Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Global Warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2
Global Warming - Essay Example Each of these shareholders has something to gain or to lose based upon their own interpretation and as such this topic has been a particularly messy one to understand and to define. Accordingly, this brief essay will attempt to briefly analyze this monolithic problem through the lens of one particular article that promotes the understanding that global warming is in fact something of a hoax. The article, entitled ââ¬Å"The Global Warming Conundrumâ⬠discusses the fact that something of a a middle path to this ongoing debate that has been raging and consuming valuable time in the process should be engaged. Furthermore, this author will seek to make a determination with regards to the question of whether human action or natural causes best explains the climate fluctuations that planet earth has recently been chronicling. Lastly, as a function of the previous points of discussion and analysis, the author will attempt to proscribe a reasonable and performable set of steps and solut ions which both the scientific community and the world at large could and should seek to employ as a function of ameliorating the stress on planet earth and the issues at hand. Furthermore, as a means of bringing such an understanding about, the analysis will also rely upon relevant scientific publications on the topic as well as verifiable statistics and charts concerning overall levels of climate change and corresponding increases in CO2 emissions by humans over the past several decades. However, noting the global climate change is an issue is not, in and of itself sufficient. As such, the analysis will also consider the rapidly increasing demand that fossil fuels have been projected to assume over the next several decades and posit a potential alternative to further environmental degradation (Fowler 43). Firstly, the author of the article presents contrary point of view that strongly believes that the swings in climate change are the direct result of the presence of high amounts of human CO2 in the atmosphere that is causing a greenhouse effect on the planet and thereby causing world temperatures to rise. Prima fascia of this argument is the belief that human CO2 emissions are responsible for the changes to the global climate. It follows therefore that those which ascribe to this point of view are the most vehement that drastic and immediate changes to the manner in which human beings interact with planet earth and seek to use her resources in order to achieve a high standard of living be re-assessed as a function of whether such practices are best for the future health and longevity of the planet. However, the biggest drawback to this particular line of reasoning is the fact that the overall extent to which human CO2 factors into the percentage of total CO2 generated by planet earth on a yearly basis is so miniscule as to be laughable. Indeed, numerous studies have convincingly noted that human CO2 emissions only account for around 4% of total earth CO2 re lease in any given calendar year. Although this by no means relieves humans of their responsibility towards the planet, it does however help put into perspective the precise scope of this problem and the means by which it should be sought to be rectified. The problem with this point of view, as the article indicates, is of course the fact that the main causal factors for global climate change with respect to the recent changes in temperature patterns have not been considered. For instance, there is a preponderance of evidence that the size and heat the sun generates is of course non-uniform and varies depending on the level of solar flares and solar storm activity. As such, scientists have noted that beyond CO2
Monday, October 28, 2019
Movie Review of Secret (2007 Taiwanese Film) Essay Example for Free
Movie Review of Secret (2007 Taiwanese Film) Essay Casts: * Jay Chou as Ye Xianglun A music student majoring in piano and lives with his father * Kwai Lun-mei as Lu Xiaoyu A music student who lives with her mother * Anthony Wong Chau-sang as Xianglunââ¬â¢s father Xiangluns father and the discipline teacher at his school * Alice Tzeng as Qing Yi Xiangluns classmate who is in love with him * Yuhao Zhan as Yu Hao A music student and talented piano player, nicknamed Prince of the piano, he had a piano battle with Xianglun Secret is an amazing movie to look at and to listen to. The film tells a simple but very beautiful love story which is tied between past and present. The story, the music, the talent youââ¬â¢ll really be amazed and be in love with it when you see it yourself. You canââ¬â¢t imagine that it would be magical. Itââ¬â¢s a unique story, unpredictable and interesting. Whats more interesting is there is more to it than what meets the eye. Careful attention must be paid to all scenes, or else the story wont click and the end wont be as good. Heres the spoil. Ye Xianglun is a budding musical genius whose way with piano keys makes him a hit with the ladies, and even the guys, who recognize talent when they see it. Ye arrives at Tanjiang Art School and already hes being watched, but his eyes and heart are immediately stolen by Lu Xiaoyu, an elegant, charming flirt who first happens upon Ye in the schools aged piano room. The two begin a cute, casual romance thats defined by secrets. Basically, Lu keeps them, starting with her name, then extending them to other things like where she goes, what she does, and why shes always absent from class. Since shes so effervescent and attractive, Ye is immediately smitten. Ye has a secret too, but Ill give it away: his dad is a teacher at the school, and hes played by Anthony Wong in an amusing performance thats vintage Wong. Ye also has some friends at school who arent as amusing, and even qualify as annoying and bothersome. Some of these characters are played by Chous Taiwanese pop music pals. Since this is a Jay Chou (Ye Xianglun) production (besides starring and directing, he penned the original story and contributed the music), its only understandable that Chou make room for some of his buddiesà as well as his pet obsessions, especially music. Ye becomes the class celebrity when he kicks ass in a piano battle, which is as entertaining as it is patently manufactured. Basically, Ye outfoxes his opponent on the ivory keys , winning the hearts of the girls and the guys, while still remaining cool and sheepish in that inimitable Ye Xianglun way. Chief among his admirers is the pretty Qing Yi, who starts to crush on Ye big time. But Ye only has eyes for Lu. Or does he? Despite getting along swimmingly with Ye, Lu soon gets the idea that Ye is two-timing her with Qing. This is due to your standard crossed wires and mistaken circumstances, but the misinterpreted event is enough to throw a massive crush-killing wrench into their puppy love. That would probably be a terrible thing to behold if not for the fact that the relationship up until then was hardly inspiring. Ye Xianglun and Lu Xiaoyu have decent chemistry, but the relationship between their characters never seems that deep. Theres a manufactured quality to the dialogue that makes their supposed love a bit unconvincing, and without more acute emotions the film begins to drag. Sadly, part of this is the fault of Ye Xianglun, the actor. Ye possesses a certain likable charm, but his presence hardly screams passion. His demeanor is just too remote; Ye tries hard, but he cant convey a complete range of emotions. Shoring things up, however, is Lu Xiaoyu. When she initially appears, she acts too much like an idealized good girl flirt to be real; its like shes some manufactured idea of what perfect high school romance should be. However, as it turns out, theres a reason for her bizarre flirtatious behavior, and as the film divulges more of the howââ¬â¢s and whyââ¬â¢s, Lu is given a chance to convey emotions that prove heartbreaking. Her screen presence is refreshing and her emotionââ¬â¢s genuinely moving; if Secret manages to affect, Lu Xiaoyu is a large reason why. The revelation of the films eponymous secret is what gives Lu the chance to really affect the audience and yet its also when the movie starts to lose its credibility. The mechanism behind the films secret is never known, but the logic of how it works is explained explicitly, such that every incident and action in the film needs to fit a set of rules explained by the characters and depicted by the events themselves. But the film ultimately doesnt adhere to its conv ictions, eventually twisting events to fit desired emotions and skirting around the rules that theyve laid out for us. The film gives us a denouement, but itsà only touching because it fits some sort of predetermined audience expectation, and not because it surprises or really affects. Some people may be happy with how Secret ends. But does the film earn its ending? I dont think that it does. At least Secret is a very pretty ride. On artifice alone, the film is aces, serving up beautiful art direction, cinematography and music. Ye Xianglun (Jay Chou) really knows how to compose a tune; the films original music is genuinely stirring, and preexisting pieces are well-chosen and evocative of the films innocent romantic mood. Secret serves the senses exceptionally well so much so, that its almost tragic when it ultimately throws logic out the window. Ye Xianglun and company have created a nice little valentine, but their desire to give the film more weight eventually leaves it adrift. The film barrels towards its intended goal with little regard for common sense, leaving the audience with nothing besides the pretty pictures and people to shore it up. Amazingly, that gambit is more successful than not, and Lu Xiaoyu (Kwai Lun-mei) practically drags the film across the finish line herself. Without her the film would probably sink beneath its own self-importance, as its manufactured sheen and occasionally miscalculated choices render the film little more than a superficially gorgeous pure love diversion for teen girls and the boys they drag to the cinema along with them. Thatll probably do just fine for most, since manufactured diversion seems to be a standard expectation for many modern moviegoers. Secret will probably score well with its intended teen audience, especially if they take in the film as a single, one-off experience. Further viewings would only reveal the films holes to be gaping and perhaps intolerable, but upon first glance, Secret is pretty and polished enough to charm. You should watch it too!
