Music For Me Essays - Greensleeves, , Term Papers

Music For Me ?He says, ?Son can you play me a memory?I'm not really sure how it goes,But it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it completeWhen I wore a younger man's clothes.'? I sat in the kitchen of my uncle's quaint, cottage home on the English countryside. The subtle house seemed as though it had been built according to a description out ofWuthering Heights. The late-afternoon sunlight shone through the adjacent windowpane, sparkling through Uncle Adrian's silvery hair. I marveled at the majestic viewfrom that window; it was like a still-life painted by the hand of God. Theautumn-stricken trees, the cobblestone walkway, the way the green, grainy vines hadcrept up his surrounding wood fence, it was all so poetic. The short, stocky, andtremendously kind-hearted man slumped over the piano next to me and sang and playedBilly Joel's ?Piano Man?. I continued to gaze out the window, relishing the harmonybetween the piano and the still-life. Simply beautiful. The music stopped. Uncle Adrianfixed his eye s on mine, and I looked up at his face, youthful at the foundation but wornby time, and I said, ?Play it again, Uncle Adrian.? He was always my favorite uncle, andthat day we had bonded through the universal language, music. I was a seven-year oldchild then. And that day, that moment, I resolved to myself that one day, I am going tobe a ?piano man? just like Billy Joel and Uncle Adrian. That winter I got my wish. The ice on the windows of my New Jersey home created a translucence thatreflected the blue, red, and white ribbons adorning the Christmas presents that layuntouched under the tree. My mother to my left, drowning in the stupor that inevitablyenvelops all parents on Christmas morning, looked on as I ripped into the well-wrappedpresents. Oh my! My eyes could hardly focus, I was so excited. I had just opened myfirst present and, with equal excitement, I ripped the box open so fast that the musty,stale odor of ripped cardboard rose into the air. Inside the box, I found a ?Casio E-Z PlayKeyboard?. The keyboard was about a foot and a half wide and had keys about an inchwide. This was fine for me because my small seven-year-old hands probably couldn'thave handled anything bigger anyway. I remember the ivory keys being so glossy, that Icould look into them and see my innocent, careless face looking right back at me. Thered and green lights above each key would light up each time I turned it on. There was asmall cartridge in the upper, left-hand corner with the large words ?GREENSLEEVES?etched on it. When I flicked switch in the upper right corner into ?E-Z Play Mode?, itwould teach me how to play ?Greensleeves? by lighting up the red or green light insequence over which keys need to be played. Apparently, one could buy more cartridges,but ?Greensleeves? was just fine for me. For about a year after that Christmas, a normal afternoon would consist ofpushing my cold, lifeless He-Men action figures aside and sitting on my green,pin-striped, twin-sized bed with my ?E-Z Play? in hand. I was captivated by the music,and even more enthralled that the sounds that emanated from the tiny speaker werecoming from my hands. Simply beautiful. I would play ?Greensleeves? over and overand over, so much so that my mother would open my door and huddle herself over meand ask if I ever got tired of playing with my keyboard. I would say, ?No, Mommy,? andcontinue to play. Eventually, I taught myself how to read music, and how to play by earon that very same grayish keyboard. However, I started to retrieve it less and less. Mymind soon became filled with things like girls, homework, and the rigors of adolescence,that my musical interest and my ?E-Z Play Casio Keyboard? took a backseat for a while. Just recently, my mother bought a majestic, black Kawai piano. I'll sit at thepiano and look into the keys, but now I see the face of a teenager plagued by naturalteenage problems who needs a release every once in a while. Music, for me, issometimes magical, and always mystical. I play the piano now to forget about thosethings I once dwelled on, girls, homework, and the

How does J B Priestley create atmosphere and tension in Act I of An Inspector Calls Essay Example

How does J B Priestley create atmosphere and tension in Act I of An Inspector Calls Essay Example How does J B Priestley create atmosphere and tension in Act I of An Inspector Calls Essay How does J B Priestley create atmosphere and tension in Act I of An Inspector Calls Essay Essay Topic: Literature J. B Priestleys play, An Inspector Calls, includes many techniques to create tension. Written in 1945, but set before the first world war, irony is present as Priestley subtly mocks the audience, as he uses Birling to explore the faults of capitalism. In 1946, when the play was first performed, the stereotypical spectator to the post-war play would have been those typically of Birlings societal class. In contrast to his own personal beliefs, Priestley creates Birling to be a strict capitalist, common to the period in which the play was set. Dramatic irony is established as the audience know the outcomes of Birlings ignorant predictions in Act I Scene I. Priestley wrote the play to show the divisions between the classes before the war, and the general middle class persons disposition; ignorant, impatient, and selfish. Priestley manipulates stage directions, such as lighting, props and setting to create tension. As an example of this, in the primary scene, as the Inspector enters, the lighting is brighter, as though the family are under spot light interrogation. Characterisation, the integration between characters and how we perceive them, as well as the language they use, can create tensional suspense by revealing only elements of an individuals personality at a time. This is also aided by the actions and gestures performed by the specific character. Act I Scene I depicts the family having, what seems like, an ordinary family party. An Inspector visits them to enquire about a young girl that committed suicide, and it rapidly becomes evident that the entire family will be involved somehow. The interview stretches from Birling, to Sheila, and is about to commence on Gerald, when the act is left on a cliff hanger. In contrast to the reality of the Birlings family life, the initial lighting is intimate and soft. This also conflicts with the characterisation of the individuals, as Mrs Birling is described as a cold woman, and suggests that she doesnt assimilate with the surroundings. The lighting is stressed to be pink and