meditation essays

meditation essays Meditation is a very powerful tool used by many to strengthen the mind. Just like how we exercise our body to be fit and controlled, we can also give our brains a workout by performing various exercises. Professor Walsh has demonstrated a couple of exercises to explain how meditation is used. One exercise requires you to picture a white ring containing a white circle inside with a black background. This work out seems easy at first, but when performing the task, it proved much more difficult. In order to keep the image in my mind, I had to constantly repeat the instructions in my mind. If I tried to keep the motion in my head without repeating the instructions, the image will start to shift and move around. For me, it was the circle and the ring that moved around. The black background stayed the same. I also notice that the circle and the ring moved around together. It seemed as if they were simultaneously dancing together. While keeping the image, I also notice that I couldnt stay focus on the exact image for a long period of time. Regularly, my mind would start to wonder and I would begin to think of other things. For example, while thinking about the image, it would suddenly convert to thinking about the class and how other people are doing. I would wonder what they were thinking about. While performing this exercise, I also notice that my other senses, such as my hearing and feeling were more sensitive to noise and motion. Because I always relied on my eyes to be aw are of my surrounding, my hearing and sense of feelings were rarely used. I also noticed that the slights motion or noise would distract me. I would easily lose focus from these types of distractions. After repeated exercise of the white ring and circle in a black background, I found that it was easier to maintain the image in focus. I was also able to hold the circle and ring for a longer amount of time. I also realized that my full attention was on the imag...

A Promising 2015 for Job Seekers

A Promising 2015 for Job Seekers Casey Fleischmann, an Account Executive at Links Humans, has some good news for those of us stuck in the frustrating, daunting stage of professional life known as job hunting. First off, 2015 has seen the rate of job creation rise to its highest levels since prior to the 2007 recession and its resulting waves of lay-offs. Employers and job-seekers alike are using LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to find each other; 1 in 3 hiring managers say the content they find when they research a candidate online contributes to their hiring decisions. Creativity (within appropriate parameters) is appreciated now more than ever–use your resume to tell the stories that make you a compelling future employee.Key factors in preparing for a job–beyond the basics like networking and following-up appropriately–include making sure you’ve acquired and maintained vital technical skills for your field. Career experts like Barbara Safani advise job-hunters to use sites like Salary.c om and Glassdoor.com to assess their market value, rather than relying on what they’ve made in the past.So, the takeaway for career changers and employment seekers is that there are more ways for you to reach out than ever before. And while you’re waiting in that interminable space between sending out a dynamite resume and cover letter and actually getting a call back, there’s plenty for you to do in establishing your interest and availability online. Chin up, and get yourself out there!

Business Communication Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Business Communication - Assignment Example Distorted messages need to be avoided by the businesses of today as they directly affect the image, profitability and performance of a company. The possible barriers to effective communication are identified in the next section. 2.0. Barriers to Effective Communication: Selection of appropriate channels is essential to avoid â€Å"Channel and information overload† which occurs when the channel cannot handle all the messages that are being sent. An example of this is while communicating face to face. During this, a person might find himself talking to two people at a time causing them to forget the original message and mix up the signals being sent. Noise is another factor that affects every part of the process; it can be physical or psychological. Physical noise is for instance, the commotion produced by traffic outside the office which serves as hindrance to effective communication between people. Psychological noise on the contrary, refers to one’s biases, prejudices, dislikes, lack of concentration and preconceived notions about the issue at hand. Barriers to communication may just be a simple distraction caused by noise or a complete misunderstanding due to one’s judgments. Messages need to be clear-cut, to the point and receiver friendly. They should avoid vagueness and the use of words which have multiple meanings. Humans tend to make their own abstractions using past experiences, cultural backgrounds and knowledge. Our evaluations of messages can be different, for example, one might omit information that sounds casual to him/her but can prove to be extremely important for others. We now try to bring together all the... After all informatio, making the diagrams and other analysis the paper talks that modern day organizations understand the vital importance effective communication holds. It is crucial to their success and profitability. The paper describes the selection of appropriate channels is essential to avoid â€Å"Channel and information overload† which occurs when the channel cannot handle all the messages that are being sent. An example of this is while communicating face to face. Miscommunication gives a bad image to the organizations, which not only operate as infants but international giants as well. Both of the structures cannot afford to lose out the market share that offers them the revenue for the goods and services they sell. Messages and information keeps on zooming over, through, in and out of our heads but effective communication is the name of retaining, forwarding and producing those essential messages which at the end of the day provide benefits and reap greater opportunities to succeed. Businesses need to realize the significance of each communication tool and various channels that help transmit the information and senders and receivers must respect the notions of efficiency and effectiveness. Correct usages of languages, observance of 7 Cs, cost benefit analysis of communication tools and channels, employee engagement, giving timely commands are a few tools ensuring effective communication. However it is entirely an organization’s prerog ative to choose a method that will prove to be the best amongst all and contribute to its progress.

