolled experiment†. In the snake mimicry experiment, what factors were held constant? 7. Explain what is meant by a scientific theory by giving the three ways your text prepares a theory from a hypothesis or mere speculation. Chapter 2: The Chemical Context of Life 2. 3. This chapter covers the basics that you may have learned in your chemistry class. The questions that follow should help you focus on the most important points. Matter element trace element neutron atomic number atomic mass energy polar covalent bond anion compound proton isotope electronegative action dynamic equilibrium essential element electron electron shells monopoly covalent bond hydrogen bond Concept 2. Matter consists of chemical elements in pure form and in combinations called compounds 1. What four elements make up 96% of all living matter? Concept 2. 2 An element's properties depend on the structure of its atoms 2. Below is a model of an atom of helium, correctly label the electrons, protons, neutro ns, and atomic nucleus. 3. What is the atomic number of helium? Its atomic mass? 4. Consider this entry in the periodic table for carbon. What is the atomic mass? Atomic number? How many electrons does carbon have? Neutrons? 5. What are isotopes? Use carbon as an example. 6.Explain radioactive isotopes and one medical application that uses them. 7. Which is the only subatomic particle that is directly involved in the chemical sections between atoms? 8. What is potential energy? 9. Explain which has more potential energy in each pair: a. Boy at the top of a slide/boy at the bottom electron in the third energy shell the chemical behavior of an atom? B. electron in the first energy shell/ c. Water/glucose 10. What determines a. How many valence electrons does it have? B. How many protons does it have? Concept 2. 3 The formation and function of molecules depend on chemical bonding between atoms 12.Now, refer back to your definition of a compound and fill in the following chart: Molecule ? (y/n) Compound? (y/n) Molecular Formula Water Carbon dioxide Methane Structural Formula 02 13. What type of bond is seen in 02? Explain what this means. 14. Choose the correct labels for the electron distribution diagram of water. Which element is most electronegative? Molecule? Why is water considered a polar (This is a very important concept. Spend some time with this one! ) 15. Another bond type is the ionic bond. Explain what is happening in the figure below (2. 14): 16. What two elements are involved above? 17.In the preceding example, which is the anion? 18. Indicate where the hydrogen bond occurs in this figure. Hydrogen 19. Here is a list of the types of bonds and interactions discussed in this section. On the chart: hydrogen bonds, van deer Walls interactions, covalent bonds, ionic bonds. Van deer Walls interactions 20. What is the biological importance of weak bonds? 21 . Use morphine and endorphins as examples to explain why molecular shape is crucial in biology. Concep t 2. 4 Chemical reactions make and break chemical bonds 22. Write the chemical shorthand equation for photosynthesis. Label the reactants and the products. 23.For the equation you Just wrote, how many molecules of carbon dioxide are there? How many molecules of glucose? How many elements in glucose? Chapter 3: Water and the Fitness of the Environment polar molecule specific heat solute pH cohesion evaporation hydrophilic acid adhesion solvent hydrophobic base Concept 3. 1 The polarity of water molecules results in hydrogen bonding 1. Why is water considered polar? 2. How many hydrogen bonds can a single water molecule form? Concept 3. 2 Four emergent properties of water contribute to Earth's fitness for life Hydrogen bonding accounts for the unique properties of water. Let's look at several.Cohesion 3. What is demonstrated when you see beads of water on a waxed car hood? Calorie solution military . Which property explains the ability of a water strider to walk on water? Moderation o f Temperature 5. Water has high specific heat. How does water's specific heat compare to alcohol's? 6. Explain how hydrogen bonding contributes to water's high specific heat. 7. Summarize how water's high specific heat contributes to the moderation of temperature. How is this property important to life? 8. What is heat of vaporization? Explain at least three effects of this property on living organisms. Expansion upon Freezing 9. Ice floats!So what? Consider what would happen if ponds and other bodies of water accumulated ice at the bottom. Describe why this property of water is important. 10. Now, explain why ice floats. Why is ICC the critical temperature in this story? Solvent of Life 1 1 . Consider coffee to which you have added sugar. Which is the solvent? The solute? 12. Explain why water is such a fine solvent. 13. You already know that some materials, such as olive oil, will not dissolve in water. In fact, oil will float on top of water. Explain this property in terms of hyd rogen bonding. 14. Now, let's do a little work that will enable you to prepare solutions.Read the section on solute concentrations carefully, and show the calculations here for repairing a I-molar solution of sucrose. Steps to help you do this follow. The first step is done for you. Fill in the rest. Steps to prepare a solution: a. Write the molecular formula. B. Use your periodic table to calculate the mass of each element. Multiply by the number of atoms of the element. (For example, O has a mass of 16. Therefore one mole of O has a mass of 16 x 11 = 176 g/mole. ) masses of each element in the molecule. C. Add the d. Add this mass of the compound to water to bring it to a volume of 1 liter.

