Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Kota Fibres, Ltd Essays

Kota Fibres, Ltd Essays Kota Fibres, Ltd Essay Kota Fibres, Ltd Essay Case Report for Kota Fibres, Ltd. Group 7 BA 141 (WFY) 8/11/2010 Table of Contents Point of View . 1 Case Context .. 1 Problem Definition .. Framework of Analysis . 1 Analysis . 2 Decision 6 Justification of Decision .. Implementation of Decision.. 7 Appendix .. 8 Bibliography 33 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The group took the point of view of management for the case of Kota Fibres, Ltd. The goal of maximizing shareholder wealth was the backdrop against evaluations of the company’s health and proposals to improve the same were made. Kota Fibres’ main problem was fairly straightforward: the management of the company’s cash holdings was inefficient. This was reflected in the smaller problems that the company faced in 2001. An evaluation of the company’s profitability showed increasing price competition; liquidity, a dispiriting debt position; efficiency; a long cash conversion cycle; and leverage, increasing dependence on borrowed capital. Coupled with unfavorable market conditions, the events responsible for Kota Fibres’ financial health confirmed the company’s weak cash position. Cash flows were not only weak, but they were also drained by large dividend distributions. Management paid high dividends to shareholders for many years under the misapprehension that reinvesting in it in the business was necessarily riskier. Ironically, it was keeping cash out of the business that increased credit risk, devalued Kota Fibres as a manufacturing firm and reduced shareholder wealth. In addition to cutting back on dividend distributions (at least until the company stabilized), the group also recommended implementing the Transportation manager’s proposal of reducing the rawmaterial-inventory requirement to 30 days to improve the company’s cash position and meet the demands of the heavy production and selling season ahead. I. Point of View: Management II. Case Context Kota Fibres, Ltd. was founded in 1962 to produce nylon fiber at its only plant in Kota, India. The company supplies synthetic fiber yarns to a steady ranchise of small local textile weavers that produce colorful cloths for making saris. The synthetic-textile market in India within the time frame of the case was driven by competitions in price, service and credit. For Kota Fibres, a large end-customer base of nearly 500 million Indian women and a relatively inelastic demand for its synthetic fiber yarns made the company a profitable enterprise. In fact, unit growth in the industry was exp ected to be 15 percent per year. However, Kota Fibres’ profit margins began to thin due to increasing price competition in the market. Management, in turn, adopted a seasonal production cycle that regrettably generated seasonal training and set-up costs and labor unrest. Moreover, operating expenses were estimated to be 6 percent of sales in 2001, a figure higher compared to last year’s. Interestingly, this was due to the addition of a quality-control department, for which there had been no indications of a need for one, and the three young nephews of Mrs. Pundir, in whom she hoped to build an allegiance to the family business. She also proposed to pay dividends of Rs500,000 per quarter to only 11 individuals who held the entire equity of Kota Fibres, Ltd. Incidentally, these 11 individuals were members of her extended family. III. Problem Definition: Mrs. Pundir’s management of Kota Fibres’ cash is inefficient. Because the company is already anticipating the heavy selling season, the problem thus requires a solution that will generate cash inflows in the immediate future. IV. Framework for Analysis A. Gaining Familiarity B. Identifying the Problem C. Recognizing Sub-problems D. Identifying Goal/s E. Analyzing the Case F. Recommendation V. Analysis A. Gaining Familiarity Please refer to the Case Context above. B. Identifying the Problem Please refer to the Problem Definition in the previous page. C. Recognizing Sub-problems In 2001, Kota Fibres faced several sub-problems that reflected, if not confirmed, the inefficient management of the company’s cash holdings. Frequently overdrawn bank account Unpaid excise tax Delayed customer deliveries suspended collections of sales Impaired credit profile Large dividend distributions D. Identifying Goal/s 1. To determine how the proposals of Mrs. Pundir’s middle-managers may improve Kota Fibres’ cash position 2. To provide Kota Fibres with an improved financial plan to present to the bank that will qualify the company for an extension of credit, in order to meet the demands of the heavy selling season ahead E. Analyzing the Case Part 1: An evaluation of Kota Fibres’ profitability, efficiency, liquidity and leverage The following were attributed to the company’s position in the market and additions to operations: CGS and OPEX increased by nearly 50 percent in 2001 from the base year. Net profit was reduced by 60 percent in 2001. (Refer to Table 2, Figures 5, 7 to 10). Net and operating profit margins decreased from 1999 to 2000 by 3 percent and from 2000 to 2001 by 2 percent. (Refer to Table 1, Figure 6). Decreases in EBIT and net profit ? decrease of 10 percent in ROA and ROE in 2001 (Refer to Figures 4 to 6, 13) Notably, interest expenses grew about a 100 percent in the same year, which implied that the company planned to borrow more money in 2001. (Refer to Figures 11 and 12). The company’s liquidity position fell about 200 percent in 2001 because of a 400 percent increase in notes payable to the bank in the same year. (Refer to Figure 14). Kota Fibres’ cash holdings were only 5. 