The last supper by Leonardo Da Vinci Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The last supper by Leonardo Da Vinci - Essay Example The most noticeable aspect of Florence was that it was a self governed and most importantly an independent city." (Renaissance) The city grew with leaps and bounds because of its strong economic background to match this, the city also boasted of a strong political philosophy, these factors contributed in the immense success of Florence during the period of the Renaissance. The economy of Florence was centered on the manufacturing of goods or trade of cloth so inevitably meant that the most powerful people in the city had to be the people who represented the textile workers. Workers in Florence were experts when it came to transforming wool into cloth of an excellent quality; they wee well acquainted with the ways to do the same. The process was a quite complicated one which involved dying of wool, cleaning the wool and a host of other processes. The Palazzo Vecchio was constructed in the year 1299. This was also the home of the Florentine guilds. This portrays the Florentine culture that was the home of many Italians. This was a place where influential people would gather and decide complex issues like voting and other important things. The guild members were all from good backgrounds, the background of the people was the most important factor that determined whether they were good enough to become guild members or not. Some guild members were lawyers, sculptors while other members included solicitors, masons and builders. Florence was a very different city; it was unlike Venice or for that matter any other city during the time of Renaissance. Sea trade did not flourish in Florence as much as it did in Venice because the people of Florence had many other interests which fetched them much more than Sea trade, this was primarily the reason why Sea trade never flourished in Florence. Banking was one of the most common professions during the time of Renaissance; many families tasted success being bankers in Florence. The gold coin Manufactured in Florence was a trademark of purity and was accepted the world over by people. The buildings and the sculpture are very famous and looked upon by many people all across the globe, some of the buildings built at that time still stand, his goes to show the pain and the efforts which were out in by the people at that time. Renaissance was a revolutionary period which saw tremendous changes take place in Europe. Renaissance is a French word which means rebirth; many a thing changed during the period of renaissance for instance the Political changes in Europe, social changes which took place during that time etc. This paper will throw light upon Gr'newald's Isenheim Altarpiece. Gr'newald was a very prolific artist of the Renaissance period; he was mainly involved in making religious paintings. This paper will provide an insight on his masterpiece which is known as the Altarpiece which is now located in France. In addition to this the paper will also throw light upon two other masterpieces. (Gr'newald's Isenheim Altarpiece) Mathis was one of the most famous painters of the Renaissance period. He was not well known until the late 19th century which brought him to the limelight. The details about this great artist are still obscure, for the reputation that he had back then, people expect a lot of information about him but the fact is that even his real name is not known by the people. The name

