The ministry of Spiritual Direction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The ministry of Spiritual Direction - Essay Example to pay attention to their own religious experiences and to respond accordingly to what God communicates to them in their own personal experiences. In my own experiences, I have realized that good spiritual direction should be based on religious experience. Before I was helped by my spiritual director to listen to the voice of God through my own experiences, I was a practising member of the apostolic church, but as a matter of fact, I did not have a live and a vibrant relationship with my God. This is because, although, I was a practising Christian and I used to attend the church regularly to pray, I however, felt aloof and alienated from God. I had expressed this problem to my previous spiritual directors, but my spiritual directors kept on lecturing me on how I should abandon sin, be more prayerful, and align my life to the will of God. I had tried in vain to adhere to the advice of my spiritual directors. Later, I choose another spiritual director who started directing me to engage in silent and contemplative prayers as a way of listening to God as He communicated to me. My new spiritual director also advised me to take time each day at least 15 minutes per day, to reflect on my personal experiences and to focus on the religious dimensions of those experiences, i.e. to pay attention to how God was communicating to me through those daily experiences. Through this new method of spiritual direction, I was able to discern, in a very clear manner, how God was constantly communicating with me. Through the silent prayers and reflections, I was also able to respond to God as He communicated with me, and to express my feelings, my hopes, my fears, my frustrations, and my gratitude to him. Ultimately, my prayer life improved substantially and my relationship with God became stronger and stronger. This experience, therefore, made me to believe that the best form of spiritual direction should be based on

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers Understanding Hurricane Katrina Essay

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers Understanding Hurricane Katrina - Essay Example In a single story, Dave Eggers depicts the countless tales of trauma during and after the Hurricane Katrina, in the book Zeitoun. This paper critically examines how Eggers’ narrative in Zeitoun affects the understanding of Hurricane Katrina based on my own experiences with those depicted in the text and how they coincide with the event. Zeitoun is a contemporary nonfiction masterpiece that illustrates the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. In the book, Abdulrahman Zeitoun is an American Muslim, born and grown up in Syria before settling in the U.S. Zeitoun married Cathy, a native Louisiana Muslim. When Hurricane Katrina began, Zeitoun sends his family to Baton Rouge. Zeitoun stays behind to watch over his home and business. After the devastating storm, Zeitoun crosses the submerged city in a canoe helping trapped people. Zeitoun and two friends are arrested by law enforcement agents in the ensuing counterterrorism efforts. While Zeitoun experienced poor treatment in the hands of the security officers, the book gives clear picture of prison injustices met on the basis of discrimination. A critical analysis of the novel reveals that the author’s main themes relates to racism and the importance of family relationships in post-disaster efforts. With specific regard to the Hurricane Katrina, the book exposes the reader to the government inefficiencies and flaws in handling the disaster. In particular, the book explores the consequences of government inefficiencies such as prison injustices, discrimination and breaking of family ties. Litman (2006) argues that every disaster presents unique problems, and that Katina began with hurricane leading to civil disorder and isolation of people (2). The handling of the Hurricane Katrina has been criticized for various reasons. The Center of Progressive Reform (2005) argues that Katrina was foreseeable but emergency response planning and implementation efforts were poor (6). Although the book does may not paint a complete picture of the post-disaster management exercise, it exposes how long-running government inefficiencies could be exacerbated during disaster management and the consequences such inadequacies have on individuals and families. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was mandated in overseeing both the preparation and response to the disaster. The book shows how FEMA could have lost its focus on mitigating natural disaster. On one hand, the book exposes how efforts from civilian volunteers could have helped in disaster response efforts. This is especially important considering that federal assistance was delayed for many days after the disaster. Criticisms have been raised against the leadership in disaster management. While there was communication breakdown, civilian volunteers could have had an impact in rescuing trapped people. The book uncovers the impact of prison injustices in the investigations of the terror threats following the Hurricane Katrina. For in stance, Zeitoun and other men are arrested and transferred to Hunt correctional facilities while no appropriate charges are preferred. This is especially important because the Zeitoun is not allowed to contact his family or friends. Egger says â€Å"Zeitoun had not been charged with a crime†¦.he did not know why he was being held†¦.in a small room surrounded by soldiers in camouflage demanding he removes his clothes’ (226). From the outset, this statement exposes the violation of human rights issues during the post-Katrina events. The author continues â€Å"