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Shakespeare: The Best Playwright that Ever Lived :: Biography Biographies Essays
Shakespeare: The Best Playwright that Ever Lived William Shakespeare was a supreme English poet and playwright, universally recognized as the greatest of all the dramatists. A complete, authoritative account of Shakespeare's life is lacking; much supposition surrounds relatively few facts. His day of birth is traditionally held on April 23, and he was baptized on April 24, 1564. He was the third of eight children, and was the eldest son of John Shakespeare. He was probably educated in a local grammar school. As the eldest son, Shakespeare would of taken over his father's business, but according to one account, he became a butcher because of reverses in his father's financial situation. According to another account, he became a school master. That Shakespeare was allowed considerable leisure time in his youth is suggested by the fact that his plays show more knowledge of hunting and hawking than do those of other dramatists. In 1582, he married Anne Hathaway. He is supposed to have left Stratford after he was caught poaching in a deer park. Shakespeare apparently arrived in London about 1588 and by 1592 had attained success as a playwright. The publication of Venus and Adonis, The Rape of Lucrece and of his Sonnets established his reputation as a poet in the Renaissance manner. Shakespeare's modern reputation is based mainly on the 38 plays he wrote, modified, or collaborated on. Shakespeare's professional life in London was marked by a number of financially advantageous arrangements that permitted him to share in the profits of his acting company, the Chamberlain's Men, and its two theaters, the Globe and the Blackfriars. His plays were given special presentation at the courts of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. After about 1608, Shakespeare's dramatic production lessened and he spent more time in Stratford. There he established a family in and imposing house, the New Place, and became a leading local citizen. He died on April 23, 1616, and was buried in the Stratford church. Although the precise date of many of Shakespeare's plays is in doubt, his dramatic career is divided into four periods: (1) the period up to 1594, (2) the years from 1594 to 1600, (3) the years from 1600 to 1608, (4) the period after 1608. In all periods, the plots of his plays were frequently drawn from chronicles, histories, or earlier fiction. Shakespeare: The Best Playwright that Ever Lived :: Biography Biographies Essays Shakespeare: The Best Playwright that Ever Lived William Shakespeare was a supreme English poet and playwright, universally recognized as the greatest of all the dramatists. A complete, authoritative account of Shakespeare's life is lacking; much supposition surrounds relatively few facts. His day of birth is traditionally held on April 23, and he was baptized on April 24, 1564. He was the third of eight children, and was the eldest son of John Shakespeare. He was probably educated in a local grammar school. As the eldest son, Shakespeare would of taken over his father's business, but according to one account, he became a butcher because of reverses in his father's financial situation. According to another account, he became a school master. That Shakespeare was allowed considerable leisure time in his youth is suggested by the fact that his plays show more knowledge of hunting and hawking than do those of other dramatists. In 1582, he married Anne Hathaway. He is supposed to have left Stratford after he was caught poaching in a deer park. Shakespeare apparently arrived in London about 1588 and by 1592 had attained success as a playwright. The publication of Venus and Adonis, The Rape of Lucrece and of his Sonnets established his reputation as a poet in the Renaissance manner. Shakespeare's modern reputation is based mainly on the 38 plays he wrote, modified, or collaborated on. Shakespeare's professional life in London was marked by a number of financially advantageous arrangements that permitted him to share in the profits of his acting company, the Chamberlain's Men, and its two theaters, the Globe and the Blackfriars. His plays were given special presentation at the courts of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. After about 1608, Shakespeare's dramatic production lessened and he spent more time in Stratford. There he established a family in and imposing house, the New Place, and became a leading local citizen. He died on April 23, 1616, and was buried in the Stratford church. Although the precise date of many of Shakespeare's plays is in doubt, his dramatic career is divided into four periods: (1) the period up to 1594, (2) the years from 1594 to 1600, (3) the years from 1600 to 1608, (4) the period after 1608. In all periods, the plots of his plays were frequently drawn from chronicles, histories, or earlier fiction.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Mrs. Kr
How long are the Florida Keys? Ans:106 Miles 2. Name the ten keys highlighted at this site. Ans:Key Largo, Islamorada, Long Key, Key West, Marathon, Big Pine, Tavernier, Grassy Key, Bahia Honda, Little Torch Key 3. Which key is known as the diving capital of the world? Ans:Key Largo is known as the driving capital of the world 4. Briefly describe the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. Ans: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a spectacular underwater park. There is a nature trail inside the park.In the parks visitors center you are introduced to the underwater beauty of sea life 5. Describe parasailing. Explain what determines how high a rider can go. In one sentence, explain if and why you would like to try it. Ans:Parasailing involves the use of a parachute and a boat. The elevation of the rider is controlled by the speed of the boat and the amount of cable. I wouldnââ¬â¢t try parasailing because Iââ¬â¢m scared of heights 6. What are the three sections of t he Florida Keys? Ans:Upper Keys, Middle Keys, and Lower Keys 7. Identify the key whose name means ââ¬Å"purple isle. â⬠Ans:Islamorada 8.List the key known as the sport fishing capital of the world. Ans:Islamorada 9. What part of Florida is known as the backcountry? Ans:Florida Bay 10. Name the largest U. S. park east of the Rocky Mountains. When and why was this park established? Ans:Everglades National Park is the largest U. S. park east of the Rocky Mountain. It was established in 1947â⬠to preserve the primitive conditionsâ⬠of certain wetlands extending from the Florida mainland 11. List some activities available in Everglades National Park. Ans:Ranger-led walks and talks. Boat tours. Hiking, biking and canoe trails. Back country camping and fishing 2. What was Tavernier Key used for in the eighteenth century? Ans:Wrecker used it as their base during the day, but at night they searched its reef for valuable goods from ships that had urn aground and sank13. Which key is both smaller and less developed than its neighbors, and what is its best asset? Ans:Long Key is the smaller and less developed than its neighbors. Its best asset is that it offers seclusion and ready access to activities on neighboring keys. 14. Name the first and second longest bridges in the Florida Keys. Ans:The longest bridge is the 7-mile bridge; Long Key bridge is second 5. How did Marathon get its name? Ans: Helping to build the tracks for a railroad in the middle of the keys, a worker commented that the job was a marathon 16. How many bridges connect the Florida Keys? Ans:42 17. Which bridge appeared in the movie True Lies? Ans:7 mile bridge 18. What is a botel? Ans:a floating motel room with dockage for a guestââ¬â¢s boat 19. In addition to Marathon, which other key has a commercial airport? Ans:Key West 20. What are the tiny, white-tailed deer on Big Pine Key called? Ans:Key Deer 21. What attraction does Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary have for tourists?Ans:P eople think it is the most spectacular coral reef in the Lower Keys. People enjoy snorkeling, skin diving, fishing, and boating. 22. What two corals does the article about the sanctuary mention? Ans:elkorn coral and massive star coral 23. How did Little Torch Key get its name? Ans:It was named after the torchwood tree 24. Which key is known in Spanish as Cayo Hueso? What does the name mean, and how did the key get this name? Ans:Key West is known in Spanish as Cayo Hueso, Which means ââ¬Å" island of bonesâ⬠Spanish explorers gave the key this name because they found the skeletal remains of Indians there 25. How far is Key West from Cuba?Ans:90 miles 26. What role did Key West serve before Fidel Castro came to power? Ans:it was a stopping for travelers between the United States and Cuba 27. What are some attractions of Duval Street? Ans:Sloppy Joes, Dival Street extends into art distract 28. Briefly describe the Hemingway Days Festival. Ans:The festival is in honor of Ernest H ernigway, who once lived in Key West. It includes a Hemingway look-alike contest 29. What happens during Sunset Fest? Ans:Every night people watch the sunset while being entertained by musicians and carnival acts 30. How do the locals refer to the Florida Keys and Key West? Ans:Paradise
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Quiz Study Help
Take a deep breath and tell him what you've learned in this class that could be a cultural reason for this phenomenon. References to specific theories required. The sociological approach toward social problems differs and is divided into two areas: basic research and applied research. The main reason is to focus more on self-consciousness and building awareness to expand knowledge and understanding on how individuals interact with society and among each other. Researchers rely on scientific methods to determine a person behavior how individuals would act outside of their comfort zone.The first step is knows that there is a problem that needs immediately attention this is how research gains statistics by approaching it with different variables to reach a reasonable solution. While taking this course (Food and Culture) I learned from a sociologist perspective we seem too visualized more on how the society plays a role in our society. I thinking this will be an interesting class because it gives different aspects of the world we live premise of this class is, basically, getting familiar with learning how to ask and answer critical thinking questions and problem solving techniques.In today's society two of the most important tools sociologists seem to use to study the impact on individuals' subjective experience are participant observation and long form interviews based upon individuals social behaviors, social relationships, social interaction, and social awareness. Both data collection methods are widely used to conducts research in field of sociology and perform observation study in the social world. In participant observation, the sociologist primarily participates and focuses on the aspects of humans social activity.Typically, how he or she conducts their study is by taken role in the social situation under observation, which actually means being a part of what they are studying whether it is an ongoing activities and records observation. The main priority is to use knowledgeable structure while gaining deep understanding, and familiarity with the group of individuals you are studying personal levels. However, while working in the fields you cannot get discourage letting emotions and feelings influence or affecting the way you think when observing or finding information.Long form interviews give sociologists a different approach of insight because we are being asked a listed of questions which can last for hours. In this world we were giving common sense to think and it's entirely up to us to use it. The sociological perspective assures us that we live in a diverse world filled with people from different culture and background. It's our decision to isolate ourselves from getting involved with such negative social activities as these. There is a diversity of people's life styles, still we may consider our way of life as superior, right, and natural. All others are no good.The sociological perspective encourages us to think radically about the relative strengths and weaknesses of all ways of life, including our Question 2 of 4 12. 