Reflection on Making a Rindik

A rindik is a Balinese musical instrument that is made from bamboo. Rice farmers developed the instrument during the early years of the 20th century. A rindik is a traditional instrument whose bars are tuned in order to produce humming sounds of different pitches. To play the rindik, one requires high concentration and playing skills that take several years to master.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection on Making a Rindik specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This instrument is one of the most complex because of the level of skills needed to construct and play it. The bars of the rindik are adjusted in order to change the sound to the required tone. The class project involved constructing a rindik from bamboo sticks. Event though we encountered several obstacles during the course of the project, we successfully completed the project in time. The class project involved making a rindik, a Balinese instrument made from bamboo. The project involved the cooperation of three students: Sarah, Tiffany, and me. Our task was to collect bamboo materials from the forest and make a rindik from those materials. Emma and would use the instrument later for their project. We started the project by determining the materials we needed, and their specific measurements. We acquired a rindik and disassembled it into its constituent parts. We measured the dimensions of each of the parts and recorded the measurements on a notebook. For example, we measured the dimensions of all the keys and bars. After getting the measurements, we visited a forest that was a short distance away from the campus to collect bamboo sticks. We chose a mature bamboo because we needed strong and thick pieces. We cut the bamboo into pieces with the exact measurements and carried extra pieces in case we needed them. Our teacher, Mr. McGraw taught us how to cut the keys into different sizes and shapes, and how to tune the resonator. The r indik was to be comprised of 11 keys. Therefore, we cut 11 keys of different sizes. Each of the keys was expected to produce a different tone. When making a rindik, the keys are dried for a considerable length of time in order to stabilize the moisture content. However, since we had inadequate time to dry them, our teacher burnt the bamboo pieces. Unfortunately, burning destroyed the pieces because they failed to produce the expected pitch. The teacher suggested that we use the pieces without drying them. This was problematic because we had to retune the rindik everyday because as the keys lost moisture, the pitch was altered. We used the additional pieces we had carried from the forest. In addition, our teacher provided more pieces that we used to make the keys. He helped us to cut some of the keys again and gave us guidance on how to tune the resonator. However, he did not tune the bars for us and we had to do it on our own. It was difficult, but we enjoyed and learnt a lot.Advert ising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More We then assembled the rindik we had disassembled and continued with our project. We had to hasten the project because Emma and Helen needed the instrument in order to practice for their final project. They wanted to prepare for a musical piece that they were required to play using the rindik. We encountered difficulties in tuning the instrument but Mr. McGraw was there to offer help. He taught us how to synchronize the tune of the bar and the resonator. Operating the instrument was a hard task. Mr. McGraw taught us how to adjust the pitch of the instrument in order to get the highest quality of sound. We had to shave the bar whenever the pitch of the bar was higher than that of the resonator and vice versa. Remembering these instructions was difficult because none of us had ever operated a rindik before. Therefore, we noted the information on a notebook for reference. In order to produce the highest quality of music, the rindik was suspended on a wooden frame from where the keys were struck using a small stick. A wooden frame that we had made during an earlier project saved us time because we used it to mount the rindik. Even though we did not tune all the bars successfully, we continued with our project. I marked the locations on the bars where the holes were to be drilled. Fortunately, this did not affect quality of sound produced by the instrument. After drilling the holes, we joined the bars and the keys. Due to the sizes of the holes, we used a thin rope that could pass through the small holes. During the process of assembling the rindik, we had some difficulties with some bars. We assembled the instrument with bar some bars out of tune because we were unable to harmonize them. Despite the difficulty, we carried on with the project because Emma and Helen were waiting for the instrument. We did not want to let them down becaus e we had promised to complete it on time and give it to them for their preparations. Monday was the due date of the project when we were required to present the completed instrument to the instructor. However, we had a problem because the rindik was out of tune. The bars had lost moisture and altered their pitch. We had to tune all the bars again because the bars and the resonator had different pitches, and we could not present it in that state. Presentation of the rindik marked the final stage of our project. The instrument had some weaknesses. However, I was happy because we had completed the project successfully and attained our goal. We labored a lot because of lack of experience. I was excited because we were able to complete the class project successfully.