Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Essentials for Tree Seed Propagation

Trees use seeds as a principal means of establishing their next generation in the natural world. Seeds serve as a delivery system for the transfer of genetic material from one generation to the next. This fascinating chain of events (the formation of seed to dispersal to germination) is very complex and still poorly understood. Some trees can easily be grown from seed but, for some trees, it may be much quicker and easier to propagate them from cuttings. Seed propagation can be a tricky process for a number of tree species. A small seedling can be very tiny and delicate when first germinated and often require much more care than a cutting. Seeds collected off tree hybrids or grafted stock can be sterile or the tree may  be off-character from the parent. For example, seeds collected from a pink dogwood will most likely flower white. What Stops Seeds From Germinating There are a number of important reasons a seed refuses to germinate under artificial conditions. Two major causes for unsuccessful tree seed germination are hard seed coats and dormant seed embryos. Both conditions are species-specific and every tree species has to subject the seeds to unique conditions to assure germination. Treating the seed properly is necessary before germination occurs and a seedling can be assured. Seed scarification and stratification are the most common methods of seed treatment and they will increase the chances of seed or nut germination. Scarification and Stratification The hard protective coating on some tree seeds is natures way of protecting the seed. But hard coats on some hard seed species actually inhibit the germination of the seed, because water and air cannot penetrate the hard coating. Interestingly, many tree seeds require two dormant periods (two winters) before the protective coating breaks down enough to germinate. The seeds must lay on the ground completely dormant for one full growing season, and then germinate the following growing season. Scarification is an artificial way to prepare hard seed coats for germination. There are three methods or treatments that will usually make seed-coats permeable to water: soaking in a solution of sulfuric acid, soaking in hot water or immersing the seed for a short period in boiling water, or mechanical scarification. Many dormant tree seeds need to be after-ripened before they can germinate. This is the most common cause of seeds failing to germinate. If the seed embryo produced by a tree is dormant, it must be stored at the proper temperature and in the presence of abundant supplies of moisture and air. Stratification is the process of mixing the seed in a moist (not wet) medium like peat moss, sand or sawdust, then placed in a storage container and stored in an area where the temperature is controlled at a low enough level to ripen the seed. This storage is usually over a definite period of time at a specific temperature (around 40 degrees F). Methods of Tree Seed Treatment by Species Hickory: This tree nut is generally considered to exhibit embryo dormancy. The common treatment is to stratify the nuts in a moist medium at 33 to 50 degrees F for 30 to 150 days. If cold storage facilities are not available, stratification in a pit with a covering of about 0.5 m (1.5 feet) of compost, leaves, or soil to prevent freezing will suffice. Prior to any cold stratification, nuts should be soaked in water at room temperature for two to four days with one or two water changes each day.Black Walnut: A walnut is generally considered to exhibit embryo dormancy. The common treatment is to stratify the nuts in a moist medium at 33 to 50 degrees F for two or three months. Although the seed coat is extremely hard it usually cracks, becomes water permeable, and does not need scarification.Pecan: A pecan does not fall into dormancy like other hickories and can be planted at any time with the expectation that the embryo will germinate. Still, the  pecan nut  is often collected and cold-stored for planting the next spring.Oak: Acorns of the white oak group generally have little or no dormancy and will germinate almost immediately after falling. These species should usually be planted in the fall. Acorns of the black oak group that exhibit variable dormancy and stratification are usually recommended before spring sowing. For best results, moist acorns should be held for four to 12 weeks at temperatures of 40 to 50 degrees F and can be placed in plastic bags without a medium, if turned frequently.Persimmon: Natural germination of common persimmon usually occurs in April or May, but two- to three-year delays have been observed. The main cause of the delay is a seed covering that causes a major decrease in water absorption. Seed dormancy also needs to be broken by stratification in sand or peat for 60 to 90 days at 37 to 50 degrees F. Persimmon is hard to artificially germinate.Sycamore:  American sycamore  needs no dormancy, and pre-germination treatments ar e usually not required for prompt germination.Pine: Seeds of most pines in temperate climates are shed in the autumn and germinate promptly the next spring. Seeds of most pines germinate without treatment, but germination rates and amounts are greatly increased by pretreating the seeds. This means storing seeds using moist, cold stratification.Elm: Under natural conditions, elm seeds that ripen in the spring usually germinate in the same growing season. Seeds that ripen in the fall germinate in the following spring. Although seeds of most elm species require no planting treatment, American elm will remain dormant until the second season.Beech: Seeds from beech trees need to overcome dormancy and require cold stratification for prompt germination. The seeds may take a combination of stratification and storage. Seed moisture level is the key to successful stratification in beech seeds. Beech is difficult to artificially germinate in significant amounts.

