Rethinking the European Integration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Rethinking the European Integration - Essay Example European integration as it exists today is largely confined to the domain of economics. In other words, the dismantling of labor movement barriers between nations, the floating of a common currency, the adoption of common laws pertaining to trade and commerce, are all outside the purview of domestic/internal policy. To this extent, the constituent nations retain their cultural and social uniqueness, while still benefiting from new economic opportunities created within Europe. This essay will look into the advantages and challenges created by the process of integration by way of studying its various facets. Given the long history of war and conflict between European nations, there emerged a need for a strong commitment toward cooperation and mutual benefit. The first step toward this cooperative framework was initiated with the formation of Council of Europe and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in the year 1950. An impressive 40 European nations subscribed to the resolutions carried forward in the convention. Yet, the Council of Europe remained a peripheral institution as the continent was divided in two during the Cold War. It would be another forty years for the next significant step toward integration, which came with the fall of Berlin Wall in 1989 and with it the collapse of the Soviet Union. The commitment toward amicable relations within Europe resumed with the signing of Maastricht Treaty in 1993, which was further expanded in the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the year 2000. The Charter drew together â€Å"all EU-protected p ersonal, civil, political, economic, and social rights into a single text. But it goes beyond simply restating already respected human rights by addressing specifically modern issues such as bio-ethics and protecting personal information and data†. (Nagel, 2004)

Classrom observation Report for cultural issues in ESL class Case Study

Classrom observation Report for cultural issues in ESL class - Case Study Example Teaching an ESL class should comprise of an understanding the different cultures represented in the class, the objective of the course and that of the students in finding out the kind literacy and knowledge valued and continuously finding new ways of making the classroom more interesting to improve the learning capability of the students especially when both the teacher and the students come from different cultures â€Å" Even more of a gap in expectations ,beliefs and classrooms practices may arise where students come from a culture that is relatively distinct or distant from that of the teacher† (Byram & Michael, 1998 p.101) I. Description of the classroom context The classroom observed was at The International Language Institute in Washington, DC. It has provided language training to thousands of students from around the world, the fact that students come from different parts of the world implies that the classroom is endowed with a variety of cultures that should all be pu t into consideration when planning for ESL classes. The influence of culture is more that the background effect â€Å"It has a deep effect on classroom processes because it is significant factor in how teachers and students perceive language learning and how they evaluate each other role and classroom performance† (Jin & Cortazzi, p.98)". ... years of experience in the field of ESL, both in the United States and in Europe, he has worked in every facet of the industry and this has widened his experience in handling student from diverse backgrounds. He has also devised ESL programs for some of the world's leading corporations, including Alstom, Business Objects, McKinsey, Raytheon and authored over a dozen manuals for learners of English for Specific Purposes. The Institute offers a comprehensive, eight week certificate course. The course provided focus on practice in teaching the four fundamental language skills of reading, speaking, listening and writing, and the sub skills of pronunciation vocabulary and grammar. Components of the course include planning of lessons, teaching practice in individual and group settings, observing peers and practicing teachers, keeping teaching records, critical self-observation and compiling of a portfolio of materials for teaching, and career planning and management (International Language Institute, 2010). The main goal of the course is to teach and perfect the students reading, speaking, writing and listening skills in the language being undertaken. Most of the students have the goal of becoming efficient users of the foreign language so that they can apply it in their professional capacity and at individual levels. II. Description and analysis of the cultural elements observed There were a number of cultural aspects, both explicit and implicit which were observed in the class, as discussed below; Cross Cultural Understanding was the most outstanding explicit cultural element that was observed. The fundamentals of cross cultural understanding are that people have the basic ability to recognize, interpret and correctly react to people within business. Another explicit

Different Learning Theories Of Human Resource Development

Different Learning Theories Of Human Resource Development Knowing a persons learning style enables learning to be orientated according to the preferred method. That said, everyone responds to and needs the motivation of all types of learning styles to one extent or another its a matter of using importance that fits best with the given situation and a persons learning style preferences. Kolbs learning theory sets out four different learning styles, which are based on a four stage learning cycle. In this respect Kolbs model is particularly elegant, since it offers both a way to understand individual peoples different learning styles, and also an explanation of a cycle of experiential learning that applies to us all. Diverging (feeling and watching CE/RO) Assimilating (watching and thinking AC/RO) Converging (doing and thinking AC/AE) Accommodating (doing and feeling CE/AE) Diverging people are able to look at things from different perspectives. They are sensitive. They prefer to watch rather than do, tending to gather information and use imagination to solve problems. They are best at viewing concrete situations several different viewpoints. Kolb called this style Diverging because these people perform better in situations that require ideas-generation, for example, brainstorming. People with a Diverging learning style have broad cultural interests and like to collect information. They are interested in people, be likely to be creative and emotional, and tend to be strong in the arts. People with the Diverging style prefer to work in groups, to listen with an open mind and to receive personal feedback. The Assimilating learning preference is for a summarizing, logical approach. Ideas and concepts are more important than people. These people require good clear explanation rather than practical opportunity. They do extremely well at understanding wide ranging information and organizing it a clear logical format. People with an Assimilating learning style are less focused on people and more interested in ideas and abstract concepts. People with this style are more attracted to logically sound theories than approaches based on practical value. These learning style people are important for effectiveness in information and science careers. In formal learning situations, people with this style prefer readings, lectures, exploring analytical models, and having time to think things through. For an example people who prefer the Assimilating learning style will not be comfortable being thrown in at the deep end without notes and instructions. Converging people with a Converging learning style can solve problems and will use their learning to find solutions to useful issues. They prefer technical tasks, and are less concerned with people and interpersonal aspects. People with a Converging learning style are best at finding practical uses for ideas and theories. They can solve problems and make decisions by finding solutions to questions and problems. People with a Converging learning style are more attracted to technical tasks and problems than social or interpersonal issues. A Converging learning style enables high-quality and technology abilities. People with a Converging style like to test with new ideas, to simulate, and to work with practical applications. The Accommodating learning style is hands-on, and relies on perception rather than logic. These people use other peoples analysis, and prefer to take a practical, experiential approach. They are attracted to new challenges and experiences, and to carrying out plans. They usually act on gut instinct rather than logical analysis. People with an Accommodating learning style will tend to rely on others for information than carry out their own analysis. This learning style is common and useful in roles requiring action and initiative. People with an Accommodating learning style prefer to work in teams to complete tasks. They set targets and actively work in the field trying different ways to achieve an objective. People who like prefer to use an Accommodating learning style are likely to become frustrated if they are forced to read lots of instructions and rules, and are unable to get hands on experience as soon as possible. However most people clearly display clear strong preferences for a given learning style. The ability to use or switch between different styles is not one that we should assume comes easily or naturally to many people. Basically, people who have a clear learning style preference, for whatever reason, will tend to learn more effectively if learning is orientated according to their preference. Honey and Mumford learning styles Honey and Mumford (1982) have built a typology of Learning Styles around this cycle, identifying individual preferences for each stage (Activist, Reflector, Theorist, and Pragmatist respectively); Kolb also has a test instrument (the Learning Style Inventory) but has carried it further by relating the process also to forms of knowledge. Anonymous, (2010) There are four characteristics of learning styles, Activist Theorist Pragmatist Reflector Activists involve themselves totally and without unfairness in new experiences. They enjoy the here and now, and are happy to be dominated by immediate experiences. They are open-minded, not disbelieving, and this tends to make them excited about anything new. Their philosophy is: Ill try anything once. They tend to act first and consider the consequences afterwards. Their days are filled with activity. They tackle problems by brainstorming. As soon as the stimulation from one activity has died down they are busy looking for the next. They tend to increase on the challenge of new experiences but are bored with implementation and longer term consolidation. They are gregarious people constantly involving themselves with others but, in doing so; they seek to centre all activities on themselves. For an example, those people who learn by doing. Activists need to get their hands dirty, to dive in with both feet first. Have an open-minded approach to learning, involving themselves fully and without bias in new experiences. Brainstorming problem solving, group discussion, competitions and role play, these are the activities of Activists. Theorists adapt and combine observations into complex but logically sound theories. They think problems through in a vertical, step-by-step logical way. They learn disparate facts into logical theories. They tend to be perfectionists who wont rest easy until things are tidy and fit into a normal proposal. They like to analyse and combine. They are keen on basic assumptions, principles, theories models and systems thinking. Their philosophy prizes rationality and logic. If its logical its good. Questions they frequently ask are: Does it make sense? How does this fit with that? What are the basic assumptions? They tend to be detached, analytical and dedicated to rational objectivity rather than anything subjective or ambiguous. Their approach to problems is consistently logical. This is their mental set and they rigidly reject anything that doesnt fit with it. They prefer to maximize certainty and feel uncomfortable with subjective judgments, lateral thinking and anything flippant. For an example, learners like to understand the theory behind the actions. They need models, concepts and facts in order to engage in the learning process. Prefer to analyse and synthesize, drawing new information into a systematic and logical theory. Pragmatists are keen on trying out ideas, theories and techniques to see if they work in practice. They positively search out new ideas and take the first opportunity to research with applications. They are the sort of people who return from courses full with new ideas that they want to try out in practice. They like to get on with things and act quickly and confidently on ideas that attract them. They tend to be impatient with ruminating and open-ended discussions. They are essentially practical, down to earth people who like making practical decisions and solving problems. They respond to problems and opportunities as a challenge. Their philosophy is There is always a better way and If it works its good. For an example, people need to be able to see how to put the learning into practice in the real world. Abstract concepts and games are of limited use unless they can see a way to put the ideas into action in their lives. Experimenters, trying out new ideas, theories and techniques to see if they work Reflector like to stand back to ponder experiences and observe them from many different perspectives. They collect data, both first hand and from others, and prefer to think about it carefully before coming to a conclusion. The thorough collection and analysis of data about experiences and events is what counts so they tend to reschedule reaching definitive conclusions for as long as possible. Their philosophy is to be careful. They are thoughtful people who like to consider all possible angles and implications before making a move. They prefer to take a back seat in meetings and discussions. They enjoy observing other people in action. They listen to others and get the drift of the discussion before making their own points. They tend to adopt a low profile and have a slightly distant, tolerant relaxed air about them. When they act it is part of a wide picture which includes the past as well as the present and others observations as well as their own. For an example, people learn by observing and thinking about what happened. They may avoid leaping in and prefer to watch from the sidelines. Prefer to stand back and view experiences from a number of different perspectives, collecting data and taking the time to work towards an appropriate conclusion. Learning Theories The Behaviorist Approach Some of our learning comes about as a response to a stimulus. We are learning from our sensors. We react to something outside ourselves. If the result is good for us, we learn to react in similar fashion in a similar situation, while if the result is bad, we learn not to do that again. This is the basic idea of the Behaviorist Approach which can be traced back to the work of Pavlov (1927) who taught dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell. Behaviorist concentrates on modifying behavior by reinforcement. Behavior that is seen as positive or good is reinforced by rewards. For an example car insurance is reduced if you do not make a claim. Most people have experienced both positive and negative reinforcement. We can see that behaviorist learning theories have their strengths. However, this approach to learning has been critized as mechanistic and tending to focus only on certain behavior. There is evidence to suggest that reinforcement may need constant topping-up to remain effective. Anonymous, (2010) The Cognitive Approach If some of our learning is reactive, some learning can also be described as positive. That is we seek out information and try to make sense of it in order to understand better our world and our place in it. This is the basis of cognitive theories of learning, which make use of the work of researchers such as Kohler (1925) and Piaget (1950). Kohler worked with apes and Piaget concentrated on child development, but their results have been applied more widely. For the cognitive, the key feature of human beings for learning is that we are intelligent seekers. According to cognitive approaches, we constantly find that our experience of the world does not quite fit the way we see the world, and we try to do something about the misfit. We seek new information, we adjust our view of the world, and we may create a new way of seeing the world. There are clear connections here with some of the elements we noted earlier in the different stages of the learning process. The Social Learning Approach The social learning theory proposed by Albert Bandura has become perhaps the most important theory of learning and development. While ingrained in many of the basic concepts of traditional learning theory, Bandura believed that direct reinforcement could not account for all types of learning. His theory added a social element, arguing that people can learn new information and behaviors by watching other people. Known as observational learning (or modeling), this type of learning can be used to explain a wide variety of behaviors. Psychology, (2010) Basic Social Learning Concepts 1. People can learn through observation. Observational Learning In his famous Bobo doll studies, Bandura established that children learn and reproduce behaviors they have observed in other people. The children in Banduras studies observed an adult acting aggressively toward a Bobo doll. When the children were later allowed to play in a room with the Bobo doll, they began to reproduce the aggressive actions they had previously observed. Bandura identified three basic models of observational learning: A live model, which involves an actual individual representative or acting out a behavior. A verbal instructional model, which involves descriptions and explanations of a behavior. A symbolic model, which involves real or fictional characters displaying behaviors in books, films, television programs, or online media. 2. Mental states are important to learning. Intrinsic Reinforcement Bandura noted that external, environmental reinforcement was not the only factor to influence learning and behavior. He described essential reinforcement as a form of internal reward, such as pride, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment. This emphasis on internal thoughts and cognitions helps connect learning theories to cognitive developmental theories. While many textbooks place social learning theory with behavioral theories, Bandura himself describes his approach as a social cognitive theory. 3. Learning does not necessarily lead to a change in behavior. While behaviorists believed that learning led to a permanent change in behavior, observational learning demonstrates that people can learn new information without demonstrating new behaviors. The Modeling Process Not all observed behaviors are effectively learned. Factors involving both the model and the learner can play a role in whether social learning is successful. Certain requirements and steps must also be followed. The following steps are involved in the observational learning and modeling process: Attention: In order to learn, you need to be paying attention. Anything that detracts your attention is going to have a negative effect on observational learning. If the model interesting or there is a novel aspect to the situation, you are far more likely to dedicate your full attention to learning. Retention: The ability to store information is also an important part of the learning process. Retention can be affected by a number of factors, but the ability to pull up information later and act on it is vital to observational learning. Reproduction: Once you have paid attention to the model and retained the information, it is time to actually perform the behavior you observed. Further practice of the learned behavior leads to improvement and skill advancement. Motivation: Finally, in order for observational learning to be successful, you have to be motivated to imitate the behavior that has been modeled. Reinforcement and punishment play an important role in motivation. While experiencing these motivators can be highly effective, so can observing other experience some type of reinforcement or punishment. For example, if you see another student rewarded with extra credit for being to class on time, you might start to show up a few minutes early each day. Psychology, (2010) Learning Curve A learning curve is a graphical representation of the changing rate of learning (in the average person) for a given activity or tool. Usually, the increase in retention of information is sharpest after the primary attempts, and then regularly evens out, meaning that less and less new information is retained after each duplication. The learning curve can also represent at a glance the initial difficulty of learning something and, to an extent, how much there is to learn after early knowledge. For example, the Windows program Notepad is extremely simple to learn, but offers little after this. On the other extreme is the UNIX terminal editor VI, which is difficult to learn, but offers a wide array of features to master after the user has figured out how to work it. It is possible for something to be easy to learn, but difficult to master or hard to learn with little beyond this. Wikipedia, (2010)

