The emotional emptiness in Araby by James Joyce Essay Example

The emotional emptiness in Araby by James Joyce Paper Setting is the time and place of the actions in the story. However, setting can be more than this. Setting maybe used as an antagonist, a reflection of an emotional emptiness, the source of atmosphere/mood, a metaphor for human life and a reinforcement of the storys conflict. In James Joyces short story, Araby, setting reflects the emotional emptiness of the boy narrator. The imagery of the opening paragraph like in this sentence, North Richmond Street, being blind, was a quite street except at the hour when the Christian Brothers School set the boys free. An uninhabited house of two stories stood at the blind end, detached from its neighbors in a square ground describes not only the loneliness between the neighbors but in particular the emotional emptiness of the boy. Besides that, it shows a hidden symbol that love can or is blind. This blind love is exactly what the boy is going through from the stage of childhood to adulthood. We will write a custom essay sample on The emotional emptiness in Araby by James Joyce specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The emotional emptiness in Araby by James Joyce specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The emotional emptiness in Araby by James Joyce specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Another illustration which shows that the boy is trapped by his own emotional feelings is described in this sentence: One evening I went into the back drawing-room in which the priest had died. It was a dark rainy-evening and there was no sound in the house. Through one of the broken panes I heard the rain impinge upon the earth, the fine incessant needles of water playing in the sodden beds. I was thankful that I could see so little. The death of the priest, dark-rainy evening, no sound in the house, are all imagery to describe an atmospheric state of internal emptiness of the boy. The last sentence, where the boy was thankful to see so little, shows that it would have made his emotions worse when he had seen more of the room. The boys emotional circumstances do not only last in the beginning of the story, but it is an incessant sentiment until the end when he arrives at the almost-closed bazaar. Nearly all the stalls where closed and the greater part of the hall was in darkness, this again shows that the boy is still feeling the same way. He could not buy anything for the girl which even puts his emotional state more down. my eyes burned with anguish and anger, these are the last words of the short story which shows the reader that the boys feelings didnt get better and that there is no happy ending for the boy but rather an increase of emotional emptiness. The use of setting as an antagonist is another way of describing the situation of the story. The short story The Chrysanthemums written by John Steinbeck, uses this kind of setting like you can see in the first two sentences of the story: The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the world. On every side it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot. This already describes the atmosphere in which Elisa is living in; it is her own opponent. The atmosphere in Elisas life is grim; there is no sunshine in the valley now and the air is cold and tender as it is described by the author in the story, showing again that setting can be adversary. Later on, when Elisa looked back at the river road where the tinker had come from, she notices that under a high gray fog the willows look like a thin band of sunshine Which means that the setting is still her opponent and only the road where the tinker came from is here only hope for freedom, This was the only color in the grey afternoon. Setting can be used as a source of atmosphere and mood. Edgar Allen Poe uses this style of setting in the story The Fall of the House of Usher to give the story its own unique atmosphere. It possesses the typical features of a Gothic tale: a haunted house, dreary landscape, mysterious sickness, and doubled personality (Madeline and Roderick). However, part of the terror of this story is its imprecision. We cannot say for sure where in the world or exactly when the story takes place. Instead of standard story writers of place and time, Poe uses elements such as inclement weather and a barren landscape. The setting in this story plays an essential role because it establishes an atmosphere of dreariness, melancholy, and decay. The Usher family mansion is isolated and located in a singularly dreary tract of country. This style of setting, gives an atmosphere of horror to the reader. The house stirs up in the narrator a sense of insufferable gloom, and it is described as having bleak walls, and vacant eye-like windows. The interior of the house is equally desolate, with vaulted and fretted ceilings, dark draperies hung upon the walls, and furniture that is comfortless, antique and tattered. These all contribute to the mood which makes up the atmosphere of the story. Edgar Allen Poe uses the narrator to describe the house so that the reader feels how dark and evil this place must be. In the story The Blind Man written by D. H. Lawrence, setting is used as a source to reinforce the conflict of the story. The author uses imagery as an element to show the conflict to the readers. The relationship of Maurice and Isabel has begun to break down on Maurices dependency on her, an entirely reasonable one given the circumstances. When Maurice, while upstairs changing, hears Isabel and Bertie talking and feels a childish sense of desolation; he seemed shut outlike a child that is left out. But there is more to it than that, for it is clearly a feeling of dependency, which reinforces the conflict, rather than jealousy that distresses him: He had almost a childish nostalgia to be included in the life circle. And at the same time he was a man, dark and powerful and infuriated by his own weakness. By some fatal flaw, he could not be by himself, he had to depend on the support of another. And this very dependence enraged him. Another perspective to look at the reinforcing of conflict is the house of Maurice. Even though he is blind, he still knows his surroundings, He seemed to know the presence of objects before he touched them. It was a pleasure to him to rock thus through a world of things This made him happy of his ability to see the objects but yet it tortured him inside: then it would beat inside him like a tangled sea, and he was tortured in the shattered chaos of his own blood. He grew to dread this arrest, this throw-back, this chaos inside himself, when he seemed merely at the mercy of his own powerful and conflicting elements. This sentence is showing the internal and external conflict of Maurice, which is in fact his scar and mostly his blindness that is making him feel despondent. Bertie, whose own insufficiency has been described in terms of an incurable weakness, which made him unable ever to enter into close contact of any sort, in other words he fears intimacy especially with women, is the person whose conflict is shown later on at the barn outside the house. As Maurice lays his hands on Berties face and begins to touch him, he is able to transfer his own feeling of dependence, fear, sadness and anger onto Bertie. As a result, it is Berties self-boundary that is destroyed. He is now the one who is terrified, shocked and speechless: Bertie could not answer. He gazed mute and terror-struck, overcome by his own weaknesshe had an unreasonable fear lest the other man should suddenly destroy himHe could not bear it that he had been touched by the blind man, his insane reserve broken in. He was like a mollusk whose shell is broken. Maurice in contrast was filled with hot, poignant love, the passion of friendship. Therefore Maurice seems to have overcome his own vulnerability and defeated his own conflict by transferring it onto another person and it seems that it is Bertie who is blind, not physically but mentally. The author D.H. Lawrence gives us a complex imagery of isolated, perverted play, mechanical life and masturbation through the wooden horse in the story The Rocking-Horse Winner which leads to a compulsive drive for success in modern society. The short story is all in all a metaphor for human life. Instead of using literal imagery, with words like table, pots, glass, or finger, D.H. Lawrence preferred to use the figurative imagery consisting of comparisons to the real world in which we live. Thus, the style of setting used this time is a figurative imagery which shows the compulsive desire for so much money and can be therefore compared to reality. The opening sentences of the story, which are similar to that of a fairy-tale, provides the reader with enough information to conclude that the mother has most likely a strong desire for wealth: There was once a woman who was beautiful, who stated with all the advantages, yet she had no luck. She married for love, and the love turned to dust. She had bonny children, yet she felt they had been thrust upon her, and she could not love them. Another metaphor could be the haunted house which keeps on telling There must be more money, And the children would stop playing to listen for a moment. They would look into each others eyes , to see if they had all heard. And each one saw in the eyes of the other two that they too had heard This can be related to reality in which the parents are not taking care of their children, not giving them love because theyre more concerned about their wealth, which eventually leads to the children taking action themselves in order to get their parents love. The rocking horse represents both Pauls desire to make money for his mother and his own sexuality. In a sense, one can guess that Paul compensates for his mothers immaturity by masturbating: he would sit on his big rocking horse, charging madly into space, with a frenzy that made the little girls peer at him uneasilyhis eyes had a strange glare in them Pauls masturbatory activities are equally useless as well. No matter how much money he wins for his mother, she is never satisfied. More to the point, Pauls money can not buy his mothers love. All in all, setting is not only the time and place of a story but it can be sometimes an essential part of the story. The emotional emptiness in Araby by James Joyce, The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck which uses antagonism, mood and atmosphere in The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe, reinforcement of the conflict in The Blind Man and The Rocking Horse Winner which is a metaphor for human life. All 5 are good examples of how setting plays an important and different role in a story. The setting of a story helps to outline the general theme. It may even be an important symbol or help develop symbolism. Setting may also able a reader to relate to hardships or situations in real life. This helps the story to become more powerful and complex. The settings used in the 5 stories above were the foundations of success in these works.

