9 Free and Effective Classroom Rewards

9 Free and Effective Classroom Rewards Its no secret that schools only provide the bare minimum, so teachers often need to dip into their already shallow pockets in to supplement what the school provides in the classroom. Material rewards are one easy place where we can cut corners and still remain effective educators. You really dont need to spend your money on candy, toys, stickers, and other little goodies to extrinsically motivate, reward, and recognize your students good behavior. Emphasize intrinsic motivation and teach that learning and good behavior are rewards unto themselves. Your students will rise to your heightened expectations.   Easy, Free Rewards for Your Classroom Save yourself the trouble and consider some of the free ways you can give your students a meaningful thumbs up when they do something right. Lunch Bunch   Recognize a well-behaved table group by inviting them to Lunch Bunch with the teacher. The chosen kids bring their own lunches and eat in the classroom together with you. If you have a TV, find some cartoons to watch. Or, have the kids bring their favorite CDs from home to listen to during lunch (check the lyrics first!). They can also play games when they finish eating. The children feel special because they get to stay inside and you may even find that you enjoy this unique, low-key time with the kids as much as they do. Longer Recess   This is a great one because it doesnt have to involve extra time from you. If possible, reward a child by letting them stay outside and play until a later bell. For example, after my third graders come in, the fourth graders get to play about 10 more minutes. So, I can reward a student by letting them stay out until the fourth grade bell. You may need to double-check with yard duty supervisors before doing this. Also, you probably wont want to use this one all the time. The kids do miss some instructional time and you are relying on the supervisors to help you out. Special Seats   Reward a well-behaved (or much-improved) child by letting them work at the teachers desk for an entire day. Or, you can set up a special seat on the rug and let chosen students have a chance to sit there during story time. This free reward is zero hassle for you and quite a thrill for the kids! Whole-Group Rewards   Let individual students earn points towards a whole class reward. This works especially well for students who crave attention because they will earn positive attention from the whole class for their good behavior. For example, the student can earn a table point for their table group, or a few marbles for the class marble jar. This helps difficult students feel like a real part of the group and it provides for a little positive peer pressure to keep them performing well. Read-In Party Stay away from popcorn parties that require extra money and preparation from you. Tell the kids that they can wear pajamas to school that day (discuss appropriate attire, first!). They can also bring their favorite stuffed animal and a pillow. Use the day to celebrate the joys of reading. The kids get to lounge around the room for part of the day, reading, relaxing, and savoring the joy of books. You can also add in other literary activities for a rewarding day that sends a clear message to the students: Reading is Fun! Afternoon of Art and Music   Art and music are worthy academic subjects. But, if youre like most time-strapped teachers, you cant fit enough of them into the school day. Motivate your class with this simple reward. Let the class listen to music while they work on an art project. Theyll love it and so will you! Good Phone Call Home Why do phone calls home always have to be negative? Set this standard on its head by letting parents and guardians know how great their child is doing in your class. Most students will work really hard to get this kind of individualized recognition that will make a big difference at home. This is also a wonderful opportunity to solidify your relationship with parents. They want to know that you love their child and this is an easy way to make everyone happy. Help in Another Class   This is a great one for reinforcing academic content and building self-esteem in kids who really need it. Its hard to implement in kindergarten and first grade classes, but with other grades, it works great. Recognize a worthy student by letting them help out in a lower grade for awhile. Use your professional judgment to make it work in your classroom and school environment. Hand Stamp Dont get stuck on costly and consumable stickers. Use the simple ink stamps that you already have to let a student know that they are A-okay! Simply stamp your sign of approval on the back of the childs hand. You may want to clear this with parents first, since they might not appreciate ink on their kids hand. It may sound too good to be true, but if you dont introduce material rewards in the first place, your students will never miss them. In elementary school, children are so eager to please and so pleased to receive any little special recognition. They really will bend over backward for these types of rewards that dont cost you a penny! Edited by  Janelle Cox

Adult Development essays

Adult Development essays When people talk about psychological development, what most people think of are children, who have clear and obvious developmental points. A child's development corresponds to his or her physical growth. Thus we can look at an infant and not expect the child to be able to walk a balance beam or ride a bike. We can look at a four year old and know that most four year olds will not yet know how to read. We can look at ten year old and state with confidence that this child is not yet ready to learn to ride a car. When thinking about development in this way, it is easy to conceptualize development as essentially over by age 18, allowing for some sort of transition to the one final state called "adulthood." However, adulthood has stages just as childhood does, and the recognition of this fact can help adults as they face new challenges and learn new skills. Adults have to face the establishment of their lives as independent of their parents, building their own careers, marriage and family, the loss of loved ones, increasing likelihood of some kind of chronic illness or infirmity, retirement, and old age. Just as a child may encounter difficulties as he or she progresses toward adulthood, adults may encounter difficulties as they face each new stage in adult life. According to Lucas and Kuhner (1999), development is the process of creating meaning out of the events we experience. The meanings we develop are influenced and restricted by how we perceive those events, and so is subjective. Our perceptions will not exactly match those of others and we may perceive similar events in markedly different ways depending on a number of variables including our individual traits, our prior experiences, and how we perceived and interpreted those events. Thus over time, each person develops his or her own individual lens (Lucas and Kuhner, 1999) through which subsequent events wi...

