Terrace garden free essay sample

In gardening, a terrace is an element where a raised flat paved or graveled section overlooks a prospect. A raised terrace keeps a house dry and provides a transition between the hard materials of the architecture and softer ones of the garden. We have a very long tradition of gardening and landscaping. Our literatures and mythologies are full of references to these. Man always thought of natural landscape as his ideal habitat. Adam originally lived in the Garden of Eden. Most of the world mythologies place that the men of primitive people build their abodes considering themselves as part of landscape. Mans fascination for landscaping never decrease. The Egyptians had elaborate gardens with many types of birds. Romans were fond of gardens in their villas. Chinese reveled in garden designs. English, Italian and Japanese made an effect to innovate landscape ideas. And Persians developed a concept of paradise the garden with all landscape elements. We will write a custom essay sample on Terrace garden or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In turn, Babylonians built terrace upon terrace of gardens which were designed using the Persian landscape elements. These gardens are not created on constructed terrace but the site actually terraced. They gave rise to idea that we can have gardens on terraces separated from the ground by concrete slab. JUSTIFICATION Terrace gardens are most often found in urban environments. Plants have the ability to reduce the overall heat absorption of the building which then reduces energy consumption. The primary cause of heat build-up in cities is insolation, the absorption of solar radiation by roads and buildings in the city and the storage of this heat in the building material and its subsequent re-radiation. Plant surfaces however, as a result of transpiration, do not rise more than 4–5  °C above the ambient and are sometimes cooler. This then translates into a cooling of the environment between 3. 6 and 11. 3 degrees Celsius (6. 5 and 20. 3  °F), depending on the area on earth (in hotter areas, the environmental temperature will cool more). The study was performed by the University of Cardiff. A study at the National Research Council of Canada showed the differences between Terraces with gardens and Terraces without gardens against temperature. The study shows temperature effects on different layers  of each Terrace at different times of the day. Terrace gardens are obviously very beneficial in reducing the effects of temperature against Terraces without gardens. â€Å"If widely adopted, Terrace top gardens could reduce the urban heat island, which would decrease smog episodes, problems associated with heat stress and further lower energy consumption. † Becoming green is a high priority for urban planners. The environmental and aesthetic benefits to cities are the prime motivation. It was calculated that the temperature in Tokyo could be lowered by 0. 11–0.84  °C if 50% of all available Terrace top space were planted with greenery. This would lead to a savings of approximately 100 million yen. Singapore is very active in green urban development. Terrace gardens present possibilities for carrying the notions of nature and open space further in tall building development. When surveyed, 80% of Singapore residents voted for more Terrace gardens to be implemented in the citys plans. Recreational reasons, such as leisure and relaxation, beautifying the environment, and greenery and nature, received the most amounts of votes. Planting Terrace gardens on tops of building is a great way to make city more efficient. The planters on a Terrace garden may be designed for a variety of functions and vary greatly in depth to satisfy aesthetic and recreational purposes. These planters can hold a range of ornamental plants: anything from trees, shrubs, vines, or an assortment of flowers. As aesthetics and recreation are the priority they may not provide the environmental and energy benefits of a green Terrace. Planting on Terrace tops can make urban living more self-sufficient and make fresh vegetables more accessible to urban people. Terrace gardens are becoming a common feature in todays urban environment. The phenomenon of landscaping on the terraces and Terrace tops has evolved due to excessive exploitation of the urban land. Bricks, concrete and asphalt have replaced greenery on horizontal as well as vertical planes. Skyscrapers, parking areas and network of roads have acquired a major of urban land. The modern means of transport compels us to create amenities such as bus- stands, railway stations and airports which have pushed away the vegetation and natural green spaces from acres of urban land. In such congested environment, Terrace tops and terrace of buildings provides a valuable potential source of outdoor space accessible to users of buildings. Behind the idea of terrace gardens and Terrace top landscapes is an urge to bring back greenery, which is pushed away from urban areas. These are necessarily green areas created on the concrete slabs. Their need has increased with designing of high- rise buildings which deprive their occupants of any visual contact with nature. Terrace gardens bring back this missing link between the man and nature, though on moderate scale. Terrace gardens improve the quality of view from the surrounding higher buildings and can be specifically designed to be viewed from above. In cities around the world, terrace gardens are commonly created at three different levels, which are: i. On Terrace top of a building. ii. Porches, window boxes, portico balconies and such projected levels out of tower block, above the ground level iii. At the podium level, around the base or on Terrace of large basements. Terrace gardens, designed with proper understanding of basic requirements and structural care, are able to create a pleasant natural environment at any level in the building. Terrace landscape provides the outdoor areas for social inter- change that otherwise is almost impossible to obtain in densely developed cities. This, in turn goes a long way in bringing about the much needed psychological and physical relief to stresses and strains of todays urban life. APPLICABILITY â€Å"In an accessible Terrace garden, space becomes available for localized small-scale urban agriculture, a source of local food production. An urban garden can supplement the diets of the community it feeds with fresh produce and provide a tangible tie to food production. † At Trent University, there is currently a working Terrace garden which provides food to the student cafe and local citizens. Available gardening areas in cities are often seriously lacking, which is likely the key impetus for many Terrace gardens. The garden may be on the Terrace of an autonomous building which takes care of its own water and waste. Hydroponics and other alternative methods can expand the possibilities of Terrace top gardening by reducing, for example, the need for soil or its tremendous weight. Plantings in containers are used extensively in Terrace top gardens. For those who live in small apartments with little space, square foot gardening, or (when even less space is available) living walls (vertical gardening) can be a solution. These use much less space than traditional gardening (square foot gardening uses 20% of the space of conventional rows; ten times more produce can be generated from vertical gardens). These also encourage environmentally responsible practices, eliminating tilling, reducing or eliminating pesticides, and weeding, and encouraging the recycling of wastes through composting. The regions where these incentives will most likely be found are areas where failing storm water management infrastructure is in place, urban heat island effect has significantly increased the local air temperature, or areas where environmental contaminants in the storm water runoff is of great concern . An example of such an incentive is a one-year property tax credit is available in New York City, since 2009, for property owners who green at least 50% of their Terrace area. AIM The difference you feel when you go from an asphalt parking lot to a tree-shaded park on a hot summer day. It is also the difference in temperature between a city and the rural area that surrounds it. Dark surfaces absorb and radiate heat, raising temperatures as much as 6 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The result is more than uncomfortable. It has consequences for our environment, our checkbooks and our health. If your Terrace top is a dark color, you are paying too much for your air conditioning. These dark surfaces absorb heat, and so it takes more energy to cool the building’s interior. Not only must your air conditioner work harder to keep your building cool, but power plants, one source of air pollution, must work overtime to keep up with the increased demand for energy. The result is higher prices and degraded air quality. The key to reducing the Urban Heat Island Effect is to reduce the total area of dark, heat-absorbing surfaces such as Terrace and pavement. Dark Terraces can be made cooler by coating them with reflective materials, similar to the way light clothes are more comfortable than dark clothes on a hot day. Many light-colored roofing materials cost about the same as dark-colored Roofing materials. Solar panels are