Walt Whitmans Evolution Essays - Psy, , Term Papers

Walt Whitman's Evolution The nursery was a sea of red, newborn faces! I expected to pinpoint you because you are my flesh and blood. I also named you after an exotic flower, so I assumed? And my father's voice would trail sheepishly. To his disappointment, it was a pink name-tag, not a psychic link that enabled him to know which red, newborn face was mine. Like all babies, I was stamped with a name, the first streak of chalk on my spotless slate of identity. Initially, a name is a set of syllables with the sole purpose of marking one face from an another. But later, this practicality (which distinguished me amongst a sea of infants) loses significance because the name begins to hold deeper meanings as one matures. It may even mark individual identities to the point where a mere mention can lead to surmises, fair and unfair. As a result, one can say Benedict Arnold and Traitor easily in the same breath. A name is not a mere utterance by the tongue; because it is categorized (most often by gender and culture), it can forcefully project its own characteristics onto its owner's identity. Often, my fifth grade teacher crabbily speculated that her mother was probably drunk when her mother was pregnant. My teacher's name was Billy, and her brother's name was Sue, not vice versa. Recognizable connotations in names are important tools for authors to convey literary meanings. For instance, Joe Christmas in William Faulkner's Light in August is conspicuous because of his mixed heritage, which is projected by his parchmentcolored skin and his name, which a normal white man does not have. His striking name makes him unique, marking him as a foreigner. However, he chooses not to replace it with his white foster father's name because the name Christmas identifies him and his mixed heritage. Like Christmas, some people choose names that are significant to their identities. But in my case, my elementary schoolmates took the initiative to choose my nicknames: Infinity Eyeballs and Moron. Needless to say, the former was a reference to my glasses, and the latter was a corruption of Mi Ran. I was stung because they were relevant to my identity; I did wear glasses, and my ethnic name can be mispronounced easily by non-Korean tongues. Thus, I became ashamed of my glasses and nationality. Adults seemed even less adept at pronouncing my name, so I began to dread substitute teachers, especially when they took attendance. Some were brave and tried to pronounce my name, but many just sighed, Sorry, I can't read this name. It is also ironic that my fifth grade teacher thought my name was Mia Ron. My given name became a burden, a source of torment. I was bothered that only Koreans could pronounce my name correctly. After one difficult day at school, I screamed at my father, Why didn't you name me Ann? I love that name because it isn't Korean! With hurt in his eyes, he responded that he named me after the orchid because he admired its wild, singular beauty. But, he softened, When you were a baby, your red, newborn face did not epitomize the orchid. Later, however, he did decide that my name was apt because I require as much love and care as an orchid. For a while, I considered compromising by Westernizing Mi Ran to Marion, but that would be no compromise. It symbolizes shedding some of my Korean culture, a part of my identity. Then, I learned to accept my unique name as a gift. As American culture blended into my identity, I learned to accept how non-Koreans try to pronounce my name. In fact, I began to like being called a variety of names that do belong to me, such as Mirm, Mirin, Mir-Ahn, and not just Mi Ran everyday. When I chose to keep my given name, I retained an aspect of my Korean culture and gained an American one. But most importantly, the mispronunciations actually give me a sense of individuality.

Free Essays on Richard Russo Term Paper

In all of his novels evaluated Richard Russo wrote things that fit into the theme of social roles in small towns. In â€Å"Straight Man,† â€Å"Mohawk,† and â€Å"Empire Falls,† there are central male characters, William Henry Devereaux, Dallas Younger, and Miles Roby respectively whose lives and the one’s of those connected to them are the focus. Each is middle aged and going through a period of reflection and question during which they are trying to figure out how they got to the current point in their lives and how to improve the relationships with those they care about. Although they all share the similarities of middle aged men, each with their own job, home and set of people they care about, they each provide a very different perspective on small town life. William Henry Devereaux, a.k.a. Hank, is a professor and the department head of English at the college in the small town he resides within. This sets him apart from Dallas and Miles who both have jobs that are more of the physical labor type. His job although equally dead ended and unfulfilling to him as those of Dallas and Miles, is one of more prestige and intellect. He also doesn’t have the same problem with debt as they do, as he wrote a book when he was younger that made him enough money to supplement his teaching income so he lives much more comfortably. However his societal role is still similar to that of those in Russo’s other novels, as he is a man whose reasoning and way of going about things often gets him into trouble and most people see him only as he is outwardly. Hank is often accused of not taking things as seriously as he should, and he usually just listens to their criticism and goes on. He is much more at peace with himself and doesn’t have t he anger that engulfs some people because of this. However others that don’t have that sort of restraint or ability often just get angrier at him because of this. In Russo’s other books his main characters oft... Free Essays on Richard Russo Term Paper Free Essays on Richard Russo Term Paper In all of his novels evaluated Richard Russo wrote things that fit into the theme of social roles in small towns. In â€Å"Straight Man,† â€Å"Mohawk,† and â€Å"Empire Falls,† there are central male characters, William Henry Devereaux, Dallas Younger, and Miles Roby respectively whose lives and the one’s of those connected to them are the focus. Each is middle aged and going through a period of reflection and question during which they are trying to figure out how they got to the current point in their lives and how to improve the relationships with those they care about. Although they all share the similarities of middle aged men, each with their own job, home and set of people they care about, they each provide a very different perspective on small town life. William Henry Devereaux, a.k.a. Hank, is a professor and the department head of English at the college in the small town he resides within. This sets him apart from Dallas and Miles who both have jobs that are more of the physical labor type. His job although equally dead ended and unfulfilling to him as those of Dallas and Miles, is one of more prestige and intellect. He also doesn’t have the same problem with debt as they do, as he wrote a book when he was younger that made him enough money to supplement his teaching income so he lives much more comfortably. However his societal role is still similar to that of those in Russo’s other novels, as he is a man whose reasoning and way of going about things often gets him into trouble and most people see him only as he is outwardly. Hank is often accused of not taking things as seriously as he should, and he usually just listens to their criticism and goes on. He is much more at peace with himself and doesn’t have t he anger that engulfs some people because of this. However others that don’t have that sort of restraint or ability often just get angrier at him because of this. In Russo’s other books his main characters oft...