buy custom Surviving Suicide essay

buy custom Surviving Suicide essay Suicide can be defined as the deliberate act of intentionally taking ones life. It involves intentional ending of own life. Research has shown that different people at different ages commit suicide due to different reasons, ranging from mental illness, depression, desperation, family pressures, troubled or broken relations and other externalities such as financial difficulties (Haugen, David, Matthew, 80). According to World Health Organization (WHO), nearly one million people attempt to kill themselves yearly, with approximately thirty thousand resulting into fatal deaths. In addition, committing suicide may be due to medical conditions such as chronic illness or pain, mental disorders for example insanity, social pressures, and drug and substance abuse. Generally, most cultures consider suicide as a crime (Amry 72). It has been reported that most people who commit suicide often targe getting rid of their life situations. They usually want to run away from the hardships they experience in life and thus view suicide as the only source of relief. However, Holmes postulates that people usually commit suicide as a show of cry for help, without necessarily wanting to end their lives. He further illustrates that such people often do so in favor of their friends or family members (Holmes 55). Whether suicide is intended to cause death or a cry for help, those who commit it usually show rage and anger, depression and feeling of rejection due to persistent abuse, self-blaming and low esteem, and constant arguments prior to such acts. The most common symptoms they show are poor concentration and non-critical thinking, discarding of personal belongings, sudden change in behavior such as heavy drinking of alcohol, pulling away from social groups, sudden interest or discussions on death and suicidal methods, hopelessness and poor eating habits and lack of sleep. The bereaved familys grief will further be complicated by shock of the happenings, especially if they were not able to identify the pre-suicide symptoms. They may feel guilt of not being socially supportive to the victim, or being irresponsible and negligence to the person. Friends can provide emotional, economic and financial support to the victims family. They should help the family rebuild their life through continued advice and counseling. Counseling will help them ease the intensity and burden of unresolved feeling of losing a loved one. They can introduce the family to religious practices such as praying together. This will help build family relation and bond between members (Jordan Mcintosh 45) The friends can introduce members of such families into survivors groups where they can relate to people who have had similar experiences. Buy custom Surviving Suicide essay

Mothers Day Etymology Where Does Mom Come From

Mothers Day Etymology Where Does Mom Come From Mother’s Day Etymology: Where Does â€Å"Mom† Come From? Today is Mother’s Day, the day we thank our female parents for their love and patience. But where do the words â€Å"mother† and â€Å"mom† come from? Why are there so many words for mothers in English? And are they all correct? Let’s take a (motherly) look and find out. The Origins of Mother The modern English â€Å"mother† comes from the Old English term modor. And â€Å"mom,† along with other of informal or shortened terms such as â€Å"mommy† and â€Å"ma,† are often traced to this root. Interestingly, though, these shorter words may be even older. The word â€Å"mama† appears in some form in dozens of languages, including Mandarin (Mma), Hindi (mÄ Ã¡ ¹Æ') and Arabic (mÄ ma). This is because simple noises like â€Å"mama† and â€Å"papa† are among most babies’ first vocalizations. We imagine â€Å"mama† means â€Å"feed me† most of the time.(Photo: amyelizabethquinn) The theory, then, is that â€Å"mother† and its modern variations are all rooted in the baby talk of â€Å"mama.† So one thing we have in common with our earliest ancestors may be our words for â€Å"mom.†   Mom, Mum or Mam? In the US, most people call their mothers â€Å"mom.† But you may have heard â€Å"mum† or â€Å"mam† used as well, especially in other countries. So why are there so many variations on this term? Largely, it’s a matter of where you come from. The three terms we’ve picked out here, for instance, are all associated with different places: Mom is most associated with American English. Mum is common in Australia and the UK (especially England). Mam is common in Ireland, Wales, and parts of northern England. These are all accepted terms for â€Å"mother† in one place or another, so your preference will usually depend on where you grew up. And the â€Å"correct† spelling will depend on the dialect in question. But in American English, you are usually safe sticking with â€Å"mom.† But which came first? Well, â€Å"mam† is probably the oldest of the three spellings above, since the earliest recorded use of â€Å"mama† in English dates back to 1707. By comparison, the earliest appearances of â€Å"mum† and â€Å"mom† are from 1823 and 1867, respectively. Whatever your chosen term, though, we hope all the mothers out there are having a great day! And, mother or not, we hope you’ve enjoyed our etymological look at motherhood.

Causes and effects related to the success of the phenomenon of video Essay

Causes and effects related to the success of the phenomenon of video games - Essay Example Cause 1 During the course of this discussion we would specifically be looking at the different causes and effects that have contributed to the success of proliferating this culture. A major cause for the expansion of the video game industry in recent times has been the ever mushrooming entertainment industry of US in particular. With the passage of time as the entire entertainment market of the country has undergone diversification novel frontiers have been explored for launching and marketing a product. For the fulfillment of this purpose the gaming industry has proved to be the economic backbone. Fiction based movies that are based on comic book or mythical characters such as Batman, Spiderman, Harry Potter or Hercules before their release launch their video games in order to ensure that the gain accessibility to address the needs and requirements of every market segment. Since children in any form play the most proactive role of determining the success or failure of a product it i s important that their needs are addressed accordingly. (Flew. 113) Effect A concomitant effect of this has been observed in the development of extremely violent behavioral attitudes among children. Many of these games that are based on comic books characters contain intense violent and brutal ways of killing enemies as a result of which they have an overwhelmingly profound effect on the behavioral development of children. In addition to this many of these games also contain highly vituperative and inflammatory language which after developing a habit if playing these games children inherits with utmost ease. Another effect of the video game culture that is also important to mention in this context is that by getting addicted to this culture many people begin to believe in the existence of a fantasized world comprising of all these superheroes none of which exist in reality. Hence video games can also be accused for presenting fantasy in such a realistic way that is becomes more real istic than reality itself. Cause 2 The global gaming industry which is handled primarily by the technological kingpins of United States is also overwhelmingly influenced by the political operations and military affairs that are taking place in the country. We are all well aware about the military turbulence that the United States is currently going through. This is simultaneously reflected and projected in the content and storyline of the games that are prepared by the gaming industry. Many of the games such as Call of Duty, Delta Force and Medal of Honor are based on war missions many of which are based in either Afghanistan, Iraq or in any different country of the world. Even though on a technological scale these games are simply flawless, but they do develop and impose their effects on the members of a society in rather subtle ways. Effect One of such effect has been in the form of developing and incorporating stereotypes in the minds of their people regarding different nations a nd their civilians respectively. For instance, there remains less discussion about the fact that the West has long portrayed Arabs either in the role of nomads or greedy oil sheiks. Similarly, the women belonging to these countries have been characterized either as belly dancers or people who are continuously subdued or oppressed by their husbands. This kind of projection has further cemented in the minds of American people with the