Ikea Invades America Essay Example for Free

Ikea Invades America Essay Founded in 1943 by a poor Swedish farmer named Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA is now one of the largest furniture retailers in the world. From its inception, Kamprad wanted to create cheap, quality furniture that everyone could afford. That formula led to IKEA’s early success in Sweden and has carried over until today. To its customers, IKEA is not just a store but a way of life, which may be evident through the cult-like following the company has achieved. When talking about the four P’s of marketing (product, price, place, promotion), there are few companies in the world that have mastered this concept better than IKEA. IKEA has been able to recognize the demands of its shoppers and create compelling products that meet those demands at a reasonable price. Its products are sold at unique stores that serve strategically important, geographic markets. This paper examines the factors that have made IKEA such a big success and offers some recommendations for future growth in the United States. Today, IKEA has over 240 stores in 35 countries and has revenues of over $26 billion. Its revenues double every 5-6 years and the company is now expanding to growing markets like China, Japan, and Brazil. The future of IKEA looks brighter than ever. For a brief snapshot of IKEA’s current sales around the world see Appendix 1. In 1985, IKEA decided to invade America. Faced with this early failure, IKEA retooled its furniture to fit American tastes. IKEA soon became the fastest growing furniture retailer and the 14th largest furniture retailer overall in the United States. IKEA executives needed to find a balance of how to create new furniture offerings without losing its unique design and corporate soul. By examining IKEA’s marketing strategy and answering a series of four questions, we have developed recommendations (see Appendix 2) that we think will lead to IKEA’s continued growth and success. 1) What are some of the ways that furniture retailers have sought to overcome these purchase obstacles? : a) identifying a product that consumers like, b) visualizing the product in the consumer’s home, and c) getting the product in the consumer’s home? In furniture sales, there are two general strategies: the low-end and the high-end. The low-end offers cheap, utilitarian furniture that is dreary looking. Cheap furniture is marketed to people such as college students who have a small budget. The cheap furniture is also displayed in poorly lit showrooms that offer little to no customer service. High-end furniture stores compete on quality and service. The high-end offers a large selection in each style and sub-style of furniture, which results in the showroom having a large inventory. The broad, variety strategy virtually guarantees that a customer’s preferred style will be available. The high-end stores also have high touch sales associates to help customers with product selection and furniture measurement. Sales associates are trained to educate their customers; such as explaining the life spans of different materials. They also reassure customers that their furniture will last a life time. Visualizing a piece of furniture in a person’s home can be very difficult. The high-end furniture stores have beautiful showrooms that are elaborately decorated to help the customer visualize where they can place new furniture or how they can redecorate their home. High-end stores also offer interior design services. Most retailers offer credit to make high-end furniture more affordable. All retailers offer home delivery, sometimes free, to make the transition as painless as possible for the customer. As an added bonus, retailers offer to assemble the furniture in the customer’s home. Sometimes, delivering the furniture also involves rearranging furniture, as well as removing and discarding old furniture. Providing these services makes the purchase of new furniture an easy and worry-free process. 2) Explain IKEA’s reverse positioning strategy. IKEA created a matrix used to prioritize product lineup and price. (See Appendix 3) Primarily the matrix is used to set a target retail price and select a product style. With the matrix system, IKEA is able to identify product line opportunities and gaps; creating a well rounded store. IKEA has avoided the image of the low end furniture store by displaying furniture in brightly lit showrooms. These showrooms help customers envision how the furniture interacts with the allotted space. Plus color coordinated cards provide design tips and information kiosks are on hand to help customers. All of these features reinforce IKEA’s self service ethos without making the customer feel abandoned. In IKEA’s case, the firm rejected the standard business models for both high-end and low-end furniture stores. IKEA’s furniture is composed of cheaper parts that are not visible and are not under high stress through use and a higher quality material is used for the visible parts or parts under high stress. This gives IKEA’s furniture a higher end look while keeping their costs low. IKEA’s reverse positioning kept prices low, while eliminating many services thought essential to a higher-end store. The company replaced them with unique services for its category: a bright, inviting showroom, furniture that was attractively designed, a child care center, a restaurant serving Swedish meatballs, and brightly colored house wares and clever toys. As a result, IKEA successfully avoided the feel of the low-end retailers, and customers â€Å"find the IKEA shopping experience to be immensely appealing (Moon, â€Å"IKEA Invades America,† 5). 