McDonald’s Corporation

McDonald's Corporation is the world's leading food service organization. The corporation started out as a small drive-through in 1948 by two brothers, Dick and Mac McDonald. Raymond Albert Kroc, a salesman, saw a great opportunity in this market and advised Dick and Mac to expand their operation and open new restaurants. In 1961 Kroc bought out the McDonald brothers. By 1967 McDonalds expanded its operations to countries outside the U.S.A. This unyielding expansion led the Corporation to open 23,000 McDonald's restaurants in 110 countries in 1994, producing $3.4 bn in annual revenues. In addition, McDonald's opens a new restaurant every three hours. Also, McDonald's has twice the market share of its closest U.S. competitor, Burger King, representing 7% of total U.S. eating-out sales. Similarly, McDonald's serves about 1% of the world's population on any given day through its 23,000 restaurants internationally. â€Å"Big Mac†, the world's most sold hamburger was developed by Jim Delligutti in 1967 to feed construction workers. ‘Big Mac' is the biggest attraction and backbone of the corporation. Moreover, McDonald's maintains its competitive advantage by constantly creating new items to add onto its menu. This shows us that McDonald's practices an analyzer type of strategy, introducing new items and defending its existing ones. â€Å"We serve people with good quality food, fast and at low cost.† McDonald's vision is to dominate the global food-service industry. Global dominance means setting the performance standard for customer satisfaction and increases market share and profitability through successfully implementing our convenience, value and execution strategies. To have a clear picture of McDonald's corporation we need to look at its Task Environment, which includes its: We shall also explore McDonald's Workforce Diversity and its Total Quality Management. Customers are those who pay money to acquire an organization's goods or services. For many years McDonald's mostly targeted the young people, however this has changed in this decade; McDonald's has turned towards a more general market. By doing this McDonald's concentrates on the family, targeting a diverse market which includes consumers ranging from children to elderly people, using products such as the â€Å"happy Meal† for children and â€Å"Egg McMuffin† for the elderly. McDonald's also realized the changing world we live in and the need for healthier food, since there is an ever changing demographic group, who demand fast, top quality food that is low in calories. McDonald's responded to this opportunity and introduced a new and innovative product. This new product was a regular hamburger that tasted like the real thing but was made of plant material like Soya beans. This same product also targets another demographic group, vegetarians. McDonald's mostly uses psychographic segmentation targeting the working and middle classes. These are the people that are more susceptible to enter a fast food restaurant, since these are the people that lead a fast moving life and thus require a fast meal. In brief McDonald's customers are of all classes, but largely working and middle classes, and people of all ages. A competitor is an organization that competes with other organizations for resources. In our findings, McDonald's has two types of competitors in the Lebanese market: Indirect refers to firms producing one or two products that compete with McDonald's products and therefore be a threat to the company. We have identified four indirect competitors: Henry J. Beans, T.G.I. Friday, K. F. C. and Popeye's. Henry J. Beans offers hamburgers and fries on its menu, therefore competing with McDonalds for customers of these products. However, Henry J. Beans also known as Hank's is a more of a bar restaurant and therefore a hang out place, as a result charging more money for its products. Hank's targets middle to upper class customers, so where most of these customers overlap are in the middle class. T.G.I Friday is another indirect competitor reflecting the same characteristics as Henry J. Beans. Other indirect competitors are K. F. C. and Popeye's, both competing for the chicken nuggets and fries customers. In brief, Hank's and T.G.I. Friday's competes with McDonald's by offering hamburgers and fries, whereas K. F. C. and Popeye's compete with McDonald's by offering chicken nuggets and fries. Direct competitors refers to firms producing the same products or services as McDonald's does. Here we found that McDonald's has three direct competitors: Burger King, Wendy's and Hardee's. McDonald's closest rival is Burger King, which operates a total of 9644 restaurants in 110 countries. Wendy's is McDonald's second largest rival, which is also in the fast food business, where Wendy's operates 6776 restaurants in 32 countries. Hardee's, McDonald's third largest rival is also in the fast food business and is the only direct competitor apart from Juicy Burger in the Lebanese market. Hardee's operates 3080 restaurants in 20 countries. As we have illustrated McDonald's faces stiff competition from three major competitors, Burger King, Wendy's and Hardee's. Suppliers is an organization that provides resources for other organizations. McDonald's has practiced a backward vertical integration, by replacing most of its suppliers. It has done so for two reasons, 2) To ensure that its products are of top quality. These supplies include beef and milk to be used in its products, which it gets from its farms. Other suppliers include local grocery stores that supply McDonald's with fresh vegetables. Soft drinks are supplied exclusively by Coca-Cola, which is also its ally. McDonald's supplies also include raw material such as flour, sugar, yeast, etc.,. A strategic ally is an organization working together with one or more other organizations is a joint venture or a similar arrangement. McDonald's has formed a strategic alliance with: Walmart, Chevron, Amoco, Disney and Coca-Cola. Walmart, which is a large shopping mall chain in the U..S. and several neighboring countries, is allied with McDonald's, which offers great opportunities for both companies. McDonald's has restaurants in each Walmart, offering its customers conveniences and excellent fast food at a low cost ease of accessibility. McDonald's corporation describes it best in this scenario: â€Å"Imagine a busy shopping day at your local Walmart and having the ability to sit down with the kids and enjoy many of our McDonald's favorites, like ‘Big Mac' sandwiches, world famous fries and kids favorite ‘Happy Meal'. McDonald's understands your busy lifestyles and the demands on your time. That's why we are making it easier for you to do more things in less time.† McDonald's is engaged in an alliance with two petrol companies, Chevron and Amoco. This alliance represents the ultimate in convenience. At these locations, one finds a full-menu McDonald's restaurant with dining room service. Nothing can be more convenient, because one can fill up the car with gas and get a meal all in one stop. Another important alliance that McDonald's has is with Disney. Here McDonald's has the sole right to sell fast food in Disney's theme parks around the U..S. and other Disney operations in the world. Under the terms of the agreement, McDonald's will operate restaurants and Disney will promote its films through McDonald's. Regulators are groups or governmental agencies that can control and influence the organization's policies and practices. An example is Lebanon a few years ago when the U..S. government banned all U..S. citizens and organizations to come or operate in Lebanon. Another good example would be the embargo imposed on Iran where U..S. organizations were banned to operate in this country. Another group of regulators called interest groups can and have influenced McDonald's to treat its animals (cow and chickens) in a much more humane manner, which resulted in the restructuring of McDonalds' farms throughout its operations around the world. The summary of the task environment which is by definition a specific organizations or groups that affect the organization, which includes competitors, suppliers, customers, strategic allies and regulators. Here we described the task environment's importance to McDonald's, where McDonald's faces both opportunities and has threats in its environment. Diversity exists in a group or organization when its members differ from one another along one or more important dimensions such as age, gender, and ethnicity. Diversity is very important for McDonald's. Here millions of teens start out by working at McDonald's. Here some of the teenagers move on to get various jobs such as movie stars, skilled workers, famous athletes, management positions and other educated positions in society. At McDonald's two thirds of middle and upper management started out as crewmembers in a McDonald's restaurant. There are opportunities for everybody in McDonald's from teenagers to elderly workers, and from people just entering or reentering the job market. Moreover, McDonald's offers special jobs for people who have disabilities, such as people who are in wheel chairs and those who must use crutches permanently. Furthermore, McDonald's offers their workers flexible working hours. For example, hours for people seeking just a few hours of work per week and those who seek full time positions. The work force at McDonald's also have some say in their working hours, such as if they prefer the morning, mid-day, or evening shifts in the restaurant. So, McDonald's uses diversity to create a good atmosphere in their work places among workers and management. Here they offer work to all kinds of people without discrimination and the workers have flexible hours that provides customer satisfaction. Quality is the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs. For McDonald's, total quality management (TQM) involves that the employees are at work on time, are neatly dressed, and are clean. The employees must make sure that the customers constantly receive safe food, which implies that the employees must wash their hands often to remain clean. Moreover, the employees must follow certain Standard Operational Procedures, so the customers always receive exceptional quality and service. This includes the employees using plastic gloves when they prepare the food, that the meat and fries are properly fried, and that the vegetables are thoroughly washed when used in the food. Another TQM is that the employees rely on teamwork and high energy to get the job done, so that the customers do not have to wait long for their food. Furthermore, McDonald's management emphasizes that their restaurants should be clean. This involves that the restaurants are tidy, sparkling and spotlessly clean. As McDonald's illustrates the quality is that the employees delivers fast, accurate and friendly service with a smile.

Booze and Loose essays

Booze and Loose essays Alcoholism is a disease which can be found in many American homes. It can have both short and long term effects on the way a person thinks and acts. This in return can destroy a families relationship, a persons mental health as well as a person future. Both my mother and my father were alcoholics so I have a first hand experience with alcoholism in a family environment. Even though they both drank, they were two different types of alcoholics. My mother was they type that, when she drank, she would become depressed and lay around the house all day. This effected her relationship with her kids because anytime we wanted to do something she would complain about having to get out of bed. This in return effected her relationship with my father. She rarely cleaned or cooked super. This was all my father wished for when he got home for work. Before long, our happy family of five was a not so happy family of four. Now that my mom and my dad divorced, he would frequently come home three sheets to the wind raising hell about the lawn not being mowed or the dishes not being washed. Since my mom had left our dad expected us to do all the house work. Anytime he was not working he had an Old Milwaukee in his hand. He spent his spar e time yelling at my two brothers and me. Before long they moved in with my mother, who has been sober for 2 years. Now it is only my dad and I, a couple of bachelors. Even though our family will never be the same, we try not to let alcoholism ruin our lives. Another effect alcoholism has on a person is it alters their mentality. Alcohol changes the way someone thinks and acts. A person who frequently drinks only thinks of themself, not the family worried sick at home. While they are out killing brain cells their family is at home sitting by the telephone hoping that something bad has not happened. Many times the bartender at Renegades has called me and ask if I could come and pick ...

