Proceso expedito para tramitación urgente de visa

Cuando se inicia una solicitud o peticià ³n ante el Servicio de Inmigracià ³n y Ciudadanà ­a (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglà ©s) los plazos de tramitacià ³n pueden ser muy largos. Por lo que es razonable plantearse si es posible acelerarlos  mediante un pago premium.  La respuesta es afirmativa pero sà ³lo en casos relacionados con peticiones por trabajo. En este artà ­culo se informa de los casos en los que se puede pedir el aceleramiento en la tramitacià ³n de una peticià ³n mediante un pago premium, quià ©n lo puede solicitar, cuà ¡nto se demora, cuà ¡l es el costo y cà ³mo contactar con USCIS para resolver problemas o dudas que surjan en dicha tramitacià ³n. Tramitacià ³n expedita  con USCIS  mediante un pago premium Es posible un pago premium en peticiones por trabajo, que comprende dos grandes grupos: cuando se solicita   para un extranjero una visa de trabajo temporal  en la que el empleador debe utilizar el formulario I-129.o cuando el empleador utiliza una planilla I-140 para pedir por razà ³n de trabajo una tarjeta de residencia permanente, conocida tambià ©n como green card. Tambià ©n se admite, en casos extraordinarios, auto-peticià ³n por parte de un trabajador. Esto significa que puede solicitarse en los siguientes casos: Visa E-1, comerciante al amparo de un tratadoVisa E-2, inversor al amparo de un tratadoVisa H-1B, trabajadores extranjeros especiales o modelos. En este caso el gobierno ha anunciado la suspensià ³n temporal del proceso expedito que se reanudarà ¡ el 10 de septiembre de 2018.Visa H-2B, trabajadores temporales para trabajos no agrà ­colasVisa H-3, trabajadores en prà ¡cticas o visitantes de intercambio en el campo de la educacià ³n especialVisa L-1, L-1B y LZ, trabajadores transferidos dentro de una empresa o subsidiarias de la mismaVisa O-1 para trabajadores con extraordinaria habilidad en Ciencias, Deportes, Arte, Educacià ³n o NegociosVisa O-2 para trabajadores que son un apoyo esencial para los titulares de una visa O-1Visa P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3 y P-3S, para deportistas individuales y de equipo, artistas y personal de apoyo para participar en un programa o evento à ºnico o que formen parte de un programa de intercambio cultural.Visa Q-1, para extranjeros participando en un programa de intercambio cultural internacionalVisa R-1 para religiososVisa TN-1 y TN-2, para canadienses y mexicanos al amparo del Tratado de Libre comercio  (NAFTA, por sus siglas en inglà ©s)Visa EB-1, para extranjeros con habilidades extraordinarias, profesores e investigadores excepcionales y gerentes y ejecutivos de multinacionales.Visa EB-2, para profesionales con titulacià ³n avanzada o habilidad excepcional.Visa EB-3, para profesionales, trabajadores especializados y otros trabajadores El USCIS puede suspender temporalmente el procesamiento premium para alguna de esas visas. En el momento en que se escribe este artà ­culo no està ¡ vigente ninguna excepcià ³n. Es decir, se puede aplicar para todas las peticiones enunciadas. Costo del procesamiento premium y a quà © da derecho En la actualidad es de $1.225. Sin embargo, esta cantidad puede variar por lo que es muy conveniente verificar con la pà ¡gina oficial del USCIS. Si la solicitud se hace por internet utilizando el sistema de e-file, el pago puede realizarse mediante tarjeta de crà ©dito, dà ©bito o transferencia desde una cuenta de un banco en Estados Unidos. Por el contrario, si se envà ­a una solicitud en papel, el pago debe hacerse mediante un cheque de un banco en Estados Unidos o por money order. El pago da derecho a que el USCIS acuerde una respuesta en el plazo de 15 dà ­as naturales  a contar desde el dà ­a en el que se recibià ³ la solicitud de procesamiento premium con su correspondiente pago.   La respuesta no significa siempre que se obtiene la aprobacià ³n, sino que puede ser cualquiera de las siguientes: Una carta de aprobacià ³n de la peticià ³n de visa o de tarjeta de residenciaUna carta en la que se pide mà ¡s informacià ³n o documentacià ³n. Es lo que se conoce como Peticià ³n de Evidencia o RFE, por sus siglas en inglà ©s.Una carta en la que se notifica la intencià ³n de rechazar la peticià ³n. Se conoce como NOID, por sus siglas en inglà ©s.Y, finalmente, puede que lo que se notifique es que se   inicia una investigacià ³n porque se sospecha que la peticià ³n es fraudulenta o se ha mentido en la misma o se ha presentado documentacià ³n de apoyo falsa. En el caso de que USCIS haya respondido con una RFE o una NOID, el solicitante debe contestar en el tiempo que se le otorga en la notificacià ³n. Y, una vez que el USCIS recibe las  alegaciones o la documentacià ³n  adicional que pidià ³, tiene que responder en el plazo de 15 dà ­as naturales. En casos extraordinarios puede suceder que USCIS no responda dentro de los 15 dà ­as siguientesa  haber recibido la peticià ³n de tramitacià ³n premium.   En estos casos està ¡ obligado a regresar el coste del trà ¡mite y, ademà ¡s, a responder inmediatamente.   Ademà ¡s, el pago premium da derecho a utilizar un telà ©fono especial gratuito, el 1-866-315-5718, para resolver dudas o hacer preguntas relacionadas con la peticià ³n de la visa. Cà ³mo se solicita el pago premium para acelerar una peticià ³n con USCIS El formulario para solicitar la  aceleracià ³n de los trà ¡mites  es el I-907. La solicitud se puede realizar  conjuntamente  con el envà ­o de los formularios I-129,   en el caso de visa de trabajo temporal, o I-140, cuando se solicita la tarjeta de residencia por trabajo. Tambià ©n puede enviarse  por separado  en un momento posterior. Resaltar que la peticià ³n de tramitacià ³n acelerada sà ³lo la puede solicitar la empresa o emprendedor o su abogado  que son los que piden la visa. Nunca puede solicitarla el beneficiario de la peticià ³n, excepto en el caso en el que un trabajador de cualidades excepcionales solicita  una tarjeta de residencia para sà ­ mismo sin patrocinador. Por el contrario, el pago del formulario I-907 pueden efectuarlo no sà ³lo la empresa o  su abogado, sino tambià ©n la persona extranjera que resultarà ­a beneficiada por este trà ¡mite.  ¿A quà © no da derecho el pago premium para acelerar los trà ¡mites? En primer lugar, este pago no levanta los là ­mites anuales en el nà ºmero de visas que se pueden aprobar dentro de cada categorà ­a  por aà ±o fiscal. Es decir, si se ha agotado el nà ºmero de visas disponibles, con o sin pago premium hay que esperar al siguiente aà ±o fiscal para que se abra de nuevo la disponibilidad de visas. Tampoco da derecho a beneficios extra en los casos en los que existe una loterà ­a para determinar quià ©nes son los beneficiados de una visa, como por ejemplo con las visas de la familia H, en particular con la H-1B para profesionales. En los aà ±os en los que el nà ºmero de solicitudes excede en menos de una semana al total de visas disponibles para un aà ±o fiscal se procede a decidir por sorteo quià ©n es el ganador. El pago de procesamiento premium no da ventaja en esa loterà ­a. En tercer lugar, el pago premium no se admite en visas o en tarjetas de residencia cuyo proceso se inicia con formularios distintos al I-129 o al I-140. Por ejemplo, no es posible en las visas de turista, estudiante, intercambio, etc. Tampoco en las peticiones de green card por razà ³n de familia, algunas de las cuales sufren grandes demoras, como son los casos de  las peticiones de ciudadano americano para hermanos, hijos casados o hijos solteros mayores de 21 aà ±os o las de residente para sus hijos solteros mayores de 21 aà ±os. Este artà ­culo es informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal para ningà ºn caso concreto.

Resurrection and Rebirth in A Tale of Two Cities Essay...