The Black Community Essay -- American History, Luther King Jr. Malcolm

Introduction Throughout history, blacks have been treated the poorest out of all races. Although everyone under God is to be treated equal, whites thought of themselves as being the superior race. In 1619 a Dutch ship brought 20 slaves to America and it took nearly 240 years for slavery to end in 1865(Ronald, , para. 3).These helpless slaves were taken to America and put to work growing anything from cotton to tobacco. Slaves had absolutely no rights. They were simply property of their â€Å"Massa’.† Being disrespectful to a white man could get a Negro killed and they just accepted the facts of the matter. The south was the most notorious in its treatment of slaves and slaves would run away. It was a big risk, but a slave that made it to a free state without getting caught had the possibility of being free for once. Yet, if a slave were to flee his description would be in an ad in the newspaper and the consequences when he returned would not be delightful. Under constant control, s laves struggled for centuries only to hope for a day when they could be treated as equals rather than always being inferior to the white man. Freed Slaves Some historians believe approximately 50,000 slaves ran away each year between 1830 and 1860(Ronald, , para. 44).This was a major issue in south because the southern slave masters were the most brutal. But, some slaves found it difficult being on their own and either came back or were captured due to advertisements in the newspaper. Most of these runaways wanted to find their families but found it nearly impossible due to slave trading during that time. Women were also unlikely to run away because the men would be the ones trying to escape to find their wives. The Underground Railroad was a series of lo... ...s group in which he found that not all white people are against blacks. On February 21, 1965, three gunmen assassinated Malcolm X in Manhattan New York(Biography of Malcolm X, 2001, para. 11). Conclusion Although we have come a long way in the black community, there are still racial prejudices out there. These prejudices lie in the deep in America in which some whites still hold on to the idea of white supremacy. For example, the noose that was hung in a tree in which African-American students would sit. This happened in a college in Indiana where there is not much racial diversity because of the prejudice there. People throughout America recognize prejudices but now more than ever they are hidden because majority of people are not racist or as racist anymore. Slavery is no longer an issue for blacks; being fully accepted into predominantly white communities is.