another solution. They help shade a Terrace in addition to generating clean, renewable energy. The use of vegetation on a Terrace is an excellent option. Plants reflect heat, provide shade, and help cool the surrounding air through evapotranspiration. A Terrace garden cuts the energy use within the building, especially for cooling. The insulation a garden provides helps conserve both heating and cooling energy. Terrace top gardens absorb rainfall and reduce urban runoff that otherwise would collect pollutants and empty into sewers. A Terrace garden filters and moderates the temperature of any water that is released to the sewer. In addition, plants actually filter the air. Plants improve air quality by using excess carbon dioxide to produce oxygen. On a neighborhood or regional level, temperatures are lowered and air pollution is reduced when the overall area of dark surfaces is reduced and the area of reflective and shaded surfaces is increased. The layers of a Terrace garden protect the constructed Terrace from damage and can extend both the warranty and the useful life of the Terrace. A Terrace garden can add usable leisure space to a property that is attractive not just to people, but to wildlife such as birds and butterflies. In fact, limited land resources, expensive sources of energy, and ancient sewer systems overwhelmed by storm water runoff have all contributed to the success of the green terrace gardening in urban areas of all over the world. Tokyo, is the first city to mandate building vegetation must constitute 20 percent of all new construction. Terrace gardens are used to: †¢Reduce heating (by adding mass and thermal resistance value) A 2005 study by Brad Bass of the University of Toronto showed that green Terraces can also reduce heat loss and energy consumption in winter conditions. †¢Reduce cooling (by evaporative cooling) loads on a building by fifty to ninety percent, especially if it is glassed in so as to act as a terrarium and passive solar heat reservoir – a concentration of green Terraces in an urban area can even reduce the citys average temperatures during the summer †¢Reduce storm water runoff Natural Habitat Creation †¢Filter pollutants and carbon dioxide out of the air which helps lower disease rates such as asthma Filter pollutants and heavy metals out of rainwater †¢ Help to insulate a building for sound; the soil helps to block lower frequencies and the plants block higher frequencies †¢ If installed correctly many living Terraces can contribute to LEED points Increase agricultural space †¢With green Terraces, water is stored by the substrate and then taken up by the plants from where it is returned to the atmosphere through transpiration and evaporation. Green Terraces not only retain rainwater, but also moderate the temperature of the water and act as natural filters for any of the water that happens to run off. Many green Terraces are in many green Terraces are installed to comply with local regulations and government fees, often regarding storm water runoff management. In areas with combined sewer-storm water systems, heavy storms can overload the wastewater system and cause it to flood, dumping raw sewage into the local waterways. Green Terraces decrease the total amount of runoff and slow the rate of runoff from the Terrace. It has been found that they can retain up to 75% of rainwater, gradually releasing it back into the atmosphere via condensation and transpiration, while retaining pollutants in their soil. Often, phosphorus and nitrogen are in this category of environmentally harmful substances even though they are stimulating to the growth of plant life and agriculture. When these substances are added to a system, it can create mass biological activity since they are considered limiting factors of plant growth and by adding more of them to a system, it allows for more plant growth. In fact, limited land resources expensive sources of energy, and ancient sewer systems over whelmed by storm water runoff have all contributed to the success of the terrace gardens in urban areas . Over 800 green roofs can be found in Germany alone, a leader in building codes and incentives for green roof installation. In Asia, Japan has become a center for green roof technology. Its capital, Tokyo, is the first city to mandate building vegetation must constitute 20 percent of all new construction. Green roofs have been installed across America in steadily increasing numbers over the past decade, and research is being conducted in North American universities on the impact of green roofs on the environment, economy, and energy resources. Some major corporations, like Ford Motor Co. , The Gap, and H. J. Heinz Co. , have recently installed green roofs, and the approved design for the new World Trade Center includes a rooftop garden. LIMITATIONS The main disadvantage of green roofs is that the initial costs of installing a terrace garden can be double that of a normal terrace. The additional mass of the soil substrate and retained water places a large strain on the structural support of a build. This makes it unlikely for intensive green roofs to become widely implemented due to a lack of buildings that are able to support such a large amount of added weight as well as the added cost of reinforcing buildings to be able to support such weight. Some types of green roofs do have more demanding structural standards especially in seismic regions of the world. Some existing buildings cannot be retrofitted with certain kinds of green roof because of the weight load of the substrate and vegetation exceeds permitted static loading. Depending on what kind of green roof it is, the maintenance costs could be higher, but some types of green roof have little or no ongoing cost. Some kinds of green roofs also place higher demands on the waterproofing system of the structure, both because water is retained on the roof and due to the possibility of roots penetrating the waterproof membrane. Another detractor is that the wildlife they attract may include pest insects which could easily infiltrate a residential building through open windows. Due to these cause mainly finance required at initial setup of terrace garden it is difficult to develop terrace gardens but terrace gardens are the demand of modern urban areas and people have to fulfill it. METHODOLGY It is possible to raise vegetables all through the year even in the middle of the city. All it takes is a terrace and a little bit of effort. If someone wants to make tomato chutney for breakfast, Mohandas walks to his terrace garden and handpicks the tomatoes himself. Sakthivel gets his family’s daily dose of greens from his garden; Shankara Baham gets his medicines from the herbal garden on his terrace. Residents of Ashram Avenue in Mugalivakkam, Mohandas and friends have dedicated their free time to â€Å"making their terraces green. † Of the 80 houses in the area, eight have terraces that are covered with luscious vegetable patches. Each of the gardens supports one family — the owners rarely buy vegetables from outside. â€Å"The idea is to make ourselves self-sufficient using the limited space available†. A terrace garden can be created in any shape, design and any raised location. Places like a multi storied building, hotels, restaurants or institutes are the places one can follow terrace gardening. Converting your barren space into a lush green patch will de-stress an individual and also provide a healthy environment. Create a desired layout for your terrace garden and carefully plan the number of shrubs, small trees, lawn and others. Always remember that you do not go in for a plant with a tap root system as the roots of these plants tend to grow beyond the roof and is a threat to your building. Make sure the roof or the selected place is strong enough to support the weight of the soil and gravel. The terrace and the soil should have the required drainage system so as to avoid the garden being turned into a damp soggy area. One has to construct sufficient drainage chambers around their terrace garden. Small drainage pipes leading to the main drainage pipe should be maintained in your terrace garden. Always remember that if the water is not drained properly, it will cause great damage to your building. Make sure that there is no leakage in your terrace garden in order to avoid soggy walls. One should select light weighted manure like the mixture of the garden earth, manure and soil remains. Once you’re ready with all the above required steps, you can start laying brickbats according to your planned layout. Spread a layer of completely formed bricks on your terrace. The bricks have to be totally burnt in order to facilitate the drainage of water. Also one can make use of ridged sheets in order to maintain an effective drainage system. The sheets should be placed carefully in order to lead the pipes to the drainage system. In order to avoid the manure and the earth from depositing in between the brick spaces, one has to spread the wire mesh (HDPE net) on the bricks. One can paint and make the terrace area colorful and make it look realistic by adding a swing. Plants like creepers, flowering plants and vegetables can be grown in your terrace garden.  Once you have finished planting the saplings, water the plants regularly and provide the required amount of manure. FLOW CHART Flow chart Picture composed in corel draw.