Population Biology Basics

Population Biology Basics Populations are groups of individuals belonging to the same species that live in the same region at the same time. Populations, like individual organisms, have unique attributes such as growth rate, age structure, sex ratio, and mortality rate Populations change over time due to births, deaths, and the dispersal of individuals between separate populations. When resources are plentiful and environmental conditions appropriate, populations can increase rapidly. A populations ability to increase at its maximum rate under optimal conditions is called its biotic potential. Biotic potential is represented by the letter r when used in mathematical equations. Keeping the Population in Check In most instances, resources are not unlimited and environmental conditions are not optimal. Climate, food, habitat, water availability, and other factors keep population growth in check due to environmental resistance. The environment can only support a limited number of individuals in a population before some resource runs out or limits the survival of those individuals. The number of individuals that a particular habitat or environment can support is referred to as the carrying capacity. Carrying capacity is represented by the letter K when used in mathematical equations. Growth Characteristics Populations can sometimes be categorized by their growth characteristics. Species whose populations increase until they reach the carrying capacity of their environment and then level off are referred to as K-selected species. Species whose populations increase rapidly, often exponentially, quickly filling available environments, are referred to as r-selected species. Characteristics of K-selected species include: Late maturationFewer, larger youngLonger life spansMore parental careIntense competition for resources Characteristics of r-selected species include: Early maturationNumerous, smaller youngShorter lifespansLess parental careA little competition for resources Population Density Some environmental and biological factors can influence a population differently depending on its density. If population density is high, such factors become increasingly limiting on the success of the population. For example, if individuals are cramped in a small area, the disease may spread faster than it would if population density were low. Factors that are affected by population density are referred to as density-dependent factors. There are also densitys of density-independent factors might include a change in temperature such as an extraordinarily cold or dry winter. Intra-Specific Competition Another limiting factor on populations is intra-specific competition which occurs when individuals within a population compete with one another to obtain the same resources. Sometimes intra-specific competition is direct, for example when two individuals vie for the same food, or indirect, when one individuals action alters and possibly harms the environment of another individual. Populations of animals interact with each other and their environment in a variety of ways. One of the primary interactions a population has with its environment and other populations is due to feeding behavior. Types of Herbivores The consumption of plants as a food source is referred to as herbivory and the animals that do this consuming are called herbivores. There are different types of herbivores. Those that feed on grasses are referred to as grazers. Animals that eat leaves and other portions of woody plants are called browsers, while those that consume fruits, seeds, sap, and pollen are called frugivores. Predators and Prey Populations of carnivorous animals that feed on other organisms are called predators. The populations on which predators feed are called prey. Often, predator and prey populations cycle in a complex interaction. When prey resources are abundant, predator numbers increase until the prey resources wane. When prey numbers drop, predator numbers dwindle as well. If the environment provides adequate refuge and resources for prey, their numbers may again increase and the cycle begins again. Competing Species The concept of competitive exclusion suggests that two species that require identical resources cannot coexist in the same location. The reasoning behind this concept is that one of those two species will be better adapted to that environment and be more successful, to the point of excluding the lesser species from the environment. Yet we find that many species with similar requirements do coexist. Because the environment is varied, competing species can use resources in different ways when competition is intense, thus allowing space for one another. When two interacting species, for example, predator and prey, evolve together, they can influence the evolution of the other. This is referred to as coevolution. Sometimes coevolution results in two species that influence (both positively or negatively) from each other, in a relationship referred to as symbiosis. The various types of symbiosis include: Parasitism: One species (parasite) benefits more than the other species (host).Commensalism: One species benefits while a second species is neither helped nor injured.Mutualism: Both species benefit from the interaction.

Business School Internships - Where to Find Business School Internships Online

Business School Internships - Where to Find Business School Internships Online Business school internships can be easy to find if you know where to look. There are tons of websites dedicated to helping students find an internship or summer job. Here are 25 of the best places to find business school internships online. AboutJobs.com - This site is a great place for students and recent grads to find business school internships, summer jobs and overseas jobs. CBcampus - This CareerBuilder site is designed specifically for students who need internships and part-time jobs. College Central - College Central is the nations largest network of college job seekers. CollegeGrad.com - This search engine limits your search to internships only. Using the advanced search option will help you narrow your results further. CollegeRecruiter.com - This search engine boasts thousands of internships for business school students and an equal number of entry-level jobs for new grads. CoolWorks - Although this site is know for hosting outdoor jobs and jobs in national parks, you can find a nice selection of interesting business internships. Craigslist - You can search Craigslist for anything, including internships. One word of warning: beware of scammers. Do not give your bank account information to anyone, and never tra nsfer money on someone elses behalf. Experience.com - Designed specifically for students and young professionals, Experience.com is one of the best places on the web to get career advice while you search for internships. Idealist.org - If youre looking for volunteer opportunities or internships that will help you make a difference, Idealist.org is the site to search. Indeed - Indeed is a great place to find internships and entry-level jobs. The site searches other job boards all over the web. InternAbroad.com - Use this site when you are searching for work abroad. InternJobs.com - This About.com site is a global database of internships for students and recent graduates. Internships.com - This site provides an internship search engine and excellent advice to help you launch your business career. Internships-USA - Internships-USA is the largest internship search engine on the web. More than 300 schools subscribe to this site. InternWeb.com - InternWeb is a good source for business internships, summer internships and entr y-level jobs. MonsterTRAK - This Monster site was created specifically for people who need entry-level jobs and internships. New postings are added each day. SimplyHired - This site is an award-winning meta search engine that searches other job sites so you dont have to. Snagajob.com - Snagajob.com is one of the best places on the web to search for jobs that pay by the hour. StudentJobs.gov - Designed specifically for students, this official government site is a good place to find business internships with the federal government. The Nonprofit Jobs Cooperative - This site is the result of a collaboration between nonprofit management centers from across the United States. If you are looking for an internship with a nonprofit, youll definitely want to check out The Nonprofit Jobs Cooperative. Vault - Vault is a great place to search for jobsbusiness school internships are no exception. University of Dreams - You can find guaranteed summer internships on the University of Dreams website. USA Jobs - The official job site of the United States federal government is a great place to find business internships. WorkTree - This meta search engine searches other sites for internship opportunities to help you save time.Yahoo! Hot Jobs - You can search this section of Yahoo! Hot Jobs to find high-paying business school internships.

History of McDonald's Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

History of McDonald's - Research Paper Example The whole building was moved 40 miles to the East and established in San Bernardino in California. This was undertaken by the two sons of MacDonald, Richard and Maurice in 1940. The restaurant was subsequently renamed â€Å"MacDonald’s Farmhouse Barbeque† at that time the restaurant mostly sold barbequed products. In 1948, when the two brothers realized that most of the profits for the restaurant came from hamburgers, they focused their attention on the sale of hamburgers, French fries, shakes and such other fast foods that were selling fast in the restaurant. Carhops were therefore eliminated from the menu of MacDonald’s. The two brothers recognized the need to organize the restaurant in a manner that operated like an assembly line in order to ensure full efficiency. In 1948, the name of the restaurant was once again changed to McDonald’s and it reopened its doors on 12th December, 1948. Beginning of Franchises A major transformation in the growth of the restaurant began in 1953 when the McDonald’s brothers initiated a series of franchises. Such franchises were initially done in Phoenix, Arizona and in Downey, California. Sure enough, the latter is the oldest McDonald’s restaurant still in survival today. In a bid to enhance efficiency, the McDonald’s brothers initiated the Speedee as a sign of the efficient and quick system that had actually been devised. The growth of McDonald’s gathered much speed in the 1950s. In 1954 Ray Kroc acquired McDonald’s franchises in California and Arizona. Subsequently, Kroc opened his first and eventually the ninth restaurant in Chicago. This became the birth of McDonald’s Corporation. The name or the corporation was further renamed in 1960 to McDonald’s Corporation. In 1961, the business right of the company was transferred to Kroc upon his request to the McDonald’s brothers. Transformation The growth and success of McDonald’s as a quick food restaurant is partly attributed to the proper founding principles that have always defined the corporation to this day. Indeed, with millions of customers across the globe, it is inevitable that the corporation has a sense of definition that clearly tells it apart from the rest in the market. The basic concern for Ray Kroc was essentially the need to provide very quick service. In 1954, the McDonald’s hamburger stand in California could run a total of eight multi-mixers at a time. This quick service enabled the company to establish a brand from an early age. McDonald’s also boasts a very philanthropic principle which has always defined the corporation for years. Indeed, the organization is always much responsible towards the community within which it dwells and will always chip in to assist in development projects that benefit the community. The management is always very responsible about the issues and needs of their customers. This concern is clearly evident in the manner the corporation involves itself in projects like health, education and medical research. All the franchises of McDonald’s are always very positive in their social responsiveness and this has always assisted the communities in a very progressive manner. The Founding Principles One of the core principles that Kay Kroc instilled in the employees of