A Tale of Two Cities By Charles Dickens The idea of resurrection and rebirth pervades in this novel. How does Dickens use this theme? Do these themes of resurrection and self sacrifice and the setting of the French Revolution have anything to do with one another? Why is this the time and place of the novel? Brief Historical Background The novel, A Tale of Two Cities, takes place during the onset of the French Revolution, which shook the Western world with its violence and new ideas on freedom and the aristocracy. It was a period of major political and social change in the political history of both France and Europe during which the French governmental structure took on the Enlightenment’s ideals democracy, citizenship, and†¦show more content†¦His inspiration for the novel was brought about by a play he starred in, wherein a man sacrifices his own life so that his rival may have the woman they both love. This was the basis for the love triangle relationships between Charles Darnay, Lucie Manette, and Sydney Carton in the novel. Moreover, Dickens appreciated the play for its treatment of redemption and rebirth, love and violence. The novel is seen to transpose these themes onto the French Revolution, which seemed like an event that embodied these same issues on a historical level. The theme of rebir th and redemption is constantly seen in the novel, especially since it took place during such a turbulent time of much change and the countless â€Å"rebirths† of France’s government. Resurrection and Rebirth The most reoccurring theme in this novel is the theme of resurrection and rebirth. Dickens examines this theme on a political/national level in the form of France’s plight, while more explicitly examines it in the character of Carton. Many literary techniques have been employed by Dickens to call attention to this theme and it will also be the central discussion of this paper. The other theme of sacrifice is closely associated with the former, and will also be discussed in this paper. This novel shows Dickens’ belief in the possibility of resurrection and transformation, and it is shown to the readers on both a personal and societal level. The very beginning of theShow MoreRelatedA New and Better Life through Rebirth666 Words   |  3 PagesA New and Better Life through Rebirth In a time of either desperation or contentment, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens communicates the rebirth going on in the era of the French Revolution in two cities: Paris and London. The theme of resurrection or rebirth is seen throughout the book. No matter what happens in the book, everything goes back to the one major theme of being RECALLED TO LIFE (14). One could say Dickens conveyed the theme of resurrection in multiple characters being transformedRead More Resurrection in A Tale of Two Cities Essay1211 Words   |  5 PagesResurrection in A Tale of Two Cities      Ã‚   Resurrection is a powerful theme found throughout the plot of A Tale of Two Cities.   Many of the characters in the novel are involved with the intertwining themes of love, redemption, and good versus evil.   The theme of resurrection involves certain aspects of all of these themes and brings the story together.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dr. Manette is the first person to experience resurrection in A Tale of Two Cities.   He is taken awayRead MoreThe Role of Resurrection in A Tale of Two Cities Essay1355 Words   |  6 PagesCharles Dickens’s book, A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens uses the injustice in the French Revolution and the corruption in societies of that time to show the theme of resurrection along with many other themes. 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In A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens most prominently uses the motif of resurrection. From the very first chapter when Jarvis Lorry sends a letter from the bank saying â€Å"Recalled to Life† on it, the motif of resurrection becomes very significant. He develops this motif by using many literary devices such as character development, setting, and symbols. Dickens places symbols to continually remind the reader of the overall theme that sacrifice is necessary to be happy. The rebirth of Dr. ManetteRead MoreEssay on Religious Syncretism and its Consequences in Mayan Society1211 Words   |  5 PagesMesoamerican daily life, from science and architecture to art and politics (Carmack 295), in many of the same ways Catholicism did in Spain. The collision of these cultures in the Great Encounter and the resulting Spanish colonial state mixed not solely two different peoples—Indian and Spanish—but thousands of variants: elites and slaves, peasant farmers and traders, priests and traders, organized and local spiritual customs, all with different degrees of diversity in their respective religious practicesRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens1124 Words   |  5 Pagessadder sight than the man of good abilities and good emotions, incapable of their directed exercise, incapable of his own help and his own happiness, sensible of the blight on him, and resigning himself to let it eat him away† (Dickens 92). 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A Tale of Two Cities A Tale of Two Cities is a novel writtenRead MoreA Tale of Two Cities Book Report1459 Words   |  6 Pages Sacrifice, even when it comes to one’s ultimate end, is crucial in order to survive as a productive race. In the book Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, he illustrates the hardships of the early-nineteenth-century lifestyles. With the resurrection of an evicted man, the novel sprouts from a broken family recovering and growing. This novel incorporates many grand gestures and adventures, such as the French Revolution, treason trials, and the sacrifice of one’s own life in the name of love. Read MoreThe Afterlife Of Ancient Greece1955 Words   |  8 Pagesreserved for those who were lucky enough to have lived in the favourable graces of the gods; a place where only the most honourable and righteous of mankind were allowed entrance, and where all heroes and offspring of the gods were fated to rest (Greek City). In the Odyssey, Elysium was described as a paradis e, in which the spirits who lived there were able to enjoy a happy and blessed afterlife due to having lived in accordance with the laws of the gods and laws of the land (Homer). It is interesting

Macroeconomic Analysis of GDP Growth Rate of Canada †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Macroeconomic Analysis of GDP Growth Rate of Canada. Answer: Chosen news article Fading Consumers Make Canada's GDP Slowdown Worse Than Expected by Theophilos Argitis, published in Bloomberg, Canada on March 2, 2018. Summary of the news article Economy of Canada slowed down unexpectedly in the second half of 2017, with a GDP growth rate of 1.6% in the second half, compared to 4.2% in the first half. The gap between the GDP of the USA and Canada was largest in the second half of 2017. The household sector cut down on the spending, leading to the fall in growth. The housing market gains helped the Canadian GDP to compensate the fall in the GDP due to a fall in manufacturing and construction Fall in the household spending affected the consumption and GDP growth and led to higher saving rate, 4.2% in the fourth quarter compared to 4% in the third quarter. Non-residential business investment accelerated in fourth quarter up to 8.2% on a yearly basis. The growth rate improved by 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2017 due to slightly improved residential spending on the consumer goods leading to a better condition at 3.9% growth. Identification of the macroeconomic concept The article focuses on the impact of household spending on the growth of GDP or economic growth of the nation and reduction in the addition of inventories by the retail and consumer goods businesses that led a to fall in the economic growth by 0.7%. Analysis of the economic concepts It has been found that in the second half of 2017, that is, the third and fourth quarters of the financial year, the consumer goods business sector faced a downfall in the revenue, which had affected the total GDP of the country. The reason identified was that the household sector was more inclined towards saving, rather than towards spending (Argitis, 2018). The fall in the consumer spending has influenced the retail and other businesses to reduce the addition of the inventories, which affected the manufacturing and total production of Canada in the second half of 2017. GDP refers to the total value of the goods and services produced within the geographical boundaries of a nation in a specific time period (Mankiw, 2014). It is calculated by adding the consumption (C), investment (I), government expenditure (G) and net exports, that is, the difference between exports (X) and imports (M). Household spending is accounted under consumption and it can be said that, fall in the household consumption or spending can affect the GDP negatively (Rios, McConnell Brue, 2013). The level of investment cannot increase to offset the fall in consumption. The fall in the demand for products in the domestic economy led to a fall in the inventories which resulted in the fall in production and in the GDP as well. As seen from the diagram, the fall in the aggregate demand in the economy leads to a fall in the overall price level and the total output of the nation decreases. Household constitutes a larger part of the economy and fall in the household spending reduces the consumption expenditure component in the GDP. This indicates a fall in the aggregate demand in the nation which results in the fall of GDP and economic growth. To counter this situation, Canada should increase the level of exports. Rise in the exports can give a boost to the domestic economy and the next export component in the GDP will rise. There has been a trend in the rise of investment by the household, which can be inferred from the observation that, the household sector is saving up more to invest in the housing. Personal connection with the topic The article is interesting in the aspect of how the consumption pattern by the household can affect the GDP and economic growth of a country. The existing economic scenario, depicted in this article, has been affecting the employees of consumer goods retail industry. Due to a fall in the revenue and profit, some companies could not provide a hike in the salary and some had to go for reducing the workforce for cost cutting. One of my friends was working part time with clothing retailer Jacob, who lost his job due to the cost cutting policies by the company resulting from the fall in profit in the second half of 2017. Linking with the Economic Way of Thinking The news article addressed the issues of falling customer spending in the economy, leading to unexpected fall in the GDP of Canada. Following the Economic Way of Thinking topics, this issue follows the choosing at the margin behavior by comparing the marginal and cost and benefit of the factor (Jullien, Rey Saavedra, 2014). The consumers have made the cost benefit analysis of spending on the retail products than on the housing. The demand for housing or real estate has increased in Canada in 2017, following the increase in population and rise in the disposable income of the people. Hence, getting a house would be more beneficial to the people than consuming more consumer retail products. Thus, they found the marginal benefit of saving and investment in the housing sector is more than the marginal cost of not purchasing retail products. Linking to Two Big Economic Questions Two Big Economic Questions are how the choices determine what, how and for whom the products and services are produced and does self-interest or social interest determine the choices made. Regarding the first question, goods and services in an economy are produced for the people of the country. All types of products are produced using four factors of production, that is, land, labor, capital and entrepreneurship (Barr, 2012). The distribution of the goods and services happens on the basis of the income of the people of the country. The factors of production earn particular incomes that are, rent for land, wages for labor, interest for capital, and profit for the entrepreneurs. The goods and services are allocated as per the income and purchasing power of people (Mankiw, 2014). Regarding the second question, the economic production majorly happens for the social interest. Efficiency and equity are two major dimensions of the social interest. The manufacturing industry produces goods for all the consumers of the nation, which reflects the idea of equity (Bovenberg Cnossen, 2012). Similarly, resource allocation is aimed to achieve efficiency, refereeing to the distribution of goods and services in a way that one person will not be better without making another worse (Dow, 2012). The issue in the given news article reflects that the consumer goods and housing are produced using the factors of production for the citizens of Canada, pursuing the social interest of achieving efficiency and equity. References Argitis, T. (2018).Fading Consumers Make Canada's GDP Slowdown Worse Than Expected.Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-02/canada-s-economy-slowed-more-quickly-than-expected-in-2nd-half Barr, N. (2012).Economics of the welfare state. Oxford University Press. Bovenberg, L., Cnossen, S. (Eds.). (2012).Publiceconomics and the environment in an imperfect world(Vol. 8). Springer Science Business Media. Dow, S. C. (2012).Foundations for new economic thinking: a collection of essays. Palgrave Macmillan. Jullien, B., Rey, P., Saavedra, C. (2014). Theeconomics of margin squeeze. Mankiw, N. G. (2014).Principles of macroeconomics. Cengage Learning. Rios, M. C., McConnell, C. R., Brue, S. L. (2013). Economics: Principles, problems, and policies. McGraw-Hill.

what is an essay Essays - Essay, Essays, Essay Mill, Lyric Essay

An essay[1] is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition of an essay is vague, overlapping with those of an article and a short story. Almost all modern essays are written in prose, but works in verse have been dubbed essays (e.g. Alexander Pope's An Essay on Criticism and An Essay on Man). While brevity usually defines an essay, voluminous works like John Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding and Thomas Malthus's An Essay on the Principle of Population are counterexamples. In some countries (e.g., in the United States), essays have become a major part of formal education. Secondary students are taught structured essay formats to improve their writing skills, and admission essays are often used by universities in selecting applicants and, in the humanities and social sciences, as a way of assessing the performance of students during final exams. The concept of an "essay" has been extended to other mediums beyond writing. A film essay is a movie that often incorporates documentary film making styles and which focuses more on the evolution of a theme or an idea. A photographic essay is an attempt to cover a topic with a linked series of photographs; it may or may not have an accompanying text or captions.