Companies Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Companies Research - Essay Example Total Asset Turnover has been on the high for Kroger and Wall-Mart with 3.487 and 2.335 respectively. Eaton has failed to maintain a high ratio; its turnover ratio stands at 0.795. Eaton Corporation has struggled in this regard as well, which is evident by its last position in the industry with respect to earnings produced with each dollar spent on an asset. Total Debt to equity ratio has been high for all four organizations but Kroger Co. crosses all boundaries with a ratio of 141.81:1. Wall-Mart stands second with 81.39, and Eaton is third with a ratio of 46. Chevron is a relatively low leveraged firm, which is indicated by the minimal interest payments it has to make. Chevron, being the most profitable company, leads the chart in terms of times interest earned with a ratio multiple of 381. For the current year, Chevron had interest payments of only $50,000. Wall-Mart is the second company to make substantially high returns out of the debt it takes with a multiple of 8.43. Kroger C o. is not surprisingly at the bottom of the chart with only 3.49. Return on Sales/Net profit margin has been impressive for Chevron with 9.55%. Eaton Co. also practices a higher return on the sale with 6.77%. The Kroger Co. again is at the bottom of the chart with 1.38% return on Sales. Return on Assets is the earnings made with each dollar spent on an asset. With the highest net income Chevron Co. again tops the list with a return of 10.94%. Wall-Mart takes the second spot with 8.91% and Eaton Co. being the last of the four with 5.46%. Moreover, the return earned on every dollar of equity is the highest for Wall-Mart. This means that Wall-Mart provides the highest return to a shareholder, which is the objective of a corporation. Kroger Co. takes the second spot with 22.87%. In addition to it, Chevron has an equity centric structure hence it takes the third spot out of the four with 21.33% while Eaton creates the lowest return for their shareholders with a return of 15.9% rests at t he bottom. By comparing P/E ratio, one can analyze the market’s stock evaluation for a company. P/E is directly proportional to forecasted earnings hence a rise in P/E is a resultant of increased expectation for earnings (Besley and Brigham, 2000). The Kroger Co. tops the list with a P/E multiple of 12.64. It could be inferred that investors expect higher returns in the future for Kroger Co. Eaton Corporation follows with 12.17 and Chevron being the last with 8.53. Lastly, Market to Book Value ratio is used to compare company’s market worth to its book value. It gives an idea of whether an investor is paying adequate money for his investment or more (Levinson 2006). It is calculated by the company’s market capitalization divided by the value in company’s books. Wall-Mart tops the list with 2.76, followed by Kroger Co. with 2.69 and Chevron taking the last position. 1. Chevron is an oil and gas manufacturing and exploration company, Eaton Co. is a transpor t/truck manufacturer, whereas Kroger Co. and Wall-Mart are in the retail industry. I would rank Chevron as the leader of the

Journal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 18

Journal - Assignment Example Harry Truman had warned earlier. It became prevalent because of the â€Å"guilt by association† principle without any solid proof of disloyalty (Faragher et al. 694). Anybody is a suspect and it was relatively easy for anyone to accuse someone of being a communist such as members of labor unions. . The extensiveness of the red scare at home can perhaps be partly explained by mass hysteria. People were not sure who is whom, or who were the card-carrying members of the Communist Party in America. At any rate, the rise of McCarthyism, as it came to be called, was basically an unacceptable form of ideological and political extremism. In the words of the observers, it was essentially demagoguery combined with witch-hunting. It was extensive since anyone could accuse anybody and â€Å" . . . it was an irresponsible and dangerous tactic . . . the reckless persecution of innocent or relatively harmless dissidents . . . â€Å" (Jenkins 2). When people are not sure who is the enemy, then anybody can become a suspect. Fears can become exaggerated when people lacked information and so imagination and irrationality took over. In those dangerous times, communism was on the march and it seemed unstoppable. People were attracted to its ideology of equality for all of whatever race or class (Fitzgerald 24). Joseph â€Å"Joe† R. McCarthy (1908-1957) was a Republican senator from the state of Wisconsin. He was a rarity among American politicians because he was a devout Catholic and a part of his religious beliefs was strong opposition to communism because it was atheistic that is opposed to any kind of organized religion. Communists like to call religion as an opiate (or opium) that deprives normal people the faculty to think clearly and rationally so they do not believe in a god or any supreme being who determines human affairs. Rather, the main logic of communists is that the people themselves can chart their own destiny. McCarthy was