The effect of reverberation and amplification on sound localisation Thesis

The effect of reverberation and amplification on sound localisation - Thesis Example In reverberant environments, most hearing impaired listeners are aware to the disturbance of the signals caused by the reverberation. However, when reverberation is minimum, the actual cause of disturbance is not clear to them and hence can be very frustrating. Localising a sound source in the horizontal plane relies mainly on two different sources of information: The differences in time of arrival of the sound at the two ears, and the level differences at the two ears. These time and level differences are called interaural time differences (ITD) cues and interaural level differences (ILD) cues. Recent improvements in hearing aids, such as compression and filtering, can significantly alter ITDs and ILDs. The digital processing to input signals tend to restrict the availability of fine timing cues, forcing the listener to rely on level cues. The effect of digital processing in hearing aids on the hearing aid wearers use of localisation cues in different listening environments is not well understood. The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the effect of reverberation on the localisation abilities of normal hearing and hearing impaired listeners. Moreover, to investigate the effect of Siemens Prisma 2M hearing aids utilizing the localisation cues. Two main sets of experiments were conducted, The first set (4 experiments) were performed on normal hearing listeners to study the effect of reverberation and signal onset/offset times on their localisation abilities for different stimuli signals (i.e. Speech, high-pass speech-low-pass speech, pink noise, 4 KHz pure tone, and 500 Hz pure tone and under different reverberant environments. The second set of experiments was conducted on twenty eight Bilateral Siemense Prisma 2M wearers. They were tested under both reverberant and anechoic conditions, with and without the hearing aids. Signals used were speech stimulus, pink noise, high-pass pink noise and low-pass pink

Jones Blair Case Study Essay Example for Free

Jones Blair Case Study Essay Jones †¢ Blair is a company that produces and sells architectural paint it also sell paint sundries which include paintbrushes and rollers. It caters to over 50 countries which are divided into two sectors the DFW area and the non-DFW area. Of the two the DFW area has been proven to be the most successful area for the company. In 1999 the company made 80 million in sales and 60% of this was contributed by the DFW area. There are two segments within the company’s main sales attributes and these are between the do it yourself market and the professional market. With regards to the professional market in the DFW area this accounted for 70% of sales In the non-DFW area 70% of sales were made through the do-it-yourself market. During a meeting the company discussed the problem of where and how to carry out marketing efforts. They were left with four options: 1) Cut the price by 20%. 2) Hire one additional sales rep. 3) Spend additional $350,000 on advertising. 4) Stay the same. A detailed look into each option. 1) Cut the price by 20%. The shopper research programme indicated that dealers will back off the brand when the customer appears price sensitive. By cutting the price by 20% this will allow the company to be on par with national brands. The current contribution margin for the company is 35% if the price was to be cut by 20% then the new contribution margin would be reduced to: 35% 20% = 15% with the current sale volume being $12 million and a price cut of 20% the sales would have to increase significantly for the price cut to be effective. According to Barrett â€Å"we are now the highest price paint in our service area† the fact that the company still has increasing sales despite being the highest cost brand of all the competitors this shows that the company is being perceived as giving high quality goods where people don’t mind about paying extra for their brand. If the company was to cut the price by 20% this may leave doubts in peoples minds about whether or not the brand is actually as high quality as they had thought. The fact that they can get away with charging a higher price for their brand they should stick with it. 2) Hire one additional sales rep. Currently the company has 8 sales reps which are responsible for the following tasks: Monitoring inventories. Taking orders. Assisting in store display. Coordinating cooperative advertising programmes. A survey indicated that the sales reps were very well liked, helpful, professional and knowledgeable with regards to paint. These reps are paid a salary and also a 1% commission. The cost of hiring an additional sales rep would be $60,000 a year, this is excluding commission. The vice president feels that the current sales reps aren’t aggressive enough and the fact that only 5 new accounts were made in the last 5 years something needs to be done. Only 16% of the accounts come from the non-DFW area so maybe a focus needs to be placed onto this area. If this was to be done, an additional sales rep be assigned to the non-DFW area this could lead to a significant increase in sales. 3) Spend additional $350,000 on advertising. The vice president of advertising believes that there is a need for an awareness level of 30% among do-it-yourselfers to affect their sales. An emphasis on television coverage will reach non-DFW consumers in 15 countries. Research shows that ads affect the buying process Since most consumers consider the store before the actual brand maybe the advertising should be focused more-so on corporate ads rather than brand ads. The company spends 3% of its net sales on advertising therefore the current cost of advertising is: 3% of 12 million = 360000 with an additional spend of $350000 on advertising the total cost of advertising would be: 360000+ 350000= $710,000. This would almost double the cost of advertising and since there’s an emphasis on television this could prove to be a risky option, especially since brand awareness isn’t the main attribution to buyer behaviour. Another factor to consider is the fact that 75% of the audience of the advert arent buying paint. 4) Stay the same. The final option for the company would be to keep everything the same which is advised by the vice president of finance. Since the company is continuing to make profit he feels that if you were to take the other options that there would have to be a significant increase in the sales volume which may not be a result. Although most of the options offer different benefits and of course different drawbacks we dont think there is an outright option to choose. With regards to the cut in price of 20% we dont believe this option should be chosen. The fact that the company is allowed to charge the higher price and is perceived as being a high quality brand why should they risk losing all of this by accepting the price cut. The next option with regards to hiring an additional sales rep we feel that the fact that they have 8 sales reps already would the addition of another really make a significant impact on sales. Rather than focusing on hiring a new one we believe that if they focused more-so and possibly retraining their current sales reps this could prove to be more effective. The fact that the sales reps are already considered highly by the customers is a bonus. If more effort was put into them and how they could improve efficiency then this could be worthwhile to the company. The company could divide up the sales reps into the necessary markets and possibly by offering them incentives this could increase their performance. By hiring an additional sales rep doesnt necessarily promise a change in sales. With regards to an increase of advertising spending of $350,000 we wouldnt recommend this option. As the company wants to put an emphasis on television and the fact that 75% of the audience dont buy paint, the 25% of the audience that do doesnt seem like a big enough market coverage to invest such a lot of money into. Instead we feel they should look into other marketing options. The fact that with regards to buyer behaviour that customers choose the store first before the brand maybe the company should look into advertising within the actual stores. They could look into what stores are proven to be more popular and focus advertising attention on these. With the last option as staying the same although the company is continuing to make profits we feel like this could be the easy option. Rather than just being content with what is currently happening with the business they should focus on improving the business. The fact is that more and more competitors may enter the market or even people may change their buying behaviour but ultimately the company should try and always be a brand considered.

The Harmful Effects Of Discrimination And Segregation Essay -- essays

Discrimination and Segregation have both had many harmful effects on society in the past and exist when individuals are treated unfairly because of their particular race, gender, age, ethnic group, physical disability, or religion. Discrimination and segregation both poison the atmosphere of trust that we need in order to live peacefully. In the video 'Separate but Equal';, there are many incidences to prove that racism, segregation, and discrimination all have negative effects. The three most prominent effects of discrimination and segregation combined are Inferiority, fear, and anger.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Inferiority is a major issue when discussing the effects of discrimination and segregation. In the Plessy vs. Ferguson case it was ruled that there may be segregation, but the people must be equal-Separate but Equal';. After this ruling all facilities were separated according to race, but in fact were not even close to being equal to each other. The white mans facilities were almost 100 times better than the blacks. Then in the Brown vs. Board of Education in Topeka case it was brought to attention that segregation and discrimination obviously affect the children's state of mind. In the experiment to prove this hypothesis many black children were given a variety of white dolls and black dolls. They were then told to describe what they thought of each doll. The results were in fact that majority of the young black children related the bad characteristics with th...