Free Essays on The Cotton Club

The Roaring Twenties were a time of excess, sexual exploration by women, and a time when jazz music started to develop. It's a decade that wealthy, white Americans are drawn back to, because it's here that they start to see themselves becoming recognizably careless and socially free. â€Å"Americans were speeding up, moving out, buying more, having fun, and dreaming bigger† (Miller). The Cotton Club was an integral part of the Twenties and personified what this period of time stood for. It became a place for gangsters to sell their bootlegged beer during prohibition, a home for jazz music, and a precursor to the Harlem Renaissance, a period of profound growth and change in black literature and music. â€Å"Harlem was not so much a place as a state of mind, the cultural metaphor for black America itself† (Rhapsodies). â€Å"As well as being a crucible for new musical styles, The Cotton Club can also be seen as a lightning rod for Harlem history† (Wolfe). Started by heavyweight boxer Jack Johnson at the corner of 42nd Street and Lenox Avenue, it was originally called Club De Lux. Failure of the club resulted in the selling of it in 1923 to gangster Owney Madden who dubbed it The Cotton Club. Madden had been searching for a Harlem location to sell his Madden’s #1 Beer. â€Å"The name was chosen in order to invoke thoughts of a stylish plantation environment† (Cotton). To further this implication, all performers were black and, for the most part, all attendees were white. During prohibition it was often to find many clubs that were established with the central purpose of providing alcohol to the public. The Cotton club became the most popular club in not only Harlem, but also all of New York. It provided the â€Å"coolest† environment, best cuisine, and many up and coming jazz musicians. â€Å"Only the wealthiest, most influential, famous and notorious people went there, or were allowed in† (Cotton). Being that the club’s main purpose... Free Essays on The Cotton Club Free Essays on The Cotton Club The Roaring Twenties were a time of excess, sexual exploration by women, and a time when jazz music started to develop. It's a decade that wealthy, white Americans are drawn back to, because it's here that they start to see themselves becoming recognizably careless and socially free. â€Å"Americans were speeding up, moving out, buying more, having fun, and dreaming bigger† (Miller). The Cotton Club was an integral part of the Twenties and personified what this period of time stood for. It became a place for gangsters to sell their bootlegged beer during prohibition, a home for jazz music, and a precursor to the Harlem Renaissance, a period of profound growth and change in black literature and music. â€Å"Harlem was not so much a place as a state of mind, the cultural metaphor for black America itself† (Rhapsodies). â€Å"As well as being a crucible for new musical styles, The Cotton Club can also be seen as a lightning rod for Harlem history† (Wolfe). Started by heavyweight boxer Jack Johnson at the corner of 42nd Street and Lenox Avenue, it was originally called Club De Lux. Failure of the club resulted in the selling of it in 1923 to gangster Owney Madden who dubbed it The Cotton Club. Madden had been searching for a Harlem location to sell his Madden’s #1 Beer. â€Å"The name was chosen in order to invoke thoughts of a stylish plantation environment† (Cotton). To further this implication, all performers were black and, for the most part, all attendees were white. During prohibition it was often to find many clubs that were established with the central purpose of providing alcohol to the public. The Cotton club became the most popular club in not only Harlem, but also all of New York. It provided the â€Å"coolest† environment, best cuisine, and many up and coming jazz musicians. â€Å"Only the wealthiest, most influential, famous and notorious people went there, or were allowed in† (Cotton). Being that the club’s main purpose...