3) What are some of the various product/service attributes that IKEA has chosen to withhold from its customers? IKEA seems to incorporate a hybrid strategy focusing on both cost and differentiation. IKEA attempts to price in the low to midrange category. IKEA does not build its furniture to last a lifetime, which in-fact flows well with its ad campaigns focused on letting go of the semimetal value Americans often place on furniture. IKEA products are known for falling apart after a few years; however, its customers are typically satisfied with the look, functionality, and affordability of IKEA products (Moon, 2004, p. 5). Its focus is on cost-efficiency, so the company uses higher-quality materials on visible surfaces and lower-quality materials elsewhere. High-end stores compete on quality and â€Å"high touch† experience and selection. Nearly all types of furniture stores offer delivery services. However, IKEA successfully eliminated many of these attributes. IKEA products are designed to be transported unassembled in flat boxes, which keeps shipping costs low and prevents IKEA from having to deliver/assemble furniture for customers (Moon, 2004, p. ). Customers are responsible for transportation of their furniture and assembly of their furniture. Although this step may seem like its decreasing the consumer experience/perceived product value; it’s actually keeping the customer involvement level high. Moreover, the competitive pricing offered at IKEA is attributed to letting customer build their own furniture, which keeps costs to a minimum. Formerly, IKEA only produced a few different designs; however, this has changed in recent years. In order to be consistent with IKEA’s self-service ethos and to keep costs low, the ratio of sales assistants to customers is kept low. The low number of sales associates can have a negative effect on the consumer experience. To handle furniture questions, customers are provided with product descriptions and measuring tape so they can make their own measurements. 4) What are some of the areas that IKEA has managed to achieve cost efficiency by implementing a number of firm-specific operation processes? A number of cost effective operating processes have been implemented by IKEA. In furniture design, IKEA engineers often select cheaper/low quality materials for less visible areas that experience minimal stress and expensive materials for visible areas that undergo stress. This aids IKEA in producing durable, good-quality products at low costs. IKEA has worked with over 1,800 suppliers in over 50 countries and often uses suppliers from developing countries. To keep costs down, IKEA usually purchases in bulk and often orders various components of a given product from different suppliers. IKEA is strict with employees about waste; it enforces minimal travel budgets and requires them to save electricity. IKEA keeps a small staff in stores and provides self-serve trolleys to aid consumers in loading their vehicles. Typical furniture retailers require a larger staff and/or incur shipping costs for delivery of their bulky, already assembled products. Flat packaging allows IKEA customers to transport their purchases home and eliminates the expense of home delivery. IKEA’s flat packaging strategy is another firm specific operating process. The strategy was inspired by an employee who, in 1955, removed the legs off a table to fit it into a customer’s car. This strategy requires designers to keep in mind the amount of space their products take up in their unassembled form. Flat packaging also helps prevent damage to the products during the shipping process. IKEA will often redesign their products multiple times to achieve space optimization and reduce shipping costs. Space optimization typically lowers prices for consumers; however, it may lengthen the assembly process. IKEA should continue to incorporate cost cutting activities across the board so long as the consumer experience remains positive.

Fiddler on the Roof Essay -- essays research papers

The musical called â€Å"Fiddler on the Roof† was set in Anatefka, Russia around 1880-1900. During this time, in this small town, held Tevya and his family. Tevya, husband and father of five daughters, is a cynical, obstinate, determined, yet sensitive to feelings, and caring man. He is a clever philosopher and sticks very much to tradition. In the story Tevya says â€Å"Anatefka is our home...to keep in balance by tradition...† This explains the title which is personally understood that through Tevya’s eyes, without tradition, life would be as a fiddler on a roof, unbalanced. This story, demonstrates the precarious lives of the Russian Jews of the late 19th century. The main character, Tevya, compares their lives to that of a fiddler on a roof with only traditions helping them keep their balance. However, throughout the story, Tevya is forced time and again to face and break traditions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tzeitle, Tevya’s oldest daughter was supposedly to be prepared a husband by her parents with the help of Yenta (the old gossip woman who also makes matches). Tzeitle’s parents agree with the match-making to Lazar Wolf the rich old butler. The problem is that Tzeitle is in love with Mottle, the poor tailor and pledged each other they would marry. The bigger conflict appears when Tevya finds out and also after he told Lazar Wolf he could marry his daughter. Tevya, after having a nightmare with Lazar Wolf’s ex-wife, threatening to kill Tzeitle if she marries Lazar, and after...