5 Points A friend suggests that gender equality is a reality in the US. He is certain that men have the same load of domestic responsibilities that women do, statistically speaking. Cite statistics from your Readings and LEN that refute his belief. Consider both physical labor and time, and emotional burdens, as drains on the average woman living: in a family with children; living with only a male partner; living with children and no male partners.Leave the statistics on gay/lesbian families for another day; oh don't want your friend's head to explode with too much data all at once. ââ¬Å"The female gender role in family life as the person wholly or almost wholly responsible for all labor related to food is deeply ingrained in American, and some other cultures. â⬠(FOOD & CULTURE). According to the LEN woman work 40 to 80 hours per work; however, this does not conclude the overtime ho urs they work provide and support their families' needs and wants. The achievement of full equality between women and men has not change much from the way things were back in the sass's until now.However, there is always going to be a slight difference not only illogically, but also socially. In the past, women were given more responsibilities Department statistics say that 65% of mothers with young children are working FT; 75% of mothers overall. â⬠(FOOD & CULTURE) Women duties were consisted of nursing babies, cleaning, cooking, and performing other household chores while the men were working outside on the plantation getting paid minimum wage trying to support their family needs. While the men's duties are consisted of outside work; such as cleaning the lawn, working on cars, and etc.See women weren't allowed to go to college only men. In 1855, Oberlin College was first college to admit education to both African American and White women and men. Women were are more educated now than they were back then; although they did not know much about reading, writing, degrees, and careers. I truly believe we're close to gender equality now. ââ¬Å"Consequently, gender stratification varies from one society to another. Whereas sex refers to male or female, gender refers to masculinity or femininity' (Heinlein, 2012).I think women and men both have equal opportunities composed to the past Journey. As of today they both are well educated in certain careers. Honestly, I can say when you consider the fact not even people within the same social group, males, females, blacks, whites, achieve complete social equality with each other. Certainly women have much room for improvement by gradually making significant gains and changes in the workplace, the home, and entering politics. Hillary Clinton came close to making history as being the first female President of the United States.With that being said, there are still a high percentage of women withhold high positions in the politician offices today. ââ¬Å"Every society sorts men and women into separate groups and gives them different access to property, power, and prestigeâ⬠(Heinlein, 2012). The women's movement is stronger than ever. The reason why I say that is because in the late sass's women did not have any objective or voice to say how they feel and they did not know the different between right or wrong, nor the difference between fighting for what they believed in.Men let's not forget us women were the ones who produced you in this world. The Nineteen Amendment of the Bill of Right Constitution gave women the right to vote. As of today, we women are well prepared to face whatever life throws at us no more running, ducking, or hiding. Some men still feel they have authority over women and that woman has to obey by their rules. For example, no person is going to speak for me, physically or verbally abuse me in any kind of way I refuse to be anyone living made. In the social world there are a few women and men who are too lazy to go out and make a living for themselves.Instead they prefer someone to give them substructure they won't something for nothing. Women are still being discriminated and treated unequally. There are a lot of Jobs that women perform better than men. For example, working in an office setting is a bob for women not man but now in days you find more men receptionist operating computer typing more words per minute than women. In college you find more men majoring in business than hard manual labor. Men work need to be more challenging and complicated such as construction or truck drivers.I think I'll stick to I am feminist. Feminist refer to a diverse variety of beliefs, ideas, movements, and agendas for action. ââ¬Å"the view that biology is not destiny and that stratification by gender is wrong and should be resisted?met with strong opposition, both by men who had privilege to lose and by women who accepted their status as morally erectâ⬠(Heinlein, 2012). The black suffrage and the struggles for civil rights is still an issue today. The point is we have these rights to freely do whatever we please to do.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
The eNotes Blog If Youre Going to Procrastinate, You Better Do ItRight
If Youre Going to Procrastinate, You Better Do ItRight A little unorthodox advice from a fellow studentour intern. Thereââ¬â¢s winter, spring, summer, and fallâ⬠¦ And then thereââ¬â¢s midterm season. For us quarter-system kids, the time is now. (For you semester kids, donââ¬â¢t pity us- theyââ¬â¢re coming for you.) If youââ¬â¢re in college, you know this is one of the worst times of the year. It feels like youââ¬â¢re being pummeled by hail until youââ¬â¢re curled up in the fetal position and simultaneously being burned by blaring sunlight shining through holes in the ozone. Andà then maybe being stung by a jellyfish. Somehow, we prevail, though, and keep on chugging through until the next exam season rolls around. Weââ¬â¢re really awesome when it comes to making it out alive. What we arenââ¬â¢t good at is studying ââ¬Å"efficiently.â⬠If you are not a procrastinator, congratulations. Youââ¬â¢re awesome. I respect you. I literally donââ¬â¢t know how you do it, and I donââ¬â¢t think I ever will. But I want to give you some props. So, here. ::gives props:: Most of us thoughâ⬠¦ weââ¬â¢re world class procrastinators. Spoiler alert: Iââ¬â¢m not going to write about ways to change procrastination behaviors. For us tried and true procrastinators, changing the habit is not a process that can occur over night (like cramming)- itââ¬â¢s going to take a lot of work. MTV Intervention style work. And since youââ¬â¢re likely already amidst the test season, thereââ¬â¢s no turning back now to try and fix your situation, because youââ¬â¢ve already dug yourself a nice, fat hole. So for the 95% of the population that falls prey to this habit, I thought Iââ¬â¢d talk about some ways to really get the most out of your procrastinating. If youââ¬â¢re going to procrastinate, you might as well do it well and with style. These tips will make you the talk of the library. Television. You could catch up on all those sitcoms you watch. But if you want to up your game, you should really start watching a new show entirely. For maximum exploitation of this procrastination period, I would recommend shows that have at least 3 seasons, can be watched on Netflix or HBOgo and even Hulu (if you donââ¬â¢t mind the obnoxious advertisements about car insurance). If you donââ¬â¢t have subscriptions to these sites, the person next to you probably does. Make new friendsâ⬠¦and then exploit them for their subscriptions. Go through your list of New Years Resolutions and try to bring them all to fruition in an expedited fashion. Need to be healthier? Why not spend 7 hours at the gym taking every class they offer that day, or maybe hang out in the produce section of the grocery store, carefully selecting the fruits and vegetables you need to create the healthy feast youââ¬â¢re about to cook (which will take another 3 hours). Want to travel more? Get on a bus and just, you know, get off at a random stop. Then find your way home (This can also help with a ââ¬Å"get to know the city you live inâ⬠resolution). StumbleUpon. Get an account. Waste an entire afternoon. Excellent. YouTube. Donââ¬â¢t stop. We all get caught up in the recommended videos in that darned sidebar. Why fight it? Watch all of them. Especially the tutorial and challenge ones, which you must obviously watch and also perform yourself. Oh! And read the troll comments. You have to read the troll comments. N64. You donââ¬â¢t even need to get off your couch for this one. Those hobbies you dropped back in the day because, I donââ¬â¢t know, band became ââ¬Å"un-coolâ⬠and your art teacher scared you- pick them up again, and do them until you are just as good as you were back in the day. Clarinets are going to be making such a huge comeback. Sleep Read for pleasure. Les Miserables is over 1000 pages, and then thereââ¬â¢s always encyclopedias and the dictionary. Buy the entire contents of your nearest grocery or convenience store, and eat each item in succession. No one can eat and study at the same time. Itââ¬â¢s scientific fact. You can even do this one with friends. Remember all those things you had to do that you kept putting off that donââ¬â¢t have to do with school? Theyââ¬â¢re lookinââ¬â¢ pretty good right now. Who doesnââ¬â¢t love laundry? And then you just cram. Cram like the wind. Do anything you can to stay awake and absorb every bit of that information you didnââ¬â¢t even take in when it was first presented to you in lecture (because you were sleeping). Caffeine is your friend, water (thrown at face) is your friend, uncomfortable chairs are your friends, is your friend (shameless plug). Your bed is your enemy, pillows are your enemy, thoughts about things that arenââ¬â¢t your exam are your enemy. You know the drill. Youââ¬â¢ve got it down pat. Really, thoughâ⬠¦ you should try not to procrastinate. You wonââ¬â¢t learn as much. â⬠¦ But if you do procrastinate, I meanâ⬠¦ just do it right. In life, you really should always give your all. You donââ¬â¢t want to be the kind of person who only gives 50%. Itââ¬â¢s time to step it up and reach your true potential. You came to college for a reason, right? Procrastinate like itââ¬â¢s what you were born to do. I have to go watch the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, now (itââ¬â¢s the extended edition), so Iââ¬â¢ll leave you with this one line to rule them all: I have faith in you.
