Refrigerated Rail Cars

In one of the Laura Ingalls Wilder novels, there is a passage relating the author’s first encounter with an orange, a novel experience in frontier America. The issue was that transportation of most food stuffs at that point had to be done via dry goods or those preserved in salt as mass canning was not yet available and transporting food stuffs for long distances could often result in more rot than product delivered to the end user It is then with this in mind that we must consider the invention or refrigerated rail cars and later refrigerated trucks as one technology breakpoint for the food industry.Others would include mass canning techniques and the development of safer workplace technology, but perhaps the biggest impact on the American diet and the food distribution industry. With the invention and widespread use of refrigeration techniques, production of agricultural goods could skyrocket and spoilage was reduced to a minimum. With that in mind, we will examine the direc t impact of refrigeration on the ability to transport food without spoilage before reaching market. No longer were small farms growing enough produce for their local community necessary.Suddenly, large agricultural concerns in California could meet the nation’s demand for many types of fresh produce and do it at a cost that undercut many local farmers. This technological breakpoint changed the way America ate and the very basics of the country’s economy. In this case, the technological breakpoint was almost 150 years ago, but the product continued to improve from there to the refrigerated trucks that are in common use today. Though many improvements have been made to the technology since the breakpoint,In frontier America, as discussed by Wilder, food stuffs that could be transported were either those that could be dried (like pinto beans), root vegetables that travelled well even during extreme temperatures (like potatoes and turnips), or foods that could be preserved in some manner, usually by drying or salting. Fresh vegetables and most fruits had to be raised locally of they simply weren’t available. As the country became more mechanized, railroads were used to ship fruits and vegetables to the frontier, but they still had a very limited shelf life.And, the Rocky Mountains were a huge barrier. Though there was an abundance of fruit and vegetables raised in California, most of it would rot before it could be shipped east over the mountains (California State Railroad Museum). Until the Civil War, the high inland valleys of Colorado produced some vegetables for consumption on the east coast as the loss due to rot was significantly less when the trains did not have to cross the Rockies (South Fork Town History 2007). But it was an intrastate transporter that first saw the potential to improve his bottom line with technology.â€Å"To Parker Earle, an enterprising fruit grower of Cobden, Ill. , goes the credit for pioneering in this develop ment. After several unsuccessful efforts to ship strawberries to Chicago without their spoiling on the way, Mr. Earle hit upon an idea. During the winter of 1865-66 he harvested a large quantity of ice, and he packed the ice in sawdust in his barn so it would keep well into the summer. Then he built several large wooden chests with double linings. Each chest was fitted with two compartments. When the berry-picking season arrived Mr.Earle packed one compartment of each chest with ice and the other compartment with strawberries. † (Catskill Archive 2007). This system of icing the product to create early refrigeration then expanded from Chicago to the rest of the country. â€Å"It was only a step from the iced chest to the iced box car, and Parker Earle was one of the pioneers in this venture also. By 1872 many carloads of strawberries and other fruits were being shipped from southern Illinois to Chicago under refrigeration. In 1885 berries from Virginia were shipped to New York under refrigeration.Three years later Florida oranges entered the New York market, and in 1889 New York received its first carload of deciduous fruit from California. † (Catskill archive 2007) The immediate advantages of the icing system were obvious. Earle’s berries got to the market days before the local crop was ready and earned him as much as $1 a quart, making it a very profitable year. But at least initially, the railroads were not willing to invest in the icing technology required to promote this new development on a large scale. For the trip from Cobden to Chicago, about 300 miles, icing at the point of origin was sufficient.But for longer distances, the railroad would have to create â€Å"icing stations† where the melted ice could be replaced. Many were initially resistant, not seeing the enormous profit potential from the investment (California Rail History Museum 2007). â€Å"Refrigerator cars could not operate efficiently without an elaborate suppor t system. Icing stations had to be located at regular intervals, railroad scheduling had to be reliable so that trains would reach the icing stations before the ice melted, and a dependable marketing system had to be in operation so that the most perishable produce would not rot on the loading docks.Most railroads were slow to recognize the significant profit to be made with refrigerator cars. Initially, private companies owned the reefers and contracted with the railroads to haul them, operating â€Å"fruit blocks,† special trains consisting entirely of refrigerator cars carrying perishables. These trains were given priority over most other traffic. Eventually most railroads purchased their own refrigerator cars or formed refrigerator car subsidiaries with other railroads† (California Rail History Museum 2007).The development had spinoff effects on the marketplace as well. In California, when railroads initially resisted developing icing stations and buying their own r efrigerated cars, local fruit growers banded together to form a fruit growers cooperative and integrate their business vertically, handling their own shipping with cars owned by the fruit growers association (Powell 1910). And, the impact was solely on fruit and vegetable production. In Chicago, local shipping officials saw the implications of Earle’s idea and quickly applied it to the meat-packing industry.Where once cattle had to be transported on the hoof to major markets, requiring a slaughter house in every major city, the ability to ice their meat and send it out to the rest of the country ‘s cemented Chicago’s place as meatpacker to the country (Hill 1923). â€Å"By 1887 wholesale meat shipping was reliable enough to allow Midwestern cities such as Chicago and Kansas City to become national meat packing centers. † (California Rail History 2007) As the centers for the nation’s railroads, Kansas City and Chicago were perfect for the developing meat industry once the refrigeration issue was solved.Both were close to prime livestock country, preventing the need for the long, old-fashioned cattle drives or having to transport the stock via rail to the market, thus driving up costs for the producer. In short, the advent of the refrigerated car made meat a much more accessible and affordable part of the diet for American city dwellers (Crossley 1976). Where previous only persons in rural areas where they could raise their own livestock had plentiful access to beef and pork, the development of the refrigerated car made meat more affordable for everyone.What once had been an expensive treat was now as close as the neighborhood butcher shop. This development also probably contributed to the industrialization after the turn of the century. Previous to the advent of the refrigerated car, a city’s development was limited by the physical constraints of producing enough food to feed the city’s inhabitants. With the abili ty to safely transport food across the country, city dwellers could be assured of having access to the same foods as those who had lived in rural America and have the economic and cultural benefits of the city.This availability, combined with the agricultural proficiency of some regions of the country, helped lead to the beginning of the decline of the traditional family farm. Because fruit growers in California were so proficient at their jobs, coupled with the use of low-cost migrant labor, the development of refrigeration had a huge impact on the way America eats. According to one study in the 1950s, the widespread availability of refrigeration decreased the amount of grains and potatoes that the average family consumed, products that would have been readily in the pre-refrigeration era.Post-refrigeration, people consumed more eggs, milk, meat and fruits and vegetables (Chaney 1957). This information is not meant to imply that the development of transportation ceased after Earleà ¢â‚¬â„¢s first experiment with adding ice to shipped strawberries, but other developments were simply refinements to the technology. By 1900, some meat packers were using a form of mechanized refrigeration and by 1914 most railcars for meat shipments were also refrigerated via mechanical means instead of ice (Hill 1914).By the middle of the century, tractor-trailers with refrigerated compartments would hit the roads and some of the food transport would move from rail to highway (Crossley 1976). But even more than 140 years after Earle’s ice experiment, most of the internal transportation of food within the United States is done by refrigerated rail car. † Of more than 35,000 carloads of fresh fruits and vegetables received in Boston in 1939, 10,456, or 35 per cent, came from California; 8,224 carloads, or 23 per cent, came from Florida, and 1,925 carloads, or 6 per cent, came from Texas.Thus, approximately two out of every three carloads came from these three distant st ates. † (Catskill Archive 2007). As recently as 2004, Congress enacted legislation to attempt to make the rail transportation of food stuffs more sanitary, blaming the transportation for recent outbreaks of salmonella and E. coli (AllBusiness. com 2004). â€Å"To provide the American people with year-round, nation-wide service in the transportation of perishable products, the railroads operate a fleet of 145,000 refrigerator cars. Assembled in a single train, these cars would reach 1,194 miles across the country. † (Catskill archive 2007).Though we often disregard the nation’s railways as a means of transportation, the development of the food industry proves that the use of the railway can be vital to the development of an industry. It is imperative that we learn the lesson of the refrigerated rail car and realize that technology does not necessarily have to be cutting edge to have a major impact on the lifestyle we choose to lead. After all, though a cutting edg e iPhone may be all the rage, eggs and bacon for breakfast will help get the day off to a good start. The technology needed for breakfast is much more complicated, and older, than we might have imagined. Works CitedCalifornia Rail History Museum, , Access December 18, 2007. Chaney, Margaret S. â€Å"The Role of Science in Today's Food† Marriage and Family Living, Vol. 19, No. 2, Health and Family Welfare. (May, 1957), pp. 142-149. City of South Fork, Colorado, â€Å"City History† , Accessed December 18, 2007. Crossley, J. C. â€Å"Processing â€Å"Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 66, No. 1. (Mar. , 1976), pp. 60-75. Hill, Howard Copeland. â€Å"The Development of Chicago as a Center of the Meat Packing Industry† The Mississippi Valley Historical Review, Vol.10, No. 3. (Dec. , 1923), pp. 253-273. â€Å"Loading Spinach into a Refrigerator Car†, Catskill Archive, , Access December 18, 2007. Powell, Fred Wilbur. â€Å"Co-operative Ma rketing of California Fresh Fruit†The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol. 24, No. 2. (Feb. , 1910), pp. 392-418. â€Å"Senate Bill seeks to Regulate Sanitary Transportation of Food† < http://www. allbusiness. com/refrigeration/20041119/4455016-1. html>, Accessed December 19, 2007. Appendix 1 From the Catskill Archive: Loading spinach into a â€Å"reefer†, a refrigerated rail car.