Bullying in Nursing

Bullying In Nursing Cassandra Owens Recently, during one of our weekend shifts, the unit was almost to capacity with each nurse having the max number of patients we were allowed to have. Our sister unit is the unit that gets our over flow once we are no longer able to accept any more patients. The charge nurse was a young Army Lieutenant and new to being a charge nurse. When the nursing supervisor called to notify us of another admission, the charge nurse informed her that although we were able to accept two more patients, our sister unit only had five patients.She then asked if the other patients could be directed to the other unit. The supervisor proceeded to yell at her so loud over the phone that we could hear it, stating she would take any admission she directed towards her. Just because she was a new Lieutenant it would behoove her to mind her own floor. Our head nurse was notified and she spoke with the supervisor, but the damage had been done. The nurse is now very hesitant w hen she has to be charge and tries to change shifts so she will not have to do it.Bullying has been receiving a mass amount of attention due to recent horrible acts that have been committed against individuals who are considered helpless and/or weak. From psychological damage to physical harm or even death, bullying is a phenomenon that can be damaging to an individual, group or community. This fact holds true on the professional side as well. Bullying in the nursing profession has been increasingly reported over the past decade. Although bullying behaviors are unfortunately common acts committed by physicians, patients, and patient’s families, nurses also engage in bullying of their colleagues.With this recent increase, it is important to understand the ethical and legal issues associated with this behavior. Considering that the nursing profession has topped the list of the most honest and ethical professions for eleven years in a row, it is concerning that nurses would enga ge in behaviors that have been described as humiliating, intimidating, threatening, or demeaning aimed at their own colleagues (Matt, 2012). There are detailed codes of ethics in place that are supposed to provide guidelines for moral character. Yet, espite these guidelines, nurses engage in the aforementioned behaviors targeting their subordinates and peers. What Is Bullying/Workplace Bullying? Bullying is known by many names; aggression, incivility, mobbing, horizontal or lateral violence and intimidation are some of the synonyms that are associated with the term (Murray, 2009). Workplace bullying is a serious issue affecting the nursing profession. It is defined as any type of repetitive abuse in which the victim of bullying behavior suffers verbal abuse, threats or behaviors by the perpetrator that interfere with his or her job performance (Murray, 2009).Often, workplace bullying involves abuse and/or misuse or power and authority within an organization. Bullying behaviors creat e feelings of defenselessness in the victim and significantly demoralize his or her right to dignity in the workplace (Murray, 2009). Looking back at the example in the introduction, after the nurse spoke with others who have been charge and had to deal with the supervisor, it was found that many of the other nurses were treated the same way. The supervisor only spoke and behaved that way to nurses who were new to the charge nurse position.As it is a requirement for military nurses to act as charge nurse in order to get leadership experience, the supervisor liked to target the newer nurses because she could intimidate them. Nursing leaders must be able to work with others to achieve common goals and be able to assess and develop new opportunities for nurses (Finkelman, 2012). This supervisor creates such a hostile and uncomfortable environment the nurses were hesitant to approach her for any type of guidance for fear of being belittled. Ethical and Legal ConsiderationsThere are seve ral ethical principals, virtues of moral character and codes that are violated by nurses who engage in bullying behaviors. One principal is nonmaleficence, which is defined as requiring one to not engage in infliction of evil or harm on another (Matt, 2012). Since bullying behaviors have the specific intent of humiliating and demeaning another, nurses who bully others violate this principle. Justice is another principle that has many descriptions, but the most basic is fair treatment of all. All workers have a right to a safe and healthy work environment thus bullying behaviors violate the principle of justice.Bullying behavior also violate moral virtues that are associated with nursing. Discernment is the ability to make fitting judgments and reach decisions without being unduly influenced by fears (Matt, 2012). This virtue was definitely violated by my nursing supervisor. Nurses who bully also violate the virtues of compassion, integrity, and conscience; all characteristics that s how the nurse demonstrate weak moral character as well as weak Christian values and characteristics. There are two ethical codes that are violated by nurses who participate in bullying behaviors.The first is the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of Ethics for Nurses (Matt, 2012). There are many elements that the code addresses, but when pertain to bullying, the code that is violated pertains to nurses and coworkers. It states that, â€Å"the nurse sustains a cooperative relationship with coworkers in nursing and other fields† (Matt, 2012). Of course, the ANA Code of ethics is violated; specifically provision six which states that, â€Å"the nurse participates in establishing, maintaining and improving healthcare environments and conditions of employment†¦. through individual and collective action† (Finkelman, 2012).Bullying behaviors once again defeat these purposes. Although there are currently no laws in the US specifically targeting workplace bullying, as of May 2011, 16 bills addressing the issue were active in 11 states (The Healthy Workplace Campaign) (Matt, 2012). Violations are also addressed under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Violations of these regulations may result in citations and penalties ranging from temporary closure of a business to fines up to $70,000 per incident if an employer willfully or repeatedly violates the requirements (Matt, 2012).Not only is the employer subject to legal consequences, but the nurse who does the bullying can and will be held accountable as well. No one should be subjected to this type of difficulty while at work. Conclusion Healthcare leaders have a responsibility to employees and the public to provide work environments that are free from abuse and harassment When workplace bullying has been identified it is up to leaders to take appropriate action to ensure the abuse stops, the person is held accountable and steps are taken to ensure it does not happen again.Bullying n ot only affects the healthcare providers who are being targeted, but it affects the healthcare organizations as well. It is reported that bullying in the workplace can cost over $4 billion a year (Murray, 2009). It contributes to increased work dissatisfaction, absence from work and work-related injuries. Hospital administrators, human resource manages and nurse managers must educate themselves to ensure they have a clear understanding of their own responsibilities for providing a safe work environment. Individual nurses must educate themselves as well and not stand for bullying nor participate in bullying behavior.I believe nursing is a blessing and a gift from God; an artistic ability that not everyone is capable of doing. When a person decides to that advantage of this gift and blessing, it is disrespectful to the characteristics of God, which, if studied closely, are directly aligned with the virtues of nursing. I feel the following versus are direct words from God that hold us accountable for our behavior when it comes to nursing and taking care of others, be it our patients or our coworkers: 1 John 3:17 â€Å"But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? ; Philippians 2:4 â€Å"do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. †; and Galatians 6:10 â€Å"So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. † (Society, 1999). How can we say we love God, yet do our fellow man wrong? We have to take a close look in the mirror daily and seek God’s guidance to direct our paths, because if what we do is not pleasing to God, it’s all being done in vain. References Finkelman, A. 2012). Leadership and management for nurses: Core competencies for quality care (2nd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Matt, S. B. (2012). Ehtic al and legal issues associated with bullying in the nursing profession. Journal of Nursing Law, 9-13. Murray, J. S. (2009). Workplace bullying in nursing: A problem that can't be ignored. Medsurg Nursing, 273-6. Society, I. B. (1999). Comparative Study Bible: King James Version, Amplified Bible, New American Standard, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Genetically Modified Foods: a Growing Concern Essay