Cinema Limbo, 2-Person, 10-Minute Play by Wade Bradford

Cinema Limbo, 2-Person, 10-Minute Play by Wade Bradford Cinema Limbo is a ten-minute play (written by Wade Bradford). It is a comic, two-person exchange between two movie theater employees. The piece can be used, free of charge, for educational purposes and amateur productions. This short two-person play is also a usual character building tool for any actress using the Vicky Monologue for auditions and classroom performances. Cinema Limbo Setting:  The box office of the Grand Cinemas. No set is required. Two office chairs (capable of rolling and spinning) are placed center stage. A young woman spins in the chair. She is dressed in a rather ugly polyester outfit one expect to find on a movie theater employee. Her name is Vicky. And she is bored. (A young man named Joshua enters. Vicky suddenly stops spinning. Her boredom has vanished.) VICKY: So, you’ve finally made it to the fishbowl? JOSHUA: The what? VICKY: That’s what we call the box office. An inside joke between cashiers. JOSHUA: Oh. VICKY: So you’ve made it. JOSHUA: I guess. Mr. Boston said he wanted you to train me how to work the box office. VICKY: Then let the training begin. People come up. They say what movie they want. You press this button. Take their money. Give them their ticket. There, you’re trained. JOSHUA: Now what? VICKY: Now sit down and wait. But don’t get anxious. No one’s coming tonight. It’s Christmas Eve and all our movies suck. JOSHUA: This beats working at concessions. Thank God I didn’t get stuck with that Bar One job. That would’ve sucked. VICKY: Stuart is certainly loving it though. Have you seen that look in his eye when he’s running Concessions? JOSHUA: What do you mean? VICKY: He usually smiles, and treats the peons with respect†¦ but his eyes†¦ They’re lit up like a power hungry mad man. I think he pictures himself as some pharaoh who whips the backs of his slaves, just to sell a few extra drinks. JOSHUA: Really? I haven’t noticed. VICKY: He told me you guys went to grade school together. JOSHUA: Are you guys dating? VICKY: Why do you ask? JOSHUA: He told me you were dating but that you wanted it kept secret. VICKY: If I was dating someone why would I want to keep it secret? JOSHUA: Uh, maybe because Stuart’s kind of a nerd. VICKY: So you did go to school together? JOSHUA: We met in the fifth grade. You know how every class has a kid who gets picked on throughout the whole year by everybody? That was him. No one liked him. VICKY: Why? JOSHUA: Well, it started out just because he was the new kid. His folks just moved into town to set up a new church. They were husband and wife ministers or something. Very, I don’t know, just kind of friendly and creepy at the same time. VICKY: I met them. I know. JOSHUA: Anyway, kids in school picked on him because he was new, and a little weird looking. You can’t tell it as much, but his face was completely covered with freckles. Big brown freckles†¦ kind of like†¦ um†¦ like someone flicked splotches of paint at him. VICKY: I always thought they were kind of cute. JOSHUA: And then no one liked him because every chance he got, he started talking about Jesus. He did a book report on the entire Bible. In art class, he made a crown of thorns ashtray. He tried making Noah’s Ark out of clay, but it exploded in the kiln. And then one day we were supposed to give a speech, an oral report on the country of our choice and he picked Israel. VICKY: Well†¦ that’s not so bad. JOSHUA: During his whole oral report†¦ he spoke in tongues. VICKY: Really? I had an uncle who got into that. He’d speak in tongues before every Thanksgiving dinner. But he had one of those robot voices because of his throat cancer, so it was really low and scary. Like Darth Vader speaking pig latin. JOSHUA: Stuart wasn’t as entertaining. And to top it off, the kids started hating him more because he wanted to be the teacher’s pet. VICKY: That doesn’t surprise me. He kisses up to all the managers... JOSHUA: Same thing we the school teachers. And the lunch lady. And the principal. Most kids said he was a tattle tale. There was this one bully who hocked a loogie right in his hair, right in the middle of class. VICKY: Oh please, I just ate buttered popcorn. JOSHUA: But anyway, I felt sorry for Stu. So I let him hang around me at recess once in a while. He was okay. Sort of clingy. He never wanted to leave my side. I got beat up a couple of times by Troy, just for sticking up for him. VICKY: Are you two still friends? JOSHUA: I guess. But it isn’t like grade school anymore. We don’t hang out. I was kind of surprised to see him when I got hired here. He left before we finished junior high. His parents put him in some private school. So, are the rumors true? VICKY: What rumors? JOSHUA: I heard echoes from the girls locker room. VICKY: You perv. JOSHUA: Well, they were talking so loud, I couldn’t help it. VICKY: Okay, dork, what did you hear? JOSHUA: That you’re not interested in Stuart anymore. That you are, oh what were the words, that you’re almost done toying with him. VICKY: Well that makes me sound like a bitch. I kind of like that. JOSHUA: So? VICKY: So? JOSHUA: It’s just me, you, and the fishbowl. VICKY: Why should I talk about my love life? Or lust life? What about you? I bet youve had a lot of girlfriends. Probably broken a lot of hearts. JOSHUA: Not really. Ive never been in love or anything. Just casual dates and stuff. I mean, for all intents and purposes I’m pretty much like all the other geeks you’ve been describing. VICKY: But you wear that letterman’s jacket. You’re kind of a jock. I say that with all due respect. VICKY: Well, you have to understand. I’m the kind of girl who takes pity on poor pathetic geeks who have never kissed a girl. Let’s just say that I like someone who is easily trainable – someone who will truly appreciate me. It’s sad, I know. But hey, I’ll take an ego boost wherever I can get it. Unfortunately, these adorably nerdy boyfriends get boring after a while. I mean, I can only listen to their computer games and mathematic equations for so long. Of course, Stuart’s different in a  lot of ways. He’s terrible at math, for one. And he’s pretty clueless about technology. But he’s a comic book sort of geek. And a hopeless romantic. He’s pre-occupied with holding my hand. Everywhere we go, he wants to hold hands. Even when we’re driving. And he’s got this new pastime. He keeps saying â€Å"I love you.† It was so sweet and wonderful the first time he said it. I almost cried, and I’m not the kind of girl who cries easily. But by the end of the week, he must have said â€Å"I love you† about five hundred times. And then he starts adding pet names. â€Å"I love you,   honeybunch.† â€Å"I love you  sweetheart.† â€Å"I love you my little smoochy-woochy-coochi-koo.