Getting to Know Cagayan Essay

I. Description Cagayan is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte and Apayao to the west, and Kalinga and Isabela to the south. Cagayan is part of one of the largest valleys in the Philippines formed by the majestic Sierra Madre and Cordillera mountain ranges. It is traversed by the mighty 330-km long Cagayan River and its various tributaries. The province could have gotten its name from the Ilocano word carayan or â€Å"big river,† referring to the Rio Grande De Cagayan, the longest river in the country, which bisects its valley from north to south. Or it could have been derived from the tagay trees (tall hardwood) that grew along the river banks. It is possible that the area was called Catagayan, meaning â€Å"where the tagay abounds.† The earliest inhabitants were the Aetas, short dark-skinned nomads belonging to the Negrito family. They were followed by Indo-Malay immigrants who came to be known as Ybanags The majority of people living in Cagayan are of Ilocano descent, mostly from migrants coming from the Ilocos Region. Originally, the more numerous group were the Ybanags, who were first sighted by the Spanish explorers and converted to Christianity by missionaries. This is why the Ibanag language spread throughout the area prior to the arrival of Ilocanos. II. Culture, Way of Life, Values, Religion and Beliefs Cagayan is a very ancient civilization. It has its distinct, rich and diverse culture. Commerce and trade was practiced by its inhabitants and has flourished with the Japanese, Chinese and other neighbor Asian countries even before the Spanish colonizers reached its shores. The province’s agricultural production is concentrated on two areas. The Cagayan River Delta produces rice, corn, vegetables, and rootcrops. The region near the boundary with Isabela contains a number of large tobacco plantations. Agricultural products also are of peanut, beans, and fruits. Livestock products include cattle, hogs, carabaos, and poultry. Fishing various species of fish from the coastal towns is also undertaken. Woodcraft furniture made of hardwood, rattan, bamboo, and other indigenous materials are also available in the province. The mountain ranges yield good hardwoods, as well as rattan and other forest products used in cottage industries. Fishing is a major industry in the coastal areas. Its ancientness is evidenced by the presence of centuries-old churches and other religious relics, archeological sites of nomadic tribes, and richness of its local language and culture. The oldest bell in the country, cast in 1592, still peals from the tower of the church in Camalaniugan. The old brick works in Tuguegarao lie inside the city and speak of a time when bricks were extensively used to build the beautiful churches of the Cagayan. Cagayan with its ancientness is still replete with adventure and excitement. It can flaunt its pristine natural beauty and endowment. It has breathtaking sceneries, beaches, and cavernous caves, thunderous falls, rapids, rivers, limestone mountains, thick and virgin forests, verdant valleys and many more. Also, it is a land of many opportunities having one of the largest fertile alluvial plains, grazing lands and fishing grounds (both marine and inland waters) in the Philippines and a continuous and sustainable supply of production materials. Multi-lingual, warm, gentle and amiable people await you in this remaining patch of tropical paradise in Northern Philippines. III. Land and Topography The province is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the east; on the south by Isabela province; on the west by the Cordillera Mountains; and on the north by the Balintang Channel and the Babuyan Group of Islands. About two kilometers from the northeastern tip of the province is the island of Palaui; a few kilometers to the west is Fuga Island. The Babuyan Group of Islands, which includes Calayan, Dalupiri, Camiguin, and Babuyan Claro, is about 60 nautical miles (110 km) north of Luzon mainland. The province comprises an aggregate land area of 9,002.70 square kilometers, which constitutes three percent of the total land area of the country, making it the second largest province in the region. Cagayan has 28 municipalities and one city divided into three congressional districts. It has 820 barangays. Tuguegarao City (as of December 18, 1999) is the provincial capital, regional seat, and center of business, trade, and education. It has a land area of 144.80 square kilometers and a population of 120,645 as of 2000. Seasons in the province are not very pronounced. Relatively dry season occurs during the months of March to June and rainy season from July to October, although it is relatively cold during the months of November to February. IV. What did you learn for this ethnic group and its relation for cultural anthropology Due to the influx of Ilokano migrants in the last century, majority of the people of Cagayan speak Iloko as their primary tongue. Aside from the Ilokanos, there are several smaller ethnic groups that live in the province. The Ybanags are the dominant ethnic group in the vicinity of the provincial capital of Cagayan-—Tuguegarao, now a city. The closely related Itawits inhabit the Pinacanauan River valley as well as areas of Amulung and Tuao. The Malawegs are found mainly in the municipality of Rizal . In the foothills and the mountains of the Sierra Madre Range , several Negrito groups called the Agtas forage and hunt for food. The established lingua franca of the province is Ybanag. The Ybanags, Itawits and Malawegs are mainly lowland farmers whose agricultural practices are similar to those of the Ilokanos. The Ybanags used to inhabit the area along the Cagayan coast but migrated further inland. They conducted trade with neighboring areas using distinctive sea crafts, and their commercial interests made their language the medium of commerce throughout the region before the influx of Ilokano migrants. They are also excellent blacksmiths and continue to make good bolos. The Ybanags are reputed to be the tallest of all the ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines The Itawits are almost indistinguishable from the Ybanags. They build their houses with separate kitchens, connected by a narrow walkway that is used as washing area for hands and feet. The Itawits are noted for their pottery and basket-weaving traditions.

Amish and Modern American Society

Module B: Close Study of Text Text: Witness ‘Witness’, an American film, directed by Australian director Peter Weir, is a film set in 1985 about a clash of modern American society, and an idyllic Amish community. Maeri Saeli describes it as â€Å"the two worlds meet, but never merge† This is shown in the interaction between ideas, characters and techniques that make an impact on the audience. The main ideas represented in this text are Violence versus non-violence/ pacifism versus direct action, relationships, and the clash of cultures. Through exploring these ideas characterisation becomes evident and many techniques are used such as film techniques, symbolism and these can be recognised by analysing scenes. Violence versus non-violence is represented through the clashing of the two cultures and the differences of their cultural values and ideals. The modern American society, where Book is originally situated is evidently a society that uses much violence to achieve things whenever necessary. This type of society is visually implied by Peter Weir as being corrupted, seedy and violent in nature which is shown through darkness, and filming is often conducted under the cover of night, in crowded and cramped spaces, and by using artificial lighting. For example the scene conducted at the Happy Valley night club shows this type of violent and depressive society. Book grabs a suspect from inside the cramped and sordid bar, takes him outside into the night and slams his face into the car window, for Samuel to identify, where we see the shocked faces of Samuel and Rachel who wait inside a light blue car which represents their purity and innocence during this situation and this contrasts with the dark, violent and ‘foreign’ society that surrounds them. As this light coloured car is owned by Book, it is also suggestive that although he uses violence, Book is a good and moral man at heart which is revealed throughout the film. Thus these examples show that this modern American society is one where you cannot ‘judge a book by its cover’ and they allows the audience to observe the individualistic and greedy views of the modern American society. However, this American society is constantly juxtaposed by the peaceful, harmonic nature of the Amish, which seem to have a connection with their land and they possess much morality. They are a completely pacifist society, which means that they do not believe in resorting to violence under any circumstances. Their society is represented by light (natural lighting/daylight), pastel colour schemes, long shots of the sky, barns and open fields, particularly in the opening scenes, and they are shown as a community whereas those in the modern American society are represented as individualistic. Throughout the film, Book develops as a character and learns that violence does not necessarily have to be resorted to under every circumstance. This is specifically shown in the ‘showdown’ scene, when Book is able to disarm Schaeffer by persuasion rather than by violent means, and the Amish community all gather around to bear witness and thus act as an aid in persuading Schaeffer to give in. Witnessing is a reoccurring motif throughout the film and it is reinforced as a basis of the film through the title, as well as the audience who witness the narrative of the film unfold. The symbolism of the ‘gun’ represents the evil and corruption of humans; its creation was by humans and it is now used to kill other humans. This is shown through the corruption of Samuel against the Amish views, as he witnesses the murder, becomes curious of the gun and his corruption is shown ultimately when he states â€Å"I would only kill a bad man†. This scene involves the audience with purpose of raising the issue: who is to decide when a man is bad? This involves the audience as they are able to make their own opinion on the easy corruption of such an innocent and young character. Eli, Samuel’s grandfather is represented as an important mentor and role model for Samuel when he sits down to confront Samuel about the gun, so rather than avoiding the issue of violence and danger that has entered Samuel’s eyes he takes it as an opportunity to educate. The clash of cultures, and the understanding that they can never merge, comes through Book and Rachel’s relationship. The ‘Barn Dancing Scene’ clearly represents how their love is forbidden in the Amish community and that their culture differences could never let them be together, even though they are desperately in love. In this scene, the lyrics of ‘what a wonderful world it would be ’ are played through Book’s car stereo as they dance under the headlights of the car that he has been repairing in the barn – thus there is a juxtaposition here and ‘clash’ of the two worlds which is evident as the car does not look right in the setting of a barn. The lyrics suggest that although their relationship could be wonderful, the WOULD shows that it would never happen under the circumstances. The quick cut editing and close-ups as they dance show their ffection for each other, and the fun that they have in each other’s company, however this is interrupted by a shocked and angry Eli who represents the views of the Amish community and this strengthens the idea of forbidden love. The idea that the two cultures could never successfully cooperate with each other in the long term, and the idea that the Amish society are conformists and value community, and the modern Ame rican society functions under individuality and personal gain, is shown in a scene set in a nearby town of the Amish. When young American ‘rednecks’ insult and wipe ice-cream across Daniel’s face, Book get increasingly angry. However, Eli states to Book, â€Å"it is not our way,† whilst Book replies, â€Å"But it is my way. † The emphasis on OUR and MY represents the two different cultural ideals as well as reinforcing the different views on violence in the societies. Book has been trained to be a cop finds this belief in himself and his justification of violence very hard to deny, thus showing how he could not permanently give up his American lifestyle in order to live with the Amish, to be with Rachel. Although the Amish believe in pacifism, without Book’s help, Samuel would have most probably been murdered by Schaeffer and McFee and this would have caused much more devastation in the Amish community. Therefore the audience, and the Amish community, are thankful for Book’s contribution in the community. This acceptance of Book is shown in the ‘sendoff’ scenes where Eli says â€Å"Be careful among them English† to Book, showing that Book is now recognised as a good, valued man despite their differences and that Eli knows that Book is not the stereotypical ‘Englishman’ that Eli fears but that he is a much deeper and kind person than expected. Throughout the film, it is inevitably shown that Peter Weir possesses many skills in the art of film-making and his use of interaction between ideas, characters and techniques are effective in impacting on the audience.