The Five Porter Model In Bajaj

The Five Porter Model In Bajaj Bajaj Auto is a major India Automobile manufacturer. It is Indias largest and the worlds 4th largest two- and three-wheeler maker. It is based in Pane, Maharashtra, with plants in Kauri and Chaka (near Pane), Wale and Pat agar in Uttaranchal. Bajaj Auto makers and exports motor scooters, motorcycles and the auto rickshaw. Over the last decade, the company has successfully changed its image from a scooter manufacturer to a two wheeler manufacturer. Its product range encompasses scooters and Motorcycles. Its real growth in numbers has come in the last four years after successful introduction of a few models in the motorcycle segment. The company is headed by Rahall Bajaj who is worth more than US$1.5 billion. Bajaj Auto came into existence on November 29, 1945 as M/s Bachraj Trading Corporation Private Limited. It started off by selling imported two- and three-wheelers in India. In 1959, it obtained license from the Government of India to manufacture two- and three-wheelers and it went public in 1960. In 1970, it rolled out its 100,000th vehicle. In 1977, it managed to produce and sell 100,000 vehicles in a single financial year. In 1985, it started producing at Wale in Aurangabad. In 1986, it managed to produce and sell 500,000 vehicles in a single financial year. In 1995, it rolled out its ten millionth vehicles and produced and sold 1 million vehicles in a year. Founded in 1926, at the height of Indias movement for independence from the British, the group has an illustrious history. The integrity, dedication, resourcefulness and determination to succeed which are characteristic of the group today, are often traced back to its birth during those days of relentless devotion to a common cause. Jamnalal Bajaj, founder of the group, was a close confidant and disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. In fact, Gandhi had adopted him as his son. This close relationship and his deep involvement in the independence movement did not leave Jamnalal Bajaj with much time to spend on his newly launched business venture. His son, Kamalnayan Bajaj, then 27, took over the reins of business in 1942. He too was close to Gandhi and it was only after Independence in 1947, that he was able to give his full attention to the business. Kamalnayan Bajaj not only consolidated the group, but also diversified into various manufacturing activities. The present Chairman of the group, Ra hall Bajaj, took charge of the business in 1965. Under his leadership, the turnover of the Bajaj Auto the flagship company has gone up from Rs.72 million to Rs.46.16 billion (USD 936 million),its product portfolio has expanded from one to and the brand has found a global market. He is one of Indias most distinguished business leaders and internationally respected for his business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit. REVIEW OF LITURATURE CORPORATE: BAJAJ AUTO TO USE PANTNAGAR, WALUJ PLANTS FOR EXPANSION Anonymous. Mar 28, 2010. Bajaj Auto will use its Waluj and Pantnagar plants for its capacity expansion programmes in the coming years. The company now plans to up overall capacity to five million vehicles during 2011-12 and will divide this enhanced target almost equally between Waluj and Pantnagar. Waluj is, incidentally, home to the three-wheeler range as well as bikes, while Pantnagar, the youngest plant, focuses on bikes. The Bajaj Auto board approved of this expansion programme on Wednesday. BAJAJ FINSERV SETS A GAME PLAN IN PATH TO PROFIT Falaknaaz Syed. Dec 10, 2009. Bajaj Finserv, the holding company for a clutch of financial firms controlled by the Bajaj group, has chalked out a systematic plan for the subsidiaries, giving a new focus on profitability and setting out strategic footprint to make them grow in the coming years. BEHIND THE SPIN Anonymous.: Jun 2008. Last month, Japans third-biggest carmaker missed its profits target for the second year running. And Nissan, which is 44% owned by Renault, said the coming year would be difficult, with an expected 30% fall in profits, because of absolutely scary increases in raw materials, a lackluster US market, and a strong yen. Nissan has promised to launch an ultra low-cost car in partnership with Indian motorcycle maker Bajaj Auto, in 2011. Nissan must apply all its ingenuity to meet changing consumer demands GHOSN ACCEPTS NISSANS LONGER ROAD TO GROWTH Anonymous. May 14, 2008. While his two previous strategic plans for the carmaker merited full or better than full scores for execution, Mr [Carlos Ghosn], speaking in Tokyo, acknowledged his Value-Up blueprint deserved not a full score, but . . . still a very good score. Mr Ghosn also vowed to double sales of Nissans Infiniti premium brand to 300,000 units by 2012. The carmaker will also CATALYST: BANKING ON KIM Anonymous. Jun 5, 2008. Reminisces a former employee of Videocon, Nabankur Gupta, Head of Nobby Brand Architects Strategic Marketing Consultants, Videocon was seen to be an innovator with every new product which came into the market. It was the first one to bring in the automatic washing machines and the frost-free refrigerators in the country. But such innovations have died away over the years. But now with the former LG chief at the helm, Videocon might just return to its glory days. But there is still a lot of catching up to do. In a major category, such as flat colour TVs for instance, LG holds forth with a 27.5 per cent volume share while Videocon has a mere 9 per cent share in the category, according to market estimates. Even in the air-conditioner segment the gap looms large with LG enjoying a 25 per cent share and Videocon having an 11 per cent share. In frost-free refrigerators, LG leads with a 25 per cent share while Videocon is struggling with a 6 per cent share in the category. However, in wash ing machines LG currently with a 22 per cent share has Videocon closely trailing with a 21 per cent share. According to a former LG employee, Ajay Bajaj, who is currently Product Business Head for ACs and Washing Machines, Videocon Group, As long as resources are channelled in the right direction, it is possible for Videocon to overtake anybody. Being one of the oldest companies it had added some flab but as soon as some amount of operational excellence comes in, it would be raring to go. Analysts say that in spite of Videocons shares shrinking, its brands continue to have some equity in certain segments with the durable business. While the flagship brand of Videocon has its strengths in washing machines, air-conditioners and colour TVs, Electrolux is known for its frost-free refrigerators and microwaves while Kelvinators expertise is in direct cool refrigerators. Sansui is best known for its colour TVs while Kenstar has equity for its small appliances and air coolers. We can have different trade channels for each of our brands and thereby have an extensive retail presence today, adds Baj aj, who believes in replicating the LG strategy for Videocon as well. In LG too we had different models for the different trade channels and even in Videocon we intend attacking all the trade channels with our different brands, says Bajaj. ENTRY BARRIERS: Entry barriers are high. The market runs on high economies of scale and on high economies of scope. The need for technical expertise is high. Owning a strong distribution network is important and is very costly. All these make the barrier high enough to be a deterrent for new entrants. SWOT ANALYSIS: Lets analyze the position of Bajaj in the current market set-up, evaluating its strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities available. STRENGTHS: Highly experienced management. Product design and development capabilities. Extensive R D focus. Widespread distribution network. High performance products across all categories. High export to domestic sales ratio. Great financial support network (For financing the automobile) High economies of scale. High economies of scope. WEAKNESSES: Hasnt employed the excess cash for long. Still has no established brand to match Hero Hondas Splendor in commuter segment. Not a global player in spite of huge volumes. Not a globally recognizable brand (unlike the JV partner Kawasaki) THREATS: The competition catches-up any new innovation in no time. Threat of cheap imported motorcycles from China. Margins getting squeezed from both the directions (Price as well as Cost) TATA Ace is a serious competition for the three-wheeler cargo segment. OPPORTUNITIES: Double-digit growth in two-wheeler market. Untapped market above 180 cc in motorcycles. More maturity and movement towards higher-end motorcycles. The growing gearless trendy scooters and scooterette market. Growing world demand for entry-level motorcycles especially in emerging markets. PORTERS FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS: Supplier Bargaining Power: Suppliers of auto components are fragmented and are extremely critical for this industry since most of the component work is outsourced. Proper supply chain management is a costly yet critical need. Buyers Bargaining Power: Buyers in automobile market have more choice to choose from and the increasing competition is driving the bargaining power of customers uphill. With more models to choose from in almost all categories, the market forces have empowered the buyers to a large extent. Industry Rivalry: The industry rivalry is extremely high with any product being matched in a few months by competitor. This instinct of the industry is primarily driven by the technical capabilities acquired over years of gestation under the technical collaboration with international players. Substitutes: There is no perfect substitute to this industry. Also, if there is any substitute to a two-wheeler, Bajaj has presence in it. Cars, which again are a mode of transport, do never directly compete or come in consideration while selecting a two-wheeler, cycles do never even compete with the low entry level moped for even this choice comes at a comparatively higher economic potential. MANAGERIAL STYLE: Off late Bajaj Auto Limited, Indias premier automotive company has emphasized a lot on organizational restructuring for the Auto business. With this restructuring, the existing business roles and responsibilities at the company has been strengthened and enhanced to ensure greater operational empowerment and effective management. The five pillars of this new structure (Strategic units) are RD, Engineering, Two Wheeler Business Unit, and Commercial Vehicles Business Unit International Business Unit. These pillars will be supported by functions of Finance, MIS, HR, Business Development and Commercial. Praveen Srivastava, who was VP-Engineering prior to restructuring, will, now, is President- Engineering. As per the reorganized structure the company will have three CEOs. S. Sridhar, currently, VP, Mktg. Sales Two-Wheelers, will now head the Two Wheeler Business Unit as CEO with manufacturing operations at Wale and Kauri also reporting to him. RC Maheshwari has joined Bajaj Auto as CEO Commercial Vehicles. The company is in the process of identifying a CEO for its International Business. The three CEOs will be responsible for Top line, Business Growth profitability of their respective businesses. Abraham Joseph will continue to lead Research Development. HR PRACTICES: The Company affirms that its competitiveness is interlinked with the well being of all sections of the Indian society. The Company believes that equal opportunity in employment for all sections of the society is a component of its growth and competitiveness. It further believes that inclusive growth is a component of growth and development of the country. The Company affirms the recognition that diversity to reflect socially disadvantages sections of the society in the workplace has a positive impact on business. The Company wills neither practice nor support conscious discrimination in any form. The Company does not bias employment away from applicants belonging to disadvantaged sections of society if such applicants possess competitive skills and job credentials. The Companys selection of business partners is not based on any considerations other than normal business parameters. In case of equal business offers, the Company will select a business partner belonging to a socially disadvantaged section of society. This Code of Conduct for Affirmative Action will be put up on the company web-site to encourage applications from socially disadvantaged sections of society. The Company makes all efforts for up skilling and continual training of all its employees in order to enhance their capabilities and competitive skills. No discrimination of any type will be shown in this process. The Company may have a partnership programmed with educational institution/s to support and aid students from socially disadvantaged SECTIONS OF SOCIETY. The Company will maintain records of Affirmative Action. Â · The Company has nominated Mr. K Srinivas, Vice President (HR), to oversee and promote the Affirmative Action policies and programmers. He will be accountable to the Chairman. Â · The Company will make available its learning and experiences as a good corporate citizen in Affirmative Action to other companies desiring to incorporate such policies in their own business. BUSINESS STRATERGIES: MARKETING STRATEGIES: The focus of BAL off late has been on providing the best of the class models at competitive prices. Most of the Bajaj models come loaded with the latest features within the price band acceptable by the market. BAL has been the pioneer in stretching competition into providing latest features in the price segment by updating the low price bikes with the latest features like disk-brakes, anti-skid technology and dual suspension, etc. BAL adopted different marketing strategies for different models, few of them are discussed below: KAWASAKI 4S First attempt by bajaj to make a mark in the motorcycle segment. The target customer was the father in the family but the target audience of the commercial was the son in the family. The time at which Kawasaki 4S was launched Hero Honda was the market leader in fuel-efficient bikes and Yamaha in the performance bikes. Boxer It took the reins from where the Kawasaki 4S left. Target was the rural population and the price sensitive customer. Boxer marketed as a value for money bike with great mileage. Larger wheelbase, high ground clearance and high mileage were the selling factors and it was in direct competition to Hero Honda Dawn and Suzuki MX100. CALIBER The focus for the Caliber 115 was youth. And though Bajaj made the bike look bigger and feel more powerful than its predecessor (characteristics that will attract the average, 25-plus, executive segment bike buyer), its approach towards advertising is even more radically different this time around. Bajaj gave the mandate for the ad campaign to Lowe, picking them from the clique of three agencies that do promos for the company (the other two being Leo Burnett and OM). Going by the initial market response, the campaign was clearly a hit in the 5-10 years age bracket. So, the teaser campaign and the emphasis on the Caliber 115 being a `Hoodibabaa bike placed it as a trendy motorcycle for the college-goers and the 25 plus executives both at the same time. PULSAR Pulsar was launched in direct competition to the Hero Hondas CBZ model in 150 cc plus segment. The campaign bearded innovative punch line of Definitely Male positioning Pulsar to be a masculine-looking model with an appeal to the performance sensitive customers. The Pulsar went one step ahead of Hero Hondas CBZ and launched a twin variant of Pulsar with the 180 cc model. The model was a great success and has already crossed 1 million marks in sales. DISCOVER The same DTSI technology of Pulsar extended to 125 cc Discover was a great success. With this, Bajaj could realize its success riding on the back of technological innovation rather than the joint venture way followed by competitors to gain market share. BAL now is taking a leaf out of the FMCG business model to take the company to greater heights. Bajaj has kicked off a project to completely restructure the companys retail network and create multiple sales channels. Over the next few months, the company wills set-up separate sales channels for every segment of its business and consumers. Bajaj Autos entire product portfolio, from the entry-level to the premium, is being sold by the same dealers. The restructuring will involve separate dealer networks catering to the urban and rural markets as well as its three-wheeler and premium bikes segments. Bajaj Auto also plans to set-up an independent network of dealers for the rural areas. The needs of financing, selling, distribution and even after-sales service are completely different in the rural areas and do not makes sense for city dealers to control this. The company also plans to set-up exclusive dealerships For its three-wheeler products instead of having they sold through an estimated 300 of its existing dealers. OTHER STRATEGIC ISSUES: CASH IS STRENGTH: Bajaj Auto has been sitting on a cash pile for over five years now. Over the next couple of years, competition in the two-wheeler market is set to intensify. TVS Motors and Hero Honda are on a product expansion binge. To fight this battle and retain its hard-earned market share in the motorcycle segment, Bajaj Auto will need its cash muscle. A look at its own story over the past five years provides valuable insight. DELISTING WORRY: What is worrying is that there is an idea to delist the investment company (also an indirect indication that it would be listed initially). This would be closing the valve of equitable ownership distribution. There is a hint of a buyback of shares of the investment company as this is the only way it can be delisted. The company would not be short of cash to put through such a buyback. Factors such as low valuation, low trading interest and the need to provide shareholders may be cited as plausible reasons for the buyback. STAKE FOR KAWASAKI: Bajaj Autos attempt to vest the surplus cash in a separate company may be a prelude to offering a stake to Kawasaki of Japan in the equity of the automobile company. The latter has been playing an increasingly active role in Bajajs recent models, and its brand name is also more visible in Bajaj bikes than in the past. BETTER VALUE PROPOSITION: Shareholder interests may be better served if the cash is retained to pursue growth in a tough market. This would also obviate the need to fork-out fancy sums as stamp duty to the government for the de-merger. A combination of a large one-time dividend and a regular buyback program through the tender route may offer better value. A strategic stake for Kawasaki would only positively influence the stocks valuation. STRATEGIES FOR THE OVERSEAS MARKETS: Bajaj Auto looks at external markets primarily with three strategies: (1) A market where all BAL need to do is distribute through CKD or CBU routes. (2) Markets where BAL need to create new products (3) Markets where BAL need to enter with existing products and probably with a good distributor or a production facility or a joint venture. Earlier, most of the products that Bajaj exported were scooters and some motorcycles. However, in its target markets, like in India, the shift was towards motorcycles. With the expansion in Bajajs own range to almost five-six platforms of motorcycles, it had a better offering to export, also the reason for its stronger showing. For the last fiscal, 60 per cent of its exports were two-wheelers and the rest three-wheelers. Of the two-wheeler exports, close to 90 per cent were motorcycles. Bajaj has identified certain key markets, which hold potential. Its first overseas office established at the Jebel Ali free trade zone has been the focal point for exports to middle Africa and the Saharan nations. Egypt and Iran also continue to be strong markets for Bajaj. The other market, which would be a focus area, is South America, where the company feels it is fairly well represented in most countries, except in Brazil, the largest market. The company recently participated in a large auto exhibition in Brazil and found good consumer acceptance to products like Pulsar and Wind 125.The other focus area is the ASEAN nations, which constitute the third biggest consumer of two-wheelers. The biggest among them is Indonesia, where Bajaj distributors are looking to introduce eco-friendly four-stroke auto rickshaws. But two-wheeler market requires great deal of effort from BAL. Everybody is there with Honda leading the show. Theres Suzuki, Kawasaki and some Korean and Chinese models. BAL should look at the right product mix for two-wheelers. Bajajs Pulsar model has taken off well there. It also wants to develop a new step-through model for the Indonesian market, but for now it will create a base there with its motorcycle models. Bajaj has also made a beginning by selling bikes in the Philippines branded in the name of its technical partner, Kawasaki. The two signed a Moue in February. Kawasaki, a large multi-product conglomerate, only makes high-end bikes and does not have sub-200cc models. Kawasaki is marketing the new model, Wind 125, developed by both companies, in the Philippines. The Bajaj-developed models, Caliber and Bike, which is a fuel-efficient bike, are also being Distributed by Kawasaki. This is a good beginning strategically for Kawasaki to evince interest in Bajaj products for markets which can still buy less than 150 cc. COST EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES: CONSERVATION OF ENERGY: Furnaces, reduction of hot water temperature for pre-treatment, use of bio- As a part of continuing efforts to conserve various resources, following steps were taken to conserve energy Electrical energy saving was achieved by installation of localized portable air compressors at various shops during low production periods, energy efficient screw compressors by replacing CPT compressors, real timer electrical circuits installed to switch off electrical equipments during lunch / tea breaks and during non utilization of production equipments, fan less cooling towers for AC plants, high efficiency reflector fittings with electronic ballasts tube lights, use of LED CFT street lights, replacement of 350 W air circulators by 180 W air circulators, 150 W MH lamps instead of 250 W HPSV lamps at shop floors, Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) for ASUs in paint shops, washing machine blowers, compressors etc and rationalization of pumping hours of main pump as well as booster pump of pump house. Water saving was achieved by replacement of old under-ground water pipes with aboveground pipes to avoid water wastage through leakage, drip irrigation system for gardening, installatio n of localized fresh water storage systems, usage of treated water for bin washing and paint shop process, rain water harvesting and use of bio-chemical additives to reduce frequency of water change in various paint processes; and LPG saving was achieved by installation of waste heat recovery system for hot water generation used in pre-treatment process of paint shop, use of reflective coating inside furnaces for better heat retention, three-wheeler electro-deposition (ED) painting process changed from Acrylic ED to Cathodic ED, optimisation of loading pattern in CGC and seal quench gas for cooking in canteens, start-up losses in ovens and hot water generation plants and changed design of paint jigs to reduce jig stripping frequency. IMPACT OF MEASURES TAKEN: As a result of the initiatives taken for conservation of energy and natural resources, the company has effected an overall reduction in consumption as under:- COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMES: During the year, the employees volunteered for blood donation camp at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Pune and Dr Sunshield Tiwari Hospital, Pant agar Fire fighting teams of the company along with vehicles responded to 20 Fire assistance calls from Government Fire Department / other industrial units outside the factory premises in the larger interests of saving invaluable life and property. COMMUNITY CARE: In line with the commitment to enrich the life of all with whom bajaj deals, it shows sensitivity to the employees, who opted for voluntary retirement at the Kauri Plant. Soon after the Kauri employees expressed their interest in accepting the Voluntary Retirement Scheme, the company organized a series of interactive meetings with leading financial institutions. The officers explained the need to prudently and safely invest the monies received, considering the various options available today. The company devised attractive schemes for interested employees so that they could receive regular monthly payments, in addition to lump sum compensation announced. They were also provided with options of taking loans at competitive rates of interest. By these actions, it is the companys Endeavour that the employees, who have accepted voluntary retirement scheme, are independently self-sustaining and can take good care of their families. Employees were also guided for alternative possibilities, whether as employee or entrepreneur. HEALTH: Government of India- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) and CII has initiated Public Private Partnership (PPP) in order to provide better healthcare to AIDs patients. Your company has signed a tripartite Moue with NACO and Yeshwantrao Chauvin Municipal Hospital (YCMH) in Pinprick to set up an Anti Retroviral Treatment Centre (ART Centre) at YCMH in Pinprick, Pane with the cooperation of Pinprick Chinch wad Municipal Corporation for HIV patients. Many dignitaries from Global Fund, WHO and such other organizations have visited the ART centre, which is the largest unit run by an industry under Public Private Partnership programmed. Apart from two doctors and six supporting medical staff, the ART centre has added audio-visual facilities for group counseling, as a result of which the ART centre registration has reached 1,900 numbers and the unit is recognized today as one of the best ART centers in the country. Rural and community development activities and empowerment of women. The company continued with its rural development activities in Pane and Aurangabad districts of Maharashtra through its trust, Jankidevi Bajaj Gram Visas Sancta (JBGVS). JBGVS aims at an integrated development of 43 Selected villages, to be carried out by the villagers under their own leadership and through united efforts forged by local organizations with JBGVS acting as a catalyst New projects four wheeler plant: Chaka 4wheeler plant-The Late range of 4 wheeler vehicles, both in Passenger and Cargo segments of the Industry are under re-design, to Sharpen the competitive positioning of the products. The Cargo version code named PV 1500 is likely to be launched in 2011. The Techno-economic feasibility for the Passenger 4 wheeler will be Evaluated by Bajaj Renault-Nissan for a final decision, leading to firming Up of the co-operation parameters among partners and a suitable JV Agreement. Company continues to focus on expanding its design testing teams, Which has enabled it to make the new generation products? R D has Enhanced its internal competencies by installation of advanced machines in Proto shop and introduction of special equipments in testing areas. PROFITS DURING RECESSION: 2008-09 has been a tumultuous year for the global economy. The year began With a continuation of a world-wide inflationary spiral and ended with the Worst slowdown since the Great Depression of the 1930s. While India did not Face a contraction in GDP growth like the USA, the Euro zone, the UK and Japan, it has witnessed a 250 basis point compression in growth rate from 9% in 2007-08 to an expected 6.5% or thereabout in 2008-09. The second half of 2008-09 has seen severe financial distress across broad Sections of Indian industry-especially the manufacturing sectors. Companies Have got re-rated; have scrapped investment plans and capital expenditure; Cut down capacities; struggled with finances because of their earlier over- Leveraged positions; delay ed payments to vendors; and had to borrow funds .At prohibitive interest rates. It is in this context that one must look at the performance of Bajaj Auto Limited (Bajaj Auto, BAL or the Company). Despite falling demand in .The motorcycl e segment, the company has succeeded in maintaining an Operating EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and Amortization) margin of 13.6% of net sales and other operating income The heartening news for this segment is that state governments have Increased the permits for plying energy efficient three-wheelers. Bajaj Auto has a market share in excess of 90% in the permit-driven markets. The Company also intends to introduce a RE Diesel upgrade in 2009-10, which Will have a high mileage; accommodate more passengers with a luggage hold Area, and will attempt to capture a larger share of the rural market. INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: At Kauri, the management signed the wage settlement on 18 July 2008 with Vishwakalyan Kampar Sanghatana, the recognized union, in conciliation and accordingly, the benefits of the settlement have been given to all daily- Rated employees at Kauri. Subsequently, with a view to downsizing the workforce at Kauri, Voluntary Retirement Scheme was floated for the permanent daily rated workmen. 2,331 Workmen availed of the benefit under the scheme. Relations with staff and workmen across the plants at Kauri, Wale, Chaka And Pant agar remained cordial. SUBSIDIARIES: PT. Bajaj Auto Indonesia (PT BAI), was incorporated as a subsidiary company In Indonesia with an issued, subscribed paid-up capital of US$ 12.5 Million (Rs.562 million) in 2006-07. Bajaj Auto holds 97.5% shares in this Company, with balance being held by a local partner. The subsidiary company Has accumulated losses of Rs. 830.7 million as on 31 March 2009. Through The efforts, which are planned in the coming years, it is expected that PT BAI will turn around within a reasonable time. During the year under review, sales and service network reach have been Expanded substantially covering the major cities of Jaw, Sumatra, Bali And Sulawesi islands. Total showroom strength stands at around 63 numbers, Covering 46 cities of Indonesia. PT BAI assembles and markets Bajaj Pulsar and Bajaj XCD in Indonesia, Establishing Bajaj as a high quality tech-savvy brand. PT BAI plans to Expand its presence, product range and reach towards becoming a strong Player in this market currently dominated by Japanese 2-wheeler majors. Bajaj Auto International Holdings BV, Netherlands (BAIHBV) -was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary company in Netherlands with an Issued, subscribed and paid-up capital of Euros 200,000 during 2007-08. Further capital of Euro 98.2 million was invested in this company d