The Trojan War Linked to Mythology Research Paper

The Trojan War Linked to Mythology - Research Paper Example This work compliments the rest of the work collected from the epic cycle, a reference of various ancient literature. The Trojan War is largely reflected in several of these stories. This paper pertinently discusses the Trojan War and its relation to myths. Analysis The central event, which is also mythological, is the cause of the Great Trojan War. Many accounts points on the existence of a conflict amongst the Greek goddesses. The conflict was based on partnerships and prophesies of the time. However, this was so staid to arouse a war that lasted about ten years. Most accounts place the conflict at the failure of Eris to attend the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, after being invited. However, the conflict seems to have sourced further. The unique thing about the marriage was the attributes of the involved parties. Thetis was a goddess while Peleus was a mortal. This did not augur well with the rest of the Gods, hence the existence of a resistance in preferences. It had been recorded t hat two of the most powerful gods were interested in the beautiful goddess and at some point had forced her to lay with them. The two, Zeus, and Poseidon had degenerated into bitter rivals as they sought Thetis’ hand in marriage. Amongst the driving factor behind this quest was a prophecy by Themis, (also referred to as Prometheus), over the child bored by a union with Thetis. He had stated that any son born from the union will exceed the greatness of his father. This statement was translated along various perceptions, in Zeus’ case implying that the son might eventuate into ruling Olympus. This possibility discouraged the quests of the two gods, and Zeus opted to marry the goddess to a mortal (Thomas, 56). This decision called for further scrutiny of the appropriate candidates that could suit the hand of a goddess. The opportunity was accorded to Peleus, who was described as the most worthy of the other mortals. The wedding was grandiose, with all gods and goddesses i n attendance, all except Eris. She (Eris) was associated with discord, hence was commonly referred to as Eris, the goddess of discord. She seemed not to assent to the wedding. Out of this fury, she threw a golden apple in the midst of the guests that had attended the occasion. The apple had on its inscription the phrase ‘for the fairest’. This brought rift in the whole event, putting in mind that the rest of the goddesses were in attendance, as well. The battle for the apple was left to the three fairest goddesses, Aphrodite, Athena and Hera. The decision at hand was so intense to be decided on the spot, or by either of the three. Therefore, the three chose an arbitrator to assist in the development of the final decision. The appropriate individual for the task was thought to be Zeus, putting in mind that he was the organizer of the risky wedding. Upon this consideration, the three goddesses sought his intervention in the making of the critical decision (Thomas, 67). Ho wever, Zeus was rather too wise to accept such an overwhelming and sensitive task; instead he relegated the task to Paris, who was officially referred to, as the prince of Trojan. This he directed Hermes to conduct, and the case was sent to Paris to arbitrate. The young prince was rather overwhelmed by the zealous goddesses, who proceeded to offer him a couple of gifts which he was to receive upon making favourable judgements. Athena proposed to make him a reputable Hero or eminent General that commanded honour across all generations. Hera based her bribes on