† I don’t even know what that last one means. It’s like he’s speaking in some brand-new, love-infected language. Who would have thought romance could be so boring? JOSHUA: Is it boring? VICKY: You mean you don’t know from  first-hand  experience? JOSHUA: Yeah, I swim. But that’s not what I lettered in. VICKY: What was it? JOSHUA: Well now you’re going to laugh. VICKY: Perhaps. JOSHUA: I lettered in  choir. VICKY: (Laughs. Falls off  chair.) They let you letter in choir?! Oh, that’s priceless. JOSHUA: You can also letter in drama. VICKY: Oh, that’s pathetic. JOSHUA: So, you’re done with school, right? VICKY: Since last summer. Sweet. sweet freedom. JOSHUA: Now what? VICKY: College I guess. Back to captivity. I’m taking a year off first. JOSHUA: Did your friends already go? VICKY: Friends? I hated everybody in high school. JOSHUA: Hey, me too! I was hoping the Grand Cinemas would improve my social life. VICKY: (Laughs.) Has it? JOSHUA: I’ve met some cool people, I guess. Like you. VICKY: Like me? JOSHUA: Yeah, well, and others. Like Rico. VICKY: OH. JOSHUA: Is that bad? VICKY: No. Rico’s cool. I just wouldn’t trust him with much more than a postage stamp. JOSHUA: Thanks for the advice. VICKY: I used to want a social life but I think I’m content here in the box. If you want to see people, just wait till Friday night, they’ll swarm around you, begging you for tickets. But the glass on the fishbowl keeps them from violating your space. If you want to talk to someone, you just pick up the phone, and when you get sick of talking, you can just hang up. You can read, you can do your homework, or you can veg-out and watch the Grand go by. You can swipe snacks from concessions and on hot days, we’ve got air conditioning. If you’re bored you can spin around on this thing. (She spins around on the chair.) JOSHUA: Wow. You’re pretty good. VICKY: My record is eight rotations. All thanks to twelve years of ballet. JOSHUA: Really? VICKY: Hey, what did you get at the Christmas party gift exchange? JOSHUA: A Chia pet. VICKY: I got the worse possible present ever. Listen to this. I’m in this dance group, right. Ballet. I’ve been doing the Nutcracker for the past two months. I’ve been having nightmares with the ‘sugar plum fairie suite’ playing in the background. Every mall or department store has been playing Tchaikovsky. I can’t get away from that God forsaken music! It drives me nuts. And guess which CD Mrs. Sanchez buys me? The Nutcracker. I hope I pick her name next year. I had no idea she could be so cruel. That’s why it must be nice to be religious like Stewy. You can doom people to hell. JOSHUA: Eternal hell over the Nutcracker? Now that’s a raw deal. VICKY: Eternal damnation. You’d think after a few thousand years you’d get bored with never ending  torment. Satan would come up to you and say, â€Å"Today you’ll be covered with man-eating ants and pummeled by a giant mountain gorilla.† And you’d just look at him and YAWN and say, â€Å"Again?! How dull. Are you running out of ideas already? Can I make a request for Bubba the mountain Gorilla, because he and I have a rapport going; we work well together, I think. (Pausing and completely changing the subject.) Do you think it’s possible to travel through time? JOSHUA: Someone has ADHD. VICKY: It’s this fishbowl. It really gets to you after a while. So do you? You know, think they’ll figure out time travel? JOSHUA: I doubt it. Maybe someday. VICKY: What would you do? JOSHUA: I don’t know. I guess I might travel back and find my great-great-great-great grandfather. Say hi. What would you do? VICKY: Well, if I had  a time machine, say they  invent  it when I’m like really old. Like 35 or something. Then, I’d travel back to right now, and I’d give myself advice. JOSHUA: What kind of advice? VIC KY: Who to be friends with. Who to avoid. What choices to make. What guys to like. JOSHUA: Why do you need a time machine? Just make the right choices now. VICKY: But how do you know if it’s the right choice? You don’t until after the fact. JOSHUA: Well, that’s the point. You take a chance and you learn from your mistakes. Or, you try something and it’s a great experience. VICKY: And what if you regret it? JOSHUA: Then you regret it. I think not knowing what happened next is part of the fun. VICKY: Really? JOSHUA: Yeah. VICKY: Come here. He pauses for a moment. Then, they roll their chairs toward each other. She kisses him. He kisses back. They pull apart. JOSHUA: So†¦ VICKY: So†¦ Do you regret that experience? JOSHUA: Not at all. Do you regret it? They are both started as they hear the sound of a door opening. They look upstage. JOSHUA: Oh! Hi. (Suddenly regretful.) How’s it going, Stuart? VICKY: Hey, Stewy. Joshua and I were just talking about regrets. (Listens.) What do I have to regret?  Oh  nothing. (A sly smile on her face.) Nothing at all. Lights out.

FMS Optimisation using Discrete Event Simulation and Genetic Algorithm Essay

FMS Optimisation using Discrete Event Simulation and Genetic Algorithm - Essay Example The production planning in the manufacturing systems are forecasted using Enterprise Resource Planning package recently. Since the market demand varies every now and then the process has to be driven based on that. Flexible manufacturing system functions by utilising these advancements and deliver multiple products of sufficient quantity as per the demand. Genetic Algorithms are found to provide solutions for real-time problems in various operations. It has been used conveniently for researchers for various search and optimization problems. Owing to the problems associated with FMS optimization using Genetic algorithm and discrete simulation system this present project is initiated. Kazuhiro Saitou et al. (2002) presented a robust design of FMS using colored Petri nets and genetic algorithm. In their work it was found that the resource allocation and operation schedule were modelled as colored Petri nets. Their robust model designed minimized the production cost under multiple operation plan. It as able to handle large data sets conveniently as well as operates flexibly by using an genetic algorithm merged with shortest imminent operation time dispatching rule and automatically finds the optimal resource. These kinds of simulation can be more applicable in situation where there is varied job specification. Discrete event simulation The discrete event simulation works powerfully in optimization and decision-making process in manufacturing systems. Merchawl and Elmaraghy (1998) developed an analytical approach to customize the discrete event simulation for decision-making in flexible manufacturing systems. Planning horizon, the overall system average interarrival time and the average number of workstation influences the simulation run time. In their approach they reduced the simulation run time by aggregating the number of workstations. They also validated their methods with sample and control measures by running the applications with and without aggregation of the workstation. The results showed a 400% time reduction with fewer errors. Mostly the Genetic Algorithms (GA) is coupled with other techniques or processes to handle complex situation. Studies carried out revealed that increasing the mutation rates above optimum level cannot solve the problems associated. The study was focused on finding methods to improve the performance of GA by improving the average fitness of the initial population, P. Fenton and P. Walsh (2005) Review and Analysis The project will focus on initial aspects of reviewing the present complications and problems associated with the utilities of GA and Discrete event simulation methods. The first phase of review will focus on identifying the present application of these algorithms in various domains and its recent advancements. The next phase of the review analysis will be focused towards identifying all the limitations of these systems at the implementations

Effective Strategies for a Student Success Essay