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection on Making a Rindik specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More We experienced many challenges during the course of the p roject. However, we never gave up and always sought help from our teacher. Mr. McGraw was very helpful because he assisted us whenever we encountered problems. He taught us several things that contributed towards the success of the project. For example, he guided and showed us how to cut the keys and tune the rindik. The project was challenging but a very worthy and priceless learning experience. I learnt many things that added to my knowledge on musical instruments. I realized that making and tuning a rindik is a hard task. The opportunity to construct the instrument was both exciting and educational. The project was pleasant from the beginning to the end because of my great passion for music. Despite the obstacles encountered, we never lost hope or motivation. Our success could be attributed to the dedication and hard work of all the members of the group. This essay on Reflection on Making a Rindik was written and submitted by user Hepz1bah to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Heidi Chronicles by Wendy Wasserstein

The Heidi Chronicles by Wendy Wasserstein Are modern-day, American women happy? Are their lives more fulfilling than those of women who lived before the Equal Rights Amendment? Have the expectations of stereotypical gender roles faded away? Is society still dominated by a patriarchal boys club? Wendy Wasserstein considers these questions in her Pulitzer Prize-winning play, The Heidi Chronicles. Although it was written over twenty years ago, this drama still mirrors the emotional trials many of us (women and men) experience as we try to figure out the big question: What should we do with our lives? A Male-centric Disclaimer First of all, before this review continues, it should be disclosed that it was written by a guy. A forty-year-old male. If the subject of analysis in a womens studies class, your reviewer might be labeled as part of the ruling class in a male-biased society. Hopefully, as the critique continues, it wont present as obnoxiously do the self-confident, self-loving male characters in The Heidi Chronicles. The Good The strongest, most appealing aspect of the play is its heroine, a complex character who is emotionally fragile yet resilient. As an audience we watch her make choices that we know will lead to heartache (such as falling in love with the wrong guy), but we also witness Heidi learning from her mistakes; ultimately she proves that she can have both a successful career and a family life. Some of the themes are worthy of literary analysis (for any of you English majors looking for an essay topic). In particular, the play defines feminists of the 70s as hard-working activists who are willing to forgo gender expectations to improve womens status in society. In contrast, the younger generation of women (the ones who are in their twenties during the 1980s) is portrayed as more consumer-minded. This perception is demonstrated when Heidis friends want to develop a sitcom in which women Heidis age are very unhappy. Unfulfilled, frightened of growing old alone. In contrast, the younger generation want to get married in their twenties, have their first baby by thirty, and make a pot of money. This perception of a disparity between the generations leads to a powerful monologue delivered by Heidi in Scene Four, Act Two. She laments: Were all concerned, intelligent, good women. Its just that I feel stranded. And I thought the whole point was that we wouldnt feel stranded. I thought the point was that we were all in this together. Its a heartfelt plea for a sense of community that for Wasserstein (and many other feminist authors) failed to come to fruition after the dawn of the ERA. The Bad As you will discover in more detail if you read the plot outline below, Heidi falls in love with a man named Scoop Rosenbaum. The man is a jerk, plain and simple. And the fact that Heidi spends decades carrying a torch for this loser drains away some of my sympathy for her character. Fortunately, one of her friends, Peter, snaps her out of it when he asks her to contrast her misery with the more devastating problems going on around them. (Peter has recently lost many friends due to AIDS). Its a much-needed wake-up call. Plot Summary The play begins in 1989 with a lecture presented by Heidi Holland, a brilliant, often lonely art historian whose work focuses on developing a stronger awareness of female painters, getting their work exhibited in otherwise male-centric museums. Then the play transitions to the past, and the audience meets the 1965 version of Heidi, an awkward wallflower at a high school dance. She meets Peter, a larger than life young man who will become her best friend. Flash forward to college, 1968, Heidi meets Scoop Rosenbaum, an attractive, arrogant editor of a left-wing newspaper who wins her heart (and her virginity) after a ten-minute conversation. The years go by. Heidi bonds with her girlfriends in womens groups. She crafts a thriving career as an art historian and professor. Her love life, however, is in shambles. Her romantic feelings for her gay friend Peter are unrequited for obvious reasons. And, for reasons hard to fathom, Heidi cant give up on that philandering Scoop, even though he never commits to her and marries a woman whom he does not love passionately. Heidi wants the men she cannot have, and anyone else she dates seems to bore her. Heidi also desires the experience of motherhood. This yearning becomes all the more painful when she attends the baby shower of Mrs. Scoop Rosenbaum. Yet, Heidi is ultimately empowered to find her own path without a husband. Although a bit dated, The Heidi Chronicles still remains an important reminder of the tough choices we all make when we try to chase not just one but a whole handful of dreams. Suggested Reading Wasserstein explores some of the same themes (womens rights, political activism, women who love gay men) in her comical family drama: The Sisters Rosenweig. She also wrote a book called Sloth, a parody of those over-enthusiastic self-help books.