Astronomy Story Essay

The day my life would change for ever was April 16th, 2013. This was the day that I left planet earth and embarked on one of the most important missions in NASA’s history. I should probably back up though, and explain to you how this came about. April 16th was sunny with only a few clouds in the sky, the smell of spring was in the air and with the end of second semester right around the corner, the quad was packed with people eager to catch some much desired sun rays. Unfortunately for me though I was stuck in astronomy. That day’s topic was our very own planet earth. Dr. Bozyan was lecturing about how planet Earth was actually very wet, that nearly 71% of earths surfaced is covered with water. I learned that while other worlds of the solar system have atmospheres, only Earths contains the oxygen that we humans and animals need to survive. I had really hoped that wasn’t true because I had big aspirations of one day living on mars. We learned about about the green house effect and how clouds, snow, ice and sand reflect about 31% of the incoming sunlight back into space. The earth though also emits radiation into space because of its temperature. Fighting off the urge to day dream about the nice weather, I managed to also learn how Earths magnetic field produces a magnetosphere that traps particles from the solar wind. Like the motions of Earths tectonic plates, Earths magnetic field results from our planets internal heat. The last thing I wrote down in that class was a few interesting notes about how human activity such as Deforestation, burning of fossil fuels and industrial chemicals are damaging the ozone layer in the stratosphere. As I was seconds away from reaching freedom to the the spring air, Dr. Bozyan approached me and told me that she had a question for me. She was talking though in a soft almost secretive tone. She went on for about 10 minutes how she worked for a top secret NASA program that was interested in sending me on a mission. I laughed at that, it sounded like a calvin and Hobbs comic strip that I see in the Sunday paper. She went on and told me that the the great space race between Russia and the U.S.A. had never ended and that there was a race to gather observations from all nine planets in the solar system. They had top secret technology that would allow for this mission to be completed in only one week. The only catch was that it was so secret that I would be launching out of the URI planetarium that night, and that I couldn’t tell anybody where I was going. Me being the adventurous type decided this would be a great opportunity to become famous and in the process get to see some landmarks like the milky way and the man on the moon. Within hours I was in my very first space shuttle and on my way to the moon. The fastest time to the moon was 8 hours and 35 minutes by NASA’s New Horizons pluto mission. It was only going to take me 2 hours and 31 minutes and I was only supposed to stop at the moon for fuel because it was determined information about the outer planets was more important and we were trying to complete the mission in the quickest possible time. As the man on the moon figure approached within eye shot, I began to observe and take note of anything I could. Even though NASA had already explored the moon, that was no excuse for me not to absorb any observations of the moon for myself. I quickly began to observe that the moon was very dry and its surface was covered with plains and craters that is caused by the moon being bombarded by meteoric material also known as impact craters. As we touched down I quickly decided to throw on my space suit and check out the moon and its surroundings. I immediately found out that there was no atmosphere and no global magnetic field as it felt as if I were floating and that there was no gravity holding me down. There also appeared to be no liquid water of any kind. I realized that the 3476 km diameter of the moon was really just a spec in the cloudless pitch black sky of space. My last observation of the moon as my shuttle was just about done filling up was that it was pretty cold out. It was about -180 degrees Celsius that night, much colder then I was used too. Luckily though, I also packed my arctic ready winter hat and jacket. Next stop would be Venus. As the count down began to lift off I wondered if Venus had a â€Å"man on the moon†. On my way to Venus I decided that I should probably make myself a well deserved meal. I was gawking into the bag labeled food, in red sharpie that was handed to me right before take off, there was no pop tarts or my favorite barbecue chips . After much debate and thought, I narrowed my choice to a cup of NASA’S finest freeze dried ice cream. As we started to approach what I assumed was Venus but couldn’t tell until we landed because of the clouds that were hiding its surface from view. The first thing that I noticed was the size. It seemed to be about the same size of earth, I had always thought of Venus being smaller then earth. What I also observed, was that practically the whole surface was covered in lava! I felt like I was in some sort of sci-fi movie. Luckily for me I had a space suit because without it, I would have exploded. My Pressure meter on the left arm of my suit was telling me that the pressure was 90 atmospheres, which would be 90 times greater then the average air pressure at sea level on Earth. The temperature of Venus was very hot and I know that that was in my favor because if the temperature wasn’t so hot, the clouds would open up with a rain of sulfuric acid, and believe me I did not want that. I stored these mental snap shots in my head and finished the last of my notes and prepared for take off to Mercury. Mercury was definitely going to be one of the planets that I had to pay very close attention to when taking notes because only half of its surface had been viewed recently. Mercury was also going to be interesting to see because it has a very unique axis rotation, spinning three times on its axis for every two orbits around the sun. The first thing that I noticed on Mercury was that there was almost no atmosphere on the planet. That was pretty obvious because the planet looked life less and fried. I wrote in my observation notes that Mercury fried, literally because there was no atmosphere to protect against the harsh radiation of the sun. Mercury from my first view out the window reminded me a lot of the moon, there were craters every where. Mercury also from observation was definitely on the smaller side. As my time on Mercury was coming to a end, I realized that Mercury was a very boring planet to look at, only craters and low lying plains and cliffs. After the short trip from Mercury past Venus, Earth and the moon I approached Mars. I figured I could get a jump start on finding a future plot of land, for when humans were on Mars. As I approached Mars, I could see that the planet was full of craters. I was to stay on Mars for a full 12 hours while my rocket fueled up to make the trip to the outer planets. What I observed in those 12 hours was very interesting to me. I witnessed some incredible sights like vast canyons some 20,000 ft high, giant mountains and sand dunes. The air was very dusty and left a orange tint in the air. I quickly learned also that there was little atmosphere because as night started to fall tempters fell very rapidly and quickly well below 0. My rocket was fueled up again and it was time for take off. As I sat down in my space craft, I noticed that Mars definitely lived up to its nick name of the red planet because my white space suit was now covered in red dust. Just like that though, it was time to leave Mars and head straight to the big guys, Jupiter and Saturn. I quickly learned that Jupiter was just as advertised; very big! I could see Jupiter from my rocket almost the whole trip there. Jupiter was very bright definitely brighter then any star I had ever seen. I noticed the dark and light bands as they appeared from the space craft window, I learned later on that these are called belts( darker bands) and zones( lighter bands). Jupiter was very hard to land because there was no solid surfaces. Using a scientific tool on the space craft I was able to determined that Jupiter made up almost entirely of hydrogen and helium, with some other trace gases. For this case it was very hard for me to take observations since I could not actually get out and explore Jupiter. For the lack of mobility and time I was quickly just like that on my way to to explore the great ring planet of Saturn. While approaching Saturn the ring that it is most famous for was very visible, I actually managed to ta ke a photo with my space issued camera that was provided to me by NASA. Saturn was also huge although not as big as Jupiter it was definitely the second biggest thing I had ever seen, the first thing obviously being Jupiter. Like Jupiter I was unable to land on Saturn because of the chemical make up being mostly hydrogen and helium but the observations I was able to take away were that Saturn’s rings were made of thousands of narrow, closely spaced ringlets. Uranus and Neptune were next and if I wanted to make this trip in one week, I had to say good bye to the two gas giants and say hello to the trans-Saturnian planets. The two sister planets Uranus and Pluto were very much alike. My time on both planets were relatively the same experience. I was able to observe that both planets had many moons. Also the atmosphere on both planets was generally the same made up of mostly hydrogen and helium indicated by special tools on board the space craft. The one difference I did notice between these two sisters, is that Uranus actually rotates clock wise instead of counter clock wise. My visit with Uranus and Neptune was short and sweet. I packed my space craft and prepared it for lift off. 3..2..1 blast off were the words that I heard through the microphone that was hooked up with NASA. I awoke laying in the quad. The sun was high in the sky and there was a slight breeze. I realized that I had accidentally snoozed off in the quad, and what started off with me closing my eyes for 5 minutes to catch some rays ended with a nap that lasted 3 hours. I unfortunately soon realized quickly after that my amazing top secret to space was actually nothing more then a dream. There was no fame to come of it, and my professor never actually gave me the trust to go on this top secret mission. Although my trip to the solar system may not have been real, it will be something though that I will never forget.

Business communication Essay

SNC-Lavalin is one of the largest engineering companies in Canada, and one of the largest all around the world, however, failed to effectually communicate and face communication problem. This analysis report contains communication problems and influences on company. Additional information related to causes and symptoms of communication problem. Likewise, communicate with stakeholder groups result in concerns, and SNC-Lavalin use different communication model to deal with each group. The main communication problem is bypassing and different frames of reference. In communication process, bypassing can result in miscommunication, because the CEO and employee do not have the same symbolic meanings and bring own biases in any communication. Due to the longer lines of communication between CEO and employee, the message could be distorted. This problem impact on company fund missing and mystery payment, also, SNC-Lavalin’s stock decline a lot. The reason of problem happens because la ck trust, lack communication skills competition for status and rewards. It is easy to cause communication problem if no trust between communicationï ¼Å'through the long over time, the mistakes will become seriously and many mistakes are due to lack communication skills. Meanwhile, personal status and rewards will cause bypassing, lack organization concept, to the extent that different people pay more attention on their own profit rather than the common goal. SNC-Lavalin shows several symptoms due to communication problem. First, agents help company win a contract by paid bribes, but can’t follow the appropriate routines. Second, after $56 million dollars missing, Gwyn Morgan, the company chairman, denied that there is no responsibility for  superior officers, and resign suddenly after stated. Third, Cynthia Vanier help Muammar Gaddafi’s son smuggle and do illegal trading, as well as denied the charge. Employees and shareholders are the key stakeholder groups, however, different group has different concern. To specific, employees concern about their job and incomeï ¼Å'because it is close related to employees’ life quality. Meanwhile, shareholders concern about their profit, because it means stock rights will be influenced, in other word, shareholders profit could losing. SNC-Lavalin follows the communication models with each stakeholder group. As for communicate with employees; the first step is having idea. After organize idea, use encode like transfer language and write down or typewriting. After that, delivered by announcement or email. In order to overcome misunderstanding, improve the flow of message in company. Sign on the paper one by one after employees receive, if have problem mark it clearly. SNC-Lavalin have to give an effectively communication to shareholders. When idea formation by SNC-Lavalin, convert an idea into words that include meaning. It is necessary for general meeting of shareholders every year, in the meeting; shareholders understand the meaning stand for decodes the message successfully. Finally, ask question come up with feedback, and descriptive is the best choice. In conclusion, it is important for SNC-Lavalin communication effectively. This case analysis points out the main communication problem refer to SNC-Lavalin, at the same time, detail analysis about influence on company, moreover, discuss reason and manifestation about communication problem. After that, analyze the two key stakeholder groups, and each of them has different concern. Last but not least, SNC-Lavalin use communication model to deal the relationship with each stakeholder group.

Antigone as Tragic hero essays

Antigone as Tragic hero essays Have you ever wondered why Sophocles named his famous play after Antigone, and not Creon? Is it because she is the real tragic hero? Many critics including myself feel that Antigone is the true tragic hero, as she possesses many qualities that qualify her a tragic hero. This protagonist has a high social standing, is neither overly good nor bad, and sticks to her fatal flaw. Antigone has a high social standing in the town of Thebes. Because of her high standing she has a lot of fame and regard to lose, and therefore is capable of great suffering. Of the people who say Creon is the tragic hero also say that Antigone is no longer in a high position in the society due to the burying of her brother. If this character had needed to be in a high political position this would be true, but they need to have a great deal to lose in their downfall. Although Antigone may no longer hold political power, she is still a powerful figure in Thebes. She was to be married to Creon's son, Haemon, and the whole city seemed to know how tragic her life had become. Furthermore, another trait shown in Antigones character is that she is neither overly good nor bad. This is a major element in a tragic hero because they have to be ordinary, as they arent a villain or a hero. Antigone's negative side is shown by her demanding behavior with her brother Polyneices. She did not listen to anyone else in making her decision to bury him. She went with what she believed in, knowing it would get her in some kind of trouble. Her positive side is shown by the way the she insists on respecting his right to be buried in the religious tradition of Greece so that his soul may live on in the afterlife. This reflects that Antigone had true feelings and emotions for her brother, and gave him all the respect she could by properly burying him. In addition, the last quality Antigone overcame in proving she was the tragic hero was that she stuck to her fatal fl...