How to prepare a survey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How to prepare a survey - Essay Example ds to know, which demographic constitution of the population are being surveyed, is it the old, the youth, women, men, children, the schooling, the working population, among the rest of the population. Moreover, he should know their geographic distribution, and how they can be reached effectively and which survey method will give accurate results (Acebit, 2012). Furthermore, he should understand the time schedule for the target population, which will assist in setting up the period and budget for the survey. According to Acebit (2012) & Creative Research Systems (2012), the second step is defining the survey type and the method that will be applied in conducting the survey. Since most of the surveys are quantitative in nature and involves a lot of data collection and analysis, the crucial thing here is to pick methods that will give the most precise and accurate answers as possible. Depending on their target group, surveyors can pick from the following: they can choose interview methods, which can be person-to-person or via telephone conversation. Another method is a questionnaire, which can be sent via mail, email, or given to the population in person, then collected after a given time by the surveyor. The surveyor can also use observation, whereby he/she can interact with the target population, whether participatory or non-participatory to gather data. The choice of the method in the survey shall also determine the cost and outcome of the survey, depending on the demographic nature an d distribution of the population (Creative Research Systems, 2012). The third final step in conducting a survey is designing questions and means of analysis the results after the survey. The design of the questions whether in questionnaires or interviews needs to be pointed out clear, where all audiences can answer without strain. The questions should also be well structured and not ambiguous to enable the surveyor get the most accurate results. The questions are then pre-tested

Finace (IGR, SGR, EFN) Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Finace (IGR, SGR, EFN) - Case Study Example The remaining income was added back as the retained earnings for the company. This type of retained earnings generally helps companies like S&S Air to provide for internal financing required for further investments in the company. However, in the past S&S Air did not have proper planning regarding the investment opportunities of the company. As a result of this, the company lost sales in the past and had to go through crunch situations as regards to the liquidity position of the company. Hence the company is requiring the need for proper planning for its future investments. Ratio analysis has been done to analyze the current financial condition of the company. Next utilizing the financial ratios calculated, the owners of the company is willing to have a proper financial planning of S&S Air in future. The company needs this type of planning to decide upon the forecasted sales next year which the company can expect to generate. Moreover it would also help the company to know whether an y external financing is required to have the desired growth of the company next year. The company management also needs to have a proper idea about its current efficiency in utilizing its capacity so that improvements can be made if the capacity utilization of the company is less. Hence, calculating the internal growth rate and sustainable growth rate of the company along with the EFN, can help the company plan efficiently for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2012. Question 1: Calculate the internal growth rate and sustainable growth rate for S&S Air. What do these numbers mean? Answer: Internal Growth Rate (IGR) The internal growth rate of a company is given by the following formula (Ross, Westerfield, and Jordan 108): Internal Growth Rate = (ROA*b)/(1-ROA*b) Where, ROA = Return on Assets = Net Income/Total Assets b = Retention Ratio = (Addition to Retained Earnings/Net Income) Thus for S&S Air, ROA = 1,845,242/17,379,480 = 10.62% = 0.1062 b = (1,285,242/1,845,242) = 69.65% = 0.6965 (appro x) Hence, the Internal Growth Rate for S&S Air is given by: Internal Growth Rate = (0.1062*0.6965)/(1-0.1062*0.6965) = 7.99 % This implies that S&S Air would be able to expand its business and grow at a rate of 7.99% per year without the need of any external financing. Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) This growth rate gives a measure about the growth of a company utilizing its internal financial sources (Jones 383). It is given by the formula: Sustainable Growth Rate = (ROE * b)/(1-ROE*b) Where, ROE = Return on Equity = Net Income/Total Equity b = Retention Ratio Thus for S&S Air, ROE = 1845242/9556430 = 19.31% = 0.1931 b = 69.65% = 0.6965 Hence, the Sustainable Growth Rate for S & S Air is given by: Sustainable Growth Rate = (0.1931*0.6965) * (1 - (0.1931*0.6965)) = 15.54% This implies that S&S Air would be able to expand and grow at a rate of 15.54% per year without the need of any equity financing externally. Question 2: S&S Air is planning for a growth rate of 12 percent next year. Calculate the EFN for the company assuming the company is operating at full capacity. Can the company's sales increase at this growth rate? Answer: External Financing Needed (EFN) A company requires financing from external sources if it is unable to generate adequate cash flows required to fulfill its present financial obligations (Moles, Parrino, and Kidwell 756). The EFN for S&S Air is calculated using the pro forma statements which utilizes the approach related to percentage of

Rodriguez Summary and Rhetorical Precis Assignment

Rodriguez Summary and Rhetorical Precis - Assignment Example Richard Rodriguez narrates the story of his education and explains how the experience affected him. At the time of the narration, the author is thirty years old. Although he is a now grown man, he remembers once feeling uneasy in front of the classroom (Rodriguez 519). He says that although he is Spanish origin, he underwent an educational system that used English as a primary instruction language. He admits that while he was growing up, people admired his success at school. The education, he received, however, was a scholarship that inspired him towards excelling in classes. He grew so anxious about school that his parents worried about his later trajectory in life. The author realized that moving away from home was the sole determinant of his success at school. This feeling eventually made him uneasy with his parents. Possessing the feeling pushed him towards studying other people and books for answers. He eventually realized that scholarship students of Spanish descent experienced the same feeling. He drew lessons from a book that summarized the paradox of receiving education. The author realizes that the school and home exist at cultural extremes. A student, therefore, pulls away into the rational system of thinking. Besides, the student escapes the intimacy of home thereby astounding the very parents who took one to school. Richard Rodriguez, a writer of Spanish descent, writes an essay, Achievement of Desire, detailing his experiences of education. Although he is old by the time of the narration, he describes his experiences from an early age. It is crucial to highlight that the author bases his arguments on his educational experience as a person from a minority community. The author springs from a Spanish minority in America. His central argument is that education eventually alienates a person from one’s family. In order to acquire education, he

University blackboard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

University blackboard - Essay Example If we consider the traditional definition of blackboard, it says, "A blackboard is a rectangular shaped, smooth, surface hard, dark-colored panel for writing on with white colored chalk". Such type of boards are still used in classrooms the world-over. White board has replaced the blackboard, with the writing material now multicolored sketch pens instead of chalks. But now we are living in the IT era. Blackboard is now known as something of a community portal. In the university environment students use it to interact with each other or with the tutor. In the formative years of IT era this concept was brought up initially within a LAN environment and this type of sharing was known as Bulletin Board arrangement. Now the term 'blackboard' encompasses many more dimensions including the worldwide web. Now it can be defined as a web-based software system which is used to for face to face teaching/ learning or distance education programmes and supports flexible teaching and learning. The bl ackboard also provides tools and facilities for managing the courses online, for managing and sharing the contents, for some online collaboration and communication with peer academicians and of course the assessment management. In a nutshell Blackboard can be defined as a system that facilitates and manages electronic communication and access to materials or information. Tutors use a blackboard for supporting our learning.Students are the saplings of a healthy society. ... iii. Students don't miss out on the days' lectures even if they could not attend the days' lecture. They can access the lecture-bank later. iv. Students can write back their doubts and messages for professors and fellow students. v. The student community can share valuable learning resources like module outlines, lecture notes, assignment briefs etc. vi. Blackboard can very well become a broadcast media for all students in communicating general announcements, emails etc. vii. The student community can make good use of the chat rooms. viii. Students can undertake online 'private group work, create e-portfolios and take short-answer tests and surveys. 3. Blackboard and the Staff Role of support staff in this teaching learning process is very crucial. For example if we take out the paramedical staff from hospital services, the hospital is no longer able to work, though doctor is considered to be the man responsible for curing the patient. Similarly the support staff provides the backbone to the teaching-learning processes. i. The IT staff has be very prompt in its reflexes for the network to work properly ii. In fact in blackboard learning experiences the roles and responsibilities of other support staff becomes secondary. iii. Making extensive use of University blackboard will make it convenient for the university staff to handle the students. iv. There will be least face to face interactions with students. At times students become very demanding, creating unpleasant scene for the staff. v. Management task becomes comparatively hassle-free. vi. Role of the course coordinator becomes very important as he is responsible for planning and coordinating the delivery of