ACT Test Center Has These Problems - SPEAK UP

If Your SAT/ACT Test Center Has These Problems - SPEAK UP SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips No one likes to be a tattletale. Okay, most people don’t like to be a tattletale. However, when your future dream college is at stake, which it is when you take the SAT/ACT as it accounts for 30-50% of your college application, you NEED to be a tattletale when there are testing issues. In this article, I will run through a list of common problems at testing sites such as: Instruction Issues Timing Issues Noise Issues Break Issues Possible Cheating If any of these issues occur, you should speak up! Let your proctor know and if they won’t listen contact the College Board or ACT after the test (as you are not allowed to access your phone during the test). Most of these issues are based on my personal experience taking the SAT in South Los Angeles. The experience was a nightmare, and it was heavily unfair to the students I took it with. Instruction Issues Issues can begin before the test even starts.The instructions are very important.If you do not understand the instructions clearly when your proctor reads them, ask them questions about the instructions.Do not feel weird about this.Again, your future is at stake. Make sure you understand the instructions fully. Speak up!If your proctor cannot answer your question, ask them to ask another proctor on the campus or ask them to call the College Board or ACT office.NOTE: Because there are many incompetent proctors, as I learned personally when I sat for the June 6th SAT, try to make sure you understand the instructions for the test BEFORE you go sit for the test. Read the instructions on an SAT practice test such as one of these free onesor ACT practice test such as one of these free ones.Read them at least a week in advance of your test date.That way, if you have any questions about them, you have plenty of time to call or email the College Board or ACTabout your question. Timing Issues Your instructors most likely do not know the timing of the test as well as you do,if you have been practicing.If you do not know the timing, you should make sure you do before you take the test. For the SAT, Section 1 - Essay - 25 minutes Sections 2-7 - 25 minutes each Sections 8 and 9 - 20 minutes each Section 10 - 10 minutes 3 breaks of 5 minutes each For the ACT, Section 1 - English - 45 minutes Section 2 - Math - 60 minutes Section 3 - Reading - 35 minutes Section 4 - Science - 35 minutes Optional Writing - 40 minutes Sometimes, the instructors will misread the time and give you more or less time than necessary. Read about the disaster that was the June 6th SAT.I highly recommend timing on your own watch.If your proctormesses up, speak up!If they won’t listen to you when you try to correct them, call the College Boardor contact the ACT. Noise Issues Your testing experience should be relatively noise free, other than page turning or pencils writing.If you are disturbed by any other noises, such as your proctor listening to music on their cellphone (happened to me) or watching a movie on their iPad (happened to my friend), you should speak up!This is your time to shine.Do not let anything get in your way. If there are noises outside that are disturbing you such as kids screaming or an ice cream truck blaring music (both happened to me), speak up!Politely ask your proctor if they can speak to the noisemakers! Here are the steps to take in that situation: Raise your hand. Wait for your proctor to arrive at your seat. Say, "I'm sorry, but that noise (from your headphones, iPad, or outside) is distracting me from focusing on the test. Is there any way you could turn it off / speak to the person making the noise? Thank you so much for your help and understanding! I really appreciate it!" Who could say no to that? If a noise is distracting you, it is probably distracting others, so you are actually being a hero, not a tattletale!If your proctor still refuses to help, talk to another proctor on your break or call the College Board or the ACTafter the test. Break Issues You should receive three 5 minute long breaks during the test for the SAT. For the ACT, you should receive 2 breaks: one after section 2 and one after section 4. The ACT does not have a standard amount of time for the break as they told me when I asked. They said "5-10 minutes, probably 10 minutes." Regardless, do not let your proctor try to cut a break.It happened to me!If you want all three breaks, insist on taking all three. Speak to your proctor about it.If he or she disagrees, speak to another proctor about it or call the College Boardafter your test. Possible Cheating If you spot possible cheating the day of the test, tell your proctor and call the College Boardor the ACT office(I know I've said it about a hundred times, but it is important!).The College Board has an entire office dedicated to test integrity.Your test is being curved based on everyone who sits for the test. If they cheat, you suffer.Don’t let them get away with it. You will regret it if you don't! When you should speak up and why you shouldn't be afraid of speaking up You should speak up if anything severely disrupts your test. That includes everything I have mentioned as well as anything else that might happen to disrupt your test (alarms going off, students talking, etc.). You should not be afraid to speak up. You NEED to speak up. As I said before, this test accounts for 30-50% of your college application. You deserve fair testing conditions, so you can rock the test. You should not be afraid of being labeled a whistleblower. The College Board or ACT will respect you for it and will investigate your concern. Also, they will most likely let you retest for free, so there is an upside to being a whistleblower! Do not worry about your score being cancelled if you complain. If you want your score and the disturbances were minimal, you will most likely have a delay in your scores being reported, but you will still receive your scores. If you feel the conditions were completely unfair, you probably want to retest anyways. If you complain about major issues (such as timing discrepancies), the College Board or ACT may cancel your score as well as the others at your test site, but they will most likely have you retest for free. If you took the SATand would like to contact the College Board to file a complaint about your test center, call this number(609) 771-7710 or email this addresstestcenter@info.collegeboard.org, both ofwhich are specifically for test center complaints. Don't be afraid of calling when they have an entire phone line and email dedicated to addressing your issue. They must get a ton of calls and emails. If you took the SAT and would like to contact the College Board about cheating, call this number609-406-5430 or this number800-257-5123 (on test days only)or email this addresstestsecurity@info.collegeboard.org. Again, they have an entire office dedicated to test integrity. They want you to tell them about potential cheating. If you took the ACT and would like to contact the ACT office tofile a complaint about your test center or to report cheating, send an email to their office using this form. They have a form specifically for this purpose. Use it if you need it! Recap Know your rights! Instructions Read them a week before taking the test. Ask the College Board or the ACT office questions. On the day off, ask the proctor any new questions you have. For test timing, For the SAT, you get 25 minutes for the Essay, 25 minutes each for Sections 1-7, 20 minutes each for Section 8 and 9, and 10 minutes for Section 10. For the ACT, you get 45 minutes for English, 60 minutes for Math, 35 minutes each for Reading and Science, and 40 minutes for the Optional Essay (Writing Test). Time it on your own watch. If your proctor accidentally cuts time, speak up! For the SAT, You get three 5-minute breaks. Don’t get shortchanged! For the ACT, you get two 5-10 minute breaks! If any noise bothers you, ask your proctor to try to resolve it. Report any cheating to your proctor and the College Boardor the ACT office. What’s next? Read about the issues at my testing center that made my test a nightmare. Read about the critical mistake the College Board made on the June 6th test, and the millions of students it failed. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Dora Seigel About the Author As an SAT/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. 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Performance Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Performance Management - Essay Example Moreover, assessment of standards of such places can play a vital role in the identification of status of performance management system. The test identified 13 common rater errors. What are five of them? How would you use knowledge of those five to decide what is being done well and what is being done poorly in an organization’s behavioral assessment process? Some of the rate errors identified by the text are primacy, severity, leniency, attribution, contrast, and negativity errors. It is observed that all such rate errors facilitate in better carrying out of behavioral assessment process that are key to understand the status of performance in an organization. In specific, some of the rate errors help in carrying out effective decision-making processes. For instance, ratings for the entire period can be influenced by the performance in the beginning of such period through identification of primacy rate error. Secondly, actual performance of employees are not considered, and consistent rating of employees can be done by severity rate error that does the rating based on lower justification from the actual recording. On the other hand, leniency rate error is a diverse version of severity rate error that rates employees higher than allocated by their performance. In this regard, information gathered from common rate errors can play a vital r ole in assessing the performance in an organization. It is observed that managers and human resource department keeps on endeavoring to maintain and improve the quality performance in an organization, and a number of steps are taken to ensure the stability in the performance management system. In specific, on-job training and courses, on-job education, conferencing, assignments, and mentoring are some of the significant development activities that are organized for improving the effective performance in the organization. Statistics have indicated that every organization