Project Analysis Of New Wembley Stadium

Project Analysis Of New Wembley Stadium The construction of the new Wembley stadium is a project which has been both controversial and fascinating. The aim of the project was to design and build a state-of-the-art national stadium, unlike any other in the world, to be the home of English football and to host large events such as Cup Finals, music events and athletics. The new stadium is eventually expected to become an icon in the same way as the old stadium with the twin towers replaced by the arch. The new 90,000 all-seat stadium will be operated by WembleyNational Stadium Ltd (WNSL) and is now expected to be finished and signed off by late summer 2006, ready to host its first events in 2007 (following a block of event cancellations in 2006). The old stadium was closed in 2000 and demolished in 2002. Construction of the new stadium began in October 2002. FINANCE OF THE NEW STADIUM To overcome financial concerns over the new stadium, the parties involved came to an agreement on a fixed-cost contract. This made provision for a building cost of around  £352 million, with total projectcosts of  £757 million. Under such an arrangement, the client is protected from exposure to budget over-runs or delays in construction. That risk is borne by the main contractor; Multiplex (UK) Ltd. Cyril Sweett acted as independent consultants for WNSL in April 2002 and cleared the Multiplex contract as representing value for money. A National Lottery fund investment of  £120 million was made into the stadium. Financial backing of  £426 million for theproject was secured through West Deutsche Landesbank of Germany. Ken Livingston and Brent Council secured  £21 million in funding for the project and a further  £17.2 million from WNSL for improvements to transport infrastructure in the area around the stadium. The stadium will be linked to Wembley Park Station (London Underground) via Olympic Way and also WembleyCentral Station via the White Horse bridge. The stadium has now also triggered a major regeneration scheme in the surrounding area. Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners was the planning consultan t for the project. DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE The design (50 year design life) of the new stadium is both functional and architecturally significant. Sir Norman Foster designed the arch and the roof structure, with the remainder of the stadium being designed by architects Foster and Partners and HOK Sport. The stadiums unique features include retractable roof panels and the arch. These were developed in response to the particular requirements of the stadium, one of which was the need for a high-quality grass pitch in order to achieve UEFA 5 star stadium status. By using retractable roof panels, which retract to the south, it allows as much daylight and ventilation to reach pitch level as possible. The arch itself is not just a cosmetic feature; it supports the north roof and a sizeable area of the south roof. THE ARCH AND ROOF The arch was designed to give the appearance of solidity without incurring the penalty of high wind loads. The arch has a lattice form consisting of 41 steel rings (diaphragms) connected by spiralling tubular chords and is formed of 13 modules with two tapering end sections. The arch (7.4m in diameter at the base and weighing 1,750t) tapers at its ends and is supported on 70t hinges which are in turn supported on concrete bases founded on piles 35m deep. Inclined from the vertical, the arch is held in position by a series of forestay and backstay cables tied to the main stadium structure. The leading edge of the north roof is in turn suspended from the arch by the forestay cables. Cables from the arch are arranged in a diagonal pattern to help spread loads to control in-plane bending while also providing out-of-plane restraint to resist buckling. The arch structure is 133m in height, with a span of 315m and is the longest single-span roof structure in the world. The 50,000m2 roof is essential to the operation of the stadium as a sporting and concert venue. Weighing some 7,000t, the roof has a number of retractable edge sections which can be manoeuvred to allow direct sunlight to reach all parts of the grass pitch (to allow the pitch to achieve top quality). If necessary (e.g. during inclement weather), the roof can be retracted in around 15 minutes to cover every seat inside. The arch at a 68 ° tilt from the horizontal supports 5,000t of the roof structure. With its load-bearing capabilities, the arch allowed designers to eliminate the need for columns within the interior, which means that every stadium seat has an unobstructed view of the pitch. The arch fulfils another function aside from supporting the majority of the roof. It also provides a beacon for the stadium, illuminating the north-west London sky on match days. The designers vision for the arch was a tube of light that would hover over the stadium at night creating an iconic statement. To achieve this effect, 258 metal halide floodlights were mounted within the arch to illuminate the internal faces of the lattice and the structural rings that form its structure. Because the arch is lit from within, the outer faces remain dark and increase the dramatic effect by adding depth and contrast and giving the appearance that the light is trapped within the lattice structure. The arch also has an aircraft safety light at the top. CONSTRUCTING AND RAISING THE ARCH Construction of the arch began in 2003; it was fabricated on-site using steel modules fabricated by steel subcontractor Cleveland Bridge. Cleveland Bridge has since left the project over some serious contractual difficulties with the main contractor Multiplex. The arch was lifted in four key stages in June 2004 and temporarily supported on five restraining cables. Structural engineers from the Mott Stadium Consortium worked closely with Multiplex and the newly appointed steelwork subcontractor Hollandia to transfer the load, in excess of 1,300t, to the permanent cable net and eyebrow catenary cable. The final positioning of the arch to 112 ° was completed at the end of 2005, with the arch being rotated to take up the full roof load. CONTRACTORS The main contractor for the project was Multiplex of Australia.Project management (PM) was undertaken by Symonds who also carried out the PM for the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The Structural Engineers and Consultants included SVE Franklin and Andrews; Nathanial Lichfield and Partners; Steer Davies Gleeve and Mott Stadium Consortium (Connell Wagner, Mott MacDonald, SKM, Weidlinger, M-E Engineers). The original steel contractor was Cleveland Bridge but they were eventually replaced by Hollandia. The ME contractor for the project was Emcor Drake Scull and the building services engineering was carried out by Mott MacDonald. The original stadium demolition was carried out by Griffiths McGee. For the foundations of the new stadium the piling specialist was Stent and the concrete specialist was PC Harrington. PITCH LAYING On 19 June 2006 the laying of the new Wembley turf was completed. The laying process took a week and required more than 10,000m2 of turf to create the new playing surface. The turf arrived at the stadium in giant rolls measuring between 12m to 16m long and 1.2m wide, and was transported in 25 lorry loads. The fibre sand pitch is made up of an underlying web of heating and drainage pipes plus 22,161t of crushed stone, gravel, grit, sand and a blend of sand / soil and fibre. The grass