T S Eliot The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Essay

T S Eliot The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock - Essay Example Prufrock is depicted as a damned person who seeks to woo a woman. The world seen in the poem through the epigraph is dull and boring. Prufrock is not hopeful that the surroundings will offer his the conditions that he wants to win the love of a woman. His inability to perceive the world as a better place is seen in the second verse where he says, â€Å"Like a sole patient etherized upon a table† (Eliot 1). The allusion to a historical prophet is evident and reinforces the theme of inadequacy with the world. He sees himself as a person who cannot achieve the goals he had visualized in the beginning. Allusion has been used to convey Prufrock as a character who does not believe in himself because of his wretched situation. The title of the poem symbolizes the love concerns in the poem. The reader expects Prufrock to pursue his love interest after setting the environment in the first verse. However, he is portrayed as a man who cannot act on feelings because of the questionable mindset. The strong attraction of love does not grow in the process because Prufrock does not act on his infatuation with the woman. He has fears rejection, obsessions, and anxieties he has about the world. The title is anchored on the theme of love, but Prufrock does not succeed because of the people in the world who prevent him from interacting maximally. Prufrock ends up being condemned in a world of loneliness isolation. The speaker struggles with the self-identity in the poem. Use of repetitive questions, for example, â€Å"Do I dare disturb the universe?†(Eliot 5) has been used to depict a person who is struggling with finding himself and his real identity as a man. Eliot was a modernist who was concerned with addressing issues that revolved around self-identity but within the larger universal context. Questions of finding meaning in the speaker are evident and the speaker wants the universe to walk

University blackboard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

University blackboard - Essay Example If we consider the traditional definition of blackboard, it says, "A blackboard is a rectangular shaped, smooth, surface hard, dark-colored panel for writing on with white colored chalk". Such type of boards are still used in classrooms the world-over. White board has replaced the blackboard, with the writing material now multicolored sketch pens instead of chalks. But now we are living in the IT era. Blackboard is now known as something of a community portal. In the university environment students use it to interact with each other or with the tutor. In the formative years of IT era this concept was brought up initially within a LAN environment and this type of sharing was known as Bulletin Board arrangement. Now the term 'blackboard' encompasses many more dimensions including the worldwide web. Now it can be defined as a web-based software system which is used to for face to face teaching/ learning or distance education programmes and supports flexible teaching and learning. The bl ackboard also provides tools and facilities for managing the courses online, for managing and sharing the contents, for some online collaboration and communication with peer academicians and of course the assessment management. In a nutshell Blackboard can be defined as a system that facilitates and manages electronic communication and access to materials or information. Tutors use a blackboard for supporting our learning.Students are the saplings of a healthy society. ... iii. Students don't miss out on the days' lectures even if they could not attend the days' lecture. They can access the lecture-bank later. iv. Students can write back their doubts and messages for professors and fellow students. v. The student community can share valuable learning resources like module outlines, lecture notes, assignment briefs etc. vi. Blackboard can very well become a broadcast media for all students in communicating general announcements, emails etc. vii. The student community can make good use of the chat rooms. viii. Students can undertake online 'private group work, create e-portfolios and take short-answer tests and surveys. 3. Blackboard and the Staff Role of support staff in this teaching learning process is very crucial. For example if we take out the paramedical staff from hospital services, the hospital is no longer able to work, though doctor is considered to be the man responsible for curing the patient. Similarly the support staff provides the backbone to the teaching-learning processes. i. The IT staff has be very prompt in its reflexes for the network to work properly ii. In fact in blackboard learning experiences the roles and responsibilities of other support staff becomes secondary. iii. Making extensive use of University blackboard will make it convenient for the university staff to handle the students. iv. There will be least face to face interactions with students. At times students become very demanding, creating unpleasant scene for the staff. v. Management task becomes comparatively hassle-free. vi. Role of the course coordinator becomes very important as he is responsible for planning and coordinating the delivery of

Financial Aid Appeal Essay Example for Free

Financial Aid Appeal Essay Dear Office of Financial Aid, My name is and I am writing to appeal my suspension from financial aid. I hope that you will reconsider your decision and grant my financial aid. I would like to begin thanking you in advance for taking the time to read this letter and consider my request to reinstate my financial aid at Metropolitan State University at Denver. I admit, I took so many credit hours in college, but I would like to explain the reason. As Spanish person, and because I speak English as a second language, I had to take ESL(English as a Second Language) classes for my first two years (four semesters) at CCD (Community College of Denver). The ESL program was not something that I had chosen, but something that I had to get done in order to follow my general education. I did not mean to spent so much time in college and take so many credit hours, but I did not have other options. Now that I have completed the ESL program, I feel so excited and motivated about taking regular classes. I love being student at Metropolitan State University at Denver and it would mean so much to me if I was able to finish my degree and graduate at this school. I already had completed most of general course, I’m done with my Math and some major course. I am currently registered for next spring 2013 classes and a few classes for the upcoming to get done with my degree. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and I assure you that my education is, and will continue to be, my main priority. I just hope you’d help me achieve my goals quicker by reinstating my Financial Aid. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Overview Of Vowels And Consonants