intimate, as Sheila and Gerald are seemingly passionately in love. The celebration is kept to a minimum of family, and the lighting can reflect the care and affection shared between all on set. As the Inspector enters the room, the lighting becomes brighter and harder. This could suggest the Inspectors strong will and determination to succeed in his case. This seems to create an uneasy atmosphere, as Birlings selfishness contributes to his lack of enthusiasm in aiding the Inspector in his job. The opening stage directions and setting of the scene establishes the wealth of the family, but also uncovers the atmosphere of societal tension. The descriptions of the characters, Birling being a portentous man, provincial in his speech, Mrs Birling simply being a cold woman suggests that it is her that is the societal superior. The pressure of society on people of the Edwardian era is evident as the wealth of the family is constantly reinforced; the Birlings house is depicted as a large suburban house. The cigar box present in the opening settings is also an indication of wealth. The furnishings and general atmosphere of the house is described to be heavily comfortably, but not cosy and homelike. This is intimidating for any potential visitors like the Inspector, though he doesnt seem fazed, and tension is created through juxtaposition, as the words comfortable and cosy, typically used as synonyms of one another, are used in contrast with each other. The creation of Inspector Goole is mysterious from the beginning, as the name Goole is a homophone to the word ghoul. The audience instantaneously perceives the Inspector as fake or unreal. This use of language device could also initiate an air of secrecy about him, which is added to by the fact that the picture of Eva Smith is never shown to the audience, and is only visible to one character at a time. Through this, he adds pace and tension to the play, which creates intrigue for the audience. The stage directions of the moment that the Inspector enters say that he creates at once impression of massiveness and solidity. Although he is not especially tall or prominent, the Inspector has a sense of intensity about him, making him intimidating. The audience can tell from this that tension will be created between the characters of Birling and the Inspector, as they are, for different reasons, mutually intolerant of time-wasting; both the Inspector and Birling wish for the interrogation to be over quickly, as the Inspector wants his information and Birling wants to resume his celebratory evening. Tension is built up between the pair when Birling persists in cutting in to the Inspector. Additionally, whereas Birling is acquiring an angrier tone throughout the interview, the Inspector has a steady ambience all the way through. Birling has an entirely different relationship with his son-in law Gerald, though. Birling is almost sucking up to Gerald, as he and Geralds father are in the same business. He even states that Gerald could have done better for himself than Sheila. This shows some cracks in the family unit, and reveals Birlings desperation for success. Sheila and Geralds relationship also sparks some tension within the household. Its is obvious that their relationship lacks the bonding and trust it should possess, seeing as they are engaged. Sheila says Now I really feel engaged on receiving the ring, suggesting that she didnt feel like that before. This is also collaborated when Sheila mentions last summer, when she didnt see Gerald much. He says he was on business, to which she replies Thats what you say. Gerald goes on to admit his guilt near to the end of the act, but insists that that the Inspector doesnt have to know about it. The Inspectors intelligence goes further than he is currently letting on, which Sheila is aware of, so she replies (laughs ysterically) he knows Youll see. Youll see. The Inspector creates an atmosphere in the house, by simply doing his job, and exposing the faults of each individual character. He identifies Sheilas temper and jealousy when he reveals the story of Sheilas involvement in his case. He also uncovers Geralds infidelity, separating the fantasy from the reality in terms of the perfect, high class family. It seems as though the family members are exploring each others personalities as much as the Inspector is, which creates an uneasy atmosphere, as they all discover something about the others that they wish they hadnt. The timing of Inspector Gooles arrival is also atmospheric. Just as Birling is telling Gerald that a man has to look after himself and his own, the Inspector appears to show him the result of people living that way; a girl loses her job twice and kills herself. The audience can also perceive how the characters react to the photo, and to themselves, as a further indication of the personality of the character, and their involvement in the suicide of the girl. Subtle hints given by Priestley also play a part in producing atmosphere and tension. From early on in the play, the atmosphere seems slightly false or forced, just as when Birling informs Gerald that he is too good for his daughter. Gerald replies that both he and he parents are very happy with the engagement, therefore it is interesting for the audience that Lord and Lady Croft did not attend the engagement party. It is also obvious from the first act that Eric is nervous about something, as he is drinking quite heavily, and what little he does say, is irritable. The simile like bees in a hive is used to describe Birlings contempt for equality; the imagery symbolises everyone working together and being the same as one another. Bees also sting, so this is suggesting that he thinks equality and working together can have a negative effect. Birling continues by calling a socialist society nonsense, also proving his disdain for equality. This could create tension between the characters and the audience. Language devices are used to explore tension in Act 1. Dramatic irony is a dominant device, present throughout the act. It is established as the audience know the outcomes of Birlings ignorant predictions in Act I Scene I. Declarations that the Titanic was unsinkable and that in his opinion, there is no chance of war were dissimilar from the reality, as the audience would have already experienced. This gives the audience an advantage and gets them more involved. Structure of the play adds slight tension, but also realism, to the text, as people dont always wait for the other person to finish. Birling practises this frequently, for example, when he cuts off the Inspector to