Criminological Theory and Sanctions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Criminological Theory and Sanctions - Essay Example Perceived net benefit, therefore, motivates a criminal behavior. Routine activities theory further explains interaction of motivation from perceived net benefits with presence of a vulnerable target and absence of guidance. Occurrence of a crime within these frameworks would therefore define a normal criminal activity and support normal sanction codes but not an occurrence outside frameworks, which should require a different consideration in determining a sanction. A criminal activity in which perceived cost is far above perceived benefits or one that is conducted in full presence of a guardian and on non-vulnerable target identifies factors that may require lesser sanctions. This is because of possible biological, social, and psychological complications into criminal behavior that requires different approaches to prevention of criminal activities based on causes. Remedying behavior caused by genetic problems, for example, require biological initiatives that are not the same for init iatives for social or psychological dependent behavior (Bryant 144-

Macbeth Paper on Evil Essay Example for Free

Macbeth Paper on Evil Essay Macbeth is a real tragedy written by William Shakespeare for what’s presented is a morally significant struggle, one that attempts to engage our sympathies and understanding. In this dark and powerful tragedy, Macbeth is a part of several murders, including the murder of King Duncan of Scotland. Macbeth performs these murders after he encounters the weird sisters and hears the prophecy that he will one day become the King of Scotland. But although Macbeth was the one that was directly involved in every murder, there are other influences that have an impact on his pursue for the crown of Scotland and could be responsible for the evil done in the play. When Lady Macbeth first hears about the prophecy of the witches, she immediately plans Duncan’s murder because of her ambition for her husband to become king. The weird sisters, also known as the three witches, initiates the murders because they prompt Macbeth to murder Duncan with their prophecies that Macbeth will one day become the King of Scotland. But ultimately, Macbeth is the villain of this tragedy in view of the fact that he is accountable for the murder of Duncan and also orders his subordinates to murder Banquo and the family of Macduff. Macbeth is most responsible for the evil done in the play owing to the fact that his killing of Duncan provokes the other murders and evil in the play. Although Lady Macbeth is a part of the murders that occur in Macbeth, she is not responsible for the evil done in the play. Lady Macbeth is a very cunning, manipulative character. When she hears about the witches’ prophecy of Macbeth becoming the future king of Scotland, she immediately demands Macbeth to murder Duncan so Macbeth could become king. Lady Macbeth successfully persuades him to kill Duncan by questioning his masculinity. Lady Macbeth puts the idea in Macbeth’s mind that he will be a coward if he does not commit the murder. After persuading him, Macbeth finally commits the murder. Therefore, Lady Macbeth is evil for she pressures Macbeth into killing Duncan. But, she is not responsible for the evil done in the play. Although she is a strong, significant figure in the murder of Duncan, she begins to change through the play as she starts to feel the guilt and remorse for persuading Macbeth to kill Duncan. She ultimately kills herself because she couldn’t manage the guilt and grief for her involvement in the murder and seeing her husband turn into an evil, uncontrollable villain. Therefore, she is not responsible for the evil done in the play because although she persuades Macbeth to kill Duncan, she later feels guilt for what she’s done. The three witches are also not responsible for the evil done in the play. In the beginning, the three witches tells Macbeth his prophesy that he will one day become the king of Scotland. When Lady Macbeth hears about the prophecy, all she thinks about is her husband becoming king. So, Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill Duncan in order for Macbeth to become king as soon as possible. If the three witches never told Macbeth the prophesy of him becoming king, none of the murders would have happened. Therefore, without the witches, there would be no evil in the play. But, the three witches are not responsible for the evil done in the play because even though they incite Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s desire for king, it was Macbeth who ultimately decides to murder Duncan, which causes the rest of the evil done in the play. Macbeth is responsible for the evil done in the play. Macbeth is more evil than the other characters because he is the reason why all of the murders in the play occur. He murders Duncan because of his evil desire to become the king of Scotland as soon as possible. â€Å"Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.† (I, Scene 4, lines 57-58) This quote shows Macbeth’s great desire to become king and also shows how he is aware that his thoughts are evil. But, he does not do anything to keep himself away from these dark thoughts and he eventually commits the evil murder. The murder is certainly avoidable, but he let Lady Macbeth influence him. â€Å"This night’s great business†¦ sway and masterdom.† (I, Scene 5, Lines 80-82) This quote shows how Lady Macbeth has total control over Macbeth and how Macbeth put the power into Lady Macbeth’s hands. Macbeth could have told Lady Macbeth to stop her plans, but instead he gives all the power to her and eventually agrees with her. Therefore, the murder of Duncan is completely his fault because he lets Lady Macbeth influence him and commit the murder himself. Macbeth is also responsible for the other murders in the play because he hires three murderers to kill Banquo and orders his servants to kill Macduff’s family. Consequently, Macbeth is responsible for the evil done in the play because he involves himself in all of the murders in the play. Macbeth is accountable for the evil done in Macbeth because his murder of Duncan causes a chain reaction and brings about the rest of the evil in the play. Although Lady Macbeth has a notable influence on Macbeth to commit the murder of Duncan, it was ultimately his decision to kill Duncan and order the other murders. The Three Witches incites Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s desire for the throne of Scotland, but Macbeth’s decision to commit the murders ultimately brought darkness and fear onto Scotland. Macbeth is responsible for Duncan’s death, and that murder causes a chain reaction and incites the other murders. If he did not murder Duncan, there would not have been any evil in this play to start with. Ultimately, Macbeth compels to arise these evils, and it is his greed to blame. Macbeth is already known as a man of integrity for being appointed as the Thane of Cawdor, but his greed and avarice brings about the evil that he carries out. This relates to human nature because even if a man has everything to gratify his needs, his greed can demand for more, leading to trouble just like Macbeth. This demonstrates that if you only care about your own needs and always ask for more, you will be unsuccessful. As Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi once said, â€Å"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.† [Word Count: 1057]