Overview Of Vowels And Consonants Language is an organization of sounds, of vocal symbols-the sounds produced from the mouth with the help of various organs of speech to convey some meaningful message. Language has a very important social purpose, because it is mainly used for linguistic communication. It is the most powerful, convenient and permanent means and form of communication. A language can be used in two ways for the purposes of communication. It can be spoken or written but the medium of speech is more important than writing. This is because speech comes first in the history of any language community in fact, it came centuries before writing in the history of any language community. Secondly, speech comes first in the history of any individual. We started speaking long before we started writing. Speech as a medium of communication is used much more than the medium of writing. I n every language, a letter of the alphabet represents a particular sound. Lastly, modern technology has contributed tremendously t o the importance of speech- modern inventions like the telephone, the radio, the tape recorder and several such devices have raised problems of communication primarily concerned with speech. Linguistics is a systematic study of language. Phonetics is a branch of linguistics and it is the branch dealing with the medium of speech. It deals with the production, transmission and reception of the sounds of human speech. For the production of speech sounds, we need an air-stream mechanism. There are three main air-stream mechanisms, such as, pulmonic, glottalic and velaric air-stream mechanisms. When the air-stream mechanism is used to push out, it is called egressive and when it is used to draw air in, it is called ingressive. Most sounds of most languages in the world are produced with a pulmonic egressive air-stream mechanism. The author described in detail the various organs that are responsible for converting the lung-air into speech sounds before it escapes into the outer atmosphere. For instance, if we say a prolonged ssss, a prolonged zzzz, a prolonged ffff and a prolonged vvvv, we see at once two things. We recognize these as speech sounds because these sounds occur i n the various words we use in our English speech. The other thing we notice is that each one of these sounds is different from the others. Speech sounds are very broadly divided into two categories, namely, Vowels and Consonants. If we say the English word shoe, we realize that this word is made up of two sounds, one represented by the letters sh and the other represented by the letters oe. When we produce the sound represented by the letters sh slowly, we realize that during the production of this sound, the air escapes through the mouth with friction. On the other hand, when we produce the sound represented by the letters oe, the air escapes through the mouth freely and we do not hear any friction. The sound is represented by the letters sh in the word shoe is a consonant and the sound represented by the letters oe in the word shoe is a vowel. All sounds during the production of which we hear friction are consonants, but not all consonants are produced with friction. If we say the words, she, shoe, shy, show, ship and shout, we will realize that when we produce the sounds represented by the letters e, oe, y, ow, i and ou in these words, the air escapes through the mouth freely without any friction. All these sounds are therefore vowels but each one of them sounds different from the others. These sounds should therefore be sub-classified. Similarly, if we say the words shoe, see, zoo and who, we will hear friction during the production of the sounds represented by the letters sh, s, z and wh. All these sounds are therefore consonants. But once again, we will see that each of them sounds different from the others. The sounds that are called consonants also need to be sub-classified. Description of Consonants: The word consonant has been derived from the Greek word consonautem, which means the sound produced with the help of some other sound (vowel). A consonant is usually described, taking into account whether it is voiceless or voiced, its place of articulation and its manner of articulation. Manner of articulation refers to the stricture involved and plosive, affricate, nasal, fricative, etc; are labels given to consonants according to their manner of articulation. Place of articulation just means the two articulators involved in the production of a consonant. Consonants can be described according to their places of articulation. The label used is normally an adjective derived from the name of the passive articulator. The places of articulation that we frequently come across are bilabial, labio-dental, dental, alveolar, post-alveolar, palato-alveolar, retroflex, palatal, velar, uvular and glottal. The classification of sounds into vowels and consonants is customary irrespective of phonetic, phonological, or orthographic references. The current classification following Pike divides the sounds into vocoids (vowel sounds), contoids (consonant sounds) and semi-vocoids or semi-contoids (for example; /w/ and /j/ in English). The terms contoids and vocoids refer to phonetic form only, without any reference to phonological function. A vocoid, according to Pike, is a segment formed with an open approximation of the articulators, with or without a velic closure, and with central passage or air-stream. All other segments are contoids. In English, there can be syllabic vocoids, non-syllabic vocoids, syllabic contoids and non-syllabic contoids. Syllabic vocoids are all vowel sounds; they function as syllable nuclei. Phonetically, the vocoids are vowels and their phonological function is that of a syllabic vocoid. Non-syllabic vocoids are the sounds which are phonetically vocoids but phonologically are contoids. Syllabic contoids are the sounds which are phonetically contoids but their phonological function is that of syllabic nucleus, that is, they represent the V element in the structure of a syllable. Non-syllabic contoids are the sounds that phonetically are contoids and phonologically represent the C element in the structure of a syllable. A description of consonantal sounds, according to A.C.Gimson, must provide answers to the following questions:- Is the air-stream set in motion by the lungs or by some other means (pulmonic or non-pulmonic)? Is the air-stream forced outwards or sucked inwards (egressive or ingressive)? Do the vocal cords vibrate or not (voiced or voiceless)? Is the soft palate raised or lowered? Or, does the air pass through the oral cavity (mouth) or the nasal cavity (nose)? At what point or points and between what organs does the closure or narrowing take place (Place of articulation)? What is the type of closure or narrowing at the point of articulation (Manner of articulation)? Thus, the description of a consonant will include five kinds of information: 1.) The nature of air-stream mechanism, 2.) The state of the glottis, 3.) The position of the soft palate, 4.) The articulators involved- the active articulator and the passive articulator and 5.) The nature of stricture involved regarding its production. The Nature of Air-Stream Mechanism: All English sounds, vowels as well as consonants, are produced with a Pulmonic egressive air-stream mechanism, that is, the lung-air pushed out. The State of the Glottis: Speech sounds can be classified as voiceless or voiced, depending upon whether the vocal cords are wide apart and the glottis is wide open (voiceless) or the vocal cords are kept loosely together and they vibrate (voiced). The Position of the Soft Palate: Speech sounds can be classified as oral or nasal, depending upon whether the soft-palate is raised so as to shut off the nasal passage of air (oral) or it is lowered to open the nasal passage of air simultaneously with an oral closure (nasal). Sounds can also be nasalised. The Articulators Involved-the Active and Passive Articulators: Of the various articulators described in the chapter, at least two are required for the production of any speech sound; some articulators move during the production of speech sounds. These are termed as active articulators. Certain other articulators remain passive and the active articulators move in the direction of these. These are termed as passive articulators. The Nature of Stricture Involved: The term stricture refers to the way in which the passage of air is restricted by the various organs of speech. The stricture may be one of complete closure, that is, the active and passive articulators come into firm contact with each other, thus preventing the lung-air from escaping through the mouth. Simultaneously, there is a velic closure, that is, the soft palate is raised, thereby shutting off the nasal passage of air. Thus, the lung-air is blocked in the mouth. When the oral closure is released, that is, when the active articulator is suddenly removed from the passive articulator, the air escapes with a small explosive noise. Sounds produced with a stricture of complete closure and sudden release are called plosives. If the active articulator is removed slowly from the passive articulator, instead of the explosive noise that is characteristic of plosive consonants, friction will be heard. Description of Vowels: Vowels may be defined with an open approximation without any obstruction, partial or complete, in the air passage. They are referred to as vocoids in phonetics. They can be described in terms of three variables: Height of tongue. Part of the tongue which is raised or lowered. Lip-rounding. So vocoids are normally classified according to these three criteria: tongue-height (high, mid, low, or close, half-close, half-open and open), tongue-advancement (front, central, back) and lip-rounding (rounded and unrounded). In order to describe the vowels, we usually draw three points in the horizontal axes: front, central and back, referring to the part of the tongue which is the highest. So, we have : Front vowels, during the production of which the front of the tongue is raised towards the hard palate. For example; / i, i: , e: , a / in Hindi, and / i, i: , e , à ¦ / in English as in sit, seat, set, and sat respectively. Back vowels, during the production of which the back of the tongue is raised towards the soft palate. For example; / o: , u , u: ,/ in Hindi, and / a: , Ɇ , ɆÃƒâ€¹Ã‚  , u , u: / in English as in cart, cot, caught, book and tool respectively. Central vowels, during the production of which the central part of the tongue ( the part between the front and the back) is raised. For example; / Éâ„ ¢ / in Hindi, and / Éâ„ ¢ , Éâ„ ¢: , ÊŒ / in English as in about, earth and but respectively. O n the vertical axis, we usually draw four points: close, half-close, half-open, and open. They are also referred to as high, high mid, mid (middle), low mid, and low by some phoneticians, especially the American phoneticians. On the basis of the vertical axes, we have the following types of vowels. A close vowel is one for which the tongue is as close to the roof of mouth as possible. For example; / i: / in sea and / u: / in zoo. An open vowel is one which is produced with the tongue as low as possible and the jaws are wide open. For example, / a: / in card and / Ɇ / in hot. We can describe a vowel by using a three term label, indicating the height, the direction (advancement) of the tongue, and the position of the lips. For example; / a: / in the English word, arm, back, open, unrounded vowel. / Ɇ / in the English word, hot, back, open, rounded vowel. / i: / in the English word, need, front, close, unrounded vowel. / u / in the English word, tooth, back, close, rounded vowel. To describe the vowel sound, we mention whether it is open or close, half-close or half-open, front or back or central, long or short, whether the tongue is tense or lax while the vowel is being pronounced, and whether lips are spread, neutral, open rounded, or close rounded. All English vowels are voiced. So, for every vowel, we must state that it is voiced. Hence, to sum up, the main point of a language is to convey information. Nowadays, language can take various forms. It can be spoken or written. Peter Ladefoged also talked in his book that speech is the common way of using language. Another aspect of speech that is not part of language is the way speech conveys information about the speakers attitude to life, the subject under discussion and the person spoken to. The final kind of non-linguistic information conveyed by speech is the identity of the speaker. You can often tell the identity of the person who is speaking without looking at them. But then again, we may be wrong. Whenever we speak, we create a disturbance in the air around us, a sound wave, which is a small but rapid variation in air pressure spreading through the air. Speech sounds such as vowels can differ in pitch, loudness and quality. We can say the vowel a as in father on any pitch within the range of our voice. We can also say it softly or loudly without altering the pitch. And we can say as many different vowels as we can, without altering either the pitch or the loudness. The pitch of the sound depends on the rate of repetition of the changes in air pressure. The loudness of the sound depends on the size of the variations in air pressure. The third way in which sounds can differ is in quality, sometimes called timbre. The vowel in see differs in quality from the first vowel in father., irrespective of whether it also differs in pitch or loudness. Thus, Peter Ladefoged in his book has discussed the principal constraints on the evolution of the sounds of the worlds languages, which are ease of articulation, auditory distinctiveness, and gestural economy. He also discussed the differences between speech and language, and has also outlined some of the main acoustic distinctions among sounds; and how one of the acoustic distinctions, that corresponding to pitch, is used in the worlds languages.