Macroeconomic convergence, development and growth Essay

Macroeconomic convergence, development and growth - Essay Example This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the concept of macroeconomic convergence, and outlines empirical facts, that confirm this hypothesis. Macroeconomic convergence is a process adopted by the adjoining economies across regions for economic integration amidst themselves. The trade and growth models are two models depicting economic integration and are related to convergence of income. Macroeconomic convergence could be reached more rapidly when there is an equitable distribution of wealth . Some of the most vigorous of all attempts towards macroeconomic convergence is noted among the African economies which are pestered by poverty. These nations have realized the importance of macroeconomic convergence to make their meek presences felt and to ensure monetary, financial and political stability as well as security There are two kinds of macroeconomic convergence. Sigma-convergence signifies the rate at which the disparity in the income levels of nations is reducing, beta-convergence implies the rate at which the poorer nations are growing compared to their richer counterparts Macroeconomic convergence could be brought about by drawing integration between the macroeconomic policies of the underlying nations. The nations might take an initiative to characterize themselves with similar economic features so as to lend themselves on comparative grounds with their neighbours The concept of convergence is found to be popular among the poorer nations of the world whose primary aim is to raise their respective per capita incomes. Economic growth and macroeconomic convergence: an empirical investigation Integration of national as well as regional economies with world economy is the salient feature over many years. Two models of economic integration which relates to income convergence are firstly growth models and secondly trade models (Kim, 1997, p.4). According to the neoclassical Solow model of growth, the regional level of income varies due to the different capital labour ratios. Whereas the Hecksher Ohlin trade model says that the income varies across the regions due to the difference in the factor prices and factor endowments (Kim, 1997, p.5). Income convergence occurs due to trades in goods and economic integration via equalisation in prices. Factor endowments vary across the regions and therefore various regions specialise in different industries. The growth models generated by Romer and Lucas, which are based on increasing returns on physical capital, states the chances of such income divergence. Even the trade models by Krugman states that income divergence may arise due to the differences in the industrial structures. If the industries equipped with high technology and high wages are subjected to external economy then the trade transactions

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Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 147

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Steve Jobs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

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American Workforce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

American Workforce - Essay Example tics, 2012), in 2011 just 71 percent of men had jobs, whereas in 1960’s more than 80 percent of men worked; and the share of women holding jobs rose from 36 percent in 1960 to 58 percent in 2011. Among the major worker groups, in the year 2012, the unemployment rates for adult men (7.8 percent) and Hispanics (11.0 percent) edged up in May, while the rates for adult women (7.4 percent), teenagers (24.6 percent), whites (7.4 percent), and blacks (13.6 percent) showed little or no change (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012). The jobless rate for Asians was 5.2 percent in 2012 down from 7.0 percent a year earlier (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012). The baby-boom generation, people born from 1946 to 1964, which has been a major force in the labor market of US for the past 33 years, has now reached its prime working years. So while 64 percent of those ages 55 to 59 worked during the mid-1980s, 73 percent worked in 2011, according to (Schulzke, 2012). In the mid-1980s, 68 percent of the 16-to-24-year-old cohort was in the workforce; by 2011 only 55 percent were (Schulzke, 2012). According to (Schulzke, 2012), Baby boomers are actually far more likely to keep working than earlier generations, and for many reasons: jobs are less physically draining, medicine has extended vitality, Social Security now pushes older workers to keep going and market reversals have erased nest eggs. However, should long-term health trends, such as rising levels of obesity and the increase in certain chronic health conditions, continue, fewer individuals than expected may be able to work long past retirement age (Schramm, 2005). Changes in demographics, specifically family structure, living arrangements and marriage rates, may also impact retirement trends. Studies have found that, after retirement, baby boomers are more likely to move to nonmetropolitan areas within their current region rather than moving to a different region

Asian history Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Asian history - Research Paper Example On the other hand, proponents of excavation argue that by unearthing the mausoleum, archaeologists and historians would access what is inside and piece up the findings to help with finding answers to questions related with the ruler’s empire (Ferroa, and Chan 18). The proponents add that the site will be an important tourist attraction whose opening will create jobs and income for the local population. This paper explores the benefits and shortfalls of opening the Qin Shi Huang’s tomb. Cultural and historical richness of the tomb The cultural and historical richness of the mausoleum is well captured in the history of the emperor. Emperor Qin Shi Huang was eldest son of the Qin emperor, whose family comprises one of the half-dozen autonomous empires in the contemporary China. He is believed to have died around 210 BC (Liao, Pan, and Ma 395-399). These empires had been at crossroads for over two centuries, but Qin Shi Huang’s vanquished them all, before declaring h imself the king. After his death, his body was interred in a large site located to the east of Xi’an in Shaanxi Province of China. His large army of terracotta soldiers was also buried alongside him to give him protection in death. His lavish burial place is now at the center of an excavation debate. Although archaeological activities have been done on most parts of the mausoleum, the most important parts remain uncovered. The archaeologists have yet to dig the grounds near and including the tomb where the emperor was buried. According to Smith (87) part of the area that has not yet been touched is a raised ground where it is believed emperor Huang’s remains were interred. There is a hot debate as to whether it is appropriate to proceed with the excavation exercise or not. The Debate Inadequate technology, and respect for the cultural values of the local community are perhaps the greatest points behind the stoppage of the archaeological activities in the mausoleum. Som e of the archaeologists have suggested that the postponement move is partly influenced by the honor for the local elders, and the lack of adequate technology that can be used to excavate the site and still preserve the important values there. According to Portal (53), the resolution by Chinese officials not to tolerate further activities is a positive one at least based on the outcomes of similar activities in the past. China’s authorities do not seem to be ready to engage in the same poor archaeological activities that might result in the loss of the culturally invaluable items at the site. In Egypt, for instance, early twentieth century archaeologists with poor technology engaged in an excavation exercise to retrieve the rich cultural artifacts in King Tut's tomb. The 1930’s exercise ended in lost valuable information. In light of this, archaeologists believe that there is a lot that could be lost if current techniques were deployed in the tomb. Ferroa and Chan (19) point out proponents of the halting of excavation activities are clear in their mind; they want a delay of the process until better technology is available to support a better process. A postponement of the process by three to five decades would be a sound conservation strategy, they suggest. In light of this,

Polymers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Polymers - Essay Example Among the naturally-occurring polymers are cotton, silk, cellulose, proteins and DNA, natural rubber, and amber whereas those of synthetic polymers are nylon, polyethylene, polyester, Teflon, epoxy, synthetic rubber, silicone, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and neoprene. As covalently bonded structures of macromolecules, polymers can be modified and be formed in chains that are linear, branched, cross-linked, or networked. Like any other molecule or substance with certain characteristics, a polymer bears properties specific to its own composition and nature. Polymeric properties have been determined based on the identity of constituent monomers, the arrangement of these monomers along with repeating units into a ‘microstructure’ within a polymer, the phase behaviour, the polymer morphology, as well as the mechanical and chemical properties of a polymer. Critical to the understanding of the morphology and phase behaviour of polymers is the temperature, for the degree of crystallinity of a polymer is a function of temperature so that through temperature variation, one can decide when a polymer becomes either crystalline or amorphous. A polymer transitions from a crystalline phase to an amorphous phase upon reaching its melting point. At high temperatures in which polymers behave as viscous liquid, thermoplastic polymers soften unstably while thermosetting polymers harden permanently where thermosets, such as epoxy and polyester, are found to be more brittle and dimensionally stable than thermoplasts, like polyetheretherketone, upon heating. During cooling period, however, a polymer transforms from a rubbery-viscous liquid phase to an amorphous solid phase, deforming elastically at low temperatures. Adjusting the temperature affects the modulus of elasticity of a polymer such that a range of polymeric material – whether viscous ,