Effective Strategies for a Student Success - Essay Example This paper tends to discuss some very important steps and strategies that will help every student to show success by leaps and bounds. All that is needed is the determination and strong-mindedness to follow these steps. Determination and Commitment The first and foremost thing that a student needs is determination to succeed, and commitment with his work. If he has made up his mind to achieve his goals and milestones, and that he will do anything to reach his destination, then there is no power that can stop him from getting what he wants. This commitment will motivate him, and will boost his energies in the positive direction, so much so that he will start finding himself not too far away from his educational objectives. Time Management The next important strategy for a student is to manage his time properly, so that he can balance his work and extra-curricular activities in the most effectual manner. Students must set priorities in their lives, and must be determined enough to give their schoolwork the top priority. Time management will help them meet deadlines that their instructors have set for them regarding their assignments. Students must finish their assignments well in time, because this will make their image better in the eyes of their professors, which is a good thing toward their success. Students must also set regular routines for their sleeping and waking patterns, and must be able to follow their time tables. Again, all this comes with determination and commitment with work. Time management is the key to success in academic life (Hirsch, 2001, p.99). Improving Interpersonal Skills One important strategy is to be at good terms not only with the peers, but also with the instructors. Good communication is the key to success. A student must be able to share his ideas and problems with his class fellows and with the teachers, without hesitation. This way, he will be able to do his work more effectively. This will also help him gain knowledge through e xchange of thoughts. Good communication skills also help the student when he has to express his ideas, both verbally and in writing. A tip is that students may join communication improvement classes, which are held at some training institutes. This will help them not only in their educational phase, but also later in their professional careers. Developing Reading Habit It is a tragedy that today’s students have left the habit of reading books. Libraries are empty, because students find it easier to consult computers and the internet for every type of knowledge. A book is a man’s best friend, because it makes him learn such things that he cannot grasp from the internet. It is very important for a student to develop reading habit, because it is the most effective way of improving vocabulary and diction. Reading will help them become â€Å"strong, life-long readers† (Collins, 2004, p.50). Developing Critical Thinking Skills It is important for the students to devel op strong critical thinking skills. Only memorizing the concepts, words for word, does not guarantee success. The key to success is to think about issues critically; that is, to critically examine the evidence, facts, statistics, and to develop reasoning for arguments. Students must know how to develop arguments, and how to defend their position with sound proofs. They must be able to make judgments, and argue about what they feel objectionable.

Study: Negative Effects of Energy Drinks

Study: Negative Effects of Energy Drinks The World of Energy Drinks Introduction: Energy drinks are defined as â€Å"soft drink[s] containing a high percentage of sugar, caffeine, or†¦ [other] stimulant[s]† (Oxford Dictionaries, 2014). The popularity and consumption of energy drinks in today’s world is immensely widespread, especially among athletes and athletic institutions. Albeit this new category of beverages is somewhat novel, it has become a central and imperative weapon for those in need of a boost in their performance (Aufiero, 2014). Energy drinks –for the first time in history –have almost become the fuel of choice when engaging in physically demanding tasks; this is most likely due to its high-sugar content (Breda et al., 2014). Additionally, the deliciously empowering world of energy drinks has managed to influence a staggering 68% of adolescents –i.e. age ten to eighteen –in the European Union alone (Breda et al., 2014). History: The first energy drink was crafted in the year 1962 by Taisho Pharmaceuticals –a Japanese pharmaceutical company established in Tokyo (Engber, 2014). According to Engber (2014), this particular energy drink was called Lipovitan D. At its inception, Lipovitan D was sold as an energizing tonic, and, it was labelled as especially caffeinated and vitamin fortified (Engber, 2014). Lipovitan D was initially targeted to and consumed by executives in Japan that fought to appropriate success (Engber, 2014). By the 1980’s, the energy drink market had already attained global notoriety. Although Lipovitan D did not dominate the international markets, it was the first beverage to be solely and specifically classified as an energy drink (Engber, 2014). The next major brand of energy drinks to dominate the market was known as Red Bull (Preceden, 2014). Created in 1987 by Dietrich Mateschitz –an Austrian Businessman, Red Bull was introduced to the United States of America in 199 7 (Engber, 2014; Green and Keegan, 2013:175). Red Bull would be the catalyst to immensely expand the energy drink market. According to â€Å"Gary Hemphill, director of research for the Beverage Marketing Corporation,† ‘the energy drink market attained â€Å"$11 billion in retail sales’† alone (Engber, 2014). Current Viewpoints: Energy drinks today are the epitome of popularity. They can be found at any major shopping outlet with varying flavours and sizes. In contemporary media, celebrities, advertisements and television personalities are enlisted to help boost the notoriety and sales of energy drinks. Furthermore, energy beverages are frequently associated with maximum performance in numerous sports today. As of 2012, the energy drink market was worth an astounding $37 billion (Zenith International, 2012). In today’s market, the energy drink is still predicted to â€Å"grow at a CAGR [Compound Annual Growth Rate] of 13.38 percent over the period 2013-2018† (Infiniti Research Limited, 2014). The bravado and intense ferocity of the energy drink market shows no sign of declining in the near future. According to (Transparency Market Research, 2014), the unimpeded and fertile growth of energy beverage in the global market is due to the increasing growth and consumption of energy drinks by numerous age groups. This immense growth has also been supported by the notion that they are better than other carbonated, sugary drinks that are almost full to busting with sugar (Transparency Market Research, 2014). The lucrative nature of the energy drink market has proved seductive to countless manufactures; they employ sales tactics –e.g. elaborate packaging, imaginative advertising, etc. –to take advantage this cash crop (Transparency Market Research, 2014). It is also predicted that the energy drink market will soon target untouched segments of the market in order to further improve sales (Transparency Market Research, 2014). With major brands such as Red Bull dominatin g 30% of the market, energy beverages still remain a popular choice among the masses who are in need of a significant increase of energy (Transparency Market Research, 2014). The astounding benefits of energy drinks are somewhat marred by the development of research that criticizes and flags this beverage industry giant as being potentially lethal. New studies show that energy drink consumption can alter the rhythms of the heart (Lambert, 2014). A recent study at the University of Bonn in western Germany discovered that the left ventricle within the heart contracted harder after the consumption of an energy drink. Other critics and researchers have also attributed increases in â€Å"heart rate, blood pressure†¦body temperature,† and, â€Å"psychological effects such as anxiety and sleep disturbances† to energy beverages. (Lambert, 2014). With a modicum amount of research to belie the sanctity of the energy drink, it could prove to be severely detrimental to the human body over time. Hypothesis: The numerous disadvantages and detriments that exist within the energy drink will surpass the advantages that it provides. Research Questions: In what ways can energy drinks positively and negatively affect the health of 18-25 year old athletes? What are the implications for athletic institutions? Proposed Methodology Primary research will be enlisted to establish the usage and popularity of energy beverages amongst athletes that are between the ages of 18 and 25. Secondary research