used for the turf was selected from 250 different varieties with each square metre of turf containing 150,000 to 200,000 leaf blades. To maintain the world-class Wembley pitch the roof will be left fully open between events to allow the turf to be exposed to direct sunlight and ventilation. The sub air system installed under the pitch has ducts that are able to supply warm air to the the pitch to heat it and the same system can also be used to remove excess moisture from the pitch if required. Steve Welch is the Grounds Manager responsible for keeping the turf in excellent condition. FEATURES OF THE STADIUM To understand the size of the project, the stadium encloses 4 million m3 inside the walls and under the roof. The construction has required 90,000m3 of concrete, 23,000t of steel and 35 miles of heavy-duty power cable. Four thousand separate piles were used to form the foundations, the deepest of which was sunk to 35m. The stadium roof rises 52m above the pitch and the circumference of the building is 1km. The roof structure covers 11 acres, 4 acres of which are movable. The 90,000 seat capacity makes it the second largest stadium in Europe next to the Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona with a capacity of 98,000, but it will certainly be one of the largest stadia in the world to have a covering roof. The seating is much more steeply banked than previously so that no seat will have a restricted view. Minimum seat depth will be 80cm, with a minimum width of 50cm. The stadium will have the facility to convert to an athletics venue by virtue of a removable steel and concrete platform which will rise 6m above the football pitch (the new pitch is 4m lower than in the old Wembley stadium). Installing the running track decreases the capacity of the stadium to 68,000. The front row at each end will now be between 8m to 13m from the touchline, compared with 40m in the old stadium. In addition there will be 310 wheelchair spaces with attendant companion spaces, and increased capacity for other physically impaired spectators. There will also be 400 media seats, 2,618 toilets and four main banqueting halls, the largest of which can accommodate 2,000 people. The stadium incorporates an external concourse surrounding it which is able to cater food and drink for 40,000 spectators at one time. CONTROVERSY AND EVENTS DURING CONSTRUCTION When the project first started it was delayed for two years over financial and political difficulties and eventually got underway in late 2002. The stadium was supposed to be completed by May 2006 for the FA Cup Final (but this was transferred to Cardiff) after consultation with Multiplex about when the stadium would be finished. Multiplex are now paying penalties for the late finishing of the contract although they have threatened to sue WNSL over changes in the design which they suggest were responsible for the project being late. A few construction problems have been highlighted during theproject. The first was a problem between Multiplex and the steel contractor Cleveland Bridge. Cleveland Bridge walked off the job in 2004 shortly before the arch was raised because they did not believe they would be paid for materials and there were irrevocable difficulties between the two parties. The problems resulted in two high profile court cases where the two companies have sued each other for breach of contract (Multiplex sued for  £45 million and Cleveland Bridge sued for  £22.5 million to recover what it believed it was owed). As of June 2006 the courts had found in favour of Multiplex because of breach of contract, but Cleveland Bridge is appealing. The second problem involved a temporary roof support rafter, which fell by over half a metre in March 2006. This resulted in the evacuation of 3,000 construction workers and delayed worked while inspections and reports were carried out. Theproject was started again shortly afterwards. Later in March 2006 a third problem came to light. The sewers under the stadium had buckled due to ground movement. Remedial work was put into action for this and is currently nearing completion. The stadium is expected to be completed by late summer 2006 and hosting a full programme of events during 2007. About Wembley Stadium Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL) is the company that has redeveloped Wembley Stadium as the worlds leading sport and music venue. Offering up to 90,000 fans unrivalled views of the action in state-of-the-art facilities while generating an unbeatable atmosphere, Wembley Stadium is setting new standards for supporters and performers alike. The aim of the project is to develop an iconic stadium for football and rugby league, which also has the capability to stage major international athletics events. If the project is successful, the stadium will be suitable for holding flagship events, make available a specified minimum number of seats to the general public, and be financially viable in its own right without the need for ongoing public subsidy. Any profits generated by the stadium will be used by the Football Association for the benefit of football. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2006 and is expected to cost  £757 million, of which the public sector funders are providing  £161 million. The original public funding, a lottery grant of  £120 million from Sport England (the largest it has ever given), was paid in full at the outset of the project and used principally to finance the acquisition of the existing Wembley stadium and business in 1999. Had the project not proceeded in 2001 after it failed to secure the commercial financing needed, Sport England would have been entitled to recover its grant but this would not necessarily have been straightforward. Lottery funding was provided on the basis that the stadium would be capable of hosting major international athletics events. Concerns about the viability of the proposed design led to the removal of athletics from the plans for the stadium but provision for athletics has now been reinstated. In April 2001 the Football Association approached the Department to request further public funding for the project, having been unable to secure the commercial financing needed. In September 2002, after a detailed review process, the Department concluded that the project was worthy of further support and committed  £20 million of government funding. In reaching its decision on whether to provide additional public funds the Department, working closely with Sport England, took account of Mr Patrick Carters review of the project and also took assurance from work by the Office of Government Commerce and other external experts. The Department also considered the risks that the project will face as it moves forward and the mechanisms put in place to address the risk of, for example, the stadium taking longer or costing more than expected to build or the projects viability being undermined by a shortfall in revenue. In negotiating the contractual arrangements for the project, the public sector funders accepted that their interests would be largely subordinated to the senior bank since it was providing over half the funding for the project, compared with their 21 per cent. In the worst case, the bank would have first call on the projects assets in the event of the project getting into serious financial difficulty. But for other circumstances, the public sector funders secured provisions which protect the public interest and which should be enforceable without compromising the viability of the project.