Carnal Knowledge by Boyle Essay -- Carnal Knowledge Boyle Essays Paper

Carnal Knowledge by Boyle In the story â€Å"Carnal Knowledge†, by T. Coraghessan Boyle, Jim is the main character who loves to eat meat. He would love nothing more than to enjoy a dinner of â€Å"Beef, mutton, pork, venison, dripping burgers, and greasy ribs†. (1107) However, Jim’s cravings for â€Å"Kentucky Fried or Chicken McNuggets† were no match for Alena Jorgensen. (1108) Alena is an obsessive animal rights activist whom Jim met while laying on the beach feeling sorry for himself. When a person has feelings of depression and loneliness it can be very easy for another person to come into their life and change their whole persona. Jim had just turned 30 and was feeling depressed for not having anyone in his life. After dozing on the beach awhile Jim awoke to an â€Å"unmistakable odor†, he’d been pissed on.(1108) He first heard Alena’s voice after cursing the dog. Alena is a very attractive girl and Jim fell for her immediately. Alena and Jim left the beach to go clean the piss off his clothes at Alena’s house. While waiting for the clothes to dry, they began a conversation about animal rights. Animal rights are a huge issue in Alena’s life. Jim never paid much attention to the issue but because of Alena’s beauty and kindness he was willing to listen. Jim’s feeling of loneliness has a big impact on his view of Alena. If Jim met another girl that day on the beach, and who was not as attractive he would have acted very different. Jim was very vulnerable at that moment and needed som... Carnal Knowledge by Boyle Essay -- Carnal Knowledge Boyle Essays Paper Carnal Knowledge by Boyle In the story â€Å"Carnal Knowledge†, by T. Coraghessan Boyle, Jim is the main character who loves to eat meat. He would love nothing more than to enjoy a dinner of â€Å"Beef, mutton, pork, venison, dripping burgers, and greasy ribs†. (1107) However, Jim’s cravings for â€Å"Kentucky Fried or Chicken McNuggets† were no match for Alena Jorgensen. (1108) Alena is an obsessive animal rights activist whom Jim met while laying on the beach feeling sorry for himself. When a person has feelings of depression and loneliness it can be very easy for another person to come into their life and change their whole persona. Jim had just turned 30 and was feeling depressed for not having anyone in his life. After dozing on the beach awhile Jim awoke to an â€Å"unmistakable odor†, he’d been pissed on.(1108) He first heard Alena’s voice after cursing the dog. Alena is a very attractive girl and Jim fell for her immediately. Alena and Jim left the beach to go clean the piss off his clothes at Alena’s house. While waiting for the clothes to dry, they began a conversation about animal rights. Animal rights are a huge issue in Alena’s life. Jim never paid much attention to the issue but because of Alena’s beauty and kindness he was willing to listen. Jim’s feeling of loneliness has a big impact on his view of Alena. If Jim met another girl that day on the beach, and who was not as attractive he would have acted very different. Jim was very vulnerable at that moment and needed som...

life :: essays research papers

I felt the warmth of my mother’s hands on my soft skin while she held my face. Her soft voice whispered in my ear â€Å"good night†. It was a cold winter night after Christmas as my mother tucked me in to bed, like she always had. After telling me good night her lips hit my cheek to give me the last kiss she ever would. As she walked out, I told her â€Å"I love you with all my heart and always will.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the, morning the warmth of the sun hit my face and woke me up like any other morning, but something was different, something just wasn’t right. I lay in my warm bed, trying to ascertain why I wasn’t feeling right. I jumped out of bed and woke my little brother up to go eat breakfast. As we walked down the hall, I heard my dad pouring a cup of hot coffee. â€Å"Daddy is mom still sleeping,† I asked. Mom will be gone for a while but baby, don’t worry he told my brother and me in a sad voice. We will be just fine. I didn’t understand why my mom would be gone though. I asked myself â€Å" will she ever come back?†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Seven years have gone by and still my mom is gone, and my life has changed more than I thought it would. â€Å" Jess, get Drew’s clothes ready for school tomorrow,† my dad would admonish me every night before going to bed. Making sure my brother would be ready for school every morning, making sure he ate breakfast before he left for school, and making sure his homework was done everyday was what my mother used to do every morning and day; but now she is gone. Now that she is gone I have to take that place.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Now that I am the only lady in the house, I have to be the mother. No more going out on Friday nights with my friends, no more doing whatever I want. Every Friday, my friends would go out to the movies, and have fun without me. I had to stay home and make sure everything was right for my family. Now I have responsibilities like my brother who is now like my son. He thinks of me as not only a sister but a mother too. When you hear an eight year old boy call you mom and you are as young as me, it’s the scariest feeling you can have.