Kidnapped :: Free Essays Online

Kidnapped Kidnapped: Being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751 was written by Robert Louis Stevenson. Stevenson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1850. As a child growing up Stevenson was extremely sick and suffered from severe respiratory ailments which continually interrupted his schooling. As he grew up his relationship with his parents became more and more difficult. His father expected Robert to follow the family profession and become an engineer. Stevenson agreed to study law but rarely attended classes and studied literature instead. Motivated by his love for adventure and need for a climate that suited his health needs Stevenson was continually traveling. In the 1870’s he traveled to France making money off of essays and travel books. There he met Fanny Osbourne, a married American he soon fell in love with. Stevenson followed Fanny to California to arrange for her divorce and soon after the newly married couple moved back to Europe During the 1880’s Stevenson wrote the novels that would make him famous. Treasure Island was the first book to set him off on his literary career in 1883. This book although written for a boys magazine is said to be more for an adult audience; that’s how most of Stevenson’s books are, filled with romantic adventure and a grim reality. In 1886, Stevenson wrote two novels, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, one of his most famous works, and Kidnapped. Although received highly by the critics Kidnapped was overshadowed by Jekyll and Hyde in the public’s eye. Kidnapped is a story with fictional characters woven around true incidents. David Balfour is orphaned at nineteen and sent to his uncle to gain his inheritance. As he travels across the country to get to his uncle’s estate he learns that the people curse his name. When he gets to his uncle’s house instead of being greeted with a warm family welcome, his Uncle Ebenezer shuns him away. David refuses to leave and demands his inheritance and his uncle finally decides to take him in.

