Vals Survey

1.After taking the VALS survey, I’ve learned the primary VALS segment that I match is ‘Experiencer’, which represents my dominant approach to life. This means I am motivated by self-expression. According to the site, experiencers quickly become enthusiastic about new possibilities but are equally quick to cool (Vals Survey). Experiencers tend to be young, enthusiastic, and impulsive consumers (Vals Survey). Additionally, this dimension seeks variety and excitement, savoring the new, the offbeat, and the risky (Vals Survey). An experiencer’s energy finds an outlet in exercise, sports, outdoor recreation, and social activities (Vals Survey). Experiencers are also said to be avid consumers and spend a comparatively high proportion of their income on fashion, entertainment, and socializing (Vals Survey). Their purchases reflect the emphasis they place on looking good and having â€Å"cool† stuff. I could not agree with this more. I tend to live life as if tomorrow would be my last day, so I prefer to spend my money on things that make me happy and keep me young. I was somewhat surprised to see that my secondary type is ‘Achiever’ rather than ‘Thinker’, because I constantly feel that I am mature, satisfied, and comfortable. I always value order, knowledge, and responsibility in my life. I am very well-educated and actively seek out information in the decision-making process. I am constantly well-informed about world and national events, and am alert to opportunities to broaden my knowledge. To summarize, I am either a very diverse type of person, or I know less about myself than I thought. 2.The various VALS types that one could be categorized under are innovators, thinkers, achievers, experiencers, believers, strivers, makers and survivors. Some are definitely easier to manage than others. I would say that innovators, achievers and experiencers are the most difficult to manage. The easiest to manage are probably the thinkers, believers, strivers, makers and survivors. Related essay: â€Å"Support Positive Risk Taking For Individuals† Innovators would involve a difficult lifestyle simply because they represent all three primary motivations in varying degrees. Achievers must balance career and family, which is difficult for a lot of people to do. As stated online, achievers are often interested in a variety of time-saving devices because of their busy lives. Experiencers are involved in a complicated life that would be tough to manage, because it requires a lot of money, a lot of risk taking, and being kept up-to-date on the latest styles and trends. This sounds like a very hectic lifestyle. 3.Since my VALS type is ‘experiencer’, one managerial conclusion that I can draw from this is that, when I become a manger one day, I will focus more on innovation and the ‘now’ of things rather than the past. Since an experiencer involves high resources and high innovation, I will be managing a company with great future prospects and hope for a lot of growth- whether it is through mergers, acquisitions, or expansion to foreign countries. This type of manager is also known as a ‘growth manager’. Growth managers tend to invest in the stocks of companies with rapidly growing sales and earnings (Fin Pipe). They believe that the stock price of this type of company will increase quickly as well, reflecting the strong growth of these companies (Fin Pipe). This always involves risk, which is a common characteristic of an experiencer.

Buddhism& Religion

These were the lines the Buddha was believed to have said before he passed away at 80 years old (Boeree, 1999) after founding a way of thinking that would become one of the world’s biggest religions. Prince Siddhartha had everything in life: a loving family and riches beyond imagining. However, in spite of such abundance, Siddhartha had a lingering discontent. As Hesse (trans. Rosner, 1971) wrote in is his book, â€Å"†¦He still lacked all joy in his heart. Dreams and restless thoughts came into his mind†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Such restlessness compelled him to leave the comforts and safety of his kingdom to search for life’s purpose.Thus began Prince Siddhartha’s journey to enlightenment. After achieving the awakening that he desired, Siddhartha called himself Buddha or the Enlightened One, whose teachings became the foundations of Buddhism. WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BUDDHISM I can honestly say that my previous knowledge of Buddhism was limited to what I witnessed in the m usical The King and I, which isn’t much if you have seen it. So reading about this particular religion was really fascinating and an eye-opener as well. As I learned more about Buddhism, I realized it is not an organized religion; more of a way of thinking.As Keown (1996) once said, â€Å"Problems of the kind just mentioned confront us as soon as we try to define what Buddhism is. Is it a religion? A philosophy? A way of life? A code of ethics? It is not easy to classify Buddhism as any of these things, and it challenges us to rethink some of these categories. † Indeed, it is not for us to classify or label Buddhism, or any other philosophy for that matter. I suppose it should just be taken for the way it is and for the ideas that is espouses. In Buddhism, you are welcome to come and leave as you wish.The path of Buddha is a simple, ethical life, and awareness of thoughts and actions, that leads to wisdom and understanding. Buddhists pay respect to Buddha not to worshi p him; but to thank him for showing them the path to enlightenment. A major aspect of Buddhism is meditation. Buddhists believe that by going into your own thoughts, you cleanse and purify your soul. Meditation, while relaxing the body, sharply focuses the mind, thus enabling us to purge negative energy and achieve clarity of thought. Meditation is a keystone in Buddhism; without which one cannot achieve the awakening that they are looking for.For Buddhists the mediation technique can calm them, but it does not lead entirely away from all of our sufferings. There are a number of different approaches to Buddhism meditation. Meditation as keystone of meditation came from the fact that Buddha himself attained enlightenment during a long period of mediation. The first approach is samatha or calm meditation. The idea here is to calm the body and mind and bring one’s self into a state of perfect concentration. To attain this, breathing is very important; there has to be consciousne ss of one’s breath as it drifts in and out of the body.To the Buddhists, concentrating this way leaves no room for disruptive mental thoughts, known as the five hindrances: sensual desire, ill-will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and work, and skeptical doubt. When all these disruptions have been removed, this kind of calm meditation leads to a blissful state known as jhanas. But regardless of the benefits that calm meditation offers, it does not provide a complete pathway to enlightenment. Many Buddhists merge the calm meditation with or insight meditation. This type of meditation is intended for developing within us awareness of the world as it really is.It asks us to be aware of what we are doing at the precise moment we are doing it. Some people call this process metacognition, or awareness of our awareness. I have been practicing meditation for some months now. And studying Buddhism, I am able to appreciate the process even more. It is amazing how I find so much peace ju st by closing my eyes and be aware of every breath that I take. I agree with the Buddhists, meditation definitely brings inner peace and contentment. It renews the spirit and gives me the strength to cope with life’s uncertainties.WHAT I DON’T LIKE ABOUT BUDDHISM It’s hard to think of something that I would like to change about Buddhism. It has withstood the test of time, and deserves respect for that. Religion, if Buddhism is one of them, is one of the things that must abide in this world. Buddhism must be constant, a stronghold for people who are looking for peace and meaning in their lives. Buddhism advocates non-violence and respect for all living creatures. The ultimate goal of a Buddhist is to reach a state of sustained self-enlightenment or Nirvana, which is liberation from the bonds of reincarnation.This can be achieved through constant meditation and consciousness of thought and action. Buddhists are fierce vegetarians and are known for their stark, sim ple lifestyles and pacifist beliefs. They welcome anyone who wants to espouse their ways and do not impose that you forsake your own religious beliefs. The Buddha said that it did not matter what a person’s status in the world was, or what their background or wealth or nationality might be. All were capable of enlightenment, and all were welcome into the Sangha or community of followers. (Boeree, 1999)If I were a leader of Buddhism, I will resolve to remain faithful to the spirit in which Buddhism has been founded. Perfection can lead to complacency. The very philosophy of Buddhism renders it imperfect because it is always striving to attain awakening and enlightenment. The desire to change and better ourselves is the impetus that will keep us searching in life and within ourselves. However, if I were to choose something I don not like about Buddhism, it would have to be their stubborn refusal to make a stand and fight for their way of life.This refusal to fight in defense of their own has been the cause of their oppression. In the highlands of Tibet and Nepal, where Buddhism has established an unbroken, traditional way of living, there has been an upheaval because neighboring countries have been trying to take over these majestic lands and rule them. I believe that Buddhism has earned the right to keep their way of living, and no country has the right to come in and take that away, all in the name of progress. And Buddhist, in defense of their right to keep their traditions and simple living should fight for it.Of course I understand that fighting goes against the very grain of Buddha’s teachings of non-violence. But if the espousal of non-violence threatens their very existence, and will change their way of life to the very core, then that justifies fighting by all means. By fighting, I don’t mean the aggressive kind, but the kind of fighting that one needs to do when there is a clear and present danger that threatens your territory and life. Everyone, regardless of creed or color has the right to defend himself.That is a basic human right that everyone should respect and protect. Indeed, there is room for righteous fighting; even in the non-violent world of Buddhism. REFERENCES: Boeree, G (1999). The Life of Siddhartha Gautama. Shippensburg University http://webspace. ship. edu/cgboer/siddhartha. html Keown, D (1996). Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. Oxford. Hesse, H (1971). Siddhartha. (H. Rosner, Trans). Bantam Books. (Original work published 1922). Hopfe L. M. & Woodward. M. R. (2007). Religions of the World. Pearson Education Inc. New Jersey.