Monday, October 21, 2019
How to Display and Edit MEMO Fields in Delphis TDBGrid
How to Display and Edit MEMO Fields in Delphis TDBGrid à If you are developing database applications with tables containing MEMO fields, youll notice that, by default, the TDBGrid component does not show the contents of a MEMO field inside a DBGrid cell. This article provides an idea of how to solve this TMemoFields issue (with a few more tricks)... TMemoField Memo fields are used to represent lengthy text or combinations of text and numbers. When building database applications using Delphi, the TMemoField object is used to represent a memo field in a dataset. TMemoField encapsulates the fundamental behavior common to fields that contain text data or arbitrary length. In most databases, the size of the Memo field is limited by the size of the database. While you can display the contents of a MEMO field in a TDBMemo component, by design the TDBGrid will only display (Memo) for the contents of such fields. In order to actually display some text (from the MEMO field) in the appropriate DBGrid cell, youll only need to add a simple line of code ... For the purpose of the next discussion, lets say you have a database table named TestTable with at least one MEMO field named Data. OnGetText To show the contents of a MEMO field in the DBGrid, you need to attach a simple line of code in the fieldsà OnGetTextà event. The easiest way to create the OnGetText event handler is to use the Fields editor at design time to create a persistent field component for the memo field: Connect your TDataset descendant component (TTable, TQuery, TADOTable, TADOQuery ....) to the TestTable database table.Double click the dataset component to open the Fields editorAdd the MEMO field to the list of persistent fieldsSelect the MEMO field in the Fields editorActivate the Events tab in the Object InspectorDouble click the OnGetText event to create the event handler Add the next line of code (italicized below): procedure TForm1.DBTableDataGetText( Sender: TField; var Text: String; DisplayText: Boolean); begin Text : Copy(DBTableData.AsString, 1, 50); Note: the dataset object is called DBTable, the MEMO field is called DATA, and therefore, by default, the TMemoField connected to the MEMO database field is called DBTableData. By assigningà DBTableData.AsStringà to theà Textà parameter of the OnGetText event, we tell Delphi to display ALL the text from the MEMO field in a DBGrid cell.You can alsoà adapt the DisplayWidthà of the memo field to a more appropriate value. Note: since MEMO fields can be quite BIG, it is a good idea to show only a part of it. In the above code, only the first 50 characters are displayed. Editing on a separate form By default, the TDBGrid does not allow editing of MEMO fields. If you want to enable in place editing, you could add some code to react on a user action that shows a separate window that allows editing using a TMemo component.For the sake of simplicity well open an editing window when ENTER is pressed on a MEMO field in a DBGrid.Lets use theà KeyDownà event of a DBGrid component: procedure TForm1.DBGrid1KeyDown( Sender: TObject; var Key: Word; Shift: TShiftState); begin if Key VK_RETURN then begin if DBGrid1.SelectedField DBTableData then with TMemoEditorForm.Create(nil) do try DBMemoEditor.Text : DBTableData.AsString; ShowModal; DBTable.Edit; DBTableData.AsString : DBMemoEditor.Text; finally Free; end; end; end; Note 1: the TMemoEditorForm is a secondary form containing only one component: DBMemoEditor (TMemo).Note 2: the TMemoEditorForm was removed from the Auto-create forms list in the Project Options dialog window. Lets see what happens in the DBGrid1s KeyDown event handler: When a user presses the ENTER key (we are comparing the Key parameter to the VK_RETURNà virtual key code) [Key VK_RETURN],If the currently selected field in the DBGrid is our MEMO field (DBGrid1.SelectedField DBTableData),We create the TMemoEditorForm [TMemoEditorForm.Create(nil)],Send the value of the MEMO field to the TMemo component [DBMemoEditor.Text : DBTableData.AsString],Display the form modally [ShowModal],When a user finishes with editing and closes the form, we need to put the dataste into the Edit mode [DBTable.Edit],In order to be able to assign the edited value back to our MEMO field [DBTableData.AsString : DBMemoEditor.Text]. Note: if you are looking for more TDBGrid related articles and usage tips, be sure to visit: TDBGrid to the MAX tips collection.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
The Best SAT Score Predictor
The Best SAT Score Predictor SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The SAT can be mysterious and nerve-inducing; your score on this never-before-seen test will play a hugerole in your college applications. When I took the SAT for the first time, I didnââ¬â¢t do any preparation and wasn't sureI could reach my target score. The best way to lessen yourfear is to try to predict your SAT score. How can you estimate your SAT score? What are the effective methods? Do the SAT score predictor quizzes really work? This guide will walk you through the different methods of estimating your SAT score and will tell you how to use that prediction. The Best Way to Predict Your SAT Score The best method to predict your SAT score is to take a full-length official College Board SAT practice test under real testing conditions.Itââ¬â¢s a big time commitment - over four hours - but itââ¬â¢s the most accurate SAT score predictor. Where Can You Find a Practice Test? All of the official SAT practice tests created by the College Board are available for free online.Iââ¬â¢d recommend you pick one and print out a copy of the test since you'll be taking the real SAT with pencil and paper. How Should You Use the Test? To get the most accurate score prediction, you want to mimic the real test as closely as possible.This means you cannot use your phone, computer, dictionary or any other outside help.You should only have pencils, an eraser, a pencil sharpener, and a calculator on your desk. Stick to the exact timing.Note: the time allowed is printed at the start of each section.Use a watch to time yourself, anddon't give yourself any extra time. An extra minute or two could artificially increase your score.Also, youââ¬â¢re only allowed to work on that section during the allotted time. Donââ¬â¢t move on to the next section if you finish early, and donââ¬â¢t go back to a priorsection. How Do You Score the Test? Score it using the instructions on the College Board website.Youââ¬â¢ll start by calculating your raw score, which is simply the number ofquestions you answered correctly. Then, you use that raw score and a chart provided by the College Board to calculate a scaled score for each section.That scaled score is your estimated SAT score! Note: This is only a baseline SAT score. You can raise your score with dedicated prep. To do so, you should create an SAT study schedule, which I discuss more below.If you're looking for a startingpoint for your SAT prep, check outour free SAT studyguide. Don't have time for an SAT practice test? We've got other options! What Are Other, Less Time-Consuming SAT Score Predictors? Did you takethe PSAT or ACT? If so, you canuse thatscore to estimate your SAT score. These tests are useful predictors because the experience of taking them is similar to the SAT: early in the morning, in a classroom with other students, without outside help, etc. Below Iââ¬â¢ll give an overview of how to use the PSAT and ACTto predict your SAT score. PSAT Itââ¬â¢s the next best thing to taking an official SAT practice test.The PSAT was written by the College Board, the same company behind the SAT.Itââ¬â¢s very similar to the SAT; the name literally means preliminary SAT. The College Board meant for your scaled PSAT score to be an estimated SAT score.However, since the PSAT is intended to be a precursor, the College Board designed it to be slightly easier than the SAT.The PSAT is scored on a scale between 320 and 1520.It doesn't go up to 1600 since the SAT is a more difficult test than the PSAT.While a 1200 PSAT score suggests you might score around 1200 on the SAT, a perfect PSAT score doesn't necessarily guarantee a perfect SAT score.This is why the PSAT scale is shifted down from 1600 to 1520 to account for the differences in difficulty. Pros The PSAT was written by the same company as the SAT. It was designed to match the SAT format. It was created for the purposing of estimating your SAT score. It's administered in similar conditions asthe SAT. Cons Itââ¬â¢s slightly easier than the SAT, so it will not be as challenging. It may not be able to accurately predict scores for top performers in the 1500-1600 range. ACT Score If you took the ACT, you use thatscore to predict your SAT score.There are simple conversion tables that will take your 1-36 composite score and convert it into a 400-1600 SAT score.However, this is a less reliable method than using a PSAT score. While the ACT is astandardized test similar to the SAT and PSAT, the ACTwas created by ACT, Inc., not the College Board.There is overlapping content between the SAT and ACT, but the content is not exactly the same.For example, the ACThas a science section while the SAT doesnââ¬â¢t.Also, the SAT has a no-calculator math section while the ACT doesnââ¬â¢t. If you use your ACT score to estimate your SAT score, the prediction may be off by up to 100 points.For example, I got a 34 on my ACT, which would predict an SAT score between 1490-1530, but, in actuality, I got a score of 1420; 70 points less than the lowest estimated score.Some students simply perform better on the ACT than the SAT. Pros The ACT is astandardized test that is designed to estimate college preparedness like the SAT. Itcovers similar Math, Reading, and Writing content as the SAT. It's administered in similar conditions as the SAT. Cons The ACT was not written by the College Board. Itdoesnââ¬â¢t cover the same material as the SAT. Predictions may not be exact (could be off by up to 100 points). It's difficult to accurately compare the ACT to the SAT. Don't trustother "predictors." What Wonââ¬â¢t Be Good SAT Score Predictors? Iââ¬â¢d recommend avoiding any method not mentioned above. Here are some of the more commonly used SAT score predictors that I wouldnââ¬â¢t recommend. Non-Official Practice Tests Non-official SAT practice tests, aka those not written by the College Board, will not give you a realistic estimate of your SAT score.This includes full-length non-official SAT practice tests as well as any shorter SAT score predictor quizzes.These tests are too different from the SAT to give you a good prediction; theydonââ¬â¢t accurately mimic the SAT test format and typically donââ¬â¢t cover the same content as the SAT. You could end up with a score hundreds of points off from how you'd score on the actual SAT. GPA Some students try to look at their GPA and guess their SAT score. Itââ¬â¢s tempting to say that because you have straight Aââ¬â¢s, you'll obviously get a 1600 on the SAT. On the other hand, if you have a low GPA, you might feel doomed to a low SAT score. However, GPA doesnââ¬â¢t always correlate with SAT score.Some students with low GPAs end up with great SAT scores while others with high GPAs end up with low scores. Don't try to estimate your SAT score using GPA. AP/IB Tests AP and IB exams test very specific content such as Biology, Economics, Calculus, and History.Most of this content is not covered on the SAT. Therefore, excelling on your AP or IB exam will not necessarily correlate with SAT success. No matter your prediction, don't be a grumpy kitten! How Should You Use Your Score Prediction? If you have an SAT score prediction, how do you feel about it?If youââ¬â¢re unhappy, you should create an SAT prep scheduleto help you reach your score.Below is a rough estimate of how many hours you need to devote to studying to achieve certain score improvements. 0-50 SAT composite point improvement: 10 hours 50-100 point improvement: 20 hours 100-200 point improvement: 40 hours 200-300 point improvement: 80 hours 300-500 point improvement: 150 hours+ Check out our ultimate SAT study guide to help you get started with your SAT preparation. If youââ¬â¢re very happy with your predicted SAT score, you should still do some SAT prep,but not as much.Iââ¬â¢d recommend studying for at least 10 hours.Take two practice tests with in-depth reviewto get comfortable with the test format and to make sure your practice test scores align with your target score. Whether you have a score estimate or not, remember that no predictor is 100% accurate, not even taking an official SAT practice test.You should plan to take the real SAT more than once, so if you donââ¬â¢t reach your target score the first try, you have another shot. Whatââ¬â¢s Next? Now that you've found your estimated SAT score, how does it compare to your target score? Not sure where youââ¬â¢d like to go to college? Read our guide to finding your target school. Need help with your college application? Learn how to write about extracurriculars on your college application; get advice on the Common App essays. Want to learn more about the SAT but tired of reading blog articles? Then you'll love our free, SAT prep livestreams. Designed and led by PrepScholar SAT experts, these live video events are a great resource for students and parents looking to learn more about the SAT and SAT prep. Click on the button below to register for one of our livestreams today!