Defining Data Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Defining Data - Assignment Example (Edwards, 2011) Teradata has transformed a lot of business organizations by aiding in the heavy lifting associated with data management and analysis by providing prebuilt solutions such as analytic data solutions which dramatically reduce effort and risks. Teradata enables business organizations to simplify business intelligence by providing services that allow business access and actionable information. Teradata avails current data to business organizations that are in turn used in business decision. The data and information provided by Teradata to business organizations is decision ready thus allowing the business to analyze current and long term trends while providing instant alerts on problems and opportunity.(Edwards, 2011) Teradata is one of the leading data warehousing corporations there is. It is capable of managing its systems for maximum and all round throughput while catering for various organizational demands effectively. The company is contemplating on dynamically adopting workload mix in order to ensure fast response time and high throughput in addition to visualizing the current and long term trends given the evolving

What does gender or race have to do with it Freedom Writers and the Essay

What does gender or race have to do with it Freedom Writers and the American Education System - Essay Example More often not, these films feature an inspiring teacher, which may or may not be relevant to reality depending on which school you attended. Films that illustrate education also often combat issues of race and gender, which come into play in many schoolyards across the world, with problems of language and communication at the forefront of this fight. The film Freedom Writers, released in 2007, illustrates the American school system by being based on a true story, whilst employing a number of stereotypes and Hollywood norms to make the film appeal to the intended audience. Freedom Writers is a tale of a young teacher who comes to work at a school which has just recently brought in a integration plan on the back of the Los Angeles Riots in 1992. This teacher, Erin Gruwell, struggles initially to cope with the racial segregation at the school, as well as the violence between the groups. One day, Gruwell finds a racist drawing by one of the students and uses this to illustrate the probl ems of the Holocaust, which opens the eyes of the students and allows them to see that racism and other discrimination can lead to destructive acts. Gruwell continues on in this path, by inviting Holocaust survivors to the class, as well as encouraging her class to raise the funds to bring the woman that sheltered Anne Frank in the war to their school. Gruwell encourages the class to write their own diaries, like Anne Frank, and complies them into book form, eventually having the success that she desired by preparing a number of her students for attending college. Although some of the information here may be fictional or using Hollywood hyperbole, some interesting points about the American education system were raised. The purpose of this essay is to explore the stereotyping and struggles of the racial groups portrayed in Freedom Writers, and how the film highlights racial discrimination issues and how these affect schools across the United States. The American education system is p ortrayed as place that should inspire students in their learning, encouraging them to make the right decisions and go to college, despite the initial fears and anxieties of the classroom. The inspiration may not be accurate for many, but the difficulties are, which are what makes Freedom Writers such a useful learning tool for exploring both discrimination and American educational philosophies. Intended Audience It is difficult to identify a specific intended audience for this film, although it is useful for any analysis to do so. Using mainstream actors such as Hilary Swank and Patrick Dempsey, as well as the large Hollywood budget, show that the film was intended for mainstream audiences who may have been unfamiliar with Erin Gruwell and her work as a teacher. The idea came from a documentary about Gruwell (The Freedom Writers & Gruwell, 2006), which did not hit mainstream audiences and therefore the film aimed to illustrate her story but with a number of Hollywood-style attribute s to further bolster the decision to release the story to mainstream audiences as a release. Freedom Writers promotional poster (LaGravenese, 2007) As with any education-based transformation Bildungsroman film, part of the intended audience includes young adults from the demographic of the film. This is particularly evident in Freedom Writers, as there are a number of slang terms used throughout the film that are used for comedic effect in one particularly memorable scene. Swank apologises for her â€Å"badness† (LaGravenese, 2007), which the students find hilarious because it has a completely different meaning in their language. Obviously, this scene (and other