System of Inquiry †Attunity Code of Business Conduct

System of Inquiry – Attunity Code of Business Conduct Free Online Research Papers The Attunity Code of Business Conduct lists the basic codes that are expected in any business and codes specific to Attunity. This system of inquiry will explore the guidelines listed below and others applicable to business decisions and the responsibilities of those entrusted with dealing with the problems that come with successfully managing a business. Extensive review of ethical guidelines is necessary to ensure all staff is aware of the ramifications of the lack of knowledge of this policy. This code will be implemented effective immediately upon completion and approval. Training seminars and one on one sessions are available to clarify the change in policy and code. This code is effective companywide to all as previously stated at the beginning of this policy. The attached copy of the Code of Business Conduct of Attunity has been used as the basis to the development of this paper. The existing code is standard and addresses the relevant issues. This paper will serve to develop the system in a more concise manner and lay out the framework for responsible behavior that all employees are expected to adhere to. The system of inquiry adds responsibility in the decision making process and is a valuable resource when faced with problem solving and decision making. To ensure customers are receiving a product that is manufactured safely and ethically the employee must conduct business in the same manner. â€Å"Once employees are on board, many organizations aim to guide employees’ behavior through formal organizational value statements, mission statements, credos, policies, and formal codes of ethical conduct† (Trevià ±o Nelson, 2007, p. 272). Policy Statement All staff is expected to maintain knowledge of the guiding ideology of the corporation and a policy statement, in effect, seeks to guide all employees. An employee, in any position, is expected to act with integrity, speak truthfully, and believe in the values of this policy. Treat others with respect and expect the same. Lead by example in the face of difficulty and expect the same of others. Decision making is the main challenge of executives and it must be conducted in a manner that clear and concise. The function of managers and the ethical responsibility they hold is varied. Their main objective should be to problem solve and make decisions that can affect many in the organization. The resulting consequences of unethical behavior and decisions made under false pretenses can lead to legal challenges in the workplace. a) Each decision that is considered an ethical challenge shall be discussed promptly with an immediate superior. b) Personal issues are not considered excused for making unethical business decisions and each employee will be held accountable for their actions. c) All laws and rules of the states in which business is operated are to be followed according. No law enforcement official, political figure or other authority figure shall supersede state regulations. Policy Guidelines In the absence of direct guidance this policy shall prevail. The necessary steps have to be taken to ensure policy guidelines are followed. As stated in the existing policy be aware of situations that may pull one into an unethical dilemma. Stay clear and report all violations as noticed. No one shall be treated any differently for bringing situations of this nature to the attention of management. Daily operations are to carried out in the manner in which is laid out in this policy. Conflicts of interest or social behavior which may cause a conflict of interest should be avoided. a) Policy shall be reviewed semi-annually to avoid excuses or reasons to avoid following rules. b) Follow guidelines closely when training new staff to ensure a greater chance of emulation of behavior. c) Strive for the superiority and distinction the product is known for and promptly report any deviations from normal operations. The finance department needs a strong adherence to company ethics as the slightest error in accounting could be seen as a major problem to shareholders who count on the company to deal fairly, ethically and with transparency. Any perceived unethical conduct must be reported immediately. Financial honesty is the hallmark of a successful corporation. Trust is integral to good business practices and transparent financial reporting is essential. Financial reporting must be precise; there is no room for numbers that are made to match and each reporting method is checked three times to ensure the consistency and accuracy that is strived for. Accounting and Finance a) Review all procedures with lower level employees monthly to ensure correct procedures are followed. b) Report all suspected or actual cases of mishandling, misappropriation, or fraud. Marketing, Advertising and Sales Marketing and advertising is the cornerstone of the company. To effectively get the product to the consumer it has to be marketed in a clear and honest fashion. Transparency is one of the best choices when dealing with situations that require advertising. Truth and honesty is expected when marketing or selling products. If a sale has been conducted in an unethical manner it is to be reported immediately. a) Outline material in a clear manner that will discourage the use of inappropriate methods in sales and advertising. b) Marketing rules shall be clearly stated to clients, distributors, and suppliers and adhered to in a manner that upholds company ethics. These changes in policy will be implemented immediately upon review of appropriate training and discussion. It is sometimes difficult to deviate from the normal pattern of procedures in business and changes often disrupt the workplace. In light of that fact, this policy will be open for discussion before final implementation. Employees are encouraged to submit ideas on policy guidelines that are appropriate to the area of work involved. This paper has reviewed the Code of Business Conduct of Attunity and has recommended changes as outlined above. Policy guidelines, accounting and marketing has been reviewed and amended. The recommendations are to ensure the company continues to operate with the highest ethical standards. ? Reference Trevià ±o, L. K. Nelson, K. A. (2007). Managing business ethics: straight talk about how to do it right. (4th ed). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons Research Papers on System of Inquiry – Attunity Code of Business ConductMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanPETSTEL analysis of IndiaResearch Process Part OneOpen Architechture a white paperThe Project Managment Office SystemAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of Self

Soka University of America Admissions Info

Soka University of America Admissions Info Students interested in applying to Soka University of America can use the Common Application or the schools application, which can be found on Sokas website. Additional materials include SAT or ACT scores, high school transcripts, letters of recommendation, and two personal essays. Students with strong grades and test scores within or above the ranges posted below have a better chance of being admitted. Admissions Data (2016) Soka University Acceptance Rate: 38  percentGPA, SAT and ACT graph for SokaTest Scores: 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 490 / 630SAT Math: 580 / 740SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanSAT score comparison for California collegesACT Composite: 26  / 30ACT English: 26  / 33ACT Math: 24 / 29What these ACT numbers meanACT score comparison for California colleges Soka University of America Description Soka University of America does not deliver your typical undergraduate experience. The small university is founded on Buddhist principles of peace and human rights, and all undergraduates work towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts. Students can concentrate in environmental studies, humanities, international studies, or social and behavior sciences. The curriculum has a strong international focus- students compare cultures of the East and West, study languages, and research world issues. Study abroad is included in tuition, and every student spends a semester exploring another culture. About half of Soka University students come from other countries. Academics are supported by a 9 to 1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 13. Dialogue and discussion are the centerpieces of a Soka education, and students can expect lots of close interaction with their peers and professors. SUAs attractive 103-acre campus is located in Aliso Viejo, a Southern California city perched on a mountainside one mile from Laguna Beach and the Pacific Ocean. The campus is surrounded by a 4,000-acre wilderness park. Enrollment (2016) Total Enrollment: 430  (417 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 38 percent male / 62 percent female100 percent full-time Costs (2016 -17) Tuition and Fees: $31,042Books: $1,592 (why so much?)Room and Board: $11,812Other Expenses: $1,146Total Cost: $45,592 Soka University of America Financial Aid (2015  - 16) Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 100 percentPercentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 100 percentLoans: 79  percentAverage Amount of AidGrants: $32,114Loans: $7,720 Graduation and Retention Rates First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 94  percent4-Year Graduation Rate: 85  percent6-Year Graduation Rate: 90  percent Intercollegiate Athletic Programs Mens Sports:  Soccer, Swimming, Cross Country, Track and FieldWomens Sports:  Soccer, Swimming, Cross Country, Track and Field If You Like Soka University of America, You May Also Like These Schools UC - Irvine: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphPepperdine University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of La Verne: Profile  University of Redlands: Profile  University of San Diego: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphStanford University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphPitzer College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUC - Berkeley: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphCSU - Fullerton: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUC - Davis: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphChapman University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphLoyola Marymount University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

Safety And Danger Of GM Food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

Safety And Danger Of GM Food - Essay Example Using findings from studies that have been conducted and an analysis of the genetic makeup and the number of chromosomes of various organisms, this paper will establish facts about the concept of genetic mutations. It will examine and establish the facts behind the allegation that genetic engineering techniques are the reason behind the increased number of cancer cases globally. Cancer is caused by the existence and persistent growth of cells which are unregulated. It occurs where there is an unregulated growth of cells after cell division in a certain area of the body and the cancerous cells are capable of spreading to other parts of the body. The concept that genetically modified foods are carcinogenic is disputed because the predisposing factors to cancer are vast and their scope is not well understood by experts. Arguments for the case are for the opinion that the genetic composition of humans could be altered the same way that of plants is altered by the introduction of foreign genes thus causing the growth of cancerous cells. Even though there are scientists who see it as baseless, some have still gone ahead and conducted a number of experiments to determine the real effects of genetically modified foods have been conducted using rats. In this particular experiment, a group of rats is fed on a lifelong diet of some of the best selling genetically modified corn while the control experiment was fed with normal nongenetically modified meals. A report by Poulter, 2012, on the studies conducted showed that the rats that were fed with genetically modified corn developed tumors and some of their organs stopped functioning properly. 65 percent of them had developed tumors by the twenty-fourth month. On the other hand, the tumor rate of the rats that had been fed with normal food was at thirty percent (Poulter, web).