Living in America, we sometimes forget what a huge problem malnutrition and starvation are in other parts of the world. It’s estimated that over 852 million people in the world are severely food deprived. Now, imagine a world where no one goes hungry, a farmer’s crop can survive a long drought or an early frost and still produce a large harvest, and harmful insects and weeds cannot survive in the same field as a crop. Imagine a world where malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies are a thing of the past, because the food we eat is so much more nutritious. Some scientists believe that, through new technology, this world could be a reality in our lifetime. I’m talking about genetically modified foods, or GM foods for short. People have been genetically altering foods for hundreds of years, but due to recent technological advancements, the potential of these foods have changed drastically. Many scientists believe that genetically modifying foods could help end world hunger while others say that it could result in human and environmental catastrophe. Although there are many potential risks there are also many potential benefits. Like the old saying goes, â€Å"with great power comes great responsibility. † Like almost all new technologies, genetically modified food technology needs to be closely monitored and evaluated as it progresses. Ultimately, genetically modified food technology has too much potential to be completely halted. So just what exactly is genetically modified food? In short, genetically modified foods are organisms that have had their DNA artificially changed to give them a new characteristic. Normally, these modifications are made to produce plants that are resistant to herbicides and pesticides, produce more food, have more nutrients, grow faster, or survive in harsher climates than usual. However, there have also been more unusual experiments done. According to American Scientist Magazine, a gene from a jellyfish has been spliced into plants to make them emit light. In another case the Monsanto Corporation (the largest genetically modified food company in the world) is developing grass seed that will produce different colored lawns. These altered organisms are commonly called genetically engineered, genetically modified, transgenic, or â€Å"Franken-foods†. Genetically engineered foods first went on the market in 1994. The product was a tomato engineered by a company called Calgene. The species of the tomato was called the FlavrSavr. Ironically, it was considered to have a mediocre flavor and never sold well. The FlavrSavr was a commercial failure and was off the market by 1997. Despite the early failure of the FlavrSavr, GM foods have flourished in the last ten years. Odds are you’ve eaten many genetically modified foods and not even known it. Currently, The Grocery Manufacturers of America estimate that 75% of processed foods in the U. S. contain at least one genetically modified ingredient. Although, genetically engineered foods have only been in production for the last 15 years, humans have been altering the DNA of plants for ages. For centuries, people have been using artificial selection to cross-breed plants. For example, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage have all derived from the same species of mustard. However, the process of artificial selection is very difficult and time consuming. Artificial selection is also limited to only plants of similar species. Fortunately, recent advancements in technology have made it possible to move DNA from one species to another regardless of their differences. The process behind GM foods is very difficult and complex, so this is a very simplified explanation of how it works. There are two main methods of genetically modifying foods. The first method uses bacteria to modify the DNA. First, the scientist uses enzymes to cut the desired gene out of the DNA. The gene is then coupled by a promoter and a terminator, these act as signposts to show the beginning and the end of the desired gene. Next, the gene is inserted into section of DNA called a plasmid. The plasmid is then inserted into bacteria. Finally, the bacteria are used to infect the plant cells, where they transfer the gene into the plant cell’s chromosome. The second method is more advanced but also more expensive than the first method. Here, the desired gene is cut from the DNA then attached to a tiny particle of gold or tungsten. Next, the particles are shot into the plant cells using a particle gun or â€Å"biolistic† gun. Lastly, the desired gene falls off of the particle and attaches to the chromosome. After insertion is achieved, the cell is allowed to divide so it makes copies of itself. Once the plants start to grow, they are tested to see if the gene was successfully transferred. Along with the original desired gene, a marker gene is also implanted in the cell. This is used as an easily identifiable trait. This way, all the scientist needs to do is look for this trait and if it is there then they know the desired gene was transferred successfully too. Through those two methods, scientists have been able to do amazing things. The potential benefits of genetically modifying foods are incredible. First off, there are many obvious benefits for the farmer. Their crops will be better because of advantages like herbicide tolerance and insect resistance. Another thing is that GM crops are being altered to withstand harsher weather and generate more food. Also, the farmer doesn’t have to spray his field as much, cutting down on the amount of fuel he uses. It’s estimated that GM foods have indirectly allowed farmers to cut back by 475 million gallons of fuel over the past nine years, which cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions. There are even more benefits for the consumer. Because of increased production, there is more food, which in turn means cheaper food. Also, genetic engineering makes it possible for foods to taste better and be more nutritious. In fact, scientists at The University of Pittsburg School of Medicine recently engineered a pig that generates Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3’s are substances that help prevent cardiovascular disease. If this is approved by the FDA we could soon have pork that is actually good for your heart. Another group of scientists have created what they call â€Å"golden rice. † This is rice that contains beta carotene and vitamin A. Many nations rely heavily on rice as their main food source and this will immensely help those people get the nutrients they need. Another crop has been created that ripens much slower after being picked, so it can be shipped longer distances before rotting. Even with all of these benefits, genetically modified foods are still very controversial. Many people think GM foods are very dangerous and could result in human and environmental catastrophe. Some critics think that, much like bacteria that become resistant to antibiotics, insects could become resistant to the pesticides used on GM crops, making them more difficult to deal with in the future. Also, new plants could produce new allergens and toxins that the human body is unfamiliar with. The majority of GM foods being produced are resistant to herbicides. Researchers believe that this will cause farmers to use more herbicides on their crops. In turn, this could result in pollution that could be harmful to humans and the environment. Another concern is that, through cross-pollination, weeds and other plants could pick up the modified gene and become resistant to the very chemicals that are used to kill them. Although there seems to be many concerns over genetically modifying foods, no study has been done that shows any major risk associated with GM foods. The genetically modified food business continues to steadily grow despite public ignorance and uncertainty. Between 1996 and 2003 the amount of land being used to grow GM plants was increased by 40 times over. It is estimated that over 200 million acres of farm land are now devoted to growing GM plants. In 2000, only three countries made up for 98% of the global GM crop. America produces 68%, Argentina accounts for 23%, and Canada is responsible for 7%. Recently European governments and businesses have been pushing to boost their own GM food production. Nevertheless, according to a recent survey by The Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, Americans are still very uncomfortable with GM foods. The survey showed that the majority of Americans know little to nothing about genetically engineered plants and animals, but it also showed that American consumers do not support banning the new technology, but rather want regulations put in place to ensure that the new products are safe. Regardless of how the public feels, we can expect to see more genetically modified foods in the future and exponential growth in the biotechnology business. Some ideas that developers have already mentioned are bananas that produce human vaccines against infectious diseases, fish that mature quicker, fruit and nut trees that mature quicker, and plants that produce new plastics that have unique properties. As soon as more long-term research is done we can expect to see an explosion of unique new GM products on the market. Ultimately, genetically modified plant technology has too much potential to be completely halted. Right now, most scientists agree that there is no proof that GM foods pose any threat to people or the environment. With proper evaluation and responsibility, genetically modified foods could help solve world hunger. That is a goal too great to be ignored because of possible threats. There are many potential risks associated with GM foods, but the potential benefits far outweigh them. Works Cited Black, Richard. â€Å"Europe Urged to Embrace GM Foods. † BBC News. 12 Sept. 2004. 15 April 2006 . Chaudry, Arshad. â€Å"Genetically Modified Foods. † BioTeach. 16 April. 2006 . Eat This. † Penn & Teller: Bullshit!. Dir. Mark Wolper. Perf. Pen Jillette and Teller. 2003. DVD. Showtime Entertainment. 2004. Fagan Ph. D. , John B. â€Å"Genetically Engineered Food- a Serious Health Risk. † NetLink. 15 April 2006 . Flynn, Kara. â€Å"Trade War over Biotech Food: Now, Later, or Never. † Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. 13 Feb. 2003. 16 Apr. 2006 â€Å"Genetically Modified Food. † Wikipedia. 16 Apr. 2006. 17 Apr. 2006 Lemonick, Michael D. â€Å"Eat Pork, Prevent Heart Disease?. † TIME Magazine. 27 Mar. 2006. Marvier, Michelle. â€Å"Ecology of Transgenic Crops. † American Scientist Magazine 89 (Mar. 2001): 160-167. Nash/Zurich, J. Madeleine. â€Å"Grains of Hope. † TIME Magazine. 31 July 2000. Rifkin, Jeremy. â€Å"Biotech Century: Playing Ecological Roulette with Mother Nature’s Designs. † The Presence of Others. Ed. Andrea A Lundsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz. 4th ed. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2004 287-97.

