High School Seniors Essay

Many people believe open lunch should be a privilege extended to seniors who wish to leave the school grounds and adjacent areas during their assigned lunch periods. This privilege is predicated on the belief that students as they enter their final years of high school should be trusted to make mature decisions and act responsibly. Some students wish they could leave only so they could get something to eat other than school food. I understand that not every senior shows the proper maturity and they should be identified and treated accordingly. When it comes to privilages, seniors don’t have many compared to underclassman. Sure, we get a free period as opposed to study hall and a senior skip day, but don’t we deserve more for our twelve years of hard work and effort put into school? Don’t we deserve something that, frankly speaking, makes everyone more aware of our seniority status, something that we can enjoy this year and the other grades can look forward to? That something can be found in probably one of the more controversial topics in high schools, off campus lunches. I understand the school is responsible for us from the time we arrive at school until the time we depart, and being able to have an off campus lunch would mean we are still the school’s responsibility, even though we’re not on campus. However, what if parents were to sign a note stating their child is allowed to leave school during lunch hours and would be their responsibility? If anything was to happen to a student, parents would not have the right to run into school, arms flailing wildly, blaming whomever they can for what happened to their child. But isn’t it time that the school lets us depend on ourselves in making the better decisions, which in this case would be coming back to class in time. We are going to go from being monitored all day long to a college environment where we are the ones to decide what to do. Pupils who fail to meet their responsibility may forfeit the privilege altogether and may be subject to other disciplinary actions. The school should develop rules and regulations that promote compliance with the policy and ensure that only eligible seniors utilize the privilege of open lunch.

Custom Relationship Between Business and Society Essay

The world today believes in change and liberation due to beliefs and values of every society, the quality of living based on individual decisions and moral values are critical in building and of business relationship. It is therefore vital to understand how business and society can be governed and all manner of people and races respected. Every society has taboos and social entities that control its environment; however business and society is based on values that can be created by others though scientific research. According to Weber, The Protestant Ethic is a starting point towards understanding the multiple dimensions of social change. The relationship between business and ethics is interlocked in the sense that a successful company is one which can effectively maintain the relationship which exists between them and the other parties. For effective corporate management, organization varies due to policies and systems of operation in service deliver, most professionals governed by professional code of ethics invent individual personality. Religious beliefs critically affect each individual spiritual being. Today businesses that have strong corporate codes of ethics are performing well in the long-term. Government policies and competition is vital for survival in every business entity, customer expectations and organization relationships to society are critical in branding and corporate image which differentiates company’s offering from those of competitors. To manage it demand for in the long run demands commitment and sound moral behavior. This demonstrates dedication to all stakeholders, ethics enhance how a company operates and also enhances a company’s reputation and this brings more profits to the organizations. MAX WEBER PROTESTANT ETHICS Max Weber a German sociologist and political economist (1864 – 1920) aim at understanding the revolution power based of political stability and control of capitalism. With his social and religious beliefs, he investigated to known why the most economically developed districts were the most favorable to a revolution. In his findings, Weber concluded that higher skilled laborers and personnel were overwhelmingly Protestant. He aimed at bring change and revolution. The argument was based on development and education by the Catholics which he believes lead was a cause to nationality imbalance. Resources were unfairly distributed thus the districts ended up converting protestant, it plumbs the deep cultural forces that affect contemporary work life and the workplace in the capitalist communities, and it plumbs the deep religion forces that affect contemporary work life and the workplace. He professed religion balance between the Catholic and Protestant parents who usually give their children different kinds of education, in which his believe was that education is an equal asset to both the Catholics and protestants’, however he was not font that Catholics have more of a tendency in education while protestants stay in handicrafts and sectors rather than to go into industry. It suggests that their environment has determined the choice peoples occupations seem more likely since for example you would normally expect Catholics to get involved in economic activity. His argument was based on political power and influence and his believe that Protestants had stronger tendencies and capabilities to develop the economy rationalism. To him this was not a philosophy of mere greed but a statement laden with moral language. Creating modern capitalism that affects contemporary life and work place ethically. Lacks of ethics contribute to a state where the corporate bottom lines make profits through immoral acts. This relents to damaged image and leads to corrupt dealings and poor ethical practices. Managers who promote an atmosphere with high ethical standards create a competitive concept that positions a company above rivals. This will impact help increase revenues for the benefit of all stakeholders. SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM Capitalism is an economic system whereby the means of production are privately owned and operated for making profits. The decisions regarding supply, demand, price, distribution, and investment are made within a free market. Profit is sent to owners who invest in businesses, and wages are paid to workers. The world of business is where religion demands high moral and values; Weber’s idea of modern capitalism as growing out of the religious pursuit of wealth meant a change to how wealth existed. Looking at this argument the world today has changed due to advancement of human knowledge and technological advances, religion affects business depending on relationship created among business partners, however religion is an obligation to look at, basically the impact can be based on critical values of entrepreneurs or markets targeted. Every organization is critically evaluated through its promise and purposes to deliver its products and services. The compliment can be on ability to abide by the vision and mission statement. Weber’s argues that the first and probably most vital feature of the spirit of capitalism was that it invested on economizing with high moral significance. Today communication among business entities has created a link to doing business better, the advancement of technology e.g. the use of electronic mode of payment has brought about cross boundary relationships which can easily be manage and monitored. Weber aims of scrutinizing individual strength and builds trust which is critical to business operations. This is to provide opportunities for resistance in the organizational structures with emancipation alongside those for repression and subordination. In most economies equal business opportunities are applied to allow free movement of labour and interest payment are legitimate returns on capital which provides legal mechanism for state in mobilization of funds and partnerships and create a modern state. The challenges in the society today are; highly competitive environments, global warming, inflation, which puts pressure on company’s leaders to create profitable relationships remain competent to create channels which circumvent to stakeholders returns on investment. The pressure of delivering positive results can lead to unethical decisions by individuals. However Governing legal frameworks therefore become critical as a key competency for quality productivity. Every organization has to avoid unethical environment because if it occurs it usually gets passed down through the organization ruining its reputation. In the world today China and India are believed to be â€Å"federal capitalist who excises economical power, capitalism ultimately enforce market regulation. The pricing mechanism coordinates supply and demand within a given market framework, while the visible hand of government enforces the framework and keeps it up to date†. (Bruzz Scott: the root of modern capitalism journal 11 June 2008) LUTHER CONCEPTION CALLING According to Weber his conception calling was on realization that people have got duty to fulfill and obligations imposed on them which must be attain, this believe adds value to letting each individual practice his capabilities and beliefs for betterment of living. He argues that each person has got a legitimate calling or purpose by his God; however the society is a mix of races as others rarely believe in God. He came to believe in absolute obedience to God’s will, and acceptance of the way things were. According to Weber he was trying to understand how certain characteristics of modern culture can be traced to the reformation. Scientifically most of Weber’s unforeseen beliefs are today engulfing physically through research challenging this believes. Today the society demands quality products and services with gratification of immediate results, perhaps a reason some companies practice corporate values to deliver results based of professionalism and not mere religion hindrances. Due to bureaucratic leaderships it is obvious that one’s individual moral capabilities impacts decisions and choices made in a business and in the process of it the immoral acts will decline. This in today business relationship is based on training and staff motivation. The staff morale is critical; at such a case Weber’s religion plays a role as most organization start a day with a word of prayer as a way of building courage and etiquette among employees. Weber’s moral values were that his study will contribute to the understanding of how some ideas become history’s most effective forces. He in his calling was to civilize other believers and create a more ethical responsible society with a better lifestyle. In the modern society Weber also notes that societies having more Protestants have the most developed capitalist economies. Weber’s transformation approach was not personal for monetary gain but based on passion for his Lutheran faith. It is in the best interest of a company to promote universal ethically good behavior in the workplace. This can be through Consumer trust and confidence in a business. This ultimately enhances economical benefits to a company and its network will grow. Thus, Weber concludes that the simple idea of the calling in Lutheranism is at best of limited importance to his study. Modern capitalism is about blended revolution aimed to create systems across boundaries; technology is factor that has influenced positively capitalism development on perspective of social systems, most government political challenges also affects the relationships by compromising relationships management across boundaries. However, this can be done through international marketing e.g. development abroad, franchising licensing and many others or through outsourcing services. Trade is increasingly global in scope today. Technological has improved transportation and communication opportunities and trade is now more practical. Thus, consumers and businesses now have access to the very best products from many different countries. â€Å"Increasingly rapid technology lifecycles also increases the competition among countries as to who can produce the newest in technology. In part to accommodate these realities, countries in the last several decades have taken increasing steps to promote global trade through agreements such as the General Treaty on Trade and Tariffs†. (Lars Perner, Ph.D) At glace ethical organizations create a stable organization culture and affects the level of decision making, the relationship between business and the society is vital, thus ethics is a component of doing good business. It would be a better world if the alternatives to source professionals could be utilized. However a population of unskilled workers is high and various governments’ rules of socials and dictatorship style of management insulates countries with anti market policies creating a non conducive environment for investments. However adapting ethical social governance can change for well created government for capitalism has got to start somewhere due to poor leadership opponents of globalization worry that many of the economic opportunities afforded the world while in many developing countries. CONCLUSION As the world advance and relationships are made, it is vital to understand the impact that matters to our daily life’s devotions. All aspect and merits of life are contacted by beliefs and creation of one’s faith.