Ludwig van Beethoven Essay Example for Free

Ludwig van Beethoven Essay Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer who brought about gigantic alterations in the nature and techniques of music—an achievement matched by few other artists. He found music a rococo-dramatic art, the orchestra a relatively small ensemble, and the piano a newly established successor to the harpsichord. By his aggressive, iconoclastic, even egotistic nature, and by his huge ability to manipulate and balance musical ideas and forces, Beethoven marked his later creations with his own stormy, tender, lyrical, and intellectual character. By employing text less music to communicate philosophical ideas and to serve as autobiography, he pushed music far along the road toward 19th century romanticism and bequeathed to his successors the portrait of the great creator as culture hero (Bekker, 2005). He expanded the size of the orchestra and the possible length of orchestral compositions, preparing the way for Schubert, Berlioz, Richard Wagner, Johannes Brahms, Gustav Mahler, Anton Bruckner, and Richard Strauss. He is considered one of the greatest composers of all time. Beethoven has been called the â€Å"Shakespeare of Music† for the manner in which he combined mastery of technique with depth of feeling and variety of form. Beethoven’s composing was slow and painstaking. He had to revise, polish and work. His life was plagued by family problems and ill health. He was totally deaf in the last years of his life, yet this did not stop him from composing. Beethoven was a temperamental man and often quarreled with his associates. He had tempestuous love affairs but never married. He went far toward establishing the piano as the foremost musical instrument. Not a great craftsman when handling the human voice, Beethoven excelled in all other branches of music. The taste of the 20th century inclines to call Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven the greatest of all musical creators (Bekker, 2005). Thesis Statement: This study scrutinizes the life of Ludwig van Beethoven and be aware of his unusual or significant contributions to music. II. Background A. Early Years Beethoven was born at Bonn, probably on December 16, 1770, and was baptized on December 17. Of Flemish-German descent, he was the second of seven children of Johann van Beethoven, who sang tenor in the chorus of the elector of Cologne. Ludwig’s mother was Maria Magdalena Laym. The boy demonstrated musical talent as early as his sixth year, and his father tried to develop him into a child like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. At 10, Ludwig was sent to study with Christian Gottlob Neefe, the elector’s court organist. Neefe nourished him on Johann Sebastian Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier and wrote in 1783: â€Å"If he goes on as he has started, he will certainly become a second Mozart. Young Beethoven later studied under several court musicians, who helped him master the violin, organ, and piano. In 1787 he went to Vienna and there met Mozart, who was impressed by his piano improvisations. Beethoven returned to Bonn when his mother became ill. After her death, his father became an alcoholic and Beethoven helped support his younger brothers. In the following years, Beethoven held several important music posts at the court and also gave private music lessons. In 1792 he moved to Vienna, probably at the request of Haydn, who was Beethoven’s teacher for a time, but the two composers did not get along well and Beethoven continued his studies with Johann Schenk and Antonio Salieri. Beethoven began to play at private musical soirees given by the Viennese aristocracy and quickly won fame as a virtuoso pianist. He gave his first public concert in 1795, performing his Piano Concert No. 2 in B flat and soon became well known as a composer. Except for occasional trips, Beethoven spent the rest of his life in Vienna. There he enjoyed both artistic and social success, as noblemen became both his patrons and his friends. Beethoven first noticed a hearing loss in the late 1790’s. As the condition grew worse he became irritable, suspicious, and quarrelsome. He continued to compose, however, and wrote his final compositions, including the magnificent Ninth Symphony â€Å"Choral†, while totally deaf. Scholars disagree on the cause of his deafness. It may have resulted from a childhood illness, from syphilis, or from otosclerosis, a condition in which bony growths form between the inner ear and the middle ear (Grove, 2003). Beethoven’s music forms a transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in music. He is most famous for his symphonies, sonatas, concertos, and quartets but also composed songs, cantatas, masses, and incidental theater music. Beethoven used the Classical forms but enlarged their formal structure and enriched their emotional content with a personal expressiveness (Grove, 2003). III. Discussion A. His contributions †¢ Middle Period Beethoven’s personal eccentricities, his proud boorishness, and even his lack of personal cleanliness were accepted as the marks of the genius he was. A short, muscular, stocky man, he had a bush of wild hair and fierce, piercing black eyes in a notably ruddy face. His upper-class friends suffered at his hands but stubbornly remained faithful to him. They supported him by providing comfortable lodgings, by giving him money, and by patronizing his concerts and publications. By 1804, he was composing such of his great piano sonatas as the Waldstein and the Appassionata, and probably had embarked on his only opera, Fidelio (Newman, 2004). Meanwhile, by 1805, Beethoven had begun to sketch his Fifth (C Minor) Symphony, his Fourth (G Major) Piano Concerto, and the first of his Rasoumovsky string quartets. In 1806, in the midst of the Napoleonic disorders, he composed his only violin concerto, first heard on December 23 of that year. While Beethoven worked on the concerto, his desk was littered with advanced sketches of his Fourth Fifth, and Sixth symphonies. The Fourth was first heard in the spring of 1807; the Fifth (C Minor) and Sixth (Pastoral, F Major) were played at a concert on December 22, 1808, which included half a dozen others of his works (the premieres of the Choral Fantasy and the Fourth Piano Concerto)(Grove, 2003). On completing his Third (Eroica) Symphony, in E Flat, in 1804, Beethoven had inscribed it to Napoleon, thinking of him as a democratic liberator; this inscription he later angrily struck out. Nevertheless, he seriously considered, as late as 1808-1089, an offer from Jerome Bonaparte, king of Westphalis, to become his Kapellmeister at Kassel. Hearing of this, three of Beethoven’s Viennese patrons, including the young Archduke Rudolf, joined to offer him a yearly income, and he decided not to emigrate (Anderson, 2001). †¢ Last Works Between 1817 and 1823, Beethoven completed the last 5 of his 32 piano sonatas. In 1818, he began a mass intended for use at the installation of his friend Archduke Rudolf as archbishop of Olmutz (Olomouc). He did not complete it until February 27, 1823; the Missa solemnis was first sung at a private performance in ST. Petersburg on April 6, 1824. Beethoven had planned a symphony in F minor. He worked at it desultorily in 1823, when he seriously set to work to complete it. He decided to make its last movement a choral setting of Friedrich von Schiller’s Ode to Joy and pronounced the Ninth Symphony complete on September 5, 1823. He had accepted 250 from the Philharmonic Society of London in return for a promise that it would receive his new symphony in manuscript. But he had also promised the premiere to Berlin and had dedicated the symphony to the King of Prussia. When his Viennese patrons insisted that it be heard in Vienna first, he yielded, salving his conscience by sending the actual autograph score at London. The first hearing of the Ninth Symphony occurred in Vienna on May 7, 1824. When the audience broke into frantic applause, the deaf Beethoven was unaware of the enthusiasm until someone turned him around so that he could see the demonstration (Anderson, 2001). IV. Conclusion As a conclusion, custom long has divided Beethoven’s numerous works into three periods. These inexact, overlapping categories represent actual changes in styles. The first period shows Beethoven as the direct heir and imitator of Haydn and Mozart. Opening about 1800, the second period, far more idiosyncratic, includes the majority of his most popular works: symphonies Nos. 2 to 8 inclusive, Fidelio, the last three piano concertos, the violin concerto, the Leonore, Egmont, and Coriolan overtures, the Rasoumovsky string quartets, other chamber music, and 14 of the piano sonatas. The third of the Beethoven periods, one of distillation and summation, encompasses the Ninth Symphony, the five final string quartets, and the Missa solemnis (Anderson, 2001). Critics still discuss whether or not Beethoven’s deafness influenced the special character of his later works. Reference: 1. Anderson, Emily. (2001). The Letters of Beethoven, 5 vols. Pp. 23-27. London and New York. 2. Bekker, Paul. (2005)Beethoven, tr. By M. M. Bozman, pp. 114-116, London. 3. Grove, George. (2003). The Life and Works of Beethoven, pp. 24-36, New York. 4. Newman, Romain. (2004). The Unconsciousness Beethoven, pp. 67-68, London and New York.