reinforce his innocence. Birlings monologue also tells the audience a lot about him, as he shows his stupidity and ignorance throughout. Birling attempts to show his knowledge in his speech, along with his importance, but the outcome has the completely opposite effect, as the audience merely think him ignorant. The climax aids the tension of the act by leaving a cliff hanger and creating suspense. The Inspector says Well? to Sheila and Gerald after they have had a discussion outside, and discovered Geralds deceitfulness. It was almost as if the Inspector knew what they were discussing, and was waiting for them to uncover it themselves. This adds to the atmosphere because it seems like the Inspector knows all that he needs to, he is simply trying to make the family realise that just because they have money, doesnt mean they are any different to anyone else of a lower class. In conclusion, J. B Priestley uses many techniques to create atmosphere and tension in Act I Scene I. Stage directions are used by, for instance, Birling, as he shows his true character by interrupting others and possessing an angry tone. Lighting is used to symbolise the change of mood and presence, adjusting to the new balance of characters onstage. The Inspector himself brings a number of unanswered questions with him, some unconnected to his case, with his name and manner. The language and actions also contribute to the shift of atmosphere in the scene, by revealing extensions of each character bit by bit. Subtle hints from Priestly, alongside the climax of the scene, bring additional tension and suspense, as the audience can get involved with whats going on. The details of the scene are what really consume the audience, enveloping them with interest and intrigue, so they can perceive events how they wish, to generate tension of their own.

Basque History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Basque History - Essay Example While the ETA did declare a unilateral cease-fire on March 22, 2006, on September 23, 2006, the organization announced that it would resume hostilities until the achievement of Basque independence (ETA). To understand the sentiments at work in all three of these documents - particularly the harsh dichotomies of the Arana piece - it is good to have an understanding of the dynamics at work within the ETA. To people outside of the Basque region, and, in particular, outside of Spain, the mission of the ETA sounds just like one of many small revolutionary groups, agitating for its own few square miles of self-determination, if only to avoid the larger taxing entities in the country around it (Funes, p. 499). Each of these little splinter groups has its own manifesto that spouts idealistic words and phrases, its own shrill anthem that sounds to the modern person listening from abroad much like, quite frankly, the declarations that leapt from the American colonies to the government of Great Britain in the later days of the eighteenth century. The modern chapter of the Basque story begins during the reign of Francisco Franco, and his attempts to drive the Basque nation off the very face of the planet. Because there had been Basque sympathizers with the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War, Franco decided to eliminate any signs of Basque culture from the public consciousness. The Basque flag could not be displayed; Basque holidays could not be publicly celebrated; teaching the Basque language, or even speaking it in public, were forbidden; baptizing children who did not have Spanish surnames was proscribed (Sullivan, p. 88). This crackdown against non-Spanish cultures was not carried out throughout the country, however. While Guipuscoa and Biscay were also singled out for this attempted annihilation of local culture, because of their ostensible sympathies with the Republican cause, other territories were left alone. Because the regions of Alava and Navarre had been allied with Franco's faction during the Spanish Civil War, those regions were permitted to keep a reasonable degree of self-government (Clark 1984, pp. 82-84). The results of this cultural attempt at extermination may have been predictable. Once the civil war ended, many Basques left the rural parts of Castile, Galicia, Extremadura, and Andalusia, which diluted the identity of those regions, in which only a percentage of the initial Basque population remained (Hamilton, p. 138). The rest of the world, however, took notice of this repressive activity. Beginning with the excesses of the Franco era and ending with the transition in Spanish government to a democracy in 1975, the ETA received gestures of sympathy from around the globe. The peak of this support came in 1970, after the controversial "Burgos Trials," in which the Franco government showed its cruel and oppressive side to an international audience (Clark 1984, p. 128). The tide of international opinion, however, began to turn against the ETA as the 1970's progressed. In 1973, the ETA assassinated Franco's successor, Almirante Luis Carrero Blanco, and became increasingly radical after Spain became a democracy. The kidnapping and assassination of Miguel Angel

Traditional Approaches to Industrial Relations Research Proposal

Traditional Approaches to Industrial Relations - Research Proposal Example If the modern human resource is more equipped, then the fact that today's employees have not remained like their predecessors in following up the traditional managerial authority can also not ignored. Employees are more educated along with the qualities of more likely to question than to accept managerial authority, more focused on their own career development than on the organization's interests, more mobile and are less loyal to their workplaces. Many managers see these characteristics in a negative light and advance them as yet more reasons why performance planning and review won't work. In fact, these characteristics of employees make today's employees 'knowledge' workers and today's human resource 'knowledge management'. The jobs of these 'new' employees present new challenges for managers but, handled effectively, these challenges are a key to better individual and organizational performance. For example, knowledge-based jobs might involve high levels of non-repetitive work, with frequent changes in demand and direction making the prediction and planning much more difficult and uncertain. Other features of knowledge work also have an impact on the management of performance. (Rudman, 2003, p. 17) Amon Among most researchers working in the context of Human Resource paradigm, it is the explanations that matter any link to firm performance is secondary. It is assumed that societies, governments or regions can have HRM practices and policies as well as firms. At the level of the organization, the organization's objectives and the strategy adopted are not necessarily assumed to be 'good' either for the organization or for society. (Millward, 2000, p. 5)

