Purchasing a Rock Collection

Purchasing a Rock Collection Boxed sets of rock specimens can be a good start for a child interested in geology. These rock collections are handy, small, and not too expensive. Books, maps, a good rock hammer, a magnifier, and the guidance of local experts will take your child much further. But a modest rock set, especially one that includes a pamphlet and some basic information, is all you need to begin. The most important part of a boxed set is your personal commitment to the child; otherwise, the whole experience is sterile. Rock Collection Box Skip the fancy, intimidating wooden box; cardboard or plastic is sturdy enough. You can always buy a better box later, and more of them to fit a growing collection. Dont buy collections that are glued to a card, as it discourages close examination. A true geoscientist will pull the rocks off for hands-on learning. Other Items in the Rock Collection Many sets include streak plates and items to test hardness, like a glass scratchplate and a steel nail. Those are a plus. But the magnifiers that come with boxed collections are generally not trustworthy; they are the most expensive item and are the first place a dealer will cut costs. Children should have a decent 5x magnifier or loupe, purchased separately, that rewards them with a high-quality visual experience. If a pamphlet comes with the set, review it yourself in case the child needs help with it. Start Small You can get huge collections, but a box with about 20 specimens covers the most common rock types, with maybe a few extras for color or exotic interest. Remember, the point of buying a rock collection is the pleasure of learning to recognize, pursue and cherish the rocks found in your own outings.   Get Rocks, Not Chips A useful rock specimen is at least 1.5 inches or 4 centimeters in all dimensions. A proper hand specimen is twice that size. Such rocks are big enough to scratch, chip and otherwise investigate without spoiling their appearance. Remember, these are for learning, not admiring. Igneous, Sedimentary or Metamorphic Theres merit in getting a set of rocks that reflect your own region, but a set of exotic rock types might fascinate someone who travels or dreams of traveling. Are your local rocks igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic? If you dont know, its easy to learn yourself. Use an identification table to identify your rocks. A specialized rock collection would have fewer specimens than a general one, of course. Mineral Collection Rocks are more popular than minerals, and theyre easier to learn about, but for the right child, especially in a locality with notable mineral occurrences, a boxed mineral collection may be just the thing to start with. For most budding rockhounds, a mineral collection is the ideal second step after getting a rock collection. Becoming a real expert in rocks requires strong skills in mineral identification. Another aspect of mineral collecting is the possibility of visiting rock shops, near home as well as on the road, to buy more specimens inexpensively. Reading Matters A rockhound of any stripe must be able to read texts and maps as well as rocks. If youre buying a rock collection for a child, for best results be sure he or she is comfortable with print and has a basic grasp of maps. Without reading skills, a child will always be limited to gazing and dreaming. Scientists need to gaze and dream too, but they also must read, observe, think, and write. A rock kit is only a start.

Sarbanes Oxley and its Influence on the Finance and Information Coursework

Sarbanes Oxley and its Influence on the Finance and Information Technology - Coursework Example One reason for its significance is its scope along with the material shift it signifies in the balance of federal and state regulation of corporations. Historically, substantive regulation of corporate procedure and governance has been primarily the province of state regulation, while the federal securities laws have regulated disclosure. (Klimko, May 2004) The second reason is that SOX seeks to improve investor confidence by tightening government regulation of the accounting, reporting, and corporate governance practices of public companies. Many of the Act's provisions require the SEC to adopt implementing rules, and many rules have been adopted since the Act became law. (Klimko, May 2004) In this respect, positive changes are recorded in corporate auditing controls and compliance procedures. The Act also established the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to regulate accounting firms who perform audits on the financial statements of publicly held companies. The board's mission is clear: to tighten accounting standards and restore confidence in the profession. Subject to direct SEC supervision, this body also is responsible for disciplinary action--everything from investigation to significant fines--against any company found in noncompliance with the Act. (Longnecker, 2004)As is generally the case with governmental intervention in the affairs of business, Sarbanes-Oxley has triggered many unintended side effects. Most experts agree that it has changed several facets of business, including the concept of the executive seat; the way honest, hard-working CEOs interpret their roles; and the methods scandal-weary boards use to operate and make decisions moving forward. (Longnecker, 2004) Further, the uncertainty surrounding the legislation's impact on auditing, financial reporting, executive loans, etc. has had a chilling effect on operations in boardrooms across the U.S. Leading decision makers at companies are, in many cases, so intently focused on legislative issues that they have been distracted from fully focusing efforts on their business' primary operations and creating shareholder value. Additionally, it is not just the CEO and CFO who are being asked to certify financial records and take on additional risks and responsibilities. Although not specifically mandated by Sarbanes-Oxley, many companies are r equiring certifications of financial results by their division presidents, department heads, and other senior management in an effort to comply with corporate governance and controls. As the process continues to filter down through the ranks, simply conforming with these laws could end up costing shareholders more than they ever thought possible. In essence, the ripple effect of Sarbanes-Oxley very easily could take businesses from a place of under regulation to one of overregulation, which can be just as dangerous for a variety of reasons.