Punitive Damages Promotes Justice while Tort Reform Hurts Society Research Paper

Punitive Damages Promotes Justice while Tort Reform Hurts Society - Research Paper Example Exemplary or Punitive damages are financial damages given to a claimant in a personal civil action and evaluated against a defendant established to be responsible for deliberately infringing the rights of the plaintiff. However, many people confuse punitive damages with compensatory damages. The major difference is that the awarding of punitive damages can only occur after a judge has established that a defendant is accountable for a claimant’s injuries and has set a suitable compensatory award. Moreover, punitive damages are given to a claimant, and are evaluated against a defendant, not counting and excluding compensatory damages. In addition, the awarding of punitive damages can only be successful in occasions where the injury inflicted to the claimant was the anticipated and likely effect of the defendant’s actions.† Moreover, the awarding of punitive damages only occurs in cases where the actions of the defendant are of an adequately egregious nature. Another aspect of punitive damages is that in theory, many people view them as an amazing solution. The major aim of awarding punitive damages is prevent defendants and others from practicing similar behavior. However, large companies constantly pressurize policymakers to put a cap or restrict on punitive damage awards. This is because they deem that punitive damages incur heavy costs. Conversely, imposing limitations on punitive damages would reduce their effectiveness and deem their purpose insignificant. (Sayas, 2011). In addition, punitive damages are a community solution for a community wrong. In this regard, punitive damages are state-inflicted charges for disruptive behavior, safeguarding the public inflicting charges on producers for their deliberate, blatant unconcern to human safety (Pace, 1997). Moreover, punitive damages have a monetary effect that not only obtains the notice of the defendant for perverse behavior, but also to cause the whole business to concentrate on the harm caused and take remedial action (Boulton, 2004). Although there is an extensive reporting of cases relating to multi-million dollar punitive damage awards, the truth is that judges are not hurriedly awarding these damages. This implies that there is no extensive awarding of punitive damages though they are significant in the society. According to a research by an Institute for Civil Justice, punitive damages occur in below 4 percent of all judges decisions. The major reason for this is that there is no awarding of punitive damages except that the claimant clearly illustrates that the defendant meant to harm the claimant, or knew that claimant was likely to experience harm, but intentionally ignored that risk (Sayas, 2011). There are numerous forms of torts, but regarding tort reform, the two major areas of concentration are medical malpractice and products liability. Medical malpractice is a law section that holds medical experts responsible for damage caused by their behavior after they do not conform to sensible principles. On the other hand, products liability is the sec tion of law that normally holds firms accountable for releasing unreasonably risky products on the market (Boulton, 2004). In the 1980s, the tort reform movement started to build up a more lasting institutionalized method to advocate for reform. Not amazingly, there have been extensive arguments concerning the objectives

Homosexuality & American Psychiatry by Ronald Bayer Essay

Homosexuality & American Psychiatry by Ronald Bayer - Essay Example Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) claims that the removal of homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) list is a political decision without any scientific foundation, no more than a victory of harmful â€Å"homosexual urban legends that have infiltrated every aspect of our culture† (TVC). The declaration does not oppose Bayer’s claims directly; rather, the author uses Bayer’s book as evidence. However, it does oppose Bayer’s stance on the changes in APA in 1972, cutting only the most dramatic passage out of the context. From the perspective of logic, this is an example of ambiguity created by quoting out of context (Gula 97). The declaration of TVC cites the passage in which Bayer really describes the behavior of homosexual activists as violent: they â€Å"attacked† APA in 1970 and â€Å"greeted the speaker† on the Association’s conference with exclamation about Auschwitz and the swearwords lik e â€Å"motherfucker† (Bayer 103). TVC’s article covers neither the pretext of such violent actions nor the aggressive behavior of some APA members described by Bayer. Furthermore, the article and the book are parts of the discourses that oppose each other, one claiming that homosexuality is a disease (TVC) and the other implying that this is a variation of normal sexual habit (Bayer). In the TVC article, the following claims about the issue are made: 1) Homosexuality was removed from the DSM list under the political pressure and without any significant scientific support. An instructive example is how both sides of the debate speculate about the lack of firsthand expert evidence from the APA members. To Bayer, Kent Robinson (who had never been an expert in homosexuality) is a disinterested scientist helping the fighters for human rights: â€Å"Since Robinson knew no homosexual psychiatrists, he somewhat reluctantly agreed to chair the gay panel† (104). However, to Socarides, one of the most active supporters of the TVC line, Spitzer’s lack of background in the studies of homosexuality is only the sign of professional incompetence of the APA member: â€Å"Spitzer, who to my knowledge had never previously published a single article on homosexuality or the sexual deviations, had composed a position paper on the meaning and content of homosexuality† (Socarides). 2) The imbalance of power was on the side of homose xual activists (who â€Å"threatened† APA) - hence the â€Å"Trojan Horse† metaphor: â€Å"For the next 18 years, the APA decision served as a Trojan horse, opening the gates to widespread psychological and social change in sexual customs and mores† (TVC). It follows that the change was not relevant to the needs of the society but was only the manipulation of a small group. 3) Diagnosing homosexuality as a mental disorder helps homosexuals. The Accuracy of the Review The accuracy of any review quoting only small part of the source is doubtful at best. The TVC’s review is accurate in citing facts; still, it is entirely misleading about the assessment of those facts. It

International Legal and Ethical Issues in Business Essay - 2

International Legal and Ethical Issues in Business - Essay Example But whether contracts are entered orally or in the written form, they should include the following essential elements for them to be deemed valid: parties capable of contracting, consent of the parties, lawful objects, and consideration (Bhana, Bonthuys, & Nortje, 2009). First and foremost, parties capable of contracting are those of legal age and are not convicted of any crime and thought to have mental or behavioral disorders. Hence anyone, save from the aforementioned exceptions, can enter into contract. In most instances, parties who involve themselves in these legal agreements should provide accurate and sufficient identities: full names, addresses and even titles. In sales contracts, moreover, the terms ‘seller’ and ‘buyer’ are oftentimes designated to the contracting parties (Steingold, 2009). Consent of the parties, which are free, mutual and well-communicated, qualifies for a valid contract. Consent obtained through intimidation, violence, fraud, un due influence and mistake does not make any contract valid. Similarly, consent is not considered mutual unless both parties agree on the same thing in the same sense. Basically, the articulation of an offer and an acceptance from contracting parties are required to make a contract valid (Helewitz, 2010). Furthermore, the thing being referred to in a contract is also called as the object. Objects must be lawful, possible and definite (Helewitz, 2010). Any law of court would not enforce any contract to perform an illegal act. Therefore, disputes in drug deals are not accommodated in legal agencies due to the fact that the contracts concerned are null and void. Of particular importance also in the determination of validity in contracts is consideration: meaning, each party must gain something out of the said agreement (Walston-Dunham, 2008). For example, if someone agreed to repair someone else’s house, and the latter never promised to give anything in return, then the one asked to do the service could not be sued for not showing up because he did not obtain consideration, in this matter. Objective Theory of Contract There are two approaches in deciding whether or not a party has entered into a valid contract. For the most part of legal history, the Subjective Theory of Contract happened to be the universal doctrine. However, during the late nineteenth century, the Objective Theory of Contract had been adopted by majority of lawyers and judges when deciding the merits of a contract dispute case, downplaying the former theory. Essentially, the recent theory upholds that the intention of the parties to a contract or an alleged contract, for that matter, is to be determined from their words and conduct, rather than their unexpressed or supposed intentions. Hence, it eradicates the subjective notion of intention (‘meeting of minds’ concept) which was deemed by most legal experts as vague and prejudicial (â€Å"Objective Theory of Contract,† 2011). But even though the Objective Theory of Contracts applies virtually in all jurisdictions, some aspects of subjectivity are nevertheless existent still. For instance, several strong cases for the nullification contracts are raised via the grounds of mistake or duress, which are practically based upon the subjective beliefs or intentions of one party of another (Farnsworth, 1999). In the ‘Harrier Jet’

The description, feeding and threats of Arabian oryx Essay

The description, feeding and threats of Arabian oryx - Essay Example It has black markings on its face and legs and is of the size of a deer. It has reasonably long legs with wide hooves that help them in running in deserts. It possesses a splendid peripheral vision that helps it in spotting predators. It has the ability to increase its body temperature and make it higher than the ambient air in order to lose inordinate body heat (Walther, 1990). Although, sweating also helps the animal in loosing heat. The ability to increase its body temperature permits the Arabian Oryx to release heat into the surroundings. The brain is, however, protected during the process of increasing body temperature by the cool blood that returns from the nasal pathways, thus absorbing heat from arterial blood that is destined for the brain (Walther, 1990). (National Wildlife Research Center, 2007). The Oryx leucoryx (Arabian Oryx) is also known as white Oryx. It is a moderate-size antelope with a distinguishable shoulder bump, a tufted tail and long and unbowed horns. It is a bovine and is the smallest-sized member of the genus Oryx, native to steppe and deserted regions of the Arabian Peninsula. By the years 1970s, the Oryx leucoryx had vanished in the wild but was preserved in private preserves and zoos and then was reintroduced, in 1980s, into the wild (Wildscreen, 2013). It was enlisted as an endangered species in 1986 on the IUCN Red List while it was the first animal species that was reverted to vulnerable status after being categorized as extinct species in the wild. The populations of Arabian Oryx, in 2011, were estimated to be more than 1,000 animals in the wild while there are around 6,000-7,000 animals in the preservation areas and zoos worldwide (Wildscreen, 2013). General Description The scientific name of Arabian Oryx is Oryx leucoryx. It belongs to the Order Artiodactyla, family Bovidae. Its range of habitat noticed formerly was Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Arabian Peninsula and Sinai. Sand deserts and gravel plains constitute the habita t of Arabian Oryx. Its diet includes herbs, fruits, grasses, melons and roots. The average body length has been found to be around 5.3 ft/ 160cm. The average shoulder height is approximately 2.7-3.4 ft/ 81-102 cm. The tail length has been recorded to be 1.5-2 ft/ 45-60 cm while its weight is 143-154 lb/ 65-70 kg (AZA, 2009). The colour of its coat is white in colour, without any colour washes, as noticed in the other species of Oryx. The colour of its legs is brownish black, excluding the ankles, which have white bands. Its face is spotted with black splotches that run from the eyes, beneath the jowls and down the cheeks, and dark hair triangles are noticeable down the nose bridge as well as on the forehead. The tasselled tail of the Arabian Oryx is somewhat dark brown and black. The unbowed, long, ridged horns are noticed in both sexes of the Arabian Oryx, growing 1.6-2.2 feet/ 50-68 cm long (AZA, 2009). It is a white, graceful antelope, standing 3 to 4 feet tall and around 300 pou nds weight, with black markings on the legs and face. Its white cost radiates the sunlight while during cold mornings heat is absorbed by the dark legs from the ground. The wide ears of the Arabian Oryx are circular at the tips. It is a keen-sighted animal, alert and wary, which protects itself by lowering its head in order to point forward its horns (AZA, 2009). The wandering herd comprises a leading male and various females with their young ones. Arabian Oryx is able to go without water for long periods, and the