Operations Management Of Customs Molds Commerce Essay

Operations Management Of Customs Molds Commerce Essay Custom Molds, Inc., manufactures custom-designed molds for plastic parts and produces custom-made plastic connectors for the electronics industry. Located in Tucson, Arizona, Custom Molds was founded by the father and son team of Tom and Mason Miller in 1975. Tom Miller, a mechanical engineer, had more than 20 years of experience in the connector industry with AMP, Inc., a large multinational producer of electronic connectors. Mason Miller had graduated from the University of Arizona in 1974 with joint degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering. The company was originally formed to provide manufacturers of electronic connectors with a source of high-quality, custom-designed molds for producing plastic parts. The market consisted mainly of the product design and development divisions of those manufacturers. Custom Molds worked closely with each customer to design and develop molds to be used in the customers product development processes. Thus, virtually every mold had to meet exacting standards and was somewhat unique. Orders for multiple molds would arrive when customers moved from the design and pilot-run stage of development to large-scale production of newly designed parts. As the years went by, Custom Molds reputation grew as a designer and fabricator of precision molds. Building on this reputation, the Millers decided to expand into the limited manufacture of plastic parts. Ingredient-mixing facilities and injection-molding equipment were added, and by the mid-1980s Custom Molds developed its reputation to include being a supplier of high-quality plastic parts. Because of limited capacity, the company concentrated its sales efforts on supplying parts that were used in limited quantities for research and development efforts and in pre-production pilot runs. Figure 3.13 Plant Layout PRODUCTION PROCESSES By 1985, operations at Custom Molds involved two distinct processes: one for fabricating molds and one for producing plastic parts. Although different, in many instances these two processes were linked, as when a customer would have Custom Molds both fabricate a mold and produce the necessary parts to support the customers RD efforts. All fabrication and production operations were housed in a single facility. The layout was characteristic of a typical job shop, with like processes and similar equipment grouped in various places in the plant. Figure 3.13 shows a schematic of the plant floor. Multiple pieces of various/ types of high-precision machinery, including milling, turning, cutting, and drilling equipment, were located in the mold-fabrication area. Fabricating molds is a skill-oriented, craftsman-driven process. When an order is received, a design team, comprising a design engineer and one of 13 master machinists, reviews the design specifications. Working closely with the customer, the team establishes the final specifications for the mold and gives them to the master machinist for fabrication. It is always the same machinist who was assigned to the design team. At the same time, the purchasing department is given a copy of the design specifications, from which it orders the appropriate raw materials and special tooling. The time needed to receive the ordered materials is usually three to four weeks. When the materials are received for a particular mold, the plant master scheduler reviews the workload of the assigned master machinist and schedules the mold for fabrication. Fabricating a mold takes from two to four weeks, depending on the amount of work the machinist already has scheduled. The fabrication process itself takes only three to five days. Upon completion, the mold is sent to the testing and inspection area, where it is used to produce a small number of parts on one of the injection molding machines. If the parts meet the design specifications established by the design team, the mold is passed on to be cleaned and polished. It is then packed and shipped to the customer. One day is spent inspecting and testing the mold and a second day cleaning, polishing, packing, and shipping it to the customer. If the parts made by the mold do not meet design specifications, the mold is returned to the master machinist for retooling and the process starts over. Currently, Custom Molds has a published lead time of nine weeks for delivery of custom-fabricated molds. The manufacturing process for plastic parts is somewhat different from that for mold fabrication. An order for parts may be received in conjunction with an order for a mold to be fabricated. ln instances where Custom Molds has previously fabricated the mold and maintains it in inventory, an order may be just for parts. If the mold is already available, the order is reviewed by a design engineer, who verifies the part and raw material specifications. If the design engineer has any questions concerning the specifications, the customer is contacted and any revisions to specifications are mutually worked out and agreed upon. Upon acceptance of the part and raw material specifications, raw material orders are placed and production is scheduled for the order. Chemicals and compounds that support plastic-parts manufacturing are typically ordered and received within one week. Upon receipt, the com- pounds are first dry-mixed and blended to achieve the correct composition. Then the mixture is wet-mixed to the desired consistency (called slurry) for injection into molding machines. When ready, the slurry is transferred to the injection molding area by an overhead pipeline and deposited in holding tanks adjacent to the injection machines. The entire mixing process takes only one day. When the slurry is staged and ready, the proper molds are secured from inventory or from the clean and polish operation if new molds were fabricated for the order and the parts are manufactured. Although different parts require different temperature and pressure settings, the time to produce a part is relatively constant. Custom Molds has the capacity to produce 5,000 parts per day in the injection-molding department; historically, however, the lead time for handling orders in this department