Monday, May 18, 2020

Jacques Le Goff s The Imaginary World - 1582 Words

Jacques le Goff, the most renowned French medievalist, proclaimed in an interview for the journal L Express in 2005 that â€Å"les hommes et les femmes d une socià ©tà © vivent et pensent autant par l image et l imagination que par le contact avec la rà ©alità © et la raison† (Men and women of a society live and think just as much through images as by contact with reality and reason). That s why, in my opinion, studying the imaginary world is so important, indeed, it is about telling the story of what makes people think, act and feel and since knights are a big part of this world, it seems to be the perfect subject to get a good understanding of the fantasy world. Litterature, works of art, architecture, sculptures, miniature illustrations are all†¦show more content†¦There is, of course, a moral function fulfilled by these images, they tend to give an example, but they are not perfect for all that, since the marvelous world is connected to the daily one, everythi ng remains humanly comprehensible, yet nothing human could be perfect. That s why criticisms are not absent from these tales, especially on knights behaviours. It is just a proof of their primacy, they are an model which, like any human thing, must be perfected. I will argue that, despite these criticisms, the content of the imaginary world in its multiple forms tends to have a tangible impact on knighthood, for instance, real knights trying to behave like exemplary ones, to the extent that the boundary between myth and daily world became even thinner. I will not discuss whether these depictions were totally effective or not into modifying a conduct, this question would require a far longer work, the important thing is that it was their aim, so the creators of the imaginary world thought they could effectively change the world, a necessary change in the light of the impact of knights on society. Moreover, some historical figures actually tried to follow their advice and benefited from the myths. Finally, some concepts arised on the border of the two worlds and demonstrate how compatible they were. Knighthood is an essential order of the medieval society. Therefore, it is not surprising that such a central figure is

Friday, May 15, 2020

What Is a Production Home Builder A Way to Save Money

A production home builder builds houses, townhouses, condos, and rental properties on land that is owned by the building firm. Using stock plans, or plans developed by the real estate or building company, the production home builder will construct a large number of homes each year. A home unit will be built, whether or not you, as an individual homeowner, will buy it. Eventually, the homes will be sold to someone. The production home builder works on the notion that if you build it, they will come. Production home builders do not generally undertake construction of unique, architect-designed custom homes. Also, production home builders will not usually use construction plans other than the ones selected by the building firm. As more and more suppliers have come into the marketplace, production homes may be customized by offering a selection of finish options (e.g., counter tops, faucets, flooring, paint colors). Beware, however — these homes are not truly custom homes, but customized production homes. Other Names for Production Homes The building boom after World War II was exciting. Home ownership was an achievable dream for men and women returning home from overseas wars — the returning GIs. In time, however, these suburban neighborhoods were derided and became the poster children of suburban sprawl, blight, and decay. Other names for production homes include cookie-cutter homes and tract housing. Where are Production Homes? Suburban housing subdivisions are usually developed by production home builders. On the East coast of the United States, Abraham Levitt and his sons invented suburbia with their mid-century homes in what became known as Levittown. After World War II, Levitt Sons bought tracts of land near urban centers — notably, north of Philadelphia and east of New York City on Long Island. These two planned communities, both known as Levittown, changed the way people lived in postwar America. At the same time on the West coast, real estate developer Joseph Eichler was building thousands of homes on tracts of land near San Francisco and Los Angeles. Eichler hired California architects who became known for inventing what became known as Mid-Century Modern architecture. Unlike Levitts houses, Eichler houses became prestigious over time. Why Production Homes Exist Mid-century production homes exist largely because of post-war federal incentives. With the passage of the GI Bill, the federal government secured home mortgages for returning military personnel. Its reported that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs backed over 2 million home loans between 1944 and 1952. Less well-known as a reason for the suburbs is the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. The development of