Foreign Market Entry and Diversification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Foreign Market Entry and Diversification - Essay Example The paper discusses the need for diversification strategies of the companies that adopt means and methods to excel in their respective industry and reap untapped profits from the market. Specifically speaking about the diversification strategies of Amazon and Campbell Soup Company, the discussion assesses the company overview and performance along with the outcomes of their implied diversification strategies. Discussion The diversification strategy is that the company adds new products and simultaneously existing markets. This access to new activities, either by internal or external growth the company does operate in competitive environments, new result is a set of physical and organizational changes affecting the structure of the company and represents a clear break with its past history Kenny, G., (2009). 1. A combination vertical merger implies that control various stages of production the same product. 2. A horizontal combination is one formed by companies in an industry that dev elop same products. Part 2 & 3 To address these two parts of the assignment we are taking example of Amazon and are going to describe its diversification strategy for entering in the foreign market Overview It was Jeffrey Bezos after leaving his job as a programmer on Wall Street, has set the objective to build the best online store in the world (not the first, the best) with an obsessive idea: given to the buyer as the best trading experience. And he founded in 1994 with based in a garage in Seattle - USA, the company Amazon as the first virtual library on the Web. Today is an online retailer of books, music and more, offering services that traditional retailers cannot offer low prices, selections and large well-documented information about the products. According to Bezos, the future of the electronic sale is in the identification of supply, for example, the buyer is setting out the products that best fit your tastes based on their previous purchases .Their policies are strategic expansion and diversification, since Amazon does not want its brand associated with a product category, but is associated with the idea that works for customers. Assessing the Success Amazon successfully adopts the strategy of vertical diversification and effectively collaborates with the suppliers, customers and all other stake holders who are related with the company. Indeed, Amazon was the first to explicitly numbered line every step of the process and accompanies their clients to visit them. Amazon created the Amazon's Publisher's Advantage with other publishers. Amazon has managed to revolutionize the market, thanks to a surprising relationship management with the customer and the supplier (Doebeli, M., 2011). Amazon follows the principles of convenience and peace of mind by ensuring customers the security of purchases. It was the first site to accept online credit card (explaining in detail its operation) and for customers who are still wary, offers e-mail or fax as an alterna tive method to provide the information in your credit card. Amazon has done an excellent job in recruiting and satisfaction of stakeholders: publishers, distributors and other online retailers. Since all find it easy to operate with Amazon, the overall customer experience improves substantially. The secret lies in attracting Amazon customer information to learn more and grow faster. For the first time since its creation, Amazon.com

Stakeholder Theory in Organisational Management

Stakeholder Theory in Organisational Management Matt Miller Questions for discussion: Is it unethical for a city employee to make recommendations based on his or her experience? There is a danger that this may be interpreted as bribery-inability to provide evidence of quid pro quo payments still leaves the question open and therefore there is no transparency-additionally, the experience of the individual may only be from an advisory and not consumer position-what qualifies the employee to make the recommendation? This could influence the consumer decision and is therefore inappropriate and unethical and possibly illegal. Would Garys actions have been acceptable if he had not engaged in a quid pro quo? It still brings the employees motives into question as outlined above-there is no transparency as to why Gary is making the recommendations and additionally, what qualifies Gary to make the recommendation? It is therefore