Biodiesel Investigation Essay

‘Biodiesel is a clean burning renewable fuel made using natural vegetable oils and fats.1 Biodiesel is a revelation to chemists, engineers and environmentalists who are looking for more sustainable ways to make use of fuels. Since it is a natural and renewable fuel, it can be fitted in as a substitute for petroleum diesel, which is the substance conventionally used in automobile transport. Biodiesel is normally utilised as a replacement for petroleum diesel fuel or can be blended together with petroleum diesel fuel in any ratio. Biodiesel is a biodegradable substance with a lower toxicity in comparison to petroleum diesel fuel and is preferred as it is safer to handle since there is little human risk involved in its handling. The use of biodiesel as a petroleum substitute reduces the degree of exhaust emission. Biodiesel are notorious for their easy use in terms of how they can easily be pumped and stored in existing engines without having to make major industrial alterations to the engines themselves. They are usually blended together with petroleum fuels in order to create the optimal usage in engines. The output yield of biodiesel is I had never really heard of biodiesel until it was a topic covered in school. After finding out what biodiesel was, I looked into the IB chemistry syllabus to see what points it had on biodiesel and looked further into the applications of biodiesel as well as the process of transesterification and what is involved. My personal interest was sparked from my curiosity of how to obtain my own sample of biodiesel after I found out about its many uses. My high school chemistry department provided us with a set of materials and allowed us to investigate our own ways of obtaining biodiesels and I was keen to see what I could do with a sample of this versatile substance. I do feel as though this is an important experiment to engage in as scientists find biodiesels an extremely useful substance to use in machines and such. To try an experiment which involves looking at factors that can change the output of the product, would be a stepping stone to building a stronger understanding on the substance itself and how more of it can be obtained and perhaps what benefits it may serve. The experiment conducted was intent on looking at a certain independent variable (the concentration) that would affect the yield of biodiesel produced in experiment. The research question for this is: How the concentration of Potassium Hydroxide solution would affect the yield of biodiesel when transesterified with a standard sample of vegetable oil. Background: To look at the scientific aspect of it, biodiesels are a form of methyl esters, an organic chain compound that has a set of properties. The experiment involves the reaction between vegetable oil and potassium hydroxide and methanol mixed together. The equation for the reaction of the transesterification is: Vegetable Oil (l) + (3)HOCH3 + (NaOH catalyst) ——> C3H8O3 + 3-methyl ester 1 Biodiesel Basics This valuable renewable fuel resource is not vegetable oil, but instead formed from the organic chain compound. It is 3-methyl ester and has the following chemical structure: Fig. 1 The diagram on the left shows the transesterification process that forms two products (Glycerol and A 3-methyl ester). The experiment conducted involves potassium hydroxide as a catalyst instead of sodium hydroxide. Furthermore the biodiesel product of this varies from the other structured methyl ester that usually come in The other product is glycerol, which is commonly found in soaps. This is a standard example of transesterification however the experiment that is attempted involves different reactants. The diagram below shows the process for this experiment and the outcomes. The temperature of the oil mixed with the methanol mixture will be measured and the experiment consists of five different solutions of KOH + methanol that will each be reacted with the vegetable oil. A magnetic stirrer will be used in the process to get the reaction going and afterwards the finalised solution will be placed in a centrifugal and the process of centrifugation will separate the solution into glycerol and biodiesel. The biodiesel will then be extracted to give a reading on percentage yield. The method was personally derived and many modifications were made to the initial standard procedure of mixing 50% concentration Potassium Hydroxide solutions with 10ml of vegetable oil and stirring on a magnetic stirrer for 10-15 minutes at a certain temperature was deemed to unsafe for students as the high concentration acid was extremely corrosive, had irritating effects and also raised environmental concerns as the organic waste disposal process was far more complicated when the substances would permeate a trash landfill. As a result the new method was made and the substances involved were altered significantly. The new method consists of a reaction with a 5g/100ml (KOH concentrated) mixture between potassium hydroxide and methanol. In each test, there is a varied use in the concentration of the methanol mixture and this is measured by an arbitrary percentage figure as well as a known uncertainty. Furthermore, the potassium hydroxide serves as a catalyst for the reaction. Equipment Used: Apparatus Uncertainty 10cm3 Measuring Cylinder 0.2ml Mass Balance 0.005g 50cm3 Beaker 5ml Magnetic Stirrer N/A Thermometer 0.5 ºc Magnet Capsule N/A Method: 1. To set up the equipment appropriately, use a 10cm3 Measuring Cylinder to measure out 10ml of vegetable oil, and keep aside separately. Measure 1.5ml of the 5g/100ml (1%) Potassium Hydroxide solution and place set aside in the measuring cylinder. Set up the magnetic stirrer, and measure the temperature of the oil using the thermometer. For this experiment, the oil (placed inside beaker) will need to be kept on the magnetic stirrer with the capsule inserted and heated to 31 ºc. Measure the mass of the empty beaker first using the mass balance and record. 1. Once the oil has been heated to the appropriate temperature, add the methanol-KOH solution with 1% concentration to the oil and allow the stirrer to stir at a constant temperature for approximately ten to fifteen minutes. After a few minutes of stirring and any visible physical/chemical changes have occurred, remove the beaker of mixture from the solution and set aside temporarily. 1. The methyl-ester biodiesel mixture is ready for centrifugation. Using the mass balance, measure out the mass of the beaker with the oil mixture that has just undergone transesterification and pour all the substance from the beaker into a centrifugal tube. 1. Repeat all the tests with the 2%,3%,4% and 5% concentration KOH mixtures in methanol. When repeating, remember to measure each separate beakers individual mass and use the stirrer to bring the temperature back up to 31 º. Once the temperature has hit 31 º, mix the KOH with the oil as done before and allow the stirrer to create a reaction between the substances. Keep making qualitative observations and recording changes in temperature from the reaction and record the mass of the final solutions once stirring. 1. Finally, once all the products have been reacted, place them in centrifugal tubes and insert the tubes into the centrifuge. The centrifugation process will separate the biodiesel and glycerol. Extract the thin biodiesel layer (on top), measure the mass of the biodiesel in the initial beaker and derive the percentage yield of biodiesel from the mass difference between the solutions, density from mass and volume and make observations on the mass obtained. Diagram of Process : Done On Skitch Variables: Safety And Environmental Measures: Plenty of glassware will be utilised throughout the experiment, and therefore it is essential that safety glasses are worn as extra precaution to protect eyes from broken glass. Furthermore, all glassware should be kept away from the edges of tables to prevent risk of damage. KOH – methanol mixture is labeled as an irritant and mildly Independent Variable: Concentration of KOH – Methanol Mixture as % value. Fixed Variables: * Temperature of Oil * Volume of Oil Used * Volume of KOH – Methanol Mixture Dependent Variable: % Yield of Biodiesel, Mass outcome of biodiesel from transesterification corrosive based on *Cleaps Hazcards and it is therefore advised to wear gloves. It is also advised to wear lab coats as products of transesterification may permanently stain clothing. Fortunately, there are no ethical concerns involved as only vegetable oil is being used and no animal substances. The biodiesel substance is biodegradable and can be easily disposed of in organic