Backyard burgers

The Back Yard Burgers operates and franchises fast food restaurants across the United States. It has its headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. The fast food chain is famous for its charbroiled freshly prepared gourmet hamburgers and sandwiches. The chain has 183 outlets, 44 of which are company-operated and 139 are franchisees. Since its inception in the year 1987 the company has expanded considerably following a well defined marketing and operating strategy. The fast food industry has also witnessed a gradual change over the years and the emerging market trend has enormous potential to tap.The rising competition and changing demographics in this industry has presented new challenges to the existing companies. What are the forces that will drive the market demand and how effectively can the companies adapt themselves to these changing forces are some of the questions that need to be analyzed in a broad perspective. The paper analyzes the existing strategy and brand positioning of the B ack Yard Burgers – the emerging market trends and the capability of the company to adapt to these changing forces.The paper also recommends changes in the company’s operational and marketing strategy to face these challenges in the coming years and establish a strong market presence. Introduction The fast food industry Home cooked food has rapidly given way to over the counter fast food service appealing to the taste buds of the masses. This change in food culture was fuelled by a number of factors that made a huge impact on the American lifestyle. The rising number of women joining the work force leaving them with lesser time to spend in the kitchen and cook for their families is seen as the predominant factor.A number of companies and brands came to the forefront to tap this extensive revenue generating business. Well known brands like McDonalds, Wendy’s and Burger King have been widely recognized by the consumers. The success model was adopted extensively to generate more outlets over the country and build a global presence. The past four decades has witnessed an enormous growth in the fast food industry in the United States. Small stalls and outlets selling homemade burgers and hotdogs have invaded every nook and corner of the country.Most of the fast food outlets offer hamburgers, pizzas, sandwiches, and other snack items with accompaniments like French fries, soups, beverages, and desserts. Fast and efficient customer service, effective management, and aggressive marketing strategy drive the profitability of companies in this industry. The industry has propelled chains of restaurant outlets across the nation with universal brand positioning strategies. The franchise concept has seen wide acceptance in this business arena. This business requires voluminous processing of ready to eat food items, packaging, and delivery at a fast pace.Hence fast and efficient customer service is of prime importance. Another distinctive feature of this i ndustry is the location of these outlets – supermarkets, railway stations, airports, petrol pumps, and other high traffic areas. Back Yard Burgers – an introduction Lattimore M. Michael founded the Back Yard Burgers in the year 1987 in Cleveland, Mississippi. He started as a grocery store owner and extended his business to providing delicious homemade burgers that became quite famous in the area.Aided with a bank loan and family investment Michael opened the first double drive through restaurant on March 21st, 1987 in Cleveland, Mississippi. This outlet offered charbroiled Black Angus beef burger dressed with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup. The popularity of this outlet generated franchisee inquiries and a year later in 1988 a franchise store was opened in Greenville, Mississippi. The success of these outlets paved the way for 180 restaurant outlets across 20 states by the year 2007.â€Å"To deliver the highest quality service and best tasting food in a clean environment for a fair price† states the mission of the fast food restaurant chain. Quality food, exceptional service, and clean dining environment are the key ingredients to the success of Back Yard Burgers. After all it is only great food and good service that will keep customers returning for more. The fast food chain continued to do big business till the mid 90s recording sales of $17. 2 million and a net profit of $682,000 in 1994. The consecutive years witnessed a gradual decline in sales and profit margins.What went wrong and how could this situation be redressed? The study reflects the company strategy and policies adopted over the years, the issues and shortcomings faced by the company and its remedial measures. Back Yard Burgers – The business model The Back Yard Burgers has 183 outlets of which 44 are company-operated and 139 are franchisees. The principal source of revenue for the company is from company-operated restaurant sales, franchisee fees, area development fees, and royalty fees paid by the franchisees. 84. 9% of revenue is accounted to direct restaurant sales and 10.8% to royalty fees from the franchisees. Royalty and advertising fee revenue is calculated on the sales amount reported by the franchisees on a weekly basis. Franchisee fee is realized when the company has assisted the setting up of the franchisee in terms of training, site location, equipment, structural design and operating guidance. The area development fee is applicable when a franchisee has been given the right to develop, own, and operate additional units of Black Yard Burgers outlets in certain geographical areas.Other revenue items include sale of proprietary food product to franchisees and payment from other vendors on volume purchase from the franchisees. The company’s operating strategy endorses a diverse menu that is not only fresh but also competitive with other food chains in terms of quality and pricing. The c ompany also emphasizes the restaurant design having a single drive-thru concept in integration with an indoor dining area. Training and supervision of franchisee and company operated restaurant staff is given due priority to meet the goals of a prompt, friendly and efficient customer service.Growth strategy model The company growth strategy focuses on increasing sales through good quality food and efficient service. Addition of dining rooms to create a pleasing ambience and a memorable dining experience, opening of more franchised outlets along with increasing number of company operated restaurants are synonymous to increased sales and revenue. Back Yard Burgers started with a small double drive through outlet catering to 120 to 140 cars per hour generating sales of $600 per hour at peak times.The concept was widely popular and within a year the company saw growth in number of outlets using the franchisee model. The success of the franchisee model was mainly due to the low startup c ost and seen as an attractive investment option. The setting up of a franchisee on leased land and a building structure required an investment of $260,000 to $400,000 as compared $1 million investment for franchisee of other reputed fast food brands. Back Yard Burgers maintain a dedicated staff for training and assisting the opening of new franchisees and supervising the franchisee operations.The team helps in monitoring and assessing the quality of food being served, cleanliness of the restaurant, and the service efficiency. They ensure strict adherence to company guidelines and policies. The team sends a report to the franchisees with their observations and in case of any lapses in any area the suggestions to overcome these shortcomings are also given. This strategy keeps the company updated with all facts and ensures an overall supervision over all its franchisees. The company enters into a 10-year agreement with the franchisees that is renewable for a fee of $500.The key to succ ess in the franchisee model is uniformity. The uniformity of outlets in terms of design, color-coding, logo, style, menu, and quality is extremely important. Customers are drawn to known brands and the uniformity of the outlets assures them of the brand and quality of service. The franchisee strategy spells success and but with ever changing market trends and rising competition managing this strategy is getting tougher. Market Competition Back Yard Burgers faces stiff competition from three major brands that have gained acceptance and popularity among the masses.Burger King, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s are the biggest competitors that Back Yard Burgers has to face today. The global recognition of the McDonald’s brand and its universal presence makes it one of the biggest challenges that Back Yard Burgers face. The visibility of the McDonald’s has spread to such an extent that even toddlers recognize Ronald McDonald. The success of McDonald’s encouraged others to tap this huge market in the fast food industry. This saw a rise in number of fast food outlets in the country.Wendy’s and Burger King are also growing brand names that have given stiff competition to fast food giants like McDonald’s. Their success is attributed to their marketing strategy that involves deep market penetration and brand recognition among children and adolescent who form a large chunk of the consumer base. Back Yard Burgers face stiff competition from supermarkets and convenience stores too that offer the consumers take out meals and discount stores like Wal-Mart too pose a challenge to the company. The home delivery system introduced by companies like Dominos is also eating away the market share of the company.So what are competitive forces that the Back Yard Burgers face? †¢ The brand popularity and image recognition of the McDonald’s trademark logo and character in the form of Ronald McDonald that has become iconic in the fast f ood industry. †¢ The training of personnel in the hamburger industry given by McDonald’s that has provided a new career avenue for the youngsters. †¢ The innovation in the menu and product offerings by Wendy’s targeting the matured consumer base. †¢ The penetration of market segments by Pizza Hut, Dominos, cafeterias, and coffee joints.†¢ The introduction of home delivery system of pizzas by Dominos. †¢ The option available to the consumers with take-away meals from convenience stores. †¢ The widespread openings of discount stores like Wal-Mart. These are some of the major competitive challenges faced by the company. A look into the strategies of big brands like McDonald and Wendy’s highlights the importance of branding. It is the force of a strong brand presence that drives the consumer taste and preference. Brands create a consumer expectation with their consistency and uniformity of service and quality.Strong brand awareness corr elates with loyal consumer base and increased revenues in the fast food industry. An effective strategy to achieve this goal is the company logo that portrays the company’s image in the consumer minds. In the initial stages Back Yard Burger had managed to capture the consumer interest with its homemade burgers and sandwiches. Consumers came back for more of the great taste and quality of food being served to them. As part of its expansion strategy, Back Yard Burgers had entered into a Development Agreement with the YUM! Brands Inc., for sub licensing of the Back Yard Burgers concept and trademarks in the year 2002. YUM! Brands were given the right to open ten Back Yard Burgers outlet as part of multi brand units with Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC. But this agreement fell through and further discussions were terminated. Lattimore M. Michael, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Back Yard Burgers, had stated on this development, â€Å"While we are disappointed with today's developments, we are optimistic about the future of the segment of the quick-serve restaurant industry that seeks to provide premium food and service.We will continue to focus on our principal growth strategy of setting our restaurants apart from other fast-food competition by serving freshly prepared, great tasting food comparable to that of the best full-service casual dining restaurants. † SWOT Analysis An elementary step to analyze the company’s strategies and policies is to assess the strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats that are faced by the company. A SWOT analysis can provide the framework for identifying and analyzing the company’s opportunities and future course of action to achieve the marketing goals.The strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats for Back Yard Burgers is identified in the subsequent paragraphs. Strengths: †¢ Home cooked quality of hamburgers and other products offered on the menu that the consumers fe el worth the money to pay for. †¢ Cleanliness of the restaurant premises and fast efficient service by the staff. †¢ Rapid expansion strategy using the franchisee concept to tap the regional markets. †¢ Strict control of the over the franchisee operations and management right from the site selection to establishment and starting up of the restaurants.