the Interstate Highway System made it possible for people to live outside of cities and commute to work Production Homes Today It could be argued that todays production homes exist in retirement and planned communities. For example, house styles in the Town of Celebration, a 1994 Florida development, were limited in style, size, and exterior siding colors. In essence, stock plans were used to build a model neighborhood. Advantages of a Production Home The homeowners time is saved with limited or no choices available.Production homes are often highly affordable because the developer can buy the same supplies in bulk discounts.Mid-century suburban homes were often considered good starter homes for American families chasing the American Dream. Disadvantages of a Production Home Control of a large financial investment in real estate is generally surrendered to a profit-driven corporation. Construction materials and workmanship — two important aspects of architectural integrity — generally are not influenced by the homeowner.Your Dream Home may be next to and look like everyone elses — not that theres anything wrong with that.... Role of the Architect An architect or architecture firm may work for a building company — or even own a development company — but the professional architect will have very little personal interaction with the home buyer. A sales team of realtors will promote the work of the developer and architect. This type of business model has been studied in architecture schools and written about, most notably in the books Modern Tract Homes of Los Angeles by John Eng (2011) and Levittown: The First 50 Years by Margaret Lundrigan Ferrer (1997). Sources History and Timeline, U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsHistory of the Interstate Highway System, Federal Highway Administration

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Essay The Extent to Which England was a Protestant Country...

The Extent to Which England was a Protestant Country by 1547 In this essay, I shall be exploring the extent of how Protestant a country England was by 1547. The differences between Protestantism and Catholicism form a solid base in order to understand the situation in 1547 and decide which religion became more popular. Traditional Catholic beliefs rested on seven Sacraments: Baptism, Penance and Reconciliation, Last rites, Holy Orders, Marriage and the Eucharist. They believed in ‘Justification by Good works’. This meant that they believed that in order to reach heaven they can do works to spend less time in purgatory and reach heaven faster. This can be done through indulgences. An indulgence†¦show more content†¦Many other moves had also been previously made toward Protestantism, these include the spread of the vernacular bible which people could read and understand better than being told what the priests wanted them to hear. Another was the decline in the use of relics and the fact that churches were beginning to ap pear more protestant. However, the six articles of 1539 show that a catholic reaction was taking place against the Protestantism ideas. The Six Articles upheld such Catholic articles as clerical celibacy, the private mass, and confessions to a priest. It also meant that Protestants were punished for violating the Six Articles, while papists were punished for denying the royal supremacy. Henry VIII also made the change between Catholicism and Protestantism extremely confused. After having a protestant influenced wife from Lutheran Germany the king was then married to a religiously conservative catholic. After executing Cromwell for his advanced religious ideas and arresting a religious conservative, Henry VIII also executed his Catholic wife and remarried to Catherine Parr who again had protestant sympathies. During the year of Henry VIII’s death, his regency council of extremely conservative catholic men was replaced with a group who quickly established Protestantism. No clearShow MoreRelatedThe Church Of England Was Only A Half R1225 Words   |  5 PagesJessica Annobil Mrs Harris â€Å"The Church of England was only a half reformed church in the period 1559-1603†. To what extent is this statement valid? (45marks) This statement is valid to a considerable extent. This is due to the fact that before Elizabeth came to the throne her siblings had been before her, Edward VI (1547-53) and Mary I (1553-59), these two had a contrasting religious beliefs and both implemented harsh penalties for those who did not conform to their religious reform. This is oneRead MoreTO WHAT EXTENT WAS THERE A â€Å"MID TUDOR CRISIS† DURING THE REIGNS OF EDWARD VI AND MARY I?2006 Words   |  9 PagesTO WHAT EXTENT WAS THERE A MID TUDOR CRISIS DURING THE REIGNS OF EDWARD VI AND MARY I? The mid-Tudor crisis is a term often used by historians to describe the reigns of Edward VI (1547-1553) and Mary I (1553-1558). This period can be seen as a crisis, due to the fact that there were so many problems financially, socially, religiously and constitutionally, which led to rebellions, and placed the country in a very unstable position. It is