Writer#8217;s Manual for Research Paper on Child Development

Writer#8217;s Manual for Research Paper on Child Development Writing a research paper is not as daunting as some people like to believe. If you have the required information, you can create a compelling paper in no time. And to be able to do so, you need to learn the methods and techniques that outline an exemplary research paper. However, knowing how a research paper is written alone is not really that beneficial. To compose a perfect research paper on child development, you have to read our previous two guides i.e. 10 facts for a research paper on child development and 20 child development research paper topics. These two guidelines will play a vital role in allowing you to write quickly and effectively – leaving you worry free at the time of need. Composing an Attractive Title A title is what really attracts your audience to read your research paper. It is the first thing they will notice about it. You should compose a persuasive title by providing insights to what the reader is going to find inside the paper. You should also try to indicate the variables, both independent and dependent ones. Writing the Abstract The abstract, in general terms, is a brief summary of your content in your research paper. It contains your research question, hypothesis (if there is any) and the discoveries along with the studies you have done on that particular topic. You can also discuss the resources and samples that you’ll use in your paper. Composing the Introduction of Your Paper Introduction is one of the most important paragraphs of your research paper. If your title is attractive, but your introduction isn’t convincing, the reader would not want to read further. To compel the reader to read further, you have to speak clearly. Tell your readers about the problem you’ll be discussing. Describe the research that you did on the problem or topic and sprinkle some information on sources and evidence that support your research and point of view. Concluding everything very briefly would allow the reader to know what’s coming in the next paragraphs and he’ll be interested to read it further. To refine the introduction even further, you have to define issues and problems that would later lead to you research. Explain the variables (independent and dependent) of your research/experiment. Define why you were eager to study this phenomenon in the first place and add some little personal touch to it while describing it. You can also include the hypothesis right after that. Plus, you can define some significant concepts that will be mentioned in your paper but it’s considered optional. Finally, don’t forget to conclude your introduction with a clear and concise delimitation focus. Writing the Body of Your Research Paper Once you have gone through the beginning, it’s time that you start working on the main body of your paper. These paragraphs should be properly organized and must be full of information. Each paragraph should only talk about a particular research that you have done with proper source. Concluding the Paper with Documentation Documenting the sources in your research paper is necessary because it clarifies that your research is original and authentic and it is not a copied version of the sources you used. It also helps the reader know that you have a good understanding of the topic that you have chosen to research on. And of course, if you forget to include the documentation then your research may be suspected as plagiarized content. Don’t forget to include the bibliography of the sources that you have use. It’s a must to let readers know that your research is authentic and has been borrowed from some credible sources. In other words, it helps define your research as an unbiased version of your opinion, based mostly on facts and nothing else. That’s about it! Once you have concluded the paper. It’s time to take a break. Once reenergized, go through your paper and correct mistakes to have a perfect output. Remove parts that might seem a bit excessive, add information that would make your paper better. Don’t forget to look for outline mistakes and grammatical errors and consider revising again. The more you revise, the better your research paper would become. Now you’re reading to write an exemplary research paper on child development. Be sure to read our first and second guide as well, if you haven’t already. Happy writing!