Importance of Osmosis in Living Organisms and Beings

What is the importance of osmosis in living organisms?The process of osmosis and its importance to living organisms Osmosis is the process by which there is a net movement of water through a semi permeable membrane from an area of high water potential to an area of low water potential. Within a cell, osmosis has the following effect. If the water potential of the cell is lower than that around the cell water will move across a concentration gradient into the cell. If this is the case, the increase in water in the cell, may cause the cell to swell, which could consequently lead to the cell bursting.If the concentration of water is the same both inside the cell and surrounding the cell there will be a dynamic equilibrium between the number of water molecules entering and leaving the cell, hence the cell does not change size. For example, red blood cells in the blood plasma retain their shape because of the isotonic nature of the plasma. If the concentration of water is higher within th e cell then that of outside the cell, there will be a net movement of water out of the cell, this will cause the cell to shrink and shrivel.Within animal cells there is no cell wall therefore when there is a higher water potential outside the cell to inside the cell, water diffuses into the cell, and as there is no cell wall to prevent it from bursting, the cell swells and bursts and the cell cannot become turgid. However when an animal cell is in danger of bursting, organelles within the cell pump water out of the cell to prevent this from happening. When a cell contains excess fluid it causes the membrane to split and the cell to burst, when this happens due to an over abundance of fluid, it is known as lysis.It is therefore very important to maintain an osmotic balance within animal cells. Like with all cells when the water potential inside the cell is higher than that outside the cell water moves out of the cell, causing the cell to shrink in size. Therefore it is necessary for animal cells to be always surrounded by an isotonic solution. In the human body, the kidneys provide the necessary regulatory mechanism for the blood plasma to be an isotonic solution to prevent excesses amounts of water and salts leaving the body and maintain the correct concentration of water by removing salt from the blood.This process within the kidneys is controlled by part of the brain called the medulla. Almost all of the water which enters the intestines is absorbed across the walls of the small intestine through the action of osmosis. Chyme which enters the intestines is digested and broken down, this increases the osmotic pressure, and therefore as digestion continues there is an increase in osmotic pressure. This causes water to move into the gut via the process of osmosis. On the other hand the broken down molecules move out of the lumen and into the blood stream.This decreases the osmotic pressure, and water is reabsorbed back into the body. An additional bodily functio n which uses osmosis is the production of sweat. The body uses osmosis by lowering the water potential near the skin by exerting a small amount of salt inside the sweat glands, this lowers the water potential inside the gland, and this causes water to move into the gland via osmosis as the water potential is higher outside the gland then within it. When the glands are full of water, sweat leaves the body, as mainly water, and the salt remains in the glands which allow water to continually move into the glands when needed to.Therefore it is clear that osmosis plays a large role in the body, and is needed to maintain many processes within the body. Tissue fluid also requires the process of osmosis, tissue fluid is the fluid which surrounds cells and tissues which contains blood plasma, the function of tissue fluid is to carry oxygen and glucose to cells, and carry carbon dioxide and waste products away from the cells and into the tissue fluid to be reabsorbed by the blood. At the arte riole end of the capillary, due to a high hydrostatic pressure in comparison to the solute potential of the blood is forced out which creates the tissue fluid.At the venule end of the capillary the pressure is much lower, but the capillary contains the proteins which were not forced out with the tissue fluid. This increases the osmotic potential; therefore the tissue fluid is reabsorbed back into the venule via osmosis. Plant cells are slightly different to animal cells in terms of their reaction to osmosis. When a plant cell has a lower water potential than around the cell, like animal cells, there is a net movement of water into the cell causing the cell to begin to swell.However, the turgid cell walls prevent the cell from bursting, once this has happened the plant cell is said to have become turgid, as it has become swollen and hard. This causes the pressure inside the cell to be equal to that outside of the cell, this hydrostatic pressure prevents further uptake of water by the plant cell. This is very important to the plant as osmosis cause the turgidity of the cells it allows the plant tissue to maintain its turgidity and stability.This is further helped by the fact the pressure of the cells is exerted on the neighbouring cells this allows green plants to photosynthesis more efficiently as it allows them to remain straight and tall towards the sunlight. When a plant cell is in hypertonic conditions, water is exuded from the cell, but there is no change in the size or shape of the cell wall but the cytoplasm shrinks, and the cell membrane and cytoplasm are pulled away from the cell wall, this process is known as plasmolysis.Osmosis is important within plants, as it allows water to be taken up by the roots, and move up the plant. Firstly it is necessary for moving water and dissolved mineral ions through the xylem. When the water potential is greater in the soil surrounding the roots than in the outer layer of root cells, water moves into the reels via os mosis. This causes and increase of water concentration in the outer root cells, than in surrounding root cells, water therefore moves in to adjacent root cells by osmosis.This movement of water continues as long as the adjacent cells have lower water potential, this allows water to continue moving up the entire plant. Once the water has been taken up by the roots it can continue in two ways, either down the symplast pathway or the apoplast pathway. The symplast pathway does not require osmosis as there are no further membranes to pass through until the water reaches the xylem. The apoplast pathway stops when the water reaches the endodermis because of the waterproof casparian strip, which seals the cell walls.Therefore the water has to cross the cell membrane by osmosis and enter the symplast. The uptake of water by the plant causes a pressure which pushes the water up the xylem; this is known as root pressure. However this is not enough on its own to cause water to move up the xyle m, the main forces which causes water to move up the xylem comes from transpiration from the leaves. Osmosis is also an important part of mass flow hypothesis in the phloem of plants; the process involves the movement of substances and is nown as translocation. Sucrose is important to plants and needs to e transported around the plant, firstly the sucrose is loaded into the phloem, usually from a photosynthetic leaf. The sucrose is then actively transported into surrounding cells, this causes the water potential of these cells to reduce, this causes water to enter by osmosis. As the sucrose moves out of the cells, the water follows via the process of osmosis. This results in the mass flow of substances in the phloem.Therefore osmosis is proven to be a very important element to plant survival water movement, and mass movement in plants. Therefore the process of osmosis is a vital; it allows both plants and animals to function efficiently. Osmosis is involved in many processes around the body and within different sections of plant, it is necessary for absorption in the gut, water movement in plant, the formation of tissue fluid, the stability and turgidity of plants and many other processes mentioned previously.