clear that many of the origins of this crisis have theirRead MoreIn the Years Between 1547-1558, English Government Was at Its Most Effective During the Rule of Mary I1806 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"In the years 1547-1558, English government was at its most effective during the rule of Mary I† How valid is this statement? (45 marks) Government is the governing body of a nation, and during Tudor England, the government was the monarch, due to royal prerogative. Also, for a government to be classed as effective, it must have been successful in achieving a desired outcome. I believe that Edward was a more effective monarch than Mary between 1550 and 1553 due to the work of Northumberland, becauseRead MoreEngland Was Never Well Governed in the Reign of Edward Vi How Far Do You Agree with This?1879 Words   |  8 Pages‘England was never well governed in the reign of Edward 6th’ How far do you agree with this? Edward VI inherited the throne in 1547 at the infant age of 9. Because of his youth, he had two advisors. The first was his uncle, the Duke of Somerset, who became Lord Protector, and for the first two and a half years of Edward’s reign, Somerset advised and guided the young king. Somerset was replaced by the Duke of Northumberland. Edward was a mere figurehead, the Lord Protector controlled the majorityRead MoreHow Significant Was The Threat Posed Of Royal Authority By The Western Rising Of 1549?1948 Words   |  8 PagesHow significant was the threat posed to royal authority by the Western rising of 1549? Prior to the Western rising, also known as the Prayer Book rebellion, England had experienced uprisings. The Amicable Grant uprising in 1525 and the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536 are just two examples of monumental uprisings that occurred. In 1549, large swathes of the country (23 counties) were shaken by rebellions. The huge geographical extent of the rebellions made them the most serious, widespread movementsRead MoreThe Catholic Church During The Early 16th Century3664 Words   |  15 PagesThe Catholic Church during the early 16th Century was rooted throughout Europe. The Church influenced every country and its respective monarchs through the Church’s wealth and power. The Catholic Church placed a tight hold on the general populace with individuals who went against the Church being branded as heretics and excommunicated. The wealth and power of the Church eventually caused the quality of the clergy to deteriorate. Priests became corrupt and subjected to their physical de sires. TheyRead MoreIn the context of the years 1485 to 1603 to what extent was the government of England dysfunctional in the mid-Tudor period?3559 Words   |  15 PagesIn the context of the years 1485 to 1603 to what extent was the government of England dysfunctional in the mid-Tudor period? During the Tudor Dynasty it is easily thought that the years between 1547 and 1558 were ones of crisis. With the succession of a child and the first woman within England, people have assumed that the years between Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were an unproductive interlude. The mid Tudor period is seen as negative years within the Tudor Dynasty. It is regarded that Henry VIIIRead MoreHenry Viii And The Reformation Of England s Church System4160 Words   |  17 Pagespermanent shift in the religious system of England? Hannah Snow Candidate Number: 000784-0009 Extended Essay â€Æ' Abstract: Henry VIII was the King that would change England’s religious system and make it his legacy. The religious system would carry on after his reign and become the predominant religion of England. The question is: How did events connected to key historical figures during Henry VIII’s reign cause for a permanent shift in the religious system of England? This question will be answered by analyzingRead MoreBurnings of Protestants and the Failure of Marys Religious Policy2836 Words   |  12 PagesBurnings of Protestants and the Failure of Marys Religious Policy After Mary had taken the throne from Lady Jane Grey in 1553, she had, in her view, the task of returning the church to the state it had been in at the start of 1534. By the end of the year of her accession, Mary had re-implemented the heresy laws and by her death in November 1558, a minimum of 287 Protestants had died in the flames at Smithfield and elsewhere across the country. At the end of Marys reignRead MoreEssay on Macbeth and the Gunpowder Plot of 16054662 Words   |  19 PagesShakespeare’s Macbeth was influenced by the gunpowder plot of 1605. The equivocation that was inspired by this event played an important role in the play. The general theme of Macbeth reflects the mood of society at the time that it was written. This relationship is a direct reflection of the mimetic theory. This paper will examine the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 and the role of equivocation in the subsequent prosecutions during the time that Shakespeare was writing Macbeth, and show how Macbeth was influenced by

Communicating Distant Romance Essay on Long Distance...