Exploring Prague 15 Top Things to Do and See

Exploring Prague 15 Top Things to Do and See SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips I didn’t have a specific reason to study abroad in Prague. I wasn’t studying Czech literature or language, and I didn’t have any ancestralconnection to the city. One thingmade mepack my bags and move to the Czech Republic: pictures of Prague, which revealed the most beautiful place I’d ever seen. Prague is inarguably one of the most picturesque and best-preserved cities in Europe. Founded in the late 9th century, it still has medieval lanes and architecture, along with a mixof art and architecturethat span the centuries. As I suspected, Prague turned out to be a place of pure aesthetic bliss. Duringmy four months there,my understanding deepened as I encountered darker parts of Prague'shistory, from the old Jewish ghetto toscars of the Holocaust and the Communist occupation from 1948 to 1989. Prague is a complex place, and there’s a ton to see, do, and learn withinits maze of cobblestoned streets. This guide will tell you the top 15things to do and see when you visit Prague to get a full sense of the Czech capital in its past and present. Top 15 Things to Do In Prague: Table of Contents Here's the full list of the top 15 places to see and things to do in Prague, Czech Republic. Click on each to go toit directly, or just scroll down for the full list! See the Astronomical Clock Climb the Bell Tower of Old Town Hall Explore Old Town Square Stroll Around the Novà ½ SvÄ›t District Walk Across the Charles Bridge Visit the Prague Castle TourJosefov, the Historic Jewish Ghetto Visit World-Class Museums See Bizarre Public Sculptures Experience the Nightlife Eat Czech Food Drink Czech Beer See Opera at the National Theater Climb Petrin Hill Take a Day Trip to Cesky Krumlov 1. See the Astronomical Clock One of the first things to see in Prague is its famous astronomical clock, the oldest one of its kind in the world. It was installed over 600 years ago, in 1410. The clock is mounted on Old Town Hall in Old Town Square, the central square of the historic district. The clock has several dials and arms, including one dial that shows the positions of the sun and the moon and another that points to the months of the year. There are several figures that move around the clock each hour. Twelve represent the apostles, and four symbolize Vanity, Greed, Lust, and Death. Death, a figure of a skeleton, rings the bell each hour, and the other figures shake their heads at him. The performance ends when the figure of a rooster crows. Around the turn of the hour, a crowd usually gathers around to see the figures move. Since the clock and square are favorite places to visit in Prague, this crowd canget big during tourist high season. The figures move every hour, so you can pretty much catch the show whenever. Even if you don't catch themoving figures, you'll enjoy seeing the beautiful astronomical clock. Where Is Prague’s Astronomical Clock? The astronomical clock is located on the side of Old Town Hall in Old Town Square. If you’re taking public transport, either the underground metro or the above-ground tram, then you should get off at the Staromestska stop. Metro: Line A to Staromestska Tram: Lines 17 or 18 to Staromestska. The figures move on the hour every hour from 9 AM to 9 PM. 2. Climb the Bell Tower of Old Town Hall After the rooster crows the end of the astronomical clock show, head to the 14th century bell tower of Old Town Hall. You can climb this 228-foot tower for gorgeous, 360 degree views of Prague. Climbing the bell tower was something I didn’t do until the end of my study abroad semester, and I wished I’d done it sooner. It’s a beautiful view over red roofs, spires, church domes, and the Vltava River that runs through the city. How to Visit You can climb the stairs up the bell tower or take the elevator, which is wheelchair accessible. The fee is about $5 for adults and $3 for children. By the way, the Czech Republic uses the Czech koruna (CZK). As I write right now, one US dollar equals 24 CZK. The tower is open from AM to 10 PM on Mondays and 9 AM to 10 PM Tuesday through Sunday. 3. Explore Old Town Square Prague largely escaped destruction during World War II, so a large part of its historic district dates all the way back to the 10th century! The historic core is now under protection as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The central nucleus - and where I was lucky enough to take classes on Czech theater and the literature of Franz Kafka - is the Old Town Square. It’s a big cobblestoned square lined by buildings that span the centuries, from Gothic to Baroque to Rococo architectural styles. The square was a market place place until the end of the 19th century, but now it’s filled with cafes, shops, galleries, restaurants, vendors, and street performers. It also hosts a magical Christmas fair in the winter that makes the entire square smell like cinnamon and sugar. Below are a few of the most notable buildings and statues in Prague’s Old Town Square. What to See in Prague’s Old Town Square After you’ve admired the 15th century astronomical clock, check out these buildings around the square, along with the large memorial in its center. Tyn Cathedral: On the opposite side of the square from the astronomical clock sits the imposing Tyn Cathedral. This Gothic cathedral has been Prague’s main church since the 14th century, and you can easily spot its 262-foot towers topped with black spires. The church contains the oldest pipe organ in the city, and it hosts Roman Catholic services and classical concerts. St Nicholas Church: This 1735 church with a white facade was built and decorated in the Baroque style. It actually didn’t touch Old Town Square until a house in front of it was knocked down in 1901. To find Tyn Cathedral, just look up. Kinsky Palace: This former palace, built in the mid-1700s, is now an art museum. Look for its Rococo-style pink and white exterior. House of the Stone Bell: This medieval house dates all the way back to the 1200s. The stone bell you’ll find inside is a replica of the one used in 1310 to signal the future king, John of Luxembourg, that he could come with his army and occupy the square. Jan Hus Memorial: This large monument was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of martyrdom of Jan Hus, a religious reformer and predecessor of Protestant movement. Hus suffered the medieval consequences of criticizing the Catholic Church when he was burned at the stake in 1415. This monument eventually became a symbol of dissidence duringthe Communist occupation. Sitting by the monument became a quiet way for Czech people to show resistance to Soviet rule. 4. Stroll Around the Novà ½ SvÄ›t District Old Town Square, while definitely worth the visit, can get crowded with tourists, especially in the summer months. If you’re looking to get off the beaten track, you should check out the quieter Novy Svet district of Prague. This â€Å"New World† neighborhood consists of just a few small streets that date back to the 14th century. Walking past the log cottages with thatched roofs feels like you’ve discovered a small village in the middle of a city. This area’s a great place to stroll or stop by the Novy Svet Cafe for delicious coffee without a wait. Where to Find the Novy Svet District The Novy Svet district is on the other side of the Vltava River from Old Town Square. It’s just down the hill from Prague Castle, so you could walk through here to get to or from the castle as an alternative to the primary, more crowded route. The best metro stop to get to Novy Svetis Malostransk. 5. Walk Across the Charles Bridge When I studied abroad in Prague, I took an art history and architecture class. Most days, we wandered around the city, admiring and learning about the structures that straddled the line between art and architecture. Charles Bridge is one such structure, a bridge from 1357 lined by 30 Baroque statues. All of the statues along this cobblestoned bridge over the Vltava are religious figures heavy with symbolism. Most of the statues you’ll see today are careful replicas. The originals are on display in the National Museum. As a top pick in most guide books for what to see in Prague, the bridge can get crowded with visitors, as well as vendors competing to sell food, portraits, and jewelry. If you want to beat the crowds and get away from the commercial aspect of Charles Bridge, you could wake up early and catch the sunrise over the river. If you don’t mind the early wake up call, strolling across the empty Charles Bridge through the mist of sunrise is an unforgettable experience of natural and urban beauty. Where Is Prague's Charles Bridge? You can approach the bridge from either side of the river. The closest metro and tram stop is Starometska, on the Old Town Square side of the Vltava. 6. Visit the Prague Castle Prague is pretty much in a category by itselfwhen it comes to medieval art and architecture, and its castle is just one more reason why. The Prague Castle is the largest medieval castle in Europe. It was founded all the way back in 880 AD. Building and renovations continued over the centuries, with one big project implemented by Emperor Charles IV in the 1300s. The palace complex covers over 18 acres and includes royal residences, gardens, and churches. Today, the complex includes the official residence and office of the president of the Czech Republic. There’s even a daily ceremony of the changing of the guards. What to See in Prague Castle Royal Palace: This Gothic palace dates back to the 14th century. One highlight is the huge Vladislav Hall, which was used for coronations, banquets, market, and even jousting tournaments (it’s that big). Leading up to the hall is the Riders’ Staircase, where knights could ride through on horseback. You should also check out the Observation Gallery, which has a great view over the gardens. St Vitus Cathedral: This huge cathedral contains the remains of the much celebrated 14th century emperor, Charles IV. It has an extremely detailed facade, tall spires, lots of religious statues, and gorgeous art nouveau stained glass windows. Inside, you can also see the silver tomb of St. John of Nepomuk. St George’s Basilica: This 10th century structure contains the tombs of several princes. Golden Lane: The Golden Lane is lined by small 16th century dwellings, originally built for servants and tradesmen. At one end sits the Daliborka Tower, which was once used as a prison. The famous Czech writer, Franz Kafka, lived at #22 Golden Lane for a few years. Royal Garden: These sprawling manicured gardens encircle the castle. They’re a beautiful place to spend an afternoon wandering past flowers, hedges, moats, grapevines, pavilions, and fountains. The primary Royal Garden was built in 1534. Castle Picture Gallery: This gallery contains over 4,000 works, including 100 paintings. It has an especially large collection of 17th century European Baroque art. Admission is free every Monday from 4 to 6 PM. Otherwise, tickets to the gallery are just $4.00. Visiting Hours and Fees You can buy tickets for most individual parts of the castle complex, but if you want to visit several parts of it, you should get a combined ticket. Because the Prague Castle is so big, the tickets are good for two days. The most comprehensive ticket is the Circuit A for about $14.50. It includes St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, an exhibition called the "The Story of Prague Castle," St. George's Basilica, Golden Lane with the Daliborka Tower, and Powder Tower. You can take $3 or $4 off if you skip the Powder Tower. From April to October, Prague Castle is open everyday from 6 AM to 10 PM, and the historical buildings are open from 9 AM to 5 PM. From November to March, the historical buildings close at 4 PM. How to Get There The Prague Castle is just about a 22-minute walk from Old Town Square. Keep in mind that most of this walk is uphill. If you do choose to walk, you’ll want to turn around to see the beautiful views over the river and Old Town. By public transportation, take the tram to one of these stops: Krlovskà ½ letohrdek, PraÃ… ¾skà ½ hrad, or PohoÃ…â„¢elec. You can also take the metro and get off at Malostransk or HradÄ ansk. 7. See Josefov, the Historic Jewish Ghetto Josefov is the Jewish quarter located between Old Town Square and the Vltava River. The area was once a walled ghetto where Jews were forced to live beginning in the 13th century. Much of the district was destroyed when Prague remodeled parts of the city between 1893 and 1913. Today, you can see six synagogues, as well as Europe’s oldest Jewish cemetery. Visiting the cemetery especially can be an intense and difficult experience. Most of the Jewish population in Prague was forcibly relocated to concentration camps and murdered in 1941 by German occupiers and Czech Nazi collaborators. As of 2014, only about 3,900 Jewish people lived in the Czech Republic. There were over 356,000 in 1930. Historical Places in Josefov Pinkas Synagogue: This is the second oldest synagogue in Prague. Today, it’s a museum commemorating the thousands of Czech Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Spanish Synagogue: This synagogue was built in the Moorish revival style. Inside, you can find an exhibition about Jewish history in the Czech Republic Old New Synagogue: This is Europe’s oldest active synagogue. It was built in 1270. High Synagogue: This synagogue is actually excluded from tours, as it’s meant for local and foreign visitors who want to attend services and pray. It was built in the Renaissance style in 1568 and features impressive Gothic ribbed vaulting in the tall ceiling. The Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague dates back to the 1400s. Old Jewish Cemetery: This is the largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. It dates to the early 15th century and is now administered by the Jewish Museum in Prague. Since Jews were not able to get more space for the cemetery, the ground is uneven and higher than the surrounding streets. The Holocaust memorial in Berlin emulates the uneven ground of the Prague Cemetery. Franz Kafka’s Birthplace: Famous Czech writer Franz Kafka was born in the Jewish quarter on July 3, 1883 on the corner of Kaprova Street and Maiselova Street. His family lived here for a few years before moving to Wenceslas Square. Where to Find Josefov Josefov sits between Old Town and the Vltava River. You can click on the pins to find the specific addresses of the synagogues, museums, and Jewish cemetery. 8. Visit Museums Among the many Prague attractions are over 25 renowned museums with all sorts of collections. Some house great works of art, while others contain memorials to the victims of the Holocaust and Communist occupation. You can learn about technology, music, or the life and writings and Franz Kafka. For a lighter experience, you can go to museums of chocolate, toys, or traditional Bohemian puppet art. You can also find some oddones, like the Sex Machines Museum or the Museum of Historical Chamber Pots and Toilets. Below are some of my top picks for museums in Prague(plus one graffitied wall). Top Museums in Prague National Gallery in Prague: This gallery contains the largest collection of art in the Czech Republic. It’s actually housed in various buildings throughout the city. You’ll find major works by renowned European artists, as well as one of the largest collections by Czech artists, like Kupka, Benes, and Mucha. National Museum: If you’re looking to step away from art and check out natural history and other fields, then you should go to the National Museum. Like the National Gallery, the collections, which comprise over 14 million items, are housed in various buildings. Some of the main departments are prehistory, protohistory, botany, zoology, Czech history, ethnography, theater, anthropology, and paleontology. Jewish Museum in Prague: The Jewish Museum administers the exhibitions in the various synagogues and other buildings. Its collection of Jewish heritage contains over 40,000 objects and 100,000 books. Museum Kampa: This museum is located on an island in the Vltava and houses a large collection of European modern art. As you walk in, you’ll see Magdalena Jetelova’s famous sculpture of a chair. Check out the Museum of Communism to learn the REAL TRUTH about Russian nesting dolls. Museum of Communism: The Communists occupied the Czech Republic from the end of World War II until the Velvet Revolution in 1989. They arrested over 200,000 Czechs and killed hundreds that tried to flee. This museum shows the history of Communist rule through photos, films, sculptures, and propaganda from the era. Lennon Wall: Not a museum, but rather a wall where protesters of the Communist regime would paint pictures and words of peace, most of them Beatles, particularly John Lennon, inspired. In 2014, a group of art students painted white over the wall, leaving just the words, "Wall is over," which werelaterchanged to "War is over." New artwork and graffiti have since reappeared. Sex Machines Museum: This three-story museum has a collection of sex devices, some dating back to as early as the 16th century. According to its website, it has â€Å"an exposition of mechanical erotic appliances, the purpose of which is to bring pleasure and allow extraordinary and unusual positions during intercourse.† Where to Find Them Click on a pin for the specific address of each museum on the list above! 9. See Bizarre Public Sculptures Perhaps one thing that helped people get through dark times in their history was the so-called Czech sense of humor. Czech people have a reputation for beingsarcastic and controversial, and they like to make fun of their politicians. Nowhere does this stereotype appear to be more true than in the strange public statues around the city, most of them by the famous Czech sculptor, David Cerny. The rebellious Cerny first gained notoriety when he painted a Soviet tank pink and was briefly arrested. Below are six notable statues by Cerny around Prague, along with a seventh by Czech sculptor, Jaroslav Rona. Public Statues Around Prague Babies: This Cerny exhibition has 10 huge babies crawling up the side of the Zizkov TV Tower and around Kampa Park. Brown-nosers: Here, Cerny invites viewers to climb ladders and you through the backsides of two giant statues. When you look through, you’ll see video of an actor who looks like Vaclav Klaus, the Czech president from 2003 to 2013, eating baby food. Piss: This fountain features two male statues urinating toward each other. The streams spell out quotes from Czech literature. UnUtero: People can walk underneath and inside this statue of a huge silver pregnant woman. Hanging Man: This statue has moved around the world, and many people have mistaken it for someone jumping. It shows Sigmund Freud hanging by one hand from a beam coming off a roof. Franz Kafka Statue: This famous Kafka statue is not by Cerny, but by Jaroslav Rona. Unveiled in 2003, it shows a smaller man riding atop the shoulders of a larger headless man and is inspired by Kafka’s short story, â€Å"Description of a Struggle.† 10. Experience the Prague Nightlife While walking around the cobblestoned streets of Prague may transport you into the past, experiencing its bar and club scene will take you right past the now and into the future. Prague has such a big nightlife scene that it’s gathered a reputation as a party city. You can choose among pubs, bars, dance clubs, jazz bars, sports bars, breweries, beer gardens, rooftop terraces, and underground cave bars. Here are a few suggestions, but they’re really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Prague’s nightlife scene. Where to Go SaSaZu: This huge club hosts renowned DJs from all over the world and plays mainly house music. It opened in 2009 and can hold over 2,500 people. Duplex: Dance inside a glass cube at this rooftop nightclub while enjoying views over the city. Chapeau Rouge: This underground club has three levels, one with a bar and tables and two with DJs and dance floors. It’s located close to Old Town Square. Karlovy LznÄ›: This is the largest nightclub in Central Europe and has over five stories, each with its own dance floor and type of music, including hip hop, 80s, and trance. The interior has mosaics dating back to the 15th century. Karlovy Lazne is more popular with foreign visitors than locals. Retro: Go to Retro for electro-house music and a great light show. It can hold over 1,200 people. The crowd is generally a mix of Czech people and foreigners. Radost FX: Radost is on the smaller side and typically plays American hip hop. If you don’t feel like dancing, there’s a loungewith fuzzy couches to hang out in. To get a sense of what it looks like, check out Rihanna’s "Please Don’t Stop the Music" video. She shot it in Radost in 2007. Bunkr Parukarka: This underground club is located in a 1950s nuclear bunker. You’ll get electro-pop and industrial tracks from some of Prague’s top DJs. Zizkov: This last recommendation is not a club, but actually an entire neighborhood. Zizkov is a former industrial suburb with over 300 bars in just 2 square miles. It’s a super casual, somewhat gritty spot. You’ll see lots of dive bars and beer in plastic cups. Where to Find These Bars and Clubs Check out the Prague map for the locations and addresses of the bars and clubs listed above. . Eat Czech Cuisine While I was enamored with the city of Prague, I was less in love with itsfood. Traditional Czech food involves a lot of meat and starch, and I found it to be pretty heavy. There are plenty of more modern restaurants with great cuisine. I did love the desserts, especially the cinnamon-sugar pastries that were sold by street vendors in the winter. You should definitely try some traditional Czech foods to find your favorites. Below are some of the main ones. Traditional Czech Foods Knedlà ­ky, or dumplings: These dumplings are typically wheat or potato-based, steamed and sliced, and served on the side of meat. Roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut (or cabbage): This is the most typical Czech dish. Pork is the most common meat eaten in the Czech Republic. Koleno: pork knee marinated in beer and usually served with pickled vegetables and dark bread. Loupk: a sweet crescent-shaped roll covered in poppy seeds, usually eaten for breakfast. GulÃ… ¡, or goulash: another staple Czech dish (though originally from Hungary). Goulash is usually stewed beef in gravy served with dumplings. Trdelnà ­k is a rolled dough with cinnamon and sugar. Yum! Schnitzel: thinly sliced veal, pork, or chicken, covered in breadcrumbs and fried. Schnitzel is usually served with potato-based side dishes. PalaÄ inky: These are similar to French crepes, though they’re cooked with a different batter. They can be sweet or savory and are commonly sold at food markets. Trdelnà ­k: a rolled pastry wrapped around a stick and coated with cinnamon and sugar. These are popular at Christmas markets, where they’re heated up over an open flame. SmaÃ… ¾enà ½ Sà ½r: This is a deep-fried cheese, often sold by vendors at food markets. Below are a few recommendations for food markets. A couple are year-round, while othersjust pop up around the holidays. Farmer’s and Holiday Markets in Prague Havel’s Market (Havelske trziste): This permanent market is open everyday, year-round from 9 AM to 6 PM. Come here for fresh fruits and vegetables, food, flowers, crafts, toys, puppets, leather goods, and souvenirs. Address: Havelska Street, Prague 1 off Melantrichova, a pedestrian-only street between Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Naplavka Farmer’s Market: popular riverside Saturday market with fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese and meat stands, cooked food, beer and wine, and coffee. It’s open from 8 to 2 on Saturdays by the river bank close to the metro stop Palackà ©ho nmÄ›stà ­. Prague's Christmas markets are magical! Jirak Farmer’s Market: This market’s located around the Jiriho z Podebrad stop on the metro from Wednesday through Saturday. In addition to the usual fruits, vegetables, meats, and cheeses, you can find delicious breads and pastries. It’s open from 8 AM to 6 PM Wednesday through Friday and 8 AM to 2 PM on Saturday. Christmas Markets: the largest ones are located in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square and are pretty magical. You’ll find cinnamon-sugar pastries, roasted nuts, mulled wine, thick hot chocolate, and crackling meat turning over an open fire. Craft tents sell traditional handicrafts, wooden toys, tree ornaments, puppets, jewelry, and other great gifts. The Christmas markets are open everyday from early December to early January. Easter Markets: The best Easter markets, like the Christmas markets, are located in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. You can find lots of food and gifts among the brightly painted tents, along with activities for kids and people in traditional costume. The Easter markets are typically open for the first three weeks in April. 12. Drink Czech Beer While the Czech Republic may not have a reputation for the world’s best cuisine, it does have some of the best beer! Happily, it’s also some of the least expensive. You can find Czech-made beer (pivo) at all of the bars, pubs, and breweries. My favorite bars were the atmospheric underground cave bars with stone walls, candlelight, and wells that tunneleddeep into the ground. Czech Beer Brands The majority of Czech beers are light in color and served chilled. They’re brewed from hand-picked hops and have a transparent golden color and light taste. The most widely distributed brands are Pilsner Urquell (you can visit the brewery in the town of Plzen) and Budweiser Budvar. Other Czech brands are Bernard, Gambrinus, KruÃ… ¡ovice, Radegast, Starobrno, Staropramen, Svijany, and Velkopopovickà ½ Kozel. There are also microbreweries throughout the city. Below are a few recommendations for breweries and a beer museum. Where to Go for Beer: A Few Recommendations Zly Casy: This bar has 48 delicious beers on draft from small Czech breweries. Address: ÄÅ'estmà ­rova 390/5, 140 00 Prague. U Medvidku Beer Hall and Restaurant: This 550-year old beer hall is famous for its dark lager, X-Beer 33. X-Beer 33 is the strongest Czech beer at .8% alcohol content. Address: Na PerÃ… ¡tà ½nÄ› 7, Starà © MÄ›sto, 0 00, Prague. Prague Beer Museum: the Beer Museum has exhibits on the history of beer-brewing, plus over 31 beers on tap. Address: Na Perstyne 7, Pr 1, Prague. 13. See Opera at the National Theater Are you looking for a more glamorous experience out on the town? Prague is renowned as a center for opera, as well as ballet, music, and theater. Not only will you see great productions, but you’ll do so in the gorgeous National Theater, a 19th century neo-Renaissance building on the Vltava River and important cultural institution in the city of Prague. Ticket prices range from $15 to $50, and you can reserve them online on the National Theater’s website, as well as find the full schedule of productions. When I saw an opera here, there was a screen with English subtitles so I could follow the story. Where to Findthe National Theater The National Theater is located at Narodni 2 in Prague’s New Town. You can take the metro to Narodni trida on Line B or the tram to Narodni Divadlo, lines 6, 9, 17, 18, or 22. 14. Climb Petrin Hill If you’re craving greener spaces, head out of the main part of the city toward the 1000-foot tall Petrin Hill. A popular spot among locals, the park around Petrin Hill has landscaped gardens, a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower, a rose garden, and a Hall of Mirrors. You can climb the 299 steps of Prague’s mini Eiffel Tower for sweeping views over Prague. How to Getto Petrin Hill You can walk or take a funicular railway to Petrin Hill. The walk is just about 30 minutes, but it’s pretty steep. The railway leaves from Ujezd Street and goes up to Petrin Hill. This park is open from 10 AM to 8 PM, March to October and 10 AM to 6 PM, November to February. 15. Take a Day Trip to Cesky Krumlov While Prague has endless things to do and places to see, it’s also surrounded by incredible towns and sights. One awesome and popular day trip takes you south to Cesky Krumlov. Cesky Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it’s a picture perfect medieval Bohemian town. It has the same fairytale quality of Prague with even fewer signs of modern life. You’ll see a big castle, lots of puppet museums and shops, outdoor markets, and Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Does it sound like a small town version of Prague? That’s a pretty apt description, right down to the fact that it’s also situated around the Vltava River (just 100 miles south). How to Get to Cesky Krumlov If you’re renting a car, you can drive to Cesky Krumlov along route E55. The drive is about two hours and take you through forests, fields, and villages. The most popular way to get there is the bus. This direct, 3-hour bus ride drops you off at the bus station in Cesky Krumlov. From there, it’s just about a 10-minute walk to the center of town. Since the buses can fill up, you should make reservations in advance. The train is probably the least convenient option, since there aren’t any trains that go direct. You could travel between 2.5 and 3.5 hours to ÄÅ'eskà © BudÄ›jovice and then go another 45 minutes on a new train to Cesky Krumlov. The train station is about a 30-minute walk from the city center. So there you have it, the top 15 things to do in Prague. (I could add a 16th for any college undergrads - study abroad there!) In closing, let’s go over some final thoughts about what to do in Prague, the beautiful city in the heart of Bohemia. Historic Prague: Final Thoughts Prague is a paradise for anyone who likes to wander amid art and architecture from centuries past. As a well-preserved medieval city, Prague transports you back in time with its Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo buildings and sculptures. While it’s easy to fall under Prague’s magic spell, you’ll also find reminders of tragedies in its past. It’s important to acknowledge these realities while appreciating the resilience of the Czech people, who have a history of resistance through politics, theater, literature, music, and art. Prague is not all museums, cathedrals, and heavy history, though. It’s also a seriously fun city with world-renowned nightclubs and buzzing bar districts. When it comes to good party spots, I definitely trust Rihanna to know what’s up. Even if you’re not into dancing, you may appreciate the fact that cheap world-class beeris only ever a few steps away. I may not have known about all of Prague's attractions when I decided to study abroad here. Like I said, I was mostlymotivated by aesthetics. As I soon found out, though, Prague isindeed as beautiful as thepictures promised. Plus, the city hasso much more.