Decision making and problem solving concepts and principles Research Paper

Decision making and problem solving concepts and principles - Research Paper Example Principles and concepts create a plat form whereby solutions and remedies to problems are attained and are a basic requirement to enhance fairness in decision making and problem solving (Metcalfe, 2014). Another principle is that decision making should be a continuous process which is usually a five step process. The five steps involve defining a problem or situation, analyzing the problem, finding the alternative courses of action, analyzing the different alternatives and finally selecting the best alternative and solving the problem. The principles and concepts are applied in law, during decision making and problem solving. The decision making process is applied, whereby five steps are followed. The first step is the definition of a problem. The step involves identifying the problem, listing down the causes and what led to the problem. The second step is analyzing the problem, whereby the current problem is analyzed on the basis of what led to the specific problem and the criteria to evaluate the problem is outlined. The third stage involves coming up with alternatives that may be applied in solving the problem. Different alternatives are derived at this stage and information relating to them is analyzed. The alternatives are then evaluated using the information (Alvord, 2010). The fourth stage involves analyzing the alternatives. The result of this stage is the coming up with the best alternative to be applied in problem solving. The final stage is selecting and implementing of the best alternative. This alternative is then applied for the purpose of solving the problem (Alvord, 2010). In addition to the process, decision making in the law profession calls for other principles that include being purpose driven, since the decision making is usually aimed at achieving some goals and objectives, being inclusive in that it involves the participation of all the involved parties, for

Examine the Rivarly among existing competitors and the threat of Essay

Examine the Rivarly among existing competitors and the threat of substitute product in low cost airline industry in Europe - Essay Example Therefore, there should be checks and balances put in place to control the competitiveness among industries of low cost airline in Europe (Airlines Industry Profile: Europe, 2014, p. 4). This paper examines the rivalry among the competitors and the effect this has on the profit potential. Moreover, it also unravels the threats of substitute of a product in low cost airline industry in Europe. As asserted by Cameron and Quinn (2011, p. 2), airline industry has changed largely due to deregulation act of airline that occurred in America. These effects of deregulation act that occurred in America extended to the entire world. The results of liberalization of airline industry resulted in the emergence of low cost airline. The act helped in abandoning the status quo of restrictive pricing model that inhibited the growth of airline industry. Deregulation act helped in removing the state control over airline routes and it promoted the entrance of other airlines into the market (Airlines Industry Profile: Europe, 2014, p. 9). Therefore, the act exposed the airline industry to competitive market forces that have resulted to rivalry among different firms. Nonetheless, the passenger’s fares decreased in a number of market because of the growth of competition in the industry. The competition came because of new entrance of airline of low cost into the market (Airlines Industry Profile: United Kingdom 2014, p.8). The strategy of low cost airline have been so appealing especially to traditional airlines and this led to Southwest airline being the pioneer to introduce low fares airline for short routes. In Europe, deregulation act helped in emergence of the first European low cost airline after which, rivalry competition have dominated the market due to high number of low cost airlines. Low cost airlines have lower cost compared to the cost of their competitors. The

What processes define Globalisation How do they impinge on sport Essay

What processes define Globalisation How do they impinge on sport Illustrate your answer with examples - Essay Example f of the contemporary era, many renowned economists emphatically state that, strictly going by the basic definition of the term (globalization), it is not a phenomenon that got underway only in the recent past. They state in no uncertain terms that globalization is a process that got initiated as early as many centuries ago, when commercial interactions amongst members of diverse societies of the globe commenced. Having said that, the above-mentioned economists do concede, it is an irrefutable fact that globalization has been spreading across the planet more swiftly over the past two decades, attributable primarily to the phenomenal surge in information technology. â€Å"In its most innocuous sense, globalization simply refers to the complex of forces that trend toward a single world society. Among these forces are mass communications, commerce, increased ease of travel, the internet, popular culture, and the increasingly widespread use of English as an international language† (1) (Progressiveliving.org, ND). â€Å"The more important sense of the term refers to a process, well underway, which trends toward the undermining of national sovereignty, and therefore citizens rights, in favor of the economic interests of gigantic transnational corporations (TNCs). The latter already comprise more than half of the largest "economies" of the world, and are vastly more powerful than most governments.† (1) (Progressiveliving.org, ND). The above definitions are highly relevant to contemporary times, as the hitherto challenging criteria of time and space have now ceased to be hindrances in interactions between people dwelling in different parts of the globe. That is attributable predominantly to the technological revolution that the globe has been witnessing over the past three decades. Also, the first of the aforesaid definitions has included even the element of culture while speaking about integration of mankind. In fact, the rapidly progressing process of globalization has

Legal, Environmental and Social Constraints Essay

Legal, Environmental and Social Constraints - Essay Example The regulation aimed at controlling the most polluting processes such as at power stations. The following hydrocarbon processes, as prescribed by The Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991/472), require authorization if they are likely to release prescribed substances." (Environmental legislation applicable to the offshore hydrocarbon industry (England, Scotland and Wales) The proposed expansion of Stansted Airport faced a lot of controversy. A preservation group protested and stated that the expansion could lead to the destruction of many historic buildings. Although the Government assured that the listed properties could be rebuilt outside the new boundaries but the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings kept the stance that the airport expansion will lead to maximum damage to the country's heritage including two important monuments Waltham Manor and The Grange. The controversy also directed towards the lack of planning in order to deal with the increasing demand of future air travel. The pressure groups warned for the legal action against the airport authorities that presented the proposal to build another runway on Stansted Airport. The group took the stance that the costs attached to the expansion of the Stansted Airport are lot more than the benefits attached to the plan. Reference SSE News Archives, 27 December 2003 http://www.stopstanstedexpansion.com/news_archive06.html Q 3. Explain what is covered by EMC legislation, What part was played by the EU in this piece of legislation. "The word EMC does not include the influence of electromagnetic waves (either desired or undesired) on biological systems. This is a much larger field and is covered by the expression "EMCE" ("E" is for environmental), which is not the topic here and is also not the field in which EM TEST works." (Mohr) The EMC makes sure that all the electrical products shall work in their environment and will not generate electromagnetic disturbances, which can effect the performance of other products. The EMC also covers the

Journal Entry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Journal Entry - Essay Example The speaker had a clear topic and memorable attention getter. This is because her work was clearly organized; thus, she captured the attention of the listener through use of memorable getter such use of startling and quotation statements. Furthermore, it was easy to identify the speaker’s main points because she prepared the speech points in a clear and coherent manner. The speaker also made effective transition by moving from one point to another; thus connecting listeners effectively. The speaker used some citations within the points, which was easy to identify; thus effective for jogging the memory of the listener in case one forgets the speech. Moreover, the speaker reviewed the main points in the conclusion and this was imperative because it builds the credibility of the listener. In this ways, the speaker demonstrated that she has some expertise or experience relevant to the topic and demonstrated to the listeners that she has gained information in other ways. The speake r used memorable concluding devices such as quotations for closing the speech. The speaker had some distracting nonverbal behaviors especially the body language, posture and appearance that took away from the content of her message. However, the speaker used gestures such as deliberate movements and signals, which were effective ways of expressing the meaning of the information without words. She also used visual aspects in order to help the listener to understand clearly the points she was explaining such as diagrams and simple charts.