has averaged one week. Upon completion of molding, the parts are taken to the cut and trim operation, where they are disconnected and leftover flashing is removed. After being inspected, the parts may be taken to assembly or transferred to the packing and shipping area for shipment to the customer. If assembly of the final parts is not required, the parts can be on their way to the customer two days after being molded. Sometimes the final product requires some assembly. Typically, this entails attaching metal leads to plastic connectors. If assembly is necessary, an additional three days is needed before the order can be shipped. Custom Molds is currently quoting a three-week lead time for parts not requiring fabricated molds. THE CHANGING ENVIRONMENT ln early 1991, Tom and Mason Miller began to realize that the electronics industry they supplied, along with their own business, was changing. Electronics manufacturers had traditionally used vertical integration into component-parts manufacturing to reduce costs and ensure a timely supply of parts. By the late 1980s, this trend had changed. Manufacturers were developing strategic partnerships with parts suppliers to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality, cost-effective parts. This approach allowed funds to be diverted to other uses that could provide a larger return on investment. The impact on Custom Molds could be seen in sales figures over the past three years. The sales mix was changing. Although the number of orders per year for mold fabrication remained virtually constant, orders for multiple, molds were declining, as shown in the following table: Number of orders Order size Molds 1988 Molds 1989 Molds 1990 1 80 74 72 2 60 70 75 3 40 51 55 4 5 6 5 5 3 5 4 6 4 8 5 7 2 0 1 8 10 6 4 9 11 8 5 10 15 10 5 TOTAL ORDERS 230 238 231 The reverse was true for plastic parts, for which the number of orders per year had declined but for which the order sizes were becoming larger, as illustrated in the following table: Number of orders Order size Parts 1988 Parts 1989 Parts 1990 50 100 93 70 100 70 72 65 150 40 30 35 200 36 34 38 250 25 27 25 500 10 12 14 750 1 3 5 1000 2 2 8 3000 1 4 9 5000 1 3 8 TOTAL ORDERS 286 280 277 During this same period Custom Molds began having delivery problems. Customers were complaining that parts orders were taking four to five weeks instead of the stated three weeks and that the delays were disrupting production schedules. When asked about the situation, the master scheduler said that determining when a particular order could be promised for delivery was very difficult. Bottlenecks were occurring during the production process, but where or when they would occur could not be predicted. They always seemed to be moving from one operation to another. Tom Miller thought that he had excess labor capacity in the mold-fabrication area. So, to help push through those orders that were behind schedule, he assigned one of the master machinists the job of identifying and expediting those late orders. However, that tactic did not seem to help much. Complaints about late deliveries were still being received. To add to the problems, two orders had been returned recently because of the number of defective parts. The Millers knew that something had to be done. The question was What? Questions 1. What are the major issues facing Tom and Mason Miller? 2. Identify the individual processes on a flow diagram. What are the competitive priorities for these processes and the changing nature of the industry? 3. What alternatives might the Millers pursue? What key factors should they consider as they evaluate these alternatives? Source: Krajewski Ritzman, Operations Management, 6th Edition Summary Custom Molds was founded by a father and son team in 1987 to provide high quality, custom-designed molds for manufacturers of electronic connectors, but later expanded into the production of plastic parts for the industry. In recent years, the changing environment of the electronics industry had a profound impact on the way Custom Molds conducts its business and manufacturing processes. The changing sales mix, coupled with delivery and quality problems, prompted the company to revise its business strategies to address the following issues: 1) Changing trends in the electronics manufacturing industry that caused changes in customer order needs 2) Unpredictable bottlenecks in the production environment 3) Quality issues resulting in defective parts 4) Delivery times 1. Major Issues Question 1 What are the major issues facing Tom and Mason Miller? 1.1 Changing Trends There were several issues facing the owners of the company. Firstly, the major issue is the electronics industry was changing in that manufacturers were developing strategic partnerships that allowed the delivery of high quality and cost effective parts. Also, the nature of their business had shifted in that the mix of sales had changed with the number of multiple orders declining and the demand for plastic parts increasing (Krajewski Ritzman, 2007). In comparing with mold fabrication and plastic part (see appendix), it is clear that plastic parts has a higher potential sales than mold fabrication on a larger order size. This will allow Tom and Mason to think whether it is best to eliminate mold fabrication and focus on more towards plastic parts because of the changing environment. 1.2 Production Process Issues faced by Custom Molds Inc.: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The delivery times on parts order were taking four to five weeks instead of the stated three weeks. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Number of defective products was on the rise. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Bottlenecks increased in the production process. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Changing strategies within their clients business needs changed order needs in an unexpected way. There are two distinct processes taking place in the same facility and each process serves different customer needs. Below is the analysis of each the processes (Mold Fabrication and Parts Manufacturing) along with recommendations for the same. 1. MOLD FABRICATION PROCESS: Mold fabrication is the core business of Custom Mold Inc., and the recommended process is shown in Exhibit 1. Mold Fabrication requires flexibility and quality; hence concept of Job Shop must be applied to streamline the process. Following are the Recommendations to do the same. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ LAYOUT: Similar equipment or function must be grouped together and the layout of the equipment must be designed so as to minimize the material handling, cost and work in process inventories. Digital numerically controlled equipment should be used as it gives flexibility to change set-ups on the various machines quickly. This will allow Custom Mold Inc. to compete on quality, speed, customization and new product introduction. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ STANDARDIZATION: To identify and eliminate bottlenecks, Custom Mold Inc must standardize all processes. This means that every task, every job, every event must be approached the same way each time it occurs. This includes a standard way of engineering, workholding, manufacturing and shipping. With standard processes, it will become easier to identify which areas are profitable and which are not. This will enable Custom Molds Inc to look t areas, which have the most variables and make them less variables. For example Fixturing / Workinholding is one of the biggest variables in every shop. In a year that has 8,760 hours, we spend 2,200 to provide high quality, custom-designed molds for manufacturers of electronic connectors, but later expanded into the production of plastic parts for the industry. In recent years, the changing environment of the electronics industry had a profound impact on the way Custom Molds conducts its business and manufacturing processes. The changing sales mix, coupled with delivery and quality problems, prompted the company to revise its business strategies to address to following issues: Custom Molds, Inc. was founded by a father and son team in 1987 to provide high à Ã‚ µÃƒâ€˜Ã¢â‚¬ ° to provide quality, custom-designed molds for manufacturers of electronic connectors, but later expanded into the production of plastic parts for the industry. In recent years, the changing environment of the electronics industry had a profound impact on the way Custom Molds conducts its business and manufacturing processes. The changing sales mix, coupled with delivery and quality problems, prompted the company to revise its business strategies to address to following issues: 1) Changing trends in the electronics manufacturing industry that caused changes in clients order needs 2) Unpredictable bottlenecks in the production environment 3) Quality issues resulting in defective parts 4) Delivery times promised to clients were not met Analysis 1) Process Inefficiencies Some of the issues presented above resulted from inefficiencies in the two distinct processes taking place in the same production facility at Custom Molds, namely the Molds Fabrication process and the Parts Production process (Exhibit 1a and b). The two processes serve different customer needs. Mold fabrication, a skill oriented and craftsman-driven process, requires flexibility and quality. Parts manufacturing, on the other hand, involves a more standardized process that competes on delivery and low cost. The margin for parts is also much smaller. In the mold fabrication process, the time needed to receive the ordered materials for each fabrication is usually 3-4 weeks. Only after the materials are received does the plant master scheduler review the workload of the assigned master machinist and schedule the mold for fabrication. The idle time between these two steps in the process significantly affects the lead time for delivery of custom-fabricated molds. The fabrication of a mold takes two to four weeks, depending on the amount of work the machinist already has scheduled,

Ideal family Essay

CHAPTER ONE THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND Introduction The institution of family is a basic unit in the society, and the multi functions performed by it make it a much-needed institution in a society. Some of the important functions performed by the family include reproduction of new members and socializing them, and provision of emotional and physical care for older persons and young. Family in fact, is an institution which resolves or eases a large number of social problems. The term family had been defined by various sociologists and anthropologists. Peter Murdock, after studying over 250 multi-cultural societies defines family as a â€Å"social group characterized by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction. Interconnectedness of individuals in family relationships through bonds of affection and/or obligation leads to joint decision making, budget – pooling, cooperative work roles and noble parenting within a framework of culturally accepted notions about the division of rights and responsibilities by sex and generational position. There are two main family types introduced by the sociologists. One is the nuclear family, which consists of two elders and their children. It is often referred to as the â€Å"immediate family†. Extended family is the other type. It consists of an old system of family performances with the close connections of two or three generations of relations, such as grandparents, husbands of sisters and wives of brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. According to Adoms, as families move from being extended to being more isolated, nuclear and privatized the relationship between wives and husbands tend to become more equal, with both partners working and sharing household tasks. Such a family is defined as â€Å"the symmetrical family†. From this, I have decided to research on IDEAL FAMILY to present what are the trends in having a family. Statement of the Problem The main purpose of this research is to present the plans of the students in having a family of their own along with its responsibilities. Specifically it aims to: Deciding the size of the family varies to its responsibilities. Creating a family corresponds to sacrifices in aspect of their careers. By looking forward – years from now – expect them to having a happy family they want to create. Scope and Delimitation This research covers most are undergraduates of the University of the East. Sixty students will be sharing their opinions and future decisions in starting a family. Significance of the Research The research tries to help the following: The students perceive more of their future about having a family and its responsibilities because it will aspire them to their current situation as a student and for their future. The University of the East – Caloocan achieves one of their main objectives to produce reliable and responsible individual in the future. The professors nourish and enrich their students with values and aspirations on moving forward and every step to take must be