3 percent of total assets in 2000 and even fell in 2001. This percentage barely covered half of the company’s current liabilities and alerted the group to the possibility of bankruptcy. (Refer to Table 6, Figure 22). Kota Fibres’ working capital was only 24 percent and 14 percent of total assets in 2000 and 2001, respectively. (Refer to Figu re 17). The group expected a higher figure, especially for a manufacturing company, but learned that the company’s cash position might have been responsible for the drop in the figure. There was also a sharp fall in Kota Fibres’ equity-debt ratio due to a 200 percent increase in total debt in 2001. Refer to Figure 15). The company’s forecasted debt position was dismal thus far. Kota Fibres’ inventory, accounts receivable and accounts payable turnover ratios decreased in 2001 because inventory, A/R and A/P increased in the same year. Figures for days inventory and average collection and payment periods increased consequently, resulting in an operating cycle of 18 days in 2000 and 21 days in 2001. (Refer to Figure 19). However, when the averages of inventory, A/R and A/P for the year ending 2001 were used in determining the turnover ratios, new figures showed that the company was actually terribly inefficient. Seasonal fluctuations in inventory, A/R and A/P accounted for averages higher than the ending balances of the same in 2001. These, in turn, produced a figure of 72 days for cash conversion cycle. (Refer to Figure 20). In other words, the company doesn’t expect to realize cash from its acquisition of inventory within intervals of nearly three months in 2001. The following were the reasons why the bank didn’t extend any more credit to Kota Fibres: Poor cash holdings Increases in interest obligations and decreases in EBIT decreases in nterest coverage ability from 1999 to 2001 (Refer to Figure 21) Declining cash-debt coverage figures (Refer to Figure 22) Despite having an equity-based financial structure, ratios for leverage revealed that the extent of non-owner claims to Kota Fibres’ assets in 2001 nearly tripled from 2000. Likewise, assets were thrice more funded by creditors in 2001. (Refer to Figures 23 and 24). Unfortunately, the increases in Kota Fibresâ€⠄¢ borrowing activities in 2000 were neither supported by increases in cash inflows nor supportive of possible cash inflows. In fact, the company may need to borrow some money from the bank in order to maintain a cash balance of Rs750,000 in 2001. (Refer to Figures 25 and 26). Part 2: An evaluation of the proposals of Mrs. Pundir’s middle-managers. Assumptions made for each proposal are as follows. Extend current credit terms of 45 days to 80 days for Pondicherry Textiles. Rs6,000,000 Sales: 1. Because Pondicherry Textiles was expected to purchase from Kota Fibres across the year, the group allocated Rs6M throughout 2001 according to the purchase pattern of the latter’s customers. 2. Collections from the sale to Pondicherry Textiles were reflected after 80 days of forecasted sales made for every month in 2001. (Refer to Tables 8 and 9) Reduce raw-material inventory requirement from 60 days to 30 1. Raw materials per month of 2001 = 55 percent of sales expected to be made two months later. 2. Raw materials turnover ratio = CGS/Raw materials 3. Days raw materials = 360/RM turnover 4. Because the same amount of material will be purchased by Kota days. Purchases: (same) Fibres, only the requirement for days raw materials was changed- 60 to 30 days (Refer to Tables 10 and 11) Accept Japanese firm’s proposal to supply expected to be made two months later on a just-in-time basis, which may reduce pellets inventory to 2 (or 3) days outstanding. 1. Pellet-RM per month of 2001 = 35 percent of 55 percent of sales 2. Pellet-RM turnover ratio = CGS/Pellet-RM polyester pellets , 3. Days pellet-RM = 360/Pellet-RM turnover 4. Because the same amount of pellets will be purchased by Kota Fibres, only the requirement for days pellet-RM was changed- 60 to 2 days. (Refer to Tables 12 and 13) Implement a scheme of level production. annual 1. In economics, the cost of producing a good is the cost of its factor input. The group decided to simplify the implementation of this particular proposal by equating the cost of production with the cost of labor. 2. Figures for net sales were used in the computation of GPM, which was adjusted to reflect labor savings in OPEX. (Refer to Tables 14 and 15) The effects of each proposal were made to reflect in the Schedule of Cash Receipts and Disbursements, supported by adjustments made to the Forecast T-Accounts. Each proposal was implemented, that is, â€Å"plugged into† the existing schedule and t-accounts, independently. Tables 8 to 15 show that the second proposal produced the least amount of debt outstanding, Rs2,704,866, at the end of 2001. By reducing the length of time that inventory was held in the warehouses, decreases in storage and holding costs significantly reduced operating expenses. Mrs. Pundir’s original forecast for Debt Outstanding was Rs3,463,701. [Note: Though the third proposal reduced the original forecast for debt outstanding to Rs3,017,128, the effects of implementing the same show a slightly higher figure for Purchases because such raw materials were purchased more often. Refer to Tables 5 and 12). ] The same proposal also produced the greatest percentage for cash as a percentage of total assets- nearly 5 percent. Though the first proposal increased A/R the most, cash collections were far in between due to the extension of credit terms. Consequently, this proposal produced the largest amount of debt outstanding at the end of 2001. (Refer to Table 5). Net cash inflows of Rs46,814 under the first proposal and Rs287,850 under the second proposal were used to pay the bank in December. Refer to Tables 8 and 10). The last two proposals produced not only the second and third largest amounts of debt outstanding, respectively, but also the only net cash outflows, the amounts of which were subsequently borrowed from the bank. (Refer to Tables 5, 12 and 14). Table 1 shows a ratio analysis of the effects of the implementation of each proposal. F. Recommendation The group recommends the implementation of the Transportation manager’s proposal to reduce the raw-material-inventory requirement from 60 days to 30 days. VI. Decision Tables 10 and 11 show the effects of the implementation of the second proposal on the Schedule of Cash Receipts and Disbursements and on the Forecast T-Accounts. The same figures show that Kota Fibres is still indebted to the bank in the amount of Rs2,704,866. In addition to the implementation of the second proposal, the group recommends the proposed yearly dividend distributions (Rs2,000,000) to be reinvested in the company and be used to pay the bank. The group also recommends the issuance of equity securities to raise funds to pay the balance. Furthermore, the group advises management to consider equity financing in raising funds for heavy selling seasons in the future. For now though the group believes that the recommendations given thus far will be sufficient to satisfy the immediate production and selling needs of Kota Fibres. VII. Basic Justifications of Decision The large dividend distributions that Mrs. Pundir made to the company’s 11 shareholders (also members of her extended family) were primarily accountable for the company’s poor cash position. The Pundir family believed that excess funds retained in the business were at greater risk than the