Business Proposal for Photo Rental Equipment Company Assignment

Business Proposal for Photo Rental Equipment Company - Assignment Example mpany that aims to provide a digital platform, both web and app, from which travellers across the globe would locate and rent their desired photography equipment. In addition, renters may use the same platform to increase the market visibility of their products. The renter places their products in the platform and the travellers then selects a product based on their specification and location. The main goal of the company is to increase the ease at which the photography rental equipment industry is keen to administer the needs of the regular traveller. The company recognizes that the regular traveler relies heavily on the abilities of their mobile phones to access basic travel amenities. For this reason, the creation of a website and an application provides the ease at which the traveller may access photography rental services. This is the mission shared by the organization as it strives to increase its online presence for the use of travellers across the globe. Revenue sources for the company are directly linked to the web platform created. Majorly, both the user and the renter that uses the digital platform pay a commission to the company. The users are required to pay a higher commission to the company than the renter. Other revenues sources from the venture include the provision of a marketing prospect for business in the field. For instances, tourism hotspots may use the digital platform to market their products and services. The success of the company is based on the creation of stages for the market introduction, penetration and dominance. After creation of the product the product would go through the first stage of the website creation. The website would then be marketed in New York City. The second stage sees the expansion of the product to the city of Chicago and Miami. The two stages rely massively in the use and maximization on the marketing opportunities provided by giant social networks of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. The other stage

Classroom Observation and Reflection Paper Essay Example for Free

Classroom Observation and Reflection Paper Essay Curriculum Constr. and Assessment: Reading and Language Arts, I had the opportunity to not only observe but teach a lesson that I created for Mrs. Watsons Class at Little Rascals Daycare and Afterschool Program. Throughout this paper I will reflect on my lesson plan experience. First, I introduced the concept of letter blends to the students. I explained to the students that letter blends can be at the beginning, middle, or end of a word to make specific sounds. I then explained to the students that I was going to be teaching them beginning letter blends. I went n to explain to the students that since there were several beginning letter blends that I chose five to teach about In the lesson. The blends that I chose were dr, n, bl, gl, and Ch. I went over each beginning letter blend, demonstrated the sound each make and provided several examples for each letter blend for the students. Next, I gave the students an opportunity to participate In the lesson. I held up picture flashcards that had different objects on them. The students had to raise their hands and tell me what the object was and the letter blend for that object. I repeated this process until ach student in the class had a chance to participate. Once we finished, I answered any questions or concerns the student had. I noticed that the students were actively engaged in the lesson and seemed to have really enjoyed. Most of all they seemed to have understood the lesson with ease. Lastly, the students were given a cut and paste blending worksheet to complete. The worksheet had 1 5 different picture objects and letter blends on it. The students had to color (if they wanted to), cut, and paste the correct picture to its letter blend. Once the students finished the worksheet we went over it as a class. Again, I answered any last questions or concerns and wrapped up the lesson. In conclusion, this was my very first time teaching a lesson. I have done several lesson plans before but never had to actually teach them. I believe the lesson went pretty good. The teacher and the students were both very welcoming and provided positive feedback. Although the lesson went well, the one thing I would change if I had to do it all over again would be to pick two or three blends at a time to teach instead of all five. Sometimes when a lot of information is thrown at the students it makes it harder to understand.

Claude Monets Impressionism Artwork

Claude Monets Impressionism Artwork Claude Monet was born on November 14, 1840 in Paris France and was son to Claude Adolphe Monet and Louise-Justine Aubree. Monet, even from a very young age, had always loved to study and practice art and even attended Le Havre, school for the arts at the ripe age of 11. Monet continued to study art for much of his life and even developed his own style of art that was coined Impressionism (Claude Monet Biography). Impressionism is a movement in French painting, sometimes called optical realism because of its almost scientific interest in the actual visual experience and effect of light and movement on appearance of objects (Impressionism). Characteristics of Impressionist paintings include visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on light in its changing qualities, ordinary subject matter, the inclusion of movement as a crucial element of human perception and experience, and unusual visual angles (Art Periods: Impressionism in France). Monet painted a series of Impressionist series of approximately 250 paintings called Water Lilies. 250 The paintings depict Monets flower garden at Giverny and were the main focus of Monets artistic production during the last thirty years of his life (Water Lilies). As part of his extensive gardening plans at Giverny, Monet had a pond dug and planted with lilies in 1893. He painted the subject in 1899, and thereafter it dominated his art. He worked continuously for more than twenty years on a large-scale decorative series, attempting to capture every observation, impression, and reflection of the flowers and water. By the mid-1910s Monet had achieved a completely new, fluid, and somewhat audacious style of painting in which the water-lily pond became the point of departure for an almost abstract art. This work, which he began in the late teens and kept in his studio until his death, is one of the most complete pictures of the late series (Claude Monet). One of the 250 Water Lilies paintings, completed in 1907 is currently on display in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. The painting is oil on canvas and 38 1/8 x 38  ¾. The form of the painting is 2-dimensional. The painting shows water lilies in what appears to be a pond. There are more water lilies in the distance than â€Å"in the front†. The water and the water lilies are not painted in a â€Å"traditional† way. If looking closely, one can see that they are painted will unsmooth and spotted paint strokes and a vast variety of colors. The water surrounding the water lilies highlights them by adding areas of light as well depth where needed. The space of the Water Lilies is key to its beauty. Monet uses a proper proportional scale to indicate distance from the viewer. The lilies are not crowded and appear â€Å"comfortable† in their environment. Each group of lilies had its own space. Though the groups of lilies get close to one another in the distance, there is no obvious overlapping. When it comes to the composition of the painting, Monet leads the viewer though the entire painting with every brush stroke. The â€Å"front† of the painting is bright and full of light and catches the eye first. The light in the center of the painting leads the viewers eyes up to view the large clusters of lilies. The color in Water Lilies makes the painting the gorgeous work of art that it is. The various colors allows for the depth and the reflection of light. The water in the painting varies in color from very pale lavender, to dark and mossy browns and greens. Lavender, brown, and green are probably not the first colors a viewer would think of when imagining a pond or stream but it works perfectly in Water Lilies. There is also a wide variety of color used in the lilies. When looking up close, the â€Å"green† part of the lilies are actually composed of every shade of green imaginable, yellows, blues, browns, and even pinks. The flowers on the lilies, which appear just pink from a distance, are made with red, pink, white, brown, and grey. From the painting, it is clear that Monet was fascinated, and spent a lot of time concentrating on the light of a painting. There is so much depth and highlighting in the painting that many onlookers find it breathtaking. The lightest part of the painting is right in the center. There are no lilies in that area, so there is no need for shadowing which is why it appears to be illuminated. In the distance of the painting, it is much darker and there are also a lot more lilies. The front of the painting is purple and blue. It almost appears as though it is the sky reflecting onto the water. The texture of this painting is what makes Monet, Monet. When looking up close at the painting, it is hard to believe that the textured, rough and quick brush strokes create such a clear looking and well composed painting from far away. If a viewer only had the opportunity to view the painting up close, it would be reasonable to believe that they would think the painting was a mess and wouldnt create a clear image. There are so many layers in Water Lilies. When looking up close, it is strange to see shades of brown layered on top of purple and it appears as though it would never look fluid, but Monet mastered it to do so. Monet was the master of Impressionism and his series of 250 Water Lilies paintings showcased his talent in the category perfectly. His works are displayed all around the world, even right here in the Boston area. Monet will forever go down in history as the first, and perhaps the greatest Impressionist artist of all time. References Art Periods: IMPRESSIONISM in France. Discover France French Arts, Culture, Tourism. Web. 09 Mar. 2010. . Claude Monet (18401926) | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Metmuseum.org. Web. 09 Mar. 2010. . Claude MONET Biography. Giverny Vernon : In the Heart of Impressionism. Web. 09 Mar. 2010. . Impressionism Impressionism Art. Oil Paintings Reproduction Canvas Oil Painting Reproductions For Sale. Web. 09 Mar. 2010. . Water Lilies | Claude Monet | All | European Paintings | Collection Database | Works of Art | The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Metmuseum.org. Web. 09 Mar. 2010. .