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Read Articles and point out important points Essay
Read Articles and point out important points - Essay Example In addition, values and protocols that exist in the current culture that are viewed as essential for the required change must be reinforced and utilized. It is equally important to promote a participative environment by minimizing resistances to change. Let the members have time to internalize the change and provide coping mechanisms during the transitional stress while dealing accordingly with burden members of the organization. Finally, the momentum of change must be maintained by constantly and publicly recognizing the new behaviors and achievements, especially on the individual level. Change can be based on economic value and organizational capability. The economic value is usually measured by shareholder value while organizational capability rests on the development of corporate culture and is measured by employeeââ¬â¢s commitment and learning behavior. The hard approach (economic value) normally involves heavy use of economic incentives, drastic layoffs, downsizing, and restructuring. In contrast, soft approach (organizational capability) involves feedback systems, reflective management and participative environment. The six dimensions of corporate change are goals, leadership, focus, process, reward system, and use of consultants. The challenge for leaders is how economic value and organizational capability theories must be combined and applied in the dimensions of corporate change. In this synergy of theories, change can happen by increasing productivity while enriching your corporate culture with intelligent and practical use of resources and external entities. This can be implemented through flexible and collaborative effort, to some extent, of executives with much knowledge and dedication to direct and immerse to the level of their subordinates. In a knowledge-based economy, in which value creation depends increasingly
Friday, October 18, 2019
Introduction to Strategic Management Report Essay
Introduction to Strategic Management Report - Essay Example The companies include Lexus, Daihatsu, and Hino Motors among others. A recent study shows that Toyota has sold over more than 12 million cars. The company also manufactures forklifts, buses, industrial equipment, and buses. Toyota has a large market in North America. The United States of America is a host to five plants of the Toyota Company. The locations are in Buffalo, West Virginia; San Antonio, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama, Georgetown, Kentucky and Princeton, Indiana. Early imports from Japan like the Toyopet did not make large sales due to their small size. However, due to energy crisis in the 1970s, Americans and other countries imported Toyota cars because of their fuel efficiency and lower price compared to other cars in the automobile industry. The rise of fuel prices and side effects of global warming prompted the company to manufacture fuel efficient cars. The recent brands like Highlander, Camry and Prius are a proof of the firmââ¬â¢s objective to make fuel efficient ve hicles. The vehicles serve the current global market that requires cost efficient and effective cars. An international business is an enterprise or entity that is involved in commercial transactions in two or more than two countries. An international business cuts across boundaries in doing business. The business environments are the surrounding factors that influence the business performance (Fry et.al, 2009). The business environment can have a number of impacts on a business. Toyota Motor Corporation falls into this category. Before introducing a business venture in a foreign land, it is imperative to study the business environment to establish the feasibility of the particular business. The economic factors in a given country will influence the habits of the consumer. A good economy is one that has empowered consumers to purchase products they demand thus satisfy their needs. Recession and Inflation influence the purchasing power of
( Human Resource Management ) Do Emotional Intelligence and Dissertation
( Human Resource Management ) Do Emotional Intelligence and Leader-Member Exchange affect the job satisfaction & turnover Intent - Dissertation Example It is suggested that further investigation on the arbitrating consequences of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) and Team-Member Exchange (TMX) on Emotional Intelligence, job satisfaction and job performance is required. 1. Introduction 1.1 Why teams are important? As Thomas Edison once coined, "If we did all the things we were capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves". According to Katzenbach and Smith, (1993), "A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they are mutually accountable." The team performance curve by Katzenbach and Smith, 1993 Source: Katzenbach and Smith, 1993, Business in todayââ¬â¢s world flourishes only because of teams and team work. A team in an organization can actually prevail over almost any complexity to be successful in its objectives when it works with the right attitude. Sometimes difficulties may arise in certain projects then under such circumst ances the determination and cooperation of teams can conquer it and triumph. Under situations of ââ¬Ëno pressureââ¬â¢ In most projects there will be times when only the determination of the team can overcome the difficulties and carry the initiative through to success. Even when there is no pressure, the team's strength and zeal will be mirrored in the feature of the solution. In reality teams have more flexibility in operations, talents and experience with a good lot of diversity of resources. Leadership in Teams The requirements of team performance lead to team leadership which tilts just about team need contentment so that team efficiency can be built up. Who ever is ready to take up the responsibility and satisfy the needs of a team can be assumed to take up team leadership, irrespective of the fact whether he/she acts from inside the team or outside it (McGrath, 1962). This analysis of team leadership is coherent with functional leadership presumption. Fleishman et al., 1 991; Hackman & Walton, 1986; Zaccaro et al., 2001 also support that functional leadership model of team leadership is the best leader ship model. According to Schutz, (1961: 61) ââ¬Å". . . leader as completer . . . the best a leader can do is to observe which functions are not being performed by a segment of the group and enable this part to accomplish themâ⬠. Style of Team Leadership ? Dictatorial style of team leadership is one in which a single person prescribes the result of the team and the remaining people do not contribute towards it at all. This type of leadership is also known as autocratic leadership (Goleman, 2000). In integrative team leadership the sources of the team are taken up together into an incorporated result of the team. In reality this kind of team leader ship is not as simple as it reads. This kind of leadership is a holistic, meditative and receptive approach to conducting oneself, guiding others, and contributing in the organization. Autocratic Style of Leadership This style of leadership involves in giving all the powers to the leader in decision making. The
Thursday, October 17, 2019
1.Analyse reasons why managers are interested in having motivated Essay
1.Analyse reasons why managers are interested in having motivated workers - Essay Example Salary raises are acceptable but are not the motivating factor for employees to do their best to their duties. Thus, most managers prefer dealing with motivated workers rather than employees who need to be motivated before they can handle their duties effectively. The essay critically analyzes the reasons why most managers are interested in having motivated workers. Motivation describes the forces that act on an employee and initiate a certain behavior in the workplace. The type and intensity of motivators vary widely among employees since each brings different goals and needs to the workplace (Singla, 2004). Thus, managers prefer working with motivated employees since they strive to find the best way to perform their roles and responsibilities in the workplace. Motivated employees come to work early, can stay late, and have the ability to take on additional work whenever there is the need. They have individual characteristics that touch on their values, personality, abilities, needs, and interests in providing a wonderful work environment for the other co-workers. In contrast, the average worker considers handling the minimum amount of work outlined in order to get their daily pay. The ability and willingness to work effectively affects the efficiency of a worker. Also, the ability to work is obtained with the help of training and education while the willingness to deliver quality services is influenced by oneââ¬â¢s motivation (Trehan & Trehan, 2006). Willingness to work is more important than ability since it improves the performance level within the organisation. Even though a worker is educated and recruited on this basis, it is not essential that he will do outstanding work in improving the performance of the organisation. One has to be motivated to do outstanding work. Thus, motivation improves oneââ¬â¢s efficiency, which is reflected in decreased costs and
Should racial profiling at U.S. borders target people of color to Essay
Should racial profiling at U.S. borders target people of color to exploit whites' fears - Essay Example Millions of Americans and non-Americans often are at a risk of becoming victims to racial profiling in the course of their life. Racial profiling refers to the law enforcement targeting a particular group of people based on their race, ethnic group or religion and linking this group of persons to a criminal incident (Judith 35). The U.S.A by becoming a multicultural, multiethical, and multireligious country, often becomes prone to incidents of racial profiling within its territory and its borders. Racial profiling at U.S border often targets people of color in order to exploit whiteââ¬â¢s fears.Every year, an overwhelming number of people in U.S become subjected to racial profiling. Racial profiling in U.S borders often affects Native Americans, American Muslims, Persian Americans, Arab Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, many immigrants and visitors. According to the 14th Amendment of the constitution of U.S. racial profiling is illegal and not acce pted in the American soil. Racial profiling often deprives citizens of their rights and send bad image of U.S.A to the rest of the world. Racial profiling often results to inequality in U.S.A. Racial profiling at the U.S border, as argued by some researchers, remains a means of exploiting white fears. Since the whites often regard them as superior in everything compared to the other races, they sometimes use the fear they get from them and commit racial profiling offenses at the U.S. border
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
1.Analyse reasons why managers are interested in having motivated Essay
1.Analyse reasons why managers are interested in having motivated workers - Essay Example Salary raises are acceptable but are not the motivating factor for employees to do their best to their duties. Thus, most managers prefer dealing with motivated workers rather than employees who need to be motivated before they can handle their duties effectively. The essay critically analyzes the reasons why most managers are interested in having motivated workers. Motivation describes the forces that act on an employee and initiate a certain behavior in the workplace. The type and intensity of motivators vary widely among employees since each brings different goals and needs to the workplace (Singla, 2004). Thus, managers prefer working with motivated employees since they strive to find the best way to perform their roles and responsibilities in the workplace. Motivated employees come to work early, can stay late, and have the ability to take on additional work whenever there is the need. They have individual characteristics that touch on their values, personality, abilities, needs, and interests in providing a wonderful work environment for the other co-workers. In contrast, the average worker considers handling the minimum amount of work outlined in order to get their daily pay. The ability and willingness to work effectively affects the efficiency of a worker. Also, the ability to work is obtained with the help of training and education while the willingness to deliver quality services is influenced by oneââ¬â¢s motivation (Trehan & Trehan, 2006). Willingness to work is more important than ability since it improves the performance level within the organisation. Even though a worker is educated and recruited on this basis, it is not essential that he will do outstanding work in improving the performance of the organisation. One has to be motivated to do outstanding work. Thus, motivation improves oneââ¬â¢s efficiency, which is reflected in decreased costs and