Personal Narrative- The Admirable Villain :: Personal Narrative Writing

Personal Narrative- The Admirable Villain Days of Our Lives isn’t the same without Stefano DiMera. He was the puppet master, the vile wire that tied the colorful characters of Salem together. He was the one who erased John Black’s memories, hypnotized Dr. Marlena Evans into being his love slave (leaving her vulnerable for possession by the Devil), convinced Hope that she was Princess Gina, swapped Hope’s baby with a fetal-alcoholic crack baby, and convinced John that he was the father. For the past few months, Stefano has been â€Å"out of town,† and Days has degenerated into every other soap opera: a dreary, never-ending cycle of sex, secrets, and heartbreaks. Norman Osborn disappeared on me in a similar fashion. His hatred was focused on one man, Peter Parker, also known as the Amazing Spider-Man. He murdered Peter’s first girlfriend, convinced Peter that he was a clone, and replaced his Aunt May with a dying actress. I loved Osborn so much that I bought a year’s subscription to Spidey comics, but in typical Marvel bait-and-switch fashion, Osborn was driven insane by a mystical ceremony and abducted by the Scriers in the next two issues. He resurfaced two years later, but I had lost interest in Spider-Man by then. For each of these villains there was a hero who tried to take him down. Days had Abe Carver and Spider-Man had, well, Spider-Man. The hero couldn’t simply break in the into the bad guy’s penthouse apartment and smack him around until he agreed to be good. The master manipulator would have wiped the blood from his nose and said, â€Å"I always knew you were a savage. Just like me.† Instead, the hero had to bite his lip and wiggle a solution through the criminal justice system. Elsewhere, deep in the shadows, the villain laughed, taunting the hero for his impotence. Although I sympathized with the hero, it was the villain I truly admired. He never questioned his own actions. He never got lonely or despaired. He didn’t care if he broke anyone’s heart or stomped on anyone’s feelings. All he cared about was his master plan and would stop at nothing until that plan was carried out. He didn’t have to avoid the hero’s moral pitfalls because, in his own mind, everything he did was right. He got everything he wanted. He was gratified by everything he got. He was satisfied with his lot in life and never sought to change.

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company Essay

Fun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo was a family amusement park located in Angola, Indiana, USA. Although it was small in comparison to parks in neighboring states, such as Cedar Point and Michigan’s Adventure, it remained one of the most popular parks in the region. It also once boasted the only operating roller coaster (Afterburner) with an inversion in the state of Indiana Fun Spot boasts that it is one of only a few amusement centers in the nation that offers multi-level cement go-cart tracks – four separate tracks. In addition to go-carts, there are bumper cars, bumper boats, a number of other thrill rides and the children’s section known as Kid Spot. The Kid Spot section includes a small carrousel; the Frog Hopper, a ride that drops its riders in small increments and then bounces back up; a kiddie’s swing; a kiddies train and other rides. Fun-Spot Fun Park began as a small amusement park in 1985, with nothing more than a merry-go-round, a slide, pony rides, and an ice cream stand, Fun-Spot grew into a popular family attraction with 20 rides, a restaurant, and an outdoor performing arts theater. â€Å"My wife, Gail, and I didn’t know what we were getting into,† commented Ron Hart, the owner. â€Å"We just knew that weekenders coming to the lakes in our rural area represented an untapped market. † Today, thousands of visitors flock to Fun-Spot—families, children of all ages, even senior citizens who enjoy strolling through the gardens and arbor At Fun Spot, elementary school age children, teenagers and parents, will find plenty of fun and thrills at this mini-amusement park that packs a lot of excitement into a very small area.. â€Å"There’s something here for everyone,† Gail Hart says. â€Å"Dozens of companies hold annual company picnics here. We have welcomed class field trips. And we even had one wedding here at the park! † â€Å"Here’s the funny thing,† Ron chime in. â€Å"We really don’t know why we’ve been so successful! There is nothing else like Fun-Spot Fun Park in the area. We were just lucky. † â€Å"I think it’s the ambience of the park,† Gail added, â€Å"that has brought so many visitors. We provide a ‘total package’ of entertainment. Plus, we try to change our rides and various attractions from time to time. † Ron and Gail Hart admitted that making every visitor happy is a priority. â€Å"That has always been our philosophy,† they said. â€Å"And we’ve always been able to deliver on that because we’ve never allowed ourselves to grow too big too quickly. †