anticipated. CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Strengthening Fragile Families The rise of fragile families—families that begin when a child is born outside of marriage—is one of the nation’s most vexing social problems. In the first place, these families suffer high poverty rates and poor child outcomes. Even more problematic, the very groups of Americans who traditionally experience poverty, impaired child development, and poor school achievement have the highest rates of non-marital parenthood—thus intensifying the disadvantages faced by these families and extending them into the next generation. Economic Mobility of Families across Generations The study presents that â€Å"Doing better† than one’s parents has long been a key element of the American Dream. Not only can people earn more, but they can move up the ladder compared to others. The story, embedded in our history and our literature, suggests any person can start from humble beginnings and achieves great wealth, or at least reach the middle class. But how are Americans doing today? Are they better off than their own parents were and how much does their eventual success depend on their family background? These questions are answered in this study. Parents working out work For families with children, the employment of parents is vital to address the wellbeing of family members. Increasingly, when we consider parental employment, it is not only fathers’ employment that is of concern, but also mothers’. How parents work out work applies both to those families with two parents in the workforce and those with a single parent working. This facts sheet presents statistical information about trends in parents’ engagement in paid work, examining mothers’ and fathers’ employment patterns. We provide detailed information about jobless families. Further, the ways in which families manage their work and care responsibilities is analysed, through presentation of statistics on their use of child care, paid parental and other leave, and other working arrangements. Family working together: getting the Balance right The National Families Week theme for 2013 draws attention to the sometimes difficult task of achieving balance in our lives. Achieving balance can be helped by working together in our immediate and extended families, as well as with friends, neighbours and the wider community. One of the pressing challenges today is finding the balance between the hours spent in paid work and the time spent with family and friends, in community activities, and looking after our own health and wellbeing. This facts sheet highlights some of the ways in which such time commitments vary over the life course, and how families manage these and other competing demands on their time. Families make all the difference: helping kids to grow and learn This Facts Sheet has been prepared for the 2012 National Families Week, with this year’s theme being â€Å"Families make all the difference: Helping kids to grow and learn†. It provides a range of information on ways in which families nurture and support children’s physical, learning and social emotional development. Helping children to grow and learn occurs within families in very many ways, from providing a safe and nurturing home environment, through being involved in children’s learning activities at school, home and elsewhere, and giving children the input and direction they need to grow up with the social and emotional capabilities to tackle everyday life. We will explore this here by looking at children’s physical, learning and social-emotional development CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY Research setting and respondents The respondents of this study are undergraduates of the University of the East. There are sixty respondents included in the study. Research method The researchers used the descriptive method that is design for the researchers to gather information about presenting existing condition. Therefore, it defines as collection of data in order to test hypothesis or to answer questions concerning the status of the subject of the study. The researchers make a survey questionnaire as instrument to gather information needed among the respondents. Data gathering instrument There are one-page survey questionnaire composed with ten questions regarding to the information needed to the study. The questions that gather information about the opinions and expectations in having a family. Family life includes the size, authority, residence, and responsibility. It’s more on an expectations or reference in seeing their life in near future. Data gathering and procedure The researchers formulate questions for the survey questionnaires for the answers needed in the study. The survey questionnaires are hand out to the respondents. Then, the respondents answer the survey questionnaires related to their opinion, knowledge, and future references. The survey questionnaires will be collect for the preparation of the analysis and results. CHAPTER IV PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA Quantitative Result The researchers tabulate the data gathered and present the results in graphical form. The respondents’ answers shown in the following figures each have their own interpretation and analysis. Figure 1. Number of respondents planning on having a family From Figure 1, 60 of the respondents plan on having a family said yes and no one said no. Figure 2. Age on having a family From Figure 2, 33 of the respondents said they plan to have a family at age of 20-24 years old, 18 said at age of 25-29 years old, 7 said at age of 30-34 years old, 2 said at age of 35-39 years old, and no one said at age of 40 years old and above. Figure 3. Number of respondents planning on the number of child/children From Figure 3, 15 of the respondents said they plan to have one child, 27 said two children, 11 said three children, 5 said four children, and 2 said five or more children, and no one said they do not plan to have a child. Figure 4. Numbers of respondents are aware of the responsibilities in having children From Figure 4, 60 of the respondents said yes for their awareness of responsibility in having children and no one said no. Figure 5. Location of the residence of their family From Figure 5, 48 of the respondents said they will have their own house for their own family, and 12 said they will reside to their family residence. Figure 6. Head of the household From Figure 6, 32 of the respondents the father will be the head of the household, 7 said the mother, and 21 said both. Figure 7. Number of respondents giving up their career From