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Its Not About School Prayer Essays - Prayer, Religion And Children

It's Not About School Prayer Essays - Prayer, Religion And Children It's Not About School Prayer The question of school prayer has been moved from one of the storage rooms way beyond the wings to somewhere prominently on stage, if not front stage and center. The most important thing about the discussion of a school prayer amendment is not school prayer as such. People of eminently good sense and religious conviction can disagree about whether there should be prayer in public schools and, if so, what kind of prayer and who should be in charge of it. Those decisions should be made by thousands of communities and local school boards across the country. That is called democracy. An amendment is needed not to mandate or even to encourage school prayer but to restore to the people their right and responsibility to deliberate and decide a question that bears upon the kind of education they want for their children. Parents who are serious about the moral and religious formation of their children should have no illusions that adding a prayer at the beginning of the school day will achieve that goal. Public policy should help such parents send their children to schools that share their educational goals. This means school vouchers, education tax credits, flexible charter schools, or other instruments that can enable parents to exercise real choice in education. That, however, does not obviate the need for a school prayer amendment, which might better be called an educational democracy amendment. Quite apart from the merits or demerits of prayer in public schools, an amendment is needed for three reasons. First, it is a necessary check upon the overreach of the imperial judiciary. The school prayer decisions of the early 1960s were a particularly blatant instance of judicial activism. The Constitution neither mandates nor prohibits prayer in the schools. What the Constitution says about school prayer is absolutely nothing. For almost two centuries nobody thought that school prayer was a constitutional question. It was up to local communities and their school boards. (Some scholars claim that a fairly small percentage of public schools actually had such prayer.) That is the way it should be again. Those who claim that the American people are not capable of deciding the question in a civil and mutually respectful manner reveal an unseemly contempt for the democratic process. Our point, however, is that what the Constitution does not say is unconstitutional is not unconstitution al. The Constitution does not say that prayer in the public schools is unconstitutional, therefore it is not unconstitutional. One may argue that school prayer is unfair, divisive, mischievous, or just plain dumb. But it is not unconstitutional, and apparently it will take an amendment to make that clear. The second reason for an amendment is that it will challenge the judicial advancement of the pernicious ideology of the naked public square, of American public life denuded of religion and religiously grounded values. Whatever else one may think of the school prayer decisions of the 1960s, they sent a powerful message that ours is a secular society, and that a secular society is one in which religion must be expunged from any sphere that is designated as public. Combine that with the notion that public is a synonym for governmental and the conclusion is inescapable that religion must retreat wherever government advances-and government advances almost everywhere. This has been the unhappy pattern of more than thirty years. An amendment can check that pattern and perhaps, in due course, reverse it. The third reason for an amendment, closely connected to the first two, is that the incoherence of church-state jurisprudence over the last three decades is tied up with the school prayer decisions. Many, if not most, of the justices of the Supreme Court in the last decade have at one time or another publicly admitted that the Court has gotten itself into a brier patch of confusion and self-contradiction when it comes to the religion clause of the First Amendment. In our view, the Court's decisions have created a situation in which the no establishment provision of the religion clause has increasingly undercut the free exercise provision, even though the free exercise of religion is manifestly the purpose of the religion clause. Former Chief Justice Warren Burger has observed

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 93

Marketing - Essay Example The cupcakes are paired with an espresso that compliments the distinct flavors (Larson et al. 7). Customers who are widely located in the Seattle area receive good attendance in addition to after-sales-services. Cupcake Royale offers delivery to customers who are unable visit the location. In addition, the company provides rental of Cupcake Royale’s party cart. The cart can be brought to any place the customer is in the Seattle area. Trophy Cupcakes (TC) is the top competitor to Cupcake Royale. Trophy Cupcake has dominated the social media to capture more customers. It uses Facebook and Twitter to post events, polls and promotions such as cupcake happy hour. TC has collaborated with Molly Moons ice cream shop where they sell cupcakes at all Moon Locations (Larson et al. 9). The grocery store has also undermined the market of Cupcake Royale Company. Cupcake Royale, however, has maintained the competition by improving its products and increasing its market cover. In addition to 10 new flavors of ice cream to the existing cupcake has expanded Cupcake Royale to six branches (Jones 1). The new Rodeo donut is of exceptional quality. It is made from brioche dough, which includes eggs yolks, eggs, and butter instead of shortening like normal dough (Guanco 1). The brioche has flavor featuring vanilla beans, orange flower water, orange zest and honey instead of sugar. Cupcake Royale Company’s goal emphasizes quality over quantity. That has allowed its current market situation has grown. Guanco, Frank. Rodeo Donut Pop Up At Ballard’s Cupcake Royale. Komonews. March 26, 2015. Web. May 25, 2015 Jones, Sara. Cupcake Royale Owner and Pastry Chef Launch 3 New Ventures. Seattle. March 23, 2015. Web. May 25, 2015 Larson, Devin., Newby,