Qar Reading Strategy

Grade Level(s)| K-3| When? | Literary Focus| Before| Fluency| During| Comprehension| After| Vocabulary| | Writing| | Oral Language| Q. A. R. (Question-Answer-Relationships) Question-Answer Relationships, or QAR, is a reading comprehension strategy developed to aid in the approach that students take when reading texts and answering questions about that text. Students learn to categorize types of questions which in turn help them know where to find information. It encourages students to be active, strategic readers of texts. QAR  outlines  where information can be found â€Å"In the Text† or â€Å"In my Head. It then breaks down the actual question-answer relationships into four types: Right There, Think and Search, Author and Me, and On My Own. (Fisher, D. , Brozo, W. G. , Frey, N. , & Ivey, G, 2011, pg. 81) STEP-BY-STEP and EXAMPLE Chosen text: Frog and Toad Together, by Arnold Lobel 1. Hook/Engagement–Begin by reviewing what students have already learned about how to ask questions as a way to understand the meaning of texts. For example using this reading asks them to talk about the kinds of questions they can ask before, during, and after reading. Next, introduce the idea that there are two kinds of questions you can ask about texts.Explain to students that an â€Å"In the Text† question is a question that students can find the answer to by looking in the book that they are reading. An â€Å"In My Head† question is a question that requires students to think about what their own knowledge is to answer the question. Review a book that you have recently read aloud with students. Write the example below on a piece of chart paper or on the blackboard. Choose a few â€Å"In the Text† and â€Å"In My Head† questions about the book that obviously belong to one category or the other, and have students tell you in which column to write the question.When you give students a literal question, have them show you where they fo und the answer in the book. When you ask them an â€Å"In My Head† question, go through the book with them and show them that they couldn't find the answer in the book. Have them give answers to the â€Å"In My Head† questions and explain how they answered them ( thinking about what they have learned that is not in the book). Here are some examples of the two types: â€Å"In the Text† questions| â€Å"In my Head† questions| What is the title of the book? What is the author's name? How long is the book? | Do I like the title? Have I read any other books by this author?How long will it take me to read this book? | Explain that they are going to learn more and ask these types of questions about a new book you are going to read together. 2. Measurable Objectives–Explain that you are going to read the first three chapters of Frog and Toad Together aloud to them, and they are going to help you make a list of â€Å"In the Text† and â€Å"In My Hea d† questions. Then, they are going to help you answer the questions and see how these types of questions will help them to understand the story. 3. Focused Instruction–Review with students the four types of questions explained in the QAR Strategy.Explain that there are two types of â€Å"In the Text† questions and two types of â€Å"In My Head† questions. Draw a copy of the QAR table on chart paper or on the blackboard or use an overhead projector. The table should look something like this: â€Å"In the Text† questions| â€Å"In My Head† questions| Right There| Think and Search| Author and Me| On my Own| Read the first chapter, â€Å"A List,† from Frog and Toad Together aloud to students. Next, write the questions listed below under the â€Å"Right There† heading. Read the questions aloud, look through the chapter, show the students where you found the answer, and then think aloud the answer. . Right There i. What is the first t hing Toad writes on his list? â€Å"When I turn to page 4, I see that the first thing Toad writes on his list is ‘Wake up. ‘† ii. Who is the friend Toad goes to see? â€Å"When I turn to page 9, I see that Toad goes to see Frog. † Next, write these questions under the â€Å"Think and Search† heading. Read the questions aloud and then think aloud the answers. b. Think and Search iii. What caused Toad to forget what was on his list? â€Å"I read that Toad's list blew away and Frog did not catch it, so that is why Toad couldn't remember what was on his list. iv. How did Toad finally remember what was the last thing on his list was? â€Å"Frog reminded Toad that it was getting dark and they should be going to sleep – the last thing on Toad's list. † Next, write these questions under the â€Å"Author and Me† heading. Read the questions aloud and then think aloud the answers. c. Author and Me v. What do you think of Toad's list? †Å"I think that writing a list of things to do is a good idea. But, Toad could have left off some things, like waking up or getting dressed, because he doesn't need to be reminded to do that. † vi.Did you agree with the reason Toad gives for not chasing after his list? â€Å"No. I think that he should have chased after his list, even if it that wasn't one of the things on his list. He couldn't have written that on his list anyway because he didn't know the list would blow away. † Next, write these questions under the â€Å"On My Own† heading. Read the questions aloud and then think aloud the answers. d. On My Own vii. Have you or somebody in your family even written a list of things to do? â€Å"Yes. I have written a list of things that I have to do on a weekend day because that is not like a school day.On weekends, I do lots of different things, so I have to write a list to remind myself of all the things I have to do. † viii. What would you do if you lost your to-do list and couldn't find it? â€Å"I would look for it for a while and if I couldn't find it, I'd write a new list of things to do. † 4. This would be followed up with guided practice, independent practice, assessment, and the reflecting/planning. References Fisher, D. , Brozo, W. G. , Frey, N. , & Ivey, Gay. (2011). 50 Instructional Routines to Develop Content Literacy. Boston:Pearson.

Woodstock Music Festival

Woodstock Music Festival Abstract Woodstock Music Festival was a three day event that took place in 1969. It involved a â€Å"throng of sex, drugs, and rock n rollplus a lot of mud.† Woodstock has turned out to be a 1960s hippie counter-culture symbol during one of the most unstable years in contemporary history.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Woodstock Music Festival specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this paper, theories regarding the causes of this colossal concert will be discussed and argued, in effect convincing readers to look at the music festival in new point of view and discover the symbolic significance that stirred novelty to a crippling nation. Body In 1969 America summer, numerous huge concerts took place, however none of them were as symbolic and celebrated as Woodstock Music Festival. Woodstock impact on the society and culture of Americans will be remembered in many decades to come. John Roberts, Artie Korn field, Michael Lang, Joel Rosenman were men who initially established the event. Their initial plan concerning the concert was to back up the plan of opening a recording music studio in Bethel, NY; this is where the concert in fact took place. Intended to become the biggest event that assembled many people in one specific place and time, Woodstock Music Festival represented â€Å"three days of love, peace and music† in the middle of Vietnam War terrors (Evans, 48). Woodstock was the most eminent music concert and it took place when Americans were greatly divided; more than four hundred thousand people from all over the country assembled to commemorate â€Å"Three Days of Peace and Music.† Those 3 days of celebrated performances, indescribable mud and memorable experiences enabled Woodstock Art and Music turn into be a symbol of all generation. The historic event became large for Americans’ generation as an icon of camaraderie and love of music during a time of d isaster, war and generational clefts. Woodstock music festival was a shrilly pacifist show, but its meaning was thinned by the media. Instead of focusing on the political avowals made, typical cultural critics talked-about long hair, nakedness and hippies (Perone, 87). The event, as it were, had lost its grip in the midst of a normalizing and co-optive media tradition that overlooked existent politics and replaced sensationalism and symbolism. The concert was officially known as â€Å"The Woodstock Music and Art Fair,† it went through various hypothetical incarnations, recorded in an article in the year 1994 by Elliot Tiber.Advertising Looking for research paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Many articles wrote lots of different things regarding the concert and large numbers of people from different parts of the country walked for miles to reach the location (Evans, 108). Even though the W oodstock Music Festival was intended to be a ticketed event, ultimately, the planners stopped collecting the tickets because the crowd started to cut away and to trample the fences which made even more people to come to the concert. The event schedule featured the most celebrated and legendary rock and folk music groups of the 60s. In the first night, the concert was headlined by Ritchie Havens and came to an end many hours later with Joan Baez giving a blazing close-down. Artists began their performances every day at around midday and they made sure they engaged the crowd. There were fundamental causes for this event and so they had to give their all. The Americans were very segregated at the time and the frights of the Vietnam War were still very fresh in their minds. So much was going on and there was too much pressure surrounding the people. The event was all about love, peace and above all music (Makower, 97). Woodstock Music Festival was inspiring and remarkable for people who attended because it had performing artists who played for the largest audience of their vocation. Woodstock Music Festival featured unforgettable â€Å"acts of the Rock Roll† epoch i.e. â€Å"Joan Baez, Richie Havens, John Sebastian, The Who, Santana, Mountain, Canned Heat, Arlo Guthrie, CCR, Joe Cocker, Grandpa Simpsons favorite band that day––Sha Na Na, The Band, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, CSNY, and Country Joe and the Fish and Jimi Hendrix, who sang his terrific edition of the Star-Spangled Banner.† The event was about three days of peace and love, contrasting the Vietnam War and abhorrence. The Vietnam War was a lengthened conflict existing between nationalist forces who tried to unite Vietnam nation under a communalist government and the US (with South Vietnamese help) trying to put a stop to the spread of communalism.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Woodstock Music Festival spe cifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Engaged in a battle that many saw as having no means to win, United State heads lost their citizens support for the warfare (Evans, 56). Ever since the end of this warfare, the Vietnam War has turned into a point of reference for what not to do in the future when it comes to U.S. foreign battles. This war left Americans in division and with so much hatred; the festival intended to bring peace and love in the land. The festival was caused by the urge to unite American people and to alleviate the pressure that the people were going through. Organizers of the event said that people who were buying tickets for the Festival were contributing to a unified front against the hatred, the division and the Vietnam War. Artists played great music and made antiviolence speeches; Country Joe for instance exhorted the audience that â€Å"if you want to stop this fucking war, youll have to sing louder than that.† Leaders of the movement and other advocates took their turns too and several men smashed their draft cards protesting against the Vietnam War (Makower, 73). Nonetheless, Media’s image and reminiscence of this festival focused on the commemorating side of it: the loud music, the rain and mud, the nakedness, drugs and â€Å"free† love. There were numerous turbulent incidents closely enveloping Woodstock Music Festival. For example the Vietnam War had just got into its 5th year. It would have entered its 6th year if Saigon to the Vietcong did not admit defeat on 30th April, 1975. In the previous year, Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination was very fresh in the minds of many people in the country. A fugitive convict, confessed to the felony however he later claimed to have been set-up. His confession was however sustained 8 times and in 1998, he passed on in prison. There was also another recent assassination involving Sen. Robert F. Kennedy: this occurred in LA at the Ambassador Hotel which happened just 2 months after the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. A Palestinian migrant known as Sirhan Sirhan assassinated Kennedy, after he had addressed his cohorts, and passed away the following day: Sirhan was arrested and put in jail.Advertising Looking for research paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More During the festival Lang said that Americans were trying hard to get-out of that Vietnam War. He stated that â€Å"The whole decade had been filled with efforts to improving the human condition with human rights struggles, civil rights and womens rights. We were just first realizing that we were trashing the planet we lived on and the ecology movement was just beginning and a lot of groups at the time were turning a bit violent in trying to get their message out, (out of) frustration.† He continued to say that Woodstock served as a diplomatic and a serene way to fight the negative and depressing attitude brought about by those events. The country had gone through so much and even if the artists’ initial plan was to establish a recording music studio, the cause of the Festival was to bring Music, Love and most of all Peace (Perone, 29). Actually, by the first day of the Festival, as the performers looked-out-upon the huge multitude, they must have seen that Woodstock M usic Festival was not going to be just like any other concert that would be overlooked and forgotten. Looking from the outside Woodstock Festival might have been seen like just a concert for the young generation that involved hearing and dancing to their favorite musical tunes, but it proved to be much greater than that. Even though music was a significant part of the event, it could not have celebrated for such a long time if that were the extent of its worth. This means that the Festival was much more than just music and dancing. Woodstock brought out an important message to the people by helping them realize that they could come as one during depressing moments and discover a unified aspiration which was â€Å"Love and Peace†(Makower, 35). Even though there was law enforcement during the festival because it was feared that there would rioting, the police disregarded drug laws. The audience stayed diplomatic and calm all through the period of the festival in spite of the in tense use of LSD and Marijuana. During the Festival, no conflict was reported even though there was death because a tractor ran over a man. The entire Festival was a moment of peace and cheerfulness. Lots of people attending the event were given a gleam of hopefulness and optimism in a world that disregarded them. Despite the mud engraved in their bodies and the drugs, the long for love, peace and acceptance was in the air. The atmosphere and the frame of mind created by this is what made the Festival terrific and unforgettable. If it wasn’t for this pervasive feeling, the crowd could have dismissed the event like just any other excuse to get together, listen to music, dance and get high on drugs. There were little things that created great difference like the fact that there was no reported damage of properties during the entire festival. Also, even if there was lots of trash left at the concert site, the venture to clean-up the six hundred acre was completed in 5 days; crew members and attendees also helped with the cleaning (Littleproud, 46). For the majority of people, the impact of the festival was evident in their lives. Both men and women acquired self-confidence to go out there and make a big difference regardless of what some people may have thought of them. These people made great impact on the US society when just living their ordinary lives. They were educational pioneers with their varying feelings regarding the meaning of music, art and the society’s structure. Woodstock Music Festival’s impact that was left on the country could have been just as enormous on the people who watched it as the ones who were in reality present (Bennett, 67). People who went to the festival showed almost everybody around them that they can get together and make a big difference if only they wanted to. This event came at a time when most young people of America needed ideas of how to bring unity and peace in their land regardless of their differenc es. Due to Woodstock Music Festival, both men and women were inspired to go out there and make their own music. Also, there were new musicians who made their debut at the concert; for example Carlos Santana. Much of the music played during the festival was cordial and it happened to be a way of allowing the listeners find a foundation on which to talk about the events surrounding their world (Littleproud, 201). The Festival feeling has lasted on people’s minds for decades and up until this day, music continues to have a much more intense and influential effect on the people listening to it. It is obvious that without music events like Woodstock, Music wouldn’t be what and where it is at present. Efforts to recreate Woodstock Music Festival couldn’t be mastered because of one major factor. This was plainly that there was no profound ground or purpose to the reproduction. â€Å"Woodstock 94† was the second concert but it was no more than a big endorsement. In spite of Woodstock 69’s initial plan of studio promotion, it turned out to be much more than that for the reason that it took place at a time when Americans were searching for answers not simply empty ideas and talks. With the great publicity of Woodstock 94 in the media, it lost all optimism of be what the original Festival was all about. Woodstock 99’ was overly commercialized but this was not an issue, however everything else that was visualized happened. There was great hope for the last try to have another emblematic Woodstock prior-to the closing stages of the millennium. The optimism and expectations were shattered just as fast as the Woodstock site in Rome, NY. The festival’s audience was made up of a small number of patriot Woodstock aficionados that went to all three concerts bearing the name â€Å"Woodstock.† It appeared that the other people that constituted the rest of the attendees were practically all there to get high and tear down anyt hing that surrounded them. By the end of the festival, almost the entire stage and music equipments were ruined. There were also rape cases and all mementos given like posters, caps and shirts were stolen. The conducts portrayed during Woodstock 99’ festival can be referred to as â€Å"destructive vigor.† It went past foolish brutality to a point of bringing down the splendor of the original Woodstock 69’. Sadly now when people remember Woodstock Music Festival, they can’ help but also recall the damage that took place during its most recent effort at recreation. Conclusion In spite of people’s wish to bring back the mood and sensation of the original Woodstock Music Festival, all that remains is its effect on people who took part in it and the affect it had on the society they live in. Woodstock 69’ feeling will never be lost despite what happened in the consequent Woodstock concerts. It was caused by the desire to promote music studios but it played a greater role. At that time so much was going on in US and people were experiences great hatred and division. The Festival brought the feeling of â€Å"Love, Peace and good Music.† Bennett, Andy. Remembering Woodstock. USA, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2004. Print Evans, Mike. Woodstock: Three Days That Rocked the World, California, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2009. Print Littleproud, Brad. Woodstock Peace, Music Memories, New York, Krause Publications, 2009. Print Makower, Joel. Woodstock: the oral history.USA, SUNY Press, 2009. Print Perone, James. Music of the counterculture era. Chicago, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2004. Print