Free Essays on A Murderers Profile

In Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart†, the protagonist does not reveal much of himself in terms of appearance or his name. There is not much to learn about from the main character. The protagonist although has two separate conflicts one external and one internal and does not think that he is crazy as portrayed by others. In the end, the narrators guilt over killing the old man forces himself to believe that the old man’s heart is beating and turn himself into the police. The protagonist does not reveal his appearance. The narrator is not described in any detail because he is telling the entire story from his point of view, and he does not take the time to describe himself to the audience. So, there is no way to tell what the character looks like. The character’s personality is odd. The character is emotional, but he is not rational. He is neither shy nor outgoing. He thinks that he is skillful. He tends to be depressed. He does not seem to be caring, but he does state that he loved the old man. He is dishonest because he hid the body, and he was not going to confess to the crime until he thought that the police heard the heart beating. The character deals with two different conflicts: external and internal. The internal conflict is that the narrator’s guilt over killing the old man forces him to believe that the dead man’s heart is beating. The external conflict is the eye itself, he feels that the old man’s eye is always watching him. The narrator described how he loved the old man and the old man had never wronged him. However, the old man’s â€Å"vulture eye† is what drove the narrator to murder him. After murdering the old man, the narrator is consumed with guilt. Realizing what he has done, the narrator tries to fight his guilt by constantly telling the reader how he is not crazy but clever. However, in the end, the narrator’s guilt is too overwhelming and this forces him to believe that the... Free Essays on A Murderers Profile Free Essays on A Murderers Profile In Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart†, the protagonist does not reveal much of himself in terms of appearance or his name. There is not much to learn about from the main character. The protagonist although has two separate conflicts one external and one internal and does not think that he is crazy as portrayed by others. In the end, the narrators guilt over killing the old man forces himself to believe that the old man’s heart is beating and turn himself into the police. The protagonist does not reveal his appearance. The narrator is not described in any detail because he is telling the entire story from his point of view, and he does not take the time to describe himself to the audience. So, there is no way to tell what the character looks like. The character’s personality is odd. The character is emotional, but he is not rational. He is neither shy nor outgoing. He thinks that he is skillful. He tends to be depressed. He does not seem to be caring, but he does state that he loved the old man. He is dishonest because he hid the body, and he was not going to confess to the crime until he thought that the police heard the heart beating. The character deals with two different conflicts: external and internal. The internal conflict is that the narrator’s guilt over killing the old man forces him to believe that the dead man’s heart is beating. The external conflict is the eye itself, he feels that the old man’s eye is always watching him. The narrator described how he loved the old man and the old man had never wronged him. However, the old man’s â€Å"vulture eye† is what drove the narrator to murder him. After murdering the old man, the narrator is consumed with guilt. Realizing what he has done, the narrator tries to fight his guilt by constantly telling the reader how he is not crazy but clever. However, in the end, the narrator’s guilt is too overwhelming and this forces him to believe that the...