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Bill Clinton Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Bill Clinton - Research Paper Example Because she was a widow, Virginia Dell Cassidy studied nursing in New Orleans to fend for her and her son, immediately after her son William was born. She left the baby in her parentsââ¬â¢ home in Hope, Arkansas. Her parents, Eldridge and Edith Cassidy, had a grocery store in Hope which gave credit to blacks and whites alike, even if the town was still heavily segregated. Because of this, Clintonââ¬â¢s grandparents heavily influenced him in his political career, especially on the matters of civil rights and racism. Edith was also a private nurse in Hope. As a beautiful young widow, Virginia Cassidy went out with a number of men but finally settled for Roger Clinton, Sr. Clinton, Sr. was the owner of the Buick dealership store in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Shortly after the marriage, the family moved to Arkansas. It was a good marriage at first, and Clinton, Sr. was a good father for young Bill. However, Clinton, Sr. was an alcoholic and abused his mother a lot. When Bill was ten, Virginia became pregnant with Roger, Jr., and young Bill remarked that that pregnancy was the coupleââ¬â¢s attempt to salvage their marriage. Bill loved his younger brother and enjoyed being an older brother. However, when he was fourteen, his mother divorced and remarried Roger Clinton, Sr. This proves that the Clinton-Cassidy marriage was on for the long haul and William Jefferson Blythe III legally changed his name to William Jefferson Clinton as a gesture of love for his stepfather (Clinton, 2004). He was an active school leader and an A student. He was always on the top three of his elementary and high school classes. He was also a musician. He attended St. Johnââ¬â¢s Catholic Elementary School and Hot Springs High School in Hot Springs, Arkansas and it was there that he decided to have a career in politics even if he loved music and biology (he contemplated being a musician and a doctor but knew he would be great as a public servant). This decision was rooted on two important events in
Monday, October 14, 2019
Control cycles-a general model Essay Example for Free
Control cycles-a general model Essay A general model of organizational control includes four components that can operate in a continuous cycle and can be represented as a wheel. These elements are: 1. Setting a goal. Project goal setting goes beyond overall scope development to include setting the project baseline plan. The project baseline is predicated on an accurate. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) process. Remember that WBS establishes all the deliverables and work packages associated with the project, assigns the personnel responsible for them, and creates a visual chart of the project from highest level down through the basic task and subtask levels. The project baseline is created as each task is laid out on a network diagram and resources and time durations are assigned to it. 2. Measuring progress. Effective control systems require accurate project measurement mechanisms. Project managers must have a system in place that will allow them to measure the ongoing status of various project activities in real time. We need a measurement system that can provide information as quickly as possible. What to measure also needs to be clearly defined. Any number of devices allow us to measure one aspect of the project or another; however, the larger question is whether or not we are getting the type of information we can really use. 3. Comparing actual with planned performance. When we have some sense of the original baseline (plan) and a method for accurately measuring progress, the next step is to compare the two pieces of information. A gap analysis can be used as a basis for testing the projectââ¬â¢s status. Gap analysis refers to any measurement process that first determines the goals and then the degree to which the actual performance lives up to those goals. The smaller the gaps between planned and actual performance, the better the outcome. In cases whe re we see obvious differences between what was planned an what was realized, we have a clear-cut warning signal. 4. Taking action. Once we detect significant deviations from the project plan, it becomes necessary to engage in some form of corrective action to minimize or remove the deviation. The process of taking corrective action is generally straightforward. Corrective action can either be relatively minor or may involve significant remedial steps. At its most extreme, corrective action may even involve scuttling a nonperforming project. After corrective action, the monitoring and control cycle begins again. The control cycle is continuous. As we create a plan, we begin measurement efforts to chart progress and compare stages against the baseline plan. Any indications of significant deviations from the plan should immediately trigger an appropriate response, leading to a reconfiguration of the plan, reassessment of progress, and so on. Project monitoring is continuous, full-time cycle of target setting, measuring, correcting, improving, and remeasuring. MONITORING PROJECT PERFORMANCE As we discovered in the chapters on project budgeting and resource management, once we have established a project baseline budget, one of the most important methods for indicating the ongoing status of the project is to evaluate it against the original budget projections. For project monitoring and control, both individual task budgets and the cumulative project budget are relevant. The cumulative budget can be broken down by time over the projectââ¬â¢s projected duration. The Project S-Curve: A Basic Tool As a basis for evaluating project control techniques, let us consider a simple example. Assume a project (Project Sierra) with four work packages (Design, Engineering, Installation, and Testing), a budget to complete of $80,000, and an anticipated duration of 45 weeks. To determine project performance and status, a straightforward time/cost analysis is often our first choice. Here the projectââ¬â¢s status is evaluated as a function of the accumulated costs and labor hours or quantities plotted against time for both budgeted and actual amounts. We can see that time (shown on the x, or horizontal, axis) is compared with money expended (shown on the y, or vertical, axis). The classic project S-curve represents the typical form of such a relationship. Budget expenditures are initially low and ramp up rapidly during the major project execution stage, before starting to level off again as the project gets nearer to its completion. Cumulative budget projections for Project Sierra have been plotted against the projectââ¬â¢s schedule. The S-curve figure represents the project budget baseline against which budget expenditures are evaluated. Monitoring the status of a project using S-curves becomes a simple tracking problem. At the conclusion of each given time period (week, month, or quarter), we simply total the cumulative project budget expenditures to date and compare them with the anticipated spending patterns. Any significant deviations between actual and planned budget spent reveal a potential problem area. Simplicity is the key benefit of S-curve analysis. Because the projected project baseline is established in advance, the only additional data shown are the actual project budget expenditures. The S-curve also provides real-time tracking information in that budget expenditures can be constantly updated and the new values plotted on the graph. Project information can be visualized immediately and updated continuously, so S-curves offer an easy-to-read evaluation of the projectââ¬â¢s status in a timely manner. (The information is not necessarily easily interpreted, however, as we shall see later.) Our Project Sierra example can also be used to illustrate how S-curve analysis is employed. Suppose that by week 21 in the project, the original budget projected expenditures of $50,000. However, our actual project expenditures totaled only $40,000. In effect, there is a $10,000 budget shortfall, or negative variance between the cumulative budgeted cost of the project and its cumulative actual cost. In the table it shows the track of budgeted expenditures with actual project costs, including identifying the negative variance shown at week 21. In this illustration, we see the value of S-curve analysis as a good visual method for linking project costs (both budgeted and actual) over the projectââ¬â¢s schedule. S-CURVE DRAWBACKS When project teams consider using S-curves, they need to take the curveââ¬â¢s significant drawbacks into consideration as well as their strengths. S-curves can identify positive and negative variance (budget expenditures above or below projections), but they do not allow us to make reasonable interpretations as to the cause of variance. Consider the S-curve shown. The actual budget expenditures have been plotted to suggest that the project team has not spent the total planned budget money to date (there is negativeà variance). However, the question is how to interpret this finding. The link between accumulated project costs and time is not always easily resolved. Is the project team behind schedule (given that they have not spent sufficient budget to date) or might there be alternative reasons for the negative variance? Assume that your organization tracks project costs employing an S-curve approach and uses that information to assess the status of an ongoing project. Also assume that the project is to be completed in 12 months and has a budget of $150,000. At the six-month checkup, you discover that the project S-curve shows significant shortfall; you have spent far less on the project to date than was originally budgeted. Is this good or bad news? On the surface, we might suppose that this is a sign of poor performance; we are lagging far behind in bringing the project along and the smaller the amount we have spent to date is evidence that our project is behind schedule. On the other hand, there are any number of reasons why this circumstance actually might be positive. For example, suppose that in running the project, you found a cost-effective method for doing some component of the work or came across a new technology that significantly cut down on expenses. In that case, the time/cost metric may not only be misused, but might lead to dramatically inaccurate conclusions. Likewise, positive variance is not always a sign of project progress. In fact, a team may have a serious problem with overexpenditures that could be interpreted as strong progress on the project when in reality it signals nothing more than their inefficient use of project capital resources. The bottom line is this: Simply evaluating a projectââ¬â¢s status according to its performance on time versus budget expenditures may easily lead us into making inaccurate assumptions about project performance. Milestone Analysis Another method for monitoring project progress is milestone analysis. A milestone is an event or stage of the project that represents a significant accomplishment on the road to the projectââ¬â¢s completion. Completion of a deliverable (a combination of multiple project tasks), an important activity on the projectââ¬â¢s critical path, or even a calendar date can all be milestones. In effect, milestones are road markers that we observe on our travels along the projectââ¬â¢s life cycle. There are several benefits to using milestones as a form of project control. 1. Milestones signal the completion of important project steps. A projectââ¬â¢s milestones are an important indicator of the current status of the project under development. They give the project team a common language to use in discussing the ongoing status of the project. 2. Milestones can motivate the project team. In large projects lasting several years, motivation can flag as team members begin to have difficul ty seeing how the project is proceeding overall, what their specific contribution has been and continues to be, and how much longer the project is likely to take. Focusing attention on milestones helps team members become more aware of the projectââ¬â¢s successes as well as its status, and they can begin to develop greater task identity regarding their work on the project. 3. Milestones offer points at which to reevaluate client needs and any potential change requests. A common problem with many types of projects is the nature of repetitive and constant change requests from clients. Using project review milestones as formal ââ¬Å"stop points,â⬠both the project team and the clients are clear on when they will take midcourse reviews of the project and how change requests will be handled. When clients are aware of these formal project review points, they are better able to present reasonable and well-considered feedback (and specification change requests) to the team. 4. Milestones help coordinate schedules with vendors and suppliers. Creating delivery dates that do not delay project activities is a common challenge in scheduling delivery of key project components. From a resource perspective, the project team needs to receive supplies before they are needed but not so far in advance that space limitations, holding and inventory costs, and in some cases spoilage are problems. Hence, to balance delays of late shipments against the costs associated with holding early deliveries, a well-considered system of milestones creates a scheduling and coordinating mechanism that identifies the key dates when supplies will be needed. 5. Milestones identify key project review gates. For many complex projects, a series of midterm project reviews are mandatory. For example, many proj ects that are developed for the U.S. government require periodic evaluation as a precondition to the project firm receiving some percentage of the contract award. Milestones allow for appropriate points for these review. Sometimes the logic behind when to hold such reviews is based on nothing more than the passage of time (ââ¬Å"It is time for July 1 reviewâ⬠). For other projects, the review gates are determined based on completion of a series of key project steps (such as the evaluation of software results from the beta sites). 