Comparing Japan And American Food Markets :: essays research papers

Comparing Japan and American Food Markets The Japanese Market has become vital to the U.S. Economy. Japan is the number one export market for the United States. In 1993, Japan accounted for 37.6 percent of the total growth in U.S. value-added exports. U.S. food products, in particular, are a huge market in Japan. American agricultural exports to Japan in 1993 were $8.7 billion. About one-third of Japanese agricultural imports come from the United States. However, there is sometimes a mixed reception in Japan regarding products from the United States. Japanese, on one hand, wish to do things "American" ever since the Second World War. But, on the other hand, U.S. products are perceived as less sophisticated than Japanese and European food products, in product formulation or packaging. Also, U.S. products are considered not as safe as domestics ones, due to the use of pesticides and chemical additives and the partiality of the Japanese consumer to purchase Japanese items. The reason for the large volume of exporting to Japan is due to United State's comparative advantages. Food products are very expensive to produce in Japan. Japan's current labor shortage, combined with import restrictions and domestic price stabilization programs, have driven up domestic production costs. The Japanese food consumption pattern consist of an openness to foreign products and a strong interest in things international. All types of international cuisine can be found in Japan. Many varieties of tropical and imported fruits, such as Florida grapefruit, California cherries, New Zealand kiwifruit, and Hawaiian papayas are readily available in supermarkets and department stores, as are imported alcoholic beverages ranging from Kentucky bourbon and Chinese beer to Russian vodka and California sake. Japanese food consumption is marked by short-term trends. For example, Korean and Mexican food became popular a few years ago and then unpopular. There have also been Italian and Spanish food booms. The Japanese economic recession has shifted the focus of many consumers to the more affordable neighborhood restaurants that feature traditional Japanese dishes. This has made consumers price conscious at grocery counters, which benefits cheaper imported goods. As a result, imported foods account for over half of Japan's average annual caloric intake. Moreover, with Japanese agriculture contracting, Japan's reliance on (and openness toward) imported food products will continue to increase. Conclusion In the future, the United States may no longer be considered to have a comparative advantage for food products in Japan. Countries in the western Pacific are likely to provide stiff competition for the U.S., due to the shorter shipping distances and the ease of conducting long-distance business from with in neighboring time zones. Offshore investment for processing exporting

Meyerland Plaza †Real Estate Finance

This paper will take Chip Douglas and Steve Clark into a big decision on how to recommend to HMC the redevelopment of Meyerland Plaza. Because of the existing problem that took place 1980’s by the lending who take advantage the practice of lending and savings loan institutions the S&L who owns one parcel of the Meyerland Plaza lot. The W&C who called Chip and Steve was confident that they could leverage their leasing and development experience into larger-scale transactions. They were willing to make a significant co-investment of their own capital into the Meyerland redevelopment a deal that they had been working on for the past three years.Persuading the MHC to Invest in the Redevelopment of Meyerland PlazaMeyer land Plaza’s location is situated from on a 59-acre site fronting the West loop of Interstate 610 in fully developed southwest Houston. Meyerland Plaza is three miles from Houston’s Galleria area and the Texas Medical Center. The site was bordered on th e North by a   small strip shopping center, on the south and west by west existing residential development, an on the East by the West Loop 610 freeway. The place has 365,000 people (166,000 households) with income of $48,000 by 1999 will increase to 422,000.Beside the population was increasing yearly and the demand also increase. With this situation the HMC would not hesitate to invest to Meyerland Plaza as one of the promising company in the future.Risk that the HMC consider in Investing to Meyerland PlazaIt involves big Investment of about $19.5 million in equity and $35.2 million in construction debt. Most developer were wary of the exposure of closing a floating-rate construction and planning permanent, fixed-rate financing at a future undefined rate. Another factor to consider was the relative volatility of returns to retails development deals versus office or industrial deals. Mitigation that can be Foresee on the above IssueThe proposed redevelopment will offer the unique combination of the economics of the power center at the size of a typical regional mall.The project generate a highly predict table cash flow given the credit quality of the tenants.The proposed redevelopment will offer the unique combination of the economics of the power center at the size of a typical regional mall.Anticipated returns are 18% to 24% base4d on a five year holding period.Conclusion Chip and Steve had made a good decision in recommending to HMC because it is a good site and the populations in these areas are increasing yearly. According to the survey the community living in that area need a convenient shopping that Myer land Plaza can offer.The location is good that located within a densely-populated, stable trade area accentuated by significant purchasing power.Beside most power centers are on the fringe of markets demographic visibility and access from Loop-610 North & south. There is no doubt that investment of HMC will surely return in shorter period of year. In general, based on the above mitigation, if I were Chip and Steve, I also recommend to HMC in investing the redevelopment of Meyer land Plaza.ReferenceMeyerland Plaza. 2006. October 9, 2006