still unacceptable. What action should Wendy take with Gary? With other department employees? In the absence of written documentation outlining the issue, Wendy would have to make the decision as to whether he should have been aware that his actions are unethical and possible illegal and act accordingly. That Gary actively solicited the firms, it is reasonable to assume he was aware that his actions were illicit and therefore despite specific written rules, it would be reasonable to subject Gary to a disciplinary hearing as per the departments policies and procedures. Is there anything the city manager might do to prohibit this type of behaviour? Update the Standard Operational Procedured and rules of business and ensure sign-off within the training and competency assessments of relevant personnel to ensure that they are aware of the rules and implications of failing to follow them. Ensure that the employees are aware that all document changes regarding policy have to be acknowledged to remove plausible deniability. Finally, it would be prudent to audit activities of all staff responsible for imparting this information to consumers, in order to ascertain if this is a single case or endemic among the culture of the office. What do you think? Stark (1997) outlines the issue quite well stating that contracting or procurement are prime examples where ethical codes are paramount. Public sector processes Government processes are lengthy in that they have to encourage transparency and impartiality. If efficiency was the sole rationale for judging, then it could become subjective and easy for the employee to act inappropriately. If however the key is impartiality, then it is easier to monitor and control as patterns of contract awarding would be evident. Stakeholder theory Stakeholder theory is a theory of organisational management in business ethics concerning ethics morals and values, coined by R Edward Freeman. A stakeholder approach identifies the stakeholders in the organisation and describes methods by which management can address all issues from the stakeholders. Traditionally, the shareholders are important and the companys primary goal is to put their needs first (shareholder theory). Stakeholder theory reworks this by including employees, customers suppliers competition, governmental bodies, unions etc. into the mix and stating that the company should be run not only for the benefit of shareholders but of stakeholders too The nature of what is a stakeholder is debatable with many reclassifications. The stakeholder theory incorporates both recourse and market based view. This is used to define the relevant stakeholders to each company and the conditions in which each group should be treated. According to Key (1999), the traditional model to describe companies is the economic model which employs both contract and agency theory to describe and predict the behaviour of the company. Stakeholder theory extends the relationship to encompass the company and its external environment have produced a stream of literature in the area of corporate social responsibility. According to Gomez (2006), Freeman described a stakeholder as any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement of an organizations objectives. Kaler (2003) describes three different aspects to stakeholder theory; the descriptive aspect which serves to describe the nature and operation of organisations, the instrumental aspect which describes the instigation of stakeholder theory within the organisation, and the normative aspect wich provides definition of function and the ethical code that should be adopted concerning operations. Studies have shown that companies that embrace stakeholder theory, are more successful than their shareholder counterparts. Hack (2011) described protests in 2000 where activists pointed out that the Coca Cola company provided AIDS prevention, protection, testing and treatment of its employees in Africa, this was not extended to employees of its bolting affiliates. The Coca Cola Company encompassing stakeholder theory, visualised the effect on the supply chain if the affiliates employees were affected and rescinded the decision. Ultimately, Coca-Cola supplied AIDS services for the affiliates employees across Africa with each stakeholder group contributing to the payment. There are criticisms of the theory-Key (1999) stated that Stakeholder theory provided no adequate explanation of the firms behaviour within its environment. This was mirrored by Gomez (2006) who stated that there is a lack of clarity regarding stakeholder theory, as it does not sufficiently explain the intricacy of the relationships between a company and individuals, groups and other organizations from the same environment. References: Gomez, R. (2006). Stakeholder management in the