†¢ Well-trained and experienced staff committed to training and assisting the franchisees as part of company franchise program. †¢ Black Angus Beef Burgers charbroiled and grilled to perfection with variety of toppings is one of the USPs of the company. Weakness: †¢ Declining market share with other big brands playing a dominant role. †¢ Weak brand positioning and brand awareness †¢ Low control over franchisees at later stages of operation †¢ Slow growth of revenue Opportunities †¢ Brand development and brand positioning – creating an awareness among the consumers†¢ Tapping t he overseas market †¢ Promoting healthy alternatives to attract the health conscious segment of the consumer base. Threats: †¢ Competition from big brands and other upcoming eateries and joints †¢ Growing awareness of the consumers to healthy eating habits Advertising and Promotion Strategy Since the inception of the company’s first outlet in Cleveland, Mississippi in the year 1987, Back Yard Burgers depended mostly on the word of mouth publicity to spread awareness and promote its home cooked burgers.New outlets that opened in the subsequent years expanded not only the company’s consumer base and revenue but also stressed the need for aggressive marketing strategy to sustain the increased cost of operations. Back Yard Burgers started advertising on the television in the year 1993. The initial advertising campaigns were titled â€Å"the great burger wars† that took a punch at the competitors. In June 1994 the company launched a series of campaigns that featured Dennis R. Phillipi, a popular comedian in Memphis who soon became famous as Dennis the â€Å"Back Yard Burgers Guy†.The commercials projected the burgers as bigger, tastier, and healthier than those offered by the competitors due to its grilled cooking method that melted most of the fat. The advertising campaigns were effective in increasing sales and raising the revenue by 10 to 15%. Launch of new products and subsequent commercials on the television featuring Dennis Phillipi was an effective strategy. The company used the audio of these commercials in radio advertising that was cheaper. In addition the company also used direct mail advertising.The company collects 1% of taxable sales from each franchisee and company-operated restaurants that goes to the national advertising fund. 50% of this fund is utilized for marketing promos through various channels like radio, television, and print media. The rest 50% is used for market research, new product testing, and development, improvising on the operational front. The company’s marketing director monitors product launch and new restaurant opening promotions and marketing managers with a well-trained staff.The management works in collaboration with the franchisees towards advertising and promotion of its restaurants. The advertising fee earned by the company increased from $314,000 in July 1, 2006 period to $318,000 in June 30, 2007 period. The $4000 increase over the earlier period is accounted to the 1% of sales that goes to the national advertising fund as per company policies. The company also recorded an increase in the advertising expense from $668,000 in the July 1, 2006 to $814,000 in June 30, 2007 that attributes to approximately 5% of the net restaurant sales on advertising in the past year.(see annexure for the comparative income statements). The company has been stressing on the advertising and promotion strategy but it has not been very effective. There are some important points that can be highlighted in this respect. †¢ The company has not been able to create brand loyalty and brand awareness in spite of good quality products and effective marketing strategy. This could be attributed to low brand visibility. This can be remedied with aggressive market campaigns that aim at the younger generation since this is the biggest consumer segment for the fast food industry.Strategies that aim for deeper market penetration, fun logo that people can relate to enjoyable food and moments are essential for brand positioning. â€Å"Fun logo† is a concept that the consumers can equate with good times. The simple logo of McDonald’s is easily identifiable and children and youngsters can spot it from a distance – this is one of the best examples of effective brand positioning. †¢ The other concept that the Back Yard Burgers can adopt is the use of bright color-coding for their outlets and the signboards.A bright color scheme attracts th e younger generation and gives it an inviting look. The uniformity in look and feel of the franchisee restaurants and the other company-operated restaurant is essential to make an easily identifiable picture in the consumer minds. †¢ In running a successful brand promotion campaign the essential point is to identify the consumer segment. Who are the consumers and the target focus group for this chain of restaurants? The children and adolescents who form a major chunk of the consumer group typically favour the fast food industry.The working people segment is another segment that will stop by for fast and filling food in their office hours. Fast service food is ideal meal for this segment. Campaigns attracting these two segments will create brand awareness and spell higher revenues for the company. †¢ Last but not the least the quality of food and service efficiency is the crux of the fast food industry. A good and satisfying meal will have the consumers returning for more. The satisfied and happy customer will not only promote brand loyalty but will have high recommendations regarding the food and service to their friends and families.This is the greatest form of publicity that a fast food outlet can expect. External factors affecting the fast food industry There are a number of external factors that have a deep impact on the sales and revenue earnings of the fast food chains. The changing demographics, shift in consumer taste and preference, eating habits, increase in cost of supplies and labor, economic condition of the geographical area in which the outlets are located – all these are some of the factors that affect the profitability of the business. Pricing strategyFamilies and individuals in the higher income group are most frequent visitors to the fast food restaurant. The disposable income plays an important role in determining consumerism in this sector. The prices on the menu card is not so important when it comes to catering to high d isposable income group. But that restricts the customer base and may not be an ideal situation for the company. Today’s lifestyle has incorporated the fast food industry into its daily schedule. The Wendy’s or the McDonald’s have menu cards that suit the pocket of the low-income segment group too.Recently McDonald’s had introduced the Dollar Menu where all items cost $1 only. It was a runaway hit with the teenagers and youngsters. The variance in price has enabled McDonald’s to attract customers from all segments. In response to this pricing strategy Wendy’s and Burger King also introduced low priced meals to suit the pocket of all segments. Back Yard Burgers on the other hand have higher priced burgers at $3. 59. The premium priced menu card has not found acceptance with all consumer segments but the management does not want to compromise on the price of the products.It believes that in terms of quality of the food items the prices are reas onable. Back Yard Burgers wanted to distinguish itself from the cutthroat competition in the industry with premium quality products. The management strategy holds good in terms of quality and service but is it good enough for the survival of the company? A look at the sales figures for the past 3 years gives an indication of the sales and revenue trend. Consumer taste and preference The ever changing taste buds and increasing changes in lifestyle of the consumer has kept the fast food industry on their toes.Rising mobility, increasing number of women joining the workforce and hectic schedules leave very little time for a home cooked meal. The need for faster options in food and service was felt that led to the tremendous growth in the fast food industry. Quick serve burgers, pizzas and sandwiches accompanied by French fries and coke became the ideal meal for the average Americans. A diet rich in fat and sugar attracted the consumers in plenty. This resulted in obesity and a disease prone society. Diabetes, heart problems were some of the impacts that the cheesy diet had on the consumers.Lawsuits were filed against some major players in this field like McDonalds for the growing obesity among children and adolescents. This awakened the consumers of fast food and they realized the necessity for healthy alternatives. Health conscious consumers are more alert of what they eat and how it can affect them. The industry witnessed a radical change in consumer taste and preference. This brought about a sharp decline in revenues for the fast food industry. The fast food chain operators brought about a change in their strategy by adding salads, fruits, and soups to the menu cards.Low calorie burgers and sandwiches are offered in addition to the regular menu items. This offers the customers with choice to healthier meal options. Back Yard Burgers has also adapted to the changing consumer preference by adding nutritious salads and milkshakes to their menu card. Introduction of grilled charbroiled burgers that claim lesser fat and lower calories have attracted the consumer interest and taste. Healthier and tastier alternatives in food items prepared with fresh ingredients are the strategic point of Back Yard Burger’s customer service.This has not only earned it a good reputation among the loyal consumers who return for more of the great quality food and taste but has also strengthened its market position. But the fast food industry cannot ensure consumer loyalty since the interest of consumers is flickering. They always want to try something new and better variety of options in food that they consume. To serve the changing tastes of the consumer and maintain their interest the restaurant needs to constantly make changes to its menu card by adapting to their taste buds.Back Yard Burgers should keep this mind while formulating their operating strategy. With more fast food companies offering a wide range of products and services, Back Yard Burgers s hould also draft changes to its existing operating structure. One way of achieving this objective would be to combine the essential features of both fast food and full service restaurants. A menu card that features in a regular full service restaurant integrated with fast food service will work wonders for the company – boosting sales and revenue with an increasing consumer base.Event catering and home delivery service could also open newer avenues for the company. Manpower Issues The fast food industry is a labor driven sector. It has an extensive requirement of manpower to serve the increasing flow of consumer traffic at the outlets. Skilled labor with fast pace of work is the basic requirement for this job. It is mostly youngsters who are eligible for this job but it can be stressful and at times hazardous. This industry requirement for long hours of duty, on the toe at all times and attentive to the needs of the customer is quite an uphill task.There is no doubt that the emergence and growth of this industry sector has solved the unemployment problem to a great extent. Many youngsters have found a living in this industry but the pay packages earlier were not very attractive. The pay scales have no doubt improved now but the work conditions remain almost the same. The Back Yard Burgers currently employ over 10,000 people throughout their chain of restaurants. Each restaurant employs around 25 employees, of which some are part timers. A company-operated restaurant has a unit supervisor and two co-unit supervisors.Each unit supervisor reports to the district manager. A district manager has about five to eight restaurants in their supervision. Their role constitutes of keeping tabs on all aspects of operations and management of the restaurants in their jurisdiction. Each of these district managers’ report to the Director of Operations. The company endorses strict training and personnel development strategy. All personnel have to go through a pers onnel-training program on fast friendly and efficient customer service, restaurant cleanliness, and proper management of day-to-day operations.The employees have to go through classroom sessions that brief them about aspects of food safety, sanitation, laws, and regulations related to the food industry and operational aspects of restaurant. The company envisages labor to be a critical factor in the coming years since the opportunities have increased manifolds. The demand for skilled labor is rising and this will lead to higher wages and compensation packages. Managing and retaining quality workforce in this industry will be a little difficult task and the key to effective manpower management is to keep the employees happy and satisfied with their jobs.Financial Analysis The Back Yard Burgers has 183 restaurants – 44 company-operated and 139 franchisees as on June 30, 2007. The sales figures indicate total revenue of $12,610,000 as compared to last year sales figure of $11,695 ,000. Restaurant sales accounted for $10,688,000 that is a 10. 3% increase from last year figures of $9,686,000. Out of this 10. 3% increase of revenue, 6. 8% is attributed to the addition of two new company-operated restaurants till Jun 30, 2007 since July 1, 2006. The remaining 3.5% increase in the revenue from restaurant sales is from the existing restaurants. Statement of income for the period July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007 The statement of income shows a net income of $209,000 only for the current year as compared to $576,000 in the previous year. An increase in the general and administrative expenses and increased advertising expenditure accounts for the lower net income of the company. The annual turnover of the company in the year 2006 was $44,710,000 as compared to $41,000,000 in the year 2005. The company reported a 9% annual growth in sales.