Bamboo :: Botany

Bamboo Gramineae, the grass family, has provided civilization throughout history with a bounty of food and many other uses. The top three economically important plants of the world are grasses: wheat corn, and rice. Human kind probably would not have survived if not for the grasses. The sub-family Bambusoideae, is certainly no exception. These are the bamboos. Consisting of 75 genera and over 1000 species, these unique plants have played a diverse and important role in the development of society, as we know it today. Morphology The bamboo plant is constructed of a system of segmented axes. This is depicted by the regular internodal lengths and prominent nodes (McClure 10). They resemble telescoping antennas, but at a constant diameter. The culm is the above ground stem, this is what is used for most all of the many applications. The culm is woody and either hollow or solid, however most species exhibit some degree of hollowness. The length and thickness of the culm varies greatly between species. Some species can get as tall as 130 feet and be more than a foot in diameter--these have been reported to grow at nearly two inches each hour (Hanke 291). Indeed this would be impressive to see, definitely not like the grasses most of us are familiar with. Branches, also segmented. arise from the culm. Upon the branches are to be found leaves, with petioles. The fact that the leaves have petioles helps to set the bamboos apart from the other grasses. The leaves and young shoots are the parts eaten by Pandas. The Panda subsists on no other plant or food source. Bamboos alone keep them going strong. More on that later. New culms, or shoots, are produced from an extensive rhizome system. Simply, rhizomes are modified stems, usually growing underground (Fig. 1). The rhizomes cause the "clump habit" of growth exhibited by the bamboos. "Clump habit" refers to the culms growing in close proximity to each other, such as a "tuft of grass", so to speak. There are basically two types of rhizomes'. pachymorph and leptomorph. Most species exhibit both, to a greater or lesser degree. Pachymorph rhizomes are very compact. They are associated with autumnal growth and produce a dense clump of culms. Leptomorph rhizomes, associated with spring growth, spread a little more. than pachymorph, in some cases a lot more. In other words they are responsible for the lateral growth of a given stand, or clump, of a bamboo species.

Isolation in Faulkners Light in August Essay -- Light August Essays

  Isolation in Light In August  Ã‚   In William Faulkner’s Light In August, most characters seem isolated from each other and from society. It is often argued that Lena Grove is an exception to this, but I have found that I cannot agree with this view. Consequently, this essay will show that Lena is lonely too, and that the message in Faulkner’s work on the issue of human contact is that everyone is essentially alone, either by voluntary recession from company or by involuntary exclusion, and the only escape from this loneliness is to have a proper family to comfort you. As a child, Lena was involuntarily isolated from a society she wanted to be a part of. We are told that â€Å"six or eight times a year she went to town on Saturday† (p. 5), which obviously was not enough for her. â€Å"It was because she believed that the people who saw her and whom she passed on foot would believe that she lived in town too† (p. 5). Lena had a need to be a part of society and join the ranks of ordinary people in an ordinary town, which presumably includes marrying and starting a family. Living with McKinley in a far off mill hamlet continued to keep Lena isolated, and this condition was further aggravated by the fact that she was kept busy with housework much of the time. Admittedly, housekeeping for a large family is one kind of community, but it is not the kind that Lena wants. She would rather have a family of her own than care for someone else’s, and so she seeks love in the form of Lucas Burch. Unfortunately, Burch does not want to start a family. He only uses Lena for his own pleasure, and as soon as she tells him about the pregnancy, he leaves town (p. 16-17). Lena takes off on a quest to reunite herself with her would-be hu... ...g the society she loves. When she no longer has any hope of putting her family together the way she reckons it should be, she can no longer face society because she will never fit in. Even if she married Bunch, he would still not be her child’s father, which would make their family an anomaly. Lena has turned into a voluntary outcast, dragging Byron Bunch around to help her run her daily life but never letting him get intimate, never really making him a part of her life. After being forced into isolation from society for most of her life, Lena has now chosen to remain isolated. She is just as alone as any other character in Light in August. The conclusion I inevitably reach is that Faulkner wanted to portray family as the ultimate unit of society. Without a family, you cannot fit into society, and if you do not fit into society, you are essentially alone.   