Mozart concerto essays

Mozart concerto essays Flute Concerto No 2. In D, K.314 Rondo I chose Mozarts Concerto No 2 In D, K.314 Rondo for this assignment because I truly enjoyed listening to the piece and felt a story being told. There is no significant title to the piece, so the story I found was more a reflection of my mood and my own feelings. Mozart used many dynamic orchestra performances throughout the concerto, giving it an edge and challenge. The piece is eloquently crafted and rhythmically shaped. One of the most outstanding elements of this piece is the harmony created by the flute and the orchestra when they accompany each other with seeming flawlessness. The piece began very soft and eloquently. The flute was enchanting with its wavering tones producing high and low sounds that blending rhythmically. The piece begins this way, very soft and subtle making the listener feel relaxed and calm. I though of soft pools of water with dancing butterflies nearby when the flute was downplayed to the strong and challenging orchestra which first began at .48 in the piece. The orchestra was bold and strong, combining sounds of violins, pianos, and more. The feeling then changed to that of a challenge. I began to see a larger animal, such as a menacing tiger or lion enter my vision. It was a balance between peace and triumph. The orchestra then faded out as the flute began to play a solo piece at .59 seconds into the concerto. The flute was a bit rougher, sounding louder, as though it was proving something to the orchestra. I envisioned a battle. The sounds of the orchestra and the flute were symbolic of my tiger and butterfly, eyeing each other wondering who did not belong. The butterfly began dancing closer and closer to the tiger, as the flute played louder and the sounds were much more crisp and clear. The orchestra again chimed in after a few more seconds of the flutes session. The battle between the orchestra and the flu...

Play Snowball Fight to Break the Ice or Review Lessons

Play Snowball Fight to Break the Ice or Review Lessons Theres probably nothing more fun than a snowball fight, particularly at school. This paper snowball fight doesn’t send icy shivers down the neck of your jacket or sting your face. It’s just an effective icebreaker designed to let students get to know each other or help you review a particular lesson or specific content. This game works with a group of at least a dozen people. It can also work well with a very large group, such as a lecture class or club meeting. You can use the icebreaker with students individually or divide into them into groups. General Steps Gather paper from your recycle bin, so long as one side is blank, then follow these steps. Have students: Write  one sentence or question- the content depends upon the context- on a piece of paper.Ball up their paper.Throw their snowballs.Pick up someone elses snowball and read the sentence aloud or answer the question. Using the Activity as a Mixer If you use the paper snowball fight to help students become acquainted, give them one piece of paper each and ask them to write their name and three fun things about themselves, such as, Jane Smith has six cats. Alternatively, write questions to be answered by the reader, for example, Do you have pets? Have them crumple the paper into a snowball. Divide the group into two teams on opposite sides of the room and let the snowball fight begin. You can have players write appropriate questions, or write the questions yourself to avoid any embarrassment and speed the process. The second alternative is particularly effective with younger students. When you say, Stop, each student should pick up the nearest snowball and find the person whose name is inside. Once everyone has found their snowman or snowwoman, have them introduce him to the rest of the group. For Academic Review To use the icebreaker to review content of a previous lesson or for test preparation, ask students to write a fact or question regarding the topic you want to review. Provide each student with several pieces of paper so there is abundant snow. If you want to ensure that students cover certain issues, add some snowballs of your own. Use this icebreaker in a wide range of contexts and for many different purposes. For example: Write review facts on snowballs and have students read them aloud, such as, Mark Twain was the author of Huckleberry Finn. Write review questions on snowballs and have students answer them, for example, Who wrote Huckleberry Finn? Write conceptual questions for students to answer, such as, What is the role of the character of Jim in Huckleberry Finn? When the snowball fight is over, each student will pick up a snowball and answer the question in it. If your room can accommodate this, have students remain standing during this exercise since they’ll be picking up snowballs throughout the activity. Moving around also helps people retain learning, and it’s a great way to energize a classroom. Post-Activity Debriefing Debriefing is necessary only if you’re recapping or prepping for a test. Ask questions such as: Were all the topics covered?Which questions were the hardest to answer?Were there any that were too easy? Why is that?Does everybody have a thorough understanding of the subject? If youve reviewed a lesson on the book, Huckleberry Finn, for example, you might ask students who the author of the book was, who were the main characters, what was their role in the story, and how students themselves felt about the book.

Stereotypes in Disney and other Kids Programs Research Paper

Stereotypes in Disney and other Kids Programs - Research Paper Example Stereotypes in Disney and other Kids Programs The paper will also elaborate the impact of these stereotyped characters on the children and adults, and its consequences on their future life. The paper will be supported with the Utilitarian Theory articulated by J.S. Mills while investigating into the affects and influences of the recreational programs developed and telecasted with the aim of providing entertainment to the children. The paper will also elucidate the remedies essential for discouraging the trends of promoting bias and hatred among the individuals coming of different ethno-racial and religious backgrounds, as well as between both the genders that had been in vogue for the last several decades in various regions of the globe. The Paper: By critically investigating into the history of the cultures and civilizations of the globe at large, it appears a reality that the individuals, groups and societies had been in conflict with one another since ever (Ember & Ember 68). These clashes and conflicts occurred on the basis of their differences with regards to food collection, belief system, political rivalries, physical appearances, socioeconomic characteristics and gender identities etc. These differences have not only played the dynamic role in respect of increasing the gulf between the people and civilizations, but also led to the battles, war and bloodshed in the wake of the divergences in views and opinions on the one side, and interests and appearances on the other. (Macionis 255). The ethno-racial clashes that had been taken place in the wake of the prejudices the humans observed against the members of out-groups in one way or the other were also staged and administered because of the lust of the communities to dominate over others with the help of political, social, economic and strategic supremacy (Ritzer 91). Consequently, the Africans had been the target of the hatred witnessed by the members of white Anglo Saxon Protestants (WASP), as the whites considered them to be the descendants of the ir slaves, and refuted to grant them the right associated with the white members of the American society (Desmond & Emirbayer 334). Hence, the blacks remained at risk of experiencing a number of acute racism reactions, and biased behavior that left adverse affects of ethno-racial victimizations on them both sentimental and psychological viewpoints. The people belonging to various ethno-racial groups did not confine their biased behavior to one specific field or zone only; on the contrary, the reflections of hatred in the name of religion and race made their sure headway in economic institutions, political activities, art, literature, and even amusement and recreational activities. It is therefore the literary pieces including poetry, novels and short stories, and the recreational sources i.e. films, movies and theatre also presented the ideas and images displaying one specific race and gender to be sober, gentle, law-abiding and peace-seeking, while the rival groups as the represent atives of evil, malevolence and violence. As a result, women were portrayed and presented to be evil and monsters through films and movies on the one side (Jensen & Oster 10), and the blacks were depicted to be quarrelsome, violent and aggressive on the other. The