Cost Volume Profit Essay

Some things we know: The objective of every business is to make money (profit) for the owners Profit = Revenues – Expenses Revenues = Sales = Quantity sold x price per unit Expenses = the costs related to: the specific revenue (COGS) or the specific accounting period Matching Principle Role of Management is: Planning, control and performance measurement, and decision-making Decision-making relates to future events and involves risk Full costing (full-absorption costing) is a good historical tool but may not Be the best indicator of future activity because it is based on past events. Cost Behavior Variable Costs – total dollars change with volume, Cost per unit is constant Fixed Costs – total dollars are constant, cost per unit changes with volume Mixed Costs – include some variable costs and some fixed costs Total Cost = Fixed Costs + Volume(variable cost per unit) Fixed Component Variable Component Purely Fixed $25,000$ 0 Purely Variable 0 5.00 per unit Mixed Costs 10,000 2.00 per unit Total Costs $35,000$7.00 per unit Graphing Total Costs X axis (horizontal/across) = volume Y axis (vertical/up & down) = dollars Estimating the Composition of Mixed Costs Account Analysis Scattergraph – Visual inspection of plotted points High-Low Estimation Theory: The change in total costs between the high volume point and The low volume point, must be purely variable costs Linear Regression (computer assisted scattergraph) Contribution Margin Income Statement Ignores the function of the expenses Focus is on cost behavior (fixed and variable) Used extensively in forecasting future potential outcomes (planning & decision making) Because Profit = Revenue – Expenses(Costs) Where: Revenue = Volume x price per unit AndTotal Costs = Fixed Cost + (Volume x Variable cost per unit) Therefore: Volume x price per unit Less Volume x variable cost per unit Less Fixed costs Profit Revenue Less Variable Costs CONTRIBUTION MARGIN Less Fixed Costs Pretax Profit KNOW THIS FORMULA FRONTWARDS AND BACKWARDS Margin of Safety = the difference between the expected level of volume and the break-even point (normally using sales dollars but could also use units sold). When comparing two or more alternatives it may be helpful to look at the Margin of Safety as a percentage of sales. Contribution Margin Ratio = CM per unit / Selling Price per unit OrContribution Margin / Sales Operating Leverage = Fixed Costs / Contribution Margin Or Contribution Margin/Pretax Profit Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) Analysis Break-Even Point = the point at which profit = zero (i.e. we break even) = The point at which Contribution Margin = Fixed Costs Once we know the break-even point, we can begin to plan for target profit Target Pre Tax Profit versus Target After Tax Profit Pretax Profit$100 Less Tax Expense 40 After Tax or Net Profit$ 60 Effective Tax Rate = Tax Expense / Pretax Profit(40% above) Tax Expense = Pretax Profit x Effective Tax Rate Net Income = Pretax Profit x (1- effective tax rate) Pretax Profit = Net Profit / (1- effective tax rate) Multiple Product CVP Analysis Weighted-Average Contribution Margin (also referred to as blended average) PRODUCT MIX IS CRITICAL Product 1Product 2Total Units Sold10020 Selling Price$10.00$50.00 Variable Costs 5.00$30.00 Sales$1,000$1,000$2,000 Contribution Margin 500$ 400 900 CM Ratio 50% 40% 45% SO LONG AS THE PRODUCT MIX REMAINS AT 5:1 THE PROJECTED CM RATIO WILL STAY AT 45%. Therefore if sales are expected to be $20,000, AND WE SELL 5 of Product 1 for every 1 unit of Product 2, Contribution Margin should be $9,000 ($20,000 x 45%) However if sales of Product 1 are only $1,000 and the remaining $19,000 are sales of Product 2 the Contribution margin is only $8,100 and the CM Ratio drops to 40.5%. $ 1,000 x 50% = $ 500 plus$19,000 x 40% = $7,600 $20,000 $8,100 = 40.5% of sales or (1/20 x .50) + (19/20 x .40) .025 + .38 = 40.5% When computing the Weighted-Average Contribution Margin USE SALES DOLLARS as the weighing factor (NOT UNITS). Constraint = a limitation of resources To maximize profits given a limited resource, produce the product that generates the highest contribution margin per limited resource. This may not be the product with the highest contribution margin ratio. Illustration: A company manufactured two types of beer, premium and regular. Both types of beer are brewed in the same kettles. A regular batch brews for 15 days and yields 12,000 bottles. A premium batch brews for 30 days and yields 12,000 bottles. Regular beer sells for $1.00 per bottle and has variable costs of $0.40 per bottle. The premium sell for $1.50 per bottle and has variable costs of $0.50 per bottle. Assuming unlimited demand of both products, which product should the company brew? PremiumRegular Per Batch: Sales$15,000$12,000 CM$12,000$ 7,200 CM % 66.67% 60.00% CM per Limited Resource (Days) CM$12,000$ 7,200 Divided by days 30 15 CM per day of limited Resource use $400 $480 Regular beer has a higher CM per limited resource. Therefore, given unlimited demand of both types, produce only regular. Proof: In 30 days we can make one batch of premium, which will yield $12,000 in CM. In the same 30 days we can make 2 batches of regular, which will yield $14,400 in CM. We are in business to make money for the owners, not percentages. You can’t deposit percentages in the bank!