Merits and Demerits of Bariatric Surgery in the Treatment of Type 2 Literature review

Merits and Demerits of Bariatric Surgery in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Overweight and Obese Adults - Literature review Example Bariatric operations are basically grouped into totally restrictive, mostly restrictive, and mostly malabsorptive procedures (Ferrannini and Mingrone, 2009, p. 516) but the most common surgery performed is Roux-en-Y gastric bypass through which â€Å"between 33 and 77% of excess weight can be lost† (Buchwald et al., 2004, p. 1730). General consensus among clinicians is that the bariatric operations have proved to be particularly appreciative medical treatment for diabetes associated with obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Also research has it that all these surgical options are potentially capable of helping the diabetic patients in terms of fast recovery, weight adjustment, cardiovascular risk factors management, and significant reduction in mortality of 23% from a troubling 40% (Robinson, 2009, p. 521). Evidence about the role, credibility, and shortcomings of bariatric surgery as a thriving treatment option for type 2 DM is gathered through reviewing credible scientific j ournals and findings are discussed and scrutinized in this paper as an attempt to compare and contrast what different researchers have said on this subject so far. Literature Review For people having a BMI of at least 35 with significant comorbidities like diabetes, bariatric surgery is ruled out as a safe and healthy recommendation by the health care professionals as this is considered a wise decision with great payoffs (Robinson, 2009, p. 520). In a research study involving as many as 232 obese patients with type 2 DM from 1979 to 1994, it is claimed by MacDonald et al. (1997) that 154 out of them underwent gastric bypass operation and had their small intestines resected while the rest did not... Surgery is repeatedly claimed to be an effective early intervention for diabetes by different researchers. Much research has been done on the subject of effectiveness of bariatric surgery in weight loss and diabetes-related outcomes in the obese adults. Weight reduction is the first most strategy which should be considered by the diabetic patients as the progression rate of diabetes heavily relates to the obesity rate. A reduction in all-cause mortality is stressed in the literature on bariatric surgery and its implications because the surgical interventions largely aim at decreasing the weight as obesity in itself is a potential driver of many cardiovascular and metabolic dysfunctions. The charm of bariatric surgical interventions like gastric bypass surgery is that they are performed to achieve multiple targets and may or may not include weight loss depending on the situation. This means that diabetic patients of think physique can also go through bariatric surgery to have their di abetes treated only. However different sources cite that complications resulting from weight loss surgery vary and are frequent including nutritional deficiencies, kidney issues, bone fracture risks, postprandial diarrhea, and other metabolic bones diseases. Among the postsurgical complications, gastric dumping syndrome which involves bloating and diarrhea after meals forms the commonest complication of bariatric surgery performed to treat type 2 DM in overweight or obese adult patients.

Chapman Brothers and Robert Gober Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chapman Brothers and Robert Gober - Essay Example To make the sculpture Gober inserted his own created pictures into layouts based on different newspapers. The photograph is of a bride with a story about the Vatican discriminating against homosexuals. The main message of this artwork is the right of homosexuals to get married. The next artist I am going to analyze are the Chapman Brothers. Chapman Brothers consist of two Brothers; Jake Chapman and Dinos Chapman who work in collaboration. Their artwork I shall analyze is â€Å"Death.† This is a controversial piece of work looks like blow-up sex dolls positioned in a very compromising manner. In truth, the sculptures are made of bronze and painted to appear as though they are made of plastic. The Chapman Brothers use the theme of anatomical and pornographic grotesque with a sequence of dummies, joined together, with reproductive organs in place of facial attributes. The Chapman Brothers work is normally interpreted to be extremely offensive, but they normally have a message behind it. The message of how Nazis killed and mutilated each other during the Second World War is the message passed

Determined and Free

Determined and Free Will Essay At this point in my life I believe there is a balance in how many of our choices are determined and how many are free. The things that are determined for us are factors like what we are born into such as our ethnicity and social status. Also, if your parents are religious, you are raised under the influence of that religion. Most children embrace that faith as their own. These are life factors that you can change eventually, but usually due to societal influences you stay with these predetermined decisions. Certain determined things won’t ever be able to be altered. The color of your skin, and how you are treated because of it, is determined by where we are placed in life. Whether we are born with a medical condition or disorder is something we have no control over. Also, whether we have access to higher education or opportunity to move social classes. Many circumstances we don’t have power over are situational. The free will choices in our lives are day-to-day decisions that we make. However, these choices can have a major impact in our lives. I think there are many influences that can affect your free will, but the final decision lies in your own hands. You decide what social and personal influences infiltrate your decision, and in that is power. Things like your faith and morals shape who you are, so to make a decision with absolutely no influence is not necessarily of your own â€Å"free will†. Free will is having a say in your own decisions, it doesn’t matter what influences you unless you feel it limits you. I also believe that people differ in the amount of free will they have. The predetermined factors are generally the same for everyone, but the free choices are different. This is because people choose to let certain factors limit them, and others do not. If someone cares whether others judge him or her, they are less likely to decide to do something they really want if it is odd or embarrassing. Same method works if someone cares if their parents approve or not of their choices. These are limitations to your free will that you choose to adhere to.

Islam Definition Essay Example for Free

Islam Definition Essay For the past few months I have been overseas working in the wonderful country of India. I’ve observed many different things; many unusual things about this country. India has a wide variety of cultures and religions. The holiday I have learned about is called Hajj. Hajj means ‘to set out for a place’. Hajj is the pilgrimage that Muslims make to Makkah or also called Mecca , Saudi Arabia, and is one of the five basic requirements of Islam. It is a religious high point of a Muslim’s life and is an event that every Muslim dreams of being part of. Hajj is a religious obligation to be fulfilled at least once in the course of the life of each Muslim law grants, and is a series of detailed rituals. It is a Muslims obligation to be mindful of their friends and family and to all humans whatsoever. Islamic followers believe that every nation should have a unity so they can all worship God. They believe that through culture people will come together as a whole to praise God, and learn each other’s difficulties. All official duties are suppose to be completed between the ninth and thirteenth day of Hajj. There are three main pillars that are to be performed during Hajj. The first pillar is to get into a state of â€Å"Ihram† and intend to perform the pilgrimage. The second pillar is to stay at the field of â€Å"Arafat† on the ninth day of Hajj. If the person cannot complete the pilgrimage then he/she will have to try to complete it the following year. The third pillar is additional circling of the â€Å"Ka’ba† which is done after the first pillar and is performed from the tenth day of Hajj till the end of the month. These past couple months in India have been a great experience. I’ve learned a lot of new things, which has been something different for me. I would love to come back and visit all of the people that I have met, because everyone was so nice. Learning about the Hajj was very interesting to me, and I will go back and share all of my experiences with everyone back home.