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Aesthetics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Aesthetics - Essay Example Those belonging to the former school of thought contest that beauty lies only "in the eye of the beholder" whereas the latter claim that aesthetic characteristics exist independently of the mind. Ultimately the question is whether the aesthetic quality is subjective or objective and if it is possible to have objective standards of taste. An attempt has been made to answer this question by comparing and critically analyzing the works of Hume, Kant and Bell on the issue of aesthetic judgment and taste.Hume was an empiricist; he believed that all knowledge was derived exclusively from the senses based on individual perception and resulting from experience. Thus his viewpoint is essentially subjective. He feels that aesthetic enjoyment comes from deep within and one needs "that delicacy of imagination" without which one will be unable to appreciate the finer points of great art. Sentiment is another factor which affects one's reaction to works of art. There is no right or wrong sentiment because it "has a reference to nothing beyond itself". Beauty is another quality that "exists merely in the mind". And yet in the midst of all this subjectivity he never implies that aesthetic judgement is entirely personal. In fact common sense which he sets much store by indicates that responses may be right or wrong but some are invariably much better than others.Hume seeks to establish a standard of taste, "a rule" that works by "confirming one sentiment, and condemning another." He prescribes five factors that are prerequisites for a true judge - "Strong sense united to delicate sentiment, improved by practice, perfected by comparison and cleared of all prejudice". This standard attempts to adhere to the universal principles of taste while smoothing out individual differences. However there are two factors which prevent the functioning of the standard mechanism - "the one is the different humours of particular men; the other, the particular manners and opinions of our age and country". And on this note we can conclude Hume's account of aesthetic judgement. IMMANUEL KANT: THE CRITIQUE OF AESTHETIC JUDGEMENT Kant is the father of modern aesthetics. His invaluable contribution to philosophy at large and aesthetics in particular has consolidated his position as one of the most influential thinkers of all time. At the very onset of the essay Kant states that beauty is discerned "by means of the imagination" in conjunction with understanding as opposed to "a view of cognition". Feelings of pleasure or displeasure play a pivotal role in aesthetic judgement. Pleasure is merely a mental state and it has nothing to do with the properties of the object that elicits the response. Thus according to Kant, the "determining ground" is largely subjective. However there is scope for objectivity under certain controlled circumstances. Kant asserts that the element of interest in the judgement of aesthetic quality tends to be "partial and not a pure judgement of taste". A complete state of "disinterestedness" coupled with the imagination and naked perception must be preserved for effective judgement. If this state can be affected it is possible to arrive at a judgement that has "universal validity". CLIVE BELL: THE AESTHETIC HYPOTHESIS Bell does not mince words in his aesthetic hypothesis. He states that "The starting point for all systems of aesthetics must be the personal experience of a peculiar emotion." Of course the same work of art may provide different emotions in different people but "there is a particular kind of emotion" which is common to all kinds of "visual art". This aesthetic emotion may or may not be felt by people as it is

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Jews and Christians Essay Example for Free

Jews and Christians Essay Islam is a monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. It is the second-largest religion in the world today, with an estimated 1. 4 billion adherents, known as Muslims. Islam is considered one of the second largest religions in Europe today especially in France and the United Kingdom. In regions like the Middle East, North Africa, south and central Asia, Islam is the dominant religion. The core belief of Muslims is that God revealed himself to all mankind through his Prophet Muhammad, and he gave his holy book, the Qur’an which embodies the message, teachings and traditions of the Sunnah which is considered as the basic sources of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad is regarded by Muslims as the true and final prophet of God. Islam, like Judaism and Christianity is also an Abrahamic religion. Muslims belief that God revealed his final message to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel, and that message is the truth of salvation and shall hold true until the day a of resurrection, that the holy Qur’an is the infallible word of God and has the seal of the prophets. Muslims belief that the core message of Islam, which is the worship of one God, is the same message preached by the all messengers that God has sent before Muhammad. Muslims also belief that the coming of Muhammad was the cache in God’s revelation of himself to mankind, the end of all the messages of one God which has been preached since the time of Adam. Muslims see their religion as the original and the final message of God to mankind, and see Christianity and Judaism as a distortion of the original revelation of God to Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. There are several similarities that run through these three religions. Geographically, they all seem to have their origins in the Middle East. They all lay claim to the most prominent religious figures the world has ever known i. e. .Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, as their forebears. The Qur’an even acknowledges Jesus Christ as a major prophet who walked the face of this earth and had a distinct knowledge of God. Islam acknowledges the practitioners of Christianity and Judaism as the people of the letter, which is to say that they are people who have received divine scriptures. All these not withstanding, Muslims believe that the final and truthful revelation of God and the right way of worship came through the holy prophet Muhammad. Muslims believe that Islam is the right way of worship, of seeking God and of attaining salvation and therefore they must seek to win more peoples unto the Allah. Like the Jews, who saw a non Israelite as a gentile, any one other non-Muslim is an infidel. They also belief that Allah appreciates it very much when you die a violent death defending the faith of Islam and that automatically grants you grace favor and salvation before the lord, Infact, you go straight to heaven which is the ultimate reward of serving God here on earth just as Christians believe. In conclusion, Islam sees itself as superior to Christianity and Judaism because they believe it’s the total revelation of God of himself unto mankind.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Anorexia Nervosa Essay -- Eating Disorders