Relationships Essay -- essays research papers

Relationships are one of the most unstable aspects of life today, no matter what two people are involved. How you feel about something or someone can change within a day, an hour, or even a moment. Friends come and go, families get torn apart, and boyfriends never last. It’s all part of life’s cycle. And although we all wish we could do without, sometimes you never can.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The hardest part of life is letting go. Growing up in the same place for 17 years will give you friends that go way back. But guess what? Who you were 17 years ago isn’t who you are today. People change. And yes, it’s sad and hard to acknowledge that, but it’s a fact of life. You can grow up with someone and at the same time grow apart. Why is that? Experiences shape how people are. Just because you’ve spent years with someone doesn’t mean you’ve gone through everything with them. Yes you’ve been there for them when they needed to cry and someone to hold. But you can’t understand how that experience affected them. You may think you do, because you know how you would react if that same situation happened to you. News flash: You aren’t them so it doesn’t really matter what you think. All you can try to do is just be there and help them through all the hurt and the pain, but sometimes that just isn ’t enough. Each of you goes your separate ways with nothing but memories left behind. And when that awkward moment arises when you do run into each other, all you have is â€Å"Do you remember†¦?† and â€Å"I can’t believe†¦!† and then it’s over and you’re on your way. You go back to your Pacelli 2 house and shift through your pictures and remember all those once upon a time’s when you were younger. You laugh as you recall the time you both got stuck in the fence when the construction workers were chasing you out of the school. â€Å"Now that was a fun time,† you recall. But college happened and of course you promised you’d stay in touch but then her parents got divorced and you had a new boyfriend and it was just easier said then done. By the time the summer came you didn’t even know each other anymore. Maybe you weren’t as good as friends as you thought.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The relationship between friends is a very complicated one at that. They are the people that may very well know you better than yourself. They’ve seen you at your best and they’ve seen you at your worst n... ...r his phone call. But you’re too scared to be without him because you don’t want to be alone, and you’re worried he’s the best you’ll ever find. Of course, if he were the best he wouldn’t ask you out to dinner and then cancel last minute, three nights in a row. He wouldn’t call you from a party at his friend’s house the night you and him were supposed to go out to the movies. No, that wouldn’t happen. He wouldn’t stop by you’re apartment to see if you wanted to go out to breakfast, but then not call you in an hour. You’re friends tell you that you’d be better off alone, but you don’t think so. You feel better thinking that someone out there cares, even though you know he doesn’t. But no one needs to know that. They don’t need to know you cry yourself to sleep every night thinking that something’s wrong with you. They don’t need to know that he makes you ha te yourself. No, they don’t need to know that. Nobody does.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Relationships don’t exist. You merely interact with people, not knowing when they’re going to be leaving next. You want and wish them to stay, you want them to be there for you and to love you. But can that happen? Sadly, I wouldn’t know.

Character Analysis of Anne of “The Thousand Days” Essay

Thousand Days is a 1969 drama made by Hal Wallis Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures. Directed by Charles Jarrott and produced by Hal B. Wallis. In Anne of the Thousand Days, King Richard VIII plays the central role in the plot and progress of the play. As the king of England, Richard is the most prominent authority figure. It turns out that he is the main character and therefore the most important person in the play.Being the central character makes it easy for this character to progress the play. The main contribution to progress the play is King Richards urgent desire to have a son to take heir to his throne. This is what the entire play revolves around. There are several other contributions that he makes to move the play forward. Some of these include his infatuation with Anne Boleyn, manipulating his government to allow different women into his life, and Annes trial that leads to her eventual death. The playwright employed this character as the central story that the entire play is based upon. Being based on history, it seems to be a very interesting story about King Richard VIII and the playwright realized this. It only makes sense to make him the main character because the story is about him. This play absolutely could not have been made without the king.If I were cast into playing King Richard VIII, I would not change the central objectives of my role. Being that this play is mostly non-fiction, it does not make sense to try and alter history in a major way. In my opinion, retaining the true story as well as possible is the best way to tell a story that is heavily based on history. Bibliography Anne of the Thousand Days Tea at Trianon. 2008. 11 November 2008. http://teaattrianon.blogspot.com/2008/10/anne-of-thousand-days-1969.htmlAnne of the Thousand Days Wikipedia Encylopedia. 2008. 11 November 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_the_Thousand_Days

Punishment: Forms and Functions Essay

In a contemporary society where crime takes place we expect the state authority to dispense justice in the form of punishment to maintain social solidarity. There are many forms of punishment that can be given to an offender, each with their own functions for the offender and society itself. Imprisonment is one of the most widely used forms of punishments globally, the ideology of imprisonment globally tends to remain the same. There are several functions of imprisonment and whether it is an effective method of punishment is widely argued by sociologist. To remove the offender from society, as to keep society safe is one function that stands out, by putting the offender in a high security environment you take away their freedom to commit offences towards the public again. However it could be argued that prison is deemed an unsafe environment for the offender itself as an institution, for many it’s an environment where they have to adapt to survive, in which case becoming a bre eding more criminals as a result of this or producing victims. Alternative punishment such as house arrest or probation would be more suitable in the face of the offender’s personal safety, whereby they are still paying for the crimes they have committed, with limitations on their freedom, however they are much safer. Statistics show that 50% of offenders that are released from prison are likely to reoffend within 3 years, which is the same rate as those who are given these alternative punishment. With 3% of the American population in prison and a large majority of those likely to reoffend within 3 year of release, they should be looking for alternative approaches to prison that takes into account the safety of the offender. However it could be argued that prison is there to be tough and that the people in there are criminals and should be treated as such. An alternative approach to prison that has be found to be particularly successful across America in reducing the number of young people entering prison and reducing the reoffending rate s are correctional facilities, which implements army regimes, with an aim to instil discipline, self-control and work ethic into juveniles. This form of punishment works based on the idea of giving young people who have committed the change to go through a programme or carry on with their sentence. This form of punishment works based on the idea of deterrence as mentioned in item B, which in the case of this form of punishment where it is heavily applied it is successful proven by the low rates of reoffending after graduation from correctional  facilities. However it can be argued it’s difficult to prove the effectiveness of deterrence, because only the offenders who weren’t deterred by possible consequences of the actions will come to face the enforcement of the punishment, therefore it does not tell us why others do not offend. Making punishments based on deterrence is based on a key concept that offenders choose to obey or disobey the law having calculated the possible gains and consequences of their actions. It could be argued that all forms of punishment are based on deterrence, we have punishment to deter the public from committing crimes, and it forces society to conform. Over the many centuries that there have been prison systems there have been changes in the way offenders have been treated, one concept that is present in today’s prison system is the idea of rehabilitation, this is aiming to reform the offender to give them the support and skills they needs to be able to go back into society once they have served their sentence, and in turn stop them reoffending. This as a function of punishment is generally very positive, it’s helping the offender, their still contained in a high security environment away from the public however for many offenders they tend to be uneducated or lack vocational skills which has left them unsupported previously, with rehabilitation they’re able to gain these skills so they can go out and get jobs, meaning they’re less likely to lead criminal lives when they’re released from prison. However Rothman 1973 rejects the idea of rehabilitating offenders, he believes that due to the environment they’re in with officers holding huge amounts of power over them, they’re left with little free will and are forced into these programmes. However it’s often found that many offenders, especially women and ethnic minorities, take well the programmes having been discriminated against in education and in the work place so having had less opportunism before prison. 30 mins When assessing the functions and forms of punishment one key aspect I think is important to take into consideration is the role of the crime itself and how that plays out in punishment. Imprisonment, can be a harsh environment, however can be an opportunity for offenders to reflect on the crime they’ve committed and who they’ve committed it against. Restorative justice also gives offender this opportunity to reflect on the harm they’ve caused  through programmes such as victim offender medication, which studies show has a high satisfaction rate for those involved, high victim participant rates, meaning a large proportion of victims who can will take up the opportunity to talk to the victim of their crime, and importantly reduced criminal behaviour by offenders (cumbhert 1994). However a major criticism of victim offender mediation is that it’s difficult in terms of victims of brutal crimes such rape of with relatives of murder victims. Item B refers to t he use of execution as a form of punishment, whereby countries such as the USA still enforce the death penalty, the UK uses the alternative of life imprisonment for brutal crimes such as murder or rape of a minor. Deterrence is a prominent concept when discussing death penalty, the idea is that if you take a life where the death penalty is used as a form of punishment, your life will be taken, however research from the death penalty information centre suggests that the use of capital punishment has no effect on the rate of murder case, when they compared states that used the penalty there wasn’t much difference between the number of murder cases and in some year It was higher for states with the penalty. In the UK we abandoned capital punishment and replaced it with life imprisonment, which some argue to be unfair on the victims and believe in the take a lie give a life ideology. However when you take into consideration a lifetime imprisonment and was that would actually be like, living with hundreds of criminals for a lifetime, in isolation, without many rights, it could be argued that the offender would endure more suffering, therefore the punishment is right for what they’ve done, and they’re serving the time for their crimes. Prison is a form of punishment which is a theme throughout, Foucault provides an explanation for why prison is so prominent as a form of punishment in our society. In previous years sovereign power was prominent, whereby punishment would be handled by those in power of the land, i.e. the king or queen, this would be done in a manner of cruelty and brutally aiming to punish the body for the crimes that have been committed. In our society we have moved towards disciplinary power whereby punishment is handed out by the authorities, it’s done so with an aim of disciplining the mind, making them correct their own actions. The idea of self-discipline comes into play in prisons where by prisoners are being watched by guards so act accordingly, in time they will begin to act this way without the guards being there in  case they are being watched. There are many forms of punishment and many functions of those punishments, and whether a punishment is successful depends on what the aim is and who the punishment is applied to. For example many argue that a fine is a suitable punishment for speeding and acts as a deterrent for reckless driving.