Not For Profit Organizations Prepare Financial Statement Accounting Essay

Not For Profit Organizations Prepare Financial Statement Accounting Essay Contributions are the primary revenue to a Not-for-profit organization. Because of the fundamental accounting of NFPO is different with profit-oriented companies, NFPO has its own accounting method for recognizing contributions. There are two methods of recording contributions are restricted fund method and deferral method. The objective of paper is to identify which method should be used. The restricted fund method recognizes restricted contributions as revenue when they are received. The deferral method recognizes restricted contributions until related expenses are incurred in future period. The paper will illustrate an example to compare the difference between the two methods, analyze the effects on financial statements and advantages and disadvantages of each method. The timing treatment restricted donation is primary difference among two methods. The advantages of deferral method is reduces noise from timing mismatch between when expenses are incurred and when revenues are recog nized. The matching helps avoid misstating cost for a period. It better evaluate the actual performance of organization. And deferral method can help the organization to develop an accounting plan extends beyond the current period which more rational use the contributions. But under the deferral method, it is not clearly presents information regarding how the organization manages the restricted contributions. And deferral of external restricted contributions to a liability may be confusing to the basic users. The restricted fund method will give a different result than deferral method. Restricted fund method is more clearly to present the information regarding restricted contributions how to use. Another advantage is the restricted funds method increasing comparability between current year and previous years in one organization. This is seen as both advantage and disadvantage in the same time. Because of an organization chooses which restricted funds to report, it lack comparability between with two organizations. Choosing an appropriate accounting method is important for nonprofit. It can attract more donations to support organization activities. Organizations should seek the help of professionals to assist it in implementing its accounts. 2.0 Introduction Contributions are the primary revenue to a Not-for-Profit Organization (NFPO). Because the NFPO has characteristics which difference with the for-Profit Organization, its accounting method of recording contributions has own standards in Part III of CICA Handbook-Accounting section. NFPO is required to use the restricted fund method or the deferral method of recording contributions. The purpose of this report is to identify which accounting method should be used to record contributions when Not-for-Profit organization prepares the financial statements. The report will illustrate an example to compare the different between the two methods, analyze the effects on financial statements and advantages and disadvantages of each method. This report is significance because adoption of different accounting method will affect result of financial statement presented. Financial statements are important communication information about NFPO to members, contributors and creditors. Financial statemen ts satisfy their and others interested needs, like the financial condition of organizations and how the management has discharged its stewardship responsibility to those that have provided resources to the organizations, especially important as resources are contributed for specific purposes and management is accountable for the appropriate utilization of such resources. The study is limited to Not-for-Profit Organization. The potentially benefit from this report is for all Not-for-Profit organizations. CICA states that many not-for-profits are subject to reporting requirements such as the production of audited statements or mandatory reporting to funders. (Improved Annual Reporting by Not-for-Profit Organizations.p4) Thus, effective financial report help build an organizations reputation. They can make a support, and can be a key means of reaching new partners and volunteers. 3.0 Background Although the not-for-profit organization applies a separate set of accounting standards in Part III of the CICA Handbook, the Accounting Standards Board (AcSB) emphasizes that the accounting standards for not-for-profit are not a stand-alone set of standard, there should be no differences in accounting between profit-oriented enterprises and non-for-profit organizations when the circumstances and transaction are the some. (CICA. Handbook) In 2008, the AcSB invited not-for-profit organizations to comment on a proposal that would see them use the same system of financial reporting that publicly traded corporations would soon be using. Some respondents opposed change the rules governing the way they report their financial information. When you try to put charitable organizations in the same realm as publicly traded organizations it becomes a challenge because the users of the financial statements have very different needs than a shareholder would have. said Michael Herrea, interim treas urer for the Anglican Church of Canada. If the church was required to use IFRS, Mr. Herrera said it would greatly increase the amount of financial reporting required; the additional information generated would be of no benefit to end users. According to comments received, the AcSB adopted a free choice of the accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations in Part III or IFRSs in Part I of the Handbook. Let us assume that non-for-profit organizations apply Part III of Handbook, which requires recording contributions should adopt restricted fund method or deferral method. 4.0 Definition Not-for-profit organizations have three types of contributions to report: unrestricted contributions, restricted contributions and endowment contributions. Following I will discuss that how three types of contributions are accounted for under the restricted fund method and the deferral method. 4.1 Deferral Method Under the deferred method, unrestricted contributions are automatically recorded as revenue when they are received. Restricted contributions are recorded as revenue until the related expense as been incurred in the future. Endowment contributions are recognized as direct increases in net assets, which are shown in the statement of changes in net assets. Especially, restricted contributions for the purchase of depreciable capital assets are deferred; the revenue is realized as the asset is being amortized. Non-depreciable capital assets, like land, are recognized as increase in net assets. 4.2 Restricted Fund Method The restricted fund method requires the entity must have a general fund and at least one restricted fund. The Unrestricted contributions and investment income are recorded as revenue in general fund. Restricted contributions are recognized as revenue if a restricted fund has been established for that purpose. If no related fund has been established, restricted contributions are treated the same way under the deferred method in general fund. 5.0 Comparison on Deferral Method and Restricted fund Method The primary difference among two methods is timing treatment restricted contributions. This affects the amount of liabilities and revenues reported. There is an example details a NFPO using deferral method and restricted fund method of recording contributions separately blow. The ABC Company is a not-for-profit training organization, funded through an agreement with the Province of AB. ABCs purpose is to provide accounting training program to all accountants in Alberta. ABC received $100,000 from the Province to establish the Princess Royal Scholarship endowment. This amount was invested in debt securities, which generated the $50,000 of investment income. The investment income is restricted for use to provide annual scholarships. $900,000 received from a wealthy and grateful benefactor on Jan 1, 2012 the beginning of its fiscal year. He requested that the money was to be used for purchasing and maintaining a property to house the administrative offices and operating facility. At the July 1, the following item were purchased in cash: Land $400,000; operating facility $300,000, it estimated life of 20 years. At the November 21, a donor contributes $10,000, without restriction for the operation of ABC. $ 25,000 of investment income paid out for Scholarship. In addition, ABC spent $16,000 for the year on maintenance costs for the operating facility. Donations Deferral Method Restricted Fund Method Presentation One fund one general fund; one capital fund; one endowment fund Scholarship As net asset Recognized as revenue in endowment fund Facility Included in deferred contribution; Recognized as revenue until facility expense incurred Recognized as revenue in capital fund Amortization Start to amortize deferred contribution Included in capital fund Interest earned on endowment Included in deferred contribution; Recognized as revenue until scholarships paid out Recognized as revenue in endowment fund Land As net asset As asset in capital fund 6.0 What are the effects on Financial Statements? Primarily the nonprofit organization must produce three important annual financial statements: the statement of financial position, the statement of operation, and the statement of cash flow. Kelly Bourgeois conclude that each component of a nonprofit organizations existence, like organizations programs or projects, is dependent on the organizations financial feasibility. Financial feasibly is accounted for through primarily those three financial statements. One of the principle differences in nonprofit financial statements compared to for-profit entities is the objective of a nonprofit is to realize its socially desirable goals and objectives for the community it serves, rather than to realize a net profit (2003. P16). According to analysis above, financial statements are showed blow. 6.1 Deferral Method ABC The Statement of Operation For the year ended December 31, 2012 Revenue Contributions 58,500 Expense Maintenance expense 16,000 Amortization 7,500 Scholarship 25,000 48,500 Excess revenues over expenses 10,000 ABC Statement of Changes in Net Assets For the year ended December 31, 2012 Unrestricted Investment in Restricted for Total Funds Capital Assets Endowment Net assets at the Beginning of the year - Add: Excess revenues Over expenses 10,000 10,000 Investment in Land 400,000 400,000 Endowment 100,000 100,000 Net assets at end of year 10,000 400,000 100,000 510,000 ABC Statement of Financial Position For the year ended December 31, 2012 Assets Cash and investment 319,000 Capital assets Land 400,000 Operating facility 300,000 Accumulated amortization (7,500) 692,500 1011,500 Liabilities Deferred contributions 501,500 Net assets Invested in capital assets 400,000 Restricted for endowment 100,000 Unrestricted net assets 10,000 510,000 1011,500 6.2 Restricted Fund Method If the ABC adopts the restricted fund method of recording contributions, the different format and results of financial statements will be presented than the deferral method. ABC Statement of Operation For the year ended of December 31, 2012 General Capital Endowment Total Fund Fund Fund Revenues Contributions 10,000 900,000 100,000 1010,000 Interest income 50,000 50,000 Expenses Maintenance 16,000 16,000 Amortization 7,500 7,500 Scholarship 25,000 25,000 Excess of revenues Over expenses 10,000 876,500 125,000 1011,500 ABC Statement of Position For the year ended of December 31, 2012 General Capital Endowment Total Fund Fund Fund Assets Cash and investment 10,000 184,000 125,000 319,000 Capital assets Land 400,000 400,000 Operating facility 300,000 300,000 Accumulated amortization (7,500) (7,500) 10,000 876,500 125,000 1,011,500 Liabilities Deferred contributions Fund balances Invested in capital assets 692,500 692,500 Externally restricted 184,000 184,000 Endowment 125,000 125,000 Unrestricted 10,000 10,000 10,000 876,500 125,000 1,011,500 (Fund balance=Asset-Liability) Under the deferral method, interest is recognized as an increase in the contribution revenue on the statement of operation as scholarship paid out. The operating facility is capitalized and amortization is recorded as expense. The amount of the restricted contribution recognized as revenue for the year is equal to the corresponding expenses incurred. The revenue over expense $10,000 which is unrestricted contribution received. The amount of the contribution not used at the end of the year is recorded as an increase in the liabilities deferred contributions on the statement of position. The deferred contributions decrease when the related revenues are recognized. Land and endowment are recorded as increase in net asset. Under the restricted fund method, the contributions are classified to general fund, capital fund and endowment fund. Each fund has a self-balancing separately. The Contributions and interest earned are immediately recognized as revenues in the corresponding fund. Any e xpenditure related to that fund is deducted from the balance. In this case, using the restricted fund method of recording contributions is better than using the deferral method. Because the restricted fund method is more clearly shows the ABC how to spend the restricted contributions. The restricted fund method makes ABC easy to report activity to its members, donators, and also to any government entity that is charged with the responsibility of overseeing its operation. 7.0 Advantages and Disadvantages Before identify which accounting method should be used of recording contributions for nonprofit, it is necessary to know the advantages and disadvantages of the restricted fund method and the deferral method. In terms of the ABC example this means that two methods would give different results of financial statements. 7.1 Deferral Method Under the deferral method, the recorded deferred contributions are transferred to the income statement as revenue when corresponding expenses been incurred. The contribution revenue is matched to the related expenses in the same accounting period. 7.1.1 Advantages For an accounting perspective, using the deferral method means the contribution revenues expected during a specific accounting period are directly matched to the anticipated expenses during this period. This helps the organization to develop an accounting plan extends beyond the current period which more rational use the contributions. Secondly, the deferral method reduces noise from timing mismatch between when expenses are incurred and when revenues are recognized. The matching helps avoid misstating cost for a period. The mention above, the objective of nonprofit financial statements is assessing whether the organization is achieving its objectives at the lowest possible cost. The deferral method can avoid misstating, for instance, avoid result in understated cost. Thus, it better evaluate the actual performance of organization. 7.1.2 Disadvantages Along with the benefits of the deferral method, there are several disadvantages need to be aware of. Using the deferral method the results of the unrestricted and restricted contributions are combined, and organization-wide totals are presented in the each of the financial statement. The restricted contributions remain unfulfilled are accumulated as deferred contribution. The organizations excess of revenue over expenses for the period represents the increase in resources that are not restricted to cover specific expenses of a future period (Cynthia L. Orr. 1996. P4). Thus, it is not clearly presents information regarding how the organization manages the restricted contributions. Another disadvantage is the restrictions are deferred and not reported until used. Deferral of external restricted contributions to a liability may be confusing to the basic users. 7.2 Restricted Fund Method As mentioned above that the fund accounting must be set up if a nonprofit adopts the restricted fund method. The organization would choose which restricted funds to report, and all similar contributions would be treated in the same manner. 7.2.1Advantages Using fund accounting system to record contributions can help to ensure that organizations use their resources in accordance with the stipulations donors; granting agencies and governing boards impose. Fund accounting segregates the account balances related to its purpose and keeps these funds from mingling with the other accounts of the organization. This ensures that the assets assigned to each fund remain available for the purpose of that fund. And the restricted fund method keeps the organization accountable to the donors who support the organization. Each donor wants to see the nonprofit serve the individuals who need its assistance. When the nonprofit organization issues its financial statements at the end of the year, the contributors can review the performance of each fund. The financial statements identify the money received for each fund and how the organization distributes those funds (Kathy Adams Mclntosh). Thus, the restricted fund method is more clearly to present the i nformation of restrictions. Secondly, choosing the restricted funds to report and treating similar contributions in same manner consistently that is increase comparability between current year and previous years in one organization. This is seen as both advantage and disadvantage in the same time. 7.2.2Disadvantages Because of an organization chooses which restricted funds to report, it lack comparability between with two organizations. Because of this choice, two organizations following the restricted fund method may each report similar kinds of restricted contributions differently. For example, one organization may present contributions restricted for purchasing equipment in a separate restricted capital fund. Another organization may not report a separate capital fund. It results in lacking comparability on similar contributions of two organizations. 8.0 Recommendation Which accounting method is best? This is a matter of what the entity wants to communicate in the financial statements. The best system is a system that gives the members of an organization control over its financial health and portrays this health through their records.(Kelly Bourgeo. June, 2003. p16). So the executive director and board of nonprofit should assess the financial health thought that, the financial statements should be easily comprehensible so that any person taking the time to read them will understand the financial picture; they should be concise and they should clearly show the relationship among the each transaction without confusing detail involving transfers (Kelly Bourgeo. P17). First, I recommend that using fund accounting. Because the fund accounting approach is more clearly presents information regarding how the restrictions are distribution and spent. And it can be effective, especially when accounting reports must be sent to more than one government agency. For example, if a charity receives an endowment for the childcare program, a contribution restricted to support homeless shelter and a grant for providing meals to stray pets, each of these programs is to fall into the jurisdiction of a different government agency. So by creating funds for each program, it is provide each monitoring agency with an accounting of what has been done with the donations received to support each program (Malcolm Tatum. 2012). The organizations determine an appropriate accounting method should determine who the uses of the financial statements will be and what their needs. For a nonprofit, it receives recurring restricted contributions, so donors will be one of the major users. In my opinion, the restricted fund method is better than deferral method. Because the restricted fund method provides donors with simply but robust information on how their contributions are be used. It let users clearly to understand the financial pictures. And it reflects a more accurate accrual basis of revenue recognition for the funds presented than the deferral method. The deferral method may be confusing to users because of recording restricted contributions as a liability. Each method has advantages and disadvantages separately for its use. So organizations should seek the help of professionals to assist it in implementing its accounts. 9.0 Conclusion The not-for-profit organization is required to choose either the restricted fund method or the deferral method of recording contributions when it prepares financial statements. According to analysis above, the timing restriction treatment is the primary cause for some of the more significant reporting and recognition differences. Using the restricted fund method, the restricted contributions are recognized as revenue when they are received. It more clearly presents the information of restrictions for the funds presented. The deferral method recognizes contributions until they are spent. The matching principle helps avoid misstating cost for a period. It better evaluate the actual performance of organization. But it may be confusing to basic users because of deferred restricted contributions as a liability. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. The choice depends on the financial reporting objective and on the motivations of organizations manager. The accounting method, on ce selected, all received contributions must been applied that method consistently. The accounting policy seems be changed if the organization changes its method. There is not required to, I recommend that nonprofit uses fund-based structure. If no such fund has been established, restricted contributions are treated the same way as under the deferred contribution method. Choosing an appropriate revenue recognition policy is important. The organizations should seek the help of professionals to assist it in implementing its accounts.