How to Talk Like a Soprano Family Member

How to Talk Like a Soprano Family Member Ever wondered how Italian stereotypes came to be? Or why the Mafioso stereotype- Italian Americans with thick accents, pinky rings, and fedora hats- seems to be the most prevalent? Where Did the Mafia Come From? The Mafia came to America with Italian immigrants, mostly those from Sicily and the southern part of the country. But it wasn’t always a dangerous and negatively perceived crime organization. The origins of the Mafia in Sicily were born out of necessity. In the 19th century, Sicily was a country constantly being invaded by foreigners and the early Mafia was simply groups of Sicilians who protected their towns and cities from invading forces. These â€Å"gangs† eventually morphed into something more sinister, and they began to extort money from landowners in exchange for protection. Thus the Mafia we know today was born. If you’re curious about how the Mafia has been portrayed in the media, you can watch one of the many movies that follow the activities in the south, like The Sicilian Girl. If you’re more interested in doing some reading or watching a show, you might like Gomorrah, which is world-renowned for its story. When Did the Mafia Come to America? Before long, some of these mobsters arrived in America and brought their racketeering ways with them. These â€Å"bosses† dressed fashionably, in line with the amount of money they were extorting.   The fashion of the time in the 1920’s America consisted of three-piece suits, fedora hats, and gold jewelry to display your wealth. So, the image of the classic Mob boss was born. What About the Sopranos? The HBO television series The Sopranos, widely regarded as one of the best television series of all time, ran for 86 episodes and greatly impacted how Italian-Americans are viewed. But its impact on our language- with its use of mobspeak- also is quite significant. The show, which premiered in 1999 and closed in 2007, concerns a relentlessly foul-mouthed fictional Mafia family with the surname of Soprano. It revels in the use of mobspeak, a street language that employs bastardized Italian-American forms of Italian words. According to William Safire in Come Heavy, the characters dialogue consists of one part Italian, a little real Mafia slang, and a smattering of lingo remembered or made up for the show by former residents of a blue-collar neighborhood in East Boston. The vernacular of this famiglia has become so popular that its been codified in the Sopranos Glossary. In fact, Tony Soprano even has his own form of currency. In The Happy Wanderer episode, for example, he lends his old high school buddy Davey Scatino five boxes of ziti, or five thousand dollars, during a poker game. Later that night, Davey borrows- and loses- an additional forty boxes of ziti. This Is Southern Italian-American Lingo So you wanna be a â€Å"Sopranospeak† expert? If you sat down to dine with the Sopranos and discussed Tonys waste management business, or maybe the witness–protection program for one of New Jerseys 10 most wanted, chances are youd soon hear words like goombah, skeevy, and agita tossed around. All of these words derive from southern Italian dialect, which tends to make the c a g, and vice versa. Likewise, p tends to become a b and d transmutes into a t sound, and dropping the last letter is very Neapolitan. So goombah linguistically mutates from compare, agita, which means acid indigestion, originally was spelled acidit, and skeevy comes from schifare, to disgust. If you wanted to talk like a Soprano, youd also need to know the correct usage of compare and comare, which respectively mean godfather and godmother. Since in small Italian villages, everybody is the godparent of their friends children when addressing someone that is a close friend but not necessarily a relative the terms compare or comare  are used. â€Å"Sopranospeak† is code for endless, unoriginal obscenities that have nothing to do with la bella lingua, with the various dialects of Italy, or (sadly) with the significant and varied contributions Italian–Americans have made throughout United States history.

Business Economics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

Business Economics - Coursework Example The explanations of three different markets are given and also the relationship between them is given in it. In the research methodology the methodology adopted to conduct research is explained. The stock market, the currency market and property market are perhaps the three largest markets in terms of size of business transactions in a country. People around the world invest money in these commodities with the expectation of getting a fair return on their investment.. The first item of commodity to be traded was undoubtedly the property market. This was followed by the stock market in the 1750's and followed by the present form of currency market in 1973. This paper studies the predictability, relations and correlations between the stock, currency and the property markets. It is true that there exists a relationship among the three. It has to be seen whether a rise or fall in the stock value affect the other two or will a change in the value of the currency market affect stock market or property market. Similarly will a change in the property market affect stock and currency market. The stock market and its early days: Evidence show that trading in stock in the United Kingdom existed even in the sixteenth century. Trading in stocks during that period was much higher in Amsterdam and Paris and oldest share issue in history is the issue of was in 1606 in Amsterdam by the company Camere Amsterdam and it was called Dutch Vereinigte Oostindische Compaignie (VOC) share certificate. After another two years he could safely assume that besides the second VOC share (held by the Amsterdam Stock Exchange) and other securities from the company, his piece was the oldest share certificate in the world. (Oldest Share in the World. 1606). Though no stock exchange existed till the opening of the London stock exchange, there was a market for securities and it was known as the Royal exchange. In those days most companies formed out of joint stock was engaged in international trade and shipping. The East India Company, The Hudson Bay Company and the Royal African Companies were the major existing at that time. Gradually, joint stock companies in other areas of business like banking and water supply Till 1689, only about fifteen joint stock companies existed in Britain, but this rose rapidly to 150 within a span of seven years. The French Revolution caused the economy in France to collapse and as a result, trading in stocks increased on volume in England The London Stock Exchange was officially started in 1772 with the purpose of a properly organized structure to control the growing number of companies and the volume of trade in securities. "In the eighteenth century company shares continued to be an important driving force behind the expansion of the securities market in London". (Michie P. 17). Even though a majority of stock trading ins done in Europe US and Japan, in recent years many countries from Asia have also become large markets. Property and Property Markets: The most sought after form of investment in the world before the advent of the stock and currency was in property. Property is defined as "ownership; right of possession, enjoyment, or disposal of anything, esp. of something tangible: to have property in land." (11 result for property. 2006). Here property refers to land and property market is trading in property. Prop

DRAMA OF DIVERSITY Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

DRAMA OF DIVERSITY - Assignment Example It is my personality around those I do not know well that has led to me being labeled and judged unfairly. At several different junctures throughout my life, I have dealt with people who are acquaintances or people that I come into contact with casually. Sometimes, when I engage these people in a conversation, they will tell me straight to my face that they believed I was really stuck up or arrogant before talking to me. I am always astounded and hurt at this revelation. I was brought up to be a humble and well-mannered person, so having these people label me in this fashion is extremely upsetting. I then have to tell these people that I am merely a quiet and reserved person, but this doesn’t change the fact that their words sting me. I can’t help but want to point out the fact that their actions in relaying this label to me shows me a lot about their character. In the end, I just have to remind myself that everyone judges and labels others. I think that the most unfair judgements and labels are those that are formed without knowing a person at all. Essentially, this kind of judgement reminds me of a person being sentenced in a courtroom without the ability to showcase evidence to the contrary. It is because of my own experiences with unfair judgements, that I make it a point to not judge a person, especially if I don’t know them very