The Sports Restaurant (Final Paper) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Sports Restaurant (Final Paper) - Essay Example critical skills and abilities needed to start and run the proposed business would come from the management team with the following skills: entrepreneurial, leadership and management, communication, problem-solving, conflict-negotiation, and genuine enthusiasm as well as knowledge in running a restaurant. It would make money through effective strategies using the 4Ps: Product: since the core competency of the sports restaurant is the use of very healthy and high protein organic food and supplements, as well as the preparation food could be tailored according to the customers’ distinct tastes and preferences, the restaurant is expected to be appealing to the health conscious clientele. Place: to be situated in commercial district where business or even universities abound. Price: competitively priced since sources of raw materials could be supplied by local dairies, farms, and reliable suppliers. Promotions: initially in local advertising medium: radio, flyers, posters, to name a

Dorothy and the Tree Essay Example for Free

Dorothy and the Tree Essay Stanley Fish discusses how we in society base our lives off of assumptions. Using the example of Dorothy and the tree, Fish is able to show how with our assumptions, we as people categorize others and things into what we believe to be correct. Whether or not we have actually taken the time to figure out if we are right is irrelevant. He notes that we should just â€Å"keep trying to expand our sense of ‘us’ as far as we can†, so we can avoid judgments and isolating ourselves from the rest of society. Even though Dorothy realizes her mistake, she doesn’t realize that it is not a failure, but her consciousness assuming the classification of things in the world. Fish later on defines thought as the â€Å"structure that at once enables perception†, meaning that within categories things emerge, limiting perception and nothing can allow one to see everything because that is God’s job. Fish uses many Bible allusions to create justification for his assertions. He uses Genesis 1:26, and Paul’s road to Damascus to show that people can be persuaded to change their placement of things in society. Despite all of his valid points, Fish states that it is nearly impossible for one to change just on realizations. He believes it takes practice to accept the fact that there are things that we cannot comprehend because there is no limit on the conceptual trappings of society.

A Prolonged Civil Conflict :: essays research papers

The reasons why the Vietnam War lasted so long is a very controversial subject among Americans. There is no simple answer to as why the war lasted so long. Many factors have to be considered when analyzing the war. The first factor that has to be considered is whether or not the U.S. really belonged in the Vietnam War in the first place. The initial reason that the U.S. became involved in Vietnam was because they thought that North Vietnam was going to Russia and China, which were communist countries, for support. Because of the containment policy, the U.S. felt it had to defend South Vietnam from communism. They thought that Russia was trying to take over Europe and make it one communist state. Herring says, “The United States formally committed itself to he containment of Soviet expansion in Europe, and throughout the next two years attention was riveted on France, where economic stagnation and political instability aroused grave fears of communists takeover'; (11). However, all Ho and North Vietnam wanted was for their country to be reunited. “For the Vietminh, unification of their not only represented fulfillment of the centuries-old dream of Vietnamese nationalists but also was economic necessity'; (8). The Vietminh asked the U.S. for support but because they thought that North Vietnam was influenced by Russia, the U.S. turned them down. It was not until later that the Vietminh went to Mao Tse-tung’s Chinese Communists for support out of desperateness. From the very beginning, “the U.S. had attached itself to a losing cause'; (19). Because the U.S. was obsessed with the domino theory and a communist threat in Southeast Asia, they became involved in and were partly to blame for prolonging a civil conflict.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After the U.S. had initially become involved in Vietnam’s civil conflict, they kept getting more and more involved. Besides several bomb raids the U.S. also kept sending more and more troops into South Vietnam. The massive bomb raids and the continuous flow of troops into South Vietnam established the U.S.’s policy; they were willing to give full support to South Vietnam and fight in a war in order to stop the spread of communism. As Herring says, the U.S. also insisted “that an important interest had been established that had to be defended for the sake of U.S. credibility throughout the world'; (309).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This leads to the second factor to as why the war lasted so long.

Othello Character

loWhen an individual experiences feelings of jealousy towards their partner in a relationship, it often results in feelings of anger and distrust, which cause them to sabotage the partnership and possibly end it. Shakespeare's protagonist, Othello, becomes deceived and unable to decide in whom to place his trust. The noble Moor chooses wrongfully and places himself under the loyalty of Iago, allowing him to corrupt and transform him, destroying his sanity and relationships with others. Consequently, the Moor's trustworthiness and envy become his weaknesses and result in his downfall.In the play â€Å"Othello†, by William Shakespeare, the protagonist's flaws contribute to his downfall from a noble soldier to an irrational man, suggesting that when a an individual experiences jealousy in a relationship, it becomes the corruption that destroys a person's conscience and ultimately the relationship itself. Othello is initially portrayed as an honest natured individual of royal stat us and reasonable character. his love for Desdemona, his wife, acquires him the essence of a respectable, loving husband, implying his success as a firm, yet affectionate husband.After Cassio is relieved of his duties by Othello, Desdemona promises to put an effort into convincing her husband to take him back as his lieutenant. After multiple rejections and rebounds, the Moor finally gives in: â€Å"I will deny thee nothing. / Whereon I do beseech thee grant me this, / To leave me but a little to myself† (Oth. 3. 3. 83-85). Although the Moor was very upset with Cassio, Desdemona's good-natured pleas were enough to change his mind into reconsidering Cassio's position.In saying that he would â€Å"deny [her] nothing† demonstrates his love for her and suggests that there is a special place in his heart for his sweet wife that he cannot help but succumb to at times. Furthermore, Othello's strong, sophisticated character is demonstrated through his logic and patience, empha sizing his greatness as a warrior. Upon being accused false doings and being challenged to a duel with his father-in-law, Brabantio, the Moor calmly responds, â€Å"Hold your hands, / Both you of my inclining and the rest. / Where it my cue to fight, i should have known it / Without a prompter† (Oth. . 2. 82-85). Othello's control over the situation makes it evident that he is a reasonable and gentle man, contrasting his self-control with Brabantio's lack of restraint. Othello's composed reaction makes him seem more rational than his racist father-in-law by thinking his actions through before reacting on impulse. Further analyzing the goodness of Othello, Anthony Hecht comments, â€Å"While everywhere it is noted that he is given to self-dramatization, Iago, who has no affection for him, admits that he is of a free and open nature. Which is to say, he is both guileless and guileful.There is no question of his courage, nor of his weakness† (Hecht 19). Moreover, the trus ting nature of the Moor is reflected in his relationship with others, suggesting his easy-going atmosphere. Needing his wife to be taken care of safely, he tells the Duke, â€Å"So please your grace, my ancient; / A man he is of honesty and trust. / To his conveyance i assign my wife, / With what else needful your good grace shall think / To be sent after me† (Oth. 1. 3. 283-287). Othello's confidence in his relationship with his ancient, Iago, demonstrates his trusting personality.Once the Moor has belief that a man is trustworthy, he will give them his whole heart, making it evident of his value in loyalty. Yet, Othello's respectable qualities become the cause of his corruption, which bring upon jealousy, deception, and delusions, ultimately leading him closer to his tragic death. Although the Moor loves Desdemona greatly, his strong bond with her has taken away the control he held for himself. Plotting against him, Iago muses to himself to himself, â€Å"His soul is so en fetter'd to her love / That she may make, unmake, do what she list, / Even as her appetite shall play the god / With his weak function† (Oth. . 3. 316-319). Saying that Othello is â€Å"enfetter'd to her love†, Iago is suggesting that his love for Desdemona is the Moor's weakness, being â€Å"chained† to her in a way where she â€Å"shall play the god† and take away his mastery since he does not believe the Moor can think for himself. By willingly being with Desdemona, Othello puts himself in a position of vulnerability and cannot blame anyone else for this but himself. Likewise, without seeming so at first, Othello's whole hearted trust in Iago becomes a mistake that he is not aware of initially.As Iago utilizes subtle manipulation on the Moor, he successfully plants the seed of doubt in his mind, suggesting Desdemona's disloyalty to him. Othello says to him: I think thou dost; And, for i know thou'rt full of love and honesty And weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more; For such things in a false disloyal knave Are tricks of custom; but in a man that's just They are close dilations, working from the heart That passion cannot rule. (Oth. 3. 3. 117-124)The dramatic and verbal irony when Othello describes Iago's â€Å"love and honesty† demonstrates his unwise and gullible nature, making his full trust in him an error. The way Iago's pauses fright [him] the more† concludes that the Moor has been tricked without realizing it and reflects his foolishness despite his strong, controlled character. As critic William Hazlitt suggests, â€Å"Ironically it is Othello's judgment that allows Iago to manipulate him; Othello is a trusting man who believes that people are what they seem, thus believing in Iago because he appears to be honest and loyal† (Hazlitt 29).Subsequently, logic, patience, and self-restraint has become lost in the Moor once his emotions have been u sed against him and his jealousy is played on. After Iago explains a dream he heard Cassio had about making love to Desdemona to Othello, the Moor says, â€Å"But this denoted a foregone conclusion: ‘Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream† (Oth. 3. 3. 428-429). Then almost immediately after he concludes that â€Å"[he] will tear her all to pieces† (Oth. 3. 3. 432). Othello at this point in the play has transformed from the loving husband he once was, to a jealous individual that must act on his envy as soon as the chance arises.Ignoring the absence of solid proof his wife's disloyalty, he has let Iago torture his conscience with lies and consequently confusing and agitating his sanity. Consequently, Othello's corruption leads to chaos as he realizes too late the destruction his actions have caused that eventually bring him to his tragic death. His hamartia has come into play, which brings upon anarchy and reflects Othello's loss of control and reason. Convi nced without proof that Desdemona has been cheating on him, he proclaims to Iago, â€Å"Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her! / Come, go with me apart. I will withdraw / To urnish me with some swift means of death / For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant† (Oth. 3. 3. 475-478). The Moor's marriage is officially destroyed and his conclusion to make Iago, the man responsible for causing him grief, his new lieutenant guarantees his doom. His quick decision to kill Desdemona for her unfaithfulness without real evidence demonstrates the destruction his jealousy has caused to their relationship. Inevitably, Othello's corruption becomes an unstoppable force, which ends in the deaths of many innocent lives. After killing his wide and confessing so to Emilia, Iago's wife, Othello explains: â€Å"Cassio did top her.Ask thy husband else. / O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell / But that I did proceed upon just grounds / To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all† (Oth. 5 . 2. 136-139). Dramatic irony emphasizes how confused the Moor really is about what is delusion and what is reality because he uses Iago's word as proof, which is false, as well as going as far as to say â€Å"I did proceed upon just grounds to this extremity. † Othello did not actually have a just reason for committing his murderous act as Iago never gave him proof, reflecting the way in which jealousy corrupts the mind and an individual’s entire reasoning.This all becomes evident once chaos was unleashed upon the Moor, which consequently costs him his nobility, marriage and life. The Moor realizes his mistakes too late, but comes to understand that he is reasonably the one to blame for all the devastation he has caused. Upon becoming aware of Iago's true intentions and Desdemona's faithfulness, Othello speaks some of his last words: When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely, but too well; Of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought,Perplex'd in the extreme; of one whose hand, Like the base Judean, thew a pearl away Richer than all his tribe; (Oth. 5. 2. 341-349) Thus, Othello finally realizes his emotions were manipulated to do the deeds of an evil man he once trusted. A part of his old noble character us shown when he asks the soldiers to â€Å"speak of [him] as [he is]. Nothing extenuate, / Nor set down aught in malice. † His humbleness is paired with bitterness because of the needless death of his wife brought upon by his own envious actions, demonstrating his own contribution to his tragic death.Also, as Shawn Smith believes,†If Othello earlier in the scene has been a minister of justice deliberating Desdemona's fate, he is now turning judicial attention to himself, and in doing so he recognizes his own mis-judgments. It is here we see Othello returning to his exotic narratives we associate with his language in the earliest scenes of the play. And in his return to these exotic narratives, Othello offers his retreat from Venetian life – and, indeed, life altogether† (Smith 47). He simply cannot deny the errors in his accusations and the killing of his wife, foolishly â€Å"[throwing] a pearl away. â€Å"By experiencing the delusions of envy, Othello himself becomes the evil force behind the deception and deaths of innocent people, including his own. He is initially loved and respected by many for his lpyalty, royal status, and honourable marriage. Nonetheless, the qualities he is honoured for become his imperfections, resulting in deception, jealousy, and his fall from nobility. Consequently, chaos ensues and destroys a once loving marriage and sane man. Thus, jealousy transforms an individual to harm those they love most, a dangerous and monstrous emotion that requires reason and logic to restrain it from destroying relationships.