Dental Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Dental Health - Essay Example In a prison there is lot of limitations for such things. "In the past, the provision of dental services in prisons has been of variable quality. For this reason, the Strategy for Modernising Dental Services for Prisoners in England was published in 2003. Every Prison was required, in consultation with the local primary care trust, to develop a Dental Action Plan for improving their dental service. 4.75 million over three years was allocated towards the implementation of these plans." (Harvey, S. et al. 2005). The authorities must provide dental check up for at least 200 to 250 prisoners per week. The dental service needs to be universal based on clinical needs and must provide all sorts of services to the patients, but inside the prisons it has certain limitations for providing all sorts of dental services. In case of trauma to the face or cheeks the person may present with severe bleeding and the prisoner should be taken to the emergency department, but this must be in line with the local health care provisions and according to the security policies in the prison. In acute dental pain is advisable to take the person to a dentist within 24 hours or at least to an appropriate practitioner within 24 hours. The prisoner needs routine follow up with in six weeks in all most every case and this is also restricted by certain prison policies. The incidence of untreated dental disease in pris... THE CHALLENGES The incidence of untreated dental disease in prisoners is much high when compared with that of the general population, so the dental health needs of prisoners is much high. Since the prisoners neglect their oral health for such a very long time the problem may in the most aggravated form. "While dental care is a critical component of overall quality health care, many prisoners enter correctional facilities in the United States with little history of good dental hygiene and even less history of access to dentists for routine dental examinations. As a result, the incarceration experience presents opportunities for inmates to receive quality dental care, often for the first time in their lives. Dental care delivered by correctional dentists is complicated, however, by the array of serious dental conditions and difficult to treat dental problems in clinical settings". (Vaughan, M.S. et al. 2006) The poor nutritional status may also aggravate the problem. Smoking must be prevented in high risk cases. "The higher proportion of drug users in prison compared to general population can also explain the greater need for dental treatment. Methadone users in particular have a high level of oral disease". (Rotary. et al. 2007)Another important problem is that the dental care sessions may be shorted by security problems. Other important issues in dental health care include the lack of space in prisons, insufficient staff for treatment, lack of funding for health promotion and outdated facilities for health care in prisons. A report published in Sage Journal describes that there is variation in dental care provided to the prisoners. "Forty-five