Thesis Statement: Anorexia Nervosa effects a person both physically and mentally. Anorexia represents one percent of most prevalent eating disorder diseases. The word anorexia itself means, â€Å" lack of appetite†. Anorexia is an all-encompassing pursuit of thinness. The person effected by Anorexia has an absolute fear of becoming obese (Matthew 4). Approximately one percent of adolescent girls develops Anorexia Nervosa, a dangerous condition in which they can literally starve themselves to death. People who starve intentionally starve themselves suffer from an eating disorder. The disorder, which usually begins in the young people around the time of puberty, involves extreme weight loss. At least fifteen percent below the individuals normal body weight. Many people with the disorder look emaciated, but are convinced they are over weight (Matthew 5). Anorexia Nervosa has three Diagnostic Criteria. One is refusal to maintain body weight at or above normal. The other is, intense fear of becoming fat, even though under average weight. The last one is, Disturbance in the way in which one’s body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self- evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of low body weight (Long 15). Anorexia Nervosa has two specific types, one is Restricting type and the other is Binge-Eating/Purging type. Restricting type during the current episode of Anorexia Nervosa, the person has not regularly engaged in binge- eating or purging behavior. In Binge- Eating /Purging type, during the current episode of Anorexia Nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in binge-eating/purging behavior (Rockwell 10). Anorexia may not be noticed in early stages. The Anorexic usually chooses to wear layered and baggy clothes to hide the â€Å"ugly fat body† .An Anorexic may have ritualistic eating patterns such as cutting food into little tiny pieces and weighing themselves. These can be found in people who are on a healthy diet, but in Anorexics these behaviors are extremely exaggerated. Other warnings are deliberate self-starvation with weight loss, fear of gaining weight, refusal to eat, denial of hunger, constant exercising, sensitivity to cold, absent or irregular periods, loss of scalp perception of being fat when the person is really to this. Some other associated features are depressed mood, somatic sexual dysfunction, and ... ...l with in society. Two developed Anorexia after seeing a â€Å" movie of the week† where the main character was Anorexic. Mike’s ten year old daughter developed Anorexia after seeing â€Å"The Body Trap†, a program on Nickelodeon. These findings seem to exemplify along standing debate, if educational programs prevent eating disorders or contribute to them. This is not a scientific study , just a dad with some very disturbing news: Television programs dealing with Anorexia and / or eating disorder are triggering Anorexia in some of our children (Long 15). Works Cited Cottrell, Randall R. "Anorexia Nervosa." Grolier Wellness Encyclopedia: Weight Control. Ed. Robert E. Kline. Vol. 15. Guilford, CT: Duskin, 1992. 117. Long, Phillip W. "Anorexia Nervosa." Internet Mental Health. Jan. 1997. St. Joseph Medical Center. 19 Aug. 1998 . Matthews, John R. Library in a Book: Eating Disorders. New York: Facts on File Inc. 1991 O’Dwyer, Michael P. Student Eating Disorders : Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia. Washington, D.C.: National Education Association, 2005. Rockwell, L., Understanding Eating Disorders. Washington, D.C.: Taylor & Francis. 2004