The world has changed a great deal over the past thirty years. Lives based on a comfortable home in the suburbs, a station wagon, three kids, and thirty years of job security with one employer have become memories. (1) Even the way we view relationships has changed significantly. Today more people are choosing to be in a long distance relationship than ever before. In a study recently performed by the University of North Carolina, it was shown that there are currently over 85 million people in the U.S alone are participating in a long distance relationship (1). Considering these statistics, it is reasonable to conclude that a significant number of people are engaged in some form of long distance relationship and/or correspondence, and that†¦show more content†¦The students were asked to discuss strategies that they use to cope with feelings of loneliness and sadness. Two of the students described how they would write letters to their boyfriends back home. They explained that by writing and receiving letters, they felt less lonely. Other strategies that were mentioned were talking on the phone, emailing, and even sending and receiving pictures (2). Although it can be difficult, feelings of loneliness in a long distance relationship can be avoided with the use of effective communication strategies. And for those who do chose to use these types of communication strategies, its important remember that they can only be effective if both individuals in the party are honest and open with their feelings while communicating. An example of this is my own long distance relationship with Jocelyn. When ever I feel lonely, I will call Jocelyn and tell her how I feel. During these conversations, I try to be honest without holding anything back. By doing this I am able to not only help my self, but our relationship as well. In addition to loneliness, many people have reported that the biggest challenge that they have encountered while being in a long distance relationship is finding ways to keep the relationship fresh and exciting during the long periods when they are unable to be with theirShow MoreRelatedEssay Joseph Conrads The Secret Agent4969 Words   |  20 PagesGreenwich Park, towards the Observatory, something happened - no one knows exactly what - and he blew most of himself to shreds. The British, who loved to quantify in the late nineteenth century, noted that the explosion spread bits of flesh over a distance of sixty yards. Martial Bourdin remained alive for another half hour, but gave no hint as to the reason for his choice of such a bizarre target for a terrorist act (National Maritime Museum). To the chagrin of all anarchists, as Joseph Conrad observedRead MoreIntercultural Communication21031 Words   |  85 Pagescommunication skills for the benefit of the business environment. Being aware of intercultural issues, understanding and appreciating intercultural differences  ultimately promotes clearer communication, breaks down barriers, builds trust, strengthens relationships, opens horizons and yields tangible results in terms of business success. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercultural_communication) http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/cultural-services/articles/introduction-intercultural.html A ShortRead MoreRomanticism and Modernism as Strange Bedfellows: A Fresh Look at Jack Kerouacs On the Road12240 Words   |  49 PagesBedfellows: A Fresh Look of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, But to be young was very Heaven! O time In which the meagre, stale, forbidding ways Of custom, law and statute, took at once The attraction of a Country in Romance! The Prelude—William Wordsworth (Come in under the shadow of this rock), And I will show you something different from either Your shadow at morning striding behind you Or your shadow at evening striding to meet you; I will show you fearRead MoreEthnic Reproduction and the Amniotic Deep: Joy Kogawas Obasan13316 Words   |  54 PagesChapter 28 INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS Introduction and overview (p. 428) Affiliation: the need for other people (p. 428) Love and intimacy (p. 428) Relationships: definitions and varieties (p. 429) Voluntary/involuntary relationships (p. 429) Arranged marriages (p. 430) Gay and lesbian relationships (p. 430) ‘Electronic’ friendships (p. 431) Different types of love (p. 431) The power of love (p. 431) Is romantic love unique to western culture? (p. 431) An evolutionary theory ofRead MoreStatement of Purpose23848 Words   |  96 Pagesmeasures—test scores and grades—were most important Ohio Wesleyan University Writing Center  © 2011 Page 1 and used the statement of purpose for borderline decisions. However, of liberal arts faculty who responded, approximately half valued the essays as much as other parts of the application package. ï‚ · Determine the importance of the mentor system. The importance of the statement of purpose increases, as Robert M. Brown notes, at institutions with strong mentoring programs ―because it is the onlyRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesresolution is also referred to as the conclusion or the denoument, the latter a French word meaning â€Å"unknotting† or â€Å"untying†. Although the terms exposition, complication, crisis, falling action and resolution are helpful in understanding the relationship among the parts of some kinds of narrative, all plots, unfortunately, do not lend themselves to such neat and exact formulations. Even when they do, it is not unusual for critics and readers to disagree among themselves about the precise natureRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesMore Profitable† 83 Point/Counterpoint Employer–Employee Loyalty Is an Outdated Concept 87 Questions for Review 88 Experiential Exercise What Factors Are Most Important to Your Job Satisfaction? 