Leadership of Nursing Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leadership of Nursing - Term Paper Example eir experience, promoting evidence based practice within nursing and challenging the status quo for higher learning outcome become the hallmark of nurse leaders. Nurse leadership is considerably supported by organizations that empower the workforce and encourage collective decisions and shared learning. Thus, magnet status activities within nursing indicate higher leadership capabilities of nurses in specialized cases and complex clinical situations. Magnet hospitals provide better work environment to nurses through enquiry based learning and sharing accumulated knowledge for higher patients’ outcome (Kramer, 1999). Consequently, such hospitals attract good nurses and retain them to provide high quality of care. Magnet activities provide constant learning environment and help empower the nurses to make effective decisions based on informed choices. Thus, nurses’ initiative in critical situations evolves as key leadership trait that relies on best practices and evidence based knowledge to provide quality care. They also serve as mentors for RNs and guide them to identify their core competencies for higher healthcare delivery. Their competencies in clinical setting and their ability to share specialized knowledge with others are essential ingredients that endow them with leadership qualities. Nurse leaders exploit opportunities and progress from critical nurse specialist to teacher and advisor, later becoming part of hospital administration. It indicates their constant desire to test new approaches and establish new benchmark in the patients’ care through shared knowledge and evidence based practice. As a nurse in magnet hospitals, therefore, significantly enhances their personal and professional image which is acknowledged by the peer group and other health workers. They become better equipped to respond to crisis situation and become proactive participants in creating awareness on public health. Moreover, magnet activities encourage them to empower not

Million American Jobs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Million American Jobs - Essay Example Therefore, the parents and educators could do a much better job of guiding kids into fields where the jobs are, which would raise the payback for getting a college degree and encourage more to attend. Colleges could help by offering more three-year programs and other ways to cut costs.† (Newman, 2011) III. Help small businesses find foreign customers.Ordinarily, small business can go global by finding foreign markets for theirproducts.However this is usually hard for the small businesses who usually target the local market. With the advancement of technology small business can reach global markets by the use of digital marketing. There are now more business connection networks that help in advertising. Therefore this breakthrough of sales makes many to have trust in the business and thus venture upon it creating employment. IV. The state should welcome more immigrants and investors.†Foreigners who want to come to America get an undeserved bad rap. Immigrants create businesses at a higher rate than home-grown Americans and make an important contribution to the economy. To address concerns about low-wage illegals, new policies could allow well-educated foreigners to stay in the country after earning a degree, or offer citizenship in exchange for a commitment to start a business or buy a house. â€Å" (Newman,

Legacy of Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Legacy of Conflict - Essay Example This paper will argue that, in the "Legacy of Conquest", Limerick functions more as a revisionist than a prophet. More specifically, this book review will argue that her approach to the American West, in terms of invasion, conquest, and development, is a valuable contribution to the study of American history regardless of academic debates regarding the efficacy of her writings as a larger foundation for a more generalized theoretical model. As an initial matter, Limerick takes great pains to define the American West as a place rather than as an abstract process. The frontier was, in her view, a stage of development. The American West exists no less today than it did a thousand or two hundred years ago. This is a valuable continuation; it is valuable because the frontier is no more the American West than the Silicon Valley, Hollywood, or tourist-packed Yosemite National Park. Students and citizens alike are better served by viewing the American West as a place, and they are also better served by viewing the American West as a place which has changed and developed over time.

Social Influences in Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social Influences in Marketing - Essay Example Lastly, if one is involved in school activities , the social influence that goes along with the notion of trying to fit in oftentimes result in a gamut of items being purchased. Be it from college jackets to the cool cell phone your dorm mate has, the social interaction in a school setting often results in a situation where a purchase would be made purely from social influence. What are the products that are usually purchased through social influence Oftentimes these are leisure and aesthetic goods which cut into the consumer's disposable income. For car buffs, these include add-ons such as mag wheels, body kits, and engine upgrades. These are often unnecessary and costly expenses, but because of the social influence exerted by being in that said organization they would accede to these costly expenditures to merely "fit in". For instance, if everyone in the club would be buying fancy mag wheels to augment their cars, more often than not the member would be prevailed upon to do likewise, if only to "be one of the boys". On the same vein, students going to the big sporting events would be subliminally prodded to purchase university paraphernalia, without which they would seem lacking and out of place.

Feliz Navidad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Feliz Navidad - Essay Example The performance consists of simple singing or chanting of religious songs and all the homes are set up as a "Nativity scene" where the home owners pose as inn keepers. The interesting part is that the procession carries candles and statues of Jesus and Mary as the re-enactors ask for lodging at three houses and only the third house lets them inside in accordance with the Christmas story. The guests then enter the chosen house and sing traditional Christmas and religious songs for the Virgin Mary which concludes into a famous piata party for the children. Of course the ever famous Piata (which originates from Italian tradition) is the main object of interest for the children at these parties .This is a clay pot decorated with paper, and is filled with hard candy, peanuts sugar cane and fruit. The children are blindfolded and take turns at hitting it with a stick until it breaks so they can all have the sweet treats inside. The traditional Christmas piata is shaped like a star and has seven peaks, which symbolizes the seven deadly sins. The stick with which it is broken is a symbol of faith and therefore the destruction of the Piata is a symbol of the destruction of these deadly sins with faith. The Mexicans also have a very unique tradition of exchanging presents at New Years Eve rather than on Christmas .This gift exchanging is known as Misa de Gallo (Rooster's Mass). Some families might even wait as late as the Wise Mens Day which is on January the 6th to exchange gifts because on this day the Magi brought gifts to the baby Jesus. Instead of stockings (like in the American culture) the children traditionally place their shoes near the window so the Magi can fill the shoes with gifts .The children also look forward to the Merienda, ( a tea time with hot chocolate) and La Meridenda, (an festive dinner) in celebration of this day. This is a two week national holiday for the Mexicans .The US influence is ever present as in the recent decades there has been an adaptation of Santa Claus and many other American traditions. However the strong and unique Mexican culture continues to dominate these very family oriented traditions. The Holiday festivities end on the Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) with the celebration of a late-night Misa de Gallo (Rooster's Mass).This is followed by a festive dinner of traditional cuisines and sweet meats. The Christmas celebration hardly ends there as on December 28, Day of the Holy Innocents there is a commemoration of King Herod's attempt to slaughter all the new born male infants including baby Jesus. The Mexicans add a comic twist to the day as they play pranks on each other just like the April fool's day. The Christmas season continues merrily into the Three Kings Day which symbolises the arrival in Bethlehem of The Wise Men bringing gifts for baby Jesus. Reyes Magos is the Mexican version of the Santa Claus and on every January the 6th the native Mexican children hope to receive toys and gifts from this mythical figure. The Mexicans with their merry culture and strong family ties make the Christmas festivities a treat for the eyes and the soul. The final Candlemas is on February the 2nd officially marking the end of

Social Influences in Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social Influences in Marketing - Essay Example Lastly, if one is involved in school activities , the social influence that goes along with the notion of trying to fit in oftentimes result in a gamut of items being purchased. Be it from college jackets to the cool cell phone your dorm mate has, the social interaction in a school setting often results in a situation where a purchase would be made purely from social influence. What are the products that are usually purchased through social influence Oftentimes these are leisure and aesthetic goods which cut into the consumer's disposable income. For car buffs, these include add-ons such as mag wheels, body kits, and engine upgrades. These are often unnecessary and costly expenses, but because of the social influence exerted by being in that said organization they would accede to these costly expenditures to merely "fit in". For instance, if everyone in the club would be buying fancy mag wheels to augment their cars, more often than not the member would be prevailed upon to do likewise, if only to "be one of the boys". On the same vein, students going to the big sporting events would be subliminally prodded to purchase university paraphernalia, without which they would seem lacking and out of place.

My Graduation Speech Essay Example for Free

My Graduation Speech Essay The Dominance of the Visigoth encompasses power, brevity and depth. The main focus of this speech is to inform the reader of the two existing kinds of people, those who are morally upright and those who are morally depreciated. Through this speech, the reader is able to obtain an idea regarding the good aspect of humans from an Athenian point of view, which dates back to 2500 years ago. On the other hand, the idea regarding the bad aspect of humans originated from the Visigoth from Germany approximately 1700 years ago. The Visigoths every action would only embody their own selfish benefits, such as living to only overcome and supersede others, and in turn creating problems for them. As Postman mentioned, Visigoth ideas are predominant in society today, which can be proven through the material found in media today. The desire to fulfill the need of entertainment for the audience results in the creation of television shows lacking in both temperance and moderation, displayed in the television program Extreme Makeover. Furthermore, the desire to win and supersede others is shown in the exploitation of violence registered by the characters in the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Lastly, many stories in daily newspapers such as the Globe and Mail, further display many realistic examples of peoples actions encouraged by the need to work for their own selfish benefits, instead of exercising those intentions for the benefit of others. The Visigoths discovered that the factors that intrigued and pleased the general masses should be the factors to be used to control them. To accomplish this, the Visigoths aimed to project their desire for power, popularity, and superiority through the television series Extreme Makeover. To further explain, Extreme Makeover displays the lavish idea of the creation of beauty in women in order to raise the television ratings to compete in the race to supersede the other television series airing (http://abc.go.com). The use of beauty as a selling point for a television series captures the interest of masses of women both young and old. Because of the masses of women in society today unwilling to accept how they look, these women would settle for watching it being done to the lucky few appearing on the show. From this, Extreme Makeover encourages its women audience of the fact that all dreams no matter how farfetched or hard to reach can be attained one day. Through this, Extreme Makeover has succeeded in finding a point of immense interest and providing it for the audiences entertainment. However, of course, the main purpose of the series is not to provide an encouragement to women of today, but to actually make money from the television ratings out of other peoples expense. The exploitation of other peoples dreams, goals, and ambition as a tool of marketing is an act unrestrained and uncontrolled, characteristic of the Visigoth character. Despite the fact that Extreme Makeover is such a depraved form of entertainment, many people continue to enjoy watching it. The reason for this persistence lies in the way people in society think, which seems to surprisingly project the values of the Visigoth. Through the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the main characters are portrayed as humans fanatical with the desire to fight, and to surpass the each other, which are all ideas befitting the Visigoths. Mr. and Mrs. Smith is the story of a husband and a wife who are both assassins. They are not aware of each others hidden career of an assassin in the beginning of the film. However, in the end their secrets are exposed when they are hired to kill each other. The fights, the violence, and all the hectic jumble of the plot are all Visigoth characteristics. The characters in the film care only about their own affairs, and none of the world and the environment around them (www.imbd.com). Despite the fact that all these ideas encompassed in the film are against tradition, society appears to be all right with them, which further shows that society views the Visigoths ideas as nothing out of place or wrong for that matter. Through this film, it is evident that the producer of the movie created all the violence, fights, and the hectic jumble to create one intriguing plot to captivate mass audience attention. From this, the producer aims to make a profit, instead of projecting meaningful ideals that the audience can actually learn from and apply to their life. Being self-centered is the act of being inconsiderate to others and lacking in ethics, which is another Visigoth idea. Found in the Globe and Mail, the article Upgrade how far will you go? informs the reader of the countless ways to lie to the staff in the airport for the chance to upgrade their seats, which shows that the Globe and Mail is full of Visigoth ideals that the means of achieving comfort in life is clever, and should be shared among everyone (Globe and Mail, T6). In another article, After all it was only public money, depicts the idea that people in society will do anything because of their greed. This article tells of the greed of Paul Coffin, who is an ad executive, a remorseless invoicer, and an Olympic biller, who feigns to act as a moral as possible, but in reality is guilty of countless cases of corruption. (Globe and Mail, A25). The mask and pretense that a self-centered person creates reflects societys lack of honesty and ethics, all characteristic of a Visigoth. The evilness of Visigoth outnumbers the epitome of beauty, reason, and moderation. The immoral and deprecating values of a Visigoth appear on popular television programs such as Extreme Makeover, in films such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, which motivates its audience to violence, and in real life of people who appear in news articles in the newspaper. According to Postman, the numbers of people who view the world in the Visigoth perspective outnumber the number of people who think like Athenians. Nothing is needed to be said that the majority of people do things for themselves, lack the sense of community, reject tradition, use rude language, work on grotesque art, and learn to win other people or to make money, and create problems to other people for their own power. The history of humans and the imagination of people are all rooted in Visigoth ideals. Work Cited Hayden, Scott. After all, it was only public money. Globe and Mail 24 Jan. 2005: A25. Knight, Jeff. About the Show. June 26 2005. ABC, Inc. 24 Jan. 2005 http://abc.go.com/primetime/extrememakeover. Liman, Austin. Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005). June 26 2005. IMDB. Earths Biggest Movie Database. 24 Jan. 2005 www.imdb.com/title/tt0356910. Montagomery, Jonathan. Upgrade how far will you go? Globe and Mail 24 Jan. 2005: T6.