Extreme tourism and Antarctica Essay Example for Free

Extreme tourism and Antarctica Essay What is Extreme Tourism? Extreme tourism is an offshoot of mainstream tourism that involves the tourist going to areas with a hazardous landscape combined with a dangerous climate or remote areas that are either sparsely populated or not populated at all. More and more people are taking part in activities like rock climbing, white-water rafting, paragliding and more. Who Takes Part? More often than not, the typical adventure tourist will be 30 years old, unmarried person and have no children. Due to the expensive nature of these holidays, those taking part will most likely be in high power jobs, which would allow them to earn a high income. Most people will come in small groups but there are a few wealthy individuals who go by themselves. As very few people go on these types of holidays, the sector will never be as large as other tourism sectors like eco-tourism. What are the Attractions? The most popular areas for extreme tourism are Peru, Chile, Argentina, Azerbaijan and Pakistan. These areas boast difficult landscapes, hard climates and even unstable political situations. A notable example of this would be the mountainous regions of north Pakistan. They are often described as some of the most difficult landscapes in the world and, as mentioned earlier, some feel that the risky political situation (as it is near an Al Qaeda base) adds an extra thrill. Other more mainstream attractions include desert trekking, canoeing in areas like the Amazon and hiking in the Himalayas. Antarctica: What Activities are there? Most of the activities available in Antarctica are based around the unique climate and wildlife present there. The activities vary from sporting activities such as skiing and hiking expeditions, to viewing the native wildlife like whales and penguins. Activities like living with the Emperor Penguins are very popular among tourists as you arent required to be very physically fit and it can be very touching to be around them. Other activities like skiing across large distances or hiking up mountains like Mount Vincent are a lot more demanding physically and as such fewer people go on these expeditions, yet they are still quite popular due to the thrill achieved by taking part in these dangerous activities. How has the Number of Tourists going to Antarctica Changed? Tourism in the Antarctic regions started in the late 1950’s (approximately 1958), half a century after Amundsen and his team first arrived at the South Pole. At this time the numbers of people visiting the area were very low, a stark contrast with the numbers of tourists arriving today which is somewhere around 28,000 people per year. The number of people visiting is only expected to go up as more activities are made and marketing of the area increases. What are the Impacts of Tourism? While those in charge of the tours do their best to ensure that any impacts caused by the tourists are minimal or dont even happen, it is nigh impossible for them to remove the risk altogether. As a result, there are impacts caused by the tourists and the extent of some of them can be quite considerate. The most obvious impact brought on by tourists is the disturbance of the native wildlife such as the emperor penguins. Human interaction with these animals can cause major effects such as a change in migration patterns leading to further effects in the ecosystem as a whole. Impacts can come in other means as well. The sinking of the MS Explorer showed that access to the area needed to be restricted and lead to fuel spilling in the water, doing untold damage to the marine life. How have the Impacts been managed? All tour operators, of which there are more than 100, are members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and are urged to be environmentally friendly in their practices and are asked to convince tourists to be as well. In order to preserve more delicate areas, there are certain Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s) which tourists are not allowed to visit so that the wildlife and inhabitants are protected. Anyone wishing to take part in activities on the island must have a permit and are banned from leaving any waste/litter behind and being closer than 5m to an animal. Any ships going to the area is limited in the amount of passengers it can have (500 max of which only 100 can disembark at once).

Historical Cost Accounting: Criticisms and Alternatives

Historical Cost Accounting: Criticisms and Alternatives Introduction Accounting is a measurement and communication of financial information about economic activities to interested persons.  [1]  The primary role of accounting is to provide an effective measurement and reporting system which is also accounting information system for decision making. The corporate form of a large business has created separation of business ownership and control. Outsiders of an organization, usually, dont possess first-hand knowledge of the day-to-day running and condition of the business, which makes them dependant, to some extent, on accounting reports for information. Management is considered to be a company insider, who has access to the important information about a company that can affect its stock prices or might influence investors decisions. This creates conflict of interest as company insiders are in a position to exploit a professional or official capacity in some way for their personal or corporate benefit. International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) view that investors need information on risk and return; employees are interested in their stability and profitability; lenders are concerned with loans and interest to be paid when due; suppliers and other traders want to know whether owed amount will be paid or not; and customers are interested in continuance of the enterprise.  [2]  Information is needed by various users to be able to decide when to buy, hold or sell equity of investment; or to access the stewardship or accountability of management. Creditors and suppliers use information to assess security for the amount lent to the enterprise. However, not all users of information have interest or confidence in the information provided by the management. Due to separation of ownership and control; and managements ability of exploiting outsiders for their own benefits, many investors have no interest or confidence in analyzing a companys financial statements. Instead, they rely on market analysis by other specialists about the psychology of the market and its effect on share prices. This report is focused on the historical cost accounting adopted by most of the countries and why, even though has many problems associated with it, have governments accepted this system even with availability of alternative accounting systems. This report details the benefits and criticism of historical cost accounting along with alternatives to historical cost accounting and their criticisms. 2. Historical Cost Accounting The historical cost accounting values an asset for balance sheet purposes at the price paid for the asset at the time of its acquisition.  The historical cost accounting is the situation in which accountants record revenue, expenditure and asset acquisition and disposal at historical cost: that is, the actual amounts of money, or moneys worth, received or paid to complete the transaction.   Historical cost is based on actual transaction rather than forecasts. There are supporting records for all the figures provided in the financial statements. It is also relevant in making economic decisions, as past data transactions are needed for making future decisions. Another defense of historical cost is that historical cost has been used throughout history as financial statements which use historical cost are found to be useful. Profit is the excess of selling price over historical cost. Profit is a very well accepted concept of measure of performance. It is the difference between revenue and cost that determines on decision to continue a product line or division. Historical Cost Accounting is very much based on this concept of profit and loss. Others, in defense of Historical Cost Accounting argue that historical cost is less subject to manipulation of data than other forms of accounting such as Current Cost. The use of current cost or exit price opens the door to manipulation of these numbers. In other words, how are current costs to be determined and how can accountants determine which value is true and fair? More importantly accountants must guard the integrity of their data against internal modification. Criticisms of Historical Cost Accounting Overtime, criticisms of historical cost accounting have been raised by number of notable scholars, particularly in relation to its inability to provide useful information in times of rising prices.  [3]  Historical Cost Accounting record all assets at an original cost and continue to use these historic figures throughout the assets life, while time-value of money is completely ignored. Across time these criticisms appear to have been accepted to a certain degree by accounting regulators. In recent years various accounting standards have been released that require the application of fair values when measuring assets. For example AASB 116 gives financial statement preparers a choice between the cost model and the fair value model in measurement of property, plant, and equipment. Financial Instruments (AASB 139), investment properties (AASB 114), and biological assets (AASB141) are required to be valued at fair value as opposed to historical cost. Chambers in 1966 argued that the historical cost accounting information suffers from problems of irrelevance in times of rising prices. It is also questioned whether it is useful to be informed about something that cost a particular amount many years ago whereas its current value might be considerably different. It has been argued that there is a real problem of additivity.  [4]  The matter at issue is whether it is logical to added together assets acquired at different periods when those assets were acquired with amounts of different purchasing power. Alternatives to Historical Cost Accounting Current Cost Accounting Current Cost Accounting (CCA) attempts to provide more realistic book values by valuing assets at current market buying prices. It takes into account time-value of money and inflation. It is more complex than the traditional accounting, and it has created controversy about what adjustments are appropriate. Unlike Historical Cost Accounting, there is no need for inventory cost flow assumptions such as last-in-first-out and weighted average. The business profit in CCA shows how the entity has gained in financial terms the increase in cost of its resources, which is ignored by historical cost accounting. Differentiating operating profit from holding gains and losses has claimed to enhance the usefulness of information being provided by CCA. Holding gains are different from trading income as they are due to market-wide movements which are beyond the control of the management.  [5]  Therefore, CCA doesnt rewards managers for profits from holding gains and losses which isnt an actual profit and also gives useful information to investors. Supporters of CCA are convinced that it provides more useful information than conventional accounting but still they do not agree on all issues. There is one group who believe in the financial capital concept in which the holding gains is included in the profit and the other group is those who believe in the physical capital concept. Under physical capital concept, holding gains and losses are not included in the profit and are supported by the theory of optimal resource usage that uses current costs as a measure of input opportunity cost. Criticisms of Current Cost Accounting Measurement errors may have reduced the usefulness of current-cost and replacement-cost data. Replacement-cost valuations of plant and equipment often include the cost of technological advances and often these advances would reduce operating costs below the level reported by historical cost. As a result, when replacement-cost depreciation is substituted for historical-cost depreciation, the cost of doing business includes the high capital cost of the advanced technology as well as the high operating costs of the older technology in use, which creates measurement errors.  [6]   The supporters of Historical Cost Accounting criticize CCA because it violates the traditional revenue recognition principle by recognizing increases in the value of the assets, both current and non-current, before they are sold. This is irrelevant as changes in market price dont mean anything until the assets are sold. A non-current asset isnt more valuable to a business just because its current cost has increased. Another problem is the subjectivity of determining the amount of the increase in cost. There are some non-current assets that dont have a second-hand market because it was specifically built or made for that business only. So the basis of determining the current cost must be the new asset expected to replace the old one. CCA also involves a mathematical problem of additivity. This is because the figures generated from CCA arent of the same nature because it involves a variety of measurement models. Exit Price Accounting Exit Price Accounting (EPA) also known as Continuously Contemporary Accounting (CoCoA) has been proposed by researchers such as McNeal, Sterling, and especially Raymond Chambers. Its an accounting theory that prescribes that assets should be valued at exit prices and that financial statements should function to inform about an organizations capacity to adapt.  [7]  Chambers described the entitys capacity to adapt as the cash that could be obtained if the entity sold its assets. Chambers believed that economic survival of the entity depends on the amount of cash it can command and the balance sheet is crucial to these decisions. Chambers used the term current cash equivalents to refer to the amount that was expected to be generated through the orderly sale of assets. He believe that the information about current cash equivalent were fundamental to effective decision making. Chambers stated that the accounting rules used were so different in effect that comparison between companies was often quite misleading.  [8]  One of the main arguments for EPA is that it provides useful information to the users. They believe that EPA reports all profits and losses and values as determined in competitive markets and provides a true and fair financial statement that serves the purpose of the shareholders. Other arguments that support EPA is the additivity function. EPA values all elements in the balance sheet and income statement at their exit prices, which, therefore, provides one consistent rule that could be applied by all or any company. It involves references to real-world examples because untestable assertions arent made such as depreciation. Criticism of Exit Price Accounting According to Chambers model of CoCoA, if assets cant be sold separately, they are deemed to have absolutely no value for the purpose of determining organizations financial position. This is considered to be too extreme by many accounting practitioners and researchers. Assets such as goodwill and work-in-progress have no selling value therefore will be have no value at all in the financial statements. Other criticisms of CoCoA are that it doesnt consider the value in use. An asset that is held rather than sold out must be worth more to its owner than its exit price, otherwise, it would be sold. In case of specialized resources such as a blast furnace has positive value in use, but cannot be sold separately, for the purpose of CoCoA has no value.  [9]  Even though proponents of EPA argue for the additivity of exit prices, the concept of current cash equivalent doesnt recognize the possibility of selling assets as one package. Some assets sold as a package are worth more than when sold individually in the market. This concept has been ignored in the exit price accounting. CoCoA has also been criticized on the basis that exit prices are determined by the price that could be achieved in an orderly sale.  [10]  The sales might be at different times and wont necessarily reflect values at balance date. Therefore, the financial statements based on these values might not be useful for monitoring the companys management. Positive Accounting Theory and Efficient Markets Hypothesis Milton Friedman was the one who strongly supported and backed the positive theories in economics. He stated that the ultimate goal of a positive science is the development of a theory or hypothesis that yields valid and meaningful predictions about phenomena not yet observed. Watts and Zimmerman also stated that the objective of positive accounting theory is to explain and predict accounting practice which was consistent with the views of Friedman. The beginning of positive accounting theory is the Efficient Markets Hypothesis (EMH). The EMH is based on the assumption that capital markets react in an efficient and unbiased manner to publicly available information. The main strengths of Positive Accounting Theories over Normative Accounting Theories are the facts that hypothesis are framed in such a way that they are capable of falsification by empirical research. Also, these theories aim to provide an understanding of how the world works rather than stating how the world should work. Moreover, PAT tries to understand the relationship and connection between various accounting information, managers, firms, and markets; and also analyze these relationships within an economic framework. There are several assumptions made in development of positive accounting theory. The first is that the firm is a nexus of contracts. In relation to PAT, because there is a need to be efficient, the firm will want to minimize costs associated with contracts. Contract costs involve accounting variables as contracts can be stipulated in terms of accounting information such as net income, and financial ratios.  [11]  The firm will choose the accounting policies that best acknowledge the need for minimization of contract costs. PAT recognizes that changing circumstances require managers to have flexibility in choosing accounting policies which brings forward the problem of opportunistic behavior. This occurs when the actions of management are to better their own personal interests. The other assumption is that the managers are rational economic decision makers and will act to maximize their own profit and not the profit of the company. Under PAT, firms want to maximize their prospects for survival, so they organize themselves efficiently. Criticisms of Positive Accounting Theories One of the main criticisms of PAT is that it doesnt provide prescription for accounting and therefore doesnt provide any means of improving accounting practice.  [12]  This, therefore results in alienation of practicing accountants. It is argued that simply explain and predicting accounting practice is not enough. There is no guidance on what people should do, as there is a general absence of prescription. The other criticisms of PAT relate to the fundamental that all action is driven by a desire to maximize wealth. Many researchers find this statement very negative in nature. They believe that PAT promotes a morally bankrupt view of the world. The concept of positive theory is drawn from an obsolete philosophy of science and is in any case a misnomer, because the theories of empirical science make no positive statement of what is.  [13]  And also of course, Watts and Zimmerman do say, We do not contend that all issues are settled, but rather encourage others to pursue, correct, and extend our analysis. Conclusion Quite clearly the several limitations and flaws of the traditional historical costs method have been highlighted and picked upon from time to time. Still historical costs are the standard form of accounting due to its unique features and conventions that make it better than most available alternatives. Historical cost accounting has and is still been widely recognized and accepted by corporations across the world. There hasnt been any development of better alternatives to Historical Cost Accounting. The alternative accounting such as current cost accounting and exit price accounting carry more problems in them than historical cost accounting. For examples countries like Unites States and United Kingdom have tried to adopt current cost accounting system but later withdrew as there were many complexities in using current cost accounting. Even if accounting bodies simply pick an existing method to form the standard of accounting, it will definitely not be better than historical cost accounting. However, in my opinion, the current use of historical cost accounting by many firms have been a contributing factor in masking the true and fair value of their assets. As investors are the primary users of financial statements, priority must be given to the needs and wants of the shareholders. Empirical evidences show that investors want both measurements i.e. historical cost and current cost accounting.  [14]  I believe a process should be created where historical cost and current cost operate side-by-side, which will enhance relevance, reliability, and comparability. Rather than debating between different approaches, focus should be given to implement an accounting system which reports all assets and liabilities at their true value without eliminating the benefits of historical cost accounting.