will also be employed to further assess pre-existing data on the advantages, detriments and implications for athletic institutions. Qualitative and quantitative research will also be utilised. Qualitative research will be gathered through questionnaires and surveys that procure and evaluate the usage and results of energy drinks. These findings will aim to provide figures and statistics that aid in cataloguing of the adverse and excellent influences that energy drinks have on the human body. Both types of research can then be used to triangulate final findings that are generalizable, and, stand in the fortitude of their validity. Supplementary data will also be collected from a group sample that will consist of fifteen to twenty athletes that reside in Preston, United Kingdom –this would ensure a decent amount of access to the participants. The sample of twenty athletes would include numerous countries –e.g. Sri Lanka, China, Nigeria, South Africa, United Kingdom, etc., –in order to ensure that data is collected from a diversified group of individuals. The sample size will remain relatively small due to the thorough nature of interviews and questionnaires that will be administered. The small amount of participants will also increase the feasibility and overall achievability of this experiment. References Aufiero, B. (2014).Why Do People Buy Energy Drinks? | LIVESTRONG.COM. [online] LIVESTRONG.COM. Available at: http://www.livestrong.com/article/423042-why-do-people-buy-energy-drinks/ [Accessed 16 Nov. 2014]. Breda, J., Whiting, S., Encarnaà §Ãƒ £o, R., Norberg, S., Jones, R., Reinap, M. and Jewell, J. (2014). Energy Drink Consumption in Europe: A Review of the Risks, Adverse Health Effects, and Policy Options to Respond.Frontiers in Public Health, [online] 2. Available at: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00134/full#B20 [Accessed 16 Nov. 2014]. Engber, D. (2014).Who Made That Energy Drink?. [online] Nytimes.com. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/magazine/who-made-that-energy-drink.html?_r=0 [Accessed 20 Nov. 2014]. Green, M. and Keegan, W. (2013).Global Marketing. 7th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Infiniti Research Limited, (2014).Global Energy Drink Market 2014-2018 13266 Sandler Research. [online] Sandlerresearch.org. Available at: http://www.sandlerresearch.org/global-energy-drink-market-2014-2018.html [Accessed 20 Nov. 2014]. Lambert, C. (2014).The energy drink craze thats putting young lives in danger. [online] Mail Online. Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2552613/The-energy-drink-craze-thats-putting-young-lives-danger.html [Accessed 22 Nov. 2014]. Oxford Dictionaries, (2014).energy drink: definition of energy drink in Oxford dictionary (British World English). [online] Oxforddictionaries.com. Available at: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/energy-drink [Accessed 16 Nov. 2014]. Preceden, (2014).The History Of Energy Drinks Timeline | Preceden. [online] Preceden.com. Available at: http://www.preceden.com/timelines/66113-the-history-of-energy-drinks [Accessed 20 Nov. 2014]. Transparency Market Research, (2014).Energy Drinks Market Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Analysis And Forecasts 2012 2018. [online] Transparencymarketresearch.com. Available at: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/energy-drinks-market.html [Accessed 20 Nov. 2014]. Zenith International, (2012).Global energy drinks market spurts ahead to $37 billion. [online] Zenithinternational.com. Available at: http://www.zenithinternational.com/articles/1012 [Accessed 20 Nov. 2014].

English Language Essay

English has emerged as the global language of trade and commerce in the past few decades, affecting many key aspects of business in the modern world. The English language has become the standard for all important official communications in an increasingly large number of countries with a wide variety of native languages. In the modern world, English continues to spread as the major medium through which both small businesses and large corporations do business. There are about 5,000 languages in the world today. Some have gained international status; some are developing; others are used in isolation in their region, community, or village; a few have gone extinct or have died (like Latin and Sanskrit). The number of users of the English language has grown by leaps and bounds. Second language and foreign language users are seen to exceed the number of native speakers.  · Worldwide more or less two billion people live in countries where English has official status.  · One out of five of the world’s population, speaks English with some degree of fluency.  · Over one billion had been seen in the year 2000 to continue their studies in English.  · As language of science and technology, English, the universal language, claims more or less 90% of all information in the world’s electronic retrieval systems being stored in English. English is used regularly by more than 350 million people scattered over the globe. It is the native or official language of one-fifth of the world. Of the languages of colonization it has been the one most important in Africa, Asia and the islands of the central and southern Pacific. The use of English is widespread in international trade, international scholarship, and scientific research. More than half of the world’s scientific and technical journals, as well as newspapers, are printed in English. Three-fourths of the world’s mail is in English. The Soviet Union and China use English in their propaganda broadcasts to the developing countries of Africa and Asia. English is the most widely-studied language in areas where it is not native. In Japan English is widely used in the upper grade level. In India, English is the alternate official language to Hindi. In the Philippines it is the common language or medium of communication of people speaking different languages. More or less 80% of Filipinos speak/understand English. Doing Business Worldwide English is a global language for doing business. In some industries, English is the official standard language. Therefore, an excellent command of English is required for key jobs. In addition, English has emerged as a major language for finance and the stock markets around the world. People wishing to do businesses globally need to have a good command of spoken English. The ability to clearly write in English is also of key importance, as many forms of business communication, from emails to presentations and marketing to important business contracts, are written in English. A CNN Report (CNN) Hiroshi Mikitani sees nothing wrong with the word, incorporating it easily into our discussion about Japan’s future. The internet entrepreneur and CEO of Rakuten Inc, Japan’s largest e-commerce site, intends to change his country from the inside out. â€Å"And Englishization is a part of it,† he says bluntly. With 6,000 employees and sales topping $3 billion a year, Mikitani intends Rakuten to keep growing into a global player. The goal: be as common a household name as Google in 10 years. The path to that goal, believes Mikitani, is to speak the global language of business, English. â€Å"English is the only global language. We’re doing a global business. I think this is the only way a Japanese service organization can become a global organization.† By 2012, Mikitani’s pledge is to make Rakuten an English-only corporation. All communication, verbal and email, would be sent not in Japanese, but in English. It’s a daunting task for a Japanese company headquartered in Tokyo. Last year’s Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) rankings showed Japanese test takers scored second worst in the East Asia region, below North Korea and Myanmar. Only Laos ranked lower than Japan. Honda’s CEO, Takanobu Ito, said publicly, â€Å"It’s stupid for a Japanese company to only use English in Japan when the workforce is mainly Japanese.