Economics Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economics Management - Assignment Example Fishback defines government policies as the set of rules and laws that the government puts and have a direct or indirect impact on the way people conduct business within a country. The government puts laws in place to inhibit or to encourage certain business strategies within the business market. However, it is wise to note that government policies are a double edged sword and may have either negative or positive impact on the economic development in a country. While some regulations may benefit a country, others may work against its development strategy. For instance, in the US, the government launched a deregulation procedure in the early 1990s as a strategy to open up business development.This was after the government realized that strict regulation of the business market culminated to unprofitability in the business sector. Therefore, the government should be analytical while implementing laws to ensure that they create a healthy business environment. In a dynamic business market , it has become the challenge for the government to choose the best approach to regulate business.To promote economic development within a country, the government should design laws to regulate competition within the market.Laws should ensure that the every investor has a fair chance to start the business and compete with its rivals. This helps to prevent monopolistic competition that may impact negatively on the economy of a country. Monopolistic competition results to unfair competition, which benefits only a few investors.

Reflective writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reflective writing - Essay Example However, the transparent scarf does not entirely cover the other one beneath it. The fact that she is able to wear her own shoes without modification seems illogical. The student feels disgruntled, since hospital rules only allow these items and the â€Å"theatre suits† to be worn within the hospital. The fact that surgeons and other members of the medical staff often come in and out of the hospital without changing their clothes - and without being challenged – is, in her opinion, discriminatory and carries a risk of infection. In order to understand her feelings and to see if they are justified, it is necessary to reflect on the contributory factors. They fall into three categories [1] religious [2] surgical [3] integration. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS In the first place the Quran does not require a muslim woman to wear the hijab [headscarf] (Syed, 2001), the idea of compulsion generally derives from family or social pressures. Yet, even in muslim countries some 30-40 years ago women frequently went out unveiled as they did in the UK to show their emancipation (Johnson, 2007). Five years ago, however, almost every muslim woman wore a headscarf; this time to display allegiances – pride in their heritage and ethnicity.

U.S. Border Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

U.S. Border Security - Essay Example For instance, activities like business, import and export of labor, tourism and inward-investment that are considered very significant in the development of a nation should be facilitated. On the other hand, tight security should be enhanced at the borders to prevent the entry of criminals seeking to violate border control and national laws (Policyalmanac.org, 2003). Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, national security became the top priority in the Customs and Border Protection of the United States where federal government immediately passed the Patriot Act in the fall of 2001. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agents implement all appropriate US laws. The CBP prevents smuggled goods, narcotics and agricultural pests from crossing the country’s border. It also spots and captures warrant criminals. The attacks in US called for international cooperation in preventing and eradicating the acts of terrorism while the General Assembly of the United Nations declared supporters of the acts of terrorism be held accountable. Following this attack, efforts to combat terrorism were adopted globally. The international community through the United Nations Security Council adopted a common set of obligations with a determination to fight and end international terrorism, which was considered a threat to international peace and security (Cbp.gov, 2011). Moreover, on September 28, 2001, the Security Council adopted a resolution that established a number of obligations to all the UN member States. Under this resolution, the UN member States were required to fight against international terrorists, their groups, organizations and supporters. Nonetheless, the members were also required to prevent the financing of terrorism and prevent terrorists from entering their States. The United States is still waging a campaign against terrorism in its state and beyond. This is evident through the action it is

Culture of Laughter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Culture of Laughter - Essay Example Bean is that their writers have determined 'laughter' as a reaction that serves the function of a social sanction. In this context Bergson's research on laughter theory reveals that the function of comedy is to correct the 'follies' of mankind by making them appear ridiculous. In other words, such event in which any actor performs 'antisocially' generates an amusing situation. The power of laughter as a social sanction has thus been elucidated in many comedy movies as well as comics. On the other hand, we have seen that the theory of the 'corrective' function of laughter is inadequate to explain its arousal by verbal wit, which as we have seen is similar to any other type of ludicrous situation in many movies of Loriot. However, this is not the case with Mr. Bean, as Mr. Bean comedies revolve around gestures and expressions. Both the characters represent comedies in a social environment however, the difference exists in their way of representing; Loriot with less expressions and more humour whereas Mr. Bean with more physicality in the comedy. Vicco von Bulow, a German humour performer of comedy remembered as 'Loriot' is best known as a 'cartoonist' for the movies in which he used to perform. His famous work contains television series 'Loriot'. 'Odipussi' and 'Pappa ante portas' are his well known comedies in which he performed not only as a comedian but as a performer. (Loriot, 2007a) Though an all-rounder in artistic works (writer, director and poet), Loriot highlights humour in most of his comedy films and dramas by presenting a series of 'laughing' events, but still one wonders how the sheer relief of such events, whether in the participator who escapes in person or in the observer who watches a peril that passes him touch others, marks a distinct species of laughter. (Gregory, 1924, p. 22) Among all societies one finds a more or less organised system of social sanctions related to the prevailing code of right and wrong. Such sanctions may be positive, that is, designed to encourage socially desirable behaviour or they may be negative, that is, they may serve to discourage anti-social behaviour. Loriot's comedies inhibit all the characteristics of such positive and negative loopholes of the society in such a critical manner that one does not have any option other than to laugh. His comedies are non physical in nature as compared with those of Mr. Bean's and present before us the flaws of modern society in combination with humour and laugher that one does not feel awkward. Though such sanction exist in all societies, and any theory which is to explain their meaning must take account of their various manifestations in totally different types of social structure, but the way Loriot presents our society's dilemmas is much more than what viewer expects. (Piddington, 1963, p. 117) In other words we can say that Loriot presents society in a critical manner. Loriot's Humour If we analyse Loriot's work in the light of Bergson's laughter theory, most of his films represent laughter triggering in a social surrounding. Following the notion that laughter only triggers among humans, his films highlight all the antisocial happenings but in a social environment. This is evident from one of his dramas 'once upon a noodle', in which Loriot confronts a situation where all the restaurant members

Discussion Question Responses Strategic Management 2 Assignment

Discussion Question Responses Strategic Management 2 - Assignment Example â€Å"Agents for change as described as undeserving victims of the irrational and dysfunctional responses of change recipients† (Ford, Ford & D’Amelio, 2008, p.362). The organizational leadership needs to be certain that they are finding the proper fit in all recruitment efforts and since Pearce & Robinson identify the importance of change and adaptability, it cannot be reinforced enough that recruitment is vital to business success. â€Å"A successful organization depends on the creation of shared meanings and mutual interpretations of reality† (Darling & Beebe, 2007, p.77). Mission and vision create a sense of purpose for the organization, thus giving a focus for cultural development and to assist management in creating harmonious and unified work teams. Organizational performance expectations should hold individuals accountable for their failure or assistance in meeting vision and mission goals since they act as the foundation for forward strategy and organizational development. All future issues as they relate to strategic intention are founded on mission and vision goals and therefore the entire organization should adopt a culture of shared values and mutual respect for this goal attainment. There really is no other measure of whether or not individuals within the organization are meeting performance goals without first looking at the mission and vision and then determining whether targets have been met by teams and the individual employee. â€Å"Motivation is based on empowerment, development and communication as it concerns people† (Panayotopoulou & Papalexandris, 2004, p.499). While the vision and mission statements are designed to offer purpose and direction, they sometimes fail to motivate performance. When considering the situation at Enron, employees were motivated by their empowerment to skirt legalities and cover information since they received no reprimand for these actions. The loose management structure of fast money

Culture of Laughter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Culture of Laughter - Essay Example Bean is that their writers have determined 'laughter' as a reaction that serves the function of a social sanction. In this context Bergson's research on laughter theory reveals that the function of comedy is to correct the 'follies' of mankind by making them appear ridiculous. In other words, such event in which any actor performs 'antisocially' generates an amusing situation. The power of laughter as a social sanction has thus been elucidated in many comedy movies as well as comics. On the other hand, we have seen that the theory of the 'corrective' function of laughter is inadequate to explain its arousal by verbal wit, which as we have seen is similar to any other type of ludicrous situation in many movies of Loriot. However, this is not the case with Mr. Bean, as Mr. Bean comedies revolve around gestures and expressions. Both the characters represent comedies in a social environment however, the difference exists in their way of representing; Loriot with less expressions and more humour whereas Mr. Bean with more physicality in the comedy. Vicco von Bulow, a German humour performer of comedy remembered as 'Loriot' is best known as a 'cartoonist' for the movies in which he used to perform. His famous work contains television series 'Loriot'. 'Odipussi' and 'Pappa ante portas' are his well known comedies in which he performed not only as a comedian but as a performer. (Loriot, 2007a) Though an all-rounder in artistic works (writer, director and poet), Loriot highlights humour in most of his comedy films and dramas by presenting a series of 'laughing' events, but still one wonders how the sheer relief of such events, whether in the participator who escapes in person or in the observer who watches a peril that passes him touch others, marks a distinct species of laughter. (Gregory, 1924, p. 22) Among all societies one finds a more or less organised system of social sanctions related to the prevailing code of right and wrong. Such sanctions may be positive, that is, designed to encourage socially desirable behaviour or they may be negative, that is, they may serve to discourage anti-social behaviour. Loriot's comedies inhibit all the characteristics of such positive and negative loopholes of the society in such a critical manner that one does not have any option other than to laugh. His comedies are non physical in nature as compared with those of Mr. Bean's and present before us the flaws of modern society in combination with humour and laugher that one does not feel awkward. Though such sanction exist in all societies, and any theory which is to explain their meaning must take account of their various manifestations in totally different types of social structure, but the way Loriot presents our society's dilemmas is much more than what viewer expects. (Piddington, 1963, p. 117) In other words we can say that Loriot presents society in a critical manner. Loriot's Humour If we analyse Loriot's work in the light of Bergson's laughter theory, most of his films represent laughter triggering in a social surrounding. Following the notion that laughter only triggers among humans, his films highlight all the antisocial happenings but in a social environment. This is evident from one of his dramas 'once upon a noodle', in which Loriot confronts a situation where all the restaurant members