Business plan †CoViTek Essay

CoViTek is an Atlanta based company that offers a unique value added service to the $11 billion dollars video rental industry. CoViTek will revolutionize the industry by renting movies through its video vending machines. These machines are already experiencing tremendous success in Europe, where they were invented. Customers will now be able to rent videos twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week in a timely and efficient manner at the lowest price. Our machines can be implemented anywhere, even in locations that are not accessible to our brick and mortar competitors, and we will therefore focus our efforts on all the strategic locations. Reve-lution Int. will offer a unique business-to-consumer service for the rental of videos and DVDs. The technology, containing a fully automated system, will facilitate continuous rental and return of movies bridging the gap between video stores, who only are open 15 hours a day, and services such as the nonexistent Kozmo. com, who offer video delivery for a premium price. The company has a cost-per-action (CPA) pricing structure. CoViTek’s target customers will include universities with a student body of at least 10,000 in addition to the rest of the city of Atlanta for the first six months of operation. CoViTek will provide their clientele with a complete set of integrated tools within the machine to make accurate and enjoyable purchasing decisions. CoViTek will give video rental customers the freedom of rental 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year long. CoViTek will build the world’s truly first convenient and efficient rental system†¦ Target Customers Movie rentals have proven to be an integral part of the everyday lives of the American population. With more than $11 billion dollars in rental sales in 1999, we acknowledge the aggregate demand for the video rental industry. Constantly seeking immediate gratification, video rental stores want the most efficient and cost-effective methods of satisfying their customers. CoViTek will make rentals simple by providing consumers the most efficient tools for with which to initialize a rental process. With the killer application technology used in these machines, the customer will be able to conduct multiple searches in order to rent the movie of their desire. CoViTek will further assist them through the provisions of an active preference search, which is currently being used by Amazon. com. This application will determine what the customer rented last and list the preferred movies of that category the customer will like based on past rental behavior. CoViTek’s potential customers will represent the bulk of video rental households who value rental outlet convenience and flexible payment plans. CoViTek will strive for the most efficient, cost-flexible payments and active searches for preservation of quality time. Market Growth Perspective According to analyst Paul Keagan & Associates, at home movie consumption expenditures will increase approximately 40% by 2005 to $27 billion, almost triple the amount spent in 1990. The vast majority of these expenditures, about 83%, will be for video/DVD rentals and retail. However, movie consumption will also encompass pay-per-view and video on demand (VOD) available through cable and satellite services. Video Production Companies Ninety percent of our videotapes will come from one of the six major production companies: 1. Buena Vista 2. Warner Bros. 3. Universal 4. Fox 5. Paramount, or 6. Columbia-Tri-Star The power of these suppliers is very high, as they hold the exclusive rights to the movies they produce. One of our late competitors, Kozmo. com, has built a unique strategic partnership with these production companies. They have developed a profit sharing system with the major production companies requiring no initial investment in the videos, but agreeing to give 40% of the revenue generated by the rentals to the producer of the movie. We believe that this profit sharing system is financially unattractive, although it will allow us to reduce our initial investment costs; it minimizes our profits which in turn will delay our expansion strategy. We will use an initial video vendor, Video Bicicling, based out of Texas to supply us with our videos and DVDs. They will provide us with the most up-do-date movies for competitive prices. Competitor Differentiation CoViTek differentiates itself from its competitors in several key areas. While companies such as Blockbuster and Hollywood Entertainment offer the same features, only CoViTek will incorporate all of the features described below in a way that gives consumers the ultimate ease of use, active preference search, and extremely convenient locations of operations. Time Availability CoViTek’s competitive advantage is based on its time availability for rentals. The machines will be open and available for usage 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round. CoViTek will keep customer service readily available even throughout holidays. Strategic Locations CoViTek will implement the vending machines in key strategic locations after performing a detailed demo-geographical analysis of the city of Atlanta. Locations will initially be university campuses and later the urban areas of the city. Each machine will be located in areas where there is heavy human traffic. Payment Flexibility Our pricing will be flexible depending on the amount of time the video is out. Since CoViTek is a system that is open 24 hours a day there are no late fees associated in our model. Our standard rental time for DVDs is â€Å"midnight of the following day† for a price between $2. 50-$3. 00. Each additional day will be between $1. 50-$2. 00. Video Cassettes will be $3. 99 and if returned within 24 hours $1will be credited back. Each additional day will be $1. 99. (Based on new releases) Active Search CoViTek will use an innovative application technology which actively searches for videos categorized by title, actor, new releases, type of movie (action, thriller, comedy), and most frequently rented movies. Relative Competitive Factor Blockbuster Video Hollywood Video Kozmo. com CoViTek Relative Product Quality and Differentiation i i i i Flexible Payment Plan i E-commerce Based i i Brand Recognition % 100% 63% 40% N/A Locations around campuses i i i i Locations on Campuses i i Large video selection.i i Number of employees less than 5/ location i One of the most compelling aspects of the CoViTek model is its portability into untapped realms of video rental opportunities. This will provide the company with a critical advantage-the flexibility to transform itself in response to competitive challenges or to shifts in the video rental market environment. CoViTek’s flexibility will give downside protection to its owners by insuring that new, innovative means of generating cash flow can be realized. Future elements of CoViTek may include: National Expansion. Video rental opportunities in selected national markets such as: Washington D. C. , Los Angeles, Miami and Huston. Washington D. C: our second location has similar features to our first city of operation. It has a few large universities, widely used public transportation, and high pedestrian traffic. The schools we target will be American University, George Washington University, and Georgetown University. Our downtown locations will depend on areas where there is an intersection of the public transportation lines and high pedestrian traffic. Data Distribution. Future plans may include the sale of CoViTek’s proprietary online consumer data to the major video production companies. Specialized Machine Content Another growth opportunity for CoViTek in the future is the implementation of machines with customized video selection. The content of these machines will be select videos and DVDs targeted toward an audience based on specific themes. These machines will be placed in strategic locations based around their themes. Some possible â€Å"themed† machines may include: classic movie machines, foreign movie machines with Spanish subtitles or dubbing, and award-winning movie machines. The placement of these machines will require careful market analysis and planning, and therefore we plan to wait before implementation to gather enough data about the market and the purchasing patterns of our customers. Investment Needs Michel Khoury founder of CoViTek, has accumulated cash in excess of $10,000 for the development and the start-up cost of the company. CoViTek is now prepared to obtain financing through establishing a line of credit and implementing an equipment loan for its initial machine. It will later apply for loans as needed in order to buy more machines as it expands its operation. Using the machines and earnings as collateral CoViTek should have sufficient funds to obtain a line of credit that will secure its implementation of strategy. The initial stage of funding will be used to complete Web-site development, obtain one machines, invest in computer hardware and software, lease location space needed for the machines and market CoViTek during the first 12 months of operations. After 12 to 18 months of operation, CoViTek will require an infusion of an additional $15,000 to expand its brand image and increase its service offerings at an accelerated pace. Successful development and operation of CoViTek will allow it to be self-sufficient within approximately 9 to 12 months of initial operation. CoViTek will be a for-profit company incorporated in the state of Georgia. CoViTek – Start up costs Machines $20,246. 64 Inventory: video tapes $9,210 Cash/ month $2,808 Advertising $8,000 Legal & Accounting $7,000 Insurance $3,000 TOTAL $50,264. 64 Management team Michel Khoury Chief Executive Officer Founder While founding CoViTek, Michel Khoury is Assistant Managing Director at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. He is working hand in hand with the Managing Director of the company in order to implement a system of bringing foreign investment to the company. He has had significance experience with young ventures as he has participated in the creation of several companies nationally and internationally. Michel Khoury is also consultant to the CEO of Santege Capital Asset Management Group in New York City. Michel Khoury graduated in May of 2001 from Emory University with a Bachelor of Business administration with concentrations in Finance, Consulting, Venture Management and Marketing.