Nike- Huma Resources Essay -- essays research papers

It all started with a simple handshake between two running geeks in Eugene, Oregon and now they own the world's most competitive sports and fitness company. The Pacific Northwest is Nike's hometown but like so many ambitious souls, they have expanded their horizons to every part of the world. Nike has two headquarters; it’s World Headquarters in Oregon and its European Headquarters in The Netherlands. Those two running geeks are Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. The long lived business partnership began in 1962 as Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS). Their first year sales were $8,000 and every year after proceeded to increase. In 1972 they changed their company name to Nike. The word Nike comes from the Greek winged goddess of victory. They have achieved victory over the past 30 years. Through those years Nike has remained focused on creating performance opportunities for everyone who would benefit and offered empowering messages for everyone who would listen. Nike has a great accomplishment of servicing human potential through sports. Bill Bowerman was a legendary track and field coach at the University of Oregon. He was a teacher who showed athletes the secrets of achievement. From him Nike has derived their mission and through his eyes they see their future. The Nike mission is "to bring innovation and inspiration to every athlete in the world. If you have a body, you are an athlete." As long as there are athletes, there will be Nike. In achieving their mission Nike has a vision for their company. The Nike brand has three areas of focus in their vision of success for their company. The first one is to play a role in effecting positive, systemic change in working conditions within their industries. They believe that in order for market forces to have responsible competitiveness, consumers must be able to reward brands and suppliers using fact based information. Their second vision is to create innovative and sustainable products. They apply this vision to their two long term aspirations: eliminating waste and eliminating toxics. Nike feels by achieving sustainable products they will be able to prevent a separation between the coolest athletic products and the environment. They have selected these two goals in the physical sciences because if they can achieve that then objectively they are moving toward sustainability. They are beginning to include the s... ...02, Nike was the only company to be given a perfect score. Only 28 companies were given perfect scores in 2003. In 2004, that number doubled to 56. Nike has been established in corporate responsibility years before other companies. Since 2001, more than 300 of Nike's top level U.S. executives attend three-day diversity workshops, a commitment of time that reflects the value of Nike's places in supporting a diverse workforce. Nike also began offering one-day workshops for additional managers, since 2003 an additional 700 managers have completed these training sessions. Before doing this paper I felt that Nike was successful because they continue to have innovative marketing. They have made an impact with their advertising and they strive to endorse their brands with athletes. I also felt that Nike’s success was due to their great quality of products. My thoughts still hold true but I do feel now, after doing this paper, that Nike is successful because of their employee involvement and also their environment awareness. As a young adult, I also find it very aspiring that one of Nike’s goals is to support the youth with their right to physical activity.

Characterization of Scully in Tim Winton’s The Riders Essay -- Tim Win

The Characterization of Scully in Tim Winton’s The Riders  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the most endearing aspects of The Riders is the clever characterization. This allows the reader to relate to the typical national stereotypes and yet very extravagant personalities portrayed in the novel. The characterization, together with Winton’s considerable skill at using the characters’ view to evoke a sense of place, are two of the strengths of The Riders. The character of Fred Scully, the ‘hero’ of The Riders, is one of the most wonderfully written characters to have come out of Winton’s writing so far. Scully’s character encompasses all the traditional traits of the Australian: his use of vernacular, appearance, humor, as well as the outlook and many more. Winton has the reader accompany Scully in his desperate struggle through Europe and it is Scully’s personality that the reader finds themselves enjoying more than the sightseeing trip. "...Scully [is] one of the most memorable characters in Australian fiction." Scully is memorable because his traits could be found in someone known by the reader; he could easily be the ‘man next door’. The beauty of Scully is that Winton has allowed for the character to evolve, and he has adapted along with his character. At the beginning of the novel Scully is the "...big friendly shambles of a man who followed them like an ugly hound, loyal and indestructible..." yet not long after Scully is seen as "...sheepish like a lamb unto the slaughter...". These changes which occur in the character of Scully fit into the structure and plot of The Riders. Before the disappearance of Jennifer, Scully was a ruggedly handsome optimist, content to wait out the bad times, yet after the trauma of loss and heartache, ... ... is based around the idea that Scully is an emotional person, one who considers the needs of others. Scully follows Jennifer because of the baby. Yet he does not pursue Connor Keneally, because he understands that it would not be right, no matter how much he feels that he wants to. Tim Winton’s Scully is a very memorable Australian character. His connection with the reader enables them to enjoy his individual humour, vernacular and his generally unsinkable optimism. Winton’s writing skills allow the reader to be drawn to Scully by the character’s particular outlook on situations. Scully once said "What you see is what you get". Within The Riders this is not necessarily so, Winton gives Scully much more than what is printed on the page and it is up to the reader’s discretion of how much they perceive. Work Cited Winton, Tim. The Riders Prentice Hall 1996. Characterization of Scully in Tim Winton’s The Riders Essay -- Tim Win The Characterization of Scully in Tim Winton’s The Riders  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the most endearing aspects of The Riders is the clever characterization. This allows the reader to relate to the typical national stereotypes and yet very extravagant personalities portrayed in the novel. The characterization, together with Winton’s considerable skill at using the characters’ view to evoke a sense of place, are two of the strengths of The Riders. The character of Fred Scully, the ‘hero’ of The Riders, is one of the most wonderfully written characters to have come out of Winton’s writing so far. Scully’s character encompasses all the traditional traits of the Australian: his use of vernacular, appearance, humor, as well as the outlook and many more. Winton has the reader accompany Scully in his desperate struggle through Europe and it is Scully’s personality that the reader finds themselves enjoying more than the sightseeing trip. "...Scully [is] one of the most memorable characters in Australian fiction." Scully is memorable because his traits could be found in someone known by the reader; he could easily be the ‘man next door’. The beauty of Scully is that Winton has allowed for the character to evolve, and he has adapted along with his character. At the beginning of the novel Scully is the "...big friendly shambles of a man who followed them like an ugly hound, loyal and indestructible..." yet not long after Scully is seen as "...sheepish like a lamb unto the slaughter...". These changes which occur in the character of Scully fit into the structure and plot of The Riders. Before the disappearance of Jennifer, Scully was a ruggedly handsome optimist, content to wait out the bad times, yet after the trauma of loss and heartache, ... ... is based around the idea that Scully is an emotional person, one who considers the needs of others. Scully follows Jennifer because of the baby. Yet he does not pursue Connor Keneally, because he understands that it would not be right, no matter how much he feels that he wants to. Tim Winton’s Scully is a very memorable Australian character. His connection with the reader enables them to enjoy his individual humour, vernacular and his generally unsinkable optimism. Winton’s writing skills allow the reader to be drawn to Scully by the character’s particular outlook on situations. Scully once said "What you see is what you get". Within The Riders this is not necessarily so, Winton gives Scully much more than what is printed on the page and it is up to the reader’s discretion of how much they perceive. Work Cited Winton, Tim. The Riders Prentice Hall 1996.