18 Steps That Will Help You Quit a Job That You Hate

18 Steps That Will Help You Quit a Job That You Hate Is your job awful? Or just profoundly unfulfilling, and not challenging or helping you to grow in the most important ways for your career? If you know you’re not really where you need to be but you’re plagued by the what ifs, consider taking these 18 steps to see whether it might be scarier to stay at your job than working up the courage to quit and moving on to another opportunity. 1.  Think long and hard about your life and your choices.Are you living the life you want, or used to dream of? Or are you letting your shots be called by what is expected of you, or what you perceive you should be doing? Take a step back and see where you stand. Are you working towards great things? Or are you mired in mediocrity? If you’re not living the life you desire, and you find yourself being passive in your choices, start taking active steps to change that. Live by design, not by default.2. Fear the â€Å"if only† more than the â€Å"what if.†As scary as it is to start over (at any point in your career), isn’t it scarier to think of yourself regretting having stayed put several years down the line? Regret rarely shows up until it’s too late. Try to fear failure less than dissatisfaction when your chances at another chance dry up.3. Think, What’s the worst that can happen?†Imagine the absolute worst case scenario. All your gravest what-ifs. What does that look like? Clearly define what your biggest fears coming true might look like. Then ask yourself, â€Å"So what?† Is it livable? Workable? Even, perhaps, preferable to your current situation?4. Trust your gut.If there’s a nagging little voice in you telling you to quit and go after something better? Chances are you’re right. Listen to yourself and act deliberately to affect the change you crave. Think of it as your inner GPS.5. Trust what you love.Have the confidence to know that you’ll be better off- and much happier- if you’ re doing what you love. Even if you’re doing something you just like more. If you can’t get to your dream job in one leap from your current one, try a stepping stone. Anything is better than stagnation, particularly when you aren’t happy where you are. Think of all the time and energy you’re putting into what you don’t love. Imagine how much better you could be and feel!6. Make decisions based on happiness.Studies actually suggest that happiness fuels success and good performance- rather than the other way around. Build a life and career around what makes you happy and the rest should follow, crazy as it sounds.7. Set a  good example for others.Visualize your little sister or your best friend’s kid in your shoes. Now imagine them copying your choices and your solutions. Does this make you cringe? Inspire future mentees by pursuing what you really want and need most out of life.8. Live in the current moment.It’s important to keep an eye on the future. But it’s just as important to stay grounded in reality. Be realistic about what you can and can’t accomplish from where you are right now. What can you actually do now? Start there.9. Don’t despair.You are not alone. What you feel is totally normal and human and a lot of people out there are going through the same exact thing. Take comfort in that fact.10. Get clear on your purpose.You want a change, but why? Get clear on why you are unhappy, why you are leaving, why you’re taking the risk. As long as you stay on message, you’ll stay focused and can trust that you’re moving in the right direction.11. Get to know your own gifts.We all have our own unique talents and strengths. Let your passions lead you to understand yours and then lead with that. Trust yourself and show the world what you have to offer.12. Build a web of support.Find people who support, inspire, and motivate you. Who think like you do and are open to the s ort of life you want to lead. Build a network of these people, both business and personal, in person and online.13. Realize you might have to take a risk to make a gain.A small risk now, or a small sacrifice even, can pay large dividends down the road. Bet on yourself and figure out how to be a winner when the chips are down.14. Aim to please†¦ yourself.Imagine yourself on your deathbed. Are you proud of current you? Try living in such a way that would put a smile on the face of your past selves. Make sure you end up fulfilled and content with what you’ve chosen.15. Remember timing can be everything.But that doesn’t mean you have to wait for the perfect conditions for a change or a leap of faith. Perfect conditions will never appear. You’ll never be 100% prepared to make a major switch. Align as many stars as you can, but remember that sometimes you have to accept that things may never be perfect. Neither can you. Do what you can in the moment that presents itself.16. Trust the path.You may not be able to see where all this leads, but if you’re following your gut and staying true to your purpose (and reality), you can trust that it will take you where you need to go. Focus only on the next step.17. Get comfy with uncomfortable.Change is scary and uncomfortable. New is hard and daunting. Make being uncomfortable your new comfortable. Make this part of your journey.18. Have faith, not fear.Both faith and fear are kinds of uncertainty. Focus on what you do want, rather than what you don’t. And take active steps to make that happen. Don’t just sit back and worry that it won’t be possible.You never have any guarantees of how anything will turn out. But if you listen to yourself and make mindful choices in your life, you won’t go too far wrong.