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Music Essay

Music is an eloquent medium of expressing ideas, feelings, dreams, aspirations and values as individuals and as a people. 1 People exposed to a wide variety of music ranging from the folksy to the contemporary top tunes, from the classical to the favorite songs of yesteryears, not only imparts knowledge but also develops skills and values which make music truly exhilarating and inspiring. It enhances a deep sense of humanism, nationalism, and spirituality. Music derived from the word â€Å"Muses;† the names of the daughters of Zeus who governed all the beauty and harmony in the world according to the Greek mythology. It’s unlimited cure of the aching heart and troubled mind of a tense person. Music as it is known, the language of the soul. In the view of combining sounds it is the science or art of pleasing, impressive or intelligible combinations of tones. Results of recent studies reveal that music learning especially on instrumental playing promotes mental development, concentration and patience. It also develops self confidence aside from its great contribution to cultural and aesthetic development. Music comes to men in different ways. To be hindered, uncultured tribes, tones, coming in unison from the musical instruments could be the most harmonized melodies; to a new born babe, music is her mother’s soothing voice; to an aging grandfather, what is the most melodious sound but the first uninhibited giggles of a grandson, his first perhaps. Music the nourishment of the soul, a gift of heaven and unending universal goal of persons born with rhythmic fingers, ears of precision, creative minds and varying emotions. Music a hymn from the angels passing through the brooks with its murmuring moans; through the leaves with the dying whispers; through the rippling and agonizing tones of the bells, through the rolling crystal waves of the equable sea heading for a reunion with the majestic boulders and the long stretched white sands and ponder on. The clinical implications of the effects of the music were evident to physicians in America as far back as colonial days. Music was used therapeutically in mental hospitals as early as 1692. Shortly thereafter, Samuel Mathews of Virginia commented on the highly beneficial effects of music and suggested its introduction as from of therapy into the Pennsylvania Hospital. 2 That music is of great value in psychiatric treatment is evident from its rapid rise to importance as adjunctive therapy. However, to be effective, such a program must be individualized with a view to the specific psychological conflicts of the individual and must be used within the framework of an overall treatment goal. In treatment of psychiatric patients, music is used in different ways: as a form of recreational therapy and as means of establishing contact with the patient in intensive psychotherapy. Its widest use in mental hospitals is for recreational purposes. Weekly dances, community singing and ether forms of group musical activity do much in relieving the intense loneliness of the mental health patient. In the operating room itself, properly chosen music can divert the patient’s attention virtually to the exclusion of the customarily ominous sights and sounds. Heavily sedation frequently is required thus increasing the possibility of untoward effects. In contrast to this, the uses of music as an adjunct to anesthesia and during convalescence often lessens the need for pre-operative and post-operative medication, ache the induction of anesthesia smoother, and help to eliminate post-anesthesia retching. â€Å"Music has been used extensively throughout history as a healing force to alleviate illness and distress, but only in recent times has the specific discipline of music therapy begun to evolve† (1994). A professional music therapist came through in the mid-late-twentieth-century phenomenon. In 1891 the, The Guild of St. Cecilia was founded by Canon Harford, who himself is a musician, to play sedative music to a large number of patients in London hospitals. Though, The Guild was supported by Florence Nightingale, the Guild was pressured of criticisms from the musical and medical press and lack of funds and Harford’s own ill health. Music was used to boost morale early years of the twentieth century. Music therapy is the controlled use of music in the treatment, rehabilitation, education and training of children and adults suffering from physical, mental or emotional and training of children and adults suffering from physical, mental or emotional disorder. † (Alvin’s). 5 The American Music Therapy Association defined it as â€Å"the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. While Bunt defined music therapy as â€Å"the use of sounds and music within an evolving relationship between client and therapist to support and encourage physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. † Many experts suggest that music has the calming effect on us though we are not conscious about it. People may have been influenced when at the mother’s womb it was our mother’s practice to relax. The music’s effectiveness should be to washes away the stress, choose of what music that suits well to the patient. It can effectively be on children and adults. The music heals through the fires of neurons in the brain in the tempo of the song. The music therapy works for different ways in psychiatry, for the mental health disorders; social skills, to impair interaction and social skills; emotions, for a safe environment in alleviating feelings; communication, for the mental health difficulties; self-esteem, for the low self-esteem; relaxation, for those who has anxiety disorders; and cognition to structured stimulus. Music therapists assess emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning communication abilities, and cognitive skills through musical responses; receptive music listening, song writing, lyric discussion, and follow up. 8 There are beneficiaries of music therapy such as children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities, brain injuries, physical disabilities and acute and chronic pain. And there are seven music therapy tools including the affirmations, mind quieting, breathing, mantras, chanting, toning, and drumming. The musical affirmation will return the mind to the alpha state, a state where the neurons fire in harmony and the message will be absorbed by the conscious and subconscious mind through the power of the sound of music. Mind quieting is calming the mind in a behavioral manner where it is disciplined. In breathing it is important to do it without thinking of anything because it is the voice of your spirit, its depth; smoothness, sound, and rate reflect the mood. The mantras will help you go beyond borders to realize the potential and the power of love. Chanting has a healthy strengthening effect on the mind because it develops concentration, patience and determination. The goal of chanting is to connect to Self and the process should be inclusive and fun. Toning is the process of letting go of basic, natural sounds to attain a sense of balance, harmony and centering. In harmonizing the emotions is a natural condition. The healing effects of drumming strengthen the immune system and create a calming focus even hypnotic. You have to follow certain things in listening music. First, you have to find a song that suits your mood and play it for 10-15 minutes. Second, a song which is between your present internal state and the state you wish to achieve and play it for 10-15 minutes, too. Third, for 10-15 minutes state your mind and mood to achieve your goal to relax. You won’t need a professional in this practice, just concentrate on what you are doing. Few people understand the significance and importance that music therapy and music therapists contribute to our society. Music therapists help the needy in many ways. Once again; music therapy promotes healing and enhances the quality of life. A complementary therapy used for the cancer patients to cope mentally and physically in their diagnosis. It may involve listening to music, creating music, and singing music. Scientific studies have shown the positive value of music therapy on the body, mind, and spirit of children and adults. Researchers have found that music therapy used along with anti emetic drugs for patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy can be effective in easing the physical symptoms of nausea and vomiting. When used in combination with pain-relieving drugs, music has been found to decrease the overall intensity of the patient’s experience of pain and can sometimes result in a reduced dependence on pain medication. 10 Music can relieve stress, apprehension, and fear, it improves mood, lower the heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate, it relieves the depression, relieve the sleeplessness and relieve muscle tension and provide relation. Music therapy session is designed to promote self-expression; the therapist might create a musical and emotional environment that encourages you to respond by revealing personal experiences or feeling. The session might incorporate speech and drama as well as music. The therapist might use singing and discussions. 11 Through playing the music with lyrics, the therapist can encourage you to make up words that formed into a positive unique song. Therefore, music therapy improves the quality of life for persons who are well and meets the needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses. There is future in music therapy in the name of art and music for physical rehabilitation. It’s effectiveness of music therapy in important in the context of a biological medical model.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Dowry Problem in India Essay