exas Roadhouse Essay

Discussion of Whether or not the Phrase â€Å"If we Take Care of our Employees, They will Take Care of our Customers† is Actually Practiced or is just a Cliche on the Wall at Texas Roadhouse Steakhouse and the Implications of Answer The belief in the phrase if we take care of our employees, they will take care of our customers is a practice that instills values in the workforce of today. This is not just a cline, when employees desire their jobs and job description, the effect on customer satisfaction is immeasurable. The most important and effective customers are the company employees and when customers are taken effective care of business relationships are built (Mindshare Technologies, 2010). Texas Roadhouse stated, we want to provide a place that the whole family could enjoy (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, Wright, 2011). Texas Roadhouse delivery is good meal with friendly, energetic, and enthusiastic service. Founded in 1993 by W. Kent Taylor, Texas Roadhouse was voted the #1 Steakhouse in America by Restaurants and Institutions Magazine Consumer Choice Survey in just ten years in 2003, and in 2004 the Best Steakhouse Value and Menu Variety (Texas Roadhouse Inc. , 2013). At the Texas Roadhouse, the company motto is Legendary Food, Legendary Service and Legendary Fun taken pride in everything they do from hand-cut steaks and some tasty margaritas (Texas Roadhouse Inc. , 2013). Texas Roadhouse actually want guests to have so much fun that they will want to return again and again, the best promotion is word of mouth. On the other hand it is concrete that Texas Roadhouse would benefit more from the expansion of its company store hours. Texas Roadhouse operates on the weekdays during dinner hours and on the weekends; the company operates both during lunch hours and dinner hours. Texas Roadhouse’s recent success over the past few years, clearly states that it is evident that Texas Roadhouse would benefit and increase company revenue if the company were to operate on weekdays during lunch hours as well as dinner hours. Furthermore, a well efficient trained, motivated, and satisfied employee who has a great relationship with their boss and company will conduct themselves in an outstanding manner where their work delivery will be the best efficient experience to the next potential customer arriving to the business. Company employees reflect the message the organization wants to deliver to the world, they interact with consumers, make efficient profits and high product performance. If companies take more time to invest in their employees the company will tend to be more performance efficient and produce more profits at a higher rate (Todrin, 2012). Discussion of Alternate Methods that Could be Used to Motivate Texas Roadhouse Employees Other than the Money it Uses as a Motivator for Employees Facing direct financial challenges throughout the economy employees can learn more effective methods besides monetary incentives to motivate employees. Companies can stress to upper level management to use recognition as a form of motivation for the company employees. Employees accomplishing tasks or achieve a specific job duty, management can learn to recognize them for their achievements earn (Worman, 2010). ). Another suggestion would be to develop an Employee of the Month program. This program has been administered for a quite some time, especially throughout corporate America. Individuals should be recognized for their overall outstanding achievements. The process of this award should be administered and voted on by upper level management. Coaching is a form of employee development and recognition. Taking the time and effort to coach an employee for development can say about the company, that you care about your employee’s success throughout the company (Worman, 2010). The use of gags, gimmicks and time off are other methods employers can use as an alternate method to motivate employees. Employers can use these tactics as rewards to help inspire efficient employee performance. The key is to establish the perception of priceless value of the company employees. In addition, all employees enjoy the luxury of being given time off (Worman, 2010). Lastly, the most simplest and under-utilized method of motivation, is just saying to employees thank you for your hard work and effort. Discussion of Possible Effectiveness of Each of the Alternative Methods Other than the Money Texas Roadhouse Uses as a Motivator for Employees Individuals who feel motivated to carry out their job descriptions are the likely employees to bring creativity in addition to high performance rates. Each alternative method can have positive effects on employees. Money is not the only motivator; companies should always consistently incorporate motivation to employees. Otherwise, the best employees will be attracted by other companies when the economy. Incentive pay can be very effective and the plan must be well designed. Effective plans should measure the performance of employees according to overall organizations goal. Promoting employees is very effective it shows employees that their commitment to their work is being acknowledged and appreciated. Occasionally contests held within the company are very effective, it pushes the employees to compete against one other to win the prize. Overall for the employer this is a great way to promote effective performance because all employees are giving their all. Reward and recognition make people feel good themselves and their job, and their performance is directly affected. Employee’s being recognized provides the employees with a overall sense of accomplishment and this can have a domino effect for other employee yearning to be recognized for their job performance (Worman, 2010). The use of gags and gimmicks can inspire employees to do their very best. The incentive of giving time off helps gives employees the chance to compete for the prize. Every employee enjoys receiving a day off of work. Analysis of how Transferable the Texas Roadhouse Way of Motivating Employees Would be in Other Organizations The way Texas Roadhouse uses monetary incentives to motivate employees may not be transferable to other organizations because not all companies have the same vision for the company, and not all organizations are financially stable to reward their employees with incentives such as cash. Organizations that seem not to be able to uphold these standards need to research different alternatives methods used to motivate company employees. On the other hand organizations that can use monetary incentives as a form of motivation for employees should use those incentives as a way to show company appreciation. In return for their hard work being recognized some employees may choose to improve their performance for the company because they feel appreciated. Lastly, it really does not make a difference in the alternative methods companies uses to motivate the company employees, the use of motivation helps employees explore their potential helping the organization reach top notch performance (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, Wright, 2011).

Civic Duties of Teenagers

Quinn Bailey 3/4/2013 Civic Duties of Teenagers Introduction Civic duty is the obligation to each of us to leave our community in a better condition than we found it. Every person in our country has rights, and with those rights come responsibilities. That is what civic duty is, your rights and responsibilities that help contribute to society. Every single day we perform these tasks to help better our country as a whole. Teenagers have a huge role in this circle, whether they believe it or not. The civic duties that teenagers perform are a crucial part of our society, because they are the ones who grow up to be the next generation.Rights of a Teenager As a teenager, you are entitled to your rights. It’s easy to think that teens have no power over anything, even their own lives. However, teenagers have more rights than you might think. Many of a teenager's rights stem from having the ability to make a wise decision without parental consent. Every single day, teenagers everywher e are blindly fulfilling their civic duties. When a teenager goes to school, they pledge allegiance to the flag. They are basically making a pledge to the United States of America stating that they will fulfill their civic duties.I like to think of this as ‘signing a contract’, and most of them do it without even knowing it. Some of a teen’s rights are lawful rights, meaning they are permitted by law. One lawful right is going to school. Children have the right to a free public education beginning at age six. Teens sixteen and older have the right to decide if they want to attend school or not. In most states, a parent is required to sign agreeing with this decision. Another lawful right teenagers have is being able to have a job. Some states allow you to begin working as early as age fourteen.Another lawful right that teenagers have is the right to feel safe. A teen has the right to feel safe from all emotional and physical harm. If a teenager does not feel safe , they have the legal right to be taken out of the situation and placed in a safer one. Teenagers also have unwritten rights, or norms. These rights aren’t lawful, meaning they are a choice. One unwritten right is the right to drive. In most states, when you turn fourteen you can obtain an instructional permit if you pass a written test. With this permit, you learn to drive with a licensed adult in the car.Then, when you turn sixteen you can get a drivers license if you pass a driving test. Responsibilities of a Teenager From the point of view of a teenager, â€Å"Every generation has a role they need to play in society, and whether they think so or not, teens have one too† (Simpson, Nealle). Eventually, the teenagers are going to turn into adults. As you progress through your teen years, you gain more rights. This teaches you to make good decisions, many times without parental consent. â€Å"I don’t think teenagers should be expected to do more things,† said Nealle. They already have enough on their plates. † In America, teenagers are very well off. In many other parts of the world, teenagers have few rights compared to Americans. â€Å"In some countries, girls get married as early as fourteen†¦ †she stated. â€Å"And the worst part is that they don’t even get to choose who they marry! † From the point of view of a middle aged person, â€Å"Teenagers should share their burden of society duties† (Simpson, Jud). Every teenger should contribute so that a successful society can exist. â€Å"When you’re a teenager you kinda just shuffle your way through life,† said Jud. It’s a great time to make mistakes, but it’s also essential to learn from those mistakes. † Jud says that when he was a kid, rules were much more strict, and they were disciplined harder and more often. â€Å"Teens aren’t taught to be as respectful now a days,† he said. From the point of view of a senior, â€Å"Teenagers serve as better role models to other teenagers than adults† (Bailey). â€Å"If kids see another kid doing it, they think it’s cool, so they try it. Rarely do teens listen to adults about what’s in and what isn’t,† explains Bailey. In America, a decent percent of teenagers often volunteer in their community, but Bailey has a different pinion. â€Å"I think teenagers should volunteer more often,† he said. The definition of civic duty is literally ‘the activities that one does to serve their community. ’ â€Å"Teens don’t often think about how big their role is in society†¦ † said Bailey. â€Å"When I was younger, I was in all sorts community projects. † Bailey would like to see more teens signing up to volunteer, but he is very strong about his opinion that it should be a choice. He thinks adults should steer teenagers in the right direction, and then let them make the decisions.Being a teenager is a good time to learn how to make responsible decisions. â€Å"It should be voluntary,† says Bailey. â€Å"You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink. † My Civic Duties I find myself very lucky to live in the United States of America. Sadly, in many other countries teenagers like me are much less fortunate and have fewer rights. What is even more sad to me is that many teenagers take for granted the rights they inherit as U. S. citizens. One example is that some teens actually take up the opportunity to drop out of high school whenever they get the chance.It upsets me that they don’t continue with their education and become a better educated citizen, especially considering it is free. As an American, I share the right of free speech with all other citizens. I also reserve the right to drive. As of age fourteen, I am legally able to drive after going through proper instruction. I also have the right to own an imals. I am very lucky to be able to say that I have the right to an education. In some other countries, like Mexico, they do not have free public education. I think this is partly what makes America so successful.In Alaska, when I turn fourteen I have the right to employment. I believe that this is a nice aspect of our society in America, because it teaches teenagers like me to learn how to work with others and manage expenses. In turn, they can grow up to be responsible with money. They will also grow up to be cooperative when working with a group of people. As a citizen, I also have the right to travel abroad with a U. S. Passport. Another right I have is the right to exercise my religion. I am able to live freely and express my religion without consequence.Where there are rights, there are responsibilities. I feel like many teenagers my age think that they get all of these rights without having any responsibilities. One example is cleaning up after themselves. Many teens expect things to be clean for them, yet they never clean up after themselves. I often see teenagers littering, whether it be leaving plastic bottles on the side of the road, or simply just leaving wads of gum under the table. One of my responsibilities is to attend school. Not only must I attend school, I must also complete all of my work in order to learn and be a successful student.I have the responsibility to stay informed about things like current events and politics on local, state, national and worldwide levels. Being successful with my education will lead to my becoming a literate and productive citizen. I have the responsibility to learn how to drive, and how to drive responsibly. The government promises me protection, and in turn I must abide by the laws and be a good citizen no matter where I am. When traveling abroad, I have the responsibility to be a good ambassador for the United States. Even though I have the right to exercise my religion, that does not mean I can disrespect other people’s religions.I have the responsibility to respect all other religions, and in turn other people should also respect my religious views. Conclusion In conclusion, I believe that teenagers have a consequential role in our society. It is of utmost importance for us as teenagers, the next generation, to recognize that although we are given a host of very enjoyable and enticing rights, we must uphold the responsibilities that couple these rights. If we fail to meet our responsibilities, the results could be disastrous, and we will create an undesirable, unsafe, unstable and unhealthy society for us and future generations to live in.