Transcription from a Broadcast of Network 23 :: Television Programs Los Angeles Essays

Transcription from a Broadcast of Network 23 The following is a complete verbatim transcription from a recent broadcast of "Network 23", a program shown on a local Los Angeles Public Access Cable Channel.Good evening, I'm Michel Kassett. This is Network 23. A couple of weeks ago we had a program on the subject of AIDS, addressing the question of whether AIDS-the AIDS virus-was created by the government; and I'm sure that some people were quite shocked by what they heard. We spent that entire program relating to you the evidence of a very substantial amount of factual evidence which supports the proposition that AIDS is a synthetic biological agent that was deliberately engineered by the US government as an instrument of depopulation. This is by far the most controversial and dangerous subject that we have ever addressed on this program, so I would like to review briefly the major points-the most significant pieces of evidence-that I presented two weeks ago.The first point was that in the early 1970's, Henry Kissinger wrote a top secret document-a National Security Memorandum ("NSM 200") -- in which he indicated that "depopulation should be the highest priority of US foreign policy towards the Third World." This Memorandum which can be obtained from the US National Archives, which was only declassified very quietly in 1990, was adopted by the National Security Council as official US foreign policy towards the Third World. Now, this is a classic example of the "secret government" in action, because of none of this was known to the Congress, and certainly, it was not known to the American people. Did any of you know that depopulation was considered a matter of US national security? Did any of you know that for the p ast 20 years, depopulation has been the highest long-range priority of US foreign policy towards the Third World? No you didn't, because it was classified-it was a secret.I would like to read for you just a piece of this document. It is written by Henry Kissinger:"Reduction of the rate of population in these States is a matter of vital US national security." [National Security Memorandum, Henry Kissinger]And we even have a map of those areas in which Kissinger indicates where depopulation would be desireable. It's all Third World countries- it's all brown people and yellow people, of course."The US economy will require large and increasing amounts of minerals from abroad, especially from less-developed countries.

Empiricism and Behaviorism Essay -- essays research papers

the turn of the twentieth century, the field of Psychology found itself in a war between two contending theoretical perspectives: Gestalt psychology versus Behaviorism. With its roots within the United States, behaviorists in America were developing a theory that believed psychology should not be concerned with the mind or with human consciousness. Instead, behavior and the actions of humans would be the foremost concern of psychologists. Across the Atlantic, Gestalt psychology emerged by placing its criticism upon the methodology of introspection, especially by ways of disparaging behaviorism. Although the two theories originated on separate continents, their opposing ideas were brought together after World War II and continued to battle each other for almost half a century.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An American psychologist, by the name of John B. Watson, is historically known for â€Å"selling† the idea of Behaviorism to other American psychologists during the 1900s. Watson insisted that â€Å"psychology had failed to become an undisputed natural science because it was concerned with conscious processes that were invisible, subjective, and incapable of precise definition† (Hunt, page256). Watson’s position on human behavior was that it could be explained entirely in terms of reflexes, stimulus-response associations, and the effects of multiple reinforcements upon a person--entirely excluding any mental processes. Watson’s work was based on the experiments of Ivan Pavlov, who had studied animals’ responses to conditioning. In Pavlov’s most well-known experiment, he rang a bell each time he presented the dogs with food. Every time the dogs would hear the bell, their initial response would be to salivate because they be lieved that food was going to be offered. Pavlov then rang the bell without bringing food, yet the dogs continued to salivate. In essence, the dogs had been â€Å"conditioned† to salivate at the sound of the bell. From this research, Pavlov concluded that humans also react to stimuli in the same way--a finding that Watson would later emphasize.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In modern psychology, behaviorism is most closely associated with B.F. Skinner, a man who molded his reputation by testing Watson’s theories in the laboratory. Skinner’s studies led him to believe that people operate on the environment to produce certain consequences, along with sim... ...alist thought and empiricism primarily embodies the question of how humans gain knowledge. In rationalism, pure reason is used in determining the fundamental natures of things and it is through human intuition and deductive reasoning that humans can obtain knowledge. Rationalists assert that there is an already existing innate knowledge, which is independent of experience, which God has bestowed upon every human individual. Descartes believed that, without innate ideas, no other information could be known. Furthermore, our innate knowledge is not learned through experience but is known intuitively through reason. Empiricists criticized the rationalists at this point, arguing that the matters of the innate ideas were in fact learned through one’s previous experiences. They emphasized that large amounts of knowledge were gained through interaction with society—which occurs in early childhood and therefore cannot be considered intrinsic. Moreover, empiricists accentuate the notion that knowledge stem from internal mental experiences (such as emotion and self-reflection). For empiricists, facts precede theories and it is plausible for one to be a fair, unbiased observer of â€Å"facts†.