Generation Music

It is All the Same Thing If you are a teenager then you have heard that the music of today is trash and it will never compare to the music of the past. What makes our music so much worse? The songs are saying the exact same thing. What is the difference between music now and music then? As I listen to the music of the past, I notice that their way of presenting the music differs from music today. The way they used words were masks for what they were actually saying, but now artists say exactly what they mean.In Rick James's hit â€Å"Mary Jane†, for example, he is talking about his excessive use of Marijuana. A person who has no knowledge of Marijuana would not know what Rick James was referring to when he said Mary Jane. He calls Mary Jane a she as if it were a real woman. He uses personification to express his passion for weed. â€Å"I'm in love with Mary Jane. She's my main thing. She makes me feel alright. She makes my heart sing†¦ Takes me to paradise. † His o pening verse is all expressing his love for weed and how weed makes him feel.Wiz Khalifa is a rapper known for his weed obsession. In his song â€Å"Up†, he Just comes right out and says that everything is better when you are high. He does not hide behind nicknames and descriptive words. Both songs agree that weed makes life better. Although both songs are equally bad influences, â€Å"Mary Jane† would be better entitled than â€Å"Up†. Betty Wright's song â€Å"Slip and Do It† is all about taking another woman's significant other. She says â€Å"Girl, don't blame me for what I'm doin'. It's your man; he won't leave me alone!And it feels so good when you slip and do it. † She is practically saying that cheating is not bad, and that women whose men cheat on them are at fault. The message is completely wrong, but the song was a hit. Her vocals and beat distract from the real message of her song. If an artist of todays time made a song even close to B etty Wright's song then it would be titled as trash. For example, Trey Songz's â€Å"Cheat On You† has never been a hit. Although Trey Songz is a talented artist, his music will somehow never mount to the music of the past.Trey Songz and Betty Wright messages are the same, but Betty Wright's song was a hit. Songs with the same messages, but different time periods are looked at differently. One is titled as award worthy, but the other has never gotten the attention it deserves. Time has changed, but messages in music have remained the same. The contrast between music of different time periods is hard to find. Music of the past and music of the present both present the same messages. The music Generation Music By shidahbee

America in Vietnam and The Domino Theory essays

America in Vietnam and The Domino Theory essays The theory most discussed during the Vietnam era seems to have been the so-called domino theory. This theory held that if one small nation fell to Communism, then so would its neighbors. The theory was a linchpin of high-level government discussions as early as 1954, when Secretary of State John Foster Dulles used it in a press conference on May 11 of that year. It was still apparently thought to be a cogent argument when President John F. Kennedy spoke about Cuba to the American Society of Newspaper Editors on April 20, 1061. The theory lent support to the arguments, therefore, of both Republicans and Democrats. There is, moreover, some reason to believe that the theory is in fact a somewhat adequate explanation of events; its obverseturning Communist states into states with representative governments, happened all over eastern Europe In terms of Southeast Asia, however, the possibility of governments falling like dominoes was sufficient excuse for U.S intervention. In his May 11, 1954 press conference, Secretary Dulles made clear that while no single one of the at-risk nationsVietnam, Laos or Cambodiacould alone initiate the fall of Southeast Asia, neither was the U.S. going to walk away from the region (Lewy, 1978, p. 163) to test the theory. Four years ago, the 25th anniversary of the fall of Saigon was commemorated in The Nation by a writer who is apparently a Thai national, or at least, has Thai ancestry. Thailand was one of the nations U.S. military engagements, in the name of the domino theory, was supposed to protect. In fact, the U.S. did not much care who did what to whom, as long as there were no Communists involved. As Chokchaimadon pointed out, "Supported by the United States, South Vietnamese governments were set up to counter communist North Vietnam; simultaneously, they also used their...

How to Make an Inference in 5 Easy Steps

How to Make an Inference in 5 Easy Steps We all have to take those standardized tests where youre presented with a large passage of text and must work your way through the multiple-choice problems that follow. Most of the time, youll get questions asking you to find the main idea, determine the authors purpose, understand vocabulary in context, figure out the authors tone, and, the topic at hand, make inferences. For many people, understanding how to make an inference is the toughest part of the reading passage, because an inference in real life requires a bit of guessing. On a multiple-choice test, however, making an inference comes down to honing a few reading skills like these listed below. Read them, then practice your new skills with the inference practice problems listed below. What exactly is an inference? Step 1: Identify an Inference Question First, youll need to determine whether or not youre actually being asked to make an inference on a reading test. The most obvious questions will have the words suggest, imply or infer right in the tag like these: According to the passage, we can reasonably infer...Based on the passage, it could be suggested that...Which of the following statements is best supported by the passage?The passage suggests that this primary problem...The author seems to imply that†¦ Some questions, however, will not come right out and ask you to infer. Youll have to actually infer that you need to make an inference about the passage. Sneaky, huh? Here are a few that require inferencing skills, but dont use those words exactly. With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree?Which of the following sentences would the author most likely use to add additional support to paragraph three? Step 2: Trust the Passage Now that youre certain you have an inference question on your hands, and you know exactly what an inference is, youll need to let go of your prejudices and prior knowledge and use the passage to prove that the inference you select is the correct one. Inferences on a multiple-choice exam are different from those in real life. Out in the real world, if you make an educated guess, your inference could still be incorrect. But on a multiple-choice exam, your inference will be correct because youll use the details in the passage to prove it. You have to trust that the passage offers you the truth in the setting of the test and that one of the answer choices provided is correct without stepping too far outside the realm of the passage. Step 3: Hunt for Clues Your third step is to start hunting for clues – supporting details, vocabulary, characters actions, descriptions, dialogue, and more – to prove one of the inferences listed below the question. Take this question and text, for example: Reading Passage: The widow Elsa was as complete a contrast to her third bridegroom, in everything but age, as can be conceived. Compelled to relinquish her first marriage after her husband died in the war, she married a man twice her years to whom she became an exemplary wife despite their having nothing in common, and by whose death she was left in possession of a splendid fortune, though she gave it away to the church. Next, a southern gentleman, considerably younger than herself, succeeded to her hand, and carried her to Charleston, where, after many uncomfortable years, she found herself again a widow. It would have been remarkable if any feeling had survived through such a life as Elsas; it could not but be crushed and killed by the early disappointment of her first grooms demise, the icy duty of her second marriage, and the unkindness of her third husband, which had inevitably driven her to connect the idea of his death with that of her comfort. Based on the information in the passage, it could be suggested that the narrator believes Elsas prior marriages to be:A. uncomfortable, but well-suited to ElsaB. satisfactory and dull to ElsaC. cold and damaging to ElsaD. awful, but worth it to Elsa To find clues that point to the correct answer, look for descriptions that would support those first adjectives in the answer choices. Here are some of the descriptions of her marriages in the passage: †¦she became an exemplary wife despite their having nothing in common†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦after many uncomfortable years, she found herself again a widow.†¦the icy duty of her second marriage and the unkindness of her third husband which had inevitably driven her to connect the idea of his death with that of her comfort. Step 4: Narrow Down the Choices The last step to making a correct inference on a multiple-choice test is to narrow down the answer choices. Using the clues from the passage, we can infer that nothing much was satisfactory to Elsa about her marriages, which gets rid of Choice B. Choice A is also incorrect because although the marriages certainly seem uncomfortable based on the clues, they were not well-suited to her as she had nothing in common with her second husband and wanted her third husband to die. Choice D is also incorrect because nothing is stated or implied in the passage to prove that Elsa believed her marriages to be worth it in some way; in fact, we can infer that it wasnt worth it to her at all because she gave away the money from her second husband. So, we have to believe that Choice C is the best – the marriages were cold and damaging. The passage states explicitly that her marriage was an icy duty and her third husband was unkind. We also know that they were damaging because her feelings had been crushed and killed by her marriages. Step 5: Practice To get really good at making inferences, youll need to practice making your own inferences first, so start with these free inference practice worksheets.