6. Milestones signal other team members when their participation is expected to begin. Many times projects require contributions from personnel who are not part of the project team. For example, a quality assurance individual may be needed to conduct systems tests or quality inspection and evaluations of work done to date. The quality supervisor needs to know when to assign a person to our project, or we may find when we reach that milestone that no on eââ¬â¢s available to help us. Because the QA person is not part of the project team, we need to coordinate his or her involvement in order to minimize disruption to the project schedule. 7. Milestones can delineate the various deliverables developed in the work breakdown structure and therefore enable the project team to develop a better overall view of the project. You then are able to refocus efforts and function-specific resources toward the deliverables that show signs of trouble, rather than simply allocating resources in a general manner. For example, indications that the initial project software programming milestone has been missed allows the project manager to specifically request additional programmers downstream, in order to make up time later in the projectââ¬â¢s development. Problems with Milestones Milestones, in one form or another, are probably the simplest and most widely used of all project control devices. Their benefits lie in their clarity; it is usually easy for all project team members to relate to the idea of milestones as a project performance metric. The problem with them is that they are a reactive control system. You must first engage in project activities and then evaluate them relative to your goal. If you significantly underperform your work to that point, you are faced with having to correct what has already transpired. Imagine, for example, that a project team misses a milestone by a large margin. Not having received any progress reports up until the point that the bad news becomes public, the project manager is probably not in a position to craft an immediate remedy for the shortfall. Now, the problems compound. Due to delays in receiving the bad news, remedial steps are themselves delayed, pushing the project farther behind. EARNED VALUE MANAGEMENT An increasingly popular method used in project monitoring and control consists of a mechanism that has become known as Earned Value Management (EVM). The origins of EVM date to the late 1960s when U.S. government contracting agencies began to question the ability of contractors to accurately track their costs across the like of various projects. As a result, after 1967, the Department of Defense imposed 35 Cost/Schedule Control Systems Criteria that suggested, in effect, that any future projects procured by the U.S. government in which the risk of cost growth was to be retained by the government must satisfy these 35 criteria. In the more than 30 years since its origin, EVM has been practiced in multiple settings, by agencies from governments as diverse as Australia, Canada, and Sweden, as well as a host of project-based firms in numerous industries. Unlike previous project tracking approaches, EVM recognize that it is necessary to jointly consider the impact of time, cost, and project performance on any analysis of current project status. Put another way: Any monitoring system that only compares actual against budgeted cost numbers ignores the fact that the client is spending that money to accomplish something-create a project. Therefore, EVM reintroduces and stresses the importance of analyzing the time element in project status updates. Time is important because it becomes the basis for determining how much work should be accomplished at certain milestone points. EVM also allows the project team to make future projections of project status based on its current state. At any point in the projectââ¬â¢s development we are able to calculate both schedule and budget efficiency factors (the efficiency with which budget is being used relative to the value that is being created) and use those values to make future projections about the estimated cost and schedule to project completion. We can illustrate the advance in the project control process that Earned Value represents by comparing it to the other project tracking mechanisms. If we consider the key metrics of project performance as those success criteria discussed in Chapter 1 (scheduling, budget, and performance), most project evaluation approaches tend to isolate some subset of the overall success measure. For example, project S-curve analysis directly links budget expenditures with the project schedule. Again, the obvious disadvantage to this approach is that it ignores the project performance linkage. Project control charts such as tracking Gantt charts link project performance with schedule but may give budget expenditures short shrift. The essence of a tracking approach to project status us to emphasize project performance over time. While the argument could be made that budget is implicitly assumed to be spent in some preconceived fashion, this metric does not directly apply a link between the use of time and performance factors with project cost. Earned value, on the other hand, directly links all three primary project success metrics (cost, schedule, and performance). This methodology is extremely valuable because it allows for regular updating of a time-phased budget to determine schedule and cost variances, as identified by the regular measurement of project performance. Terminology for Earned Value Following are some key concepts that allow us to calculate Earned Value and use its figures to make future project performance projections. PVPlanned value. A cost estimate of the budgeted resources scheduled across the projectââ¬â¢s life cycle (cumulative baseline). EVEarned value. This is the real budgeted cost, or ââ¬Å"value,â⬠of the work that has actually been performed to date. ACActual cost of work performed. The cumulative total costs incurred in accomplishing the various project work packages. SPISchedule Performance Index. The earned value to date divided by the planned value of work scheduled to be performed (EV/PV). This value allows us to calculate the projected schedule of the project to completion. CPICost Performance Index. The earned value divided by the actual, cumulative cost of the work performed to date (EV/AC). This value allows us to calculate the projected budget to completion. BACBudgeted cost at completion. This represents the total budget for a project. Creating Project Baselines The first step in developing an accurate control process is to create the project baselines against which progress can be measured. Baseline information is critical regardless of the control process we employ, but baselines are elemental when performing EVM. The first piece of information necessary for performing earned value is the planned value; that is, the project baseline. The PV should comprise all relevant project costs, the most important of which are personnel costs, equipment and materials, and project overhead, sometimes referred to as level of effort. Overhead costs (level of effort) can include a variety of fixed costs that must be included in the project budget, including administrative or technical support, computer work, and other staff expertise use (such as legal advice or marketing). The actual steps in establishing the project baseline are fairly straightforward and require two pieces of data: the Work Breakdown Structure and a time-phased project budget. 1. The W ork Breakdown Structure identified the individual work packages and tasks necessary to accomplish the project. As such, the WBS allowed us to first identify the individual tasks that would need to be performed. It also gave us some understanding of the hierarchy of tasks needed to set up work packages and identify personnel needs (human resources) in order to match the task requirements to the correct individuals capable of performing them. 2. The time-phased budget takes the WBS one step further: It allows us to identify the correct sequencing of tasks, but more importantly, it enables the project team to determine the points in the project when budget money is likely to be spent in pursuit of those tasks. Say, for example, that our project team determines that one project activity, Data Entry, will require a budget of $20,000 to be completed, and further, that the task is estimated to require 2 months to completion, with the majority of the work being done in the first month. A ti me-phased budget for this activity might resemble the following: Activity| Jan| Feb| â⬠¦| Dec| Total| Data Entry| $14,000| $6,000| | -0-| $20,000| Once we have collected the WBS and applied a time-phased budget breakdown, we can create the project baseline. The result is an important component of earned value because it represents the standard against which we are going to compare all project performance, cost, and schedule data as we attempt to assess the viability of an ongoing project. This baseline, then, represents our best understanding of how the project should progress. How the project is actually doing, however, is, of course, another matter. Why Use Earned Value? Assume that it is now week 30 of the project and we are attempting to assess the projectââ¬â¢s status. Also assume that there is no difference between the projected project costs and actual expenditures; that is, the project budget is being spent within the correct time frame. However, upon examination, suppose we were to discover that Installation was only half-completed and Project Testing had not yet begun. This example illustrates both a problem with S-curve analysis and the strength of EVM. Project status assessment is only relevant when some measure of performance is considered in addition to budget and elapsed schedule. Consider the revised data for Project Sierra. Note that as of week 30, work packages related to Design and Engineering have been totally completed, whereas the Installation is only 50% done, and Testing has not yet begun. These percentage values are given based on the project team or key individualââ¬â¢s assessment of the current status of work package completion. The question now is: What is the earned value of the project work done to date? As of week 30, what is the status of this project in terms of budget, schedule, and performance? Calculating the earned value for these work packages is a relatively straightforward process. We can modify the previous table to focus exclusively on the relevant information for determining earned value. The planned budget for each work package is multiplied by the percentage completed in order to determine the earned value to date for the work packages, as well as for the overall project. In this case, the earned value at the 30-week point is $51,000. We can compare the planned budget against the actual earned value using the original project budget baseline. This process allows us to assess a more realistic determination of the status of the project when the earned value is plotted against the budget baseline. Compare this figure with the alternative method, in which negative variance is calculated, with no supporting explanation as to the cause or any indication about whether this figure is meaningful or not. Recall that by the end of week 30, our original budget projections suggested that $68,000 should have been spent. Instead, we are projecting a shortfall of $17,000. In other words, we are not only showing a negative variance in terms of money spent on the project, but also in terms of value created (performance) of the project to date. Unlike the standard S-curve evaluation, EVM variance is meaningful because it is based not simply on budget spent, but value earned. A negative variance of $10,000 in budget expenditures may or may not signal cause for concern; however, a $17,000 shortfall in value earned on the project to date represents a variance of serious consequences. Steps in Earned Value Management There are five steps in Earned Value Management (EVM): 1. Clearly define each activity or task that will be performed on the project, including its resource needs as well as a detailed budget.As we demonstrated earlier, the Work Breakdown Structure allows project teams to identify all necessary project tasks. It further allows for each task to be assigned its own project resources, including equipment and materials costs, as well as personnel assignments. Finally, coupled with the task breakdown and resource assignments, it is possible to create the budget figure or cost estimate for each project task. 2. Create the activity and resource usage schedules. These will identify the proportion of the total budget allocated to each task across a project calendar. Determine how much of an activityââ¬â¢s budget is to be spent each month (or other appropriate time period) across the projectââ¬â¢s projected development cycle. Coupled with the development of a project budget should be its direct linkage to the project schedule. The determination of how much budget money is to be allocated to project tasks is important. Equally important is the understanding of when the resources are to be employed across the projectââ¬â¢s development cycle. 