89 Ethical Dilemma Bounty Hunters 89 Case Incident 1 Long Hours, Hundreds of E-Mails, and No Sleep: Does This Sound Like a Satisfying Job? 90 Case Incident 2 Crafting a Better Job 91 4 Emotions and Moods 97 What Are Emotions and Moods? 98 The Basic Emotions 100 †¢ The Basic Moods: Positive andRead MoreHuman Resources Management150900 Words   |  604 PagesOne estimate is that lost productivity due to workers having elder care responsibilities is at least $11 billion per year.8 Even group benefit programs are changing, with long-term care insurance being added by an increasing number of employers. In these programs workers can allocate some of their â€Å"benefit dollars† to buy long-term care insurance at lower group rates. LOGGING ON . . . ElderCare Web Contains reference materials and resources on elder care issues. http://www.ice.net/ ~kstevens/ELDERWEBRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pages.................................................................................. 474 Inferring from Correlation to Causation......................................................................................... 479 Criteria for a Causal Relationship................................................................................................ 481 Criteria for Creating Good Explanations ........................................................................................ 483 Assessing

Music and Personality free essay sample

Extraverts tend to eek out songs with heavy bass lines, while those who enjoy more complex styles such as jazz and classical music tend to be more creative and have higher IQ-scores. Why music is such a significant part of peoples identity? People may define their musical identity by wearing particular clothes, going to certain pubs, and using certain types of slang. So its not so surprising that personality should be related to musical preference. People can get defensive about what they like to listen to, as it is likely to be profoundly linked to their outlook on life.The study also demonstrates the tribal function of musical east that can explain why people often bond over music. North (scientist) noted that classical and heavy metal music both attracts listeners with similar personalities but dissimilar ages. Younger members of the personality group apparently go for heavy metal, while their older counterparts prefer classical. The study also demonstrates the tribal function of musical taste that can explain why people often bond over music. North (scientist) noted that classical and heavy metal music both attracts listeners with similar personalities but dissimilar ages. Younger members of the personality group apparently go for heavy metal, while their older counterparts prefer classical. However, both have the same basic motivation: to hear something dramatic and theatrical, a shared love of the grandiose, he said. The general public has held a stereotype of heavy metal fans being suicidal depressed and being a danger to themselves and society in general, he said, but they are quite delicate things. Aside from their age, theyre basically the same kind of person [as a classical music fan]. Lots of heavy metal fans will tell you that they also Like Wagner, because Its big, loud and brash. Theres also a sense of theater In both heavy rock and classical music, and I suspect that this is what theyre really trying to get at when they listen to that kind of music.I think that both types of music, classical and heavy metal, both have something of the spiritual about them -? thieve very dramatic -? a lot happens. The study conducted by researchers at Heritor-Watt university looked at more than 6,000 participants from all over the world. Participants were asked to rate more than 104 different musical styles in addition to offering information about aspects of their personality. Of course this helps explain why people who like the same styles of music tend to stick together, but it goes deeper than Just a similar interests thing Its almost suggests a new kind of tribalism.He described the findings as dramatic and To my mind, writing a portrait of my group, describing their tas tes and trying to reveal what kind of music they do prefer would give me a really hard time. We have something in common. Those 4 years of co-existing in the same community brought up the similar views on particular things and music is one of them. Thats why if I asked them what style of music they prefer, they would probably answer, l cant say exactly. I listen to everything that I like, to everything that is pleasant to my ear. I know those guys, most of them would answer this way, believe me. ) So Vive decided to make a test, Just there, on the spot. To find out what kind of music appeals to them more and consequently discover something new about their personal traits. Unfortunately I didnt have an opportunity to try it out, but anyway the preparation itself was useful and interesting experience for me). I have 10 tracks (songs) on the CD, each student is to decide which song appeal to him more. But mind! Only one song! The number of the song refers to the number of the style of music in the list below. 1. Pop Do you prefer to listen to the top 40 hits?Do the latest tracks from Iranian, Selene Gomez and Flow Arid make up your workout mix? If so, chances are that you also tend to be extroverted, honest and conventional. While pop music lovers are hard-working ND have high self-esteem, researchers suggests that they tend to be less creative and more uneasy. 