Artistic Area Changing From 19th Century to 20th Century Essay

Artistic Area Changing From 19th Century to 20th Century - Essay Example During this era, Paris was reconstructed which can be termed as a symbol of a world of freshness in the field of art. This city acted as a cultural capital offering great chances to people who were interested in the field of art. Art training institutions came up and artists were able to travel all round Europe to widen their knowledge and ideas. Consequently, artists were able to reflect their own feelings and emotions through art such as poetry (Yanli 54). With the decline of the enlightenment age, philosophers and poets started to question the ideals of enlightenment such as science, rationality and logic. At this point, poets sought to find out if these ideas were good enough for mankind (Barrette 60). They did this through Romanticism and Idealism, which revolutionized their way of thinking completely. The two movements existed concurrently and were characterized by the nature of poets putting emotions and feelings before reason. The main aim of romanticism and idealism movement s was for artists to express what they felt inside regardless of the rational perspective of those feelings. This was mostly done in the expression of romantic feelings. The romantic period lasted approximately 25 years, and is still said to be the greatest movement in the field of literature. Some of the poems at this time included: A Brother in Need by Henrik Ibsen, The Dole of the King’s Daughter by Oscar Wilde and The Grave and the Rose by Victor Hugo (Monius 1406). A critical study of the three poems depicts a social satire expressing the oppression that existed in the field of love. Tillmann and Dowling (628) assert that romantic poets made nature to be central in majority of their works, where they used it metaphorically to represent human relations to one another. These poems expressed passion indirectly, hence readers were expected to imagine and read them with an open mind. The message in these poems was clear as it openly portrayed the heart to be central in our li ves. As a result, the way we relate with nature and other people is determined by our hearts, and it reflects our lives. Through these poems, the ego-centric nature of man is put forth, where people were ready to do anything to have what their hearts desired (Barrette 79). This perspective was later taken over by the rational perspective as poets changed their poetic styles. The 20th Century Artistic thought during the 20th century was highly influenced by science as it dictated almost every aspect of man (Yanli 55). At this time, nuclear weapons were being used during war, making people to adopt new ways of looking at life. The two major literary criticisms of this time were: modernism which was later followed by post-modernism. After the enlightenment era, the educated elite gained confidence within themselves as they were able to explain nature and science. However, the industrial revolution brought about its own evils, creating a feeling of resentment within poets, which was exp ressed through modernism (Tillmann and Dowling, 629). The social lives of people were affected with the subsequent urbanization, while the field of politics was marked by diverse views of capitalism and communism. According to Sacvan (574), during this era, American poets had dominated the field of poetry as they sought to give explanations to what was happening around the world. Some of the poems composed during this time include: Allen Ginsberg’