Laboratory Report Essay Example

Laboratory Report Essay Example Laboratory Report Essay Laboratory Report Essay DISCUSSION Microorganism are organism that are too small and cannot be seen with naked eyes. The phrase of ubiquity of microorganism refers to the concept that microorganism are everywhere in our daily life surrounding. In our everyday common life ,microbes are virtually ubiquitous. They are in the air we breath,the foods we eat and as well as the skin of our fingers. Aseptic transfer is the transference of bacteria or other microbial cultures fromone container to another while maintaining purity of the culture. Pure culturesconsistof only one type of bacteria ideally the descendants from a single bacterial cell. Because microbes are present everywhere in the air, the work area, clothes, bodies,etc. , it is important to follow the rules for aseptic transfer at all times. This is the onlyway of controlling ContaminationMaintaining purity of culture is essential in microbiology if the biologist is to beable to identify bacteria, test for antibiotic sensitivity, or maintain stock cultures. Oftenin nature a pure culture is impossible to come by because species live together. Thescientist is left working with mixed cultures. Pure cultures can be derived from mixedcultures through isolation of cultures and this also requires that sterile (aseptic)techniques to be used. Normally transference is done from colonies. A colony consists of usuallyseveral million cells that are assumed to be the descendants from one cell. Inoculations from one media to another, therefore, is usually done by removal of a fewmillion cells from one colony into a new environment. This must be done with theintegrity of all colonies remaining intact. Through the use of sterile techniques, this canbe accomplished successfully. There are a number of tools that are used for inoculation procedures. Inoculating loops are used when transferring members of a broth culture to another broth, platedmedia or an agar slant. Inoculating needles-are used when inoculating a broth culturefrom a colony on plated media or when making a stab in an agar deep or agar slantfrom broth or solid media. Forceps -are used to place sterile disks containing sometesting agent in a broth culture or on a solid media culture. Pipets-are used when transferring liquids into other liquids or onto solid media. Flaming-is used to incinerate any microbes left on loops and needles. Alcohol flaming-is used to sterilize forceps. When flaming inoculating loops and needles, careshould be taken avoid burning the plastic handle at the end of each. The metal of theloop or needle should glow red hot and then be allowed to cool before dipping it into any cultures if the metal is too hot it will kill the organisms that are to be used for inoculation. Alcohol flaming for the forceps is done by dipping the forceps into a smallamount of alcohol and then burning the alcohol off. The forceps should be dipped andburned three times. Care should be taken to avoid alcohol running up toward the hand. The flame will follow the alcohol and burns will result. Pipets normally used in lab are prepackaged, sterile, disposable pipets. Sometimes glass pipets are used and these are stored in cans. The glass pipets arediscarded into a pipet jar filled with disinfectant. Disposable pipets are deposited inbiohazard bags. It is important that pipettors are always used and pipetting by mouth isprohibited.

Brand New Eyes by Paramore

Very few music artists are skilled enough to put out an album that has equally impressive melodies, lyrics, and lead vocals. In 2009, Paramore released their third studio album, which is their most popular and critically acclaimed album to date. Since its release, it has been certified gold in the United States and platinum in the UK. Its blend of catchy tunes, brutally honest lyrics, and the dynamic vocals of lead singer Hayley Williams has raised it to the tops of the charts of rock music over the past couple years. This is definitely an album worth your time and money. One of the reasons this album and band is looked up to by many musicians, is the emotional and deep lyrics that Williams has written since the bands inception in 2004. The fourth song, Brick By Boring Brick, tells the story of a girl, who seems to be too caught up in her own fantasy world. The lyrics, â€Å"Well you built up a world of magic, because your real life is tragic † hints that the real evil might not be the monsters in fairytales; it might be hidden in reality itself. Other examples of the albums complex lyrics are, â€Å"Next time you point a finger, I might have to bend it back or break it, break it off,† which refers to the drama between members prior to Brand New Eyes release. All of the lyrics could have multiple meanings, both straight-forward and conceptual, which have grabbed a hold of listeners since the beginning. Another definitive aspect that boosted Paramores popularity from every other alternative rock band, is Williams powerhouse vocals. In 2003, at the age of 14, she was hunted down by Atlantic Records, who wanted to make her into a solo pop artist. Williams declined, and said later in an interview â€Å"my heart was to be in a band Without her unique voice, Paramore would have been like any other female fronted band throughout history. One of the key factors to many artists success beyond writing good music, is the live performance. Paramore has been recognized world-wide for this and has even had to change venues due to the huge amount of concert-goers. The complement of Williams powerful vocals and her ever-changing hair color, usually in shades of red or orange, along with guitarist Taylor York and bassist Jeremy Davis acrobatic-like acts onstage, makes a Paramore concert a spirited experience for both critics and music aficionado alike. In Fall of 2009, during their Brand New Eyes Tour, the performance echoed the aesthetics of the album, from the empty picture frames referring to the track â€Å"Playing God,† to the swinging light bulbs from â€Å"Ignorance.† I strongly support this album, and any other from Paramore. I believe that it is a timeless piece that could possibly become a classic alternative album in the future.

What are the Causes and Effects of Depression Essay

What are the Causes and Effects of Depression - Essay Example Being underdiagnosed, it can become a serious condition, which can make a person suffer greatly and even lead to suicide. There is no simple explanation to what causes depression. Health specialists define several major factors that can lead to the development of depression in a person. The first one of them is biological factors, which include genetic factors, brain chemicals, and hormones. The studies on the illness suggest that this mental disorder may be inherited with genes as far as depression often runs in families. A person can inherit an increased vulnerability to depression or the disorder itself; many people with increased vulnerability may never suffer it. Depression can be also caused by a decreased level of neurotransmitters (chemical substances in the brain), which causes improper communication between the brain cells and results in sleep disturbances, loss of appetite or sexual desire etc. The body’s balance of hormones may also play a role in the development of depression in a person (Centre for Clinical Interventions). In addition to this, there are psychological factors that can cause depression. The first one is a personality type. The recent researches have shown that some people are more vulnerable to depression than others in case they have particular character traits, such as self-criticism, low self-esteem, high interpersonal sensitivity, high levels of anxiety, perfectionism etc. Stressful life events, for instance, childhood trauma, loss or death of a relative or a loved one, financial problems, difficulties in families, physical illness, alcoholism and drug abuse etc., can also contribute to the development of depression (Black Dog Institute). Clinical depression, especially being untreated, can have a negative effect on a person’s health. Depression causes changes in sleep. In particular, people with depression report having problems with falling asleep and /or waking in the middle of the night;