The way play-based approaches to teaching and learning impact in the Research Proposal

The way play-based approaches to teaching and learning impact in the quality education - Research Proposal Example trategies are areas presented in the National Curriculum's framework as highly structured, which in turn allows them very little space for creativity. Therefore, young children in year one are asked to sit down, listen, and follow directions most of the time. Unfortunately, in this way they are being offered little encouragement and suppport to develop their learning dispositions (Broadhead, 2003). This appears to be the key to the problem. Judging by the circumstances, it seems very difficult for early years practitioners in the UK, particularly those working in reception and year one classes, to create a positive environment to facilitate children's learning through play, as the majority of theorists state. Anyway, it is well known that begining primary school entails a transition into a more formal curriculum. Therefore, we believe that finding a balance between play-based activities and more specific tasks would be a good way of considering children's needs and interests. Hopefully, this less structured and moer informal way of proceding, will facilitate teachers' job when they have to plan what they aim children to learn in relation to the National Curriculum requirements (Palmer and Pettitt, 1993). Aims Research in the early years education is considered essential and can generate data that can be applicable for further research, policy modification, as well as for the improvement of practice (Pascal, 1993) . The aim of the present study is to discover UK's primary teachers in year one understandings of play, and how this impacts on their practice, as they have to contemplate the National Curriculum's statuory demands. Answers to the following questions were sought: 1) To explore the understandings of play currently held byUK's primary teachers in... The study will consist in a small-scale survey to investigate year one teachers understandings of play and believes about the primary National Curriculum, and how these impact on practice. In addition, will investigate if year one children consider they get to play in the classroom. Robson explains that small-scale surveys are one of the traditional qualitative research strategies, as they are suitable for studies that seek to describe and analyse some aspect or situation. He also states that a disadvantage in the use of questionnaires and/or interviews is that respondents will not necessarily report their understandings and believes, for a number of reasons. Therefore, a type of external validity is necessary if the purpose of the study is to seek if their is a line between what people say and do. In this way, as the behaviour of teachers’ is an essential aspect in the study as well, observation techniques will be also included to learn about teachers practice in the classroo m, and then to describe, analyse and interpret what was observed.

Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Speech - Essay Example rnaments such as a silver ax, silver knife, silver pepper, silver flowers, and silver rings and silver knife is of paramount importance to the people of Korea. There are a variety of ornamental knives, such as ornamental silver knife, which illustrate the distinct culture of the nation. It was the practice for men to wear an enclosed ornamental knife hanging from their belt and it was of special meaning to the women belonging to this cultural background. There are also ceremonies in which foreign heads of party and state who visit Korea are presented with a sheathed ornamental silver knife as a sign of welcome, respect, friendship, and unity to the people of other cultures. The ornamental silver knife, which was an accessory for women, was also a symbol of their virginity and purity. In his book Seeds of the Willow Chong K. Lewe mentions this cultural ornament, when he talks about his mother. â€Å"My mother also always had on her an Embroidered Silk Pouch with strings, which was he r Purse, and a Pocket Knife about six inches long with about a quarter inch diameter cylindrical (oval) handle. The Case and the Handle were made of Silver with Silk strings tied around the Case. It also had Ornamental Carvings on the Handle and the Case. The Knife had a Blade about three inches long. I still have the Knife in my Desk Drawer. It was an old Korean Custom that elderly ladies always wear these Accessories with their Traditional Korean Dresses.† (Lewe, 261) Therefore, the ornamental silver knife illustrates one of the most striking aspects of Korean Culture which has been celebrated for the continuation of similar practices and customs. The encased ornamental knife in the culture of Korea is known as the Unjangdo which refers to a variety of ornamental knives made in Korea since the Choson dynasty and the prefix â€Å"un† refers to silver, which is used in the manufacture of this knife. â€Å"The name â€Å"Jangdo† appeared during the early Choson (1392 -1905) period.   During

Stock Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Stock Markets - Essay Example Hypothesis being the Greek word for "assumption", the Efficient Markets Hypothesis therefore assumes that capital markets, of which the stock or equity market is one, is efficient. And what we mean when we say that a market is efficient is that buyers and sellers of stocks have all the relevant information they need to make an intelligent decision to either buy or sell stocks in companies at a certain price that reflects all available information. The first to propose the hypothesis is Eugene Fama of the University of Chicago in a paper (1970) where he presented a method of testing the efficiency of the New York Stock Exchange. Since then, hundreds of studies have been conducted to either prove or disprove the hypothesis. Since we know that in science, a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory, the fact that the efficiency of markets remains a hypothesis begs the question: why Do test results thus far show that capital markets are inefficient because scientific investigation has not proven otherwise Or, if capital markets are efficient, and stock prices reflect all available information, then why is the trade on mere pieces of paper (called stocks) growing Is it a case of altruistic holders of stocks, seeing the potential for future earnings, selling these stocks to others in order to share the wealth Or are all sellers of stocks just looking for another fool to unload a worthless piece of paper And why do people still make (and lose) money in the stock market And if capital markets are efficient, are all investing decisions intelligent and based on complete information As we will show, capital market efficiency does not necessarily mean an increase in the intelligence quotient of all investors. Power of Information in Capital Markets Today Capital markets have the advantage of getting buyers and sellers to agree on a deal without the use of financial intermediaries like banks and insurance companies who direct the flow of resources from savers to borrowers. Capital market transactions are therefore deemed more efficient in the absence of intermediaries except for brokers who put buyers and sellers together and get a small commission for the effort, making the deal almost frictionless. This is one factor that leads to our hypothesis: the low transaction costs of capital markets enhance its efficiency. With transaction costs negligible, the only real factor that determines the current price of a stock should be the net present value of its future cash flows in the form of dividends and, assuming the company lasts long enough, capital gains when the stock is sold at a future date. After all, a stock is nothing else but a claim to a company's future cash flows. A company's cash flow is affected by several factors, among which are its business prospects, management quality and strategic plans, the economy's over-all performance, and the company's standing within the economy. If all these pieces of information are known, making a study of free