Women and Numbers by Teri Perl Essay Example for Free

Women and Numbers by Teri Perl Essay For many years, society has presented women to be sweet and man to be tough. Many have encouraged sexist depiction of the sexual category. In addition, this has led to typecasts asserting that girls or women are too emotional and too soft for math and science careers. This is a book that presents women biographies from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries who had an interest in the mathematics subject and they pursued their interests. Different chapters in this book discuss different mathematical actions. A very simple book for the upper-elementary and middle school grades that brings to life the stories of mathematician women from the 19th and 20th centuries. Each biography is followed by a discovery activity. Example, in one of Mary Booles numerous accomplishments she staggered into the creation of string art; the associated discovery activity shows how students can create their own string art designs. The goal of the editor is commendable: to hearten more girls into mathematics and to ignite interest for the field in all students. The write-ups are a pleasure to read. They each give a very individual and encircling picture of the whole woman as mathematician, teacher, mother, wife, or partner. In each, it exemplifies the path they followed, not just career wise but also personally. The impediments of gender and racial prejudice that some of the women faced in following a mathematical career are brilliantly portrayed. An example is Lenore Blum who was not accepted to MIT for her undergraduate degree because there were only 20 dormitory beds available for women. Ideas from the book Each womans mathematical contributions are explained in a language that are easily understandable by a high school or college student interested in what a mathematics career may be like. The three things that all these women had that they excelled in is research, teaching, and service. Research They explored different teaching methods that would be easier to understand and make mathematical solving simpler. With this in mind they attracted the female gender to there classrooms who excelled in the mathematics fields. Teaching Most of the women mentioned in this book climbed to positions such as head of department chair and a good number were involved in developing policies for mathematics departments. Majority of them were supporters for women, blacks, minorities of any kind. Unambiguously, one is left with the certainty that women have done, can do, and will continue to do mathematics. Service Though most of the women were very successful they had a common thread running through the stories of these women, which was they doubted themselves. The service they provided as mathematicians was impeccable despite having to deal with family issues, social stigma, and several other factors that were against them as mathematician women. Themes used Since mathematics is a hard subject to grasp, teaching using a thematic method is a great way to cover a range of topics associated to a particular theme. In this book Women and numbers: Lives of Women Mathematicians plus Discovery Activities by Teri Perl, mentions several themes used by the different women mathematicians. Abstract Algebra An example is Emmy who is well known for being an abstract algebraist. Her focus was on differential and algebraic invariants; the theory of mathematical rings; and non-commutative algebra, linear transformations, and commutative number fields. The main goal of this area is to demonstrate that an invariant (terms that remain unvarying under a group of alteration) can be written as the sum of squares of other numbers. It also wants to show that any two invariants remain invariant. Model theory and differential fields In this theme of model theory and differential fields (logic and algebra), is a theory of calculation and convolution over the real numbers, has focuses on amalgamation of seemingly distinct areas. Sine Sonya Kovalevsky developed this theme one night as she was studying under the covers of her blanket, because the father did not approve her interest in algebra and geometry. To make logic of some of the derivations, she alternated a chord for the mysterious sine, and everything made sense for small angles. Controversies in math Arguments over the technique mathematics is taught and presented in textbooks will continue as long as schools and teachers have the aptitude to choose their own curricula and teaching attitude. Although there are many variables that influence the success of a student, the main influence is the teacher. Depending on how well the teacher formulates the method to use on teaching mathematics will depend on how fast the students will grasp the information. In this book, the only controversy that is on the spotlight is the issue of gender and mathematics. Since the beginning of times, the female gender has been considered to be weaker than the male counterpart and it is not different in the mathematics world. Therefore, every theory that the female gender formulated had to be questioned twice and was criticized before it became published. Conclusion The result is a valuable book for and about women in mathematics at a level appropriate for high school and early college students that celebrates the variety present in the community of women mathematicians. My opinion might be biased being that am a woman, but the book presented challenges that women go through when they are treated as minority when it comes to doing certain things. This book was an encouragement to the girls in their time when gender really mattered in the society and girls were considered inferior to the male gender. The high school girls who believed that math was not for the female gender could now relate to the five women and relate to them. In addition, this has been discussed in the book, how the number of girls doing mathematics increased and they all did well despite what society expected of them. The 9 women were a role model to the high school students especially the female gender. References Perl, T,. (1993). Women and Numbers: Lives of Women Mathematicians plus Discovery Activities. San Carlos, CA: Wide World Publishing/Tetra.