waste. *Cleaps cited in Bibliography Qualitative Observations: * In all tests after the oil was placed into the centrifuge, a gunky substance was formed from the separation into two layers, one being the biodiesel and it can be assumed that the gunky substance was glycerol (used in soaps). At times the position of the magnetic stirrer was not in place for some results, which may be a result of random error (anoma Error Calculations on Mass Example % Yield Calculations of Biodiesel 1% Concentration: Example Calculation [(0.052 à · 1.000) x 100%] + [(0.2 à · 10) x 100] + [(0.2 à · 1.5) x 100] + [(0.005 à · 5.962) x 100] = 5% + 2% + 10% + 0.08% = 17.08% Uncertainty ≈ 17% Absolute Uncertainty for 1% Concentration yield: 5.95g  ± 20% (1sf) 1% Concentration Solution: Mass of biodiesel Extracted: =5.952 ( ±0.005)g Total mass of oil Mixture (Products from transesterification reaction) 100 x (5.952 à · 33.119) ( ±0.1 *100) Approx 18% Yield ( ±0.3%) * lies) in results such as the 2% concentration. * The temperature of the magnetic stirrer would be set higher than 31 º, and many of the substances would exceed or be under the temperature of 31 º before the actual reaction began. * The volume of the oil and KOH mixture used in the second test may not have been the same amount as the first, which would cause an error in the percentage yield of biodiesels. Data Processing: 2% Conc. 3% + 2% + 10% + 0.08% = 15.08% ≈ 4.99g  ± 20% 3% Conc. 2% + 2% + 10% + 0.08% = 14.08% ≈ 6.84g  ± 10% 4% Conc. 1% + 2% + 10% + 0.08% = 13.08% ≈ 7.81g  ± 10% 5% Conc. 1% + 2% + 10% + 0.08% = 13.08% ≈ 7.97g  ± 10% Processed Data Table: Mass of Biodiesel (2DP) Total Uncertainty on Mass % Yield of Biodiesel+ Uncertainty-2sf Volume of Biodiesel Layer + Uncertainty Density of Biodiesel Uncertainty on Density Conclusion: Multiple inferences can be made from the data obtained. Firstly the clean burning renewable fuel has been formed from a derived method, in which a transesterification reaction has occurred between Methanol and Vegetable oil (using potassium hydroxide as a catalyst). It was expected that the increase in concentration of the KOH would cause a greater percentage and mass yield of biodiesel. Fortunately this expectation was met with the results provided, although there were a few given anomalies formed from the systematic errors present, it was evident that the experiment did match the initial hypothesis of an increase in biodiesel yield. Although the conclusion states than an increase in concentration of the KOH – Methanol substance would increase the yield of biodiesel in the product of transesterification, it must be understood that there were many imprecisions and boundaries for error were relatively high throughout the experiment. The primary reason for this is that only one test was conducted for each concentration, rather than gathering an average for each results, which was a result of time management problems. Despite the causes of error and uncertainties, the calculated average density of biodiesel produced was 1.23gcm-3. The literature value for this was given above (0.88) and this value has been taken from an experiment in which the yield of biodiesel was taken from vegetable oils using both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide as the catalyst in the experiment. The experimental error for the density was extremely high, being around 40%. The general formula for calculating systematic error in experiments is as such: â€Å"Experimental error = {(Literature Value – Calculated Value) à · (Literature Value)} x 100 â€Å" The experimental error is actually the sum of the systematic and random error, (error which could influence one single result), and therefore varies for each result obtained. However the graph for the density shows the rising increase. Although a clean line of best fit cannot be placed upon the graph, it is clear that there is a steady rise in the output of biodiesel against the increase in initial concentration. It is evident that there was a random error for the 2% concentration with the mass output measured. This may have been a result of some of the substance spilling onto the stirrer during one of the measurements, when equipment was not handled appropriately. Since this only affected a single result, it was omitted from the graph, and the line of best fit was not inclusive of this result. Despite this, the error bar uncertainties are relatively high for the mass output, and therefore the min and max gradients vary highly, which means any value for output within this range would be regarded a systematic error in the experiment. In the density graph, the curve of best fit is exponential, and does not include the result obtained for 3% concentration, as this also appears to be slightly anomalous. It could also be regarded a random error as the gradient of the curve does not fit into the boundaries of uncertainty for this result. Reasons for this uncertainty could be a result of any of the limitations explored in the evaluation. Finally the percentage yield graph also has somewhat of a linear relationship between the output of biodiesel as a percentage of the total substance and the concentration increase together. The diagram (figure 4) shows a successful gathering of biodiesel, in which the top layer represents the biodiesel and the bottom layer the glycerol. There were other different physical appearances for other results (not photographed). Evaluation: Limitation Significance Possible Improvements Unknown layer between biodiesel and glycerol (Fig. x) It was difficult to distinguish whether this layer between the biodiesel and glycerol, (as photographically depicted above), could be counted as biodiesel and therefore it was either left out or in the measuring process, which would contribute to a systematic error of the yield of biodiesel being too high or low. To improve on this and reduce this uncertainty, a combustion test would need to be done on the biodiesel, as it is known to be flammable. The unknown substance should be tested with a flame test and if it burns, should be included in the yield measurements of biodiesel. Using Apparatus with a lower uncertainty for measuring out KOH – methanol substance The 10ml measuring cylinder used had an uncertainty of 0.2, which for 1.5cm3 of solution, was extremely high as a percentage uncertainty. Since this was used for all tests, it must be noted that this was also a contributing factor to the systematic error obtained for each test. To improve this, a different (more precise) piece of measuring apparatus, i.e a burette should’ve been used as it has an uncertainty of 0.05, which would’ve quartered the uncertainty on the potassium hydroxide mixture, and reduced the total uncertainty. Improper placement of beaker on magnetic stirrer Due to time limitations for conducting the experiment, multiple groups had to share the stirrer and therefore place two beakers with magnetic flea’s (capsules) atop the stirrer. This interfered with the ability for the maximum biodiesel output to be produced for each result, and since this only occurred for certain tests, would’ve contributed to any random errors present. To target this limitation, the best solution would be to find time to work on the experiment individually, so that the magnetic stirrer could be used for only one beaker. Impurity on biodiesel The substance measured may not be entirely biodiesel, but instead a mixture of biodiesel and glycerol that may have been extracted without notice. This would’ve caused a higher percentage yield of biodiesel to be measured rather than the actual amount. To add on to this limitation, the reason for an impurity would most probably be from a difficulty in distinguishing between the biodiesel and layer of glycerol. Any filtration process that could separate the biodiesel and the glycerol effectively, would be appropriate. The mixture should undergo centrifugation multiple times in order to separate the layers more clearly. Works Cited: â€Å"Biodiesel Basics – Biodiesel.org.† Biodiesel Basics – Biodiesel.org. Biodiesel Org, n.d. Web. 11 May 2015. Button, Scott. â€Å"Biodiesel: Vehicle Fuel From Vegetable Oil.† Energy & Environment 21.8 (2009): 1305-324. Web. Jamil, Cut Aisya Z., and (Ijera). Performance of KOH as a Catalyst for Trans-esterification of Jatropha Curcas Oil (2012): n. pag. 12 Mar. 2012. Web. 13 May 2015. â€Å"Secondary Science Hazcards.† Secondary Science Hazcards. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2015. Images: â€Å"The Chemistry of Biodiesel | Biodiesel Project | Goshen College.† Academics. Goshen College, n.d. Web. 13 May 2015. All other images were personally taken and diagrams constructed using Skitch.