2. Rap and Hip/Hop Are Snoop Dog and Dry. Drew more your style? In spite of the stereotype that rap lovers are more aggressive or violent, researchers have actually found no such link. Rap fans do tend to have high self-esteem and are usually outgoing. . Country Mould you rather watch CM instead of MET? Country music fans are typically hardworking, conventional and outgoing. While country songs are often centered on heartbreak, people who gravitate towards this genre tend to be very emotionally stable. 4. Rock / Heavy Metal Despite the sometimes aggressive image that rock music and heavy metal project, researchers found that fans of this style of music are usually quite gentle. They tend to be creative, but are often introverted and may suffer from low self-esteem. 5. Indies Just in caseIndependent music (often shortened to Indies music or Indies) is music produced independently from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, a process that may include an autonomous, Do-let-Yourself approach to recording and publishing. The term Indies is sometimes also used to describe a genre (such as Indies sock or Indies pop); as a genre term, Indies may include music that is not independently produced, and most independent music artists do not fall into a single, defined musical style or genre and usually create music that can be categorized into other genres. Do you love seeking out obscure bands and Indies artists? Fans of the Indies genre are typically introverted, intellectual and creative. According to researchers, they also tend to be less hard-working and less gentle. Passivity, anxiousness and low self- esteem are other common personality characteristics. 6. Dance Do you love the fast-paced rhythms of dance music? According to researchers, people No prefer dance music are usually outgoing and assertive. 7. Classical themselves and the world around them.They are creative and have a good sense of self-esteem. 8. Jazz, Blues and Soul People who enjoy Jazz, blues or soul music were found to be more extroverted with high self-esteem. They also tend to be very creative, intelligent and at ease. The research has also looked at income vs. music tastes, and found that higher income music loves like punchy and exciting music, whereas lower income listeners refer more relaxing music in general. Of course there will always be exceptions, but his findings were quite telling on a general level.The research also found that as a whole, people who are into music are fairly well- rounded, creative and at ease with themselves. Much of his research is described in his book . As this is the first time that this type of research has been done in a scientific way, there is still much to find out. So, the next time you are putting together a plastic to listen to during your commute or workout, consider how your personality might be reflected in your song choices.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Starbucks Supply Chain free essay sample

Many of the companys products are seasonal or specific to the locality of the store. Starbucks-brand ice cream and coffee are also offered at grocery stores. From Starbucks founding in later forms in Seattle as a local coffee bean roaster and retailer, the company has expanded rapidly. In the 1990s, Starbucks was opening a new store every workday, a pace that continued into the 2000s. The first store outside the United States or Canada opened in the mid-1990s, and overseas stores now constitute almost one third of Starbucks stores. The company planned to open a net of 900 new stores outside of the United States in 2009, but has announced 300 store closures in the United States since 2008. Buoyed by unprecedented success and focused on rapid expansion in the early 2000s, an efficient supply chain was not a top priority for the world-renowned coffee retailer Starbucks. But then the economic downturn set in, forcing Starbucks to re-engineer its supply chain. In 2010, the company removed more than $700 million (? 428m) from its supply chain costs, and used an innovative set of metrics to achieve remarkable results. Gartner research vice president, Kevin Sterneckert, discovered how it moved from a struggling supply chain to one of the best supply chains in the world. Starbucks began to examine every detail of its supply chain, and found that its organization had become very siloed and divergently independent. Performance metrics and objectives differed by organization within the supply chain. In some cases, this led to competing activities that created unwarranted complexity and performance deficiencies. For example, the organization was scheduling store deliveries without considering its warehouse capacity, so delivery trucks would routinely leave he distribution centre (DC) with less than the full order for a store. Starbucks faced four key issues: 1. It lacked a supply chain strategy focused on delivering enterprise value. 2. It lacked organization calibration of benefits. 3. It lacked focus on the right supply chain metrics. 