The importance of logistics to the operation of supermarkets Essay

The importance of logistics to the operation of supermarkets - Essay Example This is because if the products are not made available to these supermarkets, there would be no customers who will visit them in the first place. What this means in essence is the need to realize that supermarkets of today have to rely a great deal on how these logistics shape up the related avenues and how the same will mean success for the related domains. Internationally, logistics and transportation play a vital role in forecasting, production planning and materials planning as it is the bridge for all these things to occur in the first place within any supermarket chain. If any of these supply chain processes need to occur and that too in a quick manner, the need of the hour is to devise ways and means through which the logistics amongst the channel members speeds up and this is only possible if there is goodwill and understanding between the different parties who are at varied levels of the trade structure (Levy, 1995). They have to comprehend that the other party will profit t hem and thus the whole logistics process would automatically fasten up as a result within the supermarkets. ... drastically cut and there is a huge benefit for all the parties concerned and more than that the customers themselves as they are the ones who get the best value for money within the supermarkets. If they receive a competing product with the same quality and value levels but at a low price, they will definitely go for it and make it their habit to buy it from some other supermarket chain (Ebert, 1990). This would reduce costs as well as improve customer service because then this supermarket would think that if it provides better value for money, people will throng the supermarket for the goods offered by it and hence more sale will be made, both in the short term as well as in the long run. Thus it benefits both the parties – at the logistics level and the customers who come back and forth to buy the products offered by the supermarkets. A Rundown on Logistics and Different Activities The question here is as to how logistic activities could benefit the supermarket in the long run, we find that high level of service for the international logistic supermarkets needs to focus on the aspects related with doing the things right rather than just devising what has to be done. Onus should be on doing what exactly needs to be done for the betterment of the trade activities. They must build strong and solid relationships with the different channel members that include the distributors, wholesalers, retailers and other third party vendors. In doing so they ensure that they build strong rapport with them and all of them are linked in a web with each other (Varey, 2001). The support for each other stems from the fact that one party understands the concerns of the other one and hence tries to do its best to make the goods available within the supermarkets as and when the need

Helping Parents and Caregivers Fight Chilhood Obesity Essay Example for Free

Helping Parents and Caregivers Fight Chilhood Obesity Essay Helping Parents and Caregivers in the Fight Against Childhood Obesity Young children acquire their knowledge through direct instruction, modeling, and experiences within their environment (Lanigan, 2010, p. # 369). Children who are obese are known to have lower self-esteem, and a higher risk of becoming drinkers, smokers, and/or socially isolated as they mature. Health concerns such as Cardiovascular Disease; Gall Bladder problems; Hypertension; and Sleep Apnea have all been associated with childhood obesity (Robinson; Geier; Rizzolo; Sedrak, 2011). Teaching portion control, implementing a healthy balanced diet, and adding in daily physical activities can help parents and caregivers in the fight against childhood obesity. Portion control is something that has to be developed from within a person. By introducing and practicing the use of healthy eating habits early in life, parents and caregivers are increasing the opportunities for a child to learn behaviors that can help them to develop a healthy life style. This type of life style can in turn increase the child’s chances of reversing or even preventing obesity. Teaching children to recognize what it feels like in their bodies when they are hungry or what could be called their hunger signals, while encouraging them to eat their food more slowly, and persuading them to stop eating when they feel they have had enough, even though they may still have food left over, are all ways of promoting healthy eating habits in children. The practice and observation of these skills will benefit children in their journey to a healthy life. Creating a healthy balanced diet can be a challenge for families. The convenience of the fast food industry has increased the challenge for families. Most families have parents or caregivers who work long hours and have little down time, causing them to â€Å"grab† dinner verses preparing it as was once the norm. In a balanced diet, the recommendation of carbohydrates is 45% to 50% of the total daily calories, while fat intake is at 30% to 35% (Philippas; Lo, 2005). Focusing on the right fats and carbs are of extreme importance. Making choices with fruits, vegetables, legumes, and healthier poly- and  monounsaturated fats, verses saturated fats and refined carbohydrates like white bread, refined sugar, soft drinks, cakes and candies, can dramatically assist in the battle against childhood obesity. While portion control and a healthy balanced diet are essential in the fight against childhood obesity, the benefits of physical activity should not be ignored. Exercise is a key component in the treatment and prevention of obesity in children (Robinson; Geier; Rizzolo; Sedrak, 2011). Exercise will assist in weight loss as well as improve metabolic risk factors such as hypertension, and has been known to have led to the lowering of blood pressure, along with reducing in depression, anxiety, and improvement of self-esteem (Robinson; Geier; Rizzolo; Sedrak, 2011). The obesity epidemic is being blamed for the rise in serious diseases and disorders (Robinson; Geier; Rizzolo; Sedrak, 2011). With this information of the multiple health concerns that have been associated with childhood obesity, parents and caregivers must be armed with education and resources to fight against this disease. Teaching portion control, implementing a healthy balanced diet, and adding in daily physical activities can help parents and caregivers in the fight against the disease known as childhood obesity.