Project planning and evaluation Essay

Before anyone is going to do something, there is nothing as sensible as planning. A plan as we know is something thought about and chalked out in advance before the real action takes place and is actually a recipe for success. But then, the word ‘plan’ does not need much of a definition. It has been used so much that it has become quite hackneyed. So, we all know what it means, but how many of us really resort to planning before we start a course of action. I’m not referring to a mental picture that we chart out in our minds that is in one word, vague. I mean a real plan in black and white, that is, put down on a piece of paper. It is so important because once we write down something, it clears up a lot of hazy areas and opens aspects that we probably overlooked. As the saying goes, â€Å"Trying to manage a project without project management is like trying to play a football game without a game plan†. In my M.A. class with our professor, Dr. Cirineo, I have learned so much about the significance of planning a project and of course, evaluation with the help of my classmates who have exerted their efforts in reporting the assigned topics. I have also done my part when I have reported about the Economic Analysis and I have learned so much from this, too. These are my views as I have studied and listened to the reports: II. INPUT: 1. PLANNING, APPRAISAL AND DESIGN (reported by: Ms. Jelly Rose S. Victor) The first phase of the Process of Project Management Cycle taught me that planning should begin with the end in sight. Good project plans begins with good implementation, methodologies and best practices that are consistent,  controlled and deliverables that meet expectations. If advanced preparation has been made, by the end of the meeting, the implementation is defined, the activities surrounding the project plan are established, the administrative procedures are implemented and the project monitoring and control processes are developed. In designing a project, I have learned that it should always be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bounded) so that it would become valid and easy to realize. Project appraisal is also an important part of this phase because through this, you will be able to ensure that the expectations you have of your team members match the expectations that each individual has for themselves. As part of this process, it is important to schedule regular reviews throughout the year to suit the needs of your team. Thus, we need to appreciate the benefits we can gain from an effective appraisal process to monitor your team’s performance more than make up for the time invested. It will help increase the individual effectiveness of your team members. 2. SELECTION, APPROVAL AND ACTIVATION (reported by: Ms. Lorelyn A. Ignacio) In a project plan, it is good to know and understand that not all of the suggestions made in the plan would be approved and utilized. We still have to decide fully on what part of the plan should be selected, what should not be selected, what to approve and what to disapprove before we activate or execute our project. Why? Because there are things that we have to consider, knowing that not all things are suitable to implement based on the different situations and problems that may arise. The second phase of the Project Management Cycle made me realize that the process strives to increase productivity of the team and quality of deliverable. It enables quality control by measuring performance and comparing the same against what is planned. The simplest stage and perhaps the most complicated in practice is the execution stage which involves the integration of all inputs identified in the planning and design stage to construct the actual end product. On this part, the project manager should monitor the work of the team members on a daily basis. 3. OPERATION, CONTROL AND HANDOVER (reported by: Mrs. Marissa P. Agdong) This could be thought of as the perfecting phase, where analyzing the efficiency and quality of the project cycle from a strategic perspective allows for the optimization of the operational processes. This step-by-step process highlights each feasible step in the project management cycle. By appropriately incorporating each step of the model into the planning stage, managers can effectively forecast the deliverables and avoid losing value through accurately assessing the margins that will be produced in a given strategic initiative. The control cycle is an important part of quality control, and it not only verifies the delivery of good quality but also identifies gaps and failures that need to be addressed. Ultimately, it is a process that continuously evolves within the production process. In this phase, which is the third, I’ve learned four important steps: PLAN, DO, CHECK and ACT. 4. EVALUATION AND REFINEMENT (reported by: Ms. Bernarda T. Cudal) After listening to the reporter, I have realized that in the Process of Project Management Cycle, we should not set aside this very important stage: Evaluation and Refinement. It is a major part of learning, and can provide a wealth of useful information on the outcomes of a project or action, and the dynamics of those who undertook the work. Through the identification of the highlights and lowlights of the project, evaluation draws conclusions which can inform future decision making, and assist to define future projects and policies. Evaluation and Refinement are undertaken for a number of reasons such as to reflect on how you are developing, to see whether you need to improve the way things are being done, to be accountable to those who are funding the project, to review and adjust the methods and techniques used and how effective they are, to determine whether you have met your objectives or not and to provide information for planning future projects. 5. PROJECT IDENTIFICATION: DEFINING AND SPECIFYING THE PROJECT (reported by: Ms. Riza T. De Guzman) As I am writing this reaction paper, I have thought of imagining the different products we have worldwide. Every product has a name, unique and advertised. Why? because owners of those products want to be identified, and recognized. Same with making our own project, it should be born with a need to be identified by several customers who will be willing to provide funds as their needs would be satisfied in return. The key feature of this activity is to recognize that identifying candidate projects is something that an organization should do not just once a year but on a regular basis. To define a project, we must first identify the objectives, scope and sequence, and the resources of the project. The main purpose of specifying the project scope is to ensure a clear understanding of the business problem and the proposed solution. It is must to give a clear understanding about the project and provide a direction. Its intention is to state what is going to be in the project and what is not going to be part of the project out of scope. It must clearly define a project boundary to minimize the expectation gap between the client and the team. 6. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS (reported by: Ms. Diana T. Rabaca) Before we start implementing and executing our projects or before we build it somewhere, it is very important to analyze the present situation that is being encountered in a certain area. In this way, our project would become successful, just because it becomes an answer to the problems arose in a certain area. For example, there are so many stores that are selling food in that place, but no one sells drinks yet, and customers need it, then you are the one to serve it! Situational Analysis is the first step in formulating a plan. It identifies and prioritizes problem situations affecting the target population or specific segments of the population, providing possible solutions and actions needed to solve a problem. It seeks to answer several questions such as : What is the problem?; Why is there a problem?; Who are affected by the problem?; and What has been done to solve the problem?. The information needed to answer these questions are both quantitative and qualitative such as the outcomes, the resources, the services and the facilities, the acess and utilization of services and facilities and the environment of course. 7. MARKET ANALYSIS (reported by: Ms. Jeanaline A. Ajel) I have learned that the goal of Market Analysis is to determine the attractiveness of a market, both now and in the future. It is part of the industry analysis and this in turn of the global environmental analysis. Through this analysis, the opportunities, strengths, weaknesses and threats of a company can be identified. Market Segmentation is the basis for a differentiated market analysis. Differentiation is important because the saturation of consumption, which exists due to the increasing competition in offered products. Consumers ask for more individual products and services and are better informed about the range of products than before. As a consequence, Market Segmentation is indispensable. To identify and classify the relevant market, a market classification or segmentation has to be done. 8. TECHNICAL ANALYSIS (reported by: Mr. Leonardo Diez, Jr.) Our reporter in technical analysis had explained this report comprehensively by using different concrete examples based on real life situations. Accordingly, Technical Analysis is a method of evaluating securities by analyzing statistics generated by market activity, such as past prices and volume. Technical analysts do not attempt to measure a security’s intrinsic value, but instead use charts and other tools to identify patterns that can suggest future activity. The reporter was fair enough that he decided to discuss both the positive and the negative side of Technical Analysis. These are the strengths: If the objective is to predict the future price, then it makes sense to focus on price movements. Price movements usually precede fundamental developments. By focusing on price action, technicians are automatically focusing on the future. These are the weaknesses: Argument is the fact that technical analysis is open to interpretation. It is in the eye of the beholder. It is subjective and our personal biases can be reflected in the analysis. In conclusion, Technical Analysis in terms of security is somehow, debatable. 9. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS (reported by: Mr. Danny Cruz) In project planning, it is important to identify the constraints that may affect the natural environment. We should always consider how our projects would affect other people, communities, and the environment like road construction, logging, and tree clearing and building a hydroelectric dam. Remember that Environmental Analysis is often required by law, but the process is intended to be a very useful planning tool to help make good decisions and improve projects. So we should consider this not just because it is a must but because it is systematic, interdisciplinary, and develop practical alternatives to the proposed action. The reporter gave the following recommended practices: Open project information to public scrutiny; Involve all parties affected by the project and learn to communicate. 10. OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS (reported by: Ms. Racquel R. Santos) I have realized that operational analysis is an excellent method of assessing the financial performance of the business, determining whether the cost of production is compatible with performance numbers and strategic goals. It looks closely at financial and resource investments, and determines whether adjustments must be made so that the company’s strategic goals may be met in an efficient, cost effective manner. Thorough operational analysis ought to address a few principal questions in its effort to ascertain if operations are efficiently meeting strategic planning. The first key area to be considered is whether financial and resource investment is delivering planned output to the optimum consumer base. It can also determine if there is any existing need for additional investment and recommend areas where investment could be reallocated or streamlined. Thus, in conducting an Operational Analysis, we have to observe, interview, report and conclude so that a gap analysis can be conducted and adjustments may be made. 11. ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYSIS (reported by: Ms. Joe – Ann C. Magno) Aside from understanding the significance of administrative analysis in project planning, I have also realized that there are differences between the word â€Å"Administration† and â€Å"Management† in its role to project planning and implementation. The difference between the two can be summarized under 2 categories: Functions and Usage. On the basis of functions, Administration is a thinking function because it is a decision – making function while Management is a doing function because it is an executing function. On the basis of usage, however, Administration is applicable to non – business concerns such as club, schools, hospitals and the like, while Management is applicable to business concerns such as profit-making organizations. Administration represents owners of the enterprise who earn return on their capital invested & profits in the form of dividend. Management constitutes the employees of the organization who are paid remuneration (in the form of salaries & wages). 12. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS (reported by Mr. Joseph P. Mendoza) Is the project cost reasonable? Can it be done? How long will it take to design? How much will each one cost to make? How much will it cost to bring the product to market? These are the questions arise as I listened to the report on Financial Analysis. For investors, to engage in a new investment project, the project has to be financially viable. Invested capital must show the potential to generate an economic return to investors at least equal to that available from other similarly risky investments. For me, I agree with that because I think, no one would engage himself into business without money and interest involved in return. A number of reasons why to conduct a financial analysis are: first, it provides quality information for decision-making, it helps attract equity investments and securing funding from lending institutions and other monetary sources and lastly, it identifies reasons whether to proceed or not to proceed with the project. 13. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS (reported by me: Ms. Analyn M. Cruz) Wow! This is my report! I am so glad that Dr. Cirineo gave me the opportunity to discuss this over the class for it became my favorite subject way back 2005 when I was a senior highschool. It gave me a room to reopen my notes and study the lesson which my favorite teacher used to discuss in our class with excellence, clarity and comprehension. As we all know, Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek ÃŽ ¿Ã¡ ¼ °ÃŽ ºÃŽ ¿ÃŽ ½ÃŽ ¿ÃŽ ¼ÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ± (oikonomia, â€Å"management of a household, administration†) from ÃŽ ¿Ã¡ ¼ ¶ÃŽ ºÃŽ ¿Ãâ€š (oikos, â€Å"house†) + ÃŽ ½ÃÅ'ÃŽ ¼ÃŽ ¿Ãâ€š (nomos, â€Å"custom† or â€Å"law†), hence â€Å"rules of the house(hold)† Economic Analysis is a process whereby the strengths and weaknesses of an economy are analyzed. Economic analysis is important in order to understand the exact condition of an economy. – The purpose of the economic feasibility assessment is to determine the positive economic benefits to the organization that the proposed system will provide. Now that we have temporal project plan to answer to: What will be done?, Who will do it?, When will it be done? What are the necessary resources? We still have to answer: How much will it cost? and How will the resource  capital be applied? Why? because Money is important in the enterprise world. Our projects live in this context. Enterprises have a lot of projects, and the cost is an important criteria. ACCORDING TO THE HANDBOOK ON ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF INVESTMENT OPERATIONS (WB, 1998) – we have to consider the following: What is the objective of the project? What will happen if it implemented, and what if it is not? Is the project the best alternative? Are there any separable components and how good are they separately? Who are the gainers and losers? Is the project financially sustainable? What are the fiscal and environmental impacts? Is the project worthwhile? What is the risk of the project not achieving its objectives? Economic analysis of sector investment programs should include a clear rationale for the expenditure, motivated by a desire to correct market failure or alleviate poverty, otherwise public spending simply crowds out private supply, resulting in few net benefits to the economy. I have ended my report by letting the whole class reflect on the EXCELLENT TIPS given by WARREN BUFFET, a business man. And it goes like this†¦ On Earning: â€Å"Never depend on single income. Make investment to create a second source.† On Spending: â€Å"If you buy things you do not need, soon you will have to sell things you need.† On Savings: â€Å"Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.† On Taking Risk: â€Å"Never test the depth of river with both the feet.† On Investment: â€Å"Do not put all your eggs in one basket.† On Expectations: â€Å"Honesty is very expensive gift. Do not expect it from cheap people.† 14. SOCIAL ANALYSIS (reported by: Ms. Sherilyn P. Navat) I have understood the report through the help of illustrations shown by the presentor. When we say social, it involves to public, the community or the society. Thus, in Social Analysis, we have to consider the social characteristics of an area, including its demographic structure, general quality of life, social services and social justice. The framework for Social Entry Points includes five entry points such as Social Diversity and Gender, Institution, Rules and Behavior, Stakeholders, Participation and Social Risk. Five entry points, one result because team will have a clear  map of the socio-cultural barriers and bridges to project goals, a good sense of the institutional arrangements and resources they will need and a set of indicators which to measure their success in meeting the project’s development objective. Through this, I have realized that BETTER DATA + BETTER ANALYSIS = BETTER PROJECT. 15. POLITICAL ANALYSIS (reported by: Mrs. Ma. Socorro L. Dayao) At first, there was a big question mark and a lot of questions that came in my mind not knowing that there could also be a so – called Political Analysis involved in Project Planning and Evaluation. But later on, after the report has been made, I have now realized that the Political Analysis, which is the last of all the analyses discussed, plays an important role in project planning, designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluation. Political Analysis is a one way to develop strategic approach to external players. It is a process of disaggregating the key players in a community or policy environment, identifying how they influence progress toward your goals, and developing strategies to interact with them to advance your goals. There are seven key elements involved in the political analysis framework: the Actors, Motivations/Interests, Participation, Resources, Strategies, Tactics, Influence and Action Channel. Individuals who have the same interest or motivation might not necessarily be involved or active in a particular issue or project. In addition to their level of interest or motivation, each party’s ability to participate will depend on: their likelihood of success, visibility of the issue, costs of participating, and What opportunities they have to participate. The extent and nature of each actor’s participation will also depend on the resources that favor their objectives/interests. So, we must not be negatively too much affected by them. Let’s take them as â€Å"mixed blessings†. 16. PROJECT APPRAISAL AND PROJECT SELECTION (reported by: Ms. Rodelyn G. Pidoc) Project Appraisal provides a comprehensive and systematic review of all aspects of the project. After the preparation and design, it is being done for the development and successful completion of projects. To determine whether a project proposal is adopted or rejected, there should be appropriateness of project objectives, size, scope, implementation methods, modalities, time scale, and the project technical, financial, economic, institutional, environmental, social and distributional justification of the project. Thus, good appraisal systems should ensure that: project application, appraisal and approval functions are separate, all the necessary information is gathered for appraisal, Race/tribal equality and other equality issues are given proper consideration, those involved in appraisal have appropriate technical expertise and there are realistic allowances for time involved. Appraisal is an important decision making tool. Need, targeting and objectives. Context and connections, Consultation, Option, Inputs, Value for money, Implementation, and Risk Uncertainty are the key issues discussed in appraising one’s project. On the other hand, Project Selection is a process to assess each project idea and select the project with the highest priority. We do it when one has more ideas than the number of projects one can undertake and need to select the project that should be given priority. We do it because oftentimes, one will have a number of suggested projects but not enough resources, money or time to undertake all of the projects. So, if the organization in question has limited experience then it is recommended to concentrate on a small number of projects, ideally one project at a time, until the people in the organization have developed the skills and experience. One should do the easy projects first and, only then, work towards the most difficult and rewarding projects. One should use the easy projects to help answer questions/solve issues for the more difficult projects. Also, one should use the best opportunities to learn. Involving the Project Manager in the Project Selection process will help build ownership in the project and support a successful project in the long run. All the project selection processes and methods emphasized and described along the presentation are absolutely essential for an efficient business planning. It is always best to have a good plan from the inception, with a list of criteria to be considered and goals to be achieved. This will guide one through the entire selection process, and will also ensure that one does makes the right choice. 17. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION (reported by: Mrs. Kathyrine A. Placido) This is a very awakening topic for all of us. Yes, it is true, and I have realized – that a project, no matter how nice it is planned, if it cannot be implemented, is nothing at all because the highlight of every project and main reason why we planned is this – the implementation. Project Implementation is a process whereby â€Å"project inputs are converted to project outputs†. It may be looked at as: putting into action the activities of the project or putting into practice what was proposed in the project document (i.e. transforming the project proposal into the actual project.). In simplest term, it is the so – called Project Execution. Time taken to implement project activities is one measure of successfulness of supervision or monitoring of project implementation. Supervisor pays particular attention to time control measures, time scheduling and its supervision, time extension and postponement, damages for non-completion and defect or warranty period. Factors affecting project implementation are: Poor scheduling of projects leading to delays in implementation; Misallocation of funds; Delay and sometimes lack of counterpart funding; Lack of accountability and transparency; Bureaucracy in decision-making and Selfishness/ nepotism/ favoritism by some project managers. Thus, to better implement the project, a good project manager should: have working knowledge in several fields, be able to understand general managerial problems, have active interest in training and developing subordinates, and be able to delegate some tasks to subordinates. He should know the project and understand its objectives as well as the systematic process for managing projects. 18. PROJECT MONITORING AND MONITORING TOOLS (reported by: Mr. Rodelio D. Pantaleon) This is an unforgettable report that we have listened to in our class with Dr. Cirineo. Why?, because the reporter used a motivational activity before proceeding to the discussion of his topic. He classified us into 5 groups: The medicines, the nurses, the doctors, the patients, hospital and ambulance for the over-all. The rule of the game is that we have to rise and shout whenever we hear him say our group’s name. So along his story-telling, we did our part actively as he kept on mentioning our group’s name. In that case, he was able to monitor the success of the plan and in the end, was able to recognize the excellent team! As a reward, he gave a prize to the winners! In the discussion process, the project management cycle was again presented: the Plan, Do, Check and Act, together with the Triple Constraint which affects the quality of a product: the Scope, the Time and the Cost. He presented a GANTT CHART as an example of a monitoring tool. Why do we monitor? Simply because we know that things don’t always go according to plan (no matter how much we prepare). We have to detect and react appropriately to deviations and changes to plans. At the execution stage when the actual tasks of the project are in progress, it is vital to monitor information in order to keep track of what is being accomplished. The project manager can facilitate the project by communicating with team members and clients. Through hands-on monitoring, the team leader can make sure that individual participants stay with the original plan for the project and remain focused on predetermined goals. The project manager takes careful notes to follow all aspects of the project and address any problems that come up. Time management monitoring is executed by the project manager to make sure deadlines are being met as the project moves forward. Time sheets are used to monitor the time individual team members spend on tasks within the project. The team leader can identify and resolve any time management issues that arise. Projects can become disorganized and difficult to manage without some sort of monitoring and tracking of the progress. It is important to monitor the progress based on the goals for both timeliness and finished tasks. Budget and quality monitoring are included. If you don’t do it, you won’t know if you have succeeded. Without a well thought out Monitoring and Evaluation Plan project managers will not be able to tell whether the project has achieved its objectives. This significantly undermines the value of the project. and, as perception becomes reality, a project that cannot clearly demonstrate success will always be in danger of being seen as a failure. 19. COMPLETION AND ASSIMILATION (reported by: Ms. Marilyn B. Britanico) This is the phase that requires the highest level of coordination. The purpose of project completion is to assess the project, ensure completion, and derive any lessons. Project completion should be anticipated and planned as early as possible in the project lifecycle even though it is often the last major process of a project’s life. To avoid problems, project managers must plan for this stage of the integrated project cycle in a systematic way, with the goal of smooth and efficient handover of authority, assimilation. III. INSIGHTS: Planning helps us to have a better idea about the course of action that we propose to take. Planning better defines the course of action that we propose to undertake. Planning gives a rough estimate of the time required for a project. Planning gives us a fairly good idea about the expenses involved in the project. Planning helps us to get prepared for emergencies that may arise during the course of the project. A well thought about plan gives us a clear idea about what is to be done every day, every week and every month. Planning helps avoid duplication of labor. If a plan is followed, everyone will have a clear idea about his or her role. IV. IMPLICATIONS: Whatever be the plan, I want to stress the point that a plan should always be time bound. Plans should always be time bound and there we get the relation between time management and planning. In fact, planning is as fundamental to time management as organizing and prioritizing. We should have both short term plans as well as long term strategy plans. To ensure that the time schedule is being adhered to, the project activity time listing can be of great importance. At the same time we should also try to draft out contingency plans to deal with a crisis if it arises. As the project moves along, the plan should be flexible in the sense that it should incorporate any changes that might prove necessary once the project is put into action. View as multi-pages