local government decision-making area: evidences from a triangulation study with the English local government. Brazilian Administration Review. Retrieved February 19, 2017, from http://www.scielo.br/pdf/bar/v3n1/v3n1a05.pdf Hack, N. (2011). How deeply engaging stakeholders changes everything. Retrieved February 19, 2017, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/85broads/2011/05/03/how-deeply-engaging-stakeholders-changes-everything/#4e0b35801808 Kaler, J., (2003). Differentiating stakeholder theories. Journal of Business Ethics: JBE; Dordrecht 46.1 (Aug 2003): 71-83. Key, S., (1999). Toward a new theory of the firm: a critique of stakeholder theory Management Decision; London37.4 (1999): 317-328. Stark, A., (1997) Beyond quid pro quo: whats wrong with private gain from public office? The American Political Science Review. Vol. 91, No. 1 (Mar., 1997), pp. 108-120

The Atkins Diet: A True Diet Revolution Essay -- Low Carb Diet Program

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In a society where ones’ pants size measures their self worth, it is no wonder why fad diets, have taken over in the struggle to lose weight. Over the past few decades, Hollywood has painted an unattainable image of the perfect body. Although many celebrities' physical appearance may appear healthy, the measures taken to obtain their body shape can cause numerous health risks. It seems as though, every time people turn on their television, or flip through a magazine, there is a new diet claiming to â€Å"melt away† the pounds. Many of these "miracle diets" do take off weight- temporarily. But which diets really work in the long hual?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The definition of diets is, regulated selections of foods, specially designed and prescribed for medical and/or general nutritional purposes. The purpose of diets is to promote an overall lifetime-wellness plan for good health ( Larson). Recently, there has been more interest by the public, geared towards the Revolutionary Atkins’ diet. Although the Atkins’ diet appears to be the dream diet in the battle against the bulge, it can cause serious health problems if done incorrectly ( Dr. Atkins’ 72-80).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Atkins’ diet is a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, which has been attributed to the weight loss success of thousands. The Atkins’ diet is based on the belief, that by increasing protein and decreasing carbohydrates, the body is forced to burn stored fat. Many researchers, who study the success of diets rich in protein, believe that insulin is the hormone that makes people fat. The body is an energy machine that powers its operations mainly through the use of glucose. Glucose, which is a basic form of sugar found in the blood, is predominantly found in carbohydrates. After consuming carbohydrates, the blood-sugar levels in the body are raised. When the sugar in the blood is raised, a hormone known as insulin is secreted. The insulin then converts a portion of the glucose into glycogen, which is found in muscle tissue and the liver. If the glycogen storage areas are filled, and there is still more glucose in the blood, that the body does not ne ed, the remaining glucose is then converted into triglyceride. Triglyceride is the main chemical component of adipose tissue- otherwise known as the visible fat on the body ( Dr. Atkins’ 46-50).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  How does the Atkins’ diet differ from other diets? Why is it that, through... ...used by extra weight. Work Cited â€Å" American Kidney Fund Warns About Impact of High-protein Diets on Kidney Health.† 25 April 2002. American Kidney Fund. 10 Nov 2002. Atkins’, Robert C. Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution. New York: M. Evans Inc., 1992. Cordain, Loren. The Paleo Diet. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2002. â€Å"Doctors Weigh in on ‘ Diet War’. Cover Stories in NYT and Time Magazine: Nutrition Experts Warn Against ‘ Carbophobia’; Applaud Coverage of Vegetarianism.†Ã‚  8 July 2002. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. 13 Nov 2002 http://www.atkinsalert.org. â€Å"Health Risks of High Protein Diets.† Atkins’ Diet Alert. 2 Aug 2002. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. 13 Nov. 2002 http://www.atkinsalert.org. Larson, Jeffrey. â€Å" Diets.† Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. 10 Nov. 2002. â€Å" New Studies Confirm Calorie Reduction Not Only Reason Atkins Nutritional Approach (TM) Works; Other metabolic aspects of controlled carbohydrates nutrition impact on fat loss, and reduction of heart disease risk factors.† PR Newswire. 26  Aug. 2002 http://www.findarticles.jhtml?term=The+atkins%27+diet. Williams, Sara. Personal Interview. 17 Nov. 2002.