Gandhi ji said:- ‘Any young man who takes dowry fo getting married , disrespects his education, country and womanhood.’ Our society is full of evil systems. One of those evil systems is dowry. Dowry is defined as the ‘price paid by parents to get their daughters married as well for getting them the place in the family which they deserve.’ Over the years cases of dowry harassment and cases of dowry deaths have multiplied. In Hindu marriage system, a system termed as ‘kanyaddan’ is performed in which the bride is given to the husband and in-laws along with huge sums of money, furniture, house, car, etc. or more precisely bride along with dowry. The dowry system has converted something as pure as marriage into a business transaction and the bride into a saleable commodity or a key to more money. Debts are taken so that the groom’s family can be provided with a large dowry. This creates a burden on the bride’s family. Girls begin to think of themselves as a burden on their families and accept spinsterhood as their fate or commit suicide. Dowry has also led to an increase in female feticide and female infanticide which has greatly affected the male-female ratio in the country. Heavy dowry is demanded for educated boys. This has ruined the lives of many brilliant girls. Brilliant, educated and economically independent girls cannot get married to so-called educated boys because their parents cannot provide their in-laws with a huge dowry demanded by them. Even after marriage such girls are tortured to bring in more money, and ultimately, they either commit suicide or lose their mental balance. People who believe in taking dowry say that dowry acts as a financial help to the newlyweds. They say that while marriage acts as a life insurance for girls, marriage acts as its premium. They also say that a girl who carries a respectable amount of dowry to her husband and in-laws feels confident while a girl who carries a less amount of dowry feels uncomfortable and apprehensive. In 1961, the government passed the Dowry Prohibition Act to abolish the dowry system. However, this act, instead of subsiding dowry, took its roots to a deeper level in the society. It is said that on an average one woman is being killed in every four hours n the issue of dowry in India. However, strong public rejection is being noticed on the issue of dowry among the youth. They are not ready to give or take dowry for getting married. They are really coming forward to abolish the evil. Our society  needs such responsible youth to abolish the evil system of dowry in India. There is finally a positive beam of light shown in utmost darkness, but to convert this positive beam of light into utmost lightness, we, the common people of India have to take effective remedial steps: – We should start a strong propaganda to abolish the evil. People should make demonstrations against those who take dowry. Strict laws should be passed to prohibit taking and giving dowry. Young girls should take serious action when their family is demanded with dowry. Proper education should be imparted to girls as well as they should be made economically independent to accelerate the process. Love marriages, inter-caste marriages as well as inter-provisional marriages may also help. Cases of â€Å"dowry free† marriages should be the news item on the bulletin. This will encourage the youth. Right now, in our society, a man who does not marry for love, learns to marry for possessions. We have to change the picture. â€Å"SAY NO TO DOWRY†

Friday, November 8, 2019

Love vs Lust Research Paper Example

Love vs Lust Research Paper Example Love vs Lust Paper Love vs Lust Paper When you love so thing, you want to have it with you always, and you want to take care of it and make sure nothing in the world can harm or corrupt it in any way possible. Guess when you love someone, you potpourris in danger of that person no loving you back, just looking at the negative side. When you let love control you u, you arent yourself, you change who you are so that you conform or exceed the expectations set by the person or object you love. When you put yourself out there you dont really go with what you know is right, but what your emotions are cram mining into our head. Looking at both sides of the argument, there are positive consequent ounces that come along with loving someone. When you love someone, you might find the e person that you are going to spend the rest of your life with. Lust on the other hand is a more negative concept. Lust makes you go insane to achieve what you want because you want it for your own benefit. When you lee t lust control your behavior, you focus only on what you want and not what is Essen till for you or your future. When lust is a big part in your life, you get caught up in making g what you ant or lust possible. Sometimes you dont realize you lust cometh ins or so none because you just arent thinking straight due to your desire for that person or object. You start to channel people and your surroundings out because youre so foci used on getting what you desire. When you start to lust an object, you become so full of yourself and pigheaded because you think that you deserve everything you want and y oh become angry with others because you dont get what you want. Though love and lust are on two different universes, they sometimes go togged her. You can love something while having something lust towards it. Lust is a feel Eng that you can control. You cant let it get to you because with God on your side, you can overcome it. Love on the other hand is the most powerful thing on this world for example, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever belie eves in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16. Gods love for people change d the way our courses were supposed to go. Because Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, we are freed from our sins and we have the gift of eternal life. Todays society often perceives love as a joke, people dont take relationships marriages seriously. Lust in todays society is not serious at all, people have relationships and engage in sexual activity because the media and pop culture e says its okay and that its the right? thing to do. In conclusion, believe that love and lust are very delicate but powerful subject TTS that should be taken seriously.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Stanch and Staunch

Stanch and Staunch Stanch and Staunch Stanch and Staunch By Maeve Maddox Although the two spellings are often seen used interchangeably, recommended modern usage is to distinguish between them: stanch: verb. to stop the flow of something, usually blood. staunch: adjective. (of persons) strong, standing firm and true to ones principles. Pronunciation differs among English speakers, but /aw/ is the most commonly heard vowel sound in staunch. The OED gives /ah/ as the first pronunciation for stanch, but Merriam-Webster gives /aw/ first for both staunch and stanch. OED gives two alternate pronunciations for each word. M-W lists five alternate pronunciations for each. Stanch occurs as an adjective in old books and periodicals (1930 and earlier), but modern usage favors reserving stanch for use as a verb and staunch as an adjective. H.W. Fowler, Modern English Usage stanch, staunch. The adjective is usually staunch, the verb stanch. Chicago Manual of Style staunch; stanch. Staunch is an adjective meaning â€Å"ardent and faithful† Stanch is a verb meaning â€Å"to stop the flow†; it is almost always used in regard to bleeding, literally and metaphorically AP Stylebook stanch, staunch. Stanch is a verb. Staunch is an adjective. However, not all journalists consult Fowler, CMOS, or AP: Gillards challenge is to staunch the bleeding (The Australian) †¦the operators struggled to quickly staunch the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. (Reuters article) One should give Kennedy his due as a stanch fighter for what he believed in, (political website called American Power) the senator †¦ is a stanch supporter of the right to hunt and the right to bear arms. (USAToday) Here are some examples from writers who do observe the distinction: †¦he was a staunch friend of Polands Jewish community. Staunch anti-Castro U.S. congressman to retire Hospitality, government jobs help stanch D.C. unemployment tide part of the Sixth SS Panzer Armee embarking for the Eastern Front to try to stanch the Russian advance. Does it matter? At least one recent grammar test, the Dow Jones Grammar Test 2009, includes an item that requires a choice between stanch and staunch. (You must enter an email address in order to access the test.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 English Grammar Rules You Should Know"Have" vs "Having" in Certain Expressions7 Sound Techniques for Effective Writing