U.S. and Global Media Perspectives on Afghanistan: Evaluating the Roles of the United States and the United Nations in Preserving World Peace :: Essays Papers

U.S. and Global Media Perspectives on Afghanistan: Evaluating the Roles of the United States and the United Nations in Preserving World Peace I. Intro Afghanistan was a neutral country in the 20th century, receiving aid from the United States and Soviet Union until the 1970s. In the 1970s, Afganistan’s King Muhammad Zahir Khan was forced to deal with serious economic problems caused in large part by a severe national drought. These economic problems caused a general unrest among the people of Afghanistan, and in July of 1973 a group of young military officers took things into their own hands. King Zahir Khan was unseated, and this group proclaimed Afghanistan to be a republic with Zahir Khan’s cousin, Lt. Gen. Muhammad Daud Khan, becoming president and prime minister. Daud’s reign was short-lived; in Afghanistan’s coup d'Ã ©tat of 1978, Daud was deposed by a group led by Noor Mohammed Taraki, who instituted Marxist reforms and aligned the country more closely with the Soviet Union. These events marked the beginning of what would become known as the Afghanistan War, a devastating conflict between anti -Communist Muslim Afghan guerrillas (mujahadeen) and Soviet forces and Afghan government. Mohammed Taraki was killed in September of 1979 and Hafizullah Amin took power. With Amin taking the throne, the USSR did not hesitate to send troops into Afghanistan and had Amin executed, with the Soviet-supported Babrak Karmal becoming president. The United States, along with China and Saudi Arabia, channeled funds through Pakistan to the mujahadeen. The civil war ensued, and through the course of this war over six million people of the Afghanistan population fled the country, giving it the largest refugee population of any country in the world. By 1991-92, the US finally reached an agreement with the USSR that neither would continue to supply aid to any faction in Afghanistan. Out of these previously US funded factions rose the Taliban, an armed Aghan faction which apparently was an Islamic movement. The Taliban, funded by the CIA during this war, fought with other factions for supremacy following the departure of Soviet troops; as history would show, the Taliban became the dominant force in Afghanistan in the 1990s. The Taliban did not really exist as a coherent politico-military faction or movement before late 1994; prior to this time, they were members of other factions such as Harakat-e Islami and Mohammad Nabi Mohammadi, or operated independently without a centralized command center.

Little Women and Treasure Island: Fatherhood Essay

When discussing fatherhood in relation to both novels, we see that in both, the father is either primarily absent or irrelevant to the plot. The element of fatherhood comes from the characters designed to replace or substitute the absent or lost fathers. Treasure Island finds two figures available for Jim to form a paternal relationship, and the moral juxtaposition they present has as much to do with Jim growing into a moral man, as it does him choosing a path to survival. In Little Women fatherhood is represented by many different views of masculinity including Jo’s attempt to fill her absent father’s shoes. The differences and similarities between the two books determine what the role of the father figure was at the time of publication and whether the concept of fatherhood was relatively important to the novels in question. Alcott wrote her novel at the request of her publisher and for a particular market, this to a great extent; is responsible for her interpretation of the male and female characters and the nineteenth century attitudes towards femininity and masculinity. In producing a book aimed specifically at children and more specifically girls, Alcott was under pressure to produce a familial image that would sell. In part two of Little Women any of the feministic qualities which Jo exhibited have been abandoned to conform to popularity, â€Å"she altered her values in deference to the opinions of others† (Fetterley, 2009. p.30) again in keeping with the attitudes of the public Alcott’s girls grew ‘agreeable’ to the men around them and learned â€Å"to put a man in the centre of her picture.† (Fetterley, 2009. p.21) For Jo this is instead of, being the man in the picture. She binds them to men who represent a father towards them both in experience and age. Each Mar ch girl except Beth marries a man who is above her own level of intellect and older, as Fetterly puts it; â€Å"they must marry their fathers, not their brothers or sons. Thus Laurie gets Amy, who is a fitting child for him, and Jo gets her Papa Bhaer†( Fetterley, 2009 p. 29) the term Fetterly uses to describe professor Bhaer, is in fact the role he is expected to fulfil, as each girl chooses her husband they are; as such being handed over by one father figure to another. The role of the father is closely looked at following Megs marriage to John Brooke, a struggling Meg confides in her mother that she is finding her situation difficult, she is preached to by her mother â€Å" the model little woman† (Fetterley, 2009 p.20) referred to as â€Å"my docile daughter† (Alcott, 1998 p.377) and encouraged not to forget her duty to her husband, and also to place the harder elements of motherhood into her husband’s hands. Alcott conforms to the opinion that â€Å"women’s work is not real work† (Fetterley, 2009 p.23) and therefore â€Å"the children throve under the paternal rule, for accurate steadfast John brought ord er and obedience into babydom.†(Alcott, 1998 p.383) this implies the role of the father is just as important as the mothers if not more so by hinting that mothers need guidance from their husbands in order to bring up their children, looking to their male wisdom as they would do their own fathers. This depiction of masculinity also helps us to understand Jo’s reluctance to conform to the general consensus of what a ‘little woman’ should be. She sees herself as â€Å"man of the family† (Alcott, 1998 p.9) and adopts certain masculine traits to position herself within the fatherly role during her father’s absence. Jo adopts these traits with determination to be seen as masculine hence her desire to go to war â€Å"I cant get over my disappointment in not being a boy, and its worse then ever now, for I’m dying to go to and fight with papa† (Alcott, 1998 p.7) and to be judged an active and breadwinning individual. Jo in this way shows us the desired qualities a father should possess and by portraying her absent father in a proactive way, that he is an accurate representative of the masculinity and moral conduct valued by society at this period. Alcott’s decision to produce the sequel to Little Women greatly establishes the role fatherhood plays in her story, whilst Mr March is away, Jo is fulfilling her own prophecy of being â€Å"the man of the family†(Alcott, 1998 p.9) and upon his return is free to live her life as a ‘little woman’, the significance of Beth’s death means Jo’s desire to be a man is also over, and she strives to imitate her departed sister by neglecting the proactive and masculine personality she assumed in order to cope with being head of a household. In contrast to Alcott’s desire to be successful financially, Stevenson’s own efforts concerning Treasure Island were of a more innovative intent, to create a novel which not only featured a romantic story but served merely to entertain and inspire without an element of educating. Stevenson aspires to a more unconventional style of appealing to young boys, without moral preaching or the inclusion of religious implication; which Alcott endeavours to do with her inclusion of Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress and her references to God, the most fatherly figure of all. â€Å"If you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him† (Alcott, 1998 p.80) The fatherly characters are produced by two authors who had interesting relationships with their own fathers and who subsequently introduce their own opinions to the role of a father figure during this period. Mr March is portrayed as being central to the families success despite him being absent for the majority of the plot, â€Å"to outsiders, the five energetic women seemed to rule the house, and so they did in many things but the quiet man sitting among his books was still head of the family.†(Alcott, 1998 p.229) She goes on to say of Mr March that in troublesome times the girls always turned to him, â€Å"finding him, in the truest sense of those sacred words, husband and father.† (Alcott, 1998 p.230) This lengthy eulogy Alcott lavishes upon Mr March (Alcott, 1998 p. 229-230) could be seen as a focalisation from the March daughter’s point of view, however it is more likely Alcott’s own father is the focus here, given the books highly autobiographical status. It has also been said that through Alcott’s portrayal she manages to draw â€Å"a veil over her brilliant fathers many incompetencies† (Watson, 2009 p.14) Stevenson’s â€Å"complex† (Hunt, P (in) Stevenson 2011 p.xi) relationship with his own father is also brought into account. The fact there are two very different father figures presented within Treasure Island interprets the fluctuating relationship he had with his father â€Å"several critics have seen Treasure Island and Jim Hawkins torturous relationship with Long John Silver as an extended mediation of this† (Hunt, P (in) Stevenson 2011 p.xi) yet Stevenson’s own essay My First Book, goes into detailed account of his fathers involvement in the creation of the book â€Å"in Treasure Island he recognised something kindred to his own imagination; it was his kind of picturesque; and he not only heard with delight the daily chapter, but set himself acting to collaborate.†(Stevenson. R.L. p.56) If the complex relationship between Stevenson and his father is present in Stevenson’s portrayal of Silver and Jim; this shows us he regarded his father with a certain ambiguity and admiration in the same way Jim is drawn to Silver through the desire for acknowledgement and approval. Whilst throughout Little Women numerous focalisations take place, Treasure Island’s narration is completed by just two individuals. The relationship Livesy has with Jim is highlighted by his continued narration of the story when Jim is incapacitated in retrieving the ‘Hispaniola’. This not only allows us to hear the story from Livesy’s own focalised viewpoint, but it combines Jim and Dr Livesy as a duo. It also points to the future relationship of the two men as we note that the narrative is â€Å"written after the event with the witness of retrospectivity† (Loxley. D. p.60) hinting at a relationship continued once the adventure has ended. If Livesy is intended to represent the ideal father then Silver represents the opposite, being selfish and morally inept. Jim however, seeks the approval of Silver despite his suspicion and fear. When Silver addresses a fellow mutineer with the line â€Å"you’re young, you are, but you’re as smart as paint. I see that when I set my eyes on you, and I’ll talk to you like a man.† (Stevenson, 2011 p. 61) A similar phrase is used to sway Jim’s affections earlier in the story and Jim is quickly struck with jealousy. â€Å"You may imagine how I felt when I heard this abominable old rogue addressing another in the very same words of flattery as he had used to myself. I think, if I had been able, that I would have killed him through the barrel† (Stevenson, 2011 p. 62) Jim’s alliances are swayed and subjected to overthrows of power by the two feuding groups, he has the lure of the danger and adventure should he decide to side with Silver yet th e doctor is the ideal representative of moral decorum which Jim has aimed to exhibit so far. With this struggle taking place the power shifts between who has possession of the ‘Hispaniola’ and who has possession of Jim. â€Å"Power itself is involved in a thematic of circuitry and exchange, continually passing from one group or individual to another, never resting in or reaching a central position and dramatised in the motif of the ship which acts as a symbol of this continuous process.† (Loxley, 2009. p.62) He and Silver share an ability to infiltrate both sides of the arguing men and â€Å"become united to an extent that their duplicitous actions set them apart from the groups.†(Loxley, 2009. p. 63) In Livesy, Jim has the imperial hero who represents the ideal nineteenth century father figure, â€Å"Livesy has the expertise and respectability of the settle world in combination with the bravery and derring-do of the pirated.†(Parkes, 2009 p.74) Yet an unknown intrigue presents itself through Silver’s manipulation of Jim’s emotions, comments implying Jim is â€Å"the picter of my own self when I was young† affect Jim’s judgement of the pirate and an a ffiliation is clear. (Stevenson, 2011. p.146) Stevenson’s main mode of connecting with his target audience was the exclusion of women from the majority of the story, Jim’s mother signifies his slightly naive nature at the start of the novel yet her absence allows him to grow and progress towards being considered a man. In the same way Alcott’s Little Women are mainly alone with their mother for the first chapters, allowing the reader an insight into the world of the girls, without an overbearing masculine character to interrupt this process. Through this exclusion of opposite sexes, both authors lay out the foundations to appeal to gender specific demographics. Treasure Island is primarily a fantasy peppered with elements of realism, these aspects of realism are what keep the story engaging to young boys, only through our comparison between Jim and his father figures can we ascertain any sense of progress in Jim’s story. Through contrasting Jim to Silver or Livesy we find they are in place to aid and guide his transition through adolescence and this rite of passage adventure. In comparison Little Women is a novel steeped in realism and the relevance of the father figures highlights nineteenth century society’s attitudes to women more so than their attitudes to men, the secret of Alcott’s success is through Jo’s unfeminine qualities, by noticing the market of â€Å"tomboyish girls striving to overcome their natural indiscipline to find a place in society and a husband without compromising their own personalities.†(Watson, 2009 p.15) Alcott recognised the difficulties children faced when approaching adolescence and the reluctance to conform to a desired demeanour. Though Mr March isn’t present throughout most of the novel, his presence in the girls minds is much like that of a deity, in keeping faith that they shall please their father they seek his approval by performing moral acts of kindness and behaving like ‘little women’. When they are rewarded by his return, the masculine focus of the story is shifted to the prospective husbands and their search for approval begins once more. The theme of both novels is one of growing up, without the inclusion of a father figure to guide or to offer approval the element of childhood is lost along with the target audience. The depictions of fatherhood within the two novels are relevant because the novels are aimed at children. Regardless of the moral conduct or characterisation of these representations they are included to highlight a child’s need for adult authoritarianism; without this a child has no model for their behaviours or guardian to guide them to the next chapter of adulthood, and becoming parents themselves. Bibliography Alcott, L.M. (1998) Little women, Oxford:, Oxford Paperbacks. Fetterley, J. (2009) ‘Little Women: Alcott’s Civil War’ Children’s Literature: classic texts and contemporary trends, Milton Keynes:, In association with the Open University. Hunt, P. (in) Stevenson, R.L. (2011) ‘Introduction’ Treasure Island, Oxford:, Oxford University Press. Loxley, D. (2009) ‘Slaves to Adventure: The Pure Story of Treasure Island’ Children’s Literature: classic texts and contemporary trends, Milton Keynes:, In association with the Open University. Parkes, C. (2009) ‘Treasure Island and the Romance of the British Civil Service’ Children’s literature: classic texts and contemporary trends, Milton Keynes:, In association with the Open University. Stevenson, R.L. (2009) ‘My First Book: Treasure Island’ Children’s Literature: classic texts and contemporary trends, Milton Keynes:, In association with the Open University. Stevenson, R.L. (2011) Treasure Island, Oxford:, Oxford University Press. Watson, N.J. (2009) ‘Introduction’ Children’s Literature: classic texts and contemporary trends [Online], Milton Keynes:, In association with the Open University