Communism After the Fall essays

Communism After the Fall essays In his introduction to The Lexus and the Olive Tree, published in 1999, Thomas Freidman states that [t]he world is 10 years old. It was born when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. The Cold War system was replaced by a new, very greased, interconnected system called globalization. As a result of the fall of the Soviet Union, as signified by the fall of the Wall, and the death of the Cold War system, which had been dominated by two super powers and their perceived black and white politics, every country, but primarily communist countries, which include the former members of the Soviet Union, China, North Korea and Cuba, has had to re-evaluate its form of government and its relationships with other countries. In this paper I will study the changes that have take place as a result of the failure of communism and the dominance of capitalism in China, Cuba and North Korea. China is the most unusual of the countries I will study. It is unusual because of the continuous change its political systems have undergone during the 20th century. For most of the last 2000 years, the defining principles of Imperialist China were based on the teachings of Confucius. Amongst it many tenets Confucianism taught that all people have their place and should accept it, and that upper classes would rule and the peasantry follow. In addition, the ruler was to be the father to his people and look after their basic needs. It required officials to criticize their rulers and refuse to serve the corrupt. However, as a result of isolationism, the impact of foreign occupation, and the lack of the technological advances experienced in the West, the Chinese revolted in 1911. In the late 1920s the revolution splintered under Chiang Kai-shek who moved the Kuomintang party to the right and the Communist Party of China (CPC) which had come under the control of Mao Tse-tung and the C DC was almost destroyed. However, as would be expected when a c...

Depend on you ( follow the instruction) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Depend on you ( follow the instruction) - Essay Example ided that there was no way he could rationalize faith, and discovered another way to figure out the â€Å"truth† which was that of immediate experience which is based on imagination and intuition, not rationality. This is what is taught in the Sufi faith. Ghazali went to Syria to rediscover Islam, and went to live with the Sufi monks. Then he went on a pilgrimage to Mecca. It was during this pilgrimage that he was convinced that he was appointed to be a great reformer of the faith of Islam and his task was to inspire people. He went on to live in seclusion after this part of his life. He died in December 1111. Al Ghazali’s Alchemy of Happiness is one of the many books he wrote during his lifetime. This book shares what he thought of the significance of spirituality and religion in mankind’s quest for happiness. The book itself starts with the words, â€Å"He who knows himself is truly happy†. For Al Ghazali, everyone is perfect but that perfection is covered with the accumulation of worldly passions and animalistic desires. Thus, for him, mankind only requires â€Å"polishing† to achieve that perfection; to be polished is to â€Å"purify the heart from passion and resentment until, like a clear mirror, reflects the light of God†. For him, music and dance are perfect ways of achieving happiness. This is exemplified in the Sufi dervishes. Sufi dervishes are basically spinning, and spinning basically presents the idea that everything revolves around God and He is the center of every activity, as well as he surrounds every activity. As he said, â€Å"music and dance do not put into the heart what is not there already, but only fan into a flame of dormant emotions†. Also, his views on love and marriage proved to be philosophical as well. For him, marriage is an important part in our lives, mainly for the â€Å"worshippers to increase in number†. Although Al Ghazali may be chauvinistic at some point, stating that marriage is convenient because there will be someone to

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 21

Assignment Example Presently, theoretical, normative, and political challenges movements have enhanced human rights. People from different walks of life usually view human rights activism as individualistic ideologies and sometimes as simply liberal commitments of the movement itself. However, the existence and application of law seems to have sunk among societal values as they widely accept the provisions within the law. Sections of the people who do not accept the provisions of the law have no choice but to subscribe to what it dictates as it is the only way put of coexistence between the government and its citizens. Interestingly, all kinds of religions see value in the provisions of the rule of law, unlike rights which they view as being driven by individual pursuits. Perhaps it may be argued that the challenges facing the prosperity of human rights and the acknowledgment of rights itself are as a result of the laxity of the rule of law towards protection of human rights. In fact, by virtue of individuals accepting and upholding the law alone creates a platform for which human rights activism can flourish. Generally, laws need to be reasonable and acceptable to a greater part of the populace; not necessarily meaning that they are good laws but that they are normatively justifiable. Most legal systems including the Canadian system center on physical integrity rights or those that are easy to examine yet the relationship between the rule of law and human rights present a more difficult phenomenon to understand and explain, for instance, rights of smaller groups in the society. This strong link between law and rights id depicted in Canada’s Constitution Act of 1982 part 1 which guarantees the rights and freedoms of the people of Canada. The c hapter â€Å"Canadian Chapter of Rights and Freedoms† provides for certain rights and freedoms as long as they are subject to the provisions and limits of