The Meaning and Importance of Capital Expenditure

The Meaning and Importance of Capital Expenditure Expenditure means a payment made by a business to obtain some benefits, i.e., assets, goods and services (AINAPURE, varsha and ainapure, mukund, 2009). 1.2 Meaning of Capital Expenditure or Asset Capital expenditure is that expenditure which is for future benefits. It means expenditure for gaining an asset. Asset is a resource controlled by an organization as a result of past event and for which future benefits are expected (AINAPURE, varsha and ainapure, mukund, 2009). 2. Revenue expenditure 2.1 Meaning of revenue expenditure Revenue expenditure are expenditures for ordinate repairs, maintain ace, fuel , insurance or other item needed to maintain used building, and plant and equipment. They go to the expense account and reduce the income of period in which they are incurred, because benefits from these expenditures dont last beyond that period (NARAYANASWAMY, R, 2008). 3. Differentiate between Capital and revenue Expenditure Investment Appraisal What is an investment? Specifically, an investment is the current commitment of dollars for a period of time in order to derive future payments that will compensate the investor for (1) the time the funds are committed, (2) the expected rate of inflation, and (3) the uncertainty of the future payments(BROWN, Keith and Reilley, Frank, 2005). Method of investment Appraisal A companys shareholders prefer to be rich rather than poor. Therefore, they want the firm to invest in every project that is worth more than it costs. The difference between a projects value and its cost is termed the net present value. Companies can best help their shareholders by investing in projects with a positive net present value (BREALEY et al., 2001). We start this material by showing how to calculate the net present value of a simple investment project. We also examine other criteria that companies sometimes consider when evaluating investments, such as the NPV projects payback period IRR Net Present Value (NPV) Suppose that you are in the real estate business. You are considering construction of an office block. The land would cost $50,000 and construction would cost a further $300,000. You foresee a shortage of office space and predict that a year from now you will be able to sell the building for $400,000. Thus you would be investing $350,000 now in the expectation of realizing $400,000 at the end of the year. You should go ahead if the present value of the $400,000 payoff is greater than the investment of $350,000. Assume for the moment that the $400,000 payoff is a sure thing. How much would you have to invest in it in order to receive $400,000 at the end of the year (BREALEY et al., 2001). Thats easy: you would have to invest $400,000 ÃÆ'- 1/1.07 = $400,000 ÃÆ'- .935 = $373,832 Therefore, at an interest rate of 7 percept, the present value of the $400,000 payoff from the office building is $373,832. NPV = PV required investment = $373,832 $350,000 = $23,832 In other words, your office development is worth more than it costs-it makes a net contribution to value. Internal Rate of Return Instead of calculating a projects net present value, companies often prefer to ask whether the projects return is higher or lower than the opportunity cost of capital. For example, think back to the original proposal to build the office block. You planned to invest $350,000 to get back a cash flow of C1 = $400,000 in 1 year. Therefore, you forecasted a profit on the venture of $400,000 $350,000 = $50,000 (BREALEY et al., 2001). Rate of return = profit/ investment = C1 investment/ investment = $400,000 $350,000/ $350,000 = .1429, or about 14.3% The alternative of investing in a U.S. Treasury bill would provide a return of only 7 percept. Thus the return on your office building is higher than the opportunity cost of capital. This suggests two rules for deciding whether to go ahead with an investment project: 1. The NPV rule. Invest in any project that has a positive NPV when its cash flows are discounted at the opportunity cost of capital. 2. The rate of return rule. Invest in any project offering a rate of return that is higher than the opportunity cost of capital (BREALEY et al., 2001). PAYBACK PERIOD These days almost all large companies use discounted cash flow in some form, but sometimes they use it in combination with other theoretically inappropriate measures of performance (BREALEY et al., 2001). Inflation and capital investment decisions Inflation can have a serious effect on capital investment decisions, both by reducing the real value of future cash flows and by increasing their uncertainty. Future cash flows must be adjusted to take account of any expected inflation in the prices of goods services in order to express them in normal (or money) terms, i.e. in term of actual cash amounts to be received or paid in the future. As an alternative to the nominal approach to dealing with inflation in investment appraisal, it is possible to deflate nominal cash flows by the general rate of inflation in order to obtain cash flows expressed in real terms, i.e. with inflation stripped out (WATSON, Denzil and Head, Antony, 2010). (1+real cost of capital) = (1+ normal cost of capital) / (1+ inflation rate) For example if the nominal cost of capital is 15% and the rate of inflation is 9 %, the real cost of capital will be 5.5 %. Investment appraisal and risk involved In the context of investment appraisals, risk refers to the business risk of an investment, which since it derives from a companys capital structure is reflected in its weighted average cost of capital. Risk is tusk distinct from uncertainty, which increases proportionality with project life. A risk-averse company is concerned about the possibility of expected, i.e. with downside risk, and will therefore want to asses the risk of an investment project. There are several methods of assessing project risk and of incorporating risk into the decision making (WATSON, Denzil and Head, Antony, 2010). Sensitivity Analysis Sensitivity analysis is a way of assessing the risk of an investment project by evaluating how responsive the NPV of the project is to change in the variables from which it has been calculated (WATSON, Denzil and Head, Antony, 2010). Types of risk Credit Risk Market risk Equity Risk Liquidity risk Financial Analysis Financial performance analysis using financial ratio Categories of Financial Ratios Analysts find it useful to classify ratios into broad groupings, based on the characteristics that particular ratios are intended to measure. In this section, we discuss ratios under four major headings that are widely employed by analysts: liquidity, profitability, capital structure, and investor ratio (STICE et al., 2002). Liquidity Ratios Liquidity ratios indicate the short-term solvency of the firm. They also indicate how effectively the firm is managing its working capital (STICE et al., 2002). Profitability Ratios Profitability ratios are the second major focus of analysis for any investor. Without profits, there will be no return to the investor or no one will want to invest (STICE et al., 2002). Gross Profit The gross profit percentage is the first source of profitability for a manufacturing or merchandising firm. The data for the gross profit margin are found in the first sections of the income statement. These data indicate the level of profits earned from buying and reselling goods (STICE et al., 2002). Operating income ratio The operating income ratio is the second indicator of profitability because it includes All the other normal and recurring operating costs. Increasing or stable levels Of operating income indicate sustainability of the firms profits (STICE et al., 2002). Financial Statement Analysis, Wendys International, Inc. In this section, we apply our financial statement analysis framework to Wendys International, Inc. Liquidity Analysis Profitability Analysis Summary, Wendys International, Inc. Our analysis of Wendys financial statements is cautiously positive. The primary weak indicator is in the area of profitability (based on accrual-based earnings), and this result may be due to transitory effects that may not persist in the future. There were significant positive trends in liquidity, and stability in investor ratios. Further examination of supplementary information, as well as subsequent quarterly results for 1998 and 1999, could be used to support or challenge these conclusions (STICE et al., 2002). Non-Financial Analysis Using Balance score card Balance Score Card The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) is a technique developed by Kaplan and Norton (1992) that helps organisational decision makers to navigate the organisation towards success. The technique enables organisations to translate their mission and strategy into a comprehensive set of performance measures that provide the framework for a strategic measurement and management system. Organisations have used the Balanced Scorecard to; (1) clarify and translate vision and strategy, (2) communicate and link strategic objectives and measures, (3) plan, set targets and align strategic initiatives and (4) enhance strategic feedback and learning, and succeed in realizing both tangible and intangible benefits of their investments (Kaplan and Norton, 1992, 1996, 2000). The Balanced Scorecard measures organisational performance, with emphasis on financial objectives. But, it also includes the performance drivers of these financial objectives, and measures organisational performance across four balanced perspectives; (1) financial, (2) customer, (3) internal business processes and (4) learning and growth (DARSHANA SEDERA, Guy Gable and Michael Rosemann). Framework of Balance Score Card.