Banks Mat Review Essay

Robert Banks and Bernice M. Ledbetter believe the subject of leadership to be one worth exploring, and they do so in their book much to our profit. In this short book, Banks and Ledbetter begin by presenting the overall question they want to answer: Do Christians’ core convictions shape their views and practices of leadership or are they affected by wider cultural assumptions? [1]The book begins by exploring the many reasons for the increased interest in leadership today. The authors offer a plethora of reasons, not withholding the greatly increased pace of change, and they also set out some other factors for understanding leadership, including the comparison and contrast between a ‘leader’ and the qualities of ‘leadership’. Banks and Ledbetter take great care to ask challenging questions. This practice aids in the development of the book. In the opening chapters they begin by defining leadership as involving a person, group, or organization who shows the way in an area of life. [2] The authors also provide a strong distinction between management and leadership while also showing the importance of these two roles to work together. The foundation of the writing is supported by the claims towards the importance  of the study of leadership. Banks and Ledbetter continue on to explore leadership in a wider range of historical and Biblical contexts. They work from religious and Christian perspectives and work outward towards cultural influences. The authors share insight as it relates to the biblical, historical and contemporary perspectives, covering the accounts of the Apostle Paul, historical models such as the Benedictine tradition, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Pentecostal. They continue by exploring trait, contingency and transformational leadership. Chapters three and four provide the most specific writings on the topic of leadership. In these chapters Banks and Ledbetter draw attention to the raw spiritual, theological, and religious concepts of leadership. Here the authors conduct a case study of a significant author of leadership material, Stephen Covey. It is revealed that many readers are influenced by his Mormon faith without truly understanding or discerning the undertones.[3] This continues with an exploration of other perceived authorities on the topic of leadership. One such study is of Laura Beth Jones, an woman writer with increasing influence as it relates to leadership. Chapter five addresses how to translate practices of leadership into individual context through the use of three basic yet important values: faithfulness, integrity, and a servant-like attitude. Exploration of these three traits is undergirder with discussion of authors such as Robert Greenleaf. He is one of many leaders who brought into popular leadership thinking the idea of ‘servant leadership’.The book closes by offering examples in the form of case-studies. These studies provide deeper insight into the foundational qualities of successful leaders over the span of several years and many different context. This offers the reader a broader view of leadership by showing its success in many different forms and context. CONCRETE RESPONSE While reading through each chapter I was challenged to consider the conflicts I have faced that came as the result of lacking a manager to accompany my leadership. As a pastor, I am a natural leader. I tend to seek out change while searching for ways to constantly make things better and more efficient. About two years ago I was in a conflict with several of the leaders in our church. The conflict revolved around our misunderstanding of  each others approach and roles in leadership. As an proponent of change, I was offended by their seeming lack of faith in pursuing a broader reach in ministry and our effectiveness in the community. As managers, they were more apt to move slowly and could only visualize the problems that would need to be addressed in order to achieve the vision that was laid forth by me. After studying the viewpoints of Banks and Ledbetter I can now see how we could have easily been on the same page and shared the same goal while simply looking from distinct perspectives. I have now began to wonder how many other relationships could have been mended by simply understanding the role that each party played. I have a tendency to assume that others will automatically view things in the same way that I have. This has often led to great disappointment or great feelings of being misunderstood. In this way my passion can easily become focused on the wrong thing and people could easily become the target of that passion. REFLECTION While the book does a great job of exploring the topic of leadership, because of the breadth and depth of the topic many questions remain. Taking into account the authors definitions of managers and leaders, how do the two roles successfully communicate their intentions to one another? It is very possible for the two roles to coexist with proper acknowledgment of one another. How do the two operate together effectively without disrespecting or disregarding the importance of each role. Also, how does one know which leadership style works best in a given context? Does it take an extended period of trial and error to discover the proper styles? How do followers or even managers respond to a constantly changing leadership style? This book could have been greatly improved with a more comprehensive study of the specified leadership topics. The writing feels much like a generic overview of very important topics. While well written and engaging, I am left wanting as it relates to determining how to not only incorporate the leadership styles but also choose the style that is most fitting. This book feels like a movie that ended too soon. Leaving readers wondering what do with the brief information provided. ACTION With a fresh view of the information given by Banks and Ledbetter, I now have the information needed to implement a healthier leadership style that includes a clarity of my role as an agent of change. This plan is broken into two distinct parts. First, to properly identify the contexts that guide the view of leadership within the leadership team of the church that I pastor. What types of leaders have they encountered in the past? Are they open to change or resistant to it? This objective will be accomplished through the scheduling of one on one meetings with each leader. These meeting will allow me the opportunity to engage each leader in a meaningful conversation about the leadership styles they are most comfortable with. With this information I will be equipped to better serve these leaders by communicating with them in a way that they are most likely to receive. This is based upon Banks and Ledbetters observation of the broad idea of leadership many people carry. Secondly, I will create a comprehensive list of the core beliefs that will guide our leadership team. For those considering becoming parts of our church, how do they know the values that determine our decision making as leaders? This list will answer that question. It will become the core values for current and even future leaders. This comprehensive list will incorporate biblical teachings from Jesus as well as the Apostle Paul’s qualifications from 1 Peter and the epistles to Timothy. By outlining these core values, we create accountability, an attribute that could also allow for congregants and members alike to feel more comfortable engaging with the vision of our church by being secure in the direction and the values that guide us. BIBLIOGRAPHY Banks, Robert and Ledbetter, Bernice â€Å"Reviewing Leadership: A Chriatian Evaluation of Current Approaches†, Grand Rapids, MI Baker Publishing Group 2004

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