† Mikitani doesn’t flinch at the criticism. In fact, he seems to relish it. â€Å"The nature of our business is totally different,† he says, pointing out Honda manufactures a hardware item and Rakuten deals with users on the internet. â€Å"If you want to become successful in other countries, you need to internationalize the headquarters.† Rakuten is expanding despite Japan’s macro-economic struggles. They are starting a Chinese version of Rakuten and purchasing ecommerce sites in the U.S. and France. â€Å"One thing I know, the definition of ‘country’ is going to change. Definition of ‘currency’ is going to change,† says Mikitani. â€Å"There is going to be less importance which country you’re operating from. And there’s going to be global competition, not local to local.† Mikitani is everything â€Å"Corporate Japan† is not: young, a risk-taker, outspoken and fluent in English. He started his company with a friend in 1997, using their own money. The two friends grew the business into the public corporation and powerhouse it is today. The 45 year old, energetic CEO says he is, at the core, utterly Japanese. But he disagrees with how corporate Japan and the policy makers have run the economy and country. Look at the aging demographics and the economy of Japan, says Mikitani, and the writing is on the wall for corporate Japan. Growth, he says, can only happen if Japanese companies go outside of the country for expansion and look for opportunities outside of Japan’s famously produced cars and electronics. â€Å"I felt (sic) those kind of ages is over. Now we need to really dramatically change the structure of economy of Japan and IT is going to be an extremely important part of it,† says Mikitani. â€Å"But none of the Japanese†¦ for example, politicians, truly understands from the bottom of the heart, how important that is.† Mikitani feels the two decades-long economic stagnation for Japan has fundamentally affected the country’s young, which spells trouble for the country’s future. â€Å"Japanese society, especially younger people, are so inward looking. They don’t even want to go to other countries. They want to stay here. They want to have a good life; they don’t want to be rich. They want to have a good day to day life. That’s it. And I think we need to be more sort of dynamic, outward looking,† he says. The solution, hopes Mikitani, will be found in concrete economic policy from Tokyo’s lawmakers and strong leadership from Japan’s companies. Japan can produce innovative, high quality ideas and products, says Mikitani, but the talent needs a direction. He remains positive about his country’s future, despite its problems. Rakuten means optimistic, he points out. â€Å"I think that in absolute terms, we [Japanese] are lagging. We are slowing down. I don’t think we need to be pessimistic, but our window is not so long.† An Indian Perspective English even after 36 years of independence occupies an important place in the social educational, administrative, scientific industrial and commercial life of the country. Ever since India became independent, the fortunes of English have seen many ups and downs. In accordance with the prevalent mood of hostility against everything foreign, English, considered only a foreign language, could not also escape the wrath of many people. It was decided to do away with it as early as possible. It was given a lease of fifteen years, and after that it was to be replaced by Hindi as the national and official language of the country. English was spoken and used by a micro-scopic minority of the people and they could not dominate the majority which spoke Hindi. Educationally also it was desirable to impart instruction in Hindi. Educationally also it was desirable to impart instruction in Hindi and other regional languages. Moreover, the continuance of English as the official language of the country was regarded as some sort of an affront to national honor. Did not every country have its own national and official, language, it was asked. There was much weight in all these arguments. But when the deadline, 1965, for the switch-over to Hindi came, there were unseemly controversies and riots in the country. The main opposition to Hindi came from the South. After long and tedious deliberations it was decided to continue English as an associate official language. The States were free to adopt their own languages and were to correspond with one another and the centre either in Hindi or English. Later the the three language formula was also devised. The general feeling is that Hindi as it develops and as people while learning it show, and are shown patience, will continue to gain in importance and will increasingly take over as many functions of English as possible. But along with the spread of Hindi, English will continue to be used in one way or another and it will play its due role in the nation. India is a land of many languages, cultures and religions. It is rich in variety and diversity, but there is a real danger that in the absence of a link language, its unity may just fall to bits. Considering the situation as it is today, English is the only language to discharge this important obligation. At the official level, the importance of English is obvious. It is the associate language of the Centre and most of its employees use it in official work. Since the States have adopted their regional languages for official business and many of them are averse to the use of Hindi, a virtual linguistic chaos would result if English were not used for inter-State communication. So in this sphere also, the importance of English is obvious. Interestingly, the state of Nagaland has English as its official language. In education too, the use of English cannot be dispensed with. Hindi and the regional languages, though they are developing and enjoy official patronage, are still inadequately equipped for imparting education, particularly at the university level. There is a general lack of standard text books and it may well take several decades before there is sufficient development of these languages. Again, English still enjoys a commanding position in science, technology, engineering, law, medicine, commerce, industry and the diplomatic services. It is virtually impossible to replace English in these disciplines by Hindi or any other Indian language. Considering then for a moment the absence of English from India, exchange of professors, doctors administrators, and students will cease. Research will slacken and there will be a steep decline in the quality of education. The efforts of the country to industrialize itself rapidly and to raise the standard of the masses will be seriously undermined. There will widespread disunity and this will jeopardize our freedom. So the role of English today for us is twofold. It knits the country and maintains equality and standard at all levels. Considering this important place of English, we Indians are today learning it in larger numbers than they ever did before. It is a world language and even in Russia, China etc., it is being learnt eagerly. In India those who oppose it seem to be a little prejudiced either for political reasons or because of some absurd sentimentality. Don’t they accept foreign goods, clothes and technical know-how? They do, because it is good and useful. Why then oppose English, simply because it is a foreign language? They should not forget that it was the knowledge of English that helped India gain freedom. The overall situation then appears to be this. English even after 36 years of independence occupies an important place in the social educational, administrative, scientific industrial and commercial life of the country. Those who know and support it need not despair. English will continue though it may occupy a secondary place to Hindi.