Gaming and animation industry

Gaming and animation industry Animation Animation or 3D is a big innovation.We can understand animation from the Greek word animare which means to give life to something without. Animation is a series of still pictures that are shown in rapid succession creates the illusion of movement because of persistence of vision, this means the image stays on the retina a fraction of a second longer. If we see many images (24 a sec) they will all link up. There are different types of animation computer games use animation for games such as tomb raider and frogger, the characters and settings are all animated. Cell animation is the process of taking a sequence of images and stringing them together to create movement. It is an old process that is still used today to create animation for cinema, television, and computers. An example of cell animation is in programmes such as superman. Cut out animation is a technique that is quicker than cel. Parts of the body of an animal or person are cut out and coloured, then assembled and reassembl ed into different positions instead of being drawn over and over again. Animation has developed a lot since the 1900s, the first animated feature film was made by Cohl and George Melies that was made in 1918. Indias, gaming, industry, $860, million, and, animation, industry, $1bn, 2012. Indias gaming and animation industrys are the 2 industries which are going at a fast rate. The compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) predicted for animation industry is 22%. For gaming industry it is 53% NASSCOM, animation industry is a $494 million industry in 2008 and at the CAGR of 22% it will be $1bn industry. These are revised estimates where the growth estimates are cut. The global CAGR is estimated to be 10% much lesser than Indias own CAGR. Animation globally will be a $100 bn industry (it is $68 bn in 2008) Key segments in Animation: o Entertainment animation, o Animation education, o Custom content development and o multimedia/web design and VFX o Gaming on the other hand The segments are split as shown below : animation-nasscom Gaming is the fastest growing among the two and probably the fastest growing industry in India. It is $167 million industry in 2008. With an estimated CAGR of 53% it will be $830 million in 2012. Globally it is $21 billion in 2008 and will grow to $53.6 billion in 2012. Key segments in gaming: o Online games, o Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG), o Casual, o Mobile games, o PC games o Console games, o Regular and Handheld The segments are split as shown below : gaming-nasscom NASSCOM revised its 2012 forecast for animation industry from USD 1060 million to 830 million and gaming industry from USD 1163 million to 1000 million. Some of the factors which accounted for the revision were the global economic downturn, domestic box office for animation movies not picking up as estimated, End to end skill sets not being developed in the animation services industry. Animation industry in India India is emerging as an outsourcing hub for animation and visual effects with large number of international media companies entering into joint ventures with animation studios in India. The Animation Industry in India though a late starter, is considered as one of the fastest growing segments of the entertainment and media industry. The Animation Industry in India gained significance as an outsourced destination for animation work due to low cost, skilled labour as its many advantages. In the recent past Indian animation companies and animation studios have been moving up the value chain to create their own intellectual property rights with Hanuman, Roadside Romeo, etc. and partnering with international studios to produce animated properties for the global audience.Though a majority of the work done by the animation industry in India is outsourced work, this is expected to change in the future with increased demand from the domestic entertainment industry. The Indian animation industry in 2007 was estimated at USD 0.31 billion and is expected to grow at CAGR 24% to reach USD 0.94 billion by 2012. The Indian animation industry in 2007 was estimated at USD 0.31 billion and is expected to grow at CAGR 24% to reach USD 0.94 billion by 2012. Indian animation industry including market size, growth and key segments. Analysis of drivers reveals that growing demand for animated content in the domestic market, cost arbitrage opportunity in India, improving animation education and increasing character licensing business have helped growth of this sector in India. The key challenges identified include high set-up and production cost, talent shortage and lack of protection of intellectual property. The future trends identified include increasing animation application in other sectors, domestic animation movies earning revenues through international releases and increase in investments and realizations for animated movies in India. Market size and growth rate of animation industry With global players like Walt Disney, Imax, Warner Bros signing contracts with Indian animation companies for outsourcing and co-production, it is expected that the animation industry in India can touch $950 million by 2009 and is expected to grow at a fast pace over the next five years. However, outside the Industry there is scepticism about the pace of growth because of the challenges like piracy, lack of intellectual property (IP) protection rights, acute lack of resources and investments the Industry is facing. In an interaction with Business Standard, KPMG Advisory Services (P) Ltd Director Jaiddep Ghosh said, Although India is the largest media consuming market in the world, only 1 per cent of the US market size which is estimated at $10 billion, so far the animation is concerned, it is currently pegged at $600 million. Commenting upon the industry market size, he said, The Indian market size is extremely fragmented with the top players accounting for 10-15 per cent of the industry turnover. Further, most of the players are direct or indirect off-shoots of the Indian BPO boom. This legacy and low indigenous demand forced most of the players to adopt the outsourcing business model. Prominent players include Toonz Animation, Crest Communication, Maya Entertainment, UTV Toons, Zee, etc. Also, Pritish Nandy Communication has plans for five full-length 3-D animated bollywood films and has signed a $25-million deal with Florida-based animation company Motion Pixel Corporation. Crest Animations has entered into a three-movie co-production agreement with Lions Gate, a major movie studio. Also, animation studio DQ Entertainment has made a pact with US-based Electronic Arts to work on PC games. With these developments, it seems that things will change dramatically in the near future. Further, Walt Disney, Imax, Warner Bros are signing contracts with Indian Animation companies for outsourcing and co-production. Animation needs a much larger investment and longer production circles. However, it has very long shelf lives and content leverage scope. A typical animation movie may take 2 years for completion unlike general movies. Further it is labour intensive, although with the advent of computers, the work has been simplified and is a relief from the days when each frame had to be drawn by hand. It is estimated that the labour may account for 70-80 per cent of the total costs for a 2-D animation production. It is lower for 3-D animation. Further, animation products are expensive to produce, on an average animation costs 5-15 times more than a live product. The key challenges before the industry are piracy and lack of IP protection rights and an acute lack of resources, investment and government support. The slack IP laws and weak enforcement mean that studios can expect leakage of revenue at every stage. Indian animation industry poised for growth Right now, about 300,000 students are undergoing training in animation technology across India. Most of the professionals are still at the entry level, The way the industry is growing, even these 300,000 professionals will not be enough to handle the work load in the coming years. Good times ahead for Animation Industry apirants as Hanuman, Hanuman Returns and now Bal Ganesh the string of successful animation movies is an indication of the fast growth that the Indian animation industry is poised for after the development of some very advanced software. As far as the Indian animation movie production is concerned, a new phase has now started after advanced software has been developed. Technology is key to the growth of the animation sector. India has about 200 animation, 40 VFX and 35 game development studios, but the country needs more workstations to make optimal use of the potential that the industry has. we get trainers from the US and Canada to train our staff and help them understand the current trends in animation in the world market. This ensures that the output is on a par with the acceptable levels for international standards, especially Hollywood.Animation movie making will soon emerge as a self-sufficient industry and attain a full-ledged stature. The Indian animation movie production, however, had a rather shaky start. In 1984, when the renowned artiste Ram Mohan wanted to make an animation movie on the Indian epic Ramayana in collaboration with the Japanese filmmaker Yogo Sako. The movie, Ramayan, executed under Mohans leadership, created a revolution in the international market in that it made the Western world aware for the first time of talent available in India to make animation movies. India saw an outsourcing boom subsequently. But, due to the high cost involved, together with shortage of manpower and technology, animation movie making stagnated after Ramayan was released. Some of them did create story-based animated work, but those were meant only for the advertising commercials. It was only since 2000 that corporate houses set their sights on producing animation movies. UTV was the first corporate entity to plan animated versions of India Book Houses popular Amar Chitra Katha series in the 1990s. But the project did not get off the ground. A decade later Percept Picture Company (PPC) brought to India its Hanuman series of animation features Hanuman and Hanuman Returns. At a one-day conference on animation and gaming in Chandgarh recently, Punit Vatsayan, managing director of Mobera Systems Pvt. Ltd., said the Indian animation and gaming industry is projected to reach the $1 billion mark by 2010 from the current combined revenues of $402 million. Navin Gupta, chief operating officer of the Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC), a Mumbai-based animation training institute, said the Indian animation industry is still hard-pressed for skilled manpower. Made on a budget of about Rs.15 million, PPCs first animation movie Hanuman went on to earn Rs.70 million for the corporate entity. PPC followed it up with Hanuman Returns. Shemaroo in another Indian company that feels animation is good business. It has set up its own animation studio to create animation movies in-house. Though Shemaroos maiden animation attempt, Bal Ganesh, did not see the success of PPCs Hanuman and Hanuman Returns, it scored in terms of quality. Animation movie can be made here 15 times cheaper than the cost of a Hollywood production. Supply chain governance and outsourcing in animation As a result of all the potential of the animation market, the governance of animation production (i.e., where decisions on the supply chain) is dictated by the institutions which control whether content is produced and how it is distributed. Increasingly, these two aspects are connected. In the US, the distribution of animation is essentially controlled by the large TV channels such as the Fox Network, the specialized channels such as Nickleodeon and Cartoon Network, the larger distributor/studios or other content providers such as Disney. It is only when a production studio gets large and well-known enough that it can effectively dictate its own future. Since most animation series are carried by TV studios, and since these studios may be in the broadcasting rather than production business, they rely heavily on contracting with creative talent of outside production studios. Specialized animation channels, and previously Fox, usually keep some internal pre-production and postproduction operations, and sometimes even hold onto the production internally. That is, they have their own creative talent, either for developing animation in-house, or for spotting or identifying concepts in the conceptualization and preproduction phase, which are then â€Å"outsourced† to animation studios.Post-production is often done in-house as well since it is really a follow-up stage that ensures that production meets the preproduction specifications. In contrast, the recent 3D movies have largely not been outsourced. The reasons for this will follow as we examine the creative production process for Pixar in more detail. Unlike animation, the film industry has outsourced their computer graphics (CG) effects for the most part. This is partly because of the flexibly specialized nature of film production, which allows outsourcing, and partly because of the fact that the film industry has traditionally been dependent only on physical assets such as actors and locations. Increasingly, however, computer graphics effects are becoming more and more useful in film, blurring the line between film and CG or CGI animation. No where was this more evident than in the Lord of the Rings trilogy: All three movies used CG effects extensively for the main battle scenes, redefining the notion of what assets are needed for epic scenes or to define a movie. Supply chain governance and outsourcing in animation As a result of all the potential of the animation market, the governance of animation production (i.e., where decisions on the supply chain) is dictated by the institutions which control whether content is produced and how it is distributed. Increasingly, these two aspects are connected. In the US, the distribution of animation is essentially controlled by the large TV channels such as the Fox Network, the specialized channels such as Nickleodeon and Cartoon Network, the larger distributor/studios or other content providers such as Disney. It is only when a production studio gets large and well-known enough that it can effectively dictate its own future. Since most animation series are carried by TV studios, and since these studios may be in the broadcasting rather than production business, they rely heavily on contracting with creative talent of outside production studios. Specialized animation channels, and previously Fox, usually keep some internal pre-production and postproduction operations, and sometimes even hold onto the production internally. That is, they have their own creative talent, either for developing animation in-house, or for spotting or identifying concepts in the conceptualization and preproduction phase, which are then â€Å"outsourced† to animation studios.Post-production is often done in-house as well since it is really a follow-up stage that ensures that production meets the preproduction specifications. In contrast, the recent 3D movies have largely not been outsourced. The reasons for this will follow as we examine the creative production process for Pixar in more detail. Unlike animation, the film industry has outsourced their computer graphics (CG) effects for the most part. This is partly because of the flexibly specialized nature of film production, which allows