4. It needed to increase investments in talent enhancement and acqu isition. Starbucks developed a strategic framework that it applied to all aspects of its supply chain strategy. It identifies the areas of focus for each division, as well as the level of maturity expected. Further, the company recognized that enhancements to the way it manages and acquires talent would return significant benefits. The retailer transformed its supply chain strategy to move from a traditional logistics mindset to an organization purpose-built to deliver value. The company wanted its supply chain to accelerate speed to market and enable sales growth. Starbucks management challenged the supply chain organization to compress its cost to serve and elevate its service, while obtaining, training and retaining the best talent in the business. Starbucks initiated a series of changes that aligned business practices with activities, as well as organizational changes that allow for a focus and direction to be placed on each, while avoiding the issues of silos of excellence. Starbucks learned through its transformational process that some metrics mattered. However, the company also learned that not all metrics mattered, nor could all metrics lead to improved decisions that would lead to improved performance A key metric for Starbucks is ‘on time in full’ (OTIF), which the company defines as the state when everything ordered is on time and complete as ordered. This metric fell to a very low score at the apex of Starbucks supply chain issues. Starbucks reports OTIF to be one of the single most important indicators of cumulative success. When this number moves down, a host of additional metrics will point to the source of the supply chains inefficiencies. As the number rises, so do the improvements to COGS. One world, one logistics system The creation of a single, global logistics system was important for Starbucks because of its far-flung supply chain. The company generally brings coffee beans from Latin America, Africa, and Asia to the United States and Europe in ocean containers. From the port of entry, the green (unroasted) beans are trucked to six storage sites, either at a roasting plant or nearby. After the beans are roasted and packaged, the finished product is trucked to regional distribution centers, which range from 200,000 to 300,000 square feet in size. Starbucks runs five regional distribution centers (DCs) in the United States; two are company-owned and the other three are operated by third-party logistics companies (3PLs). It also has two distribution centers in Europe and two in Asia, all of which are managed by 3PLs. Coffee, however, is only one of many products held at these warehouses. They also handle other items required by Starbucks retail outlets—everything from furniture to cappuccino mix. Depending on their location, the stores are supplied by either the large, regional DCs or by smaller warehouses called central distribution centers (CDCs). Starbucks uses 33 such CDCs in the United States, seven in the Asia/Pacific region, five in Canada, and three in Europe; currently, all but one are operated by third-party logistics companies. The CDCs carry dairy products, baked goods, and paper items like cups and napkins. They combine the coffee with these other items to make frequent deliveries via dedicated truck fleets to Starbucks own retail stores and to retail outlets that sell Starbucks-branded products. Because delivery costs and execution are intertwined, Gibbons and his team set about improving both. One of their first steps was to build a global map of Starbucks transportation expenditures—no easy task, because it involved gathering all supply chain costs by region and by customer, Gibbons says. An analysis of those expenditures allowed Starbucks to winnow its transportation carriers, retaining only those that provided the best service. The logistics team also met with its 3PLs and reviewed productivity and contract rates. To aid the review process, the team created weekly scorecards for measuring those vendors. There are very clear service metrics, clear cost metrics, and clear productivity metrics, and those were agreed with our partners, Gibbons notes. Although Starbucks has a raft f metrics for evaluating supply chain performance, it focuses on four high-level categories to create consistency and balance across the global supply chain team: safety in operations, service measured by on-time delivery and order fill rates, total end-to-end supply chain costs, and enterprise savings. This last refers to cost savings that come from areas outside logistics, such as procurement, marketing, or research and development. Earning the companys confidence Since Starbucks began its su pply chain transformation effort, it has curtailed costs worldwide without compromising service delivery. As a company, Gibbons says, we have talked publicly of over $500 million of savings in the last two years, and the supply chain has been a major contributor to that. In Gibbons eyes, the transformation effort has been a success. Today theres a lot of confidence in our supply chain to execute every day, to make 70,000 deliveries a week, to get new products to market, and to manage product transitions, new product introductions, and promotions, he says. Theres a lot of confidence that we now are focused on service and quality to provide what our stores need and what our other business customers need. To sustain that momentum for improvement and to ensure a future flow of talent into the organization, Starbucks recently began an initiative to recruit top graduates of supply chain education programs. Along with its recruiting program, the company plans to provide ongoing training f or its existing employees to help them further develop their supply chain knowledge and skills. The infusion of new recruits will allow Starbucks to stay focused on its supply chain mission of delivering products with a high level of service at the lowest possible cost to its stores in the United States and around the globe. Supply Chain Management For Starbucks