Social and Economic Conditions of the Northern and Southern states in t

Social and Economic Conditions of the Northern and Southern states in the years 1820-1850   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the early to mid 1800s the United States seemed to be split into two sections, the Northern states and the Southern states. Although they had the same flag, spoke the same language, and had the same president, the two regions seemed to be two separate countries, each one having different views and political opinions. But, because they were the same country, there were also many similarities. This mostly showed in the social and economic conditions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The economies of each region at the time where really only similar in that they were expanding and growing stronger. One way the two regions differed in economics was in the base of the economy. For example, the South’s economy was based on cotton farming, while the North’s economy was based on manufacturing. Because the South did not manufacture goods, they were forced to purchase finished products from the North- thus adding to the North’s economy. With the South’s money they would purchase cotton from the southern states. Also, in the South, there were little job opportunities for whites since slaves had the jobs in the field, unlike the North where jobs were abundant in factories for the unskilled workers. Many of these unskilled workers were immigrants from Ireland and Germany.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  While on the topic of immigrants, this brings me to how the to areas compared and contrasted in their social conditions. In compariso...

Business Research Terms and Concepts Essay

Understanding Business Research Terms and Concepts: Part 3 A. Determine which level of measurement— nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio—is used in the following examples. 1. The Association of Accountants is conducting a survey to determine the ranking of the top 100 accounting firms in the world. Ordinal 2. How many years did it take you to earn your college degree? Ratio 3. On a questionnaire which asks for gender, males are coded as 1 and females are coded as 2. Nominal 4. Respondents are asked to rate a list of high-tech companies as excellent, good, fair, or poor in terms of their service delivery. Ordinal 5. Cereal brands are arranged in an ordered sequence in which an equal interval exists between each point. Interval 6. Jake Locker averages 350 yards per game passing. Interval 7. The length of time it takes the winner of a marathon to cross the finish line. Ratio 8. Students are asked to rank computer manufacturers. Ordinal 9. The brand of charge card used by a customer. Nominal B. Which sampling method—simple random, systematic, stratified, cluster, convenience, judgment, quota, or snowball—is most appropriate for the following examples? Explain why. 1. The unemployment rate is calculated each month by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survey consists of 50,000 households in about 2,000 counties and cities in all 50 states. Stratified. Because you are dividing into subgroups prior to sampling. 2. A researcher for Kraft Foods selects five states randomly, and then selects 10 supermarkets chains within each state to call for a phone survey as test markets for a new cookie. Cluster. You are dividing into groups or cluster then taking a random sample. 3. A new product researcher would like to investigate the use of virtual teams. After conducting an interview with a manager, she asks for the names of other managers that use virtual teams. Snowball. You are using a small pool of subjects and generating more from them. 4. A news reporter asks people on the street their opinion about the president’s new bill. Convenience. There are some members of the population that have no chance of being selected and you are using readily available subjects. 5. Jamie select Denver, Colorado; Chicago, Illinois; and San Diego, California as test markets for a potato chip line base on her experience with these markets. Judgment. Because Jamie has used his or her own judgment to select the appropriate sample. 6. A researcher instructs field interviewers to interview customers of different cell phone companies in a nearby shopping mall so that they each interview 10 AT&T, 8 T Mobile, 6 Verizon, and 4 owners of other cell phone providers. Quota. Because there is a set requirement of the sampling pool. 7. The Consumer Price Index represents a sampling of 90,000 items from 364 categories, chosen from 20,000 retail stores in 85 geographically distributed areas that are chosen to be as similar as possible. Stratified. Because you are dividing into subgroups prior to sampling. 8. A finance professor wants to know how many MBA students would be willing to take a course in international finance this summer. She surveys students in the class she is currently teaching. Cluster because she is dividing all MBA students into a group and sampling her class. It could also be seen as Convenience because she is sampling a group that is on hand and there is a set that doesn’t have a chance to be selected (anyone not in her class).