Behavioral Influences on Health

It can be argued that various behavioral, psychological, sociocultural and lifestyle factors are related to the various causes of human mortality. Rationally, the root causes of various diseases that cause human death are associated with these factors. Therefore, we can argue on the point of view on how these factors are related to human health and the spread of various diseases that ultimately causes mortality.At one level, behavioral human factors can be argued as the characteristic phenomena of behavioral conceptions that may lead to contracting diseases. In this respect, human behavior could be argued in terms the relationship with the peer groups, morality, sexual behavior, attitudes towards oneself, virtues and moral obligations. Various ill-behavioral conceptions and tendencies have been known to act as the root cause of various diseases.For example, peer pressure may result to deviance, alcoholism, smoking and other conceptions (Joseph, 2005) From the implications of these be haviors therefore, various diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and other internal disorders and ailments that are strong causatives of human mortality tend to occur. The strength and the models of a personal behavior can therefore determine the propensity with which he/she can contract certain killer diseases and ailments at the expense of other behavioral patterns.The levels of morality which is shaped by the behavioral models can be a factor towards which killer diseases like HIV-AIDs and other sexually transmitted diseases and ailments that are vulnerable in causing mortality can be transmitted. Psychological factors are the human related factors that shape and determine the standards of ones health. Various studies in health psychology have depicted a close relationship between the cognition, personality, perception, interpersonal relationships and personal emotions towards human health related issues.Various psychological disorders that arise as a result of disruption in the psy chological context of a person have been known to cause mortality. The principal researches done on both clinical and health psychology has revealed various diseases that are psychologically related and which are of great impact to human health. The human psychological development is a complex autonomy that is attributed to both the mental and the cognitive personality.Various attributes are of great impact to the psychological provisions of a person that causes disability in the functional layout of ones psychological dispensation. Research studies have shown that the rate of mortality as a result of psychological disorders is increasingly becoming more (Benjamin, 2003) Sociocultural factors refer to the structural factors within the family footage or the society which shapes and determines the contexts of a person’s health. These structural settings dictate the functionality, response and behavior of a person within such a social context.Within the family setting, various h ealth related factors may arise such as level of dietary, physical health, family pressure, and various influences such as the level of education, income, and living standards. Either, various cultural parameters may shape the nature of human health. These include cultural integration, family relations, cultural stereotypes and other factors. The nature of the sociocultural attributes has been of great influence in shaping the contexts of human health and possibilities of contracting diseases that cause death (Ann, 1998)Lifestyles refer to the modalities of person’s way of life. It is determined by various factors such as level of education, family backgrounds, level of income, cultural factors and other. Generally, the nature of a person’s or families’ lifestyles may be attributes towards contracting diseases, the ability of seeking medical attention and the vulnerability of achieving control and preventive measures. Consequently, a person’s health is de termined preferential by the standards and levels of his/her lifestyles. (James, Simon, 2006) Behavioral Influences on Health It can be argued that various behavioral, psychological, sociocultural and lifestyle factors are related to the various causes of human mortality. Rationally, the root causes of various diseases that cause human death are associated with these factors. Therefore, we can argue on the point of view on how these factors are related to human health and the spread of various diseases that ultimately causes mortality. At one level, behavioral human factors can be argued as the characteristic phenomena of behavioral conceptions that may lead to contracting diseases.In this respect, human behavior could be argued in terms the relationship with the peer groups, morality, sexual behavior, attitudes towards oneself, virtues and moral obligations. Various ill-behavioral conceptions and tendencies have been known to act as the root cause of various diseases. For example, peer pressure may result to deviance, alcoholism, smoking and other conceptions (Joseph, 2005) From the implications of these b ehaviors therefore, various diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and other internal disorders and ailments that are strong causatives of human mortality tend to occur.The strength and the models of a personal behavior can therefore determine the propensity with which he/she can contract certain killer diseases and ailments at the expense of other behavioral patterns. The levels of morality which is shaped by the behavioral models can be a factor towards which killer diseases like HIV-AIDs and other sexually transmitted diseases and ailments that are vulnerable in causing mortality can be transmitted. Psychological factors are the human related factors that shape and determine the standards of ones health.Various studies in health psychology have depicted a close relationship between the cognition, personality, perception, interpersonal relationships and personal emotions towards human health related issues. Various psychological disorders that arise as a result of disruption in the ps ychological context of a person have been known to cause mortality. The principal researches done on both clinical and health psychology has revealed various diseases that are psychologically related and which are of great impact to human health.The human psychological development is a complex autonomy that is attributed to both the mental and the cognitive personality. Various attributes are of great impact to the psychological provisions of a person that causes disability in the functional layout of ones psychological dispensation. Research studies have shown that the rate of mortality as a result of psychological disorders is increasingly becoming more (Benjamin, 2003) Sociocultural factors refer to the structural factors within the family footage or the society which shapes and determines the contexts of a person’s health.These structural settings dictate the functionality, response and behavior of a person within such a social context. Within the family setting, various health related factors may arise such as level of dietary, physical health, family pressure, and various influences such as the level of education, income, and living standards. Either, various cultural parameters may shape the nature of human health. These include cultural integration, family relations, cultural stereotypes and other factors.The nature of the sociocultural attributes has been of great influence in shaping the contexts of human health and possibilities of contracting diseases that cause death (Ann, 1998) Lifestyles refer to the modalities of person’s way of life. It is determined by various factors such as level of education, family backgrounds, level of income, cultural factors and other. Generally, the nature of a person’s or families’ lifestyles may be attributes towards contracting diseases, the ability of seeking medical attention and the vulnerability of achieving control and preventive measures.Consequently, a person’s health is de termined preferential by the standards and levels of his/her lifestyles. (James, Simon, 2006) Reference Ann, F. (1998). Human Health and Diseases. New York, Heinemann Benjamin. G. C. (2003) Reducing unhealthy Behaviors: Where do we start? American journal f public health, Vol. 93 James, R & Simon, G (2006) What is Human Health. London, Routledge Joseph, k (2005) Social Inequalities towards Human Health, Journal of Pediatrics,