NCMMOD4CA

The far-off eastbound pedigree colloquy differs from European and American styles. Culture, religious traditions and uncomparable eastern values guard a massive impact on the individualised style of negotiators and their look patterns. Different nations essay different aspects of the talkss. Some of them underline all- alpha(a) issues directly related to the system plot of ground others stress family transactionhips.Martin et al (1999) identify quadruplet main stages of dialog mental put to work transactionhip building exchange of selective information, persuasion and compromise, and concessions and agreement. At the beginning stage of negotiations, the rummy issues of the Far East short letter conversation are importance of detailed information to a greater extent or less logical argument partners, asking trenchant questions, importance of socializing and exchange of information.Asians prefer to elapse while asking questions or so financial, market, manufacturing, and personal issues relevant to the negotiation. Before the meeting, Asians sp complete time searching for infomation about the furrow partner and his business relations. The Japanese honor people who are well informed, sincere, honest, and stern about their work (Paik, tung-oil tree 1999). socialisation involves development of personal relations with business partner.In contrast to American business community, Asians logic is base on spiral or non-linear bases, holistic and cyclical approaches. Asian managers ladder to analyze issues in a more than systemic, circular, and interactive way as compared with American managers who often examine issues based on linear causality (Paik, Tung 1999). In contrast to Europeans and Americans, Asians do not exercise argumentation and persuasive reason during negotiations. For Asians, time is nonlinear, repetitive and associated with flushts. For Americans, time is monochronic, sequential, absolute and revolutionise ( Paik, Tung 1999).For Asian businessmen, working to a common goal is the most important feature of the negotiations. This representation the development of a long-term relationship. Japanese conduct negotiation in a nonlinear mood and in a distinctive style. The going away is found in motivation and the determination of negotiations. For Americans, sign language of a contrast means the final stage of negotiations while for Asians signing of a contrast implies the beginning of a long and productive relationship (Paik, Tung 1999).At the final stage, Japanese businessmen are concerned with the end-results and relations sort of than the length of negotiations. These variables shape the values and the behavior of Asian employees and enable researchers to explain differences in the way different countries conduct their business affairs. Also, Asian managers find the constant rotary motion of people involved in the negotiation process as disruptive and enigmatical (Paik, Tung 1999).I n spite of great differences between American and the Far East styles, researchers prove that the personal style of Asian businessmen is a mixture of Europeans business norms and practices based on unique Eastern values and religion, psychological characteristics and cultural traditions. The Far East negotiator is patient and silent, invaginate and tolerant, well-informed and complaisant. He follows an indirect and symphonic style, oriented on the end results. Sometimes, his think and argumentation seems illogic to Americans. They recoil emphasis on personal relations and strategic goals, importance of seniority and organizational hierarchy.For Asians, listening attributes are the most important. The patriarchal persuasive tactics in the Japanese business negotiations appear to consist of volunteering of more information and the use of silence (Martin et al 1999). Verbal dialogue is on the back place. Asians use both oral and scripted intercourse during negotiations. They can involve annual reports or press releases, provide a great deal of information about the type of project they want to launch. spontaneous communication helps to enhance task accomplishments second, to book sense out of content and third, to affix the bridge between parties. The first level involves cognitive signification, which focuses on either/or choices. Listening attributes take about 45 % of negotiations time while Verbal communication takes about 20%. Non-verbal communication involves trill and expression of emotions. During negotiations, umpteen Asian businessmen use extensive non-verbal means.Europeans and Americans intrust on empirical information, logical reasoning and argumentation (verbal communication) while Asians rely on sensitivity and intuition, non-verbal signs and facial expressions. For instance, Nunchi refers to an ability to silently understand what the other party is thought process by reading non-verbal cues, a process similar to that used in a g ame of poker (Paik, Tung 1999). The wide majority of communicatory behaviors is intuitive and is based on normative rules. Except for behaviors such(prenominal) as good manners or etiquette, little formal training is provided for nonverbal communication.In Asian meetings, verbal communication is highly structured and is reinforced done an extensive formal and informal acquisition process. There is no clear-cut lingual structure for nonverbal communication even though researchers have found some(prenominal) consistencies in how Asian people insure nonverbal behaviors. It is possible to say that for Asians the process of negotiations is ceremony which helps to establish long-term relations and business partnership.In sum, national stopping point and culture of business relations have an influence on communication styles, interaction and behavior patterns of the Far East businessmen. The cardinal value is the dualistic existence intrinsic within the Asian culture and a short -term view in many interventions. While mental representations certainly are not identical, particularly in cross-cultural interactions, message producers and receivers both add core to communicative exchanges.Spoken words of friendly greeting in anothers language mogul well be translated properly by interpreters, yet cross-cultural communicators will unchanging need to know the cognitive meaning of a friendly smile in contrast to a lascivious one. An soul of how representations are formed is first demand in order to acquire the prerequisite cognitive tools to make sense of cross-cultural communicative exchanges in Asia.Works Cited1. Martin, D., Herbig, P. Howard, C., Borstorff, P. At the table Observations on Japanese dialog style. American Business Review. West harbor Jan 1999, 17 (1) 65-71.2. Paik, Y., Tung, R.L. Negotiating with East Asians How to attain win-win outcomes. centering International review. Wiesbaden Second Quarter 1999, 39 (2) 103-122.