Widow Maker

Widow Maker Definition of a Widowmaker Loggers have always had to deal with daily exposure to situations that could seriously jeopardize  their health and even cause death. There are many ways forestry workers and recreational users of a forest can quickly suffer from a tree-related accident. The term widow maker came to be as a morbid reminder for people working in the woods to avoid situations that can both cause death and profoundly affect the family. The short definition of the term can be translated into the phrase - any loose overhead debris such as limbs or tree tops that may fall at any time. Widow makers are extremely dangerous and present a tree  faller with a continual source of danger. Limb or other loose material dropped or thrown from a tree toward the faller as the tree is felled. Wildland fire fighters, foresters and woods workers have expanded this definition to include many situations in which a tree can cause harm leading to a fatality.   Hazards that Qualify as a Widowmaker The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has expanded these hazards into conditions that should be avoided or eliminated before attempting to fell trees. Anyone that regularly visits the forest should understand how to  evaluate the surrounding area to identify potential tree hazards. Here are those important hazards you need to recognize in a forest: Snags  are stand alone dead trees and subject to failure and falling at any moment. Snags are significantly dangerous when equipment vibrations, high winds and fire undermine an already unsturdy structure. Throwback is usually seen when trees fall through other trees and on objects during felling a tree. Size up the direction a tree will fall before cutting. Never turn your back on a falling tree and plan an escape route if you are the feller. Extreme Weather includes wind, rain and ice. You increase you chances for harm as your exposure to these natural disturbances. Do your woods-work or play on a safer site or another day. Tree Tension Release is usually not a problem during a casual visit to a forest.   It often happens when harvesting trees in multi-layered canopies. On example of this is called a spring pole where a  tree, segment of a tree, limb, or sapling under stress or tension is released due to the pressure or weight of another tree or object.   Terrain effect ca n provide the physics to initiate a catalyst to cause a ripple of multiple hazards to occur. If the tree falls onto stumps, rocks, or uneven ground, a hazard may be created. Always be aware of your surroundings,

Dancing Ghost Halloween Science Magic Trick

Dancing Ghost Halloween Science Magic Trick This Halloween, make a paper ghost dance in the air, as if by magic! This is a simple and educational holiday science project. Dancing Ghost Materials Light-weight paper works best for this project, such as tissue paper, paper towels, toilet paper or printer paper. paperscissorsballoon Make the Ghost Dance! Cut a ghost shape out of the paper. If you cant cut out a ghost or draw one freehand, search Google images for paper ghost cut-out and print a pattern.Blow up the balloon and tie it off.Rub the balloon on dry hair.Slowly edge the balloon toward the paper ghost. You can make the ghost move in response to the balloon and even make it dance in the air. How It Works When you rub a balloon on your hair, some of the electrons from your hair move over to the balloon, producing a charge of static electricity. The electrons have a negative charge. They are attracted to objects that have a positive electrical charge, like paper. Even though static electricity is invisible, it is powerful enough to draw the paper toward it. When the paper and balloon come into contact, the charge is neutralized and the paper falls back down. More Projects More Halloween Science ProjectsScience Halloween Jack-o-LanternsBend Water With Static ElectricityWater Into Blood Science Trick

Analysis of Black Criminal Stereotypes And Racial Profiling Article Research Paper

Analysis of Black Criminal Stereotypes And Racial Profiling Article Authored by Welch - Research Paper Example Welch seeks to address the diverse factors contributing to the criminal stereotyping of Blacks since this perception has, unfortunately, availed a rationale for the sorts for racial profiling employed by law enforcement agencies, as well as other criminal justice institutions (Welch, 2007). Welch uses prior research to explore the theoretical elements employed in the development of Black criminal characterization. The author highlights studies on theoretical elements employed in the development of Black criminal characterization. The prior research assumes a weak correspondence between the broadly embraced stereotypes and criminality (Quillian & Pager, 2001). Questions remain on the guarantee of the accuracy of data collection procedures, and as the information backing the observation may be erroneous. The article on racial profiling can be criticized based on its methods and conclusions. The author does not take into account the conceptual framework employed in the development of Black criminal characterization (Unnever & Gabbidon, 2011). This derives from the fact that different theories may explain racial disparities and problems arise when interpreting findings on racial profiling since the mere presence of disparity within the aggregate statistics does not, itself demonstrate racial bias in the same way that racial disparities within prison populations demonstrate racial bias by sentencing judges (Russell, 2013).   Welch cites empirical studies on Black and crime to demonstrate that Blacks remain mostly depicted in a negative light such as criminally threatening (Welch, 2007). This implies that can be understood as a crime-specific mode of racial prejudice and discrimination.