outsourcing, and partly because of the fact that the film industry has traditionally been dependent only on physical assets such as actors and locations. Increasingly, however, computer graphics effects are becoming more and more useful in film, blurring the line between film and CG or CGI animation. No where was this more evident than in the Lord of the Rings trilogy: All three movies used CG effects extensively for the main battle scenes, redefining the notion of what assets are needed for epic scenes or to define a movie. Indias Advantages in the Animation Industry Indias attractiveness as an animation hub lies in the presence of an English-speaking workforce, high-quality software engineers, a large pool of creative talent, good studios and low costs. The cost of producing a 30-minute 3D animation programme in India is US$60,000 compared to US$250,000-400,000 in the United States and Canada. India has a cost advantage compared to the Philippines, which is another low cost producer of animations. The average monthly salary of an animation professional in India is US$600 compared to US$1,000-US$1,200 in the Philippines. The cost of outsourcing one hour of animation work to India is estimated to be 30% to 40% of the corresponding costs in leading animation centres in Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines. Indias advantages in low costs have been exploited by many multinational firms and production studios. The advent of digital animation coincided with the liberalization of the Indian economy and India offered the benefits of lower production costs, strong creative and technical skills and a large English speaking population. This has led to the development of state of the art animation studios in several Indian cities, and these studios are collaborating with global entertainment companies. Main characteristics of animation Animations for Education Educators are enthusiastically taking up the opportunities that computer animation offers for depicting dynamic content. For example, PowerPoint now has an easy-to-use animation facility that, in the right hands, can produce very effective educational animations. Because animations can explicitly depict changes over time, they seem ideally suited to the teaching of processes and procedures. When used to present dynamic content, animations can mirror both the changes in position (translation), and the changes in form (transformation) that are fundamental to learning this type of subject matter. In contrast with static pictures, animations can show temporal change directly (rather than having to indicate it indirectly using auxiliary markings such as arrows and motion lines). Using animations instead of static graphics removes the need for these added markings so that displays can be not only simpler and less cluttered, but also more vivid, engaging, and more intuitively comprehended. In addition, the learner does not have to interpret the auxiliary markings and try to infer the changes that they summarise. Such interpretation and inference may demand a level of graphicacy skills that the learner does not possess. With animated depictions, information about the changes involved is available to be read straight from the display without the learner needing to perform mental animation. Animations Facilitate Learning It seems that animations should be ideal for presenting dynamic content. However, research evidence about the educational effectiveness of animations is mixed. Various investigations have compared the educational effectiveness of static and animated displays across a number of content domains. While there have been some findings that show positive effects of animations on learning, other studies have found no effects or even negative effects. In general, it can be concluded that animations are not intrinsically more effective than static graphics. Rather, the particular characteristics of individual animations and how they are used play a key role in the effects that they have on learning. Animations Make Learning Faster Well-designed animations may help students learn faster and easier. They are also excellent aid to teachers when it comes to explaining difficult subjects. The difficulty of subjects may arise due to the involvement of mathematics or imagination. For instance, the flow$ of electric current is invisible. The operation of electric circuits is difficult for students to understand at the beginning. With the aid of computer animations, learning and teaching might become easier, faster and amusing. Educational Effectiveness It seems that when the subject matter is complex, learners may be overwhelmed by animated presentations. This is related to the role of visual perception and cognition in human information processing. Our human perceptual and cognitive systems have limited capacities for processing information. If these limits are exceeded when using an animation, learning may be compromised. For example, the pace at which the animation presents its information may exceed the speed at which the learner can process it effectively. Youll probably find it quite demanding to work out exactly whats happening in the accompanying animation (part of a pumping system) for this reason. But the solution is obvious: slow the animation down and accompany it with a written explanation. It is unlikely that superior learning is achieved by thoughtlessly substituting animation for a static graphic but by having it accompany textual explication. Another suggestion for addressing such problems is to provide user contro l for the learner over how the animation plays. User controllable animations allow learners to vary aspects such as the playing speed and direction, labels and audio commentary to suit themselves. Perceptual Salience versus Thematic Relevance Complexity of the subject matter may not be the only reason for difficulties that learners sometimes have with animations. It seems that problems can also arise from the perceptual effects of such presentations. In a poorly designed animation, the information that learners notice most readily in the animation may not be the information that is of greatest importance. Conversely, information that is relatively inconspicuous may be very important. You can see an example of this in the top right hand corner of the accompanying animation. Tucked away here is a small grey-coloured valve whose subtle movement lets air into this pumping system (which is where the bubbles come from). However, its nowhere near as noticeable as the big, more central, orange-coloured valve that is going up and down so obviously. The point is that animations should not appear in a vacuum and most will require accompanying explanation. Obviously, perceptibility of information does not necessarily correspond with its actual relevance to the learning task to be performed. Features of the animated display that are most conspicuous because of their contrast with the rest of the display are not always the best place for learners to direct their attention. In other words, there can be a poor correspondence between the perceptual salience (noticeability) of a feature and its thematic relevance, and an accompanying text is needed to correct this. The Top Ten Animation Companies in India 1. Toonz Animation India, is based in Thiruvananthapuram and has to its credit the successful series â€Å"The Adventures of Tenali Raman†. The team here is also working on a full-fledged feature film called Tommy and Oscar which is a 2D /3D combo project. This is apart from completing work for the Italian producer Rainbow Productions; a 2D television series called Will o the Wisp (26 X 6 min) for Animoon Plc, United Kingdom and a big-budget 3D television series for major a US broadcaster. This company has tied up with First Serve International to form First Serve Toonz. 2. Pentamedia Graphics, Chennai is a subsidiary of computer software company Pentafour. It is best known for its animated 3D film using the â€Å"motion capture† technique, Sindbad: Beyond the Veils of the Mists. 3. Maya Entertainment, Mumbai has been doing outsourced work for a while now and has done the special effects for The Mummy and Stuart Little. It is also working on animating short films starring a character called Wabo, to be used by the United Nations to educate worldwide audiences on the importance of fresh drinking water. 4. UTV Toonz, Mumbai is the animation division of UTV Software Communications and is one of the top ranking studios dealing in flash as well as traditional animation. It has bagged a US$10 billion deal with an American company for outsourced work. Other assignments for international clients include like two Dutch deals to produce a musical cartoon series called â€Å"ClubNow!† and a fantasy series â€Å"The Donz†; a project with Cinegroup of Canada for the images for a sci-fi series. They are also working with companies in Scotland and Luxembourg for the development of series like â€Å"Clootie Dumpling† and â€Å"Snow Queen†. It will also be working on â€Å"Kong: The Next Generation† for New York-based BKN New Media. 5. Heart Entertainment, a 2D animation studio is yet another big name in the animation sphere, which is doing a lot of outsourced work. Among the animation featured in its portfolio are Warner Brothers Histeria, Tommy Nelsons Crippled Lamb and Little Dogs on the Prairie. It also has to its credit some work done for Walt Disney. 6. Padmalaya Telefilms, Mumbai is a unit of Indias largest listed media firm, Zee Telefilms. It is expected to make 104 cartoon episodes for US$ 14 million and distribute Mondos library for US$ 15 million. It has also inked some deals with British animation companies like Mallard Media and Ealing Animation. 7. Nipuna Services Ltd, a division of Satyam Computer Services, has recently bagged a project worth US$ 8 billion from 4K Animation GmbH, a German animation company. This assignment is among the biggest deals struck by an Indian BPO in the animation space. It is also doing significant work for a New Zealand based company called Applied Gravity. The work includes animatronics models for New Zealand Theme parks as well as an animatronics dog for Animal Planets series K9 to 11. 8. 8. Jadoo Works, Bangalore is working on an animated film series Lord Krishna and the crime caper Bombay Dogs. It has done work for US animation studios like Wild Brain and Guardian Angel Animation (GaGa). 9. Crest Communications, Mumbai, is a leading 3-d animation company and does a lot of work for American Studios. It came into limelight in 2002, when it won an Emmy for animation production work done for the animated series â€Å"Jakers: The Adventures of Piggley-Winks†. It is also to work on three features for Lions Gate Family Entertainment. Crest is also expected to produce and release â€Å"Sylvester and the Magic Pebble† based on the story by William Steig the creator of †Shrek†. 10. 10. Silvertoon Studio, Mumbai, is engaged primarily in subcontract work for U.S., French, and British studios, using digital ink, paint and compositing system. Challenges to Growth of Indias Animation Industry While it is true that Indias animation industry is growing at a remarkable pace, the fact remains that this growth is largely a result of the mushrooming of â€Å"studios-for-hire.† In animation feature films, for example, while Indian companies carry out the animation work, most of the writing, character design, and storyboarding are done abroad. India is yet to become a successful player in concept creation, the high value-adding segment of the industry which remains a preserve of western firms. Indias advantages of low costs in this industry will be too short-lived, and sooner rather than later, the country will have to start developing its own intellectual property. There are several challenges faced by the Indian animation industry. Lack of Finance Indian animation firms cannot match their western counterparts in financial strength. It is pointed out that state support in the form of tax holidays is crucial for success in the animation business. Canada, for example, offers major incentives to its studios for developing animation products. However, financial institutions in India have not been much forthcoming in funding projects in animation and interactive media. The long gestation period before fruition of projects discourages potential investors. This can be a major hurdle, and it has, in fact, led to the stoppage of a few production ventures. For example, Jadooworks had to stop production of animated epic of Krishna due to technical problems and lack of funding. The firm was supposedly on the verge of bankruptcy and this has led to the retrenchment of about Interestingly, Jadooworks is the same firm which drew appreciation from 250 workers.Thomas Friedman in an article in February 2004 for employing traditional artistes and transforming their skills to computerised digital painting he was arguing that globalisation can have beneficial impact on traditional artists. The experience of Jadooworks underlines the fact that it is still too ambitious for Indian companies to single-handedly enter into animation projects. Even a small project in the animation industry entails a budget of US$30 million, which is not affordable for Indian firms. International Attention Tata Elxsi Visual Computing Labs (VCL) in India tied up with Prologue Films in the United States to design the computer generated graphics for display at the academy awards in March 2004. This fact is not very well known. What this highlights is another challenge faced by the Indian animation industry attention at the national and international level. While Indian animation companies do contract work for western firms, the entire credit, including ownership of copyrights, for the work goes to the western firm. Paucity of Physical and Legal Infrastructure As per the recommendations by a NASSCOM study, improvement of animation studios and better training for Indian animators are important for Indias long term success in the animation industry. India should develop an organized animation sector and also frame suitable laws and copyright rules. The infrastructural facilities have to be improved to attract more foreign investment and to enhance the efficiency of the industry. Also more emphasis has to be placed on the domestic industry as the domestic demand for animation in the entertainment; gaming and computer sectors are expected to grow multifold. Need For Training There are no academic institutes like Indian Institutes of Technology, Regional Engineering Colleges, Polytechnics, etc., churning out animators by the thousands. What we have are only fine arts schools which teach the fundamentals but not the technical skills required for production, points out K. Chandrasekhar, General Manager, Media Works, Tata Elxsi. According to him, this is a major drawback for the industry in India. Education in new media has to be embedded into the mainstream curriculum. Students have to realise that they can have a lucrative career as animators, and the government as well as educational institutions have to start programmes for their career development. The animation sector will benefit greatly by giving encouragement to the community of traditional artists as much as to technically trained professionals. In other words, integration of the rural and urban talent will prove highly beneficial. Also, NASSCOMs President Kiran Karnik believes that there is a need for an animation academy to build a steady inflow of animation professionals in the industry. NASSCOM extended its help to the government for framing the curriculum and also w