Effect Of Music And Noise On Working Memory Psychology Essay

Effect Of Music And Noise On Working Memory Psychology Essay Memory is an integral part of everyday life. It is required for simple tasks, such as keeping a phone number in mind before dialling it, or for more complex tasks such as learning a mathematical formula to apply to a sum. Memory is based on three basic processes. It can be defined as the process by which individuals encode, store and retrieve information (Feldman, 2004). Encoding is the receiving of sensory information and transforming it into some form which can be stored. Storing is the process of putting the information into memory. Retrieval is the process of gaining access to the stored information (Morgan, King, Weisz Schopler, 2008). The interaction of these three processes is required for the proper functioning of memory. Memory failure, that is forgetting, can occur when information has not been properly encoded and stored and therefore, there can be no retrieval (Baddeley, Eysenck and Anderson, 2009). The working of memory cannot be reduced to just a single explanation. It is composed of various interrelated systems. In 1968, the Atkinson-Shiffrin Model of Memory was proposed. It stated a three stage model of memory. Information, which was recorded by an individuals sensory system, enters sensory memory which holds the information momentarily. The information then moves to short-term memory, where it is stored for 15 to 25 seconds. And finally, the information moves to long-term memory where it is relatively permanent. The amount and kind of rehearsal of the information determines whether the information will move from short-term memory to long-term memory, or not (Feldman, 2004). Stimulation of extremely brief duration is stored in sensory memory. This is the first kind of information presented by the environment to individuals. The term sensory memory denotes different types of memory (Feldman, 2004). In the early 1960s, scientists at Bell Laboratories in USA analysed the fleeting visual memory system, which later came to be known as iconic memory. It is the brief storage of visual information. The auditory counterpart or auditory sensory memory is echoic memory (Baddeley, Eysenck and Anderson, 2009). Iconic memory is said to last for less than a second while echoic memory lasts for two to three seconds. Sensory memory can store information for a very brief time only. If the information does not pass to short-term memory, then it is lost forever. Information that is stored transiently in sensory memory is not meaningful as it is only a representation of raw sensory stimuli. For long-term retention the information is passed on to short-term memory which is the next stage of memory (Feldman, 2004). Short-term memory is the performance on particular types of task involving the simple retention of small amounts of information which is tested either immediately or after a short delay. Short-term memory forms a part of working memory. There are various methods of testing short-term memory. One of the classical methods is the digit span test which requires remembering digits for a short period of time. Specific amounts of information can be held in short-term memory. George A. Miller, one of the founders of cognitive psychology, in 1956, suggested that memory capacity is limited by the number of chunks of information. A chunk is a meaningful group of stimuli that can be stored as a unit of short-term memory (Baddeley, Eysenck and Anderson, 2009). For the transfer of information to long-term memory from short-term memory, rehearsal is required. It is the repetition of information that has entered short-term memory. If elaborative rehearsal is used, the information is more likely to get transferred to long-term memory; otherwise it may only remain stored in short-term memory. Elaborative rehearsal is the strategic organization of information (Feldman, 2004). In the late 1960s, the idea of short-term memory being a unitary system was discarded and new theories emerged. These explained short-term memory as involving a number of systems interacting with each other. One such model is of verbal short-term memory. It is the concept of phonological loop. The phonological loop features a part in the multi-component working memory model proposed by Baddeley and Hitch in 1974. The phonological loop is composed of two parts, a short-term store and an articulatory rehearsal process. This store has a limited capacity. The items are stored as memory traces and decay within a few seconds. But, these traces can be retrieved by sub vocal rehearsal. A prominent feature of the short-term store is the phonological similarity effect. This is a tendency for immediate serial recall of verbal material to be reduced when the items are similar in sound. Therefore, remembering a series of dissimilar words is easier than remembering a list of words that are phonologically similar. But, this effect does not appear when the lists are lengthened and if there are several learning trials involved. It is also seen that there is a tendency for verbal memory span to decrease when longer words are used. This is the word length effect. Another factor which disrupts verbal short-term memory is the irrelevant sound effect. It was found that music interfered with digit recall. Vocal music was more disruptive that instrumental music. The retention of serial order can be disrupted by irrelevant stimuli provided they fluctuate over time. Another concept of short-term memory is the visuo-spatial short-term memory. The visual and spatial components have been proposed as a part of the visuo-spatial sketchpad which is a component of working memory. It is a counterpart of the phonological loop (Baddeley, Eysenck and Anderson, 2009). After the 1960s, short-term memory has transformed into the concept of working memory. According to this, information is not only retained for a short period of time, but can also be manipulated and can be involved in higher order processing activities such as comprehension, problem-solving and reasoning (Levin, Thurman and Kiepert, 2010). In 1974, Baddeley and Hitch drew two main observations from studying the effect of an irrelevant memory load on verbal reasoning. The first was that an irrelevant short-term memory task interfered with cognitive tasks. This was consistent with the idea of a common working memory system that combines temporary information storage with ongoing mental operations. Secondly, the concept of working memory went beyond that of short-term memory. It included an additional resource which was not shared with short-term memory (Graham J. Hitch). Working memory refers to the ability to coordinate mental operations with transiently stored information during cognitive activities (Graham J. Hitch). It is a system for temporary maintenance and manipulation of information that is helpful in performing complex tasks (Baddeley, Eysenck Anderson, 2009). An example of the usage of working memory is complex mental arithmetic where the task is broken down into several stages. The various stages have to be coordinated and the early stages generate transient information that has to be maintained for use in the later stages (Graham J. Hitch). Working memory and cognitive abilities are related to each other. Working memory affects cognitive tasks and, in turn, cognitive abilities are required for the understanding and manipulation of working memory. The Baddeley-Hitch Model of Working Memory, which was proposed in 1974, is highly influential and attempts to give a clear understanding of working memory. According to this model, working memory has three components: the phonological loop, the visuo-spatial sketchpad and the central executive. The phonological loop is specialized in holding sequences of acoustic items. The visuo-spatial sketchpad performs a similar function for visually and spatially encoded items. This entire system is controlled by the central executive which is an attentionally limited system that selects and manipulates material in the subsystems (Baddeley, Eysenck Anderson, 2009). A few factors affecting phonological memory are the phonemic similarity of items as well as the word length of the items. Memory spans vary with the length of the items. They are higher for shorter items than for longer items. But, these effects did not appear when the items were presented visually. Spoken stimuli accesses the articulatory loop automatically whereas visual inputs have to be verbally recoded, a control process that involves subvocalization. The phonological loop also explained why the presence of background speech disrupts short-term memory for visually presented verbal stimuli. According to Baddeley, irrelevant noise was easier to ignore than irrelevant speech which suggested that unattended speech enters the phonological store whereas non speech sounds do not. Working memory is thought to be under the control of the central executive. It is responsible for the coordination of mental activities in working memory as well as supervision of phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad and the interaction with long-term memory (Graham J. Hitch). In 2000, Baddeley proposed a fourth component of the working memory model which would explain its interaction with long-term memory. It was called the episodic buffer and was assumed to be a storage system which could hold about four chunks of information in a multidimensional code. It acts as a link between the various components of working memory, and connecting the components with input from long-term memory. It has been studied that music has a favourable effect on working memory. Classical music such as Mozarts Sonata for two pianos in D Major, K.448 and Vivaldis Four Seasons: Spring are said to have an especially beneficial effect, by improving cognitive performance of individuals (Copley, May). In 1993, Rauscher et al claimed that after listening to Mozarts sonata for 2 pianos (K.448) for ten minutes, subjects showed better spatial reasoning skills than after listening to relaxation instructions or silence (Jenkins, 2001). This came to be known as the Mozart Effect. Rauscher et al stated that the participants IQ increased by 8 to 9 points over the two other conditions- relaxation and silence (Smith, Waters and Jones, 2010). The Vivaldi Effect was observed in a study when it was found out that those who listened to Vivaldi while exercising increased their scores of verbal fluency tests after their workouts compared to those who exercised without music (Roberts, June). Background noise is any sound that distracts or interferes with an individuals focus of attention. Background noise is said to disrupt the concentration of an individual. It can affect a persons ability to think clearly and retain information and can impair learning and memory (Andrews, January). Noise can include road traffic, people talking in the background, etc. Working memory is an important component as everyday cognitive tasks rely on it. It is integral in the development of language and reading. The study aims to explore the influence of music (classical) and background noise on working memory, which is responsible for enabling complex cognitive activities. The Mozart Effect has been observed to have a beneficial effect on visuospatial performance. This study aims to see if it can be extended to the performance of working memory as well. The study will also observe whether conditions of silence and music will elicit a better performance of working memory than the condition of background noise and the condition of background noise and music. The objectives of this study are to find out if music has a positive effect on working memory and if noise has a detrimental effect on working memory. In addition, the study aims to compare the effects of silence and music on working memory as well as to find out if background noise and music will have a detrimental effect on working memory. The hypotheses of the study are that music will have a positive effect on working memory, noise will have a detrimental effect on working memory, silence will have a better result on the performance of working memory than music and background noise and music will have a detrimental effect on working memory. Chapter Two Review of Literature Various studies have been conducted which show the positive and detrimental effects of music and noise on working memory. The following research articles look at studies which have been conducted which express the relationships between music, noise and working memory. The Effects of Background Music and Noise on Working Memory was conducted by Amanda Eiras and Kaycee McNeil. It examines how verbal working memory was affected by background music and noise. The study was conducted on 14 participants between the ages of 18 to 30 years. The participants were made to recall a list of 30 words in 30 seconds under four conditions: in silence, in music, in noise and in music and noise. It was found that the presence of music was not statistically significant F(1,11) The Effect of Background Music and Noise on the Cognitive Test Performance of Introverts and Extraverts was conducted by Stacey Dobbs, Adrian Furnham and Alistair McClelland. This study examines whether background noise is as distracting as music and the effect it has on introverts and extroverts while they do cognitively complex tasks. 118 female school children between the ages of 11 to 18 years were the participants of the study. The participants were made to complete 3 tasks- RPM, Wonderlic Personnel Test and Verbal Reasoning Test Byron, 2006 under 3 conditions: noise condition, music condition and silence condition. The results showed that in RPM, the performance in silence was significantly better than in the presence of music and the performance in music was significantly better than in the presence of noise. In the Wonderlic Personality Test, the performance in silence and music was significantly better than in the presence of noise. The performance in the presence of silence was not significantly different from performance in the presence of music. In the test of verbal reasoning the performance in silence was significantly better than with music and just failed to be significantly better than with noise. There was no significant difference between performance under music and noise conditions. Recall of Words Heard in Noise was conducted by Anders Kjellberg, Robert Ljung and David Hallman. This study examines if recall of words and recognition of sentences, when orally presented, were affected by the presence of background noise. 32 participants between the ages of 18 to 34 years were chosen. The participants were required to complete two memory tasks: recall of words and recognition of sentences under two conditions- with background noise and without background noise. The results show that the number of words correctly recalled were significantly lower in the noisy condition (mean= 8.50 and 11.03 for noise and control condition respectively.) In the recognition of sentences task there was no significant differences between the conditions. Does music enhance cognitive performance in healthy older adults? was conducted by Nicola Mammarella, Beth Fairfield, and Cesare Cornoldi. This study examines whether music can enhance cognitive performance. 24 participants between the ages of 73 to 86 years of age were chosen. The participants were required to do two tests: a forward version of digit spans and word fluency test under three conditions: music, no music and white noise. The results for digit span show that the music condition showed a significant advantage over the white noise condition and the non-music condition. There was no difference between the white noise condition and the non-music condition. The results for the phonemic fluency show that there is a significant advantage of music over white noise and non-music conditions. And the difference between white noise and non-music conditions were not significant. Listening to the Vivaldi excerpt led subjects to show a significant increase in phonological working memor y capacity and phonemic fluency. Acoustical Barriers in Classrooms: The Impact of Noise on Performance in the Classroom was conducted by Julie E. Dockrell and Bridget M. Shield. The study examines the effect of classroom noise on the performance of primary school children. 158 children were chosen as participants for the study. Their mean age was 8 years and 6 months. The participants were given four tests to complete: an aptitude test, verbal tests which included reading and spelling, non-verbal tests and an arithmetic test under three different class noise conditions: base (normal classroom condition when children are working quietly and no one is talking), babble (noise consisting of childrens babble) and babble with environmental noise. The results showed that verbal task performance is worst in babble and best in base condition. In the non-verbal tests, the performance is best in the babble and environment noise condition. The study, The Effect of Background Music and Background Noise on the Task Performance of Introverts and Extraverts was conducted by Gianna Cassidy and Raymond A. R. Macdonald. This study examines the effects of music with high arousal potential and negative affect, music with low arousal potential and positive affect and everyday noise on the cognitive performance of introverts and extraverts. The sample size was 40. It included 20 university student, 10 adolescents and 10 non-studying/working adults. The materials used were music with lyrics and background noise (which was everyday general sound, classroom working sounds, traffic and conversation including laughter). The participants had to complete 5 cognitive tasks. They were the Stroop Neuropsychological Screening Test, a delayed recall task from the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (version A, item 6 A), a free recall task which had 20 six letter words, a distractive task which was a numerical task and the delayed recall task. The participants completed the five tasks in one of the four background sound conditions: positive low arousal music which was relaxing, negative high arousal music which was aggressive, background noise and silence. Performance on all the tasks was poorer while listening to background sound (which includes music and noise) compared to completing the tasks in silence. Listening to high arousal music was significantly more detrimental to task performance than listening to low arousal music across all tasks. Background noise and high arousal music significantly reduced performance across all tasks compared to the silence condition. High arousal music was more detrimental to task performance the Stroop task. The Effects of Acute Background Noise on Recognition Tasks was conducted by Daniel Diegard. 23 students were chosen as the participants for the study and the mean age was 22 years. The materials used were random white noise, encoding items, a distracter task which was a mental arithmetic task and a working memory capacity test which required the participants to complete an arithmetic test and alternating between equations and memorizing word sequences. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the four noise conditions effects on the participants recognition score. There was a significant within-subject effect on the participants response times, dependant on the presence of noise during the recognition part [F(1,21)=5.60, p=0.028] and also a between-subject ffect for the two experimental groups [F(1,21)=8.57, p=0.008]. Background white noise had no significant effect on the participants learning capacity. It was seen that the interaction effect of the experi mental group and encoding noise did approach significance. The results of this study are shown to be inconsistent with most previous studies conducted. Effects of Prior Exposure to Office Noise and Music on Aspects of Working Memory was conducted by Andrew Smith, Beth Waters and Hywel Jones. The participants of this study were 36 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 to 25 years. This study was further divided into two studies. The first examined whether habituation occurred to office noise and how long it takes for habituation. The second study was an attempt to replicate the Mozart Effect which represents an improvement in spatial reasoning following listening to Mozart. In the first experiment, a mental arithmetic task was given to the participants. After the first mental arithmetic task, a habituation period to office noise was presented for five minutes. There were three conditions which were used. The first was continuous noise condition which was heard throughout the presentation of all the mental arithmetic tasks and the habituation periods. The second was the noise control condition in which the participants heard n oise during the mental arithmetic task but not during the intervening habituation period. The final condition was the quiet condition in which no noise was presented during the mental arithmetic task. The habituation phase was for 20 minutes in total placed between the arithmetic tasks. The results showed that there was a significant effect of noise condition [F(2,33)=8.3, p In the second experiment 24 undergraduate students were chosen to be the participants. Their mean age was 22 years. The participants had to complete spatial ability tasks in three conditions: after listening to Mozarts piano sonata, after positive mood induction and after sitting in silence. The results showed that the participants had higher scores on the test in the Mozart condition than in the other 2 conditions. Music Listening While You Learn: No Influence of Background Music on Verbal Learning was conducted by Lutz Jancke and Pascale Sandmann. This study examined the influence of listening to background music on verbal learning performance. The sample size of this study was 75 and the participants were randomly assigned to five groups. The participants had to learn the presented verbal material with and without background music. Each group of participants was exposed to one of five different background stimuli: in-tune fast, in-tune slow, out-of-tune fast, out-of-tune slow and noise. This study did not find any consistent or consequential influence of background music on verbal learning. There was neither an enhancement nor a decrease in verbal learning performance during the presentation of the background sound conditions. The Relative and Perceived Impact of Irrelevant Speech, Vocal Music and Non-Vocal Music on Working Memory was a study conducted by Thomas R. Alley and Marcie E. Greene. The sample size of this study was 60. The study examined the effects of vocal music, equivalent instrumental music and irrelevant speech on working memory to understand how music affects performance and the degree of impairment. The participants completed a digit span task in the presence of irrelevant speech, vocal music, instrumental versions of the vocal music and silence. The results of this study showed that speech and vocal music hindered performance. The performance in instrumental music was better than that of vocal music but was not significantly different from speech or silence. Chapter Three Methodology The aim of this research will be to study the effects of music and background noise on working memory. Research Design A quantitative study will be carried out and experimental research design will be used. The study will involve a group of individuals who will be made to recall lists of words under four different conditions- silence, background noise, music and music and background noise. Hypotheses Music will have no effect on working memory. Noise will have no effect on working memory. Silence will have no effect on working memory. Background noise and music will have no effect on working memory. Sampling Sample size consisting of 40 individuals including males and females in the age range of 19 to 23 years. The sampling method to be used will be convenience sampling. The study is an experimental and quantitative research as variables will be measured and analysed using statistical techniques. Ethical Consideration Informed consent will be given to the participants before the experiment is conducted to ensure that their participation is voluntary. Confidentiality of identity of the participants will be guaranteed. The participants will be allowed to leave the experiment when they want. Tools Used 16 list of 20 words each Mozarts Sonata for 2 pianos in D, K.448 Vivaldi- Spring Clip of background noise on a busy street Data Analysis The Analysis of Variance or ANOVA will be used as there are more than two variables which will be taken into consideration as well as the interaction between the two. Operational Definitions Working Memory- Working memory is the ability to temporarily store words while performing other cognitive tasks. Music- Music can be defined as the vocal and instrumental sound to produce form, harmony and expression. Noise- Noise is defined as unwanted sound. In this study, noise is that which is not important to the main focus of attention.