Music Appreciation Essay

The concert was at the Thayer Hall, a beautiful state of the art facility that is home for the school’s concerts, recitals, and other events. It holds up to 200 people, theater row seating, and the stage is set up fairly close to the first row seats which gives the performance a more personable feel to the audience. The wooden floor stage had a beautiful grand Steinway and Sons Piano set off to the side, that was moved later in the middle for the performance of Clarinet Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 167. The first piece on the program was Ricochet, composed by Kerry Turner. It was one of Turner’s chamber music ensemble, performed by a brass quintet; two trumpets, horn, trombone, and tuba. The composition was energetic, skillfully played by the quintet in a manner that depicts life journey fast paced to get to the desired place and upon reaching it there is a slowing down pace of life either in peace or dismay. The second piece was Clarinet Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 167 by Camille Saint-Saens. This piece was performed with two instruments namely clarinet and piano. It had a slow movement, opening with tender, melodies that seemed effortless, up and down tempo, whispering softly. This was a short piece compared to other pieces in the program. It had a romantic voice and more consonance, harmonious, and cantabile movement. Camille Saint-Saens was born in Paris on October 9, 1835. His father died when he was a baby, after only having been married to his mother, Clemence a year and a day. His great aunt, Charlotte Mason, who was a learned person, also became a widow. The two ladies reared and provided for Camille Saint-Saens. He received his introduction to keyboarding from his great aunt at the age of two and a half. He was playing sonatas by the age of five years old. He was writing dance music at the age of 15. According to his auto biography (p.7) â€Å" Liszt had to show by his Galop Chromatique the  distinction that genius can give to the most commonplace themes My waltzes were better. As has always been the case with me I was already composing the music directly on paper with working it out on the piano.† http://books.google.com/books?id=MOcPAAAAYAAJ&dq=camille%20saint-saens&pg=PA8#v=onepage&q=camille%20saint-saens&f=false As Camille later in his life looked over his composition, there wa s no error in it technically, which is quite significant considering he did not have the basic knowledge of the â€Å"science of harmony.† Camille Saint-Saens, by the age of ten, gave concert played Beethoven’s Concerto in C minor and also Mozart’s concertos in B flat. He became the organist at the Church of Madeleine, which was a highly regarded post. He was well known in Paris. A virtuoso who had won prizes for his compositions; Introduction et rondo capriccioso (1863) as well as the Second Piano Concerto (1868). He held a post at Ecole Niedermayer during 1861 and 1865 as a piano professor. He had built life-long friendship with one of his students Gabriel Faure, one of the great composers of the 19th century and early 20th century. He would be what we would call a renaissance man, for his many gifts and interests. He was interested in Science and also a mathematician. During his later years, an avid traveler and writer wrote about his travels, poetry, and philosophical work. His work continued to be inspired by Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner, composed symphonic poems including Danse Macabre in 1874. He is also known for his opera Samson et Dalila. He died in 1921, in Algeria. https://www.sfcv.org/learn/composer-gallery/saint-saà «ns-camille Sou rces: The following websites retrieved on November 29, 2014. The third piece was composed by Giacomo Miluccio, Rhapsody for Clarinet (ca. 1979). This beautiful and technically difficult piece was a solo for clarinet. This piece started off slow, with low pitch then increased in tempo with increasing pitch as well, that continues to a call and response type music, transitioning to dissonance, to slow – low melancholy notes, then picks up to a livelier mood. This piece evoked an uncomfortable feeling inside me, sort of giving a music background to my emotions when I am uneasy, frantic, loosing my sense of direction. I personally would not select this music to unwind after a long day at work. The fourth was selections from Divertissement for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1927) composed by Erwin Schulhoff, three movements were played. The Charleston: Allegro began with a brigh tone, upbeat rhythm, producing dance to the beat of the music. The second movement, Romancero: Andantino sounded playful, with the individual instruments playing consecutively in the introduction playing the same note. The tempo is more andantino, relaxed and mezzo forte. The last movement was the Rondo-Finale: Molto Allegro con fuoco, it featured a lively theme, faster tempo (prestissimo), many repeated tones playful notes with all instruments, and concluded fortissimo rushing at the end. The fifth piece was Suite d’aprà ©s Corrette, by Darius Milhaud. This had four movements included in the program, Entree et Rondeau, Tambourin, Musette and Le Coucou. Each of the four movements had very playful melody. Darius Milhaud, One of France’s leading composer of the 20th century. He was born to a Jewish family in Aix-en-Provence. His parents’ Jewish family line came from the Comtadin sect that has been well established in France for hundreds of years and the Italian Sephardim. http://www.anb.org/articles/18/18-03766.html Both of his parents had musical talents and had been playing music with his parents from his early childhood. He learned to play the violin at age 4. At the age of 17, Milhaud went to school at Paris Conservatoire where he ended up focusing on piano and composition, having the musical influence of top French composers like Paul Dukas, Charles Marie Widor (fugue), Andre Gedalge (counterpoint, composition, and orchestration) Nadia Boulanger, Maurice Ravel, George Enesco, Jacques Ibert were his students. http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/milhaud.php Milhaud and poet, Paul Claudel established a long collaborative relationship where Milhaud would compose incidental music, while Claudel will produce libretti for Milhaud’s works. Their friendship began when he served as a French attache in Rio de Janeiro in the First World War. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/darius-milhaud-mn0001175393/biography He became part of â€Å"Les Six†, a group of popular French composers under the supervision of Jean Cocteau. The group did not last very long, and had only been able to put together some piano pieces together as a whole group namely, L’Album des Six. http://www.classicalarchives.com/composer/3012.html#tvf=tracks&tv=about http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Six During his tours to foreign countries such as the U.S.A., Brazil, Vienna, London and the U.S.S.R., where he had quickly absorbed the various musical influences of these regions like jazz and Brazilian music. In 1939, he left France after the Nazi installed the Vichy Regime and many of his Jewish relatives were murdered by the Nazi Germans. An invitation to conduct at the Chicago Symphony, had given his family a timely exit visa. Through a friend of his, a famous French conductor then at the San Francisco Symphony as a conductor, Pierre Monteux, organized a teaching post for Milhaud at Mills College in Oakland, California. He is â€Å"often perceived as the champion of polytonality.† He may not be the inventor of this technique, he was able to use the technique to its possibilities. He produced at least 440 music pieces, including 12 ballets, nine operas, 12 symphonies, six chamber symphonies, 18 string quartet. He also continued to show his identity with France and the Jewish religion though his music. He later returned to France and kept a similar teaching post at Paris Conservatoire until 1971 along with his post in Mills College. http://www.classicalarchives.com/composer/3012.html#tvf=tracks&tv=about He died in 1974. http://www.milkenarchive.org/people/view/all/574/Darius+Milhaud Sources: All websites retrieved on November 30, 2014 The final piece was Divertissement for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon by Jean Franà §aix. The first movement was allegretto assai, it had a fast beat and very playful. This piece had a lot of dissonance. The Elegie had low pitch, the bassoon was setting the tone to a mournful sound, played in  harmony by the clarinet and oboe. The Scherzo, was the last movement played, it had a lot of energy, moving very fast. It sounded like a music for dancing, with contrasting tone color. Jean Franà §aix was born to a family of musicians on May 23, 1912. His father, Alfred Franà §aix spent sixteen years as the director for the Le Mans Conservatory of Music. His mother was a teacher and choir director also at the Conservatory. He had an early music influence, started learning piano at four, at ten he was taking music lessons with Isidor Philipp,whose long list of students were significant pianists, composers, and conductors, who was also a long time friend of Claude Debussy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isidor_Philipp Franà §aix, also studied music with Nadia Boulanger, who was a French composer, conductor, who also had a long list of well known students of musicians and composers of the 20th century. Jean Franà §aix at ten years old, composed â€Å"Pour Jacqueline† in honor of his cousin, and was published after two years. http://www.classicalarchives.com/composer/2535.html#tvf=tracks&tv=about He met Maurice Ravel in 1923, who had encouraged the young Franà §aix, to pursue his path that he is currently taking. He won the first prize at the Paris Conservatoire when he was 18. In 1932, he successfully gained popularity at the premiere performance of his Concertino for Piano and Orchestra at the Baden-Baden Chamber Music Festival, in Germany. He became sought after after this that he was commissioned to write music for sixteen ballets. He had completed and extensive collection of works including orchestral works, film music, vocal works as well as chamber music. He served at Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris teaching from 1959 to 1962. According to Schott music website, although Jean Franà §aix had exposure, influence, and fondness for the French Impressionism and the Neoclassicism, and his close relationship with Francis Pulenc and the â€Å"Groupe Des Six,† â€Å"Jean Franà §aix never felt committed to any particular musical ideology.† http://www.schott-music.com/shop/persons/featured/jean-francaix/ Jean Franà §aix died in 1997, his major work, written in 1939, The Apocalypse of Saint John, first performed in 1942, and was later played at his memorial  service at Le Mans Cathedral in 1999. http://www.classicalarchives.com/composer/2535.html#tvf=tracks&tv=about (Sources: all websites retrieved on November 30, 2014) The center stage’s design seemed very intimate to me in terms of the close proximity of the audience to the performers. From where I was sitting (left side, third row from the stage), I noticed that the instrumentalist were exchanging glances, waiting or taking the lead with each melody. I noticed that the instrumentalist had to tune their instruments before they start their pieces. They also seem to be constantly licking their lips. One striking event that I noticed, that I probably will not notice at a different venue where the stage is at a farther distance to the audience, is that the instrumentalists that played as a group, had a way of communicating with each other by glances and nods, whether to play solo, duo or trio. They played their musical instruments with such grace and poise. The moment the instrumentalist started performing the audience were very enthralled with the sound of the music. It was quite a life enriching experience. There was certain beauty and somewhat felt spiritual as I watch the instrumentalist play fantastic sounds with each of their instruments. The Colburn Conservatory School director welcomed the audience to the concert and with pride mentioned that most of their students have won the Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition. Jay,  I am hoping if you would be able to help me describe the following. I don’t exactly know how to go about writing description of this final music pieces. If you can, I would really appreciate it. 7. A full description of the final musical piece on the concert – 10 points Divertissement for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon by Jean Franà §aix, 1912-1997 Prelude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQywosBYkac Allegretto Assai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W682MdjDb4o