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Corporate reporting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Corporate reporting - Essay Example It is also about the organization and the recognition of what the economy is now, and what the economy ought to be in the near future. Corporate governance explains the types of processes and the ways in which companies and businesses are controlled and directed. They also indicate the level in which the managerial status of company is and include the information containing the board and its composition, the development that it brings and the level of accountability that it holds. Lastly, it focuses on the type of relationship that the management has with its shareholder, seeing that they are actually the owners of the company. Narrative reporting talks about the non-financial kind of work and it relates to financial information. Such information is presented alongside financial information and this enables for there to be an expanded understanding of a company’s main information (Robins, 34, 2010).   Response to the questions posed by the Finance Minister; 1. In Breakavia, the best placed to help in support of the initial development of the regulation for corporate reporting are the upcoming companies and industries, such as those in the industrial sector and also those in the tourism industry. Corporate reporting brings about the much needed transparency that will bring development in the country. There are certain international practices that can be used as examples in this country. Some include those of the companies that are based in the U.K and the U.S. From these countries, there have been major developments and due to their corporate reporting techniques have been named the best suited companies to rise in ranks. Significant information relating to companies include the market position that it holds, the supplies and the suppliers that it deals with, the general private and public performance both in and out of office and also the company’s future prospects. The next type of reporting, corporate responsibility shows basic information tha t pertains to the way that companies behold its image with its clients, their dealers, the society and the area or environment around them. Such information helps them attract and retain more clients and shareholders while still managing to increase the level of trust that the shareholders have put in the company (Stittle, 56, 2003).   Financial information about companies like in the United States brings transparency and enables a company to be able to maintain its major and final outlook. Financial regulation by the government is a form of regulation that allows financial companies and institutions to be subject to checks and guidelines. They also subject to certain restrictions, which are aimed at bringing about foreclosure of financial system and thus, bring about the rise of integrity of a financial institution. The financial regulation procedures can either be handled by the government of the state, capital markets and also other third parties. As for the regulation by the g overnment, there are laws that govern such activity; for example is, The Companies Act containing company law. There are also other legislations and edicts that are involved in the financial regulation of a business by the state. Regulation by capital markets is whereby there is the establishment of stock exchange to stipulate measurement and also

Friday, November 1, 2019

Portfolio - semester 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Portfolio - semester 1 - Essay Example It is also important because it will enable me to be more vigilant when evaluating data and ensuring it is perfect and up to date as in most cases such information are always ongoing projects. In addition, I will be in a position to identify new business openings and open opportunities for the business in order to improve on their statement approaches. What I want to have achieved by the end of the placement At the end of the placement, I hope to have gained more arithmetical skills that will enable me to perform more tasks that require data collection and analysis. Furthermore, I hope to have improved my participation and devotion characters so that I may become an active member in my working place through taking part in various activities. Criteria 2 Oral communication Why do I think this is important to develop? This element is important because it promotes a high level of understanding and transparency in oral communication as it is interpersonal. There is no constituent of infle xibility in verbal communication, which implies that there is tractability for permitting modifications in the decision-making previously taken. In addition, oral communication is a vital tool for teamwork and team determination (Gonon 2008, p.90). Verbal communication endorses an approachable and motivating positivity among workforces. Therefore, because of these benefits of oral communication, I feel it is very important as it allows interaction within the workplace. By employing effective oral communications skills in a team, I stand a good position to share various ideas with my team members. For me to perform tasks efficiently for the project I have to advance my oral communications skills (Useem 2001, p. 85). I have to develop a proficient understanding with other associates and members of the organization, communicating with them in a formal manner using correct grammatical English. For instance, during my placement I was asked to perform a telephone surveys with staff and me mber from different part of the department. This allowed me to collect qualitative as well as quantitative data from members who are part of the â€Å"Business Allowance Programme.† The feedback from the survey questions gave me an insight of how the programme helped set up the individual company. I also spoke to members and patrons, who are members of the organization asking for their opinions on Chamber’s communications, speaking with member allowed me to enhance my technical vocabulary. At the end of the 6-week project, I was asked to produce a report along with a presentation to the employees of the company. This boosted my self-assurance and vocabulary letting me to execute to the paramount of my capacity. Therefore, this experience was a revelation in my field, especially in terms of improving my oral communication. It made me to realize that oral communication is a very essential component in my project and in the world as a whole as I join the working group. In most organizations, a significant number of employers seek out for applicants with good oral communication; therefore, developing such a character is an advantage for future employment opportunities. What I want to have achieved by the end of the placement By the end of this placement, I hope to have enhanced my oral communication using clear vocabularies during any speech I will be allowed