Pecha Kucha

Alison Angell Sullivan English 1105B 2 December 2009 Odd Occurrences in Nature How we got started When presented with the task of making a pecha kucha, my partner and I brainstormed topics that interested us and then looked to see if we found any that were related. Giovanni and I both agreed that nature was a fascinating topic and at first thought we would take pictures of different parts of nature around campus and describe them in a photo essay.After realizing the topic was too vague, we narrowed our focus to interesting facts about animals and plants found in nature. I was unsure of how interesting our topic would be until Giovanni sent his list of strange facts he found on the Internet. I was astounded at the many things I was unaware of, one of my favorites being a praying mantis can turn its head 360 degrees, the only animal to be able to do so. The research portion of the project was by far one of the most interesting I have done for a project. I found myself wanting to look f or more.Giovanni and I mutually decided that the most logical way to present our topic would be in the form of a photo essay. We did most of our communication through Facebook messages and an occasional email. Giovanni and I worked independently to find the facts for our pecha kucha but messaged back and fourth daily to give each other feedback. Content The content for the pecha kucha my partner and I designed included interesting facts about a variety of animals and a few plants that we thought would be new information for the audience.The animals and plants we researched ranged all the way from birds in caves to the plants in the ocean. The content includes attention-grabbing facts such as penguins are able to jump six feet in the air, praying mantis’ are the only animal that are able to turn their heads 360 degrees, flamingos are pink because their diet is composed of mainly shrimp, mosquitoes are attracted to the color blue more than any other color, a snail can sleep up to three years at a time, a sea squirt eats its own brain and snakes can see through their eyelids.The facts I found most interesting were the praying mantis’ can turn their heads 360 degrees, some species of birds can dive 15 feet underwater to capture a fish, a headless cockroach can survive for a couple of weeks, and sea cucumbers eviscerate themselves when in danger so the predator will eat their insides while the cucumber scurries. The information we provided on our pecha kucha was found online from various websites except for the information about the swiftlet birds that compose their nests of saliva, which we learned from Mrs. Sullivan. FormBased on the content my partner and I chose for the project, we decided that something like a photo essay would be most appropriate to present the information. An actual photo essay would not work because we did not tell a story but instead, made a presentation about different plants and animals that all relate through nature. Also, we ruled out using a memoir format or a public service announcement seeing as our topic did not correspond with those two forms. The pecha kucha covers fifteen different organisms, some having more than one slide because of the amount of substance there is on those topics.The pecha kucha was made using Powerpoint and Windows Movie Maker. Both Giovanni and I were familiar with Powerpoint so I was able to make my slides through that processor and Giovanni, who is knowledgeable with Windows Movie Maker, was able to transfer my slides. Lastly, there was writing on each slide that Giovanni added using Paint on his computer to help give an overview of each slide. Why we chose the slide material My partner and I wanted to pick a topic that interested both of us. After deciding on elements of nature, we met with Mrs.Sullivan who sparked an idea to focus on interesting, unknown things about different organisms in nature. We were both intrigued by the subject, which made us want to choose it for our topic. After knowing that we were content with our topic, we knew that we had to present a pecha kucha that was going to be interesting to the audience. Giovanni and I agreed that since we were so amazed by the research we found, the class would most likely be as well. Both Giovanni and I split up to do research and messaged our findings to one another.After we had more than enough information, we chose what we thought were the most interesting facts that would surprise the audience the most. How we chose the design elements present in the slides The pecha kucha was made using Powerpoint because both Giovanni and I were familiar with how to use it and also Windows Movie Maker. We added writing to each of our slides to highlight what the slide was on to help the audience summarize what we were covering. There are two movies included in our presentation and a few topics that required more than one slide.For the design, we made sure to space the topics that required two slides and the movies evenly throughout the pecha kucha so that we would not have two similar groups of two slides next to each other or a movie next to another movie, to provide variety for the audience. Audio Component For the sound component of our pecha kucha, we chose to use pre-recorded audio. My partner has a fear of public speaking, which led us to using pre-recorder audio. Luckily, Giovanni has a headset and microphone, which we used to get the narration on the computer.After we recorded our audio, Giovanni used sound-editing computer software to format the audio and create an eloquent narrative. Giovanni and I did not use audio during the two slides that had videos, in order for the audience to be able to focus on the video. Due to the fact that our audio is pre-recorded and may not get as much attention as a live narration would, we used wording on each slide to give people a summary of what our audio was about. Compromises due to working with a partner I have never been a huge fan of partner projects because of my obsessive-compulsive personality.I am very controlling and feel that if things are not done by me, they will not be correct. I realize I am stubborn about these things and that working with a partner has upsides too. However, I usually like to take control and when working with a partner I am not always able to do that. Also, there had to be a compromise in scheduling. Giovanni and I had to compensate for each other’s schedules and find times to work together. Though I may have not had better ideas than my partner, I had to rid of some ideas because he did not agree and my partner had to rid of some of his ideas because I did not agree with them.Also, I compromised in the way our pecha kucha was presented. I found it much easier to present our project orally in front of the class, however, since my partner was shy about public speaking, we went with pre-recorded audio. Lastly, though not a compromise, I am not a fan of partner projects b ecause I am not a fan of confrontation. When I work on partner projects, I will rarely disagree with another person’s ideas because I try to avoid conflict, a flaw I need to work on. Benefits of having a partnerThough I am not interested in partner work, it does have benefits that can sometimes outweigh the compromises. Based off the saying â€Å"two heads are better than one,† working with a partner on this project helped lead to working on a very interesting topic that I would most likely not have thought of on my own. Also, since there were two people working on research, we were able to have an overflow of ideas and pick from those the most interesting, to create an intriguing pecha kucha. Whenever working solo on a project, it is hard to tell if your ideas make sense or have substance.By working with a partner, I was able to consult him on whether or not my ideas were going to benefit the project. Working with a partner benefitted me greatly when it came to the te chnical work of doing pre-recorded audio and inserting movies. My partner was able to put together the audio to fit with each slide and integrate movies into two of the slides, two things I would not have been able to do on my own. Why I enjoyed the project The pecha kucha assignment was one of the more enjoyable group projects I have had to do throughout school.What I liked most about the project was that we, the students, had the opportunity to basically create our own project. We were able to work with information we found interesting and had the opportunity to put it into several different forms. I sometimes find it challenging to start an assignment with as little reservations as this one, but with the help of a partner, the project came together smoothly. Overall, the ability to work with information that we found interesting made the pecha kucha assignment enjoyable. Pecha Kucha Alison Angell Sullivan English 1105B 2 December 2009 Odd Occurrences in Nature How we got started When presented with the task of making a pecha kucha, my partner and I brainstormed topics that interested us and then looked to see if we found any that were related. Giovanni and I both agreed that nature was a fascinating topic and at first thought we would take pictures of different parts of nature around campus and describe them in a photo essay.After realizing the topic was too vague, we narrowed our focus to interesting facts about animals and plants found in nature. I was unsure of how interesting our topic would be until Giovanni sent his list of strange facts he found on the Internet. I was astounded at the many things I was unaware of, one of my favorites being a praying mantis can turn its head 360 degrees, the only animal to be able to do so. The research portion of the project was by far one of the most interesting I have done for a project. I found myself wanting to look f or more.Giovanni and I mutually decided that the most logical way to present our topic would be in the form of a photo essay. We did most of our communication through Facebook messages and an occasional email. Giovanni and I worked independently to find the facts for our pecha kucha but messaged back and fourth daily to give each other feedback. Content The content for the pecha kucha my partner and I designed included interesting facts about a variety of animals and a few plants that we thought would be new information for the audience.The animals and plants we researched ranged all the way from birds in caves to the plants in the ocean. The content includes attention-grabbing facts such as penguins are able to jump six feet in the air, praying mantis’ are the only animal that are able to turn their heads 360 degrees, flamingos are pink because their diet is composed of mainly shrimp, mosquitoes are attracted to the color blue more than any other color, a snail can sleep up to three years at a time, a sea squirt eats its own brain and snakes can see through their eyelids.The facts I found most interesting were the praying mantis’ can turn their heads 360 degrees, some species of birds can dive 15 feet underwater to capture a fish, a headless cockroach can survive for a couple of weeks, and sea cucumbers eviscerate themselves when in danger so the predator will eat their insides while the cucumber scurries. The information we provided on our pecha kucha was found online from various websites except for the information about the swiftlet birds that compose their nests of saliva, which we learned from Mrs. Sullivan. FormBased on the content my partner and I chose for the project, we decided that something like a photo essay would be most appropriate to present the information. An actual photo essay would not work because we did not tell a story but instead, made a presentation about different plants and animals that all relate through nature. Also, we ruled out using a memoir format or a public service announcement seeing as our topic did not correspond with those two forms. The pecha kucha covers fifteen different organisms, some having more than one slide because of the amount of substance there is on those topics.The pecha kucha was made using Powerpoint and Windows Movie Maker. Both Giovanni and I were familiar with Powerpoint so I was able to make my slides through that processor and Giovanni, who is knowledgeable with Windows Movie Maker, was able to transfer my slides. Lastly, there was writing on each slide that Giovanni added using Paint on his computer to help give an overview of each slide. Why we chose the slide material My partner and I wanted to pick a topic that interested both of us. After deciding on elements of nature, we met with Mrs.Sullivan who sparked an idea to focus on interesting, unknown things about different organisms in nature. We were both intrigued by the subject, which made us want to choose it for our topic. After knowing that we were content with our topic, we knew that we had to present a pecha kucha that was going to be interesting to the audience. Giovanni and I agreed that since we were so amazed by the research we found, the class would most likely be as well. Both Giovanni and I split up to do research and messaged our findings to one another.After we had more than enough information, we chose what we thought were the most interesting facts that would surprise the audience the most. How we chose the design elements present in the slides The pecha kucha was made using Powerpoint because both Giovanni and I were familiar with how to use it and also Windows Movie Maker. We added writing to each of our slides to highlight what the slide was on to help the audience summarize what we were covering. There are two movies included in our presentation and a few topics that required more than one slide.For the design, we made sure to space the topics that required two slides and the movies evenly throughout the pecha kucha so that we would not have two similar groups of two slides next to each other or a movie next to another movie, to provide variety for the audience. Audio Component For the sound component of our pecha kucha, we chose to use pre-recorded audio. My partner has a fear of public speaking, which led us to using pre-recorder audio. Luckily, Giovanni has a headset and microphone, which we used to get the narration on the computer.After we recorded our audio, Giovanni used sound-editing computer software to format the audio and create an eloquent narrative. Giovanni and I did not use audio during the two slides that had videos, in order for the audience to be able to focus on the video. Due to the fact that our audio is pre-recorded and may not get as much attention as a live narration would, we used wording on each slide to give people a summary of what our audio was about. Compromises due to working with a partner I have never been a huge fan of partner projects because of my obsessive-compulsive personality.I am very controlling and feel that if things are not done by me, they will not be correct. I realize I am stubborn about these things and that working with a partner has upsides too. However, I usually like to take control and when working with a partner I am not always able to do that. Also, there had to be a compromise in scheduling. Giovanni and I had to compensate for each other’s schedules and find times to work together. Though I may have not had better ideas than my partner, I had to rid of some ideas because he did not agree and my partner had to rid of some of his ideas because I did not agree with them.Also, I compromised in the way our pecha kucha was presented. I found it much easier to present our project orally in front of the class, however, since my partner was shy about public speaking, we went with pre-recorded audio. Lastly, though not a compromise, I am not a fan of partner projects b ecause I am not a fan of confrontation. When I work on partner projects, I will rarely disagree with another person’s ideas because I try to avoid conflict, a flaw I need to work on. Benefits of having a partnerThough I am not interested in partner work, it does have benefits that can sometimes outweigh the compromises. Based off the saying â€Å"two heads are better than one,† working with a partner on this project helped lead to working on a very interesting topic that I would most likely not have thought of on my own. Also, since there were two people working on research, we were able to have an overflow of ideas and pick from those the most interesting, to create an intriguing pecha kucha. Whenever working solo on a project, it is hard to tell if your ideas make sense or have substance.By working with a partner, I was able to consult him on whether or not my ideas were going to benefit the project. Working with a partner benefitted me greatly when it came to the te chnical work of doing pre-recorded audio and inserting movies. My partner was able to put together the audio to fit with each slide and integrate movies into two of the slides, two things I would not have been able to do on my own. Why I enjoyed the project The pecha kucha assignment was one of the more enjoyable group projects I have had to do throughout school.What I liked most about the project was that we, the students, had the opportunity to basically create our own project. We were able to work with information we found interesting and had the opportunity to put it into several different forms. I sometimes find it challenging to start an assignment with as little reservations as this one, but with the help of a partner, the project came together smoothly. Overall, the ability to work with information that we found interesting made the pecha kucha assignment enjoyable.