Figure 7, 45 of the respondents said yes to give up their career in taking care of their family, and 15 said no. Figure 8. Comparing the current family to their ideal family From Figure 8, 43 of the respondents said yes to the similarity of their current family to their ideal family, and 17 said no. Figure 9. Factor that triggers the most in having a family From Figure 9, 18 of the respondents said their age triggers in having a family, 21 said marriage, 15 said stable careers or job, and 6 said other factors. Figure 10. Number of respondents in pursuing their ideal family From Figure 10, 60 of the respondents said yes in pursuing their ideal family, and no one said no. Qualitative Result The researchers analyze the answers of the respondents with accordance to their stated opinions and majority of their answers are related and resulted below. In terms of being the head of the household, it is still in practice that the dominant, which is the man, will be the head of the household. However, the as years go by people change along with their practices that woman gain their status as equal of man. Therefore, equality of authority inside the household is in practice although it only follows to the old tradition. In giving up their career, most of the respondents said yes, because they want to be hands-on in taking care of their children and to forge stronger  bonds of their family. However, those people who said no, they think about on financial terms to support their family needs and stability. In having their ideal family different from their inborn family, due to their family structure of having illegitimate kin, separated parents or no bonds formed at all. Their experiences influence their decisions in their ideal family. CHAPTER V SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATION Summary of findings The research study clearly observed that almost all of the students in the University of the East plan on having a family of their own. Most of the respondents are planning on having their own family at their 20’s. Also, all of them are aware of it’s almost a lifetime responsibility and they are preparing to attain such desirable future. Based on family size, most of the respondents plan to have a small family mainly composed of one or two offspring. In a matter of authority in the household, it’s divided into two opinions: the father being the head is the majority followed by being equal of authority both of the mother and the father. Based on the residence most of them plan to have their own home to reside their family to start anew. Conclusion Based on the findings, the researchers conclude the following: The students of the University of the East-Caloocan have plans in having a family life. The students are planning their career to gain stability after graduation. In gaining stability triggers to be married and then a family. Family meaning settling down and forging bonds and fulfillment as a person. In addition, all of them want to have their own children. Because having an offspring is the form of stronger connection and completes the family as a whole. BIBLIOGRAPHY http://undesadspd.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=LJsVbHQC7Ss%3D&tabid=282 http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2007/11/generations-isaacs http://www.brookings.edu/research/reports/2010/10/27-fragile-families-foc http://www.ehow.com/facts_5287046_objectives-family-planning.html http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/factssheets/

ALS Lou Gehrig Disease

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig disease, is a fatal, progressive disease that affects the motor neurons of the body. Attacking the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, ALS patients lose muscle control and thus becomes paralyzed (ALS Association, n. d. ). According to the ALS Association, 15 people are diagnosed with ALS every day and that two per 100,000 people deaths are due to ALS (n. d. ). Patients stricken with the disease has a survival rate of two to five years from the onset of symptoms (n.d. ).However, with medical researches and breakthroughs, twenty percent of ALS patients get to live for five more years after being diagnosed (n. d. ). ALS is a disease of the middle-age, meaning people falling in the 40-60 years old are more likely to be afflicted (Curtis and McDonald, 1994, p. 1047). In addition, men are more likely to develop ALS than women (p. 1047). Individuals who get ALS from childhood or early adulthood are rare and may have caught an inherited type of the disease (p. 1047). ALS is part of the motor neuron disorder which causes muscle weakness and atrophy (Forshew and Hulihan, 2002). Atrophy is defined as â€Å"wasting away or loss of muscle† (2002). When only the upper neurons are affected, the disorder is known as primary lateral sclerosis (2002). When it is the lower motor neurons, it is called spinal muscular atrophy or progressive muscular atrophy (2002). In the case of ALS, both upper and lower motor neurons are affected. Degeneration of the upper neurons results in hyperreflexia, spasticity and a Babinski reflex while the lower motor neurons result in muscular atrophy, fasciculation or skin twitches and weakness (Cotran, Kumar and Robbins, 1994, p. 1336). French neurologist Jean Martin Charcot was the one who initially recognized the disease in 1880s (Forshew and Hulihan, 2002). The term amyotrophic is rooted in Greek and the term can be subdivided into syllables: â€Å"a† meaning no or negative, â€Å"myo† pertains to muscle, and â€Å"trophic† for nutrient; so in essence, amyotrophic means no muscle nutrient (2002). It can be noted that nutrient in this sense does not pertain to food nourishment, rather signals coming from motor neurons to the muscles. The terms lateral and sclerosis may likewise be defined. The upper motor neurons pass through the lateral edges of the spinal cord. When the neurons do not work properly, signals to the muscles are absent, thus the muscles become weak, shrink and paralyzed/. When these neurons die, the lateral portions of the spinal cord becomes marked and scarred. Sclerosis is the term used in medicine to refer to hardening and scarring (2002). Lateral sclerosis, therefore, is the scarring â€Å"along the sides of the spinal cord caused by the death of upper motor neurons† (2002). Dr. Charcot used the term amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to refer to weakened muscles and scarring of lateral sides in the spinal cord. The figure below illustrates how the nerve cells look like in normal person and an ALS-afflicted individual.