3. Develop a ââ¬Å"time-phasedâ⬠budget that shows expenditures across the projects life.The total (cumulative) amount of the budget becomes the project baseline and is referred to as the planned value (PV). In real terms, PV just means that we can identify the cumulative budget expenditures planned at any stage in the projectââ¬â¢s life. The PV, as a cumulative value, is derived from addin g the planned budget expenditures for each preceding time period. 4. Total the actual costs of doing each task to arrive at the actual cost of work performed (AC).We can also compute the budgeted values for the tasks on which work is being performed. This is referred to as the earned value (EV) and is the origin of the term for this control process. 5. Calculate both a projectââ¬â¢s budget variance and schedule variance while it is still in process.Once we have collected the three key pieces of data (PV, EV, and AC), it is possible to make these calculations. The schedule variance is calculated by the simple equation: SV = EV ââ¬â PV, or the difference between the earned value to date minus the planned value of the work scheduled to be performed to date. The budget, or cost, variance is calculated as: CV = EV ââ¬â AC, or the earned value minus the actual cost of work performed. USING EARNED VALUE TO MANAGE A PORTFOLIO OF PROJECTS Earned Value Management can work at the portfolio level as well as with individual projects. The process simply involves the aggregation of all earned value measures across the firmââ¬â¢s entire project portfolio in order to give an indication as to the efficiency with which a company is managing its projects. Other useful information contained in the Portfolio Earned Value Management table includes the total positive variances for both budget and schedule, as well as determination of the relative schedule and cost variances as a percentage of the total project portfolio. The use of Earned Value Management for portfolio tracking and control offers top management an excellent window into the firmââ¬â¢s ability to efficiently run projects, allows for comparisons across all projects currently in development, and isolates both the positive and negative variances as they occur. All of this is useful information for top-level management of multiple projects.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Marcel Proust Defines the Self in Remembrance of Things Past Essay
Marcel Proust Defines the Self in Remembrance of Things Past Proust seems to be unique among the twentieth century authors in that his denial of rational thought is through the use of sensation to respond to the problem--instead of experience, for example--by defining the self as a retrievable essence comprised of all past experiences. Our human condition is defined by mortality, contingency, and discontentment. This reality combined with the new outlooks of relationships between our lives and the objects that surround us in our world, have caused authors in the twentieth century to question traditional Western thought. In Remembrance of Things Past, Marcel Proust extends these comparisons to include one's use of memory and sensation as well as objects. By doing so, he temps to answer the question: 'Who or what is the self?' and in looking at this work, we begin our look at the abandoning of reason in order to try and find a solution to our situation. According to Proust, the self is the retrievable essence defined as the summation of all observed experiences and their relationship in and amongst themselves. He represents this idea by establishing the importance of memory and providing a key event in the life of the protagonist whose own quest is a solution to this problem. The novel begins with Marcel's awakening--both literally and metaphorically (in relation to his quest to define the self). At the critical moment between sleep and consciousness, various thoughts pass in and out of his mind. He is disoriented--not exactly sure of his current location as his thoughts are those of experiences from a different place and time. His thoughts are unlike any he has had while awake; his confusion therefore, justifiable: .... ...onsciously, they do have an effect on the way in which we view objects and the opinions we take on others' ideas at present. Quite literally, who we were is all of who we are. Proust defines the self as an essence comprised of layers of hidden memories depicting past experiences. The memory and all that it contains, is stored behind a sort of 'one-way' door. Old events ever change the way that new events will be stored; new events on top of the old will change the way the latter were once viewed. For the most part, the door is locked. It opens only for a split second, given the correct key, if for no other reason than to prove that everything is still there--the self still defined--and nothing has ever been lost. Work Cited Proust, Marcel. Remembrance of Things Past, Volume I. Trans. C.K. Scott Moncrieff and Terence Kilmartin. New York: Vintage Books, 1982.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Discussion About Genetically Modified Foods Essay
Genetically modified foods: Beneficial views & Adverse views a. What is the possible risk for genetically modified crops considering nutrition and health? b. Whether the economic effects are the most important? c. Will it bring severe environment problems? III. Arguments for beneficial effects of GM foods a. Firstly, transgenic technology has made considerable progress in food applications. b. Transgenic food has successfully lowered food prices and ensured food safety. c. GM foods significantly reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. Introduction The author, Magana-Gomez, critically analyzed the risk assessment methods of transgenic food for human nutrition and health in the paper, ââ¬Å"Risk assessment of genetically modified crops for nutrition and healthâ⬠. Magana reviewed various modes including different feeding period, animal modes and parameters in the paper published in 2011 by Nutrition Reviews (Magana G, 2009). In consistent with his studies, negative effects of GM food were identified ââ¬Å"at molecular and microscopic levelsâ⬠. However, with our entry into the 21st century, genetically modified foods have undergone even faster development. However, there are also many doubts about the safety of genetically modified foods. Therefore, genetically modified foods have become a hot topic issue. Personally, although there are many controversies about GM food, I still insist on the research and promotion of transgenic food due to its diverse benefits. Views According to Curieux-Belfond CL, he could identify the factors that deserve consideration before ââ¬Å"commercialization and promotion of transgenic foodâ⬠(182). In this paper, ââ¬Å"Factors to condider before production and commercialization of aquatic genetically modified organisms: the case of transgenic salmonâ⬠, the author took transgenic salmon as an example, in which Curieux-Belfond examined the corresponding impacts in terms of aquaculture, wildlife, ecosystem and human health. The paper published in 2011 by Evironmental Science & Policy suggested that GM food undoubtedly contributed to economic benefits without exerting too much extra burden (Curieux B, 2009). In the end, the author believed that the benefits of genetically modified foods far outweigh the disadvantages. Analysis of the benefits of genetically modified foods Maganaââ¬â¢s argument is persuasive when he assessed the risks about GM food. However, since genetic engineering techniques have successfully transferred anti-viral, insect resistance, cold resistance and other genes to cotton, wheat, tomatoes and other plants, we can get stable new varieties of genetically modified, with low production cost and high-yield food, which will ease the world food shortage and reduce the use of pesticides to a large extent. Based on the above reasons, I will provide a critical analysis with the following specific examples which show his argument is partially wrong. Firstly, transgenic technology has also made considerable progress in animal food applications. At present, a variety of mammal and bird genes are successfully integrated into the genome of fish, which can significantly enhance transgenic fish muscle protein content and improve growth speed. With the development of genetic engineering technology, people have been freed from natural enzymes to a large extent. Especially when the enzyme obtained from natural protein material encounters difficulties, genetic engineering has the unique advantages of natural gene cloning (Seralini GE, 2011). Thus, it can be highly expressed in microorganisms with mass production by fermentation. At present, the transgenic enzymes are widely used in the food industry, such as maltose enzymes amylase, pectinase and the juice protease. The food nutritional quality modified by genetic engineering has also made remarkable achievements. For instance, the genetic engineering technology has been applied for seed protein improvement, which renders it possible to change the plant composition and amino acid content. Secondly, transgenic food has successfully lowered food prices and ensured food safety, which helps increase production and food supply while reducing the farm labor and pesticide applications, agricultural inputs and production costs (Weasel LH, 2009). In the future, GM crops have great potential in solving the food crisis. For instance, by applying transgenic technology to the human staple foods of rice and wheat, people can increase food production and improve nutritional quality, which will provide mankind with higher-quality food. Furthermore, GM foods have also proved effective in alleviating poverty and hunger. The worldââ¬â¢s poorest 50% of the population are small and resource-poor farmers, while 20% living in rural areas without their own land actually depend on agriculture. Therefore, the increase in small-scale and resource-poor farmersââ¬â¢ income will directly assist 70% of the worldââ¬â¢s poorest people (Curieux-Belfond O, 2009). So far, genetically modified cotton in India, China and South Africa have already made a significant contribution to more than 1. 2 million poor farmersââ¬â¢ income. The benefits of genetically modified corn in the Philippines and South Africa will be much clearer in the future. In addition, genetically modified rice has great potential to benefit 250 million poor families in Asia, whose benefits will reach 10 million people (Curieux-Belfond O, 2009). Transgenic food also helps to reduce land development. Transgenic technology has been developed to improve the current 1. billion hectares of arable land productivity through conservation of biological resources, thereby reducing land development and deforestation. Thirdly, I will demonstrate such improvement since they significantly reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. Traditional agriculture has a significant impact on the environment, and transgenic biotechnology can help reduce this impact. In the first decade of appli cation of genetically modified crops, by planting herbicide and insect-resistant characteristics, transgenic technologies have greatly reduced the use of pesticides, saved fossil fuels and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Undoubtedly, genetically modified crops with drought-tolerant genes will improve water-use efficiency and maintain sustainable agricultural development, which will play an important role in easing the crisis of population growth and global food shortage (Artemis D, 2009). GM crops have also contributed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in two main ways, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping slow climate change. First, by reducing fuel use, the spraying of insecticides and herbicides, GM crops continue to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In 2007, genetic engineering has been stated to reduce 1. billion kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent to a decrease of 50 million cars from the road. Secondly, herbicide-resistant GM crops help reduce tillage applications, which protects the land and enhances soil carbon sequestration. Conclusions Despite the many advantages of GM food, we cannot ignore the risks. After genetically modified foods have been taken into th e human body, they may cause harm to human health. Moreover, after a large number of transgenic crops come into nature, they may be biologically harmful to ecosystems. Since the risks of GM food is serous, it is important for us to reflect on it first. Any of the scientific and technological developments should be comprehensive and provide well-being for human life. If genetically modified foods can only increase our economic interests and improved material life without the moral, social and environmental harmony, they cannot be defined as making great contribution to social development. Therefore, whether GM food is a benefit or a disadvantage really depends on what kind of human values people hold (Qaim M. 2009). That is the question we reflect on deeply. In contemporary society, with the rapid development of science and technology, the economic situation of the human and the material standard of living has been soaring. It seems that mankind is taking great proud for the advanced technology. However, we should look back to what the living environment we rely on is subjected to. Therefore, genetically modified foods are seen as the savior of mankind, which is actually human self-centered ideology. Of course, with the continuous development of biotechnology and genetic engineering, human beings have the ability to create more genetically modified food.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)